L’Oreal and Elle New Talent Competition.

I’ve said it before but I will say it again! I have learnt so, soo much on my mission from all of you other Bloggers and You Tubers out there. Some of you are not only so passionate about your blogs and channels but I think you are incredibly talented and I personally think you should flash your talent which leads me to something I spotted while sitting out in the sun earlier this morning, flicking through Elle.

 

L’Oreal and Elle are having a competition to find a budding make up artist. The winner will get to work backstage during London Fashion Week as well as assisting on an Elle shoot which will be published in the magazine AND you get a professional L’Oreal make up kit.

Wow, what a fabulous opportunity for someone!

Obviously such an amazing experience is not going to be given to just anybody and girlies, there is some work to do. A mood board; a face chart and an inspiration rationale but you have plenty of time, the competition does not close until the 2nd of June.

I don’t think I could ever win (unlike some of you more talented things) but I might have a shot anyway. The geek in me thinks it would just be fun putting the entry together anyway!

What am I like?!

Seriously though if you have talent, what are you waiting for?! Hope across to www.lorealellenewtalent.co.uk to find out more.

Edit: I have used the link above and keep getting a black, blank page so have found this link. Might be worth a go as well http://www.lorealparis.co.uk/minisites/ellenewtalent/entryform/ElleEntry.pdf

Oh and good luck!

X

PS If you work in a shop (oh, I wish I still did then I could enter this one too) then you might want to check out the Elle Shop Girl to Stylist competition. Amazing opportunity alert again, an internship with Elle magazine. I’m thinking The City . . ! Check it out here www.elle.uk.com/shopgirltostylist

PSS Just to be fair, Marie Claire also have another amazing opportunity for some girlies to be mentored by some of the most sucessful women in the country. See www.marieclaire.co.uk/mentoring  for more info.

Sunday Snippets

Hey Sunshine People!

You know how I am going to work hard on my blog for the whole next five days, well quite hard. Well, today I am feeling a bit lazy. It is a combination of that Sunday feeling, the sun being out and of course, all that swatching yesterday so today I thought we could just take a peek at a few of beauty and other girlietastic snippets that I’ve picked up in the papers and on the internet this weekend. One of my favourite Sunday things is just coasting through the papers and surfing the internet, bobbing along, looking for nothing and just seeing what catches my imagination and today, I’m taking you with me. Hold tight, we’re in for one fabulous journey. I’m thinking Sex and The City, free mascaras, a little beauty science and a scentastic perfume release. Of course, you could always just take the bus instead and just pick out whichever bits/links here interest you if you prefer ;-)

Firstly, things to look forward to this summer.

*Jennifer Anniston’s first perfume LoLavie. It sounds like a fresh and floral scent designed to match Jen’s outdoor personality. Perfect for the summer, maybe? Here is a picture of the perfume bottle that I found on the celebden link below.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/news/100416-jennifer-aniston-lolavie-perfume.aspx

http://jenniferaniston.celebden.com/

*Want something else to look forward to this summer? To celebrate the new Sex and City film out in May, Vex and The City has a pretty MEGA prize up to win for anybody who may be going to New York anytime soon

http://www.vexinthecity.com/2010/04/giveaway-satc-tour-tickets-or-tour-of.html

If New York isn’t inviting you then console yourself, Candace Bushnell has a new book out on the 29th of April, The Carrie Diaries and then just a month later, there is the film! Ooh, let’s take a moment to indulge in the SATC vibe with the trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbd5ZvlzbyA

Secondly, The Sunday Times Style magazine had a feature on skincare today. Of course, now that I’ve found a toner-Botanics Organic Rosewood-that I really heart, they only had to go and answer my burning question.

I’m sure that I’ve asked it here before but I’ve always wondered, is toner really necessary? No, not any more according to The Times. They suggest that the main function of toner is to remove all traces of your cleanser but they also explain that cleansers have now moved on and are designed so that they can be removed just by following the directions on that specific product ie. if it says rinse, that is all you need to do. They actually suggest the use of toner could damage your skin by drying it out and making you age faster.

The Times also seem sceptical about natural skincare. In the first, they suggest that mixing and combining too many products and brands including natural ones in our skincare routine can confuse our skin. Certain combinations of ingredients from different products could react together to produce holes in our protective layer of skin. They could also defeat the object of the opposite ingredient. They highlight the example of retinol which shouldn’t be mixed with acids such as vitamin C or glycolic acid as these will break down the retinol before it can treat wrinkles.

Secondly, they suggest that although organic skincare seems so trendy at the moment, it will not necessarily benefit each individual. It seems some people will react better to manufactured creams etc and they warn about skin reactions (ahem!) to natural ingredients such as Lavender and Vitamin C. Then they very, very importantly note that organic skincare is unlikely to provide the same sun protection as other products.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/beauty/article7097175.ece

Thirdly, you guessed it, what would Sunday be without me mentioning Fabulous magazine from The News of The World?! They are offering free Maybelline mascaras to the first 1500 people to complete their beauty survey online and then another 1500 to those who do it by post. The cute little freebie is The Falsies Mascara. Apparently, it has a unique brush like a spoon to coat very lash. Oooh, la, lah. Might be worth a go, pop across now and see if you can bag yourself one. http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/fabulous/777983/Reveal-your-beauty-secrets-and-bag-a-free-mascara.html

Why not, once the survey is complete (and you’ve reread all of my beauty science above) settle down somewhere cosy and enjoy some of these sunny You Tube videos?

*Kandee Johnson Come on an adventure with me

I went to Santa Monica a few years ago and this reminds me of happy times. I love this video and it makes me all excited about the summer to come. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4NQnA4I6YA

*SWalker Dubai Vlog

 Brilliant video, great music, great editing. Could Sara be as good at making videos as she is at make up?! What a lovely memento to have of your holiday and Dubai, I’m coming to meet you one day! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3KPcGm5kmQ

*The Make Up Diaries Wearable Summer look

Onnagh does not seem quite as well-known on You Tube but I think her tutorials are fab. A working and professional make up artist, she explains her tutorials very clearly and succintly. Check out her new summer look at the link below and if you get a chance, check out a Danni Minogue look which I think I have linked to before. Such beautiful make up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80WRqRk20Y&playnext_from=TL&videos=UWGRThdVvvE

*PixiWoo Fun Summer look

Here is a gorgeous summer look from Nic. I love the lip colour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBK8J5uup-g&playnext_from=TL&videos=1cseEcFekvg&feature=sub

*PixiWoo Amazing Photographic Makeup

Well, I’ve already featured Nic. Here is Sam’s latest video. This is a reconstruction of a look from her portfolio. I am desperate to do blue eyes now and as for the lips. . ! Well, they are daring but I thought the technique was quite creative http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK2YuxXqsCk&feature=channel

Until next time, after a little more sun . .

X

Oh dear!

I’m having serious doubts about “Stage Natural” of my mission. Look, what I had to take to the doctors with me today.

Eurgh.

Apparently there is no doubt that my skin is having an allergic reaction to something. The doctor asked, ‘Have you tried anything new recently?’. Er, on this mission?! Yes, where shall I start?

Funnily though, I don’t think I’ve really used anything new in my beauty regime over the last two or three weeks, that does not at least claim for the most part to be a natural product.

After years and years of using products brimming with chemicals and no side effects (apart from the guilt of using such chemical laden ‘sin’ products), could a natural product have done this? And if so, which one?

Of course, my reaction may not have anything to do with my beauty mission. It could be from day to day life and the tens of substances encountered every day but as the reaction only seems to be on my arms (and not hands), I have to say the future is not looking bright for natural skincare and I!

Have you ever had a skin reaction? What to? How long is it going to take to heal? And have I any chance of finding out what evil little product did this to my skin?

X

PS Some girlies have reached 800 followers. Both Milly and Sophie deserve such followings, their posts are brilliant. Follow these links for their blogs and gorgeous giveaways

Milly http://pearlsandpoodles.blogspot.com/2010/04/millys-teeny-weeny-giveaway.html

Sophie http://www.sophieismadeup.com/2010/04/800-followers-mini-giveaway.html

Design an Illamasqua Nail Polish!

Hey Lurvies

Just another very quick note to tell you about another competition that I’ve heard about. You can find some details here http://www.lipglossiping.com/2010/02/22/illamasqua-nail-polish-competition/ but basically who wants to design an Illamasqua Nail Polish?!

You can but again you need to be quick. The closing date is the 14th of March!!

I’m not very arty or particularly competitive but I’m loving all of these opportunities floating around at the moment.

Good luck, let me know if you are going to enter any of the ones I’ve found. Also have you heard of any fab comps or giveaways lately?

X

Twenties Girl

I don’t know if reading is meant to be cool anymore but I’m going to confess I can be a bit of a book worm when I find a book, I like and here is one I like. A lot!

Twenties Girl written by Sophie Kinsella (Author of  the ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ series and more). This read may not be particularly profound or likely to be remembered as a fabulous example of English Literature but it is very entertaining.

Twenties Girl kept me up until the early hours laughing, smiling and crying. I absolutely broke my heart at one point.

As usual Kinsella seems to express a very contagious passion for fashion, style and beauty. There are some very inspiring descriptions of outfits. The story also reminds me to live the life I’m lucky enough to have. This book is good for me and then, as if all of these little pieces of inspiration and lessons are not enough, Twenties Girl also includes a discount for 15% off Benefit Cosmetics Online until the end of April as well as a Complimentary Benefit Make-Upper if I take the book along to the counter AND there is a competition for Benefit goody bags, each with £500 worth of goods at www.sophiekinsella.co.uk 

I brought my book at Waterstones but presume, that the same edition of the book with these offers is also available from other retailers too.

I honestly think if you are looking for something to pass these long dark days of February then there are things you could find a lot worse then this little gem.

Has anybody read this book, what did you think? What other reads do you recommend? Who inspires your attuide or the way in which you dress?

X