Is the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer worth the hype/price?

When the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer was first released, I really didn't think that it could be worth the price and couldn't have imagined myself ever buying it. Then the reviews started rolling in and it sounded amazing - lightweight, super fast and reduces frizz - my dream product! I love hair products - a good hair mask will make a big difference to my hair and I enjoy taking care of my hair however I don't love drying it. I've mentioned on here before that I have Chronic Lyme Disease and because of that, my energy levels are always low. Washing and drying my hair can seem as big a task as climbing Mount Everest sometimes and because of that, I quite frequently go to my salon for a wash & blow dry but that can obviously be quite expensive. Apart from the expense, it's also quite soul-crushing to add another task to the list of things that I can't do for myself. It's important to me to be able to take care of myself and even though I have been ill for a very long time, I have always done my best to take care of my skin, paint my nails, wear perfume and have clean hair as they are things that I can control (to an extent!), even if I am going to be wearing pyjamas all day! Knowing this, my husband very kindly treated me to the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer for my birthday earlier this month and I honestly couldn't be more grateful. But has it been worth the hype?

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation - does it live up to its name?

It seems that it's foundation season! So many brands that I love are releasing them at the moment but top of my list from when I got the initial notification was Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation (what a long name!). There is no doubt that this is a pricey brand but I absolutely love everything I have bought so far - eyeshadows, lipsticks, lip gloss and lip pencils. As you can imagine, I had high hopes and despite the hefty price tag, I went ahead and ordered on release day. A primer and powder were also released as part of the Sublime Perfection System but I haven't bought those as I have so many primers and a few powders that I really love so I didn't feel the need (plus they are also pricey!). I have been testing the foundation with different application methods/primers and am ready to share my thoughts with you today.

3 treats for 3 budgets

I honestly cannot believe that we are almost at the end of August! If you are paid monthly, there are only four more pay days after this until Christmas - now that's a scary thought! As I always say, you don't need to spend a fortune if you feel like treating yourself and I have three brilliant products to share with you today that start at only £3!

A new daily favourite: Emma Hardie Exfoliating Brightening Tonic

I think it's been well established at this stage that I am a huge fan of Emma Hardie skincare so when they released a new product, I couldn't wait to try it. The Exfoliating Brightening Tonic is a great addition to their lineup as their other exfoliating product is a physical type but I, like many others, prefer a chemical exfoliator that I can use on a daily basis. I had very high hopes for this product so did it live up to expectations?

Five favourites from Sunday Riley

It's quite a while since I last did a five favourites post (the last one was in April!) but these posts and my Brand Focus post series have always been some of my most popular posts so I thought I'd start making them regular features again. Today I am sharing my five favourite products from Sunday Riley although, to be honest, I have yet to try a product from the brand that I don't love! All of these products have been repurchased at least once, if not, twice. Most products are available in deluxe sample sizes, which is brilliant because it means you don't have to spend a fortune to try them - especially great if you are new to the brand. 

Gallivant Los Angeles - a new and unique unisex scent!

Regular readers might remember back in May (here) that I spoke about a new fragrance brand called Gallivant. In fact, I loved one of the fragrances so much that it made it into my best discoveries of 2019 so far post here. There are a number of reasons that I was drawn to this brand - the name, for starters. My Granda used to always ask me where I was going gallivanting at the weekend (or basically every time he saw me because he thought I had a hectic social life!). To me, gallivant is a happy word describing a fun night out. Secondly, I love that the fragrances are names after cities, with each fragrance capturing the heart of that city and transporting you there because scents instantly remind me of a certain time or place in my life. Thirdly, the fragrances are all travel friendly, in 30ml bottles. And fourthly (although I could go on!), the brand is mindful of sustainability so although they favour natural ingredients, when it is better for the environment, they will use nature-substitute synthetics. Today sees the release of the latest fragrance addition to the line up, which is Los Angeles and I want to share my thoughts on it with you today. What's even better is that I have a discount code for you on the Nomad Sampler Set and if you buy this set, you will then receive a £25 discount off a full size bottle of fragrance. (Not affiliated) Keep reading for the discount!

The best cream shadow formula - Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise

There is no doubt that cream shadows are a busy or lazy girl's best friend but they are not all created equally! I have very dry skin but for some bizarre reason, my lids are oily, which means that a lot of eyeshadows disappear or crease quite quickly. Until a few years ago, I wouldn't have even considered wearing a cream shadow as they were just a waste of time but these days, they are my main go-to eye products. Of course, this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't discovered Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise cream shadows, which are the best cream shadows on the market.

The K-Beauty brand you need to know about: d'Alba Cosmetics

One of the best things about writing a beauty blog is being introduced to brands that I may not have tried otherwise. Today I'm talking about one of those brands: d'Alba Cosmetics, which is a Korean premium skincare brand. My love of K-Beauty brands is well documented on the blog but what makes d'Alba different from other Korean brands is that it uses white truffle, from Italy in its products. The area of Italy that this is truffle is taken from is actually named d'Alba and it also means dawn in Italian, reflecting that, the products aim to bring your skin to life. I was most intrigued by the range because when I read about white truffle, it is said to be anti-inflammatory, which definitely appeals to me as my skin is easily irritated and inflamed. It also helps to repair skin, is high in Vitamin C and B12, B3 and Niacin, all of which help to brighten the skin and even skin tone. I was kindly sent four products, which I have been trialling and want to share my thoughts with you today.

REVIEW: Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid Foundation

There are so many new foundations being released at the moment and one that I couldn't wait to get my hands on is Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid Foundation. Their Skin Illusion Foundation is one that I have repurchased - something that doesn't happen regularly when you're a beauty junkie, and I absolutely adore their Instant Concealer. That coupled with the promise of luminosity and that it  combines the best of makeup and Clarins skincare combined had me instantly intrigued. 

Six of the best hydrating face mists

I've used a face mist as part of my skincare routine for around 15 years at this stage and can't imagine not doing so! I know pretty quickly if a face mist is doing anything for my skin. I don't like water sprays as they just do nothing nor do I like anything that makes my skin feel sticky. I have used so many brands over the years and am quite fussy. I want a mist that will make my skin feel comfortable, add hydration and with a fine spray, if possible, as then I can also use it to refresh my makeup up throughout the day or just add some extra hydration. Here are six of the best!

The hype is real #8 Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow

When you think of Charlotte Tilbury, you most probably think of luxury makeup and for most people their second association would be lipsticks, due to the success of her Hot Lips collections. For me, my first product thought will always be Filmstar Bronze & Glow.  When Charlotte first released her makeup line, this product went straight to the top of my wish list but it's an expensive product so it took me a while to take the plunge and actually buy it. As you can see from the photo above, it's a well loved product and, in my opinion, it is totally worth the hype and today I want to tell you why.

GIVEAWAY & Brand Focus: Glow Recipe

You will have heard me mention Glow Recipe a few times previously on the blog. Their Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask was the first product that I tried from the brand (post here) and one that I went on to repurchase. If you are not familiar with the brand, it is vegan, cruelty-free and Korean.  Created by two friends using clean, natural ingredients with the aim of give glowing skin. All of the products are fruit based and I am fortunate enough to have tried them all. I used to have to order from Sephora but Cult Beauty now stock the brand and they kindly sent me the entire range to try. I already had the Sleeping Mask in my stash so I thought I'd do a giveaway so that one of you can get to try it for yourself! Keep reading to the end to find out how to win!

My hand luggage only picks....

Flying with hand luggage only is definitely very convenient but I struggle when it comes to beauty products - in fact, I struggle with this when I'm packing a full suitcase! I once had to leave items behind at Stansted airport as they said that my liquids bag was too big (I had used the biggest freezer bag I could find!) so I learned my lesson from that and now only pack the essential liquids. Tomorrow, my husband and I are flying to stay with his family for 4 days and, luckily, I have some essentials there so I don't need to worry about packing shower gel, toothpaste, deodorant etc so I can use my liquid allowance for other products. I always stash minis and samples for trips away as this really saves on space. If you weren't already aware, liquids need to be under 100ml and you can take a maximum of 1 litre of products, however they must fit in a clear, resealable plastic bag that measures a maximum of 20cm x 20cm. Since my Stansted fiasco, I now grab two resealable bags at the airport whenever I fly so that I know what my allowance is! I love that a lot of makeup and skincare brands now sell mini sizes of most products as this really makes choosing products to travel with, much easier.