From everyone at BeautyFeatures.ie we would like to Thank You for your support throughout the year and wish you a very Happy Christmas, to you and all your families. 

Happy Christmas x x x

The Season’s Finest Food, Drink and Shopping Festival

Taste of Christmas, the season's finest food, drink and shopping festival, returns for its second year to the Convention Centre Dublin from 25^th – 27^th November.  Discover the best in seasonal food and drink, sample signature dishes from Ireland's best restaurants and be inspired and entertained by top culinary talent in this winter wonderland of flavour.

Between bites visitors can take a seat in the 2,000 seater auditorium as MasterChef Ireland hits the stage in the Live Theatre Show.  MasterChef Ireland judges, Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier, will host the MasterChef Challenge featuring invention tests and cook-offs between this year’s MasterChef Ireland finalists as they create recipes from mysterious ingredients and give their top tips for warming winter food.

Food preparation gets a dramatic, engaging, fun and hugely entertaining twist during this unique 50 minute MasterChef Ireland Live Theatre Show which features great advice, audience questions, practical demonstrations and a liberal helping of fun and entertainment to take the heat out of the Christmas kitchen. With music, lights, cameras and big screen action, the MasterChef Ireland Live Theatre Show is the centrepiece of this gourmet festive party! A must-see for foodies and the kitchen-shy too!

After the Show, come and meet Catherine Fulvio as she creates fabulous family food for Christmas in her interactive kitchen or hone your artistic icing skills in the Festive Dessert feature. Jazz up your repertoire of Christmas recipes and kitchen skills in a Culinary Christmas Masterclass with Michelin Star chef Oliver Dunne or take a journey of culinary discovery through Taste of Malaysia and enjoy diverse tastes from two of Dublin’s top Malaysian restaurants.

Browse for those ideal gifts and essential ingredients amongst the hundred exhibitors and then settle down with a fine wine or hot whiskey from one of our superb bars while enjoying carol singers and string quartets, swingin' jazz and maybe even some rockin' around the Christmas tree!
Eat, drink and be merry in style this year and prepare for the Christmas countdown at Taste of Christmas! For more information visit www.tasteofchristmas.ie

Gorgeous to go - Aishling McDermott

We have 8 Classic looks you can easily achieve with your Cloud Nine Straighteners:

Smoothing a blow dry without losing body

All hair types

Temperature Control: 100°

Begin by sectioning your hair. Now take a 3-4 cm wide chunk of hair at the nape of your neck. Holding your Cloud 9 horizontally, place it close to the root. Keeping it parallel, gently lift the hair section and give your Cloud Nine iron a half turn down. Next, glide the iron down, finishing with a slight bend towards the end. Repeat with each section until you have a completed smooth look with lasting shine.

The natural straight look - not poker straight!

Fine hair: 100°
Medium/Thick hair: 150°

First, section your hair. From the nape of your neck, take a 3-4cm wide piece of hair (2-3cm for medium or thick hair). Now, apply your heated Cloud Nine iron 3cm from the root, and holding it firmly, glide it through your hair to the end. Repeat this technique using the same smooth downwards motion on each section of your hair. The result is a smooth look, not a poker straight one.

Soft curls for medium/long hair

Fine hair: 125°
Medium/Thick hair: 175°

Section your hair to begin. Then, starting at the nape of your neck, gently take a 3-4 cm wide piece of hair. Place your iron vertically at the root, then, give it a half turn, twisting it around your hair. Slowly glide your hair through the iron. Remember to not hold the iron too tightly or it will be difficult to work your hair through. Now, just continue this technique, moving up your head to create a naturally curly look that's both soft and bouncy.

Soft curls for short hair

Fine hair: 125°
Medium/Thick hair: 175°

Just because you have short hair, doesn't mean you can't have soft curls. Start by taking a horizontal section of hair at the nape of your neck. Now carefully place your iron horizontally at the root. Lift your hair up with the iron so it is at a right angle from your head. Twisting the iron, give it a half turn down, then gently pull it through your hair all the way to the end. Using this simple motion creates a beautiful large barrel curl.

Waves

Fine hair: 100°
Medium hair: 150°
Thick hair: 200°

Hold your iron at a right angle from your head, with one hand on the handle and the other on the end-grips. Now give the iron a half turn under the hair. Slowly, but firmly, glide it 3-4cm down. Stop and give it a half turn in the other direction. Then, glide the iron down another 3-4cm. Repeat this zig-zag turning all the way along the length of your hair to create a beautiful flowing wave.

Tight curls

Fine hair: 150°
Medium hair: 200°
Thick hair: 200°

Just apply the same technique as soft curls, but using smaller 2-3cm square sections. This gives tight curls on medium hair and a ringlet effect on long hair.

Flicks

Fine hair: 100°
Medium hair: 150°
Thick hair: 175°

Creating flicks couldn't be easier. First, take a 4-5cm deep section of your hair. Hold your iron horizontally to your head, then, glide it smoothly down your hair. At around 6cm from the end, twist the iron up 45° and continue to glide the iron through to the ends. The size of section you use will determine how tight the flick will be - the smaller the section, the tighter the flick!

The very straight look

Fine hair: 150°
Medium hair: 200°
Thick hair: 200°

Take a horizontal section of your hair. Now carefully place your iron at root of your hair. Angle it towards your shoulder and glide it down while keeping a firm grip. The smaller the sections used the straighter and flatter the look.

Want to find out more about the Cloud Nine range >>

Buy Dermalogica Skin Care products Online and Save!

Dermalogica is a real hit with the Irish, we have to say! We don't always get the name right, but we know we want it! I've heard friends call it everything from Dermatologica to Dermotoliga. The main point being, us Irish lassies go mental for the stuff! And right we are! The fan club has purpose! Since changing my skincare regimen from a bit of everything to a steady recommendation of the Dermalogica products suited specifically for my skin, I have to say I really have noticed a difference. 

Smooth, soft, hydrated skin has been the result of my religious application of Dermalogica in the past few weeks. Their Daily Microfoliant, one of their original products I am told, is probably the product I would rave most about. I've just never used anything like this before. It's a rice based enzyme powder. You only use a tiny amount, and I swear...skin is left like a baby's bottom! It's light enough to use every day, giving you routine (I'm not one for exfoliating twice a week, although I know I should!) - so using this each morning, well...I just Love it! 

Recommended to me was the Dermalogica Active Moist, as I suffer a little from Oily Skin. When I questioned the difference between the Active Moist and the Skin Smoothing Cream I was told the Active Moist is water-based so perfect for oily skin. I hope to report back with more musings over my Dermalogica products. Until then I can recommend you Buy Dermalogica Skincare products online and save a fortune >>>

Lucy x

Party Nails to Match that Party Pout!

By Kelly Nolan

Bringing back the 70s femme fatale, the new ‘must do’ this season is party nails to match that party pout! Yes disco nails and coordinated lips area must this Spring/Summer. Seen all over the catwalks this season, it’s a fun way to glamorize oneself for any occasion, be it a night on the tiles ora walk to the shop! We’re talking nail art, striking colours and a bit of imagination here.

From Anne Hathaway on the Oscars red carpet looking fiery in red to the pages of vogue where we see shimmer and shine, this look is a must for everyone. Why not try subtle metallic’s and pastels during the day and opt for more striking block colours and night? Don't be afraid to add some rhinestones, strips, spots, two-tone or whatever you feel like. And don't be fooled into thinking that nobody will notice your efforts.

 We all know how great it feels to look your best and be on top of trend. Grooming counts girls and this is a sure way to nail it! For a classic look why not try lacquering up with O.P.I’s  “I’m not really a waitress” vibrant red and beautiful “Read my Lips” scarlet lips. This is a great way to glamour up work outfits or to add a WOW factor to any LBD! If it’s good enough for Marilyn, its good enough for me!!

Beige, creams and neutral blush colours are appearing everywhere in anticipation of Spring/Summer 2011.

Why not get a step ahead and let yourself shine with Valley Girl Lip Gloss and Mauving to Manitoba these very accessible colours suit most skin tones and provide a fresh youthful look. The glosses light shade is perfect for any summer’s day, just pair with some pink blush and a slick of mascara…..the perfect way to go nude! 

And for all you social butterflies getting the last wear out of your winter wardrobe why not go for a bit of gothic glamour by pairing up Read My lips in Smut with OPI’s crackin’ Black Shatter, 

Think Taylor Momsen meets Armani. Now that’s what I call rockin’!

Tried and Tested: Decléor’s Aromessence Skincare Range

by Natalie Burke - www.natalieburke.com

Whether its through botox, facelifts or just spending thousands on over-expensive creams, it seems the ultimate goal for most women is to achieve clear, luminous skin with an even, flawless tone. Well, it’s something I aspire too anyway, which is why I try and be good when it comes to my cleansing and mositurising routine every day and am constantly on the hunt for face creams that work wonders. If it’s another twenty years before I see the effects of my skincare regime, so be it, but in the meantime I’m not taking any chances!

Decléor is a brand I’ve heard quite a bit over the last couple of years and as a French product with a name deriving from the mother tongue’s ‘Clé en Or’ (The Golden Key), a key said to open the ‘temple of beauty’, I’m surprised its taken me this long to try and open that particular door!

Decléor is a luxurious but affordable brand that promises to revive and rejuvenate your skin with products deriving completely natural ingredients and its plant-based moisturisers promise to nourish, treat, protect and pamper your skin, And has celebrity followers such as Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, the gorgeous Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Bridges (well, he does!) as well as being the secret to how Meryl Streep stays looking so young, So when the lovelies behind Beauty Features asked me to try some of the Decléor Aroma products, I jumped at the chance to spoil my skin with something a little different and tried out 6 products in the Decléor Aroma range including the Aroma Cleanse cleansing lotion, the Aroma Cleanse tonifying lotion, the Hydra Floral moisturising cream, the Phytopeel natural exfoliating cream, the Aromessence Néroli essential serum and the Aroma night balm.

At €21.90 (beauty features price, regular price €26.90), the Decléor Aroma Cleanse cleansing milk for face and eyes is a reasonable price for a good cleanser and with 250ml in a bottle, and only a small amount needed, it should last a while too. Lightly scented, the cleansing milk went on really well, without being too rich or heavy yet managed to take most of my makeup off in one go using the recommended cotton wool – something that’s very difficult to do if you’ve any amount of eye makeup on – and left my skin feeling soft and moisturised, unlike a lot of drying cleansers.

Decléor recommend using their tonifying lotion after the cleansing milk and although I only generally use toner when my skin is feeling dry, the lotion left my skin feeling really fresh, with the orange and kiwi essential waters evident in the light fragrance, also €21.90.

The Phytopeel natural exfoliating cream (€30.00) was one of my favourite products from the range. The exfoliating elements exist in a cream as oppose to exfoliators with particles, therefore not as harsh on your skin and is said to deeply cleanse and smooth your skin. Using circular movements, you massage the exfoliating cream onto your skin and gently sweep away dead skin cells leaving your skin feeling really soft. It is recommended you exfoliate your skin once or twice a week.

The Hydra Floral moisturising cream is a daily moisturiser offering anti-pollution protection, protecting from environmental damage and has been recommended by a number of magazines. I love a nice moisturiser and this one felt really rich and soothing without being too heavy and the aromatic waters of mint and orange blossom gave a really light summery fragrance to your skin. (Moisturising cream €44.90)

The moisturising cream is said to work really well with Decléor’s Aromessence Néroli serum, which is usually priced at €59.00 but available from Beauty Features for €49.90. It is recommended that you warm two drops in your palms before applying to your cleansed face and neck, before applying your daily moisturiser afterwards. The serum is made with 100% essential oils and is believed to brighten and soothe your skin and help you obtain a balanced complexion. I’d love to see how longer use of the oils reflect on my skin but even with the short time I tried it for, I did notice an immediate softness to my skin and it felt fresh and really moisturised as soon as it went on my skin, especially after using it with the moisturising day cream.

The final product I tried was the Decléor Aroma Night Balm (€65.90, RRP €72.90). This regenerating night cream works as you sleep so when you wake in the morning, your skin looks good and feels smoother and rejuvenated. And I’m happy to admit, it really does. The ‘morning after’ my skin felt really hydrated and soft with a healthy glow – something I can’t say I wake up with every morning! And while the texture is luxurious, rich and silky, the aromatic fragrance is quite strong, particularly if you’re not used to strong herbal scents. However, it is designed to send you into a long restful sleep!

The Many and Varied Uses of Moroccan Oil

Like me, do you ever marvel at the glossy and healthy manes of blonde bombshells like Scarlett Johannson, Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively and the City star Whitney Port and wonder how on earth after years of heat styling and colour changes they have the bounciest bonces on the block? Well it looks like their secret is out! No matter where I go these days and no matter who I speak to, from giddy schoolgirls to girls about town to ladies who lunch, the latest beauty buzzword is Moroccan hair Oil.

Having first sampled the product for myself at Dublin hairdressers, Zeba, on South Fitzwilliam St. during the summer after what can only be described as excessive amount of highlights, one which I knew could only further upset my already poor parched locks. As my uber platinum stylist at the time added a sweet smelling potion to my damp newly coloured hair, she mentioned how miraculous this new Moroccan Oil was and how it had given her hair a renewed condition. I’m not going to lie, her bleached out birds nest did nothing to assuage my fears that she was spinning me a tall tale in order to make a quick sell. All I knew was at an RRP of €38 a bottle I sure wasn’t buying. Not that day anyway……

A mere three days later, I had to admit that this was one product that appeared to live up to expectation. The ends of my hair failed to dry out as is often the case, instead they felt surprisingly soft and my often weak hair still had that professional looking shine that can only be attained at the salon. So far so good.

With such an outcome after only one use, I decided now was the time to take the Moroccan plunge! I managed to get hold of a neat and convenient travel pack online at www.beautyfeatures.ie. This little gem contained four of the key products of the newly launched Moroccan Oil range, containing 70ml sizes of the Moroccan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner, The Hydrating Styling Cream for all hair types, a 25ml sample of the oil and an even cuter wallet size amount of 10ml. At €35, this pack was the perfect way to sample the range without committing myself to a large bottle, just in case all the hype fell flat, as is often the case with my hair! I've seen this kit since, at €40 in salons, and who can argue with Moroccan Oil on sale with free shipping?

After just one week of religiously using the complete range, the difference in the texture and appearance of my hair was considerable. Twice weekly uses of the shampoo followed by the conditioner which I would leave on for 5 minutes, consequently followed by the leave in oil treatment which I would comb through, brought a shine to my hair which I have not encountered since I was a brunette! The Moroccan Oil itself has such a rich consistency that only a minimal amount is required after each wash. Applying the product to damp hair and in particular, the ends and mid section gave my hair the necessary amount of replenishing moisturiser it so badly needed! That and it makes your hair smell absolutely divine! If you have a dry scalp, massaging in a small amount will also help you see a marked reduction in the dreaded flakes.

In terms of styling, I recommend letting the hair dry naturally with the product and then perhaps adding some beachy waves with a mid to large barrel curling tong. I would then use a walnut sized amount of the Hydrating Styling Cream to rub across your palms and scrunch into your curls to give them definition and hold. I have already caught my boyfriend using the styling cream because of the heavenly aroma it wafts!

By week two, I started feeling a little experimental and wondered if Moroccan Oil could offer any benefits to skin also, as the Moroccan Argan Oil range which has been produced by Kiehls for a number of years claims to do. After buffing the skin on my legs with a body brush before I showered, I gently applied a small amount of the oil in sweeping upwards circular motions all over my legs. Like with my hair only a small amount was needed as a little appeared to go a long way. My legs were baby soft and the skin around my knees was much less dry.

I also wanted to see if the same principle would apply to my winter ravaged nose, which had fallen foul of much moisture zapping nose blowing and was looking rather red and sore. I again applied a small amount to my face and pressed it into the skin like a serum, paying particular attention to the delicate skin around my nose. In the morning, I awoke to an even and radiant complexion with all redness banished! Result!

I can only conclude that as wonder products go, Moroccan Oil is one that has really surpassed itself in terms of quality and value. While the price tag can appear a little off putting to the consumer at first (but 25ml bottle now available at €14.95), the product delivers on not only being a fantastic hair treatment but also a whole body treatment too! I cannot recommend this range strongly enough. So go on, let Moroccan Oil be your hair (and skin!) saviour this year and accessorize with shimmering, healthy locks! Happy New Year everyone and I will deliver unto you another up-to-the-minute beauty blog really soon! 

Laura xxx

See the entire Moroccan Oil range here....

Everything is Illuminated!

Why is it that every time you open any magazine these days every model and actress who graces the pages looks like they have the skin of a cherub at Christmas? Everywhere from their eyes to their cheeks to their collarbones glow! So this begs the question; is it really just airbrushing or a clever lighting guy? As winter is always a time where the cold zaps the radiance and hydration from our skin, leaving us looking worn out with a blotchy uneven skin tone, illuminating products can cover the scourge of winter to our skin!

Over the years I have come across and subsequently purchased a number of products that promise you the gift of sublime illumination and most importantly that dewy model glow. The aim of an illuminator/highlighter is to give the illusion of a great nights sleep, which can often prove elusive these days. For several years now my go-to products for faking this effect have all been items which have never left my make up shopping list. Benefit High Beam (€26) is the first I never go anywhere without. As the ultimate multi-tasker when it comes to getting your glow on, it can be mixed into foundations, dotted on brow and collarbones. When strategically blended in around the eyes it can make you look like you have had your full eight hours when you have just pulled an all nighter! The only trick with this little gem is to blend, blend, blend!

Next is another winner from Benefit, the Eye Bright Stick (€17). While it accomplishes a similar job to High Beam, the stick form means that it is a must have for your handbag. By dotting it on your cupids bow (giving you the illusion of a pout Angelina would be proud of) and on the inner and outer corners of your eyes, you look wide awake and ready for anything!

Wonder product #3 is the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (€42), which comes in five different shades. For those of the classic Irish complexion like myself, I recommend the shades “Pink” or “Rose”. The compact gives you what appears to be five rows of differing sheer pearly eyeshadows but when swept together using a powder brush it gives the skin an amazing sheen that catches the light and looks beautiful over blush. My first encounter of this product was from a girl in school who, like myself was quite the cosmetic maven. Shimmer Brick fever soon swept through all of us and by the end of the year at least 20 out of 35 of us had one in one shade or another! Now that’s what I call a cult classic!

The other school cult product was YSL Touche Eclat with its signature concealer/highlighter pen packaging which combined cover bags and brighten the skin around the eyes.

Another more recent discovery has been from The Balm Cosmetics. With its kitschy 1950’s vargas girl packaging, one could be forgiven for thinking it was the Benefit line. However, the point of difference here is the price. The product itself is the same powder texture as the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick but the adorably titled “Mary Lou Manizer” retails at just €18 and delivers a beautiful glow when swept over cheeks and décolletage. I was highly impressed and even more so when I heard that any purchase from The Balm Cosmetics from Beauty Features entitles you to a FREE lip gloss from the Balm worth €14, so order up ladies!

So with so many ways to fake a glowing dewy complexion and even more products to achieve it with, there really is no excuse to be matte and pasty during the holiday season! What are your tricks and wonder products?

OPI Burlesque
A Dash of Razzle Dazzle!
I have never been that into accessories, I tend to go the bare minimal on nights out and stick to the earrings or if I am feeling adventurous maybe some bangles or even a ring. For this reason I decide to express my ‘creativity’ through my nails. If I’m wearing all black, I’ll go for a bright colour like Coral  so when the new OPI Burlesque came into the Beauty Features offices, needless to say I was very excited.

OPI normally launch a range that coincides with new movie releases such as their Alice in Wonderland range or Shrek Forever but I think Burlesque definitely takes the crown for the wow factor!

This new range has been inspired by the new movie Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. This movie has a 20s, Old Hollywood feel to it with lots of sparkles, platinum blonde hair and fringed dresses - a style that never goes out of fashion and OPI certainly doesn’t fail with their range.

OPI nail varnish is definitely the best long lasting nail varnish around, I have tried every brand out there and maybe it is just me and I am prone to chipping but I spend half my time fixing the varnish after 2 days! With OPI though I could enjoy a pleasant few days before re-applying unless of course I was watching a nail biting movie of course!

The OPI Burlesque range screams Glitz and Glamour with eye catching colours such as Sparkle-icious, Simmer & Shimmer and Show It and Glow It, that I will be definitely be investing in. It’s not only the colours I enjoy ‘ooeing’ at but also their names. OPI have always separated themselves from the rest with humorous and creative names for each nail varnish.

Just note: Upon researching the OPI Burlesque range I discovered that one of the colours was not the same as it appeared on the OPI website - The Show Must Go On looks like a bright vibrant pink online, but when it arrived to our offices, was more like a red sparkly velvety colour. So if you are looking for that sort of fuchsia pink I would recommend the Pompeii Purple which unlike The Show Must Go On looks exactly what it looks on the tin!
But they are fab, and I do think you should all enjoy the sparkle.

Sarah x

Hello to all our treasured readers, and welcome to my inaugural blog at Beauty Features! My name is Laura and I will be delivering you a healthy monthly helping of tried and tested treatments and lifting the lid on whether some of these skin, hair and body care miracles out there actually work! I will do my very best to bring to cutting edge beauty news, tips and tricks to ensure that every reader out there is not only a well-informed consumer but a belle du jour to boot!

“Renewed Awakening”

This month, I have been up to my neck (literally!) in some of the most hyped and highly reputable night repair serums and balms on the market! Much has been made of late of these so-called miracle workers and many products out there often don’t cut the mustard and lets face it, just are not worth your hard earned. Quite honestly, there is nothing more disheartening than wasting money on a product which (1) doesn’t suit your skin or (2) is no Ronseal (ie. most certainly does NOT do what it says on the tin!)

So this is where I come in. I have dedicated a week to each of the following three products over the last month so that you can know exactly what you’ll be paying for and what to expect!

My first week was spent using Decleor’s Neroli Regenerating Night Balm (€51.12) which, like all of Decleors range, is made from 100% natural ingredients. This product directed me to warm a little of it in my hands before applying it in an upwards sweeping motion to the neck and face. I must say the strong Neroli aroma helped me sleep like a baby, and when I awoke the next morning my skin was peachy soft and even looked quite radiant! After a week in the hands of this Decleor product I noticed that my worrisome forehead lines had dramatically reduced and the overall texture of my skin had improved. This product is a true gem and I would highly recommend it, particularly if you struggle with nodding off!

The next week was spent with an iconic product, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum (€72). A cult buy that has been on the market since 1972, it has a acquired a celeb following as long as my arm, including Irish beauty Una Healy of girlband “The Saturdays”. She swears it keeps her looking as young as the rest of the group! The product formula is constantly evolving and improving and the product aims to repair skin cells through hydrating, fighting environmental damage and neutralising free radicals before they have a chance to wreak further damage! All in all, two drops of this product every night made my skin noticeably softer and brighter in appearance. However, for the high price point, other products may do the same job and return similar results.

My last trial week involved one last serum. The texture of Deep Repair Complex by Renu (€26.25) was refreshing and nourishing. Within days my forehead lines were considerably less obvious and the skin around my mouth and neck appeared so much firmer. I was blown away by the results of what a more affordable product gave me and it is certainly a product I would recommend if look to wake up with a renewed radiance when times are tight!

Don’t forget to look out for special offers and bargains here on www.beautyfeatures.ie over the next few weeks! I hope you enjoyed my first installment of the trials and tribulations of a self-confessed beauty junkie and I look forward to updating you all again next month! xxx

What's your favourite nightly ritual?

 What is this Zumba Fitness all about?

Zumba Zumba Zumba that is all I am hearing at the moment! This fitness DVD is literally flying off our shelves here at Beauty Features so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about?

Like many people, I have tried every exercise class out there- Spinning, Boot camp, Kickboxing, Aerobics, Bikram Yoga and the list goes on! Some of them I enjoyed a lot and completely felt the difference i.e. after the class I cannot walk which I choose to take as the class worked, while others I found quite boring.

When I first heard about this craze, I must admit I was quite sceptical... I mean its dancing, dancing is fun! How can that possibly be exercise? It is a combination of hypnotic Latin and world beats with exciting dance moves .The routines feature interval training sessions (Big fan of them!) where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat.  This all sounds very pleasing to my new fitness regime but what really grabbed my attention is –burning 600-800 CALORIES in one class...thought that was a pretty good incentive to attend a class.

After conducting a bit of research which included many YouTube Zumba Fitness videos, I decided to test the waters and go to a class. I don’t know if it is just me but dancing (minus any alcoholic drinks) is quite daunting, at the beginning I felt kind of stupid to be honest. Learning the Zumba dance steps was a bit of a challenge, it took me a while to get the hang of it. Once I had gotten over the idea of dancing in a hall that wasn’t a nightclub I began to really enjoy it.

What I thought was good about this type of exercise is that you can have a bit of a laugh with your friends, least when I messed up or lost track I could guarantee that she had too so I didn’t feel as stupid with an accomplice!

Everyone knows that work-outs can be healthy and beneficial but let’s face it sometimes dragging yourself to the gym after work or on your day off isn’t that much fun...that’s where Zumba comes in.Since my friend and I have all started full time jobs, we tend not to see each other as much so Zumba was a great way of catching up, sort of like book club minus the effort of reading a book and a lot more fun!

I have only attended one class so far so I haven’t noticed the benefits just yet so I would love to hear you’re Zumba Stories. Where did you hear about Zumba? I would love to know if it is worth a visit again!

The must have accessory for a night out! Redfoot after party shoes!

If like me, you choose style over comfort when it comes to shoes and can’t bare to part with your heels for a night out on the town ( I am 5ft3, heels to me are a necessity!). We have all been there at the end of the night, having put on your best performance on the dance floor, you are now crying with the pain of your 6inch heels. Well fear not as I have just discovered the ultimate secret weapon…Redfoot fold up shoes!  

These fold up ballet pumps are not only designed to fit nicely into your clutch bag but come in a range of different designs to match your style whatever the occasion. These ‘feet savers’ are not your typical flat ballet pumps that provide zero support and are destroyed by a few splashes of rain, their designed to be durable. 

Redfoot shoes are not only a must have for a girl’s night out but can be ideal for people walking to and from work. The support Redfoot shoes

 provide means you no longer have to face the dreaded skirt and runners situation!

The Celebrities are going mad for the latest redfoot craze which includes Kate Moss, Katy Perry, JK Rowling, Sienna Miller, Natasha Bedingfield, Twiggy, Beth Ditto, Suzanne Shaw, Sarah Cawood, Kym Ryder, Danielle Lloyd, Kara, Roxanne McKee, Tointon, Ali Bastian, Holly Willoughby, Kim Wilde, Emma Rigby and countless others. Thanks to the way that Redfoot Shoes are manufactured your feet will not only look good but feel good too, so make these after party shoes a fixture in your handbag.

RRP: €44 - Our Price = €39.99 + FREE DELIVERY

Shop Redfoot Shoes Now >>

To celebrate the launch of the new Autumn/Winter 2010 collection of Fitflop, we have 5 pairs of the FF Supertone to give away. So....for the next 5 weeks we are going to enter everyone who purchases a pair of Fitflops into a weekly draw and have FItflop Friday each week, where one lucky winner bags a pair of the must-have supertone sneaker!

Joseph Altuzarra's Autumn Collection seen here at New York Fashion Week shows that chic urban warrior is a trend hot for Autumn/Winter 2010. Designers love the idea of a strong looking woman, and with strong makeup looks, this look is a show stopper. 

An abrupt shift from those lovely ice-creamy colours of the summer. Our summer had brought floaty fabrics with glamour girly looks but all is not lost as we did see some eccentric colour combinations too. Winter has in store - the more cosy furs and tailored looks with the more severe side of sexy being portrayed...but trés sexy!

Another cosy addition is 'The Cape' - seen all over fashion week, these practical and stylish throws give a fab silouhette and are really comfy. Capes are autumn/winter 2010-11's ultimate throw-on-and-go update.

The new season trousers are elegant, easy, and flattering - and we here at Beauty Features say woohoo! No more looking at harem, paper bag, jodhpurs....strange!

All in all it looked to be the most wearable

couture collection displayed in a long long time. Hair and make-up looks were equally as manageable with a focus on natural skin, and a strong lip or eye. Jean Paul Gaultier had quite a film noir feel to his show, with strong red lips evident. A look that was even given the seal of approval by Dita Von Teese who performed a burlesque striptease at the show.
 

 Don't let summer showers turn your hair from rockin' to shockin'. Our fave style-reviving GHDs have just arrived in a range of four limited edition shades.

Well, firstly you should give your hair and scalp a rest for at least a day between shampoos to let your natural oils do their job – then, start using The All Nighter! Not only do we LOVE its name – It is also the first ever all natural hair powder and styling product for men and women.

Ever try and get just one more day from your stunning salon blow dry? Well this really works. Many have extolled the wonders of spray powders and dry shampoos, but I’ve found that this loose powder gives me the most control, oil absorption and volume. Oh, and this little guy is all natural and talc-, aluminum-, silica- and paraben-free.

A lot of dry shampoos can lead to buildup, or worse, that horrible dandruff-like look. The thing about the All Nighter is, it’s matched to your hair colour (6 different shades!) and it won’t in any way harm your hair.

It automatically builds volume and body to limp hair, and small enough to keep in you bag on a night out if the party doesn’t stop – you still look fab and fresh!

Introductory offer; Was €22.99 Now €19.99 Save €3

> Shop NOW

For such an embarrassing, painful problem, spots and blemishes are surprisingly common. It’s all very well to battle them in your teens when four in five of your friends are also besieged, but when you still ladling on the industrial strength concealer in adulthood, it’s a different story...

As a teenager, I tried all the usual suspects - masks, Clearasil, even a painful facial, complete with nasty extraction session, organised for me by my well intentioned mum. Nothing worked. Eventually I grew out of the worst of it, and my skin settled into a manageable monthly breakout routine. It was not ideal however, and I continued to try everything from laser treatments to diet adjustments to clear up the teenage spot hangover with little success.

Then Proactiv landed on my desk. Endorsed in the States by celebrities such as Katy Perry, P Diddy and countless other A-listers, I’d heard of the brand, but dismissed it as another spotzapping ‘miracle’ potion with a clever marketing plan. Created by US dermatologists, Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields, who were inspired by their own experiences of acne, Proactiv® Solution is a full-face treatment that combines salicylic acid (a proven enemy of spots and acne) and sulphur, with soothing natural botanicals like allantoin, panthenol, aloe and chamomile.

The kit contains four bottles, a Renewing Cleanser with tiny beads that gently exfoliate, a Revitalising Toner; alcohol free with natural botanicals and vitamins, and a bottle each of Repairing Day Lotion and Repairing Night Lotion. Using the system takes about five minutes - once in the morning and again in the evening.

Oh yeah... and it works. It actually works!

Proactiv Solution

Over the years I’ve reviewed hundreds of products, many came with big promises and even bigger price tags, but I’ve never come across one that does exactly what it says on the bottle. After just one use, the following morning that familiar redness, swelling and irritation on my chin (forever my problem area) was noticeably less sensitive. I was impressed. After a week of use, the spots I had were visibly healing and no new ones had appeared.

I’ve now been using Proactiv Solution for four weeks with awesome results - I’ve had no new spots and what I had has completely disappeared, leaving only some minor redness - the product of years of abuse. According to the Proactiv Live Chat (a free instant chat system on the Proactiv website where you can ask anything about the product and get an immediate answer) “these dark spots are called hyper-pigmentation which is a fancy word for a dark skin site. It’s actually a sign of healing, but it can last up to 18 months.”Whether you’re fighting a losing battle against teenage acne or stuck in the impossible ‘stress equals spots equals more stress’ merry-go ‘round, you could do worse than to give this stuff a chance. Have mercy and buy it for a teenage son (the bottles are plain and medicinal - nothing girly to fear) or niece - if it works they’ll be your BFF forever. No wonder those Proactiv celebrities always look so happy. Not only do they get to cash a million dollar pay cheque for a few photographs, but the product they’re endorsing actually works to boot...


BUY YOURS NOW 
http://www.beautyfeatures.ie/Products/397-anti-blemish-4-piece-kit.aspx

Article from the Cork News 5/3/10, written by KM