Summer Essentials

SUMMER ESSENTIALS

TOP 10 PRODUCTS TO GET ME THROUGH THE HEAT WAVE

Here in Britain we are currently experience our annual week long heat wave, after this its back to the dreary rain and blustery winds, however lets think practical readers although it is only a week long we still need to take careful precautions with regards to our beauty regime.

I have analysed my regime over the past 4 days and have created a list of must have essentials to take us safely through the next few days.

1. BODY EXFOLIATOR

"Preparation is key"

Before we even bare all we need to ex foliate and what better way to replenish your winter skins than with a Sanctuary Body Scrub. This product leaves skin smooth, rejuvenated and with a subtle glow all for the amazing price of just £5.25. 

**BONUS** Currently at www.thesanctuary.co.uk  they are offering 3 for 2 on selected gifts and products, a great way to stock up!

2. SUNSCREEN

''The most important of all''

Carefully selected at £8.74, Soltan sun protection with SPF factor of 25. This is an ideal sun lotion, its transparent so doesn't leave you looking ghastly pale, it only needs to be applied once and will last 8 hours, and its dry to touch so wont leave the body feeling sticky. At £8.74 currently half price at www.boots.com this product is a steal!

3. MOISTURISER

"Lets not forget the face"

Personally in weather like this the last thing I want is to be applying layers of make-up. Instead I reach for the moisturiser and mix it with my foundation to allow it be less heavy and soak into the skin.  Origins Vita-zing has SPF factor 15 and is £25.00. It contains ingredients such as Ginkgo, Birch and Soy bean oil all which help stimulate, firm and nourish the skin.

4.VASELINE

"The life saver that is. Vaseline. Vas-EEEE-Line!. "

A must have for anyone who suffers from dry/chapped lips.  The 'rosy lips' one is great if you don't want to have a sticky lip-gloss as this adds a hint of colour to the lips that is natural and not overpowering.

 **YEAR ROUND MUST HAVE**

5. MASCARA

YSL Singulier Nuit Blanche

The ultimate mascara must have. Although I previously said I tend not to wear make-up in the weather, Mascara is my exception. Why this mascara I hear you ask.... It lasts 24 hours and is waterproof!

Perfect for any beach goers!

6.HAIR

Messy Top Bun

I adore a messy top bun, it requires little effort and is great for the beach as it keeps your hair off your face. I love to incorporate some small braids to add a bohemian twist to the look. 

7. NAILS

I couldn't resist doing a post on my essential summer items without including my ultimate favourite brand Tom Ford. I adore his nail lacquers. At £25 its at the top end of the market with regards to price brackets but the quality of these are second to none, and the colour Indian Pink is perfect for cocktails at sunset.

8. DIET

Throughout the summer months my diet becomes minimal. Its something about the mixture of hot weather and hot food that I don't particularly enjoy. However my fruit intake goes through the roof. I just love making a fruit cocktail with natural yoghurt and cashew nuts for breakfast, then I get a snack craving mid afternoon and have the same again. Its a great way to naturally increase your sugar intake... its tasty too.

9. FLIP-FLOPS

Currently reduced and at £20.00 at www.asos.com these are perfect summer wear flip-flops. They take me back to my childhood love for the comfortable yet colourful jelly shoes. I personalised my pair using Disney Couture Charms. Adds a little sparkle to my step.

10. PERFECT FOR HOLIDAYS

A keen lover of miniature products not only are they great for holidays but for also testing out new brands.  This Nivea essentials travel it is £10.00 from www.boots.com and contains all your holidays needs.  Suntan lotion and lip balm both with SPF factor 30, hand cream, almond oil shower gel, roll on deodorant and face wipes. At £10.00 this is an absolute bargain.

Conclude

So that's it readers the products I have been immediately reaching for during this heatwave. I hope you are all catching glowing tans (safely) and thoroughly enjoying the weather.  

Its goodbye for now, as I am going strawberry picking. 

xx

O.P.I Minnie Mouse

Introducing O.P.I Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection

Shades- 

Nothin' Mousie Bout It

If you Moust, You Moust

I'm All Ears

The Colour of Minnie

This is an absolutely adorable selection for any O.P.I Limited collection hoarders or any Disney lovers out there. Set in a vintage Minnie Mouse themed box this collection has four colours all Pinks and Reds and glitter filled. I absolutely love 'The Colour of Minnie' but the most adorable has to be 'Nothin Mousie Bout It' which has little love hearts included. This love heart overlay would look perfect over any of the other 3 colours. 

The nail polishes are £11 each and are available from June onwards.

I think this collection is a must for any Disney/O.P.I lovers out there. 

I would love for O.P.I to extend the Disney theme and bring out other collections, I think a black and white spots theme based on Cruella would be amazing, or even an Aladdin Arabian Nights theme filled with exotic pinks, oranges and purples.

Just like the Muppets Collection, please please extend this Disney one further!

xx

cold shower benefits

COLD SHOWERS!

I recently tweeted 

'ICE COLD SHOWER...nearly killed me off...the price we pay to keep bums and boobs perky'

For the past week I have ended my shower with a two minute blast of cold water. I will be the first to admit  calling it a shock to the system is an understatement as I am a major lover of soaking in a boiling hot bath! However after a week of 'oooooo' and 'ahhhahahah cold cold cold' I am finally reaping benefits.

Before I drowned you with the beauty rewards take a look at how beneficial it is to your insides alone!!!

INNER BODY BENEFITS

• Improves Circulation - which is vital for cardiovascular health.
• Strengthens Immunity - against infections and even Cancer.
• Improves hormonal activity - giving a kicking boost to your glands.
• Improves Metabolism -  Fights type 2 diabetes, obesity.
• Normalises blood pressure 
• Fights Fatigue
• Relieves depression.
• Improves mood and motivation
• Reduces stress.

Now the one were all interested in as yes this a beauty blog!!!!

OUTER BODY BENEFITS

Shiny Hair - Blasting your hair with cold water after you have shampooed and conditioned it will increase its shininess immediately. If you do want to avoid a cold shower I would still recommend this for your hair benefits alone.

Skin - After removing makeup with what I would advise warm water, gently splash face with cold water, this will close the pores on the face reducing breakouts and minimising dark circles. * Ensure the water isn't too cold for the face as this could cause blood vessels to  burst... remember readers the skin on your face is different to that on the rest of the body so needs to be treated with a lot more care.

Toning - Cold water rejuvenates, heals and tones the skin. It also reduces swelling, aches and pains from exercise. and will reduce the appearance of cellulite! Something we can all relate to I am sure.

Conclude

Yes the first two days of this were horrific, involving me practically screaming the house down and the sheer coldness however after 7 days my skin has dramatically improved feeling more toned and even.  My bum also feels more toned, and circulation within my legs (An area I have trouble with) has also improved ten folds.  

I advise people to try it not only for the benefits you reap outside the body but also inside.

What's two minutes of shock to your daily routine for a free and easy way to improve your health and appearance?!

A chilly toodlepip for now readers 

xx

chanel versailles spring summer 2013

CHANEL

VERSAILLES

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

My questions about what the future should look like have finally been answered. No not aliens, and definitely not hippies, but this,the girls of the Chanel catwalk in Versailles for the Spring/Summer 2013 collection.

Now the clothes are beautifully divine in their own right, a mixture of renaissance grandeur and futuristic psychedelics, but I am here to talk all things beauty related.

Lets Begin

The models rocked  rather unusual pastel colours in their hair. Reminiscent of the much loved sherbets and bonbons from your childhood sweet shop. The style of hair also very unique, choppy blunt cut, an oddly likeable mixture of a fringe a 5 year old has chopped in herself and a clean cut version of Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). 

The Makeup- Skin was flawless, natural and relatively pale but with copious amounts of bright blusher.

The eyes keeping in line with the pastel colours were filled from the inner corner,across the lid and out using Ombre Essentielle in Rose Favourite (Available Chanel-Dec 2013).

My favourite part of the entire look was the small velvet Chanel logo stickers placed delicately below the eye. Chanel are yet to announce whether these will be available to buy. Here is hoping they are!

Above - My favourite image of the show. Im a sucker for a grosgrain trim hat. 

Conclude

What an absolutely magical and enticing collection created by Karl Lagerfeld, I admire the decision of Peter Philips and Sam McKnight in their choice of colours to use for this Spring/Summer collection. The rose pink and coral shades on the eyes can be hard to pull of but done correctly will look wonderful, in particular on blue eyes. The hairstyles are radical yet perfectly on par for what you expect from Chanel, in particular Lagerfeld.

 I will definitely be considering a more choppy fringe and pink shaded eyes its just a shame we have to wait till 2013.

Its toodlepip for now readers, from the beautiful land of Chanel.

xx

makeup for black skin

FOUNDATION FOR BLACK SKIN

'Being alive and being a woman is all I got, but being coloured is a metaphysical dilemma I have conquered yet.'

Tangie - For Coloured Girls

Every time the issue is raised regarding foundation for black skin I wince at the lack of options available on the British High Street.  

I have spent the last 4 hours researching, I wanted to find foundations that were originally designed for black skin, not just average foundations with one dark shade.

Here is what I found: 

BlackUp Matifying Foundation - $41.00

Designed specifically for oily skin types this foundation will leave a full and complete matte coverage. 

It evens out the skin tone, covering any blemishes and dark circles. Leaves the skin feeling even, soft and velvety.  Comes in 10 different shades. Fragrance free, Alcohol free, Oil Free.

BlackUp Fluid Foundation - £39.00

This foundation again from BlackUp is perfect for those that don't need a full coverage foundation.  Its ultra light, and has an oil free texture.  It covers exactly what it needs to whilst still remaining  undetectable on the skin. Its practically magical leaving a luminous glow with a matte finish!!!! It moisturises without oil. Again like other BlackUp foundations they are all oil free, alcohol free, and fragrance free, all key factors you need to remember when shopping for foundations.

BareMinerals Foundation - £24.00

The foundation dreams are made of....literally. You can sleep in this makeup. Its ingredients are made from the purest minerals of the highest quality that actually benefit the skin the longer its on.  This foundation should be an essential to anyone with black skin who suffers from breakouts as it improves your skin overtime.  Its non clumpy, amazing for dark circles, and has an SPF15! 

Fashion Fair Oil Free Liquid Makeup - £19.00

At the bargain price of £19.00 this product is my favourite by far. Not only is it designed specifically for black skin, its ingredients enable it to actually absorb oil which also minimises pores.  Its also fragrance free which will reduce any break outs. It reduces shine without drying the skin out and leaves it with a sheer coverage but a matte finish. EVERYTHING YOU NEED!!!

TIPS TO REMEMBER

• Fragrance Free, Oil Free, Alcohol Free! Ensure these are key factors when foundation shopping.
• Matte Finish! This will reduce shine.
• SPF15! or above! This will protect your skin whilst your foundation is on.

CONCLUDE

If I was to write a post on just foundations for Caucasian skin types the list would of been endless, I actually wouldn't know where to begin or where to end, however the same unfortunately cannot be said for foundations for black/Asian skin.   

Dior, Chanel, Lancome I hear you shout, yes they have used some initiative and brought out a darker shade foundation, but one, two at a push darker tones, this is not enough! Not only that, the concepts of these foundations are designed more for Caucasian skin types, they are not catering to the needs of black/Asian skin.

As your probably aware the foundations I have listed above are not easily available, some only on-line. Which contradicts how one should shop for a foundation in the first place- you need to be there, you need to test it, you need to make sure it works with your skin type. 

It is said that only 2% of the beauty market is made up of Black/Asian skin types, but I ask you this Power Beauty House's is this because there is just such little options available.

A brand I was eager to include in this post was K by Beverley Knight who launched a beauty range specifically for black skin, However last year it was withdrawn. In opposition to this we have Dainty Doll by Nicola Roberts- a range specifically catering to the needs of extremely pale girls, this brand is all over the drug stores and extremely easy to pick up.... So why, why wasn't K by Beverley Knight in the same league.

I would like to dedicate this post to K by Beverley Knight...... For someone who took some initiative, and was forward thinking.... Its just too unfortunate that your brand got withdrawn.

Christian Louboutin Makeup

The beauty world is rife with the news that Christian Louboutin will be launching a makeup line late 2013.

Collaborating with Batallure Beauty LLC, whose clients include super soakers Abercrombie and Fitch, Gilly Hicks and Hollister, Louboutin promises that the products will be very constructed, quite different and unexpected.

Unexpected, maybe, but 'Loubou' PLEASE don't lose sight of what makes you, bou, RED!

Were screaming out for THE PERFECT RED LIPSTICK, and its you that surely must hold the key to that!

Christian Louboutin has refrained from any detailed comments about the products. So we can only hope that they will emulate the beautifully iconic footwear. 

Above: Christian Louboutin - Makeup Trash Shoes

With total lack of pictures for this blog as everything is being kept hush hush, I can only give you a taster of the latest Louboutin trend that I want to see people rocking. The Louboutin Manicure....

Its pretty simple to achieve. Glossy Black nail polish on the tops, red underneath. You will definitely need cotton buds to tidy up any mess if your not using false nails. However its a very simple yet classy nail effect.

Conclude

If I was to write a letter to Christian it would go a little something like this...

Dear Christian Louboutin,

Credit where credit is due, your shoes are simply divine. However I would really appreciate it if you spilled not all your beans but you know one or two on what we can expect from your makeup range.

As an avid fan of all things beauty related I can only hope for the ultimate best. Take heed from Tom Ford and not Gareth Pugh, create something that women need (perfect red lipstick)  and please please make it as signature as Karl Lagerfeld did with his capsule makeup for Sephora. 

All the best

Laurie 

And with that readers I bid you farewell for now,  from the land of Laurie is deluded and thinks she has Christian Louboutin's address.

xx

Welcome Back

The Wanderer Returns....

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry,

Major apologies to all my blog readers and supporters, Its pretty clear I have neglected my blog over the last few months but all with good reason. 

I MOVED HOME!!!!

For those who know me personally you can vouch its been an incredibly stressful few months, I swapped my obsession for all things beauty related for that all things house related. in an attempt to find the perfect home. 

Well in April i finally did! I'm all settled finally and absolutely adore my new home.

 As you can see this post isn't really beauty related, however I do feel i should share some insights I have learnt these last few months relating to moving home.

• Putting things into storage can be amazing if you don't move into your property immediately, however most major companies add on unnecessary charges.... If you provide your own padlock your already saving yourself a small fortune!
• No matter how clean you make your previous home, your ex landlord will still try to rinse you with nonsense charges....make sure your deposit is protected.
• Painting over a bright blue wall is harder than one thinks, top tip go darker... white just wont cover it!
• Putting together a bed is easier when you read all the instructions from page 1, don't skip to page 5!
• An Allan (whose Allan) key is one of the handiest tools you can own....

The first morning waking up in my new home was amazing. The sound of silence is majorly appreciated. 

So now I'm finally settled I can get back to my original love...... feeding all my readers worldwide with tasty tips, tricks, how to's and reviews on all things beauty related.

I would like to thank everyone that helped with the move, wouldn't of been able to do it without you.

Here's to Happy Times

xx