London Beauty Queen

Pucker up with Soap and Glory

2012-02-14T11:30:00.000Z

Happy Valentines Day - are you a great kisser? Either way you could probably put a little tin of this Soap and Glory goodness to good use, even if it's just to pout your way through the office and pretend you don't care that those bunch of flowers at reception aren't for you. These little tins of greatness come in three variants: Chocolate Cherry, Juicy Peach and Sweet Coconut. They all contain mango butter to moisturise, apricot butter for weather protection (I'm not entirely sure what this means - maybe preventing wind damage?!) and lingonberry oil to boost barrier repair. Two of the shades are tinted, but I've got the clear coconut one so I can't really tell you about the depth of the colour, only the fact that it's a pretty great formula all round. It's like a combination of a balm and gloss, being quite heavy but not too sticky, a little moisturising without being too intense and glossy enough to be worn alone. It's not anywhere near as slippery as Vaseline and it smells utterly fab, as well as tasting a little sweet and lovely. The formula has a very slight undertone of sparkle too - you can just see the delicate pink shimmers in the clear gloss to catch the light and enhance the lips. Although there are loads of products out there like this at the moment, the strong formula and delicate scent make it a winner for me. Happy Valentines - pucker up.

Available now from larger Boots stores RRP £5.00

The science of haircare

2012-02-13T11:30:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I instigated a twitter conversation around shampoos after going to see the launch of a new range from L'Oreal, which I believe is the beginning of a revolution in the mass haircare market. The range is SLS and silicone free (of which you can read more about here) but that led to a lot of questions from people asking 'what does that actually mean?' and 'why is that good for my hair?' Back in the day I worked for a professional haircare brand and started studying for a qualification in the science of hair and skin; this has given me a lot of knowledge and understanding of beauty products and what claims can actually be substantiated. There are so many myths and miscontrued pieces of information out in the social space, so this hopefully clears up some of those and answers some burining questions.

What is an SLS free shampoo?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (or SLS) is a chemical ingredient used in lots of different cleansing products such as shampoo, shower gel and face wash. It's this agent that actually gets rid of the oil, grease and dirt from hair and skin by grabbing onto it so it can be washed away with water. Although this is used in the majority of products you can buy on the high street, it can actually be harmful to sensitive skin and cause problems - particularly by stripping away too much oil/moisture and aggravating conditions like eczema and psorasis. Even if you don't normally have sensitive skin, excessive use of products containing SLS can cause itchy, flaky or dry skin. For the majority of us it won't cause a problem to use products containing this ingredient, but if you do suffer with an itchy scalp or really dry limbs this may be a good place to start investigating. It's become a trend of late to claim you're SLS free as brands become aware that consumers are understanding the science behind their ingredients; this isn't a reason to panic though as for the majority of us you can get away with using SLSs without a care in the world.

My SLS free shampoo doesn't lather as much - is it cleaning my hair?
Yes, totally, 100%. We've all been molded into believing that a good shampoo is one which gives off a really rich, creamy, foamy lather. However, this isn't actually a sign of a good shampoo as all the product is doing is capturing air rather than grabbing and removing dirt. The cheaper ingredients are the ones that foam the most, meaning it's normal for your bottle of £2.99 shampoo to lather like a foam party in Ibiza, but your £15 bottle from the hairdressers to not. We're so used to doing the 'lather, rinse, repeat' routine that it takes a while to get used to 'wash, rinse, sit back' instead.

I've heard silicones are bad - why?
Many shampoos and conditioners contain silicones which sit on the surface of hair and create a smooth, silky and shiny finish. This is great for a week or so, but as you continue to use the product the silicone just builds up and up until you're left with a coating of silicone all over your head. This will start to weigh down your barnet over time, leaving you with limp and lifeless hair that you can't do much with. The silicone molecule is too large to be absorbed into the hair so it's purely a superficial ingredient to make hair look pretty, albeit temporarily. The problem worsens when you change shampoos and it takes a while to strip the silicone to reveal the hair underneath - so many people think the shampoo isn't working and return to their silicone-heavy brand and the cycle starts all over again. The key is to firstly stay away from as many silicone heavy brands as possible, but also to use a claryfying shampoo every 2-3 weeks to strip away any build up and reveal a healthy swishy head of hair underneath.

I've heard products claim to improve the health of my hair - can they?
In a word, no. Hair is dead. Once it pops out the top of your head there's nothing you can do to actually improve the health of your hair, you can only improve the appearance. You can coat it in good stuff, create an illusion of shine, volumise it, fiddle with it and style it within an inch of its life, but effectively it's as dead as a dodo. When shopping for products be very careful because there are certain legalities around what you can and can't say - when I was working in NPD at a professional hair care brand I spend my life putting the word 'help' in front of every sentence that came out of the PR department! You can help prevent breakage or damage to hair by coating it or using products full of strengthening ingredients, but on the whole a lot of the campaigns I see on a daily basis are somewhat misleading - be careful what you believe.

This is a start to the discussion around haircare, skincare and whatever else you want to know. I'm more than happy to answer questions or follow up on this post with future ones, depending on what you're burning to ask! Just add a question in the comments section below and I'll be back with my science hat on shortly...

Floral Flowers with 17 Cosmetics

2012-02-12T12:45:00.000Z

Spring is nearly sprung (anyone else feel like we're back in December with all this snow?) so it's time to update our makeup bags accordingly. This cute little eyeshadow palette from 17 Cosmetics puts me right in the mood using hues of brown, cream and green. Usually Spring colours mean pinks, lilacs and blues so it's a refreshing change to see more wearable shades with a hint of colour coming through in this new collection. The palette design itself is adorable, featuring a raised rose design amongst green leaves that was almost mistaken for a bronzing product when I first opened it - until I realised green on your cheeks wouldn't be a good look.

I love what they've done with the design, making the palette unique and different from the usual square or circular eyeshadow packs. The only thing is though is that it becomes a challenge to keep the colours from blending in after a few uses, as well as making it fiddly to get into the corners with a brush if you want to use some of the smaller colours. The shades themselves are fab though - very wearable, pigmented and complimentary, as well as containing a slight shimmer. I'm loving the direction the brand is going in and can't wait to see future collections if this is anything to go by.

Available in Boots now for £6.99

Katy Perry: Mermaid-i-fied

2012-02-10T11:30:00.000Z

If you're not satisfied with the latest goss doing the rounds that Katy Perry signed her divorce papers with a heart and a smiley face (compensating for heartbreak much?) then you may want to see her latest campaign shots for GHD... She's only bloomin gone and dressed up as a mermaid. Stunningly beautiful and perched on a log emerging from an extravagant sea, Katy's hair is her iconic pink while her outfit is something Ariel from The Little Mermaid would be jealous of. All this fabulousness is to celebrate the launch of GHD's first salon strength hairdryer, the GHD Air. I want one. Now.

"The GHD Air is designed to help you unlock the secret to a gorgeous salon blow dry, every day. Featuring a powerful professional motor and advanced ionic technology, it delivers exceptionally fast drying and styling while helping to reduce frizz, leaving your hair soft and silky."

The hairdryer is supposed to be the Aston Martin of all things hairdryer-like, offering a superior frizz-free and smooth result and advanced ion technology. Apparently years of research has gone into developing the appliance and GHD claim to 'wipe the floor' with other brands. A little bird told me I may be getting a chance to try one out soon... I may even have a spare one for you to try out too.

Available now from all good GHD retailers and salons RRP £99

MUA Love Hearts

2012-02-09T11:30:00.000Z

As I write this I'm sitting on my sofa eating giant white chocolate jazzles - I have a soft spot for retro sweets and pick n mix. If you ever want to give me a present, don't bother with fancy perfumes or extravagant flowers... Just hand me a bucket of Nerds. I found out a little while ago that MUA (the brand that seems to be taking over the cosmetics world) were launching a range of Love Hearts inspired makeup and there's one thing I love even more than white chocolate jazzles: LOVE HEARTS! The range consists of five lipglosses and five nail varnishes, but for the time being I'm all over the lip pots that actually look like sweets.

Coming packaged in little plastic pots with tin tops, the formula is light and glossy. It's moisturising and soft enough to ease dry lips (albeit temporarily) and glossy enough to create a pucker of a pout. The colours are very delicate, giving the lips just a hint of something to enhance the natural tone. I love the neutral brown and the fabulous coral as they're perfect for days, nights, working 9-5 and all that. Whoever came up with this idea is an absolute genius - especially as they're only £2.00 each, meaning you can nab all four for the price of a big back of pick n mix.

Available from www.muastore.co.uk now priced £2.00 each. Will be available in Superdrug by the end of February.

Kiss It Better with GOSH and Clinique

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000Z

There are a few charities that really resonate with me, but ever since I was a very young girl Great Ormond Street Hospital (or GOSH for short) has been a very important part of my life. When I was 5 years old my third cousin was born and all I can remember is that he spent a lot of time in some posh hospital in London trying to get better. He was born with Hydrocephalus, as well as other abnormalities that I won't go into here, and was in a very serious situation indeed - so much so that we were told he wouldn't be able to walk, talk or have any value in life. Effectively he was going to be a vegetable. He spent his entire childhood in and out of hospital having endless operations and reconstructions (so much so we lost count) before being transferred to another hospital upon reaching 18. GOSH has been a very important cause for the whole of my family for as long as I can remember, because he isn't in any way, shape or form a vegetable... He's a cheeky f**ker of a 23yr old with a life, a car, a flat, a girlfriend and most importantly a future. Without GOSH I don't know where he'd be, but in my heart we owe his life to that amazing place. It's for this reason that I'm supporting and encouraging the GOSH 'Kiss It Better' campaign that's being run in partnership with Clinique.

Throughout the month of February, Clinique is partnering with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, raising money to fund research into the causes and treatment of childhood cancer. The exclusive new Limited Edition Kissable Lip Set is available at www.clinique.co.uk and in House of Fraser stores nationwide priced £25.00 - with every purchase of this special set 50% of the RRP goes to the appeal. A £2.00 donation will also apply to all Clinique lipstick or lipgloss sold at House of Fraser stores nationwide, throughout February 2012. (£1.00 will be donated by Clinique and £1.00 will be donated by House of Fraser). This is such an easy and simple way to support a charity and a hospital that does so much good work - please do what you can to help. Eejits like my cousin wouldn't have the life they do without it.

For further information on the KISS IT BETTER appeal and how to pick up your Kiss it Better pin badge, visit www.gosh.org/kissitbetter

Sparkles, Sequins and Shots

2012-02-07T21:22:00.001Z

This weekend I went to Liverpool for a belated birthday celebration. Being a Christmas Eve baby has its pitfalls, once of which being an absolute nightmare to organise said birthday celebrations anywhere near my actual day of birth. So off I went up north for a weekend in the 'pool two months late, armed with mojito in a bottle (thanks M&S) and a pack of glow sticks. I'm so classy. I'd never been up that far before, being more of a Bristol kind of girl, but I've totally and utterly fallen head over heels in love. The place is incredible - amazing shops, fab bars, a passion for The Beatles, docks that I could walk around all day and restaurants overlooking water. The girls are a whole other level, adorned in so many sparkles it looked like Strictly Come Dancing threw up on them and beehives that Hairspray would be proud of; I bloody loved it! I couldn't stop staring at their immaculate makeup and big (giant, huge) hair... How they hell do they manage to do all that on a daily basis? Whatever they're on I want some. Anyway, here are a few pics from the weekend, just so you can see me in a tiger mask.

Boudoir Lashes

2012-02-07T11:30:00.000Z

I've been tempted by eyelash extensions for some time now, the urge to chuck aside the false lashes becoming ever stronger. I've heard all kinds of stories from other bloggers and friends who've undergone the treatment - everything from the best experience they've ever had, to losing all their eyelashes after a few days. One of the most common questions I get asked from readers is about eyelash extensions, so when I was offered the chance to go and get them done at Boudoir Lashes I skipped all the way there. The salon is based a few minutes from South Kensington tube within the Beca makeup store and is the baby of Asma who does all the lash treatments herself. I opted for a full set of voluminous lashes to add a little length and oomph to my piddly flutter.

The treatment starts by taping down your lower lids and protecting your eye area, which although a little uncomfortable, soon feels normal as you drift off into a snooze. The lashes are applied individually with tweezers and vary in length and curl, providing you with a really personalised and natural result. It's not painful or uncomfortable; it just feels like someone is applying something to your lashes really delicately (which is exactly what it is!) The lashes are applied to the hair itself rather than the skin, meaning you can't feel anything at all and the false lashes behave really naturally.

The whole process takes around 90mins before you're left with an amazingly full lash line. The curl is really natural and the length not too obvious, meaning you don't look like someone from Desperate Scousewives or TOWIE. Because the lashes are black they naturally open your eyes and create a striking result, making me feel comfortable without mascara for the first time since I was about 14. While you have the lashes on you have to be really careful and look after them well, avoiding oil-based products, liquid liners and forgoing mascara altogether. Sleeping on your front is a no-no, as is fiddling with your eyes or rubbing after a heavy day. The lashes will naturally start falling out after 3-4 weeks when you can either have them removed or infilled to refresh the lash line.

This is what my lashes looked like straight after application - ignore the puffy eyes and tired skin! (Also ignore the brows... I'm so desperately in need of a threading session.) I'm so pleased with them as it not only cuts out ten minutes every morning applying mascara, it also removes the need to scrub it off at the end of the day when all I want to do is fall into bed. The treatment isn't cheap (£135 for a full set and £35 for infills) but it does provide a fab look, confidence and time saved on a daily basis. I'm going to keep these on for the foreseeable future and see what they're like in a few weeks time; at this stage I can totally see myself going back for a new set, but I'll keep you informed!

For more info on Boudoir Lashes see their website: www.boudoirlashes.co.uk

Be a Force of Beauty

2012-02-06T14:21:00.002Z

In a world that's full of airbrushed models, unattainable looks and ridiculous pressure to look a certain way, the latest campaign from Bare Minerals really stands out. Their first campaign to feature models rather than just hero product shots has a very interesting back story - all five of the spokespeople were chosen without ever revealing what they looked like. Bare Minerals have done something quite courageous by casting five women to represent their brand without ever seeing their faces, believing their inner beauty was more important. The five faces were interviewed in private, their voices being transmitted to another room where the judges, casting agents and brand representatives were sitting. Watching the videos that have been created, you really get a feel for the inner beauty, strength and passion they all have and how this encaptures the identity of Bare Minerals as a brand. The campaign is called 'Be a Force of Beauty' and it really illustrates how every single one of us are beautiful in our own way. Although the models' stories are very sickly sweet and American, the idea is such a great one and something I'll be delving deeper into over the next week.

To celebrate this fantastically refreshing campaign I've teamed up with the lovely people at Bare Minerals to offer one lucky person their very own 'starter kit' so you can try the entire range for yourself and see how much it can benefit your skin and makeup routine - after all, it's the makeup so pure you can sleep in it! I've written about the brand many times before and it's one that I adore. To win the 'Bare Minerals Get Started Kit' all you have to do is comment below and tell me who the 'force of beauty' is in your life; it can be anyone from your best friend to your mum, even Beyonce if you feel like it! Just tell me who you admire and leave me a valid email or twitter handle.

I'll be telling you more about the campaign over the next few days, but in the meantime if you want to get a heads up you can check it out on their website. Good luck!

T&Cs: One entry per person. To be eligible you must be a follower of this blog and leave valid contact details. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 48hrs of the competition closing. If they do not respond within 48hrs and alternative winner will be chosen. Bare Minerals will send the prize directly to the winner and LBQ is in no way responsible if this gets lost/stolen during transport. No alternative prize available. Closing date Monday 13th Feb 2012.

Debenhams Beauty Awards

2012-02-03T19:14:00.003Z

For the second year running Debenhams are launching their beauty club awards, where the best products are nominated by you and overall winners chosen by six industry judges. For the second year in the row I'm lucky enough to be one of those judges! To get involved in voting for everything from your fave fragrance to must-have concealer, take a trip to their Facebook page to place your nominations. In doing so you're also in with a chance of winning a whole heap of products worth up to £1000 as well as putting your stamp of approval on the beauties you couldn't live without. Voting ends on the 14th February so get involved now!

Getting Speccy: Glasses Direct

2012-02-02T11:30:00.000Z

I'm proud of the fact that I wear glasses and have always tried to turn them into a bit of a fashion accessory. I don't believe in invisible frames or delicate colours - if you're going to put a big hunk of plastic on your face you may as well make the most of it. The only thing with choosing glasses though is the time and effort it takes to ensure you've got a good pair; sometimes trying them on in Specsavers just doens't work. You need to take them home, try them on with different outfits, get the advice of friends and family and choose between multiple styles. When a colleague of mine told me about an amazing service from Glasses Direct I got so excited that I got involved straight away. Glasses Direct is an online site for buying glasses, but the difference is they offer a free home trial service which makes buying glasses so much easier.

You can search for the type of frames that will suit you best using their mini questionnaire and the site them recommends the best style for you. You can then choose your top four frames and order them to be delivered to your house for a free seven day trial. There's absolutely no charge for this (although you do have to enter your credit card as if you don't return them they will charge you for the frames) and it's a great way of trying lots of shapes and sizes in the comfort of your own home. The box arrives within a few days and you get notifications of when it's been dispatched. To return it you simply stick the returns label on the front of the box and send it on its way. Although I didn't particularly like any of the styles I chose I would definitely recommend the service and would totally use it again. There's no limit to how many times you can do this, so I'm going to spend the next month trying on endless pairs of specs!

Specs appeal. Innit.

Check out the service here.

Strictly Come Dancing LIVE!

2012-02-01T15:30:00.000Z

Da da da da da da-da, da da da da daaaa. Da da da da da da-da, da da da da da. Saturday nights aren't the same without that little jingle before a skip down the stairs from Brucie. Sparkles, sequins and a lot of fake tan... Strictly Come Dancing is now a British institution, just like its host. I was invited to go and see the live show down at the 02 Arena this weekend, which meant I got to get up close to Harry Judd and almost (almost) drool on his shoulder. Sienna X are the official tan brand of the show, ensuring all the dancers are bronzed and beautiful, ready to hit the floor and dance to their hearts content. You can read my review of the spray tan here, but in the meantime enjoy a close up photo of Jason Donovan and Harry's Argentinian Tango in full. Da da da da da da-da, da da da da daaaa. Da da da da da da-da, da da da da da.

Pink and Sparkly

2012-02-01T11:30:00.000Z

Not the usual thing you'll see me talking about or sporting, but I had a slight 'Legally Blonde' moment come over me. This pale pink shade of nail varnish from Topshop has become a default colour when I don't know what I'm wearing or where I'm going - it goes with anything and stays on for a good few days without chipping (perfect for when I'm at work and don't have time to change my polish during the week.) Out of the corner of my eye I saw something sparkling though and decided to add in a little something extra to my polish look. Taking a Miss Sporty sparkly polish I swept a thin line alone one side of the nail and the result is something delicate, different and looks like you've put in way more effort than you actually have. Bonza.

Topshop nail varnish RRP6.00 in shade Prim and Proper. Miss Sporty nail varnish RRP £1.99 - original review here.

Pretty Amazing

2012-01-31T11:30:00.000Z

It's a little bit arrogant to call your product 'pretty amazing', but when it is pretty amazing you're more than justified. I had a nude one of these which I adored; when I lost it during last season at London Fashion Week I silently sobbed into my Vitamin Water. The lovely people at Bare Escentuals gave me a bright pink fuschia shade and I've fallen in love all over again. This lipgloss is in a category all of its own, being thicker and more pigmented than any gloss I've come across. It stains the lips like a lipstick so the colour stays on pretty much all night long, plus it's really comfortable to wear.

The colour of this is amazing - bright pink that's not for the lighthearted. (It's called Ambition so that sums it up quite nicely.) The sculpted applicator collects the perfect amount of product and allows you to apply it precisely, creating a perfect line around the lips. The colour pops and shines, making lips look uber luscious and pouty. I don't have a bad word to say about this product, other than it comes in twelve shades which makes me want them all. It's unusual for Bare Escentuals to go into colour territory, but with this range of lip products they've touched on something spectacular.

Available online and from Bare Escentuals counters. RRP £15.00

Get musical with 17 Cosmetics

2012-01-30T11:30:00.000Z

A campaign launched last year that I wasn't aware of until recently; a campaign I really wish I knew about as it's right up my street and totally different to anything I've seen in the beauty world. 17 Cosmetics launched their 'musical' collaboration in November, where they're teaming up with unsigned up-and-coming artists to launch songs inspired by their products. It works like this: 17 scour the globe searching for the next cool thing and set them a task of penning a song inspired by a piece of makeup. Out of all the entries they choose a winner, record the track, film a music video and help to promote the artist through their Facebook page. Here are the first and second songs that were launched as part of the genius partnership... (They're really rather good)

The story has moved onto the next level and I was invited down to meet the third artist they're partnering up with: Beca. Hailing from NYC, Beca's music is popstastic and she's penned a song inspired by Peep Show Mascara called 'Who's Checking Out Who'. The video was filmed in a secret location near London Bridge in an underground club that was full of secret cubbyholes, glitter balls, smoke machines and a funky stage for her to shake her thing. When they've finished editing the final cut I'll be sure to give you the first peep, but in the meantime here's a little interview with her where she talks all about her music, her inspiration, her love of makeup and why she's teamed up with 17 Cosmetics.

PS - Sorry the video is really dark, we were literally in a cave!

Check out the campaign on 17's Facebook page here.

Cheryl Cole Stylist Pick - take two

2012-01-29T14:49:00.002Z

Bleugh. Just bleugh. What the hell are Stylist Pick thinking and how the hell is Cheryl Cole supposed to be a style icon? I slated her original collection here (and it seems everyone was in agreement with me) so I was intrigued to see how she developed her 'style' for the collection launching in time for SS12. Well it seems that the second collection is even worse than her first. She tweeted a picture of two of the shoes from her forthcoming collection, expressing her pride and excitement at what she's created. Chezza, we need to have a word because nobody in their right mind would part with good cash for these heinous pieces that barely pass as footwear. Bleugh. How are Stylist Pick making any money from this collaboration and who is actually buying these things???

Behind the scenes with 17

2012-01-29T11:00:00.000Z

This week I popped down to a secret location near London Bridge to go behind the scenes of a shoot for 17 Cosmetics. They're teaming up with some unsigned artists to create songs and music videos around some of their hero products, and this time it was the turn of New York based popster Beca who had written a tune about the new Peep Show Mascara. More of that to come later, but in the meantime I managed to grab the 17 makeup artist Vanesa Guallar to chat through the look she was creating for the day and some of the products she was using. Take a look at what she has to say...

Sorry it's a bit dark to watch - the light was shocking as we were literally in a basement!

An end to bad nails: Renunail

2012-01-28T15:08:00.000Z

Chipped, flaky, peeling nails are the bane of my life during the winter months. A day doesn't go by when I don't swear at another broken nail or peeling tip, wishing I could find a miracle solution to the perfect talons. After moaning about the state of my hands a while back, I was kindly sent a bottle of Dr Lewinn's Renunail nail strengthener to try. It claims to harden and protect nails, eliminate peeling, flaking and chipping while promoting longer and healthier looking nails. To good to be true? I put it to the test?

Renunail is slightly different from normal nail strengtheners as it is supposed to be worn alone on nails and applied daily for six days. Avoiding the cuticle area you apply the almost watery substance to nails which creates a base to work from. It does smell pretty strong (like you're applying some kind of treatment or chemical!) so you may have to open some windows... On the seventh day you remove the formula from your nails and repeat the progress three times, leaving your nails for a couple of weeks before you start all over again. It comes in a double sized bottle too so you have plenty of treatment to keep you going for some time.

I'm not going to lie, I managed to keep the daily application up for a week and noticed a little difference. What I have noticed though is that when used as a base coat or a clear varnish, i.e. using it most of the time, it has a very similar effect. After using this for a couple of months off and on my nails are much stronger, break less and peeling as almost been eliminated. My nails have been the longest they've been in ages and I've actually had to start filing some off so I can still type quickly! There's still some way to go and my nail beds need a little seeing to, but it's definitely made a great deal of difference to the state of my nails. I'm keeping this up indefinitely.

Available online for £17.50

Competition: So...? Kiss Me

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000Z

Is it just me that thinks of She's All That and Sixpence None the Richer when I see those words all together in a sentence? (Showing my age there.) So...? fragrances have been around since day dot and made up my entire perfume collection until I was about 15. They're a cute and quirky brand that offer a different kind of fragrance, channeling your inner teenager and providing great scents at affordable prices. Their 'Kiss Me' fragrance is a fresh and fruity scent that transcends ages - this isn't just for the teenyboppers amongst us! It teases with fresh blackcurrant, pineapple and citron before revealing layers of kissably sweet vanilla and a floral heart rounded by musks and woods... Mmmmm.

To celebrate the upcoming Valentines celebrations (love them or hate them) I've got five 50ml bottles of the scent up for grabs, so you can put that boy in a flutter all the way up to the 14th February and beyond. All you have to do is be a follower of this blog and comment below with who you'd most like to be kissing this Valentines (and an email/twitter ID). My votes with Olly Murs. Good luck!

PS... Here's the original 'Kiss Me' song, just because I'm feeling nostaligc.

T&Cs - One entry per person. Only open to followers of LBQ. Competition closes Friday 3rd Feb. Winners will be contacted via twitter/email and be given 24hrs to respond. If no communication is recieved within this time an alternative winner will be chosen.

Top knot

2012-01-26T15:30:00.000Z

Although trends transcend seasons, eras and ages, there's nothing quite as timeless and sophisticated as a simple bun or up do. I spent the majority of my younger years with my hair scraped back in a bun while doing ballet lessons, so I always associate it with being a sign of elegance. Blow me if I can manage to actually put my hair in a bun though without it taking six million kirby grips though! I saw these little twiddly gadgets in Primark for an unbelievable £1 a few weeks ago and I was intrigued to see how they worked. When I bought them even the shop assistant looked at them like they were some kind of weird nutcracker, so my confidence wasn't at an all time high.

They're basically ten kirby grips in one. You twist your hair up in a bun and to hold it in position you just need to place one of these at an angle, twisting around like a cockscrew as it locks the hair in place. One in each side (think of it like chopsticks) will do the job well, keeping hair in the perfect style and secure as long as you need. If you want a casual up do these little gadgets are fantastic - I've been wearing my hair in a bun for work and keeping it in all night becasue it's really comfy. You don't get the tight, tugging feeling you sometimes get with hair bands or buns, because it's actually really loose. For a quid you can't really go wrong!

Available from Primark - £1.00 for two.

Look: it's nail varnish

2012-01-26T11:30:00.000Z

The Look beauty collection is taking the makeup industry by storm. Not only is it offering great products at affordable price points, with one of the best weekly magazine's name attached, but the colour range is pretty spectacular. This is the first nail polish I've tried from the range, but I'm impressed with the standard. The thickness of this purple sparkly formula is equivalent to that of a more expensive brand, applying easily and leaving a good colour result after only one coat. It has a deep purple base and complimentary purple sparkles that run throughout, providing a three-dimensional colour and subtle glitter. One of the great selling points is also that the colour on your nail is 99% spot on to the colour in the bottle, so you know what you're actually getting when you buy - there's nothing worse than it being a completely different shade when applied to the nail. The colour lasted well for two days before a few chips started to appear, more than enough longevity for such a dark shade. More colours to be reviewed shortly no doubt, because there's a new polish princess in town...

The whole range of 32 colours is available from Superdrug. RRP £5 (ish!)

Katy Perry for Eylure

2012-01-25T11:30:00.000Z

What better way to get over the breakdown of a marriage than to team up with the world's best eyelash brand to create your own flutter? Katy Perry doesn't need Russell Brand anymore as she's bound to catch the eye of another young suitor soon enough with a pair of these lashes on her lids. Katy has apparently worn Eylure lashes on her tour for years so was incredibly excited to team up with them and create her own collection. I've never hidden my love for Eylure false lashes and I'm hardly ever seen without them of a weekend, so knowing that Katy has put her very own stamp on them is somewhat exciting. All four designs are very wearable with a little Katy twist; I love the fabulous packaging and zany colours that she's chosen to represent her love of design... I can't wait to try them out for myself.

Katy says: “I have worn Eylure lashes all the way through my tour and really loved them. When it came to having a range of my own, I wanted everyone to have a great experience with my lashes. As they have such an amazing history and great quality, Eylure was really the best choice for me to work with.”

Available from February in Boots and superdrug, RRP £5.95 each.

Think Leopard: 17 Cosmetics

2012-01-24T11:30:00.000Z

Have you ever seen a more beautiful bronzer than one adorned with leopard print and sparkles? It's completely OTT, blingstastic and unnecessary, but I blimin love it. This bronzer from 17 Cosmetics actually has a leopard print design on the top, with gold glitter sprinkled for good measure, to give you a golden glow whatever the season. You may think wacking on the bronzer is a bit too much in January, but never has there been a more appropriate time to de-pale yourself and make the most of the fakeness available to get you through the season.

The bronzer is a universal chocolate brown that can be dusted over face or body. The leopard print design unfortunately doesn't go all the way through, so once you use a little the gold sparkles do disappear and leave a one-dimensional shad, but it's a nice touch to an otherwise standard product. The giant size of the pack also makes it really easy to dust a big brush over, grabbing some colour to contour and highlight your white bits. It gives an instant pick me up and injects a bit of animal magnetism into your makeup routine!

Available now in Boots priced at a bargaintastic £5.49 (and it's oversized!)

Avocado, Olive and Basil

2012-01-23T11:00:00.000Z

Crabtree & Evelyn is a brand I always associate with people over the age of 60, in the same way that I associate Royal Jelly with Christmas presents from my Nan. I haven't even seen one of their products since the 90's, so when a little email popped into my inbox about their latest collection I had to take a step back and scratch my head. It actually looks really nice! The new collection of Avocado, Olive and Basil launches on the 25th January and it's a sight to behold. Modern packaging, stylised fonts and sleek presentation, this is definitely something I'd keep for myself and not pass on to Nana Pam.

The collection includes a body lotion, body butter, shower gel and an award winning hand cream. The Hand Therapy is packed with ultra-moisturising ingredients, including nourishing shea butter, avocado fruit extract and avocado butter. Formulated with a blend of vitamins C and E along with myrrh extract to help condition nails and cuticles, it claims to leave your hands wonderfully soft and supple. The formula is rich and thick, injecting a perfect amount of moisture to the skin and soothing hands. It's delicately scented too, so you won't smell like a M&S ready meal! I love the metal tube which makes getting the cream actually out of the tube a doddle.

The hand cream isn't cheap, coming in at £14 for 100ml, but it's much richer and more beneficial than a lot of the cheap and runny alternatives. This tube will last you forever, as well as being one that will take pride of place on your desk. It's so nice to see a lovely iconic-ally British brand re-inventing itself and offering something that is truly worth buying. This won't revolutionise your hands, but it will help to soothe when you need it most.

Available online and instore priced £14.00

My week in pictures

2012-01-22T14:33:00.000Z

I thought I would try to do a little bit of weekly (or sporadic) sharing of the life and times of LBQ. Sometimes my weeks are pretty random, ending up in bizarre situations or just doing some uber cool stuff. Here are some little snaps of my week, including cupcakes, bands and new shoes!

Miss Piggy for MAC

2012-01-21T15:30:00.000Z

I wouldn't normally recommend a pig as a style icon, but this one is definitely a bit different. Miss Piggy is a pink lady of a generation, oozing glamour, sophistication and love for a green frog. She's taken her love for makeup to the next level, doing what all celebrities worth their weight in mascara do - she's gone and got herself her very own makeup collection. MAC have created a simple look for her, featuring a limited edition (and online exclusive) pink eyeshadow, teamed with lashings of black eyeliner and false lashes. I can't wait to see what she wears to the premiere of The Muppets next month...

Available from February online via MAC's website.

Colour Matched: Collection 2000

2012-01-21T10:12:00.002Z

In my head the cheaper the foundation, the more likely it is to be utter tosh. Considering the last few foundations I've used have been over £30 a bottle I wasn't holding out much hope for a great performance from a product that cost £5.99. Saying that though, the new Colour Match Foundation from Collection 2000 aint half bad. The foundation has technology that helps the colour adapt to yous skin tone, meaning you should never have that unsightly line mark ever again. Available in six shades, I've been using 'fair' which is pretty perfect for my complexion. I'm not entirely sure how it adapts to your own skin colour or if it's just a pretty universal shade, but the shade covers and unifies without looking heavy or false.

The formula itself is light, without being too light to do anything. It blends really well with your skin when applied with a foundation brush and creates a great unified look. The result you get it something I'd expect of a much more expensive product, giving a great base to build up with other products. A huge bonus for me is that it doesn't look streaky and it doesn't go mental when you put other products on top - it loves my Cha Cha Tint and a dash of powder. It lasts all day long too without a problem, the only issue being that by about 6pm it's become a bit greasy and runny as it separates from your skin so you do feel like you need to dab off excess grease. Lovely.

The biggest issue is with the packaging though. It comes in a glass bottle, which although makes it feel more premium, is clunky and heavy. The pump action bottle isn't that great and you do have to pump it a few times to get it going every day. My bottle actually split all down one side too, meaning every time I use it now it gets into a bit of a mess and foundation seeps out the side. Seeing as this is a new product they often re-assess packaging in the next batch, so I hope they solve this issue. Overall though it's a pretty good foundation for the price... I've been wearing it for about three weeks and I'll continue to do so until it runs out (or the pack explodes.) It gives me all I need for the daytime in a little pink package.

Available now from Boots, Superdrug and online priced £5.99.

The first Muslim face of Lancome

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000Z

I saw this story pop up in the paper and I read it thinking 'oh that's good then'. It then struck me that it actually shouldn't be the big deal that it appears to be. Lancome have signed their first ever Muslim model to be the face of the brand and she'll be seen in adverts across the country from February. The 22 year old Tunisian has made her debut on catwalks across the world, including Vivienne Westwood and Oscar de la Renta, as well as appearing in magazines like French Vogue. She's certainly very beautiful and certainly had a very successful career, so why is it such an issue that she's been signed as the face of a makeup brand? Hanaa Ben Abdesslem is surely going to be everywhere in the next few months, but what should be striking is her beautiful face and flawless complexion, not the colour of her skin or religious background. Why is this such an issue? What do you think?

Read the original article here.

Nicki Minaj for OPI

2012-01-19T11:00:00.000Z

If there was a lady of 2011 (who wasn't Lady Gaga) then I guess it would have to be SuperBass herself, Nicki Minaj. I'm not entirely sure where she crept up from (I blame those two singing kids from Essex that went on Ellen) but by the end of the year she was pretty hot damn property. Known for her colour, crazy fashion and pushing the boundaries, it was only a matter of time befor OPI snapped her up to immortalise her look in a range of nail polish. The range consists of five brand new shades and a great purple crackle, all pretty gordy and clashing - but that's what Nicki is all about. The collection is meant to be worn over eachother, be it through nail art, layering or simply using the crackle. This is certainly a colourful rainbow of nail stuffs.

Available from Lena White - £10.50 each.

Roberto Cavalli

2012-01-18T15:30:00.000Z

Another day, another new fragrance launch. This time it's Roberto Cavalli telling you not to go unnoticed, but in fact to prance about with a tiger. It's Wednesday... knock yourself out.

Loving my long hair..

2012-01-18T11:30:00.000Z

I've had short hair for so long I'd forgotten the swinging feeling of long, flowing locks. Just call me Rapunzel, because now I'm absolutely addicted to my Halo hair extensions. I blogged about them a while back, but a weekend hasn't gone by when I haven't jumped at the chance to wack in the hair extensions and flick my head around. It's amazing what a difference a little length and little volume makes to how you hold yourself and how you can turn a mess of an 'inbetween hairdo' into something that get complements wherever you go. I've been styling this out in one of two ways - either messy and long with a little bit of curl, or volume at the root while tied to one side. I thought I'd share a couple of photos from the weekend, just because!

L'Oreal Hair Expertise

2012-01-17T21:14:00.001Z

Hair care is something I feel extra passionate about. I worked for a professional hair company straight out of Uni and studied the science of hair and hair products, so I'm probably more well versed than the normal beauty addict. I've always been anti silicone, anti sulphates and anti nasties because they're just not really needed. The silicone in hair products makes your barnet superficially shiny, creating build up that's much more difficult to budge than it is to create. The sulphates are foaming agents which help to create that rich lather we all associate with a good clean, but these are actually creating excess foam that doesn't actually do anything other than look good. The nasties in products are often the reason behind itchy, flaky and sore scalps that we inevitably spend a fortune on trying to combat. It's basically a viscous circle. Up until now you've had to invest a lot of money in professional or natural products to get good results without causing more problems than you need, but L'Oreal are just about to launch their very own solution to that problem: Hair Expertise.

Hair Expertise is free from sulphates and silicone, while containing sunflower extracts and lots of other lovely botanical oils. L'Oreal have stripped away all of the unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients to create a product range that works, while maintaining a really affordable price point. Quite often you pay a premium for sulphate free products (think Liz Earle) but this range is claiming to do the same job. Using the philosophy of taking haircare back to basics while meeting the demands of the busy woman, the range is split into three categories - Ever Strong for weak and brittle hair, Ever Sleek for frizzy and unruly hair, as well as Ever Pure for colour weakened hair. What I love about the range is how it's split out for multi-needs; I for one have colour treated and weak hair, whilst not wanting to weigh my locks down with product. Sometimes a smoothing shampoo isn't enough or a nourishing conditioner doesn't quite protect your colour... This whole range completely addresses those requirements so you can pick and choose what's right for you.

The whole range comes in these large tubes, making them perfect for the shower whilst not using excessive packaging. The products are colour coded for easy navigation and give you all the info you need straight up. I was fortunate enough to try the products myself at a launch event and was really quite impressed - using the Ever Pure range, my hair felt swishy, strong, nourished, vibrant and not at all weighed down by the feeling of product. Even more impressive is that it's from a brand who I've been avoiding in Boots since 2005! I'll be giving you my thorough thoughts on the range soon, but for the meantime it's about time a mass brand brought decent products to the market, with good ingredients, at under the cost of a Ferrari.

The whole range launches in Boots in February. Shampoos and conditioners RRP £5.99. The range also consists of intense masks and serums.

Cheryl Cole by Rankin

2012-01-17T13:17:00.000Z

I'm not entirely sure of the purpose of this video, but Cheryl Cole looks hot and that's enough for me. She dons a surprising combination of clothes, leaves her hair naturally curly, poses around like she wants to be Kate Moss and looks seductively at the camera. It's about 90 seconds of pure Chezza porn, but definitely worth a look in the name of art.

Company Magazine - Relaunched!

2012-01-16T11:30:00.000Z

Company magazine has always been a firm favourite of mine - I consistently chose to read the fashion pages rather than pay to eat a hearty meal while at university. I got let into a little secret a while back, but now that secret is out and proud for all to see... Company has had a makeover! It's all new: new size, new shape, new paper, new graphics, new features and new focus. All the great stuff we know and love is still there, but it just looks a little bit more up-to-date. What I love though is how much focus they're putting on bloggers; within this one issue you can barely turn a page without their being an article written by a blogger, bloggers showcasing their favourite looks and even posing with their boyfriends. Even better are the rejuvenated beauty pages, with fabulous photography and fantastic 'how to' features that will have you looking like Audrey Hepburn in no time. The new look is available now for a special price of only £1 - if you buy one magazine this month, make it Company.

Have you seen the new look yet? What do you think?

The new face of Balenciaga

2012-01-15T15:00:00.000Z

The latest face to be snapped up by the beauty world is vampire lover herself, Kristin Stewart. She's going to be the new face behind the latest Balenciaga fragrance with the campaign launching in 2012. Kristen has been quite picky with what she's signed her name to, so this is a giant leap for her. She's a beautiful young lady who needs something to do now that Twilight is coming to an end, so this is perfectly timed... Let's just hope she remembers how to smile.

Kristen Stewart says: “I love Balenciaga fashion because it is incredibly bold and forceful, yet feminine and sexy. I found there was a real creative freedom about this project. I feel blessed and really proud of being the face of this new fragrance.”

Catherine Walsh, SVP American Fragrances, Coty Prestige said: “Kristen Stewart stood out as an evident choice for this new fragrance. She has a unique sense of style, quite original and chic in the way she mixes fashion elements. Her elegant modernity and innate rebel style perfectly match with the spirit of Balenciaga”

I love the current fragrance and the elegance of the bottle, so I can't wait to see what's in store for us this Autumn. Do you think this is a good move for the brand?

Andrex Washlets

2012-01-15T11:00:00.000Z

I don't tend to discuss toilet habits on here; I usually leave that to the mummy bloggers. Quite an unusual little packaged arrived for me from Andrex last week, and what I thought was an innovation in skin care wipes for the face was in fact an innovation for the bum. Yes ladies and gents, we're talking toilet tissue. Not just any toilet tissue, mind, but wet and flushable toilet tissue. Andrex have re-launched their toilet wipes and are trying to change the way we think about hygiene by encouraging us to go wet. This is all sounding rather dodgy...

The campaign focuses around 'changing what you mean by clean' and has controversial (but rather lovely) presenter and journalist Dawn Porter at the forefront. They say that you wouldn't wash up your dishes with a dry cloth, so why would you use a dry tissue after going to the loo? Well, mostly because that's what Andrex have been selling me for the last 29 years, but that's besides the point. Being a festival goer, I've relied on baby wipes instead of showers for the best part of summer since 2005, so this isn't hugely revolutionary to me, but it is a concept that takes some time to get used to for 'daily use'.

The tissues come in little packs of 100 which you can leave by the loo. They feel very smooth, smell very fresh and are PH neutral/dermatologically tested so your lady bits are in safe (ahem) hands. They're not on the huge size so you could do with a couple at a time, meaning this does become an expensive and faffy alternative to loo roll on the whole. It does, however, provide an interesting alternative for when you're out on the go, at certain times of the month or need to freshen up quickly. Before I start sharing too much I'm going to stop, but you can find more information about the campaign and Dawn's involvement on their Facebook page.

Would you swap the quilted stuff for a wet washlet?!

Available now for around £1.88 for a pack of 100.

Benefit and Diet Coke

2012-01-14T12:00:00.000Z

So you may have already seen me talk about the collaboration with Benefit and Diet Coke before, but to coincide with the launch Benefit have also created these little videos to take you through the looks. We have a soft and romantic look, an edgier rock chick look and a classic red lip look to choose from. Take a look at the videos and find out how to create the looks yourself at home!

For more information on the offer and the looks see their website.

The Benefit of Diet Coke

2012-01-13T21:06:00.000Z

I'm addicted to Diet Coke in a 'lunchtimes not complete without one' kind of way. Sometimes I can go through a fair bit in a week without even realising, so I have to have a little detox and hide the cans away from my hands. When I heard that Diet Coke were teaming up with one of my fave makeup brands I jiggled up and down in excitement. They've partnered with Benefit to create three new looks for their famous puppets - romantic, fashionista and rock chick - that use their infamous lip and cheek stains. Each one uses the basis of either Benetint, Posie Tint or Cha Cha Tint, each look being reflected in the lip colours that appear on the cans themselves. Nifty!

The whole idea behind the collaboration is that when you buy a can of Diet Coke you get a £5 voucher to use at Benefit, treating yourself to a new look in the process. Whether you want to go for a romantic natural look using Posie Tint, a rockier edge using Cha Cha Tint or a classic fashion look using Benetint, you can do so with a little bit of a discount. I love the puppets from the advert and this is such a cute idea to give them a makeover of their own!

The cans are already available, so you can already grab yourself the collection to enjoy. You do have to use the discount online to take advantage of it rather than in the Benefit boutiques, but there's no reason why you can't still enjoy the experience at a counter, have a makeover and then purchase the products you've fallen in love with at home. The only catch it that you have to spend £20 to get your discount, but with pay day fast approaching there's no better excuse than to splash out on a new look.

For more information see the Benefit website.

Stop stealing my stuff!

2012-01-13T11:30:00.000Z

How many times has your man stolen your body moisturiser, but when directed to get his own just grumbles something about 'not being a girl'? If that sounds familiar then it's time they trotted off to Boots to get their very own 'manly' version of Palmer's classic cocoa butter. Launching in February, this version is the same great moisturising formula and fast absorption you'd expect, just with a slightly muskier scent that won't leave them smelling of chocolate. Palmer's have even been so kind as to make the bottle look all butch and grey, as well as adding a hardcore pump so they feel they're getting a little bit of exercise too. Even if they won't buy it for themselves you could always sneak it into their gym bag and say it's an early present from the Easter Bunny...

Available from Boots, RRP £5.27 for 400ml pump action bottle

Urban Decay: NAKED take two

2012-01-12T11:30:00.000Z

I think the first Naked palette was the most hotly anticipated of all time. An hour didn't go by upon launch that I didn't see someone talking about it, blogging about it, tweeting about about it or generally lusting over it. According to Urban Decay it's the most successful palette that ever did exist and I don't doubt that for a second. The sequel is equally as sought after and they're claiming it's the most anticipated sequel since Sex and The City 2 - although hopefully not as disappointing once the reveal is made! The new palette contains five new shades and is cooler in tone than the original, also including a mini lipgloss and improved tin. I didn't actually get my hands on the first one, but this one looks like an essential part of any girl's beauty routine. It's not a replacement, but is supposed to be used in conjunction with the first (marketing spiel right there - cynical, me?) to create a spectrum of looks, from subtle to striking. Will you be investing in the Naked palette take two?

Currently available exclusively in Debenhams, but available nationwide from the first week of February. Priced £36.00 (RRP)

L'eau de Chloé

2012-01-11T18:00:00.000Z

I love the Chloe brand, fragrance and everything that goes with it. One of my close friends has worn the Chloe scent since it was first released, so it reminds me of getting ready at hers before a night out, the classic bottle placed elegantly on her dressing table. The big news of today is that Chloe will be releasing a follow-up scent this March, and below is a little teaser of what to expect. It's called L'eau de Chloé and sounds divine...

"Layers of chiffon in bright sunlight. Bare feet brushing long grass. The glow of dawn on the skin. Chloé's signature scent opens a new chapter in its story. An aura delicate as a breath of air. Like the original fragrance, this unique eau suggests rare elegance and surprising modernity. Free, spontaneous, radiant femininity. Meet L'eau de Chloé…"

Here's also a little 'behind the scenes' video which makes me want it to come out as soon as physically possible. The grass, the dress, the music, the red convertable... J'adore.

Available March 2012 - more details to follow

Fotoshop by Adobé

2012-01-11T15:23:00.002Z

This is amazing... Puts magazines and images of celebrities into context. My personal highlight has to be when they say: "Maybe she's born with it? I'm pretty sure it's Fotoshop..." Genius.

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

Jo Malone: E is for Everyday

2012-01-10T11:30:00.000Z

We all grew up knowing that Vitamin E was good for you, be it in a face cream, body lotion or healthy snack. It's one of those core ingredients that helps to protect and pamper for healthy skin, inside and outside. Jo Malone have their very own Vitamin E skincare range and have just launched a Daily Moisturising Creme to join the rest of the great products. Not only does the formula contain rosemary leaf and grape seed extract, but it also had broad-spectrum UVB and UVA (SPF15) protection to help shield skin from harmful sun rays. The surprisingly light and moisturising formula has a delicate scent which isn't overpowering, nor does it aggravate sensitive skin that you've rubbed red raw with tissues for three days straight. (Tested on a cold-ridden nose and it still works!) You can work it in without getting any of those moisturiser flakes that can sometime drive you round the bend.

It contains barley extract and wheat germ to strengthen the skin's barrier and reduce water loss, meaning your skin will be smooth, supple and moisturised from within. It really does soothe and comfort skin well, leaving your complexion radiant and plump. It doesn't take ages to sink in either, so you're safe in the knowledge you can use it as part of a wider routine and not have to wait an hour for it to do its job. As you'd expect from Jo Malone, the ingredients are fabulous, the scent subtle and the package elegant. This doesn't come cheap at £50 for a pot, but you most definitely get what you pay for - it's not just a face cream, but an experience. Yeah you can pick up a cream for a fiver and it'll help, but this is in a league of its own. An expensive league at that.

Available now at all Jo Malone retailers.

Beautiful Skin: BB Cream

2012-01-08T20:10:00.000Z

If there are two letters that are the talk of the beauty world at the moment then it's definitely 'BB'. These 'beauty balm' creams have been creeping up on us for a little while, but No7 have their very own version for us to enjoy. For those of you somewhat unfamiliar with BB creams, they're basically a one-stop-shop for all your skin needs: a moisturiser, primer, foundation, concealer and sunscreen all in one. They were a craze in Asian countries before reaching our shores in the later part of 2011, known for giving a really natural 'no make-up' look and covering imperfections.

I was really quite dubious when I first put this to work, thinking that the formula would be no match for my flu-ridden and spotty face. To say I started using it at the worst time is an understatement, having spent three days before blowing my nose and coming out in pre-menstrual zits, but it's testimony to its success that I was still pretty darn impressed. You use the cream just like you would a foundation, applying direct to the face with no need for anything else underneath. The formula applies very smoothly to the skin, blending well and sinking in fast. It's hard to describe the affect as it doesn't look like foundation, but it covers blemishes so well to create an even and luminous complexion.

While using this BB cream my use of supporting make-up reduced dramatically. A dab of concealer replaced my usual lashings of Touche Eclat and I felt a lot more confident to go without powder. A little bit of highlighter on top and I was done! What's great about these creams is that they not only make your skin look great, but they also contain sunscreen and moisturisers to protect, minimising the need for an hour long routine in the morning. The formula lasts well all day long while still letting skin breathe, without the heavy look of a foundation. What's even better is this BB cream comes in different shades, different coverage levels and even different skin types: I've been using the normal/dry, light/medium in fair which is absolutely perfect for me.

I'm a convert to this BB cream - it makes my skin look radiant, flawless and feel great. I don't need a million different products to use in the morning and it's great at keeping my skin in tip top condition. For a 40ml tube it costs £12.95 so it won't break the bank either. LBQ will now be using BBs 4eva. Will you?

This is a sponsored post on behalf of No7.

Happy Birthday K-Middy

2012-01-07T13:39:00.001Z

Kate Middleton turns 30 this Monday, so what better way to celebrate than with your very own shoe? Now knowing she's a firm favourite with designers such as Alice Temperley and Alexander McQueen, who do you think has designed her a shoe called 'The Duchess' to commemorate this momentous occasion? Nope, none of those... It's the one and only Kim Kardashian. (Stay with me.) Kim has a range of shoes in the US called 'Shoe Dazzle' (I'm feeling a little bit sick in my mouth) and so decided to give Kate Middleton an early birthday present in the footwear form. She's designed a black heeled number for the Duchess and even recorded this little message of goodwill.

Now to me the shoe looks like a Chanel rip off that you could find down the market on a Saturday - why on earth would the Duchess of Cambridge even contemplate wearing this hideous attire when she could have REAL Chanel at the click of a manicured finger? Beats me. Kim had hear heart (and her publicity machine) in the right place, but I'm sure Kate would have preferred a nice spa day or head massage. Or at least a voucher to replace those boots she's never out of.

What do you think of these quilted shoes?

Turn the straighteners off!

2012-01-06T16:53:00.001Z

We’ve all been there; the alarmdidn’t go off, you’ve rushed to put an acceptable amount of slap on your face, tamedyour barnet and fled out the door. Halfway to work it suddenly dawns on you that you didn’tcheck that the straighteners were turned off and you may be returning to a huge scorch mark in your carpet. (You don't want to know how many bed covers and sideboards I've gone through.)

Newly released research byBritish Gas found that 30 million people in the UK suffer from ‘appliance anxiety’ andcan worry for up to 80 minutes each week about leaving appliances switched on when they’ve left thehouse. This equates to an incredible 8 months of an average person’s life spentworrying about the consequences of leaving hair straighteners and the TV on. (You could watch the whole of Sex in The City ten times over in that time.)

It’s no wonder we worry; leavingappliances switched on is expensive - £740 million a year is lost due toapplications being left on standby. I'm guiltier than most when it comes to leaving my straighteners, hair dryer, laptop and chargers all left in the socket. It’s money that should be spent on far moreexciting things (i.e. shoes) than ironing the carpet!

Thankfully measures are nowbeing developed by British Gas to eradicate the hours spent worrying about appliances left onand reduce the money wasted. The next generation smart meter fromBritish Gas has a traffic light system that indicates when appliances areswitched on. Technology is also currently in development to allow British Gascustomers to remotely control their central heating and household appliances. So all it takes is a quick lookat the smart meter as you sprint out of the door to check that everything isswitched off. You’ll save yourself money, energy and you can spend the tuberide to work worry-free.

Do you ever leave the house in a mild panic? Have you ever burnt the carpet with your straighteners?

Find out more about the technology here.

Katy Perry for GHD

2012-01-06T11:30:00.000Z

I must have been a bit behind with the times as I hadn't seen these beautiful images from the latest Katy Perry for GHD collection until this week. Lady of the moment (and not just because she's currently divorcing a very British husband) Katy has undergone a 'Snow White' style makeover for the latest campaign shots to support the winter gift sets. I absolutely adore this 1920's flapper style image set on an NYC roof terrace (how very friends!) It makes me want to completely re-enact it and possibly even pretend to be Lady Gaga in her 'Edge of Glory' video. Check out the details of the little birds flocking around her! The second image is a little bit more risque, and more traditionally 'Snow White' which munching on an apple, but she still looks flipping gorgeous.

This is what Katy had to say: “The Show White fire escape look was really cool. It was very peachy. I was wearing a John Galliano dress. David LaChapelle is known for his beautiful, larger-than-life sets, and the people that he works with are very talented – they make the picture look like a billion bucks. There were lots of little birds hanging around so I felt like a princess, like Snow White, and I was singing and talking to the birds as they fluttered around me. I would maybe wear something like this again. I liked the glittering fishnets I got to wear with it. I liked the hair – it’s super frizzy. I’ve done that type of frizzy hair before for some posters for the MTV Europe Music Awards when I hosted them for the second time – I wore the same kind of frizzy hair. I really liked it.

“The Snow White look is very different for me because it is a very short bob, but we were inspired by the Art Deco era – a bit flapper-y, a bit 1940’s. The furniture is very Art Deco. I love my nails in it, and my bob that has little curls coming around it. I think it’s a bold look for me, especially for the short hair, but I’ve actually had a pixie cut before. I used to have a black pixie cut when I was about 17-18-19 so I felt I was reliving that part of my life again. It’s really cute. I’d probably wear this look again, but I probably wouldn’t do it for long.”

Katy has been a girl crush of mine for some time now, but these images and her relaxed attitude make me love her that little bit more. Do you love Katy as much as me?

These images are to celebrate the Scarlet Collection (which you can subtly see next to Katy in each picture) which celebrates the 1920's with regal red satin. The collections cost £129 and £149 (with added hairdryer) and are available from the GHD website.

Sure: Ultimate Protection

2012-01-05T11:30:00.000Z

It's not the most glamorous of beauty products (if you can classify it in the beauty section at all,) but it is an essential part of every girl's routine. Deodorant is one thing that you don't really think about until it's either not there or isn't doing its job. I'm a particularly fussy one when it comes to my underarms as I'm a sensitive soul and my pits have actually been known to burn from an unfriendly deodorant. I have to ensure that my sweat protectors are delicate, unfragranced and not in aerosol format for maximum caution. I've been using the Dove sticks for years, but on a recent trip to Tesco my local branch was out. The only other stick format they had was this 'Ultimate Protection' from Sure, which I presumed was pretty standard until I scanned it at the till and found it was priced at £5.06! Not wanting to be the awkward idiot that tries to remove an item from their bill while loads of others are waiting for the 'express' tills (that couldn't be less 'express' if they tried) I scoffed and paid for it, silently seething.

It wasn't until I got home that I realised it was a zooped up version of Sure. A 48hr antiperspirant, scientifically proven wetness protection, dermotologically tested, a skin moisturising ingredient and even encapsulated odour fighting technology. This is like the iPad of the deodorant world! The formula is a 'trisolid' which basically means between a solid and a liquid - almost like a cream - that's dispensed through little holes in the top. You spin the dial on the base to release the product, keeping it clean and hygienic. Although I don't need major protection, this actually really does make a difference. It's really comfortable, dries quickly, doesn't react with my skin at all, keeps me feeling fresh all day and smells really clean. What's unique about this is that it's at its most effective when you put it on before bed; overnight it adapts to your skin to create a protective film that lasts up to 48hrs and even through showering! (Although I can't vouch for that as I don't have the guts to go sans-deodorant one morning for research purposes.) Even though I initially resented forking out over a fiver for a deodorant, I would definitely re-purchase this because it's really bloody good. It's one mistake I won't live to regret.

Available in most major retailers priced around £5.00

Like a Daisy

2012-01-04T11:30:00.000Z

I'm probably about two years behind everyone else on this, but I've only just had my first sniff of Marc Jacob's first fragrance 'Daisy'. I remember when it was first launched and drooled over the beautiful and original bottle - a design that's become iconic to Marc's fragrance range. As someone who loves a light, fresh scent it's silly that I didn't try this before, because it was love at first sniff.

Daisy features top notes of wild strawberry, violet leaves and ruby red grapefruit, heart notes of violet, jasmine and gardenia, and base notes of vanilla infusion, musks and white woods. It's fresh and delicately floral, with hints of citrus that really give the impression of a freshly picked daisy. The flower itself doesn't actually have a scent of it's own (fact of the day) but Marc Jacobs has done a great job at en-capturing what people imagine the little white flower to smell like.

And the bottle. Just look at the bottle... (Drools again.)

Available at all good perfume retailers. RRP £45.00 for 50ml and £56.00 for 100ml

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-03T11:30:00.000Z

When I say New Years Resolutions I don't mean stuff like going on a detox, doing more exercise or reducing the amount of wine I consume (although I could probably do with having a go at all three of those!) What I mean is setting myself beauty goals for the next twelve months to ensure I not only look tip top, but feel tip top too. I want to attempt to get out of my beauty rut, experiment and live a little more. Here are my resolutions for 2012...

Soap & Glory say it so well!

Experiment with colour
It's very easy to get stuck in a brown/black hole and put on the same makeup practically every day. I for one totally did the same makeup for about three weeks in a row during December - with my life being so busy choosing a different eyeshadow colour wasn't really a priority. This year I'm pledging to experiment with colour, texture and different looks as many days of the week I can manage. Whether it's swapping a black eyeliner for a blue one, using a purple eyeshadow instead of a brown or even just slapping on some power lippie instead of a gloss, it all makes a difference.

Use treatments religiously every week
I'm always preaching to people that they should use a hair treatment and face mask once a week to get deep down and (un)dirty. Hair treatments really benefit hair that's over-styled like mine (blow drying and straightening every day does nothing for my barnet,) so it's so important I inject moisture and nourishment every week to prevent breakage, fading and long-term damage. The same with face masks... As I'm getting older I've noticed I'm more prone to breakouts and blemishes, so a simple mask can help draw out impurities and prevent that awful spot you really don't need before a night out.

Try new innovative brands
I have brands I love and I have brands I've always used. Everyone can buy something from L'Oreal, Avon or Johnson & Johnson, but what about those indie brands that really should have more credit than they do? I really want to try smaller brands, make great discoveries and to champion some innovative products that people should know about. There are many things I've already discovered, but I've got a feeling that next year there's going to be an explosion of great things in the beauty world.

Get my hair cut
This may sound straight forward and simple, but I am awful at getting my hair cut. I never seem to have the time to go along to a salon, especially as I'm always deciding whether to grown my hair or cut it off short again. I'm lucky if I go to the hairdresser every six months, which as a beauty blogger is a cardinal sin. You really should go at least every two months if you have a 'style', particularly as it helps to stop you looking like Worzel Gummage. I hate my hair at the moment, so the next time I have a chance I'm going to the salon, finding a hairdresser I trust and sticking with them for the long-term.

Here's hoping I actually stick to these for at least the next three months. Anything more is a bonus! What are your new year beauty resolutions?

YSL Beautiful Eyes

2012-01-02T14:02:00.000Z

I've had this little eyeshadow palette for some time, but it's been hiding away in a box waiting to be discovered. Well discovered it I did on New Year's Eve - I like to think of it as a little treat for the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. The palette was part of their Autumn collection and contains an unusual combination of colours for the season. They're beautiful hues of turquoise and purple, some of my most favourite shades, that work well together to create a unique look in an otherwise dull and dark time of year; the name of the palette perfectly sums this up too... Midnight Garden.

The colours are gorgeous and contain subtle flecks of glitter throughout that catch the light. All five shades have the turquoise glitter included within the eyeshadow, creating a continual effect on the eye when they're used together. The pigment is really strong on the two darkest shades, with the three lighter ones creating a subtle colour on the eye. I adore the darkest green and I used this, alongside the pale turquoise, to create a different smokey look for NYE. I may have found my first makeup crush of 2012.

The 'Midnight Garden' palette is available online, in department stores or Boots. RRP £40.00.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T16:45:00.000Z

My year in pictures

2012-01-01T11:00:00.000Z

I've always tried to keep a little bit of myself out of the bloggersphere, believing that people don't want to read about me or my wares, but what lipstick I'm currently coveting. However, it seems that through my frivolity on twitter and my general ramblings, that's what people actually like! So I'm making a pledge to open up a little bit more of my world to you in 2012, maybe even posting some pics of things I get up to and stuff that I shove on my person. (Ooh err.) So what better way to start the year than a look back at my 2011 in pictures. This year has been amazing in so many ways, finding old friends I'd lost, making new ones, visiting some amazing places, drinking a lot and changing my hair more times than my socks. Here's to an amazing and very successful new year for you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Starting the year off as I mean to go on - with a cocktail.

Burlesquing it up for JimJam's birthday

My dream man - A Cyberman

Out on the town in Cardiff, where I found a Welsh man

Seeing the sights of Barry Island. No Nessa though.

My first proper photoshoot, where my LBQ images were taken

Eating pizza, drinking beer and celebrating the Royal Wedding

Feeling a bit patriotic after Kate & Wills nuptuals

In Marbella with one of my besties and Bare Minerals

Pretty floral Spanish stuff

Getting speccy with my lady @Stylisa (now a great friend)

Riding the Batiste scooter at Vintage at Goodwood

Enjoying some Pimms at Ben & Jerry's Sundae on the Common

The muddiest Reading Festival I can remember. But bloody brilliant.

Taking my cuz to her very first London Fashion Week show

In Milan with one of my besties, having a well earned break

Meeting Mr Coyote Ugly (who was a legend) Adam Garcia

Finding an amazing friend again who I'd lost touch with

At the footy with the family. They support a crap team.

Pretending to be the Spice Girls. No, we'll never grow out of it.

The first work Xmas party. I work with amazeballs people.

A normal night out dressed as a cat, dancing to PJ & Duncan

A new found love for hair extensions

The ASOS Beauty Sale

2011-12-31T11:00:00.000Z

If you didn't get a stocking full of lipgloss or your tree wasn't being weighed down by bubble bath, then you may be interested in what ASOS have to offer this sale time. They've got some pretty ace bargains to be had, with some products starting from as little as one single quid. Here are some of my fave picks, but make sure you check everything out here.

Anatomicals - Make Mine a Skin and Tonic. Was £8.00. Now £3.00
In fact the whole of this range has been reduced so you can afford to test the lot. There's a minty fresh breath kit for £1.00 and even a mini hairdryer and hair product for £6.00. It's worth stocking up on these little sets as they'd also make great presents throughout the year.

Bare Minerals - Daily Duo Try Me Kit. Was £20.00. Now £13.00
I love Bare Minerals and I love their skincare products. This little kit is a great way of trying the cleanser and cream without forking out for the full price tag. The amazing overnight treatment (which I swear by) is also in the sale, so if you don't fancy paying the full price of £45 then grab that while you're at it too.

Rodial - Life and Style Rehab Kit. Was £60.00. Now £32.00
I adore the new Rodial 'lifestyle' range, launched for Christmas, as it smells and looks amazing. The bath balm is like a melting dream and the candles make your room smell fab. They're normally pretty pricey, but for the time being ASOS has got the entire range for pretty much half price. You won't regret this indulgence, I promise.

Neal's Yard - Aromatic Shower and Body Care Collection. Was £28.00. Now £16.00
This little set is perfect if you plan on lots of long weekend in 2012. The mini sizes of hand wash, shower gel, body lotion and body polish will have you looking tip top wherever you are. It's not only a great intro to Neal's Yard, but also a great way to expand your beauty regime and start the year off as you wish to go on.

There are loads of other goodies to be had, including reductions on nail polish from Essie and Lord & Berry lipsticks. Make sure you check it all out and try not to be tempted by those boots...

The LBQ Awards 2011 (haircare)

2011-12-29T15:47:00.001Z

I've left haircare until last because this is the hardest category for me. I struggle with my hair as it's thin, coarse and curly - there's nothing good about it - which is why haircare has always been a passion of mine. I love trying new products and this is one area where I don't mind spending a small fortune on products, as long as they work. I love hair advertising campaigns (show me a picture of luscious locks and I'm hooked) and how brands have the power to completely convert you with one swish of a model's hair. Here are my picks of 2011 and some things I've fallen in love with. Let the LBQ Haircare Awards 2011 commence...

Best Hair Discovery - Redken, All Soft Shampoo
The problem with my hair is that it's really, really coarse. I have to spend ages styling it and putting endless amount of product in it before it resembles the soft, shiny hair I desire so much. This product made such a difference, even without a conditioner. The formula really works to soften dry and brittle hair, making styling much easier and a good look more attainable. You need such a small amount of this to make a difference that I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone with similar issues to me. An absolute staple and a product I'd continue to buy again and again.

Best Brand Re-Launch - KMS California
If you can't remember the 'old' KMS then it was a little bit like this... White, boring, dull, living in the 80's and confusing. I haven't seen such an amazing overhaul this whole year as I have with KMS. Just look at the bright colours, modern packaging, easy navigation and word play - it's had a complete injection of life! The range has been brought into the 21st Century and is one to now rival the TIGI's of this world. The imagery and campaign shots that coincided with this were also edgy, young, fashionable and representative of a desirable brand in 2011, putting it well and truly back on our radar. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next year.

Best Campaign- Toni & Guy, Hair Meet Wardrobe
We all know that we match our hair to our wardrobe, so it was a genius move by the people at Toni & Guy to take this one step further and create a whole campaign around it. This isn't even the pro range, but the one available in Boots for around a fiver! The products had an overhaul, bringing them up to date with a colour coded system, and the campaign to match was all about relating hair to fashion. I love all the imagery and how they've made something so simple, so very effective. I'm totally bought into the whole range, the concept and the idyllic images of a bombshell sitting in a field, so I'll be like a meerkat as soon as I have a sniff of any new products on the horizon.

Best Styling Product - Schwarzkopf, Got2B Powderful
So many times I've been out and attempted to add volume into my hair using the 'upside down next to the hand dryer' method. It never works and I often end up with a tangled mess. A few of these 'volume powders' have been launched on the market during 2011, giving volume and texture in a matter of seconds when it's added to your roots. No other product is as cheap and effective as this though, coming in at around the £4.00 mark. It's not in the prettiest or most robust of packs, but it's the perfect size for popping in your bag and it doesn't matter too much if it gets covered in Mojito and lipgloss. Although there is a little residue left on the hair, it's not unmanageable and the volume created is more than enough to make it worth it.

That's it. My pick of the hair category for this year. What are you fave things to have come out of hairstyling in 2011?

The LBQ Awards 2011 (Fragrance)

2011-12-29T15:30:00.000Z

It's no secret that I love a good scent and change my perfume on a daily basis. For me, your fragrance is another accessory that should be matched to the occasion, as well as your outfit. If there's one cardinal beauty related sin then it's having only one scent - even worse is when you never change that scent for something new! Here are my fragrance highlights of 2011 and which scents I'll be coveting for some time to come. Maybe you'll invest in one for 2012!

Best Fragrance Launch - Molton Brown, Navigations Through Scent
It made perfect sense for the brand famous for it's beautifully scented products to actually dip their own toes into the world of perfume. Their anticipated collection of six fragrances took us through a journey of unusual scents that really evoked emotions. No scent was the same and no scent was in any way 'traditional' - the strong, complex and almost unisex fragrances are utterly beautiful and captivating. The 'Iunu' scent is one of my favourites of the year, having a hint of ginger and lingering around all day long. I love it and take great pleasure in squirting it on of a morning.

Best Fragrance Brand - Jo Malone
Before this year I wasn't that familiar with the Jo Malone fragrance mantra or how they were designed to be layered. The whole concept behind the brand's fragrances is that you use them to create your own unique scent, highlighting specific notes or over-layering with complementary flavours. They're released some beautiful additions to the range this year, including Wild Bluebell and King William Pear for Christmas (which I wore throughout the festive season,) and have benefited from universal praise. If there's one place you can go for a unique and personalised scent then it's most definitely Jo Malone.

Campaign of the Year - Miss Dior, featuring Natalie Portman
I love everything about this campaign. The music, the casting, the makeup, the dress, the setting, the story... It makes me completely re-assess the brand and that's what advertising is all about. They picked an amazing person to be the face of the brand, completely utilising the fame that came with Natalie's staring role in Black Swan. Fragrance marketing at its best... Enjoy.

PR Stunt of the Year - DKNY Golden Delicious
If you've got a million dollars to throw around then you'd probably want to buy a boat or a swish crib, not fork out for a blinged up perfume bottle. Well someone had more money than sense when they dreamt up this stunning fragrance bottle in celebration of DKNY's newest scent - it includes 2,700 Round Brilliant White Diamonds, 183 Golden Yellow Sapphires, a 2.43 carat Flawless Vivid Yellow Canary Diamond and 14-karat white gold making up the Manhattan skyline that is so iconic to the DKNY brand. Wowzer. Crazy idea, but bloody good PR stunt. I just want to know what happened to it after?
(PS - I've just been told it's going to be sold with the proceeds going to Action Against Hunger. Brilliant work DKNY... I defo approve.)

Those are my top picks of fragrances this year. What's your iconic scent and what launches can't you wait for next year?

The Most Beautiful Women

2011-12-28T22:52:00.000Z

If I were to ask you who the most beautiful women in the world were, what would your answer be? Are you a Sienna Miller/Mila Kunis type person? Or maybe I can tempt you with a sprinkle of TOWIE and a dash of Made In Chelsea? Superdrug recently conducted a survey of 3000 women in the UK and the person to come out on top was lady of the year herself, The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. (No surprise there then!) What's interesting though is that the top twenty beauty icons of 2011 not only include the usual pop stars and celebs that grace Heat Magazine on a weekly basis, but also a lot of more 'natural' and attainable beauties like Holly Willoughby, Emma Watson and Katherine Jenkins.

Kate and Pippa have taken the slot away from celebrities like Cheryl Cole and Kate Moss, illustrating we've grown out of fake hair and drugged-up-skin in favour of a good blow dry, a spray tan and a slick of black eyeliner. They're not revolutionary, but they're very beautiful in their own natural and understated way. Another interesting fact to mention is there's an overwhelming number of brunettes in the top ten, something that would've been very different a few years ago. Have we ditched the 'fun' blonde in favour of a more rich, classy and royal brown? Here is the list in its entirety... What do you think of it?

1. Kate Middleton
2. Pippa Middleton
3. Cheryl Cole
4. Rihanna
5. Holly Willoughby
6. Tulisa Contostavlos
7. Beyonce
8. Emma Watson
9. Katy Perry
10. Victoria Beckham
11. Kelly Rowland
12. Lady Gaga
13. Amy Childs
14. Katherine Jenkins
15. Nicole Scherzinger
16. Adele
17. Pixie Lott
18. Angelina Jolie
19. Keira Knightley
20. Scarlett Johannson

Read the full article here.

The LBQ Awards 2011 (Body/Skin)

2011-12-28T12:31:00.001Z

It's only right that I take time to sit back and reflect on the products this year that have really helped to keep me in tip condition - even if only on the outside. There are so many body lotions, scrubs, tans, buffers, creams and serums it's sometimes hard to know what actually makes a real difference and is worth the pennies. Here are my top selections of 2011 in the body category... The LBQ Awards are about to be announced.

Best Body Moisturiser - Biotherm, Lait Corporel
It's easy to spend three quid on a moisturiser and be done with it, because they all do the same thing right? So I thought until I tried this beauty from Biotherm. I've always suffered with dry skin, especially on my upper arms and legs, but after using this for a few weeks I noticed a real difference in the texture and appearance of my limbs. I didn't even need to use a body brush because my skin had become so smooth and supple; even the lady who did my spray tan commented on my smooth knees! I probably won't continue to use this all year round, but it's a definite winner for the colder months.

Best Fake Tan - HeShi, Face + Body Tanning Gel
I've tried quite a few fake tans over the course of 2011 but there's one addition that stands out in my mind. HeShi's standard fake tan is pretty awesome, but it had a bit of a makeover this December in the form of a universal gel. The light gel is really easy to apply, dries quickly and leaves skin bronzed and streak free. It's unisex and universal, meaning you can literally use it for any fake tanning related tasks. There's no need to worry about having orange skin either, as the result is light and perfect for the winter months too. I love how I can literally bung this on haphazardly before bed and wake up to perfectly bronzed limbs.

Best Hand Cream - Rodial, Glam Balm Hand
Hand cream is an essential part of my beauty regime. Who wants to shake hands with crusty digits? I religiously apply hand cream throughout the day (especially in winter) so I always have a stash to hand - excuse the pun. A lot of creams are too runny, leave residue or don't actually moisturise the skin at all. One cream that was launched this year ticks every box and more - it's just the right consistency, absorbs fast, leaves no residue, saves dry hands and smells delicious. Using Rodial's famous Glam Balm technology, this is really something special. The only downside is that it may as well be gold plated; it's £39 a tube. We can dream right?

Best Face Wash/Scrub - Neutrogena, Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Scrub
It's so very important to regularly exfoliate the skin to rid it of any dead, dull cells. It's also vital that you look after your skin, cleaning it and removing dirt effectively on a daily basis. This product does both those things in one, with a delicate pink grapefruit scent. The light gel formula contains very slight grains to gently work away dead skin while cleansing, without stripping moisture. I actually enjoy using this because it does the job without leaving a tight feeling on my face - it also helps to eliminate blemishes, which is an added bonus at certain points of the month. This works just as well as any more premium product and should be on every shower shelf, regardless of the owners age!

I still have loads more favourites from 2011 to share with you, but what are your best finds of the year?

The LBQ Awards 2011 (Makeup)

2011-12-27T18:54:00.000Z

With so many different beauty products touching my person on a weekly basis, it's good to sit back and take stock of the real stand out launches of the year. The beauty industry thrives on newness - if it's not new we don't want to know. If it doesn't make our lashes 1000% longer, our hair super shiny and our complexion look photoshopped then we probably won't buy into it; not unless it's on offer anyway. But do these big claims really make a big difference, or should we be investing in some subtler and off the radar brands that actually do the job better? Well if you took me to a desert island (yes please) and I only had room for a few products to keep me looking beautiful, then these are the ones I'd choose. Welcome to the LBQ Awards 2011... First up, the best makeup products of the year.

Best Eye Makeup - MUA, Heaven and Earth palette
I should've known this would be a great product when the ladies started scrambling through goodie bags at the very first TOWIB to find one. A twelve eyeshadow palette featuring shimmery creams, molten browns and dark chocolates, this is a makeup bag staple for anyone with a passion for blending. The colours are so pigmented, complementary and wearable that it gives the famous Urban Decay Naked palette a run for its money. I've used this palette almost daily for the last six months and it's the one product I revert back to, whatever the occasion. At only £4.00 there's no excuse not to grab one either.

Best Face Makeup - Benefit, Cha Cha Tint
I was always a little bit intimidated by Benefit's Benetint, while Posietint was just a little too pink and sweet for my liking. When the iconic brand added another lip and cheek stain to their collection this year it was as though it was made for me. A subtle peachy colour, Cha Cha Tint adds a hint of colour to cheeks that brings out your natural flush. It's totally tran-seasonal, meaning one little pot will take you from Spring to Autumn and back again. The peach colour is easier to use than the other two, blending naturally with the skin and giving a beautiful glow to cheeks. I adore this so much that I let out a little sob when I came to the end of my pot.

Best Lip Product - Clinique, Chubby Sticks
Oh what did I do before Chubby Sticks? One of my most loved things in this world is a really good lipbalm, so whichever genius decided to mix lipblam with a bit of gloss, add in a dash of colour and make it look like a pencil deserves the pat on the back I'm about to give. These little sticks are pure joy; moisture, a hint of shine and a subtle slick of colour all in one self-sharpening nib. I don't have a single bad word to say against these, other than they need to be in more colours. They last for bloody ages, making them even better - an investment if you will. Any product that sells itself off the back of jelly is a winner in my book too.

The Lifesaver Product - HD Brows Palette
I've been growing out my eyebrows for nearly a year after they fell out and gave me a strange expression. The one product that has given me confidence again has to be the brow palette from HD Brows. It comes in a variety of shades, with each compact including four complementary colours to ensure you can mix your perfect one. The angled brush allows you to perfectly re-create brows or simply fill them in, while the chalky nature of the highly pigmented product keeps your arches in place all day long. I've tried many brow palettes over the year (including everything from MUA to Chanel) and this beats them all hands down.

These are my fave makeup products of 2011. Stay tuned for more faves in the hair, body and fragrance categories coming right up... What are your must haves of 2011?

Happy Christmas

2011-12-24T20:31:00.000Z

Can you believe it's that time again? I'm not sure where the last 12 months have gone, but this is definitely Christmas time. While the majority of us are putting the finishing touches to our festive lunch or placing presents around the tree, some people out there may be feeling alone or unhappy. Christmas is a time when a lot of raw emotions come to the surface, but I want everyone to remember they're not alone... Here are a few helpful numbers if you just want to talk to someone or reach out for help. Don't feel like you have to suffer this Christmas - please use them or pass them on to someone you think may need them.

MIND
http://www.mind.org.uk/
0300 123 3399

Samaritans
http://www.samaritans.org/
08457 90 90 90

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomers
0845 769 7555

Stonewall
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/
Info line 08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
0207 837 7324

SANELine
http://www.sane.org.uk/
0845 767 8000

Preventing young suicide
http://www.papyrus-uk.org/

For people in Northern Ireland
http://www.lifeline.info/
0808 808 8000

Childline
http://www.childline.org.uk/
0800 1111

Depressionalliance
http://www.depressionalliance.org/

Refuge
http://www.refuge.org.uk/
0808 2000 247

Eating Disorders Association
http://www.edauk.com/
0845 634 1414

Shelter
http://www.shelter.org.uk/
0808 800 4444

NHS Direct
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
0845 4647

No Panic
http://www.no-panic.co.uk/
0808 808 0545

Giles: Wrapped Up

2011-12-22T11:30:00.000Z

If you want more time to spend scoffing Quality Street and downing mulled wine this festive season, then you may be in need of some nail wraps. Fashion designer extrodinaire Giles Deacon has once again partnered with New Look, but this time to launch a range of beauty products. The nail wraps are one of many products, but come in the quirky designs and colours we've come to know and love from the designer. Strange animal-print-come-houndstooth and stripey-fuzzy-zigzag, these certainly aren't for the faint hearted.

The wraps are easy to apply - they have a sticky side so you can peel them from the sheet and apply straight to your nail, ensuring they fit and are positioned centrally so you can smooth out across the edges. Considering there's no glue or heat involved to get these to stay, the wraps do a pretty good job. I've got quite small hands so I only used the three smallest sizes, having to trim the edges of some to ensure they fit. It would be good to have more smaller nail shapes or a mixture to get more out of the sheet - I only got one full set of nails, which at £6.99 is quite pricey. The process isn't uber speedy, taking 15-20mins to fit a full set, but there's no polish drying time or smudging - always a bonus.

I do like the designs and the fact they're so easy to use. They stayed on my nails for a good few days without too much of a problem, coming loose after about day three. These are perfect for a special occasion or if you know you can't be bothered to faff around beautifying your nails, but maybe not an every day occurance. There are so many nail wraps out there now it's nice to see something a bit more glam and different. You do pay for the designer name, but hey ho, it's Christmas... treat yourself.

Available to buy from New Look exclusively priced £6.99.

Hello Kitty. Hello Liberty.

2011-12-21T17:15:00.000Z

If there's one thing I thought I would never be singing the praise of it would be a product adorned with Hello Kitty. I'm not a fan of the random white cat and the millions of accessories that pop up all over the shop - I just don't get the fuss. (I'm also not 10.) There's a new collection by the kitten adorning the shelves of Boots this festive season and a selection of it arrived at my doorstep today. I'm eating my words because I bloody love it. The pattern and design of the collection is a blue, pink and purple Liberty print that will appeal to fans of HK young and old, but also people like me who would rather not publish their love for a small white cat. Here are some last minute stocking ideas from the collection...

Within the range is a cute hand wash and lotion set which comes with this little matching soap dish. The products come in large 175ml bottles that are plastic with a plastic wrap around them - handy for in the bathroom if, like me, soggy paper labels on hand wash bottles drive you crazy. The gold lettering on the bottles gives it a more mature touch so that you can get away with putting it in your own bathroom, although the soap dish looks a bit outdated and cheap in my opinion. Once you've bunged your soap in it though you can't see the design, so just pretend it's plain! This would make a great little gift and they're already sitting in my bathroom, brightening up the decor.

Another great product is this cute little Liberty print makeup bag with bow detail. It's a really great size and is again pretty subtle if you don't want to feel like a six year old. It's covered in a plastic film to protect it from water or products, making it perfect for popping in your bag or taking away at weekends. Even better is that inside you also get three products that also include the unique HK design and subtle gold logo - a mascara, lipgloss and deep blue eyeshadow. The mascara is pretty average (as you'd expect), the lipgloss a generic nude colour that has a sweet scent, while the eyeshadow is a universal dark shade with subtle shimmers. The eyeshadow comes in a card case and the lipgloss/mascara lids are simply wrapped in paper, so they're not the best quality. However, they would make a cute little pressie for a younger loved one who just wants a Hello Kitty lipgloss.

The highlight of the collection for me though is this cute eyeshadow palette. The pack itself is great quality, sturdy and detailed - there's even a little gold kitty design on the mirror inside. It contains eight great eyeshadow colours that are pretty standard, but great for anyone who just wants some basic colours to play with. The shades and pigments are very, very similar to an Urban Decay palette I've got that costs three times the amount, so this is a perfect stocking filler for any makeup junkie out there. To make the collection even better, you can still grab these all in Boots on a 3 for 2, so you could even get this little eyeshadow compact for yourself guilt free!

Hand wash and lotion kit RRP £10.00; Makeup pouch set RRP £16.00; Eyeshadow palette RRP £8.00. All available in Boots exclusively and currently available in their 3 for 2 Christmas gift offer.

Sparkles and Glitter

2011-12-21T12:18:00.002Z

It's Christmas, so the inevitable sparkle makeup and accessories come out to play for one month only. I'm not a huge fan of sparkly nail polish as it's a bit of a bitch to get off, but this polish from Miss Sporty may just be my favourite ever. Considering it costs a measly £1.99 it's pretty damn awesome. It contains lots of different sized and colour glitters to create a fantastic sparkle effect that catches the light. The amount of glitter in the polish enables it to actually stick to your nail in one sweep, rather than having to play around trying to blob on bits and make it even. In one coat and one sweep of the brush it looked top notch. Merry Sparkle Christmas.

Available online and in Superdrug for £1.99

Halo Hair

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000Z

My hair has been pretty short for a good few years now, having had it all cut off after that inevitable break-up. How cliched. Although I've grown it out a little longer in the summer so I can tie it up at festivals (who wants beer smelling hair dangling in their eyes?) it's at its longest point since about 2005. Having been in that awkward in-between stage for a good few weeks I started to consider taking the plunge into hair extensions, giving myself a bit of length, volume and styleability until it sorts itself out. Twitter recommended Halo hair extensions to me en mass, with blog posts and testimonials shooting at me from all directions. Click through I did and settled for a pair of their clip-in extensions which arrived at my door in a matter of days.

I went for a half head 20 inch set of clip-ins in chocolate brown, which comes with one 3 clip, one 2 clip and two 1 clip sections. Although the chocolate brown comes out much lighter in reality, the hair is great quality and feels completely natural once in. They're really easy to slot in between sections of your own hair and are thick enough to add lots of volume without being too heavy. Because the extensions are made of real hair you can straighten them, curl them and even dye them; I actually dyed mine a darker shade of brown to match my current colour and they dried perfectly without losing a strand of hair.

The single clips are the only real let down, as the clip is in the middle with a bit of the hair hanging over each of the ends. As there's nothing to hold this in place they're better hidden in the hair rather than placed on their own. Because of these little sections I actually went ahead and bought myself another half head of clip-ins (this time in darkest chocolate, which was a perfect colour match,) to oomph up my hair even more. By doubling up you don't even really need the single sections, so you've got a bonza head of hair that feels really secure and looks really natural. I love that you can style these so easily, curling them, wearing them up, washing and dying them without having to worry.

I've had so many complements since wearing these and have become a little bit addicted already. The 20 inch length is perfect for me, especially as I've been curling them or wearing them up. I did go a full day wearing them down this weekend and by about 11pm they were starting to ache, but not bad going seeing as I'd had them in for a good 12hrs. I would thoroughly recommend these for anyone wanting to add either volume or length to their hair, whether or not you've ever gone anywhere near a set of extensions or not. They're subtle, feel great and you can wear them like they're your very own hair - which is surely the point. What's even better is that you can get a half head starting at only £29.99 which is an absolute bargain.

Get Halo hair extensions here.

The new face: Louise Redknapp

2011-12-18T12:27:00.000Z

To me Louise Redknapp will always be the girl who sung "you make me feel naked" on Top of The Pops in front of my Nan, but she's actually grown up a little bit since then. After marrying a footballer, popping out a few kids and presenting some foodie programme on the BBC at weekends, she's decided to do something a little bit more exciting and become the face (or hair) of Schwarzkopf. There are two exciting things about this: 1. We get to see more of Louise's beautiful face without having to watch that awful Thompson holiday advert. 2. We get to see less of those dodgy European matchy-matchy hair ads that currently champion Schwarzkopf! Double win.

Ben Haxworth, Head of Marketing at Schwarzkopf, said: “Louise is the perfect ambassador for LIVE Salon Style, a range designed for busy women who need to be able to achieve salon-like results in their own time and their own home. Whether on the red carpet or out shopping with her family, Louise always looks incredible. She combines true sophistication with on-trend styling and, despite all her years at the top, also radiates a warm and down-to-earth persona. Her role as both professional career women and busy mum is definitely one that women can relate to and are inspired by.”

Louise Redknapp said: “I’m delighted to be the new face and hair of Schwarzkopf LIVE Salon Style. Hair is really important to me and I know just how much hair colour can affect how we look and feel. The right hair colour can make a difference to your whole look."

I'm pretty chuffed that they've actually gone for a British spokesperson, as well as choosing someone that's actually 'real' and could be your mate. I've no idea if she's going to be appearing in the advertising any time soon, but I really do hope so. What do you think of their new spokesperson?

Cheryl Cole for Stylist Pick: Fail

2011-12-17T11:52:00.000Z

I love Chezza Cole - she makes a fair few fashion mistakes (poofy hair and purple trousers anyone?) but on the whole she's polished, not afraid to embrace fashion and is most definitely her own person. When I heard she was creating her very own shoe collection with Stylist Pick I couldn't contain my excitement. A little bit of Cheryl all for my very own? Sold. I spent months stalking the website for sneak peeks and little behind-the-scenes videos, wondering what gems she would be developing for us. If you're not familiar with Stylist Pick then it's basically an online shoe and bag site which takes your fashion inspirations, idols and likes/dislikes to create a bespoke collection for you; all the shoes are £39.95 so it's a simple straightforward way to shop. In my mind I was thinking "£40 for some Chezza designed shoes is a bargain." That's where the disappointment began.

When the shoe range was unveiled my heart sank. The styles are tacky, outdated and have no catwalk inspiration whatsoever. For someone who makes a living posing in posh and edgy dresses, she clearly has no idea about fashion herself. We've got ankle boots with a dash of leopard print (so last season,) a pair of houndstooth shoes that I had in 2004 and some biker boots, which although nice and practical, are hardly a fashion breakthrough moment - these adorn the shelves of every retailer in the UK at the moment. Her 'signature style' Your Royal Hotness isn't exactly a statement shoe either; every girl knows that adding an ankle strap only turns your ankles into cankles. Cheryl, what were you thinking?

Don't even get me started on Freak Le Chic, a pair of boots that wouldn't have been out of place in her 'Fight For This Love' video. Tacky red, patent, buckles... What the hell would you wear these with, other than a military fancy dress outfit? The only pair of the whole range I even slightly like is Glam Slam (at least she's got the angular shapes and sparkle that are perfect for the party season,) but these aren't groundbreaking and have a price tag of nearly eighty quid. And there is my next issue with the whole range; the price. Coming from a brand that promotes it's £39.95 price tag, selling shoes with a celebrity name for nearly three times that amount, in my opinion, is a fundamental flaw. If I wanted to spend £119.85 on a pair of boots I'd go to a reputable retailer, spend my time trying them on and making an informed decision, not just click on a button and wait for them to be delivered to my door. Is it really worth inflating the price so much just for a celebrity name label?

Stylist Pick have done well out of this collaboration - who even knew of their existence before Cheryl came on the scene? - and the PR coverage has been incredible. Every magazine I open at the moment has an interview with Cheryl about her debut collection. I'm sure there are plenty of die hard fans who are rushing to buy the range and inevitably it will be a sell out. However, I really am super disappointed with the whole thing. I for one will not be parting with any cash any time soon and probably won't even go on Stylist Pick again - it's failed on the big time for me. Cheryl will be releasing another collection in March and a couple more before the end of 2012, so here's hoping she bothers to open a copy of Vogue, just to see what is actually on-trend for the future seasons.

What do you think of Cheryl's debut collection?

Personalised Bottles from Caudalie

2011-12-16T12:18:00.000Z

I've reviewed the beautiful scents of Caudalie before, expressing how fresh, different and amazing they are. For only £28 you get a beautifully packaged scent, inspired by the grape vines in France, that lasts all day and gives you a little mood boost too. You can read my original post here, but right now they're offering a special service just for Christmas - personalised bottles. For no extra charge you can print a little message on the front of the bottle so your loved one gets a fab fragrance and a little something extra. There's only enough room for 11 characters on 2 lines so you have to be creative and succinct, but it's worth it!

Buy yours now on their website.

Soap & Glory: Star Gift

2011-12-15T11:00:00.000Z

It's the one you've all been waiting for. The most popular Christmas gift last year (no statistical facts here other than my Twitter feed!) is back on offer in Boots for one week only - the famous Soap & Glory Big Splendour is now only £25 rather than it's usual price of £60. Not only do you get ten fab products, but they're all packaged in this cute vanity case to ensure you're always primped to perfection. The set goes on sale this Friday (16th December) until Christmas Eve, so make sure you run out and grab one/two/ten while you can.

It includes the following products:

Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel

The Righteous Butter Body Butter

Pulp Friction Body Scrub

Face, Soap & Clarity Fresh Facial Wash

25 Off Your Face Cleansing Wipes

Heel Genius Foot Cream

Hand Food Hand Cream

Mist You Madly Fragrant Body Spray

Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumper In Candy Gloss

Calm One, Calm All Bubble Bath

Happy Christmas from Dove

2011-12-14T19:56:00.000Z

Ever wishes that the Twelve Days of Christmas was less about turtle doves and more about intensive overnight treatments? Well you're in luck... I present to you Christmas according to Dove hair. Enjoy.

Sienna X spray tan

2011-12-14T11:00:00.000Z

Just because it's chilly outside doesn't mean you have to have a skin colour to match. There's nothing wrong with a bit of winter tanning and this week I was fortunate enough to be spray tanned by a Sienna X professional, who injected a little bit of colour into my pasty pale skin. If you've never had a spray tan before then you basically step into a booth wearing nothing but a pair of paper pants (I didn't say it was glamorous) and someone literally sprays a tan on you with an air gun. You have to stand in all kinds of positions to ensure you're fully covered and the tan enhances your best bits, but it takes only about five minutes and the tan is personalised to your needs. I went for the lightest shade of Sienna X and it still gave me a pretty awesome colour - not OTT or ridiculous, but just a nice glow to show off at the weekend.

I've never tried the Sienna X range before but I was pleasantly surprised. Although it does smell quite strongly, the result is natural and pretty long lasting - I've had it on 6 days and it's still going. There's also a gradual tan, spray tan in a can and body wash to help your tan last extra long. I could totally get addicted to this, particularly as the tanning lotion is really quite moisturising and not at all drying. You do have to be careful for a good few hours to ensure there aren't any blemishes (I left a hairband on my wrist so ended up with a lovely white wring) but overall it's a pretty good colour. Here's a cheeky picture of me just to prove it...

Have you ever had a Sienna X spray tan?

Rule Beautannia

2011-12-13T11:00:00.001Z

Space NK is the ultimate destination for gifts this festive season. Not only do they have a full host of undiscovered gems on offer, but they have established luxury brands and even a few of their own ranges to feast your senses upon. They've just launched a fab new brand which sits under the Space NK hat: Beautannia. It comes in three different scents which sum up British living: Brideshead, Balfour and Bloomsbury. I love the packaging, the detail and the 'properness' of the whole range - it's something that you could happily treasure yourself, give to a girlfriend or a grandparent and know that everyone will love it the same.

The range includes body lotions, shower gels, candles, soaps and bath oils, as well as accessories including some fab little makeup bags. Everything is beautifully packaged and even includes its own coat of arms, as well as an eclectic mix of images to make up the overall design. Although the range is quite pricey (ranging from £15 for a soap to £42 for bath oil) they make fantastic gifts and indulgences. I've always loved a mooch around Space NK, so this new range only makes my visits inevitably a little closer together.

Available exclusively in Space NK stores and online.

Minty Fresh... Face?

2011-12-12T11:00:00.000Z

As important as having a proper moisturising routine is dedicating an evening a week to a face mask. By taking a few minutes to seriously treat your skin and get rid of the nasty build up, you can really see a difference in your complexion. I love deep cleansing clay masks and delicate scrubs, which are even better at getting rid of blemishes and breakouts, so trying this minty fresh facemask from Montagne Jeunesse was a bit of an 'out of the box' moment. It contains spearmint and dead sea salt to cleanse and exfoliate, but basically feels like you're putting a Mentos paste all over your face.

The mask is clear with a hint of blue/green and teeny pieces of salt. It's more of a gel than a clay based mask and looks absolutely nothing like the photo - surely that's false representation or something?! It's also supposed to be cooling, but you don't really get any sensation other than the fact you put a room temperature gel on your face; there's no cold feeling, no tightening or drying, it just sits there until you wash it off. I like to feel like something is happening when I use a mask so I can believe it's doing some good, whereas with this there was no real benefit during or after application. One you wash it off you're left with a clean feeling face, but there's certainly no deep cleansing going on. It smells nice and it's an interesting texture, but I'm just not sold.

Now I know these sachets only come in at £1.09 and are meant for a quick treat rather than a full blown 'pick me up,' but I was really disappointed. In the bluntest of terms, it did bugger all. You're better off using a cleanser to get deep into the skin and lift out unwanted dirt and grime, as at least you'd feel the difference. With this I felt like I wanted to put another face mask on straight away. Oh well, minty freshness just isn't meant for the face.

Available from all major retailers and online. There are loads of others to choose from, which I'm sure are better!

Nails Inc: Couture

2011-12-10T16:00:00.000Z

Have you ever wished you could make a polish which was as personalised as your Facebook account? Ever wished you could switch that cap with this one and add in a hint of purple? Nails Inc have created 'Couture' where you can create our very own personalised nail polish, choosing the cap, colour, packaging and even the name of the polish itself. Through a simple app on their website you can choose from a variety of bejewelled and studded caps, pick the perfect shade of polish for you, name it, box it and even choose the stickers to adorn the pack with. I love this service and think it's a great gift this Christmas for the one you love. It only costs £20 too, which considering you get a completely personalised Nails Inc polish delivered to your door, is an absolute bargain.

Available from their website here.

Christmas Gifts from Liz Earle

2011-12-10T11:40:00.000Z

I for one would love to unwrap a gift on Christmas morning that was adorned with the Liz Earle logo. Great quality products with fab ingredients, that really do the job they're intended to do. This festive season why not give the gift of better skin with one of these great gift sets? There's something for everyone, and prices even start at £15.00, so you can grab yourself anything from stocking fillers to extravagant gifts.

I love the idea of 'Cleanse and Colour' which includes their world famous Cleanse & Polish, as well as the new Sheer Skin Tint - prep and cleanse skin before adding a touch of colour and moisturisation. A great intro to the brand if you're not familiar with it, or a great gift for someone that already loves what Liz Earle is all about. For £34.95 you're giving the gift of beautiful skin, all wrapped up in a beautiful package.

For a cute stocking filler, why not try 'Daily Face Treats', which includes small bottles of cleansing, toning and moisturising solutions. Again, this is a great intro to the brand or perfect for someone who travels a lot as these smaller bottles go a long way. It's also an excuse to try new products if you're a die hard Cleanse & Polish fan! For £15.25 this is perfect for anyone. (This has been so popular though that they've run out of the Christmas wrap, but you can still buy the gift set without and decorate yourself!)

Finally, why not treat yourself (or a Liz Earle fan) to this limited edition Christmas Cleanse & Polish? Packaged in a cute festive box, you've got a great iconic product wrapped up in an exclusive package. What's even better about this is that there's no need for wrapping - just add a gift tag and you're done! Great value, as always, at £18.50.

There are so many more gifts to choose from, on any budget, so why not check out the entire range here.

Katy Perry bobs about

2011-12-09T11:00:00.001Z

She's become well known for her 50's pin-up hair, bright colours and cupcake head gear, so it's something of a surprise to see Katy Perry sporting a rather sleek and simple bob. Dyed a delicate blonde with a hint of lavender, the colour is still a little bit out there, but I think this new 'do looks absolutely fab on her. The sharp cut really works with her face shape and the colour complements her pale complexion. The loud makeup may have to be on the back-burner for a bit, but overall this look gets a total thumbs up from me. What do you think of Katy's new hair?

Christmas Shopping at Bicester Village

2011-12-07T20:57:00.001Z

Tis the season to go shopping. Fa la la la la, la la la la. I love this time of year so I can indulge in my love of purchasing things I don't need, without the guilt of finding somewhere to store them. I love wrapping up warm, enjoying a warm coffee and heading out to the busy streets of London to fill my arms with gifts. This festive season if you need some inspiration for fabulous goodies without the hefty price tag why not visit Bicester Village? My home town isn't that far away from Biscester so in my teenage years it became a 'go to' destination for prom outfits, designer jeans and gifts for the boyfriend. It's still the same today, with my Facebook timeline now full of people taking a trip up there to purchase outfits for the many Christmas parties and to seek out gifts for loved ones.

The village hosts designer outlet stores including Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Radley, Coast, Hugo Boss... I could go on and on. Everything there is discounted from the usual retail price, meaning you can bag a designer bargain for up to 60% off. Whoop. Spending a day in the village is the perfect way to have fun with your girlie mates, browsing from shop to shop and stopping in between for a scrummy mince pie. (You only get one month a year, so you may as well eat as many as physically possible while you can!) Right now Bicester Village also have a special event taking place on their Facebook page; Festive Secrets is a cute app which allows you to win anything from a £100 gift card to a trip to Warwick Castle and fabulous designer gifts. All you have to do is click on the reindeer and find out what you're eligible to win - simples.

What have you got planned for Christmas shopping this year?

This is a sponsored post on behalf of ebuzzing

Bathing in milk

2011-12-07T13:53:00.000Z

I religiously moisturise my limbs before bed because I'm so prone to dry skin. This time it's even worse, with the wind and frost playing havoc with my legs and getting through the material on my sleeves. I normally slap on as much moisturiser as I can get away with and hope that it does the job, believing that some of the cheaper brands are more than adequate to help my skin out. I've had this massive bottle of Biotherm body lotion for ages and have only just started to use it, but I'm totally and utterly in love. The light formula smells of oranges and literally melts into the skin. You only need two small pumps to cover each limb, rubbing it in softly while it instantly starts to absorb. It's non sticky and sinks in fast, moisturising skin upon first touch and making a difference in moments. Since using this I've noticed that I don't absolutely need to moisturise every day, because the body milk does such a good job at both protecting skin and injecting much needed moisture.

They say: "Deliciously smooth and fabulously fresh, this everyday body milk instantly helps the skin look smooth and satiny. It works to help repair flaky skin, restore the skin's protective barrier and protect its natural elasticity. This anti-drying body milk with citrus extracts is a true pleasure, every day, with a delicate fragrance and light texture that is neither sticky nor greasy. The milk penetrates easily into the skin, leaving it fresh and perfectly hydrated." It really is quite divine. Although a big bottle of this will set you back around twenty quid, you need such a little amount that it lasts for ages. It also gives you much more moisturisation than a £3.00 bottle from Superdrug, which is exactly what we need in this cold weather.

Available online and in department stores priced £21.40 for 200ml

Origins: The essence of Christmas

2011-12-06T21:17:00.001Z

I love the smell of gingerbread and it totally reminds me of cold nights in by the fire. Origins have literally bottled the scent with their Ginger Essence, a warm and invigorating fragrance that isn't so overpowering that it leaves you feeling like an extra from Shrek. They say: "Ancient Chinese tradition holds that where there's yin, there must be yang. So the fragrant fire of spicy Ginger is balanced by the refreshing zeal of Bergamot, Lemon and Lime to create a sensuous synergy between warm and cool, energy and calm, tempest and tranquillity. Skin is surrounded in an enticing aroma that's impossible to resist." I love this scent. It's really quite different and perfect for layering with other fragrances - plus it even comes as a room spray! At the moment, when you buy it from Harrods you'll also receive this limited edition, exclusive crystal Christmas tree pendant to help you feel extra specially festive. It's already on my wish list.

Available nationwide for £29 for 50ml. Tree pendant available exclusively at Harrods until stock lasts.

TOWIE lips

2011-12-05T21:26:00.001Z

You've got to admit, I'm not that hard to buy for. I like lipgloss, I like TOWIE and I like a cheeky shimmer. Whoever got my Secret Santa this year can obviously put two and two together (and get TOWIE) as I ended up with this lipgloss set from the TOWIE beauty range. A set of three lipglosses, this gift set is perfect for anyone that wants a little pink sparkle in their lives. Considering this is basically a range of cosmetics jumping on the bandwagon of a tan-tastic TV show, it aint half bad. The lipglosses do completely smell of Calpol (you remember the cough medicine you had as a five year old) but the consistency is thick and smooth. There's a little hint of shimmer and sparkle under the shade and the colours are surprisingly subtle and wearable. Although the packaging is a little bit disappointing and short on Essex bling, what's inside is really quite nice. Who'd have thunk it?

I believe these are available from Superdrug and Argos. The gift sets start at around £5.00 up to £20.00 from memory - it was a Secret Santa, I can't look it up!

Gaga goes Gaga

2011-12-05T13:31:00.000Z

I know this is technically nothing to do with fashion or beauty, but if you're scraping the barrel there's a lot of costumes and fancy makeup in Gaga's latest video. It's a 14min monstrosity which goes from being in a hospital gown and calling it 'next season's Calvin Klein', to being a ballerina, to flashing her boobs on a bed while wearing Cleopatra makeup... It's taken her usual video arts to a whole new level. If you want to skip to the actual music then you'll want to go to the 8min mark where she's hanging out of a car, upside down. (Yes, really.) This is one of my fave songs from the album and I'm glad she's done it justice - when you get to about 10mins in check out her Gwen Stefani blonde 'up do' and red lips... Hot. Not to sure about the blue lipstick at the end though; that's definitely not next season's Calvin Klein.

St Tropez: like a parade

2011-12-04T10:53:00.000Z

Parade are apparently the 'hot new girl band'. I keep seeing them crop up in various places, but more for their product endorsement and mismatched fashion than for their actual music - I'm not gonna lie, I couldn't name a simple one of their tunes. First they were the face of Clean & Clear and now their the legs of St Tropez; those girls have got some good body parts. They're the leg ambassadors of St Tropez's new leg spray self tan 'Pefect Legs', which gives you colour and an airbrushed finish whilst building a natural long-lasting self tan.. The lightweight 360 fake tan aerosol spray enables you to get to every area of your legs, giving you enviable pins that are perfect for the party season. I've yet to try the product myself, but Parade's legs do look pretty hot in these promo shots. Maybe that's why their music isn't making waves - they're too busy posing in photo frames...

Happy Soapday

2011-12-04T10:27:00.000Z

Who knew that LUSH had been around for 15 years? Growing from one simple store in Dorset to now opening their 100th in Bristol's Cribbs Causeway (where I used to hang out spending my student loan while at Uni) they've gone from strength to strength. In celebration of their 15th birthday and 100th store opening, they've designed this limited edition Scentenary Soap. This very exclusive, seductively scented Rose Jam fragranced soap will only be available while stocks last. It even looks like a slice of celebration cake! Don’t miss your chance to grab a slice of soap history.

Available now until stocks last for £3.95

Nails Inc for Dove: a painted Christmas

2011-12-02T20:01:00.000Z

While you're out and about doing your festive shopping this weekend why not pop into Boots and grab yourself this great offer from Dove. They've teamed up with Nails Inc for the second time this year to offer an even better deal than before - all you have to do is spend over £6 on Dove products and you get a brill set of two polishes absolutely free! The shades are called Pink Fizz and Mulled Wine (how very appropriate) and are perfect for the party season. The offer runs until 27th December, but I'm sure after a few days it'll be more and more difficult to get your hands on these hot pots - move quickly!

NARS: stand in line

2011-12-02T19:28:00.000Z

I've had the NARS eyeliners in my archive for some time now and completely forgot about their existence. Sometimes that's a great way of knowing what's a good product as it just slots into your routine as if it had always been there. The eyeliner is available in nine different shades, giving you some variety on the usual black, brown and blue. The formula is creamy, almost like an eyeshadow, and great to blend so you can create some strong looks without the need for another product. It lasts for up to 12 hours and features a self-sharpening mechanism so there's no need to faff around with pencil shavings. I adore the turquoise and purple, but to keep it safe you can go for a khaki or bronze... Just frame the eye and use a short bristled brush to blend outwards for a subtle sexy result.

Available online and in department stores for £17.00 each

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-01T15:28:00.000Z

Happy 1st December everyone... I've been taking a bit of a break as everything has gone a bit crazy in the world of LBQ in the run up to the festive season. I'll be back with a vengeance asap, but in the meantime I'll leave you with a sprinkle of tunage. My favourite ever Christmas song re-vamped with a little bit of Beiber thrown in for good measure.

The Biggest Beauty Stories of 2011

2011-12-01T15:00:00.000Z

I found this really cute video on Bella Sugar which sums up the year in beauty pretty well. From Kate Middleton's wedding day look, to the tragic death of Amy Winehouse (and a Katy Perry OPI collection inbetween,) this sums up 2011 pretty well in three and a half minutes.

Walking in a No7 Wonderland

2011-11-29T15:15:00.000Z

I love the collections that come out of Boots No7 range because they always go the extra mile to create something fun, detailed and special. This festive season is no exception (anyone else think that they're talking about nothing but Christmas now?) with the launch of the new 'Midnight Enchantment' range. Even from the box you can see that it's going to be something quite stunning, decorated in some of my favourite colours with a simple flower pattern and gold lettering. These don't even need wrapping - they make perfect stocking fillers without any extra effort. Even when you remove the palettes from the boxes they're still adorned with a fab design and make a change to some of the more dark and dull boxes in my makeup bag.

The fab detailing doesn't stop with the packaging either. The range includes an eyeshadow palette, blusher, lipstick, eyeshadow stick and nail varnishes, but these two below are definitely the highlights for me. The eyeshadow quad contains four hues of lilac to create a different smokey eye look; even the palest white shade has a shimmer of underlying lilac. They're stamped with another little flower and can be used in about 100 different ways to create different looks, building up the shadow to really make the pigment stand out. Although these aren't the strongest colours I've ever used, they're definitely for those of you that don't like to be put off with deep, dark colours that could potentially make you look like you've been punched in the eye by mistake.

The blusher is one of the most beautiful things to have ever come out of Boots' factory in Nottingham. A raised floral design and three complementary colours make this lovely to look at, lovely to use and lovely to create a sculpted cheekbone with. You can either use the colours individually with a small brush, giving you a highlighter, delicate pink and darker rose, or together for a natural flushed look. The pigment in these is really subtle and perfect for winter when you don't want to overdo the redness of your apples. (By apples I mean of your cheeks by the way!)

This whole collection is lovely jubbly and definitely one of my favourites to come out of No7 for some time. It's not dark and sparkly like a lot of other collections at the moment, but gives you a great palette of colours to play with. Maybe Santa will bring you a few of these this year.

Available now - £13.00 for each palette

A little book of Jo Malone Christmas

2011-11-28T11:00:00.000Z

Jo Malone have got the festive season totally wrapped up this year. Every single little Christmas gift is delightful, well thought through and perfect for loved ones... Who wouldn't want to unwrap something on Christmas morning that turned out to be in a little cream and black box? The Fragrance Chronicles is a little book of fragrance that takes their iconic scent layering to a new level with English Pear and Freesia. The scent comes in its final format, as well as three smaller bottles of the separate elements: King William Pear, Freesia and Patchouli. This enables you to wear the scent exactly how you like, elevating the individual fragrances as and when you wish, as well as wearing them all separately.

The fragrances individually are beautiful. I've never thought of wearing pear before, but it's scrumptious, light and perfect no matter what the time of day, week or year. By layering the core fragrance with the other three you can amplify the heart, base or delicate notes that make it up, changing it slightly to suit your mood. It's a timeless scent and pretty ageless too - I would wear this, as would my mother and probably my grandmother. It's a fail safe for anyone not knowing what to buy the lady in their life this Christmas.

To make it even better, the way the whole thing is packaged is delightful. It literally looks like a book, opening up to reveal the four fragrances inside. There's even a long description included on the inner cover to fully explain what it's all about and how to layer. You could keep these in the book for safe keeping in a bookshelf and nobody would be any the wiser!

Available from their website for £72.00.

The great Glossybox debate

2011-11-27T15:49:00.000Z

There's been a lot said about the Glossybox service (and similar services, of which there appear to be more every day) over the last few months and until now I've kind of stayed out of it. I've avoided reviewing or talking about any 'direct to your door' sampling because they're on every blog going. Everyone seems to have an opinion and most of them aren't great, to the point where it's about time LBQ stepped in and had her penny's worth! I love the idea of these services as the whole point is to open yourself up to new products, innovative brands and generally things you wouldn't otherwise use. For a small fee you get these delivered directly to your door once a month and have the great Christmas morning feeling when you open it up to find out what's inside... And I think that's what's been lost along the way. Bloggers complaining that the products they've been given aren't as good as their mates, shouting about products like Batiste being included and having a good moan when they're given a fragrance sample. For a tenner, what do you expect?

Every month Glossybox promise to give you five samples to enjoy at home, most of which are premium and some of which are full size. If you were to buy these in the shops I guarantee you that every single box is worth much more than ten quid. Small or sample sizes actually cost nearly the same to produce as large sizes - I worked with the production of cosmetics for many years and the reason those mini samples in Boots are so expensive is because that's how much they cost to produce. A lot of companies actually sell them at a lost just to get them in the hands of consumers, with the hope that they'll invest in a full size one when they're done. You still have to pay for the plastic container no matter the size of the product, and that's what costs the dosh. I don't see a problem with the size of products in these boxes at all - that's the whole point of the scheme.

Furthermore, I wholeheartedly disagree with every single complaint about the Illamasqua Freak fragrance sample that was included in this month's box. I love the fragrance and was lucky enough to try it before it was released, but I was still happy to have it in the box. It's a premium brand that sells the fragrance for £59.00 for 75ml - if you take the actual quantity per ml it's around £4.00 for one of those mini samples. Not only was everyone given a chance to sniff it, but enough to keep you going for at least a couple of weeks. Isn't that the point of Glossybox? Giving you the opportunity to try a product for a while, see if you like it and buy the full size? It was never going to be a way of you stocking up on expensive, premium brands on the cheap. You wouldn't have a go at Glamour magazine for only including enough CK One on an advert for you to rub your hand on!

This month there were some great products in the Glossybox and I think it may have been one of the best ones yet. Nail wraps worth £6.65 alone, an iconic product in the form of Philip Kingsley's Elastercizer (again, it retails at £24.95 for 150ml so you're getting a good deal) and some other brands that are perfectly sized for traveling or popping in your bag. I continue to think that Glossyboz is a great idea, as long as you have realistic expectations. It's the price of a coffee and a copy of Elle magazine, so you shouldn't expect it to come gold plated with keys to a new Porshe inside. It's just not gonna happen. They put a lot of thought and effort into the box and the way its presented, which seems to be forgotten as soon as it's ripped open. I think we need to take a step back and remember what we signed up for and what we're getting - a lot for ten quid.

What do you think of Glossybox and the other sampling services?

Just Live with BIC Soleil

2011-11-26T13:12:00.002Z

Shaving isn't exactly glamorous is it? It's one of those daily chores that you don't put much thought into until you cut yourself with a blunt, manky razor. BIC are putting the glamour back into shaving again with their new range of Soleil razors which are all designed with 'shaver grip technology' to make the chore easier and more pleasurable. They have four different types of razor, each incorporated with different features to match your personality and shaving requirements... Whoever thought of matching your mood to your hair removal system?!

There are four different ways to shave which say a lot about your personality (apparently!) and determine which razor you should go for. Which one are you?

Talk to the Palm Queen - You hold your shaver with four fingers on top and it acts as an extension of the hand. This grip allows you to shave quickly and efficiently and reflects your direct, driven and pragmatic approach. You don’t have time for high maintenance beauty regime but you always look well dressed and prepared for whatever life throws at you whether at work or at play. Perfect shaver: Bella

The Pincer Princess - You normally hold your shaver between the top index finger, just like you would your tweezers. You love nothing better than girlie nights in pampering you and your friends, whilst having a good gossip. You are known for your feminine style and your friends consider you as a great mate. Perfect shaver: Miss Soleil

The Feather-Light Lady - You tend to hold the shaver at the end of the handle with your fingertips, a bit like a make-up brush and use a sweeping, smooth action. Your shaving stoke mimics your soft and gentle nature. You are happy to remain behind the scenes and are a trustworthy and loyal friend. You like to spend time on your beauty routine and you look like you take care in your appearance. Perfect shaver: Lady

The Pencil Painter - You hold your shaver with the thumb and middle finger and guide it with the index finger from the top, much like a pencil or paint brush. You are independent, free-thinking and known for your creativity. Sensual and intuitive, you instinctively know what goes together and looks good and you enjoy always looking your best. Perfect shaver: Scent

In celebration of the launch, BIC's Facebook page is full of top tips, ways to 'Just Live' and even bloggers of the week (watch out for more of that soon!) They're running weekly competitions to enable you to 'Just Live' too, including an amazeballs Christmas competition... They've partnered with Dororthy Perkins to offer one winner and 3 friends the opportunity to be spoiled by stylists at DPs, helping them with their Christmas outfits, as well as offering a one night stay at a hotel plus cash for a fun night out. A whole Christmas party sorted then! All you have to do is like them on Facebook and enter your details. Smooth legs and fun times? Sorted.

http://www.facebook.com/BICSoleilJustLive
https://twitter.com/SoleilJustlive

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Ebuzzing

MAC Viva Glam 2012

2011-11-24T14:00:00.003Z

MAC have just sent through this image of their Viva Glam campaign from next year, featuring their rather controversial choice of representatives: Ricky Martin and Nicki Minaj. I have to say I'm loving the image and even though I completely slated the choice when I first heard, I'm kind of sold. The bold colours, the giant lipstick, the random motorbike that has absolutely no purpose... I could stare at it for hours.

Wrapped in friendship

2011-11-24T11:00:00.002Z

Are you struggling of innovative things to buy your friends this Christmas? Bit bored with a bog standard lipgloss or set of bath melts? Well this year why not act like a three year old again and put your focus entirely on the wrapping paper... (Why is it that they're always more entertained by the paper than the super-dooper-flashy toy inside?)

Nivea have a pretty cool Facebook app that allows you to order a gift for a friend, including lipgloss sets and hand cream boxes, that also includes personalised wrapping paper. The app picks up the photos you're both tagged in and posts on eachothers wall, plonking them within a wrapping paper design to make it super special. If you don't like a photo or wall post you can click through and change it for one you prefer, as well as choosing to get rid of the wall posts all together. Click through and order your gift to put a spring in your friend's step, as well as eliminating the need for gift tags!

The only thing is that the gift doesn't come pre-wrapped, so you'll have to get out the sellotape once it arrives and deliver it by hand. This really simple personal touch is guaranteed to be really popular this festive season and best of all it's absolutely free. Why not even suggest to your male friends that they do this for their girlfriends, or your brother for your mother... Everyone will love the little touch of their face on the wrapping paper!

To get stuck in yourself, click through to Nivea's Facebook page.

Clinique: Service as you like it

2011-11-23T13:44:00.001Z

I've written before about the new style of service from Clinique (cleverly entitled 'service as you like it') but I managed to pop down to Selfridges this week and try it out for myself. Clinique are aiming to address the needs of their customers whilst being aware of the fact that a lot of shoppers feel intimidated by over enthusiastic sales assistants. Shopping for skincare and makeup can be hard work, scary and time consuming, but on the other hand a very valuable and rewarding experience if it's done right. Clinique have made a few very crucial steps towards making the service you receive at their counters personalised, and more importantly, exactly what you need.

The first thing they've introduced are the coloured bracelets. These three colours indicate a different way you want to be served on the counter, from peaceful browsing to a full on consultation. Easily accessible, these bands are one of the first things you see when you walk onto the Clinique space and something the consultants carry around with them too. I noticed that the Clinique ladies do approach every person that comes onto the counter, but they all took the time to ask them what brought them to Clinique, giving them a band to indicate the level of service they were after. I was a bit skeptical about this whole scheme, but I believe the issue here is that service is being addressed; Clinique understand the issues that exist and are trying to tackle them head on. So far people seem to be picking up the bands and thinking they're a free gift, so there's some way to go, but hopefully this is a first step towards changing the way we interact with beauty counters.

The other big change at the Clinique counter is the ability to get 'great skin in 90 seconds'. A huge claim right? They've installed ipads in some of their top stores across the UK that allow you to create your own personalised skincare prescription after answering a few key questions. As you flick through, telling the virtual consultant what your skincare priorities are, what areas of concern you have and what they condition of your skin is, you have to really think about your routine and what you like/dislike about your skin. In as little as 90 seconds you're given a prescription detailing your recommended products, which can also be printed out or even emailed. This not only gives you the freedom to play around yourself, but also to give your prescription to a loved one and hint at a Clinique Christmas gift! The consultants would always aim to talk to you after you've done this to ensure that you have the right products, but it makes the shopping experience simple, fun and practical.

While I was at the counter I also had a skincare consultation to find out what products I should be using and how I should be using them. This for me was the highlight - getting down and dirty with a Clinique consultant to really think about my skin, how it behaves, what I use, how I use it... It's amazing how much you don't really think of until someone asks. The general idea of these consultations is to ask questions and get you as the customer to play with products to get the most out of your time. They have a diagnostic tool which they use to record your answers, a magic zoom mirror to take a closer look at your skin and lots of ways of getting under your makeup to the route of your problem. I was really impressed with the advice I was given and the reasons behind my current skin condition... Especially as I've always classified myself as a bit of a skin expert!

This is the first time in ages that I've visited a Clinique counter and I have to admit I was impressed on every level. I felt at ease, comfortable and confident in the advice I was being given. I very much felt it was all about me, not what the consultant wanted to tell me or sell - a massive step away from the majority of experiences I've had in department stores. I literally would've bought everything I was recommended because I knew how to use it and could see the results for myself. It's great to see a brand like this really embracing change and being at the forefront of customer-led experiences in store.

What's your experience of visiting beauty counters? Would you give these innovative experiences at Clinique a whirl?