_Say hello to Liz Loves! Each and every week, our Health & Beauty Director, Liz Hambleton, will be revealing her beauty secrets and makeup must-haves direct from Grazia _HQ...__*
At Home Pedicures
Just this week I was left in what can only be described as a pedicure emergency. Having booked into my local salon to prep my feet for their arrival at the heavenly (and very glamourous) Hotel Du Cap I turned up for my appointment just as the salon was mid-power cut. Now, I’m a regular pedi girl but I’d recently taken a three week hiatus so this was not a happy situation to be in. What to do? I headed home, dug deep into my beauty director bag of tricks and came up with the ultimate DIY foot overhaul. It goes something like this...
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Remove all polish and soak your feet in warm water and nail whitening tablets (denture whitening products will work as well). Scent your water with peppermint oil to uplift and your soothe feet.
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After 15 minutes take your feet out, dry them and then use the brilliant Pedi Egg, (£9.99), to remove dry skin. Follow with an intensive foot scrub – I love Ila's Energising & Detoxing Scrub (£47.00), because it has really chunky grains and is oil based. Really work it into your feet! Wash off with cold water to invigorate.
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File, trim and shape your toenails as required at this point.
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Massage a rich oil intoyour feet, nails and legs and wrap in clingfilm. Leave on for ten minutes before taking off and applying polish – I use Neal's Yard Remedies Almond Oil for this. (£9.50)
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Finish with two easy-to-apply, nail brightening coats of my favourite product ever – Dior Nail Glow (£19.00).
**New Look Espadrille Sandals **
I’m obsessed with these gorgeous sandals from New Look. Having spotted them on the desk of my fashionable colleague Josh Newis-Smith (of Joshington Post fame) I quickly fell in love and haven’t stopped wearing them since. They made their debut earlier in the week at the glamourous Hotel Du Cap in Antines and caused quite the stir. At least ten stylish ladies stopped and asked where they were from and I can tell you they were thrilled to hear such spectacular sandals cost a mere £9.99 and are available at New Look. I’m wearing mine with a natural nail, but I think Chanel Le Vernis in Vibrato (£18.00, launching soon) would make for the perfect pop of colour.
A Bronzer That Blurs….
The yet-to-be-released YSL Terre Saharienne landed on my desk last week and it’s already become a staple in my summer make-up bag. It has all the healthy, radiance boosting benefits of a powder bronzer but with the added bonus of giving a soft focus effect to skin. I apply it over my eyelids as an alteranative to eye shadow, as well as softly blending it over my cheekbones, forehead and nose. This product is so subtle and easy to wear that I’ve actually recomended it to several of my male, makeup wearing friends. It kills shine as it bronzes and is incredibly natural-looking. I’m wearing it with a bold slick of Maybelline Baby Lips Electrolips in Pink Shock (£2.99)…
**Natural-ish Highlights **
It’s about this time of year my hair is at it’s blondest. Usually after a January set of highlights and a few monthes of work travel and personal holidays I’ve managed to let it lift quite naturally to it’s lightest, buttery blonde shade. Sun-lightened hair always looks the most natural in my opinion and I have a few tricks that maxminse summer blonde; 1) try a Chamomile Tea Rinse – do it before you go out into the sun on holiday for a natural lift. Simply brew a strong pot of chamomile tea, let it cool and sit for a good hour and then pour over hair and comb through. Also try this once a week after washing your hair to enhance highlights.
- Change your shampoo and and conditioner to blonde-specifc products. I love the shine, managibility and freshly clean feeling Klorane Chamomile Shampoo (£7.00) gives.
- Finally, a few blasts of Klorane Dry Shampoo (£7.50) will help pump up your roots as well as boosting those lighter shades of blonde. Do it.