Your Skin Care Routine

Hey guys!

Next in my skin care series shows you what your skin care routine should consist of to ensure healthy glowing skin! If you're not sure what skin type you are have a look at my earlier post By clicking here.

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Every morning and evening you should:

1. Cleanse - to remove any make up, excess oil and impurities from your skin by using either a cleanser or facial wash; either of these is fine as they do the same thing, the only difference is the consistency.
2. Tone - This is much more important than most people think. Toner does not just remove any excess cleanser and close the pores, it also ensures that the PH level of your skin is at the right level to work properly. When you use a cleanser, your PH level shoots right up and this can cause dryness and large pores. So, start using toner peeps! :0)
3. Moisturiser - This is important for all skin types - even if you have oily skin.
• Oily skin is often exacerbated by not moisturising because your skin tries to compensate by producing more oil. Remember, all this oil is on the surface, your dermis can actually be very dehydrated. If this is the case you need to use a light water-based moisturiser such as Simple Oil Balancing Moisturiser.
• Skin which is showing signs of ageing such as fine lines and winkles can benefit from a moistuer which contains Vitamin E. This ingredient has wheat germ oil in which helps to repair skin. It also protects the skin from free radicals such a ciggerette smoke and pollution.
• Dry Skin - Ensure you use a very rich mosisturiser and a night cream. Night creams differ from a day cream in that they help to repair the skin and are often much richer. It will soak in over night and give your skin a real boost
• All Skin types - should use an SPF moisturiser of at least 15 to protect against UVA and UVB rays which causes skin ageing. Remember not to forget to mositurise your neck as well, it needs protecting too!
• age 20+ - If you're in your 20's you need to start using an eye cream to prevent wrinkles as you get older, but apply with you ring finger to stop from pulling the skin.

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Hope this helps you figure out what you should be doing to keep your skin glowing. Next in the skin series: Weekly treatments.

Hugs and cupcakes,

Don't Change the Chanel

This is one of the most expensive TV adverts ever made and was directed by the film genius Baz Luhrmann. I just had to share it with you because it is so so gorgeous.

What do you think? absolutely divine?

Hugs and cupcakes,

P.s The film shoot when great today! I was absolutely freezing but I'm really happy with the results. Can't wait untill they're edited and I can share them with you!

How to REALLY get a Chanel Bag on a Budget

Yesterday I went to London and whilst I was on the train I saw a Lady with a Chanel Bag and my eyes went green! haha! You all know how much I have wanted a Chanel bag! Well, Luck was with me as just by chance, I popped into a side stall whilst waiting for a friend and bought this replica (I assume?!) Chanel Bag.

I haggled with the guy and managed to get this and a Chanel purse for £40 which he reduced from £45 and he even gave me a free Keyring which I had my eye on! Bargain eh? Just shows what fashion finds you can get if you have your eyes peeled and whilst knock-off copies must damage Chanel's sales, the likelyhood of me ever being able to afford a £1500 genuine article is so small that I have justifed it to myself!

I also have so many exciting new posts coming up which I know you're going to love including:

• Crazy Sexy Diet: Eat Your Veggies, Ignite Your Spark, and Live Like You Mean It! I'm trying the 21 day detox programme from the book by Kris Carr. - I'll give you updates as I go along!
• Tomorrow I'm doing a photoshoot with my friend Mel which is going to be all nature and boho and fabulous.
• Selfridges 'Hot Young Things' shop windows
• Primark: Fashion Finds at a bargain price - What's not to Love?

As I'm at home for a few days without my laptop you'll have to wait with excitment for these, but they are coming soon!

Have you got any great fashion finds you want to share?

Hugs and cupcakes,

What People Really Think About these Fashion Trends

I saw this online and I just had to share it with you. It literally made me laugh out loud. Perhaps because there is a tiny bit of the ridiculous in fashion.



What do you think? Agree? :)

Hugs and Cupcakes,

P.S This is in no way meant to offend anyone (I have leggings/Uggs!) but a way for us all to laugh at ourselves! Enjoy x

Quirky Handmade Jewelry

My friend Katie is the queen of unique style. Some things she wears I didn't even know they were cool until I see them on her (sparkly gloves a la lady Gaga = YES) and suddenly everyone wants one! and I love supporting local talent. Handmade unique jewelry = super cool. If it was made by Louis Vuitton would be called Couture, as it's not we just call it  . .. . "awesome."  So, take a look at this beautiful jewelry she made and some outfit ideas of what you could put it with and the good thing is you can bid for them right now by clicking on the link.

The above outfit would look great accessorised with these earrings. These are the perfect earrings to buy if you want your neck to look long and slim. Matched with a boho scarf in this seasons colour of  bright blue, To bid, go to: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/14-xanadu/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25

A Beautiful vintage lace choker would look fantastic with:

Get the choker by clicking the link: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIQUE-HAND-CRAFTED-lace-vintage-choker-beads-/270696569379?pt=UK_Jewellery_Watches_CostumeJewellery_CA&hash=item3f06c5da23

and if you don't like those two she has lots of other bits and pieces which might catch your eye, so take a look.


Love, cupcakes and Happy Shopping,

Spring Street Style: Mac in Time

Good afternoon my fashion divas!

Yesterday I went out to a great Mexican restaurant and my gorgeous friend was wearing a really trendy outfit which I just had to show you all.  It just shows that you can still be totally trendy on a student budget.

A cream Mac is a must for any winter to spring to summer wardrobe.  (I also have a bright red one which is lush) You can wrap up warm up by being light enough to put a jumper underneath, it protects you from the occasional April shower and is light enough to carry if it warms up a bit. If you don’t have one, buy one now, you won’t regret it!

Under her Mac she wore a sleeveless dress from Zara, with a cute pattern, and accessorised it with a thin brown belt which matched the colour of her brogues and handbag. Adding a thin belt is a great way to add shape as it focuses attention onto the slimmest part of the body, the waist.

Brogues are very trendy this season, and are another great changing season’s piece as you can wear them under trousers, or like this outfit with a skirt. Brogues are also part of the fashion trend of combining the masculine and feminine. As brogues were traditionally man’s shoes, by pairing it with a feminine dress and bright red lipstick the whole outfit is balanced, neither looking too girly or too Tom-boy.

Hope you like it as much as I did and let me know you think. Also watch out because I will be taking my camera to the streets to snap style conscious Lads and Ladies to show you all on my blog.

Hugs and Cupcakes,

That Girl's Got Skillz

Do you want to nab some skills? Running skills? Flirting skills? Posh Nosh Skills?

Every New Year, a lot of people seem to get an opinion on how to improve their lives and consequently everyone else’s. From the truly crazy ideas [I’m going to live on just water and carrots for an entire month] to the reasonable [I want to lose one stone before I go on holiday] to the downright ridiculous [I’m going to shave my cat] everything comes out of the barrel and by half way through January, often forgotten.

 Now as it’s a new year I thought it would be good to get some skills or improve on the ones I already have. Here are some awesome websites which will hopefully get you some new hints and tips too. Enjoy! And add a comment of any websites you also find really useful.

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/beginners/get-started-schedules/30.html

Want to start running? Well this website has a programme which will get you to running for 30 minutes at a time in 8 weeks? Get some tunes on your ipod, get running and you’ll have a beach ready body in no time J

http://jezebel.com/5732771/social-minefield-a-guide-to-flirting

Awkward when chatting to guys/girls? This is a good guide to helping you feel a tad more comfortable! I know its really hard, whenever I see someone I really like I always act like a douche because I get all nervous but the best thing to think is. . . no pressure! Talk to them with the intention of being friends and then it’s no big deal if there’s not an instant attraction. You’ve got a new friend right?

http://lovephool.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/self-help-for-the-truly-fcked-up-or-the-vaguely-discontent/

One theory on the way to be happy. There is some truth in the article!

http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/

Need to take a break for two minutes?  . .. as if I need any more encouraging!

http://www.closettailors.com/blog/

Want to organise your home? This blog has lots of handy tips and ideas to get you going. My bedroom needs rewiring so I’m literally going through every item in my bedroom and either keeping, throwing away or selling on Ebay and this website has certainly helped get me started. There are lots of different ideas on there so have a mooch around.

http://www.problogger.net/

Want to improve your blog? Get more traffic? Have a look at this website with lots of useful hints, tips and articles.

http://www.waitrose.com/food/cookingandrecipes/index.aspx

Want to find another dish which will soon become your ‘speciality?’ Try Waitrose. The gods of food. Okay, whilst my student budget doesn’t stretch to their gourmet prices, you can make some posh nosh with the same recipes but the onions come from ASDA instead. WIN :D

I particularly like the Green Thai Chicken Curry:

http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Delia's_Thai_Chicken_with_lime_and_coconut.aspx

A little word on diets

It seems at the start of a new year the real focus is on the body, what you eat and how much you exercise. I applaud anyone who is on a diet. I know that I would find it very difficult to restrict what I’m eating because I always want what I can’t have! (This also happens to me with men and shoes and often when I order food, I want what someone else is having!) But one of the ways which I’m using to help me come to terms with eating a bit more healthily (chocolate is my downfall!) is when eating a salad or a piece of fruit to think “this is good for me to eat because it’s going to make my skin/hair glow and I’m going to feel great.” and when I eat something that isn’t healthy, rather than thinking that something is ‘bad’ and giving myself a guilt trip about it, to think “I’m eating this [insert junk food here] and its going to make me feel sluggish and bring me out in spots but I’m doing it anyway.” Suddenly doesn’t look as appetising does it? Aside from this, there are some genuinely tasty salads out there; it doesn’t all have to be carrot food to be healthy! I went out with a friend of mine to Ponti’s in Reading and had the most delicious caser salad and it made me feel so good and ready to keep shopping. Probably not the same feeling I would have got if I’d have had a Burger!

So, don’t guilt trip yourself but remember you deserve to look great and you deserve to eat yummy tasty healthy food which is going to make you look even more like the goddesses you are!

Hope this inspires you,

Love and Cupcakes

Easy 'Up Do' to Make You Sparkle at any Party

Heya girlies,

This is such a fabulous and easy to do hairstyle that I'm definitely doing it for this year's summer ball. It really is LUSH and I have seen it on a few different websites so I thought it was about time to share it with you! apparently it's originally courtesy of: http://citified.blogspot.com/ But whoever it is I thank them for creating an 'up do' that even butter fingers like me could master eventually!

1. Using a round brush, blow-dry hair smooth and straight, focusing on the top sections

2. Once dry, use a large-barrel curling iron to create waves from the ears down

3. Build height and volume at the crown by teasing hair gently with a fine-tooth comb

4. Gather hair into a low ponytail; twist it along the nape of your neck, pinning as you go

5. Once you reach your ear, shape the remaining hair into curls, and pin them back over

6. Red lips, an LBD and a sparkly clutch bag and you're good to go!

Mucho love and cupcakes,

Lily Wiggleworth Sale

Hiya guys,



I have found a sale with so many bargains I just had to share it. Lily Wigglesworth specialises in designer clutch bags but also sells jewelry and some other accessories. Unfortunately they're closing down (Boo!) but it means that all of their clutch bags are 70% off! (Woop!) There are some gorgeous things in the sale including these which I will be purchasing soon:



A cute little clutch by designer Suzy Smith which will go with practically anything due to it's neutral colour. Was £69 now £19.50



This is another cute clutch Bag by Suzy Smith that was £35 but now £10.50. Look at the sparkles! :) This would look fantastic with skinny jeans and a black top. Instant Glamour!

The website for the shop is: http://www.lilywigglesworth.co.uk/

Enjoy girlies and let me know what bargains you end up going for,

Love and Cupcakes,

Shoe Pornography

 Over the last few days I have been scouring the internet and highstreet stores for shoes worthy of lusting over. So love them or loath them but definately want them.

Shoes are from Various designers and highstreet names including Jeffrey Campbell, Jimmy Choo and Harrods.

Love and cupcakes,

P.s. A small part of me hopes that someone will type 'Porn' into google and this beautiful page of glitter and pink and gorgeousness instead of what I ca only describe as  . . . smut! shame on you ;-)

Easy Smokey Eyes Tutorial

I hope you enjoyed this Smokey eyes look, feel free to ask me any questions in the comment box if you're not quite sure about anything.

Coming up: Different types of smokey eye! - Gold and black smokey eyes and green smokey eyes

Love and Cupcakes,

Chanel your love

After reviewing the Chanel R-T-W collection Spring/Summer 2011 I thought, how does a girl with a part-time job and a university loan (legally!) get their hands on a vintage Chanel Bag? The ways I came up with are:

1) Win the lottery
2) Your best friend/significant other/close family member wins the lottery.
3)Win one in a competition.

and to be honest, I don't like those odds! so I thought, how does a smart girl with a part time job get a Chanel Handbag? and I came up with either:

1) saving and saving for years on end
2) not getting one but getting one which looks exactly the same instead. Clever eh?

My quick guide shows you where to get those copy cat designs.

and then it occured to be that rather than my fiance-to-be get me an expensive engagement ring, that I would rather have a cheap one and a real vintage Chanel Handbag. Now that is true love!

Love and Cupcakes,

Style Newsflash: Meggings

One of the styles which we have seen in the catwalk shows for a couple of seasons is 'Meggings.' Or in other words, Leggings for Men. Okay, Spider-man has been been wearing them for a couple of decades and we've seen them on the catwalk every now and then but its never something I ever thought would take off......until now.

This a selection from the catwalk shows of Givenchey, John Galliano and Bernhard Willhelm. This first one looks okay, the next is jester style and the third just darn electric crazy.


Russel Brand has reportedly been calling them his "testostrousers" and he actually pulls the look off pretty well, but then again, his style isn't exactly what you would call 'everyday' or even 'everyman' anf they could easily be mistaken for his skinny jeans.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the male phyisique as much as the next girl but a part of me does think that this is stealing our fashion secret. What?! they're supper comfy, super warm, usually come in a slimming shade of black, are dead cheap and show off your posterior?! No! you can't have them! What do you think ladies? Its odd at best, outrageous at worst and yet, what could not be more innovative, more eye catching than dressing men in a type of clothing which previously has only even been considered for women?

Model on the right: Journalist Jonathan Heaf, wearing sparkly leggings. Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

The catwalk style this season has been for a clean, fresh and yet emascluated woman, which can be seen very well in Stella Mcartney's ready to wear collection for spring/summer so perhaps this is a reversal. A clean, fresh, different man and yet acknowledging female fashion?

and then I think......Am I one day going to go into Tesco and accidently pick up the meggings instead of the leggings and only realise when I get home and they have a zipper? hmmmm..... Next thing you know it will be Meels. Men's Heels. hang on a minute.......

I would love to know your thoughts,

Love and cupcakes,

Wedges and Ketchup

As my nearest and dearest will know, lately I have been looking for (and obssesing over) finding myself a pair of black wedge heels. Totally wearable, they'll go with anything and they won't make your feet hurt after a night out. Sounds good eh? Easy to find? not quite! but after much searching I found this pair from New Look for £24.99.

But the real 'Ketchup' of the story is, much like a LBD, they go with anything and everything! What do you think of these outfits?

ahhhhh, what a bargain! :) This is one happy shopper! May the rest of the year follow with lots of fashion finds.

Love and cupcakes,

Spring/Summer Fashion Shows - Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton Spring summer collection featured electric block colours of orange, golds, blues, pinks and purple in a style which Marc Jacobs called ‘Camp taste.’ There was a distinct feel of the orient with exotic flowers, sequined pandas and the animal print trend being updated from last season to include the electric colours and Chinese-style collars. The collection also included some bright variations on the flapper dress where the dresses tassels were picked out on the shoes and accessories. In many of the collections this season we can see a fusion of masculine and feminine styles and I love the structured shoulder dress with the fuchsia orchids. Whilst it could be seen as a bit eccentric for some, expect neon colours and floral patterns (but not too floral, just a touch) in your high street stores next season.

Love and Cupcakes,