T'is the season to be tanning

Okay I have to admit this is a slightly misleading blog title, because for me every season is the season to be tanning. I am naturally paler than Casper, and a little faux glow makes me feel a whole lot better about myself. However, for most of you who only need a bit of tan in the summer months, here are some recommendations of my personal faves. I consider myself a bit of a pro when it comes to tanning as its something I do at least once a week, and I have tried most of the ones out there, but I have whittled it down to a few of my favourites. 

First up is the St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronze Mousse. This tan is being raved about in the beauty blogging world at the moment and after using it I see why. Mousse's are my personal favourite choice of tanners because I find them easier to work into the skin, and they are usually coloured meaning it is much easier to see how much and where you are applying your tan. I leave this on for 3 hours which is said to give a dark tan. I don't find it that dark more medium, and I don't think that leaving it on for an hour leaves much colour at all. After washing it off, it continues to develop for 8 hours, so I like to use the day before an event, and it tends to last me 3-4 days, and fades very naturally. This is definitely more of a high end tan as it costs £33 so I tend to save this one for special occasions. 

A cheaper alternative to the Express Bronze Mousse is the Cocoa Brown One Hour Tan Mousse. This product works exactly the same way as the St Tropez, again with three different shades developing depending on whether you leave it on for 1, 2 or 3 hours. Again I also leave this one on for 3. This is a much cheaper alternative as it only costs £7.99 from feel unique. It doesn't last quite as long as the St Tropez but gives you the same great results. 

The most expensive and also the most long lasting tan I am going to mention is the Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe. This costs a whopping £40 which is a lot of money for a fake tan, but it really does last ages. I save this for if I am going away on holiday, or to a festival or something, and don't want to take tan with me so need something that will last me about a week. This is a gel like lotion formula that is meant to be applied before going to bed and then washed off in the morning, so that it is left on for around 8 hours. Don't let the word dark put you off if you are fair skinned, it leaves a much more olive tone than dark or orange. I do however have a few small complaints about this product. Firstly, for some reason it does always seem to make my hands a little orange for the first two days, so I always apply it a couple of days before going away. Secondly, it is my least favourite tan to be sitting around in as I find it to be quite greasy and tacky. Despite that though, this tan really does last longer than any other I have used, usually for about 6-7 days and fades really naturally also.

If I haven't bothered to tan properly for something, and I just want some instant colour, I always use the Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan Matte in the shade light. This costs £6.99, lasts ages, and is water resistant. I have sometimes showered quickly and this has actually stayed on so it's great for times when you haven't gone all out on your tan. Only a small amount of this is needed, and I recommend the shade light as this can come out quite dark. 

Finally, is another instant tan the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs in Light Glow, which is a spray on tan. This tan is make up for your legs, but I actually sometimes use it all over. It conceals bruises, cellulite, veins, pores and any other leg imperfections you may have going on. It leaves your legs looking so smooth and gives them a beautiful shimmery glow. Again I use the shade light as it can be quite dark. This is also great to use on top of tan on your legs if you have your legs out and really want them to look perfect. This does need to be quite fiercely scrubbed off in the shower if you want to remove it though as it stays on pretty well and is also water resistant. This only costs £9.99 which I think is so much less than it is worth. 

June Favourites

June has really flown by, and has been such a busy month for me! I've finished uni, got a job, been to Paris and been to Glastonbury so I have really neglected Naomi Rose this month. Shame on me. However, I have nothing else coming up to distract me (boo hoo) so can really get back into the blogging world. 

This month i've discovered some new bits that have really changed my beauty routine, and bits that I will definitely be, or have already repurchased. Theres quite a few so sorry about that but I really couldn't leave any out.

First is a body product. I'm really lazy when it comes to taking care of my body. I fake tan once a week so also exfoliate, but i'm so lazy when it comes to moisturising. However, I was bought a soap and glory gift set for my birthday, and only recently started using the bits in it. One of them was the Soap and Glory Righteous Body Butter. This moisturiser smells so amazing and makes my skin feel so smooth and not oily or greasy, I have fallen in love. The pot is also huge so has lasted me ages and i'm only about halfway through. It is also great for fake tanners like myself to preserve the tan and also stop it clinging onto any dry bits. Definitely recommend this for lazy body moisturisers like myself!

Next is the Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask, which I have been wanting to get my hands on for ages. I love the Drink up Intensive overnight mask, so was sure that I would love this too. You apply it to damp skin, wait for it to dry and then wash it off, and your skin instantly feels so much cleaner and smoother. I used this after Glastonbury, when my skin was feeling dry and neglected and it made such a difference. I also find that if i'm having a bad skin day, using this quickly before applying my make up makes such a big difference. I do find that I do have to rub it off my skin a bit more than I would like, but my sensitive skin doesn't go red or stingy afterwards which is always a bonus for me.

Another skin care product I have been loving this month is the much raved about Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum. I have wanted this for ages but finally caved this month and I don't know how I ever coped without it. I use a few drops of the oil before going to bed, and wake up with my skin feeling so much smoother and plumper. My skin has always been quite red, and I really think that this has calmed it down so much, and also prevented me having break outs. I cannot recommend this product enough. 

Where make up is concerned, there is one product that has changed my routine forever. It's the Kiehls Micro Blur Skin Perfector. This claims to refine and smooth skin texture, minimise the appearance of pores and improve skins quality over time. I use a small blob all over as a primer, but it can also be used as a treatment at night time. When I first started using this, so many people commented on how good my skin looks. It minimise the appearance of my pores and makes my skin look so much smoother, and definitely keeps my make up on for longer. I really really love this product and have already bought another one just before this one runs out. It also lasts ages which is great and I definitely think it is worth the £23 price tag.

Another make up product is a foundation i'm late to rave about. It's the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet. I never thought there would be a foundation to replace Estee Lauder Double Wear for me, but this has swayed my view on foundations totally. It is so much more sheer and lightweight compared to the double wear which I never thought I would like but now love. I prefer this to the vitalumiere aqua, as it offers a little more coverage, and has a more matte finish, which is good for those with oily skin like myself. I purchased this in both B10 and B20 as i'm B10 naturally and B20 with a tan.

I've mentioned before that I don't use a lot on my lips, but I have purchased a lip balm that I love. It's the EOS lipbalm in pomegranate and raspberry. It leaves my lips feeling smooth and good enough to eat. Theres also so much of it I can see it lasting me ages, and i'm definitely going to try some new flavours. 

Finally (sorry for listing so many products I had to include them all) is a perfume. I love all of the Marc Jacobs fragrances and have an ever growing collection, and my newest addition is the Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau so Fresh. This is such a nice sweet floral fragrance for summer, and is sweeter than the regular Daisy. I have had so many compliments when I have worn this, and of course the bottle looks so pretty up on my shelf!

Paris

I have well and truly neglected my blog for what feels like forever, but thats because I have just been crazy busy. I won't bore you with all the details, but one thing I did do was go to Paris with Andy, and I thought I would just do a short post on it as I had the most amazing time in the most beautiful place.

We did all of the expected touristy stuff you would expect to do if going to Paris, and it was all just so pretty. We were also so so lucky with the weather.

 I am also going to do a blog post on how I packed for the trip as we only took hand luggage, but anyway, here are a few pictures of the trip, and I will definitely be getting back into regular posting from now on!