How To Give Yourself The Best And Easiest French Manicure At Home

It's great to go to a nail bar and get your nails done but there is not always time in the day or funds in the bank to get there as regularly as we would like - so here are some great tips for doing a brilliant French Polish at home.

Preparation

• Remove any traces of old nail polish from your nails.
• File your nails into a subtle square shape - rounding the nails slightly at the corners helps to prevent catching and breakage.
• With a nail buffer - buff away any ridges in your nails which will provide a nice smooth surface for your polish.
• Carefully push back any cuticles if needed.

Basecoat

• Apply a basecoat of polish - if you have buffed your nails and they are nice and smooth you don't need to apply a smoothing basecoat but can straight away apply your chosen shade for your French Manicure - I think the light pink shades are more flattering than those in nude or peach, but it's personal preference.

Great Hints On How To Apply The White Nail Tip

• Make sure your basecoat is totally dry before applying the white polish.
• Using the nail polish brush, apply the white polish in a sweeping motion across your nail tip, trying not to apply it below your normal nail-line as this will make your whole nail look out of proportion.
• Using a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover you can gently remove any mistakes if needed, but be gentle or you will remove your base polish as well.
• A brilliant tip is to use a washed liquid-paper or Tippex applicator for this job - the kind that is like a little triangular sponge. Dip this in your white nail polish and apply - you won't get any stray hairs spoiling your handiwork this way.

Finishing Off Your French Manicure

• When the white polish is dry apply a clear top coat to finish off your manicure.
• Re-apply a clear polish each night as this will help to stop your polished nails from chipping.

Fashion On A Budget For Men This Autumn

Yep, it's doom and gloom everywhere these days when you listen to the financial news - no matter which side of the Atlantic you are on - so its important to spread around these great tips for planning your autumn wardrobe as they can save you lots of dosh.

There's A Lot To Be Said For Basic Items!

It's the same for men and women - buy nice quality, reasonably priced basic wardrobe items - you know ones that aren't likely to shrink in the wash the first time they go in the machine (buying too cheaply can be a false economy)and these can be dressed up with a few select items which you may already own, can be purchased from a vintage or charity shop or you could ask mum and dad/girlfriend/favourite auntie to buy you for your birthday, Christmas etc.

Look out for ....

• Plain polo shirts and v-neck t-shirts.
• Chino's which can be worn with the above for a smart, but casual look.
• Plain but elegant leather belts - not everything needs to have a logo.
• Simple v-neck, long sleeved knitted sweaters.
• Casual shirts in simple designs - no outragous patterns that everyone will recognise is from a certain store.

Accessorise with ....

• A smart casual jacket. This is something that can be worn with jeans, but in many places now (unless you are a city trader - in which case you may soon be out of a job!) can also be worn with smart casual pants to work as well.
• Leather shoes - you will have your own preference, but a nice pair of loafers go great with both jeans or chinos. See Tips for Men No 1: How To Choose The Best Shoes For Your Style.

If you have any top tips on how best to keep to a budget but still look stylish, leave them here for us to share.

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How And When To Use A Clutch Bag

Whenever there is a red carpet moment for our favourite film starlets how many of them do you see with a hand or shoulder bag? Not too many, as most favour a clutch bag as they are neat, chic and the perfect accessory to an evening gown and heels.

The Advantages Of A Clutch Bag

• It's good for your health - no more lugging around a heavy shoulderbag full of items you don't really need which can be damaging to your back.
• It makes you more organised - clean out that handbag, throw away all those old receipts you kept, the packet of sweets that have passed their sell-by date and that grubby old makeup bag - refine the contents of your bag down to the bare minimum.
• Decide what you really need with you - day to day it may be as little as your purse, keys, mobile, tissues and your lipstick.
• It's so convenient and neat - you can pop it on your lap when you are eating in a restaurant, no need to hang it over the back of your chair where it gets in everyone's way.
• If you are going out to a club many clutches come with a wrist strap, which is so convenient if you want to be a dancefloor diva.
• It adds a touch of elegance to your look - the most stylish of women are seen with a clutch bag and with so many styles you will be able to find one to match your favourite jeans or your most gorgeous party dress.

If you have any favourites let us all know about them.

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A Review Of The Cosmo Beauty Awards 2008

I was eager to see what the results were for this year's Cosmo awards and they are available in the October edition of Cosmopolitan - it's the sixth year that they have put beauty products through a thorough testing to find the best of the best. However, for those of you who don't feel like rushing out to buy the magazine, I have reviewed the number one products in the most interesting categories below. There are a real variety of brands that come out top and they are not always the most expensive ones which is always a good thing!

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Lipstick

• Givenchy Rouge Interdit
• Average Price £16.50

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Mascara Award

• Lancome Virtuose Divine Lasting Curves & Length Mascara
• Average Price £19.50

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Skin Cleanser Award

• Urban Retreat The Cleanser
• Average Price £12.00

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Foundation Award

• Chanel Mat Lumiere Longlasting Makeup
• Average Price £25.00

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Everyday Moisturiser Award

• Clarins HydraQuench Cream
• Average Price £30.00

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Anti-Ageing Moisturiser Award

• Dior Capture R60/80 XP Ultimate Wrinkle Restoring Creme
• Average Price £39.00

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Shampoo Award

• Pantene Restorative Time Renewal Shampoo
• Average Price £1.89

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Conditioner Award

• Charles Worthington Dream Hair Lustrous Locks Conditioner
• Average Price £5.49

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Celebrity Scent Award

• Sarah Jessica Parker Covet Eau De Parfum
• Average Price £23.00

Winner Of The Cosmo Best Nail Polish Award

• Revlon Nail Enamel
• Average Price £6.29

As always, I am interested in finding beauty product bargains and any items with a link above will take you to an online store where the products are all cheaper than the average prices above - saving pennies is very important these days but we all still want to be beautiful too!

I hope this is useful - but if you know of any other stores where beauty bargains can be obtained let us all know by leaving your comments :-)

Tips on Dressing To Look Taller And Slimmer

A few weeks ago I wrote an entry on how to dress to lose pounds and look slimmer, which I know has proved interesting to quite a few readers. However, there is still more that can be done and I have been researching this topic again and have come up with some tips that we can all use to create the illusion of looking taller and slimmer everyday.

Colours and Stripes

• Wear an outfit all in one colour, for instance a suit in a plain colour accentuates length - don't worry you can still accessorise - although not with fussy items or you will ruin the effect - think of Audrey Hepburn in "that" Breakfast at Tiffany's Givenchy black dress.
• Don't wear horizontal stripes - stripy tops have been pretty fashionable lately, but unless you wish to look like a french onion seller (only joking!) it may be better to avoid them and look for fabrics such as pinstripes, which guide the eye up and down the body.

Belts and Waistlines

Belts over jackets and cardigans are a great fashion item at the moment, but if you are short in the torso, go for a narrow belt and choose one in a similar colour to your top - a bright or wide belt is just going to draw attention to a not so teensy-weensy waist.

Although hight waisted skirts and trousers are also one of the latest trends there is nothing so inclined to make a tummy stand out than a tight waistband around the waist. Much more flattering are hip or belly-button skimming waistlines which disguise a more rounded tummy.

Heels

• Wear shoes with at least a four centimetre heel - courts or Mary Janes with a lower strap are great for elongating the front of the leg when wearing a skirt - beware of ankle strap shoes or the half boot which can shorten the leg's appearance.
• If you are wearing trousers also go for shoes or boots with a similar sized heel - this gives the illusion of longer legs if your trouser hem just skirts the floor - however, one of the latest lengths to wear your pants is 7/8ths - again originally inspired by Audrey Hepburn - but these can also be dressed with heels.

Scarves and Necklaces

• Wear a long necklace long over a sweater or shirt as this creates vertical lines and draws the eye down the body.
• Choose a toning slimline silk scarf and knot this over a plain top leaving the long ends loose and floaty.

If you have any tips or outfits that you wear because they make you feel slim and gorgeous let us know, we'd love to hear from you.

Recommended products:

Silver Necklaces

Scarves

Mary Janes

Belts

Autograph Ribbed A-Line Dress