Spring 2009 - the best pink products you have to try!

The weather has been gorgeous this weekend so have been spring-cleaning my make up bag to make room for some new spring products to brighten up my look! Pink is definately the key trend for spring, in a romantic, feminine look. 

Max Factor have some amazing products out at the moment and I love the new Colour Collections lipsticks (£7.82) which have some lovely pink shades The lipsticks are great for moisturising lips as well and don't leave them feeling dry. 

Bobbi Brown also have a beautiful limited-edition Blushed Pink range, which has a romantic feel to it. The Sparkle Eye Shadow (£13.70) is a featherweight formula that instantly lights up eyes with a unique combination of shimmering pearls and glitter in a translucent base and is perfect for a romantic evening out. I also love the Blush Pink lip compact (£12.72) which perfectly complements sparkly eyes. Clinique's First Blush range is also worth checking out - I love the Fresh Bloom eye shadow (£13.70) in Tiger Lily which gives you radiant pink eyes all day long.

To finish off your look, I recommend Ciate Paint Pots (£9.00) in Cupcake Queen for shocking pink nails that won't chip. I love the cute bow packaging as well :) So you have no excuses for old make-up and smoky eyes is definately out now - it's simple, girly looks all the way!

Illamasqua - for your alter ego!

I must admit I haven't heard much about Illamasqua before checking out their website. So here is a little info about the brand -  Illamasqua is a night-time make-up brand that provides high-performance make-up to anyone who wants to self-express and accentuate their look beyond the norm - anyone who wants to discover their alter ego on a night-out. All this alter-ego stuff reminds me of my consumer behaviour lectures at university! Currently you can only buy Illamasqua products from Selfridge's beauty hall but they are expanding all around UK this month so will keep you posted on any news! 

My favourite products from the range are the nail varnishes £12.50, which look very striking on a night out and are extremely glossy. Check out their website for the best products to wear for your night out. 

Tried and tested - the new Génefique from Lancôme

I have been really excited this week trying out the new Génefique Youth Activating Concentrate from Lancôme. It arrived in the box pictured above and when you opened it the box actually lit up - how clever!

Here is a little more info on the product. Firstly, it is the result of a ten-year research project and with a huge seven patents to its name, it is a pretty innovative product! The studies behind the Génefique Youth Activating Concentrate claim to have unlocked the protein profile - like a barcode - in the genes of young skin, and thanks to its active contents derived from the Bifido bacteria, help boost these proteins to give the face a more youthful appearance. Wonderful..!

You just use a couple drops a day under your ordinary moisturiser once or twice a day, before applying any make-up. It goes on really easily and makes your skin lovely and soft and my complexion definately appears more radiant.  The damage is £52.50 and will be available at Lancôme counters nationwide from March 1, so a perfect Mother's Day gift!

UK Beauty Awards 2009 - vote now!

2009 sees the launch of the eagerly awaited Clothes Show London (can't wait!) and with it comes the launch of The UK Beauty Awards. The UK Beauty Awards will acknowledge the industries best Beauty, Skincare, Bodycare, Cosmetic and Hair products as well as Fragrances and Soil Association certified Organic Products.

All of the products have been nominated by beauty PR agencies and then shortlisted by beauty editors, journalists and industry professionals. Now we are turning the final voting over to you to see what products everyone really is raving about.

The winners in each of the categories will be announced at the Awards Presentation which will take place at 12.00pm on Friday 29 May 2009 within the spectacular Fashion Theatre, of Clothes Show London at ExCel. This will then be followed by a performance of the fabulous Catwalk show.

Click here to vote for your favourite beauty products on Handbag.com! I have voted for the Garnier Eye Roll On and YSL Beauté Touche Éclat so far!

Pearly white teeth with Philips!

I have been looking for a decent electric toothbrush for a while now as I have been so fed up with my oral-B toothbrush making me dribble toothpaste all down me!! I am also dreaming of super-white teeth like Cheryl Cole which I am hoping this FlexCare Philips Sonic Toothbrush will give me - well it does have an amazing 31,000 brush strokes per minute!!

The first time I used the toothbrush it left my mouth really tingling as it so much more powerful than the standard electric toothbrush! I have been using it for a week now so am totally used to it now and after using it feels like I have been to the dentist every time - really clean, smoother feeling teeth (but with no hefty dental fees!) 

The best bit about the brush is it divides your mouth into 4 cleaning sections and a little buzz sounds when you need to move to the next section. Then when time is up it switches off, so no more dreaming in front of the bathroom mirror as you clean your teeth! It also has three different settings, so you can select whether you just want to clean your teeth or whiten as well. My teeth are also looking much whiter already so will be interesting to see the improvement after a few months. I would definately recommend this brush to anyone looking for whiter teeth and general all-round oral hygiene. Amazon are selling the brush for £67.49 so it's not too pricey and will save you money in the long-run on dentist fees!

Groovy Pink Birdcage umbrella

I am loving these cute Birdcage umbrellas (£12) from Fulton which I will be using throughout spring (yes it's officially spring now!) Unlike smaller, flimsy umbrellas that collapse as soon as it gets a bit windy, the birdcage stands strong and protects your hair from rain - it's my friend for life now! My favourite is the gorgeous pink colour, what do you think?

Simple Daily Radiance Skincare range review

Ok I admit I have slightly been going on about skincare to brighten up 'winter skin' but it has been my personal mission to achieve summer skin in winter!  Well I think I have found the perfect range - Simple Daily Radiance, which contains extracts of mango to revitalise and hydrate tired and dull skin and smells gorgeous too. My favourite product is the cleansing wipes, as they leave your skin really smooth and clean which face wipes don't normally do! The range is also reasonably priced, starting from around £3.99 so definately worth checking out :-)

L'Occitane products for smooth skin

L'Occitane have some lovely products out at the moment - I am desperate to try them all!  My favourite for making skin radiant is the the Brightening Smoothing Exfoliator (£21.55) which contains natural micro-granules (pumice stone, cellulose) for deep exfoliating action and helps diminish flaws and brightens the complexion. For all over body smoothness, I also love the new Mositurising Shea Butter, which smells divine and perfect to use after a shower. 

Balaton Spa Face Mask

I am loving this Balaton Spa Face Mask £19.99, who supply the Dancing on Ice contestants, so if it's good enough for them, then it's good enough for me. Shame I can't skate like them though... ! The best bit about the mask is it's 100% natural. and deep cleanses, purifies and refines dull and tired looking skin, from the first time you use it. It's like a mini facial and leaves skin clean and radiant, so perfect for this time of year to boost winter skin. If only it made me look and skate like the stars!

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Moisturising Body Glow

I am feeling sooo pasty at the moment it is really quite tragic, so have been trying out some gradual self-tanners this week to improve the situation. La Source, at Crabtree and Evelyn have some great products and I am a big fan of their 60-second hand treatments. You must try out their Moisturising Body Glow £12, which unlike other self-tanning lotions, smells lovely and applies really easy and isn't sticky at all. After a few days I had a nice, even tan, that didn't look orange - result! Check out the Crabtree and Evelyn website for more lovely products. 

Look after your skin with Clinique...

I am a massive fan of Clinique's skincare ranges and have been trying out some of the products this week in order to combat my tired, sun-deprived skin! For dry, dull skin (like mine!) I recommend the new Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and the new Turnaround range, which are both fabulous for boosting skin’s radiance.           

My favourite is the new Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (£26.43) which gives an immediate moisture boost and feels so soothing on your face. It instantly refreshes and calms skin and has a great texture as it is not too thick - you can really feel your skin absorbing it. If you love facials (who doesn't!) but can't afford the hefty price tag every few weeks, then you must try out the new Turnaround Instant Facial (£29.36) which has all the radiance and smoothness of microdermabrasion but with less irritation and stress to skin, so it is not as harsh. I also love the new Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream (£22.51) which smells gorgeous and unveils silkier, more refined skin all over by reducing rough patches and dry skin - lovely! 

My sister has also been trying out the Anti-Blemish range, which she swears by so will post her comments shortly!

New Venus Embrace

Hot off the press, Gillette are launching a new version of their Venus razor called Embrace in March and I have been lucky enough to try it out before it hits the shelves! Previously, I have been using the Divine razor which I have always been really satisfied with, so Embrace is like getting an upgrade of your favourite phone! It gives a really close shave and makes legs really soft as it has extra moisture in the ribbons around the blades. It also it lies even flatter against the skin, which means you don't cut yourself as much, which I always do! So I definately recommend chucking out your old razor and upgrading once Embrace launches, you won't regret it. 

Valentine's Day beauty from Jelly Pong Pong!

Jelly Pong Pong have some gorgeous products out for Valentine's Day that I am loving this week!  I adore the Love Rouge £10 lip and cheek stain, which is a combination of cream-to-powder blush and lip/cheek stain. The coolest thing is for Valentine's Day each Love Rouge comes with a Love Card, so your man can send youve a heartwarming, handwritten message! It also goes great with JPP's first ever mascara, Fairy Lashes £15, which is water-resistant and makes eyelashes thicker & curvier while allowing them to be spectacularly soft & light - delightful! 

My sister also loved the Lo-Lip-Pop gloss £15 in Cherry Surprise as it said especially for Tom, which is the name of her boyfriend and it gave her lovely shiny lips. Finally, I also recommend the Omnibronze £22, which gives you all skin tones a tanned look and is small enough to carry around in our bag on a night out. Check out their site now for the latest Valentine's looks!

I love Max Factor!

I have discovered some amazing products from Max Factor that I am totally in love with and you have to try! I am already a big fan of the Falsh Lash Effect Mascara but have found some more cult products that I won't be able to live without now!

My favourite is the Masterpiece Glide & Define in brown, which is so easy to apply and define eyes, which is fab as usually applying eyeliner is quite difficult! It is also really small so fits perfectly in your handbag for a night out :-) I also love the new Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion foundation, which is concealer, foundation and powder all in one - so saves you cash in the long run! It goes on so easy and smooth when applying, so lives it up it's promise of radiant skin.

Gorgeous gifts from Ciate!

I am a big fan of Ciate and their nail products, especially their nail files and treatments! I love the cute paint pots and the gorgeous packaging with the bows and the Speed Coat (£8.95) is brilliant for using to finish off and make nails super-shiny! I also recommend the Gloss Up Nail Colour - Recovery Top Coat (£6.50) which is great for restoring faded nail varnish when you can't be bothered to re-paint! I just want to try everything out on their site, it all looks so fab! They also have some Valentine's Day gifts on their site so check then out!

Credit crunch friendly - Barry M Lipglosses

I am a big fan of Lancôme's juicy tubes but have found a great credit-crunch friendly alternative with Barry M. Their Glossy Tubes are only £3.95 and give lips a lovely shimmer and are not too sticky. My favourite shade is 'pink shimmer' but they are available in 12 different shades from the Barry M website. 

More beauties from Prescriptives...!

I have been trying & testing out some more of my favourite Prescriptives products this week and I am building up quite a collection now which I am loving!

I have been feeling a bit pasty recently, probably because of the rubbish weather outside! Prescriptives have some great products to help brighten up your skin which I have been using to beat the snow!

Prescriptives Flawless Skin Total Skin Protector (£24.00) gives a natural, luminous look and a smooth, flawless finish all day long and reduces shiny, un-even skin caused by central heating! Sunsheen Bronzing Trio (£23.00) contains three shades in-one blend together, to sweep sun-kissed warmth all over your face - so you look like you have just come back from holiday, even though you haven't!

Finally I absolutely love the Lash Builder Mascara base coat £13.00 to use before applying mascara to help build up and strengthen lashes - definately worth investing in to use before a night out. Enjoy!

Magic from Maybelline..!

Maybelline have some fabulous new products out at the moment which I am in love with! I have been eyeing up the new Colossal mascara and the Pure Liquid Mineral foundation for a while and am really pleased with the results.  I love Maybelline mascaras and have been using them for years - Colossal is a new extension to the family and has a collagen enriched formula that gives HUGE Cheryl Cole lashes! Pure Liquid is a micro-mineral infused liquid foundation, which gives perfect, flawless yet breathable coverage and feels really light on your skin. I am loving mineral make up as it is so much better for your skin and allows it to breath throughout the day! 

If you are feeling a bit tired, the great Instant Rewind foundation also brightens-up tired-looking skin and is enriched with caffeine and silk-fibre complex - perfect for those days when you can't get out of bed! Basically, just check out your local Maybelline stockist for all the fab products to brighten up your look...!

Get radiant skin with Olay...

Have you seen the snow outside...?! OMG it's amazing, wish I could be out in it today! Getting a bit fed up of all the cold weather though - it's not good for my skin! I have been using some of Olay's products this week to help rejuvenite and give skin some love as well. My favourites to brighten up skin include Complete Care Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating Fluid, which contains SPF 15 as well and the Daily Facials Express wipes that help to refresh skin daily. 

Olay also have a great new product called Definity Eye Illuminator (£24.99), which contains  Essential Glucosamine Complex and a new ‘smart-particle’ technology helps reduce under-eye darkness and lid dullness, diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and illuminate skin for more youthful-looking eyes. Wonderful! My skin definately feels more smooth and radiant after using this products, so I would recommend to anybody looking to brighten up their skin.

Fit men dancing!

Sorry this is not beauty-related at all I know - so apologies for this but my favourite team Southampton did this celebration when they scored yesterday and I love it they all look great... ! Do all you beauty lovers have favourite football teams - who do you support??? xx

Gorgeous new range from Herbal Essences!

When I saw Herbal Essences had relaunched their range, I was intrigued to try it out - was it simply a 'relaunch' of packaging or a genuine new range?

I am a big fan of Herbal Essences anyway and love the silk and shine products, so would definately recommend the new Seductively Straight shampoo and conditioner (£3.29 each) I love the gorgeous pink packaging and the new thickness of the products, which the old range didn't have. The result so far is my hair is really sleek and shiny so am impressed! However one disadvantage is I do feel that the smell isn't as amazing as the previous range - it's less 'fruity' :-(

Currently Superdrug are offering them buy one get one free, so head down there pronto for some bargain hair care!

M-Lab moisturisers

I have been lucky enough to try out a few samples of M-Lab products over the last week and have to admit I have fallen in love them with, despite the crazy price tags!! It is true though with M-Lab products you do get what you pay for so worth investing in. 

My beauty tip is to alway invest in a good SPF moisturiser for the daytime, as UV rays damage your skin and cause pre-mature ageing. M-Lab Anti-Ageing Day Treatment SPF 15 is formulated with 65% clinically active ingredients and contains dermal barrier factors, anti-oxidants and peptides, supported with sensory-perfect UVA/UVB protection. 

Valentine's Day Gifts for Him!

If you are struggling to find a new Valentine's Day pressy for the man of your love, then take a look at what I have got my boyfriend! Hugo Boss Pure (£35)  is a gorgeous, fresh, aquatic fragrance inspired by power of water & coolness of blue colour. It also includes top notes of fig water, citrus, lime and smells simply divine and so fresh. Soem mens fragrances are really strong and over-powering but this one is so light and fresh it can be worn during the day, as well as for a night out. 

I hope my bloke likes it.. will let you know how he gets on! The cheapest place I can find it at the moment is on Feel Unique for £27.95 including delivery - bargain!

MAC Blonde Collection out soon!

MAC have a fab new collection coming soon called Blonde, Brunette, Redhead which will be in shops in February. As a blonde, I have naturally tried out some of the Blonde products so will give you the lowdown on the best ones! 

There is currently no information on the UK site yet so will link to the US site so you can check out colours etc.  

It is such a brilliant idea to offer ranges for different colourings, so you know which colours will suit you the best! My favourite product that I recommend to everyone is the Limited-Edition Mineralize Skinfinish (£18.60) which was specially created for the Brunette Blonde Redhead Collection. Each offers a colourwave of four shimmering shades in a range of light to dark - a bit like the bobbi Brown Shimmer brick. It leaves a really strong colour on your cheeks and is very shimmery. I also loved the lipglass in Strawberry Blonde (£10.28) which matched perfectly. Would be great to hear people's opinions of the other shades - Brunettes and Redheads? 

My new bikini from Primark!

Whilst browsing Catwalk Queen I came across a gallery of Primark's new collection (very summery!) and saw my new bikini (£7) I bought last week!

What do you think?

Makes me want to run to the beach right now even though it's raining!

Check out all of Primark's new collection here!

myface cosmetics - video with Charlotte Tilbury

Check here to watch a video with Handbag Beauty Editor Katie Corcoran, who chats with top make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury to talk skin care saviours, her new range and why make-up is so important right now.

I have been a fan of myface cosmetics, who offer different ranges for your skintone - fair, medium and dark. My favourites include the mymix foundation (£12.71) and the upload mascara (£9.78), which gives you the most amazing lashes! 

Triology Organic Skincare Range

Based around the trilogy of simplicity, purity and vitality, this New Zealand based brand is a firm favourite of mine now (and Danni Minogue apparently!) All beauty products are 100% natural and comes in a cool selection of minimalist packaging. 

Trilogy products consist of a unique combination of organic rosehip oil and the finest pure plant extracts. My favourite is the Energising Face Lotion £24.95 which firms skin and boosts skins moisture levels by simultaneously replenishing both oil and water requirements. I also like the Purifying Masque £16.95, which is a home spa treatment that clears and smooths stressed skin!

Sebastian Laminates Blonde Shampoo

As you know I am a BIG fan of Sebastian hair products, they are one of my favourite brands. Whilst browsing Marie Claire beauty pages, I saw a great review of their brunette range, which as a blonde I can't obviously comment but I totally agree with the brilliant description of the shampoo as it was so wonderful!

My hair felt super sleek and soft after using just once and ensured my blonde highlights stayed bright for several days (no more dull hair for me!) Plus my hair looked shiny as well, which all blondes now is a bit of a challenge! Check out Look Fantastic for some great deals on Sebastian products. 

My Vanity Case

Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend, have been a busy girl visiting family and friends in London and only got back late last night!

However, on Saturday night I found a really great site called My Vanity Case www.myvanitycase.co.uk which is a fab online boutique selling US brands. My pick of the brands is Principessa who have a really cute body lotion for £4.99 that smells gorgeous and is really long lasting as well. Yummy!

Cutest Valentines Day pressy ever...Urban Outfitters Heart Shaped Shopper!

Ok I know it's not Valentines Day just yet but I thought I would start writing about my favourite gifts that I might just like, incase my boyfriend is reading...! I love this cute heart shaped shopper bag from Urban Outfitters (£28) which is perfect for shoppping trips with your loved one... or simply looks good on my arm! 

Tangle Teezer - miracle new hair brush!

I'd heard quite a bit about Tangle Teezer brushes from Dragon's Den so was very keen to try the brushes out. I have quite long, thick hair that has a tendancy to get tangled easily so was hopeful that the brush would live up to it's promise of dramatically reduce hair breakage, splitting, and damage due to mistreatment of your hair.

The brushes come in several funky colours (I tried the purple sparkly one) and only cost £9.75. Plus they aren't too heavy so can fit nicely into your handbag. The brush lives up it's promise and glides effortlessly through my hair, even when it was wet! Normally when I brush my hair I am left with bits of hair everywhere and this was definately reduced when I used the Tangle Teezer. As an added bonus, the brush also massages your scalp whilst brushing!

I recommend the Tangle Teezer to anybody with long, thick hair that get's tangled easily and is subject to slight straighten abuse (like me!) Click here to buy now!

Updated... Look magazine have also featured the Tangle Teezer here too!

Prescriptives make up...

I have been using some great products this week from Prescriptives and thought I would share them with you.

My favourite is the new Photochrome compact foundation (spf15) which comes in a cool metal package. The smart photochromic pigments make skin look natural in any light, all day long and I love how it starts off as a 'cream' foundation and then finishes as powder. My skin did look really flawless and lasted all day so definately worth trying out. My only concern is the size, which I do have my doubts on how long the foundation will last me so let's see! 

I found before apllying the Photochrome foundation, using the Illuminating Liquid Potion which has three-dimensional holographic pigments, helped create flawless looking skin and ensured the foundation lasted longer.. genuis! Finally I tried out the Falsh Eyelashes mascara which is fab for giving lashes volume and conditioning them at the same time. 

I look forward to trying out more of their range and will keep you posted on my findings.. tada for now!

Clothes Show London - that's two shows per year now!

Great news to report, The Clothes Show will now be held in London, as well it's usual Birmingham event - so that's two shows a year! Yippee and great for Southern girls like moi! The show will take place at the ExCeL Conference & Exhibition Centre, from 29 to 31 May 2009. Tickets are on sale now and are available online at www.clothesshowlondon.com.