Whitney Port Venus & Olay Blogger Challenge!

A few weeks ago I was challenged by Venus and Olay's new ambassador Whitney Port to customise a pair of denim shorts for a chance to feature on Whitney's site, as well as win a pair of shorts designed by the leggy lady herself. I am a huge Whitney fan as I love her style and general attitude so I was excited to try out the new Venus razor and take part in the fashion challenge!

I was sent a pair of denim shorts to play with, along with a bag of embellishments and of course the new Venus and Olay razor that combines Olay Moisture-Boost shave gel bars, which help replenish your skin’s moisture, with Venus’s five-blade technology for an incredibly close shave. The shave gel bars mean there’s no need for an extra shave gel, which is perfect for travel or when you are in a hurry. As well as being super quick and convenient this razor gives a really close, comfortable shave. I also noticed that the bars have a lovely scent, which was a nice surprise!

So after trying out the razor I was all set to show off my legs and began working on the perfect pair of shorts to do so. I decided to keep the colour palette very classic and focus on some gold detailing on the front and back pockets. Since my sewing technique is somewhat lacking there was a lot of fabric glue involved, but I'm pretty happy with the results. I think the extra sparkle gives the shorts a bit of personality, while still being really wearable.

I used lots of gold thread on the back pockets to make them really stand out and give the shorts a little bit more shape. I then tied the design in with the front by accentuating the corners with more gold sequins, to reflect the shape of the curve.

So what do we think ladies? Would Whitney ever wear a pair of shorts like this? Regardless of the competition I had so much fun decorating (and almost gluing my fingers together) and I can't wait to show them off on holiday in a few weeks :). xxx

Gillette Venus Naked Skin: 6 Week Update!

As I am now roughly half way through my trial of the Gillette Venus Naked Skin I thought it was about time to do a little update for you guys on how I have been getting on with it!

So far so good! I have seen a slight reduction in hair growth and am happy to report that my super sensitive skin has been fairing well with the treatment. I usually have a few red patches straight after using the system, but these are not painful and (much like waxing) disappear after a few hours. I am excited to see the final results and will report back at the 12 week mark!

For more info or to purchase the Gillette Venus Naked Skin system you can check out the Boots website here, where you can save £100 by entering the code VENUS at checkout!

Glowing Summer Skin Tips

Even though the weather has been trying to hide it from us it is in fact Summer. With bikinis and short shorts in mind I have put together a list of my favourite products to get your skin Summer ready - healthy, beautiful, smooth and glowing!

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! It's time to slather on the creams and make sure your skin is well hydrated, plump and smooth. Recently I have been indulging in Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter* (£36 here).

With shea butter, beta carotene and jojoba oil this wonderfully luxurious moisturiser works wonders for sprucing up pasty legs that have been hidden under opaque tights for months. It is rich enough to hydrate deep down, yet light enough to sink in quickly, not leaving behind any greasy residue. Creme de Corps is a cult product and I think this whipped version is a fabulous addition to the range.

Exfoliate! Other than a good old fashioned pair of exfoliating gloves (I have these babies in pink £2.66) my all time favourite scrub is Soap and Glory's Breakfast Scrub (£9.50 here). This oat, shea butter and sugar body smoother has a rough texture that works hard to remove dead skin cells and reveal the fresh, glowing skin underneath. It also smells absolutely delicious!!

Hair Removal. Now this is the part I am definitely not a fan of. Other than trying out the TRIA permanent hair removal laser system (video review coming soon) I have recently been relying on shaving. Since I have extremely sensitive skin I have had plenty of bad experiences with shaving in the past. Luckily, I was recently set the new Venus ProSkin* to trial and it has worked perfectly - no lumps, bumps or razor burn. The Venus ProSkin is designed to help protect delicate skin with its MoistureRich shave gel bars, which contain  a triple blend of body butters for a comfortable shave. The ProSkin sensitive has 5 blades for a close shave that puts less pressure on the skin, hence less irritation

Cleanse. As well as traditional shaving creams, such as the Satin Care pictured above I have also found that my favourite shower oil can be used during shaving. I was hesitant to try it at first, but it really does make your razor glide like a dream. So for a gentle and moisturising shower I highly recommend the amazing L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (£16.50 here).

Glow - Just because the weather isn't co-operating doesn't mean we don't want our skin to have some colour. I have recently been trying out the Sienna X professional tanning range and I absolutely love it. My favourite product is the Gradual Glowing Self Tan* (£15.95 here). This tan infused moisturiser smells absolutely delicious and is super easy to apply - no tanning mitt needed. On day one it gives you just a little hint of colour, day two adds a little more glow and day three will leave you with a gorgeous, natural looking deep tan. I usually apply it before bed on two consecutive evenings and reapply every other day to maintain the colour.

The Sienna X range also features a polishing body scrub and body wash to prepare the skin, a darker glowing self tan, instant bronzing gel and express tanning mist to add colour and even a post tan radiance body balm and shimmer spray to make your skin glow! All the products smell amazing and give great results at an affordable price.

Cool. If you are feeling the heat and the last thing you want to do is slather yourself in oily moisturiser why not try a lighter option? The new Body Purees* (from £4.50 here) from The Body Shop are the perfect choice if you want to hydrate and refresh your skin. The lightweight texture cools and soothes parched skin while leaving behind a clean, invigorating scent. TBS also currently have 25% off online purchases with the code NEW25.

Travel. If you are off to seek some foreign Sun or prefer a 'staycation' to take advantage of all the excitement that is going on in England this Summer don't forget to pack some treats for your skin. I love the idea of this Montagne Jeunesse Travel Pamper Pack. This set contains 6 individually packaged treatments for skin, hair, body, feet and face for just £5 (here).

I hope that's all bases covered! Do tell me if I left anything out!

What products do you trust to prep your skin and make sure it stays beautiful and glowing throughout the Summer months? xxx

*PR Sample