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.