Sorbet BB Cream

Lately I've been trying out the Sorbet BB Cream.  I have been so impressed by it that I simply had to share it with you.  It is such a lightweight formula that it sits on my skin without feeling heavy like some other BB creams I've tried.  That being said, while it is a light formula, it still gives excellent coverage.  I love products that aren't too sheer because I like a decent amount of coverage and this certainly gives me just that.  This product is also long lasting.  I can wear it all day and just do a few touch ups to make it look perfect for the evening too.

This product states on the packaging that it evens the tone of your skin and brightens it too and I would definitely say that it has lived up to this promise.  My skin looks so healthy, well moisturised and glowing while I'm wearing this BB cream and I absolutely love the look of it.  Sorbet has also managed to incorporate a primer into this cream which minimises  the appearance of pores which is always a good thing!  The BB cream also contains SPF 15 which is essential for these summer months and the amount of time we will be spending outside.  It is also great for those of us who love to work out as a little bit of coverage and a little bit of SPF definitely goes a long way in that situation.  It comes in the shades Light, Medium and Dark and it really blends into whatever skin colour you have.

I love that this products keeps me moisturised throughout the day and gives me that healthy glow but never leaves me looking like a greasy monster.  I just have to say that this is the first time I have found myself reaching for a BB cream instead of a foundation in the mornings so it must be love.  It has really impressed me so much that I will definitely be adding this to my Summer Essentials for this year.

Have you tried it?  What are your thoughts?

Bronze Make Up Tutorial

I decided to do a bronzed make up tutorial for you because this has been my go-to look for summer so far.  It's soft and gentle and gives you a radiant glow that I think is so perfect for the summer but can also be worn year round.

Veet Summer

The less glamorous side of being female definitely includes hair removal.  Shaving, waxing. plucking, threading and lasering are all things that come with the territory.  Luckily it needn't be as dreadful as those ads on the TV that send shivers down your spine when the woman nicks herself with a razor.  It also doesn't need to involve the frustration of your beautician being fully booked for three weekends in a row.

I've been using Veet since my school days purely because it is a brand that knows time is an issue for busy women and we all prefer painless, quick and easy hair removal.  Veet has an incredibly wide range of products which is just perfect considering we all have different needs.  Personally, the wax strips with easy grip as well as the hair removal cream for sensitive skin have made my life so much easier. The fact that Veet now cater for different skin types such as dry or sensitive skin also puts them at an advantage over other brands because they really do care about your skin.  I'll be the first to admit that while running out of time before my Contiki tour, I used another brand's wax strips and I had such an awful reaction to it that it left me looking like I had chicken pox throughout my entire tour.  How embarrassing.  Had I stuck with my tried and tested Veet products, though, I would have been silky smooth and could have worried more about the sights than my skin that holiday.

I now stock up a couple boxes of my favourite Veet products, so that I can quickly and easily take care of my hair removal right before a shower and heading to bed.  There is absolutely no reason to be the girl that wears jeans on the hottest summer's day any more.  It's quick and effortless, cost effective and if it's good enough for Miss South Africa, it's good enough for me!

Midori Spa

I was lucky enough to be invited to try out the Midori Salon and Spa in Sandton about two weeks ago and wow was I impressed.  This spa exudes luxury and and style and the moment I walked through the door I was ready to be pampered. The interior of this spa is so beautifully polished that it is easy to see that some serious thought went into the design and overall look and feel to the spa.

After arriving, I was promptly offered refreshments and seated in the waiting area for my treatments.  While waiting for my treatments, I was able to fully observe the spa and its staff. This spa is wifi friendly which is great for social media junkies such as myself.  Their are iPads available all over the spa which you are able to use while waiting for or even during your treatments.  While waiting, the owner, Anisha Patel explained what her thoughts and ideas were for this beautiful spa.  Having successfully won her battle with cancer she has made a lifestyle change to put effort into avoiding harsh chemicals that are damaging on the body and she wanted this to filter into the foundation of the spa.  She decided that she only wanted recyclable materials used to decorate the interior of the spa which she did so successfully honing in on her interior decorating background.  She also only wanted to make use of environment friendly products within its walls.  She promotes all things green and organic which I think is the way everyone should be thinking so I really appreciated this.  She is an incredible and inspiring woman and she is so inviting to everyone that comes through the door of Midori that you would swear she is family.

The spa offers hair styling for all types of hair and it has a beautiful hair care section to be pampered in.  Midori also offer manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, spray tans and V-bar.  Basically, you name it, Midori offers it.  The spa is also big enough to accommodate groups which is perfect for birthdays or bridal parties.  As for my treatments, I had the Hydramemory Facial and a Full Body Massage both of which were done by absolutely wonderful therapists.  Overall, I found the Midori Spa top-notch, if not the best I've ever been to.  I had an incredible experience and I'd recommend it to everyone.

For more details, visit their website here.

Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum by Juicy Couture

I was lucky enough to attend the Viva La Juicy fragrance event yesterday and boy was I in for a treat (literally).  Juicy Couture is a fashion brand that has focused their target market on the glamorous, stylish, fashion forward girl about town.  This girl is one that knows what she wants and goes out to conquer her goals while maintaining her chic appearance.

 Juicy Couture showcased three of their gorgeous fragrances yesterday, all of which I'm loving.  Viva La Juicy is the most perfect  daytime fragrance.  Viva La Juicy Noir is a little bit more alluring, mysterious and quite sexy.  Noir is my favourite of the fragrances because, as you know by now, I love stronger fragrances that are perfect for wearing out at night.  New to the range is Viva La Juicy Gold Couture which I'm extremely excited to try out as I've never used it before.  

To celebrate all things Juicy Couture we had the most wonderful high tea at The Patisserie in Illovo which is one of my absolute favourite spots for tea and a slice of cake so I was in my element.  We learnt a little bit more about the brand and that there will be a lot more from Juicy Couture coming to South African shores soon so watch this space for more details on that! 

Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

Revlon Highlighting Palette Review

I'm always on the lookout for a great blush and highlighter.  I love how blush instantly adds another dimension to my face so that I don't look flat and washed out.  Highlighter adds that beautiful healthy and vibrant glow to my skin that I think everyone is always looking for.  I've found the best combination of these in the Revlon Highlighting Palettes.  They're great quality, beautiful shades and they're super affordable.  To find out exactly what I think about these products please keep watching! 

Current Beauty Favourites

Hi everyone!  I've done my first Current Beauty Favourites for you.  This was a serious trial and error scenario and you will notice that I had my camera on auto-focus the whole duration of the video so it makes a really terrible noise while it keeps refocusing.  I also need to find myself a new location for these videos so I will be doing that before the next video.  I stumble on words a bit in the middle and my editing skills pretty much don't exist.  So after really having sold you on watching this video (dramatic sarcasm) I'll be eternally grateful to anyone who decides to actually sit through it.  Thank you for all your support.  You mean so much to me!

Tresemme Product Review

I've been using Tresemme hair products on my hair since high school and I've always loved them. The huge bottles of shampoo and conditioner are always always in my shower and every time I travel I always make sure to buy the travel sized bottles to take with me.  Lately I've been trying out the Tresemme mousse and finishing spray too so I decided to do a review sharing my thoughts on these.

Tresemme Styling Mousse  

My hair is probably as flat as flat could be and I will do absolutely anything to give it some lift.  I'm all for volume!  This styling mousse has been great for me when I do a full blow dry at home.  A little bit of this product certainly goes a long way.  I was so happy to find that this mousse is really light and isn't going to leave a sticky feeling in you hair or decrease the time period between washes.  It really adds great body to my hair and when paired with my Tresemme 44mm round brush for a great home blow dry, this dynamic duo gives me wonderful results.

Tresemme 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray

After having blow dried and styled my hair, I generally backcomb my roots slightly for added volume and to hold this body in place I will use this hair spray.  Once I'm happy with the amount of body in my hair I will also spray the ends to hold in the curl or waves for long lasting style.  This hair spray is also light weight and it doesn't leave any sticky residue in my hair.  It still allows movement in my hair but definitely secures the style.  The fragrance of this perfume is absolutely beautiful.  I've never come across a hair spray that smells like this one does.  They generally don't smell too great but this one often tempts me to spray more than my hair needs just so that the fragrance lingers in the air.  This hair spray hasn't dried out my hair at all which is also fantastic because I've tried a couple that definitely have.

These two products will most certainly become staples in my hair care routine.  They both give such great body and texture to my hair.  Neither product has left my hair feeling weighed down or sticky but rather quite touchable and I've also noticed that both add shine to my hair.  Overall I'm super impressed and if you're looking for a little more volume and style that lasts these two products come highly recommended!

Weekend Moments

Hi lovelies!  I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.  My favourite kinds of weekend involve moments like these ones.  I lay in bed reading The Alchemist, went out for tea and cake (or scones) with my family to celebrate my Gran's 89th birthday and I tried out a new perfume, Elizabeth Arden's Untold Absolu.  More on that soon.  What have you been up to this weekend?

Kiehl's Skin Care review

I have been trying out samples of these three Kiehl's products recently and I have to say upfront, I have been blown away by the results.  I had never used Kiehl's before but after having tried these out, I don't see myself ever going without these products again.  I've had so many compliments and skin experts themselves have asked me what I am using to have my skin looking so good.  I thought I must be doing something right if the experts approve but the truth is that it is Kiehl's that is doing something right.  If you're looking for radiant, smooth and well textured skin, these are the three products I recommend you getting your hands on.

Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum

This serum has made a world of a difference on the dehydration lines on my forehead.  These lines have plagued me for a few years now but having rehydrated my skin with this serum after washing my face every morning, I have to be honest, these lines have all but disappeared.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  The fact that my skin has been rehydrated has really plumped up my skin and given it a completely different texture, just as the name suggests.

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream

This product is the star of the show.  I have been using the Serum (above) along with an SPF 50 in the mornings so I've been saving this beaut as my night cream.  It is such a pleasure to open this jar of cream in the evenings because the fragrance alone has me feeling relaxed and ready for bed.  It smells as though you are walking through a garden in full bloom.  This cream is thick and luxurious but is isn't greasy so it absorbs quickly into my skin.  This cream has also given me such incredibly visible difference to the texture and glow of my skin.

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum

This product has botanical extracts that have been used for centuries which have been combined with science for optimum results in the care of the skin around your eyes.  It can be applied in a circle from under your eye, to the outside of your eye and over your eyelid in a light tapping motion.  While it mainly aims to firm your skin, I've noticed that it has also given me radiance to the skin around my eyes.  What an added bonus!

I can't sing praises of these skin products enough.  Le BF, who is super sporty and not phased by beauty products in the slightest, has even asked if I have been doing something different to my skin.  Now ladies, when I realised that he had noticed a difference, I knew that I've found myself skin care that lives up to every expectation and then goes the extra mile in exceeding all expectations.

I hope this review helps you with your skin care! xxx

Angel by Thierry Mugler EDP #BewareOfAngels

Angel by Thierry Mugler happens to be one of my absolute favourite fragrances.  While I was in hospital Irina even brought me a miniture of Angel as a Get Well gift because she knew how much I loved it.  Over the years I've found that I'm almost hypnotized by this fragrances and I can smell it on someone else a mile away.  While I adore Alien by Thierry Mugler too, it has a very strong scent so I generally prefer use it at night whereas Angel is a lot lighter and I find that it's a perfect fragrance to use for the daytime.  That being said, just because it is a lighter fragrance does not mean that it wears off.  This scent literally clings to my skin until wash it off.  There aren't very many other fragrances around that last as long as this one does.

Angel is a Oriental Vanilla fragrance for women.  It has notes of bergamot, honey, dewberry, orange, jasmine, rose, patchouli, musk, caramel and dark chocolate.  Now doesn't that sound delicious?  The scent was created with the idea of evoking the tenderness of treasured memories and dreamlike infinity while also diving into the passionate, sensual side of a woman.  Angel falls into the fragrance category "oriental gourmands" and can be described as soft, pure and innocent.

This isn't a new fragrance.  In fact it has been around since 1992.  The reason it has had social media buzz recently though is because Thierry Mugler has announced Georgia May Jagger as the new face of the fragrance.  What some might not know though is that Georgia's mom, Jerry Hall, was the face of the fragrance from 1995-1997.  I guess Angel is in the genes!  

To celebrate the new face of the fragrance all of Johannesburg's fashionable gathered for a gorgeous event at Urban Tree in Sandton which was perfectly designed to showcase the moods of the fragrance.  Arriving to an entrance way off 200 balloons and beautiful soft blue lighting we were exposed to the dreamlike element of the fragrance.  We then moved towards the passionate, sensual side of the fragrance in an area of the venue decorated stunningly in vivid red and black.  The event was seamlessly put together by 4ElementsMedia and it was an absolutely perfect portrayal of the fragrance and its longstanding success.  

#BewareOfAngels   

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner Review

If you follow me on Twitter (@arumlilea) you will know that I'm a huge Jaclyn Hill fan.  Needless to say, I find myself buying half the products she uses in her videos.  One such item is the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner.  I have a love/hate relationship with gel liners because I really battle to find one that I like.  When I do, I stick with it through thick and thin.  Up until this point in time I haven't found a single gel liner that I've fallen head over heels for, but finally the hunt is over!

The Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner comes in this gorgeous, dinky little paint pot and the moment I pulled it out of its packaging I knew I was going to fall in love with it.  The pot of gel liner is also sold with a gel liner brush which I have been quite happy with which is also surprising as I never seem to find a brush that I'm 100% impressed by either.

I have worn it every single day since I bought it and it is still impressing me.  I'm so excited to have finally found a gel liner that does smudge all over my eyelid an hour after I've applied it.  Once it is applied, it sets and it doesn't move until I wash it off.

I bought this gel liner in the shade Black Chrome and while it is black, it's not the jet-black that I'm accustomed to and it does have a teeny tiny amount of shimmer in it too which I have never experienced before.  I know that there is another shade of black in this eyeliner so I will probably try that out next time I need a new gel liner but this one definitely does the job wonderfully.

What's my verdict?  Brilliant packaging, smooth application and long lasting wear.  This product deserves a 5/5 because it's pretty perfect.  Thanks Jaclyn!

Essie Professional Application Spring Colours

I don't know a single girl that isn't obsessed with Essie Professional Application nail polishes.  A mani or pedi using these polishes are so long lasting and the colour range is spectacular.  You can find me wearing Essie nail polishes all year round whether it be wine colours in winter, pastels in spring and brights in summer.  They have a colour for every mood and every occassion which I absolutely love.  Each colour is also named so uniquely and usually have me experience an inward chuckle.

This spring there are a couple new fun shades that I wanted to share with you today.

• Spin The Bottle:  This is the beige shade shown above.  It's a gorgeous nude that I think would look gorgeous with a little glitter on the ring finger.
• Romper Room:  A beautiful pale pink that is super girly.  It is very light and feminine.  I love really light nail polishes so this one might possibly be my favourite.
• Fashion Playground:  A minty fresh pastel green shade that's such a fun shade for me.  I'm a creature of habit and I always end up sticking to shades of pink and red so this is a great way to switch things up a bit.  A change is as good as a holiday!
• Truth or Flare:  This colour reminds me of a perfect blue sky without a single cloud in the middle of summer.  It has me feeling so positive and spring-ready.
• Good To Go top coat:  This nail polish is going to seal the deal, literally.  This top coat makes all the difference in ensuring your mani/pedi is long lasting and maintains its shine.  

It's easy to tell why Essie selected these shades to be part of their spring collection because as the season has changed we have have seen these colours burst into life around us in our gardens or driving through leafy suburbs.  I love incorporating these seasonal shades into what clothes I wear, what shades of lipstick I use and most certainly in the shade of nail polish I choose. Which one is your favourite?

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy review

I've been lucky enough to try out the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel recently.  Let me start off by saying that I won't be seen dead without my nails being in tip top condition but that being said I'm also one of those girls who are eternally in a rush.  As a result, I really appreciate nail polishes that are quick drying and long lasting.  If you're anything like me you will love the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy polishes because they are absolutely perfect for the girl on the run.

These nail polishes combine a base coat and colour in one bottle which saves so much time as it is.  The second step towards beautiful nails is the Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat which is a protective coat which will lengthen the life of your manicure and give you lots of shine.  These polishes really are salon quality.  My manicure lasted a week without any signs of chips or fade.  The only reason I will be removing it will be to change colours.  I have tested how easy it is to remove the polish and I was pleasantly surprised that it came off with nail polish remover quite easily and with no buffing at all.  This is a bonus for me because I really don't enjoy soaking and buffing.

The Revlon ColorStay polishes come in 30 gorgeous shades with such fun names.  The colours in the second picture from left to right are Lady Luck, Beginner's Luck, Hot Hand and Full House.   I will definitely be using them throughout summer as they're all such bright, fun colours.  The shade currently on my nails is Hot Hand and I think I might switch it up for Full House next.

These polishes will be available from the end of September at will retail for R110.00.

Spring Make Up Favourites

To fuel all our make up obsessions, today I thought I'd share my favourite MAC Cosmetics favourites for spring as today is officially the first day of Spring!  Yippeee!!!  I hope you find something you'd like to try from my Spring Favourites list and I'd love to know what yours are too so that I can try them out.  Let's begin:

Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle:  This adds the perfect amount of shimmer and glow to every single spring look. This would be my number one recommendation for spring just for that reason.  It brings out your cheeks and your eyes and gives you such a feminine look.  I've been using this product for years and this spring will be no different.

Blush in Dame:  This is such a pretty pink.  I'm very sad to have hit pan on this gorgeous colour.  Melba and Peaches are also great colours for spring so you'll find me wearing those too.

Eye shadows in:

• Orb: Everyone needs a good nude colour, especially in spring and summer.  This one is great for a fresh look and it's beautiful blended with a bronzer in the crease to bring out your eye colour while not looking like you're wearing too many products.
• Honey Lust: To add sparkle to my eyes I love this coppery, bronze sparkle.  Orb, a little bronzer blended together and some Honey Lust on your lid will give you the most beautiful eye colour that will have you looking absolutely radiant and glowing from within.
• Mystery: I use this colour to fill in my brows on a daily basis.  Of all the brow products I've tried, this shadow is actually my favourite so I'd recommend it for brows for sure!  I'll definitely continue to use this through the spring.

Lipsticks in:

• Snob: This is another favourite that I've been using for years.  This pink is gorgeous for any girl wanting to look spring-ready.
• Pretty Please: Such a pretty shimmery pale pink.  If you're looking for something light to look gorgeous by the pool or at a music festival without looking overly done, a little bit of this lipstick tapped on your lips is exactly what you're looking for.  I also love it over a bolder colour to add some shimmer.
• Saint Germain: This colour brings out my inner girly girl.  It is just so much fun!!!  Perhaps it's similar to a colour Barbie wore back in the day or something but I am just madly in love with it.  It is probably the best choice for a spring look because it is so feminine and beautiful but also fresh and young.  It has such a wonderful creamy texture that it's going to keep your lips feeling soft and smooth all day long.  Perfection!

Lipgloss in Underage: This is my favourite lipgloss for spring because it's great on its own or on top of any of the lipsticks I've already mentioned.  It's the most gorgeous light pink lipgloss I could recommend for spring and it lasts for hours which is always a bonus for me.

With these products in your make up drawer, I can guarantee that you will be looking radiant and glowing from within this spring.  I hope you found this list helpful!  If you're planning a trip to a MAC counter, perhaps save these names on your phone or print out a copy of this post so that you don't feel too overwhelmed when you get there.  That way you can also let me know which ones you like and let me know any that I may have missed.

To have a look at some of my other MAC favourites you can click here, here, here, here and here. 

Thanks so much for reading! x

Dermalogica Face Mapping Skin Analysis

Dermalogica is a skin care brand that I keep finding myself coming back to because its quality is unparalleled. If you follow me on Twitter (@ArumLilea) you will know that I recently visited the brand new Dermalogica concept store in Rosebank Mall. While I was there I had my Face Mapping skin analysis done and I learnt so much about my skin. I know skin care can be very daunting; from entering a store to figuring out what products your skin needs, gosh even sometimes the sales ladies are so intimidating I want to avoid the whole process entirely but this is definitely a different kind of experience. Today I'm giving you the 101 on Face Mapping so that you know exactly what to expect from the moment you walk into the store.

To begin, your Face Mapping skin analysis is absolutely free of charge.  What?  Yes, you read correctly, this skin consultation is absolutely free of charge.  There is no need for you to book a time slot but rather you are free to walk in store for your Face Mapping analysis at any point of the day.

Now that I have your attention, your next question is probably, "what exactly is 'Face Mapping'?"  Face Mapping, as I've just mentioned is a skin consultation.  A skin therapist will sit with you and have a good look at your skin.  She is trained to pick up the problem areas or areas that need special attention on your skin.  These pictures show what my therapist deciphered about my own skin.  My problems were mainly comedones, dehydration, sensitivity and redness and these are marked on the face map exactly where those problems occur on my face.  Once your therapist has mapped your face she will begin explaining which Dermalogica products are suitable for your skin.  The reason I think that Face Mapping is so impressive is because it allows your skin routine to become uniquely tailored to the needs of your skin rather than using a generic routine that has been formulated for the masses.

Your therapist will also explain all the products that she prescribes as well as how to apply them and in what order.  Often I will get the order of products confused so I really appreciate the care the therapists take to explain everything in detail.  If something requires mixing with water, your therapist will show you exactly how much product vs how much water is needed.  As for exfoliation and masques, your therapist will tell you how often to use these products which will also vary from person to person based on your skin's needs.

You are under no obligation to buy the products that are recommended after you skin analysis but I can assure you that after how much care has been taken to explain the areas of your skin that need attention and exactly how to take care of them, you will realise that Dermalogica is a skin care brand that you can trust.  The products recommended to me have made such an improvement to my skin and were obviously exactly what my skin was looking for.  My skin is looking so much healthier than the day I walked into the store already.

You can read more about my love for Dermalogica by clicking here, here and here.  

*Face Mapping is also done at all salons and spas that use Dermalogica.

Inoar Professional Extreme Premium Oil

Having long hair I find it's really important to take good care of it.  Good shampoos, conditioners, treatments and serums are an absolute essential.  I was recently given to Inoar Professional's Extreme Premium Oil to try out and I couldn't wait to share it with you!

This hair oil contains myrrh, argan, macadamia and rose imperial oils which have stood the test of time in terms of hair care.  These ingredients also mean that this oil has the most beautiful fragrance.  It is perfect for treating split ends, nourishing dry hair or making frizzy hair more manageable.  I generally use it after washing my hair while it is still damp but before styling and then every couple days I will just apply a little to my ends.  It is a non-greasy oil which means that my hair absorbs it so quickly and doesn't leave any residue behind.   My hair is loving it and I love how such a little bit (one pump) goes a really long way.  This 50ml bottle is bound to last me a long time.  Here's to many more good hair days!

Inoar Professional's Extreme Premium Oil is available in salons and spas from September 2014.