IN FLIGHT ESSENTIALS

Currently I am flying somewhere over the Atlantic to visit the big city but I have put together one BIG in flight essentials post for you lovely lot whilst I'm away. Many a flight have I confused the litte old lady sitting next to me or spritzed the business man in the seat behind me during my in-depth, in-flight regime. Here are some details of what I'll be taking with me for some pamper time on the plane this time round.

1. Concealer, for me is an absolute must, especially on a long haul, and partnered with...

2. ...an under eye primer, it is goodbye bags and hello baggage reclaim.

3. I am a regular contact lens wearer but will always wear my glasses during a flight. After the flight however, my eyes need a bit of wakening up and so cue the contacts. To carry them around in for my post flight "I've just stepped off a plane but look wide awake AND glamorous" eyes (as if!), I use this cut little owl contact lens case from Oliver Bonas.

4. This tiny, weeny, itsy, bitsy bottle of Bioderma is great for in flight makeup removal, you don't have to have that travel prone greasy sheen that will just clog your pores, using some kind of wipe or micellar water to cleanse the skin is refreshing on a cramped, clammy airplane and you won't get any surprise pimples post flight.

5. Eye drops, eye drops, eye drops - what else can I say?

6. Sore lips are just so not the one on a plane, air conditioning and cabin pressure can be really damaging for the pucker uppers, so make sure to carry a balm, even better an all purpose balm to rub on those drying areas.
7. A pocket mirror, not a must but if you want to make sure you don't have panda eyes after 4 hours sleep during a boring in flight movie, it might be handy to keep one with you :)
8. Another lil mini, a mini mascara that is, to top up on lazy lashes on landing.
9. If you're off on a sunny beach holiday, why not bronze it up on the plane before stepping out in the scorching sun, I've packed Benefit's Hoola bronzer, perfect shade to ease me into the changing seasons.

10. I have also packed some more colour for my pale wintery cheeks, this Elf cream blush which is really light and doesn't sit on your face too heavily whilst you sit for 6 hours on a plane.
11. Some lippy, a nude and nourishing one of course.
12. If you were lucky enough to pick up some duty free perfume, a spritz here and there keeps you feeling fresh, I'm bringing one the Body Shop eau de toilettes.


13. Wipes, because sometimes you find yourself just needing a wipe, and lets face it, those ones provided on the plane, although warm, they dry up pretty much instantly after removing them from the pack.
14. This amazing hairband is the Twistband, a great little creation that leaves hair with no kinks or bumps, perfect for scraping the barnet back mid flight but still keeping smooth and sleek for when you take those first steps on foreign soil.
15. This Soap & Glory hand sanitiser is the best in the world, it smells fruity and is stick-free, and the perfect packing size for hand luggage :)

IN A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

2 days and counting eeeesh! If you don't know already, I am off to the city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle, the big apple...NEW YORK!!! And I have spent the weekend attempting to create that much desired capsule wardrobe and minimal makeup bag for the long awaited city break. All packed up and ready to go, I thought I would do a few New York inspired blog posts before I leave. 

Don't forget to follow on bloglovin, twitter and on instagram @lou_rose.

BIRCHBOX FAVE - ONE LOVE

One love indeed, I have one BIG pile of love for this beauty balm and was so happy for Birchbox introducing it to my regime. Not only does it break down every bit of makeup so you can skip the Bioderma stage on a lazy night before bed, but it also provides the skin with some great moisturissation giving you a really healthy glow. After using this, I always seem to wake up the next morning admiring my silky soft skin. I have had some really bad break outs of late, I blame the weather, but this stuff has made tackling those nasty spots a walk in the park and BONUS it smells of mango and oranges yum yum yum!

Made with pure coconut, sweet soy soils and mango seed butter, this waterless balm is a lovely product, no oily residue, easy to remove with a muslin cloth and the tropical scent stays on your skin making so you feel fresh on the outside even if you're feeling not so fresh on the inside.

LE WEEK-END - A PEEP ON THE WEEK

So this week was welcomed by just a 4 day working week (yippeee) but despite the joy of one less day of the big old commute, it was a pretty hectic one none the less. 

1. Dinner with a side of fire - Saturday at Benihana, Chelsea

2. Another year, another shot anyone? - Celebrating my friend's birthday with some Jager-pagnes

3. Hello kitty - I love this little fluff ball

4. Tea tree treat - my skin saviour this week <3

5. Late night commute - Walking the London streets at night when all the traffic and suits have gone home = bliss

6. Friday Cider-day - The week's hard work always pays off with a sip of Cider

7. Dollar dollar bill yall - USA bound, 4 days and counting

8. Too many stripes? - let the packing commence

9. Fuelling the brain and soul - A cup of tea and some chocolate always makes things better, particularly when surrounded by packing chaos

EASY AS ABC

Every now and again, you have to take a step back and evaluate things, this month I was evaluating the state of my makeup, in particular what I carried it around in. My makeup bag had sadly seen it's last day and it was time to look into something fresh and new. After a lot of window shopping, I finally discovered an amazing little online bag boutique called Alphabet Bags perfect for buying personalised gifts or cute quote totes for yourself. 

I came away not with one but three little delights, a very complimenting makeup bag, a pouch to carry around a few makeup necessities in my handbag and an even smaller pouch to squeeze in all my 'bits and bobs'. 

SLEEP SECRETS WITH CAROLINE HIRONS AND THE BODY SHOP

In collaboration with Caroline Hirons (all hail), The Body Shop ran an amazing competition via their Instagram to win a night time essentials package put together by the beauty expert/guru herself filled with the new Vitemin E line and some other goodies and drumrollllll.....I WON!!! I don't think I have ever won anything in my life so was very excited when I not only received the news but also got a cheeky Insta-comment from Caroline (cue shameless Chandler Bing dance around the studio and bewildered colleagues).

I have really enjoyed using all of the products I received and have been dying to write up a wee post since the win in February but of course, like the experimentalist I am, I wanted to give each product a fair and sufficient test before giving my verdict and I can say I am impressed! 

Besides the odd tub of cocoa body butter every now and again, I haven't used any Body Shop products for quite some time but these guys have really stepped up their game and are giving some more high end brands a run for their money. 

Along with some Vitamin E goodies, in the package came the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter a lovely light and soft balm which just melts any makeup residue away and leaves your skin feeling so fresh. This has quickly become a morning fave of mine. I also have loved the Nutriganics Smoothing Eye Cream  and can honestly say I haven't gone a morning or night without using this stuff, it has been great even with my sensitive skin. 

The Vitamin E Cream Exfoliator is always a nice mid-week treat and occasionally a lil Sunday addition to the night time routine too, it is a really light, non-abrasive exfoliator which gently scrubs away the dead skin without being too fussy or messy and something I will definitely repurchase in the future. Unfortunately though, I don't think I have been quite won over yet by the Vitamin E Hydrating Toner but it smells lovely plus I am a bit of a toner sceptic so I'm not sure if it is just a "it's not you, it's me" kind of situation with this one. But what can I say about the Vitamin E Overnight Serum and Vitamin E Night Cream , a match made in heaven, not something I pair up every night but when I do, it is bliss and if you add the Facial Massager  into the mix then my 'o' my are you in for a treat come morning, I may not have had a full nights sleep or looked like a sleeping beauty with my hair scraped back and my onesie on but my skin sure felt beautiful. 

If you want to read more about the products and get some great tips from the wondeful woman who's knowledge we all wish to have, click to see her The Body Shop blog post takeover.

A GOLDEN OLDIE

What better way to make a come back than with a celebratory post, not only celebrating Je Suis Louise's new look but also the 40th birthday of a dear ol' pal of mine, the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. All the vital information you need to know about this dreamy pre-shampoo treatment is that Philip created it especially for Miss Audrey Hepburn herself....you're sold already right?

My hair has suffered a few blows during the years ('scuse the pun), from bleaching to sun exposure, heat damage to product abuse, after a good trim it was time to start giving my locks some much needed TLC and what better product to use than this one. Hair is stronger - check...thicker - check...bouncier...check and no signs of split ends...yet! This product gets a woop woop and a huge Happy Birthday from me.

JE SUIS LOUISE'S SPRING CLEAN

HELLO/ BONJOUR/ WELCOME BACK

So Je Suis Louise has been a bit MIA for a few months but she's back after some TLC and with a fancy new camera in toe oooh la la! 

I was finding it quite hard to stay focused and confident with my blog for some time so felt it best to remove myself for a little bit, start a fresh with a new look and get some good practice with my new baby, my Canon 1100D. So I hope you like the old gal's new appearance and what's to come.

VALENTINE OF SHMALENTINE 4 - Happy Valentines Day

                    

HAPPY VALENTINES ALL!!!

I hope you're all enjoying all the love today, whether it's from your boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, mum, dad, your great Auntie Dorris or your cat....if you don't tell them enough how great they are, make today the day you tell them with an I LOVE YOU!

VALENTINE OR SHMALENTINE 3 - Pucker Up

Valentines isn't all about kisses, snogs, making out...whatever you want to call it. But who says it can't be about celebrating those lovely lips of yours and making them stand out from the crowd. I could not live without lipstick and I am very rarely seen without a colourful lip companion in my handbag so I thought I would put together a lil su'in su'in and show you my favourite shades of red...perfect for this Valentine's.

Rimmel have stepped up a big notch in the last few years when it comes to affordable, accessible, drugstore makeup so how could I not put in their amazing Apocalips in (wait for the name) Big Bang. This is a great colour to achieve those perfect pin up style lips and it is s easy to glide on just like a lip gloss...EASY!

Next on my list is this gorgeous Ox Blood red from Revlon called Black Cherry and it is great for this wintery season. A twist on the vibrant red commonly on everything on Valentine's but if you're feeling vampy, why not mix it up a bit. You also don't have to worry to much about red wine stains...it blends right in :)

I know what you're saying..."is she colour blind? This isn't red!" BUT despite the purpley tone showing throw on the picture, this Kate Moss number 20 is a really bluey/pinky tone which reminds me of some gorgeous pink roses. A bit of a wild and daring shade but if it's good enough for Kate, it's good enough for me.

If you're more of a low key kinda gal, that doesn't mean you can't smack on some lippy every now and again and this Model Co in the shade Kitty is a nice little hand to hold to step into the world of colour. With the "your lips but better" slightly bitten shade, this lippy is fresh and really light and also enhances  natural beauty your lips in a subtle yet beautiful way. 

Last but not least is my dearest darling and that is NYX's Alabama. I am a huge fan of matte lipsticks but never really found out that didn't dry up my lips until this beauty came in to my life. Unfortunately it hasn't showed too much on my lil love letter there however, that just says it all, this lippy does not budge! And it is so creamy and moisturising, your lips feel as soft and as smooth as if you weren;t wearing anything. As you can see, my Alabama is looking a bit worse for wear but I put that down to being so loved. I must get my hands on another one of these very soon!

I hope you enjoyed a little look in to some of my favourite lipsticks for Valentine's Day, let me know if you have any lippy recommendations....can you tell I'm a bit obsessed?

Pucker Up and enjoy all those kisses coming your way

xxxxxxxx

VALENTINE OR SHMALENTINE 2 - A date with the tub

Whether you have plans or not this Valentiine's Day, I think every girl deserves a good pamper and there is nothing I like more than chilling out in the tub, watching something on the ole laptop and slapping something soothing on my face. So let your Valentines pamper session begin, preparing for a big date or even just relaxing taking a wee lil break from the world. 

Where else where would I go for all the necessities for a perfect bath than LUSH. I have tried possibly every bath bomb / ballistic / balltastic / extravaganzabonanzabathything and so here are some of my favourite.

Twilight Lavender bomb

This amazing Twilight bomb is the best thing to pop in your bubble bath if you are having a snuggly evening with a film and lots of chocolate alone or with company. With it's amazing light lavender scent and pinky/purple bubbles it is great option to get you in a cosy mood.

The Dragon's Egg bomb

The Dragon's Egg bomb is one of my all time fave bubbly treats and even though bath time is meant for relaxing, that doesn't mean you can't sparkle while you're doing it. This bomb is full of gold glitter so if you're hitting the town for a hot date or dancing till late, this stuff will have you feeling glowing all night.

Oatifix

And how could I resist one of my favourite face masks from LUSH. Oatifix is great for us sensitive skinned gals and is perfect if you have a spot of dry skin or eczema due to the cold wind and weather outside. Now it is exactly what it says on the tin (or pot should I say?) it is full of oat seeds and banana. Not the prettiest thing to have on your face if the boyf pops his head around the corner but it will do wonders to achieve that baby soft skin.

Whittard's Dreamtime Tea

Now, you can't have a bath without a bevvy and for me I chose the Whittard's Dreamtime Tea as I was in a snuggly sleepy kind of mood, but I guess this step is totally up to you whether it be a cheeky champers, a glass of vino or a capri sun. 

Now all that is left to do is sit back, relax and look forward to your date whether it be with the man of your dreams, or a candle-lit lavender tub and watch one of your favourite TV shows. I seem to have chosen a very apt programme for this Valentine or Shmalentine post, the Bachelor, if you haven't followed this show over the years...where have you been? It is cheesy American reality tv at it's absolute finest....plus you get to stare at a very nice Venezuelan man called Juan-Pablo (swoon!).

On that note, my pamper is complete. I hope you liked this post and if you're treating yourself to a good TLC this V Day, let me know what products you use and most of all enjoy :)

VALENTINE OR SHMALENTINE 1 - My Travel Beauty Bag

Kicking off my Valentine or Shmalentine week I thought I'd begin with a little beauty bag - travel style whether it be jetting off on a surprise weekend away with your loved one or hitting a big city with the girls for a great night out.

Even though travelling light is always best I still like to keep some essential products in my routine whilst I'm away and how cuter could they come than in all this miniature packaging! 

I'm a huge lover of the Liz Earle products, Cleanse and Polish being a huge fave of mine so how perfect for a trip away than these Liz Earle face cleanser and toner minis! There is a great range of travel goodies from lovely Liz over on her website so if you are off on a lil get away whoever it is with, these are so cute and suitcase friendly. 

Now who can't live without their trust Bioderma...guilty! And I sure as hell cannot resist this tiny baby bio I got in a Birch Box not too long ago. It is the perfect size for that short mini break but if you are going for longer and weren't lucky enough to receive this teeny tiny bottle from a birch box you can get their smallest retail size of 100ml here for a lovely £4.50.

That last day of your weekend and you have a hangover from all those cocktails with your girlfriends or from that very yummy but very expensive French red vino with the Mr, so you need a bit of a pick me up before cracking on with the last day of your trip. How about a nice exfoliating facial scrub that smells of citrus and makes you feel like you've had a full 10 hours sleep. I recommend Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion  but it is on the pricey side of things so Lush's Ocean Salt  at a much nicer £13.50.

Next thing you will not have to remember to leave home with but you must remember to leave the hotel with is...drumroll...COMPLIMENTARY BATHROOM PRODUCTS! We all love a hotel shower gel to take home to make the weekend away last a lil longer so if you don't use them up while you're there, why not pack 'em up in your travel bag and take the memory home. 

Now last but no means least...always remember your toothbrush and toothpaste. It is necessary to be prepared for all situations, that Valentines kiss with your boyfriend to end a lovely trip, that  spontaneous smooch on the dance floor with the guy from the club with the really nice hair or for that amazing smile you'll have in your best friends photographs from the weekend.

I am doing my Valentine or Shmalentine series all week this week for those who are celebrating the hallmark holiday or for those who aren't so keep on checking in to see what's new :)

VALENTINE OR SHMALENTINE

It's that time of year again where some of us go YAY and some of us go NAY! But no matter what red, fluffy, lovey-dovey, gooey shmooey things are surrounding us and no matter how far we run, Hallmark has positively taken over everyones thoughts whether they like it or not. I have never really had much time for the big V day in the past, teddy bears with hearts that say "I want you" have always seemed kind of on the creepy side if you ask me, but if there's any excuse to put on your best make up, drink pink champagne and have chocolate on EVERYTHING, it's Valentines Day. Whether it be spent with your loving other half or your girly partners in crime, I hope you all have a good one. 

This week I am doing a big Valentines series here on Je Suis Louise titled Valentine or Shmalentine which will hopefully entertain you guys whatever it is you are doing. I for one will be spending the big or little day, however you see it, with friends AND my boyfriend because that's just how I roll.

JANUARY BEAUTY HAUL

January for all of us is a cold, tiring and very long month so when it comes to beauty, extra lengths are to be taken to keep dull looking hands, those dark under eye circles and dry, damaged locks at bay. A trip to my favourite Boots was just what I needed.

Nail o'clock

 One of my new year resolutions was to grow my nails and so far, all is going well but sometimes, I feel I need a little helping hand. That is where Sally Hansen steps in with the Miracle Cure Strengthener Polish. Applied thinly to nails every day on to naked nails or even under a layer of colour, this stuff really works! I have also been using Mega Shine  as a top coat, it makes your nails look like they have been freshly painted even days after and BONUS points to Sally, this stuff makes your nail varnish underneath dry after a minute or so of applying. MEGA!

Again Sally Hansen rules again with this amazing glittery black varnish called Midnight in NY. I would be lying if I said part of me bought this as I am going to New York this year but it really is a beautiful colour and paired up with Mega Shine is a match made in sparkly New York heaven. I can't await to wear it on my travels.

Now call me Late Lucy, but I have only just experienced the awesomeness that is Essie nail varnish. For the last year I have heard such great things but buying pricey polish is not a necessity when you have short nails, but with my new lengthy claws I couldn't resist this spicy red called Fishnet Stockings. How amazing are Essie's names?

Goodbye Bags

With my job, I see hours that even birds can't bare so more times than less I am suffering from dark under eye circles which are really hard to cover up. I have my favourite concealers but being the makeup magpie I am I couldn't resist picking up Soap and Glory's Trick & Treatment which says it acts as a double whammy in eye concealing and correcting. Not only doe it cover up but it fights the physiological issues that trigger under eye circles. However, in my case, this hasn't been proven yet and after one use I was disappointed to find it had glitter in which, for me, is a big fat NO when it comes to hiding problem areas. Maybe I need to give it a longer trial after all it is Soap and Glory...those guys know their stuff!

An old fave with a new look, this concealer has been purchased and repurchased again and again ever since I stumbled across a Tanya Burr video back in the day and it isn't very often I  succeed in finding a replacement (rewind to previous product). I have been searching Collection stands across London for my shade in this Lasting Perfection  wonder and failed tremendously. After months of withdrawals I finally found this beauty in it's glowing pride of place with brand spanking new packaging (oooh la la). I really hope this packaging is an improvement to before, it has amazing high end-like texture and staying power yet the writing on the old packaging would always rub off on to my fingers which ended up on my face when trying to blend or on my entire makeup bag (que sad bottom lip). Fingers crossed this packaging is a keeper :)

Hair-ven

Again, another product I have heard rave reviews about across blogger land and I must say it is well worth the hype. L'oreal's Ever Pure range is currently in the process of saving my hair from the tangled and dry death it had faced due to the UK's gail force winds and hefty amounts of rain. I have been using their colour care shampoo and conditioner, hair mask and heat protectant and have been loving the results. I want to try the entire range!

As we are now fast approaching Valentines Day, I think it's safe to say this Bumble & Bumble bad boy has had me weak at the knees since he entered my life. Now he's not a cheap date but well worth the time and effort plus you get to show off how great he makes you look. Ok, ok enough of the cheesy metaphors but BB's Thickening Spray is the one and only when it comes to achieving lively, full voluptuous hair and something (I'm sure my bank balance will regret) I can't live without. I am savouring every moment spent with it!

Hope you enjoyed this haul and please don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin, on Twitter  and on Instagram and leave comments as I love love love reading them and checking out your blogs :)