InStyle Your Way- The Braided Up Do

It's not a very frequent occurrence for me to wear an "updo", even more so a braided one unless I'm at work or having a seriously bad hair day, but in the name of fashion, with braided hair do's being spotted all over the runway for SS13, I have put together this style for InStyles "InStyle Your Way Challenge".

InStyle recently approached me and asked if I wanted to join them with a few other bloggers for their new line up of challenges, which will take place on Twitter and gives you the opportunity to win a goodie bag made up of some of their personal beauty favourites which includes products from Dermalogica, L'Oreal and Morrocan Oil. To enter, simply tweet a picture before the 25th February, of your twist of The Braided Updo to @instyle_uk with the hashtag #instyleyourway.
 Excitingly for me, I get to help pick a winner and I'm so excited to see what everyone comes up with.

I'm no expert when it comes to hair but have so much fun playing around and seeing what styles I can come up with. I have quite fly-away hair and I often find delicate hair styles quite difficult, so to achieve this look I made sure that I had a small amount of product blow dried into my hair to give it a little bit of hold. I used the V05 Plumping Mousse*, but I think a styling spray would have worked well too. 

I combed my hair from the ends up to ensure it was completely tangle free, and starting on the opposite side to the side I want the most part of the style to feature, I separated my hair into three sections (roughly about 1.5inches each), working from front to back. 

Once I had my three sections, I began to braid towards the opposite side. On every sequence, similar to a french plait, I added a little more hair into the plait and continued to do so until I got to where I wanted to the braid to finish, making sure I didn't pull it too tight as I personally like a much looser look.

Like I said, I'm certainly no expert when it comes to hair and wasn't too sure how I wanted the overall look to play out but after playing with it a little, I decided to continue the braid all the way around until I had very minimal hair left to work with. I secured it with a few Brown kirby grips and a little bit of L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray to finish, but if you wanted to do a similar style with more of a ponytail, a snag free elastic would work beautifully.

I'm really excited to see what styles you come up with. What's your favourite braided up-do look?


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Thinning Hair Awareness Week with Nioxin

 If you've been reading Belles Boutique for a while, you may remember that last year I mentioned the hair thickening treatment, Nioxin and was treated to a Scalp Renew Dermabrasian Treament, which I absolutely loved and worked wonders. 

Nioxin is a range of hair treatments that work to give you thicker and fuller looking hair. A combination of six ingredients, tailored to each hair type makes up the range of products and rather than concentrating on the hair to give a quick fix, they work similar to skincare, on the scalp at the root of the problem. 

Though like I mentioned in my full post almost a year ago, Nioxin isn't a miracle and unfortunately won't make your hair grow, but it does work to thicken your hair and reduce hair loss by 54% by improving its condition and resilience, making it the perfect sponsor for Thinning Hair Awareness Week, which commences on the 18th February. 

Thinning hair and hair loss is becoming more of a concern to both men and women and although I tend to automatically link it towards serious illness and stress it can be caused by so many factors including pregnancy, hair damage and even minor illnesses that you may have suffered months and months ago.

This means that it potentially, we could suffer hair thinning or loss at any time and through Nioxins sponsorship of Thinning Hair Awareness, they hope to help people who are both worried about or experiencing thinning hair as well as those that damage their hair, and show them how to get the best out of their hair for life and give them a little insight into the products and treatments with the partnership of the Institute of Trichologists at selected Nioxin Salons.

I use Kit 1, which is for fine, natural and uncoloured hair and consists of a Cleanser Shampoo, a Scalp Revitaliser Conditioner and a Leave In Scalp Treatment, which I really enjoy using. 

I've actually used this on and off for a year now and repurchased the kit online soon after using it all up and honestly found this worked so well for me, to the point where at one stage, my hair almost felt too thick. 

Nioxin System Kits are available for all different hair types, which can be determined here and cost £27.99 each, although single products can be purchased costing from £16.99 both online and at Nioxin salons stocklists.

As a part of Thinning Hair Awareness Week, if you wanted to try the products and talk to experts from the Institute of Trichologists, you can find your nearest participating Nioxin salon online here. 

Do you have any hair thinning worries? Will you be visiting your local "Hair Sanctuary" during Thinning Hair Awareness Week come the 18th February? 

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*This is a sponsored post

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Lancome BAFTA Suite & Red Carpet Reporter Louise Roe

This evening I was fortunate enough to have been invited down to The Savoy, where the second floor was home to one of the most beautiful suites I've ever seen, which was made even more dreamy as it was taken over by Lancome and their make up team ready for this weekends BAFTA awards.

For the thirteenth year, Lancome are again the official Beauty and Make Up partners of the EE British Academy Film Awards and to celebrate I was invited down to sip on Champagne and be treated how I expect the stars will be come Sunday, with manicures and make up treatments being offered all round.

As well as at homes and other requested hotels, Bafta nominees will be graced by the team of Make Up Artists as well as Lancome UK Ambassador, Alex Babsky at the suite for all of their Red Carpet ready treatments and with all the products that I saw lined up ready to be used to perfection, they will certainly be in for the A-list pamper that one can only imagine.

As if dressing tables full of delightful make up wasn't enough, I was also given the opportunity to meet Louise Roe, who is Lancomes BAFTA Red Carpet Reporter and spent a while with her discussing her fabulous outfit, which was made up of both high street and designer as well as of course, her must have beauty products and Red Carpets. It was such a pleasure to meet her and I'm pleased to report we're completely on the same wave length in that her "desert island cosmetic" is also an Eyebrow pencil/powder. 

Lancome very kindly gifted me a few of their newest products, including Teint Visionnaire which is a foundation and corrector that works to give a perfect coverage with a natural finish as well as in time, working to reduce pore size, dark spots, wrinkles and even hyper-pigmentation on the skin. Teint Visionnaire is launched into their range on the 14th February and I'll be sure to let you know my thoughts as soon as possible. 

This years BAFTA Awards takes place on Sunday 10th February at the Royal Opera House, will you be tuning into the coverage to see Louise Roe and the wonders the Lancome make up team have put together for the Red Carpet?

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MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skin Finish

Over the last few months I have found myself jumping on quite a few bandwagons and although I'm usually pleased in making that decision, this time I have been left a little disappointed. 

MAC Stereo Rose is a Mineralize Skin Finish and is a product that I can remember being raved about a few years ago when it was first released into a MAC collection. Ever since, I have browsed many a blog sale to find it and although I eventually talked myself out of needing it, when it was re-released into the Aprés Chic Collection my lust for it was back and although I managed to hold off buying it for a few weeks, I did eventually cave in. 

If you're unfamiliar with this seriously raved about product, it's a beautiful looking Coral powder with flecks of Pink and Gold running throughout. To look at, it really is lovely and even swatched I found it super appealing, but on my skin, I just wasn't blown away. It can be worn as both blush and highlight but used in both ways, I didn't find it to be very complimentary for me. I had to go really gentle with it, in fear of looking like a shimmered up Noddy, and then with going so gentle I didn't really get it. If you read my blog regularly, then you will be aware that I absolutely love anything Coral, but unfortunately I think the frosting shimmer of Stereo Rose just didn't do it for me and I think that maybe without the hints of Pink and maybe even less Gold running throughout, it could have been a dream.

Stereo Rose sold out extremely fast online (I'm told minutes!), but I have seen it restocked in quite a few counters recently, so if you fancy picking up one of these extremely lusted after MSF powders, they cost £21.50 and are available as a part of the limited edition Aprés Chic Collection at MAC Counters.

Have you tried Stereo Rose? I would love to know how you got on.

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Kiehl's Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit Skin Softening Body Lotion

As much as I love a beauty product and seem to have an extensive collection of lotions, I'm going to be completely honest and admit that I have always been pretty rubbish when it comes to daily body moisturising, especially in the Winter months when the majority of my skin is covered up. It's not that I don't need to, although I don't really suffer with super dry skin anyway, it just comes down to being a little bit lazy. When I jump out of the shower of a morning or a bath in the evening, I just want to get dressed or jump into my pyjamas and although it's good to, lotioning up my body is something I frequently skip.

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Spice Girls Viva Forever Cocktails Launch at Harvey Nichols

Yesterday afternoon, dreams were made when I was given the opportunity to go Harvey Nichols, London for the Viva Forever Cocktails launch at the Fifth Floor Bar and meet the Spice Girls. The actual Spice Girls (minus Victoria Beckham). I can't even begin to explain how excited I was and how grateful I feel to have even been given such an incredible opportunity. It really was such a tremendous afternoon and after loving them for the past eighteen years or so, it felt like quite the dream.

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Chanel Rouge Coco Chintz

Before caving in and buying this Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick, I had been recommended it a fair few times from fellow lipstick lovers that knew of my ever-growing passion for a pretty Nude. Why I didn't purchase this before is absolutely beyond me, because since adding it into my collection I have not stopped wearing it.

Chanel Chintz is an extremely wearable Nude with a very pretty Rose Peach tone running through it which I love. With one sweep it isn't the most opaque of shades in my collection, but it applies beautifully to the lips and is actually quite buildable making it suitable for whichever look you're going for. 

As well as not being as opaque as I normally like, as I find myself saying so often, because it's quite moisturising on the lips, I don't find it sticks around for as long as I would like. However, the colour pay off this has on the lips along with the classy Black and Gold Chanel packaging makes this an incredible product in my opinion and with it being so wearable and soft looking on the lips, it is a go-to for me no matter how often I find myself needing to re-apply it.

Chanel Rouge Coco lipsticks cost £24 and are available at Chanel counters in House of Fraser, Selfridges, Debenhams and Boots.

  

Do you like this shade? Do you have any Chanel Coco Rouge lipsticks?

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Dr Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips

I must admit when I was first introduced to Dr Lipps Nipple Balm*, I was slightly confused as to what the product was intended for, but after finding out more and trying this little tube of balm on my lips, which if left uncared for are often quite dry and can become easily chapped and split, I haven't looked back as it has worked quite wonderfully for me.

With lipsticks being my favourite product, it's important that my lips have a nice base and are as soft and moisturised as possible and this super thick, natural, rich balm has made this so easy. Though it really is so thick that I have a little bit of trouble squeezing it out of the tube, once I have a tiny bit it's such a pleasure to use and a little goes such a long way. Although it appears as a clear gloss on the lips, I can very much feel it which although I wouldn't really love throughout the whole day, I don't mind as I normally go crazy with this first thing in the morning and last thing at night which leaves my lips feeling and looking perfectly moisturised.

Dr Lipps Nipple Balm is 100% natural and both paraben and fragrance free, made up of medical grade Lanolin and although I do use this Nipple Balm purely for my lips, this is one of those wonder products that can be used for so many different things including cuticles, itchy dry skin, split ends, burns and abrasions, eczema and even for mums on their sore & cracked nipples caused from breastfeeding and their babies nappy rash.

Available in Space NK and costing £11.50 for this 15ml tube, I don't think it's the most reasonable balm but I do imagine it will last a fair while and it does do a very lovely job.


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