Aurelia Probiotic Skincare - Revitalise & Glow Serum and Day Moisturiser

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare is a new range launched in January, and when BritishBeautyBlogger wrote about it I investigated, found a line that appeared to have everything I look for in skincare, and bought a couple of items (serum and day cream). I've been using these for a bit over a month now (about 5 weeks) and as it is a new brand I thought I'd get my initial review out there.

The Revitalise & Glow Serum is a light, milky, non-greasy serum that absorbs quickly. It contains probiotics and peptides that are meant to help reduce inflammation and support the skin. It leaves my skin feeling comfortable and balanced.

If you liked the Nude Cellular Renewal Serum (which is currently out of stock and rumoured to be being reformulated) I'd definitely recommend giving this serum a go.

The Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser is a rich but non-greasy whipped cream texture. Again, it absorbs well, doesn't leave a film but leaves my skin feeling comfortable. It also contains the probiotic complex.

I use this twice a day; the night cream is apparently richer, but this suits my normal to dry skin perfectly well for day and evening.

My skin is looking and feeling balanced, supple and well-rested with these two products - I've been using them with Pai cleanser and orange blossom toner, ESpa eye cream, and nothing else. I don't think any skin care can work miracles on its own (diet and lifestyle matter more, in my opinion) but these are certainly very good and reasonably priced for premium products. My skin is easily irritated and/or congested by the wrong products, but it has been well behaved for the whole period I've been using these.

The serum is £47 for 30ml and the moisturiser is £36 for 60ml, available from www.aureliaskincare.com.

Beauty Spotlight Desert Island - my turn to be stranded

I'll admit I was feeling quite complacent about this Beauty Spotlight task. I like beauty stuff as much as the next beauty blogger but my routine is minimalist - I don't do much hair styling, I don't wear foundation or powder and I don't go for complicated eyeshadow techniques. Coupled with that, the rules are that sunscreen and lipbalm are miraculously on the island already.

It was actually quite hard! I only just squeaked through on the twelve items and I'd have liked another couple of options for lipstick at least. I didn't cheat and use any palettes though *coughs at fellow Spotlight team members*. I did decide to hitch a lift with Christine over at 15 Minute Beauty to a hotel with shampoo/conditioner/skincare already on hand, so I didn't include any of that. (I just cheated, didn't I? So much for that moral high ground.)

Starting with the easy ones, my absolute essentials:

1. Rahua Finishing Treatment - I put a pea sized amount in damp, just washed hair, and I'm done. No blowdrying required.

2. RMS Beauty Un Cover Up in 22 - for undereyes, around nose, and anywhere else that needs a little evening out.

3. Shu Uemura Hard Brow Pencil in Seal Brown.

Also relatively easy - blush.

4. Nars Mata Hari blush - this matches my natural blush almost perfectly. It's my favourite blush at the moment.

5. Shu Uemura Pony blush brush - I like this brush because it is quite small for a blush brush, allowing good placement control, but still fluffy enough to blend/blur the edges.

6. Roxana Illuminated Perfume GreenWitch. If I can only take one fragrance, it's GreenWitch. 

7. Oops. Forgot the brush for applying the RMS concealer. Becca Eye Cream brush, a flat, tapered synthetic.

 8. Eyeshadow brush - MAC 217.

9. Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon eyeshadow. Still my favourite and my best natural shadow.

10. Laura Mercier Black Violet Eye Kohl pencil. This doesn't look obviously purple/violet, but is a bit softer and brighter than a plain black. Very good on brown eyes.

11. Ilia Beauty mascara. Finally, a worthy replacement for Shu Uemura Basic mascara.

12. Dior Addict lipstick in 865 Collection. The last choice was really difficult - I do like to have choice in lipsticks, but I didn't have enough space left to take more than one. This is the most recent addition to my Addict collection, a clear, popsicle pink/red.

As you will know if you've read my posts, I'm getting seasonal colour typed in March, and I'm obsessed with what season I might be. This is a Bright Winter lipstick, and I think it looks quite nice on me. If I do turn out to be a Bright, the makeup won't be a problem but it'll be a bugger to find the colours in clothes.

Bare Minerals The Cliff Hanger Ready Eyeshadow 2.0

Bare Minerals branched out a while ago into pressed eyeshadows and blushes, and I recently bought my first pressed duo, The Cliff Hanger. Suspense is a greyed beige/stone matte, and Awe is a slightly purpled medium/dark grey taupe, with a satin/shimmer texture. Some of the duos remind me very much of Nars eyeshadow duos; The Vision looks a lot like Nars Habenera to me. 

Swatched on white paper:

The shadows are soft and silky, as claimed. Although they feel very comfortable on my lid, unfortunately this particular colour combination makes me look tired; Awe looks a little too much like a natural dark shadow for comfort and I can only wear it very close to my lashline. Applied over my whole lid, it gives me a bruised look. I'm never very comfortable in a smokier eye though. 

These are £19 for 3g. 

Beauty Spotlight Weekly Round Up 16 February

polish insomniac reviews the China Glaze Glitz Bitz 'N Pieces collection... Will it be love or hate?

Pammy from Pammy Blogs Beauty puts Le Metier de Beaute's Ultra Hydration Eye Masks to the ultimate test as she tries them while in the midst of a bad cold. If these amazing eye masks can soothe Pammy's eyes in this condition, imagine what they could do for you!

If you are after the perfect peachy nude blush, then Visionary Beauty thinks the Rouge Bunny Rouge blush wand in Titian might be your answer.

Prime Beauty sifted through all the new Spring Makeup Collections to bring you the Four Prettiest Spring Blushes. You're welcome.

Forever on the quest for the perfect pink pout, Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is speechless in the face of the gorgeous combination of Rouge D'Armani No. 501 & Gloss D'Armani Pink No. 507! It is the quintessential pink partnership!

Are you a comic book junkie? Marcia from Beauty Info Zone was so it's no surprise she fell for the Beauty Powders from MAC's Archie's Girls collection.

Modesty Brown compares the pretty Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis blusher to some other similar pinks in her collection.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed takes a bite out of the new Bite Beauty Matte Pastille Lipstick collection - well actually, she doesn't bite them, just swatches them, less chance of lipstick on your teeth that way - so come admire the pretty colours!

London Makeup Girl tries an Advanced Ombre manicure from The New Black.

15 Minute Beauty has some amazing tips for Flawless Bridal Makeup from makeup artist Kim Porter.

Perilously Pale shares a favourite new look showcasing some of the products from Chanel's Spring 2013 collection.

Fushigi Brush Roll

I love all the varied and interesting beautiful things sold in the Fushigi Shop, but I think these brush rolls are extra special.

Beautifully lined and finished, with a protective flap:

Holds brushes securely (most of these are MAC brushes).

These cost less than £20 each (price varies depending on the cost of the fabric used) and are an absolute bargain. My fabric isn't available at the moment, but there is a very pretty gothic fairytale print that hasn't sold out yet.

You can find these, and other lovely things, here: www.fushigishop.com/category/useful-things-brush-rolls.

Beauty Spotlight Desert Island with 15 Minute Beauty

Christine from 15 Minute Beauty is not the outdoorsy type. At all. The thought of being in any sort of wilderness for more than a few hours fills her with dread! What would she have with her on a desert island... or, maybe is her island not so deserted after all?

The New Black Advanced Ombre in Cloudy Ballet

I love this colour collection. I dithered on buying it from Mise Beauty, but I am so glad I did. The New Black is a nail polish company specialising in beautifully put together kits. They have some classic graduated ombre kits, but Cloudy Ballet with its pink/peach/plum tonal and textural variations was the one that grabbed my attention. 

The colours are a plum pearl, a soft pink with microshimmer, rose pink glitter in a clear base, peach cream and a very pale pink pearl. 

I love the look of this kit applied. The colours are quite subtle and classic, but the effect of all of them together is unusual and beautiful, but still quite restrained. The formula is 4-Free, applies easily and the coverage is good with two coats. Each nail polish is 4ml, and the set costs £23.95. 

I purchased this set from www.misebeauty.com. 

Sheswai Rootsy Nail Lacquer

Mise Beauty webshop has had an overhaul and introduced several new brands recently. Sheswai Lacquer is one of them, and is a 3-free formulation. I love the bottle and the wooden handle (it isn't plastic) and the brush itself is also good; neither too skinny or wide, for easy application. The lacquer is a rich cream that gives full coverage in two coats and dries quickly.

Rootsy is described as a roasted caramel pumpkin. It's not a shade I would have picked for myself, and I'm still not a convert to warmer browns, but if you like terracottas it is a lovely one. (If I do end up as some kind of Autumn when I have my Personal Colour Analysis in March I am in all kinds of trouble!)

Sheswai Lacquers are £12.50 each from www.misebeauty.com. Rootsy was a PR sample, but I do like the look of pebble grey with lavender shimmer Stoned. I haven't bought it (yet) because I've just purchased a nail polish ombre set from The New Black (also from Mise Beauty.)

Beauty Spotlight weekly roundup 02 February

15 Minute Beauty shares how her at home laser hair removal has been going. Is it worth the cost of the unit?

Pink Sith says the Limited Edition Dove Winter Care Body Wash is not only a super moisturizing body wash that can help your winter dry skin ails, it can also allow you to communicate with new species!

Burberry Fans rejoice! Their new Lip Glow in Pink Sweet Pea (LE) exceeds the hype, and Lola's Secret Beauty Blog thinks it is worthy of a backup before they disappear!

The only Mariah Carey CD Jessika from polish insomniac will listen to is her Christmas one, so will she be able to bring herself to wear the Mariah Carey by OPI polishes? Find out!

Prime Beauty has a riddle for you. What's pink and peach, heart shaped and imparts a glowy natural flush? Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush!

Beauty Info Zone is ready for their big trip. We're taking Face Stockholm's World Traveler kit and planning on fun times.

As we head towards Spring, Visionary Beautyshows us the good and not so good that Burberry spring has to offer

London Makeup Girl takes a look at the cult lip tint Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey. Is it really a universal shade?

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed tries on lips from across the pond with Sleek MakeUP's True Colour Lipsticks shade extension! Check out her swatches and see if they have you craving some tea and crumpets!

Pammy Blogs Beauty is making good on her 2013 Beauty Resolutions! Her first step? Building Strong & Healthy Nails with a new 2-step treatment from Julep!

Modesty Brown shares swatches of the Hourglass Illume Bronzer Duo in Sunset as part of her current swatch project.

Even trying so many new things, there are a few things that Paula, from Older Girl Beauty, buys over and over again. Check out what they are!

Perilously Pale rounds up her coverage of the beautiful Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2013 Arty Stone Collection with a look featuring the products. Check out why this collection has won her heart.