May I... have splendiferous tootsies?

As you can imagine, LA facilitated all kinds of flippity-floppingtons and open-toe sandals so one's pedicure had to be tip-top.

However, how does one go about getting a tip-top pedicure for the flippity-floppingtons if you have NO TIME EVER?


It's easy, you head down to Boots, seek out the Ruby&Millie concession, you buy the gorgeous pink 450 and you paint your tootsies yourself. This stuff is great. It's the perfect summer pink, not neon enough to scare your mum but not coral enough to make her want to steal it. And it doesn't chip.
Ever.
Ever ever*.



*Well, it chipped a tiny bit when I jumped off the back off a model of a giant sloth at the La Brea tar pits but that's to be expected really. And that was more a chip off the actual nail than polish.
The sloth was giant. GI-ANT.

May I... avoid ingrown hairs?

I will never learn and that's a fact.
One of the reasons I know this is because every time I go on holiday I say I'm going to get my everything waxed before I go to avoid irritating shaving and depilitorising (is that even a word?) and yet I've only managed this once. That's pathetic, isn't it?

And the worst bit is, with all the fabby products available that actually work, I have no excuses.
Nads hair removal gel is particularly great according to my BeautyMecca Beauty Bunnies - there's no heating involved so there's no chance of me burning myself (again) and it's about as natural as these things get. The £14.99 pack, available at Boots includes enough to remove hair from both legs up to 15 times. Hmm, much better value than my local waxing laydee.


And to avoid all those icky ingrown hairs, they have a new Ingrow Solution, containing anti-inflammatory Green Tea leaf extract and Aloe Vera. Hurrah.

Nads also have a heap of cool facial waxing prods but since I once tried out a waxing strip where there was no tache and removed a couple of layers of perfectly good skin, I haven't tried them out. The Beauty Bunnies however, they say yay.
Go on, save yourself hours of annoying and painful shaving over sunburn.
Like me.
Bugger.

May I... soothe my skin with Sjal?

While I was away I had the BeautyMecca Beauty Bunnies (e.g. people I have bribed with product) test out some of the lovely news prods on the market - I am only one woman, people! One of the topper most tip top reactions to any range I've ever had was from the bunny testing Sjal skincare. This fab collection of luxe prods was created by mother and daughter duo, Karen and Kristin Petrovich and is a totally fabo eco-luxury skincare range, bridging Eastern medicine, Western bio-technology and bio-osmotic power. Clearly I didn't make that up myself... The entire range is free of petroleum jelly, alcohol, silicone, mineral oil, caffeine and fillers which is always nice, and boasts celeb fans including the ageless Ruby Hammer, super sexy Angelina Jolie and gorgeous Helena Christensen.

I've been obsessed with the new Mineral Kalla which is a fantastic spray on toner, for a good couple of months. There's always a spray on my desk to freshen up my skin during the day.


Sjal says: Mineral Källa is a deep penetrating mineral tonic, which is designed for immune boosting, toning and barrier protection. Mineral Källa contains gold, germanium and adaptogens to counteract stress and improve cellular energy. It provides strong bio-adhering hydration lasting over 24 hours. Mineral Källa protects the skin against pollution.
BeautyLover says: Wowsers. I like that it makes me feel fresh and purdy.

And my testing bunny is completely enraptured with the moisturisers and cleanser. To quote her directly, 'Sjal is the dog's' and 'What the bloody hell am I supposed to do when it runs out? You've ruined me for any other moisturiser ever again. You cow.'

I think what she meant was 'it's pretty good and thank you very much for bringing this into my life, kind friend'.

Check it out for yourself at panachecosmetics

May I... Get over Jetlag quicker?

God I feel like crap.
It's not even funny, honestly.

Thankfully, due to liberal application of BeautyFlash Balm through the Flight From Hell (TM and Copyright Virgin Atlantic 2008, honestly, there's nothing like flying over a tornado) my skin doesn't look as bad as I feel.

I'm also recommending Creme de la Mer, Advanced Night Repair Concentrate and Bliss Sleeping Peel serum again as post-flight skin saviours.

And bed. Sweet, sweet bed.
Where I will be in approximately seven hours.
Sob.

may I... please have a bit of a tan?

I know I bleat on about how pale I am fifty times a month but having spent all week in LA I can't help but feel it might be nice to have a bit of colour.

But thanks to my generous application of spf 50 clinique City Block I have neither tanned nor burned which I suppose is a good thing, right?

Happily, a fun combo of Creme de la Mer tinted moisturiser, Benefit Georgia and Estee Lauder's blush stick in Pearl, at least leaves me looking human.Hopefully I'll be able to crack out the new Darphin bronzer compact by the end of the week.

LA is funny, people are very beautiful and Marc Jacobs is very cheap.
I am coming back very poor but significantly more beautiful.
Because this gorgeousness thing must be in the water, right?

May I... stay in LA

Hey hey beauty babes,

Just wanted to let you know I haven't abandoned you, I'm on holiday in LA, Last week got a bit mental and I didn't get chance to brag, I mean let you know about it before I left...

As an uber paley, let me recommend Avene Factors 50 and 40 SPF sprays (the reason I'm not toasted yet), Prescriptives Extreme Hydrator Mask and Charles Worthington Mineral Rescue Mask.

Will be back later, I'm off shopping.
I know, for shame.

May I... Be a Buxom Babe

As a fan of lip plumping glosses, I am someone that considers it to be a good thing when your lips feel like you've rubbed an Extra Strong Mint all over them. I don't know how you feel about it but if that's something you can relate to, get your arse over to QVCuk.com RIGHT NOW and order up some Bare Escentuals Buxom Babes Lip Gloss.


Seriously, my lips have been all a tingle for about an HOUR straight and the colour and finish last just as long as the effects. Plus they're purdy and handy for a going out bag. And because we ladies like to have a choice, the set includes four colours: Trixie (golden-pink), Ginger (cognac shimmer), Amber (washed peach) and Candi (rich strawberry). I LURVE Trixie (third in). Tis tres pretty.

And they come in a lovely box.
I'm sold.

May I... stay young with Dermalogica

Unless you are Madonna (her terrifying claws aside), getting and more importantly, looking older is something most of us live in terror of, so it is with great pleasure I present to you, the Dermologica AGEsmart system.

I've had a big old girlie crush on Dermalogica for ages now (can't live without their body scrub and hydrating cream and we all know they give the BEST facials) so I did a little Snoopy-style dance when I heard about their new skincare range. Unfortunately, I'm a bit stupid and haven't a hope in hell of explaining the processes and ingredients to you, so here it is in their own words...


Most products positioned as “anti-aging” products promise to minimize, and even erase, the manifestations of skin aging, such as wrinkles. There are products that can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, but no wrinkle is completely curable. A better approach would be to treat skin aging at the source by addressing the actual biochemical reactions that trigger these changes in skin before they start.

Dermalogica is introducing AGE Smart, which works by impacting the main biochemical reactions that manifest the signs of skin aging: the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS – also known as free radicals), the generation of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the development of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs).

See! Not only are they fab and lovely but they tell the truth!!!
Practically unheard of.

I'll definitely be trying out the MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque and MAP -15 Regenerator. Mainly because they sound dead techie and ace.
I do try and pick my products for the best reasons, I know, but let's be honest, it's Dermalogica, one of the very few brands that do exactly what it says on the tin. You can make your own choices however you do that at dermalogica.com

Now let us all rejoice at the end of aging...
Ha, we scoff at you Madonna, scoff!!!

May I... have a super cool summer do please?

So this is a story all about how, my life got flip turned upside down...
Not really but any reason for a Fresh Prince reference is a good reason, right?

But this is a story about the difference between having an awesome hair stylist and getting your hair cut 'somewhere' by 'someone'. Big difference.

My hair grows incredibly quickly which means it's really hard to hold a style for any length of time and I regularly freak out and use the phrase 'cut it all off' within the hallowed walls of the salon. Once I did this at a salon (naming no names but it rhymes with... no, can't be done. It was Essensuals in Hammersmith), clarifying the 'cut it all off' with 'I want a choppy bob'. I walked out of there looking like Myra Hindley.

Now I know some of you will think I should have been more specific but tough, I wasn't.
Last week I walked into Lee Stafford in Soho to see the lovely Jonny and said 'cut it all off' and walked out with a GORGEOUS messy, textured bob, a killer fringe and a big fat grin on my face. A good stylist will just get it - they'll get to know you, they'll talk to you, they'll take into account your style so that your haircut matches you and not just what idea they have in their head. Seriously, you wear your hair every day - isn't it worth dedicating a bit more time and resource than just nipping into Supercuts? Think of how long you spend looking for the perfect pair of jeans... and I hope you don't wear them every single day, because you know, ew.

And that is why you should have a fabu stylist and not just someone, somewhere.

May I... MAC Dazzle Glass

Hungover.
Beauty Flash Balm not enough.
Feel like Gizmo around bright lights.

Please be distracted by MAC's amazing new range of Dazzle Glass lipglosses.
I was rocking Love Alert (raspberry red with red pearl) last night, clearly it was a winner.


MAC says:

TELECTRO-PEARL ATOMS BLAST THEIR LIGHT, SWITCH THEIR SHADE WITH
EACH PASSING RAY AS LIPGLASS GETS THE DAZZLE TREATMENT. CREATES
EXTRADIMENSION AND GIVES THE LIPS FULLNESS WITH A BEAUTIFULLY
SEXY DEPTH CHARGE. LAUNCHES IN A SPARKED-UP, HIGH-ENERGY ARRAY
OF 16 COLOURS.
COLOURS:

Comet Blue Violet blue
Funtabulous Purple with violet pearl
Ms. Fizz Bright pink with blue pearl
Like Venus Clean light bubble gum pink with red pearl
Baby Sparks Pale pink with violet pearl
Money Honey Mid-tone rosy mauve with red pearl
Rags to Riches Plumy pink with teal and red pearl
Date Night Deep plum with blue and gold pearl
Spanking Rich Raspberry pink with red and gold pearl
Get Rich Quick Warm yellow brown
Bare Necessity Caramel apricot with red and gold pearl
Steppin’ Out Clean yellow pink with red pearl
Glamour O.D. Bright coral red with red pearl
Suugarrimmed Milky pale pink with red, teal and white pearl
Pleasure Principle Clear white violet, teal and white pearl
Love Alert Raspberry red

And they're available from all MAC counters from today!
Hurrah!
Ooh, too loud.