bareMinerals® Original SPF15 Foundation

bareMinerals® really are THE producers of natural cosmetics, whether you’re looking for fake tan or lipstick, they will have something to answer your needs. At Christmas I had a play with their wonderful High Shine eye shadow and now I’ve been lucky enough to get my sticky little mitts on a pot of their lovely foundation. I’ve never really been much of a one for using powder, finding a cream foundation to give better coverage, but the bareMinerals® Original SPF15 has made me a convert. The powder goes on perfectly smoothly and somehow contrives to give the impression that your skin is bare, but naturally blessed with a wonderful complexion! Awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation, the foundation provides natural SPF 15 broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and has been ‘clinically proven to actually be good for the skin’ and ‘improves overall skin health and appearance over time’.

bareMinerals® Original SPF15 Foundation is £23 (8g) and available in 20 mix and match shades for all skin tones and types and can pr purchased from Bare Escentuals Boutiques, department stores, selected Spas & salons and selected online retailers including www.bareminerals.co.uk.

© Purple Peccadilloes

English Cheesecake Company

English Cheesecake's Reign Supreme!

Going strong for more than 15 years, the English Cheesecake Company have made their name by producing the kind of desserts that a child would come up with, if given the management of an expert team of bakers and the keys to a sweet shop; velvety chocolate cakes and magnificently creamy cheesecakes piled high with limitless confectionary. And the result? Well, words really don’t do it justice.

With more than 200 varieties on offer, the choice on the website is boggling, but with a handy menu partitioning events, sizes, prices and flavours you’ll soon find yourself gaily salivating over the cheesecake(s) of your dreams. Among my personal favourites is the Irish Cream Profiterole Smash. A rich vanilla cheesecake laced with Irish Cream Liqueur and dark chocolate-chips, topped with cream filled profiteroles, dark chocolate fudge sauce and a sprinkling of white chocolate stars, all sitting on a crunchy chocolate biscuit base, the Irish Cream Profiterole Smash is indulgence incarnate. Suitable for vegetarians, this is a complete crowd pleaser; the Irish Cream Liqueur gently lifts the flavour, rather than overpowering the dish, while all the heavier flavours meld together creating one big spoonful of gorgeousness which melts in the mouth to smooth and creamy goodness.

All of the English Cheesecake Company’s sweets are created by hand, using fresh, high-quality ingredients, retaining the passion for perfection in the pursuit of decadent and delicious desserts first exhibited by the company’s sweet-toothed founders Philip and Alan, in the late 1980’s. Twenty years on, the company’s ethos remains the same: Let them eat cheesecake. So tuck in, it would be rude not to.

The English Cheesecake Company creates wondrous desserts in a variety of sizes, ranging from 8 servings to 60, with prices starting at £20, and if you really can’t make up your mind, there’s always the mini-selection to opt for! Bespoke orders are available. For more information, and the comprehensive cheesecakey range, visit www.englishcheesecake.com.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Green Goddess - Sranrom Urban Wellness Range

Sranrom Urban Wellness Range

The tagline that Sranrom have gone for is ‘the philosophy of well-being’, with the creation of products that have been developed based on the ancient concept of aromatherapy, the idea that our moods and sense of happiness, comfort and security can be influenced by the use of certain herbs (no, not the one you’re thinking of!). The range is comprised of five collections – Calm Down, Get Lively, Sleep Tight, Feel Good and Clear Mind – designed to balance your inner world with the application of outer skincare products. I have recently tried a number of Sranrom products and where as I’m not absolutely convinced of an improvement to my state of mind originating with their use, I am persuaded of the quality of the products. My personal favourite is the Calm Down Room and Body Mist (100ml RRP £18), made up of a luscious combination of Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime, one whiff of which is enough to open my mind like the unfolding petals of a flower. The Sleep Tight Body Cream (200g RRP £14) is rich and smoothing with a wonderful scent of ylang ylang flowers and lavender oil, while the Get Lively Shower Gel (200ml RRP £12) with its warming mix of ginger and orange is the perfect start to any day.

For more information on the Sranrom Urban Wellness Range visit http://www.sranrom.com.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Green Goddess - James Forward for Maison dAnu

James Forward for Maison dAnu Styling and Hair Care Range

This year I’m trying to ditch many of the chemical-laden cosmetics in my bathroom cabinet and as far as possible turning to nature for my personal skin, hair and body care, avoiding products containing animal ingredients, SLS, SLES, Parabens, Petrochemicals and all the other nasties that do no good to our bodies or our environment. Animal testing is also a no-no. In my search I have come across a few real gems, so I thought that I would share them with your good selves.

Mason dAnu already have a name for themselves for producing wonderful natural body care products, but they have recently teamed up with celeb colourist James Forward to create ‘a comprehensive colour specific styling and hair care range.’ Sweetly scented and packed with nourishing ingredients, such as Jojoba Oil, Calendula, Geranium and Salvia Extract, these products work wonders for tired and abused hair whilst helping to maintain sparkling colour. There are 18 products within the range, so you should be able to find something to suit your needs, from blonde brightening to moulding wax. I recently tried the Cherish Keratin Infused Shampoo (236ml RRP £18), Cherish Keratin Infused Conditioner (236ml RRP £23) and the deeply hydrating Cherish Keratin Infused Hair Mask (251ml RRP £28), it would be too much to hope that the damage I’ve inflicted on my locks over the years would be immediately repaired, but after just a few uses my hair does feel softer and a little less brittle, so I have great hopes for this range. All Maison dAnu products are manufactured using clean technology, whilst maintaining a natural and ethical focus.

For more information on, or to purchase the James Forward for Maison dAnu styling and hair care range visit http://www.maisondanu.co.uk/hair-collection/james-foward-for-maison-danu.html.

Do you have a favourite natural beauty product?

© Purple Peccadilloes

Clinique Almost Spring

This review can also be found on www.TheDetour.co.uk. Visit the site for fashion, beauty and entertainment features and news pieces as well as spa reviews and competitions.

Clinique Almost Spring

The only way that I manage to scrape through the gloom of January and February is the thought that spring is almost here, and it would seem that Clinique feel the same. February sees the launch of their fabulous new makeup range, Almost Spring and it’s certainly something to smile about.

With a breezy new pallet of soft spring colours Clinique have all that you need to achieve that fresh-faced renewed look, so in keeping with the season. The range comprises light and super-hydrating Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser (available in six shades for £21.00), Blushwear Cream Stick (£20.00 limited edition, so get in quick) to add a gentle flush to your complexion, Naturally Glossy Mascara (£15.00) in a fabulous non-clumping formula, creamy Quickliner for Intense Eyes (£13.50) and Black Honey-inspired Almost Lipstick; a sheer-smooth lipbalm/lipstick amalgam (16.00).

The colour trend is designed to bring out the very best of you, enhancing natural tones with delicate tints and a light dewy finish, creating a look that is unfailingly becoming, particularly for the quintessential English Rose. The key word here is subtlety.

Presented in stylish fuss-free packaging, these cosmetics are über portable and a joy to use, being simple to apply and super comfortable to wear.

As with all Clinique products, the Almost Spring Range is fragrance-free, oil-free, allergy, ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested and non-comodegenic (they won’t block your pores), so you can experiment with your new look with confidence.

 

Clinique’s Almost Spring range will be available to purchase from February 1^st 2012. To buy online, visit www.clinique.co.uk or visit your local Clinique counter.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Excellent Eyes - Clarins Skin-Smoothing Eye Mask

Clarins Skin-Smoothing Eye Mask 30ml RRP £29.00

Described by Clarins as a “‘morning after the night before’ treatment for eyes” this is something of an as-and-when product. Designed to tone, decongest and hydrate the eye area, reducing the puffiness and shadows of a misspent evening – it’s the perfect Monday morning rescue!

So how does it work? A combination of Wild Rose and Saw Palmetto extract intensively de-puff and decongest the eye while a super-concentrated version of Rose Water and Apricot extract hydrate and soften the skin and Rice Starch and Chicory extract smooth, firm and tighten the epidermis.

And to use? Just apply a small amount to your eye lids and under-eye area, sit back and enjoy the instant cooling sensation for 5-10 minutes before gently removing with a damp cotton pad. Your eyes will feel revived and the surrounding skin smooth and silky soft.

As close to fragrance-free as these things ever can be, this product is great for all skin-types, even the most sensitive. Wonderfully cooling and invigorating, I’ve found the Clarins Skin-Smoothing Eye Mask to be a fabulous pick-me-up after a long day staring at a computer screen, as well as a late night/early morning salvation. It’s not a long-term eye care solution, but it does offer an occasional little miracle to help you through the day, and I think that that can sometimes be the best kind of miracle.

Have you found anything better for losing fine lines & wrinkles? Let me know, I'll do my best to review it for you!

© Purple Peccadilloes

Oxo Good Grips Potato Ricer

This review can also be found on www.TheCulinaryGuide.co.uk. Visit the site for in depth food, drink and travel features and news pieces as well as restaurant and hotel reviews and competitions.

Oxo Good Grips Potato Ricer

I can never have enough kitchen gadgets, but somehow I never really thought myself the type of person who’d ever need – or want – a potato ricer. I like the texture of my mash a little on the lumpy side and my masher has been too loyal a servant to be usurped by some upstart ricer... But then someone whispered the magic words ‘you could use this to make gnocchi...’ and the fun commenced!

One of the things that has put me off the idea of ricers in the past is that most of them seem rather small, capable of handling only a very small amount of food at once, but the OXO Good Grips jobbie is actually a fairly substantial piece of kit and would probably make a pretty good weapon, should you ever find yourself in a situation of hand-to-hand combat in your kitchen. Violent tendencies aside however, it is comfortable to use; with padding in all the right places and a handy little nubbin to add some friction if you prefer to rest the ricer over a bowl as you work. The solid build makes for a durable piece of equipment and stainless steel body makes cleaning a doddle, being dishwasher friendly.

Once you’ve had your fill of gnocchi and super smooth mash, the ricer can also be used to create a veritable smorgasbord of culinary delights from quick and easy fruit puree to baby food. It can even be used as the mother of all giant garlic crushers... Assuming you intend to avoid all human contact for the foreseeable!

The OXO Good Grips Potato Ricer is £24.51 and available from Lakeland and www.amazon.co.uk. For more information visit www.oxouk.com.

How do you eat yours??

© Purple Peccadilloes

A Proper Cup of Tea - Chateau Rouge Fikkal Ilam Black Tea

Chateau Rouge Fikkal Ilam Black Tea

"A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards." So said A.A. Milne and I can’t help but agree. For many a year I was something of a tea-hater, I liked the idea of it, but the flavour was simply lost on me, that is until I was introduced to a pot of the proper stuff and since that time a morning that fails to begin with a good long cup of tea is one that precedes what can only become a very bad day indeed. This is something that the lovely people at Chateau Rouge understand, which is why they have made it their mission in life to bring the teas of the world to the good people of the UK, and they are doing a sterling job.

 

Chateau Rouge was launched in 2010 by Seán Farrell, a gastronome with delicate taste and a fine attention to detail whose predilection for travel introduced him to a wealth of rare and little-known teas from around the world and instilled in him a need to share them. From a mellow handcrafted White Monkey to a delicately scented Formosa Pouchong and special long-cut Rooibos, Chateau Rouge stocks it all.

Among my favourites for a cold winter evening is the Fikkal Ilam Black Tea. Harvested from the awe-inspiring landscape of the Ilam District in Nepal, where is has been grown since 1863, Fikkal Ilam is a rich fruity black tea with almond, caramel and pepper notes, presented in a lovely boxed black canister, creating the ideal gift for your friendly local tea lover, or an indulgent treat for yourself. Nepal’s first two tea gardens were begun by Gajraj Singh Thapa, administrator of Ilam, with saplings his brother-in-law, the Prime Minister, had been given by the Chinese Emperor of the time, so this tea can conceivably be viewed as being of high rank and standing.

Fikkal Ilam Black Tea (100g) is £19.95 and available, along with an abundance of other varieties and tea-making paraphernalia from www.chateaurouge.co.uk.

Have you a Chateaux rouge favourite cuppa?

© Purple Peccadilloes

Men's Scents - Korres Vetiver Root Green Tea Cedarwood

Korres Vetiver Root Green Tea Cedarwood 50ml RRP £24

This is probably more of a unisex scent, rather than being specifically masculine; woody and aromatic in character Korres Vetiver Root Green Tea Cedarwood is redolent of autumnal country walks. Filled with the stimulating earthy freshness of vetiver and the crispness of rejuvenating green tea, run through with the warm woody tones of cedarwood, oak moss and a subtle sweet lavender note, this really is autumn in a bottle. Made from natural ingredients on homeopathic premises, this eau de toilette is designed to ‘loosen the spirit, refresh the skin, enhance inspiration and evoke tranquillity’, which I think it achieves rather nicely.

* Top notes: Bergamot, Cardamom, Green Tea.

* Heart notes: Lavendar, Cedarwood, Vetiver Root.

* Bottom notes: Tonka Bean, Amber, Oak Moss

Does Vetiver do it for you?

© Purple Peccadilloes

Men's Scents - Marc Jacobs Bang Bang

Marc Jacobs Bang Bang 100ml RRP £51

Bang Bang is the refreshed version of Marc Jacobs original Bang fragrance for men, but the question is... Do you really get more bang for your buck? (... Yes, I know... Sorry!) Described as ‘dynamic, confident and cool’ and designed for ‘independent men who strive for perfection’ Bang Bang is a clean, vibrant scent, with warm Sandalwood undertones. If you’re looking for a feistier version of the original, then you’ve come to the wrong place, as Bang Bang lacks the big peppery punch of the original, but as such it’s not quite so strident or conspicuous and therefore much more suitable for the everyday. Developed by perfumer Yann Vasnier from Givaudan, this one isn’t going to hit the mark for everyone, but I always prefer subtlety over big and blousy when it comes to men’s fragrance and for me this does the job.

* Top notes: Lemon, Ctirus

* Heart notes: Sandlewood

* Bottom notes: Cashmere, Musk



Is this enough bang for your buck?? Share your thoughts!

© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - Lush The Smell of Freedom

Lush The Smell of Freedom 30ml RRP £32

'A fragrance of strength, hope and unwavering determination.' The Smell of Freedom was inspired by the experiences of three 'survivors of hardship' and a spicy, bitter-sweet scent that develops in delicate layers. Lemongrass is the predominant opening note, but clove and black pepper soon make themselves known, with a touch of neroli and jasmine adding a slightly sweeter floral touch. The result is a light and pleasing but complex mix. Very subtle and unobtrusive, the fragrance stays close to the skin, but will last through the day.


During the second week of October 2011 Lush donated all of the proceeds from the sale of The Smell of Freedom to the Free West Papua campaign. Further information on Free West Papua can be found at: http://www.freewestpapua.org.



* Top notes: Lemongrass, Lemon Myrtle, Neroli

*Heart notes: Jasmin, Ginger, Fire Tree, Clove, Black Pepper

*Bottom notes: Sandlewood, Oudh and Orris.

Share your fave Lush scent with us.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - Paco Rabanne Lady Million

Paco Rabanne Lady Million 80ml RRP £60

Paco Rabanne scents have become widely known for their sweet fruity notes, which has earned some unjust sneering from critics in recent years – it may not be a wholly original trademark, as it were, but the volume of sales would indicate a clear popularity and if creating a fragrance that people enjoy isn’t the whole point behind the perfumery business, I don’t know what is. That said, despite occasionally being referred to as ‘junk food perfume’ Lady Million has proven a hit with consumers and critics alike. This is a smooth, balanced scent where fruit and floral notes mingle companionably without jarring, with something of an intriguing salty note thrown in before dipping down into a musky woodland bouquet. There is nothing not to like about Lady Million – apart from the slightly fiddly bottle, but I’m nit-picking here! – it’s initially on the strong side, but calms down in short measure and settles into something of a crowd-pleaser, and is therefore perfect  for any hopeless Christmas shopping boys out there looking for girly gift ideas.

        * Top notes: Bitter Orange, Raspberry 

* Heart notes: Neroli, Orange Flower, Arabian Jasmine

* Bottom notes: Honey, Patchouli

Love the Lady? Hate it? Tell me why.

© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - BSQ Natural Couture Bergamot Noir

BSQ Natural Couture Bergamot Noir 30ml RRP £25

As most of you will already know, the Bsq. Natural Couture collection is a range of fragrances and body care products produced in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, inspired by the work of renowned fifties fashion photographer John French, which depicts the elegant Golden Age of Couture. And, as the Natural part of the name would suggest, BSQ products contain no mineral oils, SLES, artificial colours or synthetic ethanol perfume bases. This autumn, the collaboration has been added to by the RNIB (Royal National Institute of the Blind) and has seen the launch of Bergamot Noir, which takes BSQ's award winning White Bergamot as its base and adds a musky, womanly touch. The scent is still light and a little bit brittle, as one would expect with a bergamot base, but with the softness of neroli and the warmth of amber and orange blossom showing through to create a more grounded fragrance. For the launch of Bergamot Noir BSQ and the RNIB commissioned a group of eminent blind and partially sighted artists to create artworks, taking the fragrance as inspiration and staged the Scents and Sensibility exhibition, the proceeds of will be donated to the RNIB. 

* Top notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Neroli

* Heart notes: Jasmine, Rose, Lily, Peony, Iris

* Bottom notes: Amber, Orange Blossom, Musk

Agree with this review? Disagree? Tell us why! :)

© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy 30ml RRP £33

Presented as a ‘gourmand floral fragrance’ Viva La Juicy eau de parfum was launched in 2008, and quickly became the must-have scent amongst the velour tracksuit-clad funky young fashionist sistas... Something that almost as quickly deterred the more classically clothed amongst us from giving it a try. I’m not sure what I expected from VLJ, but it certainly wasn’t this warm, sweet and simply wonderful scent. Nicely rounded and delicately balanced, the zingy top notes slide effortlessly into the heart notes, while the gourmand base smoothes the whole thing out, creating a rich yet intimate fragrance, which is absolutely perfect for cold winters nights.

* Top notes: Wild Berries, Mandarin

* Heart notes: Honeysuckle, Gardenia, Jasmine

* Bottom notes: Amber, Caramel, Vanilla, Sandlewood, Praline

Too much of the velour tracksuit about it for you? Tell us why!

© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola!

Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! 50ml RRP £38

Firstly, I really must say, oh-my-word-what-a-beautiful-bottle! To be honest, I wouldn’t really mind what this eau de parfum smells like, with such a pretty bottle I’d probably buy it anyway! Launched in summer 2011, Oh, Lola! is described as ‘lively, playful, irresistible, stylish and cheerful’, which is quite a lot to ask of a fragrance, but as far as I‘m concerned it pulls it off with a certain amount of panache. The fragrance, signed by Ann Gottlieb, is a fresh and fruity blend, with floral notes of peony and a rich background of vanilla and sandalwood. Marketed as the younger sister of Marc Jacobs original scent Lola, there was always the possibility that Oh Lola! would turn out to be a paler imitation of the genuine article, but with the muting of the heavier floral base notes and the lifting of the fruity, this fragrance has an identity all of its own: light, fresh and a little bit flirty. The perfect scent for the young, and the young at heart.

·         Top notes: Wild Strawberry, Pear, Raspberry

·         Heart notes: Peony, Magnolia, Cyclamen

·         Bottom notes: Tonka bean, Vanilla, Sandalwood

What do you think of Lola? Agree with me? Disagree? Let me know!



© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - Lolita Lempicka Lolita Lempicka

Lolita Lempicka Lolita Lempicka 50ml RRP £24

Ok, so this isn’t a new one; Lolita Lempicka launched her eponymous scent in 1997, but we’ve recently rediscovered old Lolita here at The Detour and thought it might be worth a mention, the heady fusion of sweetly woody spice feels somehow right for the cooler seasons – it’s something of a mulled wine of the perfume world! To begin with it’s a little bit much; the first notes are nose-tinglingly sharp, but the sour liquorice and anise quickly mellow to a beautifully balanced musky praline-infused bouquet with grassy vetiver and tobacco notes. Lolita, can I compare thee to a summer’s day? No, you’re more of a mulchy woodland in autumn, but you’re dainty with it, redolent of delicate wisps of wood smoke and spider webs jewelled with frost. And all wrapped up in a gorgeous pale lilac apple.

·         Top notes: Ivy Leaves, Liquorice Flower, Anise seed, Cherry

·         Heart notes: Violets, Iris, Vanilla, Praline, Tonka Bean

·         Bottom notes: Vetiver, Musk

Do you love Lolita?? Let us know!

© Purple Peccadilloes

Wonderful Winter Scent - Korres Vanilla Freesia Lychee

Korres Vanilla Freesia Lychee 50ml RRP £24

Korres, as I’m sure you know, is a Greek cosmetics company with an ethos entirely natural, creating a variety of natural beauty products on a base of homeopathy, hence this naturally scented and naturally named eau de toilette. For me, the initial attraction is to a perfume free from parabens, mineral oil, silicones and ethanolamines, but then I discovered the scent, which is quite wonderful, frankly! I had been slightly concerned that the vanilla would be of that sickly sweet culinary variety, which at first makes you want to eat the product, but soon becomes less appealing. Not so! Although there is something rather appetizing about the scent, the dusky smoky freesia notes prevent it from being overtly foody, while the lychee adds a fruity vibrancy to the mix. This is a grown-up lasting scent which subtly caresses the skin, rather than imposing itself on the rest of the room.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Tea


Heart Notes: Jasmine, Peach, Lychee, Freesia, Sandalwood


Bottom Notes: Vanilla, Patchouli, Musk




What's your Korres favourite? Let us know your thoughts!




© Purple Peccadilloes

Cooking the Books - Veggiestan

Veggiestan by Sally Butcher

Sally Butcher initially came to light with the release of her of her first cookery book, the beautifully written ‘Persia in Peckham’, in which she invites the reader into the kingdom of Persepolis (the Middle-Eastern inspired deli she runs with her husband) and takes them on a tour of culinary delights. In her new release Sally goes one step further, leaving Persepolis behind and trekking across a completely new country, Veggiestan; the Land of the Vegetables.

The more discerning amongst you may have realised that Veggiestan is not so much a place as an amalgam of inclination, inspiration and state of mind, a happy meld of vegetarian gastronomic influences stretching all the way from Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan and back again, all delightfully strung together with colourful, stylish and amusing prose.

Completely packed with sumptuous aromatic vegetarian recipes that one can almost smell and taste while flicking through the pages, Veggiestan is a comprehensive guide to herbivorous eating with a Middle Eastern influence. Yet for all that, the recipes are not prohibitively difficult to follow – the Afghan Angel Delight is as simple a desert as I’ve ever come across (and tasty with it), while the breads are really just an exciting eastern variation on a traditional British theme.

If ever a book was going to remove from the collective psyche the thought that vegetarian food is ‘boring’ it’s Veggiestan - from the attractively tactile cover to the enticingly titled recipes, this book screams vibrancy, variety, versatility and joie de vivre.

Veggiestan is published by Pavilion and is available in all good book shops for £25. ISBN 978-1-86205-884-2

You can find lots more Veggiestan stuff (extra recipes, out-takes, general silliness) over at www.veggiestan.com.

Do you have a favourite veggie recipe? Why not share it with us?

© Purple Peccadilloes

Fab Foundation - Lush Colour Supplement

Lush Colour Supplement – Light Pink Multi-purpose Base Colour 20g

Did you know that Lush did makeup products? No, me neither! This product is the company’s first foray into the realm and I must say that I found it quite intriguing. Designed to be blended in with your daily moisturiser (I used Lush’s Celestial Heavenly Moisturiser – 45g RRP £11.50 – a lovely light but nourishing cream for sensitive skin), the Lush Colour Supplement provides a very natural-looking coverage, but does it take some getting used to.

To begin with, like most foundations really, you will need to experiment. I found that a little – around half a pea of the supplement, mixed with an equal amount of moisturiser – was enough to do the job for everyday use, but this could be built upon for a more made-up look, or to cover blemishes.

Akin with all Lush products, this supplement is made from a blend of largely natural ingredients, in this case “a gentle cream base containing rose petal infusion, soya and rice bran oils - making it comfortable enough to wear all day without feeling heavy.” Lush have also opted to shun the recent foundation trend for minerals because they “worry about putting them on the face, especially on people with sensitive skin,” something I find rather refreshing.

With only four main colours to choose from, this may not be the foundation solution for everyone –I’m not sure that I could be bothered to faff around blending two Supplements and a moisturiser every morning – but it does offer a good portion of flexibility and I found it very easy to get to get a lighter, more natural look this way – I’m not much of a one for trowel application!

Overall, I really liked this product; with its versatility, vegan credence and light feel I found it to be a great option within this price bracket.

The Lush Colour Supplement  is £7.95 and available from selected Lush stores and online at www.lush.co.uk.  Lush also offer an alternative base colour range, the Jackie Oates Colour Supplement, available in four base tones at £7.95 for 20g.

Do you have any must-have Lush products? share them with me!

© Purple Peccadilloes