New Summer make up essentials!

I thought I would share with you my new make-up essentials that I have been using this week. I’ve been waiting to wear summer clothes and use summer make-up now for such a long time, so this week’s warmer weather has been greatly received to try out my new items!!

My favourite new summer collection is from Clarins. Here’s a bit more from the Clarins website on the new collection: “Clarins takes you on a journey to the ancient ruins of South America, a region driven by colour and print.” I adore the packaging for starters and am a big fan of their limited edition palettes. The Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact (£30) is a perfect blend of softening brown and terracotta. The centre of the compact contains a shimmering gold shade to create an ultra-luminous finish. This is a great bronzer to take on holiday and highlight already tanned skin. If you are pale skinned, I think it will be too dark for you as I have medium toned skin and have to be careful I don’t over apply! I’m excited to take on holiday to Spain with me in June.

The Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet &Eye Liner Palette (£31) consists of three gold shades that illuminate the eyes, while the powder and liquid eye liners warm and intensify. I highly recommend Clarins eyeshadows as they are so pigmented and long lasting, plus they blend very easily without any creases. To finish off my eyes, I’ve been using the new Maybelline Colossal Volum Express The Rocket in Very Black (£5.99 on offer from Superdrug). I don’t normally buy expensive mascaras as I go through them so quickly, and have always been a fan of Maybelline as a good value, lots of volume option! This also comes in waterproof, so I definitely recommend if you are looking for a new mascara for summer.

Finally to complete the look, instead of heavy lipsticks and lipglosses, I am enjoying using tinted lip balms which are becoming more popular. My new favourites are the Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm (£18) and a cheaper option Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cotton Candy (£7.99). Clinique Chubby Sticks are still my all time favourite and permanent fixtures in my handbag!

What are you favourite new products for summer? Let me know what you think!

The lovely Clarins Bronzer

Clinique launch Chubby Sticks Intense

I was very excited to attend the Clinique bloggers Cocktail party last week to find out more about their new launches, including the new Clinique Chubby Stick Intense. I am a huge fan of the original sheer Chubby Sticks from Clinique and have a couple in my handbag at all times. You can read my review of the original chubby sticks here, which launched last year. 

The Intense Chubby Sticks launch this week, costing £16 each. The new range have the same crayon-like large barrels and offer the benefits of a balm but have a much more pigmented and fuller coverage formulation than the original shades. There are eight new shades in the range: Curviest Caramel, Chunkiest Chilli, Heftiest Hibiscus, Mightiest Maraschino, Plushest Punch, Roomiest Rose, Broadest Berry and Grandest Grape. I tried the Plushest Punch and as you can see by the swatch it’s much more intense and more like a lipstick when it comes to coverage. I did have a shock when I applied for the first time in the office, it was very bright!! They are so moisturising for your lips and really worth trying if you have dry lips and find lipsticks can dry your lips out. Personally I’d like to try a nuder shade, as I find reds and pinks too bright for every day use but still love the shades. Hopefully they will expand the range to more pinkier/nude shades in the future!

The Cocktail party itself was lovely and in the most stunning of locations in a penthouse overlooking London and right next to Selfridges! Here are a couple photos from the event, look how stunning the penthouse flat is!I also got to meet the lovely Dutchess Roz and catch up with other bloggers who I haven't seen in ages and try yummy cocktails! Thanks to Clinique for hosting a great event it was the nicest event I have attended for a long time.

Yummy macaroons!