The Magic Pimple Master Patch Review

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COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch Review

The Acne Pimple Master Patch from COSRX is actually a set of twenty-four patches, which makes me want to write “es” after “patch” on the packaging in Tippex. But that, I have to say, is my one and only complaint (and it’s a silly, pedantic one) when it comes to the Acne Pimple Patches. I’m not sure how helpful the Master Patches would be if you did actually have proper acne, because if you have quite a few spots then I can’t imagine it would be convenient or cost-effective to have to regularly apply multiple patches. And it is often hard to distinguish individual spots, if you have acne – I remember that one of the worst things about my adult acne breakouts was the fact that the large expanses of reddened, bumpy, sore skin behaved like one gigantic super-spot, now and then kindly throwing up a standalone pimple with a squeezable head.

How I got rid of my adult acne…

But for the readily-distinguishable, in-your-face spot, one with an outline and an almost-emerging head, the Master Patches are absolutely brilliant. Actually, even if the spot doesn’t have an emerging head, the patches still work a certain degree of magic. I’ve been totally rescued by the Master Patches on a number of occasions now, each time finding that my blemish has flattened, de-reddened and – ultimately – disappeared from my face much faster. The added benefit of having a patch stuck over your spot (and it really does stick!) is that you can’t poke and prod and squeeze, so the skin can be left to heal.

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch Review

And the patches absorb the gunk that comes out of the spot (nice!), the gunk that usually, if you’re anything like me, you’d be sticking your grubbster fingers into all day long, poking about and making little streams of blood appear and then dabbing with acid and swearing very loudly.

It probably makes a lot more sense to wear a patch overnight, if you can, but if you wake up to find a huge egg custard stuck to the side of your nose then it’s by no means the end of the world if you’re forced to sport one in the daytime. I wore one on Tuesday for a packed day in town (hideous nose-crease pustule) and it was almost undetectable. Hopefully. I buffed a bit of my foundation over the top just to take the edge off…

CosRx Master Patches online…

There are three patch sizes in the pack – so far I’ve only needed the small ones for daytime emergencies, but overnight I’d perhaps go larger just to cover a bit more than just the slopes of the volcano. You stick to clean skin and then just leave for the night, or day, until you can see that the spot is flatter and reduced in size. I’ve left a patch on for sixteen hours and it was still stuck fast – it was the first time I’d used one and I was completely taken aback when I peeled it off to find just a faint pinkish blob where previously there had been the beginnings of a devil’s horn!

I was given my patches by the beauty-font-of-knowledge Alexia from Cult Beauty, but they don’t seem to be available there at the moment. I’ll find out when or if they are due to arrive and update this post when I know, but in the meantime I have found them online here. I must say that this is another big tick in my book for Korean beauty imports; I’ve tried a few other spot patches and they’ve been pretty useless. And pricier. So these are well worth checking out if you – like me – get the occasional show-stopper of a pimple, right before you have to face the public/go to Tesco/meet your boyfriend behind the bike sheds.

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Pixi Sun Mist is the Future of Facial SPF

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Pixi Sun Mist SPF30 Review

We are all far more diligent with facial SPF than we used to be – we all know that to ward off the hands of time and of course to protect our skin from damage and potentially skin cancer that the SPF contained within our day-to-day products such as make-up and skincare simply doesn’t cut it. Applying a high factor, daily and facial SPF before you’ve applied your make-up is the easy part but what about protection as the hours tick by and removing your make-up is not option – Pixi Sun Mist that’s what. This newly launched SPF 30 spray will be all anyone uses and talks about this Summer, that you can count on.

Pixi Sun Mist SPF30 Review

The best way to describe the Pixi Sun Mist is multi-tasking: it offers instant (like any SPF it does require 15 minutes to fully kick into play) sun protection from all forms of UV rays including infrared rays, as well as quickly and efficiently refreshing the complexion (it contains bamboo and chamomile extract to soothe and soften too) – something we will all be grateful for come the balmy days of June and July.

A broad-spectrum facial SPF that is non-greasy, lightweight, comfortable and easy to apply is one thing and truthfully quite a rare occurrence but one that is effective applied on bare skin and over make-up is a rare treat indeed, and that alone is what makes the Pixi Sun Mist special. It feels all but weightless on the skin – regardless of how you apply it – does not clog the pores nor irritate eye the most sensitive eyes, making it suitable for all and if that doesn’t sway you, it won’t remove make-up when applied and certainly won’t leave you feeling nor looking oily – something we can’t say about all sunscreen products.

To apply you have two methods: one is to mist the Pixi Sun Mist directly onto the face (or anywhere else you would like to protect – it is great to apply to the hands after washing etc) and enjoy the benefit of a cooling, veil of SPF30 protection. The other option is to squirt the mist directly into the palms of the hands and then pat the product directly onto the face for precise and full protection.

Summer is a long and often hot season, not everyday can be a beach day and for those occasions when you want to wear make-up and yet not sacrifice nor skimp on UV protection (it is recommend that you re-apply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours) this is a very real, clever and affordable solution for every handbag, office drawer (for those lunches in the park) and car glove department.

Pixi Sun Mist: £18/80ml via M&S (the only place in which it currently isn’t sold out) – link.

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Volvo Trucks – The Chase

 
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Volvo Trucks – The Chase – See this fantastic video at full screen

Sunday Tittle Tattle: Editing a Novel in 75,000 Easy Steps

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editing a novel

I wrote a novel, years ago, when I was doing my Master’s Degree, and I thought that it was about time I finished it off. Because what sort of madman writes a novel and then does nothing with it? We’re talking  over 160,000 words here; admittedly it’s not War and Peace, but it did take a bloody long time!

So this week I set about editing my novel. At first it was very exciting; it was like reading a book written by someone else, because – although I remembered the basic plot and the essential facts about the characters – I had completely forgotten most of the finer details. Twists in the plot would take me completely by surprise, bits of dialogue made me laugh out loud; it was like being reunited with an old, familiar friend but having to re-learn all of their quirks and idiosyncrasies.

And then things got rather difficult. And I suddenly recalled why I had shelved the blasted book in the first place; I had managed to tie myself into a tangle of plot-lines that made absolutely no sense, and trying to unpick it had evidently been far too much effort. Sitting here now, with the draft versions of chapters 21 to 31 minimised on my desktop and with three new documents entitled “New Plot Plan”, “NEW New Plot Plan” and “NEW New Plot Plan 2” open in front of me, I can tell you that attempting to untangle nearly a third of a novel is as frustrating as wading through quicksand with sieves on your feet.

People refer to “editing” as though it’s one step, but I actually think that it’s far more complicated and lengthy than the writing stage. Writing is thrilling – the world (or blank page) is your oyster. You’re creating new characters and new settings, you’re imagining events and shuffling everything around at whim, you’re killing people off left right and centre, cutting their strings like some sort of despotic puppet master. I now see that the editing process is more akin to a clean-up job than anything else. It’s the Glastonbury aftermath. It’s a caretaker going into a student common room after the sixth form have had a boozy leaving party – rolling his eyes as he finds sick on the ceiling and a pair of lacy pants pinned to the dart board. It’s Winston Wolf in Pulp Fiction sorting out two buffoons in an out-of-control situation. As I plough through my drafts, I feel like the only adult on a toddlers’ trip to the zoo – I’m trying to watch multiple stories unfold whilst keep a grasp on the main event and at the same time stop a gang of unruly two year olds from falling into the bear pit. I have characters who have been left swinging from the monkey bars with no way of jumping down, plot-lines that have run away into the distance with totally unsuitable partners and an overarching problem with my theme, which appears to have drunk a bottle of whiskey and fallen asleep in an empty bathtub. All of these things need reining in but I can’t change one thing without having to retrace all of my steps and amend everything else. This editing lark isn’t a one-step process, it’s about 75,000!

Anyway, I’ll update you when it’s all done and dusted. It’s possible that nobody in their right mind would ever want to publish thirty-ish chapters of farcical mayhem, but only time will tell. Maybe I’ll publish it on here, chapter by chapter, like they used to in the Victorian times. Ooh, that would be a troll’s dream, wouldn’t it? Imagine the comments! The one thing that is keeping me focused is the fact that I’m using my old Macbook Air to edit on – it’s not connected to the internet (would be easily done but can’t be bothered to find the code) and so distractions have been kept to a minimum.

(For those who are interested, the MA I did was at Royal Holloway. You need to have a first degree already to be considered, but if you don’t have a degree and want a brilliant creative writing course to get you inspired and (more importantly) productive, then I can vouch for nearly all of them at the Open University. I got quite addicted to their courses and they are usually online, which is always convenient.)

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© 2016 A Model Recommends®: all opinions are my own and any sponsored or paid posts will always be very clearly marked. I accept press samples and receive product and services to review as part of my job. Outward links to retailers will usually be affiliate links. Please see here for full “about” section and disclaimer.  A Model Recommends and Ruth Crilly are registered trademarks.

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Dolce & Gabbana’s Beauty Voyage Palette: No Kermit Green Here

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Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Voyage Makeup Palette

Everything about this Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Voyage makeup palette is just so spot on – even the outer box it’s packaged in is gorgeous and eyecatching. I’m possibly biased, because I’m very partial to a bit of animal print, but it definitely stands out from the usual luxury makeup offerings.

Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Voyage Makeup Palette

And the animal theme continues inside; a beautifully-crafted palette with a heavyweight feel and perfectly finished trim. It’s not quite palm-sized, but easy enough to slip into a small handbag, so convenient and portable but still large enough to house the required makeup bits without being too fiddly.

Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Voyage Makeup Palette

Four eyeshadows (all wearable shades, no awful Kermit greens or sparkling purples) alongside a universally flattering blush, illuminator and two wisely-chosen lipsticks. A pinkish nude and a killer red. So two classic Dolce looks covered, then – the sultry red lip with perfect, glowing skin and the nude lip with sexy, smokey eyes. Which are, let’s face it, the makeup looks that most of us default to. You can never go wrong when you keep it to the tried-and-tested…

Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Voyage Makeup Palette

There is really something very special and decadent about the Beauty Voyage palette; the case is so beautiful that (and I know this is becoming a cliché but I’m going to say it anyway) it’s almost a shame to use the makeup inside. I love the addition of the animal-printed lip brush, though the foam eyeshadow applicator on the other end makes me want to stab myself in the eyes repeatedly out of sheer frustration. When will people stop with the foam? Have you ever seen a makeup artist use a foam applicator? I tell you what they’re good for, though, and that is – er – sorry, no. Nothing comes to mind.

The foam is forgiven, though, because everything about this little collection has been perfectly thought-out. If you’re a beauty enthusiast and want something that’ll make you feel like Sharon Stone in Casino then pop this on your Santa list. It’s a proper, expensive treat – definitely not “stocking filler fodder” – but unlike some palettes and compacts I’ve seen recently, it’s of the highest quality and feels and looks suitably luxurious. Importantly, too, the shades are all flattering and wearable which means it’ll actually be useful to carry about and not just a showy bit of handbag eye candy.

The Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Voyage Make-Up Essential Palette is at Harrods and costs £105.

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