This season is all about the tan. If you’re not lucky enough to be getting off to warmer climates and are a little nervous of fake tan don’t worry, I’ve got some great little tricks that will give you a summer glow without the air miles or streaks!

Using bronzer in the correct areas will not only give you a glow but it will define and highlight your best features!

For a natural glow on paler skin I opt for Avon’s True Colour Blush in Earthern Rose. Sweep this under your cheek bones for definition and follow with a dusting of  Arabian Glow Bronzing Pearls  on the apples of your cheeks and over your chest and collarbone.

For a look to rival the catwalks, bronze it to the max with an ultra heavy contour under the cheeks. Start by applying Arabian Glow pressed powder with a large brush under the cheek bones and sweeping up right onto the temples, build this up to a deep brown and add shimmer with the Arabian Glow Bronzing Pearls. Finish this look with Extra Lasting Lip Gloss in Continuous Copper.

If the catwalk look is a little too much for you why not try a little splash of bronze just on your eyes.  Big Colour Eye Pencil  in Burnished Copper and Golden Glamour is great for this. Simply use the lighter shade in the inner corner of the eye and the brow area to highlight and the darker shade on the lid. You can smudge these using your brush or a finger until you get the desired effect. Finish with lashings of black mascara.

Happy bronzing!

Jackie

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Arabian Glow Pressed Powder · Avon True Colour Blush · Big Colour Eye Pencil · Extra Lasting Lip Gloss

Cosmopolitan's Editorial Assistant, Bridget March gives us the low down on our Anew Regime Mini Kits…

Nailing an effective daily skincare routine can be easier said than done but the ANEW Regimen Mini Kit makes it super-simple (and affordable).
 
I used the two week trail-size products daily and from the very first day my skin looked more radiant and felt squeaky clean but hydrated.
 
I was particularly impressed by the simplistic routine the kit offers – use the gel cleanser all over to remove make-up then follow with the day or night face cream and the ’24 Hour Eye Cream’ – one pot split with an SPF cream version for mornings and a gel version for evenings.
 
After 14 days using the products, pores on my nose appeared smaller, my skin’s texture felt smoother and my complexion glowed. Not bad for a tenner!

Buy now or contact your local Representative!

Bridget

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Anew · Cosmopolitan

Every year I hear so many women worrying that they won’t be able to achieve a ‘flab free’ figure in time for their summer holidays.

Well, this year I have found something that really could help!

Avon’s Solutions Cellu-Sculpt 3X is a targeted firming treatment that helps reduce the look and feel of cellulite in just one week and will make those dreaded dimples look and feel smoothed out. 

The new Solutions Cellu-Sculpt 3X is formulated with Lipo-Smooth Technology and it’s this that helps smooth out those dimples and reduce that puffy look that comes with cellulite.  Plus, the gel-cream formula is packed with olive-leaf extract, a known anti-oxidant.

It’s really easy to use: simply dispense some of the gel-cream onto the tri-rollerball massage head, then thoroughly massage the thighs, hips, abdomen and buttocks twice a day using circular movements until the cream is fully absorbed.

Cellulite is an ongoing battle us girls never seem to win. The good news is that this product will make your skin feel more toned, honed and lifted after just one week’s use.  It’ll be the best investment you’ll make this year.  Give your local Avon Representative a shout and get yours now .

anti cellulite product · Solutions Cellu-Sculpt

I've spent this week indulging in my new favourite skin boost! My Anew Rejuvenate Mini Kit… a little thing of beauty which neatly fits my bathroom cabinet, and has truly softened and revitalised my skin.

The idea behind this neatly packaged blue box is that it's a start-to-finish beauty approach that lasts 14 days… And it will set you on the road to great, healthy skin for years to come.

The kit comes with small sizes of Revitalising 2-in-1 Gel Cleanser, Day Revitalising Cream, Night Revitalising Cream and, my favourite part, full-size 24 Hour Eye Cream!

This little package of skin treats has done a great thing… it's reminded me how important it is to keep working away at skin, and that what you put in… you get back out in a bright, even complexion.

All too often recently I've been relying on a quick swipe with a cleansing wipe. I fall into bed without moisturising… and it was starting to show, with dry flakes between my eyebrows (eew) and dark circles under my eyes.

My wakeup call was reading Nicky Hambleton-Jones' top anti-ageing tips! She said that for every night you don't clean your makeup off properly your skin ages by eight days. Eight days!!?? I don't know how she's worked that one out… but it certainly made me sit up and think.

Now I've got back into a good skin ritual… and my skin feels more zen because of it. Long may it last.

PS My Rejuvenate Mini Kit is aimed at thirtysomething skin. But there are fab mini kits for Anew Reversalist (red packaging) for fortysomething skin, Anew Ultimate (gold packaging) for fifties' skin and Anew Platinum (purple packaging) for sixty-plus skin.

Shop online or contact your local Representative!

Lucy – Avonfabulous blogger

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Anew · Anti-ageing · Beauty · Nicky Hambelton-Jones

Our celebrity guest blogger is superstylist and beauty expert Nicky Hambleton-Jones…

I’m always asked to give my top tips for keeping skin looking young… and I’m always learning new tricks. So here are some of my favourites.

To keep skin looking peachy… the rules are pretty simple. Here are my top anti-ageing tips to keep you looking gorgeously youthful all year long.
 

1. For every night you forget to take your make-up off, your skin ages by eight days! Yes, seriously. And if that’s not a good enough reason to ALWAYS take off your make-up before you go to bed… I don’t know what is. 
    
2. When you visit the hairdresser they normally wash your hair twice. This is to remove all the dirt and impurities.  I actually recommend that you do this for your face, too, and always cleanse twice.
    
3. There’s a very good reason behind exfoliator. Dead skin cells can easily build up, making skin look dull and lifeless. Use a good exfoliator such as Avon’s ANEW Advanced Dermabrasion System to remove dead skin cells, boost circulation and restore a youthful glow. 
    
4. SPFs aren’t just boring numbers. The sun’s rays cause a massive 60% of our wrinkles so it’s essential we protect our skin against them.  UVA and UVB rays can cause harm even on dull days so make sure your day moisturiser contains at least an SPF25.
    
5. Just as it’s important to protect our skin during the day, it’s important to protect skin at night, too, as this is when the skin is repairing itself. They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing!  Use a cream that is designed specifically for use at night.
    
6. To keep keep your kiss soft and rosy use a dry toothbrush once a week and give lips a light buff and follow with a good lip balm to keep them supple.
    
7. Eyes are the first area that really begin to show ageing, with the dreaded crow’s feet!  Keep eyes bright, tight and radiant with ANEW’s Clinical Eye Lift.

    

8. Use skincare that’s tailored for your skin’s age and stage. Avon’s ANEW skincare has four ranges: Rejuvenate for your 30s, Reversalist for your 40s, Ultimate for your 50s and Platinum for your 60s.  And to help with problem areas look to the ANEW Clinical range to bring back your natural sparkle.
    

Nicky

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Anti-ageing · Nicky Hambleton-Jones · SKincare tips

Hot date for Valentine's Day? Check out these tips to get the best looks!

Whats the best way to put on liquid eyeliner soo that it goes on in a straight line

Rest the brush on the base of the lashes as you sweep it across your eye. If you want a flick aim for the end of your eyebrows – this helps to create a natural lift and flick and will help your eyes to look symmetrical.

What makeup is best to use if you have sensitive skin?

The Minerals products are great if you have sensitive or problem skin. But with Mineral makeup you really have to work it in.

How to create dramatic eyes…

The top and bottom eyeliner shouldn’t join. Another great tip for dramatic eyes is to use a white eyeliner between the black ones – this helps them stand out for maximum impact.

How to keep foundation even all day

Sounds like you’re probably using the wrong foundation for your skin type. For oily skin, opt for an oil free foundation and for dry skin, try using foundation that contains moisturising properties.

Whats more on trend? Big eyes or big lips?

Great question – big eye and lips are in this season. Choose a colour that compliments your outfit and go for it! If you decide to go for the hot lips, our brand new Moisture Seduction Lipstick is the perfect match.

How to apply eyeliner properly to upper lids

The easiest eyeliner to use is a Kohl pencil. It’s much easier to control than liquid eyeliner and you have the option of smudging it to create a great effect. The best is SuperShock Gel Eyeliner as used by YouTube beauty guru’s pixiwoo.

How to find the right shade foundation

Many people ask this – you’re not alone. The best way is to match foundation is to your jawline. Try it in day light, rather than indoors. For pale skin, define your best features and be bold.

The best makeup if you have oily skin

Use a moisturiser that’s specific to your skin type as this will help your foundation last longer. Set it with a translucent powder.

How to get the best smokey eyes

The trick is to outline the eyes with a black kohl pencil, blend this out with a brush then set with a dark powder/eyeshadow. Always blend the colour up and out and then add lashings and lashings of mascara.

We would love to hear your best beauty tips too

xxx

makeup tips · Skincare · smokey eye effect · Valentine's Day makeup

Beauty Writer and Avon advocate, Lisa Behan gives us the low down on Foundation and how we all achieve a flawless finish.

We love foundation. Fact. It is the one product in nearly every woman’s make up bag. We use it to help even our skin tone, to cover minor blemishes and to improve our appearance. It can even make us feel more confident about how we look.
 

There are so many different products available and what seems like a million different shades on offer, so it’s easy to fall into the trap of wearing the wrong foundation. I’ll share a secret with you, choose the right foundation and it can dramatically improve the look of your skin.

Which foundation is right for my skin type?
The first step is to choose the right product for your skin type.

Cream based foundations 
Great for dry and normal skin as they are oil-based products so they won’t dry out the skin. Cream foundations can provide quite heavy coverage and are very easy to blend.

Liquid based foundations
Good for normal or combination skin; they provide light to medium coverage. The consistency of the liquid is very light so it is easy to apply. If you have oily skin then try Avon’s Fresh face oil- free foundation as this is specifically designed for oily complexions.

Mousse foundations
These work well on normal or combination skin but are not so effective on dry skin. You have to work fairly quickly with a mousse or it can dry too fast leaving a chalky appearance. Not a good look when you are going for dewy natural looking skin.

You can also try a liquid-mousse combination; Avon’s Magix Cashmere Finish Foundation is the perfect blend between a liquid and a mousse. It has the lightness of a mousse, provides good coverage and it leaves the skin silky smooth.

If you suffer with dry or sensitive skin, then try Avon’s Calming Effects Skin Revival Foundation. It contains vitamin E and chamomile, both of these ingredients are well known for their soothing properties.

For mature skin, look for products containing anti- ageing ingredients. Anew Age Transforming foundation is specially formulated for mature skin. It contains elastin and collagen so is great for smoothing out fine lines and it provides excellent coverage.

Choosing the perfect shade
The second step is trying to find the perfect match for your skin tone. Try using the forehead or jaw line to test a small area of the foundation first. When there is no defined line between the two areas, you have the right shade for your skin.

If you have fair skin then a light beige or an ivory shade with warm pink or peachy tones will work best for you.

If you have olive skin then stick to a bronze or dark beige tone.

If you have dark skin, then a bronze shade with an orangey tone will look great on you.

If you prefer a very light, healthy and natural appearance trying using a tinted moisturiser as this is a much lighter alternative to foundation. Fantastic for those who don’t like wearing a lot of make up.

Prepare and apply
Always start with a clean base, after you have cleansed and toned, gently massage a light daytime moisturiser all over the face. Leave at least ten minutes so that the cream has fully absorbed.

Next comes the primer, using a primer will help to control any oily areas and help keep a matte finish. Apply a small amount concentrating on the T-zone area. You can try Avon’s Magix Face Perfector or for girls on the go, Avon’s Perfectwear foundation is fabulous as it already has a built in primer.

To create a smooth finish try using a brush to apply your foundation. Start by taking a small amount of product and work onto the face using gentle brush strokes in an outward direction.  If you start off using a small amount then you can build up to the level of coverage that’s right for you. Remember to blend, blend and blend some more. Make sure to pay close attention to the creases around the nose and along the jaw line.

Lastly to help seal the foundation, finish by sweeping a light covering of loose powder all over the face. The powder will help to eliminate any shine and will make your make up last longer.

 A flawless finish in no time at all!

So if you’re guilty of using the same foundation for the last decade and feel it’s time for a change, then be brave and embrace something new. Ask your local Avon Representative about swapping your current foundation for one of Avon’s new foundations for just £4, which is better than half price!

*The foundations can be of any size, full or empty and can be any brand.

Find out more

Lisa x

Avon Cosmetics · Foundation guide

As winter fast approaches and we begin to forget what the sun actually looks like, those are the sad times when we feel compelled to reignite the summer memories by indulging in a little sunbed therapy.

But the question is, is it worth it? Are we prepared to put our skin, and sometimes lives, at risk for an orange glow? Well those of you thinking twice about this fear not, I have the info on the 'tan or not to tan' debate and it's not all doom and gloom.

The fact is we know that sunbeds are particularly bad for us, and while I would never suggest that we all use factor 50 and stay out of the sun on that idyllic holiday in the Maldives, we could give ourselves a break in the winter time.

Besides, a whole new trend seems to be emerging – the 'pale and unusual' look, where pasty skin is no longer viewed as an ailment, but a choice. Check out the previously perma-tanned likes of Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole.

And emerging superstars such as Mad Men's Christina Hendricks and Bond Girl Gemma Arterton are leading the way in this revolution.

Right – here’s where you give your local Representative a friendly nudge and ask them to point you in the right direction….

So how do we get the confidence to ditch the UV Rays? Well it starts with some light fake tan of course, such as Skin So Soft Soft and Glow Airbrush Spray (available for Fair and Medium skin tones) and a fantastic skincare routine where your face is so healthy you're almost glowing (see Ms Arterton at her recent premiere of Tamara Drewe if you're not sure what this looks like).

Start with an exfoliator definitely invest in Clearskin Professional Deep Pore Cleansing Scrub, then stick with the cleanse, tone and moisturise routine, but take it one step further by indulging in face masks, laying off the heavy foundation occasionally and eating healthily.

Fashionistas, take note however: this is not an overnight miracle cure. It will take effort and a bit of extra confidence, but after a while you should find you're ready to bare all in no time and be glowing in the knowledge that you’re looking after your skin!
 

Abi – Online Beauty Editor

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Beauty Trends · Self Tan

Women always seem to be battling against something – the bulge, wrinkles – sometimes it feels like a fight just to get out of bed never mind growing old gracefully!

However, fear not – whilst it may be tempting to resort to new-fangled methods like Botox, there are other ways of ensuring your skin stays as smooth as it was when you were in your teens, and it starts with a good old scrub.

Well a little more than that, but basically all the beauty gurus are saying that consistency is the key – and this doesn't mean consistently forgetting to take your make-up up off after a night out but – finding a routine that suits you and your lifestyle.

Also, it sounds silly, but finding the time to actually look after yourself – facials and facemasks can do you the world of good. How else do you think French women are renowned for their beauty?

So if this gets you thinking that perhaps you should be investing in some quality beauty products without spending a fortune, now is the time to give your local Representative a call!

They have a cream for everything and a massage for everything too – wrinkles, cellulite, saggy bottoms and so on, so take a leaf out of their book and check out Solutions Ageless Results Day and Night Cleanser and Anew Rejuvenate 24 Hour Eye Moisturiser to start you off.

So once a week take the afternoon off to pop on a replenishing mask, see Planet Spa Thailand Lotus Flower Deep Pore Cleansing Face Mask complete with tea bags or cucumber on the eyes and spend time cleansing and moisturising.

I wouldn't be as foolish to say this while the weather was still glorious, but tanning is also a no-no, the temptation for many is to try and prolong their 'healthy' colour as long as possible with the help of sunbeds.

The cooler months are an excuse to really look after your skin, besides, it's official – pale and unusual is definitely more interesting than tan-oholic.

Organise a beauty consultation with your Representative and then sit back and reap the rewards of your efforts!

Abi, Online Beauty Editor

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day and night creams · eye creams · face masks · moisturisers · pampering products · wellbeing

Summer is unfortunately soon coming to an end but this doesn’t mean the Festival Season is over – there are still plenty to choose from for a fabulous weekend getaway with friends!

However, when going to a festival, there are always a couple of things we ladies are concerned about… mainly, what clothes should I pack? Do I need to prepare for sunny or muddy days? And most prominently, what products should I pack to keep my shower-fresh feeling lasting as long as possible?

We all enjoy a bit of grunge time at festivals, but working at Avon has kept us in the loop with this year’s festival-fresh must have products. For a bit of Festival glam, style and freshness, we’ve got the perfect picks from head to toe

 

1. For fabulous looking frizz-free hair that can last even 2 days after your last wash, try our brand new (and big hit!) Avon Lotus Shield.

2. Never leave home (or your tent) without a bit of eyeliner – use our Supershock Gel Eyeliner Pencil for bold, intense colour that will last for hours.

Keep lips plumped and shiny with the Pro 3-in-1 Lip Wand. All that singing in the crowd won’t go unnoticed now!

3. To top off your festival fashion, indulge yourself in a fabulous, bold and chunky Alisha bracelet, with decorative raised dots reminiscent of the season’s tribal trend.

4. Keep your legs smooth and moisturised with our Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Body Spray.

5. Who would have thought standing all day could lead to such aching feet? To avoid sore and damaged feet on the journey home, try our Foot Works Cherry Ice Cooling Foot Spray. It’s a miracle cure!

If you’re looking for further inspiration, don’t forget to visit our website, particularly our Festival Glam, Festival Fresh and Festival Fashion sections! Have fun!

Anti Frizz product · Fashion · festivals · Make-up · Makeup