Faking It

Tried and tested by yours truly, we give you the low down on the must have fake tans to fit all budgets & give them our personal rating out of 5 stars...

1. Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Mousse - £13.99: I've used Ambre Solaire for a couple of years now and always found it suitable for my fair skin. After one application my skin is left looking natural and golden and it doesn't tend to smell or leave streaks. However if you build up the colour after a few applications the tan begins to look patchy, I would recommend no more than two applications to avoid patchy colour. ***

2. St Moriz Tanning Mousse - £4.99: This is the cheap option of self tanning (as you can probably tell from the rip off name of St Tropez). But despite this it's actually surprisingly pretty good, especially considering the price tag. Apply with a tanning mit to avoid any streaks and avoid building too many layers at it has a tendency to turn a tad too Geordie Shore for my liking. Also make sure you buy chuck out and re-buy regularly, as with all beauty products it has a shelf life but green fake tan is never a good look...****

3. St Tropez Bronzing Lotion - £20: This tan is completely different from your run of the mill tanning mousse. While it takes longer to apply, dry and then wash off (4 hours is recommended) if you have the time this tanning lotion is a must. You can apply it hap-hazardly and unevenly and still finish with a flawless golden tan at the end. And with Kate Moss' recent St Tropez campaign how can you resist the bronzed goddess look? (p.s. it's currently on sale at Boots!) *****

4. Tanotomicals Cream Tan - £4.66: I'd heard a lot about this miracle tan; supposedly leaving you with a natural looking non streaky colour. The great thing about this tan is you can build upon it depending on whether you wish to look golden or a darker olive colour. This tan is perfect for all skin tones, my only criticism is due to it being a white cream you can't see where you may have missed a spot but it generally leaves no streaks or patches. ****

Kathy & Bex x

Product of the Week

I like to look after my hair and often give it deep conditioning treatments but it can be hard to find a conditioner that actually does what it's supposed to. My mum told me to try Mark Hill hair products so I invested in MiracOILicious as a treat to my hair. Not only is this a nourishing conditioners but it also contains moroccan argan oil as well as 13 other essential oils.

 I worked a palm sized amount of MiracOILicious into my hair from root to tip, tied a plastic bag around the ends of my hair and let the conditioner work it's magic for 20 mins! The result left my hair feeling luscious and soft and it smelt delicious! 

 only £6.99 for a 250ml tube ain't bad, go and treat your hair! 

Bex x

Parisian Chic

If you know me you'll know how much I adore (or should i say j'adore) Paris. Everything about the city  appeals to me; the quaint boutiques, oh so chic fashion and the air of arrogance the city portrays. 

'Parisian Chic; A style guide by Ines de la Fressange with Sophie Gachet' is essential for perfecting the parisian look. The key to this is summed up in one word: Simplicity. 

I have taken four key looks using the parisian style guide and put my own spin on them.

 1. The blazer- The classic black or navy blazer should be in every girls wardrobe. Wear with jeans or over a chiffon shirt. Oversized always looks chic, even better buy mens suit jackets and belt them to get the perfect parisian look. If your feeling cheeky imitate YSL and wear nothing but a bra underneath!

2. The trench/perfect jeans- The trench coat will never go out of style celebs work the look all the time thrown over jeans and a simple shirt paired with simple black sling blacks or over a satin evening dress. Stick to neutral colours such as tan, black or navy. Jeans ultimately come down to personal taste and body shape. I have always been a fan of skinnies and cropped jeans but the boyfriend style are also great for a relaxed look or paired with kitten heels. 

3. You can't think Paris without thinking monochrome. It is a timeless look whether it be a shirt and pants or a patterned shift dress. The oversized painters smock, for me, completes this look- we all imagine bohemian artists dreaming of beauty, truth and love in the French capital. Teamed with black pants, loafers and a clutch...et voila! 

4. The leather jacket- The key to getting this look right is avoiding the 'biker' look. The jacket is the focus, the older and more distressed looking the more chic it is. Shop around for vintage leather jackets or roughen up a new one. Tan is the most favourable colour, it is always tasteful and always stylish. Avoid fuss and team with a silk top, jeans and open toed sandals. 

Bex

1. Blazer-Vinatge, Betty Barclay Watch-Breitling. 

2. Trecnh-Dunnes, Top-H&M, Jeans-River Island, Heels- Betsy Johnson, Handbag-Mulberry.

3. Smock-Joan Blanco, Pants-H&M, Clutch-Primark, Loafers-Topshop.

4. Leather Jacket-Toni Min, Top-Mango, sunglasses-Moschino.

Pamper Yourself with Boots

Take advantage of Boots 3 for 2 offer on skincare at the moment! 

I went for 3 face masks as the beauty experts say if you wear make up every day you should do one every week to help keep your pores clean and healthy.

This is also the perfect opportunity to to try out a range of different kinds of masks that you wouldn't usually go for and give yourself a bit of luxury (for a couple of quid)...

(Check out my no make up face after 3 weeks of using face masks)

Product of the Week

I recently discovered this little gem, Caudalie Divine Oil, in my May Glossy Box. Although it's a little pricey at £18.00 for 50ml this product really does do it all...

How to use it:

1. In your bath: soak in a bubble bath with just a few drops giving your skin a bit of luxury (it leaves you smelling a-mazing).

2. Try mixing it with your moisturiser or foundation: again the smell is to die for but it leaves your skin ridiculously soft (just make sure you don't use too much and become a little too shiny).

3. Treat your hair to some TLC: use a few drops after showering and it really nourishes your hair, giving it a healthy gloss.

As you can probably tell a little really does go a long way with this product.

Summer Baby

Being a summer baby I've just caught up with all my friends and entered the twenties club. I thought I'd share some of my favourite gifts with you as I have well and truly been spoilt! Not only has my Essie/Benefit/Zara obsession been well and truly fuelled but I also received some of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever been given...

 

Clockwise from top left: A beautiful second hand (super old) Les miserables novel which I've been dying to read for ages, Benefit cosmetics gift bag (It's just too cute, two beautiful Essie polishes in a night sky metallic blue & tomato red & Benefit 'Neautrals' eye set which is so easy to use for day & night & a vintage silver ring from my Mama...

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Now I think I may be the luckiest girl in the world but I got a mega Zara gift voucher from my family - the possibilities are endless, my Dad also scored major parental points in picking out this sunflower yellow dress from Zara (the fit is to die for) & as for the gift bag, well he just knows me far too well...

 

 

Kathy x

Product of the Week

I'd heard a lot about Jergens but was never convinced to invest, I have quite sensitive skin & worried it would only irritate it...Then I saw the light; I was given a sample size bottle & as soon as I applied it to my skin I knew I was a Jergens convert! Finally a moisturiser that didn't leave my skin sticky or oily! I apply it straight after showering & it sinks into my skin leaving it silky and soft.

Summer Treats

Second year is over which means a trip home for me to the quiet little Northumbrian town of Alnwick. With the choice of Dorothy Perkins or M&Co. we're not exactly spoilt for choice on the fashion front where I'm from. This weekend however I was pleasantly surprised by DPs! Not only did I pick up these shades for a sweet £8 but there was also a fantastic jewellery sale on. I had to restrain myself by only buying this little beauty which only set me back £5...

Product of the Week

Being a massive fan of Essie (If you hadn't noticed already) the product of the week which we highly recommend during this sunny spell is 'Cute as a Button' nail polish in this beaut coral colour. It's vibrant and summery but even better coral makes you look more tanned. We do love a good beauty elusion.

Zara? Si!

For anyone who knows me they know I have a slight obsession with Zara. 

It's affordable, amazing quality and the chicest high street store in the UK, what more could you want?!

All of my outfit is from the current season (apart from the bag which was a Christmas present). 

The linen cross over top is the single most comfortable and versatile item I own. It also comes in a range of beautiful colours which I will definitely be investing in at a reasonable £29.99.

I'm a massive fan of the ankle grazing trousers which go perfectly with this top for evening drinks, they create a effortless sophisticated look without being too dressy.

As for the heels, well I'm not going to lie, they hurt my feet a lot. But after a few glasses of red I'm willing to forgive. Every girl should own a pair of black slingback heels.

As I mentioned before my bag was a Christmas present (from my Dad - major parental points there) but it works so well with my items from this season proving my point that filling your wardrobe with Zara is an investment (that's what I keep telling myself)...

What I wore...

Top - £29.99, Trousers - £39.99, Heels - £39.99, Bag - present (all Zara)

Kathy x