BEAUTY & LE CHIC

So I’m guessing I’m a little bit out of sync with this one since most of you have already been on your summer hols, but since I’ve recently returned from Greece, keeping my tan is top of the agenda. If you’re planning a bit of winter sun, brilliant! If not, BOOKMARK this page for when to do. Here are my tried-and-tested top- tips for getting and KEEPING a good tan.

Before you fly...

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Preparing your skin before you go is THE most important step. I used to scrub a couple of times before I went away but that’s not enough. I saw beauty know-it-all and gal-crush Alessandra Steiner on QVC saying she scrubs every day for at least a week leading up to a holiday. Completely ridding your body of dead skin cells means you’ll tan on fresh skin, which will lasts a hella lot longer. It also reduces your chance of peeling and helps achieve an even, all over tan. I did that this year and it’s made a huge difference. I scrubbed every day with delightful Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil Scrub (full review here) and for an intensive treatment I had a major vigorous scrub with Dead Sea Magik SaltBrushing two days before I hit the sun. This stuff leaves your skin super soft, supple and improves circulation - ideal for getting those pins bikini ready.

During your holiday...

Take it easy– it’s a marathon, not a sprint. My friends and I used to have tanning competitions when we were young (and dumb). Invariably this meant achieving the lobster look on day one, being too sore to tan on day two, and peeling on day three. By tanning gradually you lay down good foundations on the first few days. Start on a higher factor and drop down for the last couple of days to intensify your colour.

Do use an after sun but don’t use one that contains a tanning agent. If you’re tempted by a tan-prolonging aftersun, check that it doesn’t contain a tanning agent. They interfere with the natural tan and can give a fake orangey tint. This year I used Nivea Mositurising After Sun with Aloe Vera.

Stay hydrated. Scientists believe that water helps extend the life of your skin cells, so drink as much as possible. De-hydrated skin will flake and go patchy!

When you return...

A daily dose of moisturiser is the key to a healthy, long lasting tan. When I return home I like to moisturise morning and night to keep my skin nourished around the clock. Moisturiser (or after sun if there’s any left) on a morning, followed by an oil at night. My weapons of choice are Coconut Oil and Elemis Exotic Frangipani Oil. Both are deeply nourishing and provide long lasting hydration.

Keep hydrated. Just because you’re back in blighty doesn’t mean you can slack off drinking water. Hydrated skin keeps dry, patchy, peeling skin at bay.

Roll on next summer!

October is also breast cancer awareness month, so Birchbox has had a little “pink-over” to support CoppaFeel to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms – bravo Birchbox! Inside the box this month are products you need to help you “work it” and get motivated as the weather turns autumnal and we begin gearing up for the festive season.

Cattier Pink Clay Face Mask sample | £4.25

A face mask packed with aloe vera to illuminate your complexion and soften the skin. Great timing on this one, I can feel a pamper evening coming on!

KMS Free Shape Quick Blow Dry Full Size | £14

A light conditioning spray that will seriously speed up blow drying time. I wasn’t overly thrilled to see another blow dry spray/leave in conditioner (I did just receive one LAST month) BUT reviews for this stuff are really good so I whipped it straight out of the box and gave it a go. YES! It seriously reduces drying time and provides some heat protection without weighing the hair down.

Shaveworks The Cool Fix | £11

A genius cooling gel lotion that treats ingrown hairs, razor bumps and redness after hair removal. Not a brand or a product I’m familiar with, but I’ll keep this handy for any future hair removal disasters.

Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm Full Size | £8

A full size nourishing lip balm packed with shea butter – plus a hint of colour. I’m pretty fulfilled in the lipbalm department (eos and nuxe) but I was definitely excited to see this in here. It’s a great every day, my-lips-but-better shade.

Premae Mild Dermabraision Face & Body Scrub sample | £25

A skin-loving body scrub containing olive granules to smooth skin, gentle enough for the face too. I’m a little dubious about the latter but this will fit nicely into my post holiday body regime.

The Lifestyle Extra

At first I thought Birchbox had done the unthinkable and branded some cheap, generic lipsticks but no, it’s a cute and limited-edition Lipstick Pen. Okay this will look the part in my hand bag!

My early thoughts are... pretty good box. Two full size products I look forward to using and samples I have space for! I’m also loving the cute pink zippy pouch.

If you fancy trying Birchbox, use my friends referral LINK and we’ll both get £5 worth of points to spend in the Birchbox e-shop!

All those that hate jeans shopping say “I”... IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! So when you find that perfect fit it’s something to shout about!

I’ve always struggled with high street jeans - One size does not fit all! When Topshop launched Baxter jeans (can you believe it was over 9 years ago!!!) they rocked my world! But skinny jeans got skinnier and Baxter became passé. The newer, cooler, hipper Leigh jeans were too narrow for me – they assume if you have a small waist you’ll have small legs – WRONG! And so, Topshop’s denim and I parted ways. Until I noticed a sign for the “New Baxter”.

NEW Baxter from £40 are the perfect comfy skinny. If your legs are a little wider than pipe cleaners or you like a more generous fit, BAXTER could be your saviour. Somewhere between a skinny and slim leg, they’re skinny but not skin tight! i.e you can breate, eat, walk, even bend! They have a super flattering tapered leg that ends at a perfect ankle graze, a medium rise and just the right amount of stretch. I picked up denim of the season “ripped”, also available in black, bleached, vintage blue etc.

Baxter, it’s nice to have you back!

Essie you’ve done it again! The creator of nearly all of my favourite nail polishs – Mint Candy Apple, Bikini So Teeny, Chinchilly and now Sable Collar.

Sable Collar, whilst I don’t get the name, it’s one of the most stunning shades I’ve ever laid my eyes on! A luxurious multi-dimensional pearlescent cocoa plum! It's the kind of shade you can't take your eyes off and find yourself staring at your own nails. It’s uber rich with a stunning shimmer that shows up under bright light. The formula is, as close to perfect as it gets. It’s very opaque and gives full coverage from two coats. It applies like a dream, no streaking or bubbling and thanks to Essie’s trademark curved brush it’s a fool proof application. I set with the unrivalled Seche Vite Top Coat for a glossy, long lasting finish – I’m talking a solid six days of wear and it could have gone longer but I chipped a nail.

It’s the perfect autumnal shade and I’ve a feeling it will be seeing a LOT of action over the next few months.

Essie Nail Polish £2.49 at Fragrance Direct

Bout that base! Meghan Trainor, I couldn't agree more.... IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BASE - nail that and nothing else matters.... except the brows of course. This is my natural, flawless, healthy, slightly dewy but in no way cakey, everyday base.

Whether or not you moisturise first usually depends on your skin type. I think mine’s in some sort of transition period. It used to be dry. Dry. DRY! but thanks to Liz Earle, well not here physically, but her AMAZING products, it's much more hydrated. I wouldn’t call it oily but there’s no need to O.D on moisturiser anymore. I dab a little AveneHydrance Light Moisturiser £14 just where I need it – nose, sides of the mouth, hairline and give it a few minutes to soak in so the foundation doesn’t slide. Some people can skip the moisturiser all together and go straight to the primer.

If you really want THAT BASE to last you gotta get on board with a primer. It doesn’t have to be an expensive one, Seventeen for example do some good ones, but I’m hooked on the queen of primers Laura Mercier. I use the original Foundation Primer £19. The creamy texture plumps skin and erases pores. It sinks in instantly, creating a smooth, even canvas for make-up. If I want an extra dewy look I’ll mix in a little Primer Radiance £19 or dab directly on the area I want to glow. In these pictures I dabbed a little on my cheeks only.

Current foundation love and the one that ticks-every-box.... Chanel Vitalumiere £36. Light-weight texture, perfect coverage, flawless and hydrating with a post-facial glow kinda finish. Basically he Rolls Royce of foundation! I apply with a standard No7 foundation brush and set with just a little MAC Skinfinish. A little MAC Prep & Prime highlighter under the eyes to disguise that nasty blueness and voile.... every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top!

JAMES READ is the International tanning guru that’s worked everyone from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Lady Gaga. He even has tanning studios in Harvey Nic’s... Nuff said!? I've been using his widely coveted Sleep Mask Tan for the past few weeks and I'm a little bit hooked!

We all know how bad the sun’s rays are to our delicate little faces and for the past few years I’ve made an effort to keep mine out of the sun... it’s the old wrinkles versus tan battle. Well wrinkles won and now I need to fake-it-to-make-it with a little tan-in-a-tub. James Read Sleep Mask Tan is basically the perfect antidote to my fake tan woes. It combines skin beautifying ingredients with a touch of self-tan. Packed with skincare essentials including Aloe Vera, Cucumber, Hyaluronic Acid and Red Algae it moisturises and soothe the skin overnight whilst guaranteeing a subtle, yet golden glow by morning. The luxurious formula is rich, yet lightweight and sinks in immediately. It doesn’t clogg pores, it’s completely clear so you won’t look like an oompa lumpa or end up with a tea stained pillow and it has absolutely NO fake tan odour... Seriously - what's not to love?

I’ve been using it one night a week alongside my usual skincare - still cleanse and moisturise if needed, just steer clear of oils. Go all the way down to the décolletage for a natural, all over finish. It's helping me to maintain that post holiday glow and not a tide mark in sight.

James Read Sleep Mask £20 Marks & Spencerand QVC

You had me at “sorbet”! Roger & Gallet is one of France's oldest perfume houses, so I expected their body lotions to smell good. I didn’t expect them to be one of the most divinely indulgent and richly nourishing body creams I’ve EVER tried.

Just listen to these descriptions...

Gingembre Sorbet Body Lotion* (the pink one)“It all starts with the zing of Japanese ginger; essence of neroli adds its fruity vigour, while Bergamot, soft and delicate, swathes them with its roundness. After this prelude comes the utter sensuality of Jamaican ginger and the oriental sweetness of ambrette. Finally, the round, hot notes of benzoin balm appear with a magnificent blend of musk”

Citron Sorbet Body Lotion* (the yellow one)“In the sunlight, a nectar of citrus fruit essence and fresh waters (cedrat, grapefruit, mint and water fruit), then at the heart of this garden come the refined notes of lovely aromatic plants (cardamon and basil, spiced with an ozone blend) and finally at the earth's crust a delicate alchemy of woody blends (cedar, vetiver, musk and white amber)”.

It’s not just the amazing fragrances that set these lotions apart. They glide on like a dream with no dragging or rubbing required (like body butters). The light weight formula literally melts into the skin leaving limbs silky soft and intensely hydrated.... and it’s a hydration that lasts. My skin's still soft to touch the next day! They’re not greasy and they don’t clog pores - I can work out and my skin still breathes. Plus, the ingredients are 96% naturally derived ingredients so you’re not stuffing your skin with rubbish.

Roger & Gallet Body Lotions £14 Marks & Spencer | Feel Unique | John Lewis

You know the deal by now, I’m all about the smokey eye thang. This is a super easy TWO shadow smokey eye using the Urban Decay Naked Palette. For a heavy eye look, I always do the eye first. That way I can be as messy as I like and wipe the fall out away.

Step 1 Prime: Not to prime is a crime! I swear by Urban DecayPrimer Potion. Using fingers, dab on to the whole lid area and give a few moments to soak in.

Step 2 Shadow: Still using fingers I patted Hustle all over the eyelid - up to, and a little past the crease. Using fingers helps to get right into the corners of the eyes and pat the colour in for extra intensity. Using a smudger (from the other end of an eye pencil) I traced the colour along my lower lash line and smudged it out for a smokey effect. Then taking the does-it-all-eyeshadow-brush, MAC 217, I applied Darkhorse to the outer crease in an inverted “C” shape, really building up the intensity.

Step 3 Blend: Now use a fluffy eye brush (217 works brilliantly for this) to blend, blend, blend. That’s what gives the graduated effect.

Step 4 Line: A nice neat top line with a slight wing using Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black and MAC266 Small Angle Brush. Keep the brush as close to the lash line as possible, then thicken up as much as you like. Smudge what’s left on the brush along the bottom line.

Step 5 Mascara: For this look I used the wonderful Bourjois One Seconde Volume Mascara for full lashes.

The rest of the make up went like this....

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation – Beige40

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder –Medium Deep

Guerlain Four Seasons Bronzer– worked into the contours using Real Techniques Contour Brush

Milani Blush – Luminoso

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow - Medium Brown

MAC Lip Pencil – Nude

Pixi Lip Balm – Honey Nectar

Oh Glamour, you are good to us! In fact you're responsible for at least half of my Nails Inc collection... and here's another three sexy shades to add to the stash...

Pick up a copy of December 2014 Glamour Magazine with Claire Danes on the cover and bag a coveted FULL SIZE Nails Inc polish. Available in four gorgeous shades;

Hanover Square - a rich burgundy

Marylebone Mews - a pretty grey with a hint of lilac

Wigmore Street - a deep bluey/purple

Tate - a true red (I already own)

In the bottle I was most excited about the grey, however on the nails, I think Hanover Square has won me over?

Glamour Magazine £2 out Monday 3rd November 2014

Which is your fave?

Brace yourselves ladies, it’s the big one!

Of all MAC’s collections, none are more exciting to me than their glamtastic holiday (Christmas) collections. Give yourself the royal treatment this season with MAC’s opulent Keepsakes collection. Feast your eyes on these lovelies....

MAC Keepsakes: Eye Bags £39.50

Beige

Plum

Smokey

MAC Keepsakes: Lip Bags £32

Coral

Nude

Red

MAC Keepsakes: Brush Kits £42

MAC Keepsakes: Face Palettes £42

Natural

Smokey

MAC Keepsakes: Exclusive Lip & Eye Bag £45

MAC Keepsakes: Viva Glamourous

Lip bag £29

Lip Palette £35

MAC Keepsake Christmas Collection 2014 out now link.

It’s time to exorcise the demons of bad Christmas presents past. How many times has someone asked you “what would you like for Christmas?” and you politely reply with “oh anything you get me will be fine”. Then despair on Christmas Day when you end up with a load of junk. I mean, there are only so many bath bombs a gal can use before she changes colour! One year we did a secret Santa at work with a respectable £15 budget. There was on OPI collection I desperately wanted a piece of but didn’t dare drop the hints. Well, I ended up a giraffe themed Primarni onesie because I said I ONCE said I liked giraffes?!?!?! Lesson learnt for next time....

Here are some cute, stylish and indulgent gifts that you won’t be sending back in the New Year. And ladies, if you don't want to end up with a giraffe onesie, start dropping some hints, and fast!

Clinique Instant Shimmer Kit £35 House of Fraser

The perfect all-you-need set for creating effortless, smokey eyes this party season. A glamourous All About Shadow Quad, killer Cream Shaper Liner with a hint of shimmer, Lash Power Feather Mascara and Instant Lift for Brows. In fact, I’m not sure I can even wait until Christmas to try this one!

Nars Virtual Domination Cheek Palette £45 SpackeNK

Come to mama! With crowd pleasers Deep Throat and Laguna, two limited edition blushers and a highlighter, all encased in an oh-so-sexy palette, it’s hard to resist Virtual Domination.

Zoeva Rose Gold Luxury Gift Set £56.95 Love Makeup

Good things come to those who wait... and I’ve been waiting a long time for this one. It’s been popping up on my blog feed for a solid year now and somehow I’ve managed to resist... until now. I need this incredible brush set in my life. Top quality brushes, beautiful luxe design and surprisingly good value at around £7 per brush.

Elemis Frangipani Body Indulgence Gift Set £36 House of Fraser

I doubt there’s a woman alive that wouldn’t be thrilled to see this indulgent gift set in her stocking. Containing three full size elemis products, including the iconic Frangipani oil, which is worth £34 alone.

Caudalie Hand Cream Trio £12 Lookfantastic

Treat your hands with the Caudalie Hand Cream Trio, three lusciously scented hand creams which promise to leave skin feeling soft and supple.

Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Powder £29.50 Debenhams

For the FIRST-TIME EVER, Benefit’s famous box o’ powders are all together in one cheeky sweet spot. The set features the o’ so popular shades of hoola, dandelion, CORAlista, bella bamba, rockateur, sugarbomb and watt's up. With an individual value of £65.94, it’s a blushin’ blockbuster!

Liz Earle Christmas Skincare Discovery Gift Set £18.25 John Lewis

Give the gift of good skin this Christmas with Liz Earle Discovery Set. Containing the iconic Hot Cloth Cleanser, mini Skin Tonic and two Muslin cloths, it’s all you need to kick start a new skincare regime.

Lush Shower Gels from £3.75 Lush

She’s baaaaaaackkk! Add some Christmas sparkle to your day with Snow Fairy, the candy-sweet shower gel from Lush, now with the addition of skin-softening seaweed. Also check out new lines this year including So white and Hot Toddy.

Benefit They’re Real Mascara and Gimme Brow Duo £26.96 QVC

Whatta winning duo... The UK’s number one selling mascara with the brow product of the year. I know I’m hoping to see this one in my stocking santa (hint,nudge,wink). Individually these two stars would cost you £37, plus for a limited time get free p&p at QVC.

OPI & Gwen Stefani Mini Christmas Holiday Stars Gift Set £14.50 John Lewis

Make a wish on these magical minis from the Gwen Stefani for OPI holiday collection. Each shade is Christmas-inspired and presented in a stylish box, making this the perfect festive gift for someone special.

MAC Holiday Collection 2014 from £29 MAC

Gimme it all! You can see the full collection here, but if I was to pick just one item, it would be the Smokey Eye Palette £32. If I'm honest, it's the packaging that's won me over... Fickle much?

Christmas list full yet?

We already know that baby oil is one of the most versatile beauty buys in the World. It’s a moisturiser, a make up remover, a bath oil, a hair oil, you can even use it on new born babies. But did you know you can use it to revive dried out make up?

If you’ve ever owned a gel liner, I’m guessing you’ve experienced them drying out? I was blown away by my first Bobbi Brown Gel Liner. That amazing, dense, creamy texture... but sadly it didn’t last. I’d only used it a handful of times and the damn thing dried out. I put it down to the fact that it was something I only used occasionally and it had had too much time to dry out. Fast forward a couple of years and I discovered AnastasiaBeverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. The unique creamy gel-mousse texture rocked my World (see the full review here)... every day for about a month until the texture dried up and application became a nightmare. Then I realised, you can screw the lids on super tight, limited the lid-off time to an absolute minimum, store them upside down, but because these products are wet and creamy, sooner or later the moisture will evaporate.

The solution? A little drop of baby oil. No heat, no stirring, no compressing. Simply add a little drop of baby oil into the pot and watch it work its magic.

It immediately breathes life back into gel formulas, replenishing the moisture and restoring them to their former glory. I won’t lie, I was nervous about trying this on my Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade, but I was so thrilled with the results, I went ahead and did the same thing to the original Bobbi Brown Gel Liner I’d refused to part with (see I knew there was a reason I hoarded make up). It’s like having two new products! I use Dipbrow everyday and after a month or so it started to dry out again. Without hesitation I went straight in with another drop of oil and it’s back to its best. It has in no way changed the performance or the texture of the products; it just helps to restore the moisture.

Have you tried it?

Foundation Holygrail. I’ve waited a long time to say those words. Until now I’ve been fairly happy with a number of foundations but was still secretly hoping to find THE ONE! Call off the search. I could now happily bin all other foundations and live on this one alone. In fact, it’s so good... I bought it twice!

Chanel Vitalumière, not to be confused with Vitalumière Aqua, is widely recognised as the Rolls Royce of foundation. I’ve dabbled a little with it in the past, had a few samples, but never really committed... I guess the price tag was putting me off. But in a moment of weakness/madness a few months ago in Boots, I decided to treat myself to a bottle.

Texture & Application

The light weight, liquid texture is creamy, but in no way thick. It glides on like a dream and melts into the skin. The pump action bottle distributes the ideal amount in a single pump. It’s the easiest, most fool proof application I’ve experienced in a foundation... You could apply it in the dark. It smoothes and blends like a dream in a second skin kinda way. I like to apply this one with a standard foundation brush (No7 Foundation Brush). I saw Lisa Eldrige use it on Alexa Chung (double name drop) and this is how she applied it. It works great with fingers too.

Shades

This is where Chanel let’s itself down. The shades are very limited – only 8 in the entire range. Very pale and darker skinned ladies have no chance! During the summer I was matched to 40 Beige (which is what I’m wearing in the photo below), but as my seasonal tan started to fade it looked too dark. By then I was already hooked so I got a second bottle (in duty free) in the lighter shade 30 Cendre. For reference I’m MAC NC30. Beige is my perfect summer shade, Cendre my perfect winter shade and I can mix the two to get my perfect match all year round. I’ll do some swatches to compare but the light is so poor today. It contains an SPF 15 and I have used it in flash photography and didn’t get any flash back.

Coverage

I think this is where Vitalumière and I didn’t quite gel in the past. I used to find the coverage too sheer, but these days my skin is in great condition and I don’t want to mask it. It has a low to medium buildable coverage. It easily covers dark circles and minor blemishes but doesn’t mask the skin. It’s ideal for dryer skin types as it contains moisturising agents and feels very comforting on the skin.

Finish

If I summed it up in one word, it would be GLOWING! The most beautiful, healthiest glow imaginable. It’s very natural looking, but not too natural that you look bare skinned. I’d describe it as a dewy/satin finish foundation. It imparts the most natural radiance – makes me look fresh, alive and youthful. The light reflecting pigments smooth away imperfections to create a soft-focus effect.

Wearing 40 Beige with Bronzer

Longevity

At least 8-9 hours, I rarely wear foundation for longer! Vitalumière remains constant throughout the day. It doesn’t oxidise or get shiny as the day goes on. Doesn’t seem to be affected by humid conditions either, I wore it on holiday in Greece and it performed just as well.

Price

It’s £36 in the UK (I wince when I say that). I know it’s out of a lot of people’s budgets and there are lots of great, cheaper options out there (L’Oreal Lumi, I still luh ya papi) but I’m hooked on Vitalumière now. It just works for me. On every level, I’ve met my perfect match. If you fancy trying it, go to the counter and ask for a sample. No point forking out the big bucks before you’re sure!

Save 10% on cosmetics including Chanel for a limited time at Debenhams

It’s a good one. In fact, I think it’s my best Birchbox yet. Novemeber 2014’s Birchbox is all about being Cosy at Home– home spas, pamper evenings and duvet days. This month’s goodies will help you to battle the upcoming winter blues and make the most of your time snuggled up in the toasty warm. It contains two full sizers and has a whopping value of over £60!

OPI Coca Cola Red Nail Lacquer Full Size | £11.95

Part of OPI's limited edition Christmas collection, Coca-Cola Red is as classic (and Christmassy) as it comes. You know me, I love nail polish and was THRILLED to see this full sizer in the box. I whipped it straight out and popped it on my toe nails... I’ll spare you the foot picture.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Sample | £14

This vegan, paraben- and sulfate-free leave-in mist conditions, detangles and minimises frizz, while safeguarding colour and adding shine. As if that wasn’t enough, it also provides protection against UV rays and heat! I wasn’t thrilled to see ANOTHER leave –in-conditioner product... I’ve had 3 from my last 5 boxes, but this one does smell dreamy and has a lovely light-weight texture.

English Laundry Signature For Her EDP Spray For Women | £60

Envelop yourself in top notes of rose geranium and creamy white flowers set against its backdrop of woody spicy and musky notes. This actually leaked a little in transit, so my Birchbox smelt wonderful. It’s a gorgeous fragrance I’d happily have a full bottle.

Dr. Jart+ V7 Relief Vita Drop Full Size | £26

Hydration in a tube! This vitamin packed lotion brightens and moisturises whilst restoring elasticity with its blend of antioxidants. It was an “oooooo” moment when I spotted this. It’s a massive 100ml product to start with and it’s Dr. Jart! It’s early days but I’m really liking it. It sinks into the skin leaving it super soft and hydrated without being heavy and greasy.

Lord & Berry Bronzer Sample (Sunny) | £19

A super fine, matte bronzing powder, ideal for creating a healthy glow and a burst of radiance (without the tell-tale shimmer). I think I’ll use this one for contourin. It’s a tiny size but I should just about fit my Real Techniques Contour Brush in the pan.

LIFESTYLE EXTRA..

Drinkwel Capsules | £32.99

A multivitamin with a difference, drinkwel was created specifically for healthy people who love to have a good time! Packed with antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and a blend of fruit and botanical extracts, these veggie-friendly capsules are loaded with all the good stuff needed to keep you energised throughout the day and to help you recover after a big night out. Bye, bye hangovers!

This month’s box is an all round winner for me. Chuffed with every product – especially the Dr Jart moisturiser and OPI nail lacquer of course!

IF YOU FANCY TRYING BIRCHBOX, USE MY FRIENDS REFERRAL LINK AND WE’LL BOTH GET £5 WORTH OF POINTS TO SPEND IN THE BIRCHBOX E-SHOP.

I braved the crazy Christmas crowds at the weekend (have you been to Lush lately? MOBBED!) just to get a new lip scrub. My lips have been really dry and cracked lately and in typical fashion, I’d just run out of my last, and now discontinued, Lush lip scrub, Sweet Lips. It was like Sophie’s choice choosing between the four flavours – Santa’s Lip Scrub, Mint Julips, Bubblegum and Popcorn but the pressures of the crowds forced me to be extra decisive so I grabbed the little pink pot of Bubblegum Scrub.

Oh little pot of scrumptiousness!!! It smells and tastes as good as it looks. The scent really reminds me of Snow Fairy and it tastes sweet like candy.. WARNING, you may get addicted. Personally I think lip scrub is an all year round must, but it’s definitely a winter one. I try to scrub my lips once a day to keep the chaps at bay, especially if I want to wear lipstick. Packed with exfoliating caster sugar and softening jojoba oil it buffs away dry skin, leaving lips kissably soft and helps lipstick to glide on.

Okay, it is a bit tricky to use. It’s quite a dry scrub, which is good because it’s not packed full of water and nasties to bulk it out, but it does make it quite messy. You might want to position yourself over the sink to catch the fall out. Scoop up a good lump, massage it onto the lips, and then simply lick off the excess... yum yum bubblegum. Check out Lush’s Lip Scrubs £5.50 here. Each pot lasts absolutely AGES so they’re definitely a good buy!

Lip Scrub, Yah or Nay?

Christmas comes early at Beauty & le Chic with a little giveaway for my lovely followers. You can win a MAC lipstick... of your choice, yep absolutely any lipstick from the permanent line and it’s as easy as (mince) pie to enter:

1. Leave a blog post comment telling me your favourite MAC lipstick (if you have one) and which one you’d like to win in the giveaway (they don’t have to be the same)

2. Follow me through Google Friends Connect AND Twitter (links on the right)

3. OPTIONAL: You can earn extra entries if you follow me on Bloglovin, Instagram, Pinterest etc.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway is open internationally, for new and existing followers and ends at midnight on Friday 12^th December 2014. You know the drill; entries received after this point, will not count, but may still be charged.

Thanks for following me and good luck!

I posted a picture on instagram (see below) of my big, bouncy, volumised barnet and was inundated with questions and requests to blog about it. You see my hair is flat. Flat, fine and lifeless. I’ve always wanted BIG, voluptuous hair. I accept I’ll never have a fro but a bit of oomph wouldn’t go a miss. A lot of hairdressers had recommended I try heated rollers and last year (yes I know, it’s taken me forever to share) I finally took the plunge with the much raved about Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers.

So what are they?

If you’ve never used heated rollers before, they work like Velcro rollers, except they have small metal plates in them that emit heat. I did my research and Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers had some rave reviews, but I’m pretty sure they all do the same kinda thing. This set comes with ten large and ten medium rollers. They have a luxurious velvety texture which helps the hair cling to them and 20 butterfly clips to keep them in place. I was worried it might be like a hot potato situation, but these rollers use a core temperature system to slowly emit heat so you can hold them in your hand and they’ll continue to produce more heat as they’re rolled into, and sit in the hair. What’s extra special about the Enrapture ones, the butterfly clips also contain small metal plates meaning the hair is surrounded by heat – double whammy.

How do I use them?

I’ll be completely honest with you, it took me ages to get the hang of them. I watched this you tube videowhich helped. They’re heavier than I was expecting, and because my hair’s so fine, they kinda flopped around on my head and the first time I used them they completely dropped. So here’s what I’ve leant...

· Plug in and give them at least two minutes to heat up.

· Make sure your hair is completely dry, and ideally NOT freshly washed.

· Prepare the hair with some dry shampoo to add some texture and hairspray for added hold.

· The large rollers create volume, the smaller rollers create tighter curls. Start where you want the most lift. I start at the crown winding the hair around the roller and clamping in place with the clip. I do the full Mohawk section before moving to the under sections. When I’ve used all of the large rollers I use the smaller ones through the bottom length of the hair. I never use all 20, I just don’t have enough hair to fill them J

· I prefer to use a Velcro, fringe roller on the front section. Again because my hair’s fine and I don’t have a lot of it, the heated roller flaps around at the front, fringe section and leaves my hair with a small kink.

· They need about 30 minutes to cool down, but the longer the better. Pop them in before you do your makeup and take them out at the very last minute.

· Spray with lashings of hairspray – if you’re not choking, you haven’t used enough.

The Results

Big, bouncy volume and curls.... that just walked out of the salon look every time! Volume and root boost at the top, pretty soft curls through the lengths. Hair looks glossy and smooth, unlike Velcro’s which often make hair frizzy. Like I said it did take a while to get used to them, but the more you use them to easier and faster it gets! If you could be bothered, you could easily use these on a daily basis. Pop them in on a morning, do your makeup, eat your breakfast etc, then whip them out before you go. Me, I’m too lazy, I use them more on an occasional basis, but every time I do, I get that wow factor and find myself wishing I used them more often.

I bought mine from Boots this time last year and they cost about £40 (I’m pretty sure they were half the RRP). I’ve just searched all over the internet to find the current RRP and guess what, they’re out of stock everywhere! Maybe they got discontinued? The only place I can find them in stock is eBay here. Check out Argos for some alternatives.

Any heated roller fans out there?

'Tis the season to ~~be jolly~~ mix it up and step outside your comfort zone. Breaking the strong eye OR Lip rule, I went for a smoked out grey eye and red lip. This was actually my Halloween night look, but it’s a glam look you could easily replicate for the Christmas party season.

Base

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation– Mix of Beige and Cendre (full review here)

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder Natural - Medium Plus

Nars Laguna Blush and Deep Throat Blush

Laura Mercier - Matte Radiance Powder

Eyes

I used an old Stila Smokey Eye Palette (remember the talking palettes?), which has now been transferred to my Z Palette (top right). It’s actually one of the oldest pieces of make up in my kit! I blended the light and dark greys into the lids and smudged the darker grey along the lower lash area for a subtle smoke out. I used the highlighting shade on the brow bone.

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner Black – thick top line and smudged out along the bottom line.

Bourjois One Seconde VolumeMascara - Black

Brows

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow - Medium Brown

Lips

Astor Liner – this was £1 from TJ Hughes store and works a treat!

Wet n Wild Fergie Perfect Pout Lipstick– Saraghina. It’s the perfect red for me. It’s slightly pink tones which means it doesn’t wash me out.

Nails

OPI Gwen Stefani 4 in the Morning - a demi matte black

Hair

Remington Waving Silk Wand– tight waves, brushed out (review here).

Topshop Cat Ears (Optional)

Happy Glammin'

Sometimes the best things come in small, stocking-sized packages. If you’re looking for a secret Santa or stocking filler for the beauty junkies in your life... and more importantly, ones that won’t break the bank, here are my top ten stocking stuffers.

Philip Kingsley Body and Volume Cracker £10 Lookfantastic

What a cracker! A festive treat for those in need of a body boost for their hair. The Philip Kingsley Body and Volume Cracker is packed with the iconic Elasticizer (40ml), Body Building Shampoo (20ml) and Body Building Conditioner (20ml) – the perfect Christmas present for the hair obsessed girls in your life.

Real Techniques Mini Brush Trio £9.99 Feel Unique

For the girl on the go! The Real Techniques Mini Brush set contains full size heads, mini handled versions of, the Foundation Brush, Shading Brush and Face Brush. Your handbags new BFF!

Personalised 'Pucker Up' Make Up Bag by Tillyanna £9.75 Not on the Highstreet

The perfect pouch to keep all your make-up safe and your friends drooling with envy. Don't forget to change the name... unless of course you are a Louisa. Santa, if you're reading... I want this one! Please!

Orly Secret Society Nail Set £10 (WORTH £30.75) Lookfantastic

Containing three full size festive shimmers, the Secret Society Gift Set by ORLY is the perfect way to experience the dark side of style this season.

Crabtree & Evelyn Triple Hand Therapy Gift Set Tin £10 John Lewis

Three ultra-moisturising, award winning Hand Therapy tubes in Crabtree & Evelyn's top selling fragrances. Each one is presented together in a beautiful tin that can be used again and again.

Santa’s Lip Scrub £5.50 Lush

Prime your pout with this moisturising cola-flavoured lip scrub that leaves your lips buffed and ready for Santa Baby.

Christmas Star Beauty Treat with Strengthening Nail Colour £7.50 Liz Earle

This gorgeous gift will add an elegant touch to any Christmas tree. The pretty star-shaped bauble opens up to reveal an irresistible surprise –a beautiful Strengthening Nail Colour, with three shades to choose from.

Lips In Beguiled Pyramid £8 Topshop

Now this is my kinda Christmas decoration... A hanging pyramid with a berry-licious, festively on-trend Topshop lipstick inside.

Burt's Bees Honey Pot Bodycare Gift Set £7.99 John Lewis

A collection of 100% natural lip and hand products – it's a treat from the bees. Honey Pot contains Beeswax Lip Balm and Honey Lip Balm along with their classic Hand Salve, all served up in a delicious looking glass honey jar.YUM!

Tangle Teezer Feline Groovy £9.50 All Beauty

Curls, up-dos, bouffants.... I’ve a feeling this Tangle Teezer will come in handy post Christmas party festivities. Plus it’s leopard print,

And if you’re not max’d out on beauty gifts yet, check out my Big Beauty Gift Guide 2014

I’m not normally an advocate for face wipes. I’d much rather cleanse and polish (Liz Earle stylee) with one notable exception – after a night out! As much as I pride myself on never sleeping with my make up on, once I’ve passed the 3 glass mark, all bets are off and at 2 am (okay, who am I kidding, it’s more like 12 these days) I’m hardly about to commence my evening skincare ritual. Enter Eyeko Mascara Off Wipes. The first face wipes that actually remove mascara and gel liner! With the party season upon is, I can’t recommend these enough!

Delicate and kick-ass powerful in equal measures. They eliminate all traces of eye make up, even waterproof mascara and gel liner. That Smokey Eyes that took an hour to create... gone in seconds! Yet, the 100% pure cotton wipes are serious gentle and soft. Enriched with a botanical blend of soothing aloe vera, smoothing olive oil, refreshing grapefruit extract and puff-reducing allantoin, they’re nice and moist and won’t irate the delicate eye area.

How to use: Place wipe on the eye area and gently hold for 5-10 seconds to soften and loosen the make up before gently wiping off in circular movements, turn over and do the same on the other eye.

A pack of ten wipes costs £6, although check out the current ASOS promotion here to bag them for £4.50. Now they are pretty pricey, but think of it like this, when you roll in late at night would you happily pay 45p to make you make up vanish?