A look using my new products- Chanel Lift Lumiere, L'Oreal Professionel Mythic Oi, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 'Rebelle'!

Hey Dollfaces

On Saturday, I popped into town to keep my appointment for HD Brows, and when I came out of the salon, I 'somehow' ended up veering into Boots and then John Lewis and making some beauty purchases (now how did that happen?).

I was quite excited because the Mr and I were going to see the Northern Ballet & Sinfonia perform Madame Butterfly. What a production! It was amazingly staged, really dramatic, and the dancing was spellbinding and so emotional. We both really loved it- we are getting seriously cultural in our old age!

Anyway, onto the shopping.

Vaseline Lip Therapy Limited Edition Pink Bubbly (£3.49), Boots

It's incredibly sad, but part of the whole reason I went into Boots in the first place was to hunt down this limited edition Pink Bubbly Vaseline. Tragic, I know, but y'all know how I feel about Vaseline. I worship it. Its my multi-tasking tin of wonder that soothes my chapped lips and glosses them, grows my eyelashes, highlights my cheekbones, softens my cuticles and...yeah...its one of those things I couldn't live without, pretty much. So when I saw they'd combined this wonder with champagne (also one of my favourite things) I was desperate to get my paws on some. At first, it was exclusive to Selfridges, which was sort of annoying. And I had a look on eBay where they were changing hands for a rather ridiculous £8 a tin (as if!!). But then, I saw a Boots magazine ad featuring the product, and my heart leapt. I raced there a week or so ago, only to emerge disappointed. But this time it seemed as though they'd gotten their act together, and there was a big stand promoting it.

I fully intended to buy two, anyway but then I saw it was on three for two, so I figured....why the hell not. Enriched with champagne grape extract and with a soft pink hue, this stuff is just perfect with a lovely, fruity scent. And my little stock should keep me going for quite some time....

 

Balmi Mint Lip Balm (£4.99)

Ok, I know what you're thinking. I've just bought a lifetime supply of Vaseline, why in the hell would I need more lip balm? Well, I am the type of girl that likes variety. Also, at any given moment, I will usually be carrying upwards of 5 lip products on me- because that's just how I roll. And anyway, I have been wanting one of these since seeing them on every YouTube beauty video ever (although I've since realised that most of what I was were EOS lip balms, which are very similar...) This is a cute little sphere that unscrews to reveal a ball of lipbalm inside, that you can attach to your keychain. I only picked Mint because I liked the colour of the ball, but there was also Raspberry and Coconut. I must say Boots is really coming on leaps and bounds in terms of stocking all these niche beauty products- they really have their finger on the pulse lately with unusual cosmetics and all the French pharmacy skincare brands, its brilliant. This balm is really creamy and pleasant and sorts out my winter-sore lips a treat- and I'd repurchase just for the cute factor! It contains Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil, SPF 15 and a 'cooling action' which is lovely. All in all I managed to spend £11.41 just on lipbalm, which I think constitutes a serious addiction.

Chanel Lift Lumiere Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup SPF15 (£32.00)

For a while now, I've been wanting to treat myself to a 'serious' foundation from a big-hitter brand, and now I finally got around to it. I don't tend to wear foundation every day, just BB cream and a mineral powder, so what I was looking for here was a full-coverage foundation for nights out that still had somewhat of a natural look, but really delivered that flawless finish. And I think I may have found my perfect match! I think I'll do a proper review post on this product, because it deserves it. The lady at the Chanel counter in John Lewis was amazing, really nice and took lots of time with me, but not at all pushy. And I appreciate that, having worked on a few cosmetics counters myself and knowing that the sales pressure is on! I felt like a proper customer, not just a number. I think it worked better in John Lewis as their beauty department has less footfall than Boots, so they made me feel very welcome and took lots of time to find out what I was looking for and matching the shade very carefully.

The lady explained that although this is an anti-aging foundation, its higher coverage so it fitted more what I was looking for than the others. I told her anti-aging is absolutely fine by me! It also has a very hygenic pump which I like as it makes sure you get all the product out and keeps it bacteria-free.

This product is perfection. It feels so luxurious, lightweight and silky on the skin, but it gives a beautiful coverage with a velvet finish that's luminous without being greasy. It contains 'LiftOptic' complex to help diffuse fine lines, and a lifting polymer. Also, Camellia Oil to nourish and moisturise. A truly beautiful product that proves that, unfortunately, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to foundation. It's a bit too dear for me to be using it every day, but I am in love with this foundation and I will be using for my nights out!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 'Rebelle' (£24.00)

Another thing I've really been lusting after is a proper, old school red lipstick. I personally think red lipstick can be quite intimidating. There's something very powerful and grown-up about it that a part of me really struggles with, even though I'm a certified, mortgage-paying, working grown-up myself. And it's difficult to pick a shade that really suits you as well. Luckily, the lady at the Chanel counter was really patient and tried some different shades on me. She really favoured one called 'Gabrielle' from a different line, but it was a very strong, dramatic red and it sort of made me nervous! However, when she tried this one on me, something just clicked. It felt right.  Chanel say: "ROUGE COCO SHINE Hydrating Sheer Lipshine provides lasting moisturizing shine in a water-light texture. The formula glides on for easy application, and a unique HYDRATENDRE complex hydrates and softens lips, giving them a healthier and fuller appearance. Available in a complete range of shades, from delicate beiges to dazzling berries, with a hint of shimmer to enhance a glossy finish."
The slightly more orangey tone felt more youthful and wearable to me. And the demi-gloss finish is a lot more in my comfort zone as it sheers the red out a lot. And now I've discovered the right red for me, I'm addicted! I thought it would be my night-time, winter season look but I've found myself wearing this during the day too. And again, as you'd expect from Chanel, this product just feels so good. Its so smooth and light on the lips, its like a balm. My new love!

L'Oreal Professionel Mythic Oil (£11.95)

I've found a new favourite, can't-live-without hair product. Having wanted to Try a hair oil for some time, this has really blown me away. I must admit that, once again, it was the pretty packaging that drew me into this one (predictable, I know!). But this product is not just a pretty face and really delivers. I did previously buy a bottle of organic Argan oil to use on my hair, and I have to say, I wasn't impressed at all. A little had no noticeable effect, a lot made my hair look stringy and greasy, so clearly you need to buy an oil that's specially formulated for use on your locks. Mythic Oil is a whole different experience. It's a special blend of avocado and grapeseed oil, and its really lightweight, so it won't make your hair lank. In fact, its pretty much a magic elixir for my frazzled, stressed out, overprocessed, colour-treated, heat-damaged nightmare hair! It does what no deep conditioner has properly done for me and made my hair feel beautifully silky and even shiny (my hair hasn't been shiny for many a year!), without losing any of the volume or freshness from washing. I put a little bit in when my hair was still damp and then a smidge more after drying and styling as a finishing touch. Wowzer. I love this! It also makes your hair smell gorgeous, as an added bonus. I can't believe how well this has worked out for me. Mythic Oil also has a range of shampoos and other products (available here), which I might well try!

And that's my little haul for now, although I'm also hitting the shops next week, so look out for more product updates!

Image courtesy of HD Brows

Eyebrows are one of the things I totally obsess about, because they really can make or break the way your entire face looks. A good eyebrow shape can totally frame your face and in some cases, be as good as a facelift for freshening up your look.

Celebrities have long been aware of the power of a good eyebrow, and I've often wondered what magical process they undergo as soon as they hit the bigtime that seems to transform their eyebrows (along with their teeth, hair,style etc) to give their looks that extra touch of stardust.

And yet funnily enough, I had never heard of HD Brows until last week. Quite how this phenomenom bypassed such a beauty junkie as myself, I will never know. In fact, I feel a bit betrayed by Vogue, InStyle, Grazia etc for never seeming to mention it. I found out by chance when I was telling a colleague about my eyebrow obsession, and they mentioned it. Then when I googled it...wow...I fell in love with those images of perfectly defined arches. I had to get some of this HD action for myself! I literally phoned up the salon the same day and got an appointment for the next weekend!

Introducing HD Brows

So, what are HD Brows? Well, they are a specific brow-shaping technique (and a big range of branded products) involving seven separate steps, that can only be performed by an accredited professional therapist. There doesn't tend to be that many practitioners, but most big cities are now catching on. Luckily, I knew of NKD, a specialist waxing boutique based in Nottingham with a very good reputation, that has just branched into lashes and brows.

They provided a great service, booking me in easily. You pop in for a patch test at least 24 hours before the appointment, to make sure you aren't allergic to the dye used. When I arrived, I filled in a 'new customer' form to make sure I wasn't going to drop dead at any point in the process, and I also had a chance to look through a book they had from HD which showed some of the products, some celebrity testimonials ( "From Hollyoaks to Hollywood!", the book proudly boasted), and some before and after pictures that got me really excited as they all looked amazing! The magical transformation then takes place in the seven aforementioned steps:

Preparation and Assessment

Your beauty therapist will work out a shape that suits your face, consult with you on the type of brow you're hoping to achieve, what shade will suit your hair and skin colour etc

Tinting

This is the step that requires the patch test- your brows are tinted using a coloured dye to the correct shade. This can darken or lighten the brows, and help to create a stronger shape by helping to get rid of any sparse areas.

Waxing

This takes care of the major hair removal in one easy swoop.

Trimming

Any denser or longer hair is trimmed to keep brows a very neat, uniform length

Threading

Threading then creates a very sharp, defined look, and takes care of those wispy baby hairs that grow above the arch

Tweezing

To finish off  the shaping process by hand and take care of any stray hairs

Completion

The experience is completed with the application of products and some advice on how best to maintain your new brow look.


I'm extremely fussy with my brows. I have never had them professionally shaped, although I have thought about it many times. I've always been too scared that they'd make a mess of it and I'd be stuck with odd, skinny brows that weren't to my liking, or thick, darkly dyed ones. Either would be a complete horror show. So I've relied on my own efforts with the tweezers, a good brow mascara, and a brown powder shadow applied with an angled brush for them to look half-decent. So I was excited but a little nervous to have them re-done.

I was hoping for more defination, a slightly higher and more defined arch, and just a more groomed overall appearance and....ta-dah!!

My new brows, courtesy of NKD Nottingham

 The Experience at NKD

I want to say that, overall, I am so happy with the way my brows turned out. I think the therapist did a great job of creating a cleaner, more defined shape that still suited my face.

Before, and after,the finished effect!

Side angle

However, the process could have been improved slightly. I thought the advice/consultation aspect was a bit lacking. She did ask me (breifly) what I was hoping for, but she didn't explain much about what could be achieved, about my existing brow shape and challenges, or any of the 'science' about it, which, as a beauty junkie, I would have been really interested in. When I called up I was told the appointment lasted an hour, but it only took 40 minutes and I can't help thinking that's because the much-vaunted 'consultation' element was missing here.

Similarly, she didn't discuss much in the way of maintenance with me, only saying that I should continue to fill in my brows with the powder I use to fill in the sparse areas, and that it should last 5-6 weeks before I needed to come back in.

However, treatment was quick and-importantly-not painful! I was a bit apprehensive about the threading (I've heard stories varying from 'didn't hurt at all' to 'surprisingly painful' from friends, and I'm a total wuss for pain). I found it a bit of a odd sensation- a bit like a serrated bread knife was cutting at the tops of my brows, but it wasn't too bad and I loved the really clean finish it gave to my brows. In fact, I'm a total convert to threading as a process.

After the hair removal, the therapist used a mineral powder to conceal any redness or irritation, and used what I assume must have been the HD Brow palette to fill my brows in and give the complete look straight away. This really gave a great effect and it would mean that if you were getting ready to go out, you'd be ready to go right away, which I liked. It also gave far more of a transformed look.

I know HD Brows also have a big range of products, from powder palettes to growth serums, but I don't know if NKD just don't sell them, because they weren't discussed with me at all. I did hear them say on the phone when I was booking in that one of therapists would be 'gone by then', so I don't know if a more experienced therapist had left, which would explain why the consultation element was slightly lacking- but that's literally my only reservation, the rest of the treatment and the overall look is great.

I was quite wowed by how good the brows looked -  and in fact, I visited a beauty counter afterwards to pick up a new lipstick and they actually commented on how nice my brows looked without me saying anything, which was a boost.

I paid £35 for my initial appointment, which I would say is fair considering the amount of different procedures that went into creating my 'brow look'. NKD then offer 10% off if you return within 6 weeks and a loyalty card that means every 10th treatment is free, which is pretty good.

The salon is really nice and well-designed, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back there (I'm already thinking about eyelash extensions there for the Christmas party season).


Although it would be fairly easy to maintain the look yourself at home once the inital treatment has established a shape, for you, I would definately return to the pros. And if you haven't tried HD Brows, I would urge you to make the small investment and look into it, because it really does change your face for the better!

And finally...be inspired by these amazing celebrity brow transformations!

Cheryl Cole: from council estate princess to the nation's sweetheart

Megan Fox is an arched icon

Liz Hurley: used to be seriously caterpillar browed

Cher Lloyd, looking frankly bat-shit crazy before her brow transformation, and groomed & gorgeous afterwards

I wanted to do a little review of a new (ish) product that has come into my life that I'm totally loving. Its been out for a while, but it hasn't really caused much of splash in the beauty blogging world, and I think that's because of the misleading name that they've given it. But its underrated and I wanted to show it a little love!

It's called Nude Magique BB Cream, by L'Oreal, which I think is the first mistake. It seems that every company is jumping on the BB Cream bandwagon these days, rushing to get a buzzword product on the market without really stopping consider what a BB cream really is, and if their product qualifies.

To my mind, a BB Cream should be a light foundation with lots of skin-loving goodies crammed into it. This product is neither. A better name for it would be what they have chosen to use as a subtitle: the 'Bare Skin Beautifier'. This would be a much more appropriate moniker, because its a lot closer to describing that the product actually does.

The package goes on to explain the product 'mimics the texture and tone of bare perfect skin' and promises '24hr hydration & SPF12'. And that, in a nutshell, is what makes this product so brilliant. It doesn't look anything like a foundation on, but somehow, it just delivers smooth, soft, glowing skin. The cream is made with 'smart pigment capsules', which comes out of the tube as a white cream with small lilac spheres that feel a little gritty. But as you massage it in, it adapts to your own skin tone, providing a seamless match (and it really was seamless on me!). My skintone is a sort of medium beige (NW20) and I realised when I got home that I had picked up the version for 'light skin tone' (there is a medium one too) but it didn't seem to matter at all.

L'Oreal claim that this product delivers:

•  Flawless coverage
• Perfectly even skin texture
• Fresh dewy glow
• 24hr hydration
• Protects with SPF12

While I wouldn't describe my skin after as 'flawless' (lines and dark circles still very visible), it was a massive improvement without looking in any way as if I was wearing a foundation. I also did think it made my skin glow.

What I love about this cream is how smooth and even my skin looks after application. It will never replace a foundation- it's not meant to- but its perfection for those times when you just want to run to the corner shop without putting make-up on, or if you're going to the gym first-thing and you really can't face leaving the house without a little something. It fills that gap in my cosmetic secret weapons and for that reason I love it to pieces. I've also found something else- it makes a cracking primer as well. It leaves a really great base that make-up clings to.

Before applying

After using the cream

In short, this cream really is a 'bare skin beautifier' that is perfect for those times where even a light foundation is too much and you just want to look a bit more rested. Combine it with a wonder concealer and some Nanoblur and you really have a viable alternative to full make-up. A true unsung hero of the beauty counters!

I freaking love Millie Mackintosh, star of the not-at-all reality show, Made In Chelsea. I can't help it. I'm hypnotised by her. The perfect caramel locks (how on earth do I get that hair colour?), the glowing skin, the whip-thin figure and the haughty pout. I cannot get enough. It's bordering on an obsession now, as I'm noticing more and more 'Millie' style purchases creeping into my wardrobe.

Seriously, I've now bought several pastel tweed jackets, a feather gilet and a couple of chiffon blouses with Millie on my mind. And, as per my previous post, I am dangerously close to purchasing a pair of skinny leather trousers, all because the lady Mack likes them...

I caught one episode of MIC a few months ago, having never watched it, and was instantly mesmerised by the gilded lives, immaculate outfits and sleazy relationships, and ended up getting the 40D app on my iPhone so that I could catch up on several series worth (much to the disgust of my husband, who thinks its an absolute pile of nonsensical rot. And he would be right. But oh, its such pretty rot!).

And the star of the show for me is Miss Millie Mack. So, how do I love her style? Let me count the ways...

1. She pulls off a pop of bright.

 If you said to me the term 'orange leather jacket' in connection to something you actually wanted me to wear, I'd usually run away screaming. And yet Millie takes the same item, and makes it look instantly chic with the aid of a cream chiffon vest. And she gets away with it! That takes a certain kind of skill that I can only respect...

2. She doesn't give a damn about seasons

Well, a furry gilet and boots wouldn't be my first choice on a day warm enough to break out the denim shorts, but what do I know? I am but a moth to Millie's fashion flame. She breaks all the rules with this outfit and she does it with complete conviction, proving my theory that attitude is 80% of all style. Even the felt fedora works (somehow) when it should, by rights, look oh-so-wrong. But I adore that gilet so much that I purchased a damn near identical one from Miss Selfridge when I would never normally have given it a second glance. That's the Millie effect in action!

3. She mixes up her style

Millie is a perfect blend of so many different styles- a little bit classic, a little bit raunchy, a little bit boho- and what she achieves is a great mid-ground where she never looks overdone. I love this combination of tweed blazer with leather shorts so much, it's just bang on the money. And of course it showcases her enviable legs...

4. She gives great red carpet

Whether its the BAFTAs or the BRITs or anything in between, Millie knows the power of a show-stopping red-carpet frock. Its ridiculous. She almost looks more at home in a floor-sweeping gown than anything else. And the two themes she's gone for recently...green with envy at her emerald green, thigh-split gown with jewelled belt, and I adored her white greek goddess dress as well. Wowzer!

5. She makes the trends her own

Miss Mack is always straight onto the catwalk styles, but somehow she manages to do them in a way that looks utterly her own, and never too contrived. She tends to favour a skinny-on-the-bottom, floaty-on-the-top silhouette that really works for her, but she always seems to make sure one star piece is the main attraction without detracting from the impact of what she wears. I get the impression (from watching a few YouTube videos of her discussing her wardrobe) that she puts a fair amount of thought into her outfits, and it sure pays off. I haven't ever actually seen her in anything that looks bad. In fact, every outfit I see her in, I want to own.

In short, Millie is a bona fide member of the glossy posse, and has the sort of refined polish to her that only a sweetie heiress could hope to achieve. But she has that rare talent of making anything she wears- even if its Topshop- look designer and utterly delicious. I look forward to seeing more of her outfits in the future!

This is an issue which has been preoccupying me for a few days now, and one I’ve asked all my friends about: are leather trousers ever okay?
I mean, obviously, they’re okay on some people. Namely super-skinny, stick-legged models and people with Badass Rock Attitude. But I fear I have neither the thighs, nor the tude to pull off leather skinnies. And I’ve never particularly wanted to, either. I always thought there was just too much potential for these kind of things to go wrong. There’s such a fine line between looking like Kate Beckinsale and looking like a Hairy Biker, and I’m terrified of getting it wrong.

I’ve seen that episode of Friends too many times (the one with Ross, the ‘leather pants’ and the lotion and powder making a paste) not to feel a tremor of fear in my heart at the prospect of them. And yet...and yet. Last Friday night while out at a dark, I spotted a girl looking amazing in them. She wasn’t rail thin either, and she just looked brilliant. I wanted her whole outfit- strappy heels, skinny leather jeans, a loose floaty vest top, and a blazer. But I’m in agonies over whether I could pull off this particular look, or whether I’d just look like a fat fool.

Having consulted with my best friend and fashion guru, Lady T, I’m none the wiser. She was all for going for it, but I think she’s just trying to be nice. I think the key would absolutely be to get a decent quality pair- the kind that pull you in rather than the kind that bounce the light off your butt cheeks in an unflattering way, and that probably means spending a bit of money, so I want to be sure about it.

As a consequence, I’ve been researching girls rocking the leather to try and get inspired, and here are the results...

From brunette to blonde and back again!

My top tips on achieving blondeness with dark hair: