Famous five #48

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* my new honey boo boo glasses. best. things. ever. *

The five best bits: an amazingly last-minute Sunday night barbecue with all my favourite treats. We even had a bit of sunshine! + attending a screening for upcoming BBC drama The White Queen. It’s based on the brilliant Philippa Gregory’s books and is just incredible + a cheeky trip to the Pizza Hut buffet. SO UNHEALTHY but I just couldn’t resist + seeing the lovely Bems after far too long + The new Star Trek. Incredible.

On the agenda: I’m heading to the Royal Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow for the first time, which I’m told is going to be incredible. Other than that it’s going to be a seriously busy week at work – lots of people are away on holiday, others are away on work trips and I’ll be trying to hold the fort by myself. Eeeep.

News flash: Barbecues and Pimms are back in my life and I couldn’t be more excited. Summery foodstuffs get in my face.

Pause for thought: This week was, in a word, difficult. Things were even busier than usual in the office and, while that in itself wouldn’t have taken too much of a toll, my week was topped off with a seriously tough task that really challenged me on both a personal and a professional level. I know that there are lots of people who have things to say about the decisions that I have made in the last 48 hours and I really do wish that I had the opportunity to explain myself in full to each and every one of them. Sadly we don’t always get the chance to tell the true story in as much detail as we wish we could and, in this case, I fear I may never get the chance to tell my side of things. But, as hard as the past few days have been, I’ve learnt some seriously important lessons and I’m grateful that I had so many people reach out and offer their support. To all of you, you know who you are, thank you so much. I can’t express how much your kindness has meant.

Now on to a new week…

Remember, if you’d like to see more of my Instagram photos, please do pop over there and follow me @CharlieLankston

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* summer make up purchases *

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* blurry eyed boujis *

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* impromptu sunday night bbq *

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* hanging with my fellow diary ladies *

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Blot that spot: Bioderma Sebium AI Corrector

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Bioderma3* bioderma sebium ai correcteur €14 *

A few weeks ago, my lovely flatmate Adam (hi Adam!) popped across to France for the day for a spot of food shopping, wine buying and – thanks to me – a cheeky trip to Sephora and the local pharmacies to stock up on some beauty and skincare goodies.

While taking the opportunity to replenish my stash of French pharmacy favourites (here’s looking at you Bioderma), I also wanted to take the chance to add a few new bits and bobs to my beauty collection. Enter the Bioderma Sebium AI Corrector, a targeted tinted treatment that is aimed at banishing those blemishes, while also helping to hide any redness or discolouration caused by the little blighters.

The treatment comes in two parts; the first element is a redness-reducing, blemish-tackling corrector, concealed in the lid of the treatment tube. Upon first application, this feels quite bizarre. It’s very dry, without actually being drying on the skin. Confused? Tell me about it. It covers redness really well and can be used solo underneath your normal foundation if you need a bit of extra help tackling any nasty patches.

The second step is a tinted treatment, which has quite a runny consistency and offers a light coverage which works well with the green corrector but wouldn’t be enough to cover blemishes by itself.

While I really like this product, it sits in a bit of an odd no man’s land for me in terms of when is best to use it. When paired with other products, it works well to provide additional coverage for any nasty blemishes and red patches, but I didn’t find the ‘treatment’ aspect of it particularly effective.

I think this might work better for someone suffering from the odd pimple or spot, but I’m not sure it’s necessarily strong enough to tackle the kind of horrible blemishes that I sadly suffer from on occasion. While I would certainly look to this bad boy on a no-fuss make-up day when my skin needed a little somethin’ somethin’, I’ve not yet found a role for it in my everyday line-up.

One to keep experimenting with me thinks…

Instagram eat your heart out: presenting the Beautiful Mess photo app

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As some of you may have noticed, I’m a pretty prolific Instagram user. You name it, I’ll photograph it, stick a snazzy filter on it and share it with the world (or at least those 100 odd people in the world who actually follow me!).

But today I discovered something which has almost blow Instagram away entirely and I couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to share it with y’all.

Ladies and gents, I give you the Beautiful Mess photo app. Created by the lovely Elsie and Emma, the sisters behind brilliant blog ABeautifulMess.com, the photo app takes filters, borders and fun squiggles to a whole new level, making phone-based photo editing so much more exciting.

The app costs just 69p on the app store – bargain - and comes with a whole heap of filters, borders and add-ons, as well as additional bundles that you can purchase additionally within the app.

As you can see from some of the photos above, the options within the app are endless; I’ve spent almost all afternoon playing with it and have yet to become bored!

What do you guys think? Any Instagram users out there feel like giving it a go?

Top photo courtesy of ABeautifulMess.com

We need to talk about Kevyn: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

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Every once in a while, I happen upon a product that just ticks every box. It’s rare, I know, but it really does happen.

The Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (I have the shade SX04) is one of those rare gems, a perfect product that has quite literally revolutionised my beauty routine, making make-up that much more simple, effective and enjoyable, all with the swipe of one tiny dot of product.

Now you may remember the Skin Enhancer from my recent Monthly Marvels post, but so superb have I found it, I felt it deserved a post all to itself.

This super-pigmented pot of concealer can be used in any number of ways; mix it in with a tinted moisturiser or BB cream for added coverage, apply a tiny dot and use solo for heavier coverage (this may be slightly too heavy duty for a lot of people though and requires a hella lotta blending!), or – my preferred method – dot the tiniest amount on any blemishes, blend slightly and then use a light coverage foundation as per normal.

While I know some people (me) balk at the price at first glance (£36 for that teeny tiny pot?!), it soon becomes quite apparent just why it’s priced so highly. As demonstrated in the photos above, just the teensiest, tiniest dot of this stuff can offer coverage for the biggest area; in other words, the best things really do come in the smallest packages.

I’m currently using my Real Techniques Detailer Brush to ensure that only the smallest amount of product is applied and I have to say the two work wonderfully together, but really any small brush will do I think. This product truly is one of the most versatile that I’ve worked with, so I would recommend taking the time to experiment with it a bit. Grab a stash of cotton wool and a big bottle of Bioderma and go to town. Find what works best for you and roll with it.

And with that in mind, any Skin Enhancer pros have any words of wisdom for me?

Handbag beauty: the overhaul

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Handbag3With summer now truly on the horizon, I felt the time had come to add some new staples to my selection of handbag-based beauty. 

Due to the nature of my job – and the fact that, more often than not, I’m left dashing out of the house without a second to spare in the mornings – I like to keep a selection of firm beauty favourites in my handbag, rather than chopping and changing what’s in there every day. That way, I have a core collection of items to hand all the time and never have to worry about forgetting a product!

For me, the essential elements of any on the go beauty bag are as follows:

  • Easy to use in any situation – the Rimmel Scandaleyes for example. A very new addition to the beauty bag but one that I have already fallen head over heels for. Good colour pay-off, smooth crease-resistant formula and, best of all, absolutely no need for any brushes! The perfect solution for any gals who are constantly on the go. Similarly the Revlon Baby Stick has become a firm favourite for its sheer easy of use. A swipe on each cheek, a quick smudge and blend, a slick on the lips and it’s go time
  • Cheap and cheerful – on the odd occasion when I have one too many beverages, I tend to become a bit willy nilly with my make-up. ‘Sure you can borrow that!’ ‘Heeeeey check out how good I am at applying lipstick while also on the phone and climbing into a cab.’ You know the drill. So, rather than risk my favourite high-end products, I like to rely on good quality drugstore favourites to stock up my in-handbag beauty supply. Revlon Lip Butters (currently loving peachy Papaya and scarlet Sorbet) are a prime example of this. At just £6, they combine all the soothing qualities of a lip balm with a quick splash of colour, making them the perfect alternative to an expensive lipstick
  • Reliable - no girl wants to apply her make-up mid-way through the day only to see it slide off her face half an hour later. To ensure that any lumps, bumps of blemishes remain covered well into the evening’s activities, I turn to an ole favourite, the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, a product that is now so infamous among beauty lovers that it’s bloody well sold out everywhere I look! Nevertheless, I managed to lay my hands on not one but two precious tubes of this stuff only last week and I couldn’t be happier that it’s now back in my beauty back stock

So, there you have it, some simple, yet essential, criteria for creating the perfect on the go beauty bag. For the bag itself, I plumped for a clear plastic jobby mainly so that I can always see what I’ve got, without having to endure an endless rifle at the bottom of something deep and dark but really you can go for anything you want. 

What are your beauty bag staples? 

Famous five #47

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* fantastic florals *

The five best bits: finally feeding my long-term Wagamamas craving with a last-minute trip to Westfield on Monday afternoon + attending the launch of Coca Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign, where I spent way too much time drooling over the personalised label-printing machine + finally finishing the stringing on my lacrosse stick + Sunday lie-in with lots of toast + my first full feature in the paper, at long last

On the agenda: there’s lots going on at work, as always. Elsewhere, I think I’m going to give the 5:2 diet a go. So many people have said that it’s the best healthy eating plan around and I’d quite like to see whether I can actually keep it up…

News flash: despite just making a comment about how much I want to start a healthy eating plan, I have had the most outrageous craving for Pop Tarts and I just can’t find them ANYWHERE. Any ideas people?

Pause for thought: Correct me if I’m wrong, but summer is very nearly here and I have thus far made no plans. I think I’d like to see that change…

Remember, if you’d like to see more of my Instagram photos, please do pop over there and follow me @CharlieLankston

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* swoon *

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* candy coloured spring nails *

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* new wrist bling courtesy of casio *

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* aw yeah *

And breathe…

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* photo courtesy of stethoscopesandrunningshoes *

* photo courtesy of stethoscopesandrunningshoes *

Goodness. Gracious. What a week.

It seems utterly unfathomable that it’s already Saturday evening and yet at the same time I can’t quite seem to remember what happened on Monday it seems that far away. Needless to say my brain has been slightly scrambled by the unbelievable level of activity that has been occupying it over the past few days.

From work to work to more work, things built up on top of each other so quickly that it left me short of breath. But, the time has now come to take a deep breath, take stock and take some time to recover.

To all of you who take the time to read my blog – however many or few of you that may be – please don’t be put off by my lack of posts over the past week. It may sound silly but I’ve been left with a genuine feeling of emptiness having been unable to blog and I fully plan on powering back on with things as soon as is physically possible!

And to my ever-patient and supportive friends and family – and to the ever-understanding and ever-tolerant G – thanks again for everything you do to make sure that I have all the support and help that I need to keep on top of life, without you all I would have lost my shit (excuse the French) a long ass time ago.

Y’all are, in a word, awesome and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you in my life.

Products of the moment #6: night time treats

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Bedtime

Bedtime2There’s almost nothing I love more than a long, restful sleep and I can think of nothing better for helping to heal any hurts, soothe any pains and offer complete calm and relaxation.

So, what better time to treat your skin to a complete care regime, full to the brim of specially-selected products that will work their magic throughout the night, leaving you with a brighter, softer and refreshed complexion come morning.

While I’ve chopped and changed my mind about so many of my skincare items, my night time beauty routine seems to have stuck quite well and I find myself returning to the same wonder products again and again, safe in the knowledge that they are providing my skin with the best possible care.

After thoroughly cleansing and toning, the first product that I reach for is my much-loved Hydraluron. This hydration-boosting serum is rich in hyaluronic acid which allows skin to soak up every last bit of moisture from your moisturiser, soaking it right down beneath the surface, plumping and brightening skin as it goes.

Before I crack on with the rest of my face products, I pop on some Ole Henriksen Fresh Start Eye Creme, an amazingly thick and nourishing eye treatment that tackles dark circles, combats any wrinkles and leaves my eyes feeling bright and refreshed by morning. After three years of relying on this bad boy, I can’t imagine using anything else.

Next up is my favourite face combination, the NUDE ProGenius Treatment Oil and the Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. I mix just a few drops of the Treatment Oil in with one pump of the Idealist Serum to create an incredible face treatment that nourishes skin, combats scarring, brightens the complexion, evens skintone and generally soothes, softens and calms. The most incredibly rich treat for skin that’s feeling a bit lacklustre and one that has done wonders for my complexion in the months that I’ve been using it.

Layered on last is a tiny blob of the luxuriously rich NUDE Cellular Renewal Moituriser. This thick face cream is the cherry on the cake of my night time skincare routine, adding that final touch of nourishing moisture to my face and acting almost like a moisture mask throughout the night, leaving skin feeling 100 times softer by the morning.

What products are you currently reaching for pre-bed? Any other bits of beauty brilliance I should be trying?

Famous five #46

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* trying mac’s lady danger on for size *

The five best bits: attending the BT Sport Industry Awards on Thursday and getting the chance to relive the incredible achievements of Team GB during last summer’s Olympics + managing to string my own lacrosse stick without cocking it up (too much) – worth a pat on the back me thinks + spending much of my weekend indulging in a Revenge marathon + taking a delightful stroll in the sunshine + enjoying a delicious lunch with friends

On the agenda: I’m going to allow myself a bit of time off this week. After vowing to commit to a week-long detox, I actually spent even more time than usual running around like a headless chicken last week. This time around, when I say rest, I mean actual rest…. Honest!

News flash: we are, ladies and gents, in the middle of a sunny bank holiday! Since when does that happen!?

Pause for thought: I have some things to ponder over and think about work-wise and that’s taking up a lot of my thinking power at the moment. The cogs they are a-whirin’

Remember, if you’d like to see more of my Instagram photos, please do pop over there and follow me @CharlieLankston

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* a cheeky wish list purchase from zara *

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* amazing pick n mix cart at the sport industry awards *

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* i cannot get enough of this stuff *

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* a superbly decadent light fixture *

Hot hot heat: MAC Temperature Rising Blush

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MACbronze3* c/o mac temperature rising blush in hot nights £19 *

Holy heat Batman, how gosh darn pretty is this latest blush from MAC?! Taken from their new Temperature Rising collection, this incredible bronzed beauty has quite literally been gilded to perfection, offer something totally exciting and extremely HAWT both on the outside and in.

First up, the packaging; unlike many limited edition MAC collections, all of which I love I should just add, the changes to the casing on these products are entirely subtle, yet totally effective and, seeing it all together on display, you can’t help but feel the heat radiating from the collection. Temperature rising indeed.

Now on to the product itself - surely more important than the packaging… Surely?! As with many, if not all, MAC products, this puppy applies like a dream, however it’s far more pigmented than any other MAC blush I own so be warned: apply with care!

When dusted very lightly onto the cheeks, Hot Nights adds the perfect amount of natural flush to cheeks, along with a dusting of natural glow added by the product’s subtle frosty sheen. A highlighter and a blush in one if you like. For a brighter pop of colour, add the tiniest bit of extra product to your brush before applying. Easy peasy.

While perhaps not the easiest product in the world to apply – my over-enthusiasm on my first application led to what can only be described as ‘clown cheeks’ and resulted in an entire face scrub and a re-start! – but when treated with true care it adds a beautifully natural-looking flush, coupled with a subtle glow that brightens the complexion perfectly.

Now to add some more Temperature Rising products to my collection…!