Affordable Stocking Fillers From Mandara Spa

Filling stockings for the ones that you love is great fun and it's always so lovely to watch them open all the bits and bobs that you've picked up over the months/weeks/days (depending on how organised you are!)

The only problem is that if you're anything like me you can get a bit carried away and end up spending loads of money.

Well I've been on a search (with the help of my Christmas Elf/product tester,my gorgeous Aunty Kate) for some great stocking fillers for you that are affordable but lovely and found that Mandara Spa really do come up trumps when it comes to quality and price.


There are three products in particular that I think would make perfect stocking fillers for a lady in your life.

Exotic Soap Stack: £6.50 from www.timetospa.co.uk

Kate found the soaps very moisturising and good quality. I personally love the exotic packaging and was instantly reminded of the spa I went to on my honeymoon in Mauritius.

Luscious Lip Butters: £7.50 from www.timetospa.co.uk

Kate thought that the tin was sweet and the products were really nice - the shea butter balm was gorgeous and really moisturised, despite smelling slightly of coconut. The coconut butter was lovely and smooth.

Bath Indulgence: £13 Available from www.timetospa.co.uk

Everyone loves a bubble bath and these smell beautiful. They foam up nicely and the fact that you get five different bottles (each one is a different Manadara Spa signature scent) means that you can tailor your bath to your mood and that they are also great for taking on holiday.

If you're feeling a bit more flush then you could always book a treatment for someone at the Mandara Spa London, Park Plaza http://www.mandaraspa.com/ which is one of my favourite spas in London.

A Christmas Treat for your Mum

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you my gorgeous Mum!

Today I am handing Bonn Beauty over to Mummy Bonn who sparked my passion for beauty as a kid. (She is very glamorous and I still love watching her applying her makeup!)

Anyway, MB has tested The Jewels of Elemis for me. The minute I saw it I thought it would make the perfect luxury present for Mums this Christmas.

Mum's thoughts:

"I thought that all of my Christmas’s had come at once when I was given The Jewels of Elemis as an early present.

My skin was looking dull after a two week cold, which had been doing the office rounds, so the timing was perfect.

The collection is beautifully presented in a grey patent make up case and is aimed at mature skin. Each of the six full sized products are Pro-Collagen. Not being able to wait until Xmas, I started by using the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules. The pot is divided into blue capsules for the night and pink for the day. Each capsule smells beautiful and repairs the visable sign of aging and helps counteract damage done by pollution. I followed this by using the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. This is one of my favourites, which I always end up coming back to. After two weeks of using the capsules and marine cream I noticed that my skin was radiant and had a pink glow. Just what I needed for Xmas parties.

I have just started on my third product, having run out of my usual cream cleanser and can report that it has exactly the same radiance boosting effect and my face feels beautifully soft. I shall now be using the Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser as one of my staple skincare products.

I’m looking forward to pampering my body with the rest of the set."


Thanks Mum xx

It's Christmas Time!!!!

Yayyyy it's December!!!I love EVERYTHING about this time of year and generally spend the entire month like the kid in the John Lewis advert. (Although I don't think I'm quite as lovely as he is!)

Anyway, from now until Christmas Day, Bonn Beauty is going as festive as a giant bauble covered in fairy dust.

I'm going to be recommending great gifts, party looks and beauticians to make you look fabulous this Christmas.

So, let's start with the perfect all in one makeup palette for the party season.

The Jemma Kidd Glamour Kit Palette honestly has everything you need for a night out apart from mascara, foundation and powder.

The colours are universal and are really gorgeous.

Here's what you get for a bargainous £28:

A two-in-one priming eye and lip base to enhance colour pigment and ensure long-lasting results

A selection of 4 versatile eye shadows in neutral, taupe, charcoal and an illuminating silver to open the eye area

A high pigment black crème liner to give high definition

A lightweight lip and cheek flush for a natural finish.

Mini Jemma Kidd Make Up School essential shadow and liner duo brush applicators.

I absolutely love this kit. We used it on a recent OK Magazine Beauty shoot and I couldn't believe how versatile it was.

You can get hold of the palette from Space NK.


http://www.spacenk.co.uk/product/shop+by+brand/jemma+kidd/glamour+kit+palette+exclusive.do

xx

Hair Laser Removal (I can't believe I'm sharing this with you!)

My Grandma is 80 but looks about 50. She is vivacious, flirtatious and spends her time line-dancing and learning French.

Anyway, I will never forget the time that she took me aside and whispered "Darling, I can't help but notice that you've inherited a real family trait"

"What's that?" I replied, imagining that she was referring to some hidden beauty that I didn't yet realise I posessed.

"Well" she said, "You're a tiny bit hairy aren't you!"

I instantly turned into a surly teenager and stomped out of the room.You see, what I now refer to as my "heritage hair" was the absolute bane of my life and my Grandma had definitely hit a folic nerve!

Here's why:

1. Ed Smith, who I fancied BIG TIME at the age of 14, told me that he would fancy me if it wasn't for my hairy arms.

2. I could shave my legs in the morning and 24 hours later already see the re-growth. YUCK!

3. I got awful ingrowing hairs every time I had a wax

4. I hated getting my legs out because they never looked hair free!!!

You may notice that these four points are in the past tense. This is because two years ago I changed my life by having laser hair removal.

Now some people might think that spending the best part of £1000 on hair removal is crazy but for me it was worth every hard-saved penny.I had six sessions of full leg and bikini removal. It was bloody painful but SO worth it!More than a year later I am still hair free and LOVING it!

Anyway, if you don't have the money to splash out on getting laser removal in a salon*, then I may have found a product that will make you very happy indeed!

The TRIA Hair Removal Laser is a Laser that you can use safely at home and which has been through rigorous safety checks. It uses exactly the same technology that is used in salons and unlike most salon lasers you don't need to wear goggles when using it. The main pro is the price! The laser retails at £349 and this is amazing considering that you will have it for life and won't need to spend thousands on going to a salon.

For more information on this wonder-device, here's the link to their website: http://www.triabeauty.co.uk/tria-laser-hair-removal-system

Oh and if you want any advice on general hair removal issues I'm definitely your lady!!

* make sure that you go to a reputable salon if you do choose this option. I had mine done at SK:N in Holborn, London and was very happy with the service they offered!

Nosh Detox

Diets stink! Fact!

I have never enjoyed doing diets for the main reason that I love food! Whether it's eating socially, treating myself to a lovely lunch or snack, my levels of resistance when it comes to food are very low. I have a balanced diet and don't go crazy but the thought of cutting out my favourite food-stuffs fills me with dread.

I recently met up with my Mum who was looking ridiculously slim and had a wonderful glow to her skin. "What's going on?" I asked her..."Are you in love?"

"No darling" was her response. "I've been doing a detox and I feel AMAZING!!!" She then looked at me in the way that only a mother can and said "You really should try it!"

"What's that meant to mean?" I asked myself as I sipped on my hot chocolate whilst she indulged in a fresh mint tea.

Fast forward a fortnight and I have completed the very detox that my Mum did and my word do I feel good for it!!

The Facts:

My Mum and I did the Nosh Detox 6 day Juice Fast. Nosh Detox was founded by a wonderful woman called Geeta Sidhu Robb and has won loads of awards. The company offer a wide array of home delivery diets such as Anti-Cellulite, Gut-Healing, Healing-Thyroid and Fertile and Fabulous. The Juice-Fast (which I did) is perfect for re-training your eating habits and totally cleaning and detoxifying your system. One of the by-products of the detox is that you will lose around 6lb.

The Experience:

A Juice-Fast isn't easy and my Mum and I both found the first few days really tough. However, towards the end of the week things got much easier and the hunger and headaches disappeared. What makes Nosh wonderful is the constant support that you get during the six days. Each morning you get an inspirational email and there is always someone there to give you advice and help. In fact, I emailed for some advice and instantly got a reply from Geeta herself.

The juices themselves were varied, filling and delicious. They were also jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients.

Here is a list of the benefits of the detox as listed on the website:

• Helps maintain high energy levels since all the smoothies contain fruit pulp and fibre.
• Assists the body in attaining its natural balance by detoxifying and cleansing thoroughly.
• Increases the metabolic rate, thus helping in digesting food quickly and eliminating waste material regularly.
• The extra weight can be kept at bay for a longer time period than is possible in traditional diet method. The program retrains your body and improves your overall dietary patterns.

The thing that sets this detox apart is the support you get and the quality of the service. No wonder this company has won awards..you really feel that you are in safe hands and Geeta's obvious passion for food and health translates into everything that the company does.

For more information here's the website http://www.noshdetox.com/index.aspx

Bargain Beauty Buys

Is it just me or is everyone really money conscious at the moment?

This is the first Christmas when my family have decided to have a spending limit on presents. Usually we go a bit crazy but this year I think that it might be quite fun to see what we can get on a budget.

Anyway, in a world filled with ultra-expensive beauty products, sometimes the most effective products cost the least.

If you find yourself spending lots on hand-cream then why not follow the example of hand-model Gemma Howorth who keeps her hands looking fabulous with bottles of £1.50 almond oil!



Marilyn Monroe was famed for her flawless skin and her go-to moisturiser was good old olive-oil. Rub some onto your face before bed and reap the benefits! This can also be used as a great cleanser!

Marilyn was also said to rub vaseline onto her skin but I'm not so sure about this! Vaseline is great though for taming eye-brows and highlighting your cheek bones. You can also use it on your eye-lids and of course your lips.

If you suffer from dark cirles under your eyes then pop to your local chemist and buy some haemmorhoid cream. Apply lightly to the area of concern and your eyes will thank you for it. (Don't do this for an extended length of time as it is strong stuff).

Feel free to share any of your recession-proof beauty tips in the comment box below.

Nicola xx

Michael Buble

People often ask me how the hell I manage to get up at 2:20am every morning. My answer is that I absolutely love what I do. I have worked my ass off for ten years to get where I am and even though my show isn't in a prime-time slot I am incredibly proud of it. Without being cheesy, one of the most incredible things about being on the radio is the fact that people invite you into their lives....their homes, their cars, their workplaces. I sometimes even get messages from women who are in labour and tell me that the show is keeping them going!! Being on the radio is a total honour and I never take it for granted.

One thing I will say is that radio is MUCH less glamorous than people think. There have been times when I've been tempted to do my show in my PJs and to be honest I think I'd get away with it. Sometimes though, I do get invited to really special events and I really wanted to tell you about last night because it was so spectacular.

Heart held a special night with Michael Buble last night. Only 100 people won tickets and gathered in a stunning hotel bar near Trafalgar Square. Michael then appeared on the stage and totally mesmerised every woman (and most men) in the room. In what was a very entertaining Q and A session, Michael told us about his life, his loves and his music. He made a cocktail at the bar, regaled great stories and pretty much seduced everybody.

Here are some facts about Buble:

1. He LOVES Christmas
2. His favourite drink at Christmas time is Eggnog and whisky mixed
3. Unfortunately for us, he is besotted with his wife.
4. Last year his wife bought him stilts for Christmas. This year he wants socks.
5. He has a very nice bottom. (I know this because a very excited woman in the loo informed me that she had pinched it)


Anyway, you can hear Michael Buble in action on some very special shows on Heart with Emma Bunton (Who by the way wears amazing mascara. I'll ask her what it is and let you know in due course).

Sorry this isn't exactly beauty related but as Micheal's so beautiful I thought you'd forgive me :)

xx

Marvellous M.A.C

I once met a makeup artist who admitted that he often does brand-specific shoots for ads and make-over promotions where he is given an array of their products to use but that when the big bosses aren't looking he whips out his collection of M.A.C products and applies those instead. His argument is that you can't beat M.A.C for quality and ease of application and in his words "many other products are a load of shite". (He said it, not me)

Anyway, I have an ongoing love affair with M.A.C, mainly because you can really trust their products to do the job and they also have incredibly exciting ranges of colours and formulas.

I spent a good half hour browsing in M.A.C Covent Garden yesterday and came away with three products that I think should be a part of every makeup collection just because they make life simple and really work.

The first is the 217 brush. If you only have money for one brush then this is the one to get as it is wonderfully muli-functional. I recommend using it to apply under-eye concealer, to apply your eye-shadow base and also for great blending.

I also discovered M.A.C paints for the first time. These little beauties come in neutral tones and make the perfect base for your eye-shadow. They stop creasing and create a clean, flawless canvas to work on. I also think that they are great on their own worn as a lovely, natural eye-shadow. I bought "Bare Canvas" and have been applying it all over my eye-lid with my 217 brush.

For a lovely, light and moisturising under-eye concealer the NW Moisture-Cover Concealer is perfect. I have been using this for quite a while and it really does beat other under-eye concealers hands down. (and I have tried a LOT!!) To be honest, my biggest let down of recent months has been Laura Mercier Secret Concealer which I found surprisingly drying under the eyes. The great thing about the NW range is the colour, which is slightly yellowy and perfect for cancelling out blue tones in the skin.

That's all for now...I need my bed xx

Regents Street Christmas Lights and OK Beauty Tutorial

Morning!

I presented the Regents Street Xmas Lights last night with the gorgeous Jamie Theakston. It is at this point that I must say that a certain journalist wrote a ridiculous piece about him in the Daily Mail over the weekend. She sounded bitter and twisted and you heard it here that Jamie is a genuine and very good person. He is naturally inteligent and witty and a true family man so as far as I'm concerned that journalist can jolly well find someone else to bully with her lazy writing style.

Right....rant over!!

I am feeling very christmassy now and it was quite emotional when all the fireworks started going off as Regents Street sparkled! We may all be broke and in recession but whatever anyone says, Christmas is magical and I'm going to embrace every damn day of the party season.

Anyway, here's a link to this week's OK Magazine Beauty Watch. This week I'm joined by international makeup artist Martin Weiser who is brilliant. He tells us how to get the J-LO look

Enjoy xx


Beauty Watch - OK! on MUZU.TV

Some Great Beauty Products

I took a massive trip down memory lane over the weekend. My parents split up a few years ago and when they had sold the house we all gathered to sort through years of "stuff" for storage. This said stuff went all the way back to childhood and there was A LOT of it!

At the time I was feeling very unsettled and instead of giving things to charity and disposing of useless items, I found the whole thing far too emotional and stuffed everything into boxes, handed them over to my parents and forced the whole sorry affair out of my mind.

Last week I got a call from my Dad telling me that they had decided to sort through the storage items and I had to come and go through my boxes. I was instantly filled with dread. The time had come to face up to the fact that I couldn't hold onto everything and that I would in fact have to throw some of my precious memories away.

When I finally got round to it on Saturday, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I mean what was I thinking keeping an old bridesmaid dress that was about ten sizes too small for me, a weird long coat that I once thought was elegant and dramatic but that would look far better on Cruella De Ville and a strange collection of books that I don't even remember reading?

On the plus side, I found old love letters, an amazing painting by my Grandmother that now has pride of place in my hallway and photos...lots and lots of photos!! I spent hours pouring over these wonderful old pictures and I smiled as I reminisced about great family days out, odd ex-boyfriends and some of the happiest moments of my life.

I was also struck by how AWFUL my makeup was in my youth. What on earth was I thinking? From dark lip-liner mixed with light lipstick to blue eye-shadow to glitter all over my cheeks, I certainly liked trying out lots of looks. It's all part of growing up though and my relationship with makeup has certainly been fun so far.

Anyway, I like to think that now I'm in my 30's I have far better judgement and know what works and below are a few products that I've been sent/bought recently that I think are outstanding and that will hopefully stand the test of time when I look back at photos of myself in years to come.

So here ya go...

MAC Strobe Cream:

This stuff is great both on its own and under foundation. It's good for waking up tired looking skin and gives a fabulous glow and brightening effect. It's full of light reflecting particles and also contains a load of vitamins so is good for your skin too.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow in Beige:

I adore Bobbi Brown eyeshadows. They go on and blend like a dream and come in a fab range of colours. Their shimmer wash in Beige is one of those colours that will suit all skin tones and is a great base colour. I have been wearing it all over and then using a plum colour in the corners for a smoky effect. For me this is a classic beauty must-have that I will be using both for everyday and evenings. It is also great if you're not used to wearing eyeshadow as it's lovely and natural when worn alone.

Laura Mercier Eye Crease Brush:

Definitely one of the best makeup brushes that I have come across. This is the perfect blending brush if you like to wear colour across your eye-crease to create a smoky look. It makes a job that is often tricky, totally effortless.

Batiste Dry Shampoo Big and Bouncy XXL Volume:

This is guaranteed to give you big hair. I use it when I'm going on camera and it makes me look like I've had a professional blow-dry. Spray it into your roots, work it in with your fingers and voila!!

As Bonn Beauty is all about sharing tips, I'd love you to get in touch with any great new products that you've been using recently.

Nicola

xx

The Best Face-Creams For A Hangover

However late it is or drunk I am I always always take my makeup off. This was ingrained into me as a teenager by my Mum who looks about 10 years younger than she is and although it's always incredibly annoying when you're knackered, I thank her for her words of wisdom.

Over the weekend I celebrated my best friend's hen-do in the wonderful city of Bath. At 2am I was drinking shots and dancing like a crazy women, at 3am I was chatted up by a guy who turned out to be half my age, at 3:15am I was giving him motherly advice about his love-life and at 4am I realised that I no longer had the stamina of a student and was hoping that someone would fly me to my bed.

The minute I got back to the YMCA (not the most glamorous but turned out to be really good fun) I went to the communal bathroom and after cleansing thoroughly, rubbed my miracle vitamin C serum over my face. As my drunk friends popped in and out of the bathroom I offered them some of my miracle serum but they looked at me as if I was crazy. "Nicola the last thing I want to do is put serum on my face. I neeeeed sleep", were the last words my friend Charlotte said before nearly falling over.

Anyway, I'm not going to say that I looked any better than the girls the next morning as we all looked pretty worse for wear, but psychologically my vitamin C serum helped me feel that little bit more human.

So, I thought I'd quickly talk about some great ways of making hungover skin a little less grey and sallow.

1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.

This is not recommended if you are going to be out and about, but if you are nursing your hang-over in the comfort of your own home then apply a thin layer on your skin. It will feel and look a bit strange but once you wipe it off, your skin will look 10 times better.


2. Estee Lauder Face Primer Plus-Illuminating Base

This is good if you are planning on heading out. Not only does it make a great base for makeup but it has illuminating ingredients that will make you really glow.

3. Aeterna Gold Collagen Creme

My miracle vitamin C serum!! Love this stuff! Use it after a night out and in the morning and reap the benfits.

4. Clinique Moisture Surge-Extended Thirst Relief

This feels and smells amazing and will do exactly what it says on the tin!!

Get in touch and share your tips xx

OK Magazine Beauty Videos

Morning!! A very quick one today as I am realllllly tired.

I've just started presenting beauty videos for the OK Magazine website and I'd love you to tell me what you think.


- OK! Celebrity Beauty Watch One on MUZU.TV


I'll write more later this week. I've found some great products to help hide the effects of a hangover!!
XX

Weird Massages

I had a very amusing conversation with my friend Chloe yesterday. She had been feeling a bit under the weather and booked herself in for a massage. Apparently she arrived and within a couple of minutes the masseuse was walking up and down her back. Chloe, who had never experienced a Thai Massage before was finding the whole process a bit weird and painful but kept quiet and let the woman continue.

After ten minutes of someone walking up and down her body (and putting her foot down particularly hard on her calf muscles for some reason) Chloe was relieved that this part of the treatment was over. However, things got worse when the woman started pounding her poor shoulder to within an inch of it's life.

I went for a massage a few months ago which was amazing but I found it a bit too much when the beautician put her hands slightly too close to my knicker line for comfort. I know that this is common practise but I found the whole thing a little bit intimate.

The thing that a lot of us have in common in this scenario and many others (have you ever been to the hairdressers and smiled stoically as they hacked away at your hair and made you look hideous?) is that we don't speak up. We can be strong and strident in our every day lives and then find ourselves in a scenario where we have paid to be pampered and for some reason we just can't speak up for ourselves.

The only time that I did confront a beautician was after a particularly hideous bikini wax. This woman was so rude and offensive and the wax was so badly done that I marched up to the owner of the salon and demanded a refund. I soon regretted this when she made me lower my knickers and show her what the problem was!

Roja Dove

If you've been reading this blog for a while you'll know that one of my big passions is perfume. I don't know why I'm so obsessed but I just love the way that a scent can really define a person and linger long after you've left a room. I also like the way that it creates and re-creates memories.

I had one of the most interesting hours of my life last week when I met Roja Dove who is one of the most famous perfume-makers and "noses" in the industry. This man knows everything that there is to know about the history, psychology and creation of scent.

We met in the Roja Dove perfume room at Harrods which is wonderfully luxurious and filled with rare and famous scents, many of which date back to the 1930s and tell a fascinating story.

I sat on a plush velvet sofa and instantly warmed to Roja when he turned up. He was wearing a flamboyant beige shirt which was covered in images from "Superman" and had a great energy about him. After talking about his cat Missy (so called because he knew she'd grow up to be a madame)we turned to the subject of perfume. His passion for the subject was effervescent. As his eyes sparkled and he regaled stories and facts I was totally enchanted and engrossed.

Roja's passion for perfume was inspired by his mother's handbag. He saw it as a secret world filled with mysterious fragrances that combined to produce his first impression of a woman. He believes that the scents we love and hate all root from memories and experiences, most of which are created in the first ten years of our life.

My hour with Roja involved finding my perfect scent by going through a process of elimination. First we discovered that the family of fragrance that I love is chypre based. I am not to my surprise a floral girl!

After this discovery my nose was taken on a journey through the history of some of the most impressive Chypre based perfumes in the world. Each time I smelt one I was not told what the perfume wasas Roja believes that marketing and names can strongly influence a woman's choice of scent. Instead I was asked merely to give an instant reaction from the heart. I compared my reaction to two scents at a time, returning my least favourite tester to Roja as I went. It was at this point that he revealed what the perfume I had handed back actually was.

In the end my two favourites were actually ones that Roja had created himself. They were part of a very special collection that he made for women who can't afford to have a totally bespoke perfume made but who want to smell different and "one off". There are only fifty bottles of each one in existence and they cost £1000 each. While this is a lot of money, these fragrances are a total world apart from your average scent. The ingredients are rare, immaculately layered and each perfume has taken years to perfect.

If you want to explore the world of Roja Dove and try a slighly more affordable (it retails at £495) but absolutely stunning perfume then I recommend that you head to Harrods and try his Aoud. It is one of the most incredible perfumes I have ever smelt. Even more affordable are his range of perfumes which have such enigmatic names as "Enslaved" and "Scandal". Each one tells a great story and will be unlike anything you have experienced in the fragrance world.

click below to discover more about Roja Dove's fragrances:

http://www.rojadove.com/#/intro

Wedding Outfit Disaster

Before I met my husband Chris I was organised and punctual. I wrote lists, kept my filofax in order and arrived at appointments at least ten minutes early.


Oh how things change. The following example is an illustration of how far the other way I have now gone:


Typical morning with Chris if we are due to be out of the house in an hour:

1 hour to go:

Chris: Fancy a coffee?
Me: That would be lovely. Let's make some fresh coffee.

55 Minutes to go:

Me: This coffee is lovely
Chris: Let's have another!!

50 minutes to go:

Chris: Are you going to have first shower
Me: Yes....You'll never guess what happened to me yesterday...

Conversation continues

40 minutes to go:

Me: Right I really should get in the shower now

More chatting and laughter. At this point Chris often decides to clean the toilet (this is a total mystery to me! Our toilet is very clean and this seems to be Chris' reaction to the fact that we are running late)

25 minutes to go:

General rushing around, showers, smudged makeup that needs redoing, swearing and running out of the house only to forget something.

You get the picture? My husband and I are great at chatting, making each other laugh and cleaning toilets but are absolutely hopeless at getting out of the house on time.

Saturday morning was literally a carbon copy of the above with the added twist that we were going to a wedding and had a train to catch.

We were of course running late and as we sprinted from Leicester Square tube to Embankment (well Chris srinted and I lagged behind in my heels that were slipping like crazy because of my tights) I heard a weird sound and the next minute felt a gust of wind around my bottom. The zip of my gorgeous polka dot dress had broken and my dress had split all the way down the back.

Me: Chris!! STOP!!!! My dress has broken

Chris: (Still running) That's OK...come on....

Me: My bottom is showing

Chris: SHIT!!!!! What shall we do???

Total and utter panic ensued. It was 9:30am on a Saturday morning and not one shop was open. We didn't have time to go home and in pure desperation I started hammering on the door of NEXT hoping that somebody would be there.

Finally a lovely woman came to the door and after lip-reading my manic pleas through the shop door and seeing the state of my dress she let us in!!!

After crazily looking for a suitable outfit (there wasn't one) Chris found a black dress. I NEVER wear black at a wedding but these were desperate times. Next came the challenge of getting me out of my other dress in a pitch black changing room. The zip would not budge and even Chris who is very strong couldn't pull the dress apart. We asked the shop-keeper for scissors but she asked in a rather nervous voice why we needed them and denied having any. (I think she was concerned that we were total nutters and was fearing for her safety after all the shrieks coming from the changing room as I tried to lower the dress over my bum).

Eventually after another 20 minutes of screeching, laughing and nearly crying I was safely zipped into my new black dress. I was sweaty and my makeup was everywhere.

At this point I would like to thank the following people:

Chris: For getting me out of my dress and later on literally pushing me onto the train (by this time my legs and feet had literally seized up from lack of fitness and slippy heels) so that we did indeed make the wedding.
My Sister-in-law: For lending me a red belt that detracted slightly from the funeral feel of my dress

I would not like to thank the woman who stage whispered that she didn't know you were allowed to wear black at weddings as I walked past her!!

Kiss Me Quick

I have always had an extreme fear of red lipstick. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. It always goes on my teeth/smudges/rubs off

2. I am absolutely definite that it doesn't suit me

3. I spend the whole day licking my lips self consciously and checking them in the mirror when I wear it

4. I like to define my eyes and have always been told not to have heavy eyes and lips. The chances of me leaving the house without lashings of eyeliner and mascara on are nil!!

Anyway, I am doing a bit of TV work at the moment and I figured that bright red lips might help me in my bid to look cool on camera.

I popped into MAC where they LOVE making you look colourful and vibrant (like a rainbow) and asked one of the heavily made-up shop assistants to find me my "perfect red".

Two minuted later she returned with their new lip pencil. It is called "Kiss Me Quick" and is described as being yellowy/red. She applied it with great care and then did big the reveal. What met me in the mirror were a very kissable and vampy looking pair of red lips. The colour really worked with my skin-tone and I felt like distinctly Hollywood-esque!

The fact that it was a pencil meant that the colour lasted nicely but I do recommend applying some balm so that your lips don't feel too dry.

Boys Boys Boys!!

What is it with men and beauty? Most of them absolutely love being pampered and dream of having facials and manicures but would never dare to wander into a beauty salon for fear that it will detract from their manly prowess.

The thing is boys (if you're reading this) that there are many reasons why having the odd pamper session will make you feel even more manly.

1. Beauticians LOVE having men in. They spend their days surrounded by women so the chance for a bit of banter with the opposite sex is always welcome.

2. A man with lovely skin/hands/feet is always more atractive to the opposite sex

3. Relaxation time makes you much less stressed and therefore a much nicer person!

4. You might meet a lovely lady. Forget internet dating...where better to meet and get to know a woman? You can laugh about your mutual love of manicures as you meet for that first date!


Seriously though, I took my mate Martin for his first pedicure at The Beauty Lounge http://www.beautylounge.co.uk/ (which is my favourite place for just about any beauty treatment) and his reaction was just amazing.

At first he seemed a bit embarrassed by the fuss everyone was making of him but he soon relaxed into it and said it was one of the nicest things that he had ever done. The combination of having his feet pampered and massaged and the outcome (his feet had apparently never felt so soft or looked so good) was enough to convert him to the wonders of the pedicure.

There are a number of spas just for men, but I think more of you should also join us girls in our regular haunts. It'll be fun...I promise!

Design Your Own Shoes

My feet are the bane of my life. You know when someone asks you what you would change about your body? Well the first thing would be my ridiculous feet. They are different sizes, abnormally wide in some places and then stupidly narrow in others and whatever I do I can never find shoes that fit and look attractive.

I know that I'm not the only person to suffer with this problem. I have friends with massive feet, tiny feet, bunions...you name it they have it. The universal problem seems to be that not many shops offer shoes for anything other than the perfect tootsies.

If you do not suffer from the above problems then keep reading anyway because I'm about to introduce you to a shoe company that not only caters for all sorts of shapes and sizes but that also allows you to design your dream pair of shoes.

Check out this video:



I visited the Upper Street London office yesterday and was totally wowed. The shelves were adorned with the most beautiful shoes in an endless variety of designs and colours. I was like a kid in a sweet shop as I designed my dream pair with Julia who is part owner of the company.

If you want to design your dream pair of great fitting shoes then check out their website:

http://upperstreet.com


I'll post a photo of my own shoes as soon as I get them, but just to tantalise you, they're red, black and incredibly sexy, just as good as any pair of Louboutins and much much more affordable!!!

Fat and Cellulite Busting Leggings

I am officially in love...with a pair of shiny black leggings. I have named them my miracle leggings because they are so clever and high-tech that they make my I-Pod look antiquated.

They are called Proskins Slim leggings and here's what makes them so special:


1. They're made by a company that has been making technical sportswear for years and specialises in the compression leggings and T-shirts worn by elite sportsmen to enhance muscle-recovery after exercise. (Meaning that they are to be trusted a lot more than some of the rubbish on the market).

2. They cool you in hot weather and warm you up when it is cold. (I am wearing them right now and my legs are really toasty. Over the weekend they kept them nice and cool!)

3. Wear them for 8 hours a day for 28 days and it is proven that they will help you shift weight AND cellulite. (I met a woman who vouches for this and I have also seen the test results).

4. They don't get smelly, even after a work-out because they are made with antibacterial silver

5. They protect you from DVT like flight-socks

6. They moisturise your legs

7. They make your legs feel light and lovely as you walk.

Hmmmmmm...now which of these points is the most appealing?? The fact that they help you shift and weight and cellulite is the one that does it for me. (I've got the results of a load of tests that they've done and they're really not bull-shitting!) These leggings are exciting stuff!

Check them out at http://www.proskins.co/store/en/ or buy them at Tescos and Next xx

Christina Aguilera, Secret Potion

What a week I've had!! I've been filming reports for the Wright Stuff Extra on Channel 5, trying to sort out my flat before we begin redecorating and I've also been to a couple of amazing product launches.

The most exciting was the launch of Christina Aguilera's new perfume "Secret Potion".

We gathered at the very swanky and eccentric "Crazy Bear Club" in Covent Garden where we were treated like A List Stars.(Why oh why hadn't I done my hair?!) We were treated to exotic cocktails (based on the actual perfume ingredients), a slap-up three course meal, champagne, wine, goody bags and a talk given by the very talented relationship expert Matthew Hussen on "how to shine".

Right, enough of my boasting and down to business!! What is the perfume like?

If you want my honest opinion, it was MUCH better than I expected. I am a bit prejudiced towards celeb fragrances, basically because I see them as being a bit shallow and mass-produced. You never imagine that a celebrity fragrance will contain top-quality ingredients that it has taken years to discover and mix!

However, Secret Potion has a surprising amount of pure ingredients and has all three layers meaning that it does develop.

The perfume itself is far too sweet and heady for me and is very much a night-time fragrance. I imagine that this will be a big hit with teenagers who want to give off the impression of being sexy and emulate Christina's style. I also imagine that self-confident women could carry this off really nicely.

As I said though, you have to be really into your sweet perfumes as this makes the likes of "Angel" smell savoury!!

A Delicious and Healthy Dinner Recipe

When I became a wife I vowed to myself that I would improve my cooking skills. Up to that point, the most that my friends could hope for when they came for dinner was oven-cooked fish cakes or pasta and Chris would either end up cooking dinner every night or have to fake a smile as he tasted the wonders of my odd-tasting concoctions.

My all time low was the Christmas when everyone bought me recipe books. It was as if they were begging me to improve my skills so that 1) they wouldn't have to suffer my meals when they came for dinner 2) I could provide my man with the food that he deserved! That was also the Christmas when Chris' Mum watched in shock as I tried to grate some cheddar and it leapt out of my hand like an oily otter and landed on the floor. I mean what kind of woman can't even grate cheese??

Anyway, I'm proud to say that I have turned my cooking around a bit in recent months. I am perfecting a couple of recipes a week in the hope that I will eventually have a fool-proof and tasty repertoire that I can use in an array of situations.

What does all this have to do with beauty I hear you ask? Well I am a true believer that you can use the best lotions and potions in the world but if you don't eat and drink the right things they're not really going to do much for you. In fact, drinking water and eating well is probably far more effective than anything you can buy.

So, here is a healthy meal that I made last night and it was bloody delicious! Chris was very proud of me and kept going on about it so this is definitely one for the repertoire!!

Bonn's Beef and Broccoli: (It's actually from the BBC Good Food Website but I think the three B's in my title work nicely!!)

what you need:

1 tbsp olive oil
50g unsalted cashews nuts
400g good quality steak
1 large head broccoli , broken into florets
4 sticks celery , sliced
150ml beef stock (from a cube is fine)
2 tbsp horseradish sauce
2 tbsp low-fat fromage frais

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the nuts and toss for a few secs until lightly toasted. Set aside.
Season the steak strips with plenty of pepper and stir-fry over a high heat for 1-2 mins to brown. Set aside with the nuts. Tip the broccoli and celery into the pan and stir-fry for 2 mins. Pour the stock over, cover and simmer for 2 mins. Meanwhile, mix the horseradish and fromage frais together.
Return the steak to the pan and toss with the veg, then sprinkle over the nuts and serve with the creamy horseradish. Great with mashed potatoes.

Yummy!!

How to Get the Dita Von Teese Look

Once again I'm turning to my lovely friends Pixiwoo who give great makeup tutorials.

This one really does help you capture Dita Von Teese's glamourous 50's look!

Enjoy and let me know how you get on xx

Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise-Tips from makeup artist Laura Barrow

Introducing the first of our Heart Beauty Tutorials with makeup artist Laura Barrow. For more check out heart.co.uk!!

Enjoy xx

The Ultimate Perfume

Since I've turned thirty and become a married lady I've become obsessed with finding a new signature scent. I guess I've always done this in various defining stages of my life and I find it very exciting!

Ever since I can remember I've been obsessed with perfume. Along with many girls, my love affair began with a bottle of Anais Anais. I moved on to the watery-fresh Escada Oceana which was one of their one-off summer scents that reminds me of my first love. After that it was Cool Water (which my boyfriend at the time later revealed that he hated) and so the list went on.

The fragrance I have been wearing for the past few years is Coco Chanel Madamoiselle. I also dabble with Aqua di Parma Cologne (mainly because I love wearing the same scent as Audrey Hepburn did...it's about as close as I'll ever get to emjulating her style!), Molecule 01 (which gets more comments than any perfume I've ever worn) and my wedding perfume (which I am still totally in love with) was Max Mara Original.

Anyway, I feel ready to discover a new world of more classic and exciting scents. I want to move on from the light, whimsical scents that seem to define our age and start sniffing out rare perfume makers who create scents with a multitude of layers and pure ingredients. I guess it's a mixture of wanting to smell different to everyone else and also wanting to find a fragrance that will make people take me more seriously.

Below are a few of the fragrances that I have explored so far. Like in my mascara posts I must stress that everyone is different and just because a perfume doesn't work for me doesn't mean it won't be your perfect scent!

Guerlain Mitsouko: Launched in 1919 many would argue that this is one of the best and most extraordinary scents in the world. Unfortunately it is far too strong and cloying for me. My husband felt it had a bit of an "old woman" feel about it.

Chanel no 5: I SO want to be able to wear this so that I can pretend to be all wanton and sexy like Marilyn Monroe. Unfortunately it's another scent that just feels too old for me. I prefer Chanel no 5 Eau Premiere which is a modern take on the classic. It would be a great wedding fragrance!

Robert Piguet Fracas: Read Jilly Cooper's "Rivals" and you will see constant references to this perfume. The character who wears it is very successful and overtly sexy. Every woman is searching for a perfume that makes her "sexy" and this one is bound to help! It had a musky, rampant feel to it but was also a bit salty and almost meaty on me so that was the end of that! Madonna wears this perfume!

Robert Piguet Visa: A remaking of an old classic, I instantly fell in love with this fragrance. It seemed to warm on my skin and instantly felt like it was a part of me. It is a cosy scent that starts off with a commercial, "Angel" feel but soon settles into something more exciting and sexy. I love it!!

I'm going to continue this thread and would love to hear about the fragrances you love and that have defined you over the years.

Oh and make sure you check out BonnBeauty soon for an interview with the most famour "nose" in the world....Roja Dove xx

Heart Beauty Videos and Laura Barrow

I had a great afternoon filming some beauty tutorials for the beauty section of the Heart website yesterday. (www.heart.co.uk)

We've been asking the listeners about their biggest beauty questions for the past few months and aimed to answer them with the help of fabulous makeup artist Laura Barrow.

They'll be on the website soon and tell you how to apply a classic red lippie, great smoky eyes and how to contour your face and produce the illusion of chiselled cheek bones!

Here's a picture of some of Laura's work. She's fabulous for natural makeup for "real women" and also does lots of wedding stuff as well as fashion shoots. If you fancy contacting her you can do so via me!! Email me at nicola@nicolabonn.com xx

Sephora, Paris

I lived in Paris for a year when I was 21. I had a fabulous time discovering the wonders of fresh croissants, the local market, the French music scene and the Guerlain perfume house on the Champs Elysees.

However, I was also surprised and a bit let down when I realised that Parisian women aren't quite as chic as they would have us believe. I went to Paris in the hope that I would become the epitomy of the perfectly put-together gamine but found that many of the fashion choices for the average Parisian woman were dowdy and plain and that having a hair-cut in Paris is the equivalent of taking your life into your own hands. I remember sitting there petrified as the hairdresser chopped at my hair as if he was trimming carrot-tops.

Anyway, I was very excited to spend last weekend in Paris alongside my husband, Dad and his girlfriend Liz.

As Chris and my Dad discussed the Fantasy League and other such manly topics, Liz and I took in all the fashion and beauty houses hungrily. We couldn't resist popping into Sephora on the Champs Elysees which is like a massive sweet-shop that goes on forever. Shelf upon shelf is stacked with a rainbow of every shade of eyeshadow/mascara/eyeliner etc thinkable!! Top end brands mix with Sephora's own-brand which is affordable but perhaps lacking slightly in quality.

I left Sephora feeling a little bit overwhelmed and slightly headachey (this might be the result of the five perfumes that I had spritzed on various areas of my arm).

Sephora is definitely a one stop shop for all your beauty needs but somehow removes the excitement that I associate with searching for beauty products. I'd much rather spend an hour trying the rare perfumes in the cosiness of the Libertys perfume room or checking out the products in the far classier and more intimate Space NK! There was a manic, buy -all- you- can, "Primark" feel to being in Sephora which was slightly unnerving.

Next time you're in Paris, visit Sephora by all means, but make sure you also check out a local chemist where you will find a plethora of exciting face creams and shampoos and pop into Frederick Malle's Editions de Parfums on 37 rue de Grenelle. (Your nose will be very excited by the range of perfumes created by the top "noses" in the business).

A plus tard x

Spa Fabulous Organic Cleanse and Polish Exfoliator

Ever since Lisa Snowdon introduced me to Spa Fabulous products I have been totally enamoured by the brand.

For starters, every product is Paraben(preservative), Petrochemical (petroleum by-product), Sulphate (foaming agent), artificial fragrance and colour free. Add to that the organic, luxurious and highly effective ingredients and you are on to a winner.

I have already written about their amazing "Bliss for your Skin face Oil" which I apply before I go to bed. It is full of the most wonderful ingredients and I always wake up glowing.

My new must have product from the range is their Organic Cleanse and Polish Exfoliator. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is the best I have ever used. It is a great consistency and as it scrubs away your imperfections, it is balanced by the beautiful and healing oils that make the base of the exfoliator. Everything about this scrub feels good....the smell, the sensation on the skin and above all, the instant glow after you use it.

Here's the ingredient list to give you a feel for the product:

Sweet Almond (nourishing and softening)

Lemongrass (improves texture)

Rosehip Seed Oil (helps scarring and is rich in Omega fatty acids)

Lavender (deep cleansing and anti-inflamatory)

Salyclic Acid (5%) (digests dead skin cells)


The exfoliator is £36 and well worth the price. Your face will thank you!!

You can order this and other Spa Fabulous products at www.spafabulousproducts.co.uk

Glossy Box

As a woman there is only one certainty every month and it ain't very nice! Wouldn't it be great if as well as spending the best part of a week feeling gross each month we also had something that we could genuinely get excited about?

Glossy Box is a genius idea that is guaranteed to inject a little bit of excitement and anticipation into your life. For £10 plus postage and packaging you get a pretty pink box each month that contains five brand new beauty products. They come in a mixture of minature and full sizes and invariably cost a lot more than £10!

I was very excited to get my box this month. It contained:

1. A Ciate nail polish worth £9 in a universal natural pink shade.

2. A large bottle of Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil worth £19.95

3. Some Nouveau strip lashes

4. Illamasqua eyeshadow worth £15.50

5. Some small perfume testers

There is something exciting about not knowing what's going to turn up each month and I was impressed to see that there were some genuinely expensive, quality products in my box.

This is the kind of thing that would make a great monthly and affordable gift for yourself or someone you love. If you want to know more here's a link to the Glossybox website:

http://glossybox.co.uk

Bourjois 10 Days Nail Enamel

The problem with nail polish is that it never lasts for as long as you want it to. My main problems arise from forgetting to wear rubber gloves when I wash up only to find that my perfectly manicured nails are ruined and washing my hair which invariably leads to chips!! Even without these water-based issues, nail polish rarely looks perfect for more than a few days and other than spending considerable amounts of money on 3 week manicures, there hasn't really been an answer.....until now!!

Bourjois have come up with 10 Days Nail Enamel which not only promises to strengthen your nails but also to last for 10 days (with the odd touch up!)

The polish goes on very easily which is down to a small, angled brush. I chose no 11 which is a very sexy and true red! It dried very quickly and looked great even after one coat. The other colours in the series are vibrant and fun and at £5.99 you could buy all of them for the price of a 3 week mani!

I've been wearing the polish for a good 6 days now and it's still looking good!! No chips yet and the only problem is that the tips have faded slightly. (This can easily be dealt with). I recommend a top coat when you use this polish which will gloss it up a bit!!

All in all, this product has been a long time coming and I think it's going to make our lives a lot easier!!

How to get a 50's hair do the simple way!!

I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful Pixiwoo a month or so ago. Pixiwoo (if you haven't come across them) are sisters Nicola and Sam Chapman. They are incredibly good makeup artists who started giving their mates makeup tutorials by posting videos on Youtube. The rest is history. Their tutorials have become a hit worldwide and they have millions of viewers.

I am a massive fan of them...their videos are easy to follow and give great hints and tips and the girls themselves are totally down to earth and lovely.

I was particularly taken with this tutorial on how to get a great retro hair look really easily. I always want to create this look but never quite know how!! It's great if your hair is a bit greasy and needs a wash as Sam explains!

So here you go...Bonn Beauty introduces the fabulous Pixiwoo!!

Pure Package Gourmet Diet Delivery

I love cake, and chocolate and ice-cream and yes sometimes I go to the local Greasy Spoon and get a fry up after my show. I also eat a lot of good stuff but my biggest weakness in life is naughty food.

I lost about half a stone before my wedding which was instantly reinstated on Honeymoon when I couldn't resist eating everything that my all inclusive package had to offer.

The problem with putting on the half a stone again was that my gorgeous new jeans were so bloody tight last week that I felt faint every time I sat down and I saw a woman looking disapprovingly at my "muffin top" on the tube! In sheer panic I decided to try out a diet delivery programme in the hope that it would get me back on the right track. The one I chose is "Pure Package". It is London based and used by a plethora of celebrities when they want to get in shape.

The idea is that you get a cool bag delivered each night with all your meals and snacks for the next day. All the food is of a very high quality and the meals are creative and delicious. By the end of the day, you have eaten healthily and had your quota of all the necessary ingredients for a healthy, balanced diet.

I've been trialling the "weight loss" diet for the past three days and it has been amazing. Having all my meals and snacks sorted has been a total godsend. I haven't been snacking on chocolate like I usually would and it's been so good to get home and not have to worry about what to cook that night. I obviously haven't lost a lot of weight as I've only been doing it for a few days, but my stomach looks flatter and I feel healthy and energetic.

Here's an example of what I've eaten today:

Breakfast:

Granola, natural yoghurt and grapes

Mid-morning snack:

A pear and pecan nuts

Lunch:

Ginger beef and noodles

Afternoon snack:

Spiced peach compote

dinner:

pesto chicken, rice and green vegetables.

It's also recommended that you drink a litre and a half of water each day.

Lisa Snowdon does this diet for a week or so when she needs a detox and I know that if I was doing this for longer I would get really good results. There are also a whole load of other diets including a detox one and a post-baby diet.

Check out the details at http://www.purepackage.com/

Magical Mandara Spa

Last week was crazy crazy crazy!! I found myself working double shifts on Heart because of the riots and was feeling a bit stressed meaning that I wasn't getting enough sleep.

The one thing that kept me going was the fact that I had a treatment booked at the Mandara Spa at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster on Friday. I had heard great things about the place and was hoping I would leave feeling like a new person.

I was booked in for the Mandara Spa Discovery package where "Age-old tradition combines with the finest of European skincare for a deliciously relaxing experience. Aroma Reflex Foot Ritual ~Balinese Massage ~ Elemis Taster Facial."

When I arrived I was led to the waiting room which I just loved. There were refreshments in abundance, every up to date magazine you could ever want, comfy sofas and relaxing music that almost lulled me to sleep before the treatment actually began.

My therapist for the next one and a half hours was the lovely Aline who led me into one of the most comfy and atmospheric treatment rooms I have ever been in. I was given a cosy dressing gown and slippers to change in to and sat back in a sofa as I was treated to a Balinese foot ritual. This involved having my feet placed in a warm bowl of water filled with rose petals and a beautiful aromatherapy oil (which I had chosen in advance). My feet were massaged and pumiced and I could already feel myself unwinding.

Following this gorgeous experience I was led to the treatment bed where I had one of the best massages I've ever had in my life. Aline exerted just the right amount of pressure and it just went on and on. My whole body felt like it was floating!

Finally I was given the mini facial (which went on for far longer than most) and felt even more relaxed as Aline rubbed and scrubbed my face with a variety of great smelling Elemis products.

I left the spa feeling relaxed, glowing and really soft from the gorgeous products that they use.

The great thing about the spa is that everything is based on Balinese traditions and Aline explained to me that a beautician from Bali teaches every therapist in the place exactly how to do the treatments. The outcome is something just a little bit different to your usual spa experience. The whole thing felt a bit spiritual and magical to be honest.

The price for the Discovery treatment is £125. I recommend this for anyone who is feeling very stressed and needs a real treat. Check out all the details here: http://www.mandaraspa.com/

Long Hair and Ghastly Looters

Almost every woman who gets married decides to grow their hair (or so my hairdresser tells me). It's the weirdest thing. You could be renowned for your elfin crop for years and years but suddenly you have an overwhelming desire to become Rapunzel.

After having had a cheeky bob literally forever I also got sucked into the "I need long hair" club about a year before my wedding and I set about finding a miracle product to help me in my search for long, luscious tresses.

The product that I found was expensive and contained caviar which I refuse to put near my mouth.(Rest assured you won't smell fishy when you use it)! It also made my hair go greasy after a day! However, it really did make my hair grow very long very quickly. It is called Alterna Caviar and I recommend the Seasilk Moisture range. It is around £35 for the shampoo and conditioner and you can get them from a number of salons as well as online. http://fragrancedirect.co.uk are one of a number of stockists! Try it out and let me know how you get on!

May I add at this point that none of the rioters that I have seen named and shamed in the papers recently had good hair or skin. Perhaps they should swap looting, violence and stealing ghastly trainers for a good old fashioned hair wash, scrub of the face and an early night!

Awful Sofas and Peeling Nails

I am well and truly married and I know that because my heart skips a beat with excitement every time I think about my decorating plans for my lounge. I've gone into nesting mode and this was unthinkable a few years ago!

Anyway, something that really hit me during a sofa shopping spree on Saturday was how many awful sofas exist. Go to Mulberry and the chances are that you'll like most of the handbags and want pretty much all of them. Go to a sofa shop and you'll probably spend most of your time looking round in amazement at how unstylish, uncomfortable and all round offensive most of the sofas are.

I was in one particularly awful shop and was struck that most of the sofas were quite plainly meant for the older generation. This is no offence to my Grandma or anything, but I know that a lot of older people are attracted to pale, floral designs and also need sofas with straight backs etc.

The other thing that struck me was the unbelievable amount of stairs in the place. I mean for a shop that is meant to be serving old people, what are they thinking?? I made the comment to my husband and we decided that by the time they had made it up all the stairs the customers were probably so knackered that they collapsed into a sofa, paid for it and then asked to be delivered home with it!!

By the end of the morning we were both knackered and stumbled into IKEA (my worst place in the world...it's a haven for arguing couples) and half-heartedly plonked ourselves on a half decent sofa and decided that we'd probably take it. (We're still undecided).

After all those drab colours and stairs I felt the need to inject some colour in my life and rushed to Carnaby Street for a manicure at Cowshed. I really like the vibe in the place. There's a communal table where you can wait, sip on tea and discuss your chosen nail colour (and other such things) with friends or strangers.

For the actual mani there's no sitting down. You lie back on an incredibly cosy bed and relax while having your hands pampered and preened.

For a while I've had problems with my thumb nails...they keep peeling! My manicurist said that there are two ways to deal with this problem. The first is regular buffing to smooth them and the second is regular applications of cuticle oil which strengthens them. (If only sofa shopping was so simple).

I opted for bright, neon pink polish which instantly made me feel summery and cheerful. (Until I chipped one of them on the way out).

If you're looking for a great cuticle oil then I highly recommend OPI Avoplex. My nails always grow beautifully when I use it.

If you're looking for a nice sofa then I can't recommend anything but email me and I'll tell you where NOT to get one!!

Hedgehogs and Factor 15

Apart from being obsessed with beauty I am also a great lover of animals.

I have had all sorts of pretty commonplace pets in my life including numerous hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs and budgies. I have always wanted a dog!

A couple of years ago my husband phoned me all excited and said that he had found the perfect pet for me (basically to stop me going on about wanting a dog). Three hours later he arrived home with a hissing creature in a box and so my life with Hetty Wainthropp the African Pygmy Hedgehog began.

Hetty is one of the weirdest animals I have ever known. She hisses, licks people and produces a weird foam which she then puts all over her spikes, she runs for 8 hours a night on a wheel and has the bowel control of a geriatric tortoise.

Anyway, we recently found out that Hetty is in fact a boy. This was revealed when she/he started mating with the carpet and what we thought was her bellybutton turned out to be something completely different.

I have no idea what to do about this little "issue" and any advice would be much appreciated.

Anyway, while I sort out my hedgehog's relationship issues I thought that I would also share with you my newest love. It comes in the shape of a very simple white bottle of Palmers Cocoa Butter with added Factor 15. I don't like the smell of the usual Palmers but for some reason this one is more creme brulee than sickly sweet chocolate. It obviously has the added benefit that it gives you protection from the sun and reduces scars and marks.

Here's a picture of Hetty. xx

The Ultimate Mascara Continued....

I honestly think that the most important part of any makeup bag is mascara! I had a long chat with Ruby Hammer about the eternal mission to find the perfect one and she said that like most women she is still searching for the perfect product. It makes me feel better to know that even the best makeup artists in the world share my mascara challenges!

We obviously all have different lash needs and what works on your best friend may do absolutely nothing for you, but some mascaras are so good that they deserve a mention and a try.


MAC Haute and Naughty Lash:
This is my mascara of choice at the moment and I absolutely love it. It is a day and night mascara in-one with a thick brush making up the main body of the mascara and a thinner once cleverly added at the top. I tend to stick to the thicker brush and it has the most amazing effect on my lashes. They look long, thick and not too clumpy. I thoroughly recommend the thick brush for dramatic lashes and the other one for a natural daytime look.

L'Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes Technology
Sarah Brock recommends this for people with damaged lashes as the "beauty tubes" extend the lashes by literally attaching themselves to your natural ones, making you look like you're wearing the most natural falsies ever.

Basically this mascara has two ends. First of all you apply a white substance containing the tubes and then you go over them with mascara. Your lashes will look really long and natural. This is notfor you if you like a really heavy look though.

Taking this mascara off is really easy too. You literally use hot water and the tubes fall off. A great product!!

As ever, let me know which mascaras you love and why! The search continues!!

Younger skin? It's all about the algae baby!

Me and the clever scientist!!


From time to time I get invited to beauty PR events. They mostly involve going along to a swanky hotel, having a drink and being introduced to the next best thing in the beauty world. Sometimes they are amazingly creative and involve theatrical backdrops with elfin models being made up with a plethora of new wonder products, sometimes they are deadly boring, sometimes the products are just embarrassingly bad and you make your excuses and leave and sometimes they are damn brillliant.

I went along to Space NK last week for the launch of their newest product "Algenist" and wasn't quite sure what to expect. I was imagining some kind of sludgy, green, algae based gel that would smell gross and promise the world, but went along all the same.

After a breakfast of mini bagels and amazing fruit concoctions, two bespectacled, nervous looking men arrived to tell us all about their new product. This in itself was one for the books. Most of these events are filled with stunning modelesque women raving about the new big thing.

For the next twenty minutes we were treated to a (very interesting) chemistry style class about Algenist. Basically, these guys are scientists and come from a biotechnology company in San Francisco. They discovered Alguronic Acid which is a derivative of "micro-algae" totally by mistake (they actually specialise in renewable energy sources) but after lots of trials realised that it is a miracle product that can reduce wrinkles and boost radiance considerably. These guys had no idea about beauty but knew they were onto a good thing. (Or so the story goes).

We saw the proof in the pictures and it was quite outstanding. After a month of using the creams, wrinkles had been reduced considerably (by 25% if i remember rightly) as had dark cirles. Is this a true miracle product I asked myself? Have our prayers been answered? Are we on the road to looking like fresh faced 18 year olds?

Well, Chris (my husband) and I have been using the stuff for a week. Chris didn't use more than soap and water before I met him and is always a bit dubious about these things but I can honstly say that his skin looks stunning...really glowing and healthy. I haven't really noticed a change on my own skin yet but will persevere and give you an update in a month.

Check out the range of Algenist products at http://algenist.com and pop into your local Space NK in the coming weeks. It has gone down a storm in the USA!! My favourite product in the range is the Complete Eye Renewal Balm which can also be used as a great primer!! xx

What's happened to Ruby and Millie??

SO many people have asked me where they can get hold of a Ruby and Millie eyeliner recently. I had no idea (until I met Ruby Hammer this week) that Ruby and Millie makeup has in fact been discontinued so if it's not on the shelf now it never will be.

Panic ye not though! The lovely Ruby Hammer (who may I add looks about half her actual age) has launched a brand new makeup range especially for Debenhams.

It'll be coming out in time for Christmas and is a lot more affordable than the Ruby and Millie range. The order of the day is colour colour colour, with kalaeidoscope palettes of eyeshadows to play around with. There is also a great range of good quality brushes and yes there are some eyeliners in there too. The most expensive item is the £45 makeup box which is crammed full of goodies. The box in it's own right was enough to get me excited as it looks like the kind of thing that a professional makeup artist would use and has loads of space.

Let me stress that the quality of this makeup is not going to match that of Ruby and Millie as it is more of a budget brand. However, Ruby Hammer is a renowned makeup artist and I truly believe that she wouldn't put her name to something that she didn't believe in.

If you are looking for a more high end eyeliner to replace your Ruby and Millie one then I'll write about some great ones in the next week or so.

Finally a fake tan that's really good

How many times have you applied or had a fake tan that stinks of digestives/makes you look like an oompa loompa/streaks/looks goddamn awful?

Before my wedding my Mum took me aside and said something along the lines of "Are you planning on having a fake tan for the wedding? If so make sure you don't have the one you had done before your 30th!"
"What do you mean?" I asked imploringly. (I thought I looked rather nice on the night.)

A quick look through my photos proved my mother right (as per usual)! I looked like a sun dried clementine.

Anyway, there was no way I was going to walk up the aisle looking all pale and uninteresting so I went on a search for the ultimate fake tan and I'm glad to say that I found it.

The product is called He-Shi! It smells good, it looks natural and it goes on like a dream. I particularly recommend the Gradual Tan which builds up to produce a beautiful glow.

If like I did, you want to get it absolutely perfect, then there is only one man to see. His name is James Read, he works in the spa at the Sanderson Hotel, he is one of the best and most well known tan appliers in the world and his celebrity client list is mind boggling. He is in fact known as the "tantalist" which I absolutely love.

So here are all the details you need to be tan-perfect:

http://www.thetantalist.com/

http://www.sandersonlondon.com/en-us/#/explore/?id=/sanderson-london-agua-spa/

http://www.he-shi.eu/

xxx

Come Fly With Me

I'm back from my honeymoon and I'm feeling very relaxed and happy. I went to Mauritius and I thoroughly recommend it...such a stunning island!!

I don't know if I've told you this before but I'm PETRIFIED of flying. I try and get the train everywhere so getting on a 12 hour flight was a massive challenge for me. Having got home though I feel that I am finally on the way to facing my fear.

I don't ever use this blog to advertise people or companies. I like it to be honest and neutral and so the following big up about British Airways is simply from the heart.

Firstly,I was very lucky to sit in the Club Class Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 on the way out and it was honestly amazing! It was pure luxury with an amazing cocktail bar, food galore and luxury spa treatments (all free). As I sat there feeling scared and gulping back a cocktail, I looked up and saw Sean Bean raising an inquisitive eyebrow at me. This got me quite excited and I momentarily forgot to be scared.

I also want to tell you about the British Airways Fear of Flying Course which has played a major part in my fight against fear. I went on the course recently and it gives you the chance to learn every little thing about how a plane works. They teach you relaxation techniques and you then go on a 45 minute flight during which the pilot talks you through every single bump and noise. I can't recomment it enough. If you fancy it, check out the details here: http://www.aviatours.co.uk/

One of the things that the course provides is great after care. I emailed them before my flights and when I got on the plane I was thoroughly looked after by the stewards. At one point the pilot even came to check that I was feeling OK. Absolutely amazing!!!

Anyway, from fear to flying beauty. I wanted to tell you about my long haul flight beauty kit which proved to be very useful:

toothbrush
mini toothpaste
antibacterial hand gel
wet wipes
hand cream
Eau Thermal Avene thermal spring water spray
moisturising eye drops
a good hydrating facial moisturiser
bronzer and mascara for applying before you arrive

Remember that there is a liquid limit of 100ml and that you need to store your liquids in a clear bag. (Muji do some great clear travel pouches)

That's all for now xx

I'm married!!

Sorry I haven't written for a while! I've been getting married!

I had such a fab day and my makeup and hair stayed in place ALL DAY on what was the hottest day of the year.

Sarah Brock did the most amazing job on my makeup and I can't recommend her highly enough. I'll post all the makeup piccies when I get them and talk you through what she did.

In the meantime here's a piccie from the big day. xxx

An outstanding anti-aging serum

Sometimes I look in the mirror and my face looks a bit grey. Do you know what I mean? I just seem to lose my glow and lustre (this generally happens when I haven't had enough sleep or I'm a bit stressed!)

The answer to sallow skin probably lies in getting more shut eye and drinking lots of water, but sometimes you need a little extra help.

Well this help comes in the shape of a true wonder serum called "Higher Nature AEterna Gold Collagen Creme Serum"! It's a long name..I know!

This stuff is packed full of marine collagen, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid and does wonderful, mysterious thigs to the face.

Basically, shove a bit on under your usual face-cream in the morning and put it on more thickly at night and you will notice that your skin looks younger, plumper and much healthier. It also gives a lovely glow.

Another great thing about this spectacular stuff is the price...it's only £28 and as far as I'm concerned beats all the ultra expensive anti-aging creams that promise you the world and often fail to deliver.

Thanks to my beauty guru Nuz for yet another amazing recommendation!!!

Lip gloss and Wedding Dramas

"When times get tough buy a new lipstick" is what my very glamorous grandmother once told me. Over the years I have adapted this mantra to cover everything from mascaras to face creams to clothes to expensive handbags. Basically, if I feel sad/angry/marginally p***** off then I go shopping. (Much to Chris' disdain)

Anyway, yesterday was a day for lip-gloss. I'll tell you more about the gloss in a sec, but first of all the dramas that led to said purchase.

Weddings are stressful...FACT! They are exciting and amazing and full of joy but it is inevitable that somewhere along the line someone will get offended and that there will be a drama of some type.

The drama began yesterday when my Grandma called to say she had been phoned by an irate family member who we didn't invite to the wedding.(Namely for budget reasons...my family is bloody massive!!) Next was a very panicked call from my mother who had received a similar call and then it was my turn. I was greeted yesterday by an awful email that totally shocked me! I would let you see it but that might be going a bit too far!

Anyway, rather than letting myself get angry and write something back that I would regret, I took a deep breath, got my jacket and rushed to Selfridges. Half an hour later and I had a beautiful new M.A.C lipgloss...(Plushglass Ample Pink).

The morals of the story?:

Grandmas are often right when it comes to beauty advice

Family members can be difficult and petrifying

Lip-gloss is fairly cheap but oh so satisfying and can make a bad day a lot more manageable!

What a Manicure!!

I had such a lovely manicure yesterday! I was given a voucher to spend at BLOWW Urban Hair and Spa off Regents Street quite a while ago but it had taken me ages to get round to using it. I'm glad I waited as it was a real treat at a time when I am a bit stressed with wedding plans etc.

I decided to go for the luxury manicure as my nails aren't looking great and I only have three weeks left to get them looking good for my wedding.

So what made this mani so lovely?

- Renata, the woman who did it was really friendly and a total perfectionist
- I had a hot hand mask treatment and my hands have never felt so soft-I seriously recommend this! (It costs £8 extra)
- My nails have been shaped into perfect square tips and look very smart
- They used Seche Vite which meant that for once I didn't smudge them within two minutes of leaving the salon.

Some manicures are just awful and I have big issues with certain nail bars that feel like a bit of a conveyor belt! Call the spa on 020 7292 0300 and ask for Renata!

By the way, this has absolutely nothing to do with beauty, but I thought I'd introduce you to Ricky the Rockhopping Penguin. He's a new addition at London Zoo's Penguin Beach and I had the pleasure of interviewing him last week...so cute!

A great recommendation from Lisa Snowdon

Some girls have all the luck and without a doubt Lisa Snowdon has to be one of them. She's tall, leggy, stunning, successful and totally down to earth and lovely. One of the things that you notice about her when you're chatting is how radiant she is up close. The girl is super busy and presents Capital Breakfast every day so has early starts and yet looks the picture of health.

As ever I begged for some top beauty tips and one of Lisa's recommendations was Neena Trehan's "Bliss For Your Skin". Now this stuff is expensive. It retails at £75 per bottle but this will last you for at least three months and there is also a smaller travel size available for around £30. When a product is expensive I generally expect it to be a miracle worker. (Needless to say, many expensive face creams are no better than their cheaper supermarket counterparts).

So is this oil the answer to eternal beauty? No...nothing is!!

Does this oil make your skin look and feel fabulous? I would have to say yes!

First let me list some of the ingredients and what they do so you get a feel for it:

Frankincense: improves the texture and tone of the skin
Pure Persian Rose: moisturises and hydrates
Pure Rosehip Seed Oil: heals & plumps
Vitamin C: aids elasticity & suppleness
Jojoba: softens & re-hydrates
Sweet Almond: improves complexion & soothes irritated skin
Apricot Kernel: is rich in vitamins & essential oils
Citrus: balances the skin

Basically, put this stuff on your skin after cleansing in the morning before you go to sleep and you'll glow like you've had a top facial. You really get the feeling that it is feeding your skin and the ingredients are so incredible (and expensive) that I think they go a long way to justifying the price.

If you have loads of money then buy this regularly. If like me you can't afford to splash out on expensive products every few months but you like the odd pick-me-up then treat yourself or get someone to buy it for you. I have a feeling that you'll love it!

Neena has a whole range of other products that you can get hold of here:

http://www.spafabulousproducts.co.uk/

I'll keep reviewing celebrity recommendations as and when I get them xx