Skin Confidential: Top Tips for Your Best Skin Ever

Source: http://www.garnier.it/_it/_it/our_products/SKINCARE.aspx?tpcode=OUR_PRODUCTS%5EPRD_SKINCARE%5ETRD_SKINCARE

For many Asian and French women skincare is top priority, but particularly in the UK and America makeup seems to have taken precedent. It's time we ditched the piles of foundation and looked after the skin underneath so that there's less to cover up! Do you agree? My top tips are:

1) Water, water, water.... boring, I know. Ditch fizzy drinks, excessive alcohol and coffee (tea is a better alternative), and make sure you are hydrated throughout the day. If you're out and about take a water bottle with you. 

2) Ditch the Sugar..... as well as being bad for your teeth, fizzy drinks with spoonfuls of sugars, cups of tea with added sugar, and sweets contain glucose that are damaging to skin. I'm not saying give it up, just watch out for when your overdosing on the stuff!

3) Wash your Face..... it's something that is a habit for many kids, but cleaning your face twice a day - especially is you're exfoliating and cleansing - will prevent pore blockages and dirt buildup that causes spots and pimples. 

4) Makeup Free..... just like your body sometimes needs a detox from excess sugar, fat, alcohol and other nasties, your skin will benefit from going makeup free for at least one day every week, if you can manage it. Anyone who has tried this incidently will realise that the benefits outweigh the makeup free 'scary' look!

5) Moisturise..... moisturising twice a day, particularly if you have dry or sensitive skin, will create beneficial skin renewal and prevent dryness and early wrinkles. 

6) Sleep in the fresh air..... weird one, I know, but sleeping with the window open is great for your skin. Sleeping in a hermetically sealed bedroom can starve your skin of oxygen, drying it out, and be as bad as a 10-hour flight in an airconditioned airplane.

Carpe diem xx

Competition in the YouTube Beauty Community

Source: http://christiannadowden.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/makeup-collection.html

Skinnier. Richer. Prettier. Cleverer. Are we all constantly locked in some kind of competition? Thousands of years ago primal mating competition was what drove the world, but in the age of hyper capitalism is the YouTube beauty community a platform for popularity and 'who has the most Mac products' competition? Or is it just a great way of sharing and participating in a community with the same passions? Either way, shouldn't we all judge ourselves on our own standards, and not others? 

What do you think? Comment below

Carpe diem xx

Style Essentials: Top 5 Spring/Summer Jacket Essentials

 

The Leather Jacket: biker, Topshop Petite

The Denim Jacket: Per Una at Marks and Spencer

The Military Jacket: Warehouse

The Trench Coat: cropped trench, Debenhams Petite Collection

The Blazer: navy blue, H and M

Spring and autumn can have changeable weather. You need a jacket or coat but not that heavy winter one. Never fear, all your problems can be solved by just investing in a few staple jackets that are versatile to work in whatever situation they might be needed. These are my faves - bear in mind I live in England where it is cold enough for me to wear these jackets most of the year without boiling :)

What are your favourite styles?

Carpe diem xx

Happy Midsummer: Top Summer Beauty Secrets Haul

So midsummer is here, the days are getting shorter and summer has officially begun. Unfortunately, so does the panic over summer beauty regimes; revealing your pale legs for the first time in months, attacking leg hair, buffing and bronzing for that bikini body. But never fear, you need just a few secrets up your sleeve to waltz your way through summer sun with confidence. 

Bronzer: Delice de Poudre bronzing powder, Bourjois

Self tanner: Dove Summer Glow nourishing moisturiser gradual tanner

Sunglasses: retro cat eye in black, Accessorize

Tinted moisturiser: Olay Essentials complete care everyday sunshine moisturising cream in light, SPF 15

Bikini top: 2-cup size booster in black, Primark

Bikini bottoms: black, Marks and Spencer

What are your summer beauty secrets?

Carpe diem xx

Natural Skincare: Korres Skincare Beauty Haul

Korres Japanese rose body butter - amazing scent and really hydrating

Korres Japanese rose showergel with organic extracts of althea and helichrysum - containing proteins that regulate skin hydration

Korres wild rose lip butter - great lip moisturiser with a subtle but English Rose rosy tint

For those who don't know, Korres is a brand of Greek skincare and body products containing highly concentrated natural and organic ingredients. This is my haul - wish I could afford to get these regularly but sadly I'm a student :( - suitable for vegetarians and vegans and not tested on animals - yay!

Have you tried Korres? What's your opinion of their products? High quality or just over-priced?

Carpe diem xx

Market Life: Alicante Street Food

Selection of olives (aceitunas)

Sugar canes 

Calamares (fried squid), mussels, pickled onions

Turron (nougat)

Carpe diem xx

CURRENT Dry/Sensitive Skin Morning/Night Skincare Routine

Skincare routine (morning):

Wash face with water - Microfibre facial cloth (perfect soft facial cloth for preventing clogs and blemishes!)

Exfoliate (2 times a week) - Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Exfoliating Wash with Witch Hazel

Moisturise - Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Light Moisturising Day Cream SPF 15 (best formula for sensitive skin)

Lip balm - Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm

Skincare routine (night):

Remove makeup - Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes Dry & Sensitive skin (great at working to remove makeup traces and cleansing the skin simultaneously)

Wash face with water - Microfibre facial cloth

Moisturise - Simple Hydrating Moisturising Cream (light moisturizer for lighter coverage)

Lip balm - Vaseline Rose and Almond Oil 'Rosy Lips' (protective petroleum barrier and rose scent)

Hand cream - Soap and Glory Hand Food (really soft and smells amazing, WARNING contains marshmallow!)

Having dry and sensitive skin I find it as essential to follow a good daily skincare regime. Whilst you might be not acne or blemish prone, and generally never have oily skin, it is essential to protect your skin from sun damage, durt buildup and dryness. This is especially important if you are in an air conditioned environment, such as an airplane, for more than a couple of hours. 

What is your essential skincare routine?

Carpe diem xx

OOTD: Christmas Betty Barclay Vintage Sweater

Top: Betty Barclay rose and pearls 1980s vintage sweater, Beyond Retro E2

Earrings: medium pearl earrings, Accessorize

Jeans: skinny jeans, Crafted at Republic

How do you style vintage pieces from your wardrobe into your outfits?

Carpe diem xx

FOTD: Summer Wedding "Sugar Plum Fairy" Makeup Look

Summer Wedding Face Of The Day (Pastels):

Foundation: Rimmel Wake Me Up (200 Soft Beige)

Mascara: MaxFactor False Lash Effect (Black)

Concealer: Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection 16-hour wear (2 Light)

Eyeliner: Maybelline Expression Kajal (33 Black)

Eye shadow: Soap and Glory Lid Stuff Off the Wall Flowers (Sugar Violet)

Lipstick: Revlon Super Lustrous Matte (002 Pink Pout)
Blush: Rimmel Powder Blush (004 Pink Rose)

Are you into pastels and brights this summer?

Carpe diem xx

Patriotic Royal Wedding Celebration Cupcakes

Cupcakes: vanilla, The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook

Icing: vanilla buttercream, writing icing, blue food colouring

How did you celebrate the Royal Wedding??

Carpe diem xx

Teen Essentials: Best Budget Beauty Buys (High Street/Drugstore)

I've narrowed down my makeup collection to what I consider the best high street starter kit for teens and students - or anyone who is just on a budget - to this:

(1) Best lipstick: Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick (180 Vintage Pink) - My favourite all-time lipstick, brilliant for paler skin tones

(2) Best lip gloss: Rimmel London Stay Glossy Lipgloss (160 Stay My Rose) - Great basic clear gloss

(3) Best lip balm: Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - A nice slighty minty flavour

(4) Best foundation: Maybelline New York Dream Creamy Foundation (04 Light Porcelain) - Works best on drier and paler skin

(5) Best blush: Rimmel London Powder Blush (004 Pink Rose) - Beautiful rosy glow effect!

(6) Best concealer: Collection 2000 16-hour wear Lasting Perfection Concealer (2 Light) - Easy application and long-lasting coverage

(7) Best mascara: Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara (Blackest Black) - Perfect day-wear black my-eyelashes-but-better mascara

What are your essential high street beauty products?

Carpe diem xx

Style Confidential: How to get The Abercrombie and Fitch model look (women)

Carpe diem xx

Style Confidential: The Hourglass Figure (Body Shape Profile)

The hourglass figure - hips and boobs in proportion to a small, defined waist - is historically 'the feminine figure' and 'a painter's dream', as well as one of the healthiest body shapes to have. Fashion stylistics such as Gok Wan and Trinny and Susannah recommend creating the illusion of this figure on apple, pear, and athletic shaped women.

Weight distribution: overall coverage, hips, upper thighs, upper arms, chest

What to wear: V-neck jumpers/sweaters, deep-V cut dresses, pencil skirts, two-button jackets, fitted cardigans, drapey trousers, fitted dresses, thin waist belts

What NOT to wear: big belts, smocks, cowboy boots, batwing sleeves, bows or flounces, ankle strap, point shoes

Famous inspiration - Hourglass icons:

Marilyn Monroe

Nigella Lawson

The moral is: if you've got it, flaunt it, if you don't, fake it!!

What are your body shape styling secrets?
(WATCH OUT FOR MORE BODY SHAPE BLOGS IN MY BODY SHAPE/STYLING SERIES)

Carpe diem xx

Style Confidential: Petite Female Celebrities

Eva Longoria (37) - 5'2:
Skinny jeans, pashmina scarf, oversized glasses, high heels

Ashley Olsen (26) - 5'1:
Skinny jeans, gladiator sandals, dark sunglasses, light grey jersey top

Hilary Duff (24) - 5'1:
Oversized sunglasses, wraparound scarf, plain black vest, black skinny jeans, cowboy boots

Kylie Minogue (44) - 5'0:
Brown leather jacket, blue denim skinny jeans, black boots, oversized tote bag

Kim Kardashian (31) - 5'2:
Peep-toe heels, black tote bag, studded camel trench coat, evening dress

At 5'1 it can be difficult to find clothes that fit and that are in proportion to your body, let alone to style them into a workable outfit. These five petite celebs work their proportions brilliantly in casual scarves, fitted leather jackets, blazers, high heels and wedges. My love at the moment is my pair of Carvela at Kurt Geiger Nordic Wedge Boots - what's yours??

Carpe diem xx