U Look Great!

Following on from my earlier review of the Tropic Skincare Smoothing Cleanser , m y next product review just had to be this absolutely brilliant little pot - a total skin saviour! I discovered this product when a fellow image consultant and Tropic Skincare Ambassador came to my home to do a pamper party for me and my friends. I was a little sceptical at first and the smell could be a little off-putting for some, although it's by no means offensive and can perhaps be best described as 'herby'.  Tropic claim that it is great for anything from rosacea to insect bites and lots more besides, and, as with all their products, it is entirely natural, vegan and cruelty free. Having had an itchy rash on my shin for over a year, for which I had tried everything I could think of over the counter, including: itch relief cream, Sudacreme, antihistamine cream, Calomine & aqueous cream and E45, all of which had failed to do any more than temporarily calm the iritation, I dec...

The stores are bursting with the new Autumn collections, but with so much to choose from, what will you be adding to your wardrobe?  Here’s a quick round-up of some of the biggest trends, and how you can make them work for you. The colour of the season Red is everywhere right now, and it’s great to see a vibrant colour in the shops this time Courtesy of Hobbs of year, rather than the subdued neutrals of black, grey and navy.  These do, of course, have their place, but why not add some red to those neutrals and make a statement? There is a shade for everyone, so do check the garment against your complexion before you buy (especially if you’ll be wearing it close to your face).  You should also consider your personality and the impact you want to make.  If you’re an outgoing, gregarious person, the brighter, more vibrant shades are more likely to suit you, whereas if you’re more of a quiet, private person, you would probably feel more comfortable in a s...

I’ve  been meaning to write a blog post about this product for some time. Since I have now become a Tropic Skincare Ambassador and am trying out all the rest of the gorgeous products for myself, it’s the perfect time to start a regular review with this hero product from the range. I have been a huge fan of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish for a number of years.  I love the fact that it takes off not only the make-up and daily grime from my face, but also my eye make-up, without making my eyes sting.  It also smells lovely.  I would probably have continued to be a dedicated fan if I hadn’t recently discovered that since the Liz Earle range has been available in stores, such as Boots, they have had to add preservatives to the products due to these stores demanding a longer shelf life.  I was very disappointed with this news, so having chatted about the Tropic range with a fellow image consultant and discovered that they have a very similar product, I j...

I recently purchased a book called “How to Dress for Success” by Edith Head and Joe Hyams. It’s an American book, which dates back to the sixties and much of it makes me laugh out loud.  This was still the era when working women were predominantly secretaries, the alternative being a housewife or staying at home to look after the children.  With chapter headings such as: ‘How to Dress to Get a Man, and Keep Him’ and ‘How to Dress Your Family for Success’, I wondered what I was thinking when I clicked the ‘buy’ button on Amazon!  However, despite the obvious changes in fashion and lifestyle, as well as a more relaxed approach to everyday clothing, it’s clear that the principles of looking good and feeling confident remain the same. One paragraph leapt out at me as a great analogy: ‘Building a proper wardrobe is somewhat like building a home.  Think of it like a home – because your wardrobe is something you’re going to live in.  It must be not onl...

Have you ever found yourself saying this?  I’ve heard it many times, especially when it comes to having a style/bodyline consultation, but women in particular say this about all sorts of things they might be wanting or wishing to do. The question is, why do we put things off until we have reached what we perceive to be the perfect weight or dress size?  For some it may be that they’re nervous of making a decision or doing something that is outside their comfort zone.  I’m nervous or scared of all sorts of things and I do have a tendency to put things off until the very last minute, but when I’ve then gone ahead and done whatever it is, I wonder what I was worried about!  I’ve no doubt you've had that feeling at some point too?!  I’ve learn over the years that the phrase – ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’ is often the best approach. But I digress.  Why is it that women believe they can’t achieve anything unless they have reached that magic nu...

Do you have gorgeous clothes in your wardrobe that you are saving for best?  If so, how often do you actually wear them?  Let’s face it, our time on this earth is limited, so the big question is WHY? So many women I speak to or work with talk about clothes or accessories that they love, but they stay in the wardrobe because they are too good to wear for every day, which to me seems very sad.  I remember, as a child, having clothes for best, which tended to be worn when we visited aged aunts or I was invited to a party, but those were such different times.  In some ways I am sad that many people don’t have ‘clothes for best’, purely because I love to dress up and I’m quite upset when I see people in jeans and t-shirts to the theatre or in restaurants.  For me, these of the times when I want to put on something a little special, because it makes it more of an occasion and makes me feel great! So there is something of a conflict here – we keep our s...

Prescription glasses are a must for many of us, especially as we become more mature in years.   I’ve been wearing glasses for many years now and as time goes by I rely on them more and more.   Obviously you have the option of contact lenses if you don’t want the bother of carrying glasses around with you, although the very thought of them gives me the collywobbles! If glasses are a necessity for you, don’t forget, they are also an accessory and another way for you to express your personality.   Just think of Dame Edna Everage or Sue Pollard for an extreme example – definitely dramatic in their personalities!   There are also many other considerations when choosing new specs, including your scale, natural colouring and face shape. Here’s a few basics to bear in mind: ·          If you prefer your glasses not to be a focal point you may want to go for rimless ones that barely show at all – even if you have a very str...

I’m often spouting to my clients about the importance of the right underwear, especially a well-fitting bra, but there are other items in my underwear drawers that I just couldn’t live without, so I thought I’d share them with you. Firstly, at the risk of being controversial, I’ll admit that I’m rarely wearing matching sets of underwear (shock – horror)!   I’m more interested in comfort and practicality, so pretty sets of brightly coloured lacy bras and pants don’t really fit the bill for me.   That’s not to say I don’t think they look lovely, they just aren’t for me. My days of wearing ‘cheese wire’ thongs are behind me (excuse the pun) so I prefer pants with more coverage, although I still like to avoid the dreaded VPL when wearing trousers, so I will always look for pants that are seamless.   M&S remains my chosen destination for everyday wear as they do offer a pretty good range, at affordable prices. Photo courtesy of Bravissimo As for bra’s, ...

Courtesy of Figleaves It’s time to start thinking about your summer break and for many that will be a beach holiday.  With that in mind it seems the perfect time to offer some advice on finding your perfect swimwear.  For me the days of wearing a skimpy bikini are far behind me, so I’m delighted that there are so many more options these days for those of us who want to cover up our midriff.  Many of you will continue to opt for a bikini to ensure you get a great tan (taking the appropriate precautions to stay safe in the sun of course), and to show off the hard work you’ve put in to keep your body looking ‘beach ready’. No matter what your shape and size, there is something available for everyone, so knowing how to flatter your body shape in this most exposing of garments will help you feel more confident.  There are a number of ‘illusions’ you can employ to help your body look more slender and gorgeous.  So, whether you are heading to Bournemouth or Bar...

With May just around the corner you are probably starting to think about that upcoming summer holiday.  With  holidays comes the dreaded question of what to pack and what to leave out. I would be lying if I said that I have never been one of those women who takes everything but the kitchen sink when I go away.  My husband can testify to my ‘just in case’ packing style over the years.  Thankfully, since I changed my career from PA to Image Consultant, my packing habits have changed for the better and I’ve learnt the simple formula of the capsule wardrobe. If you are lucky enough to be heading to a port this summer, about to set off on a cruise, you are probably only limited by how many cases you can cram into your car or taxi.  However, with the airlines’ habit of reducing the weight allowance for hold baggage, as well as tight restrictions on hand luggage, we all need to consider the capsule wardrobe concept.  So where do you start? Capsule ...

Stripes are one of the regular trends for spring, and this year is no exception.  The Breton style top is a classic – the perfect spring look.  However, stripes can be notoriously difficult to wear- get it wrong and you could look and feel much larger than you really are.  But get it right and you could look fabulous, as well as bang on trend this spring.  With some clever tricks it is perfectly possible to wear stripes without looking as if you’ve piled on the pounds.  Follow my advice and you won’t go far wrong. As a general rule, vertical lines will appear to elongate your body, so if you are petite or have a fuller figure this can help you to look taller and slimmer.  Conversely, a horizontal stripe will appear to widen and shorten your body and is therefore more appropriate for taller, leaner bodies. Understanding your body shape will help you to determine how to wear stripes to get the best, most flattering, overall look.  I’ve set out h...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin That’s what I was told by my Mum when I was growing up.  She was insistent that being a redhead meant that wearing the colour red was an absolute no-no!  As a result I have spent most of my life avoiding the colour, and not just wearing it – I have avoided red in any form, including my car.  Since having a mini colour analysis about 15 years ago, I realised that red comes in many shades.  I know, that sounds pretty crazy – all colours come in different shades, I was just blind when it came to red. My point is that this is a common problem I come across when meeting a new client for a colour analysis consultation.  There will regularly be a colour that they don’t like, most often it’s green (my absolute favourite) and when I question this dislike it can be something that has been projected onto them by someone else (as in my case), it could have been a school colour, or some other reason. Changing someone’s opinio...

You have probably heard it said that it takes just seconds to make a great first impression, and it’s true.  Whether we are aware of it or not, we all decide how to treat people we meet for the first time on the basis of how that person looks.  You will take into consideration how they look, what they are wearing, their posture, and how appropriately they behave, all in a matter of seconds.  Of course, everyone who meets you for the first time will be doing exactly the same.   So whether you are looking for a new job, about to go on a first date, or hoping for a free upgrade on your next flight, there are lots of things to consider to give you a better chance of achieving your goal. I’m not going to get into the deportment or behaviour side of things here, I’ll just concentrate of the way we dress and the fact that what we wear tells other people how to treat us. A classic example of this in films is the scene in Pretty Women when Julia Roberts’ character ...