Hello Summer! It seems this week we have a bit of sunshine here, and that makes Clairemae feel rather happy. I must admit i'm not one for going out and catching the rays and trying to get some colour - infact my skin gets pretty irritated by the sun (perhaps because it doesn't know how to react!) I'm quite indoorsy so i do cheat a little so i don't quite look as grey when i do go out. But overall theres something about the sun that makes me feel all happy, being able to go for walks, picnics.
Heres a few things i've been using this week.
First with the fake.. on a night i've been using a bit of Dove's summer glow. This is a gradual tanning moisturiser  which adds a little bit of healthy colour which doesn't look fake or orange. Next the St Tropez perfect legs fake tan, now i've only used this a few times and i have seemed to manage an ok job of it! My legs are so white as they just never see daylight outside without a pair of tights hiding them, still with a little bit of tan i'm hiding them a little as there not my most attractive body part... but every little helps.

I've not posted one of these in a while, with moving and not having spare money to splurge on beauty products it seems i've been making use of what i already have. These products this month make me feel fresh for for summer, so let me share;
I picked up this new Elemis Flash Balm sample in Red magazine. (purley bought the magazine for the sample..! £2 in Tesco). As my Clarins beauty flash balm is on its way out, i'm hoping this is going to prove an alternative for my primer. This can be used as a moisturiser  primer or a radiance boost. It has a bit of a odd smell i can't yet work out, but leaves a shimmery finnish on the face.
Now this is something, the Weleda Skin Food. I received in a Birchbox this is the thickest and most nourishing cream i have had hold of, I first used this on my face when it needed a little pick me up, but i have discovered the best place i've used this is on my tired feet (Yuk i know) But i have smothered my feet in this stuff before putting on some comfy slipper socks. It works!



X

Bit of a life post what i've been upto in pictures..

Going left to right.. 1. Trying out a new Lush bath bomb, someone likes it 2. Late night trip to Krispy Kremes. mmm 3. Latest order from Origins including the skin drink overnight mask and lots of samples 4. Cupcakes made for a christening 5. I get to look after this fire at work, its super cosy with this lit. 6. My favourtite autumn shade right now from Essie. 7. Shopping trip to town including a new real techniques brush and lush christmas goodies. 8. Having an sick day and a pretty doughnut can only make things better..! 9. Trying out some new Elemis masks and a new Mac browset  10/11. new Marc Jacobs iphone case which came in such a pretty gift box from net-a-porter.com 12. Chocolate brownie dessert to die for..

Here are two products that both claim to sooth, destress and take the weight of the world away...
Elemis - Quiet Mind Temple Balm and Origins - Sensory Therapy Peace of Mind but do they actually work?



Apologies for the quality of pictures i've used my iphone.

I was a little late in putting up a September favourite posts, so i decided not to but these are a couple of new things i'm enjoying using right now. I love autumn, yes its colder but theres just something about it that i love, the trees are turning, i can light candles and feel really cosy.
I've spent the past week feeling pretty lousy, i guess its because its suddenly colder and everyone seems to have become sick... i'm getting over it. (sniffle)
My skin in general has suddenly felt alot drier, i don't know if its because i haven't been well or just the climate change, maybe just a combination of them both!



Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream hand treatment - I really love EA's 8 hour range, it smells a little strange but it really does work, this hand cream is great on the go, i've got some 8 hour facial moisturiser i'm dying to try out but i'm saving it for my holiday next month. I think this range is really good for this time of year.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in soft and gentle - I've been using this alot lately its loverly for just finishing off the face with to brighten and highlight.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel - This is an exfoliater mask, left on the skin for 10 minutes the natural fruit enzymes exfoliate and purify tired skin. I see this as more of a mask than an exfoliater, i like exfoliaters that are more like scrubs - I do love this peel and it seems to bring out the inpurities of my skin afterwards. (this is just a tester i've borrowed from the spa at work, but i will probs end up purchasing it in the future)


MAC Browset - I've been quite into grooming my brows lately  it really finishes off my face even with little or no makeup - the brow set i have is in begile neatly keeps any stray hairs together without that horrible waxy feeling (or i've used other brow sets before and they have left a white residue)
Essie nail laquer in recessionista - this is form them limited edition line for autumn, i've been looking for a  nice deep red for a while and it was had to part with my £8 for an Essie polish but honestly i do prefer this paint to so many other polishes and its worth it in the end for staying/chip free power alone.

Balance Me  wonder eye cream - I really do love the naturalness of Balance Me products and this eye cream is loverly for freshing up the eye area (after not so much sleep.... ) leaves eyes feeling revitalized and has quite a nice scent too.

This is my first beauty related product empties. I don't know about anyone else but one of my favourite blog or you tube beauty posts are empties, its weirdly fascinating! Ive been meaning to get this post up for a while and my collection is mounting up, i just want to bin it so here it goes!

Hair related empties;
Kerastase Bain Chroma Riche - I was getting a little fed up with my hair becoming so oiley quickly and i put it down to the shampoo i was using so i decided to treat myself to something i've used at the salon before and i know is good. Kerastase is fantastic and leaves my hair manageable and feeling super soft.
Repurchase? Yes, i'm already halfway through another bottle of this.

Osmo Berber Oil - This is an argan oil hair treatment, i got this sample from glossy box and i absolutly loved it, the thing about this oil is you can use it on wet hair and dry hair to help style it, it smells soo good and leaves my hair really healthy.
Repurchase? Yes, i've bought another argan oil which isn't as good as this so need to use that up first.

Tresemme Styling Spray - I just used this as a heat defence for when i blowdry or straighten my hair, it does the job honestly there isn't much to say.
Repurchase? Yes already have, i own the larger version of this now.

onto skincare!
Johnsons Daily Essentials Night Cream - I've owned this a really long time and im glad its used up, it was really fair priced to buy and i remember it being buy one get one free from Superdrug, i've used this as a night cream as is thick and moisturising, its a little greasy to absorb.
Repurchase? Not yet, theres other night creams i'd like to try out.

Layla D Honey Moisturiser - I love honey related products, i used this as an everyday moistoriser which i really enjoyed, shame it doesn't have spf in for me.
Repurchase? I'd like to try out the night cream version of this.

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Cream Wash - Another product i've had a long time, it smells fantastic as does the rest of this grapefruit range they do, its great for really cleansing skin with any spots or acne.
Repurchase? No as i have alot of cleansers to use up.

Lush Oatifix Fresh Face Mask - These masks are great from Lush, the oatifix one really does smell edible and is a little like putting a flapjack on your face. (well not really) the only trouble i have with these masks is i can't use them up in time, as they only last a month kept in your fridge.
Repurchase? - Yes, although maybe i would repurchase a different lush mask.

Others;
Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak - wow i loved this, after a long day of work its so nice to run a bath with this, it clears the airways before even getting in.
Repurchase? I'd love to butt... its really expensive for what it is. :(

FCUK Bodyspray - I've had this from a gift set a while ago, i do prefer body sprays as i don't like heavy fragrance this smells strongly of vanilla, which is my favourite.

Thanks for reading! x

Elizabeth Arden - I have a few items to take with me, firstly my must have favourite Eight Hour Crcam, this is a perfect treatment for any nasties such as sun burn, irritations or dry skin. Something i'd repurchase again and again. Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion - yet to try this new line to Elizbeth Arden and it has SPF 15 which is a must for any face moisturizer. I also have, the Hand Treatment and Eight Hour Lip Protectant - which has spf in great for protecting lips in the harsh sun.

Long time no blog! August was a month for me i decided to save a little money to put aside for a holiday, however it didn't work out i still felt the need to buy a few products here and there.. I'm starting to collect alot of the same things that i just really need to use up! Here are my favourties from this month