Tuesday, 20 April 2010

No7 Natural Radiance Highlighter

Highlighters are amazing: they show off in all the rights places and enhance that cheeky twinkle in your eye! So I am not surprised in the slightest that the The No7 Natural Radiance Highlighter (£13 Boots.com) has sold out online. I have been reading the reviews on this genius little gem and can see that it really is going down a treat. In light of that, I am planning a Highlighter special to pay homage to the arrival of Spring and awakening of our skin from the perils of Winter weather.

Thursday, 15 April 2010

Tracie Giles

I am hugely lusting after the deliciousness that is Tracie Giles and finally achieving perfect eyebrows courtesy of her unique techniques.
With the trend for fuller, groomed eyebrows courtesy of Emma Watson for Burberry and The likes of Tamsin Eggerton, it has been a nightmare finding the perfect shade to match my eyebrows. I have always had relatively thin eyebrows and when shaped properly (when I can be bothered) they look great and really frame my face.
However, when discovering Tracie Giles, I realised I could achieve this look without having to style them everyday and once again the evening before I head out.
Tracie's Brow Definer and 3D Hair By Hair Perfect Brow treatment is the solution. Based at No 1 Harley Street, the semi permanent make-up lasts about 9-12 months.
Using the latest digital technology sourced from Germany, eyebrows are strengthened, defined, and shaped. The 3D Hair technique precisely replicates natural hair at microscopic level leaving the most flattering, natural-looking eyebrows.
Bring on the summer and eyebrows that frame my freckles!
Prices start from £495

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Heidi Montag

This story makes me sad:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1265319/Heidi-Montag-unveils-new-look-bikini-body---10-surgeries-shes-happy-it.html

I guess I am one of these girls who is pretty easy going to the choices other people make; I don't spout off about 'she said this' and 'she said that' and I am guessing this is down to the fact that I lived with my papa and wasn't surrounded by the kind of 'general bitchiness' of woman and I say that loosely, but I guess you can understand what I mean? I am more of a tomboy and rarely moan about things that just aren't relevant. oh I wish this and I wish that, but this story scares me.
Heidi Montag had such a unique and beautiful face before her surgery and I understand about feeling insecure and treating your imperfections, but man alive, will she ever stop? I have scars up my legs from accidents and the fragility of my skin from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, but after being allowed preferential treatment of wearing trousers in the summer because I was so ashamed of them (even in tights) it took me a long time to accept them. Being a teenager is difficult at the best of times, but it took someone to tell me that the scars made me unique and 'who I am' that I finally let go of those insecurities. Don't get me wrong, people still stare of ask me 'dear god what happened to you' in the summer when I am rocking a cute little summer dress, but I just deal with it. I would never change them.
I question who was there for Heidi? It scares me that she has completely altered who she is - she has no trace of her parentage left in her face and she now looks like a barbie doll. This begs the question concerning this conditioning of young minds - the quest for perfection and how the media portrays this.

Thursday, 1 April 2010

Net-a-Porter sold

Fashion Mecca net-A-Porter has been sold with an estimated price tag of around £50m. I must say having been a huge fan of online shopping as a student, this was one site I used to use as eye candy and gain inspiration - then shopping at Topshop and Asos when it launched. Shopping has come so far and I am still a huge fan now.
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1262821/Net-Porter-Natalie-Massenet-sells-luxury-fashion-website.html

Sexy Swimwear from Ann Summers

As a woman you pick up on a number of things and with this in mind I would like to reflect upon the effect Ann Summers has on men. Picture the scene, you walk in with all your shopping bags after a lengthy, tiring trek. You utter the words, "baby, I'm back from Tesco" - imagine the response - a kind of acknowledgment, a dismissive wave of a hand and not one glance behind them as their eyes are glued in a little something called Football Focus, or if you're out early enough, Soccer AM. Now imagine that scene once more and utter the words: "baby, I'm back from Ann Summers' and dangle that little hot-pink bag nonchalantly between your manicured fingers...DING, DING! The response is a little something I like to call 'The Ann Summers effect" (completely copyrighted btw). Swifter than you can blink, those sweaty, well-worn jogging bottoms are dropped to the floor with eager anticipation of the delights that ensue...(I paint a pretty picture don't I...ah the love is never lost) Yes, these men know Ann Summers means business. Now you lucky ladies can recreate that magical look on the beach with the launch of Sexy Summers by Ann Summers - the brands debut swimwear collection. With 14 ranges, including bikinis, cover ups and a rather delicious mono-kini and prices starting at a fabulous £8 (I know, brilliant!) you can't go wrong. The range includes a plethora of summer colours, a gel range and a couple of print ranges, which are really on trend. My personal favs are Summer Days, Paradise Beach and Songbird. Feast your eyes and check out Annsummers.com for the full range.

Thursday, 18 March 2010

Bestival - latest line up addition...!

As ever - another cracking line-up for Bestival 2010....and the latest addition to the acts, including Dizzee Rascal and Hot Chip is none other than the legends that are Prodigy! Excited is not the word...
Bestival Genius Rob da Bank said: "So, we can finally unveil our Sunday night headliner as Braintree's finest, The Prodigy! Since raving as a young pup to Charly and Out of Space through to caning their new record on my radio show, The Prodigy have been a massive part of my record collection. As far as polishing off the party on Sunday night I can't think of a more explosive finale ... and it's gonna be the last we'll see of them for quite a while on our shores so get in the queue now!"
Prodigy will be headlining on Sunday night and I am pretty certain that all those Bestival ticket holders will be peeing in their pants as we speak....it's the moment when the warm dribble fills your socks...ah you know you've had it!
If you haven't already snapped up your ticket, then do so now!



Bestival Tickets available now from:
Ticketline: www.ticketline.co.uk / 0844 888 4410 (24 hr)

Bestival Ticket + Ferry Travel Deals available now from:
Red Funnel: www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival / 0844 844 9988
Wightlink: www.wightlink.co.uk/bestival / 0871 376 1000

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £150
Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 10/09/2010

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £140
For full-time students only. Valid NUS or ISIC ID required at the box office - no other student ID accepted.

Age 13 to 15 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £75
Age 13 to 15 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 13 to 15 on 10/09/2010. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 12 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - FREE (BUT YOU MUST OBTAIN A TICKET)**
Age 12 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 12 and under on 10/09/2010. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*


* One ticket holding parent or guardian can only accompany up to 4 people under the age of 18.
** All Children aged 12 and under will need to a (free) ticket this year. No exceptions.

Campervan Ticket - £60 (per vehicle)
- Your Campervan (or Motorhome) must be specially adapted for people to stay in (which does not include transit vans with a mattress in the back or 4x4s with the seats folded down).
- You will be allocated 9 x 6 meters of space per campervan pitch to use for your campervan, awning and/or to accommodate a few of your friend's tents. If you require more space you will need to buy more than one campervan ticket.
- Water and electricity hook ups will not be available.
- Cars will not be allowed into the Campervan area at any time so consequentially Caravans, Trailer Tents etc are not permitted.

All Tickets:
- will incur a booking fee.
- are non-transferable and cannot be re-sold.

Interview with Almost Zara...

Name: Zara Rabinowicz
Age:26
Occupation: Freelance Journalist

How did you get started in your career? I’ve been writing ever since I was a little girl and started a school newspaper at 11 year sold, which I made myself, and laboriously photocopied every week. Since then I joined my university paper, interned at almost every magazine in London and sent my Cv to so many people that eventually one of them started paying me on a freelance basis! Perseverance pays off, and you must love what you’re doing, or the rejection will get you down!

What has been your fav career development so far?
I’ve recently gone freelance and still finding my feet around scheduling my work and meetings around working from home. It’s quite a unique experience though and I’m glad I’m trying it- who knows if I’ll go back to a staff job (probably if a dream one came along!) but am currently enjoying the freedom of being my own boss.


Do you hold any qualifications? BA in English and post grad qualification in Magazine Journalism

Advice for anyone breaking into either fashion or journalism?
Start your own blog- if you’re trying to sell yourself on your writing skills, this is a great way of showcasing them. Companies love ‘new media’ expertise so set yourself up on Twitter as well, and be as proactive as you can with applications. If they have no jobs or work experience available ask for a coffee just to discuss options- many people in the industry have been in your position and are more than willing to advise and mentor. Write about what you love and it will be evident in your copy!

Top 5 beauty must haves:
I can’t live without mascara- and am currently loving Avon Extreme Lashes. I’m a big fan of eyeliner and am find MAC do a great pencil that gives a really thick line that can be contoured easily. Sleek MakeUp also do a lovely eyeliner crayon called Kajal which is easily applied. Foundation is a must for me, and I find Clinique foundation really impressive as their range is so huge and they offer such a variety of coverages. Anti Ageing Dewy Smooth would be my favourite! I also love Healthy Sexy Hair Nourish treatment as it really smoothes down the cuticle of flyway hairs and cuts down on my drying time. I’m a big fan of hair straighteners and have a pair of trusty GHD’s but have also discovered a great new brand called Cloudnine which are just as good in my opinion.

Top 5 Wardrobe must haves:
A pair of very impractical shoes which make you feel wonderful- River Island do some great two toned heels, and a dress that always fits no matter how much you’ve eaten. I’d also suggest investing in some tights by Falke- they’re expensive but worth it and will last much longer than the cheaper variety. I’m a big fan of waist belts as they can transform a dull outfit into cinched in glory, and I really love hair accessories, as a beautiful bow or hairband can change your whole look. Not the conventional buy classic shirt and jeans advice, but these ideas work for me.

Top 5 must-read books:
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, a must for those who love suspense and intricate character details, Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes for a book that redefines the chick lit genre, The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan for an epic adventure tale that spans continents, anything by Ben Elton if you enjoy laughing out loud on the tube and The Handmaid’s tale by Margaret Atwood for a provocative and challenging tale.

Top 5 must-see films:
I defy anyone not to well up as they watch Boys Don’t Cry- a difficult but moving piece of cinematography, Grease for light entertainment and nostalgia, Sixteen candles for Molly Ringwald, The Matrix for pure adrenalin and Thank you for Smoking for the way it satirises ad men.

Inspirational places:
Thailand makes me feel warm and happy inside, and I always find myself inspired whenever I go to Los Angeles.

Who are your style and beauty icons and why?
I love how Pink and Lily Allen aren’t afraid to experiment with their style and think Madonna is a great icon of a woman who know how to evolve her style through different decades.


Fav places to holiday: I love Los Angles as the beaches are great, the shopping is fab and the people are pretty. However a recent trip to Thailand really opened my eyes to the beauty of the East and how unusual a place can be- it’s great to travel outside your comfort zone, and if you can live through a Thai toilet you can handle anything. I also loved the freedom and the variety of cultures and food that was on offer there.



Do you have any iPhone? If so, what apps do you find indispensable?
Trendtracker was very useful during London Fashion week for the daily updates and schedule, I like the eBay app for browsing on the go, and I love the ChipChick, Sugar and Engadget,
app for my daily dose of tech and lifestyle. I couldn’t live without Google maps and love the Shazam app when I’m trying to identify a song.

Fav magazines to read:
I like Company for the content, Grazia for the pictures and Men’s Health for features. I also really enjoy the Tatler beauty pages and Wired always provides me with inspiration.

Top 5 websites to visit:
Heartlessdoll.com, Bitchbuzz.com, BritishBeautyBlogger.com, Lemondrop.com, and Sephora.com

Music you can't live without:
Anything poppy and funky- like a mixture of Britney, Pink, Tiesto and Ian Van Dahl.

What is your signature dish?
Vegetarian chilli!

What are you working on right now?

Frantically trying to get my copy in for deadline whilst sketching out the draft of my novel.

Where do you hope to be, personal and professionally in five years?
In five years I hope to be happy and living in Los Angeles, writing columns for major web and print nationals and working on my third book.