I also recently bought a Clarisonic type massager facial brush {from Aldi of all places for £12! I've heard good reviews about the Clinique one and the Clarisonic but wanted to try this one out first to see how much I'd use it} which works with your existing cleansers and exfoliators for healthier looking skin. It really brightens your skin up. I went on a spa day at Harrod's Urban Retreat for SYGM and since then have loved their exfoliator and elixir for giving myself a mini facial at home. To finish, every night I apply a couple of pumps of Neal's Yard Beauty Sleep Concentrate as a night cream. It's so so heavenly and been a favourite for a couple of years now. It's calming too and definitely helps me sleep better whilst recharging my skin overnight. A bottle also lasts for months and months as you don't need a lot.


After moisturising, if I feel like my skin needs a boost, I'll put on Bare Minerals BareSkin to brighten my face up a bit. It's a brightening serum foundation with a silky texture that you only need a couple of drops of on a brush {I've got the brush recommended to apply it, the deep brown round one in the photo} that gives you an even skin tone without feeling like you're wearing foundation. You buff it on in circular movements. Again, BareMinerals are a company I love with really natural oil free products, this one is derived from a Coconut base with Jojoba mineral pigments and vitamin C. It's hypoallergenic and has an SPF in. I've used Bare Minerals powder foundations and their pressed foundations in the past but I much prefer this and will stock up when in America, it's about a third of the price over there.





I'm a nail varnish addict and feel naked without painted nails. A Shellac manicure is the ultimate and lasts for three weeks without chipping. It stays shiny too and doesn't damage your nails like Acrylics or Gels do, it simply crumbles off with acetone wrapped in foil when you want to take it off. I get shellac for special occasions or going on holiday. But in between I just file and paint my nails myself and have a huge drawer full of different brands and colours. Essie and Chanel are my favourites and have the best range of colours I find and the best quality. Some will chip within a day. You have to try Essie's topcoat too called No Chips Ahead. I find it extends my manicure for up to ten days depending on how much cleaning or gardening I'm doing but without it my nails would chip within three days. It is life changing stuff but does seem to take forever to dry. The good thing about painting your nails and not having shellac is being able to change the colour as often as the weather. I also swear by Boujouir's Magic Nail Varnish Remover, a pot you twist your fingers in and it removes it in one second without cotton wool. I should really wear hand cream but just find it so greasy, even the supposed non-greasy ones.


I'll always finish with a spritz of perfume, Flower Bomb by Victor and Rolf was always my favourite until I had English Pear and Freesia by Jo Malone for my Wedding day. Since then I've also discovered Blackberry and Bay as a favourite, a Christmas present from my Mumma this year and I got gifted a limited edition bottle of Orange Blossom at a Jo Malone tea party for SYGM recently. They all smell so so delicious and I think they're all necessary for different moods/seasons/occasions. I'm also eyeing up Wood Sage and Sea Salt, you can layer the Jo Malone fragrances but I've probably got enough to keep me going for a while.