My top picks for body oil

Body oil is tricky to get right- it offers a massive hydration boost to your skin but can also be greasy, sticky or feel slimy... 

So after trying out a number of different body oils over the years, here are my three favourite products. (I have normal to dry skin on my body that is sensitive and prone to flaking on the shins when really dry.)

Bio Oil 

This pink oil is quite thick with a gentle fragrance that almost smells spicy. It is specifically for very dry skin and also helps with scars and stretch marks. A lot of friends have used it during pregnancy and have always said good things! It is super moisturising but doesn't tend to sink in too well on my skin so I generally always add a few drops to a bath and then rub some all over before I get in to soak.  I then get out the bath feeling that my skin has been well nourished and it always feels softer after use. I've been using this oil for years now and always have some in my bathroom cabinet. 

Nuxe huile prodigieuse

This is multi purpose dry oil for face, body and hair. It comes it a bottle with a pump spray making it so easy to apply. Spray and then rub. It sinks in perfectly with no stickiness and is super moisturising. I only tend to use this on my body as quite rich and heavy for my face. I have also used on the ends of my hair when they are looking super parched. I tend to use this when I'm going out in the evening on legs and arms as it gives a lovely subtle sheen to limbs. I do find the scent quite strong though and can't use at night as it keeps me awake! This stuff lasts for ages, I've had this bottle for a year now and probably use once a week.

Elemis frangipani monoi body oil

This oil has a divine smell, like a spa or exotic flower. It can also be used on hair and nails but doesn't suggest face. It absorbs into my skin well but there is a slight greasy feel. It's super moisturising though and leaves skin lovely and soft. I like to concentrate on my elbows, knees and feet with this oil as so nourishing for those areas that get v dry. As with the Bio Oil I love love love adding a few drops of this to bath water as the smell is so relaxing. 

So there you have it- my top body oil picks, do you use any that you can recommend? X

Glambox foundation brush review

This Glambox foundation brush came in my usual Glambox and I am massively in love with it. A complete surprise as I didn't think I could love another foundation brush as much as my current one! 

It is synthetic dual fibre, has longer white bristles which are soft but quite firm and then shorter black bristles which are a bit fluffy. Of course as soon as you use liquid foundation the white doesn't stay that colour for long! 

I put blobs of liquid foundation all over my face using my ring finger and then use the brush in quick circular movements to blend it all over my face and down my neck. It gives a beautifully sheer coverage, not too heavy and blends product into the skin beautifully. 

It has an easy to grasp handle and is really light making it an excellent tool to quickly and effortlessly apply liquid foundation. 

I used it with my Revlon photoready foundation in the pics below and dusted Chanel loose powder over the top to set the foundation. 

Before any make up, straight after moisturising my face and adding my Daniel Sandler face primer. 

After first use, doesn't stay white for long!

After applying foundation using the Glambox foundation brush... 

After adding concealer under the eyes and a dusting of loose powder...

The finished look- my skin looks pretty flawless! :-) 

Mojo Reformer Pilates class review

Now this Pilates reformer class at Mojo is a class that I really rate and have gone back to again and again!

The first time I walked in the 'machine' looks a bit sinister but after a while it totally makes sense! There is a sliding platform, springs that control the weight and two ropes connected to the springs with loops that either go around your feet or your hands.  There is a bar at the front that can be moved into different positions depending on the movement as well as slide to the back of the machine. 

There are also loose items including a box that you can put on the platform, a stick to help balance, dumbells and a flex circle that you can squeeze. 

A pretty basic move would be squats- you lay on your back on the platform with your head between the arm rests, the bar at 90 degrees and your feet on the bar. Then you push up and then back down and the platform moves and you are essentially doing a squat but laying down! 

My instructors are usually Trent or Jelena and a typical session includes a warm up and then a series of full body movements that really target each specific area. Then a quick warm down. Each session is to energising music and has a great atmosphere- you feel awesome after!

An example of a move to target the glutes (and everyone wants a nice butt right!) is to lay on your side on the platform with the bottom leg bent. You put the big loop over the foot of the top leg and then put it straight down. Then you go through a series of moves including lifting it straight up or straight out in front of you, or bending it and pushing down or doing large circles with your leg. Then you switch sides. Honestly after a few of these moves you really really feel it in your glutes! 

The instructor will tell you what springs to put on for a mild, medium or hard workout so it really is up to you how hard you push yourself. I generally go for medium to hard and then go down a spring if I'm struggling! 

Based in Concorde Tower in Media City, Dubai, Mojo Reformer Pilates studio has one studio with about 15 Pilates reformer machines and a private room for one to one training. It also has a juice bar and showers. You can park right outside for 8 dirhams- just remember to get your ticket stamped by Mojo- or there's parking on the road and nearby. The new tram also stops right outside now.

It's a friendly place and is super easy to book online.  A one off class is 110aed but there are a few packages you can pick from which save you a bit of money- and are valid for a year from purchase- which is brilliant and I wish more places did that!

Definitely recommend! See more here: www.ilovemymojo.com

Here's a couple of pics of the machine (not mine)

And here's a pic of the Mojo studio from Sport360 (here's their review too: http://sport360.com/article/health-and-fitness/19084/get-your-mojo-back-reformer-pilates )

Gold, grey and black - perfect for blue eyes

This was a subtle yet sultry look for the rugby 7s this weekend. A great look to make blue eyes pop is a combination of neutral peach, creamy white, grey, matte gold and black. 

I primed my lids with Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion before sweeping a neutral peach shade close to my skin tone all across the lids and right up to my brows using the Bare Escentuals tapered eyeshadow brush. Then from about half way I patted a matte gold shade under the crease and to the outer edges. That was followed by a dark grey in a v-shape in the creases and along the outer lash line. 

Then I used the fluffy 217 brush from MAC to blend a creamy matte white along the brow bone under my brows and in to the corners of my eyes. 

Then I switched to a flat angle brush from models own to apply black eyeshadow across the upper lash lines starting where my lashes start (so not right into the inner corners) and pulling out into a winged shape.

Then using the make up for ever straight angled 172 brush and some black gel eyeliner I painted a thin line from the inner corners to the out corners, staying close to the lash line. I then placed a tiny bit of black on the lower inner corner.

This was followed by lashings of blackest black blow out mascara from Boots 17 on the upper lashes and a lighter application along the lower lashes. 

And ta da! An easy look that really makes the most of my blue eyes :-) 

New fave everyday haircare range

I have quite unruly, dry, wavy and thick hair which is bleached at the ends and coloured at the roots. It takes forever to brush, wash, brush and dry and I tend to leave it to air dry whenever possible to try to keep it healthy (which can sometimes take a full day to dry- wash in morning then get home from work and it's still damp!).

I tend to use Redken shampoo and treatment mask as a conditioner on special occasions like a night out or big event etc (most weekends!) but for everyday weekday washes I like to use a more affordable alternative. And that's where the L'oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil nourishing shampoo and conditioner for 'normal hair with a tendency to dry' comes into play! 

I have been religiously using the L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil for coloured hair for a while now and so was excited to try this new shampoo and conditioner. 

Both are enriched with six flower oils to nourish, add shine and make hair feel soft and supple. It is a clear shampoo and the conditioner is an opaque golden colour which looks as if it has iridescent sparkles in it to add shine.  Both smell divine, just the right amount of fragrance- nothing heavy or overbearing. 

The flower oils included are:

Rosa Canina - Rose

Chamomilla Recuita - Chamomile

Linum Usitatissimum - Flax

Nelumbium Speciosum - Lotus

Gardenia Tahitensis - Tiara

Hellanthus Annuus - Sunflower

The shampoo lathers nicely and gives hair a good clean and the conditioner has a thick and luxurious feel. 

I apply the hair oil on wet hair before brushing it and it detangles and immediately my hair is easier to manage. I use waaaaaay more than the few drops it recommends due to the thick and voluminous nature of my hair but it is not greasy or sticky and it applies easily- my hair seems to lap it up! A friend stayed with me recently and used it and she has completely the opposite hair to me: poker straight, thin and fine, and she loved it too! 

I'll be buying this range again and again and I definitely recommend it as an affordable, easy to find, easy to use haircare range.