Hi Dolls!

Apologies that I haven't written any 'Little Pieces' for quite a while. There's been a fair amount of upheaval in my life since I last wrote. I wasn't shopping or going out at all, so for once, make-up didn't really feature much in my life, but now I'm back! To celebrate, I got myself a few little treats from the L'Oreal counter.

Damn, L'Oreal have gotten good lately. They really seem to be coming out with some great products at the moment, and I always find myself drawn to their stand to see what's new. Here's what I got...

Glam Shine Stain Splash in 'Lolita' - £7.99

This product doesn't seem to have been advertised very much, so I just sort of stumbled across it while browsing. It's a 2-in-1 gloss and stain formula, with a shiny finish that leaves a long wearing residue of colour in its wake.

It feels really nice and lightweight on the lips and the stain does last a good few hours. I think this will be perfect for my new job. Long-lasting products are always good for the office, where you can't be touching up all the time.

I bought a mid-toned nude pink called 'Lolita' but actually, I'm thinking about getting some of the other, brighter shades. I think they would work better as the colour I bought is very neutral so although the stain does last, it sort of looks very nude on me when it's faded. They had a hot pink that I think would work really well in this formulation.

Rouge Caresse Lipstick in 'Lovely Rose'  - £8.19

I've spoken before about these, which are my favourite high street lipsticks. I love the semi-gloss finish and the highly pigmented colour pay-off, plus they leave your lips feeling soft and moisturised. I also like the clear packaging (as a shallow girl, packaging is important to me!).

I always meant to buy more shades, so this time I went for this light pink. It's a gorgeous, soft pastel on and really wearable. Perfect for doing a 60's look!

False Lash Flutter Mascara  - £10.99

L'Oreal's False Lash Telescopic is my current holy grail mascara, but I've been tempted to stray by their new launch, False Lash Flutter. The silver, art-deco style tube grabbed my attention, and I was intruigued the lure of 'Cocoon Fibres' and the 'double winged butterfly brush'. I wasn't disappointed! I really like this product. It does everything Telescopic does, but I thought it did make my lashes more fanned out looking. L'Oreal are getting seriously good at mascaras. The brush is a little chunkier than usual and took a little getting used to, but it did a fabulous job. The raised edge is good for building up pretty, winged out lashes, while the lower edge works well for bottom lashes. I would definitely repurchase this.

Ta-da! Winged out lashes with one coat of L'Oreal's False Lash Flutter

Nude Magique BB Blush - £7.99

Back in October, I raved about the Nude Magique BB Cream, and how good it was as a primer and skin-beautifier. Well since then, they have expanded the line, with three different formulations of 'CC' (colour correcting) creams for Anti-Fatigue, Anti-Dullness, and Anti-Redness, and they also launched the blush below.

The reason I wanted this was because I've been coveting Smashbox O-Glow for quite a while, and this product is basically a dupe for that. Like the Smashbox product, It's a clear gel that uses the PH balance of your skin to create a custom pink shade for you.

Getting a blush on with Nude Magique BB Blush

I don't always wear blush and I find it hard to track down a shade that looks natural and not too pink on my beige skintone, so I was excited to see if this one solved the problem! It's very natural looking, sheer and blendable and it developed into a reddish, raspberry-pink on me that's quite flattering. This is a great product to combine with a BB cream for a natural, lazy weekend look. I tried applying it to my lips as well, and it looked nice and gave a great silky finish. Impressed!

One last thing...

I needed some new tights and things, so I ended up popping into Primark. I picked up this black liquid liner by the till, and I have to say I am really impressed! The brush is fine and delicate, so its easy to get a nice precise shape with and the formula is dark and lasts well. It's just as good as ones I've paid a hell of a lot more from. And at £1 you certainly can't argue with the price! Their packaging also seems to have improved, and doesn't look too cheap and nasty anymore.

I'm thinking of branching out into the world of YouTube. I really depend on it for product news and tutorials, but I've never dared go on there myself. However, with all this time on my hands before I start my new job, I'm tempted to give it a go. It would be nice to start a new wave of 'real girls' on there, as a lot of the gurus on there at the moment are too famous and have just become paid spokespeople for various brands. What do you think? It's time for real girls to reclaim the 'tube?

I have a new hot lip colour! One of my favourite drugstore brands, Bourjois have brought out a new line of lipsticks called 'Rouge Edition'.

It's supposedly aimed at 'fashionistas' and although I hate that word, I do like the idea of trend-led shades at affordable prices!

There are 18 shades in the range, from nude to brights that they've categorised into three 'collections'; 'Preppy' (nudes), 'Colour Block' (brights) and 'Night Out' (dramatics and darks), but I am absolutely loving this unique shade, called 'Fraise Remix'.

It's photographed quite pink for some reason, but in daylight it's more what I'd call a neon coral red.

The formula is enriched with orchid extract and is really soft and buttery on the lips, with a Demi-matte finish.

The staying power is about average, nothing special but not a disgrace either.

It comes packaged in a black glossy tube with multi coloured lettering and a small clear section showing the colour at the bottom.

I'm really in love with this shade and it hasn't been off my lips since buying this product. I think in the same price range, I actually prefer the formulation of L'Oreal's Rouge Caresse, because its more glossy but still pigmented, however, Bourjois Rouge Edition has some really fun and funky shades.

Priced at £7.99, it won't break the bank to play around, so I suggest you try out the line and see what you think!

This shade would look gorgeous with graphic black liner on a night out. A thumbs up from me!

Hey lovelies

I've taken the plunge and dyed my hair back to dark brown, after a year and a half of lightening it (and even longer before I went back to brunette for my wedding in 2011).

To be honest, I was getting sick of the upkeep. My roots would show really quickly which I hated and it was just a hassle. I had also switched from getting highlights done in salons to lightening my hair myself.

This was a cheaper option but my hair had gone a bit of a strange, beige colour over time. Also, I was using a bleaching kit, followed by a dark blonde dye on top to get the shade correct, and all that processing cannot be good for your locks.

I had started to crave dark, shiny locks some time ago and found myself poring over pictures of celebrities with dark hair like Megan Fox and Kim Kardashian, and lusting over their raven tresses. My problem is I don't know what suits me better. Of course I'm a natural brunette, but in my heart I feel like a blonde! I also look at stars like J.Lo (my hair icon) and Jessica Alba and think they look much better with lighter locks, and as they have similar skin tones to me, it made me wonder whether I was better off blonder.

In fact, if you're a brunette wondering how to go blonde without any mistakes, check out my top tips on going lighter.

But my main catalyst for turning brunette? The make-up artist and blogger Carli Bybel. I love her look so much, and am currently obsessed with her videos and tips. Looking at her gorgeous hair gave me the push to embrace brunette again! View her site, here.

Anyway, after much agonising, I used L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss in shade 515 Chocolate Truffle because I fell in love with the colour! It's the first time I've dyed my hair at home without using a foam formulation dye, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't at all messy, as I had expected. In fact it was all very easy and quick.

I had thought having dark hair suddenly would be a bit of a shock, but actually I'm loving being a brunette again. I feel sexy! And I can wear all my hair extensions, which now match my colour.

Here's a shot of the new colour :)

There are some products that suit a particular time or situation. There are some products that you have an intense love affair with over a few months which eventually fizzles out. And then there are some ‘forever’ products. These hero buys are the ones that you just would not be able to function without. The ones you consistently repurchase, and panic if you run out of unexpectedly. Products that have your unquestionable loyalty, because they’re just that damn good!

The 25 skincare, makeup and hair items below are tried-and-tested products that I genuinely believe make my life better. I should have stock options in some of them, the amount I buy and recommend them to people. If there was a zombie apocalypse, I would fight my way through the undead terrors to get to the shop and stock up if I was running low on any of these. And I can’t think of a higher accolade than that!

1. NSpa Hot Cloth Polish Cleanser

This cleanser is the difference to me between dull, sluggish, congested skin, and skin that is plump and glowing. It manages to leave skin squeaky clean and gently exfoliated, while not stripping it of moisture, due to the combination of pampering ingredients. You plaster the thick, creamy cleanser onto dry skin, and then soak the muslin cloth they include in hot water and use it to gently wash off the cleanser. Packed with skin-loving Vitamin E, Jojoba and Oil of Neroli, the ingredients are really premium but the price is small!It is a bit of a rip-off of Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, admittedly, but at £6.00 for this quality you can't really go wrong. NSpa products are formulated by Nirvana Spa and are sold exclusively through Asda supermarkets.

2. L’Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara

My current holy grail mascara, and although new launches always tempt me to stray- this one holds the top spot in my heart. I’m onto my fifth tube, and my infatuation is showing no signs of waning. I love the thickened, extended look it gives, and its also really buildable, meaning its wearable for day but can also ramp up the va-va-voom easily enough at night. The flexible plastic comb is great at ensuring volume without any ugly clumps. A real does-it-all lash essential. I love that this is also one of the only mascaras currently advertised without using lash extensions or computer graphics!

3. Garnier Intensive 7 Days Soothing Body Lotion-Calming Honey

I have talked before about my love of this body lotion in my ‘Desert Island Products’ post. It’s a good job a lot of places stock this, because I seriously freak out if I run out. As mentioned, I even spent the afternoon of my hen weekend tracking down a Boots in Edinburgh because I’d forgotten to bring some with me, and I couldn’t imagine feeling at my groomed best without it. It makes my skin far silkier than any other body cream I’ve tried by far and it smells sweet and lovely without being overly-scented and competing with my perfume. The effect is really long-lasting as well. Perfection!Again, this product is usually around £1.99 so its great value- I'm one happy customer.

4. NYX The Runway Collection Eyeshadow Palette in ‘Caviar and Bubbles’ 

Otherwise referred to in my house as the ‘Everything palette’. Since acquiring this collection of eye shadows, I’ve used it pretty much every single day, because the shade range is so wearable and versatile and the shadows are long-lasting with a lovely, soft, buttery consistency when you apply them. The palette contains a range of beige shades, a matt white, a shell pink, and a dark brown and a black, which is pretty much everything I need for most eye looks. In fact, the shades are fairly similar to the Naked 2 palette from Urban Decay which I also love- however, for me, the NYX palette just has the edge as its a lot more portable, smaller and slim line, with the bonus of a lovely big clear mirror that, in a pinch, you can use to do your whole make-up.

5. HD Brows

Recently, I had a HD Brows treatment done at a salon and since that moment, its become an essential part of my beauty routine. You can read my in depth review of the treatment here, but essentially, its a seven-step process to reshape the eyebrows. I think it totally transforms the look of your face, frames your eyes beautifully, and just makes you look so pulled-together and groomed. Make-up looks also seem to work better with lovely defined arches.

6. Real Techniques Stippling Brush

This brush was hard to pick out, because really, I worship all the Real Techniques brushes and its hard to pick a favourite when they’re all so good. Over time, I’ve bought more and more of them until I’ve gotten the whole set, because their performance is just so superior. Ultra light-weight, ultra-soft bristles, easy to clean and look after, innovative brush design...the whole range is brilliant, and you can really tell they’ve been designed by someone who loves make-up and knows it inside out (Samantha Chapman, of YouTube fame). But out of all of them, the Stippling Brush is my absolute essential for its magical ability to make even cheap foundations go on flawlessly. I never thought a brush would make more difference to the finish than an actual product, but in this case its true, somehow. The brush can be used with liquid, cream and powder foundations, and also to apply blusher, bronzer or highlighter- there’s literally no limit to its skin-perfecting powers. If you don’t have one, I cannot urge you enough to get hold of one. It won’t change your life, but it will certainly change your skin!

7. Nature Essence Collagen Paper Masks

These paper masks are my secret weapon to rested, radiant ‘movie star’ skin. I buy them by the boxload from Korea (via eBay) and I would never be without them now. They plump up the skin and work to fill in any fine lines. I think they can knock a few years off, easily! You cut open the sachet to reveal a paper oval coated in a cool, slimy gel with slits cut in for your nose, eyes and mouth. Place over your face and gently press into position, then relax for half an hour or so (preferably in a steamy scented bath). You will look like a burns victim wearing it- so whatever you do, don’t answer the door wearing one- but the effects are so worth it! I generally use one a week as a skin treat on a Sunday night, or religiously before going out to ensure my skin is in tip top condition.

8. Rodial BB Venom Eyes

A magic bullet for tired, saggy, baggy eyes that have had enough. This concealer is pricey, but the effects are unarguably good. Rammed full of anti-aging peptides and tightening complexes that work long-term to tighten, lighten and brighten the under eye area as well as provide a short-term cover up. You can read my full, rapturous review here but suffice to say, if you have serious under eye issues and regular concealers just aren’t doing enough for you, this is what you’re waiting for.

9. Mac Fluidline

I am addicted to my ‘cats eye’ winged eyeliner, its a product that I wear with pretty much every make-up look, whether natural or extreme. It counteracts my downward-tilting eye shape and just gives me a little boost that I wouldn’t be without. I don’t feel pretty without it, and I’ve often said in response to the ‘natural vs make-up debate’ that “the real me wears eyeliner!’ And my eyeliner of choice is always Fluidline. It glides on like a dream- I had thought the Maybelline one was pretty good, but this is a next level! That means that you can achieve some lovely shapes and nice precise lines, really getting whatever look you want. Once set, it stays put for a full day.

10. Vaseline Lip Therapy with Rose and Almond Oil

A budget essential that is never far to be found from my handbag, desk drawer, bedside table or car glove box. A little miracle-working multi-tasker (the best kind of product in my book), this is my ultimate indispensible. I use it for; softening my lips, curing my cracked heels, treating my cuticles, highlighting my cheekbones, making my eyelashes grow faster, removing stubborn eye make-up, and as a quick-fix lipgloss, so it really is a hero product for me. That might explain why I spent £11.40 on tins of the stuff the other day! I prefer the rosy pink tinted version as it also adds a bit of soft colour.

11. John Frieda Frizz Ease Thermal Protect Serum

They’re not to everyone’s liking, but I’ve always really rated the John Frieda range. I’ve been using their stuff ever since I first started using proper hair care products. At about the age of 13, I had wild, unruly, very frizzy hair (weirdly, its not at all like that these days) and this was before GHDs were invented (how my shy, ugly schooldays self would have benefitted beyond measure from ceramic straighteners!). Literally the only thing that sorted my hair out then was Frizz-Ease. I remember when it was first introduced, my mum bought me some and I thought it was a miracle in a bottle. I was just so grateful that there was something out there that would help control my awful hair! Since then, I’ve pretty much always purchased it, even though my hair has changed and calmed down a lot from those days. And now I love the Thermal Protect version (in the orange tube) that also safeguards my hair from heat damage.

12. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro 5-in-1 Primer

This might be a budget product, but its actually the best primer I’ve tried and I also think it beats hands down a lot of more expensive ones. It’s become a staple that I rely on to ensure my make-up goes the distance, and although I don’t wear it every day, I wouldn’t dream of going on a night out without priming my skin first with this little wonder. Its a clear balm that promises to: smoothe, resurface, brighten, mattify and protect skin, and all in all it just leaves a great base for makeup to stick to. Considering the really accessible price point, I certainly wouldn’t be without this one.

13. Nanoblur

With this and with my Tangle Teezer, I’m not just a fan. I’m positively evangelical about them. I might as well have shares in the company because I’m constantly preaching about the wonders of them and encouraging everyone I know to try them for themselves, since I honestly don’t think you could be disappointed with the results. Nanoblur is not a long-term fix for wrinkles, pores and fine lines, it just temporarily erases the look of them. I’m not even sure quite how it works, but work it certainly does and no big meeting or night out is complete without a smearing of it for me now!

14. Tangle Teezer

No other hairbrush will ever be in my hands as long as Tangle Teezers exist. The brush first appeared on the investment pitch programme ‘Dragon’s Den’ here in the UK, but it wasn’t until a close friend of mine got one and let me try it out that I realised just how good they are. Despite looking rather like something you’d groom your dog with, the Tangle Teezer is a brush that will change your hair for the better. Its special, multi-level teeth are designed not to pull at the hair, and so cause less hair loss than a standard brush. It also does something that makes your hair incredibly shiny and smooth- you can feel the difference after brushing. It’s gentle enough to use on wet hair as well, and works very well to backcomb the hair without the usual amounts of damage that entails. When I lost my first one, I charged straight out and got another. I have tried other hair brushes in between, but they just aren’t as good. The smaller, handbag model also comes with a detachable bristle guard so they don’t get damaged. If you haven’t tried one, they’re well worth the small investment.

15. Active Glamour False Lashes

I’m addicted to falsies. I have to wear them whenever I go out at night. They make a little extra impact to your look that’s become something I don’t feel fully ‘done’ without. However, I really hate the Katie Price ‘Spider lash’ look, where they’re obviously false. I want my lashes to look improbable, not impossible. Like the best mascara ad ever (even though they all use Photoshop, of course). My favourite compliment is when friends have leaned into me and asked ‘Have you got false lashes on?’. Its that element of doubt that I enjoy, and that tells me I haven’t overdone it. Consequently, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find the right lashes that give enough impact but don’t look obviously fake. My clear winners are Active Glamour, specifically the ‘Attraction’ lashes, although the whole range is pretty good. The best part is they can be found very cheaply (something along the lines of £6.00 for 10 pairs, as opposed to £6.00 for one pair of Eyelure or Ardell etc). Even the glue isn’t terrible, and a lot of their lashes have an ‘outer edge’ heavy look that helps to get that cat’s eye look I crave so much. A brilliant and bargainous buy my dresser drawers are fully stocked with.

16. Benefit High Brow

Like so many of my ‘can’t live without’ products, this pencil is a little multi-tasking wonder. I do love products that work hard for my money! At first glance, it’s a creamy, pinky peach jumbo pencil.  But it’s what it does in terms of face illusion that I really appreciate. If you’re looking to seriously contour and shape your face, this and a matte bronzer are your best friends. You can: pop a line under your brows to highlight the brow bone, visually ‘lift’ the brows and create a defined looking arch, you can use in the inner corners of your eyes to make them look bigger, or in the waterline to hide redness and look more wide awake, you can line the top cupid’s bow of your lips for a fuller-looking pout, or you can blend a stripe of the pencil under your foundation onto cheekbones to make them look razor-sharp. It’s a little secret weapon!

17. L’Occitane Fleur Cherie Hand Cream

Hand cream is a winter essential to keep hands hydrated in the battle against freezing temperatures, air conditioning and harsh soaps in the work toilets. If I don’t regularly put hand cream on, I find my hands can get really sore. This one is not only long-lasting in its effects, but I adore the fragrance. In fact, in a fix I have been known to apply a dab to my neck, elbows and wrists to scent them. It comes in the prettiest little metal tube with art-deco lettering and it cheers up the contents of my handbag.

18. Almay Bare-It-All Legs

This is an amazing product that acts like tights in a can. Other brands also produce a version of this, such as ModelCo (but that’s expensive) and Rimmel Sunshimmer (but that’s shimmery, which I don’t always like). The Almay version just gives a lovely, airbrushed effect when sprayed on that’s also very natural. It’s one of those very subtle little things you can do that lifts your look and gives you that unreal, perfect ‘Hollywood star’ look, without anyone being able to pinpoint what you’ve done. And I love little tricks like that! Once set, it’s non-transferable, so you don’t have to worry about getting tidemarks on your clothes. But a little soap easily removes it in the shower.

19. Mac Matte Bronzer

A real make-up bag staple, this bronzer is the perfect shade for me to do some subtle contouring, or I can layer it up for a deeper, tanned effect. I love the fact it’s matte as this makes it great for adding shape. If I want some shimmer, I just use a shimmery highlighter on top. This long-lasting product is a real must-buy for me. It’s simplicity makes it  perfect.

20. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

My eyelashes are absolutely poker-straight, so good eyelash curlers are a massive part of my flutter-centric beauty routine. Usually, the curl drops out fairly quickly, but with Shu Uemura, widely acknowledged as the best eyelash curler around by beauty pros, this doesn’t happen. For that reason alone I love them! They aren’t a glamourous or especially exciting product, but they are a real essential for wide-awake eyes.

21. L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil

I have raved about this stuff before, but it’s so great it has to earn a place on this list. Of all the deep conditioners and moisture-boosting hair products I’ve tried (and there have been many...), this is the greatest. My hair is colour treated with peroxide and subjected to the usual rounds of straightening, curling and blow-drying, which means it can sometimes more closely resemble straw than the flowing, silken locks of my dreams. This miracle oil not only makes it softer, but also shiny (unheard of since bleaching it). Plus, it has a wonderful, gentle fragrance that perfumes your tresses without being overpowering. It’s also totally non-greasy and absorbs weightlessly in. I see a real transformation in my hair when using a few pumps of this product, and would highly recommend it to anyone battling with their hair.

22. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

No matter how many other perfumes I try, this is my constant favourite and the one I keep coming back to. I have worn it for every holiday, party and happy occasion in my life, so it has indelible links in my memory. I even wore it on my wedding day. But I won’t wear it every day, because I don’t want to associate it with work! I love the fact the fragrance is light but still impactful, and the unique ‘chypre’ top notes remind me of champagne and all good things. I think because I don’t wear it all the time, I won’t get sick of it. I first wore this as a teenager, when my Dad gave me a bottle at Christmas (he said he had described my personality to the sales assistant, and she’d recommended it!). I instantly loved it and have worn it ever since.

23. Collagen Crystal Eye Patches

Another little secret from Korea that you can order via the wonder of the world wide web. Similar to the face mask, these are little silicone patches infused with collagen that you can stick under your eyes for a youth boost. They blitz puffiness, bags, dark circles and fine lines a treat. If I’m looking old and haggard, these and the Rodial concealer I mentioned above are my saviours.

24. Glo Home Teeth Whitening System

There’s nothing quite as appealing as a bright, fresh smile. This home whitening kit is really effective and easy to  use, and it’s much less expensive than other kits I’ve seen. You get plastic moulds, which you insert into boiling water to soften them and then bite into to create a mould that fits your own teeth. There are little syringes of hydrogen peroxide- I have found the easiest thing is to use a cotton bud to apply the solution directly to your teeth, and then swipe some inside the moulds as well. Finally, there’s a small battery-powered blue light that you stick into your mouth once you have the moulds on. Again, this looks quite alarming, so I’d advise against doing it when you’re expecting to see other people! The blue light enhances the effect of the whitening gel. The results are absolutely brilliant and give your smile a real lift!

25. Bourjois 2-in-1 Lash Tweezers

This is a recent addition to the list, but sometimes you come across something so great that you know it will be a favourite instantly, you have to include it. These just make applying falsies ridiculously easy (and I speak as a very clumsy person here!). Use the fanned out end to grab lashes and position them securely onto the lashline, and the other end to press the corners down and fix them in place. Like most brilliant things, they are ridiculously simple, but they make life so easy. No more wonky, badly applied and half-peeling off lashes!

Wearing false lashes for every day. It's a little bit of a contentious topic. If you say it, people tend to think you're either extremely high-maintenance, or drastically insecure (or possibly both..). And indeed, there is something about the degree of faff required to do it that would put most sane people off. Until you have to, that is...

I will freely admit I'm a bit obsessed with eyelashes. Although they don't seem majorly noticeable, having a bit of a flutter is something that makes me feel more confident and, well, prettier. A nation seems to agree with me, judging from the rocketing sales of false lashes, growth serums, and volumising mascaras. When I was younger, fake lashes were the preserve of make-up artists, whereas today you can wander into any drugstore and be confronted with a dazzling array of fluttering falsies.

Like a lot of girls, I've become a dab hand at applying strip lashes to boost my flutter power on a night out, but until recently, I've never worn them during the day.

However, this all changed after I had individual permanent eyelash extensions applied during the Christmas party season. My best friend, Lady T, continually has them and is always singing their praises, so I assumed I'd love them as well. In fact, the only reason I hadn't gotten them done before was the high initial cost (good extensions are upwards of £70 for a full set, and then £30 every three to four weeks to maintain and infill them). However, I managed to get a deal on Wowcher to have a full set for just £19 at a place near where I work.

I did not get on with them at all. When I first had them done, it was almost as if I had an allergic reaction to the glue, as my eyes were streaming and stinging for a good couple of hours after they were applied, which was weird. And then, although I liked the look of them, I really struggled with the feel. They felt heavy and scratchy, like they were pulling on my real lashes. My eyes were even more puffy than usual, sore and irritated in the mornings. Plus, you have to be so careful with how you remove your makeup and not getting them wet, which is near-impossible in the shower. They also got foundation or some other makeup caked in them which I couldn't remove!

I did intend to keep up the maintenance of them, but being away over the Christmas holidays and then I wasn't able to go either on my first week back at work- before I knew it, lots had shed and they looked patchy and awful. Then I just wanted them off. But even though I had a little tube of removal formula, most of them wouldn't budge. I tried soaking cotton pads in baby oil but it was only half- successful. It took ages for them all to finally shift, and it had ruined my real lashes, which were left short, sparse and patchy. In short, I won't be having extensions again!

Anyhow, the state of my remaining lashes is pitiful. I was so embarrassed, I actually tried wearing strip lashes to work, just to cover up the bald patches in my own lashes.

I thought it would be a major hassle each morning to put on falsies, plus I didn't want my colleagues to notice I was wearing any, either. However, it turned out that with the right tips and tricks, wearing lashes can be just as quick and easy as piling on mascara every day! So I wanted to share the great things I've found that make falsies every day an effortless reality...

1. Choose the right type of lash

Thick, dense or fancy falsies can look amazing on a night out. But during the day, you don't want to look overdone. So choosing the right lashes for the job is the most important part of the process. Lashes with a big, thick band that needs to be disguised with heavy eyeliner are not a good choice. I discovered Eyelure do a range called 'Ultra Naturals', that, you guessed it, are designed to look like your own lashes- only better. Why are they so natural?

• The strands on them are ultra-fine to blend perfectly with your real lashes.
• The lashes are a mix of brown and black fibres, to tone with your own
• The band is very thin and clear- virtually undetectable

This makes them the perfect choice for wearing during the day without announcing to the world that you're faux! They are also reusable, so if you care for them properly you can get a lot of uses from them. They're advertised on the packaging as an 'alternative to mascara'

2. Trim to fit your peepers

It's a really important step, but one a lot of my friends who complain that they find it hard to apply fake lashes never seem to do! Eyes come in all different shapes and sizes, whereas lashes are standard, so before putting any glue anywhere, hold the lashes up to your eye and check the length. If they are too long (and they usually are, even though these Eyelure Ultra Naturals fit me perfectly), trim a little section of the inside edge with nail scissors. Taking off from the inside edge looks far better than trimming off the outer edge, which generally ruins the gradient of the lash. Make sure you match up both lashes!

3. Choose the right glue

I think most people now know that, generally speaking, the little bottle of glue that comes with your lashes, is not great quality and only really good for touch-ups on the go. And if you're going to be wearing falsies on the regular, then you need a good quality, waterproof glue that won't let you down. I've got nothing but praise for the 'quick beauty' brand Girls With Attitude that does false lashes and nails and nail wraps. But more importantly, you're going to need one that comes with an application brush, like their Hypoallergenic Eyelash Glue. Either that, or source a very fine eyeliner brush that you don't mind messing up, because...

3. Apply the glue to your lashline, not to your falsies!

Admittedly, this is not what we're usually told when it comes to applying our lashes, but I have to tell you its the single thing that makes the most difference to getting a good fit and getting them on quickly, and if you're really using your falsies as a mascara alternative, a quick application means they are practical. I can honestly say that, even though its a simple concept, I had never considered using glue on my lashline rather than on the band of the lashes.But I was idly browsing YouTube for false lash application tips (I like to think I'm fairly good at it, but you can always learn new things) and found a video with this tip.And now I've discovered it, I'll never go back to doing it the other way. It's a small change, but its sooo much better because:

• The lash goes on exactly where you place it, rather than sliding about wet and smearing glue over your lid
• If you reuse your lashes as I do, there is less of the glue build-up on the lash band over time, which is hard to clean and is usually the main reason I end up throwing a pair away

4. Use an application tool

With the rise in popularity of false lashes recently, more and more tools have started to appear to help us to put them on swiftly and accurately. I've had a couple of different applicators now, but hands down the best I've tried are the Bourjois 2-in-1 Lash Applicators, which they launched alongside their own line of fake lashes. If you find putting on lashes is difficult, this will perhaps be the best investment you could make. You use the shallow fan 'tweezer' end to grip the lashes and position them, and the end that looks like a cuticle pusher to press down the corners and make sure they adhere nice and tightly. Using these babies to apply my lashes literally made it a two second job, meaning you could do it every day with no fuss. These are much better than the other lash applicators I've bought, and well worth the £4.99 price tag if you plan on wearing lashes a lot.

5. Rinse and repeat...

You really need to clean and care for the lashes properly if you expect to get multiple uses out of a pair. At the end of the day, take a cotton pad and soak in some eye make-up remover and a drop of two of Baby Oil (this will gently dissolve any glue left on the lash band). Peel off your lashes carefully, and place them onto half of the pad before folding it over. Leave to soak while you take off your other make-up. Gently press down on the pad to pick up any residue, but don't rub too much or you might end up damaging the lashes. Keep your lashes stored inside a proper travel eyelash container when not in use to keep the shape. Lots of cute travel lash cases are easily available on eBay, like this...
If you take the small amount of time to look after your lashes properly, you'll get many uses from one pair, which means wearing them regularly and during the day needn't cost a fortune!


And voila, the finished, natural daytime look...

So, what do you think? Would you wear falsies during the day? Have you got any top application tips?

Til next time... xxx

Just recently, I’ve started to get into Avon cosmetics, and I got my delivery the other day from them so I thought I’d do a quick haul and review post on the items I purchased.

I haven’t used Avon for many a year. When I was very little, I remember loving to play with my mum’s sample box (she had been an Avon lady several years before I born). It had all these miniature bottles of perfume and teeny-tiny sample lipsticks, which I was fascinated with. I used to play beauty counters with it (an interest that clearly hasn’t gone away with age!). Mum still used Avon products and she used to get the odd thing for me, too. I remember loving their ‘Planet Spa’ range as a teenage- which they still do!

After I left home I didn’t know anyone who did Avon, and so I haven’t used anything from them in many a year. Truth be told, I started to think of them as a ‘old’ brand that didn’t have much to offer. But they seem to have had a bit of a revamp and started to creep back into my consciousness, First, they got Reese Witherspoon on board as a ‘face’, and their mascara and lipstick ads were on the TV.

Then, I began hearing really good things about their Anew Clinical Pro Line Corrector serum, which made quite a splash in the beauty media. I was quite desperate to try this, so when I found an ‘Avon lady’ at my new workplace, I started placing orders again.

The serum is now one of my absolute faves. At £20 a bottle, its a lot more cost-effective and just as good as the Clinique Laser Focus Repairwear serum I was using, and I think it’s given me better results. It comes in a neat little mirrored vacuum pump applicator that looks good on the dressing table as well, so I’m pretty much a convert.

I didn’t need any more serum this time, but here’s what I purchased and my thoughts:

•    Anew Clinical Eye Lift Pro - £9.99

This cream comes in a split pot, with an amber-coloured get to use on lids and browbones, and a lightweight cream to go below the eyes. Both formulas are easily absorbable and don’t leave any oily residue, so you can apply make-up afterwards with no problems, which is good. I’ve been using the cream day and night. Its primary aim is to target and erase lines, but I don’t have any around my eyes (yet), so I’m just using it to try and combat my dark circles and puffy eyes. It seems good at taking down the morning puffiness somewhat. My circles aren’t too bad at the moment and I’m not sure if that’s the effect of the cream or not, as they do vary anyway. Nothing I have tried so far (even creams that specifically promise to tackle dark circles) has really shifted them, but based on a couple of weeks use, this is doing as well as anything!

•    Herve Leger Purse Spray Trio - £9.99 (currently going for £18.99 on Amazon, so looks like I got a good deal!)

This was in the end of year sale, and I couldn’t resist it, although I normally wouldn’t buy perfume without smelling it first. You get a silver metal atomiser (not amazing quality but it’ll do) and three different slim vials of perfume that slot in- the scents are ‘Femme’, ‘Ete’ and ‘Intruigue’. Ete is nice and fresh, Femme is my favourite, and a gentle floral, and Intrigue is more of a spicy, honeyed wooded scent. All are perfectly nice, especially since I mainly bought this for keeping in my desk drawer or handbag and freshening up on the week. I love handy products like these! I think Avon perfumes have improved a lot since smelling my mum’s sample book.

•    Shine Attract Lipstick in ‘Happy Pink P04’ £5.00

I didn’t really need a new lippy, but I was intrigued to try this one. It has a core of colour surrounded by a clear gel, resulting in a sheer semi-gloss wash of colour for the lips. Plus points: the formula is nice and moisturising, the colour I chose is pretty. I also like the packaging with the slim silver tube and clear top- it’s a lot classier than their usual lipstick packaging. However, this is just too sheer for my liking. It would work a lot better if they made the centre a ‘stain’ rather than a lipstick formula. I doubt I would repurchase this, just because I’d barely finished applying all my make-up before it had sunk to an invisible trace! Not a bad formula, but definitely needs more staying power! Good for a ‘natural’ look.

•    MagiX Face Perfector £7.00

I had been quite keen to try this after hearing good buzz, and I’m not disappointed, although I think I might have misunderstood the product. I believed it was a primer- one of the first ‘drugstore’ ones you could get before everyone started bringing them out last year- but I now think it’s actually meant to be more of a ‘Nanoblur’ style product, which delivers an improved, soft-focus skin finish. Or perhaps you can use it for both, I’m not sure? It made my skin extremely matte and smooth, presumably coating it with silicone, so make-up just glided on. I wouldn’t wear it without anything else, but I do think it works very well as a ‘companion’ to your foundation, and it supplies SPF 20, which is an added bonus. I think I will get a lot of mileage out of this product in the summer months when my skin is a lot oilier and foundation doesn’t go on well.

•    Quick Dry Nail Spray £3.00

For me, this product was the absolute star buy of my order, and something I will certainly be repurchasing. I always use a quick dry spray on my nails because I’m chronically impatient at waiting for them to dry and usually end up smudging them. Also, I used to have a very bad habit of painting my nails in bed (I know, I know..) which of course meant I’d usually end up getting polish all over the sheets! I have been using a drying spray from Pretty Perfect that comes in a large aerosol can, but it absolutely stinks (and you can smell it for days afterwards on your hands) and it’s freezing cold, which is less than pleasant in winter. This Avon spray has changed all that. It’s a little pump-action bottle, and the smell is only a faint, innocuous melon smell that fades quickly. It also dried my polish a LOT quicker, and my nails were touch-try in about 5 seconds flat, which impressed me no end. The spray is kind of oily (good for your cuticles?) but sunk in quickly. I’m very impressed with this, it’s my new best friend as a girl who’s impatient but loves nail polish! I don’t think I will be without this now as its so far superior to the spray I had been using. Definitely recommend this product!

So there we go, Avon has recaptured my interest and I’m sure I’ll be looking at more of their products in future. If you don’t know an ‘Avon lady’, you can order online at avonshop.com.