Lucky for you, we here at Fashions Finest, just love making your life easy, saving you from spending hours in the shopping malls trolling the beauty departments for the best gift.

We have put together our list of beauty gifts, from OMG eyeshadow sets, to the must-have skin-care staples, to much loved fragrance, these are the gifts that we will be giving to our friends and family this Christmas season.

Give the gift of Frankincense in the form of the Amber and Frankincense Diffuser, from Monsoon. Presented in a pretty decorated glass jar, this beautiful scent is a thoughtful gift for a work colleague or a teacher.

This stocking filler is the ultimate beauty gift for all the Glow Getters and jet setters, the Fake Bake Travel Survival Kit. The pack contains: Fake Bake® Papaya Exfoliation & Tan Removal Towelette 7ml, Fake Bake® Coconut Oil Free Moisturiser 10ml and Fake Bake® Flawless Tanning Towelette 8ml.

It is small but handy and Yes, girls loving the Pink ! The Twist & Spritz atomiser from The Fragrance Shop is the perfect companion to the Love Lily Fragrance From Accessorize From Accessorize. It is handy because now your friend, mom, sister or daughter can take her #fav fragrance with her wherever she goes. Fashions Finest fragrance experts love's the fresh feminine scent of Love Lily Also check out The Fragrance Shop's Monthy Subscription Box, if you are looking to give something a bit extra and special.

Looking for that extra piece to add to the ultimate Beauty Gift box that you been putting together since the summer for your #bff then the MakeUp Drop Silicone Sponge is it. This Silicone makeup applicator is designed to completely eliminate wasted makeup and skincare by soaking up large amounts of product it ensures flawless application. She will love it !!

Another two great stocking fillers are, Silver Chrome Nail Powder, from SensatioNail while you are at it treat yourself with one of there Polish-to-Gel kits. And the ferrari of tweezers,the Rubis tweezers are the best for precision eyebrow shaping.

Jaguar, we loved it for and on Him for Valentines, now JAGUAR PACE ACCELERATE – FEEL THE ADRENALINE, is a new addition to the range of this dynamic fragrance for the man full of confidence and charisma.

Nude by Nature, created in Australia and loved by all nature loving beauties. The Moonlight brush gift set, available at Debenhams. This is the ultimate 15 piece brush set, for makeup brush fanatics, and it comes in a elegant clutch case making it even more special. Who would not love this beauty, the KAT VON D MAKE UP PALETTE, available at Debenhams, is to die for, full of gorgeous colours that any colour crazy girl would love.

As far as fragrance goes, Ellie Saab is always a firm favourite and the Girl of Now gift set, available at House of Fraser, is a delight for the senses.

For the man that loves to take care of his skin there is the SHISEIDO MEN TOTAL REVITALIZER gift set. Available at Debenhams the set includes, Shiseido Men Total Revitalizer Cream 50ml, Shiseido Men Cleansing Foam 30ml, Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate 10ml and Shiseido Men Total Revitalizer Eye 3ml.

Delightful bath and body treats, from Oliver Bonas, Flora Bath and Body, a combination of fresh freesia, pear, floral desert lily and tropical fig to pamper and rejuvenate. The Soap Bubble, from Bronnley England, with its christmas scent of Apple and Cinnemon encased in a collectable tin bauble makes for a pretty nice stocking filler.



If you really want to treat yourself then the Omorovicza Gold Facial set from Liberty London, is just the thing. Eve Lom a cult beauty favourite has a fantastic range of Christmas set to spoil each and everyone this Christmas. Gift set includes a cleanser and a muslin cloth beautifully packaged in a Christmas bauble.

Any young lady will love the Bobbie Brown On Trend Hot Lips Set, available at House of Fraser inside the cute Lipstick Make Up Bag, available at John Lewis.

Because luxury skin care is always such a treat, the Ritual's Gift Boxes are a combination of all the best selling collections, Ritual of Dao, The Ritual of Sakura, The Ritual of Laughing Buddha, The Ritual of Samurai and The Ritual of Hammam. Gift Boxes are available in varying sizes and colours, all made to pamper your loved ones this festive season. Advent Calendar always makes for great gifts and the Ritual's Beauty Calendar's in the shape of a Christmas tree, are packed with treats to make you slow down and enjoy all the best moments of this season. Another great stocking filler, Bronnley's Orchid Hand and Nail Cream Cracker.

The giving and seeing that smile on their faces, sure makes the hassle of shopping for the perfect gift so much more enjoyable.

So here are are my initial views on ‘Pillow Talk’ – a lipstick I recently purchased from the Charlotte Tilbury counter in Selfridges, London.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF PILLOW TALK 

So I had tried it on in store and was happy to note that it is a very wearable colour. There seems to be so much out there now that isn’t! Out of all of the colours I tried, this appeared to be the nicest one on me. It is a muted pink and the rose gold packaging is so pretty.

ON THE LIPS – PILLOW TALK

It is a matte revolution lipstick so is supposed to make lips look fuller without the need for lots of extra steps i.e. line with lipliner etc. The first thing I was pleased to note was that it wasn’t as matte as some can be. Matte Mac lipsticks I find can be very drying on the lips. This one was far from drying and didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.  I would say it wore well for around 6 hours but fades well and evenly. My lips did not feel like they need a scrub with lip scrub which is usually the case after wearing matte lipstick.

I feel was very muted and more brown-pink on my skintone; which is very fair. The lightest in any foundation.

CLAIMS – PILLOW TALK

It contains papaya and orchid which I believe gives it that soft texture. It also contains 3D glowing pigments. I can’t say I noticed this but I will continue to try this on and see how it fares over time. The lipstick is £24.00 which is standard for high-end lipsticks. They also threw in some CT samples which was nice of them! The staff are also willing to wipe the lipsticks for you to try and recommend products. Hoping to grab one of the eye palettes next.

Is slightly easier to put on as it has the angled bullet. Mine tend to get a slant to them eventually so I think this being the case does make it easier to get in to the corner of my lips.
What do you think?

We are 16 days into the new year and now there is no more turning back, 2017 is officially in full swing. The excitement of a new year is the new things it brings and we are jumping for joy for all the new beauty trends this year will bring.

Here is our quick guide on what’s hot for 2017 and how to get the look.

Minimal Madame

The barely there, makeup look continues its reign of popularity. Keep your face fresh and dewy with minimal colour and product. Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre £20, is the one product makeup artists swear by. Use it as a makeup base to moisturise and transform your skin in an instant. Giving you a dewy and youthful finish. It also doubles up as a repairing mask and primer too. Natural and untouched looking brows, are key to this look, achieve this with the Lord & Berry’s Must Have £14, a brow mascara that locks stray hairs into place whilst also adding a subtle tint.

Finish off the look with a soft and subtle touch of nude lipstick- to recreate an English rose shade with the Lord & Berry’s 20100 Lip Crayon in Charme £12, giving a subtle hint of pink, its creamy texture adding moisture to your lips.

Colour Chic

Bright bold popping colour is key for 2017. A bold lip such as PPQ’s Lilac theme is a must this year. As seen on the catwalk, models were sporting the Lord & Berry’s Lip Crayon in La Fiesta, £14. Highly pigmented with a creamy texture, this lip colour will show that you are fearless, so embrace it. However, if bright bold and fearless is too much for the office try the Lord & Berry’s Timeless Kiss-proof in Bold Red £15 to make a subtle statement. A liquid lipstick that dries matte, is long lasting and smudge proof, perfect for all those Valentines kisses.

Glow me baby

Another trend that is here to stay so highlight and shimmer away for healthy youthful glowing skin. To achieve this look, apply a highlighter such as the Lord & Berry’s Luminizer stick £14 on the bridge of your nose, cheekbones and on your cupids-bow this will give the illusion of a smaller nose, higher defined cheekbones and fuller lips.

For an all over dewy glow to your face, perfect for summer, apply the Transformulas 23 Carat Hydration Gold £41.95. This crème instantly illuminate and adds a hint of 23 carat gold shimmer to the skin. As and added boots is it contains hyaluronic acid that hydrate the skin, help promote collagen and keeps your complexion youthful.

Blush me up

Lastly, another trend that will hit us in 2017 will be the return of the blush-woo! Spotted on the 2016 catwalk in 2017 we will see this trend evolve with blusher now being used across the temples and eyes-adding a stronger and more daring edge.

To achieve this look, apply a blusher such as Lord & Berry’s blush in Lotus, £18 along the cheekbones in a sweeping motion with a brush such as Brushworks Blush Brush £6.99, giving you a soft and subtle rosy glow ready for the day ahead.

The Gold One, because we are worth it!! Now your lips can be literally kissed in Gold, thanks to L'Oréal Paris Color Riche Gold Obsession lipsticks. Available in 5 iconic shades with each one wrapped in 24-Carat Gold pigments for a bold metallic look.

The Color Riche formula provides the richest colour and the best lip care. It is not only rich in color but also full off Omega-3 oils and Vitamin E to prevent lips from drying.

#GOLDOBSESSION there is a shade for every occasion and every mood.

Gold Nude for an easy to wear everyday gold shine

For a girly touch, Pink Gold

Warm up your winter with Plum Gold

High Impact for an unadulterated statement with Pure Gold

Feisty, warm and sexy with a touch of gold, bold and fearless, Rouge Gold

Work the #metalliclip trend this season by using your Pure Gold shade as either a standalone colour for a statement metallic look, or as a topcoat for a subtle metallic finish over any one of the other shades.

If you are daring and want to make a high impact statement, Pure Gold on its own will be #puregoldmetal

For a subtle #metalliclook apply Pure Gold as your base coat and Rouge Gold as your top coat for all day metallic shine.

For a fun #ombremetal look, use any of your fav Gold Obsession colour shade, combine it with the Pure Gold shade, applying it only in the inner centre of the top and bottom lip, for a killer 3-dimensional #boldmetal look.

#GOLDOBSESSION because you are worth it !!

The wedding day is the most notable day of our lives. While it is the most photographed event of your significant other and yourself, you also enjoy being close to your family and friends. Everyone has their eyes on you, you are the focal point of the event, what more could you want? Perfection? YES! Since this is a onetime white affair in the whole life, why not indulge ourselves into what exactly we desire?

Although some people opt for backyard weddings, in my perception, the wedding day should be unique, exclusive and thus, should be celebrated with the same enthusiasm.

Thanks to the expert wedding planners these days, it is easy to get a beautiful hall decorated with thematic embellishments, giveaways, flowers and what. The question is, are you focusing on yourself enough?

While the groom can appear flawless as soon as he gears up in a suit with the matching tie, is a white gown enough for you? No. An absolutely mesmerizing makeup is a must. With a vast range of makeup products available, you can go for any look you desire. FYI, smokey eye makeup is in!

With that said, let's look at some amazing smoky makeup tips that will complement your wedding dress, your auspicious occasion as well as your overall persona.

Soft Look: Daytime Wedding

This gorgeous soft look is gaining a lot of attention. If you are planning to have a daytime wedding ceremony with a sun shining brightly at you, this look is your go to!
The soft makeup allows you to work on your jewelry and your hair without becoming too flashy. If you are not a makeup lover, this look is perfect for you.

The Elusive Cat Eyes

Cat eyes are everyone's favorite but will you wear this look at your wedding? Why not! By witnessing the picture, this gorgeous look is making the girl appear posh. By throwing in some black eye shadow, gel or winged eyeliner and fake lashes, you can bring the attention towards your eyes. While saying your vows, imagine how happy your groom will be when he looks deep into your eyes. Convinced enough?

The Black Beauty

Check out the breathtaking eye makeup this bride has opted for. This makeup is flawless, unique and bold. While there is no noticeable jewelry, the concentration diverts straight to the eyes.

To achieve this makeup goal, ask your beautician to darken your eyes in a smoky grey fashion while leaving your lips and cheeks nude. The hairstyle can either be simple curls, a gorgeous bun or a bit of both.

It is your big day, choose what pleases your eyes.

Glow like a Star

It is but natural to glow on your wedding day due to the excitement and rush of emotions to the peak. What good is the makeup which doesn’t do justice to the natural glow?
Observe the beautiful illuminating makeup that brings out the glow from within in this bride. The NYX eye shades do justice to her skin tone while the MAC gel eyeliner and the amazing mascara are the cherries on top.

If your skin tone is on the darker side, pick this makeup look and drop some jaws while you are walking towards the aisle!

Bold and Beautiful

If you are a bold career oriented woman, this wedding day look is made for you! I'm sure you don’t get to wear too much makeup to work, hence choose a unique ravishing look for your special day.
The dark smoky eyes and luscious red lips are the perfect models like the combo you must go for.

The bride wears a glowing embellished tiara which complements the whole ice princess fashionable look.

Reds are in!



If you are not an eye makeup fan and want something basic, why leave the lips plain too? Get your hands on the best lipstick range from Maybelline with various shades and textures. I'd suggest the Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Color range for luscious looking lips without worrying about smudging, creasing or reapplication.

Go for the red lips, gain all the attention and pose away for those lovely pictures.

Glam it up!

Glam up your wedding look by standing out from the crowd. If you have worn makeup all your life through your high school, prom, gtg's with your girlfriends and everywhere else, let your 'wedding day look' be diverse. Spice it up by stepping away from the norm by choosing a mélange of black and white dress and a feathery shrug. Get yourself some diamonds for the neck and ears, make a partial messy bun with hair accessories and you will be good to go! This all may seem crazy, but imagine the beautiful pictures you will have by your side forever!

Now that we have shown you the top trending smoky makeup looks for your wedding day, why not show you how the smoky makeup is done?

• Blending is the key.
• Apply in smooth strokes. Curl the lashes and Voila!
• White smoky eyes need practice. Application and blending, both matter.
• Cat eyes require precision, patience and the right choice of color combos.

Although you have to run through of all the trendy makeup styles and also learnt how to create unique smoky eyes, have you thought of the factors that can probably ruin your makeup look on the stage? Take a look below.

Tips and Tricks to Save your Day!

All brides make a few mistakes which can ultimately result in a disaster. From hair falling apart crisis to the eyeliner being smudged, all these factors can be eliminated if you lay your eyes on the below-mentioned tips for your oh-so-special day.

• Water Proof is the best
Choose a Mascara which is waterproof and won't create a black tear in case you decide to cry while hearing the vows!

• Contouring
Remember to contour your eyes, your cheeks, the nose and the jaw line. Defining a sleek shape will give you the beauty edge when being photographed.

• No Surprises!
Use the makeup brands you are comfortable with. New brands might not suit your skin and may result in red spots, red eyes or pimples.

• Zit is normal!
All brides fear zits. In case yours just popped out, don’t give it more germs to thrive on by poking it once in a while. Let it be, ice it up and let your makeup artist do her magic.

• Natural lighting is the key
Go for a makeover near the window so that you can use the natural light. This will help you see fine lines, ease in the blending techniques and will help you not become too flashy. The natural light will also allow the pictures to come out perfect, glossy and illuminating.

• Save the Dress
Remember to apply your foundation and other products first and then follow up the wearing of the gown. In case you do the vice versa, the white dress can get stained with makeup.

• Picture Perfect
Go for the bright colored lip colors these days. While your dress is also white, the nude shades can appear washed out in the photos. While everyone will see a pretty you, the pictures on Facebook will suggest otherwise!

The one and only Taraji P Henson is set to launch her own collection with MAC cosmetics next month.

If you are a Penny’s (Primark) fan and a make-up lover, then say howdy to their new PS- Pro range. A 42-piece collection focusing on the preparation and perfecting stages of your make-up routine. It is also a mix between high-end and high-street cosmetics, offering you amazing products at an even better price.

Each and every product is designed to be long-lasting and made from premium ingredients and superior formulations, delivering a long lasting and professional finish.

Here is just some of my favorites from the collection

The PS Pro Primers

Take your pick, mattifying, illuminating or miracle, which aims to prep and correct. Love the Miracle and Illuminating Primers as they can be worn under or applied over make-up as a liquid highlighter. Or can be mixed with your foundation for a dewy finish for a dewy finish.

Then there is the PS Pro Longwear Mineralized Foundation. It provides a medium, buildable coverage with a satin finish enriched with all of the benefits of a mineral powder. It is also packed with vitamins A and E to hydrate the skin and contains SPF 15 for protection against the sun. Suitable for normal to combination skin and is available in five shades Porcelain, Ivory, Warm Beige, Rich Beige and Chestnut.

Chestnut

Then there is the CC Concealer palette, the Pro Longwear Finishing Powder, and a range of lip, brow and eye pen products. Prices start at €3 and the collection will be available to shop from May.

PS Pro Concealer Palette



PS Pro Long Wear Concealer

PS Pro Finishing Powder

The new collection definitely ticks all my “need to have in make-up” boxes but don’t take my word for it check out the PS Pro Range online or instore.

Glo & Ray is a British based company that has been around since 2012 and is inspired by the natural wonder of light.

Beautiful and Damned is one of four big makeup trends this coming A/W from Mac Cosmetics.

The trick with this look is to make it look effortless but to also notice the precision in the lines. Think of a look that was done in the morning but still looks good by the evening, or a DIY job vs refined.

Black is your main colour. You can go creative with a smudged kohl on the eyes or heavy carbon colours of black with a black or berry tone precision lip, or a smudged lip with precision lines around the eyes. Team either look with luminous polished skin and you can’t go wrong.
Remember…. Black, effortless vs precision is the key to mastering one of tis seasons new makeup trend.

Get The Look

• Feline Kohl Power Eye Pencil – Blackest of black kohl formula
• Black Chromaline – Pigmented and long-wear gel liner formula
• Beg For It Into the Well Eye Shadow – Wet/dry carbon black shadow liner
• Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash – High volume, high definition carbon black mascara
• Media Lipstick – Satin

Summer was all about glowing skin but with the changing season, the trend is all about natural looking skin with a matte finish. You can achieve this “no make- up look” with a skin nourishing foundation moisturising the skin while still looking fresh faced and natural.

Maybelline’s Fit ME dewy smooth, matches’ skins natural tone while it hydrates skin for a smooth skin texture and a luminous and seamless finish.

Up your natural “no make-up look” with bold lips. Master the bold lip by making sure that your lips are hydrated and flake free. Be sure to balance out the rest of your makeup by concealing redness, keeping skin fresh, and using a subtle colour on your cheeks and an eye-opening mascara.

Top of my list is;

• Clinique Pop lip colour + primer in Berry Pop , Cola pop and Passion Pop
• Maybelline’s Colour sensational creamy mattes in Divine Wine, Burgundy blush, and Siren in scarlet

A natural look with beautiful rich lipstick shades, defined and lightly glowing cheekbones with wide eyed and sensational lashes for autumn.

Combine your look with a sultry warm and woody scent and finished it off with the new Essie collection and you are ready to rock n roll!!