Wearing Pink - It's Important This October For Breast Cancer Awareness Month But It's Also High-Fashion

Pink For 2008

At the New York fashion shows earlier this year candy pink colours were in the spotlight. Later on in the year at the Oscars, Cameron Diaz was dressed in a Christian Dior Gown by Galliano and she accessorised her outfit with pink Bulgari diamonds. The feature poster for the movie of the summer - Sex and the City - featured Sarah Jessica Parker looking fabulous in a bubblegum pink gown.

Pink For Autumn and Winter 2008

It appears that the wearing of pink was not a passing fad for the spring and summer months as many of the European autumn fashion shows paraded colours such as poppy, rose and fuchsia, which included pink and magenta accessories featuring shimmering pink jewels. If all this sounds just a little too bright and brave for you - what about joining in with some pretty pink underwear instead?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 2008

All the above are great reasons for wearing pink, but more importantly October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) which was introduced in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder (Estee's daughter-in-law) and which has now developed into a worldwide campaign. It aims to:

• Increase the awareness of breast cancer
• Raise funds for research
• Support people affected by the disease

Lots more information can be found on the Cancer Research UK website.

There are lots of ways to raise money for Cancer Research UK and they have lots of ideas on their site.

If you aren't able to join in with any fundraising ideas or have left it a bit late like me, we can support them and also buy ourselves or our friends and family some great, girly gifts at their on-line store, where all profits go directly to Cancer Research UK.

So Remember To Wear Pink This Month!

Even if it's just wearing a pink ribbon ...

The Stars' Secrets To Anti-Ageing

Have you ever wondered how stars and celebrities keep their glowing and smooth skins? Well, apart from the obvious surgical procedures or having your pictures run through Photoshop, it appears there are some secrets they are prepared to share with us mortals that we can actually try ourselves at home.

• Celebrity - Denise Van Outen: Ensure your eyelashes are lush and at their full eye-fluttering potential - try some falsh lashes that can be attached and which last for up to six weeks at Eye-Tec or for a cheaper alternative try Eyelure lashes which you can purchase from Boots or other chemists.
• Celebrity - Kylie Minogue: Kylie uses a Yuroll massager on her face which stimulates facial muscles and soothes the senses, whilst also getting rid of excess fluid under the skin and around the eyes. Try massaging your face whilst applying your night cream - apparently the eastern European ladies swear that facial massage keeps them younger looking than their western European sisters.
• Celebrity - Carol Vorderman: Our peepers can yellow with age and those gorgeous blue eyes don't look so good if the whites are tired and discoloured. Drinking lots of water can help, plus enough sleep, but if you really need a pick-up try Eyedew Dazzling Blue Eye Drops.
• Celebrity - Dannii Minogue: Yes, very strange ... she apparently uses snail gel as an anti-aging treatment. It contains a combination of Glycolic Acid, Allantoine, Elastane, Vitamins and Collagen and the snail uses it to repair its own shell! Hmm, apparently the stuff in the pot doesn't resemble anything snail like and if you want to try it it's available at Holland and Barrett.
• Celebrity - Penelope Cruz: Penelope says she just needs at least eight hours sleep per night to stay beautiful and often tries to sleep up to 12 hours when she can ... I'm not sure I can regularly fit that into my long days - not sure about you? However, scientists do agree that people who don't get enough sleep tend to eat up to 300 calories more than those who do (perhaps because they are awake for longer!) and also according to Dr Loretta's book - Beauty Camp Handbook for Your Freshest Face - more shut-eye is the way to a younger appearance.

Source: Skymag 2008

Let's hear from you with your beauty secrets - the simplest ones are normally the best.

How To Look Great Wearing A Pashmina

There was a definite nip in the air this morning and it's about time to be thinking of something stylish to wear that will also keep Jack Frost at bay. However, there is nothing more stylish than a pashmina, which can be worn in so many different ways. They are also pretty affordable so it's quite easy to build up a selection of different colours and even patterns and they can make the simplest outfit look amazing.

The Most Popular Ways To Wear A Pashmina

• Tie your pashmina into a Parisian Knot. This is easy to do - you just double the pashmina in half creating a loop half way along, pull the pashmina around your neck, and push the ends though the loop, letting them hang down at the front - very chic, looks great over a more formal coat or jacket and is also very cosy.
• Simply wrap your pashmina loosely around your neck leaving the ends hanging down at the front, rather like in the photograph, this is a more bohemian style, and looks great with t-shirt and jeans.
• This next one is great for evenings when you are wearing a strappy top or dress and need something to keep the chill off. Drape your pashmina around your shoulders shawl style and tie it at the front in a once-around knot (rather like when you begin the knot on a shoe-lace).
• Wear your pashmina in the way you would wear a simple scarf - by leaving one end hanging down at the front, wrapping it once around your neck and letting the other end hang down at the back on the same side as the front end.
• Wear two contrasting pashminas together - first of all twist them together. I think this looks great when tied into a Parisian knot.

Did you know that original pashmina shawls were made from the wool of Himalayan goats? Most modern pashmina shawls are now made from a mix of silk and pashmina wool and are woven on hand looms in Nepal's Kathmandu valley.

Tips On How To Create Beautiful Thick Looking Eyelashes

Want to flutter your eyelashes? Well, it always helps if your eyelashes are thick and healthy looking and here are some tips to help you make the most of yours.

How To Look After Your Lashes So They Are At Their Beautiful Best

• Always use a gentle and effective eye-makeup remover to remove your mascara - particularly if you are using a waterproof one which is more difficult to remove - you don't want to be pulling your lashes out at the roots to try and get your mascara off.
• Alternatively, use jojoba oil mixed one third to two thirds mineral water and use this (shaken up) along with a cotton wool ball or eye-makeup remover pad to remove your mascara - the jojoba oil lingering on your lashes will condition them as well as removing the makeup.
• Try applying Vaseline to your eyelashes after you have cleansed and moisturised your face at night - it holds in moisture, allowing your lashes to grow stronger and less brittle. Remember to wash it off in the morning though or any makeup you apply will get very smudgy.

Are There Any Mascaras Which Moisturise Your Lashes As Well As Make Them Beautiful?

• As an extra step you can apply a lash enhancing base which moisturises and protects the lashes from drying out such as Chanel Mascara Base Beauté or Lash Enhancing Base before applying your normal mascara over the top.
• If you don't have time for this two step programme look for a mascara which as well as beautifying your lashes will protect, heal and condition them such as Paul Penders Nutricious Colors Mascara.

Let us know your favourite products for enhancing and extending those lashes.

Recommended Products:

• Paul Penders Nutricious Colors Mascara
• Chanel Mascara Base Beauté or Lash Enhancing Base

How To Make Skinny Jeans Look Great On You

Now that autumn is surely on the way, it might be time to think about clothes in which we can wrap up warm, but in which we still look gorgeous and stylish at the same time. One item of clothing that is just brilliant for slimming down and lengthening legs, and which will look great with this season's chunky knits and a pair of boots, is a pair of dark denim skinny jeans.

How To Choose The Right Skinny Jeans For You

• Look for dark denim washes in indigo, navy, blacks and dark greys over lighter shades, as these are the colours which will slim down legs the most.
• There is no point buying a pair of skinny jeans if you find it impossible to bend or sit down in them - they do come in different widths of "skinny" and can vary from the super skinny of around 25cm hem width to a slightly more forgiving 35cm.

What To Wear Your Skinny Jeans With

• Choose a longer tunic top or big knit sweater or cardigan - skinny jeans mean you can go for a looser style top.
• Skinny jeans look great tucked into boots - it's almost what they were made for - try wearing them with a pair of this season's biker boots - see the blog entry for "Top Tips On Hot New Biker Boots And What To Wear Them With".
• They do look super sexy with high heeled shoes or pointy toe pumps as well.

If you have a favourite pair of skinnies let us know your favourite brand and style.

Recommended Products - Dark Denim Skinny Jeans