Update

I couldn't really think of a title for this post that completely encapsulated what I wanted to talk about so 'Update' seemed a good a word as any in the circumstances.

First off...I JUST found out today that both Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge from The Hills (I don't need to tell you guys that though!) have new reality shows planned which start filming early next year.  Why didn't I know about this sooner???  Just when I thought I was free from the grips of my uncontrollable compulsion to watch The Hills, they go and do this to me! It's bad enough that whenever the re-runs of the show are on MTV, I find myself watching episodes again even though I know what happens! All the 'drama' just draws me in!

Apparently Lauren's show will be on MTV and will follow her as she designs a line of evening wear, a follow up to her two other clothing lines, Lauren Conrad Collection and LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's.  Audrina's reality show will be on VH1 and will follow her as she lives and works in Hollywood, featuring her family and close friends.

So will you be watching both shows or choosing between the girls? Or do you think it's a step too far after The Hills?

On a completely different note, I just wanted to share a big disappointment I had recently following a purchase of what I THOUGHT was my hair product saviour.  Ok, so I have raved about the Kerastase Reflection Chroma Riche hair mask before because it is hands down, the best intensive conditioner I have ever used.  It's the holy grail of hair products for me and when I use it, any other product used to style my hair afterwards is so much more effective.  I ran out recently and decided to log onto Lookfantastic.com to get myself another hit of the good stuff.  So I toddled off and ordered the mask....

Little did I know that this wasn't the right mask at all.  I had ordered the Kerastase Reflection Chroma Reflect Treatment Mask which has a medium pink coloured tub as shown in the pic above.  But what I meant to order was the Chroma Riche Treatment Mask in the dark pink tub which is shown in the pic below...

Who would have thought that there would be such a difference between these two products? Well I can categorically say that the Chroma Reflect Mask is NOWHERE near as good as the Chroma Riche Mask.  I was so annoyed when I used it and realised it wasn't what I wanted.  It just feels like a normal cheap conditioner and doesn't make my hair feel especially good.  This stuff is expensive so I was not a happy bunny when I realised I had wasted £21.50 on it.  You would have thought that the masks would have a similar effect on the hair but no.  Chroma Riche Treatment Mask rules supreme and now I will have to go and order that to console myself!

So if you are thinking of treating yourself to a Kerastase Treatment Mask, just make sure you are choosing the right one!

Topshop Highlighter & Current Fave Lip Combo

This is the first couple of products I have tried from the Top Shop makeup range and I have to say that I am impressed with them.  I sometimes get a bit dubious when it comes to clothing stores launching their own makeup range because at times the products can be low quality and plain disappointing.  It does make you think, why not just stick to what you are good at?

However, the product that really stood out for me, being a highlighter junkie and all, was the Highlighter in Sun Beam.  Even just the fact that this highlighter only costs £8 is pretty incredible to me because the quality of it is akin to MAC MSF's or Nars Albatross.  In fact, this shade is like an exaggerated version of Nars Albatross...a pale, glowing gold colour.  The powder itself is really smooth, buttery and fantastically pigmented.  You only need to touch your brush into the pan to get enough product so no need for swirling and making a mess.  It gives SUCH a pretty sheen to the tops of the cheekbones but you can also use it on your brow bone if you like that look, your cupid's bow to accentuate your pout or on your decolletage to make your skin glow.  It would also be great to use down the front of your legs to create a slimming effect. 

You get alot of product for your money and given the intense pigmentation of the powder, you really can go wild with it.  I like the simple packaging with the cute little stars on the lid and it doesn't bother me that there isn't a mirror in the lid because I rarely take highlighter around with me to re-apply.  This is definitely a great addition to my existing highlighter collection and if you're thinking of getting Nars Albatross, skip it and get this instead.  It's cheaper, more effective and you get alot more product for your money.

My fave lip combo for this week has to be Mac Shygirl lipstick (Cremesheen, creamy neutral coral beige) with the Top Shop Glaze in Frostbite (a very sheer gloss with teeny gold reflects).  I love Shygirl because it's an easy way to introduce a subtle creamy coral shade into your look and it looks amazing against golden skin with a bronze eye! It's a bit brighter in real life than it appears in the pic. The formula isn't perfect but I can forgive that because I love the colour.  You definitely need to prime your lips with a good lip balm first.  The up side to the drier formula is that it stays put for a long time.  Every cloud...

The Top Shop Glaze is exactly what it says on the tube...a glaze.  Don't expect a highly pigmented gloss because that's not what it is.  It's basically a lip gloss that will add gold reflects to any lipstick and make your lips look VERY plump.  The sheen it gives off really volumises your lips as it catches the light.  I love the way it transforms my usual lipsticks into something a bit more special.  It's definitely a gloss I would stick to wearing at night time due to it's shiny, shimmery look.  The shimmer in this gloss are by no means chunky or gritty and it smells alot like Mac glosses.  I think the packaging is really pretty with the cute polka dots on the applicator.

What have you tried from the Top Shop makeup range? Is there anything you have your eye on? 

On another matter...how amazing was Duffy's live acoustic performance of her new song on The One Show??? Her voice sounds amazing and I've always liked her retro look! How cute are her dimples!?

Mac Cham-Pale Collection

After reading Amy's post over at Makeup & Beauty, I got excited about a Mac collection for the first time in a while.  The last time was probably the Warm & Cosy collection.  Please go and read Amy's post as it features the full collection in more detail.  This is just a post to share what I like out of the collection and find out what you guys like the look of.  This is definitely a collection for those who like subtle colours and neutrals.  I am definitely someone who wears neutrals almost every day because I find them to be the most flattering in the harsh light of day! 

Alot of the collection features repromotions and permanent shades so I would personally skip them but there were some products that I would definitely like to take a closer look at...

Special Reserve Highlight Powder in Rose Ole (soft pink with gold shimmer):

Lipgelees in Bubble Lounge (sparkly pink peach), Luxure (off-white with pink pearl), Sin-tillation (sparkly pale icy pink):  

Paint Pot in Dangerous Cuvee (frosted cool grey):

Nail Lacquer in Soiree Sparkly (light bronze gold frost) & Very Important Platinum Mid-tone platinum frost/metallic):

What appeals to you in this collection? If anything?

Makeup Crush: Christina Aguilera

There was a time when I NEVER thought I would look to Christina Aguilera for makeup inspiration...yes I think we all remember the Dirrrty and leather chap days:

It was all patchy, orange tan and overdone eyes in those years but over time she mended her makeup ways and found her style more in retro, classic looks that mimicked the likes of Marilyn Monroe.

I am absolutely love, love, LOVING this photoshoot from the December 2010 issue of InStyle...from the white blonde braid to the gorgeous brown, exaggerated cat eyes...

Although I would never go platinum, I think she works the look well and the tone of her skin looks great too.  There's something a little bit Bardot about this look but with an avant garde twist to the hair...

It's a sexy look but not so 'in-your-face' as her early years...proof that less really is more!  Christina is a really attractive girl and I prefer it when her features are accentuated by makeup rather than covered up with it.

Wanna see the photoshoot in action? Here's a cool little 'behind-the-scenes' vid....

Also, I just wanted to share with you that I am officially OBSESSED with Strictly Come Dancing this year.  I didn't really watch it much last year but I'm loving Kara Tointon and Scott Maslen as well.  I think I just have this girly desire to wear one of those sparkly dresses, have all the glam makeup and hair and be twirled around the dancefloor by a handsome guy!  I am in awe of how amazing Kara was on Saturday night, she really does lok like a professional and she seems like such a nice girl too...

On yet another note, don't worry, I'm almost finished this post...I love that song, 'Cry Me A River'...so dramatic and passionate!  I had it playing on my iPod yesterday when I was cleaning the house and I found myself singing along and doing some pretty snazzy moves! Geek? Yes I am, thank you very much :)

Please tell me I'm not the only one who is stuck to the couch every Saturday night to watch the glitter, glam and cheese that is Strictly?

ASOS Offering Free Worldwide Shipping!!!

I just got an email from the ASOS team today and wanted to share it with all you guys...

I won't faff around so here's what the email said:

"ASOS today announces its global launch of free shipping to all customers worldwide throughout the Christmas shopping season and Thanksgiving (Thursday, 25th November), until 14th December.  In a major move on shipping policy, the UK’s largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer extends its free standard delivery beyond the UK and US to include its global customer base.  ASOS launched a dedicated US site in September 2010, and French and German sites last month, as well as continuing to ship to 195 countries worldwide from its UK site".

We are used to ASOS giving us free shipping in the UK but I think that is amazing for people in other countries to have the same service! There aren't many other sites that do that! I love ASOS because there's such a great range of clothing, accessories and beauty products.  Alot of it is really affordable but there's luxury brands there for anyone who fancies treating themselves. 

So we can all go mad on the site getting Christmas presents...or just prezzies for ourselves!

Winter Skin Savers!

I don’t know about you guys but come winter time, my skin quickly starts to show signs of dryness, especially on my hands, elbows and knees. We just got our first bit of snow today in Aberdeen and we’re set to get heavy snow tomorrow and Friday…the joys!
Since it’s the time of year for lots of parties and events, everyone wants to have soft, silky and glowing skin…including moi! I am more prone to dry skin due to having mild Psoriasis so I really have to keep on top of it. I always find that it can be really time consuming trying to exfoliate more regularly and applying moisturiser after every shower. Maybe I’m a bit lazy but I welcome any products that can make things easier for me.

Recently I have been using Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub twice a week as an intense shot of moisture for my body. It’s made with white and brown sugars to exfoliate and also sea salt to brighten skin tone. It contains Olive Oil to deeply moisturise and condition your skin and smells absolutely divine…a really nice blend of Ginger and Lemon. It smells really invigorating to me and the scent lingers after using it. My bathroom smells lovely for hours afterwards!

You only need a really small amount of the scrub for your whole body. I like to dampen my body with warm water first, then step away from the water and apply the scrub to my body. I’ve found that if you mix the scrub with too much water then the sugars and salt dissolve too quickly to exfoliate your skin properly. When you rinse the scrub off, you will notice the thin layer of oil on your skin because the water collects in small pools. After my shower, I just pat my body dry to avoid rubbing off too much of the oils. Straight away, you will notice how soft and supple your skin feels.

It’s such an indulgent product that I find I only have to use it a couple of times a week to keep my skin completely hydrated. On every other day I use something like Nivea Shower Oil with exfoliating gloves to lightly buff my skin. My skin feels amazing now and I know it’s completely down to the Origins Scrub because it means I don’t have to faff around as much as before. It’s not cheap but because you only need to use it sparingly, you can make it last quite a while. If you really want to pamper yourself and feel great, then this is definitely a scrub for you. Even the smell alone is delicious. It’s a great product to use when you have the place to yourself and you can settle down to a bath, candles and some nice relaxing music…ahhhh! It’s one of the simple pleasures in life!

Naturally, a great companion to the scrub is the Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream. This moisturiser helps to double up the hydration stakes and I was really impressed at how little you need to cover your whole body! This rich moisturiser is surprisingly light on the skin and I didn’t feel any kind of heavy, oily residue afterwards, it just sinks in beautifully. It contains Olive, Grape Seed, Rice Bran and Apricot Kernel Oils to deeply nourish your skin. The moisturiser smells as amazing as the scrub, really tangy but with a warmth to it. I like to apply this moisturiser whilst my skin is still damp to make sure I’m locking in all the benefits of the scrub. If you use these two products before bed, you will wake up in the morning with incredibly soft, smooth skin…I am completely hooked on this!
When you pamper yourself with products like these, it makes you feel special and it’s comforting and I think that’s what beauty products are all about. I even noticed that my fake tan applied a couple of days before looked revived. My skin had definitely brightened up and because of that, my tan looked so much better. Obviously you couldn’t use these products just BEFORE applying self tan because the oils in the products would prevent the self tanner from adhering to your skin properly. But they are great for maintaining moisture in your skin afterwards.

If you’re stuck for a present for a friend or your mum or something then these would be an amazing gift for anyone who like to indulge in some ‘me’ time.

H&M and New Look Haul

Me, my mum and my new mother in law, Madeleine went shopping on Friday and if there are any two people that are great at helping me spend money, it's those two ladies!...not that I need a huge amount of encouragement.  I'm really getting into New Look at the moment because they always seem to have pieces that appeal to me.  It's a great place to find trends that you know may not last a long time but it doesn't matter because everything is so affordable.

The first thing that caught my eye was situated right at the front of the store when I walked in.  It's a navy blue, military inspired jacket with so many lovely details.  This jacket only costs £39.99!

It looks so much more expensive than that because it has these lovely intricate, gold effect buttons.  The tailored fit is fantastic and it has a really slimming effect because it tapers in at the waist.  I was really impressed by the cut of the jacket and the heavy quality of the material, it's almost like really thick felt.  I wore it in Edinburgh at the weekend where it was REALLY rainy all day and despite the wind and rain, my jacket didn't get too damp.

I love the zip pocket detail on the front of the jacket, it's yet another aspect that makes this jacket seem more like one from French Connection than New Look.

The jacket also has a really nice gold patterned lining...

I love the epaulette details on the shoulders which adds to the military feel...

And finally, they went to town on the buttons on the back of the sleeves...

I can tell I will be wearing this jacket non-stop during winter because it's a great alternative to all the long coats around at the moment.  It's cosy warm and really practical...what more could I ask for???

I wouldn't have thought that the 70's inspired check shirts around at the moment would suit my style.  However, I really took to this one and plan to wear it with skirts and thick tights or with skinny jeans/jeggings and my new coat!

The shirt is made from a really soft, cosy flannelette material and has pearlised popper buttons...

It has a nice shape to it and tapers in at the waist to hug your figure.  I'm loving the three quarter length sleeves too and it was only £14.99!

Next up, I spotted this nude coloured chiffon blouse...

It has delicate three button detail at the bust, three quarter length sleeves and comes to about the mid thigh area. 

It has ties that originate at the neckline so you can either wear it open or with a pussy bow at the neck.

I love the gorgeous beaded pattern on the blouse and it's another item that seems alot more expensive than it actually was...£24.99.  It has ties at the back so you can gather it at the waist for a more flattering fit.

I have been after a stripey top for a while now but it was just a case of finding the right kind.  I wanted a bold stripe and something that could be casual or dressed up.  I found this grey toned top for £14.99 in New Look...

It has very slight batwing sleeves which give it a nice edge and it comes just down to the top of my hips which is a nice length.  It will look great with a black blazer, accessorised with some quirky jewellery.

Next up, we trotted over to H&M to check out what they had to offer.  They had set up a nice display at the door and of course my eyes immediately darted to an embellished nude-coloured clutch bag...

I immediately exclaimed "oooh, I don't have a nude coloured bag at the moment" so naturally I had to get it! It was only £14.99 but it's faux leather so that's to be expected.  I adore the embellishment on the front!

I will be using the bag as a clutch but it also has a strap concealed inside in case you prefer to wear it as a shoulder bag or across the body.

Lastly, the colour of this dress completely blew me away...it's an intense raspberry red/pink that's ALMOST neon.  It's the kind of dress that can really be dressed up or down.

It has pretty detail on the front with the pockets and zips and the elasticated waist nips you in to create a nice silouhette.  I feel like you need a belt at the waist to add more detail though and the bow one I own is perfect. 

The dress is a great length...a couple of inches about the knee (depending on your height of course).  The other thing I love about this dress is the cap sleeves that are held up by a tab and button.  This draws the sleeve up slightly in the middle and creates a v-shape so it makes your upper arms look slimmer...bonus!

I just wanted to quickly let you guys know about a competition being run by Beverly Hills Formula on Facebook. All you have to do is upload a photo of you or a friend showing their gleaming white smile (whether it's fake or not) to be in with a chance of winning £250 of Top Shop vouchers. You and a friend could be living it up, VIP style on a shopping spree around Topshop Oxford Circus. You would get your own private dressing room and a personal stylist who will advise you on the best looks for you. They are also treating the winners to tea and cakes to make sure you have the energy to keep shopping! Finally, the winners will also receive a whole years supply of Beverly Hills Formula Toothpaste.

To enter the competition visit www.facebook.com/beverlyhillsformula.

The competition closing date is 3rd December 2010. Good luck!!!