Mother's Day: The Gift Guide

Long gone are the days of a slap-dash sweep of Thorntons when it comes to Mother's Day shopping. It's time to spoil those extra special ladies in your life. If you're lacking inspiration for the perfect Mother's Day gift, here's my tried and tested selection of gorgeous goods...

Clarins Palette Eclat Face & Blush Powder, £30... For the feminine Ma

Why? Because it is so elegant, any mum would be rather thrilled to pull this out of their make-up bag. It looks every inch an item of luxury, a splendid little golden compact with a crimson velvet pouch. The palette is ideal for those who like a flawless look with a very natural finish. Understated and oh so classy.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, £34... For the on-the-go Mum

Why? Because it soaks in instantly, leaving skin hydrated but not greasy. Mums who are always on the go will love this beauty staple, I'm not sure if I could live without it. Skin is perfectly primed and it lasts for AGES. A clever little gift for sure. 

Poudre Signee de Chanel Illuminating Powder, £46... For the happy-glow-lucky Mom

Why? This compact illuminator is so luxury that it's practically off the scale... so beautiful and ornate that it almost seems a sin to wear it! It makes a fabulous gift for those with a penchant for radiance, as it brings eye-catching luminosity without being gaudy. The velvet pouch holder is positively swoon-inducing. Ooohh, ahhhh...    

Nails Inc Spring Summer Collection, £25... For the yummy Mummy

Why? Fashionista yummy mummies will know that Nails Inc (so fabulously British, darling!) are the top when it comes to on-trend talons. This super cute Spring/Summer 2013 collection is the perfect gift for those with an eye for style.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, £26... For the new Mamma

Why? I am a huge fan of the Laura Mercier range, and her secret camouflage concealer does not disappoint. The separate peachy and creamy beige tones mean that you can combat and signs of fatigue with the help of a concealer brush. For mums that are weary, worn-out, and prone to saying: "oh-my-god-will-you-pleeease-stop-crying-now", this one is a total winner. 

Les Exclusifs de Chanel 1932, £110... For the iconic Mother

Why? Because it's more iconic than Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration (nothing tops Audrey) but this latest fragrance launch by Chanel is definitely up there. One whiff and you know you're in classic Chanel territory. The fact that Jacques Polge, Creator of Chanel perfumes, has created 1932, is no doubt to thank. Jasmine-based, this fragrance is initially sweet and crisp with a musk warmth. Sophistication in a classy little bottle.
Available exclusively in the Covent Garden Pop-Up Store, Chanel Boutiques, House of Fraser Glasgow, Fenwicks Newcastle, Selfridges Manchester Exchange and Selfridges W1 from 1 March 2013.

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MAC Vanilla Highlighter: Get the Look for Less

I have watched so many online tutorials where make-up artists use MAC pigment in vanilla, £16.50, as a highlighter for the cheeks. It's great to have a highlighter which isn't pink based, for those looks which need a more neutral shimmer. The Vanilla loose powder is a soft ivory white, really great to compliment a full red lip.

Get the same look with... Barry M's Dazzle Dust in Gold Iridescent, £4.59

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Hot Beauty Trend Alert! Cross the Line...

One of the hottest trends this season is an eye-popping stroke of liner, the more creative the better! Laura Mercier have brought out a brand new range of Creme liners in cute little pots, I love the bright cosmic blue shade (so on trend for SS13!) and the rich, dark chocolate brown.

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Cobalt and Expresso, £18.50, available from House of Fraser

The richly pigmented shades are simply gorgeous, they glide on perfect and last all day. I use the Laura Mercier Angled Eyeliner Brush, £15.00, available from House of Fraser, for all my gel-based liners, it's really good, one of the best I've used for getting a perfect line on the lid. The expresso shade is so dark that it's almost black, a really deep brown. See the swatches below:

Laura Mercier Creme Eye Liner in Expresso and Cobalt swatch

Model wears Laura Mercier Creme Liner in Cobalt - how stunning is this cobalt blue?!

Model wears Laura Mercier Creme Liner in Expresso 

Clinique's cream liners are a firm fave for a trusty stroke of eye wonderment. They're my number one choice for  day wear office, so luxe and moisturising. I love the Smoke Grey, so soft and smouldering! The Black Honey shade is really unique, a glistening nutty brown which adds a gentle warmth to the eyelids, while the True Black is a make-up bag must. It's beautifully matte, perfect for a dramatic charcoal finish. 

Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in True Black, Smoke Grey and Black Honey, £15.00, available from Clinique.co.uk

Clinique Cream Liner in True Black, Smoke Grey and Black Honey swatch 

Model wears Clinique Cream Liner in Black Honey 

The Clinique liner do come with a brush included in the packaging, but I'm not overly impressed with the quality of it. Instead I use the Laura Mercier angled brush, for a more precise finish. 

On a budget? Shop the liner trend by purchasing the cheaper Maybelline New York Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24hr in intense black, £7.99, available from feelunique.com

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InStyle Your Way Challenge: The Braided Up-Do

My first InStyle Your Way challenge was to re-create this braided up-do look with a Pout Out Proud twist...

The Easy Way to Get the Braid Trend: Everyday braid with loose bun

I decided to showcase an easy-to-create up do, a classic and stylish style. Here's my friend Rachel, modelling the look...

This braided style was so easy to create, it literally takes minutes. Create a chunky french plait across your hair line, pinning in place at the ear. Scoop the body of your hair into a high pony, and backcomb slightly. Pin into a loose bun for a stylish but easy up-do. 

Braid like a Professional: Dishevelled fishtail braid

For those with a real knack for braids, try the hairdresser's interpretation of the hottest trend right now. My friend Heidi at Impulse Hair Salon helped me to create the desired effect, but if you're a hair fiend then give this ethereal trend a try.

Create a fishtail braid across the forehead, pinning in place under the hair on the opposite side. Then do a normal plait on top for extra depth and texture, again pinning in place. The look is meant to be dishevelled, so use a pin comb to unpick the fishtail slightly. Create a few loose curls in the body of the hair, working with the natural movement, and pin up the back to create a loose bob. 

Gorgeous! And here's how to get the InStyle halo braid (pictured at the top of this blog)

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Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Sugar Frost

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Sugar Frost, new for Spring 2013, £18.50, available fro House of Fraser 

Laura Mercier's range of Caviar Sticks has got even better this spring, as they have released eight more gorgeous shades for seriously glam eyelids. I tried out the Sugar Frost, a subtle shimmering beige.  So pretty!

I love the classic LM packaging, simple and sophisticated as ever. The stick is great if you're on the go, you can pop it in your handbag without worrying about a shadow brush rolling around. The creamy shadow sits really nicely on the eyelids, and I found it really easy to blend. Gorgeous for a daytime glow, and buildable for those wilder evenings.

Model wears: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost, Barry M Lash Modelling Extra Black Mascara, Laura Mercier Creme Eyeliner in Cobalt

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Poudre Signee De Chanel Illuminating Powder: Review and Swatch

How absolutely gorgeous is this new illuminating powder by Chanel? The powder design is so ornate and beautiful that it seems like a sin to actually use it! Poudre Signee de Chanel, £46, available from Boots.com, may be a bit hefty on the price tag, but it really is 100% luxury... perhaps a justified one off splurge?

A limited edition release for Spring 2013, the 'Spirit of Chanel' powder is encased in a beautifully classic compact, which in turn is encased in a lovely little velvet pouch, complete with an applicator. So luxury, that the powder even has a crested little plastic cover (I practically squealed with delight at this little touch, although I'm not entirely sure why...)    

I can't say I was overly thrilled with the applicator, it seemed far too firm to use on the intricate palette, so I instead opted for my super soft Body Shop Face & Body Brush to sweep the illuminating powder across my cheek and brow bones. 

The powder itself has a flattering light golden-pink base, without being too OTT on the shimmer. It's a subtle enhancer, delicate and sheer with an eye-catching luminosity. The powder is long-lasting and ever so fine, it sits really well on the skin for hours after application.

  

I love the soft warmth of this highlighting powder, it adds a lovely and natural glow to the face. It's a pricey product, but serious luxury by Chanel. 

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Perfect Little Golden Gifts by Ted Baker

Ted Baker Tweezers and Eyelash Curlers, both £8.00, available in Boots stores in February 2013

Can Ted Baker actually do any wrong? It looks like they are set to take the beauty gift market by storm in 2013, as they release their brand new range of beauty accessories. The packaging is classic TB (i.e. unbelievably trendy) and the products themselves are items to cherish. They look expensive. They feel expensive. They have the little Ted Baker stamp of luxury emblazoned on them. Seriously, what's not to like?  

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Clarins New! Rouge Eclat in True Aubergine: Get the Look!

Clarins have released a brand new lipstick range for Spring 2013! The rather glamourous-looking Rouge Eclat is an 'age-defying' lipstick, which claims to protect lips against dehydration with intense, long-lasting colour...

Clarins Rouge Eclat, £18.50, in 06 True Aubergine, available from Clarins.co.uk

Firstly, this lipstick has gorgeous packaging. A pure handbag delight. It also glided on lovely, and although I usually stay away from the deeper shades - I LOVED the colour of True Aubergine. Slightly sheer with a hint of shimmer, this tone added a subtle fullness to my lips (which, quite frankly, are a bit measly. Thanks for that mother nature.) The bold sexiness of this shade is simply a must-have.

I applied an initial coat of the Rouge Eclat, blotted, then reapplied. Here's a close up of the final effect:

This shade is brilliant if you've got green eyes like me, I found it really made them pop. My lips definitely felt nicely hydrated and soft after application, and the colour lasted well without bleeding. 

Rock the Look

This gorgeous aubergine shade is great for a vampy, stand-out look. I used a warming blush (not too heavy on the pink) to compliment the purple base of the lip wear, and added a subtle smoke to my eyelids for balance. No one likes to be bottom heavy, do they now? I grunged up the look by adding a few spritzes of TIGI Salt Spray to my locks, wearing a loose vest-tee to complete the look.

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