May Favourites

Oh my lord, can you believe it's almost June?! It seems like just yesterday I was starting my final year at university, and now I'm completely finished. How strange. But oh well, just one month now until my holiday which I'm ridiculously excited for. Beauty wise, this month has been a good 'un. I've discovered quite a few new products and with the sun finally showing its face, it's allowed me to experiment a little bit more.

KIKO Sun Lovers Blush in Copacabana Coral* - £14.90

I've spoken about this blush before, and I doubt that this will be the last you'll hear of it. Let's start with the packaging; it's beautiful and I'm definitely not ashamed to have it in my collection. It also has a lovely vanilla scent (that isn't transferred onto the skin) which adds a nice luxe feel to the blush. Lasting power is outstanding, pigmentation is incredible, price is affordable and the colour instantly perks up my skin.

Xen-Tan Face Tanner Luxe* - £16.95

I've been loving fake tanning my skin recently, I just feel better with a bit of a glow and it also helps to perfect my skin, meaning my make up-less face isn't so terrifying. This tanner by Xen-Tan instantly creates a healthy, natural looking glow that nourishes the skin and develops into a beautiful golden colour. I'm funny with face tanners as I have combination skin, but this one is lightweight yet creamy and easy to apply and blend. 

Collection Deluxe Lipstick in Talullah - £3.99

The swatch of this lipstick is a little bit off as I think it's lighter than the swatch appears. This lipstick feels a lot more expensive than it actually is. The packaging isn't the greatest, but it does the job. The colour is beautiful - think Barbie-pink - and looks stunning with a bit of a tan. Lasting power isn't the best, but the formula itself is incredible. It's creamy and glides onto the lips, leaving behind a gorgeous full-looking pout that's left feeling nourished. 

Rodial SPF 30 X-Treme Dark Spot Sun Filter* - £45.00

With the beautiful weather the UK has been blessed with for a few weeks of this month, it was almost inevitable that an SPF was going to feature in this month's favourites. I spoke about Rodial's offering the other day and I stand by everything I said. It's an SPF moisturiser that's also a skin care product. It treats and corrects the skin whilst protecting it and preventing further damage, it's absolute perfection. It's also lightweight on the skin and smells incredible. I can't find a fault!

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation - £15.50

This month, I rediscovered my all-time favourite foundation. You see, I'd started trying out other foundations so this one got neglected for a while. But now, it's back and the others don't stand a chance. Lightweight yet full on coverage, this foundation is perfect for those who love a flawless base. It's easy to blend and lasts incredibly well throughout the day. What's more, it's extremely affordable and in my opinion, the absolute best foundation out there. I've gone through tubes of the stuff and I have two more back ups.

Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Foot & Heel Cream* - £6.49 (currently £4.87)

I have two foot products in this month's favourites and that's because I've recently bought some new sandals. I've ditched the boots and decided to get my tootsies out, and after a dry winter, they've needed a bit of assistance. This foot cream is an absolute gem. It contains Virgin Olive Oil which is deeply moisturising and nourishing. One thing I usually hate about foot creams is how long they take to sink into the skin, but this one is almost instant. After one use, my heels and cracked areas looked immediately better.

Rimmel London Nail Nurse Rescue - £4.49

With the amount of swatching my nails see, it's no wonder they haven't fallen off yet. I was recommended this by a customer at work who absolutely swore by it. I decided to invest after I realised my nails were starting to look extremely shabby. It promises longer, stronger and harder nails in two weeks and after two weeks, I've definitely seen an improvement. You apply one coat on the first day of the first week and then a second coat the day after. On day seven you remove the product and repeat the steps on the 2nd week.

Elle Macpherson Heel Smoother* - £19.99

My second foot care product in this month's favourite is this ergonomically designed heel smoother. I've tried a lot of different electrical feet shavers in my time and this one has wiped them all out. It comes with two different heads to "shave" and buff dead skin away, leaving behind beautifully soft skin. It also comes complete with six replacement buffing discs. I've been absolutely loving this product. It looks incredible on my desk and does a wonderful job at smoothing my feet.

What have been your favourite products to use this month?
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CHRISTMAS | Last minute gifts

Sadly, I haven't mentioned Christmas that much on Bamboozle Beauty this year. It's not because I'm not excited (I really am - I was dancing around my house this morning to Christmas songs) but it's because I've been rushed off of my feet with university deadlines. However yesterday, I handed in my final assignment of this semester so after a day filled with taking blog photos, I have a couple of beautiful gift sets to show you.

TIGI Bed Head Sugar Rush* - £19.95

When it comes to haircare, I absolutely adore TIGI as a brand. Not only do their products look fantastic and smell delicious, they perform well and are affordable too. This gift set includes the Bed Head Candy Fixations Sugar Dust which when sprinkled into the roots, absorbs oil and gives you volume in an instant. I'm a massive fan of these texturising dusts and this one is without a doubt my favourite - it leaves behind no residue whatsoever. You also get the Bed Head Headrush Shine Spray which is a fine mist that leaves the hair looking sleek and shiny. I usually steer clear of shine sprays as I have oily hair but this one is incredibly lightweight and it doesn't weigh the hair down or leave it looking greasy. This gift set is worth £27 and it's a must-have for those hair care fanatics.

Xen-Tan Gradual Perfection Gift Set* - £34.99

I'm most definitely a fake tan addict. Being as pale as a snowman means that during the winter, I'm constantly bringing out the fake tan to ensure I look golden and glowing. Xen-Tan is one of my favourite brands and I've been addicted to their Body Scrub since using it on holiday this year. It removes dead skin cells, tan build up and it smells delicious and minty. Also in this gift set is the Transform Luxe which gradually builds up a beautiful looking tan that illuminates the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. This tan is incredibly fool proof and I've had no problems with streaks and patchy areas once it's used after the Body Scrub. And of course, no fake tanning kit is complete without a mitt - the Xen-Tan Mitt is one of my favourites and unlike cheaper versions, it feels luxurious to use. This gift set is worth £44 and whether you know a fake tanning professional or a newbie, this gift set is one you should look into.

And there you have it! My last minute Christmas gift recommendations. A few other gifts I'd recommend for Christmas: KIKO Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick Set, Hearst Magazine Subscriptions, Too Faced Joy To The Girls Gift Set, KIKO Satin Nail Lacquer Set, Baylis & Harding Beauticology Master Chocolatier.

What are you favourite gifts that are out there this Christmas?

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What I Use On... My Legs

When it comes to nights out, I always try and make sure that my legs look good and I thought it'd be interesting to show you which products I use on them as I think I've found some true gems!

Dove Summer Glow + Soft Shimmer* £4.99 - I use this to top up my fake tan throughout the week. I probably use it two-three times and it's the only gradual tanner that doesn't leave the skin looking streaky. It also has a pleasant smell that doesn't smell like nasty biscuits. It's great on the legs because it adds subtle shimmer.

Jergens Original Beauty Lotion* £3.49 - This is the only body lotion I'll ever use. It's definitely my go-to one as it's my favourite ever smell, cheap and it does the job. It sinks in nice and quickly and doesn't leave a nasty film on the skin. The moisture also lasts a while as I only need to use it once a day.

L'Oreal Perfect Slim £6.95 - I use this a couple of times a week to tighten up and tone my thighs and arms. It's a nice gel formula that's quite cooling. I'm not sure if it works but it feels nice so I continue to use it.

Dr Ceuticals Leg Tone & Shimmer* £8.49 - This is another toning moisturiser and I use this whenever I go on a night out as it adds a lovely amount of shimmer to the skin which really highlights the legs.

Xen-Tan Mousse Intense* £23.99 - My perfect fake tan! When this runs out, I need to get the lotion version as I prefer lotions to mousses but this is amazing. It leaves the skin a natural olive colour and although it has a green guide colour, it doesn't stain bedsheets. It's also very easy to use, doesn't leave streaks and lasts for around a week while fading evenly. Perfection!

Ministry of Waxing Ice Cream* £21 - Even though this is supposed to be used after waxing, I use it after shaving if I ever accidently cut my legs. It cools the skin and stops little nicks from irritating it.

diego dalla palma Spray on Tights* £22.61 - I hate tights with a passion! But I love how they leave the skin looking perfect. So I've found a middle ground. This Calze Spray is pretty much a foundation to the legs and if I have a bruise on my legs, I'll spray this before going out and it lasts all night and covers it up perfectly.

Caudalie Divine Oil* £25.00 - As well as using moisturiser, I also enjoy using oil. This is a spray bottle so it's easy to apply and it leaves my skin looking glowing, healthy and feeling soft and smooth.

Soap and Glory The Breakfast Scrub* £9.50 - My favourite body scrub! This smells beautiful and does a great job as keeping my skin smooth. Whenever people ask me why my legs are so soft, I say it's because of this beauty! 

What products do you use on your legs? Have you tried any of the above?

xxx

*PR Sample

Xen-Tan Signature Spray Tan Review

This time last week I headed down to my local Saks Hair & Beauty salon for an Xen-Tan spray tan! I love fake tan and I find myself applying it at least once a week but it's no secret that I'm not very good at doing so. I have tried a lot of fake tans and my current favourite is the Lauren's Way Glam Tan which I reviewed here but I was so excited to get a spray tan as it's something that I've always wanted. The Xen-Tan Signature Spray Tan* gives you a natural olive glow in minutes. The formula is moisture rich which means that even the fairest of skins can enjoy a natural-looking tan! The tan claims to give you that perfect airbrushed finish that lasts up to 10 days, fades evenly and smells delicious.

The people at the Saks Hair & Beauty salon were absolutely lovely and made me feel very comfortable. I was a bit scared about baring all to someone that I didn't know but the process was very easy and the lady was so nice! She explained everything to me in detail and asked if I had any questions. She also asked if I wanted to go for a small glow, a medium tan or a deep tan and because I'm very pale, I said just a medium tan would do. The whole process took about 15 minutes with the fake tan application taking about 5 minutes. The lady applied moisturiser to my feet, knees and elbows and we were on our way! The spray tan is pretty cold but I'd say it's more refreshing than nasty. Afterwards, I was left to walk around the room for a bit letting my tan dry and getting ready and when I caught sight of myself in the mirror I was so shocked by the colour I'd go and I immediately fell in love with my fake tan.  

I'm not used to being this tanned at all but I absolutely love it! And I know that I'm now addicted to spray tans. A week on my colour is fading evenly and there's still a bit left on - I can still see my tans line! I haven't topped my tan up because I wanted to see how it'd end up and so far I'm impressed. But I do want to keep my colour so today I will be fake tanning again. The one thing I love the most about this spray tan is not how quick it is, not how evenly it fades, not how it doesn't go streaky but I love the effect it gives. It literally airbrushes your skin and any imperfections that you were worried about before are gone. I do have scarring on my skin but since having my spray tan I've found that I've needed a lot less foundation and concealer than usual as the spray tan literally concealed everything anyway!

(My face is paler than my body in this picture because I exfoliate my skin a lot more than I do my body)

This spray tan is normally £25 but Saks have a special offer on at the minute where every Friday you can get a voucher that gets you this spray tan for just £15! For your voucher, click here. I can see myself treating myself to a fake tan every month from now on. I absolutely love them!

Have you ever had a spray tan before?

xxx

*This was a complimentary spray tan

FAVOURITE... Miniature Products

I love miniature products. So much so that when my sister went on holiday earlier this year I bought her a few sample sized products to take with her - even though some of the full sized products were cheaper. They're so cute and sometimes a great way to decide whether or a not a product is perfect for you. Here's some of my favourites...

 Charles Worthington Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Styling Spray - £1.99
I absolutely love this and whenever the sun is shining I'll throw it into my handbag to keep my hair nice and protected from the sun throughout the say.

Xen-Tan Dark Lotion* - £28.99
Oh my god I need the full size version of this. It's the most perfect fake tan out there. It's moisturising, last's up to 7 days, smells gorgeous (almond is my favourite scent) and doesn't streak. It really is perfect.

Lancome Bi-Facil - £20.00
I received this as a GWP and it's served me well. It's definitely one of the best eye make up removers out there as it melts make up instead of spreading it around the skin.

Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil* - £19.95
It's summer soon and I need Kim Kardashian's bikini body. Ok, maybe I'm being a bit ambitious there. But I need a niceish one. So I'm trying this out. So far I really like it. It smells lovely and absorbs quickly. Word of advice though - don't use it after applying fake tan like I stupidly did.

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Lotion* - £7.99
I have the full sized version of this and I love it. You can see my full review of this here. 

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist* - £16.50
This mist is wonderful for balancing the skin and keeping it hydrated throughout the day. I've also blogged about this a few times and you read the posts here.

Benefit POREfessional Primer - £23.50
Of course, I received this free with this months Glamour magazine and I absolutely love it. I'm definitely contemplating whether to not to buy the full sized version. It slides over pores and completely fills them in.

Etat Pur Oil-Free Quenching Fluid* - £7.80
I blogged about receiving these free samples a while ago and I'll definitely be doing a full review of them and the brand as a whole. But I really love both this moisturiser and the other moisturiser (down below). They're great value for money and work really well with my skin.

Orla Kiely Eau De Parfum* - £55.00
I'm really bad when it comes to perfume and normally I just wear Britney ones. I love Britney of course and when it comes to perfume there's just too many out there for me to choose from. This one though is lovely and I think I might have to purchase it in full. It's a very nice fresh scent that's great for summer.

Etat Pur Light Moisturizing Emulsion* - £7.80
I blogged about receiving these free samples a while ago and I'll definitely be doing a full review of them and the brand as a whole. But I really love both this moisturiser and the other moisturiser (down below). They're great value for money and work really well with my skin.

Glam Glow Mud* - £49.99
I will definitely do a full review of this product. It's a mask and a scrub in one and once you've used it once you will instantly see a difference in your skin. A tiny bit goes a long way and it's marketed at all skin types - from very dry to acne prone. I used this as a mask for 15 minutes then scrubbed my skin and washed it away and immediately my skin looked clearer and my face looked glowing. It's so expensive but I know that when I get my student loan I'll be buying this. Now, I just have to wait until September..
What are your favourite miniature products? Do you like buying the sample sizes first?

xxx

*PR Sample

Monthly Favourites: April

I don't normally do monthly favourite posts but this month I've discovered (and rediscovered) some really lovely products so I thought I'd show you all.

Xen-Tan Perfect Blend Custom Self-Tan* - £34.99

My and fake tan don't usually get on but this month I've been loving this fake tan. Before this, I'd never tried Xen-Tan before but it's really amazing and fool proof. You can see my full review of this product and find my fake tanning routine here.

AEOS Refreshing Hydrating Mist* - $89.00

This is becoming my favourite toner and I'm so sad that this is only a small sample as I'm unsure as to whether or not I'll be able to repurchase it as it is expensive (it converts to around £55). You can see my full review of this product here.

Skin79 Supper Beblesh Balm BB Triple Function - £16.00

I absolutely love this and it's become my favourite foundation recently. It's provides perfect coverage and leaves a lovely finish on the skin. You can see my full review of this BB cream and see how it applies here.

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover* - £4.99

I've been seeing this making its rounds on the blogosphere and I didn't quite believe how good it was until I tried it myself. It really is so quick and easy and it also smells quite nice compared to the usual nail polish remover smell.

17 Shine Control Loose Powder - £5.49

I bought this for just £2 thanks to the Advantage Card machines in Boots and I love it so much. I've used it every day but it just doesn't seem to go down as there's so much product inside it. It doesn't cake the skin and melts away to keep shine at bay throughout the day. My favourite powder ever.

Britney Spears Cosmic Radiance - £29.00

I have all of the Britney perfumes and I always change which one I use on a day-to-day basis. But this month, I can't stop wearing the Cosmic Radiance perfume. It reminds me of freshers week as it's all I wore throughout it which of course, is a happy smell! You can see my full Britney perfume collection here.

Renouve Anti-Aging Every Day Defense* - £22.00

I think I've become addicted to this product. It's a hand cream/anti-ager/sanitiser in one and I just can't stop using it. I have two of them (a gold and a pink one) and one sits on my desk and the other goes everywhere with me. Perfection in a bottle. You can see my full review of this product here.

17 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Belle - £4.59

I've been wearing this lipstick every single day without fail. It's the perfect nude colour that makes lips look super glossy! You can see my full review of this lipstick and a swatch here.

Collection 2000 All Day Colour Mascara in clear - £2.99

I use this as a brow set and I can't believe I've gone my entire life without them. It keeps my eyebrows in place all day long and it's super cheap. I'm a convert!
What products have you been loving this month?

xxx
*PR Sample

Fake Tanning Routine Featuring Xen-Tan, Dove & He-Shi

Quite frankly, I am pale. And what's worse, I don't tan. If I go on holiday, no matter how much sun tan lotion I put on, I will burn. And after I've burnt, I will go back to being white - it's hard being me you see. So fake tan is a must for me. I haven't had much luck with fake tan in the past; whenever I apply it I normally end up looking like a mess. But now, I'm pretty experienced in tanning and it's something that I've incorporated into a nice routine.

Xen-Tan Perfect Blend - £34.99*

I was a little bit sceptical when I first heard about this.. sceptical but excited. This fake tan self tan for the face and the body on one side and a shimmer bronzer on the other. You turn a dial so you can custom build your own colour. Also I must add, don't be put off by the word 'shimmer..' I've not found any shimmer in the bronze colour but I find it just leaves a healthy, deep glow on the skin. It ranges from 100% light self tan to 100% cosmetic bronzer. You mix them both together and within 3 hours, your tan has developed into a beautiful deep glow. I really cannot recommend this enough. It's very moisturising on the skin and even if I don't exfoliate it applies beautifully and doesn't go streaky. It doesn't smell of biscuits like most fake tan products do but instead leaves a nice, natural smell on this skin. I use this every Sunday night. I'm starting off light and slowly building the colour up to make it look more natural.

Xen-Tan Mousse Intense - £23.99*

I will admit it, before this product I had never used a mousse fake tan before. Crazy right? Especially because there are endless amounts of good reviews about mousse self tanners. This is in the colour medium/dark and it is just that. I don't use this very often as like I said, I'm building my colour up gradually. But I have used this and I can't rave about it enough. It's streak free and once again doesn't smell like fake tan. It's quick drying and gives an instant colour that develops into a beautiful, deep tan that looks natural due to its olive undertone. Once again, this isn't drying on the skin and adds a nice moisture to it. Whilst I don't use this in my routine all the time, I know that when I'm going on big nights out or on holiday this will be the tan that I'll apply beforehand. It lasts a really long time and fades evenly as well. Very beautiful for those who want a quick and easy deep tan.

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion - £5.69

When I was younger I tried out a lot of the gradual tanners but I ended up being left disappointed. They were patchy, hard to apply and the moisturiser just didn't sink into the skin easily. But when I read this post from The Sunday Girl, I knew I had to invest in the Dove Summer Glow gradual tanner. I use this every other day (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to up keep my tan and also to moisturise the skin. I have this in the colour fair to normal so it doesn't apply a lot of colour but saves me from using my Xen-Tan all the time as it's pretty expensive (but worth it). I love this but I hate the way it smells. It definitely adds a nasty fake tan smell but when I shower, it does disappear thank god!

He-Shi Facial Tanning Gel - £17.50*

Even though I can use my Xen-Tan on my face I don't like to so I use my He-Shi facial tanning gel. I'm not very sure on this. When I first tried it, I loved it. But since trying Xen-Tan I just don't feel it's as good. It isn't drying on the skin and it doesn't smell bad but it sometimes applies really patchy. So I'm hoping to try out the Xen-Tan Face Tanner (£16.99). If I do, I'll let you know how they both compare.

And to apply all of these products (except the facial tanning gel) I use the Xen-Tan Luxury Tanning Mitt - £3.99*. When I first received this I thought 'how can it be a luxury tanning mitt? Surely it's just like the rest?' But it isn't. It feels really lovely on the skin and whether it's the fake tan or the tanning mitt, I don't get streaks! It's lovely to use and helps to keep my palms clean which is of course, what you want.

What fake tanning products do you use? Have you tried these?

xxx

*PR sample