We've moved!

We've moved! 

I now have a lovely new home for Flicks and Red Lips over at

www.flicksandredlips.com

Don't worry- nothing else has changed, I'll still have lots of beauty news, make-up advice and general girly gossip!

Whilst you visit our new home, why not follow Flicks elsewhere too!

You can find us on

Facebook- FlicksRedLips

Twitter- SianLouiseAuld

Instagram- SianLouiseAuld

I look forward to seeing you in my new home soon!

Sian-Louise

x x x x

A closer look at the OPI Coca Cola Collection

Last month you might remember I was lucky enough to attend the ultra glamourous launch of the OPI Coca Cola collection, in a swanky London hotel well now it's time to explore that collection a little more!

OPI are famous for their celebrity, film and brand collaborations, and the drinks giant is following in some pretty amazing footsteps. Gwen Steffani, Mariah Carey and Bond to name but a few! This limited edition collection features inspiration from The Coca Cola Companies best loved brands, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Cherry Coke, Vanilla Coke, Sprite, Fanta, and Coke Zero. So we can expect a wide shade range, with one to suit us all!

Plus, with each bottle of Coca Cola inspired lacquer featuring the OPI Pro Wide Brush, and their professional chip resistant formula, these little bottles of loveliness will make it nice and easy to create a salon worthy manicure from the comfort of our bedrooms!

So, lets take a closer look at our shades shall we!

Classic glossy red, 'Coca Cola Red'

Soft, feminine pink 'Sorry I'm Fizzy Today'

Vibrant tangerine 'Orange You Stylish'

Creamy nude 'You're So Vain-illa'

Personally, I think all of the above shades would look fabulous with a summer sun-kissed tan! Especially, Orange You Stylish, which would be the ultimate flash of colour peeking out from your summer sandals!

For those of you who prefer deeper or metallic shades, don't fret!  There are lots on offer for you too!

Dramatic black with red sparkles 'Today I Accomplished Zero'

Metallic deep lime 'Green On The Runway'

Rich black cherry 'Get Cherried Away'

Seriously sparkly silver! 'Turn On The Haute Light'

Deepest, darkest purple 'A Grape Affair'

See, lots and lots to choose from! If you can't make up your mind, why not try the '10 Pack of Style'? Featuring each bottle in miniature size, plus OPI professional top coat. You'll still get 10-15 manicure's per bottle enough to last you through to Autumn Winter at least!

The OPI Coca Cola collection officially launches on QVC UK on Saturday 21st June at 5pm- with me in the hot seat!

I'll be talking you through the whole collection, plus some fabulous professional secrets.

Hopefully you'll see me and my classic Coca Cola Red manicure then!

3 Day Juice Cleanse

Since January my Instagram news feed has been full of images of juice. Plus, in 'real life' too, I'd say around 40% of my clients have been juicing and 'eating clean' too. So what's it all about?

I remember seeing 'Juice Master' Jason Vale on Sunday Brunch a good few months ago now, and was quite intrigued by his ideas on a juice revolution. Others must have been too! Then, I priced up a juicer. And the organic veg I'd need to get. Bang would go my summer holiday, so funnily enough the juicer stayed in John Lewis, and I continued eating what can only be described as crap.

I've always been lucky enough to have a decent metabolism, or so I'm guessing. My diet mostly consists of cake, chai tea lattes, wine and a penchant for late night McDonald's or krispy kreme doughnuts, yet I'm not clinically obese. YET being the operative word. Yes, i may look slightly slender, but I was starting to feel pretty gross on the inside. Like I needed to start taking good care of my body, before I woke up the size of a house with a cholesterol level to raise the roof.

As luck would have it, I came across Fresh Start Health,at our local Farm Feast a few weeks ago. Owner Melissa, has been trained by the Juice Master himself, and is the only company in my local area he would recommend, win win!

Fresh Start Health offer a 3,5 or 7 day juice programme, to kick-start your healthy eating programme, which seemed just the ticket! I opted for the 3 day cleanse (I thought 3 days would kill me, let alone 5!) and set aside some time to clear the social calendar and ban the booze.

My 3 day frozen juices!

You collect the juices frozen, ready to pop in your freezer and take out a few hours before you need them. I forgot about this frozen business, so when I turned up starving at midday to collect my order, I decided to order a fresh juice to get me started.

Heather, one of Melissa's helpful team, suggested I start with a green juice The Green Goddess to be precise. Now, I'll admit, I wasn't exactly a massive fan. The ginger made it glide down slowly, but I was very aware I was drinking my most hated veggies. If it carried on like this I'd be raided the biscuit tin my sun down.

The Green Goddess- Not for me!!

Thankfully, it didn't! As I waited for my expectant hunger pangs, they didn't make an appearance. More shockingly, I actually felt 'full'. Not my usual 'eyes bigger than my tummy' full, but nicely full and satisfied.

Day 1 done, I was prepared for a hellish day 2. You can experience headaches, nausea and tiredness as your toxins leave your body- and as I was pretty sure my body was as toxic as they come- I was awaiting the worse. Again, I'm pleasantly surprised another day done and if anything, I feel more energetic.

Bananalicious- my fave!

Finally- day 3! One more day until I can chew! This is when I started to think about the next week- it's out with the old and in with the new! (Well, let's be honest, I am going to Glasto and on a mammoth 3 week holiday, so 'new' might not last too long)

Shopping for my new-found diet was a little difficult, I was one juice away from the end of my final day, and desperate to eat. But, having a shopping basket full of organic vegetables, fruit and almond milk, I surprised myself- I never thought I would be so excited to eat fruit!! Plus, I'd picked up a few extras at Fresh Start Health, so I was most excited to tuck into my raw chocolate and lentil coconut curry!

Now, a juice cleanse isn't really about weight loss- that's just the bonus that comes with consuming the right things! So, I'm delighted to find I shed 4lbs in those mere 3 days, as well as feeling much slimmer and most importantly healthy!

What's next? As soon as festival season, city breaks and my travels are complete, I think I'll be booking another 3 day juice cleanse. From then, it'll be time to bite the bullet and buy my very own juicer!

Even if I just manage one juice a day alongside a healthier diet, I'm sure my body (and my waistline!) will be delighted!

   

MAC Brow Collection

There is nothing I hate more than a 'Scouse Brow'. Yes, I know you all think these block black brows, which resemble the work of a Sharpie are all but a myth- but alas no. They exist.

Robyn and I trying a Scouse Brow at Halloween!

Luckily, they are not as common as you'd expect. Many 'Scouse' girls do have very defined, and sometimes dark brows, but they are not as bold as the stereotypical look made infamous on Desperate Scousewives. 

(Oh how I cringed when that monstrosity made the airwaves!)

The trend for thicker brows seems to be moving south, with bolder brows on every corner. From Kate Middleton, to Cara Delevigne, everyone is framing their face with a bushy brow. I fear it won't be long before we all resemble Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. 

But if you are a bold brow lover, then you'll no doubt fear a hot, humid summer and be famed for keeping your head way above water when taking a dip. Nobody wants their brow slipping down their cheek now do they?!

Thankfully, MAC have recently re-launched their Waterproof Brow Collection, after a brief stint in stores last January. The collection consists of four must-haves- one of which, I'll admit, scares the living daylights out of me.

 Which one? The Fluidline Brow Gelcreme, which worryingly resembles their Fluidline eyeliner. Gel liner brows? Please no! 

Like their eyeliner, the formula is waterproof, long wearing, applies smoothly yet dries quickly. As with eyeliner, you'll need a good brush, and their 208 Angled Brush will be ideal.

Now, I'm sure when I get my hands on this I'll be a convert. Especially as it's available in three natural shades (Redhead, Dirty Blonde and Deep Dark Brunette). But, I fear this is a product more suited to us pro's- rather than a brow product virgin. Left in the wrong hands we'll be seeing 'Scouse brows' all over the shop.

Next, we have Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set. Created in 6 shades, this brush on gel is ideal for a more natural look. Simply sweep through brows for a subtle look, or reapply if you prefer a little drama. 

Finally, we have Brow Set, which to be honest is just an over priced clear mascara. MAC claim Brow Set is perfect for brushing brows into shape, leaving a natural but glossy sheen. Personally, I swear by Collection clear mascara, a steal at only £1.99, so I can't see me being swayed by this one.

Whatever, type of brow takes your fancy, it looks like the fuller brow trend isn't over just yet. 

Neon Nails

 You know Summer is well and truly here when we all choose to showoff our bronzed bodies with complimentary neon fingers and toes.

This 'Summer' is no different, with OPI this week launching their six new Neon Nail Lacquers. Let's just hope the sun soon starts shining so we can show off at least a subtle hint of sun-kissed skin!

Not only does this collection feature 6 full size wearable shades, we have also been treated to a colour boosting, white base coat, developed to enhance our brighter nail shades! Simply apply 1-2 thin coats of Put A Coat On, before following with two coats of your chosen nail lacquer shade.

I personally reach for coral or pink tones in Summer, so I'm LOVING Down to the Coreal, tangerine toned Juice Bar Hopping and vibrant Hotter Than You Pink.

But, perhaps this year I'll try to think outside my manicure box! Especially with citrus shades Life Gave Me Lemons, You Are So Outta Lime!, and bold purple Push & Pur-Pull.

Plus, if you are lucky enough to be jetting off for some much-needed sunshine, these shades are available in OPI Gel Colour- meaning a chip-free neon mani for a good few weeks!

Essence Cosmetics

Last week saw the Summer press launch of Essence Cosmetics UK held by the lovely people at Flipside PR.

If, like me, you haven't heard of Essence before, we are a bit behind the times I'm afraid. This low priced, but high quality brand are the number 1 cosmetic brand in Europe, and currently available in 70 countries. Looks like I need to fly out more!

The collection features eyeshadow palettes in a array of shades, a large selection of eyeliner and mascara formulations, plus lip, nail and brow products. All costing less than a large take out coffee!

In the UK, from July we can pick up a bargain or two alongside our home ware and garden accessories, in your local Wilko store. 

I've decided to spend a mere £10 and try out a few bits for myself. With my upcoming travels and festival fun approaching, cheaper products are essential. No offence, but I'm sure I'll be less distraught loosing a £2 eyeliner, then I would a £22 one. 
Don't you agree?!

East Avenue Bakehouse

My best friend loves bread. I mean SERIOUSLY loves bread. So, it was only a matter of days before she dragged my carb loving self to see Liverpool's Bold Street's new resident. East Avenue Bakehouse.

Before we were even in the door, I could see all the foodie delights they had to offer with a window adorned with homely baskets filled with freshly baked bread. If it wasn't for the fact it was a Saturday evening and we had a night of cocktails ahead, I would have been highly tempted to pick up my weekly loaf there and then. Goodbye cheap supermarket bread, for good!

After taking in the gorgeous homely sights of the Bakehouse surroundings, it was time to get lost in the mouth-watering menu! There is so much to choose from at the Bakehouse- from sharing platters, soups and even our local favourite Scouse, plus unsurprisingly, a large quantity of bread heavy dishes! I chose the Spring Lamb Trencher, whilst my lovely friend Sian (I know, not often you find two of us) plucked for the veggie Marinara Trencher, accompanied with a bottle of their house wine. Not only do the Bakehouse use amazing food suppliers, the house wine is supplied from a family run business, or so I hear. Well, I'm in love with the East Ave guys already!

Well, as predicted our main course and wine choice was simply delish! So delish, we had to sit and savour the moment for a good hour, over yet another bottle of wine, whilst admiring the desert board.

After much thought, we decided on a slice of Hummingbird Cake and the Trio of Chocolate Mousse. Now, if you have eyes bigger than your belly, like us, you can DEFINITELY share the chocolate trio. Our poor cake was left half eaten after we devoured our Dark Chocolate and Orange, Milk Chocolate and Mint and White Chocolate and Rosemary treats. If they are on the menu next time you take a visit, you MUST try them!

A good three hours after our hungry tummies wandered in, it was time to leave. Much to our disappointment! But, before we left, there was just enough pennies left to treat myself to a handful of Mint Chocolate Macaroons, which had been calling to me since we arrived.

It's not every Sunday morning that you wake up with a killer hangover, to find you went to bed scoffing macaroons....

Anyway, I would highly recommend paying East Avenue Bakehouse a visit next time you are in Liverpool plus if you own an Independent Liverpool card you can grab a pretty good discount too!

Yellow by Design Guest Blogging

If you told me last year, I'd become an avid fan of taking public transport to work every day, I'm pretty sure I would of burst out laughing. Probably crying with laughter in fact.

There was nothing I hated more than the thought of a hot bus, full of children on the school run and suited businessmen and women on their daily commute to their desks. Especially not when you carry a ridiculous amount of make-up and beauty products around with you.

Then I discovered they had WiFi. Yes, such a simple addition as a bit of free internet made me do a 180. Ridiculous I know. But this little bit of WiFi meant that I could spend 60 minutes a day reading blogs rather than staring at the traffic in front. An easy choice to make!

And if it hadn't of been for this bit of bus WiFi, I wouldn't have found myself engrossed in TV presenter Pollyanna Woodward's blog Yellow by Design. Or come across her call for guest bloggers.

Before I'd even arrived home for an early evening glass of vino, I'd emailed the YBD team examples of my work and kept all my fingers and toes crossed that they liked me.

Luckily for me, they did! Last week, my FIRST EVER guest blog was featured on Yellow by Design!

I won't give anything away, but I personally think it's quite the hot topic I'm discussing, so why not head over there and see for yourself!

Manicure Ideas

Most of you probably know by now, a big part of my job involves working with top nail brand OPI on the UK shopping channel QVC, and the reason I love this job so much, is because I seriously do adore OPI nail lacquer. And have done, since my mum first let her 'play' with her beloved OPI collection.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend the AW and Coca Cola launches, (which you can about here), and since I've been having a really good play around with the shades in the salon! 

My Karla Powell Nail Charts have proved very handy, when choosing the shades to try next, as you can see!

There is lots of ways of wearing your manicure-  for example, I'm still a big lover of a 'ring finger' mani- wearing a complimentry or contrasting shade on your ring finger which differs from the other fingers, and there is lots of combinations to choose!

Top- 'My Dogsled Is A Hybrid', with 'Suzi Has A Swede Tooth' on the ring finger, both from the AW Nordic Collection.


Left- 'Thank Glogg It's Friday', with 'Do You Have This Colour In Stock-Holm' from the AW Nordic Collection. Ring finger finished with 'Gaining Mole-mentum' from the Muppets Collection.


Right- 'A Grape Affair' with 'Get Cherried Away' from the Coca Cola Collection, ring finger finished with 'Muppets World Tour' from the Muppets Collection.

Or perhaps you prefer the AW 2013 trend of a contrasting forefinger and thumb?  

My personal favourite is this skin tone inspired manicure- using a number of neutral shades and gradually working from light to dark or visa versa.

L-R, 'Your So Vain-illa' from the Coca Cola Collection, 'How Great Is Your Dane',  'Going My Way Or Norway' and  'Ice-Bergers And Fries' from the Noridic Collection.


So go on- have a play and see what type of mani you can create!

A Week of Red Lips

A small selection of my red lippys!

Last year some of you may rememeber me talking about the Red Lippy Project, a week of raising awareness of cerival cancer screening, organised by the Eve Appeal.

This type of charity work is right up my street- all you need to do is simply wear red lipstick to show your support! Easy peasy!

When I first heard of the Red Lippy Project last year, I was eager to get on board. As a girl in her mid twenties, it scares me to think so many women of my age suffer from this type of cancer, and some even lose their lifes to it. The silent killer seems to be picking up it's pace.

Only this year, local teenager Sophie Jones lost her battle at the tender age of 19. A mere 6 years short of the cervical screening age limit. Thankfully, due to her supportive family and friends, a petition named 'Sophie's Choice' made it parliment on May 1st. From this we can hope the age limit may be lowered, and young women like Sophie can be saved.

I'm just thankful that I'm now post 25 and able to have my four yearly smear test.

Something I never thought I'd say I'd be thankful for.

So, how do you join me in supporting the Red Lippy Project?!

Simply wear your favourite red lippy each day, from June 8th to 14th, which just happens to be Cervical Screening Awareness Week.

If you are a social media lover like moi, then post your pic with the #RedLippyProject.

Make sure you follow their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages too!

I'll be trying a new shade of red each day- so make sure you follow me on Instagram- @sianlouiseauld to see my efforts!

Feasting at the farm

Who would of thought I'd spend my bank holiday weekend (yet another one...where have all these bank holidays come from?!) in a muddy field, wearing an anorak and wellies, drinking from a pineapple and attempting to 'rave' with my collection of glow sticks to a load of New Order and Joy Division classics.

But that's exactly what I did. Followed by a slightly hungover morning of strawberry beer drinking and chilli jam eating, thankfully this time in the sunshine.

Why were these my bank holiday activities?! Because it was time for our local food festival- Farm Feast, and their first music festival Livestock, both held at Claremount farm on the Wirral. 

I love food and drink festivals- You get to meet lots of local suppliers, try new food and drink and it's a fantastic excuse to get out in the great outdoors! Even if I'm not the biggest fan of outdoor wear- but being 'style spotted' by Regatta is always a bonus!

This year, three of my favourite Liverpool drinking holes also got involved- Aloha, Berry and Rye and Ship and Mitre, meaning I could indulge in my favourite beverages all weekend long, whilst exploring the farm!

Muddy times at Livestock

Sunny Farm Feast

During this exploration, I came across Riverford, who deliver fresh organic fruit and veg boxes every week. I've been angling after Abel and Cole boxes for a few months now, so finding a face to chat to from a rival company was right up by street, and I'm now very excited for my first veg box to land on the door stop next week!

So if you fancy a day of trying lots of new local grub, try and get down to your local food festival this Summer- I know you won't regret it!

My Parisian Obsession

I'm not 100% sure when it started, or how the thought even crept into my mind- but right now, I'm pretty much obsessed with Paris. So obsessed, that one night in dreary December, I spent a full 8 hours looking at short term let apartments and cheap flights, rather than getting my much needed shut eye. 

But yet, I have never been. 

(Well no, wait, I have in fact been to Disneyland Paris aged 8, but really that doesn't exactly count)

Some may think it's a romanticised 'Disney-esqe' dream, one where I'm expecting a Scouse boy to swing by and fly me off there for a first date, others that fear I believe I'll arrive in the city of lust and return engaged to a flirtatious French man within 48 hours. 

Yet it really isn't like that at all. A year or so ago, maybe I could only see myself there with one person in particular, but now, I can almost only envisage myself there alone. As lonely and lost as that may sound. I see it more as a journey into independence (probably with a bit of Destiny's Child Independent Women as the soundtrack...)

Aside from the romance, I assume part of me hopes I'll somehow be as lucky as Owen Wilson in 'Midnight In Paris', by stumbling across a time machine and spend endless hours drinking  with the Fitzgerald's and listening to jazz in its purest form. 

But, even for me, I know this is a little far-fetched...ok, maybe more than a little. 

Then a fortnight or so ago, a friend innocently shared a Facebook status. A status I read whilst ordering my daily 'Skinny Grande Chai Latte, Extra Hot' which resulted in my mind racing towards the Euro Star and my stomach flipping with the overwhelming sense of fate playing its card.

The status featured a book, which launched a few days previously. A book written my women who made their dreams come true in a particular European city. Yeah, you guessed it- PARIS.

My Paris Story, is collection of real-life Parisian dream tales, written by 22 women. Why these 22 women? Well, they form part of a network of professional women living in Paris created by business and life coach Dawn Z Bournand. Now this is one group I aspire to join!

Reading a chapter or 2 each evening, before my worn out mind hits the pillow is exactly the tonic I need. Leading to nightly sweet dreams of sitting outside a famous Parisian cafe, drinking copious amounts of coffee, accompanied by sweet pastries whilst jotting each and every thought in my whirring mind onto paper.  

With the hope that those written words become the start of a novel. 

A novel that started in one special place. Paris.