Upon deciding which of my many, many highlighters to travel with I somehow decided to take the heaviest highlighter in my stash. The chosen highlighter in question was the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel (see more: here) but it wasn't the item itself which stood out from all the other contenders but the versatility of it...


Soleil De Tan Chanel is a beautiful bronze highlighter and if I'm honest I don't own too many bronzed toned highlighters in my collection. I think that every girls arsenal should be equipped with a bronze highlighter as they truly are the most versatile, multi-use wonder products you could own. Of course it doesn't have to be from Chanel, it just has to be a beautiful bronze-gold.

The Uses
1. The first use of the highlighter is of course the most traditional use, to apply it to the high points of the face. This will hit two birds with one stone as not only will it bring some dimension to your face but it will also add some colour to it.
2. Mix a small amount into your moisturiser. If you are one for a light, fresh base then this will work wonders as it will add a tint of colour and luminosity without actually covering your face. 
3. If you are wanting some coverage then of course this can also be mixed into your foundation to, again, add luminosity but also a little hint of warmth to your complexion.
4. Just as you can highlight the face, you can the body! When going out I love to apply this to my collar bones and shoulders to give you that really sexy sheen. Trust me, it's all in the details.
5. Mix it in with your body moisturiser then apply it everywhere! This will make your skin look like you are sweating gold. Not as glamorous as it sounds but you know what I mean. Plus it means that you can afford to skip the tights!
6. Contour the legs. This step is incredibly easy, simply apply a stripe onto the center of your leg working from foot to knee to thigh and voila. This allows your legs to catch the light at the most flattering angle which will make your legs look longer and more slender.
7. Finally, use it in place of a bronzer. By using a light layer of a bronze highlighter, you will still create that bronzed effect on the skin but now it will be a glowing bronzed look that could be spotted on a Victoria's Secrets model. Plus it will be subtle, as we all know how easy it is to get a little heavy handed with the bronzing brush!

Overall, a bronze highlighter is much more versatile than a pink based highlighter as its uses doesn't just stop at the face. It can be your best friend on these colder, drier months where we are all craving the summer sunshine and it will be your love affair during the warmer months to enhance that tan. It is just the perfect, most versatile product to create a subtle sun-kissed glow.

What's your favorite use for highlighter?
As you know from my recent review on the Lancome DreamTone  I don't like to review skincare prodcts a week after owning them. This isn't makeup people. Skincare takes more than a month to truly show its benefits, so the testing of it must be done properly. I have talked a little about this cleanser on the blog (see here) but now that I have given it a real test I can now provide you with a full review.



To begin with, the product is housed in a very basic plastic packaging. A tick from me as that is practical and safe, nobody wants glass in the bathroom. The pump dispenses a very small amount of product which is excellent as that means you won't waste any product by pouring, scooping or pumping out excess than you need. I usually use two pumps to cleanse my whole face and neck but sometimes one pump suffices. My only issue with the pump is that the product can dry around the nozzle which can be a little unattractive but it is easy enough to clean.

The cleanser itself is very thin and light. It has an almost liquid texture to it but is just a tad more viscous than water or oil. When applying it to your face it does really give you that slip feel. This makes it very unique as when I hear Clay or Clarifying, I don't think of a light or slippy product. When massaged into the skin it can tingle a little, which lets me know its working, and when water is added to the mix it gets ever so slightly foamy so rinses off easily. The only thing I am not fond of is the scent. It has the scent of hair dye which made me NOT want to apply it directly on to my face but after using it for so long I am used to it.

The results. This is a clarifying cleanser which aims to draw out impurities and minimise pores. As I have oily and sometimes blemish prone skin I love a clarifying cleanser. This is the least stripping cleanser I have tried to date. I like to really massage it into my skin and let it sit there for about a minute to really let the clay unclog my pores, this is when it tingles and then to rinse it off. When I have rinsed it off my face doesn't feel stripped, thirsty or dry. I wouldn't say this does amazing things for oil control but it certainly does help clear up skin. Minimise pores? I don't know, I never listen to this pore business because as Caroline Hirons says, pores aren't doors. You can't just open and close them.

How I like to use this product is as my second cleanser. On an evening I usually wash my face with an emollient cleanser, in order to really wash my makeup off. After that I like to go in with something that will get into the pores and clean my skin. This does that job perfectly. If I am particularly oily or spotty, I also use this in the morning as it is light enough to clean out my pores without stripping my skin. After testing this cleanser my skin has cleared up and looks a lot more translucent and clear.

Who would I recommend this cleanser for? Anyone who is suffering from blemishes. This is the first cleanser I have tried which I would recommend to all skin types, oily, dry, dehydrated or combination as it does the job of really cleansing the skin without compromising on your skins hydration. It won't be ground breaking stuff for those who are oily and really suffering from acne as they can afford something a little more clarifying.
 However, it may be the exact product you are looking for if you are combination, dehydrated or dry and can't seem to find anything that will do the job of fighting blemishes without causing more problems to your skin.

Have you tried the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser?
Today's post is going to be something a little bit more fun. I will be poking fun at myself and other beauty bloggers. Here are some of the "Beauty Blogger Rights of Passage" moments that I have achieved to date and when experienced, I giggle to myself a little and think that my official "beauty blogger" status raises just a little higher.


1. Own a (or several) limited edition Nars Palette. 
- Nars The Happening Palette
- Nars And God Created the Woman Palette
Nars Fairy's Kiss Palette

2. Diptyque DIY
- Step 1, Buy a Diptyque Candle 
- Step 2, Cry and eat nothing for the following week
- Step 3, Light and enjoy those luxurious fumes
- Step 4, Cry when it has finished and you have realised that you have started a new and very expensive addiction.
- Step 5, Turn that frown upside down with a little Reuse Reduce Recycle, display it proudly and pretend that you are not the gazillionth person to have done this.

3. Get Naked
- Take your clothes off
- Pick your poison: Naked Palette, Naked 2 Palette, Naked 3 Palette, Naked Basics Palette
- Naked Palette
- Naked Basics Palette
- Anybody want to fill in the blanks and get me the rest? 

4. Successfully experience a Repromote
- Step 1, Spend money on MAC limited editions before they place a SOLD OUT sticker on it
- Step 2, Feel smug that you got it pre-sell out
- Step 3, Wait a year for it to be repromoted in another limited edition collection and feel happy you aren't one of the many in the mad rush.
- See my successful repromote: Mac Stereo Rose

5. Spray some Oribe
- The steps are pretty similar to the Diptyque DIY
- Step 1, hand over your money/card whilst crying and feeling a little bit ashamed of yourself
- Step 2, let that buyers remorse disappear when you enter the world of Oribe
- Step 3, stop socialising in order to save enough money for that repurchase

Once you have passed 3 of these Rights of Passage, you can officially call yourself a Beauty Blogger. Jokes. Yet we all do it, don't we?

How many of these Rights of Passages have you committed?
My final lipstick picks from the Chanel Notes de Printemps Collection (see previous here and here) are the Rouge Allure lipsticks in the shades: Fougueuse (138) and Melodieuse (136).

Melodieuse (left) Fougueuse (right)

The Chanel Rouge Allure formulas are meant to be a hydrating, full coverage, long wearing colour. I find that these are quite comfortable on the lips. As they are very comfortable and light feeling they do not provide the wear time that say, a matte lipstick would. These do last a good 4 hours on the lips. The finish of these lipsticks in particular provide a luminous, satin finish.


Fougueuse (138) and Melodieuse (136)

Fougueuse (138) and Melodieuse (136)
Fougueuse (138) is described as a bright pink. I would say that it is a bright pink with cool undertones. This shade is beautiful as most blue toned lipsticks can look a little jarred against warmer skin tones but as this is a medium pink shade, it sits nicely on warmer, yellow skin tones.




Melodieuse (136) is described as a "bright coral red". I would call this a dark pink-coral. I adore this shade and is my favourite of the two. Anyone who likes corals would welcome this to their collection as the pink makes it incredibly unique and very Spring appropriate. 



Both shades are almost full coverage and can be built up to full opacity. They both have a nice sheen to them without them being slippy or settling into fine lines. They wear down well and last a relatively long time in terms of the texture of them. They are both incredibly Spring/Summer appropriate shades and would suit a multitude of skin tones however the shades are not "unique" and you could probably find a similar shade to them for much much cheaper.

What are your thoughts on Chanel Melodieuse and Fougueuse?
Another lipstick I picked up from the Chanel Notes De Printemps selection was the Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Color in Triopmhe. 


This is the first lipstick from the coco line I have tried. While the lipstick intends to be hydrating, I find that I have other, more emollient lipsticks which provide me with more hydration. However, this is comfortable on the lips and doesn't enhance any dry patches.


The colour is a perfect Spring shade, it is a warm pink coral. On first swatch it reminds me of a glossier, daytime version of Chanel La Favorite (last Spring). In the photo below you can see Triomphe swatched next to La Favorite to understand what I mean. Whilst I loved La Favorite it can be a little drying so I am very happy I picked up this shade.


On the lips it is not outrageous and is a very daytime appropriate shade. On me it is a very girly, spring shade however on lighter skin tones I imagine it to be a little brighter. As it is a moisturising lipstick it has a nice glossy finish and is semi-opaque which makes it nice and low maintenance. 



Does Triomphe take your fancy?
Last year I got well and truly sucked into MAC. I went palette crazy, bought several lipsticks and coveted every new release. I was obsessed. During the 2013 Apres Chic collection, the MUA talked me into buying Stereo Rose. A few days later it was sold out. At the time I didn't realise that it was a previously coveted item that everybody was desperate to get their hands on. It is now back again for a limited time only and if you missed out last year I would certainly be quick on it this time around!


The product itself is a mineralised skinfinish but the colour is most certainly a blush. It is a very sheeny blush which is perfect for lazy days or when you need a pick me up. It is described as a “coral with golden bronze shimmering nuances".  I would say that description is pretty good. As you can see it is quite metallic so you most certainly don't need to pair a highlighter with this product. I think this colour is stunning on yellow/olive tone skin and is a must have Spring/Summer product (one of my most used last Spring/Summer). It is quite unique in my collection and is very much a coral with an edge kind of blush.


Available NOW: buy here

Are you going to be picking up Stereo Rose?
New in for Spring from Chanel is the La Diva lipstick. This is my "if you buy one product from the new collections..." pick. It is a Rouge Allure Velvet formula which is a velvety matte finish which doesn't feel too drying on the lips. The colour is insane. It is described as an "electric pink", a "vibrant fucshia magenta" and a "flamingo pinkish violet". And let me tell you, it is all of those things.



As this is such a vivid, unique shade it was quite difficult to photograph as sometimes it came out purpler or pinker or brighter or bluer than it is in real life. On me, it is a bright blue violet pink. It is a colour which screams in your face and almost slides into NEON.  A definite winner.



What do you think of La Diva?
Before moving to France, I was feeling a little flush and wanted to get a new addition into my morning skincare routine. On a whim, and because this was a new release, I decided to buy the Lancome DreamTone serum and after 4-5 months of use I feel confident in my thoughts and that I will give you a well rounded review of this product.


Let's start with the boring stuff. The packaging. It comes in quite a big plastic bottle and houses 40ml of product. It has a pump dispenser which I like however the only down side is that the packaging is completely opaque so you can't see how much you have or haven't used.

The DreamTone aims to unify the skin tone and help to reduce pigmentation. There are three skin tone options to choose from: Light - fair skin with dark spots, uneven skin tone, and redness. Medium - medium skin with dark spots, uneven skin tone and sallowness. Dark - dark skin with dark spots, uneven skin tone, and acne marks. Can you see a problem with this? I can. Redness, sallowness and acne scars can be present in all skin tones so splitting them up doesn't really make sense to me. I have the shade light as I wanted to combat the redness in my skin but had I been going off of Light, Medium, Dark I would have simply chosen Medium. The one difference between each "shade" choice which actually makes a difference is the pigment of the product Light has a sheer yellow tint and shimmer to combat redness, Medium has a peachy shimmer to illuminate and Dark has a bronze tint to illuminate. 

The texture of this feels lovely and does a lot for smoothing out the skin and it feels quite nourishing (although I would recommend using a moisturiser as well). It doesn't have any discernible shimmer but it certainly does brighten the skin. As a general pre-makeup product this is great as it does brighten and smooth out the skin and really prepares it for make up. 

Long term benefits. This claims to reduce pigmentation and improve the overall skin tone. After a few months of use I have not seen any difference to my skin tone. I still have a lot of redness in my cheeks and my pigmentation has not reduced. I didn't expect any old pigmentation to really reduce however a pesky spot left its mark and with continuous use of this, it has not improved the mark in the slightest.

Overall, this is a great primer-like product but with no long-term benefits the whopping £69 price tag is not worth it. For pigmentation and skin tone improvement I will stick with my trust Alpha H Liquid Gold!

Have you tried the Lancome DreamTone?
As part of the Trianon Collection for Spring 2014, Dior has released four new Rouge Dior lipsticks in a range colors. I picked up two of the shades: Rose Crinoline (531) and Courtisane (761).



It may not come as a surprise that I picked up some of the new (limited edition) shades of the Rouge Dior lipsticks as they were one of my favourite formulas that I found last year (see review here). They are a moisturising, smooth and light creamy formula which last well and wear down naturally.

Rose Crinoline (531) and Courtisane (761)
Of the four shades, I only was really drawn to two. Rose Crinoline (531) which is a milky peach-coral with a gold shimmer running through it. Courtisane (761) is a cool toned (pale) electric pink.

                           Rose Crinoline (531) and Courtisane (761)
Swatched, Rose Crinoline looks like a beautiful perfect peachy shade. On the lips however it translates a little milkier and almost pastel/babydoll like. On pale skin tones this would pack more of a punch colour wise. On my skin tone however it comes out as a pale peach which if patted on can look subtle adding a hint of peach but if layered up can be a pale bright coral peach.


Courtisane (761) looks exactly the same swatched as it does on the lips. It is an interesting shade and unlike any I have in my collection. I would say that it is a mix between a blue toned, milky electric pink. Imagine a neon baby pink, and that is what you have! A refreshing mix between pale, pastel, bright and blue.

The shade Courtisane contains no shimmer so is a beautiful texture and looks great on even dry lips as it slides on top and almost cushions the lips. As it is nice and moisturising it has a glossy finish which makes this lipstick much more wearable as it may be a little too statement were it a matte. This definitely is a little statement and very Spring/Summer. An incredible shade and formula from Dior that would suit perhaps all skin tones!


One thing I would state however with the lipstick and with the shade Souveraine (757) (not bought or photographed) is that these shades contain shimmer and you can feel it on the lips. This makes the lipstick less comfortable to wear as it feels gritty and will absolutely emphasise dry lips so this was a great disappointment to me as what I love about the Rouge Dior formula is how hydrating it is on the lips. So if you suffer from dry, chapped or sensitive lips I would not recommend this shade for you as on somebody whose lips are in pretty good nick, it was an uncomfortable lipsticks to wear which emphasised any flaws I had and settled in lines.


What do you think of the new Rouge Dior Lipsticks?
New in for Spring from Chanel are two new Le Blush Creme De Chanel shades in Chamade and Intonation. Already being a huge fan of the Chanel cream blushes, I immediately knew that I had to get my hands on these to add to my collection! They are bright blushes, especially in comparison to the permanent collection. They are a cream to powder formula that blend incredibly well and have great longevity (for a cream blush). The two new shades are perfect for Spring and, in my opinion, will take you right the way through the year!


Chamade (left) is a beautiful, almost, raspberry pink. Intonation is a peachy coral shade. Chamade is true to pan in the. Intonation however is a little darker on the skin and does provide quite a deep coral blush.

Chamade (left) Intonation (right)
In the photo below from left to right we have:
Chamade blended out, next to that a heavy swatch of Chamade. 
A heavy swatch of Intonation, next to that Intonation blended out. 

Chamade (left) Intonation (right)
As you can see, the shades blended out are incredibly wearable. Both provide and almost *pinched* effect which I think is beautiful in the frosty Spring weather. As these shades aren't too pale or pastel, they will make a perfect blush all year round and won't be a Spring/Summer only shade.


What do you think of Chamade and Intonation?
This week on the blog we shall be seeing what's new for Spring. To start us off we have a brand new lipstick from YSL. Allow me to present the YSL Rouge Volupté in 34 Rose Asarine.


The new lipstick is one of four which were released in the Spring collection. This shade is the darkest of the four and is a beautiful dark pink. The formula is the original Rouge Volupté (not the Shine) which is incredibly smooth and moisturising. It won't enhance any dry areas and will hug your lips and provide a balmy sheen. Whilst being incredibly creamy these are very highly pigmented and are opaque in one swipe. A tip for these lipsticks would be to not over apply it as it will slip around. And don't eat in it, I learnt that when I looked in the mirror to find a pink chin. Not only is it incredibly comfortable to wear, but, like all of the Rouge Volupté lipsticks, it smells incredible. Think mango heaven and that is the scent.


What do you think of YSL Rose Asarine?
With the Spring Collections being released we are seeing an influx of bright pinks. Unfortunately, the weather does not scream bright pink lipstick. Of course the juxtaposition of a neon pink lip against a moody grey landscape can be nothing short of show stopping. Some of us however don't hold that kinda confidence and feel more comfortable keeping those bright shades for sunnier days. However, that doesn't mean we can't wear any colour on the lips. So here I have five neutral-based bright shades which will provide colour to your lips without being offensive. Plus, these are great lip shades for beginners who are afraid of too much colour or for those in the work place!


The shades I am showcasing as my pre-spring neutral brights are (in order of photos): Soap and Glory Guava Rama, Mac See Sheer, YSL Rouge Volupté Shine 14 Corail in Touch, Revlon Lip Butter Juicy Papaya and YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres 7 Corail Aquatique.


Soap and Glory Guava Rama
 This shade is a muted dark guava shade. It is a warm pink shade that has slight purple tones to it which work to tone down the brightness in the pink. On the lips it translates as a very wearable, sophisticated slight-berry pink that adds colour to the face without being too bright or overpowering. 


 Mac See Sheer
This shade is described as a "grapefruit pink". This is a difficult shade to describe, I would say it is a dark coral shade, think of a shade that sits in between coral and red and this is it. The lipstick is a Lustre finish so can be worn sheerly but built up it is still wearable and daytime/work appropriate .


YSL Rouge Volupté Shine 14 Corail in Touch
Corail in Touch is a gorgeous sheer orange-coral shade which can be worn sheerly (as seen in the photo) to provide a subtle coral sheen to the lips or can be built up to be a much brighter shade.



Revlon Lip Butter Juicy Papaya
The Revon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya is a light peachy shade which on paler skin tones may look brighter and on more medium skin tones will provide a paler peach sheen. On my lips it is translates as a beautiful light pinky peach.


YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres 7 Corail Aquatique
Corail Aquatique is a beautiful neutral coral. On the lips it simply enhances and darkens the natural tones of your lips whilst adding a hint of coral. It really is beautiful and can be worn, like most of the others, sheerly or can be built up to full opacity.



Which pre-spring shades have you been sporting? 
Anyone who truly knows me, knows I love Lisa Eldridge. Anyone who loves makeup, loves Lisa Eldridge. All hail Queen Eldridge!

If you don't know who she is, she is one of the top UK make-up artists who has done runway, editorials and has A-list clientèle such as Kiera Knightley, Kate Winslet and Cara Delevigne. She also has a Youtube Channel where she shares with us her favourite products, top tricks and advice, makeup tutorials and cover-looks! What more could a girl ask for? Plus her cat and rings add that personal touch which makes us love her so much more! She recommends and uses many products which have me, and every other beauty blogger, searching the web for and typing our card details in 0-10 minutes. Here are a few of those highly coveted and highly recommended products which were purchased purely due to the fact that it had the Eldridge seal of approval.



Chanel Ombres Matelassees Eyeshadow Palette in Charming
Used in one of her videos, I knew I had to have this. I waited eagerly weeks for the Chanel Holiday Collection to come out so that I could get my hands on this! The quality is amazing but it is the colours that steal the show, I would name this the ultimate neutrals palette.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Fucshia in Rage 19
This appeared in a make-up tutorial and I was obsessed with it yet it took me a long time to actually decide to purchase this. In the bullet this looks like a scary purple but on the lips it is a beautiful fuchsia which will lean more pink or more purple depending on your skin tone. I don't usually go for fuchsia shades as I don't think they sit very well with my skin tone so this certainly is a special lipstick in my collection.

Vichy Dermablend
A regular in her videos and a much praised product is the Vichy Dermablend which is a high coverage foundation which is a wonderful multi-functional product. Use it as concealer to pin point conceal for flawless skin - the preferred method. Or use it with moisturiser to make a lightweight yet good coverage tinted moisturiser.

Dior BB Cream
So this number made its way round the blogosphere last year due to Lisa using it. The Dior BB Cream is a light weight sheer bb cream which has a semi-matte finish and makes the skin look perfected yet natural. Definitely one for those who want an easy, natural looking base.

Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Primer
The newest addition to my stash (part of my self-present birthday/christmas season where I went a little purchase crazy) has been raved about by Lisa but has gotten a mix of reviews online. It is a very sheer tinted primer which perfects the skin, without adding any coverage and provides moisture to make the skin plumped and smoothed.

Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony
This appeared in one of her videos and I could not take my eyes off this lip colour so obviously I had to buy it. The shade is a beautiful berry pink which can be worn sheerly or built up. Plus it is super easy to re-apply!

And don't worry, reviews will be coming over the next few weeks after I give these products some serious testing out but from all my experiences so far, they are all great!
Lisa Eldridge approved products never disappoint.

Has Lisa enabled any of your purchases?

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