Lean, Mean, Fat Reducing, Sucking Machine: Bliss Fatgirlslim

I have to say, squeezing spa appointments into busy working weeks can be a bit of a nightmare, leaving no time to eat my lunch, let alone relax. With a shift in cosmetic technology it is now possible to turn our bedrooms into an ‘at-home-spa’.  While doing some DIY spa research I came across the new Bliss Fatgirlslim Lean (mean, fat reducing, grilling - sorry George Forman) Machine. It makes some pretty bold claims, to beat cellulite and encourage detoxification and contour the body. Hello bikini bod!

Bliss Fatgirlslim Lean Machine

How is that possible? I hear you sister. Apparently, by using a mixture of sucking, rolling and pulsating massage it boosts absorption of their own fat busting cream and stimulates circulation. They recommend using it every day on your wobbly bits for maximum effect. 

The term hoover scares me first of all. How can something hoover up your fat? It sounds painful, all that skin being sucked up into what sounds like a hand held vacuum cleaner, the type my dad uses to clean his car. But Bliss are a reputable spa brand, so I hope for all the women out there shelling out £120 for this that it gives you a body like Gisele. If you want to try it, it is a lot cheaper than having a body wrap in a spa, you can buy it HERE or at Harrods.

Stay beautiful,

xoxo

Hello, howdy, zdravstvuj, bonjour, hallo, g'day mate, привіт

I would like to say a huge hello to my readers from all over the world! I appreciate you all taking the time to read my ramblings and it is amazing how little old me can reach so far away.  So hello to you!  I have readers from, United Kingdom
United States
Russia
France
Germany
Australia
Ukraine
Philippines
Brunei
Japan

Image: Google

Pocket Lipcare

How blooming cute are these lip balms?! These little cubes are the brain child of lipcare brand Balmi, which I haven't heard of. They come in small plastic tubs, perfect for your handbag and have a unique conical balm. It contains a natural blend of shea butter and jojoba oil, leaving lips moisturised, soft and smooth with SPF 15, so great if you are off skiing.

Balmi Lip Balm in Strawberry (image: Diarydirectory.com)

 
Balmi is available in four flavours: strawberry, coconut, raspberry and mint, priced at £4.99 each. I don't think they are available yet, but stockists will include Boots, Boots.com, Tesco, Snow & Rock and Mountain Warehouse stores, or you can get them HERE.

From Hungers Games to Dior

Can we just stop for a second and appreciate the beauty of this woman!! Okay so she, herself has admitted these photos are heavily Photoshopped, but still! 

These are the new images of Jennifer Lawrence, well know for her role in the Hunger Games, in her ad campaign for Dior.

 

 

Pastel Power: L'Oréal Paris Feria Pastel Toning Conditioner in Pink Panther

A/W 13 Fashion Week was jam packed full of ambitious hairstyles. Some you would wear to the office and some you just wouldn't. Perhaps the Givenchy show in Paris is one of the latter.

A/W 13 Givenchy

But, never one to give up on a trend I thought I would give it a go. Armed with my latex gloves and a tube full of pink toner I set to the challenge. I used L'Oréal Paris Feria Pastel Toning Conditioner in Pink Panther, hoping to get beautiful dip dyed ends that would make my hipster sister jealous. The directions say to leave it on for 15 minutes, but after 30 I felt the toner had sufficient time to sink into my porous, damaged tips. I was surprised to see the water running off the hair was clear, so I wasn't expecting brilliant results.

Once I dried my hair, this was the result.

You can see some hint of pink...

My verdict on this is pretty underwhelming. It washed out after one wash, but if you want it for a festival or party then it would be perfect. I did get a lot of compliments. The girls in the Vogue office loved it so much they asked me to write it on the blog, you can see that HERE.  The L'Oreal Paris Feria Pastel Toning Conditioner in Pink Panther is £5.79, available from boots or HERE.

 Stay beautiful,

XOXO

Call Me Coral: Chanel Rouge Allure

With Spring teasing us with a glimpse of sunshine through chilly winds, I thought it was time to bring out a suitable lipstick to cheer me up.

Chanel have a varied range of lip colour's to fit your mood or accentuate an outfit. Team it with subtle eye makeup for daytime glam. Going to a makeup counter in your local store can often be overwhelming with so much on offer and such a hefty price tag, a Chanel is not to be taken on lightly.

Rouge Allure in La Favourite

Rouge Allure Velvet in La Favourite is a gorgeous coral colour with a matte like finish. It has a lovely creamy texture that doesn't sink in to lip lines, but does have to be reapplied throughout the day.

If you are looking to treat yourself and a Chanel purse is a long way off, then a Chanel lipstick is the next best thing.

You can buy them at a cosmetic counter in House of Frazer for a hefty £25.00.

Stay beautiful,
Xoxo

A Commuting Guide To Makeup

I have had this post sitting in the pipe line for nearly a month. I haven't posted it mainly because I lost the mentioned makeup bag on the mentioned commute. Meaning there are no photos to go with it. But I still stand by this post and the makeup mentioned is sadly missed.

I commute and spend half the week in London. Often I have to take only the essentials so that I'm not hauling a suitcase on and off the tube at rush hour, not fun! For me travelling light isn't exactly easy. I am a hoarder of bits of makeup and I worry even the most useless item may come in handy on a spur of the moment night out or a meeting at work. After a lot of practice I manage to only take what is essential to my London life and my London face.

Using the right make up bag is more important than you may think. Too big and you take every lip liner, eye shadow and your summer foundation (we all have one). But one too small means you may leave the basics, such as a concealer, then a pesky spot appear on date night! The best thing to do is pick the makeup first. Take what you seriously think you will need. Once you have your key essentials go out and buy the perfect make up bag.

Here are my current make up must haves for travelling light.

1. Primer & Moisturiser In One

Skin care and makeup companies alike are producing on trend products using science. An example of this are combined primers and moisturisers. Why carry two bottles when you can have one? My favourite at the moment is Decleor Aroma Purete Matte Finish Skin Fluid. It mattifies and moisturises at the same time, plus it comes in a cute pump bottle.

2. Foundation 

A good foundation is like a good bra. It supports you and makes you feel better about yourself. Without it you feel droopy and like everyone is looking at your nipples. I love Clinique's Anti Blemish Solutions Foundation at the moment. It comes in a handy small bottle, bit of a pain seeing as it's pricey but good for travel size.

3. Concealer

I take a bus to London at 4 in the morning. I get bags under my eyes and stress spots. I look pretty awful rocking around at that ungodly hour. Concealer is my best, best, best friend! It never lets me down and makes me look like I have had my 8hours sleep. In saying this I am not particularly loyal to a certain type. I swap between a few. Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer is creamy and gives good coverage. This is better when my skin is a little smoother. Clinique's Anti Blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer is pretty great for spot prone skin. It has antibacterial ingredients that help fight spots as you wear it. The coverage is thick and just a tiny bit goes a really long way.

4. Setting Powder

Underestimating the power of setting your makeup could mean it melting down to your chin. It's something I have only discovered in the last year and I wish someone had told me earlier. The good ones absorb excess oil that builds up during the day, so your skin looks shine free and your foundation doesn't go for a stroll. Until a few weeks ago I swore by No 17 Miracle Matte Powder. It is cheap and does the job pretty well. But whilst in duty free I hopped on the Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation bandwagon and I don't want to ever get off.

5. Bronzer

Finishing the face with a sweep of bronzer or blush leaves you fresh and glowing. Use it correctly and you can make your face look thinner. I love NARS in Super Orgasm.

6. Mascara

Who doesn't love mascara?! It opens up the eye, making you look younger and fresh. Not something I exactly need, seeing as I'm a 24 year old living in a 19 year olds body. But it is essential. I struggle with finding a type that doesn't smudge. Bobbie Brown No Smudge Mascara that really does what it says on the tin, but at £18 it isn't exactly purse friendly and it dries out really quickly. I am trying the MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash and quite like it. It is easily layer but after some time does leave slight dark circles.

So there we have it. My commuting makeup. 

Decleor Aroma Purete Matte Finish Skin Fluid, RRP £23.20

Clinique's Anti Blemish Solutions Foundation, RRP £23.00

Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer, RRP £17.00

No 17 Miracle Matte Powder, RRP £5.49

Clinique's Anti Blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer, RRP £14.00

Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, RRP £20.50

NARS in Super Orgasm, RRP £21.50

Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara, RRP £18.00

MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash, RRP £14.00

If you have some must have products I would love to hear from you, just comment below.

Stay beautiful,

Xoxo

Sun, Sea and Tinted Moisturiser: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free

When make up guru's used the term 'tinted moisturiser' I would instantly start back tracking, friend, foe or make up counter - I want no part in it.  Firstly, I have acne prone skin with red scar marks that are too difficult to hide without a heavy-duty foundation. Tinted moisturiser leaves my skin feeling oily, patchy and without any coverage. This is not to say I haven't dipped my toe into the tinted pool and tested the water. I have just never found one I got on with.

This Christmas I had a Barbie on the beach and wearing factor 50 in Australia, it was heavenly. But before I left I had the agonising task of what make up to take with me. Foundation is too heavy for hot countries and it has been known to slide down the face.  Someone at work suggested I have another go with a tinted moisturiser.

Tinted moisturisers seem to come in and out of fashion, usually around summer time when we all would love to go out make up free but feel naked if we do. There are so many different types out there and each brand has its own variety claiming to do different things. 

So I tried it. Warning: This post contains a very unattractive photo of me without makeup and without the use of filters. 

The tube that the product comes in is fairly large, which is good because you feel you are getting more for your money. There are also twelve shades to choose from and that makes it slightly easier to match it to the skin, especially if you have pale skin like mine. It also comes with added spf 20 and that is great for sensitive complexions. I didn’t use any added spf in Australia and I escaped any painful sun burn for the whole trip.

The best thing about Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser is that it has a relatively thick consistency. I could easily apply it with my fingers, but I like using brushes for even application and to buff the cream into the skin. Unlike a lot of tinted moisturisers it has a thick creamy texture meaning the coverage is great and it really hid my blemishes.

I love this product so much that this is a photo of my skin without anything on it and without any filters. As you can see it is blotchy and uneven. Apologies I look so awful and grumpy, it was very early!

The next photo is me with only one layer of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and without any concealer.

You may wonder why I have exposed such an unattractive photo of myself to you all. The reason is that I LOVE this product and I want my readers to see just how good it is. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturise Oil Free is available from stores such as John Lewis and House of Fraser and is £33.

Stay beautiful,

XOXO