NOTD OPI Suzi & The Lifeguard

The first of my Trans Design polishes from my most recent order, OPI Suzi/Suzy & the Lifeguard. Absolutely shockingly bad name but lovely polish that I unfortunately failed to capture well in my pics.

 It's a lovely, fairly opaque pearly pink. Kind of shimmery, but not. Lovely. And yes, my nails are suddenly a lot shorter. I had an accident opening a six pack of coke and had to cut them all down to match the damage. Boo Hoo. :(

Another Blog Sale!

Things to get rid of! First come first served and UK only preferably, sorry guys. So lets get straight on with it. All prices include UK postage. To avoid Paypal charges I won't be sending invoices. I'd like personal payments to charlie@spoonwizard.com and please include your address!

 Mac Dazzleglass in Jingle Jangle, Holiday 2009. Used x2 £7.

ELF Studio Brow kit in Light. Wax used a fair bit, powder once or twice. £2

 Bourjois Mineral Matte Foundation & Kabuki, used twice, Shade 81 (the palest). £4

China Glaze in Recycle. Used x 2 £5

Nails Inc Victoria & Albert. Never Used. £4

Little parcel from China Glaze/Seche

After my post the other day about Seche Vite & Essie Tart Deco Here the PR company for seche very kindly got in touch and offered me a new bottle of Seche Vite and some China Glaze polishes to try. They turned up this morning which is super fast! Sorry for the blurry pics.

 This looks lovely, CG Dreamsicle glitter polish.

 High Hopes and Sun Worshipper.

So huge thanks to AII and I look forward to trying them all out!

I Had (another) Fabulous Delivery This Morning

I won the fabulous Nooberella's recent Blog Giveaway and my amazing prizes turned up today along with a lovely giftcard!

The prize was a MAC Fluidline, eyeshadow and lashes of your choice. So here are my choices!
Mac Lashes No7. I won't be able to use these for a while though as I don't have any glue!

 Mac Fluidline in Rich Ground

 And lastly, Mac eyeshadow in Silver Ring.

 I'm so thrilled with it all. Thank you so much Karleigh Poo. I'm a very lucky girl and very grateful! Thank you thank you thank you!

Another Trans Design Haul :D

As a little treat to myself I placed a little Trans Design order about 9 days ago and it arrived today! So pretty look!

They are:
Color Club OOOOOO La La and Ultra Violet

 Essie Huckle Buckle

 OPI Suzi & the Lifeguard, Who Needs a Prince, I Pink I Love You and Give Me The Moon

And lastly China Glaze Millenium

Beeeyyyooooootiful! You can look forward to lots of NOTD over the next few weeks :)

FOTD with Mac Cockney Lipstick

I thought I'd live a little dangerously. Nothing like vamping it up for the nursery run is there! Mac Cockney lipstick is a new one to my collection, I B2M'd it. It is rather fabulous actually. What's really nice about this colour is that it takes a few swipes to make it this opaque, it can actually be rather sheer which is lovely!

 Obviously, I had to follow the ruls and team with a simple eye.

 I like this look although, its a bit much for my day to day life. But you know, I need things to blog about so it had to be done!

 I'm totally loving the squat look my face has in this FOTD, not! Do you wear reds? Which is your favourite?

Some questions about your nails!

Hi all,

I'm looking to perfect my nail routines and I was wanting to pick your brains!

Do you use a base coat?
Which one?
Do you use it every time and if not, when don't you?
Do you use a top coat?
Which one?
Do you use it every time and if not why not?

I'm only asking for my own reference really, I'm mainly looking for a new base coat & not sure which.

Thank you for your time!

Shopping my Stash Chanel Hydrasoleil

Well yesterday was a day for having a really good look at my kit and seeing what I had that I could use. And I found some great bits. The first thing I found that I really wanted to use was this very old lippie, Chanel Hydrasoleil No33 in Soleil Frileux.

It's really old and I'm pretty sure discontinued, but they were lovely sheer lippies with an SPF of 6. It's really hard to describe the colour so it's best if I just crack on with some swatches and a FOTD :) It's a kind of nudey mauve right?

 Well yes but get it in the right light and it has a beautiful bluey violet sheen. Very pretty!

 And here's today's face. I could kick myself for putting on the completly wrong shade of blusher but there you go!

 So thats it for now. I plan to do a bit more stash shopping and I have lots more to come so keep an eye out!

NOTD Essie Tart Deco & Seche Vite Horror

Well I was really looking forward to trying my new Essie Tart Deco polish. And very lovely it was too. Until I put on my Seche Vite top coat and it all went wrong! Check out what happened to my medium pinky coral colour.

Neon orange! Not what I was going for at all. Nothing like the colour in the bottle :(
If you look closely at the next pick, it shows the bottom of the nail where I missed with the top coat and you can see the change.

 Bit gutted but I left it on today and had two people say they liked my nails this morning. I suppose it is alright, but it's not how Tart Deco should look!

Has anyone else had problems with Seche Vite changing the polish colour?

No7 Glitter Eyeliner

My £5 No7/ Ruby & Millie voucher expires at the weekend so after dropping Chloe at nursery this morning I though Lola and I ought to take a little trip to Boots. The Boots I went to doesn't have a Ruby & Millie bit except for some brushes but as I am awaiting my Sigma brushes I decided against that. So I wandered over to the No7 counter. I've decided that I really don't like No7. It just looks so boring. Nothing really stood out at all. I wandered around with the Totally Teal nail varnish in my hand for a while before deciding against it and finally I picked up and bought this:

It's No7 Glitter eyeliner in Royal. In the the tube it looks navy blue with very fine silver and blue glitter. But actually it is a not very opaque black with tonnes of tiny glitter particles in blue & silver. View the pics large to see how sparkly they are.

It's nice and wearable, even in day time. I gave the swatch a good rub and it didn't smudge or smear. So far so good. I'll look forward to trying this out!

A Blog you should check out!

I just found a really nice blog and I wanted to share it all with you as I think she deserves more followers.:) There's not much more to say than that really, go and check out EmmaLou @ Emmalou Beautynews

Teeny ELF Haul

As I mentioned previously I did a little order from ELF and it arrived today.

 So there's the large Brush Holder, Brush Shampoo, Cream Eyeliner in black, Medium Brow Kit and fan brush.
The brush holder is nice. Probably not worth the £12 it cost but I like it and its just got a few things in it while I wait for my Sigma brushes to arrive.

 I've just tried the cream liner and it's lovely, silky smooth.

The fan brush I bought because I hear it's good for sweeping away eyeshadow fallout. We shall see.

Now the brow kit, I already have this in light and it's not perfect. The wax was fine and I liked the effect but it wasn't dramatic enough and the powder that went with it was just all wrong for me, in daylight it was very orange. Well given that naturally I'm mousey brown it was never going to work really so I thought I'd try the Medium kit.  And I've just tried it. The wax is perfect, perfectly pigmented for what I wanted. But then I added the powder. LOL. Comedy brows. Think Gaga in the telephone vid. Great big black caterpillars. I took pics but I deleted them because some things are just too comedy for the internet. Doesn't matter really, I'm happy with the wax on it's own.

All in all a very nice little haul.

NOTD Essie Van D'Go

Oh now this is beautiful. I received it in the post this morning and I put it on immediately. Took some skill I can tell you since I've got a sleeping baby on my knee! This is three coats to get rid of streakiness with a top coat. It's so pretty. Alittle brighter and more orange than I managed to capture with my camera. Stunning polish.

Your Skincare Questions Answered

You may remember that back in February I asked in this Post if you had any skincare questions for Jo Givens, who is the Treatments Manager at Liz Earle.

 I'm pleased to say I put all your questions to her and you can find the answers below :)

Me:
I'm 35, lots of fine lines around my eyes a couple of small but very deep lines around my mouth. I can get a bit dry around my nose but on the whole my skin is normal. I do suffer with monthly breakouts and more pores are very visible. In addition I have in the last three or four years started to get small hard flesh coloured bumps on my skin that can stick around for months. I suspect it might be a mild case of Milia. What would you recommend for my skincare routine?

Firstly cleansing, and removal of make-up at the end of your day, is the foundation of fabulous skin. Using a creamy cleanser and removing with a pure cotton muslin cloth will eliminate dead cells that can make skin feel drier, and can also contribute to milia.  Regular exfoliation will also reduce congestion on problem areas.

To combat the fine lines around your eyes and lips, I recommend a multi-use product such as Superskin Eye & Lip Treatment, packed with toning and firming pear seed extract, it will hydrate and nourish skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Milia usually appear white under the skin so if they are flesh coloured you may want to get them checked with a doctor.

Lydia:
I have extreme combination skin - oily, oily on nose (and around nostril sides) but insanely dry around chin, upper eye area and 'normal' everywhere else. I have pretty good, even tone, and it's in good condition wrinkle-wise (considering I'm 36 and used to smoke like a trooper!). Any advice on what to use would be very, very welcome! Thanks!
Dryness on the chin and eye area could possibly be an allergy or sensitivity to a particular ingredient, or food, or could possibly indicate a hormonal change.  In Eastern culture, the face is seen as a map of the body (much like Reflexology), and although we are pre-disposed to genetic factors, our skin is a reflection of what is going on inside. The chin represents the ovaries, so can indicate hormonal fluctuations, and the eyes relate to elimination from the body. I would always advise supplements such as Evening Primrose or Borage Oil for hormonal changes and Milk Thistle to help elimination through the liver. Always consult your doctor first though.

For skincare, a PH balanced cleanser such as Cleanse & Polish will keep skin hydrated and balanced where it is needed.  Also, try to avoid toners with alcohol as this can dry out skin and also make it produce more oil.

Stacey:
I have about thirty spots consistently, but I've learned to live with it, my main concern is dryness...as i have spots i can't exfoliate as it opens them up and spreads them around the face but i n am dry, and find when i apply makeup it cakes and builds up on the dryness, help1!xx
 

As spots are caused by inflammation in your body, avoid using any harsh ingredients such as AHA, or Retin-A, as these can sometimes make your skin dry and irritated.  Always use an oil-based cleanser, which works in synergy with your skins natural oils and will keep your skin nourished and calm.
Try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet - eat oily fish, vegetables and salads, and high levels of anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, green tea and blueberries. Try to reduce your intake of wheat and cow’s milk- these can be inflammatory for some people. Also try to completely avoid sugar, alcohol and caffeine. Once you have addressed the inflammation that is causing your spots, use a day and night moisturiser that is rich in plant oils such as borage oil and anti-oxidant vitamin E.  Also try using a hydrating mask (containing moisture-rich shea butter) weekly will help to combat dryness.  Stress can cause spots, so try to reduce it by exercising, going on regular walks, having massages or even just doing a pastime you really enjoy!

Jemma:
I have scars on my face left over from spots and I was wondering what’s the best way to treat them, get rid of them and prevent new ones?

Rosehip oil is a wonderful ingredient for repairing scar tissue. Whilst it won’t remove scarring, it will certainly diminish it and will leave skin soft and renewed. Try our Superskin Concentrate, a super-intense aromatic blend of 100% pure plant oils with rosehip oil and vitamin E rich argan oil- a restoring treat for all skin types which will reinstate balance and help your skin to heal.

To prevent new spots from appearing, try our Deep Cleansing Mask (with green clay and manuka honey) is a great treatment for excess oils, inflammation and breakouts.  It can be mixed with Cleanse & Polish or used alone as an intensive mask twice weekly for 10 minutes.

Also, to avoid further scarring, remember not to squeeze spots - spots should be left alone to heal. Squeezing can spread bacteria and cause more inflammation. To help clear break outs, regularly apply an alcohol-free spot treatment that won’t irritate the skin. Essential oils including antiseptic and antibacterial tea tree oil, purifying melissa and healing lavender will stop spot-causing bacteria in its tracks. Try the Liz Earle Spot-On which is packed with all three of these hard working essential oils and additionally contains natural source vitamin E to help repair and protect the skin. Also see tips on diet provided to Jemma above.

Janner:
New mum, dry hands from washing 20+ times per day. Normal hand cream not even touching it, any ideas?

The condition of your hands can be dramatically improved by using good skincare in only a matter of weeks. Use a hand wash that is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) free.  SLS is a cleaning agent that allows a product to foam, but is extremely drying.  Choose foaming agents from corn and coconut origin. Try our Orange Flower Hand Wash which is family friendly and ultra gentle, suitable for the most sensitive of skins. It has been specifically designed to help protect and hydrate skin by including naturally active skin softeners betaine, inulin and panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) to help moisturise and condition. Follow with our Hand Repair, a hand cream rich in repairing and hydrating pro-vitamin B5, leaving your hands soft and silky.

When you are a new mum time is a luxury, so incorporate your hand care within your daily facial routine.  To maximise your products, use your facial exfoliator on the backs of your hands - this works a treat, and also allows deeper penetration of nourishing ingredients from masks and oils. You can also try applying our Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask before going to bed. Calming and deeply moisturising, this nutrient rich mask is a sanctuary for dehydrated, dry skin, or stressed skin- the perfect treat for hands overnight. Also try to wear gloves when doing cleaning or using harsh every day products at home.

Graham:
I've suffered from terrible razor burn/shaving rash/spots on my face and neck (yes, I'm a man) in all my years of shaving. I had some initial success with TendSkin but that stopped being effective after a while.

I've now switched to using an electric shaver and surgical spirit (it's a LOT cheaper than TendSkin) which seems to have helped, but again its effectiveness is starting to wane.

Do you have any product advice on the long-term treatment of shaving rash & the associated spots without spending a fortune?

Surgical spirit is alcohol based, and doesn’t have any benefits for the skin (Beauty Therapists use it to clean their waxing equipment) and will completely dry your skin out.  Always shave with the growth first, then against as this will make skin feel smoother and prevent in-growing hairs.  I would recommend wet-shaving with a shave cream, such as Liz Earle Shave Cream for men. Only £10.00 for a 100ml tube, it is packed with skin-loving botanicals such as shave grass and clary sage that will soothe and nourish. Make sure to replace blades regularly, and only apply aftershave behind the ears, as splashing directly onto your neck after shaving will cause razor burn.

cheesetruck:
I have a similar problem to Graham, but it's UNDER my beard. Recently I began growing one - started due to not having a bathroom (renovation.) Since then I've been told NOT to shave it, as it looks far too good on me.

The problem is that the skin under my beard - I can't see it, I just know occasionally it begins itching, and of course I then begin to fuss at it. I then wash to be sure it's clean and so on.

I've heard that is the WRONG thing to do. Quite frankly, I don't know, and the "ask the Interwebz" is more likely to be inaccurate than accurate. Could you ask your expert friend if she has any general male facial tips, covering both shaving and not shaving. (I do shave some areas of the face.)

Also, like Graham, I'm not very interested in spending a fortune on it. Actually, I can't right now at all. But I will spend some money. Oh, and of course, it would help if it were available outside the UK - as I'm in Finland. Things like "Lush" and so on aren't here. (Yes I know, I'm sounding very non-male here, shut up.)

Avoid using soap on your face, as it has a PH of 9, and is alkaline based, whilst our skin is acid based and has a PH of 5.5, so the soap will dry out your skin, causing irritation.  As we condition the scalp under our hair on our head, you should take this approach with your beard, so massage in a face and body wash (great multi-use product to save the pennies). Liz Earle Face & Body Wash contains soap bark, a great ingredient that naturally cleans, whilst also addressing issues such as dandruff and dry skin conditions.  At only £7.75 for a 100ml tube, it is great value for such high quality naturally active ingredients.
For other areas, always shave with the growth first, then against as this will make skin feel smoother and prevent in-growing hairs.  I would recommend wet-shaving with a shave cream, such as Liz Earle Shave Cream for men.

Stephanie:
I'd love to know if there is anything I can use to protect my skin from ageing - brown spots etc - that isn't heavy and/or greasy.

Did you know that 95% of skin aging is caused by UV damage?  The skin’s collagen and elastin starts to deteriorate after the age of 22, so although we cannot stop the clock on skin aging, we can certainly ‘slow down the ticking’.  Always use a mineral SPF of 20 or above on the face and body. Remember the SPF rule: if you can only be exposed to the sun for 10 minutes without burning, using an SPF of 20 will allow you a 20 times longer exposure without burning which equals 200 minutes of protected sun exposure.
Although mineral sunscreens can be thicker, they protect the skin by bouncing the UV rays away, whereas synthetic chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays into the skin; this can cause prickly heat and irritation.  Liz Earle Sun Shade SPF25 Face Protector offers great protection, and if you pat the product in it absorbs and nourishes the skin without leaving any greasy residue. Perfect for the whole family, including toddlers and young skin, it is also enriched with pure shea butter and natural-source Vitamin E to keep skin smooth and fight free radicals. Eat plenty of anti-oxidants to increase protection from within.

So that's everything! I'd like to thank you all for your questions and of course Jo & Pat at Liz Earle for their help & advice.

Liz Earle Superskin Body Cream Review

Yet another Liz Earle Review for you. I feel so lucky to have been asked to try all this stuff. They've won me over and my Mum! Based on my enjoyment of all these products I bought Mum a starter set for Mothers Day and I know if she hasn't already, she's about to place her first order. The products are superb.

The product I'm reviewing today is the Superskin Body Cream. Available in 200ml and 50ml and priced at £27.50 and £7 respectively. This review will be short and sweet :)

They say:
Formulated with 25% pure plant oils, this divinely aromatic, ultra-rich body cream is our most intensive moisturiser ever, helping mature or very dry skin look and feel rejuvenated and replenished. Helps prevent moisture loss and improves skin elasticity to leave your skin visibly plump, smooth and supple. Specially formulated with powerful naturally active ingredients rich in omega-3, GLA and antioxidants. A soothing signature blend of neroli, lavender and chamomile pure essential oils delicately scents your skin, whilst helping to calm and restore your senses.

I say:
Beautiful. The smell is out of this world, especially for a neroli lover like me. My skin is soft and scented all day long and it's quickly absorbed. Only problem is it's way too expensive for me so sadly I won't be replacing. *sad face* But if you can afford this beautiful cream I'd recommend it to anyone, not just those with dry skin.