How to... fake tan (Part II)

Source: weheartit

I seem to have become something of a fake tan addict this summer. After a promising April in the UK when I managed to develop a pretty convincing base to my summer tan and topping up sessions in Ibiza in May and Valencia in June, a disappointing July and August in Britain has left me pale and pasty. So I have found myself faking it.

Sunny Valencia

Further to my previous How to... fake tan post and various other fake tan related posts, this post responds to the questions I've been asked and the knowledge I've acquired. These are my 10 top tips for tanning – the fake way:

1. Use a mitt or gloves. I haven’t personally used gloves as I tried a mitt first and love the results. I get mine from Boots – they’ve been on offer most of the summer and I only just realised but apparently they can be put in the washing machine on a cold wash – mine’s going in with my next delicates wash. Beats trying to hand wash it!
2. Use a gradual tan if you’re scared of the proper thing or have had a bad experience in the past.
3. Instant tans are a great quick fix if you want to wear a dress but your pins are pasty.
4. Mousse fake tans are generally lighter and less greasy than lotions.
5. Remember to fake tan your feet – I try to go all the way to the edges so that any line is almost on the bottom of my foot and therefore covered by any footwear.
6. Remember also to tan the backs of your hands. Often forgotten as they are inside a mitt or gloves. Don’t overdo it but a little tan left of the mitt is often enough.
7. Don’t wash the mitt straight away as you’ll wash the tan off your hands and leave it patchy!
8. Whilst most people recommend putting fake tan on at night I find it annoying having to wander around letting it dry, so instead I tan in the morning and let it dry before dressing as I dry my hair and put my make-up on – that’s usually enough time. Just wear a darker colour and nothing too tight. Saves getting tan all over your bed sheets too.
9. Either fake tan your face or use a bronzer – otherwise you’ll look sun kissed and ill at the same time!
10. Finally, do not put any shoes and socks on until the tan is completely "fixed" - and don't exercise or shower for a good 6-8 hours. Believe me, I speak from experience.



Source: weheartit



What are your top tips for fake tanning? Did I forget something?

How to… shop successfully online – to avoid disappointment

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Buy from Asos. Seriously, my number one tip for shopping online is to buy from Asos as often as possible. Why? Free delivery. Free returns. Fast service. Fast response time. Friendly twitter account. Accept ALL major credit cards (including my American Express that many don’t seem to) AND Paypal (great for when you’ve been selling on eBay and want to use your spoils to treat yourself!).

In the interests of transparency, I’ll confirm now – at no point have I been paid to write a glowing review of Asos or offered anything in return for this post – this is seriously just how I feel.*

Many great high street brands are now stocked on Asos – like Mango, River Island, Warehouse and Oasis – who do not offer free shipping on their sites, so it pays to check out Asos’s availability before purchasing as you can save yourself up to £5. Plus, if it doesn’t fit properly, you haven’t lost that delivery charge.

Now, onto the serious points of this post.



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1. Order a couple of sizes in the piece you want – do you really only ever go into the changing room with only one size? If so, why bother? You might as well just buy that one size and be done with it.
2. Of course, if you’re doing this – check the store offers free returns. Most do, but it’s worth checking.
3. If you’re buying in the sales, check in the store too. Gap in particular seems to reduce things far more in store than they do online.
4. If they offer free delivery – why not try that piece you’ve been eyeing up? You’ve got nothing to lose!
5. Check their delivery options. Some stores offer free delivery in store but charge for delivery to your home. In this case, if you can pick it up, you can save yourself a few pounds and always try on and return in store if it turns out you don’t like it/it doesn’t fit – which will save a heap of time too. (I always do this for Marks and Spencer sales – great way to avoid the queues and get what I want!)
6. Make sure you get the return receipt from the Post Office. With free returns these days, you can go into the post office and they give you a receipt as proof of postage so that if it gets lost, you can still get your refund. Why wouldn’t you?

What are your tips for shopping online?

*I did write a sponsored post earlier this year for Asos – in conjunction with Handpicked Media and Nivea – which you can read here.

If you fancy some fabulous prizes - why not enter my 200 follower and 2 year anniversary blog giveaway?

Please nominate me in the "Established Fashion Blog" category

How to... be a bargain shopper

• Sign up for any newsletter going for all of your favourite stores and more. If you don’t fancy having your inbox filled with "junk", why not open a new email account specifically for the pursuit of a bargain? I have an old account that I had to stop using for everyday as it is literally filled with vouchers and sales emails – so now I browse it when I need to shop!
• Stalk the shops. I mean it, the more you shop, the more you will know what you are after in the stores and therefore are more likely to be the first, or one of the first, to catch a sale.

You can read the rest of my guest post over on Thrifty and Shameless.

How to... pack your toiletries (Part II)

A couple of months ago, I wrote a post entitled, "How to... pack your toiletries for your hand baggage". Not long afterwards, I was asked to try out Arm and Hammer's new battery operated electric toothbrush. Now, it might not be very fashionable to talk about brushing your teeth but it certainly is fashionable - particularly in Hollywood - to have clean white teeth. I already use an electric toothbrush but it runs off a rechargeable battery with a mains charger and so a battery operated brush is much better for travelling - maybe a weekend city break or camping at a festival?

But now I'm thinking of swapping my current brush for this one permanently and not just when I'm on my holidays. The brush is bigger than most electric toothbrush heads which makes brushing easier and quicker and more effective. Believe me, I didn't think I'd be able to write much about a toothbrush but turns out I could go on!! But I won't. Only to tell you it costs less than £15 and a couple of AA batteries. What better for your holidays?

What are your safe saving tips for packing your toiletries for your holidays?

How to... do make-up for glasses wearers

If you wear glasses you will have, no doubt, felt a little unsure about how much make-up is too much make-up when it is magnified. About six months ago I joined the rest of the glasses wearing population and donned my first pair of prescription glasses. I'd always thought glasses were pretty cool but when faced with choosing one pair that I'd have to wear every day, I faced a masive challenge. But not quite as big a problem as when I sat down to do my make-up the next morning. I've always liked to make eyes the focus of my make-up but now they are the focus as my glasses frame them:

This photo shows the glasses but not really the make-up -
I can't find any better ones - sorry!

After half a year of wearing my glasses and doing my make-up every day, I thought I'd share with you my top tips for making your eyes centre of attention for the right reasons:

1. First, make sure to add a little concealer underneath the eyes. Any dark circles will be very visible with your glasses. Use something like the classic Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Complexion Highlighter or Laura Mercier's Under Eye Perfecter.
2. Line your eyes. I find that lining my eyes makes them look that bit neater. For thicker frames you can afford to draw a heavier line with even a bit of an Amy Winehouse winged effect. But for thinner frames or even no frame, keep the liner a little lighter. For thick frames, I'd suggest a gel liner, like Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner and for thinner frames, a pencil like Yves Saint Laurent's Dessin Du Regard Waterproof Long-Wear Eyeliner.
3. For day wear, I'd suggest keeping eyelids simple with a clean sweep of colour, like Laura Mercier's Matte Eye Colour in Café Au Lait or Cashmere.
4. For night wear, add a little drama and make sure your eyes do all the talking with Laura Mercier's Classic Smoky Eye Palette.
5. Make sure to curl your lashes for maximum impact, use Clinique's High Impact Curling Mascara or Lancôme's Hypnose Drama. For nighttime why not try a coloured mascara, like Benefit's BADgal Plum Mascara.
6. Finally, finish the look by tidying your brows, using either Benefit's Browzing compact or Dior's Powder Eyebrow Pencil.

If you wear glasses, what are your tips for applying eye make-up?

Please nominate me in the "Established Fashion Blog" category

How to... wear flared jeans

This morning a new pair of bootcut jeans arrived in the post from asos.com - a recent spur-of-the-moment purchase that I'd forgotten I'd even made (got to stop doing that!). But then the inevitable question hit me: how will I wear my new purchase? So I turned to a few flare-lovers and good ol' Polyvore for some inspiration:

First up, Katie Holmes. An all-round jeans lover, Mrs Cruise shows how to do a relaxed look with her flares. Adding a long-line tee with a scarf and a blazer and finishing it off with some heeled boots.

Kate Moss shows us another relaxed look. Preferring to tuck her tee into her jeans and add a belt to bring the look together. She adds height with heels too and throws a slouchy bag over her shoulder.

Next up is Rachel Blison's nautical look. She favours tucking in her Breton tee too and again adds a slouchy bag.

Victoria Beckham takes the casual approach, teaming her flared jeans with a fine-knit jumper and over-sized bag.

Mrs Beckham dresses up her flares her with a simple black blazer and smart black handbag.

Flares and flared jeans were all over the catwalks for Spring Summer 2011. So, my rules for my new flared jeans:

1. Heels are a must. Not only do they simply work but they also help to accentuate the length of your leg, something that the flare itself already does.
2. Anything else goes. Relaxed look? Chuck on a tee. A little chilly? Throw a jumper over the top. Want a smarter look? Add a black blazer.
3. Enjoy the fact that, at least for a day or two, you're wearing something different to your skinny jeans.

What are your top tips for wearing flared jeans?

How to... fake tan

How to avoid fake tan hands!

I am a wuss when it comes to fake tanning. You should know this already, if you saw my Beauty Review at the weekend of Boots' Soltan Self Tan Body Lotion. But if not, I'll tell you a story and then you really will understand! (If you read the Beauty Review already, you can skip this part!!) Boots recently – I say recently, it was at least a month ago now – sent me their Soltan Self Tan Body Lotion to try out and it has stayed on my dressing table ever since – taunting me as I complain about my white white legs each morning. So I eventually decided it was time to suck it up and try out the tan. What was the worst that could happen? If I ended up with streaky legs, I’d just have to wear trousers for the next week. I’d get over it. I mean, you didn’t think I’d actually get up the guts to self tan my whole body?! Well, you can find out what happened by reading the Beauty Review. This isn't it. This is a "How to".

Of course, being the internet geek that I am, I turned to google for the top tips when fake tanning and here, I present my recommended reading:

• Marie Claire’s 10 of the Best Fake Tan Tips;
• Boots’ How to Fake Tan Like a Pro;
• The Daily Mail’s Fake Tan Commandments;
• Looking Fab at Any Age’s A Professional’s Guide to using Fake Tan at Home;
• Handbag.com’s The fake tan commandments;
• Top Tips for Faking It by Really Ree, over at her fabulous new blog for Hello! Magazine.

And now for what I have learned over the years:

- If you’re a wuss or a beginner or don’t want anything too obvious, I’d recommend trying a gradual fake tan. I have tried many of these, including the one that I have reviewed: Dove’s Summer Glow Body Lotion, I have also tried St Tropez’s Everyday and Garnier’s Summer Body. 

- For an instant fake tan – on those mornings when you wake up and decide to wear a skirt or dress, only to find yourself staring in disbelief sometime later at the horrible paleness of your legs against the rest of your body which has taken on a little colour in the sun – I would highly recommend St Tropez’s Wash-Off Body Lotion. If this is a bit dark, I have taken to mixing it with my normal body lotion and quickly apply that to my legs. Not only does it create an even tan, it creates said tan in less than 5 minutes.

- Moisturise, moisturise, MOISTURISE!!! It is true what they say - make sure you moisturise everyday anyway and then you are always fake tan ready. I love Boots No 7 Pampering Dry Oil which is like baby oil but more grown-up and spritzes on for more easy and less messy application. When you are fake tanning, a useful tip that I used and worked well: dot a little moisturiser on dry areas, like elbows, knees and ankles, to stop the tan absorbing too much and creating darker patches.

- Exfoliate. Again, it is true what they say. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin and your tan will be more even. Continue to exfoliate once you've fake tanned, to ensure that it fades evenly. I swear by The Body Shop's Body Scrubs.

- Use a mitt or gloves. Boots do a washable mitt and St Tropez do disposable gloves for applying fake tan and avoiding "fake tan hands". A must. I hadn't used a mitt before, but found it great, not only for avoiding the tell tale orange palms but also for buffing the fake tan and ensuring even coverage.

Are you a pro or a novice? What are your top tips for fake tanning?

PS. I have added a little poll in the top of the right hand column, if you have a spare second - please choose your response. Thank you.

How to: A Masterclass in Re-Mixing by the Duchess of Cambridge

Kate Middleton is clearly a fan of re-mixing* her wardrobe too and used her trip to Canada as the perfect opportunity to demonstrate her expertise and ease with which she seemingly effortlessly dons the same pair of jeans or the same pair of shoes for the third, fourth or even fifth appearance of the trip. This really is capsule packing at its most glamorous!

Princess Catherine proves that if you find the perfect pair of nude heels, they'll see you from one outfit to another. (Note to self: must find my "perfect" pair and stick to them!) HRH's Canada wardrobe was not particularly revolutionary but for the average girl who sets off to the office everyday, it clearly provided inspired for looking fabulous and mixing and re-using pieces for different occasions.

What did you think of the Duchess's Royal Tour wardrobe?

*re-mixing = reusing pieces in your wardrobe and creating new outfits (see Kendi Everyday for more details)

How to Blog: write a fashion blog / be a better fashion blogger (part 1)

I wrote a post a few months ago entitled “how to Blog: commenting”, I had intended to write a mini series of posts but holidays and life got in the way and a second post, let alone a third or fourth, failed to materialise. Now though, I feel it might be time to revisit the idea. This post should really be the first in the series, I suppose, as it is more of an introductory post, both to the series and as a guide for new bloggers.

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There are many different styles that a fashion blog might take and this post is by no means exhaustive – far from it. But this post does serve as a starting point for anyone out there who is hoping to start a fashion blog.

-          A love of all things fashionable and stylish is essential

-          A large over-draft limit is probably desirable!! But not to be recommended really!

-          A lot to say is useful

-          Decide what form or style your blog will take – will you choose a very specific niche (like, sleep.eat.denim) or will you create a daily outfit post (like, What Katie Wore) or will you choose beauty products as your topic (like, The Glossy Guide or Cult of Pretty) – whatever you decide you have to ensure that you have enough to write about and enough of an interest to keep you involved in the blog

-          For me, starting an “editorial calendar” was essential to keeping motivated – Jennine wrote about the importance of this over on IFB recently – it really helps to keep me focussed on the content I am producing each week

-          Make time to write – it might seem obvious but when your blog is new it will seem like a novelty and you will make time to write it but when that wears off, will you still be able to make the time in your schedule to write?

-          Writing is only half the battle – are you prepared to promote your blog?

-          You will need to have a camera and know how to use it and produce photos that are up to standard

-          Read other blogs – both fashion and non-fashion, but mainly fashion

-          Become a member of IFB as soon as possible – it is an invaluable source

I know that this list is very short and there are a million and one other things you need to know about writing a fashion blog but I think it is a good place to start. If you are already a (fashion) blogger, what would you add? What do you wish you’d known when you started writing your fashion blog?

I asked some lovely and fabulous fashion bloggers for their advice to new fashion bloggers and here are their top tips:

@mrsbossa: 1)keep writing 2)don't be afraid to try out different kinds of posts 3)carry a notebook with you when inspiration strikes!

@MJ_Beauty: My advice would be to write about what you like, not just because its the hottest trend at the moment

@fayemarieblogs: the biggest thing is to be yourself and let ur blog reflect your personality. Readers should get a sense of your personality

@leia12: Post original content only. Don't swipe photos from other sites. Be yourself. Be creative. Bring something new to the table

@citizenrosebudz: Here's my advice for any blogger: write original content, say it well, in YOUR own voice. Then engage !

@gritandglamour: Write properly, spellcheck and proofread, have fun, and BE YOU!

@FashionKilledMe: network! Visit other blogs, leave nice comments and don't force ppl to follow u ;)

@BeautifullyInv: Ditto to what Faye said - authentic voice (and original content) is KEY

Do you have any advice you would add? This will definitely be a part of an ongoing series, as I try to improve my own blog and help you to do the same with me, so make sure to check back for further posts soon. If there is anything you would like to see covered, let me know, either here in the comments or by email.

How to... pack your toiletries bag for your hand baggage

As the cost of flights and add-ons continue to increase - what happened to return flights for £30? Including my checked-in bag?! - more and more of us try to avoid at least some of these costs but trying to fit everything for a fortnight away into a carry-on bag. Add to this, restrictions on the amount of liquids you can carry in your hand baggage and packing becomes even more problematic! So I decided to share my tips for packing your toiletries in this restricted world in which we travel:

• Invest in minis. Asda is my favourite place to head for mini toiletries as they offer any 4 for £3! You'll find shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, deodorants, face wash, and even dry shampoo.
• Be realistic about what you will use. Your daily beauty routine might involve cleansing and toning and moisturising and scrubbing and whatever else you do, but do you really need to keep this up while you're on holiday?
• Buy products that are multi-purpose. Even at home, I swear by face wipes but for holidays they provide the best multi-purpose product - they cleanse and tone and remove all forms of make-up - and best of all, aren't included in your liquids limit! Another multi-purpose product that I use whilst on holiday (and that I carry in my handbag too) is Nivea Soft which can be used for face, hands and body.
• Like face wipes, nail polish remover pads do the same job and yet aren't included in your liquids limit. If you're unsure which ones to get, I'd recommend these by Quickies.
• If you're travelling with friends, what products can you share? Maybe one person can bring shampoo and another conditioner and another still, shower gel?
• If all else fails, there aren't many holiday destinations where you wouldn't be able to buy anything you can't fit in.
• I would also suggest that you put everything into one of the regulation clear bags before you put it into your toiletries bag, so that it is easier to take out when you get to security.

Of course, it is not only toiletries which are included in your liquids limit but also your make-up:

• Minerals make-up is the obvious choice for travelling as they won't be included.
• If you don't want to buy additional make-up only for those occasions you travel, I try to decant foundation/tinted moisturiser into a small container for my holidays.
• I also look out for free gifts from my favouriet make-up brands (like Boots No 7) and keep the mini mascaras and lip glosses specifically for my hand baggage.

What are your top tips for carrying your toiletries in your hand baggage?

How to... pack a capsule wardrobe for your holidays

I already told you that I basically lived in my Gap vest, H&M denim cut-offs and Havaianas for the whole of the three days we were in Valencia, but did you believe me? Well, if not, here is the proof. Yes, it is a different colour Gap vest but it is pretty much the same one. This is how I pack a capsule wardrobe for my holidays!!

Do you pack light for your holidays? If so, how do you manage it? If not, who carries your bags?!

PS:

Have you entered my giveaway to win a fabulous pair of Oasis New Vintage earrings? If not, make sure you do so right away!! You can’t win, if you don’t enter! 

AND, if you have already voted for me in the Filofax Facebook Blogger Style Off, thank you. If you haven’t voted for me yet, please do go and vote for me and will be forever grateful.

How to... Dress on holiday in Ibiza

I know that when my girlfriends and I first booked our little sojourn to the party isle many of us had a little panic over what to pack and turned to the internet for assistance. Now that I have been, I thought I would add my own little bit of wisdom to the pile:

Girls on the beach by Cafe Mambo - photo taken by my friend.

• Beachwear. During the day you will – if you’re anything like us – spend much of your time by the pool or on the beach or somewhere in between the two! Pack your bikinis/tankinis/swimsuits/whatever you prefer. For some a pair of denim hot pants is all that is needed. For others, add a maxi dress/kaftan/cover-up. Personally, I favoured a pair of H&M denim cut-offs and a loose vest.
• Take a hat. For two reasons: 1. It’ll keep your head covered and stop you getting sun stroke. And 2. It looks cool!
• For early evening drinks and dinner I’d recommend something more casual than your club wear (see below) but slightly more dressy than your poolside look. Saying that – we quickly learned that in Ibiza, anything goes!!! But my recommendations would be: A maxi dress and flats/espadrille wedges; or a playsuit/jumpsuit. These were my outfits of choice!
• For club wear, ANYTHING goes!!!! We saw one girl in a rather risqué outfit – wearing a leopard print body with black hot pants underneath! Finished off with a massive pair of stilettos!
• My advice would be, think: sequins, crop tops, hot pants, lace, crochet. It will be hot in the clubs, so less is definitely better!
• I’d also advise flat sandals for dancing the night away until the wee hours – but if that’s not your bag, just make sure you can last for hours on your heels!
• Glitter – another festival favourite and one for Ibiza too! But I’ll leave that for another post (what to pack in your toiletries bag for Ibiza!!!).
• Glow bands – bracelets and necklaces – fill your arms with them. We did!!

Me: glowing!!

Have you been to Ibiza? Do you have any further tips to add - I know I have only just touched the surface here, so please do add to it and make this a really good resource!!


If not Ibiza, where are you going on your holidays this summer?

How to... COLOUR BLOCK

Last month I was contacted by Claire of Filofax regarding a “blogger style off” to celebrate the launch of the brand new Filofax Apex, the personal organiser that aims to “put the fun into fashion”. Each of the bloggers involved chose one out of the four colour combinations and use the organiser as inspiration for our outfit. 

My choice of the pink and blue Filofax soon seemed a little ambitious when trying to put an outfit together but I didn’t let that put me off! Instead I decided to pull together a couple of mood boards.

The first is filled with the colours and confirmed that the combination is in fact everywhere and, in addition, a pretty summery combo too:



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Next, I decided that as obvious as it might be colour blocking was the obvious trend to try to work for this challenge. Colour blocking was a huge trend on the catwalks of numerous designers for Spring/Summer 2011 and has been featured on this blog previously, in this post and this post. So the second mood board is a collection of images from the runway of bold colour combinations:

Source: Style.com

My favourites from the above board were the simple Jil Sander looks, with the bright bold coloured maxi skirts teamed with the crisp white tees. These then provided the basis for the outfit that I have created and that will be unveiled later today, on the Filofax Facebook page (look out for Twitter updates) and will be unveiled here tomorrow. Now, comes the part that I loath and that is to ask that you might all lend a hand and “like” my look. If I win, I will receive a number of the Filofaxes to giveaway – so you will all have the chance to gain too! Win-win, no?!

How to Blog: Commenting

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This was going to be just one post but it seems that I got a little carried away and think I'll have to extend it into a mini series which will attempt to tell you a little of how to blog. Hope you enjoy it - and find it useful.


A big part of being a blogger, for me, is visiting and reading other blogs and participating in the blogging community which, by virtue, means that commenting is an integral part of this process:



Last Autumn Amy of Wolf Whistle set herself the target of leaving 500 comments a month. At IFB Ashe Mischief took up the challenge too and called other bloggers to do the same. I decided to follow Grechen's lead and took the happy medium option and challenged myself to leave 10 comments a day.


I wrote about the subject of comments in a recent Friend Friday post, in which I referenced Chelsea's (of Dear Winnie) great post on the same topic in which she laid out her own 4-step plan to writing the perfect comment.


When taking up this challenge I was conscious that my 10 comments a day would not be two-word, "great post" comments that were effectively meaningless. It seemed I was not alone, Amy told Ashe:


"I promised myself when I started this that I wouldn’t leave comments such as  ‘Nice blog!!!’ as I generally feel that these type of comments are a bit of a let down."


While Ashe concluded that she would:


"leave 250 meaningful, thoughtful, useful comments."

Earlier this year, Ashe revisited the comment challenge at IFB and asked:

How did it go?  Was it more challenging than you expected?

Did you find many new blogs to visit? Build up any new friendships, find a lot of duds, or something in between?

Did you sustain the momentum and keep going? Have you built up new blogging habits from doing the comment challenge?  Are you more or less active at commenting now?

In response, I didn't find it challenging so much as time consuming - when I have a quiet week, it is easy to leave more than the target of 10 a day but when I have a busy week or two, it get difficult to leave even 10 comments a week.

I found straightaway that in order to leave enough comments I have had to go on the hunt for new blogs to read. It's been good to have a purpose to find good blogs that compel me to leave meaningful comments.

Like Ashe, I didn't do this to increase traffic, or to get more comments on my blog but that has been a rather pleasant side effect. However, despite it not being my principle reason for undertaking the challenge, if I have visited a blog and I have commented on posts for a month or two and not heard anything back from the blogger (a reply to a comment, a comment on my blog, or a tweet) I do still think twice about returning to said blog.

I'm not so strict as I was about 10 comments a day but I do still comment as much as possible and visit those blogs that I have discovered over the past six months.

Did you take up the comment challenge? How did you find it? If not, do you have any sort of a strategy for commenting on other blogs?

If you have any questions about blogging that you would like to see answered in this series, please let me know in the comments, or by email.