May 2013: Must-have beauty buys

It’s been a tough competition this month for the a highly coveted place in the sought after monthly feature ‘must have beauty buys’. We’ve managed to narrow down the fierce competition to these six little wonders. It’s our desert island. Items we cannot live without, that we would spend our last pennies on.

Rebel Nail Wraps £7.99 

How many times have you dressed to the nines, pulled out all the stops with new shoes, dress and bag, then glanced down at your less than desirable, un-manicured nails and gasped? With ten minutes before the taxi arrives, there’s just no times for polish. Rebel by name, rebel by nature, an instant nail lift, in less than ten minutes and yes we’ve even timed it (purely in the name of research), your nail area is transformed into the ultimate fashion accessory. Simply buff the nails to take off the shine, clean with polish remover and dry. Choose the correct size design to fit your nail, peel and apply, press firmly and then file off the excess. Professional tip: to lengthen the longevity of you wrap heat then for a few seconds with your hair dryer once applied, and press down.

With a selection of stunning designs, you really will be spoilt for choice. For those amongst you who are more of a wallflower in the world of nail art, opt for a design on your ring finger and a contrasting shade of polish on the remaining nails.

Available for the fingers and toes, we kept our perfectly pedicured toes immaculate for a full seven days after fixing with the hair dryer. Now that’s impressive.

Shu Uemura gloss unlimited £18.50 

With a mouth-watering collection of hot summer shades, the gloss unlimited collection from Shu Uemura is reborn, from neon orange to candy pinks. There’s a perfect partner for each outfit in your summer holiday wardrobe. They have “3D shape-memory technology” to deliver a high shine with a plump finish. Lotus flower-extract and a unique blend of botanical oils, offer protection to even the most delicate smile with a veil of unlimited moisture. We’re hooked.

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer £10

We’re long term devotees to the entire Soap and Glory range. New product releases fill our office with an excitement equal to Christmas morning as a child. We could no longer hold back the urge to fill our ‘must have beauty guide’ with the glory! Offering high tech ingredients at great prices in the cutest packaging we’ve ever laid eyes on, we’ve been addicts ever since beauty guru Marcia Kilgore graced our bathroom cabinets with this cheekily packaged range back in 2006.

We adore this three-piece camouflage kit. Aptly named, it kicks the ass of tired eyes and unsightly blemishes. With a brightening under eye concealer, on the spot complexion concealer and transparent setting powder all in one handy compact, achieving a flawless face has never been easier.

F.Y.I, if you’re prone to a more than a healthy glow each summer then Soap and Glory’s One Heck of a Blot powder is a must have. It makes matt the oiliest of complexions with ease.

The Herbjar’s intensive moisturiser £16.95

If your heels are less than ready for sling-backs this summer then hotfoot it over to the The Herbjar. Their intensive moisturiser is formulated to repair and nourish hard working hands, cracked heels and dry elbows. 

With not one synthetic ingredient in sight, soothing calendula and chamomile extract, in a beeswax base, it delivers intensive hydration. Whilst purchasing from this hidden oasis, try the cleansing balm: it performs at three times its price, offering a deep yet non-drying approach to cleansing. 

Luca from The Herbjar is on hand to deliver the personalised approach to skin care, recommending products to suit your individual needs.

 

Radical Skincare Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads £65 for 100 pads

Bringing all the performance of a top salon facial to your bathroom, Radical Skincare’s exfoliating pads are an intensive restorative programme for age-phobic skin. With AHA, BHA and fruit acids, the rate at which cells renew is dramatically increased, removing the dulling layer of dead skin cells, and bringing fresh, plump and new skin cells to the surface of the skin. Pore size is reduced, whilst improving skin texture, tone and firmness. Use one pad nightly, on a cleansed face, sweep over from hairline to the décolleté and wake to a fresh, youthful-looking you, ready to face the world.

Yves Rocher Grand Rouge lipstick – Powdery Pink £19

We’re not usually a fan of long-wearing lip colour because of the drying effect it has on our smile. We were delighted to stumble across the Grand Rouge collection from Yves Rocher. Long lasting and hydrating, these lipsticks are for smooth, creamy lips, with effects that last hour after hour.

Our must have shade is Powdery Pink, the ultimate in pinky nudes. It is an essential for all make-up bags. It perfectly accompanies everything. 

Famous Dave’s: Tan & Tone

If you’re not going away this year but fancy a tan that looks like the real thing, then we have the answer! Famous Dave’s Tan & Tone self tan lotion is loaded with moisturisers and plant extracts to help improve skin’s tone and texture whilst turning your skin the perfect shade of sun-kissed, golden brown. A must- have beauty product this May!

Don’t forget to join us next month (and every day in-between) to see more of our hot picks from the world of beauty.

Lisa Bramley