Wednesday 29 December 2010

Did You Receive Your Choice Of Fragrance For Christmas This Year?!


By now all our presents are well & truly gone from under the tree with most of us hopefully happy with what santa left for us (I certainly did pretty well!) However according to a recent survey commissioned by leading perfume house Givaudan (with TNS Omnibus), 46% of us British women do not receive the perfume of their choice at Christmas!!!

Here are some of the results -
• From the estimated £16.7 billion due to be spent in the UK this Christmas, fragrances for both men and women are high on the list.

• 46% of British women do not receive the perfume of their choice. More than a third of British men give away their fragrance gift because it is not the one they would have chosen.

• Southerners (64%), especially Londoners (67%), are more likely to be happy with their fragrance gift than Northerners (57%).

• Those from Wales are the hardest to buy perfume for, with a staggering 52% being disappointed with their gifts, compared to 32% from Greater London, the easiest men and women to buy for.

• Partners know your smell better than anyone else making them the ideal choice to buy you perfume this Christmas, but if their partner doesn’t, then almost a third of women rely on mum (25%) as the family member most likely to get their fragrance right.

• Friends are the worst at buying fragrance.

• Nearly three quarters of the population rely on dropping hints or just hoping for the best for Christmas.


Givaudan’s new iPhone app solves the problem by guiding users in choosing the right fragrance, sounds like a fairy godmother in gift buying, if only we had this before now!!!!!!



Linda Harman from Givaudan said,

Since launching the iPerfumer app for the iPhone back in July, we’ve seen an amazing response. Fragrance is a very personal thing and we wanted to remind people that we can help this Christmas. The right fragrance is a wonderful gift

About iPerfumer
iPerfumer is a personal fragrance consultant in your pocket, currently used by people in more than 150 countries.
Now available through free download from the iTunes App Store, iPerfumer is the first mobile perfume recommendation tool and this Christmas it will help to remove the confusion that often surrounds choosing perfume for others and yourself.

iPerfumer allows you to make an individual profile that then offers tailored advice on which perfumes you would like, providing you with a shortlist of fragrances best-suited to your individual character.

Unlike other perfume selection tools, iPerfumer does not rely purely on aromatic categorisation to make recommendations. Its suggestions are based on a mathematical calculation derived from the individual users and the fragrance preferences of the iPerfumer user community. Users can also find out which perfume on the market are liked by other perfume buyers.

Perfect for selecting the best fragrance in the Jan sales this year!

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Festive Party Season Looks - False Eyelashes


With the party season well & truly here, the office party is looming, not forgetting all Xmas drinks & gatherings packed into our social calenders this Xmas, it's time to get those last minute beauty finishing touches! False eyelashes are a sure fire way to get some added glamour to any look & at this time of year you can't get enough glitz & sparkle so time to definitely push the boat out!
To get a bold look strip lashes are the best & give an extra glamourous touch to your make-up look, when applying the lashes lay them along your lash line before glueing in place to ensure the length works for your eye shape. If they are a little too long then simply snip the inner conner to let them fit better. Tilt your head back in from of the mirror & look down slightly as this is the best angle to apply them, only use a little glue (you don't want too much as it can make the eyes water!), place them on & hold for a few seconds until they start to dry.

Here are few of my favourites, ideal for the party season & that give fantastic results!

Get Lashed False Eyelashes from Boots - From £5.95



Eylure Girls Aloud False Eyelashes - From £5




Shu Uemura Flase Eyelashes - From £12.50

Winter Sun Protection With Pure & Gentle


Skiing is a great sport which is fantastic for general fitness but all too many people forget the damaging effect Winter sun can have on your skin. When you're up a mountain, at altitude, the sun can be incredibly intense and UV exposure is higher than at ground level so you're soaking up increased levels of radiation. Features such as grass and trees that normally absorb the UV, are covered in snow meaning the UV is literally bouncing straight back at you so it’s imperative that you apply adequate protection to your skin. Online skin treatment specialist Pure and Gentle Skincare has put together some handy tips on caring for your skin on the slopes this Winter.

With 75,000 cases being reported each year Skin cancer is the commonest form of cancer in the UK and with the main risk factor being an increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation this figure is likely to rise. There are three main types of skin cancer, melanoma (the most serious, malignant type), squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. In all three, early detection is essential.

Winter Sun Tips from Pure and Gentle Skincare:

1. Anyone going skiing this winter your choice of sun protections should be as im portant as wearing clothing and using the correct equipment.

2. The ski slopes should be treated just like a beach and sun protection should be applied as liberally, if not more, as if you were stretched out on a sun-lounger.

3. Sun cream for skiing should be the highest factor tolerated, with a minimum SPF of 30. In addition sun cream should be broad spectrum to protect against both UVA & UVB, and should be applied every 2 hours. Sun blocks which contain a higher percentage of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide should be considered as they give excellent, long-lasting protection.

5. Do not forget to protect children – cream should be re-applied to their sk in even more regularly as younger skin is even more sensitive.

6. Finally pay careful attention to eyes - sunglasses or goggles with UV filters will give additional protection to the eyes and eyelids."

Pure and Gentle Skincare has a range of sunscreens for both adults and children, together with SPF moisturisers. Comprehensive information is provided on each product and many of its sunscreens are suitable for people with sensitive or allergic type skin along with those with eczema, psoriasis and acne. Products include Sunsense, Ultrasun, Lavera and The Sun Mousse, with prices ranging between £5 and £25. For further information visit www.pureandgentle.com

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Perfect Christmas Gift Ideas - Mac Tartan Tale Collection.


Fabulous Xmas gift ideas from Mac this year with the Tartan Tale collection, definitely one of my favourites & not just because of my Scottish heritage of course but all the fabulous colour selections available! My personal favourite is the plaid eye shadows, available in 6 different colours from peach, to golds & pinks as well as purples, green, silvers & blues! The range is pretty vast & includes reusable tartan cases filled with some of your favourite colours as well as some gorgeous lip & face palates, all decorated in fabulous tartan of course! Here's a selection of some of the gift sets, all available from www.maccosmetics.co.uk, sets from £23.50, but hurry as they're selling fast!







Christmas Party Smokey Eyes!


With the party season getting into full swing this weekend here a few tips on getting those sultry smokey eyes for the xmas night out on Saturday!

Firstly as with anything start with a good base, take a light neutral colour and with a large brush sweep across the lid. Then with a smaller defined brush take a dark colour of your choice which works best as a shimmer or frost finish & apply to your lower lid then with your larger brush blend outwards to soften (don't worry if it looks s little messy at this stage!).

Then take the dark colour again & shade in the outer corners of your eye in a shape such as a 'V' on it's side with the point facing outwards, this will add depth & make your eyes look darker & wider, make sure you blend well & take a cotton bud to soften this out which will also define as well.

Line the top lash with a matte dark shadow, use a small slanted brush for this, it will create a softer smokier finish & take it from the outer corner to the inner, for the bottom lash again use the shadow with the same brush & take it three quarters of the way across from the outer edge & with a cotton bud soften this out & even add a little more shadow to create a more dramatic look (use the dark colour used on the lids for an extra shimmer). To add even more impact, take an eye pencil & line the inner rim of the bottom & into the inner corner to meet the top lash line.

One thing to bare in mind is to try & apply more depth to the outer corners so the finshed result is not too heavy, cotton buds are your best friend while creating this look as they are perfect for blending in this area!

Take a highlighter & blend up to the brow bone, this is great for bringing everything together, also take a little of the highlighter into the inner corners to open the eye & tidy any edges by softening them out with the cotton bud.

Another tip is do your eye make-up first before the foundation, using dark colours can be messy!!

Finish off with lashings on mascara, or some false eyelashes... Also remember to tone down the lip colour when going for smokey eyes, it's either 'eyes' or 'lips' when choosing your make-up style!

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Clarisonic - A New Year Skincare Revelation


Set yourself a New Year’s Resolution to spend one minute every morning and evening cleansing with Clarisonic® and experience a skincare revelation this New Year.

Clarisonic, the world’s first professional-calibre home skin cleansing system, is used and recommended by leading dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons and has transformed the beauty industry; cleansing skin has never been quicker, easier or more effective. So let 2011 be the year that you reveal your skin’s true potential.

Clarisonic has been clinically shown to remove six times more make-up than manual cleansing and reduces the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles. Its effective yet gentle cleansing action means Clarisonic is recommended for daily cleansing – even the sensitive skin of rosacea, acne or seborrhea sufferers. It diminishes oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes, for skin that is clean, clear and visibly radiant.

Clarisonic’s gentle sonic micro-massage action cleanses and prepares the skin so well it can absorb skin care products more effectively. Clarisonic is shown to remove more dirt (sebum and makeup) than manual cleansing, allowing your skin care products to absorb better and work to their full potential.2 Make-up Artist Daniel Sandler comments, “If there was one New Year’s Resolution sure to give you fresh, radiant skin, it’s spending two minutes a day with your Clarisonic.” The perfect skin care accompaniment for the woman who seeks full control of her health and well-being.

Clarisonic Plus - £175
Available from Harrods, Selfridges, Space NK and Clarisonic.com/uk

Thursday 9 December 2010

Fabulous Stocking Filler - Tweezers With Attitude!


Here's the perfect stocking filler idea, or just the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a fabulous new pair of tweezers!!!! 'Tweezers With Attitude', where our favourite celebs have now been turned into some very handy hair plucking devices so we can enjoy preening that little bit more..!
Firstly we have the lovely Kelly Brook, then the queen of style herself Victoria Beckham, stunning Sienna Miller, the ever so gorgeous Megan Fox & last but certainly not least the nation's sweetheart Cheryl Cole (no collection would be complete with out her!!!)
They even come with a fabulous price tag too, £2.99 each! Available at www.victoriahealth.com.

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Kylie Minogue's Ice Cool Beauty With Myface Cosmetics


FROM GIRL NEXT DOOR TO ULTIMATE SNOW QUEEN, KYLIE MINOGUE IS EVERY INCH THE ICE-COOL BEAUTY WITH BLING FROM MYFACE COSMETICS . . .

Performing at the Rockefeller Centre in New York with a host of A-list acts, Kylie Minogue brought both festive cheer and style inspiration to an audience of millions– just in time for Christmas.

On hand to create her much envied and talked about metallic, jewelled look was myface cosmetics artistic director, Kabuki, who transformed Kylie into a frost bitten beauty with the myface cosmetics blingtone eyeshadows . . .

· Kabuki used Black Ice Blingtone (£9.99, Boots) across the lash line and blended upwards and outwards

· He then used Sp”ice”y Blingtone (£9.99, Boots) in the eye socket and blended seamlessly

· To make eyes pop and twinkle even more, Kabuki dotted the bright Diamonds & Pearls Blingtone (£9.99, Boots) in the corner of the eye and swept across the brow bone to highlight and lift the eye.

Kabuki’s Top Tip - "Keep the rest of your makeup simple Don't take away from your dramatic jewel eye makeup by using distracting cheek and lip colour. Apply a rose or peach blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out – be sure to keep your lips light but glossy"

myface.cosmetics is available from Boots nationwide, Boots.com and www.myfacecosmetics.com

Tuesday 7 December 2010

NIP + FAB Eye Fix - Touche Éclat Results At a Fraction Of The Price!!!!


Revered the world over, the YSL Touche Éclat is the crème de la crème of under-eye concealers. This must-have handbag essential has had many contenders, but no real competition in the cosmetics stakes…until the NIP + FAB Eye Fix launched.

The affordable NIP + FAB Eye Fix (£9.95/2ml) has caused a buzz amongst beauty bloggers, beauty editors and a growing list of celebrities such as Olivia Palermo who are voting it as this year’s “miracle beauty eye buy”. Encased in similar pen shaped packaging to its premium counterpart, with a soft brush and twist action, NIP + FAB Eye Fix will hide imperfections with minimal effort due to its multi-purpose plumping and concealing properties. In fact some journalists are amazed with the results saying it “left their eyes looking smoother and brighter not sallow - a problem they’ve encountered with Touche
Eclat.”

About the NIP + FAB Eye Fix (£9.95/2ml)
The NIP + FAB Eye Fix is a 2-in-1 eye cream + concealer, enriched with hydrating, plumping hyaluronic acid, softening glycerin and cucumber extract to reduce the appearance of puffiness. This clever eye boosting cream will instantly hide imperfections and dark circles with light reflecting particles to leave you looking younger, bright eyed and ready to face the day.

Since its launch in September, NIP + FAB has become a best seller at Boots and www.nipandfab.com. Some lines such as the NIP + FAB Tummy Fix sold out within an hour of launch and Boots.com recently ran out of stock, creating a waiting list of over 2,000 people.
Crammed with breakthrough natural and technologically advanced skin smoothing, boosting and firming ingredients, the clinically tested range for the face and body delivers 10 targeted treatments - Tummy Fix, Scrub Fix, Shower Fix, Moisture Fix, Dry Leg Fix, Cellulite Fix, Multi-Fix Oil, Lip + Nip
Fix, Bust Fix and Eye Fix. Each hardworking, no nonsense product “does exactly what it says on the front” and will deliver exceptional ‘targeted results and instant fixes.’

Available at Boots & www.nipandfab.com

Friday 3 December 2010

Perfect Winter Pout With Blistex Lip Massage!


With the winter chill firmly biting this week & set to continue for some time our beauty essentials are working at their hardest! An absolute must have item in any handbag right now is some trusty Blistex!!! You can be sure it will do the trick & keep that gorgeous pout in tip top condition for the xmas party!

My favourite just now isBlistex Lip Massage which is a moisturising deep treatment & it comes complete with a gently-textured massage tip that revitalizes your lippies, laeving them soft, subtle & sumptious!
The Massage Action: Smoothes away rough spots, soothes & comforts.
Ultra Hydrating Formula: Keeps lips moisturised and protected, with rich emollients to soften and hydrate.

Available Nationwide - www.blistex.co.uk

Jennifer Anistons Budget Beauty Buy


Jennifer Aniston might be one of Hollywood’s highest-paid stars, but the price of her A-list beauty is …. the cost of a bar of soap! The stunning 41-year-old actress who has a complexion to rival women decades younger recently revealed at the premiere of her latest film, The Switch, that the secret to her age-defying skin is a block soap.

Ms. Aniston who shot to fame in the Nineties as Rachel in the hit sitcom Friends has insisted that a good diet and exercise are key to her incredible physique, but reveals that it is a simple supermarket-bought soap which she has been using since high school that keeps her so fresh-faced and flawless!
If you too are lusting after Jen’s gorgeous, glowing, radiant skin, why not try her bargainous beauty secret, and just use a simple block soap and water formula?
Dr. Bronner’s, the USA’s no. 1 selling natural soap brand and the leader in organic and fair trade skincare, has a brilliantly basic All-One Pure-Castile Bar Soap made with organic oils.

Available in Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Citrus Orange, Tea Tree, Rose, Almond, Lavender and Baby Mild, the 100% Pure-Castile soap recipe is based on a simple, ecological, vegetable based formulation, named after the Castile region of Spain where olive oil soaps were invented long ago. What’s more, with celebrity fans including Drew Barrymore, Eminem, Sandra Bullock and make-up artist Bobbi Brown, these 100% vegan soaps seem almost too good to be true!

If it’s good enough for Jen (and Vogue) … it is good enough for us!

www.kinetic4health.co.uk

Katy Perry & Rihanna Wear Kiss & Broadway Nails


Known for their chart-topping singles and signature styles Katy Perry and Rihanna both wore Broadway 2-Step Natural Nails at the MTV Video Music Awards. Celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees applied Kiss 2-Step nails as a base underneath their favorite design/polish.
In lieu of glue, Kyees secured the nails to Katy and Rihanna using the Kiss Mega Hold Tabs – a short-term alternative to nail glue.

Katy wore her 2-Step Nails to give her the nail length in order to pay tribute to her fiancé Russell Brand, while Rihanna opted for a neutral, full-length at the Award ceremony.

Perfect for the Xmas Party Season that is upon is already, check out the details yourself where you can perfect the celebrity manicure yourself!


Broadway 2-Step Nail Kit is available at Boots, www.boots.co.uk for £6.99
Kiss Mega Hold Tabs are available at Boots and SuperDrug for £2.99