Desires and Deals - Models Own, Benefit, Armani, Elemis and more!

I hope you have all been having a lovely weekend in the sunshine.  It has been gorgeous today and really felt like Summer was on its way when I went for a run through the park.  I hope it stays like this all week as my knee high boots have been firmly packed away until Autumn now!

Desires

Models Own Beetlejuice – Tropical Sun, £5, Models Own

I like Model’s Own polishes as they tend to have some interesting colours at a great price. They have just launched 3 new shades as part of their Beetlejuice Collection and I really like the look of Tropical Sun. It looks like a gorgeous iridescent coral duo-chrome that would be perfect for Spring!

Benefit Hello Flawless! Oxygen Foundation, £24.50 - Benefit

I'm always on the lookout for a new foundation and Benefits latest offering purports to be an oil-free, lightweight formula with SPF 25, and promotes the appearance of healthy, youthful looking skin. With a light-medium coverage this could be exactly what I need for Summer.

Armani - Summer Ecailles Collection - New Eyes to Kill, Ecailles and Obsidian Grey, £26, available soon on counters

I love Armani's Eyes To Kill Shadows as although pricey, they are long-lasting and blend like a dream.  I've got my eye on Obsidian Grey in particular and it is a welcome departure form all the pastels and corals we have been seeing lately.

Deals

Cult Beauty free gift with all offers over £60 while stocks last 

Cult Beauty have a current deal on for this amazing free gift when you spend £60.  The gift contains products from Bliss, Becca and Alpha H amongst others.  I'm off to have a look at their website right now!

Time To Spa - Elemis Shower Duos 2 for 1

Time to Spa have a deal on Elemis Shower Duos including the gorgeous Exotic Fragipani scent for £20.50 for two full-sized bottles.  I particularly have my eye on the set of 6 100ml bottles of scents and fragrances across the whole collection at only £25.  They would be perfect for short weekend breaks away!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, 50ml £17.99 from £25 at Beauty Expert 

This is a classic staple for me and I always have a tube of it on the go.  Its perfect for any scaly knees, elbows or lips - in fact it can be used almost anywhere!  It does smell a little odd the first time you try it but you quickly get used to it and at a 1/3 off the usual price, this is a great deal.

November Favourites

This month’s favourites is a bit of a mish-mash due to being on holiday for a large proportion of November. I realise that sun cream won’t be in many other’s November favourites!

Armani Eyes to Kill, 15 - I’ve only had this just over a week but I have worn it most days. I reviewed it recently here (Review - Armani Eyes to Kill, 15) and it is just so easy to use and lasts all day. I’m definitely going to buy more of these.

Peppermint Foot Spray, The Body Shop - A necessity in hot weather, this leaves my feet feeling cooled, refreshed and smelling much better! I used this constantly on holiday, and it was really refreshing after jungle treks in hot, stifling shoes, and also on my flip-flop-wearing toes by the pool. I get through several bottles of this every summer.

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Balm in Peach - As I didn’t tend to wear much makeup on holiday, it was easy to just slick on some of the Carmex lip balm to give my lips a little colour, and to protect them as it contains SPF15. I reviewed both this and the pink tint here (Review – Carmex Moisture Plus Balm) and although these are sheer, they are not just for summer. I have been wearing them in the wind and rain recently as they keep my lips super moisturised.

No 7, 3-in-1 Wipes - I’m sure you have tried these when thinking of things to spend your No7 vouchers on! I always have a surplus of them as I think you cannot have too many and they were a godsend when the outside shower at the Elephant Sanctuary we stayed at in Thailand proved to be too ‘character building’, even for me! Some dry shampoo and copious wipes managed to save the day until I could get access to a hot shower!

They are also fab for long flights and leave you feeling a little more refreshed after attempting to sleep upright for several hours. I would never travel without them and they are a bargain when the No 7 vouchers are around, at only £2 for a pack of 30.

Liz Earle Shampoo - A great cleansing shampoo that I have been using several times a week. I have coloured hair and this has kept it in good condition, despite subjecting it to chlorine on many occasions over the past couple of weeks. It is also SLS-free.

Riemann P20 suncream -A friend suggested this suncream to me earlier in the year after I complained that I always burn in the sun easily and that I forget to re-apply protection every couple of hours. It is not cheap (although I managed to find mine in the end of summer sale at CheapSmells for £10 off!) but it really does last the entire day, assuming you apply it liberally in the morning about 20 minutes before you get dressed. I didn’t get burnt once when using this and we were in direct sunlight at 32 degrees on many occasions whilst out and about. Highly recommended, I just wish I had known about this earlier!

Review: Armani Eyes to Kill, 15

I was very good on my holidays and hardly did any shopping at all, mainly as I had plans to spend some leftover money in Bangkok airport but as our connecting flight was delayed, we had a mad dash through the airport and as a result I had no time for shopping! Still, it was probably a good thing given the fact that Christmas is fast approaching and I still have rather a lot of presents to buy. 

I did however have time for a quick mooch around Terminal 5 which is truly a fab place to shop for a beauty lover, and I sent hubby off to Dixons Tax Free to play with the technology so I could browse in peace. I headed straight for the Armani stand once I saw it as I had heard great things about the Eyes to Kill shadows and was itching to swatch a few.

I finally decided on 15, which is a gorgeous bronze / blackened gold depending on the light and how you view it. The pot is not dissimilar to the Chanel Illusions d’Ombre, which I also love, however the texture of the Eyes to Kill shadow is completely different as it is not a cream shadow, but it is not a pressed pigment either, it is something of a hybrid of the two. 

The colour looks so vibrant in the jar and the amazing thing is that it looks just as pigmented when used on the eyes. I have been applying it with my finger and then blending it out at the edges for a wash of colour and I have found that even without a primer it lasts a good 8-9 hours, and with a primer 10 hours plus. This is a rarity for me as I have very oily lids and even the Chanel Illusions d’ Ombre crease on me after several hours, although many people have reported that they have found them budge-proof. I’ve also tried applying with a small dense brush but I’ve found it seems to work better applied with the warmth of the finger tips.

Verdict

I am really impressed with this and will certainly be seeking out more. I only wish they were easier to get hold of in stores as although I purchase a lot online, I do sometimes like to try before I buy. If you like cream shadows but find they can crease easily, this will be a good option for you. They are not cheap but a little goes a long way and if you remember to screw the lid on tightly to stop them from drying out, I can see these lasting ages. A big thumbs up from me!

5/5

Price - £24.50

Where to buy – Selfridges