Natalya's Beauty Blog- Filthygorgeousmakeup

Designer Cosmetics Sale!!

2012-02-12T22:02:00.000Z

Browsing through BrandAlley's website I was very excited to see that they are having an amazing sale on a whole host of designer makeup brands. It's not often that amazing brands such as MAC, YSL, Bobbi Brown, Dior, OPI and Essie go on sale, so it's definitely worth checking out!

Since Brand Alley is a member's site you may need an invite to join, but anyone is welcome to e-mail me (filthygorgeousmakeup@gmail.com) and I'll be sure to send you an invite to login with.

Here are my favourites...

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish- £15.50 (RRP £18.50)

MAC Pink Pet Me Mineralize Blush - £15.50 (RRP £18)

YSL Rouge Volupte Duo - £33.50 (RRP £42)

OPI Set Of Four Pirates of the Caribbean Pleasure - £21(RRP £42)

YSL Faux Cils Mascara - £18.50 (RRP £23)

Will you be picking anything up in the Brandalley sales? Hurry.. they are selling fast! xxx

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Good Hair

2012-02-12T11:00:00.000Z

Hair!

I'm not afraid to say it... When my hair looks good I feel great.

Good hair just puts an extra spring in your step and makes you feel instantly more confident! However, I am the first to admit that I am super lazy when it comes to hair. I've never had a particularly high maintenance style, but my hair has always been long and with a mind of its own, so I have developed tricks over the years to keep it manageable, with very little effort.

After washing my hair at night I like to blow dry it upside down (for some volume) and sleep with it in a high, loose bun overnight.

I recommend using a clip rather than a hair tie as it doesn't create any unwelcome kinks. This prevents my hair from getting frizzy overnight, while retaining lots of volume and creating some shape. When I take it down in the morning it still looks full, but not quite as wild as it can be straight after drying.

Most days I tend to keep my style pretty natural and let the curls roam free. As my hair is long it is a little dry, so I try not to wash it too often in order for it to retain some natural moisture and prevent the colour fading too quickly.

Even though it doesn't get particularly greasy it can sometimes fall a little flat between washes. I'm all about the big hair, so my secret weapon in the mornings between washes is always dry shampoo.

V05's new Refresh Me Quick and Plump Me Up dry shampoos smell absolutely amazing and leave the hair full of volume and bounce (RRP £3.49, available in major supermarkets and chemists from April)!

Once the roots are sorted I like to add a little gloss and tame the frizz. Depending on how long it has been between washes I will use either a refreshing, moisturising spray or a slightly heavier serum or oil. The sprays I am currently loving are Bed Head Spoil Me, which is great at banishing static and frizz (£11.25).

For lustrous impact I have really enjoyed using Scandalous Luminous Shine Finishing Spray (£3.49) to add some gloss and lustre to my hair. It also has quite a strong, spicy scent that's great for refreshing your hair.

For third day hair that really needs taming, or if I have styled it and it's starting to look a little dry I run a serum through the ends to add shine and smoothness. I have recently been using the Tre Semme Split Remedy Sealing Serum (£5.50), which has a lovely light texture that doesn't weigh hair down and reduces the appearance of split ends.

Alternatively I may use a tiny drop of oil such as pure argan oil or Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue (£39.50), which smells amazing and leaves hair super silky!

It seems like quite a bit of effort when I write it all down, but I tend to rely on one or two products instead of using heat and never spend longer than a few seconds on my hair in the mornings. I wish I could be a 'wash and go' kind of girl, but unfortunately not all of us are blessed with a natural, beautiful mane of hair ;).

Do you spend much time on your hair? What are your hair secrets and tips? What products do you rely on to keep your hair looking fabulous? xxx

Chocomania

2012-02-11T11:00:00.000Z

When the weather outside is frightfully cold we all want a little treat, and in my case a treat usually involves chocolate. However, at a time when most of us are still fighting the overindulgences of the long gone festive season treats can be a very guilty pleasure. So when my chocolatey cravings become too much to bear instead of reaching for the Thorntons I have been treating my skin with the indulgent Chocomania range from The Body Shop!

The Chocomania Body Butter (£9) is decadent, with a divine, rich chocolatey scent that lasts well on the skin. It's perfect for use on any dry areas to give long lasting hydration without leaving the skin greasy. It also contains 13 Community Fair Trade ingredients – the most ever included in one Body Shop product!

The Chocomania Body Lotion (£8) is a lighter version of this chocolate delight, but just as delicious. With Community Fair Trade cocoa butter, shea butter, organic babassu oi, Brazil nut oil and sesame seed oil it still has the same wonderful moisturising properties, but sinks into the skin super quickly, which makes it perfect for every day use. I like to keep a bottle on my bedside table for a little nighttime indulgence.

The range also encompasses a cute little Lip Butter (£4), Shower Cream (£4), Body Scrub (£9) and even a romantic heart shaped soap (£2).

Have you tried The Body Shop's Chocomania range? xxx

Drugstore Valentine's Makeup Tutorial

2012-02-10T11:30:00.000Z

So many of you lovelies have requested a look using only drugstore/ affordable makeup, so I decided to incorporate this into my Valentine's look this year.

Products Used:
Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation
Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush
Sleek Brow Kit*
UDPP

Rimmel eyeshadow 139 Tribute
Rimmel eyeshadow 33 Dusk
BarryM Dazzledust 51
Rimmel Glam Eyes Quad 25 Summer Bloom
The Body Shop Pencil 14 Glowing Amethyst*
Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner Powder Pink*
L'Oreal Carbon Gloss liquid liner
Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara*
Eyelure Girls Aloud Nicola Lashes

17 Mirror Shine Beehive Lipstick
MUA Hot Lips Lip Balm*

All products marked with * were sent to me for review consideration. This is not a sponsored video.

Valentine's kisses! xxx

Valentine's Gifts for Him

2012-02-08T20:58:00.000Z

Boys can be tricky, so I have spent the last few weeks searching for the perfect Valentine's day gifts to please hopeless romantics and those who can't quite bring themselves to admit it yet...

Personalised 'I love you more than...' Print (£27) - It may not be true (I really do love my cat Maxie), but it's nice to let them think it anyway ;).

Kyoku for Men (from £11.50) - As far as grooming goes boys don't always make their efforts obvious, so perhaps it's time to push him in the right direction with a set of products he can't help but love. I have been testing out the Kyoku range for the last few weeks and am really impressed. The packaging sits firmly within the male domain - monochromatic, fuss free and to the point, it has a novel range of ingredients and the products work well without being too specific. Boys get confused easily (I often catch the bf washing his face in shampoo and vice versa as he thinks it's all the same), so a product with multi-tasking properties is always a bonus! My favourites are the Sake Infused Shave Cream (£25), Razor Repair Balm (£29) and Exfoliating Facial Scrub (£19).

David Beckham for H&M Boxer Shorts (£9.99) - A little inspiration?

Vintage Map Heart (£48) - Men and maps! I have never met a man who would ever admit he was lost, so why not play on stereotypes and get him a personalised map. Whether it depicts where you first met, where he was born, your first kiss, your wedding or your honeymoon destination it will make a lovely, thoughtful and stylish gift.

Leather ipad case (£24.95) - I'm not too tech savvy, but I'm pretty sure everyone would be thrilled to receive an ipad. However, if your other half is already lucky enough to have one, why not accessorize it with a smart case. The Proporta leather style case is affordable and functional as it not only protects the ipad, but also has a built in stand to support the ipad for easier reading.

Fossil Watch (from £75) - There are so many watches to choose from, but for men's watches that are stylish, practical, good quality and not too expensive I am always drawn to Fossil. They have a huge range of designs that are updated frequently with dress, sports, classic, mechanical and many more styles. Most watches also come with a 2 year limited free warranty, which often comes in handy.

Neal's Yard Gift Set (£23.30) - This set is perfect for sporty types to relieve tired bodies, muscles and minds. The duo includes Seaweed and Arnica Foaming Bath and Arnica Salve.

Messless Charge Station (£79.99) - If he has a million gadgets and can never find the right stands, chargers or cables this compact charging station will definitely be very useful. This innovative device is capable of charging hundreds of portable devices such as MP3 players, handheld game consoles, mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras and more.

LUSH Do Knot Disturb (£16.95) - Whatever your plans LUSH can guarantee your Valentine's evening will go even better with one of these ;). Do Knot Disturb has everything you need for a romantic getaway, all wrapped up in a cute red and white Knot-Wrap. There’s a box of Dirty Toothy Tabs to give you fresh breath for kissing, a Sex Bomb Ballistic to perfume your bath with aphrodisiac oils, a Lust soap to get each other in a lather and a gorgeous honey-chocolate Soft Coeur massage bar for later on the evening.

Scratch Off Word Map (£18) - To document all the places you aim to explore together...

Personalised Silver Plectrum (£49) - For all those songs he is going to write about you... this is cheesy, but it really made me giggle.

Almost as much as this!

I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's day! What will you be purchasing your loved one this Valentine's day? xxx

Valentine's Gifts for Her

2012-02-08T11:00:00.129Z

Although I am under no illusion that many men frequent this blog (if you are one then please identify yourself!) nevertheless I thought it would be fun to create a little Valentine's gift guide for girls. Most boys need a little nudge in the right direction... ;)

Dior Garden Clutch Palette (£55) - What could be more romantic than this beautiful Dior palette with three sumptuous eyeshadows and two pretty lip glosses? The packaging is absolutely adorable and luxurious - absolutely perfect for Valentine's day!

Spineless Classics Full Text Novel Posters (from £14.99) - Her favourite book can come to life in these amazing prints. Whether you go for romance with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or Mary Shelley's Frankinstein, I am sure she would appreciate such a thoughtful and original gift.

Folli Follie Bonding Ring box set (£110) - You can never go wrong with something sparkly! Every girl loves a little variety, so now is the perfect time to invest in a beautiful rose gold or silver set of four stacking rings. Each one can be worn alone, or combined to create some serious bling.

Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn (from £4) - Instead of queuing up in Thornton's or Godiva to purchase the usual box of chocolates, why not treat her to a delicious bag of handmade popcorn from Joe & Seph's. They have an amazing selection of flavours from salty caramel (my favourite) to a special Valentine's day concoction that combines rich Belgian white chocolate infused with caramel with a fruit cocktail of pure strawberry. Yumm!!!

Ted Baker ROCKSY purse (£55) - This cute patent leather purse with a heart detail clasp would fit into any girl's bag and with space for six cards and two note sections it's also small enough for a night out, or romantic meal out... whether or not she is paying ;p.

Beauty Box Subscription - The gift that keeps on giving with a beautifully presented box of cosmetic treats arriving on her doorstep every month. There are so many to choose from, but my favourites are:

GlossyBox (Valentine's 50% off code: AFF50GLOSSYBOX) - £10 per month here.
Jolie Box/ Boudoir Prive - £10 per month here.
Amarya Beauty Box (natural & organic products) - £10 per month here.

Nail Wraps from Myleene Klass (from £5.99) - I love these cute little nail wraps with the perfect heart shaped design. Each pack comes with 24 stickers, enough to cover both hands and feet, plus a handy (see what I did there?) nail file.

More Than Words... (from £75). Personalised gifts are always extra special, but can be a little tricky to source or make. This website creates beautiful artwork to your precise specifications. Tell your special someone one what you love about them, or create art featuring memories you share.

ClaireaBella Canvas Bags (from £14.99) - These have been popping up in the hands of celebrities everywhere. Although the canvas bag itself is perhaps not the most exciting accessory the cute designs and individual details, such as the name and bespoke cartoon, make it absolutely adorable!

Mulberry Alexa (from £650) - If you are looking to really spoil her you would struggle to do better than a classic Mulberry Alexa bag. I am absolutely in love with the new Silky Snake Print in playful pebbled beige, or the smart nightshade blue.

What are you hoping to receive this Valentine's Day? Will you be treating yourself or a loved one to something special? xxx

Valentine's GlossyBox

2012-02-06T11:00:00.004Z

The January 2012 GlossyBox - Special Valentine's day edition!

For more information about Glossybox and to subscribe for £10 per month please visit their website here. You can also receive 50% OFF the Valentines GLOSSYBOX with the code: AFFGLOSSY50OFF

To enter the GlossyBox Valentine's day competition for your chance to win a trip to Paris for 2 visit their facebook page here!

Have you tried GlossyBox? What do you think of the boxes you have received? Will you be subscribing to any beauty boxes this year? what are your favourites? What products would you like to see included in these boxes? xxx

*I am a GlossyBox ambassador, so this box was sent to for review consideration. I was not paid for this video, or to promote GlossyBox. *

Dr Lipp Balm

2012-02-04T11:00:00.001Z

Dr.Lipp balm is 100% natural, tasteless and odourless, which makes it extremely versatile. It can be used to moisturise any dry areas, soothe rashes, calluses, eczema, scars, sunburn and especially dry lips!

Dr. Lipp’s original balm was historically used by nursing mothers to soothe their sensitive nipples, hence the rather alternative name -nipple balm for lips!

So what is this miracle balm made of? The answer lies in sheep!

The oils and waxes sheep naturally produce to protect their fleece are scientifically known to be the most similar to oils also produced by human skin. Dr.Lipp’s formula is made from these same natural oils and waxes processed and purified to a Medical Grade standard of purity and cleanliness, removing all environmental polutants. The formula is so pure it is termed Medical Grade Lanolin, which makes it suitable for pharmaceutical use.

The balm itself has quite a thick consistency, but quickly softens on contact. It strongly reminds me of Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream, but without any distinctive scent. Once applied it is colourless, but leaves a gorgeous shine, so it can be used as a light, moisturising gloss over your favourite lip colour!

For more information on this amazing balm you can visit the Dr Lipp website here. You can also purchase the balm for £11 on the Zuneta website here.

Have you tried Dr Lipp balm? What are your favourite moisturising products? xxx

Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum

2012-02-03T11:00:00.000Z

Recently I have been really getting into perfumes and Jimmy Choo's self-titled fragrance has been top of my list. So when I spotted it while browsing in duty free I decided to treat myself to a gorgeous little bottle.

The Jimmy Choo fragrance is described as floral and fruity with a green top note followed by heart notes of rich tea rose and exotic tiger orchid finishing with base notes of cedar wood. It is girly and feminine, without being overly sweet and develops well on the skin. I am absolutely in love with this fragrance and foresee myself making my way through the bottle all too quickly! Although I wouldn't say it is particularly unique, it fits well within my collection (Miss Dior Cherie, Juicy Couture, Michael Kors Hollywood and V&R Flowerbomb) and is definitely one of my every day favourites.

Jimmy Choo eau de toilette starts at £33.50 for 40ml, while the eau de parfum starts at £38.50 for 40ml.

Have you tried Jimmy Choo's fragrance? What are your thoughts on it? xxx

I can do it like a brother, do it like a duuuude

2012-02-01T11:00:00.000Z

One of my most requested celebrity inspired tutorials is to recreate Jessie J's signature makeup. I absolutely love her music, attitude and her individuality. I love the way she experiments with her makeup, style, hair... and even though a large proportion of it is not to my personal taste, I appreciate the artistic qualities and, of course, the fun factor!

For this Jessie J look I decided to go super dramatic pairing a Swarovski crystal enhanced black smokey eye with a vibrant orange lip.

My main inspiration came from:

If you want to see how I created this look please check out the video below:

Products used:
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet +
Pure Minerals Foundation*
UDPP
Grey shadow eg. MAC scene
Black eyeshadow eg. MAC carbon
Black liner eg. MAC feline
Eye Rock Swarovski Crystals*

Liquid liner eg L'Oreal superliner carbon gloss
Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara*
Eyelure Lashes

MAC Longwear lip creme in Good To Go

Love Hair Extensions Going Gaga synthetic wig in jet black*
(Products marked with * were sent to me for review consideration).

Are you a Jessie J fan? What do you think of her style? Would you be brave enough to wear some of her more dramatic looks? xxx

Snow flurries!

2012-01-31T22:30:00.000Z

I have just spent the most lovely week in Austria with the bf. We had such a fun time skiing, relaxing and filling up on Gluhwein, strudel and lots of hot chocolate ;).

And it looks like I have brought the snow back with me to England... perhaps I was a bit too speedy in putting my thermals away! xxx

Ted Baker – Come Rain or Shine

2012-01-24T11:00:00.000Z

Keeping your fingers crossed for warmer weather? With the shops now stocking Spring/Summer collections it is becoming increasingly tempting to shun the cardis and fill your wardrobe with pastel separates.

In preparation for another drizzle filled English Spring every girl needs a practical trench coat that effortlessly translates into work and play. I absolutely love this classic Ted Baker mac (£229 here) with a full skirted, girly twist!

I prefer the tan for my colouring, but the Nexaa coat also comes in a gorgeous olive green.

For a limited time Ted Baker are also offering a beautiful tulip printed umbrella as a gift when you purchase the mac!

The beauty is in the detail.. the umbrella even matches the lining of the coat. Super cute!

Are you looking forward to Spring? Have you started thinking about your Spring wardrobe? What are the key pieces you will be purchasing for next season? xxx

Big Bouncy Curls with Enrapture Totem Styler

2012-01-19T11:00:00.000Z

The Totem Styler from Enrapture is a unique, versatile tool that lets you create a myriad of styles with it's three separate heat settings in one barrel.

The Totem Styler is beautifully packaged and has a weighty, sleek design. It is the first ever styler to feature three independent heat zones that can be set to different temperatures using the encoder dials. Its titanium plate technology helps it to heat up quickly and evenly to create smooth curls in seconds! The mini flipper also allows the styler to be used as a traditional curling iron by clipping the hair securely in place, but it is also flat enough for the styler to be used as a wand!

I have been playing around with this tool for a couple of weeks to see what kind of curls I could create. So far I think my favourite is achieved on the 1-2-3 setting, which gives looser waves nearer the root and tighter curls towards the ends.

To see how I created this style please watch the video below:

For more information on the Enrapture set of tools please visit their website here. The Totem Styler can be purchased here and retails at £74.99.

Have you tried any of Enrapture's innovative tools? What do you think of the Totem Styler? What kind of hair style are you desperate to recreate? xxx

Cosmetofruit Total Body Booster

2012-01-17T14:02:00.000Z

Whilst browsing the SpaceNK website today I came across this little beauty - the Cosmetofruit Total Body Booster, which is now available half price in the sale (£25 here)!

This amazing elixir was actually sent to me a little while ago and I have been meaning to tell you all about it for quite some time!

The Total Bosy Booster is a delicious (it really is!) nutritional concentrate that helps to detoxify and revitalise your body. With its free radical fighters it also helps to prevent ageing and boost skin health, as well as reduce the appearance of cellulite and recover skin tone and firmness.

The elixir contains a host of active ingredients including spiruline seaweed, which helps to provide elasticity and tone to the skin and has antioxidant and antiradical properties that are effective against oxidative stress and green coffee extract, which helps reduce water retention and lipid accumulation to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

The elixir comes with a nifty little spoon that makes it easy to measure out your daily dose (4ml). I found that the 100ml bottle lasted about a month and it actually became a supplement I enjoyed taking every day. You can take it alone as a 'shot' or even dissolve it in water, but the pomegranate/ berry flavour is quite tasty so I was happy to take it alone. Although I didn't see the most dramatic effects straight away I did see an improvement in the general appearance of my skin after just one month. I am definitely going to be picking up another in the sale... though I am also really tempted to try their Luxurious Hair and Nails elixir (£25 here)!

Have you tried the Cosmetofruit Total Body Booster or any of their other elixirs? Are you tempted to pick this up in the sale? What are your thoughts/ experiences with health supplements? xxx

Eyeko Mascara Wardrobe

2012-01-17T11:00:00.000Z

Many of you might have noticed that Eyeko has had a little makeover. After first launching in 1999 the founders decided to update the brand and focus the product range. Eyeko is now all about the eyes!

The main product Eyeko has been concentrating on is mascara. I was already a big fan of the original Big Eyes Mascara so I was very much excited by their new offering - a trio of mascaras (£15 each) designed to give you a mascara wardrobe for your eyes!

“With three different bristle brushes - Skinny, Fat and Curvy –developed to give a better grip for longer, bigger and curlier lashes with treatment formulas that solve a multitude of lash problems from premature breakage to lack of hold."

Each mascara also includes an innovative Eyeko shield (just seen above). Essentially this is a plectrum, which can be used to protect your lids from mascara smudges during application.

Curvy Brush Mascara

This mascara features a superior curling formula with Shea Butter and Keratin for conditioned lashes that hold a 90degree curl for over 12 hours without making eyelashes feel brittle. The multi-action brush with tiered bristle clusters is designed to plump, define and curl lashes.

This mascara was easy to apply and gave a clean, natural look to my lashes. The wand grips lashes well and is easy to manoeuvre in order to coat all lashes evenly. This is a great mascara to use if you have naturally long lashes and need a bit of lift. Personally, I prefer a fuller, longer lash look and would reserve this one for more natural makeup days.

Skinny Brush Mascara

Eyeko's skinny brush mascara is designed to elongate the lashes. The bristles are sparse and evenly dispersed to coat each lash with the pigmented black formula, which combines natural oils and waxes with pro-vitamin B to condition and promote lash growth. The formula is indeed a rich black and lasts well throughout the day without flaking.

It seems that Eyeko have taken their Big Eyes mascara formulation and improved it! I love the lengthening and volumising effect and the deep inky black of this mascara. The brush makes application effortless as it holds enough product to coat the lashes and is small enough to use on the corners and the lower lashes. The Skinny Brush mascara is my favourite of the three!

Fat Brush Mascara

The super sized brush with dense bristles coats and extends lashes for maximum volume. The fibre-enriched formula with extracts of keratin boosts and nourishes lashes.

The large brush delivers impact by adding volume and depth to the lashes. However, the large brush can be a little difficult to use, especially if your eyes are on the smaller side.

Which is your favourite mascara in the Eyeko trio? What do you look for in your perfect mascara? Which is your current 'go to' mascara? xxx

Work It Out: Seamed

2012-01-15T11:00:00.004Z

It's been a while since I have done a Work it Out post! With the dark mornings my snooze button has been getting quite the workout, but many of you have commented that you have missed them so I have tried to make a little more effort!

Magenta midi pencil dress with seamed detail - ASOS (now on sale for £27), Patent belt - Ted Baker, Blazer - Zara.

This dress is very form fitting, yet comfortable. I love the bright colour and seamed detailing around the bust, which echos the underwear as outerwear trend, but in a subtle, conservative way. I decided to team it with a structured, black tuxedo style blazer to toughen it up with a little masculine tailoring.

Are you wearing midi dresses this season? Are you a fan of 'work it out' posts? What kind of fashion posts are you most interested in seeing? xxx

Royal Manicure

2012-01-14T22:45:00.001Z

Unfortunately my nail painting skills are nothing to write home about, but I do like to have a play around!

In the colder months I tend to stick to a darker palette of nail polish, but it's always fun to change it up a little bit every now and again. I am a big fan of the new french tip - namely glitter, but unfortunately glitter is not work friendly so has to be reserved for the weekends. So instead of creating a gold tip I decided to make a bolder statement.

OPI Plugged in Plum and Nail Star nail art polish in gold.

I like the idea of the design, but my shaky hands have somewhat failed in the execution. Practice makes perfect...

What nail polish colours are you wearing at the moment? What are your favourite nail designs? xxx

The House of Rush

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000Z

New Year, new you? I would never be so dramatic, but it's nice to update your look a little every now and then. So I was excited when I was given the opportunity to review the newly opened House of Rush in the heart of bustling Picadilly. With it's ultra glamorous decor, and a team of top stylists it makes a great flagship for the RUSH chain of salons.

With a list of treatments that ranges from the usual cut and colour through to eyelash extensions, facials, massages, waxing, tan and even permanent hair reductions I was spoilled for choice. However, when I think of Rush I think of hair, so I decided on a half head of highlights to give my hair a new lease of life.

The before:

My lovely stylist Amanda met me on arrival and gave me a full consultation about the look that I wanted to achieve. After dying my hair a deeper red/ brown earlier in the week I felt that my hair colour was looking a bit flat, and wanted to add some vibrancy and shine. What I was hoping for was to have a variety of tones throughout my hair and achieve a look that would make someone say "oh, your hair looks nice" rather than "oh, you've had highlights".

I have to admit that I was a little worried about getting highlights as often red can turn into streaky orange/ brassy sections if bleached or stripped. So instead I was delighted that Amanda chose to add slightly lighter, more vibrant red highlights throughout my hair, which would catch the light and add dimension and shine, rather than bleaching or lifting my existing colour. The highlights themselves were placed just under the line of my natural parting, so that they looked more natural.

As many of us find the hairdressers can sometimes be a bit of a stressful experience I have to point out that I felt very relaxed during my colour. Amanda was absolutely lovely, extremely friendly, bubbly and thoughtful. It was an absolute pleasure to meet someone who was genuinely excited and enjoyed their job! The mood at the salon was also very calm and it was refreshing to see that due to the longer time slots allocated for each appointment care and time was taken over my hair, unlike at other salons where I have previously felt rushed out of the door, or handed over to a junior because my stylist had run out of time.

So here is my after shot, though unfortunately this was taken after I had come back from dinner (in the drizzle) so my hair had lost some of its volume and bounce.

As you can see the change is very subtle, but the freehand placement of the highlights adds some lovely tonal variation to my hair, without making it look 'stripy' or unnatural. I absolutely loved the final results and will definitely be going back to the House of Rush and particularly Amanda, who was absolutely wonderful!

Have you been to the House of Rush? I'm so excited to have found a salon that is a one stop shop for all my beauty needs and can't wait to try some of the other treatments they have available! xxx

Joliebox

2012-01-10T11:00:00.000Z

Starting from December the wonderful Boudoir Privé has joined hands with JolieBox! JolieBox is the leading beauty box subscription service in France, having worked with a range of luxurious, high-end brands such as Benefit, By Terry, Caudalie, Kiehls, Essie and Lancôme.

Both services embrace Parisian sophistication; mixing an eye for high quality samples while seeking out niche products. By joining with JolieBox Boudoir Privé aims to continue to provide new and exciting brands to sample, alongside a wider range of established brands at the height of luxury.

Each box still has the same chic French flavour, contains 5 deluxe samples and the price and payments have remained the same. So without further ado let's take a look at December's box!

The December Joliebox contained 5 samples, as well as 2 bonus items!

OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer (full size)
Mitchell and Peach shower wash (mini)
New CID Cosmetics i-gloss (full size)
Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust (full size)
YON-KA Vital Defense Anti-aging prevention cream (mini)

Bonus

Kusmi Detox Tea (20g)
Joliebox concealer brush

This is definitely one of my favourite beauty boxes of 2011. It contains a great range of products from a variety of brands. My favourite product in the box was the i-gloss in Baby Doll (£19 here)- a gorgeous creamy shade in fun and practical packaging.

With it's light up wand and mirror it makes it perfect for application on the go!

The gloss is a gorgeous peachy pink shade with subtle blue and gold reflects. It is pigmented, without looking too opaque on the lips and gives a beautiful glossy finish to the lips, without being sticky.

You can subscribe to JolieBox for £10 per month plus p&p to receive 5/6 deluxe sized samples.

Have you tried the new JolieBox? What did you think of December's box? Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? What are your favourites? xxx

Monday Mornings...

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000Z

Just the usual Monday Morning...

updating a few spreadsheets...

Have a good week my lovelies! xxx

New Year's Eve Outfit

2012-01-08T19:46:00.000Z

A few of you have requested that I post some pictures of my Christmas and New Year's celebrations, especially as I took a little break from the internet over the festive season. Since my Christmas was pretty low key there are no pictures to speak of, but I did manage to convince the bf to take a few snaps before heading out to celebrate the beginning of what will hopefully be an amazing year!

On the night itself I chose to wear an old dress from French Connection (circa 2005!) with opaque tights and the most obnoxiously glittery shoes that I had picked up in the Ted Baker sale a few days earlier.

They may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love them... they make me feel quite the modern Dorothy ;). If you are looking for a glitter shoe that is just that little bit more sophisticated (and I use that term very loosely) than the chunkier versions all over the high street then I highly recommend you check these out. They are currently available in red, black and my favourite rose gold colour on sale for £67 on the Ted Baker website here.

Continuing on the rose gold theme I also wore my new Folli Follie rose gold Heart 4 Heart key necklace. Unfortunately this is no longer available for purchase alone, but you can still find it as part of a special edition set here. I wear the plainer key for work by shortening the chain, and keep the crystal one (worn above) for occasions that require a little more sparkle!

I styled my hair with a new curling iron that I have been experimenting with over the last couple of weeks - the Enrapture Totem Styler, which has three separate heat setting for different areas of the barrel. I set mine at 3-2-3 for defined curls and back combed my hair at the root to create lots of volume.

Makeup wise I wore a smokey eye similar to the one I created for my birthday party. The main focus was MAC's reflects antique gold glitter applied over the lid, with a shimmery brown eyeshadow smoked into the crease and below the lower lashline. I then brightened the lower lashline and inner corner using Urban Decay's heavy metal glitter eyeliner in baked. I completed the eye look using the You Complete Me mink lashes from Velour.

On my cheeks I used a mix of NARS Angelika and MAC Well Dressed blush with MAC's Perfect Topping MSF to highlight. On my lips I applied MAC's Hue lipstick, followed by my favourite gloss, the absolutely delicious Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in No.2 Apricot Shimmer (£12.15 here).

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and celebrated the beginning of the New Year in style!! xxx

Proactiv's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

2012-01-07T22:09:00.001Z

On the 12th day of Christmas Proactiv gave to me... a Refining mask and $200 to Action for Children charity!

Thank you to Proactiv for their kind donation!

To win your own refining mask please enter by leaving a comment on my video!

For more information on Proactiv, as well as a full list of products, please visit: http://www.proactiv.co.uk/default.aspx

For more information on my chosen charity Action For Children or to make a donation please visit: http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Weight Loss - Iyashi Infrared Dome

2012-01-03T23:33:00.000Z

Happy New Year my lovelies!! I hope you all had a lovely festive period and are enjoying the beginning of 2012.

With the holidays now over many of us are realising that we may have indulged in more than our fair share (mince pies will be the death of me). I therefore thought it may be useful to test out some healthy weight loss, diet and fitness schemes to see in the new year. Let me know your tips and I would love to have some recommendations!

First up is the Infrared Dome, which is a really simple hollistic method designed to rejuvenate and rid the body of toxins. All you have to do is lie back and prepare to get very sweaty! The technology of the unique black carbon dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of far-infrared rays that are in line with the infrared naturally produced within the body.

The feeling is very similar to that of a 'dry sauna', but the heat builds up slowly and is not overwhelming. I particularly liked the fact that the head remains uncovered during the process, which is much more comfortable. During the 30 minute session the body remains cocooned in the dome and you can really feel the heat penetrating deep into your tissues, especially after turning over half way through. Personally I didn't find it uncomfortable. In fact I was so relaxed that I even had a little snooze! I practice bikram yoga and am generally quite tolerant to heat, but I wanted to be sensible so I asked for it to be maintained at a lower temperature that the maximum, though of course you can build up towards this over multiple sessions.

The Iyashi Dome ensures a loss of up to 600 kilocalories for every half hour session and as the heat penetrates up to 40 mm under the skin it also purifies, cleanses, helps to reduce cellulite and even helps anti aging!

I really enjoyed my session and it did make me feel rejuvenated afterwards. The only thing that was not quite as pleasant is the fact that after the treatment you are encouraged not to shower (so that your body cools down more slowly and retains more of the benefits). As I was traveling on public transport that day I did feel a little uncomfortable on the tube looking very sweaty and red, so I would recommend bring some gym (absorbent) clothes with you and wrapping up warm to protect you against the harsh winter air!

If you are interested in the Iyashi Dome and would like more information please check out mydetoxdiet.co.uk here. Plus, with an exclusive offer for my readers you can purchase 2 sessions for the price of 1. The usual price for two sessions is £110, so you will be able to get two sessions for £55!! All you need to do is quote 'filthygorgeousmakeup' when making your appointment.

Have you ever experienced the infrared dome? Did you see any health benefits? Are you tempted to give it a go? Let me know what you think and if you would like me to post more of my personal weight loss/ detox/ fitness reviews and recommendations! xxx

Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10

2011-12-20T21:53:00.000Z

Vichy's LiftActiv Serum 10 is a powerful anti-ageing treatment that has shown great results in clinical trials. After just 10 minutes wrinkles begin to fade by 10%, while skin is 32% softer and its texture instantly smoother and more refined, and after 1 month of daily use wrinkles appear to be reduced by 27%.

LiftActiv Serum 10 contains a 10% concentration of the breakthrough anti-ageing ingredient Rhamnose, combined with Vichy Thermal Spa Water, which is rich in soothing and regenerating minerals. The addition of 0.4% hyaluronic acid also helps to hydrate and plump the skin, whilst a ceramide based texture (of which 180 formulations were trialled) aids in accelerating the penetration
of the active ingredients into the dermis.

The result is a powerful lifting, re-plumping anti-ageing serum specially formulated for
sensitive skins! After reading so many positive reviews I shall be trialing the serum for myself over the next few weeks and will let you know how I get on!

Vichy's LiftActiv Serum 10 (£29.50) is available from independent pharmacies and selected Boots stores nationwide, as well as the Boots website here.

Are you a fan of Vichy products? Have you tried this serum? What are your thoughts?

*This is a sponsored post*

Belinda OOTD

2011-12-19T11:00:00.002Z

Although I do love a bit of leopard print I sometimes feel like it has been 'overworked' in all too many a store. Nevertheless, I was immediately drawn to this dress at a recent Motel blogger event! The Belinda dress (£52) offers a more sophisticated leopard print pattern paired with an (almost) full sleeve, longer length and a very deep v neck... so much so that I had to pin mine to protect a little modesty ;).

My dress had it's first outing a few weeks ago when the bf and I went on a double date. However, as well as being comfortable enough for long winter evening it's equally work friendly with a little camisole or vest worn underneath. I chose to keep it pretty simple with patent black and brown Kurt Geiger ankle boots, my Michael Kors rose gold watch (£199) and Les Nereides ring.

Have you seen Motel's new collection? What are your favourite pieces? Are you a fan of leopard print? xxx

Schwarzkopf partnership with LIVE Salon Style home hair colour

2011-12-16T15:12:00.001Z

Remember Louise Redknapp from Eternal? The gorgeous yummy mummy and wife of equally yummy Jamie Redknapp has been announced as the new face of Schwarzkopf LIVE Salon Style.

Her blonde locks have been transformed into a gorgeous, rich chocolate brown shade using LIVE Salon Style’s Chocolate Brown.

If you want some tips on choosing the right shade for your the video below is really helpful! It shows you some of the colour results you can expect, lists the selection of colours available as well as recommending different colours, or colour families for different skin tones.

You can also check out the the Live Salon Style Colour Booth Ap, which allows you to upload a picture of yourself to try out different hair colours. This is my before and after (using the dark brown shade). What do you guys think?

Schwarzkopf LIVE Salon Style is available nationwide now from Superdrug, Tesco,
Boots (where it is currently on offer for £3.99 here!), Sainsbury's and all leading pharmacies. Plus at RRP £5.99 it makes an affordable treat to get your tresses ready for the party season.

Have you tried the new shades from LIVE Salon Style? Are you thinking of changing your hair colour? xxx

*This is a sponsored post*

Babyliss Wave Envy - Giveaway

2011-12-12T00:10:00.000Z

Whether you are after big party hair, a retro up-do or loose, tousled beachy waves this party season the Babyliss Wave Envy styler makes gorgeous waves so easy and quick to create!

I was surprised by how light this tool is, given it is much larger than your average hair curler. It was also very simple to use and quick to move down the hair. I managed to create this look in just over 10minutes, which is pretty speedy for a first attempt! I chose to create very 'crimped' waves, by using the styler on the highest of its three settings. For a more relaxed, beachy wave I would recommend using a lower heat setting and only holding the hair in place for a few seconds.

For your chance to win a Babyliss Wave Envy please leave a comment below! Good luck my lovelies!! xxx

*This is a sponsored post*

Treats for Winter Skin

2011-12-06T23:58:00.000Z

With Christmas parties being penciled in to all the corners of my already full diary the time has come to prepare for battle... with my skin!

Over the last few weeks my skin has not been looking its best - in part due to poor health, but I am sure that the harsh weather contrasted with the toasty warmth of central heating at home and air con at work has made a valid contribution. So to perk up my complexion I will be investing some time into my skin over the next few days and thought I would share with you some of my favourite skin treats!

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - (£21.50 here)

This is a recent purchase for me, and I can't believe I have waited so long to try it! It really is a miracle cream and I adore it for giving my skin a quick boost. Beauty Flash Balm brightens and tightens the skin (gently) with extracts of olive and Witch Hazel, while boosting radiance and softening.

It can be used as a quick remedy before a night out - apply (without massaging) a very thin layer over the face, neck and eye area, following immediately with make-up. I have also enjoyed using it as a facial mask- apply a generous layer and leave to soak in for 15 minutes, then blot excess with a tissue.

Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang Purifying Concentrate - (£40.85 here)

This serum is a lovely treat for dehydrated skin. With 100% pure and natural essential oils specially formulated for the daily care of combination and oily skin it feels really soothing and comforting, as well as having an amazingly relaxing scent. As I have oily skin I have always been wary of using oils, but in the last year I have really learned how to make them work for me - little and often! I like to apply a couple of drops after cleansing and toning at night and either massage it in alone, or add it to my favourite moisturiser. Thanks to its natural affinity with the skin this serum penetrates efficiently to balance and purify, as well as reduce excess sebum production and clear impurities.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil-in-Gel - (£24 here)

I'm probably one of the few beauty addicts who doesn't have a huge soft spot for Shu Uemura's cleansing oils. It's not that I don't like them, I just prefer to use a cream cleanser (Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish is my absolute favourite) and find oils a little too 'thin' to give me a thoroughly cleansed feeling. This is why I have really enjoyed using Shu's new Cleansing Oil-in-Gel, which gives the smooth feeling of an oil and effectively removes impurities while still leaving behind the fresh feeling of a gel wash. I also like the fact that it can be used both wet and dry, though I prefer to use a little luke warm water to create the perfect texture.

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate - (£19 here)

The Superskin concentrate is a lovely serum that comes in a convenient rollerball dispenser, which is perfect for popping in your bag for use during the day or travel.

For optimal results Liz Earle's therapist recommends:
After cleansing, massage with Superskin Concentrate to help clear toxins, reduce puffiness, boost circulation, encourage cell renewal and aid lymphatic drainage.
Step 1: Warm a small amount in your hands and breathe in the divinely aromatic aroma. Then massage onto your skin with upward and outward movements using firm pressure.
Step 2: With your fingertips, lightly smooth in an outward circular direction along the cheekbones to above the eyebrows.
Step 3: Finish by gently sweeping your hands up the neck and over the décolletage.

Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm - (£35.35 here)

Anything rose scented wins favour with me and this wild rose beauty balm does not disappoint! This multi purpose product can be used as a rich cleanser, gentle exfoliant (with a muslin cloth) or deeply nourishing balm – to quench areas of dry or dehydrated skin. The high levels of wild rosehip oil (a potent antioxidant to help repair, firm and smooth the skin) are combined with geranium, starflower, hemp and rosemary seed oil, to help decongest and enrich the skin, restoring its natural radiance.

In the cold weather it's also important not to forget the rest of your skin. I know that my routine isn't quite as meticulous in the winter - my legs are hidden by opaque tights, and I don't like to think about my feet at the best of times! My favourite moisturiser at the moment is undeniably Kiehl's Creme de Corps (from £8.50 here).

This is an amazing cream. It's rich, without feeling greasy and sinks in quickly without leaving behind too much residue, leaving my skin like velvet. Due to its natural colouring and the inclusion of beta-carotene (a naturally derived antioxidant predominantly found in many orange/red vegetables such as carrots, it is used in Vitamin A production and gives an orange tint when used in skin care products) it can dye any clothes that come into contact with it. Heading the warning I like to wait a few minutes after application before dressing, but I haven't experienced any problems with staining myself.

Liz Earle Superskin Bodycream - (£28.75 here)

This super rich and indulgent aromatic cream contains 25% plant oils and is perfect for drier skin areas. It requires a little effort to rub into the skin and some time to become fully absorbed, but it is well worth it. With East African shea butter, organic rosehip oil, antioxidant cranberry seed oil and pomegranate extract, natural source vitamin E, plus the divine scent of neroli, this luxurious cream makes a great gift for anyone, and a fantastic skin treat for yourself!

Lastly, I couldn't live without Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (£18.50 here). If you haven't tried it, you need to! Lips, cuticles, knees, elbows, cuts, blisters, scrapes, blemishes, burns it works to soften, heal and protect any skin ailment you can think of!

I hope you find this little guide for winter skin indulgences useful. Let me know what your winter skin saviours are!! xxx

Winners: John Frieda Luxurious Volume Giveaway

2011-12-03T11:00:00.000Z

Thank you all so much for entering my recent John Frieda giveaway!

The five lucky winners are:

Nat (Seville oranges)
Catriona - meltdown30@gmail.com
Francesca (Freddie, Food, Fashion and Fun...)
Lai Wah - ell.dubbleyu.tee@hotmail.co.uk
sweet_diosa

Congratulations my lovelies!

Please e-mail me (filthygorgeousmakeup@gmail.com) at your earliest convenience with your UK postal address so that your wonderful prizes can be sent out to you ASAP! xxx

Cast Yourself: Please vote for me!! :)

2011-12-02T23:47:00.000Z

Many of you have probably heard about the L'Oreal Cast Yourself Competition on Facebook to be the face of Casting Creme Gloss alongside Cheryl Cole. I have unashamedly entered and with only a few days left to vote I am so excited to be in the top 60 entries for my colour (red!) so far. Voting closes in two days so I am hoping for one more little push to get me into the lucky few who will audition for the part!

I would absolutely love the opportunity to meet the gorgeous Cheryl and it would mean so much if you could vote for me on facebook here!!!

Thanks so much my lovelies and fingers crossed! xxx

Thierry Mugler Angel Le Goût du Parfum (The Taste of Fragrance)

2011-12-02T11:00:00.001Z

Thierry Mugler’s latest collection of limited edition perfumes ‘Le Goût du Parfum’ (The Taste of Fragrance) is a fun twist on the classic Mugler scents - Angel, Alien, A*Men and Womanity. The collection is indeed a sensorial collision between perfumery and haute cuisine with taste enhancers incorporated into each eau de parfum.

My favourite Thierry Mugler scent is probably his most popular - Angel (£51, 35ml). So I chose to sample the daring union of Angel and Haute Cuisine. The original formula is updated with bitter cocoa powder that acts as a taste enhancer to intensify the gourmand notes of Angel, making them intensely sensual.

At first the fragrance smells just like the original Angel, but quickly develops into a deep, bitter sweet chocolate scent. It really is delicious and enticing! I have also noticed that the creamy chocolate notes last really well on the skin throughout the day.

Top Notes: Bergamot and Mandarin

Heart: Passion Fruit, Peach and Apricot
Base: Patchouli, Vanilla, Chocolate and Caramel

This fragrance is not one that I would normally purchase as I tend to gravitate towards more feminine flowery or sweet scents, but I am surprised by how much I have enjoyed wearing it! Angel The Taste of Fragrance makes a very welcome addition to my collection. A girl can never have too much choocolate!

I think this perfume would make a great gift for someone who enjoys the original Angel, as it gives a delightful and delicious twist on the classic scent.

Are you a fan of Thierry Mugler fragrances? Do you have a favourite? Have you tried the Gout du Parfum collection? xxx

Natalya's Christmas Gift Guide: Best Gift Sets!

2011-12-01T18:33:00.000Z

It's December and the countdown to Christmas has officially begun! I will be the first to confess that this fills me with an equal measure of panic, as well as excitement. There is still so much to do - presents to buy, decorations to put up and perfect outfits to find!

Luckily, I am usually uber prepared when it comes to gifts as I absolutely love shopping for my loved ones, so I thought that I would share my little finds with you all in a series of Christmas Gift Guide posts!

Many brands put together amazing gift sets at this time of year, which not only look fantastic, but also create fantastic bundle savings. Sets or kits are usually my fall back for tricky customers (mother in law, family, colleagues, secret santas) or those who have it all! Everyone loves receiving sets and trying out a range of products, so I highly recommend checking some of these out.

Neal's Yard Aromatic Shower & Body Care Collection - (£28)

This set contains four mini products to cleanse, soften and smooth with their unique blend of natural skin-nourishing ingredients infused with pure aromatherapy essential oils, to lift the spirits while delicately scenting the skin. The Geranium and Orange shower Gel (100ml) has an amazing energising and fresh fragrance, which is the perfect pick me up in the morning. The Rose and Geranium body polish (50g) works hard to gently remove dull winter skin, while the body lotion (50g) moisturises and hydrates the skin. The Citrus Hand Wash (100ml) had an invigorating and zesty fragrance, leaving hands clean and soft.

Best of L'Occitane Collection - (£60)

My mama and I both adore L'Occitane for their amazing, luxurious quality products that use the best ingredients. This is an amazing set that contains a collection of L'Occitane's most popular products and some of my absolute favourites! With a value of £93.50, but at an RRP of £60 this set is also a great saving. The set contains full size products that include Almond Shower Oil (250ml), which is my most highly recommended product. It smells amazing and cleans the skin so gently, while leaving it soft and moisturised. The Pivoine Flora Body Milk (250ml) has a delicate, feminine peiony scent and a gorgeous, soft texture that effortlessly sinks into the skin. The Shea Butter Hand Cream (150ml) is a classic product that works hard to deeply moisturise and soothe winter skin. The set also contains Almond Milk Concentrate (100ml), Fleur Chérie Soap (75g), Shea Butter Foot Cream (30ml) and Verbena Eau de Toilette (20ml).

L'Occitane Shower Gel Quatro - (£20)

A more affordable set from L'Occitane - this pretty little quartet contains beautifully scented shower and bath gels in Cherry Blossom and Fleur Chérie, as well as shower jellies in Délice des Fleurs and Délice des Fruits.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Christmas Gift - (£16)

Many of you have already heard me wax lyrical about Liz Earle's Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner (if not you can read more in my review here). The shampoo is suitable for any hair type and smells absolutely amazing, filling my whole shower with a sweet yet invigorating and uplifting fresh fragrance. It lathers well, given that it is SLS free, and cleanses my sensitive scalp without any drying or irritation. From the selection of three conditioners available (normal, dry or damaged, oily or fine hair) I prefer the one for dry hair as it is rich and moistuirising without feeling too thick and leaving behind a noticeable residue on my hair. This set leaves my hair feeling super clean and shiny and it feels much more smooth and manageable, while still retaining a 'natural' feel, instead of that slippery silicone coated texture. This is one of my absolute favourite hair products and after having discussed it with ladies of many different hair and skin types I have never heard a bad word uttered about it, so am confident in recommending it to everyone!

Neal & Wolf Shine Gift Set - (£25.15)

Neal & Wolf is a professional hair care range, developed by Neil Capstick that focuses on glamour, effectiveness and affordability. The range aims to provide salon quality at a reasonable price. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into each product, with even the fragrances being created by the perfume house behind some of the world's finest scents, and I can testify that after trying the majority (while filming a tutorial for Glossybox, which you can watch here) they all smell absolutely amazing. The set contains three full size products: RITUAL Daily Shampoo (250ml), RITUAL Daily Conditioner (200ml) and GLOW Super Shine Spray (100ml), in a stylish cylindrical gift box.

Soap and Gloary Yum at Heart Skincare Gift Set - (£16)

This cute little set is presented in a fun cookie tin and contains two of my favourote Soap and Glory products - delicious, maple scented Breakfast Scrub Sugar Body Smoother (300ml), Hand Food Hand Cream (125ml), and a pretty, practical Soap & Glory print apron.

FCUK The Woman Travels Toiletries Bag - (£18)

I absolutely adore FCUK's seasonal gift sets as they cram in lots of products at a great price. The bags they come with are also great quality and I have collected quite a few over the years for use as washbags, and even clutches for going out. This toiletries bag comes packed with some of FCUK's most popular products including:

FCUK Signature Bodywash (300ml)

FCUK Signature Bodyspray (150ml), which smells delicious

FCUK Signature Body Butter (200ml)

Body Polisher

Last on my Christmas list is not a gift set per se, but a subscription to a beauty box service!

This would make an ideal gift for any girlie girl, or perhaps someone who doesn't spend too much time treating herself and really deserves to be pampered and reminded how special she is each month! My favourite is Glossybox -£10 per month + P&P (you can read my review here). I have been an avid supporter since their beginning and think the range of brands and products they bring to your door is absolutely fabulous. I'm also excited to tell you all that they will be launching a Glossybox for Men this month, which will be sent quarterly and contain 7 luxury samples. Other beauty boxes worth checking out are:

Boudoir Prive £10 per month + free P&P (my review here)
Feel Unique £9.95 per month/ £109.45 per year + free P&P
Carmine £10 per month + £2.75 P&P, £110 per year + P&P

I hope you find this gift guide useful! Let me know what gift sets you recommend and are lusting after this Christmas! xxx

Sexy Victoria's Secret Waves w/ the InStyler

2011-11-22T19:12:00.002Z

I am a huge fan of Victoria's Secret! The underwear, the girls, the show, the hair, the makeup and those amazing wings. As ever this year's show was spectacular and my favourite angel Adriana Lima looked as beautiful as ever. Though I would not often want to put my picture next to hers needs must

for the greater good... good hair!

This week I have been experimenting with a new hair tool - the InStyler. I first spotted this styling tool in a commercial and was intrigued by it's innovative design, which features a rotating curling iron and a brush.

The InStyler is a multi functional tool that can both curl and straighten the hair, as well as adding volume and shine. The bristles separate individual strands while the rotating cylinder straightens and polishes. As the heat is spread evenly along the hair with the rotating motion the InStyler uses less heat than traditional tools, which is encouraging as I always worry about using too much heat on my hair! The three heat settings available are 196 °C (for thick, coarse hair), 157 °C (for thin to medium-textured hair) and 140 °C (for fine, thin hair).

To see how I used the InStyler to create sexy, soft curls and sleek, straight hair just watch the video below!

I really like the idea of the InStyler as it creates beautiful, soft curls/waves in an innovative way. However, I did find it a little tricky to use at first, especially as you have to be quite careful with the hot cylinder not to burn your fingers. This tool does come with a heat guard for this purpose, but I found it easier to remove it when curling the hair.

Being accustomed to my Babyliss Big Hair I did find it a little annoying that I could not control the direction of the spin, meaning that you always have to hold it in a certain direction to get the best results, which can be a little awkward if you are not ambidextrous. Though this is a tool that takes a little practice for me it is worth the effort as I absolutely love the shape of the curls created by the InStyler - the perfect big, bouncy, shiny Victoria's Secret waves!

The InStyler retails at £99 on their website here and is also available from Boots here... with 396 clubcard points too ;). For more information, as well as tips and tricks for creating a range of styles you can also visit InStyler's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channel, which also has a great range of tutorial videos!

Have you seen the InStyler? Are you a fan of multipurpose hair styling tools? Are you tempted to try it? What hair style would you create with it? xxx

**This is a sponsored post.**

Look!

2011-11-21T11:00:00.000Z

The beauty brains behind Look magazine have developed their own beauty range in support of cancer charity Look Good... Feel Better, which helps ladies combat the visible side-effects of their cancer treatment. With over 100 beauty essentials including 32 eyeshadow and nail polish colours, lipsticks, glosses, foundation, bronzers and much more it is definitely a range that will make an impact with its imminent launch in Superdrug stores!

At just £4 each the single eyeshadows come in a great range of colours and finishes. I particularly like the fact that all the shadows have individual names and numbers too, which is not often the case with many affordable collections.

Left: Suede (no. 25). Right: Acid Wash (no.1).

The shadows have great pigmentation and colour pay off, though they are a little powdery, so I would recommend using them with a good base to prevent fall out.

Of all the products I have been lucky enough to play with the lipsticks (£7) are probably my favourite. I love the selection of fun colours and the creamy, moisturising texture that leaves lips feeling smooth and glossy. Pictured above is Toffee Cup (shade no. 4) a beautiful, milky and oh so wearable nude, which was kindly chosen for me by the lovely Zoe.

The Double Hit Lip (£7) is a clever double ended lipstick and gloss in a selection of bright, punchy colours. These lippies are extremely pigmented and they smell delicious too!

Red Alert shade 4

L to R: Lipstick, Gloss, Combination.

I was also very much excited to see the selection of nail varnishes (£5) Look has an offer. A massive 32 shades encompassing some gorgeous brights, as well as bling glitters and modern nudes/ taupes. Of the two shades I received I was most drawn to Pearl Effect (shade 20).

I immediately applied this over my current nail polish (OPI Russian navy) and loved the subtle, multi dimensional effect it created. I can't wait to experiment with it as a top coat over contrasting colours!

Sophie Beresiner, the Beauty Editor of Look magazine, is such a strong, beautiful lady and an absolute inspiration. I highly recommend checking out her blog here and reading her story.

Are you a Look magazine reader? Will you be supporting Look Good... Feel Better and purchasing any products from Look Beauty? What products are you most excited about in the range? xxx

John Frieda UK: Selected by You!

2011-11-20T23:08:00.001Z

The question I am asked most often is what hair colour I use and I am so excited to finally be able to share the answer with you after months of secrecy!!!

After careful consultation with their customers John Frieda have added six new shades 'Selected by You' in their Precision Foam Colour range. I was lucky enough to have a sneak peak of the shades a few months ago and have my hair coloured at the John Frieda salon in Mayfair with the new 5RV - medium burgundy. Check out the video below for some behind the scenes footage, tips for getting the perfect at home colour to suit you and some shocking hair flipping on my part ;).

To celebrate the launch of the new Selected by You shades John Frieda are giving away 100 sets of my new 5RV hair colour on their Facebook page here.

Let me know what you think of my new hair colour and hair flipping technique ;), and don't forget to enter for your chance to win! xxx

All about eyebrows!

2011-11-20T18:59:00.000Z

This is one of my most requested tutorials. I get so many questions from you guys about eyebrows, so I thought I would make a little video showing you my routine and some little tips and tricks for getting perfectly groomed brows.

Recently I have also enjoyed using Sleek's Brow Kit (£7.99 here). This comes complete with all the tools you need to groom those bushy brows ;) - it contains a wax to set, a powder to fill in (I use the shade light), two synthetic brushes and mini tweezers. It's a great set to throw in your bag for your travels too!

What are your tips and tricks for getting the perfect eyebrow? Do you maintain your shape or leave it to the professionals? What products would you recommend? xxx

Late night manicure

2011-11-18T11:00:00.000Z

Crackle polish may be old news, but I must confess that I was never a fan of it in the first place. It looks worn and messy and I prefer an immaculate manicure, not a grungy one. So it somewhat pains me to say that while playing with my nail polishes one (very late) night I discovered a more sophisticated way of wearing crackle polish and have actually kept it on all week!

Nail polish: OPI Russian Navy (£7.99 here), Crackle Polish: 17 Nail Xtras Crackle Top Coat (£3.99 here), Top Coat: Seche Vite (£9 here).

By only using crackle polish on the 'feature' nail I think the crackle creates some interesting texture without overpowering the whole manicure. The gold is also a much more attractive alternative to the matte black that most brands have featured!

Are you a fan of the crackle effect? Have you tried any of the new magnetic polishes? Which ones would you recommend? xxx

Giveaway: John Frieda Luxurious Volume

2011-11-17T21:38:00.000Z

I am sure many of you have noticed my love of big hair. The bigger the better in my opinion, so I am always on the search for products that can give my hair that extra bit of 'oomph'.

As a long time lover of dry shampoo I was excited to try John Frieda's Volume Refresher, which promises to create volume at the roots when fine hair begins to fall flat. It also refreshes your style by absorbing oils for a fresh, full look.

The John Frieda LV is super easy to use - just spray it into your roots and massage to create lift. Although the powder is white/ translucent it is very fine, so it doesn't leave behind any visible residue or make the hair look dull, even on dark hair. I prefer to use it in between washes to create lift at the roots and absorb excess oils.

If you fancy trying the new John Frieda Luxurious Volume Refresher now is your chance! I have 5 to give away to my wonderful followers!

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is:

Have a UK postal address
Follow this blog
Leave a comment below

I will be announcing the winners next weekend so you have one week to enter. Good Luck my lovelies! xxx

Home Comforts - Candles

2011-11-15T11:00:00.004Z

With the days growing colder and darker I find myself increasingly looking forward to cosy nights in on the sofa. So with home comforts in mind I thought I would do a little round up of my favourite scented candles at the moment.

Ila Candle for Inner Peace - £45

In keeping with it's higher price tag this is one of the most deeply scented candles I have ever had. The essential oils of tuberose and rose give it a delicious, sweet scent that reminds me of Turkish delight. This candle is perfect for relaxation as it is very soothing and calming.

Pearl Lowe for DP London - £30

I was given this candle at a PR event in Spiced Punch, which contains notes of bergamot, orange peel, cedarwood, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla. This candle creates a beautiful, warm, spicy yet comforting aroma, which is perfect for cold winter nights! The packaging is also gorgeous and it makes a beautiful addition to my coffee table. The only (tiny) thing that lets it down somewhat is the fact that the PL design is a plastic sticker, rather than a permanent etched image. Especially as you are paying a little extra for the DP logo over the normal white, embossed ceramic holder (normally £28).

Pintail Candles Filled Tin - £3.75

These are super affordable and come in a great selection of colours and fragrances. I can recommend the mulled wine.. yummy! These make great stocking fillers too.

Neal's Yard Calming Aromatherapy Candle - £28

This is a beautiful candle infused with delicate organic rose and geranium essential oils. The fragrance is well balanced and creates a comforting aroma in the home, without being overpowering. The 100% organic blend of beeswax and botanical wax means there is no sooty smoke or harmful toxins.

Air Wick Colour Change Candle - half price £3

I have absolutely no idea how these work, but I absolutely adore them! The light at the bottom comes on as soon as you light the candle and cycles through the colour spectrum with a gentle glow. These are not the most strongly scented candles, but they do add a lovely splash of colour to any space.

Yankee Candles - £1.30-£18.99

Yankee candles are a classic with an amazing range of delicious fragrances. These come in a great variety of sizes from individual tea lights to large jars. They also have a great range of Christmas fragrances, guaranteed to put you in the festive spirit!

Jo Malone Home candle - £38

Jo Malone candles make a perfect, indulgent gift for yourself or a loved one. The exquisite range of fragrances is more akin to perfumes than scented candles and fills the room in minutes with a refined and interesting scent. Even the smaller travel candles are extremely potent - pricey, but worth it in my humble opinion ;).

I hope this little review and collection of my top scented candles is helpful to some of you. Please let me know your favourites and recommendations! xxx

Acceptable In The 80's

2011-11-14T19:45:00.000Z

I've got love for you if you were born in the 80's!

This weekend I celebrated one of my best friend's birthdays in true retro style - at a roller disco. Although we were only babies in the 80s, we decided to pay homage to the era in full fancy dress. My budget outfit was put together last minute - a Mango leotard, pleather leggings (yumm!), fluorescent pink tutu, leg warmers and fishnet gloves (ebay).

For makeup I took inspiration from a plethora of 80s music videos and decided to wear clashing colours - lilacs on the eyes (BarryM dazzle dust all over the lid and up to the eyebrows!), fuchsia pink strongly contoured cheeks (MAC full fuchsia blush) and bright pink lipstick (BarryM lip paint in no. 146).

To complete the look I used L'Oreal carbon gloss liquid liner and my new favourite mink lashes from Velour (You Complete Me - half price sale for $29.99 here).

Instead of opting for a crazy 80s perm, I decided to create a modern interpretation of big hair. I kept the natural curl in my hair and added lots of volume and texture by blow drying my hair upside down, back combing, and fixing with Tigi Bed Head Candy Fixation Sugar Shock Bodifying Sugar Spray (£10), which not only smells amazing, but also gives great hold without making the hair feel crispy and dry.

We had a fabulous night of skating and dancing and somehow I managed to stay upright throughout... though the same can't be said for my friends! Although we were celebrating a twenty-something birthday we had so much fun pretending to be teenagers in the 80s!

Are you a fan of the 80's? What's your favourite fancy dress? xxx

Happy Birthday Lipcote!

2011-11-07T23:46:00.000Z

The beloved classic that is Lipcote is celebrating it's 50th birthday!

Now, I must confess that I haven't worn Lipcote in about 5 years, in fact the last photo I can find is circa 2006 below ;).

I recall it working brilliantly and keeping my lipstick in place all night without any bleeding or fading, however it did dry my lips out (a lot). Having worn it all day today I am surprised to say that my lips are not as parched as I would have expected! I do think the formulation has improved, it's not as tingly as I recall and it has a pleasant new vanilla scent.

To celebrate 50 years of Lipcote the HPM bloggers were invited to a 'virtual twitter party' this evening. Personally, I thought this was a good idea as it allows those outside of London get involved without the hassle and expense of having to travel in for an event.

As I am currently sitting glamorously on my sofa in pjs I decided to make a little effort and create my own unique shade of lipstick using an array of different lip colours.

I topped my custom made shade with a thin layer of Lipcote, which gave the lipstick a satin finish.

At just £3.49 Lipcote is an affordable essential for the party season to keep your berries, plums and vintage reds in place under the mistletoe. I wouldn't recommend it for use every day as coupled with the cold weather it will make your lips dehydrated, but it's perfect for special occasions when you need your lips to be picture perfect and kiss proof all night!

Lipcote is available from selected pharmacies including Boots and Superdrug.

Are you a fan of Lipcote? Do you use any products to promote the longevity of your lipsticks? Do you have any tips for making lipstick last longer? What's your go to shade this party season? xxx

** This is a sponsored post. All views and opinions are my own, as always.**

My Birthday.. in Vivienne Westwood!

2011-11-05T11:00:00.001Z

On Saturday night I celebrated my birthday in Juju with 30 of my closest friends. We had a brilliant night dancing and drinking champagne till the early hours of the morning! I was very spoilt with lots of lovely presents and couldn't be more thankful for my amazing extended family (friends).

Rubens Print Friday Dress: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania

I knew that I wanted a very special dress for my birthday this year, so I saved up and took my time looking for something unique. I have always loved Vivienne Westwood dresses for their gorgeous feminine shape and unusual fabrics, so when I spotted this Rubens painting print dress in Harvey Nichols I skipped into the changing room straight away. As this dress is a lot more pricey than my usual purchases I did 'umm' and 'aaah' about it for a while, but in the end decided to treat myself and I am so happy with it!!

For a little bit of a glow I skipped the fake tan (for fear of it rubbing off on my dress) and opted for He-Shi's One Day Tan (£14.50) instead. This gel cream is so quick and easy to apply, dries very speedily and gives instant colour, which is perfect for that special night out when you don't want to risk any streaking, or simply don't have the time to wait for your tan to develop.

I styled my hair with the Babyliss heated rollers and backcombed at the roots to make sure the volume lasted all night. To set the hair I used Pantene Volume and Body Haispray and Tigi's Hair Bodifying Sugar Spray (which smells delicious and holds really well).

For makeup I used Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, a heavier base that would stay put all night. I set it with MAC MSF natural and contoured with YSL's Afrique bronzing powder. On the cheeks I used a mix of MAC's Well Dressed and NARS Angelika blush and highlighted with Guerlain's Butterfly highlighter. For the lips I chose an old favourite - MAC's A Rose Romance lipstick. On my eyes I used UDPP, MAC's Reflects Antique Gold all over the lid and Espresso in the crease. I finished off with MAC's Blacktrack gel liner and the most amazing mink lashes from Velour.

These are the You Complete Me mink lashes ($29.99) from Velour and they are my new favourites! The mink hair is so lovely and smooth, and somehow looks much more natural than plastic lashes. I would also like to point out that these lashes are cruelty free - the hairs are gently brushed from live mink and sterilized to ensure that they are hypo-allergenic.

I absolutely adore their shape, with natural lashes nearer the front and longer, fuller sweeping lashes in the outer corners that give a beautiful, flirty look. These lashes are extremely well made, easy to apply and super comfortable to wear. I have also found that they are much easier to clean, so much so that they can we worn up to 25 times!

I had such a lovely birthday and am very sad that it's all over. I hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

Are you a fan of Vivienne Westwood? What is your dream party dress? What lashes are you loving at the moment? xxx

OOTD and Competition: London Boy

2011-11-04T17:00:00.007Z

Don't be confused by the title of this post, I haven't quite embraced masculine tailoring, but I am getting a taste of River Island's new London Boy collection!

To show off the wonderful shape of this tube midi skirt I decided to keep my look monochromatic and set it off with some ah-mazing turquoise suede boots that have been sitting in my bedroom waiting for an outing for months. Although stripes are not always the most flattering of patterns, especially on the hips, this skirt creates a beautiful, feminine shape with curves in all the right places ;).

Leather jacket: Reiss (similar here)

Black vest: Zara (£15.99 here)

Tube skirt: River Island (gifted, £18 here)

Patent leather belt: ASOS

Tights: M&S

Boots: River Island (£100 here).

Wool Felted Fedora Hat: New Look (On sale £6.99 here).

If you have been lusting after River Island's new London Boy lookbook why not enter their facebook competitioon here to be one of five people who will win the entire trend collection? All you have to do is click on 9 items on the postcard that inspired the collection.

I've already entered, so I'll give you a clue... the tube skirt I'm wearing above is one of them. Good luck my lovelies!

What do you think of River Island's London Boy collection? What are your favourite pieces? Do you dare to wear stripes? How much do you love those boots? I'm pretty obsessed with them ;p. xxx

Birthday OOTD

2011-11-04T11:00:00.001Z

Last Friday was my birthday and though a lady never tells I can let you in on a little secret... it was quite a special date! In the evening we went for an amazing meal at Roux at the Landau in the Langham hotel so I decided to dress up a little for the occasion. As if I have ever needed an excuse!!

Dress: Hobbs Fulham Dress (on sale here), Shoes: Manolo Blahnik.

For my makeup I kept the eyes very neutral with just black gel liner and false lashes. I then used a bright pink on my cheeks and lips - MAC's fuchsia blush and Barry M's lip paint in Shocking Pink (no. 52), which is a great dupe for MAC's Girl About Town lipstick.

I had such a lovely birthday. Thank you to my mama and bf for making it so special! xxx

Home Comforts - Oriental Blossom

2011-11-03T11:00:00.000Z

Although most of the blogs I read predominantly focus on beauty and fashion, I always enjoy the odd post about diet, fitness, decor and even gadgets. It's fun to mix it up a bit, and some of the best purchases I have made ranging from food, kitchen appliances and art to Christmas decorations have come from other bloggers. So today I thought I would share a new addition to my bedroom!

When I was offered to review some products from Kaleidoscope I was immediately drawn to their home section. They have a fantastic range of bedding and this set in Oriental Blossom here works perfectly with the colour scheme of my flat.

I chose the double duvet cover (£45) and pair of standard pillowcases (£15) in duck egg.

I love the delicate light blue colour and cherry blossom pattern with hints of taupe and silver of this set. It also works well against the back drop of my wallpaper and neutral headboard, adding a much needed injection of colour into my otherwise neutral bedroom.

Have you ever purchased from Kaleidoscope? Do you put a lot of thought into your home decor? What colour schemes do you prefer? xxx

Blake Lively Hair feat. Neal & Wolf products with Glossybox

2011-11-02T18:25:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I filmed a Blake Lively inspired hair tutorial for Glossybox using Neal and Wolf products. We decided to go for one of Blake's signature styles - a deconstructed wave look with a few boho braids thrown in.

I am really pleased with the way the video has turned out and I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful! Let me know what you guys think!

The bf accompanied me on the day and managed to capture some behind the scenes shots.

The before...

The final look:

This hairstyle is so easy to create and can be done using a curling iron or hair straighteners. I really loved using Neal and Wolf products for the first time. They smell absolutely amazing and leave your hair feeling weightless. I especially recommend the Harmony Intensive Care Treatment (£12.95) and the Elevate Volumising Lotion £11.95). After the video I went straight to a colleague's leaving party and can testify that the curls stayed in for quite a few hours of dancing!

Have you watched any of Glossybox's tutorials? Did you like the look I created in this video? Have you tried Neal and Wolf products before? xxx

Cosmo Blog Awards - OOTD

2011-10-31T22:53:00.001Z

No doubt you have already seen a plethora of posts about the Cosmo Blog Awards last week, so I am going to keep it short with a little outift post. I had a fun night catching up with a few of my fellow bloggers and it was so exciting to be nominated :). Massive congratulations to all the winners!

Dress: Karen Millen (similar here), Belt: H&M, Shoes: Kurt Geiger (similar here).

I decided to go all out in sequins for the evening... Christmas is just around the corner after all!

I styled my hair using a large Babyliss curling iron and created a simple silver and grey smokey eye, finished off with MAC lashes.

The lovely Fleur and I enjoying our (non-alcoholic?) cocktails.

John Frieda Teaser...

2011-10-31T21:44:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I took part in a fun shoot for the launch of a new product from John Frieda.

Can you guess what it is yet? ;)

Keep a look out for the full details of the launch and a video from the day to come. xxx

Shu Uemura Retro Graphic Lashes

2011-10-27T16:04:00.000+01:00

I am a big fan of false lashes, so much so that I rarely have a night out without them. Nothing adds drama like falsies and they can be the quickest way to take your makeup from day to night!

I have always admired the innovative and fun designs of Shu Uemura lashes, but previously only purchased the more mainstream styles (eg. smokey layers). So when at a recent event I was kindly offered to have some lashes applied by one of the Shu Uemura technicians I decided to choose one of the most striking and original designs in the selection!

The Retro Graphic lashes come with a thick black and white zigzag band that stretches out to create a lavish cat eye eyeliner.

They look absolutely incredible on and make a big statement! At first glance it isn't obvious that the lashes and the band are attached so you can fool people with your amazing liners skills ;). However, when your eyes are open they look much more subtle (especially if you have less lid space like me) and you can just see a hint of the monochrome along the lashline.

I am yet to brave applying these for myself, but I imagine the trick is getting the two 'flicks' at the same angle. The MUA took all the guess work out of the process by adding two perfectly placed dots of eyeliner where the tip of the flick should be. It's funny that in Russian an eyeliner 'flick' is called an 'arrow'!

The Retro Graphic lashes can be purchased at Shu Uemura counters and retail at £18.50.

Are you a fan of Shu Uemura lashes? Have you tried any of their more eccentric designs? What are your favourites? Will you be attempting any of the dramatic eyelash and liner combos? xxx

Rebel Nails

2011-10-20T11:00:00.000+01:00

I have been very much intrigued by the new 'nail wraps' that are popping up all over the place. As much as I love collecting bottles of nail polishes I am the first to admit that my impatience, coupled with my very shaky hands, doesn't often result in the neatest of manicures. I normally leave my nails to the professionals and have become a familiar face in my local nail salon. However, this can be a very expensive habit!

I was therefore very much excited to try Rebel Nails! They have a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from and are more affordable than other wraps (though I think of them more akin to stickers) on the market.

I decided to go for all out glitter in silver for my first attempt and was impressed by just how quick and easy they were to put on. Each pack has a good selection of sizes to suit most nails, and plenty of extras if you make a mistake.

The nail wraps should be applied to clean, polish free nails. Though I had to cheat here (as you will probably see in the photos). As I have gel nails that are in desperate need of refills and trimming I left my nail polish on because using nail varnish remover could have lifted some areas of the gel nails.

To apply the nails I used the plastic guide that comes in each pack to select the size most appropriate for each nail. I then peeled the Rebel nail design from the backing and warmed it with a hair dryer for a few seconds. This is probably the most tricky part as sometimes the adhesive edge can stick to your finger, but if you angle the hairdryer down this shouldn't be a problem. I then applied the nail wrap to the nail, starting with the curved edge at the cuticle, and smoothed out any creases or bubbles towards the edge of the nail. I wrapped the excess over the edge of the nail and filed it off using downward strokes. Easy!

Even on my first attempt my nails were done in less than 10 minutes - no drying, no smudging, and no mess! As you can see above there were some ridges due to the gels, so I expect they will be much easier to apply and last longer on natural nails (up to 2 weeks). After three days of perfect wear I found that the edges did lift a little when I was washing my hair so I decided to remove them. I'm sure you all know how difficult it is to remove glitter polishes, so it was great to be able to peel them off in seconds!

If you are interested in trying Rebel Nails for yourself they have been kind enough to provide a discount of 15% between the 20th of October and 1st of November with the code NATALYA15 to be used at checkout.

Plus to get in the Halloween mood Rebel Nails are running a special promotion! With a minimum spend of £10 between 20th - 31st October on www.rebelnails.co.uk a set of fun halloween themed wraps will automatically be added to your order.

I will definitely be practising my technique and playing arounbd with different designs so watch this space... ;).

Have you tried nail wraps? What do you think of them? What designs would you like to see? xxx

*This is a sponsored post*

15% OFF at M&S!

2011-10-19T14:00:00.001+01:00

This will probably be the least exciting post I write this year... or perhaps the most. I mean who doesn't love a bit of M&S?

Marks and Spencer are offering 15% off your purchase on their website with the code: 15OFFMNS. This offer is only valid 19th – 20th Oct.

I'm going to take full advantage and stock up on tights!! xxx

Beauty Recommended Feature

2011-10-18T11:00:00.008+01:00

This month I was lucky enough to be featured in Beauty Recommended, P&G's fabulous online magazine!

Since October is a great time to explore your alter ego I created a special video with some tips and tricks for vamping up in the spirit of Halloween. Please check out my little feature (on page 20 here).

What are your tips for switching up your look this October? xxx

OOTD: Peplum

2011-10-17T20:46:00.000+01:00

Those of you who have seen a few of my OOTD posts will know my love for Closet at Dorothy Perkins (and at this rate they should be paying me lol)!

I first noticed this dress on the DP website and fell in love with the bright turquoise colour and soft ruffles. The shape of this dress is gorgeous, I just wish it was a little longer, or had a lining, as the material is on the thin side and it does ride up a lot when you walk...

Dress: Closet at Dorothy Perking (v. similar style here, £45), Wedges: Primark.

Are you a fan of the peplum? Have you checked out Closet at Dorothy Perkins? xxx

Travalo Giveaway and Review!

2011-10-16T21:54:00.000+01:00

******Exclusive discount of 20% for all my subscribers with the code FGM******

Like any other girl about town I love to change up my perfume depending on the season, my mood, what I'm wearing... but the last thing I need is numerous bottles of perfume rattling around in my bag all day! After years of collecting samples and purchasing mini versions of perfumes I was very much excited to discover the Travalo - a refillable mini perfume atomizer spray.

Check out my review and details of my giveaway below :).

To enter the giveaway and win one of 15 Travalos all you have to do is:
- Go to the Travalo Facebook page and click 'like'.

- Post 'Natalya sent me' on the wall.

In the month of October Travalo will be also be donating 100% of the profits from every Perfect Pink Travalo bought online here to Breast Cancer Research.

Have you tried the Travalo? Have you seen any similar products on the market? Good luck in the giveaway my lovelies!! xxx

Rigby & Peller Bra Amnesty for Breast Cancer Care

2011-10-13T20:49:00.000+01:00

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Rigby & Peller are showing their support through their bra amnesty for Breast Cancer Care!

From 4th to 31st October for every bra that you recycle you receive £10 off per bra that you purchase from their new Autumn / Winter range. R&P will also be donating £1 for every 10 recycled bras to BCC. To take advantage of this offer you can visit R&P stores with your old bras to receive £10 towards a new bra purchase.

The founder June Kenton is a breast cancer survivor, so the cause is a personal one for her and inspired her to develop a dedicated range with a specialised fitting service for mastectomy sufferers and prosthesis.

Hope you guys can make the best of this offer, and for a good cause too! xxx

Cosmo Blog Awards!!

2011-10-11T21:57:00.000+01:00

Thanks so much for those of you who nominated me - Filthygorgeousmakeup has been short listed in the beauty vlogger category! Yay!!!

It's still not too late to vote (here)! Best of luck to all my lovely bloggers and YouTubers!! Thank you all so much! xxxxx

MaxFactor Elixir Challenge

2011-10-05T23:18:00.000+01:00

At a recent event the lovely Caroline Barnes set us a challenge to try out all the shades of the new Max Factor Elixir lipsticks. As you all know I'm a lover of lippie so was excited to wear all the colours and decided to do so all in one week!

There is really good selection of shades to chose from in the range, though I was apprehensive over how some of these would go down at work lol...

Top L-R: Bewitching Coral, Burnt Caramel, Ruby Tuesday, English Rose.

Bottom L-R: Pink Brandy, Mulberry, Angel Pink.

Monday mornings are always difficult and inevitably I end up running late, so I decided to go for the lightest shade in the range - Angel Pink.

This lipstick is a lovely, delicate shade of pink that works equally well with a neutral or dramatic eye. However, as the finish is quite frosty I would recommend applying some lipbalm beforehand, so as to smooth the lips prior to application. I would say this shade is quite retro and reminiscent of the bubblegum pinks of the 60s, so would be best suited to lighter skintones.

On Tuesday I decided to keep it super neutral with Burnt Caramel.

This lipstick is a little more brown based than I would normally wear, but it has a lovely rosy tone to it that brings it to life. To keep it from looking too dark I applied it straight from the bullet and tapped around the edges to blend it into my natural lip colour. I think this lipstick would look particularly beautiful on darker skin tones.
A little more striking than a nude, and more sophisticated than a pink, it is a very welcome addition to my collection.

On Wednesday I went for Pink Brandy, which I had already fallen in love with after seeing Caroline wearing it at the presentation.

This is such a wearable coral shade with a slight pink undertone. I think it would be universally flattering for all skin tones. If you are scared of strong colours this would be a great shade to start with as it's bright, without being too striking. To soften the colour and make it modern I applied it to the centre of the lip and blended to cover. I then added a slight touch of clear lipgloss to make lips look fuller.

On Thursday I had to keep my makeup professional for a meeting, so I chose the shade English Rose.

This is a very classic pink that would suit anyone. Once again the frost makes it a little different as it adds quite a lot of shine and texture to the lips. This shade is very flattering and versatile and would work with an abundance of eye and cheek colours!

On Friday I decided to be brave and go for it with Ruby Tuesday.

Wow! This is such a beautiful, true red. I can't tell you what a raucous this caused in the office, but lets just say that I got many a compliment that day! As with any red this did need a little care in application. To prepare the lips I lined them with a red pencil and then filled them in lightly to provide a good base. I then applied the lipstick with a lip brush. As this lipstick has a blue base it not only lifts the complexion, but also makes teeth appear whiter.. yay! This lipstick lasted really well, even through a coffee meeting and lunch, and only needed one little touch up throughout the day. Ruby Tuesday will definitely be one of my go-to reds in future.

On Saturday evening I chose Bewitching Coral for a dinner date.

In keeping with the bright colour I played up the coral in my cheeks and added a little extra bronzer. To keep the colour fresh and modern I created a stain by applying the lipstick with my finger, and then topped it with a clear lip balm to add some shine. This colour is really flattering and would work even better with a tan!

On Sunday I attempted the most adventurous shade of the collection - Mulberry.

I was a little apprehensive about this shade as it is a little darker than I would normally wear. However, it completely surprised me by just how gorgeous it looked, even on my pale skin! I applied the lipstick carefully straight from the bullet and blotted off any excess. I then tidied up the edges with a burgundy lip liner to add some definition to the cupid's bow. I wanted to keep it looking modern, and not overlined, but to still create a really polished look. This lipstick really is something special, it's dark and dramatic, yet the shimmer particles make it still girlie and fun. I am absolutely in love with it.

Overall I am really impressed with the new Elixir lipsticks. They smell yummy (perhaps vanilla) and come in a great variety of shades. The Elixir formula contains a 60% blend of skin emollients, conditioners and antioxidants (including vitamin E), promising to make lips feel smoother in 7 days. After my week long trial I didn't notice a dramatic change in the texture of my lips (though I do put on a balm overnight anyway), but even the very strong colours didn't feel drying while wearing them so I was happy. After trialling the selection of colours and different ways of wear and application I can highly recommend these lipsticks to you guys, they really are lovely, and retailing at the £7.95 mark also affordable.

Have you tried any of the Max Factor Elixir lipsticks? Which shades are your favourite? xxx

Glossybox vs. Boudoir Prive

2011-09-30T11:00:00.000+01:00

http://www.glossybox.co.uk/ - £10 per month (+p&p) to receive 5 luxury product miniatures from high-end brands in each box.
Some of the brands involved: Batiste, Illamasqua, Lalique, Ciate, Murad, OPI, Xen-Tan, KMS, Weleda, Daniel Sandler, All for Eve.
Products in my box:
HD Brows (Eye&Brow Palette) - £19.95
L'Oréal Professionnel (Mythic Oil) - £14.95
Mary Greenwell (Plum Eau de Parfum) - £60 (for 50ml)
NUXE HuileProdigieuse - £37.50 (for 100ml)
StriVectin (SD Eye Concentrate) - £49 (30ml)

Check out my review of the August GlossyBox here.

http://www.boudoirprive.co.uk/ - £10 per month (free p&p) to receive 5/6 deluxe size samples in each box.
Some of the brands involved: Agent Provocateur, Cargo, Jane Iredale, Bloom Teas, Mai Couture, Tropic, Etat Libre D'Orange, Colber MD.
Products in my box:
Zoya nail varnish - £3.80
Agent Provacateur perfume
Cargo eyeliner
Tropic scrub
Macadamia Oil
Colbert MD moisturiser

Both of the boxes were sent to me for review. This is not a sponsored video and all opinions are, as always, my own.

Have you tried either of these services? Which is your favourite? Let me know your thoughts my lovelies! xxx

OOTD: Legally Blonde

2011-09-25T21:02:00.000+01:00

This weekend the bf surprised me with a trip to see Legally Blonde at the Savoy theatre. I always think it's a shame that people don't dress up to go to the theatre anymore, so wanted to make a little special effort to show my appreciation of his thoughtfulness.

Dress: Brunello Cucinelli, Pearl Coin Necklace: Banana Republic, Shoes: Zanotti, Clutch Bag: Boohoo (£20 here).

This dress was a kind gift from a family friend and is very different from my usual style. I do find the draping can be a little unflattering as it creates a lot of extra volume on my (already wide) hips, but it falls so beautifully that I love it all the same. It's also very comfortable and with its soft taupey shade extremely easy to wear. It's always nice to try something out of your comfort zone and play with your style!

Getting ready in a hurry (when am I ever not? lol) I kept makeup pretty simple. I used the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint (shade beige 02) set with MAC MSF natural as a base, and followed with NARS orgasm illuminator to add some colour to the cheeks. For eyeshadow I created a winged out cat eye with Shiseido's shimmering colour in BR 306. This is a fantastic cream shadow - it is intense, blends like a dream and lasts exceptionally (even without a base). I finished off the look with a nude lip using YSL's Rouge Volupte in no. 1.

Are you playing with your style this season? xxx

Work It Out: Jade

2011-09-23T11:00:00.000+01:00

Pencil dresses are definitely my weakness. Whenever I see one in an original style or fun colour I inevitably end up trying it on. The shape is really flattering for us hourglass ladies as it accentuates curves in the right places - creating balance in the silhouette while streamlining any bumps (fingers crossed). I first noticed this dress online as its bright green colour is very different to anything I currently own (the pictures look more blue toned than irl). I also liked the v-neck and the original tiered detailing around the shoulders.

Dress - Dorothy Perkins (£30 here), Patterned Tights - M&S, Tuxedo Blazer - Zara.

Since this dress has no lining it fits pretty snugly in terms of shape, but doesn't perhaps have as much support as one would like, so I would recommend wearing it with tights. Cheaper materials like this tend to be quite thin, so it's always best to add another layer!

Are you braving bright colours this season? What are your favourite dress shapes? Do you sometimes favour style over quality? xxx

OOTD: LFW

2011-09-22T22:35:00.000+01:00

On a slightly rainy Sunday morning I got ready to make my way to LFW, but not before taking a few pics to share with you my little OOTD.

Sheer tie top: Courtesy of Boohoo (£15), Pleated magenta maxi skirt: Courtesy of Boohoo (£20).

Sheer ruffled socks (a do, or a don't?) Wolford, Biela Espadrille: All Saint's (On sale £72.50)

Are you wearing pleated maxi skirts this season? What risks have you taken lately with your style? xxx

Behind the scenes at LFW

2011-09-19T23:39:00.000+01:00

The whole of London has been feasting on the buzz of London fashion week so I was really excited to be kindly invited to a couple of shows this season!

Check out my little behind the scenes video at the beautiful Izmaylova show below :).

I was so inspired by the beautiful makeup created by Lan and the breathtakingly glamorous dresses!

Absolutely beautiful!

Did you catch any of the shows this week (in person or online)? What inspired you the most? What trends are you most excited about? xxx

Shielo Hair

2011-09-16T16:18:00.000+01:00

Anyone who has long hair will know that despite their best efforts in minimising damage long hair will be prone to dryness. Although I wouldn't say that mine is overly dry, the ends can feel a little brittle if they are not slathered in condioner, oils and serums. I was therefore excited to try a new shampoo and conditioner from Shielo designed to hydrate hair, without weighing it down or leaving it feeling artificially greasy through silicone build up.

The hydrate shampoo and conditioner are sulphate free and contain UV protectants and antioxidants from white tea to enhance colour protection. They are also infused with shea butter to add a protective moisture barrier to seal the hair shaft and hibiscus and vanilla cactus to help soothe the scalp.

The shampoo foams fairly well without leaving the hair overly squeeky clean, while the rich conditioner feels very luxurious on the hair. Both products smell absolutely amazing - a warm, slightly sweet vanilla scent, which is good enough to eat! Used in conjunction they left my hair feeling soft and smooth, which made styling easier as there was less frizz than usual to contend with. However, I did find that I had to be careful not to use too much conditioner, especially if I wanted to retain the volume in my hair. As these products are deeply hydrating they can make your hair fall a little flat. I would recommend this range to those with long hair prone to dryness, or those with over processed, colour treated hair as it works hard to put much needed moisture and supleness back into your weary strands.

The Shielo Hydrate shampoo retails at $15.74, while the conditioner is $22.49 and both can be found on the Shielo website here.

Have you tried any products from the Shielo range? Do you suffer from dry hair? What products do you use to reverse damage by heat styling and colouring you hair? xxx

Work It Out: Classic Colour Block

2011-09-13T11:00:00.001+01:00

Not a particularly adventurous outfit for the workplace, but I rarely feel inspired on a Monday morning! I picked up this cute little colour block, pussy bow blouse from New Look about a week ago. This is definitely a staple piece as it goes with just about anything - skirts, trousers, and even under sleeveless dresses when it gets chilly. What I particularly like about this blouse, apart from its purse friendly price of £22.99, is that it isn't see-through like so many other overly 'sheer' blouses currently in the shops, so great to wear in the office without a cami underneath.

Blouse: New Look, Skirt: Zara

Another point to note is that this blouse offers quite a generous amount of space in the decolletage area. I often struggle to close the top button in shirts (I wear size 10), but due to the slight ruching detail at the shoulders it creates a little extra volume where you need it most ;).

What staples are you investing in this Autumn? Are you still wearing colour-block pieces?

Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream

2011-09-12T19:03:00.000+01:00

The Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream is a wonder product that I have been meaning to share with you all for quite some time! I first received a sample of it about 6 months ago and have repurchased it over and over again since.

Just to give you a little bit of context the bf has very sensitive skin (he always gets annoyed when I mention his eczema, but I am prepared to withstand his fury when/if he ever reads this). Unfortunately along with sensitive skin he was 'blessed' with a very hairy chin... and we are not talking about a 5 o'clock shadow here, it's more of a 12 o'clock shadow! Working in the medical profession he is required to look smart and hence shave every day, which isn't ideal. He therefore often has problems with irrtation, dryness, ingrown hairs, redness... I'm not painting a pretty picture here, but you name it the poor boy has suffered with it.

After a few days of using the shave cream (check out Liz's shaving tips here) I could already see the difference on his skin, without even having to ask. It definitely looked smoother and less irritated and I noticed that the shaving process was faster too. When I probed him about the cream itself he went as far as saying he "really, really" liked it (a first!) as it gave a really close, comfortable shave and left his skin moisturised and soft. History was made a few weeks later when I phoned to say I was popping into Liz Earle and was actually asked if I could pick up some of that "shave cream stuff". This was record breaking material - not only did he remmber and ask me for a specific product, but he was actually planning to use it for its intended purpose! It definitely makes a change from his usual routine of using my eye cream or expensive serums to moisturise his elbows, knuckles and Lord knows... maybe toes *sigh*.

Since the bf was so fond of the shave cream I decided to purchase some for myself as I often experience a rash or painful bumps after shaving my underarms. I can honestly say that this is the best shave cream I have ever used. It is soft and creamy, yet lathers with a little water to give a really close and smooth shave.

Probably not the most visually pleasing photo, but as you can see it lathers very smoothly.

With extracts of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Geranium Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil and Glycerin it not only works well to moisturise and soothe irritated skin, but also smells amazing (see full ingredients list here). The rose scented geranium gives it a slightly sweet, flowery smell, while the peppermint keeps it fresh and uplifting - a fragrance that I think both sexes will enjoy!

The Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream retails at £10.75 for 100 ml or £5.50 for 30 ml. I highly recommend it to everyone with sensitive skin and those prone to razor burn or shaving rash. I've been buying it as gifts for my male friends and have received great feedback from everyone so far. It may not be a particularly exciting product, but in my eyes it's definitely a hero!

Have you tried Liz Earle's Sensitive Shave Cream? Do you ecperience problems when shaving? What are your recommendations for shave gels/ creams/ oils for sensitive skin? xxx

Work It Out: Fit and Flare

2011-09-09T23:33:00.000+01:00

Taking advantage of the 20% off offer at Dottie P's on VFNO I popped in to pick up a couple of dresses from one of my recently discovered brands - Closet. I absolutely adore the deep, crisp purple shade of this dress and the cute fit and flare style. A more wearable (in the length) and ladylike version of the skater dresses that have been replicated by a number of brands in a rainbow of colours.

Dress: Dorothy Perkins (£42), Patent Belt: Ted Baker, Patterned Tights: M&S, Boots: DP

As much as I like the colour and cut of this dress the fit wasn't as I had hoped. The waist sits much higher than I would like, which makes the little pocket flaps stick out, rather than fall flat on the hips. This does look a little unflattering as it makes you appear wider rather than creating a 'cola bottle' silhouette.. you win some, you lose some. So to create a better shape (and make it more work friendly) I paired this dress with a fitted, single button black jacket from Zara to cinch in the waist.

During the day I paired this outfit with patent and suede heels from DP. These are high, but comfy due to the t-bar strap, and at only £35 (here) they make a great bargain ;).

This is a fun outfit to take you from day to night - happy Friday my lovelies!!

Are you wearing flared dresses this season? What colours are you adding to your winter wardrobe? Have you tried Dorothy Perkins' Closet range? Any pieces you would recommend? xxx

Origins Giveaway!

2011-09-08T17:00:00.038+01:00

Everyone loves a freebie, or 3, so I was very excited to see that Origins are giving away 3 free samples from their top 10 product line up with the purchase of any skincare item! This offer begins at Origins counters (and online here) on Friday the 9th of September and lasts till the 30th of September.

The samples you can choose from are:

Checks & Balances™Frothy face wash
A Perfect World™Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea
Modern Friction™Nature's gentle dermabrasion
Brighter by Nature™ SPF35 Skin tone correcting serum
Plantscription™Anti-aging serum with Anogeissus
Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum
GinZing™Refreshing eye cream to brighten and depuff
Vitazing™SPF 15 Energy-boosting moisturizer
A Perfect World SPF25 ™Age-defense moisturizer with White Tea
Starting Over™Age-erasing moisturizer with Mimosa

I am trialling three Origins products at the moment so I shall let you know how I get on with them. So far I can definitely recommend the Vitazing moisturizer (for the day) and the Perfect World moisturizer (for the night) which I have used for about 2 years. Let me know which products you chose, or if you have any favourites from the Origins range? xxx

Current Haircare Favourites

2011-09-07T22:36:00.000+01:00

I have been trying a number of new hair styling products recently and wanted to share some of my favourites with you!

Products mentioned:

Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner (£8)
Bumbe and Bumble Mending Conditioner (£23.50)
V05 Treat Me Right Intensive Conditioning Treatment (£4.28)
Pureology Super Smooth Smoothing Elixir (£14.85)
Aveda Smooth Infusion (£18.50)
John Frieda 3 Day Straight (£6.99)
Aussie Take the Heat Cream (£4.69)
Osmo Blow Dry Potion (£4)
KMS California Quick Blow Dry (£9.50)
Tigi Bed Head Spoil Me Defrizzer (£8)
Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Rock 'N' Roll Extreme Hairspray (£8.56)

I hope you enjoy the video and please do let me know your favourite hair products in the comments below! Thank you for watching my lovelies. :) xxx

Work It Out: Heritage

2011-09-05T17:00:00.000+01:00

Now I am no country bumpkin, but a few days ago I decided to switch it up and try the new heritage check trend on for size. This blazer has been in my wardrobe for a few years and rarely makes an appearance, as it's not my usual style. However, coupled with a fishtail skirt, I tried to give the essentially 'school mistress' look a girlie twist ;).

Jacket: Mango, Forest green sweater: Mango, Skirt: M&S.

The black faux leather elbow patches can be a retro step too far for some, but I feel that the fitted shape and feminine cut of the blazer make it more modern and wearable.

Will you be dipping a toe into the heritage/ country side trend this autumn? Barbour jackets, leather riding boots and cable knits at the ready!

OOTD: Hey Shortie

2011-09-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

Not much of a preamble to go with this outfit... I bought these little shorts in H&M in the hope that summer would stick around. Since the weather hasn't been co-operating lately I paired them with a cozy cashmere jumper. In this period of seasonal transition (though let's face it we never really had a summer) it's fun to mix things up - jumpers with wedges, summer dresses with thick, black tights... I'm crazy like that ;).

Cashmere Jumper - Milan boutique, Shorts: H&M £14.99 here, Ballet flats: Primark.

These come with a cute little black faux leather belt, but I chose not to wear it to accentuate the bow detail and cut of the sweater.

I am guessing from the above these are meant to fall lower on the leg, but as my Beyonce-esque thighs fill them out they look very mini on me... the trials of being tall hehe ;).

Are you braving short shorts? Despite all the magazines trying to convince me that shorts are an appropriate attire for the office (tights optional) I am staying well away from that trend! xxx

It's all about the lips...

2011-09-03T11:00:00.000+01:00

I will put my hand up and admit I am not a fan of Fearne Cotton. She annoys me.. there I said it ;). However, when I was shown a selection of makeup for her line exclusive to Boots I was very much excited by the lip sets. It's All About the Lips in Natural is a gorgeous, wearable trio of lip liner, lipstick and gloss.

What I particularly like about this set is the difference in textures between the products, which lets you create different looks and play with different shades of nude. The lipliner is a deeper, more rosy nude that can create a matte look, the lipstick is a light, creamy pink that looks great paired with a smokey eye and the gloss is shimmery, without being overly glittery, to add some vibrancy to the nude palette.

Top - lipliner, Middle - lipstick, Bottom - gloss, Left - all three.

The above was created using all three (sparingly) to create a beautifully irridescent, natural nude lip.

I am really impressed with this set and look forward to sampling more of the range in the future. This line is exclusive to Boots and retails at £10 (here), not bad for 3 products!

Have you tried any of Fearne's range at Boots? xxx

OOTD: Tangerine

2011-09-02T11:00:00.004+01:00

I'm not sure if it's just me, but from my brief jaunt 'up north' I have discovered 3 things.. The tans are deeper, the hair is bigger and the shoes are definitely higher! Saturday nights in Liverpool are a very glam affair so when in Rome...

Dress: H&M, Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, Watch: Michael Kors, Clutch: Mulberry.

I need to invest in some bigger platforms for my next trip.. giraffe style ;)!

I hope everyone had a good bank holiday weekend! xxx

Real Techniques Blush Brush

2011-09-01T11:00:00.000+01:00

I'm sure many of you watch the amazing tutorials by Pixiwoo - the Chapman sisters are incredibly beautiful, talented and are a real inspiration to all us makeup lovers ;). I was really excited when I heard that Sam was bringing out her own line of brushes as I truly value her judgment and expertise. I have been trialing a few of the brushes from the Real Techniques line and have to say that I am extremely impressed with them!

First up for review is the Blush Brush.

The blush brush is made of synthetic taklon bristles, which are hand-cut for the perfect shape and 100% cruelty-free. The pink handle is sturdy, yet light and allows the brush to stand up on its own. The bristles are extremely soft and feel amazing, yet they are robust enough not to fan out and work perfectly to blend both powder and cream products. I love using this brush for blushers, highlighters and even contour powders or bronzers as the tapered tip makes shading accurate and smooth. What I love most about this brush though is the fact that it doesn't shed! I have found that many other brushes of a similar shape/ style (particularly the MAC duo fibre stippling brushes) shed horrendously, especially after washing, but this brush remains in tact and fluffy as ever.

These brushes are impeccably designed and competitively priced. I highly recommend you check them out if you are looking to invest in some great quality, professional brushes. The blush brush retails at £9.99 ($8.99) and can be purchased in the UK from Victoria Halth here or in the US from Ulta here.

Have you tried any Real Techniques brushes? What are your thoughts? xxx

Work It Out: Raspberry Ribbon

2011-08-31T11:00:00.000+01:00

If you caught my previous post about my recent ASOS purchases (here) you may already recognise this little number. I loved the retro shape of this dressed coupled with the light material and deep raspberry shade.

ASOS Midi Dress with Pussybow - £40

I am absolutely loving burgundy for the autumn. What colours will you be keeping an eye out for this season? xx

Côte d'Azur

2011-08-30T20:36:00.000+01:00

Last week I returned from a fabulous extended weekend in the South of France to celebrate my mama's 50th birthday. Unfortunately I was only able to get 2 days off work (boo), but sticking to mama's very full daily timetable I feel like I made very good use of my, albeit limited, time. Even the shortest trip can reinvigorate you!

We stayed at a beautiful villa between Nice and St Paul de Vence (which you can just see above). This was the view from my balcony - absolutely breathtaking!!

This was one of my favourite views while driving from Nice to the tiny, picturesque village of Eze. Apparently this little peninsula boasts the mot expensive land per sq.m. in the world! I guess it's not hard to see why - plus it's perfectly placed between Nice and Monaco.

Motel Emilia dress in Pretty Rose Navy (£52)

With the sweltering heat I tried to keep cool in lots of summer dresses. The above was gifted to me by Motel and worked perfectly as it protects shoulders from the sun, while still being floaty, light and feminine.

Ted Baker Maxi Dress (£229)

I had my eye on this Ted Baker maxi for quite some time and finally caved while in T5... hehe ;). I absolutely adore their dresses as they make them long enough for a giant like me!!

No trip to France would be complete without wine tasting!!

At the Chateau de Cremat in Nice we spotted the Chanel 'CC' logo embedded into the architecture and found out that in fact the signature was invented by the original owners of the chateau and Coco Chanel actually first saw it there. The owner gave her the logo and let her trademark it at the opening of the first Chanel store!

Unfortunately I documented most of the trip on my mama's brand new camera, but I hope you enjoyed my little selection of snaps :).

We had such a fabulous time in the south of France and absolutely can't wait to go back! xxx

St Paul de Vence

2011-08-22T17:00:00.000+01:00

I have escaped London to spend a long weekend on the beautiful French coast. We are currently here..

Regular posting will resume shortly!

Not least because a few hours in the Sun have given me a chance to trial all those beauty treats the English weather doesn't quite permit. Nars Orgasm illuminator and Kerastase L’Huile Céleste how I love thee! xxx

Browsing ASOS

2011-08-20T11:00:00.001+01:00

I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with ASOS recently. From the modest beginnings of the website I was obsessed with it, recommended it to all my friends, and browsed through it during more luchtimes than I would care to admit to. However, as they have expanded I feel that the quality of many of the products has deteriorated somewhat, and although this is understandable with the sheer volume of products on the site, it still seems a shame. Though there are some great pieces to be found it is a little too hit and miss for my liking. I have all too often dragged a bulky box home only to try everything on and promptly send it all back. After a botched delivery... or seven (they delivered the wrong bag thrice, which was actually a present so rather marred the celebrations) and a lack of a timely reconciliation I vowed to bid farewell to ASOS for a little while. However, while I'm sitting here perusing the new ASOS magazine I can't help but add a few things to my basket, so here are some of my favourites on the site at present...

Midi Dress with Pussybow - £40. Love! Mad men inspired, gorgeous colour, office appropriate hemline. This one has already made its way into my basket ;).

Full Midi Skirt in Oversized Heritage Check - £50. Amazing for Autumn, would love to wear this with super high wedges to contrast the seasons.

Midi Skirt with Equestrian Print - £45. A classic, Gucci-esque print updated with pleats.

Chiffon Sleeve Panel Top - £25. A lot of burgundy here! The chiffon sleeves are beautiful and feminine.

Pussybow Chain Print Dress - £45. Gorgeous chain print and flattering draping. Would anyone guess this is just £45?

Have you spotted anything exciting on ASOS recently?

British Red Cross’ Japan Tsunami Appeal Auction with Shiseido

2011-08-18T11:00:00.000+01:00

Last week Shiseido launched a charity auction online with all proceeds raised going to the British Red Cross’ Japan Tsunami Appeal. Why not spoil yourself while donating to a very worthy cause! The fantastic prizes up for auction include:

·       Two night mid-week spa break for two at Champneys

·       Top to Toe treatment at Richard Ward Metro Spa, London

·       Harrods Urban Retreat pamper package which includes a full body massage, facial, customer manicure and pedicure, blow dry and Champagne lunch at the East Dulwich bar (Amaaaazing!)

·       Spa day including a Shiseido Radiance Facial at The Academy in Harrogate

·       Overnight stay for two and Carita Spa experience at Cameron House Loch Lomond

·       Makeup lesson with Ruby Hammer

The Shiseido Japan Auction is live now here and will close on 21 August 2011 at 7pm.

Random Acts of... Beauty!!

2011-08-17T11:00:00.001+01:00

With Autumn hanging over us the streets of the UK are starting to get a little less bright, but not if Sheer Cover has anything to do with it! This September mineral make-up brand Sheer Cover will be running up and down the country surprising lucky passers by with beauty treats, mini makeovers and professional tips. Heading up the team is celebrity make-up artist Armand Beasley who will be using his expertise to ensure women (and the odd man!) get the most out of the fabulous free beauty gifts. I think this is such a brilliant idea and hope some of you will be able to take part. After all, isn't this blog about making the world just that little bit more beautiful... one lipgloss at a time ;).

To make sure you're in for a Random Act of Beauty check the Sheer Cover twitter feed @beautinews, foursquare or www.sheercover.co.uk to find out when they are in a town or city near you! xxx

Seasonal Favourtie - Jergens Naturals

2011-08-16T17:00:00.000+01:00

Sometimes in the flurry of trialing numerous products I forget to write about the ones I use on an every day basis. These staples may not be quite as exciting as the new releases and limited editions that catch my eye, but they are the tried and tested products that I really rely on and can wholeheartedly recommend.

One of these products is the Jergens Naturals range. I go through moisturising cream like nobody's business so as much as I love indulging in premium products it's just not sensible to slather myself in them every day. Jergens Naturals moisturisers have been an absolute must have for me this summer. They are so easy to apply as they soak in quickly and leave no greasy residue, while moisturing well and mainatining hydration throughout the day. Being 94% natural I have also found them to be very soothing (particularly the Aloe version with eucalyptus and cucumber) on both dry and sensitive skin.

My favourite of all the different 'flavours' is definitely the Cocoa Butter. It smells delicious in a sweet, but not overpowering way, and with extracts of cocoa butter, olive oil, oatmeal, avocado, jojoba seed, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E it is luxuriously moisturising without sitting heavily on the skin.

I'm also a fan of the simple packaging - no fiddling with pumps or balancing bottles upside down, the bendable tube and wide opening let you get every last drop of product with no wastage. It's perfect when applying in a hurry, especially if you're like me and after hiding your pale pins under tights for far too long realise that it's time to let them see the sun!

I was first introduced to the Jergens brand while shopping in the US, and subsequently was sent PR sampples to try. I am happy to report that Jergens Naturals are now also widely distributed in UK supermarkets and pharmacies (I have previously purchased them from Tesco's and Boots) so they are easy to get hold of and are often on offer. Currently, I have spotted them in Superdrug here at almost half price, making 200ml just £2.99.

Have you tries the Jergens Naturals range? What are your got to moisturisers?