Sparkle Through the New Year.

Christmas might be over, but the celebrations are definitely not. Don’t return to your dull, bland make-up just yet, and make the most of the final few days of 2010. Add a bit of sparkle to your style to ensure this year really does go out in glitz and glamour.

Helen E does a great range of glitter which can applied wherever you wish. Simply paint the fixing gel onto your skin and apply the glitter over the top, for a shimmer that stays put all day, and all night too. For the best dressed eyes, apply your favourite glitter to your lids before heading out to town. Or for a more subtle look, just line your peepers with Urban Decay glitter eyeliner.

Add the finishing sparkling touches to your nails. Apply two coats of Barry M Glitter nail paint for the ultimate New Year look.

Make Your Hands Smell Good Enough to Eat.

Hand moisturisers needn’t be packaged in boring tubes anymore! These cute little Naughty but Nice cupcake hand cream’s are perfect for adding a sweet touch to any dressing table. The cream itself smells gorgeous, coming in a choice of four different scrummy flavours; cherry, strawberry, chocolate and coconut. They leave hands feeling super soft and nourished. Great for curing dry, chapped winter hands.

To purchase these yummy little hand treats visit www.npw.co.uk.

Sleep really does make you beautiful.

It is a well known myth that getting in a full eight hours of sleep each night improves our appearance. However, most of didn’t believe it to be true. But now new research from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm has proved that it very well could be. The researchers took 23 young men and women and took photographs of them after an eight hours rest, and then again after they volunteers had remained awake for 31 hours. Untrained observers were then asked to rate the faces, and who would have guessed it, the results showed that after a normal nights kip the volunteers looked more attractive and healthier.

The authors wrote in their paper published in the British Medical Journal: "Sleep deprived people are perceived as less attractive, less healthy and more tired compared with when they are well rested."

So what more of an excuse do you need to jump into bed early?

Look Lush This Christmas.

It’s that time of year again – the snow is gently falling, settling prettily on the treetops, and Santa’s bells are jangling away somewhere in the distance. Almost everyone is in the festive spirit, and it can be difficult to remember that all the frost and wet weather causes havoc to hands, nails, elbows and sensitive faces.

Lush has the answer to ward off any unwanted dry skin and help remain cosily warm this winter.

Run a hot bath before bedtime and pop in a Bearded Lady bubble bar (£2.50) whilst the water is still filling up your bath. This cute festive face dissolves in the water creating masses of bubbles and releasing vital moisturisers into your bathtub, leaving you with soft, super smooth skin.

Use Glogg shower gel (£3.90) to wash away the stresses of the day. This warming gel contains orange, lemon, red wine, brandy, cinnamon and clove, leaving you with a wonderful spicy fragrance about you.

Remember that moisturising is essential in the winter months to ensure you are not riddled with dry skin. Lush have created two Charity Pots (£9.95) which contain gorgeous hand and body lotion, leaving your skin silky and crack free. What’s more, all the proceeds go to animal welfare, environmental and humanitarian charities, so you can sleep easy knowing you are well moisturised and have helped a good cause.

Lips are also important to look after during the cold weather. Sore, chapped lips are not only painful but wont leave your crush wanting to kiss you under the mistletoe either. Exfoliate away the dryness with Lip Dip lip scrub (£4.25). After they have been primed, smother them with Snow Fairy tinted lip balm. This extra moisturising balm is tinted pink, meaning lips will look luscious and kissable all winter long.

Lush products are eco-friendly, with 100% of products being suitable for vegetarians and not tested on animals, 76% suitable for vegans and organic ingredients are used where possible. So not only will you look fabulous, but you will feel fabulous knowing you haven’t harmed the environment.

All products are available in Lush stores nationwide, or visit www.lush.co.uk.

To Epilate or Not to Epilate.

Two of my friends and I decided that it would be a good idea to purchase an epilator. We figured, like most females, we could handle the pain of a few hairs being tweeked from our legs, after all, there are more painful places us girls remove hair from.

I got home and eagerly charged it up, excited at the concept of a whole new realm of leg smoothness. When it was done I turned it on to reveal a loud, terrifying whizz of the blade. Needless to say I ensued and put the tool to my ankle, even after my mothers knowing glances at the epilator, I was still determined to experience it.

OUCH!

The little machine tugged and tore at my hair follicles, and it took actual inner strength to run it up my leg.

However, after the initial shock of the hairs being ripped from me, the pain became bearable, so I proceeded onto the next leg.

The results?

Well, my legs had what only can be described as shaving rash, for the first few hours. After they had calmed down and returned to their normal, irritation-free way, they felt extraordinarily smooth, and stayed that way for two weeks without the need of another shave.

Now I think that’s worth the pain of a bit of epilating, don’t you?

I heart my razor

I bought a new razor and I have to admit it's actually made me enjoy removing the hairs from my legs! It used to be a chore, something that I'd painstakingly endure every other day, what with the ankle/ knee nicks and the expense of new shaving gel every month, and that's not mentioning the extra shower time having a thorough shave takes. However, the Gillette geniuses have created the Venus Breeze which makes shaving, well, a breeze. The refillable cartridge has built in scented shaving cream, meaning there's no need for the buying and lathering of gel making shaving quicker and easier. The three blades also make it a close shave resulting in silky, smooth legs. And did I suffer with cut ankles? Well, yes, a little, it is still a blade! But it was significantly less than my old razor. So results all round!

Only £3.99 at Superdrug.

Impulse Love

Impulse True Love is one of my fave Impulse scents. It's fresh, light fragrance makes it perfect for this time of year. Give yourself a floral burst whenever you want by just spritzing over body and clothes. Selected Impulse sprays are currently only £1 at Boots, so you can smell great for less!

Mineral deodorant

Minerals are all the rage on the cosmetic scene at the mo! From make-up to moisturisers, it's in everything. And now Garnier have introduced mineral deodorant. Perlite, the mineral used in the spray, is ultra-absorbent and protects against perspiration for up to 48 hours. It is available in both roll on and spray forms, priced at £1.99 and on a buy on get one free offer at the moment in Boots. You can't go wrong!

Une organic make-up

This new make-up range is made from 98% to 100% naturally sourced ingredients, and is aiming to be as eco-friendly as as possible. The range is all about promoting natural goodness, and aims to enhance natural beauty rather than mask it. The 'skin glow foundation' is very lightweight and feels barely there. It gives your face a luminous glow without drying it out. The 'soft minerals power foundation' is made with pure pressed minerals, which gives the skin a boost rather than clog it up like the chemicals do in regular make-up. This powder contains zinc and titanium which are actually good for the skin. I liked this foundation and powder combination as it did make me look natural and people did comment on how fresh I looked. I also liked that the packaging sports a handy little mirror, making touch-ups on the go easy. The only thing I disliked was that regular powder touch-ups were needed as I found I got shiny quite easily. The cream blush blended in well and stayed put all day without any need for touch-ups. This range can be found in most Boots stores. Prices start from £4.99.

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Product of the Week

Dr. Organic Bioactive Skincare.
£4.99 Holland and Barrett.

When thinking of places to purchase good beauty products, Holland and Barrett doesn't immediately spring to mind, but after discovering this bad boy I shall definately return there to seek more good beauty buys. As a girl who is constantly on her feet a good foot cream is a must to prevent dry, hard skin and cracked heels. I was amazed by this foot cream. It left my feet smooth and soft by the end of the first week. Just apply at night before going to sleep to see the best results in days. Not only is Dr Organic deodorising, but it offers moisture for up to 12 hours. It's time to get those tootsies ready for summer sandals, girlies.

It has to be Soap and Glory!!!

I have to admit it, I'm a Soap and Glory fiend. I love whole range, from body butters to perfume to face masks, there's nothing this brand doesn't do. It smells amazing and lives up to its promises too. I also love the packaging used, with the pictures of women and the cute bottles in all shapes and sizes- they're great to display on your dressing table. If I had the money I would buy duplicate items of every product they make, but unfortunately I don't so I have to make do with only vital purchases. One day, I tell myself, I shall own it all.

My Soap and Glory Collection

The 'Fab Pore' face mask. £6
This little pot of goodness shrinks pores and prevents pore clogging. It contains vitamins C and E, kaolin (or clay) and salcylic acid, all which contribute to fabulously smooth skin. Just massage the product onto your face until all the little green exfoliating beads have gone, leave on for five to 15 minutes, and voila, pore-fect face.

Moisturusing body mist. £6
These body mists come in a variety of scents, each as wonderful as the next. Not only do they smell lovely but they also give a burst of moisture when applied. Use post-shower for an all over moisture session, or carry one in your bag and spritz on whenever needed for a moisturisung scent that lasts all day long.

'The Righteous Butter Body Lotion'
For a more intensive moisturisation than the body mist, use this body butter. The lotion comes in a handy bottle with a cute little pump so you cant squirt out more than you need! At £6.50 it's one of the cheaper body butters in the range but still leaves the body baby soft.

'Eau de Soap and Glory Formula 2'.
This perfume smells lush. And it's suitable for every day wear as its scent isn't overpowering. It comes in a bottle with cute little tassles in a box which closes magnetically. It's only £15- bargain!

Candy Nails

It's all about soft, pretty colours right now. Barry M do a fab collection of nail varnishes that stay put and remain sheer. Apply two coats of this fast drying polish for the ultimate chip-free nails. At £2.95 a bottle you cant go wrong.

Spring is finally here :)

Hair

Plaits are massive news this season. Wear hair extentions to add volume to them and give your hair extra length. Go for messy, loose braids or twists for the ultimate Spring style.

Make-up

Go for pastel shades of eyeshadow, lilac, baby pink and blue. For cheeks opt for coral / apricot colours swept lightly across the cheekbone. Finish the look with nude lips for daytime glamour. For evening chic switch the clear lips for red lipstick.

Beauty

Spring is the time to begin the summer preparations. Use body lotion daily to ensure your skin is in optimum condition for the warm days ahead. Use a moisturiser with a hint of self tan to give your self a bit of extra colour, we all feel better when we're not pasty!

Perfume

Steer clear from heavy, over-powering perfume. Spring is all about fresh, floral scents.