The Glass Slipper Blog

Forget New Year’s resolutions, those are usually broken by mid-Jan. Give 2012 a boost by binning your old make-up.

One of the worst things we can do to our skin is use old make-up. Despite our best efforts for good habits on cleanliness, over time, germs will build up on certain make-up items. Plus, how many of us can truly say we’ve been strict with avoiding contamination when we’re in a rush to go out and slapping our face on?

January is the perfect time for a make-up clear out. It’s before spring, so you can see what items you might need to purchase before the seasons change. Most of all, it’s a date you’ll remember in your head, so if you have bags of the stuff (as some of us ladies tend to do), you’ll remember when you last sorted through. It may seem costly to some of us, to throw away half-used products but there could be a higher cost on your skin with rashes and spots.

There are no hard and fast rules for how long you keep items apart from mascara (1-4 months depending on how rigorous you’ve been with your hygiene), just recommendations. Most dry make-up, such as pressed eyeshadows and powders, can be kept for 2-3 years if you’re careful. Here’s my tips for making sure you get the most of your make-up and cutting back waste:

- wash your brushes around 3-4 times a year. You could also use surgical spirit to wipe them down monthly. Make-up bags can get mucky, so wash those out 3-4 times a year too.

- if you’re sharing make-up use separate brushes for dry make-up. For moist items such as lipsticks wipe down with warm water and a cotton wool pad, or wipe before and after another person uses.

- buy make-up that you’ll use regularly, therefore, quickly. A high turnover reduces build up of germs. Particularly with mascara, it’s best not to alternate between too many but find one you love and works for daytime and evening wear. It’s easy to do this for foundation and concealers but tricky for eye make-up, especially when we want to vary our looks. Try and pick base colours that work with a variety of looks.

- store your make-up in a cool dry area, preferably away from other grooming products. Make-up boxes aren’t just for the professionals, they are so practical for household storage. Failing that, a box with a lid and make-up bagged inside.

Pictures: Claire Jones-Hughes

True style comes from within and these 10 celebrities and their stylist teams have managed to inject personality into their looks. Take note.

10. Romula Garai

We have been treated to some of the best writing and most beautiful looking television this year and Romula Garai has been at the heart of it. From her haunting period glamour in The Crimson Petal and The White to the post-war 1950s The Hour. She made the clothes ‘your-grandma-may-have-worn’ jump out from our screens and possibly polish off a few heirlooms we’ve had hidden away.

9. Alexa Chung

She is the fash pack darling, bringing student fashion on a few leaps and bounds. Her ability to wear the simplest of items in the coolest of ways has us all scratching our puzzled heads, it’s been a long time since any of us can make layered denim work (if at all). But she has set us free from following any singular trend and teaches us to embrace a personal look, creating trends of our own.

8. Kristen Stewart

Another teen star who is morphing into a grown-up sex symbol. She dons outfits that flaunt her best assets but without baring all, part of the new ‘taste not flesh’ generation of starlets. Although she’s already established on the red carpet, this is definitely a budding style mistress to watch for 2012.

7. Samantha Cameron

It’s been a long time coming but finally we have some style at Number 10, unfortunately it’s the first lady, not the policy making. SamCam has stepped away from the dutiful dowdy wife and mother look of politicians’ wives, even distanced herself from the frazzled ‘I’ve got a life too’ Cherie Blair school of dressing. She’s been papped in jeans and trainers plus on-trend colourful numbers but also tailored formalwear emulating a fun mummy but serious wife when she needs to be.

6. Miss Piggy

Hurrah, she is back on our screens in a blockbuster movie bringing all the excesses of puppet princess glamour with her. She’s one of the ultimate blonde bombshells who’s not afraid to flaunt her womanhood and show us how to enjoy being a gutsy girl. Hiiiiieee-yah!

5. Emma Watson

This year we said goodbye to the Harry Potter film franchise but hello Emma Watson, woman and style icon. Her pixie crop was named the most influential hair do of the year by the Wall Street Journal, her choice of designer gowns for the red carpet have almost booted the memory of Hermione out of our minds.

4. Rihanna

It’s been the year of the songbird, with the sad loss of Amy Winehouse but the multiplication of her clones. Amidst the furore of popstrels (that frankly confuse me) Rihanna sits high, not only for her talent but her fashion singularity. With each hit single, we are left hungry for her next style invention.

3. Lady Gaga

She is almost certainly the Madonna for this generation and the Madonna generation alike. Her attitude spills over into her music and fashion sense. She blurs the line between theatre and catwalk, showing us all we can have fun with our unique features. Some people write her off as eccentric, I say she’s the future.

2. Victoria Beckham

Whatever we think about the Beckhams, it takes hard denying that Victoria’s own range of clothes shows talent, flair but most of all and understanding of what is practical and stylish for the every day woman. What better way to prove that? By modeling one of her designs heavily pregnant at the Royal Wedding.

1. Kate Middleton

Forget the macho press’ comments about Pippa, she may have won attention with the lean, clean bridesmaid dress showing physical assets but it was Kate who stood timeless at her wedding. Fashion is sentimental and her channeling the iconic princesses of the past through her very real and adult relationship with a prince gave us all hope of a decent happy ever after. She showed grace and demure in that McQueen dress by Sarah Burton, but by insisting on doing her own make-up, she was sending a message to the nation that this generation of royals were moving with the times. While others rounding up the year will still be droning on about Pippa’s bottom, the savvy style hunters are noting the smart, stylish occasion wear she is sporting on her subsequent engagements after the big day. She is indeed a duchess for our time and our fashion influence.

Savvy Sale Shopping

Picture: digitalart

After we’ve polished the last of the turkey off in sarnies and waved our relatives goodbye, it truly becomes the most wonderful time of the year. The January Sales. And there’s no better place to find a fashion bargain.

At least they were called the January sales but now there are pre-Christmas sales, post Christmas sales. All of these are retail tactics to clear stock through. You think you’re getting a bargain but some stores will have allowed for a markdown, so they still make profit. As household income is getting squeezed, you will want to get as much for your money as possible. However, be warned, it is easy to get seduced into buying items you simply don’t need and may only wear once. Here’s our tips for savvy sale shopping:

1. Matchmake your wardrobe: before you hit the shops survey your existing clobber. Make a note of your favourite pieces and think about what items you could buy to revive them e.g. with your favourite winter jumpers

2. Target your shopping tour: if you’re looking for specific items, do some research before you go out and prioritise visiting them first. These websites list the sales and level of discount offered, if it’s big bargain’s you’re looking for: Latest January Sales, January Sales

3. Flex your wardrobe: most of the clothes in the sales will be Autumn/ Winter fashions but given the weather in the UK, you could wear some items well into Spring. Consider buying colours that would suit either season, cream, neutrals, fawn or even the lovely ochre colours that have been in shops recently.

4. Ignore the ticket: don’t be swayed by the % discount, look at the actual cost. 70% off is a super discount but not on an item costing £50.00 that you’ll never wear.

5. Shop early: although some of the best bargains can be found later on in the sale period, it’s normally the dreggs of the stock.

6. Be wise, buy wise: the sales is the perfect time to invest in a big ticket item such as a pair of leather boots or winter coat. Don’t purchase anything too on trend, go for classic. It may seem boring but the item will see you through several seasons if good quality and well cared for. Some of the more exciting trends are here to stay such as animal print and faux fur.

7. Bust your budget: set yourself a budget and have fun shopping for as many ensembles as possible within it. Cost saving is very rewarding!

It’s probably one of the few days we dress up for lunch in our own homes. There’s something about Christmas Day that makes us want to glam up and there’s nothing more chic than a dress. If you can brave the shops, there’s some pre-Christmas sale bargains to be had. Reward all your hard work, go on, you deserve it…..

Christmas Mass: it’s an early morning for mass goers, so something smart, low key but easy to plonk on in the morning will be just the ticket.

Coast Rapunzal Dress was £115 now £79

Smile please: you don’t want to be snapped opening your gifts in an old t-shirt and saggy tracky bottoms?

Marks and Spence Lace detail night dress £18

Lunch with the in-laws: why not pick a chic dress you know will impress your mother-in-law but with a kind outline hiding the extra mince pie or three.

Warehouse drawn floral dress. Was £65 now £40

The Queen’s Speech: Liz isn’t the only one that can do bling on Christmas Day! Add a little sparkle to your festive outfit.

Oasis Hollywood Tunic was £65 now £40

Wii are family: dressing up doesn’t mean you have to sit out the fun and games.

Phase Eight Zebedee Dress: Was £85 now £69

Nightcap: after a worn out day of talking, eating and unwrapping, chill out with your favourite nightcap in a cosy knitted number.

Loosing weight can be the best feeling in the world – you’re looking great, feeling more confident and your energy levels are high. You want to show off your new figure but you’re stuck with a wardrobe full of clothes that fit the old you!

Even if you haven’t yet reached your target weight, it’s still a good idea to invest in a few key pieces that will fit you well while you’re losing weight and compliment your newly developing physique. A new look can even give you that extra burst of enthusiasm you need to loose those last few pounds!

Read on for our Easy-to-follow Shopping Tips On How To Dress For Your New Bodyshape: Read the rest of this entry »

My eyebrows have become much lighter and sparser. What can I do to define them?

Eyebrows are very important as they frame the eyes and make them stand out. The best shade for your eyebrows is somewhere between your eyebrow and hair colour. Blonde eyebrows should be darker than the natural hair colours and intense brunette hair colour should have eyebrows which are 2 shades lighter. Even though brows fade as you get older, don’t be tempted to darken them to the shade they were when you were younger. In fact, the older you are, the lighter your touch should be to make them look natural and flattering.

The best way to define them is to fill them in using a powder eye shadow with an angled brush using light, feathery strokes, starting at the inner corner and working outwards. If they then look too dark, brush through with a brow brush. Then apply a clear brow gel to keep them in place, or use one of the Bobby Brown’s Natural Brow Shaper eyebrow gels which are fabulous for covering grey eyebrow hairs.

How can I make my small eyes look bigger?

If you have small eyes, cover the eye lid with a neutral colour eg.  cream or gold, which has  a very slight shimmer as this will reflect the light and add a flattering sparkle. Then, using a small angled brush, apply a darker colour in the socket and follow it round under the eye, blending well –  this frames the eyes and makes them look larger.

Don’t apply black eyeliner inside the eyes as this makes them look smaller.

Fill in pale or sparse eyebrows with eyeshadow, this will help to create a more defined frame for your eyes, making them look bigger.

MAC, Rimmel and Bourjois all have a wonderful range of eye colours.

What are your favourite colours for those dramatic eyes? Do you have any tips to add?

How do you decide what jewellery to wear with different outfits? Do you want to dress up a plain outfit or add some classy bling? Here are our top five tips for adding some Christmas sparkle to your accessories…..

The secret of great accessorising is to not over do it.  Less is more! Wear more jewellery if your out fit is plain, and less if wearing patterns.

Size is important. Small-framed people should wear jewellery that doesn’t overpower them. Taller, bigger-framed types can wear bigger and bolder styles.

If wearing a bold necklace with a dress or top, don’t team it with a large pair of earrings. Wear one striking piece on its own for maximum impact.

Wear all silver, all gold or gun metal, but  don’t mix and match metals. The  same applies to pearls and diamonds – keep to one theme.

Accessorise and East have a fantastic range of jewellery.

We love to highlight questions we get asked so that we can tell you how to……

How can I make my skin look radiant? I find that after applying foundation it always looks dry and dull.

Firstly, the skin has to be hydrated, otherwise your foundation won’t go on smoothly and will look patchy.

Use a milky cleanser instead of a face wash, as it will leave your skin supple and hydrated. Use an alcohol-free toner to remove any greasiness. Follow this with a hydrating moisturiser – the most important part of achieving a dewy complexion. Also exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells, thereby smoothing the complexion and giving it a glow.

If you have dry skin, use a moisturising foundation eg. Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation or Becca Luminous Skin Colour Foundation. Or, use a tinted moisturize for a lighter finish eg.  Bobbi Brown’s Extra Tinted Balm SPF25 is especially formulated for dry skin.

If there is any shine, lightly powder your forehead, nose and chin. Never powder the cheeks, this way they’ll stay dewy. If, however, the skin looks dry, take a dab of rich face cream, warm it up by rubbing it between your palms and lightly pat it onto your skin. This will give you a fresh, radiant look.

Do you have any tips to add or any favourite products that are worth recommending? Let us know as sometime in the future we’ll be putting them through their paces….

Nina thinks about why we buy things we never wear…. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you struggle with what to wear at a Wedding, Christening or Family Party?  Nina shares a few tips to make sure you wear the perfect outfit for the occasion. Read the rest of this entry »