Skincare 101

Considering our skin is the largest organ we have on our body, you would think we would be taking the best care we could of it, however, that's not always the case.  In a world where the likes of Botox is something you can get on the high street and facetune is everybody's best friend,  it seems that we are overlooking many of the basic steps we should be taking in order to maintain our natural complexions. Some of the mistakes we are making when it comes to basic skincare routines are so elementary that they barely warrant their own post, however they are still things that many of us are doing wrong. Here are my top five things to avoid in order to maintain our natural skin as opposed to waiting to have to take preventative measures: 

1. Over washing.  It's a well known fact that facial washes strip natural oils from your skin and unbalances the perfect Ph, which in turn can lead to small wrinkles and lines. Instead of using harsh soaps instead choose a cleansing oil that will use the good oils in your skin to help remove the bad ones.  My favourite is the Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Cleaning Oil, however the brand do a great range for different skin types. 

2. Stick to one product.  Much as with any shampoos and conditioners, you should change your products according to the seasons as your bodies needs change over the year. For example during winter months you should focus on skin hydration and reach for facial serums as the air is drier, where as in the summer you should look to light weight products as the air is more humid.

3. Picking.  It's an open secret that many women like to pick their faces.  What you may not realise, however, is that doing so may completely ruin your skin.  When attacking any blemishes you are actually creating more inflammation underneath which could lead to permanent scars or discolouration.

4. Not wearing sun screen.  I have so many friends who worship the sun and to whom wearing sun screen is an absolute sin.  Whilst they may look lovely and brown what they don't actually realise is the damage that they are doing to their skin.  Our skin is subject to harmful UV Rays all year round, rain or shine and with that kind of exposure, lack of protection can not only lead to melanoma but also wrinkles, sagging skin and brown spots.  Make sure you reach for a moisturiser or foundation with SPF so you don't need to apply too many products to your face - Armani do a great beauty range that all contain SPF.

5. Eating junk food. We all know drinking water helps keep your skin hydrated. But did you also know the benefits other foods can have on your skin? For example Kale is a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that actually neutralise free radicals from UV Rays that can actually get through sunscreen.  Super foods are called super foods for a reason you know.

#👯👯

Normally I don't take notice of updates on my phone, I mean they're usually just bug fixes right? Nothing to get too excited about. Until the last few weeks when I actually started to read what these updates include.

First we had the new emoji update with the iOS 8.3. Ok so there isn't really much use for the people emojis whose gold hair matches their gold skin but being in Australia I found the flags amongst others of some use. 

Again, with the fact that I am now living 10,000 miles away from home, Whatsapps most recent update was of some advantage. Not everyone it seems is comfortable using FaceTime (Hayley and Sam I'm talking to you!) and who has time to attempt to figure out Skype... Whattsapp now however allow you to call  using your internet data as opposed to Cell credit or minutes. (I know there is Viber but I also don't know a single other person that has it). 

Most recently and best of all? Instagram today not only released new filters but have also finally given us the ability to HASHTAG EMOJI'S!!! You know, coz sometimes there just aren't enough words to convey how we truly feel 😎.

H&M kicks off Summer

I might be down under where the sun refuses to do anything but shine, but even I can't ignore that hopeful spring feeling us Europeans always experience this time of year, as soon as the nights begin to shorten. Each of us experience something different that ignites this feeling inside of us. For my sister it's the sound of people mowing their lawns, for myself however it's seeing the new season fashion campaigns. 

From Kristen Stewart's new Chanel ads to the Kate Spade collection featuring Karlie Kloss, summer campaigns never fail to instill a renewed sense of passion within me. One that has particularly resonated over the past few years is H&M's New Icon campaigns. What's not to love, four world famous models, exclusive new music and clothes that'll usually see you through the next few summers. 

This year see's H&M launch summer with another four world famous models - Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Natasha Poly and Joan Smalls. 

Pernilla Wohlfahrt, head of design at H&M describes the new line as - "everything I love about the summer - bikinis for long days at the beach, romantic prints on flowing dresses for endless nights with friends"

In keeping with previous New Icon campaigns the television advert, shot by Lachlan Bailey, will debut on April 30th, set to DJ's Axwell and Ingrosso's (Swedish House Mafia, if those names sound familiar) new track 'Sun is Shining' 

Payday Purchase

Have you ever seen a movie with a product that no matter how far and wide you search, you can just never find? Having seen The Holiday the night before I left for Australia, I found myself with this pain in the arse problem. You know the scene I'm sure, where Cameron Diaz' character is in the car checking her itinerary and has that to die for pale blue travel wallet? Well apart from spending £500 in Smythson the options for a decent travel wallet are few and far between. In the UK anyway.

Enter Kikki K. Honestly, I love a good stationary shop and I can spend a lot of time in Paperchase choosing a new diary or pen, this Swedish brand however, put Paperchase on a level with 'Clintons' or 'Birthday' (is that even still a brand?).  Anyway, I digress. After spending a while in the store I finally found the travel wallet I had been looking for, whilst it wasn't pale blue there were a number of colour options and different styles.  I finally settled on the black - I'm way to messy to have gone for the pink even though it was beautiful! 

Marc by Marc Jacobs to be discontinued

                 

After 14 years it seems we are finally saying goodbye to Marc by Marc Jacobs after it was announced this week that the brand will be folding into the main line ahead of their IPO which is looming somwhere in the near future.

Jacobs told WWD 'I've absolutely loved the last few seasons of MbMJ's young, cool, hip shows. It just feels like we weren't doing our job by showing two different collections with two different images'. Although some are still concerned as to how this will all work out, the move is not dissimilar to the one made by Dolce & Gabbana in 2011 who disbanded diffusion line D&G in order to 'put more strength and energy into other collections'.

This is not the first, nor by any means the last big change to happen to the brand in recent years. Robert Duffy, Jacobs business partner is set to take a step back from day to day operations and LVMH are offering more investment, meaning that the parent company will own 80% of the brand whilst Duffy and Jacobs themselves equally share the remaining 20%. 

Furthermore, 2013 saw Marc Jacobs step down from his role at Louis Vuitton among rumours that he was going to focus on his accessories line after the huge success experienced by Michael Kors.  Interestingly he seems to have followed in Kors lead this week after setting up his own Instagram page despite just last month telling Suzy Menkes 'I'm so appalled by the whole Social Media thing, I don't get it. It doesn't appeal to me'. Michael Kors by contrast, has in recent years embraced television advertising, Twitter and Instagram proving how adjusting with the times can be hugely beneficial for a brand after his IPO proved to be one of the most successful in the fashion industry.

The brand, which Marc Jacobs launched in 2001 with Robert Duffy in order to target a younger demographic, is currently headed by Luella Bartley and Katie Hillier, it remains unclear where their future lies or what will happen to the current MbMJ stores.

Payday Purchase

For a lot of things a girl can wear, she can get on the high street. I mean realistically, unless you have the disposable income of an a lister sometimes it's just not worth investing your money in designer pieces because the turn around time for wearing them is gone by the time you have saved enough, or at least that's my view. For some things however there is an exception to this rule - bags, shoes and my personal favourite, sunglasses. 

When I moved to Australia I literally only bought my Ray Bans, not wanting to risk bringing anything else that I might risk losing and then having to claim through insurance.  Now that I'm settled however I've realised that the Ray bans can only be worn with certain outfits and that I'm in serious need of a new pair. I've got the Prada minimal baroque in black at home so was initially thinking of a new pair of Chanel's, having seen this new line from Prada however and I was easily swayed. 

The minimal baroque Sunglasses are not too in your face as you get with the likes of Dior and D&G but they are just stylish enough that they stand out to those in the know. The two tone tortoiseshell and black also make them versatile enough to wear with any outfit.  What's not to love about this style? 

H&M finally open in Queensland

It's taken some time but this week has finally seen the opening of H&M's first store in Brisbane.   With stores already in New South Wales and Victoria, this marks the retailers first store in Queensland - although this won't be for long. Country manager Hans Andersson earlier this week announced to channel 9 news that the brand expect to open a second Brisbane store in Garden City this Spring, something that will then be followed up by a global flagship on Queen Street later this year. 

H&M are known for their rigouous expansion, with stores in over 53 markets, the brand have this year alone entered Taiwan and have plans for India, Peru and South Africa.  Not content with these new markets we will also see the brand move to Western Australia with a store in Perth's Joondalup as well as a new flagship in Sydney's Pitt Street, a prime location that currently ranks as the world fifth most expensive street to rent, after Fifth Ave and the Champs Élysées.

Payday Purchase

I'm not usually one for market shopping, choosing instead to stick to brands that I know and trust. When in Rome however, (or Sydney in this case) one must step out of ones comfort zone and for once I'm glad I did. 

Stepping inside Paddy's market you can find an Aladdins cave of products, from knock off Prada purses to fluro wigs. Dig amongst the stalls and stalls of randomness however, and there are plenty of great pieces to be had - such as my favourite Australian purchase so far, my bag. 

Obviously we can see that it is styled after the Hermes Birkin, however - and this is important, it's not a knock off, unlike many other pieces at the market. With change from $50 it was cheaper than going to an average high street store and the best part is that I know that I am not going to walk down the street and bump into ten people with the same bag. Needless to say I'll no longer be shying away from markets when I get back to London!

NYFW: Altuzarra AW15/16

Theme: ' A lot of pleasure was taken in dressing up' said the man himself.  We saw Victorian influences with a modern edge.  Thigh high slits included of course.

Palette: Turn of the century country woman with neutral tones and bursts of reds and pinks here and there.

Accessories: It was the designers first hand at accessories and he did not disappoint. Bags added a pop of colour and the chunky boots were both thigh and ankle length.

Key Look: The sleeveless dress with Victorian ruffled neck was a dream.

Review:  This collection bought us both romance and power with plenty of plaids, lace and heavy fur stoles.  Whilst Altuzarra stuck to his classic silhouette, we saw victorian style necklines, frilled details in the pockets and fluted hems that will most defintley be mimicked by high street stores in the months to come.

NYFW: Alexander Wang AW15/16

Theme:  Wang quoted his inspirations for this season as 'Punk meets Victorian Goth, Marilyn Manson and Heavy Thrash metal'

Palette: Black, black, black with velvet and leather texture.  A little bit of tartan was thrown in just to keep us on our toes.

Accessories: Platforms, hiking boots and leather studded duffle bags.

Key Look: Layered look of the fir collar thrown over a bomber over a chainmail dress.

Review: Finally, a Wang collection with not a gym related garment in sight!  The collection felt heavy and definitely appeals to those who like to live hard and fast.  Last season Wang bought us an array of fluoro but this season it was back to monochrome with the exception of two tartan jackets. Chain mail was used in conjunction with fur and added to the strong vibe  The greasy strands the models peered through with attitude emanated the kind of 90's grunge look Wang seemed to have been aiming for.  Definitely his best yet.

NYFW: Jason Wu AW15/16

Theme: 'I was kind of infatuated by global dressing and the fact that we never know what kind of weather it is'  Wu told Vogue, a result that ended in transitional pieces.  We also saw the power dressing he is so well known for.

Pallette: Starting off military like with plenty of Khakis, flowing smoothly in black before bright red hit the runway.

Accessories: Skinny stiletto heels and skinny belts aplenty. 

Key Look: #31 for me.  The fur stole perfectly adds a wintery twist on the satin jumpsuit underneath.

Review:  Sleek and sophisticated tailoring was a key component with evident 60's influences such as the satin jumpsuit.  The transferable garments such as the outerwear with detachable pieces gives buyers more bang for their buck, but the crocodile matte dresses mean clients are free to over indulge. Wu is no stranger to dressing power women that much we know.  One can't help feeling, however, that Wu is playing a little on the safe side given that his previous shows have provided us with feathers and flounces.  Knowing what he is truly capable of added to the shift in his brand aesthetic this collection seemed a little lacking.

Payday Purchase

So I've recently moved to Australia to help my company in opening in new locations. Anyone who has ever worked in this environment will tell you that the attire for such an occasion is most definitely not dresses and nice shoes. Having relocated half way round the world however made it difficult for me to bring, shall we say, more functional pieces from my wardrobe. Sure I bought a pair of gym trainers but having to put these with an outfit for work isn't ideal. 

Traipsing round an unfamiliar high street with brands you've never heard of was never going to be an easy thing to do. Luckily one of the girls had already done a walk round and informed me of a particular store 'Cotton On' that had exactly what I was looking for - slogan tee's. Between the four of us we managed to pretty much buy a sample of each available tee, with 2 for $30 (or £15 if you're like me) it's a bargain not to be missed! 

I'll admit I was over slogan tees until I saw the Britney version (left) but now I seem to have rediscovered my love of them. 

Get the Look: Naomi Watts

Many celebrities have that one thing they become synonymous with after a while. Think Jlaw and Dior, Victoria Beckham and her Birkins and Naomi Watts has herself become known for her love of Bulgari jewels, in particular her diamond snake necklace as worn on multiple occasions over the past year or so. 

As any girl knows, versatility is key when it comes to perfect accessorising, you wear good jewellery far more often than any item of clothing after all, and we love how one necklace can work in so many different ways. Having said that the necklaces $70,000 price tag is probably a bit out of most of our price ranges, right? 

Luckily then that London based designer Simon Harrison has the perfect alternative that is far more reasonable and can help us mere mortals looks as well styled as Naomi. Coming in at roughly £1500 it is still above your average price tag but as Naomi demonstrates you are sure to get your wear.

New Years Resolutions every twenty something should make

It's that time of year again, the 'New Year, New Me' pictures of salads and gym gear are about to inundate your Instagram/Faceboom/ all other form of social media. Let's be realistic, if you haven't reached your goal weight, given up smoking or ditched the sugar by the time you've reached your mid twenties then you probably aren't going to do it now just because it's January again. So do us all a favour and stop clogging up our newsfeeds and instead make some of these simple, yet realistic changes:

See the world - I thought I had to have a career and I had to have it in my twenties so I've spent my life working for something I'm still working to achieve. I've realised later than I should have that the time to travel is whilst I'm still young enough to appreciate it. 

Stop self shaming - there are plenty of people more than willing to do it for you, don't agonise over things you can change.

Stop comparing yourself to others and their choices, at least if you listen to your instinct and it's wrong you can blame yourself and not resent others for it.

Follow your heart - your head can be too sensible, if there's a time to screw up, it's now. 

Visit a European City on your day off - be spontaneous, many cities can be reached within two hours and realistically you'd spend that time travelling around London anyway! 

Stop dieting - eat your vegetables, drink plenty of water and go for a run now and again.

Don't kill yourself if you don't go to the gym, you can always go tomorrow.

Don't sweat the small stuff - shit happens, life goes on.

Clear out your wardrobe - if you haven't worn it in a year then get rid, why add clutter where it isn't needed. 

Find your passion and follow it, it's a tale as old as time but life really is too short! 

Take a social media break - live in the moment not on the Internet 

Let go of the past - it's a cliche but it's in the past for a reason

Meet a guy on a night out - get rid of tinder, if you fancy a guy talk to him, what's the worst that can happen

Stop playing games- if you want to text a guy then just text him. Again, what's the worst that can happen?

Give blood. 

Splash out on new underwear - it will make you feel better, I promise.

Keep in touch with long distance friends that are still true friends and cut out one way friends. 

Christmas Gift Ideas

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Buying gifts at Christmas can be tricky, even when you really know a person it can be so easy to get wrong. That said, I always think that it is best to give something personal and something that shows you have put a little thought into your choice, let’s face it, anyone can buy a perfume or gift card (the exception being for guys of course), buying clothes is usually a no go for most people and cosmetics and toiletries are always, in my opinion, a waste as a gift. Females usually know what products work best for them and you'll never really know exactly what she has in her glam box and therefore be at risk.

My sister once said to me that the key for gift giving lies in purchasing something your recipient will need but not necessarily buy for themselves. As a sort of tradition you can always guarantee that the two of us will always be unwrapping pyjamas from each other come the 25th, because, well who doesn't need an extra set! You'll find most girls will have some kind of list, whether they have told you or not, that said I’ve made one of my own of the things I’ll be most excited to receive come Christmas morning.

Beauty Review: H&M BB Cream Brush

I know, you read the heading and wonder is it even worth reading about a high street clothing retailer's cosmetics line? Well I've always remained sceptical over high street cosmetics. Don't get me wrong I love a piece or two from Rimmel (I even rate their nail polishes over the likes of Chanel) but as a rule I tend not to purchase make up from lower end brands purely because I have sensitive skin and these brands just don't give me the lightweight feel when compared to their luxury counterparts. 

In addition, I've never really used make up brushes, preferring to use my fingers as I always know they're clean, despite knowing it won't give me as even a coverage. Recently however, I was in Leeds when I realised I'd left a lot of make up essentials back home in London. I'd arrived too late to go shopping so a quick dash into H&M to grab a few brushes and eye liner etc left me pleasantly surprised. 

As I've said I don't rate brushes for foundation, I noticed however a 'BB Cream Brush' at the cash desk - I have to say this is possibly one of my favourite beauty purchases ever! It caught my eye as it's basically a replica of the Shiseido flat top brush but for a fraction of the price. Having sensitive skin I've found plenty of foundation brushes are too harsh on my skin. This brush however left my skin as smooth as before application and gave me an even coverage that more or less lasted throughout the day. I can't believe I've lived for so long without this little miracle! 

Beauty Review: Marc Jacobs Gel Definition Mascara

                          

Having searched high and low over the years for the perfect mascara and trying every brand from Chanel to Rimmel I honestly thought such a thing didn't exist - until Marc Jacobs launched his own beauty brand just over a year ago. As the range is available exclusively at Sephora and selected Marc Jacob's stores, my problem then became getting my hands on the product seeing as I had no trips planned to anywhere that stocked it. 

Luckily a work colleague recently took a trip to NYC and actually remembered to stop by Sephora to pick up my order - including the Lash Lifter Gel Definition Mascara. To say it was worth the wait was an understatement. My main problem with previous mascaras have been clumpiness and the fact that it comes off with even the slightest touch, to my delight I had no such problem with this latest product. 

Despite a number of negative reviews on Sephoras website I found that the mascara both lifted the lashes and added volume, I even felt confident enough to go out on a Saturday night without my lashes. My main issue with mascara is that I tend to subconsciously touch my eyes during the day, quite often resulting in my looking like I have two black eyes by the time I finish work, but thanks to the micro-crystalline powders used this is now a non issue. 

The mascara neither flakes at touch nor runs when wet, in fact my hair dresser recently came round (she's my best friend so it's usually an over the bath rinse out of hours) and instead of looking like a giant panda after washing, like I usually do, the mascara was all still firmly on my lashes. 

At $26 (£16 roughly) it's certainly one of the cheaper mascaras on the market and as I recently found out (after my friend had returned from NYC) Sephora now actually deliver to the UK - although delivery costs £10 and must be over £75 before sales tax to qualify for the flat rate charge, this however only makes it a perfect excuse to order more cosmetics ( I also highly reccomend ReMarcAble Full Coverage Concealer). 

Look of the Week: Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is one of those actresses you either love or hate. Myself, I totally love her, even more so after she opted to wear this deep blue Richard Nicoll gown to the LA Premiere of Interstellar last night. Satin is a brave choice for many of us, it works perfectly on the Oscar winning star who accessorised with a star embellished necklace, by James Banks Designs, which draped down her bias cut dress. 

Payday Purchase

As you can see from my last post, I've become a sneaker convert. I've been practically living in my new Nike's when not at work and it's become a necessity for me to buy a new pair. I was going to treat myself to a new colour of the Air Max Thea's (if you like something buy it in bulk right?) when I noticed and entire Converse wall in Foot Asylum.

It's been a while since I bought a pair of Converse. I did the whole Converse/Skinnies/Blazer look to death in Uni and as a result put myself off of them. This style however, are the perfect pair to get me back into them.  With a snakeskin texture, leather effect laces and metallic toe cap these are certainly more feminine and stylish than your average Nikes. 

I also treated my nephew to a pair for his Christmas present whilst we were there. Whilst the star print would look more than a bit Chavvy on larger feet, they don't half look cute on his little size 12's. 

Payday Purchase

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote one of these. I feel like every time I write a post I have to justify why I've not written in so long, more to myself than anything if I'm honest. A sign of my own laziness I'm sure! 

Stepping aside from the procrastination and onto the matter at hand, my latest purchase. 

I've never been a fan of trainers, I've always had this thing in my head that certain things are for men only - pints, football and trainers. Weird I know, but lately the influx of trainers worn for fashion as opposed to function has become hard to ignore and who am I to avoid such a blatant trend. Well I've ignored it for the past year but at least I'm finally latching on. 

After going from a trainer hater to someone in desperate need of a pair in the space of a day I enlisted the help of the only person I could trust with such a decision regarding my footwear. Together we went to Westfields and after visiting numerous shops and heated debates over what I should get (he greatly favours Huaraches whilst I was partial to a pair of Flyknits) we both decided we liked the Air Max Thea (above). Surprise surprise not a single shop in Shepards Bush nor my local high street had my size, luckily however a planned trip to Manchester that weekend worked in my favour.

As mentioned, there was a two day lapse in picking my trainers and actually purchasing them, in the mean time I realised my usual attire of 50's style skirts and skater dresses would hardly work with this new choice of footwear. Therefore I spent the next two days shopping determinedly, buying my new jeans for the first time in years and even a new coat especially to wear with my trainers.  Any excuse!