Beauty tips to make you as gorgeous as the girls

(Drafted from www.mirror.co.uk on 25-Apr-2009)

Girls Aloud haven’t always had the perfect hair, make-up and smiles that we see today. In fact, when the group formed seven years ago they hardly looked like superstars at all. But thanks to teeth whitening, hair extensions and fake tan on tap, the girls have been transformed into stunning sex sirens.

And the girls have the benefit of a 10-strong entourage of hairdressers, make-up artists and stylists to follow them around making sure not so much as a hair is ever out of place. This month, they have even unveiled their own range of fake eyelashes. The limited-edition Eylure Girls Aloud lashes, designed by the girls personally, are on sale now in Superdrug.

Meanwhile, Nicola has had a hit with her own cosmetics range Dainty Doll – designed specially for girls with fair skin. It seems the band know a thing or two about products.

Here, Girls Aloud reveal some of their beauty secrets, so you too can be as gorgeous as them.

Cheryl

Cheryl has a top tip for looking great: “If you only have time to do one thing, make it mascara – as it makes your eyes look more awake.” She swears by L’Oreal Shocking Volume Mascara, but if you want lashes as long and luscious as Cheryl’s then you’ve got to fake it.

She reveals, “I’m a huge fan of Eylure false lashes, which I often use on stage.

They give a really glamorous look.” As for her beauty routine, Cheryl’s favourite products are Mac Face And Body Foundation and L’Oreal Pure Zone Step 1. She explains, “I’ve been using the same L’Oreal face wash for the past five years and I just make sure that I’m cleansed and moisturised before I go to bed. Other than that, I really haven’t got any secrets.”

But she couldn’t live without Elizabeth Arden Eight-Hour cream. “I put it on cheeks for a dewy look and lips for a bit of gloss,” she says.

And if she does get the odd blemish then Cheryl swears by antiseptic cream Sudocrem to zap any unwanted spots in an instant.

Sarah

Sarah’s top tip? “Put concealer under your eyes and bronzer on your cheeks if you look tired. Or alternatively you could wear a big hat!” The blonde beauty reveals the products she can’t live without are lip gloss and eyelash curlers.

But she adds, “I love the Estée Lauder facial range and Johnson’s pH5.5 face wash.” She wears different make-up brands but particularly loves L’Oreal mascara and Eylure lashes.

Sarah also admits she’s a sucker for new products. “I’m a glutton for punishment,” she says. “If I see something in a magazine and think it’s going to be amazing, I’ll get it. But it never is.

“It’s always moisturiser with me. Sometimes I would spend about £25 or £30. It’s not worth it. I think cheap and cheerful is the best option. But one rule I always stick to is to cleanse, tone and moisturise.”

Sarah is a classic blonde bombshell and has got the high-maintenance hair down to a T. She uses TIGI’s S factor range – including Color Savvy conditioner to replenish moisture and reduce breakage.

Nicola

Nicola created her Dainty Doll make-up range while working on The Passions Of Girls Aloud TV show.

The range is perfect if you’ve got pale skin like Nicola’s, so it’s no surprise she names these products among her top beauty secrets.

She says: “My fave products are Dainty Doll foundation and concealer, eyelash curlers and Mac Shine Cream.” Nicola adds that she couldn’t live without “face wipes and a regular eyelash tint”, and also loves Mac Zoom Lash Mascara.

“My top tip is to go for make-up that suits you, not what you want to look like,” she says. “You should also do your make-up in natural light if you can.”

Nicola loves Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak, explaining, “After a hard day this soak recharges my body.” She also uses Riemann P20 Once A Day Suncream to protect her skin. “I burn easily so I use a suncream daily,” she says. Her other secrets include Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour and Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Deep Clean Cream Wash.

Kimberley

She says she couldn’t live without mascara and lip gloss, and Kimberley recommends experimenting with make-up at home.

She loves Mac and L’Oreal’s skincare products but, like Cheryl, she also uses Sudocrem on break outs.

“I don’t have a strict beauty routine,” she explains. “I’ve always been lucky and had all right skin.

“The moisturiser I use is a really cheap one that I’ve been buying since I was about 12 years old.

“I don’t do the full toning, cleansing routine. I use a face wash, then wipes and then I apply loads and loads of moisturiser to my face so it’s more or less white before I go to bed. But I’ll treat myself to a facial now and then,” she says.

Her hair hasn’t always been groomed to perfection – she’s had her fair share of disasters, like everyone else.

“I had a terrible perm when I was about 13,” Kimberley admits. “Everybody else had curly hair and mine was dead straight. It was fine but I had it permed and I looked like a poodle.”

Nadine

Like most girls, Nadine often worries about her looks and was once convinced she had buck teeth.

“I was paranoid about them,” she says.

“I grew up, realised they weren’t so bad after all, and just calmed down.” Her essential beauty items are a packet of baby wipes and a pair of tweezers, and she says her favourite products are, “L’Oreal Shocking Volume Mascara, Vaseline for my lips and Origins for skin care”.

Of her beauty regime, she says, “Less is more. Use mascara and blusher and that’s the basics sorted.

“I use Origins,” she continues. “I’m obsessed with moisturisers. I don’t like putting anything oily on my face and the Origins oil-free moisturiser works.

“Occasionally I have spent a fortune on products. One time I paid about £70 for a cleanser and moisturiser, but in the end I returned to my old faithful.

“I just can’t be bothered with things like filing your nails – time is too precious,” she explains. “But if I get a spot then toothpaste is my miracle worker and a little bit of blusher will always make you feel better.”

Lasting Effect Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream 50ml £22

On the Lash L’Oreal Volume Shocking Mascara £9.78

Body Beautiful Mac Face And Body Foundation 120ml £22.51

The eyes Have It L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black x 5 Mascara 8ml £6.30

Life In Colour Tigi S Factor Color Savvy Conditioner 250ml £14.25

On the Line Estée Lauder Time Zone Line And Wrinkle Reducing Cream 50ml £44.04

Got It Nailed Left: Chanel Le Vernis Na Colour 13ml £11.95 Far left: Mac Zoom Lash Mascara 8g £10.77 ail h

Dolled Up Dainty Doll Foundation 10.8g £11.75

Crem De La Crem Sudocrem 125g £2.63

Cold Comfort Right: Pond’s Cold Cream 99g £3.15 Far right: Mac Oil Control Lotion 50ml £18.60

Aloe, ALOE Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera £1.15

Smooth It Over Origins Antioxidant Moisturizer 50ml £28.38

For professional make up and beauty treatments call Re’Voil Hair & Beauty or visit the website at www.revoil.co.uk – professional hair and beauty salon in Manchester