Sisley Haul!

I am a very lucky girl indeed. When I tossed the empty bottle of Sisley Phyto Teint Eclat (AKA my most beloved foundation) into the bin with a sad sigh, my boyfriend asked me if I was going to buy some more and I explained that I simply don't have the budget at the moment (it's a rather eye-watering £70!) Anyway, we spoke no more of it until we were making our way past the beauty counters in John Lewis and my boyfriend stopped and asked which colour I was, he wanted to buy it for me as a special treat! When we approached the counter the assistant pointed out that if we were to also buy a skincare product we would receive a rather lovely looking gift, apparently worth £120. My (amazing) boyfriend asked me to choose something. I eyed the soaps thoughtfully as I guessed they would be the least expensive and was terrified of choosing something hideously pricey by mistake. After some encouragement from both the assistant and the BF I ended up with a lovely, pampering eye mask (something I've been lusting after for a while). I was then handed my free gift. It's packed with minis that are perfect for taking on weekends away (not that we can afford a weekend away after a trip to the Sisley counter) and some sachets of things like instant tan for the face and the newest, long-wear foundation. 

So, I left John Lewis with a huge smile on my face, plus lots of products to test out and report back on here. I'll let you know which things just aren't worth busting the budget over and which things are definitely worth saving the pennies for. 

Do you have any favourite luxe beauty treats? Tell me about them! 

Heavenly Hands 

I've always taken good care of my hands and nails and it's become especially important since I started modelling. I need to make sure my hands and nails are in the best condition for any close ups! So, I thought I'd share with you my routine for super-soft hands and strong nails.


Firstly, I file and shape my nails. I find it's best to do the shaping before getting your hands wet as this can make them a little softer and more difficult to shape. To reduce the length of my nails I use nail scissors, this is much easier and better for the nails than attempting to saw off long talons with a file. I highly recommend the Leighton Denny Crystal File for easy shaping.

 Next, I work Sanctuary Spa hand and cuticle scrub into my hands and then rinse with warm water. I love this scrub as it gently removes any dry skin as well as leaves my hands feeling soft and moisturised. I never used to bother with this step, but ever since having a luxury manicure as a Christmas present last year and was convinced of the benefits by my manicurist I've been sticking to it religiously and can really see a difference in my hands. I know it seems like extra hassle in an already time consuming routine, but it's definitely worth it.

Once I've patted my hands dry I pop a drop of cuticle oil (I use Sally Hansen's) onto each nail and then gently push back my cuticles with a manicure stick. I massage a rich hand and nail cream, such as the Norwegian Formula one shown in the picture, into my skin. I then wipe away the excess oil and cream from my nails with a cotton pad as it tends to stop the varnish from staying put once you apply it. Next, I begin the buffing, you can pick up a pack of multi-sided buffers from Primark for as little as a pound! Once my nails are smooth I apply Sally Hansen's Complete Care 4-in-1 treatment, this is one of my favourite strengthening treatments, it doesn't chip easily and really improves the condition of my nails. The polish dries pretty quickly and provides a great base for some colour or you can just leave your nails with a natural yet polished look!

Do you have a nail care routine or any hand and nail products you swear by? I'd love to hear them!

   Face Framers

If, like me, you were a little overzealous with the tweezers in the early 00's and have ended up with sparse, uneven brows, you too will know the pain of waking up every morning and attempting to pencil in a makeshift pair. Terrified of appearing in public without your brows, you have always applied them before leaving your room in the morning and facing your flatmates, and you have pretty much resigned yourself to the fact that you will never swim again. Well, dust off your cossies my friends, because I have found a solution and you will NEVER look back...

Yesterday I popped up to Knightsbridge to the Tracie Giles Bespoke Permanent Make Up clinic and had the 3D hair by hair brow retouch treatment. Last year I had them done for the first time and fell in love with them, they frame my face, look super-neat and best of all, I can throw away my brow pencil as these babies stay on after swimming, showering and erm... sweating. Lovely. Although expensive, the initial treatment starts at £495 with annual retouches from £225, it really is worth saving up the cash and saving yourself the hassle and worry of drawing your brows on and hoping they're still in place by the end of the day.

The treatment is a little like having a tattoo done only less painful. The colour is applied with a needle which vibrates and there is a slightly eye watering, scratchy pain. The treatment lasts for about an hour and you might feel a little soreness afterwards. It's all worth it though, as you can see from my before and after snaps, my brows are much fuller and more defined and, thanks to Tracie's hair by hair technique, they're pretty natural looking - no 'scouse brows' here! 

Would you get semi-permanent make-up? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Eye for a bargain  

So, I went to Barcelona last week which was AMAZING, great food, great wine and great sites, but I noticed some dark circles forming under my eyes after a few late nights on the Cava (but how could I resist?!). Just before I went, I picked up the Nivea Q10 eye cream because I was running out of the one I was using and also because it was half price in Boots making it a total bargain at £5.24. I just wanted to do a quick post about it because I’m really impressed. I’ve tried cheap eye creams and I’ve tried the more expensive varieties too and this little bargain is actually really good for the money. We can’t expect miracles for the price but it does actually seem to help with the appearance of my dark circles and keeps the area hydrated and feeling soft. It also has a really handy squeezy tube type applicator which helps you get just the right amount, saving on waste. I’m not sure if it helps with wrinkles as I don’t really have any and I haven’t been using it for long enough to tell, but so far I’m really liking it. So, if you’re after an eye cream but, like me, don’t have an enormous budget, give this a try - I think you’ll like it!

Do you have any budget skincare suggestions for me? I’d love to hear recommendations!

Holiday Hot List 

Maybe it's a bit late to be talking summer beauty, but as I’m off to Barcelona this week, I wanted to put together a list of my best holiday buys for any other late summer holiday goers. From the make-up I can’t live without to my bikini body saviours, I wouldn’t take off without these beauties!




Nivea Q10 Firming Goodbye Cellulite Serum
Now, I’m a realist and believe that there is no cream/gel/serum on the market that will simply make my cellulite disappear (I wish). However, this little tube of serum really helps to improve the texture and smoothness of the skin on the back of my thighs and my bum and the fact that it’s a serum helps give the skin a dewy, thoroughly moisturised look. My skin feels so silky and smooth after I’ve been using it for just a couple of days and it really helps to improve my confidence when I slip into a bikini or a pair of shorts and for that reason (plus the great price tag!), this serum has made my holiday must-have list.

Sisley Phyto Touch Gel
This is sort of hideously expensive, but it is a fantastic pick-me-up for pale, lacklustre skin in need of a boost. It gives an instant glow and subtle shimmer, without looking too fake and without the commitment of an actual fake tan, as it does just wash off. I love coating myself in this before I slip into a maxi dress for dinner on a summer evening, it makes me feel extra special! If you would like a glow without taking out a loan to buy it, try Rimmel’s range of wash off tans, buy it in a light shade and moisturise first to dilute the colour, you’ll be left with a similar subtle glow for a lot less.

bareMinerals Bare Skin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation 
I am in LOVE with this new foundation from bareMinerals. It’s light and extremely subtle – I don’t feel like I’m wearing a foundation! The light texture is perfect for the summer months and holidays because you don’t want to be wearing anything too heavy in the heat and summer is the one time of the year when I try and go a bit more natural with my look. This foundation is also SPF20, perfect for helping to protect your skin from those harmful holiday rays!

Elemis Total Glow Bronzing Body Lotion 
This, in my opinion, is the queen of gradual tanning lotions. It actually smells lovely (not a whiff of biscuit) and it makes my skin feel DIVINE, seriously I can’t stop stroking my own legs after I’ve been applying it for a few days. The colour builds quite quickly, particularly if you’re as generous with it as I am, as with all new gradual tanning products though I would recommend applying a regular moisturiser before this if you’re a little afraid of the outcome. The colour really does build well and gives a nice golden glow that is ideal for pasty ladies braving a bikini for the first time this year (that’ll be me!) The only sort of negative I have for this is that when you stop using it it comes away in patches, but to be fair I haven’t come across a gradual tan that doesn’t and it can easily be solved with an exfoliator (Clinique Sparkle Skin is pretty good!)

Maybelline False Lash Effects Waterproof 
I am a long term fan of this mascara. I first purchased it at my local Boots after school and fell in love instantly and I still wear it now. Having worked on the beauty pages of a wedding magazine I have tried my fair share of high and mid range mascaras (bareMinerals Lash Domination and Diorshow deserve a nod here) and I still think this little bargain is difficult to beat. I love the brush and how it lifts, lengthens and separates my lashes and the waterproof addition does. Not. Budge. So bring on the humidity, baby!

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer 
The only thing I don’t like about this is the little semi circle brush that comes with it, throw it away and use a regular round bronzing brush, you won’t regret it. The tortoise shell packaging oozes sophistication and the colour is just lovely, particularly on olive skin tones. As the make-up artist at Estee Lauder advised me when I purchased this, apply it in a number 3 on each side of your face (the temples, down under the cheekbones and along the jawbone, got it?) and voila! You have a bronzed holiday face.

Benefit Coralista lipgloss
This rich coral gloss always comes with me when I go away and no wonder, the colour reminds me of tropical landscapes and tasty cocktails. It’s not particularly sticky like other glosses and stays put for quite a while, keep it on you though because you will need to top up, it hasn’t got the staying power of some lipstick/gloss combos that are out there. Despite this it’s still a holiday winner for me, inject some colour on a make-up free day at the beach or use it to vamp up the glamour at a romantic sunset dinner.

Beach fragrance by Bobbi Brown
Just one sniff of this and I’m transported to tropical climes. Around the end of May each year, I spritz myself with this blissful scent and it gets me all excited for summer. This fragrance will definitely be making its way into my suitcase at the weekend.

So that’s my holiday hot list, what are your favourite summer beauty products? I’d love to hear them!