Givenchy Mister Radiant Made To Measure Glow

Givenchy originally released Mister Radiant in Summer 2011 to rave reviews but they have recently relaunched it with a slight packaging change (the bottle used to be translucent and is now transparent). Other than the bottle, I don't think the product formula has changed very much at all.

Mister Radiant is a lightweight, clear gel which you apply to your face for a really delicate, healthy glow. 

The concept of this product is that the gel is full of tiny little bronzing beads in a variety of colours, which burst as you rub the gel into your skin and leave you with a very light tan  - the idea is that you look radiant and healthy after using this.

This is quite a versatile product and will be really useful in the run up to Summer when you need a little extra colour on your cheeks but a full-on tan looks too unnatural. The lightweight texture means it can easily be worn under foundation if you're not ready to go bare-skinned. 

If you are lucky enough to not need to wear a foundation or base, you can just rub a dose of this into your skin for a little glowy, warm look and off you go. 

If you have pale skin, you can go a little heavier and layer it up for more of a tan - the shades it produces are so natural and really sit well on the skin, with no tan line or orange tint!

You can get this now for £25.50 at a variety of outlets and at Harrods online. I think this is quite good value for the quality of the product and considering how useful it will be between now and he end of Summer! I'm definitely going to use this to warm up my skin before the sun arrives, and throughout Summer as a light, glowy base.



xo

Givenchy La Rouge Lipsticks

These limited edition lipsticks are a brand new offering from Givenchy which you can snap up for £24 each at Harrods right now.

The La Rouge lipsticks have a semi-matte formula, which is long lasting and wears really well.

Givenchy La Rouge Lipsticks in (from left): Fuschia and Coral

These lipsticks are very pigmented and give great colour payoff - just one swipe is plenty and you get a really bold, lasting colour on your lips.

My personal favourite is the Coral shade which I think would really brighten up any complexion. I love the Fuschia shade too, but it's so purple I don't think this will suit as many people and it's definitely not an everyday colour for Spring/Summer. It might be a pretty shade for Summer evenings, though.

As always, I'm a sucker for the packaging and these babies come with white leather detailed cases - if you look closely you can see the white leather parts down the side of the lid.

Givenchy are releasing some really good quality products at the moment (I'll feature a few more of these shortly!) and these lipsticks are no exception - powerful, feminine colours with a really nice texture for the lips.


Will you be buying one of these? Which colour is your favourite?


xo

Foods for Healthy Hair

'You are what you eat' is a very true saying - I'm a strong advocate of eating a healthy, balanced diet because everything you put into your body has an impact on your outer self.

Many of us are guilty of buying into or overloading on expensive products in the never-ending search for perfect skin and hair, forgetting that focusing on what we're eating can help us achieve these goals naturally.

Now, I'm not saying that eating certain foods will give you great hair no matter what, and I definitely think there are many products out there which can improve your hair. If you mistreat your hair, overstyle it or use heated appliances all the time, eating well won't have the same effect because your hair is being neglected from the outside.

But, teaming a good diet with good haircare can help you achieve heavenly hair much quicker.

Below, I list some of the top foods for healthy hair....


1. Fruit and vegetables

I know, I know...This one is obvious! But it's also one of the most important food groups for your hair. Leafy, dark green veggies (think spinach and broccoli) are high in iron and calcium and fruits that are high in vitamins A and C are essential for the production of sebum - an oil which your hair follicle generates to keep your hair conditioned and shiny. Fruits which are high in these vitamins include strawberries, oranges and kiwis - and they're great for keeping a cold at bay too!

2. Nuts

Not only are nuts a great, easy snack for mid-afternoon hunger pangs, but they're really good for you and provide a big dose of zinc which keeps your hair strong and prevents shedding. Brazil nuts are especially good for scalp health, whilst walnuts, almonds, cashews and pecans all provide healthy hair minerals.

3. Omega 3 fatty acids

Omega 3 fatty acids are amazing at rejuvenating both hair and skin and help your hair get that enviable, mirror-like shine. The best source for these is fish - so stock up on salmon, mackerel and sardines for the best impact.

4. Low fat dairy

Your hair needs calcium if you want it to grow and the best source for this is low fat dairy products such as skimmed milk and yoghurt. Yoghurt in particular is not only a great source of calcium but also protein which helps your hair stay strong and resilient.

5. Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and are loaded with other hair heroes such as iron, zinc and sulfur which makes them a great all-rounder for a happy head.

6. Sweet potatoes

Swap out your normal potato for a sweet potato and you'll be helping yourself to a higher intake of vitamin A. Low vitamin A levels can lead to an unhealthy scalp which inhibits hair growth and makes your hair dull so filling up on sweet potatoes is a great way to ensure your scalp is in top condition.

7. Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the best fruits you can eat for your hair because they are loaded with Vitamin C which prevents hair breakage. Mix some blueberries into low fat greek yoghurt and you've got a yummy, hair friendly snack.

8. Poultry

White meat, such as chicken, contains high levels of protein as well as zinc, iron and B vitamins. Poultry is also rich in cysteine - an amino acid promotes hair growth by helping to increase the thickness of each strand of hair. Cysteine can also be found in eggs, garlic, broccoli and red peppers.

9. Grains

Great for a hit of iron and zinc. Whole what bread also provides essential B vitamins which help carry oxygen to your hair, increasing growth rate. 

10. Beans

A lot of people don't realise how good beans are for your hair and skin. Kidney beans and lentils contain high levels of protein to stimulate hair growth, and beans also contain lots of zinc and biotin - perfect for preventing breakage.

What are your top tips for healthy hair? Share your ideas in the comments box below.



xo

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

These polishes from Sally Hansen are really impressive. I've tried out one of the darker shades - called 'Midnight in NY', shown below - and I was really pleased with the consistency and lasting power.

These polishes contain 'vita-care' technology which, in a nutshell, gives you the look and feel of a complete manicure in one step. Having tried it for myself, I can safely say that this polish gives you that manicured look in just one coat - even better with two coats.

In 1 bottle you get a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, colour and top coat all in one.

This polish creates a really shiny, perfect looking nail with only one step and it lasts really well.

I wore the polish for about 5 days before I noticed a tiny chip. That's pretty good going for me - usually I end up with chips in my nails after one day!

There are some really gorgeous colours available in this collection, as well as 23 brand new shades which all look lovely. There are some pearlescent and glitter polishes too, if that's your thing.

These polishes come with a great rectangular brush which fans out as your apply the polish to your nail, so you can coat your entire nail really quickly and easily.

You can pick these up from various outlets or from the Sally Hansen website for £6.99.


xo

Guerlain Colour Lacquer Nail Polish

Following on from my previous post, I wanted to show you the new Guerlain colour polish range.

The very first thing I like about these is the packaging. In true Guerlain style these are very stylish.

There are 10 colours in total, and I've picked out my top 3 in the image above. The nude shade 'la petite robe noir' is a really nice grey-tinted nude, very muted and chic, easy to wear with any outfit.

I have a real soft spot for the dark wine colour 'Vega' - it's one of my favourite shades of polish in general and this one is a really deep, rich shade that I think will look beautful next Autumn/Winter!

 'A la parisienne' is a bright, bold pink - it's almost neon but has a really lovely richness to the colour that makes it much more wearable.

The collection is largely based around pinks/reds and there are some really gorgeous shades which are definitely worth checking out.

Just like Guerlain's Gel Top Coat, these are high shine and come with the unique brush allowing you to apply one coat to the whole nail in just one sweep - very easy, chic, manicured nails.

You can pick these up now for £18 each.



xo

Guerlain Gel Top Coat

A few brands are bringing out gel effect top coats, including this new release from Guerlain.

It's designed to work with their own colour polishes, but in reality it works over any polish.

The gel top coat gives the nail a thick, transparent coating which is ultra high shine - all key to achieving the look of gel nails.

This top coat protects your colour just like any other top coat would, but maybe a bit better because it's a little extra thick. 

The best thing about this offering from Guerlain is that the brush has been custom-designed for the prupose. It is extra wide and flat, designed to fit the shape of the nail perfectly so you can sweep on just the right amount in one go. This actually really helps with the gel effect because you get one, uniform coat which looks quite superficial (just like gel polish)!


This is available now for £18.

Do you like real gel nails or will you be trying this out?


xo

Tuesday 10: Nail care Tips

Your nails are an important part of your every day look, whether you keep them polished, patterned or just beautifully bare. Below I share some of my tips for easy, every day nail care to ensure your talons are always in shape.

Let your nails breathe: As much as I love a well-manicured and polished nail, it’s important to let your nails breathe sometimes with no polish on them. Whilst nail polish shouldn’t actually stop your nails growing, nail polish remover is quite drying for the nail and can cause nails to flake. Constant polish can also stain your nails a nasty yellow/orange shade, so it’s best to leave the nail bare for a week every now and then. If you really can’t go without a polish, try a clear top coat for some high shine.

Banish stains:  If you wear dark colours, you’re more likely to suffer with stains, although constant use of any colour can eventually give your nails a yellow tinge.  Combat this by wearing a base coat beneath your nail polish and periodically allow your nails to ‘breathe’ with nothing on them. If you have already got that tell-tale yellow tinge, fear not – a great tip is to apply some whitening toothpaste to each nail and leave it on for 5-10 minutes and voila - no more stains!

One direction: Using a nail file in a ‘sawing’ back and forth motion can cause your nails to weaken and split. File in one direction only to keep the tips smooth and prevent breakage.

Get buff!: Buffing your nails is a great way to add natural shine and help polish stay in place. A really good buffer that I’ve tried is the Revlon Crazy Shine Buffer, which allows you to achieve super shiny nails in a flash.

 

You are what you eat: If you find that not matter what you do to your nails, they never seem to grow past a certain length, you might need to change your diet. Nails and hair are dead tissue, so they are the last part of your body to receive nutrients if you’re eating a poor diet. Load up on protein for the best impact (white meat, eggs, fish, dairy products) and avoid any extreme or fad diets which can deplete your body of much needed nutrients such as iron, zinc and biotin.

Cuticle care: Your cuticles are a vital part of your nail. They sit on top of your nails’ growth matrix and protect this part of the nail to ensure that they grow long and strong. It’s important to take care of your cuticles if you want healthy nails. Never cut them – not only can this easily cause infection but it can also cause ridges, white spots and hamper the growth of your nails. Keep cuticles moisturised with a good quality cuticle oil and if you must touch them, only use a gentle wooden orange stick. 

Keep your polish fresh: Nail polishes last longer, apply easier and dry quicker if you keep them in a cool place. If you have space, put some in your fridge, or just keep the ones your use regularly in there. If you are revisiting an old polish and find that it’s turned gloopy since you last used it, don’t throw it out – a good tip is to place the entire bottle into some freshly boiled water for a few minutes. The polish will be good as new again!

Seal the tips : When painting your nails, run the brush along the tip of the nail. This will coat the ends of the nail and ‘seal’ your nail polish, making it less likely to chip and keeping your polish in place for longer.

Keep ‘em clean!: It sounds obvious, but keeping your nails clean (particularly if you are wearing no polish or a clear top coat) is a vital step to ensuring your nails look good. Looking at someone’s dirty nails is so off putting, and it’s the easiest thing to correct. Regularly clean underneath your nails either with a manicure stick, file or a nail brush – this is something the men out there should do too!

Take care: The most beautiful nail look can be quickly spoilt by dry, cracked hands or feet. Keep a handcream in your bag to ensure your can moisturise your hands whenever they need it and regularly exfoliate and moisturise both your hands and feet to keep them in great condition.
What are your top tips for nail care?


xo