August Favourites

One more month down and one step closer to The Big C in December - I know we're all thinking it by now! August has seen the end of Summer, Autumnal fashion hitting the shops and most importantly, a host of new beauty favourites for me to chat about! I've definitely made some exciting discoveries this month, from a foundation that I can't stop raving about to a hair care combo that I'm prepared to promote to Holy Grail status - they're just that good. Enjoy!

A Simple Step That Gets Me Up In The Morning

Amongst all of my unfortunate bad habits - being untidy, never volunteering to do the dishes and staying up later than I should, not waking up in the morning is one of the worst. I've been through practically every alarm tone my iPhone has to offer and still have yet to find something that properly rouses me out of my coma-like state of sleep. Then, once I do regain consciousness, the next hour is usually spent staring blankly into space trying to figure out where I am and what I'm supposed to be doing.

Beauty Sale Favourites

After spending my Boxing Day afternoon scrolling through hundreds of pages of sales - pyjama clad and Terry's Chocolate Orange in hand of course, I've come up with a list of my favourite tried and tested beauty bargains just for you.

Feel Unique know how to do a sale and you'll find a host of well know, well loved brands with great discounts. Cult favourites such as the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm and the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask - my personal favourite for sore Winter skin, both come in at a much lower price than you're ever likely to find them. There are also full brand discounts on premium houses such as Guerlain and YSL - my picks including the Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder and the Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stains which although may only have a few pounds off are still very hard to say no to.

If you're looking to invest a little more and 2014 has been earmarked as the year you're getting into skincare the Clarisonic Mia 2 has a whopping 20% off - a considerable amount for a higher priced product and a system I would whole heartedly recommend to those wanting something that little bit special for their skin.

Space NK is always the place to go for harder to find luxury brands and they've made considerable reductions on a handful of Diptyque fragrances including my favourite, Philisykos. There's also a beautiful selection of Laura Mercier Votive Candles bundled together in one pretty package for half the usual price. All four are gourmande scents from Fresh Fig to Crème Brûlée - good enough to eat!

Most of the sales I've come across have featured Aromatherapy Associates - definitely a brand worth checking out for their Bath and Shower Oils alone, but it's Beauty Bay I've found to be offering up the best price with their Relax Deep coming in at nearly £10 less than it's original price.

Beauty Expert have a host of well discounted haircare finds including my new favourite styling product of the moment, the Kérastase Boucles d'Art Mousse and the majority of the Redken Shampoo and Conditioner Duos, led by the unparalleled All Soft range - perfect for post-holiday season hydration.

Asos have a much smaller selection of sale items in the beauty category but there are quite a few gems to be found, including O.P.I's Christmas 2013 Collection which boasts possibly the chunkiest silver glitter I've ever laid my eyes on in the form of I Snow You Love Me that should keep you and your nails in a festive mood for weeks to come.

Have you bagged yourself any sale bargains today?

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Upping My Skincare Game

Every so often a well viewed video will pop up in the recommended section of my YouTube feed and I'll get a guilty reminder that I'm not giving my skin proper care I should. Said video is the simply titled 'How to Clean Your Face' - a two part look at the right way it should be done, filmed by Into The Gloss (my beauty bible) with Isabelle Bellis, facialist extraordinaire who as well as being an expert on all things skin, oozes effortless French Girl chic that I'm forever longing for.

I highly recommend a good couple of views, pen in paper in hand ready to take notes, but to sum up her basic rules are no matter which products you use, application is key and taking time to have a moment and gain a strong understanding and connection with your skin is essential. One thing that I often skimp out on in favour of being swaddled in pyjamas and siting down to whatever's caught my attention on Netflix as quickly as possible is the facial massage. Spending time with your skin clearly couldn't be more important so from now on I've made a vow to work in those products with a little more thought and attention.

The most basic version of a skin massage and something I feel comfortable doing daily is made up of three simple movements. Fancy terms aside - Effleurage and Pianotage if you're into all that, start with firm moves up the neck to tone and lift, sweep from the centre of the face outward to drain the lymphatic system of toxins and finish with a light patting of the skin with the fingertips to improve circulation.

I've been incorporating this step when applying my evening moisturiser, currently Origins Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Moisturiser, with a drop of Aromatherapy Associates Soothing Face Oil* mixed in for that extra slip necessary for movement across the face. Even from the first attempt you'll see a difference. Skin feels alive, invigorated and of course boasting a just-massaged glow. When was the last time you really took a moment with your skin?

* Gifted PR Sample

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