Finding the perfect fragrance with Selfridges fragrance buyer Mark Tranter

Finding the perfect fragrance for you is no easy task. I need my scent to really say something about me,   a way of reaching out and giving people a little hint at my personality, before I've even said hello. This means that I wear my perfume for others, Mark Tranter, fragrance buyer for Selfridges, informs me.

Fragrance is so personal, that even the way you wear it is bespoke. Do you wear your perfume as an expression, or do you wear it because the smell is attractive to you? Do you opt for a head-to-toe dowse or a subtle spritz? Is it about a familiar smell which make you feel at ease? Would you rather have a trademark scent, or a scent for every season? Do you have a fragrance which can instantly take you back to a time, a place, or a person?

Needless to say, I love the intricacies of finding the perfect perfume. It is just so wonderfully indulgent.  I was intrigued to hear that Selfridges are making a conscious effort to broaden their spectrum of fragrance, offering more than just the high street fads, so that customers can really find the fragrance which hits their needs. I was put in the capable hands of Tracy, who works on the fragrance counter in Exchange Square, Manchester, to help me find the scent for me. Instead of being left to peruse hundreds of bottles of perfume, with sticks of white paper coming out my ears, Tracy first asked me a few questions. 'What perfume do you wear now?' 'What made you choose that perfume?' 'What do you like in a perfume?' And from my answers, she was able to provide a mini analysis on my fragrance desires - I'm a lover of floral but not too sweet - and brought a cross section of scents to try.

  

Refreshing. 

After sampling the shortlist on paper, I narrowed it down to two scents to try on the skin.

• Acqua Florentina by CREED, a family-owned perfume house which has gone from father to son through seven generations 
• Eau de Parfum by Bottega Veneta, the high-end fashion label, known for drawing on their quality leather goods in their fragrance

Before buying any scent, you should always test on the skin, to see how the oils react. Tracy informed me that you should always spritz perfume on the under section of your forearm, never on the neck area, as this can result in pigmentation due to the alcohol content. 

The Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum has a heady, sensual, floral base - a gorgeous scent for the winter months. But for me, Creed Acqua Florentina was my perfume nirvana. A clear winner. It's got a heavy price tag, but a light spritz goes a long way. I wore this fragrance on a first date (yes, I know!) on Saturday, and every time I reached for my handbag I noticed a wave of deliciousness. It's beautifully floral and so sophisticated. 

How do you find your perfect scent? Let me know by commenting below, tweeting @PoutOutProud or commenting on the Pout Out Proud Facebook page xx  

Top Beauty Products for Yummy Mums-To-Be

Pregnancy may be a time of joy and excitement, but let’s face it, it’s not all youthful glow and ample bosom. Nine months of having a little life-form somersaulting at 3am, adding anything between 10 to a million pounds to your body, it’s exhausting. The days of negotiating an aisle with dexterity and grace are a distant memory.  But fear not, there are beauty products out there to help…

Illustration by Rose Sturdy

Combat stretch marks with… Clarins Stretch Mark Control, £37

Every mum-to-be needs a helping hand when it comes to stretch marks, no matter how supple their skin. Clarins Stretch Mark Control is a perfume-free lotion which contains a number of plant extracts to help fight the cause. Upon application you can feel a slight soothing tingle as the product stimulates the skin. It helps to protect the skin’s elastin, reduces redness of existing stretch marks and stimulates the repair of new ones – perfect! A top tip is to start applying before marks appear. 

Kick the cankles with…  Cowshed Udderly Gorgeous Leg and Foot treatment, £18.50

‘My feet look like pig’s trotters…’ Oh the joys of pregnancy. Hot weather and a big bump is a one-way ticket to the chunkiest ankles in town. Soothe swollen legs with Cowshed’s Udderly Gorgeous Leg and Foot Treatment, which is wonderfully cooling after a long day of being significantly rounder than before. 

Banish dark spots with… Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector, £29

A common by-product of pregnancy is Melasma, the discolouration of skin, thanks to all those lovely hormones. Discolouration usually lessens several months after giving birth, but for the interim this serum by Clinique helps to even skin tone and prevents the appearance of new dark spots. In true Clinique style, this ‘damage eraser’ has a gentle formula, so it’s suitable for use on the face too.

Pamper and restore dry skin with… Lancôme Nutrix Royal £39 for 400ml 

This super nourishing body lotion by Lancôme is the ultimate pamper product if your skin is dull and tired. It smells like a holiday to Mauritius, and leaves skin seriously soft thanks to its intense lipid repair formula.

Cleanse and re-energise with… Champneys Blissful Bump Shower Cream, £6

The Champneys Blissful Bump range has a powerful punch of ginger, and their moisturising shower cream is a great way for tired yummy mummies to re-energise. It might not quite make up for a whole sleepless night, but every little helps!

What are your hero pregnancy products? Comment below, tweet @PoutOutProud on Twitter or write a message on the Pout Out Proud Facebook page xx

New Hair Colour! From Blonde to Brunette

If you've followed this blog for a while then you may know that I'm a blonde (sometimes not solely in appearance..."Grandma has gone to JAPAN? Oh... she's in Torquay")

Before

Well not any more! I decided it was time for an image overhaul, so after four hours at my favourite hairdressers, I am now officially a brunette with gradual fade to slightly ombré ends. What do you think?

After

I love a good change, as you can totally change up your make-up palette too. I opted for a darker brow, stronger blush (NARS Orgasm) and a popping pink lip lacquer (Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar) to revamp my usual style.
What are your top make-up tips for a brunette hair style? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook or by commenting below! xx

As Featured in Grazia!

I was SO pleased to be asked by Grazia to share my beauty blogging tips this week, and you can read them all here!

Big thanks to all the Grazia team - and remember, you can catch my weekly product pick for Grazia every Friday.

If you have any questions about blogging which you'd like to ask, make sure you get in touch :) x

All You Need for Lush Locks

I have a very dear friend called Heidi, who happens to be a seriously amaze hairdresser. What she doesn't know about hair... well, it aint worth knowing. When I last popped in for a top-up of *ahem* natural sun-kissed blonde, I was lucky enough to get a run-down on all the necessities required for hair bliss. Get ready for the wonderment of lush locks.

For a mane packed with volume...

Try Bed Head's Candy Fixations Totally Baked Volumising and Prepping Hair Meringue, 240.5ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £10.65

It's the best product around for adding a blast of volume to limp hair. Simply apply a few squirts (depending on hair length) to damp hair before blow-drying. It preps the hair (like using a primer before popping on your make-up) and also smells like lemon meringue pie. Delish.

For sexy beach hair...

Try Tigi's Catwalk Session Salt Spray, 270ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £12.10

If you're anything like me, the last thing you want to do on a red hot day is to blast away with a hair-dryer. I'll take a pass on that, thanks. However the consequences are less than desirable. On many occasion I am faced with a mane so uncontrollable and frizzy it can make grown men weep.

There is a saviour to this crazy hair conundrum, hurrah! For beautiful beach waves, spray the salt spray onto wet combed hair and loosely scrunch. Leave to dry naturally, and do not interfere by brushing or combing. So easy, yet so effective. LOVE.

For heat protection...

Try ghd's Style Heat Protectant Spray, 120ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £8.45

My friend/amaze hairdresser always says: "You wouldn't go out in the scorching sunshine without skin protection, so why wouldn't you protect your hair from 200 degrees plus of heat?" How true.

ghd Style Heat Protectant Spray is light and effective. It doesn't weigh down hair, and it really makes sense to buy a protectant from the world's largest producer of hair straighteners. They know what they're up against.

Top Tip: Always check your hair straighteners' heat plates for any scratches, as they will rip your hair out as you pass them through your hair. If your plates are scratched (often from using them on course hair extensions) then it's time to purchase a new set.

For super-long locks...

Try Tigi's Bed Head Ego Boost Split End Mender, 200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £10.85

This product is genius. It works by bonding together the ends of your hair follicles, preventing split ends.  Less split ends means less trimmage at the salon, so hello longer lusher locks! Apply a few squirts to damp hair after every wash and it will help your hair stay stronger for longer.

Top Tip: Start using Ego Boost after you've been for a trim, it'll lock down those naughty ends and stop them from straying.

For everything in one bottle...

Try Uniq ONE All in One Hair Treatment, 150ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £13.99

If you're a bit of a lazy bean, or live your life on the go, then this is the one for you. It does EVERYTHING in just a few sprays. It works as a hair protectant, controls shine and frizz, adds body, stops split ends, gives colour protection with UVA and UVB filters, ensures detangled, silky smooth hair and more. It's amazing that one product can do so much and feel this great on your hair. OMG factor is officially reached with this one.

For serious TLC...

Try Wella's SP Repair Mask, 200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £17.75

If your hair is in a bad way and in need of a bit of love, this repair mask is one of the most intensive and effective on the market. We all overdo it with the straighteners now and again, so here's a product to redeem you of your sins. It instantly repairs hair and prevents further damage... phew. Apply to damp, towel dried hair and allow to soak in for five mins. Rinse out thoroughly with luke warm water (as this will help close your hair follicles)

Top Tip: If you can't afford to splash out on this slightly pricey hair mask, it's worth knowing that when you apply conditioner you should always drain any excess water from your hair and then apply. If you apply to soaking wet hair then the water will act as a barrier and stop your hair from absorbing the nourishment it needs.

For rock solid style...

Try L'Oreal Paris' Elnett Satin Supreme Hold Hairspray, 200ml, available from FeelUnique.com, £4.99

Stray hairs won't be moving anywhere with this super hold spray. The spray is fine and micro-diffused, it won't cause your hair to clump together. Your hair stays soft and shiny too. Win!