Cute Little Collar

After scouring the high street I finally found the perfect collar necklace to transform many outfits, into a cute preppy look.

This is from New Look and is a bargain at £4.99.

I have been wearing mine over the festive period, and I think it'll last into the spring/summer season too.

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Must-have Lipstick Colours

Every makeup bag should at the very minimum a pink, red and nude lipstick. This will mean you are ready for any makeup look, fashion trend or season.

I think the intensity of colour, brand and lipstick shade should depend on the individual, as not one colour fits all. Red's (I have found) can be particularly hard to get the right one, so just spend time trying before you buy, as most makeup counters will be happy to let you try their products. And if you're buying from Boots or Superdrug, make sure you've got a tissue to thoroughly wipe the lipstick bullet before and after you apply it to your hand.

I recently had a splurge in Mac when they had a 20% off event at Seven Dials Covent Garden, and amongst other things, came away with the following lipsticks:

Pure Zhen - nude
Sweetie - pink
Cockney - red

I feel I am a lipgloss girl at heart, but the creamyness of these lipsticks meant they weren't too harsh for my face and not too much of a drastic change to the look I usually create with lipgloss.

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Bargain Miracle Cream...

I can't believe I was only told this year that Sudocream was amazing at treating and healing spots!! Its dramatically makes spots reduce in size and redness over night when applied just before you go to bed.

So spread to word, Sudocream really does work. And at £1.99 in a handy travel sized tube, its perfect for your handbag.

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Elizabeth Arden Eye Brow shadow

Its quite tricky to find the right colour and type of make up to use on your eye brows. And even though this might not be right for everyone, I have certainly found the perfect one for me - the 'Dual Perfection Brow Shaper and Eyeliner Ombre Perfection' in shade 03 Sable by Elizabeth Arden.

This is a shadow, but its ombre texture gives it a thicker slightly gel like texture; this makes it stay put all day and glide on your skin perfectly. I have had it for 2 months now, and even though it has been used every day there is literally no dent into the shadow at all - so I think this is going to last me a long time, which makes the price tag of £17 a bit more bearable. However you can get it from Feel Unique with 10% off and free delivery.

I use a Mac angeled brush to apply to my eye brows; which allows me to control the amount that apply. I much prefer this over using a pencil, as I find its all or nothing with them, and I don't always want strong eye brows.

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Chrimbo Nails

I don't think you can get more festive than these nails..

I've used a red with gold shimmer in, then gold tips and glitter gold all over.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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No-Makeup Makeup

I tend to go through make up phases where I ever so slightly experiment with my eye make up so I don't get stuck using the same eyeliners and shadows in my collection.

My most recent phase, is the matte eye shadow 'natural' look; where you use colours to complement the natural skin colour, and accentuate the eye shape. I tend to normally go for shadows with a hint of shimmer in them, so this was a subtle change for me.

I use Mac's Paint Pot in 'Painterly', which gives an even skintone to my eye lid, then the two matte shades in Urban Decay's 'Naked' palette in the socket. 'Naked' sweeping up to the brow bone, then the darker shade 'Buck' deeper into the socket to add definition.

I then added a line of black gel eyeliner and black mascara.

This look should remain natural, and the intention being a better version of you without make up on!

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Curley Lashes

I've never had much look with eye lash curlers, so I've always put it down to having such long straight eye lashes that there was no hope for me. That was until I was recommended the Shu Umera eyelash curler, and miracles really do happen! For the first time, I had curled lashes that stayed put all day!!

The trick is to 'pump' (or squeeze) the curlers at the roots of the lashes for about 5 times, then move further up the lashes and squeeze again. If your lashes are long you could probably fit another squeeze in towards the end of your lashes. This creates a gradual and even curl, not a sharp right-angle line which would look really harsh on the face.

I've tried this with two mascara's now, and it was actually the cheaper mascara that worked better with curled lashes. I think that was because the YSL mascara I used was quite heavy and may have 'pulled' my lashes down, where as the Maybelline just sat on top and set my lashes into position.

I'm not going to use the curlers every day as I'm scared that it will weaken my lashes and make them snap. So I'm saving this for special occasions only, when I fancy that extra boost in my eye makeup, or even when I'm only wearing mascara to open up my eyes even more.

Well worth the investment of £20.

 

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Rosy Cheeks

I know I am a bit behind on the Benefit 'Bene-Tint' bandwagon, but better late than never!

I was tempted when Glamour had their freebie last month, and even though the bottle is pretty small I think it will last me a long time, and for £2 its great!

I thought this would be great to wear in the winter, and it gives a fresh faced, rosy cheek look - as though you've just been for a brisk walk in the countryside.

A little goes a long way with this, as a small amount of colour can make a strong impact. And because it is a stain, you can add shimmer on your cheeks where you want it, rather than an all over shimmer which you might get from a normal shimmery blusher.

This is meant to be used on the lips too, however I don't think it works as well because it seeps into the creases in your lips, rather than giving an all over stain.

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A Tweezer Revolution

I recently invested in a uniquely design of tweezers, which help you get accurate hair removal, resulting in a precise and professional finish.

They are from pro brow designer Barbara Carranza and have been part of her makeup kit for nearly 15 years now until she decided to get the design recreated herself after being unable to find this shape anywhere else.

I met Barbara as part of my makeup course at the Academy of Freelance Makeup, where she taught us how to pluck eyebrows and apply false eyelashes.

They cost me £15, which I think is a fair price when you compare how much Tweezerman charge.

 
The angle at the tip of the tweezers means that you can see each hair before you pluck it and also use them in a scissor motion - dragging the tweezers whilst plucking over the hair line.

The tweezers shape also enables each false eyelash application, where you can push the false eyelashes down onto the lash line, and place the lashes accurately.

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Open Your Eyes

Nude eyeliner is the perfect way to brighten your eyes, especially when you've had a late night and your eyes may be a bit red.

Apply it to the water line, along with your normal eye make up.

Steer clear of white eye liner, as this can look quite dated and less 'real' as nude liner.

The one I've chosen is Rimmels Scandel Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner which I have found to work really well. Although I don't think its 100% natural, is does definitely help open up my eyes, and reduce the redness. The fact that this liner is water proof also makes sure that it lasts a long time, although it may need to be touched up at lunch time!

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Face Lift

No surgery involved. Just a bit of a blog revamp after a summer hiatus. This blog is back! Boom!

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New Nails - Lovely Lilac

Candy colours are everywhere this season, and this lovely matte lilac shade will compliment your spring/summer wardrobe perfectly.

I took advantage of a £2 off Revlon voucher I recieved from Boots the other week, so this cost me just over £4.

After 2 coats this nail varnish has a solid, thick colour; which is what you want from a pastel shade. It also seems like its got great staying power, as there are barely any chips after a couple of days.

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Fruity Fragrance

Perfume should be able to reflect the occassion but also the time of year. I like to wear heavier perfumes such as Paco Robanne 'Black XS' in winter, and then in spring and summer I move onto lighter scents such as Emporio Armani 'She'.

I've just started using Hugo Boss 'Orange'. Its the second bottle of this I've had and I think its a great perfume to wear in the day time as its not too overpowering. It has a floral scent, with orange blossom, sandalwood and vanilla - the perfect combination for a spring/summer perfume.

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A Solution for the First Signs of Aging?

After finishing my Roc eye cream last week, I already had my next one waiting for me. Its Avene's Ysthéal+ Eye Contour Cream and so far so good. On the box, this product is described as 'prevention and correction of the first signs of againg of the eye contour' - which is what sold it for me.

It has a very light, watery gel texture that glides well over and around my eyes; which is great as it doesn't need rubbing in like a heavy cream would. It also doesn't sting at all and feels very gentle, which is what I found when I used Roc's Complete Lift eye cream.

Its comes in a pump dispenser which means there is no waste. I can't comment yet on how effective it is yet on wrinkle prevention, as I need to use it for another couple of months, but I definitely have a great impression of it so far. It retails for about £17, so quite pricey but I think its worth the investment.

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Candy Colours & Neon Brights

Candy colours and neon brights are every where in the shops at the moment - in clothes, make up, nail varnish and jewellery.

Here are my latest purchases from this popular look.

The earrings are from a stall in Spitalfields market in East London, and the scarf is from Accessorize. I like wearing them with my bright cardigan from GAP, to give a pop of colour. Just like the when the sun is out, wearing bright colours can automatically give you a burst of energy.

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60's Eye Makeup

When I go out in the evening I tend to do similar eye makeup looks, all revolving round brown and black eye shadow shades for maximum impact. But after playing round with some different eye shadows in makeup collection I had a go at this look...

I used the same technique of putting darker shades in my eye socket, but kept my whole eye lid in a light colour, therefore making the contrast between the dark and light shades even more noticable.



I added a dark flick of gel eyeliner, thick black mascara, and to really open up my eyes and give the genuine 60's look I added to some light fake eyelashes.

I think this look will be great in the summer months, when I want to steer clear of heavy dark eye makeup in the evening; and it will complement the more summery outfits in my wardrobe.

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New Nails - Minty Fresh, with a twist..

This Easter weekend I wanted to wear a fun, eye-catching colour on my nails and this combination fitted the bill perfectly.

I painted my ring fingers in Barry M's in 'Mint Green' then my other naisl in the No 7's baby blue shade 'Minty Fresh'. I also painted the tip of my ring finger nail in Model's Own in 'Juicy Jule', to make the nail stand out even more as both nail colours are quite similar.

Happy Easter!

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J'adore Chanel

For my 50th blog post, I wanted to write about something extra special - and my recently purchased Rouge Coco Shine by Chanel is certainly pretty special!

I've heard many great things about this super glossy light lipstick and I really wanted to try it out for myself. I don't often get very expensive lipsticks as I'm scared about breaking or losing them, but this one just seemed too good to pass by.

Luckily I tend to spend a lot of money in Boots, so I had managed to pay for the lipstick with my Boots points, It feels like I've been given it as a present; rather than having to fork out £23 for it.

I opted for the most popular shade 54 'Boy', which is named after the love of Coco Chanel's life, Captain Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel. Its a great shade to wear in the day, as its not too over powering and its pretty mid-pink colour will suit most skin tones. I love how it has a subtle shimmer too.

Its highdrating and sheer quality doesn't feel like you're wearing a lipstick, but more like a tinted lipgloss, without the gloopy sticky feeling. Great for when you want your lips to complement the rest of your makeup and not over power your look.

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Review - Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus

I recently tried a sample of Clinique's Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector and I was pleasantly surprised with how soft and smooth it made my skin feel.

www.clinique.co.uk

Its light serum consistency glides over your skin and a little goes a long way. Since using it I've noticed my makeup glides on more easily and it works well under your usual moisturiser. I think I would have to use it for a couple of months to really comment on how effect the serum was at 'repairing' my skin as it claims to do a lot, but on first impressions - I really like this product.

It retails at £38, which is pretty pricey but it claims to be three serums in one and can be used on eyes as too, making this high price a bit more acceptable.

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Real Fake Lashes

I love having thick long lashes, and sometimes for special occasions my usual 'day time' mascara doesn't quite give the desired high impact look I'm after, and I don't always want to go to the extra effort of applying fake lashes.

Earlier this year I came across this mascara - YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils 'Shocking'. I hadn't researched this product or read any reviews, but it was purely the name that drew me in. To me, its name did everything that I wanted in a special mascara.

It was a bit of a risk for £23, but I'm very pleased with it! It has a thick consistency, but doesn't clump on your lashes. It coats each lash to become dense and thick in all the right ways. My technique is to apply one thin coat first, let then dry 50%, then apply a second thick coat. This helps my lashes hold their curl and really makes my lashes flutter!

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Spring Skin - Blusher

Spring is officially here now, and its time to start adapting and changing our makeup to suit the weather and our skin tone. I'm already noticing freckles appearing on my skin, and want to complement them with a peachier shade of blusher, rather than the plum/pink colour I go for in the winter months when I have paler skin.

This week Boots launched their 3 for 2 offer on all their makeup, so decided to take advantage of this and get Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher in 03 Brun Cuivre, along with some other goodies. Its a peachy tan colour that boosts my complection, giving a healthy glow ready for summer. I'm really pleased with my choice, as I do think its tricky buying the right blusher for your skin, whether that be what shade to go for or what texture (cream or powder).

These blushers have been out for years now; I always try other brands for blushers but end up coming back to these for their reliable colour pay off and consistency at a decent price (£7.49). Its great for popping in your handbag too as there's a little brush that applies really well considering its size.

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How To - Smokey Eyes

Smokey eye make up is one of the easiest looks to create, but gives the most impact.

You don't have to be precise with how you apply, in fact the more smudged the better. My most useful tool is a smokey eye brush. These have short round bristles that blend your eyeliner to you eyeshadow.

To create my smokey eye's below I used the following eye shadows from Urban Decays 'Naked' palette, first blogged about here.

• 'Virgin' on the inner corner and brow bone. This is the lightest shade and great for creating highlights to contrast with the dark shades.
• 'Sidecar' applied across the eyelid, giving a mid colour base with some subtle sparkle.
• 'Gunmetal' on the out corner of the eyelid and blended into the socket and up to the brow line. A big soft eye shadow brushes helps blend this dark shade in the socket.
• 'Creep' on the socket crease and blended on the lower lash line with a smokey eye brush. This is the darkest shade in the palette and gives great depth to the eye. I used No 7's. I repeated this after apply a line of thick black eyeliner. The eyeliner gives definition but blending eyeshadow back over the eyeliner blurs creates the smokey tone.

I then applied a line of Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black, here is my post giving a bit more information on the product. As the gel was drying I used the smokey eye brush again and blended the line into the eye shadow, especially on the out corners. This was to leave some defintion of the eyeliner but blurring where the eyeliner finsihes and the eyeshadow starts.

To finish the look you need some high impact lashes, so I applied a coat of YSL's Luxurious Mascara Shocking Volume.

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New Nails - Black Magic

This weeks new nails is a combination of a very dark blue and a black glittery nail varnish layered on top. The result is a 3D glitter effect, subtle on first glance but when you look closer the specs of glitter add depth to such a dark colour.

I used one coat of No 7's 'Betty Blues', then two coats of Models Own 'Thunder & Lightening'.

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DIY Jewellery

Creating your own jewellery is the best way to ensure that you won’t see anyone else wearing the same, and you will create unique pieces that you can tailor make to go with any outfit or occasion.

I had a go at making my own bracelets from some gorgeous unusually shaped green and blue beads. I used some thin clear elastic and just threaded the beads through with a needle. It was really quick to do. The bracelets would go well with a plain t-shirt and a matching green or blue scarf.

For the more substantial beads, I decided to make a key ring. Using some thick black thread, I threaded the beads through and secure into a loop. I tied them onto a small metal ring that could then be attached to a key ring. Here I’ve put my bead key ring with an old flower key ring as I thought they complemented each other well!

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Give it some Ooomph!

www.boots.com

Back-combing isn’t good for your hair as it creates split ends and makes your hair weak. So when I discovered this little bottle, Tresemme's 24 hour Body Plumping Powder, I thought it was worth a try.

It claims to give your hair long lasting volume.. however I’m not too sure. I use it on the roots on my crown, and I’ve tried it using varying amounts, and I just can’t seem to get the desired effect. It leaves my hair feeling strangely sticky (which I understand is the texture needed to create the volume).However it makes my hair greasy extremely quickly. I would only recommend using this for a night out, as it creates a bit of a grungy rock chick hair style. It is £5.50 from Boots, and at the moment they've got a deal two Tresemme products for £6, so you're effectively getting the second item for 50p!

Although the powder does 'plump' my hair slightly, it certainly hasn’t stopped me reaching for my comb to create that extra volume I want.

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New Nails - Champagne Sparkles

This weekend I went to a white themed party. As the only white item in my winter wardrobe is long plain shirt, I decided to jazz my outfit up with a bit of sparkle on my nails.

I painted two coats of the No 7's Pearly Pink, then one coat of Models Own Juicy Jules.

I was quite pleased with the final result. The colours complement each other and create a 3D effect.
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Caring for your eyes

As I get older I am noticing more and more how my skin is changing and I want to be able to stall the signs of aging for as long as I can. The skin around your eyes is very delicate and when wrinkles start to appear there it can add years on.

I wanted to start using an eye cream that is aimed at caring for your skin now, rather than reducing wrinkles. I use Roc’s Complete Lift Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream. After using for 6 months I think it has strengthened the skin round my eye, but I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle cream, nor affected the dark circles. It can make your eye area sting slightly, especially when you apply just after removing eye makeup. I like to leave it 5 minutes, to give my eye are time to rest.

At £22.99, it isn’t cheap. I would rather try and find another cream that showed better results didn’t sting.

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Vintage Beauty

I love looking for unique finds at Antique fairs and charity shops, so was delighted to find this in the loft at home. It is an old manicure set, with nail and cuticle scissors, a nail buffer and a cuticle stick. I love how its presented in a box, with silk padded lining. It is all about the presentation and to show off how elegant, perfectly designed and well maintained each piece is. It contrasts greatly from the manicure kit I use – a tiny Cath Kidson wallet, with each utensil crammed in.

I don’t intend on using this old set as I think it should be preserved for many more years to come.

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Recycling Jeans

After wearing a pair of worn out jeans for far too long now, I finally got round to buying a new pair. I find so jeans so hard to buy, each brand creating various cuts and designs its difficult to find a pair that really suits your body shape and are reasonably priced. I bought this pair from Banana Republic, and am so far very pleased with them.
I couldn't bare to throw my old jeans out, so decided to make them into a pair of shorts instead!

Before



After

The dark denim works well with tights for winter and I'll go for bare (fake-tanned) legs in the summer. I feel like I've saved myself about £25 by not throwing these out, and sitting down for a couple of hours with some pins, and a needle and thread.

Its very satisfying knowing it was your handywork thats created a new item of clothing.

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Buff up!

A nail buffer is a great investment to recreate salon perfect talons, and this one won't break the bank at £2 from Boots. This nail buffer gives you a step by step guide, with each side helpfully numbered.

Buffing really helps your nail varnish go on evenly, giving a glossier finish. It also smooths out any ridges and split nails.

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No More Bad Hair Days

Dry Shampoo has become increasingly popular the past couple of years, with Batiste leading the way surIts perfect for giving your hair some ooomph when you go out for the evening straight after work, to freshen your hair the day after you washed it, and its a complete life saver at a music festival where running hot water is in limited supply.

I've used a few of the traditional spray shampoos, and I think they do a great job at elimiating grease, especially round the hair line. But am currently using the talc alternative called Batiste Nude. Its known as the eco friendly version, as its not a spray.

www.boots.com

I often found the sprays quite toxic smelling and needed to open a window to ventilate the fumes, so for me this is a great alternative. It is odourless and has a nozzle to give precise application to the hair roots.

I've had this for about 3 months, and its still very full. Where as the spray would maybe only last 6 weeks - so it works out to be great value for money at £3.56 from Boots.

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New Nails - Understated Glamour

This week I decided to go for a muted pinky brown colour, that I like to wear when I want sophisticated nails with a strong colour.

The shade is Highland Mist from No 7. (I'll try and wear another brand soon!). This nail varnish looks best with long oval nails - but as my nails aren't strong enough I've kept them short and neat.

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Shoe Wish List

After being tempted into Spring with a few mild days this week, my mind has wandered into thinking about what new shoes I would like to purchase this Spring. I would like to get a pair that would work well with both skirts, dresses and trousers, then I remembered this lovely pair from Bertie that caught my eye the other week.

www.bertieshoes.com

They are a taupe suede, that will compliment most outfits in my wardrobe, with the little wedge heal adding some glamour to day wear. They are a sophisticated take on the ballerina flat.

I haven't tried them on yet, but am hoping they'll fit like a glove when I come to buy them in a couple of months!

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A fresh look for eye makeup

After previously posting about Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel eyeliner in January, it now seems the perfect opportunity to review my new shade of this wonderful product - a dark green called Ivy Shimmer Ink. Its a great fresh new look for your eye makeup; a subtle change that will work well from spring through to summer when you don't want to wear heavy black liner on your eyes. So far I have worn it with metallic gold and taupe eye shadows, and I think it helps bring out the colour of my eyes (see below).

One slight downside is that I don't think it lasts quite as well as the black shade, I have found the colour to wear off slightly. Don't let it put you off as its still a great product.

I apply it with the Ultra Fine Eyeliner brush, again from Bobbi, as this gives a thick enough line to be able to notice the gorgeous colour.

Take a look at Bobbi Brown's website to see the other shades in the collection - I think the purple shade will go great with brown eyes.

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Tried and Tested - Ginvera BB Cream

I recently recieved a BB Cream sample from a company called Ginvera. It claimes to 'fight against free radical damage and help prevent fine lines' and contains 'Ginseng and Angelica to nourish the skin'. I can't prove if any of this actually works, and am just concerned with how it appears on my skin.

Although the colour didn't match my skin perfectly (it was a little too yellow), it gave an even finish and a surprising amount of coverage for a BB Cream - this could potentially replace foundation, especially in the summer months when you're skin may be in better condition. The finished look was very matte, so wouldn't compliment this springs popular 'glowing' skin. However it did mean that my skin didn't get greasy throughout the day. It had quite a chemical smell, which put me off and made me wonder what ingredients were in it exactly. But so far my skin hasn't reacted badly to it after wearing it for a day.

One huge advantage is that its got an SPF of 30, which is hard to find this high in most moisturisers and foundations.

This sample hasn't convinced me to make a purchase of the product, at roughly £15 to £20, I think I could find a better BB Cream out there.

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Chanel - Shade Parade

I love the latest TV advert from Chanel - featuring a whole load of very talented hands, with lovely nails. A catchy, happy tune too! Take a look for yourself here.

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New Nails - Neon Purple

Keeping with the purple theme, this weeks nails are in a shocking colour of neon purple called  'Violetta', that can look a different shade in every light. The quick drying formula from No 7 is best applied in two thin layers with a base and top coat. I've work it for 4 days now and only noticing the first sign's of chipping. Its a great alternative to wearing black or dark blue, and looks best on short square nails.

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Purple Eyes

Recently I have been on the look out for an eye shadow that will create a different look from the usual metallic creams and taupes that I usually go for. Bobbi Brown's Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Black Pearl fit the bill perfectly. It offers a subtle purple sheen with an iridescent sparkle, that looks great when worn on its own with just a slick of black mascara. This eye shadow does all the talking, so that you don't need eyeliner. I tried it out with the recently reviewed Gel Eyeliner from Bobbi Brown, and I found that the heavy liner distracted from the gorgeous texture and shade of eyeshadow. This is a delicate look, that will be best suited with glowing skin and a pink pearlescent lipgloss.

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Bye Bye Blemishes

Its seems even after teenage skin has gone, many women in their 20's and 30's still suffer from bad skin. Whatever the cause may be, I have found a cream that really does work. Its TriAcneal Treatment Cream from Avene. It doesn't come cheap at £23 from Boots but after trying out most spot creams under £20 this really is worth it. It can seem quite harsh on the skin at times, as it does dry it out and contains contains Glycolic acid, which is a powerful exfoliant to smooth skin's surface. But I think the cream needs to be this powerful to be effecttive. Even if blemishes do appear the healing process is dramatically sped up when this cream is used. The appearance of scars are also reduced. You are directed to apply it at night, after washing and cleansing. Even if you don't need to use it every day, its great to keep for when you have the odd break outs after a late night drinking, or when your skin is effected by your hormones.

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Neon Spring

Winter may be keeping its frosty grip over the thermometer recently, but I couldn't help but notice all the lovely bright neon spring wear that has been appearing on the high street. This weekend I purchased this lovely neon coral cardigan from GAP.

 I hope to wear it with white jeans and khaki capri's in the summer, but for now it will brighten up my dull jeans, adding a fresh spring touch to my outfit.

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Keeping Hydrated

This week I purchased this pretty water bottle from Urban Outfitters in the sale for £4. Its the perfect size for fitting in my handbag on days out, and looks very cute too!

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DIY Gym

Gym memberships are incredibly expensive, so I have been on the look out for an alternative work out routine that can be flexible with work and social commitments, and also doesn't break the bank.. After coming across Kettle Bells at a free personal training session last year, I thought these would be the perfect solution to help me keep toned in the comfort of my living room!

I chose a 5kg weight as I didn't want it to be too heavy that I couldn't do a decent amount of repetitions and sets of each movement. The shape of the kettle bell allows you to do a variety of movements -standing with a bicep curl, lunging, squatting or situps.

Clear a space in your living room, put a music channel on and chose different movements where you can push yourselve phsyically, raise your heart rate and break out into a bit of a sweat! Although kettle bells are a great tool for excercising, you still need to have regular cardiovascular activities every week, such as jogging or skipping - neither of which are expensive either.

Always remember to stretch one you've finished exercising too, this will reduce the amount of pain the next day!

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Healthy Hair

To keep your hair stronger for longer and reduce the amount of split ends use a hair mask at least once every two weeks. Its great to use when your hair has been exposed to harsh conditions such as chlorine, sun, extreme heat (from straighteners ), and extreme cold weather.

I have started using Pantene's 2min Deep Repair Masque this winter to give my hair a much needed injection of moisture, and although I can't say that it gets rid of split ends (I only think cutting hair solves this), it certainly makes my hair feel stronger, thicker, smoother and shinier for a few days after I've used it.

It certainly does the job in its advertised 2 minutes, but I like to leave it on for 30mins when I can. Make sure you squeeze a lot of the moisture out of your hair after shampooing, apply a thick layer of the conditioner from root to tip, then clip your hair up and put a shower cap on (the freebies from hotels work best). To boost the conditioning treatment, blow some warm air from your hair dryer on top of the shower cap (don't leave the heat in one place for too long), do this for a few minutes to make your hair warm, then wrap a towel round your head for the rest of the 30mins. Rinse out the conditioner with warm water to get most of the bubbles out, then for the last 2 minutes of rinsing use cold water. This injection of cold temperature makes your hair shiney and extra soft.

I try to let my hair dry naturally and not use straighteners when I use this conditioner, to really take advantage of its repairing properties.

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