Diet Schmiet. I'm making a lifestyle change!

So I'm attempting to start the new year off well by watching my weight, drinking more water and just generally eating well. My brother's wedding has now been confirmed as next January and I'm thrilled to have been asked to be bridesmaid! However this does mean the weight loss really does need to start today... unfortunately.

Now I'm not saying I'm obese, but I have about a stone to shift and I need to work hard to tone up as well and just generally eat more good stuff. I'm a big supporter of the strong not skinny movement (thank you Millie Mack) and really believe that females bodies look amazing when they've been sculpted and nurtured through eating well and a bit of hard work. Saying that, those who know me well will know that most of the time I'm all talk and no action - every year I say I'm going to lose weight and every year I seem to put on just a few more pounds. But I've finally got my act together thanks to my granddad. I was having dinner with him and he told me I was 'cuddly'. Well, thanks Granddad. Thanks a lot.

I'm now part of a diet club at work and we have all put in £5. The person who loses the most weight (based on % lost from the beginning weight) after six weeks takes home the cash, which is £40 in total. This is a great incentive and has definitely helped to spur me on.

The only diet that has ever worked for me is the Dukan diet. This is where there are different phases where you cut out quite a lot of food and slowly introduce it back into your diet through different phases. I like this diet as a short-term quick fix diet, but personally I don't think it is sustainable. Last time I did the Dukan I lost around 7 pounds in just under two weeks before I went to Ibiza. You literally just eat lean meat, cottage cheese, eggs and natural yoghurt. It's pretty dull and yes, I did cry into my 5th omelette of the week, but it does work if you need to lose weight quick.

When you look at weight loss simply you just need to eat less and move more. It sounds simple doesn't it. So why is it so hard?! I think the key is getting your brain in on the plan - it can be your worst enemy. I've saved images of the body I want to achieve so I remember when I'm not feeling motivated that I want to look like this... Thanks Sam Faiers for the motivation!

I have decided that instead of calling my weight loss a diet, I'm calling it a lifestyle change! I know the way my brain works and if I call it a diet I will just be constantly waiting for my diet to end, whereas a lifestyle change is forever more and incorporates exercise and drinking more water.

I've researched lots of different 'lifestyle changes' and the one I'm going for is the popular 5:2. A friend at work did it for over a year to lose weight for her wedding and she looks immense. I've read lots about this and it makes sense to me in how it works and I can still have my little luxuries that I enjoy (bread, crisps, pizza, strawberry and lime cider, need I go on...).

I have been doing this for just over a week now and have so far lost 3 pounds. I've bought a 2 litre bottle of water that I fill up each day at work because water is known to aid weight loss and is obviously amazing for your skin and internal organs.I've also been more conscious about what I'm eating thanks to a new book, Eat Pretty by Jolene Hart, which is teaching me what to eat for a glowing complexion. I might do a little cheat sheet on here for you guys so look out for that.

I will continue to update you on my progress and I'd love to hear of your weight loss successes!

Best products and top tips for managing Eczema

Trust me when I say, I know what you are going through. I have had Eczema since I was a baby and unfortunately still suffer today, despite doctors telling my mum it was something I would 'grow out of''.

When I was younger it was really severe and I even spent three separate weeks in hospital because the doctors didn't know what else to do - I couldn't walk because it was all over my joints and if I stood up straight it would all crack and weep and put simply it was excruciating. And yet, that desire to scratch was still there. That horrible, irritating, constant desire to literally rip your skin to shreds.

As a naive child, my time in hospital was awesome! I didn't feel unwell I just couldn't walk properly so I just saw it as a chance for some time off school! But looking back I realise how incredibly sad it actually was because a lot of the time I was the only person on my ward and I spent a lot of time on my own, I think I was only about 7/8. I do remember one time there was a little girl who came into the hospital and she used to ask me to eat all her cheese sandwiches, which I had absolutely no problem with! However now I'm older I piece everything else about her together and think she must have had an eating disorder and I was her enabler by eating all her food for her! So please accept this as my apology if you're reading.

Every morning, noon and night the nurses would make me have a bath in potassium and something else (can't remember all the sciencey terms) and then I would be wet-wrapped from head to toe, I was literally a mummy. Wet wrapping is where you moisturise the skin thoroughly and use steroid creams where necessary and then using tubigrip you put one wet layer on and then put another layer of dry tubigrip over the top. This is the only thing that has ever rid my Eczema. If you have young children with Eczema I highly advise you try this as you physically cannot scratch the skin.

My poor mum and dad used to spend so much time wet wrapping my skin before school and before bed. My mum used to take me to countless doctors and try every single cream, even Homeopathy and reflexology to try and get rid and I really couldn't be more grateful for their efforts.

Unfortunately I still very much have Eczema and it hasn't got any better as I get older which is a shame but it's just something that I accept now and get on with. Of course it doesn't stop me from getting embarrassed if someone asks me about my rash on my hands, or when people ask if they can catch it (No dear, you can't).  I currently have it on my legs, hands, arms and now annoyingly my stomach.

One thing I have learnt is how to manage my eczema better, I accept that my skin will be bad in the winter and so I try and look for nice winter outfits that cover my skin. In the summer I know the sun does wonders for my skin so I brave it and I get out my legs for the fresh air and sunshine. In my head I think everyone is staring at my legs, and yes there probably are a few glares but I try to ignore the comments in my head as they are probably my worst critic. Hey, Kim Kardashian has Psoriasis and rocks it, so we can too!

One thing I struggle with is the constant feeling of irritation. I have never really thought about it until recently but I'm constantly feeling uptight and frustrated because I always have a distressing feeling of itchiness somewhere on my body - If anyone has a way to overcome this constant irritation that isn't drink or drugs related please do let me know!

I've literally used all the prescribed creams and steroid creams known to man and have never really found any of them to be fantastic. But I have found some high street options that I have found to keep my skin moisturised and keep my Eczema manageable. I'm not saying they've cleared my Eczema, unfortunately no cream has but they definitely help make it more comfortable. I will link to where to pick them up online.

First up is the cream I'm using at the moment is Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion from Boots. It is formulated with Shea Butter and a unique Triple Oat Complex, I'm not sure what that means but it must be good because it definitely keeps my skin feeling moisturised and soothes my eczema instantly. Normally at this point in the year my Eczema is unbearable and quite painful to walk, but this year it is not too bad (see picture above, taken this morning) and I put it down to this cream. I am starting a new job in February so I assume that it will flare up then as stress is a major factor for my Eczema but I'm hoping that if I keep this cream by my side it won't get too horrendous. I've just re-read this and now I'm thinking you probably think my legs look gross in the picture and the cream doesn't work at all,but trust me it gets MUCH worse, this cream has definitely helped. http://www.boots.com/en/Aveeno-Skin-Relief-Lotion-200ml_983786/

Another thing I use all the time which I think is a total godsend is the Avene Water Spray. I spritz this on any parts of my body that are itching at the time (usually all of it) and then  count to ten in my head. I usually find that this soothes the itch and my little head count calms me down so I don't feel the need to start hacking at my skin. http://www.boots.com/en/Eau-Thermal-Avene-Water-Spray-150ml_1586/

This is another one from Avene, it's the cold cream body lotion which has all the soothing properties of the water but in a lotion form. It really helped to keep my Eczema at bay even during a really stressful time in my life. I would highly recommend this lotion, especially for kids because it's so gentle on the skin. I've seen that Avene has brought out another cream for Eczema, XeraCalm, but I haven't had a chance to try that just yet. If anyone has please let me know what you thought. http://www.boots.com/en/Eau-Thermale-Avene-Cold-Cream-Body-Lotion-400ml_1250059/

My final product is the coconut body butter from the Body Shop. I always think this shouldn't work because it's got fragrance in it but it just does. I wouldn't say it's the best of the bunch but it's certainly a runner-up. Plus, it smells delicious. http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/bath-body-care/best-sellers/coconut-body-butter.aspx

These creams have helped me but that's not to say they're for everyone. Perhaps you could contact the company and ask for samples before you buy. Or sometimes brands like to do research on their products so why not follow them on Facebook / Twitter and look out for opportunities to test any new products for Eczema.

Something else that I find helps is to wear cuffed pyjamas to bed - it makes it harder to get to your Eczema when you're asleep, which tends to be the worst time for scratching for me. You can pick up some really cheap ones from Primark and it definitely helps to minimise the scratching. I also used to have some little blue cotton gloves that my mum used to make me wear to bed - I used to feel like a little magician going to bed and of course would never wear them on sleepover (oh the horror!) but they definitely helped. Sometimes if I'm really going for it at night and I wake myself up scratching I just put socks on my hands and this seems to work. I know I sound like a lunatic but these little things do make a bit of a difference - every little helps, right?

I remember watching an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians when Kim Kardashian discovered she had Psoriasis and she had a camomile bath - I've tried this and it is soothing on the skin. Plus, having a bath is relaxing which calms your stress, which calms the itching I find.

I hope this post has helped, even if it helps just one person then I'll feel good because I really do know exactly what you're going through. Eczema is a total bitch and I hate it so I'm urging you all to share your top tips with me and others so we can all manage it better! Please do comment below or send me a message on Twitter.

Thank you xx

What I got for Christmas...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas break and had a sparkling NYE! I sympathise and am with you all getting back into the slog of the daily grind, waking up at the early hours of the morning, hair stood on end and in a state of constant confusion and delirium until about 11am once the caffeine has kicked in. Eugh. January. 

On a more positive note, this is my first beauty blog post of 2015 #yay. I'm super excited to write this post as I thought I would share with you all what I got for Christmas and relive the happy memories of chilling at home in my PJs. 

As I get older I get more and more used to the fact that my gift quantity (not quality) should dwindle. Which I'm fine with by the way! Opening presents is no longer the extravagant event that it was when you were eight, when all you can think about is that new Barbie you asked for! Anyway I digress, as I get older I feel like I am just really happy spending time with the people I love and making sure that the children in my family are having the BEST DAY EVER. 

That being said I got thoroughly spoilt this year so I wanted to share with you the goodies I got! My boyfriend and I set a £30 limit as we are hoping to do things to our house this year so we thought we should be sensible. The boy did good. He bought me the Sali Hughes book Pretty Honest, Real Techniques makeup sponge, a gorgeous leather notepad, a Dior lip balm and lots of other pretty little bits. I really have a keeper. 

My mum and dad also spoilt me and bought me a lovely bag (looks like a cream Cambridge satchel) and a Topshop gift voucher. My brother and his Fiancée gave me the Lena Dunham book, hair bits and a hot-to-trot top from Topshop. And my littlest brother gave me some lovely slippers. 

But it didn't stop there. Every year my boyfriend and I spend half the day at my parent's house and then the other half at his parent's house. Yes, we have two Christmas dinners. When we got to his parent's house we had two big bags waiting for us filled with lovely gifts, including jumbo argan oil Shampoo and Conditioner, some lovely nail varnishes, a little sign for my house saying 'Please remove your Jimmy Choos' which I love! And best of all, they bought me some Converse!

As the boy has quite a big family we do Secret Santa with his sisters and their husbands to save the pennies. Usually we have a limit of £20 per person but this year me and the boy did extremely well as his family had all clubbed together and bought us tickets to see Ed Sheeran! I honestly can't believe how lucky I have been this year! Very spoilt indeed and I am so grateful for everything I have received and very grateful that all my friends and family have started 2015 happy and healthy. 

I hope you were all just as lucky as I was and I hope 2015 has been amazing for you so far. 

Happy New Year! X

HNY love me and Sam x

Feeling blue… #nails

Just wanted to share with you guys my blue nails for the weekend! It's not normally a colour I go for on my nails but I love it! 

Blue confetti nails for le weekend <3

I'm wearing Barry M's Cyan Blue with Barry M's Confetti Effect in Sour Apple over the top. Enjoy your weekend and let me know what you're wearing on your nails this weekend

It's Fri-YAY! xx

Estee Lauder Beauty Haul

I count myself very lucky because my work has a deal with Estee Lauder and we get the exclusive white tickets each month. For those who don't know, the white tickets give you access to the factory and basically really good discounts (for example I got the A-mazing Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair for £49 instead of £69!). Now, I know I have an irrepressible passion for beauty and every bone in my body wants me to go to the factory every single month, but my bank balance won't allow it so this year I've only been about four times. Which, believe it or not, is really good for me.

This year I went with the hope of picking up some really lovely Christmas presents, but as expected my budget was blown on myself. Oops. So I just thought I'd share with you the little treats I bought for myself and how I'm getting on with them.

I went in knowing that I wanted Advanced Night Repair so I was super happy when I saw that smiling at me from the Estee Lauder shelf. When I use this product I swear I wake up and my skin just looks and feels so much better than when I don't use it - an absolute beauty hero in my book. I also indulged myself in the Estee Lauder Advanced Eye Repair - which I'm loving.

On the packaging it says you can use this lightweight serum over or under your normal eye cream but I've been using it alone and it's just lovely. It leaves my under eyes feeling really silky, which at this time of the year is a miracle. I'm not bragging when I say this but I didn't have very deep set wrinkles anyway so I can't say I've seen a huge difference in lines around my eyes but hey - prevention is key, folks.

I also treated myself to some Creme De La Mer beauty goodies. No, don't worry not the full size stuff - I haven't won the lottery. They had these really cute little bags with teeny tiny versions of 'the cleansing lotion', 'the treatment lotion', 'the radiance infusion' and 'the hydrating infusion' for £25. I've been using all these products and I'm hooked. Considering re-mortgaging to get my next fix...

I put my thumb in the pic so you can see how small the bottles are!

I've never really bought into the hype of Creme De La Mer just because I know I can never really afford the products, but when I saw Alessandra Steinherr (Glamour's Beauty Director) post a pic on Instagram of some Creme De La Mer products, followed by her gorgeously glowing skin, make-up free I add, I quickly changed my mind. Seriously, take a look at her beautiful skin on Instagram (http://instagram.com/alexsteinherr).

Anyway, I digress, I really am impressed with the quality of these products. The cleansing lotion leaves my skin feeling well, cleansed, but not only that it leaves it feeling plump and moisturised. The treatment lotion is almost like a serum that you pat into your skin before a moisturiser and I feel like I can really see a difference when I've used this because it leaves my skin looking quite perky. I haven't used the other products a great deal because the bottles are so tiny I don't want them to run out but what I have experienced so far I've liked a lot. Oh dear. Finances are going to take a hit.

The last thing I bought was from Origins, their Age Defence Treatment Lotion with White Tea. I have to admit I purely bought this product for the packaging and haven't even used it once yet! But, I will be sure to update you all once I've used it. It certainly smells delicious - just like pink lemonade. Let me know if you've used this and what you think.

Have you had a beauty haul recently? Let me know what you've been buying in the comments below.

xx

November - I'm loving...

As I'm a bit of a beauty harlot, I get seduced by a multitude of beauty products on a weekly basis, so I thought in order to try and put some method into this beauty madness I would share with you all my mid-month beauty favourites of what I'm loving that particular month. Seems so fickle doesn't it! But I wouldn't say I'm particularly loyal to any brand, obviously there are certain brands that I adore, however I wouldn't continue using their products if I found something better just because I love the brand - I really am a beauty sl*t, I get around.

So first on my list of what I'm loving this chilly November is an amazing eye rollerball from Trilogy - CoQ10 eye recovery concentrate. This is one of those things that if I'm totally honest about I had forgotten I had. I reached for it at the beginning of the month to trial a new eye cream and was reminded all over again just how amazing this product is. I suffer from pretty bad dark circles under my eyes so I am constantly hunting for the latest and best eye products to conceal and brighten my under eyes, but this product I can honestly say is the best one I've used for dark circles. The effect is immediate, my eyes just looked brighter and more hydrated - even my boyfriend could tell which eye I had put it on to test it and that never happens! I would defo recommend this product to anyone wanting a fresher, brighter look under the eyes. You can pick it up online and it's on sale at the moment on Feelunique, here: http://www.feelunique.com/p/Trilogy-Age-Proof-CoQ10-Eye-Recovery-Concentrate-7-5ml

My next product for my November favourites is the classic Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - this is a must-have for the colder months as it's a total all-rounder that you can use for pretty much everything, from burns to chapped lips it works for all. I particularly love lavishing my lips with it to keep them supple through their daily battle with air con. It's also really soothing for my eczema that I tend to get on my hands when it starts getting colder. I just have it by my desk and smother it on throughout the day to keep my eczema moisturised. You can this from most drug stores like Superdrug and Boots, or online, here: http://www.boots.com/en/Elizabeth-Arden-Eight-Hour-Cream-Skin-Protectant-50ml_9783/

I'm feeling pretty pasty right now so a product I like using is James Read Sleep Mask Tan, it basically gives your face a gorgeous glow while you sleep. It's a perfect mix of Aloe Vera, Cucumber, Hyaluronic Acid and Red Algae so it moisturises and soothes the skin overnight while gently tanning the face so you wake up with a gorgeous glow. Or if you're going out for some drinks you can slap some of this on for 2 hours before you go out and wash it off for a subtle glow. This is around £25 and is totally worth it! http://www.jamesreadtan.com/Shop/sleep-mask-tan-face-50ml

I think I'm going to leave it there for my November favourites otherwise I could go on for hours. Let me know your favourite products this month and also keep an eye on my Instagram page for the latest products I'm using and what I'm loving!

My Beauty Heroes - Part Two

Here is the second helping to my post from Thursday about my beauty favourites, check it out if you haven't read the first post. I was swept up in the beauty awards I've been reading about and decided to share which products would get a gold star from me!

Thursday's post focused on skincare and hair, and this one will be looking at my favourite body care and cosmetic products. I'm sure I've probably forgotten loads so if there's something you think I've missed then please comment. 

All these products mentioned are my favourite products EVER, and I'd love to hear yours. Please be sure to tag me in any of your blog posts or Instapics (@pennyw28)

Body care

Moisturiser - Body Shop Coconut Body Butter (great for eczema sufferers)

Self-tanner - Rodial Brazilian Tan

Exfoliator - This may be controversial but my favourite exfoliation is from using my little gloves that I got from Primark!

Hand Cream - Aveeno Hand Cream

Body Oil - Bio-oil

Make-up

Foundation - Mac Mineralize Satinfinish

Primer - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Under eye concealer - YSL Touche Eclat

Concealer - Mac Studio Finish

Blusher - Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks

Bronzer - Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder

Eyeshadow - Revlon Colourstay pallet in Addictive

Mascara - Benefit They're Real

Lipgloss - Clarins Instant Lip Perfecter

Do you agree with any of my winners? I'd love to hear what you think. Also, I'm thinking of doing a giveaway soon, so please be sure to follow me and stay tuned for an update!

My Beauty Heroes - Part One

It's award time in the beauty world at the moment with many magazines announcing their big beauty winners, and this got me thinking - which beauty products would be my award-winners?

My beauty collection is a tad like a beauty bazaar; I've got all sorts - which I attribute to my amazing time working in the beauty industry. I was lucky enough to be able to go to industry events which allowed me to try a number of different products (the dream!).

This post has been really hard to research because I've been trying to use all my products to make sure I'm being fair. But this means I've fallen in love with all my collection again! I also have so much to talk about that I'll have to split this post into two - this one will be skincare and hair and the next one will be make-up and body, which I will post on Sunday.

It's been really tough to pick my beauty heroes, but here goes…

Hair

Shampoo - Trilogy Smooth and Nourish Shampoo

Conditioner - Milk_shake Colour Maintainer Conditioner

Styling product - Percy and Reed Wonder Balm

Dry Shampoo - Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oatmilk

Hairspray - L'Oreal Elnett Volume Excess

Face

Moisturiser - Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser

Serum - Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Serum

Night treatment - Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Eye cream - Clarins Eye Flash Balm

Multi-tasker - Eau Thermale Avène Water Spray, obviously!

Lip balm - Dior Crème de Rose (I think this is being reformulated at the moment so I'm intrigued to try the new version and see if it lives up to the old one)

Face mask - Obviously this depends on what you are using the face mask for, but the one I always feel refreshed and bright after is Liz Earle Brightening Face Mask

Cleanser - Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Balm

Face self-tanner - Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tan (mousse texture)

If you'd like to hear more about why I love any of the above products then let me know and I'll do an individual blog post on them and why they're awesome!

Look out for my post on Sunday to hear the rest of my favourites, also let me know what your favourites are. I'm also thinking about doing a giveaway soon so please follow me and stay posted for the details. 

Autumn beauty trends to trial

I thought for this blog post I would share with you some of the wearable trends I've been seeing around and what products I would use to achieve these fab looks. I have to admit I am a summer girl through and through, so a part of me dies a little inside when the weather changes in October (especially with all this rain we've been having in England). But I'm looking beyond this dull weather at the beautiful trends we have to play with this autumn.

Some of them are easy to pull off and others may seem slightly scarier. 

If Halloween isn't a great opportunity to trial these looks then I don't know what is! I reckon let's just be bold and just go for it! Share with me your pics on Instagram @pennyw28

Trend #1 - Dark grey / blue nails

Difficulty rating - Easy-peasy

The colour of the season is Chanel's Orage, which is a mix between a dark blue and dark grey. Chanel seem to always navigate the trends when it comes to nails but we must remember there are other great nail varnishes out there for a fraction of the cost. Barry M for example are fab for a glossy mani and for just £3.99 a paint pot, it's a bargain! My top pick to achieve the dark nails look is Barry M (Grey). While they may lack imagination and creativity with the nail colour name, I promise they make up for in highly pigmented, long lasting colour.

Or you could adapt this trend to suit you more and opt for an elegant pastel grey tone - I reckon this would look amazing against pale skin tones. My fave for this look is Bourjois So Laque in 003 BCBeige

Trend #2 - Mauve eyeshadow

Difficulty rating - OK, this could be tricky

I love this look because I have brown/green eyes so it really brings out the green in my eyes. But what I love even more about this trend though is it literally suits everyone.

Chanel Illusion D'ombre in 83 Ilusoire is a beautiful deep purple with specks of glitter in to make your eyes pop. This shade suits everyone and is so light that you can build up the look to suit what you want. The first few layers go on as a grey / purple shade and then as you build it up the purple really starts to present itself.

Or you can try Stila shadow pots in Iris. This is a really plummy shade and immediately gives amazingly pigmented colour on the lids. Pair this with a smudging of black kohl liner to give the eyes some definition and lashings of mascara.

Stila (left) and Chanel (right)

Stila (left) and Chanel (right)

Trend #3 Black cherry lips

Difficulty rating - Oh em gee, I couldn't ever pull this off!

I admit I can be scared of bold lip colours, I just feel that everyone is staring at my lips. I remember one time I wore a bold red/orange colour and one of my guy friends came up to me half way through the night and said these killer words: "Alright there smudgie?!". I rushed to the loos and spotted the horror of all horrors, my lipstick had smudged all over my top lip, great!

But fear not, I told myself I will continue to persevere! So, back on the lipstick horse I rustled through my collection to find colours to suit this trend and came up with the following: Rimmel's Kate lipstick in 04 (a deep cherry purple colour), Revlon's Super Lustrous lipstick in Berry Couture and Rimmel's lasting finish in 128 Starry-eyed. The latter is probably the most black cherry-esque, but I think when it comes to dark colours on your lips find one that you feel comfortable with and that lifts your complexion. When testing lipsticks use your fingertips as experts say this is the most similar part of your body to your lips.

From left to right: Rimmel Starry-eyed, Revlon Berry Couture, Rimmel 04.

Of course, the ever popular trend of full eyebrows is here to stay for the autumn as well. I've taken a while to get on board the thick eyebrow train, but now I'm on I'm never getting off. I love the definition they give to my face.

Other trends showing themselves are high ballerina buns, low voluminous ponytails and lips coated in colourful glitter. If you're testing any of these out please share with some photos with me, I'd love to see what you're up to!

High flyer? More like dry flyer

Reading this week's Stylist magazine online, one particular article caught my eye - How to get upgraded on a flight. The article shares top tips in the form of a handy infographic (who doesn't love an infographic?) on how to guarantee an upgrade on your next flight. The advice includes buying treats for the cabin crew, dressing like a business woman and booking the flight using your titles should you be a Dr or a Judge etc…

I can't speak for everyone but I am highly unlikely to do any of those things. I have also tried to get upgraded before on a trip to NYC and failed miserably. It was on a flight just after the Iceland volcano so our flight was so empty. I thought I'd take my chances and ask in the nicest possible way to be upgraded to business class as there were empty seats, but sadly for me the cabin crew were having none of it. On the plus side, the flight was so empty that my boyfriend and I had our pick of the seats and could sprawl out along an entire aisle, so I can't really moan too much. For those of you who like me won't be trying any of these tips out anytime soon, I thought I'd share with you my own top tips for being as comfortable as you can be down in the tin can that is most economy flights.

How to treat your skin

We know that flights suck all the moisture out of your skin so it's important during the flight to keep your skin hydrated, so you don't get off the plane and start your holiday looking like a little prune.

My ultimate number one product, won't get on a flight without it, is Eau Thermale Avène water spray - it's genius. You can spritz away throughout the flight and it leaves a dewy glow on your skin and soothes any dryness. Also, on the plus side it's very subtle so you don't look like you’re a sweaty mess to the passenger next to you *thumbs up*

Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask is also a winner for flights. Apply this to bring life back to the thirstiest skin. It will leave a white layer on your skin, but you'll be surprised how quickly this sinks into the skin desperate for moisture. You can leave this on for as long as you want to, and when you've had enough soak a tissue / cotton pad with your Avène water and gently remove the residue.

Another hero would be the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. It's perfect for any flaking, dryness, peeling… need I go on? I actually only use this on my lips for a much needed moisture seal, but I know a lot of people who apply a thin layer over the entire face to prep for flying.

Easy make-up post-flight

Although I think it's important to try and go make-up free during the flight, we all want to start our holiday looking and feeling our best so here's my favourite, low maintenance make-up to perk-up your face post flight.

Apply Rimmel Wake me up concealer under the eyes and buff in Chanel Les Beiges sheer powder into the skin for a healthy glow. Dot Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick (I love Formentera) onto the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out for a flushed natural glow. Coat your lashes with Benefit They're Real to open up your eyes and if you're feeling like you need extra oomph then opt for Charlotte Tilbury's Colour Chameleon sticks, I use Bronzed Garnet. Finally, add a pop of moisture and colour to your lips with Dior Lip Glow, which is a balm that brings out the natural colour of your lips. And you're good to go!

If you're going on a winter sun break, or perhaps skiing, let me know how you get on with your flight beauty regime.

The Teenage Years - LFW

If like me you've been a keen follower of LFW you will have seen one of the latest beauty trends to hit us - I'm calling it 'the teenage years'.

'The teenage years' consists of an even, porcelain skin tone with lashings of mascara to give an innocent doe-eyed guise, and adding to the look with a subtlety glittery glossy lip - basically going back in time to the early noughties where body glitter was all the rage (let's bring this back!).

This trend was spotted on Victoria Beckham and Jason Wu's catwalks and I have to admit I'm thrilled that we have an easy and wearable style to follow this winter. I'm a lover from afar of the winter berry colour palettes but I'm not one to pull off an aubergine lip in the winter, hence my enthusiasm for the bare faced chic of 'the teenage years'.

But how do I pull off this look without looking like my former 12 year old self you ask? Well, I'm no expert and probably look I'm ten years old (especially with this scrunchie I'm still sporting), but I've picked my favourite products that I think ooze grown-up gorgeousness but will give you the natural glow of  teenager that we can only dream of nowadays! 

The face - My favourite base to achieve a dewy and light complexion while giving even coverage is the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. While this gives your skin a lovely natural glow of a moisturiser it still gives enough coverage to cover any pesky blemishes. This, for me, is perfect for the winter as I really feel like it lifts my complexion. Give yourself a little natural flush using the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lip and Cheek (£19), my favourite is Fresh Melon. No matter what look I'm trying to achieve I will always add a sweep of bronzer just to pick up my complexion and my go-to at the moment is Hoola from Benefit (£23.50).

The eyes - Keep your eyes simple with some brightening under eye concealer (I'm loving Garnier roll-on all over again!) and layers of mascara to really open up your eyes giving a youthful look. My favourite mascara at the moment is the Benefit They're Real (£19). I'm amazed at just how good this mascara is and would recommend it to anyone wanting to achieve longer and more voluminous lashes - so basically everyone.

The lips - Add your favourite lip balm first to ensure maximum lip plumpage (note: made up word) and then slick on a clear gloss to finish off the look. My top pick is Nars Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Gold digger (£19.50).

So while I may be depressed that summer is on its way out and the tans are fading, I'm quite excited for all the autumn trends that we can now start playing with.

What were your favourite looks from LFW?

It's Love - Benefit's Tinted Balms

This product is something I've been waiting for a very long time. I love a bright statement lip but because I'm not a lover of the shape of my own lips (that sounds odd saying that) I rarely indulge in a hot-to-trot bold lip colour. I tend to just enviously gaze - sometimes a bit too much - at women who can pull off a lobster red lip staring longingly at their full, colourful pout.

It's strange though, even though I don't tend to wear bright colours on my lips, I think shopping for lip colours and blushers is my favourite thing to shop for, purely because the colours suck me in. It's just a shame I can't find the confidence to wear a bright colour. Until now…

I have searching for the perfect tinted lip balm for YEARS. And now I've found it, it is my soul mate, the Adam to my Eve, the Gin to my Tonic, the marmite to my toast... Yeah yeah ok, you get it… In my search before now I've never really found the right formula for me - either too sheer (Nivea rose lip balm) or too full (sometimes the Sleek Pout Polish, sorry). But this has all the answers.

Benefit tinted balms come in four different shades (and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more). Each shade matches one of the lip and cheek stains from Benefit so you can look pretty and flushed with the cheek stain and then top off your look with a splash of matching colour and moisture for your lips. I have tried all the shades but the two I have bought are Benebalm (rosy red colour) and Lollibalm (a candy-orchid, purply colour). The other two, Chachabalm (coral colour) and Posiebalm (pinky flush) but were both lovely as well but I had to limit myself and these didn't show up as well as the others on my lips.

The balms promise to condition & hydrate with mango butter and sodium hyaluronate, giving you very soft and full looking lips. I can honestly say they do. I've been wearing mine in this sweltering heat that we've been lucky enough to have and my lips still feel very plump and hydrated. Not a dry patch or flake in the room.

At £14.50 these balms are pricier than what you would expect to pay for a lip balm, but I think they are worth it and I'm really happy with my purchase. If you just want a sheer but noticeable flush of colour on your lips these are for you.

http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/category/makeup/lips

YSL Baby Doll Kiss and Blush - Don't mind if I do

On my lunch breaks I always tend to find myself wandering the beauty hall of Debenhams lusting after many beauty must-haves, and today was no different.

This afternoon I found myself hovering around the YSL counter, which was no surprise as I tend to love YSL around spring time due to their pretty, punchy colours.

I came across the Baby Doll Kiss and Blush, which forgive me if I'm behind the beauty times, but it was the first time I'd heard of it. Well, let me tell you, I will be back to purchase this on pay day!

YSL say: "A hybrid between a lip colour and a blush, this innovative air-whipped formula allows for an instant application on both lips and cheeks. With a luminous matte finish, colour is easily buildable from a soft and natural look to a more intense sophisticated look. The patented "hidden pearl" applicator is customised to glide perfectly on the lips and to allow the optimal amount of formula to be dotted on the cheeks."

I tested no.8 Pink Hedoniste, which in the bottle looked like a light peachy pink. Normally I'm wary of cosmetics that look peachy pinky as they tend to not show up on my skin or completely wash me out (I'm quite yellow toned). But, let me tell you, this was SHA-amazing!

The colour made me look like I had a real natural flush on my cheeks, and on the lips it enhanced my natural lip colour adding a pinky girly wash of colour.

The packaging is gorgeous - it is in a small tube like lip gloss so it's easy to transport around with you and apply on the go. What's more is there are 12 divine colours to choose from.

Put simply, I love it. At £27 it is pricey, is it worth it? Answer: yes.

Get yours here: http://www.yslbeauty.co.uk/make-up/lips/baby-doll-kiss-blush?gclid=CPvp-LDDnL4CFYXItAodCToAnA

Sleek Make-up's Pout Polish Is The Bomb!

Wow, I feel awful - I haven't blogged for almost seven months. That's a lifetime in blog years and I deserve a slapped wrist. So much has happened in seven months, so I'll try and fill you in one short paragraph… I've bought my house with my boyfriend, which we are loving, I've been to Ibiza, I've had a birthday, I've taken up hula hooping and managed to do the race for life while hooping, I've spent a shocking amount of money on makeup and skincare, I've booked a holiday to Berlin for November and my boyfriend's sister welcomed into the world a gorgeous baby boy. All in all, a great seven months! To ease me back into the blogosphere I just wanted to do a quick post about what I'm loving right now. With this confusing weather my skin is really suffering, but it's my lips that suffer the most in this strange, one minute warm, next minute freezing weather. I need constant moisture to keep my lips supple, but in the dull winter I also crave a pop of colour for my lips, but I've always found it difficult to combine those two requirements. That was until I found Sleek Makeup's Pout Polish. These little pots are so moisturising, plus they smell fantastic and have SPF15. When you see the colours in the tester pots they look really bright, but they are more subtle when applied to the lip. If you are seeking a bolder colour, you could wear the balm over a lipstick for that extra wow-factor or mix and match to customise your own desired colour. These were only around £5 from Superdrug and I really recommend them as a budget buy for winter. They don't last particularly long, but I am always topping up my lip balm so that doesn't really bother me. I bought Raspberry Rhapsody which is a magenta/purple kind of colour, which is amazing and I also bought Peach Perfection, the soft peachy colour looks amazing in the pot but for me it's just a bit too subtle on the lip - but it's great for someone who is looking for a really subtle, barely there look. Overall a great cheap buy that does what it says on the tin!

Bleurgh - Winter is here

What is your summer to winter beauty regime? Do most of us even have one? I highly doubt it. But this time of year, ladies, is a rough time for our skin. It's adapting from the hot summery days, giving it a beautiful sun kissed glow and allowing for the drab, windy and cold months ahead. Not sure if you can tell, but I'm not winter's biggest fan. The three D's of winter skin: dry, dehydrated and dull. Obviously we still want to be looking fabulous all winter long, but we can't just rely on our faux fur to keep us looking glam, our skin needs to be s**t hot too! To get your skin ready for winter I've compiled a list of top tips and products for you to use to get your skin from drab to fab this winter! This first one is on the pricey side, but man will you see a difference in your skin! Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System is a bit of a mouthful, but you don't need to worry about that. All you need to know is that this thing works. The way it works is it has a round brush head that you can use to cleanse your face by a gentle vibrating motion. You move it around your face in the shower and it buffs away at the skins surface, removing impurities and dead skin cells. In winter, I tend to get really dry patches on my skin that even Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream can't budge, but one use of Clarisonic buffs that right off. It's expensive at around £125, but 100% worth the price tag. I'm totally evangelical about this gadget. I'm also pretty enthusiastic about this next tip… drink lots of water. Water is one of the very few beauty products that is free and still does an amazing job, so take advantage! Aim for around 8 pints a day to keep your skin in tip top condition all through winter. I don't want to seem all goody-two-shoes about this though, I struggle to drink this amount as much as the next person. My tip to keep yourself hydrated is to buy a pretty bottle that you will want to keep refilling and taking it to meetings! Paperchase have cute bottles, including this cupcake one for £6: http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00504495/. Bargain! Other products that I cannot live without during winter include my Eau Thermale Avene Moisture Mask, you can soak your skin in this cream and it will instantly look refreshed and hydrated. Carmex lip balm is a cheap item, but essential one in my book; berry lipstick does not look hot on flaky lips. Clarins Liquid Self Tanner for Face is another 'can't live without' to keep your skin looking radiant. At least you'll be looking glowing, when all you can really think about is squirreling yourself away for the rest of winter. It's ridiculously easy to apply and can be done with one sweep of a cotton pad et voila, a sun kissed you. I can't lie to you and say that's all I use during winter. I am a skincare hoarder and constantly change my routine, but these are my staples that I buy again and again. I'd love to hear what products you can't live without during the cold, cold winter months.

Desk Saviours

Today I wanted to share with you my desk saviours, all my beauty favourites that accompany me to work each day. I used to have a ton of products that sat pride of place on my desk at work, but now I'm hot desking (don't have a permanent desk to anyone who doesn’t know what that means), and so my beauty products have had to be slashed to only the bare essentials.

I have a real thing about dry hands, if my hands feel even the tiniest bit dry I get a bit freaked out! Slightly dramatic I know but I've heard that everyone has someone slightly OCD about them, and I think this is my thing. So because of my weird thing about dry hands, I always have on my desk a hand cream. One that I've been loving for almost a year now is my Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Hand & Nail Cream. It's a really intensive moisturiser with a blend of natural and organic ingredients; it's great for dry, rough skin and leaves my hands feeling really nourished all day. My most absolute favourite thing about Dr Organic is that all the products are so affordable; I think this hand cream is about £6.19 and it is AMAZING! You can pick this up at most Holland & Barrett stores, if I were you I'd pick up a few things from Dr Organic while you're there. It's one of my favourite skincare brands simply because you get quality products but you're not paying extreme amounts of money for them. Brill!

Something I couldn't live without in my dry, air-conditioned office is my lip balm. The one that takes first place for me is By Terry Baume De Rose SPF15. I've blogged about this beauty before so apologies, but it really is lovely. The texture is very light but you know that it's doing an amazing job of keeping those lips looking juicy. It leaves a really sheer pearlescenty type of look on the lips, but trust me it doesn't look like I've been transported back to the 90s, it looks pretty. This is quite pricey but I definitely think it's worth it - I've had mine for well over a year and haven't hit the bottom yet.

I've saved the best till last, something that I think everyone should have at their deskside - in fact I'll even go as far as to say that it should be the law that companies provide all employees with this wonder! It's the Eau Thermale Avène Water Spray! At only £6.50 you really need to go and grab this from Boots on your lunch break. It's a spray of 'perfection' that keeps your skin hydrated throughout the day. Your skin will look dewy and healthy just from one spritz. I find it really chills me out as well, so when I'm having a tough day I just keep spritzing till 5pm! I have one of these sprays everywhere, including my car, my handbag, bedside table and desk side!

I used to be terrible and have beauty products all over the place, so these are the few that made the cut. Hope you enjoyed reading, I'd love to hear what you deem good enough to have on your desk at work.

Having A Fling With Spring

It was Spring Equinox last week and I'm in the mood for a fling with spring colours! I'm so fed up with the dullness of winter, everything is dark and grey so the slightest hint of spring gets me extremely excited.

Flicking through the pages of my YOU Magazine and a sea of pretty pastels consumes me, the sight literally makes me want to squeal with delight! And so to celebrate I wanted to share my spring must-haves to achieve the perfect look to welcome spring.

My favourite for a bright complexion is my Estee Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Release. I've have had this for some time now, after lusting after it for way too long and I'm happy to say I'm still impressed each time it glides onto my skin.

I prefer a dewy glow for my skin because it has a tendency to be very dry, so I try to avoid a heavy base. This tinted moisturiser creates a lovely dewy glow, it is clever because the tint releases upon contact with the skin and gives your skin an injection of radiance, making it appear even-toned and healthy. Plus it delivers all the advanced protection benefits of DayWear, defending against and diminishing the appearance of signs of premature ageing. It also has a lovely crisp cucumber scent which is a great pick-me-up for spring!

Next for my spring must-haves is my YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 17 Rose Dahlia. I have been looking for a while for a lipstick that has brilliant colour but can be worn daily and finally found what I've been looking for. I love this because it has a lovely grapefruit smell which reminds me of summer, so I'm in a good mood whenever I put it on. The texture is sheer matt, if that means anything - it's the only way I could think to describe it. Basically what I mean by that is that it has a matt finish, in the sense that it is long-lasting and full in colour but it is quite sheer at the same time so it doesn’t feel heavy or like you're wearing too much. I'm pretty sure that none of that makes any sense but just know this - It's amazing.

My last thing for spring is my new Laura Mercier Eye Caviar Stick. I won't say too much on this one as I'm going to dedicate a whole post to this lovely product, but I will say that it has some beautiful colours in this range. Perfect for spring, it creates a shimmery look on the eye, or if you're going for subtle you could blend some in the corner of your eye to open them up slightly. These sticks are like eye crayons, easy to use and great for creating some fun summery looks.

And there you have it, my favourites for spring. Let me know what your faves are…  

Osman LFW AW13

Every LFW I love seeing the clothes, but it's the beauty trends that I love to watch emerge. This year I was inspired by the Osman show, where Nick Irwin, CATWALK by TIGI's Global Creative Director, created simple yet beautiful hair to suit Osman's Narnia inspired show.

Using all TIGI products he created an elegant, and what seems like easy style to apply at home. So here goes, firstly take a deep side parting. *HINT* Everyone's nose slightly points to one side more than the other, whichever side your nose points to put your side parting on the other side.

Apply CATWALK by TIGI curlesque strong mousse from about shoulder length and down to the ends and then dry your hair using a diffuser to give the hair some movement. Next, take a curling wand and put a few kinks and bends in the hair and pin the hair in place to give it a few more natural kinks through the ends.

When you're ready take out the pins and tuck your hair behind your ears, hold it all in place with CATWALK by TIGI Look-lock hairspray. Aim to keep your roots free from any product so that the style looks as natural and as product-free as possible. Et voila, a catwalk worthy hair do that is perfect for any occasion. I'll be pulling this bad boy out in Ibiza this summer! 

Channel your inner Angelina with Dior

I'm quite lucky to have a boyfriend who appreciates my love for all things beauty, so much so that he always attempts to buy me something in that category for every Christmas or birthday. This year I was extremely lucky and got my beloved Liz Earle cleanse and polish and the Dior Addict lip maximizer.

Having never tried the lip maximizer I was intrigued and it claims to pretty much change your life. It has a unique collagen enriched formula that supposedly gives you luscious lips that are transformed in just 15 days, leaving them feeling hydrated and restructured with the lip contour being redefined. I have to say I was dubious because not many lip products that claim to plump actually work on my lips.

I have been pleasently surprised by this product and my lips have actually 'transformed', ok so maybe that's a tad dramatic but they're looking plumper and more juicy and yes that is a technical term. The gloss leaves a lovely pink sheen on your lips and doesn't sting like other lip plumpers. I highly recommend this product to all the ladies out there who desire the Angelina pout, it's actually achievable with this great product

The boy did good, yet again. Can't wait for my birthday in May!

Secret Gem!

With Christmas approaching I have tried to reduce my excessive spending so I can actually buy someone else something for once. With this in mind I had to cut back on my beauty buys this month, and so found myself searching high and low for cheap alternatives to my fancy faves.

Whilst searching for these bargain treats I have come across something very special indeed... A Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish dupe for £2.99!!! Not even kidding, it's amazing. I have inspected the ingredients list and it's pretty much the same thing and leaves your skin with the same radiant glow as good ol' Liz.

Ok so do you want to know what it is?? It's Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser. It's the stuff dreams are made of - cheap to buy but has the same effects as a cult classic. I have been very careful not to rave about this too soon, I have taken my time testing it out religiously day and night for two weeks and it's fair to say it is SHAmazing, in the words of the Scherzinger.

For £2.99 you really can't go wrong, it leaves the skin feeling gently buffed and cleansed and ready for the day. My skin looks brighter after using it and I've noticed my acne I seem to have recently is slowly disappearing. It even removes waterproof mascara!

The only negative I can possibly think is the cloth you get with it is quite scratchy on the skin, but I just use my Liz Earle ones instead. So ladies get down to Superdrug now because the price is going up soon. Only to £6.99, mind, still hella cheap!

Have you tried anything from Superdrug's own range?