Hello from sunny California! Hope you are all doing well :) I haven’t been able to wipe the cheesy grin off my face since I’ve got here. After a long flight and feeling rather zombie like I am now getting into the swing of all things LA and that means hitting the shops. Back in the day when I first started blogging every post seemed to be a haul but thanks to more sensible things like rent, bills and the general cost of living, those splurges have become more of a rarity. That was until this holiday was booked and every spare penny was saved away ready for what can only be called, an epic shop. A shop so epic it even managed to start before I had left the country. Oh yes, the joys of Duty Free. Apologies for the quality of the pictures, my fancy pants camera was left back in the UK to make room for more beauty supplies!
Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel – £16.25
Since my love for the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm left something to be desired, I have been on the hunt for an alternative. I want to get back into using a cleanser that removes all my makeup quickly, effectively and without leaving my eyes in a red stinging mess. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this cleanser so now it’s time to put it to the test.
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner – £20.80
Along with wanting to get a cleanser that replaces my micellar water and eyemakeup remover, I also want to move away from manual exfoliators. I already have the Alpha H Liquid Gold in my skincare routine but wanted something slightly less abrasive to use on the days inbetween. I tried this last night and even though it contains alcohol it didn’t dry out my skin but worked at removing any grime that had built up on my skin from the long haul flight.
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer – £21.65
This item has also been on my wish-list for some time. Don’t get me wrong I adore my Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer but when you hear the beauty community rave about something else, your spider senses tingle and you instantly want to see what all the fuss is about. This is a pricey little number and you only get a tiny pot, but I was advised that if you pat (not rub) this onto your skin or mix it in with your foundation, it works wonders.
Clarins After Sun Moisturiser Self Tanning – £15
Another item I’ve been wanting to try for a while but have been saving for a holiday so I can use the excuse to purchase it. I’m not sure how many ‘pool days’ there will be on this trip so figured picking up an after sun that will also work at enhancing your tan would be a wise choice.
Diorskin Nude BB Cream SPF 10 – £26.10
I blame Lisa Eldridge. This was not on my shopping list nor was it a planned purchase, but when I saw it in Duty Free I found myself saying ‘one of those please’ before my brain has even engaged and I realised what I was doing. Oh well another BB Cream couldn’t hurt :P
I’d like to be able to say that my epic shop stopped at that point but we somehow managed to end up in the Beverly Centre at Sephora at 8pm on our first night! What can I say, it’s opposite our hotel so would be rude not to ;)
