Modern Icon, Emma Watson?

At the start of March Emma Watson was confirmed as the new face of Lancôme. As stated by Youcef Nabi, president of Lancôme International; 'Thanks to her charm, romanticism and her incredible modernity, Emma Watson has become the icon of her generation. We are delighted by this new collaboration with Emma, who brings a fresh spirit to Lancome.'
‘Icon of her generation’. Really? What has made this 20 year old actress ascend to the status of Icon? Since she first burst onto our screens in 2001 she has starred almost exclusively in just Harry Potter films. This young girl from Oxfordshire (although born in Paris where she lived for 5 years) while a talented actress, can hardly be referred to as an Icon of her generation surely. What has she done to deserve this accolade?

An icon, as per Dictionary.com is; a person or thing regarded as a symbol of a belief, nation, community, or cultural movement.

Perhaps it is just me, but when I hear the word ‘Icon’, I think of Ghandi, Marilyn Monroe, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luthor King, James Dean, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, even Madonna and Kylie. These people will all do down in history as Icons, granted for a variety of different reasons, some of which have more relevance and historical importance than others, but all of them deserve the honour none the less.

I just cant help but feel somewhat aggrieved by such a young woman who really, has yet to even begin her life and career being referred to by such a term which is historically given to long standing, innovative and influential individuals. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps to lots of teens and twenty-somethings she is an Icon, perhaps even their icon.

Back to Beauty Basics

With the thousands of beauty products available to us these days it is easy to be sucked in to buying these beautifully, glossy packaged, celebrity endorsed, mass advertised items. Lets face it, every week, be it in magazines or newspapers there is always that article about the new miracle anti-wrinkle cream or the new fantastic all singing all dancing lotion which has just been discovered by scientists and made from a rare type of algae only found in one particular lake, hidden deep in the middle of the Amazonian jungle which can only be accessed by a canoe! Or something like that.

When faced with such exotic and fantastic looking (and sounding) products, it is easy to forget about the basic beauty essentials. The ones that you pay little attention to as they don’t catch your eye in the supermarket. The ones that aren’t beautifully and expensively marketed. And yet in reality, it is these products that deserve out attention and admiration!

Take the humble Vaseline for example. This product can be used on babies dry skin, on your sore chapped lips, to smooth stray hairs, or to add a touch of shimmery gloss to your eyelids on a night out. I even use it to remove my eye make up as it leaves my lashes so well conditioned.

I believe that it is without a doubt, one of the most versatile, reasonably priced and yet most under-valued products on the market.

It seems that I am not alone in my appreciation for the basic, staple products either. Earlier this week Cheryl Cole revealed that a pot of £2 E45 cream is her moisturiser of choice. Cheryl told a magazine ‘My skin can get very dry so I use E45 moisturiser. You don’t have to use mega-expensive products, you just need to find the right products for your skin type.’

She is right- I have used E45 cream for as long as I can remember- and no its not fancy, no the packaging isn’t all that, but it is a truly great product that works and doesn’t cost the earth!

All hail the humble Vaseline and E45 Cream. Long may you prosper!

A Box full of Beauty

There are 3 things in life that I love- Beauty products, surprises and receiving exciting things in the post! (ie not bills! )
You can imagine then my excitement when I found out about a brand new product and service which incorporates all 3 of my great loves!
GlossyBox is without a doubt one of the most innovative & original products I have seen in a long time.

For £10 a month, they will send you 5 luxury product miniatures , beautifully packed and presented in pink box for you to try at home. As if that doesn’t sound amazing enough, you can create your personal online beauty profile on their website and they will tailor your products to you, making your box as individual as you are! AND, delivery is free!



For £10 this really is a bargain, as after having a nose around their website I came across the ‘products’ page for their first box, May 2011. The price of the items which were included in the £10 box totalled more than £100 ( granted there are only miniature sizes in the box) but still I have no doubt that for £10 you are getting great value for money.

Ive put in my order for next months today and I am incredibly excited about my little surprise in the post!

Kirtsen Dunst, the new beauty mogul?

Kirsten Dunst is not necessarily a woman you would automatically associate with an iconic brand such as Bulgari. She is not a conventional beauty or a fashion Icon , however this has not stopped her from joining the ranks of many a celebrity before her, by becoming the face of luxury brand Bulgaris new fragrance ,Mon Jasmin Noir.
Bulgari describes this new perfume as ‘’the essence of a jeweller. The emblematic Jasmin Noir perfectly embodies the luxury and prestige of the Bulgari brand with its richest and noblest codes.’’



The campaign photo features Dunst elegantly, almost regally poised against the back drop of what could easily be a palatial scene from the set of her 2006 Academy Award winning film, Marie Antoinette. In this she plays the iconic and ill fated French queen Marie Antoinette, a queen who became known for her life of fabulousness and outrageousness.

She is far from being the only celebrity set to entice us into parting with our cash in return for the latest must have fragrance, a whole host of others are also cashing in this year. So if you fancy smelling like your favourite star, check these out.

Megan Fox has teamed up with Giorgio Armani once again, this time to launch the new Armani Code Sport scent. Armani say the scent is a 'sexy, femme fatale kind of perfume - a woman’s mysterious code of seduction revealed.'

Jennifer Aniston has brought us the ever so originally titled, Jennifer Aniston. This debut Fragrance is a fruity,floral perfume, inspired by Jennifer Aniston's earliest and most treasured recollections of scent. A captivating blend of blooming jasmine, citrus notes and a sensual musk base evoke long sunny days at the beach and balmy summer evenings.

Halle Berry is set to launch her third perfume this year. Named Reveal, it incorporates iris blossom to make the scent velvety soft and airy and also includes notes of mimosa, peach, honeydew melon, neroli, vetiver, red berries, and skin musk.

Rihanna has launched her first fragrance this February, called Reb’l Fleur. The fragrance is an intense and daring fruity chypre, composed of sophisticated floral notes: tuberose, violet and hibiscus, - with a splash of coconut water, - over the light and smooth base, the combination of the final notes evokes the impression of warm skin.

The Top 5 Products you Need right now!

We all have them, the beauty essentials that we reply on, never stray from and will always stay loyal to. The items we not just want, but NEED.
Beit that one particular shade of lippie (which sends you into a wild panic when you discover it has been discontinued), to the lotions and potions you buy In bulk when they are on offer, to simply your favourite smelling conditioner.
I have been on a mission to mend my ways, broaden my beauty horizons and try NEW products. Below you will find 5 of the best new products on the market which I urge you to open you hearts to and try!

1. TangleTeezer

TangleTeezer is the best hair brush you will ever use. Ever. This I guarantee! I have long, thick, often knotty and tangled hair. I can rarely get a brush through it when dry and cant even imagine the carnage of the aftermath of attempting to brush it wet. This brush is nothing short of Magic. Basically ( and here comes the science part courtesy of their website; Upon picking up Tangle Teezer you will notice the teeth aren’t like that of an ordinary brush which is where the hair genius comes in. The unique configuration of specifically designed teeth flex just the right amount to detangle and help smooth the hair’s cuticle which in turn protects the inner cortex from damage. It doesn’t lie that’s for sure, for the first time ever I can brush my hair even when its soaking wet and the brush glides through. ‘Mazing!



2. ModelCo Fibre Lashes

Theres no getting away from it. False eyelashes are expensive little things, often retailing at at least £5 for a pair which in theory should only be worn once. There are always eyelash extensions, but again depending upon where you have them done this can set you back a pretty penny too. OR you can try Danni Minogue and ModelCo’s new mascara which has proved so popular that it currently has a waiting list at Boots. Its called Fibre Lashes. Coat your lashes in their mascara, then use the Fibre Lashes brush to brush-on nylon fibres which are lightweight and adhere to your own lashes and act like instant lash extensions. You will then be the proud owner of dramatically longer and thicker lashes within seconds. The fibres then easily wash off when you remove your makeup, and you can use it all over again the next day, and the day after that until it runs out like regular mascara. For £35 it’s a steal!

3. Fast Shampoo

A few years ago I made a massive mistake. I cut my long, luscious locks off and had them styled into a rihanna-esq bob. There wasn’t actually anything ‘rihanna-esq like’ about it and in truth I looked like a boy. I hated it and immediately wished I had long hair again. Despite being told it would ‘grow back quickly’, it didn’t and 6 months later I was searching the internet for hair growth treatments when I came across Fast. Fast is a hair accelerating shampoo and conditioner with a special blend of herbs and essential amino acids which provides the basis for the ultimate in quick hair growth. They claim that it can help your hair to grow up to 45% faster than normally- so if your hair grows 1 inch a month, you could expect a growth with the shampoo and conditioner of 1.5 inches!
Whether it was pure wishing and hoping and longing, or whether the product has worked its charms I cannot be sure, however I did feel as though in a period of 2-3 months my hair had grown much faster than it had in the previous 6…. And at around £20 for the shampoo and conditioner, its far cheaper than hair extensions!


4. Bare Minerals Skincare

Bare Minerals has launched a new Skincare Range to compliment their highly successful Cosmetics collection (the foundation of which happens to be one of my essential products!)
In particular their Pure Transformation night Treatment really does deserve some attention, in their own words- This groundbreaking nighttime mineral treatment is powered by our proprietary 100% pure RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex. Clinically proven to dramatically reduce the appearance of pores, increase luminosity and deliver faster cell turnover-resulting in miraculous skin-renewing benefits. Experience younger-looking, radiant, even skin tone with improved texture. This concentrated powder formula replenishes skin while you sleep so you'll wake up to the famous bareMinerals naturally luminous glow. Available in four tones to instantly diffuse imperfections.
I have fairly sensitive skin and am always quite sceptical about using new products on it, but my skin loved this treatment and im not sure how I ever lived without it. Yes it feels weird putting powder on your face before you go to bed, but it is so light, silky and soft you don’t even notice it is on your skin. My skin tone has improved, It looks like imperfections have faded and it comes in a beautiful little pot too! How can you say no!

UPDATE: Ive seen this on the Daily Mail website, seems im not alone in finding this product a-mazing! Check out the article here.


5. Avon Ultra Colour Rich Moisture Seduction Lipstick

I have never thought much about buying Avon products-mainly because I cant just walk into a shop and buy them. That said, Avon has a huge amount to offer in its cosmetics range, and their new Ultra Colour Rich Moisture Seduction Lipstick, whilst a mouthful is actually wonderful!
The rich, creamy lipstick is as beautiful to look at in its case as it is on your lips. The colour is intertwined with ribbons of hydrating moisture which help keep your lips soft and dewy as opposed to dry and cracked, which often happens to me wearing lipsticks. It comes in 10 delicious looking shades and offers you staying power and beautiful coverage whilst simultaneously keeping your smackers juicy and moisturised- it’s the best of both worlds!