As the weather changes and it gets cooler you can’t help but only want things that warm you up. While hot showers may do the trick why not further the experience with some inviting bath time scents that will also warm the soul? Might I suggest Crabtree & Evelyn’s milled soap in Vetiver & Juniper? The scent is warm but seductive with sandalwood and smoked cypress while juniper berry accents and add a zing. The skin is thoroughly nourished from drier conditions as it gets colder outside too with this Autumn wonder. Shea butter, cocoa butter improves elasticity while evening primrose oil rejuvenates the skin. The vetiver and juniper berry extracts also act with toning effect and both refresh and energise the skin. The scent gives a fresh perspective to the season which sometimes can be a bit dreary. I love the luxurious lather that I can get from this bar and I’m always surprised by how gentle it is on my skin.  

For a girly twist try the bar in the Pink Magnolia scent. It’s a blend of juicy pear, and delicate floral notes of pink magnolia, jasmine and osmanthus. I find it rather vibrant and a most welcomed new take on feeling refreshed after a long day. For those who like a morning zing I also suggest Verbena Lavender. While the lavender is soothing, and more of a gentle wake-up the verbena behind it certainly says: Good Morning! With a lemony-lilt that creates the energy needed to start the day.

Crabtree & Evelyn Cleansing bars are available £6-£7 each

 at www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

This season sees 8 new shades of Gel Effect from Nails Inc fresh off the runway. Inspired by muted shades of Chloe, and tomato reds of Victoria Beckham, these new colours are a sure way to update your look or complete it. I’ve been rather addicted to three colours in particular that goes great with everything in my wardrobe from my navy blues to greens and even corals: ‘Uptown’ -a soft muted pink; ‘New Oxford Street’- a greyish purple; and ‘Kensington High Street’- a mulberry red.

These also go great accented by some of the Limited Edition Alexa colours, such as Alexa Leather (in black) or Alexa Lace, which has the effects of a layer of lace or leather. I love the fact that it has a high plumped shine to it that is just electric!

Get yours £14 www.nailsinc.com

Fashion Week certainly brings out the most colourful characters…I’m wondering what colour will you be wearing? More than half of us out there don’t wear colour and over a third of us stick to dark colours. Challenge this, and dare to wear colour this season and  be absolutely confident about it- with Dove’s new Invisible Dry. Don’t be a shrinking violet and wear only black or dark colours because you think   no one can see any unsightly white streaks under your arms. Go wild with reds, yellows, blues, greens…the possibilities are endless with this little bottle of confidence boost! I’ve tested it on navy blues, pinks, forest green, white, black…..and I’m mighty pleased with the results as there are no white marks, and it keeps up with me while I’m running around town throughout the day.

(Now compressed and compact in size, perfect for the handbag or to take anywhere!) £3.79 at www.boots.com

Eye Spy Says: When I shop for the season I cherry pick and select only a few pieces within a shortlist of brands. These pieces have to be deemed ‘worthy of investment’ and also have the ability to be classic (be worn again) while also pop-out when you wear them that they are in fact, ‘current season’. So far here’s what my little eye has spied….

This AW’14 Bimba & Lola has snake prints and unicorn prints. I’m more partial to the unicorn prints than the snake prints, and I’m loving at the moment this black dress with the cute white collar. (£210)

A great investment in their collection is this grey skirt, as it’s A-line with a slant-great for wearing with boots! (£115)

Finally, the violet printed dress is reminiscent of folklore style that is always handy to have for any party as it always looks pretty (£109)

For more pieces & full collection visit www.bimbaylola.com

HEMA is not usually the place where you would think of buying beauty products, but they do have some little goodies that can help you instantly create looks from this AW’14 runway. Best of all it won’t break the bank!

As AW’14 key colour is blue in any shade match outfits with moody blue hues. HEMA’s got some great pieces in nail polish, and eye pencils. Pale pinks are also in this season so be sure to go understated with pale make-up for these outfits. The pale and interesting look is a sure hit. Last but not least baby doll eyes are the best for any outfit, as they are classic truly sensational!

Get your HEMA pieces at http://gb.hemashop.com/en/stores

Beauty Says: The need to conceal with concealer can be a bit of an irony when too often concealer is seen and not so much incognito….not to mention unsightly blemishes that can become more prominent- when the point was that they should be unnoticed. There is a trade secret though in this department: Amazing Concealer. Amazing Concealer is a full coverage, water-proof concealer that can hide anything from dark circles to blemishes for the most natural look. What I love about it is that it is a highly pigmented formula that feels weightless when you wear it. You hardly notice it’s there.

My main problem when it comes to concealer application is that I face oily eye lids. The point of course of applying concealer to this area is to keep the eye make-up on, but it is inevitable that instead of keeping my eye make-up on it seems to make it slide further into the hours of the afternoon. The first time I used the Amazing Concealers I couldn’t believe my eyes as my eye make-up stayed put all day long. What was even more extraordinary was that the colour match is so perfect it can only be described as seamless. For blemishes or any other imperfections like broken capillaries think of it as a magic eraser for the face. The secret is in the high pigmented formula that is richly concentrated.

My top tip with this product is in the application. As it is so rich and thick only pin point amounts are needed per application. Dot the concealer in the area that you want to apply it to with a concealing brush and then use your fingers to pat into the skin. Patting it in, with just your fingers, is the best method of application as it magically disappears, and the area is concealed. There is a perfect shade for everyone and anyone with 20 shades to choose from. (You may have to mix two shades to get your exact match.) This product is magical so refrain yourself from over excitement or saying too many times: ‘It’s AMAZING!’ Yes I know it is…..I told you so myself about the true art of concealing with this ‘Amazing Concealer’…truly the best I have ever used. It is the ‘hat trick’ in a tube! Get yours only at M&S, 15ml £29.50  www.marksandspencer.com

Beauty Says: Pollution is enemy number one in a congested city likeLondon. This is also true of it being skin’s arch enemy-causing pre-mature aging, blemishes, and unhealthy looking surfaces. Make-up doesn’t help the situation as it can clog pores in the mix and if we don’t cleanse right skin goes down a bit of a downward spiral. This season I’ve got a few suggestions to getting it just right through gentle cleansing…

La Roche-Posay: Effaclar Purifying Gel Cleanser

A while back I told of my obsession with a little tube of miracle called Effaclar Duo by La Roche-Posay. To my delight at a recent Christmas in July event I’ve spotted a full Anti-Blemish set due to come out for the Christmas season. This set includes a purifying gel cleanser, a tube of Effaclar Duo, and a clarifying toner! It certainly got my suspicions going and so I went to find and try the purifying gel cleanser.

La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Purifying Gel Cleanser is incredibly gentle. It contains zinc pidolate, an ingredient that reduces excess sebum. Also containing thermal spring water it has the ability to cool and calm the skin. I’ve found that by using this cleanser there is no need to exfoliate. I can tell you that it is a little bottle of ‘guarantee’ that there will be no signs of blemishes. The suds that form are soft and gentle while there is no soap, parabens, nor oil in the product. It is also non-comedogenic or not pore clogging. I’ve tried and tested it alongside my clarisonic mio and love that extra deep clean feeling. The skin is left moisturised and well-balanced-not tight or dry-which is a key indication that this is a top and most fabulous foam cleanser.

Give it a try……as great skin comes from great cleansing! £11, purifying gel cleanser, £32.50 Anti-Blemish Trio at www.boots.com

La Prairie Cellular Mineral Face Exfoliator

You could not imagine my excitement to discover that La PrairieSwitzerlandhad come out with a new face exfoliator. Their new Mineral Face Exfoliator not only helps the skin to absorb the benefits of other treatments but it is also a gentle solubilising system that can dissolve make-up and preserve the skin’s lipid content- which means it can keep it soft! At first I was not sure about the mineral particles in this product as they seemed a bit chunky or big. However, having said that once on the skin they do melt and give it the most vigorous (while still be gentle) scrub. The idea behind having the minerals is that they are enriched with iron-rich hematite, tourmaline which can not only slough off dead skin but encourage an incredible vital glow. There is also rose centifolia (the 100 petal rose) that provides a veil of moisture. I’ve found that due to the rose centifolia my skin has had a rosy blush about it that is essential to natural beauty. The product smells divine, and you can see a slight iridescent sheen through it. The skin feels well balanced, and deeply hydrated after use. My top tip is to use a toner following this product, as for some skin types it can feel a bit oily as it is rich. Another tip is to use this in small amounts and do not over do it- use only maximum twice a week.

The most beautiful rose popping up this Autumn for Fashion Week! £86, 100ml www.harrods.com

Sensibio H2O

Finally those who like the most gentle cleanse and those with sensitive skin will truly appreciate the power of Sensibio H2O. This micellular solution has the strength of even removing water-proof make-up and yet be gentle enough for sensitive skin types. It’s great for removing eye make-up and take with you where there is no water (such as festival or road trips). The cleanser is a 3-in-1 and no toner is necessary afterwards. Simply, pop onto cotton wool and wipe away any grime and dirt. I especially took to this product because with others I don’t like that slight sticky residue that is left behind-with this there is none! It comes in little baby bottles for the handbag  or for travels and in large pump sizes as well for the home. I have another girlfriend who swears by it as her desert island product. It leaves the skin refreshed and healthy looking….no wonder every 6 seconds there is a bottle sold in the world. Get yours now £4.50-£18.50 at www.escentual.com

Beauty Says: As September comes about inLondon so does London Fashion Week. The ‘SUPER’ models of the runaway are much admired and emulated by fashionistas, but what does one really wear to look like a supermodel? I remember once reading a fashion feature in VOGUE or Harpers and a supermodel (along the lines of Claudia or Cindy) talking about living out of basic essentials. Yes you heard it right ladies- essentials. Not quite t-shirts, but just plain neutral basic pieces- skirts, tops, and throwing suit jackets and accessorizing with jewellery to create: glamorous looks.  

My top tip this autumn, as part of my Fashion Week Stories, is Wolford AG-creator of the most elegant wardrobe essentials. Wolford crafts the highest quality every day pieces not to be compared to the likes of an American Apparel, orCOS. This Austrian brand originally championed (and still does) in hosiery, and in the 1990s became well known for their everyday essential wear. I swear by the quality of their pieces- they wash incredibly well, nor never fade. This is why I advise that you overlook their price points. 

Each season Wolford will launch the season’s trend fashion colours in some of their classical styles and also in new or one-off designs. They now also create collections that are seamless, and pieces that give shape or control. I find the body suits best for wearing with skirts as you never have to worry about tops or shirts slipping out of skirts and having to tuck in them again discreetly. Here are my top classic Wolford choices for newbies to the brand:

Rosana Body: Great for wearing with skirts and creates that beautiful ballerina feel or look, not to mention the feminine touch of the pussy bow that you can leave hanging loose or tie up. Comes in many colours, but my favourite so far is this rose colour. Divine with autumn’s palette to match with forest greens, or chocolate browns. 

Fatal Dress: Wear this if you dare....perfect from the office-simply throw a suit jacket on top for super office style.....take the jacket off at night, and be instantly transformed and ready for cocktail or party. It is the heaven item to have on business trips....but be careful, as it could be fatal! 

Lana Skirt: This skirt is the highlight of Wolford’s collection this season. When I saw it in the shop, I thought: Must Have! The high waist band makes this skirt complimentary, and creates beautiful silhouettes. Wear it belted, and add boots or heels. Although I’m rather partial to wearing it with flats as well to recreate that Audrey Hepburn style too. It comes in orange, and khaki like green ready to give some drop kick and punch to your working wardrobe.