From the SS12 runways of Cristopher Kane to Vivienne Westwood it’s all about the pink cheeks this spring. Filling the catwalks and the red carpet, blush is back and it refuses to be subtle! The spring time flush is romantic and chic- inspired by flawless baby powdered skin and rosy pastel pink cheeks, this ‘porcelain doll’ finish is hotly hued yet adorably feminine…

This week at the NTA’s, X factor celebrity, Tulisa Contostavlos took her penchant for pink to dizzy new heights (some could say a little too high?) as she was papped donning a candy pink feathered dress with sultry smoky eyes and of course, rosey blushed cheeks! While the choice of dress may have sent the fashion world into a whirlwind of ‘sack the stylist’ mania, we simply adored her dedication to the spring pink trend!

Benefit Hervana – Enough to make an angel blush! (£23.50 plus free delivery)

Fancy a flush of enlightenment too?  Whether you want to replicate Tulisa’s lip-cheek combo (sans dress, we expect?) or prefer to go for a soft and feminine flush a la Emma Watson and Katy Perry, make way for Benefit Hervana! This perfect pot of powder pink fun is launching nationwide today so we’ve put together a full review for all our Benefitistas. Enjoy!

The Highlights- With a tag line of “enough to make an angel blush” I couldn’t wait to see what this ‘good karma’ face powder was all about!  The packing is fab- just shouts out all things girly! Inside the box is a small angled brush and a mirror; the magnetic closure has to be a bonus too doesn’t it ladies! The four complementary shades- lucky shell (lightest), divine peach, heavenly rose and berry delight (darkest) blend together perfectly leaving you with an orchid blossom blush that is just gorgeous!

Best For- Those wishing to create a spring time flush- it will add a rosy pastel pink colour to any cheeks! Looks amazing on fair skin teamed with blond hair.

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Benefit, Benefit Hervana, Hot Trends, lookfantastic Brighton, Make-up, New Product, NTA's, Pink, Pink Cheeks, Spring Trends, Tulisa Contostavlos

Last Thursday evening myself #LFHarriet , #LFSarah and our PR manager #LFEllie swopped LF HQ in Hove  for the glamorous salon Four London where we teamed up with Daniel Sandler for a makeup master class for all our wonderful beauty bloggers (known in Twitter circles as the #LFblogsWeLove). The evening centred around providing our guests (and ourselves) with an opportunity to get some hot of the press make-up tips from Daniel himself and I am glad to report that Daniel did not disappoint and performed a masterclass brimming with top tips and insider cheats! The good news is, during Daniels’ step by step guide on how to create a smokey eye and the perfect red lips, I had my my note pad to the ready so that I could share my new found knowledge with you all! Here’s the low-down on how to achieve the perfect red pout!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 x Daniel Sandler Micro-Bubble Lipstick in Titanium Micro Red (£13.50)
• 1 x Daniel Sandler Lip Brush (£10.50)
• 1 x Daniel Sandler Limited Edition ‘In Love’ candle by Jonathan Ward (£30.00)

STEP 1: Apply & Define
First and foremost, you need to light you Daniel Sandler ‘In Love’ Candle to create the relaxing and indulgent mood (this was something that Daniel swore by!). Next, grab your Daniel Sandler Micro-Bubble Lipstick in Titanium Micro Red  and get ready to transform those lips to pout perfection! Using your middle finger apply a layer of this delicious red to your lips, add a little more colour to your upper lip to help it look fuller.

Top Tip: If your lips are in need of some extra definition dab some light foundation around your top lip- your lip will look fuller and younger.

STEP 2: Apply & Dabble
Next, apply another layer of lipstick with your finger (keep applying layers until you have the intensity you desire), using the lip brush, neaten the sides and

Top Tip: Your middle finger helps find the lips natural contour- and creates more of a stain than a brush does.

STEP 3: Blot to Perfection!
Finally, using a tissue blot your lips- keep blotting until you have your desired shade or as Daniel described as a ‘worn away look’. You can play it up or down dependant on the occasion!

Perfecto- gorgeous kissable lips with the perfect red hue!

Wow- now even I won’t be scared to dare to wear red! Thank you Daniel Sandler  for putting us women at ease and thank you to FOUR London for housing this amazing event can’t wait for the next one!

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: beauty bloggers, bloggers, Daniel Sandler, events, FOUR London, lookfantastic, red lip tutorials, Red Lips

When I first set eyes on this brand with it’s bold prints and decadent packaging, all things luxurious sprung to mind. MOR was established in 2001 by Australian designers Deon St.Mor and Dianna Burmas. Eleven years on, they have created a portfolio of luxurious products that perfectly capture their passion for travel, fashion, food and the arts. Below is a review of my favourite three…

MOR Italian Blood Orange Fragrant Candle

Wow, where to start with this sexy little number?! I was in love with it’s decadent packaging on first sight. and once opened I was not disappointed! Encased in a striking black glass vessel and gilded with 24 carat gold, this gorgeous candle oozes glamour! Once lit, the wick burnt well with no unwanted black smoke, instantly filling my bedroom with a fresh, delicious scent of jasmine, rose and lily of the valley. I felt relaxed basking in its heavenly aromas and after 4 hours of burning I was happy to see the wick had burnt evenly and hardly reduced at all!

Highlights: Such a sexy black candle- smells fresh and burnt well.
Best For: Looking glamorous in your bedroom and relaxing!

Sound great? Buy yours here: MOR Italian Blood Orange Fragrant Candle £33.00

MOR Sorbet Lip Macaron

A luxurious lip gloss in a pot- packed full of vitamin E and beeswax. What isn’t to love about this? I was instantly drawn to the bright blue colour and gorgeous gold adorning- once opened the deliciously sweet vanilla scent filled the air. When applying to my lips I could instantly feel the quality of this product, it felt creamy yet light weight on your lips. My lips felt immediately hydrated and were left with a subtle, sheer shine to them. Love it!

The Highlights: Perfect for your handbag! Gorgeous, eye catching packaging, smells great and ultra hydrating.
Best For: Any lips- especially dry lips that need some tlc!

Sound great? Buy yours here: MOR Sorbet Lip Macaron £11.50

MOR Italian Blood Orange Body Butter

Treat your skin to MOR Italian Blood Orange Body Butter. With its rich and creamy texture, this luxurious formula will not only leave your skin smelling fresh but feeling super moisturised too! If your skin is in need of some moisture then look no further, this rich and creamy body butter is simply amazing.  Encased in a black tub with the MOR gold adorned crest I got the feeling of pure luxury. I applied a Maltester size amount of cream onto my skin, instantly I could feel its rich texture. Once I had rubbed the cream in I was met with its fresh scent- it was perfectly subtle. The cream melted into my skin- leaving my skin feeling hydrated and smelling delicately perfumed.

Highlights: Its creamy, luxurious texture- delicately fragranced and kept my skin hydrated all day long.
Best For: Indulgent body butter treat for any skin type.

Sound great? Buy yours here: MOR Italian Blood Orange Body Butter £24.50

Wow, I feel privileged to have had the chance to trial out these luxurious products- thank you MOR! Not only was I bowled over by the beautiful packaging but the products lived up to my expectations as well. A truly indulgent and gorgeous range of products that I will definitely be purchasing.

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

This week, we welcomed a brand new member to the LF team of hair & beauty experts. New organic skincare specialist #LFOri not only has an obsession for all things  beauty (naturally) but also an admirable penchant for organic and alternative skincare treatments! As the new go-to-girl for questions and recommendations on natural skincare products, I caught up with #LFOri and probed her on her beauty thoughts…

As LF’s new resident skincare expert, what’s your top all time tip on healthy skin?

Many of us have the perfect complexion in the summer, but when cold English winter comes around your can skin can suffer from exposure to the drastically dropping wet climate – to the intense dry heat of central heating.   These changing temperatures can make your skin dry out, so my top all time skin tip would be carry a travel-sized lightweight moisturiser around with you when the seasons start changing and apply each time you brave the contrasting conditions!

You’re going to be looking after some of LF’s top skincare brands, what one has caught your eye?

So far I’m loving Weleda’s skincare range, their unique combination of natural wellbeing and ethically sourcing their products is right up my street…  Having sensitive skin as a teenager, I experimented with all sorts of harsh chemicals in a desperate bid to try to rebalance my complexion – though the results were always extreme. With a little bit of the good old hindsight I have now resolved to try my best not to put anything on my skin that’s ingredients you can’t find in nature. Plus I have been sampling some of lookfantastic’s latest new range organic brand Organic Surge, who also take a no nonsense approach to chemically enhanced skincare – I love there Organic Surge Gentle Meadow Bath Foam, it feels and smells amazing, look out fro this range, coming very soon.

If you were on a desert island and you could only take 3 items with you, what would they be?

Firstly, being very fair skinned, if I was stuck on a desert island, Invisible Zincs 4 Hour Water Resistant Sunscreen SPF30 would be an absolute must – the physical barrier, or second skin that protects against those harmful UV rays would give piece of mind and prevent me from turning pink! Secondly seeing as I have to narrow it down to only three products, I’d have to choose Natio Gentle Cleansing Wipes, as they conveniently wipe away dirt, cleanse and hydrate skin without stripping it of any of there essential oils. Finally to protect my red hair and prevent it from fading all dull and orangey in the sun,  I’d use my Fudge Colour Conditioning Treatment, to enhance red tones and improve brightness while also improving strength and softness.  

Lastly, what’s in your beauty bounty right now?

Products listing: 1. L’Oréal Professional série expert Chroma Care Colour Refreshing Conditioner in 6 Red  2. Jemma Kidd Stain, Flush & Gloss Lip & Cheek Duo in Ruby Tuesday 3. Tweezerman Slant Tweezers 4. Lubatti Pure Indulgence Bath Oil – Bergamot & Grapefruit , 5. OPI Tickle Me France-y Nail Lacquer  6. Fudge Paintbox Cherry Red Bomb 7. Aveda Madder Root Shampoo  8. Dainty Doll Concealer Click Pen in 002 Light 9. Olivina Body Butter Tube Lavender  10. VOYA Rub A Dub Dub Exfoliating Organic Seaweed Soap 

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: #LFori, Beauty, beauty recommendations, L'Oreal, lookfantastic, natural skincare, organic skincare

I’ve been lusting over the mere thought of my style sister spring arriving to bring an abundance of light hearted and cheery hued beauty bounty all week. The blogasphere may be brimming with cutsie pinks and corals (a firm favourite in my spring staples beauty box), but the strong cool sunshine and clear crisp blue skies that we’ve been enjoying at LF HQ (reach for the winter sunnies, ladies!) has really got me pinning after some bright and bolshy styles.

This weeks BEAUTY WRAP is filled with canary yellow, cobalt blue and strong dark and daring eyes.The seasons turning ladies, it’s time to dig out your summer make-up and start reinvesting in some accent colours to propel you out of you your winter wardrobe with ease. I for one am taking the plunge and welcoming spring with some audacious beauty!

Products from top to bottom, left to right: Mavala Marine Blue Nail Colour £4.10, Mavala Cyclades Blue Nail Colour £4.10, Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Rocker £13.00, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in Baby Pink £18.00, BADgal Liner £14.00, Jemma Kidd Tailored Colour Powder Blush Duo in Clear Pink / Rose £17.00, Sue Devitt Hydrating Marine Minerals Destination Eye Palette £31.00. *some of these items may be found cheaper in our Jan sale running until 16th of Jan 2012.

Products from left to right: OPI Designer Magic Nail Lacquer £16.75, OPI Swimsuit… Nailed It! £10.50

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Beauty, Benefit, Clarins, eyeshadow, Fashion, SS12, Stila, style, yellow

There’s something very appealing about a skincare brand that claims to ‘help skin adapt’ to changes in lifestyle, environment and age. I’ve always found it hard to believe that just one cleanser/moisturiser/treatment could work for your skin when your skin endures such dramatic changes throughout the year. But Elemental Herbology, founded by Kristy Goodger-Cimesa claims to do just this, so when Kiwi from Elemental Herbology (think a fruity version of K.Midd) sent a huge parcel of glorious products to LF Towers, the team were keen to try them out. With an array of different skin types between us we divided them up and gave them a good ol’ test run. Here are the results:

Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Facial Hydrator SPF8 – tested by #LFLauren

Cold winds, rain and central heating have really taken their toll on my complexion this winter. I am in a constant battle to get a moisturiser rich enough to rehydrate my thirsty skin. So the Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Facial Hydrator was an ideal match for me.

I have been using the moisturiser every morning and night for the past 3 weeks and have definitely noticed a difference in my complexion. Delicately fragranced, this Hydrator has left my skin feeling smooth, soft and with a healthy glow. Despite its rich formula it hasn’t left my skin at all greasy.

Sound great? Buy yours here: Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Facial Hydrator SPF8 

Elemental Herbology Cell Food Protection & Repair Serum – tested by #LFHarriet

With the central heating on constantly and the cold winter winds drying out my skin I jumped at the chance to try out the Elemental Herbology Cell Food  Protection  &  Repair Serum. I have been applying a few drops morning and night (just after cleansing) to my face. It has been 3 weeks now and I notice the difference! After the first application I noticed that the following morning my skin has been baby soft and the dry patches already diminishing.

Containing a wealth of Vitamins A, C, E, pomegranate and green tea if you need a ‘quick-fix’ product then this is your answer! It helped boost, protect and repair my skin and did exactly what it said on the tin.

Sound great? Buy yours here: Elemental Herbology Cell Food Protection & Repair Serum

Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel – tested by #LFIman

After recent festivities skin was looking and feeling dull and I was pining for my skin to glow again. The texture of the Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel was quite thick and rich and it felt very cooling. I could almost feel it sucking out the impurities straight away.

After 5 minutes I removed it with a damp cloth soaked in warm water and my skin felt very soft and smooth. I could tell that it helped to exfoliate my skin as my complexion was left looking a lot clearer and it really was glowing. I had high hopes for the botanically blended peel and I am not disappointed. I recommend using this to rejuvenate your skin.

Sound great? Buy your Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel here

Elemental Herbology Moisture Milk – tested by me (#LFAnnaP)

Despite being almost 26, I sadly still suffer from what can only be described as ‘teenage skin’. Break-outs, oily patches, the works. Whilst the others complain of skin drying out in the winter, I can only wish for such luxuries! Whilst I’m hoping my January detox brings a bit of balance to my complexion, this light and refreshing Moisture Milk will remain a firm favourite in my beauty essentials.

With its mattifying properties, this formula left my skin feeling a lot smoother, and with much less of a sheen. I have also noticed a dramatic reduction in the amount of spots I’ve had, particularly around the chin area. A great product for those with troublesome complexions!

Sound great? Buy your “>Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel here

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Elemental Herbology, Moisturising, Radiance Repair, Skincare

Last year we saw the debut of crackle and shatter varnishes with rainbow glitter in all shapes, sizes and hues following closely behind. I watched tentatively as the onslaught of nail trends penetrated with walls of LF HQ with ease, producing a plethora of ‘perfect 10′s’. Now I’ll confess, right here, right now that I didn’t jump on the nail art wagon for a fair portion of 2011. I found the invasion of multi-coloured crackles donning the nails of TV presenters, and grown women a little perplexing.

While I am in perfect agreement that the ‘lip stick effect’ has now taken on a new guise as the ‘nail varnish effect’, and that women can express trends, colour preferences and even menstrual cycles with a quick change of a mani-hue… the nail art craze took it beyond Board Room beauty and into the relm of young teen singing x-factor hits into a hair brush. It wasn’t my bag and I was stubbornly standing on the edge of the water refusing to even dip a toe in…

Enter the Nails Inc Magnetic Varnish. This new take on nail art has entered my life like a trending whirlwind. From the ease of application to the sophisticated finish it has earned its place on my SS12 lust list with ease. Unlike many of the nail art processes you do not need to carve out a whole evening sitting motionless on the the sofa waiting for coat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to dry. Neither do you need any form of  monocle to enable you to peer at your master half way through application. The Magnet Nail Polish by Nails Inc takes only two coats to create and can be achieved in five simple steps:

Step 1: Apply base coat. Read Vogue (8mins)
Step 2: Apply Nails Inc Whitehall Magnetic Varnish. Read Vogue (8mins)
Step 3: Hold lid of varnish with the lip pointing down wards at the cuticle of the nail. Hold for about 1minute.
Step 4: Take away lid and admire new creation.
Step 5: Finish with top coat. Finish Vogue. Leave for cocktail bar….

If you are an avid fan of all that glitters on your nails take a trip to the Glitterati Trend Shop and browse through our top glitterific essentials! 

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Beauty, lookfantastic, magnetic nails, Make-up, Nail Art, Nails, nails inc., Product Review, Trends, Tutorial, Varnish

It’s no secret that the Duchess of Cambridge has had the kind of life many of us ladies dreamt of as hopeful 7yr olds; tottering around in toy heels, kissing frogs and refusing to have a hair cut in case one of those fairy tales were true(?) She is an accomplished sportswoman who sailed around the world, she has a degree in Art History and last year she took the term ‘getting the guy‘ to all new levels and bagged herself a Royal Prince in the wedding of the century. Naturally this woman has long since had a top spot on my idol list, but after seeing the shots of her last night at the Premier of War Horse in London, she has taken my envy to all new levels. Forget Amy Child’s, Lauren Goodger et al. They may commandeer our media spaces with a penchant for large brows and St. Tropez, but Catherine Elizabeth Windsor (nee Middleton) glided across the red carpet looking svelte, glamorous and perfectly peachy. It’s no wonder that she is the nation’s femme du jour.

So when I found out today that not only does Kate possess the glistening wavy locks that I crave on a daily (hourly) basis, she also shares my birthday too, I pined over the images of that v-neck lace maxi and youthful complexion even harder. It dawned on me that she not only ticks every necessary elegant dame box, but that at 30yrs old, this lady is looking impressively faultless and enviably ageless! So it got me to revisit my (already faltered) new year resolution of working harder at preventative ageing. Every year I creep a little closer to ‘the hill’, I promise myself that I’m going to invest more time and money in trying to keep my fine lines at bay. So today I took the ageing-bull by the horns and sought out an objective view (I usually get clouded by my own vanity and subscribe myself super strength creams that don’t work on my skin) and had a chat with resident skincare expert Anna. I asked Anna what she would recommend for my skin in the plight against those infamous crows feet. Anna recommended the Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream, with these wise words:

‘This cream has been proven to increase hydration by up to 45%, protect against free radical damage, as well as dramatically increase firmness and elasticity. This means that wrinkles and fine lines are less likely to occur prematurely. One of our anti-ageing best-sellers for good reason!’

Naturally, I whizzed back to my desk and invested in a pot of this miracle age prevention cream. It is my 29th Bday today and while I may never get to sail round the world, or stroll around in Buckingham Palace, I will make damn sure that while taking the 701 to the town centre to visit the community library (in lip gloss) I want to remain on the ‘favourable’ side of my imaginary ‘hill’ for as long as possible!

Planning a new year skin detox? Visit our new Party Detox Trend Shop for my top picks in spring skin saviours!

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Anti-ageing, Elemis, Kate Middleton, preventative ageing, Skincare, trend shops

It didn’t take much persuading for me to dive in to the glitter nail trend. As far back as I can remember I have had an unhealthy propensity for sparkly things. So naturally during the recent festive frivolities I took advantage of a fashion moment that no longer classed glitteration with a slightly amused raised brow. I spent a month wearing ever colour under the glittering rainbow, laughing in the face of ‘less is more‘ mantras and walking loud and proud engulfed in a glittery abyss…

Now you may have seen what I am about to describe coming. But I didn’t. Maybe you were a 90′s maverick that has long since dabbled in the bitter sweet addiction of glitter-nail-gridlock. I, on the other hand was naive and unprepared for what was to be hours of scrubbing, scratching and picking bits of this stubborn stuff from my nails. Finally, after spending 3hrs on a  glitter removal saga on new years day, I resigned to the fact that they were just one of those tiring pampering procedures that many women have to go through in the name of eternal glamour (similar to sling back wedges and individual false lashes). I conceded that while it was a pain, glitter was a passing trend arriving for Christmas and politely leaving again before spring sprung it’s floral head…I was wrong.

Since the turn of the year I have spend many hours reading about the impending glitter trend for SS12 (albeit avec florals). Now I love new trends as much as the next girl but I was unsure of my stealth on this particular one, so I took a trip around the beauty blogasphere to find out what the scoop was. Stumbling across the lovely Lipglossiping blog I learnt how to remove any unwanted glitter within a matter of 10mins. Here’s my adaptation in three easy steps…

STEP 1:
The best thing about this process is you won’t need to use acetone nail varnish removers which are not very kind to your skin. Just choose your favourite remover, like the OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover and soak some cotton pads in the liquid.

STEP 2:
Wrap the cotton pads around the tip of one of your nails so that the varnish is so longer visible. Place a strip of foil over the pad and the finger and seal at the top as tight as you can. The idea is to restrict the air to the nail so that the remover has time to really sink into the glitter.

STEP 3:
Once you have wrapped and foiled all fingers leave your them to soak for 5-10mins. During this time do not attempt to type/make tea/ or re-do your meticulously formed side pony tail. It will not work. After 5-10mins just slide the foil of firmly pressing the pad down onto the nail and viola, the varnish will  slide away faster than you did that time in Jan when you thought wearing heels in the snow would be OK if ‘you were careful’…

If like me, this new found knowledge has given you the smug confidence to embrace this seasons glitter trend then take a trip to the LF TREND SHOP: Join The Glitterati where we have put together a whole heap of glitterific essentials to see you through a sparkling spring! Enjoy!

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Glitter Nail Removal, Nail tutorials, Nail Varnish Removers, opi

So you’ve woken up and your head feels like it has been run over by the Coca Cola Christmas Truck. Your hair has somehow wound itself around your headboard and you have a false lash stuck to you cheek. It’s New Years Day and you have just realised that in less than 48hrs you will be back to the daily grind and begin to ponder on whether you did any washing during the Christmas period in fear that you’ll have no option but to wear that sparkle-on-sparkle-on-sparkle blazer with your sequin-on-sequin-on-sequin skirt to the office come Tuesday morning…

You swing you legs out of bed and place your feet on the floor. As your toes touch the ground a sharp pain shoots up your ankles and makes your head spin. You look down at your once meticulously pampered pieds and realise that they are not only more swollen than over ripe marrows and you could play dot-to-dot with inflamed blisters, but you simply can’t walk.

Now before you vow to never again wear those ridiculous shoes (that after thinking they would make you look like a towering glamazon, they actually made you feel like a shot putter in sequins), swing those legs back in bed and read my SOS guide to bringing your withered feet back to life before you can say “I wonder if they’ll mind me wearing slippers to the office for 2012″…

Embark on a ‘soak-and-soap-athon’

Every one knows that New Years Day is a time for sloathing. While it may be a day of resolutions and farcical list making, it’s also a time for TV Soap omnibuses and trash TV catch ups. The good thing is, you can kill two birds with one stone and begin foot recovery while nibbling on cold sausage rolls. The Mavala Concentrated Foot Bath is a dose of sore sole heaven. Acting as the perfect pedicure preparation, its softens and soothes skin with antiseptic pine and anti-bacterial eucalyptus oil for a deodorising effect (I’m not accusing anyone of foot odour, but hey, we’ve all been there). If you do not have a branded foot soak to hand, soak your feet in warm water with a little olive oil to soften the skin. Once the water has made your toes wrinkle like prunes, remove feet and pad dry with a warm towel…

BUY THE MAVALA CONCENTRATED FOOT BATH NOW or BROWSE ALL THE FOOT SOAKS ON SITE


File Away The Sins of Yesterday
(by sins, I mean those 7inch wedges that you knew were dangerous before you bought them!)

Now let’s get one thing straight, if you wear high heels, work for long periods on your feet or expose your toes to mother nature you will at some point experience hard skin. This may for some, result in corns and calluses (stop cringing, we’re all friends here). Good news is, you can do something about it. Using a hard working foot file on dry skin is a crucial part of your foot care regime. The Tweezerman Sole Mates Foot File has an ergonomic design and removes rough dead skin with one side while buffing skin to smooth softness with the other. The key to filing your feet is not to be afraid to give it a bit of elbow grease. Stick on another episode of that soap and file away until you arms ache as much as your hangover head…

BUY THE TWEEZERMAN SOLE MATES FOOT FILE or SHOP ALL FOOT FILES ON SITE

Scrub-a-dub-dub One More Time In The Tub…

So you’ve filed your soles and have somehow created a layer of dead skin dust on your towel (I hope that is your towel and nobody elses?). It’s always nice to give your feet an extra scrub to remove the last  bits of unwanted skin which will in turn polish whats left into super shiny silky heaven. The Leighton Denny Diamond Sole Mate Mineral & Oil foot Scrub is a 3-in-1 tingling treatment that promises to leave your skin beaming with pride. Use on damp skin and rub into areas that are most affected. Splash a little water and continue to work into a foam before washing off and patting dry…  At this point, your feet you certainly be feeling a little more alive, if not looking a little less abused. Not bad considering you’ve hardly had to move, got through 6 sausage rolls and 4 episodes of your guilty pleasure soap?

BUY THE LEIGHTON DENNY MINERAL & OIL FOOT SCRUB or SHOP ALL FOOT SCRUBS ON SITE

Enter the Dream Cream Team

There’s one extra tool you need at hand before you start your final ‘SOLEvation’ step. Go to your sock drawer and get those socks that your aunt bought you in 1998. You know the ones, they have a weird swamp green speckled pattern on them and look like they should only be worn when herding sheep or rock climbing. Now you’re going to cream those feet like they’ve never been creamed before. My favourite is The L’Occitane Shea Butter Butter Foot Cream. It’s enriched with 15% nourishing shea butter for exceptional comfort and works best when literally smothered all over your feet. You can use any foot cream for this step but avoid hand or body creams as the skin on your feet is tough as old boots and can be up to twelves times thicker than other areas. Lastly grab those hiking socks and put them over your oily feet. This will lock in the moisture for longer. It may feel a little moist inside the socks but believe me it will make all the difference…

BUY A L’OCCITANE SHEA BUTTER FOOT CREAM or SHOP ALL FOOTCREAM ON SITE

Now all you have to do is brush the sausage rolls crumbs off your PJs, plod to the kitchen, make yourself a nice hot drink and sink back in your favourite arm chair, relaxing the rest of the day away, safe in the knowledge that you will be venturing into the new year with your best foot forward…

Join the lookfantastic community! Like our Facebook Page to be the first to know about new products. Follow us on Twitter to scoop up top tips from our team of experts and head over to LFTV to watch our interactive How To videos from our friends in the beauty industry!

Tags: Foot Rescue, Foot Scrub, foot Spa, L'Occitane, Leighton Denny, Mavala, New Years Day, pampering, Pedicures