Blistex Lip Infusions

Who else loves a great lip balm??👄There is nothing worse than dry , chapped , flaky lips and I’ve been keeping my lips super nourished, protected and hydrated with the new Blistex Lip Infusions range. Each lip balm has been carefully created using the most efficacious ingredients, blending science with nature to deliver an unrivalled, premium product, available in three varieties:👄

Lip Infusions – Hydration offers 24-hr hydration and has been clinically tested for its long-lasting effects.

-Infused with Hyaluronic spheres to lock in moisture

-Fortified with Vitamins E & F to soften and smooth

-Contains SPF 15 to protect against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. RRP:£2.99

This can be purchased on Ocado and from Tesco

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Lip Infusions – Soothing my personal favourite as smells of refreshing watermelon 🍉 has been designed to be gentle on lips but tough on dryness.

-Infused with Cucumber seed oil and calendula,known for their soothing properties

-With natural beeswax and coconut oil to moisturise and protect lips -Dermatologically approved. RRP:£2.99 

This can be purchased on Ocado and from Tesco

👄

Lip Infusions – Nourishing has been created using nutrient- enriched botanical oils and vitamin E, to deliver concentrated nourishment for luxuriously smooth lips.

-The Ceramide enhanced formula helps retain moisture leaving lips supple and smooth

-With natural beeswax and coconut oil to moisturise and protect lips -Contains SPF 15 to protect against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. RRP:£2.99

Lip Infusions Nourish is exclusively sold in Superdrug

Easy Like Sunday Morning. .

Guys I haven’t posted in a while but I have been meaning to write about this holy grail product , a  “glow genie” and the best serum I’ve ever come across, that can be doubled as a face mask. It is none other than the US brand’s Sunday Riley Good Genes.

This is the first product that I ever tried of theirs and after the first use I was hooked. It creates a glow to the skin like nothing else and fades red marks caused by old break outs and heals blemishes after one use.

Only a small amount is necessary in the morning and evening and for a real glow boost you can leave on for 10 minutes as a face mask.

If you buy any serum , buy this if you are looking for a game changing product.

It contains the following ingredients : Agave Tequilana (Blue Agave) Leaf, Cypripedium Pebescens (Orchid), Opuntial Tuna (Prickly Pear) Fruit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract & Saccaromyces Cerevisiae (Yeast), Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract, Lactic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Oil), Butylene Glycol, Squalene, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Stearic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) extract , PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-75 Meadowsol, Lemongrass Extract, Arnica Extract, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, DMDM Hydantoin.

You can buy online at Cult Beauty, Net A Porter and Revolve

The Bags Under My Eyes Are Chanel. . .

A͙l͙l͙ t͙i͙m͙e͙ f͙a͙v͙o͙u͙r͙i͙t͙e͙ c͙o͙n͙c͙e͙a͙l͙e͙r͙s͙ 

Starting with Armani High Precision Concealer which I have used & loved for many years & still have yet to find a Concealer as good as this . It covers dark circles & blemishes and blends seamlessly away & never looks cakey or heavy but you still get good coverage . It is buildable so just add & blend (I love the Real Techniques Contour brush the most for blending this out).

Second is the Chanel Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer which is a little lighter  than my skin tone & acts as the perfect brightener on top of the Armani High Precision Concealer under the eye and inner & outer edges of the eyes. This is good for around the nostrils for light reflecting & good coverage for blemishes . I wish it came in my skin tone though!

Third is the Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher which has pretty packaging & a built in brush is pretty good for a lighter coverage but blends very well and good if your skin has minor blemishes/redness or not too dark undereyes.

The Featherweight That's A Heavyweight!

I was seriously impressed with the health & shine of my hair after modelling for Venice Beach, Californian brand T3 Haircare this week . Their ambassador and celebrity hair stylist, Vicki Lord blow , dried my hair sleek & glossy with the Featherweight 2 Hair Dryer, and it stayed that way for 4 days- usually unheard of for my hair. 

Glowing reviews by beauty editors of Grazia & OK magazines & extraordinary results in customer surveys, their Featherweight 2 hairdryer has state of the art Softaire technology to ensure hair is dried in half the time , uses negative ions , creates shine & volume and leaves hair completely frizz free plus it only weighs 1 & a 1/2 lbs so perfect for those with thicker and longer hair to avoid the classic arm ache of using heavy hairdryers of the past.

If you spend time & money colouring your hair , take a look at the hairdryer you are using now and it's over 3 yrs old you should invest in the science backed Featherweight 2 as your old dryer will be damaging your hair and undoing all the care you've put into cutting & colouring it.

The design is super cool & ergonomic & will look very stylish on any dressing table.

Bagsy the white one!

 https://t3haircare.co.uk/products/featherweight-2-dryer

 

 

Best Of British Beauty

   

When it comes to Actors and Fashion Designers we have some of the finest home grown talent in the world and despite the large number of French, Swiss and American cosmetic companies around, the same is true of British skin care and cosmetic lines.

As a celebrity makeup artist I'm lucky enough to be able to try a multitude of different products and am happy to share with you my all time favourite British brands!

Starting off with iconic brand Burberry, I'm not sure what magic ingredient they use in their Fresh Glow BB Cream and Fresh Glow Foundation but by golly does it do what it says on the tin.

In all my life I can honestly say I've never come across such glorious super light texture in a foundation or BB Cream, but with enough coverage and luminosity in it to give you skin of a fresh faced teen. I'm seriously addicted!

The Effortless Kohl Eyeliners are sublime and take after their name. They glide on effortlessly with a velvety texture and the pigment is incredible .One stroke gets you a rich deep, true colour without the need to build up.

I could wax lyrical about the Burberry Makeup range from the luxe, innovative packaging including the cool, minimalistic boxes each piece comes in, to the textures and pigments of the products but why not try for yourself by ordering online at  https://uk.burberry.com I'm convinced you'll be impressed!

The second is Delilah Cosmetics. With so many makeup brands saturating the market it's easy to get confused when you're so spoilt for choice but every so often a brand comes along that really impresses.

It had me when I first glimpsed sight of it's pretty but oh so chic blush pink packaging and when I curiously peered inside the contents of the boxes I was delighted to see the luxe pewter grey and rose gold cases that any girl would be proud to show off. The blushers, with names like Lullaby and Clementine, come enveloped in beautiful mink coloured velvety pouches as do the luxurious feeling makeup brushes which adds even more decadence.

It's not just a case (no pun intended!) of all style and no substance however, as not only do these products look pleasing to the eye but they are also a pleasure to use. My favourite products from the range are the Future Resist Foundation which gives a buildable coverage and a semi matte but radiant finish and the Retractable Eye Brow Pencil With Brush, which for me is the holy grail of brow pencils and good brows are the key to every makeup look!

Buy online here: http://delilahcosmetics.com

Two fantastic British skincare brands that I adore and that get results are cult brand Rodial Skincare and SBC Gels. 

For me the star product in the Rodial range is the Super Acids X-Treme Acid Peel ( a combination of azelaic , glycolic and lactic acids which makes my skin super smooth, even and radiant. 

Buy online here:

http://www.rodial.co.uk/

I love the affordable but super effective SBC Gels Arnica Skincare Gel and Arnica Muscle Soak which feel heavenly and incredibly soothing on tired, aching muscles. 

Buy online here:

http://www.sbcgels.co.uk/index.php?route=common/home

I've recently tried British skincare brand Skin Design London which I'm really impressed with. It's a designer collection of skincare products filled with treatment based ingredients using cutting edge technology and high yield actives.Their mission is to improve the health of your skin by delivering immediate results and giving you optimum SKIN HEALTH. The luxe sleek black, white and chrome packaging is a welcome addition to my bathroom cabinet and the hard working ingredients make the range more than just a pretty face. I love the Skin SOS Serum which is for all Skin especially stressed, mature and dry complexions. 

It's packed full of amazing anti ageing ingredients including Resveratrol, Green tea, fruit acids, hyaluronic acid, collagen and Vitamin C. It's designed to detoxify and revitalise damaged skin from ageing, sun, stress and environmental exposure. Infused with a cocktail of Green Tea, Vitamin C and plant-based collagen which offers an immediate dose of hydration and energy. It retextures your skin and reveals freshness and radiance. The gently exfoliating fruit acids sweep away dead skin cells, stimulating collagen production. You can purchase online here: http://www.skindesignlondon.com

So there you are , spoilt for choice in choosing some fabulous British beauty products that I think you will seriously love. It'd be great to hear your feedback on ones that you particularly favour. 

A Very Berry Christmas!

There's something quite alluring about a rich berry colour on the lips and a nice change from the traditional pillar box red pout we tend to opt for during party season.

Some people shy away from darker hues on their lips as they feel they can be quite harsh or unflattering but there are plenty of sumptuous berry lipstick and lipgloss textures and shades around to flatter all skin tones.

The key to rocking a darker lip is to keep the skin flawless and more matte/satin than dewy with this look, add some light contouring to the cheek bones and define the eyes with mascara , eyeliner and if you insist on eyeshadow then make it a light smoky eye, nothing too dark or bold. The star of this look is the lipstick so you don't want to upset the balance with overly strong eye makeup. Do remember though to shape your brows and fill them in where needed as to work a strong lip your brows need to be on point!

Start by making sure your lips are smooth and free from dead skin by buffing with a damp muslin cloth or flannel and applying a hydrating, but non greasy lip balm such as Elemis Minty Moisture Lip Balm then blot off any excess with a tissue. Next take a lip liner in a similar shade or slightly darker, to your chosen lipstick and gently outline your lips with this. A good trick to keep your hand steady, and the outline even is to rest your elbow on a hard surface when you apply the lip liner. Don't press too hard or go too far over your natural lip line although you can certainly accentuate your Cupid's bow and slightly go over your top lip line if you have a less full top lip as darker colours can sometimes make lips look thinner than they are, but doing this will keep your lips looking plump and kissable.

Here is a selection of the best berry lipstick and lipgloss shades to suit your skin tone and flatter whatever your age.

Go on let out your inner vamp and dare to try something different!

For porcelain to fair skin tones - Burberry Lip Velvet in Bright Poppy is a velvety matte long wear densely pigmented formula which will look divine on porcelain or fair skin tones.

For Olive skin tones to light Asian skin tones-Tom Ford Lip Colour in Bruised Plum is the most sublimely alluring berry shade containing rare and exotic ingredients including Soja Seed Extract, Brazilian MuruMuru Butter and Chamomilla Flower Oil which create an ultra creamy texture and an incredibly smooth application. 

For Asian to Afro Caribbean Skin Tones- Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Crushed Cherry is a gorgeous long wearing, enriching gel textured lipgloss that looks incredible on darker skin tones.

Some other favourites for are:

Delilah Cosmetics Colour Intense Cream Lipstick in Vintage which provides a soft, creamy feel with a silky matte effect. It is enriched with spherical polymers that provide a velvety feeling for easy glide-on application and vitamin E.

MAC Cosmetics Amorous for a softer take on the berries, which MAC describe it as a "Lovestruck Cranberry"! Amorous is from MAC’s Satin line — a semi-matte, pigmented and long-wearing formula.

Armani Cosmetics- Rouge D'Armani Sheer Lipstick in Bitten which is a creamy texture, feather-light and translucent and provides over 8 hours of hydration to lips.

All the brands mentioned can be purchased at Selfridges in store or online http://selfridges.com

Delilah Cosmetics can be purchased from their website http://delilahcosmetics.com

 

Beautiful Burberry!

I'm not sure what magic ingredient Burberry use in their Fresh Glow BB Cream and Fresh Glow Foundation but by golly does it do what it says on the tin.

In all my life as a beauty junky and makeup artist I can honestly say I've never come across such glorious super light texture in a foundation or BB Cream, but with enough coverage and luminosity in it to give you skin of a fresh faced teen.

It's so wonderful knowing that even if I've not had a lot of sleep, which has much been the case over the past few weeks with a busy work schedule, that I can apply either of these wondrous products in the morning and within seconds my skin looks like I've had a full eight hours sleep, is glowing and youthful but hardly looks like I'm wearing any base because it's texture is as light as a feather. I'm seriously addicted.

If you're not a fan of a dewy finish and prefer a matte look this might not be for you but for those who love that finish I implore you to try these as you definitely will be impressed- forget injectables these two products take years off! The foundation gives slightly more coverage than the BB Cream but overall the glow you get is exactly the same with either, it just depends how much coverage you may like or need on your skin.

If like me you prefer a concealer than banishes imperfections but is virtually undetectable and doesn't sit in lines and look cakey then you'll love the Burberry Sheer Concealer which has a built in brush and that you just click once to dispense the product. It has a special light-reflecting formula that acts as a highlighter and concealer in one. Once applied this just blends in perfectly so it looks like your skin is even and free from dark circles and blemishes but you cannot see any traces that you've used a concealer. What's not to love! If you have severe acne scarring or extremely dark circles this may be a little sheer however it is buildable so you can layer to get the desired coverage.

The Effortless Kohl Eyeliners are sublime and take after their name. They glide on effortlessly with a velvety texture and the pigment is incredible .One stroke gets you a rich deep, true colour without the need to build up. The formula is waterproof for durability and can be smudged for a smokey look. A nice added bonus is that the retractable tip has a built-in sharpener. My favourite shade is the Storm Grey.

If you love a good nude (and by that I mean a nude lipstick!) then you'll love the Lip Cover in Nude Beige. It really is the 'perfect' nude shade and suits most skin tones. The formula consists of nourishing oils and gel dispersed pigment which ensures lots of hydration to your lips and makes the colour longer lasting. To give you the perfect pout this also contains anti-ageing ceramides for fuller lip definition. What's not to love!

The Complete Eye Palettes 

are a quartet of densely pigmented, coordinating eye colours.Each palette contains a base highlighter, two medium colours , and a darker colour to use as a liner. The shadows glide on beautifully and they are skin loving too as the formula is blended with satin smooth silicones and enriching conditioners. A great everyday palette to choose is the Mocha which will suit all eye colours and skin tones.

I could wax lyrical about the Burberry Makeup range from the luxe, innovative packaging including the cool, minimalistic boxes each piece comes in, to the textures and pigments of the products but why not try for yourself by ordering online at  https://uk.burberry.com I'm convinced you'll be mightily impressed!

Luscious Looking Lashes!

They're a girl's secret weapon , they can be used to get her own way , get herself out of trouble and get helpless boys to tend to her every whim.

I am of course talking about eyelashes . . sometimes all a girl has to do is flutter her lashes in a demure , beguiling way and otherwise hardy men just melt and give in to whatever the girl in question may be demanding.

Great lashes can make us look more youthful, feminine and open up narrow or tired looking eyes.

Now with such a great secret weapon we must keep our lashes looking tip top and I will share with you my all time favourite treatments that'll have everyone cooing at how gorgeous they look, not to mention putty in your hands!

My own lashes are long but poker straight and were quite fine until I started using RapidLash , an amazing serum that uses cosmetic ingredients to help promote the appearance of healthier looking natural lashes and brows. It is dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, cruelty free, Paraben and fragrance free and safe for contact lens wearers like myself. I first started using this serum two years ago, a few months before my wedding, so that they looked great on the day, without the need for extensions and was amazed and delighted with the results.

I applied it daily, just before I went to bed, along my top lash line ( the same place as you'd apply a liquid eyeliner ) with the fine brush in the tube and ensured my lashes were completely clean and dry first. They take a couple of minutes to dry and you can also apply on your brows too if they have sparse patches in them where the hair refuses to grow. After several weeks I noticed a difference - my lashes were thicker, longer and more curly than straight, which they'd always been. The longer I used it the healthier, shinier , thicker and longer they became and I had so many comments from friends and strangers including beauticians who didn't think they were my own lashes. I have gone through periods where I haven't applied it for a few months and my lashes started to go back to how they were before so you do have to continue using to get the results but at £39.99 rrp a tube it is well worth it because it lasts for about 4-5 months. Once you get the desired results, which you'll start to see after about 6 weeks, you can use 3-4 times a week instead of every day just to maintain.

I would thoroughly recommend this product if you have short, fine or sparse lashes you'll be really pleased with the results!

RapidLash say: RapidLash® Eyelash Enhancing Serum is specifically designed to help improve the appearance of fuller-looking eyelashes. Utilizing our exclusive Hexatein™1 Complex, RapidLash® targets the eyelash needs from every angle: from moisturizing factors and nourishment, to boosting the appearance of more voluminous-looking lashes. The clinical studies indicate an improvement in the appearance of lash length by up to 50% and in the appearance of lash volume by up to 75%.

The second treatment that I am absolute hooked on is called LVL Lashes ( this stands for Length, Volume and Lift ) by Nouveau Lashes. It is the first non-invasive lash treatment that offers an alternative to using mascara and extensions by enhancing your own natural lashes without damaging them in any way. It thickens , lengthens , curls and darkens your lashes and the results last about 6 weeks. I have been regularly visiting salon owner Sandra Sheikh at beautiful salon Ibrows etc ( 16 Seymour Place W1H ) for the LVL Lash treatment for the past 10 months and now cannot live without it! The treatment takes about 45 minutes where you lay on a comfortable therapist bed with a cushion underneath your head and neck. They use a disc instead of a roller to curl the lashes and there are 3 sizes of discs to choose from depending on the lift you wish to get, ranging from subtle to super lifted. A special volumising solution is applied to lashes which swells them to at least double their thickness and also a tint which gives depth to fairer lashes or lashes that are lighter at the ends from the sun, etc. When I look in the mirror after the treatment I'm always amazed at how fantastic my lashes look even though I've had it done many times! They're beautifully lifted, separated , full and glossy as though I'm wearing the world's best mascara, except the beauty of this treatment is that I don't need to wear mascara at all once I've had this done, which saves me precious time in the mornings and getting it off at the end of the day. I've never enjoyed wearing mascara particularly as it can flake , make my contact lenses dry and itchy and is a pain to remove so this is such a great option for me. If however you are a mascara lover and won't be without it, fear not you can still wear after having this done (after the initial 12 hours because it's still developing during that period).

I find I need less eye makeup and when I wake up in the mornings I look more wide eyed , awake and fresh even if I've not had a lot of sleep or risen early and my lashes do not feel dry or damaged in any way so you don't need to leave any down time after the 6 weeks before booking in for another LVL Lash treatment. I could rave on about this treatment for ages or I could just show you a before and after of my lashes after my last treatment and you can see for yourself , I cannot recommend this enough if your lashes are straight , fine or fair or all of the above!

The third product that I've noticed a real difference using is the LVL Eyelash Conditioning Serum. I started using it just over 2 months ago and I find it really helps to keep my lashes well conditioned and the treatment lasting longer . It's special formula coats and seals each eyelash, which locks in moisture and it makes my lashes look really shiny and healthy. I apply twice a day as recommended, it's got a curved wand which helps to really get into the lashes and separate them  and is a brilliant primer for mascara or to use just on it's own. We use serum on our hair to make it look and feel glossy, conditioned and smooth so why not on our lashes which are washed twice a day when we cleanse our face and are slept on,,rubbed and all sorts things that can dry or weaken them. They definitely benefit from some TLC and you'll notice a difference.

I'd love to hear your results and see your photos from trying any or all of the above because I know how they've changed my lashes from so so to wow!

 

 

Wax On, Wax Off

What does every mother tell their daughter when they hit puberty ?? "Darling don't make the same mistake as I did and shave your legs because they'll grow back thicker and  feel horrible and prickly. You'll really regret it!" 

Right?? That's what my mum said to me and what all my friend's mothers beseeched them, followed by "I'll book a leg wax for you at a salon and get it done properly. You'll thank me". 

And did we listen? Did we heck! No, as soon as those unsightly hairs appeared on our shins we went straight down to Boots, against our mother's better judgement, and bought the razor we'd seen in the tv ad with the girl with the long, lean, tanned limbs, convinced that using it would somehow transform our legs not only to silkily smooth but to those of the models. Our heart racing at the till at the excitement of doing something we weren't meant to be doing and feeling all grown up, just like the time we were bought our first bra. We raced home, the Boots bag stuffed inside our school bag (lest our mothers should suspect what we were up to) with the razor and the last minute decision shaving foam inside, desperate to lock ourself in the bathroom and get on with the task.

Some girls were blessed enough to have fair hair that one could hardly notice and others cursed with thick, black, coarse hairs that screamed to be removed-I fell somewhere in between these two camps-but whatever we were given we were determined it was going to go!

So having lathered up the thick white foam all over our shins (and some were bold enough to go above the knee onto the thigh) we copied what we'd seen in the razor tv ad and did big sweeping upward movements with the razor, yelping slightly as we inevitably nicked the skin in parts, until all the shaving foam had gone. A quick rinse and a pat dry and a dollop of moisturiser later and beneath our fingertips were silky, smooth, hair free legs! Wow, they felt and looked amazing! We were almost tempted to run into the living room and declare our mothers feel our smooth leg but quickly remembered that she'd be furious and just sat admiring them for an age ,thinking how we couldn't wait to tell our friends at school the next day.

Within the next couple of days the hair grew back prickly and darker and eventually we told our mothers what we'd done who then gave us the "I told you so" lecture but by then it was too late and we were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Shave every day to keep the silky smoothness or grow out and then go and get them waxed. But what teenage girl could go through the embarrassment of letting them grow out, particularly if we'd begun the shaving process in summer when we wouldn't be able to hide the hairiness under the obligatory opaque school tights. So the chore of having to shave every day commenced and we rued the day we ever bought the damned razor and wished we'd paid heed to our mother's advice.

This went on for a few years until epilators became all the trend and they sounded like the perfect solution. Weeks of hair free, smooth legs sounded like heaven, all done in the comfort of your own home with no costly salon visits. My mother had bought one (I cannot recall which brand it was) and suggested I try it. Well I certainly was not prepared for the utter pain that ensued!! It was like getting a fine blade and rapidly jabbing it into my skin over and over-horrendous is an understatement! I couldn't finish even half a shin, it was so painful and that swiftly put an end to any hopes of perching elegantly on the edge of a chair and gliding an epilator along my legs in a dainty fashion whenever the hairs reared their ugly heads, without having to spend a bean (after the initial lay out obviously which I recall being quite considerable at the time) or leave the house.

Since then I have had varying experiences waxing -from slick in and out jobs at nice salons including the strip wax treatment at Urban Retreat in Harrods, to regularly visiting Katherine Jenkin's personal waxer , to tea tree waxes-I've never had a sugar or chocolate wax mind you, although I'm sure they would smell heavenly! I've been in salons that shouldn't really be in the beauty business, one salon in particular  springs to mind, a small beauty parlour in Oregon, Washington State where the therapist (or should I say butcherer) did a horrific job of trying to wax my legs that it nearly put me off waxing for life. I've been surrounded by countless bits of cloth and towels on the floor of my living room for almost two hours, repeatedly having to heat a pot of wax I'd bought from Sally's Beauty Supplies, a million times in the microwave because it never got quite hot enough. After all that I couldn't even reach the backs of my legs! On the whole though I must say I find waxing relatively quick and painless and I've found a good therapist and salon locally ago who charge £12 for half a leg wax which I think is pretty good going. The down side is that I don't always have time to get to an appointment. 

The perfect solution to my lack of free time would you believe, is epilating. Yes, after my horrendous experience as a teenager I never thought I'd be saying these words but a few years ago I happened to be watching a show on the QVC Shopping Channel, while I was in the studio for another show, and there waxing lyrical (no pun intended) about an Emjoi Total Concept Epilator were two female presenters and a model demoing the product. The main consensus that they kept repeating time after time was that it wasn't as painful as the epilators of the Nineties used to be and how it was so quick and easy to do yourself at home. Plus it came with a very reasonable price tag of £29.99. They had me convinced I needed this in my life so I rang up the number on the screen and days later this little baby did in fact change my life. It sounds a bit dramatic but it had exactly the same results as waxing ie I could go for 6-8 weeks between using, my legs felt smooth afterwards and the hairs grew back finer , it was slightly uncomfortable but certainly very bearable after a shower when my pores were open. But the main beauty of it was that I could do this at ANYTIME or any place which was fantastic for someone who was always working and couldn't keep salon appointments. I have taken this away with me, used in my bathroom, bedroom, hotel room, sun lounger (no one else was there!) and outside on the terrace. It takes 20 minutes (if you're really anal about getting every last hair like me) per leg, is small enough and lightweight enough to carry and takes just 2 AA batteries.

So to summarise (yes I am aware I have waffled on somewhat) I would say waxing and epilating both have equally good results but one is for when I have time to go to a salon and the other is for when I don't. It's that simple and if like me you are a busy bee and barely have time to tie your shoes laces let alone sit in a salon then I would go online now and order an epilator! It'll change your life.

My , My , My Delilah. . .

My, My, My Delilah... With so many makeup brands saturating the market it's easy to get confused when you're so spoilt for choice but every so often a brand comes along that really impresses.

The starting point is the name which means seductive or beguiling. The name Delilah is best known for the woman who used her beauty to enchant Samson and conjures up an attitude of beauty,strength and self-assurance. The line was born out of a friendship between Rupert Kingston whose background is as a makeup artist and Creative Director , Hannah Nicholson formerly a beauty buyer specialising in product development and noted photographer Julia White. They were driven by the lack of boutique British brands and inspired by an abundance of quintessentially English influences.

It had me when I first glimpsed sight of it's pretty but oh so chic blush pink packaging and when I curiously peered inside the contents of the boxes I was delighted to see the luxe pewter grey and rose gold cases that any girl would be proud to show off. The blushers, with names like Lullaby and Clementine, come enveloped in beautiful mink coloured velvety pouches as do the luxurious feeling makeup brushes which adds even more decadence.

It's not just a case (no pun intended!) of all style and no substance however, as not only do these products look pleasing to the eye but they are also a pleasure to use. I will share with you my favourite pieces that I tried from the collection.

For starters I am forever searching for the perfect eyebrow pencil , one that isn't too warm in tone or too dark and that has staying power- I think I may have finally found it.Their brow liner "Brow Line" is a retractable pencil with a built in brush that glides on effortlessly , delivers the right amount of pigment (neither too dark nor too light) , is the perfect ash brown (ideal for those who don't want too much warmth in their brows) and stays on all day without smudging. I used colour Ash. I even wore this in a very hot climate whilst on holiday and it didn't slide off at all like a lot of other brow liners do. Another plus is that this is paraben free.

Secondly, I must confess I am a little bit in love with their "Time Frame Future Resist Foundation" which gives a finish liken to that of a tinted moisturiser rather than a foundation and has a fresh , dewy look that enhances skin rather than masking it. I used the shade Maple as I am tanned from Summer . Now I am a huge fan of the Laura Mercier (Non Oil Free) Tinted Moisturiser but unbelievably (I say this as to date I hadn't found anything I liked quite as much) I think this pips it to the post. I prefer the coverage this gives and the shade on my skin is spot on whereas I have to mix 2 shades of the LM Tinted Moisturiser. The Delilah foundation has a broad spectrum SPF of 20 , contains powerful antioxidants Vitamins A and E not to mention being packed with skin loving peptides to prevent the signs of ageing . I call this smart makeup. I like products that are hard working and benefit your skin whilst you're wearing them.

Last but not least I adore the "Colour Intense Cream Lipstick" which has such a rich , velvety , well pigmented finish and glides on so beautifully. This must be down to the spherical polymers and Vitamin E that the formula is enriched with. It's rare to find a lipstick that doesn't dry out the delicate skin on the lips after reapplying through the day but this genuinely keeps them hydrated and soft. The shades I tried are 'Grace' , the perfect everyday soft rose pink (the best I've found) , 'Whisper' a fantastic nude shade that's not too pale ,which can be quite draining on the complexion and 'Brink' a pretty pink , a little brighter than 'Grace' which adds a pop of colour to a natural makeup look and will flatter most skin tones.

These products will now definitely be a staple in my makeup bag , so if you like the sound of this newbie on the market , and I guarantee you will love the range as much as I do, then you can buy online at delilahcosmetics.com and if you want to try before you buy visit Chelsea salon to the stars Richard Ward , Chuan Spa at The Langham Hotel , London , House Of Beauty in Wiltshire and The Spa At Hornby , Northallerton.