Sunday 30 November 2008

Beauty-Full Christmas: B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful

I may or may not have been on Oxford Street yesterday (where I may or may not have been touching the new Marc Jacobs Asa handbag in Selfridges - why don't I have a rich boyfriend?) and so popped into the magical new B Bar I told you all about last week.

As if they weren't doing enough by a) solving all my Christmas present woes and b) doing my make up whilst plying me with booze for just TEN ENGLISH POUNDS, they're also currently running a promotion with one of my favourite musicals ever, Hairspray.From December 4th right through until the end of January, you can buy the delicious Baltimore lip gloss - a shiny, iridescent pink, chock full of yummy moisturisers and housed in one of B's signature sparkly pots - for just 7.35! And if that wasn't enough, while you're in store, you can enter a competition to win two tickets to see Hairspray in the West End along with hotel accommodation and dinner for two.

While you're there, be sure to pick up some Christmas presents. I'll be gifting my girlfriends with B by the bucketload this Christmas, it's perfect for stocking fillers and big presents alike. The new wrapped soaps are just too cute to pass up and I'm obsessing over Cleopatra's Golden Secrets, seven bubble bar balls enrobed in 22ct gold leaf. Dec-a-dant.


Also loving the Ding Dong gift set which is pretty much the ultimate present for any make up fiend. It's rammed with 21 shades of B's eyecreams and glitters, all packed away in a mini red glitter Christmas tree. What's not to love?



And if you can't get to a B store, or can't bear to leave the house in this skanky weather which has given me a cold (grrr) click on www.bnevertoobusytobebeautiful.com and shop to your heart's content!

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Dr. Bragi Face and Body Salvation

As I may have mentioned, I'm having none of this credit crunch nonsense. There's no point trying to save money by buying cheap, ineffective stuff and then having to spend more money on something to repair the damage done by the rubbish products.
Also, it is pay day so hurrah hurrah.
Great. I have adequately convinced myself - did it work on you? It's a rationale I usually save for handbags but today, I'm using it on the AMAZING Dr Bragi Face and Body Salvation.



I know I've spoken of the wonder of Dr Bragi before, penzyme-schmenzyme, it's witchcraft I tells ya. When I run out, I have a little cry. But what about the rest of my body, I hear you cry? Can my cold, chilled, dried out by central heating limbs benefit from this wonderous serum as much as my pretty, pretty face?

Happily, the answer is now yes. Dr Bragi has introduced a new product into the range, specially designed to hydrate all over the body. Okay, confession time, I really to try to moisturise all over at least before bed, if not morning and evening, so afeared am I of Madonna claws and the like but just lately, I've been so late to bed (have I mentioned I'm writing a book? I have? Oh.) and so late up in a morning that the steps are slipping. No more. The Face and Body Salvation is a hand-dandy spray that is so easy to spritz on, I can even do it with my eyes closed and the results are incredible. After just a couple of days, my shins had a moisturised sheen back (I've been suffering from opaque tights induced paperiness) and my skin was just so soft to the touch. I'll never go back.

I'm pasting in all the wonderful things this spray can do because I couldn't list them without sound like an infomercial. All I can do, is say I would happily hand over £100 for this product and I don't say that often. The bottle is huge and the results are measurable, immediate and long-lasting - what else are you looking for?

You can pick it up at Bliss London*

SCALP
Soothes dry, itchy scalps and helps to decrease dandruff
FACE
Moisturises, lifts, firms, eases sensitive skin, refines, soothes razor burn, helps to prevent ingrown hairs, helps to reduce age spots, helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles

NECK

Moisturises, lifts, firms

BUST

Moisturises, firms

HANDS

Moisturises, refines, treats dry cuticles, helps to soothe pain associated with arthritis, helps to reduce age spots

LEGS

Moisturise, soothes after shaving/waxing and helps to prevent ingrown hairs

KNEES

Targets dryness and roughness, helps to soothe pain associated with arthritis

FEET

Exfoliates, moisturises, brightens and targets roughness, removes pathogens associated with foot discomforts


*Don't forget to pick up one of the intensive masks while you're there - they are LITERALLY the best thing I've ever, ever put on my face.

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Trilogy

Harumph.
I'm having a terrible time with my skin at the moment - anyone else? I'm not sure if it's the weather, a new moisturiser I've been testing or just general lack of taking care of myself but whatever it is, I look like bum. Happily, the one thing I know that will definitely calm my complexion down is in ready supply at HQHair and Boots.com.
And my bedside table, bathroom shelf and desk drawer.



Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner is one of those products that you don't really think about until your skin is all irritated and nasty and then, with one magical 'pfft' it's calm, soothed and moisturised. I love that I can spritz and go, without any harsh rubbing at my skin or larping any heavy creams on. I also love that it looks pretty, is chock-full of good girl ingredients (including the amazing Trilogy hero Rosehip oil) and that it smells fresh and clean.

I've also been giving the CoQ10 Booster Capsules a chance and I must say, they do feel very lovely. And I've got a total girl crush on the old school twist-open, single dose packaging.
Yes, I accept that I am very easily pleased.
Boys, take note.


Monday 24 November 2008

Beauty-Full Christmas: Creme de la Mer

I'm so over the credit crunch. Honestly, I don't want to hear another peep about it.
Unless it encourages people to put more shoes on sale.

With that in mind, today's Christmas gift giving extravaganza is unashamedly luxe - if you can't get Creme de la Mer at Christmas with a clear conscience, when can you?



So your two options are: The Luxury Essentials at £455 or The Connoisseur Collection at £280.
The Luxury Essentials is perfect if you're a Creme first timer. It contains the Moisturiser, the Eye Concentrate and Face Lifting serum, all packaged up in a very pretty box. The Connoisseur Collection is lighter on prods and the pocket, with the Moisturiser and Eye Concentrate. I' m all about eye creams at the moment, can't help but notice the last few months have not been kind on delicate skin, mew. I'm obsessed with the little silver applicator that comes with the Creme eye concentrate. But then I am a big fan of all shiny things...



For family and friends that are reading, I'll be out of my Creme lotion in about a month, a month and a half so this is perfect timing!I would be very happy to receive either of the above, FYI.

www.cremedelamer.co.uk

Wednesday 19 November 2008

B Never Too Busy... B Bar

I'm not a religious person. If you asked me to take you to my church, we would probably pop by Selfridges and worship at the altar of Marc by Marc Jacobs but right now, I believe there is someone looking after me. How else would B Never Too Busy to be Beautiful's B Bar have come into existence?


Okay, I can see you're doubtful. It's just a make up shop, right? WRONG. It is oh so much more. Besides the glory of a shop full of B goodness, once inside this beauty you can get a COCKTAIL and a MAKE-OVER inside thirty minutes. Yes. A COCKTAIL and a MAKE-OVER. So whether you're post-work and pre-date, panicking about looking amazing at the work Christmas party or just shopped out, you can relax with a lovely Flirtini while one of B's top make up artists gives you killer smokey eyes. There are a selection of looks to choose from or you can just ask for what you fancy, I LURVE Fifth Avenue, a sexy Burlesque look but if you want to pretend you always look this good, you could go for the more natural First Date. Just go easy on the Flirtinis. There's even an option for boys, just in case you were foolish enough to take one along with you.


Honestly, I don't think I've been this excited about a concept since the Starbucks toffeenut hot chocolate. Happily for me, this world of wonder is ridiculously close to my church, on Oxford Street, making it ideal for a post-work, pre-worship stop off.

While you're in store, don't forget to try out the perfumes - also gorgeous. I'm having a love affair with Superworld Unknown at the moment. It's very pretty and I like it lots. I can't really explain it though... the lovely people at B reckon it smells like this though.

The smell of candy floss, sherbert fountains, toffee apples and the seaside, yet sophisticated… escapist perfumery really. Clever use of cocoa and vanilla absolute with cassia makes this fragrance really edible without having a single character that you can be labelled with. And a new blend of juniper berry adds a breath of Norwegian fresh air and walking in the hills in summer, a new material made from tonka beans to provide a hint of reassurance. Petigrain and bitter orange mixed with lime, lemon and bergamot create a dizzy fairground ride of top notes. All bouqueted with rose absolute and ylang ylang.

Check out the B website for more info www.bnevertoobusytobebeautiful.com

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Durex Play O

So on occasion, I get sent some pretty random things to review for BeautyMecca that have, at best, a tenuous link to the world of beautification (Fun Betty the hair colour for ladies' mimsy fur, I am talking about you) but I think we have a winner.


Play O is a new lubricant from Durex that is designed to, well, you can imagine what it's designed to do. Apparently, 79% of British women achieved orgasm by using the Play O product but tragically, all it did for me was remind me that I am not getting any...
But my own personal hell aside, we all know that good sex leads to a good complexion (fact) and the need for less blusher. Which would actually be great because right now because I'm almost all out of my Bobbi Brown Blue Raspberry limited edition from last year.
Anyone want to volunteer? 79% are odds I like.

From a BeautyMecca perspective, the bottle is quite cute* and so wouldn't scare people if you forgot to hide it in your secret drawer**

Check out the O Room here
The things I do for this blog. Honestly. My mother reads this...

*(e.g. not a great big blue tube with KY written all over it...)
** (it's not so secret, we alllllllll know about it)

Friday 14 November 2008

Beauty-Full Christmas: Bliss Spa

Sigh. Today was supposed to be best friends presents but shockingly, I'm really rather keen on getting my dirty mitts on these myself. Behold, the Holiday collection from Bliss Spa.

I think we all know that there's nowhere else in the whole world I'd rather be than New York City and once safely in New York City, there are few places I'd rather be than on a massage table in Bliss Spa on Broadway. Preferably because I've had a very stressful morning mincing around MoMA with hot boys and then shopping myself silly at Bloomingdales and Bergdorfs.

Since the silly immigration people aren't falling over themselves to let me in the country permanently, I am forced to resort to the Bliss Holiday collection which, thankfully, is fabulous.



All the gift sets are New York themed - from The Big Orange (instead of apple, geddit?) which includes their new Blood Orange and White Pepper scented prods, Scent-tral Park - a collection of three luxe travel-sized body butters (including my Lemon+Sage obsession) and my personal favourite, The Sock-ettes and I Glove New York, this year's softening sock and glamour glove offering.
Did I mention I have a book out next year called I Heart New York? I did? Oh. Okay.

As friend to many (hint) I would be very happy to receive any of these sets (hint hint), but if I was buying for my BFF, I'd probably go for the skincare set, The Youth Group, an introduction to Bliss' really rather fabulous Youth as We Know It range, all tied up in a pretty pink and blue travel bag. For thirty-five knicker, it's a really, really nice gift.


But if you really loved me, I mean, your friend, you'd throw in some Lemon+Sage goodness too.
It is divine.

Go Bliss Spa Crazy at BlissLondon.co.uk

Wednesday 12 November 2008

MyFace Cosmetics

Now, I know I get excited easily but this time it's for real.
Behold the most exciting new cosmetics range in forever... MyFace.

Exclusive to Boots, the new range has been put together by some very clever people, including super famous and super fabulous make up artist, Charlotte Tilbury (also annoyingly super beautiful. Grrr.) who had made it ridiculously easy for absolutely anyone in the whole wide world to buy really rather wonderful make up without making any mistakes. It's practically as though Charlotte is making you over every day. Wowsers.



It goes like this - you work out what your skintone is, fair, medium or dark and then select products to match. Really, it's that easy. The products for each skintone are packaged in different colours - white for light, silver for medium and a dark pewter for dark. Very sexy.

What's spectacular about the range is how great the formulations are. The MyMix foundations (I'm light 1) are easily a match for my beloved Prescriptives Custom Blend and the Blingtone eyeshadows are literally amazing. I have not been without mine since I blagged it at the launch. I can't express the joy at the sparkle in these things - it's genuine grown up glam, not little girl glitter. I challenge you to go into Boots, stick your finger in one of these bad boys and come away without buying it.



Below are some of the sickeningly gorgeous models wearing the wonderful slap (yeah, get over it, I actually had to stand near them).






What I don't have is a picture of me after being made over with MyFace. This is for the best because you would cry at how heartbreakingly beautiful* I looked.
It's that good.

*Well, at least the hot boy in the office** was moderately impressed at the time.
**He has since left the country.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

I am pants

Hey hey,

Sorry for not bringing enough joy into your life recently, I've been uber busy with actual stuff that pays my bills. And actual stuff that doesn't.
Regular service will resume shortly.

BeautyLover x

Friday 7 November 2008

Beauty-Full Christmas: Elemis

I'm really getting into the swing of Christmas now, and that's not just because I've bought two dresses to wear to parties... Oh, three. Actually, four but that one's still a little bit tight. Maybe that's a January dress. Sorry, I'm like a kitten with a ping pong ball at the moment.

Anyhoo, I HEART buying presents for my friends and fam almost as much as I heart buying stuff for myself. I did say almost. One of my favourite people to buy for is Mummy BeautyMecca. She's not all about the beauty stuff because poor Mummy BeautyMecca suffers with all kinds of skin badness so she has to be uber careful. Happily, Elemis has some bee-yoo-tiful prods and gift sets this year that I'm pretty sure she's going to go crazy for. As, I would imagine, would your ma.

Here are my highlights:
Divine Beauty
This kit includes my super favourite Pro-Collagen prods that will help Mummy BeautyMecca smooth the appearance of wrinkles (not that she has any...)


What's in the bag?
New Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask 15ml
New Pro-Collagen Hand and Nail Cream 20ml
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 30ml
Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream 15ml

Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules 14 caps


And for any trips Mummy BeautyMecca might take next year, she'd need this bad boy...
Dream Journey Traveller
It's actually amazing. Ten perfect pieces of skin and bodycare solutions in a gorgeous travel bag. I am in love.


In said gorgeous bag is:
Pro-Collagen Radiantly Smooth Body Cream 50ml
Pro-Collagen Hand and Nail Cream 20ml
Lip Revive
Eyes-Awake Recovery Gel 10ml
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 15ml

Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream 15ml

Skin Nourishing Milk Bath 60ml

Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules 14 caps

Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml

Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash 50ml


Did I say I was getting this for Mummy BeautyLover? Because Miss BeautyLover would sort of love this too. For stockists, call 01278 727830 or try elemis.com
Maybe I'll just get two while I'm there...

Thursday 6 November 2008

Pharmaton

Is anyone else actually having to physically throw themselves out of bed in the morning at the moment? I don't know what is wrong with me but honestly, I feel like getting up is literally the cruelest joke on Earth right now. Aside from Claudia Winkleman's washed out lipstick*.

And while this may not seem like a 100% Beauty oriented post, if I don't get up in the morning, the first thing to be sacrificed is washing my hair (not pretty) and the second is eye make up (and since I only just got up, they already look like piss holes in the snow) and so you see how my not being knackered all the time directly affects my beauty regime...



But praise be, someone somewhere likes me and has introduced me to the wonder of Pharmaton capsules. I'm really rubbish at taking supplements and vitamins but between Antistax and Bassets chewable vitamin C, I was getting much better and now I'm a total convert. Alongside a combo of vitamins and minerals, Pharmaton has a ginseng extract to stave off fatigue and let's face it, who doesn't need that at the moment? Because, if we're honest, the inability to get out of bed may or may not be linked to the inability to get into it at a decent hour and as we roll up to Christmas, that's hardly about to get any better...

If you want to know more about Pharmaton and their fancy schmancy ginseng, hit the Pharmaton website. It is pretty and orange like the dress I am wearing today. FYI.
If you want to buy some Pharmaton capsules online, try ExpressChemist.
If you want to know more about my inability to get get to bed on time, Facebook me and enjoy the hilarious downward spiral of my life in pictures.

*Come on Claudia, you're so pretty and my friend Steven really fancies you but just once I'd love to see you with maybe a pretty pink lip or even a dramatic red - it would REALLY suit you.

Monday 3 November 2008

Prescriptives LipShine

All hail the latest thing of wonder from Prescriptives.
Their new LipShines have finally cracked it - I am off gloss.

No really, something very strange has happened to me since my birthday, I'm wearing high heels all day, I'm drinking white wine spritzers, I don't drop my bag and launch tampons all over Hammersmith when I get off the bus... I'm not saying my transition into lady-dom is entirely down to this lipstick but there's a clear connection.



Anyway, onto the actual real life reasons why you should buy it:
1. The sheer colours are gorgeous and really buildable. I'm obsessed with Strawberry Twist which just gives a healthy lip coloured tint on first application but after a couple of coats, it gives a gorgeous deep berry red which really pops.
2. The formula contains antioxidants, vitamin C and E and feels like you've just applied a particularly lovely lip balm. Gorgeous.
3. The packaging is awesome. Fact.

Seriously, Prescriptives is totally in the running for My Favourite Brand this year. As if my Custom Colour foundation wasn't fabulous enough, I can't believe a lipstick now exists that has got me off my gloss addiction.
Someone get one for Amy Winehouse, these things are miracle workers.

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