GREAT GATSBY INSPIRED MAKEUP - FRONTCOVER TO GO MACAROONS EYE SET - REVIEW

Well I went to go and see The Great Gatsby movie last weekend with some girl pals and was pretty apprehensive thanks to mixed reviews, but now I think it is safe to say, I am firmly on "Team Gatsby."

Beautiful Leo...

I love the pomp and flare of a good Baz Luhrmann movie and it was a great excuse to ogle Leo for a couple of hours (like I need an excuse).





But the main aspect which blew me away and has stayed with me was the colourful recreation of 1920s chic.

Carey Mulligan's Daisy Buchanan was absolutely stunning, as were the other flapper girls. From the bobbed finger waves, to the matte powdered faces and rosy cheeks, the 20s vintage makeup look is back in fashion in a big way.

The one defining quote describing Daisy's physical appearance in F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel draws attention to her "bright eyes." and I hooked up with Anna Roscoe, makeup artist and founder of Glasgow beauty bargains store, Penny Pin Up, to see about creating a bright eyed look for me...

We used new Frontcover to Go Macaroons eye makeup boxset, described by the experts as: "a sophisticated colour palette echoing the aristocratic hue of the 1920s, with rain drenched macaroon shades.
The set encapsulates 1920s elegance in a range of stylish shades for eyes in iridescent chiffon finishes.
Get fluid watercolour washes and draw flowing eye lines.
This vintage inspired colour palette for eyes is ideal for flapper girl chic. However the shades are also an edited highlight of this season's colour trends as seen on the Chanel and Peter Som catwalks, but with a nod to the opulent colour hues of the roaring 20s - the best of both beauty worlds."

Inside the box:

8 Click in Domed Baked Powder Eyeshadows in the Latest Macaroon Shades
1 Refillable Compact
1 Double Ended Applicator
1 Shadowbase Eye Primer
1 Shadowline (turns all eyeshadow into eyeliner) 

Formulation Information:
Shadowline:
Turns absolutely any shadow into long lasting eyeliner at the flick of a wand. Simply dip into your chosen shade and apply as you usually would your liquid liner for colour popping eyes. 

Domed Baked Powder Eyeshadows:
Baked powder formulations have been finely tuned to achieve an opulent silky taffeta like finish. They are highly pigmented for intense colour and maximum iridescence and work perfectly on all skin tones.

Mmmm Macaroons...

With shades named apricot, mocha, cinnamon, praline, caramel and buttermilk, the set sounded and looked good enough to eat and with all the positive blurb, we had high hopes, lets get to work...

This is a list of products Anna used alongside the set, and with helpful application instructions:

Base:

Beauty Blender

Wet sponge and squeeze out water

Apply Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in Light Bronze all over the face with patting motion & blend in hair line & Jaw line

Apply ELF Mineral Booster in sheer to set the foundation

Apply Liz Earle face powder in Sheer Tan to contour & define the cheek bones

Apply Lush highlighter on the cheek bone (pat lightly towards hairline)

Apply MAC blusher in Poised to apples of the cheek

Blend all products together with an ELF kabuki brush

Brows – used Sephora angle brush and Clinique Coffee eye shadow to shape the brows

Vaseline to set the fly aways

Eyes:

Using Frontcover to go Macaroons box set

Apply primer all over lid

Apply apricot eye shadow over lid

Mix cinnamon, mocha & caramel for crease

Apply ginger in outer V to highlight

All applied using brush provided in the set and damp the tip of the brush to accentuate the colours

Clarins 3 Dot Liner across lash line

Use small brush tip provided in set to smudge the liner and create wing effect

Apply mascara

Clean up all make up with the beauty blender

And here are the results...

I love the look, it was so shiny and really made my eyes bright. The brush also made it very easy to create a wing effect, which I really liked.

The orangy-red colouring isn't what I would have normally chosen for my eyes, but it really suited me.  I now can't wait to try this look out by myself again with the praline and lavender shades.  The only downside for me is that we noticed there wasn't much pigmentation to the shades, and so had to apply a lot to get the colour out but apart from that, it's a really nice set and perfect for recreating Great Gatsby inspired peepers, old sport.

Anna's Review:

Front cover beauty box is a kit with a good range of colours and comes complete with applicator brushes, primer & liner.
The different shades available mean you can really achieve a good range of looks from neutral day to evening. Although the colours are not highly pigmented they do come up nicely when the brushes are damp.  The brush is a good quality tool and is very easy to work with. The short brush is particularly handy for applying & smouldering you liner. You get a good amount of product for the price and it is all neatly presented in a book type packaging.
This would be a good present/purchase for a make-up beginner.

Frontcover to go Macaroons is priced at £20 and is available from www.frontcovercosmetics.com

For news on Frontcover follow them on Twitter  or Facebook 

THE BOOK CORNER REVIEWS: ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE; BY ROSE HANDLEIGH-ADAMS

Another Time, Another Place; by Rose Handleigh-Adams.
Published on Thursday May 30 2013 in hardback, RRP £16.99

FIRST time author Rose Handleigh-Adams has written her memoirs about her childhood growing up in post-war London.

And what a story it is.

We start with how Rose was born in spectacular circumstances during an air raid attack in 1940, at the height of the Second World War.

After being evacuated up north to Tyneside her father Norman, returns to fetch her from an idyllic countryside lifestyle at the end of the war and returns her to the harsh realities that is growing up poor in the city.

As Rose recounts various situations throughout the years, the writing style gets more and more mature, which I liked, as it felt you were journeying alongside with her as she grew up.  Some of the tales are quite hair-raising, especially about her eccentric Nan and Uncle George who live upstairs.

And some of the details she recounts are quite simply, heartbreaking. From the struggles her mother Helen went through to feed her family, to the fact Rose and her siblings sometimes had fleas, unseasonable clothing and no shoes.  But this was the reality back then and a lot of families lived like this, so in her case it isn't just a blatant act of child neglect.

I also felt her story of how she was sexually abused by an uncle was sensitively handled, it didn't dominate the narrative and wasn't sensationalised.  This again, was just another unfortunate element to add into the mix.

But there are also funny and heartwarming moments, such as times Rose spends with her friends and the time her father buys her a bike and teaches her how to ride it.

Another interesting aspect is the historical details, such as Rose leaving school at 14 and going into full time employment in shops and a factory, how the courts dealt with people back then and especially the police.  There seemed to be quite an overemphasis on whether young women had spent inappropriate time with young men, a sure sign of the changing of attitudes over the years.

When Rose finds herself alone and pregnant at 15, we gain a valuable insight into how she was handled by the system, how people judged her and what exactly went on in a mother and baby home.

The stories of the girls who were parted from their babies are utterly  heartbreaking and you really root for Rose as an inner strength takes over her after the birth of Martin Paul, an inner strength that only a mother's love for their child could create.

Thankfully, Rose's mother comes to the rescue the very day she was due to sign her son away for adoption and that's where the story supposedly ends.

I couldn't put this book down, I found the personal and realistic accounts of growing up in a world trying to rebuild itself after World War Two absolutely fascinating.  I was also itching to read more about what happened to Rose and Martin Paul, what happened when they returned home?  How did her father take the news? How did the neighbours react?  How did she manage to raise him by herself?

But then, I suppose that's another story for another day...

IT''S A MANS WORLD: AFTERSHAVE REVIEW - ARMANI & DIESEL

Welcome back. It's an absolute pleasure to be invited back on Lalita's very own site. 

Lalita asked me to review new fragrances; Armani's Eau de Nuit which is not long out on the market, and Diesel's shiny new fragrance;  Fuel for Life: Spirit. Before I begin in earnest, let me just offer a quick disclaimer: I was originally a trained aromatherapist and so I have fairly extensive experience in evaluating scents and fragrances. However, I have resolved to honestly assess each product at face value. 

 And so I proudly give to you my review of the following fragrances...

Giorgio Armani; Eau de Nuit Cologne, RRP £49 for 50ml:

My initial  impressions were excellent. It smelled fantastic and complimented my skin beautifully. 

Eau De Nuit is said to contain bergamot, pink pepper (no, I've never heard of it either) and ceder. The spicy aspect comes courtesy of ingredients cardamom and nutmeg (which I also had in last night's curry). 

Armani intended the scent to be worn at night (hence the name), although in my own opinion it is just light and citrusy enough to be worn in daytime too. 

Although strong when originally applied it quickly dies down to a nice background level which is still noticeable, yet not overpowering and that background level lasts the whole day without the need to reapply periodically, which is often the case with many other products. 

This durability was fantastic, meaning that it adds to the value for money aspect, so long as you don't shower in the stuff. Often the best indication of a truly exceptional fragrance is in the amount of genuinely unprovoked compliments you receive. This happened surprisingly often for me, something which I am neither used to, or expectant of. Even The Missus saw fit to compliment me on my choice of fragrance. 

In my humble opinion I can offer no higher praise than the fact that if it is good enough to impress The Missus, then it will impress most people. So for the gentlemen reading this, and the ladies who are looking to treat their man to something special, Armani's Eau De Nuit has the Kieran Seal of Approval.

Diesel Fuel for Life: Spirit, Available to buy from July 2013 in the UK:

The fragrance makers at Diesel have gone off the deep end with this one. I've never smelled any fragrance like it before. As a result, I have to say that it is one of the most original fragrances I've ever come across. 

It is said to contain grapefruit, incense, amber and orange blossom.  Despite it sounding all Mother Earthy, it is supposed to invoke the essence of masculinity, and act as an aphrodisiac on women, which if true makes this the most precious material on the planet. 

As with all things that push  boundaries, the reaction of the public can be divisive. I suspect that this will be no different. I think this will prove to be a bit of a "Marmite" product - you'll either go crazy for it, or you won't be much of a fan. It also may not suit all men, but for those who it does, it will smell spectacular. 

Unfortunately I am not one of those lucky men, and it didn't seem to suit me. The best advice I would give you for a fragrance like this, or any for that matter, is try before you buy. Find a retailer who offers tester bottles and try for yourself, you may be very pleasantly surprised at what you find. 

Credit must go to the bravery of Diesel for throwing away all convention and thinking not only outside the box, but also outside the planet, and indeed outside most traditional definitions of sanity. For only in trying something totally new can you find genius. Or a lovely aftershave. Whatever comes first.

Kieran x

Check out Kieran at his own blog, Thoroughly Modern Kieran,  here or at Twitter here

YVES ROCHER: RETROPICAL COLLECTION; REVIEW

Summer finally, hopefully, appears to be on its way, and with the new season, comes some lovely new collections of cosmetics.

 French brand Yves Rocher have launched the Retropical Collection, a limited edition range of make up and a fragrance that will only be available until September.

Inspired by the lush plants of the Tropics, this affordable range of nail polish, mascara, eye pencils, cheek stain, eye shadow, lip gloss come in bold and bright colours to get you in the mood for warmer climes (which is always a good thing, especially if you live in sunny Scotland, where it pretty much rains all the time).

I tried out a couple of the products and this is what I made of them...





Sunkissed Glow-Cheek Stain, RRP £7.50:

This cheek stain is enriched with floral witch hazel water and promises to "leave your skin with a natural tan whatever your shade of skin.
"It's watery texture lets the skin breath and does not stick. For a brighter complexion, shake the bottle before use, the extra-fine gold pearly particles will illuminate this summer elixir!"

The packaging it came in is really lovely, I love the bright tropical patterns on it, and that was even before I took the bottle out!

The bottle itself is about the size of a large bottle of nail varnish, so it would be easy to pop in your make up bag if you're on the move, although with it being a liquid, you would have to watch out for that pesky liquids allowance if travelling.

The liquid cheek stain itself is a very dark ruby colour and I was concerned what this would look like on my face.  Being Asian, I can usually get away with darker colours, but this looked too dark, even to me.  It has a very pleasant sweet smell once opened, which was nice. I applied it to my cheekbones with a cottonwool pad as instructed and blended it in.

I found it did give my complexion a warmer glow about it and it wasn't dark as I had feared, however, If I'm being honest, I think I prefer sticking to my powder blushers, as I didn't really find there was too much of a difference to my skin. I was a bit disappointed but I think it may suit girls with a paler complexion maybe?







Kohl Duo, RRP £2.95:
This double tipped pencil comes in two colours, a lovely warm brown and a striking green, sort of a mix between mint and aqua.

I wasn't sure about the green at first, as I have always just used dark colours as liners but I was willing to give it a try.  I first applied the brown as usual and then put the green over it and I loved how it looked.
It was so different but not too over the top for an afternoon lunch date on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I was also wearing a green dress, so it looked deliberately matched, which was a pure accident. It lasted all day too, which was impressive.
You can also use it on your upper lid as a shadow, so I think I'll be trying that next time.

I really like this pencil and at just under £3 it's a beauty steal. Get one and cherish it in your make up box.







Crackle Nail Polish, RRP  £2.95:
"A deep matt blue shade of crackle polish to be used as a top coat over this summer's colours. It dries instantly and the crackle effect is immediate!"

I used this over Barry M Nail Varnish shade, Cappuccino.  I normally use a fast drying top coat afterwards, but with the Crackle Nail Polish, I didn't have to.

It sweeps smoothly straight on to the nail and crackles instantly before your eyes, drying immediately as well, which is useful. This is what it looked like on my nails, I like the sort of animal print effect it gave and it will look different with other shades, so there's plenty of experimenting to still be done with this nail polish!

Check out the whole Retropical range and more at www.yves-rocher.co.uk

IT'S A MAN'S WORLD: Kiehl's Review

Guest blogger, comedian Kieran O'Neill will be appearing on Style & Sound from time to time to  give a guy's perspective on the hottest new products out there.  Here he is reviewing some of the skincare range from the lovely people at Kiehl's...

I HAVE been asked by Lalita to review a selection of Kiehl's grooming products for men. This was always going to be interesting as I view myself as a fairly low maintenance guy. However being in my 30's I need to start taking care of myself more, and that includes my face. 

Me really enjoying my holiday in Milan

 I was introduced to Kiehl's whilst on holiday in Milan, after I wandered into the shop looking for aftershave. 

The extremely helpful assistant was able to give me some insight into what sort of products I should be looking to buy, and after an ego crumbling session of looking at products which double as aftershaves and also a number of anti aging products, 

I get the feeling the lovely girl was trying to tell me something. So based on her sagely advice, I offer you my average Joe review of some of Kiehl's top grooming products for men.

Me scaring the pretty Kiehl's shop assistant in Milan

 

Facial Fuel Transformer Age Correcting Moisture Gel, RRP £27 for 75ml

The blurb on the packaging states that the product has a skin-optimising action which instantly transforms your appearance.

It also claims to conceal visible signs of aging by smoothing fine lines and unifying skin tone. The Transformer contains blue algae, which is a source of skin enriching proteins, amino acids and vitamin B. 

Evaluation post application: My initial impression of this product has been a very positive one.  The moisturiser was fairly light, absorbed quickly without leaving a greasy residue and smelled quite nice, but not overpowering. Even after just one application my face looks much smoother, with a brighter complexion, which adds weight to Kiehl's claims of it being age correcting. The most surprising aspect was that it worked so well as a moisturiser that it even made my stubble feel smoother, which I'm sure your better half will appreciate gentlemen!


Facial Fuel Energizing Moisturiser, RRP £21 for 75ml

This is another facial moisturiser in the Facial Fuel line of products. Rather than being age correcting, this product specialises in being energising. The blurb on the packaging states that it wakens and uplifs dull, fatigued skin and therefore acts as a 'facial recovery accelerator". Fair enough. Ingredients include vitamin C and E, chestnut extract and soy.

Evaluation post application: My initial reaction has been a very positive one. It feels incredibly light on my skin, absorbed quickly and left a strong scent. As a result, you wouldn't need to use an aftershave with this, as the smell is strong enough to act as one. 


It had a very cooling sensation and I only needed to use a surprisingly small amount to cover the whole face, which will result in value for money and it was still an effective moisturiser.

I wasn't sure if there would be any difference at all between the Transformer Age Correcting moisturiser and the Energising moisturiser, but surprisingly there was. Both work excellently, but it depends on what you need your product to specialise in. 

If you want a light, but deep moisturiser with a subtle smell which helps to smooth the look of the face and brighten the complexion, then the Transformer is the product for you. If you just need something to brighten a tired looking face, which is extremely light and can also be used as an aftershave then the Energiser is your best bet.

Facial Fuel Anti-Wrinkle Cream, RRP £30.50 for 50ml

The blurb on the tub states that it defends against the signs of aging, surface wrinkles and loss of firmness. Ingredients include extracts of chestnut and citrus fruits, soy and vitamins C and E. 

Evaluation post application:  It was very cooling, however it felt heavy and thick and tightened my face too much. Personally it felt more uncomfortable than anything, however for those who need it more for the skin tightening properties, it may fit the bill perfectly. Unfortunately just like my nature and personality, I suffer from very sensitive skin, and although cooling, it seemed to irritate it and leave my skin feeling even more sensitive after a while. This really upset me and made me want to cry a little. Of course those with different skin types will have different results, and I have spoken to some men who swear by it. Perhaps it's best to try before you buy and test it for yourself.

Cross-Terrain All-in-One Refuelling Wash, RRP £16 for 250ml

This product comes from the Kiehl's 'Cross-Terrain' range and is a shower gel for both the hair and the body. The blurb on the bottle states it can also be used as a shaving gel. The ingredients include aloe vera, menthol, vitamin E and wheat amino acids, all of which Kiehl's claim create a "refreshing and tingling sensation" whilst "scaling high mountain peaks, riding massive waves or free falling from the sky with grace". Which is nice. 

Evaluation post application: Honestly, brilliant. Whether you're Rambo in the jungle having a quick shower in-between causing massive explosions, or you're an adrenaline-junkie washing your overly-long hair then you'll love this product. With the menthol in the wash it was cooling and refreshing and did not dry my skin out at all. Where it really shone was as a shampoo. It was fresh, cleaned my hair thoroughly, did the job thoroughly without needing to rinse and repeat and left my skin and hair smelling fresh and lively.

So there you have it folks. Kiehl's isn't exactly the cheapest range on the market, however, their products are of exceptional quality which surprised me by actually doing what it says on the bottle unlike so many cheaper high street brands which can be hit and miss.. 

If you have the money to treat yourself to such a product then in my opinion you won't go wrong with these.

Kieran x

Check out Kieran at his own blog, Thoroughly Modern Kieran,  here or at Twitter here

Check out the full range at Kiehl's here

GET THE LOOK; THE SIDE BRAID

 Nicole Kidman unveiled a romantic, braided hairstyle at the photo call for the Feature Film Jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival this week and a similar style was spotted on the Jenny Packham catwalk, proving that this is one of the hottest hair trends this season.

Here Ken Picton, the current Wales & South West hairdresser of the year, shares his quick step by steps to get the look:

1. On blow-dried hair, create a nice low side parting and spritz with L'Oreal Air Fizz hairspray to help bond it together.

2. Starting with the top and the biggest side of the hair, tilt head slightly forward and when hair is slightly over your face grab the fringe area and start twisting towards the ear. When you reach just behind your ear, start adding the back section as you go in 1-2 inch sections.

3. Continue the twist and roll to the opposite side of the head below the ear.

4. Taking the other side, smooth that section into the ponytail, twist the whole section together and secure with a bungee. Take a little half inch section from the ponytail and wrap around the bungee securing with a pin underneath.

Don't know about you, but I can't wait to try this style out...

Embracing the Side Braid

 Ken Picton is the current South West and Wales Hairdresser of the Year and British Colourist of the Year as well as holding a Salon of the year award. He heads up the destination salon in Wales offering everything from hair services to beauty, a full time make-up artist, dentist and food menu. The salon also looks after the cast of Casualty, Doctor Who (including Catherine Tate), Gavin & Stacey (including Ruth Jones) and a host of other presenters, actresses and actors.

 Check him out here

PICTURE PERFECT?

Although I have started this blog to write about things I consider pretty, beautiful and just downright cute, like many other women the world over, there are certain parts of me I’m not happy with.

I wish I had a model-esque washboard stomach, no cellulite and perfect skin, but as I’ve got older, I’ve learned to accept myself the way I am, change what I can through healthy eating and exercise and just, well, be happy.

But for those of us who really aren’t happy and have the financial means to change certain parts through the medium of surgery, why not?  Whatever makes you happy.

 MYA Cosmetic Surgery took the brave step to launch an advertising campaign “Can’t shift your…?” for its services using photos of “real” women – muffin tops, love handles and bingo wings and all, but surprisingly the photos were rejected by a number of publications, who asked for them to be replaced with something more “aesthetically palatable” meaning the usual slim tanned models in bikinis.

Michael Tilley, MYA’s Marketing Manager and the ideas man behind the campaign said: “‘We are trying to respond to the Sir Bruce Keogh Review (an NHS England review into cosmetic surgery advertising and attitudes) by using real women with real problems in our promotions rather than celebrity patients but it seems that the publishers cannot move away from the images of Victoria’s Secrets esque bikini models. 
"What the magazines objected to was posting pictures of models with real problem areas.”

MYA have since replaced the "before" images with simply the names of the area, saving the general public the “horror of being subjected to pictures of real women!” (their words, not mine). 

Who decided that real women are not “aesthetically palatable”? what message is this giving out to ladies who may not be as comfortable in their own skin as some, as well as those who suffer with eating disorders and body dysmorphia?  Statements and opinions such as these are dangerous.

Newsflash:  We don't all look like this underneath...

 Some women may feel the need to improve on what they have, which is totally cool, but it should be because they want to change their body, not because of what the media dictates to them what is acceptable and being told images of a little bit of flab is not acceptable, sets us back decades regarding body confidence.

I’d love to know what you guys think about this, does this advert image make you feel physically sick or do you welcome the acceptance that most women do perhaps look like this?

Lx 

www.mya.co.uk
 

CLARINS SPLENDOUR COLLECTION; REVIEW

Clarins is perhaps one of my favourite brands of make-up of all time.  It's just so classy and oozes good quality, so I was really excited with this new collection in time for summer.

The Clarins Splendours limited edition Summer Collection pieces are beautifully designed with utterly stunning packaging.

The Splendours collection is inspired by South American and Aztec prints and designs, with shimmering and glitter filled shades of gold and bronzes.

Clarins Splendours Colour Quartet and Liner Palette, RRP £31.

Four beautiful shimmer shades; a truly beautiful and stand out warm copper, a pale sand gold, a beautiful rose gold and a deep mauve plum, all accompanied by a stunning deep plum liner which compliments the shades amazingly well. 

Presented in the signature Clarins style quartet palette with a velvet keep-sake little bag to keep it safe and scratch free, a mirror and two applicators, this quartet is one which would hold a special place in anyone's makeup collection.

You can use all four shades for colour and highlighting or just one. While I was away in Milan, I created a daytime look with the coppery shade and highlighted it with the gold, finished off with the rose.  I then used the liner to complete the look and drew some cat eyes.

Clarins Splendours Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Gel - RRP £16:

This lip treat is available in two shades - Crystal Pink and Crystal Plum, I tried this in the latter.

I'm not very confident when it comes to lip colour and tend not to wear a lot of lipsticks, so a gloss with a rich colour to it is a good product for me.

This gloss is gorgeous and doesn't feel too sticky at all on my lips.  It lasts for hours with just one layer and adds a hint of healthy colour.  It also has a lovely fruity sweet scent and taste to it, making it really comfortable to wear.

There's a lot of other wonderful products in this range and I would totally recommend you check them out, by visiting the Clarins website by Clicking here

JET SET SUNDRIES

I recently went on a weekend city break with my better half to one of the world's capital fashion destinations - Milan.

So, it was the perfect opportunity to try some new travel sized toiletries and make-up to blend in with locals, while not going over my 100ml hand-baggage allowance...





Natural Empathy from Crystal Spring:

I took the best of British over to Italy with this UK-made luxury vegan range.
Natural Empathy boast no hidden "nasties" with their entire range free from parabens, SLS, alcohol and phthalates, to name but a few.

Rich in organic plant extracts, I was sure the travel sized bottles of shower gel and hand lotion I took away with me would not irritate my sensitive skin.
The bottles come in cute 30ml sizes, just right for suitcases and hand luggage!

The company claim their blend of 13 organic essential oils means the products are not either "girly" or "blokey" smelling and I would tend to agree, they were fairly unisex with a herbal, woody scent.

The hand lotion was great for the trip away, as I suffer with really dry skin and it was just so easy to carry this little bottle about in my bag while I was away all day sightseeing.  The cream had a pleasant smell and sank into my skin very easily with no greasy residue.

I also tried the unscented Travel Crystal Deodorant and the Travel Natural Deodorant Spray.

These handy pocket-sized products helped keep me fresh in the Lombardy heat of the day and with no scent usually associated with deodorant products, it didn't interfere with my perfume.

The Great British Travel Sized; hand wash, hand lotion, shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner are all priced at just £3.50 each and can be bought HERE

A 20ml Salt of the Earth unscented unisex deodorant spray is priced at just £3 and can be bought HERE while the travel sized Crystal Deodorant is just £2.58 and is available HERE


Check out this whole range of great vegan products, which haven't been tested on animals either by visiting the Crystal Spring website by clicking here




COLLIN: RESULTIME:

What was in my suitcase:
Regenerating Collagen Gel, Immediate Hydration Mask, Micellar Radiance Cleansing Water and Hydrating Tinted Cream.

This skincare range is pretty popular and has been featured in top style publications, such as Vogue, Grazia, Prima and Brides Magazines.

A favourite of celebrity make-up artists such as Daniel Sandler, Sarah Brock, Chase Aston and Sara Raeburn and loved by celebrities such as Pixiwoo, Jessica Biel and Sheridan Smith.

Loved by celebrity facialist, Arezoo Kaviani, whose clients include Daniel Craig, Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow.

With so many ringing endorsements, I was quite excited to try this range of products.  

Regenerating Collagen Gel – perfect for the family on holiday to soothe sunburn and will help repair scar tissue. Using our patented ingredient, Vectorised Micro-Collagen, alongside 14 key skin molecules, it smoothes, plumps, hydrates, firms, repairs and can be used on hands, face and body.

I found this to be a light, pleasant smelling and quickly absorbed gel. It wasn't greasy on my skin but was very hydrating all the same, very handy for the warm dry weather and my dry hands problem.

Immediate Hydration Mask – this refreshing and thirst-quenching mask works in minutes. Offering an intense surge of moisture that soothes feelings of skin tightness, hydrates and plumps the skin, and pores and fine lines are reduced. Perfect for sun-drenched, dehydrated skin.

I used this for a wee pick-me-up when I got home. It really helped sooth my skin and tightness I sometimes suffer thanks to dry skin patches.

Micellar Radiance Cleansing Water – removes make-up, cleanses, tones, exfoliates, hydrates and brightens in one step, leaving the skin clean and bursting with radiance. This means less space in your case, so it’s perfect for holidays.

A make-up remover, cleanser, exfoliater and toner, this cleansing water saved sooo much space while we were away. A very handy product.

Hydrating Tinted Cream – tinted with extra-luminous mineral pigments to unify the complexion, offers a burst of radiance and up to eight hours of hydration, leaving it soft, natural and even. Perfect for summer-ready skin!

I used the Golden tint under my foundation, replacing my usual moisturiser, after I had been awake since 3am to get to the airport for a very early flight.  I think it helped perk me up pre make-up...

All these products can be bought by visiting here and a list of stockists near you is also available on this sight by simply imputing your postcode or town.

Q & A With: Awesomely Good Stuff - homemade cakes

Qaisha Osman

 Meet Qaisha Osman, the brains behind Awesomely Good Stuff.
Glasgow-based Qaisha has spent the last two years perfecting her cake decorating skills and is available to make cakes and cupcakes for any occassion imaginable (she once made a cake with handcuffs and a gavel iced into it for someone acquitted at court).

Style & Sound caught up with her for a little chat:

When did you start baking?
I start baking for fun about 2 years ago out of boredom. I'm self taught, mostly by watching YouTube videos on cake decorating.

What made you decide to start making cakes for other people?
When I first started baking, I baked for family and friends, and they said that it was good, why don't I sell it?
So after a lot of encouragements from them, I decided to start selling my cakes.

What's been your best creation?
All of them. But my favourite are the baby shower cupcakes. They're so cute and colourful, lots of cute baby details. I just can't get enough of it.

Baby shower inspired designs

An arresting design

Your weirdest request?
A handcuff cake.

Your favourite to make?
I enjoy every order because they're all different, so every one is my favourite.









 
 


Who do you admire celebrity chef wise?                
Anna Olsen, I just love the way she bakes.

What would you like to do with your baking in the future?
It would be great if I can own my own cake shop.


To commission a cake or cupcakes by Qaisha, telephone 07450333171 email qaishaosman@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page by clicking here