Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

This is a beauty tag that has been doing the rounds on You Tube and after seeing Amarixe's tag (love her beauty channel as she gives great reviews on products) I thought that it would be quite fun to do. 

Below you will find the questions and answers to my Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty.

1. GREED:

What is your most inexpensive beauty item?

I would have to say that Vaseline is my cheapest beauty product which retails between £1 - £2.  I like the fact that the product is very versatile (especially the original formula) as I can use it on my lips, on my eye lashes to condition them as well as parts of the body that are dry or cracked.  It also works wonders in preventing Olivia from getting a rash on her chin/neck which can sometimes occur due to feeding.

What is your most expensive beauty item?

LiLash is probably the most expensive item that I have purchased.  It is an eye lash growth serum and I ordered mine from the States.  It was around $130 which is about £70 or £80.  I wanted to try and lengthen my lashes as unfortunately I am not blessed with gorgeous long lashes and I have seen a lot of positive reviews of this product on You Tube and thought I would give it a go.  You use the product at night and apply is like an eye liner to your top and bottom lashes (I just did the top).  Mine lasted for quite a while, I think 4 or 5 months and I am pleased to say that I did see a noticeable improvement in the length and condition of my lashes.  Sadly I didn't repurchase it as I couldn't justify spending that sort of money regularly on just my lashes (when you stop using the product your lashes will eventually go back to normal length on the next cycle).  However it is a brilliant product and I loved the effect that it had on my lashes.

2. WRATH:

What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with?

So many people love this foundation and some are even as bold to call it one of their holy grail products.  Because of this I was desperate to try it as I too wanted gorgeous glowing skin like so many had claimed it gave them.  I have to agree that the first time I used this product my skin did look beautiful.  However over the next couple of days of wearing this my skin started to breakout in some red blemishes (no white heads - more like a raised rash) so I stopped using the product and my skin cleared up.  I have tried, on more than one occasion to try this product out again but the same thing happens.  To me the product feels quite oily on the skin, so I'm not sure if it is this that is causing a reaction.  All I know is that I love it the first time I wear it but then after that no so much.

What product has been the hardest to get?

There aren't any products which I have really struggled to find.  I am not someone who desperately goes searching for "that" lipstick from a collection, instead I just face the disappointed of missing out and hope that the product will be repromoted at some point.  I did however find Benefit's They're Real Mascara a challenge to get my hands on it.  There was so much hype about this product, especially as it had been released in the US before it had over here, so there was a massive buzz in the beauty community about it.  When it was first released in the UK it seemed to be going off the shelves like hot cakes and every wear I seemed to go didn't have it.  I decided to use up the large quantity of mascaras I already had in my collection first - even if I was slightly saddened by the prospect.  I was extremely pleased though when Christmas morning came around to see that my hubby had bought it for me.  I have been using it every day since and am loving the results it gives.  This is one product that for me, was worth the wait.

3. GLUTTONY:

What are your most delicious beauty products?

I find this question a little strange, especially as you don't tend to eat beauty products.  However I interpreted it as the beauty products that smell the most delicious.  I have two rivals for this category.  The first being any products by Bed Head as they smell just like sweets.  My favourite is Superstar, Queen for a Day Thickening Spray which you spray on to the roots of your hair when damp to inject some volume.  It smells like Starburst sweets and even lasts in you hair which is something that I love.

The second rival for this category is any products by Lush.  Their products would have to be some of my favourites and even though the smell can be quite over powering when you walk past their stores the scents of some of their products are to die for.  I especially love their lip scrubs (which you can eat and I take great pleasure in licking the product off my lips every time I use it) and my favourite is Mint Julips as it smells like Aftereight mints.  I also like any of their Vanilla scented products as this is one of my favourite scents of all time.

4. SLOTH:

What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

When I was working I always used a Primer every day to ensure that my make-up stayed put, especially as I work long hours.  However since being on maternity leave this is one product that I often skip.  Unless I am going out for dinner and I want my skin to look flawless, I don't tend to use it.  Once the hotter weather comes around I will probably start to use it again, especially the Prep and Prime from Mac as it has an SPF 50.

5. PRIDE:

What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

If I'm completely honest, having a complete made up face (not drag queen style though, more natural looking) gives me the most confidence.  But if I had to narrow it down to one product then I would say foundation because if my skin looks even and blemish free then I am happy.  I still love my Estee Lauder Sheer Tint Release and I am currently using this everyday.  However that doesn't really hide everything.  If I am going out for the evening, or at work and I want my skin to look flawless for a long time then I always reach for Mac's Select Moisture Cover in NW20.  It evens out my skintone perfectly and really makes me feel as though I have flawless skin (especially when blended with my fingers which I feel are the best tools for applying this product).  It's a product that I honestly couldn't not have in my collection and it's even the foundation that I wore on my wedding day.

6. LUST:

What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Again, I thought this question was a little odd as it's not beauty product related.  I thought it might be about the product that you most want to purchase and are lusting after, in which case I would have to say Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation.  I have heard so many great things about this product and I really want to buy it, but I still have quite a lot left of my Sheer Tint Release and my Studio Fix Fluid so I am patiently waiting to use these up (or at least one of them) until I buy it.

In answer to the actual question though, I have interpreted it as physical attributes.  With this in mind I would have to say nice eyes (my hubby has really blue eyes which are gorgeous...I'm so jealous as I always wanted blue eyes) and nice shoulders/upper back especially with a tan.  And yes, hubby if you are reading this, I think you have very sexy shoulders/upper back.

7. ENVY:

What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

One beauty product that I rarely buy myself, and that is perfume.  The perfumes that I like tend to be on the pricey side (Chanel and Dior perfumes being my favourite), so usually I wait until my birthday or Christmas to ask for one.  Therefore this is the product that I most like to receive as a gift.  I think that there's nothing better than receiving a bottle of perfume which come in a pretty bottle and having it displayed on my dressing table.  I love to wear perfume and I have different signature scents depending on the seasons which always make me feel beautiful and put a smile on my face when I wear them.

So what are your Seven Deadly Sins of beauty?  Leave a comment telling me about yours and subscribe for future tag related posts.

January Beauty Favourites 2012

It's that time of the month where I share my monthly favourites.  These are products that I have repeatedly loved using throughout the course of the month and are either new discoveries or items that I have re-discovered.  Some products, for example those mentioned in my skin care routine etc will not be shown as they are products that I have loved and used for a long time and would therefore be present in every months favourites, not just in this months (see below for the list - perhaps I will do a separate post about these).  The items below are in no particular order.

Long Standing Favourites (these are products that have not changed for a long time):

Skincare: Liz Earle (see skincare favourites)
Powder: Mac Mineralised Skinfinish Natural
Foundation: Estee Lauder Sheer Tint Release
Bronzer: Nars Laguna
Concealer: Bobbi Brown Corrector, Mac Select Moisture Cover Concealer and Bare Minerals Eye Brightener in Well Rested.
Eye Liner: L'Oreal Liner Intense in Carbon Gloss
Mascara: Benefit They're Real
Brows: HD Brow Set

This months favourites are:


Organix Brazillian Keratin Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner £6.99 each from Boots

I have discovered a new shampoo and conditioner that works wonders on my hair.  Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo 385ml is described as being an exclusive blend of antioxidant rich cocoa nut oil along with lush keratin proteins to help strengthen and soften the hair, while organic avocado oil and cocoa butter smooth the cuticle for straight, strong tresses, adding a brilliant glow and luminescent shine.  I have straight hair (with a slight kink to it if left to dry naturally) so you may wonder why I even bothered to try a Keratin shampoo as they are designed for people with curly hair who want to straighten it.  I chose this product because of the ingredients and to help create silky smooth locks that are really conditioned from within.  Along with using the Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner 385ml I really feel that I have finally achieved the hair that I wanted which is in good condition, shiny and full of body.  It is also sodium and sulphate free which is also good for your hair - for more information about this click here.  I will probably do a separate review on this product as I have really enjoyed using it so far, so I will save some of my thoughts and feelings about this product until then.

Amazon Kindle £89

This was one of my favourite Christmas presents that I received this year (so excited to finally have one) and has been used continuously throughout January.  I love reading, but I was finding it increasingly difficult to read a book (especially if I was holding Olivia and she fell asleep) as I couldn't turn the pages.  The Kindle solved this problem completely as it is light to hold and easy to turn the pages with one click of a button.  I also like to carry a book with me (as you never know when you might get the chance to read) and with all of the things that I need to carry with me for Olivia there is not much room for a book in my bag.  The new Kindle is so practical for this as it is smaller and lighter than traditions books as well as the original Kindle.  Some people may not like that there isn't a key pad available (the new one you have to scroll through an on-screen keypad using the cursor) but this doesn't bother me as it is not as though you need to use the key pad all the time.  The page size is exactly the same as the original but the new Kindle only holds 1000 books, which is more than plenty for me (the original holds 3,500).  One thing I will add is that it does not come with a charger.  It has the cable required, so if you have an Apple charger with a USB port you can use this or you can charge it directly from a computer using the USB cable.  It was not a problem for me as I had an Apple charger that I could use but if you don't then it might be worth purchasing one for ease (although the Kindle does stay charged for a very long time).

Laura Mercier Hand Cream in Creme Brulee £13 for 50g

This month I have found that I am reaching for hand cream more than ever as I am forever washing my hands or washing-up bottles etc and due to the cold weather they have been a lot dryer than normal.  My favourite hand cream is from the Creme Brulee range by Laura Mercier.  It is a rich creme that nourishes the skin without leaving a greasy film. It contains grape and olive oils which help to soften and moisturise, while soy proteins rich in amino acids help in the repair process. The fragrance is a deep rich caramel with nuances of sugar, vanilla and musk and as Creme Brulee is my favourite dessert to eat, how could I possibly resist this.

Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Parfum

As you can see from the bottle (which is 100ml) I do not have a lot of this product left.  I was trying to save this until I bought another bottle and recently I received one as a gift, so throughout January I have been using this product like mad as it is one of my all time favourites.  The perfume is describe as being a fragrance created for an elegant and spirited young woman in love. Romantic by nature, Miss Dior Chérie inspires an intense and playful love, for which she is also searching. She personifies the spontaneous joie de vivre of today's young women, representing a particular type of freedom and seduction. The fragrance is characterised by an instant and captivating charm. Whether or not you agree with their statement is up to you but whenever I wear this perfume I always feel elegant and girly and I love the combination of citrus fruits and floral notes.

Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink £11 for 15ml

Due to the weather being a lot colder and the fact that I can't stop kissing Olivia (her cheeks are so cute I can't help myself) I've been avoiding wearing as much lipstick/lipgloss.  This month I wanted my lips to be conditioned but still have a slight tint of colour to them.  I raided through my make-up collection and re-discovered my lip conditioner from Mac in the shade Petting Pink.  It is a protective emollient balm formulated with SPF 15, and gives a sheer wash of colour and an all-natural sheen. It helps to condition the lips, and locks in moisture, and contains Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Avocado Extract, Wheat Germ Oil, Vitamins A and E.  It gives my lips a pretty pink tint to them with a lovely sheen and goes with anything that you might put on your eyes or cheeks.  The best thing of all - it doesn't transfer when I give Olivia a kiss, or get stuck to my hair (which is something I really hate about Lipgloss).

Palmer's Cocoa Butter £3 - £4 for 250ml

This was my favourite moisturiser when I was pregnant and throughout January when the weather is cold and leaves my skin on the dry side.  Palmer's Cocoa Butter is a rich creamy lotion made from pure Cocoa Butter enriched with Vitamin E, and is an advanced moisturiser that softens, smoothes and relieves dry skin. It is also designed to help smooth and blend marks and scars so is helpful in preventing those dreaded stretch marks which so many women fear when pregnant.  I didn't get any stretch marks during my pregnancy and this was the only product that I used on my skin.  The scent is quite strong and it not to everyones taste but I really adore the chocolate smell that it leaves on my skin.  However if you don't like the scent you can purchase a fragrance free version and still enjoy the benefits.

I will post my favourites around the same time each month and if you would like any of these products reviewed in more depth then please leave a comment below.  Also you can subscribe for future updates on my monthly favourites.