Ten Top Tips On How To Wake Up Beautiful Every Day

We've all heard the term that we need to get enough "beauty sleep". But what does it actually mean, and how do we get the best out of the sleep time we have. In fact, can good quality sleep actually improve our looks?

Research into "beauty sleep" has shown that a few minutes extra sleep in the morning (you are ideally looking for eight hours sleep each night), can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is fantastic as raised levels of this hormone will accelerate the aging process.

If you are looking for a glowing complexion like that of Liv Tyler's or Cate Blanchett's then you do need to get enough, good quality sleep. Steer clear of vigorous exercise, starchy foods and alcohol before bedtime and your skin cells will have a chance to repair. Good sleep means lots of the human growth hormone will be released which is also called the youth hormone as it has anti-aging effects.

Here Are Ten Great Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Beauty Sleep

• Sleep on your back - not only does this save you from getting a crinkly chest, but sleeping on your front will also put a lot of pressure on your face, causing puffiness. Dermatologists can also tell the favourite side for a person to sleep on as they will have more wrinkles on that side of their face! Sleeping on our backs suddenly seems like a good idea.
• Wash your face thoroughly before sleep with a relaxing cleanser until your complexion is squeaky clean. Dirt and toxins left on your skin are just accelerating the aging of your skin.
• Make the most of the repairing and remoisturising process that happens overnight, and slather on a good quality, dry skin replenishing cream such as Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Face Cream.
• Get those romantic pillows propped up around you at bedtime - keeping your head slightly raised encourages blood flow and lymph glands to drain which means less puffiness in the morning. Another great way to avoid puffiness is to avoid alcohol!
• Before applying your repairing face cream for the night apply a small amount of self-tanning cream to your face and neck - you will wake up with a healthy glow, which is a nice surprise and creates an instant good mood on a cold, wintry morning.
• Avoid carbs when making your evening meal (bread, potatoes, pasta) and go for a light meal of proteins and salad. Too many carbs in the evening can lead to a less defined and doughy complexion.
• If you want to keep your hair silky smooth for the next day, slip on a silk pillowcase or tie up your hair in a silky scarf as this keeps hair from frizzing and knotting overnight.
• Another tip to create a fantastic hair-do overnight is to gather your hair together and twist it round and round, holding it in place on top of your head with a scrunchie. This will transform into a cascade of waves and curls with lots of body next day.
• If you are washing your hair in the morning, give your hair a pre-treatment overnight with a rich hair masque to replenish its natural beauty.
• Finally, you can get a little help from the inside by taking a slow release B-complex vitamin before going to bed. Slowly released B vitamins can promote energy and glow from the inside, helping you to wake up feeling more energised.

Hollywood Style With Asymmetric And One Shoulder Dresses At The Golden Globes

Just about every fashion magazine and blog has covered the Golden Globe Awards and the after show parties this year, but many seem to have failed to notice how the Hollywood red carpet was awash with floor length asymmetrical and one shoulder dresses.  All the Hollywood stars and starlets making this style work for them are too numerous to mention here, but to name a few were Drew Barrymore in an architectural peach crystal scatter dress by Atelier Versace, Kate Winslet (pictured here) in a navy Yves Saint Laurent gown, with Tiffany & Co jewels and Jennifer Aniston in a black, plunging Valentino gown. All of them demonstrated that the asymmetrical or one shoulder dress works for all types of figures and styles. Why not try it out for yourself, here are a few simple tips for wearing asymmetrical or one shoulder tops and dresses.

• Look for classical and even rather plain styles when wearing an asymmetric or one shoulder style dress. Kate is wearing a well fitted navy Yves Saint Laurent gown which she accessorised with Tiffany & Co jewels. YSL gowns may require rather too deep pockets for many of us, but similar gowns can be found for a fraction of the price, and with the right hair-do, makeup and sparkling accessories, can still look stunning.
• Look for one-shoulder dresses in black or navy or if you are brave enough to make more of a statement go for a dark red or cream dress and match it up with a pair of classic killer heel pumps and clutch bag.
• If you choose a simply styled, black asymmetrical dress it can be dressed up with sparkly, high heels, evening bag and jewels, or dressed down with a wide belt, black leggings, flat pumps and big slouch bag for a casual look.
• An asymmetrical mini dress can be worn with patterned tights and Mary-Janes for an office-girl look and then changed for the evening to be worn over skinny jeans and long knee boots for a night out.
• Remember the gorgeous SATC Carrie dress in cream with the beautiful corsage? Try this out yourself with a one-shoulder dress, by attaching a pretty corsage in colours matching your dress, or contrasting colours which can be matched with shoes and bag.
• There are lots of different ways to wear asymmetrical styles, look for off centre necklines, pointed sleeves, hemlines and off-the shoulder styles.
• If you are wearing an asymmetrical evening dress keep your jewellery simple. A large central pendant does not look correct with a one-shoulder or asymmetrical neckline. Instead, centre your jewellery around earrings and bracelets and leave shoulders and neckline bare.

Tips On How To Make A French Plait Hollywood Style

If you are like me, you might remember your mum plaiting your hair for school when you were a small child - yes I remember some pretty embarrassing hairstyles, including the obligatory two plaits with ribbons. However, I totally approve of the new fashion for wearing plaits in our hair this season. The craze may have been started by Jennifer Aniston at the 2009 Oscars, but since then the style has been seen on many other celebs including Hayden Panettiere and Princess Beatrice.

The style may look pretty tricky, and you will probably have to practice once or twice before you get it perfect, but as long as your hair is at least three inches or around seven centimetres in length around the hairline, you should be able to create a hairline French plait or braid. You will need the following items before you start:

• Scrunchie or large hair band
• Comb
• Water spray
• Hair mousse or styling cream
• Hair grips/clips and small hair band

Here is how to create the look:

• Loosely tie back your hair behind your ears (leaving the section of hair in front of your ears and all around your front hairline free) using the scrunchie or large hair band.
• Using the water spray, dampen but don't soak the hair around your front hairline and comb out any tangles.
• Apply a golf-ball sized ball of mousse to the area to be styled, or if using styling cream, a smaller more appropriate amount.
• Now commence a plait or braid on your hairline where you want the plait to start. If you want to follow Jennifer's style then start the braid at the far left hand side of your forehead hairline. Divide this section of hair into three fairly slim strands and then do a left over centre strand and then right over centre strand as with a normal plait.
• Next working along your forehead hairline, left to right, with the next left over centre strand, pick up a small amount of hair directly underneath the left strand, and then do the same when working with the right strand by picking up a small amount of hair underneath this strand.
• Carry on working along your hair line in this way until you have plaited along your front hairline. Finish off the ends by plaiting them together normally and then secure them with the small hair band. Clip the end of your plait under your hair or behind your ear if it reaches.
• This style looks fabulous worn with the rest of your hair in loose waves, which you can create using your hair-straighteners. See the blog on "How To Create Perfect Waves With Your Hair Straighteners"

What To Wear With This Season's Wedge Boots

With the cold weather and icy snow and frost with us to stay for the foreseeable future the wedge boot is the perfect fashion footwear accessory for the season, being stylish, warm, and less likely to see you on your behind in the snow than a couture, leather soled, stiletto boot. So, for all those struggling in the snowy weather, here are some great tips on how to wear your wedge boots and be super cosy and super stylish too.

• If you are wearing knee length wedge boots, stay away from flared or gathered skirts - this can give a bulky look - team your boots up with dark leggingsand a tunic top.
• Choose some black suede or leather wedge boots and wear them with straight leg jeans and an over-sized sweater with a leather or faux leather jacket for a casual, but edgy look.
• Wedge boots also look great with patterned black tights and a mini skirt, with lots a woollies going on with hats and scarves. Also try some wedge ankle boots with this look, which are not as heavy looking as knee length boots with a skirt.
• Don't be tempted to wear wedge boots underneath bootleg jeans - you might as well just put on a cardigan knitted by your granny and an anorak as well.
• You have got to be pretty brave in winter to wear these ankle wedges as worn by Alexa Chung here at the Burberry Prorsum fashion show. What do you think about her teeny-tiny legs in these rather chunky boots? Looks a bit chilly to us.