Rhinoplasty vlogs!!!

So, job done . . , I've had my rhinoplasty and I've tried to vlog my 'Little Nose' (hopefully!) journey for you!

This is Day 1, the day of the operation and we have three videos.

1/ The before

2/ The after

And the 'after after'

I hope you can understand, despite all my ramble and the snuffly voice, what I'm saying.

In other news, I have morphed in to a bookworm again! Obviously, I haven't really been out and about much since the operation but I've read lots of books lately which I will review soon. I'm currently on The Kite Runner and I was so scared that I would be the only person in the world who doesn't like it but the writing which hits you right in the heart is just so beautiful and eloquent that I can almost guarantee a rave review pretty quick.

I'm also hoping you've all had a fantastic week or so. I have another video from Day 2 and the bandage is coming off tomorrow (yayyyy!!!) so you will probably hear from me soon. What have you been buying and reading while I've been in hibernation? : )

Nail Polish: Fiji from Essie!

One of the things that annoys me most about my job is that our nails are meant to be natural and naked when we're working, boo! Unfortunately this means that even though I spend hours swooning over nail pictures and amazing nail art designs (which let's face it, I'll never master), I very rarely do much with my nails. My toe nails, of course, are almost always painted, usually a pale purple (Barry M!) or bright pink (Number 7 or Claire's Accessories) but with my finger nails, there seems little point in bothering when it all has to be scrubbed off early the next morning.
However, I did enjoy a love affair with one polish earlier this year and it has been on and off my talons ever since.

Let me introduce you to Fiji from Essie (though I wouldn't be at all surprised if you already know each other?!).

Fiji is not the easiest of nail polishes to apply. The first layer is very uneven and you wonder how an opaque look could possibly come together but it does. You can get the most beautiful final result with this pale pink nail polish after about three coats. It is so feminine and pretty that it gives your nails just enough emphasis to be noticed and admired but not enough to define you. Yes, I guess, Fiji doesn't exactly scream 'statement' but it just shows safe isn't always boring and there are so many ways that anybody can express their character and aspirations through their nails.

I'm hoping to find some time over Christmas to explore some of the other Essie polishes. Ballet Slippers looks right up my street but might just be a little too milky against my pale complexion. Maybe I should be looking at the Christmas releases or a red, what nail polishes do you rate? Which nail polishes do you plan to wear this Christmas? Happy weekend, everyone : ) !!!

Wanted 1/ Benefit, Bathina Body Oil Mist!

So I love lighting my candles and building my collections of fluffy throws and cosy cushions but the one thing I don't like about winter is stumbling out of that hot shower/bath in the morning or at night and having to slather horrible cold cream all over my body. As lush as some of the potions out there smell and as fab as they moisturise, even the thickest of body butters can be bloody freezing to apply.
So last weekend, I was lucky to give the Bathina 'take a picture . . . it lasts longer . . .' silky and glimmering Body Balm from Benefit a shot.

Image from Google image search here.

You apply it with a little velvet puff for a healthy glow, a glow I would have got from freshly moisturised skin if I could be bothered to slather on the cold stuff but the Bathina balm was a nice substitute. I didn't pick glimmer out as such on my skin but my skin looked well moisturised, healthy, soft and silky where the balm was applied and even if I say so my myself, I smelt lovely and that very nice Bathina scent lasted all day. Purely for the silky and well-fragranced skin that it gave me, Bathina Balm was about to go on my Christmas list but then I found out about the Oil version and now the Balm has been replaced.

You see my only concern with the balm was that although my skin felt and looked healthy even Benefit admit the product is not actually particularly moisturising and that it is a good idea to moisturise before hand. Eurgh, I was trying to get away from the cold cream thing.

Image from Google image search result, here.

Anyway, I may have found my escape in the Bathina 'soft to touch...hard to get' Silky and Seductive Body Oil Mist, a product that includes Sweet almond, Olive and Avocado oils as well as Vitamin E. Since Benefit claims this little concoction carries the Bathina fragrance (so beautiful) and instantly hydrates skin, I'm very tempted not only to put this oil on my Christmas Wish List but to add it to my Christmas Essentials list. Surely a super-fine oil mist is not going to be as cold and torturous as some lotion or butter and hydration this time of year is after all essential, isn't it?!!

What do you use to keep your body moisturised in the winter? Do you use Bathina or can you recommend any other Benefit products?

Both of the products mentioned are available on the Benefit website.

Mascara Review: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous x5

Ok, I know I might be quite late on this one. 

The L'Oreal Voluminous mascara is a mascara that I've heard talked about in blogosphere for a while. Actually, to be honest, it is a mascara that I've heard raved about in blogosphere. A lot. So obviously at some point, I was going to have to try it out and well, now I have!

I've been wearing this mascara daily for over a fortnight now and I thought I might as well type my thoughts out here. . .

Firstly, the packaging is sleek and classic. This is a mascara that looks like a mascara with simple, subtle gold and black colouring and branding. Both the casing and the wand are conventional, simple, light and portable. Basically, it looks like a mascara that will probably do it's job.

Promising!

Also, the wand is simple and flaff-free to use. I found it very easy to use this wand compared with the one in the Bourjois, Fan-tastic mascara and some of the heavier wands that I have recently used. It was easy to get in to the lash and pull the mascara through the length of the lashes with the L'Oreal Voluminous wand.

My mascara claims to be extra black and volume building (x5) with no clumping. Well, there is certainly no large clumps and I like how this mascara seemed to separate and define each lash. I'm not sure how much blacker then black, extra black can be (though I always pick up the Extra/ Very black shades of mascara) but yes, there is no doubt that this mascara is black and makes my lashes look so. If we zoom in and focus just on the lashes then my actual finished lash line looks really tidy and groomed. My lashes probably also look ever so slightly longer.

Without mascara

With one layer of L'Oreal Paris Voluminous


With two layers of L'Oreal Paris Voluminous 

However, I do not think that this mascara volumises my lashes x5, if at all. In fact, although done tidily, the definition this mascara gives, actually highlights the gaps in my lashes. Even when I try to layer this mascara, there is not much difference between two layers and four. I would say that this mascara reminds me a lot the Lash Extension one from Max Factor except for one thing, my bug bear, the smudging a while after the mascara has been applied, just below the eye. I can be driving in my car a hour or two after make up application and suddenly see an inky smudge below my eye that was not there on my last mirror check. This mascara never seems to completely dry and I can't understand why it smudges so but doesn't clump much maybe because I'm using glasses for driving again?!!

Finished look! Note: I would not use this mascara on bottom lashes, too inky!

All in all, I would say this L'Oreal Mascara sits at a great price mark (around £8-10) and would be great for work and day to day use as long as you carry a little mirror around with you but it is not one that I would recommend for those occasions when excess lash action is required. For that, stick to L'Oreal, Volume Million Lashes!

Mascaras; perfumes and bags, these are my things. What mascara are you using? What mascara do you recommend? I'm not sure I've ever used a Maybelline one but know Tanya Burr is a fan, do you rate their mascaras?

I hope the week is going ok for you all!

 

Clarins: The Gentle Brightening Toner etc.

OK, well, I am the first to admit that Clarins as a brand has never particularly appealed to me.

1/ As a contemporary brand selling their products to the 'modern' women, I find their approach quite non-descript. I find their red typeface and very red blazers (I'm sure they still wear these in my local department store) dated.

2/ As a higher end brand, I just don't find Clarins particularly engaging or inviting. As far as I know there aren't any gimmicks to reel me in (and if there is then Clarins haven't been shouting loudly enough above the Benefit Maker Uppers and Chanel Ombre hype for me to hear) apart from maybe the odd multi-buy (and multi-buys, come on, how dated is that?!! We want advent calendars and miniature goodies galore please). We don't just want that 'something more' when we're paying higher end prices, we also want that something 'extra special more'. We're looking for products that wow and anything less is unacceptable.

3/ This is where Clarins' straight-forward and no-fuss approach to the market seems to work. When a blogger or vlogger mentions or raves about Clarins, I do take note as their products are not particularly trendy or hyped with claims everywhere. If somebody is taking the time to purchase a Clarins product and then taking the time to tell you it works then in my opinion, it probably does. In my experience, of four Clarins products, they have always done what they were destined to do, well!

Clarins are one of the only brands that offer me a self tanning option for my face that looks natural, sun-kissed and appropriate for my skin tone. The Liquid Bronze Self Tanning is magic and if only I did not break out every time, I used it then I would probably have made their sun-kissed look my 'signature' by now. Unfortunately though, the tanner does always break me out around the chin and neck area and that kind of ruins the overall effect so back to pale, I go which actually is not so bad since I started using two of the Clarins base products, the Extra-comfort foundation and the Instant Light Brush On Perfector (both mentioned here). I was colour matched for both products at the Clarins counter and think I've been matched perfectly. They are both very lightweight and discreet. I think, an outsider would be hard done by to pinpoint 'foundation' on the skin. For me, the Extra Comfort was definitely lighter in coverage then Revlon, Colour stay and slightly thicker then Rimmel, Wake Me Up. Once blended (easily!) both of my base products seem to sit seamlessly on my skin. In the past, sometimes my ghostly white skin dressed in foundation can look cold and harsh but both of these products add a certain glow and softness to my face as if I'm under the most flattering light and I'd imagine, given a little longer to test, I could grow to worship these two products in spite of the price.

The one Clarins product this post was meant to focus on (three or four paragraphs ago. . .) is the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner which I purchased after numerous mentions and praise from Caroline and others on her blog. Caroline claims that it is a beautiful, softening, exfoliating, brightening, hydrating toner that should be in everybody's arsenal (she also talks about the more technical stuff better then I would if you are interested).

I have been using this 'gentle'(!) toner since the middle of September and on finishing my first bottle I realise that I have grown to like it.

A lot! 

The little milia around my eye area have disappeared since I started using this. Indeed, my skin too feels very smooth and I've noticed, I'm not catching myself on my little bumps as much as I used when I use my fingers to apply foundation. Note: Having ran of my favourite Botanics Microdermabrasion Polish (mentioned here) I have not physically exfoliated my face for a long while yet it is still smooth.

Smoootherr, in fact! 

I'm putting that down to this gorgeous skin care goodie. I would say my skin looks healthier and a bit more alive since I started to use the Clarins toner so we can tick off the brightening box too. The only two boxes I'm unsure about is firstly the hydrating one, this toner does not feel particularly hydrating and when I first used it I was getting over a reaction from another product and to be honest, using this twice a day
did seem to heighten my discomfort and dry areas out as they healed. I would not recommend using this product twice a day until you have been using it for a while. I stopped using it twice a day about a week in and now I use it once a day at the most and that honestly seems to be enough and the optimum for me. I'm also not sure how softening this product is, I have not noticed any extreme difference.

Though, I think this Clarins toner is a decent skincare product, I do recognise how hard it is to say how good a skin product is as it forms just one step of an entire skincare routine. However, I would say that allowing for the routines I was using at the relevant times, I am much more impressed by the Clarins toner then I was by the Alpha H, Liquid Gold and that I'm hoping another bottle of the Clarins might be in my stocking (hint hint)

The Clarins Toner is widely available from pharmacies and department stores.

What toner do you use? How do you exfoliate? Have you used this Clarins Toner? What Clarins' products do you recommend? I hope you're all having a good week, almost halfway through it now. Ooh and we can almost say the same for #bigblogmasproject too!

Charm bracelet (Chamilia and Pandora)

So, this is my new obsession. . .

xxx The Charm Bracelet!xxx

I am sure you will see a lot more of this bracelet in future posts but I wanted to do a little post today about the bracelet for two main reasons

Firstly, I just want to show you how beautiful it is and show off how quickly I'm filling it up. I haven't even had it for long at all yet but isn't it growing?! I feel like I've given birth to it.

Secondly, I wanted to let you know about the offer I spotted in H Samuels. If you buy over so much worth of Chamilia charms then you get a free bracelet to home them on. I think, it was £75 in store to be spent but the website says £100 so it may be best to check with the H Samuels branch local to you. I also asked the staff of mine about when the offer ends but nobody seemed to know though I wonder if it might be Christmas Eve. I would also not be surprised if other jewellers and maybe even Pandora themselves might be doing some kind of equally competitive offer. The free bracelet I got is currently being sold for £55 so that is quite a saving!

Now admittedly as cute as the Chamilia charms are, some of the Pandora ones got my heart too and the main reason I got the Chamilia charm bracelet was the bracelet offer and the fact that you can put Pandora charms and many other charms (not all the Troll ones though) on a Chamilia bracelet, mixing it up a bit.

Obviously my bracelet is in the making and nowhere near ordered or complete yet (but well, it might not take so long given my enthusiasm and all that ; ) ) however, here are the charms and beads I have so far.

1 The Chamilia Kaleidoscope Bead. I love a bit of glitz. This was the first bead I chose and it instantly makes the bracelet. The sparkle from this bead is beautiful and could easily form a beautiful bracelet on it's own. It also reminds me to sparkle, sparkle, sparkle and never to lose my sparkle! Its meant to make me smile every time I look down on it

2 The Pandora Perfume Bottle When I heard that there was a retired Pandora Perfume Bottle Charm, I obviously was straight on to EBay trying to track one down. Scent has always been a big part of my life and I can remember exactly what I was wearing when da da dah  happened and blah de bla bla and I've often spent more time choosing what scent  I'm going to wear then I have choosing what clothes to wear!

3 The Pandora Duckling was my first Pandora bead (woo!) and reminds me of two gorgeous little children in my family that I don't get to see so much anymore. We always used to go and feed the ducks and few trips have ever made me happier.

4 The Frog Prince This charm is what the charm bracelet was all about for me. The Frog Prince is so cute and how one little charm can have so much character is amazing. Look, at that cheeky smile! : )
I HAD to have him and a bracelet to home him. I'm not sure if  my Frog Prince is a genuine Pandora one, I got him from EBay and have my doubts but I love him just the same. He has the same cheeky smile, crown and mischievous eyes. When I look down on him, he makes me laugh 'cos I fear I once knew a frog who claimed to be a Prince but wasn't : / This little charm helps me to see the funny side in it all. It also reminds me that nothing is ever what it seems, there can be two sides to every character/story and depending on my mood, this little charm reminds me that every prince can be a frog or maybe that I shouldn't overlook a frog for he may be my Prince. I don't know, I guess this Frog Prince intrigues me and I can't help being attracted to that.

5 The Pandora Shopping Bag This charm reminds me of several things. Firstly, it is for my Mum, a big fan of bows and somebody who has spent hours keeping me company and window shopping (Note: That IS "window" shopping as we told Dad . . .) with me these last few months. This charm also reminds me why I work on those bad days (though on the whole, I love my job) and encourages me to do those few extra hours when I'm inclined to feel a bit lazy and say, 'No'. This little shopping bag is like a little incentive to work hard, reminding me that I might just reap some rewards!

6 My Chamilia Heart lock I wanted a lock so my beads weren't running up and down. Being me, a big softie, I also wanted a heart on my bracelet  ASAP 'cos well, the heart is always important and this one sparkles too. The way it stands out makes it so much more then a lock. Bonus!. 

I never really "got" the idea of charm bracelets until a couple of weeks ago but these charms are so intricate. The character and overall result is amazing and more often then not so adorable that I can see it is going to be hard to narrow down which charms actually make it on to "my" bracelet. I LOVE that, this is my bracelet!!! I'm going to build it up and each thing on it will have meaning to me and sort of tell my story. I just LOVE that idea! 

Have you got a charm bracelet or anything? What is your favourite charm? I hope you have all had a fab weekend.

Winter Rave: Imperial Leather Spellbinding Shower Creme!

You know how, sometimes, we trawl branches of Space NK et al looking for that perfect, affordable shower gel, 'pick up' treat?

Have you ever found the oh so allusive one?

No?!

Well, come closer, me Peeps. . , I have something special to share with you. Until a week ago, I too might have replied 'No' and questioned the existence of the perfect affordable shower treat but then one day in the supermarket of all places, everything changed. . .

I spotted the Spellbinding Shower Creme from Imperial Leather and I moved closer. I found the deep maroon packaging with seasonal gold and white detailing seductive. It was the same week as I felt that first real sharp nip in the air for the first time in the year. In fact, on the way to Morrisons, as I admired the majestic gold and orange leaves of the trees, I noticed how low the sun was lying and was blinded for the first time by that notorious Autumn/Winter dazzle. Just as the world outside seemed to scream winter so did this Imperial Leather Shower Creme and the fact that it was named Spellbinding rather then fruity this or exotic that, like many shower gels found in a supermarket, enticed me even more. . ! This shower gel was making magical promises and life would be ok if I just brought and used it.

So I did and oh my, this shower gel IS indeed magical. This Night Blooming Jasmine & Cotton Milk shower creme smells beautiful and warm. It is strong and fills the air around you. As I showered, I felt as if I was wrapped up in a much needed hug. Cliche maybe but I feel like this shower gel is like the ' warm hot chocolate' of shower gels, so perfect for this time of year and those dark, cold nights when you need to unwind. I honestly felt so relaxed and content after using this shower gel that I went out and brought two more back ups the next day.  Obviously, it is no surprise to learn that the 'Night Blooming Jasmine is famed for its soothing properties'.

It was not just the scent that was so good. As a shower gel, it functioned equally as well in other areas. The lather factor was high and so easy to create with very little of the product needed. The intoxicating, warm fragrance lingered and scented my skin (and shower room) perfectly until that night when I showered again and used this bargain creme once again.

My skin can be quite sensitive and reacts to some products including some of the orange ones from The Sanctuary. Sometimes I sting when trying a new product or get a little pink rash but there was no reactions with this one and my skin felt perfectly happy as I dried off. Imperial Leather claim this shower gel now has 5 x more skin conditioner then their previous formulations so in theory, there is no reason why my skin would have dried out.

Needless to say, I love this stuff and I say 'Go, go, go! Run to the supermarket etc and get this cheap little shower gel.' I can not imagine anybody not loving like it I do but if you do disagree, well as it is an Imperial Leather shower gel, it is unlikely to be your most expensive mistake. In fact, a bottle or two could in fact be one of your best (and favourite) investments this winter.

Go on, it is almost Friday now and you deserve a treat! What is your favourite shower and bath products? When these brands make a good product, it can turn my whole day around so lots of recommendations welcome!

Jasmin Noir!

Hmmm, now I like to talk perfume.

A lot!

However, I have been wearing Jasmin Noir almost every day for about six weeks now but have yet to mention it here.

It is true that I've been desperate to take a photo of the very unique bottle it comes in. Black and gold, it comes across as quite classy and sophisticated, a bottle I'm quite happy to pull out of my bag and wave around for all to see admire. It doesn't look like any old perfume bottle and I'm sure many of you will agree that when presented with a bottle like this, you're just dying to know what the scent inside smells like.

Well . . , I'll tell you or rather I would if I could but I've found it so difficult to pick apart the overall scent of the perfume and pinpoint individual notes. None of the individual notes (which supposedly include Jasmin, Sambaa, Satin Almond, Gardenia and Liquorice) seem to shout out to me. All I can tell you from a whole lot of sniffing and brain churning is that it smells very woody with the occasional hint of floral (though it is deemed a floral) and that the overall result is really quite nice!

The official line from Bvlgari is that this scent 'is dedicated to a fascinating woman: it's velvety notes reflect its power of seduction, it's intense accords evoke her uncompromising position.'

Ok then I guess, we're talking one sophisticated lady and yes, this scent is sophisticated. It is as I said, a floral with an unmistakable woodiness about it. It is a very deep fragrance and one I would hesitate to wear on holiday. For me, Jasmin Noir isn't really a perfume to wear on the beach but one to spritz just before a very important meeting or under your most beautiful winter coat or and (how much do I want to do this tonight?!) to dine in front of a traditional log fire. It is a warm scent, definitely musky and although I like it, there is not a lot of fluttering (I like my perfumes to flutter or sing with different notes hitting you and catching your attention all the time. That way no note can be too much), this scent seems to know itself better then that and smells pretty much the same from the moment you spray it to the moment you wash it off. Granted, it mutes quite a lot in the first ten to twenty minutes but it pretty much smells the same just to a lesser degree. After about twenty minutes, the scent seems to take its place and nestle in to the skin and stubbornly stays there until it's washed away. It will always be there but when I've walked away from smoke or a busy road or sat along side somebody who, like me, may have squirted a little to much of her own scent, I've noticed how easily the Jasmin Noir gives in and can quickly be masked or overpowered by the opposition. Walk away though and the Jasmin Noir will still be there patiently waiting.

I don't think Jasmin Noir is a scent that could offend people but nor for me, it seems is it a scent that others particularly compliment. For a start, you have to be quite close to smell it and then I don't know, the scent is almost so sophisticated that I think, others would prefer to be quietly captivated by it rather then to try and pluck up the courage and compliment the wearer on it. I can imagine this scent drawing boundaries and it is quite a good scent for work in that way as it lets me go about my day to day business without distraction. Like Ghost, it is a perfume that instantly seems to make me feel a little more level-headed and grown up.

Bvlgari suggests that the Jasmin (one of the heart notes and the namesake) is the 'flower of the imagination' yet there is nothing flighty about this perfume. I suppose in a way, it may engage the imagination of others because it tells them nothing about me. It's not particularly fruity, sweet or oriental. It's just a really, really nice scent there in the background as I go about my business. I guess, the dark bottle reflects its mysterious nature well.

I do really like Jasmin Noir but I was surprised to hear that it is quite a new release as there is nothing obviously gimmicky or contemporary about it (although like quite a few recent releases, there is a bit of liquorice). Its class, dignity and subtle tone seems almost reminiscent of a time now passed but I've happily worn this for the last six weeks and would not hesitate to spritz it again if a new bottle just happens to find its way in to my stocking this Christmas. If you're simply looking for a lovely scent that lasts then Jasmin Noir could be it!

The Bvlgari website is here! Just how soothing is that music?! I must be getting old!!!

*****

And quickly moving away from scent for a second, I've just got to thank you all for your support. I reached 100 GFC followers earlier this week and the smile from my face can not be scrubbed off. Thank you for the follows, comments and tweets. You all seem so lovely and I wish, many of you were in my 'real' life. I hope to post a little giveaway very soon to celebrate in style(!) and to say thank you again!

Now back to the scent, what scents do you recommend? Which one are you wearing right now? What one would you like for Christmas? Have you tried Jasmin Noir? Have an amazing start to the weekend.

 

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Tag 8 questions???

I have been tagged by the gorgeous Nicoletta, thank you, with eight questions.

So here we go . . .

1. What's your favourite ice cream flavour?

I love Ben and Jerry's Phish Food which is the primary reason that I try to avoid it! Otherwise, I think it has to be a tub (not so keen on cornets) of vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce and I like to let it melt a little 'cos it is easier on the teeth and quite frankly, tastes even yummier that way.

2. How many times have you really been in love?

Twice!


3. Favourite body lotion?

Hmmm at the moment, it is all about the body oil for me and yes, there will be a post;) However, I love the Soap and Glory Daily Smooth body lotion. It smells so pretty and layers with many perfumes so fragrantly. I also like the Body Shop Butters especially Vanilla but feel that they may be slightly overpriced.

4. Do you believe in spirits/ ghosts?

My head says no but in my heart, I do! I'm not in to horror but I do find some tales, the less scary ones, fascinating. There are just too many unexplained happenings out there.

5. Whats your favourite drink? Alcoholic or soft drink?

When I was at uni, it was all about the tequila and aftershock (ouch!) but now it is all about the odd cocktail or orange and tia maria once or twice a year.

Ahem, that is the official line anyway.

On a day to day, it tends to be tap water for me although I've ridden the green tea wave.

6. Do you have a big family?

Yes, I do! I have so many cousins, aunties, uncles and the most gorgeous little nephew in the whole wide world.

7. Did you have a nickname at school?

I don't think so. Not one that I knew about anyway.
Some of my family call me Number One because I'm the eldest of three girls and I've also been called Spam because my christian name is Samantha.
My gorgeous little nephew calls me 'Ammie' and consequently, that is my favourite word in the whole wide world but he is the only one allowed to call me it.

8. What 1 makeup/ skincare item are you lusting after?

Boring and predictable but the Naked pallette, it looks gorgeous and so usable.


Laura also tagged me with the eight questions, you can see that post here. This time I am going to pass the tag on and try to come up with some questions of my own.

So.

Let me think. . . tick tock . . .tick tock . . .

My questions are


1/ What was your last make up purchase?


2/ What is your favourite perfume?


3/ What would your 'perfect' Sunday entail?


4/ You can only buy one eyeshadow or one lipstick, which do you choose?


5/ What do you spend the most energy (and maybe even money) on, your hair cut or your hair colour?


6/ If you could spend a month anywhere in the world, where would you go?


7/ You're shopping and your friend has lost you. Are you at the make up counter, rummaging in among the clothes rails or in the shoe department?


8/ Who is the one person that you would like to speak to today?

The chosen ones I tag are

belles boutique

B U B B L E G A R M

Get Gawjus

I Heart Cosmetics

Life, love and lipgloss

Superficialgirls

Tacky Blue Eyeshadow

The fashionteller notes

Happy Bank Holiday!
All images in this post were found in a google image search.

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MAC Rodarte Collection.

I am sure that you have all heard about the MAC-Rodarte collaboration and the controversy that it is causing.

MAC are due to release this collection in September. Rodarte have stated that the collection was inspired by the landscape that they saw on a road trip in Texas.

One of the nail polishes is called Juarez. Juarez is a town in Mexico full of factories which employ women to work for very low wages and in harsh working conditions where sexual harrasment is common place. A vast number of women have gone missing, been raped or murdered on their way to work. Locals estimate the number of murders to be around 5000 although the authorities speculate about 400. It is alleged that the Mexican police have done little to investigate these murders possibly because the victims are primarily poor women.

Aside from Juarez, other product names in this collaboration include Factory, Bordertown (Angelina Jolie starred in a film 'Bordertown' loosely based around the murders) and Sleepwalker (most of the offences take place as women workers travel to and from shifts in the factories).

A promo picture has also been released with this MAC collection featuring a very pale, ghost-like female.

MAC have apologised for the offence caused and have stated a portion of proceeds from this collection will go to help those in Juarez.

I hope I have got all of the details right, there are many more indepth posts out there. I found most of my facts in Yinka's (http://www.vexinthecity.com/2010/07/mac-rodarte-collection-ignites-juarez.html#more). A very informative post with a number of links to related posts and to Amnesty. I would also imagine that there could be some further statements from MAC this week.

Now a lot of us have strong opinions one way or another as to whether the marketing of this collaboration is acceptable. Indeed I saw one tweet asking if we would accept it if MAC had instead created a collection that related to 9/11 in the way this collection relates to Juarez. However, what I want to focus on is one thing and actually it is relatively trivial compared to the issues at the core of this controversy but 'What were MAC thinking?'.

It does not matter if they have the right to create such campaigns or not but why did they bother? I just feel that anybody could have foreseen the controversy that it was going to cause and I can not see how MAC could squeeze additional product margins out of this collection with this campaign marketed as it is. So, no financial gain. Even if some customers are not as outraged as British/US Bloggers, the very best MAC are going to do with this collection is equal what they would normally get from a collection. So what was the point in a corporate brand, whose primary aim is probably profit, doing this and guaranteeing themselves some bad hype when it seems they are set to gain absolutley nothing?The campaign almost comes across as a desperate cry for attention but surely MAC don't need attention that badly.

As you know, I am quite new to beauty blogging and indeed, MAC but I do know that many (dare I say most?) beauty blogs feature MAC heavily (ahem.). Now I find the products more often then not of great quality but there are plenty of brands out there who probably deliver enough to satisfy our day to day needs yet some (and yep, I'm counting myself here) seem to class MAC differently to any other cosmetic brand. In Laura's (http://lollipop26writes.com/) latest video, she mentions how a haul in MAC is different in the thrill factor it provides.

I'm sure as an avid blog reader, I read at least one post each day which heavily features MAC. I am encountering MAC every single day and this might be quite pathetic but maybe I see MAC almost as a friend (and one I aspire to as well) rather then just another brand. I guess this collaboration reminds us all that MAC are another huge multinational brand. And this is where it hurts because long ago, I accepted that such brands have their own rules so maybe it is not surprising that MAC have caused some controversy. These days, most multinational brands seem to. However, I am a little bit surprised that MAC have let this go so far.

Many of you know MAC so well knowing all the latest release dates and product information and yet, despite providing such great customer satisfaction for so long, it seems that MAC know nothing about their customers at all. Otherwise surely they would have foreseen this furore.

I would presume that MAC's customer base is mainly female as are the victims in Juarez. The females there are often victims of crimes or behaviour which impreach 'womens' rights. Many of MAC's customers are going to relate to such issues. I'm not sure how MAC thought they could spin this collection so postitively to a largely female majority market. They have millions of female customers all over the world, mainly in the developed countries where women on the whole are fortunate enough to have voices. MAC must have known, especially in this digital age, that people were going to join up these dots rightly or wrongly and there would be this controversy. Why go to all the trouble of designing a collection and then marketing it in a way which quite obviously is going to get all this bad press especially when their Viva Glam collections are so applauded?!

Also it sounds like the colours in MAC-Rodarte collection are not suited to all skintones. Therefore, they have already eliminated some customers interest so why market this collection in this way and disable its success even further?! *Shakes head in disbelief*, it seems senseless!

I saw a comment somewhere (sorry I can not remember where, I have read a few posts tonight) that art does come out of darkness and such risks are more 'acceptable' these days.

Maybe?!

However MAC are such a huge brand with what I would imagine generally are pretty standard, mainstream, customers (as far as individuals are standard). I'm not sure the number of people drawn to the collection because of the brand's new 'edge' are going to make up for the number of people that they have lost.

Saying that looking to the long term, I can't see this been the end of MAC but I do wonder if people are going to think of them a little differently now. Maybe they won't be quite so "bestie" anymore.

The one good thing that has come out of this controversy is that I now know about Juarez. I didn't before and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. It may be slightly naive of me but I only hope that now so many more of us are aware of the situation there then in some way, more help can be given to the people.

Oh and as Yinka suggests in her post, we all need to make our own choices as to how far we condemn/boycott MAC, if at all.

X

8 Questions Tag!

I've been tagged by Laura to answer 8 questions! Laura (http://emeraldgreen88.blogspot.com/) says the rules to this tag are that I have to answer these questions then pass on the tag with 8 questions I have made up!

1. What is your most worn nail polish?

Ooh, I think that would be my Claire's Accessories Neon Pink.

2. If I gave you £1000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy?

Right now?! I think it would be one of those intensive boot camp things. I need some air and to move my body a little more. Sometimes I need a jump start. I'm a person of extremes, all or nothing. Please note, they forecast rain today so unless I get myself to a boot camp pretty quick, I think I will change my mind and grab some Merle O'Grady jewellery and a Daisy Stack instead!

3. What three things do you always keep in your handbag?

Phone, purse and a mini perfume or two.

4. What is your dream job?

I wish I knew but event planning sounds fun!

5. If you could have any celebrity's wardrobe whose would you choose?

I'm not sure maybe Cheryl Cole's because there seems to be so much in there that I'm sure there would be a few pieces that I could work with. Would Laura (Emerald Green 88) throw her make up collection in too?!

6. Did you make any new years resolutions and have you stuck to them?

My mission and this blog, I've stuck with both so far.

7. What is your favourite beauty product at the moment?

Morrocan Oil

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

On a beach with sunshine and the handsome man!

Thank you, Laura! Your questions were great (and made me think), I'm not sure I could better them so I tag anybody who wants to do this tag and Laura's questions. Leave me a link or your answers in the comments below.

X

My Dancing Ring!

Hey Girls


I thought I would share with you a little something that I brought this week. I was so excited when I found this on my doormat.

A beautiful Tallulah Tu Gold ring that I purchased from Tanya Burr jewellery. I had seen the ring a couple of times in Tanya’s videos and when I heard that there was only one left to buy. Well, I had no choice but to purchase, did I?

Very eye catching so it is no wonder that this little trinket has already earnt itself a few compliments. The camera really does not do this ring justice. It shimmers and dances when it catches the light. It looks gorgeous in motion, I think this ring was born to move!

Aah, I love this little purchase (well, not so little for my fingers. It is quite heavy but well, my fingers can put up) and I have a feeling that I may be showing off a few more rings soon. I think I may be becoming a little ring obsessed!

My ring cost me £32 and was here within 48 hours. So if you spot a nice piece of jewellery in Tanya’s videos, I would check out her website http://tanyaburr.co.uk/?p=jewellery to see if she is selling it.

Investments in happiness and all that ;)

X

Three things!

Here are three things that I’m liking at the moment.

1/ FRENCHED

This Benefit lipstick has defined the last week. Ever since the PixiWoo Christina Agrilia trutorial and Pixi2Woo wearable red lip one, I have being heading towards pan with this beauty. I am going to do a post/vlog very, very soon (I am wearing it in my new perfume collection videos http://www.youtube.com/user/essjay23x ) but this is a true, true red. No compromise or safe bet like the pretty but nowhere near as daring as Viva Glam Cyndi. Frenched is a berry red, a real red and I can wear it! Yay! And what is more, no gloss is required, a beautiful pigmented creamy finish is delivered by Frenched all by itself.

2/ SATIN TAUPE

I’ve always liked this one. It is so verstaile and can be used just for the lid or it can be the lid in a smoky eye or the contour in an everyday look. I’m favouring the mono look in the day and then smoking it up with carbon and sable (or one of the browns from my Sleek palettes) at night. I knew I liked this one but didn’t realise how much I wore it until I was flicking through some photos earlier. I love Sable but I think sometimes that is a little bit red for me. Satin Taupe is more of a greyer brown akin to Barry M Mushroom rather then chocolater colours.

3/ CURLIER HAIR

It must be the green tea because I am a ‘Sleek’ freak and almost always wear my hair straight on a day to day basis but I would say I have curled, flicked or waved in some way at least three times over the last month and I think I act differently with curled/waved hair. I’m more relaxed, more ‘blonde’, I guess. Maybe I think that I’ll get away with more as curly hair is so not me. It does take some heavy conical work to curl/wave my hair so that it wearable. My hair is not straight so I presumed (pre-curling action this month) that it was wavy or curly but no, curls actually fall out in a quicker time duration then the transformation from my straightened hair to frizz. I have come to the conclusion that my hair is just one great big puff ball. Although the Garnier Fructis Bamboo Finish and Hold Extreme (obviously) hairspray seems to help a lot!

What are you liking at the moment?

X

Blush: Blushbaby

Ok Girls, do you remember Blushbaby?

I think I have written about it before. Blushbaby was my first and is my only MAC product that I use for Blush.

As the pictures above show, the colour is hard to define. It does not look particularly exciting in the pan. It looks sort of old and functional. It kind of falls inbetween peach and pink. I personally see it as neither/or. I'm not that familar with MAC blushes yet but I have read reviews that suggest it is a darker version of Tenderling. Somebody said it was a rose blush and I thought yes, it is but then I looked at the pan and thought it too peachy to be a rose. I think Blushbaby is often referred to as a beigy pink.

Beige? Eurgh, that doesnsn't sound very inspiring. I don't want Beige on my lips so why would I want it on my cheeks?!

This was not even on my list when I walked in to MAC unlike Well Dressed, Pink Swoon, Style and Dollymix but this was what the MUA strongly suggested. I wasn't very excited by it but he made it seem like the wise choice and yeah, when he swatched it on my cheek, it looked okay.

When I got home, I kept comparing this to Coralista. Coralista seemed a bit more obvious on me and needed less building up but you know what, I actually think for a day to day blush that I prefer Blushbaby.

One good point is that it seems to glide on to the cheeks and give an evenly distruibuted finish. However, you may need to build this finish up slightly so you can see it.

Blushbaby is a sheertone so designed to go on gently and be built up. On the first swipe, Blushbaby is certainly very subtle and more is needed. On the second, you can see a hint of blush and it does look pretty (I think this is where the rose connotations may be coming from, I guess it kind of give the cheeks a subtle rosy flush). So pretty that you think I'll add a bit more but be careful once you can see it, the colour does seem to build quite quickly.

I hope you can see where I have swiped it on my (strange) hand in the picture above. It is a nice colour on the cheeks. A very natural blush. To somebody not in the know, it may not even look made up just like a healthy flush or glow. Maybe more flush then glow as this product has a matt finish and no shimmer.

So Blushbaby which seems to last pretty much as long as the day decrees is the perfect compliment to neutral looks and has earnt my love in a similar way that Ambre Rose did.

I am quite pale and did I mention, I like this blush a lot on my cheeks but after a little research, it seems that Blushbaby is reported to suit skintones from Nw15 to NC40.

I purchased this product in February. It costs £16.50 but this seems to go a long way. I use this blush four or five times a week and can not see a dent in the pan yet. I just ran my fingers across the top (incidentally it feels very soft, I like the idea of soft powder grains coating my cheeks) and I can feel a very slight hollow but I would imagine this blush will last me almost a year, if not more.

You can read a little more about Blushbaby here http://essjay23x.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/fotd-mac-london

Most people seem to have a MAC blush, what is yours? What do you think of Blushbaby? Have you heard of it before?

X

That pretty bag!

I got this little beauty in Monsoon for £45 and I love it!

Firstly it is not black (like 99% of my bag collection) but a very dark denim, blue. It is quite a simple, classic shoulder bag that is so prettified with the girly ruffles on the front.

It is actually quite big for a short person like me but I think the ruffles make it appear slightly more delicate and it doesn’t seem to look too overpowering on my shoulder which is good because I just had to have this bag as soon as I saw it!

X

POST REWIND: Adding Coralista and removing brows!

So, what else can I tell you about my little spree on Monday?!




As you know I went to buy Coralista.

There are such amazing reviews about it. Many say they think it will be a favourite blush forever. It is a bit of a transition for me. I am used to Benefit blushes. However, I normally use Throb or Dandelion which are much pinker. Coralista is more of a peach and it looks quite tropical and summery. I was interested to try this because with my green eyes, I have read in Amy’s make up artist series (Dazzledust25 http://www.makeupandbeauty.ie ) that peachy type colours are complimentary around my eye area and I’ve heard this before. A lady at Estee Lauder once said the same and gave me the most beauty peach and grey eye look. So why not on my cheeks? Coralista is not a bright, bright bronzing peach and so I think it will be ok with my skintone but I will let you know when I have worn it a little more. I have to admit the change from pink to peach is taking some getting used to but just look at the packaging, it is so summery.

Now obviously as usual at a make-up counter, the friendly Benefit assistant seemed keen to add on sales and when she asked me if there was anything else I was interested in, the brow bar sign seemed to be flashing at me. I have not noticed one of these at Benefit before and after just seeing all the random hairs in the mirror when we tested Coralista, I decided to ask about it. The assistant explained that Benefit were now offering a brow service at their brow bars and funnily enough, I could have an appointment in twenty minutes if I wanted one.



I decided to go for it. I am awful with my brows. I overpluck and use hair removal creams and I always get the wrong hairs and then I try to correct it and well, it got to a point about six months ago where I had to vow to leave my brows alone, they were thin, stringy, gappy and totally asymmetrical. On Monday, you could see they had grown back enough to have a little shape and there were certainly some random hairs to get rid of. Here is a picture before Benefit worked their magic!

Excuse the random hair in the middle, that is barnet hair! My brow hair didn’t grow that long. . !



The assistants explained what they were going to do and went through all the safety information. I explained to them that I have been to salons before and they normally give me a little wax and maybe a tiny tweeze and then I’m out in less then ten minutes, disappointed because there is no big difference to my shape. Then I’ll get home and try to rectify it myself and we have the whole over-plucking/shaping thing again.

Well, this time I was not disappointed with my eyebrow shape. The benefit assistant waxed, tweezed and trimmed to get a much more defined shape in my brow as you can see here.

The photos are not great but you get the general impression!

I also had a tint and my upper lip waxed. I would say if you go to a Benefit bar and just want a shape, be careful as it is very easy to add services on as they are suggested to you. The assistant also made another appointment for me even though I said there was no need. She said that, I could cancel nearer the time and pencilled it in.

All of this cost (£27 approx) about the same as I would normally pay in the salon and I was a lot happier with the result. The asssistants even used Benefit products to make up my brows and my lips (I chose the lovely Jing-a-ling lipstick) and to conceal redness before I left. The only downside is that I was sat on a stool in the middle of Boots (albeit in a corner) being waxed and I’m a bit of a wimp!

Ovarall, I would like to go back and have my brows maintained at this Benefit Bar and hope that I can fulfil the follow-up appointment that was made for me. I was given a loyalty card so that on my eighth appointment, I get a discount or free gift.

So, have you used the new Benefit brow bars? How do you shape your brows? What shape do you desire?

X

The Gorgeous Blogger Award!

Thank you, Laura http://emeraldgreen88.blogspot.com. She has awarded me the Gorgeous blogger award.

The Gorgeous Blogger Rules are:



- Accept and thank the person who gave it to you.



- List 10 things about yourself.



- List 5 additional things you DON’T like.



- Then pick ten people to give this lovely award to.



Ten things about moi!



1. I like to go travelling and usually, on my own. I have been to Japan, Singapore, Italy, Ibiza, Australia, New Zealand and North America (Vegas, LA , NYC and San Fransisco) all on my own.



2. One of most amazing things I have ever done is skydive over Sydney. It is mindblowing as you float over the world and see life going about as normal below you.



3. I am really in to my tops and occasionally dresses. I love the detailing you can get on a simple vest type top which can turn it from a top in to a outfit. I think I’m quite good at finding a nice top but I am absolutely rubbish at buying jeans and trousers. At 5 2″, it is hard to get anything the right length and fit.



4. I love pretty shoes but find shoe shopping really hard work. You always have to fight to get to the nice shoes and then I find they never fit my feet perfectly enough, some toe has to be squeezed in or if I go a size up, they are too big and then I feel guilty if I buy because I know they don’t fit right and not a wise purchase but on the other hand if I don’t buy then I resent the plain boring but sensible shoes that I have to wear instead.



5. Sometimes I say little and it can be because I’m shy but sometimes it is because I just don’t see the point in saying something just so it has been said if the words mean nothing at all.



6. Although I can be quite quiet. If you catch me in a good conversation and I find what you say interesting, I’ll probably never shut up and if I’m talking back to you at length, the chances are I am letting you in.



7. I am the eldest sister but right now, I feel like the youngest and what’s more, I’m kind of liking that. Grown up stuff freaks me out sometimes. In my early twenties, I tried to be beyond my years and it just didn’t work for me.



8. I have a Law degree which I have never really used.



9. I had braces for years and my jaw realigned to straighten my teeth but I have never had a filling.



10. I absolutley adore my little nephew and feel sorry for any other child (here or to be) cos I’m not sure they could compare to my favourite thing in the whole wide world. I’m actually less fussed about being a Mum since he came along because I don’t see how any child could compare!



Five dislikes about moi!



1. I may not always be the loudest one at the party or the feistiest one in the relationship but when you finally do upset me then I don’t forgive or forget so easily.



2. I always think of the best things to say, answers and comebacks a little too late.



3. I get impatient. If I want something then I want it now and if I can not have it now then I don’t want it at all.



4. Sometimes I waste too much time on the computer mainly because technology and I do not seem to get on.



5. I love to walk things out, it really calms me down being out in the air yet I feel self-concious when I’m just walking for the sake of it with no destination in mind. One part of me knows that it calms me down but the other part thinks it is all just a bit pointless.



I hope this is ok but I would just like to tag any of you who would like to do this. Leave us a link to your post.

X

Leaping in to Blush!

It came to my attention when the Top Shop make up range came out that people thought a lot of the Top Shop blushes. From what I have read, the blush products seem to be the strength of the brand. Now I have yet to investigate the Top Shop make up range properly yet but I am determined to get a blush from the range. The main reason for this, aside from the rave reviews, is that blush seems to be the one make up, pretty thing that I don't get that excited about. I have blushes and I wear them but to be honest, my eye sight can be shoddy and I can't always see the difference it is making to my complexion and the chances are when I am thinking 'ooh, this blush does make me look radiant', it does not necessarily mean that the product is great or that I look fantaboulous to others. It is more likely the case that if I can see the difference a blush is making to my look then I have applied too much and in fact, look like a clown to everybody else. So I guess that the relationship between Blush and I is difficult and I need to make a little more effort to try and embrace blush so this post is a bit of an introduction to an occasional series of Blush posts where I am going to celebrate all things blush. I will consider how I can make blush work and I will share the blushes I already have with you. And hopefully this series will include at least one Top Shop blush so girls, please let me know, which one I should get! I think Neon Rose and Flush look very pretty. What do you think? Flush at the top and the brighter Neon Rose below. Of course, they are quite different. I think I read once on Make Up and Beauty,Ie (Dazzledust25) that blushes are either coral or pink based and each individual is either suited to one or the other. So how do I find out which one suits me the best? I'm thinking it is probably whatever brings out your eyes etc best. That seems to be the bog standard make up test and using that I usually buy a lot of pink toned blushes but I do like Coralista and peachy eyeshadows so am I just sticking to the pink because that is more conventional for us English roses? The blushes at Top Shop cost £6 which is maybe middle of the price range for a blush. It is probably one of Top Shop's better value products. I just happened to notice (it wasn't as if I intentionally clicked on to the lippie page and reviews or anything . . , aherm) that the lippies are £8. Also as you will find out soon, most of the blushes I have are from Benefit. However, the ones I have are powder products and I'm very interested in getting a liquid blush for the summer. Could Benetint or PosieTint be what I'm looking for? The rosy Benetint is the cult product but would pale old me get more use out of it's little sister, Posietint? I'm also struggling to find other liquid blushes. I think MEMEME have a dupe for the Benefit tints but I don't really know how they compare. I have tried some of the Maybelline mousses but I'm not sure if that is what I'm looking for now. And Elf and Nars, are their blush products worth investigating? I know that you hear a lot about Laguna and Casino. So girls, I know that this is a very rambly post but I'm just leaping in to the world of blush full heartedly for the first time and there seems to be so much to discover so I'd love to hear your thoughts blush style?! Images from The Top Shop website and Google Image Search X

My Summer Scene!

Hey Girls So I'm feeling all summery today and it is raining, typical! I think my summer feeling is a little bit down to the sun we had earlier this week, the fact that it is a bank holiday (and therefore should be sunny) and a whole lot down to the fact that my fake tan break is over. Oh yeah!!! I am loving the combo of St Moriz and Boots Body Butter. I took a fake tan break because I'm rubbish at it. I get streaks, patches and very funny looks but no more! Everybody says that St Moriz goes on smoothly but isn't that easy for tanning whizzes to say?! Except this time, they are right. I'm very late on this bandwagon but St Moriz does go on seamlessly even when I mix it haphazardly in with my moisturiser. I am loving it! The only self tanner that I have ever found to apply so well is Make Believe but that costs so much more then my darling St Moriz. Now I have a tan to flaunt and I'm skipping around. I feel so full of life that I might have to go puddle jumping later to celebrate my new tan. Isn't it funny how a simple tan (no foundation or concealer required, yay) can change the way you feel?! I even added lots of colour in to my look today. St Germain on my lips, that gorgeous Claires Acc Nail Varnish on my nails that I have raved about before, a slick of All That Glitters across my lids. So simple and with all the time that I saved today, I even tried waving my hair with a concial wand but aherm, might need a bit more practise there and today, it had to be straightened out. Ooh and then time to accesorise. No black today, absolutely zero which is pretty amazing for me. Nope, it is tan and colour all the way. Here is a little pic. Sorry it is a bit blurred but honestly like I said, I've got the summer bounce today and I couldn't stand still long enough to take this properly. I actually don't look too tanned in the pic but this is about as tanned as pale old me should go. I've learnt from my mistakes hence the moisturiser add in. Now all I need is a little sunshine and my summer scene will be perfect! Hope you're having a nice bank holiday and maybe a sunnier one then mine. Made use of my look today and added a couple of videos to You Tube. Check them out if you get a chance. Don't forget, it always makes my day (even a rainy one!) if you follow or comment on my posts or videos! Would love to see your OOTD or hear about your fake tan expereinces so leave me a link to your posts or comment here. X