How to apply False Eyelashes

Like many, I dream of having gorgeous, thick and long eyelashes and wish I was blessed like Elizabeth to be born with two layers of eyelashes.  Sadly, unlike Elizabeth Taylor, my eyelashes weren’t destined to be on the big screen.  Instead, I have to reply on various mascaras, eyelash curlers and for special occasions, false eyelashes.

There is definitely an art to applying false eyelashes and so we spoke to Lash Expert and founder of A H Francis, Alison Francis to see if she could offer us any advice.

 “Like most things, applying false eyelashes perfectly takes some practice – the more you do it, the easier and quicker it becomes.  To ensure the false lash holds on to the natural curve of your eyelid, carefully wrap the eyelash strip around your finger for a minute or so to create a slightly arched shape.  Precisely apply eyelash adhesive to the base of the strip using the back end of your tweezers, as can cotton buds can leave traces of wool that irritate the eye and squirting directly from the tube can be very messy.  Remember to only apply a thin layer of adhesive to ensure the lash strip does not slide around once placed on your natural lash line.  Hold one end of the strip lash with your fingertips and the other with tweezers, then carefully place directly onto the eyelid, as close to the lash line as possible.  For extra comfort, use eyelash curlers to bind your natural lashes to the false lashes 1-2 minutes after the adhesive has dried.”

My favourite false eyelashes at the moment are the Kimberley ones in the Girls Aloud range as they aren’t too heavy.

So come on girls, flutter those eyelashes!

K x

Come Out To Play

I hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, we had a day off here to at BSTO but are back a feeling fresh faced with a new purchase...

As you will know from my past posts, foundation is my biggest make up problem, constantly on the search so ‘the’ shade, which I know doesn’t exist as skin changes from month-to-month and you (I) practically need 10 different foundations to suit my skin through the year.  One brand I tried in my younger years was Benefit’s Play Sticks; the coverage was great and the choice of colour’s perfect for my skin tone. Unfortunately, when I was 16 foundation never sat on my skin very well and often looked very greasy. Perhaps, I was wearing too much foundation or even using the wrong moisturizer – in fact I doubt I even used one back then! Tut Tut Tut!

Benefit Play Stick

I adore Benefit they are fun, cheeky and the products are brilliant! However, I’ve not actually invested much into brand, as I consider it a little pricy for my meager budget. So, when I went shopping with my Mum over the weekend, we stumbled on an amazing discovery. T.K.Maxx sells beauty products, to be precise Benefit Play Sticks for a fifth of the RRP! Well, it was sheer carnage searching for the right shade, but eventually I found two that I thought would suit – two different tones (Tea Party and Paper Dolls), to accommodate my ever-changing skin tone. So, for a tenner I got two Play Sticks, half the RRP of one!! I have a bit of a reputation for finding a bargain, but this is something else!

Paper Dolls

Tea Party

Benefit Play Sticks are a powder foundation formulated into a cream stick, it feels like velvet and glides onto the skin like silk. It is one of the easiest foundations I have come across to blend and the coverage is perfect for my needs (medium-heavy). The end result is a natural, clear looking complexion. Also, this little baby gets better; Play Sticks contain Green Tea and Chamomile, thus helping fight and calm blemishes. It also smells wonderful and is an absolute pleasure to use!

So, whether you spend £5 or £25.50 for a Benefit Play Stick, just make sure you get one (or two, or three)

Ax

Facial Masterclass

I had a lovely day of relaxing at Nirvana Spa yesterday and treated myself to a neck, shoulder and back massage.  It was absolute bliss! 

They were offering a workshop where you learn how to give yourself a mini-facial which I decided to attend as you can't spend all day doing nothing!  It was a really interesting workshop and I wanted to share with youI some of the key points that were highlighted.

Cleanse – make-up wipes can leave your skin very de-hydrated so it is actually better to use a lotion so it doesn’t strip skin of its natural moisture.  You should add your cleanser on your cheeks, nose, forehead and chin before rubbing it in to ensure that the product is easily spread.

Exfoliate – you should exfoliate 2 – 3 times per week to remove any dead skin cells.  Removing dead skin cells will also mean that masks and serums are move easily absorbed.

Tone – the quickest way to tone is to use a spritzer.  You hold it at arms length and just spritz it onto your face.  It is also great to cool you down in the heat and can even be used over your make up.

Rehydrate – apply a face mask once a week to rehydrate your skin and leave on for around 10 minutes and RELAX.

Massage – increase circulation and make your skin glow by massaging a little facial oil into your skin.  This should be used once a week to replace your night cream.

Eye cream – Eyecream does not need to be applied directly on your eyelids.  Dot it under your eye sockets and just below your eyebrows and then rub in using your ring finger in circular motions.

Moisturise – Like your cleaner, you should apply your moisturiser on your cheeks, nose, forehead and chin before rubbing it in to ensure that the product is applied all over your face and décolletage.

K x

Get Dirty With Rugby Players

Want to clean dirty boys? Well the Harlequins rugby boys were keeping the nation clean and eco this week. This shower fun was in order to alert as many people in the UK to the amount of water that is wasted on a daily basis and be aware of chemicals that go down the plughole. The Harlequins wanted to encourage everyone to “share a shower”!. method, the smart and sustainable cleaning brand, are calculating how much water we’ll all save together to really bring home how important water awareness is.

We have all been told that showers are greener than baths, but in fact, the average shower still uses 63 litres of water. Research has shown that if everyone in the UK shared a shower with a loved one, even once, we could save 1.5 billion litres of water, while giving us the chance for some quality ‘we time’ (wink!)

 
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Sam Twomey; Ugo Monye: Chris Robshaw; Will Skinner; Chris York – Nicole Kurtz

You may be thinking, we are a rainy nation surrounded by water, why do we have to bother. Well according to research, we are wasting huge amounts needlessly and some parts of the UK are experiencing water shortages - the south east of England has less water available per person than Sudan and Syria! Do not forget that each day we wash loads of chemicals and cleaning products down the drain, which goes into the seas! 

So with that in mind, method’s share a shower was born, to encourage the UK to have a bit of fun while saving water and being conscious of the products we use. Share a shower has a plethora of hi-profile, eco-savvy faces joining them to spread the word, such as the delicious Oliver Health and beautiful Summer Rayne Oakes.


You can join the tasty Harlequins and pledge your support at www.shareashower.co.uk – and remember if we all shared a shower, just once, we could save 1.5 billion litres of water.

Ax

At Least He Smells Nice

My boyfriend isn’t much of a grooming guru or even a fashion icon, but he does have one key interest and that is fragrance. When we first met about three and a half years ago, one of the first things I noticed was that he smelt nice. On my first visit to his flat I, as a self confessed product junkie, snooped in his bathroom cabinet to see what he was all about (I believe you can tell a great deal about someone by the products in their bathroom) this is what I saw....

Two shelves full of fragrance, among the rows upon row upon row of EDT and EDP and such I found one or two L’Oreal and Clinique products, which were clearly gifts at some point but unfortunately were never used to their full potential. One thing that stands out thought is the boys evident love of Tom Ford, or perhaps more so Tom Ford’s Private Blend of Neroli Portofino, at the time I counted 15 bottles across two shelves!

Tom Ford Private Blend Neroli Portofino is a modern interpretation of a classic Eau de Cologne and is bursting with fresh notes of Bergamot, Lemon, Lavender and Myrtle, which wrap around a central theme of sensual Orange Blossom and musk-like Ambrette. I have to say that I find it a little sweet, and was quite surprised that it was loved so much by a man who in most cases doesn’t bother with investing in grooming.

A few words from my boyfriend as to why he likes it so much...

‘It is a brilliant scent that works for both day and night. In the job I do, it is important to stand out and Neroli Portofino makes me feel confident. It is a step up from the conventional after shaves worn by most, such as the obligatory Cool Water! It is a grown up scent, and what makes me like it so much is that in all the years I’ve been wearing it, I’ve not come across a single person who wears it.’


Ax

P.S Happy Birthday to my boyfriend - who knows he may even get another bottle!

Nail Art: Part 2

So continuing with my lesson in nail art, I decided to try out my silver studs.

Sparkly-Nails.co.uk recommends that you:

• Paint nails and apply top coat. 
• Pick gem up with damp wooden stick and press the gem into the damp top coat
• Seal with top coat

I painted my toe nails a brighter pink than before and then once my nails were dry, I applied 2 pale pink flowers in the same way that I had done before.  I then put a clear coat of nail polish on top and then used tweezers to pick up the studs.  I have to admit that this wasn’t the easiest way to do it but I didn’t have a wooden stick to hand!  I then placed the silver stud in the centre of each flower and used the tweezers to gently press them down.  I then waited a few minutes for the studs to set and put another clear coat on top to seal it.

Again, these were so easy to use and really transform your nails in a matter of minutes (once your nail polish is dry!).  There are lots of different shapes and colours of studs to choose from such as flowers, stars and snowflakes.  I now can’t wait for Christmas so I can test out the snowflakes!

K x

Eye'll Be Seeing You

I have been asked by my mother to write a post on one of her favourite make up products. Now, when mum asked me to post her review of this product I nearly fell over. I got my product junkie gene from my mother and for her to have a clear favourite is really saying something. So, her hero is Bobbi Brown’s Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Antique Gold.

Bobbi Brown Metallic Lonbg-Wear Shadow - Antique Gold

‘I love the colour, it does something that makes my eyes look bluer and brighter. It works on brown and green eyes too, as many of my friends use the colour as well. The formulation is so easy to apply and it glides across the skin without dragging, which is ideal for those with older skin, you can layer them too and they are easy to blend. Even better still it doesn’t settle in the crease of the eye either and lasts the whole day. The versatility of this product is never ending, because of its metallic colouring, it works with the light to give the illusion of shape and definition where ever you need it. I find that it is best applied with a slanted brush, as you can use it to line the eye and gently sweep it across and up as a shadow, making it a two-in-one! I use this nearly everyday and still haven’t finished the pot, it seems to be endless.’

Well, that’s sold it for me, you know what they say...Mummy knows best!

I’ll be hunting for that in her make up bag when I go home next!

A + Mummy A x

Nail Art: Part 1

My nail art kit arrived last week!  I had selected a few pieces from this amazing website called sparkly-nails.co.uk.  I ordered some nail foils, foil adhesive (which is required when using nail foils), some nail stickers and some nail gems.  So this week I thought I would try each of them out and share with you how I got on with them.

I started off with the nail stickers which are the simplest and quickest way to add designs to nails. 

·        Paint your nails in your chosen colour and allow for the nail polish to dry completely.

·        Carefully peel your selected sticker off the backing paper using tweezers.

·        Apply to your nail and finish with a clear top coat to seal it.

I chose to use two floral designs and applied them on my toes.  The stickers were so easy to use and I loved the finished look that I am definitely going to take them on holiday with me!

K x

Roll Up Roll Up

Have you ever thought about what exactly it is that you are putting onto your skin, the ingredients that make up the soft, luxurious and wonderfully scented cream or the tightening, plumping serum? If so you are not alone, Dr. Raffaella Gregoris has too. Unnecessary extras in products bothered her so much that she decided to create a range of products that contain zero unless substances and only 100% active ingredients. This intriguing brand is called BAKEL and they have just launched a brand-new product named COOL EYES.
So what does it do? Well, exactly what is says, it cools the eyes. This regenerating eye cream gives and instant cooling effect to calm puffy eyes, bags and reduces dark circles. Not only that it also has a tightening effect that fights free radicals and stimulates cellular oxygenation.

BAKEL COOL EYES

COOL EYES isn’t just another of those trendy ‘roller ball’ eye products. It has been specially designed for easy application to the delicate eye contour area. The airless pump tip ends with a metal roller-ball ensuring a delicate and effective penetration of the cream during a draining massage. Not only that but it helps fight ageing too, with the combination of three premium peptides proven to target the main causes of dark circles and bags:


Dipeptide – stimulates drainage of excess liquids


Tetrapeptide – boosts firmness and elasticity


Hesperidin – counteracts capillary fragility


This is for anyone who works hard and plays hard, as the instant cooling sensation during and after application helps achieve immediate comfort and calms distressed skin.


Dr. Raffaella Gregoris, recommends the following;


‘ Pump a small amount and gently use the roller ball in a figure of eight motion. The moisturising cream allows for immediate absorption, and gives a calming effect on the skin, making it ideal for sensitive skin types. After just a few applications, the skin around the eyes is left looking smoother and brighter.’


As you will expect from BAKEL, COOL EYES contains NO preservatives, colourings, synthetic perfumes, petroleum derivatives, silicones, alcohol, PEG, PPG, heavy metals, or any other ineffective or harmful ingredients.


COOL EYES is out NOW at SPACE NK priced £75 for 20ml. That may sound a little steep but think, every ingredient is 100% active


As I mentioned earlier, we often don’t think about the ingredients in our skincare, below Dr. Raffaella Gregoris outlines the ingredients she doesn’t use and why.


PETROCHEMICALS
When they are present, they feature in big quantities because they are used as the nourishing part of the cream instead of using vegetal oils or vegetal butter (more expensive and with bigger problems of stability). They are not able to give any kind of benefit to our skin and they are not able to nourish the skin at all.


SILICONES: (i.e. DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONOL, CICLOPENTASILOXANE etc.)
They are used as the fatty part of the cream, again when they are present they are normally being used in a large quantity because they are the constituents of the oily part of the cream. They are used a lot because they give a wonderful texture, because they are volatile: you massage the cream and you think you have a perfect penetration (in reality this is because parts of the silicones are evaporating) and they are very stable. Very negative for the skin they don’t give any kind of benefit.


PEG-PPG
These glycols don’t give any kind of benefit to our skin, but at the moment there are also some negative studies on their action on our skin, it seems they interfere with the physiology of the skin and they modify it.


PARFUM
No sense at all in putting perfume inside a skincare for the face, not only is it not able to give a benefit to the skin but it can create problems of skin sensibility, skin spots and allergies.


PRESERVATIVES: (i.e. PARABENS, EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL)
It is possible to avoid the usage of these strong preservatives using airless packaging (no jars at all) and the best quality raw materials. Preservatives are very often the main ingredients responsible for causing allergies and reactions.


Wow, so go on, grab your favourite skincare products and ready the labels...what do you see?
　
Ax

Some great beauty advice!

I have some great news for all Beauty School Tryouts; the September issue of InStyle includes a supplement on InStyle’s Best Beauty Advice!  I have selected some of the top ones to share with you today;

Moisturiser tip: Don't just daub on moisturiser, make sure you massage it evenly into the skin making circular movements across the face. Warming it this way helps activate the ingredients and by taking time to do this, you'll really start to see the results.

Radiance tip: Brush YSL Touche Eclat on to your lids underneath your eyeshadow. It brightens up any dark areas and acts like a primer, keeping eyeshadow in place all day.

Concealer tip: When applying concealer, tilt your head downward while looking in the mirror. The shadows will make under-eye circles become more visible so you can cover them up better.

Mascara tip: Press your mascara wand right up to your lash line before sweeping the brush through lashes for eyeliner and mascara application in one go.

Night cream tip: Apply your fave night cream while your skin is still damp from cleansing to help lock in moisture.

Perfume tip: Spritz on the back of your knees, the inside of your elbows and the base of your throat - scent clings to these points longer.

Lip colour tip: For symmetry, divide lips into quarters. Start with liner at the Cupid's bow and work outwards, then up from the corners back to the bow. Repeat on the bottom lip, then brush on lipstick for a precision finish." - This works with lipgloss too.

Foundation tip: Finding the right shade and texture of foundation isn't always easy. Try testing it out on your jaw-line rather than the back of your hand for a truer idea of what it will look like.

Another tip that I was told ages ago, was that when applying mascara, you should always apply it to the lower lashes first because then you look up to apply your upper lashes and don’t get mascara underneath your eyes!

K x

You may have seen my yoomoo post earlier this year and read about the benefits of yogurt for keeping you beautiful. Well not only can eating yogurt be good for you from the inside, but applying it topically to the skin has a multitude of benefits too. Welsh, organic product queen RachelRowlands,as you may know has a fantastic products range which include yogurts, milk, cream, butter and milk, oh and deserts too!

Rachel also has a number of easy-to-use and ingenious tips on how to use her yogurt as a booster in your existing beauty regime.

Below you will find a selection of beauty tips that you can do easily at home to pamper yourself, so go on, get down to your local supermarket, grab a few of your girlies and get cracking!

Complexion Brightening
‘Cleanse and brighten dry skin by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to a small carton of Rachel’s Organic Whole Milk Yogurt and work into skin with fingertips. Rich in Vitamin A, yogurt will nourish skin overnight.’
Milk and yourt have skin softening and soothing benefits that works wonders on out of condition skin, try the below to pep up a tired complexion.

‘Blend 1tsp of Rachel’s Organic Natural Yogurt with 2tsp of full fat milk with two drops of lavender oil, smooth over clean, dry skin and relax for 10 minutes before rinsing off’

Dry Skin
It worked for Cleopatra and countless other beauties and it’s a fact that the natural fats in milk have a super moisturising effect on dry skin.

‘Add half a pint of Rachel’s Organic Fresh Milk to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes’

This smelt a little bland, so for some added luxury, I put a couple of drops of lavender oil to the bath, which nearly sent me to sleep, the water felt wonderfully rich and I didn’t have to bother moisturising after! Big big bonus!

Sore Skin
‘Calm skin post waxing by blending together 4tbsp of Rachel’s Organic Natural Whole Yogurt with a little milk. Smooth over affected areas and rinse off once the sting has gone!’

This tip works a treat if you use IPL or shave, any skin irritation at all will be calmed by this cool mixture, I also used it on an oven burn!

Blemished Skin
‘The quickest way to calm inflammation of a spot is to soak a small piece of bread in Rachel’s Organic Fresh Milk and place over the problem area for 10-20 minutes before rinsing off.’

This sounds rather bizarre but it totally worked! Use the end of the loaf (unless its your favourite part) as it is generally drier and will absorb more of the milk, meaning you can calm the skin faster. Personally, I recommend doing this alone, I got the weirdest look from my boyfriend ( who has seen it all, but this one really caught him by suprise!)

Skin Buffing
The essential fats and protein in milk combined with skin conditioning oatmeal make the perfect scrub.
‘Add a cupful of oats to two cups of Rachel’s Organic Fresh Milk and buff over the body before you hit the shower, concentrating on dry areas, such as elbows, knees and heels.’

I used this before applying fake tan to get my skin in the best possible condition, after my legs felt wonderfully soft and hydrated.

As you can see these are easy to make, highly effective and delicious DIY beauty treatments, I loved trying them all, but I’m the kind of girl who puts her stomach first and prefers to eat the yogurt, because it is simply devine!


Ax

Eye spy...

Eyelashes play a vital role in drawing attention to the face and I feel that mascara can either make or break your eye make up.  There is nothing worse than spending ages applying you eye shadow and eye liner so it’s looking perfect only to then apply your mascara and ruining the look entirely.

With this in mind, I wanted to share with you my absolute must-have for achieving great eyelashes; an eyelash curler.  You can use the most amazing mascara in the world, but it can’t work its magic if you haven’t prepared your eyelashes.  I have tried various heated eyelash curlers but find I have the best result using a metal eyelash curler and then gently heating it with my hairdryer for extra impact.

I have collated a few hints and tips on curling your eyelashes;

1. Eyelash curlers work best on clean eyelashes. Make sure eyelashes are free of mascara. If necessary, use eye makeup remover to remove old mascara.
2. With your blowdryer on low heat, blow air on the curler for no more than 5 seconds. Touch the metal. If it's hot, let it cool for a few seconds. You don't want to burn your eyelid.
3. Open the curler, clamp lashes near the roots. Hold for 10-30 seconds. Never curl lashes after you apply mascara -- as the mascara dries, lashes can stick to the curler & be torn from the roots. Don't bother curling bottom lashes.
4. Repeat on the other eye.

Model Twiggy is also a fan of heating her eyelash curler with her hairdryer!

Happy Curling…

K x

Everlasting Manicure - REALLY?

Nail enhancements are something that I have always shied away from. Mainly because when I was younger my friends and I used to use those at home glue on nails, which left our nails weak and dry. To be honest false nails generally look false and I never saw the appeal! Anyway, when I was invited to attend Urban Retreat at Harrods for their Autumn / Winter 2011 Trends press day, I was introduced to an exciting new brand called Artistic Colour Gloss. Based in Urban Retreats nail loft, this ‘everlasting nail colour’ is a soak off gel polish.

Artistic Colour Gloss

Artistic Colour Gloss has been created by Tom Bachik, also know as the ‘Man’-icurist, Tom has pampered and preened some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including one of my favourite ladies Victoria Bechkam, Cameron Diaz, J-Lo and Beyoncé. Artistic Colour Gloss draws on Tom’s expertise and talent giving an advanced gel polish in 66 colours, with 22 new shades for everyone. Artistic Colour Gloss is supposed to last for up to 21 days and give a brilliant shine and gloss.

Tom Bachik - 'Man'-icurist

I was very intrigued to try the ‘enhancements’ as recently my nails have been in such a state, flaking, peeling and splitting. I was assured that Artistic would actually be beneficial to my nails as before the gel is applied, a protein base coat is used to keep the nail strong. As dubious as I was, I went for it.

I opted for Hotzy, a scorching hot chilli red colour. Although it’s not one of the ‘trend’ colours for AW’11, I thought if I’m going to be wearing this colour for 3 weeks, then red, in my view, is the best option. It works for both day and night and can be smart as well as playful.

Hotzy

For those of you who are not familiar with the process of gel polish, UV light is used to set the gel to the nail. You have to place you hands in a little light box type unit, wait between 10-20 seconds (dependant on what layer is being set) and hey presto the colour is adhered! It took about an hour in total which included removing my existing polish, which I thought was rather good.

LED UV Lamp

The nail loft at Urban Retreat is like a little nail heaven, very relaxing and calm. You also get a great view of the rest of Urban Retreat from above, so you can spy out all the other wonderful beauty products to buy, while getting your nails done.

I had taken some photographs of my nails after they were done, but managed to successfully delete them by mistake when transferring files! ANNOYING!! So apologies for that. But I can honestly say that my nails looked stunning. The colour was rich, deep and even. The shine was brilliant and lasted the entire time I had the gel on. My nails didn’t feel weak as they grew longer, which is what they normally do. I wore Artistic Colour Gloss for 16 days, much shorter than the 21 day suggestion, only because I didn’t like seeing the regrowth area. My nails were already rather long when I had the gel applied so with the regrowth, they did start to look a bit false. However, I adored wearing Artistic Colour Gloss. I didn’t have to worry about having to spend 2 hours doing my nails each week or making sure they looked in tip-top condition for meetings or nights out, they were just as fabulous as they were the day they were applied. I would MOST definitely get them again and would recommend anyone who hasn’t tried enhancements before to do so. Artisitc Colour Gloss manicure costs £55 at Urban Retreat at Harrods, which you may think of as expensive, but it more than worth every single penny!

So back to the AW’11 trends...Tom Bachik notes,

"We saw a wide range of looks and effects for nails for Autumn ‘11 from short, slightly oval shaped nails to longer talons. Dominating colours on the catwalks for fashion weeks included nude or camel nails with a matt finish, deep plums, mulberry, navy and the odd orange thrown in for fun - whether it was burnt or neon! I think nail art is also peeking its head back in the market, but in the form of just a little personal style - an accent nail or two is all that’s needed."

Not only is Artistic Colour Gloss bang-on-trend for the season, they are also the perfect option for the festive season, as they will take you from work Christmas parties, Christmas with the family and New Year with friends, then back to work again in January! It’s too effortless for words, a no brainer.

Party trend tips from Tom:

‘Nail art for the holiday season is all about fun. It doesn’t have to be on every nail, an accent nail or two is all that is needed, but in the form of just a little personal style. Metallics and glitter are perfect for on-trend Christmas bling, or opt for a more subtle nail art which will still give you ‘look-at-me’ nails. Stripes, half moons and colour fading are all understated favourites’

Take note people, this man knows his stuff!
　
Ax

SUQQU - Japanese Genius

SUQQU, meaning "posture with attitude" in Japanese, is a simple and effective brand that was designed to enhance a woman’s natural beauty and work alongside her maturity. For those of you not familiar with the brand, it certainly has made an impact in the beauty industry. Winning Best Foundation in Harper’s Bazaars Beauty Hot 100 in 2010, as well as winning a Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards for Best Makeup Brushes in the same year. I first came across this brand back in 2007 and tried the Mascara Base and Volume Long N Mascara.





What the experts say.

  Mascara Base is a white coloured base that contains fibres to lengthen and strengthen each lash. The white allows you to see exactly where you have applied it and where you haven’t. The resin fibres bolster each lash making them look curled and fuller. I have the biggest and worst beauty confession to make, I was given this four years ago, and am still using it today! Wait, it’s not THAT bad, I have only recently opened it, but still I know - naughty! The biggest faux pas is that I have missed out on using it for four years, if I had known sooner just how amazing it was, I would probably have brought 20 or so by now. This Mascara Base works brilliantly under other mascaras, but I would recommend using the blackest of black on top to ensure all the white fibres are disguised. This base is easily removed and unlike previous mascara enhancements that I have used in the past, this one comes off and looks like actual fibrous hairs. Most strange but that means you can tell that is has come off completely.



SUQQU Mascara Base

Volume Long N Mascara in Black is another resin fibre mascara, giving much of the same effect as the Mascara Base, but this time in water-resistant black. The fibres are a little smaller and finer though, allowing you to apply more than one coat and layer the fibres without making lashes look clumpy. I used this straight away this time and adored it! I used it after curling my lashes and it holds the curl all day long. Lashes are soft, not dry and crusty, looking like falsies. Lashes simply look naturally fabulous and I most definitely haven’t found another fibrous mascara, yet, that has beaten this.

SUQQU Volume Long N Mascara (middle)

If you’d like to become addicted to fibrous mascara by SUQQU visit Selfridge’s
　
Ax

Something Fishy...

I have a slight obsession with having soft feet.  I religiously use my Ped-Egg (which is amazing!) and specific foot moisturiser along with my moisturising socks and co-ordinating gloves resulting in me looking like a one-man mime act. 

I had herd about fish pedicures but being very ticklish, was a little anxious about trying it as you generally see them in the middle of shopping centres and everyone stops and stares (myself included).  However, my friend found this amazing place in Binfield, Berkshire called The Garden Retreat.  So one afternoon, we went along.

Privacy is a key to the relaxed surroundings in their garden and you enjoy exclusivity of the Retreat. On arrival you to take off any footwear whilst they check and cleanse your feet with water.

You will then sit at one of the pedicure stations (with a cup of tea!) and you gently lower your feet into the water and then the fish will start to do their work.  This has to be one of the oddest sensations I have experienced and you go through a number of emotions.  For the first few minutes I absolutely hated it and I was initial reaction to move my feet to get rid of the fish.  But of course you can’t, so I powered through aking myself keep my feet still.  The next emotion is laughter as suddenly the fish are tickling you so much you can’t stop laughing.  A few minutes after that, you start to relax and it feels like you have pins and needles but it actually feels really nice.

 

Once your treatment time is complete, your feet are dried and moisturised you have a relaxing mini foot massage. 

Our feet were in the tanks for about 20 minutes but next time I would definitely love to do at 30 minutes as it is so relaxing and your feet are left so soft.

I would recommend anyone go to The Garden Retreat as it is so relaxing and so much better than sitting in the middle of a shopping centre!

K x

No Catchy Tag Line Needed

Thirteen years ago when my mother and I moved house we discovered the joys of cable TV. Which, inevitably lead to the discovery of those random channels such as QVC, the ones you watch either as a joke or because you are drunk at 3am on a Sunday morning. Well, this wasn’t the case for us. OK! admittedly we may have been under the influence of a celebratory glass of champagne, but it ended up being a long lasting, happy relationship.

My mother and I are PROUD QVC viewers AND shoppers (!) and what got us hooked was the multi-award winning natural skincare range, Liz Earle. In 1995, Liz Earle and Kim Buckland, co-founded the range because they had difficulty finding products for their own skin types. Liz had extremely dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin and Kim had a combination/oily, problem-prone complexion.

The one product from the range that neither of us can get enough of, K included, is Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is a deliciously rich and creamy concentrate, designed to gently remove daily dirt and grime. The formulation is perfect for all skin types and age. The active ingredients include the multitasking, cococa butter, which softens, smooths and moisturizes the skin. Rosemary, chamomile hops and eucalyptus tone, soothe and purify.

Because, I cherish the product so much, I try to save it. Therefore, I generally use it to pamper myself. It is ideal for use after a late night, as it leaves skin feeling like it has had 8 hours sleep. It instantly rehydrates dry skin, without leaving it oily. Cleanse & Polish is a brilliant makeup remover and even takes away stubborn mascara.

Use this product daily and you will see why everyone raves it about it. You simply just have to try it. The scent alone will have you hooked!

Below, Liz Earle outlines her 3 steps to beautiful skin.

‘If you don’t do anything else for your skin, cleanse, tone and moisturise with these daily essentials twice a day.’

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser        

First, this super-quick 2 phase system deeply cleanses to remove daily grime. Then the pure muslin cloth gently polishes to leave skin soft, smooth and radiant.

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Step 2: Tone

Instant Boost Skin Tonic        

This heavenly scented, non-drying floral toner revitalises, soothes and brightens skin. Gentle and alcohol-free, it also adds a fine layer of moisture. It contains organic aloe vera, chamomile, cucumber, natural source vitamin E and pure essential oils including rose-scented geranium and orange.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Step 3: Moisturise

Skin Repair Moisturiser

Rich in naturally active ingredients, these three perfectly balanced moisturisers (for dry, normal or oily skin) soften, smooth and help protect skin for a naturally healthy glow. Ingredients include borage oil, echinacea, hops, avocado, beta-carotene and natural source vitamin E.

Skin Repair Moisturiser

...and if you have very dry or mature skin, try the Superskin Moisturiser. This rich, luxurious and fragrance-free moisturiser is specially formulated to revitalise mature or very dry skin. It contains naturally active ingredients, including precious cranberry oil, borage oil, rosehip oil, and it's rich in omega-3.

Superskin Moisturiser

Jo Fairley, co-author of Beauty Bible, considers Superskin Moisturiser to be 'nothing less than the greatest moisturiser ever created'!

Nail Art

Topshop Unique embraced nail art for their Autumn Winter 2011 show with the models having Dalmatian inspired nails.

However, if Dalmatian’s aren’t really your thing, I’ve found this video on InStyle.co.uk with Maybelline New York expert, David Barton fiving a step-by-step tutorial on creating a New York skyline manicure.

http://www.instyle.co.uk/video/exclusive-nail-art-how-to

The video also includes a great tip on how to correct mistakes you may make when painting your nails by using a lip or eyeliner brush dipped in nail polish remover to remove any extra nail polish.  This will allow you to be more precise when correcting your mistake.

Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas is a big fan of nail art and is often spotted with gorgeous designs.

I am waiting for a nail kit I have jsut ordered to arrive and can’t wait to try out some designs.  I will let you know how I get on!

K x