Beauty Wishlist

Just when I think I've sated my beauty hunger, it comes back in full force. Sadly, my budget doesn't allow for unlimited spending on beauty products, so I simply keep on dreaming of what I'm coveting, in the hopes that, one sweet day, they will come into my possession. The list of such products is growing longer and longer by the day, such that I find it hard to keep up with all the different subjects of my daydreams. So what better way to commit them to memory than to compile some of them into a blog post?

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil: Autumn is hurtling towards us (it's only a month away!) and central heating will be back to its havoc-wreaking ways on my skin. Combine that with my love for skinny jeans, and my skin does not stand a chance in the moisture, softness and suppleness departments. This shower oil, however, promises to hydrate and replenish the skin, all whilst making you smell like almonds and vanilla. Considering that one of my all-time favourite scents is that of almonds, I am aching to get this product into my shower routine. Excuse me while I use up all my current shower gels as fast as I possibly can.

AlphaH Liquid Gold: Everyone who has tried this swears by its acne-curing, fine-lines-erasing, sun-damage-reversing, large-pores-tightening properties. That would usually be enough to sway me, but the price tag reads a hefty £31.50. To be honest, my skin does not need such a radical treatment at the moment, given that I've sussed out the right spot-zapping routine for me, and I've got an overall great skincare routine that works. But there's just something about the endless list of rave reviews about this product that continues to hold my attention.

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon: This liquid lipstick is legendary, not least because Jessica Alba wore it in the shade 'Riviera' to the 2013 Golden Globes. Its texture is unique in that it feels like a gloss, but goes on the lips like a matte lipstick that packs some serious colour punch. What's more, it lasts for an eternity on the lips. You can eat, kiss, drink, and it will not budge. Given my clear affinity for red lipsticks, I am keen on trying this beautiful deep blueish hue of red, 'Icon'. Just to continue with the name-dropping, Kat Dennings and Christina Hendricks both wore this lip colour, and it looks fantastic on both of them. I will be sure to sample it the next time I pass by an Hourglass counter.

REN Keep Young and Beautiful Anti-Ageing Eye Cream: The night eye cream forms a gap in my PM skincare routine that is waiting to be filled. After a quick browse at the REN counter in Liberty last week, the shop assistant gave me a little sample of this eye cream. As with all things 'anti-ageing', I doubted I would ever even use this product. Then I thought why-the-heck-not, and applied this before bed time. And, I don't know if I just had a particularly good night's sleep that evening, but I woke up and the usual darkness under my eyes had faded away, and the puffiness that comes with the dark circles had gone down. Only 21 and putting an 'anti-ageing' product on my wishlist? Who cares?

By Terry Baume de Rose: I recently waltzed into a Space NK fully expecting to pay around £10.00 for a pot of the stuff and be merrily on my way. Oh how naive I was. When I double-checked the price and the shop assistant replied with £35.00, I balked. £35.00 for a 10g pot of lip balm?! Well, if the reviews of the Baume de Rose are anything to go by, this balm might as well have its own religion. Baume de Rose-ism. It promises to smooth, plump and protect lips 'in an instant', whilst giving the lips a subtle nude sheen. Don't get me started on everyone raving about the heavenly smell of this product. However, this is staying firmly on my wishlist: I simply cannot bring myself to spend £35.00 on 10g of lip balm when there are many cheaper options out there that are just as effective. But there's no harm in just lusting after a bit of luxury, right?