I'm back..and I hate January

After pulling a Houdini for a few months..I'm back and can officially say that I hate January.  The highs of Christmas and New Years have left a very obvious low, and suddenly (and all to quickly) I'm back to reality with nothing to look forward to!  Mr. London (where I am) doesn't help as he seems to also hate January as much as I do. Hello rain, dark skies and wind.


But there's nothing that a lovely beauty product can't solve! Cue in the Shinjuku Bloom Hand Lotion from & other stories!

I was given this from Secret Santa and love it! It sits on my desk at work, and with every pump i'm reminded of the soon to come Spring months! This lotion has a lovely floral scent and leaves my hands feeling soft and healthy (I don't really know if you can describe hands as feeling healthy, but they just do!)

This is my first beauty product from & other stories, and I will definitely be going in store to try some other things! -- only to fend off the threatening 'down-ness of January of course...

Happy New Year!

Megan xxx

Treasure yourself..

A few years ago, I was reading 'the gloss goss' - a blog written by Talita, which I loved. (Sadly, Tali has stopped blogging now due to various reasons).    In one of her posts, she spoke about Miranda Kerr's book; Treasure yourself.  I bought it soon after, as a present for my sister.

Recently whilst having a sort out, I found it and decided to read it.  "Treasure yourself" tells you a lot simply from it's title.  Whilst it isn't by any means the best book ever written, it did have an impact on me.  I found myself stopping every now and then, asking myself questions about a point she had just made - and really thinking about it!  Miranda's writing is as if a friend was having a casual talk with you, no scary scientific terms or complicated explanations!

She also believes in positive affirmations, and lists over 100 of the best ones (in her opinion) in the back.  Whilst i am not sold on positive affirmations, they are nice to read and some have lingered in my mind.

Overall, this is not a self help book, or something life changing.  But it does encourage you to love yourself, and offers ways to help you change your way of thinking.  It's a book worth having, although not one to depend on. But there is a hidden message in there for you, if you are willing to receive it.

Some of my favourite excerpts:

“A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose.All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like women too. I want to encourage women to embrace their own uniqueness.” ― Miranda Kerr

“I am my own person capable of making my own decisions and choosing powerfully how i live. I appreciate and respect what others have to say but ultimately I choose how I live my life.” 
― Miranda Kerr

“Sometimes, challenges and struggles are exactly what we need in our lives...May you welcome every effort, every struggle, and every challenge...May you open your wings and fly!” ― Miranda Kerr

Megan xxx

the sun is shining, the weather is sweet

Here in London we have amazing weather! Our usual grey and gloomy skies have been replaced by bright blue, clear loveliness!!

However, all this beautiful weather highlights how terribly unprepared our city is for heat!  Our underground (metro/tube) has no air conditioning. So i will just leave it to your imagination how pleasant a rush hour train journey (squished together with a thousand other people) is at the end of a long hot day!  You really can end up looking like a hot mess!

But I have a handy set of beauty tips and products which help me stay looking fresh and feeling cooler.

At home:

- I steer away from foundation in the summer months, and use a tinted moisturizer/BB cream (or just concealer where necessary).  A lot of us girls become really dependent on foundation, when we actually don't need it!  You will really feel much fresher throughout the day without a heavy foundation!

If you do however prefer to use your usual foundation, make sure you apply a good primer before, and use a setting spray after! Primer and setting sprays are regularly available now from most make up brands in drugstores etc.

A friend once told me that she opens the freezer and pops her head in right after applying her foundation - this apparently helps set it too!!  (well it will at least cool you down! haha)

Out and about:

- Blotting sheets: There is nothing that icks me out more, than seeing sweaty faced ladies piling on powder!  I always carry a little pack of blotting sheets in my bag during the summer months, to gently blot and absorb the extra moisture on my face before applying any powder to matify. You can find these in everyday supermarkets, drugstores and high end make up brands. You could also just get a facial tissue, peel the layer sheets apart and blot your face with this!

1. Bobbi Brown blotting papers.  2. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissue.  3. Boots Skin Clear Shine Blotting papers.  4. Clean&Clear Oil absorbing sheets


- Facial mist: After I've 'blotted' any extra unwanted moisture from my face, I then spray a mist of wanted moisture! haha..it cools you down straight away and absorbs into your skin in an instant!  I would recommend a water based mist, rather than the cream based options - more cooling and refreshing!You can find a variety of options, but I would recommend then Avene Eau Thermal Water Spray!

- Water: keep a small bottle with you all the time, and sip regularly throughout the day to keep hydrated.  But it's actually better to drink cool room temperature water, rather than very cold water, as your body will generate heat after to compensate for the heat loss.

 

You can also hold your wrist under a cold tap for a few seconds, this is a main pulse point so cools your blood down, which can help you feel cooler.

 

An one last random tip - the temperature of our feet really affect how hot/cool we feel.  So forget about any closed shoes, and embrace sandals/flipflops (anything strappy and airy) whilst you can!

 

 

 

Hope this was helpful! Enjoy the weekend!! : )

 

xxx

Magazine Freebies! - June/July 2013

It's that time again, where you can go grab a magazine and get a great product along with it!

Here's what you can get your hands on this month!

Red is giving away a free 15ml sample of Elemis' illuminating beauty flash balm (worth £11.50)!  I'm a fan of the Clarin's beauty flash balm so had to get this to compare!







In time for summer, Cosmopolitan's July edition is offering a pair of sunglasses (3 styles to choose from). I'm overrun with sunnies at the moment, but am quite tempted by the tortoise shell design!

Another summer time goodie, Elle is giving away a Rodial Brazilian Tan in clear/light/dark 58ml (worth £13.50).  I've never really fake tanned so this one wasn't for me.

Marie Claire has a free Ciate mini nail polish and caviar kit worth £10 with their July edition! I couldn't resist this! Have never applied 'caviar' to my nails so will have a go and show you the results!




Company are also giving away a make up bag with their July magazine! You have a choice from 3 patterns!




Need a new moisturiser? Instyle is giving away a 50 ml Neal's Yard Remedies Daily moisturiser (worth £12!).  Sounds lovely, their website states they've "blended "antioxidant-rich acai, bilberry and goji berry with moisturising hyaluronic acid in this lightweight, easily absorbed lotion, for beautifully nourished, radiant, healthy-looking skin"




Not bad this month! Let me know if you're interesting in a review of the Elemis Illuminating Beauty Flash balm!

Did you get any freebies?

Megan xxx

Magazine Freebies - May/June 2013

It's that time again, where we can get some really great magazines with an amazing freebie!

This month, UK magazines did not disappoint.  Here's what you can get with a good read too:

Elle's June edition (£4) offers a free sample size of Benefit's 'they're real' mascara (worth £9.50) with each magazine!  A great product and if you've wanted to try it out, now is definitely the time

Bazaar (£4.20) comes with a free sample of Ren's Moroccan Rose Otto Body cream (worth £10)!

You have a selection of 3 Nail's Inc Polishes: You're a Peach, Totes Pink or It's Red, babez (loving the names!) with InStyle Magazine (£3.90).  Each polish is worth £11, so a good deal!

Marie Claire (£3.80) are offering full size Avon products with their June edition: A gel eyeliner, Brow definer or Red lipstick.  They have also included a sample of their BB cream.

Have you got any of these great freebies?

Megan xxx

Tips & Tricks - Part 2

Hey hey,

Since my first post on tips & tricks (link!), I have come across some more which I want to share with you:

Better lipstick application? - Smile when you apply it, doing this will ensure complete coverage.

Want your perfume to be all over? - Spritz your fragrance on your ankles and knees! Scent rises so will give you an all over coverage.

Want to give yourself a pedicure? - Try using fresh pineapple or Kiwi skins as an exfoliant. 
They contain bromelain (a meat tenderizer) which will help exfoliate rough and dry skin on your feet. Rub the fleshy part on your heels for a few minute, rinse and moisturize.

Have a red spot on your face? - If you have any 'clear eyes' eye drops around, dab this on the are.  Eye drops for brightening eyes, contain vasoconstrictors which shrink blood vessels (to make your eyes appear whiter) - this will take away the redness of a spot and also reduce any inflammation.

Want your lashes to be covered from root to tip? - Use thick card (like a business card) when applying your mascara. Hold the card up along the inside edge of your lashes, then sweep the mascara wand against it.  Doing this will stop your eyelashes 'bending out of the way' of the brush, and you will coat all your lashes all the way to the tips.

Want younger looking skin? - Don't just use powder as part of a routine,  only use it if you need it! and when you do, use it sparingly. Powder can settle into the fine lines on our faces and make us appear older.

Yellow stained nails? - If your nails appear yellowish after months of wearing dark nail polishes - try scrubbing them with a nail brush and whitening toothpaste! it helps!

Do you know any good tips and tricks?

Megan xxx

Pet Peeve!

So I was on the train this morning and saw a woman apply a dark lip liner to the edge of her lips, and then... nothing but a clear gloss!  whyyyyyyyy???

Do you like this look?

Megan xxx

**all images sources from search engines**