X factor Final- Who wins the fashion war

I am currently writing this post as I watch the X factor final. As always the female judges have been pitted against each other in a style war. This year has been different due to the arrival of the two new judges Kelly and Tulisa as they both have styles that are different to each other, but also to the previous judges (Danni and Cheryl)

So lets see how the judges faired each week, and who wins the style war in my eyes

Week 1- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfits- I do not like the print on Kelly's dress, but love the cut, and I love Tulisa'a dress, however the whole ensemble is a bit bland, it could of done with a pop of colour from shoes or accessories.

Sundays outfits- I adore Kelly's dress, Tulisa's is a nice design, but it looks a bit cheap.

Week 2- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfits-  I'm not very keen on either dress, Tulisa looks a bit messy, and Kelly's is a nice dress, but a bit to tame and demure for Saturday night tv.

Sunday's outfits- Wow! Both are very booby! Both a gorgeous dresses in their own right. Tulisa's is fun, and very much suits her, and Kelly's is very glamorous. I'm going to base my decision on what I would wear personally, so Kelly wins.

Week 3- Tulisa Wins

Saturday's outfits- Kelly looks like a dominatrix, and Tulisa does also, but a little less so. Kelly is wearing too many accessories for my liking.

Sunday's outfits- I love both dresses, even is Tulisa's make her look like giant Quality Street chocolate, but it is very on trend with the sequins and jewel colours, and I love the colour blocking with her shoes.

Week 4- Tulisa Wins

Dear oh dear, not a good week. Alexandra Burke stepped in for Kelly for the week, and did not impress.

Saturday's outfits- Tulisa was clearly dressing up for Halloween, a shocking outfit, not X factor worthy. Alexandra's dress is OK, but not flattering for her figure at all, the whole outfit makes her look short and barrel like.

Sunday's outfits- again I'm not keen on either. But I love the cut of Tulisa's very flattering and ladylike for her.

Week 5- Kelly Wins

Saturday's outfits- Tulisa's headband is awful, it looks like the one's I used to wear when I was 6. She looks uncomfortable in her dress, maybe a little too short for her. Kelly's dress is gorgeous, but looks a bit bridesmaidy for Saturday night TV.

Sunday's outfits- Tulisa's dress is very pretty, I dislike the shoes though. Kelly's dress is gorgeous, very similar to the dress from Saturday in terms of cut and fabric, but it is a little sexier.

Week 6- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfits- I love Tulisa''s dress, she actually looks more high fashion than high street which she looks many nights. Good on Kelly for mixing it up with the suit.

Sundays outfits- Tulisa looks like she is wrapped in tinfoil, oh dear. Kelly's dress is simplistic but yet detailed, I am in love with it.

Week 7- Tulisa Wins

Saturday's- Tulisa's dress is nice, a bit safe I think, but it works for her. Kelly's dress is very summery, and sexy. I love the detail on the top of the dress, and mixing the beading there with the glittery shoes.

Sunday's- Kelly looks like a Quality Dress chocolate. It does not look good in anyway. Tulisa's dress is beautiful, again jewel tones are very in at the moment.

Week 8- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfit-  Tulisa is obviously in fancy dress as a bumble bee, the dress is also very frumpy. Kelly's dress does not impress me much, it looks a little cheap, but the colour blocking is good.

Sunday's outfit- Tulisa's outfit looks cheap, and it was revealed by a sharp eyed viewer that when she had her back turned to the camera her dress was see-through, not good! Kelly's dress is simple yet stunning and I love the added colour from the shoes.

Week 9- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfit- I love Tulisa's dress, its very different to others she had worn. Kelly's is cute, but I'm not mad about it, the whole ensemble is a bit bland.

Sunday's outfits- Tulisa's dress is cute, but I'm not loving the bracelets she is wearing. Kelly's dress is everything I love about the glitter trend going on at the moment.

Overall, Kelly wins, but I'm pretty disappointed with the fashion this year. At no moment, did my jaw drop when they entered the stage. My heart has not fallen for a single outfit.

In my honest opinion, these two have nothing on Danni and Cheryl. I much prefer their style to Kelly and Tulisa (and I don''t even particularly like Cheryl)

What do you guys think? Do you have a favourite outfit? Or am I totally wrong in my choices?

Winter brings dark nights and dark eye bags

So as much as I love winter, I do not love eye bags, but according to anti-aging experts winter ages a woman's eyes by four years and eight months! Great, so we all look nearly 5 years older!

These science boffins discovered that due to the reduced sunlight hours,and the reduction in the time we spend outdoors during the winter months we have paler skin which emphasizes bags. We also feel more tired due to lower levels of vitamin D (generated by the body in sunlight).

Lacking vitamins D and K has considerable effect on the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes. So not great news to us tired students who sleep very little at this time of year also.

A few ways to help us girls get rid of dark eye bags;

1. Sleep! Even if it is 15 minutes, it tricks your body into thinking you have slept for longer, and we all need our beauty sleep!
2. Using a cooling compress (wet cotton wool/cucumber slices) to help temporarily shrink the blood vessels, reducing puffiness.
3. Eye creams that contain vitamin K and retinol can also help.
4. Eat less salt (healthier diet) as it encourages fluid retention, thus puffiness.
5. If all else fails, hide it through makeup. Personally I use Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 Concealer and Highlighter. It really is a great highlighter and the tube lasts a long time. 

What are your tips for reducing puffy, dark bags?

A Bad Diet Not Only Leads T o weight gain, but also body hair!

So this is one of the most unusual facts I found out the other day. I just love it when scientists discover things like this, it makes me wonder how they went about discovering such things.

Anyways, scientists have recently discovered that peoples body hair can be influenced by outside factors. Body and facial hair is a big worry to many women, so to find out what causes it gives all women so hope.

Obviously the most common cause of hair is through genes and race, some people are just hairier than others. The other more interesting factors are what follows;

1. Cakes and Biscuits- Eating large quantities of sugary refined carbs, like biscuits and cakes can trigger excess hair. The science behind this is that these carbs have a high glycaemic index, which means they release their energy quickly and can cause insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone which controls blood sugar level and the resistance means the hormone becomes less effective meaning the blood sugar will lower. Because of this the body will increase its production of insulin which consequently causes the ovaries to produce too much testosterone which can lead to excess hair. P.S- Being overweight can also cause insulin resistance. 
2. Polycystic Ovaries- This condition is the main cause of excess hair in women. The most common symptoms is a high level of male hormones (androgens), which leads to hair growth. If excess hair is due to a hormone imbalance, it tends to occur in areas such as the chin, upper lip, sideburns, chest and inner thighs.
3. Eczema- Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis causes hair growth due to inflammation, which  causes increased blood flow to that part of the area, accelerating hair growth. 
4. Menopause- As oestrogen declines during menopause, again that pesky testosterone sneaks in and becomes more dominant, again causing excess hair growth. 

How to tackle it-
Obviously with everything prevention is the best cure. so making sure you are fit and healthy will help you avoid weight gain, and can reduce the chances of developing conditions that increase your chances of hair growth. If its a hormonal condition that causes the hair growth, you need to wait to finish your treatment as hair growth will still continue so results wont be permanent. It is also recommended to use a range of medical treatments available on the NHS, such as anti-androgens (which block male hormones), eflornithe cream (to slow hair growth) or the contraceptive pill.

To remove hair in general there is your shaving (quick and painless), waxing (painful but effective), bleaching (painless, but not always an option for darker skin), and laser treatment (permanent, effective, but expensive).

KELLY ROWLAND AND AMELIA IN MIDDLESBROUGH

Welcome to my town: Amelia was accompanied by mentor Kelly Rowland, who tweeted that Middlesbrough was 'freezing!'

Chanel channels Bombay

Last night was the amazing Metiers d'Art show, a show launched in 2003 as a homage to the label's workshop. This year it saw the Grand Palais in Paris being transformed into an Indian-themed dinner party. The lucky guests sat at banquet tables, which doubled as a runway! Dinner and a show! The set was almost as inspiring as the fashion. Tables were laden with high tea, and crystal decanters, with a huge team of waiters serving the banquet through the night.

This collection (pre-autum/winter 2012-13) was inspired by India and saw embroidered fabrics and embellishments teamed with the usual Chanel trademark of tweed and pearls. The colours were shades of fushsia, snowy white, gold and silver.

Karl Lagerfeld himself says "Most of the inspiration is from Indian men's clothes rather than women's clothes. They're easier to wear."

To get the look for less, I have found these several outfits and accessories that channel this look on the high street.

£55 Topshop

£65 Topshop

£69 Topshop

£80 River Island

£13 River Island

£40 River Island

£65 Warehouse

£55 Warehouse

£180 Warehouse

What did you think of his collection? Do you like the look of any of the highstreet picks?