Computergirl's musings!

Getting lippie (liner) with it!

2012-02-13T10:27:00.004Z

For years I didn't see the point in lip liner. I'd just add a bit of lipstick and go. Of course I knew about it, I just didn't really 'get' it. Well a few years back I 'got' it. We all want the 'flawless took me no effort' look, but will spend hours grooming ourselves to get 'the look'. The general rule of make-up seems to be feature the lips or eyes, but not both. If you want people to look at your lips, then framing them neatly is a must. We all reach for the eyeliner on a daily basis, so why not for use it for lips too? (Well probably not the same pencil although some brands can be used for both- not that I would want red eyeliner or black lip liner on a regular basis!!)

A good lip liner will help prevent lipsticks for feathering and 'bleeding' by creating a barrier. It will create a neat defined outline around your lips, which you can then colour in with your desired product! If you want to make your lips look a little fuller then a good defined line will help create the illusion of volume (but be careful not to line too far outside of your own lip line!)

My current 5 most used lip liners

Top to bottom!
Prestige Lip liner in Silk L-206 from Boots (I think this was around £4) A nice blue toned pinky nude. I often use this with patisserie lipstick by Mac (link! Use SHBC for free delivery)

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lip Liner in 02 Pink Petal £4.99 from Boots (MF is currently on 3 for 2). This liner is very soft- sort of like Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner pencils). It is a nourishing texture and lasts quite well. Good neutral dark pink with a hint of brown. I use this with the Max Factor Elixir lipsticks (7 lipsticks, 7 days, 7 faces Post)

Mac Lip Pencil in Oak £10.50 (link!) (Use code SHBC for free delivery!) This is a brown nude colour, and I use it with Blankety lipstick when I have flesh nude lipstick on. Because I have pale skin I tend to go the dark brown side of nude- I fear concealer lips!!

Natural Collection Lip Liner in Mulberry from Boots. 3 for £5 or £1.99 each. Cheap as chips and quite useful! A nice dark purpley wine colour.

Illamasqua Medium pencil in Feisty £13 from Debenhams (use SHBC for free delivery). A nice soft, blue toned bright red. Illamasqua has over 39 shades in this multipurpose eye, lip, face and body pencil.

Prestige Lip Liner and Mac Patisserie

I have to say that I have found the MAC, Natural collection and Prestige liners to dry a little and become hard. If this happens to you, then try either dipping the tip in some moisturiser and then working in into the pencil by drawing on tiny dots on the back of your hand- this will also warm the product up. If you don't have time to do this then a quick blast of heat from a hair dryer should warm it up (but also dry it a little). Be careful to sharpen often as the hairdryer heat could increase bacteria levels! I have also been known to leave mine on the radiator for half a minute or exhale repeatedly on the tip!

Nooooooooooo!!!! Don't do it!!

The trick with lip liner is to stick as close as you can to the lipstick shade. Take is a shade lighter or darker, depending on your preference but at all cost avoid the 'Kat Slater' from Eastenders look... aka completely mismatched lipstick and liner.

Is lip liner a yes or no for you? Which brands do you like to use? Any tips or tricks to share?

Disclaimer: All lip liners mentioned have been purchased by me and all views are my own!

Valentine's Shmalentines. Things you can buy yourself.

2012-02-10T09:55:00.000Z

Who needs boys?! Seriously, unless you love yourself no-one else is going to respect you or love you. And let's face it, makeup lasts forever (or until the 1-2 year expiry date!) and shopping can be a bit more satisfying than boys (or am I deluding myself a bit...)! At least you know where you stand with shopping... in stock, order/try on, fit:keep, wrong size: return and get a refund!!

Valentines: Wine, cookies, sweets, DVD and nail polish.

Someone raided M&S... Belgian chocolate cookie selection is amazing. Very addictive!!

I know there are a lot of 'Valentine's' releases, but to me I see them more as a pre-spring collection rather than something I need someone else to buy me to show me they care. Love should be something that is always the centre of every relationship. It's the little considerate things that count, like always checking each other is ok, knowing when your partner looks tired and taking them home at social occasions without them saying, not leaving them behind places, making them their favourite food, not leaving dirty clothes/towels about, doing the washing up so the other person doesn't have to wade through layers of grime and dirt just to make a cup of tea, making a hot water bottle in their bed as a surprise, hoovering before they get home from work every now and again so that they don't have to do it when they come back exhausted (or come back and see mess!), drawing a bath for your partner every now and again.... you get the picture! No amount of makeup, handbags, roses (which are normally farmed unethically using slave labour), (blood) diamonds) shoes, or chocolates purchased on one day of a year can makeup for 364 days of neglect!!!! (And boys, do NOT even THINK about buying that 7p Asda smart price valentine's card. If you really are then trust me, a homemade one will go down better...)

Nail Polish of choice. Orly's Rock-it. Red with glitter in :)

My nail polish choice of the V-Day. My choice has to be Orly's Rock it polish form the Mineral FX collection. Gorgeous dark burgundy red with a goldy/wine duo chrome glitter/shimmer. Available for £6.99 inc postage HERE

If you feel like treating yourself (go'on!) or treating someone special in your life (Special can mean friend, mum, aunt etc) then these are some ideas for you!

Doesn't this swatch look a bit like a rose?

Emma Watson (Lancome ambassador) has picked her favourite 6 items out of the Rouge In Love lipsticks (£21) and Vernis in love polishes (£12) and will be personally presenting them at the Oxford Street branch of Selfridges Friday 10th Feb at 4:30. It looks like a pretty range and Ms Watson has great classic style so I'm sure they'll be a hit. If you can't get to London then the full range is available on Selfridges online (lipsticks link and polish link!). I haven't tried Lancome lipsticks so I'll be swatching away this weekend!

I also love the look (no pun intended) of Daniel Sandler's 'In love' candle, (hand poured by J Ward). It can also be used as a moisturiser once melted (which I think is cool). Also order this delight from his website (link!) and receive a Daniel Sandler Base brush for free (plus free delivery). I have the base brush and it is one of my most used brushes. I use it to apply moisturiser normally, although it does create a flawless finish with foundation. So forget this 'valentines gifts for others' malarky and buy one thing and end up with 3; a gorgeous smelling candle, a moisturiser and a luxury base brush.. bargain!

Talking of dual purpose candles, I quite like the sound of Earthly Body edible candles (link!). You're in the bath, the candle is alight, you get hungry.. eat the candle! Go'on! Practice your fire eating skills!

Wahanda (link!). Make yourself have a treat! Valentines is a huge stress whether you are in or out of a relationship. Relax by taking a spa treat from just £20! That is 2-3 bottles of wine, but much kinder to your body!! I recommend a nice hot stone back massage to work out stressed muscles and relax your mind. Just don't eat the candles at your spa. They might think you are a bit odd.

Sometimes getting away is as good as a rest. If I am going somewhere of the beaten track I use local, independent places, but for larger cities I use lastminute.com and late rooms to find a nice hotel, then plan a few excursions (theatre, castles, museums, SHOPPING!) around it. If you really want luxury (and we need a little in our life from time to time) then pamper yourself with Mr and Mrs Smith international breaks. No- Don't wait for someone else to do it! Especially not a boy- they generally get fed up of a website within 1 minute and book the first thing they see regardless of suitability or cost!!

So, as you can see, my Valentines is shaping up well. Nice pampering evening of stress free indulgence, personal shopping and trip planning! This post is slightly tongue in cheek- of course I think that celebrating any sort relationship (partner, parent, sibling, friend) is very important, but I just don't believe in pinning it down to one day of the year :)

Is Valentine's day a big celebration for you, or a big old normal day? Do you go all out or ignore it? Any disaster date stories? Are you going to be like me and use it as an excuse to buy things for yourself?!

P.s. No more mentioning of the V word this year :)

Magical 'wonder-water' 4711 cologne... intrigued?

2012-02-06T13:41:00.001Z

When I was 14 I went on a school trip to France. We caught the ferry from Dover to Calais, and did what every school girl with a taste of freedom would do.... hit duty free!! (I still do that now, it hasn't lost it's sparkle)! I remember smelling and discussing the fragrances with a teacher and this, my friends, is where I learn about 4711. It has magical properties!

Pretty gold and turquoise packaging!

Firstly this Eau de Cologne smells like a combination of citrus, lavender, rosemary and eucalyptus. It's a little odd because Eucaplytus isn't in there- it contains;

Top notes: orange, peach, lemon, bergamot and basil.

Middle notes: cyclamen, lily, melon, jasmine and rose.

Base notes: patchouli, tahitian vetiver, musk, cedar, sandalwood and oakmoss.

Overall it smells very fresh and zingy- like crisp white sheets, streaming sunlight, fresh grass, blue sky, bird song, fresh orange trees and much more. A sort of spring, summer and autumn all rolled into one! As you'd expect from the name, 4711 Eau de Cologne is a German manufactured scent, which has an amazing heritage dating back the the 18th Century. Years of history have turned it into a cultural timeless wonder- did you know it is mentioned in the book 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'?

Vintage 'watch' bottle, size of a pocket watch!

I love vintage things, so for me, the gorgeous, opulent bottle caught my eye. It doesn't seem to look like the design has changed since the 18th Century! (I sort of imagine a Keira Knightly figure using this when she is dressed up as 18th Century Duchesses in period dramas!)

There are three things I love about this scent. The vintage bottle, the smell, and the magical properties! My french teacher told me that this is the perfect scent for travel because it eases headaches and tiredness. It is known as the 'wonder-water' because this scent refreshes and relieves tension. I love applying it to my pulse points or the back of my neck if taking long journeys. I believe (but do check current guidelines) that the small 'pocket watch' bottle (25ml) is allowed on aeroplanes, but if not then you can always take on one these 4711 moist individually wrapped tissues. I bought these for the pricey sum of £1.30 (on offer!) many years ago- that's 13p per tissue!! Perfect for handbag/carry on luggage!

Bargain tissues!

That is the other thing I love about this fragrance. It is affordable. You can pick it up from £4 for the Eau de Cologne. There is also a 4711 stick, tissues, body spray, lotion, talc, shower gel and Cologne. Absolutely worth a look. You can see a good selection at Boot.com (link!), or Gemsmaquillage told me that she bought hers from Cheap Smells (link!) I have managed to find some of the more obscure items on Urban Retreat (link!) I have purchase mine from Murray's Boots and Duty Free. If you are a vintage geek then there are some lovely vintage bottles on Ebay (link!)

Golden ticket?

I was excited to read on Beautymouth that 4711 is sponsoring Matthew Williamson at London Fashion Week 2012 so expect to see a bit more of this unisex scent around this year!

Do scents remind you of places? Do you use 4711? Do you like vintage items? How do you get rid of headaches and revive yourself on a long journey?

P.s. Don't forget my OPI giveaway, and to check to see if you won a prize! Also a huge thank you for all the loevly comments recently. It really means a lot.

Disclaimer: Products and views are all mine, not PR samples!

The best winter warm me up breakfast?

2012-02-04T13:36:00.000Z

The UK hit -10 degrees last night- needless to say it was freezing this morning. I had to bribe myself to get out from under the duvet by resolving to make bacon and scotch pancakes. This is my first time at cooking this dish. I ate it for the first time last year. After mentioning I was making them on twitter and posting a picture, I received quite a few comments, so here is the recipe I used :)

Preparation time: 2 minutes
Cooking time: (each around 1 minute, collectively around 10 minutes)

You'll need:
Bacon (I used unsmoked back bacon and trim the rinds)
1 egg
1/4 pint of milk
Pinch of salt
120g Self Raising Flour
30g caster sugar

Butter for pan
Maple syrup (optional)

Whisk the egg and milk together, then add flour (sift if needed), sugar and salt. Turn on heat uder pan an put a little butter in the bottom. Turn on grill and leave bacon to cook.

Once pan is hot enough, spoon a little of the mixture into a round. Once the mixture starts bubbling, use a spatula/slice to flip it over. after about 10 seconds this side should be cooked. Put some kitchen roll on a plate and put the bacon/pancakes on as cooked. I always to this to take off any excess fat.

Eat with maple syrup as desired. I normally have a nice glass of orange juice to break down the grease.

Perfect warm brunch breakfast! Quick to make and a departure from a full English or porridge, but just as warm! You can pre-make the batter and store in the fridge overnight to speed up things in the morning.

Have you tried this dish? What is your favourite hot breakfast for cold mornings? What breakfast foods do you recommend for a good, healthy, energetic start to the day!

This week on the blog, and OPI giveaway, plus sparkly gold items from MAC, Urban Decay, Michael Kors and much more! And don't forget to see if you won a Christmas prize!

Gold, always believe in your soul!

2012-02-02T08:27:00.003Z

Crock o' Gold!

There is only ONE song which you can (optionally) listen to while reading this post... It had to be done!!

I blogged a while back about how, when I was in my early teens, I had been told at a colour consultation that I should stay clear of gold things and only wear silver. This meant that for years I had a stigma attached to gold things. It was only as I got older that I realised that actually I CAN wear golds (of a certain hue) and wear gold accessories. Silver has a colder tone and while I do still wear silver the most, gold can really brighten and warm my complexion!

I think the key is not to cover yourself in gold as this can look tacky, but a little touch here or there can look very elegant!

As you can see I have amassed a few of my most used gold items :)

Gold Multi sequin top from Oasis (previous season). You can sometimes find old season stock on ebay, or I found a different but cute one at Boohoo . Incidentally while on the Oasis website I found a gold sequin skirt in the sale reduced from £80 to £15! Yes or no? (Link)

Russian Gold Bracelets: Miss Selfridge (previous season)

Alpha H Liquid Gold (Before and after pictures/post HERE)

I have a few polishes which I am happy to wear on their own or over another colour. One of these is Sephora by OPI 'Looks like rain, dear'. A gorgeous gold sparkle polish with tiny holographic pieces in it. I have previous posted swatches (link!) and I love it.

Unfortunately it was limited edition but worth asking at Sephora or doing an ebay search every now and again. Feel free to suggest dupes! (P.s. I am giving away some OPI this week so check my last post!

...And while we are on the subject of makeup....

This is my recently purchased (while shopping with a fever!!) Vital Enlightening Highlighter Powder from the current No7 Floral Brights collection. It's a light subtle gold and I am enjoying playing around with it. Pictures to follow :) I also picked out my three most used gold eye shadows. Urban Decay's Half Baked, Amber lights and All that Glitters (Mac).

Mac All that Glitters

Urban Decay's Half Baked

Mac Amber Lights (Centre) (Left: Romp, Top: Mulch, Right: ATG)

These are three gorgeous soft eye shadows- I always use a primer to really secure them and bring out the shimmer. I also love teaming it up with my GOSH Golden Moss eye-pencil (soft as butter and costs £5 or less if on 3 for 2! Swatches/ post)


(L-R no flash) No. 7 highlighter, Half baked, Amber lights, All that Glitters.

(L-R flash) No. 7 highlighter, Half baked, Amber lights, All that Glitters.

Of course when going out, a girl need a nice clutch bag- and this one is by Michael Kors. Kors is normally known for his clothing (and the rose gold watch that every beauty youtuber / blogger seems to have nowadays). I like this clutch because it is a decent enough size to hold a phone, keys, lippie, money and still have room for a couple of other things. It has hidden magnets inside so once zipped up, it will fold over nicely, plus there is a wrist strap so you can keep it secure.

Dress up any outfit with a little gold sparkle!

Roomy inside, plus luxurious soft fabric inside.

Done up, folded discretely and hanging by the clippable strap!

Of course, not many of us can afford a nice Michael Kors bag- the price tag is normally around £200 which, lets face it, few of us have spare these days. Well I can tell you that if you purchase some Michael Kors eau de parfum from February 28th then you can get this clutch free. That means you get two things fro the price of one. I think it has to be the 50ml and above but worth asking as prices start at £35 which is far more appealing to me than £200 for a bag! I haven't actually tried the MK signature perfume but I have heard form other bloggers that it is worth a sniff!

Of course I can't mention gold and perfume without mentioning DKNY Golden Delicious (and the $1million bottle). A perfume I have been using quite a lot over winter. (Review/pictures here)

One of my favourite gold item's I own is this cute little mirror. It's just bigger than a bank card and lives on my vanity table. Perfect for checking that gold eye make up with! It also makes me feel like Princess Snow white or Cinderella (albeit a giant sized one with a tiny mirror)!

So, is Gold a YES or a NO for you? What is your favourite gold item you own? Any gold makeup recommendations?

Disclaimer: The clutch was a sample/gift sent for consideration. All opinions are my own as usual!

Wednesday Giveaway (OPI) and 12 days winners!

2012-02-01T15:30:00.000Z

Here it is, the start of a few giveaways to start 2012! These prizes were set aside for the 12 days giveaways I held over Christmas, but I ended up with over 12 prizes.. and rather than have the 24 days of a '12 days Giveaway' I said that I would have some more giveaways this year! I am going to try and hold these weekly, but don't hold me to it! These things take a lot of organising and sometimes 'life' gets in the way! Good Luck!

P.s. Thank you for all the 'get well wishes'. Feeling much better, nearly 100%! I will be posting my updated thoughts on Chanel Perfection Lumiere shortly!

Week 1: OPI Sweet heart Nail Polish.

OPI Sweet Heart

A lovely pinky nude which is perfect for a french manicure. I have previously mentioned and posted this polish as it is in my most used basket. Professional, discrete, universally suitable and long lasting. You have the chance to win this today! (If you cant wait and love an ebay bargain then I can completely recommend this seller who stocks OPI polishes from £3.80 and ships internationally, or this seller who stocked them from £4- so much cheaper than in the UK, although watch out for customs if you are ordering more than £15-20 worth!!)

Enough! How can I win??!
Open internationally although I will have to send surface mail so please be patient!

Follow these rules very carefully!

1) Be a follower via GFC.
2) Comment below with your favourite nail polish brand / colour.
3) For an extra entry, tweet " Oooooo an OPI giveaway! Thanks @computergirl200 http://www.computergirl2007.blogspot.com " (or post a link on your blog/facebook etc!)

I will announce the winner with the next giveaway- hopefully next week so stay tuned and remember to check back!!
Small Print: No professional compers/compers forums. I reserve to right to cancel or change the competition or disqualify entrants.

12 Days Winners

These are the last few winners, although some of the previous ones have not contacted me so please check the previous posts to see if your name is there!

Day 10) Styleezta, Peniam, Funkiichiicka, Fetema, Alba M U

Day 11) Olga

Day 12) Emma

Congratulations if you have won! Please send me an email with the title 'Giveaway Day (number)' and include your address!

This is what happens when you go shopping with a fever

2012-01-30T09:27:00.000Z

As some of you will know from yesterday's post, I haven't been a bit under the weather the past week and a bit. After using up various supplies I needed to go shopping. I didn't really 'need' everything below, but this is what happens when you go shopping. Actually, no, this is worse... THIS is what happens when you go shopping with a fever....

No, they don't sell Percy Pig's in Boots ;) (M&S)

Let's start with the February (yes February?!) edition of Glamour magazine. Firstly, no Emma, you are not mad. Magazines have a habit of labelling the magazine for the month ahead of when it is published. When Jo Elvin (editor of UK Glamour) was asked about this recently, her reply was 'we don't really know. No-one really knows, so we don't really talk about it- it's an unwritten rule!

Anyway random un-feverish month labelling aside, I purchased Glamour, went home, got into my onesie (yes, I have a dalmatian print one- it is warm! Deal with it!) and then suddenly thought, 'wasn't Kelly Brook in the last edition?'. I started to flick through and read a few interesting snippets before vaguely hitting something familiar. I then flicked through with a bit more deja-vu until I hit an article I remembered reading in depth. Yes folks, I bought the same magazine just before Christmas! What a numpty!!

Not only did I buy the same magazine before Christmas, but it struck me that I also managed to pick and purchase a magazine from America- not realising until I looked and saw the prices were in $!! (Cosmo USA!) I enjoyed the read though and am now keen to try more american products!!

This wasn't all. I managed to pick up some Oral B brush heads thinking they were £10 when in fact they were £10 off (cue confused incident at the till)! The Batiste Brown dry shampoo was on 3 for 2. I did need some but not quite that much. Obviously the fever took my will-power (*ahem cough*)! Talking of which I had 2 £5 No. 7 vouchers so I was going to pick up two items with £5 off until I saw there was another 3 for 2 on. This made my brain hurt. 2 for 3 minus £5 or two items with £10 off which would need to be bought separately otherwise they would be 3 for 2 ARGH!! Ended up picking up 2 items from the new Floral Brights collection, and some wipes..... then the assistant pointing out I could use the other £5 off to get some more wipes in a separate transaction. This meant I became THAT person, you know, the one who queues up and then leaves the cashier with their things while the customer goes to pick up "one more thing". This always happens when the queue grows 10 fold!!

Of course, all humiliation and confusion was worth it for new lipstick and highlighter. No. 7 Floral Brights Limited Edition collection lipstick in Blossoming Pink (above) and highlighter (below). Post shortly when my lips are recovered from a weeks worth of blowing my nose with dry, sore tissues!

Have you ever gone shopping while ill? What is the biggest shopping mistake you have made? Have you ever bought something, forgetting that you already have it? Have you checked out the Floral Brights range?

January Favorites / Haul / Winners

2012-01-29T16:17:00.001Z

I thought I would get this up early for a change! I have spent the last week congested, sniffing and snuffling away like a human hedgehog so this little lot has been my saviour of sorts

Antibacterial hand wipes (I don't want more germs thanks!)
Tissues (not the ones in the picture, but several rolls of loo roll.. which lead to use of..
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream to sooth lips and nose skin (Link!) and then when the skin split...
Sudocrem (link!) £1.99 antibacterial barrier cream. Locks moisture in.
EchinaCold capsules to help boost my immune system (Link!) Boots currently have 3 for 2 on these!
Multibionta probiotic multivitamins (link!) Boost my immunity and build me up after.
Nurofen Meltlets (link!) Ibuprofen which, unlike many tablets, can be specifically taken without water or on an empty stomach (i.e. perfect handbag drugs for sudden relief).
Cough/throat sweets. Pretty much all 'throat sweets' don't do anything other than help you produce saliva which soothes a tickley cough. These Ricola ones are sugar free with herbs in. £1 bargain! Yum!

Perhaps I'll do a post on how to survive a cold in terms of boosting immunity, skincare, how to apply makeup? What do you think?

January Favourites

Now, cold aside, these are the products which I have been reaching for when I wasn't reaching for tissues and soothing balm this month;

Slendertone toning system (Post!) I haven't been exercising recently due to being a snot (filled) bag so this has meant I could still keep my toning program without leaving the house!
Book. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. Different to the film and equally as good. If you like the film then I can recommend the book. Thankfully not a disappointing read which sometimes happens with film/book combinations!

Weleda regenerating body oil in Pomegranate. Not sure about the regenerating part yet, but I received this in my Glossy box and started to use it after a shower. My skin is really soft and this oil smells lovely when warmed during application. More in a separate post!
Optrex ActiMist eye spray (Link!) Spray on closed eyes, refreshes and soothes irritations. Dark days/nights = computer/tv screens = fixed stares and not blinking = dry sore eyes. This stuff instantly soothes them and makes me not rub them too much! (Rubbing = very bad!!) Suitable for glasses and contacts wearers.
Chanel Perfection Lumiere- still liking this but have not been wearing much makeup due to the cold. See my initial thoughts and a comparison to Matt Lumiere HERE
Illamasqua Pencil in Adamant (post here) Lovely smokey grey which is a great alternative to black liner.

Haul:

AKA THIS is what happens when you go shopping with a fever!!!

Tune in tomorrow for the story!!

Three More Winners!

Computergirl's 12 days giveaway Days 7-9 winners are;

Day 7) Magz13
Day 8) Emma (Seb's mum) (No not me!!)
Day 9) Sophiephiephie

Days 10, 11 and 12 will be announced in the next post as I need to keep track of everything and I don't want to drown!! I still have several other prizes left over- I have just been of a go slow as my body does internal battle!

If your name is above please send me your address via email using the title Giveaway day (insert number). Thanks so much and well done!

What have you been loving this January? What are your cold fighting staples? Have you used any other these products? Hope you are all well!

P.s. The Blogger Height Wall has been updated again at http://www.5foot10.blogspot.com so don't forget to have a look and see who is your height! There are lots of lovely bloggers there with amazing style which you can steal or ask them which shops stock clothes that will fit you! Don't forget to add your name, height and URL while you are there!

Detox Health: Slendertone Abs Challenge

2012-01-25T08:27:00.003Z

As we get older we are all on a quest to look younger. It's all to easy to forget that slathering on anti-ageing cream isn't the only thing we can do to help stop the sagging and wrinkling. All to often what is on the outside is a reflection of what is on the inside. Muscles- and no I'm not talking the edible foodie ones!

I want that tummy!!

Muscles help us move, but also hold the skin in place. Keeping them toned and active will not only boost your general health (improved circulation, immunity, function) but also help slow everything from moving south!

I was invited to take part in the Slendertone Christmas Abs Challenge, and being a health conscious kinda girl I said yes (that and I wanted to see how it feels to be 'electrocuted' safely and, lets face it, it sounds like exercise without the work. Perfect!). My goals were simple: firm up the muscles to help improve general function and posture. Unfortunately by the time my machine arrived and my life settled down it was a little too late to get 30 days use before Christmas. Therefore I am unable to comment on the Christmas Challenge, but I thought I would still share this little machine with you and explain how it works/ how it has worked for me.

Comes complete with the first set of pads.

Slenderotne comes complete- so you simply assemble the charger, charge for three hours, stick the pads down and go! Mine seemed to have two chargers- I'm not sure if it is supposed to!! It comes with 100 setting levels, as well as 10 pre-programmed functions.

How it works

The battery sends tiny electrical pulses (EMS)` through the pads (which are in contact with your skin). These pulses are the same frequency as the bodies natural bio-circuitry and cause the muscles to gently tense and release. If it gets too strenuous at any point then you can manually lower the levels- but the program is designed to build you up gently rather than chuck you in at the deep-end... ( I am suddenly getting visions of the Big Brother tasks involving them wearing those shiny suits which electrocuted them when someone broke the rules..... It's not like that!! See Slendertone's video HERE)

Charger and egg sized controller. Very discreet!

These sorts of machines have been used by physiotherapists to aid recovery after a patients has had an operation or suffered trauma. The fact that the general public can now purchase them at a generally affordable price is great. This means you can tone your muscles while getting on with our life- not everyone has the time or funds to go to a gym to tone up- this allows you to tone while watching tv/washing up- even sat at your desk if you can stand fit the belt under your top!

PROS

Usable anywhere (well mostly).

Quiet.

Can aid recovery after an injury / childbirth by strengthening muscles gently.

Pre-programmed although you can adjust the level to suit.

Small and light weight- easy to take on holiday!

Cheaper in the long run when compared to gym membership if used purely for toning.

Replacement pads cost as much as a few bars of chocolate- a fair trade off!

Can also be used round your thigh or arm!

CONS

Pads need regular routine replacement as they loose contact with your skin over time.

Does not replace all aspects of exercise- cardio vascular is still needed.

Can be an initially expensive at the beginning.

Can't really share a belt with someone as the pads have to be set for your body.

Pads can be cold on the skin at first which is a downside in winter!!

Does not make you give up chocolate and other naughty foods!

Other people will try and steal it off you!

My verdict

Well, it doesn't really feel like electrocution- I actually found it felt really nice and relaxing in some ways. To me, it felt more like a very tiny buzz vibration that gradually pushed into the body and then relaxed. It was not painful and my limit has upped with usage. I am currently over half way through the 100 levels and hope to keep stretching my limits. I was researching these before I was offered one, so this came at the right time! I have noticed my abdominal muscles are more toned, defined and a bit stronger, and this has in turn affected my posture and confidence. I do exercise regularly and Slendertone really compliments my routine. I also liked using this in the comfort of my own home, rather than having to go to a gym during the long, dark winter nights.

Slendertone makes belts for men and women (you just place the pads where is best for you). They also make other toning gadgets. Prices start from £49.99 and you can view the full range Here). I think the range is currently on offer at some places so worth looking around. Look fantastic have the belt for £99 including free delivery! The face Slendertone looks very interesting- if a little space aged!

Do you have one of these machines? Would you consider getting a slendertone? How do you stay toned and healthy? Are you bothered about toning muscles?

Disclaimer: I was sent this to trial and, as normal, this post is my own, honest opinion. I am under no obligation to share any samples with you and only choose to share the things I feel are worthy of sharing.

Jesus' face is in my moisturiser

2012-01-23T14:19:00.001Z

Can you see it? Not a phrase I ever thought I would type! In yesterday's post I reviewed Origins Perfect World Moisturiser after using it for 30 days. It was BeautyGeekUK who left a comment pointing out the face. Can you see it?

Look at the top right!

A couple of people have said it looks like Jesus- in which case ''Jesus is in the Perfect World (moisturiser). However a couple of others have said the face looks a little John Lennon-esque. What do you think?

I always giggle when these sorts of stories crop up in the media, maybe I should sell it for $28'000 like the person who found The Virgin Mary in her grilled cheese sandwich.

Imagine my surprise when I went to use my Lush Each Peach and Two's a Pair massage bar pre-bath this morning and found....another face. (I don't normally have morning baths but I am congested and off work). Yes, I know this is meant to have a face on it!

This (to healthy uncongested people) smells lovely and glides onto the skin.

I'm poorly, humour me! Who does the face look like? What is the weirdest item you have heard Jesus/Mary's face appearing on? Have you ever found a face? If you could find a famous face, who's would you like to find? Would you sell it or keep it?!

If you can't answer the above then leave me something to brighten my day! Normal posting will now resume!

30 Day Skin Challenge: Origins Perfect World

2012-01-22T15:45:00.001Z

When I started my blog I set myself a challenge: To use a product for 30 days and then share my verdict. (If you know about this then feel free to skip to the product blurb below). Why 30 days? Simply put, your skin needs chance to adapt to the product throughout 30 days (which is a normal hormonal cycle). Generally speaking girls (and guys) skin will become a little more oily around certain times of the cycle. Then there are the hormonal spots, oh how we love them! It's important to see how a product performs throughout various skin days.

Some people might use a product once or twice and experience a 'breakout' but it is important to continue using the product for a while, as this mini-eruption might be the result of your skin being purged of impurities. Basically the breakout could be the product doing it's job. (If this is the case then the breakout should die down pretty quickly, but try to ride it out and DONT PICK!!)

Add to this the fact that the skin is constantly renewing itself. A full skin renewal takes a different amount of days according to your age and health. To see how a product REALLY performs you need to see how the skin is when it is made of cells which have only been subjected to the new product.

I have been a bit lax in explaining this and promoting the challenge recently but I am back on the case! If you want to read more of my skincare posts then click on the 'Spot and Skincare Resources' button at the top of this page!

For the last 30 days I have been trying Origins Perfect World Moisturiser.

Antioxidant moisturiser containing White Tea

Verdict: This product smells nice, but it is a bit too thick for my skin. I found it didn't sink in very well, and actually made my skin a bit oily. Worst still it affected anything I put over it, so my foundation ended up looking patchy and disappeared into the oil completely on some days :( I experience a few spots but I think this was a combination of things and the moisturiser just magnified it rather than actually causing them in the first place.

I wont be using this again for day time if I can help it, but might use it in the evening if I am in need of a bit of a moisture boost pre bedtime- but only because I don't like to waste things.

If you have oily combination or oily skin like me then I don't recommend this product. If you have dry or older skin then you will probably be ok with it. Thankfully I did not purchase this product; it was a generous sample from the counter when I purchased something else. To be fair to Origins, the assistant did say she thought it would be too heavy for my skin, but that it was worth trying as it was free.

This hasn't put me off Origins. I quite like the brand as it does not test on animals and is free from a lot of nasty products (parabes, mineral oils etc) I just know that this product is not for me right now. The full sized tub retails for £32 and you can view it online at Debenhams.

On to the next phase of the 30 Day Skin Challenge!

And in other news:
I have updated my fashion blog www.5foot10.blogspot.com and need your help! Have you ever wondered how tall other bloggers are? If something they are wearing will fit you? Want to steal someone's style or chat about which brands cater for you? Well I now have a Blogger Height Wall on 5 foot 10! See who else is your height! If you want to be added then just leave your name, URL and height on THIS POST! The more people there are on there, the better it will work, so please spread the word.

The bad news is I have a nasty cold. Currently working my way through a box of tissues, echinacea, multivitamins, orange juice, honey and lemon, nurofen... if you have any bits of advice then please feel free to leave them- or just leave sympathy!

Have you tried this product or brand? How long do you try your products for before ditching them? Have you succumbed to your first cold of 2012 yet?

Fairy Hobmother is here to grant wishes!

2012-01-16T12:40:00.001Z

The Fairy Hobmother heard I was in need of a boost and decided to pay me a visit and cheer me up by granting a couple of wishes! Firstly she heard that I was in need of some books (as I blogged about needing book recommendations), and she also knows that I am reorganising / detoxing my life and need a few stationery bits and bobs including an agenda! She lived up to her name and granted me a little wish. January can be a bit of a sluggish month so this has really boosted me.

Currently half way through 'In Her Shoes'. Liked the film and now reading the book :)

The Fairy Hobmother is a domestic goddess, sprinkling showers of helping wishes wherever she goes. She brings wondrous machines from her homeland such as kettles, dishwashers (magic machines!) or the best washing machine (which is very useful on a bright sunny drying day like today)! She also grants smaller wishes which are just as magical!

If you are in need of some fairy magic then I suggest cross your fingers and make make a wish (or 3!) in the comments below! Visit her homeland http://www.appliancesonline.co.uk/ and then leave a link below to the gadget magic you are in need of! OR If you have a none gadgety wish (like my books!) then why not pop that below too? You can but ask! You don't have to be a blog follower, but it's nice if you are :)

Thank you Fairy Hobmother for my gifts :)

P.s. Don't forget to check my recent posts to see if you won any of the first 6 prizes in my Christmas Giveaways!

Disclaimer: I received a gift and blogged my own unbiased words.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Vs Mat Lumiere: Initial thoughts

2012-01-14T10:53:00.002Z

Chanel advert- classy and flawless.

Well I managed to get my mits on some of Chanel's latest foundation. I blogged little while ago that my beloved Mat Lumiere was being discontinued for a new foundation (also links to my comparison of Mat and Pro Lumiere). I wanted to try Perfection Lumiere because if it was not suitable then I would need to get a back up of Mat Lumiere- or start a dreaded hunt for a new foundation before my current bottle runs out.

Chanel brochure- packaging on right.

Perfection Lumiere is replacing Pro Lumiere (Pro L) and Mat Lumiere (ML). That is a bold move for Chanel. I found Pro Lumiere too illuminating (and not oily skin suitable :( - plus colour matching was rubbish). Mat Lumiere is/was much more suitable on my oily combo skin, and the colour match was better but could look a bit dark on my paley pale skin. It could also make me look a little grey in some lights (especially if I had a spot bruise/scar under my foundation :(. However it was the best problem skin foundation I had tried to date.


After 8 hours.

Please excuse my brows in the picture above- they are in the horrible 'between threading sessions' stage! Here is the foundation after 8 hours. I am a little 'glowy' round the nose- which shares the honour of being one of my most oily patches, along with my chin. Interestingly my chin is not looking too oily. The camera flash might exaggerate the 'luminosity' slightly but a little powder will sort any excess oil. Very impressed with the cheeks. (Daniel Sandler blush, Givenchy lips (both in my top 11 of 2011 post), Illamasqua eyes)

I have only used Perfection Lumiere (PL) for a couple of days. The lovely MUA matched me and then gave me enough samples for a few days. Here are my thoughts....

Close up of foundation on my skin.

PROS

Light formulations- sits lightly on the skin- doesn't feel like I have foundation on.

Slightly more liquidy than ML so it doesn't thicken so much when in contact with air. The ML pump clogs so easily, but the formulation is thicker. Chanel claims this one won't clog as much and from what I have seen so far, it hasn't clogged up at all. Hopefully this will make application less of a game of dispense roulette!

Formulated for long wear. ML seemed to last very well but was not specifically formulated or marketed as long wear. PL *IS* specifically formulated and marketed for long wear so I hope it lasts longer than ML. So far it has held up for at least 8 hours with no retouching.

Seems to work on oil combination skin! It is a sort of powdery liquid so the finish is a little powdery. This seems to absorb excess oil- although I haven't had a chance to use this on my really oily days yet. I hope that use of a setting powder would be sufficient.

LOTS of shades! If you want to see the full extent then I found THIS AMAZING SWATCH POST. Chanel have tried to cater for skin with a red undertone, yellow undertone, peachy middle toned skin (which you don't want to emphasise the redness -this is me!) and darker toned skin. This is a big improvement. More on shades later.

Provide a build able coverage. Want more coverage? Wait a minute for it to dry then apply more.

Shade swatches on my arm- more on this at the end of the post.

CONS

Price. This is £36 for 30ml which is an increase on the prices of Mat Lumiere and Pro Lumiere (I think these were around £33). I wish the price was more affordable.

ML has a higher inbuilt SPF of 15. PL only has SPF 10. Something to keep an eye on if your daily sun exposure is likely to leave you needing higher protection.

Bottle is glass which, although looks aesthetically pleasing, is a bit heavy. Part of me wishes they had gone with the vita-lumiere plastic packaging so it was lighter to carry around. That said I guess it is not designed to be reapplied, so hopefully I wont have to carry it around with me. Plus plastic bottles infuse dioxins into the product over time- which can cause cancer. Hm I think Glass is ok actually!! PRO POINT!!

The product sets quite quickly so you need to work quickly. Also if your skin is dry it will streak a little and absorb it quite quickly. Make sure you hydrate/moisturise your skin before you apply. Also don't dot all over your face before blending. Target the product in one area and blend then move on.

The colour turns darker as it dries. Sometimes a whole shade darker. This means that you really need to try before you purchase, or you could end up with a colour you didn't bargain for! The don't directly match previous ML and PL shades.

It does illuminate a little, so if you have uneven, bumpy skin or large pores then this might illuminate and draw attention to these areas. Hopefully a good skincare/diet/cleansing regime and primer will help. Not as illuminating as Pro L. Also thankfully PL seems to photograph ok so far, so dreaded white sheen!!

Conclusion:
Although I love Mat Lumiere, sometimes it could look a bit thick, crackly and grey on my skin. So far Perfection Lumiere matches my skin colour a little better, lasts well and doesn't make my skin feel clogged or dry. It can still be thick, but I haven't noticed it as much as ML. I have noticed PL on my skin a bit in certain lights, but as I am use to wearing foundations with more coverage this doesn't bother me too much. If you are more used to less coverage (vita-lumiere aqua etc) then you might find this is a bit out of your comfort zone.

Clockwise from top left. Perf L Beige 20, Mat Lumiere Clair 20, Perf L Beige Rose 22, Perf L Beige Rose 12

Photo above taken as soon after applying.

Colour References:
I wear Clair 20 in Mat Lumiere and have been matched at Beige Rose 22 (Beige Rose is slightly lighter 12. Clair 20 matched Perf L Beige 20 when B20 is in liquid form. Obviously B20 dries a bit darker. In Pro-Lumiere I was Limpide 10, but this was too dark for me.

Photo of swatches as above, but after letting them dry for a minute. Mat Lumiere is not fully dry towards the centre.

Perfection Lumiere is avaiable online from a few places including House of Fraser, Harrods and Debenhams (when they get more stock).

So there are my initial thoughts. Although I have tested it over several days but I have had to have the colour ordered in. This means I cant fully review the clogging bottle issue although the bottles looked ok when I saw them. I will be posting my further thoughts on this product after a proper testing of over a month!

Do you have this product. What do you think of Chanel's foundations? Can you recommend any oily combination skin foundations? Is this post useful?

P.s. I have announced 6 winners so far of my Christmas Giveaways and none of them have got in touch. Please have a look through the last 2 posts to see if it's you!!

Toxin Free for Energy! Life Detox! (Plus More Winners!)

2012-01-13T09:58:00.004Z

I tend to make resolutions in September. Lighter days = more success! In January I do make a few positive reflections. Rather than "I'm going to give X, Y and Z up" I say "I'm going to (try and) do more of A,B and C". If you think of giving things up, then you always end up feeling like you are missing something. Putting a positive spin on things can really help.

Yummy in my tummy. Detox isn't all about food though.....

I did quite a large series of posts last year on lightening up my life through body, mind, foods and outlook- in fact I ended up winning an award for them :). I set myself challenges for diet, exercise, de-cluttering and mind (if you want to read the last post with links to the goals I set myself then Click here). In recent times these have perhaps fallen by the wayside a little (Christmas excess... well pre Christmas, then Christmas, then the bit in between Christmas and New Year which everyone thinks won't count, then New Year, then the rest after New Year... then 'Christmas doesn't finish until 12th Night', then ......well I could go on and on, but the excess has to finish at some point before I end up on a Channel 5 documentary called "Britain's 99 Stone Horror Blogger" about a women trapped in a house of junk where she can't find her bed under all the rubbish, and is too fat to get out of bed, let alone have good cleansing facial beauty routine!!).

Starting (or restarting) a habit can be the hardest thing but hopefully if you have been feeling as sluggish as me, then these tips will be some for you to steal. Remember, what is inside of your body and mind (stress, diet, deficiency, disorganisation, lack of sleep etc) will show on the surface. The clues are there!

MISSION!

I need more energy, routine, organisation and detoxifying inside!

Detoxify: Your Food!
Water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is simple to make. A great way to wake up and detoxify your kidneys in the morning. This will help your skin and energy levels as the body will work better without toxins. Don't sip it over hours through as the acid will affect your teeth- drink over 20 minutes and you should be fine. No cheating with pre-squeezed shop juice in a bottle!! It lacks fresh vitamins, plus juicing your own lemons will work out your arms!

Classic detox juice!

Add a tea spoon of flax-seeds to help cleanse your stomach. (Why? Google it ;) ) Also keep your water intake up (around 1.5 litres a day) but did you know the body absorbs water better when it is in hydrating foods such as melon, cucumber etc? Eating a diet rich in fresh juicy fruit and veg will keep your body hydrated. A hydrated body is able to flush out toxins (literally!!) more efficiently, and put liquid towards blood production (which helps transport energy boosting nutrients and oxygen around the body.) I have been trying to get back to 3 energy sustaining healthy meals a day, and less Christmas junk food snacking!

Healthy skin diet- no not the book- don't eat the book. Read it!

If you want more diet/body/skin help then I can recommend the Healthy Skin Diet (See my mini review here)

Detoxify: Your Clutter!

Stackers from London Clock at House of Fraser

I picked these duck egg blue stackers boxes up in the House of Fraser sale for around £6-9 each. They have 25 compartments for earrings and neatly stack on top of each other.

Um... An empty box....

I also purchased a larger one for bracelets. These will protect my jewelry, but also leave it organised in a way which takes up little space, but allows me to quickly view and select pieces. There are some of these left (click here) but you'll have to be quick- several designs sold out online as I was selecting these.

Box now happily fulfilling it's purpose in life.

I have also sorted through all my drawers, reorganised my wardrobe (item type, then colour!!) donated old or unloved items to recycle or charity. This is a very therapeutic task! There are a few items which were slightly too good to donate so I might put them up for grabs on here?

Being organised makes for a better night's sleep. It saves time, plus it helps keep your living space clean. Clutter breeds dust which harbours germs and dust mites. De-cluttering little and often is a good way to stay on top of things- however twice a year it is great to have a big clean and clearout! If I am struggling to get motivated, I stick on a good upbeat tune tune ) and challenge myself to put 10 things away before I can do anything else- or tidy until the good tune has finished. Dancing is optional although might help pick up your energy levels- or get a few weird looks through the window.

Recent 'Tidy Detoxify Tunes' include;

Flo Rida: Good Feeling

Queen: Don't Stop Me Now

Taio Cruz: Break Your Heart

And the best song to inject a bit of sunshine into gloomy dark days

Help keep germs and dust at bay by sleeping with your bedroom window open an inch. I closed mine with the cold weather and storms, but I hope to keep my window open from now on! This is also supposed to boost your immune system so if you are someone who is always catching colds, or waking up with a blocked nose, then this could be for you!

Detoxify: Your fitness!

I try to stay active but have let my cardio slip a bit recently. A good walk is brilliant at blowing out the cobwebs, boosting circulation and improving your skin. Back to two sessions a week for me! One thing which I have been getting to grips with is the Slendertone muscle toner belt. It helps tone your muscles during day to day life. Since Christmas and New Year have been so busy, it has been interesting to try and kill two birds with one stone as I have not had time to do my normal toning routine. I like the idea of toning as I type, wash-up, watch tv... Does anyone else have one of these? I might do a separate post on this?

Helo nice flat, toned muscles!

I have also been finding that doing yoga breathing in the mornings is really helping me to get my energy levels up. The mornings are so dark that I find it hard to get going. I can't wait for spring when I start feeling a bit more human!

Detoxify: Your Sleep!

Getting 8 hours of decent sleep makes such a difference inside and out. After a period of late nights, late night tv and lie-ins, the best reset button is getting up at the same time every day- preferably just after 8 hours sleep. Eat a good, sustaining breakfast, lunch and dinner and make sure you have had a little exercise in the day. Also make sure you have at least 30 minutes of relaxation (sans tv/computer/phone) before your head hits the pillow. A good book or bath should do the trick (my recent posts show that I am back to reading books!). Free your sleeping space of stressful clutter, and free your mind of stressful sleep-disturbing thoughts (it can be helpful to write these down in an agenda/to do list).

As for my alarm clock... I will be using the Sleep Cycle App more this year. It monitors your sleeping patterns and wakes you up at a time in your sleep cycle where you are likely to feel less groggy. I give it a 30 minute window and have found it to wake me up gently and efficiently. Just pop your iPhone on flight mode (so a rogue text or call doesn't disturb your sleep!), turn the sound on, set the alarm and pop the phone face down in your bed. I do set a back up alarm for five minutes after the 'wake up window' just in case :) However, at 69p it's one of the best Apps I own. Plus the alarm noises are very nice :) If you don't wake up instantly, don't worry. Sleep cycle will wait a few minutes then repeat the music, a little louder :)

How do you detoxify? Do you have any tips? How do you store things? Would you like more of these posts? Can you recommend any fitness apps? What are you motivational music tracks??

P.S. The next three winners of Days 4-6 of my 12 days giveaway are 4) Ria 5) RosieHannahh 6) Victoria. Please send me an email with the title Giveaway and the number. Incidentally not one of the winners who was announced in the last post has sent me an email. Perhaps if you know them you could tell them to get in touch?

P.P.S. Outfit of the day post on www.5foot10.blogspot.com today- or you can look at my hair :) Have been using the new Aussie shampoo :)
Disclaimer: All products mentioned were purchased by me, apart from the slendertone which was sent for review. As always this has no bearing on my posts.

Top 11 of 2011 / Books / Winners!

2012-01-08T17:46:00.001Z

I was tagged by the lovely Liparazzi (Click here to see her post) to post my top 11 products of 2011. I love Laura's blog. She started blogging a little while before me, and found me fairly early on. Her blog is one I regularly check and she has gorgeous taste and style- pop by and say hi!

Choosing just 11 products is quite a mission, so I resulted in writing down products I reached for several times in a week- then when I reached 11 I cut off the list. There are millions I discovered last year, but it's 11 products, not 35!

TOP 11 of 2011!!! In no order.....

1) Clarisonic: this has really helped deep clean my skin, loosening and preventing deep set dirt. I use it most nights with a nice cleanser. (Review Here)

2) Origins Check and Balances Cleanser: Frothy face wash- not foaming (foam just goes down the drain). Doesnt leave my skin too dry, generally use with my Clarisonic. (Review Here)

(For a budget option, and a close runner up, Neutrogena 2 in 1 visibly clear face wash/mask. Slight chalkier than Origins one, but does a good job for the £). (Review Here)

3) Bioderma Crealine H2O: An amazing, gentle, oil free cleansing water (makeup remover). No oil means less irritation, plus it doesn't leave a residue on my skin- or dry it out too much after use. I hate it when remover leaves your skin 'tight' after use! Also no panda eyes in the morning with this (if used properly!). (Review Here)

4) Alpha H Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum: Amazing. Just. Amazing. My before and after photos speak for themselves. (Review Here)

5) Aromatherapy Associates Revive Gel: Nourishes and tones skin, smells heavenly. Helps fight cellulite, and wonderful after a bath. I always get asked what I am wearing when I use this- and my mother has tried to steal it off me more than once! Full Review coming soon but available. Currently has £5 off at feelunique.com

6) Aussie Mega instant conditioner: A very lightweight affordable creamy conditioner that really helps make my long (dry) ends manageable. Also helps that it glides through hair very easily without having to be worked in too much (knotted hair nightmare)! A close runner up is the Joico K-Pak reconstructor which I tend to reach for 1ce a week to do a longer treatment. It's a thicker substance so I sometimes comb it through. Joice is only available in selected salons/stockist (like amazon) but Aussie is available from Boots.

7) Guerlain Kiss Kiss Strauss Rouge Broderie Lipstick: I have been wearing this vanillary, moisturising lipstick lots throughout December. It is just a fun colour. It isn't as bright as it looks in this picture but I have a few more pictures HERE

Two close runners up were the Clinique Chubby Sticks, a sort of tinted balm- Graped up pictured (Review Here) and Max Factor Colour Elixir lipsticks (Review Here)

8) Aveda Nourishmint Lipglaze: A not-too-sticky (i.e. Long Hair Friendly!!) berry stain which has a slight minty taste. Best of all Aveda is an ethical, eco-friendly company. (Read more/ Review Here)

9) Chanel: A bit of a cheat but I have loved their Illusions d'ombre shadows this last year (post plus links to more posts on my blog with them), plus Bronze universal (a brilliant build-able cream bronze which is perfect for pale skinned people like me!) and of of my beloved Mat Lumiere foundation (New post and links to review/comparisons Here, not that it matters too much because it is discontinued :( )

10) Daniel Sandler Paach Puff blush: Sadly discontinued but I did review it HERE. I thought I should include a current product so I chose his Water-colour blush in spicey. these blushes are long lasting, and value for money as a little goes a long way! Read about my visit to at Daniel Sandler's makeup counter and this blush HERE.

11) Avon Supershock Mascara: Slightly bashed from my handbag, but you can tell it is well used. It is often on offer, and is very good value. I thought I had done a review of this but I can't find it on this blog, so I must rectify this shortly. It is on the avon website.

Bonus product: This would be a picture of my Witch Skincare anti-blemish setting powder (Review HERE), but I have used mine up and it is never in store to repurchase!! That must be a good sign! It it's place I have put the primer from this range. If you are having an oily skin day then this is a great little primer. I found it kept my makeup in place all day, which is no mean feat when I'm having oily days. Also it helps fight spot causing bacteria rather than just add to the problem (that is assuming the spots are bacterial and not hormone/diet/other related). Review Here.

Quite a lot has happened on the blog over the year but if you want cute then it has to be this beaver video clip.

2011 had a really tought start but has been an interesting year. I have managed to travel a bit more, attend some fantastic launches. I hope that 2012 will prove to be an exciting year for all of us!

I TAG....

I think a lot of people will have done this sort of post, however in the spirit of 'tagging' I tag Liz, Laura, Aleksis, Holly, Lauren Loves, Lauren to herself. Don't worry if you have done something like this already in the time it has taken me to post this!

I also tag all of YOU! Don't forget to post a link below so I know to see what products you discovered and loved last year!

Other news:

I *may* have sales hauled. (Expect a post shortly!!)

First three winners of my 12 days giveaway:

Glamoroux

Stefanie Gladden

Hannah (Which way to wonderland)

I will announce more winners in the next post, just so I can keep on top of it. I still have some prizes left over so I will be giving these away weekly :) If your name is there please send me an email with the title 12 days giveaway. Well done!

I just finished reading Practically Perfect by Katie Fforde. It was quite sweet, a light read but also something to get my teeth into. A tale of a nice independent twenty something who buys a cottage to renovate- of course there also turns out to be a flashy, rich but clinical city boy type and a shouty at first (but all in a misunderstood, hunky, caring way) guy who gets into the mix...- oh and a greyhound rescue dog or two. All quite sweet, motivating and uplifting- pure escapism! A nice read if you want something light, friendly, but with a little drama! I bought this from a charity bookshop last summer (hence the extortionate £1.50 price ticket!!) to read on the plane........ and promptly forgot to take it with me. Christmas provided a little time to remove this from the shelf and start reading. It will now go back the the charity and hopefully find a new home.

What have you been reading? Any recommendations?

Don't forget the tag!!

How is your 2012 shaping up so far?

Mega Christmas News Post!

2012-01-01T19:52:00.000Z

Christmas has been a blur and so I am a little out of sync with my posts. I have lumped lots of things into this post to make up for it! I thought I would start by sharing some of the things I was given for Christmas. This is not everything but some of the things were not relevant to share (or share on this blog). I am very grateful for any gifts received, but do not want to endorse saying gifts are essential for a great Christmas. For many people Christmas is a tough time with no present or family to see. I never forget that.

Just before Christmas I volunteered to help at an event for old people who are on their own at Christmas. I gave up my day, missed some tv and socialising time and made about 200 cups of tea in a tiny, boiling hot kitchen. At the end of the afternoon I was told that an old gentleman had turned up. Nothing out of the ordinary you say, yet this guy lived on his own and rarely left the house. No-one really new him, yet he had come along on his own, drunk (my) tea and eaten cake and left with a doggy bag of food, a smile and lots of new friends. That is what Christmas is about.

As stated in my last post, I did a chunk of my gift shopping in charity shops. Obviously gifts are appropriate and not rubbish (normally books, DVDs and gift range items). It's something my family has always done in order to support those who are in need of a helping hand- it's the gift that gives twice. Also it helps pennies stretch a little bit further- maybe leaving some extra for that special new shop bought gift. I know that not everyone will share that sentiment, but that's just me :)

So here are a few of the gifts I received from friends and family.

Of course this is a gift so I'm not going to look up prices but if you want to read up on this mirror then check out http://www.boots.com/

No 7 makeup mirror (with a magnifying side and a light!)... so I can see my spots and magnify them :) (Only joking). Something I have wanted for a while but not splurged out. I think this will be going on a large chest of drawers, as I am having a shuffle of furniture.

Burt's Bees set. I have tried one Burt's Bee's product before so this is a new venture (click here to see the post on the other product). This range is organic and cruelty free :) Have you used any of these products?

L'occitane eau de toilette Verbena. Smells like Lemon sweets. Another organic and environmentally conscious brand.

Bottom Left Brule, Right Brun, Top All That Glitters

Mac shadows in Brule, Brun and All that Glitters. ATG has always been out of stock when I have tried to buy it. I will depot these (see my tutorial here) and put them into my palettes and do a few comparison posts if you'd like?

Lush Ballistic Fizz Banger! Smells like toffee apple. I think I have OD'd on sugar as I can't face using it at the moment. That and the fact I have quite a bit of birthday, gift and sale Lush still to use....(If you hate lush, please avert your eyes from the following photo)

Urban Decay Primer potion in the new packaging- well I know it's not 'new' having been released several months ago, but it's new to me. I still have some in the old packaging (which gets 9 out of 10 for cute genie bottle design but 3 out of 10 for practically). I'll see how I get on with this! It's the best eye primer I have used to date (perfect if you have oily lids like me).

CHRISTMAS FOTD

Taken with my phone, so its a bit dull without the flash. Think a bit brighter! I have been wearing my Guerlain Kiss Kiss Strauss lipstick in 321 Rouge Broderie a LOT this festive period. It seems to be the perfect bright-without-being-too-bright, but with a slight pinky sparkle. Heavy gold luxurious packaging plus a delicate vanilla (?) scent. Perfect day or evening lipstick. (I hope that it's permanent as I see myself repurchasing it. Anyone know?)

Guerlain Gold Packaging.

Rouge Broderie

I teamed this with my Chanel Mat Lumiere foundation (shade 20 applied with a kabuki), Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer (thick coverage to go over a few spots- thanks festive foods!!- Shade NW20), Elf blush in Mellow Mauve (or Meilow Mauve as mine says- I think this was a manufacturer error!). Then I applied Chanel Epatant illusion d'ombre eyeshadow (post) (these easy to apply shadows have seen me through Christmas and New Year) and a tiny dose of Urban Decay Zero black eye pencil.

The colour can be built up on application.

My earrings are from Accessorize (Gold leaf skeleton earrings featured HERE). Sadly last season. I've found some similar ones on Etsy HERE.
Necklaces: Lorraine Chain in Rose Gold (Let me know if you want links), Kit Heath Necklace plus personal charms.

Clothes:
Zara Royal blue dress and a blue cardigan with rose gold hearts (clothes show purchase). Will probably appear on my fashion blog shortly :)

SALES!

Of course I did hit the sales after Christmas day- but only from the comfort of my computer screen! I do have a few things to share with you, but I'll probably go into more detail on my fashion blog 5 foot 10 as not everyone is going to want to see lots of pictures here :) I did pick up so functional and cute jewelry storage.

Giveaways

Thanks so all of you who have entered the Computergirl's 12 days of Christmas Giveaways (I am well aware that the proper 12 days are from Christmas until Epiphany on January 6th :) So seeing as it is still Christmas I will keep the giveaways open for a little longer ;) I still have LOTS of prizes left so I think I am going to do one giveaway a week for the next 12 weeks. Is that a good idea???

Other posts coming very soon: My Top 11 products of 2011! Sales shopping posts! NYE makeup!

I hope you have had a lovely Christmas and New Year, however you choose to celebrate. I tend to make my resolutions in September as there is more chance of setting up habits in the warmer, sunnier days. I will be making a few plans of things I was to do, places I want to go, people I want to see in 2012.

Thank you to all of you for supporting my blog this year! Here is to 2012 (the year Computergirl's Musings turns 3 and the UK goes Olympics mad)!

How was your Christmas 2011? Have you made any resolutions? Did you receive any special presents? What was the best present you gave?

Computergirl's Christmas Message

2011-12-24T23:59:00.000Z

So it is just before Christmas Day in the UK- I know some countries are already celebrating. Some of you have to wait a few more minutes/hours!

I have been watching Santa go round the earth using http://www.noradsanta.org/en/ and firing off messages to people in that country as appropriate!

I just wanted to wish you a very merry Christmas with your nearest and dearest. I hope that you are able to have a restful and peaceful day- whatever your circumstances.

A special mention goes out to those who work in hospices, hospitals or other such establishments which do not close for Christmas. You do a great job, and we appreciate you! Thank you.

It is estimated that in the UK alone, 250'000 old people will be on their own this Christmas, so please take 5 minutes out to go and wish your elderly neighbour a happy Christmas. You might be the only person they see. No-one wants to be on their own.

If you are someone who is feeling alone and reading this then please read Kellie's post. She has summed up what I wanted to say perfectly so I won't try to copy or better it. Just take a look!

Thank you for another wonderful year on Computergirl's Musings. I have lots more to come next year- including my 3rd blogging birthday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

Emma xx

12 Days Giveaway: Day 10, 11, 12! Prize extravaganza!

2011-12-24T19:35:00.000Z

On the TENTH, ELEVENTH and TWELFTH Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

Today I am doing one post to cover three days, and seeing as it is the last day before Christmas day, well it might be a special set of giveaways! There will be 7 winners!

5 Kiss nail kits (Each kit RRP £7.75!)

1 RMK eyeshadow and limited edition makeup bag (A great little brand. Shadow alone RRP £20!)

1 Murad Celebrate you Pomegranate set (as mentioned in a previous post! Worth £39!)

Some nice brands- purchases/reviews to come next year!
A few of these prizes are UK only so please check the rules!
Don't forget to check Days 1-9 out before they close!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below: Please tell me what is the present you hope for for Christmas! This can be as superficial as you want- whi knows, you might receive it!
3) Please state which country you are in. This is important.

4) As a little present to me, please tweet something about this giveaway (include @computergirl200 in the tweet!), post something on your blog, like this post on bloglovin, facebook, networked blogs, bloggers etc- which ever platform you are on!

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

This is a thank you to my readers, therefore entrants from competition forums are not allowed. After item is posted it is in the hands of the postal services. I accept not responsibility for items lost once posted. No alternative prize is available. I reserve the right to disqualify entrants, amend the rules or cancel the giveaway at any point. My word is final!

Last minute gift guide (some free ideas!)

2011-12-22T15:16:00.000Z

I have put off doing a gift post until now, partly because I have been so busy. Also the net is flooded with ideas at the moment, which has put me off saturating my blog with gifts. Instead I have been doing 12 Christmas Giveaways which have taken over a little... So here is my one and only gift guide for this year!

Some ideas which have caught my eye, some gifts I have bought for others, some ideas which I have used in the past. Don't forget to try and buy a couple of gifts from local Independent shops!

For friends, sisters, brothers, boyfriends, grandparents etc My local Body Shop will wrap purchases into a gift if you ask nicely (for free yay!). You can choose a little kit of anything (but their body butters are nice, along with shower gels... oh and the cranberry lip tins. I normally treat myself to some of the Cranberry lip glosses in the sale after Christmas ;) ) You can normally buy a few bathroom essentials like nail clippers, body brushes, flannels etc and then pop them with some bath and shower goodies.

For friends, couples, mums, sisters, bridemaids, people who spend a lot of time on their feet and need a nice foot massage..! If you are stuck for inspiration then Wahanda (the online spa directory) have a little gadget that will ask you questions about the recipient and then suggest a product or service! I havent tried it but have heard that its quite good! You can see their Christmas ideas HERE. Just noticed their mob deal is 2 nights 4* for 2 in the Czech Republic for £112?!

One for sisters, mums and grans! At the moment I am testing a wonderful little kit from Murad called 'Celebrate You'. It contains a lots of anti-oxidant pomegranate products, which I thought was a bit unusual. I love eating pomegranates, so healthy for my yummy :) I will update you later on how I get on, but I think that Feelunique sell Murad and might be able to deliver any orders in time if places today! If Murad isn't your cup of tea then feel unique or Beauty Bay have some great ranges of gifts- just double check delivery dates for where you are!

As for other ideas, Boots do a lovely range of ethical fairtrade products called Extracts. The Cocoa Butter one smells like chocolate. Plus the entire range is on 3 for 2 at the moment Click HERE.
The range is quite gentle plus Boots stores are easy to find, so do keep an eye out! I think this is a fairly fail safe gift for anyone! While there I can also recommend picking up the Botanics Eye makeup remover for any young girls just getting into makeup. It wont break the bank, but will come in very handy! (I guess we all remember those 'must-wear-black-eyeliner-to-school' days!)

BOYS! If in doubt, think big kid trapped in an adults body. Think toys, childhood nostalgia, beer and FOOD. I picked up a copy of The Goonies and The Flight of the Navigator for a 30-something the other year and it went down amazingly. Also cost very little! Teamed with some snacks and a desk toy- Sorted!

Last minute options also include eVouchers from play.com, Amazon, Ebay (Via Paypal), ASOS or post offices do a nice highstreet card which can be used in a multitude of places.

I do not always buy new things for people. I love to mix and match new with old gifts. I guess I should say Vintage Gifts!

I love to buy second hand books for the charity shops for people. They have been loved and used and then passed on. It's ethical and is a double gift as the money you spend will go to support the charity. If you want new things then most shops now have a range of new gifts- particularly Oxfam who have an exellent range of 'Oxfam unwrapped' gifts they send to Africa on your behalf, while you get a fridge magnet. I have some goats and alpacas in Africa right now! These can be sent as eCards!

I also love picking up a good board game or jigsaw for the older members of my family. We normally all sit round and participate- so the gift is actually making the family all sit down and laugh together! This year I have picked up a 'Royal Wedding' Jigsaw from the RSPCA shop!

FREE Gifts
If you really want free gifts then I love making home made vouchers for people. These have especially been welcomed if the recipient does not have much spare money to spend- they feel less guilty about accepting some help or time. Here are some of my best ideas;

A nights babysitting voucher so that mum & dad can have a night out.
A trip to the cinema/shopping for an elderly relative. They get a day out, you pay for transport/drive.
1 night's taxi ride for a sibling/friend. You drive, they party!
A taxi ride to the airport for mum and dad or neighbours when they go on holiday.
A dinner party night for friends. 3 course, you cook.
A friendship blanket evening for a friends newborn. You each knit or quilt a square then sew them into a new blanket together. Some company for new mum, and some quality time with friends.

So there you go. Some various gift ideas that could really help out some of your family and friends. After all, Christmas is about spending time with people and looking after each other. The only things we really have to give is love (and time).

This video made me cry with laughter

2011-12-21T15:55:00.001Z

I bring you the gift of de-stressing in the run up to Christmas!

(Work procratination = Youtube! Needs sound!)

Watch it and then if you are confused see my comment below this post! I dont want to spoil it for those who haven't seen this yet!
Don't forget my Melvita giveaway (plus all the other Pre Christmas giveaways on my blog!)

12 Days Giveaway: Day 9 Melvita Goodies

2011-12-20T20:23:00.000Z

On the NINTH Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

Melvita Goodies!

One Bio-Excellence Hand Cream (protects hands from early signs of aging, improves skin condition) RRP £15
One Argan Oil Roll-on with Geranium for Hands and Nails (nourishes cuticles, dry spots. Also roller-ball provides a massage while applying, aiding circulation and lymphatic drainage) RRP £9

Organic and Cruelty Free.
A nice brand- some purchases/reviews to come next year!
These giveaways are open till I say closed :)
Don't forget to check the other ones out!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below: Please tell me what is the BEST Christmas gift you have ever received!

3) If you have had some enjoyment out of my blog this year then please show your appreciation by clicking the 'like' my post on Bloglovin, sharing this post on twitter (using the 't' button at the end of this post), or share my blog link on your blog.

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

Review: Alpha H Liquid Gold and Night Intensive

2011-12-18T20:52:00.000Z

I have mentioned these products a few times since buying and using them, but have put off doing a post for reasons explained here in a small rant. While I might initially mention a new products, a good review needs a few weeks or months of usage!

Alpha H is an australian company which specialises in anti-againg and acne Glycolic based treatments. I started this blog because I was downhearted by my skin and Alpha H was recommended to me personally by the wonderful Beauty Mouth.

Pacman and Ghouls! I might give you a link at the end ;)

Glycolic acid is a bit like little pacmen (you know, those little yellow crescent computer animals that munch their way though a maze of stars and fruit while being chased by rainbow coloured ghouls.... Man, I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall for that product pitch!). Anyway the teeny tiny pacmen zoom all over your skin and munch up the dead cells and debris- preventing it from falling into and clogging pores. This action also promotes new, healthy skin to grow by jump starting the natural renewal process. Glycolic acid is a natural substance and is usually found in fruit (fruit acid). Therefore it's just using what nature gave us ;o) (I think I have just reasoned that nature gave us Pacman... moving on....)

Liquid Gold

Liquid Gold (LG) comes in a fairly basic even bland, bottle. It's not going to win any awards for how it looks, and to be honest if I saw it on a shelf in Boots I'd probably walk past it. However, stay with me! It is a clear liquid which you apply to cotton wool and sweep over cleansed skin every other night. You can then apply a night serum or moisturiser over the top (which will dilute the treatment a little) OR (as I tend to do) leave it neat on the skin for a more intense treatment. It is designed to resurface and firm the skin, plus fight acne.

It smells ever so slightly of licorice (which is one of the ingredients) and I like the smell. (Incidentally licorice root jump starts the immune system, has antiseptic properties and has long been used for cleaning teeth). I have been using LG alternative nights, normally after a good deep cleanse with my clarisonic (which removes deep set dirt and helps the skin to absorb products such as serums and moisturiser).

Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum

The big daddy product is Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum (INRS) and it is as magical as it looks. See the little beads inside the tube? They burst upon pump application. The packaging looks pretty, the product looks like gold, and the result on my skin? (Dad joke coming up) Alpha H...AH-mazing!

This product smells more of fruits (and possibly essential oils?) than Liquid Gold. A couple of pumps of this gel do my whole face and neck area but, as with LG, don't apply to the delicate skin of the lips or eye area. I accidentally got some on my lip once and it stung a little until I washed it with water. This product is aimed at mature and sun-damaged skin, but that doesn't stop us with 'early signs of aging' using it. It also contains vitamins A, B3 and E which your skin will soak up overnight.

How has LG and INRS changed my skin?

Before it was like this. Sorry folks, it makes me feel sick just looking at it.

Night 1: Skin smoother and softer.
Night 7: Skin 'glowing' more, tone less patchy. Grey dullness gone, red spot scars vanishing.
Several months on: Pores are less congested, less visible and my whitehead / cystic spots have dramatically reduced. Even those stubborn little white congested pores on my chin have subsided. Of course I get the odd breakout but that is becoming more hormonal and diet linked.

Sadly due to years of acne and picking (DONT!!) my face does have scars. HOWEVER, these seem to be lessening. I am amazed. I thought I was stuck like this for life. They are not gone all together but I have found the INRS more effective (and less greasy) that Bio Oil (another product I've tried for scars).

After using Alpha H. This is the left side of the picture above.

Also weird effect I didn't expect- my skin is less oily in the day now, and my foundation is a lot easier to apply. Of course this is a result of several parts of my daily routine, but my softer, even, less pigmented skin is a factor. (For spot tips see this post).

The biggest impartial indicator to its success is the number of unprovoked comments I have had from friends, family and strangers.

LG or INRS?

I have both because of various deals and a long quest for nice healthy skin- like I should have had in my teens and early twenties. For me, my skin is far from perfect so I found INRS a huge help. If your skin is largely spot and scar free then I would go for LG to help even the pigment and remove dead skin cells. If your skin is suffering or has suffered like mine then I'd recommend INRS.

I aim to use both to repair my skin, then only use LG to maintain it. I tend to rotate these on a three day routine with a night serum / moisturiser on the third day.

Downside?

As the dead layer of skin is (rightly) removed, this can make it temporarily susceptible to sun damage- make sure you use a day cream or foundation which contains an SPF suitable to the climate you are in. (I have been using Origins Brighter by Nature SPF 35 recently, with Chanel Mat Lumiere SPF 15)

Some people might suffer a bit of a tightening or tingling sensation- espessially if you have sensitive skin, eczema or other per-existing conditions. I have had no reactions (red skin, tight skin, itching, pain etc) apart from the brief lip incident.

The big downside for me is that these babies seem to retail between £30 and £50 (online only). Skincare is definitely an investment for me- an investment of time and money. Unfortunately I have not found a cheaper alternative.... yet. There is no need to use religiously every other night, but I think you would get 6-12 months out of each bottle.

I have purchased mine from Beauty Bay who seem to have various discounts at certain times of the year and international shipping. I have also seen the products on QVC so have put both current prices below for you to compare.

LIQUID GOLD (Left)

Beauty Bay £31.50 (Free UK Delivery) = £31.50

QVC £28.50 (P&P £3.45 UK) = £31.95

LIQUID GOLD INTENSIVE NIGHT (Right)

Beauty Bay £49.00 (Free UK Delivery) = £49.00

QVC £37.14 (P&P £3.95 UK) = £41.09

So there are my thoughts on Alpha H Liquid Gold. A big thumbs up in my view! I can't wait to try the eye complex next as it is supposed to be good.

In other news.... I have REN's Glycolic Renewal Mask so I will be seeing how it compares in performance and price. I also have some new cashmere mits (thanks to Lauren) which I wore today as I went up snow covered mountains with a friends dog. I 'almost' felt like I was in Switzerland. Almost! Finally don't forget my 12 24 Christmas giveaways, 8 of which are up and open. Some special things to come!

Have you tried any Alpha H or Glycolic treatments? Do you have any recommendations? How do you treat your skin to combat dull, red, blotchy, spots and scars? Is skincare an investment for you? Any thoughts, questions, Pacman scores?

Disclaimer: Items were bought by me. Review is my own honest thoughts!

12 Days Giveaway: Day 8: Dove

2011-12-15T04:29:00.003Z

On the EIGTH Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

A Little Bundle of Dove!

One Dove Hydro Nourishment body lotion

One Dove Nourishing Oil Care conditioner

These products are great at helping keep the body and hair moisturised. Something which is really important in winter with all the harsh climates.

Give yourself a bit o' Dove this winter!

UK only folks!
These giveaways are open till I say closed :)
Don't forget to check the other ones out!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below witha nice Christmas message or something!

3) If you have had some enjoyment out of my blog this year then feel free to show your appreciation by clicking the 'like' my post on Bloglovin, sharing this post on twitter (using the 't' button at the end of this post), or share my blog link on your blog.

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

12 Days Giveaway: Day 7 Models own Lipgloss

2011-12-13T18:30:00.001Z

I have several prizes to giveaway on the run up to Christmas as a thank you! It's been a fun year so what better way to celebrate than to pass on some wonderful goodies! These are all items I have either bought or been sent as surplus samples or giveaway prizes. I have made a substantial donation to the local women's refuge (though Give and Makeup) but have kept a few things aside especially for a Christmas blog giveaway! All items are new and unused. Please follow the rules carefully! Good luck!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

Two Christmas Kisses- aka Model's Own Lipglosses!

Golden Nude, Pure Plum, Lacquer Red, Glossy Pink

Models Own have teamed up with Diet Coke to create these four exclusive shades of Lipgloss. After my trip to The Clothes Show with Diet Coke, they kindly gave me the set of Limited Edition glosses.

These remind me a bit of my Victoria's Secret glosses.

As you can see, I already have 'a few' lipglosses. I have another VD one, but its in a bag- plus a whole drawer of other glosses. I think I might have a problem.

Golden Nude and Pure Plum

These glosses are thick, dewy, vanilla smelling Christmas in a tube. There a bit of fine glitter in the two I've opened. It's a perfect product to pucker up with, before you hit the Mistletoe with that certain special someone! I have also tried mixing them to create my own colour! Step aside OCC lip tars!

So, you get to WIN two Models Own glosses!!

International Giveaway!

Both these products are available from Boots so if you cant wait, then head to Boots and pick up two bottles of Diet Coke to claim your free lipgloss!!

These giveaways are open till I say closed :)
Don't forget to check the other ones out!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below with what shade you want.

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

Chanel Giveaway Winner: Illamasqua haul / Code

2011-12-13T10:51:00.003Z

I was wondering why my Chanel winners hadn't contacted me. Having just looked back it seemed to posts scheduler did not work. I am so sorry!! I thought no-one wanted the Chanel- how wrong could I be!

A lot of names went into the hat having left positive mantras/comments/tweets etc (such an uplifting post so take a look at the comments HERE)- and it took me a while to verify them as some people were a bit cheeky and didn't follow the rules (!) anyway, the two names picked at random using a spreadsheet and Random.org are............

75. Miss Mathful

115. Bambaki83

Congratumalations!! Please send me an email using the title 'Chanel Giveaway' using the contact details on this page. Please send me your postal address. You have each won one Illunsion d'ombre shadow!

ILLAMASQUA

I have a couple of pieces by Illamasqua. The brand has seemingly sprung up out of nowhere in the last couple of years. Their style seems to be gothic inspired (and umm a few questionable names!). I know I have blogged about ore pigment before- well I added to my collection while at The Clothes Show!

Just a small haul!

L-R Cream Blush, eyeshadow, pigment, 3 pencils.

Cream blush in Betray- notice the bubbling :(. Below, pencil in cane/

I haveheard really good things about Illamasqua's cream blush. Unfortunately I picked up one which had bubbled. I'm not sure if this is a fault or just my luck! It comes out a lot softer than in the pan, so a real buildable colour. The trick with cream blushes is to set them using a powder- I try to use a blush in a similar colour, then a translucent powder. Unlike some cream blushes I have tried, this is not overly sticky to apply- or once on the skin. It provides me with gentle flushed look.

I wanted to make my eyes look brighter so I picked up the multipurpose pencil in cane, a sort of nude yellow. I'll play around a bit with this and get back to you with my verdict! I should be able to use it to neutralise dark circles, spot scars and make me look awake. sounds heavenly!


Eyeshadow in Tango. This has a lovely metalic hue	.

This eyeshadow is a gorgeous coppery brown with metalic finish. It does remind me a bit of a slightly darker MAC Mythology- however you get 2g to MAC's 1.5g. Perfect to frame blue or brown eyes!

I also picked up another pigment in Fervent, a mid brown pigment with finely milled irreidescent and copper shimmer. A prefect addition for a frosty winter look, or to blend in with Tango eyeshadow. I normally try to use a cream base when using pigments. It helps to set the powders, although sometimes I will just apply straight over my Urban Decay Primer Potion, before it has set. If I want to pack lots of pigment on, then I use good ol' Vasiline!

The last two purchases were two more multipurpose pencils in Feisty (a blue tones bright red for a vintage lip) and Adament (a smokey grey for a softer eye).

Swatches L-R

Cream Blush in Betray £16.50

Eyeshadow in Tango £15.50

Pigment in Fervent £15.50

Medium Pencils in

Cane

Adament

Feisty

All £13

Lucky for all of you, you can get 15% off if you shop online at Illamasqua using the code FRIEND15 or TREAT15.

Alternatively if you are quick Debenhams have huge discounts of 10-40% off at the moment. Worth a look!

Do you have any Illamasqua products? What do you think of the quality? Have you ever known products to bubble like my cream blush? What do you think of Illamasqua's collection?

P.s. Don't forget to enter some of my Christmas giveaways! Some have only one or two entrants so you have a big chance of winning! Just click the 'Giveaways' tab at the top of this page!

Magpie Sparkles for Christmas

2011-12-13T08:26:00.002Z

Christmas is a time for sparkly things :) I thought I would do a post in homage to all things glittery, sparkly, affordable, and, err, not so.. but a girl can dream!

My latest Christmas giveaway is a Skin Art Glitter Tattoo kit.


Just bigger than a DVD Box.

Several different designs, and simple instructions

Put the adhesive stencil on the skin. Apply glue on to the skin and let it settle for 10 seconds.

Add SPARKLES!! The kit comes with three!

Voila! Pretty temporary glitter tattoos!

This kit cost £14 from Boots BUT is currently on a 3 for 2 gift deal! Perfect! The tattoos last for around 5 days- mine has been on for three and is still going strong. Quite cute. I have had no reactions, other than people asking about it in the street! Next I'm going to mix some gold glitter in with the silver!

I previously mentioned my Butler and Wilson earrings, these are so sparkly and have been getting lots of compliments this party season. Subtle enough to catch the light. I think I saw Holly Valance wear the red pair on Strictly come dancing last week!

They are a little heavy, but not too heavy.

While browsing the Butler and Wilson site recently I spotted this gorgeous piece. A peacock purse, a snip at £398!

How gorgeous! Oh if I were Tamara Ecclestone (Billion Dollar Girl- watch it here) then I would snap one up! However I am not Tamara (I don't skive off work because I have a spot!!- or was that just for the cameras!) anyway, I wont be buying one anytime soon!

Perhaps more affordable for most, and something I love, is this Art Deco Clutch from Accessorize

£32 from Accessorize

And this 'Zeus' Cocktail ring for £15

Certainly get the Gods attention with this!

Of course a statement ring needs a good application of nail polish- this is to follow in the next sparkles post!

For sparkly eye makeup- its got to be Chanel Epatant and Mirifique Illusion d'ombre shadows. I have photographed and mentioned them lots, so I wont put more pictures in here! I also love a good Barry M dazzle dust as some of them have sparkles in. A great affordable bargain for £4.50 (plus Boots currently have a great offer on of a free gift when you spend £6 on Barry M! Make sure you set it through, or you'll be finding glitter on everything!

Of course a sparkly things post would not be complete without a sparkly scent. Earlier this year I posted on DKNY's Million Dollar Bottle as part of their Golden Delicious launch. Of course that was sparkly, but for those of use with less than $1million to spend (!), I recently found Donna KAran's Cashmere Mist Swarovski- which is a Swarovski exclusive to Harrods at £85.

Perhaps slightly more affordable is the £46 set of EDP and Body Lotion- for those of us who arent made of money, and want to invest in two products for the price of one!

Of course the best sparkle to have this Christmas is probably the one in your eye (preferably as you sip a nice glass of bubbly and chat to family and friends)!

What Sparkles are you looking forward to this Christmas and New Year?

Disclaimer: SA Glitter Art kit PR sample. As usual this does not affect my review.

12 Days Giveaway: Day 5 & 6 Glitter Tattoos and Colour Xtreme Hair Art

2011-12-12T15:46:00.001Z

This is a little later due to the scheduler failing (thanks!) so I have put days 5 and 6 together!

I have several prizes to giveaway on the run up to Christmas as a thank you! It's been a fun year so what better way to celebrate than to pass on some wonderful goodies! These are all items I have either bought or been sent as surplus samples or giveaway prizes. I have made a substantial donation to the local women's refuge (though Give and Makeup) but have kept a few things aside especially for a Christmas blog giveaway! All items are new and unused. Please follow the rules carefully! Good luck!

On the FIFTH AND SIXTH Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

Three Colour Xtreme Hair Art spray colour in a can.

I used these before I visited the clothes show (have a look at my post if you want to see how red looks on brown hair!). Look out for more posts using them!

One Skin Art Glitter Tattoo kit


This kit is so cool! Post coming very soon! (Edit Review POST HERE)

UK Only Folks!
Both these products are available from Boots so if you cant wait, then head there for a look!

These giveaways are open till I say closed :)
Don't forget to check the other ones out!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below with what shade you want.

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

12 Days Giveaway: Day 4: Mac Eyeshadow

2011-12-08T21:04:00.002Z

On the FOURTH Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

One Mac Eyeshadow.
Open Internationally

One Mac eyeshadow from permanent collection in the UK.
These giveaways are open till I say closed :)
Don't forget to check the other ones out!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below with what shade you want.

PLUS share this post on twitter or your personal blog (and link below or @computergirl200 in your tweet!).

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

Spot? Check!

2011-12-08T11:31:00.000Z

We all have them at some point, and for many reasons. Hormones, diet, stress, poor cleansing, allergies, hygiene... it's amazing how they affect our confidence. I have suffered with spots for years and years, and my mission to banish them is still going on. I have started to pen a series of posts on various spots and what I have learned about them- including tips and information to help banish them.


This is my current skin pic (with light foundation)

Before I go into specifics I wanted to share a few pearls of wisdom I have picked up along the way. Obviously some spots are due to medical conditions, and if you suffer from those then I sure you to see a doctor and dermatologist. It is nothing to be ashamed of. I have sought help with my spots, but then after chatting to my doctor decided to do more research into skin problems and see if I could improve my skin without reacting for antibiotics.

I am so glad I did. I have been able to clear up a lot of my spots through fairly simple changes. I still suffer but not as badly.

Computergirl's Spot Pearls of Wisdom!

Always clean (cleanse) your skin twice a day. If the dirt (makeup, pollution, grime, food, sebum, dead skin etc) isn't going down the drain, then it will be forced into your skin. This means removing makeup at night no matter how late!

Give your skin a little massage as you cleanse. This will help boost circulation which will improve the condition of your skin (good circulation carries nutrients around the body and helps transport evil toxins out of the body)!

Always change your pillow case weekly. Your face is in direct close contact with the same fabric for (ideally) 8 hours a day. If it's dirty, sweaty, harbouring bacteria then that is going straight on to your face!

Always clean your makeup brushes after each use. Some people spot clean brushes with wipes daily, but ideally deep cleaning is the only way to stop transferring spot causing bacteria from your face to the brush and then back to your face each day.

Always stay hydrated. This means making sure you have enough water. Drinking water is good, although make sure you drink extra if you have coffee or alcohol. However it's not just water that will hydrate you. Many fresh fruit and vegetables contain a high percentage of water, however your body is able to digest and retain this a little better than water (think melon, cucumber, tomato etc).

Always try to limit refined foods or those containing unhealthy salt levels or chemicals. In general breads and cakes that are white will heave bleached flour in- whole wheat or brown is healthier as the goodness hasn't been bleached out.

Always exfoliate your skin 1-2 a week to help remove dead skin cells (before they block your pores and cause spots). You can use a scrub, or an exfoliation pad (like the one above from The Body Shop for £3, dont forget to wash it between uses!)

Always moisturise- even if you have oily skin. Skin needs moisture. Serums are good for oily skins. I love my body shop seaweed clarifying night treatment (Post here, link here). (I think Cosmo had a free discount card with their latest mag, worth between £3 or £100 for The Body Shop!)

Treat your skin to a nice mask on a weekly basis. At the moment I am loving Darphin Hydrating Kiwi Mask. You can buy this from SpaceNK (Here) If anyone wants a more details review, let me know. I also love using a deep cleaning mask such as the Neutrogena 2 in 1 mentioned above.

So healthy spot free skin is a way of life. There are no short cuts or quick fixes. Its a long, repetitive routine, but one that is worth every step in my eyes.

Last summer I picked up 'The Healthy Skin Diet' book (post here) and I have found it really interesting. I have a review of the book as a whole to post, but can generally recommend it if you are on a mission to sort out your skin problems. A lot of the time our skin problems are a symptom of another problem. If we can sort that then our skin will turn right in due course.

This book is available from Amazon and Ebay and prices start from around £4. There are some editions available with a different cover picture but I think the book is the same.

So there are some skin tips- I will be sharing more specific advice and product details in the future. What skin tips do you swear by?

Don't forget my 12 days of christmas giveaways (just click the giveaways link at the top of the page). You can enter as many as you like!

Spots are going to become a permanent feature on my blog..... Stay tuned!
Disclaimer: All products were bought by me apart from the Darphin Kiwi mask which was sent for consideration. This does not affect my post.

Clothes Show: Birmingham

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000Z

For those outside of the UK, The Clothes Show was a tv show which ran from 1986-2000 fronted by Selina Scott, Jeff Banks and Caryn Franklin. It did have a second outing later on, but now all that is left is 'The Clothes Show Live', a giant trade/industry show at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. It aims to cover all things fashion related from up and coming designers, high end designers, catwalks, vintage fashion, hair, beauty, training opportunities and dance. I think the dance section is a recent addition.

I was very excited to be invited to The Clothes Show 2011 courtesy of Diet Coke (more of that later). My day started with a nosebleed, so I was a bit later setting on that I had hoped! I arrived just before ten and the hall was starting to fill up, but their was still a little bit of room to get round.

I started in the high end designer section, which sadly failed to impress- it didn't feel very high end at all and so I didn't buy anything there. I walked through to the beauty area (surprise!) although it was nearly time for my catwalk showing so I did a little browsing at Orly, Carmex, Illamasqua, Elimis and Lipcote.


At the Carmex Cab with Orly girl Farrah! I might do an outfit post on my other blog. I look a bit evil in this picture- I blame it on my nosebleed!

I then went round the corner and saw....

Is that Kimberly Wyatt of the band/dance troupe formerly known as The Pussycat Dolls..?

I ended up sat right by the sound desk in the main catwalk. It was quite loud, my heart was shaking with each note so I made a point of putting in my earplugs- I think they noticed as they turned the sound down then. I'm all for being able to hear, but when noise is so loud that it physically shakes you- I'd rather have my hearing when I'm old thanks!! Considering this event has a high turn over of children, you'd think they'd be hot on the sound levels for health and safety.... (*old person rant mode over).

George Lamb with James and Maria from TOWIE (I think it's them, I don't watch it), Darren and Lindsy from Hollyoaks and Grace Woodward.

The catwalk was opened by George Lamb and Grace Woodward (stylist on the X factor, BINTM etc) who introduced Jade Thompson (Winner BINTM) and The Risk (band from x factor). I'm not sure if Jade walked in the catwalk, but The Risk sung Make this a night to remember (live it appears, and in tune so well done them).

The Risk

The catwalk was based on a department store where the mannequins come to life at night and visit each floor (Menswear, designer accessories, lingerie, Women's wear, music, bridal). Each floor was introduced by a team of dancers, then the team of models walked- leaving the alternating teams time to change. The music floor featured a performance from ex Pussycat Dolls star Kimberly Wyatt with her new 'band' (aka two Dj's with KW vocal- (or not, she had a backing track, sung a few lines and danced (well flopped her knees out to the sides and squatted lots). The dancing was ok, but I guess it just wasn't my thing! (Daily Mail have a write up/better pictures of KW HERE) There were some really pretty dresses but I don't know who designed any of the items- and I cant seem to find any information :(

Catwalk.

After lunch I settled to watch the Diet Coke Catwalk show, designed by fashion blogger and model Bip Ling. This presented one of the most memorable moments*. The theme was fashion in Paris, London and New York. Each model wore cream lace shorts, frilly ankle socks, red suede Mary Jane shoes, and a cream chiffon blouse. After this each look was customised to represent the country- so America had a statue of Liberty hat made out of rolled up coke cans. I spotted a really cute coke can bracelet on one on the models, but they were moving so quickly I didn't get a good photograph. One look had a gorgeous red handbag. Here are some images.

Notice the cat ears made out of coke cans?

Quite appropriately they walked to 'J'taime' for Paris, 'London Calling' for... well, London, and New York, New York for well you get the idea!

Ah Statue of Liberty A la Coke and Bip Ling style!

Next there was a New Look show- It seems we are in for more Chiffon blouses, browns, blush, block colours, chunky knits and glitter dresses.

New Look Fashions- loving the green coat and clutch outfit!

I spent the rest of the day lapping up free Hagen Daaz ice-cream (from a vintage styled American cinema ice-cream seller / model!), watching the designer catwalk show, trying to get near some of the more popular stands, style spotting, spotting the 'I-want-to-be-spotted' girls (tights, denim hot pants, tall skyscraper heels**, tonnes of makeup and backcombed bush hair), and making a few purchases.

All in all a fun day. I wish I had worn my pedometer so I could have measured how much walking I did! I'll be doing some more fashion posts on my other blog www.5foot10.blogspot.com so sub there if that sort of thing interests you :) I'll be going over a few of the beauty purchases here.

Thanks to Diet Coke for hosting Computergirl / 5foot10 at The Clothes Show.

Goodie bags!

*Most memorable moment- when presenter Zoe Birkett split her trousers through demonstrating a 'booty shaking' dance move. Its the moment we girls fear- how embarrassing. I don't think she noticed!

**I saw a lot of girls carrying their skyscraper heels in their hands as they walked back in sub zero temperatures back to the car!! They obviously haven't found fold-up handbag shoes (very have some for £20!)

Have you ever been to The Clothes Show? What is the best goodie bag you have picked up at one of these shows? Would you wear any of the items on these models? What do you think of the Diet Coke /Bip Ling creations?

(P.s. If you are going to The Clothes Show, don't forget to stop by the Diet Coke Image Catwalk and get for free diet coke sample after each catwalk!)

P.P.s. Many more posts to follow, but if you haven't checked out my Christmas Giveaways then click the Giveaways tab at the top of this page. I am putting 1 prize up for grabs every other day. The giveaways stay open until further notice, but I hope to draw some of the winners in time for Christmas and New Year parties!

Disclaimer: My trip to The Clothes Show was courtesy of Diet Coke, this does not affect my views. All words here are my own thoughts.

12 Days Giveaway: Day 3: Batiste Kit

2011-12-05T16:51:00.001Z

On the THIRD Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

One Batiste kit. UK only I'm afraid.
I can't sent aerosols abroad :'( but I am hosting plenty more international giveaways.

These giveaways are open till I say closed :)

Dry shampoo, a must for party season. Plus a Denman/Batiste brush (with antistatic pads). Perfect for a handbag! Previous Batiste posts HERE

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below (perhaps with a seasonal message or Christmas wish).

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

12 Days Giveaway. Day 2 Barry M

2011-12-03T00:01:00.004Z

On the SECOND Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

One Barry M Toffee Lipgloss. Open Internationally.
Open until further notice!

A regular item in my favorite makeup posts!

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below (perhaps with a seasonal message or Christmas wish).

Don't forget to enter DAY 1's giveaway (HERE)

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).

Disclaimer:

12 Days Giveaway. Day 1 Carmex

2011-11-30T22:45:00.001Z

On the FIRST Day of Christmas Computergirl gave to me....

One Carmex Lipbalm. Open Internationally.
Open until further notice!

See my review HERE

Rules:

To enter you must

1) Be a subscribed follower of this blog via GFC/blogger dashboard.

2) Comment below (perhaps with a seasonal message or christmas wish).

Winners announced via blog post after Christmas (but hopefully before new year).
Winners picked at random.

Disclaimer:

Entrants from competition forums are not allowed. After item is posted it is in the hands of the postal services. I accept not responsibility for items lost at this point. No alternative prize is available. I reserve the right to disqualify entrants, amend the rules or cancel the giveaway at any point.

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

2011-11-30T20:18:00.000Z

Just a heads up that tomorrow sees the start of

Computer Girl's Christmas Giveaway, or GCGC for short!

I had hoped to have 12 days of Christmas so keep your eyes peeled. The posts will go up early each day so not to clutter your feeds up too much! The prizes will only be for subscribers on GFC so make sure you are subbed! Thanks and good luck!

November favorites

2011-11-30T10:22:00.000Z

Here are some of the products I have been reaching for a lot this month!

Sudocrem. I have had a few spots crop up through having a patch of dry skin recently. I think it is the result of harsh dry winter winds and central heating. Originally made for nappy rash, Sudocrem is now used for all sorts nowadays. It's a cream which contains antiseptic and helps lock moisture into skin. This makes it perfect for attacking spots. It's thick and doesn't sink into the skin easily, so best used at night. Most spots need moisturising, some (bacterial) spots need antibacterial products. This product has recently been put in a tube, which makes it perfect for every skincare basket. Available from Boots online for £1.99 (Here)

Lush Gingerbread House. It smells of gingerbread and is shaped like a house. What more do you want for a cold winter's evening? A nice long soak in a hot bubble bath!

I picked up this bubble bar during a recent online order, having never seen it in real life. I was so glad I took a chance! This has provided me with enough bubbles for four baths. It doesn't stain the bath and makes the bathroom turn into a lovely (smelling) gingerbread cottage. I will be buying a few more of these before they stop making them! (Online here £2.99)

Alpha H Liquid Gold Intensive Night Serum. This stuff is amazing. My skin has really benefited from this serum. My skin is in no way perfect, so its not an 'quick fix' product, but certainly one which I have been religiously applying every couple of nights. It contains Glycolic acid which eats up dead skin cells, while helping kick start new skin cell growth. Perfect for skin with 'issues' like mine! My skin is softer, the dullness has gone, my pores are less visible, my spots are diminishing and occurring less frequently, my scars are reducing. This product is pricey, but lasts a long time (shelf life of 2 years due to hygienic pump). However the effects is has had on my confidence is well worth the price. Available from Beauty Bay HERE


With flash. Mirifique is the dark one.

No flash.

Chanel Illusion D'ombre in Mirifique and Epatant. I have been loving doing a smokey eye with these shadows. I previously posted about them (Here). They are so easy to use, and blend so well. Such a perfect sophisticated smokey eye for the party season (with a little bit of shimmer). Debenhams normally send out good free samples with online orders Ombre shadows ;)

Browns Earth Mango Body Butter. Smells absolutely gorgeous. It's thick but applies easily, and is great for stretch marks. It contains mango oil (yummy smelling), shea and cocoa butter. I have had this tub for around 6 months and have only used this much up (with regular use). In winter I find my knees and elbows can get dry and flaky just because they are covered up more. I apply this after a shower. This tub cost around £10 for a huge 120ml and is fairtrade (available to purchase online from Here)

Almost gone!

My Butler and Wilson blue glittery earrings. I wore these out one evening to match a navy blue Zara dress. I do love a bit of sparkle. Butler and Wilson have some lovely things- most sporting lots of sparkly Swarovski crystals. I don't think this particular colour is available any longer but you can view other colours in the style on the Butler and Wilson website (Here). They are sell a few pieces on QVC and, of course, there are always a few pieces on Ebay! Definitely a must for magpies like me!


With flash!


Doesn't quite pick up the sparkles, but you can see how many crystals are on them!

Aussie Mega instant conditioner. This conditioner isnt thick and gloopy, but smooth and creamy. I find it really helps my dry ends. My hair is very long and the ends get dry and knotty easily- especially when I use lots of heat tools in the winter. This really helps my hair stay nourished and tangle free! Costs £3.99 from Boots (Here).

What are your November favorites? Link me to your post if you have done one!

(P.s. Don't forget my new blog discussing tall fashion www.5foot10.blogspot.com! There is now a links page so if you are a tall blogger then feel free to leave your blog address!)

The most cutest video you will ever see..

2011-11-25T11:32:00.001Z

..a short break in normal postings to share this gem with you.

The seriously cute bit happens just after the 1 minute mark.

Normall posting will resume shortly. Happy thanks giving to all of you who celebrate.

Enjoy your Friday! Don't forget to smile x

(Semi-breaking) news for Chanel: Discontinued Product.

2011-11-22T11:43:00.001Z

Well possibly not so breaking, but news which might break my heart a little! I don't think this discontinuation is widely known so I thought I would give you a heads up (although not at my own computer so have to keep this short)!

We all knew Chanel were pulling Pro Lumiere foundation (post here) in favour of Perfection Lumiere (released in January in the UK). However I am now hearing on the grapevine that my beloved Mat Lumiere (post here) is going to be pulled as well. I have heard this from a few sources* who work with and for Chanel, so I think it is sadly true. HOWEVER I have yet to find the official release from Chanel, so will keep you posted.

My Holy Grail foundation?

I have previously posted on both these foundations and find Mat Lumiere great on my oily combination skin. I guess I will be stocking up very quickly and trying to find a suitable replacement then. Any foundation which makes my skin look like the picture below is worth it!

Post on this foundation routine here

Boots currently have double points on selected beauty so I'll be picking up a couple of backups later. I hope the replacement product is just as good.

Can you recommend any replacement foundations for me? Will you be rushing out to stock up? Cant you shed any light on this?

P.s. If you missed the news I started a new blog for 'tall girl fashion' (although you don't have to be 5ft 8 and over to read it). The second post is on Kate Middleton's (5ft 10) style.

(* I don't count sales assistants as sources after several of them denied Bronze Universal /Tan de Chanel exists or ever existed- it's a permanent product!! Now that's a subject and a half!)

Right, back to work I go! If anyone asks, you never saw me......!

My new blog. 5foot10.

2011-11-19T11:54:00.000Z

Today I am proud to share with you my new blog

5 foot 10 - A Tall Girl's Guide

The diary of a tall girl in a world made for shorter people!

I will still be posting on Computergirls Musing's as usual, the only difference is that you might see the occasional reference to 5 foot 10.

5 foot 10 is the result of my struggles with being a taller girl (See the first post). It is designed for the taller girl- although some posts will hopefully be interesting to everyone. There might be a little general overlap with this blog- although posts tend to be more general here. I thought it would be better to make a 'Tall person' hub rather than bombard you with posts which are not applicable to some of you!

Things you'll find on 5foot10.

Wardrobe posts, Style advice, Body shape posts, Shopping advice, Gadgets, Humourous 'Tall Tales', Relationship talk, Star style, Shoes, Health advice, Links to tall bloggers, Bargain buys, Fashion, Reviews, Products and Much More!

If this interests you then take a look (and subscribe if you want).

If you know any fellow 'Tall Girls' then feel free to point them towards 5 foot 10!

Thanks for reading

Stand Tall x

P.s. Chanel Winner announced later today!!

How Tall are all you guys?

Children in Need: Style Challenge

2011-11-18T19:17:00.001Z

It's nearly here. The fun kicks of at 7:30 on BBC1 in the UK.

For those of you outside the UK, it's a televised fundraising show to raise money for children's projects in the UK. Since 1980 Children in Need has raised over £500million! You can find out more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/

Many famous faces tend to lend their support- some of them by doing somehting completely new (and sometimes very embarrassing (a usual highlight is the newsreaders creating a pop band and learning a song and dance routine). Of course there are other fundraising drives that take place before and after the show, like Strictly Come Dancing.

Many local schools here have had cake sales and none uniform days today- one even had a pijama day- I laughed as I drove past lots of kids in their dressing gowns in a school playground!

If you want to lend your support then you can make a donation easily via paypal, text, post, post office, telephone, or through your bank or building society Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/donate/ for details.

Of course you can also donate through purchasing some of the official merchandise. This way you get something you need, but also make a donation.

My personal favorite is these really cute Pudsey Bear Ears. They cost £2.50 and are available from many places including the BBC Children in Need Ebay page (which is officially linked to from the BBC Children in Need page). They have lots of other goodies available so if you are not near a shop, then this is a way to pick up some items and donate to a great cause.

This year Alexandra Burke, Tamara Ecclestone, Patsy Kensit, Chipmunk and Kevin Pietersen unveil statement styles in a new limited edition collection for Debenhams in aid of BBC Children in Need.

You can watch how they got on with their Challenge to create these items below in 3 very short parts;

Part 2

Part 3

If you want to see the finished products then just look here

http://www.debenhams.com/children-in-need

Children in Need have also asked for people to text in which design is their favorite.

To vote for your favourite design, text the celebrity's name below to 80588, texts will be charged at £1.50 per message plus one standard rate message, 90p will go to BBC Children in Need.
Text the word:
'ALEX' to vote for Alexandra Burke
'CHIPMUNK' to vote for Chipmunk
'KEVIN' to vote for Kevin Pieterson
'PATSY' to vote for Patsy Kensit
'TAMARA' to vote for Tamara Eccleston

By texting you could win a £300 shopping spree with Brix Smith Start, TV stylist who has featured on Gok Wan's Fashion Fix.

I have voted for my favorite design- have you? Who would you pick?

For more information see http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/whatson/style_challenge.shtml

Hope you all enjoy Children in Need.

Have you been fundraising today? What did you do?

November Loves and Lusts

2011-11-17T11:32:00.001Z

Here are some products and things I am loving this November.

Picture from Dior.

Natlaie Portman in the Chanel Miss Dior advert. It's simple and classy. She looks flawless in a natural way- and I like the fact that, despite showing flesh, its isn't too revealing. Mind you, Ms Portman could wear a back sack and still look beautiful! I like vintage, classy glamour, and this reminds me of the 60s glamour puss photoshoots. There are a few people is this day and age that could learn a lot from this!


One coat, a little streaky, 2 coats perfect! Not as dark as in the bottle!

Dark! No flash!

Dark berry or blood coloured nail polish.
Nails inc polish in Victoria (QVC £11 or Beauty Bay
(If OPI is more you thing then I have also been wearing this polish from an older post)

Burt's Bees!

Burts Bees richly replenishing body lotion. This was a gift from a boy. Yes. A boy! I was very shocked. In my experience boys normally go for gift vouchers or chocolate. Its nice when people take the time to get you something you need and will actually use.

It smells lovely (Coconut, honey, cocoa, grape to name a few) and has a big bonus of being sustainable, not tested on animals and recyclable. Big tick! I am loving slathering this on my hands, knees and elbows before bed to help lock moisture in during the colder months. I havent yet started to wear my winter gloves but will do soon. I hate chapped, dry hands in the winter. You can pick this up from Waitrose and its on 3 for 2!

Winter Boots. No not the chemist (although I do go in there lots). Winter warm, sturdy (but fashionable) boots. I have a few pairs from previous seasons which I am enjoying getting re-acquainted with. I have some pixie boots (See the full length shots of me HERE) from New Look. I have been really impressed with how long they have lasted considering they cost £20! I can;t see these on the website anymore.

LUSTS

This season I have been looking for some simpler shoe boots which are a bit softer. I want to pair them with more dresses and more chunky belts (and the shoes boots above have buckles on so I might overdo the metal hardware in a look).

I have my eye on these Temper side zip shoe boot from ASOS at the bargain price of £35. Plain enough to go with any item of clothing (patterned or block colour), plus the neutral grey means it wont clash. Investment item!

I am also looking for a nice 'leather jacket'. Unfortuatley I dont have the budget of a small house to spend on one. I keep seeing nice ones and then reading the prices and promptly turning a bit green. As much as spending £710 on a D&G Motorcycle Jacket might be a blink of an eye to some people, its just not possible for most of us!

Picture from My Wardrobe.com LINK

Perhaps a little more affordable (and ethical) is this Supertrash jacket from the Outnet. If you are unfamiliar with the Outnet, they set off designer clothes at a fraction of the price. I think it is normally end of lines, end of seasons and samples. ( I think I recently saw some House Of Harlow (Nicole Ritchie) boots on there for £50 but they were too small for me).

Supertrash Faux jacket £108

What are your Loves and Lusts at the moment?

If you of one of these posts, then link me below!

Coming up: Spot posts (requested), Chanel Winner and 12 days of christmas giveaway!

Aussie Soiree and exciting news!

2011-11-14T16:36:00.000Z

As the nights draw in and it gets really cold, I thought I would share with you something I did in the summer! A couple of weeks...(er months!) back all the Aussie Angels were invited to the Sunbeam Studios for our summer soiree wrap party. The building was like a tardis! It had this beautiful piece of artwork on the wall, obviously marking some of the building's past history.

This post is a little late, but at least you wont be seeing 100s of the same post on your dashboard now ;)

You'll remember that we got to choose whether to celebrate the Lusciously Light Conditioner by being a Lusciously Light Self or Lusciously Light Hair Angel. I chose Lusciously Lighter Self route and ended up at Boot camp!! This party brought the Light Hair and Light Angels all together.

I will keep this short and sweet and let the photos do the talking!

The afternoon involved;

Photography by Sam Witney
Candyfloss
Champagne tasting
Gorgeous food
Hairstylists

Phoebe, Carlito and Catherine

It was lovely to meet up with some old friends Natalya (Filthy Gorgeous Makeup), Lauren (A Lauren to Herself), Hayles (Ceriselle), Catherine (Perfectly Polished) and many more (sorry to those I havent mentioned here!)

Natalya of Filthy Gorgeous Makeup (hold all of our puddings, she didn't eat 3 yummy fruit cheesecakes!)

It was also lovely to meet some new Angels- particular Hannah (Hello Beautiful!) who had flown over from Ireland!

My hair was done by the wonderful Eugene Davies. Not only did he make me feel very relaxed, but we had a big long giggle while I let him loose on my locks. He had been up since 3 or 4am doing a friend's bridal hair, and was still as fresh as a daisy (I don't know how he did it but I wish I could do that!!). Eugene hails from New York and is in the great position of working both New York Fashion week and London Fashion week. We chatted about that and I felt so lucky to be in the hand of someone who styles for lots of the major designers as well as celebrities like Ertha Kit, Lil Kim and Gillian Anderson.

Eugene Davis @ www.Freelancetheworkspace.com
(I am wearing Chanel Pro Lumiere foundation- not good for oily/combination skin & photos!!)

Eugene pinned my hair half up and half down, making use of the thickness and accentuating the natural curl. He gave it a bit of lift and used Aussie serum in the ends (which are a bit dry and in need of a trim). I was so pleased with the result and it's something that I have tried to recreate since. Obviously I havent managed to match Eugene's skill level but he gave me some great tips to help me manage my unruly locks! I can recommend him highly to anyone who needed a skilled creative hair stylist (visit Eugene Davis at www.Freelancetheworkspace.com for more information).

That is my dress on the left! I had lots of fun with the candyfloss machine!

One amazing twist happened towards the end of the afternoon. Aussie had set us a challenge of running with the Lusciously Light theme. I am sure you will have read my Lusciously Light posts (and tweets), well I won the challenge out of the Boot Camp girls. The hair challenge was won by Zoe AKA London Lipgloss. Zoe won a macaroon making day, and me? I won A SPA DAY!! The Aussie girls know me well!!! I will really enjoy taking full advantage of this very soon!! Thank you for all the encouraging emails, tweets and comments- especially to those of you who joined me in this challenge!

Final shot. Thanks Sam!

All too soon the afternoon was over. The Aussie team know how to hold a party! Thank you to Aussie for hosting another top event. There was food, drink, hair magic and lots of smiles. I cant wait to see what they have in store next!

Frock: Vintage
Cardigan: Oasis
Shoes: (Pink Suede Peep Toes-Love them! Comfortable and well worn!) Jones

They dont have these anymore but I did see some similar red ones on sale for £37.50, and some exact style match ones but in Black (perfect for Christmas?) £59.

Necklace: Lorraine chain! 42inch Rose gold chain.
Earrings: Topshop! (A few years old, and they were in the sale at 50p!)

Ring: Forever21 (It cost around £2-3 and there is a similar one Here!)

(On a side note Forever 21 has been in the UK for a year now, and has 21% off to celebrate! That year has gone very quickly!)

A huge hello to all the Aussie Angels! Hope you are all well and enjoying winter! Hope this post brings back some summer magic! xx

What would be your ideal afternoon soiree? How would you lighten your life a little? What is one of your best summer 2011 memories?

New Shoes- you'll want to read this!

2011-11-12T17:32:00.000Z

Yes, sparkly like a christmas tree!! Satin Pumps.

The other day I saw the perfect pair of evening and/or Christmas party shoes. After some horrible foot injuries through poorly fitting shoes, I am trying to only pick up shoes that fit and are comfy when I try them on. I am fed up of blisters, burning shooting pains in the ball of my feet, feet that hurt with every step, toe nails that are bruised... need I go on?! The price we pay for fashion huh?!

So then I saw these babies.

Hidden platform, stiletto pumps. Jewel embellishments on the front. (The magpie in me jumped for joy). They look standard enough? I challenged a few friends to guess where they came from and how much they cost. The general consensus was Dune, Carvela, Kurt Geiger, Reiss and the average price was £100.

I also purchased this black suede and Jewel version

This is where it gets interesting....

These are the most comfiest pair of shoes I have tried on in a long time. The hidden platform contains a really soft cushion inside- no more stabbing pains in the ball of my foot. I can wear these for hours. There is a lot of space in the toe box, and the heel is sturdy.

What's more they come in half sizes so you can get the perfect fit!

Sound good?

These babies cost not £100, not £80, not even £60 but £49.99 from Clarks shoe makers. www.clarks.co.uk

The style is Drum Beat, although the same comfortable style (called 'softwear' has been made into various boots and slingbacks. Yes, I was suprised too. Clarks in normally an 'older ladies' brand, but they have really revamped it recently and offer some great, timeless pieces which wont break the bank!

The suede pair have sold out on clarks online but I have noticed pairs on Pares online http://www.paresfootwear.co.uk/store/product/247813/Clarks-Drum-Beat-Black-Suede/ and Donaghy's shoes http://www.donaghys.co.uk/store/product/455479/Clarks-Drum-Beat-Black-Sde-040/ Both offer super fast delivery (I ordered with Donaghy's before 4pm and they arrived the next day free of charge!) and their customer service is fantastic! Clarks do free delivery and returns. If you want a bargain pair then I have seen a couple of pairs appear on www.ebay.co.uk new/worn once or twice from £20!

I also noticed Pares have a nude version with embellishment- perfect affordable shoes for those of use that missed out on the LKBennett 'Kate Middleton' Nude Courts this summer! (There are some similar ones now of the LKBennett website HERE)

So that is my Christmas footwear sorted, now I just need a dress and someplace to go!!

On a side note thanks for all the comments recently- I've been really touched. I'm going to do a 'What's in my makeup bag?' video, and a skincare routine, and of course the Chanel winner very shortly :)

Have you been unexpectedly surprised my any brands recently? Have you picked up any new shoes? What are your most comfortable shoes? Have you got any Christmas plans yet?

Chanel Giveaway Update

2011-11-12T09:36:00.000Z

I have had a couple of emails about this. The winner is coming, it's just there are so many entries (literally 100s) that it's taking me a while to count and check everyone. Some people have subbed, commented then unsubbed. I am discounting any entries who do not meet the requirements, otherwise it is not fair. Winner shortly!

In other news I have some great Christmas giveaways coming up! I'm excited!

7 Lipsticks, 7 Days, 7 Faces

2011-11-11T17:27:00.002Z

I don't tend to wear lipstick very much. Shock horror. Does that make me a bad beauty blogger?! I tend to reach more for balms and glosses at the moment, rather than lipsticks. I guess it stems back to the fact that I don't like my teeth, and drawing attention to that area scares me. However Max Factor challenged me to wear 7 lipsticks in 7 days. I was all for passing it up and then a little voice in my head said "go on, try something new!"

The colours are; (L-R bottom row first)

610 Angel Pink

827 Bewitching Coral

745 Burnt Caramel

510 English Rose

825 Pink Brandy

715 Ruby Tuesday

685 Mulberry

Max Factor have recently released their Elixir range. It claims to be moisturising, which is quite a claim.... Stay tuned for the final verdict. This is a bit of a mammoth of a post, but stick with it!

They look so pretty, all new and unused!

Here are swatches with flash and no flash (excuse the goose bumps on my arm. It was cold!!)

Colours L-R

610 Angel Pink

827 Bewitching Coral

745 Burnt Caramel

510 English Rose

825 Pink Brandy

715 Ruby Tuesday

685 Mulberry

This is the order in which I wore them so here is

7 Lipsticks, 7 Days, 7 Faces.......

I took most of these on my phone as I was running out of the door in the mornings so some are not the best quality!

DAY 1 610 Angel Pink

A Bridget Bardot 60's inspired look! Backcombed hair with Batiste (Vintage Glamour Post) and gripped. Nautical top www.missselfridge.com
Face: Chanel Mat Lumiere Post, Body Shop Pink Heather Blush Post, Lancome Art Liner Post, Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer. Mac Lingering brow pencil.

DAY 2 827 Bewitching Coral

Retro 80's look with matching nail polish (Coral Pop by 17 Post)
Face: As above but with Bourjois Smokey eye trio in Violet Romantic (I always read it as Violent Romantic..oops!)

DAY 3 745 Burnt Caramel

Technically night in the picture. Was off to a ball/posh evening do so here is me in my dress. Crystal drop earrings.
Face: No 7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Alabaster, Witch liquid concealer, Urban Decay Naked Palette and brown pencil on eyes, Daniel Sandler peach blush, Mac Fix+ to set.

Day 4 510 English Rose

Rubbish picture, but I was at a wedding and my camera packed in! I chose English rose to go with the dress (see swatches above for a better look). Vintage A line floral dress.
Face: Chanel Mat Lumiere Post, Body Shop Pink Heather Blush Post, Mac Studio Sculpt concealer, Dior Amber Diamond Highlight powder, Witch anti blemish setting powder Post, Mac Fix+ Setting spray, Eyes- Urban Decay Primer potion and Naked Palette (Naked, sin, smog) plus brown pencil that came with it, Avon Super shock mascara in black (love this and it's on offer 2 for £8!!)

DAY 5 825 Pink Brandy

Sunday lunch. Quite tired today, but chucked on a colourful Oasis Cardigan in a turquoise colour, half plated my hair at the back and set off!

Face: Chanel foundation (as before), Mac Studio concealer, Aveda inner light concealer (under eyes! Post here), Mac powerpoint kohl in duck, Avon Mascara, Mac Springsheen blush (I needed colour! Post here).

DAY 6 715 Ruby Tuesday AKA SCARY VINTAGE!

I love red lips but I don't feel I can get away with them. These lips walked into the room first, everyone looks, I got comments. It's a weird feeling for a girl who doesn't like her lips to be stared at! Red lip day had to be a vintage look for me, so I put my hair into Victory V rolls, and kept to makeup minimal! I also kept my clothes dark and neutral (navy cardigan).

Face: Chanel Le Blanc primer/base, Chanel Mat Lumiere, Bronze universal on cheeks (I think- I know I didnt do a heavy blush), Lancome art liner on eyes (reapplied hourly!!), Avon Mascara (as before), Brows clinique brow powder (I think or just an Old No7 brow kit shadow- nothing heavy).

DAY 7 685 Mulberry

Sadly not a Mulberry bag, but the next best thing! Just a casual look, with an autumnal brown Miss Selfridge dress (2 seasons old).

Face: I have forgotten most of it, but I think I used E.L.F. Studio Blush in Mellow Mauve Post and Avon Super shock gel liner in black, setting it with MAC Twinks eyeshadow Post to help complement my blue eyes and the berry tones in the lips.

Verdict:

I enjoyed taking part in this challenge as it kept my from my lip balm/gloss rut. I had to think about what blush and eyeshadow I was going to wear which was not always a quick decision in the mornings! Over all I quite liked the lipsticks. They lasted pretty well for a chemist brand- some days I didn't have to reapply- even with drinking at lunch! That is pretty good!

The big question is- where they moisturising. Yes. I found these lipsticks to be more moisturising than a lot of other brands I have tried. The BIG plus is that they are moisturising and not sticky, so my hair doesnt stick to my lips accidentally (unlike when I use lip gloss)!

Has this product changed the way I look at lipsticks? Yes I think it has. While I still don't reach for them every day, I do reach for them more- and one of these is normally found in my bag now! (What's in my bag video HERE). Not the red one though- the red lipstick still scares me!!

These lipsticks are £7.99 but are currently on 3 for 2 at Boots AND Superdrug

I recently purchased a Max Factor Elixir lip liner and so I will review that shortly!

Have you tried these lipsticks or the Elixir range? Do you have any tips for how to wear bright read lips??! Are you a lipstick wearer or a gloss wearer? What Lipstick would you pick up? Any favorite looks?

*I was sent these for free but I posted on them because I wanted to. All views are my own, honest opinions.

My first video! What's in my...

2011-11-09T12:16:00.000Z

As a special treat, and after a little nagging from some people (yes, you know who you are!!).. I have decided to put this video up. I filmed it a little while back, but have been quite dubious about putting it up. I am not planning to make videos on a regular basis but sometimes it's nice to interact talk rather than type :)

Huge apologies in advance. I filmed it on my Mac and the quality isnt great. I hope you can hear/see ok. Also my hair is a bit wild, and I sound weird. I'm not sure how long I'll leave this up, but it gives you a chance to sort of say hello! To those of you that know me it's a hello, and to those of you who havent met me- hopefully you will say hi when you do! All products are mentioned below the video on blogger.

I trip over my words a little, and miss a few words out but I'm not used to being the only one talking!!

Makeup!

Primer: Witch skincare primer (Post HERE info http://www.boots.com/en/Witch-Anti-Blemish-Skin-Clearing-Primer-With-Witch-Hazel-Extract-30ml_1160734/ £6.99

Foundation: Chanel Matt Lumiere 20 Clare (Overview post, close up post, Debenhams link) £33
Concealer: Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer NW 20 (available here or here) £13.50
Eye Primer and shadows: Urban Decay Primer potion and Naked Palette (Base: Naked, Crease: Sidecar, Highlight: Virgin) Urban Decay
Eye Pencil: Mac Powerpoint pencil in Duck (Brown)
Eyebrows: Mac Eye brows pencil in Lingering
Cheeks: Daniel Sandler blush in Peach Puff (Sadly discontinued but you can see my post here)
Lips: Clinique Chubby stick in graped-up (My post here) with Aveda's lip glaze in Cassia (post)
Powder: Witch Anti-Blemish Pressed Powder (Post here)

Clothes- Top http://www.missselfridge.com about 3 months ago.
Cardigan Therapy at House of fraser. I cant see it on there, but its a navy blue thin open cardigan, with pockets in the hem.

Watch. Oasis- retro silver bracelet watch post here

Carpisa purse http://www.carpisa.it/

Bag £36 Topshop last season. They have similar ones Topshop link.

Any questions, please pop them below! Thanks for watching.

My first Video!

2011-11-08T21:59:00.002Z

This was here but I pulled it due to some problems. I dont think anyone had watched it, but if you had and couldnt comment then that is why!

Oh my GOSH. Can you believe it? When products are discontinued.

2011-11-05T15:12:00.001Z

Yesterday I saw This (link- scroll down) that is a little crazy, but today I saw This (link- scroll down) ! I know that we all lust over items, and cry when they sell out (well maybe not cry), but I have been thinking recently about what makes a company stop producing an item, which is clearly very popular.

This is where I feel Lush have got it right. They have a page dedicated to 'Retro products'. If a product has been discontinued, and enough people complain, then Lush will manufacture another batch and sell it on their website. Hurrah for a company actually listening to their customers!

I was very pleased to pick up some Alkmaar soap

and an After 8:30 mint chocolate massage bar with my latest order. Both are lovely products and have missed them instore. Both have subtle and yummy scents. The massage bars are great to slather on skin before a bath or shower. The shea butter really nourishes your skin.

I wish companies like MAC would listen to us a bit more. Some products they release are limited edition and sell out instantly, before anyone has tried them. People panic buy because they don't know if they will like the product or not, and if they do like it then they want a back up.... or 5! (I am guilty of this!)

I wish MAC would re-release the tendertones lip treatments. They were lovely. I love my Shell Pearl highlight too from the Liberty of London Collection (right above), but thankfully have a back up still to use. Dior's Amber Diamond is permanent, and a good alternative

Dior amber diamond is on the right! I couldnt find another picture on my computer at the moment. Other products are Illamasqua Ore pigment Review here and Mac Studio sculpt concealer.

I think I would actually shed tears if Origins pull their Checks and Balances Frothy Face wash (previous review Here)

Actually the more I think about it, the more I get worried about companies pulling products. Am I a bit mad??! There are so many staples in my beauty draw that I don't want to live without!

My question to you is what one product would you like to see brought back permanently? What products would you stock up on if you knew the brand was discontinuing it? Am I the only one who fears it?

National Stress Awareness Day! 5 top tips.

2011-11-02T17:26:00.002Z

Today is national Stress Awareness Day. Let's face it, we all suffer from a bit of stress now and again, whether it's being held up on the way to work, going through a job interview, trying to budget food for the month, going through a break-up, or one of life's many other stresses.

De stress!

In honour of today I thought I would share 5 tips I use to combat stress and help me relax;

Take a deep breath. No, I mean a really deep one through your nose. The kind that fills your lungs from the very bottom. (If you do yoga then this will be usual territory). Once your lungs are full, hold you breath for a slow count of 5 (or longer). Now slowly exhale through your mouth, controlling the flow of air. Feel the tension melt away? You will feel revived through the oxygen and ready to face the world.

I try to make a daily agenda of the things I need to do. I add tasks as they crop up. I cross off tasks when completed, and carry over tasks to the next day. Crossing items off feels so rewarding so I always make sure there are some silly tasks like 'put clean socks away', 'get out of bed in the morning'! Also having an agenda means I am less likely to wake up at 2am suddenly remembering an important task I need to do that I might otherwise forget. Just don't loose your agenda!

I'm sure my agenda is somewhere in this lot.. :/

Keep things in routine places. This way if you are very tired and running on auto-pilot, you should still end up putting things in their place. Especially useful for keys, which can cause a lot of stress when the key-pixie's remove them! Also important for documents such as passports, driver's licenses etc. No-one wants to loose them!

Sometimes life can be an indoor rock-climbing wall (photographed on it's side).

Get exercising! Make sure you get some weekly exercise. Yoga is good for stressing and shutting out the world, but similarly a good cardio session will increase blood flow leading to more oxygen and nutrient distribution around the body. The sweat also helps clean out pores! You will have more energy to tackle life.

It's amazing how bad sleep can really affect our ability to cope with things rationally. You can be unconscious, but still sleeping badly so don't think that bad sleep always means being awake. For a good sleep, do not use computers and televisions 30 mins before bed. The light tricks your brain into thinking it is daytime and therefore not time to sleep. A drop of lavender oil under your pillow case can really help lull you into sleep. Stretch gently before bed and try to leave the window open a smidgeon over night. If you have time then a lovely bath will relax yout muscles, detoxify the body and leave you cool enough to sleep.

Some of my favorite stress-busting products.

For a relaxing...

Pomegranate and Strawberries

EAT! Pomegranate and Strawberries help detoxify the body. They also help the body produce serotonin which helps you feel happier and relaxed. Try avoiding refined sugars (white sugar, flour, milk chocolate) and instead head for dark chocolate, nuts (help keep cortisol levels low), honey, sorbet, blueberries, fish for omega oils (helps brain function!) for starters. A personal hug-in-a-mug is a nice mug of hot chocolate. Also to settle a stressed anxious tum, try peppermint tea.

SLEEP! Try a drop of Boot's Bontanic's Lavender Oil under your pillow case. Currently on 3 for 2! I love the 'Sleep Cycle' itunes app for iphone. Instead of a nasty alarm clock, this application monitors your sleep cycles and wakes you up (with nice sounds) when you are least likely to be groggy. It also allows you to view your sleep pattern and see how much 'deep' sleep you are getting.

I love a nice spiced mulled wine candle in winter!

HOUSE! Try a nice scented candle to make the room smell like a spa. Next on my list is Daniel Sandler's JW collaboration candle In Love. These candles are for upper budgets £30, but are quite big and last ages. For a similar sized candle but for £10 I normally head to The Body Shop- 35 hours burn time makes these candles less than 30p per hour. The Vanilla and Tonka Bean one makes the bathroom smell yummy although I will probably be picking up the Cranberry Joy Christmas one as I love the smell of spiced mulled fruit in the winter!

Lavender Lush! French Kiss!

BATH! There needs to be bubbles, oils and nourishing detoxifying skin. A glass of wine and a good book is optional, but a nice bonus! Try not to do paper work in the bath, as you need to switch off. I love Lush bubble bars (in particular the comforter (1/5 of the bar normally does a good bath!) or the lavender scented French Kiss. (I have just picked up the gingerbread house scented christmas bubble bar so I will let you know how I get on with that- but it smells and looks amazing!

For a nourishing, sensual bath then I turn to my Aromatherapy Associates products. They contain essential oils which soak straight into my skin, and leave it feeling soft for days. I particularly love their Revive range. The smell is fantastic and it never fails to transport me mentally to a spa retreat setting. As a treat I use Revive Body Gel afterwards to combat cellulite, lock in moisture and leave me drifting off to bed in a relaxed state. Seeing as it is Stress Awareness Day I might have a look at their De-Stress range.

SPA! My ultimate relaxing treatment has to be a massage- or specifically a Hot Stone Massage. Yes it sounds weird, but heated stones are placed in strategic points on your body, and then used to penetrate tense muscles. The heat acts to relax the tissues, and the smooth surfaces help remove knots. I can't recommend this luxury enough. If you do not have the time for that treatment (ranges from 45 minutes-90) then a good old back massage can do wonders. Make sure you have a chat with your therapist and let them tailor the treatment for you (computer users- neck, shoulders, lower back!)

What are your best ways of de-stressing? Can you recommend any relaxing treatments, foods, tips? Do scents remind you of places e.g. a beauty spa?

**Just a tip off in case anyone is free this afternoon, but you can get a complimentary 15 minute stress busting massage at the Aromatherapy Associates flagship store in Montpelier Street London. I would nip in, but I am busy. However just thinking about it is making me relaxed (and slightly stressed that I can;t go now!)

All products mentioned products I have bought with my own money.

Lancome Art (thou gone) Liner?

2011-10-31T18:14:00.000Z

In my search for a decent dark black eyeliner I picked up the Lancome Art liner. It is a liquid black 'felt tip' pen eyeliner. The reason I chose this one is that the tip sits in the ink (which also has tiny ball bearings in so that it doesn't set in the inkwell).

Lancome Art Liner

Lancome says: "Gentle felt eyeliner. An intense and precise line, in a single sweep. Exceptionally long-lasting. Shake before use."

I like the applicator. It is easy to hold, and fairly easy to apply. I don't find that I am skilled enough to apply in one sweep though!

Sorry that is a little out of focus, I only just noticed!

However....

On the lid and already patchy :(

I am not a fan of this product. I find that it applies patchy, and then dries to a black which isnt a true black. As if this wasn't disappointing enough, I also found that this product does not live up to Lancome's 'exceptionally long lasting claim'. In fact I found it was fading within around 20 minutes. By lunchtime it is gone. My lids are a little oily, however other products last longer than this. With an eye primer it does last a little longer, but it is nowhere near long-lasting, let alone exceptionally long lasting! Another trick I tried is 'setting' the liner with a powder eyeshadow in the same colour, but that didn't help too much.

Lancome Art Liner = Fat fail from me.

Lined: But not for long!

I wont be replacing this product once finished- especially at around £20 per liner. I'll stick with my gel liners!

Please note I have oily lids, so you might find this product performs better if your eye lids are dryer. You might not. This is just my own opinion. Hope this review helps some of you. Sorry Lancome!

Do you use a liquid eyeliner? Can you recommend any products? Have you used this liner? Have you any tips for making a liquid liner last longer?