Summer Loving ... !

Bonjour!

I haven't managed a monthly 'favourites' post for while but couldn't let the warm weather finally come to a close ... (sob!) ... without a brief mention of the some of the products I've been 'into' over the Summertime ...

La Roche Posay Anthelios Melt-in Cream SPF 30 - used on face, neck and decolletage - it's great for holiday, can be worn under make-up, non-sticky, non greasy and suits my sensitive areas!

M&S Formula Aloe Vera Aftersun Gel - I've bought this aftersun gel for a couple of years now - usually when M&S have their summer offers on making it a ridiculous £2 per tube! Cooling and hydrating after a day in the sun - unfortunately we didn't have as many of 'those days' on holiday as I'd have liked this year hence I have some left!

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion (Medium to Dark) - I'm rather lazy with the whole 'self-tan thing' and so use gradual tanners instead. This one has been my favourite for a while, subtle colour which can be built up over time, pleasant smell, moisturises well, quick and easy to use - job done for lazy girls!

Treacle Moon 'One Ginger Morning' Bath and Shower Gel - still hanging on in there, one of my favourite zingy bath/shower products ever!

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Dehumidifier Spray -  found this at the back of the bathroom storage cabinet (must have forgotten about it - it's a big cabinet!) - gave it a whirl and I'm hooked! A quick spray keeps any frizzies at bay really well so I'll be repurchasing and keeping at the front of the bathroom cabinet in future!

CK One Summer - I have a bit of a soft spot for CK smellies and this one is my everyday Summertime spritz. I usually pick one up on offer in some sale or other. Love the clean, refreshing scent - just smells of summer - always a good thing in my book!

Bare Minerals Warmth All-Over Face Colour - a favourite for bronzing, gives a warm healthy glow (which is actually appreciated all year round!) - full review here.

Top Shop Stage Dive - I just love orange tones and this one is a real sizzler, brilliant for the summer months, wore it on holiday this year - here.

Emma Hardie Soothing Moisture Mask - a lovely cooling mask which feels fantastic on after a hot day (or even not so hot!).  I've been using this twice a week in the evening after removing my make-up and exfoliating (after all what's the point in slathering something on over a load of dead skin cells!). I then usually warn the hubby that I look like a ghost (he doesn't mind - he's used to it!), watch a bit of tv to relax and go to bed! It sinks in overnight and leaves skin hydrated and plumped in the morning.  Another lazy girl's winner! I am so lazy!

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte 110 - I think this is one of my all time favourite lippies. I can use as a stain with lip balm or slap it on good and proper for a more full on look if needs be. A lovely vibrant summertime colour and seems to go with virtually everything - you can see it on here.

Bourjois Cream Blush in Pink Sunwear and Sweet Cherry - last but by no means least my Bourjois cream blushes. Love em to bits - have used them on holiday and at home. I want another! Full reviews here and here.

I'm still hoping that this Indian type summer thing will continue for a while - fingers crossed - I'm not quite ready to wrap up yet!

What have been your favourites this Summer?


Jen x

Balance Me Beauty Voyage!

Bonjour!

I've gotten through a few Balance Me products in my time ... I think my absolute favourite so far has to be the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash which I've used for my morning cleanse since last year.  It's perfect for a zingy pick me up when you're all bleary eyed first thing - whatever the season! You can see my full review here. I have a few other Balance me products yet to try from my stash so next up will be probably be the Facial Expression Filler and Radiance Face Oil ...

This summertime Balance Me are running a campaign aptly named 'Beauty Voyage'.  We're all invited to take pics of our favourite Balance Me products whether holidaying at home or abroad and share over on their Twitter or Facebook page - don't forget to tag your pic with #BalanceMeHome or #BalanceMeAway according to destination! The competition will run over July and August and the best images will be picked each week to win Balance Me prizes!  You can head directly over to Balance Me for further details.

Will you be entering the competition this summertime? What's your favourite Balance Me product?

Jen x

Bourjois Cream Blush in Pink Sunwear - Review

Bonjour!

This is my first little round pot of Bourjois Cream Blush ... I chose Pink Sunwear ... in keeping with the season and all ...!

A golden salmony pink in colour when swatched, with an acceptable level of shimmer (but not in a glitterball way!) - it's like an all-in-one blush/highlighter.  It has a silken texture and glides on easily with fingers or brush over the old apples to give a sun-kissed and healthy glow - exactly what I'm after at this time of year! A little goes a long way - it works over a BB or full foundation and lasts really well throughout the day without going patchy - it even passed the 'sweaty office' test the other week! Definitely one for this year's holiday!

Here it is 'in situ' ... and please try to ignore the shiny conk in the foreground which is threatening to take over the entire universe - black hole style (and that's only half of it...!) ...

I must admit I am a little smitten with my Pink Sunwear!  A super-easy Summertime product that takes seconds to apply and helps me to look more 'human' and less 'zombie' (been having quite a few 'zombie days' - must be my dratted age!). As I said this has been my first delve in the world of Bourjois Cream Blush ... somehow I don't think it will be my last ... mark my words!

Have you had a bash at a Bourjois Cream Blush? What's your favourite Summertime blusher?

Jen x

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine ... !

Bonjour and Happy Midsummer's Day!

I had a Twitter conversation last week with someone who is the exact opposite to me - loves the cold and darkness of Winter and hates the current light evenings and 'vile heat' - as she put it! Each to their own and all ...! I always feel a little melancholy when the longest day is over.  I am definitely a Summer-lover and don't want the days to shorten.  The sun, the warmth, the light, the long evenings ... seems appropriate to be playing this Summertime track today ...


Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze ....

Totally captures the atmosphere of Summertime for me this one - if I didn't have bad hay fever and a general fear of creepy crawlies I'd just want to lie on my back in a field - (without cowpats mind!) - gazing up at a cloudless blue sky (SPF on of course) - listening to Summertime music, winding down for a long, lazy, warm evening ... don't get many of those I can tell you!

What's your favourite Midsummer track?

Jen x

A Few Holiday Snaps and Several Creatures ... !

Bonjour!

Can't believe it's the end of the summer holidays (again)!  Been a bit quiet on the blog this week as I wanted to spend as much time as possible with the kids before they go back to school next week  ...

Anyway ... just thought I'd post a few pics of our family holiday in France.  This year we decided to drive again (we've flown down to the South of France for the past few years). The destination was the Dordogne so not too long a drive. We stopped off at Orleans for a couple of nights and then continued onto a charming villa in the middle of a tiny hamlet (but not too far a drive from a large supermarket - always a necessity!). Bit picture heavy in this post so apologies...!

Inside the cathedral in Orleans // On the road towards Sarlat....

Gourmet Gormans's chicken and sausage casserole with courgette couscous // Swimming with Fergal the shark and Fergella the dolphin.

Mum doing the 'blogger nail thing' with Jessica Sunset Plaza // Dad snapping everyone in sight!

BBQ Night // Me and the girl doing a 'blogger leg pose'.

Sitting around ... this is the life...!

Onto the creatures then...there were loads of them around, as you can imagine and I found myself messing about with the super zoom on my camera - meant I didn't have to get too close - a good thing! Especially spiders - I don't do spiders!

Weird but cute beetle type thing wandering over my suncream // Dragonfly having a rest!

Pollen laden grey bee - we called him 'Richard Beer' - get it? //  Hummingbird hawk moth (these were my favourites but they move so fast, whizzing around the flowers that it's really difficult to get a pic!) here's one grabbing some nectar!

And now onto a different type of creature ... one that tends to evolve when too much of  the stuff on the left is consumed whilst listening to Rapper's Delight on an evening ... oh deary me - there really is no hope is there?

Sorry about that ... I've really enjoyed this year's summer holidays and we seem to have slipped into this laid back routine over the past few weeks - as you do! Anyway ... need to get over the holiday blues and back to reality/office/school - unfortunately all good things must come to an end and I have no idea how I'm going to get the kids up for school next week!

How did you spend this year's summer holiday?

Jen x

Daniel Sandler Giveaway ...!!

Bonjour!

I recently won the Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder in a Twitter competition.  You can read my full review here but basically it's become one of my proper 'go to' products this summer and I'm enjoying it immensely! I also reached 500 GFC followers recently which is a huge deal to me!  So ... I decided to hold a little Summertime Giveaway to celebrate ... here's the prize...!

The pics are of my own product but obviously the winner will receive a brand spanking new 'un which I've bought!

To enter simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. All entries will be checked so please do complete the mandatory fields, otherwise all other entries will be deleted!  The Giveaway will run until midnight 24 August and is open internationally. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Please obtain permission/consent from an adult if you are under 18.*

Good Luck!

Jen x