Topshop Make Up

TOPSHOP's line of Make Up is celebrating it’s first Birthday with a collection of three limited edition metallic nail polishes. Moonshine, Heart Of Gold and Starlight will be launched online and in stores from May 2011 and are inspired by the antique, aged look of Autumn/Winter's metallic leather swatches. The three limited edition shades will be available online at www.topshop.com and from select Topshop stores nationwide priced individually at £6.00

NAILGIRLS Summer 2011 Collection Inspired by the Catwalk

NAILGIRLS introduces its Summer 2011 colour collection inspired by the catwalk trends, using its celebrated ‘4 free’, long lasting, high gloss, nail strengthening formulas. The shades include: Pink #20, inspired by the neon floral maxi dresses and bright colours seen at Paul & Joe for SS11; Orange #2, inspired by the fluoro orange lace seen at Christopher Kane; Purple #10, inspired by the SS11 collections of Marc Jacobs and Diane Von Furstenberg; Khaki #1 contrasts the brights in the collection and aims to work the SS11 trend of teaming neons with neutrals, inspired by Lanvin and Paul & Joe. Priced at £10.50 each, the Summer collection is available from May from Nailgirls

Paul & Joe SS11 Catwalk Show

Orange Lace at Christopher Kane SS11 Catwalk Show

Marc Jacobs SS11 Catwalk Show

Diane Von Furstenberg SS11 Catwalk Show

Neutrals at the Lanvin SS11 Catwalk Show

Royal Wedding Giveaway - Win Lanvin Marry Me Perfume!

To celebrate William & Kate's royal wedding I am giving away a bottle of Lanvin 'Marry Me' perfume worth £61! You can read more about the perfume description here.

The Rules:

This is open to all Perfectly Polished followers world wide and shall close on May 15th 2011 at 11pm (UK Time).

1. You must be a follower of my Blog through Google Friend Connect
2. Simply write 'HRH' in the comments below to enter!
3. For extra entries follow me on Twitter @perfectpolished and Tweet:
Have you entered the royal giveaway to win Lanvin Marry Me perfume worth £61? Enter here: http://bit.ly/hJm3vV @perfectpolished RT
4. For extra entries publicise on your blog or website and post the link in the comments below

Good Luck x

Win a Batiste Brit Goody Bag

To celebrate William & Kate's royal wedding I am giving away a goody bag full of Batiste treats - 2 full size cans of the new Batiste Brit dry shampoo, a full size can of Batiste Tropical, Batiste Diva mini can, Batiste Boho mini can and a handy mini hair brush. These goodies would come in very handy for festival season!

The Rules:

This is open to all Perfectly Polished followers world wide and shall close on May 15th 2011 at 11pm (UK Time).

1. You must be a follower of my Blog through Google Friend Connect

2. Simply write in the comments below to enter!

3. For extra entries follow me on Twitter @perfectpolished and Tweet:

Have you entered to win a Batiste Brit Goody Bag? What you waiting for! Enter here: http://bit.ly/e0yQzD @perfectpolished RT

4. For extra entries publicise on your blog or website and post the link in the comments below

Good Luck x

Lanvin Marry Me!

It’s the season of celebrity weddings with Kate Middleton, Kate Moss and Lily Allen all soon to be walking down the aisle. All eyes will be on the wedding gowns but beautiful make-up, hair and fragrance will add the perfect finishing touches for every blushing bride.

Lanvin’s Marry Me! Is the perfect fragrance to wear when saying ‘I do’. This delightfully romantic scent of Tunisian bitter orange, sensuous jasmine, sweet peach and magnolia will add the perfect note and be a memorable addition to the bride’s trousseau.

How cute is the bottle?! Lanvin Marry Me! Is priced at £61 for 75ml but if you fancy winning your own bottle keep an eye out for my next giveaway!

Free Origins Cleanser worth £16!

We all love a freebie don't we! If you fancy a free Origins cleanser (worth £16) then go to your nearest Origins Counter (can be found in Boots, Debenhams, John Lewis & House of Frazer amongst others) on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd April. You are able to trade in any skincare beauty product - of any brand, new or old, full or empty for a free full size cleanser (150ml) and can choose from either Checks & Balances face wash or A perfect World Cleanser.

Go to Origins to find your nearest counter.

Lauren Conrad Launches Beauty Website

Lauren Conrad has launched thebeautydepartment.com today, a website crammed full of hair and makeup tips she’s procured over the years. So if you are wondering how to re-create her signature cat-eye liner, perfect pout or beachy waves you can visit her new Beauty Blog! The photo and video how-tos star Lauren, plus her longtime hairstylist, Kristin Ess, and her makeup artist, Amy Nadine.

There are rumours that Lauren will be soon launching her own line of cosmetics and hair products,cant wait!

Lush Spa 'The Spell' Treatment

Lush has launched 'The Spell', a 60 minute treatment (£50.00) based on a traditional foot massage performed at The Lush Spa. Taking inspiration from reflexology, this treatment aims to ease the build up of stress and anxiety. The Spell treatment begins with the client writing down a worry, which is then placed in a copper pot and lit. Then a zesty scrub with Stepping Stone pumice is used on the feet, along with a therapeutic soak and a Volcanic Bath Ballistic. The Volcano foot mask with healing clays and pumice is applied to the feet to cleanse and remove any dead skin, and a head and scalp massage then follows. Also available at The Lush Spa are: the signature Synaesthesia massage (£125.00), Validation Facial (£75.00), The Good Hour massage (£75.00) and Tailor Made massage (£40.00). 


These treatments are pricey but from what I've heard worth every penny - I hope to review for you soon! Let me know if you have had any Lush Spa treatments and your thoughts below.


www.lush.co.uk 

Eylure Upper & Lower Lashes

Eylure is introducing new collections to its lashes range with new Upper and Lower Lashes Duo in Choppy or Feathery (£7.95). Choppy is inspired by the 1960's and give a wide-eyed effect. Feathery offers a more subtle look. New Under Lashes (£5.06) are available in three new styles to suit all occasions. Eylure has also introduced Brown Lashes (£5.06) for those with a lighter skin tone as well as Individual Lashes in Mid and Dark Brown (£4.54). The Eylure sets are available this month (April) from Boots and Superdrug stores nationwide.


I have already tried the individual lashes which look so natural if you apply 5 lashes on each outer corner but I find them tricky to apply underneath! I have been on the hunt for natural looking bottom lashes for some time so can't wait to try these! Have you tried bottom lashes?

MAC Surf Baby Collection

MAC Cosmetics has announced their new collection; Surf Baby. The Surf Baby range comprises: My Paradise Cheek Powder, Mini Blush Sticks, Crushed Metallic Pigments, Hibiscus Lipstick and Splashproof Lash Mascara alongside Solar Riche Bronzing Powder, Gold-go-Lightly Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder, Skinsheen Bronzer Stick and Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balms. The new limited edition additions will be available from selected MAC stockists in May/June priced between £13.50 to £25.50 from http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/.

Clarisonic Mia Review

You may remember I reviewed a cheaper alternative to the Clarisonic - Champneys Spa Facial Brush a few months ago which retails at £20. Although I found this to be a great gadget and for the price it is great value if you are on a budget but now I have had chance to test out the Clarisonic Mia over the past 3 months, there is no comparison. 

The Clarisonic Mia is a more compact, smaller version of the original Clarisonic electric face brush device using a technology coined as Sonic Cleansing – which is a gentle way of “brushing” your skin to remove the dirt and oil while cleansing and this helps to clean, smooth and soften your skin. ‘The one-button, one-speed, one-minute Mia promises quick results that complement any skin care ritual leaving skin looking beautifully healthy.  Mia’s gentle sonic vibrations cleanse deeply, clearing pores; reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; creating softer, smoother skin; helping reduce oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes and are gentle enough for cleansing delicate skin every day.‘

The rechargeable brush is completely waterproof, making it perfect for use in the bath or shower. Mia’s unique, compact pLink® power link charger magnetically attaches to the handle and allows for a full 20 minutes of use. Brush heads are interchangeable with other Clarisonic skin cleansing models allowing you the benefits of the normal, sensitive or delicate brushes (Mia is supplied with the sensitive brush head – ideal for sensitive to normal skin types) and you can buy replacement brush heads. It is vital to keep the brush heads clean and change them every 2-3 months so prevent spreading bacteria around the skin. A top tip is to clean the brush head in the dishwasher with some fairy liquid or baby shampoo or you can clean it after every use with anti-bacteria spray.

How I Use the Clarisonic Mia in my normal cleansing routine:

On a morning I tend to quickly swipe over my eyes with Liz Earle’s Eye Bright Lotion and then apply a small amount of cleanser on damp skin, dampen the Clarisonic brush head and run across my face for one minute (the timer is set automatically for one minute). I would then rinse my face and apply my serum and moisturizer which I find sinks in nicely after using the Mia.

On an evening first of all, I remove my eye makeup with Liz Earle Eye Bright or Bioderma Crealine H2O on a cotton pad. I then remove my makeup with an oil-based cleanser, massaging the oil into my skin, adding a little water to emulsify the oil into a milky texture then rinse with warm water.

Although the device comes with a small travel sized Clarisonic cleanser, I still like to use my usual cleansers with the Clarisonic. I use either Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish or Elemis Tri Enzyme Facial Wash and apply a little on my skin before pressing the button on the Clairsonic and run the brush (I use the sensitive brush head) all over my face for one minute. I tend to switch and change my cleansers depending on my mood/how my skin is feeling. I then rinse my face and depending on my skin’s needs I might use an exfoliate scrub, face mask or facial oil before applying moisturizer.

My thoughts:

My skin type is normally classed as normal/combination – it tends to be normal most of the time but every now and then I get spots around the chin area (hormonal), sometimes have oily patches and tend to get dry on the forehead and cheeks. After testing out the Claironic Mia for over 3 months now, I have noticed that my skin appears more balanced, with less dry patches, and less breakouts (even when it’s that time of the month). The brush feels so soft on the skin and not at all scratchy, it is relaxing to use apart from I find the vibrations slightly uncomfortable around the nose area.

 

It works deeply yet gently to clear pores and prepare the skin for increased absorption , releasing your moisturiser’s full potential.  I find my moisturiser sinks in well into my skin after using the device and my skin looks brighter and smoother in texture. I haven’t noticed a difference in pore sizes or blackheads around my nose; however I do find it quite tricky to use the Mia around the nose area.

It is great portable device to take on holiday, as it is portable and long as you charge up the device before you go, there is no need in taking the charger with you which saves on weight in your case. It is worth noting that if you are using the tool in the UK you will need to purchase a travel adaptor as the charger that comes with the device has a USA plug. I do feel for the cost of the set – the device should come with a couple of different sized brush heads, as in comparison the cheap-as-chips Champney’s version came with 4 brush heads in various sizes.

Verdict:

Although it’s on the pricey side, I would definitely recommend this, especially those who have oily skins or prone to breakouts. I think the only downside for those on a budget is the price, so I would suggest maybe putting it on your Birthday/Christmas List, taking advantage of the Space NK discount days or joining a free cashback site (where you can save money on lots of other websites too!). If you were thinking of purchasing a Clarisonic, I would definitely recommend the Mia and it is smaller and more compact and best of all it is much cheaper in price!

The Clarisonic Mia is available exclusively in the UK at John Lewis, feelunique.com or Debenhams priced at £120. 

AVEDA Make-Up

AVEDA the maker of plant-derived haircare, skincare and lifestyle products now re-introduces its make-up line to the UK. Re-formulated and featuring new products in both earthy and vibrant colours, Aveda’s make-up products are all derived from nature containing protective vegetable antioxidants, conditioning fruit and nut butter, rainforest colour pigments and aromatic waxes from exotic flower petals - all housed in environmental-friendly packaging. The range includes products for the face, eyes, lips and cheeks as well as brushes and palettes and is available in Aveda salons, spas, stores nationwide and online at http://www.aveda.co.uk/

Royal Wedding Belles with Batiste Brit

Batiste Brit - something old, new, borrowed and blue is all well and good for the bride, but something BATISTE is the best choice for the rest of us on the Royal Wedding Day! Make the most of every minute of your extra day off; forget the time consuming hair wash and blow-dry routine and reach for a can of Batiste Brit instead.

It's the quickest, easiest and most convenient way to refresh and revitalise greasy, dull, lifeless hair, instantly leaving it feeling clean full of body and fabulously fragrant. Great for the bride to take on honeymoon too; surely there'll be better things on the agenda than washing her hair......? Keep the nozzle about 30cm from your hair and spray into the roots, massage through with fingertips, leave for a few minutes and brush out - it's quick, easy and convenient.

Batiste Brit is priced at £2.13 exclusive to Superdrug

ORLY new Instant Artist Collection

ORLY are introducing their own Instant Artist Collection with an extensive colour palette. The designs can be applied directly over the nail polishes and finished with a Glosser topcoat. ORLY also introduces the new Instant Artist Starter Kit featuring five shades and one Dotter Duo, as well as the Instant Artist range that consists of a starter kit, 22 water based colours, two nail polish colours and three tools, available from May 2011.

Do you like to get creative with Nail Art?

Instyle Magazine & Selfridges Collaboration 'The Best Advice We've Ever Heard'

Fashion & Beauty bible InStyle has teamed with Selfridges the world's best department store to launch a media first - Best Advice We've Ever Heard - a multi-platform little black book of secret beauty advice. Spreading and sharing beauty wisdom is a female-bonding rite. 

Best Advice We've Ever Heard harnesses a wide range of tried and tested tips from A-listers, industry pros, the InStyle and Selfridges beauty teams and readers. Beauty advice can be shared by logging onto www.facebook.com/instyleuk

Based on the popular monthly beauty column in InStyle magazine, the Facebook Page has been designed to share with readers all the best advice that has been gathered from industry experts, editors and celebrities and to hear readers' top tips. A clever edit of insider beauty secrets, alongside genuine readers' advice collated through an interactive Facebook site.

This advice will then be presented in a standalone beauty bible; a 40 page perfect bound supplement distributed within the September issue of InStyle. Selfridges social media platforms will support the activity alongside in-store activity to take place in May and September across the UK. As well as sharing advice, the Facebook Page will include video content with tutorials, competitions and prizes and beauty buys of the day.

What are your best beauty tips?

Winners!

Apologies for the time taken to announce the outstanding winners – I have not had internet access unfortunately. There have been a few issues with postage and items being lost which I am chasing up with the companies and replacements will be sent out so all of you. Congrats to al the winners, I shall tweet/email you all if you could email your addresses to perfectlypolishednails@gmail.com so your prizes can be sent out asap :-)

Revlon Lipstick & Nail Polish winners were:

Lolaa

missy_ellie_uk

Stavroula

Ego Makeup

Ms Buba

Dove Hair Care Set winners:

Vanity

April

Miha.ela

Edwina

SkellyBones

Lauren Conrad Style Book winners:

Fi

Danielle

Katy

Jenny

Becca

Rose Oil Winner:

Laurax

Lanolips Winner:

Sarah

Keep an eye out for more giveaways coming very soon...

Fancy a FREE Maybelline Mascara??

If you fancy a free Maybelline The One-by-One Volum' Express Mascara worth £8.49 then read on....This coming Sunday 17 April 2011, vote online in the News of the World's Fabulous magazine Beauty Awards. There shall be 15 categories in which you can vote for your favourite mascara/blusher etc and then 6 questions such as who your fave celeb icon is and your postal address. There are 3,000 mascaras available on a first come first served basis, so they are likely to run out fast. They will be sent out within one month and unfortunately winners aren't notified. There will be no update on the Fabulous site when the mascaras run out, but its worth a try!

Good Luck! Let me know if your a lucky winner :)

Top 10 Affordable Nail Polishes for Spring 2011

First of all a huge apology for the lack of blog posts recently – I still haven’t got regular internet access, so bare with me please! I can’t always see blog comments so if you want to get in touch the best way is to tweet me as I can access this on my phone! I was asked a little ago by a subscriber what my top affordable nail polishes are for Spring 2011...better late than never here they are and best of all I have kept the prices all under £5...

1. N.Y.C  New York Colour Minute in ‘Greenwich Village’ £2.59

This gorgeous Raspberry Red shade is vibrant and intense perfect pick me up this spring for overcoming the winter blues. These polishes are priced at £2.59 but at the moment their whole range is on offer at  Boots.com and Superdrug – 2 polishes for £3.49 - absolute steal! 

2. MUA Nail Polish in 'Shade 5’ £1

This is bargain from Superdrug Make Up Academy range, which has taken notice of current nail trends and created a cheap affordable range to more expensive brands. This is in Shade 5 which is a fresh minty green perfect for spring and for a pound it would be rude not to! 

3. Revlon Nail Enamel in 'Tropical Temptation' £6.49 (£4 each when you take advantage of the offer)

70's inspired tans and coral orange hues have graced the catwalks during Fashion Week and this is the perfect coral shade for spring. This shade will also look fabulous on the toes and show off your deep tan throughout the summer. Revlon host a brilliant range of on-trend colours and finishes and are high quality, long lasting and streak free. Revlon polishes are priced at £6.49 each but are currently on offer for 2 for £7.99 (Let's say £4 each then) in  Boots.com and Superdrug .

4. Nail Rock Fashion Print Designer Nail Wraps were £6.70 now £4.25

Nail wraps are the new way to adorn fingers and toes with art and without the use of nail polish. Super easy to apply and unique designs no wonder many celebs such as Katy Perry, Alexa Cheung, Beyonce and Rihanna are fans, it’s quickly becoming a beauty must have. Nail Rock Nail wraps are on offer at http://www.asos.com/ were £6.70 now £4.25 and come in a variety of different designs.

5. Mavala Mini polishes  £3.49

Nothing beats a nice French Manicure for that perfectly polished look. I have spoken before how much I love these polishes! They stock a lovely selection of bang on trend nudes and pastels perfect for spring-time. They have a huge colour range, dinky little 5ml pots, high quality, and priced at £3.49 each they are the affordable way to buy into key season trends without breaking the bank.


6. Andrea Fulerton Stripe & Sparkle in 'India' £5.10 

Get those creative juices flowing with Andrea Fulerton Stripe & Sparkle Nail Art polish sets. The 2 in 1 bottle contains a super skinny precision brush so you can paint a different look everytime - lines, tips, polka dots, flicks, letters and pin stripes. The sets are priced at £5.10 (Oops 10p over our £5 budget - Blame Cameron!) and is available from Superdrug .

7. Rimmel London I LOVE Lasting Finish Nail Polish in 'No Green Grass ' £2.99 

These cheap but cheerful polishes from Rimmel London are chip resistant, hard-wearing and available in a range of up-to-date trendy colours. This colour featured is a lime green which shall add a little edge to any spring outfit.


8. 2true Glossy Wear Nail Polish in No. 11 'Lavender' £1.99

Lilac is going to be huge for for spring/summer and this lovely creamy lavender shade by 2true is a bargain at under £2!


9. Barry M Nail Paint in 'Fuchsia' from £2.15

 

Barry M Nail Paints are quick-drying and great value for money and come in an array of fashion-forward shades and finishes from metalics (which are a huge trend for spring), matts and shimmers to suit every mood and taste. Even better I noticed they are on offer in the ASOS sale for £2.15 so grab a bargain whilst stocks last!


10. Models Own in 'Propper Copper' was £5 now £4.50

Metallics are a huge trend for spring/summer and this hard wearing polish from Models Own is one of the hottest shades of the season in a gorgeous shimmery copper. I spotted this in the ASOS sale for £4.50 reduced from £5 in a large, long lasting 14ml bottle.   

What are your favorite trends and shades for Spring for those on a budget?   

Naked Truth

Naked Truth is the debut range from cosmetic doctor and skincare specialist Dr Darren McKeown. The anti-ageing collection comprises five skincare products, all containing scientifically proven active ingredients which are handpicked by Dr McKeown, built on his background in medical and scientific research. Products within the range include: Age Resistant Cleanser (£17.99/150ml), Face Renewal Mask (£21.99/50ml), Age Resistant Moisturiser (£28.99/50ml), Intensive Care for Tired Eyes (£16.99/15ml) and Facial Rehydration Fluid (£17.99/150ml). Naked Truth is presented in glass pots and bottles, packaged in white boxes, etched with graphics and is available from May exclusively at all Superdrug stores nationwide and http://www.drdarrenmckeown.com/

NARS New Laguna Bronzer Inspired Collection

NARS COSMETICS are introducing a limited edition collection of products inspired by its classic Laguna Bronzing Powder. Inspired by Founder and Creative Director François Nars' island, Motu Tane, the collection comprises: Laguna Body Illuminator (£33.00) to be used on legs, neck and décollete and won't transfer onto clothes; Laguna Multiple (£29.00) which is a golde shimmer shade suited to highlighting, light contouring and all-over bronzing; Orgasm, Albatross, Laguna 'Blush/Bronzer Trio' (£39.00) feature three famous NARS products in one portable compact. Available from May this new collection is available nationwide and online at http://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/

I love Laguna Bronzer, its the most natural colour for an instant tan but is on the pricey side and I find that it tends to break and smash quite often :( Are you a fan of Laguna?

Spapliance Heated Orb

SPAPLIANCE is a new brand launched at Professional Beauty 2011. Co-created by Jane Scrivner, a former skin therapist, the brand’s first product is the ORB. This is a portable, continuous heat chamber for warming skincare products including waxes, clays and mud. The ORB heats products within 10 minutes and through a patented applied process, once removed from the heat source, is portable and maintains its temperature for an hour. The ORB, priced at £175.00, is currently only stocked online at www.spapliance.com SPARCANA (the parent company) is actively looking for distributors for the ORB. Each year SPARCANA plans to launch a new appliance designed for use by beauty therapists.

Pricey but this gadget looks fantastic for home waxing and for heating face masks. If you know of any similar gadgets on a budget let me know in the comments please!

MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga New Lipstick

M.A.C has unveiled a new website Viva Glam in the UK along with a new shade lipstick and lipglass inspired by Lady Gaga. The new site will host an interactive experience where fans can buy a Viva Glam lipstick then upload a photo to show Lady Gaga how they ‘Glam This Way’. A collection of these photos will then be used as fabric to create a couture creation for Gaga. 


In the Autumn of 2011 MAC will reveal the creation designed by the musician’s stylist Nicola Formichetti, constructed with a collection of the fan images. All proceeds minus the VAT from the sale of MAC Viva Glam goes to the support of those affected and living with HIV. The new Lipstick and Lipglass (pictured here), priced at £13.50 and £12.50, are available now from www.vivaglam.com