Kim Kardashian Needs to Lighten Up

Is it just me or is the KK gradually lightening her once jet-black hair? I've just noticed her warmer, milk chocolate hue and while I'm a fan of her naturally raven locks, I must say it makes a refreshing change. Have a look at the pictures on The Daily Mail website here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2012424/Kim-Kardashian-takes-tumble-sky-high-heels.html

As I'm sure most of you girls will agree, it's always nice to lighten up a bit in summer. I wonder if Kim will be keeping this lighter hue for her impending nuptials? Sx

One to Watch...Bourjois Kaki Nail Shade

Okay so this isn't out until September (the 7th to be precise) but I just had to show you the new A/W addition to Bourjois' 10 Days Nail Enamel collection, no23 Kaki, £5.99 (Boots). This greeny-grey forms part of the brand's Autumn/Winter 2011 look, Paris Delhi Shanghai (more on that later in the month).

My manicure was created by Marina Sandoval, celebrity nail guru, who as has been reported, was the woman responsible for Kate and Camilla's nails on the Big Day! I love the new khaki shade, although it is definitely more of an Autumnal hue. Sx

Stila is Back!

Cult brand Stila vanished from the UK a couple of years ago leaving a myriad of beauty journalists and die-hard fans yearning for their iconic Lip Glazes and creamy Convertible Colours. This summer, though, sees the highly anticipated relaunch of Stila in the UK. Hoorah! I went to a 'welcome back' Stila event a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with the brand all over again.

A selection of the range

There are a few new products going into the main collection this month, such as the electrifyingStila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, £14 (Boots) - the pigment really is punchy - and the Forever your Curl Mascara, £15. As someone with very long, but very straight lashes I was dying to try this curling mascara. It works by almost tightening the lashes as it dries to pull them back and create a long-lasting curl. I've been using it with eyelash curlers for maximum effect and it does keep them curled for longer (I tried just using the mascara and my lashes stayed completely straight) - still on the lookout for the ultimate curling mascara though folks.

Lip Glaze in Amaretto

As well as trying out the new launches, I tried a few products from the original line-up. The Stila Lip Glaze in Amaretto, £15, is the perfect nude-pink shade and the formula, as with all the Lip Glazes, is smooth, hydrating and not at all sticky. Plus the iconic pen applicator (FYI, Stila was the first brand to launch gloss in a pen format), makes on-the-go gloss top ups almost effortless. 

The Eyeshadow Trio, £15, above provided exactly the sort of colours I usually opt for...a pale wash of colour across the lid and up to the brow bone, a medium shimmering shade applied to the centre of the lid to catch the light, then a final darker contouring hue concentrated in the socket and winged out towards the hairline. Sadly, as you can see below, the pigment on these colours wasn't as concentrated as I would've liked.

What do you think Best Tressers? Are you glad Stila's back in the UK? What products did you miss the most? Sx

One to Watch...Penhaligon's Juniper Sling EDT

The venue

A few weeks ago, I went to quite possibly the coolest launch venue ever. To mark the pending release of Penhaligon's new scent, Juniper Sling, £78 50ml, the brand hijacked an NCP car park for the night and turned it into a glamorous 1920s-themed joint. The fragrance is inspired by London Dry Gin so the prohibition theme (not to mention the ice and gin-filled bath tub) seemed particularly appropriate. On canope watch this week, well this was more of a meal and what a meal it was...cured sea trout, followed by rare lamb and a dessert of black cherry and brown sugar ice cream. AMAZING.


The bathroom




The bath full of gin






The menu




The lamb

As for the fragrance, well it's a unique and interesting as the launch. There are fragrances I review that are more than pleasant, quite lovely in fact, but most of them don't make it into my own very exclusive fragrance wardrobe. From the very first spritz, Juniper Sling had jumped straight to the front of the Stephanie's fragrance queue. It's not been designed as a unisex perfume but both sexes can easily pull off its androgynous sharpness - in fact, this is one that E liked immediately.

So crisp and full-bodied is the perfume that it borders on intoxicating but not in an overpowering sort of way, it's more that you want to drink every last note in. Speaking of which, the head notes consist of cinnamon, orange brandy and juniper berry, before heading into a heart of leather, black pepper and orris wood. Finally the base of brown sugar, black cherry and amber add a lingering, smouldering feel to it.

Juniper Sling launches on Monday 5th September at http://www.penhaligons.com/. If it's a truly special scent you're after, this might just be the ticket. Sx

NEW! 17 Miami Pop Collection

How cute is this new range from 17? I've always like flamingo-adorned things - a friend once bought me an awesome pair of pink flamingo earrings - so to team this design with fluoro hot pinks and burnt oranges is a winning combo for me. If you want to try out the Miami Pop trend for yourself get down to Boots quick to snap up this Limited Edition range. Sx

Miami Pop Nail Colour in Palm Beach, £2.99

Miami Pop Nail Colour in Down Town, £2.99

Miami Pop Bronzer, £4.99

Miami Pop Lipgloss, £3.99

A bit of summer cheer...

It's that time of year again when I can't make it anywhere in my flat without clambering over mounds of beauty products...it's a tough life. So I invited some friends round to buy some beauty goodies in the name of charity. I'm thrilled to say that after two sales we've raised £173 for Calibre Cassette Library - a local charity that makes and sends out audiobooks for blind and partially people.

Once again, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the PRs, who have not only been kind enough to send all these samples and helped raise such a lot of money for charity, but for their ongoing, unwavering support. Sx

Try a trend...Two-tone leopard nails

I've always been a little bit afraid of nail art. Pin-neat stripes and contrasting polka dot patterns once turned my usually-steady hand into a quivering mess. But I've perservered and have just attempted this multi-coloured leopard print look. What do you guys think?

Get the look...

Step 1. Paint your nail with a base colour. I used the new Bourjois 10 Days No Chips Colour in No14.

Step 2. Dab random blobs of your second colour over the nail - two or three on each nail works well. I used Rimmel Lycra Pro Nail Polish in Aqua Cool.

Step 3. Finally, using a nail art pen in black, colour around the blobs and create other random 'U' shapes across the nail.

Step 4. Finish with a high shine topcoat.



My kit



Want to look your Bestival this festival season?

Well check out this festival feature I wrote for the Be Spontaneous Facebook page. All you have to do is 'like' the page to access 'Your Festival Survival Kit'. Once in, you can get the low-down on the must-have tools to stay festival fabulous. When I hit the festivals (erm I've only been to a couple but I just love that cool hair and beauty vibe) I opt for slept-in smoky eyes, high-shine skin and textured hair...

For ultra-luxe skin, body oils are fast-becoming my summer staple. Not only do they help lock in extra moisture, but they add a sexy sheen to short-clad legs. Before you hit the Bit Top spritz Tess Daly Beauty Daly Skin Shimmer, £12 (0845 302 1234) across skin and massage in.

Another makeup bag staple is primer. Think how long your makeup has to stay perfect for at a festival - a primer like 17 Photo Flawless Primer, £4.99 (Boots) provides extra staying power for your look and fills in pores to boot!

When it comes to festival tresses, I'm never without my hairspray. For that mussed-up, slept-in finish, spray hairspray into the palms of your hands then rub against the hair. Try Tesco ProFlex Firm Hold Hairspray, £2 (Tesco).

Would love you all to check out the link here http://www.facebook.com/BeSpontaneousNow?sk=app_223325064368958

Thanks Best Tressers Sx