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!!!!!

New From Stila - SPF 30 Tinted Moisturiser

Stila's latest tinted moisturiser is a multi purpose product with extra SPF, it evens out your skin tone, provides a medium coverage, absorbs oil to help give a matt appearance & with white willow bark it gives your skin a natural radiant glow! With silk amino acids & pomegranate extract it also moisturises & soothes the skin while acting as a natural anti-oxidant, all in all a winning product!!!!!

Hot Shimmering Golden Eyes!

Gold, bronze & metallic shimmers with a warm palette will be very hot this coming summer season, wear it by applying a wash of colour to the lids, gently blending upwards into the brow bone, taking it lighter as you blend, finish by taking a little of the gold into the inner corners of the eye & use brown liner for a softer finish to the lash lines. Match this with a little bronzer on the cheeks & luscious red lips - set to be huge this summer!
To get this look try Urban Decay's Cream Shadow in 'Beautifully Bronzed', they are easy to blend into a soft 'washed over' colour effect & unlike a lot of other cream shadows stay put all day & won't crease. Apply with the finger tips (a little goes a long way!) & gently blend over the lid, then with a blending brush gently sweep back & forth to blend the colour out taking your brush upwards to the brow bone, after this take a cotton bud & add a tiny amount of the gold into the inner corners & blend. If you would like to intensify the look take a dark brown eyeshadow powder into the socket line & outer corners of the eye with the blending brush (best to use a shimmer/frost shadow as they will blend better into the cream). For the lash lines either use the same dark brown shadow as you did for the sockets & with slanted eye brush take it along both the top & bottom lashes, or for the ultimate metallic finish why not try Urban Decay's Liquid Liner Vintage in 'Dark Metallic Brown'. (available at www.urbandecay.com)

New From Mac - Heatherette

Mac have just collaborated with New York Fashion duo Traver Rains & Richie Rich to create the new range 'Heatherette', lot's of sparkling pinks & purples is the key which is great for fresh spring looks! With two Eyeshadow Palates, one with with light pinks & purples & the other with pink, turquoise & charcoal, you can choose the 'good girl' day & the 'bad girl' night look! There is also a pearlescent Beauty Powder in pink & bronze as well as selection of luscious pink Lipsticks & Lipglass.
Exclusive to Mac Online (www.maccosmetics.com) & Selfridges. Check out some of the looks below using the new range -

Madonna's Elle Shoot.

Behind The Scenes At the Elle Shoot

Madonna's latest cover for Elle Magazine has caused quite a stir, how does a woman of 50 manage to look this good (!?)....and of course the answer on everbody's lips is - botox, collagen & a face lift!! Although nothing is confirmed of course & why should it be, it really is nobody's business, plus is it not a woman's perogative to do whatever necessary to fight the ageing battle?! In Madonna's case it truly is a lot of self discipline, intense exercise regimes & an impeccably healthy diet (although she does admit to having a slight obsession with creme eggs!). As she says in her owns words 'there are no short cuts' to being Madonna, it's self discipline & hard work all the way, also why should a woman be defined by her age anyway & as the lady says herself - 'I'm not going to slow down & get off this ride, stay at home & get fat. No way!' At the end of the day no amount of surgery, no matter how discreet, is going to give anybody the amount of energy & sparkle Madonna has & I think we all have to agree she certainly is looking better than ever!
Checkout the slideshow from the Elle shoot below, also turn up your volume for both!

Oil Control!

Do you feel that your skin is prone to oiliness & no matter what you do you can't have a shine free day....??!!! Well here's some tips & products to help keep a perfect matt complexion all day long!

With Oily skin types the oil producing 'sebaceous' glands are overactive and produce more oil than what is needed so the oil can create a shine that appears greasy. The pores will be enlarged, the skin can appear coarse, prone to blackheads & blemishes. The reasons for this can be heredity, diet, hormones or even the cosmetic products you use. Of course one great advantage with oily skins is that they age at a much slower rate than other skin types!
Oily skin needs thorough cleansing with plenty of hot water (dissolves skin oil better than lukewarm or cold water) to prevent the pores from clogging, it is best to avoid harsh products that strip your skin such as any products containing alcohol, as they will only harm your skin's natural barrier & encourage bacteria build up, it can also encourage the oil glands to work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils which in turn will worsen the oily appearance to the skin.
To clean the skin, use a clarifying product as it will remove the surface oil on the skin effectively, also opt for oil-free moisturisers to maintain a shine-free complexion & ensure you exfoliate twice a week to keep your skin healthy & remove excess oil & dead skin.

Here are a few top products I would highly recommend -

Lancome's Gel Pure Focus (17.55) - This is a foaming gel cleanser that has a purifying effect which absorbs excess oil around the pores, inhibiting oil production & bacteria build up. Leaves the skin feeling fresh & matt for hours.
Clinique's Pore Minimiser T-Zone Shine Control (£11) - This reduces & controls excess shine without drying out the skin & leaving a long lasting matt finish, works brilliantly under make-up as a primer. Also try their Blotting Sheets (£7.50) as it is better to use these rather than a build up of powder throughout the day.

Neutrogena Oil Free Fresh Moisturiser - An oil free moisturiser that still keeps your skin well hydrated & will help avoid shine throughout the day.

What Make-Up Item Could You Least Live Without?!

We all have our make-up saviours that we would not consider leaving the house without, let us know yours & vote below!

Brand New From Nars - The Multiple 'Orgasm'!!!!

'The Multiple' (£27) is a multi purpose make-up stick for eyes, cheeks & lips, it is a classic from the Nars range & gives a beautiful finish on the skin. It's great for using in your everyday express make-over before rushing out the door for work, it gives a cream to powder finish with intense even colour for the eyes, shimmering cheeks & a light soft colour on the lips!
Their brand new colour 'Orgasm' is perfect for the spring/summer months, giving you a warm glow while you build up your tan!

Vintage Glamour - Get The Look!

Demi Moore as well as hubby Ashton Kutcher, daughter Rumer Willis and many other A-Listers such as Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz & Courtney Cox recently attended the The Art of Elysium Charity Event (for children battling serious illness) at The Beverly Hills Hotel in LA, where the theme was Vintage Forties & Dominoes (apparently Hollywood's hottest new party game!)
Vintage glamour is definitely in vogue this year, a timeless look that oozes style & sophistication and Demi Moore captures the look just perfectly in this picture.
Here's some top tips on getting the look yourself (all you'll need after is the fake fur & diamonds!

1 - A flawless complexion is required for this look so opt for Max Factor's 'Miracle Touch Foundation' (£10.99) which is a base with concealer & powder for the perfect finish.
2 - Use neutral colours with the eyeshadows, take a nude tone across the entire lid, use a highlighter on the brow bone to really define the eye, then take a medium brown into the socket line & blend out in circular movements with your 'fluff' brush (for best results, tilt your head up & look down slightly to apply shadow to the socket line) Try Revlon's Eyeshadow Quad 'In The Buff' (£7.99)
3 - The Top las line needs to be defined to achieve the vintage style, with a dark brown or black matt shadow & using a slanted defining eye brush take the shadow, as close the the lashes as possible, from the inner corner to the outer, build heavily at the outer corner just past the middle point of your eye, this will give more depth & shape to your eye, then trace a light line at the outside corner & flick outwards slightly. For the bottom lash line, take a lighter line with a shimmer eyeshadow, the same as you used for the socket line to create of softer finish on the bottom.
4 - Apply false lashes, the lashes really are a big statement with this look, go for Mac False Lash Strips (7.50), finish by applying mascara over the top as well as on your bottom lashes.
5 - Define your eyebrows, use the Body Shop's 'Brow Kit' (£10) to shape your brows, it is a powder with an application brush, apply over your brows paying particular attention the edge above the bridge of your nose & ensure it is neatly finished off (take a pencil & place vertically above your nose, the line should not go past this point), point them off at the outer corner of your eye to create a longer brow that will 'frame' the eye, soften by taking a brow comb through them.
6 - A warm shimmering colour will set off the cheeks beautifully & should sculpt & define too, take a large blusher brush & sweep the colour over the apples of your cheeks then upwards across the cheekbones, try Bobbi Brown's 'Bronze Shimmer Brick Compact' (£27) which has pinks & browns to give this effect for both warm & cool skin tones.
7 - Finish with a bold red lipstick to give it the forties glamour touch, keep it matt & apply some foundation underneath to hold it in place, take a lip liner in red & define your lip line first, soften with a cotton bud & then apply the colour with a lip brush, blot twice with tissue & re-apply, then pat some translucent powder over it gently to create the ultimate matt finish, go for 'Mac Red' Lipstick (£11) & Mac 'Redd' Lip Pencil (£9)

Body Beautiful Complex - Perfection In A Bottle!

Finally a miracle pill has arrived for that perfect glowing complexion, these beauty capsules by 'Skin Nutrition' are the all round supplement for your beauty regime, they promote healthy skin, hair & nails as well as speeding up your metabolism, removing stored fat & cellulite and as if that wasn't enough they can increase your energy levels as well as preventing wrinkles!
The magic ingrediants include N-Acetyl Glucosamine which is proven to reverse age spots as well as improving the body’s natural regeneration of collagen, Alpha Lipoic Acid to fight against Free Radicals plus Green & White Tea to speed up your metabolism as well as acting as a powerful anti-oxidant.
The recommended dose is as a dietary supplement, take 1- 2 capsules first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and another 1-2 capsules mid afternoon.
£30 for 60 Capsules (www.skinnutrition.com)

Benefit - Top New Products!

Just out is Benefit's new 'Lust Dust' mineral eyeshadow that creates intense colour sparkle, only a tiny amount is required with the high pigment so a little goes a long way indeed! Also for an extra chic look, wet a liquid liner application brush & dab into the powder then apply to your upper lid for a shimmering top lash line!

Another new product from Benefit is their 'Erase Paste', which is a brightening & camouflage concealer in one, the highly pigmented concealer gives a fantastic coverage without having to use a great deal of the product, and with the brightening qualities say goodbye to dark circles! It comes with a comprehensive user guide & an application spatula, my tip though would be to just apply with the finger tips! A definite must have for your make-up bag & it will certainly be a permanent feature in my make-up kit from now on! Launched this Saturday at all Benefit counters!

"Boob Job' - A Fuller Bust In A Bottle!

Just what we girls have always dreamt about, a Boob Job without going under the surgeon's knife and at a fraction of the cost too!!! 'Boob Job' is the latest product just released this week from cult beauty brand Rodial, some of they're best sellers include 'Tummy Tuck' which is a cream that promises to reduce your tum by 2cm in 8 weeks, as well as Glamotox, their needle free collagen injection cream which can dramatically reduce wrinkles with it's 'plumping' effects!
They have a pretty large celeb fan base too that includes the likes of Katie Holmes, Giselle & Eva Longoria to name but a few, all devotees to the miracle working range!!
So their latest product sensation 'Boob Job' promises a fuller cleavage in 56 days, it works with your natural fat cells 'blocking' the fat in your bust area so you will see a gradual increase in cup size (up to 10%) as well as a firming & lifting effect too. The gel is based on a natural phytosterol derived from an Asian root, it works on the skin and the layer of fat beneath it, with Myrrh extract to promote volume in the skin and pentapeptides to repair and smooth skin 'Boob Job' can definitely give you a fuller & plumper bust for this summers bikini season!
Visit their website for more info www.rodial.co.uk, 'Boob Job' is available to purchase on line from this week (£125).

Beauty Icons - Top Tips with Johnson's Baby Oil!

Johnson's Baby Oil have just brought out the fab new guide 'Ultimate Beauty Icons' to give top tips on using baby oil in your everyday beauty routine, the guide is created in conjunction with Make-Up Artist Jo Gillingwater & is inspired by some of the world's most beautiful & iconic women such as Marilyn Monroe, Raquel Welch & Audry Hepburn. Baby Oil, which has an iconic status itself, has been used by woman for over 70 years & today it is still a must have product for top make-up artists as well as being adored by celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham & Jessica Alba.
Using the full range of Baby Oil, I have been putting a few of the beauty techniques from their guide to the test & firstly I must admit I don't think my skin has ever felt better!
The original Johnson's Baby Oil is also now out as a Spray as well as a Gel which makes it a lot easier to apply, the spray is fantastic for when you're just out of the shower plus it's best to apply at this point as Johnson's advise it will lock in about 10 times more moisture when the skin is still damp, the Gel version is much easier to apply while the skin is dry & works wonders on dry knees & elbows! For extra soft skin try Baby Oil with Aloe Vera & for the ultimate relaxation after your bath at night to unwind apply 'Bedtime Oil' afterwards which contains relaxing aromas designed to help babies drift off to sleep, although I've found it works pretty well with adults too!
Anyway here's my favourites from their top tips on using Baby Oil to create some amazing looks -

1 Highlight your Decolletage - Take a small amount of Baby Oil across your collar bone & chest (the spray works really well for this) then dust a little shimmer powder over the top, the powder intensifies with the Baby Oil to create a glamorous finish for an evening look
2 Create a Natural Dewy Look - This is best when using cream blushers as well as eyeshadows with your make-up, take a tiny amount & apply above your cheeks as a highlighter to the top corner close to your eye, also with a pea sized amount highlight your brow bone too (the Gel is easier to use for this as it's slightly firmer)
3 Ultimate Legs - To keep your legs in top condition Johnson's recommend applying Baby Oil every day, it not only moisturises but creates a glisten that gives them a healthy sheen hiding any imperfections. Also I found that after applying my self tanning moisturiser, taking a small amount of Baby Oil over the skin really helps to even out the finish reducing any streaking (again I find the Gel works best for this)

A few other little beauty tricks that the guide enlightens us with, is that baby oil is great for taming unruly eyebrows, take a tiny amount & comb through to keep them sleek & in shape, also it can even help create slick hairstyles while giving your hair extra condition as well! I would definitely recommend it as one of the best eye make-up removers too, especially when trying to get rid of any stubborn left over waterproof mascara!
One thing is for sure though it certainly is one of the best moisturisers on the market for your body, keeping it soft & in perfect condition, it's great for any problem areas plus it can also help prevent stretch marks, what more could you possibly ask for!

For more information on Baby Oil's 'Ultimate Beauty Icons Guide' contact johnsonsbaby@redconsultancy.com

Best Leg Waxing Strips - Veet

Voted the best wax strips for legs in recent polls, Veet 'Ready to Use' Strips are easy to use, quick & effective plus they come in 3 types for dry, normal & sensitive skin. You simply heat them up between your hands then apply & smooth over the leg then remove, they will generally remove at least 80% of the hair on the first go, not bad at all!

Top Waxing Tips -

Before you start, make sure your hair is at least 1/8 of an inch, a lot shorter than this & the wax can't grip the hair.
Prepare the skin, make sure it is cleaned thoroughly & dried properly, otherwise the wax won't stick.
Apply the strips in the direction of hair growth, for lower legs aim down the way towards the ankle, then remove against the hair growth which is upwards towards the knee.
When removing the strips hold the skin underneath with your other hand which will 'brace' & allow a firmer removal with less pain.
Apply a soothing afterwax solution to clean off any excess wax but also to ensure the skin is left clean, treated & soothed (for best effects make sure it has either Aloe Vera, Tea Tree, Witch Hazel or Lavender Oil), the hair follicles are still open at this point & can be prone to infection and/or inflammation, it is also advisable to avoid hot baths/showers straight afterwards as well as applying any tanning products.
Make sure you exfoliate regularly when you wax your legs which will help to prevent any ingrown hairs.

Brand New - Bobbi Brown's Nudes Collection.

Brand New from Bobbi Brown is this season's Nude Lip & Eye Palatte (£40), the colours are universally flattering for all skin tones & the palatte contains four lipsticks & four eyeshadows in shimmer & matt finshes. Also just out is the Nude Glitter Lipgloss (£13) which are designed to compliment the Nude Palette. These colours are great as they'll never go out of fashion & are perfect for creating any natural look.