Archive for 2012

Roll up ! Roll up ! : Blog sale !


posted by Unknown

No comments

Ok, prices and item titles underneath the pictures. All items are from a smoke free home, and i have noted any relevant usage. I've also added the postage for each item next to it.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog sale is to fund my imminent move to the UAE (More about that later on), so please feel free to make like Del Boy and negotiate with me - I want to sell this stuff asap!

If there's something you want - holler! via a comment, tweet, or email.


Colberts Nourish eye cream 5ml: £4.00  (rrp £90.00 for 15ml)
CETUEM Illuminating mask: £4.00 
Elizabeth Arden prevage anti-ageing night cream 7ml: £10.00 (rrp £120.00 for 50ml)

all new, never been used.
p&p: 99p per item



Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter 300ml: £5.00 (rrp £10.00 for 300ml)
Soap & Glory Hand Food 125ml: £2.50 (rrp £4.85 for 125ml)
Soap & Glory Solar Powder 9g: £3.50 (rrp £12.00 for 9g)

Righteous butter and Hand food: new, never been used
p&p: £1.99

Solar Powder: usage as show, brush is also missing
p&p: 99p


Benefit full finish lipstick in Espionage 3.6g: £5.00 (rrp £14.00 for 3.6g)
Benefit Ultra Shine lip shine in Foxy Lady 5ml: £6.00 (rrp £14.00 for 5ml)
Benefit Benetint (sample size): £2.00 

espionage & benetint have been used once or twice
Foxy Lady never been used, still in box
p&p: 99p


Cargo lip gloss in Morocco 0.45g: £2.00 (rrp £5.00)
Collection 2000 Cream puff in Powder puff 2 6ml: £1.00 (rrp £3.00)
No7 Liplicious Ultra Shiny lipgloss in Candyfloss 15ml: £3.00 

all never been used
p&p: 99p



 Cargo boogie nights (blue glitter) eye pencil: £1.50 (rrp £3.25)
Rimmel professional eyebrow pencil in 002 hazel: £1.50 (rrp £2.99)

both new & never been used
p&p: 99p



Jane Iredale 24 Karat Gold Dust in Rose Gold 1.8 grams: £3.50 (rrp £11.99)
Zoya nail polish in Marina 75ml: £3.50 (rrp £9.95)

both new & never been used
p&p: 99p


Sleek makeup eye palette in Au Naturel: £4.00 (rrp £6.49 - SOLD OUT IN STORES!)

usage as shown
p&p: £1.50


Wing ring (3 available) £4.00 each
YSL Arty style ring (3 available) £4.00 each


Candy skull ring (adjustable back) only 1 available: £4.00
Gentleman skull (adjustable back) 3 available: £4.00


set of three stackable rings (2 sets available): £6.50
Love / Hate double ring (2 available): £7.00


peace pendant (2 available): £7.50 


Peas in a pod pendant (1 of each colour available): £5.00 each


sweetheart studs (2 pairs available): £3.50


Polka dot collars (3 available): £7.00 each

all p&p for the jewellery and collars is £1.50

Like I said,  make me an offer ladies!

xxx





Style it like...: Zooey Deschanel


posted by Unknown on , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 comments

Evenin'

First of all, can we just take a moment to reflect on the weirdness of the new Lucy in Eastenders? Whats going on with her mouth?

Alright, now thats dealt with, this is the first of what I plan on making a regular style feature to my blog. Recreating the style of a celeb using high street buys. I promise to use current ranges, and give options to suit every budget. There's nothing worse than a celeb style feature that only gives you the kind of options that would be available on a champagne budget. Cheers DAILY MAIL.

What better way to kick off this stylish shindig than with girl of the moment, and my personal style darling Zooey Deschanel. I love Zooey!


This is typical red carpet Zooey. 50's silhouette, flared skirt, and a splash of florals. Zooey loves a preppy colour palette, and red, white and blue are key colours for creating a Deschanel style look. So lets see how we can create it, using whats available on todays high street (Christ, I feel like Gok already!)






Next up is casual Zooey. Again, the look is very preppy, but classic.


The colour palette is spring florals, and girlie pastels, which are set to be massive in Spring / Summer 2012, paired with monochrome classics. Zooey wears very few accessories, and who needs to with that L'Oreal worthy mop?







The real key to Zooey's look is her cute hair clips. She almost always wears them, and it's a quick way to add a little Zooey to your outfit, without going full Deschanel.







So there you go lovers! A little bit of Zooey from our very own high street!

Who's style would you like me to recreate next week? Who are your personal style icons? Let me know, and i'll do my best to style it like them. 

Right, i'm off to swoon over Jess in New Girl. 

p.s dont forget the 100 denier tights!


I am many things, a size or hair colour is not one of those things


posted by Unknown on , , , , ,

15 comments

So here it is girls. No pictures, or swatches or reviews. This post is about some SRS BIZNIZ. It's about having a little love, and sharing a little love. So, as with every little bit of preaching, here's a little history...

I am 27. I have dyed my hair, cut my hair, dreadlocked my hair, shaved my head, pierced my nose, ears, bottom lip, lingual frenum and stretched both of my ears. I have worn a size 10,12,14,16 and 18. I cannot name one of those sizes, hairstyles or piercings that made me happy. Until I had a revelation. There are billions of people in this world and each of them looks different and finds different things beautiful or attractive. If I spent my time trying to appeal to all those people, I would no longer be me. I would be a million different pieces lurching in different directions. Then I realised that if I just did what I wanted, and wore what I liked and made me happy, then the world was diverse enough for me to one day find people who would just appreciate me.

Which leads me on to the message I want to convey with this blog. Its time we stopped laying down guidelines about how we should look, defining ourselves by sizes, and making assumptions about people because of the clothes they wear, the size they are or the style of their hair. I say this after seeing several tweets already today with 'i'm not eating ever again' and 'i wish i was a size 6'. Do you? Do you really? or do you wish that each day you woke up happy? The two are not intrinsically linked, let me tell you.

I cannot tell you how much of my life has been shackled by the insecurity of believing that people would only like me because of how I looked. Don't get me wrong, there are people out there who have done that, but that is truly their cross to bear, not mine. Imagine all the amazing opportunities those people will lose out on?  I am a trainee lawyer, I am a photographer, I am a blogger, a daughter, a sister, a swimmer, a writer. I am not my size, or my hair colour or the clothes I wear.

Let me tell you a little secret. Becoming a particular weight or size does not grant the owner of such a figure with a magic key to a Pandora's box full of eternal happiness. You will still hate your job, men will still be dickheads, and Daniel Craig will still have dumped you for Rachel Weisz (oh no wait....thats just me). It just means that occasionally you can buy the hanger at the front of the rail, rather than the one at the back.

If some boy doesn't like you because of your weight....well who wants him anyways? 'Hi Mum and Dad, this is Prince Charming, we cant stay for tea, because if i have a pudding he'll dump me' ...come on girls, thats not what we dreamed of when we stuck trousers on our heads and pretended we were Rapunzel waiting to be rescued by a Knight in shining armour.

How many times have you identified someone by their size or appearance? Stop it. People should not be 'the fat one' or 'the skinny one', or 'the one with the wonky teeth'...how about 'the one with the great hair' or 'the funny one' or maybe even 'the one with the unhealthy obsession Ryan Gosling' (definitely my identifier). The fact is, as soon as we stop looking negatively at people, people will stop looking negatively at us.

I do not have children, but when I do, I do not want my son or daughter to have a list of dreams and aspirations underneath a weight or clothes size that they are more desperate to achieve than those said dreams or aspirations.

What I am saying is, shake off the stereotypes, do not belittle your potential to do amazing things by wasting your energy on the foolish pursuit of a size or hairstyle. Love what you see when you look in the mirror because of the potential the person staring back at you has to achieve marvellous things.

You are beautiful, why not pass it along?

The rush: whats got me swooning this week


posted by Unknown on , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 comments

Now that the sales are over, I've had an influx of new season previews from various fashion brands. So exciting! I think i've spent my next 3 wage cheques already. Although I need to save some because I'm off to see my lovely sister in a couple of weeks. Hello Dubai mall! Hello 3 separate Forever 21 stores - including one just for accessories! So here's my pick of the bunch this week:



This gorgeous top has just arrived at River Island for £16.00. I am obsessed with bow ties at the moment. I think its such a cute look, and I don't have to add jewellery...its already accessorised! This t-shirt will look great tucked into a skirt, or with denim shorts and braces. I'd also consider toughening it up by adding some studs to the bow, or maybe a few seed pearl beads. 

It also reminds me of Screech from Saved by the Bell! 


I cannot praise Astraea jewellery enough. I struggled to pick which one was my favourite to show here. Their designs are absolutely exquisite and I am dying to get my hands on a piece from their collection. The feather ring in this picture would be a total statement accessory and certainly turn a few heads. Its available in white, purple or black feathers for only £15.00!! There are so many more designs which are just as beautiful and unique. All the jewellery is handmade and silver plated. Some of the designs also  feature brazilian amethyst. You can buy this beautiful jewellery here: 

http://www.facebook.com/astraeajewellery


Another statement piece, this time from Forever 21. I'm really into spiked jewellery at the moment, and wear my spike ear cuff from Topshop at every opportunity. I love the blue and red in this necklace, which gives it a bit of a Navajo feel. It would look amazing with a simple black outfit, and I'm hoping to pick it up on my trip to Dubai. Particularly as its only £10.65! You can buy this necklace at Forever 21.com or via their stores throughout the UK.


I absolutely LOVE Motel Rocks. They are my go to brand for evening dresses. I wore a Motel dress for my work's Christmas party and for new years! I'm lucky enough to have two Motel outlets in my local town centre, so I have plenty of choice. The dress above is one of a number of dresses I've got my beady eye on, and it's the Motel Gabrielle Sweetheart Mesh dress, which retails at £38.00. Motel Rocks dresses are available via the Motel website at Motelrocks.com or via Topshop stores with a Motel concession.

If you live in Swindon then you can also purchase Motel Rocks dresses at Revolva, located in the Brunel Arcade in the town centre, and enjoy a further ten percent discount by signing up to their loyalty card (which is free!). They also stock Sugarhill Boutique and some gorgeous remade vintage dresses, shirts and Levi denim shorts.

What have you been lusting after this week? Have you discovered any new brands for 2012? I'd love to hear about them!



Lipstick & blusher review: Bare in strawberries and cream


posted by Unknown on , , , , , , ,

5 comments

First of all, I'm sorry for the rather provocative title. I couldn't resist.

Unfortunately, there is a Boots right next to my gym. I mean right next door. With similar opening hours. Which is probably why my Boots Advantage card is healthier than my bank balance. Oh. It does however mean that I buy a lot of drugstore products to try out. Who doesnt like a little reward for after a hard work out?



1. 17 Strawberries & Cream blusher in 'Strawberry Swirl'

I was immediately attracted to this blush by the gorgeous colour palette. Sweet rose, dusky pink with a gorgeous cream highlighter. I love pink and cream together, and at £3.99, I had to have it!

As you can see from the swatch below, both the pink and the cream are shot through with gold, which I hoped would add a lovely highlighting effect when used.


I used the product for 3 days. I applied it with an Eco Tools 1246 finishing kabuki, and was instantly disappointed. I had to apply several coats and it gave very little colour. I had to push the product on, and layer it up with my beloved Benefit Bella Bamba. Maybe I'm spoilt with Benefit and I shouldnt be comparing the two, but I wont be adding this to my everyday make up bag any time soon.

Alternative use...

As I mentioned before, this product is shot with gold, and has very shimmery tones, so I decided to try it as a highlighter. I applied the cream blush to the top of my lids, over a layer of MAC paint pot in Painterly with an Eco Tools 1203 eye shadow brush. It works much better as a highlighter. The gold flecks catch the light, and there isn't enough pigment in the powder for it to white out your eye and make you look like a zombie! It did need applying again throughout the day, but for £3.99, i'm not surprised.

This product is available from Boots, at £3.99 and there are two shades available, Strawberry Swirl which i've reviewed here, and Peach Melba which has a much warmer orange tone. I'll probably pop this product on a blog sale..but please let me know if you're interested and i'll pop it in the post for you!



2. MUA Lipstick in shade 14 - Bare

I am a little addicted to MUA since buying the Heaven & Earth palette, which is a make up bag staple for me. I recently found a store with a larger concession and bought a basket full of their products (reviews to follow!) and this lipstick was part of it. I love a nude lip, because I wear quite a bit of eye make up I like to keep my eyes as neutral as possible.

This lipstck goes on very well and only needs two coats. As you can see from the swatch below its a very orangey nude, and heavily pigmented. Unfortunately it's a little too nude for me, although I have been layering Bourjois Beige Elegant over the top, and the shimmer in that appears to warm it up. This lipstick is quite drying though. My lips felts completely dry after only half an hours wear, but thats nothing a bit of primer / vaseline won't solve. I dont think i'll be continuing to use this shade, but i'm definitely going to buy a few different shades from the MUA range. MUA lipstick is available from Superdrug, or the MUA website priced at a rather bargainous £1.00!



I'm wearing both the blush and lipstick in the post below, although you can barely see the blush!

Have you picked up any of the MUA range recently? What are your favourite drugstore products?

PS sozzer about the wife beater in that pic. I was in my pj's!

Holy grail product: The cream of my dreams


posted by Unknown on , , , , , , , ,

2 comments

About a year and a half ago I started noticing small red patches of skin around the tops of my thighs and on my palms. It didn't cause me too much concern until it started to itch. When I say itch, I mean willing to undergo non anaesthetised amputation to resolve it. The rash then spread all over my boost and anyone who saw me at that time would have wondered why I was both dressed from head to toe in opaque material in the middle of summer, while writhing like i'd been chucked in a vat of itching powder (form an orderly queue boys!).

I eventually relented and visited a Dr. I was prescribed (the incorrect dosage) of steroids on three occasions. Which made the rash worse. Then some horrid thick lanolin based cream...which made by skin feel and look like a 3rd degree burn. I told the Doctor to get copy if Medicine for Dummies and never want back. Instead I took a galloping foray into home remedies. Which went as follows:

1. Anti fungal cream - NO.

2. Oats in a sock under the bath tap - NO. Although a fun bath toy. Squishy. Ahem.

4. Sudocreme - NO. (I can't tell you how heartbroken that makes me...)

5. Baby oil - NO. Although I was very shiney, smelled lovely and could have more than adequately filled the role of 'super slippery assasin'

6. ANY cream / spray / tablet / Wiccan enchantment I could lay my hands on ( apart from the Wiccan thing...)

THEN. Then my beautiful readers, I happened upon a cream which cured my now 8 month long incurable ailment in 24 HOURS.

This wonder cream is in fact fron Lush and known as Dream Cream. Its only £10.75 a tub, and I only needed one application. I still have the original tub, and it's half full.

I literally cannot sing this creams praises enough. I also use it as a facial moisturiser if I ever have a breakout or if my skin is just a little dry and needs some TLC.

It's a thick cream, which comes in a 240g pot. It smells very herbal but the smell doesn't linger on your skin. It's also a very rich cream, so you only need a small amount of product which absorbs quickly into the skin.

I've tried to think of some negatives, but I'm clutching at straws....erm, it could be a slightly nicer colour?

Dream Cream is available from Lush stores nationwide, or via their website here: https://www.lush.co.uk/product/136/Dream-Cream-Hand-and-Body-Lotion

Do you have any wonder products? Did Dream Cream work for you?




2012: Whats in store in fashion & beauty!


posted by Unknown on , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1 comment

Now. I don't know about you lovely ladies but I'm suffering from a severe case of the post Christmas blues (the rather eagerly anticipated sequel to the 'post Christmas bulge'...NOT). In an effort to 'pull myself together' I've been eagerly scouting any news on products due to drop in 2012, and I'm too excited to keep it to myself. So read on, and please do let me know what you're waiting for...there's no gossip like new product gossip!

1. Revlon

Beauty stalwarts Revlon celebrate their 80th birthday with a bang in 2012 with the announcement of 20 new shades (yes, 20! Squeeeee!) of nail varnish, all containing a special formula to help smooth the nail base.


2. M•A•C

M•A•C have already made their mark in 2012 with the hotly anticipated release of the Iris Apfel collection, which is almost sold out - although there's a few products left here: http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/whats_new/8208/index.tmpl - the lipstick in Flamingo is to die for.

But! As if that wasn't enough, M•A•C have also teamed up with fashion and style icon Daphne Guinness to bring us a range with a palette of sky greys, bruised pinks and beautiful copper tones. These colours are right up my street, I cannot wait to get my hands on the ombre blush in 'vintage grape' and you can see a sneak preview here:
http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/whats_new/8276/index.tmpl

3. Marni for H&M

H&M have marked themselves out as the go to retailer for designer collaborations. Last years Versace range sold out in record time, and their next collection is a range designed by Italian fashion house Marni. Expect a muted collar palette, accented by Spring / Summer 2012's must have pastels in fawn pink and baby blues.

3. Mary Kantrantzou for Topshop

Spring 2012 will see an explosion of frantic florals grace the rails of Philip Greens finest when their collaboration with Queen of kitsch chintz hits the rails. Press images of this upcoming collection are few and far between (read: one picture!) but if Mary's previous collections are a taste of what's to come, get excited for gorgeous dark florals inspired by gaudy 80's Versace prints and the fluoro florals of the Twiggy era, tailored into a beautifully structured and heavenly fitting 14 piece collection.

4. Anastasia cosmetics

Now. I'd love to have some real news to tell you about this amazing range, which is currently only available from America with extortionate shipping charges...but I don't. Although, having watched a preview via the Pixiwoo YouTube channel, I'm encouraged to see some kind of UK based PR push by the range. Anastasia cosmetics produce some truly unique and innovative products, and I for one am simply dying to get my hands on the 'All Eye Want' palette for eyes. Naked 2 what?! I really hope this brand are picked up by a UK distro...Superdrug, I'm looking at your bigger stores...! You can drool over their gorgeous brow kits and primer / blush duos here:
http://anastasia.net/home.php

5. 2012 Trends.

A quick run down of products and trends I'm hoping to see in the next year:

- Holographic nail varnish. Superdrug best seller GOSH released a holographic nail varnish last year which is now available on eBay in exchange for your liver. MORE PLEASE!

- Lip art - undoubtedly, 2011 was THE year of nail art. The likes of Violent Lips look set to make 2012 the year of lip art. Red glitter lips or leopard print smackers a la Kelly Rowland anyone?

http://www.violentlips.com/

- Customisation - studs, collar tips, seed pearls, scalloped edging, shredding. If you bought it like that, it's just not cool.

- Facial oils. Forget faddy blemish balms, this year will see the beauty world fall in love with facial oils. Clarins and Shu Uemura are already marking their turf where this new holy grail product is concerned.


What are you looking forward to in 2012? Any products you can't wait to get your hands on?