>>>très bon: THE NEED FOR STEAM

Many a girl wants the opposite to what they have. A sweeping statement to be sure but how many times have you been told by a friend/colleague/stranger hat they adore your chocolate brown eyes or pin straight hair only for you to respond resentfully that you wish you could swap for some baby blues and curly waves.

>>>très bon: GET UP AND GLOW

Cleanser is one of my absolute favorite skincare products to buy and apply for two reasons:

1 – The feeling of a fresh, clean, and make-up free face is hard to beat morning or night

2 – Finding a truly great cleanser is a real beauty challenge, and I love a beauty challenge

>>>tgif: PEACH LIPS AND LINER FLICKS

It's the end of the working week so ring the weekend in by making an effort to make yourself look and feel fabulous in warm peachy nude tones and cheeky liquid liner flicks as demonstrated by daring darling Cara Delevingne and super cute Jennifer Garner (seen here as swishy haired neurotic sass pot Laura in the film "Butter").

Benefit have recently launched a revolutionary new eye liner ("They're real! Push up liner") that promises to take the stress and hassle out of eyeliner application. With it's gel formula and rubber tip applicator the colour is strong, matte and smooth. The real point of difference of this little beauty babe is it's ability to push down your lashes and get them out of the way during application for a line that hugs the lash line tight. If you choose to pick one of these up ask one of the counter girls to show you how to get the best flick for your eye/face shape.

Pair your coquette-cute liquid liner flicks with a 60s style peach-nude lip (try Peachstock or Shy Girl by MAC, or Revlon's Nude Attitude) and some soft peachy blush and you have a look that is smart, sophisticated and a little bit cheeky, perfectly fitting for a fabulous weekend ahead. 

>>>beauty banter: ICE ICE BABY, BEST BEAUTY BENEFITS OF WINTER - PART ONE

With storms in the North and Jack busy frosting in the South, winter is making her presence known in all her wet, windy and (sometimes) wonderful glory. While it’s great to appreciate the glory of any season, winter can easily take you in her cool and icy grip leave you feeling a little moody and blue. If you’re feeling the chill then read on for some inspiration on how to make winter beautifully beneficial for your beauty routine - hopefully it will have you thinking less about sleet and sludge and more about the pearly and pleasant side of the cool months to come.

>>>candy crush: KEEPING UP WITH THE KOREAN BEAUTY ROUTINE AND WHY ESSENCE IS AWESOME

A few weeks ago, Into The Gloss, my favorite beauty website, posted an article about the extensive (and maybe to some, excessive) 10-Step Beauty Routine of Korean women.  Ever the lover of slathering on as many lotions and potions on my visage as possible I was instantly intrigued as to what extra steps (and products) I could add in to my current routine in effort to emulate the flawless and phosphorescent complexion achieved by Korean women.

>>>beauty banter: HOW TO CLEAN YOUR MAKE-UP BRUSHES

I have a dirty little beauty secret I am going to share with you for the greater good of your beauty tools. One of my worst beauty sins is make-up brush negligence, and, as indicated by some casual polling conducted among friends, I am not the only one committing this cosmetic offence. How many of you have splashed out and purchased a perfectly plush (and pricey) bundle of bristles from the likes of MAC or Bobbi Brown only to let them become matted and motley? I plead guilty and I know many of you do too. I should know better and have no excuse, but for those of you don’t know how to, how often, what to use, or just need some encouragement, read on so you can return your tools to their former crowning glory.

>>>monday mind (re)set: PARISIAN CHIC IS IN THE AIR

Kick off your working week with some inspiration from model Bette Franke in this ever so fabuleux new poster from the most elegant airline in the sky, Air France. Lacquer lips up in a daring red lipstick - I love Estee Lauder Pure Colour Envy lipstick in Impassioned for soft, smooth, caressable lip colour. The tube feels luxe (as it should at a smart $59) in navy and gold, and hey Estee may not hail from France but that everything about this lippie is très chic, merci.

Make like a French woman and care for your possessions for long term return, wash your makeup brushes (in shampoo and conditioner) so that your makeup is flawless and matte just like Mademoiselle Frankes'. Go for a groomed brow by filling them in with a soft matte eyeshadow and an angled brush – or if one step is more your thing the new Veluxe Brow Liner from MAC give you a velvety finish with a spoolie wand on the end to brush through product to perfection. 

All that’s left to do is pop a jaunty curl in your hair, wear your office best and favorite understated accessories and of course, feel that joie de vivre!