Archive May 12, 2025

Beauty writer Eve Rowlands has received a number of Lookfantastic’s monthly beauty boxes and she thinks May’s is one of their best yet

When it comes to beauty boxes, in my eyes, each haul needs to have something for every stage of the beautifying process: a product for hair, skincare, make-up and body, either pre, during or post-shower. Lookfantastic’s May box has nailed it for this month, and I think it’s the best box since I joined its subscription.

Worth more than £65, the box costs £50 less than that for a one-off order of the May selection itself, £15. However, if you sign up to receive the Lookfantastic box each month for a 12-month period, it drops to £13.

Containing six products, this month’s feels like a bumper pack as it not only contains one full sized product, but three – it usually has one full sized product or two. So this felt like a bit of a lottery.

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This May box certainly rivals that of Glossybox’s 5-product offering. Their box this month contains products to help you enjoy the sunshine, such as the e.l.f. SKIN Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30 and the Anatomicals Make Your Skin Grin Mango & Papaya Body Cream. Costing £13.50 for a one-off purchase, shoppers can also get it for £12.50 when they sign up for 12 months.

Although if you want a bit of a treat, Cult Beauty’s The Set for Sun Edit is worth £175 and costs £40. Packed with sun-ready formulas, the box features brands like Supergoop!, Elemis, Philip Kingsley and Ultrasun. While it’s more expensive, those who have snagged this set love it, stating it’s “the perfect summer set with all your favourites in it. Loads of minis so the best for your travel kit”.

The May Beauty Box from Lookfantastic

£13/£15

Buy Now on Lookfantastic

This month, the Lookfantastic Box has pleasantly surprised me with all of its products. The haul includes three full-size items: REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Gel 150ml (worth £25), Bedhead After Party Smoothing Cream 100ml, and PIXI Clear Brow Tamer Brow Gel.

It also included First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Fresh Strawberry Body Scrub with 10% AHA 28.3g in a deluxe-size, a LOOKFANTASTIC Cleansing Cloth and a Bondi Sands face tanning serum. Firstly, the REN cleanser is just a really good facial wash that leaves my relatively sensitive skin feeling nice (not irritated), hydrated and most importantly clean.

It’s quite fluid but doesn’t feel slimy and lathers up enough to feel like it’s nourishing. It’s great if you are in a rush, as it doesn’t require minutes to melt away the dirt (like my usual fave Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm). The facial cloth in the pack is also really nice and soft on the skin, making it a TLC session when taking off the day.

The only thing I didn’t quite enjoy about the cleanser is its scent, which is quite herbal. I’m more of a fruity or essential oil person, so that would stop me from repeat purchasing it.

With that in mind, I adore the scent of the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Fresh Strawberry Body Scrub with 10% AHA because, as the name suggests, it smells like strawberries. It makes buffing the bumps on the backs of my arms, knees and other problem spots a much more enjoyable experience.

I feel like I’ve been launched into a pool of Strawberry Laces with every use. As a scrub paste, it does feel akin to rubbing sand on my skin, but not in a harsh way as it softens when mixed with moisture. Plus, in the few times I have used it, it actually works at reducing the appearance of bumps on the skin.

It’s important to moisturise well after use and wear your SPF as the AHA in the solution can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. It also goes without saying this isn’t for use on the face – stick to the body only.

The small but mighty Brow Gel from Pixi is another favourite of mine as it gives my brows a really good lift, without being sticky, hard or flaky when dried. Even when running my fingers over my brows to intentionally try and put them out of place they don’t budge and easily slot back into the structure I’d created with the brush.

I like the Bedhead After Party Smoothing Cream as it tamed my flyaways and gave my locks a lovely, frizz-ish-free shine. However, as someone who wears their hair curly most of the time, this cream feels more suited to someone who dries their hair smooth. It’ll be great when I want a sleek look, though.

Frankie Bridge looked almost unrecognisable as she debuted a new haircut on the red carpet at the TV BAFTAs – and it’s a huge change for the former Saturdays singer

Ever wondered how far celebs will go for a dramatic red carpet transformation? Well, Frankie Bridge has just given us the answer by debuting a brand new fringe for a single event.

The former Saturdays star turned heads at last night’s TV BAFTAs awards, looking unrecognisable after undergoing a vintage Hollywood-style makeover in honour of the ceremony. It seems Frankie took inspiration from Audrey Hepburn’s iconic look in the film Sabrina, as their hairstyles are strikingly similar. The most noticeable change is the addition of a fresh fringe.

The 36 year old singer, who had been growing out her signature cropped hair into a shoulder-length bob over the past few months, has now opted for a micro (or ‘baby’) fringe, giving her an Audrey Hepburn-esque Parisian vibe, reports OK!. Frankie’s choice of haircut is bang on trend, with many A-listers sporting similar styles on red carpets and at fashion events. Pamela Anderson unveiled a stunning micro fringe paired with a chin-length bob at the 2025 Met Gala, exuding contemporary elegance.

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Zoe Saldaña also jumped on the bandwagon, flaunting a sleek French bob with ultra-short bangs that added a dash of 1920s glamour. Miley Cyrus turned heads when she rocked up to the Oscars afterparty sporting a freshly cut micro fringe, giving off a punky, Berlin-esque vibe. Lady Gaga also made waves at the 2025 Grammys with her jet-black hair and sharp micro fringe, delivering a gothic, high-fashion statement.

Not to be left out, Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley joined the micro fringe trend, unveiling a choppy, punk-inspired version at the Fashion Awards 2024. So, who’s the next celeb to opt for the fringe chop? We’re not sure. But one thing we do know is that there’s no hairstyle Frankie can’t pull off.

Style your fringe from home

When it comes to styling your fringe, BaByliss’ Mini Radial Brush, priced at £6, is a must-have. Designed specifically for fringes, its flexible yet sturdy bristles help add volume without causing unwanted frizz and flyaways. Plus, its compact size means you can easily carry it in your handbag for on-the-go touch-ups.

A quality heat protector is a crucial part of any styling routine to prevent damage and dryness. The Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, costing £12.50, has received glowing reviews for leaving hair in silky condition. One shopper even claimed it made their hair look salon-fresh.

Rollers are a simple solution for achieving a salon-style blowout without the need for heat. The Drybar High Tops rollers, priced at £10, grip on their own and are made from a gentle material to prevent hair tugging or snagging. They can be used with a hairdryer or simply placed on your fringe overnight for a voluminous, bouncy look.

The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo, costing £25, has long been a favourite among beauty enthusiasts. It’s a lightweight formula that not only revives the appearance and texture of your hair but also gradually emits fragrance to keep your hair smelling fresh all day. Moreover, the formula was specifically designed to avoid leaving any powdery residue, making it suitable for all hair types and colours.

As Thomas Markle starts a new life in the Philippines in a bid to find ‘peace’, the Mirror looks back at Meghan’s revealing blog entry that detailed her feelings about her father before their relationship tragically broke down

The breakdown between Meghan Markle and her father, Thomas Markle Senior, has been well documented, and the distance between them has now reached new heights. Thomas recently moved to the Philippines in search of a fresh start, with the hope of living the rest of his life “in peace.”

Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Junior is living with their father in a $500-a-month high-rise apartment in Cebu, which is over 7,000 miles away from the Sussex family home in California and the pair are said to be “firmly supporting” each other in this new chapter. Thomas Sr was recently pictured outside his new home where he was seen to be “struggling” with the heat.

“There are only two types of weather in Cebu: hot and humid, and hot and humid and raining. It’s brutal even for men half his age, but it’s still sad to see him looking as though he’s struggling,” a source told the Mirror, adding, “Thomas and his son only recently moved into the property and they are still finding their feet in Cebu after the big move abroad, but they’re here together and are firmly supporting each other.”

Meghan’s father – a former Hollywood lighting director – has undergone a series of health problems in recent years, including two heart attacks and a stroke, but he is seemingly no closer to making peace with the Duchess after their relationship swiftly broke down in the lead up to her wedding to Prince Harry back in 2018.

This also means he is reported to have never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three. When Meghan’s engagement to Prince Harry was announced, she was quickly catapulted to new heights of fame, despite already being a well-known actress in her own right.

Ahead of her wedding, Thomas Sr staged a series of paparazzi photos and Meghan later revealed he then lied to her about cooperating and being paid by the photographers, and that she found out he wasn’t coming to her wedding “through a tabloid”.

In Harry and Meghan’s self-titled Netflix documentary series, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, 68, said she was left “absolutely stunned” at her ex’s actions, adding that “as a parent, that’s not what you do. That’s not parenting.”

Whilst the Duchess hasn’t spoken to her father in a very long time, heartbreaking posts written by Meghan many years before their estrangement on her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, detailed that they used to share a seriously sweet bond, and that for a long time she held her father in the highest esteem – making the breakdown of their relationship in recent years even more tragic.

In one post written to mark Father’s Day, Meghan absolutely gushed over her “inspiring” father, even sharing some sweet childhood memories of him.

“Our club sandwich and fruit smoothie tradition post my tap and ballet class – classes, which by the way, he religiously took me to on Saturday mornings after working 75+ hours a week as a lighting director,” Meghan wrote, adding that he made sure to use his professional lighting expertise to help elevate her theatrical performances when she was a schoolgirl, making them “as grand as a Broadway show”.

Meghan ended the emotional post by writing: “To my dad – my thoughtful, inspiring, hardworking Daddy – Happy Father’s Day. ‘If I had all the water in the world, I’d give all the water to you…’ (You won’t get that quote, but he will. And for Father’s Day, that’s all that matters).”

In another post, she described how one year for Christmas, Thomas Sr went above and beyond to make sure that the family of dolls he was buying his daughter reflected her biracial family and heritage, and that he “broke the rules” to do so and ensure she was pleased with her gift.

“On Christmas morning, swathed in glitter-flecked wrapping paper, there I found my Heart Family: a black mom doll, a white dad doll, and a child in each color. My dad had taken the sets apart and customized my family,” Meghan explained.

“I picture him standing there in Toys R Us, moms glaring at him for taking the toys apart, perhaps an employee saying ‘excuse me sir, you can’t do that’ — as my dad carefully separated the boxed sets to make one that echoed my reality. One that showed me that I should (and could) make my own box,” she wrote about the meaningful gift.

The dire extent of their relationship breakdown was revealed in the bombshell sit-down with Oprah back in 2021. Meghan opened up about the derailment of their bond, admitting, “I grieve a lot,” as she reflected on the loss of her relationship with her father. Prince Harry has called it “incredibly sad” that the pair are now estranged.

James Corden’s ‘dream’ £8.5million mansion remains untouched, despite plans being approved more than two years ago. The former Late Late Show host purchased Templecombe House in Oxfordshire in 2020 with plans to move back to the UK

Actor James Corden’s £8.5m ‘dream’ family home in the UK remains untouched, more than two years after he got the go-ahead for his plans. The Gavin and Stacey star snapped up Templecombe House in Oxfordshire back in 2020, with hopes of moving there with his family after eight years stateside.

In January 2023, he was given the green light to knock down the existing property and build a new six-bedroom mansion, subject to certain conditions. Before work could start, Corden’s team had to agree to a series of ‘obligations’ through a section 106 legal agreement with Wokingham Borough Council.

Despite initial pushback from the local council and English Heritage, an agreement was finally reached, clearing the way for James to start work on his dream home. However, recent aerial snaps show no visible progress has been made on the site, which remains empty with no signs of when work will begin.

Planning documents from the original application reveal that he initially wanted new leisure facilities including an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna and steam room as part of the development. However, his proposal was only given the thumbs up once these elements were taken out of his plans.

Corden was required to make several adjustments during the planning process, including implementing lighting measures to safeguard bats, badgers, and glow worms. He was also instructed to carry out landscaping to preserve the 45 granite megalithic stones on the property, reports Gloucestershire Live.

Furthermore, Corden was directed to commission a series of test trenches across the site and permit archaeologists to work there. English Heritage had expressed concerns that the pool house was too close to the historic collection of 45 vertical granite megalithic stones that form a circle in the Grade II listed grounds.

The Mont de la Ville ‘dolmen’ was first unearthed on the island in the 18th century and gifted to then Jersey governor Henry Seymour Conway in 1788. Field Marshal Conway, as he later became known, had the dolmen transported to his Henley-on-Thames estate, where it still stands today.

Jersey officials had previously expressed their hopes to return the monument back to the island and were seeking support from the TV star. Corden came into possession of the Mont de la Ville dolmen when he bought Templecombe House in Berkshire.

Mr Corden and his wife, Julia, shelled out £8.5million for the property near Henley-on-Thames, a sprawling 43-acre estate that includes the dolmen.

The original country house, constructed in 1869, is thought to have served as a boarding school from 1948 until its demolition in 1961, when it was replaced with the current house. The decision to approve the rebuild came as Templecombe House had fallen into disrepair and was attracting urban explorers.

Corden has been granted planning permission to replace the existing home with a two-storey, six-bedroom property featuring a basement, a spacious internal courtyard, kitchen, living room, dining room and a breakfast room that opens onto a large terrace area with a playroom. The new home will also boast two study areas, three bathrooms and a boot room.

The first floor will house five ensuite bedrooms and a main bedroom with two ensuites, opening onto a balcony. Documents reveal that the existing tennis court will be retained, but extensive landscaping work will be undertaken across the site.

Detailed construction plans for the new building were approved by the council in March of last year. These included measures for the protection of wildlife and trees, as well as flood mitigation strategies prior to construction.

It was previously reported that James, his wife Julia and their three children planned to move into the Henley-on-Thames house, located on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, as soon as possible.