The economists can talk about green shoots as much as they want - all we know is no matter how much we scrimp and save, we still can't afford Crème De La Mer eye balm.

So we've been rolling up our sleeves, and experimenting with ingredients we can source from our very own kitchens... avocado hair masque? Carrot cleanser? Peanut butter facial? You might smell like a sandwich, but you'll be glowing with the radiance of a girl who's saved her pennies.

1) Washing-up Liquid Detox Shampoo

Detox shampoos are one of those products we've never quite understood the point of - until we heard this tip. To strip away product build-up, pollution and the various other nasties that stop your hair shining, lather up with some good ol' washing up liquid once every few weeks. Make sure you follow with a good conditioner though, or your locks could turn slightly brillo pad to match.

2) Dairy-licious Bath Milk.

If you've ever fancied yourself as an Egyptian princess, take a leaf out of Cleopatra's book and add a carton of full cream to your bath water. According to experts, the dairy will calm skin's lipids while the milk proteins help maintain its elasticity. Asp optional.

3) Strawberry Exfoliant

Cut a strawberry in half and rub the juicy side all over your face, let it sit for a few minutes then rinse with warm water. The fruit acids work as a natural exfoliant, stripping away dead skin cells and giving your complexion a brightening zing. Whether you eat it afterwards is up to you (we won't tell anyone).

4) Talcum Powder Hair Refresh

Does anybody still use talcum powder? Its popularity may have waned sometime in the mid-90s (when people realised that using a towel then standing still for 30 seconds did more or less the same job), but we bet you still have some knocking around somewhere. It's a great low-budget dry shampoo for those days when a little extra time in bed is just more appealing than washing your hair. Work it into the roots, leave for a few minutes, then brush out and swish like a pro.

5) Oat and Honey Face Mask

Goldilocks had some issues. Perhaps if she had given up on trying to eat the porridge and dunked her face in it instead, the bears would have been wowed by her soft skin and not felt the nedd to chase her into the woods. Perhaps. Back in the real world, try mixing up oats, water and a dollop of honey, spread it on your face, leave for 10 minutes then rinse. Not to dry, not too greasy, but juuust right.

6) Lemon Tan Corrector

Here at ShinyStyle, we're still on a mission to convince you all that pale skin has the fashion edge. But if you must bust out the fake bake, avoid the congealed-gravy look by rubbing half a lemon over your knees and elbows after application. The acid is supposed to break down the tanning chemicals. You can also try whitening toothpaste, astringent toner, or just GOING EASY ON THE FAKE TAN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

7) Camomile Tea Rinse for Blondes

My mum used to use this one on me when I was about six. And once, Sean Deacon told me during PE that my hair looked really shiny. What more persuading do you need? Redheads can try cranberry juice, while beer and vinegar work well on everyone (the question is: pub or chip shop, which would you rather smell of?).

8) Haemorrhoid Cream on Under-Eye Circles

This one has been recommended by beauty editors and make up artists the world over, so it's worth trying out. The ingredients work to reduce capillaries in the skin, shrinking those telltale morning-after bags. Of course the price you pay is in embarrassment having to ask for it in Boots (we like to pretend it's for an aunt).

9) Toothbrush Exfoliator

An old toothbrush has a million beauty uses. Use it to brush away dry skin on your lips and face, or to groom your eyebrows into place with some Vaseline.

10) Beetroot Juice Lip Stain

This one reminds me of using red Smarties as a lipstick and nail varnish in primary school. Vampy purple lip stains have been all over the catwalks for the last few seasons, and while we can bet that the models at Dior hadn't been feasting on beetroots (though it's always nice to see them eating), nobody will know the difference on you. Unless you top it off with a mustard dressing, that is.

First it bagged Kate Moss to front campaigns, then Lily Cole and Georgia May Jagger, but it doesn't seem Rimmel will be stopping the celebrity campaign front anytime soon.

The British make-up brand has just announced that at kooky actress Zooey Deschanel, Solange Knowles and model Alejandra Ramos will be joining the Rimmel clan to front campaigns and be Rimmel spokeswomen.

The move comes as the brand attempts to conquer China, Japan, India and Latin America.

Coty president, Renato Semerar, said: "At a time of extraordinary worldwide growth for the brand, these three strong, successful and uniquely beautiful women will help ensure that Rimmel London's image continues to be modern and globally relevant."

We can't wait to see the campaigns.

It's good news for ladies who like their make-up this morning with the news that Rimmel is setting up a stand in Selfridges for four weeks.

From today the make-up brand, which is fronted by Georgia May Jagger, will occupy a space in the department store offering visitors to "get the London look" by enjoying professional makeovers in iconic red telephone boxes.

The four week stint, which has been launched to tie in with London Fashion Week will also give make-up addicts the opportunity to get their hands on one off products such as eyeshadow pallettes, eyeliners and lipsticks.

We'll see you by the mirrors.

When we first reported on the sunbed ban bill, we bought you a gallery of super tanned celebrities to show you how ridiculous many look when they over do it on radiation machines.

Therefore, with the news that pale Nicola Roberts is supporting the campaign we thought it only right to give you a gallery of pale celebs, who clearly show you don't need a tan to be beautiful.

Click on the picture below to begin the gallery.

Last year we told you about a proposed private members bill, which would ban under 18s in England and Wales from using sunbeds, and we're pleased to see we're not the only ones backing the cause.

Last night Girl's Aloud member Nicola Roberts also put her weight behind the campaign being proposed by Cardiff North's MP Julie Morgan.

Speaking about her personal experiences the pale red head admitting had felt pressured to have a tan when she was a youngster.

"I was once in a place where I did feel a pressure to have a tan - having a tan made me feel more attractive, it made me feel more accepted and as a young girl being very influenced by peers, by media, by everybody in society, that was just the way I felt... without having a tan I didn't feel attractive, I just didn't feel very good at all," she said.

It is thought that 6 per cent of 11- to 17-year-olds in England have used sunbeds - usually coin-operated, unsupervised, and charging as little as 30p per minute. This figurerises to 20 per cent in Liverpool.

We know we've covered shapewear quite a bit this year, but unless you know of some miracle diet (email us sharpish if you do please) we know, like us, many of you will still be showing a few signs of that post-Christmas bulge.

So we couldn't help but tell you about Asda's new shapewear range with a difference.

Understanding that Bridget Jones moment many of us fear when it comes to big knickers, the supermarket has launched a range of clothing with built-in shapewear, which is said to help give the illusion of a more trim and toned figure by taking an inch and a half off your waist line.

Fiona Lambert, brand director for George said: "There is no need for women to slave away in the gym or diet to achieve the perfect shape."

And she's quite right when a range looks as good as this. Choose from a Tummy tamer little black dress (£28) or high-waisted skirt (£16), which we think are far better value than a personal trainer.

I've wanted a tattoo for a good few years now but I've chickened out several times because I'm scared of the pain, and that I'll regret it later on.

However, it seems body paints and transfer tatts are going to be big this year with many designers including Rodarte, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel using them on their Spring/Summer catwalks.

We've so far steered away from the transfer and henna types of tattoos due to the limited and tacky options associated with them, so we panicked a bit when we heard about this new trend. However, Chanel has come to the rescue.

It's launching the bangle, bead and floral designs, which it's models wore on the catwalks to give us girls a fighting fashion chance when it comes to transfers.

It's Les Trompe L'œil de Chanel, set of 55 individual tattoos, which cost a not so bad £49, will be available from March.

After 10 days off full on Christmas festivities many of us will use this month to get back into shape.

However, while many girls will today sign up to the gym, vow not to drink alcohol for the rest of January or just hide away the post Christmas Quality Street tins, men's slimming options just got easier.

Marks and Spencer has just launched a male version of the Bridget Jones style slimming knickers, or should we say pants, to help our boys battle their festive bulge.

The Bodymax collection, which also features slimming vests is said to flatten the torso, creating the illusion of a waistline 1.5 inches slimmer.

Dave Binns, head of buying for men's underwear, told the Daily Mail: "Men are becoming more conscious of their appearance. Our Bodymax range has been designed in response to this, giving men a quick fix solution for those lumps and bumps in the same way that shapewear does for women."

Prices start from £12, and will hit stores on 7 January.

It's been a year full of events, celebrity tantrums and fashion and beauty disasters. We've had a smile, shed a tear at the number of talents we've lost (RIP Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze and Brittany Murphy) and had many "what was she thinking" moments when looking at some celebs attempts at beauty and fashion.

So to end the year, we've put together a list of celebrity beauty and fashion blunders that have made us cringe. And also added a gallery (click on the picture below the text to begin) so you can see exactly what we're talking about. We hope you have a merry Christmas and we'll be back in the new year to keep you updated on all the latest fashion news.

1. Fake tan
It was only last week we bought this criminal trend to light. The war of the fake tan has been going for many years but celebs have still not learnt that looking like an orangutan on the red carpet is not a good look.

2009 Devils
Offenders include Bianca Gascoigne and Brooke Hogan who both clearly believe that this is the way to success. However we say that looking like an Oompa Lumpa will only get you a job in a chocolate factory, and even then you may have trouble convincing Cadburys that you don't have a radioactive disease.

2009 Angel
Victoria Beckham gets our fake tan seal of approval after she realised pale is far prettier than putrid orange and threw away those tanning bottles.

2. Choosing Lipo over exercise
While we think the best way to get that perfect body is through exercise and healthy eating (with a little bit of what you fancy for good measure) some of the celebrity population don't agree, preferring to pay for a quick fix rather than do it themselves.

2009 Devils
Earlier this year both Kerry Katona, who shrunk to a tiny size 8, and Britney Spears went under the skinny knife to perfect their bodies. However, while Britney has kept the weight off, we think Kerry had something removed from her brain (namely the nerve that stops you eating shed loads of fatty foods) and is a shining example of why exercise and healthy eating is a better option. Take those delivery menus away from her!

2009 Angels
There are many stars who go for exercise rather than the knife but our special mention goes to UK home grown Charlotte Church. The mother of two shed her baby weight and slimmed down to a size 8 with the help of a personal trainer and nutritional advice from gorgeous Rugby star hubby Gavin Henson.

3. Size denial
While many a celeb wishes they were the "Hollywood" size zero, some (shock horror) are just that tiny bit over. We won't be mentioning any names for fear we'll send them straight into rehab, but we can't resist having a go at the celebs that really are in denial here, squeezing themselves into those too small jeans, which they hope will grant them automatic inclusion into that size.

2009 Devils
We're really sorry Kerry Katona, but squeezing yourself into those very early post lipo jeans will not magically take away the pounds gained from thoseIceland microwave meal freebies and loyalty points racked up from your favourite take away menus. Buy the correct size and we guarantee the days of lying on the floor struggling to zip up those jeans will be no more. And Jordan, a small breast reduction does not mean you'll fit into that tiny A cup corset.

4. Flashing your pants
Every girl above the age of five knows that flashing your panties (especially the big ones) is not the way to attract that boy in your reception class or, if your a celeb, public admiration. So we haven't been particularly enamoured with the range of people who have chosen to do this during 2009.

2009 Devils
Ahh Jordan, it seems you can't keep anything a secret and we're not just talking about your private life with Peter Andre. We've seen everything from G-strings to a slightly bigger variety. Didn't your mother ever tell you not to air your dirty laundry in public? And Michelle Heaton, we know Jordan is your best friend and idol, but just because she does it, it doesn't mean you have to. One scantily clad fake tanned bottom is more than enough for us thank you very much.

2009 Angels
We weren't going to have an Angels category here but then we remembered Lady Gaga, who has made the pants as outerwear fashion (unfortunately) fashionable. We think these look great on the singer when she's performing, we also think we should give a little mention to Eva Longoria Parker who posed for the cover of Citizen K in some big, flattering panties. However, we advise the rest of you to steer clear. And guys, it's not an excuse to go all Superman style on us either.

5. Choosing a short dress over a classy long frock
We're big fans of the LBD and similar styles but sometimes flashing your legs can lead to a whole heap of trouble, and if you're a celebrity who likes an odd tipple then you could end up showing off more than just your pins. Likewise an ill fitting super mini may have you pulling it down all evening, making us think that long may just cut it on the red carpet or event.

2009 Devils
We know we'll get lynched for saying this, but the award here goes to Sarah Jessica Parker (we know, we know, and we're sorry) who demonstrated that short can sometimes be the wrong choice. The otherwise perfect fashionista hoiked up, and pulled down her super mini pink dress at the premier of Did You Hear about The Morgans? making her look uncomfortable and giving photographers an eyeful.

2009 Angels
We couldn't do a 2009 round up without getting the X-Factor in here somewhere, and what better way to mention it than by giving a nod to Dannii Minogue's long and elegant long dresses. The judge won our X-factor style war by opting for a range of classy, long Grecian style dresses over Cheryl's experimental fashions.

6. Choosing Uggs over heels
We've championed Uggs for a good few years, and have to admit they came in very handy in yesterday's snow. However, our columnist Lauren disagrees, and judging by the comments we received from you, we can see they really haven't been the style du jour for a good few years.

2009 Devils
Sorry Stacey Solomon, we love your voice however your love of Uggs has most definitely earned you the right to be here. On the bright side at least you've made it into some kind of countdown chart.

2009 Angel
Who better to champion those heels than Sarah Jessica Parker (have we redeemed ourselves?). The Sex and the City Starlet, who showed girls like us worldwide has hit the streets or 2009 in a range of heels that have had us stamping our feet with envy. We also think Victoria Beckham should get a mention here too. She may need surgery caused by her love of sky scraper heels, but despite this the fashion princess has continued to wear her trademark shoes opting for foot exercises to help her recover.

Victoria Beckham has proved she's one step ahead of the fashion pack for a while now and it seems nothing has changed.

The former Spice Girl was spotted sporting the up and coming blue nail varnish trend, which we have a sneaky suspicion will be gracing many a finger nail during New Years eve and into early 2010.

The trend follows on from autumn's blue lipstick, which was hailed as the new colour by designers such as Vivienne Westwood, and although we haven't really seen this take off across mainstream fashion, we think blue nails are a much safer bet.

Wear with a black top or with a contrasting colour for the ultimate 2010 look, and if you're short of cash then we advise a walk in snow without gloves for that authentic blue nail look. Alternatively try Barry M's varnish in cobalt £2.95.

We know some of you may not be too keen on us after our last story about sunbeds, but we're really doing it for your own good.

Although this season's trend is all about 50s pale with bright red lips we know that with Christmas and New Year's parties coming up many of you will be hitting the (tanning) bottle in a bid to get that extra glow.

We've therefore put together a gallery of the top over baked celebs (bottle and sunbed), which we hope will give you some guidelines on how to not tan. We also hope this may make some of you regular sunbed users see that an orangutan in a dress is not the style du jour.

Click on the picture below to begin the gallery.

We've been fake bake rather than tanning booths ever since we were old enough to understand the risks associated with sunbeds.

We've also heard some horrible stories about young girls being burnt in a bid to look like their favourite sun roasted celeb. One example includes a 14 year old girl who received 70% burns in an unsupervised salon in Barry in February.

And of course there is the risk of cancer.

So we're really pleased to hear that someone is actually doing something about this. According to the BBC, Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan has put down a Private Member's Bill calling for all under 18s in Wales and England to be banned from using sunbeds. She's also calling for sunbed use to be supervised.

The bill follows research last month, which found 250,000 11-to-17-year-olds in England were risking skin cancer by using sunbeds. A quarter of under-18s who used sunbeds also did so at least once a month.

A new law preventing under-18s from using has already come into force in Scotland recently and we really hope, we can follow suit.

And it looks like we may not have to keep our fingers crossed for too long. Julie Morgan told the BBC: "There's a huge amount of support for it - we just need bit of luck and goodwill."

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron also said the UK government "fully supports" Ms Morgan's proposals and Cancer Research UK is also behind the campaign.

We don't mean to get all preachy on you, but until then, we advise all of you to stick to the bottled tan. You'll thank us in the long run.

Let us know about your sunbed use and what you think of these tanning machines by leaving your comments below.

Every one of us needs a bit of pampering from time to time, and we've come up with a few ideas if you've left your Christmas shopping until the last minute, or just don't have a clue what to get your mum, aunt or colleague.

First up is the gift finder tool on the Body Shop website. Yes, we know the brand may remind you of the smellies you longed for when you were 15, but we think the new tool is perfect for helping those searching for ideas for Christmas gifts.

It takes into consideration a number of factors to come up with the ideal gift and you use a series of sliders to indicate the age of the person being bought for, whether the gift is for a best friend or for a Secret Santa, the part of the body the gift is for and a number of other factors. It will then offer a number of suitable present ideas and suggest random gifts for those who can't decide on a present.

If smellies and bath salts don't just grab the spa theme then why not go that extra step further. Wahanda has a range of gift vouchers available to use in over 350 spas and salons throughout the UK.

Whether you're looking for the perfect pamper package, a hot spa offer, or a great fitness deal Wahanda has the widest selection from the top spas, salons, and fitness centres around. Treat someone special to a spa day this Chritsmas, take a friend with a 2-for-1 offer or if you are looking for that perfect Christmas gift, buy a spa voucher.

The past seven days have been a completely different experience to anything I've done before and with that has come a range of emotions and feelings. I've gone from grumpy and lethargic to fully alert and calm and my body has also gone through some great changes.

My skin is glowing now the spots have gone and my belly once again is washboard flat.

The bloating I grumbled about yesterday has miraculously disappeared meaning my waist now measures a pleasing 27 inches as opposed to my previous 29 inches, but unfortunately my bust has gone too, making me think that part of this cleansing programme is more about getting rid of the water retention than actually losing weight.

However I catch myself changing my mind when I look at my thighs, which are much slimmer (they no longer rub together) and my bottom, which seems a lot smaller.

When I started the programme I was 9 stone 1. And although I should have waited until tomorrow to check my weight I couldn't help but cheat. I'm really pleased to say that I've gone down to 8 stone 6. But there is one more day to go. Of course it's not just the weight loss, my skin feels softer, I have loads more energy and my eyes are brighter.

I was worried that once I started eating again my weight would go back up and the lethargy would return, but Purifyne claims this is not the case as your mind and attitude changes meaning you'll eat healthier. This is because you have done so much good for your body that you hardly want to return to your old habits and instead want to improve your diet and lifestyle to maintain that feeling of being much healthier than before. It's also because your liver has broken down the fact from all the old foods meaning it'll now be able to process your food more efficiently

And its right. I'll be opting for a salad tomorrow instead of that big mac. I'll also be trying to incorporate pieces of this cleansing programme into my every day diet to ensure my body stays as healthy.

As you'll know its not been an easy week and last night I there were a few tears as the resolve looked very close to cracking, however this morning I'm as motivated and as positive as I was early yesterday.

So will my healthy resolve continue over the weekend? Read on on Monday to find out.

It's finally happened. Six days into my detox and I'm not hungry at all. In fact, I even have some of yesterday's juice left over. Although I had a few more hours sleep than usual last night, Im fully alert and for the first time this includes mentally as well as physically. In fact, I can't stop talking (bit of a problem as I work on my own from home).

Last night my hunger and resolve were tested to the max when I popped out for drinks at at restaurant with friends. If I'm honest I was dreading sitting there with my herbal teas while the smell of food drifted around me, and I even took two bottles of my juice out as my weapons of combat.

However, no matter how good the food looked and smelt, I didn't even feel a pang of hunger, and the chips, which would have been previously ordered before I even sat down, failed to cast their evil temptation.

I've always been one of those girls who will happily share a bottle of wine with a mate and being in an environment where this was usually a must have, I worried that I would fail the challenge.

Although there was no alcohol involved on our table, there was also something smugly satisfying about seeing others around me struggling to get up as the drink took it's hold. And if there's something that this programme has made me realise, its that drinking tea and water on a night out isn't really all that bad. In fact, I'm already looking forward to being able to wake up after a big night out without the usually hangover and fry up cravings.

However despite my lack of drinking my belly is saying something else. Over the course yesterday and today I've developed, what looks like a beer belly, which has replaced the flatness I spoke about earlier in the week.

As I said yesterday this is because some fruit and veg in the juices have high acidic values, which could temporarily increase stomach acidity with some people who are more sensitive and thus lead to bloating. However this is claimed to be a very rare side effect of detoxing and you can get bloating during a normal diet and even just living. This includes the simple reflex of inhaling as some people actually swallow more air in as a result of stress, or simply when they eat or drink. Chewing on gum and smoking can also make you inhale more air, aggravating the discomfort.

Whatever the reason, I'm really not feeling that comfortable about it. After speaking to the owner about my concerns she sent me some probiotics, which are said to neutralise the effects, and I'm hoping that once my juice intake subsides and the pills kick in I'll loose my beer baby.

However, one of the main benefits, which wasn't mentioned to me at the time of starting is, that after my initial grouches, I'm a lot calmer. I've not had road rage for two days and even my neighbours loud television hasn't caused me to explode. When I asked Purifyne about this it confirmed that this was part of the cleansing programme. Apparently this is because as your body begins to change so does your overall attitude.

I'm not saying that once this detox finishes I'll be a no drinking, peace making person, but while it lasts I have to admit it does feel quite good.

Read on tomorrow to hear about how my last day goes.