St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Lotion

Many moons ago, when my blog was a lot younger, I posted quite a few fake tan reviews with the most recent being St Moriz mousse. Since then, there have been no more reviews. Rest assured, I am still very much a serial faux-tanner but the St. Moriz gave me everything I looked for in a tan, so I didn't feel the need to branch out. At just a few pounds a bottle, my previous faves - Xen-Tan and St. Tropez were blown out of the water!

However, the time has come for a new favourite to take over!

Same brand; different tan.

The St. Moriz lotion, like it's mousse counterpart, is heralded as an instant tan. However, do not be fooled! On application, you will look like the mud monster but after a minimum of 4 hours and a quick shower, you'll look like a bronzed goddess for a good few days!

And here are the other reasons I love it so much and why it beat the mousse format to the top spot..

Application

This really is a dream to apply. It glides on effortlessly, skims over all those knobbly knees and elbows and makes you realise just how hard the mousse is to apply.

5 minutes and you're whole body is done - perfect!

Colour

I won't lie, the colour is quite dark but I would say is a happy medium between the original mousse and the dark version and is also much more of a natural olive tone. One application is perfect for me with my natural pale skin but I think it is definitely buildable if you want to be darker!

Staying Power

For me, this is probably the most important aspect of a tan. If I've spent a lot of time prepping my skin and painstakingly applying a product, I want to be happy knowing that it will have longevity; ensuring I don't have to go to all that effort every other day. I also want it to wear evenly so I don't have to worry about covering up unsightly patches or spending hours scrubbing it all off just to start again.

This lotion? Wins in both aspects. With a daily light exfoliation in the shower - which I do religiously - this tan wears beautifully. No patches; no stubborn areas. Just seven days of gradual fading before you're ready to start again. Also, if you do maybe feel like a full body exfoliation, it comes off easily without you having to scrub your skin until it is raw. This is where the mousse falls down, as does Xen-Tan.

Overall

A truly amazing tan. Beautiful colour, simple application and longevity which means it saves so much time and effort. If you are a label junkie like me - do not be put off. The affordable price is not relative to the result. I just stocked up due to the current selling price of 99p in Tesco - after all, it would've been rude not to..!!

Are you a St. Moriz fan? How do you rate the Lotion vs. Mousse? I'd love to know your thoughts!

xxx

H&M Spring Haul

H&M never fails to disappoint, does it?!  I find the quality lies somewhere between Primark and Topshop and thankfully, so does the price.  Zara is by all means probably my favourite high street store but H&M comes a very close second.  It has definitely come on leaps & bounds in the last few years and doesn't have the jumble sale feel it once used to have.  With the Conscious Collection also at the forefront of their latest campaigns - they are the biggest user of organic cotton in the world - you can also feel you're doing some good whilst purchasing your cheaper-than-the average garments!

I grabbed these boots as soon as I saw them as they are exactly what I have been after for some time; a relatively low wedge that I can tuck my jeans into and wear on a daily basis without looking ridiculous tottering around in my usual array of stilettos.  I wore these tonight with my trusty Topshop Leigh jeans and as well as looking stylish, they were ridiculously comfortable.

From the aforementioned Conscious Collection, these blouses are so pretty, beautifully flattering and a steal at £9.99 - so good, I had to buy in multiple colours; it would have been rude not to!

A few other bits also caught my eye - namely the gorgeous collection of bikinis they have this year which had me conjuring up images of sun drenched beaches and crystal clear sea - but I restrained myself; for the moment!

Now, where did I put that holiday brochure....

xxx

Instagram Part 1

1. My beautiful best friend made this for me for a new job/moving to London present.  The clever thing is so creative and talented - I cannot believe she did this for me.  She is an absolute star.

2. Chanel - no words needed..!

3. I cannot get crochet skirts out of my head after seeing this image splashed all over We Heart It/Tumblr/Pinterest.  I've found a yellow one in Zara but it's not quite right.  The hunt continues!

4. A good hair day - my trusty Boots tongs are still going strong.

5. The beautiful weather of last week.

6. Topshop Love bracelet.

7. Hollister and Chanel haul - naughty but oh so nice.

8. Fendi gift set - My favourite perfume of 2012 so far.

9. Dublin.  What is it that is so magical about a Ferris Wheel?

Please let me know your Instagram usernames - I have no shame in admitting, I am an addict!

xxx

SS12 Inspiration

Toned and tanned skin.  Denim cut offs.  Expensive fabrics.  Lace.  Crochet.  Brown leather. Slouchy tees.  Sheer blouses.   Sundresses. White.  Coral.  Peach.  Mint green.  Gold jewellery.  Turquoise accents.  Effortless hair.

I am so excited about this Summer - new job. new city.  I've got a good feeling about this one.....