TrendLife Beauty

For years I have holidayed with the glitterati, with the rich and with the famous. Bi-weekly, we jet off to sunnier climes and return with a sun-kissed glow. A bargain break away, we'd return from none other than the South of France looking radiant. Our destination? St Tropez!

A fake tan advocate, I've long been searching the tanning market for a better bottle of bronze than St Tropez, and in St Moriz, I have found the answers to my prayers.

On Thursday night, I packed my hand luggage (tanning mitt) and made my way to the departure lounge (casa de B-L bathroom). Unlike other tanning mitts, the St Moriz mitt does not allow tan to seep through and leave fingertip fake tan marks. Due to its mousse formula, St Moriz application was a stress-free check in to destinaTAN. Overnight the colour develops into an overtly streak free, natural looking glow. Come Friday, my bank holiday weekend was therefore set to be a tan-tastic one. 

My (fake tan) passport, once loyal to one saint only, has now moved on to another; St Moriz. I'm sure that I'll be holidaying alongside this godly gift to girlkind forevermore, and my passport has seen its last St Tropez stamp. Don't worry San T, next time me and Saint M jet off together, we will send you a postcard.

St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse - £4.99

St. Moriz Self Tan Applicator Mitt - £2.99

Available from:

Amazon, B&M, Bodycare, Co-op, Gordon's the Chemist, Morrisons, Savers, Semichem, Tesco and independent pharmacies nationwide.

The bleak outlook of the current economic climate forces cutbacks on life’s little luxuries. With beauty being touted as one of the most vulnerable industries in these credit crunching times; should us gals stop the super spending?

Being a (wannabe) die-hard advocate of save-over-splurge, I think it’s time to test the waters of the cheaper beauty brands on the market. ‘To the glam streets of Selsdon!’ I instructed my driver (aka my mother, DBL), last weekend.

Indeed, Croydon is the birthplace of one of the most famed and most beautiful people on the planet; Dane Bowers of Another Level fame. Kate Moss is another notable ex-resident. Croydon even has its own beauty trademark, the Croydon facelift, where a pony tail is so tightly scraped back off the face that it gives a facelift like appearance.

Discount supermarket chain, Aldi was our destination.  Their strap line is ‘Like the best. Only better.’ Could it be, that Aldi’s in-house beauty brand Lacura, is rubbing shoulders with the big boys in the beauty industry? I exited the store laden with some absolute steals - the Lacura Concealer Pen, Eye Roll-On, Lip Gloss, and Facial Cleasing Wipes. Lacura deserves to be rolling with the beauty’s finest. The Lacura Concealer Pen, having been voted ‘Star Buy’ in the Daily Mail, April 2010, is worthy of its winning status. Hiding wrinkles around the eyes, covering pigment disorders and balancing out surface irregularities, its soft brush applicator also enables precise application. Its natural moisturising factor reduces dark shadows and keeps skin feeling soft and supple. When I’m lacking in shut-eye, the concealer is a god-send. It does however, have an accomplice in combating dark circles and puffy eyes; the Lacura Eye Roll-On.  My many caffeine fixes of the day (Diet Coke, coffee, tea) got nothin’ on the eye roll-on; containing caffeine, pro-vitamin B5 and hylauronic acid, with this little number I feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

So, after the weekend, I came in to the office feeling like a new woman.  I am of course both taken and an employee of an all female office, but that didn’t stop me from releasing my inner seductress on Monday morning. The Lacura Lip Gloss promised me a ‘seductive sheen for irresistible lips’ and as I slicked on the gloss, my colleague Roxanne, complimented me on my pretty pout. ‘Get down that Aldi’ I told her, and needless to say, she did.

In the life of CBL, taking off my make-up is one of life’s pleasures, and now, with the Lacura 2-in-1 Facial Cleansing Wipes by my side, my skin feels soft, soothed, cleansed, toned and moisturised, and with thirty in a pack, we will see each other day in day out in September.

Aldi is quite simply, an Aladdin’s Cave of girly goodies. So, before the masses head to their nearest store, if I were you, I’d hotfoot it down there and get your array of beauty supplies.

Lacura Concealer Pen - £3.59

Lacura Eye Roll-On - £3.49

Lacura Lip Gloss - £1.99

Lacura Facial Cleansing Wipes - 89p

Log on to www.aldi.co.uk to find your nearest store

'Twas 9pm on a Wednesday night circa 2005. The curtains were drawn, the bath had been bathed in, the kettle had been brewed and I was seated ready for my slice of American Pie; The O.C. When 10pm came, to bed I would retreat. GCSE's did not gain themselves; here in Blighty us teens needed brain power; over the pond in the sunshine state, girls like Marissa and Summer slumbered for beauty sleep and dreamed about boys, make-up, clothes and parties. In amongst my own teenage dreams (Katy Perry: I'll let you have this one) of bunsen burners, French vocabulary and the English coastline, I longed for the lifestyle of an all-American girl.

I wanted to live the American dream; it seemed so fun, so luxurious, so far removed from the goings on at The Ashley Centre in Epsom on a Saturday afternoon. With a few buck to my name, I set about it. The O.C was sponsored by some perfume that looked quite nice, Summer and Marissa probably wear it, girls in America probably like the smell of it. I'll have it. And so it was, on the Christmas list of 2005, Christian Dior Pure Poison - Eau de Parfum.

I gave up on America when I realised me and a ton of others were all in the queue for a green card. The O.C finished after four seasons in 2007. One thing remained; the perfume that has endured a six year love affair with me, myself and I. CD and CBL make such a perfect fragrant friendship. Poisonous this aint- seductive it is. Featuring a floral note, a calabrian bergamont top note, an orange blossom heart note and a white musk base note, Dior is numero uno as my perfumery preference. Based on orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia, amber and sandalwood, its delicate and modern scents can come out at night or during the daytime.

Fragrance is eternal. Teen dramas are temporary. 

Price: £44-£85 (30ml-100ml)

“What gorgeous eyelashes you have! So long, and, so, very thick!” The words that have been uttered to my 19 year old brother for years, have unfortunately, never been uttered to me.  Whilst Lil Ads (all 6” 2 of him) is graced with the feminine features I so long for, I have inherited my pa’s lashes, and thus I’ve felt like the ‘stubby Sally’ of the eyelash brigade versus the ‘lengthy Lucy’s’ and the ‘thick Thelma’s' that flutter by.  

However, in a mascara I have found the missing piece for my gene jigsaw puzzle. The latest offering from Lancôme is their Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Eyes Mascara; which grants us girlies with beautiful, doll-like lashes. Its new brush defines and separates each lash, whilst its glossy formula brightens the eyes for a wide-awake look. Adding volume and length, once I’ve applied my Doll Eyes, I’m finally at one with Lucy and Thelma. Hallelujah!

£20.50

www.lancome.co.uk

At age fifteen, I was hot-footed down to the local pharmacy to buy a concealer for the outbreak of pimples that had kindly decided to take a short vacation ‘pon my visage. Armed with my concealer, I was convinced I had won over the zit monster. Unfortunately, the concealers on the market back in ’04 offered war-paint type coverage. While ‘sunny beige’ sounded like a luxurious coverage to hide my imperfections; it simply drew attention to my skin.

Fast forward to 2011 and L'Oréal Paris True Match Touche Magique Concealer is the answer to my teenage prayers. Unlike its predecessors, one shade does not fit all, six are on offer to suit a host of complexions. Magique this product certainly is; hiding dark circles and fine lines, it matches skin tone and texture perfectly, leaving imperfections under wraps. Its soft brush applicator eases application so that skin looks radiant and smooth and I find it offers flawless coverage. Even when I long for the banish of breakouts, L'Oréal conceals and heals. A great find which lasts for yonks!

£7.19

www.loreal.co.uk

Available from Boots, Superdrug and all good beauty stores.

The hot ticket for the beauty crowd this season is Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One B.B. Blemish Balm Cream. Keen as ever to jump on the bandwagon, I hopped 'pon the tube to Fulham Broadway during my lunch hour to get my mitts on what has been hailed as a revolutionary product for the beauty world. I'm talking Charlie and the Chocolate Factory type stuff, but rather than a tour of Willy Wonka's confectionary wonders with Augustus Gloop and co in tow, my golden ticket is the answer to my skincare woes. Veruca Salt and Violet Beauregarde take note: in a few years time, you sure won't be lusting after a bar of chocolate or a lollipop, but instead, Garnier's gift to ladies around the globe. 

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One B.B. Blemish Balm Cream is a light, non-greasy formula which provides skin tone with a healthy glow. It also blurs imperfections and redness, smoothes the appearance of fine lines, hydrates for 24 hours and helps protect with SPF15. A breakthrough for the beauty industry, Garnier's Blemish Balm Cream combines five benefits in one, leaving skin to appear immediately perfected and natural. Especially in the summer months, this product is simply a must, dare I say it, my skin is looking rather tip-top these days. A winner from the guys and girls at Garnier!

Available from Boots, Superdrug, leading pharmacies and beauty stores.

£9.99

Its 7.16pm, I’ve commuted out of London town, returned to my Surrey abode and slipped into an M&S number; the optimum in comfort loungewear, my cotton PJs. Its 11.05 pm, after nursing a couple of 2 for 1 tipples at All Bar One and caught up with the girls, I’ve rock n’ rolled back to KT19 and my boudoir. Its 3.49am, having frequented a few of London’s questionably classy haunts, I’m back in bed and ready to slumber.  After a long day in the office, a cocktail evening or a night out on the tiles, sadly for my skin, make-up removal is not number one on my to do list.

I’ve often wandered past Clinque counters across the nation and admired their products, but, with Chanel often in my eye line, I quickly regain my poise, finding it too difficult to cheat on my ever so loving other half. However, it came to be that I was gifted with Clinque’s ingenious Take The Day Off Cleansing Milk; and with that, I decided to give it a whirl. Envisioning primped and preened Clinque girls up and down the country, I thought about how they’d burst out of their white laboratory coats with cosmetic brand pride that I’d signed on the dotted line with Clinque.

So, at 7.16pm, 11.05pm and 3.49am, armed with some cotton pads, I take my day (or night!) off with Clinque. This milky make-up dissolver feels like silk laden upon my skin, leaving it feeling soft and well moisturised.  Quick and easy to use, Take The Day Off Cleansing Milk is a simple step to skin heaven. 

£16.50

www.clinique.co.uk

Who would've thunk it that I would be a consumer of French fashion house extrodinaire, Chanel? Certainly not Mr Bank Manager and certainly not my 'you-are-a-graduate-and-need-to-save-your-money' thinking mother. It won't be until I win the lottery, or receive an anonymous donation that under arm I will be clutching a vintage Chanel of my own and a Chanel wardrobe to rival the stars. Until then, I get my Chanel fix from the distinctly unglamorous beauty counter at House of Fraser Epsom, rather than the glitzy cobbles of Bond Street. In my lavish Chanel carrier? The to-die-for Pro Lumière Professional Finish Make-Up SPF 15. 

Such a die-hard fan of Chanel make-up am I, that the girl on the beauty counter knows me by name. For years, her and I have shared heart-to-hearts. She has seen me progress through high school and university, from an adolescent, to a young woman. We've had laughs, tears and joy over the years. Regrettably, I still do not know her name but to me, she is a guardian angel on Floor 1; supplying me with lotions and potions to take home and work their magic.

Pro Lumière offers a flawless complexion in any light. I feel like a new, empowered woman when it is laden upon my skin. Colour adapting, its density adjusts depend on the desired effect. Highly concentrated with high-tech radiance-emiting ingredients, it is rich in reflecting pigments to leave the skin look flawless. I blend mine in completely, which gives a semi-matte and luminous result, but when less blended, provides a smoothing effect with even skin and tighter pores.

Karl Lagerfield: thank you. I may not be one of your big spenders yet, but one day I will be. For now, I am enjoying your make-up offerings.

Girl at House of Fraser, Epsom beauty counter: Please tell me your name, I'll add you on facebook. P.S - Thank you for giving me a Chanel carrier every time I buy a product, it is useful for carrying lunches and library books. (and also I feel the absolute BIZ when I have one in hand!)

Price: £33.00

www.chanel.com

I have always been a sucker for a red lip. Come day or night, my shade of choice has been a loyal friend to me for years. By my side and through the ups and downs of the CBL life roller coaster seated right beside me, bright red lippy has been a girl's best friend. Having oozed classic chic for formal daywear and added high voltage vamp to a night out on the tiles, I thought her and I would be lifelong partners. Sadly for the queen of my heart; a new man has entered my life and disrupted the eternity that me, myself and red lippy were set to share. Locking lips with my fella left him with a rouge face paint, of which understandably, he was not a fan. I found myself in a state of moral dilemma; it was one or the other. Or so I thought.

Once again, Aphrodite worked her magic and combined her godly forces of love and beauty in a stupendous fashion; she had granted me with a man AND Benetint!

A rose tinted lip and cheek stain, Benetint is a kiss-proof (hallelujah!) flush which last for hours on end and with just a few dabs needed on the cheek and lip, its a lovely, easy little number to apply. It's also naturally sheer and suits all complexions. Being a girl on the go, I have been known to hop aboard the train into London town in rush hour with war paint. Having forgotten to rub in the dots on the apples of my cheeks, I've been the recipient of worried glances from my fellow commuters. Besides this terrible crime, Benetint has worked wonders for my cheeks, lips and most importantly, my love life. An absolute must for its multi-purpose nature, this is one lip-tastic treat for men and women alike.  

£24.50

www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

I recently returned from a spa weekend with a pedicure disaster. My poor tootsies, once a vibrant coral shade, had become chipped and quite honestly an unsightly beauty crime in the few hours it took me to border hop from the rolling hills of Essex to my homelands of Surrey.  A home mani and pedi was in order. In times like this there was just one varnish I could turn to: Toma.

Toma's Tutti frutti collection is bursting with vibrant hues perfect for the summer and whilst I'm spending this summer in Blighty, their exotically named polishes made me feel I had been transported to tropical climes. Mango Sorbet was my polish of choice; its natural Pearl Formula ensured long-lasting colour and coverage to ensure that my talons are looking luscious. Once Mango Sorbet has tantalised my taste buds; I'll be coating my nails with one of their other offerings; whether it be Pistachio Cream, Tutti Frutti, Strawberries & Cream, Blueberry Sorbet or Grape Sorbet, I know that Toma will set off my summer wardrobe with style.  

Painting nails had often turned into a bit of a palava; until a godsend was granted by Aphrodite. Greek goddess of love and beauty, she has given to women roaming this earth Toma's Tutti Frutti Collection and with that, my nails are truly grateful.   

£7.45

www.madbeauty.com