Summer favourites after I've been MIA

MIA.... Missing In Action. And there's been a lot of action to be missing in recently.

I don't know how to feel coming back to my blog after such a long absence, but I was suddenly hit with the urge to write again. Actually in truth, it wasn't as if I ever actually lost the writing bug, but the photography bug had definitely vacated my system and the sheer thought of photographing and uploading anything at all just filled me with ... bleurgh....

But I feel I owe it to myself and my small but steady band of readers to kick my brain into gear and start blogging again.

So I'll ease myself back in gently.... and we'll talk about summer favourites shall we? What are we all loving using this summer? Please share, and in return, I'll share mine.

Erborian BB Creme

• Erborian BB cream. I've banged on about it so much you'll probably want to block this site if I mention it one more time, but it floors me every time I put this on and gaze at my pseudo-perfect skin. Doubles up as my sunscreen too. 

L'Occitane Verbena Sorbet Body Ice Gel

• L'Occitane Verbena Sorbet Body Ice Gel. Like glazing your poor over-heated corpus in a cryogenic mojito..... not so much moisturising as enlivening. Actually the cryogenic reference was quite creepy, sorry. But you get the picture... it's cold. And minty citrus.  

Rituals Wai Wang Body Scrub

• Rituals Wai Wang body scrub. Love at first freebie. Came as a mini with a magazine back in May and I fell for it hook line and sinker on holiday in Crete. Not the scrubbiest of scrubs, but somehow the fine grains embedded in the most luxurious of cremes seem to buff skin to smoothness hitherto unknown. This now ranks jointly as my number one body exfoliator, along with the L'Occitane Almond one I've loved for years. Only this is less than half the price at around the £14 mark. Smells like a balmy summer's evening in the arms of your loved one.... 

Origins Mega Bright

• Origins Mega Bright Serum. Not just for summer obviously, but I love how this just makes me look better. I've been using it for almost a month and I can say that it does seem to fade spot scars and unevenness quite effectively, without being creepy, if you know what I mean. The results are not shockingly evident, but as time goes by I realise that this is a little bottle of magic that my skin seems to like and respond to. I can almost go concealer-less this summer. Almost.  

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

You can just about make out the hole in the centre where you dip your finger an twist... go on, I dare you.

• Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover. An example of how a boring everyday product can evolve into an invention that can change your life. Or at least your nail colour. Seriously, it's a little pot of wonder, worthy of a fairy-tale. The one about the princess who wanted to change her manicure in a flash and simply popped each finger into a pot of black sponge, only for it to emerge completely free of colour, ready for the next swipe of Chanel. I need back-ups of this because if I run out I'll cry. 

My much-used Dior Summer Powder (Aurora) from Summer 2011

• Dior Healthy Glow Summer Powder (from last year).  Look people, I hit the pan! And there was a lot of this to begin with. Let's remind ourselves what it once looked like:

I'm ashamed at how manky it now looks in comparison to it's radiant beauty in this photo. It means it's been well-loved though, imparting my visage with a veil of warmth which is flattering without being bronzer-like. I'm not a huge fan of orange-y bronzers, it's so easy to over-do it. But with this beautiful powder it's almost impossible. This year's incarnation is perhaps even more stunning, housed in a round compact with DIOR spelt out in the various shades. I'm holding out for next year's now.
 

Real Techniques Blush Brush

•  Real Techniques Blush Brush. And this is what I've using with the Dior. Bought months ago and then neglected. Lovely, big and fluffy, it actually wasn't firm enough for me at the start and didn't seem to pick up enough colour. But now I see it's magic. It picks up the colour and practically airbrushes it onto the skin. I use this for blush too, just the tip, and then gently swirl it into my cheekbones. Gives a perfect finish, and now one of my staples. The entire Real Techniques brush line is a winner. I bow down to their greatness.

Please tell me what you've been loving this summer. If you've forgiven me, that is....