“A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.” Author unknown

While the statement above would have been true say 15 years ago it no longer applies. Sometime in the late 90′s guys started nicking our moisturiser and face scrub and the beauty industry woke up and took notice. Now the guys have just as much stuff as we do with new products coming to the market almost daily. But I have to wonder, if they used our stuff all those years ago why can’t we use theirs? I realise that men’s skin is different to ours in many ways, but what’s the harm in ‘borrowing’ his bottles and tubes?

1. Molton Brown Ultra Light Bai Ji Hydrator – My boyfriend James uses this Molton Brown bestseller on regular basis and it shows. His skin is always supple and velvety smooth. I was impressed with this moisturiser on my own skin because it sinks right in and doesn’t leave a greasy film. It really is ‘ultra light’ and would make a great base for makeup. This product is available at Molton Brown and Mankind.

2. Zirh Aloe Facial Scrub – This is one of those products that you don’t need a lot of and the smell is gorgeous like springtime. The scrub is suspended in a low foaming gel so it doesn’t strip your skin. I’ve been using this in the evening to wash my face and it takes the day off perfectly. This is available at Mankind and Lookmantastic.

3. Nickel Super Clean body scrub – This comes in a cute bottle resembling a petrol canister. It has a typical musky fragrance but don’t let that put you off. I was expecting this scrub to be more robust if I’m honest, however the smaller grains do an excellent job at exfoliation. Great for sensitive skins. This is available at Mankind.

Easter is nearly upon us and I know you are excited about all the choccie eggs that the Easter Bunny will bring. I am a self-confessed chocolate snob. I turn my nose up at Celebrations, Roses, and Quality Street. I love Hotel Chocolate and reading their product reviews on Easter Eggs.

Chocolate is also used in beauty products, but what is the benefit? Some experts say chocolate has anti-oxidants like green tea. Cocoa butter also has moisturising properties that some skin types find very effective. Most of us agree that the smell of chocolate can boost our spirits. I love food based beauty products so I say why not? So if you would prefer to wear, rather than eat your chocolate go to Lush!

1. Whip Stick lip balm – It’s like a little pot of chocolate frosting but without the guilt. Good for people who cannot tolerate cocoa butter or lanolin as its made with oats, almond, and wheatgerm oil. Orange oil gives it a nice twist. Make sure you keep it out of direct heat or it will melt!

2. Fresh Cupcake mask – This has the consistency and smell of real cupcake batter and must be kept in the fridge. I like using this mask in the summer when my skin has excess oil. It contains Rhassoul mud from the Atlas mountains of Morocco, which helps draw impurities out of the skin.

3. Business Time massage bar – Made with cocoa butter, almond, and coconut oil. Great for massage therapists as an alternative to using traditional aromatherapy oils. Approved by the Vegan Society.

4. Charity Pot body lotion – All the money from the sales of these pots goes toward Lush Charity Pot fund. They support charities such as Respect for Animals and the Environmental Justice Foundation. In return you get cocoa butter soft skin and a feeling that you’ve made a difference to a great cause.

For her Autumn/Winter 2010 show Vivienne Westwood sent her female models down the runway in gorgeous rich colours, socks with ornate heels, and eyeliner thin moustaches and goatees. Whilst most of us wouldn’t try this at home except for a fancy dress party, it was inspired.

Vivienne’s muse easily could have been Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter who famously included her facial hair and mono brow in her self-portraits. Frida’s entrance into the art world came after she was badly hurt in a bus accident in 1925. Although she spent most of her life in pain due to her injuries, Frida completed 143 works of art. The true appreciation of her work did not come until the late 80′s, and as we can see from the Westwood show she is still inspiring us today.

So what to do if you can’t afford Westwood? Traffic People boutique can help your fashion passion. I’ve got my eye on their silver ‘once upon a time’ necklace. They also have some gorgeous Ophelia dresses on sale at the moment for under £50. Now where’s my credit card?

I can never get enough lip balms. I keep them in my bag, at work, in my nightstand and on my makeup table. I need loads as they are easy to lose. But I don’t want any old tube or tin, I need something fun and cute. I want these now!

Vintage Bella – This is Cherry Frosting from the Marie Antoinette Queen’s Patisserie collection. It’s 1755 all over again!

Pin Up Balms – Fancy a drink? These kitsch tins contain cocktail bar favourites like Irish Cream, Sangria, and Champagne. Cheers!

Blu Q – Boss Lady lip balm in Honeysuckle Nectar. Give yourself a promotion and let the office now you mean business with the lovely balm.

Vintage Sister – I love these retro tins and the cute pictures. You can also send them flavour ideas! I love this set ‘At the Movies’ which includes Popcorn, Red Liquorice, and Cola. Everyone should have Popcorn flavoured lip balm!

Ernie from Sesame Street has always been a happy chap. Why? Because when life is getting him down he just takes a bath to de-stress and hum a little tune to his beloved rubber ducky. We could all take a leaf out of Ernie’s book. Here’s how to do it:

1. Rubber ducky – ‘Daisy’ the luxury duck is sure to become a good friend. Always ready to listen, she greets you with a smile after a hard day’s graft.

2. Shower cap – this  charming Cath Kidston duck bath hat will keep your hairstyle intact.

3. Body gloves – Soap & Glory exfoiliating gloves will ensure you scrub up to perfection!

4. Bathing gel – From my favourite Bliss range Blood Orange + White Pepper soapy suds for the bath.

If you like having beauty goodies that no one else has then this is the place for you. Andrea Garland has taken a simple idea and ticked all the relevant boxes for beauty in the 21st Century; ethical, environmental, and organic. Let’s not forget beautiful as well. Her Lip Balm, Rosy Beauty Balm, Body Balm and Sore Muscle Rub all come in original vintage compacts, tins, and pill boxes. The best bit is that you don’t have to throw away your little piece of history once you used the rub or balm, you can send it back for a refill for less than half the original price. I love the fact that she has sourced the compacts and tins from all over the world and they reflect different decades including early 20th century, Art Deco, post war, and the 60′s so there is something for everyone. These have been available at Liberty’s in London since October last year but for those us (like me) who don’t live in our Nations Capital you can order them online. You have to be quick though once they’re gone they’re gone!

We’ve all done it. When an unsightly bump starts to appear on our chin the first thing we want to do is perform some kind of Victorian surgery procedure to pick, squeeze or mutilate our face in the hopes that what we’ve done will eliminate our little flaw. The truth is we always end up making it worse. There is a reason we are told not to pick at our faces; it spreads more bacteria, and could cause scarring. Anyone suffering severe acne should seek professional medical advice from their gp or a dermatologist. However if you get occasional spots from stress or pmt what are your options?

1. Regular Facials – Having regular professional facials to treat spots can be very beneficial. This the preferred method of our favourites celebrities. Treatments can vary between acid peels, microdermabrasion, and gentle exfoliation. Make sure you speak to your practitioner beforehand so you are clear what the treatment(s) involve and how quickly you can expect to see results.

2. Zeno Acne Clearing Device – Zeno can range from £99 – £140 depending on where you buy it. It works by heating up the spot for the 2 1/2 minutes thus killing the bacteria. I’ve used my Zeno for over 2 years now and it does work. It also eliminates the dry skin you usually get with topical treatments. This is especially useful when you still want to cover your spot with makeup.

3. Premium Skincare – Aesop, Benefit, Decleor, Karin Herzog and many other premium brands have spot treatments and specialist skincare ranges for treating blemishes. They can include natural and man-made ingredients. These products work best when used with the rest of the skincare range.

4. Organic/Natural Products – The last ten years has seen a surge in organic or ‘natural’ products. Stating the phrase ‘from nature’ or ‘natural’ on a product does not make it organic. According to the International Law Office regarding European Union product liability ‘ No regulation defines the legal status of a claim that a cosmetic is natural‘ so always check the label if you are unsure. Tea tree oil, sage and comfrey, and natural seaweed can be found in these type of treatments.

5. Over the counter (OTC) – This will be your common method of clearing your skin. These preparations usually include a percentage of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Both can be quite drying if overused so it’s best to follow the instructions on the label.  I always apply these types of products with a cotton bud for precise application.

Now that the warmer weather is upon us, it’s time for a Spring clean. Forget the house, the first place you should start is your bathroom and your unyielding pile of jars, tubes and bottles. Just like food, cosmetics and beauty products can spoil although they have a longer shelf life. But how long? In 2005 the EU passed a directive stating that all cosmetics should carry a ‘Period after Opening’ symbol which is represented by an open cream jar and the period given in months and/or years. If the period is given in months it should be followed by an ‘M’. Have you noticed this symbol on your beloved lotions and potions? Most makeup i.e. foundation, powders, lipsticks and mascara should only be kept for no longer than 4 months to a year. In the real world we ladies tend to keep our favourite lippie for much longer. What about face wash, body scrubs and masks? These items can usually be kept longer but the times vary. Below are Period after Opening symbols from some of my own stash of goodies and how long they should be kept for:

1. Thermal protection spray for hair

2. Makeup remover

3. Face wash

4. Face mask

5. Face Scrub

There isn’t any rhyme or reason to these different lengths of time, however if a product contains more natural ingredients and less preservatives the shelf life will be reduced dramatically. So all those organic products that are collecting dust on your bathroom shelf may need to be binned if you haven’t used them in a while! Of course when you get rid of the old stuff you get to buy new stuff yeah!

Is this how your skin feels after our long cold winter? If the answer is yes than thankfully Aveeno can help you improve your scaly situation. They have a Daily Body Moisturising Range for Dry Skin and Skin Relief for Extra Dry, Irratible skin. Clinically proven to moisturise for 24 hours, absorbs quickly and is fragrance free. Both of these ranges are available at Superdrug and are currently on offer for £2 off the recommended retail price.

I hope you are all enjoying Mothering Sunday. I unfortunately cannot be with my mum as she lives on the other side of the pond and I’ve been having trouble finding a gift for her. You see my mum has everything; a wonderful husband (my dad),  a gorgeous house, cars, shoes and bags that would give any celeb a run for their money and don’t get me started on her collection of bling. So while I was looking through my favourite beauty websites I happened upon the perfect thing. It combines practicality and with extravagance.

Swarovski Crystal Tweezers! She plucks her eyebrows and collects Swarovski Crystal so this is perfect. Now which colour to get black or white? These are available at Gorgeous Shop.