Beauty Blog

Valentine's Day beauty ideas

Beauty blog: Friday 10th February

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I've been getting super-excited about all the pretty products that are perfect for creating a romantic style. Watch this video for the lowdown...

If you've got a date planned, it's an idea for a pretty-but-low-key look. If you haven't, it's still one for your spring beauty inspiration bank!

Big brow theory

Beauty blog: Wednesday 8th February

Bold eyebrows are having a moment. They've been on the trend radar for a couple of years now (probably to counteract the trend for bleached brows - I still don't get it), but I reckon now is the time to sit up and take notice.

For some women it's a beauty game-changer - brows that are full and tidy can frame your eyes and your whole face beautifully when done right.

Not convinced? Here's some beautiful brow inspo for your pleasure...

And if you've got naturally sparse brows, you might be wondering if this is one trend which you'll have to miss. Luckily, thanks to RapidBrow, you can get in on the action. It's fresh from the makers of RapidLash and is packed with keratin, biotin and peptides - all ingredients that can help condition and strengthen delicate brows.

It can also help make amends for overplucking. We've all been there: tweezers in hand, equal parts courage and curiosity, with a desire for amazing brows. Brushing a bit of RapidBrow on every night could help to boost the thickness of your brows.

It's just launched on Boots.com and in selected Boots stores, so check it out and let us know what you think via email - before and after pictures are welcome too!

PS! Check out my guide to brow shapes for the full lowdown on neatening up.

Show yourself some love

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, February is officially the month of love. If you've not got someone to share the special day with, why not schedule in some me-time instead?

It's the perfect excuse to kick back with naked's new sumptuous-sounding trio of treats: Coco de Mer Spoil Me Deliciously Sensual Foam Bath, Coco de Mer Ohh La La Creamy Bliss Body Wash and Coco de Mer Body Butter.

Fancy going the whole hog and treating yourself to a top-to-toe pampering sesh? Check out our at-home pampering feature for more ways to spoil yourself this month.

Getting pixel-perfect with Real Techniques

We all have our pet peeves when it comes to make up. One of mine is bad make up brushes. I can't stand a scratchy, irritating brush that leaves hair on my face and in my make up. You'll know exactly what I mean if you've ever had to pick out fibres from a cream blush or concealer palette - grim!

Thankfully, today it's not an issue at all seeing as I've managed to get my mitts on some new-to-Boots brushes from Real Techniques. These brushes are the brainchild of Samantha Chapman, half of super-talented YouTube make up duo Pixiwoo.

The verdict

The Stippling Brush is amazing - it makes a fabulous foundation brush but works just as brilliantly as a contouring brush with powder blusher. It's got a slightly smaller head than the average duo-fibre brush, so it's ace at blending around the sides of your nose and under your eyes.

The starter set is a fab go-to kit for all things eyes - blending, smudging and lining. The carry case that turns into a stand is sheer genius and makes make up bag-packing so much easier. All of the brushes in the range are made using super-soft, cruelty-free synthetic taklon. "Synthetic fibres are so versatile - you can use them for cream, powder or liquid," says Sam. Sounds like a winning combination!

I also managed to get a couple of indispensable beauty tips from the make up maestro...

On seamless foundation application

"Try applying your skin care with your brushes. People ask me why their foundation goes on streaky - applying your moisturiser with your foundation brush helps prep your skin so that your foundation glides on beautifully. It also stops your brush from absorbing too much foundation, so there's less product wastage too."

On the key to flawless eyeshadow blending

"Always have a spare clean blending brush. Apply your colours with one brush and blend them in 'til you're almost done. Then go in with your clean brush and finish off - it can really help to complete the look."

I've tried both of these techniques out and I can definitely vouch for them. Try them out for yourself and check out the Real Techniques range when it hits selected stores and Boots.com on 15th February.

Laura Hamilton talks Dancing on Ice, skin imperfections and New Year's resolutions

TV presenter Laura Hamilton was one of my favourite contestants on last year's Dancing on Ice, so when I heard she was spokesperson for Bio-Oil's current Skin Stories campaign and realised we had something in common (a love of Bio-Oil, of course), I jumped at the chance to put a few probing questions her way...

The new season of Dancing on Ice started this month. Are you watching it, and do you have a favourite?

Yes, I'm loving watching it. The standard this year is so high. It's too early to say who is my favourite but I think Jorgie, Matthew, Sebastian and Chico are ones to watch.

There have been lots of injuries already on this year's show, but you suffered quite a nasty accident last series that's left you permanently scarred. Did that knock your body confidence?

Initially I thought I'd never be able to wear skirts on TV again, but I'm regularly getting my legs out while filming A Place in the Sun and the scar is so much better.

You're an ambassador for Bio-Oil's current Skin Stories campaign. What made you want to get involved?

Bio-Oil is a great product and the more I talk to people about it the more I realise so many people love it. It's a great facial and body moisturiser, good for pregnancy, and a brilliant product for helping to smooth out the appearance of scars and stretch marks, which pretty much all of us have!

What's your New Year's resolution?

To eat less sweets and chocolate and drink less red wine when I'm filming abroad!

To find out more about the Bio-Oil Skin Stories campaign and share your own experiences, tips and skin care questions, you can visit Bio-Oil's Facebook page.

Something for the weekend...

Just had to share a picture of this lovely-looking object of desire with you. Meet the Colour Breeze Face Palette from Clarins spring collection - isn't it stunning?

The mix of peachy, pink and bronze tones makes this an instant uplifter for dull complexions. It's available now and is definitely going on my most wanted list for the new season. Which new beauty goodies have you got your eye on at the moment? Drop us a line at beauty.editor@boots.co.uk and let us know.

Unleashing the summer brights

I know, I know, it's STILL only January, but I couldn't help getting excited when I saw this pic of Jennifer Lopez stepping out in this cobalt blue dress and fuchsia lip combo earlier this month.

It looks like J.Lo's just as eager to break out those summer shades, and if it's good enough for one of Hollywood's hottest stars, it's good enough for me! I'm already planning my summer beauty kit...

Pink pout: Revlon SuperLustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop	Skin glow-getter: Soap & Glory Glow All Out	Something blue: No7 Speed Dry Nail Colours in Poolside Blue

Here's hoping for a sunny spring!

An easy way to earn some brownie points this Valentine's Day

Christmas may have been and gone but there's no time to rest on your laurels - V-Day is a mere month away, meaning it's time to don those thinking caps once again and suss out a perfect pressie for that special someone.

If you're running a little dry in the motivation department, though, fear not - a good scent always goes down well on the most romantic day of the year. To help you on your way to a winning gift, we've got the lowdown on some top perfume and aftershave picks, courtesy of Rachael Turner, our resident fragrance expert. Check out this vid for instant Valentine's Day inspiration...

To the test: No7 Lash Adapt Mascara

After reading some of the glowing reviews you lot have been leaving on the No7 Lash Adapt product page, I popped out to get myself a tube and see what all the fuss was about.

I'm not easily won over by mascaras, so I'm throwing Lash Adapt in at the deep end and putting it firmly through its paces to test out the "up to six clump-free coats" theory.

Check out the pics below, taken after each application, to see how it fared.

Coat one	Coat two
Coat three	Coat four
Coat five	Coat six

I wasn't too moved by the first couple of coats, but I'm seriously impressed with the overall result. If false lashes aren't your thing, this is definitely an easy alternative in the lashwear department. Don't be fooled into thinking it's too time-consuming either - six coats might sound a lot but, thanks to a fast drying time (my lashes were ready for the next coat in a matter of seconds), you can pretty much apply them one after the other.

After a day of wearing Lash Adapt the compliments are already flooding in! What do you think?
Share your thoughts and pics at beauty.editor@boots.co.uk.

Step into spring with Orly's new nail offerings

After what seems like a very long winter, I've been getting in the mood for warmer weather this week and can't wait to ditch the deeper shades in favour of some summer brights.

However, as it is still only January, I decided to back away from the coral nail polish (for now) and embrace some pretty pastels instead, in the form of Cool Romance, Orly's new nail collection. I've swatched my two favourite shades - Prelude to a Kiss and Faint of Heart - below, in celebration and anticipation of all things spring.

You can get your, ahem, hands on a set of four delicate Cool Romance shades exclusively at Boots from 1st February. Enjoy!

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation

I don't know about you guys, but this month is definitely the time that I take a step back from the hedonistic, all-out glitter and loud-as-you-like colours that are pretty much everything that I love about the party season.

I find myself wanting a really effortless, I-don't-need-to-detox complexion, which is, admittedly, easier said than done! Anyway, the beauty buffs at Maybelline are definitely on the same page and have launched their latest foundation to help us see in January with a fresher (yet flawless) face...

Say hello to Dream Nude Airfoam. This "foamdation" is said to be Maybelline's lightest foundation ever, which makes it a fab upgrade for any of you who love the airy feel of Dream Matte Mousse Foundation.

It's all about getting that fresh and squeaky-clean complexion that's incredibly easy to blend. I can see big things for this one, especially with the spring trend for fresh and flawless coverage. In fact, it was a hit with Maybelline make up artist Sharon Dowsett, who took a shining to it while working her magic at London Fashion Week spring/summer 2012. "I was amazed at how a lightweight foam texture could provide such natural coverage - I'm using it on myself now and can only describe the skin finish as beautifully clean and velvety," she said. It's armed with SPF16 and contains vitamin E, so it's definitely one for the pared-down beauty kit.

You can find it in selected Boots stores now and it'll be available on Boots.com next week so keep an eye out for it!

Another skin treat

I'm still religiously following the daily regime that Simple skin care expert Caroline Frazer kindly devised for me a couple of months ago (it's going brilliantly, by the way!), but Deep Pore Anti Blemish Cleanser, the new blemish-busting beauty from Good Things, landed on my desk recently and, after a quick sniff, I just had to give it a mention.

It's no secret that I'm in love with the Good Things packaging - who said skin care couldn't be sexy? - and every product I've tried from the brand has come equipped with an uplifting scent. which makes the whole skin care experience even more enjoyable. The thing I love most about the brand, though, is the fact it's specifically designed for those of us who have waved goodbye to our spotty teenage years (the odd breakout aside, obviously) but are not quite ready to embrace those anti-ageing formulas just yet.

So, if you're still trying to beat the January blues and restore your skin to its former glory while you're at it, why not put this scrummy-smelling, gorgeous-looking cleanser through its paces? It's available to buy on Boots.com next week.

Finding your ideal foundation just got easier!

As our inbox is constantly bursting with questions about finding the right foundation, I thought it was time to tackle the situation head-on. So I called on EcoTOOLS make up artist Lauren Parsons to share the bare facts when it comes to facewear.

Young skin

Young skin tends not to need any foundation - normally it's just a case of covering blemishes. Using a concealer brush, tap a little concealer on to any area that needs covering.

Lauren loves: EcoTOOLS Deluxe Concealer Brush

Try with: 17 Hide Away Concealer Stick

Spot-prone skin

Treat spot-prone skin in the same way as young skin. If you feel you need to even out your skin tone, apply a very light foundation or tinted moisturiser then use a Kabuki brush to buff any excess off by swirling it in circles all over the face. Follow by applying concealer as needed over each blemish. The key is to apply little and often, rather than trying to cover everything in one thick layer.

Lauren loves: EcoTOOLS Kabuki Brush

Try with: Witch Anti-blemish Tinted Moisturiser

Sensitive skin

More natural products and paraben-free foundations suit sensitive skins, so test a variety of foundation types to see if any reactions or redness occurs.

Try: Une Skin-Matt Foundation

Oily skin

There are some brilliant oil-free foundations out there that don't dry the skin. Follow with a light layer of powder using a powder brush, paying particular attention to the T-zone.

Lauren loves: EcoTOOLS Powder Brush

Try with: Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup

Ageing skin

Skin becomes much drier as we age, so beware of over-powdering. Look for light-reflecting foundations to replace that "youthful glow" and apply using a foundation brush to give you a light, even coverage.

Lauren loves: EcoTOOLS Retractable Foundation Brush

Try with: Lancôme Photogenic Lumessence Foundation

And there you have it - your perfect foundation covered! If you have a burning beauty question you can drop us a line at beauty.editor@boots.co.uk. We're here to help!

Getting to know UNE

It's one of those brands that's been loitering under my beauty radar for a while now, so I thought it was about time I did a bit of digging and found out what was at the heart of UNE, the cosmetics brand with a conscience. I got in touch with its marketing manager, Christine Zapisesco, for the lowdown. Here's what I found out...

• UNE champions the use of natural ingredients and recycled packaging.
• UNE's lip products are naturally fragranced with tomato leaf.
• All its lip and eye shades have been designed to suit all skin tones.

• UNE launched in the UK in 2010 with a desire to enhance each woman's natural beauty.
• UNE supports Plan International, a charity that provides support to the education of young girls in Africa.
• The brand has just announced a collaboration with Environmental Justice Foundation* (EJF), to support its "Pick Your Cotton Carefully" campaign.

If you fancy supporting the campaign (and perhaps dabbling with the products too) you can get your hands on an "I'm not Artificial" organic cotton T-shirt exclusively at Boots.com from March. From every sale, £2 will go to EJF's campaigning work, and you'll also get a free UNE Lip Toned Colour Lipstick with every T-shirt. What's not to love?!

Check out Clinique's spring collection!

Here's a quick snippet from another exciting spring make up collection, this time courtesy of Clinique. Almost Spring, the brand's spring 2012 offering, celebrates flushed cheeks, barely-there lips and super-fluttery lashes.

The Almost Spring line-up includes Naturally Glossy Mascara, Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer, new Almost Lipstick and Limited Edition Blushwear Cream Stick - you can get your hands on the collection and start perfecting your super-pretty spring make up look from 1st February.

Beauty hall of fame: Beyoncé

After months of speculation and hush-hush, Beyoncé and hubby Jay-Z announced the birth of their daughter, Blue Ivy, this week. Seems like it was only yesterday when Beyoncé debuted her bump at the MTV Video Awards. No doubt we'll soon be seeing super-cute mum and baby ensembles. It's all made me want to reminisce, so let's take a quick trip down memory lane with just a few of Beyoncé's best beauty looks.

If there's one thing you can see in all of these pics, it's clear Queen Bee knows how to glow. Her hair and make up colour palette is full of caramel, honey and chestnut tones that are perfect for her gorgeous skin tone. This spurred on a quick hunt for goodies that could get me that little bit closer to luminous superstar skin...

The kit:

• Une Skin Glow Pencil - we've all heard the trick about using white eyeliner on the waterline and inner corners of your eyes to fake that wide-eyed look, but brilliant-white liner can look chalky and downright strange on warmer skin tones. This pencil from Une is available in a range of shades that'll really work the bright-eyed look.
• Soap & Glory Glow All Out - a radiance powder that will leave you with a flawless finish without making you look like a disco ball.
• Estée Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator - this range has been making waves for its complexion-evening talents. I've definitely wished for brighter under-eyes in the past (it's my beauty bugbear) and it sounds like the ideal job for this illuminator, which promises to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and fine lines.

So not only is Miss Blue Ivy heiress to the fame and fortune of her superstar mom and pops, she'll also be the next in line for that enviable radiance. Lucky girl!

The Man Corner: The new Lynx hair effect

Stop the press and hold the grooming headlines: the new hair care range from Lynx has landed. For more than two decades this beefy brand has been producing deodorants and body sprays, and it was a personal favourite during my teenage years (only a short while ago, honest). Now its new range of hair care and styling products is here for all those flaky, oily or styling-related disasters.

I managed to get my hands on a few hair care heroes from this great range which includes a deep cleaning shampoo (coming soon), a two-in-one and an anti-dandruff shampoo to keep your locks looking and feeling as healthy as can be. There are also some cool styling products available to help you achieve more sleek styles than a self-conscious chameleon.

The range:

• Lynx Dual shampoo and conditioner
• Lynx extreme hold cream gel (coming soon)
• Lynx messy look re-workable paste
• Lynx secure anti-dandruff 2 in 1
• Lynx hold and touch extra strong cream gel (coming soon)
• Lynx spiked-up look structuring cream
• Lynx Detox deep clean intense cleansing shampoo (coming soon)
• Lynx hold and touch strong hold cream gel (coming soon)
• Lynx shampoo for normal hair

You'll be pleased to know I've been generous and handed out a few new hair care gems to some of the other lads in the office. The feedback has been great, with the styling products proving particularly popular.

Fancy a piece of the action? Get your hands on the new Lynx hair care range online and in store at Boots.

Don't forget to drop me a line at beauty.editor@boots.co.uk to let me know what you think.

Making the most of "me time"

Stretched skin, swollen ankles and general tiredness may not sound very glam, but at six months pregnant, they're all the excuse I need to indulge in some mum-to-be pampering with my new favourite beauty treats.

Spending time in the tub is one of my current favourite pastimes, and I love nothing better than sharing it with Little Me Mum to Be Luxury Bath Soak. It might not foam up quite as much as I'd like, but the oh-so-relaxing scent more than makes up for any shortcomings in the bubbles department.

Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up, I slather on Mama Naked Positivity Hand Cream during the workday - the notes of mandarin and grapefruit give my mood an instant boost.

The latest addition to my yummy mummy line-up came courtesy of my fella who, in an unprecedented moment of thoughtfulness, surprised me with the Sanctuary Mum to Be Pure Pamper Bag (available in store) recently. I'm a big fan of Sanctuary bath products anyway, so I can't wait to test-drive this trio of treats.

Given that I probably won't have much time to indulge a few months from now, I'm getting my beauty kicks where I can!

It's competition time!

We're kicking 2012 off with another great competition, this time courtesy of the lovely people at Diane von Furstenberg.

To celebrate the launch of the brand's seductive new fragrance, DIANE, we've got some great prizes up for grabs! One lucky entrant will win a Diane von Furstenberg autobiography, Diane von Furstenberg scarf and, of course, the fragrance. If that wasn't generous enough, five runners up will also receive a 50ml bottle of DIANE Eau de Toilette.

Fancy getting your hands on a brand new signature scent for 2012? To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, all you have to do is check out our interview with the lady herself and drop us an email at the usual address titled "Diane von Furstenberg competition" with the correct answer to the following question:

In the meantime, you can find out more about the lady herself by reading our interview here.

Good luck!

Terms and Conditions

• Entrants to this prize draw must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK.
• Purchase is not necessary.
• Employees and the immediate families of Boots UK Limited, Kenneth Green Associates, their agents or anyone professionally connected with this prize draw are not entitled to enter.
• The prize draw closes at midnight on 10/02/2012.
• Enter this prize draw by sending your full name, address and contact number to beauty.editor@boots.co.uk.
• Only one entry per person, per email address will be accepted.
• Prizes cannot be exchanged for a cash alternative.
• Name and region of winner will be announced in a blog post after 11/02/2012.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them.
• Responsibility will not be accepted for loss, delay and corruption of any data in transit or in the incomplete nature of any entries to the prize draw.
• We will not pass on your personal details to any other organisation without your permission, except for the purpose of awarding the prize if necessary.
• One main winner and five runners-up will be selected at random by the Boots.com editorial team.
• Winners will be notified via email after 10/02/2012. Failure to respond to this email within 72 hours will mean an alternative winner will be selected from all other valid entries.
• The promoter of this competition is Boots UK Limited, 1 Thane Road, Beeston, Nottingham. NG90 1BS.
• Boots.com reserves the right to withdraw or amend this competition at any time.

Post-party skin

Partied hard all Christmas long? Your skin's probably paying the price for your temporary rock 'n' roll lifestyle right about now. Fortunately, we've called on the experts at Simple for some advice on how to get that complexion back in tip-top condition...

Simple nutritionist Fiona Hunter reckons there's a really easy way to perk up party-weary skin...

"Late nights, too much rich food and alcohol can leave your skin looking tired and dull. One of the easiest and quickest ways to restore its sparkle is to drink plenty of water and other healthy fluids, like fruit juice and herbal tea." Her best-kept secret? "When you wake up have a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon."

Simple skincare expert Caroline Frazer shares her top tips for disguising dark circles and puffy eyes...

"When you wake up, apply some Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On to help reduce puffiness and revitalise tired eyes. Keep it in the fridge overnight so it's extra soothing.

"Concealer is a must to camouflage dark circles. To really hide the evidence of a late night, add a light reflecting product. Avoid certain eyeshadow shades, such as purple, maroon, pink and yellow and anything too vibrant, because it's very difficult to mask dark circles with bright colours. Instead, try warm browns and golds." Caroline's top quick-fix tip? "Curling your eyelashes will help open up your eyes. It only takes an extra minute or so and is really worth the effort."

Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On
No7 Instant Radiance Concealer
Stila Eye Shadow in Oasis
Models Own Eyelash Curler

Happy new you!

Introducing...

Happy New Year, all!

For my first post of the year, I figure it's only right to tell you about the latest brand to wing its way over to Boots (in the spirit of new beginnings and all) - Shiseido! I've read a lot about this brand on other beauty blogs, so I was excited to hear that we'll be stocking its products.

We've got a few of its most popular products up already, including the gorgeous Shimmering Cream Eye Color eyeshadows. These are all about long-wearing colour and sparkle, or as make up artistic director Dick Page puts it, "the perfect balance of texture, beauty and fun in colour". Sounds good to me! My favourite shade so far has got to be Sable. It's a silky, warm golden hue with a touch of shimmer and was the eyeshadow of choice for Michael Kors' autumn/winter show in September.

Shiseido's renowned for its fabulous skin care - the Pure Retinol Eye Masks are particularly intriguing. Mini masks for your under-eye area, they're designed to deliver instant doses of retinol to help improve the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles. I've yet to try these out but they definitely sound like they mean business.

We've got more exciting products to come from the brand - so watch this space for more info on Shiseido at Boots.

We wish you a merry Christmas...

Happy Christmas Eve! We've officially opened the last door on our Advent calendars and the countdown to Crimbo is almost over. We'll be taking some time out over the festive period while we get our dancing shoes on and put into practice some of our tried and trusted make up techniques (hello smoky eyes, greetings bold lips!). Boots.com will also be down for a short time from 2nd January while some improvements are made.

So we'll see you in the new year (6th January, to be exact!) with lots more beauty goss and a new and improved site. In the meantime, you can get your beauty fix by checking out our Facebook and YouTube pages.

Merry Christmas!

No7 Airbrush Away video

Introducing the latest and greatest product to make its way to you from the good folks at No7: Airbrush Away. They've created this fabulous primer and I'm putting it through its paces in this video. Enjoy!

Airbrush Away will be available from 28th December - just in time for your New Year's Eve shindig. Check it out and give us your verdict.

Beauty crush: Estée Lauder Pure Color Cyber Eyes

As it's Christmas and we're in the spirit of giving, here's yet another sneak peek for you... step forward Cyber Eyes, the futuristic new eye shadow collection from Estée Lauder, which you can get your hands on from 26th December.

OK, so we're still officially on the countdown to Christmas, but let's not forget that in just over a week's time there's the biggest party of the year to prepare for, and what better time to add a bit of bling to your make up than New Year's Eve? Check out some of these envy-evoking shades...

Whether you love any excuse to dress up or you're the kind of person who likes to pare it down the rest of the year, now's your chance to go all-out on the glamour and see 2011 out in style.

Review: Benefit Hervana

When a sample of Hervana, Benefit's new blusher, landed on my desk I instantly knew who to call upon for a review. Enter Jenny, our health and baby writer, who is quite possibly one of Benefit's biggest fans. So, how does this latest addition to the beauty line-up compare? Over to Jenny...

"I've always been attracted to Benefit's 'come-hither' product names. The Bathina 'take a picture... it lasts longer' shimmery body balm and the Lust Duster sparkling powders are staples of my pre-party preening routine.

"I was initially a bit baffled by its new blusher, Hervana. Was the name a clever pun on Havana, the capital of Cuba? Turns out I was simply pronouncing it wrong. Hervana is, of course, a blending of 'her' and 'nirvana'. In other words, it claims to cast a heavenly, ladylike blush.

"The little box contains a whirlwind spectrum of shades, ranging from the pale 'lucky shell' to the warm 'divine peach' by way of two pretty pinks: 'heavenly rose' and 'berry delight'. The accompanying angular brush does the blending for you, before giving you a spectacular sweep of colour across your cheekbone.

"I've been delighted by the results. Hervana works well for everyday use (when I'm fairly minimalistic with my make up) and for evening glam, when it blends well with my foundation. It's as long-lasting as my other Benefit favourite, Benefit Benetint, and gives me different colour options for my pale skin.

"Another Benefit must-wear for my make up bag!"

Looks like it made the grade! Hervana isn't available to buy until 28th January so keep those peepers peeled in the new year - you heard it here first!

Calling all last-minute Christmas shoppers!

Still struggling to find the perfect pressies for that special someone? We've enlisted our resident fragrance expert, Rachael Turner, to talk us through her top picks when it comes to fragrance gifts this season. Check out the vid for a spot of pressie inspiration!

If you've missed the last delivery dates for Christmas don't forget you can still check out your local Boots store for some fragrant finds.

PS: The lucky winner of our recent Nelsons and Marc Jacobs competition has been selected! Congratulations to Joanne from Derbyshire - Nelsons will be sending your amazing prize soon. Don't forget to keep a lookout for more great competitions on the blog in the new year!

Review: Primers

I'm big on getting ready for a night out - I make a real session of it by setting myself up in a warm, well-lit bedroom, with some snacks, lots of party songs on full blast (yes, Diana Ross features heavily on the playlist and no, there's no shame in that whatsoever) and my favourite make up to play with - I love it. It's a bonus if I look presentable when I'm done!

But I'm not so big on retouching once I'm out on the town. Standing in a crowded bathroom waiting for a spot near a mirror to hazard a go at eyeliner application? It's not quite the same!

Which is why I love a good primer to set me up for the whole night. They've got a lot to live up to but I reckon I've found a couple that are definitely worthy of a mention.

All-nighters

For made-up eyes, there's the ever-faithful Shadow Insurance from Too Faced. A bit of this on your lids and creasing isn't a worry.

Facewise, it's got to be Beauty Fix Airbrush Face Spray by ModelCo to help my make up go the distance. It's not really a traditional primer as you mist it on after you've applied your make up, but it definitely does the trick.

The moment of truth

Just to show you these products mean serious business, I put them to the test to see how much of a difference they made...

Day one, after nine hours of wear	Day two, after nine hours of wear

For day one of my experiment I did a full face of make up with a work-friendly smoky eye and went without primer, as you can see on the left. On day two, on the right, I used the same make up with Shadow Insurance and Beauty Fix.

Day one without primer, after nine hours of wear	Day two with primer, after nine hours of wear

Hopefully that shows you why these are my must-haves for a night out! If you've found a primer that you love, why not drop us a note about it? Before and after pics are welcome, too!

Let's get festive!

Christmas Day is just over a week away and I'm really getting into the spirit of things. In homage to all things Christmas, I've dug out some beauty treats with a seasonal twist...

John Frieda Spun Gold Shape and Shine Balm

OK, so this balm's designed for people with blonde hair, but I love the idea that it adds a little bit of sparkle for an angelic effect.

Neal's Yard Frankincense Hydrating Cream

This super-luxurious nourishing cream has essential oils of frankincense and myrrh for a festive beauty boost.

Clarins Foot Beauty Treatment Cream

I'll be indulging in this super-soothing treat for tootsies, which contains myrrh - sure to add a bit of Christmassy magic to my pre-party prep!

Mince pies? Check. Carrot for the reindeer? Check. Festive treats? Check. Roll on Christmas!

We've got stunning Christmas looks all wrapped up

Not only have we been filming our fave party looks for you these past few weeks, we've also enlisted celebs and experts to share their top tips via our Live Events too. But if you're still struggling to master the basics, fear not - we've got a whole host of tutorials and masterclasses to see you through the party season in style.

If you're going for a bit of colour this Christmas, check out our fake tan masterclass with St. Tropez expert Nichola Joss for the lowdown on how to create an envy-evoking faux glow.

Looking to perfect your eyeliner technique? Whether you want to go all out or keep it simple with a cute kitten flick, watch our video tutorials to see just how easy achieving the perfect party peepers can be.

If you fancy mastering the perfect manicure, check out our quick at-home nail tutorials. From classic French to salon-style wraps, you need never be short of nail inspiration this party season.

Bushy brows letting your look down? Read up on how to create groomed brows in next to no time thanks to our expert guide.

Now go forth and party!

Let your lips do the talking

You have got to see this video about the latest cult product at Boots. I'm talking about Violent Lips, of course. These lip tattoos are seriously cool - just watch the vid to see them in action!

Leopard print lips! Got to love them. See the full range of Violent Lips tattoos here.

Make up application made easy

Lisa Armstrong, celebrity make up artist and the lady responsible for creating all the gorgeous hair and make up looks for this year's Strictly Come Dancing, has been sharing her top tips with us.

From perfect foundation application to false lash know-how, check out this video for all the insider info.

We can already feel the dancefloor calling...

Christmas beauty videos

The party season is in full swing with a mere 15 sleeps 'til Christmas and just a few more until the ultimate all-nighter that is New Year's Eve. We've had our minds on conquering the classic smoky eye and making use of all that glitters for these occasions, so check out our videos for this week's dose of party beauty inspiration.

What do you think? Drop us an email or leave a comment on our YouTube page.

Let us know what you think of the looks and products by dropping us an email or leave a comment on our YouTube page.