Holiday beauty products.

In three days time I will be leaving rain England, getting on an aeroplane and flying to America. California to be exact.
This trip has been a long time coming as I haven't been on holiday in a year and a half so am desperate to get away and explore.
I have never been to America before so this is a pretty exciting holiday. I will be doing a road trip round California starting in Los Angeles and going all the way down to Las Vegas (I know, it's Navada but it's close to California). There is a group of nine people going in three cars and we have a load of trips planned along the way.
I would say I will blog the whole trip but I won't be taking my laptop with me and I don't know when I will get any wifi connection.

Now to the subject in hand, what I will be taking.
I'm quite a light packer when I go on holiday so this could be quite a short list.

Starting with my makeup bag. The most important thing to take is moisturiser as my face gets very dry in the sun. I use Simple Replenishing Rich Moisuriser, it's thick and makes my face feel very soft, ready for makeup. I have heard a lot of good reviews on Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation so purchased it and am going to try it on holiday, I will review it myself soon. Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, everyone knows how good this is and if you don't, try it out. To set my base makeup I am taking Collection Lasting Perfection Powder in Fair. Rimmel Powder Blush in Santa Rose, such a beautiful natural colour. I am taking two mascaras; Maybelline Falsies Black Drama mascara, this is a lovely mascara to make your eyelashes look long and voluminous. Also Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof mascara for when I go swimming, nobody wants panda eyes. The one eyeliner I am taking is from MUA, it glides on beautifully and can be layered up for a more dramatic look. Finally I am taking my eyeshadow palette from H&M. This is quite a strange place to get makeup from but the eyeshadow palette has all the colours I need to make a smoky eye and it was quite cheap, no need to worry if it breaks on the journey.

The sun lotion I am taking with me is Nivea Sun Moisturising Water Resistant Sun Lotion in factor 50+. Yes you read that right 50+ is the only factor which prevents my skin from burning. The sun screen is very thick and takes some time rubbing it into the skin so you don't look like a snowman, but it works a dream on pale skin. I have never burnt wearing this so I would highly recommend it.

I am taking my old faithful shampoo and conditioner. Herbal Essences Uplifting Volume, this shampoo and conditioner leaves your hair feeling really light and floaty as if all the gravity has been taken away from it. I will have to get a different shampoo and conditioner soon as this has started to react to my skin. I will definitely go back to it.

I was given small shower gels as christmas presents last year from girls I teach and have been saving them for holiday. These are both from The Body Shop. My favourite smell is Strawberry Shower Gel, it smells incredible and I could live all of my life using all of the strawberry products from The Body Shop. The other shower gel I am taking is Neroli Jasmin, I think this is a limited edition scent but it does smell lovely and spicy.

I have packed some E45 body lotion as I have found this is really moisturising and doesn't smell of anything so if you want to put perfume over the top it won't taint the smell.

That is it for my cosmetics, I told you, I'm a light packer.

I will tell you all about my holiday when I get back.

See you in two weeks,

Betsie

Paul Smith, Rose - Review

I'm not a big wearer of purfumes and have only a few select bottles in my collection but my favourite of them all has to be Paul Smith's Rose.

I am a great lover of flowery scents although I prefer a fresher smell compared to a musky smell.
Previously I have bought a less known brand of perfume in a rose scent and used it all up and was disappointed when I couldn't find the same scent again. I was looking around for another rose scented perfume and came across Rose. It has more of a mature, elegant smell to it and is wonderful to wear on a night out.
Most people think of rose to be an older fragrance but this is ideal for all ages.

A description of the product I found online:
'Sir Paul Smith Rose moves from the Top notes to the Heart of the fragrance, whilst the addition of sandalwood ensures a fresher edge. White Peony, watery Flower Accord and Bergamot move to the top of the fragrance to add sparkle and sweetness, whilst longevity is guaranteed with a finish of White Musk.'
So although there is a hint of musk, it doesn't overpower the beautiful fresh flowery scent I love so much. 

With one spritz of the perfume it will last all day and every so often you will get a delightful waft.
Also it comes in a really pretty canvas bag which is covered in a rose pattern which I was extremely excited about when I opened it for the first time. 

The price is more than I would usually pay for a perfume but I received this as a gift which is ideal, for me anyway. Saying that, I may have to purchase a smaller size from my 100ml bottle so I can take it on holiday with me.

I would recommend this scent to a friend and think it's well worth a sniff at your local perfume counter.

Betsie