Makebelieve enhance glow tinted moisturiser £15

I try not to wear a foundation during the day unless it is a special occasion or I am feeling especially ugly. Most of the time I just wear a tinted foundation and I really love the one by makebelieve ‘enhance glow tinted’ at the moment. It has a creamy texture that simply glides onto your skin giving a light coverage and contains fabulous twinkles to add a glorious dazzle to your face all day.

Benefit b.right radiant skincare intro kit £7.50

By now readers will know all about my love of Benefit so when I was told about their new brightening range (b.right) I just had to have a try and opted for this great b.right radiant skincare intro kit. I started with the foaming clean facial wash; it has a lovely creamy texture that really foams up when you start using it. Afterwards my face felt amazingly clean and I was surprised that so little product went such a long way. The only negative I can see is that so far this product is only in this limited edition kit, you can't buy a full sized version. After drying my now sparklingly clean face I applied the triple performing facial emulsion and loved how it sumptuously soaked into my skin. Lastly I used the it’s potent eye benefit cream and boy did it wake up my peepers! My whole face looked visibly brighter and there was no way you could tell I had only had a couple of hours sleep. It’s great for daily use but I find myself relying on it when I am really tired or if I have had a few drinks the night before and my skin is a little sallow. Another great product from the people at Benefit and I just love the appocoathery look of the bottles and jars, it makes me feel like I am applying a little bit of magic to my face, which I suppose I am. 

Max Factor Lipfinity Lip Tint Pen £7.99

I don’t usually wear lip colour, firstly my lips aren’t my favourite part of my face so I don’t draw attention to them. Secondly because I forget to re-apply it and it never last that long so I just don’t bother. As soon as I saw the advert for Max Factor’s lipfinity lip tint pen I wanted to try it though. As luck would have it the next time I went into Boot’s all make up was on a 3 for 2 offer, it must have been my lucky day. After spending far too long in the cosmetics section I came away with lipfinity lip tint pen shade Berry Burst. Want I really liked was the fact that you could smudge the colour and that it was long lasting. I found that it lasted for a good couple of hours which was surprising because it has a lovely fruity taste.  For a subtle look I smudged the colour over my lips and for an evening look I shaded it in more and applied a coating of gloss over the top to make it shimmer. I would recommend for novices and those better versed with lip colour.

Papier Poudre £6.64 for pack of all three colours

I first remember seeing these Papier Poudre when I was a younger girl and my older sister had just described make up. Even then I was enchanted by the old fashioned and royal look of them. It wasn’t to a few weeks ago that I was given a reminder of them and decided to try them out. Now they are available in three colours but the simple premise remains, to rid your face of unwanted dirt and shine. I used to carry a powder compact in my bag for mid afternoon touch-ups. I learnt not to do that after one to many of them smashed in my bag leaving everything covered in a powdering haze and rendering my compact useless. It meant I was stuck with a shinny forehead all afternoon and nobody likes a shinny forehead! Now though I carry these simple yet effective papers in my bag and I am able to always look my best. Once or twice a day I dab the little powdered paper over my face and it instantly refreshes and cleanses my face without the fear or a powder explosion. Although they have been around since 1903 they are a necessity for any modern women’s handbag.  

KMS Silk Treatment £10

I used this treatment the other day and completely feel for its charms. It has a glittery layer of small sparkles in which leaves your hair looking glossy and gorgeous. After only one use my hair felt so silky I was going up to all my co-workers getting them to run their fingers through my hair. I am lucky that the people I work with are such good sports and willing obliged, each one remarking that yes my hair felt extremely soft and seductive. Completely worth the money to give your hair a shine and sparkle fit for a princess. 

Eye Candy False Eye Lashes £4.49

I am becoming some what obsessed with false eyelashes recently. The right lashes can enhance your look so much and pick the right ones and no one will have a clue that you are wearing them. I am loving these lashes from Eye Candy at the moment as they give my lashes some lovely volume and thickness but still look natural. Really easy to apply and the glue lasted all day and night so I didn't have to worry that they would end up as a mustache or  something. They make my eyes looks more seductive and alluring and are fantastic value for money as you can wear them again and again if you look after them properly. 

Makebelieve Air Brush Bronzer £30

Fake tan has a bit of a bad reputation thanks to certain 'celebrities' going over the top and looking distinctly orange. I think fake tan can be a great aid to helping people look their best and if done well gives you that golden glow that not all of us can get however long we lie in the sun. There are only two things I don't do in my life one is tan (the other is karaoke, nobody wants to hear that!) so I need the help of fake tan if I am going to look summery.

Makebelive's air brush bronzer is just thing I need to give me that 'two weeks in the sun' look and it only takes four hours! It is really easy to use and gave me a beautiful even and silky tan. There were no streaks and it had a lovely fresh smell to it.  If people can guess that its fake tan (which I don't think they will) they will think you have been to a professional salon its that good. However much you try you will never make them believe it's a tan you have done yourself, its just that flawless looking.

Eyedew Sparkling £4.39

When you haven't had enough sleep the first place its shows is in your eyes, they become dull, red and lose all their sparkle. If I get even half an hour under eight hours of sleep a night my eyes become almost lifeless with no hint of a twinkle. I have started to use Eyedew practically every morning and it has made such a difference to how I look which means I can turn up to work feeling super confident about the day.   Although they probably didn't make it for this reason, it is also a lifesaver if you have over indulged in the wine the night before. No more walking around with dreary eyes, just a couple of drops in your peepers and you are back to looking your best, so go out and sparkle my beauty truth lovelies.

Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask £68

The Rodial Snake Mask is everything I have ever wanted from a face mask. The innovative black 'peel off' formula not only has a wonderful novelty value but the results are incredible. I have said before how I like a face mask to show its self on my face and you don't more noticeable that this one. The mixture goes onto your face in a blackest covering and after quickly starts setting so that after 10 minutes you can peel it off in one go. My face was left visibly brighter and more radiant and my skin looked tighter but didn't have the tight feel you get when products dry out your face. I have started to use it once a week to resurface my skin, keep lines at a distance and purify my face of all impurities, a true wonder product. Please not that the picture is not of me with a snake, I am not that brave! 

Venus Gillette & Satin Care Sensitive Skin Shave Gel

Call it a symptom of being in a long term relationship; call it laziness but the outcome is the same. I really don’t shave my legs as often as I should hence my monkey legs tend to stay hidden under leggings, tights or trousers. The feeling of newly shaved legs is wonderful and as it is coming up to summer I decided it was time I treated my legs and my man friend to some silky smooth pins! I followed my own advice about using a decent razor and shave gel and set about felling my forestry limbs (ok they weren’t that bad). I had forgotten how lovely it feels to slide your hand up a newly shaded leg and as soon as I was finished I couldn’t stop touching my legs. The razor was easy to use and no little nicks or pulls, the gel helps to slide the razor over easily. What I hadn’t realised was how much longer my legs felt smooth for, the next day they still felt sheer and the day after that. If ever there was a reason to invest in a Venus Gillette it’s just how long your legs stay smooth for. I hope my beauty truth beauties will follow my lead and give themselves some amazing pins to display this summer.   

GOSH Shimmer Brick Bronze £8.17

As soon as I opened a packet and saw this glittering circle of gorgeousness I couldn’t wait to try it out.  I have really fallen for GOSH products of late and this one was no exception. I dashed upstairs and started to lightly brush it over my cheeks, forehead and chin to give me that sun kissed look. The gradient of the colour is great as it allows you to build up darker areas and highlight others to contour your face, great for making the most of bits you like and playing down bits you don’t. The glittery sparkle adds some fun to it and makes you dazzle during the day when the sun hits your face and glint in the evening when lights catch it. 

Famous Dave's Gradual 10 £14.99

After sharing with you all the tricks and secrets I have learned about fake tan I thought it was only right that I do test out a load of fake tans for you. I have many to try so keep a look out each day for new brands. First up though I wanted to see how Famous Dave could really live up to its name and be worthy of celebrity status in my tanning emporium! It doesn’t have a guide colour which is fine for me but might put a few people off, personally I don’t like the guide colours as they tend to stain my sheets. As it is a gradual lotion you should apply it every day until you get the desired colour. I found I only needed to apply it twice to get a healthy golden glow. There were no streaks or overly orange bits and when I started to apply it every other day the shade stayed a lovely vibrant brown. After I stopped using it I found that the colour lasted the best part of the week before I looked pasty again and faded well, not leaving me with patches. The smell of it as well is great and when used with the tanning mitt gives a lovely even tan.

Eye Secrets Instant Eye Tightener £34.99

I was really excited to try Eye Secrets Eye Tightener and that may have inhibited how easy I found it to use. I spent a good ten minutes trying to figure out how to get the product onto my face. The huge syringe like bottle it comes in was a little daunting at first but I do like how it’s an ironic mock up of what you would go through if you were getting botox. Anyway after I finally managed to get some of the cream onto my finger to apply (you have to pull back the plunger and then squeeze) I could instantly feel the results. The syringe like bottle is great in that it gives you the perfect amount to use around your eye. I got a little overzealous at first and put too much on leaving me with slightly crusty white patches. The skin around your eyes noticeably tightens and lifts, on one eye I have a slightly droopy lid and you could see how it had retracted and made my eyes look more awake. I will certainly be using this product often now that I can actually get into it! 

OSMO Colour Mission Shampoo & Conditioner

In the past I have chosen my shampoo and conditioner depending on what was on offer or the cheapest one at the super market. It’s only since I started to dye my hair regularly that the benefit of a high quality shampoo and conditioner has become apparent. I was finding that after shampooing my hair felt really dry and rough until I slathered it in conditioner and then after it was dry it would still feel quite lifeless. Coupled that with the fact that the dye didn’t last very long I had to drastically rethink the way I bought shampoo and conditioner. When the change came up to try OSMO I was excited about what the results would be. First off I love the packaging; I know it’s not how you are meant to judge products but we would be lying if we said it didn’t have at least a slight effect.

The first thing I noticed was that after shampooing my hair it didn’t feel rough in the slightest and still felt in great condition. The conditioner was light enough to not weigh my hair down and make it lank but still injectioned it with enough moisturising goodness to make it silky smooth. I started using it just after I had dyed my hair at home and kept track of how well the colour stayed in my hair. I got nearly two weeks of extra wear out of my dye and even when I re-dyed it was because my roots where coming through not because the colour was dull and watery. 

Perfect tanning - a guide on how to apply fake tan

I have been reviewing quite a few fake tans recently so thought it was only fair to do a guide on getting the perfect fake tan. Not only will it be helping my lovely readers get a result that will make them feel extra specially beautiful but it will also be keeping you out of the sun and we all know the damage that the sun can do to your skin. From white streaks, orange patches and black elbows there are many tale tell signs that someone’s golden tan came from a bottle so here is the Beauty Truths method of getting the perfect fake tan.

It all starts the day before you are going to tan. If you want to shave or wax any part of you now is the time to do it.

Before you get in the shower or bath use a body brush all over your skin. Start at you feet and work upwards in circular motions. This is also really good for areas with cellulite as it helps to improve circulation and break down fat.

In the shower or bath exfoliate as if your life depended on it. Avoid exfoliates that have any oils or moisturisers in them as they will stop the tan soaking into your skin.  Pay special attention to problem areas, elbows, knees, ankles and wrists and make sure you rinse every drop of exfoliator off you.

Once you have got out of the bath or shower give yourself at least twenty minutes to cool down and dry off.

Use a hair band or clip to secure your hair out of the way and make sure you have some baby wipes on standby.

Lightly moisturise elbows, wrists, knees and ankles, also heavily moisturise your feet and the sides of your feet, toes also.

Stand on a towel, preferably not your best one and definitely not a white one.

Always use gloves or a tan mitt and start at your feet, working your way up symmetrically. If you are using a tan with a guide colour it is easy to see if you have missed anywhere. If your tan doesn’t have a guide colour, try and be systematic with how you apply tan. Section your body off, so left bottom leg, right bottom leg, left top leg, right top leg etc.

If you can’t reach your back, spray or smear some tan onto a long strip of cling film. Hold either end behind you and pull forward so the cling film with the tan on goes all over your back.

Mix in a little moisturiser with some of the tan for your face as you want it to be a couple of shades lighter to look natural.

When you have finished, take of the gloves and use a tan and moisturiser mix on the back of your hands. Use a baby wipe to clean up your palms, in-between your fingers and nails.

Lightly moisturise your feet, ankles, knees and elbows again.

Wait for ten minutes before getting dressed and wear as light fitting clothes as possible, it is best to avoid light colours.

If you can tan at night then you have the whole night to let it develop and you can rise off the guide colour in the morning. If not leave it for at least six hours before showering.

Never apply fake tan two days in a row, stick to every other day until you get the desired shade then once every four days. Avoid long hot baths as this tends to draw the tan out and the colder you can face showers the better. 

How to get the perfect shave

Exfoliating your skin should be part of your regular skin regime but it especially important to exfoliate before you shave to remove dead skin as this will help your razor last longer and get the closest shave.  

Whatever body part you are shaving you should always use a sharp razor. If you are using an old razor or one that has got a bit rusty it will pull at the hairs causing irritation and you will have to go over the same area a few times to cut every hair which can cause razor burn as you won’t get as close a shave. If you find you have to use pressure on the razor to cut hairs then it’s time to change the blades. Don’t go for cheap razors as in the longer run they will cost you more. Invest in a decent razor like the Gillette Venus Embrace, the blades will last longer, they will get your skin smother and you are less likely to accidentally cut yourself.

Its best to shave after or in a hot bath or shower, the heat will help to open up pores making it easier to cut the hair and create less drag from the blade. Make sure to use something to lube up the skin, either shaving cream or shower gel, you can also use olive oil which will give the added benefit of moisturising the skin at the same time and softening the hairs.

When you shave go against the hair growth and only go over one area once. For legs the direction you should shave is from the ankle upwards. For underarms go in the same direction upwards and for the bikini area horizontally outside to inside. When shaving take your time and don’t rush as it means you will be more prone to cuts and razor burn. 

It is a good idea to moisturise the area after shaving but make sure you use a moisturiser with no fragrance or alcohol as this can irritate the skin and skin. If you are going to apply fake tan shave the day before to stop the tan pooling in your pores and try to avoid deodorant for 24 hours after shaving your arms pits.

I would say for women avoid shaving any other area apart from your legs, bikini area and underarms. The hair doesn’t grown back thicker after you shave it’s just that the ends of the hair are blunt making re-growth appear thicker.

Shaving is a good method for hair removal as it is probably the quickest to do, however it is also quickest in terms of re-growth. Following my guidelines will help you get the most of shave for longer. 

Model Mirror by Les Tai Tai from £15

Have you ever been somewhere and tried to look in your dusty old compacts mirror to touch up your make up or to check your teeth are free from food debris only to be confronted with a dark hazy outline of what you look like?  Have you been in the bathroom of some bar or restaurant and tried to get a glimpse of how your makeup is holding on, only to squint back at yourself in low light or light that makes you look rather ill? Well I have, quite a lot. 

I am always doing my make up on the go, in the car (obviously only when I am a passenger!) on the bus, on the train, once on a plane.  Or trying to reapply eyeliner or lip-gloss in terrible light so that I am not really sure of the outcome. Or that terrible light that you get in places that makes everyone look bad, I don’t know why they do it, surely they want their patrons to feel good about themselves? Once I even left the house with a big orange conclear mark down my face as I hadn’t had enough light to see that it wasn’t blended properly. Luckily I have some of the good type of friends (you know the ones who will tell you that your flies are undone and your hair is a mess rather than let people laugh at you) so disaster was adverted. 

Anyway the answer to all these beauty dilemmas comes in a stylish and compact mirror with Hollywood dressing table lights, the model mirror by Les Tai Tai. The lights shine down on your face giving you the best lighting possible for applying your make up and from all the beautiful designs you will be sure to find one you want to carry around in your bag. I for one love the fact that I don’t desperately have to search for a mirror and decent light source if I need a mid day re-spray. The mirror is the best size to get all of my face in, not like trying to do your lippy in the back of a spoon. 

I found another great use for it as well which is for plucking my eyebrows. I have spoken before about my battle with my eyebrows and now that I have found some harmony I like to keep them as neat as possible with a pluck every couple of days. This causes a problem because normally I like to pluck my eyebrows after my evening bath so that the pores open and it’s not so painful. The problem is that by the time I have got out the bath its dark and so finding the hairs to pluck is impossible. Now with my Model Mirror I have the perfect lightening to keep my brows beautiful no matter the time. A genius little product that once you use it for the first time you won’t know how you coped without it. 

Evolve Skin Glow Body Cream £13.99

It's my birthday today so I felt I had to write about a product that I really love. For one I love the Evolve philosophy all natural, organic, eco friendly, fair trade and effective. The skin glow body cream is a great product from Evolve, it builds up a natural looking hint of tan making you look like you have spent the summer gently swinging in a hammock by a peaceful lakeside. It softens and moisturises your skin thanks to fair trade organic Kalahari melon seed oil and is also great for soothing sunburn as it contains organic aloe vera. All this means that on my birthday I can look my best when I go out celebrating tonight. Remember my lovely readers, stay beautiful. x

Impulse and Barry M team up to create limited edition packs £3

Impulse, has teamed up with Barry M, the UK’s number one fashion cosmetics company, to create three limited edition handbag essential packs. The two top brands have paired a luscious lip gloss with a much loved Impulse scent and they are available together for a limited period only.

These two must-have items are available in three exclusive packs: Into Glamour, Very Pink and Tease, so there is something to suit every mood and occasion. The Very Pink fragrance comes complete with a sumptuous strawberry scented and flavoured pale pink lip gloss; Into Glamour comes with a velvety vanilla clear lip gloss and lastly Tease completes the collection with a nude lip gloss in a delicious caramel flavour. Whether you are at work or play, Impulse and Barry M limited edition packs are THE handbag essentials, and the good news is, they won’t break the bank!

The fabulous range of limited edition Barry M lip glosses are only available from 20^th April – 11^th June. Get your hands on the must have beauty accessories for 2011. Available in Boots (20^th April – 17^th May), Superdrug and Tesco (9^thMay – 6^th June).

Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth £8.43

At the moment I love that feeling of getting out a long hot bath, smothering my body in body butter and then delving under some clean sheets. If I could do that all day I probably would. One of my favourite body butters to coat myself in is the delectable offering from Soap and Glory, the Daily Smooth. The consistency is perfect, thicker than toothpaste but beautifully creamy. It soaks in quickly so I don’t end up feeling all greasy but the best thing about it is the smell. It scented with vanilla and blueberries and leaves your skin smelling sensual and feeling soft.