April Favourites ft Kiehl's, Roger & Gallet, Rimmel London, Neal's Yard Remedies & Clarins

Can you believe it's May? Nope, me either. Because my March Faves post seemed to float a few boats I thought I'd follow up with the altogether unsurprising, April Faves - you didn't see that one coming, did'ya? 

There's been a couple of stand out products this past month, more than five if I'm honest but I'm just including the ones that have literally wowed me - that is, I've used it and literally been wowed (with accompanying impressed sound effects). 

I know I've only included the fragrant water in the top picture but I implore you to get to your nearest pharmacy and smell ANYTHING from the new Fleur de Figuier range. (starting at €6.95) It was love at first whiff for me with this seriously zesty scent with a musky feel and I've used one or not all of the range on a daily basis since.

Think orange, figs, grapefruit and musk. Think sunshine holiday in a bottle. Think the most unique and addictive scent you're likely to sniff this side of 2013. I've already converted 3 colleagues. I don't gush often but seriously GUSH. 

Clarins Summer 2013 Spendours Eye Shadow & Liner palette: €39

The entire Clarins Summer range is a sight to behold but before I even opened this eye shadow and liner palette there was a gasp. The heavy weight palette is an absolute stunner as far as packaging goes but the buttery soft, extremely wearable shades contained have set me up for the Summer. Even it did take me 3 weeks to work up the gumption to use it. 

Kiehl's Actively Correcting BB Cream: €29

I know the market is awash with BB creams of late, some even having moved onto the CC cream but when my HG skincare brand sent word of their BB offering I knew it'd be a pace apart. 

With SPF 50(!), vitamin C and the ability to actively correct your skin as you wear it, this velvety soft foundation fooler is a beaut. Available in 3 colours but all leaning toward the lighter side of the colour spectrum, presumably because of the high SPF, Kiehl's BB is just what us pasty Irish gals have been waiting for when it comes to BBs. 

Rimmel Salon Pro with Lycra Range: €6.45

I haven't been as enamoured with a polish range as I have with Rimmel Salon Pro with Lycra  for a very long time. Check out my full goo at the range here and behold that ridiculous shine. 

There's 22 new shades, 9 of which are formulated with Kate Moss' help and I haven't seen one yet that I haven't wanted. If you follow me on instagram you'll see that a good lot of my manicures are done favouring these beauties. The formulation is spot on and the shine incredible. All for €6.45? What's not to love? 

Neals Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm - source

It's not often that I'll include a product that I've only had for a week in a favourites list but, Sweet Baby J, this stuff is show stopping. Made with wild rosehip oil, geranium, starflower, hemp and rosemary seed oil I've never smelt or used anything like this before.

At the press event last week I was suffering with a cold. When we got to play with the product I gravitated to this immediately and used a little on my poor red schnozz. Instantly my skin felt more comforted and the smell is just phenomenal. 

I've used the product 4 times since as an exfoliator, a face mask and a balm for sore skin. This, just like the Roger & Gallet MUST be smelled to be believed. Neals are launching in Ireland this month and you can find more info on pricing etc over here. 

And that's them - it was torture to limit my picks to five but as I say these are the ones that have literally wowed me this month. 

Tell me - what were/are you loving from April? 

First Look: Rimmel Salon Pro with Lycra Polishes

I'm a fickle divil when it comes to polish and for that very reason I'm always on the hunt for something that will cut down on application time and still look sweet. Sally Hansen's Complete Manicure range is a firm favourite for that very reason but Rimmel have once more teamed up with Kate Moss and they're about to take the one step manicure market by storm with the new and improved salon Pro with Lycra polish range. 

Taking the Eye out of One's Head with the Shine

Giving a gel salon finish without the hassle or the inevitable damage to your nails, these polishes have gotten the super shine down pat. But how? 

'Salon Pro with Lycra is enriched with clever Colour Script gel encapsulated microscopic tube particles'. 

Right, so.

All 22 colours from the new and improved range (Fuzzy iPhone Launch Pic)

While the polishes promise to be a one step wonder when it comes to your home manicure I'd still suggest a base coat with the deeper/stronger colours to prevent nail staining. But look at that shade range for choice. 

The new and improved brush is a stubby wonder. Short, sweet and perfect for full control and precision when applying your polish. 

Brit Pop and Punk Rock with no topcoat making my unloved nubs look a-ok!

The collection includes 9 shades of the 22 that were developed and named in collaboration with Kate Moss, each denoted with Kate's signature and to be honest they may be my favourites of the lot. We're talking minimal effort for seriously good results and isn't that what beauty today should really be about. 

Rimmel Salon pro with Lycra will be available from April 22nd and priced at a very reasonable €6.45 each. What think we?