Category News

Michelle Keegan’s fans always want to know how she maintains her skin’s smooth and beautiful glow. Recently, she shared some of her go-to products during a Women’s Health feature.

Many would assume a celebrity like the former Coronation Street actress would only opt for the most expensive brands But, there’s some parts of Michelle’s routine that can be picked up from the high street.

In the interview, Michelle said one of her preferred products is the Vitamin E Cream Cleanser from The Body Shop. She added: “I always feel like I’m giving something nice to my skin when I use it—and I can tell the difference once I take it off. My skin is really rejuvenated and dewy”.

Online, it claims to “glide smoothly onto skin to loosen grime and makeup”. It is enriched with vitamin E and raspberry seed oil, which protects the skin’s barrier, locks in moisture, and reduces signs of ageing.

Right now, the Vitamin E Facial Cream Cleanser is available directly from the Body Shop for £12 for a 250ml bottle. There’s a whole range of other products that have similar benefits starting from £6.

It’s not just Michelle who has sworn by these products. Hundreds of shoppers were equally impressed by the cleanser, which is made with all-natural ingredients.

One said: “I use this every day and love how it makes my skin feel clean, soft, and hydrated. I’ve been using it for three years and won’t ever change”. Another added: “I love this cleanser because it’s good for sensitive skin and has an oil base that hydrates as you cleanse”.

A third wrote: “It leaves my skin clear, refreshed and soft”. Someone else shared: “Love this cleanser and it has been a staple for several years now in my cupboard. Does a great job and is nice and gentle on my skin”.

A fifth put in their review: “I have been using this cleanser years and I’ll never switch. It’s gentle on my skin removes all traces of make up and leaves skin feeling fresh and clean”.

But, not every shopper was pleased. One claimed: “I don’t know if it’s because I prefer gel cleansers but this product did absolutely nothing for my skin other than make it oily. I used this to help repair my dried skin but it seems to be making it oily and not penetrating my skin at all”.

Another warned: “Leaves my skin feeling oilier and more in need of a good cleansing than before use. Really not the product for my skin type – even though it says suitable for all”.

There are plenty of affordable cleansing products out there to try. At Boots, shoppers could get a 200ml bottle of Garnier’s Natural Rose Water Cleansing Milk – which is ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Meanwhile, Amazon could ship a bottle of CeraVe’s Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin (236ml) to your door for £10. The dermatologist-approved serum is currently down from its normal £12.50 asking price.

It’s Sunday, and one star sign will seek exciting new experiences, while another should be assertive in their relationships.

There are 12 zodiac signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.

These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From horoscopes/aries/daily/”>Aries through to Pisces, here’s what today could bring for your horoscope – and what you can do to be prepared.

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

If you’ve been struggling to understand a problem, you will eventually start to see things more clearly and this will be due to the help of a wise teacher. Get ready for a fun evening, even if you didn’t have any plans for it. A housemate is arranging something special for you.

Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)

Your aim now is to prioritise your own desires rather than simply following what others want. By being assertive in your relationships, you will be communicating to those around you that it’s your turn to focus on what you truly want.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

You can look forward to making good progress if you are aiming for a promotion or a pay raise. While feelings may run strong, you’ll achieve the best outcomes by keeping all conversations and debates focused on practical matters.

Cancer (June 22 – July 23)

If you’ve had to put personal plans on the back burner, now is the perfect time to return to these. Make your own needs a priority. Someone close is making some unexpected changes in plans. They expect you to go along with their wishes but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Leo (July 24 – Aug 23

Housemates or close family members will speak without considering their words. Their remarks might lead to misunderstandings or even hurt feelings. Instead of getting frustrated, gently suggest they should be more mindful of their comments.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Take some time to make plans and arrangements and to organise your life so you feel more in control. Even if you aren’t in the mood for some events today, at least you can make a commitment for when you’re likely to feel more energised and confident.

Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

A relationship or commitment is over. Your thoughts feel scattered and this makes it difficult for you to focus on any one thing. Take a deep breath and pull yourself together or you will continue to wander through the day without purpose.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

A strong case of wanderlust can make it difficult for you to concentrate on anything serious. Don’t limit yourself to boring chores or staying in one spot. Now is the time to venture out and seek exciting experiences. Let your imagination run wild.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

People are unpredictable, failing to meet up as planned or deciding not to go along with arrangements already made. If others are setting the rules to suit themselves, let them see you won’t go along with this by changing them again to fit in with your needs.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

If there is something special you would like and someone close has the ability to provide this for you, don’t hesitate to approach them. Ask and you will receive. Are you single? The chance of a lasting relationship is on the horizon for you.

Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

You’re unlikely to feel content if you have to stay in one spot for too long, especially if it means being cooped up indoors all day. What you truly crave right now is a busy environment, ideally filled with a constant flow of people.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

You might find yourself hosting gatherings more often than normal, possibly due to spontaneous get-togethers and celebrations. People know they can count on you to come up with quick ideas. A chance meeting with someone from your past could lead to an intriguing opportunity.

If I’m honest shapewear isn’t something I often reach for. A figure-hugging outfit isn’t my usual go-to, and when I do wear something more form fitting I tend to eschew tight shapewear in favour of comfort.

Whilst I don’t believe anyone needs shapewear, some outfits can benefit from a smoother base underneath, whether to stop a pattern from distorting, to hide lines from your underwear seams, or to make you feel more comfortable and confident. As there have been times I’ve thought something I’m wearing would look more streamlined with the addition of shapewear, I decided to try on Spanx’s brand new SpanxShape range – and I was absolutely blown away by the results.

READ MORE: Bohomoon launches huge sale that sees every piece of jewellery slashed to £10

READ MORE: Frankie Bridge’s navy suit is the perfect way to nail office tailoring for spring

The SpanxShape range takes high quality cotton shapewear and gives it performance capabilities, like sweat wicking, breathability and a lightweight feel. It’s made from a combination of Lycra elastane and nylon, along with Supima cotton, which makes it the first of its kind on the market, and features Spanx’s signature four way stretch.

The brand new SpanxShape collection has shapewear separates including vest tops and knickers that smooth and sculpt your body and can be worn together or individually depending on which part of your figure you want to smooth. You can choose from full briefs, vest tops, thongs and mid-thigh length shorts in colours including beige, black and lighter pastel shades.

I opted for the SPANXshape Invisible Supima Cotton Cami, £78, and the SPANXshape Invisible Supima Cotton Thong, £56, in black, as I felt they were two pieces that would be incredibly useful and work with plenty of different outfits. I’m typically a size 14 on the bottom and a size 12 on the top, and I chose both of the Spanx items in a size large.

How did the SpanxShape range fit?

I’ll be honest that getting the Cotton Cami on initially was a struggle – the compression fabric is thick with plenty of stretch, but it does require a little wiggling to get it into place. However, once it was on the effect was instantaneous. Where usually I have some lumps and bumps, it was instantly smoother, my waist was more defined and the long length of the vest meant it took the smoothing effect right down to my hips.

The straps are adjustable and the chest area doesn’t have any compression, but if you have a larger bust it may be worth going up a size, as it did flatten my chest down slightly and it may not be as comfortable for you. However I found it surprisingly comfy once it was on, and it didn’t roll up at the bottom or feel like it was slipping down.

The Cotton Thong was much easier to put on, and was also really comfortable to wear. The thong cut meant there was no VPL under my dress, and the waistband stayed firmly in place with no rolling down.

I’ve tried shapewear thongs before and they rode up with every step which is horribly uncomfortable, but thankfully none of that happened with the Spanx Cotton Thong. It also has a high waist band that went up over my hips so there was no awkward digging in or ‘ muffin top’.

Did they work?

Yes. Instantly. The effect from both pieces was quite astonishing. I tried on a black figure hugging dress that has plenty of stretch but does tend to show off some lumps and bumps when I wear it, and I couldn’t believe the difference.

My waist was much more defined and it gave me a more streamlined hourglass figure that genuinely did make me look like I’d gone down a whole dress size. Although there were still a couple of bumps (which is absolutely fine) they were much less pronounced and it allowed the cut of the dress to shine without detracting from its silhouette.

Whilst I may not be reaching for my SpanxShape pieces every single day, I’ll definitely be putting them to use on days when I need a little confidence boost or want to give my outfit some streamlining. You can shop the full SpanxShape range now.

For some alternative options, I’ve always loved Boux Avenue’s shapewear too. The Smoothing Soft-Stretch High Waisted Thong is an affordable pick at £16 and is another one that doesn’t roll down or ride up as you wear it. The waistband is super wide and comfortable, and the fit is flattering and smoothing without being too tight.

Marks &amp, Spencer also has a great range, with everything from waist cinching knickers and bodysuits to slip dresses and cami tops. Items vary in price, but they’re generally a great affordable option if you’re looking for some pieces to add to your collection.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun hitmaker Cyndi Lauper, who is still gigging into her 70s, confessed she “cried” after seeing the title of her hit song had been modified and turned into a feminist slogan.

The singing star, 71, well-known for her activism as well as her songs, was asked what it has meant to her, to witnessbanners at women’s marches saying ‘ Girls just want to have fundamental rights’. “When I saw that, I cried a little, because I used to get in a lot of trouble for talking about women’s rights”, she told Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

“When I saw that, I called up my friends that I started the True Colours Fund with, and I said, ‘ Let’s start the Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights Fund, come on’, which helps women’s health, safe and legal abortion, prenatal care, postnatal care, cancer screenings and everything having to do with women’s health and promotion of women. So we do that and we raise money and fund organisations all over the world”.

Back in 2008, the New Yorker co-founded True Colours United (formerly True Colours Fund), an organisation focusing on youth homelessness and the LGBT+ community, in 2008. She announced her donor-advised fund, formed to financially support women’s issues, in 2022, following protests in support of abortion rights after the Supreme Court repealed Roe v Wade.

The protests took place five years on from the global Women’s March that was organised after the first inauguration of US President Donald Trump. She added: “Well, they (things) change and they don’t. The fact that Taylor Swift had to justify herself, I was like, ‘ Are you kidding? ‘ I’m freaking so proud of that young woman. What a good example.

” I’m happy watching all these young women, and I know that there’ll always be struggles, but you just always got to take a step back, and there’s always going to be gatekeepers, and just figure out how to get around them. Find like-minded people doing similar things that you aspire to do, and know that there are still artist collectives that you could join, and achieve what it is you want. “

On the idea of her legacy, she added:” I was told one time by a very prominent, very important male figure of the industry, that said that we were making disposable music. And I took issue with that because I did not make disposable music, and I don’t do that. “She added:” Just do the best you can, and don’t make disposable music, or make music that makes people happy. Find some songs that help people, and you can leave that behind and do some great work. “

Lauper, who performed at Glastonbury Festival last year, is known for hits including Time After Time, Money Changes Everything and True Colours. While performing Girls Just Want To Have Fun on the Pyramid Stage, she referred to feminist marches and said she went out and saw the signs about girls wanting” fundamental rights”.

The star has won two Grammy Awards, one for best new artist in 1985, and the other for best musical theatre album for Broadway and West End musical Kinky Boots, for which she wrote the music in the 2010s.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.