Braun Silk-épil 7 7681 Wet and Dry Cordless Epilator Review

Braun Silk-épil 7 7681 Wet and Dry Cordless Epilator with 5 attachments, £129.99

I've never used an epilator before - yes, I'm a cowardy custard - but I've had more and more people singing their praises to me. And with a mounting monthly waxing bill, it's a bit of a no-brainer to give this plucking equivalent a whirl. 

I was SO impressed. This epilator is cordless, works in the shower, has a handy little light and is just about as easy as can be. Lots of tiny little tweezers whip round to remove all those pesky little hairs.

This exfoliator comes with five different attachments. I used the high frequency massage attachment (pictured above) on my legs, and the exfoliation results were fantastic. Seriously smooth, hair-free legs. 

I have sensitive underarms, so much so that if I shave before the hair has regrown enough I end up with sore red patches - ouch! But I swapped the head attachment for one of the narrower ones (less plucking in one go, phew) and braced myself for the underarm terror. Not bad at all. The close-grip technology worked on hairs just a few millimetres long, and the lower grade setting meant the plucking pain was very bearable. No red patches, quick and easy. 

The different heads are really easy to swap over

I haven't quite mustered up enough courage for the hair downstairs, but I was so impressed with the leg and underarm results. I've already saved a huge chunk in waxing costs, and it's a lot more convenient. Double win! xx

New Clarins AW13 Collection Review

Clarins AW13 collection

Whether it's the regal red velvet-smooth gold packaging, or the slightly higher price bracket, I just didn't think Clarins was a brand for a metropolitan girl in her early twenties. 

But after trialling out a hefty cross-section of the AW13 collection, I have been swayed. The products are classy, soft, pigment-rich and beautiful... and I definitely didn't look like my powdery-at-the-edges Aunt Maude. So it's a side order of humble pie for me, please. 

NEW: Clarins Instant Concealer, £20

This new concealer is REALLY good. It has a creamy, rich texture that gives long-lasting coverage of those pesky dark circles, and has caffeine extract to reduce puffiness. The packaging is lightweight and handbag handy, perfect if you're a busy bee. One of my top concealers of the year. 

Extra Comfort Foundation SPF15, £35 (107 Beige)

I'm quite fussy when it comes to foundations, but this one feels really lovely on the skin. It's like a hybrid of a moisturiser and a foundation - really thick and creamy - and smells like fresh cucumber wipes! 

It did sit a little bit awkwardly on dry skin patches, but this was easily fixed with a spot of moisturiser.  The science part is quite impressive, with anti-aging plant extracts, omega 9 and 6, and organic argan oil to preserve suppleness and protect from dehydration. It also claims to plump skin, and contains 'soft focus pigments' to reflect light in the most flattering of fashions. Ohhh la la!  

I gave it a good trial and was impressed with the smell, feel, finish and lastability. The only thing that didn't hit the mark was the packaging, which is not travel friendly and is nigh on impossible to use without getting foundation EVERYWHERE. But maybe I'm just a mucky pup! 

Clarins Extra-Comfort SPF15 foundation swatch

Clarins Crayon Khôl in Platinum, Intense Blue, Taupe, £17 each

I haven't stopped wearing these pigment-rich Crayon Khôl pencils since I added them to my make-up bag. So soft and flattering due to the shimmering, beautiful colours. They are double ended with a natural hair brush applicator on the other side, really handy for creating subtle smouldering finish.

Clarins Crayon Khôl in Platinum swatch

Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in 736 Pink Camellia, 737 Royal Plum, 738 Spicy Cinnamon, £18 each

736 Pink Camellia, 738 Spicy Cinnamon and 737 Royal Plum

My favourite launch from the AW13 are the three beautiful colours added to the Joli Rouge Lipstick range - 736 Pink Camellia, 737 Royal Plum and 738 Spicy Cinnamon. They are SO hydrating and glossy, simply lovely on the lip. Unlike other lipsticks, I didn't get any of the dreaded dry-out, and the colour stayed put for hours. The Royal Plum shade is a bold deep aubergine that was really popular in early 2013, and I expect it will come back strong as we head into the winter months. Pink Camellia is my personal favourite, it looks fantastic with green eyes. 

Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in 736 Pink Camellia, 737 Royal Plum, 738 Spicy Cinnamon swatch 

Clarins Be Long Mascara, £21

This clever little mascara is packed with genius ingredients, like a peptide to promote lash growth and panthenol to strengthen. I was surprised by the tiny brush, but it was great at catching all the little lashes in the corners of the eye. Great precision for super-defined, clump-free lashes. 

Clarins Be Long Mascara swatch

Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest, £31

I am in love with this magical-forest inspired Eye Quartet Mineral Palette. It may be on the pricey side, but it is so beautiful. The packaging is classy through and through, and the shadows are shimmering delights. With khaki green, satin taupe, intense bronze and pale gold shadows, this palette is fantastic for complimenting green and brown eyes. I wear with the Crayon Khôl in Taupe to complete the look.

What do you think of the new AW13 collection? Let me know by leaving a comment below or by commenting on the Pout Out Proud Facebook page, or tweeting @PoutOutProud xx

A Glossybox Delight!

Everyone loves a parcel at the door. I even love a letter, unless of course it contains the most hideous of parchment… the dreaded bill!

Glossybox have come up with a really cute little service, whereby a beautiful box filled with five beauty ‘taster’ delights arrives on your doorstep every month.

The boxes are a nice gift idea and a handy way of discovering new products. The boxes themselves are so pretty that I re-use them to package presents! They also do tailored boxes, such as ‘Glossybox woman’ aimed at beauty lovers aged 40+, which is £14 (plus £2.95 packaging) and is delivered every eight weeks.

Redken Diamond Oil Review

The Redken brand is already well-known for its extreme hair-repair credentials. That's why I was so excited to trial their latest product launch, a smoothing oil for strength and shine...

Redken Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine, £31.99

Firstly, big praise goes for the fact Redken have thought to deliver TWO variations of the same product, one for fine hair (in an amber bottle) and one for thick/coarse hair (black bottle). I’m sure fellow fine-haired beauty buffs will breath a big sigh of relief at hearing this.

Dare I say it? Yes, I do. I think the Redken Diamond Oil is one hundred times better than the market leader, Moroccanoil. Here’s why...

1. The little pipette applicator is a stroke of genius. I hate how much goes to waste you use a pump.
2. The formula is so light and versatile. I’ve used this product as a serum before blow-dying and on dry hair, and both have had gorgeous results.
3. It enhances shine AND strengthens. Most oils only focus on the latter. Redken has used it’s supreme knowledge of hair repair, including its trademark IPN (Interlock Protein Network) technology in the mix – which penetrates to the core of the hair and strengthens from within.
4. It’s nice and natural. The silicone-free blend is formulated with 99% natural oils, including coriander oils to create a protective barrier and apricot and camelina oils to enhance flexibility.
5. It’s good value. Although £31.99 may seem a touch pricey (roughly the same as Moroccanoil) you only need a few magical pipette drops per usage – so each bottle is going to last quite some time.
6. And finally… it looks really, really nice on your dressing table thanks to the gorgeous packaging.

My Holiday Hero Products

'My suitcase shrunk?'

Oh how I love a sun-drenched holiday. The sand, the sea, the sangria... it's just all rather glorious isn't it?
So next week I'm jumping on a big plane and swapping the sodden cobbles of Manchester for the twinkling shores of Cyprus! Needless to say, I cannot wait.

After a long weekend in culture-swathed Barcelona and a fleeting romance with wild Ibiza earlier this summer, I have learnt to select my precious luggage allowance with the meticulousness of a neurosurgeon. And then there's the soaring heat to contend with... As I'm sure you know, my amigos, make-up meltdown is a very real danger. Preventative measures are nothing but a necessity.

Moisturiser:  Clarins HydraQuench SPF15, £34
My gorgeous aunty Jeanie, who lives in Spain, swears by this moisturiser for the warmer climes. It soaks in fast and is a melt-free zone all day.

Primer: Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer SPF30, £29.95
I'm not a huge primer advocate, but this slim number was AMAZING in Ibiza. It helped keep my foundation in place well into the early hours.

Foundation: MAC Cosmetics Studio Sculpt Foundation (SPF 15) £24 with a bit of Laura Mercier Illuminated Tinted Moisturiser (SPF20) £33 to thin the consistency
I've tried so many different foundations, but for me MAC Studio Sculpt is just the one. When my skin is slightly dry I have to use a bit of tinted moisturiser to thin it out, but I love how it sets so flawlessly. The coverage is medium and buildable to full, so nice and versatile for holiday evenings, but I tend not to use it during the day - I just use the tinted moisturiser on its own for a really light coverage (with added SPF, bonus!)

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, £17
This genius product is amazing for keeping shadow exactly where it should be. I wore really heavy eye make up to go to Zoo Project in Ibiza (complete with leopard body paint... yes really!) and this tube of magic worked an absolute treat, despite the hot temps.

Lippy: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Bang £14, with Glide-on Lip Pencil also in Bang £12
Outline the lip and shade with the pencil before applying the lipstick, blot and re-apply. I guarantee this fierce shade (my favourite accessory for a goddess-bronze tan) will stay put for HOURS.

Bronzer: ArtDeco Bronzing Compact Powder, £25
There's no long-lasting hocus-pocus going on with this bronzer, I just think it's really good. The beautiful palette is huge, so ideal for adding a bit of body shimmer.

Eye-Liner: Dior Waterproof Eyeliner Long-Wear Pencil, £18
It does not budge. Hallelujah!

Blush: Benefit Sugarbomb, £23.50
This peachy coral blush palette goes so well with a tan, and there's just the right amount of shimmer to add a sexy glow too.

Posh After-Sun: Lancôme Nutrix Royal £39
For slightly scorched skin this intense repair lipid-enriched lotion is the ultimate soother. If, however, you're a bit on the strapped side Soltan Aftersun with insect repellent £4.49 is pretty good. It really does keep the pesky mosquitos at bay too.

Hair Serum: Liss Unlimited SOS Smoothing Double Serum by L'Oreal Professionnel, £13.25
Holidays may be generally delicious, but they're also rather harsh on the tresses. I use this serum by L'Oreal to banish frizz even in humid climates. It smells rather nice too.

Burn Balance: If you're prone to pink after lounging in the sun try using a colour corrector with a green base, like Smashbox Photo Finish Color Corrector Foundation Primer in Green, £12.50 (travel size) before you put on your foundation. This will counterbalance the redness for a perfect finish.

Let me know your holiday hero products by commenting below, or by writing on the Pout Out Proud Facebook page, or tweeting @PoutOutProud.

xx

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  

Summer Smooth Service by L'Oreal Professional

This week I was invited to try out the brand new L'Oreal Professional Summer Smooth Service, which guarantees smooth, frizz-free hair for four days, even at 80% humidity. Hurrahs! 

As you can see from this quick snap, my hair is rather frizzy. I often look like a wild mountain bear in the morning. 

So I went along to Barbara Daley Hair & Beauty in Liverpool, a salon which offers L'Oreal Professional services, to see if they could achieve super smooth tresses in 45 minutes.

The treatment involves three steps of L'Oreal Professional Liss Unlimited products: cleansing shampoo, smoothing mask and SOS Smoothing Double Serum. The products are followed by a gorgeous blow dry (a party girls best friend!) then Steampod straightening.

The Liss Unlimited product range contains pro-keratin to repair hair's internal structure, evening primrose oil to sooth and nourish, and kukul nut oil to defend hair from humidity. 

The Steampod (only available in salons) offers a gentler, hydrating alternative to the harsh heat of straighteners, perfect to create the summer smooth look. 

My hair isn't the worst in the world when it comes to a frizzy mane, but I was really impressed with the transformation. I imagine that you would be totally amazed if you had really thick, unruly locks - which is what the service is really made for - as it could glossify the wildest of beasts.

As you can see, my hair is really smooth and soft. It gave a great shine too, which I've struggled to achieve since I over did it with the blonde highlights last summer. This is a great luxury treatment if you want gorgeously smooth hair for a glam weekend away, or if you're going to a festival and want to brave the elements with style. 

I generally have to wash my hair every day, occasionally every other day if I'm handy with the dry shampoo, so I was slightly sceptical about the four day promise attached to this service. However, I'm writing this blog on day number four, and although I'll be washing it tonight, it doesn't look like the bedraggled mess I'd expect. I was really impressed by how squeaky clean my hair felt after using the Liss Unlimited Shampoo, a great cleanser. 

Also, whilst I was at the Barbara Daley Hair & Beauty salon I had a perfect polish by Jade. I loved it so much I thought I should let everyone see the results. I trapped my hand in a taxi door (mega ouch) about six months ago, and I've been a bit ashamed of one rather damaged nail ever since. After 30 minutes with Jade though, my hands were transformed. Amazing colour, right?

Find which salons near you offer the Summer Smooth Service here. Recommended service price £15 - £20.