Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan & 'Lovely Legs' Bronze Spray

We've all been there.  You find yourself invited to a spontaneous night out or event and mild panic sets in when you realise that you haven't fake tanned.  No instagram filter is going to disguise your milky pins and you have less than 24 hours to sort it out.  It's happened to me many a time let me tell you - which is why I always like to have some form of 'quick fix' tan always at the ready in my bathroom cabinet.  As much as I love being bronzed, I really do hate the whole process of fake tanning and if there's anything I can do to shorten it, I will.  When a great number of fake tans take up to 8 hours to develop, it really can become a bit of a chore and there's been many a time I've found myself planning my day around it before a night out which is ever so slightly ridiculous!  The only time I really have to fake tan is after work - so something super quick, easy and fuss-free is a must for me - as well as a product which offers the same colour pay off as any normal fake tan would.  Enter Cocoa Brown's One Hour Tan... a product which promises beautifully bronzed and radiant skin in just one hour.  

Cocoa Brown | 1 Hour Tan | £6.99* | Link  This product has gained cult beauty status since it was launched as well as winning a number of industry awards - I've read so many good reviews and features and really couldn't wait to try it.  I hold my hands up and admit I was very sceptical to begin with - there's no way a one-hour fake tan could offer me the same results as an 8-hour developer, could it? I have to say I was so impressed when I first tried this tan.  Not only does it give such a natural, bronzed glow to the skin, it applies so smoothly and evenly - it's effortless.  The mousse is really creamy and feels luxurious and almost moisturising to apply, giving a flawless finish from head to toe. The scent is really unique too - there's no whiff of fake tan whatsoever thanks to the delicate floral hint.  Once applied, the mousse sinks in really nicely and doesn't leave a sticky residue, meaning you aren't stood around like a lemon for ages whilst you wait for your tan to dry.   After an hour or so, the tan washes off to reveal a lovely, natural glow - not a hint orange in sight - it gives that natural 'caramel' sort of colour which is so flattering on the skin.  It's not the darkest colour I've ever achieved but it's such an amazing 'quick fix' and does exactly what I want it to do. I find it to be quite buildable too - so I'll often apply it two nights in a row mid-week and I'm sorted ready for the weekend.  It's also a nice product to use if you want to 'top up' a tan you already have. 

Cocoa Brown | Lovely Legs Spray | £7.99* | Link  I've only really dabbled in leg makeup sprays once or twice in the past so products like this are fairly new to me.  Although I don't think they're a necessity, i do think they make a fabulous addition to your evening out routine or simply used as an alternative to standard 'instant' tans.  If you've ever tried Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs then this is very similar.  The spray is quite scary when you first apply it as the colour comes out quite strong, but once it's buffed in with a mitt it provides a smooth, even finish with an additional bit of coverage to help smooth and perfect the skin's appearance.  I had a small mark that just wouldn't budge on my lower leg for a while (shaving incident - I'm sure you'll all relate...) I used this spray on a couple of occasions and it helped to smooth out the skin-tone on my legs, covering the mark whilst adding a slight bronzed glow.  It's not something I'd use all of the time but it's definitely a nice product to have in my stash - it comes in very handy for special occasions when you'll be taking a lot of photographs as it gives such a perfected look to the skin.  I'm off for a weekend away with the boy soon and this is most certainly going to go in my suitcase. Used sparingly, it looks really natural and deepens the tan you already have.  Paler skins might find it slightly muddy and difficult to work with, but if you've already applied your tan (or if you're a lucky so and so and are sporting a natural one) then it's a nice product to finish off with before a night on the tiles.

Overall, I've been really impressed with Cocoa Brown.  For less than a tenner, the one-hour tan really is worth having. If, like me, you struggle to find the time to tan it's so super quick to apply after a day at work - all you need to do is hop in the shower before bed and you're sorted - hardly any effort needed!  You can find Cocoa Brown range in Superdrug stores here.

Have you tried any Cocoa Brown products? What did you reckon?  

Beauty Buys | Summer Holiday Haul!

There's nothing like getting a holiday booked is there? Not only does it instantly make you feel much more chipper but it's enough to cause any sane woman to go crazy amongst the 'summer beauty' aisles of Boots.  Which is exactly what I did as soon as I knew. All of sudden, you realise just how much stuff you haven't got. And when you're a beauty blogger - let me tell you we ain't just talking the basics of sun cream and a tub of aftersun. Oh no. We're talking the right shades of concealer, the right lip colour, the right powder to keep our makeup in place on those warm, balmy evenings and the right combination of hair products to keep summertime frizz to a minimum (anyone else have the same issue as Monica from Friends as soon as they step off the plane? *for those of you who get this reference - gold star for you >*) Anyway, rambling aside, I thought it would be the perfect excuse to shove together a holiday-themed haul. If any of you are jetting away soon, it might give you a few ideas. If not - well, I hope you enjoy having a nosey at what's been thrown into my shopping basket of late anyway...

Mark Hill | Va Va Voom Mousse (travel size) 

Me and this mousse get on like a house on fire. Honestly, if you skip through the past 3 years of my blog you'll probably see it pop up a fair few times - I've never really used any other (true love right there). It's thick enough to make a difference with volume but its light enough not to weigh it down - it also never seems to turn my hair into straw.  I'm sure it's not the best mousse ever, but for me, it works and I always make a beeline straight for it whenever I need a new one.  It's hard to track down the travel sizes as they always seem to be sold out - so I actually grabbed two! One for my holiday and one for a trip to London next week. I cannot be without it.

Scwarzkopft | Got2B Beach Matt Texturising Salt Spray

This was actually on offer and I got it for less than £2! To be honest, Im not sure if I'll be able to take it away with me as I'm usually bang on my weight limit (typical over-packer) - I could probably do with a smaller size but either way, I really wanted to try a salt spray again.  I used a Tony & Guy one last year and i found it came in so handy over the summer months - I can't wait to see what this one is like as I've always got on well with Got2B products! Bargain!

Garnier | Ambre Solaire Tan Maintainer

If you buy one thing this summer - make it this! I've been recommending this product on my blog for about 3 years now - I go through countless tubes of the stuff every year and I'm yet to find anything quite as good (If you don't like the hint of fake tan element then I'd recommend Lancaster Tan Maximiser - my other must-have!).  People always ask how I maintain my tan after a holiday and it definitely has something to do with this. If you want to find out why I love it so much I speak about it in a favourites post here. I also give it a mention in my 'tan maintaining tips' post here.  It's around £8 in Boots but I found it on offer in Tesco for 2 for £8 - so shop around!

Soap & Glory | Flake Away (travel size)

I always exfoliate before I go away so that my natural tan will last longer. I bought my favourite Soap & Glory scrub in miniature form to pop in my suitcase. I usually use it as soon as I get there just to give myself maximum tanning possibilities (is that sad? ahaha)  If you've never tried this scrub you honestly don't know what you're missing.  It makes the chore of exfoliating seem a breeze! And a very sweet smelling one at that!

The Balm | 'Bahama Mama' Bronzer

Now then.  You can only imagine my disappointment when I realised my beloved Nars 'Laguna' is almost completely gone right before I go away on holiday.  Sods law, isn't it? The thought of purchasing another made me wince a little - so, in true blogger style, I took this as my chance to try something new.  I spent ages looking online and settled on this one from 'The Balm' - I've always quite fancied trying some of their stuff and the packging really caught my eye. As well as being rather eye-catching, it's also really neat and compact and fits perfectly in the palm of my hand - something I always try and look for when I'm taking products on holiday with me as I aim to cram in as much as physically possible. It's actually slightly darker than Nars Laguna - which to be honest is perfect for me as I really do tan quite a bit on holiday! I'm planning on doing a full post on this soon along with a Nars comparison so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Bourjois | Bronzing BB Cream

I wanted to try this ever since I used Bourjois' Bronzing Primer last year (review of that here). When I'm on holiday I usually don't wear a scrap of makeup in the day as I find it so uncomfortable, but I thought this might be quite nice if I go on a day-trip somewhere and want to give my skin some coverage without completely masking it.  I'm not opening it until I'm there so I shall let you know my thoughts as soon as I'm home but I'm predicting that it might just become a summer staple... We shall see!

Urban Decay | 'De Slick' Makeup Setting Spray (travel size)

I've wanted to try one of these sprays for aaaages now! I finally caved and bought the travel size - perfect for popping in your suitcase. This one is said to help combat shine, absorb oil, keep your skin looking matte and your makeup in place all night.  When I'm abroad I always struggle to keep my makeup looking flawless in the evenings and I don't even have oily skin! I've been road testing this the past few days and I have to say I've noticed such a difference.  I went to powder my face half-way through the day and realised I actually didn't need to - which is saying something to say how muggy it's been just recently! I shall be doing a full review of this when i'm home - i already have high hopes for it.

Estee Lauder | Double Wear Concealer

OK. So I didn't actually buy this for the sake of my holiday but it's my holy grail concealer and I simply cannot live without it.  It covers blemishes, dark circles and pigmentation with ease and it lasts all day without fail. Even if you do top up through the day its so creamy that it never goes cakey - I adore it.

Elf | Complete Coverage Concealer Palette

I just realised I didn't photograph this separately but you can spy it in the collective image at the top.  This is a re-purchase for me and for less than a fiver, this kit really is the bees knees. What I love about it is the fact it has 4 different shades - there's 2 shades with peachy undertones (perfect for under eye circles which is my main area of concern) and 2 which lean more yellow which work for general sprucing up and blemishes.  I actually ran this palette down to the pan last time I bought one so it just goes to show how much I love it. It doesn't last all day but it's perfect for a quick fix and the colours are very creamy and very well pigmented. Because my skin is going to get darker in the sun, it's handy to have the slightly darker shades in there as well. I have a post on it here so you can see the colours in more detail. 

Mac | Lip Pencil in 'Spice'

After my beloved Estee Lauder Lip Pencil in 'Spice' ran out - I set out on a mission to find something similar.  I stumbled upon this Mac pencil with the same name and it was love at first swatch.  This is incredibly long lasting and is the perfect browny-nude - very 90s chic so it isn't for everyone but I find it works really well with my skintone.  I find it a fabulous, long lasting alternative to lipstick and it's much more versatile.  When I go away, I always pack far too many lipsticks so I'm thinking of picking up a few more of these as they're much more makeup bag friendly.  If you're not a fan of the finish then gloss on the top looks a-ma-zing! (for the record... Benefit's 'Hoola' lipgloss looks stunning with this - together they've become my new dream team!)

Barry M | Eye Liner in 'Kingfisher'

What is this?! COLOUR?! On the eyes?!?! Was I feeling alright?! I never wear colour on my eyes so to say this is pushing it for me is an understatement. Blame Pinterest. I saw someone use a colour like this on their bottom lash line and I instantly wanted to give it a go. Personally, I think with a tan and a smudge of peachy-gold eyeshadow on the upper lid I might be able to pull it off. If i don't, it was only £3 anyway but it's such a beautiful colour - just look at it, looook atttt ittttt...

So there we have it.  My latest beauty buys. It's fair to say I feel as if I need a break away this year - 11 nights of relaxation and time to ponder over the next chapter of my life whilst digging my toes into the sand in Crete seems like just the ticket right now. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I live for holidays and trips away so I really do love this time of year! I'm also planning on grabbing a late deal on a few days away in Marbella with my best friend but I'm not sure my savings account can take it... Who knows though, I might just have a 'YOLO' moment ;) We haven't been away together since we were 19 (I'm now almost 24) so some quality best-friend time in the sun is waaaay overdue!

What are you holiday 'must haves'? Have you tried any of these products before or is there any that you'd like to hear more about? Let me know!

Lauren's Way | Darker than Dark 'Glam Tan' Spray

Lauren's Way | Darker than Dark Spray Tan | £19.95* | Link

Summer creeping around the corner can only mean one thing. Yes ladies - it's time to start waving goodbye to the trusty opaque tights and hello to weeks and weeks of  regimented hair removal - waheey!  If the thought of getting your less than summer-ready pins out makes you shudder in your fluffy slippers, a layer or two of the ol' fake tan never fails to perk them up in a jiffy.  Just recently, I've been testing out this offering from Lauren's Way.  I've always been intrigued by the range - I'm forever reading fabulous reviews and comments on Twitter about just how great it is and the fact I'm a self-confessed TOWIE fan only added to my excitement.  As soon as I tried it, I loved it.  In fact, I'm going to throw it out there - I reckon I've found my new favourite fake tan.  It featured in my monthly favourites a couple of weeks ago (you can have a read here) so it just goes to show how much I love it as I thought it needed it's very own post. 

Firstly, I have to say I'm slightly surprised at just how quickly I warmed to using a spray.  I've always been very much a mousse-y kinda girl with the odd lotion thrown in here and there - St Tropez and Xen Tan have to be the only 2 fake tans I've ever really liked. However, Lauren's Way is SO easy to use the guide colour means that it's really easy to see where you've been - and it isn't messy or hard to apply in the slightest. You can either spray directly onto the skin and blend with a mitt, or apply onto the mitt beforehand and then buff into the skin - either way works equally well and it's really easy to achieve a smooth, even colour.  I'm completely and utterly sold on the spray version and I would 100% repurchase the spray again - I find it's actually much less effort than a lotion or a mousse - and it dries almost instantly.  It's also really quick to apply as there's no real 'massaging in' routine that's needed like there is with a mousse or lotion - you literally just spray, buff in and go.  I can easily do my entire body in 10 minutes.

Just one coat is enough to give a deep, even tan. The colour is quite dark - but it's not orangey in slightest. It gives the same colour to my skin that I'd achieve if I'd been in the sun for a few days - very olive toned and natural.  One of the main selling points for me though, is the fact that this tan doesn't seem to smell like typical fake tans to me (which is what puts me off doing it as I can't stand smelling like a digestive!).  It has a very light, fresh scent when you first apply it, but once it's on you can hardly smell it whatsoever. Perfect! It also seems to last much longer than other tans on me - I find I don't have to 'top up' half as much - and I'm always happy with the colour it gives after just one application (finally, a tan I don't have to layer up!) I would have posted a 'before and after' photograph - but to be honest, I've been wearing this tan non-stop since I got it so I haven't had pale skin in a good few weeks now. Hopefully, you get the jist of the application from the photos above.  Overall, I have to say I love Lauren's Way - and as soon as I run out of this bottle I'm going to be ordering another pretty swiftly! It really is as good as everyone says...

Have you tried Lauren's Way?

Holiday Haul & Ramblings

I'm back! For those of you who don't know, I jetted off to the sunny island of Crete in Greece last Tuesday for a big fat dose of relaxation and a bit of an unwind.  It was very much needed to say the least and I could have done with an extra week in the sunshine - although saying that, stepping off the plane in the UK was a bit of a surprise. I'm usually greeted by drizzle and a dash across the runway in the rain, but this time the plane doors opened and I found that the weather has most certainly followed me here! I have spent today blogging in the back garden in my bikini, ice cold coke in hand and topping up my tan.  If that doesn't kick my holiday blues in the face, I don't know what will (although I'm sure a little nosey through the late deals section for August won't go amiss either...) 

Anyway, before I ramble on, I thought I'd show you what I picked up when on holiday.  I don't tend to buy much when abroad - the craziest I ever went was when I found myself in Sephora (i need to make the point of going abroad to a 'Sephora-blessed' country again!) and the time when I bought a tonne of Mickey Mouse merchandise from Disneyland Florida (it's got to be done though?...) but aside from this, I don't really go bonkers in duty-free or with the souvenir shopping. I tend to treat myself to a perfume or a lipstick in the airport before I jet off, but I don't go mad once I'm out there... That over sized sombrero might seem like a hilarious idea at the time, but the reality hits you when you're home that it's going to have to be squished under your bed along with that plastic donkey figurine and Cypriot ceramic camel to gather dust for all eternity (this a true story by the way, I genuinely have a giant sombrero under my bed that I bought on a bit of a holiday-high...along with the donkey and the camel...I've since learnt from my impulse holiday purchasing!)

When I got to the airport in Crete, I wasn't expecting much more than a selection of knock-yer-socks-off Ouzo and a few 'Memories from Greece' chocolates - but to my surprise, they had a large shop with an array of brands including Chanel, Estee Lauder and countless perfumes - then I spied the Victoria's Secret stand! There was a large selection of bath and body products, along with a small section full of their beauty products.  Sadly, I didn't have much time to fully immerse myself in the goodies on offer, but I did manage to pick out a body spritz and a lip butter.  I spent a good while spraying all the different scents (there was so many I ran out of room on the majority of my limbs so took to spraying them in the air - it's safe to say you could smell me walking over the runway once I'd finished...) I picked out 'Sensual Blush' which smells really fresh and light - hints of floral but not too overpowering. I also picked up one of their lip butters - I'm a big fan of sheer lipsticks and buttery lip products so of course, I had to have one! I picked out the shade 'Dare to Bare', which is a lovely light warm pink shade with hints of coral.  I really wanted to pick up one of their mascara sets they had, but I didn't have time to fully choose one as my flight was called pretty sharpishly. Never mind!

When we were in Crete, we took a trip to one of the nearby towns.  There wasn't much there aside from a few bars and tavernas and typical shopping bazaars and little market stalls, but this floral phone case caught my eye.  Of course, I know the chances of it being the real deal are very slim (I might be a bit daft but I'm not stupid when it comes to these things!), but anyone who knows me knows that I'm partial to a bit of Cath Kidston now and again - I love her phone cases because I often do my nails in her 'signature' patterns and I like being all matchy-matchy (you can have a gander at my designs here if you fancy a nail art post!). For a market-stall find its pretty good quality and fits my phone like a glove - cannot grumble for under 10 euros!

Before I flew out I also picked up a massive bottle of Lancaster aftersun.  It's become a bit of a ritual now that I treat myself to a bottle every time I go away as I swear by it!  It's expensive (this bottle cost me £21.50!) but if you're a fan of having a tan then Lancaster's after sun will be right up your street. It contains no self-tan but contains ingredients that help stimulate melanin production and darken and deepen your colour, at the same time as helping it last even longer.  It smells amazing and sinks in so quickly - if you fancy a bit of luxury in your tanning regime I really recommend you try it - you can also use it on your face and as it's so light it doesn't feel greasy. I love it! (you can read an ancient review of it here..)  And of course, a holiday haul isn't complete without a sweetie or two! I slung a pack of Jelly Belly's Ice Cream Parlour mix into my basket on the way home along with the Cocktail Mix (not pictured) I love their ice cream mix and I'm a bit of an addict when it comes to flavoured beans... Such a big kid at heart!

So there we have it - a little holiday haul to welcome myself back to the world of blogging after a week away.  I had a good ole think whilst lazing around on my sunbed and I have so much planned for my blog - I've jotted down ideas for a new layout which is very much overdue.  I've also got a long list of blog posts I want to type up. I was overjoyed to realise I'd been selected for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards Shortlist the day before I went away, so it's given me a bit of a kick up the bum! Not that I was letting my blogging slip or anything, but I want it to change slightly over the summer and I want to experiment with a bit of a new look and a spruce up when it comes to my blog navigation.  Watch this space..   If you still haven't voted and enjoy my blog - you can vote for me in the 'Established Beauty Blog' category here.

Have any of you been airport shopping recently?

Last Minute Holiday Buys

Evening my little cupcakes.  I hope you've all been enjoying today in the sunshine - it's sure been a scorcher i tells ya! I arrived back from London late last night so it's fair to say I've been absolutely cream-crackered all day. For those of you who don't know, I've been on a trip with uni to a big exhibition for 6 days and it's been so exciting to be showing my work - I've had lots of good things come from it including interest in my children's book and potential jobs for the future/placements for summer - I've even had my work featured on a very well known graphic design site so to say it's been successful is an understatement! I'm grinning like a cheshire cat right now (and a very tired one at that...that'll teach me to wear wedges for 10 hours straight ;)).  There's no rest for the wicked though - I jet off on holiday in the early hours of Tuesday morning, so I'm currently in the process of unpacking one case and packing another (nightmare! my floor has never seen so many carrier bags and clothes!) - I definitely feel as if I'm ready for a holiday - I really need to recharge my batteries. Anyway,  I took a drive down to the nearest retail park last week to pick up some last minute bits for my holiday as I won't have chance tomorrow and I thought I thought what better thing to do than show you what I picked up... Everyone loves a holiday haul right?

| St Tropez Self Tan Dark Mousse |

Call me high maintenance, but one cannot simply arrive in a sunny country looking like a milk bottle on legs.  Whenever I go away, I fake tan beforehand so that I don't stick out like a sore thumb once I arrive.  St Tropez is my go-to fake tan. I find the mousse so easy to apply and fuss-free and I like the colour it gives.  I've never tried their dark version before but I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've since tried it and I have to say I think I prefer the normal version - the dark just looks a bit too muddy on me.  I can usually get away with not washing the guide colour off the normal version if I'm going out, but with this one I absolutely have to make sure it's off before I pop out as it looks too much. Oh well - atleast I've tried it.  I'll still use it but I much prefer my St Tropez normal mousse. 

| Tangle Teezer Travel |

I cannot live without my Tangle Teezer - me and that hairbrush are like the ultimate little dream-team and without it i simply can't function and my hair has a mardy.  I travel quite a bit, so I figured I'd whack the travel version in my basket.  It's really handy because it's slightly smaller and has a little protective case so that the bristles don't get damaged in your suitcase.  I took it to London with me and it was a little life saver - it kept my hair from throwing it's toys out of the pram and going all frizzy on me! Just what you need if you're a fellow traveller like me.

| Sanctuary Pore Refining Toner- Travel Size |

Ahh mini products... Every time I go away I relish shopping for mini bottles of stuff.  They're much more interesting and cute than normal sized bottles of stuff!  Sanctuary do some lovely skin care and this is my favourite of the bunch - their Pore Refining Toner.  It keeps my skin looking and feeling fresh and gets rid of any cack (Cack - be gone!) If you're in need of a good toner then it's worth trying this one. I loves it.

| Bourjois Bronzing Primer & Maxi Delight Bronzer |

I really tried not to get sucked in by Bourjois new summer offering. I failed.  Their new bronzing range is really tempting and as soon my holiday was booked I justified grabbing their bronzing primer as I've had my eye on it for a while.  It's said to be similar to the infamous Chanel Bronzer so we will see if it lives up to those claims (i own both so I shall be testing on holiday!)  Their products were on offer so I picked up the Maxi Delight bronzer too.  It's flipping huge. Honestly, the photos don't show the size but it's almost bigger than my head (slight exaggeration there...) I have a review coming up shortly of these 2 - I'm really liking the Maxi Delight at the momento.

| Charles Worthington Mineral Hair Rescue Masque |

My hair is partial to a masque or two.  I picked this one up for my jollydays as my hair tends to get a bit straw-like in the sun. Being blonde it often has the tendency to look really brassy too so I always pick up a conditioning treatment to use half-way through the holiday to refresh and revive my poor little frazzled ends. I really liked the sound of this one.

| Soap & Glory - Archery Brow Pencil |

I've never really tried Soap & Glory's make-up offerings but really wanted to give their eyebrow pencil a whirl.  It has a pencil on one end and a brush tip on the other that works more like a pen.  I really like this so far although I have to say the colour is really light. Now, I'm not a fan of a 'scouse brow' but I do like my eyebrows to look defined and the blonde version is possibly a touch too light - but I still like it anyway as the pen works as a great base for my HD Brows.  Nevertheless, I'd definitely buy one of these again - i really like it so far.

| Batiste - Conditioning Mist with Argan Oil |

When I saw this I had to grab it.  I'm a big fan of Batiste and I'm also a big fan of conditioning hair oil so the two combined was just a must-have! I often smooth a bit of oil over any frizzy-bits after I've styled my hair so this sounded like the perfect finishing touch without the risk of over-doing it with the oil.  I haven't yet tried this but I really cannot wait to give it a spritz - It's such a good idea and something that I haven't really seen on the market yet.  Thumbs up Batiste - you have pleased me.


And so that's yer lot! I have a few reviews coming up involving some of these products I'm sure - but these are just my first impressions.  I'm currently in the middle of packing my suitcase so wish me luck with that - I'm always always overweight with suitcases - give me a weight allowance and I'll bloody well use it (and more!).  Any tips on efficient packing for a girl who loves to take everything including the kitchen sink will be welcome...

Have you tried any of these products?