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!