The perfect stocking fillers

by Sarah-Jane

If you love Ruby & Millie make-up then you will love their new diffusion line, Scarlett & Crimson, that’s aimed at a slightly younger audience.

The product to look out for is the Stacks of Beauty. For just £5 you get a crème blush, crème eye shadow and lip balm that all stack handily on top of one another. It will make the perfect stocking filler for your daughter or little sister. All the products are made from lightweight pigments, gentle minerals and natural tones so they get the grown-up experience of using make-up without looking old before their time. It’s available in Boots nationwide.

Small but perfectly formed

by Sarah-Jane

I have often proclaimed of my love for Ren skincare products here at LatestInBeauty.com so the Body Gift Set, £15 (www.renskincare.com) is going to the top of my Christmas wish list. It contains four 50ml travel size bottles of their best selling products including the Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash and the Damask Rose Biosaccharide Body Cream which are both heavenly. They are gorgeously rose scented and leave your skin feeling super clean and super soft.

Boost your confidence

by Sarah-Jane

It’s hard enough being a teenager – there’s the whole girl/boy thing to deal with, making sure you’re wearing the right clothes, listening to the cool bands, so you don’t want to have to worry about spots as well.

Lots of spot products strip the skin leaving it very dry, red and sore and making the skin look even worse. That’s why the new product from La Roche-Posay, Effaclar Duo is so brilliant. This unique spot treatment zaps spots with a two-pronged attack. It contains ingredients that firstly help purify the skin, as well as preventing further breakouts and then secondly unclogs pores and soothes the skin so that every aspect of the spot is blitzed. If you want to try a sample then head to www.followjess.com and you can request a free sample as well as entering a draw to win fantastic prizes.

Get your Daly Glow

by Sarah-Jane

Those clever people at Marks & Spencer certainly knew what they were doing when they signed up Tess Daly to create a beauty collection for them because after only four weeks it sold out!

Thankfully the shelves have been restocked with 7 of the 8 products, which include a bath soak, skin shimmer and four beautiful gift sets that are perfect for Christmas. However there is a waiting list for the must-have product the Daly Face Glow, £9.50. A light reflecting highlighter that has completely sold out, but click onto the M&S website and join the waiting list to be sure of getting your hands on one when the new stock arrives at the beginning of December.

Small and chic

by Sarah-Jane

I have a bit of a beauty obsession with anything that comes in a miniature format so I am loving this gift set from French design duo Paul & Joe, £11 (exclusive to www.asos.com). It contains a cleanser that shifts even the most stubborn waterproof mascara, toner, moisturiser and a lip balm. It’s the ideal size for a weekend away or if you’re heading home for Christmas and don’t want to pack your whole beauty regime. Plus it makes the perfect handbag size make-up bag once you have finished the products, so what’s not to like?!

Hot new nail colour alert!

by Sarah-Jane

I am always on the hunt for the new nail trends, sad I know but it’s what us beauty journalists live for! So when I heard that Sienna Miller, queen of the new trend has been loving nail brand Essie new shade, Mink Muffs, £8.95 (www.nailsbymail.co.uk) then I had to try it out and I can safely say I’m in nail heaven. It’s a few shades darker than a natural pink and a few shades lighter than a brown so it’s the perfect everyday colour as when it chips – and they always do – you don’t really notice. Get yours now before Miss Miller buys the stock out.

Preen yourself

by Sarah-Jane

I have always loved Urban Decay make-up palettes. They always include just the right mix of colours and the pigment in the eye shadows means the colour you see is the colour you get. Plus the packaging is so fun and quirky and their new palette, Preen that you Preen, £18 (larger Boots stores), is no exception. Encased in the peacock printed palette is a mixture of peacock inspired purples, blues and greens as well as the fantastic 24/7 glide on eye liner – it truly is one of the best that I have ever tried. Plus if that wasn’t enough there is also a mini sized version of the Eyeshadow Primer potion, a silky smooth primer that keeps your eyeshadow in place all night. Perfect for the party season.

Bathtime Bliss

by Sarah-Jane

There’s nothing better than a long hot soak in the tub, so I predict that this Soap & Glory Big Bather gift set is going to be a sell-out. It costs a bargain £15 and includes Clean Girls moisturising body wash, The Daily Smooth body butter and best of all a gorgeous retro satin shower cap. My top tip? Pour a cupful of the Clean Girls into the bath, slather on your favourite hair conditioner, pop the shower cap on and soak your troubles away and then smother the body butter on whilst your skin is still a little bit damp for optimum moisturisation. It’s available from Boots now so make sure you put it on your Christmas wish list.

Chocolate treats without the calories!

by Sarah-Jane

If you, like me, struggle to say no to anything vaguely chocolatey then you will love these new sweet treats from Asda’s brand, n-spa (0500 100 055). They have just launched two new bath syrups in deliciously irresistible flavours, Chocolate Waffle and Chocolate Cranberry. They are normally £3.89 each but at the moment you can buy three for just £10, how can you resist?

Balm to the rescue

by Sarah-Jane

It’s cold, wet, dark and depressing, so what could be better than the new Bach Rescue Balm, £5.75, (www.rescueremedy.co.uk) a lip balm that not only soothes chapped lips but calms you down and boosts your confidence. It contains the original Bach Rescue Remedy formula that is amazing for calming nerves and it also contains essence of crab apple with is known for boosting body confidence. It’s time to feel positive ladies!

The right present

by Nina

October just started and somehow retailers want us to believe that Christmas is on our doorstep. It seems like it is starting earlier every year. On the other hand it is good to be reminded early on so you can think about what presents you should tell your Santa about.

For me Christmas presents are about fragrances. And each year I get a fragrance that is absolutely not my thing but I have to smile anyway and say I love it. That is why every year I try to ‘hint’ to my Santa what fragrance I like. On LatestInBeauty.com we have some very different fragrances to try out at the moment and it gives you a great opportunity to find something new you might like for Christmas. We have DKNY Delicious Night for Women. It is a very nice and seductive fragrance and you will get 2x bubble vials and 2x 7ml sachets of their gorgeous body lotion. Or you can try one of the Fleurs de Bach award winning fragrances from France. Présence(s) is nice and flowery and Vivacité(s) is more of a woody type. Both fragrances do have the mood enhancing ‘Bach Essences’ which gives more than just an olfactory experience. Finally for some fun the new Avril Lavigne Black Star Eau de Parfum. Perhaps you are a big fan of her or your teenage niece might love you for getting her a sample.

All in all there are some different things to try out but most importantly; try before you 'let Santa' buy to make sure none of you will be disappointed!

It’s a Parisienne beauty

by Sarah-Jane

Once I have found a perfume I like, I don’t tend to stray. I can remember smelling a particular fragrance when I was 13 and I’ve worn it ever since. So, as you can tell, it takes quite a special scent for me to usurp one of my stables in favour of a newbie.

But this is exactly what has happened with YSL’s latest perfume, Parisienne. Not only does the cute pink bottle look gorgeous, but the smell – a mixture of blackberry and rose – is divine. I haven’t stopped wearing it since it landed on my desk and I have had so many comments about it - a sure-fire way to know you're on to a winner. Plus Kate Moss is used in the advertising and if it’s good enough for Kate…

Lady in Red

by Sarah-Jane

It’s so refreshing when celebs step slightly out of the style box and try something a little different, so I am applauding Cheryl Cole for her new cherry plum coloured tresses. I’m still undecided whether I like it or not but one thing is for sure, she’ll need to protect her newly coloured locks with a shampoo and conditioner that will keep her colour looking shiny and bouncy for longer. I would recommend Alfaparf Splendore extreme colour protection shampoo, £10.50 and conditioner, £15.74 (www.mahoganyhair.co.uk)

Barry M masterclass

by Sarah-Jane

There have been lots of stories in the press recently about the popularity of online makeup demonstrations and I can totally understand why. It’s so much easier to understand how to achieve a look when you can see it being done in front of you. One of my favourite places to click on to, as well as YouTube, is the Barry M website – www.barrym.com. The online Barry M makeup artist, Daniella talks you through each step making the whole process really easy. She uses Barry M products throughout but you can substitute with whatever products you already have.

The perfect palette

by Sarah-Jane

There seem to be un-ending amount of smoky eye palettes or bright pop coloured palettes, what is harder to find is a great everyday palette filled with the colours that you need to wear to work, or for Sunday lunch.

Step in the brand new Too Faced natural eye palette, £22 (Boots, House of Fraser, Debenhams). It’s filled with soft pinks, browns, greys and light golds – keep it light for during the day and then you can always use the darker shades to create a slightly smoky eye.

LatestInBeauty.com exclusive!

by Sarah-Jane

We here at LatestInBeauty.com like to offer you girls the newest and the hottest products to try out. So it is with a sparkle in our eye and a smile on our face that we are proud to announce that we have the exclusive samples of Estee Lauder’s brand new product, Advanced Night Repair - Synchronized Recovery Complex, for you to try out 3 days before it even hits the stores.

Now here’s why you’re going to want to give this revolutionary product a go. It’s at night time that our skin gets busy and starts to rejuvenate itself, well they don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing! So any products you apply at night time are going to work twice as hard. This amazing new serum contains ‘Chronolux Technology’ which is basically a very clever way of boosting your skin’s natural method of repairing itself at nighttime and thereby making it look younger. It also contains high levels of Hyaluronic Acid a natural ingredient that draws moisture in, so your skin will look and feel uber hydrated.

You can order samples now so get clicking (www.LatestInBeauty.com)!

Berry beautiful

by Sarah-Jane

There aren’t many female celebrities who not only look amazing, are fantastically talented and you think would be super nice with it, but Halle Berry ticks all those boxes.

So it’s no surprise that her new fragrance - Halle by Halle Berry EDP, ₤23 for 30ml (available nationwide), is a huge success. A huge fan of fragrance, the Oscar winning actress says ‘For years I have created my own personal scents by mixing and layering fragrances, trying to come up with something unique and different.’

And that’s exactly what she has done with her new fragrance. It’s a mixture of fruity pear, floral freesia and woody sandalwood, but don’t take my word for it, it’s out in the shops now so stop and have a sniff.

Wonder mascara

by Sarah-Jane

I have often waxed lyrical about various new wonder mascaras that either vibrate, are shaped like a cactus or lengthen the lashes as well as coating them decadently black.

Well, there’s a new contender on the market and it’s no surprise that it comes from Lancome, who are known for their innovation in mascara. Their latest offering is the Hypnose Drama mascara, ₤19.50 (www.lancome.co.uk) , it’s unique S-shaped brush makes sure that every lash gets covered, even the teeny tiny ones in the corners of your eyes. I have had so many comments from friends about it that I’ve now got them all converted. Hopefully you will be too.

by Sarah-Jane

There’s nothing like a good facial scrub to make your skin feel shiny and new again. There are loads to choose from but some of my particular faves are Soap & Glory’s Greatest Scrub Of All, £7.99 (Boots) which is almost a cleanser at the same time.

If you’ve got particularly oily skin I would highly recommend Elemis skin buff, £24 (timetospa.co.uk), it sloughs away dead skin cells and when you use it you can’t help but feel that it’s doing something good.

Finally, an old-school favourite brand of me is Aapri, they have just launched a new scrub called skin renewing micro-dermabrasion exfoliator, £7.99 (Boots), it smells gorgeous and really gets down and dirty!

Packing List

by Sarah-Jane

I’m packing up for my first holiday of the Summer, a week in Newquay, and I think I may have put a little bit too much faith in the British weather as I’m taking my new bareMinerals spf30 sunscreen, £22 (www.qvcuk.com). This is no ordinary sunscreen though, it’s a mineral based powder that comes in a very handy brush-on applicator. Just a few clicks of the button and the product comes through. Like mineral foundation, it gives amazing coverage without feeling heavy and offers amazing protection from the sun’s rays.
The next thing being flung into my suitcase is my new Gillette Venus Embrace, £6.99 (available nationwide), the new razor is the first to have 5 blades and offers the closest shave yet. Finally, I never go on holiday without my favourite perfume, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, £34.50 (available nationwide). This year he has released a limited edition for Summer that is alcohol-free and I love it!

Nu-rave neon

by Sarah-Jane

Neon has been a huge trend on the catwalk and the high-street and it seems to have filtered down to beauty products. So if you want to add some instant colour to your beauty cabinet or to your look, then read on.

TIGI Rockaholic Livin’ the Dream Shampoo, £7.95 and conditioner, £8.95 (www.tigihaircare.com) This fab new shampoo and conditioner set not only looks rockin’ but it’s packed with green tea and goji berry that will detox your locks.

Barry M nail paint in acid yellow, £2.95 (www.barrym.com) This is more wearable than you think, just make sure your hands are a little tanned, not too pasty!

Mac Lipglass in Pink Poodle, £10.28 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk) A sheer pink that you can layer up for ultimate brightness or just have one swoosh of colour for a sheer subtle pink.

Holiday minis

by Sarah-Jane

Ok, I’d admit it I’ve got an addiction to all things mini. It doesn’t matter what it is but if it comes in a smaller size I am bound to fall hopelessly in love with it. It’s not just because everything looks cuter when it’s in a smaller version but they are just so handy. I’ve got two mini breaks planned for over August and these are my must-pack products.

Essie neon minis, £15.95 (www.nailsbymail.co.uk)
I change my nail colour more than I change my outfit….so that’s saying something! These minis are the perfect size and the brushes are still very useable.


Green & Spring Indulging travel candle set, £18 for 3 x 37g candles (www.greenandspring.com). There’s nothing more indulgent than burning a candle in your hotel room. These brand new mini candles from Green & Spring are the perfect size to chuck in a weekend holdall bag.

TRESemme deep cleansing shampoo and conditioner, £1.09 (available nationwide.) Not only are these the perfect size for a weekend away but they are also under 100ml so ideal for taking on a plane.

What's in a name

Virgin Vie cosmetics has been renamed to VIE at home. After 12 years being part of the Virgin group the time has come to move forward on their own. But besides the name change nothing else really changes. VIE at home will continue to source their products from the same suppliers. The packaging remains the same, sleek and practical. You will continue to be able to order products online or via a Party organised in your own home.

What is new is their new summer line which is coming in the next few weeks. It looks like it is going to be a great natural and fruity range. We'll keep you posted when it comes out. For those of you who want to have a little memory of the past, you can still order a sample of their best selling Virgin Vie Cloud 9 moisturiser on LatestInBeauty.com. Hurry up though, there are not many left over!

Bronzing - Part II

by Sarah-Jane

Yesterday I told you about my favourite fake tanning products. Today is about Bronzers. There are a host of fab ones on the shelves this summer.

I am loving Lancaster Infinite Bronze SPF 8, £23 (0800 376 0688). It contains a combination of matt and iridescent powder so will give your face an instant boost without being over-powering.

If you’re looking for a bargain buy then try Prestige bronzer SPF15, £7.82 (Boots) which would suit nearly all skin tones.

Finally, look out for Too Faced Pure Bronze, £20 (larger Boots and departments stores), it is a mineral based loose bronzer that contains natural illuminating pigments that are activated by your own complexion, giving you the bronze effect that is perfect for you.

So go get bronzing girls.

Bronzing - Part I

by Sarah-Jane

This month it’s all about getting bronzed. Note that I wrote bronzed not brown ladies. For this is the key to getting that Californian glow when in reality the furthest you’re going is Camber Sands. Where the WAGs get it so wrong and the supermodels get it so right, is that a good tan and a good glow is having a multi-tonal colour rather than one flat colour which will make you look you’ve been tangoed.

So where to start, well I really love Fake Bake’s new Faux Glo, £10.99 (at House Of Fraser) it’s an instant tan that can only be washed off with warm soapy water. Don’t panic, even sweat and rain won’t make this streak. It delivers a gorgeous and flawless colour instantly that looks natural.

If you’re looking for something a bit more gradual then try Johnson’s re-formulated holiday skin, £4.99 [available nationwide]. Gone is the horrible smell and the tendency to go a bit streaky. The new formula smells delicious and gives a subtle and even colour.

These are my favourite fake tanning products. In tomorrows blog I will get you my top tips for great bronzers.

For the Feet

by Jess

With emu oil, I hear you ask? Well, yes. Though once I had gotten over the initial freak-out, I tried this foot scrub by Margaret Dabbs, a foot expert and Member of the British Chiropody & Podiatry Association. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the scrub did exactly what it said - smoothed my feet, got rid of dry skin and rejuvenated my painful, aching feet, which had been encased in 5-inch heels for the best part of the weekend. Slightly more expensive than your average foot scrub, but you definitely get what you pay for.

All Natural

by Jess

US number 1 best selling body care range - Jergens Naturals - is coming to the UK. Simple, effective, everyday products tailored to your skin type, and with its smart new packaging, they look good on your bathroom shelf too. At just under £5 a bottle, if you prefer your skincare to be natural, they're a great everyday solution, with more than 95% natural ingredients.

I tried the Skin Firming formula, which smelt lovely but it must be said, took a while to sink in and is probably best applied before bed. The Age Defying formula though was a clear winner - it smelt divine, and the extra moisturising ingredients mean that it's suitable for people of all ages - think prevention, not just cure!

Cult Status

by Sarah-Jane

We, here at LatestInBeauty, like to worship at beauty shrines other than our own, so we wanted to draw your attention to one of our favourite Mecca’s,
cultbeauty.co.uk.

Not only does it stock the hottest products but it has a catalogue of experts giving their top tips and recommending their cult beauty products. Experts such as award winning hairdresser and colourist, Anita Cox, who I have recommended all my girl friends go and see and who have never looked back without swishing their perfectly highlighted tresses at me, and Andrea Fulerton, Revlon’s nail expert, who gives the most perfect manicure in the world. Fact.

I am a regular at cultbeauty.co.uk and here are just some of my cult beauty buys.
BECCA shimmering skin perfector, £32. BECCA are renowned for their skin products and for offering everything and anything so that women can make their skin look the best it has ever looked. This gorgeous light moisturiser contains the ever important SPF and also light reflecting particles which instantly illuminate your skin. It comes in a few different colours, I use the rose quarts as I like the subtle hint of pink on my blonde complexion. The Topaz shade looks amazing on olive or very tanned skin, so a good purchase for Summer.

Dr Bronner Castile liquid soap, £4.75. Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of this brand, it has only just hit our shores but it has a huge cult following in America and everyone from Oprah to make-up guru, Bobbi Brown loves it. It is an organic liquid soap that the Bronner family have been making for over 60 years. It’s USP is that it is so gentle that you can use it for 18 different uses - cleansing, showering, you can even use it to wash your teeth with! I particularly like the Peppermint flavour but there is also Lavender and Rose to choose from.

Louise Galvin treatment masque for fine hair, £26. This masque is also available in a different formulation for thicker hair but my baby fine hair responds phenomenally well to this one. It smells divine and leaving it to absorb for 10 minutes whilst I soak in the bath is like a mini-moment of peace and tranquillity. My hair literally looks transformed afterwards. Try it, I promise you won’t be disappointed with the results.

Win a Beauty Bag worth £85

by Sarah-Jane

Hey Girls,

We’ve got a mission for you. We want you to get all your friends to sign up to LatestInBeauty.com so they can start sampling all our amazing products too.

What’s in it for me, we hear you cry. Well, we have got 10 amazing Beauty Bags to give away filled with products from Olay, Clairol, Pantene, Gillette and more. Each bag is worth over £85.

This opportunity is too good to miss out on, and it’s so easy to enter. All you need to do is go to www.LatestInBeauty.com and sign in as you normally would do, then head to the ‘invite a friend’ section and enter in all your friends' addresses. Simple. The more addresses you add, the more chance you have of winning one of these fab Beauty Bags.

So get inviting now!

Get a Nip/ Tuck without the knife

by Sarah-Jane

After holidaying in Miami one summer and witnessing what seemed like a parade of ‘when plastic surgery goes wrong’ women walking down the beach, I swore to myself that I would never go under the knife. Besides, why bother with anaesthetics, scars and pain when there are so many lotions and potions on the market that do an amazing job. Now, just to be realistic, no cream is ever going to make you look 21 again, but there is no doubt that there are certain products on the shelves that do make a difference to the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and the general appearance of your skin. Here are some of my favourites.

Tri-Aktiline instant deep wrinkle filler, £25.44 (available from Boots) is a brilliant alternative to Botox. It not only plumps up wrinkles but it contains an ingredient that encourages your skin to create its own collagen which will make your skin look fuller, fresher and younger.

For the more mature ladies out there forget about the face-lift, have a try of Garnier’s new moisturiser, Vital Restore Day SPF15, £9.99 (available nationwide), ticks all the boxes. Its main ingredient is orchid extract. Orchids are known for having a very long life-span, this is because they have the unique ability to renew cells and are constantly rejuvenating, they basically can bring themselves back to life. By including the extract in a moisturiser, those clever people at Garnier are recreating this effect for your skin. It is also intensely hydrating and contains an SPF15 which will help fight against premature ageing for younger users.

Finally, if you suffer with dark circles or bags under your eyes and you are at a loss at how to get rid of them then you will love DuWop circleblock, £18.67 (www.qvcuk.com), it’s a brand new product and combines everything you want from an under-eye product. Firstly there is the balm, which is packed with vitamins that brighten the area and start to restore the skin back to its former glory and secondly there is a concealer, so you can instantly disguise any dark circles. Finally, a product that combines long-term treatment with instant gratification.