Hayley Hall

Way back when in 2010, I didn't even own a camera. My blog was full of stock images and the focus was definitely on words rather than pretty pictures. However, as times have changed and blogs have become as much about the presentation as the content, it's become essential to take great photos. Not only does a great photograph set the scene and draw a reader in, but it helps to illustrate your words and affirm your point of view. I'm by no means an expert in photography whatsoever (my general photography mode is 'auto' followed by 'point, click and hope for the best') but there are some really simple things you can do to make your blog as appealing as possible.

Illustrate Your Point
Your photographs are on the page to bring to life your words and set the scene. If you're reviewing a lipstick, then it's vital to take a few pictures that really illustrate the benefits and things you love about it (as well as an effective representation of colour and result.) Taking one photo and hoping it will do the job won't breathe life and passion into your words, but a great close-up of the bullet can. If you're talking about four different features, then try and include four different pictures that illustrate those points.

BUT: Every Photo Has A Purpose
Ensure every photo has a purpose and is illustrating a feature or benefit you're talking about. Don't include five pictures of basically the same thing - it's a waste of space, waste of storage and can actually cause your blog to load really slowly. Just because you've taken eight great pictures of a mascara doesn't mean you have to use them all; be selective and only feature the images that you need. I suggest a minimum of two and a maximum of six (depending on what you're writing about.)

Get Perspective
A flat photo can be great when you're just taking product pictures, but a photo with perspective will look super slick and be a little more exciting on the page. Taking a photo of something from an angle, or with things in the background, can be more pleasing on the eye and give the impression that you're there in the room with the writer. (We don't look at things head-on, so it's easier to imagine something when an image has perspective.) It's hard to explain the different feelings a great photo can evoke, but being courageous and testing the water can really make a difference.

Edit, Edit, Edit
Nobody takes a perfect photo the first time around. It may be that the lighting wasn't right, there's an annoying fleck of dirt in the frame or that the colours need turning up a notch to really illustrate something - all that and more can be corrected with a little editing. There are some great free tools, such as PicMonkey, which allow you to play around with colour and composition, as well as adding text and frames to pictures. Have a play and get in the habit of editing every picture so it's the best it can be... You'll never look back.

Bigger Is Better
Personally I can't stand teeny tiny pictures on blogs. If you've gone to the effort of taking a great photo, then make sure the size of it on the page is doing it justice. A bigger image will bring to life the details a little more, as well as making your blog a very visual place to be. I set all my images to the 'X-Large' size on blogger, both so they fill the page and make my site comfortable and visual. You can also edit the size of an image within the 'HTML' section of your post editor, ensuring it's the perfect size for you.

Invest In Some Kit
When I first started taking photos it was on a smartphone. I then moved up to a small camera, which was better but not perfect. The best thing I ever did was invest in a DLSR camera - the photos are incomparible and make my site a much more slick operation. A DLSR will allow you to take brighter, more focused and clearer images that will really bring to life your words. (You don't even need to be an expert, as most have an 'auto' function that allows you to literally point and click!) Although my camera was around £400, you can pick a great second hand one up for a fraction of that from eBay or somewhere like Cash Converters.

Lighting, Lighting, Lighting
Great lighting can completely change the look of your images. If possible, take your pictures when the sun is shining through a window - natural light is so much better than indoor lighting, as it enables you to catch colours as they actually are. It's also useful to pick up some flourescent lighting too, which can lighten and brighten your images even when it's dull outside. I bought myself a ring light (around £30.00) which attaches to my camera and my images have instantly improved leaps and bounds.

Taking great photographs isn't easy - it's a skill you develop over time. Investing in a little kit, spending time perfecting your craft and editing images so they're the best they can be, will really help to make your blog look great. Do you have any tips for taking great photos?
Next in the series: How To Stay Super Organised

Want to catch up on the rest of the series? Check out all the previous posts here.

I love lipstick and the intensity of colour it provides, but I hate the drying feeling and the colour fade that often goes with it. Glosses provide high shine, a hint of colour and smoothness, but they're not great at giving a great colour result. With the introduction of Color Riche L'Extraordinaire liquid lipsticks, L'Oreal aims to combine the benefits of both to revolutionise the way we apply colour to our lips. These innovative liquid lipsticks contain breakthrough technology which allows both colour and shine, as well as offering care to lips and a super soft finish.

Traditional lipsticks are formulated with wax which can mask the pigment; however, L'Oreal has combined pigment and a clear oil to allow the true colour result to shine through. The oil also act as a magnifying glass to capture and reflect the light, illuminating the lips and providing added shine for a fab result. Similar to Bare Minerals' 'Pretty Amazing' in texture and result, these liquid lipsticks really do provide a great colour without compromising on comfort.

Containing argan oil for antioxidant purposes, lotus flower oil for soothing, camelisa seed for hydrating and rose canina fruit oil for supporting the skin barrier function, these are definitely more than just another lipgloss. They're lovely to apply and provide a great colour result in only one sweep of the applicator, moulded to fit the shape of the lips for ease of application. Although I initially thought these could be a dupe for the YSL Glossy Stains, these don't stain the lip and do wear off after a time and need to be re-applied; however, I still love the texture and the great colour result they provide without dragging or drying the lips.

Available now in nine shades and priced £8.99, there's a colour on the spectrum for everyone - from nudes, to orange, to red and plum to bright pink. These are definitely worth checking out this Spring... If only for the fabulous statement gold packaging.

The Color Riche L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks are available now priced £8.99.

With Easter on its way, it's time to start thinking about chocolate again. Even though I haven't even finished my Christmas chocolate supply, it'll be no time at all before we're all overflowing with Creme Eggs. If you fancy something a little different at the end of your Easter Egg Hunt this April, then Too Faced may just have the answer with this yummy Chocolate Bar eyeshadow palette. Wrapped like something straight out of Willy Wonka's factory, the tin inside looks like a delicious chocolate bar too. Holding a collection of 16 different (and brand new) high-pigment colours, the palette even smells like chocolate - thanks to the eyeshadows being made with 100% natural cocoa powder. This is a chocolate lovers dream in makeup form.

I've made no secret of the fact that I love a pretty package, and this doesn't dissappoint. What's the real selling point though is that the 16 new shades of eyeshadow are all wearable, soft and blendable - providing a spectrum of nude colours that makes this a real form of competition for Urban Decay's Naked palette. Although this is slightly more expensive (£45.00 vs the £37.00 average for a Naked palette,) it contains an additional four shades and two huge pans of base colour. I hate it when a palette only has one little neutral beige, as I end up using this all over my eyelid to create a uniformed result and base on which to apply the colour. With the Too Faced 'Chocolate Bar' you get enough base pigment to last the duration of the life of the box.

Although this initially may seem somewhat of a makeup indulgence, it works out £2.80 for each of the sixteen eyeshadow colours - making it a much more reasonable price point for what you get. The pigments are really strong and the formulas super smooth, comparable in quality to Urban Decay's iconic and much loved eyeshadow texture. I was sold on the packaging alone, but the subtle chocolate scent just makes this a little bit special. (It's not overwhelming at all - in fact, you have to get quite close to the palette to even notice its sweet scent!) If you're after something special for Easter, then why not ask the Bunny for some Too Faced instead of another Dairy Milk?

The Too Faced 'Chocolate Bar' palette is £45.00 and available from Debenhams. (Currently available with a £5.50 discount, making it £39.50 for a limited time!)

Models Own seem to continually be hitting it out of the park with their affordable and innovative nail collections. Although they often 'take inspiration' from other brands (this time Illamasqua and their 2013 'Imperfection' collection,) they ensure trends are both affordable and wearable. Launching just in time for Easter, their Speckled Egg collection helps make your nails look like five little Mini Eggs; each of the five pastel and Spring-appropriate colours includes dark flecks that bring the polishes bang up to date. The flecks are suspended in the polish in three different sizes, making the finished result quirky and fresh - these aren't sparkling polishes or super girly, as the dark pigment helps to toughen the look and make it wearable with even a biker jacket.

Although the polish is quite thin, it allows you to build up the colour and create a textured finish without the annoying bits of glitter sticking out from the surface. The particles in Models Own's version are smaller than the Illamasqua collection, providing a much smoother and more uniformed application, as well as a more wearable finish. Although I loved the Illamasqua 'Imperfection' collection (it was always a talking point,) the Speckled egg polishes offer a similar finish for a third of the price. I was surprised to see how shiny and smooth the finished result was on the nail, as well as the true-to-bottle colours; this is a collection that will no doubt fly off the shelves when it's launched in a couple of weeks.

The 'Speckled Egg' collection launches on March 12th, priced £5.00 each.

Did you know that up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can still hit your skin on a cloudy day? Sun protection isn't just for when we're sunbathing on a beach; it's an essential part of every skincare routine and a vital element in the fight against ageing. Until now, it's been extremely hard to find an SPF that's wearable off the beach and under makeup - especially as sun lotions can be heavy, greasy and hard to absorb. Piz Buin are constantly pushing the boundaries of sun care, delivering new innovations year after year in order to encourage customers to wear SPF as much as possible. With the launch of their Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid, they're bringing effective protection in a super light formula that dries instantly to leave a powdery soft finish. You'll never view sun cream in the same way again once you use it.

Enriched with Vitamin E, to help prevent against ageing, the formula is non-greasy and non-sticky. Once it's applied to skin and massaged into the surface, the ultra light lotion almost instantaneously dries to leave a delicate powdery finish that stops clothes or sand sticking to skin. Available in SPF 15 and 30, it removes the need to wait before getting ready in the morning, as well as ensuring wearing SPF all year round is now a realistic option. There's also a super handy Face Fluid that offers the same benefits and the same light formula, drying instantly on skin without any heaviness - you can apply primer and foundation over the top without it blocking pores or causing the dreaded 'slip' feeling. It's practically invisible.

Although a lot of primers, moisturisers and foundations contain SPF15, this is realistically only providing you with SPF2 to SPF7 - because we simply don't apply enough to get the full amount of protection. As we know, the rays hitting our skin from the sun can cause it to age and speed up the appearance of wrinkles, making sun protection a serious must if you're concerned about maintaining your youthful looks! Joan Collins has recently admitted the secret to her youth is that she's worn SPF every day since she was 20, so this new formula makes it even easier to follow in her footsteps. Piz Buin have completely revolutionised how we'll now see sun care, offering a pleasant formula and wearable finish that's suitable 365 days a year. I'm impressed.

The Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid is available now from Boots priced £17.00; the Face Fluid RRP £12.00.

When I was told last Summer that white nails would be hot for Spring 2014, I couldn't help but cringe and hope it was a trend that would swiftly pass. White has always reminded me of Essex, the 90's and summertime, rather than a shade to bring an outfit bang up-to-date and catwalk ready. However, this spring I've fully embraced the white nail trend, thanks to the prominence of super chic white shades available on the high street. My current favourite is this slightly pearlescent shade from Rita Ora's collection for Rimmel London, which provides a bright white hue and a streak-free finish. These are my top five reasons why white polish is the best thing for your nails this Spring.

1. White Goes With Everything
There's nothing worse than feeling like your nail colour doesn't match your outfit. (Or is that just me?) I used to change my nail colour every other day and try, as much as possible, to match my outfits to my hue of choice. The benefit of white is that it goes with everything, regardless of season or occasion, making it a safe choice for all and a bit more exciting than a nude.

2. Pastel Without Being Girlie
Although pastel shades are massive news for Spring, if you don't fancy a girlie pink or a baby blue, then a white nail can provide you with a tougher take on the trend. It's still light and bright, but without the candy base colour of some of the other shades doing the rounds right now.

3. Monochrome Is Hot
Black and white is a classic combo, making a huge comeback in 2014 thanks to brands such as Victoria Beckham. White nails can add a subtle punch to a LBD, or add a brighter detail to a structured pencil skirt and sweater combo. A white nail will instantly update an all-black outfit; just add a statement necklace for added wow factor.

4. Elongate The Nails
While dark shades can make nails look short and stumpy, bright and pale shades can help elongate the nail and make your hands look elegant. If you're struggling to grow out your nails, or suffer from flaking and broken tips, then white polish can give the illusion of a longer and more refined nail bed.

5. Powerful Yet Simple
If you're not a fan of nail art, or prefer to keep things simple, a white nail can make a powerful statement without being too much. There's no need for fancy nail art or textured topcoats, because the strong white colour does all the talking for you.

Are you loving the white nail trend? Why is it your polish of choice?

Since its re-design and re-launch a couple of years ago, Eyeko have positioned themselves as a beauty brand to be reckoned with. Partnering with Alexa Chung was just the tip of the iceberg for this previously cute budget range; they're now charging a whopping £18.00 for a mascara and £12.00 for an eyeliner - priced to parallel some of the most premium brands out there. Although their mascara has developed a cult-like status amongst its fans, it's a hit or miss product for many others and has been reformulated numerous times. Having not used an Eyeko product in many years, I was keen to find out what had changed to allow them to double their prices and sign up famous faces to endorse their brand. So, is Eyeko worth the money?

Now available in Midnight Blue (to subtly provide a hint of azur to bring out the whites of your eyes,) Eyeko's Black Magic mascara combines three key elements to create drama, volume and curl all in one. The curvaceous brush lifts lashes and enables you to cover each individually, for a voluminous and separated result. Unlike a lot of mascaras which focus on either creating volume or lengthening lashes, Black Magic does everything in one swoop and can be built up without unsightly clumping. The iconic squeezy tube isn't just for fun either, as it allows you to get every last drop of mascara out of the bottle (rather than playing a guessing game as to how much formula is left in your tube.) The dark blue shade is surprisingly wearable, providing an almost undetectable tint to lashes; it helps to make the whites of your eyes pop and make you appear more 'awake', which is a bonus if you lead as hectic a life as me.

The Skinny Liquid Eyeliner is easy to apply and contains a long-lasting formula to ensure your look stays jet black all day long. Its precision tip makes it super simple to create feline flicks and definition to accentuate eyes, with no smudging or bleeding around the lash line. I'm useless at applying liquid eyeliner, but this makes it easy for even a novice to create a flawless result. You can build up the line easily thanks to the thin tip, so starting small can end up being big (if you're so inclined!) I've never before been able to master the perfect cat's eye flick, until this Skinny Liquid Eyeliner graced my hand and changed my makeup repertoire forever; my friends even asked me where I went to have my eyeliner professionally applied when I debuted my new look.

I really do like these two products and would happily part with £12.00 for the Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, but £18.00 for an Eyeko mascara is a little too much for me. Although the result is great and the wand helps to create fanned out lashes, £18.00 takes it into premium territory and near the price of my beloved YSL and Guerlain creations. Eyeko have done a great job at creating some fab products and re-launching themselves as a credible makeup brand, but in my opinion they'd do much better if they reduced their prices a little and let the formulations do the talking.

Are you a fan of Eyeko? Have you tried these new formulas? Would you pay £18.00 for an Eyeko mascara when there are comparable premium alternatives?

The Black Magic mascara is £18.00, while the Skinny Liquid Eyeliner is £12.00. Both available from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and online.

Now the sun is out and we seem to be finally rid of the chilling winds, it's time to give our beauty routine a little overhaul. Like fashion, not all skincare and makeup products are made to be worn all year round - in the winter we need hardworking bases, strong colours and powerful moisturisers, but come spring we can replace them with something a little lighter. With the help of the Boots beauty department (which has everything under one roof and is even offering 3 for 2 on all beauty right now,) there are loads of little things you can pick up to give yourself a spring clean that don't even cost a small fortune. After I was asked to check out what Boots had to offer by Collective Bias, I popped along to my local Boots store and these are the goodies I picked up to help me meet the warmer months with a smile on my face and a glowing complexion.

1. Treat Your Skin
Over the colder months our skin will have taken somewhat of a battering. Winter winds, central heating and lots of rain mean the upper layers of our skin may be in need of special treatment to replace the moisture lost. Nivea have a fab new affordable anti-ageing range, which includes a Skin-Refining Serum and targeted Night Cream. Using these daily will help replenish any goodness lost, as well as tightening and firming the skin; the serum is super light and even acts as a great primer for makeup. The more we look after our skin, the less we have to conceal imperfections and worry about fine lines!

2. Give Yourself A Pedi
Our feet suffer in the colder months, thanks to being stuffed into socks and boots and forgotten about. We neglect our tootsies when we can't see them, which means they look horrendous when we actually want to get out the spring sandals. Using a rich foot cream (such as Soap & Glory's Heel Genius,) will help to hydrate cracked heels and smooth hard skin. Soak feet in a warm bowl of water with a drop of oil before you attempt to remove the three-month-old polish too, as it will help to soften skin and make an at-home pedi that little easier.

3. Prep, Prime & Conceal
I'm a firm believer in a great primer, as it creates a barrier between the skin and makeup to help it last all day. Targeted primers, such as Clinique's Anti-Redness Superprimer, also help to tackle skin concerns so we look our best. Available from counters in larger Boots stores, this is one staple that I now can't be without - having re-purchased it about three times already! Another must-have for Spring is a great BB Cream; much misunderstood, a great BB Cream can help smooth the complexion, conceal impurities and brighten skin to leave a 'just got back from a mini break' glow. I really love the No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream as it's as true to the original Asian formulas as I've found in the UK; light and great for nude makeup days, it's a fab addition for Spring. All you need for a finishing touch is a great concealer to hide dark circles and unsightly pimples - the Seventeen Phwoarr Paint is really effective, affordable and lasts all day.

4. Brush Up
Having the right tools within your reportoire can really help to get the most out of your makeup collection. A great powder brush, highlighting tool and eyeshadow blender can ensure your makeup is flawless. Real Techniques are available in most Boots stores and provide affordable brushes and tools that are developed with the helping hand of Pixiwoo; they're light to hold, contain soft bristles and leave a delicate soft finish to the skin. Every woman needs a few in their collection, so why not spring clean your makeup tools and invest in some new brushes?

5. The Finishing Touches
If you've got a flawless base and glowing skin, then you can afford to place the focus on a power lip and a statement nail. L'Oreal's new Liquid Lipsticks provide the colour of the lipstick, but with the softness and shine of a gloss - they provide serious power punch and will be the must-have lip product for Spring. Models Own always have some fab nail collections and this Spring they're launching a range of polishes inspired by Mini Eggs. (Yes, really.) Available in five fabulous pastel shades, these polishes will make a statement and definitely update your nail wardrobe. Although they're not available in all Boots stores for a week or so, I've stuck these must-haves in as you can always ask your helpful Boots Assistant to sneak you one ahead of launch.

What products have you picked up from Boots recently to help spring clean your beauty routine? Do you love any of my top picks?

I am a member of the #CollectiveBias Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

I spent many a teenage year perfecting my application technique of Rimmel's iconic SunShimmer temporary tan. Before I plucked up the courage to try out the 'proper' stuff, temporary and wash-off tans were what I relied on during a Saturday night. Although the formula was sticky, a little bit greasy and washed off as soon as I walked through a puddle, its scent and colour became a part of my teenage years I'll never forget. SunShimmer is still used by millions of us across the UK as a way to add a hint of colour to limbs, or to add an emergency hit of brown to invisible legs when we've forgotten to fake tan the night before. The formula was never perfect, but with the launch of the 'next generation' of SunShimmer there's definitely something to get excited about. Rimmel's new BB Skin Perfector offers nine uses in one, providing colour with the added benefit of a smoother appearance and a creamier finish.

Available in a light and medium colour, the BB Skin Perfector claims to soften, smoothe, moisturise, provide an instant tan, create a healthy-looking glow, even skin tone, cover, perfect and last up to 24 hours. That's a lot of work for one little product! The texture is thicker than the original version and much easier to apply to the skin, almost melting to leave a good colour result on the surface. You can instantly tell that it smoothes and softens the skin's surface, leaving legs looking healthy and covering minor imperfections.

This is by no means a wonder product, but it does provide a little support to legs that have been through a battering and haven't seen the light of day since last summer. It doesn't transfer onto clothes anywhere near as much as the original I remember, and any unexpected splatter marks from rain or puddles are far less obvious thanks to the thicker formula. The 'light' version does look a little orange on the skin, so I'd recommend the 'medium' version for all skin tones - used sparingly for paler skin and built up for a stronger colour on darker users.

For best results you can also use the new Rimmer SunShimmer Pre-Tan Exfoliator, which contains macadamia and argan oils to buff and hydrate the skin. Although this is quite grainy, it's great for sorting your dry legs out before you embark on a tanning routine. For a reasonable price of £6.99 (and £3.99 for the exfoliator,) these provide a great temporary result for emergency purposes, or just a top-up for a fading tan. The rich texture works well on skin to provide a delicate glow that washes away when you next jump in the shower. I can't see SunShimmer losing its appeal any time soon, especially as this BB Skin Perfector will be providing a whole new generation with a product they'll remember for years to come.

The SunShimmer Instant Tan is available from Boots priced £6.99, available in two shades. The Pre-Tan Exfoliator is £3.99.

As our needs become ever more complex and our budgets are continually stretched, we need effective and innovative products that make our lives easier and our faces more beautiful. A lipgloss in a pretty pack is one thing, but a super slick tube and a plumping formula make it even better. DuWop are a brand I've previously heard of, but until recently I had no experience of their multi-functional products that have become so iconic amongst beauty enthusiasts. Their Lip Venom plumping gloss was the original product that sparked a revolution in the beauty industry; working by encouraging blood to rush to the surface as a blend of essential oils provide a delicate tingle, lips are plumped and benefit from a glossy sheen. Celebrity fans include Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Aniston and Sienna Miller, so what's the secret of DuWop?

The iconic Lip Venom is great at creating a subtle plumped effect on the lip that encourages you to pout a little more. Cinnamon, ginger, jojoba and creamy avocado oils help to create the tingle, as well as providing a yummy scent. The gloss is super shiny, but it isn't sticky or gloopy like many other glosses, ensuring it's great for daily use and suits all skin tones. However, if you're not a fan of the slightly warm sensation then DuWop have launched a second generation gloss that provides a slightly cooling sensation instead. Lip Venom 2nd Sin lipgloss is available in a slightly darker pink shade and a bigger bottle (unfortunately increasing the price from £15.00 to £26.00,) and is extremely pleasant to use. Both of these glosses provided me with a subtle plumped effect that was neither uncomfortable or unnatural, but did encourage me to push out my lips and feel a little sassier - something that every woman could benefit from!

Although these are teeny tubes and are quite pricey, you need a really small amount to get the plumping effect and the applicator ensures you don't use too much. The plumping effect is the result of subtle irritants within the formula that encourage blood flow to the lip surface, so if you suffer from dry or sensitive lips I would definitely give this a miss. Also, it's vital that you limit use of this to only a couple of days a week so you don't cause your lips to become dry or over-irritated; it's not the sort of lipgloss you chuck in your bag to use on the go, so I would totally recommend using it sparingly. However, I can totally see why Lip Venom has so many celebrity fans - a subtle slick of the gloss can make your natural pout look a little more 'red carpet ready' in seconds.

In addition to the fab lipglosses, DuWop offer a range of handy cosmetic products that make life a little easier for everyone. I've been using the Fall Out Eyeshadow trio, which includes three complimentary colours that blend well on the eyelid, as well as a little pot of transluscent powder which should be placed under the eye before you apply the shadow. This should catch any 'fall out' from the shadow as you apply, preventing blotches on your perfectly applied base - you simply brush the whole lot away from the face with a fluffy brush! Although this isn't an innovative concept (makeup artists have been placing face powder under the eyes to catch stray powder for years,) it's handy to have it all in one product: especially if you're using it when on the go.

DuWop's Mattillume Purifying Translucent Powder is also a great innovation for those of you seeking a radiant and perfect complexion. It mattifies, provides subtle luminosity, reduces the appearance of fine lines and sets makeup in place. The deeper pigment in the pan also allows you to customise the colour and subtly contour the face, making the most of your cheekbones. The two different shades also provide a much more natural finish that a one-colour powder, which can often make the wearer look like a china doll. Although it looks and feels like a super light powder, the formula is actually baked clay which draws skin impurities to the surface so they can be washed away at the end of the day; it's makeup and skincare in one. Perfect for those of us working in cities or suffering from breakouts, this little powder pot is handy in so many different ways.

Although DuWop products are quite pricey in comparison to their High Street alternatives, if you're interested in investing in a handful of products (rather than splurging on fifty different lipglosses,) then this is definitely a brand to investigate. I for one am loving the powder compact, knowing it's benefiting my skin beneath the surface and making my skincare routine even more effective.

DuWop is available online - currently up to 50% off via Look Fantastic.
Original Lip Venom RRP £15.00; Lip Venom 2nd Sin RRP £26.00; Translucent Powder RRP £27.00; Trio Eyeshadow RRP £22.00.

Back in February, I jumped at the chance to go backstage at London Fashion Week and report on the surreal collaboration between fashion designer Liz Black and Phyllis Cohen, founder of Face Lace. As I headed up stairs and snuck backstage to speak with Phyllis Cohen, I walked into pure madness. Pre-show prep is quite a thing to witness: it seems like three people were designated to pull or slick the model’s hair into tight ponytails or wet-gel bob, as well as creating a lovely dewy effect with strong highlights on the models skin. As I’m a BIG eye makeup person, the Salvador Dali inspired eyes used on the models had to be my favourite touch. The eyes were an electric mix of magenta, rose and glitter that transitioned into vivid lobsters. It was absolutely breathtaking, but of course Phyllis Cohen took it one step further by placing little ants that crawled down the models’ faces, shoulders and arms. I took the opportunity to grab a few words and find out more about Face Lace and their London Fashion Week collaboration.

What made you choose to work with Liz Black on her collection being shown today?
PHYLLIS: I went to meet with Liz and she told me that the inspiration for this show was based on Salvador Dali, and I just immediately thought “ants!” I spent a lot of years at art school and I love artists, so whenever someone gives me a theme based on an artists work I have a million ideas - which was great as [Liz] was very opened minded and accepting of anything. We had a little discussion about the motifs she was interested in (i.e. the lobsters, ants and skulls.) In fact her whole environment was like a Salvador shrine. She had a little film on her TV and pictures everywhere; it was just a fantastic creative environment.

How did you decide on the colour scheme for this show?
PHYLLIS: Trying to ride the tail of fashion and be conscious of what is happening, so for fall/winter, we really wanted to work with the plums and metallics. I really think that metallic shades will be making a bit of a comeback this year.

Which of these looks do you think could become more commercial or can be carried over into everyday wear?
PHYLLIS: Well we have a lot of Face Laces available on our site, so if you are not interested in lobsters we have something to suit you if you are brave enough to wear a Face Lace.

You have something to suit everyone’s creativity levels...
PHYLLIS: Exactly!

Written by Annie Amusu
@EpiphannieA

Activated Charcoal is an ingredient that has started to become incredibly popular in the skincare world. We've been actually using Activated Charcoal for thousands of years (so far back that it’s impossible to document); the Ancient Hindus used it as a drinking water filtration system, while the Ancient Egyptians used it to get rid of bad odours. In modern times Activated Charcoal was first industrially generated in the early 20th Century for sugar refining, as well as being used in gas masks to remove toxins during the First World War. It's also commonly used for digestive complaints, teeth whitening and as an acne treatment. So what is Activated Charcoal and how can it be so versatile? Why is the new must-have ingredient in skincare?

Activated charcoal is almost identical to average and normal charcoal that you might find by a fire; the only difference is that it's heated up with a special gas which causes the charcoal to expand, creating a larger and much more porous surface area that's able to trap toxins. Due to Activated Charcoal having the ability to trap toxins and kill bacteria, it makes it the perfect ingredient for skincare products - especially for oily, spot prone skin. When used in skincare products it really helps to draw out chemicals, dirt and other micro particles, providing a much clearer and flawless complexion over time. Activated Charcoal powder has been proven to hold one thousand times it’s mass in harmful substances, which makes it such a popular ingredient in face masks and face washes. There are a variety of Activated Charcoal products on the market right now and I predict there will be many more to follow; this is definitely a trend for skin care for 2014 and beyond. Some of the formulas currently available include:

Lush Dark Angels - This cleanser contains Activated Charcoal, Black Sugar and Rhassoul mud to create a perfect absorbent cleanser (that also exfoliates,) for people with oilier skin.

Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Sponge - A biodegradable and naturally pH balanced facial sponge (that's made from vegetable fibers of a plant that is grown in very high altitude,) making it very gentle on skin but tough on spots.

Origins Clear Improvement - The Activated Charcoal in this acts as a magnet, helping to draw out any dirt and impurities from the pores, while China Clay absorbs environmental pollutants. Great for congested skin.

Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Scrub - Its absorbent qualities help to protect against the appearance of blackheads and excess sebum. It also helps to remove any nasty impurities from the skin's surface.

Activated Charcoal is a surprisingly simple and effective 'miracle' product, which has benefited human life in so many different ways over the course of millions of years. Due to the growing amount of Activated Charcoal beauty products available now, you'll definitely be able to get your hands on it and still remain within your budget. I've seen it work wonders on my skin, reducing inflammation and the appearance of blemishes... The question is, are you up for letting it work wonders on your skin too?

Written by Mia Riley
@TBeautyBlog

Spring time is always about neutral shades of pink, blooming peaches and delicate browns that enable us to bridge the seasons between deep Winter tones and the brightness of Summer. This season Bobbi Brown have introduced their 'Nectar & Nude' collection of makeup, which includes delicate shades of peach and orange to suit every skin tone. Much more natural than pinks and bronzing shades, a hint of 'nectar' can help our complexion to ooze health and bring together the neutral tones in our makeup collection that come to the forefront every March. Including an eyeshadow palette, lipglosses, nail varnish, shimmer brick and a beautiful cream blush, there's something within 'Nectar & Nude' for everyone.

Bobbi's go-to multitasking product, Pot Rouge for Cheeks and Lips is now available in this delightful Hibiscus colour. The creamy light texture is incredibly pigmented, ensuring just a small amount can add a natural flush to the cheeks or help lips to look 'just bitten'. I adore this product, having been using a pink variety for months on end, so I'm extremely happy to see such a beautful shade being added to the collection. Although this may look a little strong for pale complexions, it adds warmth to even the most English Rose of tones. For best results you simply need to warm a little onto your middle finger, massaging into the cheek and up towards the upper corners of your cheekbones; blend outward and build up the colour until you're happy with the result, fixing in place with a light dusting of transluscent powder.

The 'Nectar & Nude' eyeshadow palette contains six must-have shades for every season. If you're not familiar with Bobbi Brown palettes, then they always contain six wearable shades and a mixture of textures to take you from day to night. The softness of the eyeshadow makes blending super easy, while the pigmentation of the darker shades makes them perfect for lining the eye. Packaged in a super sleek container (that's secure enough to pop in your handbag without worrying it's going to break,) these are great investment palettes for all makeup lovers. Although the selection of shades in this palette is very similar to others available, the tinted peach colour ensures it stands out and combines all the elements of the collection. At £37.50, these aren't cheap - but with six individual pans and incredibly wearable shades, it works out at around £6.00 for each individual shade... Which is around the same as high street brands.

I'm a big fan of Bobbi Brown lipgloss, as the texture glides over lips to provide high shine without stickiness. The precision applicator only provides the amount of gloss you need too, ensuring there's minimum wastage and that the delicious tubes last for as long as possible. Available in three new shades (including the high shimmer Bare Peach, Nectar and Nude Pink,) that will complement a neutral makeup palette and enhance the natural colour of lips, these 'Nectar & Nude' shades are perfect for Spring. Nude glosses are one of my staples, the whole year through, and these shades are great for any skin tone - the shimmer would look especially great with olive complexions too.

Bobbi Brown have ticked every box for me with this new collection of colours, providing wearable tones that are an investment for the rest of the year and beyond. Peach is such a warm colour that will suit every skin tone, especially when we're still looking forward to getting a little hint of tan. What do you think of these new shades? Would you consider replacing your pink blush with peach?

The collection is available now from all Bobbi Brown counters and online. Eyeshadow Pallette RRP £37.50, lipglosses RRP £18.00 and Pot Rouge RRP £19.00.

Taking vitamins is a very personal choice. Many people swear by supplementing their existing diet with a variety of vitamins, fish omegas and minerals as they believe it provides huge benefit to their skin and body. However, others believe it's a complete waste of time, effort and money. There have been many studies conducted over the years that suggest supplementing your diet with essential vitamins can increase IQ, improve the health and state of internal organs, lower blood sugar levels, boost your immune system, protect from diseases and help to repair damaged skin cells. But is it worth taking daily supplements, or are they just another thing to waste our cash on?

Patrick Holford (a British nutritional therapist and author of over 34 books,) has stated a typical human should be consuming at least fifteen pieces of fruit and veg a day to be at their absolute healthiest; these essential foods feed the body with the essential nutrients it needs to work to its full potential. In our modern day society, fast food is at our finger tips, meats are no longer organic unless you pay extra and vegetables are frozen before being transported all over the world... Is this really healthy living? Historically there was no such thing as a refrigerator or supermarket; everything was fresh and organic by default (without having to pay more for such a luxury, like we do today.) This naturally led to our ancestors leading a healthier existence, consuming a higher proportion of vegetables and cooking with fresh ingredients.

The truth is the foods we are consuming today that are known to be 'healthy' are, most of time, the exact opposite. Our lives are extremely hectic, which makes it hard to regularly eat five potions of food and veg a day (let alone Patrick's suggested fifteen!) We're reliant upon a microwave, preservatives, mum going to Iceland and brightly coloured concoctions. This is the whole reason why reputable nutritionists are now strongly advising us to be supplementing our daily diet to ensure we are properly feeding our bodies with all the goodness and nutrients it needs. (However, supplements should only ever feed nutrient gaps, rather than replacing a healthy meal plan altogether.) So all you need to do is pop down to your local Holland and Barrett's and pick up a multivitamin right? Wrong! It was discovered a few years back that many of the supermarket vitamins were actually full of sugars and preservatives, as apposed to the actual quantity of ingredient they have disclosed on the packaging. So there was a good chance 1000 IU of Vitamin C might have only been 300IU, with a side order of glucose and a range of other nasties.

So how can we make sure we get the right supplements that our body really needs? Start by looking at your diet and trying to identify the shortfalls - are you getting enough Vitamin D, Calcium or Iron? Are you suffering from sleep deprivation, broken nails or dry skin? These symptoms often show us what our body is missing and help to identify what supplements we should be taking. Try to purchase an organic range of vitamin that has a certified soil association stamp present on the front of the packaging; this will ensure you are ingesting exactly what the packaging is stating to gain optimum nutrition. Avoid buying supplements from supermarkets and health food stores like Holland & Barrett, as their strength will be minimal and won't provide you with the real nutritional benefit you need. Searching online for brands such as Lamberts will ensure you get the most for your money and you'll start to see positive impact within around six to twelve weeks. However, remember that supplements will only support your body and will never be a quick fix or a miracle cure. Do you take supplements? What supplements do you swear by?

Written by Amy Bambrick
@amys_loves

L'Occitane's rich French history ensures that every product contains some of the most delicious scents. They're well known for their fragrances and uplifting notes, so it's only natural that their new launches focus on expanding their perfume and home fragrance repertoire. The new Néroli & Orchidée collection portrays the 'meeting of two precious essences' which come together in the French region of Grasse. Orange blossom grows throughout the area, while the distinctive orchid carries the scent of faraway lands; when these two combine the result is a fresh and elegant fragrance that's perfect for creating a welcoming home environment.

Although I love the zesty notes of orange and mandarin, the richness of the orchid combined with a soft base of musk and iris makes this a little too 'classic' for me to wear as a perfume. It's definitely one I would gift to my grandmother, but it's not refreshing enough for my own personal taste. However, as a scented candle the combination works to provide a beautiful delicate perfume that helps to relax the senses of an evening. The candle is presented in a delicate glass jar, with subtle golden touches making it the perfect addition to any decor. With up to 30 hours burn time, this is a candle that will keep you company for many Spring evenings too. At £24.00, the L'Occitane candle is significantly cheaper than other brands (including Diptique and Molton Brown) who charge around £40.00. This would definitely make an elegant gift for Mother's Day, or just a treat for yourself to celebrate the oncoming warmer months.

The candle is available online priced £24.00, while the accompanying fragrance is priced £49.00 for 75ml. Also available in a body lotion and shower gel.

Back in the late 90's a friend introduced me to a wonder product called Frizz Ease. It was the first hair product that could actually tackle my coarse, curly, frizzy hair and turn it into the hair I always dreamt of - even though there was still a lot of sleekness to be desired. Frizz Ease has always been the go-to hair product for me, providing smoothness and protection from humidity, but in recent years its been left on the shelf in favour of other innovations. It's therefore great to see John Frieda re-launching their Frizz Ease range with a whole new look, removing excess packaging and giving it a modern makeover. The new 'test tube' inspired tubes are both fun and practical, while the addition of a few new products definitely puts John Frieda back on the frizz fighting map.

Although the original formula is still just that, the addition of a Perfect Finish Polishing Serum and Nourishing Oil Elixir ensure there's something to meet the needs of a modern woman. The Polishing Serum is great for providing a finishing touch to a look, smoothing stray hairs and adding a touch of shine where it's most needed; it's light enough to be used in addition to the original formula (which can be too heavy for the ends of hair,) to perfect your finish and hide split ends. Although it's not necessary for short hair, for heavily styled mid-length and long hair a polishing serum is a must; it helps to perfect every last hair and keep your look in place.

The Nourishing Oil Elixir provides a serious hit of power, offering 50% more frizz blocking power and a super smooth result. It's extremely light, but you do only need a couple of pumps for mid-length hair, smoothed through before blowdrying. Containing Argan Oil, this really helps to smooth my hair without weighing it down or causing it to look limp. It's non-greasy too, meaning that even if you do accidentally over apply it won't make your hair look like a chip pan.

I really like these budget buys. They provide real impact, without the heavy greasy feeling you often get with cheaper brands. Their targeted range also helps to provide you with what you really need, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to hair care. Considering these are £6.99, with the Elixir costing £9.99, they're definitely products to stock up on and help reignite your passion for John Frieda.

The Frizz Ease range is available now from Boots and Superdrug, priced £6.99-£9.99

Tory Burch may be well known for her shoes, but her attention is definitely turning towards beauty with the launch of her debut makeup collection. Her fragrance was launched earlier this year, but with the addition of this beautiful blusher compact and lip colour she's expanding her repertoire further. Packaged in distinctive orange and gold, the makeup is something of beauty; although the gold touches look like metal, they're in fact plastic to keep the feel of the products light and handbag appropriate. They look divine and are definitely statement pieces that you'll be proud to get out on the tube, or hand your mum this forthcoming Mother's Day.

Unlike many brands that choose to launch with striking colours and on-trend hues, Tory has chosen to launch universal tones that suit practically all complexions. The face compact includes a delicate pink shade, as well as a light bronzer and a highlighting colour; these can be applied individually or by sweeping one brush over all three to ensure the result is super natural and not at all flat. This is great for daily wear, or for adding a touch of colour to delicate complexions; it would even look fab over a slightly tanned tone to bring out the inner healthy glow. Although this is a little too pale for me on its own, it does work well with a touch of cream blush on the apples of my cheeks to lift my pale skin.

The lipstick is super smooth and provides just a hint of colour. If you're scared of lipstick, then this is definitely an introductory colour and formula to help you dip your toe into new waters. The pigment is quite subtle, providing just a hint of a tint when applied to the lips - the objective here is to simply enhance the colour of your lips, rather than complete a whole new look. The texture is super smooth and glides on to leave a subtle shine, creating the illusion of plumper lips. At £22.00 for the lip colour and £35.00 for the compact, these aren't cheap or impulse buys. However, they're reasonably priced for a premium brand that's offering such detail and brilliant packaging. Tory Burch isn't the place you're going to be heading to for colour and creativity, but as fantastic universal products that are held in some pretty incredible packaging, it's hard to say no.

The Tory Burch collection is exclusively available in Harrods, as well as online via Tory Burch.

Adding a touch of powder over your makeup can help it set and ensure it stays in place all day. I've always used a little powder over my skin, reducing shine and providing me with a flawless finish that sometimes just can't be achieved with foundation alone. Although there are endless loose and compact powders available on the high street (with varying price points,) I strongly believe you don't have to spend a fortune to get a product that performs. Seventeen have got some really great affordable buys within their collection, providing us all with the tricks we need to stay flawless. Their new Stay Time Pressed Powder is formulated to work with their Stay Time Foundation (which apparently offers up to 25 hours wear,) but can of course be used with any base.

The powder is available in two shades and has a super light formula, providing a light dusting over the face rather than a heavy finish that looks cakey. I like to apply powder using a face brush to get a uniform and light result, but for touch-ups on the go a powder puff does the job well. Although there's nothing spectacular about this pressed powder compact, it provides a nice finish and is comparable to a lot more expensive brands. (In fact, my favourite powder compacts come from Rimmel, Seventeen and MaxFactor!) It does have a tendency to separate easily from the pan, meaning you have to use a brush sparingly to minimise mess and wastage, but this does ensure you get a super light and airy finish. This is a great basic makeup bag addition, made even more appealing thanks to the fact there's always a 3 for 2 in Boots and that Seventeen often launch products with a discount... You can't argue with that.

The Seventeen Stay Time Pressed Powder is available from 19th March priced £6.49.

The secret to a healthy looking complexion is all in the contouring and highlighting. Ever since Ms Kardashian showed us her extensive contouring routine, the beauty world has gone made for recreating it. A little touch of blush, a dusting of bronzer and a delicate dab of highlighter can mean the difference between looking drab and looking fab - especially when we're on our holidays. With the sun coming out and mini break season well and truly upon us, why not stock up on some makeup must-haves as you pass through the airport? World Duty Free has an extensive range of exclusive products, palettes, makeup bundles and much more... All completely tax free, which means more pennies to spend on another lipgloss! They've teamed up with makeup artist Annie Levy to bring you a fab video which takes you through the basic steps of creating a perfectly contoured look, which is great to watch as we step into spring. After I've swatted up, here are my top tips for highlighting and contouring.

Contour The Cheekbones
Taking a bronzing powder, start from below the ear and delicately apply a soft layer of colour to the cheeks. Annie says "it's much easier to add than it is to take away," so make sure you use it sparingly and build the result as you go.

Sculpt The Jawline
Brush a little bronzing powder underneath each side of the jaw line to create a shadow. Always remember to blend away so you don't end up with a massive difference in colour or a tell-tale tide mark. This is an excellent trip for sculpting the jawline and helping your face to look slimmer.

Perfect The Nose
If you've a slightly crocked or bent nose, using a little contouring can help give the illusion that it's straighter. Use a small brush from under the eyebrow, down the side of the nose in a straight line.

Highlight Your Features
Adding a highlighter to the high points of your face will help to further define and sculpt the look. Applying along the cheekbone and along the nose will provide a more defined result, perfectly complementing your bronzer.

Are you a fan of highlighting and contouring?
What are your favorite products to pick up at the airport?

This is a commissioned post on behalf of World Duty Free.

I've always lusted after big blowdried hair, never being able to recreate it myself at home. Whenever I'm in the hairdresser's chair, I'm in awe of their ability to multitask and juggle both a brush and hairdryer without a care in the world; when I attempt such a task it ends up with a brush on one side of the room and me on the other. Although there have been many electrical gadgets launched to solve the problem, until now they've left me rather underwhelmed and feeling like it was just another product I didn't need. Remington's Big Style Air Rollers have, however, become a welcome addition to my hair maintenance programme - especially as I'm making a concerted effort to minimise the amount of time I spend with my straighteners. Their Big Style styler is a great alternative to heated rollers or blow drying with a round brush; the set comes with 15 self-grip rollers (so there's no need for clips or pins,) as well as two attachments to help you get big bouncy hair in minutes.

If you struggle blowdrying effectively with a brush, then the brush attachment on the Big Style is an absolute dream. It heats up to dry and style hair from wet (something I was dubious about,) and leaves your locks bouncy and shiny. I have mid-length hair that has a tendency to frizz and curl, but this styler helped me to achieve volume without the dreaded 'halo' of frizz on my crown. The barrel allows you to dry and style simultaneously, curling the ends and smoothing the finish without the need for a GVNQ in hair styling. Although it does take a little longer than normal drying, this is great for those days when you want to look a little more polished and and have a few extra minutes to do so.

Also within the Big Style pack are 15 self-grip rollers in three sizes - small, medium and large - so you can achieve the result you want. These can either be applied by hand, or via the Big Style styler; a separate attachment is added to hold the rollers, you heat them for a few seconds and then release into the hair. They really do grip onto hair exactly where you need them to, leaving you to continue to add rollers to the remainder of your head and toodle on with your makeup. I tend to leave them in for around ten minutes before easily sliding them out of my hair; the result is lots of bounce, a delicate curl and a blowdry straight from the salon chair.

If you want to perfect your style and smooth out sections of hair, there's even a precision nozzle to delicately re-style small sections. All of these gadgets are housed in a large plastic case with two layers, making it easy to store the curlers in one layer and the Big Style styler in the other - no lost curlers or attachments floating around your bedroom! Although the curl does drop after a few hours if you don't add a touch of hairspray, I'm still really pleased with the overall effect and the fact I don't have to use my straighteners to achieve a smooth and styled result. This bumper pack is £44.99, which is pretty good value if you get some serious use out of it - especially if it helps to reduce the damage on your hair from endless GHD abuse!