Lust List - 13th August 2012

1. Alexander McQueen is not a brand to shy away from statement-making. It was love at first sight when I set my eyes upon this Unicorn Skull Embroidered Box Clutch, which will most probably, always be a lust at an impressive £1,435... 2. Behold, my daily go-to lip colour - Mac Angel in satin, I finished my fourth tube yesterday and the realisation has hit, I may be slightly obsessed... 3. As you probably already know, as I haven't shut up about it, I'm off for a fortnight in Phuket in a mere thirty sleeps (!!!) and I'm swimwear-searching and currently swooning over these Zimmerman styles. 4. I've previously raved about my love for  the highly-acclaimed Moroccan Oil, I cannot stop using it! I've been putting a little extra in my hair when drying it & smoothing a tiny little blob through the ends which has resulted in verrrry smooth & glossy hair. 5.   Winter buys are filtering into stores, I've fallen for this Cos coat (£175) the pastel hue is so refreshing for the winter. 6. As a gold jewellery fanatic, Alexander McQueen ring wins every time, this ring is 100% me. 7. These Christian Louboutin Just Picks need no further description. LOVE. 8. Love the idea of these surprises in the post each month, a non-beauty Glossybox! 9. Feeling incredibly sporty following the closing ceremony of the Olympics, this gold Stella McCartney necklace is as near to sporting as I get... rachel xo

Five Favourites: Beauty Oils

Beauty oils are a rather new obsession for me. From my first use of Moroccan Oil around fifteen months ago - I fell in love. I use it not only as a leave in conditioner, but a serum to smooth down ends & applied to damp hair prior to using hair dye. I like to keep a year-round tan, a small amount of NARS Body Glow applied all over the body gives skin an amazing moisturised, glowing and sunkissed sheen. When my combination skin turns rather dry; I like to apply Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil at morning and/or night, or throughout the day when my skin needs that extra little bit of moisture. It doesn't only soothe dryness and restore moisture, but skins in without a trace with a lovely dewy glow. Similar to the NARS Body Glow, NARS Monoi Body Glow II can be used as a daily moisturiser, a massage oil, or simply to add a sexy sheen to skin. The sheer formula is absorbed immediately and makes skin appear smooth & luminous. I've only tried the original Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Oil, and I love it. Whilst it hasn't replaced my much-loved Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish for daily use, I use it a few times a week when my skin is a little dry, as it provides incredible natural moisture. Makeup is removed like a dream, your face is left squeaky clean and soft.

{other beauty oils to try}

FACE : sundari essential oil for oily skin | bobbi brown extra face oil | philosophy when hope is not enough omega 3 6 9 replenishing oil | by terry huile de rose firming-lift nutri-regenerating oil | nars make-up cleansing oil | shu uemura high performance balancing cleansing oil advanced formula | jurlique skin balancing face oil

BODY : jurlique body oil lavender | clarins relax body treatment oil | bobbi brown shimmering fragrance oil | dr. hauschka skin care body oil, rose | sisley-paris golden dry oil | le labo oud 27 oil | kiehl's superbly restorative argan dry oil 

HAIR : shu uemura cleansing oil shampoo | kiehl's olive fruit oil nourishing shampoo & conditioner | alterna bamboo smooth kendi dry oil mist | morrocanoil glimmer shine finishing spray

{recent five favourites}

summer nails | may 2012 | english beauty buys | tom ford spring/summer beauty | matte lipsticks

rachel xo

Five Favourites: April 2012

I'm such a beauty product junkie its been ridiculously hard for me to whittle down to just one item of; make-up, haircare, skincare, bodycare & nail product I've relied the most on throughout April...

Skinccare-wise, I could'nt ever live without my faithful Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (£41). Three drops per night, I promise will transform your skin. From blemishes to wrinkles, uneven skin tone to scars - this is your one-stop product. This has been a particular favourite throughout April with me spending a week in the sun on the Tropic of Cancer with a daily UV index of 12, Advanced Night Repair helps to prevent from UV & environmental damage to the the skins cells DNA.

To stop the dry skin on my body becoming hard, dull and flaky I need to reguarly exfoliate and my new favourite bodycare find this month is the Origins Ginger Body Scrub (£32). Not only have I been tempted to eat it several times, its just as effective at banishing dead skin as the ginger fragrance is long-lasting.

For me, Barry M nail varnish is always a winner. At around £3 for a bottle, the selection of colours are amazing with good pigmentation & coverage. Although they are prone to chip after a day or two - its nothing a coat of OPI top coat won't save. I'm not a fan of pastel, bright or garish colours on my fingers, I feel natural or dark looks far more sophisticated & elegant, Barry M Black/Red Nail Varnish (£3) is my new favourite find.

Morrocan Oil (£29.95) has completley changed my hair. It repairs, conditions, de-tangles, strenghens, smooths and adds shine. I've used the oil religiously every night since June 2011, applying one pump to wet hair prior to blowdrying after my leave-in conditioner. My hair has never grown so quickly, snapped as little or been so managable. On holiday, I spent several days with four or five pumps spread through my whole hair and tied back to give it a deep condition - WOW. The best idea I had without doubt through April!

My favourite new make-up purchase of April is Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna (£25). Of couse I've heard it raved about on countless occasions, but always re-purchased Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep for fear of the shimmer running through Laguna (bronzer with shimmer does not make me happy). What I was afraid of, I have no idea! This bronzer applies the mattest of the matte, the dark base is perfect not only for creating a not-at-all orange summer glow but creates the best contour lines of any bronzer I've ever tried!

What have your favourites been throughout April?

Rachel x