Beauty Spot

Valentine's Gift Ideas - For Him & Her

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Big, massive pink and red hearts everywhere, florists proudly displaying big fat velvety roses by the dozen and aisles in the supermarket dedicated to a certain romantic day. Yes, it’s that special day for all lovers and loved up alike and its fast approaching, celebrated by young and old and everyone in between.The 14th of February is approaching - Valentine's Day.

Actually it’s technically known as St Valentine’s Day and has been celebrated on the 14^th February since the middle ages. Admittedly gifts have moved on from giving yaks milk, wild herbs and honey, however with more choice available, it makes choosing the perfect gift for that special someone even harder.

Don't worry, I'm here to help! I’ve compiled a list of some fabulous gifts for him and her. These gifts are tailored to all budgets and are appropriate whether you've been together 2 weeks or 2 years.

Flowers are a popular gift for Valentine’s day so I’ve sectioned the age groups for male and female into flowers, in the spirit of all things romantic of course.

Ladies: 14-25 = Daisies, sunshine and laughter, symbolical of daisy chains.

Ladies: 25-45 = Lilies, full of grace and utterly beautiful.

Ladies: 45 and up = Roses, beautiful, sophisticated and romantic.

Men: 14-25 = Lotus, not the car. Robust and charming.

Men: 25-45 = Carnation, full of meaning and handsome.

Men: 45 and up = Thistle, a flower that is strong, confident and distinguished.

For those looking for a gift for someone they have just met, or for someone who may or may not know you exist here’s some gift ideas to help you get started. The danger is not being too extravagant and thus appearing overly keen and yet not losing sight of the romance. Or for those on a budget, who won’t let a lack of funds get in the way of romance, look no further. The savvy romantic knows to shop at Semichem!

Gifts for Her

Daisies: the gift has to be bold, young and fresh just like her, TFB By Tulisa (£12.49 for 50ml) ticks all the boxes.

Lilies: Beautiful, feminine and with a spring in her step your lady deserves a perfume just like her, Armand Basi Lovely Blossom (£10.99 for 30ml)

Roses: For the woman who has style, class and a twinkle of mischief in her eye get Giorgio Beverly Hills G Georgio (£9.99 for 90ml) she won’t be disappointed.

Gifts for Him:

Lotus: He’s young he’s hip and he knows his stuff so I’d recommend Lynx Africa Gift Set (£3.99).

Carnations: For the man on the go and a gift great for those romantic weekends away try Dove Men + Care Premium Wash Bag (£9.99) then drop a hint you would like a break in Paris or New York (a girl can dream you know).

Thistles: When this man walks into the room everyone feels the presence of distinction and confidence that only age brings. He’s old fashioned in romance, but boy is he modern in life - treat your man to Lacoste Elegance (£12.99 for 30ml).

So, you’ve been dating a while, you two are officially a couple, oh come on let’s not be modest you guys are the “it” couple amongst your friends. Love is permanently in the air and that’s because you know how to keep things fresh and that involves a hefty dose of romance. Or if it’s simply because you can stretch the budget a little bit more and you know that it’s more romantic to get the things your partner wants or needs rather than playing it safe, go for the following suggestions.

Gifts for Her:

Daisies: You bought her the CD, the download and his concert ticket. Now impress her with his absolutely stunning new perfume Justin Bieber Someday (£19.99 for 30ml), she may just put your poster up next to his!

Lilies: This is a lady who knows how to look good, she’s beautiful inside and out but knows how to maintain herself. Earn yourself major “brownie” points by gifting Fake Bake Instant Self Tan (£27.45) but don’t forget the flowers and chocolates!

Roses: She has that eternal grace and poise that makes her beautiful and elegant. You will love her for an eternity so the perfect gift choice has to be Calvin Klein Eternity Moment (£26.99 for 100ml) and watch her face light up.

Gifts for Him:

Lotus: You think your boyfriend is gorgeous so keep him that way and invest in a Gillette Fusion Proglide Gel Gift Set (£9.99), show him you can be as smooth as his face will be.

Carnations: For the man who likes to get about, with you that is, how about this Gliacci suitcase in black (22” £19.99)? It goes perfectly with his surprise weekend away trip he got you!

Thistle: For the man who loves plain old fashioned romance and prefers to keep things simple, get him Aramis Aftershave Gift Set (£38.99) a classic aftershave that’s stood the test of time just like your man.

Introducing Beauty Expert Elaine...

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Semichem are proud to introduce our new beauty editor and expert, Elaine. Elaine is a thirty something Scottish make-up artist, beauty therapist and stylist.

After gathering a wealth of beauty knowledge over the past 12 years, Elaine has experience with many high end brands such as Benefit, Guerlain and Origins. Her vast amount of work, which includes styling fashion photo shoots, has given Elaine a unique insight into the world of beauty.

Elaine knows all the secret hints and tips used by the experts and professionals. Beauty isn't generic and needs to be tailored to an individual. Having the right skin routine or on trend product doesn't need to cost the earth, which is why Elaine loves Semichem products so much!

"I've got loads of little hints and tips that I cannot wait to share with you all! As much as I know about beauty, I've had my fair share of dilemmas along the way which I'll tell you all about! My advice won't only have you looking great, but will have you feeling fantastic as well! Semichem have a good range of products that are great value and suit all budgets."

We're delighted to have Elaine on board. Make sure to like Semichem on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep updated with all of the latest beauty advice and trends. Why not take the time to welcome Elaine in a comment below?

The Semichem 50% Sale: Now On!

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:29:00 GMT

Well, Christmas is all over. The decorations are all down, the diets have begun, and no-one’s got any money (well, not much anyway). We here at Semichem are just the same, which is why we thought now would be a great time for us to offer our customers great prices on some of our most popular products, available now at half of their original asking price. If you didn’t get a tonne of smellies for Christmas, now’s the time to compensate!

In the aftershave area of things, there’s some great products up for grabs. There’s the rather classy Eternity by Calvin Klein (quite the suitable name if the new year has you feeling a bit over the hill), now on sale for just £15.00, Beckham’s renowned ‘Intimately’ gift set, now under £10, and the astoundingly popular Dolce & Gabbana Light & Blue, a huge saving of £18 of the original pricing.

If you’re after a new perfume either for yourself or that special lady in your life, on the other hand, you’re just as catered for. One of the biggest savings that’s available is the excellent ‘Unforgivable’ from Sean John, which has a massive £23 knocked off the RRP, bringing it down to a nicely affordable £9.90. As well as this, the Beckhams continue their presence with the female version of ‘Intimately’, and Paris Hilton makes some noise (as per usual) with her ‘Can Can’ perfume, both of these celebrity scents now down to under £10.

To be taken straight to the Semichem 50% sale page, click the link here.
And a Happy New Year from all of us!

Battle of the Fake Tans

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:12:00 GMT

So now that you’ve read my 10 Fake Tan Tips, if not, then what are you waiting for?

You’ll be looking for the perfect fake tanning product. There are lots of options available, from gradual moisturisers to full on fake tan mousses, but which one is right for you?

First of all, to ensure a completely un-biased, and fair test I enlisted the help of my similarly pale skinned friend, Emily. Therefore all tanning products have been applied to clean arms, free of any other product build up.
All tanning products where applied using the same tips and technique from my 10 Fake Tan Tips blog.

Now that we’ve got the boring stuff out of the way, let’s get to the interesting part, the results!

Dove Summer Glow

You may be quick to disregard this as a self tan, but for those wanting a subtle tan, it’s perfect. Dove Summer Glow builds up over days to create a soft, naturally bronzed look, and it moisturises your skin too. For anyone dipping their toes into the world of tanning, this is fool proof.

Best For: Those wanting a subtle glow, or tanning beginners.

Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Wash Off Gel

Again, not your traditional fake tan, as this is a wash off tan. However the fact that you could wash off the tan actually appealed to me, as sometimes you just want a bit of colour about you for a night, without commitment.
Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer is also a gel formula, so it’s a lot more moisturising than normal fake tanning. I found this tan not as dark as my usual St Moriz, but again this may appeal to you if you’re looking for a subtle, no fuss tan.

Best For: Those wanting a tan only for a special occasion, very easy to wash off, and gives a lower strength tan.

St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mist

An alternative to the average mousse tanning, Emily found this applied more evenly than other products, and the fine spray stopped any patchy staining. The tan itself was faultless, though definitely more suited to those looking for a deep tan. That said, the tan was extremely natural, with not a hint of orange, it’s basically Barbados in a bottle.

Best For: Those looking for an alternative to mousse products, and a fine, even, deep tan.

St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse

The original and most loved tanning option. St Moriz has become a cult sensation, and for good reason, this tan is flawless, golden and streak free.
It’s easy to build up a healthy, natural yet bronzed look with this mousse, as it’s a simple, yet surprising wonder product.
St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse also comes in 2 shades, normal and dark, finally a product that caters for those with gorgeous dark skin.

Best For: I would recommend this product for those with a bit more confidence in tanning, and for those looking for a deeper tan.

What’s your favourite self-tanning product?
Max
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How To: Choose The Right Lipstick For You

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:25:00 GMT

Lipstick, a handbag staple that is worn worldwide, yet, I can’t help but think how many of us are getting it so wrong when it comes to the right shade?
If you feel you need a little help in choosing the correct lipstick for you, then read on.

Choose To Match The Occasion
What’s the occasion? Formal? Day? Evening?
You don’t want too look to overdone, but at the same time, you want to show you’ve made an effort with your look.
I recommend sticking to paler pinks and neutrals for daytime, and just let your natural glow take focus.
For day, you can’t go wrong with Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 03, the perfect nude, yet still pinky enough to not leave the skin looking ashy.
If you’re heading to a wedding, and don’t want to upstage the bride, opt for a subtle baby pink, like Rimmel Lasting Finish in Pink Blush, 006.

Pink Blush suits most skin-tones, and is an easy to wear colour that can be applied without a mirror, always a plus!
However, if you want to make an impact on a night out, break all the rules and go for a dark purple. Again, you really can’t beat the Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, this time with Lasting Finish Lipstick in Shade 04.

A gorgeous deep matte berry, that really packs a punch, team it with a smoky gold eye as not to overpower the look.

Choose To Match Your Skin-Tone
Firstly, it goes without saying, that before you can match make-up to your skin tone, you need to know what your skin tone actually is.
As a general rule paler skinned people tend to be cool-toned, and those with darker, or naturally tanned skin are normally warm toned.
If you have trouble deciding which skin-tone you have, try this quick test; raid your kids, little sibling or office supply cupboard, and grab a pink sheet of paper, and a yellow sheet. One by one, hold the coloured paper to you face, if your face blends better with the pink, and you have more pink and blue tones in your skin, then you are cool toned. If the yellow sheet of paper compliments your skin tone better, than you will have more golden and peach undertones, and therefore, be warm-toned.
Of course, you can be both, meaning you are neutral toned, and extremely lucky, as you can get away with most colours.
If you are cool-toned, berry, fuchia, and burgundy lipstick will clash well against your skin, but the perfect lip colour for you has to Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in Shade 01.

It’s a blue based red, deep, intense, and is matte too, so you get a pigmented long lasting colour pay off. I find blue based reds give a very retro, pin-up feel, and the blue tones help your teeth appear whiter.
However, if you’re warm-toned, try lipsticks than lean towards browns, golds, and mauves. A great everyday, neutral lipstick for your skin tone would definitely be to Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in Shade 08, a mauvey-gold with a little bit of pink, perfect to liven up your look.

Choose To Match Your Make-Up
I tend to stick to the most classic beauty rule in the book.
Lips or eyes.
Stick to a main theme in your look, then compliment it with your lipstick.
So when I want to unleash my inner 1940’s bombshell with a sexy red lip, I strip the eyes back to a simple kitten flick.
And, vice versa, when I’ve spent ages perfecting the ultimate smoky-eye, I don’t want to over power it with a bright coral, so I opt for a pale pink or neutral colour instead.

What’s your favourite lipstick shade?
Max
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How To Backcomb Your Hair

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:44:00 GMT

Backcombing is a trick every woman needs up her sleeve.
From rocking a simple quiff, to full on bouffant, backcombing is the key.

- Firstly, you need a good base. Backcombing can be very rough on your hair, so make sure it’s nurtured first, I like to use the Aussie Miracle Moist Range, then I don’t feel too bad about teasing my hair.
- I recommend leaving your hair, as least a couple of days before you backcomb; clean hair is too soft to hold any structure, whereas dirtier hair has oil to cling to.
- If your hair still needs a little help in mattifying, spray the roots and hair with a liberal amount of Batiste Dry Shampoo, and lightly brush.
- Next, section the hair, the amount of sections will depend on how thick your hair is and how extravagant you want your backcombing to be.
- Once you’ve sectioned your hair, take the bottom section, and spray a light mist of Elnett Hairspray onto the roots.
- Now, you can start on the actual backcombing, I use my QVS Antistatic Tail Comb (From QVS Family 4 Pack). Take a strip of hair, lift it up, and for extra volume, start to backcomb the hair from above and below. You don’t want to comb up all your hair, as then you’ll be left with no length.
- When you’ve finished one section, move on to the next, using the same technique, until you reach the top layers.
- If you want a bouncy crown, then focus on the crown in sections.
- If you’re going for voluminous loose hair, then only backcomb the underside of your top layers.
- When you feel your style is big enough, you can start to tidy it up a little, unless your going for the rock chick look, in which case, head on out the door.
- To clean up the look a little, take either a comb or brush and lighly brush the top layers, brush over the crown.
- Tease your hair a little, pulling out random sections for sexy style.
- To finish, give your hair a mist of hairspray, and if desired ruffle it up with your fingers.

Now, all that’s left to do is go forth, party, and rock your backcomb!
One final tip, try not to backcomb your hair too much, save it for special occasions and wow moments.
Don’t forget to use a strong shampoo to strip the product, and a luscious conditioner to put the moisture back in your locks.
Max
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Top 10 Beauty Products of 2011

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:13:00 GMT

It’s that time of year when we all get a bit nostalgic and look back on the year behind us,
or in my case, the beauty products that have really impressed me, and hit the mark.
Here are my favourite top 10 favourite beauty products of 2011.

Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in Shade 01
Hands down, no contest, my favourite lipstick of the year!
This lipstick is the perfect deep blood red, it’s a blue-toned shade, so it will also make your teeth appear whiter. It’s also a matte lipstick, which is incredibly on trend, and also long lasting. It’s rare to find a good quality, affordable matte lipstick on the high street, so I really love this collection, an expensive feel for a bargain budget.
Seen in FOTD here.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

A new, and limited edition product available in the Aussie range. As with all the Aussie 3 Minute Miracles, it leaves your hair soft, and extremely manageable.
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner, is enriched with Safflower Seed Oil, and helps transform dry, damaged hair into manageable, shiny locks.
The Aussie range was actually recommended to me by my hairdresser, and it really lives up to the hype!
Mini review here.

Garnier BB Cream
Quite possibly the most hyped product of the year;
promising to immediately perfect your skin, even skin tone, leave a healthy glow, blur redness and imperfections, smooth the appearance of fine lines, hydrate for 24 hours, all with SPF 15, sounds too good to be true?
It’s not, this really is a wonder product, not only leaving skin looking naturally radiant in one soft layer, but also treating skin care problems at the same time, really has to be tried to be believed.
Full review here.

QVS Soothing Gel Eye Mask
This product came in very useful for those nights when I was feeling stressed and over tired. Just pop it in the freezer fro 10-15 minutes, then take it out, wrap it over your eyes, and fall asleep while your eyes are coolingly soothed.
Prepare to wake up with fresh peepers!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush
As much as I love my trusty red lipstick, sometimes it can be a bit full-on. When I want a more natural look, or let a smoky-eye do the talking, I reach for Pink Blush.
It’s a semi-matte pale baby pink that has a real 1960’s Brigette Bardot kick to it, and Pink Blush can even, you guessed it, be doubled up as a cream blush.
See it in action here.

Colour Couture Love Colour Eye Make-Up Box
Quite simply, the only eye kit you’ll ever need.
Containing baked eye shadows in every colour from; pinks, golds, smoky purples, and also included; a soft applicator, and both a liquid and kohl liner.
The possibilities are endless with this kit, but my favourite look is a leopard-print eye.
See how to recreate it here.

Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Daily Facial Scrub

This scrub is bursting with zesty goodness, and really unclogs your pores, it also smells gorgeous, think fruity cocktails on the beach and you’re on the right track.

Simple Kind To Skin Exfoliating Body Wash
Suffer from ingroin hairs? Dry Skin? Or are you a fake tan addict?

This product treats it all, use before shaving, or just in your daily shower for soft skin, and a thorough clean.

Katy Perry Purr
Any perfume that was cute and kitty-shaped was always gonna win this crazy cat lady over, but my love for ‘Purr’ is a bit deeper than that.
At first sniff, it’s very girly and fruity, but not over-powering at all, the scent then settles to sweet vanilla and zesty bursting orange. It sounds weird to say, but the whole catwoman theme suits the fragrance perfectly, fun, girly, and a little bit sexy.
Have a peek at a mini review here.

Vaseline
An oldie but a goodie, not just a 2011 favourite, but a must-have of mine in general.
This year I looked beyond the lip uses and experimented with other beauty uses.
Eyelash enhancer? Brow Tamer? Cuticle Cream?
See all the uses for the wondertin here.

Are your favourites on the list?
Max

New Year Beauty Resolutions

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:02:00 GMT

It’s nearing January, time to look back on the year, our memories and our regrets.
I cringe a little when I look back at my make-up memories, can you believe I’d never even heard of contouring?
So this year, I’m taking a cold, hard look at my make-up bag, finding my beauty bad habits, and planning on how to change them.

Take Off Your Make-Up
You think after all this time I would have learned, but no.
I’m not gonna lie, after a few too many drinks, or a very long day, I can be a bit lazy, and sometimes, I’m a bit naughty and don’t reach for the face wipe.
It’s beauty blogger sin number 1, and boy do I pay for it.
For days afterwards my skin plays up and breaks out, and every time I say to myself, never again. This time I’m going to stick to my word, and not only take my make-up off at the end of the night with a face wipe, but also wash my face to remove any trace of make-up, at least, errr, that’s the sober plan.

Give Yourself A Little More Make-Up Me-Time
We all do it, faced with an extra 5 minutes in bed, or getting up to play around with make-up, we’ll always hit the snooze button.
But, if we got up a little bit earlier, it really could make all the difference.
Suddenly a whole new beauty world is opened up, defined brows, contouring, and highlighting can all be achieved with that little bit extra effort.
So next time, reach for the mirror, and not the alarm clock.

Drink More Water
Boring, I know, but I really do mean it. Water helps flush the toxins out, benefiting your skin, spots, and even your weight.
It’s so simple, and easy to change, you just need to get yourself in a habit.
Beauty starts from the inside, and those 2 litres of water per day will really improve your overall glow.

Experiment More
We’re all guilty of falling into the habit of what suits us, but your looks change over time, and even a new hair colour can completely throw your colouring off.
Get out of your beauty rut and shake-up your make-up!
Reach for that green eye shadow you’ve been hiding from and challenge yourself to make it work for you. So maybe it doesn’t look great plastered up to your eyebrows, but blend it over a black and grey to create a forest smoky-eye.
Or, switch up your product use, that coral lipstick may be a bit clown-like on the lips, so gently pat it on to the apples of your cheeks for a healthy blush.
You don’t need to buy a whole new make-up collection to break your beauty bad habits, just take risks and be imaginative with what you already have.

Good Luck,
and have a Happy New Year,
Max
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How To: French Nails, Fake Vs Painted

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:56:00 GMT

I’ll be honest, before I got ‘into’ beauty, the furthest I would go with my nails would be a slick of red polish, which I would leave on until it was bitten and chipped.
These days I’ve discovered a whole world of nail art, funky stripes, spots, and even on-trend leopard print,
click here to see my leopard nail art tutorial.
One thing I tend not to do is French nails, and I think that’s a real shame.
French nails are a classic, sleek, simple, and match with anything, so I finally decided to master the technique, and find a way to cheat.

French Nails: Using Nail Polish

This technique may seem fiddly, but by using the Madame Milly Kit, it couldn’t be easier.

No one, not even myself, can paint amazingly straight lines freehand, but this kit contains sticky strips which you can just paint over as template, simple!

- Firstly, file your nails to your liking, then paint them once using the MM Base Coat.

- Then, depending on how stained, or discoloured your real nail colour is, paint your nails once or twice with the MM French Pink Nail Polish.

- Let your nails dry for a while.
- Now, taking your nails stencils, apply a stencil to each nail just below your natural white tip, you can exaggerate your white tip make them look more even, or fuller. You can also re-use your nail strips on your other hand, just make sure they are reasonably clean, and still sticky.

- Paint your tips MM white, you may need two coats to be opaque. You don’t need to be too careful here, as any wobbly mistakes will be on your stencil, not your nail.
- Again, let your nails dry, as taking off the stickers straight away will peel the polish and leave it gloopy, or bumpy looking.

- When your nail polish is dry, gently peel off the stickers, and give your nails a MM top coat to seal the polish, add shine, and prevent chipping.

- When you’re ready to change your nails, just take off your polish as normal, using nail polish remover, and cotton wool pads. My favourite is Quickies Nail Polish Remover Pads, as they’re an all-in-one product.

French Nails: Using False Nails:
If you thought French Nails using Nail Polish was simple, then this will be a breeze.
- Just file your nails as normal, then while you still have your nail file, pick false nails that will fit your nail, and if they need resizing, just file them.
- I used Perfect 10 Instant Nails in ‘Wanderlust’, a French Nail with a curvy diagonal silver line. Although I could’ve picked a plain French Nail design, I found ‘Wanderlust’ more appealing as it was a design I would have struggled to paint on myself.

- Perfect 10 Nails also contain 24 nails of varying sizes, so you’re guaranteed to find a nails to suit you, and if you’re careful, you’ll get two sets of nails from one box!
- Once I had picked the false nail to suit each of my natural nails, I opened the glue, and carefully squeezed, then applied, the glue to the nail I was working on. Pick up the nail you want, then place on your natural nail, then push down and hold for around 10 seconds.

- You need to be really careful with the nail glue, it has an incredibly strong hold. Don’t make the same mistake I did and glue your fingers together!
- Use the same technique for each nail, and you’re done.

- The whole process took me less than 5 minutes, and would be extremely simple for a beginner.
- If any of your nails fall off, keep the nail if you can, clean the nail, and your natural nail, and reapply with nail glue. If you can’t find the nail, there’s plenty in the pack, so just use another one.
- The tricky part with false nails is taking them off. Don’t worry though, just fill a small bowl why Nail Polish Remover, and soak your fingers in the solution. You’re false nails will start to feel loose, then you can just life them off.

Nail Polish Vs Fake Nails
They both have their positives.
- False nails come in variety of unique designs, and surprisingly, are easier for nail art novices.

- However Nail Polish interferes less with everyday life, meaning you can wash dishes, cook dinner, and wash your hair, without having to worry about losing a nail.

- That said, false nails can give length and strength to weak or brittle nails, but you are masking the problem rather than treating it.

What do you prefer?
False Nails, or Nail Polish?
Max
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How To: Get Voluminous Party Hair

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The party season, the one time of the year when we don’t want out hair to let us down, but how can you get your hair to stay luscious while battling the rain, damp, and partying?

- With any good hairstyle, you need to prep your hair with a good base. Treat your hair with the Aussie Miracle Moist Range, making sure to leave your 3 minute Miracle on for at least 20 minutes, if you have time, to eliminate any frizz.
- If your hair is lacking in thickness or volume, then I really would recommend you leave your hair for a least a day to get a bit ‘dirty’, as oily hair has more texture, and holds styles better.

- However, if you really can’t bear having unwashed hair then give your hair a liberal spray with Batiste Dry Shampoo, and put mousse through the lengths.
- If you have to wash your hair, or you’re washing it in preparation the day before then blow dry you hair using the powerful Babyliss Dry and Curl 2100 Hairdryer.

Tip your head upside down, and dry, until the hair is around 70-80% dry, then finish off by lifting hair up from the root with a round brush, then smoothing the cuticle down while drying.
- Taking dry hair, section, and start to curl with the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler. My hair is extremely curly normally, though, unfortunately, it’s more of a frizzy curl than soft waves, any hint of humidity or damp, and it starts to frizz even more. Therefore, I find that by embracing the curl, instead of fighting it with straightening irons, it’s less noticeable when the style does loosen, or rebel.
- Section your hair, and start to curl from about a third of the way down, we’re wanting a sexy bedhead, not princess ringlets, so it doesn’t have to be perfect.
- If you need a little help with how to use the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler,

then watch my tutorial, here.
- When you’ve curled all your hair into soft waves, alternating the curls in different directions for a more natural look, then you can start to backcomb your hair.
- Before you start, tip your hair upside down again, ruffle your fingers through your curls to mess them up a little bit, and separate them, making more waves.
- Backcombing is a guaranteed way to add volume to your hair, but, done in the wrong way, and too often, it can damage your hair, so follow these tips from my backcombing blog.
- Section the hair, the amount of sections will depend on how thick your hair is and how extravagant you want your backcombing to be.
- Once you’ve sectioned your hair, take the bottom section, and spray a light mist of Elnett Hairspray onto the roots.
- Now, you can start on the actual backcombing, I use my QVS Antistatic Tail Comb (From QVS Family 4 Pack). Take a strip of hair, lift it up, and for extra volume, start to backcomb the hair from above and below. You don’t want to comb up all your hair, as then you’ll be left with no length.
- When you’ve finished one section, move on to the next, using the same technique, until you reach the top layers.
- If you want a bouncy crown, then focus on the crown in sections.
- If you’re going for voluminous loose hair, then only backcomb the underside of your top layers.
- When you feel your style is big enough, you can start to tidy it up a little, unless your going for the rock chick look, in which case, head on out the door.
- To clean up the look a little, take either a comb or brush and lighly brush the top layers, brush over the crown.
- Tease your hair a little, pulling out random sections for sexy style.
- To finish backcombing, give your hair a mist of hairspray, and if desired ruffle it up with your fingers.
- Before you leave the house, give your hair a spritz with VO5 Weather Resistant Volume Gel Spray, this is a lifesaver if you have frizzy, temperamental hair like me.
- To add extra shine for a special party, spray a little Toni & Guy Finishing Spray onto the hair, leaving you with luscious locks, and ready to party.

Go on, let your hair down!
Max
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How To: Spa At Home

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:40:00 GMT

Spas.
A luxury, girly experience, to be pampered off your feet, and treat your body.
But, let’s face it, they’re expensive.
Even a facial can set you back a whopping £50, and at this time of year, and who really has that to spend on themselves?
Christmas can be stressful, especially for mum’s, they need to be mummy, Santa, cook and cleaner, so I for one think they deserve a little bit of pampering.
But how can you get that spa experience on a budget?

Products Used:
Turbie Towel
Mudd Original Face Mask
Imperial Leather Japanese Spa Foamburst
QVS Soothing Gel Eye Mask
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner
Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Daily Facial Scrub
QVS Facial Cleansing Sponge
Simple Kind To Skin Exfoliating Body Wash
Massage Sponge

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo
Dove Summer Glow
Vaseline
Balance Active Formula Regenerating Night Cream
Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser

Method:
- Firstly, take your ‘Turbie Towel’ out of the packet, and lay on a radiator if you can, and put the ‘QVS Soothing Gel Mask’ in your freezer.
- Start running yourself a hot bath, add a little squirt of Imperial Leather Japanese Spa Foamburst into the water, and let it mix and foam. I love the smell of the foamburst, it really envokes floral spa in a bottle.
This product is extremely rich and luxurious, and the best part is you only need a tiny amount to produce a mountain of bubbles, it’s just not a bath without bubbles!
- While your bath is running, brush your hair, and apply a fair amount of ‘Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner’ to dry hair. It’s enriched with Safflower Seed Oil, and helps transform dry, damaged hair into manageable, shiny locks. By applying to dry hair more moisture is soaked up, and the effect is more intense. If you find it hard to distribute, just smother on, then brush through.
- Taking your, now hot, ‘Turbie Towel’, wrap your hair up. The hot towel will further activate your conditioner, and really penetrate the hair.
- Keeping an eye on your bath, pick up ‘Mudd Original Mask’ and apply over your face, paying notice to your t-zone. This mask worked a treat on my oily skin, the clay and minerals absorb excess oil, deeply embedded dirt and make-up. My skin was left feeling tighter, smoother, and really cleansed, I also noticed a reduction in my blackheads.

- Before entering the bath, take your eye mask out of the freezer.

- Step in the bath, wrap you cooling eye mask over your eyes, lie back and relax, while your conditioner, face mask, and eye mask work their magic.
- No need to worry about getting you’re your mudd mask over your eye mask, as the eye mask can be easily rinsed.
- When you feel pampered enough, and before you start to prune, take your eye mask off, and get to work.
- Rinse off your face mask, and apply ‘Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Daily Facial Scrub’ to your face, this scrub is bursting with fruity goodness, and really unclogs your pores.
- Squirt a little ‘Simple Kind To Skin Exfoliating Body Wash’ onto the massage sponge and rub over your body, working in circular motions. Depending on whether you are looking for a rough or gentle scrub, use either side of the massage sponge. If you suffer from dry skin or ingrown hairs this treatment will work wonders for your skin.
- Taking ‘QVS Facial Cleansing Sponge’, wash your face, working the beads into your skin. I was pleasantly surprised by the Sponge, when I saw it dry, I thought it may be hard or scratchy, but once wet its extremely soft, yet tough enough to unclog dirt from your skin. This sponge has completely replaced my face cloth, and it dries in no time too.
- Drain your bath water, and stand under your shower. Rinse your hair and body, then give your hair a quick wash with ‘Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo’, and another little blob of ‘Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner’.
- If you really want to give your skin a boost, and if you’re brave enough, rinse your hair and body alternating between as hot as you can stand, and as cold as you can stand, but always finish with ice cold water.
- Step out of the shower, dry off, never rubbing with a towel, but lightly patting off excess moisture.
- Pop your eye mask back in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Spa’s may offer a healthy glow, but sometimes a girl’s gotta fake it!
So to lock in moisture, and add a natural glow, smother ‘Dove Summer Glow’ onto your body. Don’t worry about looking too tanned, as the Dove is a gradual tanner build up.
- Taking your toothbrush, lightly brush your lips to remove any excess skin, and apply a layer of ‘Vaseline’.
- To repair skin cells, and add the moisture back into your skin, smooth ‘Balance Active Formula Regenerating Night Cream’ all over your face. This night cream is clinically proven to provide a more even skin tone and extra hydration. It also leaves skin looking, smoother and younger.
- If you have sensitive or oily skin, and think a night cream may be too heavy for your face, try a lighter alternative. I recommend ‘Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser’, it offers 12 hours moisturisation, is packed with vital vitamins, and contains no perfume, colour or unnecessary harsh chemicals, so it work upset your skin.
- When you’re ready for bed, (trust me, after all the pampering you will barely be able to keep your eyes open), collect your eye mask from the freezer, place over peepers, and prepare to wake up with refreshed eyes.

And there you have it, spa pampering and results at home, for less than the cost of one facial. I realise not everyone has an hour or so to spend on themselves, so try to adopt any of the techniques regularly whenever you have a spare ten minutes.
Everyone deserves a little bit of luxury, so go on, treat yourself.
Max
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Guest Post: Victoria Gaziano Talks Fragrance

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:06:00 GMT

Christina Aguilera- Inspire

With Christmas rapidly approaching nearer, time is running out to buy the perfect present for the females in your life. If you are buying for a teenager or young woman, Christina Aguilera’s Inspire perfume is the perfect gift that is sure to be appreciated. Boasting the tagline ‘follow your inspiration’ this perfume is not only a sure hit with Christina fans’, but women from all walks of life. Christina Aguilera, being a worldwide superstar, sold $50,000 worth of perfume in Macy’s department store, New York, after Christina’s appearance in 2008, when the perfume was first launched. Be sure to impress your loved one with this dazzling, inspirational perfume that is a best seller worldwide.

This extremely feminine perfume, has not only been packaged in a delicate, rose pink bottle that reflects the silhouette of the female figure, but has been designed with white florals and fruit notes and added notes of freesia. The perfume has been selectively created with Tuberose flower, one of Christina’s favourite scents to give the perfume a personalised, special extra. Beautifully scented and designed, this perfume is guaranteed to impress any female but especially a Christina fan. It can be worn throughout the day or as an evening scent that is sure to turn heads and be admired by friends and family. Impress friends and be envious of others with a scent that is sure to capture attentions.

So what are you waiting for? Buy Christina Aguilera’s Inspire today and be sure to add some glamour into somebody’s life with this individually inspiring scent. Click on the link below to be taken to the perfume page.

http://www.semichem.co.uk/p-3715-christina-aguilera-inspire-edp-100ml.aspx

Rihanna- Reb’l Fleur

Know a Rihanna fan or a female who is feisty, feminine and confident? If so, Rihanna’s Reb’l Fleur is the perfect perfume selection for you this Christmas. Rihanna is currently a worldwide famous, iconic recording artist. Producing a number one album and hit after hit, she is unstoppable. Semichem are now proud to announce the sale of Rihanna’s debut unmissable perfume; Reb’l Fleur.

The seductive and mysterious scent was given its name as Rihanna’s Grandma used to call her ‘Rebel Flower’. A reflection of Rihanna’s Barbados born roots, the perfume captures the scent of hibiscus with coconut. This current and sophisticated scent has been captured glamorously as the bottle denotes the shape of stiletto heel. Rihanna says, ‘’I believe a woman should dare to be different, willing to live her life for herself and not for other people. This fragrance is about my passion for individuality – being expressive and empowering, yes, but also emotional and intriguing. I promise you Reb’l Fleur will not be easily forgotten.’’

This fantastically iconic perfume is daring, sexy and unstoppably memorable. Capturing splashes of fruity chypre, sophisticated floral notes of tuberose, the exotic scents of hibiscus and violet and not to forget the coconut, be sure not to miss out on buying this number one best seller this Christmas.

This fresh individual perfume is sure to be a hit with Rihanna fans of all ages as well as females with confidence, sophistication and charisma. Guaranteed to bring a smile to her face, your loved one will be smelling glamorously fantastic this winter with this must have scent!

Already being one of our top celebrity best-selling scents, ensure to purchase Reb’l Fleur from the link below today and guarantee not to be disappointed.

http://www.semichem.co.uk/p-3563-rihanna-rebl-fleur-50ml.aspx

Justin Bieber- Someday

Justin Bieber is a current worldwide superstar and teen idol. After his vast success in the music industry, Justin has recently launched his very own perfume named Someday which is sure to capture any young girls heart.

This playful, young scent, has already become one of the best selling perfumes worldwide of 2011. Classed as ‘irresistible’ by the singer himself, this perfume is such a fantastic seller not only because of its designer but its enchanting scent.

Mandarin, pears and wild berries have been mixed with vanilla and soft musk to create this endearing fragrance. The bottle has been designed to represent a flower bursting from a vase and collectable charm is also included to add to the desire of the perfume and packaging.

Justin Bieber’s Someday perfume exceeded more than US$3 million in the first 3 weeks of sales in the US alone and is already selling by the hundreds upon thousands in the UK. For any Justin Bieber fan, this perfume is a must have.

With fragrances being such a popular present, be sure to browse and shop online at Semichem; a fantastic beauty emporium with a wide variety of choice and first class gift ideas. Purchase Someday from Semichem from the link below today.

http://www.semichem.co.uk/p-3790-justin-bieber-someday-edp-50ml.aspx

To view more of Victoria’s fashion advice, click the link here to be whisked away to her page.

How To: Get The Most From Your Conditioner

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:36:00 GMT

Even the best conditioners and hair masks in the world need a bit of help, just blobbing it on and rinsing is pretty useless, so how can you get the most from your conditioner?

- Choose the right conditioner: Sounds obvious but choose your conditioner on what you want to get out of it; do you want your hair to look more vibrant? Prevent colour fade? Treat damaged hair? Be light and non-greasy? These are all factor’s to take into account when choosing, by starting with the right basics you’ll be happier with the outcome.
- Heat up your conditioner: Please be safe when you are doing this, don’t just put the plastic bottle in a microwave and walk away. Get a small bowl, boil some water, pour in the bowl, wait for the water to cool slightly, then take your conditioner bottle, and place in the bowl for around 5 minutes. By heating the conditioner, you are starting to activate it, meaning it will penetrate the hair quicker.
- Use a cleansing shampoo: Hairsprays, serums, grease and general dirt can build up in your hair, and if your hair is already clogged with dirt, it will no longer absorb no product. Before you apply your conditioner, make sure your hair is fresh and clean by using a cleansing or stripping shampoo, which are specifically designed to remove build up. However, if you have coloured hair, it’s best to stay away from cleansing shampoos as they can strip the colour from your hair, use a normal or coloured shampoo instead.

- Apply your conditioner to specific areas: Greasy roots, but dry ends? Then only apply your conditioner from mid-lengths to ends, and leave your roots product free.
- Leave on for at least 3 minutes: I realise that we’re all busy, and just want to wash and go, but your conditioner needs time to get to work on the hair, you’ll notice the difference.
- Leave on for as long as possible: I’m not suggesting you walk around for days with your conditioner on, but even leaving it on for 20 minutes while soaking in the bath is great, if you can leave your conditioner on overnight, then even better, don’t forget to leave an old towel on your pillow though.
- Use Clingfilm: Apply your conditioner then wrap your hair in Clingfilm, your head heat will stay trapped, penetrating the conditioner, and creating your own hot treatment. If you really want to up the heat, leave a towel on the radiator beforehand, then wrap over your Clingfilm.
- Use Tinfoil: Again, please be careful. If you have a bleached blonde streak, or a coloured fringe flash that looks frazzled, apply the conditioner solely to that section, fold into tinfoil then carefully run over the foil with your straighteners, meaning you really penetrate the hair with a hot treatment.
- Holiday Hair: Hair frazzled by the sun, sea and pool? Apply your conditioner all over your hair, apply it to dry hair, then grab a good book, head to beach, or pool, and just sit back and soak up the rays while your conditioner treats and protects your hair.
- Always rinse with cold water: Sounds easier said than done, especially when you live in freezing Scotland like me. Rinsing with cold water not only adds shine, it also closes the pores, meaning your hair will get less oily throughout the week.
- Rinse thoroughly: We’ve all been there, in a rush, and not completely got rid of all the conditioner when washing. Excess conditioner can leave your hair greasy looking, dull, and sticky feeling, so be sure to rinse thoroughly until all residue is gone.

My favourite conditioner has to be Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner, it’s enriched with Safflower Seed Oil, and helps transform dry, damaged hair into manageable, shiny locks.
What’s your conditioner of choice?
Max
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Semichem Spotlight On... Tulisa

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:28:00 GMT

You’ll have had to have been hiding under a rock for the past year not to have heard of Tulisa Contostavlos.
After spending years underground in the Hip Hop/R&B band ‘N-Dubz’, with a very committed fan base, and several number ones, Tulisa finally sky rocketed into superstardom when she became a judge on the X Factor.
Taking over from the Nation’s Sweetheart, Cheryl Cole, was no mean feat, however Tulisa soon won us over with her feisty edge, honest opinion, and softer side.
We loved her so much, that we even voted for her X Factor act, Little Mix, to win the whole competition, taking not only the first girl group to win title, but the first group ever!
She’s not had it easy, caring for her mother throughout her life, overcoming depression, anorexia and bullying, and joining N-Dubz, with her cousin Dappy, at only 12 years old.
Tulisa’s came along way from her urban roots, forget tracksuits and trainers, these days your more likely to see Tulisa rocking Prada than Puma.
Her beauty looks have also grown-up, nowadays, Tulisa likes to keep things simple with her trademark eyeliner, shaking it up with either a nude or bold lip, accentuating her grey blue eyes.
I find all of her looks really wearable, but her make-up in this picture in particular is gorgeous, lightly tanned skin, matte, pale pink lips and lush lashes.

Products Used:
Base:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory
- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory
- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Contour:
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush
- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as highlighter)

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Liquid Eyeliner

- Eyeshadow, Shade 13

- Perfect 10 Instant Lashes

Lips:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush

Method:
- Apply your foundation as normal.
You can apply bronzer later to add a little tan, but always match your foundation to your natural skin tone, there is nothing worse than a tanned face and a tell-tale orange line around the jaw.
- I stuck with my trusty Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory. I applied with QVS Foundation Brush, I prefer applying with a brush as opposed to fingers as it’s more hygienic, and creates an even finish.

- Tulisa looks flawless here, but if you have a few imperfections just dab a little Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory.
You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then check out my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial. This concealor is also an illuminator, and can therefore be applied under the eyes, and across the cheekbones, to add a little light to your look.
- To set my base, I applied translucent powder, then gave a light sweep of Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze to give a healthy glow.
- To give the illusion of deep cheeks and hollow cheekbones, try contouring.
First start by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
- Tulisa loves her pink cheeks, but to keep it fresh, use a cream blush. Cream blushes can be expensive, so to save money, I double up my lipstick.
Just swipe a little Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush, onto the back of your hand, then pat some product onto the tips of your fingers and blend onto the apples of your cheeks.
- To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bones, et voila, instant cheekbones!

- You can also contour your forehead, apply bronzer/powder outwards from the temple, and your nose, contour either side of middle, and apply highlight on your T-Zone.
- Tulisa likes her brows to be strong, so start by combing your brow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair.
Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair. You may feel like your brow’s are too dark, or strong at the point, this is normal, once you have your ‘full face’ on, they will frame the face perfectly.
- Taking your liquid eyeliner, line your upper eyelid with a medium thick line, ending in a small flick diagonally towards the end of your brow. This technique is great for those sparse of eyelashes, as it gives the appearance of fuller lashes. Liquid eyeliner also prepares the eyes for false lashes.
- Blend your eyeliner with a small blending brush, or if you’re stuck, use a cotton bud, and apply a little bit of gold eyeshadow to the lower lash line.
- Tulisa is a huge fan of luscious lashes, not that you could tell, as they always look so naturally full.
I used Perfect 10 Instant Lashes, which focus more on length, making them noticeable for all the right reasons.
Take the lashes from the pack, bend them slightly in the middle, apply the glue, wait for it to go a little tacky, then just apply.
- To blend your lashes, apply a thin line of liquid eye liner over any gaps, and another coat of mascara.
- The lips have a little bit of Bridget Bardot about them, nudey pink with a matte finish.
You may need to bring your natural lip shade down, I applied a small dab of concealor to the lips, to make a skin colour.
- To finish, I then patted Rimmel Lipstick in Pink Blush to the lips, blending with the concealor.

Hair

- Tulisa’s go to look has to be long, soft waves, in her gorgeous, icy chocolate shade.
- To get the look, lightly curl your hair with the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler.
- Then, after giving a mist of hairspray to the tips of your fingers, tip your hair upside down, and run your fingers through it, separating and ruffling any tight curls.
- To add X Factor shine, spritz a little Toni & Guy Finishing Spray onto the hair.

Tulisa’s fiery attitude, determination, and strength are best reflected in her debut perfume, ‘The Female Boss’, named after her famous forearm tattoo.

Housed in a sleek, yet stylish purple bottle, the scent itself has top notes of subtle spices, gentle rose and sweet jasmine, delivering a sassy floral punch the lingering with a fruity musk.
Tulisa herself said, “I wanted a fragrance that I could relate to. This will really give girls the confidence to show the boys who’s boss!”, it certainly does!
The opinionated singer’s scent has been compared to Gucci Rush, and at only £16.29 for a 100ml bottle, it’s a whopping £40 cheaper!

I’ve really grown to admire Tulisa, she’s been through tough times, but always picks herself up, and proves who’s boss.
She’s shown you can be sexy, feminine, and feisty without having to wait around for a man.
I look forward to seeing more from the gorgeous Tulisa, and can’t wait to read her, just announced, autobiography.

Max
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Guest Post: Emporio Armani Diamonds For Women

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:15:00 GMT

Over the next few weeks, we here at Semichem are going to be introducing some guest bloggers to our pages. One of the most promising young writers on the scene is Andrea over at yournextperfume.com. He’s taken a look at one of the most popular fragrances in our range. Enjoy!

Emporio Armani Diamonds For Women

Is it fruity? Is it floral? So skillfully are the scents of Armani Diamonds blended together, you’ll be hard pushed to come up with a definitive answer to either question.

First created back in 2007, Diamonds is one of the last great creations to come from the hands of the legendary Thierry Wasser, who soon after creating it jumped ships to work with Guerlain. Needless to say, the scent is everything that we’ve come to expect from Wasser’s unique skill and vision.

The initial top notes are captivating and delicate, with a brief flash of citrus teasing the senses before the use of rose and lily-of-the-valley offer an entrancing floral scent that will truly grab the attention of anyone nearby. It’s a truly effective first impression.

No sooner has the floral top notes first made way, than the former citrusy fragrances once again return to offer heart notes of real sweetness, stemming from the bramble-like scents of raspberry and litchi that make up the central themes of the perfume.

For a fragrance that’s so rooted in maturity and delicacy, it’s amusing that the closest basis for comparison with this perfume is that of strawberry bubble-gum! However, don’t get the wrong idea: Diamonds is far more grown-up than this particular similarity might indicate. The comparison merely stems from the pure sweetness that the fruity notes portray.

Fortunately, the base notes provide the perfect companion to these unique traits, with both vanilla and amber used to further increase the delicacy and undeniable attractiveness of the perfume. A wonderful scent, and one whose transparency and subtlety is a definite lesson for the many more garish scents that are flooding the market!

You can read more of Andrea's perfume reviews at his blog here: yournextperfume.com

NOTD: Leopard Print Nail Art

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:30:00 GMT

Leopard Print, I love it!
If I could get away with dressing head to toe in animal print then I would.
Unfortunately Leopard Print gets a bad name as tacky and over the top, I think this is really unfair, and want to show you how to add a little bit of leopard to your life.
When worn in the right way, leopard print can be an eye catching accent, I like to add a printed belt or scarf to my look.
Here is a way you can add wild leopard print into your everyday look, with some bright, on-trend leopard nails!
And the best part is, no fancy nail art equipment needed!

Products Used:

- Rimmel I Love Lasting Finish Nail Polish in 045 Misty Jade

- Rimmel I Love Lasting Finish Nail Polish in 270 Hot Shot

- Rimmel I Love Lasting Finish Nail Polish in 180 Purple Pulse
- Black Liquid Eyeliner

- Hairspray
- Rimmel Pro Super Wear Topcoat

Method:
- Shape, file, and apply a base coat if you wish.

- Apply Misty Jade over all your nails, I chose Misty Jade as it is a light and bright colour. Your base colour needs to be light, otherwise your leopard print won’t be noticeable.

- Then, take your second colour, I chose Hot Shot, and, making sure you’re brush isn’t overloaded with polish, dots small splodges onto your nails.
Vary the sizes, it doesn’t have too look perfect, and will look better if it’s a bit mismatched.

- Using the same technique, you can apply another colour for your dots. As you can see I chose pink and purple dots as I knew they would clash with the jade green. Be creative, mix and match to let your spots stand out.

- I promised you that no fancy nail art tools were needed, and I’ve not let you down.
So trust me, and lightly spray your nails with hairspray.
- Let the hairspray, and nail polish, dry a little, then taking your black liquid eyeliner, draw around each nail polish dot in a disjointed triangle or circle.
Most liquid eyeliners come with a very slim, thin nib, meaning you can get very precise detail.
- The hairspray forms a base for the eyeliner to stick to, without the hairspray, the eyeliner would just slip off.

- As your liquid eyeliner is just make-up it will wash off easily, great if you make any mistakes, but not so good if you want your look to last.
- To seal the eyeliner, add shine, and prevent chipping, apply your topcoat.

These nails couldn’t be easier, most of us have a couple of shades of nail polish, a can of hairspray and liquid eyeliner somewhere in our beauty stash.
Switch up the colours, remembering to keep the base light and the dots clashing, and the possibilities are endless; yellow and pink, light blue and red, white and grey, or even classic light beige/yellow and brown.

Effortless and effective nail art!
Max
x

Semichem Spotlight On Rihanna

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:17:16 GMT

Rihanna a loud, good girl gone bad who’s not afraid to be wild.

Rihanna has just released her new album, ‘Talk That Talk’, and I for one think she is only gonna get bigger and bigger.
The Barbadian beauty burst on the scene in 2005 at the young age of only 17, and is one artist who loves to experiment.
Buzzcuts, to flaming locks, girl next door make-up to feisty smoking eyes.

My favourite look of Ri-Ri’s is taken from her ‘Loud’ album cover, it’s a toned down yet glam look, and she wears it so well.
Here’s how you can create the look on a semichem budget.

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

-Eyeshadow, Shade 13
- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva

- Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01

Method:

- Flawless skin is what makes the look, but if you don’t have Rihanna’s naturally perfect skin then just apply your foundation (I used Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory), with a foundation brush. By applying with a brush, you can create a more flawless and even finish. It’s also more hygienic, and as it dispenses the products more, you use less foundation, saving yourself money!
- Cover any spots, dark circles or blemishes with Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial. Be sure to hide any eye bags with your concealer, this concealer also illuminates, giving tired eyes a bit of light.
- Make sure to set your base with a translucent powder, and then lightly dust your face with Bronzer, paying more attention to areas that are naturally shaded.
- To give the appearance of Rihanna’s high cheekbones and sunken cheeks, softly contour your face by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
- Next, apply a peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks, meeting the soft contour line.
- To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bone, you’ll be left with naturally chiselled cheeks.
- If you have quite dark and well groomed brows then there is no need to touch them, but if you need a little help, just follow these tips.
- To define your brows, start by coming your eyebrow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair.
- If you wish, at this point you can just add a teeny sweep of gold/pale eyeshadow over your lid, just to the crease.
- Curl your lashes, and apply one coat of mascara over the top your lashes, then two coats as normal.

- Taking a red lip liner, very precisely line the lips, and then fill the whole lip in, this ensures a truer colour, and it helps your lipstick last longer.
- The Lipstick is what really makes this look, apply your lipstick straight from the bullet, the tube, ensuring you don’t go out with the lip line. If you make any mistakes, just dip a cotton bud in toner to clean, or use light swipe or your finger. I used Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01, from the Kate Moss Collection as it is a deep blood red, and is a matte lipstick which is incredibly on trend. It’s rare to find a good quality, affordable matte lipstick on the high street.

Hair:

- This album was produced at the time when Rihanna had very curly, fiery locks.
- If you’re looking for a similar colour then I recommend Country Colours Copper Red 58 from Schwarzkopf.
- However if you just want to mimic the style then mousse your hair before tighly curling it with Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler.

- Take very small sections, and do not brush them out afterwards, you want them to look rigid and spirally.

- To hold your curl, spray a medium layer of Elnett Hairspray over the hair.

Despite only being 23, Rihanna has already released 6 albums, and her debut fragrance, ‘Reb’l Fleur’.

Inspired by her neck tattoo, Rihanna’s perfume is as edgy and unforgettable as the woman herself.
The bottle, designed in the shape of a high heel, holds a fragrance bursting with Violets, Vanilla and Coconut Water.
It’s an exotic scent, much like her Barbadian roots.
This perfume also mixes grown-up sexy musk with a fresh and fruity on-trend smell.
As a big fan of the singer, I was not let down by this fragrance.

Are you a Rihanna fan?
Max
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Calvin Klein Fragrances: Thirty Years of Dominance

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:10:44 GMT

Here at Semichem, we’ve always been fans of Calvin Klein. The ‘CK’ brand has produced some of the finest aftershaves and perfumes that we’ve ever had the privilege of breathing in (though not literally – that would be rather dangerous). What’s been rather lost in the Christmas rush, though, is the fact that the first CK scent was released exactly thirty years ago this year. Yup, happy birthday indeed! To celebrate this rather momentous occasion in the world of perfume and aftershave, we thought we’d take a look at the past three decades, and pick out some of the highlights.

1981 – Calvin:

The beginning of it all, ‘Calvin’ was one of the most distinctive masculine fragrances to have appeared at the time. Released in a dark black and blue design, the feel was even then design to be on the retro side, and with the notes of bergamot and sandalwood, it became a truly iconic aftershave. Re-released in 1999 to celebrate the millennium, it enjoyed another two months at the top. An absolute icon, and the start of something very special.

1985/1986 – Obsession:

The advert campaign that launched a thousand spoofs. Obsession’s classic promotion of inner monologuing has been given the treatment even as recently as last year by the legends at Family Guy. It’s easy to forget that at the time, the advert was actually considered incredibly stylish and unique. Needless to say, the fragrance itself has passed into perfume and aftershave legend, to the extent that twenty-five years later, it’s still one of the most popular products on the market. Impressive stuff, needless to say.

1988/1989 – Eternity:

A rather fitting name for an aftershave and perfume range that are still going, well into the 21^st century, Eternity is one of the most enduringly popular products that we here at Semichem have ever seen. In the years since Eternity was first launched, the sense of style in the bottle has barely changed, meaning that anyone investing in the fragrance today will end up with exactly the same wonderfully floral scent that was first unleashed back in 1988. Superb.

1994 – One:

A history making fragrance, this one (if you’ll excuse the pun). One was the first Calvin Klein product designed to appeal to both male and female customers. When it comes to perfume and aftershave, this was most definitely no mean feat, but the CK brand managed to somehow make unisex perfumes seem sexy (no meat feat at the time). Still in production today, the fragrance is history in every sense of the word.

1997-1998 – Contradiction:
If ever there was a fitting name for a fragrance, this is most definitely it. Contradiction is one of the most divisive scents that the CK brand has ever released, with many enthusiasts still able to debate it’s values some fourteen years since it was first released. Managing to pack more notes than a Beethoven symphony into one small bottle, it was (and still is) a complete one-of-a-kind in the market. If Marmite had a fragrance, this would be it.

2003 – Crave:
It was fitting that the first notorious fragrance of the new millennium should have been one aimed at the 18-24 male demographic, obsessed as they are with technology and all things modern. Described as being fresh and sexy (although most aftershaves tend to be), Crave was actually discontinued less than three years after it’s initial launch. A rare mis-hit from CK, but one worth noting.

2007 – IN2U:
With a name like that, it came as no surprise when the marketing campaign for the latest CK aftershave was based entirely around complete modernity. Whilst Crave had dipped it’s toe into modern youth culture, IN2U flicked off it’s swimming shorts and jumped right in. Described in CKs own promotional materials as being for the ‘technosexual generation’, no unisex fragrance had ever thrown its name so firmly in the contemporary hat. The fact that it has already outlasted Crave in the longevity stakes indicate that the gamble was a wise one for CK to make.

2009 – Free:
The final significant CK launch of the noughties was quite simply the work of experts, doing what they do best. Whilst some of the notes that have made their way into the scent are detectable, the main fragrance is one of delicate dark fruitiness combined with the spice of cedarwood. Definitively masculine, it’s just the latest step in the constant evolution of the CK brand, managing to look both forwards and backwards at the same time.

2011 – One Shock:
In order to mark their thirty years of consistent achievement in the fragrance world, they evolved one of their most notorious fragrance. Created to work for both males and females, the ‘One Shock’ ranges took the delicacy architecture of ‘One’ and scrawled the modern world all over it. Without doubt a unique achievement, it continues to push the envelope as only this brand can.

To view the full range of Calvin Klein perfumes available at Semichem, click the link here.
And a happy birthday to a legendary company – here’s to many years to come!

How To Get The Hairstyle You Want

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:19:00 GMT

My hair is my security blanket.
And, I don’t know about you, but I literally plan any hair changes, cuts or colours for months in advance.
I’d love to be the kind of person who just wakes up one morning and decides to get a short bob, and by the end of the day they’re rocking their crop.
But, I’m not, I’m indecisive, and can take weeks to mull things over.

So what can you do to get dream locks, and not the barnet of nightmares?
Here are a few tips to ensure you get the hairstyle you want.

- Think about it; Sounds obvious but the more time you have to think about the look you want, the more time you have to weigh up the pro’s and con’s.

- Assess your hair; Before you can decide what will suit you, you need to realise what you already have. Do you have thick/thin hair? Curly/Wavy/Straight? Hair that gets greasy quickly?
If you have very thick, frizzy, curly hair, no matter how hard you try to style your hair, realistically a short Elfin Crop a la Carey Muligan or Emma Watson just isn’t going to work for you.

- Assess your looks; What do your looks have to do with your hair? Quite a lot actually, a good hair cut can help disguise certain features you may feel self conscious about, a full fringe can soften a big nose, or a high forehead, and vice versa, that razor sharp jawline crop you’ve been conveting, will only draw the eye to your chubby cheeks. You also need to look at your skin tone and natural hair colour.
I have dark eyes, dark eyebrows, with pale skin and dark roots, I was therefore advised by hairdresser against going blonde, as the root re-growth would be extremely high upkeep, and would be a huge commitment, which brings me to my next point.
- Consider your hairdresser’s advice; My hairdresser advised me that with my skin tone, freckles and natural hair colour, red hair would suit me well, and she was right!
It’s your hairdresser’s job to leave you with happy hair, if they think you’ll regret your pixie cut, take it on board.
- Stick up for yourself; On the other hand, I’ve been talked into a few hairstyles I’ve regretted, funky layers may sound good in the salon, but it’s you who has to style and deal with your hair daily.
- Ask for what you want, and don’t be surprised if you get it; If you ask, in great detail, for a graduated mid-length cut with chunky caramel highlights, and get it, then you can’t then be angry at your hairdresser, they gave you what you asked for.

This is why you need to ask for their opinion.

- Bring a picture; As I said earlier, if like me, you have chubby cheeks, a round face, and naturally curly hair, there is no use desperately clutching a photo of Victoria Beckham’s famous crop and expecting the same results.

But a picture can speak a thousand words, and can easily explain a complicated style. Look for models or celebrities with similar features/skin-tone/face shape, and see which styles suit them.
- ‘Oh, you chose, I don’t mind’; The only bad hairstyles/cuts/colours I have ever got have been when I’ve uttered that phrase. As mentioned, take advice from your hairdresser, but giving them free control to do what they like is not something I’ll be in a hurry to do.

- Think about how long-term you want to keep your look; If you’re a person who gets bored easily then don’t make drastic changes to your hair. I have red hair, I love it, but I know if I ever wanted to go blonde, for example, it would be a 2 year process to do it healthily, with lots of inbetweeny orange stages. This leads to my next tip.
- Steer clear of trends; Trends are exactly that, fads. You may be influence by celeb’s such as Cher Lloyd and her half-shaven head,

or the colour changing chameleon that is Cheryl Cole.

But these trends will have passed a lot sooner than your hair can grow back.
Celebrities can easily change their look from one week to the next because they have personal hairstylists and money to spend on wigs, weaves and extensions.
Think realistically about how committed you will be to a hairstyle before you take the plunge.
- It’s only hair; Worse comes to worst, and you walk out of a salon resembling a troll doll, then it’s not the end of the world.

Hey, it’s what hats, bandana’s and hair bands were invented for.
Treat your hair to Aussie 3 Minute Miracle regularly until your hair is strong enough to be dyed again, or has grown to a desired rate, it will keep your locks soft, and build it back up to healthy hair.

Good Luck!
Max

A Christmas Gift Guide For Everyone

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 01:31:00 GMT

Okay, hands up, I’ll admit it if you do.
I am completely unorganised.
I’ve left all my Christmas Shopping until last minute, and usually this is the point where I completely freak out, start panicking and try to convince myself that my family will appreciate homemade cards, and a bashed box of chocolates from the local garage.
However, this year, I’ve taking advantage of the semichem discount code, XMAS2011 for 10% off your order, and also, as I spent over £15, my order is being delivered for free.
Good stuff!

So now that I’m sorted, let me help you with a little Christmas Gift Guide!

Mum

Thierry Mugler Angel Eau De Star

At first glance a mum might seem easy to buy for.
Get her an anti-aging gift set and she’ll be fine.
Well, err, no, actually, we woman are notoriously hard to buy for, get her an anti-aging set, she may think you’re hinting that she’s getting old, and needs to take care of her wrinkles.
Get her something too ‘young’ or teenage and she’ll feel even older!
So what can you buy the woman?
Well the clue is in the question, make her feel like a woman again, not a mum, not a wife, a strong yet feminine woman.
Thierry Mugler Angel Eau De Star is a gift that is just for her to enjoy, mummy’s still want to feel desirable and sexy, this sensuously fresh fragrance does just that.

Dad

L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Energy Pack

Remember that I said not to buy a woman an anti-aging set?
Well, it’s the very thing you should buy a man.
I recommend the L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Energy Pack.
Your dad may act all macho, but just like everyone else, he’s afraid of growing old.
By buying your father an anti-aging set, you’re giving him an excuse to take care of his appearance.
Trust me, this gift set will get used, and let’s face it, he probably already steals mum’s expensive face cream.

Big Sister/Teen Girl

Academy of Colour Metallics Make-Up Box Set

Another tricky person to buy for.
But a safe bet has to be make-up: keep it professional, good quality and steer well clear of novelty gifts.
When you’re a teenager, you’re still experimenting with your look, you can get away with extreme styles, and need make-up that can adapt to your ever changing style.
The Academy of Colour Metallics Make-Up Box Set contains 14 eyeshadows, 9 eye shadow dusts, eyeliner, highlighter, mascara, glitter liner and applicators.
The metallic colours are still rebellious enough for experimenting but not garish or embarrassingly bright.

Big Brother/Teen Guy

The Gilette Fusion Proglide Gel Gift Set

When guy’s are growing up, stubble can creep up on them.
They’re becoming men, and a disposable razor just won’t cut it, so
buy them a good quality razor with replacable heads.
When it comes to Razor’s go for the best a man can get with Gilette.
The Gilette Fusion Proglide Gel Gift Set is a no nonsense kit that will leave them clean shaven, and happy.

Little Sister/Tween Girl

Hello Kitty Mini Straightener’s

Little girls like to watch their mums and big sisters doing girly grown up things, like wearing make-up and backcombing their hair.
That said, girl’s should stay girl’s, and not grow up too fast, heavy eye make-up and bright lipstick just aren’t appropriate at this age.
So your gift needs to be something that make’s them feel grown-up and serious, yet won’t upset a protective father.
The Hello Kitty Mini Straightener’s are designed for tweens, have a simple design and are actually practical.

Little Brother/Young Boy
Ben10 Watch

At the rate kid’s are growing up these nowadays it’s hard to tell what’s cool, and what’s just patronising.
Ben10 is in at the moment, and a watch will give a little lad the responsibility he craves.

Gran

Baylis & Harding Skin Spa Slipper Gift Set

Perfect for your wee granny, let her put her feet up, get a glass of sherry, and fall asleep in front of the fire place.

Female Secret Santa
Grace Cole Fruit Works Paradise Punch Gift Set

I love gifts like these, you know the ones that look so much more expensive than they actually are. Four fruity shower gels, and a classic bar of soap and body ball, you can guarantee this gift will go down well as it’s both pampering and practical.

Best Friend
Babyliss 2259GU Pro Ceramic Tongs

Sometimes I feel really bad when buying my friends gifts, I have a huge family so my budget can be very stretched, meaning my gifts can look cheap in comparison to their lavish pressie.
My friend has been moaning about getting a decent pair of curlers for a long time now, and every time we’re going on a night out she’ll come to my house and pinch mine.
I don’t mind of course, but having her own pair, especially from such a respected name as Babyliss will certainly help us get out on the town quicker, and at only £8.09, I can even afford to buy her a drink too.

Boyfriend/Husband

Diesel Fuel For Life For Men

Girlfriends and wives, now’s your chance to groom your man, don’t like the 4 year old bottle of industrial aftershave that he douses himself in, then get him this.
It’s sexy, woody, musky, and yet a little bit sweet, everything a man should be.
It’s boyfriend in a bottle!

Girlfriend/Wife

Paco Rabanne Lady Million

Can’t afford diamonds this year? Get her the next best thing!
The gem shaped bottle houses a luxurious, glamorous and sensual scent with an eastern influence.
It’s current, and really will make her feel like one in a million.
And please, please, I beg of you, do not buy your girlfriend or wife a household good.
Irons, hoovers and blenders are not gifts for a woman, they are chores!

Don’t make the mistake my now ex-boyfriend made, and buy the woman in your life a soup maker!

Oh, remember to use the discount code XMAS2011 for 10% off, and be quick, if you want your order delivered in time it’s best to order within the next three days.
All products are available in semichem stores, and at www.semichem.co.uk, so just click on anything that catches your eye and it will take you to the product.

Happy Shopping, and Merry Christmas,
Max

Adidas Gift Sets – Buy Two For £6

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:59:00 GMT

If you’ve got some special people who is rather on the sporty side, then the chances are that they’ve used Adidas gear somewhere along the line, whether it be a cricket bat or some swimming shorts. Fortunately, if you’re looking for the right stocking filler, the sporting colossus also make great gift sets. What’s even more cool is that you can currently get two for £6 from Semichem. A steal, if we do say so ourselves.

Fresh Impact:

If there’s anything a bloke needs when he’s been running around a football pitch for 90 minutes, it’s some freshness. Fortunately, the fresh impact range is the ideal way for them to do so. The scent’s combination of lemon and watermelons is more or less the opposite of the post-match stench. Outstanding.

Ice Dive:

One of the more recent additions to the Adidas line, it’s little surprise that Ice Dive has become so popular. The notes of citrus and amber create a bit of spice, whilst still maintaining the same air of freshness that you get on a winter morning.

Intense Touch:

Without the ideal fragrance for the individual that brings real intensity to their sport, Intense Touch Duo’s spicy notes of black pepper, rosemary and pepper berries all add up to a real masculine scent. Energetic and manly, it’s a great choice.

Fruity Rhythm:

You didn’t think they’d forget the ladies, did you? Fruity Rhythm is the ideal gift set for the special lady who loves to stay in shape. Managing to be fruity and sensual as well as truly energetic, the notes of blackcurrant and raspberry top off one of the most popular products in the Adidas range.

To view all of these and more, click here to be taken to the Semichem catalogue.

Semichem Spotlight On... Twilight

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:11:00 GMT

Twilight.

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny it’s been a worldwide phenomenon.
I really tried not too like Twilight, thinking it was for soppy tweens.

I didn’t even get around to watching it until almost a year after it came out, but when I did, I fell in love with the whole saga.

And what’s not to love?

Timeless romance, great soundtrack, captivating story line, and gorgeous characters.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the whole ‘dead for hundred years hotness’ going on, but I can fake it, and I’ll even show you how.

Apparently, becoming a Vampire means you get impossibly shiny hair, jealousy-provoking high cheekbones and a flawless pale complexion.

Sadly, not many of us are lucky enough to have such striking features, I’m blaming my non-blood diet for my lack of glowiness.
As Edward Cullen says to Bella in Twilight,
“Everything about me invites you in, my voice, my face, even my smell”,
I can only help you with the face and smell, but hey, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.

Products Used:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory

- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealor in Shade 010, Ivory

- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent

Contour:
- NYC Cheek Glow in Central Park Pink
- Twilight Smokey Eyes Set, Shade Sand (Used as Highlighter)

Eyes:

- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva
- Twilight Smokey Eyes Set:

- Shade Carbon

- Shade Taupe

- Shade Sand

- Bella Eyeliner

- Bella Mascara

Lips:
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva

- Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01
- Rimmel Lipstick Lock

Method:

- Apply the palest foundation you own, but still keep it natural. I used Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory, and applied with QVS Foundation Brush. I prefer applying with a brush as opposed to fingers as it’s more hygienic, and creates a flawless and even finish.

- Vampires have flawless skin. I do not. So I used Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial. The great thing about this look is, as Vampires are supposed to look dead, you don’t really need to conceal your under eyes. Dark rings around the eyes? You’ll fit right in.
- Vampires do not sweat, as they are cold blooded, so make sure to set your face with Translucent Powder.

- As mentioned, Vamps are cool-blooded, so they don’t get flushed, so there’s no need to use a heavy blush.
- I used blush solely to contour my face. If like me, you’re not blessed with killer cheekbones, suck in your cheeks, then apply NYC Cheek Glow in Central Park Pink, in a soft line below your cheeks in the hollow and blend upwards.
- Next, open your Twilight Smokey Eye Set, and sweep a little of the first shade, Sand, on top of your cheekbone, on your brow bone, and for a quick cheat to a fuller lip, just above your upper lip line.

- The Twilight characters always look groomed to perfection, and this includes their eyebrows. Filling in your brows can be daunting; too heavy handed and you’ll look more TOWIE than Twilight. Start by coming your brow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair. Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair. You may feel like your brow’s are too dark, or strong at the point, this is normal, once you have your ‘full face’ on, they will frame the face perfectly.

- Onto the eyes, to make your Vampire look really stand out, take red lip liner, and line your eyes and waterline in the same way you would you eyeliner, then slightly smudge out. Your eyes may look sore, or too drastic, don’t worry, they will look subtle once the look is complete.
- Take your Twilight Smokey Eye Set, and using the black shade, Carbon, line your upper lid, no need to be too careful, as you will be blending. Add Taupe over the Carbon and upto the crease, then apply Sand above the crease, and on the brown bone.
- Now, blend, blend, blend! Taking a small blending brush, or clean eyeshadow applicator, just blend the colour upwards so there are no defined lines, only graduated colour.

- Apply a little of the Bella Eyeliner to the outer bottom line, then curl your lashes and add 2-3 coats of the Bella Mascara.

- Almost done, now you just need to decide which lip colour you’d like. I chose red for the look as it evokes glamour, a little bit of danger, and is a favourite of Rosalie Cullen, my favourite Twilight character. However if your are wanting a more toned-down look, there is a lovely nude gloss included in the Twilight Beauty gift set.
- If you chose red, like me, then start by applying a thin layer of Vaseline to prep your lips. A great tip is to apply a small dab of foundation to the lips, this brings your lips down to a neutral, skin coloured base. By doing so, you will get a truer representation of red, and it will look exactly as it does on the bullet, no pinky lip undertones interfering with the colour.

- Taking the red lip liner you used earlier, line the lips, and then fill the whole lip in, again, this ensures a truer colour, and it helps your lipstick last longer.
- Now onto my favourite part, lipstick! Apply your lipstick straight from the bullet, the tube, ensuring you don’t go out with the lip line. If you make any mistakes, just dip a cotton bud in toner to clean, or use light swipe or your finger. I used Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01, from the Kate Moss Collection as it is a deep blood red, and is a matte lipstick which is incredibly on trend. It’s rare to find a good quality, affordable matte lipstick on the high street, so I’m really loving this collection, an expensive feel for a bargain budget.
- If you want your lipstick to last all night, first ‘kiss’ a tissue, then add a coat Rimmel Lipstick Lock, and let it dry for around 30 seconds.

Hair:
- The Twilight Vampires all have very glam, polished hair, yet, it’s also very low maintenance. You don’t want your hair to look too ‘done’.
- Taking large sections just lightly curl your mid-lengths and ends with the Babyliss Glamour Waves hair styler, this will give a soft wave, and add volume.
- To get that unattainable mythic shine, spritz Toni & Guy Finishing Shine Spray on the hair.
- To hold your curls, and add yet even more shine, give a light mist of Elnett hairspray.

There you go, a completely modern, Twilight-inspired vampire look, and no dodgy fake blood or string of garlic to be seen.
I really love this look; it’s sultry, timeless and just a little bit dangerous. This look is also subtle enough to be worn on a normal night out, but I like to think the hint of red in the eyes leave a lasting impression.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the Twilight Beauty Sets, film or no film, these sets stand up on their own as great value, and high quality make-up. The eyeshadows were intensely pigmented, and the whole Twilight Smokey Eye Set complimented itself perfectly, it’s clear a lot of thought has been put into the range.

For £2.99, you really can’t beat the Mini Cosmetics Set, and I like that they didn’t automatically think Vampire equals red or black nails. Twilight has brought the Vampire tale straight into the 21^st Century, Vamps are no longer Gothic Coffin Dwellers and the pearly gold nail polish reflects how bang-on trend Twilight is.

The Twilight Immortal Perfume is a really unique fragrance, I’ve never smelled anything like it. A cool floral perfume, with a sweet musky scent, and something I can’t quite put my finger on, they really meant it when they said it was feminine yet mysterious.

It’s definitely a signature scent, and one which I would be happy to be recognised from.

Hopefully I’ve showed you how to snag a Vamp, or at least, impress the Edward, or Jacob in your life. I have to admit, I’m Team Edward!
This look is one of those rare, easy to recreate, yet high impact looks. It’s became my fail-safe glamour look for a night out, and can be worn again and again.
Have you been to see Breaking Dawn yet?

And, more importantly, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?
Max

Spice No More: The Remarkable Rise of Victoria Beckham

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Victoria Beckham is a rousing success in the world of fashion. Take that fact, drink it down and swill it around a few times before swallowing. Despite the sneers, the choked giggles and the scoffs that have been bombarding her since she first moved into this most fickle of industries, the former Posh Spice is now at the top of the UK fashion mountain.

It’s been a remarkably quick rise to the top. In a little over five years, she has managed to rebuke the critics in the best way possible: by largely ignoring them and getting on with the job in hand.

The signs, if truth be told, were always there. Even when the Spice Girls were out dominating the world and convincing more or less everyone that girl power was the way to go, Victoria was always the stylish one. Honestly. Go onto YouTube and watch the ‘Wannabe’ video (we won’t tell anyone). Sporty is wearing a hideous clashing tracksuit, Scary Spice a lime green outfit that makes her look like a lime, Ginger spice a…well, I’m not sure what it’s meant to be, but it’s wrong and Baby spice looks like a tennis player. Posh Spice’s dress, though? Whilst the rest of the group are dressed in enough garish colours to make a bottle of Mountain Dew jealous, Victoria’s dress is stylish, sophisticate and sexy: sexy enough to grab the attention of a young Mr. Beckham, watching the video on a training camp TV.

Even with the passion there, though, it was obvious that any ex-popstar wasn’t going to be given an easy ride by the fashion critics. Whilst part of the skepticism arose from matters outside of her control (the Spice Girls stopped recording about the same time that a red card had earned her husband the status of national pariah), there was little doubting that cracking the fashion industry would take more than just an ‘interest’.

With little official experience in the fashion industry (aside from a catwalk guest appearance at London Fashion Week), Victoria started small. The first collection consisted of just two pairs of jeans and a t-shirt, and was released by Rock & Republic, under the name VB Rocks. Whilst the designs were stylish, the high-end market to which they were targeted didn’t fall over their feet to buy them. With her money, she could have given up and lived a life of luxury anyway. She didn’t.

Two years later (years in which many cynics had enjoyed what they largely assumed to be the end of another ‘phase’) she re-emerged with two new ranges. Firstly, a collection of sunglasses (an area of fashion with which Victoria admitted to being ‘quite obsessed with’) and secondly, her own new denim line. Both were released under the DVB label, and both were improvements on what had come before. It was clear that lessons had been learned.

Intimately Beckham, the his-and-hers fragrance line that was released later in the same year, was another nail in the critical coffin. Criticizing Beckham’s authenticity had become standard fare, leading to thousands of shell-shocked fashionistas, blind-sided by the fact that Intimately was actually very, very good. So good, in fact, that it’s still selling well with retailers all over the UK some five years later.

By the time Victoria was presented with the awards for both ‘Woman of the Year’ and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ 2007 by Glamour Magazine, even her sternest critics were beginning to look a bit silly. By the end of the same year, she had launched DVB Denim at Saks Fifth Avenue, appeared as a guest judge at London Fashion week and announced projected sales of over $100 million for the ‘Intimately’ range.

In 2008, the transformation from pop star to fashion icon was complete. The Victoria Beckham collection of designer dresses made its debut. At the 2008 New York Fashion Week, Victoria Beckham debuted her own collection of top-level dresses. Met with almost universal praise, it forced critics to squeeze out flattering adjectives from between gritted teeth.

Fast forward to the London Savoy Hotel, Nov 27^th 2011. Victoria Beckham beats off brands such as Burberry, Tom Ford and Stella McCartney to be awarded the ‘Best Designer Brand’ of the year. A tearful Victoria thanks her rock of a husband and her team for all their hard work. It’s almost sweet. Victoria the pop-star and Victoria the celebrity wife have long since melted away.

What remains is one of the pillars around which the future fashion industry will build itself.

To purchase the Beckham range of perfumes and aftershaves, visit the Semichem website here.

Semichem Spotlight On... Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:04:00 GMT

Okay, I agree, Rudolph is a bit if a bizarre choice, and he’s not exactly setting the world alight with his beauty tips, but it’s nearly Christmas!

In the spirit of Christmas cheer, and because if gives us all an excuse to try something new, we’re shining our Semichem Spotlight on Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer.

I think this look is great for a Christmas Party, a little bit cheeky, still within the Crimbo theme, yet sexy and fun-loving too.
Want to recreate the look?
Just read on.

Products Used:
Base:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory
- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory
- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent

Contour:
- Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01
- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as highlighter)

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Kohl Eyeliner

- Eyeshadow, Shades 16, 17 and 18

Rudolph Face:
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva

- Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01

- Rimmel Lipstick Lock
- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Liquid Eyeliner

- Eyeshadow, Shades 16, 18 and 18

Lips:
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva

- Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01

- Rimmel Lipstick Lock

Method:

- Apply the same base as you normally would, you can apply your foundation (I used Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory), with a foundation brush. By applying with a brush, you can create a more flawless and even finish. It’s also more hygienic, and as it dispenses the products more, you use less foundation, saving yourself money!
- Let only your bright red nose stand out, and not your bright red spots. Apply Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial. Be sure to hide any eye bags with your concealer, this concealer also illuminates, giving tired eyes a bit of light.
- Make sure to set your base with a translucent powder, you’ll need a matte base so your make-up will not slide off.

- To softly contour your face, and give the appearance of cheekbones; start by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
- As I wanted this look to feel very wintery, I drew a little red lipstick on my hand, warmed it with my fingers and apply to the apples of my cheeks, to give rosy, frost-bitten cheeks.
- To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bone, highlighting a thin face.
- We’re wanting the look to feel a little bit sexy, and not child cartoonish, so you can fill in your eyebrows as you normally would.

- To define your brows, start by coming your eyebrow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair. Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair.

- To add to the grown-up feel, I gave myself soft neutral smokey eye’s.
- Start by first lining your waterline with kohl liner, then sweep a dark brown both underneath the eye, and up to the crease.
- Then take a lighter brown or gold and blend above the crease.

- Now, just add your soft white/light gold to the inner corner of the eye and brow bone, couldn’t be easier!
- While you still have your eyeshadows handy, softly apply your browns/golds/neutrals above your lip, to your nose.
- Next, take black liquid eyeliner and draw a small line up from your cupids bow.
- Also using your liquid eyeliner, add three small dots either side of the line, and using small fuzzy strokes, join the outer bottom of your nose, to the outer corner of your lips.
- Time to get the red lipstick out! Line and fill both your lips, and your nose, (a small circle will do), with red lip liner, take your time to get a defined, smooth shape.
- Either using a lip brush, or carefully using the tube, apply your lipstick to both your nose and mouth.
- Afraid you’re going to smudge all your hard work? Don’t be, just seal any lipstick with Rimmel Lipstick Lock, and leave to dry for 30 seconds.

Hair:
- If you have a spare pair of antlers lying around, then now’s the time to put them on. Unfortunately I had mine’s pinched at a Christmas Party, so I’ll be antler-free.

- You can still capture the wild feel of the look by leaving your hair to dry naturally, then ruffling it up by using hands sprayed with hairspray.
- By using hairspray you can also eliminate any frizzy flyaway hairs that have been produced by airdrying.

To separate this look from children’s party face paint, it’s important to pair it with a sexy, grown-up fragrance, and can you really get more sexy than ‘Sexy Darling’?

A fragrance from a woman who embodies grown-up sultriness, Kylie Minogue.
I loved Kylie’s debut fragrance, ‘Darling’, it was my first signature perfume, so of course, I love it’s darker sister, ‘Sexy Darling’.
‘Sexy Darling’ is a lot more edgy than ‘Darling’, its musky, yet understated, it’s very clear this isn’t a fragrance that has to try hard to get noticed, which is very cool.

‘Sexy Darling’ combines a unique blend of Pink Pepper, Pear, and Blood Orange, which even sounds dangerous. Add to the scent a bit of spice, and you have a winning combination for a femme fatale smell.

Will you be releasing your inner reindeer?
Max

Day To Night Party Look In Less Than 5 Minutes!

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Working late? Have to rush straight from your work to the bar?
Planning on a quick stop bathroom change?
We’ve all been there, smearing lipstick up to your eyebrows when the taxi goes over a speed bump, and trying to dry your rain-soaked hair under a hand dryer.
So, what make-up tips and products can give you a helping hand when you have 5 minutes to take you from day to night, and still want to make an impression?

Day Look
Products Used:
Base:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory
- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory
- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent
- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Contour:
- NYC Cheek Glow in 655, Central Park Pink
- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as highlighter)

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown
- NYC Eyeshadow Palette 797B Gothic Harlem, Shade 1 and 3
- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
- Vaseline
- Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Shade 360, Fancy

- Before you leave for the day, it’s important to get your base perfect.
- You will only be touching up your make-up later, so if you get the basics right in the morning, you can focus on vamping up your look later.
- Focus more on preparing the skin, than covering it, a cakey foundation, or heavy make-up will only cause you more problems later on that night, when your skin get dry, or even worse, breaks out.
- So apply a light layer of foundation, take your powder with you, and blot with special tissues during the day, rather than wiping.
- Aim for a healthy glow that will stay subtle throughout the day, and don’t be afraid to be a bit underwhelming during the day.
- You are aiming for a natural look, not only is getting dolled up for a day at work a bit OTT, you’ll also get a bit more wow factor when you reveal your 5 minute makeover!
- Soften your lips with Vaseline during the day, nothing worse than cracked lips at a party, especially if there’s, erm, mistletoe kissing.
- If you want a touch of colour, apply Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Shade 360, Fancy on top, for a soft, but bright lip.

Curl your hair either the night before, or in the morning, using the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler. Try not to brush out the curls, let them drop of their own accord, and if you can, leave them in ringlets.

Now, to get cracking with the night look!
No one wants to be hauling about the kitchen sink in their handbag, so just pop a few products in to get you party fabulous in five.

Night Look:
Products Used:
- NYC Eyeshadow Palette 797B Gothic Harlem, Shade 1 and 3
- Perfect 10 Instant Lashes
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 Pink Blush

3 products to completely change your look? Yes, it can be done!
- Firstly, take your soft grey eye, to a full on smouldering smokey, if you need a little help just have a peek at my tutorial, here. The NYC Gothic Harlem Palette is tiny, but has everything you need, never mind a handbag, this bad boy will fit in your pocket!
- Nothing says party, and adds drama more than False Lashes, Perfect 10 Instant Lashes are great as they are not too full on, and feel light on tired eyes. Take the lashes from the pack, bend them slightly in the middle, apply the glue, wait for it to go a little tacky, then apply press the lashes to your natural lash line, and hold until stuck.
- Don’t let your lips distract from you lids, apply a soft pale pink lipstick, not only will Rimmel Pink Blush compliment your make-up, its such a soft colour that it can be applied without a mirror. Perfect for boogying!

Shake your hair out from any rigid curls. Pack a small comb and mini hairspray, tip your head upside down and give your hair a good ruffle.
Embrace the messy bedhead, and party the night away!
Max
x

How To: Perfect The Smokey Eye

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The smokey-eye has to be one of the most classic beauty looks, swinging from classy, to rock chick, and always looking sexy, it’s a beauty trick you have to have up your sleeve.
Yet, it’s so easy to get wrong, too much black, not enough blending, and you’ll look more boxer than beauty.
So here’s a step-by-step guide on how to finally perfect that smokey-eye.

Firstly, here’s what you’ll need, don’t worry, I’m not gonna overload you with products, in fact all the smokey eye goodness you’ll need is in one handy kit, the NYC Eyeshadow Palette in 797B Gothic Harlem.

For easy reference, I’ve labelled the shades from 1 to 4.

- Firstly, take a kohl eyeliner, and line your upper lid, and underneath your eye, then blend, get used to blending, you’re gonna be doing it a lot from now on.

- It’s best if you use a small, soft, fluffy brush to blend, but if you’re stuck, use an eyeshadow applicator or a clean cotton bud.
- Next, apply shade 2, the matte black, all over the lid and up to the crease, you don’t need to be precise, or neat, as the edges will be softened.
- If you’re new to a smokey eye, hold a tissue underneath your eye when applying shadow, saving your base from catching any fallout.
- Apply shade 4 onto the crease and blend outwards, smudging the matte black underneath the eye.
- Then take shade 1, soften and blend any harsh lines, apply shade 1 to the inner corners of your eye to add light to your look.
- Using shade 3, the white, highlight the brow bone.

- If you want to add drama to the look, apply false eyelashes. Take the lashes from the pack, (I used Perfect 10 Instant Lashes), bend them slightly in the middle, apply the glue, wait for it to go a little tacky, then apply press the lashes to your natural lash line, and hold.
- To blend your lashes, apply a thin line of liquid eye liner, and a coat of Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara.

The key to smokey eyes is blending, start with the darkest colour, then blend your way outwards, adding the lighter colours. Stick to this rule, and you can try any colours, greens, golds, purples, challenge yourself!
I like to pair grey smokey eyes with a soft pale pink, like Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush, as it really lets your lids do the talking.

Have you mastered the smokey eye?
Max
x

Semichem Spotlight On... Britney Spears

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:54:00 GMT

It’s hard to believe that Britney Spears, singer of the chart-defining, ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’, has been on our radar for over 13 years! So in honour of the pop princess’ 30^th Birthday last week, I have a little Britter’s inspired look for you.

School Girl, Sweaty Slave, Femme Fatale, Brit certainly loves to experiment.
Nonetheless though, she knows what looks good for her, and we’re glad to see her back on top.
This look is inspired by Britney’s new look, sexy tousled hair, navy smokey ‘yes-I’ve-been-up-all-night-partying’ eyes, glossy lips and chiselled cheeks.

So here’s my take on her all grown-up look.

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown
- Vaseline

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Kohl Eyeliner

- Eyeshadow, Shades 7, 8, 9 and 14

- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Black

Lips:
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush

- Vaseline

Method:
- Britney’s skin has been looking great lately, to achieve a flawless base apply your foundation as normal using the QVS Foundation Brush, I prefer applying with a brush as opposed to fingers as it’s more hygienic, and creates a flawless and even finish.

- I didn’t want to let any blemishes distract from my look, so I just patted a little Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory on any spots or dark cirlces. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial.
- To set my base, I applied translucent powder, focusing on any oily areas, like my T-Zone.
- Britney’s really indulging in some contouring here. Contouring can give even the chubbiest cheeks the illusion of chiselled cheekbones, and it’s really simple to do.
- First start by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
- Next, apply a peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks, meeting the soft contour line.
- To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bones, and there you go, cheeks of a pop princess, without the million dollar price tag.

- I was actually quite shocked at how dark Britter’s Brows are in this pic, though the strong eyebrow really frames her face.

- Start by coming your eyebrow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair. Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair.
- You may feel like your brow’s are too dark at this point, but a strong brow is needed to balance a dramatic eye.
- Onto the main feature, the eyes! Britney’s really rocking the slept-in eye make-up look, but unless you have 24 hours to kill, just follow these steps.
- Using the Colour Couture Colour Collection Set:
- Line your eyes with the kohl liner.

- Using the back of your hand, mix a little of Shade 9 with some Vaseline to create a cream eyeshadow, and apply under the eye, and up to the crease of the upper eyelid.
- Then start to pat eyeshadow on to your cream base, graduating from the darker shades, from the lash line to the brow, using shades 9, 10, 11, and 14.
- Blend with a fluffy brush, or cottonbud, to create a faded look.
- Curl lashes and apply 2-3 coats of Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara.

- Smooth a layer of Vaseline over your lips, then dab some foundation over them to bring down your base colour to neutral.
- To give a softer look, apply your lipstick by patting it on the lips with your finger.

Hair:
- Tong random sections of your hair using the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler.

- Spray a little Elnett Hairspray onto your hands and run your fingers through the curls to give a tousled and undone feel.
- Don’t be afraid to ruffle your hair, turn your head upside down, shake out your curls and rock it up!

Britney is perhaps just as famous for her perfumes, as she is for her music, having released a whopping 10 fragrances.
My favourite has to be her newest scent, ‘Cosmic Radiance’,

A more floral focused pefume than it’s predecessor ‘Radiance’, yet still sweet, fresh and uplifting.
A fruity blast with hints of zest, and lashings of Jasmine, you can’t help but think of girliness when you smell this perfume, just like the pop princess herself!

Are you loving the grown-up edge Britney is rocking?
Seems like confidence is the key to truly being beautiful.
Max
x

Semichem Spotlight on... Christina Aguilera

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:29:00 GMT

If there’s one thing you can say about Christina Aguilera it’s that the woman knows how to reinvent herself.
From Pop Princess, to Dirty Girl, to Retro Blonde Bombshell, is there any look she hasn’t rocked?
I think she’s ‘Beautiful’, in every single way, sorry, couldn’t resist a bad pun.
My favourite look, of course, is her Hollywood Glamour phase from her ‘Back To Basics’ era.

Come on, what more did you expect from me, a girl who practically lives in her Red Lipstick?
Christina’s look is inspired by legends such as Liz Taylor and Marylin Monroe, with soft skin, peachy cheeks, defined brows, and the famour red lipstick.

Here’s my interpretation of the look.

Products Used:

Base:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory
- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory
- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent

Contour:
- NYC Cheek Glow in 655, Central Park Pink
- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as highlighter)

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Liquid Eyeliner

- Eyeshadow, Shade 13

Lips:
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva

- Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01

- Rimmel Lipstick Lock

Method

Flawless skin is a must for this look! But if you don’t have Hollywood Starlet skin, fear not. Just apply your foundation (I used Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory), with a foundation brush. By applying with a brush, you can create a more flawless and even finish. It’s also more hygienic, and as it dispenses the products more, you use less foundation, saving yourself money!
To give a blemish free feel, apply Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial. Be sure to hide any eye bags with your concealer, this concealer also illuminates, giving tired eyes a bit of light.
Make sure to set your base with a translucent powder, bronzer is not needed for this look, as you don’t want it too look too ‘overdone’.
To softly contour your face, and give the appearance of cheekbones; start by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
Next, apply a peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks, meeting the soft contour line.
To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bone, you’ll be left with naturally chiselled cheeks.
A trait of the Hollywood Glam look has to be the defined brow. As you can see Christina is bleach blonde, so has went for a lighter, though still pronounced brow, whereas Liz, who has raven locks, goes for a stronger, deeper brow. I’m lucky, that with my red hair, I can mix it up, and go for light or dark, though to fit in with the look, I’ve went for a dark power brow.
To define your brows, start by coming your eyebrow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair. Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair. You may feel like your brow’s are too dark, or strong at the point, this is normal, once you have your ‘full face’ on, they will frame the face perfectly. For this look, we are wanting the brow’s to be a main feature.
Taking your liquid eyeliner, line your upper eyelid with a medium thick line, ending in a small flick towards the end of your brow. This technique is great for those sparse of eyelashes, as it gives the appearance of fuller lashes.
Apply 2-3 coats of mascara, being sure that you do not get a clumpy or spiddery look.
Taking red lip liner, line the lips, and then fill the whole lip in, this ensures a truer colour, and it helps your lipstick last longer.
Now onto my favourite part, lipstick! If you’re feeling vampy, take some advice from the Retro Vixen that is Miss Dita Von Teese,
"Apply lipstick in full view of your 'victim'. That is what we seductresses call a man."
Apply your lipstick straight from the bullet, the tube, ensuring you don’t go out with the lip line. If you make any mistakes, just dip a cotton bud in toner to clean, or use light swipe or your finger. I used Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 01, from the Kate Moss Collection as it is a deep blood red, and is a matte lipstick which is incredibly on trend. It’s rare to find a good quality, affordable matte lipstick on the high street, so I’m really loving this collection, an expensive feel for a bargain budget.
If you want your lipstick to last all night, first ‘kiss’ a tissue, then add a coat Rimmel Lipstick Lock, and let it dry for around 30 seconds.
Hair:
The hair is a huge part of this look, and frankly makes it! Soft full ringlets, brushed out to glossy curls.
Smooth a mist of Elnett Hairspray to prepare your hair for more hold.
Then, starting in small to medium sized sections, curl your hair using the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler.
Depending on whether you are going for a more modern Christina Curl, or Liz’s Locks, either curl outwards, away from your face, or inwards, towards your face.
Using a round brush, and taking each section of curls separately, brush following the direction of the curl. If you feel you are losing the curl, twist the hair around your finger to regain it.
From a distance, apply a small mist of Elnett Hairspray over the hair. It’s really important you only spray a teeny amount, as you do not want your curls to look crispy.
To add Hollywood shine, spritz a little Toni & Guy Finishing Spray onto the hair.

When Marilyn Monroe was asked what she wore in bed, she knew she would set pulses racing when she answered,
“What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No.5, of course.”
This was the first ever example of a celebrity endorsing a perfume, and boy, have times changed, now you can buy your fav’s celeb that they’ve created themselves!
For the more modern girl, I would have to recommend Christina Aguilera’s ‘Inspire’.

 
 A feminine blend of citrus fruits, mango and white florals, that manages to mix something fresh, and yet retro at the same time.   Christina created the fragrance to ‘Inspire’ people,  and it sounds weird but I actually understand what she means,  it’s an awakening fragrance, and is sexy in an understated way.
 
 How do you add a little bit of Hollywood Glamour to your life?
 Max
 x

Buying Aftershave For The Man’s Man

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:08:00 GMT

Are you dating a real man’s man? The sort of guy who does nothing but squats in the gym and steadfastly refuses to enter a pub if it serves anything except scotch? Whilst this particular area of manliness has many benefits (phwoaar), there’s no denying that every now and then, they could do with smelling a bit nicer. These particular aftershaves are available now, and won’t cause him to run off and wrestle a polar bear in order to prove his masculinity.

Aramis aftershave:

It’s named after an Egyptian god, comes in a box that is the colour of a fiery storm, and was originally created back when granddad was still in the army. With the smell of timber logs, leather and moss, its earthy fragrance is the ideal way to remind your chap of the time that he stalked a lion through the jungle. The scent that Chuck Norris would wear.

Hugo Boss:

Give a man anything that is adorned with the phrase ‘boss’, and he’ll instantly be transported away to his imaginary re-enactment of Reservoir Dogs. Other potential names it’s OK to use include king and chief, but as there aren’t any aftershaves named after them, this is without doubt the best option. The fact that it smells great is icing on the manly cake.

Beckham Signature:

Becks is a funny one. Despite the fact that he practically mainstreamed metrosexuality, and is renowned for being pretty, he remains someone that it’s perfectly acceptable for all men to like. Probably due to his free kick against Greece more than anything else. Either way, the Signature is another great ‘man’ perfume.

To view all of these and more, visit the Semichem catalogue here.

Olay Regenerist – Keep The Wrinkles Away

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:32:11 GMT

Christmas can be a tiring old time. There’s cooking to be done, trees to be put up and stockings to be delivered at three in the morning (when the kids have finally drifted off). Through all this, you could be forgiven for looking a bit sleepy! However, if you want to do what you can to look fresh, the Olay Regenerist gift set is a great buy.

As you’d expect from a company with the track record of Olay, the gift set has everything you could possibly need to help achieve ‘dramatically younger looking skin without drastic measures’. With both the specially engineered 50ml Regenerist serum and the 50ml of special night cream included, this is a set that could well be the modern equivalent of the fountain of youth.

Despite sounding like something from Doctor Who, the Regenerist serum is created to include powerful anti-ageing ingredients, as well as offering the standard moisturizing, softening and skin smoothing effects you’d expect from any Olay product.

All presented in a typically stylish box, the Regenerist serum box-set is a great present either for yourself, or for the special lady in your life. Available now at the superb price of £19.99 from SemiChem, grab it now!

Click here to be taken straight to the SemiChem store.

Semichem Spotlight on... Beyonce

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:19:00 GMT

It’s hard to believe Beyonce has been on our radar for almost 15 years, since Destiny’s Child were signed in 1997. Solo singer, actress, perfumista, model and member of one of the world’s best-selling girls groups of all time, and she is still only 30 years old!

We shine our Semichem Spotlight on Beyonce, and show you how to get her look.

Beyonce is quite possibly the biggest pop star on the planet, she always look fierce, carries herself well, and of course, can belt out a tune or two. She’s been an inspiration to independent woman all over the world, and continues to perform and dazzle even while pregnant!
The bootylicious Beyonce also loves her make-up, admitting to being very particular about her cosmetics, going as far as to do her own make-up for her ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’ music video.
I’m being a bit cheeky today and mixing two of my favourite Beyonce looks; leopard print eye make-up from her ‘Kitty Kat’ music video, and messy updo from her ‘Bday’ album cover.

- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown
- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Liquid Eyeliner

- Kohl Eyeliner

- Eyeshadow, Shades 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, and 18

- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

Lips:
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush
- Twilight Beauty Set

- Nude Lipgloss
- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 10 (lightly dusted over lipstick)

Method:
- Apply your foundation as normal. Beyonce has a beautiful skin-tone, but as I’m naturally extremely pale, and not wearing fake-tan at the moment, I’m sticking with my trusty Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory. I applied with QVS Foundation Brush, I prefer applying with a brush as opposed to fingers as it’s more hygienic, and creates a flawless and even finish.

- Beyonce has flawless skin, I’m not as lucky so I used Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial.
- To set my base, I applied translucent powder, then gave a light sweep of Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze.
- To shape your face and add definition, use contouring. Contouring can give even the chubbiest cheeks the illusion of chiselled cheekbones, and it’s really simple to do.
- First start by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
- Next, apply a peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks, meeting the soft contour line.
- To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bones. You’ll be sporting killer cheekbones in no time, and have a healthy flush.

- You can also contour your forehead, apply bronzer/powder outwards from the temple, and your nose, contour either side of the middle of your nose and apply highlight on T-Zone.
- For this look, the brow are quite defined. Filling in your eyebrows can frame your face, and really bring a look together, but it’s risky territory, so follow thest steps.

- Start by coming your brow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair.
- Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair. You may feel like your brow’s are too dark, or strong at the point, this is normal, once you have your ‘full face’ on, they will frame the face perfectly.
- Now to give the look some ‘wow’ factor with leopard print eyes! I only used one set, The Colour Couture Colour Collection for the whole leopard look, and it contained everything I needed. Although this look is high impact, it’s extremely east to do, just follow these steps.
- Start by apply a light gold/beige eyeshadow and apply up to the brow.
- Then line the eyes with Kohl liner, and make a soft line, joining the outer eye corner to the outer end of your brow.
- Blend using a fluffy make-up brush/cotton bud, and apply the darker brown and black to wherever you have lined, and blend.

- Next, take the dark golden shade, and dark brown, and dab dots onto the eye lid.
- This is the part that really makes the look; taking your liquid eyeliner, draw around the dots you made. Aim for slightly wobbly, disjointed circles of varying sizes.
- Curl your lashes and add 2-3 coats of Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara, told you it was simple to do!

- Onto the lips, I’ve kept the lips quite muted to let the eyes do the talking. Apply Rimmel Lipstick, Pink Blush onto the lips, then lightly dab gold eyeshadow over the top with your finger.
- Apply a nude lipgloss, and you’re good to go!

Hair:
I very rarely wear my hair up, as my hair is a bit of a security blanket to me. So you’ll understand my shock because I absolutely love this updo. It’s classy yet casual, messy but cool, and it takes less than 5 minutes to do.
- Separate your fringe, and/or any sections you would like loose.
- Tie the rest of your hair up into a top-knot at the middle front of your head.
- I have quite long hair, so I can style this look quite easily, but if you need a little help, try clip in hairpieces or extensions.
- Once my hair was on top of my head, I curled the ends using my Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler, and ruffled the pony up a little.
- I then separated my fringe, and curled the two side sections.
- Secure with Elnett Hairspray, spritz on some Toni & Guy finishing spray, and you have a glam updo in less than 5 minutes, not too shabby.

As if being uber-talented, and drop dead gorgeous wasn’t enough for Beyonce, she also has a range of successful fragrances.

My favourite has to be ‘Heat’, her original perfume, it just reminds me of that musky scent you have on your skin while on holiday, sweet, a little bit sticky, but in a sexy way. Bey herself said, “I want woman to feel sexy, strong, empowered and I want them to feel like they can conquer anything”, it’s a bold statement, but if there’s one Beyonce has, it’s confidence.
Her scent to me, is a woman’s scent, something you buy for yourself, because you like it, and not to please a man.

That said, I wouldn’t mind if a certain someone left it under the tree for me this Christmas ;)

All of the products mentioned can be bought from your local Semichem store, and Semichem online.
Does Beyonce inspire you?

Max
x

Semichem Spotlight on... Kim Kardashian

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:37:00 GMT

Kim Kardashian. Socialite, Model, Television Star, and Business Woman.
She is a brand within herself, and even if you’re not too sure of who she is, you can’t deny she is gorgeous, and boy, does she know how to work a look!

Kim K owes her stunning features to her Turkish Armenian, Russian Armenian, Scottish and Dutch heritage. What a mix!

Unfortunately there’s nothing too exotic about plain ol’ me, however, by copying a few of Kim’s make-up tips, I’ve been able to fake her million dollar look, on a purse-friendly budget.

Products Used:
Base:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory
- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory
- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent
- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Contour:
- NYC Cheek Glow in 655, Central Park Pink
- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as highlighter)
- Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze

Eyes:
- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown
- Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 024, Red Diva
- Twilight Smokey Eyes Set:

Shade Carbon
Shade Taupe
Shade Sand
Bella Eyeliner
Bella Mascara

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

Liquid Eyeliner
Eyeshadow, Shade 13

Lips:
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush
- Twilight Beauty Set

Nude Lipgloss

Method:
- Apply your foundation as normal. I know Kim Kardashian is beautifully bronzed, but as I am naturally quite pale, and not wearing fake-tan at the moment, I’m sticking with my trusty Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Ivory. You can still look bronzed and glowing, while sticking to your natural skin-tone, as I will show you later. I applied with QVS Foundation Brush, I prefer applying with a brush as opposed to fingers as it’s more hygienic, and creates a flawless and even finish.

- Kim K does not let any blemishes distract from her look, so I used Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory. You don’t need to apply this concealer with a brush, as it has a built in applicator. Remember to follow your three C’s when hiding a blemish: Clean, Cover and Conceal, if you need a little more help, then just click here to see my How To: Conceal A Spot Tutorial.
- To set my base, I applied translucent powder, then gave a light sweep of Rimmel Natural Bronzer Powder Sun Bronze.
- Now on to those Killer Kardashian cheekbones, I’m gonna introduce you to your new best friend: contouring. Contouring can give even the chubbiest cheeks the illusion of chiselled cheekbones, and it’s really simple to do.
- First start by blending a thin soft line under the apples of your cheeks with either a matte bronzer, dark pressed powder or a deep skin-toned blush.
- Next, apply a peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks, meeting the soft contour line.
- To finish contouring, apply a white/light gold/light pink eyeshadow to your cheek bones and brow bones, et voila, instant cheekbones!

- You can also contour your forehead, apply bronzer/powder outwards from the temple, and your nose, contour either side of middle and apply highlight on T-Zone.
- Kim likes her brows to be very strong so, start by coming your brow’s through with a brow comb, then carefully, and using a sharpened brow pencil, add small strokes following the direction of the hair. Stay within your natural shape, and match your shade the colour of your eyebrow hair. You may feel like your brow’s are too dark, or strong at the point, this is normal, once you have your ‘full face’ on, they will frame the face perfectly.
- For Kim Kardashian’s signature smokey-eye I used the Twilight Beauty Smokey-Eye Kit. I know what you’re thinking, Vampires and Kim Kardashian do not mix!
However, when you actually look at the Twilight Beauty range, (soft-smokey eyes, eyeliner, nude lipgloss), it’s very wearable, and very Kim K.
- Take your Twilight Smokey Eye Set, and using the black shade, Carbon, line your upper lid, no need to be too careful, as you will be blending. Add Taupe over the Carbon and upto the crease, then apply Sand above the crease, and on the brown bone.
- Now, the most important part, blend, blend, blend! Taking a small blending brush, or clean eyeshadow applicator, just blend the colour upwards so there are no defined lines, only graduated colour.
- Apply a little of the Bella Eyeliner to the outer bottom line, then curl your lashes and add a coat of the Bella Mascara.
- A Kim Kardashian look wouldn’t be complete without luscious lashes. Take the lashes from the pack, (I used Eyelure Girls Aloud Lashes in Cheryl), bend them slightly in the middle, apply the glue, wait for it to go a little tacky, then apply.
- To blend your lashes, apply a thin line of liquid eye liner, and another coat of mascara.
- Kim lets her eyes do all the talking, so when it comes to lips she likes to keep them glossy, but natural.
- Firstly, to bring the lip shade down I applied a small dab of foundation to the lips.
- Then I patted Rimmel Lipstick in Pink Blush to the lips, and finished with a slick of nude lipgloss from the Twilight Beauty Giftset.

Hair:
Kim loves to experiment with her hair, but for parties, can you really get more glamourous than this side-swept 1940’s style?

- Just curl your hair using the Babyliss Glamour Waves Styler.
- Lightly brush the curls into soft waves.
- Pin to the side with kirby grips, and secure with Elnett hairspray.

- To add extra shine, spritz a little Toni & Guy Finishing Spray onto the hair.

Couldn’t be easier!

If we’re talking about Kim Kardashian, we really can’t leave out her perfume, inspired by Kim’s fans, who picked their favourite scents to help Kim create her own fragrance.

Miss Kardashian herself said she wanted something, “sexy, but still youthful”, and I think she’s pulled it off. An extremely floral fragrance that has a vintage air about it, settling into a sweet scent with a kick. A must-have for Kardashian fans.

Are you loving Kim Kardashian’s smokey-eye’s, and will you be trying this look for the party season?

M x

Be A Belieber – The Justin Bieber Someday Gift Set

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:50:52 GMT

People love Justin Bieber. REALLY love Justin Bieber.

Whether it’s throwing out threats to his rather perplexed girlfriend or engaging in online riots against those that dare to suggest his lyrics might not cause Leonard Cohen to lose sleep, there’s something about the teenage sensation that causes people to absolutely lose it.

Well, if you’ve got a belieber (TM…probably) in your family, then you’ll be rather pleased to hear that Semichem now have in stock the ultimate Bieber gift (short of actually kidnapping him). The Justin Bieber Someday gift set is the perfect accompaniment to that Bieber Fever.

Containing three bottles – the perfume itself, the ‘touchable’ body lotion, and a 9ml tube of the purse spray – it has everything the Bieber fanatic in your family could need. Needless to say, the package itself is as stylish as you’d expect – the eye-catching collection of colours the perfect way for them to show it off to all the other fans in their friend group.

Click here to purchase this unique product, and spread the fever.

10 Beauty Problems Solved By Vaseline

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:33:00 GMT

Eyelash Enhancer:

Did you also know you can use Vaseline as a nourishing eyelash treatment? Swipe some Vaseline on your finger then apply to your lashes every night before you go to sleep, it’s a great treatment if your lashes are looking sparse, or becoming brittle. Vaseline can also come in handy as an on-the-go cuticle cream, as it’s extremely moisturising.

Cuticle Cream:
Have a tin of Vaseline knocking about in your bag? Then use it as a cuticle cream, it’s incredibly moisturising, so will heal any cracked skin, meaning only your new manicure will be getting the attention.

Split Ends:
I agree rubbing Vaseline may not seem the most appealing idea. However, if you have stubborn split ends, and you’re reluctant to snip, then take a little bit of Vaseline on your finger, and pinch the split end, sealing it in the process. It’s not a permanent solution, but if you’re heading out, and you’ve just noticed a scraggly end, it’ll do the trick.

Lipsticks:
So your lipsticks just snapped in half, it seems beyond saving, and you loved that colour. Well, fear not, just mix a little Vaseline with the bits of broken lipstick, and pop in a heatproof dish in the microwave for around 30 seconds, or until melted. Then mix while hot, and pour back into your old lipstick packaging. So, there you go, your favourite lipstick is as good as new, with a fab moisturising feel.

Tweezing Brows:
Tweezing is painful, especially if you have to tug and tug on that one stubborn hair. By sweeping a little Vaseline over your eyebrows, and then tweezing the hair should slip out a little easier.

Cracked Lips:

Everyone knows Vaseline is great for chapped lips, just swipe a little over your pout and you’ll have smooth, kissable lips in no time. Perfect for all that mistletoe action.

Grooming Brows:
Vaseline can also be used in place of wax to groom your brows. Just take either a brow brush, comb or clean mascara wand, scrape a little Vaseline on, and then brush your eyebrows. This will tame any stray hairs, and leaves a great base if you want to seal with brow powder.

Barrier Cream:
Dyed hair is bang-on trend at the moment, just look at Coleen Rooney’s new red locks, or Katy Perry’s Pink Tresses. What’s never fashionable though, is a dyed forehead. When applying dye at home, just smooth Vaseline onto any skin you think may be in contact with the hair dye, then dye your hair as normal, knowing your skin will be protected.

Mix With Your Make-Up:
Wet look make-up has been a hit on the catwalk, but you don’t need to replace your make-up to recreate the trend. Just put a little bit of Vaseline on the back of your hand, then sweep your desired eye shadow on your finger and mix getting cream eye shadow in an instant. You can also mix Vaseline with your bronzer for a dewy, sunkissed look.

Dry Skin:
Vaseline is intensely nourishing, so if you have any stubborn dry patches, just rub Vaseline over them. Vaseline is great for sorting out tough skin on knees or elbows, and for a great treat for your feet, just apply Vaseline to your hard skin, and sleep in cotton socks, leaving you with silky, happy feet, when you wake up.

I hope I’ve showed you few beauty tricks.

Who knew how much you could do with a £1 Wondertin!

Vaseline can be bought here from Semichem.

Do you have any multitasking tips?

Max

More Great Perfume Gift Sets From Semichem

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:25:21 GMT

Celine Dion – Pure Brilliance:

Still probably best known for the earth-shattering power ballad that underscored ‘Titanic’, Celine Dion remains hugely popular throughout the US. Granted ‘Pure Brilliance’ doesn’t exactly scream modesty, but once you’ve had a noseful of the fragrance itself, you won’t mind. Natural, subtle and attractive, it’s the ideal scent for the lady who appreciates subtlety and delicacy.

Coleen Rooney – Coleen:

As a woman who was initially known for her football star husband, Coleen has come a long way, and is now a noted fashion expert in her own right. Her eponymous perfume is as stylish as you would expect, with a fragrance that represents the fun-loving, life-affirming attitude with which Coleen approaches everything. A great gift for the young woman in your life.

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom:

Pardon the pun, but Be Delicious is one of the freshest perfumes we’ve come across in quite some time. Having only recently been released, we’re rather chuffed that the box-set has been released on time for this year’s festivities. With the combination of grapefruit, apricots, rose and jasmine, it’s floral scents are the ideal accompaniment to a summer afternoon. Either that or the ideal way to evoke the warmer weather when it’s cold outside!

To view all of these and more of our perfume gift sets, click the link here.

Aftershave Gift Sets From Semichem

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:21:50 GMT

Beckham – Intimately for Him:

Aaah, David Beckham. England Captain, pop star turned fashion designer wife, millionaire. Not a bad old life, is it? Get a bit of Becks appeal in your life with the ‘Intimately’ gift-set. With body wash and shampoo as well as the EDT itself, it’s the ideal gift for any bloke.

Burberry – The Beat:

Whilst Burberry carried a bit of stigma for a while (seen as a ‘chavvy’ brand), they’re now more than accepted by the majority of men (no doubt the endorsement from Emma Watson didn’t hurt the cause), and ‘The Beat’ is one of their most popular fragrances. Spicy top notes of black pepper and violet certainly grab the attention, and the base notes of musk, cedar and vetiver are as masculine as you’d expect from an aftershave with a name like that.

Old Spice:

Old Spice deserves respect. Previously thought of as an ‘old man’s company’, they managed to earn a whole new generation of fans with their flawless ‘man your man could smell like’ adverts. Needless to say, this is the perfect present for that ‘man’ in your life. Both the aftershave lotion and the body spray are the ideal way to start a night out. Hello, ladies.

To view all of these and more aftershave gift sets, visit the SemiChem catalogue here.

3 Burning Beauty Questions You Don't Want To Ask - Answered!

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:44:00 GMT

Should I Pick My Spots?

In a word, no.

Spots are caused excess sebum, oil that moisturises your skin. When there is a build up of sebum in your hair follicles, the little tubes where your hair grows, the tubes block, and whiteheads and blackheads appear.

When the hair follicles get blocked, the normal bacteria in your skin can’t escape, and build up, causing spots. Spots can be yellow and pussy, or sore, red and inflamed.

It can be very tempting to squeeze spots, especially whiteheads, but try to resist popping them, and definitely do not scratch or pick! You may end up making the spot a lot worse, as your fingers and nails are full or dirt, or cause permanent scarring.
If you really, really, really, have to squeeze, only squeeze spots with a yellow head, never red, make sure your hands are clean, place a sheet of tissue over the spot, and squeeze. If the spot doesn’t pop, stop! Or you may do more damage to your face and skin.

Remember to let the skin heal, and give it what it wants. A whitehead spot needs drying, so use spot cream, whereas a squeezed, scabby spot needs moisturiser.
You don’t always need to squeeze a spot, make-up is great for hiding stubborn red spots. Stick to the three C’s: Clean, Cover and Conceal, and if you need a little more help on the in’s and out’s of concealing, then just click here, to see my ‘How To: Conceal A Spot’ tutorial.

How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

As little as comfortably possible for your hair type.

You’re scalp has little glands, sebaceous glands, that are joined to every individual hair follicle. The Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, (the same oil the moisturises the skin), they also waterproof your skin and hair. Sebum is made from absorbed fats in the body, which then break down, and excrete onto your skin and hair.

Although it sounds quite yucky, it’s necessary, as without the Sebum’s moisturisation, your skin would dry, shed, and be unprotected.

I know it’s hard to get you’re head around, we’re told in magazines and the media, that unwashed hair is greasy and dirty, but in fact, your body’s just doing it’s job.

But, if Sebum is so beneficial for our skin, why is there a need to wash your hair at all?

Well, not washing your hair enough can lead to a build up of bacteria, much like if you never washed your face. This can cause acne, and in some cases, allergic reactions. Washing your hair too much can be harmful too, your body tries to combat the loss of sebum by producing even more, meaning not only is it unhealthy for your scalp, it actually defeats the purpose.

Also, your hair can get ‘used’ to being washed daily, meaning if you do skip a day, you’re hair will look greasier than ever.
It seems almost impossible to strike a balance, but it can be done.
First of all you need to understand your hair type; course, thin, dry, curly, frizzy?

Then observe how long it takes for your hair to get greasy; a day, 2-3 days, a week?

You don’t need to wait until your hair feels uncomfortably oily, just until you get the urge to wash, then, leave it for a day before you wash it. Push your hair a little. It will take around 2 or 3 weeks for your hair to get used to being washed less, but you will start to see a difference.

You may find your hair is more manageable, shinier or in better condition, or it may just be that you have to wash your hair less, but, hey, saving time is still a big plus.
There are many ways to extend your last hair wash. Dry Shampoo is the secret to many woman’s voluminous and fresh hair, if your hair is looking a bit limp, or greasy just spritz on the roots and rub, Voila! Clean hair in a can.
Another technique, though not as well know is, Co-washing, otherwise known as conditioner washing, in which you skip Shampoo altogether, in favour of just conditioning. Although , both myself and many hairdressers, are sceptical about replacing Shampoo altogether, most agree that Co-washing is great to condition curly, or frizzy styles, and let them be restyled.

You also need to take into account what you want from your hair. Coloured hair fades when washed, so it goes without saying, the less you wash your hair, the more intense your colour will be, and the less it will fade.

Dry and damaged hair will also benefit from longer gaps in between washing, as will scalps with dandruff.

I understand it may not be practical to leave your hair unwashed, especially after gym sessions or mucky kiddies, but leave your Shampoo as a last resort, try a wet rinse instead.
For reference, I have thick, long, naturally curly, and dyed red hair, therefore it suits me, (and saves me both time, and money) to only wash my hair every 5 to 7 days.
To wash, dry and straighten/curl my hair it would normally take me around 2 hours, so it certainly wouldn’t be desirable to wash it every day.
As a final word on the subject, just do what feels right for you, if it makes you miserable having greasy looking hair, then of course, wash it. But if you feel you would like to cut down on your hair care routine, try some of the techniques mentioned. Even if it’s just trying to leave your hair an extra day, and spraying some Batiste over it, your hair will thank you for it.

I have really noticeable facial hair, and I’m a woman, how can I get rid of it?

First of all, you’re not alone, and you would be surprised how common this problem is. Having facial hair doesn’t make you less feminine, or a freak, it makes you human. There wouldn’t be as many hair removal products on the market, if it wasn’t an everyday problem.
Most of your body is covered in tiny hairs, though the hair tends to be more prominent on different ethnicities, or those with darker hair. Facial hair tends to be most apparent above the upper lip, around the brows, and along the jaw line.

There are many simple ways to solve facial hair.
If your hair is thin, but dark, bleaching may be a good option, bleaching will lighten the hair so that it is not as noticeable, but it will not alter the amount of hair. Though do be careful when considering bleach, the hair may turn yellow, or the bleach may discolour the skin, this is why it is important to assess the type and amount of hair you have. Bleach is not a permanent solution, eventually the hair will grow back to its normal dark self.

It’s important to note that when I say ‘Bleach’, I’m not talking about your standard toilet cleaner, which would be extremely dangerous to use! I’m referring to special Bleaching kits developed solely for use on skin.

Please remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, if the bleach causes any severe irritation or reaction, wash it off, and discontinue using the product.

Another option is Wax. Waxing is great for removing the hair altogether, again it’s only a temporary solution, but it also weakens the hair root, so over time, the hair will thin.
Only use Wax Kits designed for Facial Hair, trust me, I’ve been there.
When I was younger I got a free strip sample of leg wax in a magazine, having never tried wax, and being self-conscious of a non-existent moustache, I decided it would be a great idea to just whip out the wax strip and slap it on my upper lip. After almost pulling my top lip off, tugging and pulling in all sorts of directions, I was a little bit impressed with my handiwork. That is, until my upper lip turned into a cracked, dry, spotty, pussy mess, 3 days before my brother’s wedding.

Not such a good look for me.
Learn from my mistake; only wax following the direction of your hair, use a specific Facial Hair Wax Kit, follow the instructions exactly, including aftercare, and plan to wax when you don’t have a huge event in front of you.

If you only have a few prominent hairs you feel conscious of, tweezing may suit your needs. Mostly everyone already has a pair of tweezers (if not you can pick some up for a few quid), you can do it at home, you can do it discretely, with confidentiality, and you can tweeze as you find a hair every couple of days. Tweezing is a temporary solution, but it is pretty easy to maintain.

There are very little side effects, bar a little soreness and perhaps a spot or two.

As you can see, so far all the treatments mentioned have only been temporary, if you are looking for permanent hair removal, you may need to think about Electrolysis. A good thing about electrolysis is that it can be used on anyone regardless of skin or hair colour.

Electrolysis is performed by inserting a thin needle into the hair follicle root. It works by burning the hair root, so it is unable to grow again. It may seem a daunting step, but I can understand why some women, who have tried the methods above, may feel drawn to it.
Remember, facial hair is nothing to be embarrassed about, there are plenty of removal methods to suit everyone.

One last thing, never shave!

Not unless you want stubbly, thicker looking hair to grow back.

I hope this has been helpful, any questions I’ve missed you would like me to answer,

just leave a comment below or on the Semichem Facebook page, or Twitter.

Max

Semichem Are Now Offering Free Standard Delivery On All Orders!

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:08:01 GMT

That’s why Semichem are offering free delivery on all our UK orders, right up until Christmas. This means that whether you’re purchasing FCUK aftershave for your son, Beyonce’s perfume for your daughter or simply something to spoil yourself with, you won’t pay a penny on postage.

At Semichem, our customers matter.

Handbag Heroes

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:50:00 GMT

From Clockwise: Tiama Truth, Rimmel Clear Compexion Powder, QVS Small Blush Brush (from QVS Brush Set), Quickies Nail Varnish Remover Pads, Madame Milly Nail File (from Madame Milly French Nails Set), Batiste Dry Shampoo Original, Insette Mini Hairspray (from pack of 3), Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara, Vaseline, QVS Antistatic Comb (from QVS Family 4 Pack), Icare Eye Make-Up Remover Pads, Travelo Perfume Atomiser (with Katy Perry Purr inside), Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush.

Let’s have a little more in-depth look of what I carry, and why.

Skin Care

Vaseline - An oldie, but a goodie. Does exactly what it says on the tin, (couldn’t resist a bad pun), keeps lips smooth, and heals any cracked or chapped skin, a must for winter. Vaseline is a great multi-tasking product, use it on dry stubborn patches of skin, for longer lashes, and as a cuticle cream.
Nivea Crème - My hands have been crying out for moisture, and Nivea has came to the rescue, leaving with soft skin. This cream comes in handy around this time of year, when I have a cold that does not budge - dry, cracked nostrils are not attractive!

Make-Up

Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara: For adding an extra coat, perfect to go from day to night.
Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder and QVS Small Blusher Brush (Part of QVS Set): I have quite oily skin, and when I’m rushing about my make-up can tend to slip, leaving me looking sweaty and shiny. To fix my face, all I do is sweep some powder over my T-Zone and I’m good to go.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush: I love this lipstick, it brightens up a neutral day look, yet it the perfect partner to a smokey-eye. It also makes a great Cream Blush, meaning if I’m in a rush, I can just pop it in my handbag and do later, saving space and time.
Icare Eye Make-Up Remover Pads: Great for any touch-ups or fallout during the day. I use these pads to remove all my make-up, not just my eyes, and as it’s such a teeny pack, they fit perfectly in my bag. I sound like such a stop-out, but sometimes if you’ve had a late night, or even just a few too many drinks with the girls, you might end up crashing on your mate’s couch. There’s nothing worse than doing the Walk of Shame with last night’s make-up smeared down your face.
All the products above have been included as they make a perfect emergency make-up kit, meaning you won’t be caught with a make-up meltdown again.

Nails:
Madame Milly Nail File (Part of Madame Milly French Nails Set): My day time style is usually a casual jumper dress paired with a chunky cardi and boots, why am I telling you this? Because tights are a nightmare! One uneven nail later and you’re left with a dodgy ladder up your tights, sigh. So, I pop a little nail file in your bag to keep on top of my split nails.
Quickies Nail Varnish Remover Pads: A handy little tub to remove polish from any chipped nails. I’m a huge fan of Nail-Art, and when you have a full set of top-notch nails, it looks fab, but if you happen to chip a nail, it can look mismatched, and I’d rather be polish free than sport chipped nails.

Perfume:
Tiama Truth Body Spray: At 59p this a scent I can use anytime I feel a bit whiffy. When you’re on the go it’s perfect to pop in your handbag. Smells really fresh, I was actually complimented on the scent, and asked for the name of the perfume, they couldn’t believe it when I told them it was a 59p body spray from Semichem!

Travelo Perfume Atomiser (Filled With Katy Perry ‘Purr’): If you’ve seen our ‘Semichem Spotlight on Katy Perry’, you’ll know I fell in love with ‘Purr’, a gorgeously girly and fruity scent in a quirky cat-shaped bottle. I love it so much, I’m afraid to carry it in my bag, although the bottle is sturdy, I just couldn’t risk the little Kitty being smashed. This Travelo Perfume Atomiser is a Genius idea, just deposit your desired perfume into it, and you’re good to go. It’s extremely easy to do, and it has a handy spray nozzle, my new favourite product.

Hair:
Batiste Dry Shampoo Original: If you’ve not tried Batiste, the what are you waiting for! I’m not exaggerating, it really is a lifesaver. I have thick, long, coloured hair, meaning it takes forever to wash and style, and the less I wash it, the less the colour will fade. With Batiste I only need to wash my hair around every 5-7 days, saving me 2 hours a day! My favourite scent is the Original as it smells extremely fresh, and will please sensitive noses. Any time my hair is looking a bit flat, I just give it a little spray, and I’m good to go. I’ve found this especially useful since I had my fringe cut it, anyone with a fringe will know what I mean. Fringes tend to start looking flat and limp the day after you’ve washed your hair - this is a clean hair in a can.

Insette Mini Pack Extra Hold Hairspray (From Pack Of Three): You can see just how tiny it is, great for a night on the town, or just to pin any flyaways.

QVS Antistatic Comb (From QVS Family 4 Pack): A handy little comb, and a good handbag wouldn’t be complete without one. This comb is also anti-static, which is perfect if you’re stuck indoors, or at the office.

All products are available from Semichem Stores.
What do you carry in your handbag?
Max

A Semichem Christmas: Gift Sets For Him

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:01:28 GMT

Addiction – Fever:

If the man in your life is a bit on the alternative side (ie he’s all skateboards and guitars), then the chances are he’s a big fan of ‘Addiction’, one of the leading alternative brands. The Fever gift set is a perfect present for him, with both a can of anti-perspirant and the aftershave itself available now.

Adidas – Fresh Impact:

If the aim of your shopping is to pick up a gift set for your man and he’s rather on the sporty side, then we’d definitely recommend the Fresh Impact gift sets from the sporting legends Adidas. With both anti-perspirant and shower gel included, it’s the perfect way for your man to regain that fresh smell after a session on the pitch!

Gilette Fusion Pro-Glide Gift Set:

It’s a well known fact that short of a bit of designer stubble here and there, shaving is an essential part of any man’s routine. Obtaining a really good razor is always a good idea (unless your bloke wants his face cut open like cheese), and the Gilette Fusion range is without doubt the best of the best. Complete with special shaving foam (the best on the market), moisturizer and the razor itself, this is the perfect gift for encouraging your man to say no to the beard!

To view all of these gift sets and many more, visit the Semichem catalogue here.

Max Reviews: Garnier BB Cream

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:37:00 GMT

Products used:

Base:

- Garnier BB Cream in Light

- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory

- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent

Contour:

- NYC Cheek Glow in 655, Central Park Pink

- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as Highlighter)

- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 , Pink Blush (Used as Cream Blush)

Eyes:

- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown

- Colour Couture Colour Collection:

- Eye Liner

- Eyeshadow, Shades: 10, 13, 16, 17, and 18

- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Intense Black

Lips:

- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006, Pink Blush

How do you use it?

Garnier BB Cream can be used in 3 ways:

- As a Tinted Moisturiser: Apply a light layer, with the tips of you fingers, and smooth on to your face. Garnier BB Cream is very creamy and moisturising, so it’s perfect for those days when you skin’s playing up and you need coverage, but you don’t want to cake foundation over it. Put quite simply, it let’s skin breathe.
- As a Foundation: For days when you want a little bit more converage, just squirt Garnier BB Cream onto the back of your hand and apply with a foundation brush to give a smooth and even finish, then set with translucent powder.
- As a Primer: Garnier BB Cream is designed to blur imperfections and smooth fine lines, meaning that if a thin layer is used before your normal foundation, it will prepare your skin, and maximise your foundation’s staying power.

Pros:
- Leaves skin feeling super soft.
- Actually treats dry skin, instead of just masking it, as it hydrates skin for 24 hours.
- Nourishing enough to use daily.
- Made with Mineral Pigments, and Vitamin C to unify your complexion.
- Gives a really natural glow to your skin, without highlighter or bronzer.

- Immediate results to the feel of the skin.

- Contains SPF 15, so it protects your skin, with no need for extra Sunscreen

Cons:
- At £7.99, the price tag may put you off, but considering you are paying for three different uses, and a sun protection, you are really getting your money’s worth.

- You might not have not heard of BB Cream’s yet, and may be wary to buy, don’t be! BB Cream’s are gonna be huge, and it seems Garneir’s getting into the market early.

Garnier say:

Discover our all-in-one skincare solution that immediately perfects you skin! The light, non-greasy formula gives an even skin tone with a healthy glow, blurs imperfections and redness, smoothes the appearance of fine lines, hydrates for 24 hours and helps protect with SPF 15.

I say:
Garneir BB Cream is the perfect solution for me. My skin is a combination of dry and oily, meaning foundation can show any dry patches, but tinted moisturisers tend to slide off my face. I noticed Garnier BB Cream gave me a really healthy glow, as you can see above, and this was with no bronzer! I also think this would be great for when you are feeling a little ~~hungover~~ under the weather, as it’s extremely fresh and hydrating on your skin.

Garnier BB Cream is available to buy in Semichem stores for only £7.99.

Have you tried the latest skin care discovery from Asia?

Max

A Semichem Christmas: For The Kids

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:01:48 GMT

The Disney Princess Fragrance Set:
If there’s a little princess in your life, then it’s hard to recommend any other gift that this superb little set from those geniuses at Disney. Whether they’re aching to be the belle of the ball, or to be a part of that world, the four sweet fragrances here are the ideal choice.

The Littlest Pet Shop Stationery Set:

Granted, School isn’t really the first thing that kids are thinking of whilst they’re halfway through the Christmas holiday, but they don’t need to know that’s why you’ve bought this superb little set. With note paper and erasers included in a perfectly cute little set, it’s the ideal fuel for the creativity that only being a child can bring.

The Tinkerbell Magical Cosmetic Fairy Set:
If your little one loves to dress up and play, then this superb little set is the perfect accessory to help them do so. Within the charmingly presented box, there is a set of lip gloss, shimmer dust, shimmer puff and a comb, ensuring that your beautiful little girl will be able to look as magical as the Disney character on which the set is based.

To view all of these and more of our gift sets, visit the Semichem catalogue here.

How To: Conceal A Spot

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:39:00 GMT

I’ll be honest, I get spots.

I don't have acne, but I do get spots that appear from nowhere, like an angry third eye, staring back at you from the mirror.

They’re the kind of spots that make you wanna set up camp under your duvet, only venturing out for more spot cream. But, let’s face it, staying inside, or wearing your jumper up to your eyebrows just isn’t an option.

So what do you do when you need to go out, and you have a spot that deserves it’s own nickname?
Clean, cover, conceal, and if needs be, conceal again.
Spot’s don’t have to be the end of the world, especially when they can be hidden so easily. So here’s what you’ll need.

Left to Right: QVS Foundation Brush, Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 100 Ivory, QVS Concealer Brush, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 010 Ivory, Rimmel Clear Compelexion Powder in Transparent

When hiding a blemish, remember the three C’s:
- Clean: Spots are oil glands that have been infected with bacteria. If you try to apply make-up to an open spot, (a spot that's oozing or just been picked), then you will only worsen the problem, as more bacteria will build under the skin.

Before concealing a spot, wash your face with a gentle face wash, Simple Moisturising Foam Face Wash is great for a soft clean.

Then using a cotton wool pad, add a few drops of Clean & Clear Sensitive Cleansing Lotion, and wipe over face.

- Cover: Apply your foundation as normal, I apply my foundation using QVS Foundation Brush, as it gives a soft and even finish. Applying foundation will create an even skin-tone, and cover any red blotchy patches.
- Conceal: The most important part when zapping zits. Dab your concealer, (I use Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer which has a built in applicator), on the spot, or any other patches you would like to hide, then taking your concealer brush, set with transparent powder. If you’re prone to spots, I recommend using Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder. If your pimple is still peeping through, then repeat the conceal stage.

There you go, now you’re ready to face the day, and no one need ever know you're sporting a spot.

Spot’s are perfectly natural, and happen to those with the cleanest skin.

There’s no need to feel embarrassed or yukky, just conceal and move on with your day, after all it’s only a spot.

Max
x

A Semichem Christmas: For Her!

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:02:43 GMT

The Beyonce Heat Gift Set:
Beyonce Knowles is, in many ways, the ultimate alpha female. Staggering beauty, a remarkable body that ignores all that size zero rubbish, a work ethic that has led an astounding multi-million music career, and a husband that is everything a man should be.

‘Heat’ is a perfume that represents all that is great about the bodacious megastar, and it’s now available as part of a top-notch gift set. Good stuff!

The Sarah Jessica Parker ‘Dawn’:

As renowned journalist Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker was a representative of the life that so many women dream of. Fortunately, her signature fragrance is as stylish as the character. A combination of citrus top notes and musky base notes combine into a truly glorious perfume.

What’s more, it’s available as part of a sleek and sophisticated gift set.

Glee – EDT:
If the special lady in your life loves to have a bit of fun, the chances are that she might be a fan of Glee – the singing sensation that’s sweeping the nation (pardon the rhyme). If so, then the Glee gift set could be the perfect Christmas present for her stocking.

With shower gel, skin lotion and the perfume itself all included, it’s the ideal way for her to smell at her best over the Christmas period.

To view all of these perfumes and more, visit the Semichem catalogue here.

Semichem Spotlight on.... Katy Perry

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:59:00 GMT

I have a huge Girl Crush on Katy P, she’s brought the Retro Bettie Paige Style back, and she’s not afraid to mix up her looks with a blue wig, or some candy floss.

However, what really blew me away was her voice!

After a shaky performance on the UK X Factor in 2010, she came back this year, stripped down to her guitar roots and rocked it with “The One That Got Away”.
This look is inspired by that very performance, it wasn’t the Pin-Up Style we’ve come to know her for, but it was gorgeous.
See for yourself,

When you focus on the make-up, and not the crazy pink hair, it’s actually a really wearable look.

Soft Lilac and Purple Eyes, with full lashes and a fuchsia look, perfect for a night on the town.

I’ve stripped the make-up down a little, so if you’re not feeling too adventurous, you can still give it a go.

Products used:

Base:

- Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Shade 100, Ivory

- Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Shade 010, Ivory

- Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder in 021, Transparent

Contour:

- NYC Cheek Glow in 655, Central Park Pink

- Colour Couture Colour Collection, Eyeshadow Shade 15 (Used as Highlighter)

- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 014, Sweetie (Used as Cream Blush)

Eyes:

- NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 922, Dark Brown

- Colour Couture Colour Collection

- Eye Liner

- Liquid Eye Liner

- Eyeshadow, Shades: 4, 5, 6, and 7

- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Intense Black

- Eyelure Girls Aloud Lashes, Nicola

Lips:

- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 014, Sweetie

- Rimmel Lipstick Lock

Method:

- Apply your Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation with a Foundation Brush (I used QVS Foundation Brush), applying with a brush is not only more hygienic, but creates a flawless and even finish. You also use less product, as the brush distributes any excess foundation.

- If, like me, you’re not blessed with clear Katy P skin, then apply Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer on any blemishes you have. If you’ve had few too many late nights, you can apply and blend concealer under the eyes. Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer also doubles up as a highlighter, so feel free to dab a little on your brow and cheekbones.

- To set your base, swirl some Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder around your face with a soft fluffy brush, paying extra attention to your oily T-Zone.

- Katy Perry has lovely, naturally flushed cheeks, to recreate this look. I used Rimmel Long Lasting Lipstick in 014, Sweetie. I know what your thinking, lipstick on your cheeks!?! But, it really isn’t as drastic as it sounds, make a small stroke of lipstick on your hand (as if you were testing the colour in a shop) then dab your finger in the stroke, and blend to your cheeks. You only need a tiny amount, as the colour is very intense and pigmented.

- To fake cheekbones, suck in cheeks and apply NYC Cheek Glow in 655 Central Park Pink in the hollow, then blend upwards to meet your pink cheeks.

- Central Park Pink, to me, is actually more of a shimmery peach, than a pink, so it’s very wearable.

- Use Shade 15, an irredescent white, as a highlighter, just sweep over cheek bones and in your brow arch to give a glittering glow.

- For defined Retro Brows, brush your brows outwards in a diagonal direction using a Brow Comb, (I used the mini Brow Comb included in the QVS Essential Cosmetic Tool Kit), then take a sharpened NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil, and draw in small strokes following the direction of your eyebrow hair. You may be a bit worried that your brows are too dark at this moment, however once your eyes and lips are made-up, they will frame the face perfectly.

- Onto the eyes! Start by using the Black Eyeliner from the Colour Couture Colour Collection, draw a thick line on the upper eyelid, and a thin line in the waterline, under the eye.

- Then, using the brush included in the Collection, go over your black lines with Shade 7 Eyeshadow, then blend up to the crease. Sweep Shade 4 over the whole lid, then add shade 5 to the middle of the lid and blend. Finish by adding Shade 6 to the inner corner of the eye, and the brow bone.

- To get the Katy Kitty Flick, line your upper eye with the Liquid Eyeliner from the Collection, and end in an upwards flick. As a rough guide aim for either a third, or a halfway towards the end of your eyebrow.

- To prepare for a lashing, fake lashes I mean, curl your lashes, and add a coat of Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Intense Black.

- Now for the signature full lashes. I picked Eyelure Girls Aloud in Nicola, they are natural looking, yet fluttery and end with full sweeping lash, perfect for the Katy Perry Look. Apply the lashes, then mask the line by applying more liquid eyeliner.

- To finish, add a slick of Rimmel Long Lasting Lipstick in 014, Sweetie. Sweetie is a bright moisturising Fuschia, by using an intense pink, it adds a modern twist to the Retro feel. If you want your lipstick to last all night, add a coat of Rimmel Lipstick Lock, and let it dry for around 30 seconds.

Hair:

Katy Perry went all out with Pink Pin-Up Curl and double twist, and although she looked Candy-Floss Cute, I’ve not had middle parting since I was twelve, and I’m not about to start now. I know a lot of people feel a bit self conscious about a large forehead, or they prefer a side-parting, so mix it up a little. I have a fringe, so incorporated into the look, just do what works for you.

- I lightly curled my hair with Babyliss Glamour Waves taking large sections as I only wanted a soft wave.

- I then took my fringe forward, split the rest of my hair into a middle parting and rolled the top section of each part into a quiff.

- Next I secured the sections with Kirby Grips and gave a light spray of Elnett.

- To add extra shine I used Toni & Guy Finishing Shine Spray

This hairstyle is extremely easy to recreate, and the great thing is, it works better on unwashed hair, perfect when you’re in a rush.

Of course our Semichem Spotlight wouldn’t be complete without taking a peek at Katy Perry’s Perfume ‘Purr’.

If you hadn’t already guessed from the name, Katy Perry’s Perfume is Cat-Themed, but what else do you really expect from a the woman who named her own cat, Kitty Purry. A woman, after my own heart! This perfume is so cute, packaged in a Purple, Glass Kitty Shaped Bottle, with a ‘Purr’ charm as a collar, it’s taken pride of place on my make-up table.

At first sniff, it’s very girly and fruity, but not over-powering at all, the scent then settles to sweet vanilla and zesty bursting orange. It sounds weird to say, but the whole theme suits the fragrance perfectly, fun, girly, and a little bit sexy. This is definitely a ‘wow’ perfume, and I can see it becoming my signature scent.
Even my cat loves it.

You can buy 'Purr' here.

All of the products mentioned are available to buy from Semichem online and in your local Semichem store.
Psst, there's also free Standard UK Delivery, but only for the next 4 days.

Please let me know if you give this look a go, good luck!

Max x

Beauty Tips From Miss Universe Participants

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

In this grand old world of ours, there are a lot of people who love spouting their advice despite being a long way from being an expert – if you’ve ever met a friend of your mum who insists that ‘despite what the doctor says, I don’t think it’s a good idea’, then you’ll know what we mean. However, when it comes to beauty advice, we’re rather happy to take the advice of the lovely ladies who’ve been involved in Miss Universe over the last few years.

Speaking to OK Magazine, Ximena Navarrete was nice enough to dispense some effective (if unusual) advice: advice that will have more or less everyone cheering. ‘Eat. Some girls are very skinny and not eating. I think you have to be healthy and drink a lot of water. Of course, work out every day, but try to have balance in your life.’ Feel free to cheer in your own time.

Leila Lopes – Miss Angora, and the 2011 winner – also had some back to basics advice, proving that looking great often amounts to doing simple things well. Two of her main pieces of advice were simply to get a lot of sleep and to drink a lot of water – something that won’t really cost you a penny. The other main thing that the Angoran beauty noted was that she always wore sunblock when outside, whatever the weather!

Miss Teen USA 2010 Kamie Crawford also has her own unusual advice for keeping your face unpuffy. ‘Preparation H under the eyes. It’s a hemorrhoid cream, but if you put it under your eyes, it reduces puffiness in the morning, so if you’ve been crying all night, put the Preparation H under your eyes. Or put it on your thighs, and put saran wrap on it overnight. It keeps your legs tight and reduces cellulite.’ Bet you weren’t expecting that one!

Laura Dundovic, winner in 2008, has previously been very quick to highlight the virtue of Skin Doctors at home Microdermabrasion System, highlighting the cleansing process as being ‘amazing’ at both tightening the skin and keeping pores clean.

So there you are – tips straight from the fabulous lips of some of the most beautiful women on planet earth!

View more beauty tips every week, here on the beauty spot blog!

Make-up Sets From Semichem

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Whilst we all enjoy trooping around the local shops trying to find the perfect shade of lipstick to go with the new heels we’ve just bought, sometimes make-up situations can be a bit of an emergency, meaning that you just need matching items, and quickly! At Semichem, our range of make-up box sets are designed for those last minute calamities.

The Academy of Colour Glamour Make Up Box-Set. A fitting name for what is a genuinely bright and sexy set of make-up – as long as you know how to use it! With 13 different eye shadow colours as well as a choice of nail varnish, mascara, glitter eye liner, bronzer, blusher and a guide on achieving different looks, this set has everything you could possibly need. At under £10, it’s a steal.

The Colour Couture Magnetic Box Make-up Set. You can’t get a lot for six quid these days: a burger king meal, one drink in a London bar, half a juggling lesson (maybe). However, for just £5.99, you can obtain this little box of brilliance, which contains (breathe in): 2 lip glosses, 2 nail varnishes, 2 eye liners, mascara, a blusher palette, an eye shadow palette, eye shadow dust and all the brushes and tools you could possibly need. Put the whopper down and put the make-up on!

Disney Princess. We’re all for being serious and professional as well, but we KNOW that there’s a Disney princess inside of everyone – yes, that means you at the back! Well give that little girl a treat with the Disney Princess Mini Make Up Case. With great shades of lip gloss and a mini hairbrush, this is the perfect fun treat for the Belle inside of everyone. You shall go to the ball!

To view all of these and more, visit the Semichem catalogue here.

Armani Code – The Best Seller

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

We stock a wide range of different aftershaves here at Semichem, so we understand that trying to decide between them can be problematic. One thing it’s hard to argue with is sales and, in terms of sales, one aftershave reigns above all the others: Armani Code.

Armani is just cool. If Pulp Fiction’s Jules, Don Corleone and James Bond were locked in a warehouse and told to create the ultimate brand, Armani is probably what they’d come up with. (Well, they’d actually escape by shooting, bribing and making wise quips, but you get the idea).

Code is top of the line in terms of male aftershave, offering a truly attention grabbing array of cutting top notes, bergamot and zesty lemon being the perfect way to create a truly inviting atmosphere right off the bat. The heart notes that follow are simply a further expression of male confidence and charm, and the seductive base notes of Guiac Wood and Tonka Beans are the perfect conclusion to this marvelous combination.

Available now at Semichem, Armani Code is the perfect way to express all that is wonderful about genuine masculinity. If you want nothing but the best, then this is the fragrance for you. Click here to find out more, and to order this superb aftershave.

The Gillette Fusion Pro Glide Razor Gift Pack

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

There is nothing in the world quite as agonizing as a really, really bad razor. We’ve all been there: the old disposable orange razors, giving the impression of pulling the hairs out of your face with a very quick set of pliers. Fortunately, times have changed, and we’re now blessed with the genius that is the Gillette Fusion Pro Glide Razor.

If this sounds like we’re a wee bit on the biased side, it’s because we are. Several of our staff are men (including the person writing this), and the universal opinion on this particular razor is that it completely and utterly rules.

Think of all the worst things that can come with shaving: burns, irritation, and of course, cutting your face up like it’s bad cheese, the Gillette Fusion is a remarkably smooth shave, the ridiculously thin blades gliding over your face without any hint of drag. Short of Rihanna kissing your cheeks afterwards, things couldn’t get much more comfortable.

What’s even better than that (the shave, not the Rihanna kissing), is that this superb razor is now available from Semichem as part of a superb value box-set that also includes four extra blades, and the Gillette Fusion proglide gel (which is equally as awesome).

Available now at a great price of £9.99, this box-set is an absolute no-brainer for any man seeking a shave that can’t be beaten for sheer comfort.

The Colour Couture Train Case – Available Now!

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Here at Semichem, we’ve seen more than our fair share of useful products, but we’re currently offering you a great saving on one of the very best. The Colour Couture Train Case is a one-stop shop for make-up, whether you need something done last minute for a date, or have all day to prepare for the ball, it’s the perfect way to cover all the bases.

Looking to create the ideal effect to really make your eyes pop? With six palletes of gorgeous eye shadow, there are more options available than you’ll know what do with. You’ll certainly be covered for the right make-up, whatever outfit you’re wearing.

Nails looking a bit rough? Worry not! The Couture Case also contains four great colours of nail polish, ensuring that whatever they might look like now, you can have them looking Hollywood-glamorous in an hour or two!

Finally, there’s no way we can forget the old reliable: Lipstick! Just as with the nail polish, the Colour Couture Train Case contains four unique colours of high quality lipstick, all of which could be combined with the perfect outfit to make you look your very best for that big night out.

Click here to find out more about this superb product – the ideal emergency kit!