Lauren Conrad Waves with BaByliss Waving Wand

A few weeks ago I was invited to film a hair tutorial video with Babyliss to recreate Lauren Conrad's beautiful signature waves with the expert help of hairdresser to the stars Beverly C. As you all know I am a huge fan of the original conical wand, so I was excited to see how the waving wand would compare. I was happy to learn that it is just as easy to use, and creates beautiful, deep crested waves in minutes that are absolutely ideal for the summer.


Lauren Conrad is famous for her trademark style, always looking effortlessly, but perfectly polished. We had so many inspirational looks to chose from, but decided on an easy loose braid and relaxed waves that could work on any hair type or length. The side braid is especially great for those who are growing out a fringe!

I was really happy with the finished look as it's so quick to do and holds really well throughout the day. If you want to see more videos in the 'Get The Look' series please do check out the BaByliss facebook page here, and if you could 'like' my video it would mean a lot to me too :).

I really hope you enjoy the tutorial and get the chance to try it out! xxx

Garnier Ultralift Challenge - Free 14 Day Sample Kit

According to recent statistics 71% of of consumers don’t believe in anti-ageing claims, and I admit I am one of them. Being on the right side of 25 (not that I'm suggesting there's a 'wrong' side) I haven't delved too deeply into anti-ageing skincare, but even so I have my doubts as to its efficacy, and whether all the highly celebrated and subsequently highly priced creams really do what they say on the jar - reduce or prevent those wrinklies.

Coming from a scientific background I need to be presented with real evidence before I believe anything, so I was interested to see that Garnier are hoping to convince us sceptics once and for all with their Ultralift Challege. To take part all you have to do is sign up here (takes less than a minute) and you will be sent a free 14 day sample kit plus a ‘Wrinkle Reader’ to measure your progress. No strings :). Though after your trial you are welcome to visit the website and share your results!

I have just registered for my free kit... though as I don't think I will make the best test subject all that's left to do is find a willing guinea pig *looks furtively around the office*...

Have you tried Garnier Ultralift? Will you be taking part in Garnier's Ultralift Challenge in the coming weeks? Please do let me know how you all get on! xxx

OOTD: Two days of Summer

With the glorious sunshine of the last few days it was time to dust off my Summer wardrobe. Let's just hope the warm spell lasts and is not once again replaced by the depressing drizzle of the last few weeks.

On Saturday I attended the Aussie haircare wrap party, so chose a maxi dress that would be easy and comfortable to wear.

 Colourblock Dress: Pearl (on sale at ASOS here). Pearl coin and gold necklace: Banana Republic. Rose Gold Watch: Michael Kors.

Sunday was a quiet day with a few errands to run and lots of e-mails to catch up on so I skipped the makeup and instead injected some colour in this tropical print jumpsuit.

 Jumpsuit: H&M. Shoes: Dorothy Perkins (On sale here).

Hope you all enjoyed the sunshine! xxx

Centenary Magdalene May Ball 2011

On Wednesday I attended the Magdalene May Ball in Cambridge to celebrate the end of an era as my smarty pants bf graduates to become Dr. bf.

 Starting at 6.30pm and ending just before 9am it was a night full of glamour, decadence, fun and endurance!

 

On arrival we were greeted by a champagne reception and oyster bar, which we took full advantage of!

I chose to wear a purple asymmetric Grecian inspired dress from Coast, which I paired with nude shoes and bag from Zara. To adhere to the white tie dress code I also added long black satin gloves (from ebay) and a black shawl from H&M. As the neckline of the dress has some pleated detailing I decided to forgo a necklace and instead add some sparkle with a diamond tennis bracelet, tear drop earrings from Mikey, a large black and silver ring and a hair clip from Swarovski.

For makeup that would last the full 15 hours I used:

Mix of Estee Lauder's Double Wear and Rimmel's Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation set with MAC mineralize skinfinish natural

NARS Laguna Bronzer

MAC well dressed blush

UDPP

MAC electra, knight divine, carbon and vapour eyeshadows

Collection 2000 glitter liner for the lower lashline and L'Oreal carbon gloss liquid liner in black

Ardell runway lashes

MAC creme cup lipstick

Clarins instant light lipgloss

 With limited dressing facilities I went back to basics and styled my hair using the Babyliss heated rollers. I back combed the top sections to add some volume and secured the back with a hair clip.

We had such a fantastic night sampling all the food, drink and entertainment on offer, which included copious cocktails and champagne, fish spa pedicures, The Mystery Jets, Truly Medley Deeply, various comedy acts, burlesque, salsa dancing, sushi platters, magicians and much more!

 The Mystery Jets

By the time morning came we were happily exhausted.. but we made it!

We survived the Magdalene May Ball... and are already looking forward to the next one in 2013! :) xxx

P&G Summer Spa - Follow Up

Thank you to all of you who asked questions, left comments and voted in the poll on my previous P&G Summer Spa post. The Summer Spa was a great success, with lots of interesting topics discussed and expert tips given!
A few highlights below, but if you want to see the full version please register here.

Max Factor with Caroline Barnes

Gillette Venus with Nichola Joss

Please keep a look out for a post naming the 15 'wildcard' winners. Good Luck!

Did you take part in the P&G Summer spa? What were your thoughts? xxx

*This is a sponsoired post*.

Are You the Next Face of Fabulous?

A few weeks ago I attended the launch of Fabulous Magazine's Face of Fabulous modelling competition. If you have ever dreamed of gracing the covers of magazines now is your chance as Fabulous are on the hunt for the next cover star! You can enter via a facebook app by uploading a full length photo of yourself here. The winners will be chosen by public vote, so your millions of facebook friends will come in handy ;). The top ten will then be invited to London for the final round of judging with the Fabulous and NEXT Model Management teams. The winner will be decided on the basis of looks, aptitude and personality assessed by a panel of experts and appear on the front cover of Fabulous magazine this Summer! You still have plenty of time to enter and get those votes as entries close July 2nd, with voting closing on July 4th.

The launch was an evening full of bubbles and fashion fun as we got the chance to try on a selection of New Look's latest trends, get some modelling tips from the pros and even have our own little photoshoot ;).

My beautiful friend Di was my model for the day, and here she is receiving some posing pointers from one of the lovely models from Next.

Doesn't Di look gorgeous! You all know I am a lover of jumping shots, so I was happy when our photographer got into the spirit and started bouncing about with me ;).

We even bumped into Rob Mead - star of TOWIE, who has been on the books at Next Model Management for 2 years.

 

As Rob and I got chatting in true ANTM style we decided to have a little photoshoot together...

 Pout Alert - our best Zoolander impression ;).

Di and I also managed to grill Rob on his skincare routing. Apologies for the awful iphone quality video, but it was pretty noisy so I overcompensated with my shrieking.. eek!

It's all about Clinique.. exfoliation and eye cream apparently ;).

I hope you guys get a chance to check out the Face of Fabulous Competition, and if you are not keen on entering then please do vote for my lovely friend Di, she'll kill me if she ever reads this hehe ;p. xxx

Isklar with Jessica Lowndes aka Adrianna 90210

When an invite for an Isklar (Norwegian mineral water) event dropped into my inbox, I was more than a little surprised. Normally I would send anything unrelated to the subject of this blog into the junk folder, but something prompted me to keep reading and I'm very glad that I did! Isklar were holding a beauty event featuring three different glacial looks taken from the catwalk and made wearable. As the ambassador of the brand the beautiful Jessica Lowndes aka Adrianna from 90210 was in attendance and even created her own looks on three girls!

Being a bit of a closet 90210 fan (along with every other girl in my office) I was very much excited to meet her! I can wholeheartedly testify that she is indeed breathtakingly stunning in person - petite, curvy and radiant. It was especially lovely to see her being friendly with everyone. She was all smiles when doing the makeovers and patiently agreed to lots of photos being taken.

Isn't she beautiful! Shame I look like such a muppet trying to crouch down next to her so I don't look like a giant...

I managed to get a little action shot of Jessica's work during the makeovers and was impressed by her makeup skills as the end look was really pretty!

If you are interested the gorgeous blush Jessica is wearing is Bare Minerals vintage peach, which I am also wearing in our photo together ;).

Are you a fan of 90210 and Jessica Lowndes? xxx

BM Beauty Kimberly Wyatt Smokey Eye

When I first started making videos on YouTube most of them centered around using mineral makeup, but as I became enveloped in the world of cosmetics on my eternal quest for 'the next best thing' mineral makeup was pushed to the back of my mind. I was therefore excited to rediscover the beauty and all the benefits of mineral makeup while trying out a new brand called BM Beauty co founded by Kimberly Wyatt (of Pussycat Dolls fame) and her friend Laura, who is not only lovely, but extremely passionate about the brand.

 If you want to learn more about BM beauty and see how I created this dark smokey eye inspired by Kimberly's promo image please watch the video below :).

Products used:
Foundation - Stripped, Walnut Whisper (as bronzer)
Blush - Peachy Glow
Eyeshadow - Mississippi mud, Noir
Eyeliner - UD 24/7 liner in zero
Mascara - Beautiful Lashes (black)
Lashes - She Uemura smokey layers
Lipgloss - Nude

This is not a sponsored video. All products mentioned (excluding the eyeliner and lashes) were sent to me by BM Beauty for use in tutorials.  BM Beauty is cruelty free and BUAV approved :).

 Kimberly has kindly agreed to do a little interview for all my lovely readers, so if you have any questions please leave them in the comments. I am so excited to learn her beauty secrets as she is absolutely stunning and can carry off any look with confidence!

Blonde, brunette, girly, edgy.. this girl looks gorgeous with any style!!

Do let me know if you have any questions for Kimberly! xxx

Interview with Shopaholic

Just a little update today :). I was recently interviewed by the lovely people of become.co.uk for their shopaholic blog - Editor’s Pick: Unforgettable Blogs. If you want to check it out you can find it here.

Happy Friday my lovelies! xxx

Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara and FOTD

Being a girl who values her sleep above all else most mornings don't lend themselves to photo opportunities. However, I have been meaning to share my new love for Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge mascara, so I made sure to get a few snaps this morning. Excuse the droopy, sleep deprived eyelids!

I am wearing:

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25Hour foundation

Bobbi Brown corrector

NARS Laguna bronzer

ELF mineral blush in pink

Urban Decay eyeshadow in sin

Urban Decay 24/7 liner in stash

Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara

Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Pink Champagne

Back to the mascara...

Estee Lauder's Double Wear mascara (£19) is a recent discovery for me, but I have been getting so many compliments while wearing it I thought I would have to share. The slim brush is perfect for wiggling deep into the roots, and accurate enough for creating wispy bottom lashes with no smudges. It also works hard to lengthen and separate lashes while lasting all day with no smearing, even on my hay fever afflicted eyes. I may even go as far as saying it's HG material...

Have you tried Estee Lauder's double wear mascara? What are your favourite mascaras at the moment?

Work It Out: Flute

If there's one trend I can't enough of at the moment it's blouses. Every time I see a different shape or colour, be it pastel hues or brights, I'm tempted to snap them all up. Even when they are no longer on the high street they will still be in fashion - a feminine, floaty blouse can never go out of style!

 Blouse: Miss Selfridge (£35). Skirt and patent leather belt: M&S. Vest top: Zara.

I spotted this blue flute sleeve blouse in Miss Selfridge last week and couldn't resist adding it to my little collection. The draped sleeves not only look beautifully feminine, but are also a subtle way of wearing the kimono trend.

Do you share my love of blouses? xxx

Friday Dinner OOTD

On Friday morning instead of making plans for the weekend I found myself nervously sitting at my office desk staring at an e-mail that had just dropped into my inbox letting me know that the results of my recent law exam were now available online. Eeek! Luckily, I passed (with distinction), and to be honest felt very silly about stressing myself, and probably everyone around me, out during the whole ordeal. To celebrate the bf took me out for dinner at our local Thai restaurant - small, family run, authentic and super friendly. I always make a point of speaking to the waiters in Thai, which embarrasses the boy no end ;).

Leather Jacket: Reiss. Jumper Dress: Topshop. Rose and Skull scarf: Miss Selfridge (£14) Bag: Aspinal. Ballet flats: Primarni ;).

This scarf was a recent purchase and I love it's hot pink colour for spicing up a rather bland outfit. I'm not really a skull print aficionado, but mixing it with a delicate rose print is a subtle contrast that won me over. xxx

Aqua Sheko Fish Spa

The first time I saw a fish spa I was traveling in Thailand, and though I was intrigued by the idea I didn't feel brave enough to try it as I was a little apprehensive about lying (submerged up to my neck!) in a tank full of nibbly fish. Luckily, it hasn't taken long for fish spas to make their mark in the European beauty industry, with new salons sprouting up all over the highs streets, fish spas are now seen as a truly indulgent treat. As I am always on the look out for new trends and new pampering experiences I was excited to try my first fish pedicure at Aqua Sheko's glamourous flagship salon in London's Soho. Being one of the first premier fish spas in London Aqua Sheko is popular with celebs and bridal parties alike ;).

Upon arrival at Aqua Sheko I was warmly greeted at reception before being taken down into the spa, where my feet were washed in preparation for the hungry Garra Rufa fishies ;). I was treated to the Aqua Sheko Deluxe package (£45), which includes 25mins of fish therapy and a 20 minute massage. I chose the foot fish therapy as my tired feet were in dire need of pampering.

Although I am quite 'ticklish' when it comes to my feet, the gentle biting action of the fish didn't bother me - it felt almost like I had my feet in a jacuzzi, with the bubbles gently massaging my feet. There were a few fish who nibbled more vigorously than others, but it didn't feel sore or uncomfortable at any point. After the first few minutes I began to relax and enjoy the green tea and spicy snacks that were thoughtfully included as part of the package.

With the dark interior of the salon, the gentle trickling sound of water and mesmerizing movement of the fish I felt like I had been transported far away from the bustling streets of Soho!

After the fish pedicure my feet felt incredibly smooth and soft, so much so that my shoes felt slippery! The fish had done a wonderful job at removing hard skin, even in hard to reach areas around the cuticles and at the back of the foot. I have also read that this treatment does wonders for a vast range of skin ailments including eczema and psoriasis.

For the second part of my treatment I was lead into a small room, separated by a curtain from the main salon, where I had a neck and shoulder massage. Though 'neck and shoulder' is rather deceptive as the masseuse managed to work out some knots in my back, as well as massage my arms and head. After a long day spent slouching over a desk my back truly felt rejuvenated, while the tension in my shoulders had melted away.

The Aqua Sheko fish spa was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone searching for a fun and original treatment. With prices starting from £17 (for 15 mins of hand fish therapy) it makes an affordable treat for yourself, as well as a great pampering present for a loved one.

Have you ever tried fish therapy? Let me know what you think of my new Garra Rufa fish friends ;). xxx

Mad Hatter's Tea Party: OOTD

This Saturday prosecco, cucumber sandwiches, cakes and popping candy were on the menu as some of my work girlies got together for a Mad Hatter's Tea party at the Sanderson to celebrate one of our colleague's bdays. Keeping our lovely garden venue in mind I decided to dress for the occasion in a summery, floral maxi dress.

 Dress: Miss Selfridge. Shoes: New Look. Ring: Les Nereides.

The pattern of this dress is somehow reminiscent of the Moschino lemon print dress that has diffused throughout the high-street, most notably in New Look's version below.

 

                  Moschino                        New Look (£29.99)

I absolutely adore the shape of this dress with its flattering neckline, girlie bow tie at the back and slit sleeves. So many girls are conscious of their upper arms as they are notoriously difficult to tone, so a draped sleeve may be the perfect solution for the Summer - creating a more wearable twist on the 70s trend and keeping you cool, while covering up the bingo wing ;). 

The new shape for Summer 2011 is definitely a chunky heel, so I chose to pair this dress with some brown wedge heels that are not only super sturdy, but also surprisingly comfy! New Look have a great selection of affordable shoes, and every time I pop in on my lunch hour I am tempted ;).

What trends are you loving at the moment? How will you be adapting them to fit your style? xxx