Because nothing looks prettier than a slick of summery lip colour against glowing skin. And it also shows that you understand the difference between a serious berry shade, which works a treat in January, and something much more playful. Here are my five favourites for this summer.

First up is the utterly gorgeous Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (£16) from Clarins. When I first saw this, I thought the light shades wouldn’t be for me, but this is not really a lip colour as such. It’s almost like a balm meets highlighter: creamy, iridescent and flattering. This one is ‘Rose Shimmer’, a gorgeous pinky sheen.

Next is something from a brand called Lily Lolo, who I’m rather taken with. All their makeup is made in the UK, and they steer clear of harmful chemicals found in a lot of cosmetics. Their Lip Slick (£7.29) is another super-sheer summer choice. I like ‘Scandalips’, a zingy pink. It tastes like chocolate and is not remotely sticky, either.

Revlon’s Babystick (in ‘Tahitian’, £6.99) is probably the only lip colour I’ll take on holiday this year – and the only blusher. It’s one of those genius ‘multiples’, and I can’t decide which I like best, the oh-so-subtle cheek glow it gives you or the fab, semi-matte lip tint. Delish.

When I need a bit more oomph on a summer evening, my new go-to is the Lip 4 Palette in ‘Ballet’ (£8.99) from Sleek MakeUP. It’s very clever, containing not just four shades that you can wear individually or mix up, but three finishes: matte, satin and gloss. The colours are all pigment-packed too, so really last. And all in a cute little mirror palette, for under a tenner? Ace.

Summer isn’t just a time for pale pinks and sheer shimmers. Nothing looks hotter with a bit of a glow than a crimson pair of smackers. My new red is from bareMinerals: Marvelous Moxie Lipstick (£16) in ‘Live it up’. This has made red lips do-able for me, because it doesn’t go on your teeth, feather or smudge and yet it’s silky not dry. Smile, it’s summer at last…

If you are planning to jet off anytime soon ensure you take these holiday hair essentials with you… 

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It may not be the balmy summer that we’d hoped for, but us Brit’s won’t be deterred by a bit of wind, rain and cold so embrace summer with All Saints Road shopping event.

Between 21 and 22 June, one of London’s most historic streets in London will transform into a festival of activities, offers, classes, street food, entertainment and of course…shopping.

As one of the last independent retail streets in London, All Saints Road are celebrating and inviting the whole of London to stop by with friends and family to share the history of one of the city’s most iconic streets.

From rum tasting and cocktails at the Rum Kitchen to guitar stringing lessons at iconic Portobello Music, you can indulge in a range of activities. For fashion and jewellery, The Jacksons, Lime Green Bow and Venusrox will be offering special discounts over the two day event, allowing you to buy one of a kind treasures for less.

The perfect way to welcome the weekend, the two day event will start at 6pm on Friday 21 June with a festival of live music, street food and venue events. Continuing the following day, the event will kick off at 10am until 6pm, offering children’s activities from Candy Miliner and Bicycle Workshop as well as master classes for the adults on how to dress your windows from Prêt á Vivre and a talk from the Abras Gallery on how to look after your heirlooms.

For more information visit www.allsaintsroad.co.uk.

Click here to see StyleNest’s roundup of the best balance bikes for kids. 

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Katie Hillier Whisker Bunny Hair Band, £35 at giftlab.com

Searching for the perfect present for the man or woman that has everything just got easier, with online store Gift Lab.

We’re strong campaigners of shopping from the sofa here at StyleNest, but when it comes to gifts, shopping online can sometimes be tricky. Thanks to online gifting site, Gift Lab, searching for the perfect pressie for a friend or family member just got easier.

Stocking a wealth of lust-after labels from Anya Hindmarch to Alexander McQueen, gorgeous children’s brands from Tartine et Chocolat to Li Design, Gift Lab is a one-stop shop for all your present dilemmas.

The site is easy to use, separating gifts for him and her, little ones, gifts for the home, accessories and more. The price points are quite high thanks to Gift Lab’s great buying taste, so head here if you’re after a special birthday, Christmas or anniversary gift.

We’ve got our eye on the quirky humour of Hillier jewellery, one of Gift Lab’s hottest brands. Accessories designer Katie Hillier, who has worked for the likes of Luella and Marc Jacobs and has her own eponymous label, offers cute and kitsch hair accessories and jewellery emblazoned with adorable bunnies and rainbow details. The bunny hair clips would make the perfect gift for a discerning fashion fan.

For him, Gift Lab has a keen eye for a stylish man bag, with dapper leather styles from the likes of Dunhill and Travel Teq, as well as sportier options from British label, Harry’s of London.

And for even the smallest member of the family, there’s plenty of pressie ideas on offer. The Conran Shop’s wooden car spoons will make mealtimes more fun for toddlers, whilst quirky brand Toto Knits make adorable knitted animal sweaters for girls and boys complete with cute little woollen ears.

Whoever you’re buying for this season, you’ll never need to leave the sofa again, as Gift Lab brings the best presents straight to your door.

www.giftlab.com

For more fashion roundups, trends and news visit the StyleNest Fashion channel here.

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To celebrate the launch of brand new swimwear brand Nikki Cooke, we’re giving away three of their gorgeous retro inspired, red Eliza one-pieces.

Nikki Cooke’s designs celebrate real women with curves (sizes 10-14), so embrace your hourglass hips, your full bust and take to the beach or pool with confidence and style.

Pushing the boundaries of design and technology, Nikki Cooke’s swimwear collection is crafted here in the UK using skilled lingerie producers, so each piece fits perfectly. Unlike most swimwear designs for girls with curves, Nikki Cooke uses no underwire to support, rather the designs offer structure and comfort with a soft cup and clever design tricks. This not only holds everything in the right place, but ensures you feel comfortable whether swimming in the pool or strolling down the beach.

The 50s style Eliza swimsuit from Nikki Cooke’s SS13 collection is perfectly on trend for this season’s beach style. The cleverly designed drop-down straps are great for achieving an over all tan, whilst the built-in Xtra Life LYCRAÒ gives optimal resistance to chlorine so the colour won’t fade.

Beachwear has never come with such confidence.

www.nikkicookedesign.co.uk

To be in with a chance of winning one of three Nikki Cooke Eliza Swimsuits worth £99 each, simply enter your details below.

Terms & Conditions

• Please click here for full StyleNest Terms & Conditions.
• Competition opens 19.06.2013 and closes 17.07.2013
• Automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified
• The winners will be the first correct entry drawn after the closing date
• The prize is non-transferrable and there is no cash alternative
• Prize may be subject to size and availability
• Entrants may be contacted by StyleNest and Nikki Cooke once the competition has closed

 For more inspirations on what to wear on the beach or by the pool, check out our Get the Look: Vintage Beach Style piece here. 

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This tasty soup is the ideal option if you are looking to increase nutrient intake and decrease your intake of carbs this summer. Rich in beta carotene which helps maintain good eyesight, you can store this soup in a flask for work or serve as a starter at a dinner party. Whatever you decide it is guaranteed to be delicious.

Serves 4

Cooking time: 25 – 30 mins

What You’ll Need:

• 6 small ripe tomatoes
• 10-12 saffron threads
• 2 tablespoons light olive oil
• 450g carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 level teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 level teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 litre chicken or vegetable stock
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• A good squeeze of fresh orange juice
• 1 level teaspoon whole cumin seeds (optional)
• 1 small carton low fat creme fraiche (optional)

What To Do:

• Make the tomato crisps the day/night before if using (see below for method). Put the saffron threads in 2 tablespoons warm water and leave aside.

• Warm the oil in a large pan, add the carrots, onion and garlic and saute gently until they begin to soften (don’t let them brown). Add the ground cumin and coriander and cook, stirring for a couple of minutes, add the strained saffron liquor and the stock and bring slowly to the boil.

• Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes or until the carrots are tender. Transfer to a liquidiser and blitz thoroughly until the soup is very smooth and frothy. Pass through a sieve before returning to a clean pot. Heat through, check the seasoning and add the orange juice.

• To serve, dry-fry the cumin seeds briefly in a pan until they begin to pop, ladle the soup into bowls, top each with a good dollop of creme fraiche, if using, scatter with a few roasted cumin seeds and serve the tomato crisps alongside or on top.

Tomato Crisps

• Heat the oven to its lowest setting. Thinly slice the tomatoes, discarding the end slices and place the rest on kitchen foil brushed with a little olive oil on a roasting tray. Don’t let the slices touch.

• Place in the middle of the oven and leave until the tomatoes are crisp and dry (around 5-7 hours). Test one by snapping it in half. The colour will have dulled slightly but the slices will be glossy. Lift them off the foil carefully with a spatula.

Recipe from Soup Can Make You Thin, written by Fiona Kirk & Jean Barr

Have a look at our popular drinks recipe of the week if you are looking to unwind this evening. 

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Get in the swing of things this summer and celebrate the start of Britain’s finest sporting events, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships with Wimbledon Themed Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House.

This summer, Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel is hosting the tennis tea, filled with a host of treats fit for the royals.

From Monday 17 June, you can indulge with finger sandwiches, pastries and of course…home baked scones. The perfect way to kick off a season of summer sports, the Wimbledon Themed Afternoon Tea makes for a perfect way to get the games off to a winning start.

From £34.50 per person, the Wimbledon Afternoon Tea Menu comprises of a selection of finger sandwiches including; Cucumber with Mint Butter, Loch Fyne Smoked Scottish Salmon with Cream Cheese and Dill, Chopped Ham with Somerset Cheddar, Coldwater Prawns with Marie Rose Sauce and Smoked Chicken with Tarragon. Synonymous of the British traditions of strawberries and cream, indulge in Home Made Scones with Devonshire Clotted Cream and Strawberry Jam, followed by a selection of Afternoon Tea Pastries including Champagne Jelly with Seasonal Berries, Pistachio Macaroon, Chocolate and Orange Cream Roulade and Miniature Victoria Sponge. Wash it all down with a traditional cup of tea or bubbly glass of champagne for the ultimate Wimbledon experience.

With views of leafy Hyde Park, Grosvenor House is located on London’s famous Hyde Park. A stone’s throw form the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and the luxury shops of Bond Street, Grosvenor House has been a favourite amongst locals and visitors since 1929.

Quintessentially British, the Wimbledon Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to start your summer with a bounce.

Wimbledon Afternoon Tea is available between 17 June until 12 July. Wimbledon goers will receive a complimentary glass of champagne when presenting your valid ticket.

For more information visit www.londongrosvenorhouse.co.uk.

Click here to read about Gin & Jazz night.

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Prepare to fall in love with whimsical website for little ones, Carousel.

Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, let StyleNest introduce to you a gorgeous new circus inspired children’s store, Carousel.

Delving deep inside the wonders of childhood, imagination and play, Carousel stocks the finest in toys, gifts, décor and dressing up pieces for little girls and boys. Add to that, a design-led, stylishly curated site, Carousel not only stocks product little ones will love, but offers a place were big kids can enjoy to shop too.

All of the products stocked at the online store, be it a traditional wooden toy or a cute party bag toy come with timeless charm. Choosing design detail over branding, the site is a joy to explore, sprinkled with whimsical moustache and cloud motifs, fashion-led campaign shots and products just waiting to be Instagrammed.

Toys and gifts are cleverly separated into helpful sections, like the sweetly named ‘pocket money toys’ department. Thrifty little ones can spend their hard saved cash on anything from a comedy clown nose at just 75p, to an adorable London bus notebook if they’re splashing out with a fiver.

Whilst mum and dad can take the stress off the children’s birthday parties in the ‘party bag’ ideas department, which is brimming with the quirky to the classic, like a traditional jumping frog toy or a must-have party whistle. And ensure the theme of their party is complete with everything from toadstool candles to pretty bunting, retro party hats to kaleidoscope colour confetti.

Carousel is ideal for gift inspiration too. Little ones will love the Giant Colouring Page which is essentially a wall-sized colouring book page to let pint-sized Hockneys explore their creative side. Or, if you’ve got a little thespian on your hands treat them to the Mouche Silver Wizard Cape that is sure to become a treasured item in the dressing up box.

If you’re after style that never grows up, Carousel is the one-stop shop for you and your little ones.

carousel-carousel.com

Click here to visit StyleNest’s Best of Childrenswear page for the coolest and cutest looks for boys, girls and babies.

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Treat yourself to a delicious Italian-style chicken, basil and pesto salad. Filled with protein and proteins this gourmet salad is a tasty and healthy weekday meal option. Perfect if you are looking to get beach-body ready. 

Serves 2 

Cooking time: 15 mins

What You’ll Need: 

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup; olive oil
• 1/4 cup; white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons; Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon; garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon; fresh ground pepper

Salad:

• 2 each (6-ounce); chicken breast
• Olive oil
• To taste; salt and pepper
• 1 (5-ounce) bag; ready-to-serve Italian blend, mixed greens
• 1/2 cup; grape tomatoes, halved
• 8 each; fresh mozzarella baby bocconcini
• 1 1/2 (80g) bags of Fresh Gourmet^® Basil Pesto Ciabatta Croutons

What To Do: 

• In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients. Whisk until well blended. Refrigerate covered, until ready to use.

• Brush both sides of chicken breasts with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Grill until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°F. Remove from grill and let stand for 10 minutes. Slice into 1/4-inch pieces.

• Mix greens, tomatoes, mozzarella and chicken with prepared dressing until well coated.

• Move to serving plate. Top salad with Fresh Gourmet^® Basil Pesto Ciabatta Croutons.

Recipe from freshgourmet.com

Why not try a smoothie for dessert?

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Alice + Olivia at Austique

London boutique Austique opens its third London based store in trendy Notting Hill this June, alongside the already successful Marylebone and Chelsea boutiques.

If you think London’s shopping streets are spoilt for choice when it comes to sourcing new and exciting fashion brands, you haven’t come across Austique. The London boutique, which now boasts three standalone stores, manages to seek out unknown or hard to find labels and bring them to the Capital’s fashion hungry shoppers.

The result is a beautiful edit of global brands, from New York label of the moment, Parker, to chic Parisian jewellery brand Philippe Audibert. Expect to find some old favourites too, like Markus Lupfer’s whimsical knitted sweaters and glamourous Zimmerman swimwear, perfect with holiday season approaching.

Austique has earned itself some celebrity followers since its first store opening back in 2004 including Sienna Miller, Cara Delevigne and the Duchess of Cambridge. If you’re not in the city however, Austique’s edit can be shopped from the comfort of your own home in their online store, as well as the brand’s very own eponymous label.

The Austique own brand line comprises a capsule-style collection of modern wardrobe must-haves, from the classic wrap dress to fine summer knits. Designed and made in Britain using the finest fabrics and with a nod to current trends, Austique is sure to become a heritage brand in its own right.

This season however, there’s plenty to choose from across the site. We’ve already popped the Tibi Star Print Dress on our boardroom to bar wish list, and are lusting after the Austique Baseball Fine Knit Sweater for a sporty summer cover-up.

Austique has stores in London’s Marylebone, Chelsea and the recently opened Notting Hill store at, 79-81 Ledbury Road, W11, or you can shop online at www.austique.co.uk

See which secret London hotspots the StyleNest team love in our roundup of Unknown London. 

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Ensure your little one’s don’t forget their favourite toys with StyleNest roundup of the pick of the best new season kid’s backpacks. From stylishly see-through to feminine florals, StyleNest have cherry-picked a rucksack to suit every little one’s style.

If going away sounds like a stressful/daunting prospect see our best staycation spots.

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