I've returned from a wonderful Christmas break seeing family and friends across the country and I feel all warm and fuzzy from many a catch up and cuddle! I hope you have had a lovely break too, spent time with loved ones and spoilt yourself to lots of yummy food and good cheer! Hic!!

I particularly enjoyed having a facial at Vita Skin Spa in Salisbury, Wiltshire, which was given to me as a present from my boyfriend's lovely sister for being her bridesmaid this summer. It was great to be on the receiving end of a professional facial (and learn a few tricks of the trade!). 

I was especially impressed by the use of a steamer whilst the therapist cleansed and exfoliated my face, and the Natural Spa Factory Bilberry and Chamomile peel-off face mask was fab - in fact all of the products used were lovely. The facial promises to "even out skin tone, lighten blemishes and reduce the appearance of age spots leaving the skin bright and luminous'. I wasn't given any after-care advice and didn't expect my skin to peel in the days following; however, my skin tone has slightly improved, I haven't had any breakouts and it was wonderfully relaxing. The perfect pre-Christmas present to myself! 

I also enjoyed treating lots of special ladies in my life to beauty treatments over the Christmas break and received lots of lovely feedback. It's a real benefit to be able to give someone I care for a nice manicure or facial and see how happy they are with it. I'm fortunate to have so many amazing women in my life, all of whom work very hard and are successful in their careers and/or as mums and who deserve to take some time out and treat themselves. If I can make them feel a bit more amazing than they already are then I feel like I have achieved something in life!

I absolutely loved giving our gorgeous little nieces some beauty treatments (sadly the "glow in the dark" nail polish didn't do what it says on the tin, but they were pleased anyway!). Such tiny fingernails!!

As usual with this time of year, now is a time for reflection on the past year and planning for the year ahead - and it's very exciting! 2014 has been a big year for me; moving to Suffolk, learning to drive again (previous to this it was on the other side of the road in the US), making new friends and, most amazingly, deciding to stop playing snakes and ladders with the charity sector and go back to college to study Beauty Therapy! Who'd have thunk it?!

It's definitely the best decision I could have made and I'm really enjoying learning again, being around a good bunch of gals, practising my new-found skills and planning where to take them. I'm going to start trying to understand how I can one day become self-employed or run my own business. It might be a while off, but you don't get anywhere by thinking it'll never happen and not setting the wheels in motion.

I already have lots to look forward to in 2015. Aside from several friends' weddings and being a bridesmaid again, I'll hopefully become a fully fledged qualified Beauty Therapist by the summer! When I return to college next week I have two weeks of enrichment and will be learning additional beauty skills, such as gel nails, threading, spray tanning, ear candling (nice!) before knuckling down to the remainder of the course and exams, and am looking forward to attending the Professional Beauty London show in February and hopefully expanding my beauty kit.

I'm also really excited to have started applying for various work experience opportunities for when I'm on my school holidays, such as shadowing professional makeup artists, working alongside beauty editors of fashion magazines, or even getting some hands on experience in a salon or spa. Please let me know if you have any useful contacts in Suffolk or London. 

One last request, please start spreading the word about me! I'll continue to need models to help me with my remaining assessments, and if you know anyone who could do with a little pick me up then do send them my way. I'm as cheap as chips till I qualify so make the most of it whilst you can!! Anyone can read this blog or request to join my facebook group.

Or why not make it your new year's resolution to look after yourself a bit more, after all I'm here to help you achieve it! 

Thanks for your ongoing support and see you all in 2015....

Laura x

Feet are probably one of the most important parts of our bodies, rushing us around from A-B, enduring long days and being squeezed into all sorts of shoes, yet they are often associated with negative connotations rather than positive - smelly, dry skin, bunions, verrucas, blisters - the list goes on. Most people I know hate their feet and hate other people's feet even more! 

When I was younger, my Nana always asking me to "sort out her feet" when she visited us, and in all honesty I used to hurl at the thought as her car pulled up on the drive (sorry, Nana!). Rubbing her bunions and trimming her toe nails weren't exactly my idea of fun as a teenager; however, it always made her feel really happy and now I'm honoured she asked me - because look what I'm willingly doing now!!

The good news is that feet can be transformed with a bit of TLC. Nail salons, chiropodists and podiatrists are there to help, but we can also help our little tootsies in the comfort of our own homes. Here is a list of some of the common foot concerns along with some advice on how you can learn to love your feet and they can love you back!
__________________________________________________________________________________

It's the class we've all been dreading at college....the bikini line wax. We practice everything on each other and we begrudgingly take it in turns to model for the tutor to demonstrate on first. Guess who modelled in front of the entire class on this occasion?! Yours truly, of course!! Think visiting the gynaecologist with 14 medical students looking in with horrified faces. CRINGE.

Now I am no stranger to a wax down below. My undercarriage has touched down in Brazil and Hollywood several times and I've learnt to shake off any nerves and just lie back and think of England - but this was an altogether different experience. Lying down under the bright, harsh lights of our classroom, my tutor demonstrated to the class a step-by-step method for bikini waxing. Embarrassing, yes, but I scored some serious kudos from my classmates who consequently avoided a public-arena wax.

Waxing is ideal for your nether-regions. It may be a little bit painful the first time you try it and depends on your personal pain threshold (nerve endings in that area can have long term sensitivity following pregnancy, for example), but it gets better each time and there's no contest when you compare the smooth, clean feeling to that of shaving, and the results can last for a couple of weeks. Yes, you'll then have to let it grow for a couple of weeks (hair should measure about 4-8mm) but you'll always think it's worth it post-wax, trust me!

Whether you're a fan of the au naturale, more of a landing strip kinda girl, or simply happy to remove any rogue curlies from peeking out from behind your knickers - whatever your preference, whatever your thoughts, intimate waxing is big business and can be good fun. Here's a run down of the various styles and trends in case you ever fancied trying something new...
__________________________________________________________________________________

*Position - Lying on your back, legs bent outwards, no need to turn over. You will most probably be able to keep your knickers on or they will provide you with paper knickers to avoid getting any wax on yours.

**Position - Lying on your back, legs bent outwards, you will need to turn over for your therapist to gain all round access...You don't tend to wear knickers for these waxes but you may be provided with a teeny weeny paper thong.

Let's not forget to mention intimate waxing for men. 'Back, sack and crack' waxes are fast gaining momentum for exactly the same reason as women having any intimate waxing - it's much smoother and feels cleaner and is less risky than shaving. Often hot wax is used, as the skin is quite sensitive and 'baggy' around the testicles and hot wax only clings to the hair rather than the skin and allows for a much safer and more effective treatment.

For any male readers considering it then here's a good description of the treatment - click here.

It also doesn't stop there - there are Boyzilians, Pejazzles, the list goes on....

So there we have it. Whether you care to bare or prefer some hair, it's a completely personal thing, but hopefully you'll feel better equipped for when the occasion arises. 

I will only be offering a basic bikini wax in my salon, as intimate waxing is not currently included on my course. I will require models for an assessment in college soon (it will be relatively private and discrete)...any takers....anyone?! 

Laura x

P.S. I can't write a blog about intimate waxing without mentioning the Wonder Waxer I still go to in London, despite having relocated from there over a year ago! Angel Nails and Tanning Salon on Chapel Street in Angel is THE place to go. The lovely Vietnamese lady is without doubt the best waxer I've ever had, super speedy and thorough and it's only £15 for a Brazilian wax, which is the cheapest I've found! Go see her, I recommend her highly.

I'm usually a bit of a Scrooge and don't like the fact that Christmas starts as soon as the clocks go back; however, this year I've decided to throw caution to the wind and embrace it! 

The independent boutiques along my local high street are really pushing the boat out with amazing Christmas window displays; festivities begin at Sutton Hoo next weekend with a Christmas gift fayre and the house will be transformed into a 1930s Christmas; and my boyfriend simply loves Christmas and has been collecting some quirky festive records for our record player all year (Tijuana Christmas tunes, anyone?!) - so I thought I'd join in with the fun! 

A couple of years ago I was given a Selfridges gift voucher and treated myself to perhaps the most princessy, glamorous and ridiculous advent calendar ever made - full of 24 mini Ciate's nail varnishes!! I had never seen anything like it and looked forward to opening the doors every morning and receiving a new shade of polish, and I still use them to this day! 

Beauty advent calendars have now become a 'thing' and there are loads on the market. With the value of the gifts adding up to way more than the price of the calendar, it's a smart way of getting your hands on travel-size (and sometimes full size) products, and gives you that much needed little pick-me-up every day in a season when you're treating everyone else except yourself.

Perhaps you feel like treating yourself to something a little more exciting than a thin piece of chocolate barely resembling a Christmas character, or you want to treat a loved one, or it'll inspire you to make your own....either way I hope you enjoy seeing what's currently available. 

(One piece of advice, they sell out fast!)

I recently went makeup shopping with a friend who doesn't really wear any makeup but wanted some sheer foundation. She felt a little overwhelmed by all of the choice and it got me thinking...

Do you feel a bit overwhelmed when choosing makeup? Have you found the perfect foundation, or are you still wearing your trusty one you've worn for years because you don't know any different? Do you need help deciphering your liquid foundations from your BB, CC and now DD                                                                                creams, or your minerals from your mousses? 

I am by no means an expert and I, too, get confused, but here's a little guide to hopefully make it easier for you to find the perfect base from now on.
__________________________________________________________________________________

• Gool ol' liquid foundation. It's been around for years and is still being reinvented, from sheer to full coverage, from matt to oil-based, from waterproof to lasting 24 hours - you name it, you can probably buy it. Apply with your fingers, brush or sponge and build up as much coverage as you desire.

Recommended product: There are SO many liquid foundations on the market. Earlier this year I tried out No. 7's Match Made service to find my perfect colour and have enjoyed using their Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation SPF 15 (£14.50) and would highly recommend it.
__________________________________________________________________________________

• BB creams bounced into Europe a few years ago following a huge success in the Asian market for many years. It was the first kind of "alphabet" foundation before CC and DD creams followed suit, and acts as a lightweight tinted moisturiser, usually packed with vitamins and sun protection. Ideal for younger skin or normal skin that just needs a little pick-me-up, but also smooths fine lines and imperfections and may even claim anti-ageing benefits. Can be used in place of or in addition to your daily moisturiser and can act as a great primer before a better coverage foundation if you so wish, as it smooths out the skin. 

Recommended product: Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream SPF15 is the original BB cream that still gets rave reviews and at £6.99 it's a bargain, but there are tonnes on the market. 
__________________________________________________________________________________

• Off the back of BB cream's success, CC cream then cruised onto the market about a year ago and includes all the benefits of a BB cream, but takes it to the next level! If, like me, you suffer with uneven skin tone then a CC cream might be just the answer. Providing more coverage, evening out skin tone and colour-related skin issues and brightening skin in one, dark spots, acne, redness or generally dull skin will be banished! Plus, some claim to improve your skin tone over time...but it's too early to tell.

Recommended product: Maxfactor Colour Correcting Cream SPF10 is about £9.99, or go more high-end with Smashbox Camera Ready SPF 30 CC cream at £29.99.
__________________________________________________________________________________

• The newest kid off the block, but it doesn't even seem to know what it is!! Supposedly offering a mixture of BB + CC + more, with a specific focus on anti-ageing (and a higher price tag because of it).

Recommended product: Decleor DD Daily Defence Fluid Shield SPF 30 at £29.50.
__________________________________________________________________________________

• I haven't personally used any of the whipped, fluffy, mousse-like foundations currently available, but I have friends who swear by them. Basically liquid foundation whipped with air, it is usually affordable, easy to apply, provides good coverage and has a long-lasting powder-soft finish. It's quite a thick consistency compared to liquids or BB creams, but glides onto normal and oily skin well - but probably best to steer clear if you have dry skin. 

Recommended product: The classic is Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse at £7.69, or No. 7 have recently brought their Beautifully Matte Mousse Foundation back after briefly discontinuing it (£13.50).
__________________________________________________________________________________

• My current beauty crush. Based on a theory of using naturally derived minerals to provide a coverage like any other liquid/cream/mousse foundation, it's gaining popularity for its organic powers which "enhance skin from the outside in" and it even has a broad-spectrum sun protection. bareMinerals are the current trailblazers in mineral skincare and makeup and I've recently tried out their mineral foundation (I have my eye on one of their starter kits for Christmas - hint, HINT).

Using a huge, fluffy brush, it's all about 'buffing' and circling the powder around your face until you've achieved the perfect coverage. There are cheaper versions on the market such as the cult classic Lily Lo at £13.49 or M&S at £12, and it doesn't just stop at powder - there are also mineral-based liquid foundations and powder compacts, as well as bronzers, blushers, eyeshadows, lipsticks, mascaras - the list goes on.
__________________________________________________________________________________

I believe less is more and that we shouldn't clog our skin with makeup everyday of the year; however, I know that slapping on a bit of makeup can really pick you up and make you face the day, so I hope you can now consider your options with a bit more clarity. 

Remember "every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top" - but makeup just enhances it.

Laura x

I've always been a big believer in dressing up as someone random/freaky/ingenious for Hallowe'en and always get a little miffed by the number of "sexy" devils, witches and pumpkins (yes, really) in town around this time of the year. However, times are a'changing and ladies, in particular, are daring to push the boundaries and replace tits and tushy with gory wounds and special effects - finally!

I've been seeing loads of great photos and links to amazing Hallowe'en inspired makeup tutorials, so I thought I'd post my favourites in case you need some help towards your costume at the end of this week...!

33 scary face ideas for Halloween - another link to zombies, characters like the Cheshire Cat and some pretty bloody gruesome effects. I personally love this beautiful crystallised face (above, right).

I saw this YouTube film posted on facebook last week; it's the speediest fake wound creation I've ever seen! I've used liquid latex and putty before for stage makeup, and reckon this looks relatively easy. You can pick up liquid latex, putty and fake blood for £2-£4 each - so it's a cheap way to seriously freak your friends out!!

The more random and freakier the better I say! Have fun and post your photos on my facebook page x

I know you're probably thinking why is Laura writing about sunscreen when the temperatures are plummeting and the clocks go back tonight, but I believe it's the most important bit of beauty advice I could possibly provide - especially on a lovely sunny autumnal day like today. 

Here's the deal - you should be wearing some form of sun protection EVERYDAY

This is a particularly sensitive subject for me as I was recently diagnosed with Melasma, a form of hyperpigmentation which appears as irregular brown patches on my face and is very common with pregnant women (except I'm not pregnant!). There are a number of possible underlying causes - hormones, the pill, stress - but it was triggered and made worse by the sun. I will elaborate on my experiences with this skin condition in future posts as I research various "miracle" creams and cover ups and re-build my confidence with my skin, but more than anything it has made me obsessed with sun protection. Prevention is better than cure - believe me!!

Let's start with the basics. SPF stands for sun protection factor and is included in all sunscreens and in some skincare and makeup, from as little as SPF 2 in coconut oils (don't go there!) to SPF 50+ in broad-spectrum creams, and is designed to protect our skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

There are two types of ultraviolet rays - UVB and UVA - and these are the evils that cause skin damage, premature ageing and, in some cases, lead to skin cancer. 

• UVB causes sunburn (which at least you can see develop!)
  
• UVA penetrates the skin more deeply but takes a little while to show its true colours through wrinkles, sun spots, sagging and leathering. You know the beach prunes in Benidorm? Pure UVA.

__________________________________________________________________________________

1. If you work near a window or enjoy the warmth of sun through the window when you're driving, you're still catching UVA rays and speeding up the ageing process.
2. On a really cloudy day, 40% of the sun's ultraviolet rays makes its way through the clouds to your skin, so you need to protect yourself even when it isn't sunny.
3. The highest SPF you have on your body will provide the highest protection - a moisturiser with SPF 15 and a foundation with SPF 15 won't give you SPF 30 protection. You'll only have SPF 15 protection.
4. From the age of 25 your skin is known as 'mature' and will start ageing, so don't wait until lines find a permanent place on your face or brown spots start appearing. You can slow this process down by wearing sunscreen - whatever you age! 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays everyday - look specifically for this on packaging. You can easily achieve this by making sure your daily moisturiser provides it, nourishing and protecting your face and neck in one. Marie Claire recently recommended some good SPF moisturisers and you can also look out for the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation logo.

The higher the SPF, the better the protection. I'd recommend wearing the same high protection all year round so that you don't have to think about switching it in the summer, but if you'd prefer to mix it up then I'd suggest wearing an SPF 15-30 throughout the winter and SPF 30-50 in the summer (remembering to reapply if you're sunbathing or dipping in and out of the pool). Of course you'll need additional sun protection for your body when sunbathing or spending long summer days outside, but at least you'll know your face is constantly protected if you forget about your body (tut, tut).

The SPF number relates to how much longer it will take you to burn when using sun protection, e.g. SPF 20 will take you 20 times longer to burn than without sun protection. You can do a small calculation to work out roughly what protection your sun cream will offer you:

       How long it usually takes you to burn = 30 minutes  X SPF number you think you need = 20

                                                  = 600 minutes of protection (10 hours)

Yesterday, I let somebody do something to me that I thought I would never allow....I let a classmate wax my eyebrows. 

Those of you who were fortunate enough to know me c. 2000 will remember when I was let loose with a pair of tweezers and - against my mum's desperate pleas - kept plucking away until I had removed the majority of my brows, leaving a sizeable gap in the middle. I looked surprised for about three years.

An eight-week volunteering trip to Africa saw me right; I came back with big, bushy brows (not to mention some big, bushy gap yaaaaaaar weaves!) and I managed to shape them into a pair of brows I now love and protect. My brows don't let me get away with anything; they show all of my emotions and make me who I am - and I can do a mean impression of that Cadbury's advert.

Unfortunately, yesterday's waxing didn't quite go to plan. Some of my skin was pulled away and I've been left with red, puffy eyes. It turns out I have sensitive skin around my eyes and waxing was just too harsh. However, you learn these things and I'm proud I finally gave it a go!

I thought it would be a good idea to look into the various ways of maintaining brows and identifying the ideal shape. This is dependent on your face shape and preferences, but here is the main rule of thumb:

Grab a pencil or eyeliner and place it at the side of your nostril (start one side then do the next):

1) Hold the pencil straight up: this is where your eyebrow should start in the middle. 
2) Look straight ahead and pivot the pencil towards the outer edge of your pupil: this is where the highest point of the arch should be. 
3) Pivot the pencil towards the outer corner of your eye: this is where your eyebrow should end. 
4) Hold the pencil horizontally along the lowest parts of the brow - this should match and be level.

Plucking has always been my go to method of removing stray eyebrow hairs. It can be done any time, anywhere and it is the cheapest method. I have always used a trusty pair of Tweezerman slanted tweezers, which have allowed me to get to the tiniest of hairs, but there are loads of tweezers on the market (however, if you are cursed with quite thick, coarse hair like me, then you will find it's worth splashing out on a good pair). It is worth replacing them every few years, as they do tend to become blunt and it maintains hygiene (Tweezerman provide a free sharpening service!). 

Word of warning: Don't get carried away! It's best to under-pluck than over-pluck until you achieve your desired look. You can get them shaped by a trained therapist, and then maintain them yourself. If you struggle to see all of your hairs there are some great magnifying and illuminating mirrors.
__________________________________________________________________________________

I'm ashamed to say I haven't yet tried threading, but am very intrigued to try it one day, as I have seen such great results on friends and heard great reviews. Threading is an ancient Indian method of removing hair and it has now become very popular in the West. A cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion, to trap hair in a mini lasso, and lifts hair right out of the follicle. It's very fast and thorough and can have lasting results (up to 6 weeks). Threading can also be used for removing other unwanted hair from the face (upper lip, chin, full face, etc).

Word of warning: Find a good threader! They are everywhere these days, shopping malls, salons, Debenhams and often very cheap (around £5), but ask friends, search online reviews and perhaps invest in your first trip.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Don't be put off by my experience! Waxing is a very quick and effective way of removing unwanted hair, especially the almost invisible downy hair underneath, above and between your brows, or it can be a great shaping method. Benefit Cosmetics have brilliant Brow Bars in department stores across the world which offer waxing, and most salons will provide this service too. It can last up to 6 weeks and costs between £5-£10.

Word of warning: Beware of waxing if you have sensitive skin (like mine). Hot wax is supposed to be less harsh; this is where the wax is applied to your skin, allowed to cool and harden and peeled off (rather than using wax strips).
__________________________________________________________________________________

HD Brows is the new celebrity beauty trend launched this summer. It's a brand name, but is becoming the definitive term for perfectly defined brows, achieved through a seven-step treatment process including tinting, waxing, threading, shading, etc and helps those of you who have over-plucked to regain a fuller brow. It'll set you back anywhere between £25-£35 but sounds like it's well worth it!

Word of warning: There are over 4000 HD Brow stylists across the UK, so make sure you start off with someone who has had the certified training, and take in some pictures of some brows you like!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Eyebrows can significantly enhance your facial features and make applying makeup lots more fun (not to mention taking away a few years), but don't worry if you prefer a more natural brow. Eyebrows are precious and personal, so be wary and careful and have fun experimenting if you so wish. 

PS. I currently offer eyebrow shaping using plucking and tinting, so let me know if you'd like to book an appointment.

I've wanted to write a blog for several years, but never felt I had anything interesting to write about....until now! 

Having recently decided to take a "career break" and learn a new vocational skill, I enrolled on an NVQ Level 2 Beauty Therapy course in September at Suffolk New College. It was a very impulsive decision; I went along to a last-minute enrolment day to find out some more information about the courses on offer, and the next day I was taking part in an induction for Beauty Therapy and started full time the following week - and I haven't looked back! 

It's funny studying with mainly 16-18 year olds, but there are a few fellow mature students in my class and we're all getting on really well - the young 'uns are teaching me a thing or two, I didn't realise I was so out of touch! I'm enjoying being back in a learning environment and generally having a purpose and structure to my life. I'm even enjoying learning all about anatomy and physiology and having homework!

The course is one academic year, so by next summer I will be a fully qualified beauty therapist in the following treatments:

• Facials and skincare advice
• Makeup
• Nails (manicures and pedicures)
• Waxing (legs, bikini, underarm, lip, chin and eyebrows)
• Eyelashes and eyebrows (tinting, falsies, etc)
• Spa treatments (foot spa, flotation bed, sauna/steam room, etc)

Whilst it is a full-time course, this only equates to three days a week so I am about to start working part-time. In my spare time, I am keen to practice my new found skills on willing guinea pigs and will be providing beauty treatments in and out of college. I will need people to come into college to help me pass my assessments (I have about 50 assessments to carry out over the next year!), or you can enjoy visiting my small beauty salon at my home. Please see more information here.

I thought it would be good to have a space to write down my thoughts, post any interesting things I've learnt in and out of my course, or any nuggets of beauty advice that I can pass on to you - and thus my blog was born. I will post updates on my facebook page, but feel free to check in from time to time and let me know what you think! 

Lastly, thank you to everyone who has shown me so much support towards this decision. I feared friends and family would think it was a tadge random, but everyone seems excited about the prospect and is looking forward to a bit of pampering. I've even been booked in to do my best friend's wedding makeup next year...!

Let me know if there's anything you would like to learn more about or have a particular interest in. Just comment on any post or contact me via the contact form.

Happy reading! :-)