A Pharmacognosist Skincare Approach

What is it about Natural Skincare Products that makes me perk up in my seat? After learning in 2012, what I am allergic to and which skincare ingredients should be avoided at all costs; if I prefer to keep my skin rash and dry patch free, 2013 is all about learning what brands stock products that not overly perfumed and fruit sugar intoxicated, which leads me to my newest curiosity Dr Jackson.

Dr Jackson is an Industry Leading Pharmacognosist; with a qualification list that reads like a blurb on a book, who has now launched his very own online store. His Kigelia derived skincare products were previously only sold in Liberty and Harvey Nichols. 

I really wanted to highlight his brand because I love his aim and objective of promoting pharmacognosy (the study of medicines from natural plants) into the cosmetic industry and well as using safe organic ingredient where possible. 

At the moment his product line contains:-

Skin Cream 01 contains Kigelia fruit extract, Baobab Oil, Shea Butter & Marula Seed Oil and has a SPF 20 factor. Skin Cream 1 is a unisex skin cream containing bioactive extracts and is designed to smooth and illuminate the complexion, reduce puffiness and have a firming effect on skin.

Skin Cream 02 contains Kigelia fruit extract, Baobab Oil, Frankincense &Mango Seed oil and seems to be the 0 SPF night time equivalent to the Skin Cream 1.

Face Oil 03 contains Baobob Oil, Marula Oil, Calendula Flower and Arnica Flower Extract, and works as a deep penetrating oil to alleviate dry and damaged skin and improve the skin tone. This face oil contains 2 base ingredients that are known for it’s anti-inflammatory and healing properties, which is good to know if you suffer from exceptionally dry skin or excema.

While these 3 products are designed to work together, I’m more interested in trying out Dr Jackson’s Skin Cream in 01. I know I am not allergic to seed oils or shea butter but I’m not too sure about Kigelia as my allergies tend to flair up with fruit extract. I know this brand is stocked in the Harvey Nichol’s Beauty Mart so I think I’ll pay it a visit after work and take a quick test skin-swatch to see if I react to it. 

  

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MakeUp Store Unveils Spring 2013 'Cocktail' Collection

Seems that the snow flurries and piercing wind couldn't dissuade Make Up Store from announcing the launch of the Spring Makeup Collection.

The Swedish Makeup Brand "MakeUp Store" will be releasing it's new collection "Cocktail"in March which is set to feature a unique mix of shades and blends. The range will include:-

Micro-shadows (£11)

Parfair Amour

Curucao

Cosmopolitan

Eyedusts (£11)

Blue Moon

Nailpolish (£11)

Anders

Mirjam

Lipstick (£12.50)

Pink Panther

Pencils

Strazz Pencil (£10.50)

Eyepencil (£12.50)

I know that that only Make Up Store Counters/Stores in the UK are on Carnaby Street and in Westfield White City, so if you happen to be in that vicinity, go into the store. Their product's pigmentation and quality will blow your cotton socks off.

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Spot It, Blog it, Speak It, Share It, Get Surgical With It.

What’s the difference between a PR agency and a Social Media Reporter? Well not much when Surgery PR is involved it seems.

Obviously not content with Fashion and Lifestyle, the PR agency has decided that they want to play reporter with the launch of the Apple & Android available app ‘Surgery Reporter’. The new app has been designed to give ‘aspiring bloggers, writers and photographers the opportunity to share, inspire, be inspired’ and be noticed.

Ok . . . so why am I telling you this???

Because I know that getting noticed and finding your online niche is difficult. 

Everyone needs as much of a boost as they can get so a free app that offers users the opportunity to be entered into competitions for tickets to fashion shows, event & VIP experience both in the UK and abroad PLUS 0 the chance to be selected as their ‘Reporter Of The Week’, appearing on the Surgery newsletter, website, Facebook and Twitter AND credited on the Surgery App live site.

The App is really easy to use and Posts can be quickly shared through 3 options on the

app:

Spot it – Upload and submit pictures.
Blog it – Write and submit content, opinions and comments.
Speak it – Record reportings on events, shows and interviews

I actually think that this app is actually a really great idea from Surgery and of course you know I wasted no time scouring their live page to find the best pictures to show you.

So just remember

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Review: Get Rich Blogging by Zoe Griffin

I believe in blogging, food and giving support where support is due, so when Laalaa from Dolce Vanity let it slip that her pearls of blogging wisdom had been published in a book, you have to believe I rushed to Amazon to get myself a copy of ‘Get Rich Blogging’ the minute my pay slip hit my account.

My copy came this week and I’ve spent a lot of time over the weekend on my bed with some sticky tabs and a highlighter pouring over it . . . don’t worry I was aware that this book is not a ‘get rich quick’ scheme for bloggers (despite what the catchy title would lead you to believe). Instead Zoe Griffin; author and blogger behind Live Like a VIP, takes readers through what it really means to have a blog and how to get some revenue from it.

'Get Rich Blogging" covers everything from naming to designing your blog to gaining readership, basically the majority of the things you might want to know about the workings of a blog has been broken down with great, practical examples with lots of helpful website links.

While I didn't really find this book very useful to me as it did contain a lot of things that I already know and I felt that it didn't stress just how difficult it is to blog and gain recognition in the blogging market, I would give this book to a new blogger or some who has just gotten into blogging as it would quickly round-up what they need to know and they can skip through the whole "trial and error" process that I went through. While I didn't agree with everything this book said I think that it has helped refocus on my blog and what I need to do to give it a little push.

Another reason you should get this book is because my darlings, Adrienne The Sunday Girl and Laalaa Dolce Vanity and of course the Queen of British Blogging Jane British Beauty Blogger have ALL been featured!!!! Here’s the link to Amazon so get clicking!!!

Miss out on MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish?? Well even though it's sold out in all the stores, here is your chance to WIN one!!!! Enter my February give-away!

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New:- Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour

Laura Mercier are introducing a luxurious new lipstick that promises to give your lips some colour, texture and finish in one smooth wipe.

Enriched with pure Olive Oil and Vitamin E, this crème liptstick will not bleed, feather or settle within your lip lines so I take that to mean that the Crème Smooth Lip Colour Lipstick will give you a semi-lustre finish rather than a zebra-like finish (which to be honest is not what we want).

 Dermatologically and Allergy tested and in 18 Colours

Rose/Pinks:- Angelic, Pink Blush, Spiced Rose, Anitque Pink, Rosewood, Pink Dust

Coral/Rubies:- Crème Coral, Mango, Portofino Red, Red Amour, Haute Red,

Brown/Nudes:- Peche, Dulce de Leche, Sienna, Cocoa

Plum/Violets:- Merlot, Plumberry, Plum Orchid

Priced at £20 a pop, these Lipsticks are available in your local Space NK and on the Laura Mercier Online store from September 2012.

Which one will you choose when it officially releases?  I think Cocoa might just catch my debit cards eye

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Ybf beauty is back on QVC

I always thought shopping on QVC was an American thing that never crossed over the channel until my last year in uni when I found the QVC channel during a round of insomnia.

I have found some great brands (and learnt a few tricks) from the brands and makeup artists that get featured on the channel and right now there is a big buzz on ybf beauty coming back to QVC UK.

 Founded by former international FORD Model Stacey Schiefflin, ybf beauty has been forging a reputation as a brand for anyone who wants to learn the tips, tricks & trade secrets that Stacey has picked up backstage from the true professionals at runway shows like Dior, YSL and Vogue

 Stacey’s signature style is to start off every hour of her show bare face and her hair in rollers – so it is a lot like watching a youtube tutorial, as you get to go through each product application and transformation step-by-step.

Who can resist the rubies?

ybf beauty is hosting four 1 hour shows to mark its return to the
UK with a major premier on QVC scheduled for
the today (the 3^rd) at 2pm & 9pm, and tomorrow (the 4^th of July) at 1pm & 5pm

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How Sweet!!! A MUA Cosmetics and Love Hearts Collaboration

Anyone remember those chalk sweets with sweet lil messages on them??

You know, those lil sweets that every teenage boy gives his crush in the hopes of being percieved as romantic???

*Yeah, THOSE ones (¬_¬)*

Well on Monday (and just in time for valentines day might I add), MUA Cosmetics launched a Love Hearts collaboration based on the iconic British sweets. The pastel collection features 6 nails polishes and 5 lip balms, with sweet names that show off the core essence of Love Hearts Sweets and to introduce this new launch MUA Cosmetics invited us beauty lovers to Piccadily Circus to gosh over the collection and gorge on sweets (and cupcakes)

This event was extremely girly and with sweet temptations at every turn (it was so bad I had to drag Madison away from the Cupcake table).  I was lucky enough to get my nails done, sip on a cocktail and smooze around with my fellow bloggers

I  had such a great time tonight especially because I got a free manicure and I won one of the raffle bag (I got a love hearts cappuccino cup *giddy dance* bring on the hot chocolate!!!).

To celebrate the collaboration between two British Brands, and because I know some superdrugs can be a bit lazy when it comes to stocking their shelves on time, I am going to be giving away some Love Heart Goodies from both Love Hearts and MUA.

The prizes up for grabs are 

A Limited Edition Mini Love Hearts Tin 

A Huge roll of mini Love Heart Rolls

A pack of 4 Giant Love Heart Rolls

2 MUA Cosmetics Nailpolishes from the Love Hearts Collection

 - U & I; A Pastel Yellow Nail Polish Shade

 - I <3 u; A Pinky- Beige Nail Polish Shade

The Giveaway ends on the 19th of February 2012 and is only open to UK residents

To enter to win this giveaway you just have to be following my blog and leave a comment in the comment box . . . Simples!!!

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ZOMG Blogger Bash with Rockalily Lipstick and the London Lipgloss

ZOMG!!! I got invited to the ZOMG Bloggers Bash 

I was super excited to get invited to ZOMG Bloggers Bash which was hosted by the lovely Zozo of The London Lipgloss and Flamboyant ReeRee of Rockalily Lipsticks. The ZOMG Bash was a big, ol' social media soiree to celebrate the fun collaboration of these two ladies in lipstick form.

I think this has to be the craziest event I have been to. The energy in the room was buzzing and all the bloggers were so super nice. There were just too  many things to do, that the 2/3 hours I spent there went in a flash.


My first stop was at the Temptation's Creation booth where we got the chance to customise our own cupcakes. I think I went a little bit overboard with my cupcake by adding vanilla icing, jelly beans, milk chocolate bits and this weird red sugar dusting but it tasted SOOOO good that I didn't care.

Then Camille, Shilpa and I got distracted by the many, many, many hats on display courtesy of Little Miss B. We had a little dress up session, which was super funny as we didn't actually know how to put on the hats properly *who knew that little elasticated string was meant to go at the back of your head and not under your chin?!!?!*

We also got to dress up in these beautiful red robes from Betty Blues Loungerie but I was having so much fun and forgot to take pictures *Typical me*

Now when it comes to red lipsticks, I am a firm believer that there is no such thing as 'I don't look good in red lipstick'. That is a myth!!! As  red lipstick looks great on everyone . . . You just have to find a shade that works for you and your skintone! With Rockalily lipsticks, there is definitely a lipstick shade to match your skintone regardless of what it might be (the lipstick canvas proved it). 

My favourite lipstick had to be 'Mans Ruin',  it was such a gorgeous, creamy dark red which I am absolutely head over heels in love with and I NEED in my lipstick collection.

Zo's lipstick in ZOMG is a super cute, pink-toned lipstick which I am seriously considering investing in. It swatches really nicely on dark skin and looks like a pink that is everyday wearable (and that's saying something considering I don't really like bright pink lipstick).

The Night was topped off by two risque performances by Rubyyy Jones and Banbury Cross who displayed two different styles of Burlesque strip teases and while both their styles were completely different, they were both absolutely gorgeous and exciting. I actually have two new girl crushes now

More Pics from the Night

One of the soon to be infamous Rockalily's Lipstick BloggerCanvas

The wonderful ladies of Historical Sauce who guided us through the Rockalily Lipstick Collection

My girl Crush Rubyyy Cross at the start of her routine . . . I love her hair!!!

Camille, Shilpa and I 

What Sexy Shoes some Bloggers have

Some of the Rockalily Lipstick Collection

Look at all those bloggers!!!

I actually had the best time ever and I am so glad I got the chance to go. 

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