Look Mag Launch LOOK BEAUTY Range

Look Magazine, the weekly must have read for beauty and fashion lovers have launched their own beauty range, ‘Look Beauty’. I was super excited to be at the press launch earlier in the week, not only because make up in general excites me, but also because i was super keen to see what the beauty insiders at Look Magazine have come up with for the range. It’s the first time that a magazine has ever launched a beauty range, and it also seems so much more worthwhile since they have teamed up with Cancer charity Look Good…Feel Better. Read more about the charity here.

The Look Beauty collection is mahoosive. A new make up range, let alone a high street one would rarely have such a large selection of colours and products to choose from, but that’s not the case here. With over one hundred beauty essentials including eye shadows, foundations, eye kohl’s, lipglosses/ lipsticks, mascaras, bronzers, blushers and an impressive 32 nail lacquers.

Yes, a whopping 32 nail shades, and they are all as bloody delish as each other. I haven’t had time to try out the make up so can’t comment on staying power or coverage, but i did very excitedly have a try of a few nails colours. I can see these being very popular, they go on creamy smooth and the strengthening top coat gives a gorgeous glossy finish. The choice of colours and textures is amazing. Look out for the glitters, Dorothy in particular is easily a dupe for OPI’s ‘Gettin Miss Piggy With It’ – awesome! I will be rocking these polishes for certain.

My nails in Mink with Fluro as an accent nail

The collection hits Superdrug stores across the nation from the end of November, prices start at £6. Be sure to check it out.

Beauty & Fashion at The Jacques Townhouse

A fabulous and free little haven for fashionistas and beauty lovers returns for another year. Chat style, get pampered and enjoy a super glam day at The Jacques Townhouse in London from 19-28 July (and in Liverpool on 10-19 August). Located in a secret multi-million London townhouse with Keisha Buchanan leading the party, this is a perfect day to share with the girls you love.

Free manicures and make overs by Models Own, massages, and hair styling, followed by the chance to dress up in some gorgeous vintage frocks and have top photographers pap you – if that doesn’t sound amazing, then throw in endless sipping of Jacques while relaxing in the Enchanted Garden to top off a lovely Summer’s day. I want to be there now!
The event is entirely free, if you haven’t already, then get on to www.facebook.com/jacques to secure your invite.

Festival Fever: Fashion and Face

Its festival time and that means dressing for the occasion!
Here are some of my beauty and style ideas to see your through those fun filled festival days:
Festival Face:
Max Factor Smokey Eye Effect Eyeshadows come in a Skittles assortment of colours. They are SO easy to apply and can be used to create endless looks. Add some black liner, and top it of with a sprinkling off gold glitter a la Lilly Allen for the ultimate festival face.

Nails Inc have a gorgeous limited edition collection of 6 vibrant summer shades (I Can Paint A Rainbow). My fave is ‘Summer Place’ – a lush yellow sorbet shade. Be a real festival queen by painting each nail in a different shade, as i have here

If you are at an overnight festival, it’s no excuse not to remove your make up. It won’t take long, so just do it! Olay Gentle Cleansing Wipes, remove festival dirt, grime and make up incl waterproof mascara. Easy.

Festival Fashion:
Sunglasses are a must, but don’t take your most expensive pair – you may never see them again. These Topshop Aviators £16, look good and are value for money.
I adore this yellow rain mac from ASOS, £50. So cute.
Festival Hair:
Batiste dry shampoo is a festival winner. I always use the one for brunettes, it works a treat. 
Flowers to decorate hair are a big trend at the moment. Add a few to szush up tresses. H&M have some gorge flower hair accessories. 
My festival hair style has GOT to be this (below). Its so simple. I took a small section of hair from the underneath by my ear, plaited it and then took it across my forehead. I pinned it with a rose accessory. Voila.

Finally….
….Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Masks are perfect for the journey home. When you are feeling slightly worse for wear, pop them on your eyes and relax. You will feel fab by the time you get home!

Style Scrutiny: Essex vs Chelsea

Love it, hate, watch it, avoid it….there is no denying that most of us will have an opinion. If you haven’t caught a glimpse of ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ (TOWIE) or ‘Made In Chelsea’ (MIC) you have either been living in a cave or tried extremely hard to ‘miss’ it.

The endless conversations around how ‘real’ the TOWIE and MIC characters are will no doubt continue, but for me, there is one thing that stands out a mile – the very contrasting take on style, appearance and glamour.

The charming ladies from Essex wouldn’t be seen dead without those super long fake lashes, volumising hair extensions and a lethal tan, whereas the Chelsea girls are a little more understated in their grooming style. Their tans, if they have one come from a weekend in St Tropez, rather than a bottle of it. Hair has an effortless look, and although make up is most definitely worn, it’s just a touch more refined. 
I took some screen grabs from both programmes to show the visible difference in style and make up during their everyday activities. Its quite fascinating.

At work

MIC vs TOWIE: Millie working as a MUA and Amy at her beauty salon.
Millie wins

 At Lunch

MIC vs TOWIE: Rosie from MIC is out with friends for lunch as are Billie and Sam
Billie and Sam win
With Friends

MIC vs TOWIE: A lunch with friends (Caggie & Lucy)
Caggie wins. Lucy looks way to orange.

Looking lovely

MIC vs TOWIE: Millie dolled up for a date, and Lauren look rather glam while cleaning the kitchen
Draw – they both look nice (although i’d never bother to glam up to wash dishes)
I imagine this is what a MIC and TOWIE girl’s ‘must have’ list would read like:

On the whole, both the Chelsea and Essex clans practice glam, however their interpretation of it is utterly different. I do think there is one Chelsea lady who might actually feel quite at home in Essex…

…Gabby, looking rather TOWIE.

Gabby, out for some drinks the Chelsea way?