Lancome Juicy Tubes by Christopher Kane

Brand New & just out this week is the Limited Edition Lancome Juicy Tubes by designer Christopher Kane, the warm fruity colours are perfect for summer & the range includes the colours Rio, Peach, Tokyo Yuzu & Paris. 'Juicy Tubes' are easily the most famous & popular lip gloss range which now has cult status worldwide. With long lasting colour, great staying power as well as conditioning & softening your lips and not to mention their great taste, it takes a lot to rival the no 1 gloss!!! The new glosses are available at Lancome counters nationwide as of this week (13.50)

DIY Manicure & This Summer's Hottest Colour!

This summer's hottest nail colour is bright yellow, get O.P.I's yellow in 'Need Sunglasses' for the perfect trend this coming season!

When wearing bright colours on your nails it is really important to ensure your nails are in top condition, here are some great tips on getting your nails in perfect shape for summer -

DIY Home Manicure

1 - To begin with, remove all traces of your nail polish, even if you don't have any on clean the nail plate first anyway.
2 - Use a nail file to shape your nails. File in one direction only & do not use a seesaw motion. To shorten the nail, use the course side of the emery board first and finish with the finely textured side.
3 - Apply cuticle remover cream and gently push back the cuticles using a cotton bud. Don't cut your cuticles, leave that to the professionals, massage away dead skin using circular movements.
4 - Apply a rich hand lotion & massage the palm of your hand with the thumb of your other hand to improve blood circulation, then repeat with your other hand. For an extra moisturising treatment if you feel your hands are dry wear plastic base gloves after applying a generous amount of hand cream (marigolds are great for this)
5 - Before you paint your nails, go over them with an orange stick that has been wrapped with cotton wool and dipped in nail polish remover and rub over the surface of the nail & into the sides as well. This will clean the nail plate & allow a smooth application of polish.
6 - Begin by applying a Base Coat first, this will give a professional finish to your polish.
7 - When applying the colour begin in the centre of your nail, the best way is to paint one stroke down the centre and then one at either side of the nail, three strokes in total. Let it dry completely before applying the second coat.
8 - Apply a topcoat to give extra protection and help your nail color to last longer without chipping.

For healthy nails eat foods that are rich in Vit A, B & C plus Calcium as well as protien rich foods as deficiencies in these areas can cause nail conditions such as - Dry Brittle Nails, Hang Nails, White Bands & Spots Across the Nail Plate, Split Nails as well as inflamed Cuticles. One excellent way to ensure strong healthy nails is to drink plenty of Carrot Juice, a quick fix to perfect nails!

Also another little tip, to keep your favourite polish in top condition, store it in the fridge!

Miracle Moisturiser - Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter

Yummy Mummies everywhere have been raving about this product causing a buying frenzy at local Waitrose shelves!
It was picked up on www.mumsnet.com, women started applying the nappy cream to their faces (goodness only knows why!!) & found it could work miracles as a face cream - "I can't even remember what made me put it on my face one day but OMG - it is fab.! It has a smooth texture, non-greasy & is said to have a plumping effect especially around the eyes as well as being a great make-up base. Some Mums have said it rivals even the best of the higher end brands such as Creme de la Mer & has given them fresh dewy skin like they were teenagers again - "I have been using it constantly for 2 weeks now and my skin now has the smoothest texture, which I don't think it's had since prepubescence!!'.
The baby butter is free of artificial chemicals & contains olive oil, lavender & camomile, anyway at £2.49 you can't go wrong!!!!!

Top Body Toning Treatments.

With summer approaching us, everybody is starting to think about shifting those extra stubborn winter pounds & toning up! I've been looking into some of the latest cellulite & body toning treatments around at the moment to give you extra bikini confidence!!!!!!!


Advanced Keymodule Endermologie

This is essentially an anti-cellulite treatment, it aims to smooth the skin and give a slimmer outline. It works by putting on a stretchy, cotton covering, then cylindrical rollers are placed on the skin and rolled gently over the body, it has a deep strong suction effect which feels like a massage. The idea is the process restructures the skin’s connective tissue, stimulates blood and lymph circulation and removes toxins, this is by triggering the body’s normal process for excess fat elimination which will process, tone, firm and smooth the skin.
A little pricey, 1 x 30-minute session costs £40 and to maintain results monthly sessions are recommended.

Vacunaut – Vacuum Therapy

This was developed by an Austrian Sports Scientist, the Vacunaut aims to get rid of 'spare tyre' areas on the stomach & is quite a favourite amongst celebs these days! The treatment involves wearing a specially designed suit and walking for 30 minutes on a treadmill, the computer controlled pumps change the pressure within the suit to push blood directly into the fatty tissue around the stomach. This means the blood can absorb fat from the stomach and use as fuel to power muscles, the constant change in pressure ensures that fat enriched blood is transported to the working muscles over and over again.
A course should be taken over at least one month (3 sessions per week) & it is claimed there should be considerable inch loss and improved skin tone. How much inch loss varies but more and more health clubs are now offering this therapy & of course any course should be in conjunction with a healthy eating plan. Pretty expensive, it costs around £400-£450 for a one month plan with 3 sessions a week.

Ionithermie Body Treatments

Ionithermie claims to be the ideal treatment for those people who have successfully lost a considerable amount of weight yet still need help to tone and firm.
The treatment includes a body scrub and pressure point massage, the areas to be treated are covered with a thermal clay, essential oils and pads, which give out rhythmic electrical pulses. Ionithermie works the areas through gentle faradic and galvanic currents, with the thermal clay and active natural ingredients. This treatment claims to promote inch loss, reduce fat and firm & tone the body. Treatments start at around £45 for one session.

It seems more and more salons, treatment centres and health and fitness clubs are including these types of products & treatments, and they are becoming more widely used, it is best to have a consultation with a therapist beforehand & make sure the treatment is right for you. Some claims can be a little overstretched but combining these with a healthy eating plan & a good fitness regime they can certainly make a difference as well as motivating you with any weight loss plan.

Best Conditioning LipSticks.

Recently heralded as the best Conditioning Lipstick by Look Magazine 'Bobbi Brown's Lip Shine SPF 15' (£13) received a 5 star review as the longest lasting conditioning lippy around! It gives a natural colour without being too heavy, so you can have a great colour without looking as though you are wearing anything! Plus with Vitamins C & E it soothes, hydrates & minimises chapping with the benefits still working even after it's removed!!!

Another top winner was 'Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess Sheer Lip Tint' (£17), available in Fuschia & Bronze, again with Vits C & E plus SPF it nourishes & protects giving you a long lasting natural colour. Better be quick though as this one's a limited edition!

Airbrushed Beauty - The Naked Truth!

I was watching Dawn Porter on BBC3 last night, a repeat of 'Dawn Gets Naked', in each episode Dawn tries out something new & daring for us all to watch & gasp either in delight or horror (for those of you who saw 'Dawn Get's a Baby!!).
Anyway this one was all about how women ultimately feel about being Naked as well as the over all perception they have of what is beautiful & how their idea of perfection has been peverted by all the marketing whizz of the beauty industry - 'We are aspiring to something that simply does not exist!'
Take a look at the clip below, Dawn has a make-over at a top London photography studio, after her full hair & make-up over-haul they digitally enhance or 'airbrush' her look, from elongating her neck, to fuller lips & even swapping over her eyes (!!!), she is transformed into the false perfection we all gaze at in our magazines....just like that!!!!!

Spring Cheeks & Lips!!!

Spring make-up is all about natural flushed beauty, paying most attention to the cheeks & lips. Soft pink lips with a flash of colour on the cheeks is all you need to glow this season, match it up with the flower power craze that is hitting the high streets right now & you're bang on trend!!!!

Get The look -

Use a light base, try Stila's Tinted Moisturiser from yesterday's post.
Take a nude shadow across the whole lid & a brown pencil on the lash lines to create a softly defined eye
Use a cheek & lip stain for the cheeks & lips, it creates a natural flushed look.
Best tip, is to dab a tiny amount on your hand with your finger tips & start at the apple of your cheeks & work up, keep most of the colour intensity on the 'apple' area to keep it looking soft & youthful.
Again dab the stain on with your fingertips for the lips, don't use a lip pencil with this style as it will look over-done.

Try out Superdrug's 'Pussy Cat Lip & Cheek Stain', good enough to rival Benefit's classic & at £4.99 it's a steal!!!!!