Gaga faces facts

I love a bit of Gaga. She is funny, smart, brave and talented. And also, she loves plastering the slap on with gay abandon. In fact, there are very few celebs at the moment who trowel it on quite like she does.

So imagine my shock to see her this week with no make up on at all!

She's done a shoot and interview with Harper's Bazaar, thanks to mailonline.com we've been able to check it out long before the mag hits the stands. In it she talks about her look and what her make up says about her. Gaga says: "Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside,".

Despite this she goes on to say: "I don't really view it as "natural" referring to not wearing loads of make up or dressing down.

"I think that artifice is the new reality. It's more about just being honest and sincere to the core of what you do."

"I think what has been lovely about my relationship with the public is that they expect something unexpected from me."

What can I say? I love her!

Fish but not foul!

You know something is well and truly part of the fabric of British society when The Sun do a story on it!

I love this story from thesun.co.uk from earlier this week about fish spas. Everywhere you go, all over the UK these little spas are popping up.

The Garra Rufa fish pedicure, or Doctor Fish pedi, is the latest beauty therapy to get everyone super excited.

The little fishies, which are native to Turkey and the Middle East, basically have tiny little teeth that eat your dead skin cells when you plunge your tootsies in the water.

It doesn't feel like they have teeth, you tend to be aware of a gentle sucking feeling at first, which is quite a strange sensation. I won't lie, not entirely pleasant. But that feeling does subside within the first 90 seconds.

Then you feeling nothing but total bliss.

I first came across this when the other half and I were travelling in Asia a few years ago. The craze hadn't reached dear old Blighty at that point, but my goodness, they were EVERYWHERE in Asia.

You couldn't walk down a street in Bangkok, or KL, Tokyo or Singapore without passing dozens. We became totally addicted, of course and had at least one a day. They even had one at Singapore airport and Hiroshima for goodness sake!

Anyway, they are great fun, very relaxing and leave your skin feeling remarkably smooth, so give it a go!

Let me know how you get on by posting a comment below this story!

Product of the day!

This is such a cracking little product, you really will love it. But it's not a gloss, or a hair serum or even a foundation - this is one of the cleverest little things Aveda have come up with, ever!

It's the Aveda Essentials Environmental Compact.

If you are out for the night and only have a clutch bag with you, this is just the ticket. It holds a lipstick, two eye colours of a cheek colour or you could have a foundation and a face accent in it as well as the lippy.

The mirror is a good size, the compact is light and slender so it won't bulk out your bag. Go on, get one now because come Christmas, you'll be thanking me, I promise.

Products of the day!

I know it should only be one, but I simply could not decide which one I loved best.

Scrubs are essential to keep the skin smooth, healthy and glowing. Some make the mistake of over-scrubbing, either by exfoliating every day or by scrubbing in the same way they would clean the oven. Don't. Really, you are not doing yourself nor your skin any favours.

Scrub no more than TWICE a week, max. Squeeze a blob about the size of a five penny piece onto your fingertips and gently in small circular movements work it around your face. I pay a bit of extra attention around my jawline and either side of my nose.

Now, the good bit, which scrubs can I not live without?

Well, my constant bathroom companion is Dermalogica's Skin Prep Scrub. Somebody introduced me to this about six years ago and I honestly can never thank that person enough. it is gentle to the dermis, but blimey does it get rid of the nasties - the lumps, bumps, spots, dry bits and so on.

I cannot praise this skin miracle-worker enough and there not a single negative I can think to say about it. It really is brilliant.

However, there is a new scrub that has had such a dramatic impact on my beauty regimen that I really rate it as highly as Skin Prep Scrub. It is Aubrey Organics Jojoba Meal and Oatmeal Mask and Scrub.

I haven't tried it as a mask yet - but I will.

The scrub, is dreamy.

The meal is ground quite finely so you feel the scrubbing effect but not the sandy-grainy feel that can sometimes put people off using scrubs. It is soothing but also gets stuck in there - any little imperfections and breakouts just go the next day. Naturally, if used a couple of times a week for a few weeks you will really notice a major difference in your skin.

Both these scrubs work - they really don't just do the trick, they really give your skin a 'lift' and leave you glowing.

Oh my Madonna!

I love Madonna.

As I child I scratched all my Madonna albums because I was dancing around a bit too energetically and a bit too close to the record player.

Her films aren't really my cup of tea, apart from Desperately Seeking Susan, but her video clips are marvellous.

I've loved her style and looks forever, but something has upset me recently.

What has happened to her face?

I realise she's had work done and has done for a fair while now. We all know that yoga doesn't make your face look 20 years younger.

But reading mailonline.com earlier in the week was a revelation. And not good one.

The photo. Really sad.

She looked like Ivana Trump meets Jerry Hall meets Sophie Dahl.

Please Madonna, Esther or whatever you call yourself. Stop.

Product of the day!

Dry-skinned girls listen up. The hottest moisturiser for you at the moment is Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream.

This is a really brightening moisturiser that is best used in the morning. It leaves skin feeling fresh and luminous and absorbs really quickly. I will say again though, this is for dry skin. Stay away if you have oily skin as this will not make you happy, I promise you.

It feels beautifully silky and can reduce the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots. Lovely.

Weird Science!

I really loved that film back in the day, but actually that's not what my post is about today.

I love reading stories about the weird and extreme beauty treatments of the stars. I was reading a story on mailonline.com about it and it totally cracked me up.

Simon Cowell takes a cocktail of vitamins and minerals via an IV drip, Demi Moore loves being sucked by leeches, Kylie and Gwynnie love snake venom moisturisers and Madonna loves nothing more than a placenta face mask. Nice.

So, what weird and wonderful treatments do you swear by?

Let me know by posting your comments at the end of this post and I'll share your stories in the next week or two!

Can't wait to hear from you!

Product of the day!

Touch of Silver by Pro Voke is a really great hair product and it's not just for grey-headed women, although this is obviously the most straightforward reason using it.

But I have recently recommended it to a few of my blonde mates and they really adore it.

"It takes the brassiness out of just-coloured hair"

"It keeps me blonder for longer"

"It keeps my naturally blonde hair shiny and bright"

If you are going grey and have been dying your hair dark, then this is a good shampoo if you want to go a few shades lighter as it helps keep the colour and boost it at the same time.

Get yourself a bottle now and let me know how you get on!

Product of the day!

Sleek Fish High Gloss Serum is my current favourite hair product. It is great for dry or damaged hair and makes your hair really shiny and yes, sleek.

I really love it and it is perfect if you blow dry your hair a fair bit, because you really need the extra gloss and protection from the heat.

Fish is a well-established and well-loved London salon and their products are fabulous - but I find them especially good for hair that needs a bit of extra loving.

Get yourself a bottle now!

Nail it!

I really like my nails - I know I go on about it a lot, but I do.

Now, I've tried lots of products to make them stronger, longer, whiter and harder but recently I've decided to try a few store cupboard faves to give them a bit of oomph.

Here they are:

Toothpaste

Apply a blob to your nail brush and scrub them clean! They'll be nice and clean, the flouride in the paste will make them feel tougher and also will help smooth out any ridges. Great!

Garlic

A friend of mine has just returned from Ecuador (jet-set, I know) and says they all rub a clove of garlic on their nails. It makes them super-strong. In fact, I have even heard it suggested that if you chop some up really finely and let it 'stew' in your clear nail polish it will turn it into super strengthening polish!

Lemon

The acid in the lemon makes your nails white and also gives them a sort of 'buff'. You can rub a slice on or if you are juicing a lemon for cakes or whatever, the two ends are great - don't chuck them or compost them right away, instead put your fingers in there and give the lemon a good old turn.

Olive oil

A tiny drop goes a long way. The olive oil moisturises the nail and softens the cuticles so your nails are more flexible. So rub a little bit on each nail.

Alka seltzer

Put a couple of tablets in half a tumbler of water, let them fizz away and then plunge your fingers in there for a few minutes. Give them a rinse and slather on some hand cream. White nails in an instant! This is great for smokers.

Milk

A glass of milk a day, or for that matter a yoghurt or a good spread of soft cheese, will really help your nails. The zinc and calcium really boost the strength of the nails.

Product of the day!

I am obsessed with facial cleansers and washes.

I love that clean tingly feeling you get when you find a really great one. You know, you don't feel tight and dry, but you feel light and bright.

Recently, though, I've noticed a trend in cleansers which use facial cloths. I've tried a few but one I really like is the AD Skin Cleansing Balm and muslin cloths.

AD really specialise in organic products - free of parabens, colourants and petrochemicals and even the cloths are totally organic.

Some of the cleansers and cloths I've tried just don't get rid of make-up effectively the first time round. You have to do it a couple if times to really get rid of eyeliner and mascara. However, AD isn't like this. I can only describe it as 'melting' the make up away, which I really like. Also the cloths give you a gentle exfoliation which is fabulous!

It costs £26 and you can buy it from qvcuk.com, or justbeautydirect.co.uk.

Supermodel, work!

People of my generation actually get what a supermodel is.

Everyone gets called it nowadays, but in the late 80s and early 90s these gorgeous, perfect, aloof creatures where the epitome of cool.

I love the video to George Michael's Freedom, not just because it is one of his finest songs but also because of the supermodels in it. Same with RuPaul, remember that song of his, Supermodel? Loved it. Funny.

Anyway, some of the supers continue to model, some continue to make the tabloid newspapers from time-to-time and others have gone out and created a beauty empire. Well, one has. Cindy Crawford.

Her line of anti-ageing skincare is called, Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford.

I have to say, clever name. After all, who wants frivolous nonsense in skincare - nobody right? So 10 out of 10 for the brand name.

But is it any good?

Er, yes, it is!

Cindy has teamed up with a leading anti-ageing skin specialist, Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh and their focus is 'age maintenance', so start young and keep yourself peachy-keen for as long as possible.

In essence, this is the soundest beauty advice you can follow. There is no point starting at 45 really, too much damage has been done. Start younger and look better for longer.

Anyway, Cindy's range is based on five pillars, cleanse, protect, restore, revitalise and purify.

There are several products in each aspect of the range that will help your skin fight such nasties as sun exposure, free radicals and other environmental factors. These are the things that we all know harm our skin and break down the collagen which is what keeps us looking young.

The products are also packed-full of anti-oxidants which is brilliant as it helps fight the free-radicals which really harms our skin.

Cindy and the Doc say that the range will brighten your complexion and add radiance, as well as smooth and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, keep your skin elastic and supple and protect you.

The results are very good indeed and many users report a marked difference in less than a month which is great. Also, I think the eye cream is one of the best ever and really firms up the crow's feet a treat.

Price-wise not too shabby either. They have an introductory pack which includes a one-month supply of Skin Softening Cleanser, Day Moisture, Night Fluide, Eye Creme and Facial Masque. Currently they are running an offer where you get a couple of bonus items too. This pack is £29.99 which I think is good value.

To order go to www.meaningfulbeauty.co.uk

Product of the day!

Today's product is best for the over-40s.

It is Anew Solar Advance Eye and Lip Sunscreen.

I've given this to my dear old mum (she'll be furious if she discovers that I've called her that) and she loves it!

It is double ended so you can shove it in the handbag and top up the sunscreen as the day goes on.

It isn't highly perfumed which is refreshing and also, some sunscreens can be quite potent, in that they can make your eyes sting or water, but this doesn't!

Mum says the downside is that it is quite thick, but she doesn't mind so much as she just applies a dab and tops it up during the course of the day.

All up, this is cracking and at £13 it is well worth it because you get two products for the price of one!

Photo opportunity!

I get really bored with my hair, but to be frank, it is my own fault as I am not adventurous.

I used to be, but I had a disaster cut that scarred me for life about seven years ago - never again.

Anyway, I was mucking about on the internet looking for celeb pictures to inspire me and came across this ingenious little idea from People magazine.

Basically, you chose a celeb whose hair you like, upload a shot of yourself and they photoshop them together so you can see if it suits you! Brilliant!

Head to People.com now and check it out!

http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/makeover/0,,,00.html

Product of the day!

My muscles are crying out for mercy!

Between that PowerPlate (more on that at a later date) and my over-stuffed pillows, my neck and shoulders are not a good place right now.

Now, I know this isn't a beauty bag secret in the same way that a great lipgloss is, but to be honest, I wouldn't be able to leave the house without a soak in Nelson's Arnicare at the moment!

It can be used as a bath or massage oil. Right now, it is being used as both by me, I am in that much need.

So what does it do? relaxes the muscles, soothes the pain and any bruising. It is cracking. It helps me unwind and get a good night's sleep too. So well worth a go.