Living Life the Essex Way

by Sam Faiers

  My forehead has peeled a couple of times when I have been burned in the sun, and it is really bad. I don’t like that. But I do love the heat and the sun and lying on the beach while on holiday, so the whole risk thing can be a proper dilemma. I whack factor 15 all over my body, and factor 30 on my face – I especially worry about the skin on my face, as I 100 per cent don’t want to get wrinkles just yet!

  When Billie and I were young we got called the Jetsetters at school, because we were always on holiday and would come back with tans when everyone else was looking white and pasty, which was amazing! My grandparents on my biological dad’s side, Wendy and Mick, live in Spain, and my parents owned a place in Alicante for a while, so we used to go out there all the time during the school holidays and would come back with good tans. I’d do my best to make my tan last by moisturising loads, so it would fade slower.

  We even lived in Alicante for a while – for about five months when I was 15. That was enough time for us to get really brown. We don’t have the place out there anymore, but I’d like to own somewhere abroad one day if possible.

  The downside of all this fake tanning, of course, is that Essex girls have orange-stained beds once a week. The reason for that is the day you get it done you need to leave it for about eight hours, so we will get the spray done in the afternoon or evening, sleep in it, and then shower it off in the morning. But through the night some of the tan will rub off onto the sheets and duvet. It’s not the nicest thing in the world, but it’s something any boyfriend of an Essex girl has to get used to. Nowadays you can get bed protectors to stop it from happening – you clip them onto your sheets like a sleeping bag. I have one and have tried using it, but I reckon it is a lot of effort. I think only the really hardcore tanners use them, and actually it’s just better not to have your best sheets on your bed that one night of the week.

  So that is the skin all sorted. Also massively important for an Essex girl’s beauty routine is nails – no one likes to see bitten or short unpainted nails. I think the best way to keep them looking good is to go false.

  I think I discovered fake nails about a year after learning the importance of a tan, when I was around 15. I’d always played around with nail polishes, but it was in Year 11 at school that me and the girls discovered acrylic nails. We’d go to the local Chinese nail shop and get them done for £20 – or cheaper if you were a student. It still added up though, in those days, and looking back at those really long nails with their white tips now, I think they were so tacky and a waste of our money!

  As well as looking tacky, the way they were applied couldn’t have done our nails much good. You would go into the salon and sit down, trying not to mind that really strong chemical smell you get in those shops, and there would be all these random electric tools they would use on you. It’s like half your nail got filed away to make way for the acrylic. Then your nails would get even more damaged while the acrylic ones were on, so you thought you’d have to keep using the fake ones to cover it up. It was a hard cycle to break.

  After about a year I got tired of those nails, and decided they didn’t look so good after all, so I stopped using them and just put nail polish on myself. It was only when I started doing glamour modelling when I was 18 that I began looking for a different way to keep my nails looking good again, and I discovered Bio Sculpture Gel – and that is definitely what I would recommend now.

  How it works is that I get a coloured gel put over my own nails, and then a clear gel over the top of that. It hardens into a really tough but quite natural-looking nail which lasts for a month and never chips. It is particularly good because my nails just get a quick file and buff first – the beautician doesn’t get rid of half your own nail, so it is not so bad for them as acrylics. It is actually supposed to make your nails stronger, and is really good for anyone who bites their nails, as basically the gel is so tough that you can’t.

  It annoys me when I see people who don’t take care of their nails properly. I think it’s so important to pay attention to details like your nails in order to make a good impression on people, especially if you have a job that involves dealing with others on a day-to-day basis, like I have in my shop, Minnies, and before that when I was a cashier in a bank. I used to sit behind the counter and deal with the customers, and it was really important to me that my hands looked good.

  I’ve been going to the same beautician since I first discovered Bio Sculpture Gel. I go about once a month to get my nails and toenails done, then every few months I have them taken off for a week to let my nails breathe. Of course I pay for my treatments, not least because I know my nail technician is really talented, so I would rather stick with her. I believe in being loyal to people who have been good to me for ages – not just those who have been good to me once I started being on TV.

  Another thing I spend a lot of time on in my beauty routine is hair removal – I am naturally really hairy! As soon as I shave my legs or bikini line (and yes, everyone asks, and it’s a Hollywood for me, which means I get rid of all the hair) it grows back the next day – really annoying! I prefer to shave, as I can’t afford the time it takes for it to grow back to the length you need to wax it – I am always on a shoot, or the beach, or doing something where people would see my stubble, so I have to get rid of it as soon as it appears. Venus razors all the way for me.

  As for my teeth, I am pretty happy with how they look. I obsessively clean them – there is no way I can go on a night out without doing it – and I use Pearl Drops Replenishing White Toothpaste at the moment. My teeth are naturally quite white and straight, and I have been lucky enough never to have had to wear braces.

  But when the show started I began to notice that some people’s teeth were positively glowing on screen. So when I was offered the chance to have them done for free during the first series I was like ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ It was a Zoom! treatment, where they put whitening gel on my teeth and then I sat with a light shining onto them for 45 minutes, which somehow works with the gel to get rid of stains and darker bits of colour. But I have to say it killed. My teeth really hurt for the next 24 hours.

  You can see me getting them done on the show, while Amy and Harry take the piss, and as I can’t talk with the stuff in my mouth, I just have to write them a note saying it was tingling. But that was an understatement! To be fair, it made a bit of difference to the colour, but it was more like they just got a good clean, and I’m not sure it was worth the pain. Not that it stopped me trying it again. I went to the Harley Street Smile Clinic, but this time I only lasted ten minutes before the pain got too much. I think my teeth must be too sensitive, so there will be no third time! The things us girls do in the name of beauty!

  Generally though, I am pretty happy within myself these days. I’m not saying I think I’m a ten out of ten – everyone has things they want to change about themselves – but I am mostly happy with how I look.

  I’m not against surgery, but it is not something that I’d consider having now. Weirdly though, when the show started, some people thought I had had some work done, probably because of the stereotype that everyone in Essex has had something done, and because my eyes are such an unusual shape that they assume I’ve had a lift or something. But for the record, I 100 per cent have never had surgery. It bothered me a bit when I read people’s comments about it online, but I got really upset when heat magazine did a piece about celebrity surgery and quoted a so-called ‘expert’ who said he thought I had had surgery.

  I felt horrible that it had appeared in the magazine for everyone to read – and it wasn’t even true! I didn’t understand why they hadn’t called me to check their facts, or at least get my side of it. Instead I only knew about it when I saw it in the magazine. It was one of the first negative stories that were written about me, and not one I will forget. It really put me off working with that magazine for a while, as I felt like it was a real invasion. It has also obviously stuck in other people’s minds, as I still get asked about it even now. I’ll
talk more about the negative effects of some of the press I’ve had later, but this was my first real wake-up call about the downsides of being in the public eye.

  But I guess I am one of the few girls on the show who hasn’t had surgery. I think out of the main cast, it is just me, Billie and Lydia who have avoided having any so far. Everyone else has had something done. They are all really open about it – I think it is the culture now to just say if you have had it done. It’s not something to be embarrassed about, it is just another thing you are doing to look better. On set during series three, Maria was talking about how she wanted lipo. That seems crazy to me, as she doesn’t have any fat on her, but I guess if she wants it . . . And Chloe was quite open, even on screen, about wanting bum implants. Especially given that she has had a baby, that girl has an amazing figure. She is such a lovely girl, and I just don’t know why she’d even consider the kind of surgery she says she wants.

  I just think that at my age, if it’s not broken, don’t try and fix it. But maybe when I’ve had kids I’ll want my boobs done if they have gone droopy, and if that’s what I feel then, I’ll go for it. As for Botox, all the girls on TOWIE sit around discussing when their next appointment is. For me, it’s not right – smile lines and dimples are part of your character, and Botox can make people look too scary, especially if they have it done at a young age.

  I reckon that kind of thing is where girls go wrong. They think boys will like it, but actually if you really try to get to the bottom of what boys want, they generally prefer girls to look more natural. Not that anyone should become obsessed with what boys like. Making the best of your looks should be about doing it for YOU, to boost your own confidence and make you feel good about yourself.

  I read somewhere that the number of enquiries about plastic surgery shot up after TOWIE started, especially in the Essex area, which is bad! Apparently clinics could even see that more people were logging onto their websites to look at treatments while the show was on air. It’s crazy, and I think people should be happy with how they look, rather than trying to look like a celebrity. Then again, if someone thinks I look so good that they want to copy me, I am only going to take that as a compliment!

  My Ten Steps to the Perfect Tan

  Tanning is really quite simple once you get your routine right, but if you don’t, streaks and patches can be a nightmare. This is how I do mine. There are obviously other ways, but I reckon if you follow this, you should be able to do a pretty good job at home:

  1. Exfoliate around your elbows, knees and ankles, to get rid of any dead skin.

  2. Moisturise those areas, but only really lightly, with a tiny bit of cream. Also rub a tiny bit onto your wrists – orange wrists are a dead giveaway.

  3. Spray yourself all over with a can of Fake Bake spray. You can use a cream, but I prefer the light spray of the can, as I think it looks more natural. Follow the instructions on the can. You will only learn through practice how much works for you – one layer will give a light, natural tan, but I tend to do two coats for a bit of a darker colour.

  4. When you do your face, use less than you would on your body. It is better for your face to be a bit lighter – you can darken it up with make-up if you need to.

  5. It’s definitely worth investing in a mitt, which you put on your hand and rub over the tan. This makes sure it is really evenly spread, and stops you getting orange hands.

  6. Despite the mitt, still wash your hands as some of the fake tan can soak through. Then spray very lightly over the back of your hands. Orange hands are a no-no, but white hands are nearly as bad!

  7. Then give the tan time to dry – I’d say ten minutes would be the minimum – before putting on something old that you don’t mind getting fake tan on. I have an old, slouchy pyjama top that I always wear afterwards.

  8. Leave the tan on for eight hours minimum before washing it off. This is why I like doing it on an evening in, then washing it off in the morning. It will look too dark and streaky that evening, but develops nicely overnight into a perfect glow for the morning. Make sure you wash it all off properly though – it’s amazing how many girls I see with streaks on them days later because it didn’t all come off in the shower.

  9. Some people do this routine weekly, but I tend to go for ten days to two weeks. To make it last, moisturise every day after your shower, as the tan makes your skin quite dry.

  10. If it is a special occasion, and you want to be sure it looks good, find a good salon, and they will do a professional job. While it’s more expensive, it will always be worth it.

  What Is Vajazzling and Should I Do It?

  Everyone asks me the same questions about vajazzling – ‘What is it?’ ‘Did Amy Childs invent it?’ and ‘Does every girl in Essex get it done?’

  The truth, as far as I know, is that it was big in America first but hadn’t really made its way over to the UK. Amy had trained in beauty before we started the first series, and the producers were keen to show that side of her to viewers. They wanted to show her doing a treatment, but they were looking for a way to make it a bit funnier. Someone suggested vajazzling, and Amy had heard of it, so the scene just came about. I hadn’t heard of it, but as soon as I heard the word ‘vajazzling’ I didn’t need it explained!

  But I can’t believe how much it has taken off. Everyone knows what it is now, and there are salons in Essex that actually offer it alongside all the other treatments. It’s so weird how huge it has become and how so many people want it done, just because we did it as a joke on the show. It’s crazy and just shows the power of TOWIE.

  To get vajazzled properly basically means the beautician sticking little diamante jewels in a pattern around your vagina with a special glue. But you can now get transfer kits that contain sticker-like jewels that you can put on yourself at home. Obviously you have to be hair-free for it to work, or they won’t stick properly. They’ll last about three days. I reckon it’s worth going to a salon the first time to see how they do it, but then the transfers are good enough. It’s all good fun!

  I have actually only ever been vajazzled three times. The first time was by Amy for the show and then I did it myself at home using the transfers. I’d only ever get them done for a boyfriend though – they are not really worth doing just for yourself!

  Even boys have started getting them done. The first time I saw that was when I did a PA in a club called Paparazzi in Watford and there were two salon girls vajazzling people. Boys who had had one too many drinks were getting brave and going for it, and then showing me afterwards. They were flashing on the dancefloor. It was mad!

  My Getting Ready Timetable,

  This is generally how I spend my two hours getting ready for a night out:

  7 p.m – Take a shower, wash my hair, shave and exfoliate.

  7.20 p.m – Put my hair up in a bun and out of the way – I style it last, otherwise I’d have to put it up when done and it would get a kink in it. I usually have a mate around to get ready with, or Billie, so we’ll have a glass of wine to get the night started around now.

  7.30 p.m – I will be tanned already, but I will add extra instant tan to bits of me that will be showing that night. At the minute I like using Vani-T’s Bronzing Custard, or one of Soap & Glory’s instant tanning products.

  7.35 p.m – Do my make-up.

  8.00 p.m – Blow-dry my hair, and then maybe curl it.

  8.20 p.m – Now I choose my outfit. This is the time-consuming bit! Like any good Essex girl, I take forever to decide, but eventually I will know what is right for the night.

  8.50 p.m – Choosing a clutch bag is always a pain for me, as there never seems to be one that exactly matches my outfit. But I’ll find one and pack it with everything I need for a night out – generally my phone, money, keys, chewing gum, blusher, powder and lip gloss.

  8.55 p.m Spritz of perfume – no point having the perfect outfit and make-up if you don’t smell good too! I don’t have a signature scent. I’d like to one day, but for now my tastes k
eep changing. At the minute though my favourite is probably Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. Chanel is the classic range that every girl needs in her collection, but this one is quite girly, not like a more mature woman’s perfume. I am also loving Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million and Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb at the moment.

  9 p.m. – Finish off the bottle of wine, and we are out the door and ready for a great night!

  3

  I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A POSER

  Being photographed and knowing that picture of you is going to go all around the country – or even the world – is a really weird thing. The way people are with celebrities today, you know the picture will be analysed and judged in all sorts of ways: whether what I am wearing looks good or not, whether I look fat or thin, if I am with a guy, or if I look upset in any way. Not that being a celeb and being on the receiving end of that changes how you look at the pictures yourself – I still look at everyone else’s pictures and make those judgements too. Although I guess maybe now I do it with a bit more knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes – how a picture might not always show things exactly as they are. And of course I have a lot more understanding of how scary it can be for celebrities to be followed around by photographers who can often come across as quite aggressive when they are trying to get the shot they want.

  I have always been a poser though, and a fan of cameras, and have a sixth sense about how to pose. So while getting used to being photographed since I’ve become a celebrity is weird, it has not been too hard.

  In fact, even when I was a baby, I appeared in an advert, so I guess I started young. It was an ad for a German beer, and I was in it as the crying baby being put to bed by a man pretending to be my dad. It went on billboards around the country, which is quite funny looking back – a very early and strange start on my route to fame!