Jao Brand LipJao

A lip balm is a lip balm is a lip balm right? Wrong. LipJao from Jao brand is flat out the best lip balm I've used. The perfect mix of deeply moisturising but not too glossy. I love everything about it from the packaging - great for even the smallest handbag and I much prefer the roller as opposed to a twist up which can break the stick.

Shea butter, coconut oil and cocoa butter are the top ingredients which make this so moisturising but what really puts this in a league of it's own is the way it can blend out any lipstick or lipliner. Which may sound very niche but we all have those favourite lipsticks or liners that just don't last the day. Yes you can reapply but if you are anything like me you get to a stage where you just want to carry on stuffing your face/drinking the beer/smooching and don't want to reapply your lipstick. Lipjao blends everything together effortlessly so you can look... well effortless. I love make-up but having dinner with someone who reapplies their lipstick and looks in the mirror 800 times isn't fun.

Also a great one for boys who like lip balm - all the moisture, but kind of manly. I have one of these in my kitchen, at my desk and in my handbag.

What You Need to Know - Jao Brand LipJao

• £8
• 4.6g
• Natural, non-toxic, no sulphates or parabans, mineral oils or silicone
• Also from Jao Brand - Goe Oil
• Available from Blue Bowl

August 2017 Empties

First video since having a baby and as you can see my brain is still on the go-slow! But my empties bag was full so here they are. All products listed below.

Waitrose Bath Foam
Mane 'n Tail Deep Moisturising Conditioner
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Deep Moisture Body Lotion
Dove DIY Hair Treatment for Aging Hair
The Body Shop Nutriganics Cleansing oil
Origins Gin ZIng Eye Cream
Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Oil 
Le Marsaillais Hand Soap
This Works In Transit Camera Close Up 

My Reviews:
Waitrose Bath Foam
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Deep Moisture Body Lotion 
The Body Shop Nutriganics Cleansing Oil
This Works In Transit Camera Close Up
Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Oil

Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette

One of the most talked about palettes of 2017, the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette sold out over and over and seems to appear several times a day in 'looks' on my Instagram feed. As its release coincided with the release of my latest child I assumed it would be a palette that would pass me by but one appeared in the post for me a week after I got home from the hospital and there's nothing like being trapped under a new born to make you desperate to get some new make-up on to your face.

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Customisable Colour Set for Cheeks

Definitely one of my favourite releases of this year and one of those products that you long to try and doesn't disappoint. I've been a fan of the Watercolour Blush's for years. I use them on every bride, over 90% of my other clients and they are definitely in my top five most recommended products and the one I get asked most about ('what colour should I get?' - bit of a responsibility!). Getting a full set in my kit has been the dream and one day I will achieve this (though doing make-up seems like a distant dream as I sit next to my 5 week old!). These have been out for a little while but arrived the day I properly went into labour with Jack so this review has been a bit delayed!*

Ilia Illuminator

The Ilia Illuminator in Cosmic Dancer was on my wishlist of products to try in 2017 and I was lucky enough to be sent a whole bunch of products to try from Ilia including the illuminators in Sway and Polka Dots & Moonbeams and I've used them both lots since I received them.

Though it's always lovely to be sent exactly the thing you want where's the challenge in that? When I first saw these two I thought I'd try them once and then formulate and opinion as neither would really suit my skin tone but, though I think Cosmic Dancer is probably the right colour for me I have worn the other two a lot. Polka Dots & Moonbeams probably does need skin darker than mine to show up - for those who want a silver-y highlight but Sway is a really pretty way to add a bit of bronzey shimmer to my pale skin and in fact is probably the most universal colour even though it looks scary.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid Quick Review

This quick review is so quick I feel I should mention that if you are worried about your reaction to this or you've never used AHA's before then you could start with the 5% one and move up. I should also say that the 2% HA on the label refers to hyaluronic acid. For more info on this then you can read my full review here

Also this is a great place to start as it's such an affordable price - that's because it's just the lactic and hyaluronic that you are paying for, not other fancypants ingredients but it's those other ingredients that can make it easier on the skin so bear that in mind. 

You can buy The Ordinary Lactic Acid here

Rosie for Autograph Cream Eyeshadow Stick

Almond Eyes, Sparkle & Magic, Feline Fox

I called these in (rare for me) when I did my piece on eye shadow sticks because I'd heard great thnigs about them was really impressed. I'm not in to celebrity make-up or skincare ranges. Geekily I'm much more impressed by people in the make-up/skincare business and what products they come up with - I'm not sure I'd watch them sing in a music video.

They are actually the first products I've used from the Rosie for Autograph range purely because the stand in my local Marks and Spencer (Hammersmith I'm looking at you) is badly stocked and dirty and generally yeugh. The packaging is beautiful, vintage looking and not dissimilar to Charlotte Tilbury's but I feel like you really pay for the Charlotte Tilbury packaging whereas the Rosie for Autograph products are more affordable (dare I say it reasonable).