Beauty Flash

  Perfume is one the biggest selling presents (for her) at christmas time. I'm really never sure what people would like as I think its such a personal preference. However, here are some of the most popular on the market so far.. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique is a really popular perfume with an amazing bottle design! This was launched in the 90's and is still a great choice. £36 -£44 100ml RRP Lady Gaga Fame is another favourite. Although there are so many celebrity scents out its difficult to know which to choose. This is a lovely bottle, quite classy looking. £19 30ml RRP This is a gorgeous perfume and the bottle is super cute! Marc Jacobs has a few fragrances that are really nice and this is no different.  £31.99 RRP Classic Calvin Klein beautiful elegant fragrance. Bottle is super sophisticated and its a lovely feminine scent. £29.99 + RRP These are all usually reduced in the sales as well mind you so its up to you when to buy! :)

Try not to be too matchy matchy with your make up and outfit. Red lips are a great look for the holiday season. If you have a gorgeous outfit thats sparkly etc. keep make up to a minimum. Sequin dresses look fab with a smokey eye! If you want a shimmery eye, try mixing a cream with glitter/shimmer eyeshadow and always pat it on with a brush if possible. This way it should last longer and you shouldn't get loads of fall out. For a subltle shimmer, add a little shadow in the corner of your inner eye or in the centre, just above your iris. This opens your eyes up and will look brilliant in pictures. If you highlight your face well either have sparkly lips or eyes, not both. Highlighter should be applied to any darker parts of your face. Use a well lit place with a mirror. Swipe a line of highlighter just below eyesbrows, tops of cheeks and nose. If you go for a bright red lip make the rest of your make up natural add just a little mascara and blush etc.  For a smokey eye use a

There are so many new and amazing foundations on the market, I've narrowed them down to some of my faves. They promise to keep you looking good for longer! Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation £9.99 This is a brilliant foundation. Good coverage, I'd say light to medium and glides on easily and smells amazing. I find it lasts all day and you don't need a massive amount. It's a high end product as far as I'm concerned for a great price! Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation £8.99 This really does give your skin a nice subtle glow, its a light/medium coverage again so possibly need to touch up with concealer (unless you are blessed with good skin) smells nice too. Max Factor Miracle Touch Foundation £12.99 This feels so amazing on your skin! It's so lightweight it doesn't feel like your wearing any foundation, which I like, cakey is not good! It has a good coverage, drys evenly, lasts for ages and blends really well too. Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundatio

Try as I may to deny the season has changed, it has. My only comfort is the gorgeous, autumn/winter new shades that help me through! There are lots of products on the market. In this post, I've picked some of my must have palettes.... All of these eyeshadows have amazing pigment and brilliant staying power! The Return of Sexy Palette - £38.50 This gorgeous palette includes a brilliant range of 15 shadows from matte to shimmer with neutral and vibrant colours. You also get an eyeliner and the brilliant shadow insurance. As with Too Faced palettes you also get great tutorial cards inluded. Well worth the money! Urban Decay Smoked Palette £35.00 Another fantastic palette from Urban Decay. The shades in this are ideal for the perfect smokey eye as well as day to night make up. The palette also includes mini primer potion and eyeliner. Kinky (soft ivory peach with a matte finish), Freestyle (light pantyhose nude with matte finish), Mushroom (warm grey with shimmery

So I was born with naturally curly hair, some might say a dream. I don't agree! I am a big fan of straightening irons and would be lost without mine. However, these are some tips that do help those with curls that can be tamed! You can make sure your curls look their best always... 1. Less Is More When you shower your hair, try to shampoo less and condition more. Unless you need to shampoo every day avoid this as it can dry your hair out. Try to limit the amount of time shampooing. Invest in a good quality conditioner will be well worth it in the long run. I really like the John Freida range but whatever you preference is. 2. Choose it.. There are so many products and brands on the market these days for all hair types. If you live in a warmer climate you can expect that your curls can become frizzy. You just have to find the right one to keep you frizz free! If you have a looser curl or even a slight wave you can choose a curl enhancer or even a light gel or

Take a good look at the skin around your nose and cheeks. If you see any bumps, uneven areas or even tiny holes, then you have enlarged pores. Not so thrilled? Neither was I when I noticed this, something I've NEVER had before! I feel your pain, so I've tracked down three pore-minimizing primers. These can also help stop shine in seconds by smoothing your skin and keeping your makeup intact for hours. Look for added benefits that will keep your skin and makeup looking good long after you applied them, too. Pore minimizers cannot create a flawless complexion (we wish!) however they can really reduce the appearance of pores. Benefit The Porefessional I actually got a free sample of this around about the time I noticed my pores where a little more noticeable than usual. It's a really lightweight formula and feels lovely on the skin. It seem to blend well with various skin tones. As usual fab packaging from Benefit, it comes in at £23.50 but you really don't need m

The cold crispness of winter setting in can sometimes bring nothing more than a rosy glow to some cheeks. I unfortunately, do not afford that luxury! I feel like my whole body is suffering from horrible dryness to my skin, face, hands and feet. As soon as it gets cold outside, we turn up the heat inside and that's when my problems begin.... So here are some of my tips to help you get through; If you have a favourite moisturiser you use in the summer months, you should change, like the season do, your routine. If you have non oily skin look for something with an ointment base as this can help provide a barrier and in effect retaining moisture.  (Many night creams are oil based, therefore thicker) SPF isn't just for summer! Winter sun can still damage your skin. If you can't find an ideal moisturiser with both SPF and the heaviness you need use it separately. As in the hotter months apply around 30 minutes before going outside. Moisturise your hands regularly! Try to

    Not many things make a well groomed apprearance stand out than well plucked eyebrows. Many women choose to do this themselves, have them waxed or the new popular system of threading. Eyebrow boutiques seem to be popping up all over the place at the moment. I would recommend having a professional do your eyebrows first off as they can get the best shape for your face, which you can then maintain. Well, that's the theory anyway!   Here are some tips if your a diy kinda gal...   Cleanse your skin, I'd suggest using a facebloth as this helps exfloliate. I like to dampen mine with some luke warm water to help with any pain! Brush brows up and out with a a brow brush, if available. Make sure your near a window, or natural light. Some people like to use magnifying mirrors as well. Invest in a good pair of tweezers, I like Bourjois ones which are around £5.00. For more high end, you can't really beat tweezerman. Ensure you tweeze your hairs in the directi

How to do it yourself pedicure at home... So I know summer is over, well, it is for me! However, there is never an excuse for non pretty feet. Here's my tips for top toes... Step 1 (see what I did there) You will need the following; • Nail polish remover • A large bowl or foot bath filled with some water (not too hot not too cold) and bubble bath • Cuticle oil • Exfoliating foot scrub • A bath towel • A hand towel • A foot callus file • Nail clipper • A fine grit nail file • Foot lotion • Cotton pads • Base coat • Your favourite nail polish! • Top coat • Toe separators I understand not everyone has all these bits just lying around but use what you can from the list... Remove any leftover polish on your feet, use mild acetone polish remover and a cotton pad to remove it. Acetone remover is not damaging to nails it also gets rid of stains etc. faster than non-acetone remover. Make an at-home pedicure more relaxing by soaking your feet in a large bowl with bubble

A familiar daily routine for oily skin can be you cleanse and prime your skin every morning, use your oil free products and by the time you actually arrive at your office/school etc. you need MORE powder. What is that about? There are plenty of anti shine busting products to help those of us with oily skin, but do they actually work? Try using a gentle cleanser, avoide products with alcohol, and choosing oil-free make up. Here is a list of some that I feel might actually benefit you. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Brilliant product, keeps eyeshadow in place really well. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets These are really inexpensive and soak up the oil really well, great for hanbag emergencies! The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream Lightweight, really hydrating product good primer as well. Revlon ColorStay Makeup with Softflex for Combination/Oily Skin Long lasting, great coverage.   Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray One spray and

I, like many others am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe. I loved the way she came across on screen and how she had a vulnerability but was so outgoing. I also thought she was a great role model for women, she had envious curves and of course, was stunning, in my opinion. So, I am super excited that MAC are paying tribute with their exciting new collection; Lipstick Deeply Adored - Deep scarlet (Matte) Charmed I'm Sure - Dark true red (Matte) Pure Zen - Warm nude (Cremesheen) Love Goddess - Mid-tone pink red (Satin) Scarlet Ibis - Bright orange red (Matte) Dazzleglass Phiff! - Sheer yellow peach Little Rock - Soft sheer white with pearlized pigments Lip Pencil Beet - Vivid reddish-pink Redd - Clearly red Cherry - Vivid bright blue/red Eyeshadow How to Marry - Soft White (Veluxe Pearl) Preferred Blonde - Pale champagne beige (Veluxe Pearl) Silver Screen - True silver (Veluxe Pearl) Showgirl - Dark blue grey (Veluxe Pearl) Eye Kohl

I have to admit, The Body Shop is a favourite of mine but its a shop I always forget about mainly because its a little out of my way in my local city centre. However, I popped in last week and had a look and was really impressed! First of all they had redone the whole interior and it was really nice and bright, I liked the layout and how all the products where well organised. There was also a lot of testers which I like, including all the fragrances and body products and their make up range. I've always known the body shop for their lovely fragrance and body mists, but they have really brought in so many new products. I purchased the Amazonian Wild Lily Fragrance Mist and Indian Night Jasmine Body Lotion. I decided I like both the scents of them so got one of each. This body lotion smells amazing! Its a really lightweight lotion which at first I wasn't sure if I liked, but after application it sinks into your skin and leaves your skin feeling really soft. The smell

I'm constantly looking for ways to give me that 'glow' unfortunately I live in one of the coldest, wettest places on the planet! I barely remember what sunshine looks like, so I get my 'brightness' from a bottle. Vitamin C is a key ingredients in brightening products and it's a great antioxidant. Using an spf daily is really important (even if you only get rain!). Some of my favourites; Origins Vitazing SPF Enger-boosting moisturiser with Mangosteen  £27.00, this is quite pricey but I love it. It's really light and its actually very long lasting so you don't need much. Good for daily use or if you want a bit of colour and dont want foundation/bronzer. I usually just wear this with a bit of blusher/mascara and I'm good to go. No 7 Skin Illuminator £11.00 this is brilliant for under foundation, to highlight cheeks etc. And again, a little goes a long way! http://www.boots.com/ Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Cream £2.99 *brill price! This is

So I have to say I've mainly only really ever bought the Maybelline mascara's before and their foundations which are pretty awesome! However, when I notice they where having a 3 for 2 offer at Boots I thought I might as well indulge! I bought the falsies mascara and two lipsticks. I'd heard good things about the color sensation and was looking and everyday lipstick for work and a shimmery one for evening! 620 Pink Brown 812 Delicate Pearl The pink brown colour is just so gorgeous! It's the perfect natural shade with a kick! It's in a lovely natural rosy shade with just the right amount of fllush. If your into particular names for lipsticks then don't be put off by that!  This shade adds instant colour to my face even if I'm not wearing a lot of make up.So, for colour alone,this lipstick in gets five stars. I do find I have to reapply but not too often. I also really like the packaging its quite sleek and the texture is really

Sooo haven't done a post for ages, lots going on really but I have missed it so I'm back with avengence!! Maybelline review to follow.... hold tight!

So I was in Boots the other day and I was looking for some new nail polish, if you saw my collection you would wonder why! But what can I say... I had noticed that Loreal had brought out some new 'mini' nail polishes last time I was in but hadn't really had a good look. I wanted something kind of nude, but with a touch of pink. This was the perfect colour.... I choose 204 Boudoir Rose. This is a really beautiful colour, its very subtle but pretty and its the exact shade I wanted. These are really great polishes and I like that they come in mini size, I don't know how many times I've bought a full size polish, got it home and worn it once! This way if you dont actually like it on you wont have wasted a whole lot of money. This was priced at £4.99, I'd say thats a kind of middle of the road price. I love Barry M Nail Polish which is £2.99 and I also like Revlon which is around £5-£6 so I guess its not too bad. The best thing I have found is its such a l

If you are prone to oily skin you'll already know that the make up that works for most other people may not work for your. The dewy, fresh-faced look can be everywhere but this may not be the best idea for your skin type. Fear not, with the latest cosmetics you can still look fabulous.   They're are a lot of great oil free products on the market, here are a few tips to hopefully help.     Try to ensure that all your make up, skin care and beauty items are oil-free. Including foundation and moisturiser.   A matte finish in your foundation will help keep you shine free.   If using creme blush and creme eyeshadow try to ensure they are designed for oily skin.   Try a powder foundation.         Some good products are Avon Magix Face Perfector,  Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector, Philosophy on a clear day for oily skin,  Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Translucent Oil-Control Powder, Clean and Clear Absorbing Sheets.   You can also try, Clinique Pore Minimise

Looking for makeup tips for brown eyes?.. look no further. A great thing about brown eyes is that they look good with pretty much all eye shadow colours., from light to dark. Obviously depending on what shade of brown your eyes are some colours will look even better than others! If you have quite dark deep brown eyes ideally you want to go for eye makeup colors in the medium to dark range of colous. Medium brown eyes look good with just about any colour, green is an amazing colour on brown eyes, while light brown eyes look good with colours such as light beige and gold that bring out the golden flecks. Keep in mind that lighter shades bring out and maximize the size of your eyes, while darker colors minimize and contour. Another one of the more important eye makeup tips for brown eyes is to combine dark eyeliner with lighter eye shadow in order to emphasise your eyes. To make your eyes stand out try to keep all other make up to a minimum. Such as lips and cheeks, keep neutral, and

ELECTRIC LIPS A bright pink lip is my ultimate go-to these days. I would put it with light foundation, dewy looking if possible and a touch of black eyeliner.  Or just big lashes ;) You can achieve a striking look with this... 2true Plumptuous Lip Gloss No 8 Bright Pink  £1.99 Barry M Lip Paint 62 Vibrant Pink  £4.99 VIBRANT LIPS I sometimes blend a bright lip product onto my cheeks or use a neon blush if I'm in a rush, A pop of colour can warm up your whole look. Fashionista Mono Blusher Rose Shine  £4.99 beauty uk Baked Blusher No.1 Candy Shop  £3.99 LOUD LINER Like shadows, a subtle streak of neon liner paired on a neutral face can add a pop of colour to your look. Try applying a fine line of electric blue, green, purple, in a cat-eye style or along your lower lash line Accessorize Glitter Eyeliner Turquoise Dream  £3.00  Make Up Academy Eyeliner Glitter Shade 6  £1.00    2true Eyeliner Dazzler No 3 Green   £1.99 NEON

So you've tried all the best mascara's they have promised you the world, but have they delivered? If you've given up and have had every new one out there, try these tips to help... 1. Soy Protein - helps build volume and strengthen lashes (Wet n Wild Mega Protein Mascara), (ELF Studio Mascara Primer), (Dior Show Maximiser Serum) 2. Panthenol, Pantethine, and Pro Vitamin B-5 - These conditioners aim to make lashes stronger and longer (Marks & Spencer Perfection Precision Mascara), (MAC mascara X), (NYX Propel My Eyes Mascara) 3. To create the illusion of thicker lashes, apply eyeliner to the upper inner rim of the eye. Use a pointed eyeliner brush with a matt eyeliner/dark eyeshadow to apply liner as close to the lash line as possible. 4. Curl your lashes before application of mascara, let them dry, then again until you are lash liscious! 5. (a) Finding the right wand is imperative for getting the best results. I find that the smaller wands with lots of teeth

We change our hair and make-up every day, but our face shape really doesn't change and its a defining feature. Knowing your face shape can help choosing a perfect hairstyle and use make up tips to make the most of your best features! Here's how; 1. Tie your hair up into a ponytail and scrape back your fringe or layers with an head band. 2. Look in the mirror and outline your face on the mirror with a lip pencil or eyeliner pencil (both will wipe off with cleanser/washing your face). 3. Compare the outline on the mirror with the illustrations below then choose the one that most resembles your face shape. Heart-Shaped Face You have a wider forehead and a jawline that tapers to a narrow, almost pointy chin Oval Face Your face is symmetrical and is considered to be the perfect shape. Lucky you! Long Face Your face appears to be longer than it is wide, and tends to have a prominent chin Square Face Your face is strong and broad, with a wide, angular jaw and squ