The British Beauty Blog
by Jane Cunningham since 2008

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] I think it’s safe to say that we probably don’t expect very much from a £10 fragrance but the M&S Discover range will challenge your thinking on this. I’ve been wearing both Sunset and Sunrise on and off since last week and I have a clear favourite – Sunrise – but other than needing…

[unpaid/sample] It’s been a week of extremes, beauty wise – from CHANEL to Percy Pig – but I’m not complaining. I’m happiest when there’s a real variety of products to tell you about. Make up always takes the top slot because it’s my passion still and while my tastes have changed, my love of a…

[unpaid/affiliate] I’m going to start by saying forgive the photography – my suggestions are from TK Maxx where I get my platters from – if you can try to see past the greyness! So, outdoor dining – pick up any interiors or home magazine and you’ll hang your head in shame for not having a…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] Just when you think you can’t possibly need another beauty box/bag, along comes M&S with their summer bag and I promise, it’s a good one. None of the usual suspects (we will forgive the REN AHA Tonic that pops up in so many because it’s just a very, very good product) and all of…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] And so to the £32 version! We are in a different formulation league with Dior Lip Glow compared to Catrice Melt & Shine. Dior 8 is a complementary shade to the iconic 999 colour known as the Dior Red. This red carries a brickish element – maybe we could say a pared back red…

[purchase/unpaid/affiliate/ad] I’ve definitely had my eyes opened somewhat by Catrice – I’ve got two tinted lip care products coming up today – one is £3.93, the other is £32. I’m starting with the £3.93 version. Last year saw the pick up of a very melty lip colour formula – beautiful, soft and gleaming but really…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] I really didn’t get the hype with Augustinus Bader skin care but I’m such a sucker for a lip balm I wanted to give this a good go. I can quite easily say that it’s lovely but without the tint element, I’m not sure I’d shell out £33 for it. He has recently tied…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] I love how CHANEL is doing all their powder palettes super-size. They’re impactful and you have enough powder to last you perhaps not a lifetime, but certainly you won’t need to buy another in a hurry. I’m not a powder fan – I just hate the feel of it on my skin and yet…

[unpaid/purchase] German brand Catrice opened its doors in 2004 with the aim of providing affordable make-up without skimping on quality. It’s in limited distribution here but not unavailable if you like the look of it. I bought a couple of items a few weeks ago – this blush ‘n brush is £5 which seems very…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] It’s been such a long while since I’ve used Elasticizer – the godfather of all conditioning treatments, created by Philip Kingsley in 1974. When I was working for print, it was always rumoured that all the models were secretly sent for the famous Elasticizer treatment before they went on shampoo shoots so their hair…

[affiliates] The spring/summer wardrobe transition is particularly difficult in the UK – we aren’t blessed with any kind of certainty on any day. One day, there you are, happily in shorts and a t-shirt and literally the next day, you’re digging out your jumpers again. I find any seasonal wardrobe transition discombobulating – I don’t…

[purchase] Someone on Instagram asked me to recommend budget skin tints – she actually said ‘natural’ skin tints and I thought she meant natural in the composition rather than natural looking. Anyway, it was quite a day of discovery when I put some time and effort into finding that very thing because budget and natural…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] If you’re a L’Occitane fan, you’ll already know the sweet, nutty aroma of Amande, and if not, the new whipped shower cream is a very good introduction. If you hate almonds – and I know they can be divisive – this is definitely not for you, but otherwise, this is one of the most…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] Last week I featured another glossing hair range that really did deliver on shine. I’m pleased that I have a comparison because I now know that all glossing ranges are not equal. I’ve just tried Provoke – the Hair Gloss Shampoo, Conditioner and Wonder Spray and while yes, I definitely have more ‘luminous’ hair,…

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] An eye liner version of the famously good Bobbi Brown Long Wear Shadow Sticks? Yes, that’s exactly what we have here – I’m both delighted and confused. The more I try them out the more I like them but the inbuilt sharpener – I do not understand this! I’m already a huge fan of…