Off on Holiday....

So as the title suggests, and as you may have guessed by my many recent travel related posts, I'm off on holiday this week. Fear not, I will be back next Monday with the most amazing Jamaica Cake recipe and there are plenty of other good bits on the way including a Sensationail review and demonstration.

If you are looking for some reading however, there is plenty of posts that you can catchup on...

If you are going on Holiday too, check out:

The Must Have Minitures: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/the-must-have-miniatures.html

The Best Multitasking Makeup Products, for ultimate light packing: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/multitask-makeup-must-haves.html

Shoe Packing Dilemma: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/summer-shoes-showdown.html

Like to Bake:

Eton Mess: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/the-ultimate-summer-pudeton-mess.html

Summer Cupcakes: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/summer-fete-cupcakes.html

Classic Scones: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/wimbledon-starts-todayits-scone-oclock.html

THE Lemon Drizzle Cake: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/lemon-drizzle-bake.html

NinjaBread Men: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/ninjabread-men.html

The Healthy Cookie: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-zero-fuss-zero-added-sugar-bake.html

Banana Bread Muffins: http://blondehayes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/tuesday-treats.html

Have a great week.

Chanel Vs Chanel

The motivation for this post is that when I was trying to make this decision myself a couple of weeks ago I would have liked a comparison of both products. There are a few other reviews online however not many that deal with the lighter end of the colour spectrum. For reference i'm B10 in the Perfection Lumiere Velvet (PLV) and B20 in the Vitalumiere Aqua (VA) as there are slightly more shades available in the latter.

A disclaimer: both of these are light coverage foundations and while they can be built up, they will never provide medium/full coverage. Is this is what you are looking for there are other Chanel foundations that will better suit such as the original Perfection Lumiere.

Both foundations are also scented so again these may not be for everyone, particularly anyone with acne prone skin. I *personally* don't find that they irritate my sensitive skin but all sensitivities are different!

I also had a sample of each to go away and try and I highly recommend doing this. If the counter won't provide you with a sample, walk away. They should do willingly, so find another Chanel concession with more helpful sales assistants.

Coverage & Finish? The PLV is a slightly heavier coverage but it is not noticeable. The finish is as the name suggests, like velvet. It is not a dewy finish but it retains the luminosity that so many people love about the Chanel foundations. The VA is a dewy finish and will most likely need a light powder through the t-zone even on drier skin types in order to keep it all in place.

Longevity? I find the PLV has great staying power, particularly when paired with a primer such as the Benefit Stay Flawless 24 Hour Primer (reviewed here) and will last all day, even in the hot sweaty weather we've has of late. The VA is a little less long wearing in my opinion however it seems to breakdown flawlessly without going patchy and can be easily touched up on the go due to the lightweight bottle.

Overall? At the moment I am finding myself reaching for the PLV more often but that is heavily influenced by the hot weather and not needing a dewy finish as that is coming along quite naturally at the moment IYKWIM. I know that I will definitely use the VA towards the end of the summer and autumn when my dry skin returns to it's normal state and look forward to perhaps doing an Autumn update.

Courgetti?

So I had heard about courgetti for a while but always thought it would require yet another kitchen appliance to clutter our counter tops. I recently read on another blog however that the same effect can be gained with a julienne peeler, so off I trudged to Lakeland...my mum's fave store and thought I would give it a go.

The peeler itself is nothing remarkable and is very affordable £3.29 (available here) and cuts the veg into thin even strips. This is much the same effect as a spiralizer but at a fraction of the cost. The rest is then easy, lightly fry the courgette (and I also added carrot) in a dash of oil and some garlic. If you are making a traditional pasta dish it is even easier as you can also blanche the courgetti and simply add it to the sauce as you would traditional spaghetti.

We had our courgetti and carrotgetti(??) with salmon grills and it got a thumbs up all round. I was expecting Jake to start moaning about being hungry 20 minutes after dinner however this kept him full for the evening....result.

Have you tried using veg as a pasta/rice replacement? I would love to know your recipes below.

The Ultimate Summer Pud...Eton Mess

Eton Mess is honestly my fave summer pud. Light enough that there is ALWAYS room even after a hefty BBQ and it's so simple to make.

The meringue is always best home made, the shop bought nests are always powdery and never deliver the satisfyingly chewy centres that a good meringue should have.

Meringues are simple enough to make...you will need:

• 6 Egg Whites
• 300g Caster Sugar
• 1tsp Corn Starch
• 1tsp Vinegar

Meringue Method:

1. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until stiff enough that upturned they do not move. This is the signature move you see Mary Berry pull on Paul Hollywood every year in GBBO.  
2. Gently fold in the sugar a spoonful at a time trying not to knock the air from the mix. The corn starch and vinegar need to be mixed together in a cup then added to the mixture.
3. Spoon the mix onto a baking sheet, this can be in individual nests or as a large pavlova base that you will later crack. Bake the meringue for an hour at 150 degrees centigrade or Gas Mark 2.
4. Once baked remove from the baking sheet carefully and leave to cool.

To Assemble the Eton Mess, break a handful of meringue into each serving glass/bowl. Top with strawberries and blueberries and a dash of raspberry liquor such as Chambord. Cover with whipped vanilla double cream and mix. Use fresh mint or a strawberry couli drizzled atop as a garnish.

And there you have it, the ultimate summer desert. The meringue can be kept for upto two weeks in an airtight container...the struggle is knowing this, to not want to make this every night!!

Summer Book Club: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

So summer is the only time of year I actually get a chance to do some reading for pleasure. I am currently working my way through the Lee Child 'Jack Reacher' series but when the sun is out I often prefer to switch it up to a chick lit which I can dip in and out of while sweltering by the pool.

Giovanna Fletcher is the wife of Tom and Billy and Me was her debut novel last year. She has since followed it up with her second book 'You're the One that I Want' which I now look forward to reading.

So I may be a little late to this party but for any other book worms looking for some light summer reading, here is a quick review.

What the Publishers (Penguin) Say:

When you've got the dream boyfriend everything should be perfect, right?

So why isn't it? wonders Sophie May.

When Sophie and Billy met and fell in love, she thought she was living in a fairytale.

After all, Billy is an actor, a teen heartthrob adored by girls around the world - and he loves Sophie. She's the only girl for him.

But being on Billy's arm comes at a price. Their relationship has thrown Sophie right in the spotlight after years of shying away from attention.

Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? But most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be found out and shared with the nation?

Charming, heartwarming and utterly romantic, Billy and Me will completely capture your heart.

What I Thought:

Giovanna has a lovely writing style which is easy to follow and builds great levels of detail into the world she has created. Sophie is quiet and like most other girls in their late teens, crippled in self doubt. Personally, I found that while Sophie is instantly likeable it takes a while for the story to develop and you begin to feel that you are rooting for her.

The character of Billy is perhaps more than a little cliché however I think it shows well the idealistic nature of teen heart throbs and that their die hard fans often neglect to remember that they are indeed human.

Molly is perhaps my favourite character and her story, which runs parallel to the main events is perhaps the most touching of all and I think even the stoniest of hearts will struggle not to have their heartstrings tugged.

While Billy and Me is not going to revolutionise the world of chick lit it is a great debut novel which is an easy and interesting holiday read. I will definitely be taking the chance to now read Giovanna's second novel as they make a nice replacement to my usual annual Marion Keys.

Whats on your kindle this summer?

PS: Anyone fancy starting a seasonal book club?

The Review: Benefit Stay Flawless 24 Hour Primer

In light of the recent hot weather I have rediscovered an old fave. I purchased the Benefit Stay Flawless 24 Hour Primer on New Years Eve in my annual mad dash around boots for fake lashes and I was honestly impressed at the staying power this gave my makeup. Even at 2am in a very blurry state my makeup looked a hell of a lot better than I did!

This product applies a lot like a Pritt Stick...yes I know I'm not selling it too you but trust me on this one. I tend to swipe it across my cheeks, chin, nose and forehead before blending it in with my fingers, It doesn't not have any colour too it so your usual makeup will sit normally on top it it. It keeps foundation in place, stops concealer creasing and evens out the skin tone and any pores that can cause headaches and stress. 

The product itself lasts a long time as you use so little on each application and I started using mine daily for work for lazy girl makeup needing no touchups, particularly when I was doing very long days. Even after daily use this did not break my skin out into spots (a concern I had pre usage) nor did it irritate my sensitive skin. A winner. Not the cheapest of the primer posse, coming in at £24.50 (available online and on Benefit counters) but I find it a lot more long wearing than other primers I have tried including the Revlon PhotoReady Primer and the Benefit Porefessional.

Are you a convert to Pritt Stick for makeup? Its worth a try and you may well find you soon are!

Summer Bronze All in One Palettes

I love an all in one palette, great for travelling and take up much less space in my makeup collection than individually packaged products. Both of todays products fall within the 'higher end' spectrum with regards to price etc so I would love to know if you have tried a budget alternative such as the Sleek Palette.

The Urban Decay Naked Flushed palette was first brought out last summer and relaunched this summer with additional colour ways. This one is the "Naked" variant. It has a large orange toned bronzer, a pink toned shimmer highlight and a pink coral toned blush all in one palette for £22 (available from Debenhams) which is a bit of a steal in my opinion. The bronzer isn't my favourite colour, I normally prefer something with a cooler tone but lightly applied over the forehead and tops of the cheeks will give a natural sun kissed look. It does have a slight shimmer running through so this is not one to use for contour.

The highlight and blush however are both absolutely lovely and great either applied separately or swirled together with a large fluffy brush and applied to the back of the cheeks. 

The Chanel Tan de Soleil in Bronze Rose was a limted edition palette a few years ago and after utterly falling in love with it I quickly repurchased before they sold out. They have however brought out a newer edition tied in with the Les Bieges range called Healthy Glow Multi-Colour which is of a similar vain.

This one has two bronze shades, a highlight and a pink toned blush and is the least fussy product I own. I can apply it using the brush that comes with the palette either taking a sweep across all the colours for a low maintenance holiday look or take a little more time to use the thin brush to contour, blush and highlight across my cheeks. This product retailed around the £50 mark however the newer compacts (which are smaller) are only £39 and available online or on Chanel counters.

A no fuss solution to packing multiple products? Oh yes, now just to stop myself buying more palettes and defeating the object. Sometimes too much choice can be a bad thing!

The "If I Could Only Choose One" Makeup Brush Edit

So if you haven't guessed by the picture above...I lied. I couldn't only choose one, instead I chose five. Still a small enough selection to take on holiday without needing to sacrifice valuable luggage space. The majority of the below are Real Techniques brushes, available from Boots and are great for travelling as they wash and dry quickly for optical multitasking purposes. (Yes that is the theme of the week!)

I use this Real Techniques big Duo Fibre Face Brush mainly for bronzer. I find that the long bristles get in and around the cheek bones with ease and due to the duo fibre they blend seamlessly with minimal effort. This one is a winner. 

This Cosmopolitan Smokey Eyes Angled Brush I have had for years and find it great for eyebrows or adding an eyeshadow as a liner across the upper lash line. Its nothing fancy but it does the job.

The Real Techniques Contour Brush is great for both creme and powder products. I like to use this for creme blushers and highlights on holiday but it is not adverse to being used for a little translucent powder under the eyes either. Another great brush that blends everything easily for a very natural look.

And then, probably my most favourite Real Techniques brush, the Buffing Brush. I liked it so much I have two. I use this brush for applying and blending foundation, applying a little of the product directly to the end of the brush...no messy fingers here. It keeps the skin looking natural and helps work the product into the face so that it lasts a little longer. I find this brush great for both dewey finishes (e.g. Chanel Vitalumier Aqua) and more matt/satin looking finishes (Chanel Perfection Lumier Velvet). A great all rounder.

And then finally, the Multitask Brush by Real Techniques.  I could possibly miss this one out however I think it is a useful brush and at the moment I use it to powder lightly around my T Section. This could also be done using the duo fibre face brush or even the contour brush so I would perhaps instead switch this one out for a MAC 217 or other tapered blending brush for eye shadow.  Personally however I don't wear a lot of powder products on holidays so don't find myself missing a blending brush oh so much. 

Multitask Makeup Must Haves

We're staying on the theme of packing light this week and in terms of multitask products, these two are by far the ones I reach for the most and would ALWAYS make it into my travel makeup bag.

The All Occasions Palette - This great neutral offering from Soap and Glory is honestly my go to option if I know space is at a premium. The shadows are all heavily pigmented and have great colour payoff. I use the palest shade (top left) all over the lid, under my brow bone and lightly as a very light highlight if I am looking for a more dramatic evening look. 

The dusky pink shade (top right) is great as an every day neutral or can be layered under the shimmer shade (bottom right) for the evening. The taupe colour (bottom left) I use for my eyebrows, in the crease of the lid and even lightly as a contour in the hollows of my cheekbones as it has no red undertone. 

A great palette that offers a huge range of options for relatively little space. It is also more affordable that the equivalent MAC quad pricing in at only £11 from Boots.

The Summer Shimmer - MAC's Bare Study paint pot is another great multi task product. On its own for a subtle shimmer on the eye or layered under other products to prevent creasing and keep everything in it's place, this one is a keeper for sure. I also love using this champagne shimmer as a creme highlight on the tops of the cheekbones, under the brow bone, down the nose, in the sup id's bow and on the centre of the eye lid for a great bronzed look which with a tan is an unbeatable combination.

Of course other products with an honourable mention would include the Revlon Baby Stick (used in my 5 product face here) and maybe also something like Benefit's Hoola Bronzer (review here) which can also be used on the eye to create depth. 

What is your go to all in one product?

The Must Have Miniatures

There are some products for which travel sized miniatures were invented. Personally whenever I travel I try to only take small sizes of my products so that I can either leave the empty bottle at the end of my stay or at least know that it won't take up too much valuable suitcase space.

I haven't included everything here, just the ones I think are the most convenient to have a travel size of. I would also include a shampoo and conditioner but I don't currently have a mini version so would be likely to just decant some of my regular products into small bottles like the ones available from Boots.

First off, a travel sized moisturiser. It doesn't matter if you are going on a sun holiday or a snow holiday, you will need moisturiser equally in both. I personally like to take a small tub of something very nourishing rather than a large bottle of something thinner. I find this size of Soap and Glory's The Righteous Butter will last me a week of post shower slathers and can even be tucked into the beach bag for a hand cream on the go.

Secondly, travel size Bioderma. Reviewed here, it goes without saying that you will want something that will rid you of makeup and temporarily make up the gap of a proper skincare routine. No one has room to be hoiking a 500ml bottle around in their luggage, this 100ml bottle will last a good couple of holiday/weekends away.

I also LOVE that Clinique give out miniatures in their Bonus Time promotions. I got this 15ml sample of my regular moisturiser last year and it is great for taking away without trying to squeeze in the 125ml bottle with pump (reviewed here). Glamour magazine is giving away a free gift with purchase of this for July, so worth a peruse of your local supermarket for either this, a mascara sample or a miniature chubby stick.

Deodorant....everyone needs it particularly on holiday. Sure and other Unilever brands have started producing smaller compressed versions of their products. Great for avoiding the large bottles without the fear of running out mid holiday.

Shower Gel is one of those things that normally come free in hotel rooms. With my sensitive skin however I always find it to be a good idea to take a small version of my current shower gel as no one wants an allergic reaction on holiday...it's not fun *voice of experience*

A small dry shampoo will be enough to get you through the week when you need to add some volume to lack lustre hair (too much chlorine/sun) or you just CBA to wash your hair before an early flight on the way home. 

And then finally, a body scrub. This one is the amazing smelling grapefruit one from The Bodyshop. If you have fake tanned in holiday preparation to avoid looking like a moo min by the pool on the first day (yes thats me) then this one is a must. Cholrine or sea water will wear this off quicker than usual and unfortunately not evenly. A scrub helps even everything up and *hopefully* ease you into a seamless transition from fake bake to sun kissed.

Where are you off on your travels this summer? 

The OMG "the Guests Arrive Tomorrow" Checklist

Having people to stay is great. It means no one has to traipse back to a hotel late in the evening and that  everyone can have a drink without worrying who is going to drive back. It can however be a bit of a nightmare if you are not used to hosting people or are generally a 'leave it to the last minute' type. If any of the above sound familiar then this list is your new BFF.

1. Beds/Bedding

Do you have somewhere for these people to stay? If not, can you make somewhere for your guests to stay?

When people are only staying for a night or two most are happy on a sofa bed or airbed if it comes to a push. We have a spare bed, a sofa bed and then a spare mattress if push comes to shove. The next thing to consider though is do you have enough bedding. In this hot weather people may need sheets/blankets rather than a 14 tog duvet, are these clean?

I tend to try and do all my laundry a couple of days before so that I know everything is dry. Top tip, if the bedding is sulking and not quite dry, whip the iron out and give it a once over. Not only will your guests have lovely crisp bedding but it will half the drying time.

2. Food

Your guests will need feeding. It is worth going through each meal of each day and making sure that either you know what you have on offer to give them, or you can plan to get things in. I personally never really have toast for breakfast but I always make sure I have enough bread and a few toppings as it is a lot of peoples breakfast of choice.

Also if you are planning on going out, gather potential options ahead of time so you can present them as ideas without that awkward conversation where no one seems to mind where they go, and will 'just go with the flow'.....so annoying when 'the flow' still haven't made a decision hours later!

3. Activities

What will your guests want to do, does any of this need pre booking/arranging? 

4. Evenings

If your not going out for dinner what are you planning on doing in the evenings? Yes sitting around and watching the telly is fine for a usual night in but it's nice to do something different for guests. It doesn't necessarily have to be a night out on the tiles, boardgames can work equally well. Bananagrams is a personal fave which gets everyone involved and avoids the awkward 'sitting round and looking at each other' hours that can occur of an evening.

5. Sunday Night Jobs

Chances are that its been such a busy weekend you've neglected all the usual jobs and forgotten quite what needs to be done for Monday morning. As long as any essential ironing is done and there is stuff for lunches in the week everything else can wait....chances are you'll be knackered and it will be an early night all round.

The Weekend Round-up

So this weekend has been a bit of a different one. Amongst all of the football we have had a full house. Jake's family came to stay for the weekend so here are just a few snaps from along the way. The first picture above is of the last cupcake (recipe here) which I had without the tiniest bit of remorse after tidying the house for our visitors. I am going to do a 'preparing for guests checklist' tomorrow as this time of year it seems like if your not travelling yourself people are travelling to see you!

On Saturday we all went to Henley in Arden for a bit of a wonder and most importantly an Ice Cream. Ever since we moved to the midlands people have been telling us that we must try it, and let me assure you the long queue was worth the wait! Honeycomb ice cream is a winner!

We then spent the rest of the afternoon in a pub garden, ironically named 'The Secret Garden' which was very well signposted! There were giant wooden toadstools and the pimms was flowing. We definitely got our 5 a day from the drinks.

Saturday night we went out for dinner at Chimichangos which is a mexican restaurant nearby. They also served truly HUGE cocktails which despite the picture above, Amy managed this lush gin and melon concotion solo! Yes it might have been a fairly boozy weekend. I stuck to Sangria which sadly was better than my main which I had to send back. An hour and a half late and not too warm? I came home and had a bowl of shreddies instead.

And then Sunday, after the family had gone home I popped into town to do a bit of shopping and picked up this cute keyring from Cath Kidston. It is an engagement gift for our friends Chris and Donya as they have a brilliant airedale called Brian and I could not resist picking this up for them.

What have you been up to this weekend? Let me know in the comments below.

Top 5 YouTube Channels You MUST Subscribe To!

Everyone needs some down time and one of my favourite ways of killing 10 minutes (an hour) is having a check through my youtube subscriptions. These change every couple of months as either I warm to new YouTubers or decide that older ones are no longer tickling my fancy, but there are some that don't change.

The list below isn't necessarily my 'Top 5' but they are a good diverse selection so there should be something there for most. (PS, I cannot be held responsible for your lack of productivity this morning following this post).

1. Hannah Maggs

Hannah is a 20something lifestyle blogger and vlogger who uploads weekly edits of her life featuring her husband Stef and their baby Grayson. She is down to earth and offers a realistic view of life as a new mum while still enjoying her own life. The blogs are beautifully edited and always set to gorgeous music, a great way to chill out on a sunday night #sundaynightwiththemichalaks 

Check out Hannah's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/alittlebeautyvlog

2. The Shaytards

A family of now 7 vlogging their daily lives is far more entertaining than it sounds. The Shaytards have been at this for over 5 years and documenting the growth of their family as well as themselves in tackling new adventures. Dad Shay Carl started off as a granite mason with the family surviving on very little, earlier this year after moving the whole family to California Shay sold his company to Walt Disney for half a billion dollars!! The blogs are truly heartwarming and Shay's positivity and love for his family is infectious. A daily feel good watch.

Check out The Shaytards YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/SHAYTARDS

3. Pixiwoo

Sam and Nic Chapman are the makeup artists behind the Real Techniques line of makeup brushes, but way before then they produced easy to follow makeup tutorials of both easy to wear daily looks and way out their high fashion recreations. They upload once a week and even have a second channel, Pixiwoo madness where they cover product reviews etc. Great for anyone who enjoys makeup but word of warning, it will make you want to get out to boots pretty damn quick!!

Check out Pixiwoo's youTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo

4. Miss Ally V

Ally is a beauty vlogger who is a fellow a handbag addict who specialises in seasonal look books and Get Ready With Me makeup tutorials. Great for day to day inspiration with a range of affordable and high end products. Fantastic style and also includes 'work outfit' inspiration as unlike many YouTubers this babe also manages to hold down a full time job! Love a woman to whom failure is not an option.

Check Ally's YouTube channel out: www.youtube.com/user/Secretsgirl10

5. Tyler Oakley 

Meet your new best friend who will tell it to you straight! Tyler is a proactive fundraiser for the Trevor Project which supports young teens who are gay or questioning their sexuality with a 24hr hotline and suicide prevention team. Along side his serious side, Tyler makes great drunk collaborations with other YouTubers which will have you in stitches. 

Check Tyler out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/tyleroakley

Throwback Thursday

So todays post is totally inspired by Millie Mackintosh's throwback picture that she put on Instagram yesterday. Rooting through some old pictures is always good for a giggle so I thought I would #tbt and share some with you.

The picture above is from 2007 and the last snow holiday I went on. We are going to Austria again this Christmas and I doubt this time I will look so in control on the ski lift!! They bloke grinning on the lift in front of me is Daddy Hayes who looks very pleased with himself, despite it being the first day and the fact we're still on the nursery slope here!

This next picture makes me so happy. Back in 2009(ish) my BFF's and I still lived in the same country and as soon as we'd finished uni for the summer/christmas it would be back to the school tradition of Thursday nights at Valbonnes. All you can drink for £12??? Yes please! I believe this was the night that MJ died, which was very surreal. Girls crying, sky news on the dance floor? Either way I know we had a good old boogie to MJ's greatest hits.

And then this last picture (again sozzled, sorry!) is from two years ago around the time of the olympics opening ceremony. We were in a bar and watched James Bond parachute in with the Queen! My lovely sister in law and I both looked amazingly tanned and rounded off our night in an 80's bar with Jake being the only man on the dance floor singing all the words to Ah-Ha's Take on Me!!

So I hope you enjoyed todays post of something a little more personal, and who knows maybe for the next Throwback Thursday I can break out the truly embarrassing pictures (BFF's, worry now)....

Feeling the Heat? Summer Job Interview Survival Guide

While the five product face is great for everyday (link here) there are occasions when you need utterly bomb proof makeup, hair and everything else in between. Examples that come to mind, summer weddings and the worst.... job interviews.

Almost a year to the day I had my own job interview. It was with my existing employer but for a slightly different role. It did mean however that I was being interviewed and judged by colleagues and it was literally 100 degrees! Nerves + extreme heat = one beetroot face for yours truly, so here are my five top tips to staying cool under pressure, or at least looking it!

1.   Wear layers. I personally found that a dress and suit jacket was a much cooler combination and still looked smart when I whipped my jacket off between rounds of interviews. Also, your interviewers are human, they would much rather you simply said "it's mighty warm, do you mind if I take my jacket off" rather than watch you melt and get flustered for the next 30 minutes. My interview outfit (dodgy selfie above) was possibly more casual than most but I looked smart enough and on a scorching July day...not an eyelid was batted.

2.    Layer makeup. Today is going to be the day to break out a primer, and a couple of layers of a light foundation, and a translucent powder...and even a setting spray if you have one. While you may have 5 minutes to pop to the ladies to touch up your lippy you won't have time (or the products) to fix your whole face on the go. A steady base should keep everything in place and also minimise any blotchiness or redness that may come with the nerves.

3.   Go for low maintenance hair. Personally I'm not a hair up kinda gal, but if I was today would be the day to go bobby pin mad and get that hair away from your face! Its also a good idea to have it out the way so your don't end up fiddling with it...this is my tell tale when anxious.

Personally I go for curls in the ends of my hair if I know it's going to be a busy day. A slightly dropped out curl (in my opinion) looks much better than a straight 'do' gone frizzy when the nervous glow sets in.

4.   Prepare well. This is the key for nearly anything and no matter how awkward it is, go over some practice questions with someone beforehand. Its much better to come unstuck pretending with your mum than in the real interview.

5.   Comfy shoes! This is not the time to be breaking in a new shoe, the last thing you want is to have to hobble away from your interview panel due to some humongous blister. Heels are always good, personally I feel like they always give me a natural confidence boost and my summer go to? Wedges! These pale periwinkle ones are from New Look last summer.