Tuesday 31 March 2015

The Tuesday Tip: How To Create Fuller Lashes


How To Create Fuller Lashes

To make eyelashes appear fuller and thicker, focus on the base of your lashes when applying mascara. Before coating, push the wand right up against the root of the eyelashes and wriggle it from side-to-side, eventually working your way up to the top of the lashes (this will also prevent clumping!).

One of the best mascaras for creating great volume is the CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara ($6.99 Target). For the British gals who can't get their hands on CoverGirl, I recommend the Rodial Glamolash Mascara XXL (£24.00 rodial.co.uk) as a great alternative.
CoverGirl Fuller Lashes
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Monday 30 March 2015

Weekly Worship: Bourjois & Decléor



Price: £8.99 / $13.49

Stockist:
Boots / feelunique.com

One of my favourite makeup launches this year has to be the new Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua Lipstick. It is a lipstick...but not as you know it. It is a mixture between a lipgloss, lipstick and lip stain...and I freakin' love it. The collection includes eight gorgeous colours that apply oh-so-easily. The non-sticky formula glides across the lips and feels incredibility lightweight, like you're wearing nothing. What's even better is that the lipstick contains nymphaea extract, a natural hydrator that smooths and moisturises the lips as you wear it.

Each colour in the range is highly pigmented and leaves the glossiest finish on the lips. Now, this gorgeous glossy finish doesn't last all day however, when it fades, you are left with a beautifully stained lip that holds its colour for hours.


Price: £32.00 / $49.00 100ml

Stockist:
decleor.co.uk / nuji.com

Although this next product doesn't launch until the 1st April, I have to share my love for it immediately! It is the Decléor Aroma Nutrition Satin Softening Dry Oil, aka The Body Moisturising Master. This oil is just amazing. Being a dry oil, it absorbs into the skin almost immediately. I am not usually a fan of body oils, as I rarely have the patience to wait around for them to soak into my skin, but this one changes everything - it is the perfect product for a fussy gal like me. After each application, my skin is left deeply moisturised and soo soft.

The experience of applying the Aroma Nutrition Dry Oil is a pleasure all on its own. Firstly because it applies easily - gliding onto the skin quickly and evenly - and secondly, because it smells absolutely amazing. Like, seriously amazing. It contains frankincense essential oil and lipid-replenishing camellia oil, which blend together to make the body smell beautiful.

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Saturday 28 March 2015

Win: A Year's Supply Of Dove Haircare


Calling all hair lovers! I am launching my biggest and best competition yet and I'm pretty sure you're going to want in...

I have team up with Dove to offer one lucky gal (or guy!) the chance to win a year's supply of Dove haircare. Yes, you read right. A year's supply of haircare!

Win A Year's Supply Of Dove Haircare

Now, this isn't your usual Dove haircare, this is haircare from the Dove Advanced Hair Series. Made up of three premium ranges to suit individual hair needs, the Advanced Hair Series blends expert technologies to provide enhanced care and repair for your hair. The ranges are made up of Oxygen Moisture, Pure Care Dry Oil and Youthful Vitality.

Oxygen Moisture is a lightweight range that replenishes lost moisture to the hair, whilst adding body at the same time. It is ideal for those with fine and dull hair (I swear by this range!).

Pure Care Dry Oil is the perfect range for those with coarse, dry and lifeless locks. The range took six years of research to create and it was clearly worth it; the Pure Care Dry Oil products make hair silkier, softer and shinier.

Finally we have the Youth Vitality range, which is perfect for those with mature hair. Formulated with a blend of Cysteine Rich-Protein and Elasto-Lipids, each Youth Vitality product helps to replenish the essential nutrients that hair looses with age. As a result, hair is left shinier, healthier and stronger.

Dove Advanced Haircare

The Prize:

A year's supply of Dove Advance haircare. This will include:
  • Six Dove Advanced Shampoos from only one the following ranges - Oxygen Moisture, Pure Care Dry Oil or Youthful Vitality
  • Six Dove Advanced Conditioners from only one the following ranges - Oxygen Moisture, Pure Care Dry Oil or Youthful Vitality
  • Six Dove Advanced treatments from only one the following ranges - Oxygen Moisture, Pure Care Dry Oil or Youthful Vitality

The Rules:
  • The giveaway will run for 15 days
  • The giveaway is open to UK residents only
  • The winner will be contacted within 24 hours of the giveaway closing. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Friday 27 March 2015

Ingredients 101: Cranberry Seed Oil


Decleor Intense Nutrition Comforting Cocoon Cream review

Natural or Synthetic: Natural

Origin: Cranberry seed oil is extracted from the seeds of the superfruit. In most cases, the ingredient is extracted via the cold pressing method

Location: Most of the world's cranberries are cultivated in North America (Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin), as well as parts of British Columbia and Quebec

Beauty Benefits: Cranberry seed oil makes for an amazing skincare ingredient as it penetrates the skin easily, is deeply moisturising and is packed with antioxidants, helping it protect the skin from free radical damage (which accelerates skin ageing).

It is rich in vitamin E and vitamin A and is also high in phytosterols and phospholipids. Cranberry seed oil also contains a unique balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids. These amazing properties enable cranberry seed oil to treat and sooth irritated skin (it is great for those with eczema and psoriasis) and acne. For the hair lovers out there, this wonder ingredient also helps to heal, strengthen and moisturise the hair and scalp.

Warnings: Cranberry seed oil is considered safe to use topically

Found in: Decléor Intense Nutrition Comforting Cocoon Cream 50ml (£44.50 decleor.co.uk / $65.00 decleorusa.com). This thick and ultra nourishing face cream is the perfect partner for those with dry skin. In addition to being packed with cranberry seed oil, the Intense Nutrition Cream contains avocado oil, argan oil and phytosqualane. These hero ingredients work together to deeply moisturise the skin, strengthen its protective barrier and improve the overall quality of the skin.

Lately my skin has been going through a nasty dry spell (thanks winter!) and I've been experiencing flakiness. However, since using the Intense Nutrition Comforting Cocoon Cream for over a week my skin has returned to normal.

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Thursday 26 March 2015

Interview: Rupert Kingston


Rupert Kingston has spent years in the makeup industry, working with amazing beauty brands, high profile celebrities and numerous magazines. He is not only an established makeup artist, but the Creative Director and Co-Founder of the new British beauty brand everyone is talking about. Yes, you guessed it ... Delilah.

Like most girls across the UK, I have fallen in love with Delilah (I'm actually obsessed with the brand's foundation and blusher!). So I was very excited when I got the chance to chat all things beauty with Rupert...

Rupert Kingston interview

What inspired you to work in the beauty industry? And how did your career journey begin?

I came from a painting and drawing background and was really inspired by theatrical makeup. Very early on (for a GCSE art project) I wanted to experiment with body painting, so I took a trip to London to visit Screenface. Walking into that little shop in Notting Hill was just inspiring, I bought some water based body paint and a bruise wheel (makeup for creating bruises); from then on I pursued a career in makeup!

I trained at the London College of Fashion in the early 90s, as it was one of the only makeup courses in Europe at the time. Once qualified I worked in television for a while, however it was only when I joined a creative agency that things really started to take off.

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Wednesday 25 March 2015

Wednesday Wisdom: J.K. Rowling


"Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve"

J.K. Rowling quote

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Tuesday 24 March 2015

The Tuesday Tip: Get The Most From Free Beauty Sachets


Get The Most From Free Beauty Sachets

Free beauty sachets are everywhere. They are stuck in the pages of our favourite magazines, they are thrust at us while we shop and they are gifted to us when we make beauty purchases.

The main problem with beauty sachets is that its difficult to use them more than once. Either the entire sample spills out on first use or the remaining product turns nasty days after opening it.
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Saturday 21 March 2015

News: Cowshed Launch Pretty Parties Into Selfridges


Cowshed Pretty Parties

All pampering sessions are great, however pampering sessions with your girlfriends are even better. I mean, who doesn't love a manicure with a side of gossip? Cowshed clearly understand this, as the British brand has just launched Pretty Parties.

Pretty Parties is a new pampering experience available at the luxurious Selfridges Cowshed Spa. It gives you the opportunity to rent out the entire Cowshed Spa for you and your friends (or co-workers!), so it's perfect way to celebrate everything from baby showers to birthdays.
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Wednesday 18 March 2015

Wednesday Wisdom: Anita Roddick


"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito"

Anita Roddick mosquito quote

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Tuesday 17 March 2015

The Tuesday Tip: Avocado Hair Mask


Make your own avocado hair mask

Conditioner is a bathroom essential, but did you know you can supercharge conditioner by turning it into a nourishing DIY treatment mask? Well you can and doing so is simple...just head to your kitchen!

There are many ingredients found in the kitchen that benefit the hair and avocado is one of them. Lee Stafford, the award winning hairdresser who taught me this tips says, "Avocados contain vitamin E which is fantastic for your hair – making it glossy and shiny".
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Sunday 15 March 2015

Weekly Worship: Fountain & Trevor Sorbie


Fountain The Glow Molecule Review

Price: £38.00 240ml

Stockist:
fountainbeauty.com

It has been said that the future of beauty will focus more on what you put in the body, as opposed to what you put on it. However I am a girl that hates taking supplements, so this is quite a scary thought. Luckily there is brand lurking on the beauty shelves that takes the pain out of popping beauty pills. It goes by the name of Fountain and it creates drinkable supplements.

I have been trialling Fountain's latest product, The Glow Molecule, and I freakin' love it. Taking it is incredibly easy - you just swallow two 10ml teaspoons per day, either directly or mixed with a drink. It has a sweet but nondescript taste and a syrup-like texture.
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Saturday 14 March 2015

Interview: Rachel Kavanagh


Let me introduce you to Rachel Kavanagh, the Managing Director of Glossybox UK & Ireland. For those who don't know, Glossybox is the number one beauty subscription box in the UK... it is also one of my favourites! Since Rachel joined Glossybox, the brand has seen significant growth, as well as some amazing, limited edition partnerships. Her inspiring career success shows that Rachel packs brains, as well as beauty!

Luckily for me, I got the opportunity to grill Rachel on all things business and beauty. We discussed everything from Rachel's career history to her top beauty tips...

Rachel Kavanagh Glossybox interview

What inspired you to work in the beauty industry? And how did your career journey begin?

I had my first beauty business at 18, manufacturing and selling clip in hair extensions. Beauty was then a natural path for me after I left college. I discovered a game-changing tanning product in the US and approached the manufacturer with the intent to produce my own line. I developed and launched a retail and professional tanning brand in 2007, which won ten beauty awards in two years!
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Wednesday 11 March 2015

Wednesday Wisdom: Whoopi Goldberg


"I am the American Dream. I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said, you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country. That’s exactly what I've done. I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities"

Whoopi Goldberg American dream quote

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Tuesday 10 March 2015

The Tuesday Tip: Thicken Eyelashes With Face Powder


A great way to thicken eyelashes is to apply face powder to the lashes before you apply your mascara. Not only does this make lashes uber-thick, it makes the mascara last longer and keeps lashes clump free!

This trick also works with baby powder, however using face powder is easier and more affordable as it's already in your makeup bag! Any power will do - whether it is loose or pressed - although I have found that pressed powder sticks to the lashes a little better.

To make the most of this tip be sure to use a decent mascara, like the Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara (£19.50 smashbox.co.uk / $20.00 ULTA). This mascara provides amazing volume and makes lashes look lusciously thick!

Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara review

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Sunday 8 March 2015

A Mum's Guide to Mother's Day Gifting


If you're anything like me, your mum is one of your best friends. However, as close as you may be to your mum, finding a good Mother's Day gift can sometimes be a little challenging. Mums have different tastes and daughters have various budgets, so there are a thousand different treats you can gift your mum.

To give you a little inspiration, my own mum has put together a Mother's Day gift guide because, well, who knows what to get a mum for Mother's Day better than a mum? So, over to Bridget...

Delilah Colour Intense Lipstick in Tango

The first recommendation is makeup or nail polish, as both are great for daughters on a budget. A single makeup product or nail polish won't cost the earth but it will gets us mums excited. There is nothing like a new lippie or gorgeous nail colour to cheer us up! I love the Colour Intense Lipstick in Tango (£24.00 delilahcosmetics.com) from new British beauty brand Delilah. The Colour Blush in Clementine (£26.00 delilahcosmetics.com) is also gorgeous and would look lovely on just about any skintone.
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Friday 6 March 2015

Win: La Roche-Posay Skincare Essentials


La Roche-Posay is one of the best things to come out of France since macaroons and croissants. The brand is affordable, easily available and results orientated. Also, every product in the La Roche-Posay collection is tested on sensitive skin, so it's rare to find anyone with a bad brand experience.

Whether you've been lucky enough to try La Roche-Posay products or not, I'm giving y'all the chance to win five of the brand's skincare essentials, worth £70.00!

Win La Roche-Posay Skincare

The first product in this bespoke set is the Thermal Spring Water; an uplifting skin treatment that hydrates and refreshes the skin, whilst soothing any irritation. Second up is the Lipikar Baume AP+, a lipid-replenishing balm that soothes extremely dry, itchy, atopy-prone skin. The balm's texture also helps to protect the skin, by preventing allergens from penetrating the cutaneous barrier of the skin.

Next up is the ultra-protecting Anthelios XL, a lightweight facial sunscreen that boasts SPF50!! It is formulated with Mexoryl® SX and XL, alongside Senna Alata extract - which naturally protects skin cells from damage. The fourth product in the set is the Toleriane Ultra, an ultra soothing, non-oily lightweight moisturiser that softens and protects the skin. Last up is the famous Effaclar DUO [+]. This cult product is worshipped for its ability to correct the appearance of blemishes, while unclogging blocked pores, controlling shine and refining skin texture. It is a beauty cabinet must-have.

If you want to win this bespoke skincare set, all you have to do is enter (via Rafflecopter) below!

The Prize:

The Rules:
  • The giveaway will run for 16 days
  • The giveaway is open to UK residents only
  • The winner will be contacted within 24 hours of the giveaway closing. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thursday 5 March 2015

Ingredients 101: Hyaluronic Acid


Natural or Synthetic: Both

The Science: Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide (carbohydrate) that is found in humans and animals. It plays a key role in cushioning and lubricating the body and is abundant in the eyes, joints and heart valves. Babies are born with a high level of hyaluronic acid and that is why their skin is so plump and soft.

The Source: Hyaluronic acid is either extracted from rooster combs or made synthetically through bacterial fermentation.

Beauty Benefits: Now the fact that it has 'acid' in the name may make you think hyaluronic acid is harsh on skin, however this couldn't be further from the truth. Hyaluronic acid actually provides a large number of benefits to the skin. Hyaluronic acid's main benefit is its ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water - making it one of the most powerful natural moisturising ingredients known to science. It is also popular for its ability to deeply penetrate the skin. In addition, when applied topically, hyaluronic acid improves elasticity, decreases wrinkles and helps to repair environmental damage.

Hyaluronic Acid is such a powerful ingredient that many people have hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic acid injections - Restylane being the most popular - are a type of dermal filler administered by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Hyaluronic acid fillers are used to support facial structures and tissues that have lost volume or elasticity due to ageing. They also bring water to the surface of skin to keep it looking supple and fresh.

Warnings: Hyaluronic acid is safe to use topically

Found in: The Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum (£33.00 pestleandmortarcosmetics.com). This serum is a hydrating power house! It glides on the skin easily, absorbs incredibly quickly and, unlike some hyaluronic acid-based products, isn't at all sticky. It plumps and soothes the skin and does a great job at reducing fine lines.

Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum review

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Wednesday 4 March 2015

Wednesday Wisdom: Edith Wharton


"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it"

Edith Wharton spreading light quote

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Tuesday 3 March 2015

The Tuesday Tip: DIY Teeth Whitening Treatment



There are many ways in which you can whiten teeth, however most methods are expensive or can be quite time consuming.

A quick and affordable way to whiten teeth is to brush them with baking soda. Baking soda is very cheap and is likely to be sitting in your kitchen at this very moment. Now the taste is unpleasant, however you'll see great results if you stick it out. Julia Roberts brushes her teeth with the stuff daily...so that's got to tell you something, right?!

Now all you need to do is dip a wet toothbrush into some baking soda and start brushing. Be sure to only brush for two minutes max, as the baking soda can begin to erode tooth enamel. For these reasons it is also important to avoid doing this treatment regularly - stick to a few times a year, for a week at a time.

To keep teeth pearly white on a daily basis, try using a whitening toothpaste that contains a little baking soda, like the Arm & Hammer Advance White (£2.99 Boots / $2.99 drugstore.com).

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