Author Archives: marc

My Beauty Interview in Canary Wharf Magazine

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canary wharf magazine

I am absolutely terrible at keeping track of interviews and little features that I’ve done. I do collect the clippings and links, but actually the most efficient way of archiving them is to pop them into the website and so here’s my latest Q&A, recorded for posterity. It’s for the very glossy and lovely Canary Wharf magazine, and you can read the full pages online by clicking here. It’s on pages 64 and 65. I thought that the questions they asked were very good, at the time, and they’ve written the answers up as little “soundbites” – I like their style.

 Canary Wharf Magazine

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Hot Red Lips and Flawless Skin.

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model blogger makeup tutorial

A massive load of people asked for a video using Clinique’s new Matte Mandarin lipstick and so here it is in full, glorious technicolor. It was actually the entire “look” that I wore in my How to Style Greasy and Limp Hair video that people seemed to want and so I trawled back through the footage and tried to copy the makeup exactly. It’s not exact, as it turns out, but it’s close enough. Airbrushed skin, bright orange-red lips and the softest of sculpting and shimmer on the eyelids.

soft matte mandarin swatch

A note on the Dior Airflash foundation: I have been using this loads. Almost every day. It’s odd, because it never feels like there’s anything going on and then I look at my lips and they are totally beige! So it really is just the finest, lightest foundation. I have taken to using it in the mornings when I’m in a rush because it takes all of three seconds to apply. A three second spritz and then a couple of bish-bash-boshes with a foundation brush just to make sure it’s blended in around the eyes and the sides of the nose – total time, approximately ten to twenty seconds. Anyway, watch the video and you’ll see it in action. If you want to read the review then that’s here; you can buy it online at Escentual.com or FeelUnique.com

If you can’t see the video screen then please click here – links and makeup details are written below.

Makeup Used:
Dior AirFlash CC Base: see below link
Dior AirFlash Foundation 201
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer 1W Light
Max Factor Creme Puff in Translucent
Jane Iredale Golden Glow Powder
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzer Shade 1
Laura Mercier Rendez-Vous in Monte Carlo Eye Quad
YSL Faux Cils Cream Eyeliner in Ashy Black: may have been discontinued. Hope not because is brill! Anyway, any liquid/cream liner will do.
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Infinite Mascara
Clinique Matte Mandarin Lipstick

NAILS: Chanel Mirabella
SHIRT: is Abercrombie & Fitch, approx 2008! They do great plaid shirts I think.

Watch more makeup videos here!

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Beautiful Oils for Supple Skin and Help with Stretch Marks…

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body oils for stretch marks

I mentioned this on the “affordable” stretch marks roundup, but I’ll repeat: I know that beauty people are divided in their opinion of stretch mark oils. Or just the use of body oils in general to prevent stretch marks. From my own personal viewpoint, I have no scientific evidence that they work but I kind of think, why would I risk NOT using one? It’s such an enjoyable thing to do anyway, a bit of massage and oiling, and you don’t have to spend the earth to get a suitable oil. (See previous oils post!) I moisturise my skin after a bath or shower anyway, so it’s not like it’s a total mission to add in a bit of a bump-boobs-bum massage to keep skin supple and hopefully reduce the chances of marking.

Anyway, here are some of the more expensive oils that I’ve been testing – not hideously dear, by any means, but a bit more spendy than your typical pharmacy or supermarket buy. Two of them are dedicated “stretch mark” oils, the rest are just perfect for keeping skin supple and soft. The main difference seems to be in ingredients (such as rosehip) that target regeneration and repair, but let’s take a closer look…

Balance Me Super Moisturising Body Oil: £24.50 online here. This doesn’t shout from the rooftops about being a stretch mark prevention oil, but it certainly says all of the right things when you do a bit of research. High in fatty acids to restore elasticity, rosehip to help repair and rejuvenate, and a high percentage of coconut oil which the brand claims “allows this body oil to naturally tackle, prevent and reduce stretch marks.” Bravo. It also feels great to massage in and it smells nice. Win-win.

Clarins Huile Tonic Body Treatment Oil: £35.20 here. Clarins’ best-selling body oil and the product name that popped up the most whenever I mentioned pregnancy oils in tweets or posts. This seems to be a firm favourite! Clarins claim on their website that this is “effective at removing stretch marks” which is a whopper of a claim, so I’d be interested to know how other people with existing marks have fared. My own thoughts are that it must be a million times easier to try and prevent them than remove them, which is why I have been so totally obsessed with my daily (and twice-daily!) oiling but yes. Let me know your success stories. This oil smells good – very herby – and has a great massage-able texture.

Read about the best affordable stretch mark oils…

Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil: £27 here. Excellent, this one, with the lovely signature Mama Mio scent (I think they must have a certain blend of oils and ingredients common to many of their body products because they all smell so invigorating and zesty!) and a good, firm texture for proper massaging-in ability. I went through this bottle like the clappers – I think it has new packaging, now, which might make it a bit easier to do restrained pouring!

Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Argan Dry Oil: £37.50 here. Wah! Seems pricy, this one, but you get 200ml in comparison to the 100-ish from Mama Mio and Clarins. In fact Clarins is fully twice as expensive, so you have to keep things in perspective! I love a bit of Argan (see post on Simple Oils) and this one is a kind of “Argan Lite” dry-oil version that’s quick to apply and rub in. Good for a morning post-shower treatment, rather than a heavier oil that might feel claggy once you get dressed. Downside: loads of ingredients to make it light and dry. If you just want pure Argan, check this out.

pai skincare stretch mark

Pai’s Pomegranate & Pumpkin Stretch Mark Cream and Stretch Mark Oil: £45 online here. Again, looks expensive, but this is actually the best value stretch mark treatment of the lot. You get 200ml of cream and 100ml of oil, both used the most impeccably sourced and chosen ingredients and are suitable for sensitive, allergy-prone skin. (Full ingredients list here.) A hydrating cream and a replenishing oil, the stretch mark system is essential oil free, so great for those who can’t handle them or who would prefer to avoid during pregnancy. Packed full of essential fatty acids to nourish the skin and formulated to help increase elasticity, this is one of my absolute must-buys. The oil drizzles out at an annoyingly slow rate and the cream dispenser needs some looking at (I have literally never had such bad hand and wrist fatigue trying to extract a body cream from the bottle!) but all is forgiven for the beautiful formulas and soft, supple skin they reveal.

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Bath and Body Works Mad About You Body Lotion Review

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The fragrance from Bath and Body Works “Mad About You” is fairly new, it just came out past February. Read ahead for more details.

bath and body works mad about you body lotion

Product Description:

America’s #1 Body Lotion just got better! With 2x the moisture and 3x the Shea, our enhanced lotion contains more of what skin loves, leaving it feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished. Fortified with nutrient-rich ingredients like protective Vitamin E and fast absorbing Jojoba Oil, our ultra-nourishing formula delivers 16 hours of continuous moisture.  A love-struck pairing of soft peonies and black currant kissed with creamy vanilla musk.

 

Key Fragrance Notes:

Top Notes: Black Currant, Luscious Strawberry, Sparkling Cassis
Mid Notes: Ginger Lily, Bright Peony, Pink Jasmine
Dry Notes: Amber Wood, White Patchouli, Vanilla Musk

Our exclusive Mad About You fragrance captures the rush of falling truly, madly, deeply in love.  Our triple moisture body cream is the perfect deep, daily moisturizer.  Provides 16 hours of continuous moisture.  Infused with Shea butter and with your exclusive Daily Moisture Complex of protective Vitamin E, Aloe and conditioning Vitamin B5.  Non greasy formula absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished.

Price:

$12.50

Ingredients:

Packaging:

Okay, I am a sucker for pretty and cute packaging and this also has won my heart. This lotion has such sweet and simple feminine packaging which I would have even bought without even sniffing it :P It’s a transparent bottle with a silver color cap which you press the top to dispense product. The lotion is itself a very light pink color, so the bottle looks like it is that color too. The packaging also has “Mad About You” written on very pretty looking flowers. I am really glad BBW has new style bottles, I really got bored with the old packaging.

My Experience with Bath and Body Works Mad About You Body Lotion:

Before I bought this product, I had tried samples of this, so I knew what I was getting into. I received some free samples from my friend who had received these sample bottles even before the product came out. Ever since I became a fan of this scent and just had to go out and buy it.

bath and body works mad about you body lotion

Whenever I buy any type of lotion, the scent is always the main factor for me. The scent of this is just amazing! It is a smell which is hard to describe, something of various flowers and fruits and fruits – something sort of roses, jasmine, and berries. I just love how the scent lingers on my skin many hours later. I get so many compliments from my husband :D. I apply lotion all over my body after shower most mornings and when I return home around 6 or 7 o’clock I can still smell it all over me, though it is not as strong as it first smells, but it is still lightly there which is longer than usual lotions.

bath and body works mad about you body lotion

The consistency of this lotion is fairly thick. It is definitely not runny and when applied it goes on thick. It feels a bit too thick when applying but my skin absorbs it quickly and after some time, the thick heavy feeling is gone. I have combination skin tone but it mostly depends on the season. My skin tends to be on the dry side in the winter since most of my time is spent in central heaters so my skin over dries. I have been trying out this product since this winter and it has kept my skin from drying up and instead I am left with soft and supple feeling skin. Even after 6 to 7 hours, my skin still looks and feels moisturized. I do not have to worry about re-application (except for my hands). It works exceptionally well for dry elbows, knees, and heels. For the price of this product, I think it is definitely worth it and even currently BBW is having a huge sale so all you ladies must take advantage.

Pros of Bath and Body Works Mad About You Body Lotion:

  • Smells very refreshing and fruity.
  • Provides perfect amount of moisture for skin.
  • Perfect for winter time use.
  • Moisture lasts a long time.
  • Lingering scent, stays on skin for hours.
  • Pretty packaging.

Cons of Bath and Body Works Mad About You Body Lotion:

  • Consistency can be a bit on the thick side.

IMBB Rating:

5/5

Would I Recommend Bath and Body Works Mad About You Body Lotion?

Yes, I recommend. When I compare this with my other BBW lotions, this one has given me much better results.

Would I Repurchase Bath and Body Works Mad About You Body Lotion?

Yes, I would repurchase this.