Brits go nuts for Vanessa Hudgens' skin regime

We told you about the Neutragena Wave way back in November 2008, and it seems there's no chance of it's popularity fading. Latest sales figures show it's selling at a rate of one every five minutes, and that's in Boots stores alone!

So is this a cult product that we should all be using? Or are we being total suckers believing it can give us skin like Vanessa Hudgens?

Vanessa tells us "I’ve used a lot of cleansers, but I’ve never tried anything like the Wave. My skin looks softer right away – even my friends noticed.”

Fair enough, but let's not forget that Vanessa is 20 years old and completely stunning, Neutragena Wave may be fantastic, but it can't work miracles!

If you're one of the few women not to have tried the Wave:
Neutrogena Wave Starter Kit (with 14 pads), £12.71
Neutrogena Wave Refill Kit (30 pads), £4.88

If you have tried it - let me know how you got on!

Elemis: adding some extra beauty to London Fashion Week

Celebrity Make-Up Artist Lou Page is relying on Elemis to help her keep London Fashion Week models looking tip top throughout this week.

“Elemis products are always in my kit when I’m working on Fashion Week. My fave two products to use are the Eyes Awake Recovery Gel, as the perfect preparation product to revive the eyes before applying make-up. It’s great to lift and rejuvenate tired eyes and light in texture. Secondly, the Daily Redness Relief is a saviour to help reduce high red pigmentation. This is an essential prep before applying foundation to create a balanced even complexion.”

I can't guarantee they'll make you look like a model, but I'm a big fan of Elemis products - the Papaya Enzyme Peel is divine - but these products are definitely worth a try!

Bobbi Brown at New York Fashion Week

Great film of Bobbi Brown working her magic backstage at the Rachel Roy catwalk show. Amazing on the catwalk, but could you pull off that black/purple lipstick?

Clinique Even Better Make-up: Will this be the best foundation ever?

Clinique's latest wonder product is Even Better Make-up, designed to solve the problem which causes most women to buy foundation in the first place; uneven skin tone.

According to a recent study, uneven skin tone is the next big worry after lines and wrinkles. Not only does this new product claim to provide great coverage, but it's said to reduce hyper-pigmentation with continued use.

It contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, combined with Vitamin E, mushroom yeast extract, grapefruit peel and white birch extracts to break up and reduce the appearance of an uneven skin tone and help prevent it getting worse in the future.

Available from April 1st 2009 nationwide, the foundation will be available in 14 shades.

If it works, it will become a must-have product for millions of women. Watch this space for a review and more information.

Are you a beauty product oniomaniac?

Is your shopping obsession getting out of hand? Do you buy beauty products each and every week? Do you obsess about getting the very best products in the latest colours? Does shopping give you a kick? Is your bathroom full to bursting point with the latest creams and potions? If so you could be an oniomaniac - and it’s got nothing to do with onions.

Oniomania is the compulsive desire to shop, it’s been described in the US as the disease that could save the economy, and it could strike any of you beauty fans at any time.

Thanks to the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic, oniomania is the lastest buzz word. Now there’s nothing wrong with keeping up with the latest trends, taking care of your skin and giving yourself a little pampering. Let’s face it; if that wasn’t the case I’d be out of a job. But take it easy girls, please don’t hammer the credit card too hard, and I promise to introduce you to some great budget buys!

Brad & Angelina: The lipsticks!

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have topped a poll of the most kissable lips in the world, and to celebrate this (in a rather bizarre way), cosmetics website feelunique.com has immortalised them in lippy.

Yup you read it right, we talking about lipstick sculptures of A-list celebs. 'Micro sculptor', Willard Wigan has created a tiny Brad and Ang out of lipstick, and the pair are now up for auction on ebay.

It's mad, but in a wonderful way. Plus all the money raised goes to Breast Cancer Care - so get bidding!

Bobbi Brown spring collection

Bobbi Brown's spring collection is perfect for a Valentine's day pick-you-up. Think sparkly eyes and soft pink lips and cheeks, it's a subtle yet sexy look that suits everyone. I love the Blush Pink Creamy Lip Colour (£14.68) and the Sparkle eye shadows in Ballet, Silver Moon, Mica and Sunlight (£13.70).

TRIA laser hair removal: as used by Ugly Betty

Hair removal is big business, and nowadays more and more people are opting for getting shot of annoying hairy bits permanently.

Normally I'd recommend going to a salon for laser hair removal, but there's now a home system that delivers safe, great results. The TRIA Laser Hair Removal System was developed by the same team of scientists that invented the professional technology back in 1993. And, it uses the same laser technology as those professional devices, which are still considered the gold-standard among dermatologists and plastic surgeons. It's pricey, at £675, but if you're going to invest in a system - this is the one to opt for.

It's also become a must-have item for TV and movie make-up artists, including Kate Best, Makeup Department Head for the television series, Ugly Betty. She tells us "Not only does the TRIA Laser Hair Removal System remove hair, but it also improves the skin’s appearance -- it is smoother and the pores are smaller, so makeup application is much easier."

Click here for more info, or to buy a TRIA.

Extreme weather skin care

Yup it's still mighty cold out there girls, so those of you with sensitive skin will really be suffering.

If your skin flakes, cracks and generally acts up when the weather gets cold, this is the product you've been waiting for. Clinique's New Comfort on Call helps skin cope with these chilly days, cold winds and allergens. It's allergy tested and is also great for anyone with eczema.

Grab one now and save your skin while you can, it's staying chilly this weekend!
£31.23 from Clinique counters nationwide, or from Clinique.co.uk.

The permanent hair removal – down there!

I’m a big fan of bikini line waxing; it’s worth it for the increased sensitivity alone, but I’m talking neat and tidy, not pre-pubescent.

Bikini line hair removal stepped into the 21st century with the possibility of permanent hair removal – which means you can now get your pubes laser zapped and therefore permanently removed.

But let’s not rush into anything ladies; we really are talking permanent removal here. I know loads of ladies (and men) love the naked feeling, but do you really want a smooth, hair free fanny for the rest of your life? This is a great treatment to tidy things up – I’m talking about any straggly bits likely to stick out of your bikini. But if you fancy a hair free experience, get waxed; it’s less radical.

According to Dr Patrick Bowler, Medical Director of Court House Clinics:
“Patients actually enjoy Soprano XL as it is painless compared to conventional laser hair removal treatments. It can also be used on patients with darker skins providing an increased safety margin without any reduction in efficacy. This really is a big step forward in the treatment of unwanted hair anywhere on the body”

Well I can’t say I’ve ever ‘enjoyed’ a bikini wax, so you could say this is a huge step forward. But personally I’d like to keep my pubic options open…

For more info visit www.painfreehairfree.com

Is Botox more important that paying bills?

Despite the credit crunch, many people are not prepared to give up on what they consider vital beauty treatments.

Following a surge in demand for Botox treatments at the Harpenden clinic, Dr Jain, Medical Director at Riverbanks reveals that many of his patients are adamant that the credit crunch will not impact on their beauty regime and are prepared to make sacrifices in others areas of their lives instead.

"Demand for Botox at the moment is rising and just last week, one patient told me she'd be prepared to give up anything except her Botox treatments. It would seem that many people are considering this once 'luxury' spend as an essential part of their lives and one which they don't intend on giving up just because the country is in recession", says Dr Jain.

Should we prioritise beauty over paying bills? is looking good essential to keeping your spirits up or a crazy, vain waste of money? Tell me what you think!

Tips for fighting the cold

Your skin really suffers when the temperature plumets. My top snow busting product is Eve Lom's Creme Universal. Keep it in your handbag and slather it over your lips throughout the day to keep them from drying out. If you get severe dry patches anywhere else, apply a little before bed. Enjoy the snow!