‘My favourite mascara that darkens my light lashes is currently 40% off'
Mascara is a non-negotiable in my make-up bag. I'm just not one of those people who can skip it and still feel put-together. My lashes are naturally quite fair, especially at the roots, so if I'm not wearing a layer or two, my eyes tend to disappear and the rest of my make-up looks oddly unfinished.
However, that's where Benefit's Bad Gal Bang comes in. A few years ago, it quickly became one of my go-tos for big, fluttery lashes that made my make-up look a bit more complete.
It's now firmly cemented its place in my make-up bag. I dip in and out of trying out new mascaras, but I know I'll always come back to Benefit. And LookFantastic has currently got a major saving on the full-size and mini duo set. Originally priced at £42, the duo is now 40% off and priced at £25. That's less than the price of just the full-size version on its own.
The formula is packed with aero-particles which help create that lengthened, fuller look without weighing lashes down, making it look like you've just had a lash lift (in my opinion).
The compact brush is my favourite style of mascara brush, it's so precise meaning it can get every tiny lash for a fanned-out, non-clumpy finish. It's also smudge-resistant and water-resistant, so it stays in place from your morning commute to a post-work dinner without flaking off.
The best part about this set is that you can get a mini version, which is perfect for chucking in your bag on the go for any top-ups, and also for travel when you need to maximise every last bit of you liquid allowance.
I don't get much smudging below the eyes, but I find I get some blackness on the top of my eyelids where my lashes meet them. This issue is caused by how long the formula makes my lashes, so I can't complain too much, but if this is a problem the waterproof version prevents this completely. And it's currently reduced to £21.60 from £27 at Debenhams.
If you're a fan of tubing mascaras instead, another one of my favourites is Milani's Highly Rate Lash Extensions Mascara, £14 The benefit of a tubing mascara is that there is no flaking or smudging; the product really does stay on all day. Alongside this, when removing the mascara, the tubes slip right off with some warm water.
While our beauty editor, Laura, is a fan of Too Faced's new Ribbon Wrapped Lash Mascara, £28. Laura says: "The formula really did immediately wrap around each lash hair – it almost seemed like a magnet, or a bit like the action of the Dyson Airwrap as it whips the hair around. The result was every hair coated in seconds, with my whole eye done in 3-4 swipes – no going over missed spots – and lashes that were dramatically lengthened and volumised."
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Scottish Sun
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The 35-year-old says the battle with her weight began when she was bullied for being 'fat' and branded 'tree trunk legs' by cruel bullies at high school. As a result, the mum-of-five didn't wear a skirt for decades and was reluctant to leave the house due to her size 24 figure. The self-conscious cleaning business owner would only share pictures of her face, not of her body, on her dating profiles. Laura says when she did meet up for dates, men would sheepishly admit they 'didn't realise how big she was' before slinking off just an hour after meeting her. After trying and failing to lose the weight naturally, Laura underwent a 'life-changing' gastric sleeve operation in Turkey in March 2024. Since then, she has switched her old diet of McDonald's breakfasts, pub lunches, takeaway dinners, and five cans of Coca-Cola per day for protein coffees, fruit and chicken salads. 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All of my profile pictures are of my full body because I feel more confident in myself now I've lost weight. "I think I look a lot better, but I think I still have the mindset of when I was fat. "I go out and I've got men coming up to me asking to buy me a drink and I'm like 'what do you see in me really?' Sometimes it's quite hard to take in." Problems with Laura's weight first began when she received cruel comments from bullies at high school. Laura said: "I've had an issue with my weight all my life, really since I was a teenager. "I got a lot of bullying at school because when I used to wear skirts I'd get called 'tree trunk legs' and fat. "After a couple times of wearing skirts I never wore them again. "I never wanted to go to school with a skirt on because I used to get called that all the time. "Food was a comfort for me. I used to sit at home and eat food because I got bullied and I felt like nobody fancied me." 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As a PT and fitness journalist, I've tried everything. I've taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates. Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas! The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit. My top five forms of exercise, especially if you're trying to lose weight, are: Walking Running Pilates High-intensity interval training (HIIT) Strength training 7 Men used to stand her up after clocking her larger size Credit: Kennedy News & Media 7 Laura underwent a gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey Credit: Kennedy News & Media 7 Her battle with weight began when she was bullied for being 'fat' in high school Credit: Kennedy News & Media 7 Now the mum says men are racing to buy her drinks Credit: Kennedy News & Media
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
How sharp ‘pinup' Laura Woods ‘tamed' party-loving playboy Adam Collard & was his rock through secret heartache
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Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Laura Woods and Adam Collard have been dating since October 2023 Credit: Instagram 12 A source close to the couple revealed: 'Adam says Laura is his soulmate' Credit: Instagram 12 Adam Collard is currently appearing in SAS: Who Dares Wins Credit: PA The pairing, who have nine years age difference, seemed an unlikely match, yet fast forward to 2025, the couple is not only engaged but have also welcomed a baby boy, Leo, into the world. The pair, who began dating in October 2023, proves that some of the best partnerships are built on the foundation of opposites. A source close to the couple revealed: 'Adam says Laura is his soulmate. 'He told everyone she was The One as soon as he met her - he'd seen her on TV before and always fancied her, she was like his ultimate pinup - but as he got to know her he realised she was so much more than just her looks. 'They are incredibly similar - driven, motivated, passionate, fun-loving but also homebodies. Adam doesn't even go out anymore. 'He's like a recluse (unless he's working or training he doesn't leave Laura's side). 'They like to stay in and cook together - he does most of the cooking for her! And they love going to his gym together - he also trains her. 'They love walking the dog and going for family days out - it's all about making memories for him and being the best dad he can be. Adam Collard Opens Up About Laura Woods' Miscarriage and His Troubled Past 'They love going on holiday too - they do everything together unless they're working. 'They don't go out these days as they don't like to leave the baby anyway. 'Adam is a totally different person to his Love Island days! He's got no interest in partying anymore.' Adam, 29, once famous for his "bad boy" image on Love Island and a string of tumultuous relationships, has openly admitted that his life with Laura, 38, is a stark departure from his past. Adam is very sensitive and he's been through some tough times but Laura has brought him back from the brink Source In an interview with London Post, Adam called Laura his "soulmate," and a "real deal" he's been looking for. He has also spoken about the age difference between them, stating that he's always been drawn to a more mature and settled dynamic, which is what he found in Laura. This marks a shift from his previous relationships, many of which were with younger women he met on reality TV. The source continues: 'He loves how successful she is, but he was really captivated by how confident and independent she is. 12 Laura gave birth to their son Leo in January 2025 Credit: Instagram @laurawoodsy 12 Adam Collard proposed to Laura Woods in September 2024 Credit: INSTAGRAM @laurawoodsy 12 Laura took to Instagram to thank Adam for his unwavering support during her pregnancy and her return to work Credit: 'She's very mature and he loves how passionate she is about her work. 'She was the total opposite to the other girls he had been with. She's also incredibly supportive of him.' But their relationship hasn't been without its challenges, both public and private. For Laura, her fame has come with a dark side. In a harrowing ordeal that spanned over two years, a female football fan became obsessed with the presenter, sending her unsolicited gifts and food deliveries to her home, as well as threatening to kidnap and kill her dog. We all joke with him that he's punching but he totally agrees - he knows he is Source The stalker was eventually jailed for 14 months and a restraining order was issued. The chilling threats left Laura in "real fear" and forced her to increase security around her home and workplace. This personal ordeal was followed by another heartbreaking moment. The couple recently revealed they went through a devastating miscarriage at 11 weeks. Adam, in an interview ahead of his appearance on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, candidly admitted he feared the miscarriage was "bad karma" for his past actions as a "love rat". Adam's Instagram posts from late 2024 also hinted at a year of immense personal struggle, including a diagnosis of depression, but he credited his relationship and his son as reasons for hope and positivity. Laura, in turn, has openly praised Adam for being an incredible partner and father. 12 Laura Woods commentating on the Women's euros 2025 12 Adam has often spoken about how Laura is "the one" Credit: 12 Adam has said that their relationship is "just normal" Credit: Instagram The source continues: 'Laura has been his rock as he navigated his battle with depression. 'Adam is very sensitive and he's been through some tough times but Laura has brought him back from the brink. 'I don't think he would mind us saying he absolutely worships her. "Who knows where he would be without her. 'We all joke with him that he's punching but he totally agrees - he knows he is. Laura is way out of his league in the nicest possible way. 'Essentially all Adam actually needed was an older woman who knows who she is, and with an established career. She was his happy place - and he never wanted to see her hurt again Source 'It helped that they started their romance out of the spotlight too - they kept it private for a while and I think that really helped them get to know each other properly without any pressure.' After giving birth to Leo in January 2025, she took to Instagram to thank him for his unwavering support during her pregnancy and her return to work. She said in a post: "I don't always big him up publicly because he knows how I feel about him... But for a moment, I just want to say how proud I am of him. And how my heart bursts watching him be a dad to Leo and how bloody good he is at it." Adam Collard's dating history Laura Woods (2023 - present) Adam and Laura started dating in October 2023. They are engaged and have a son called Leo together. Lottie Moss (2023) Before getting together with Laura, Adam went out with Lottie Moss for two months, after meeting on Celebs Go Dating. Paige Thorne (2022) During his second stint on Love Island in summer 2022, Adam coupled up with Welsh paramedic Paige Thorne. Their relationship continued after the show, but only until that October. Demi Sims (2020) Adam was pictured snogging Towie's Demi on a night out, but it never developed into a fully fledged relationship. Sarah Godfrey (2019 - 2020) Adam dated fitness influencer Sarah Godfrey from September 2019 until January 2020. Zara McDermott (2018 - 2019) His most high profile relationship prior to Laura, Adam coupled up with Zara McDermott on the 2018 series of Love Island. Things appeared serious when they got couple AC and Z tattoos. They dated for eight months before splitting in February 2019. Kendall Rae-Knight & Rosie Williams (2018) Earning his reputation as a playboy, Adam, then 22, was coupled up with Kendall, and then Rosie, before his head turned for Zara when she entered Love Island as a Bombshell. It's clear that Laura has not only been a rock for Adam, but she's also played a role in his personal growth. Adam has often spoken about how Laura is "the one" and that he doesn't have a lot in common with people his own age anymore. 12 The couple together with their son Leo Credit: 12 Adam got down on one knee at five star hotel in Cornwall Credit: Instagram 12 Laura is Adam's "happy place" Credit: He has said that their relationship is "just normal" and that they "balance each other out, in a positive way". Our source says: 'He always wanted marriage and kids but he was never happy enough to settle down. 'Adam always wanted more and more - he was very superficial and nobody was ever good enough. 'As soon as he met Laura all that changed - you could immediately see how happy he was, not only was she his dream woman but she felt the same as he did - she wanted marriage and kids too and they didn't want to waste any more time. 'Adam didn't really talk much about the miscarriage when it happened - he was very private out of respect for Laura, but we knew he was heartbroken, he was withdrawn and so sad. 'He blamed himself and it really broke him for a while seeing Laura suffering - we knew he loved her already, but it was that moment where he knew she was his forever. 'She was his happy place - and he never wanted to see her hurt again. 'It made him determined to give her and himself the happy-ever-after. "She made him want to be the best dad and family man he could be.'
