But here is my new favourite day moisturiser- it has an SPF, smells gorgeous, is really hydrating, and best of all has some light coverage. It leaves a lovely a lovely sheer finish, and is reasonably priced too.

The short newsreel film, made by British Pathe and entitled Secrets of Make-up, is narrated by an  English gentleman who  pokes fun at the subject . ‘Making up whether after a tiff or as part of the toilet is an art if only one knows how,’

Totally worth watching!

Click here to watch the video- it’s only a minute long.

In the first-ever Hollywood Issue cover shoot from Vanity Fair  photographer Mario Testino, some of Hollywood’s mostbeautiful and talented women lounge across a three-panel fold out spread—including two new Oscar nominees. 

A lot of people are completely misinformed about a meat free diet. Most think you can’t get enough protein- but they are wrong. My lifesavers have been tofu, legumes, eggs, nuts (and fish as I’m not a full vegetarian). Iron deficiency is also another concern people have- but iron is present in tofu, mushrooms, spinach, beans, lentils…etc!

Not that I’m pro killing innocent animals, but animal rights was not my primary motivator for giving up meat- health was. I definitely feel much healthier since I made the move. Processed meats were previously featuring in my diet.  They have been linked to very bad things for your body including a direct link to bowel cancer. There is nothing unhealthy about good quality meat in your diet but for me I’ve eaten so much better since making the switch. As I can’t take the easy option of grabbing some meaty choice,  I’m planning my meals more and when I do eat out making much healthier choices. So as a bonus my skin is clearer and I’ve lost a few pounds too. Oh and did I mention it’s much cheaper not buying meat?

There are some serious health benefits associated with vegetarianism- a report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated “Recent scientific advances seem to have resulted in a paradigm shift: diets largely based on plant foods, such as well-balanced vegetarian diets, are viewed more as improving health than as causing disease, in contrast with meat-based diets.”

This has been backed up in numerous studies. However all of these studies involve healthy, well rounded vegetarian diets, simply giving up meat and not otherwise changing your diet won’t work.

The biggest issue I’ve had is eating out. My old favourite Italian is pretty useless for vegetarian options that don’t involve loads of cheese and carbs. I’ve found Asian food the best as there are always so many veggie options, and Sydney is awash with Asian cuisine. Sushi has to be the all-time most convenient, delicious, cheap snack!

Cooking is as easy as ever once you grasp a few recipes- Stonesoup has some amazing vegetarian recipes with 5 ingredients or under. I’ve been eating a lot of vegan meals too, it’s quite fun coming up with vegan recipes as you have to be really creative. Healthybitchdaily (from the writer of the book Skinny Bitch) is a really cool website, and their newsletter is always informative and fun. But simply stir frying some tofu, beans, veggies and adding a tin of tomatoes and some spices is literally the easiest thing I’ve ever cooked and tastes delicious.

Overall I definitely recommend giving up meat, try it for a month and see how creative you can get with your diet-you’ll be eating more vegetables, less fat, and more variety!

I swear you'll look just like this!

There are plenty of ways boost your daily folic acid intake. Taking a folic acid supplement is the surest (and easiest) way, but eating fortified foods such as sunflower seeds, spinach, eggs, as well as grains, pastas, and cereals also do the trick.

“I don’t ever want to be that person whose self-image overtakes who they are. I am not a fan of working out that much. There’s no regimen. There’s no personal trainer. I love to go hiking because it’s an experience. If I need to gain stamina for a tour, I will run every single night on the treadmill, but I don’t necessarily like being at the gym”

• On growing up: “I’m pushing 40. I feel like those things that I always aspired to are finally being realised. I used to be afraid to let go of the intensity. I thought the work would suffer. But the lesson is, No, it’s still good, and I’m a lot happier — and less of a nervous kid.”

• On her fiancé Will: “He’s lovely. He’s very, very nice. It’s really positive. I’m super-happy . . . We go on group trips and spend holidays together — there’s a lot of love! And that is really nice and very different from the way I grew up, which was more unstable and inconsistent, with a lot of highs and lows. It’s funny, when I was younger, I used to say I’d hate a flat line — that I want the ups and downs, the rollercoaster. But I’m actually really enjoying the flat line.”

• On avoiding plastic surgery: “I say, don’t fight the rings on the trunk of a tree. Just keep counting ‘em. The idea of not looking like myself scares me. I just think a person’s character is what’s interesting . . . I look 10 times better after an exercise class than I do at any other time of the day.”

I’ve just discovered FreeRice.com which is a really cool website. There is lots of trivia on the site and you can pass the time by answering questions on your subject of choice. For each question you answer correctly they donate 10 grains of rice to United Nations World Food Programme. (It doesn’t cost you anything- it’s all funded by advertising).

The site has just hit a million users. There is an estimated 100 billion grains of rice being donated from players in 179 countries by answering 2.5 million trivia questions. That’senough to feed nearly 5 million people for a day!

So what are you waiting for- get your trivia on!

Celebratory feasting can play havoc with your skin. Too much sugar and refined carbs can cause inflammation, uneven skin tone and irritation where there wasn’t before. First off you have to step away from the sweets! Cut out all refined sugar (which has nasty effects on skin both in the short and long-term) and alcohol for a few days, and stock up on veggies, lean protein, and healthy wholegrain carbs. Drinks 2 litres of water a day, and if you need some caffeine stick to green tea which as we know has some major skin saving benefits.

Skin needs TLC from the outside too. Body wise try to get in one good exfoliation a day and moisturise morning and night. Soap and Glory have a fantastic range to whip the dullest of skin into shape asap. A good body brush is also a great way to brighten up your skin. And a good fake tan is a great way to instantly make your skin glow. Try Trilogy’s Instant Bronzing Gel for instant shimmery, leaner limbs.

For the face, try to have a few make-up free days. Make sure to cleanse twice daily, and moisturise. The best thing you can do for your face now is use a good mask. I love Subtle Energies Mud Mask, especially if your skin is feeling oily and clogged. My faithful reviewer Finn Hynes has just tried our Ri na Mara’s  seaweed mask for dry and sensitive skin- check out her review here:

Ri na Mara Face Mask- Review
The rest of the range has previously been reviewed but I wanted to let you know about the 75ml Ri na Mara’s face mask with natural seaweed extracts. I enjoy nothing better than closing my eyes and relaxing in the bath with a facemask so I was excited to try this out. I imagined being transported to the Irish seaside, ripples in the bath turning into lapping waves.