Behind the Scenes: Top beauty products reviews

This morning as I nearly broke my neck on rogue beauty products in my spare bedroom, I realised that I've got far too many products for one girl. I'm not complaining though as I love this perk of the job. Yes, I have to deal with very shallow, image-obsessed people, but I also get good freebies.

So as part of this blog, I thought I should impart some of my beauty pearls of wisdom so you too know about these fabulous products!

First up is this little lovely from the unpronounceable Swedish firm Sachajuan, which is available at HQ Hair. The blurb about the Ocean Mist giving your hair a beach feel is really true, except you don't have to get sand up your bum, which can only be a bonus. The day I used it on my hair I had so many compliments. I usually wear my slightly wavy hair straightened but this brings out my natural curl making me look like I've spent the morning surfing on Bondi beach, when in reality I've been crammed into an overground train trying not to inhale someone's stale sweat. Bonus!

My second revelation is Max Factor. Maybe I've just been a bit slow to cotton onto this brand, but I've never bought it before, however, since I got sent lots of freebies, I'm a convert. First up is the miracle touch foundation - it goes on so smooth and gives great coverage without making you look like you work on a make-up counter! Next is Max Factor's Masterpiece Waterproof Mascara. It has fairly good staying power, but the clincher for me is the fact it defines my spindly lashes so well.

So that's my faves at the moment - why not let me know if you've tried any new beauty products? Or perhaps there's one thing you can't live without? Post a comment now!

News Round-Up: Is Geri dating a Desperate Husband?!

I've decided to move the news round-up to Tuesday as I seem to have more behind the scenes goss on Wednesday, so here are the stories keeping me entertained this week...

Geri takes her new man on a double date with George Michael and his partner. Is it just me or does Ivan look a little like Carlos from Desperate Housewives?! Geri is looking darn hot at the moment - am loving her jumpsuit!

Kylie releases a new video in the states. I'm not sure about the bondage gear but elsewhere she looks sensational.

Are these the cutest celebrity babies ever? Heidi Klum took her 3 kids out for some weekend fun and they are just gorgeous. Coming up close to the title though is Matt Damon's little girl - cute hair and dress.

Coleen gets the sack! Yes it's true, ASDA have dropped Coleen McCloughlin from their campaigns. They apparently want someone more like Helen Mirren! Is this the beginning of the end of the WAG?

New beauty products out this week... In the states, NARS has released a new lipgloss and nail varnish in the much lusted-after Orgasm shade. When is it coming out over here? And if you have a dog - as I do - you might like to purchase this doggy hairdryer. It will be sure to make your pooch's hair sleek and stop that annoying shaking they do when they're wet - because they're worth it!

A new haircut and is Katie Holmes pregnant again?

These are the small things that have been occupying my small mind this week!

The gossip about Katie Holmes being pregnant for the second time. I feel sorry for the poor girl - not only has she had to endure sex with Tom Cruise once more, but the tabloids keep going on about her piling on the weight when to me she looks like a pile of bones. Thank god I'm not a celebrity. I've also been reading about how her first pregnancy was fake - genius!

I'm getting my hair cut next week. I had really, really short hair this time last year so have been growing it slightly. However, slightly worried I am looking a bit dishevelled so think it's time to have a proper hair-style before I start looking like Kylie-doing-a-Helen-Daniels-from-Neighbours look! I'm really loving Natalie Imbruglia's hair at the moment - will it turn me into an Aussie sex kitten I wonder?!

It's games night on Saturday night! My friend K and her boyfriend M are coming over to mine and the hubby's for a games marathon! We've got everything from Guess Who to SingStar, but who will take home the coveted trophy I wonder. Can anyone else recommend any other great board games to play?

I've been feeling poorly all week and had to miss out on some fun nights including last nights' NME awards, so it was with great pleasure I saw these photos of Kate Moss and Kelly Osbourne very drunk. They not only look like I feel at the moment, but it also goes to show that no-one can look gorgeous all of the time.

See you next week!

Is Kate Hudson pregnant?

Here's the news on my radar this week...

1. Kate Hudson has started wearing baggier clothes while off duty. Nothing strange there you might think, it's certainly what I do on a weekend. For poor Kate though, it's sent the rumour mills into overdrive - is she pregnant? Or perhaps she likes to feel comfortable when not squeezing into red carpet frocks?!

2. Speaking of pregnant celebrities, Nicole Kidman was spotted drinking wine at the Oscars. Shock, horror indeed. I had one friend, who has had 3 healthy babies, who had a glass of wine a night.

3. Last night I felt a tremor in my bedroom but it was nothing to do with my lovely husband - ha ha! I was one of the few peeps to feel the recent UK earthquake. I was actually alerted to it by my poor dog whimpering - if that hadn't happened, I would probaby have slept through it all!

4. Get the Oscars look by plumping up your lashes. Full eyelashes was a popular beauty look with A-listers such as Heidi Klum and Anne Hathaway. For once an easy to copy red carpet look - hurrah! My favourite mascara is Urban Decay's Big Fatty mascara, which plumps up my blonde weedy eyelashes to Twiggy proportions!

5. And finally... summer is well and truly on the way. Well it must be if TopShop have got their first delivery of Havaiana flip flops in. I live in these during the summer. Bring on the sunshine!

Behind the Scenes: Beauty sale alert!

Today I experienced my second beauty sale. For the uninitiated out there, a beauty sale is when the beauty department sell off all their samples and freebies to the rest of the staff. Items cost from 50p to £5.00 but generally it's a great place to get a bargain.

I experienced my first one last year and to say I was shell-shocked was an understatement. Imagine a jumble sale full of eager grannies desperate to get their hands on some second hand tat. Add in the energy of youth and a few very bony elbows and you get the idea. It was every woman for themself. Armed with huge bags, everyone pushed and shoved until they got what they want. I managed to get a few prime bargains but wasn't overly impressed.

My friend C works on another magazine and she often gives me bags full of freebies - stuff like Dior, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Estee Lauder. The list goes on. Here however, the goodies up for grabs are more likely to be found on the shelf of Superdrug and looking at the state of some of them, right at the back of the dusty shelf as well. So where is all the good stuff going? All I'm going to say is that the beauty editor, who doesn't get paid that much, is always turning up in new clothes, including a few nice designer items...

Pamper weekends and Holly Willougby's cleavage!

Here are the guilty pleasures I’ll be indulging in this weekend!

1. Enjoying the camp-fest that is Dancing On Ice. What better way to leave behind the weekend! The ice-skating shenanigans help ease me back into the working week. Plus, I love seeing how much cleavage Holly will have on show!

2. Watching a few rom-coms back to back, starting with How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days as I love the way Kate Hudson looks in that, especially in that yellow dress. These are the benefits of having a husband who works shifts!

3. Seeing which other celebrities have entered rehab. Latest news is that Kirsten Dunst has checked herself in, although E! Online has reports that say the opposite.

4. Taking the dog on a couple of long walks and then checking just how many calories I've burnt!

5. Having a pamper day with facemasks, mini-manicure and a hair treatment. My favourite mask is this little beauty – the SK II treatment mask, however they’re very expensive so only use them when I get a freebie. They also make you look like Hannibal Lecter! I’m currently using – and loving – the Bliss triple oxgyen mask. It’s effective and works in only 5 mins!

News Round-Up: Designer juicy tubes

This is what's going on the fashion and celebrity world this week dahlings!

1. Stop the press! Kylie is in a looks really quite good shocker! I've mentioned before how bad Kylie is looking these days, but she's made me eat my words with her latest video for Wow. She looks fabulous - but you're not off the hook just yet Miss Minogue! I'm keeping an eye on you!

2. Christopher Kane (he of the fabulous leather skating skirt) has joined forces with Lancome to create uber cool Lancome juicy tubes. They look gorgeous but I bet like all of these limited edition products, it will be hard to track them down when they're released in March.

3. Is lesbianism becoming the latest fashion in Hollywood? Well if reports are to be believed Paris Hilton and Elisha Cuthbert have been seen making out in a lesbian bar in LA. And we all know that despite looking like she's gone made in a Barbie factory, whatever Paris wears or does soon becomes trendy among young slacker types!

4. The supermodel is back! Stephanie Seymour - one of the original supermodels and star of the amazing November Rain Guns N Roses video - is on the cover of this month's Pop magazine. I think it's time for those skinny identikit models to move over and make way for the supermodels once more!

Making up is hard to do

Today I’m taking my pet peeves outside of the office to vent about the thing I hate more than ANYTHING (apart from war, racism and homophobia) - people applying their make-up in public.

This morning, I was sat on the train to work contemplating how much I hate the commute when things got worse. Not only did the vacant seat next to become occupied, but it became occupied by a ‘woman who does her make-up in public!’ They’re the worse kind of commuter. They have no spatial awareness – I don’t want flecks of your nasty cheap orange bronzer on my expensive cream Marc Jacobs bag purlease – or regard for privacy.

I believe putting make-up on is a private thing. It’s almost like wearing a mask and that transformation should happen in private. Perhaps I hate the people who do this so much because I’d never have the balls, but really it's because these people are just so inconsiderate. Today I got elbowed in the head when this irritating person tired to apply their kohl eyeliner, sprayed with some cheap and nasty hairspray and perfume and covered in someone else’s hairs – euck. Leave your make-up at home ladies. Stop being so lazy and get up 10 minutes earlier.

So I’m starting a campaign and I urge everyone to join in. When someone sits next to you and starts applying their eyeliner, nudge their elbow! When someone sprays their perfume, choke and cough VERY loudly.