Friday 29 January 2010

IMATS and the Amazing Alex Box!

On Saturday 30th January I got up as bright and as early as the birds and made my way to my first ever IMATs visit at London's Ally Pally! I was so excited and the makeup geek that I am, I even had a little itinerary of who and what I was going to see for the day:
  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' David Klasfeld - Airbrush Confidential
  • MAC's Terry Barber on Beauty in Video & Music
  • Alex Box
  • And lots of visiting - and potential buying at - makeup stands galore...
OCC David Klasfeld - Airbrush Confidential
David is a very humble makeup artist considering his resume covers Comedy Central and music videos for The Stills and Sum 41 to name only a mere few! He gave an excellent and very honest 101 on air brushing, in fact he made it sound so simple I thought I'd be able to pick one up and get going in no time, ha! Honestly though, this was a great seminar and a lot of very useful tips were given, many that all makeup artists should know!

MAC's Terry Barber - Beauty in Video & Music
Wow - the work that this man has achieved and the women he's painted, Terry too is very down to earth and incredibly talented. For his seminar he created a very Grace Jones-esque look that was inspired by the likes of Way Bandy's makeup work and 1920s glamour girls. He went through the look as he carried it out on stage in very thorough detail - how to shade and contour and how to work with the cameras and directors so you help them get the most out of the video in terms of the image created!

Alex Box
By far my favourite makeup artist of the entire event and day, I was so keen to see this lady and hear what makes her tick. I wasn't disappointed. She's so down-to-earth but very imaginative. You can almost see the cogs ticking over in her facial expressions, she's so extrovert but not in a crazy in-your-face way and the stories and advice she imparted were fantastic.

I was very much in awe of her as much as I am of her work. In case you're unsure as to she is, Alex Box is Creative Director of Illamasqua, a very new and different makeup brand. She is responsible for all their makeup imagery that you'll see on their website, branding and promotional material. For years now she's been creating astounding makeup for the likes of W, Stella McCartney and Vogue.

She's also just released a book with the famous photographer Rankin containing a year and half's worth of their beautiful collaborations. "Lost for words" doesn't even cover the emotion I get when looking at them! You can find more details on it here.

Aside from the seminars given there were also the entries for the Student Makeup Artist competition wandering around the venue along with their talented creators. This year's theme, in celebration of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was exactly that - Alice in Wonderland! All of the nominees were phenomenal but my favourites were the Queen of Hearts and Alice with mushrooms and butterflies emerging from crazy, glittery hair and fabulous tattoos reading "Eat Me"!

The stands exhibiting and selling were offering some amazing discounts on the day. I got hold of some of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic's AMAZING Lip Tars at £7 a tube! These are highly pigmented, rich lip paints perfect for video and photography. I got hold of some crazy colours and also their Clear Lip Tar for avante garde and fashion work. I've already experimented with them and they are brilliant, I'm so impressed - the colours are so vibrant and you can mix them together to create new colours!

Thursday 28 January 2010

New Year's Resolutions - Part 3 of 3: Improving your Beauty Routine


Well this is my third and final instalment of the New Year Resolutions series. Hope you've all enjoyed them and that you may have been inspired by them to take action for 2010 so by next January you'll be looking to new resolutions rather than recycling the 'same old' stories. It's been fantastic putting these together and I aim to provide similar advice articles in the future, hoorah!

So for all you girlies looking to get your beauty regime polished and perfected read on...

Quitting smoking
This doesn't seem to really have anything to do with a beauty regime at first, but if one of your resolutions is to quit smoking this year then great! As a makeup artist it pains me to see girls with wrinkles around their mouths from all the pouting when sucking on a cigarette. Add to that flaking lips because cigarettes dehydrate the skin so applying lipstick becomes a total nightmare! Never mind the yellow nicotene-stained nails and fingertips, sallow skin and premature ageing in the longrun.

Even worse is the damage on the inside but if you can't quit for health reasons, quit for the sake of your appearance. Granted the media can make smoking look sexy, I'm not going to deny that. But I don't think it looks great when you look twice the age you are because you smoke all of the time. And the smell, ugh, really?! Ladies shouldn't smell like an ash tray, nuff said...

Taking your makeup off before bed
I'm often stunned at how many girls admit to not doing this - especially when they've been out for a night on the tiles. It can often be a real chore when you stumble back in during the small hours of the morning but trust me, one thing that will contribute to ageing will be leaving your makeup on every night. If you could see the damage you're doing to your skin you would feel very different about your approach to taking off your war paint!

In the short run, eye makeup irritates the eyes when you fall asleep - they try to rid the makeup themselves so that's why your eyes look sore the next morning. Makeup will only clog pores if left on the skin for too long and overall your canvas will become a lot more difficult to work with, trampling on of all your efforts when applying it if you're not keeping it in tip-top condition.

Cleanse, (tone), exfoliate, moisturise

Cleanse
There are still plenty of girls who use hand or body soap to clean their faces. Hand soap is far too harsh for facial skin. It will dry it out so much and in addition if you have sensitive skin then it will only add to your troubles. Invest in a good quality cleanser and you won't regret it:
  • Gel or clay cleansers work fantastically for oily and combination skins. Try Simple's range or pop into Lush and talk to one of their advisors to pick a cleanser right for you.
  • Cleansing creams, milks, lotions and almond oil are all brilliant for drier skins - you don't want to strip the skin of any oil because dry skins have less to spare so you need something nourishing and gentle.

Tone
This step's debatable. I've still yet to find a toner that doesn't strip my skin and make it feel as rough as sandpaper. Water is as good as anything but if you do want to try an official toner, make sure it's alcohol-free - I don't think alcohol is necessary in any toner even if you do have skin that leans towards the oilier side!

Exfoliate
This will keep your skin revived, glowing and soft. Especially during the winter months, a decent exfoliant will work a treat at ridding your skin of all the dead skin cells which only dull your complexion and cause makeup to clog and sit funnily on your face. I use one every day but if your skin's a bit more sensitive try exfoliating three times a week for a beautiful visage!

Moisturise
You may be 18 and not worried about wrinkles but trust me - don't skip this step out. The sooner you begin adding this to your daily routine the better you will feel in the years to come. Your skin begins to slow down its renewal process as of 18 years of age, so it's best to start to defend your skin from the elements and ageing as best as you can.

If you have oily skin don't feel that moisturiser will only aid the oiliness - on the contrary if you don't moisturise your skin will work harder to keep itself moisturised and produce even more oil. There are plenty of moisturisers and gels out there that keep the skin beautifully hydrated but sit under makeup well and don't add to the oil, in fact some mattify and help combat oil from disrupting your makeup!

Drink water
Yeah, I know, you've heard this one before, blah, blah, blah! But seriously try it and you might notice an epic difference in your skin! My skin is far more glowy and blemish-free when I keep up the water intake each day. With central heating, most places like shops and offices having air conditioning, etc. etc. a lot of moisture is lost from the skin and body without you even realising.

The difficulty with this one is fitting it in to our daily routines or even just remembering in the first place! The best policy is to bring a small bottle to work with you or fit it in your handbag on the go. You can always top it up and it's there whenever you need it. Having it sat on your desk or in your bag every time you reach for your keys/phone/makeup bag will remind you to keep taking sips - staying hydrated will become a walk in the park.

If you feel water's a little boring, there are plenty of flavoured waters on the market or you could always add fruit squash to yours each morning. Equally if you're not in the mood for a cold drink or fancy something warming then try green tea or fruit tea (with a hint of honey) - there's a huge selection out there from many different brands. The first tea bags that spring to mind are Twinings but my advice is to explore the other options out there.

Twinings' fruit teas smell fab but some can taste a little... bland. I really recommend giving Yogi teas a try. They're really unusual, taste lovely and are all organic - I love their Licorice tea and Chai teas! They can be bought online or from most health food stores and organice produce stockists.

Sunday 24 January 2010

Inspired by...

I'm really into the new music video by I Blame Coco, I love the styling and Coco herself is very striking! In fact I thought to myself when I first saw the video that she really has a different, edgy look, kinda tomboy-ish - she could be a model... I swear I'd seen her face before.

Ha, little did I know she's modelled for Burberry back in 2008, oh and she's only Sting and Trudy Styler's daughter! Yup, makes sense now! The song's quite catchy, but I'm still not 100% sure about it and the video could be criticised for being achingly hip but I still like it!

And then there's Marina And The Diamonds' music video for 'Hollywood'. I've been hearing waves of whispers about this girl and how her and her band are the next big thing for 2010 but had yet to hear any of their choons. I LOVE her makeup and styling in this video, plus she's absolutely gorgeous. There's lots of pretty things in it that makes any girl want to shout 'Me, me, me!'

The video from I Blame Coco is for their up and coming debut single 'Caesar' (out Feb 2010).

Marina And The Diamonds' 'Hollywood' single is also released next month. Both videos can be checked out below...










Friday 22 January 2010

Tag: Happy 101


I was tagged by the lovely Georgie from So Full of Twilight... on listing 10 things that make me happy. I couldn't possibly narrow it down to just 10 things of course but in no particular order, these are 10 things that spring to mind right now...

Rules: List 10 things that make you happy, try to do at least one of them today, and link back to the person that tagged you. Then tag 10 other bloggers that brighten your day.

1. Makeup & Beauty - as Georgie said herself, I'm stating the obvious here, but yes, to say I'm obsessed would be an understatement. I love looking at it, buying it, using it on myself and others and I love what can be achieved with it. I love doing makeup on everyone, a lot of my friends and family think they ask too much of me when they ask for advice or ask me to do their makeup. I'd like to officially say here that I love nothing more than doing makeup or helping in whatever way I can in this area - so please, never hesitate to ask!

2. Creativity - very much ties in with the above, but creativity comes in all shapes and sizes. I don't just love being creative with makeup, I love being creative with fashion, in the kitchen, with others and when crafting bits and bobs myself. There's something intensely satisfying that comes from putting a vision into reality, especially with others who share in your vision and help execute it. Nothing or no one can take that away!

3. Inspiring people/places - I love people who inspire me whether it be from the clothes they wear, the attitudes they carry, the work they carry out, to the positivity they pour out and the warmth, kindness and generosity that they're capable of. Plus there's nothing more enriching for the soul than those places in life that we find fill us with hope, joy, awe or inspiration or all four and more... You know where they are, their your havens! There are a few places in the world that I will always return to simply because of the way they make me feel - I love that feeling I get from them and often experience it at sea!

4. My family, boyfriend and friends - this shouldn't really need stating but it's important to me so I will. Where would we be without loved ones?! They celebrate with us when we're winning and pick us up when we're down! I owe so much to them and couldn't, and more importantly wouldn't want to, imagine sharing my life without them. Despite the age gap between my sister and I we get each other so much and she's one of the wisest people I know even though she's only 20. My boyfriend is incredible beyond words. Oh and my little pet hamster, Chloe is the sweetest bundle of awesomeness!

5. Fashion - this one isn't so original as it would probably go on many a girl's list but I have loved it ever since I can remember. I used to be fascinated with my Mum's Vogue magazines when I was little and religiously watched The Clothes Show on TV when it used to air every Sunday. I love being able to play about with it and create new outfits from mixing and matching key items. And I love to read about and watch documentaries on designers to get a little view into their world and the way their minds work!

6. Travel - I haven't been to very many places outside of the UK. In fact, I've only been to Normandy, France and Berlin, Germany! As a result I've got a bit of a travel bug. Not so much that I could pack a bag and roam the world for several months but I could certainly get used to seeing the world one year at a time. I've always promised myself that one day I'll holiday somewhere where the sand is white - I'd love to visit the Maldives and Mauritius at some point. I really want to go to New York and I fell in love with Berlin so much when I went out there a couple of months ago that I'm going back in a couple of months!

7. Coffee - that sounds like I'm an addict but I'm not, honest! In fact I've always made a conscious effort to not drink more than two cups a day as I really don't want to ever get myself into a dependency on caffeine, ha! No nasty withdrawal headaches here, thank you. But yes, a good cuppa goes down a treat, especially over winter. Like some people love nothing more than a lovely cup of tea, I'm a coffee girl myself and love to give myself a coffee moment every day - it perks me up and warms the soul - a little like chicken soup!

8. Fantasy - I love reading stories and watching films that take me places - whether it be the bizarre or the fantastically fictitious. From Alice in Wonderland to vampires, Pan's Labyrinth and much more. Stories of make-believe are often the best medicine for relaxing and getting away from it all in inspiring tales and worlds!

9. Blogging - geeky, isn't it? Without sounding cheesy though, I do love writing, always have done and I think I always will. There's something really satisfying when it comes to sharing and writing about what matters to you - gaining a sense of achievement on completing and publishing an article and it's rewarding when readers stop by, say hi and discuss the articles further or enquire! I also love reading other blogs on fashion, makeup and life in general - the blogging community is so vast and varied now that there's tonnes of bloggers whose work I admire!

10. Being myself - as I've grown up I've realised how important it is to remain true to myself. Don't ever change yourself for anyone - unless of course you want to improve your attitude towards others or make yourself a more considerate person, etc. Self improvement is always great, but never try to appeal to others by being like them or imitating someone else because you feel you're not up to scratch. You're individual and unique, no one is like you and that should be celebrated! You're the best person in the world at being you so do it with style! As Judy Garland said: "Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else" - I think she had it sorted : )

I'd love to tag 10 others, but a lot of the blogger I follow have been tagged already and some may not want to take part which is fine! If you do see this and want to do your very own Happy 101 then of course please go ahead!

Image by 'Simply Dolce'

Product Review - Kings & Queens Caspar Myrrh Body Butter

I had a tube of this in my bathroom up until recently. Originally I was in two minds to review it, but then one of my lovely readers, Amanda of A Fairy Cake Tale (check her blog out if you want the most awesome cooking recipes!) asked for some advice on body butters - how could I refuse?

Kings & Queens are a cosmetics company with a difference. They make very posh, swanky body butters, body milks, soaps, shower gels and even candles all with decadent ingredients that for hundreds of years have been celebrated as being fit for royalty - for kings and queens! Their collection is therefore designed, from their packaging all the way through to the smell and textures, to make you feel like a princess.

With this in mind, let's take a look at their product description for the body butter I chose - Caspar Myrrh and see if it's up to scratch:

A rich, luxurious body butter with intense fragrance enriched with a royal mix of pomegranate, blue Egyptian lotus and malachite extracts to maximize indulgence. The purple fruit of pomegranate ends in a crown-like top which is why it is shown on the coat of arms of many royal houses. The flower of the blue lotus was the most popular ancient Egyptian symbol of glory and eternal life for gods and mortals alike, while malachite was loved by princes across Europe. Kings & Queens products are free from mineral oil (synthetic oil from processed petroleum) and parabens (category of preservatives).

Rich and luxurious?
Definitely! This body butter is exactly that - buttery! But my only gripe, as is Amanda's and many others' is that some body butters take far, far too long to soak into the skin. If you're getting ready for a night out you don't want to be dancing around your room for 15 minutes waiting to get dressed because it won't soak in quickly enough!

Some body butters are so intense they're too heavy and concentrated for the skin to absorb quickly and effectively. This body butter is surprisingly good at soaking in quickly. It's nowhere near as fast as a lotion or a body milk but that's the price you pay for butters - the richer the moisturiser the more concentrated it is and the more time it requires to absorb. It needs a bit of work but if you put the effort in this body butter will have soaked in within about 3 minutes!

The reason why I wasn't going to review this product yet was because when I came to the end of the bottle I was unsure as to whether I'd try it again. I loved it but I'm impatient and sometimes I just want a body lotion that soaks in in 30 seconds. I thought I'd try something else and get back to it. Needless to say I want to buy more because despite the 3 minute wait it's still better than most body lotions and butters I've tried, doesn't leave the skin greasy and my skin felt baby soft after using it daily.

Intense fragrance?
Yes, most certainly! This moisturiser is obviously scented with myrrh - dried tree sap, used for its medicinal properties to this day and valued as much as gold during ancient times. The name Caspar is from the three 'Magi' or kings, who travelled to Bethlehem and gave Myrrh as a gift to baby Jesus.

It's a beautiful body butter perfect for the wintery months as the fragrance is heady and spicy. It may be too intense a smell for the summer months when you want something lighter, more citrussy or floral, but you can always try the other scents in the Kings & Queens collection such as 'Emperor Akbar Mango' or 'Sultan of Granada Lemon Flower'.

Pomegranate, blue Egyptian lotus and malachite extracts?
Yes (pomegranate's listed as Punica Granatum Fruit Extract), yes (blue Egyptian lotus is listed as Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract) and yes. This lotion also contains beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil - all known for their ultra moisturising properties, safflower seed oil and sweet almond oil. If you like your lotions to be synthetic ingredient-free then you may want to reconsider this product as it does contain a few artificial ingredients but...

Free from mineral oil and parabens?
... it doesn't contain a jot of parabens or mineral oil! I've counted three and sometimes as many as five individual parabens in some body butters on the market. Parabens are artificial preservatives that are now known to be carcenogenic. Mineral oil, as discussed in my article on lip balms and hand creams provides no benefits whatsoever and is a derivative of petroleum which is also bad for the body.

Overall...
This product is available online and in Superdrug stores, so as you can imagine it's not going to break the bank coming in at £4.50 on their website, but a few months ago I could have sworn I paid something in the region of £5 or £6. Some of their body butters do differ in price due to the ingredients used in each, but they're all very reasonable and suitable for all budgets.

The richness of this product means that a little goes a long way and you therefore get what you pay for. The seductive packaging, names, scents and ingredients do encourage you to try the entire range and I am contemplating trying out their other scented body butters and perhaps trying their shower gels at some stage.

I was really impressed with this body butter and as I said before, it soaks in really quickly compared to other body butters I've sampled. My skin became very soft after a week of using this and after three weeks it was beautifully silky and as I can get dry skin on my arms sometimes this was a complete treat for me. Since moving onto a body lotion from another brand I've noticed the deterioration in my skin once again so to be honest I'll be going straight back to this product once I'm through with my current one. What better testimony than that?

So if you're considering a body butter that doesn't take an age to sink in, give this a try and let me know how you get on - I always love to hear what you all think!

Thursday 21 January 2010

New Year's Resolutions - Part 2 of 3: Adopting a Fitness Routine


Maintaining and even developing a fitness routine that we can stick to is often quite tricky. There isn't a one-size-fits-all when it comes to exercise. It needs to be fun to be maintained and enjoyed - 'enjoyed' being the key word here, what one person loves another may loathe. Otherwise it becomes as fun as poking your own eyes out with a fork.

Just because your friend loves hitting the gym every evening doesn't mean you should and because you don't you're 'lazy' or 'not getting into the spirit of things'. Not everyone likes to work out in a room full of mirrors stretching as far as the eye can see under the most unflattering lighting in the world. Each to their own as they say.

I've created a list below that isn't exactly revolutionary, but I break down each approach by showing you the plus sides to exercising in this way. So you'll be able to see which methods agree with your attitude and ticks your boxes, e.g. you may work in a very busy environment and like to exercise in private, treating your exercise time as 'you' time away from the madding crowds. So finding a jogging route that's off the beaten track may be more your style. Take a look at the ideas below and see what takes your fancy. It may also get you thinking about other forms of exercise which aren't here but still attract you...

Lose Yourself & Your Troubles: Jogging
For some people I know they love nothing more than to switch off, favourite music in their ears and pummel the tarmac for a good hour or so. It's not just their way of keeping fit and nimble, it's their way of dealing with the world - getting away from it all and coming back refreshed and rejuvenated. For them it's just like a form of meditation and it has been proven that exercise benefits the brain as well as the body!

The great thing about jogging is you really don't have to think that much. No need for inductions, rules or how-to's other than it's probably a good idea to warm up and cool down in between. So it frees your mind to wander, play and digest the day's events, problems and create solutions even if you're not actually thinking about anything in particular. Like sleeping on some things, sometimes your brain works best when it's left to meander and solves problems even while you're not thinking about them!

If you like this approach, then the more private your jogging route the better too. I was lucky when I used to jog I lived in a very remote village with backroads and lanes that wound on for miles often without the disturbance of a car or person in sight! This won't be easy for everyone but let's face it, if you know your town or local area well I'm sure you know some walks, roads or footpaths that are often quiet and out of the way. Just make sure they're safe and if you take this approach in a town or city don't leave the exercise until too late.

Variety is the Spice of Life: The Gym
You may want more range and diversity in your exercise routine in terms of pushing and strengthening different areas of your body. Access to all of the different equipment that strengthen, tone and sculpt your body will all be found in the gym. You'll also get access to professional help as well as all members get full inductions on where everything is, what's available and how to use the equipment onsite. In addition if you fancy the help of a personal trainer to drive you and maintain your routine then this would be a perfect form of exercise for you.

Not only that but you get what you pay for: You can really go to town with the facilities and treat yourself to different varieties of exercise. Some gyms also have pools nearby if you fancy a swim instead. And most if not all have sauners and steam rooms for winding down and detoxing afterwards. So if you like to do it properly and make a full-on ritual of it, the gyms really do tick all of the boxes.

This is however a committed form of exercise. Well, all forms should be but you do pay good money for your membership and the better the range of equipment and facilities the more hefty the fee. Make sure you're positive about joining a gym, ask around and see which ones are the favourites in your area. You don't want to join only to flake out on going after a couple of months and waste all of that cash. For those of you on lower budgets or a bit worried about fitting it in often enough, there are 'Pay As You Go' gyms popping up all over the place now, so do some research and see if one is in your local area...

Sweat it out in front of Your TV: Fitness at Home
I'm now giving DVDs a try since my usual excuse to exercise is "it's too cold outside" Fitness DVDs are great during the winter months because you don't have to trudge to a gym and you have the comfort of knowing that you can stay in indoors and get fit all without leaving the house! There's a great variety of DVDs available now, usually something to suit everyone's tastes no matter what you're in to:

Dance Music
The Ministry of Sound have recently released a fitness DVD "Pump It Up! The Ultimate Dance Workout". It's only £6.98 from Amazon, (that's less than a meal out!) and is crammed full of great dance routines.

Perfect if you like your dance music, but if you're not fussed about the tunes you still get to exercise to something a little different while someone instructs you. The exercises all vary in difficulty and length so you can choose which ones suit your mood and how much you want to be challenged.

Dance Moves & More
"Yoga Booty Ballet" is not just a funny name (in fact the name made me cringe at first), it's actually a really motivating fitness DVD with a twist. It's possibly a little cheesy for some tastes, but this video is great because not only does it guide you through dance routines to keep you fit, but it also teaches you how to pose in various yoga moves, works on your poise and offers meditation techniques.

If that's not enough, not only are there your standard dance routines included, but you can also practice ballet dance moves too - hence the title ; ) This DVD does require you to buy some weights before you get started as some of the exercises will use these.

Get Fit with Friends
Or you could opt for the Wii Fit - this is a bit of a serious investment, but unlike the gym it will only be a one-off payment! Of course if you already have the Wii console then all you need is the game and the Wii Fit Board - however it's a lot of serious investment if you don't have the console, in this case costing you around £200!

But the great advantages you get with the Wii Fit is that you can get fit with friends and family adding to the fun and could help you commit to a routine if you feel you need the additional motivation of extra company! You can practise and perfect yoga moves, aerobics, build your strength and balance.

Who Said it had to Feel Like a Chore?: Dance Classes
More and more people are turning to dance as their ultimate choice of exercise, because dance doesn't feel like exercise but still burns the calories. It's fun, it's sociable, it's challenging and can be very sexy - all of the things that a lady loves, n'est pas?! The options below are only a scratch on the surface of the variety of dance classes on offer but a great cross-section for all tastes...

Street Dance
Street dance is no longer restricted to the street, those hip-hop funky moves can be learnt by all now in the comfort of a studio. This is the modern dance class for those who like to shake it up a little! It really challenges you physically and allows for you to improve your overall posture and confidence when it comes to dancing socially on a night out!

Salsa
Salsa is brilliant for socialising and meeting new people. It's all about partnering up, swapping partners throughout the class session and learning together. It maybe not for the shy, but you do learn some very classy sashaying and for a lady whose maybe on the lookout for a date this is hot; for a guy - tell a lady you know how to salsa and she'll be putty in your hands!

Dance Aerobics
Dance aerobics is a workout for those who don't like to mess around and is not for the faint-hearted (no pun intended!) You'll really get your heart rate going but with the added bonus of doing all the exercises in time to music - warning: your instructor will drive you if they can see you flagging! These sessions are possibly best for those of you who like to really hit the ground running and perhaps maintain other forms of exercise during the week.

Tone Your Mind as well as Your Body: Yoga
Not only is yoga great for your strength and keeping you lean, it's fantastic for the soul! I know women who've done it for 20 years and more and they wouldn't stop doing it for the world. Someone once told me that she saw a sixty year old woman bend and flex so well and as a result it inspired her to be the same at that age!

Who says you have to be walking around with a zimmer frame and a dodgy hip by seventy?! If you start yoga now and maintain it for life, your body will thank you and reward you for it. Many people also do it for the sheer clear-out of negative energy that clogs their minds up (which in turn affects the body in multiple ways) and to keep a calm, positive outlook in the class and outside...!

If you're at all worried about the contortion and being able to push your body to those sorts of limits, you shouldn't be. Do ask around and get advice on teachers in your local area - see if you can get recommendations and why those people would recommend! A great yoga teacher will not push or punish but customise and assist, so that over time you get the knack and eventually achieve results.

Everyone learns and develops at different rates and the best teachers know this. Don't be afraid to muck in and have a go but learn that while your neighbour may be far more able than you, you will get it in time. If you can find classes that are divided into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced then even better.

Thursday 14 January 2010

The Urge for Snoods, Satchels & DMs...

Untitled


I've been playing around with outfit ideas that incorporate some of my threads and my three favourite fashion items at the moment:

Snoods - yes, they're "in trend" at the moment so it's not very original and they're everywhere so getting your hands on one is very easy - too easy. But they're so inviting! I'm in love with the soft knitted ones - ultra pretty against English fair skins like my own!

Satchel = wants badly! I miss having a bag that I can sling over my shoulder and chest without fear of it falling off if I lean over/down/run around a corner etc. Something a handbag just can't offer... Plus I just love the whole leather satchel Parisian geek-chic thing. All you need to complete the look is a warm croissant and a big ol' bicycle with a basket... Oooh, I feel a trip to Paris coming on : D

And finally Doc Martens. Yes, I'm going to come out of the closet and say I've NEVER been taken by them, ever. I never got into them when they were all the rage at school (oooh, way back in 1995) and I hadn't taken to them since either. UNTIL RECENTLY!

I don't know what happened, it's like a Doc Marten bug bit me and I've got the virus. Or maybe I've been contemplating them since I saw this awesome lay-dee in the Sartorialist. I love the contrast of the dress with the boots and that trench, it takes a lotta guts to pull this off - she gets my salute!

What's your favourite items of lust-worthiness at the moment?

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Under Construction!

Hello Everyone!

This is just a *big* thank you to all of you who've left your love for my new header - yes, this is just a mere morsel-y taste of things to come!... It is slightly too far right for my liking and I'm trying to centre it at the moment.

Over time more new features will be added and the site will get a proper design overhaul so if you do see anything a bit squiffy going on, it's all constructional and will be fixed in due course!

Happy blogging : D

Amanda x

Thursday 7 January 2010

Product Review - Weleda Iris Cream

This has been my moisturiser of choice for the past month as I wanted to try a natural, light moisturiser ideal for combination skins that doesn't strain the purse strings! This Weleda cream has been formulated to moisturise but balance the oil production in your skin - i.e. help your skin produce more in drier areas and less in oilier areas all with the help of iris that like lavender helps to regulate the skin's moisture naturally.

I've really enjoyed using a moisturiser that I know won't be plugging my skin with anything other than what it needs and it's nice to go back to nature and rely on something like iris to help combat problematic combination skin. Beneath is Weleda's product description so let's see if it lives up to their hype:

A refreshingly light moisturiser that is quickly absorbed... Suitable for vegetarians. Organic Jojoba Oil, biodynamic Iris Root extract and other pure plant extracts help support the skin's natural functions, leaving it feeling healthy, refreshed and smooth. Natural essential oils provide a light, fine fragrance. Tip: Iris Moisture Cream is also recommended as a base for make-up.

Refreshingly light?
Definitely, despite appearances with it looking more like a heavy cream and maybe feeling so to the touch, it goes on like a very light gel, you need only enough for your skin to suitably absorb and no more! A one pence piece-sized amount or less is all that you need to sufficiently moisturise your entire face.

Quickly absorbed?
Absolutely! Once worked in the cream sinks in beautifully and fast, leaving no greasy residue or build-up so it really is perfect as a daytime moisturiser and it leaves no nasty sheen either.

Suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, there are absolutely no animal extracts or derivatives in the cream whatsoever, so it's not only friendly to your face it's friendly to the environment and animals. You'll also be pleased to hear that it comes in a recyclable aluminium tube and cardboard box.

Organic jojoba oil, iris root extract and other pure plant extracts?
Yes, yes and yes. The other pure plant extracts are: witch hazel (great for oily skins and combating bacteria that cause blemishes), beeswax and calendula flower extract. On top of that there are no artificial additives - Weleda pride themselves on making products without synthetic fragrances, preservatives or chemicals.

Healthy. refreshed and smooth?
Yes, surprisingly, as when you've applied it it does such an effective job of soaking in that it almost feels like it might not do the trick of nourishing enough. But it always leaves my skin velvet-soft, non-slippery but the scent and the natural extracts make it feel like it's doing a great job without the horrible, unnecessary excess of artificial ingredients!

Natural oils provide light, fine fragrance?
Yes, there is no artificial perfume or fragrance in the moisturiser whatsoever so what you smell is 100% natural which is lovely because it really smells nice!

Base for makeup?
I would definitely say so. I still use a primer underneath my foundation but because the moisturiser is light and easily absorbed leaving no traces it makes a great base for makeup unlike some moisturisers that create an oily barrier slip-sliding your makeup half way down your face by afternoon!

Overall...
Suitable for all budgets retailing online at £8.95 but I swear I bought mine at a local organic store for £7.95, this moisturiser really is worth a try. It won't be nourishing or intensive enough for drier skins but if you suffer from oily or combination skin then you should definitely give this a go. Bear in mind with its all-natural ingredients its shelf life is only nine months after opening.

Would I buy again? Yes but my only concern is how this moisturiser might fair in the summer months - on days where I've been busy on my feet and got a little hot indoors the oil isn't quite kept at bay as my Mary Kay moisturiser used to do. So I'd need to wait to see how it copes. Bear this in mind as you may have to combine it with a mattifier if you want to keep oil at bay all day.

Product Review - Aveda Botanicals Kinetics Hydrating Lotion

One of my friends used to work at an Aveda salon and as a result I've got a backlog of Aveda freebies stocked up in my cupboard. Today I'm reviewing their Botanicals Kinetics facial moisturiser - Hydrating Lotion.

I've been using it daily for over a month now but as my skin is combination I only use it as a night moisturiser as it's too rich for me in the day under my makeup. It's supposed to be one of their best sellers and I can see why: the product's very creamy and soothing as you put it on and the next morning my skin feels ultra nourished and velvet-soft, something I really appreciate with the sub-zero temperatures we've been having!

If you like your products to be gorgeously scented then this would be perfect for you as you can really smell the lavender and chamomile, it's quite strong, in fact I would go as far to say that this moisturiser has a fairly unisex scent - it's not too girly so you may find the other half borrowing it... However there is some synthetic fragrance in it so for those of you with sensitive skins I'm not sure how you'd get on with skin irritation! This product doesn't claim to be hypoallergenic so weigh this up if you're at all unsure...

So let's take their product breakdown as listed on their website and see if it does what is says on the bottle:

Nurturing your skin comes naturally with this quick-absorbing lotion—containing emollients derived from coconut, jojoba and other naturally-derived ingredients—that replenishes moisture with a gentle touch. Camomile and lavender blend helps promote a soft, supple skin texture.
  • Leaves skin feeling resilient and moisture-refreshed
  • Protects from dehydration
  • For all skin types
Quick-absorbing?
Fairly, but in the summer months I'm not sure it is as quick-absorbing as when my skin is on the drier side. If your skin is oily bear in mind it may take some working in, you may not like the texture or sensation so much as it tends to leave a layer for a couple of minutes.

Coconut, jojoba and other naturally-derived ingredients?
Check, check and check! This blissful moisturiser also contains lavender extract, chamomile extract, rosemary leaf extract and rice bran oil so it's full of natural derivatives. However the basic premise of Aveda's products is that they use the 'science of nature' but they're not without some artificial ingredients. However you will find these fairly minimal and there are no parabens in this moisturiser.

Soft, supple skin?
Definitely! The next morning when I wake after using this, it sounds cheesy but my skin really does feel baby-soft and very nourished. I had a few flaky patches from the chilly weather but they've completely gone since using this every night.

Resilient and moisture-refreshed?
This moisturiser has been a total god-send for me this winter. There have been a few occasions before I started to use it when my face has ended up very weather-beaten and dry from a day in blustery winds, crying out for moisture. As soon as I put this on it relieved the tense, tight feeling immediately and nourished so well that by morning it felt as if I had a new face, ha!

Protects from dehydration?
Absolutely. This lotion really has made a difference as in the day my skin feels a lot more protected even when I'm wearing a much less creamy moisturiser during the daytime.

For all skin types?
I wouldn't be so sure. As I don't have sensitive skin I can't vouch for this but I would warn those of you with sensitive faces to approach with caution. Equally if your skin's quite oily you may find this only exacerbates the situation!

Overall...
The lotion is a little on the pricey side retailing at £32.00, so it's certainly not for all pockets and possibly not suitable for those with sensitive skin, but if you have dry or combination skin I can really recommend this, especially as a night moisturiser or one for the winter months as you do really feel the benefit. Would I buy now that I've sampled? Seeming as I can really feel the benefits and you get quite a lot of moisturiser for your money (it's rich too so a little goes very far) then yes!

Tuesday 5 January 2010

New Year's Resolutions - Beauty Inside & Out: Part 1 of 3

I don't know about you, but I've got a HEAP of New Year's resolutions for 2010. They all vary in terms of subject: some are mental spring cleaning goals, others are career resolutions and one is keeping fit. Granted the last one isn't particularly original and I bet at least one of you out there is in the same boat!

The trouble is after a month into the year the good intentions are intact but the actual putting-into-practice isn't quite so much... We've all been there, but there are ways to make life a little easier when it comes to exercise and maintaining a really great diet.

So whether you're aiming to improve your diet, fitness routine or beauty regime - or maybe all three - here's one of three instalments to give you a helping hand so that by this time next year, you won't be rolling your eyes at the thought of you making the same resolution another year in a row. After all, your internal well-being means looking great on the outside will be a cinch ; )


Part 1 of 3: Improving your Diet
I'm not talking about hitting the Slim Fast. Or the Atkins diet. Or restricting yourself to blended juices only. I'm talking about healthy eating - not denial of certain foodstuffs, nutrients or anything that makes you happy! Diets don't work because they're not sustainable, they usually involve incredible limitations on what you can actually eat.

All that drudgery makes you feel you have a mountain to climb and often leaves you thinking more about the food you love but can't have than anything else. Never mind that most of these diets are incredibly bad for your body and mind. Sure enough, diets are often the first thing to go out of the window!

The essential point to remember is that it's all about balance. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "a healthy balanced diet"? Well not only does it address the balance of all the essential nutrients, but it's all about moderation. Everyone's different and you may want to adapt the following a bit to suit your lifestyle but here's my tips for maintaining a healthy body - and not going crazy whilst you do so:

Don't start off with the 'shoulds' or 'shouldn'ts' when addressing your eating habits - that sets things off to a very dull start and makes the whole goal feel like a chore. Instead look at what you enjoy from a meal, what keeps you going and what you can do without:

What foods do you really love?
You may really love a good steak, or fresh fruit, steak and ale pie or smoked salmon. I'm not talking about temptations like chocolate (yet!), I'm talking about food you can have every day that you love to eat.

Once you've made a list of all these elements come up with recipes whereby you can include a good amount of vegetables or fruit around that particular food. For instance if you love a good steak and ale pie, you could have one a week but make sure you include three portions of veg - e.g. parsnips, carrots and leeks. Vegetables don't have to boring - you can sprinkle rosemary onto potatoes and roast them in the oven or glaze parsnips and carrots in honey for instance. Find a combination you love and sticking to eating the good stuff won't feel so tricky!

What do you need to survive a day on the go?
A big breakfast? A couple of snacks? A hearty lunch? I can't start the day without a bowl of cereal - if I eat anything else it never keeps me sated until lunch and I end up wanting to snack. You might however need to eat little and often to keep you going instead of having an official three square meals a day. Whatever you feel you need stick to. But any excess can be cut.

If you have three square meals a day you might not need snacks so often. If you feel sluggish or lightheaded without them though why not replace your packet of crisps with a packet of mixed nuts or replace your chocolate buttons with dried mango slices? Snacking can still be as tasty but less calorific!

Is there anything you eat that you feel you could do without?
We all do it now and then - eat or drink something so often we do it without thinking and if we did think about it a bit more, we'd realise that we probably don't appreciate or really need it. That cupcake after your sandwich - do you really need it? Or do you often sit at your desk afterwards thinking "Hmmm, I could have given that a miss"? Or when you do a supermarket run and you instinctively grab that chocolate bar - could you leave it? Or if you're going to do it, could you cut it down to once a week?

Don't go denial crazy!
Once or twice a week I allow myself something naughty. For all my efforts at staying healthy I think it's fine to have an indulgence every so often. Complete denial of my favourite treats has led to overcompensating later on - it just doesn't work. Whereas if once or twice a week I let myself have my favourite chocolate bar I don't feel guilty and it usually satisfies the craving until the next week.

You'd be surprised at how much you'll appreciate your treats that way, enjoy them more and don't end up feeling like needing one every single day! The point is you can eat the foods you enjoy - just work out what your favourites are and learn to work them in once or twice a week as rewards for anything - a promotion, jogging 3 miles rather than 2, being a great girlfriend ; )

Eat for your activity
By this I mean if you work an office job the chances of you burning off a lot of calories and needing to compensate for this are slim. You're actually better off with a smaller lunch and one that won't be so carbohydrate-intense - a huge baguette, pasta or a full-on bowl of noodles are all rich in carbs. Whilst tempting at the time they'll only send you to sleep half way through the latter half of the afternoon as your blood sugar levels crash.

Try eating a bowl of soup - without the bread roll! Chunky soups often fill the gaps fantastically, are low in calories and leave you feeling satisfied until dinner time. Or sushi is just as filling but great in warmer climates or summer months. You don't have to stick to salad, there are inventive ways to satisfy the hunger but without the regret.

However if you work outside, work out a lot or your job is physically demanding, you're going to need more than a bowl of cereal for brekkie, soup for lunch and a small dinner. You are more likely to need carbohydrates - a healthy pasta dish with mustard dressing for instance will keep you fuelled as you go. You may require a more fuelling breakfast too like granola, yoghurt and honey with a banana and hemp shake for instance.

In summary, the more you burn, the more you need - if you're eating more than you burn off look for ways to trim down your portions. If you're feeling fatigued but do a strenuous job then you may need to incorporate some healthy snacks in between meals to keep you going!

Saturday 2 January 2010

Happy New Year!


Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/holiday time and some fantastic partying when seeing in 2010.

I'm sorry that it's been so long since I posted - the Christmas hecticness and last-minute running around took more time than I thought it ever could... However 2010 will see All That Glitters evolve and offer you, my wonderful readers, more for your blog-reading time : )

You'll see some exciting new features coming soon here on All That Glitters as well as a bit of a spruce-up on the appearance front! So keep your eyes peeled as I reveal all very soon...

Here's to a year of fun, sparkles, happiness and wonderment! x
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