New In: Topshop Beauty

Yesterday I popped along to the beautiful Somerset House to check out what's new in the world of Topshop Beauty.

For Autumn Winter, Topshop Beauty are going for a jelly formula throughout the collection. The idea came about when Cassie Mystkowski and Hannah Murray got together to start throwing possibilities around. As they sat eating jam on toast - it struck them! The range features a jelly formula Lip Polish (£9), gel formula Nail Polish (£5) and Cheek Gel (£7) in matching shades.

The cheek gel above is Reign - they're designed to be worn under the cheekbone where you naturally flush, to give a really soft and realistic flush of colour to the face.

Also new from Topshop is the introduction of complexion products in September 2014, which they're calling 'The Face'. The range consists of The Foundation (£16) - a lightweight, medium coverage formula which works with your natural skin tone, so their 5 shades should suit most skin tones. The Airbrush Primer (£12) a silicone based primer to smooth imperfections. The Colour Correcting Primer (£12) a green tinted primer to get rid of redness, but blends down well without leaving a green tinge to the face! It also has anti inflammatory properties to help get rid of redness in the long run. The Concealer Palette (£12) 3 creamy concealers - one acting as a colour correcting concealer, one an under eye concealer and one a blemish concealer - which can all be mixed together to get your desired colour, and a setting powder which is ultra-fine. The Concealer (£10) this looks fabulous - totally buildable without noticing any form of cakeyness, I can't wait until it comes out! Only available in two shades at the moment but these look extremely promising for a natural, lasting coverage.

The Molton Metallics Collection launches in August - taking a nod from the catwalks, but transforming the metallicness into a wearable range of make up - from soft cream blush with a hint of metallic pearl (£7), Metallic Lips (£8), and Metallic Nails (£6). If you're rather scared of metallics, start with the blush... it's the gentlest way to ease yourself in!

Other new releases for August are Chubby Liner (£7) - a liquid marker-like eyeliner, Kajal Liner (£7) Mono Eye Shadows in 4 new pearly smokey colours (£5), Lip Primer (£8), Iridescent Lip Bullet (£8) - in 2 shades, lip colours with frost to leave lips glossy and full looking, Matte Lip Bullet (£8) - gorgeous lip sticks in chubby pencil form - matte but with a slight sheen, Lip Perfecting Base (£8), Glow Dust (£10) in Radiate - a golden highlighter.

My favourite picks are the purple and orange matte lip sticks (Could This Be Love, and Queen Bee) and Falling Fast lipstick (which I'm wearing in the photo) - I just love them all so much, they are totally my colours and cannot WAIT for them to launch so I can get my hands on them!

The eyeshadows are gorgeous too - the shades are Lunar, Intersellar, Galaxy and Explorer - again, looking forward to purchasing these.

Something else I spotted was the Freckle Pencil (£5) - a long-wearing waxy formula which has two shades of brown swirled together to give you natural looking freckles.

There was also a quick peek at some of their Christmas sets, but more of that nearer the time!

These items will be available st selected Topshop and John Lewis stores nationwide, Topshop.com and Selfridges Oxford Street.

Space NK Christmas

Today kicked off a run of Christmas in July events for me - that odd time when it's the warmest week of the year, yet in you step to winter wonderlands. Space NK was a great place to start it off - where the Christmas gifts they have this year are gorgeous. There is something for everyone, from candles, skincare, make up and body ranges - all packed into beautiful collections.

I realise this will be rather a picture heavy post - but I feel, in this case - the photos need to do the talking!

Aromatherapy Associates have a great range of gifts - including the star to hang from your Christmas tree which contains a 7.5ml bottle of Inner Strength bath and shower oil (£10) The Inner Strength oil is also available in a rollerball tube - 10ml to apply instantly to your skin (£15) Also photographed is the Rodial Glam Balm Lip which is also in a tree-hanging box (£12)

The By Terry Baum de Rose set - 5 gorgeous mini lip glosses (£52)

By Terry eye makeup set - containing Hyaluronic Eye Primer, Masacara Terrybly in Black, Crayon Kohl Terrybly in Black Print, Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon, Eyebrow Liner in Brown and Sharperner in a clutch bag (£96)

A selection of candles available at Space NK this Christmas including the new Diptyque Christmas scented candles in Hiver, Épice and Résine (70g £26 / 190g £45) 

Diptyque mini collection

70g versions of the Diptyque Christmas candles (£26)

This large Diptyque candle will come in a set including the glass dome (£100) Also pictured is the Space NK Shimmering Spice Candle (75g - £15 / 175g £30) which smells deliciously like Christmas, and the little holes in the wrapper leave a gorgeous glow to your room.

Emma Hardie Age Renewal Collection - Age Support Treatment Cream, Moringa Facial Exfoliator, Rejuvinating Night Cream, Age Support Eye Cream (£79)

How gorgeous does the Eve Lom display look!? This is the Ultimate Collection 2014 which contains a 200ml Cleanser, 50ml TLC Radiance Cream, 7ml Kiss Mix, 20ml Eye Cream, 100ml Rescue Mask and a muslin cloth (£175)

Eve Lom's complexon range will also be available in Christmas sets. You can see at the front left the hanging star which contains a 7ml Kiss Mix lip balm (£16)

A selection of Oribe products available at Space NK

This palette forms part of the Into The Wild Look Book Collection from Laura Mercier - 3 palettes called Safari Chic, Jungle Chic and Tribal Chic (£78)

Laura Merciers Luxe Quartet (pictured top and right) are available in Ambré Vanilla, Tarte Au Citron and Almond Coconut Milk - they contain a wooden dipper, 11ml Honey Bath, 110ml Scrub, 110ml Soufflé Body Créme, and 100ml Shimmer Body Mist (£55)

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette For Eyes & Cheeks - contains eye colours in Vanilla Nuts, Stone Taupe, Deep Night, Morning Dew, Cashmere - and a face highlighter in Rosegold Shimmer (£45)

Another gorgeous set from Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection - 1g minis of the Caviar Sticks in Rosegold, Amethyst, Moonlight, Copper, Khaki and Cocoa (£38)

Pictured at the top of the photo is the Caudalíe Anti-Oxidant Defense Set - containing 30ml Polyphenol C15 Serum, 15ml Polyphenol C15 Fluid, 5ml Polyphenol C15 Eye and Lip Créme (£35), next down is the Elemental Herbology Pure Essentials Hand Cream and Lip Balm Duo (£25), and bottom of the pic is the Caudalîe Hand Cream Trio (£12)

Nudestix is a new brand from America owned by two teenage girls who believe young girls should keep their make up nude and as natural as possible. I tried the lip gloss pencil in Whisper and LOVE it!

Lion Heart is another new brand to Space NK, I chatted to the owner who told me that this is the purest form of Omega 3 you can get in England. I tried some of the oil, and although there is a distinctly fishy taste, it's bearable as it's mixed with lemon, and as soon as you swallow the taste is gone. Far better than the Omega 3 capsules that I've been taking that repeat on me all day!

This funky looking box is the Révive Art Box - containing Moisturizing Renewal Cream Supreme 50ml, Fermitif Neck Renewal Cream SPF 15 30ml, Eye Renewal Serum 30ml, Moisturising Renewal Eye Cream 50ml (£465). The top right of the photo shows the Darphin Anti-Ageing & Radiance Set - containing Ideal Resource Cream 50ml, Ideal Resource Eye Serum 5ml, Ideal Resource Overnight Cream 15ml (£52)

The mountain of Space NK gifts, ranging from REN to Ciate

The lovely refreshments on offer

Some goodies from Lipstick Queen - the red box is the Red Carpet set, containing Said Red, Red Sinner and Red Metal - 3 different red lipsticks (£45), the palette behind it is Kevin Aucoin but I'm afraid I don't have any further details on that

Candle heaven!

Gifts galore!

Pictured left is the Laura Mercier Body & Bath Golden Honey Musk Duet - containing a 170ml Honey Bath, and 170ml Sofflé Body Créme  and a wooden dipper (£35) Pictured left is the Laura Mercier Body & Bath La Petite Påtisserie Soufflé Body Créme Collection - containing 60ml pots of body souffles in Almond Coconut Milk, Ambre Vanillé, Créme De Pastiche, Fresh Fig, Créme Brulée and Tarte Au Citron (£45)

One of the This Works Deep Sleep sets

So... there's your sneek peak at Christmas from Space NK!

What's It All About?

This weekend I saw the latest video from Colbie Caillat for her single Try... and I welled up. Maybe it was the words, maybe the video, or the sentiment... or maybe I'm just an over-sensitive ball of mush.

The song is her telling someone that they don't need to try to be anyone other than themselves - don't worry about make up, having your hair done or what you're wearing in order to impress someone. Just be you. The video starts with her and the other women featuring in the video with full hair and make up, and by the end of the video she's shown you her transformation from photo-shopped to barefaced natural beauty. It really touched me to the point I wanted to share it with you guys.

My life practically revolves around make up - not only is it my career, but my hobby and I love the transformation it can bring to someone; make someone who's feeling rubbish feel beautiful. I personally choose to wear make up for no one but myself. I probably need to learn to be more comfortable in my bare-faced-ness, but make up, to me, gives me confidence and happiness. I certainly don't feel I *have* to put make up on every day, but I choose to, because I want to be a better version of me, and make up does that for me. I love what this video stands for... What are your thoughts on the subject?

Tarte Cosmetics Newness

Tarte is a brand that is fast becoming a favourite of mine - the packaging is to die for, and the products are such great quality with amazing results. The latest batch of loveliness has just hit QVC UK - here are a few things that are on offer.

First up is the Amazonian Butter Lipstick Trio in the shades Guava, Lychee and Mulberry. Can we take a moment to appreciate the packaging please? Gorgeous cardboard casing with floral patterns all over them... swoon. Right, the lipsticks! As you may imagine, I don't always bother reading boxes, I just want to get to the product, and that was the case here. My first thought as I tried these on my lips, was just how buttery they were, then I realised they were called Amazonian Butter lipsticks and that yes, they are infused with Amazonia cupaucu and murmuru butters. They are intensely moisturising and hydrating, and feel so comfortable to wear.

The three are sheer lipsticks, but with enough colour for it to be there, like an insanely pigmented balm. Guava is a reddy-coral with tinfy flecks of golden micro-glitter. You can't see it on the lips, but it adds to the 3d-effect once it's on. Lychee is my absolute favourite - a really easy to wear purpley nude, I just love it, and it will take pride of place in my handbag so I can wear it as much as possible! Mulberry is a deeper, rosy nude that will be great for autumn.

Next I tried the BB Tinted Treatment 12-hour Primer. This is designed to be used either as a primer to other make up, or as a BB Cream on it's own. It's oil free which is a bonus for me, but doesn't give me enough coverage to wear on it's own - nor is it the kind of finish I like. It claims to be buildable - the top photo is my hand which one layer on, and some more squeezed on. The bottom photo shows my hand with 2 layer on. Although it doesn't work for me as a BB Cream, I am really enjoying using it as a primer - it minimises the appearance of pores, and my foundation glides on top of it. It came with a stippling brush which I am absolutely in love with. The hairs are so short and firm that you can really work your foundation into your face. The bamboo handle and golden metal is a lovely touch too.

The other brush I have been trying is the Buffy Bamboo Face Powder Brush - another great quality brush, it feels so floppy and soft when you use it to apply powder to the face. It gives a nice even distribution of product so as not to look cakey. I have been using it with the Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder which is also amazing. It's a white loose powder which is so finely milled that it creates a little dust cloud when you close the lid. It leaves your skin with an airbrushed finish, and controls shine without looking powdery. I have extremely oily skin, and my make up lasts a lot longer than usual since I've started using this.

So there's my little round-up of Tarte newness. I urge you to go and try some of their stuff out, as you may have already guessed - I am loving it!

What's In My July Birchbox?

The theme to the July Birchbox is Sun, Sea & Sand - preparing people for their summer holidays (not me, sob sob!) or a hot English summer. The box, they say, contains samples that will see you through the hottest season.

So, lets' see what's in the box....

Weleda - Millet Nourishing Shampoo - 18ml (Full size is 190ml for £8.95)
This is a non-lathering shampoo containing organic macadamia nut oil, and extracts of organic millet husks and sage to clean your hair gently, while stopping the hair from becoming dry. I'm happy to try out shampoo samples in my beauty boxes, I just wish they would also include the corresponding conditioner, so you can really give it a go! Other than that, this is a great sample - gentle enough that I can use on the kids too.

Gilchrist & Soames - English Spa Sea Kelp Mineral Bath - 40ml  (Full size is 236ml for £11.25)
I always like to try brands I've not used before - and in this case, not heard of! Used as a bubble bath , it really foams up well under hot running water. It can also be used as a shower gel, and is a perfect size to take on holiday without taking up vital shoe-room! It leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh without any dryness or tightness,

Balance Me - Wonder Eye Cream - 7ml (Full size is 15ml for £20)
I have used this cream before - it's a lightweight eye cream, designed to brighten the under-eye area, as well as smoothing away dark shadows and fine lines. It's packed full of natural ingredients, such as Roman chamomille, lemon, cucumber oil, witch hazel, hyaluronic acid, spruce knot, virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils, and absorbs quickly into the skin.

LAQA & CO - Sheer Lip Lube Pencil - Bees Knees - 0.07oz (FULL SIZE! RRP £14)
There are two shades being split between the boxes - Bees Knees, the one I have which is a gorgeous pale coral, and Menatour a purpley pink. I love it, and is definitely my favourite thing in the box. It's sheer yet gives just the right amount of colour to the lips. Plus it's really pepperminty and fresh and feels moisturising to wear.

Whish - Three Little Whishes - Lavender Body Butter 22ml (Full size is 150ml for $24)
Whish is another brand I hadn't heard of until now - and with a little investigation I have seen that they are an American brand, which doesn't seem readily available in the UK yet. That makes me want to try it even more, I 'm a sucker for things that are hard to get hold of (then I fall in love with it and can't get hold of it... story of my life!) Aaaaaaaaanyway.... the little tube of body butter comes in a variety of scents, and although this one is lavender, it's not lavender as you might imagine it - it smells modern and delicate and, well, good enough to lick! It sinks in well to the skin and leaves it feeling really supple and gorgeous. Must. check. more. of. the. range.

and this month's lifestyle extra is

Ultradex - Oral Spray 9ml (FULL SIZE! RRP £3.65)
A little spray to pop in your hand bag for a quick breath-freshen-up on the go! As well as leaving a minty fresh taste, it actually works to kill any harmful bacteria that could be lurking in there!

All in all, quite a body-orientated box this month, although they all seem like top quality and intriguing products - I definitely want to use them all!

To find out more, and subscribe - check out the Birchboxwebsite.