End of Summer Beauty

I cannot believe how quick this Summer has gone. I think due to my operation putting me out of action for a good few months, that pretty much took up the joy of Summer months. However, I thought I would do a final Summer-themed post as lots of people still have holidays to go on, and I think we tend to have quite a mild September and October now compared to when I was a little girl. Here are some of my end of Summer beauty favourites...

I am pretty sure by now that everyone knows the power of Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer, and if you don't, well I shall explain. This Summer saw the release of the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Coconut Breeze edition (£33), which captures the vibrant scent of sunshine and pure white sands with warm notes of coconut, jasmine and almond. Elasticizer is an intensive, super conditioning pre-shampoo treatment which adds elasticity, bounce and shine to all hair types and if you suffer from extremely dry or damaged hair, then this baby will revolutionise your hair world. It smells just like Summer...

I have been loving all things oil-based this Summer and especially the Palmer's Olive Oil Conditioning Spray Oil (£4.79) for the hair. This is loaded with Vitamins A, B and E as well as antioxidants to surround each hair strand with protection from damaging free radicals. This spray instantly adds moisture to dry hair, as well as keeping frizz at bay, and helps to soften and condition the hair whilst adding fabulous shine. It is super easy to use as well due to it being a quick spray in product.

Sticking with oil-based products, next up is the What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum (£12.99). This is a perfect blend of vitamins and plant extracts in a light, non-greasy formula which is an easily absorbed oil based facial serum with superior hydrating and skin cell renewal properties. The formula is so concentrated that it penetrates the skins deeper layers and works brilliantly for scarring and pigmentation as well as hydrating and nourishing the skin and promoting skin cell renewal. It comes with a little pipette and so you can control the amount of product you are using and it doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy whatsoever. 

I love products which serve more than one purpose, and the ARK Hydrating Beauty Mist (£25) is one of those gems. It can be used spritzed onto the face as a toner, sprayed after applying powder for a dewy finish, to refresh your makeup, to cool, calm and soothe the skin on hot days or when feeling flushed, and during exercise and refresh. This is an intensively refreshing and soothing beauty mist which has been formulated using bio active ingredients to hydrate and protect the skin and is well worth carrying in your bag on the go.

Hot weather and chlorine from swimming pools are just a couple of reasons our lips need extra care during Summer. The Nugg Exfoliating Lip Smoother (£10) is a luxuriously moisturising 2-in-1 lip scrub and smoother that makes the lips much softer and smoother and gives them a slight, natural shine. It comes in a cute little pink metallic sphere pot and contains jojoba wax and sugar granules to gently exfoliate the lips to remove dead and dry skin cells, while cocoa butter, jojoba seed oil and sunflower seed wax hydrates and conditions the lips.

I love a good body scrub as you can't beat that super clean feeling on the skin, and if you wear fake tan a lot, they are excellent for giving you a super smooth base to work with. I have recently been loving the Odylique Coconut Candy Scrub (£25), a deeply exfoliating and luxurious organic body scrub which has been made using Fair Trade cane sugar which works wonders on even the driest of skins! The scrub contains the fragrance of virgin coconut and cocoa bean butters and it gently stimulates cell renewal whilst polishing the skin to leave it silky smooth.

Even when going on holiday I love a good bubble bath, and the nspa Mango Shower & Bath Gel (£3) is perfect for that, as it works as a shower gel and you can use it as a bubble bath. It smells just like actual delicious, fruity, tropical mangos and contains natural vitamins to help the skin nourish and repair itself. It is a whopping 500ml bottle as well so this is going to last such a long time and for just £3 you really cannot go wrong. Fruity!

Onto a product which I had never come across the likes of before, the Institut Esthederm Micellar After Sun Shower Gel (£18). This gentle cleanses the skin and removes all traces of sunscreen, salt, sand and chlorine whilst moisturising, sublimating and prolonging your tan - pretty nifty right?! It smells divine, and although it you may be thinking it is slightly expensive for a shower gel, it is so much more than that, and definitely more of a treatment product. Also, if you have overdone it in the sun, you don't need to rub this into the skin, you can very gently use it and it will still work effectively due to the micellar molecules which cluster together to lift dirt, sunscreens and silicones.

Moving on to the Janjira Thai Lime and Ginger Body Butter (£26), which is one of my all-time favourite scents as it instantly transports me to a spa on tropical shores. It honestly smells insanely good! This Body Butter is enriched with ginger and citrus extracts to help replenish, moisturise, and give the skin natural nutrients. It feel luxurious without being overly thick, and has a quick absorption rate whilst providing long-lasting hydration. This Body Butter also helps to heal and soothe skin, so if you have been in a hot climate, or similarly in a very cold climate, then this will really help to condition and calm the skin, and you will smell bee-yoo-ti-ful!

I first discovered mini hand gels in Florida years ago at Bath and Body Works, however they are not so easy to get shipped over to the UK, so I was so glad when I discovered Merci Handy Cleansing Gels (£2.90 each). They come in so many different colours and fragrances, including the ones I have here, Cherie Cherry, Hello Sunshine and Oh My Lemon. Hand Gels are just so pardon the pun, handy, for carrying around in your bag, especially if you have children. I always take them to football as sometimes the toilets there aren't so great, and it's a really quick and easy way to ensure your hands are clean as a whistle.

The fragrance I have been obsessed with this Summer is the Vince Camuto Fiori Eau de Parfum (£60). The fragrance is inspired by the blossoming delphiniums in Vince Camuto's personal garden and is a fresh and invigorating Summer scent, very light, smooth and uplifting. Fiori features top notes of luscious pink grapefruit, and ripened white nectarine, the heart is enriched with sheer iris and dewy freesia, with a purifying backdrop of base notes of rich sandalwood and creamy blonde cedarwood. It is an altogether delicious scent, and the bottle itself is so beautiful and elegant.

When it comes to false eyelashes, my go-to lash has always been the Eylure 101, however this Summer I was introduced to the Ardell Wipies Lashes (£16.90 for 4 pairs), and they are so easy to use and so lightweight that you forget you're wearing them which is super important to me when it comes to lashes. Wispies are really natural looking and feeling, however they are still full, fluttery and glamorous, without looking like a drag queen. The strip on the base of the lashes is really fine so that it isn't obvious you have false lashes on and they're so durable that you can get a lot of wears out of them, making them great value for money.

If you are lucky enough to be going to an airport soon, firstly I'm jealous full stop, and secondly make sure you head to duty free to check out the Bobbi Brown Instant Pretty Eye and Cheek Palette (£34.50). The perfect travel companion, this palm-sized palette contains a selection of eyeshadows, an internal mirror, a high-quality brush, and a pull-out blush. Even though the palette is small, you still get a good quantity of each product, and of course with Bobbi Brown, you know you have the best quality. The collection flatters the majority of skin tones, with its pink coral blush in Nectar, and four eyeshadows in the shades, Bone, Beige, Pink Quartz Metallic and Chocolate Caviar, which brunettes could also use as an eyebrow powder.

Another multi-use cosmetics product is the St Tropez 3-in-1 Bronzing Powder Compact (£15). You can sculpt, bronze and highlight the face and body with this 3-in-1 compact, which also contains an internal mirror. It is quite a large compact, so you get a lot of product, however it is also slim so it isn't going to take up too much space in your makeup bag when travelling. The three complimentary tones can be used individually to enhance features, or blend together for an instant bronzed look, whether you prefer a naturally bronzed complexion or an overall holiday glow.

This art-deco style compact is the Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Summer Kiss Compact (£30), and contains the luxuriously creamy and moisturising Divine Lips Lipstick in the shade Marilyn, a dusky rose nude shade, and a lightweight bronzing powder. There is also an internal mirror and a mini brush for on-the-go application, making it an excellent travelling companion. I have quite a few of the Divine Lips Lipsticks and they are so hydrating on the lips, and longevity is excellent, and the Bronzing Powder also contains SPF15 which is going to help protect your skin when out and about in the sunshine.

Whilst on the subject of lipsticks, you cannot beat the Burt's Bees Lipsticks (£9.99) for the ultimate in colour and care. They are super moisturising, making your lips look and feel amazing, providing them with moisture for up to eight hours and containing 100% natural ingredients. They have a creamy and lightweight feel, making them great for holidays and everyday makeup looks when you don't want heavy products on the skin. They come in 18 stunning shades, including this one, Sunset Cruise, a lovely pale terracotta.

Ending the Summer with a bit of glimmer and glitz, we have the Glitter Lips (£12.50). These amazing mini kits come complete with everything you need to create the ultimate sparkly lip, which will also be great for the upcoming party season! Inside you will find a coloured glitter, a double ended applicator brush and some adhesive. They are super easy to use, last for up to 8 hours and each kit can give up to 25 applications, so you can glam up whenever you feel like it, and even your friends can take part without ruining your favourite lipstick.

I hope you all had a great Summer!

All the Loves,

Kathryn x

*Please note all products in this post are PR samples, but all views are my own