Girliness dominated the SS12 catwalks, so it's fitting that we should be opting for  perfume packed with petals, too.  Retail research shows that in uncertain economic times, floral fragrances, the easiest and safest scents to wear, surge in popularity.  This season sees flowers, from rose and orchid to lily of the walley, blended with citrus, woody notes and spice for a contemporary twist.

These are my top picks that I found in a magazine.  I love Dior Miss Dior and anything by Jimmy Choo but also like the sounds of both the Chloe and Stella McCartney fragrances.

Which is your favourite?

Pretty Pink Fashion Trends: Barbie's story

In middle school I used to wear a mood ring -- remember those? The idea is that depending on your mood, the ring's stone would change colour. Mine was consistently a bright shade of pepto pink ... which was fine by me, because I've always been the cheerful, glass-half-full type. But it's not like I dot my i's with hearts or dress up as Elle Woods for Halloween, I just have a slight girly-girl streak.

And my love of all things pink has lasted -- even after Paris Hilton almost ruined the colour for an entire decade. So when I started seeing my favorite hue on the runways and in magazines recently, I couldn't have been more excited. It should be no surprise that for this colour story I rounded up a massive list of beauty and fashion trends in pepto pink -- the pinkest of pinks.

Now, pink isn't just for Barbie (although I'll take the convertible and dream house any day). There are a ton of ways to work it into your style, whether your mood ring is naturally pepto or a smoky gray. Here are three key tips to get started:

1. Pair pink with hardware like studs or chains to balance things out and avoid that too sugary sweet vibe.
2. Add an unexpected pop of pink to an otherwise neutral outfit. A pink lip or pepto clutch is a great place to start.
3. Mix with other bright colours like tangerine or cobalt. Just make sure to keep a streamlined silhouette to avoid a mess.

Okay, ready for a pink parade? SCROLL for Pink OVERLOAD!

No. 1: Aldo Platform Pumps

Get plenty of mileage out of these patent leather pink pumps.

Get it: Aldo Platform Pumps, £29.99

No. 2: Essie Nail Polish in "Off the Shoulder"

Bright pink nails always look so pretty and polished (pun intended).

Get it: Essie "Off the Shoulder" Nail Polish, £9.95

No. 3: TIKKR Pink Panther Watch

Being punctual is even better when you do it with a pepto pink watch.

Get it: TIKKR Pink Panther Watch, £5.99

No. 4: Aldo McEnroe Crossbody Bag

Pink crossbody bags are ideal for the girl on the go.

Get it: Aldo McEnroe Crossbody, £28.50

No. 5: Dior Rosy Glow Blush

Don't be afraid of a bright pink blush, but also don't go too heavy. A light dusting will do.

Get it: Dior Rosy Glow Blush, £29.50

No. 6: Cheap Monday Skinny Jeans

Swapping out blue denim for colored jeans is one of the fastest ways to brighten up your look.

Get it: Cheap Monday Skinny Jeans, £50

No. 7: Forever 21 Lux Stone Necklace

Pair this pink statement necklace with a solid silk blouse for a great day-to-evening look.

Get it: Forever 21 Lux Stone Necklance, £8.40

No. 8: Soap and Glory Birthday Box

This Soap and Glory birthday gift set is as fabulous (but sadly not as delicious) as a slice of confetti cake.

Get it: Soap and Glory Birthday Box, £15

No. 9: Tweezerman Set

Tweezing doesn't feel as painful when plucking in pink.

Get it: Tweezerman Set, £26

No. 10: Betsey Johnson Bow Flats

Crochet-style pink flats are perfect for transitioning from spring to summer.

Get it: Similar found here, £10

No. 11: Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! Fragrance

The signature scent of a pepto pink girl? Oh, Lola! by Marc Jacobs.

Get it: Oh, Lola! Fragrance, £37














And those are my hot (pink) picks!  I'm in love.

Do you like any of these items?  Is pink a colour you secretly love?

Repeat after me: Nude make-up is not scary

I am here to dispel a huge beauty myth. "No Makeup" makeup (or, if you prefer, "natural makeup") is not harder to apply than your regular, run o' the mill kind.

Nude makeup is quick, easy, and nearly goof-proof. Plus, it goes with just about anything and has the added benefit of helping turn up the dial on your own innate beauty without smothering it beneath some mask.

The key to pulling it off? Having the right products on hand and knowing how to use them. Here's a rundown of my must-haves along with some pro tips to get you started.

Sheer foundation

The less makeup you have on, the more natural your look; so if your skin is in good condition, feel free to skip foundation. However, if you just want to even out your complexion, use a light formula (I love the American brand COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation, £20). You can also thin out a thicker foundation by mixing it with a touch of primer or moisturizer.

To avoid those telltale "I'm wearing foundation" lines around your jaw and hairline, celebrity makeup artist and Make-up Designory instructor Cyndi Welch advises matching foundation to your neck and chest, which tend to be darker than your face.

Luminizing concealer

Healthy skin has a bit of shine to it. But if yours looks more dull than dewy, fake it 'till you make it with a luminizing concealer (try Givenchy Mister Bright Touch of Light Pen, £21.90). Just apply it where light would naturally hit your best features (e.g., your browbone, cheekbones, cupid's bow, etc.). You can also use it to conceal dark circles and balance out uneven color around the creases of your nose.

Nude lips

When choosing a nude lip shade, common mistakes include going matte or trying to match the color of your skin exactly. Both of these acts will make you look unhealthy and too pale. To add warmth to your face, go for a neutral, satin-finish lipstick with a slight peach or pink tint to it instead. (Try Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in #003, £5.49.)

To give your lip color more staying power, use a lip liner that does match your lips beneath your lipstick. (Try 17 Lipliner in Buff, £2.49.)

Creamy cheeks

With nude makeup, it's easy to look washed out. The best way to avoid this is to apply a rosy cream blush, which can look more natural than a powder blush, on the apples of your cheeks. (Try Nars Cream Blush in Lokoum, £20.50.) For a sun-kissed look, add a touch of tawny (for darker skin) or peachy (for lighter skin) bronzer along your cheekbones, too. (Try Nars Multiple Bronzer, £29.) Blend your cheeks well for a barely-there effect.

Note: If you are using powder formulas instead of cream formulas and the results look too dusty, mist some water over your face and let it sink in.

Precision brow pencil

Brows frame the face, which is a definite necessity when bright colors aren't around to steal the show. Keep them groomed and shaded in with a soft, fine-point brow pencil. (Try DiorShow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil, £19.09.) Apply the pencil using light, diagonal strokes; then run a brow brush or dry mascara wand over your brows to help blend the color in seamlessly.

When choosing a pencil shade, a light brown pencil generally works best if you have blonde hair, while honey brown works best for red hair and deep brown works best for brown hair.

 

Shimmery shadows

All you need are at least two shimmery nude eyeshadows to add dimension to your lids and help bring out your eyes. First, apply a shadow that's slightly lighter than your skin tone as a base color from lashline to lid. Then apply a shadow that's slightly darker than your skin tone in your crease, or at the base of your lid if you lack a crease. (Try ELF Custom Eyes in Moondust and Mocha, £1.50 each.)

Beige eyeliner

Beige eyeliner -- which looks more natural than white eyeliner -- brightens your eyes and makes you look more awake. Use it the same way makeup artist and Procter & Gamble Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath uses it on runway models: to line your inner eye rims. (Try W7 Eye Stix Eyeliner Pen by Beige Pearl , £2.99.) And don't forget to apply a few coats of black mascara. (Try MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara, £10.99.)

Nude nails

And, finally, we get to nude nails -- my favorite finishing touch for any look, any time. A good nude nail minimizes redness, elongates your hand, conceals imperfections, and lasts longer (chips look less noticeable than when you've got a brightly-colored mani). But the wrong shade could make your nails look unhealthy or stained with nicotine. (Try ELF's Nail Polish in Nude or Blush, £1.50)

To find the right shade, "choose a nude that matches as closely to your face foundation as possible," says green celebrity nail artist Jenna Hipp. If you have light or fair skin, opt for a shade with a touch of cream in it to neutralize the pink in your skin. If you have medium or dark skin, choose peach and brown tones over yellowish or pinky nudes.

I hope you've all had an awesome weekend and that you are all safely back to work, school or wherever you may be. 

 

Sheer Skin Tint SPF15

This morning, when I started getting ready for work, I applied some Liz Earle moisturizer.  It is the only moisturizer that works beautifully with my skin.  It is not greasy and doesn't cause any spots.  The formulation is so gentle and beautiful.

I also had the great pleasure of trying Liz Earle's Sheer Skin Tint because I received a small sachet of sample with my Christmas Giftbox of Liz Earle goodies!  And that is what I'll be talking about today.

I've actually used the sheer tint on several occasions and have been mightily impressed by it.  It is so moisturizing and feels very greasy when you're first apply it over your face.  But don't fret!  It gives great coverage and easily sinks into the skin, leaving a glowing complexion.  If you are worried that it might leave your skin too shiny, it is worth just dabbing on a small amount of powder, and this easily lasts for the whole day then without being shiny.

All my other makeup products work really well in conjunction with the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint and there really is nothing bad I can say about the product.

Sheer Skin Tint SPF15 Awards

 Liz Earle says: 
The perfect way to enhance your skin. Our rich and creamy, yet lightweight formula leaves all skin types looking naturally dewy, even and radiant. With mineral UV SPF15, it’s enriched with our own blend of natural source vitamin E, borage and avocado, specially selected to work in harmony with our skincare range.
Apply a little Sheer Skin Tint onto forehead, nose, cheeks and chin, then blend with fingertips over your face.

Suitable for all skin types

Bare 01

The palest shade, this suits fair, alabaster complexions.

Beige 02

The medium shade, this suits the majority of Caucasian skins.

Beach 03

The darkest shade, this works well for suntanned, olive-toned and most Asian skin tones.

 The skin tint also comes in three shades as stated above, which makes it super easy to find your perfect match.  The bare 01 shade is great for concealing and the beige 02 shade is great to use as a soft foundation for my medium skin.  I'm definitely thinking of buying this product in the full size.

Liz Earle's Sheer Tint SPF15 Makeup is priced at £21 for 40ml.  This might seem pricey, but it is nicer than Clinique or any other more expensive luxury brand that I've tried (including Christian Dior).

What do you think of this product, and have you tried it?  What is your favourite foundation?

Bisous

Are you about to Coco-bongo outta here?

Hello little chickens ....

Are you travelling anywhere soon?  As you all know by now I'll be travelling to South Africa in August this year from the UK and it is a fairly long flight.  Now for all you gals that just love your beauty even when flying, this is the blog entry for you!  I'll be discussing my must have items on a flight as well as giving you hints and tips on things I religiously undertake before flying!

The first item that I always purhase is the Nivea travel set.  It is an absolute life-saver and cheap as chips!

Contents:

• NIVEA Bathcare Cashmere Moments Shower Cream 50ml - with a delicate orchid scent and Cashmere Extract, the soft creamy formula cleanses and caresses, leaving skin as soft and smooth as cashmere. The perfect 'pick me up' after a long journey.

• NIVEA VISAGE Gentle Cleansing Wipes 20s - there can't be a simpler way to remove daily grime and make-up, plus clean skin is essential to maintaining youthful, vibrant skin, which also helps to absorb moisturisers more easily.

• NIVEA Deodorant Pearl & Beauty 35ml - contains precious pearl extract to leave your underarms luxuriously soft and smooth. And with NIVEA 24 hour anti-perspirant protection, it'll keep going as long as you do.

• NIVEA Creme 30ml - probably the most versatile cream in the world. It's the perfect multi-purpose mini for your bag. Because it intensively moisturises your skin, you can use it everywhere, hands, face, feet and body for beautiful soft skin.

• NIVEA Lip Care Essential - containing Hydramine and Grape seed extracts to help the lip's natural moisture levels. Just apply daily, and your lips become softer, smoother and more supple, instant care that ensures the pretty pout will be ready for any dazzling lipstick colour.

These items come packaged in a clear, zipper plastic bag that will be perfect to get through security at the airport and costs approximately £5.99 from all good supermarkets, chemists and beauty retailers.  And there is also a male version, so the man in your life will not feel left out!

My second big tip for flying is to do with your skin!  I find that when I fly on long-haul flights my skin often breaks out into spots and dries out alot, but then there is also the element of my skin looking "grey".  Clearly the pressure in the aircraft cabin affects the skin to a large extent and I always have little tricks that I try to implement before I embark on flying.  These include drinking lots of water before, during and after the flight and trying to avoid alcohol as this will dehydrate your skin even further (I know it is boring, but sacrifices have to be made!). Tee heee heeee Another great tip is to clear any make-up and impurities off your skin with a face wipe before the flight takes off, and to slather on your best moisturizer.  Do this 2 or 3 times on the flight depending on how long it is and you'll see a marked difference in your complexion by the end of the flight.  Just before you land, you can quickly go and do your make-up and touch ups.  I've personally tried this on 3 long-haul flights and it has worked every single time!



 
The Dior Capture Total R60/80 is the BESTest ESTes moisturizer I have EVER EVER tried!  It is a wrinkle creme and I don't have wrinkles yet, but that doesn't even matter!  The texture of the creme itself is satiny and soft, rich and velvety and leaves your skin smooth, beautiful, taught and hydrated beyond belief!  It is very expensive though at £64 per 50ml and about £10 per 15ml.  I'm definitely going to purhase this product again!

Carry some peppermint or rosemary oil on flights. The recirculated air in planes can make the atmosphere stuffy. Rub a dab of essential oil on your temples to help relieve congestion.

Also the nails!  If you have nail polish on during flights, it tends to chip or peel off due to handling your luggage.  This can be pretty unsightly!  I recommend going for a manicure, but not just any manicure!  Nails Inc. has a manicure and pedicure service that last for 3 weeks!  It is a little pricey at £55 but it will last for 3 weeks, and it is chip resistant and super glossy!  I'm definitely going to go for one of these in the next while, I'll keep you posted!

Apply a leave-in conditioner before you begin your journey. Choose one that's formulated for your hair type so it won't weigh your hair down. The stresses of travelling, especially if you go to a different climate, can dry out hair and cause split ends.  There are loads of brands on the market however I haven't decided which is my favourite as my hair is sentimental at the best of times!  However, if you scout around on the internet especially Ebay and Amazon, you can often find some great bargains.  Also check your local Boots, as they are doing 3 for 2 offers on lots of cosmetics and haircare products like John Frieda etc. I quite like the look of ze Paul Mitchell one.

Ze Paul Mitchell leave-in conditioner has de-tangling properties too, and due to my hair being so long...detangling is a great feature.  I'm going to team mine up with this detangling brush from Tangle Teezer is pretty pink!

That concludes my travel beauty section...however I may run another one of these if anybody likes what I've talked about and would like me to review more products and tips for travelling.  Most of all have fun on your flight...I always get that excited feeling when I'm at an airport.

Tata Daaaaahlings ;)