Dry hands and a cream that works!

Every winter my hands go all dry and horrible. The combination of cold weather, constant temperature changes and the fact that I am very naughty and often forget to use gloves when I wash up all culminate to create hands that look far older than they really are. I have never found a moisturiser that really sorts them out and find that some of the classics dry them out even more than usual.

Anyway, the summer is usually a different story. They tend to become smooth and much more attractive. However, this summer (the summer that I am engaged, getting married and generally wanting to show them off) they've decided to play up!! They are dry, scaly and all I want to do is hide them.

I had another facial with Nuz Shugaa (the woman who is fast becoming one of my beauty gurus) this week and as I was leaving I showed her my hands and asked her if she had any much needed advice.

Nuz handed me a tube of O.P.I Avoplex High Intensity Hand and Nail Cream. Sounds expensive right? Well it's not...it retails at under a tenner and as usual she's got it right. The cream smells great, isn't oily and my hands already look and feel much much better.

I'd love to know the hand creams that you swear by! If you do give the O.P.I a go then do let me know how it goes xx

CEW (UK) 2011 Beauty Awards Winners

I thought I'd give you the final list of winners at this year's "Beauty Oscars". I'm a big fan of Batiste and Liz Earle and Lisa Snowdon tells me that Organic Rose Otto Facial Serum is amazing and swears by the Lash Serum. (Although I have heard that it can make your eyes darker which sounds a bit scary!)

Enjoy.......



Mass Categories:

1) Best New Bath and Body Product - Mass
The Sanctuary - Ultra Rich Body Butter

2) Best New Haircare/Styling/Colouring Product – Mass
Batiste - Dry Shampoo Fresh

3) Best New Everyday Facial Skincare Product – Mass
Dr Organic - Organic Rose Otto Facial Serum

4) Best New Skincare Treatment Product –Mass
Lanolips - 101 Ointment

5) Best New Make-up Product – Mass
RapidLash – RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

6) Best Classic Beauty Product – Mass
Bio-Oil - Bio-Oil

7) Best New Men’s Grooming Product – Mass
NIVEA FOR MEN - Q10 Revitalising Gel

8) Best New Brand – Mass
Dr Organic
Lanolips

Prestige Categories:

9) Best New Bath and Body Product – Prestige
Balance Me - Rose Otto Body Wash

10) Best New Haircare/Styling Product –Prestige
Liz Earle Naturally Active Haircare - Botanical Shine Shampoo


11) Best New Everyday Facial Skincare Product – Prestige
Clarins - Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream

12) Best New Skincare Treatment Product – Prestige
Estée Lauder - Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex

13) Best New Make-up Product – Face - Prestige
NARS Cosmetics - Orgasm Illuminator

14) Best New Make-up Product – Eyes or Lips - Prestige
Chanel - Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour

15) Best Classic Beauty Product – Prestige
Eve Lom – Cleanser

16) Best New Women’s Fragrance – Prestige
Chloé - Love, Chloé

17) Best New Men’s Fragrance - Prestige
Chanel - Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette

18) Best New Men’s Grooming Product – Prestige
Shiseido - For Men Skin Empowering Cream

19) Best New Brand – Prestige
Emma Hardie Amazing Face

Mass or Prestige Categories:

20) Best New Certified Organic Skincare Product – Mass or Prestige
Balance Me - Super Oil with Juniper and Bergamot

21) Best New Self Tan or Sun Care Product – Mass or Prestige
Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense for Face SPF 50

22) Best New Hand and Nail Care Product - Mass or Prestige
All for Eve - Swarovski Crystal Nail File

23) Best British Brand –Mass or Prestige
Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare

24) Best Iconic Beauty Product – Mass or Prestige
Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant

Hen do antics

I have just had my hen-weekend and boy was it good.

Saturday was jam packed with the perfect combination of dancing, drinking, tears (of happiness) and a plastic inflatable penis. I also had a real treat and went to the fabulous Cucumba spa on Poland Street in London.

The thing that makes Cucumba great is that it was created to provide a relaxing and social environment and is a great place to go with a close group of girl-friends. It is informal, the prices are great and the lay-out means that you can all sit together, gossip, have a glass of wine and have a good quality treatment.

After a couple of glasses of champagne I opted to have my nails painted bright yellow (not a good choice if you have pale hands and feet and guranteed to make you feel sick when you have a hangover). My friend Pip went far classier and her pale pink nails looked bang on trend and were beautifully shaped.

My Mum and sister swear that the half hour massage was one of the best they've ever had and Sally looked hot-to- trot after her make-up session.

Here's the website. Definitely a great option for a hen-do/girly celebration!!

http://www.cucumba.co.uk/

CEW Beauty Awards

I've just been to the "Oscars of the Beauty World" The CEW Awards.

The room was full of all the major players in the beauty industry as well as small, little known brands. The great thing about the CEW is that they give smaller brands the opportunity to become recognised on the massive beauty stage.

I was sitting next to the lovely Lisa Snowdon who was handing out an award and we had time to discuss some of our favourite beauty brands, many of which won awards today.

Lisa swears by Rapid Lash serum which makes your eyelashes grow within 4-6 weeks. She also is a big fan of YSL lip gloss.

On the other side of me was my colleague Cat who always has a beautiful natural looking tan. Her must-have product is He-Shi tan which I can't wait to try out.

All the CEW awards winners will be posted up on www.heart.co.uk if you want to check them out. Expect to see the likes of Liz Earle, Tommy Gunns, Elizabeth Arden and some really exciting new brands.

Dry nails in 2 minutes

After a VERY long working day yesterday I am feeling a bit bleary eyed but I had to share this with you because I think I've found a miracle product!!

I hate painting my nails. I have no patience and find it impossible to sit around doing nothing while they dry. My nails always smudge and there's no way I can afford to splash out on weekly manicures that always chip and smudge anyway.

What's the answer I hear you asking...

SECHE VITE!! Seriously, this stuff dries your nails in about two minutes. I was recommended it by a lovely manicurist in TOPSHOP Oxford Street (She was doing a leapord print design on my nails at the time, but that's another story!)

Anyway, shove it over your polish and then get on with your day. Brilliant!!

Baby Soft Skin For £2.66

I was having a chat with my friend Anna the other day. Like me she's a bride to be and is getting married in just over a month.

As any bride to be will know, as you get closer and closer to the big day you suddenly feel compelled to spend lots of money on beauty treatments. It's obviously a lovely thing to do as it relaxes you and gets you looking lovely for the Big Day, but if you follow the advice given in your average Bridal Magazine then you can end up spending hundreds on months of facials, hair treatments and God knows what else.

Anyway, Anna was telling me how she had splashed out on a very expensive exfoliator that she hadn't yet used. Apparently it promised to be a total miracle worker. Usually I would instantly ask for the name of said product and mention it on this very blog, but when it comes to exfoliating, I recommend one thing and one thing only...

Exfoliating gloves!!

they are:

1. Incredibly cheap
2. Multi-taskers! You can use them to apply your shower-gel so they provide a wash and exfoliation in one.
3. Really effective. My skin is always so soft when I use them and I have never found an exfoliator to match them.

I'm not saying that you should never invest in a good exfoliator again, but if you want something cheap, simple and effective then you'll never go wrong with a good old pair of exfolitating gloves!

Energys' Resonance

I always get a bit overwhelmed by the organic debate. Apparently many of the beauty products that we use are harmful and some can even cause cancer. (The Daily Mail Health Section has a lot to answer for!!)

Even though this freaks me out, I refuse to ditch all of my non-organic products. I mean it's not as if I'm rubbing lead-based makeup into my face like they did in the 18th century. Plenty of women have lived long and fruitful lives whilst wearing an array of supposedly dangerous products and I'm not giving up my favourite products because of a bit of scare-mongering!

However....if an organic product does come along and it works really well then that is a different matter altogether and there is something fulfilling about knowing that what you use is totally natural and chemical free.

So let me introduce you to a fabulous, natural set of products called Energys' Resonance.

They were recommended to me by the lovely Nuz Shugaa who I mentioned in yesterday's blog and to ge honest, anything that Nuz recommends must be good.

I've been using the Skin Purity Perfect Cleanser, the Ultra Regeneration Hydrating Cream and their eye cream and my skin absolutely loves them. My favourite product though is the Youthful Skin Elixir. This is a beautiful spray toner that is refreshing and calming and I will definitely be using it on my honeymoon flights.

So of you're looking for natural products that really work and are genuinely good for your skin then check out this website:

http://www.energysskincare.com/

Nuz Shugaa Celebrity Facialist

I have a gorgeous colleague called Kevin. He's a showbiz reporter and apart from being a great person is notable for his sparkling, glowing skin. As you know, I always like to discover beauty secrets so I asked him whether it was down to good genes or some amazing treatment that I needed to get my hands on.

He took me aside and whispered the words "Nuz Shugaa" and passed me a card. I dashed to my computer to google this mystery name and was very excited by what I discovered. Nuz happens to be one of the most sought after celebrity facialists in the world. Her list of clients is mind boggling...her magical hands have beautified everyone from royalty to major A-list Hollywood stars.

Well the rest is history. I met Nuz (who is incredibly down-to-earth) last week and had her "Moviestar facial". Nuz created this to help Movie stars look their best in the harsh lights of the studio and to keep their skin healthy and glowing. I may not be a movie star but I am a bride to be so I couldn't resist!!

Nuz spent a few minutes studying my skin and instantly knew what I needed. She then set to work using an incredible array of creams, serums and exfoliators.

What sets Nuz apart is that she makes many of her own products. She comes from a family of pharmacists and from a young age was obsessed with creating products from scratch with the highest quality ingredients.

As each product was expertly applied to my face Nuz told me a little about the ingredients (not too much as her recipes are top secret!). From halibut oil to geranium oil to a delicious sugar scrub, every single thing that Nuz applied felt incredible. There was none of the usual stinging and tingling that I get with facials.

After more than an hour of being pampered by Nuz I was given a mirror and shown the results and I can honestly say that my skin has never ever looked so good. It was soft and plump and I was absolutely glowing. No-one has ever made my skin look like that!

It's been four days and my skin is still looking fantastic. Apparently the effects of her facial last for at least a fortnight.

Nuz isn't cheap and she does have a waiting list but if you want to treat yourself, have an occasion that you want to look your best for or have problem skin that needs sorting out then I can't recommend her highly enough. I'm addicted! Here's a link to her website (don't tell too many people about her though!)

http://www.nuzshugaa.com/

Celebrity Tip Of The Day

Radio is amazing and I love it but it rarely feels "showbiz". It is in fact very down to earth and there is nothing glamorous about getting up at 2.30am!!

I do get to meet some very glamorous people though with various celebs wandering around the building having interviews and looking fabulous. (I once bumped into Rihannah in the lift. She was tall, stunning, wore Angel Perfume and made me feel about as attractive as a slug) I've decided that whenever I can I'll ask said celebs what their favourite beauty products are and then let you know as there is something quite exciting about finding out about celeb beauty secrets.

I'll start with my lovely colleague Harriet Scott who presents Heart Breakfast. Harriet has been doing Breckie for 6 years or so, has a young son and is pregnant and yet still manages to look fresh-faced and amazing every single day!! "What is your secret?" I asked her and her answer?...."Clarins Flash Beauty Balm."

I think she is probably blessed by good genes as well but I do know that a lot of women swear by this product (including my glam friend Chloe and my good self).

So there you go...a celeb tip for the weekend!

The Ultimate Mascara

Whenever I talk to female friends, family and listeners I always find that the one makeup challenge that most of us have in common is the search for the ultimate mascara.

Everyone has different mascara needs. I like my lashes voluminous, long and heavy whilst I have friends who are on the search for a mascara that is natural and lengthening.

In my constant search for the ultimate mascara I often find myself asking women with great looking lashes what they're wearing. I did this the other day and the girl in question looked at me pitifully and said "It's not my mascara..it's my lashes. They're naturally long". I instantly felt very conscious of my stubby little ones and sloped off to find a mirror and apply a few more coats!!

Anyway, I thought I'd tell you about a few mascaras that I love and that people have recommended and also ones that haven't worked that well for me. (This doesn't mean that they won't suit your lashes though!) If you have any recommendations then do put them in the comment box.

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara: I used this for years and always had great comments about my lashes. If you put on too many coats it can make you look a bit spider-leggy though.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes: This is good if you don't like your lashes all clumped up. It provides a natural look but just wasn't enough to give me the dramatic look that I like.

Benfit BADgal Lash Mascara: This does absolutely nothing for me but my best friend and sister absolutely swear by it and their lashes always look fantastic.

YSL False Lash Effect: Bloody amazing but SO expensive and dries out quickly

Max factor Falsh Lash Effect Mascara: I love this. I usually apply quite a few layers when I use it but the effect is fabulous.

As I said, I'm on a constant search for the ultimate mascara so I'll let you know what I think as and when I try new ones. In the meantime I'd love to hear from you.

Chloe's Lovely Hair

I have a friend called Chloe who is one of those girls that you want to hate because she's smart, incredibly beautiful and very successful. She is however impossible to hate because she is also one of the loveliest and funniest girls you'll ever meet.

Anyway, for months I kept asking Chloe what perfume she was wearing because she smelt amazing. Her answer baffled me because she claimed that she wasn't wearing any at all. It took me a few weeks to work out that the incredible scent was Batiste Original Dry Shampoo of all things.

After working this out, Chloe and I had a very profound chat about the pros of using Batiste.

Here they are:

- It smells great

- It saves you having to wash your hair every day

- It's great for giving your hair body (You need to separate your hair into sections and spray it on the underside of each section. Follow this with a bit of back-combing and voila...fabulous voluminous hair!)

- It's damn cheap!

I must point out that if you spray too much and don't brush it through your hair, it can make you look like you're going grey...but that's a small price to pay for this great product!

Tuesday Recommendation

I'm always a bit dubious when beauty products make big claims. I mean there are some great things out there but I can categorically say that none have changed my life/turned me into a supermodel/ given me the skin of a new born baby.

However, from time to time I do discover a product that is bloody good and one of these is Clinique's latest offering. It's called 'Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief' and claims to be a drink for your skin that provides 24 hours worth of hydration.

I'm not sure that I'd describe it as a drink for my skin but it does feel amazing when you apply it and my skin definitely feels fresh and more supple since I've been using it. Also,if you're looking to adapt your moisturiser for the summer months then I think that this is a great option. It's very cooling and would relieve tight skin after a day in the sun.

Perfect brows

How has it taken me so long to discover the wonders of threading?? For those of you who don't know what it is, threading is an ancient method of hair removal which involves a thin, twisted cotton thread which is rolled over untidy hairlines plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing where a single hair is pulled out each time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a precise and straight line.

Anyway, there's the science bit.

My own experience involved heading to John Lewis and demanding to be hidden away in a room rather than lying on a chair in plain view of the entire department store. (The thought of having my hair removed in public is a little bit too much even for me!)

I lay back and the lovely Amita got to work. I totally put my trust in her and as I felt my eyebrows being plucked at a rate of knots it suddenly struck me that her idea of beautiful brows might be a little different to my own. My heart was beating with trepidation as she did the "reveal" but there was no reason to worry as the results were unbelievable! Somehow she had managed to make my over-plucked brows look thicker and beautifully arched. They've never looked so good.

The process was far less painful than I expected and actually hurt less than plucking! My eyebrows were red for about twenty minutes but were fine after that. I was told to apply Aloe Vera which I've been doing religiously morning and evening.

If you want perfect brows, then please please have them threaded!! You'll never look back!