How To Choose The Right Type Of Mascara For You

Sometimes it's a nightmare at the beauty counter ... there are so many products to choose from that even choosing a mascara can become a big decision. There are so many different types, with different formulations and different style brushes that it can be difficult to know where to start! So we've decided to list the five main types below, with hints and tips about when to use them and help with what types will suit you best.

Waterproof Mascara

Waterproof mascara is perfect when you are going to be in a situation where non-smudging is essential - think weddings. Seriously, these are great to wear if you are partaking in sporting activities, going to the beach or you will be out and about in the good old rainy weather. Waterproof mascara contains special synthetic formulas which help repel moisture. The only pitfall with waterproof mascara is removing it - you need to be careful and use a specially designed eye-make up remover or you can end up breaking your lashes. If you want to be extra kind to your lashes after using an eye-make up remover coat your lashes with Vaseline using an old clean mascara wand - but remember to clean this often.

Lengthening Mascara

A lengthening mascara can be used if you consider you have short eyelashes or you want to create a more dramatic look. The ingredients are the typical mascara ingredients which include water, wax thickeners, film-formers, and preservative with the addition of short synthetic fibres which act like tiny fake lashes and which are normally made of nylon or rayon. These fibres create extensions to your natural lashes and are much more effective than trying to apply fake lashes at home unless you have a very steady hand.

Thickening Mascara

If you think that your eyelashes are rather sparse, then try a thickening mascara. Thickening mascaras contain a higher percentage of waxes and silicone polymers to coat your lashes and will make them appear thicker.

Curling Mascara

A curling mascara is not much different in formula to a standard mascara apart from it should have greater hold to keep lashes curled. The curling effect comes from the brush or applicator which has a curved head rather than a straight one which allows the brush to cover the whole lid at once and sweep the colour upward with a curling effect. The jury is out on how effective curling mascaras actually are and how well they work will depend on how strong your own lashes are. It is sometimes more successful to apply eyelash curlers to fix the curl.

Coloured Mascara

Coloured mascaras mean holidays and party time, they can look fantastic in shades of plums, blues and navy, especially when applied alongside sparkling eye shadow. Personally, we think they are a bit startling for day wear, when browns and blacks are preferable.

What do you think? What is your favourite or latest mascara - let us know.

Five Easy and Painless Ways To Help Lose Weight Fast

There are lots of websites and magazines that have many weird and wonderful ways on how to lose weight quickly, some of them work and some of them don't. Many of them are also giving out the information to promote their books, slimming products and programs. None of these are for me really, and I think that the only real way to lose weight is to make a simple plan which suits you and to make sure you stick to it, ie no cheating at weekends, or letting those little "treats" which are ok once a week, turn into two, three or four times a week. Here are five simple tips that have helped me lose some extra pounds, even when I haven't had much time for exercising - if I had, the results could have been even better.

Avoid All Full Fat Dairy Products

This means cutting out of your diet everything such as hard and soft full fat cheeses, cream, full fat milk, creamy yoghurts and butter or full fat spreads. If you use milk for drinks or cereals then use skimmed milk and look for low-fat but fruity yoghurts. These low-fat dairy products can still provide you with the calcium your body requires to keep bones strong.

Cut Down on The Carbs

Personally I avoid all breads (apart from the occasional wholemeal pita bread), pizzas, pastas, rice, noodles, crackers (apart from dark rye Ryvitas), cakes and biscuits. Instead of sandwiches at lunchtimes, I have salads which have a good portion of lean protein instead, such as tuna or chicken, which keeps me full up until evening. I sometimes have cereal at breakfast, but this has been All-Bran mixed with nuts and seeds, but usually I have filled up on protein again, with two eggs, scrambled with skimmed milk.

Become Teetotal - Just For A Little While

Yes this seems like a very difficult ask for a lot of people, but life does go on without having a drink - surprisingly! The two main reasons for cutting out alcohol if you want to lose weight are that you are taking in approximately 170 calories if you have a large glass of wine, plus the more glasses you have, the more your will-power shrinks, until you do get that kebab on the way home from the pub! It's not that difficult to find something else to occupy yourself with for a few weeks if you seriously want to drop some pounds.

Don't Eat Anything You Haven't Made Yourself

Yes, I'm not saying you can't go around to your mum's and have Sunday dinner - although I would advise having the meat and veg and missing out on the potatoes, but avoid readymade meals, take-aways and readymade sandwiches and snacks. It is so much easier to avoid unwanted fats and carbs if you make up your lunches and evening meals yourself.

What Foods You Should Fill Up On

You are probably wondering what there is that you can fill up with after reading the above, and this can vary to your own personal taste, but the main food groups should be lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and low calorie dairy products, plus a small amount of olive oil. The Mediterranean diet is based around these food groups and there are some great recipe books which have some fantastic filling and tasty dishes which you will probably want to carry on eating forever.

Like we always say, if this is a huge change in diet for you, then consult with your GP before making any drastic changes or cutting out food groups. 

New Season Colour - Be Proud To Wear Purple

No one would suggest that wearing purple from head to toe is a great fashion idea, but accessorising or wearing one signature item in the classy shade can bring the romantic and mysterious side out in you. All shades of purple and particularly the punchy bright shades are the most on-trend fashion statement for this autumn. Rachel Stevens shows here just how beautiful a plum purple dress can be - she looks classily gorgeous in this sweetheart neckline gown.

Choosing One Signature Item Of Clothing In Purple

For the daytime, perhaps in the office, look for pretty feminine vest tops in purples, magentas or lilacs. Wear one under a crisp white shirt to bring out your naughty but nice side. A great idea is a classic black trouser suit with a white blouse or shirt, but make the difference by wearing some purple high heels - quirky is great.

Purple Accessories and Jewellery

Purple jewellery is an all time favourite - particularly Amethyst jewellery (which is the birthstone for February). Amethyst jewellery can be found in its more natural state shaped into boho pendants, or can be polished to a fine finish and inset into gold and silver jewellery. Purple accessories look best when teamed up with black, neutral or white outfits. I recently saw a photo of Alex Curran wearing some cool purple sandals with a summer tunic dress, which looked fantastic.

How To Use Purple Make Up

Purple make up should be used with care during the day - look for plum shades of eye shadow or lipstick or lip glosses with a plummy purple tint. Deeper shades of purple eye shadow and eyeliner can be used by sweeping purple colour over the eyelids and lining the eyes both top and bottom with purple liner to create a dramatic evening look.

How to Wear A Purple Dress

Dresses, particularly for the evening, look fantastic in all shades of lilac, plum, magenta, mauve and deep purple - there is something very mysterious about darker shades of purple. Accessorise with either black or silver shoes and bag.