TrendLife Beauty

The possibility of me treading the Red Carpet is just as likely as Kate Middleton making a cameo in Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. I can’t sing, nor can I act, and bagging an A-list boyfriend is out of the question – it seems that the life and times of Claire Basing-Lawson will be spent reading, not making the headlines.

So, when I recently got invited to the Red Carpet, I assumed that the Duchess of Cambridge would be in BFGW’s latest offering ‘Diamantes are Forever’, perhaps clad in a pineapple-inspired frock and some lurid flouro eyeshadow as she bumped and grinded to Chipmunk’s latest hit. Alas, upon tuning in, it seemed that Catherine was sadly not in Rathkeale to party with Nangirl and chums. However, my size 6 foot did indeed step onto the Red Carpet, and as it did so, I felt every inch the princess that Kate feels daily in her Hobbs gowns and L.K Bennett kitten heels.

I, Claire Basing-Lawson, was cordially invited to the launch of Red Carpet Manicure in the UK. A splendid affair at the Soho Sanctum Hotel, I noshed upon canapes, quaffed champagne, lost my Blackberry down the back of the sofas, and generally acted in a noble way.

Red Carpet Manicure is the very first at home version of the gel manicures that women across the kingdom love to inhibit upon their talons. Using the same technology as those in spas and salons, Red Carpet Manicure is easy to apply with a high-shine, long-lasting finish that looks entirely professional. Each step is straight-forward, with all the products and tools required available in the Starter Kits. The process from start to finish takes an episode of Coronation Street or TOWIE; in just half an hour, you can achieve non-chip, salon-perfect nails in the comfort of your dressing gown at home. A Red Carpet Manicure is entirely low-maintenance, just a touch of the Revitalise Nourishing Cuticle Oil each day will keep the nails strong and healthy, making it a perfect beauty must-have for busy ladies. Lasting for up to three weeks, Red Carpet Manicure is a gift to girlkind that oozes super star-quality and instant glamour. With 36 shades available, whether you choose 9 Inch Heels, Plum Up the Volume or Toast of The Town, all will leave you looking and feeling like the star that your mum/grandmother/boss says you are.

Available from www.redcarpetmanicure.co.uk

Thanks to Channel 4’s documentary series Coppers, and the Beeb’s Prisoners Wives drama, I’ve become hooked on crime television programmes. Indeed, TV audiences tune in, in their droves to catch the latest police procedurals and legal dramas that are showing on the box. Whether its Dexter, Midsomer Murders or America’s Most Wanted; they show it, we love it.

 My TV slice of police pie is laden with toppings of the police force’s terminology and abbreviations, such as the CID, (Criminal Investigation Department), which is the part of a UK police force which does not wear uniform and is responsible for discovering crimes. Never, would I have ever believed that two of my most beloved interests would come together, thanks to a namesake. Yet, in the truly perplexing CBL fashion that dominates TrendLife beauty, I have linked the police and beauty together, through the Criminal Investigation Department and New CID Cosmetics.

New CID Cosmetics may share a name with the branch of all Territorial police forces whose detectives wear plain clothing, but the similarities end there.

A beauty brand with real panache, New CID Cosmetics offer a dynamic and innovative approach to the industry. Their product range offers many ingenious features that set New CID apart from the rest of the market, such as the built-in lights of the i-pout, i-gloss and i-powder that allow for easier application at any time, and in any place. With a colour range to suit a variety of skin tones, New CID have successfully combined versatility to reach a wide audience to create a one-stop shop for all our beauty needs.

My favourites in the range include:

I-glow

A must-have for a sunkissed shimmer, I-glow’s baked marble formulation means that it is silky smooth to apply, and so works well as a blush too. I love Sirocco; it gives the face a lovely subtle bronzed highlight that adds a natural radiance through the day and night.

I-pout

Its built-in light and mirror make I-pout perfect as a handbag essential. Scarlet is my preferred choice for eveningwear; its sumptuous high-drama shade radiates sophisticated glamour, but with 12 shades to choose from, all offer a touch of long-lasting luxury.

I-gel

‘Eye’d’ be mad to leave this gem out of my trio of New CID Cosmetics favourites. A long-lasting gel liner in a palette of three, it lends itself well as both an eyeliner and a full eyeshadow. The brush that accompanies I-gel is impressive and allows easy application for drawing fine lines.

www.newcidcosmetics.com