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.