I just love trying new products and this month I’ve been trying the new dual skincare system from Yllume. Yllume use an intensive face cream and skin supplement to illuminate your skin and give radiant, even skin tone.

Yllume claims to transform the skin in only two weeks by reducing hyper-pigmentation and blemishes, brightening and refreshing dull skin, protecting against UV damage and countering premature damage due to intensive treatments. Naturally derived Yllume contains antioxidants to help repair damaged skin.

The Ultimate Illuminating Complex Cream brightens the skin whilst also protecting against premature aging. The cream itself very light and easily absorbs into my skin without leaving any residue. It contains origanum, lavender and coriander essential oils which give the cream a refreshing scent. It also contains pearl extract which I think is what gives the cream a slight shimmer which immediately helps to make your skin look illuminated. Perfect for a tired looking mummy with limited time!

The second part of the dual system is the Ultimate Illuminating Complex Skin Supplement which contains a variety of antioxidants including phytofloral and CoQ10 to help brighten your skin from the inside out.

Available from mid July at yllume.

Eyesential has been used for years by many top makeup artists to give an instant difference around the eyes. The makers of Eyesential have now launched a new plump and shine lipgloss to create fuller, plumper lips.

The lipgloss claims to give long lasting maximum shine with maximum volume! Its designed to plump the lips to give a fuller appearance. The gloss is available in three colours; candy, nude and seduce.

I’ve tried candy which is a baby pink colour with a hint of sparkle. When you first apply the gloss to your lips it makes them tingle as though you’ve just applied menthol to your lips! The colour itself looked very pretty and could be worn alone or over a lipstick. Alone it gives a pretty pink shimmer and over a stronger colour lipstick it gives a sparkle and shine.

Overall I think the gloss did make my lips look fuller and I was pleased with the colour. I did however find the initial tingling quite off putting and it did last a while however once you get past that it is a nice lipgloss.

Graine de pastel is an authentic french beauty brand from near Toulouse which for the first time is now available in the UK.

The range of beauty and home products all contain the same blue colour which is derived from dried woad leaves. Incidentally woad also contains essential fatty acids so not only making the product very attractive it is also very nourishing for the skin.

The Graine de pastel range contains everything from soft soaps with 72% oil for ever the driest of skin, nourishing body milks with  isatis tinctoria oil through to even blue eyeshadows which contain the blue woad pigment.

I especially like the cubes of soap which I think would look quite glamerous in anyones bathroom. The colour and style of the range definately brings across that french vibe.

With my exam finally behind me I can now sit down and pamper myself which feels well deserved after hours of revision. This also of course means that I can start writing some new posts for my rather neglected blog!

Now I know my previous post was also about a range of lip balms however I couldn’t resist mentioning these lovely shell lip balms from Organic Island Australia. Each naturally restored beach shell contains a 100% natural lip balm. The shells also have a mirror inside to allow you to check your lips when you are out and about!

I love how innovative this lip balm is using a natural product such as a shell rather than a plastic packaging. My favourite is white frangipani which is the shell shown. I’m a sucker for anything pink and my wedding dress design was actually called Frangipani!  That said though the other shells are lovely as well and the lip balm itself is very nourishing. It has a very delicate scent of coconut  and makes my lips feel nice and soft.

Lets face it, us men aren’t renowned for putting a great deal of thought into gifts, but this year I’ve been spending a great deal of time thinking about what to get my father for Father’s Day. Most years a combination of fine wine and chocolates, or taking the old man to watch the football and a few beers has felt sufficient to show him I care.

But, now that I am a daddy and looking forward to my first Father’s Day I’ve had a chance to see it in a new light. It’s not about buying something for the sake of it as a token gesture, but the one day in the whole year that is devoted to showing your father that you care. Does buying the same thing every year really show that you care about him? Hmm, not really!

Ruling out all recent gifts purchased, and those that I know my sisters are thinking of getting him had me really stumped for a while. Sometimes it takes something random to stimulate ideas, and luckily for me that came in the shape of a colleague who was wearing a fragrance that reminded me that my father has worn the same fragrance for as long as I can remember! I’m sure he would appreciate a new fragrance as he has often commented on some of mine.

After trying a few I think I’ve found one he would like that has some very similar notes to his existing fragrance. It’s a new fragrance from Calvin Klein called Eternity Aqua. With woody base notes like his existing fragrance, but very fresh smelling top notes. I think it will be a great new fragrance for him to wear over the summer!

Incidentally, I’m quite a fan of Eternity Aqua as well, and it is Father’s Day coming up, hint hint!

Calvin Klein Eternity Aqua for Men retails for £27.50 for a 30ml bottle, and is available on the high street or online through The Perfume Shop.

Guest Post by James Robinson