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Top Trends for Spring

Look on the Sunny Side.

Bright, vivid, bold colours are a key fashion trend this spring and whether you opt for a candy coloured dress, shirt or belt, this sunny trend is sure to brighten up your mood. Add a dash of hot pink, cobalt blue, yellow, emerald green or bright orange to your look and you’ll feel bright and breezy in an instant. For work, you can simply dazzle and brighten you day with a fun, vivid top matched with a neutral coloured skirt or tailored trousers.

Get the bold secretarial look with this Karen Millen bow belt pencil skirt and organza ruffle blouse. Bow belt pencil skirt €180 Organza ruffle blouse €180 Patent Tote €180, Patent peep toe €200

Sarah Jessica Parker dazzles at the premier of her new movie Smart People with this fab candy pink cropped jacket worn over a navy satin top. Never one to shy away from trends, she successfully works a few looks by clashing bold colours with a touch of animal print (check out the bag) and nods to the metallic look with her sexy heels. Pictured with co-star Ellen Page who looks chic and gorgeous in this figure-hugging dress, they both look elegant and glam!

Go Wild!

The season’s flirtation with all things ethnic means that animal and tribal prints are everywhere. Top designers such as Matthew Williamson and Dolce and Gabbana have embraced this trend with colonial style military looks with a touch of ethnic. You can get find sexed up, funky versions for less on the high street with stores such as Oasis, Top Shop, Dunnes Stores, House of Fraser and Karen Millen all adding their twist to this exotic look. With influences from Africa and Asia, the global village is one of the hottest trends this season and these holiday-friendly prints, fabrics and looks will see you right though the summer months too. You can either go for the chic ethnic vibe with simple cuts or if you’re in the mood to go totally tribal then pile on exotic accessories with an assortment of beaded and wooden trinkets such as chunky bangles and oodles of necklaces.

The tribal look gets a luxe twist at Karen Millen and this Zebra Jersey Maxi Dress €265 and stacked wedges €220.

Gorgeous songstress and mum-to-be, Gwen Stefani looks bang on trend with this evening dress from her very own label, LAMB. The African-inspired beaded cutout adds a sophisticated, sexy edge to this global look.

 

Urban Jungle.

Safari suits and shorts are big news this spring and given the modern urban twist for city living. But if you’re not ready to step on the wild side, you just give a nod to the trend by dipping into this safari colour palette - opt for shades of beige, caramel, chocolate and khaki which you’ll find in all the collections this year.

Check out this

Long taupe short sleeved knit twin set with plunging neckline and front inserts €80. 100% linen trousers with edge contrast detail €110. All from Peruzzi. Amber chain €22. Earrings €7 and Sunglasses €12.All from Pulse Accessories.

Pulse Accessories supply over 900 pharmacies and boutiques nationwide with a collection of inexpensive accessories - bags, jewellery, belts, sunglasses and watches. Taking inspiration from the catwalk, the collection is on trend in terms of colour, shape and volume. Pulse Accessories have 22 of their own shops nationwide. View this seasons looks on www.pulseaccessories.ie

True Romance

Fashion has fallen in love with the things romantic, flirty, girly and pretty. Be wooed with romantic ruffle designs, pretty floral prints, stunning silks and tiny pleats. This key spring trend is very feminine and pretty look but exercise caution! Don’t go for a matchy matchy floral outfit but rather funk up the look by adding cheeky bright tights or funky shoes and don’t be afraid to clash designs to add a bit of edge and fun to the look.

Avoca Handweavers flirt with this girly trend while managing to keep it cool with these Avoca Anthology Chintz cami €84.95, Chintz overdress €149.95 & Glastonbury jeans €149.95

 

Avoca Renaissance Pocket Pinney dress

For those special occasions check out the new Belle collection at Oasis where you’ll find all the key looks of the season, with pretty sophisticated dresses for every occasion both day and night. This pretty Floral Rose Corsage Dress €114, Bow Occasion Drape Necklace €36, Bow Occasion Stretch Bracelet €29, Croc Alice Band €11 is available at Oasis, nationwide.

Drew Barrymore keeps her florals quirky and bold with this cute fashion-forward Gucci dress which is flirty and fun for Spring.

TOP TIPS FOR DRESSING SLIM THIS SPRING

Make sure the detail is on the slimmest part of your body. Whether it's texture, pattern, embellishment of the use of accessories.

Always make sure you wear fitted clothes on the largest part of your body. Our instinct is to cover up under loose, baggy clothing - this only serves to make us look bigger.

Use accessories to divert attention away from your worst bits towards your best features. For example, if you're pear-shaped, avoid big hipster belts and draw attention to the top half of your body with chunky necklaces or tops with lots of detail.

Slim scarves can also help draw the eye down the centre of the body, which elongates the figure to create a slimmer silhouette.

Whatever the body shape, always try to create a waist. Even if you carry extra weight around your tummy area, doing this will give you a more curvaceous figure and avoid you looking like a solid block.

Necklines can also make a huge difference. V-necks are fantastic for large breasts as they can perk up the chest area and help draw the eye down the centre of the body. Avoid high necklines if you're big busted.

Thicker, stretchier fabrics are more slimming than soft, silky or satin fabrics, as they tend to mould your body into shape rather than following any bulges.

Wearing the same colour or tone of colour top and bottom will make you appear taller and slimmer.

Sew up pockets on jackets and trousers to prevent bulging, which simply adds weight and draws attention where you need it least.

Where possible, opt for pointy shoes, as this will help elongate your legs, slimming down proportions.

The advice above plus lots more look-great inspiration is contained in Nicky Nicky Hambleton-book, Top to Toe: the ultimate guide to becoming who you want to be (Hodder Hardback). €20.99 at all good bookshops now.

Spring clean your beauty regime

Spring has sprung and what better way to celebrate than to dab on some cheeky blusher, a splash of pretty eyeshadow and some vibrant post winter pick-me-up lippy. Here we take a peek at the new season make-up trends, the must-have hair products and the essential skincare buys to update and freshen up your look in an instant.

Flirty Florals

Spring fashion is awash with fresh, flirty florals and really pretty girly looks. Romantic charm and dreamy frocks are everywhere this season and makeup too has taken its inspiration from all things floral. Think pretty shades of pink, purple, lilac and coral to freshen up your looks.

Natural glam gal Katherine Heigl looks anything but grey and she’s a fan of uber chic beauty brand Christian Dior whose limited edition Dior Flower Blossom powder and eyeshadow is bursting with pretty girly springtime colours. You too can bloom this spring with a dash of colour from Dior, though this very pretty compact looks almost too good to use!

Add Some Fizz!

For an explosion of fresh, vibrant colour and punchy pastels check out Clarins new Spring 2008 Colour Fizz collection. This fun bright, radiant collection screams energy and freshness. Light up your eyes with beautiful sparkling shades that are funky and fun – eyeshadows (€18) come in 12 shades with a matte, satin or pearl effect. Katie Holmes has embraced this bright bold look this season opting for purple coloured eye liner to add sparkle and contrast to her hazel eyes. You too can instantly look and feel bright eyed this spring by adding a dash of coloured liner on your eyes. For best effect don’t match the colour of your liner to your eye colour and let the contrast make a statement.

Barefaced Chic

For a natural, sexy look this spring opt for the barely there look from Bobbi Brown’s new Nude Lip and Eye Palette collection. These shades are subtle, yet flattering as they complement your own natural skin tones and freshen up your look with sophisticated, understated glamour. Jennifer Aniston is a fan of this natural, sophisticated look and she perfects this barely there makeup on the red carpet with minimum fuss.

Bobbi Brown is renowned for her preference for natural looking makeup and this new limited edition double decker beauty palette from Brown combines some of her favourite shades, which is a must have for anyone who wants to look ultra chic and sophisticated this spring. It has four nude colours for eyes and lips with mini brushes for easy application – what we’re loving about this collection is that you can slip it into your bag for a weekend away, a business trip, a beachy holiday or a night out with the gals and it’s really all you’ll need for cheeky barefaced chic.

Cheerful Yellow

Yellow is the ‘it’ colour this spring – Ashlee Simpson is looking mellow in her yellow bikini on hols in Jamaica recently and this bright, cheerful colour is making a splash in dresses, shoes, accessories and even makeup. Give yourself an instant spring time make-over with a dash of Spring Yellow eye colour (€13.50) from The Make Up Factory. Just make sure you don’t overdo the look and only add a small dash of yellow! Also check out the Make Up Factory’s new Lip Shine in ‘Sweet Orange’ (€13.50) and Blusher in ‘Rose Blossom’ (€13.50).

The Make Up Factory range is available at Arnotts, Debenhams Cork & Blanchardstown, Shaws of Limerick and Drogheda, McCauley Pharmacies and Spas and selected leading pharmacies.

Luscious Locks

As makeup makes a return to romance, so hair does too. Golden beauty Sienna Miller is always bang on trend and her sexy, dishevelled locks are perfectly fashionable this season. Wavy hair is really the big fashion trend this season and it’s one of the easiest looks to achieve – the key is in the prepping and finish. Wash hair and when still wet apply L’Oreal Tec spiral splendor and simply let it dry naturally. Say Yes to Carrots!

Queen Cleopatra maintained her exquisite complexion and legendary beauty by adopting a regime which included bathing in milk and honey and this beauty diva even travelled to the Dead Sea to build the world’s first spa there. Today the beauty secrets and healing properties of the Dead Sea are harnessed in many products around the world and Hollywood royalty such as Catherine Zeta Jones slather on creams rich in nutrients from its salty banks. It’s scientifically proven that the minerals in the Dead Sea help to detox and energise the skin and people travel from all over the globe to soak up its healing properties.

Now a new product, Yes to Carrots combines the anti-oxidant and anti-ageing power of Beta-Carotene from organic fruit and vegetables, with the cleansing, purifying and moisturising properties of 26 minerals, harvested from the Dead Sea. These products really smell delish and good enough to eat, but best of all they are packed with oodles of good for you ingredients like carrot juice, carrot oil, sweet potato and dead sea mud. The line includes products for the face, body and a spa treatment for the hair so you can detox, detangle and de-stress those tresses, naturally. Check out the C Through The Dry Spell Body Butter which will whip your skin into post winter shape in no time. Yes to Carrots are also paraben free, using certified organic ingredients and extremely affordable with prices .

Bright Skin

Let’s face it, we all want to keep our youthful looks and this spring we can revamp our skincare regime with the latest editions and must-have formulas to help keep that youthful glow.

Check out the new Dove Pro Age face care range, which are designed for women who want to look their best, regardless of their age, at prices they can afford.

Dove Pro Age Day Cream with SPF 15 (€16.99). The advanced triple optics system instantly ‘boosts luminosity and makes fine lines disappear’. According to Dove experts the result is radiant skin with visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles. The range also includes a night cream, a serum, eye treatment and facial cleanser.

Look Good The Morning After!

There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to help your skin look radiant and healthy. We all know how late nights can take its toll on our complexion leaving our skin looking dull and sluggish. Studies have also shown that over 60% of women regularly experience problematic sleep. But now Elizabeth Arden has added a new powerful anti-ageing cream to its popular Prevage range – the PREVAGE Anti-ageing Night Cream which accelerates the skin’s natural repair process while you sleep, leaving you with a fresh, rested look in the morning.

PREVAGE® Anti-ageing Night Cream is available at Arnotts; Brown Thomas Cork, Limerick and Galway from March 2008 and at Elizabeth Arden Counters nationwide from April 2008. NEW PREVAGE® Anti-ageing Night Cream costs €140.00

Get Organised

So you’ve already ditched your New Year resolutions! But don’t despair, as we’ve got some kick-ass ideas to get your life organised and back on the right track. From helping to de-clutter your life and finding precious ‘me’ time, here’s our easy guide to making life Zen-like with zero effort – well maybe just a little!

Fluff and Go!

Making your bed in the morning takes a measly two minutes. Even less if you only have to shake the duvet and fluff up the pillows. And waking up to this morning task can set you up for a more positive and productive day. Not only will your room look tidy, but by making your bed you’ll shake up your motivation and feel more inspired to be organised in other areas too. And just think about how much more inviting that cosy, fluffy, bed will be in the evening!

In the pampered world of the rich and famous, where their every outrageous whim is catered for, very few of them will ever need to make their own bed. Many of them insist on tucking up at night with luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets and most demanding of all is pregnant diva Jennifer Lopez who insists that "her hotel sheets must be Egyptian cotton with a thread count of at least 250." Don’t even mention the all-white dressing rooms, white carpet and white flowers.

Get rid of Stuff!

Do you have drawers stuffed with clothes you don’t wear? Rooms filled with junk and clutter? Then it’s time for a good clear out to declutter your life. Why wait till Spring? Clean out your cupboards and wardrobe now, and get rid of any clothes you haven’t worn in more than a year – label piles for charity, the second hand shop, to give away to friends or undecided. It might seem like a daunting task at first, but by dejunking your life you’ll feel de-stressed all over.

Do An Ozzy.

Last year Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne had a massive $1,000,0000.00 Garage Sale to clear out their rather upscale clutter. More than 600 lots of memorabilia, jewellery, costumes, paintings, and furniture from their Gothic-style house in Beverly Hills, their Malibu home and their British mansion in Buckinghamshire were auctioned last December in L.A. Sharon said "It’s was time to unload. We just have had overabundance of possessions that we do not need."

Get in the Groove.

Instead of waiting for the big weekend to de-clutter your life, why don’t you break it all down to short doable blitzes. Stick on some tunes and take fifteen minutes out to organise the corner cupboard or clear out your makeup bag. If you really feel in the groove, keep going and if not, you’ll have made a good head start and can come back to it tomorrow.

Snap to It

Go through your clutter and items quickly and make a snap decision. Your first gut instinct is usually the right one. If you are holding on to stuff that you might need in the future, or didn’t even realise that you had then you can probably get rid of it.

Learn to Delegate

You needn’t do everything yourself you know! Delegating tasks to family or work colleagues will help you de-clutter and organise your life in double quick time. Why don’t you get an outside company to come to your house for a Spring clean. If you really want to treat yourself why don’t you check out an outside company to spruce up your house - check out Proshine 1890 818 555 for domestic cleaning or Aboutime 01 894 0444 who have 50 cleaners on their books and offer a regular cleaning service as well as once off spring cleans.

Grab and Go.

Imagine never having to search for your car keys in the morning. Wouldn’t life be so much easier if you could remember where you put them? Assign the same spot for them every day and you’ll never have to beg St. Anthony to have them miraculously appear again. While you’re at it, why don’t you find a spot for your mobile phone and ipod too and you’ll end up with much more time to sip your morning coffee.

Get Packed

Have your gym bag pre packed and ready to go so when the urge to exercise strikes, you’re ready to rock out the door before you’ve time to change your mind. Keep a bag in your car so you have no excuse to hit the gym on your way home from work.

Actress Jessica Alba keeps her gym bag at the ready as she’s determined not to succumb to the dreaded Overweight Pregnant Mom Syndrome. Though her baby bump is increasing visible now, she’s determined to keep fit and healthy throughout.

Plan your holidays!

January is such a dreary month, so cheer yourself up by planning your holiday breaks for 2008. Get out your calendar and decide on dates for trips away and make the most of bank holidays by taking a city break or visit to your country cousins in Ireland. Check out http://www.discoverireland.ie/ for some great weekend breaks, gourmet weekends or romantic breaks. If you fancy a European city break you can get some super deals if you book early at http://www.aerlingus.com/.

Do a spot of shopping.

Take advantage of the January sales and stock up on bed linen and all the other less glamorous household items that you can snap up now at rock bottom prices.

Even celebrities can’t resist a bargain and Lindsay Lohan loves her retail rehab, spotted recently snapping up bargains at Dior.

Open Your Mail

Open your mail every day. File away important documents, throw out junk mail, toss old invitations into the bin and pay your bills as they arrive.

Act Immediately.

Once you read a piece of paper, a letter or memo, act immediately. Either throw out the paper, file it away or make that phone call. Whatever action is needed, do it immediately.

Shop On-Line

It may take a little bit of time to initially set up, but once you tick the boxes and input your credit card details, you’ll soon be saving yourself trips in the rain to your local supermarket and you’ll have all your weekly household goodies delivered directly to your door. Take the stress out of your life and start shopping on line, check out http://www.tesco.ie/ and with the click of a button this boring weekly task can be a thing of the past.

If you have 5 minutes...

Chuck out dirty dish clothes and almost empty products. Clear out the fridge and throw out expired foods in the cupboard.

Throw away old cosmetics – are you really ever going to wear that orange lipstick? Sort out the bath towel cupboard and throw out the raggedy ones that you wouldn’t use

Chuck out toys and games that your kids have outgrown. Give decent ones to charity.

Pick up misplaced belongings and leave them in a basket in the hall for everyone to claim their possessions and put them away.

Start the year with a bang!

It's the New Year and if you're in the mood to change your look and update your wardrobe then this is the perfect time to revamp your diet, hair and makeup. Here’s some advice to get started and make 2008 your year to glow.

Start the year with a bang!

Katie Holmes did it and so did Kate Moss, so maybe it’s time that you too set the New Year off with a bang and cut your hair into a new chic fashion-forward style. Katie Holmes looks fantastic with her new fringe which adds a bit of fun and sense of adventure to her look. She always styled herself a little old for her age, but this new sleek cut has really transformed her limp locks into the must have cute cut of the season and knocked years off her look.

Thick, blunt cut fringes are the big hair trend this season and while the thought of changing your style might send you into a hair-raising frenzy, why don’t you consider a new fresh chop and give it a go? You can instantly hip up your look if you go for a funky new cut and remember it will always grow back!

New products for cool hair:

While hairdressers have reported that Kate Moss’s new look is currently the most requested hair style, she’s been busy behind the scenes adding fringe benefits to her successful modelling career. She’s collaborated with her best friend and celeb stylist James Brown to launch a new range of hair care products. The James Brown range is now available in Boots and the products are non-fuss, cleverly designed and contain yummy ingredients such as nettle, watercress, white tea, wheatgerm and shea butter. They’re also laced with Kate’s favourite fragrance, Bluebell. There are 12 products in total ranging from shampoos and treatments to serums, but best of all the products are of professional quality and retail at @ €8.00 each. For further information visit www.jamesbrownlondon.com

James Brown’s top tip for carrying off a fringe look “To keep your fringe looking fabulous, one tip I always give is to break it up for a softer look. Use either Smoothing Balm or Styling Spray to achieve this – take a little balm or spray some Styling Spray into your finger tips and use your fingers to separate the fringe into uneven sections. If you need to straighten it, never use a comb, instead use your fingers or a radial brush to create more bounce.”

Not such a desperate body.

The girls of Wisteria Lane are back on the telly looking as glamorous as ever, but when it comes to the hottest babe of them all, we have to hand it to Nicollette Sheridan, 44 (gulp!) who is the envy of us all with her new transformed, toned and cellulite-free body. She displayed her new shape on a Caribbean beach on Christmas Day, looking super sexy and healthy as she enjoyed the hols with fiancé Michael Bolton. According to friends, the Desperate House Wife star has lost almost a stone recently by cutting out caffeine and ditching the alcohol. Instead she has started juicing daily and taken to jogging regularly to shape and tone her body. We got to hand it to her, she doesn’t look one bit desperate, which goes to prove that women can look sexy at any age!

Try Unislim’s cellulite-busting tips to get rid of any desperate looking bumps and orange-peel skin:

Cut out caffeine and go for green tea which boosts your metabolism

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily

Cut out alcohol

Start juicing daily – start off with a fresh carrot, orange and apple juice or pick up a freshly made vegetable and fruit mixed juice in your local Zumo Juice Bar

Include at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily

Don’t crash diet! Slim the healthy way by following a sensible, low fat, low Gi diet – visit www.unislim.com for more info.

Say no to salt – it can cause fluid retention and increase cellulite

Get active and walk for at least 30 minutes daily

Brighten up your Day!

Ditch the winter blues by going for the hottest new colour of the season - bright and bold fuchsia pink which is sure to cheer you up instantly. Seen here at House of Fraser’s Linea range, this beautiful satin dress can look uber-chic at night or go for a more casual daytime look by adding a bold belt and opaque tights. If you find the whole fuchsia dress look a little too attention grabbing for your taste, then simply add a dash of this dazzling colour and opt for a sweet candy coloured pink top to wear with jeans. It’ll brighten up your day!

The Midas Touch

Inject a dose of fun into your look by adding a dash of new age metallics to your wardrobe such as rose gold, silver or copper. You only need one or two accessories to really glow this season, such as a soft rose gold coloured belt, a copper necklace or trendy metallic bag. If money is no object, and let’s face it, at this price you’d need you’d your own personal mine to treat yourself to this gorgeous Jimmy Choo clutch at €1,595.00. But it does have satin lining and a zip fastening internal pocket to stash your cash, that’s if you have any left!

Celebs love to shine in this new metallic look. Glowing the way is Paris Hilton in her bright silver dress.

Touch of Sunshine

While celebs such as Kelly Brook and Elle MacPherson have jetted to the sun looking hot in their bikinis, us folk back home are left to face the freezing elements in our winter woollies, yearning for some sunshine. But while our skin may look lacklustre and dull with no sunshine around to cheer us up (and if it were we’d be lapping on the protection) you can still get the summer glow and add a bit of sunshine to your look with this fab new product from Olay. This is the type of guilt free summer glow that you’ll love as it brightens up your face and because Olay’s Total Effects 7x Touch of Sunshine is also an anti-aging moisturiser, you get a sunless tan as well as anti-aging benefits too. There are two products in the range, one for night time, (which won’t leave tell-tale stains the sheets) so you can wake up looking lovely for your fella, and a daytime cream which also contains SPF 15. Costs €19.99, nationwide.

Treat yourself.

We all talk about giving things up in the New Year but why don’t you consider taking up a new pampering habit instead? Once a month treat yourself to a massage, a visit to a spa, a manicure or home facial. You’ll feel much more relaxed and de-stressed.

Check out one of the offers at The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort – the Overnight Escape (Rates from €345 pp) offers two night’s bed and breakfast in a deluxe room, one evening meal as well as a revitalising treatment in state of the art Heritage Spa. A full body massage is also included in this offer to help you relax and re-energize. For further information about The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, log on to www.theheritage.com or call +353 (0) 57 86 45500.

In The Pink

In the Pink October is internationally known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with more and more companies supporting this cause, it’s now easier than ever to show you care. With girly pink products on sale this month a percentage of sales will go towards charities which help with the research, prevention and cure of breast cancer. Remember, early detection is the key and with one in eleven women in Ireland effected by breast cancer, it’s vital that we spread the word and encourage regular breast checks. Here’s our guide to looking great in pink and showing you care! Pink Bling! Queen of bling, Madonna (that’s her Madge-isty to you and me) loves to shine in her Swarokoski crystals and this month, the company that brought us her sparkling eyelashes has teamed up with Action Breast Cancer to produce a fab range of specially commissioned pink products. Think utterly show stoppingly gorgeous pink cocktail rings, a beautiful pink flower bracelet and a limited edition Swarovski pink “Power” clutch bag. These stylish pink products are already being snapped up by celebs who want to show their support for Breast Cancer Month. The limited edition pink crystal baguette-style “Power” clutch bag is bang-on-trend this season and every inch of its surface is covered with tiny pink crystals, complimented by a sliver clasp and silver chain strap. This one-off bag is not available in stores and will be auctioned at an exclusive Swarovski/Action Breast Cancer event on the 9^th October, with all proceeds going to the charity. The “Think Pink” collection of Swarovski products, are now available in Swarovski stores on Grafton and Henry Street. The limited edition cocktail ring costs €235 with all proceeds going to the Action Breast Cancer and the charm bracelet will retail at €28, with €10 of each sale going to Action Breast Cancer. Hand Relief

For charitable hands pick up this limited edition Hand Relief cream from Aveda and you’ll be donating €3.00 from each sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Boob Tube!

Give your breasts a boost and pamper them this month with the Time for Awareness Collection (€72) from Elemis which contains the exclusive ‘boob tube’ - a fabulous, fuchsia pink tube of Pro-Collagen lifting treatment neck and bust cream which is specially created for Breast Cancer month. This collection also includes the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream which is a super anti-ageing face cream. 10% of sales go to the Lavender Trust Breast Cancer Care.

Pretty in Pink

Pink Ribbons are synonymous with Breast Cancer month so brighten up your look with a dash of pink and show your support. You can pick up ribbons, pins and key rings in Boots plus useful information leaflets on how to be more breast aware. By purchasing a pin €3 will be donated to Action Breast Cancer with €2 donated from the sale of a ribbon and €4 from the sale of the keyrings.

Celebrity makeup artist Jemma Kidd has launched two hot pink products from her range available in Boots this month. Check out this gorgeous Jemma Kidd Essential Face Brush (€14.50) and Jemma Kidd Lasting Tint Lash Mascara (€17.50) with 10% donations going to Action Breast Cancer.

Keep your tresses shiny with these fabulous products from the Mark Hill range. Mark Hill De-Frizz Cleanser Shampoo (€8.70) and Mark Hill De-Frizz Moisturising Conditioner (€8.70) will carry a 10% donation to Action Breast Cancer for the month of October.

Spread a little love.

Make bath time incredible with these spicy, ginger body products from Origins which are packed with sensuous essences and enjoy an extra feel good factor, as you’ll be supporting vital cancer research in St. Vincent’s Hospitable Cancer Clinic.

Pink Spots

This Zeno zit zapper looks pretty sleek in pink and as girly gadgets go it will impress your friends, especially as it can apparently keep your skin blemish free by using the science of heat to zap those zits! To coincide with Breast Cancer Month a new high spec ‘pink’ version of the product has been launched with a percentage of proceeds going to Action Breast Cancer. To zap zits and mild acne, you simply turn the device on the affected area, and according to the manufactures you’ll feel a low-level heat dose to the pimple which causes spots to self-destruct. Pink Zeno Pro costs €215 and to purchase visit http://www.myzeno.ie/ and leading pharmacies nationwide. To locate your nearest stockist, contact (045) 480695.

10 Instant Beauty Boosters

Look gorgeous in 10 minutes or less with our fast beauty fixes to all-over gorgeousness. Whether you've overslept or have a last-minute party to attend, we’ve got the tips and tricks for clearer skin, shinier hair and softer skin in double quick time.

Waky Waky!

Splash your face with cold water fifteen times after you wash in the morning as this tightens pores, freshens you up and helps your makeup go on smoothly.

Fresh Peepers.

Late night? Here’s how to have beautiful eyes in an instant and keep your peepers looking brighter and more gorgeous.

1. You can lift your whole face and look fresher in an instant with quick tweezer session. Not the most pampering grooming experience, you can diminish the pain by plucking after your morning shower when the pores are open. To get the best shape, align a pencil vertically along the side of your nose up to your brows, and remove any hairs that grow on the wrong side of the pencil towards the bridge.

Now hold the pencil from the side of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. Any hair beyond this point should be plucked as it leaves your eyes looking droopy. Best to get your brows plucked professionally first and then you can just clean up the strays.

2. For an instant pick me up add a touch of glimmer and sparkle on your eyes. Eyeliners with a touch of sparkle in blue or silver are terrific at making your eyes look brighter. Glam shimmering eyes are a hot trend this Autumn

3. Curl your eyelashes for an immediate eye-opening effect. (For best results, clamp down on lashes for at least 15 seconds.). Next apply mascara for gorgeous lashes and maximum effect.

Red Hot Nails

Put the beauty focus on your fingertips and get beautiful nails in an instant with these steps to perfect nails.

Remove your old chipped polish and dip your fingers into a bowl of soothing warm water. Add a few drops of lemon juice to banish stains. After two minutes, remove your hands and gently dry them on a towel.

Use an orange stick to gently push back your cuticles - this instantly makes your nails look longer.

Now use a nail file to carefully shape your nails. Remember to file in one direction only, otherwise your nail will weaken.

Apply a hand cream to moisturise your nails and hands. Using a nail buff for just one minute will make your nails look healthy and shiny - and ready for action.

This autumn, brown is the new black for nails (although the Goth ‘black’ look is still very big). It doesn't matter if you choose a beige tone or a mocha ... just as long as it's brown. Also, go bold with some jewel tones, like purple and blue.

Cool Eyes

Celebrity bad girls Nicole, Paris and Lindsey are hardly spotted these days without a signature pair of amazing big sunglasses, which are marvellous at disguising puffy eyes. A fab pair of sunglasses can help boost your confidence immediately and hide a multitude of sins. But unless you want to look like a total idiot (which at times is a preferable option than revealing all your sins) then it’s really best that you remove them whilst indoors. So best to get your eyes puff free and feeling radiant with No Puffery cooling mask from Origins (€25.50). This cooling, bag-banishing eye treatment helps to reduce puffiness, signs of fatigue and even dark circles. Skin around the eye area is instantly refreshed, brightened and soothed. Suddenly, in about 5 minutes relief is in sight.

The Blowout

There’s never a desperate hair day for Eva Longoria who keeps her long luscious locks in top condition with regular visits to her celebrity Hollywood hairstylist Ken Paves. But when we wake up to a desperate hair day there’s no stylist to the stars at hand to work their magical fingers on our hair. Humph! So we need to have a few fail safe solutions to get our locks looking luscious and shiny in no time. You keep your locks feeling soft and luxurious with a special intensive conditioner treatment and bring back the shine in no time. Try Aveda Deep Penetrating Hair Revitalizer (€35) with organic peppermint, lavender, aloe and rosemary which penetrate chemically treated, dry or brittle hair and restores strength and elasticity. Simply wet your hair and then towel dry to get rid of most of the excess moisture. Then apply your intensive treatment to the hair from root to tip.

For a really deep moisturising treat, pin your hair up and then wrap your head in cling film (wear the shades if you think you look daft). This helps keep the warmth your head loses near your hair, and allows the intensive treatment to penetrate into the hair shaft.

After about 5 minutes, rinse your hair in warm water and then, for added shine, give it a quick blast of cold water. This closes the pores on your head and smoothes your hair shaft, helping your hair to look shiny and stay cleaner for longer.

Restore health and nourishment to your locks with a quick spritz. Aveda’s Sap Moss spray (€22.50) eliminates frizz, while adding shine and a glossy, healthy finish to your hair.

Smooth Operator.

There's nothing like a smooth body to make you feel good - and it doesn't have to mean hours at the salon. You can banish excess hair in a jiffy at home and whether you wax, shave or use hair removal creams, there are lots of DIY products that give smooth results in minutes. Don’t you just feel 10 times better when you’ve defuzzed!

Purrfect Pout

Even sizzling Gwen Stephanie will be updating her trademark red hot lips this season and embracing the colour purple. The new season is all about 1940’s sex siren glamour from top to toe. So it’s time to ditch the summer pink lipsticks and ooze sophistication with purple lippy for a purrfect pout. Make sure you choose your purples wisely and remember it’s still summertime so keep the deeper tones till later in the year. Keep the look pretty and glossy with MAC Tendertone Lipbalm SPF 12 in Softnote and your lips will be smooth and kissable all season long.

Get the Glow.

J-Lo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, Kate Hudson and Terri Hatcher have all got the glow! That’s fresh glowing skin and a flawless complexion. They’re all big fans of Pout the UK based cosmetic brand so they’ve probably been dipping into Pout’s fab illuminators which freshen up even the dullest of complexions. Pout’s illuminators can be mixed with your daily moisturiser for an instant bright radiant look. There are two illuminators the ‘Love glow’ which instantly brightens the skin and the ‘After glow’ which is ideal if you want to enhance an existing tan.

Feel good instantly.

Peace of Mind from Origins (€15.50) is a stress busting cream which helps relieve pressure, tension and anxiety. It’s a real pick-me-up and is a blend of essential oils which give a light tingly sensation and smell divine. Girls Aloud love it, so no doubt Nadine dabs it on to stay stress free and calm on her regular transatlantic trips over to see hunky on-off boyfriend Jesse Metcalfe.

TONE IN TIME

In just 10 minutes you can do a few exercises to keep you in shape and help you look better.

BOTTOM:

Tightly clench your bottom together, then release. Repeat this at least 10 times so you can really feel the pull. Do this as you brush your teeth in the morning!

ARMS:

Using a can of beans, as a weight, keep your arms tucked in at your sides and curl the lower part of your arms upwards. Repeat at least 15 times to strengthen your arms.

LEGS:

Stand up straight and gently bend your legs, keeping your feet flat on the floor. See how near you can get your bottom to your feet. Hold on to the back of a chair if you need balance. Repeat 10 times. This will really help tone your legs and feel great instantly!

Dazzle this month

It's no secret that smoking, bingeing on sugary foods, polishing off endless cups of coffee and goblets of red wine can play havoc with our toothy grins.  Which is probably why us fun loving Irish now spend dazzling amounts of money on our gnashers.  Flashing the cash on our molars is the new king of bling these days and we can easily spend up to €2,000 per tooth to achieve a coveted megawatt smile.  Ouch!  Taking good care of our pearly whites in the first place seems like a brighter idea to me, and this September, Colgate and the Irish Dental Association have teamed up to show us how to put the ‘ping’ back into your grin. Clean up your act!Ten out of ten dentists agree, Julia Roberts has a multimillion dollar smile and when she flossed her dazzling grin in Pretty Woman, she achieved more in 30 seconds than the dental industry did in 30 years.   Perhaps Julia just wanted Richard Gere to clean up his act too when she insisted on a “no kissing on the mouth” policy or then maybe she knew this startling statistic: According to the Irish Dental Association, there is more bacteria in your mouth than in the average toilet!  Yuck.  Prince charming or not this would make you think twice about who you were kissing! Bad bacteria lurking in your mouth will cause halitosis (that’s knock- me-over bad breath to you and me), and the best way to avoid this is to eat a balanced diet, brush your teeth and tongue regularly, and to use dental floss.  This all seems rather elementary Dr. Watson!  But the fact is that most of us only spend about 40 seconds brushing our teeth (we should spend 2 minutes) and very few of even us floss at all.  So take a tip from Julia Roberts and start flossing! Make September your month to knock out any bad dental habits and put the dazzle back into your smile. You’ve only got one set of gnashers and when you think about it, who’d really want to kiss a toilet, no matter how good looking it was?  So here’s some tips to put the ‘ping’ back into your grin:

• Put a pea-sized blob of fluoride toothpaste on your toothbrush
• Use a toothbrush with a small head. This will let you get into all the nooks and crannies in your mouth and help you get rid of all the old bits of food and bacteria that might be lurking there.
• Use small circular motions with the brush and don't forget to brush the backs of the teeth and your tongue, as bacteria can hide here too.
• Brush along the gum line as well as the teeth themselves
• Floss after brushing

  

Beauty Buzz

Forties glamour is the hot beauty trend this Autumn with Hollywood babes such as Mischa Barton recently stepping out a la Katherine Hepburn with bright ruby lips and dark lined eyes.  This classic style is given a modern twist with modern colours and red lips get a makeover with luscious shades such as Clarins new Rouge Appeal.  Opt for smack on-trend orangery red lipstick such as Clarins Orange Confite and with its long lasting coverage and anti-hydrating oils such as coconut oil and vitamins C and E your lips will look smooth and sexy from dawn till dusk.

 

Keep young and Beautiful

Katie Cruise may have stolen a snip or two from Posh Spice with her new bob and hipper fashion sense which has transformed from frumpy Kate to sex kitten.  She now looks younger and better than ever.  She also keeps her skin in gorgeous condition and any gal knows that a good complexion really is the secret to everlasting youth.  With more and more women looking ab fab right into their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s (did you know Susan Sarandon is in her 60’s?) we can thank our better diets and improved cosmetic formulas for helping keep our looks fresh and youthful.  

One classic age-control product has just been given it’s very own makeover and will help keep your skin radiant and looking youthful.  Clarins Total Double Serum Generation 6 combines the most active ingredients gathered from five continents to give skin the energy it needs to fight the aging process more efficiently.  It’s like a multi-vitamin for the skin and after application tell-tale aging signs are greatly diminished. 

 

Treat of the Week

Some women judge men by their shoes.  This may simply be down to a shoe obsession or perhaps if he cares enough to shine his shoes, then maybe he’ll let her shine in the relationship?  Or maybe he has a good soul!  Anyway, we all know that it’s what’s in your shoes that really matters and if your feet are a little rough on the edges, then let me suggest the Danne MediPedi available in the Beauty Suite (www.thebeautysuite.ie tel 01-6718129), the newest paramedical foot procedure which transforms the most hardened, cracked and roughest of feet into real smoothies in just one treatment!   Elaine in the Beauty Suite worked her magic hands on my tootsies and started the treatment with Danne’s alkalaine foot wash which she gently rubs to help dissolve any dead skin.  This is a serious pedi for anyone with problem heels as crusty skin is literally dissolved and promises to ‘get your baby feet back’ and after the ‘medi’ part of the pedi is over, you are treated to a gentle massage, hot booties and some clipping and buffing.  Finish the treatment with your choice of Essie nail polishes and if you like a little bit of bling you can have a row of sparkling diamonds applied too!

 

Debs Beauty

With the debs season kicking off we've racked our brains to put together these top tips to looking even more gorgeous if poss!  So move over Hollywood A-listers and roll out the red carpet for the pretty lassies in town.  Here's how you can look divine and feel fantastic on your big night without having to splash out on expensive makeup artists, designer gowns or stretched limos. 

 

Cheat your way!

When it comes to beauty, a little cheating can propel you from D-list to top of the class with the click of your fingers.  A californian tan? Fake it.  Sunkissed locks? Fake it.  Lushes lashes?  Fake it. Okay, so L'Oreal got rapped on the knuckles for putting falsies on Penelope Cruz for their Telesopic Mascara advert, no surprises there. But if you're prepared to give a nod and a wink to falsies, you'll look like a sultry Latin beauty too.

You can apply falsies yourself (individual ones are best and you can try MAC) or have them applied professionally in a beauty salon.  The trick to a lasting smouldering look is to apply your mascara first before the false eyelashes as this adds extra length and dimension.

Try the new mascara from No7 - Lash 360°, is a unique multi purpose mascara that lengthens, volumises and defines lashes; perfect for creating an eye-catching effect in one easy step.

 

Get the Flawless Look

To create a long-lasting flawless look, make-up choice and application are key.  Hollywood glamour gals Mischa Barton and Scarlett Johansson know all about flawless complexions, but then again they do have a perfect canvas to work on.  Even if your complexion is less than perfect you can still radiate a natural glow to ensure a flawless finish. To let your radiance shine through try No7 Radiant Glow Foundation followed by Jemma Kidd's Gossamer Finish, which will subtly mattify without losing the skin's dewy glow for a natural look that will last all night long.

A must have to create a striking Hollywood party look is Jemma Kidd's ‘Light up the Room'. This handy kit comes complete with a step-by step guide showing how to achieve the latest party look, along with dual illuminator shimmer dust and crème highlighter; iridescent eye silk crayon in tiger's eye, and white gold shimmer stick, to open up the eyes and give a hint of party sparkle!

To create this season's classic 50's look apply a hint of blush to the apple of your cheeks. Ruby & Millie Face Gloss, or No7 Natural Blush Cheek Colour are both perfect for a pinched-cheek effect.

 

Kissable Lips

Finally pucker up with irresistibly kissable lips. Define lips with
Ruby & Millie Lip Liner and add Jemma Kidd Ultimate Lipstick Duo, which combines lip plumping lip balm with long lasting colour. To create the illusion of big juicy lips add a luscious layer of No7 Liplicious Lip Gloss for the perfect pout.

Debs Survival Must Haves:

Shine free face - Because it's your night to shine (but not that kind
of shine) make sure to have Ruby & Millie Face Papers in your handbag.

Dancing feet – Make sure you are free to dance the night away at ease
with comfy, blister free feet. Boots Gorgeous Feet Heaven For Heels
contain invisible non rub heel shields that prevent the rubbing of shoes on heels.

Avoid any potential snags – Make sure to have an emery board in your bag to tackle any unwanted nail chips of breakages, which can turn your look from classy to trashy. Be prepared with a Jemma Kidd Make - Up School Essential Emery Board.

Memories- Capture the moments of a night you'll never want to forget
with a digicam or disposable camera such as Boots Purple Single Use Camera.

Make the most of your time- In case the ladies' room is a mob scene, or for touch-ups in the limo, be sure to carry a mirrored compact to avoid spending the night trying to catch a glimpse of yourself in a crowded bathroom. Jemma Kidd Make Up School Mirror Compact Duo is perfect for touching up and come in a cute pink cover, ideal for your handbag.

All these products are available in Boots:

No7 Radiant Glow Foundation                     € 18.75

Jemma Kidd's Gossamer Finish                    € 17.50

Jemma Kidd's ‘Light up the Room'                € 28.80

No7 - Lash 360°                                 € 14.70

Ruby & Millie Face Gloss                        € 17.50

No7 Natural Blush Cheek Colour                  € 11.00

Ruby & Millie Lip Liner                         € 15.05

Jemma Kidd Ultimate Lipstick Duo                € 14.00

No7 Liplicious Lip Gloss                        € 11.00

Ruby & Millie Face Papers                       € 8.70

Boots Gorgeous Feet heaven for heels             € 5.05

Jemma Kidd Make - Up School Essential Emery Board     € 3.00

Boots New Purple Single Use Camera -                  €13.50

Jemma Kidd Make Up School Mirror Compact Duo    € 14.50

   

Sunshine and Swordfish

I'm really glad I made the most of yesterday's sunshine! At last I had an excuse to dust down our rusty barbeque and toss on a couple of yummy swordfish. There's nothing like sitting in the garden and dining al fresco, even if the grass is now growing up around our ears thanks to the relentless rain.  So it was only Tuesday, but to celebrate the unusual sighting of a yellow blob in the sky, I opened up a bottle of chilled white and indulged my senses, while I imagined what life would be like if we had just one more week of this glorious weather. Barbeques, trips to the beach, open-toe sandals, ice-cream  – oh, one does get carried away with all that fresh air, but two sunny days don't maketh a summer!  I was even feeling slightly smug at all those people who reportedly rushed out to buy  last minute overly priced get-out-quick holiday packages to escape our miserable weather.  But they were probably right, as today the sky is back to grey (but no rain yet, hooray). But at least the barbeque is clean and I was inspired to put together some delicious recipes for this week's Sunday World article.  Here's a taste of what's to come! 

Slim down your summer favourites with these delicious recipes which are big on taste and light on fat and calories.

Nothing says summer like a barbeque on a balmy evening. But why wait? Make the most of what's left of the summer and enjoy cooking up some delicious, wholesome food on the barbeque.  Big on taste and light on fat, these recipes will not only help you stay trim, but they all contain a sneaky good-for-you twist.  For starters, the ingredients are super healthy and GI-friendly (keeping your blood sugars level) and high flavour ingredients such as herbs, spices and seasonal fruits are used to invigorate dishes and give them a fresh summer feeling.  All recipes are taken from Unislim's new Recipes for Success Cookbook published by Gill and MacMillan and available in all good bookshops nationwide.

Minding Mini

Here was me thinking that the 10K Mini-Marathon was called after its much bigger, meaner and fitter older brother the 26.2 mile Marathon. Well, how wrong can you be! It turns out that this female-only race is more of a distant cousin than a close relative to the ancient race and the origin of its name is more girly than any Greek Goddess could imagine. It all started when the very first female-only running race took place in New York in 1972 and it was named after the defining fashion symbol of the time – the mini skirt. In the early days they even recruited its runners from among the Playboy Bunnies, which got a few of the fellas out naturally, to cheer them on. At the inauguration, when just 78 women competed, the winners were asked to pose at a press conference by pulling up their skirts to show off their legs! Incidentally they refused, but the name ‘mini' stuck and the event has grown into a world-class athletic competition – tomorrow some 40,000 women will take part in our very own Dublin City Mini Marathon.

Whether you opt to wear a miniskirt or not, it's no easy feat completing 10K, but as always there'll be plenty of support and fun along the way to keep you going. And at the end of the day you can always get your nearest and dearest to revive those weary legs with a relaxing massage. Atlantic Aromatics massage oil for sports aches and pains contains arnica which is a fantastic blend of natural oils which is terrific at relieving muscle pain and smells oh-so yummy on the skin. Available in health stores and pharmacies nationwide from €9.00.

Brain Gain

It's exam time again, which means the weather is bound to be great, as students routinely hibernate and delve into their books to cram for exams. Flexing your brain muscle and improving your memory is essential if you want to get top marks and one of the best ways to do this is to take regular exercise. Not only will exercise keep you fitter, but it turns out that it boosts your brain power too. Researchers have found that people who exercise regularly have improved memory function and improved learning ability. So anyone sitting exams at this time, should get up, get out and keep their brains active with exercise.

You can also help prevent ‘burnout' and improve your mental alertness by taking a regular supplement. ‘Brains' is a new natural remedy which contains five key ingredients to enhance intellectual capabilities including lemon balm, blueberry, rhodiola, brahmi and bonito oil. Lemon balm is known as the ‘good mood' plant, which helps improve memory and attention, while calming the nervous system. These ingredients all work together with omega-3 essential fatty acids to aid brain function and help relieve the stress associated with exams. Available in pharmacies at €19.99 or from http://www.naturalife.ie/

Prepare to Bare!

Get your tootsies looking cutesy and your legs looking fab with some luscious poducts from Origins (available in Arnotts and House of Fraser)

WASH - Paradise Found Balinese body cleanser EUR23.00

BUFF - Paradise Found Balinese body glow EUR31.00

MOISTURISE - Precipitation Extra Moisture recovery for Extra dry skin EUR38.50

TAN - Let it show Bare body skin enhancer EUR23.00

PROTECT - Sunshine State SPF 20 with natural minerals for face and body EUR23.00

FEET - Reinventing the Heel Mega Moisture for dry, cracked feet EUR25.50

Frozen is Best

The next time you reach into your fridge and examine a wrinkled up courgette or squashed pepper and discard it in the bin, consider just how much money you could save yourself if you opted to buy frozen vegetables instead of fresh. Sometimes frozen veg can even be higher in nutritional value than fresh and now they can help you feel guilt free too! New research commissioned by Birds Eye Ireland has revealed that 75% of Irish people regularly throw out some of the fresh vegetables they buy because they've ‘gone off' before they've had time to eat them. Almost half, (48%) admitted that they feel guilty about throwing out some of the vegetables they buy each week and 39% agreed they feel better buying frozen vegetables because they last longer.