My lazy girls guide to using St Tropez Gradual Tanning in the shower

So I recently posted a picture of the St Tropez gradual tan in shower on my Instagram account, and was interested on how it would work for me, as I had heard so many mixed reviews on this product. The first thing that puts me off is the three minute wait while you are in the shower. The first time I used this, the three minute wait felt like an age!. Who really has an extra three minutes to stand there while the tanning properties do their work??  Not one to be beaten, I thought I could not be the only one with this dilemma. I have put together a lazy girls guide to having a very well organized and productive shower.

First, I always wash my hair, normally twice with TIGI Hair Reborn Awaking range or the orange one as I like to call it. I then will massage the TIGI Hair Reborn Awaking conditioner, which will be rebuilding my protein levels within my hairs cortex and adding strength and vitality, what more can you ask for??. Then I comb through the mid length to ends with a large tooth comb, while the conditioner does its thing, I wash my body with Imperial Leather Skinkind Hydrating body wash. I never used to give it much thought about what body wash I used, with having five people in the house, it would go down so quickly, but I was finding that my skin was so dry and parched after a shower, that I was slathering so much moisturiser to counter act the dryness. Then it occurred to me maybe I should try a more moisturising wash and since then it has halved my use of body moisturisers. I then use a body scrub, I have been using Botantics Mediterranean eden invigorating body scrub over my body, but concentrating mostly on knees and elbows. I then shave anywhere that needs it. (unfortunately I threw out the Botantics body scrub, because I had finished it and I thought I had taken a photo, but I hadn't argh!)

My last part which utilizes the time best is now. I turn the shower off, apply the St Tropez Gradual Tan over my body in circular motions to get a more even coverage, wash your palms and then comes the waiting zzzz, but now you can scrub your face, no not any more. I use Clinque 7 day scrub cream as you can tissue this off, then apply your face mask, at the moment I have been using Aromatherapy Hydrating Rose face mask, I applied this over my face and neck. I got this as a free sample, but when you read the write up about this product, it is packed with so much goodness, you can even place the product around your eyes, which I have never been able to do with a mask.. This is a very moisturising, rehydrating mask, and brings life back to your skin. By this time two minutes have gone by. Then give your hair another comb through to really work the last parts of your conditioner and Bam! Three minutes is up and you can now rinse everything off!

So this is how I have been using the St Tropez gradual tan in the shower. Once I had this down it didn't feel like a long time and I was really pleased with the initial results. Its gives a wonderful glow, with no offensive tan smell, and gave a nice subtle colour to my English rose skin. If you want a darker tone just use it every time you shower and it builds perfectly over time. I would recommend this product if you are new to tanning, it was so simple to use and it the results were very pleasing. I wanted to show a picture but every time I edited it, the tan didn't show enough on camera, because I am SO white, but if I had used it a few more times, it would of shown much more.

Have you used this product yet? What do you think? I would love to hear your comments.

Love Nay x

Disclaimer- I have not been paid to mention any products above, I just like to share.

May Favourites

Its that time of the month where I blab on about things I have been enjoying in the month of May. So here we go!.

 My first beauty product I have been loving, is the Botantics Radiance Balm from Boots. Its very creamy and luxurious, and your skin feels like silk when applied. It acts as a brightener to the skin. I put this on after I have cleansed and moisturised, but before I put any make up on. It has the plant Hibiscus in it which is natures own brightness booster with a slight pink hue to it. I have been using this for about 8 weeks now and I love how it gives such a natural glow to the skin and just adds that extra va va voom to how your make up looks.

My next product is the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC cream. As we are approaching the summer months I wanted to wear something lighter on my skin than foundation. This is the answer. It has the three main colour corrective every girl needs. Apricot for anti-fatigue, Green for anti-redness and White for anti-dark spots. It covers really well, but it still gives that 'skin like' appearance. The bonus is, it also has SPF 15 in it, which is a great start in protecting your skin every day. With this great product broke my old faithful concealer out, Select Cover-Up Concealer by MAC. This one is an oldie, but a goody.  I find this concealer is light and creamy, great for under the eyes, but will also cover any blemishes, scarring, and redness. BUT, this is a big but, beware!. Work quickly, blending this bad boy in as it dries in seconds and once it has, it can look cakey and gives that dragging effect when trying to blend out. Together, with the cc cream its a marriage made. Also for the face, I have been using Nars Illuminator in Copacabana. Well what can I say, but oo la la, Mr Francois Nars has done it again! It is the most creamy, blendable, beautiful gleam to the skin. This is not for the fainthearted and if you are looking for a gleam that even NASA can see from their space station this is the ONE.

Nars Illuminator in copacabana

 Staying with the face, the last two products, Maybelline The Eraser Eye. Not much to say about this. Its o.k, for under the eyes its light, creamy blends o.k. But im not bowled over by it. I am quite demanding when it comes to a concealer and this is....o.k. So not a favourite, but I would not rule it out if you were thinking of giving it a try. On the cheeks I have pulled out a favourite from last year, my Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for lips and cheek in the shade Calypso Coral. Beautiful bright peach, blends beautifully and can be sheered out to not such an intense colour. Great for lips and cheeks. On my eyelids I have been going for a grunge look, just because I have been super busy and its the quickest eye make up technique to do in a hurry. I have been wearing NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Knight. Its a khaki green colour with gold flecks in it and I have blending this out with a little bronzer all around the eye and BAM! you are good to go. Last but not least, is the Rimmel London Kate Moss Lipstick in 03. Its a caramel, pinky, nude tone lipstick.  Not a massive fan of the smell, but can live with it for the price of these lipsticks.

Top-NYX Knight Jumbo Pencil Middle-Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral Bottom-Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick 03

Onto nails now, I have been loving the Barry M Quick Dry Nail Polishes. My collection is growing at a steady pace and I like the colour pay off and they last a while using a base coat. I have found that not to use a topcoat with these as they chip more, but when I did not use it, they just faded at the tips. Colours I have are TL-Pitstop, TR- Full Throttle, BL-Eat my dust, BR-Need for speed.

Lulu Guinness Continental wallet croco print leather in mink

This is my little moment where you were in the right place at the right time. I was in TK Maxx where I was picking up a Grobag for my 17 month old and I spotted the above out of the corner my eye. A  lulu guinness continental wallet croco print leather in mink. I got an amazing discount which makes me love it even more. My last favourite for this month and sadly I have needed to wear this more than I have wanted to for May, my bright yellow rain mack from Primark. It has rained so much in Lancashire, GB which is not normal for this time of year, so I was glad of this purchase.

So there are my favourites for May. What have you been loving this month? Is there any products or items of clothing that you might think I would like to try? I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid to advertise any products mentioned above, I just like to share.

My penchant for Pinstripes

 I think it is fair to say I have taken quite a shine to Pinstripes. Its been more of a recent thing as I have only recently loss most of my baby weight from last year. As I carry most of my weight 'up top', I always kept away from stripes in general. Anything that enlarges an area more than needs to be, gets a big fat cross in my book. I have always loved the Briton look, but recently stripes have got thinner and this opens up this style to a bigger audience. These have been my three top tops! (the striped top with the peter pan collar, ran in the wash and was completely ruined,,so unfortunately I couldn't take any more pictures of it.)

New look White pinstripe grandad collar roll sleeve shirt
This shirt is such a great all rounder. the fabric is incredibly soft and I like the way it hangs on the body. I wear this with overalls (dungarees),black shorts,denim shorts,black jeans and a pencil skirt. I can wear this tucked in for a more formal look or pulled out over jeans and shorts for a casual feel.

  New look White pinstripe Bardot Neck 3/4 Sleeve
My next choice is a cute Bardot style top. This is abit of a risk taker for me, as I am practical and I can imagine this being an annoying top if you are chasing a toddler around all day, and it constantly rides up. I thought I would save this top to wear when I have those precious moments when I am without my little darlings, The top has this elasticated line around the neck line and it does stay put as long as you don't gesture wildly. So when I wear this, I make sure I am disciplined with my hand movements. So you may being saying to yourself "why are you wearing it then", well I can tell you it is worth the struggle. It is a breathable fabric and a very cool feeling to it which makes it perfect for summer. It is very versatile top and can be worn for formal and casual, which works for me.

My last piece is a striped tee from H&M. I could not find this on their website, but if you have ever been on H&M's website you will know what I mean. This is a lovely tee and has washed really well. I love wearing this as it is a great staple to have in your wardrobe. I am sure there will be plenty more popping up in our leading brands.

So these are my three pinstripe tops. Lets not beat around the bush here, I know three is not that many, but for me it is HUGE. I never buy the same thing in two different colours just because I like it, as I love having variety in my wardrobe. So what piece of clothing have you enjoyed wearing lately? Are stripes your thing? I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x

Disclaimer- I have not been paid to mention any products above, I just like to share.

My Skin Care Favourites

I am finally coming to the end of my most beloved cleanser, Liz Earle cleanse and polish. I worked out that I have been using this product since I was 18,19 years old and I still love it. I occasionally stray to other cleansers, but its not long before I am lured back by its soothing green colour bottle and the rosemary,eucalyptus scent. The cleanse and polish has been a great cleanser for me, its soothing to the skin, yet it still packs a punch in removing the dirt and grime build up of the day. I then spritz my face with the Liz Earle Instant boost skin tonic and the smell of geranium just gives you that lift to start your day and quenches my thirsty skin. On top of that I smooth on Olay Total effects 7 in 1 moisturiser and serum. I like this at the moment, as I would say my skin is combination, but after cleansing it can feel a little tight, and I can have some dry patches, so, I normally have a serum and then moisturise as doing that delivers the needs for my skin. I am always sceptical of two in one products, but with this I was pleasantly surprised that it actually does a good job for a two in one product. It has a nice smooth consistency and absorbed quickly into my skin. It also has a SPF 20 which is a great added bonus.

For night time I like to double cleanse, as being a make up artist you do tend to make your make up last till the evening, so when I remove my make up at night I need something that will 'remove it'.  I really feel this is an important step to really give your skin the chance to breath and repair adequately over night. I use my cleanse and polish to lift my make up and any grime over the day, then go over with my Garnier cleansing miscellar water to remove any last traces, (I did a separate review on this, link to review) and then comes the good stuff. I am a big fan of oil moisturiser, especially for night time use. The oil can deeply penetrate levels of the skin and give it much needed TLC through the night. I was first introduced to Tropic Skincare brand from a friend, who had become a brand ambassador for the company, and she seemed very excited about the products, I knew then it had to be good. These products are made up of natural ingredients and plant extracts, so I decided to try Organic Facial Elixir Oil Rosehip and Moringa. The smell alone as you smooth and massage this golden coloured oil over your face, neck and décolletage, ( I also like to rub on the back of my hands as well),  just lulls you into a relaxing state and that you are ready for bed. The oil contains organic Kiwi seeds which is highly moisturising, and it can heal cracked skin, eczema and psoriasis, which is perfect for me, as I can suffer with dry skin and sometimes have a break out of eczema. The Moringa oil contained in the product helps to penetrates deep into the skin and the Rosehip oil is a fatty acid, which aids skin cell rejuvenation and repair. When I apply the oil, I notice that my skin is noticeably firmer and supple, and it has a glow about it. It absorbs quickly and leaves no residue. Rosehip oil is such an understated oil, it has so much going for it and provides so much goodness for the skin. Any product that contains Rosehip oil is worth a go.

Once or twice a week I would use Tropic Face Smooth Brightening Polish (my friend, who I mentioned earlier gave this to me) is a smooth, yet grainy pale yellow gloop. The smell of the product instantly awakens you with its heady scent of sweet oranges and zesty lemon. As I rub this in circular motions over my face and neck, it feels so smooth and you can feel just flecks of organic rice flour and sugar cane. Once I rinsed my face, it feels noticeably smoother, and my pores smaller. Over the next few weeks the redness disappeared from around my nose and my skin felt plumper.

I have been very impressed with both of these products and would recommend to anyone to try Tropics Skincare range, anything that can boast only using natural ingredients and plants extracts and delivers such great results, deserves a fair chance.

So, there you go, my round up of my current skin care routine. Have you tried any of these products? Have you tried Liz Earle or Tropic Skincare range at all? I would love to hear from you, and if you have liked any other skincare from their ranges.


Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid to mention any of the above products, I just like to share.

June Daily Make up favourites

Its that time of the month already, and I can certainly say June has been an incredible month. I decided to share with you all, my two go-to make up looks that I have been wearing, all of June. The Look I have been emulating, is two make up looks, one a blown out purple/taupe eye, with my new love, Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in 08. I bought this about 18 months ago and decided pretty quickly that it just washed me out, because my hair was a copper colour at the time, then fast forward to now, hair change to bronde (hairdresser term for mixture of blonde and brunette hair colour) and now I have rekindled my love for it, and it is now firmly placed in my hand bag. The second look is a bronzy/goldy/brown eye, same technique, rounding out the eye, and I teamed this with Nars Cruella lip pencil (my review) which is a perfect tone to go with my bronzed eye look.

 I have re-visited some oldies this month to renew my love for them. The first is Illamasqua Skin Base foundation. My attention had been diverted away from this foundation, and it was only when I cleaned out my kit, I realized how much I had missed it. This foundation is a medium coverage, but is definitely build-able. I like how it covers imperfections, but still looks like 'skin' giving you that fresh faced look. My second product is Mac Strobe cream. I had thought I had lost this, as when my youngest son was about 8 months old he had a taken a shine to it, and evidently it went missing, until now! I found it in a pair of old shoes and was overjoyed to have found it again. I use this under my foundation to give a radiant glow to the skin. With the new term 'Strobing' which is really highlighting given a new name, I have found using this also on those chosen areas is keeping my make up fresh and up to date. I have to admit my brow routine has not changed though. I am still using my old faithful Anastasia Beverley Hill Dipbrow in medium brown with Maybelline Brow Drama, as I am yet to find anything different that has caught my eye. (brow routine)

My concealer though has been another rediscovery. I am a slave to my blue/black circles under my eyes and as I have got older (and they have got worse since having children) I have become well mastered in the process of camouflaging them. The Mac Pro conceal and correct palette has been my trusty friend on many a job, but I have never used it on myself, as I have always liked Bobbi brown correcter in the shade Peach, but recently I forgot to pack it, so had to revert to my Mac pro palette and oh joy of joys, its amazing! I mean I know it is amazing, because I use it on my clients and see fantastic results, but I had just got stuck in a rut with using my old faithful. To contour and highlight, I have been using another Anastasia Beverly Hill product, their Contour Kit (link to product review) and to add a bit more radiance to the skin, Mac cream colour base in Hush added on the top of the cheeks. Its a pretty peachy, gold cream and just gleams on the cheeks ( I also have a review on this product). Also on the cheeks just to add even more glow, I have been using Nars Cult Classic Orgasm blush, a peachy pink with golden shimmer. It beautifully blends onto the skin, which is very in keeping with both my chosen looks.

left-right Mac Teddy eye pencil, Mac Woodwinked, Mac Espresso, Maybelline color tattoo 24hr on and on Bronze, Nars Cruella

For my eyes to achieve my bronze/goldy/brown look, Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr On and On Bronze (I have a review on both Maybelline  Color Tatto 24hr) on the mobile lid blending up into the crease, then packing over that, Mac woodwinked eye shadow, which is a pretty warm antiqued gold and it just melts onto the lid. Then into the socket line blending upwards Mac Espresso, which is a muted gold brown to give that blown out look that I really like at the moment. I have been then putting Mac Teddy eye pencil (sorry this is a little Mac heavy) which is an intense bronze along the lash line and blending that out to really make the lashes stand out. For my purple/taupe look, I popped on Maybelline Color Tatto 24hr in Permanent Taupe on the mobile lid, and then I put in the crease, Mac Blackberry, a burgundy-plum brown with Mac Haux, which is a soft rosey brown blending that up wards to add warmth to the eye. To finish both my looks off, I have been wearing Eldora hand made, real hair false lashes, H151. They are so pretty, fluttery lashes with a invisible band which is perfect if you are not wearing a full liner.

Left-Right Mac Teddy eye pencil, Maybelline Color tatto 24hr Permanent taupe, Mac Haux, Mac Blackberry, Rimmel Kate Moss 08 Lipstick

So there you go, these are my June Make up favourites. What products have you tried? What have been your Make up favourites? Also, if anyone could tell me of any brow products they are loving at the moment, I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid for any of the products mentioned above, I just like to share.