♥ Secret Diary of a Beauty Addict ♥

The Body Shop 'Chocomania' range review!

2012-01-25T11:26:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to besent a surprise package from The Body Shop containing several of their excitingnew launches for February. If you are a chocolate lover (weirdly I am not!) youwill love ‘Chocomania’, a chocolate inspired bath and body range. Made from 47%cocoa butter and offering 48 hours of skin moisturisation that is almost goodenough to eat.

'Chocomania Body Butter (£12.50)

I tried the Body Butter whichpromises to give extra long-lasting hydration. It contains 13 Community FairTrade ingredients – the most The Body Shop have ever put into one product. Ingredientsinclude soya beans, Brazil nut, sugar cane, cocoa beans, coconut, olive, sheanuts! It leaves skin sweetly scented, and feeling softer and smoother. I can’targue with the fact my skin was ultra soft and smooth – however I am not a fanof the smell which is quite sickly. It smells like chocolate ice cream, which Idon’t like. I would imagine if you do like chocolate ice cream, then you willlove it. The butter consistency is also much easier to rub in that other bodybutters I have tried, as I find sometimes they can be quick thick and difficultto rub in. This one is easily absorbed by your skin so a big thumbs up there.

The complete range consistsof: Body Butter (£12.50), Body Scrub (£12.50), Body Lotion (£8), Lip Butter(£4), Shower Cream (£4) and soaps available in 100g for £2 or as a mini set for£3.50. For Valentine's Day, The Body Shop has also created a special Chocomaniagift set which costs £28.

The whole 'Chocomania' range

Are you a chocolate lover,what do you think? Not for me as I am a berry fan but perfect for choc loversand no calories!!

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

2012-01-17T16:13:00.005Z

Beautiful lid!

If you are a fan of pretty packaging (whose isn't?!) then you'll love this gorgeous Swarovski Crystal embellished lid on Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (£34). The downside is it's only available at Harrods and if you purchase 3 GA products but it's worth it to have such a beautiful foundation. The foundation itself is wonderful, providing sheer, luminous coverage and lasting all day. It also makes your skin look dewy and fresh, which is a must have for me when selecting foundation. Oil free it is also suitable for oily skin types and uses microfill technology to cover scars and blemishes.

Check out my photos below:

Floozie by Frost French

2011-12-30T15:59:00.001Z

My lovelycolleague Abby got me this lovely Lemon Meringue hand cream from Floozie byFrost French for Christmas, which I love so thought I would write about it onmy blog! Floozie by Frost French is the new diffusion line from Frost French andis exclusive to Debenhams so you may not have heard of it (I hadn’t before).

The hand lotion is reasonably priced at £5 and presented in a multi coloured spot print gift box which looks awesome. The smell is also amazing and is just like lemon meringue pie my favourite dessert. Plus the cream also isn’t greasy so leaves your hands soft without being too slimy. Definitely one to try if you fancy something a bit different and is a great looking gift!

Clinque Moisture Surge Intense hydrator

2011-12-19T17:07:00.000Z

Clinique have announced that early in the New Yearthey are introducing the new Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator(£32), which I have been lucky enough to try the past few weeks. I am a big fanof the Moisture Surge range and use the Sheer Moisture Tint and Day Cream formy dry skin. I love the smooth of the range and how soft they make my skin so was looking forward to trying the new addition out!

For drier and more delicate skins in need of intensehydration, the rich cream-gel was designed to satisfy the needs of thoselooking for extra moisturising benefits by offering a double-hit – maximumhydration plus moisture barrier repair technology. After just three days ofuse, clinical tests show that skin’s moisture barrier is dramaticallystrengthened and improved. I would definitely say my skin needed the boast andnoticed it had felt more hydrated. I work in an office with air conditioning soneed as much moisture as possible on my skin to ensure it doesn’t dry up throughoutthe day! Your skin is left with a healthy, dewy, supple look and stayscomfortably plumped for up to 24 hours :)

Gel texture of the hydrator

So in conclusion a luxurious cream which instantly leaves the skin with avelvety soft feel, LOVE it! :)

RRP £32.00 / €45.50

Available from January 2012

Clarins blogger event - an essay!

2011-11-30T13:46:00.001Z

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to be invited to the Clarins Head Office in London for their inaugural blogger event. I don’t normally get to go to many events as they are normally not convenient for me to attend with work commitments, but luckily this event was a drop in event after work at a realistic time. Woop! I am also a die-hard Clarins fan and have been for as long as I can remember, so extra effort was also made on my behalf. I love their products and use a lot of them already so I was intrigued to find out more about the people behind the brand as well.

When I arrived I was shown round the new Christmas and January launches from Clarins and Clarins Fragrance Group. I also got to speak to the Head of Treatment who was fantastic and personally recommended which products I should use for my skin type. Shock horror, I have dehydrated skin so therefore was given products from the Daily Energiser and Hydration ranges to use as part of my daily cleansing routine.

The lovely Clarins make-up stand!

Fragrances from Thierry Mugler and Swarovski.

I also got to try out thelatest limited edition fragrances from Thierry Mugler and Swarovski. The fourfragrances of the house (Angel, Alien, A*Men and Womanity) have been enrichedwith food items such as cocoa powder, figs, caramel and caviar! They were a bitoverpowering for me, but my favourite was definitely Aura the new fragrance bySwarovski. It has been described as an incandescent fruity floral which iscentred around a prism...I love the stunning packaging as well as the smell :)

My new skincare routine!

The Daily Energising range was recommended to me and my young (ish)skin! My skin issues —dryness, dullness, blemishes and loss of tone are all signs of exhaustionapparently. With Daily Energisers invigorating plant extracts, your skin willglow with renewed vitality — even after late nights, parties, studying,pollution and stress. I really love the Daily Energiser Wake-Up Booster (£15) in the morning which is a radianceboosting gel with a moisturising action to ensure a soft, smooth look while itstoning benefits - lovely! I also love the Daily Energiser Lotion SPF15, which is a a lightweight, oil-free, melt-into-the-skin moisturising lotion that boosts radiance and protects against UV rays. It's really silky and blends into your skin easily which is a must for me when purchasing a moisturiser.

Clarins Rebalancing Oils (£33)

A drop of the oil at night after cleansing helps to tone, revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin. I LOVE these and am thrilled to discover them as I used to just use night cream at night but the oil so far has moisturised my skin more intensely and left it baby smooth. Worth trying if you suffer from dehydrated skin like me!

Clarins Winter 2011 shot

Other bloggers enjoying the event :)

New Passion Face Palette - really chunky gold packaging. Love it!

Yummy Reindeer biscuits in my goody bag!

Thanks to Clarins for inviting me to the event, the PR team were all lovely and made me feel so welcome. Keep posted for individual reviews of the winter collection, more skincare products and perfumes!

PS - Clarins also hinted they may bring out a BB Cream next year. I am already very excited and hope I get to try it out as soon as possible!

The winner of the Clothes Show competition.....

2011-11-28T09:52:00.001Z

..... is Sophie Cox well done!

I willemail you now and send your tickets over to you tomorrow. Look out for a post afterThe Clothes Show next week talking about the show – I can’t wait until Saturday!

Win Clothes Show Live tickets!

2011-11-23T16:52:00.001Z

Excitingnews I have two tickets to giveaway to the Clothes Show Live next Saturday 2^ndDecember! I am really looking forward to attending for the 8^th yearin a row, and hopefully will manage to get all my Christmas shopping done inone day (fingers crossed!) The bargains you can get on male & female clothesand jewellery alone are really worth the £27 ticket fee, I managed to pick upmany items last year much cheaper than the high street and a much betterchoice!

This yearthe UK’s premier fashion and beauty event returns with an array of topcelebrity guests and a brand new team of expert gurus, including internationalmodel Max Rogers and celebrity hairdresser Jamie Stevens, to make 2011’s showthe most glamorous and interactive yet. I am looking forward to seeing some ofthe cast of TOWIE at the show (in particular Joey Essex!) Clothes Show Live inassociation with Suzuki is the UK’s largest fashion and beauty event featuringover 500 leading fashion and beauty brands to shop from, a 6500-seat FashionTheatre and countless celebrity appearances over six days – it’s the ultimategirl’s day out! Whether shoppers are looking for a brand new winter wardrobe,presents for friends, spot celebrities or watch a fast paced catwalk show,Clothes Show Live is the number one destination.

Tickets!

ClothesShow takes place from the 2-7 December 2011 at Birmingham’s NEC. Visit www.clothesshowlive.com for more information and tickets. If you aren’tgoing yet, make sure you buy your tickets now!

To entermy competition just make sure you are following me on my blog and leave acomment below with your name & email address. Good luck! I will get intouch with the winner next week!

Winter skin

2011-11-15T10:06:00.001Z

As winter approaches, I find my skin becomes much drier thanin summer and requires extra moisturiser. I also find my skin becomes slighlyirritated, particuarly on my back after I had an allergic reaction to massageoil a few years ago when having physiotherapy. I had a massage recently at workand the therapist recommended trying Aloe Vera on my body to ensure my skin isn’tirritated as it is now very sensitive. The therapist also recommended cuttingdown on caffiene as well, which I have done dramatically during the day atwork.

I also started using Herbal Aloe Soothing Spray fromHerbalife on my body after a shower and as a moisture top up. Made fromwhole-leaf aloe, it helps soothe the discomforts of sun overexposure (notreally required not but will use for this next summer!) and minor skinirritations. If you are lazy or don’t like heavy moisturisers this is perfectfor you as it takes seconds to spray on your body, plus it is very light andeasily absorbed. You also get a lot for your money, £11 for a large bottle. Iam pleased to say since using the spray and cutting out caffeine I havedefinitely reduced my skin irritations, so will continue to use to ensure itstays this way.

Does anyone else have any tips for looking after skin in thewinter?

Pudsey goes couture!

2011-11-10T17:06:00.000Z

If you are a fan of Children in Need and fashion then you’ll love the couture Pudsey makeover! Designers include my favourites Mulberry, Erdem and Giles Deacon , who have all designed one-off bears.

My favourite has to be the Mulberry bear, which I initially spied on the Mulberry blog. Quoted from their blog – “He is a complete one off and will be auctioned as part of the Designer Pudsey Collection to raise money for the charity’s many great causes. Mulberry Creative Director Emma Hill took the inspiration for the beloved character from our English roots and heritage of luxury leather craftsmanship.

Emma told the blog: “As with most things we create at Mulberry we wanted to keep him in touch with our roots. His leather, components and colours are mainly drawn from our men’s collection – he is a boy after all!”

All of the designer bears are being showcased exclusively at Liberty of London until the 18th November, and are being auctioned for BBC Children in Need, to help vulnerable children and young people right here in the UK. More information about how to bid for the bears is available on www.bbc.co.uk/Pudsey. The Mulberry bear is already at £620 on eBay so sadly I don’t think I’ll be bidding but it is still a great cause.

The Big Knit 2011!

2011-11-04T17:06:00.000Z

My favouriteWinter campaign is back again! Age UK and innocent have teamed upagain to bring you the eighth annual Big Knit, and thousands of people acrossthe country have been frantically knitting over the last few months to reach afantastic total of 650,000 hats.

For theBig Knit, Age UK and innocent ask knitters of all ages to get creative and comeup with their own designs for mini-woolly hats to be placed on top of theirsmoothie bottles and sold in Boots and Sainsbury's stores throughout November.For each hatted bottle sold, 25p is donated to Age UK to help make winterwarmer for older people across the UK.

The videobelow gives a nice overview of what the Big Knit is all about:

1. Pick up your hatted smoothie, please visit Sainsbury's (from 2 November) and in Boots (9 November) until stocks last. For each hatted smoothie bought, Age UK will receive 25p.

2. Take a photo of your hat! Innocent are running a hat tag game on their Facebook page, please visit www.facebook.com/innocent to raise even more money to make winter warmer for older people. To play the hat tag game, hold the little hat over anyone (or anything) so that it looks like they're wearing the hat, take a picture and upload it here. Innocent will donate 10p to Age UK for every picture uploaded, be giving away loads of smoothies to the weekly winners, and award £500 in Amazon vouchers to the 3 photos with the most votes overall.

Here are a few photos my colleagues at work took today! Get creating for a really special cause :)

♥ L'oreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow ♥

2011-10-14T17:09:00.000+01:00

I saw thisnew L'oreal StudioSecrets Universal Lip Glowproduct in this month’s Elle magazine and was instantly intrigued as I am abig fan of tinted lip balms/lipsticks. Both Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal LipBalm and Clinique Chubby Sticks have made it in my handbag as a dailyessential, so as a sad beauty junkie I had to try this.

Here’s alittle more info on the Lip Glow, which has been defined as a lipstick ratherthan a lip balm in the case of the others. It’s L’Oreal Paris' first lipstick thatadapts uniquely to the moisture of your lips to form a bespoke, individualcolour. I love the result of a tailor-madeshade of pink with a subtle finish. It’s not as strong as the Clinique ChubbyStick, but a real natural sheen (see photos below)

Thelipglow feels really smooth on your lips and light, which as nice as mostlipsticks do feel quite heavy for daytime wear. It is also enriched withpomegranate extract, emollient oil and polymers to leave your lips feeling softand supple. I love the taste as well and am still trying to put a finger onwhat it tastes like! It’s very fruity!

The colourof the lipglow is very orange and transparent but don’t be put off! This isdue to the combination of two gelling agents and the absence of wax. Either wayit does look pretty cool. I also love the pink and black packaging (myfavourite colours). The only negative I can find is it doesn’t seem to lastthat long on my lips, which is a real shame as that would make it a perfect product.Price is good too - £8.99 which is cheaper than the Clinque & Clarinsproducts.

Let meknow if you have tried this product and what you think!

ghd new styler update

2011-09-28T17:15:00.000+01:00

If you are looking for a new pair of GHDs then check out thesefunky new stylers which are way more exciting than the normal ghd stylers! I ama huge ghd since I bought my first pair in 2002 and my life changed forever (nomore frizzy hair!).

The limited edition BohoChic stylers gift set from ghd contains everything you need to create thatperfect bohemian style. Including a heat resistant era inspired styler bag, twoghd sectioning clips, plus a get the look book and the ghd Gold Classic styler,the most luxurious styler to date.

Ialso love the new Pink Orchid styler, which features the ghd Gold Classicstyler with a seductive twist hot orchid pink styling plates. The contouredpink plates glide through hair effortlessly to give an ultra-shiny result. Anda rounder barrel will let you get creative and achieve the style you desire,from feisty flicks to voluptuous curls. The best part is £10 from every sale (£129) isgoing to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

I am also a big fan of the Cloud Nine wide straighteners since Ireceived them for a review 2 years ago as you can change the heat setting, butfind ghd’s better for curling and styling the hair more. So there is alwaysspace for both on my dressing table!

What do you think of the new straighteners? Would you choose themover the traditional styler?

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint review

2011-09-07T16:56:00.000+01:00

I have timed my review of Liz Earle’s Sheer Skin Tint to perfection, as their first step into colour launches tomorrow!

I featured the news about the Sheer Skin Tint last month here and have been trying it out for the past month alongside my new fav Garnier BB Cream. Liz Earle has spent three years carefully creating a high performance make up must-have, which leaves skin looking dewy, even and radiant. When applying to my skin, however it feels quite heavy and the smell is quite overpowering. It also doesn’t rub into my skin as easily as the Garnier BB Cream, which is a real shame as I love silky moisturisers. On the plus side it is suitable for all skin types and contains mineral UV protection SPF15 which is a must-have for me. The coverage is very natural looking and excellent for a tinted moisturiser, however for me the texture is just too thick for my dry skin so I am not sure I would repurchase for £21.

Sheer Skin Tint is available in three shades: Bare 01 for fair skin tones,Beige 02 for medium skin tones and Beach 03 for medium to dark skin tones. Anothernice touch from Liz Earle is a sample of all three shades will be sent withyour order to help ensure you have chosen your perfect colour match. Irecommend if you have oily skin and don’t like shiny moisturisers (like theGarnier BB Cream) as I think it will be perfect for you.

What do you think? Have youtried the Sheer Skin Tint and how does it compare to BB Creams?

Garnier BB Cream photos

2011-08-02T11:18:00.002+01:00

Here are a few photos of me trying the Garnier BB Cream this morning. I didn’t have much time as I was getting ready for work, but took a few shots after just using the BB cream and a touch of bronzer too on the second photo.

Eeek! My skin just with the BB cream

I do feel slightly apprehensive especially on a hot day not wearing a more matt foundation and concealer/powder, but here we go, my skin with just the Garnier BB cream.

The cream is quite thick and goes a long way which is good. It is really easy to apply with your fingers and blends in well with my medium toned skin. The finish is very dewy and natural so if you have oily skin you may not like it. It does feel like a tinted moisturiser, mixed with serum actually which I love during summer when I have a tan and feel healthy! Not sure about the depths of winter or on a night out! Will keep using and test more thoroughly, and see how shiny my face is at the end of a hot day like today…

BB cream plus Diorskin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder in Aurora

For £9.99 it’s a bargain and saves me applying moisturiser, primer, foundation etc which will be better for my skin in the long run. Thoughts?

Garnier BB Cream

2011-08-01T16:48:00.001+01:00

After reading on several beauty blogs about the hyped Garnier BB Cream I went out and bought it at lunchtime today in Superdrug for an affordable £9.99. You can also buy online now with free delivery from the Superdrug website, which is great if you don’t have access to a Superdrug. As usual Garnier have come up with an innovative product for the mass market, so credit to them for hitting the shelves before luxury brands such as MAC.

Garnier BB Cream on my desk today!

For those of you who don’t know much about BB cream, it stands for Blemish Balm (most of the time) however it may be called other things because of copyrights on the name Blemish. BB cream is billed as the answer to all your skincare woes in a single tube. It brightens skin in the same way a primer does, evens out complexion like a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturiser, covers blemishes like a concealer, has the hydrating properties of a moisturiser, soothes skin like an anti-inflammatory, contains UV protection — so no need for sunblock — and has the sort of anti-ageing ingredients more commonly found in serums. It originates from Asia after hitting the market in 2005 and as known as 'the South Korean actress’s secret'. Garnier have launched just two shades (light and medium) at the moment, so you may not find a perfect match but hopefully as the coverage is sheer it should suit most people!

I can’t wait to try out tonight and let you know what I think. Who has tried a BB cream and what do you think? Is it worth all the hype?

I ♥ Frédéric Fekkai hair products!

2011-07-29T16:54:00.000+01:00

Frédéric Fekkai himself!

Continuing on my with last blog post on keratin treatments, I thought I would write about my new favourite hair care range! I normally like to use the products for at least a few months to really see how they work with my hair, which I have done in this case. I normally use a shampoo for blond hair (I have highlights) so tried out the Frédéric Fekkai Advanced Silky Straight Ironless Conditioner, which promises to smooth hair from the cuticle and helps keep out humidity for silky straight locks. This silkening conditioner is the optimal second step to transform hair into beautiful, sleek and shiny locks.

Obviously I have had my keratin treatment so my hair is frizz free anyway, however I have found that this conditioner made my hair extra sleek and soft, and I really noticed the difference when using it for the past few months. I keep this conditioner in my gym bag for an extra special treat, as my hair can be a lot drier after being in chlorine. Although it's pricey at £20 a bottle, it's well worth trying, along with the serum if you have thick hair like mine and crave soft hair you can run your fingers through.

Has anyone else tried Frédéric Fekkai products and what do you think?

Keratin treatments update!

2011-07-22T16:23:00.000+01:00

I thought I would write an update on my campaign for sleek, smooth hair over the past few months. I had another Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy treatment in May at Haringtons in Southampton. The first treatment I had was back in September (Read my in-depth review here) and I found it lasted much longer than the suggested 4-6 months so 8 months in total which was amazing. I definitely recommend using the aftercare products (the Keratin Complex shampoo & conditioner) and trying not to wash your hair every day to ensure the treatment is effective for as long as possible. The second Keratin treatment I had a Haringtons took significantly less time to do (my hair wasn’t such a tangled mess after the cleansing wash!) and consisted of a new formula which doesn’t contain formaldehyde. The first time I had the Keratin treatment my eyes ran so much I had make-up all down my face, so this was a welcome alternative!

Here is a photo of my hair after the initial treatment – very straight!

I also found this time leaving my hair unwashed for 72 hours was SO much easy the second time round, my hair didn’t get greasy at all! I definitely recommend to have a follow up Keratin treatment as it’s much easier and quicker second time round. My hairdresser has also noticed that nearly a year on my hair is stronger, no split ends (I used to suffer BIG style from them) and much healthier because of the keratin. I may sound dramatic but it literally has changed my life being able to wash my hair and not having to battle with the frizz if I got wet/sweaty/caught in the wind. I can also wear my hair wavy if I want, so it's never poker straight unless I blow dry it like that. Going on holiday in May to Spain was also a breeze as I didn’t have to fight a frizzy, tangled dry mess! Thanks to Haringtons for providing me with the treatment and for transforming my hair!

If you can’t afford a Keratin treatment as it is fairly costy at around £200 (but well worth the money don’t get me wrong!) then try out John Frieda’s 3 Day Straight Semi-Permanent Styling Spray (£6.99). The spray is a good way to try out Keratin on your hair for under £10! You can transform curly, frizzy hair into a straight, smooth style that lasts up to 3 days.

It’s designed to work with your hair straighteners and contains heat protection which blocks out frizz as you straighten. The blend of polymers with keratin protein wraps each strand, sealing in a straight style for up to 3 days. Obviously I can’t really comment on the success of this spray as I don’t straighten my hair anymore but my sister who has wavy hair tried it out and said it worked really well on her hair. Definitely worth trying out for £6.99!

I hope you have found my Keratin treatment updates useful! I really believe this is the long term solution for my hair and will keep having the treatments for as long as I can. I’m interested to hear about other straightening treatments anyone has had? Are there other alternative solutions out there I haven’t tried? Let me know!

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

2011-07-12T15:18:00.001+01:00

I know this is old news and lots of bloggers revealed the announcement last week, but I don't care as I am excited ha ha! I'm a huge Liz Earle fan, even more so as they are a local Hampshire company and have the most beautiful Head Office on the Isle of Wight! Liz Earle are dipping into colour for the first time in September and launching a Sheer Skin Tint. I hope the tint will smell yummy like their current skincare products and be as soft on my skin. Let's wait and see!

I've copied a few more details below that I was sent and you can sign up for more info here!

This September, discover the next step for natural-looking, beautiful skin as we launch our Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint – the exciting first step into Liz Earle Colour! For many years our customers have been requesting this product and for the past three years we've been perfecting it. Our exciting new launch will be everything you would expect from us!

Holiday and update!

2011-07-03T23:17:00.001+01:00

Sorry it's been such a while, I have been away on a lovely two-week holiday to Spain and started a new job as a social media manager so have been very busy and so tired in the evenings I haven't had my spare time! Anyway I had an amazing holiday and came back nice and tanned so thought I'd write about a few of my sun protection essentials from new products out this summer available in Boots, Superdrug etc! I'll also be writing a post on my hair products I used on holiday, including some budget Keratin products!

Boyfriend and I on holiday!

New SPF15 Lypsyl lip balms (£1.49)

This new range contains Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and SPF 15 for sun protection, which is essential in the sun as lips burn too! The yummy new flavours include Watermelon Burst and zingy Pineapple Passion flavours plus Cherry Blossom and Strawberry Polka-Dot which have a colour tint. The best news is they are only £1.49 from major supermarkets and pharmacies. The packaging is also really cute - I love the strawberry polka dots which is bang on trend this year!

Piz Buin In Sun Ultra Light Sun Spray (£15 but currently BOGOF in Superdrug at the moment)

Piz Buin In Sun Ultra Light Sun Spray with advanced UVA/UVB filters helps to protect the skin from the sun. Enriched with a strong anti-oxidant, it helps to prevent sun induced premature skin ageing. The ultra light, non greasy and non sticky formula absorbs instantly into the skin without leaving white marks. It hydrates the skin, keeping it soft and supple during sun exposure. What I love about this spray is the lovely light texture that is so easy to rub in. I can't stand suncreams that are thick and take ages to rub in, so this is a dream for your skin.

Nivea Protect & Bronze Sun Lotion SPF 30 (£15 but also BOGOF in Boots)

This latest launch from Nivea combines reliable protection with a natural looking tan without containing any fake tan (wooo no orange hands!). The product contains a natural plant extract which helps support the skin’s own melanin production for an even and natural looking tan. Melanin is produced naturally within the body and is responsible for protection and tanning your skin. The extra light formula is non-greasy whilst moisturising for the skin and contains highly effective UVA/UVB filters that protect your skin immediately on application.

I always go nice and brown on holiday regardless of what factor suncream I use, but for a short break this is a great cream to test and see if you get a better tan, without compromising on the level of protection (which we all do!). Personally I wouldn't go below SPF15 at any point of the year, even in the UK where I find the sun causes you more damage as you aren't aware of the strength.

Let me know what you think and your essential sun protection products!

John Frieda Live Hair Academy - 27th May

2011-05-20T11:02:00.000+01:00

Frizz-heads like me listen up!

On May 27th at 1pm for the first time John Frieda Haircare Academy comes to you LIVE on their UK Facebook page www.facebook.com/JohnFriedaUK. You can watch and learn everything you need to know to achieve salon results at home. Here are 3 ways you can help shape the show...

Be a model

John Frieda are looking for one lucky person to become a model and put the revolutionary Frizz Ease 3-day straight styling spray (review to follow shortly on Keratin treatments!) to the test live on the show, assisted by one of our top stylists.

Find a new style for summer

John Frieda will show you live on the show how to achieve one of the top hairstyles hot off the Spring/Summer catwalk. All you need to do is vote for your favourite.

Have your questions answered

The show will also feature two top John Frieda stylists ready to answer your questions live on air.

For more information and to watch the show go to www.facebook.com/johnfriedauk !

My Diet in a Box review

2011-05-17T17:38:00.001+01:00

I get offered to try lots of different products as a blogger, most of which are beauty related but recently I was offered the chance to try My Diet in a Box for a week. Intrigued I replied to the PR lady to express my interest (I mean who doesn't want to lose a few pounds before a holiday!) and explained that I have a nut allergy and an onion intolerance (weird I know). Unfortunately every meal has onion in, which I surprised me a lot as onion isn't known for agreeing with everyone so I was a bit upset. However my boyfriend decided he wanted to try this out and My Diet in a Box sent him a lovely hamper of food for a week, straight to my office.

Here is a bit more about the high protein plan which was selected for my boyfriend as he is sporty and does get very hungry!

Why Protein High?

The Protein High Meal Plan is designed together with a programme of physical activity to encourage fat burning and promote toning.

How Does It Work?

Carbohydrate is reduced below daily energy requirements to force the body to burn fat.

A high protein intake maintains your muscle mass. The more muscle you have the more efficient your metabolism is and the less fat you store.

A high protein intake stimulates the release of a hormone called glucagon which encourages fat to be used as an energy source

Here are my boyfriend’s comments after trying the plan for the week – in his own words bless him, he isn’t normally a writer!

I like my food. Also have to admit that I like snacking (and do not always refer to the healthy options) between my meals. It is a combination being hungry and purely the enjoyment of eating nice food. I love it and it has become my passion. I know I need to stop the snacking, especially before dinner so the diet in a box with three set meals a day seemed like a good plan to follow. I am playing a lot of tennis and go to the gym so I have chosen the The Protein High Meal Plan as it is designed together with a programme of physical activity to encourage fat burning and promote toning!

The food is generally good quality with healthy natural ingredients. Breakfast is great, a lot of muesli with nuts and seeds - right up my street. Also had apple granola which tasted fantastic and gave me an exciting alternative to muesli in the morning. The lunch meals are mainly salads, really nice salads and good portions to fill you up for lunch. I particularly liked the tuna/beans with lemon salad. A* for salads!

Dinner options were great too, particularly liked the curry options. So overall, the food was most certainly very good. I have to admit that I didn’t manage to entirely stick to the plan (had to attend a business lunch with given food and went to the Christchurch food festival with best intention (I took my lunch with me and ate it) but could not resist to have some cold German beer!

However it made me feel much lighter and didn’t give me the feeling of being tiredness after dinner, it actually felt energizing. The great things is it is all healthy ready meals, so no cooking required which is extremely convenient when you get back from work and only have to heat up the curry or put the lasagne in the oven. Gave me more of an evening too as I ate my dinners straight after work with no preparation work required. So it is brilliant for someone with a busy lifestyle or perhaps living on his/her own. Obviously you can do it with your partner too bear in mind the high protein plan for example is £72 a week per person (other plans just under £70 I believe) which is a lot of money for food each week.

I hope this gives you a detailed insight into these sorts of plans – if you have the will power then I definitely would recommend it, my boyfriend has lost his little belly and toned up a lot even in just a week. He did however become slightly miserable at the weekend, not being able to have his favourite foods, beer and coffee so be prepared for this drastic change!

You can find out more info at www.mydietinabox.co.uk or follow on Twitter @MyDietInABox

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess summer collection

2011-04-26T17:48:00.003+01:00

Hope you all had a lovely Easter break! I had a great time visiting the beach, sunbathing, BBQs and lots of chocolate and managed to get a nice tan thanks to 25 degrees in Southampton every day! I also tried out my lovely new products from the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess summer collection to enhance my natural tan after a hard day at the beach sunbathing!

Here is a brief intro from Estee Lauder about the collection. It’s written beautifully so I won’t bother trying to say it in my own words!

This summer, let Estée Lauder transport you to the Mediterranean with the latest seductive Bronze Goddess collection of makeup. Inspired by the hues and atmosphere of luxurious resorts on the Riviera, the collection invites you to sit poolside and take in the cool waters, warm sand beaches and sun’s luminous rays. Experience the casual luxury and seductive spirit of a goddess with shades that sparkle, shimmer and shine for eyes, lips and nails, while face and décolletage are transformed into golden, glowing perfection.

I thought I would write about my favourite two products from the collection, which are a must have if you are looking to update your summer make-up collection. Inspired by hues from the surf and sand, the NEW Limited Edition Bronze Goddess Island Oasis EyeShadow Palette (£31) of six irresistibly wearable shades brightens and defines eyes by day and transforms them by night. The eyeshadows’ delicate iridescent pigments allure with radiance and luminosity in warm sand shades of copper, bronze, gold and coral balanced by cool surf hues of turquoise, seashell pink, silver and seaweed. The pigment quality as you would expect from an Estee Lauder eyeshadow is excellent and lasts a long time plus you only need to apply a small amount so this palette will last ages. It’s also a great palette to take on holiday as you have a variety of colours to match many outfits throughout the holiday!

Inspired by long walks on the beach and treasured mementos from the sea, NEW Limited Edition Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush (£29) is a beautifully-crafted, feather-light illuminating blush that enhances any skin’s bronzed complexion with a perfectly warm sun-kissed glow. Featuring an artful starfish resting on a shimmering sand-inspired background, the silky, soft powder bronzing blush gives skin a naturally radiant, smooth, sun-kissed finish. Colour-true and with buildable coverage, this unique bronzing blush enhances your natural cheek colour with an added touch more summer radiance with every stroke.

This has been really popular amongst other bloggers and it doesn’t fail to disappoint. My favourite bronzer ever is the Soft Shimmer bronzer from last year’s collection, so I have worn the Bronzing Blush on top to give an extra shimmer/blush to my cheeks. The blush is quite intense so you don’t need to go overboard when applying, otherwise you will look very rosy! So if you have pale skin then I’d say this might be too heavy for you.

The products will be available in stores from 2^nd May and I think they will be a real winner like all of Estee Lauders’ previous summer collections. Let me know what you think!

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising lip colour balm review!

2011-04-12T17:32:00.001+01:00

How lovely has the sunny weather been recently? It’s definitely made me feel very summery, especially with my make-up choices! One of my favourite new summer products is from Clinique – their Chubby Stick Moisturising lip colour balm (£14) It consists of a highly moisturising formula combining a special blend of decadent butters, oils and antioxidants to help protect and pamper lips with immediate and lasting moisturisation. Infused with Shea Butter, Mango Seed Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil, it delivers a surge of moisture in a sleek stick leaving lips soft, supple and soothed. I love shade 7 – Super Strawberry, it tastes delicious and feels so smooth when you apply to your lips. It also gives your lips a lovely tint , so I have been using a lot thoughtout the day as it’s much lighter than lipstick.

They are available to buy at Clinique counters very soon, from 15^th April. If you buy one new lip product this summer then you must try this one.

Clinique also have teamed up with Selfridges Oxford Street to offer customers the chance to create their very own ‘Chubby Kiss’ in the exclusive Clinique ‘Chubby Photo Booth.’ Stationed at the Clinique counter, Selfridges Oxford Street the ‘Chubby Booth' will be available to every customer who takes advantage of a complimentary Clinique lip consultation on the 16th & 17th of April. Customers will be treated to a custom-fit consultation using the chubby stick of their choice before entering the ‘Chubby Photo Booth’ to pucker up and pout for the camera. The 4 passport sized photos develop in a matter of minutes and can be taken home on the day, encased in an exclusive Clinique picture wallet.

The fun continues following the event when each set of photos will be uploaded to the Clinique UK Facebook page and participants can log on to www.facebook.com/cliniqueuk to tag themselves in their very own Chubby picture.

Please come to Southampton one day – not all of us live in London!

DKNY fragrances for summer

2011-03-28T17:52:00.001+01:00

How nice has the summery weather been this week? I don't think it will last that long thought which is a shame but I have been enjoying it while it's like this! I have been using two summery DKNY fragrances the past few weeks so thought I would share my opinions on them in case you are considering buying a summer perfume!

More than a fragrance. pure DKNY fragrance strives to be responsible, conscious and environmentally aware. a drop of vanilla in water is sourced from vanilla bean farmers in Africa. through this signature ingredient, and their partnership with CARE, a leading humanitarian organization, pure DKNY supports local communities by taking small steps to help make a difference pure and simple. This is a really nice touch and it's great to see brands supporting local communities abroad.

Sensuous and tender, pure DKNY is characterised by a drop of vanilla in water as its signature note. It also includes a dew-drop petal accord, lotus flower, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, freesia, orchid, white amber and sandalwood. It's a really nice light fragrance that doesn't knock you out when you spray it and definitely a must-have this summer!

The new DKNY Women Energizing Eau de Toilette is the essence of the original fragrance, with a fresh exuberant twist - so its lighter than the original (I have used the original for the past few years and love it!) The top notes are a refreshing blend of citruses, chilled vodka and tomato leaves; the heart is a wet blend of water lilies, green coral orchids and yellow daffodils.

To distinguish it from the original, the new DKNY Women Energizing Eau de Toilette comes in a clear crystal bottle and white carton while still maintaining the iconic skyscraper bottle. It's also really good value at £24 for 30ml :) You can enter a fab competition on the DKNY website by entering your classic kiss! Pucker up!

Let me know if you love DKNY perfumes for summer!

♥

Magical Innocent Tree!

2011-03-22T18:10:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to be sent this gorgeous orange tree from the lovely Kelly, all in celebration of Innocent's new orange juice! Look how nice it looks on my desk at work! If you haven't tried it yet, you must do as it's really nice. I love the orange juice with bits... yummy. Perfect for leisurely breakfasts at the weekend!

I'm looking forward to one day eating my home-grown oranges! For the meantime though check out the lovely new site which Innocent have created www.juice.innocentdrinks.co.uk and have a go at shaking the magical innocent tree. Everyone wins something - it could be £1,000 to pimp up your kitchen, it could be money off your next carafe of juice (I only won £1 off juice boooo!)

Anyway just thought I'd share the lovely tree with you & fingers crossed to me actually managing to keep it alive!

♥

The River Island Jean Swap

2011-03-15T11:21:00.000Z

Last week River Island hit the streets of Liverpool for their charity Jean Swap, challenging the people of Liverpool to swap their old jeans for a brand new pair from the new spring collection. The only catch? They had to strip down to their underwear in front of the camera crew, and all the other shoppers on Church Street!

Over 150 locals were willing to drop their old jeans or trousers in the street and walked away wearing a fantastic, brand new pair of River Island jeans, with the stunt organised to celebrate River Island’s Denim Week which launches 11th March. Those who took part in the swap were encouraged to donate their old jeans to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, and over 112 items were collected for the charity on the day.

Hopefully River Island might fancy visiting a city down south like Southampton!

Pantene Colour Protect & Smooth range review!

2011-03-09T17:40:00.001Z

I was in-between haircare products a few weeks ago & thought I’d try out the new Pantene Colour Protect & Smooth range until I can afford some more Keratin Therapy conditioner! I’ve always been a bit sceptical of Pantene products after several hairdressers have told me in the past that their products aren’t good for your hair (why is that actually?!) but their new range intrigued me as it’s perfect for my coloured hair! Obviously I have had a Keratin treatment on my hair, so it is much smoother now than it was pre-treatment, but I do recognise now when I use good products as my hair feels silkier for longer.

After using for a few weeks I can say I am impressed with the new range and particularly love the Colour Protect Instant Nourishing Spray for an instant shine boost to your hair. This leave-in spray helps protect coloured hair from daily styling damage, giving it an instant hit of shine and vibrancy and smells lovely too. Used alongside the conditioner it makes your hair feel really sleek and is easier to comb through your hair when it’s wet. Even better news as it also protects coloured hair and helps colour last longer – double result! You can buy the products from the bargain prize of £2.50 at the usual places, so I definitely recommend trying out even if you haven’t used Pantene in years like me!

You can also follow Pantene on Twitter for the latest hair tips!

♥

New Estee Lauder Pure Colour Nail Lacquer shades

2011-02-24T17:57:00.003Z

I was kindly asked by Estee Lauder if I wanted to try out their new shades of Pure Colour Nail Lacquer shades, so I selected two light, pastel shades Pink Thrill and Nude Attitude. Both shades are absolutely gorgeous and so silky when you apply to your nails. I have played three games of netball this week and they still haven’t chipped or smudged. I would show you a photo but I have broken one of my fingers so it’s not very attractive!

These pastel shades are perfect for spring and on-trend for SS11 fashion!

You can buy the new shades in store now for £14 – well worth the money for a decent, long lasting nail varnish!

♥

Gorgeous new spring products from Clarins

2011-02-16T18:05:00.001Z

I am in love with Clarins new spring collection products and have been trying them out for the past few weeks so feel I can write a thorough review now. The gorgeous bright pink and purple shades have been brightening up my early mornings and I can't wait for summer now to properly wear them!

Neo Pastels Eye Colour and Liner Palette £30

I love how silky and long lasting the colours are in this palette and can't wait to try the purples out with some bright summer outfits! The six shades are Golden Brown, Pearl, Dusky Rose, Pink, Violet and Lilac and contain a black powder eye liner as well. As palettes go, six high quality and usable shades is not bad value for £30.

Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour. Shade no1 Lovely Rose (£24)

This beautiful cheek colour contains 2 complementary shades of pink cheek colour; a matte shade which scuplts and an iridescent shade which highlights. This ensures that it looks much more natural on your skin, rather than shimmer overload and is really silky when appplied. I love this! The photos (sorry iPhone quality) make it look really pink, but don't worry the colour is very sheer and is not bright pink!

I ♥ Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick (£15.82)

My photo does not do this gorgeous lipstick justice! It looks really dark but doesn't come out dark at all on your lips, just a gorgeous sheer purple tint with shimmer in.. And it also tastes and smells of blackcurrant (even though the shade is called grape) and has lipcare ingredients that leave your lips so smooth like a lip balm does. I have honestly never tried a lipstick that does this, as most lipsticks end up drying my lips even ones that claim to be moisturising! If you buy one lipstick this month buy this one!!!

Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy 4 months on!

2011-02-09T17:23:00.001Z

I thought I would post a few photos of my hair which I have taken recently to show you how well the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy treatment I had done has lasted! I had the treatment at Haringtons in Southampton at the end of September so it’s been over 4 months. My hair is still much smoother and blow-dries straight and smooth very easily. It literally has changed my life (this sounds very dramatic I know!) but I can go out in the rain and not worry about thick, fluffy hair, I can wash my hair at the gym and not get stressed as my doesn’t hair goes wild and frizzy anymore! I do still straighten my hair if I have slept on it awkwardly and have kinks, or if I tie it up and then want to wear it down but generally I haven’t used the straighteners so my hair is in better condition!

The best situation was when I went to Spain in October last year and was the first ready out of my five girlfriends, as my hair didn’t need to be styled! Normally I’d be the last, getting hot and stressed in the heat trying to tame my hair and battle the humidity! I had longer to relax on the balcony with my sleek hair drinking sangria ha ha!

Hopefully it will carry on and last as long as possible, but I would be interested to see if after another treatment, it lasts longer. Like waxing – the more you have it done, the longer the hair takes to grow back! I have run out of the Keratin conditioner that came with my treatment and need to repurchase it but it’s a bit expensive at £20 a bottle!!

So what do you think of my hair now, has it persuaded you to try the treatment? I definitely recommend it if you have thick, fluffy, dry, frizzy , wavy hair like mine! I must also add there has been some confusion around the different types of treatment – Brazilian Blow-dries etc but this one was the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy treatment so I can only vouch for the quality of this particular brand as there are many out there being offered by salons, that last different lengths of time and contain different ingredients!

♥

London Fashion Weekend is back!

2011-02-08T11:54:00.000Z

I’m really excited that Vodafone London Fashion Weekend is returning soon at Somerset House, from 24-27 February 2011! Last time I had a great day out with my two friends and ending up spending way too much money! It’s the ideal event for anyone wanting to catch a piece of the Fashion Week action – with the added luxury of discount designer shopping. You can shop from over 100 designers selling their collections at amazingly discounted prices, Olivia Rubin, Twenty8Twelve and Juicy Couture (to name just a few!), get beauty tips and tricks from the experts and much more! I particularly loved last time buying some gorgeous jewellery from designers that I wouldn’t normally get a chance to buy from.

If you are in London that weekend that I definitely recommend going along as it’s a great day out. The goodie bags are also fab – for £8 last time we had bottles of Juicy Couture perfume in ours! Downside was carrying them around London all day – ha ha!

For more event info and to book tickets visit www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk

See you there!

♥

Aveda All Sensitive Moisturiser

2011-02-01T17:21:00.001Z

I've been reviewing the new Aveda All Sensitive Moisturiser for a couple of months now over the harsh winter period and am happy that I can write a proper review now! This moisturiser is great for the winter and for dry, and very sensitive skin. My boyfriend has really sensitive skin and loves using this now as it's so soothing on his skin and great for an extra boost in this cold weather. It's a shame that it doesn't contain SPF15 so it can be used all year round, but I have been using it as a night cream as well to provide deep moisturising overnight :-)

It also smells lovely too, but not too strong so perfect for sensitive skin thanks to extracts of caffeine, oats, rosemary leaves, lavender and soothing chamomile. It’s fairly pricey at £33 but worth it if you suffer from sensitive skin and want a decent moisturiser that is smooth and silky, not thick and clumpy! Plus it’s a large sized bottle so will last for ages!

♥

Photos from Liverpool and iPhone camera apps

2011-01-24T17:26:00.001Z

I’ve just got back from a lovely weekend up north in Liverpool with my boyfriend and thought I would share some of my photos I took on my iPhone using the Camera+ app. I am by no means a photography expert but downloaded a few apps including Instagram and Hipstamatic and thought I’d trial them out over the weekend (geek!) What do you think?

We had a great time visiting the famous sites of Liverpool and I managed to do quite a bit of shopping! I am so jealous of all the shops Liverpool lasses have to choose from and they are all within walking distance of each other, no getting tired and trekking around for ages like London! I wasn’t that impressed with Cricket after hearing so many good things about it through the media. All the bags on sale were just dumped on stands near the floor with sale tags on, even though they still cost £600 instead of over £1000! All the dresses were just stacked by block colour on boring rails. So I’m sorry to say I don’t get what all the fuss is about!!!

Anyway let me know what you think of the photos below!

♥

Me and the boyfriend

Cricket

Outside The Cavern Club

The Echo Arena and The Liverpool Wheel

Albert Dock

Liverpool One

China Town

New launch from Biotherm - SKIN.ERGETIC

2011-01-19T17:30:00.003Z

I am lucky enough to be working with Biotherm at the moment on the exciting new launch of their first anti-fatigue concentrate SKIN.ERGETIC. I am a sucker for radiance products and can't wait to try this out to see if it really works and my skin has a 'glow' to it! Late nights and dull weather in winter are certainly not helping my skin this time of year, so any help will be greatly appreciated!

Basically the serum is unique as it is activated once you open it and blends ultra-concentrated broccoli extract with anti-fatigue ingredients in a formulation that is 99% natural; paraben, mineral oil and artificial colour free. It's quite pricey at £35 for 50ml but is on offer at Boots.com at the moment - save £10 when you buy two Biotherm products.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to try this out and test in full so I can write a detailed review with photos of the bottle. But for now here is an image from Biotherm so you can see the full range of accompanying products which include an anti-fatigue day cream and night cream. I also love the bright purple colour packaging of the night cream :)

Thoughts? Who has tried Biotherm products in the past and will be trying this range out?

Christmas and New Year plus new make-up including Nivea!

2011-01-05T23:33:00.002Z

(Boyfriend in the snow at Christmas)

Happy New Year everyone! Sorry for the total lack posts, I spent Christmas at my parents’ house which was lovely but I didn’t take my laptop and new year in Frankfurt, Germany with the boyf! Hope you all had a good festive break! I am missing the afternoon naps and lie-ins and not loving the 7am alarm clock argghh!

I was an extremely lucky girl and got lots of Christmas presents, too many to mention! My parents got me a gorgeous All Saints dress, plus lots of goodies for my flat including a new cutlery set! ha ha! I thought I write a mini review on the lovely make-up products the boyf bought me - the limited edition Bobbi Brown bright eyes palette (£41) and Nivea Stay Real Powder which I think isn't available in the UK. I love the Bobbi Brown palette, even if the eye shadows are teeny tiny but as with all BB eyeshadows a little bit goes a long way!

Here is a full list of the shades in the palette

1 x Bubble Gum

1 x Gum Drop

1 x Electric Pink

1 x Samba

1 x Day Glow

1 x Jade

1 x Ivy

1 x Pacific

1 x Blue Denim

1 x Blue Iris

1 x Pink Pearl Metallic

1 x Golden Peach Metallic

1 x Navajo Metallic

1 x Iced Blue Metallic

1 x Midnight Metallic

1 x Lavender Metallic

1 x Mint Metallic

1 x Copper Penny Shimmer Wash

1 x Ultra Violet

1 x Black Plum Shimmer Wash

Close up of the shades - I love the Lavender metallic shade on the top right.

I haven't featured Nivea make-up on my blog before as I haven't ever tried it out, but first impressions of the Stay Real powder are really good. It was only 4 Euros in the sale in DM (Superdrug equivalent in Germany) and the powder matches your skintone for sheer coverage that isn't heavy at all. Next time I'm back in Germany I'll definitely pick out some more products to try!

Has anyone else tried Nivea make-up and what do you think? Is it available in the UK?

New Neutrogena Multi-Defence Range

2010-12-23T17:13:00.001Z

I am really conscious that my skincare protects my skin from all the damaging effects of the environment, not just sun damage, so was very excited to test out the new Multi-Defence range from Neutrogena which seems to be MADE for my skin :-D. This brand new range is the first daily moisturising range from Neutrogena and uses an innovative fusion of effective ingredients including Moringa seed, Yerba Maté (Brazilian green tea), and antioxidants vitamins C and E which help to enhance the skin’s natural defences. It includes three daily moisturisers which go beyond hydration to help address the needs of different skin types, a Gentle Purifying Scrub, Gentle Purifying Wipes and the Multi-Defence Night Moisturiser.

Here’s a little background on the range and a few key facts that we should all be considering when choosing skincare products: The environment can affect the skin in many ways. UV exposure has always been classed as the primary cause of skin damage; however recent research shows that UV is not the only culprit. Our skin is in fact exposed to a number of different environmental aggressors on a daily basis. The five key environmental aggressors that damage our skin are: sun, pollution, cold, heat and wind. Research shows that up to 80% of skin ageing and damage can be caused by these aggressors and that when these aggressors are combined the damage to skin is increased.

So far I have been using the products for a few weeks and really like the moisturisers. Although they have quite a thick texture, they feel like they are really protecting my skin and contain SPF 25! If you are looking for a new mid-range, protecting skincare regime then I definitely recommend trying this out as it does everything and you can get products for all types of skin. Prices range from £3.79 from Boots.

Trip to the Clothes Show Live

2010-12-07T16:01:00.000Z

I had a great day at the Clothes Show Live on Saturday and as usual, returned with a very full trolley full of goodies! I definitely found this year much less stressful, as I would guess the bad weather kept a lot of people away so it was not as hectic.

I didn't get all my Christmas presents but managed to pick up quite a few items of jewellery from several gorgeous jewellery stands. I bought some gorgeous customised necklaces for my mum and sister from London designer Leonie Saliba who normally sells her products at Portobello and Spitalfield Markets.

For £12 she beautifully customised necklaces for my mum and sister, letting them choose the charms they liked. I would post photos of their individual necklaces but they are all wrapped up ready for Christmas!

This year the Clothes Show also boasted it's very own Stitch and Bitch knitting session! My work colleagues are all into knitting and this is something we often host at lunchtimes!

If you get a chance, make sure you visit tomorrow as it's the last day! The best bargains of the day were the Jelly Pong Pong goodie bags - two for £12! The items inside included this gorgeous Shadow Taffy worth £15!

Let me know if you visited the Clothes Show and what bargains you got!

Snow attire in Southampton!

2010-12-03T16:17:00.001Z

I am sure everyone is getting bored of the snow updates, but let’s face it in this weather there’s not a lot else to talk about/do! As you can see from my beautiful photography, Southampton has been hit by a lot of snow making my walk to work pretty icy the past few days! So I went out and purchased some lovely snow boots from Sports Direct after work for £15 to make my walk home a bit easier! They are not as comfy as my trusty UGGs, but have a much better grip which is good so hopefully I won’t fall over.

What have you been wearing to combat the cold weather and snow?

It's Clothes Show Live time again!

2010-11-29T17:37:00.003Z

I'm really looking forward to going to the Clothes Show Live again on Saturday for the seventh year running! If you haven’t been before, then you must go it’s amazing and has everything you can need under one roof, especially getting bargains for Christmas presents. Plus this year they are introducing an all new craft area, Sknitch, and The Dance Show! It is very busy and always hectic so if you can, go on a weekday but if you work Monday-Friday like me then Sunday is definitely a better day (sadly I can’t get there on a Sunday).

I’ve put together a few tips from my years of visiting the Clothes Show if this is your first time!

1) Wear comfy clothes and shoes as you will be walking A LOT! Particularly if you park in the car park and have to walk to the entrance! The show is also massive so you will be walking around all day!

2) Bring a suitable bag to carry your purchases in. The best thing I ever did was buy a granny trolley and pull it around! It saves my neck from crippling with all the bags, especially when it’s busy and you are trying to buy things!! Saves a lot of stress and pain!

3) Bring lots of cash with you. There are always huge queues for cashpoints and they charge you for withdrawing cash. Unlike the Excel Arena where the London Show is hosted, which has lots of cashpoints and don’t charge, NEC isn’t as modern and convenient sadly!

4) Allow enough time for queuing. Stands like Juicy Couture always have a massive queue and you can waste an hour just stood in the queue – how frustrating! There are also sometimes large queues for the toilets as well.

5) When you start shopping in the morning, head for the opposite end of the show which will be less busy! If you can get there as early as possible, then again there will be less people.

6) Take food and water with you, as the food is expensive in the show and outside the show only offers places like Subway. Plus you waste precious shopping time walking around for food!

Tickets purchased between the 3-5 December for Clothes Show Live and The Dance Show include entrance to both shows and include a dedicated seat in the Fashion Theatre. Tickets are on sale now. Call 0844 581 1256 or visit www.clothesshowlive.com for more information on Clothes Show Live.

Let me know if you are going and if you have any more tips I have missed out! I might be running a competition tomorrow so keep your eyes peeled!

No7 Limited Edition MirrorBall Highlighter Compact

2010-11-24T17:36:00.002Z

I am big fan of No7’s limited edition highlighters and religiously use my Natural Radiance Highlighter which is the best. Fact. However No7 have bought out a new highlighter for Christmas – the Mirror Ball Highlighter Compact (£13.50) which is a lot more sparkly for the festive season and gives cheeks and shoulders a gorgeous shimmer!

The packaging is also a lot nice than the Natural Radiance Highlighter & the size is perfect for slipping into your bag when you go out. It's also not too expensive at £13 and as No7 do loads of great deals at Christmas I am sure you can get it cheaper! Enjoy!

♥ Clinique’s new Limited Edition Strawberry Fudge range! ♥

2010-11-23T17:22:00.002Z

I was very lucky to receive some of the goodies from Clinique’s new Limited Edition Strawberry Fudge range and thought I’d show off my favourite from the range the Strawberry Fudge Holiday Compact (£25). I love the design of the compact and have fallen in love with the gorgeous pinky/brown eyeshadows and pink blush in New Clover. As expected with Clinique eyeshadows, they are shimmery, silky smooth and last all day. Definitely a must-have from me from the new collection. Thanks Clinique!

You can check out the whole Holiday collection here. What will you be purchasing from the range?

♥

bare Escentuals bareMinerals Illuminating Mineral Veil review

2010-11-15T11:50:00.000Z

My sister is an avid bareMinerals fan and loves the Illuminating Mineral Veil so much I thought I would share her review.

Here is a little more background info about the product:

"Designed to wear over bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation, the Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Illuminating Mineral Veil is your final step to achieving bare skin beauty. The light-refracting pearls float over the skin giving a radiant, airbrushed look.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Illuminating Mineral Veil works on all skin types and can be used on its own or over your bareMinerals foundation to prolong wear. Completely translucent, it feels light on your skin and doesn't give a caked look. Absorbing oil and minimising your pores and fine lines, it gives a flawless finish."

According to my sister, this product is brilliant! It does exactly what it says on the label; it gives your skin an illuminating glow perfect for nights out or just to give yourself that extra boost if you’re feeling a bit grey. The actual powder is very glittery in the pot but it is the light refracting pigments which catch the light and give you a radiant glow. You only have to use a small amount (you can always build it up)and use it over the top of your bareMinerals foundation. Make sure you really work it into the brush and buff well onto the face otherwise you will end up looking quite glittery!! Please don’t be scared to use this product because I promise you the results are worth it, the ultimate finish.

So what do you think - is this product worth the hype? It retails at £19 from QVC.

My favourite liquid eyeliners

2010-11-12T17:28:00.000Z

I’ve been looking for a new liquid eyeliner recently (it's a make-up must have for me) and after several recommendations from fellow beauty bloggers I have found my top two. Illamasqua Art Of Darkness Precision Ink (£16.50) and a cheaper option Liquid Eyeliner in Rook from Topshop (£6.50). Illamasqua’s Precision Ink lets you create an amazingly accurate application, with relative ease as well unlike other liquid liners which can be tricky! It’s also extremely long-lasting and waterproof it's perfect for use anywhere on the face and body to bring out your bold side! Not sure if I would use it all over my body, but it does a good job for my eyes! I did find that it does smudge if you don’t let it completely dry but apart from that it’s fantastic.

I haven’t really tried out Topshop’s new make-up range but love the liquid liner which isn’t as fancy as the Illamasqua one, but for £6.50 it’s a bargain. It also lasts all day without smudging and has proven to be long-lasting so thumbs up from me!

What are your favourite liquid eyeliners?

Vaseline Lip Therapy with Cocoa Butter

2010-11-05T11:36:00.000Z

Although the weather hasn't got that cold yet, I am already taking precautions with Vaseline's Lip Therapy with Cocoa Butter (£1.89). I don't like normal Vaseline as I find it too greasy and don't like the strange taste, but have fallen in love with the cocoa butter balm! It is packed full of antioxidant-rich cocoa butter, and has a light, chocolate scent that will have you licking your lips all day long. Definitely worth checking out if you are a cocoa butter fan - and it is a bargain too under £2!

x

♥ LANVIN FOR H&M ♥

2010-11-02T15:36:00.001Z

I love this description from Vogue today on the new Lanvin for H&M Collection which launches here in the UK on 23rd November.

"From oversized floral prints on minidresses to one-shouldered purple or hot pink puffed sleeve numbers, grosgrain beribboned waists and defined shoulders on sexy black styles, the much-anticipated Lanvin for H&M collection is a feast for Alber Elbaz aficionados."

I am loving the gorgeous dresses and beige skirt, which is actually well priced at £34.99. I also love this t-shirt below at £29.99.

Who else is excited for the collection and what will you be buying?

♥

My fave new lippy!

2010-10-29T12:56:00.000+01:00

Despite owning hundreds of lipsticks, this is the one I have been reaching for over the past few weeks - L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Boosting Serum Lipstick in Freshly Rosy (S106).

It has a boosting serum at the heart of the lipstick, containing Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, to hydrate and plump with moisture. This may explain the strange smell and taste, which reminds me of old school lipsticks my gran used to lend me when I was a child!

I love the colour though and the softness on my lips, so a winner for me despite the taste! Has anyone else tried these new lippies?

♥

Revlon Grow Luscious mascara

2010-10-21T23:21:00.001+01:00

I was sent a sample of the new Revlon Grow Luscious mascara a few weeks ago and have been using it for the past few weeks after my sister raved about it having purchased on holiday in the US. I must admit I have never previously tried a Revlon mascara as I am usually a Maybelline fan, so this was a first for me. This is the first Revlon mascara that helps lashes grow stronger, while claiming to add length and volume. As you can see from the photo below, it certainly has added volume & length to my lashes.

The brush size is huge and resembles Benefit's Bad Lash or Dior's Dior show mascara for size and quality but only costs £9.99 (currently £2 off in Superdrug at the moment. I think I need to try it for a bit longer to prove whether my lashes have actually grown but if they do - then great! It certainly feels nice on my eyelashes and doesn't irritate like other mascaras.

What do you think? Has anyone else tried this mascara & seen results so far?

♥ Haringtons in Winchester review ♥

2010-10-18T17:48:00.000+01:00

On Saturday I was lucky enough to visit Haringtons again for some pampering, this time in Winchester! The salon is conveniently located in Winchester city centre and has a vibrant atmosphere thanks to being in the middle of all the hustle and bustle (I love people watching!) I was treated to a cut, half a head highlights and a blow dry and you can see the fantastic results below!

What I really loved about my consultation was my stylist being really helpful and working out what colours would make my blonde hair a bit more natural. As it's sadly approaching autumn I wanted a more natural look which I think has been achieved! What do you think? I love it!

If you are live in the Winchester area then I recommend this salon if you have cash to spend. It's not the cheapest, but probably the best in the area. You get what you pay for with hair treatments I think and I would certainly go back!

I also had a fab new product by Kerastase used on me called Elixir Ultime. It's a versatile beautifying oil appropriate for all hair types and contains a combination of camellia, argan, maize and pracaxi oils. It leaves your hair feeling ultra nourished, protected and enhanced and very soft! Only downside is it costs a whopping £32.75!! Would you spend that much on a hair product?

♥

♥ Win tickets to Britain’s Next Top Model Event in London! ♥

2010-10-14T11:59:00.003+01:00

Hi guys I have another competition for you! Thanks to Boutique Sport, I have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the Britain’s Next Top Model Live exhibition at the Excel Centre in London next week 22nd-24th October!

Boutique Sport – an exciting new women’s sport brand and the new ultra glam way to work out - officially launches at the Britain’s Next Top Model Live exhibition at the Excel Centre in London.

Boutique Sport events combine all my favourite things, sport and fitness with pampering, fashion, music, champagne, and fun days out with friends, to capture the interest of its target market of 18-34 year old women and keep them motivated and engaged throughout the year. Following an extremely successful first event in July of this year - Boutique Run, a 5 & 10k run in Battersea Park followed by free pampering, makeovers, champagne and music - the launch of the Boutique Sport brand campaign will unveil an exciting and varied calendar of events for the year to come, including dance, cycling and running events.

The launch event also kicks off the search to find the ‘Face of Boutique Sport' which will start on the Open Catwalk during the three days of the BNTM Live exhibition. The panel of judges will be looking for more than just a face though. They will be on the lookout for vibrant young women to act as ‘Glambassadors’ for the Boutique brand, with great personalities and healthy, balanced attitudes about lifestyle, health and fitness. Winners will receive a professional photoshoot, the chance to appear in campaign imagery, as well as guest blog spots and opportunities to compere at Boutique Sport events. I will be definitely be entering as this sounds right up my street!

Good luck girls! Just comment on this post to enter and I will select a winner next Tuesday 19th October!

♥

Winner of the Illamasqua Art of Darkness competition!

2010-10-04T11:58:00.000+01:00

I have picked a winner of the Illamasqua Art of Darkness competition!

Entry number 6 is daisychain - well done! I'll be in touch on Twitter so if you can DM me your address I will send out the lipstick asap!

♥

Day out at London Fashion Weekend

2010-09-28T16:31:00.002+01:00

On Saturday I went to London Fashion Weekend at Somerset House with my friends Naomi and Kelly for a girly day out shopping. There were so many fab designers exhibiting including Ducie, Sass & Bide, Mawi, DKNY Jeans, Beatrix Ong, Pauric Sweeney, Juicy Couture, Angel Jackson, Twenty8Twelve, Olivia Rubin, House of Harlow 1960, French Sole and Donna Ida.

I got a gorgeous leather Juicy Couture handbag, and a necklace from Sam Ubhi which both had big savings (the bag was £80 and the necklace £15). We also had manicures from the lovely girls at Bourjois.

Here are a few photos from our day! If you didn't get to go this year, then you must go next time. It's not as big as the Clothes Show, but it's something a little bit different and offers some great discounts on designer clothing.

♥

Juicy Couture leather handbag

Kelly enjoying the Jacques cider!

Contents of the fab goody bag for £8, plus a bargain Elle magazine for £1

Results of the gorgeous Bourjois manicure (£15)by a talented beautician who works for WAH Nails

I ♥ my new snood from All Saints!

2010-09-24T16:47:00.000+01:00

I ♥ my new Honeycomb snood from All Saints! Since I decided to follow All Saints on Twitter and Facebook I have fallen in love with all their AW collection! I couldn't resist this gorgeous snood which was pretty costly at £55 but keeps you so warm! It is also made ofLambswool and Cashmere so doesn't irritate your skin like a lot of scarves.

Who else loves the new All Saints AW collection?

♥

Illamasqua's Art of Darkness competition!

2010-09-23T17:35:00.001+01:00

While I was away on holiday a few weeks ago, I missed out on the Illamasqua Art of Darkness Blogger Event which looked fantastic after seeing all the photos! Alex @ Illamasqua sent me some products to review, one of which is this lovely deep blue Disciple Lipstick. It's not really my colour (the bravest I am is a slightly deeper pink lipstick!!) so I am going to give it away to one lucky person! Just leave a comment saying 'enter me' and I will pick a winner at random next Thursday 30th September!

Here is a bit more info on the gorgeous new Art of Darkness range!

Good luck!

Deep in an enchanted forest, the scene is set for a sumptuous feast. The chosen have arrived. Where this night will end no one knows. Not even death is inevitable.

Lured by the promise of immortality, a host of fantastical beings try their hand at creating the ever-elusive Elixir of Life. The resulting potions dazzle the eye and ensnare the senses, a beautiful array of jewel-like substances. They may not deny mortality, but they do make the theatre of life a more colourful stage on which to play.

It’s a melting pot of individuals, where ideas are exchanged, and new ones created. A surreal gathering from which the guests might never awake. Which is why this night can never end, and the game must be played for eternity.

So take your place at the table and let the banquet begin.

This is Art of Darkness.

Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy - an essay!

2010-09-22T19:29:00.004+01:00

I am sure you all know how long I have spent trying to find the perfect hair care products for my fluffy, wavy hair. Despite this, as soon as my hair gets subjected to wet/humid/windy conditions it all goes out of the window and my hair is a mess again! People tell me I have lovely hair anyway, which I am lucky to have as my hair is healthy and can be managed, however it’s down to my dedication/vanity that it looked half decent! Anyway, a few weeks ago after tweeting asking about keratin treatments, the lovely people at Haringtons got in touch and asked if I would like to try one out. YES PLEASE was the answer, after receiving positive tweets back from followers about how good it actually is.

Here is a little bit more info about the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by COPPOLA, which is the treatment I had. I understand there are various treatments on the market but this is the best on the market according to Haringtons expert Heather. The revolutionary smoothing system infuses Keratin deep into the hair cuticle, eliminating up to ninety-five percent of frizz and curl, leaving the hair smooth, shiny and luxurious. Results typically last 3 to 5 months depending on hair type. It rejuvenates and revitalises the hair, giving it a softer, silkier feel that everyone raves about. Unlike other salon services, the more you treat your hair, the healthier it becomes. With each treatment, the build-up of Keratin makes the hair smoother and silkier, straighter and shinier, easier and faster to blow-dry and close to being “maintenance-free". Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy encases the hair follicle with a keratinous bond to promote healing (which my hair needed after years of straightening!) block the effects of humidity (the bane of my life in summer and on holiday!!) and prevent environmental toxins from entering the hair.

The most important aspect for me when researching keratin treatments was seeing real-life photos, not photos of adverts or models which I struggled to find. Especially photos from the UK, where people have the treatment done in the UK. So here we go - a complete step-by-step guide to my treatment in photos!

1. This is a photo of my hair before the treatment. It's a mess as I couldn't be bothered to straighten it too much as I knew I was going to the hairdressers the next day! Once I got to the salon, they washed my hair to cleanse the hair of all products and then applied the keratin treatment to my hair. I then had to wait for 40 minutes for the treatment to settle in my hair, before my lovely stylist Heather painstakingly blowdryed every section of my hair! She then had to straighten every section five times with special Keratin Complex straighteners that heat up hotter than normal straighteners. This stings your eyes a lot and made my eyes water, as the fumes are quite strong apparently! Here is the final result 3 and a half hours later - poor Heather!

2. As you can see my hair was now very straight! It also felt a little bit processed from all the heat, but still felt very smooth and straight. The worse part of the treatment was to come - I was told I had to wait 72 hours until I could wash my hair!! So no sweating, no tying your hair up, no putting your hair behind your ears! If you are a sporty person like me you will find this very difficult or if you have greasy hair but it is worth it as the longer you leave it the better the results will be. I'm lucky my hair is fairly dry so it didn't look too bad but by Tuesday afternoon it was starting to itch and I was desperate for a hair wash and boy didn't everyone around me and at work know it! After going back to Haringtons yesterday for a wash using the recommended Keratin Colour Care shampoo and conditioner (which are included in the price) and a quick blow dry, my hair now looks like this!

3. Here is the final result! No straighteners, no blowdrying, no serum, no leave in conditioner, no shine spray! This is going to save me so much time when washing my hair and also styling it! Plus a fortune on hair products.

I had my treatment at the gorgeous Haringtons salon, Southampton (02380 237414) which was fantastic. The stylist Heather was really lovely and very reassuring and informative. I recommend going to a reputable salon like Haringtons as you are spending a lot of money (my treatment costs around £150-£250 depending on hair type) so you want it to be done properly.

Obviously I have just had the treatment done, so I can't comment on how long it will last or if there are any side effects, but I will give you all an update in a few months to see how I found it! So far I am loving it and am amazed how soft and sleek my hair is and no longer dread the whole hair washing process! Thanks to Haringtons for giving me the chance to try this out. Two of my friends are already planning to have treatments done with Heather!

Who else has tried the Keratin treatment and what do you think?

x

Vodafone London Fashion Weekend

2010-09-20T12:03:00.004+01:00

If you want a slice of the action at London Fashion Week, but don't get invited like me then London Fashion Weekend is for you! Get ready to clear your closets for some essential designer shopping from this Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th September at Somerset House (near Waterloo station).

You can shop from over 100 designers all selling their collections at incredible discounts of up to 70% off RRP. Some of the labels include Ducie, Sass & Bide, Mawi, DKNY Jeans, Beatrix Ong, Pauric Sweeney, Juicy Couture (oh dear credit card at the ready!), Angel Jackson, Twenty8Twelve, Olivia Rubin, House of Harlow 1960, French Sole and Donna Ida.

You will also be able to pamper yourself with beauty and haircare treatments from Elizabeth Arden, Toni&Guy, Glow, Superdrug and Bourjois or simply sit back and take in the stunning surroundings with a champagne and Chambord cocktail in hand! (sounds perfect to me!)

Visit www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk for ticket information and follow the event on Twitter @LFWEnd!I have never attended London Fashion Weekend before so am really excited to see what it's like and if it's worth the hype. What do you think? Is it better than the Clothes Show? Let me know your thoughts!

x

September Ins and Outs!

2010-09-16T11:31:00.003+01:00

I have just got back from (another!)holiday in Spain and already have post-holiday blues! It's freezing here compared to Spain and feels like I have gone from Summer to Winter overnight! So after reading Amy Antoinette's post on her holiday, I thought I would write a similar one to cheer myself up!

Ins

* Having a tan! 10 days in Spain has left me with a lovely golden glow which I am desperate to maintain for as long as possible! I think I will be slapping on the tan maintainer, as there's not much chance of topping up my tan in the UK now! My hair has also nicely re-highlighted itself thanks to the sun!

(Lovely view from my apartment balcony in Spain)

* Nails Inc Coveted collection nail polish from Very.co.uk. I love the bright colours in the collection and have fallen in love with Brook Street, which is a hot coral shade.

* I am having a Keratin treatment at Haringtons in Southampton on Saturday! My wavy, thick mop of hair is the bane of my life so I am very intrigued and excited to try this treatment. Only downside is I can't wash my hair for 72 hours... I don't know how I am quite going to manage that!!

* Before holiday I also won an Aussie Rescue from the Aussie Hunks! Ok it was a bit cheesy and the Hunks weren't really my cup of tea (they turned up late and changed in the car park opposite my office - doh!) but it provided some entertainment in the office for a Friday afternoon!

Outs

* The end of summer! Packing away my bikinis and summer clothes was v depressing this week. I am not looking forward to the cold weather and hate wearing jumpers :-( I also miss the long summer evenings and swimming in the sea on holiday. The salt water does wonders for my skin.

* The cost of clothes on the high street will rise by as much as 8% next year because of a cotton shortage and a planned VAT hike :( Not good for. the bank balance and a tragedy for the people of Pakistan whose lives have been destroyed by the floods.

* The poor performance of Southampton FC! Ok so not beauty or fashion related, and most of you won't even care but we have managed to lose four games in a row after being pre-season favourites to win the league.... enough said!

Hope you are all enjoying September - let me know if you have had a keratin treatment!

Love Label pick-up slub vest from Very.co.uk

2010-08-31T23:06:00.000+01:00

I was asked to review the website very.co.uk and although the website itself isn't as good as sites like boohoo and asos, I managed to pick out this lovely vest for £8.

This Love Label pick-up slub vest looks great with leggings and is extremely flattering, so great if you are going out for dinner ;-). The delivery of the item was extremely quick and I was impressed with the return policy if needed to return an item. I was disappointed with the range of clothes on offer and struggled to navigate myself around the site. Where as asos is clean, fresh and easy to search for items under trends, very seemed very 'catalogue-like'and I struggled to gain any inspiration for my look.

However, they do offer unique brands such as Love Label and Vila, as well as Fearne Cotton's range so there are gems available that are of high quality (unlike some of asos's own brand items).

Who else has used very.co.uk and what do you think? Would you shop from there?

♥

August Favourites!

2010-08-20T15:31:00.001+01:00

Ok I know it's not technically the end of August yet, but it's a bit late for July favourites! I've been trying out a lot of new products since I got back from my holiday last month and thought I would write about my top five.

1) Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (£13)– I don’t need to say much on this as I have explained in my last post how much I love this!

2) Piz Buin allergy range – the boyfriend summers from eczema, so this range is perfect for his skin, as it has been specially developed with dermatologists to protect sun sensitive skin. It combines advanced UVA/UVB sun filters and Calmanelle, unique shield complex, proven to help strengthen your skin's resilience. It is available in a wide range of SPFs and formats for various skin types and situations.

3) Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick - in Raspberry Rush (£14.50). I love this lipstick, as it is so creamy and rich and feels gorgeous on your lips. The revolutionary gel formula delivers the shine of a gloss, but with the comfort of a lipstick. If you suffer from dry lips and hate the drying feeling of lipsticks then you must try this range. I love the Raspberry Rush shade, which is a gorgeous violety colour.

4) Nivea Hydro Care lip balm quickly absorbs and leaves a sensationally soft feeling on your lips. It's enriched with pure water and jojoba oil it supports the natural moisturisation process of your lips. I love the softness of the lipbalm when you first apply it, yummy!

5) Avon Lotus Shield (£5) is formulated with Lotus Shield Technology, to help for a protctive lightweight barrier that holds up even in humid weather. Lightweight, leave-in serum, instantly helps smooth and tame, then lasts through two washes. This is a must-have if you have frizz-prone hair, mine is a nightmare especially in humid weather or if it rains a little!

Liz Earle 15th Anniversary event

2010-08-10T17:02:00.001+01:00

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to visit the lovely Liz Earle Biskra Beach House in Ryde on the Isle of Wight for a celebration of Liz Earle’s 15th Anniversary.

There were over 100 customers as well who enjoyed an evening of champagne and an opportunity to meet Liz herself, who was also promoting her new book Skin Secrets. I must say Liz looked absolutely fantastic and was really lovely when I met her, I couldn’t believe she had a young baby! She was also a really good public speaker and explained about the brand’s story which was very interesting. Liz and her partner Kim decided to develop a product range that really worked, was pampering yet affordable, simple to use and for everyone - no matter what their age or skin type. They were determined to use the best possible naturally active ingredients, which inspired the name Naturally Active Skincare. They also set down clear principles from the outset that included a genuine commitment to quality and service for customers. From the integrity of the ingredients and the friendly voice on the phone, to the way each individual product is beautifully hand tissue-wrapped and the in-depth advice the customer care team provide.

(Gorgeous Biskra Beach House, Ryde)

I have been trying out the Energise range, which so far I love but thought I would share my thoughts on my favourite product which I swear by and have been using ever since I tried it (this never happens!) - The Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. The original, multi award-winning, concentrated cleanser is unique as it is used with the pure muslin cloth which helps to quickly remove everyday grime and make-up, including stubborn mascara, to leave all skin types soft and smooth. It contains cocoa butter to moisturise, eucalyptus oil to purify and chamomile to soothe the skin and leaves your skin baby soft instantly (most cleansers dry my skin out). I love the smell of the eucalyptus oil which reminds me of the smell of the steam room at my gym! They also have a male version (same product, different packaging) that my boyfriend has also fallen in love with thanks to the chamomile helping his eczema. It's worth every penny and you must try it!

Thank you to Hayley and the other lovely PR girls who I met, you were extremely hospitable and very helpful and organised in ensuring I actually could make the event. To all of you who haven’t tried Liz Earle products, then you must as they arrive beautifully when you order online (I have already ordered my best friend some Cleanse and Polish for her birthday!).

Oh yes and you can follow Liz Earle on Facebook and Twitter now!

(The lovely Liz Earle)