MSH Backup

Phew! Now that the heatwave seems to be on hold, I'm starting to feel a bit less fuzzy! Looking ahead, it doesn't look like the respite is going to last for all that long, but for the time being at least I'm making the most of things being at a normal temperature again to regather a selection of summer beauty heroes which have been making things slightly more bearable over the last few weeks:  I'm a big fan of the Kiehl's hand salve as a year-round hero, but when I popped into store a few weeks ago I was introduced to this new Richly Hydrating Lavender version, which has become a firm favourite since I picked it up. Lightly scented, it's formulated with Shea Butter and Vitamin E so is perfect for hydrating hands and feeling fresh on the go- the lavender scent is one which I always associate with summer thanks to the flowers which burst into bloom in the garden at this time of the year, so it's lovely to have a slice of it ready to go when I'm on the move...

As regular visitors to these little pages will be well aware, I'm a huge fan of all things Kiehl's, and since I started using their products a few years ago, my skin has improved so much. I regularly repurchase their Calendula Flower cleanser and accompanying toner- everyday essentials which I'm pretty sure I'll be using for forever- and am always keeping my beady eyes peeled for their new product launches. Their most recent release is something which I spoke to someone about in store back in February, and sure enough, I snapped it up when it hit shelves a few weeks ago: This Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask is something a little bit different for me, as it's the first overnight mask which I've ever used, but with the promise of smoother looking skin it seemed like a worthwhile investment, especially as a little goes a really long way, as with all Kiehl's products. Not only is it wonderfully nourishing, it also feels like a fantastically luxurious tr...

Now that the temperatures have well and truly plummeted, I've hit refresh on my beauty routine, incorporating a selection of essentials which are ideal for combatting the cold as much as possible. As well as ticking all of the right boxes for some of my seasonal skincare concerns, I've also made a repeat purchase of a fragrance which is proving to be well worth the investment: Back in the summer, you might remember that I posted about song new skincare discoveries from The Ordinary, including their Hyaluronic Acid. Having used up my stash, I repurchased this Hylamide Booster from The Abnormal Beauty Company, which is slightly lighter and a lot faster absorbing. I find it wonderful for using after cleansing and toning, and it's definitely helped to give my skin a much needed pep up over the last couple of months. Another favourite from The Ordinary comes in the shape of their primer, which acts as the perfect base for everyday makeup, and a much needed extra barrier against ...

Living just outside of London as I do, it's rare that I get the opportunity to enjoy the luxury of an overnight stay in the city- booking into a hotel always feels like a little bit too indulgent when home is just over an hour away on the train. Having said that, with Southern Rail being as unpredictable as ever (leopard, spots etc etc.), sometimes it's worth saving the stress just to be able to relax and enjoy a lovely evening out. Once such occasion arose last week when, in celebration of my gorgeous mum's birthday, I booked us tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and an overnight stay in the beautiful Covent Garden Hotel. Packing for a single night away can be a bit of a puzzle, especially if you're looking to travel as lightly as possible, but I've now accumulated a stash of essentials which make the process as hassle-free as possible: In the beauty stakes, it will come as no surprise that I'm a huge fan of using Glossier's products when I...

I don't know about you, but when I'm rushing to get out of the door and make it to the train station in the morning, I know there are certain beauty bits and bobs which it's entirely futile to try and get to grips with in a hurry. Whether it's winged eyeliner or trying to do something elaborate with my hair, sadly my skills are not quite speedy enough to accommodate anything other than the daily essentials first thing. Much the same could be said of trying to do anything other than smear a spot of Vaseline on my lips (usually lipstick and breakfast on the go proves to be a pretty messy combination)- until, that is, I discovered a brand new handbag hero from Kiehl's: Recently launched in the UK, the Butterstick Lip Treatment really is the thing which practical dreams are made of. Marrying the best of both worlds- a hydrating and smoothing SPF lipbalm with a tint- it's something which I've been using more or less everyday since I picked it up a few weeks ago. ...

With everything in full bloom in the garden at the moment, I've not only been inspired to start arranging vases upon vases of fresh blooms all over the house, but have also been having a rummage through some of my favourite botanical beauty buys. These are real treasures of mine- some of which I use on a daily basis, and some of which are usually deployed across the summer months, in an attempt to try and combat some heat-induced horrors (last week, I'm looking at you...!)  The Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash from Kiehl's is a product which I've been using since the start of the year (in tandem with the toner from the same range), and it's made such a noticeable difference to my skin that I'm convinced it's a product which I'll be repurchasing for life! The anti-inflammatory properties of Calendula have really worked wonders in terms of reducing redness and the number of breakouts which I find myself having- so a massive thumbs up from me! Jur...

If you're heading away for a short break this summer and if you're anything like me in terms of your packing preferences, you'll find it quite tricky to travel light! There's no doubt that I've got much better at streamlining my suitcase, but it's always tricky to decide what to ditch when you're struggling for space- especially in terms of toiletries. Having said that, however, for my recent trip to the sunny South of France to see Elodie, I was more determined than ever to crack the packing once and for all- and, with the help of some travel sized treasures, I think that I more or less succeeded: This travel sized sample of Live Irresistible by Givenchy is something I've been hanging onto in anticipation of summer holidays, and it definitely earned its keep in France- especially after trekking around Marseille! I've posted about my love for this Hourglass palette in the past, and as well as being a brilliant everyday essential, it's perfect for...

No matter how many different beauty brands I try, over the last year or so I've come to realise that there are few which I get on with as well as Kiehl's. Whether it's pepping up my complexion with some of their skincare heroes or treating myself to something new, whenever I pop into store I'm rarely disappointed with the products I end up purchasing. The service is always fantastic too, which makes such a huge difference, don't you think? Anyway, in short, post payday I splashed out and treated myself to a mixture of marvels, all of which I've been getting on famously with: This starter size of the oil free facial cleanser is a great boon to my current skincare routine and is a staple which I'll definitely be packing in my suitcase ahead of my summer holidays. The ultimate strength hand salve is a product which has been on my shopping list for what feels like forever, and after only a few uses I'm well and truly converted- it's a real miracle worker...

Now that spring is in full swing, I'm hastily packing away some of my heavy duty winter skincare and switching things up with some new essentials. Seeing the sunshine again over the last week or so has felt like a real (long overdue!) treat, and as well as topping up those Vitamin D levels, lighter days are definitely making it easier to feel motivated, don't you think? These days I'm finding myself (sort of!) springing out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off, which is paying dividends in terms of not having to make a mad dash to the train station of a morning, as well as allowing myself a little bit more time to get to grips with a new cleansing companion:  This Calendula Foaming Face Wash has been a real boon to my routine over the last few weeks, as it's wonderfully gentle whilst offering a much more thorough cleanse than most of my usual go-to products. It's one of those wonder buys which yields noticeable improvements even after the first use, and, as always wi...