I Am Fabulicious

MAC to Launch a Marilyn Monroe Inspired Collection

2012-02-23T01:20:00.000-08:00

MAC Cosmetics have unveiled plans for a special makeup collection inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s timeless and glamorous beauty.

The limited-edition line which will be in partnership with Authentic Brands Group is set to include nearly 30 products including eye shadow, lipsticks (think retro red and hot pink) nail polish’s and the obligatory eyeliner.

After all, it wouldn’t be a Marilyn Collection without some sultry liner!

Speaking of the star, MAC ‘s Senior VP James Gager says;

“Marilyn’s an icon, plain and simple. Her look not only defined a generation but is also relevant today”

He’s not wrong, Marilyn is still as much of an Icon today as she was in the 50’s (if not more so) and with the Oscar-nominated My Week With Marilyn starring Michelle Williams still hot on everyone’s lips, it’s clear that people’s fascination and love for Marilyn is still going strong.

The Marilyn Collection is set to hit stores in October, but I would think it probably won’t hit the UK for a little while after.

imPRESS Nails Hit The UK

2012-02-22T04:07:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought you’d seen it all in the way of snazzy nail polish ( think crackle polish, magnetic polish, nail wraps) Kiss have come along and wowed us once more, this time with their brand new impress nails.

imPRESS are essentially a ‘press on manicure’

(and happen to be fronted by ex Pussy Cat Doll Nicole Sherzinger)

Simply match the size of the nail to suit you, remove the adhesive tab and press on to your natural nail.

Unlike traditional stick on nails and wraps, there is no need for gloopy glue or fiddly foils to grapple with and they are said to last up to a week!

To remove, just peel off from the sides or apply nail polish remover around the edges, wait 1 minute and peel off.

Simples!

Available in 36 shades and patterns you will be spoilt for choice!

I LOVE the pretty lacy pattern (pictured) and think the packaging is inspired- Nails enclosed within a transparent nail polish bottle! So clever.

imPRESS Nails will be available from Boots and Boots.com from March/April Time and are £7.99 for plain nails and £8.99 for patterned ones.

To celebrate their launch, imPRESS are offering you and a friend the chance to visit their stand and attend London Fashion Week (the consumer event) from 23^rd- 26^th February!

To enter, make sure you follow I am Fabulicious by Google friends connect then head to Twitter and RT the following!

I want to #WIN 2 tickets to #LFW this weekend with @sarah_berryman1 http://tinyurl.com/8yugkju

You have until 10am on Thursday 23^rd February to enter and must either be available to collect the tickets from central London on Thursday or Friday, or be available to sign for next day postal delivery.

Dita Von Teese to Launch a Cosmetics Collaboration

2012-02-22T01:59:00.000-08:00

Dita Von Teese has revealed today that she will be launching a make up collaboration with the German brand Art Deco Cosmetics in May.

Posting on her Facebook page, the Diva says;

My 1st makeup collection with Art Deco Cosmetics launches this May! I'm shooting the campaign next week in Paris, but here's a teaser pic from my beauty book, out this fall.

(Pic above)

Dita has already been dipping her toes into the world of beauty with her debut fragrance Femme Totale which is set to launch in the UK later this year and her gorgeous Half Moon Nails by Kiss.

Im personally hugely excited about this collaboration, im picturing old school, vintage Hollywood glamour!

Dita with her fragrance

What do you think about this collaboration? Are you excited? Would you buy Dita’s range?

True Blood's Carrie Preston Talks Vampire Beauty

2012-02-21T01:47:00.000-08:00

Fans of True Blood will know that the hit show is currently back on our TV screens and in its fourth season already.

It’s glamorous stars and raunchy scenes have helped make it become a huge phenomenon both in the US and UK.

I love the show and I love the fact that Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) is not only a Brit, but attended the same secondary school as me!

(That practically makes us buddies, right?)

I caught up with one of the stars of the show, Carrie Preston (Arlene) to find out how it feels to be part of such a popular show and to find out her beauty secrets.

How does it feel to be part of such a huge phenomenon that is True Blood?

I feel extremely fortunate It is a wonderful show to be a part of. I did seven pilots before True Blood, and only one of them made it to air, and that one was short lived.

To be a part of a show that hits so big is such a great reward for all of the hard work you put in over the years, and to play such a fun role and get the opportunity to work with wonderful people is the icing on the cake.

Who is your favourite character in True Blood?

I’m obviously partial to Arlene, but I’m also a big fan of Jason, especially the way Ryan Kwanten plays him. I think Ryan is one of our strongest players. I don't think the world really realizes just how good he is or how difficult his role is because he makes it look so playful and effortless.

I have a great respect for him, and I never tire of watching him work. Because I’m from Georgia, I'm usually a little sceptical about Aussies and Brits playing American southerners, but Ryan nails it every time.

I have to ask, team Bill , team Jason, team Sam or team Eric?

Team Terry Every time! (Terry Bellefleur, her on screen partner. Awh!)

Your character is one of the only non-supernatural characters in the show. If you could possess one supernatural power what would that be?

I definitely think the vampires have more fun on our show! I keep pitching to Alan Ball (True Blood's creator) the idea of making Arlene some kind of supernatural, but to no avail.

I think they need someone to hold down the human fort and Arlene is the woman for the job, I think. Still, if Arlene could possess one super-power, I think she would want to be a shape shifter.

What do you have in your make up bag today?

CargoFoundation

Smashbox lip gloss

Tarte cheek stain

L’Oreal mascara

NARS loosepowder

When do you feel most beautiful?

I feel most beautiful when I’m dressed up and having a romantic dinner with my husband.

Do you have a beauty Icon?

For me, the beauty icon of the past would be Audrey Hepburn and of the present would be Michelle Williams.

Can you share with us one of your trade secret beauty tips?

I exercise regularly and drink a lot of water for my skin.

I use simple products on my face like Dermalogica and Creme de la Mer. If I'm going on the red carpet, sometimes I get a spray tan because i think it photographs well.

What was the best piece of beauty advice you have ever been given?

Stay out of the sun and wear a lot of sunscreen!

You can catch the latest season of True Blood on Sundays at 10pm on FX

Nina Ricci Fantasy

2012-02-17T02:51:00.000-08:00

Nina Ricci has launched a gorgeous Limited Edition version of her Classic fragrance just in time for spring.

Nina's classic fragrance is the one captured within the red, apple shaped bottle (Think Snow White!)

'Take a bite my pretty!' Nina by Nina Ricci

Named ‘ Fantasy’, it differs from the Classic Nina which contains notes of Calabrian lemon and Caipirinha lime and instead includes elements of Bergamot, Pear and Sicilian Mandarin which i find make it slightly sweeter smelling than the original .

This fragrance is inspired by spring and magical, fairy tale dreams and the bottle is just gorgeous!

Shaped in the classic apple-shaped bottle, it has really cute, pink cartoon drawings of apples, flowers, butterflies as well as chicks and baby deer!

The fragrance opens with sparkling top notes of bergamot, mandarin and pear which blend with the delicate, powdery accords of cherry blossom, heliotropes and roses.

The base of brown sugar with a hint of mate adds a rich sweetness to warm smelling fragrance.

I like my perfumes sweet. I’m definitely more of a sweet girl than a floral one and Nina Fantasy hits the spot.

It’s just the right amount of ‘sweet’ without being sickly and over powering and is a really girly and fresh fragrance.

Nina Fantasy is available now for £36.50 for 50ml from all major department stores.If you are a fan of the original fragrance, i highly recommend you try Fantasy.

Beauty Lab Peptide Tanning Lotion

2012-02-16T01:38:00.001-08:00

I may have mentioned before that I don’t use fake tan.

I am 100% milk bottle white and it’s all natural baby!

That’s not to say I haven’t ever dabbled in the world of tanning from a bottle, indeed most of my teen years were spent sporting various shades of bronze.

These days I tend to prefer my natural skin shade- transparent, but my sister is a big fan of fake tans and that’s why I handed over to her to try out Beauty Lab’s Peptide Tanning Lotion (£20)

The lotion is deeply hydrating and formulated with a tan inducing peptide to provide a golden, sun kissed and streak free tan.

Blended with rainforest cocoa, rose petal and jasmine flower it has a hint of guava and melon that offers a gorgeous aroma.

But how did it fare? Over to Megan

(who by the way, is the talent behind my I Am Fabulicious Logo don't you know!)

The lotion is really creamy and smooth, goes on easily, is easy to rub in and doesn't dry up before you've finished spreading it!

It has a lovely fresh smell to it which is far better than the more common smell associated with fake tans, namely biscuits!

Once applied to the skin it doesn’t feel tacky and it dries quickly enough that you could get dressed in about ten minutes if you were to apply in the morning.

Before

After

A huge plus is that it doesn't stain your clothes or your bed sheets what so ever. I’d say the best way to use it is to put it on before going to bed or on a night in when you don’t plan on going out as I noticed that tight clothes can make it go a bit streaky as it rubs it off a bit whilst developing.

Once developed it offers a nice colour but it can look a little bit orangey if applied in a rush

Before

After

(notice my hands, whoops!)

In a nutshell, it smells lovely, feels like a moisturiser, lets skin breathe and develops into a nice, golden colour. Like most fake tans it does stain your hands and area’s which you perhaps haven’t exfoliated as well as you could have, so make sure you use gloves when applying.

Beauty Lab’s Peptide Tanning Lotion is available from their website for £20

Honey Pot Vanilla Super Butter

2012-02-15T01:35:00.000-08:00

During the winter months you may find that your skin needs a little extra help when it comes to looking and staying healthy and beautiful.

(You can read more about my winter skincare tips for Tesco Magazine Online here)

Honey Pot’s100% natural, handmade body butter will sort you right out!

Their Vanilla Super Butter is exactly that.

Just one pot is jam packed full of skin loving ingredients including organic premium unrefined Shea Butter, organic unrefined Cocoa Butter, Aloe Butter, organic Mango Butter, Avocado Butter, Kokum Butter, Organic Jojoba Butter, Organic Cold Pressed Almond Butter and Organic Virgin Olive oil.

(That’s a lot of butters!)

Considering there are so many different types of ‘butters’ in the cream, I was really surprised at how light it was! The texture felt to me, almost like whipped cream- soft, foamy-light and creamy!

The beautiful warm vanilla scent is entirely natural (there’s no synthetic additives, chemical preservatives or colours) and I love the addition to the butter in the form of teenie tiny vanilla pod seeds!

It really does make you feel like the product your using is just 1 step away from its natural form.

Because it’s entirely natural, the butter is ideal for people who suffer with dry skin, eczema, uneven skin tone and sensitive or delicate skin.

Honey Pot’s Vanilla Super Butter is available from their website for £15.

Cor Silver Soap, Jessica Biel's Beauty Secret

2012-02-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

Jessica Biel recently became the envy of women around the world when it was revealed that Justin Timberlake finally popped the question to her.

With her luscious hair, radiant smile and flawless skin its easy to see what Justin sees in her!

‘But she’s a celeb and can afford to look amazing’ i hear you all cry.

True, but i can reveal one of the secrets to her gorgeous skin at least!

Cor Silver Soap.

Cor’s The Silver Soap is the product on all the top celebs wish list. It is loved by Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Sherzinger too and sold out in the US when it launched last year.

But what is this soap and what’s so special about it?

Cor's innovative and patented silver-silica compound uses Silver, known for its antibacterial benefits to help clear the skin and anti-age.

It contains a complex list of ingredients including Collagen to add a youthful appearance and Chitosan to help cell regeneration and to absorb excess oil, Sericin to protect the skin from environmental factors, Hylauronic Acid to add radiance and antioxidants as well as vitamins to soothe the skin.

Cor Silver Soap is a fab multi-tasker, providing an all round beauty fix for those looking to clear skin and help reduce pigmentation, clear up spots and eczema as well as replenish lost collagen and add a youthful and radiant glow.

The patented delivery system also allows its active ingredients to get to the core of most skin issues including acne, pigmentation, scarring and sun spots.

The complex list of natural ingredients in The Silver Soap are combined to create a product suitable for all skin types leaving skin feeling fresh and looking more youthful.

The soap is amber-coloured, encased in a stylish container to preserve the soap, with a fresh and slightly citrus unisex fragrance.

While it lathers and foams with use, it is in fact unperfumed, contains no parabens or preservatives and is suitable for sensitive skin.

Skin is left squeaky clean but without feeling overly dry, a feeling common with many other soaps.

After using it for several weeks i can say that it is a really lovely product which has left my skin blemish free and fresh.

But don’t just take my word for it, enter my giveaway to be in with the chance of winning 1 of 5 10g Travel/Trial sized Silver Soaps worth £15 each and see for yourself!

To enter, simply complete the following steps:

* Follow I Am Fabulicious via google friends connect and leave your contact details in the comments section below

* RT the following on twitter

Enter to #win 1 of 5 amazing Cor Silver Soaps with @sarah_berryman1 here http://tinyurl.com/7xrvh55

The competition is open until March 11^th. Goodluck!

Cor Silver Soap’s are available now from Corsilver.co.uk with prices starting from £15.

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Lashes

2012-02-13T01:48:00.002-08:00

There is nothing more girly and feminine that long, thick, flirtatious lashes, and there is nothing more in fashion right now that vintage.

You only have to look at the high street to see that 1950’s fashion is back with a bang- think cute tea dresses with adorable floral patterns!

Vintage beauty is looking to be big in 2012 too, with flawless skin and rouged lips being all the rage at many catwalk shows.

So, If you're a girly girl and love all things vintage then you will love The Vintage Cosmetic Company’s range of false lashes.

With five styles to choose from, you can match the lashes to your own personality.

Maybe you're a glamour puss like Kitty or more of a girl next door like Connie.

If you want to show off your almond eyes then Betty is your girl, or maybe you're a doll face like Nancy or if you are just cute and girly then Gracie is your girl.

For me, it’s ALL about Betty and Nancy!

The lashes are easy to apply and come with their own lash glue (Which by the way is really good and lasts all day)

The Vintage Cosmetic Company lashes can be found on The Powder Puff Girls website for £6.50 each while a list of alternative stockists can be found on the company's website here.

THE COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED & THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED

Alternatively enter my competition to win the enter collection! That's right, all 5 varieties!

To enter simply do the following:

* Follow I am Fabulicious via google friends connect and leave your contact details in the comment section below

* Follow The Vintage Cosmetic Company on Twitter and/or Facebook here & here

* RT the following on Twitter-

#win the entire collection of @thevintagecosco false lashes with @sarah_berryman1 here http://tinyurl.com/742kv4o

The winner will be chosen at random on March 19th.

Goodluck!

Chocolate Beauty Goodies, Good Enough To Eat!

2012-02-09T03:02:00.000-08:00

Does February 14^th mean anything to you? No, it doesn’t to my other half either.

He ‘doesn’t believe’ in Valentines day.

That’s fine, I get it. I know that it’s a big fat phoney of a day which was purely created to make money. But the thing is, I just don’t care!

I think it’s a fab excuse to pamper the one you love and indulge in champagne and chocolates.

Mnn chocolate….

Speaking of which, Cadbury's have brought out a brand new bar called Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly just in time for V Day.

Available in milk or white chocolate the bubbly light chocolate is incredibly moreish and goes perfectly with a candle lit bath and glass of bubbly!

(Find out at the end of the post how to win a bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk Bubbly!)

For those of you who feel like pointing your other halves in the right direction, or indeed simply fancy treating yourselves to a chocolatey, calorie free treat then check out some of the gorgeous chocolate inspired products on offer!

Wash away any chocolate gorging guilt our of your hair (literally) with Faith In Nature’s Chocolate Shampoo and Conditioner (£5.15 each) The product contains a luxurious blend of Organic Chocolate and Sage to cleanse and add extra shine to darker shades of hair.

Get all romantic with Lush’s Soft Coeur (£4.50) (that means heart by the way) Massage Bar. Made with Cocoa butter, shea butter and almond oil, the bar is fragranced with yummy, toffee smelling perfume and has a cheeky soft centre made of honey and cocoa powder.

Make your lips kissibly soft and enticing with Palmers Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Lip Butter (£2.54). Coco Butter, Vitamin E and Petrolatum moisturise with a hint of gloss while the scent of chocolate and peppermint indulges your senses.

For you organic beauty lovers out there is Natures Gate Organic Body Lotion- Neroli Orange & Chocolate Mint (£5.95)which is infused with essential oils of Neroli and Orange as well as certified organic botanicals and Chocolate Mint Floral Water. The lotion has been combined with Ester-C, a highly effective antioxidant that neutralizes free-radicals and its premature aging effect.

The Body Shop have got it covered if you fancy being choccified from head to toe. Check out their Chocomania collection including a Shower Gel (£4), Mini Soaps (£4), Body Butter (£9), Body Lotion (£8) and Lip Butter (£4).

Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre eyeshadow in #83 Illusoire (£22.50) is a gorgeous, rich, warm brown which provides you with a rich, shimmering color that lasts. The brush allows you to use the shadow as an eyeliner too and the powder-cream texture feels divine on your skin.

Add some colour and definition to your cheeks with Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder (£6.99). The subtle iridescent formula is infused with flecks of gold and a sweet, chocolate aroma to give a radiant glow.

The saying goes ‘a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips’. Not so for Jane Iredale’s Chocoholicks lip palette (£24.95)! Featuring 4 chocolate truffle flavours (Blood Orange, Espresso, Very Berry & Chilli Pepper) the lip gloss’ are presented in a palette that resembles a sumptuous chocolate bar. The palette also includes a retractable lip brush for precise application.You can smell the aroma of rich chocolate before you have even opened the palette!

They sound good enough to eat right?

Well don’t because they’re not edible!

Instead, enter my giveaway for the chance to win 1 of 3 bars of Cadbury’s new Bubbly chocolate.

THE COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED

Simply Follow I am Fabulicious via Google Friends Connect, leave your contact details below and RT the following on Twitter:

I want to #win some @Cadburyuk Dairy Milk Bubbly with @sarah_berryman1 http://tinyurl.com/7eegf37

3 winners will be chosen from random on February 14^th.

ShmooBamboo!

2012-02-08T03:36:00.000-08:00

Every now and then, something comes along that is a little bit special.

I came across a site called ShmooBamboo literally yesterday and was astounded by what I saw.

Jelly Baby Necklace £8.99

At first, I thought id stumbled across a sweet shop, which would have been great in itself, but upon closer inspection I realised that it wasn’t sweets I was looking at longingly, but jewellery!

Incredible, gorgeous, unique and fabulous food and sweetie inspired jewellery!

Jammy Dodger Ring £8.99

The creator of these masterpieces is Victoria Laycock who has been making jewellery and accessories for herself since she was a child.

It wasn’t until her winter wedding in January 2010 when she struggled to find a suitable hair accessory to wear that she decided to make her own.

Dolly Mixture Bracelet £12.99

Following on from this she decided she wanted to design on a bigger scale and after a year of showcasing her pieces at craft fairs, ShmooBamboo was born.

While the company is new it has already attracted some serious attention.

Slice of Cake Ring £10

(Lets be honest, its hard not to with those designs!)

In December 2011, Victoria was asked by Karl Willet, celebrity stylist, to design and produce 16 masks for the Clothes Show Catwalk event in Birmingham, which was a huge success.

Love Hearts Ring £8.99

She has just launched her online store and with prices starting at just £8.99 you can afford to have your own little sweet treat, minus the calories!

Head to ShmooBamboo now to take a look at some of the other items for sale, including some incredible fascinators like nothing you’ve ever seen before!

Would you like the chance to win your very own Jelly Baby necklace in the colour of your choice?

To enter, all you need to do is the following:

* Follow I am Fabulicious on Google Friends Connect & leave a comment below telling me your favourite sweetie and don't forget to leave your contact details!

* Follow Shmoobamboo on Facebook (here) and Twitter

(here) and RT the following:

''#WIN a Gorgeous Jelly Baby necklace from @sarah_berryman1 courtesy of @Shmoobamboo here: http://tinyurl.com/76rdupx ''

The competition is open until Wednesday 29^th February and a winner will be chosen at random!

Goodluck!

The Eternally Exquisite Marilyn Monroe

2012-02-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Today, id like to treat you to some images of a young, beautiful 24 year old Marilyn Monroe.

These photographs were taken by LIFE photographer Ed Clark and were shot in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park in the August of 1950.

These photos haven’t seen the light of day for over 50 years, but today, here they are for you to enjoy.

(Above) This is my favourite one, she looks so relaxed, happy and hopeful.

Ed Clark revealed in a 1999 interview with Digital Journal;

‘We’d go out to Griffith Park and she’d read poetry. I send several rolls to LIFE in New York, but they wired back, “Who the hell is Marilyn Monroe?’’’

You can read about Marilyn's beauty secrets here.

YSL In Love Again & M7 For Valentines Day

2012-02-07T01:51:00.000-08:00

Yves Saint Laurent is celebrating 50 years of making perfumes and fragrances that have become milestones and iconic scents.

To celebrate this landmark YSL have released two fab fragrances from La Collection, their Heritage fragrance collection, In love Again for her and M7 for him, and the best news is that they are out just in time for Valentines Day!

In love Again was originally launched as a limited edition in 1998 to celebrate 40 years of YSL in the fashion business and was the first perfume dedicated to women who love colour and who love life.

I had never smelt this fragrance before and it’s gorgeous, but be warned, its a very sweet perfume.

The notes of Blackcurrent, Blackberry, Mandarin, Muscat Grape and Rose-Peony create a feminine, sweet scent which gradually fades into a subtle aroma which lasts.

Again, id never smelt their M7 edition which was originally launched in 2002. I would describe it as quite a unique, woody smelling perfume.

M7 contains notes of Mandarin Oud Wood, Patchouli, Cistus and Myrrh and has a very distinctive aroma.

My Mr tends to stick to the fragrances he knows and loves but he loved M7 as he said it smelt so different to many other EDT’s he has tried before.

In Love Again 80ml is available now and costs £73 while M7 80ml costs £58.

So, why not buy your other half something a bit special this Valentines Day and introduce them to a gorgeous new fragrance that they might just love.

Figs & Rouge Organic Balm

2012-02-06T02:25:00.000-08:00

Calling all lovers of organic, natural and pure skincare with multi purposes uses.

Figs & Rouge have created a balm that is completely free from any harmful chemicals & synthetic ingredients.

Their balm is a 100% Organic, 100% Pure, 100% Natural skincare product!

Each gorgeous flavour of their balm is beautifully packaged within an requisitely decorated tin and is packed full of vitamin enriched organic essential oils, shea butters and nature’s best organic bees wax.

Their award winning formulation has been made to deliver the best and most effective moisturising and natural balm for all skin types.

The versatile balm can be used for much more than just moisturing chapped lips!

Keep your nails and cuticles in tip top condition with the balm, apply it as an intensive moisturiser when your skin needs a little help, use a little on your hands to keep them supple and smooth and you could even use the balm as a gentle and effective cleanser.

The balm is petroleum free, non greasy, soothing, comes in 7 delicious variations and is a personal favourite of Harry potter star Emma Watson.

My favourites are their Wild Cherry which is a sweet smelling and delicious balm, closely followed by their Coco Vanilla which has a sweet and warming aroma.

The Figs & Rouge range are available from ASOS, Urban Outfitters and Boots and cost around £5 each.

Nail Rock Meadham Kirchhoff Nail Wraps

2012-02-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Nail Rock has collaborated with Meadham Kirchhoff to create a bespoke range of nail wraps for the S/S 12 ‘A wolf in lambs clothing’ collection as seen at London Fashion Week.

The wraps adorned each of the models and were given as gifts to front row guests.

I’m going to be honest with you- I ADORED these wraps when i first saw them. They are gorgeous, cute, kitch and so different from many other nail wrap designs out there.

I pictured these pretty designs adorning my nails and come Monday morning, my work colleagues all cooing over them.

The reality however if that i found that i was completely unable to use them.

Despite following religiously the instructions on how to apply them, including buffing the nail, wiping them with acetone nail polish remover and cutting the wraps to fit my nail, i just couldn’t get them to work.

My first problem was the design. My nails are relatively short and this meant that some of the pretty images, namely the Giraffe and teddies found themselves either headless or earless (occasionally both) as i couldn’t fit the entire design on my nail.

(It wasn’t a good look, taking the look from cute, to mild horror!)

The second was that bar the wrap with the little girl image on it (see below) none of the wraps were even vaguely close to being the right size for my cuticles or nails.

By the time i had cut them down enough to be able to fit on my nail, they looked terrible.

Then when i tried to stick them to my nail, they curled up at the sides and at the end and simply refused to stay stuck down, despite copious amounts of pressure being applied.

In short, i am totally gutted as i loved these wraps, but alas it seems i am doomed to stick to nail varnish.

Nail Rock Meadham Kirchhoff are exclusive to Topshop and cost £8.

Has anyone else had the same trouble with nail wraps or is just me?

Can Your Nose Grow Back After a Nose Job?

2012-02-03T00:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, something i have wondered for a while is this:

When you have rhinoplasty, can your nose, in fact, 'grow back?'

(Don't ask why i've wondered!)

They say that your nose and ears are always growing (Take a look at your grandad's if you dont believe me), but if you under go a painful operation to permanently change the shape of your nose, does nature retaliate and grow back (to a certain extent) the offending hooter?

I caught a glipse at a photo of Katie Price this week and was sure that her nose looked different, wider, bigger.

That then made me think of Ashlee Simpson, who too underwent a nose job back in 2006 and has ever since left me somewhat confused as to what is happening with her nose- it looks a different size and shape with each year that passes!

And so, i have collected a selection of picces for you to have a look at.

Katie Price

Katy Pre Nose Job

Post Nose Job

Earlier this year, 2012

Ashlee Simpson

Pre Nose Job -2006

Post Nose Job- 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

So, you've seen the evidence, now do you think Katie or Ashlee's noses have miraculously 'grown back' or is it just a figment of my imagination, a trick of the light, or just a bad photo?

HunniBunni Bags!

2012-02-02T02:12:00.000-08:00

Every now and then I come across something which whilst not being strictly beauty related, truly deserves to be blogged about.

HunniBunni bags is one of those things.

HunniBunni Bags was founded in the summer of 2011 by the talented Chloe Truczka who has always loved beauty and fashion and has been drawing and designing since she was 12 or 13 years old.

HunniBunni bags started when she designed a bag for herself for her mobile spray tanning business and suddenly all of her clients, family and friends wanted one too.

Chloe with her own HunniBunni Bag

Her bags are now being papped on the arms of celebs like X-Factors Little Mix and demand for them has seen her have to take down her order form as she simply cannot keep up with the sheer quantity of orders!

Perri from little Mix with her Bag

With each bag taking up to 3 hours to complete, it’s a time consuming business and with Chloe’s ethos focusing on quality, not quantity, she ensures that every HunniBunni Bag is made with the utmost care, dedication and attention to detail.

My bag is AMAZING!

Chloe captured beautifully the image of my cocker spaniel Dexter, my new LuLu Guinness bag, my obligatory red lippie, M.A.C face powder and my favourite black dress and belt.

While many of her bags feature girls with long flowing locks, I opted for my favourite look, 40’s Victory Rolls which Chloe created perfectly.

She finished off the look with a Swarovski crystal on the lipstick and the bag and a little bling in the form of gold glitter hearts surrounding the ‘Me’ character.

Its safe to say that her bags are stunning, she is incredibly talented and with over 4,000 followers on Facebook and hundreds of orders coming in each week, the only way is up .

She’s going to be one busy lady!

Follow the HunniBunni Facebook and Twitter page to find out more and be first to hear when Chloe is taking orders again.

90210's Jessica Lowndes Talks Beauty

2012-02-01T03:02:00.000-08:00

There is little more in life that I enjoy than snuggling down into a big, thick dressing gown with a cup of hot cocoa on a cold, winters evening and catching up on the goings on of the young and beautiful hotties basking in the heat of the Californian sun in 90210 on E4.

Their fresh, gorgeous tanned faces take me away from the reality of the dark afternoon’s and the bitterly cold weather going on around me in the far less glamorous location of Essex.

One of the most gorgeous stars of the show is Jessica Lowndes.

(I’m not ashamed to admit that I may have a bit of a girl crush on her)

After all, its not hard to see why. With her piercing green eyes, glossy, flowing brunette locks and flawless skin, she is unquestionably, gorgeous.

Not content with just being a pretty face, Jessica is also very talented. Her role as Adriana in 90210 has seen her take on some hugely challenging story lines, and on top of all of that, she’s also a singer!

I caught up with the lady herself during a whistle-stop visit to the UK and got her to dish the dirt on her beauty secrets.

What do you have in your make up bag today?

Vaseline Creme Brulee lipbalm

Laura Mercier Satinee Creme Eye Color

Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation

Kate Somerville exfolikate

MeMeMeGoddess Rocks Bronzer

L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara

MAC Brow Set

What is your favourite beauty brand?

I don’t have a favourite I like to mix up my brands depending on products that I use, if a make-up artists has used a product on me that I like then I’ll often try that when I do my own make-up too.

When do you feel most beautiful?

When I’m exercising and being active.

Do you have a beauty Icon?

Elizabeth Taylor, for me she was beautiful.

As a high profile star, do you feel pressure from the media to look ‘perfect’

No one is perfect so I know that isn’t possible as long as I am happy then that’s all that matters to me, everyone has different opinions on what is perfect anyways. As an actress you obviously make sure you look your best but I don’t feel pressure from the industry.

Can you share with us one of your trade secret beauty tips?

It’s boring but true, drink plenty of water and take your make-up off before bed and get plenty of sleep!

How do you get your hair so shiny and voluminous?

I tend to let my hair dry naturally so I’m not heating it all the time and drinking water keeps my hair healthy.

What brand of make up gets used on the set of 90210 as you girls always look so flawless!

I’m always asking the make-up artists on set for tips to use myself. On set they use Armani luminous silk foundation to give everyone’s skin a great glow

Jessica & her co-stars in 90210

What Can we expect from Adrianna in the next season of 90210?

Adrianna is trying to redeem herself this series, I don’t want to spoil it for the UK viewers so I will just say watch this space!

(90210 airs Tuesday at 9pm on E4 from Jan 3^rd)

What was the best piece of beauty advice you have ever been given?

As an actress and performer you pick up tricks of the trade I’m always learning and asking for tips! Just making sure you look after your skin, keep it hydrated and stick to what suits you, don’t wear or use something just because it’s in fashion or popular.

What does ‘Beauty’ mean to you?

Having confidence and being happy with who you are.

What’s next for Jessica Lowndes?

I am focusing on my music, I have my 4 track EP out on i-tunes now, and my next single ‘Nothing Like this’ is available on i-tunes this month.

‘I wish I was Gay’ was my first solo music video which was really fun to make. I have released all my music independently.

For updates and information on Jessica’s projects and music releases check twitter

@jessicalowndes and Facebook page Jessica-Lowndes.

Estee Lauder Daywear Anti-Oxidant BB Creme

2012-01-31T07:04:00.000-08:00

Estee Lauder is the latest brand to bring out its own BB Crème.

As a quick re-cap, BB crème means ‘Blemish Balm’, or in Estee Lauders words, ‘Beauty Benefit’.

It is an oil free, light feeling crème for all skin types that protects, perfects and moisturises all in one hit.

With spring not too far away you may be thinking of ditching your heavy, winter foundation for a lighter, fresher product. If that is the case, may I suggest you give this beauty a try.

The Daywear Anti-Oxidant BB Crème can be worn alone or under foundation thanks to its sheer, natural coverage which minimises flaws and maximises your skins radiance.

One of the things I love most about this crème is the way in which it controls excess oil on the skin, inhibiting shine for a beautiful finish without looking heavy and greasy.

(I’m talking about you Garnier BB)

Also packed into this miracle-like product is Estee Lauder’s Super Anti-Oxidant Complex to protect your skin from the environment, light reflective pearls and sheer pigments to help perfect the skin and barrier boosting lipids to provide deep, lasting moisturisation.

Oh and to top it all off it also has an SPF of 35.

I’ve tried several BB crèmes and this is by far and away my favourite, as well as being the most expensive at £32 for 30ml.

(Typical)

The formula is perfect for my oily skin, allowing me to finally enjoy the benefit’s of BB crèmes without the unwanted shiny appearance which generally occurs, requires constant blotting!

I tried and swatched the crème in ‘light’ though as you can see it is not really that light and subsequently required quite a bit of blending.

That said, once blended it melted into my skin to create a light and flawless coverage which brightened up my skin and gave it a lovely warm glow.

Unlike many other cremes it had a gorgeous, fresh delicate fragrance which reminded me of cucumber.

Estee Lauder’s Daywear Anti-Oxidant BB Crème is certainly a treat for your face and is available now.

Get Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch with BuyaPowa

2012-01-31T01:25:00.000-08:00

For those of you beauty addicts who frequent Twitter, I’m sure you will have heard of BuyaPowa by now.

For those of you unfamiliar, BuyaPowa is a site that allows you to buy high end, gorgeous, full size beauty products at a hugely discounted price thanks to the power of co-buying.

Basically, the more people that buy the product, the cheaper it becomes.

(Sounds good eh)

Even better is that the person who spreads the word about a live co-buy and encourages the most amount of other people to buy the product, gets theirs for free!

There is a huge range of brands and products that come up so you need to keep your eyes peeled and check their site regularly to make sure you don’t miss out.

This week, BuyaPowa will be selling Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (15ml), an award winning primer.

(And if you read my posts regularly you will know that i believe that to not to prime is a crime!)

The product has an ultra-light, ultra-smooth texture which glides on skin, filling in and smoothing away the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores.

It has a beautifully delicate, barely noticeable scent, which reminds me of baby cream!

The product can be used alone, prior to or mixed-in with your foundation.

Clarins’ Smooth Perfecting Touch retails at £24 but on BuyaPowa you know that you will be getting it at a hugely discounted rate, and possibly even for free!

The more people that buy, the lower the price the product becomes until it reaches it best price limit

SO, what do you have to lose? Head over to BuyaPowa now and keep your eyes peeled for Clarins’ Smooth Perfecting Touch as well as a host of other amazing products coming soon such as the OPI Nicki Minaj collection, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick and YSL Shocking Effect Mascara.

The Lip Balm From L'Oreal That Colour Adapts To Suit You!

2012-01-30T02:14:00.000-08:00

As a kid, did any of you ever own one of those ‘mood rings’?

You know the ones, that reacted to the heat of your finger and glowed different colours?

Well, L’Oreal have taken that idea and created a lip balm that adapts uniquely to the heat and moisture of your lips to create a bespoke and individual colour!

Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow is L’Oreal Paris’ first made to measure lip balm and contains pomegranate sterol, oils and polymers to provide a long lasting tint with a weightless non drying finish.

Don’t be scared by its luminous pink glow reminiscent of a pink hi-lighter pen, the balm does not come out that colour on your lips!

As you can see from my photos, when applied to the lips it leaves a subtle, pretty pink sheen which can go from a warm pinky shade to a baby pink tint dependant on the state of your lips.

My lips were warm today and so the pink was a warmer tone, however once outside it became a much paler shade, which was really pretty!

As its essentially a lip balm, you can reapply as often as you like without worrying about it looking heavy or drying your lips out- indeed it leaves them lovely and soft!

Without the Balm

With the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow

L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Universal Lip Glow is available now from Boots for £8.49.

So, what do you think? Can 1 shade suit all? Have you tried this?

Lynx Attract for Her Competition!

2012-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

The other week you may remember seeing my post about Lynx for Girls and like the majority of my readers, questioned whether it was a genuine product or just an elaborate fake.

I can now reveal that the ebay item was indeed genuine and Lynx really have created a fragrance for us girls!

To celebrate this Lynx have kindly offered to give away 8 of their brand new cans to followers of I Am Fabulicious, so now you can be one of the first to try their new product!

Available nationwide from February 1^st the scents are reportedly so seductive they will bring the opposite sexes together creating chaos in everyday life.

(Sounds fun!)

I have tried the Lynx Attract body spray for her and can confirm that it is actually a really pleasant, sweet and feminine smelling spray.

It smells goooooood!

For you chance to win one of 8 cans, simply complete the following steps:

THE COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED

* Follow I Am Fabulicious via google friends connect and leave your contact details in the comment section below

* Follow Lynx on their Facebook page here

* RT the following on twitter:

Unleash the Chaos & #win 1 of 8 brand new @lynxeffectuk For Her Bodysprays with @Sarah_berryman1 http://tinyurl.com/7vpguvx

The competition closes on 14^th Feb, goodluck!

Feel Good on The Inside with give on the mobile®

2012-01-25T05:27:00.000-08:00

Have any of you made any New Years resolutions this year?

Perhaps you have vowed to lose weight, give up smoking or find a new job?

All very valid resolutions indeed, but what about a resolution that sees you doing something for someone else?

The majority of my posts are all about how to feel and look good on the outside, but what about doing something to make you feel good on the inside too?

Chances are you won’t have heard of a company called give on the mobile®.

In a nutshell, it is a new organisation which allows you to simply & securely donate £1, £3 or just £5 to your favourite charity using your smart phone, Blackberry or iPhone.

You download their free app from your app store and then are able to select from a list of charities which have signed up to the organisation and donate as little as £1, £3 or £5 to them by a few little taps of your phone.

The money comes out of your phone bill and goes to your chosen charities which greatly need your help.

Lets be honest, how many times have you been approached on the street by people canvassing for charities but can't be faffed to stand around in the cold and fill in your details?

How many times have you seen an advert on TV but can’t be bothered to go online or phone them up to find out how to donate?

That’s why give on the mobile® is here. Once you download their free app you can donate whenever and whenever you like, and you aren’t bullied into giving huge amounts of money and you aren’t signed into a contract saying you must donate once a month for a year or so.

Ever wondered where your money really goes, what difference you really make by donating to charity? Well the news section on the app keeps you up to date with all the news from your favourite charity and keeps you informed about the impact you truly make.

In reality, you really aren’t going to notice an extra few quid on top of your phone bill (which most of us don’t even look at), but you will notice the difference in the way you feel when you click that ‘donate’ button and get that warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that your small efforts will help others in a big way.

I realise that this is not the beauty post you would expect from me, but it’s about feeling good on the inside as well as the outside.

The Give On The Mobile Ap

So what are you waiting for? Head over to your app store or tap http://gotm.mobi into your phones web browser to download give on the mobile® and see what a difference you could make.

Remember, true beauty comes from within.

Some of the charities you can give on the mobile® to include;

Make a Wish Foundation UK

Teenage Cancer Trust

Dogs Trust

Alzheimer’s Care & Research

Christian Aid

Royal Mencap Society

Disney Princesses & The Real Women Behind Them

2012-01-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what the face of the real person behind your favourite Disney Princess looked like?

Was she as beautiful as your heroine? Did she look like anything like her at all?

I know i have long wondered if the woman who sung for Ariel in The Little Mermaid, had long , flowing red hair to match her characters, or if the voice behind Snow White had hair as black an ebony too.

So, while this is not strictly beauty related (though i think perhaps it could be loosely) i decided that after 26 years, id like to know who these women were a take a look at and the faces behind the enchanting and mesmerising voices that filled my childhood.

Snow White

Adriana Caselotti

Adriana was 18 when Walt Disney personally chose her for the voice of Snow White in his first full length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). He was looking for a fresh and natural voice, and asked her father if any of his students might be suitable, but on hearing Adriana's voice realized his search was over. It was the days of studio contracts and indenture, and Walt wanted to keep the mystery of the Snow White voice, so except for a bit part in The Wizard of Oz (1939) she was in no other film.

Sleeping Beauty

Mary Costa

In 1952, after meeting people at a party with her future husband, director Frank Tashlin, she auditioned for the part of Disney's Princess Aurora. Walt Disney called her personally within hours of the audition to inform her that the part was hers.

The Little Mermaid

Jodi Benson

Jodi Benson, a native of Rockford, Illinois, has received worldwide recognition and critical acclaim as the voice of "Ariel" in the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney animated feature film The Little Mermaid (1989), as well as the bubbly voice of "Tour Guide Barbie" in Disney's Toy Story 2 (1999), winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture.

Pocahontas

Irene Bedard (Above right)

Daughter of an Inupiat Eskimo and a French Canadian/Cree she was the physical model for the Pocahontas character in the Disney films. She was the voice of Pocahontas in the Disney animated film, and went on to play Pocahontas's mother in 2005's "The New World."

Judy Kuhn (Below)

Judy sang the title role in Disney's animated film, Pocahontas, as well as in the straight-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. She also sang as Pocahontas in If You Can Dream, a Disney Princess song

Beauty & The Beast

Paige O’Hara

O'Hara's most notable appearance on screen was as the voice of Belle in the animated Disney film Beauty and the Beast, a role she has reprised for all subsequent spin-offs and sequels of the film, including the Square Enix/Disney Kingdom Hearts video game series. Beauty and the Beast was nominated for numerous Academy Awards (including the Best Picture and three nominations for Best Original Song), and consequently, she also performed live at the Oscars in 1992.

Cinderella

Ilene Woods

Her songwriter- friends Mack David and Jerry Livingston asked her, as a favour, to record two of their newest songs, not telling her that they were for the upcoming Disney animated feature Cinderella (1950). When Walt Disney heard her voice on the recordings, he chose her to voice that film's title role

Princess Jasmine from Aladdin

Linda Larkin

She is best known for providing the speaking voice of Princess Jasmine in the movie Aladdin and various Aladdin sequels and spin-offs, as well as in the Kingdom Hearts video game series. In order for her to voice Princess Jasmine she had to lower her voice due to Disney saying her voice was too high for Jasmine's voice

Now, i don't know about you but i think both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty look a LOT like the women who voiced them (Princess Aurora and Mary Costa even have the same eybrows!) - yes the lady behind Pocahontas' voice does too, but then she was the model for her character.

What do you think, have i unintentionally shattered your illusions? Did you image them to look as they do, and more important, what was your favourite Disney film?

Benefit Introduces Hervana to It's Collection!

2012-01-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

Next week sees the first new product launch from Benefit for 2012, and it’s a good ‘un!

Available from February is Hervana, a blusher packed with good Karma.

The pretty blush contains swirls of four heavenly shades all of which are perfect for spring;

Lucky Shell, Divine Peach, Heavenly Rose & Berry Delight.

When swirled together and applied to your face, the face powder gives you a soft, gorgeous, orchard blossom flush.

The peach and shell colours stop the blusher from being too ‘pink’, but indeed if that’s the look you are after simply swirl your brush around the colours you desire and then apply.

Hervana swatch: A light dusting on the outside with the blusher more built up to create a more powerful shade towards the center

I love this product and prefer it to some of their other much loved face powders for it's delicate, pretty and soft look.

Hervana costs £23.50 and is available from Benefit from February.