Category Archives: beauty look

Back due to popular demand, my online luxury gift guide, Keep Calm and Shop. It has been something of a labour of love to get this up and running, and it’s not quite finished yet, but I do hope that you enjoy it and find it useful. If you’re a long-term follower you may remember that the first incarnation of this site was hacked by some utter git and I had to delete the entire database – hopefully this one is slightly better protected. (You live and learn.)

I am helped in all things KCAS by my lovely assistant Rachael, who also happens to have over twenty years’ experience in luxury retail so is something of a shopping expert. So there should be some wonderful things popping up on a regular basis – crap presents will be a thing of the past! Please have a browse, share with friends and loved ones and bookmark the site so that you can check back daily for new ideas!

www.keepcalmandshop.com

The post Keep Calm and Shop: It’s Back. Almost. appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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Does anybody else find themselves weeping uncontrollably when they read or watch sad things on a plane? Something odd happens to me as soon as a plane takes off; I begin to think terrible, morbid thoughts, for a start, but then I manage to banish those from my mind and other things start creeping in. Overly sentimental, totally imagined, ridiculously nostalgic crap. My head becomes a slideshow of soft focus family photographs, poignant memories and pictures of lonely orphans with rags in their hands; it’s like my brain can’t help but make me as sad as it possibly can.

And it’s not just me that gets that way; according to a Reuters article from 2011, 41% of men on Virgin Atlantic’s Facebook page had admitted to hiding their tears from other passengers by burying their face in their blankets! (So that’s what Mr AMR was doing.) I’ve actually sat in my seat having a full-on weeping session before, and I think I was only watching a Pixar movie…

Anyway. I’m dithering here. What I wanted to say was: if you are prone to emotion on aeroplanes then DO NOT READ “AFTERWARDS” BY ROSAMUND LUPTON while you are flying. I was in absolute pieces. When I looked around me, there were at least two very concerned faces, and it was a Ryanair flight, too, where nobody is ever concerned about anything once they have made it onto the plane. They’ve managed to board with TWO pieces of luggage, one of which is 4kg overweight and the other measures 5cm too much in height – they have absolutely no concerns in the world whatsoever. Passenger One: Ryanair Nil. Get in.

I wrote about Lupton’s first novel, Sisters, a few months ago. I liked it, found it gripping, but the annoying, “and it was all a dream”-style ending irked me. So did the second person point-of-view – there’s nothing more irritating than a second person point-of-view. “You went down the stairs and then you cried when you saw the letter on the doormat.” DID I? DID I CRY? I don’t think I did, mate! (That’s my constant little interior monologue going on whenever I read something in the second person.) Well guess what I didn’t like about Afterwards? Yep – the ending and the narrative point-of-view. I don’t know whether this “pov” is going to be a Lupton trademark – I hope not, because I find her novels to be absolutely un-put-downable – but I just can’t get on with the “you” thing. It does my head in. (Can you tell that I’m writing this whilst on a plane? It’s far more emotional than usual, isn’t it? I will probably cry in a few seconds’ time.)

Afterwards follows the thoughts of a mother who is in a coma, trying to find the person who has tried to kill her daughter – also in a coma. (See where the tears come in?) There are loads of twists and turns – it’s a proper thriller crime whodunnit kind of book – and you feel so rawly for the mother that it makes your heart ache. Or that could be because I’m on a plane… It all wraps up a little too conveniently for me, but only just. It’s all skilfully done and the cast in the near-murder mystery are brilliantly drawn; I suppose I’d have liked the delicious tension to have been drawn out a little longer.

Once again, I can’t wait for Lupton’s next novel – she definitely has the knack when it comes to putting together a page-turner. I’ve polished this one off during two four hour flights – it’s the perfect holiday read, if you’re looking for something dark and feisty. Afterwards is £3.86 from Amazon.co.uk

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Over the next few months you’ll start to see a slight change to the way in which I present beauty reviews, news and edits. Although I love the beauty industry with all my heart and adore putting things to the test, I want London Beauty Queen to be about more than that. I want to be able to continue to bring you advice, discussion, news and edits of some of the things I’m using without always being bogged down by the stuff that’s landing on my desk – often it’s all shiny, new and distracting, giving you a taster of fab things that you can buy to meet an immediate need rather than investments that you’ll continue to use and enjoy for months to come. As a result, every week (or fortnightly if there’s not much going on!) I’ll be bringing you an edit of what’s new, noteworthy and lustworthy in a more manageable format with bitesized reviews and first impressions. If anything keeps my attention span for a little longer or is genuinely changing my life, I’ll happily feature it again to let you know. But if you want a quick bitesized chunk of newness, this is the place to be. And boy have I got ten great things to start off with!

1. NYX Lid Lingerie (£6.00)
Definitely one of those soon-to-be-cult brands and a name you’ll be hearing plenty more from in 2017, NYX is proving that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great product. These ‘Lid Lingerie’ eye creams are incredibly pigmented and super creamy to apply, buffing or blending easily to create everything from the most subtle of looks to a full on smokey eye. (There’s a great silver shade, as well as a red and green if you’re feeling more daring.) Thankfully the formula dries really quickly to leave a perfect result without any smudging, creasing or sticking; I’m loving the more nude shades on the spectrum for adding a bit more texture into a natural look.

2. Merci Handi Cleansing Gel (£3.00)
Hand hygiene gel has never been sexy, but it is functional and used by millions of commuters all over the globe. Unlike other hand sanitisers, Merci Handi gels are enriched with emollient beads and Vitamin E to hydrate and nourish skin while simultaneously fighting bacteria; there’s no uncomfortable dryness or an instant need to apply a hand cream, just a delicate scent and a feeling of fresh skin. I hate hygiene gel with a passion for what it usually does to my skin, but these seem to be a great alternative with fun scents that include Black Vanilla, Lollipop and New Wave. Find them in your local Topshop and Urban Outfitters too.

3. DKNY Be Tempted Eau So Blush (£37.00)
Launching on 18th January, this latest incarnation from the classic apple scent we know and love is a little bit more traditionally feminine whilst having warming fruity elements to keep it fresh. Top notes of Pink Grapefruit, Blood Orange and Magnolia, heart notes of Peony, Jasmine and Cedarwood, plus base notes of Creamy Woods, Apricot and Musk make for an interesting combination. Many of the range extensions are too sweet or too on-trend to really make a statement, but this is a perfectly pleasant scent that could seamlessly transition into my daily repertoire.

4. Essie Treat, Love & Colour (£8.99)
Available in three very subtle colours (nude, pink and lilac) this innovative formula combines the best of a treatment with the added benefit of wearable colour. As someone that has great nails when I look after them, but horrendous nails as soon as I stop, this kind of multi-functioning colour is right up my street. Formulated with collagen and camellia extract, Essie claim that you can experience stronger nails in just a week – with 60% less peeling and 35% less breakage. That’s a big claim and I have high expectations! I just wish they’d have created shades that were a bit bolder and more suited to the season.

5. Soap & Glory The Mighty Contourer (£9.00)
Are we not over contouring yet? Apparently not, as Soap & Glory have launched their very own 3-in-1 version that includes a contouring cream with accompanying blush and highlight. The handy compact opens to reveal two layers of product that can be applied with a sponge, brush or digit; all three are suprisingly non-greasy (what I tend to find with the cheaper cream products) and apply well to add a touch of colour without overdoing it. If you want to dabble in the trend, need a compact for your gym bag or fancy treating your little sister, this affordable treat ticks all the boxes.

6. Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint in ‘Melon’ (£25.00)
Apparently the original version of this was one of the most celebrated products for the brand last year, proving you don’t have to wear a bold lip to be exciting. The new shade adds a touch of colour to that winning formula, which makes lips super comfortable and subtly juicy; although it’s pricey for a lip balm, if you love your cosmetics and want to treat yourself come payday there are worse things to splash out on!

7. L’Oreal Elvive Low Shampoo (£6.99)
What’s a ‘low shampoo’ I hear you ask? Basically it’s a L’Oreal term for cleansing conditioner, when they basically realise they’re about two years late to the party. The same issues are still apparent that caused our obsession with cleansing conditioners to go into overdrive: overworked, over nourished and over stripped strands. A cleansing conditioner (or low shampoo) can help alleviate dullness, dryness, limp hair and general lethargy with your style; you apply this formula to your entire head and leave to get to work for around three minutes, washing it out to reveal a refreshed look beneath. If you’ve got super dry, thin, overly styled or coloured hair, then this could be just for you – but be careful to give it a proper wash at least once a week or the build-up may cause whole new issues of their own. Both of these formulas contain nourishing and caring ingredients to help infuse hair with goodness and are well worth a go for the price point, I just don’t know if I’m ready to revert back to leaving the shampoo on the shelf!

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