Gwen Stefani's Covershoot for ELLE



Gwen Stefani for ELLE

This is the subscriber's cover of the April 2011 Elle cover, starring Gwen Stefani. It's simple, but oh-so beautiful! Gwen looks positively glowing!

In this interview 41-year-old Stefani talks (not to any old interviewer, but to a close girlfriend from the music industry) about balancing her career with her family life, her body, and those emotional reunion gigs with her old band No Doubt, from which she had a long term relationship with (now ex) partner, Tony Kanal.

This cover definitely ranks as one of my faves - the use of colour is particularly clever, and besides, Gwen looks amazing in this shoot!
Have you seen this ELLE? What did you think of the interview?

Review: NEW Chanel "Vitalumiere Aqua"

My first thoughts after using this foundation for the first time were "OH MY GOSH, I love it!!"
 At first, after seeing many people wearing the normal "Vitalumiere" (Keep checking up for my Vitalumiere vs Vitalumiere Aqua post) I thought that this wouldn't set and would just slide off my skin within a couple of hours (I have combination skin).

However, I was pleasantly surprised - after setting it with my normal pressed powder, I was pleased to see how nicely matte it looked - and it lasted all day too, a whopping 9 hours before I wiped it off, and it was the most product I had ever seen left on the wipe, too!

The only downside is that being a high end product I have a feeling (as far as I have researched) that it will retail for around £31 which is quite pricey for a foundation - however, it has to be the best quality one I have used.

I used Beige 20, which I'm pretty sure will be perfect for most white skin tones as I received a magazine sample - It was the PERFECT colour for me!
As far as breakouts are concerned, it wasn't TOO bad, however that's because I am very acne prone - It will DEFINITELY be fine on all normal skins.

My advice is: Don't be put off by the "Aqua" - I think it is designed more for oily skins, or for pople who need medium coverage without feeling like that are wearing to much makeup.
ps. The packaging looks gorgeous. It's in a classy plastic bottle with black cap - slightly different to the other " Lumiere " foundations in their range.

Book Review: Beauty Rules by Bobbi Brown

I bought this for my friend's 15th birthday as she has previously had other Bobbi Brown books, and after having flicked through it, I am in two minds.I have to say, although it's a nicely presented book, the information is very basic, much like the earlier Bobbi Brown book. I know it is aimed at Teens, but it is also marketed for those in their twenties.
It's not so much the content, more the way the information is written - it can be very patronising at times.

However, it is a lovely book. It is huge and contains alot of information. It also has a section for mothers, and also a section on "real-life" prom make up case studies, which I think is quite cute.
As it is such a large book, I'm sure if i'd read it from page to page i'd be able to give you a MUCH more detailed review. But of course it's a gift.
I am considering buying it for myself as I am intrigued by little things I've seen (one particular picture where there is some gastly green and white eyeshadow left unblended, and Bobbi says "she still looks good).
P.S. there is a foreword by Hilary Duff - in case that makes a difference to some people.

It all depends on the person really - in terms of layout and presentation and amount of info 10/10.
In terms of the quality of information, no more than 6/10.

Can't Wait To Get My Hands On: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

I first saw this advertised in ELLE a couple of weeks ago - and I thought, WHY HAS NO ONE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE??! Not because it's amazingly innovative - rather the sheer simplicity of it! Isn't this what us mascara addicts have been waiting for all our lives?

It's not, is it? - that's because no one has thought of it.But again, why? Is it because it is deemed too gimmicky? Is it because a normal mascara has been serving us fine all these years? Or so we think?

Well now it's time to find out, with Clinique's brand new Bottom Lash Mascara (Original name, I know - but sometimes less is more. However, when it comes to APPLYING mascara - more, is to be quite frank, always more!). The teeny tiny applicator "is engineered for precision control, and a smudge resistant formula."

From the reviews I've people seem to be loving it - so, is this the new way forward for mascara?! Tell me what you think - will you be buying this, or is it just a waste of space and money?!

Clinique Bottom Lash will retail for £10 for 2ml.

HAIR: Cher Lloyd vs Rihanna

Everybody, Cher Lloyd has a new do! And it's surprisingly similar to the hair Rihanna was sporting a while back, except Cher has gone for RiRi's current colour; bright red!

Who do you think the hair suits better??
Personally, I do like this look on Cher - but for me Rihanna was always the queen of the curly, quiffy crop.

 I think Cher's long hair really suited her!!

Picture Source: http://i.cocoperez.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cher-lloyd-with-some-rihanna-hair__oPt.jpg

Chantecaille Sea Turtle Palette - Saving the turtles...with eyeshadow?!

Listen up charitable beauty lovers! Now you can do something good for nature, at the same time as indulging yourself in a gorgeous new eyeshadow palette - This is all thanks to the brand new creation by Chantecaille, the hot-off-the-press Sea Turtle Palette. It features three gorgeous eye colours and a pretty blush tone.The colours are almost to pretty to use - however, at a hefty £73, you might just want to use it sparingly! Fear not though - you can sleep at night knowing 5% of your hard-earned cash goes towards sea turtle charity "Widecast".
If you ask me, that's £73 well spent!
What do you think? x

Avon Haul!!

This is my first ever avon haul!!Exciting!
So, obviously my mum has ordered stuff before but this was the first time I chose things for myself...They had a sale on, so these things were even cheaper!!

I ordered:

Colortrend kiss'n'go lipstick - Iced Champink - £1.60

Colortrend Pencil Play Eyeliner - Black - £1.35 

Blackhead Clearing Deep Treatment Mask - I think I paid about £3?

Dual Pencil Sharpener - £1

So far all the products look really good. I have only tried the mask once, so I don't know if it is working yet. All I know is that is smells slightly of that old classic in Granny's cupboard, Raid! lol! Anyway I will keep you updated on that!!

The lipstick is very shimmery - I was expecting it to be matt, but it is still a really nice pale pink colour - more swatches and a review to come!

The pencil sharpener is so good! Cannot believe I only paid £1!! Sharpens so well!

Eyeliner is decent - just like any other pencil liner. It's hard enough for it too last a decent time, but soft enough to apply comfortably!

Keeping checking back for more on my first fantastic avon haul!!