Set to Jet

The saddest break-up of this year for me has to be Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe. One of the original beautiful couples, they met at Reese's 21st birthday party when she famously introduced herself saying "you must be my present". Over the years they have been regulars in 'best dressed couple' lists and have had two gorgeous children, Ava Elizabeth and Deacon. They managed to keep their marriage as private as is possible for any Hollywood stars and even Reese's part as June Carter in Walk the Line didn't seem to create too much of a media frenzy.

So I found it a bit of a shock when the rumours of their split started surfacing. I was even more surprised when Reese filed for divorce citing 'irreconcilable differences'. Then we heard about Ryan's alleged affair (I use the term alleged for reasons of politeness... we all know they were caught necking in a sushi restaurant) with 24 year old Australian actress Abbie Cornish, who he met of the set of Stop Loss. I was seriously hoping that it was all rumour and they would be able to reconcile their irreconcilable differences but no. Reese has returned to her native South Carolina taking the kids with her and enrolling them in school.

I can't say that she hasn't made the right move in my eyes. As much as I adored them as a couple its good to see a woman catch her man red handed and not stand for it. I've definitely been feeling recently that the monogamy part of marriage has been taken a little too lightly. Reese we are thinking of you I hope you have a fabulous Christmas safe in the knowledge that you clearly have more balls than the majority of other women in the business and are taking one back for the jilted and doormatted women everywhere. So for you and all the single parenting, traveling and saddness you have gone through this Christmas call a sitter, put on a CD, put your feet up and try some of these face pampering treatments on for size.

The day before I do any face treatments I like to use Origins Never a Dull Moment Skin Brightening Face Polisher. It works wonders and if you use a nice thick moisturiser afterwards if literally makes you feel like you have new skin. As I've said before I love Clarins Moisture Quench cream and my sister recommends Kiehl's Panthenol Protein Moisturizing Face cream for normal to dry skin. This is another great thick moisturizer that keeps going throughout the day

My favourite face masks have to be made by Origins. There seems to be one for every skin type and every need. The two I've tried are You're Getting Warmer purifying face clay mask and Drink Up. I was a bit worried about using You're Getting Warmer as I have quite dry skin but, again if you use a good moisturiser afterwards this is fine. Its a ten minute mask which warms up and draws out impurities. I love to use this after I've used a Biore strip actually. It makes you're whole face feel literally spotless. Drink Up is much less dramatic but again a real wonder especially for dry skin as this is soothing and does what it says on the tube. I try and alternate these two.

Again about ten minutes after using a face mask or skin treatment I like to use a good quite thick moisturiser to make sure that all the goodness is kept in. I think its important to not over 'drown' your face though so let everything settle before moisturizing.

I am a firm believer in looking after your skin, you really don't want to over do and aggravate it xx

Feminine Fallbacks

Nicole Richie has been caught 'driving under the influence'. Influence of what you may ask. Well she's admitted cannabis and Vicodin but can that really explain driving the wrong way up a 'freeway'? I think not. I feel a bit bad as she really seems to have been getting her life back on track recently. Everywhere I turn there seems to be another picture of her eating - that can't be easy for someone who's weight is probably the most discussed since Karen Carpenter's. No wonder she had an eating disorder. Wouldn't you if every time you put fork to mouth someone popped up from behind a bush with a camera.

Still, I'm pretty militant in my non-acceptance of DUI so I can't say I'm sorry she got caught. Reports say that she was 'very cooperative and very humble' so i don't think she needs any further chastisement. However, according to Californian State Law second offenders for DUI (Nicole's first run in was in 2002 after 'a shot of vodka') should spend a minimum of 5 days in jail. So in honour of Nicole and her hopefully not-to-wobbly road to recovery, Little Miss B would like to dedicate today's post to one asset that every woman has. The eyelashes. And lets hope Nicole uses these babies to ensure that she stays out the slammer and this 'incident' doesn't derail her road to recovery.

• First Up its Bad Gal Lash by Benefit. This has to be one of my all time favourites. With 'the biggest brush in the business' it gives you probably the closest to false eyelashes you can get. I used to wear it everyday but I now keep it back for nights out when I want the lashes to be at their most noticable.

• But size isn't everything. As much as I love Bad Gal the mascara that is an almost permanent fixture on my lashes is Masterpiece Max by Max Factor. It looks a bit scary on the adverts but this is truly a wonder. One of the first mascaras to come out with the new finer brushes, of all the ones I've tried they seem to have got the consistency just right for the brush size. This one is a real must. Worth every every penny.
  

• Another fine brush wonder is Magnif'eyes by Rimmel. This really does accentuate every lash but unlike Masterpiece I find this slightly (and ever so slightly) too thick. If you don't have an eyelash comb this one may cause clumping problems. But only minor ones.

• Another surprise was Bourjois Pump Up the Volume waterproof mascara. When I first bought this I relegated it to the not-much-used make up bag at my boyfriends house because I found it so clumpy. However, after two months of being open I used it again and it was amazing.
  

• As for the white-then-black mascaras Bourgeois Coup-de-Theatre is really good but I like to use Bad Gal Lash on top of the white. My all time favourite is Origins Underwear for Lashes. You can really layer this up and then top it off with The Full Story Mascara (also by Origins).
  

I have to say there were a couple I was really disappointed by. In face Lash Architect by L'Oreal was probably the most disappointing piece of make-up I've ever bought and as one of the most expensive mascaras on the market. I expected a whole lot more. It clumped beyond repair and after two months of being open became a sticky unbearable mess. I threw it out. I have actually only met one person who thought this was any good but am very willing to be told different. Rimmel's Volume Flash Mascara was also a huge lash clumper. I'm not a fan.

If I had to choose then its a really tough call between Masterpiece and Bad Gal Lash. They are both great by it would probably have to be Masterpiece. Anytime anywhere this is a great mascara which will never let you down.

I would love to hear of anyone who is a devotee of the false eyelashes or who has any suggestions for a mascara (or anything!) they can't live without.

'Tis the Season to Drink Bolly

Distressingly what has been taking up most of my brain capacity this week is Britney Spears’ divorce. It is a sad admission but the fallout is pretty much all I can think about – and every time I do it sends me into a frantic rage. The frustration starts with everyone’s immediate ‘I-told-you-so’ reaction and the fact that JJ is but 8 weeks old. Divorces don’t happen over night… they build up. Britney is pretty inoffensive. You can happily ignore her if she’s not your thing. But K-Fed (which is what he actually asks to be called – can you imagine) is literally laughing all the way to the bank. In hindsight he must have been laughing since he met her as no one who is blackmailing their wife with a Pam and Tommy-esque ‘home’ video for £16 million and sole custody of the children he has yet to show interest in, can have anything but personal gain in mind. And what a tiny mind it must be.

I try to calm myself by thinking that in no sane world would anyone give him more than the two million dollars he is owed from the pre-nup and a good slapping but wait a minute… what was the key word there? Ah yes: ‘sane’. In a world that has just issued 17 rules by which cat owners must abide (my favourite being allowing your cat privacy when it uses its litter tray), I fear for Britney’s safety in the divorce courts. And with her penchant for saying the wrong thing, I have no doubt that she could easily talk a judge into giving her babies to the errant ex-husband. 

Britney’s recent drunken partying with Vapid Hilton and La La Lohan does not seem to be doing her any favours, and neither does her forgetfulness with regard to underwear. On the other hand, being a young, fabulously wealthy and famous soon-to-be-single mum can make you lose sight of decorum. My concern is that this seems to have given Fed-Ex all the impetus he needs to rush to his lawyers saying that she is clearly parentally unfit – a ‘lush’ who is obsessed with partying no less. Sounds familiar... Here’s hoping Britters can put on a happy face for the judge, and refrain from turning up with a hangover. It’s so important.

So in celebration of Britney, her new found freedom and her up and coming court appearances, I’d like to dedicate today’s page to looking good the morning after the night before.

I don't need to tell you to moisturise. I use Clarins Moisture Quench moisturiser in the morning. Its thick and actually works for dry skin. However, I really recommend going to a beautician to test your skin type. In the evening I use Origins Make a Difference Cream. I rarely divert from these but am willing to be recommended alternatives. If you've had a big night and your skins suffered Origins Never a Dull Moment face scrub is to amazing for words. I always have a pot of this in my bathroom. Garniers nutritionist regenerating eye cream is brilliant. It livens your bags and helps the make up stay where it should rather than migrating downwards (with your hang over).

I always put my foundation on last. I know that this isn't the way to go but I am a devoted user of Benefit's Lemon Aid - and you really don't need foundation on your eyelids after using this stuff. For the morning after, try Rimmel's Cool Matte 16hr foundation. I like Soft Beige. Under the eyes (best applied after you've done all your eye make up) Benefit's Bo-oing is a winner.

Light eyeshadow is a must for tired eyes (lets face it they don't need any help looking smaller). I love No 7's eyeshadow in Opal. I wear it most days its light but looks great with a fine liquid eyeliner line with a pencil over the top. Then the Rimmel Cool Matte Foundation with a light brushing of Natural Collections Peach Melba. This is fabulous - two light brushings makes you look healthy without looking like you've been sitting next to a furnace.

So I'd go for:

• Lemon Aid
• Eyeshadow
• Liquid eyeliner
  
• Bottom lashes (I love Maybelline Volume Waterproof Mascara).
  
• Foundation
• Pencil eyeliner
  
• Top lashes
  
• Bo-oing underneath the eyes.
  
• And to finish, a light double-dusting of blusher and you're ready to go. If you are a lipstick fan for this occasion i would recommend Lip Plump by Pout. It works wonders for your lips but doesn't look too Barbara Cartland.