The review: Millie's Lashes

After writing about the news (here) that Made in Chelsea's Millie Mackintosh has launched her first line of lashes, I thought I really ought to practice what I preach, all in the name of blogging, of course..

I'd heard a lot about how lightweight Millie's Lashes are due to them being made from natural hair, which massively appealed to me as I really dislike how heavy certain big-name lash brands can feel on the eyes – that's even if I get as far as wearing them; usually I get so fed up with not being able to apply them properly and getting glue all over the place that I forget the idea altogether!)

But after watching the video below on Millie's website, where she demonstrates how to apply them (and makes it look a bit too easy!) I opted to try the Mayfair lash for a night out last weekend and found them surprisingly easy to apply. The glue dries clear too, so even if you do get into a bit of a glued-up mess, no one would ever notice! I can't speak for the other lashes in Millie's range, but the Mayfair is natural-looking with just the right amount of oomph, and you can barely tell you're wearing them.

Although a bit pricey at £8.99, the lashes are reusable up to five times (according to Millie in the video), and each pair comes with its own tweezer for an easy application. Plenty of lash bang for your buck, I reckon.

Millie's Lashes are available here and at selected retailers across the UK.

Have you tried Millie's Lashes? How do you rate them among other brands?

Ocean colour scene at the Emmys 2012

As the stars graced the red carpet at the 64th Emmy Awards, it became clear it was all about the gowns in tones of blue and green this year, creating an 'under the sea' inspired theme.

(From top, left to right)
Alison Williamson wears Oscar de la Renta; Hayden Panettiere wears Marchesa; Heidi Klum wears Alexandre Vauthier couture; Juliana Margulies wears Giambattista Valli haute couture; Julianne Hough wears Georges Hobeika; Sofia Vergara wears Zuhair Murad; and Zooey Deschanel wears Reem Acra.

My mermaid of the evening goes to Julianne Hough, followed closely by Ms Klum. Who was your best-dressed? Do you rate or hate the ocean-inspired colour palette? xo

*Images courtesy of Style.com

Get lashed with MIC's Millie Mackintosh

Starring in a reality show can often lead to many great opportunities (unless the show in question is Geordie Shore...) – see the cast of The Hills and Keeping up with the Kardashians, to name the obvious. Even Lauren Goodger from TOWIE released a fake tan, Lauren's Way – and, according to beauty blogger reviews, it's actually pretty good.

So it doesn't come as much of a surprise that the lovely ladies of E4's Made in Chelsea are taking advantage of the opportunities coming their way. First of all it was Caggie, who recently launched her fashion brand, ISWAI. And now it's Caggie's BFF, Millie Mackintosh's turn.

Millie, in collaboration with Noveau Lashes, has today launched a range of false lashes, comprising eight pairs, each named after different areas in London. Unlike Lauren Goodger's, perhaps, Millie's venture doesn't come as a surprise, due to her background as a make-up artist leading to her having a hands-on approach throughout the collaboration.

Commenting on the range, Millie says, "As a professional make-up artist, I know all the tricks of the beauty trade and so I have been fully involved in every part of the process in designing this new range. The strip lashes are made of natural hair, to give a more natural look so girls can imitate my own minimal and sophisticated style." (source) 

The lashes are priced at £8.99 and are available here. 

Today also saw the relaunch of Millie's website – check it out to discover her beauty secrets and the motivation behind her lash range.

What are your thoughts on Millie's lashes? Will you be purchasing? xo

*Images courtesy of nouveaubeautygroup.com and millie-mackintosh.com/blog
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Marks & Spencer launches natural skin care line

With more and more celebrities becoming devotees of natural and organic skin care (including these to name a few), I can't help but wonder, if the rich and famous are opting out of using chemical-based skin care – and they receive the most up-to-date knowledge and secrets on the most expensive cosmetics that claim to offer the best results – why am I subjecting my skin to harmful toxins? Especially when there are products available that are just as – if not more – effective, and provide the skin with vital nutrients?

The market for natural products is growing, and research must be adding up, at least according to Marks & Spencer, with the company recently releasing its capsule natural and eco-friendly range, Pure.

The line uses British-grown ingredients scented with 100% essential oils, and is 100% free from artificial colours, paragons and mineral oils (NB more and more studies are being done on the effects that these chemicals are having on the rise in allergies, skin complaints such as eczema and even some cancers).

Prices range from £6 to £9.50. As well as the above, products available in the line include a hot cloth cleanser, moisturisers, body cream, shower milk and face serums. What are your thoughts on going natural? Have you tried any products in Marks & Spencer's Pure range?

 

Olivia Wilde creates an illusion in New York

Olivia Wilde always looks fabulous, but she's usually known for her unique style, not for emulating others'. However, last night, she was pictured wearing a two-tone, optical illusion shift dress – a design made famous by Stella McCartney, seen on the likes of Kate Moss, Kate Winslet and Liv Tyler – for an appearance on Live! With Kelly and Michael in New York.

Stella McCartney has championed the "optical illusion" style now for a number of seasons. It's not difficult to see the appeal; who doesn't want flattering curves and the illusion of a slimmer waist?

Kate Moss wears Stella McCartney

Kate Winslet wears Stella McCartney

Liv Tyler wears Stella McCartney

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wears Marks & Spencer

*Images courtesy of glamourmagazine.co.uk

For most of us, Stella's versions will break the bank, but it's a design that many high street brands are coveting (see Rosie, above), and it's a look that will take you right through to next season. Have you invested?  

Below are my picks from the high street...

Love at Asos illusion maxi dress, £26

Warehouse jacquard panel midi bodycon dress, £50

Boohoo Myla belted illusion midi dress, £20

The Hills does New York Fashion Week

It doesn't seem two minutes ago since Louise Roe, Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port and Olivia Palermo had the cameras on them for reality show The City, doing work experience. Whether at Elle magazine (Louise and Olivia) or Diane Von Furstenburg (Whitney and Lauren), they all had one thing in common, to make it in the fashion world.

 

Fast-forward two years, and the girls still have the cameras on them, but now as fully fledged members of the fashion industry and "frowing" at New York Fashion Week. And don't they look fabulous?

As well as collectively being fashion designers, writers, TV personalities and style icons, they're also fellow bloggers! Check out their sites by clicking on their names below.

• Louise (pictured at Lela Rose) wears dress by Reiss, Kurt Geiger heels and Lulu Guiness clutch
• Lauren (also pictured at Lela Rose) wears Lela Rose dress, LC Lauren Conrad heels and Chanel handbag
• Whitney (pictured at BCBG Max Azria) wears Cameo top, Alexis Bittar earrings, Rebecca Taylor skirt, and Nine West handbag
• My favourite Hills girl, Olivia (pictured at Peter Som), wears shorts by Tibi, Noon by Noor shirt, Valentino heels, jewellery by Lulu Frost and bag by Meli Melo 

As well as these stunning outfits, I need Olivia's hair in my life. And that bag? Well, it goes without saying...

*Images courtesy of Zimbio

Miranda Kerr shows off the benefits of organic skin care

Yesterday saw Miranda Kerr showing off the benefits of an organic lifestyle at her Kora Organics pop-up store in Sydney, as part of Vogue's Fashion Night Out. Miranda has been making quite an impression on me over the past few months, not least due to her fabulous wardrobe, handsome husband and uber-cute toddler, but also because of her fascination with everything natural and organic, from food to skin care.

And as this picture demonstrates, an organic lifestyle is clearly working for Miranda.

Natural and organic beauty products are becoming increasingly popular with celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Gisele Bundchen, Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Megan Fox and Gwyneth Paltrow to name a few.

Being a huge skin care junkie, I have an array of products at home, but some play havoc with my skin – Boots No7 Protect & Perfect, I'm looking at you. Everyone's skin is different, but I wanted to find out more about the ingredients in the skin care products I use.

I was astonished to discover that most brands use ingredients that can really affect our health and hormones, with some people finding they experience symptoms such as eczema, dizziness, irritation or nausea from chemical-based products.

The skin is our largest organ, and anything we apply to it is absorbed. Many anti-ageing products use ingredients that have only been used on skin over the last 50 years, so we don't even know the effects they could have.

But the best bit is that there are some AMAZING innovative natural and organic skin care products that give fantastic results, without the chemicals.

Other than Miranda's Kora Organics range, celeb favourites include Dr Hauschka (Jennifer Aniston), Eminence (Madonna), Tata Harper (Gwyneth Paltrow) plus many more – some of which you will recognise such as Neal's Yard. I was actually surprised at just how many natural and organic skin care products are available that don't compromise on quality and efficacy.

Another natural luxury brand is Darphin, from the Estée Lauder family, from which I'm currently trying out the cleansing milk and toner. Although I've only been using them for just over week, my skin has become less "angry" and seems to suit it well. The products smell divine.

I haven't converted all my skin care products (yet) but, as they run empty, I'm making it my mission to test out more natural products and introduce them into my skin care regime. I'll let you know how they fare.

What are your thoughts on natural and organic skin care products?

*Images courtesy of Zimbio

Coachella awards

Every year, I utter the same words to my girls after seeing the festivals of the summer gone by, "We HAVE to book tickets next year." It's hard not to want to be part of the atmosphere when you see Beyonce being totally amazing and the crowd going crazy. But, the thing is, we're all still festival virgins. We always have the best intentions, but the idea of watching from the comfort of our sofas, avoiding the mud and portaloos - and the expense - seems like the much more desirable option.

But Coachella trumps all those excuses. Coachella is a festival that I've heard about here and there but not really payed much attention to as it hasn't been that well-documented in the UK. This year, however - and probably largely down to Twitter - I've been green with envy from seeing so many images of the likes of Lauren Conrad and Emma Roberts looking uber festival chic, soaking up the sounds with their respective beaus and friends in the sun.

Not only does Coachella provide an unbeatable line-up (this year saw Noel Gallagher, Florence & the Machine, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, Calvin Harris and Kasabian to name just a few) and guaranteed sun (it's located just outside Palm Springs in California), it means we get to show off our well-planned outfits rather than covering them up with parkas due to the cold weather and/or rain of typical UK festivals.

Now, where can I find a few grand to get me there next year...? In the meantime, while I save up for the next 10 years, pretending that my friends and I are somewhere in the background of these pics will just have to suffice!

Who would you have picked for each award?

*Pictures courtesy of stylebistro.com and dailymakeover.com

Best dressed

Kate Bosworth - cool as a cucumber

Best accessories

Lauren Conrad (right with Lea Michele) rarely gets it wrong. And this straw boater teamed with round, hippie-style orange sunnies proves just that.

Cutest couple

So many celeb couples got cosy at Coachella this year including Vanessa and Austin, Lauren and Kyle, Emma and Will, Fergie and Josh. But the winner of this award HAD to go to Diana and Joshua of course – this picture captured pure love. Ahhhh. 

Best hair and make-up

What make-up, you say? Look carefully and Miss Kruger is sporting a lick of bright pink lippy, perfectly groomed brows and a flawless complexion. And check the beachy, boho waves. Understated, relaxed glam.