Recent miscellaneous Favourite Things

With the change of the weather, I thought it might be a good time to write a general update on the things that are working well (and not so well) for me at the moment.

Current favourite things

Ojon shine & protect shampoo and conditioner. These smooth down the dry ends of my hair (bleached then dyed) but without making my roots limp. I've previously found the Ojon hydrating formula a little too heavy for constant use, but I don't have that issue with the shine & protect which I've been using constantly since I purchased the trial kit 2 weeks ago. I wash my hair every other day, and let it air dry. I've been using a blob of the shine cream in the kit on my mid lengths and ends to further aid in the war against frizz.

Cowshed Grumpy Cow bath and shower gel and body lotion. I've just reviewed these, so I won't repeat the review, but I will say that since I received them they've completely kicked my Jo Malone Orange Blossom shower gel and body lotion out of the morning routine.

Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise. Perfect for the cooler weather - warm and spicy without being overpowering.

Ellis Faas Milky Lips 205. Nude lips often look terrible on me, but this has just enough colour to prevent me looking lipless from a distance.

Suqqu Polish Face Colour. This gives an extremely flattering and subtle glow, and the brush that comes with it is gorgeous.


Not so favourite things (currently)


Dr Alkaitis eye cream has been good for me for the summer (such as it was), but it's not quite enough for the dry skin around my eyes during the colder months, and it's impossible to dispense less than a full pump (far too much for one application.) Once again I'll be dithering over repurchasing the Sarah Chapman Skinesis eye cream I had last winter and liked very much, or looking for something new to try.

My skin is getting drier as the weather turns colder, so I'm going to need to change my skincare routine, but without triggering my skin's annoying habit of expressing unhappiness at change as nasty chin spots.

Chanel Rouge Allure does not suit my lips as well as the Hydrabase formula does. I love the colour of Clandestine, but it does not feel as comfortable on my lips as my Hydrabase colours. I wouldn't say it is drying per se, but I do have to slather on the Sisley lip balm before and after wearing it.

The news that The Body Shop is sourcing its palm oil from a company that is under fire for evicting farmers from their homes (the company claims to have been unaware of their residency on the purchased land.) You can read the whole story here. I think that Anita Roddick would have been furious.