Massaging Mitt

A couple of months ago, I was traipsing round Boots, trying to find a new, easy, non-invasive way to cleanse my face, when I spotted the Soap and Glory Face Massage Mini Mitt.

I had seen a similar sort of concept which came with other exfoliators and cleansers, and had wanted to try it out for ages, so I just had to buy it.

This mitt is designed to improve circulation, whilst removing any dirt or toxins. When used with a cleanser or exfoliator, it also hydrates skin and gets rid of any remaining traces of make-up.

I was very excited to try my new purchase, so as soon as it got to bedtime I was ready and raring to use it!

The first time I tried it I added a little bit of exfoliating scrub to the top of the mitt, however this did not quite go to plan…

Most of the exfoliator got stuck in between the little spikes and hardly any of it actually made it onto my skin, making it very hard to evenly exfoliate the whole of my face.

Also, it was extremely difficult to get the scrub off the mitt, as it was trapped in all the creases and crevices.

The next time I went to use the Soap and Glory Face Massage Mini Mitt, I decided to use a cleanser. This time it worked perfectly!

The cleanser seemed to glide over my skin, cleaning and smoothing, whilst the spikes and dots on the mitt gently massaged.

It is an extremely easy product to use, as it comes with a small handle on the back of the mitt which can be held between your thumb and finger or two fingers. 

All you need to do is add a dollop of cleanser onto the mitt and away you go!

The Soap and Glory Mitt can also be used by itself, for a stimulating, invigorating facial.

Smooth Out Your Skin

Do you ever look in the mirror and think that the texture of your skin feels bumpy and uneven, or that your pores look massive? If so, I have discovered an amazing product which actually solves all three of those problems, a miracle solution of sorts.

I had all these worries myself, and after going through those horrific teenage years of spots, scars and other skin stresses, the look and feel of my skin was starting to really bug me.

It was just by chance that I came across Clarins Pore Minimizing Serum, but when I started using it, I was extremely surprised by how brilliant the results were.

This serum is specifically designed to reduce the amount of oil that your skin produces, whilst improving and combating enlarged pores. It also smooths out the texture of your skin, making your complexion look flawless and luminous.

I really noticed a difference in my skin's texture and smoothness after just a few uses, and will always return to this product whenever I feel my complexion needs improvement.

All you need to do to get these fantastic results is to apply Clarins Pore Minimizing Serum to the areas you feel need targeting every night after cleansing.

If you like the sound of this product, check out the website gorgeousshop.co.uk, where you will be able to purchase this product, plus many other top of the range beauty products at great, value for money prices.

http://www.gorgeousshop.co.uk/shop/clarins-465/clarins-face-466/clarins-day-and-night-treatments-472/clarins-pore-minimizing-serum-30ml-2241.html

Highlight Your Skin

I have wanted a YSL Touche Éclat for as long as I can remember and I was finally given one for my birthday this year.

It’s one of the most amazing beauty products ever created and a must have for any woman’s make up bag.

Touche Éclat is designed to rid your face of dark circles, fine lines and any signs of lack of sleep.

This complexion highlighter works wonders, once applied it gives you the appearance of having a full night’s sleep, making you look refreshed and glowing.

I personally can never seem to get enough sleep and my average amount would probably work itself out to be about 6 hours a night. I constantly feel tired, but this wonderful invention actually hides the fact that I look tired.

People will never know that you’ve been out all night partying…unless you’ve got a raging hangover that is!

When I wore Touche Éclat for the very first time I couldn’t believe the results. I really did look refreshed and in fact I thought it was the best my skin had looked for a very long time. My boyfriend even commented on my appearance and said that it was the nicest I’d ever looked.

It’s also so very simple to use. All you do is press the end of the pen a few times and then gently sweep a couple of strokes underneath your eyes, by your mouth, nose and around your brow area, then blend into your skin.

You can wear it over foundation or on top of your natural skin. So it can be used at any time, day or night.

It comes in 7 different shades, for all different skin colours. Therefore you’re bound to find one to suit your skin. 

At £24.50 it’s a little pricey, but if you’re in need of a product to hide those late nights and to give you a ‘just been to the spa’ appearance, then I would say it’s well worth the money.

I’d certainly recommend Touche Éclat to anyone!

Pamper Your Hair

Sometimes after vigorous hair styling with hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons, or even just using a little too much product, my hair is left feeling dry, brittle and in need of some deep conditioning.

I have never been one to use those leave in conditioning hair treatments, as if I did, I'm pretty sure I'd wake up looking like I'd poured a vat of grease on my head, rather than the shiny, gorgeous hair you're supposed to end up with.

For all the people who have the same problem, I have recently discovered a fantastic solution. A product which not only does the same job as the leave in conditioners, but also only needs to be left on your head for a total of 3 minutes.

This amazing product is none other than Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor.

Strangely, I have never used any Aussie products before this, but have always been told by friends how good they are. Luckily, Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor definitely lives up to expectations.

This deep conditioning treatment helps reconstruct damaged hair, mends split ends and helps keep your mane more manageable and looking luscious.

The best thing about this conditioner is that it even smells amazing. Although it does remind me of those little tablets you used as a child to determine how much plaque you had on your teeth, (I actually loved the taste of them...but hey that's just me).

At a reasonable £4.69 per bottle, why don't you try it for yourself and see if it works wonders for your hair like it has done for mine!

Creme Eyeshadow Revolution

When I was younger and first started experimenting with makeup, I always used to love creme eyeshadow; it was fun, colourful and easy to apply.

However, I found that it never used to stay on my eyelid for very long. After a mere an hour, it would crease and move further and further up my eyelid, until it was nearer my eyebrow than my eyelashes.

As a result, as I got older, I moved onto powder eyeshadow, which I found far more effective and lasted much longer than creme eyeshadow.

That was until I discovered Estèe Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place ShadowCreme. This product is revolutionary to the creme eyeshadows of the past and a must have for all the makeup fiends out there.

The ShadowCreme is guaranteed to last up to 15 hours and won't budge until you take it off with makeup remover.

It's also extremely easy to apply, all you need to do is sweep a layer of Shadowcreme across your eyelid, with your fingertips or shadow brush, (if you want a more dramatic look, do this a couple more times) and voilà! You now have stunning, flawless eyes that will last for hours!

Despite it being slightly pricey at £16.50 per pot, it's definitely worth every penny. Not only will the pot last a fair while, but it really does what it says on the tin...you won't be disappointed!

Tried and tested by me, this product is an amazing way to achieve stay perfect eye makeup for an entire day!

Horse's Hair Brush

Last year, I bought this Andrew Barton hair brush from a beauty sale at one of the magazines that I was working at.

As it was the merchandise of a professional hairdresser, I thought it would be a decent brush, one that would last me a fair while.

When I got home I was dying to try it out (as I am with all new beauty products), but to my disappointment it was really not very good.

It felt as though I wasn't even brushing my hair properly, it only brushed the top layer of hair, leaving the undersides still feeling tangled.

The bristles on the brush are extremely hard and sharp and constantly seemed to be scratching my scalp.

On Andrew Barton's website, he claims that this brush is designed "to enhance your hair's natural beauty and shine."

He also deems it to be "kind to your hair with softer, more flexible pins to help reduce hair breakages."

http://www.andrewbarton.tv/hair-group/products/brushes/

All of this sounds fantastic, until you get the product home and try it out for yourself!

I have even tried to get rid of the brush twice. Once to my sister, who refused to take it, and the second time to a friend, who commented that it was more like the brush she uses on her horse, rather than a hair brush for humans!

So I think that says it all really, an epic fail by professional hairdresser Andrew Barton!

Cracked Nails

There has been a new invention in the world of nails recently and that is cracking nail polish. It is a fantastic creation and one that is so simple and effective.

I have only seen two brands on the market which make cracking nail polish and they are BarryM and OPI.

However, I'm sure as the craze catches on even more than it already has done, more and more brands will start producing it.

OPI is the more expensive of the two, at around £10.50 a bottle, but it has a larger range of colours (black, white, red, blue, silver, navy and turquoise).

BarryM is most definitely the more affordable nail polish, at an amazing £3.99 a bottle. However, it only has a limited number of shades (black, white, pink and blue).

On the other hand, price is very much a factor, as you can buy two colours and it still won't add up to one bottle of OPI. It also works just as well as the OPI equivalent, so why pay more!

To get the cracked effect, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps.

Step 1 - Paint your nails with a contrasting shade to that of your cracking nail polish and leave to dry.

Step 2 - Paint one layer of cracking nail polish on your nails. Make sure you have quite a lot on the brush the first time, as several strokes will ruin the effect.

Step 3 - Once the cracked nail polish has dried, use a clear coloured top coat to ensure long lasting nail colour and a shiny finish.

There you have it, amazing nail effects without spending a fortune in a salon!

Pressed Or Loose Powder Blush?

With so many different products and brands on the market, it is sometimes hard to decide which one is best for you.

This is most definitely the case with blush. There is pressed powder, loose powder and creme blush, so how do you know which one to choose?

I have not yet tried creme blush, so I will concentrate on the other two: pressed and loose powder blush.

Pressed powder is the easier of the two products in my eyes, as all it takes is a few sweeps of powder to the apples of your cheekbones, brushing up towards your hairline.

Loose powder is slightly more difficult, as you need to be aware of the amount of powder on the applicator. With this product, it is best to start off with only a very small amount and build up the colour from there.

To get rid of any excess powder, tap the brush lightly on the lid of the container, and this will ensure that you have an even coverage on the bristles of the brush.

With both of these products, you will need to slightly blend the powder in with your foundation, to get a more natural look.

It is best to invest in a good quality brush, as compact brushes are too small and will not cover the areas that you want, without numerous applications.

A good quality brush will also enhance your blush, making sure that you get the best look possible. Not only this, if looked after, it will last far longer than the blush itself.

My personal favourite is pressed powder, as I prefer the barely there look and I find it much easier to blend than loose powder.

However, I'm very interested in other people's opinions on all three types of blush. So feel free to leave a comment below telling me which one you love and why!

Cleansing Routine

Everyone needs a daily cleansing routine, whether you're male or female, whatever your age or skin type, your skin needs to be cleaned, exfolitated and sufficiently hydrated.

Having a cleansing routine also creates a fantastic natural base for make-up; ensuring a smooth, flake free surface when putting on foundation or concealer.

I use Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Regime each day and it is a fantastic way to obtain and maintain glowing, healthy skin.

The first thing you have to do is identify your skin type.
Skin Type 1 - Very Dry to Dry
Skin Type 2 - Dry Combination
Skin Type 3 - All Skin Types
Skin Type 4 - Very Oily

The Skin Type that you are will determine which Clinique 3-Step products you buy.

The first step is to cleanse your skin. For this Clinique provides a specially formulated soap, which comes in either a liquid or a bar.

There are three different types of soap:

Mild (for skin types 1&2)

Oily (for skin types 3&4)

Extra Mild (for skin type 1).

The second step is to exfoliate, using Clinique's Clarifying Lotion.

This comes in a number of different formulas, for each of the different skin types:

Clarifying Lotion 1 - for very dry to dry skin

Clarifying Lotion 2 - for dry combination skin

Clarifying Lotion 3 - for all skin types

Clarifying Lotion 4 - for very oily skin

Anti Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion - for all skin types.

The third step is to moisturise.

There are two different types of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturiser. A lotion, for skin types 1&2 and a gel for skin types 3&4.

The results that you get from using these products are instantaneous, but are also still visible over a period of time. Making your skin continuously feel healthier, smoother and brighter.

Brow Perfection

Have you ever struggled to obtain the perfect brow shape? I know I have! Well now there is a revolutionary way to get your brows exactly as you want them.

The recently launched HD Brows is an amazing yet simple way to get perfect brows. It includes all the traditional brow treatments, with a few added secrets.

HD Brows' motto is that they 'focus more on design than hair removal' and it is through an intricate 7 step treatment programme that you will achieve your ideal shape. These steps include Waxing, Tinting, Threading and Tweezing.

For those who are lacking in the brow area or have over plucked, they also have a special solution called 'Grow Baby Grow', which helps your hair grow back over a period of time.

In this case, it may take a few visits to your HD Brow technician in order for your brows to become thicker and to get your perfect look.

You can also buy a selection of their special brow products, which include Brow Pencils, Eyeshadow Palettes (for both brow and eye areas) and Brow Mascara, to keep those stray hairs at bay.

HD Brows claims that you can have this treatment at any age, whether you are male or female. However, there are 20% of people that HD Brows cannot help, and these are people with alopecia or permanent hair loss.

There are hundreds of salons around the country that offer the HD Brows treatment, so if you like what you hear, visit http://www.hd-brows.co.uk/salon-finder to find your nearest one.

Why Do Amazing Products Get Discontinued?

I have recently discovered that the best hair product I have ever used has been discontinued and I am very upset by this!

I have used Catwalk Tigi Fashionista Smooth and Shine for years and years. I tried many other heat protection products until I found this one, but none of them have ever compared, so I never looked back.

One of the reasons why I love this product so much is that unlike many other serums, it will not make your hair greasy, it just gives it a gorgeous healthy shine. Making your hair look lustrous, as well as protecting it from damage when using hair dryers or straighteners.

Also, as you only need to use a pea sized amount each time, it lasts far longer than the average hair product.

Meaning that you definitely get your money's worth!

What I'm finding hard to believe is why they would discontinue such an amazing product! It has been on the market for over eight years and I don't understand why they have decided to get rid of it now.

We should all revolt against their decision to discontinue it and maybe, just maybe they will change their minds...

However, in case this doesn't work, if you find a lone bottle of Tigi Smooth and Shine, I recommend you grab it now, before it all sells out!

Disappearing Dark Marks

Clinique - Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector is probably my favourite beauty product on the market and one that I will always make sure I have.

It's one of those 'once tried, can't live without' products and I assure you it's well worth the money.

If you've ever had any spots, you will know how annoying it is when they leave marks or scars on your face (or body) once they've gone.

Now, thanks to Clinique, there is a way to solve this problem.

By using Clinique's Dark Spot Corrector daily, over a period of a few weeks, you'll notice that the marks/scars will start to fade and disappear. Leaving you with a beautiful skin tone once again.

That is just one of the uses for this fantastic product. It also helps rid you of any dark spots from the sun, age spots and skin stresses.

You only need to use a very small amount each time you apply the product, just using it on the areas that need targeting.

It's exactly like a serum and should last around six months to a year, depending on how much you use each time.

Clinique - Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector comes in two sizes, 30ml and 50ml. It costs £38 for 30ml and £52.50 for 50ml.

Tried and tested by me, this product really is a must have for anyone who wants to get rid of their spot/acne scars!

Love Or Hate?

There is one beauty product that I really don't understand people's love of and that is lip gloss.

There are so many different types of lip gloss, from the cheap and cheerful to ones by the most amazing (and expensive) brands on the market, so there must be a reason why it is so successful.

I personally hate the stuff and would much rather choose a lipstick over a lip gloss.

On the other hand, when I was a teenager I always wore lip gloss. At that time in my life lipstick didn't suit me, it was far too grown up for me. However, as the years have gone by and I have discovered how amazing lipstick is, I have come to dislike lip gloss more and more.

The exact reason why I hate lip gloss so much, is because it is way too sticky. As a result, going outside wearing lip gloss is a definite no no for me. My hair is quite long and I find that as soon as the wind blows, even just the tiniest bit, my hair will stick to my lips.

So there you have it, now not only do you have sticky lips, you also have sticky hair!

I would however, really like to know other people's opinions on lip gloss. If you completely disagree with me and love it, or even if you agree with me and hate it, please leave me a comment below and tell me why!

I really do want to know what you all think!

Who knows, maybe if you're that persuasive you'll even be able to change my mind!

Colour In Your Lips

I was fascinated when I discovered the existence of this product. Such a simple and inventive idea, I wanted one as soon as I saw them.

This product - Revlon Just Bitten, is a new type of lip colour. It's totally different to the look and feel of a lipstick, but it ultimately gives you the same end result...beautiful coloured lips.

It's designed exactly like a felt pen. You colour in your lips with the pen, as you would colour a picture with a felt pen, (keeping in the lines of course!).

Similar to the BarryM lipstick I wrote about in my first blog, it stains your lips with colour, for a long lasting look. Great for a day at work or a party, when you don't have time or want to keep reapplying your lipstick.

Also, it will not smudge or streak, which is a clear advantage over a normal lipstick.

Another great thing about this product is that it comes with a stick of lip balm at the other end of the pen, which keep your lips feeling supple and shiny.

If your lips are feeling dry at any point whilst wearing the lipstain, just put a bit of the balm on and they will feel as good as the first time you applied it.

Revlon Just Bitten comes in ten different shades, meaning that there's a colour to suit everyone.

Just remember to put the lid back on properly so it doesn't dry out, as we all know how annoying it is when that's happened to our favourite felt pen in the past!

Sunburn Solutions

Now is the time of year when everybody has started to think about and book their summer holidays. When visiting somewhere hot, there are certain essentials that you need to remember to pack. These include Sun Cream, After Sun, sunglasses, hats, swimwear...the list goes on and on.

Last year when I was on holiday in the beautiful island of Tenerife, I discovered a new product which made all the difference to my sun kissed, (slightly burnt) skin...and that was Aloe Vera Gel.

I used the Aloe Vera Gel instead of the usual post sun reliever - After Sun, and it was so much better than what I was used to using. Unlike After Sun, the Aloe Vera Gel is a fast drying, non sticky product, which instantly soothes sun burn and reduces redness.

This product is so fantastic because it doesn't have to be solely used for sun burn, it can relieve many other types of skin irritation, ranging from a nasty rash to an unbearably itchy insect bite.

Aloe Vera Gel can be bought in many high street stores, including Boots and Holland and Barrett.

http://www.boots.com/en/Life-Plan-Aloe-Vera-Gel-200ml_1133817/

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=515&prodid=298&cid=77&sid=0

The best type of gel to buy is the one with the highest percentage of concentrated Aloe Vera, (as seen in the links above). These will usually contain around 99% of Aloe Vera concentrate, ensuring that you will be getting all of the goodness, without any unnecessary added ingredients.

It really is the best way to relieve sore, sunburnt and irritated skin...happy holidaying!

TRESemmé To The Rescue

Ever since I was a young girl, I have always been concerned about how clean my hair was. During Secondary school, in my experience, if you went in with greasy hair you would most definitely get teased about it. Most teenagers battle with the problem of greasy hair at one point or another and I was no exception.

Unfortunately, during my school years I hadn't heard of the fantastic invention that is dry shampoo. This meant that I had to wash my hair every single night, which was time consuming and frankly very annoying.

It was only recently that I discovered the product that has quite literally changed my life...TRESemmé dry shampoo. This product is one of my favourites and is a life saver for a busy person who doesn't have time to constantly wash their hair.

All you have to do is spray it on your roots (or wherever your hair looks greasy), wait for 1-2 minutes and then brush it through. It's so quick and easy to use, and doesn't cost a bomb either!

TRESemmé dry shampoo has been around for less than a year, but I would recommend it to anyone. Thanks to TRESemmé, I no longer have to worry if I miss a hair wash, as I know the product will work its magic and make my hair look like new again!

No More Broken Hair

Don't you just hate it when you're tying your hair back and you feel strands of hair breaking as you wind the band round...

Well I have recently discovered a solution to this problem!

As I was trawling the hair accessories aisle, trying to find the right size hair grip, I came across a product called 'Ouchless' hair bands.

Unlike normal hair bands, they haven't got that annoying metal bit joining the two ends, instead, the bands have been carefully glued together.

This piece of metal is the main cause of the hair breaking, as the strands of hair get caught on the edges of the metal. So no metal means no sharp edges, therefore no hair breakage.

Ta da! An easy and painless way to get gorgeous hairdos, whilst keeping your hair healthy!

Revitalise Your Hands

During the winter months and in fact throughout the summer as well, I suffer from extremely dry and cracked hands, (which as a lot of you will know is very annoying and actually quite painful at times).

A few months ago I had a particularly bad day and was at a loss about what to do. Normal hand cream wasn't working and they seemed to be getting worse and worse. Nothing I tried was even coming close to helping.

Luckily, I was interning in the Beauty Department of Vogue at the time and happened to mention my problem to them. The wise and wonderful Beauty Director gave me an extremely helpful tip to solve this, so I thought I would share my knowledge and pass it on to all of you.

It is extremely simple and is neither time consuming nor expensive. The trick is to wash your hands with a body scrub every morning before putting on your hand cream. You can use any body scrub, but ultimately, the coarser the scrub, the softer your hands will be.

The reason for using a scrub before hand cream is so that you are getting rid of any tough, dry, dead skin, in order for the hand cream to work its magic on the parts of your skin that need it the most.

So there you have it, a universal way of combating dry hands, from the Beauty Director of Vogue herself.

Bye Bye Cellulite

Like most people I am usually extremely sceptical about whether cellulite creams/serums actually work...however, I have recently found one product that seems to do what it says on the tin!

The product comes from the very successful Dior Svelte range and is the Body Contouring and Firming Concentrate.

It's a little pricier than the average cellulite serum at £43.00 a bottle, but it is also not the most expensive treatment on the market. (http://www.boots.com/en/Dior-Svelte-Reversal-Body-Contouring-and-Firming-Concentrate-200ml_863869/)

The very first time I used it I saw a difference. My skin seemed softer and firmer almost immediately, which is definitely a first for me.

I think one of the reasons why I would recommend using it is because it doesn't falsely claim to rid you of all your cellulite overnight, unlike many others out there.

The word cellulite is not used anywhere on the packaging and it's designed to firm and tighten your body, rather than promising to banish the dreaded orange peel skin altogether.

By using the Body Contouring and Firming Concentrate alongside regular exercise I have noticed a vast difference in my body. It is a fantastic product and one that I would recommend to anyone.

Lipstick Lover

One can never have too many lipsticks...can they?!

Having finally caved and admitted to being lipstick obsessed, I thought it best for lipsticks to be the first product mentioned in my new beauty blog.

Coming in all different shades, with so many brands on the market is it a wonder that I have gone lipstick mad!

As shown in the photo above, a lipstick can even come in green...

This unusual product is a fantastic invention by BarryM, which turns a different colour depending on your skin's pH level.

Mine happens to turn bright pink and that suits me just fine, as at the moment the brighter and bolder the lipstick the better!

The only slight problem with this lipstick is that it is a lip stain...so be very careful where you put it or you'll have real trouble getting it off again! Then again, on a more positive note, you'll have beautiful (possibly bright pink) lips for hours and hours.