Body Butter .. my top picks

Body butters tend to be a seasonal love for me. It is rare for me to use them in the summer as I prefer something lighter to keep my skin soft, come the cold weather out come the body butters. There is something luxurious about smothering my skin in a heady scent of spice or fruit. Unfortunately this season I am struggling to find my all time favourite the n-spa range of vanilla bruelle, chocolate orange, gingerbread and hot butter fudge, I just hope they aren't discontinued especially as I am as addicted to their matching bath syrups as well.

In the meantime I will give you the run down of my other favourites starting with body shop. Now they have a range for every taste and price although I feel their full size prices are reasonable to start with. If I do break trend and use these in the summer time I like either the Moringa or the lemon, both of which I got in a set of 3 travel size (50ml) for £12.

In the winter I am definitely a more sensuous person and love more seasonal scents heavy with cinnamon and ginger. So the ginger sparkle body butter is my ideal choice. It comes in a ginger set for £15 which includes Shower gel, body butter, soap and body scrub in a delightful tin. If you want to go the full hog there is also a hand cream in a festive set for £12. Or if you just want a full size body butter it is £13. I have a really fondness for gingerbread fragrance as it just puts me in that happy homely sense of mind.

If you are a more fruit based person you can't go far wrong with the the cranberry range. although personally I prefer the more heady vanilla. Body shop do a couple of versions of vanilla body butters There is their duo which is half filled with vanilla and half with chocolate. It is nice and lovely for those with a sweet nose. My personal favourite has to be the vanilla bliss though. It fills the room with those comforting scents, like  a giant fluffy towel to be wrapped up in. gain it is £13 for a full size pot, and there is a full seasonal range including everything from lip balm, to shower gel right through to reed diffuser.

My final choice is again body shop but not so seasonal. It is their Dream time. It is the perfect body butter to use to unwind after the stress of a heavy day or long office party. With a hint of lavender and chamomile it is the perfect after bath addition to guarantee a good peaceful nights sleep. Although I have to admit I nearly over looked it but for a freebie earlier in the year in a magazine. I used it after a handful of restless nights and found it really helped me relax as it was such a delicate fragrance.

All the more recent body butters are softer than the body shop of old I remember, when they were so firm it was hard to get out the pot. These are more cream like in texture and the scents are divine. My advise is try a travel size or selection pack first if in doubt as every one has a a different nose. At the moment Body Shop is offering several gift sets including a variety of body butters for £15 in the shape of a lollipop.

As I try to hunt down my n-spa favourites these are certainly filling the gap though. But it won't stop me looking.

Head wall bang

You know when you are having just one of those days where nothing you do is going to go to plan. Yes? well mine is one of them. I won't go into it all but just one part of it as if I told you all of it I will still be typing this post next week.

So I had my monthly check in with my GP booked at 2.20, being the good little patient I am I arrived 5 minutes early, thinking he wouldn't be running late two patients in on the afternoon surgery. Yea right! I arrived to the receptionist saying "do you have to see this doctor or would you be happy with another one?" Now if I had phoned as an emergency patient I would been happy to see any old doctor but I booked this appointment a week ago as my monthly review. More importantly this doctor is the one managing my chronic illness and its affects not just on me but the whole family. So naturally I said I would wait till he was free thinking he was running his normal late self. Not that I mind as he is usually running late because he actually cares about his patients and takes time to find out what is really ill.

However an hour later I was really unimpressed when no one had told me what the delay was and to be honest I find sitting in the surgery chairs really painful. It was only when I was in agony I was told the poor doctor had a random review, something all GPs are likely to get, to check they are not becoming the next Dr Shipman. Fine so they have to have these checks, but would it be asking too much to inform the poor waiting patients. Had we known this mum would have left me there and gone to do the shopping instead of sitting there like a class A lemon. Over an hour and 15 minutes later I arrive at my doctors room, him harassed, me exhausted and in agony.

What ever I may say my GP couldn't have been kinder and more apologetic about the wait. He understood I couldn't just see anyone as my combination of medicine is finely tuned and most unusual, but it is a combination that works and causes the least amount of side affects. Any other GP would want me to change this combination based on the addiction risk.. But I have already been through so many risk assessments, psych tests and do on. We have also spent the last 8 months tweaking the dosage and timing of the doses. So the last thing I want to have to do is spend 13 of my allocated 15mins explaining all this to some one else. As it was I had a list of things to whip through not just with my normal issues but other things as I have had a head cold for the last two weeks that has kindly set off my old ear condition and left me with a cold sore that won't shift. Needless to say I left with a book of prescriptions ( only half of my monthly requirements as the other half doesn't need monthly reviews).

Once done there off to the chemist to collect this shopping bag of pills and potions. Problems there? You bet! One prescription got refused as it is an controlled substance and my GP said use as directed not explained the directions. So back to the GP to change prescription and then back to chemist. One bag of prescriptions later and still no pain patches, apparently they are so controlled they have to order them in from the hospital so I now have to wait till Monday for them, good job I have a spare one!

Estimated time to do this whole outing 1 hour and then we were meant to go do the weekly shop. Reality of trip 3 hours and total exhaustion, so shopping is now postponed till early tomorrow.

That is just this afternoon so you can guess how this morning went!

Seasonal Charity.. how we can do our part

We as a family have had a hard year, mainly due to my illness rendering me unfit for work. It means that this years Christmas is going to be on a budget. Like so many in the country this year times are tight and there is little left to throw away on trivial gifts.

That said we are already planning and scheming as to how to make the time special for us all, family and close friends who have been so generous over the year. Gifts will be more thoughtful rather than excessive luxuries. That said my heart is always drawn to those even less fortunate that ourselves. The reason I start now is due to the fact that it is Remembrance Sunday this week, that always symbolises the start of the festive to myself. For me the whole festive season is about not personal gain but we can do for others.

So the little change I had the other day went straight in to the poppy tin, even if like me you are predominately a pacifist, it doesn't mean you can't support our armed forces. I personally believe every one in the western world owes our freedom to the constant vigilance of these forces and owe them all you can spare.

From there on in right through to the new year, I will be as generous as finances allow to the charities I support, as they do so much unseen and unrecognised work for all those in need. After all in this day and age you never know when you may need the support of one them. I am less able than I was to give and do as much as I once could and in a way I feel really bad for this. But any thing I can do I would whether it be help a friend or a tin of veg to harvest festival, it all helps.

You may ask why am I on about this now, so early to the festive season, well there are two reasons. The first is this weekend, Remembrance day, we all need to do our bit as it is this countries young men and women who are out in the world risking and unfortunately in some cases losing their lives defending our freedom. So there is no reason why any one of can't spend those very minutes in silence acknowledging this fact. The other is think when you buy your presents, think, can you get anything via charity websites even if it is only the Christmas cards. This gesture alone would help raise much needed funds.

That's a big ask I know, but an email today which I won't go into reminded me just how kind the human spirit can be over this time of year. To the person who sent the offer I can not find the words to thank them, but what I can do is pass on the spirit of giving and generosity.

The hunt for a perfect eyeliner

For the 25 years I have worn eye liner I have forever hunted for the perfect eye liner. It has been an endless search which for many years I was destined to lose. Until recently I have a few that solve my problem with out scratching my skin or causing them to water so it ends up in a total mess. Here are my top picks.

Miners Phat liner in black is a great pencil. It is soft to use and creates a stunning affects. I remember Miners as a brand my mother used in the 60's and it kind of fell out of favour in the 80's. I can across this in my families Kleeneze catalogue and thought I would give it a try. It was a smart move for a smart price. £3.99 is a good price and for the money good value, it is going to take a while for me to use this up.

The Miners brand is still mainly out of favour but it is worth another look, think of it as going retro.



My next choice is Avon's glimmer stick. I have these in several colours and find them ideal for life on on the go. No need to sharpen just twist and go. It is very soft to use and no chance of scratching as there is no wood surround. It is hard to get a thick line but for the more delicate and accurate detail it is ideal. There is a variety of colours from the normal black and brown, to steely silver. It is worth looking at the seasonal additions as well, and the diamonds variations.

The price is £6 which is still a reasonable price, but being Avon you can often pick up offers like the current one which is 2 for £8

Still with Avon in the In a blink stick. It combines eyeliner at one end an eyeshadow that the other. At £6.50 it is great value for money and to do a quick change from morning to evening . It comes in a variety of shades and yet takes up the space of a pencil in your make up bag. The eye shadows compliment the eyeliner, I personally love the silver shadow with the steely grey liner for parties.

 

The Green one shown here has a striking effect if you have blue eyes like myself as it is such a deep green. This is well worth a try for the money and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a busy life. I haven't seen this in any of the major brands for some reason but think they are missing a trick not bringing out their own version.

 

 

This are my favourite 3, but even still I am still on the look out for something new, softer and better. I never thought it would be so hard to find the perfect eyeliner, yet to me it is the core essential to any look. Without the right kind of eyeliner you can lose the shape and effect of style you are trying to achieve. With so many products on the markets it is a case of too much choice not enough variety.

 

 

A lucky find

It isn't often I am caught off guard, but during a sort out I remember an outing earlier this year where I was, and the lucky finds I made.

I won't go into details as to where I was off to or why, but I got to work and found I had my outfit to change into but completely forgotten my make up bag. Not the cleverest idea for an evening event. So in my lunch time of all of 30 mins I dashed into the nearest shop which was a shop I had never been to called Savers. Now I knew I would at least be able to get perfume there, although not my normal choice of scent. Instead I ended up testing a variety and the surprising result was the sugarbabes one. Now I have never even heard they had joined the world of celebrity perfumes so this was a big shock. The perfume was called Tempt and came in a roundish black bottle, very similar to the Britney Spears style bottles. I found the scent quite moreish, it had hidden sweet notes whilst maintain the heady evening scent. At £8.99 the price was reasonable and I am certainly living that in my travel bag for emergencies. Although the shape of the bottle isn't that handbag friendly, it certainly can hold its own on style on your dressing table.

The other little marvel I found was a palette of eye shadow. Now I am funny about using an unusual brand as I tend to end up looking like red and white panda in a non cute way. So after a call to work colleagues I double checked if any one had heard of W7 and what they thought of it, due to the positive replies I took the gamble and picked up The Big Five palate. The five colours are metallic and vary from right to left with a steely heavy silver, deep gold , light gold, rose pink and light silver white.

I found the colours could be as subtle or strong as you choose to apply, the pink looks almost shocking in the palette, but the actual look is gentler and very wearable. Although it is missing a strong dark colour like a black it is a very wearable palette, the packaging is a very funky zebra strip and the in built mirror is good for the application of the eye shadow, but not for full face make up. The other let down is it has only one double ended sponge brush, which quickly found itself replaced for a brush or two. But for the price of £1 it was a really find and often finds itself in my handbag or weekend bag.

So these are my two lucky finds of the year, what are yours?.

I am confused

Life was easy. In the beginning there was eye shadow, eye liner, foundation, powder, mascara. lipstick and blusher. Now I am taking a real interest in all matters beauty I am swamped.

I understand there are various versions of eye shadow powder, cream  etc etc. Now lipsticks can come in pencils now, an actually I find them a lot more successful and easier to carry. But foundation now involves highlighter, primer and what ever BB cream is. To be honest I would hate to be a teen learning all this stuff now a days, you need to do a GCSE in it, no wonder girls start using the products earlier and earlier.

But have we gone that little bit too fair? I get primer, in fact I prefer it to foundation as it is lighter on the skin. In my ideal world life would involve primer, powder and  touch of highlighter. Maybe it is just me but when I put foundation on my face feels clogged and yukky. But that's just my opinion and I have friends who feel naked with out it.

Then there is the eyes. I am firm believer in eyeliner, but now my choice is so varied I am banging my head against the table. Liquid eye liner and I don't get on, it makes my eyes water uncontrollably, so much as I love it I can't wear it. Gel liner? Well based on my experience with liquid I am ashamed to admit I have yet to be brave enough to try it. My personal favourite is the tradional kohl pencil although I do like the softer twist up pens as well. But even they need practise or its panda eye syndrome, good in the 60's not in the office. Then there is the eye pen, think felt tip pen for eyes and you get what I mean. As easy as a kohl pencil to apply and the effect of a liquid liner.. now that has to go on the to try list.

Just don't get me started on eye shadow either. I have long given up on buying single colours unless there is one really special colour I have never come across. I tend to buy quads as the bare minim, purely because I have found even if a colour isn't suitable for this seasons look you can beat that it will be in season with the 12 months. I love big colour palettes the bigger and weirder the better, as long as there is a black and white in there as well.

The extent of my make up addiction is so great I only use a make up bag for days or weekends away, for storage at home, I kid you not, is a tool box worthy of the greatest electrician. Not very lady like but very very practical. I just wish it came in a more girly colour than builders blue. In fact that is the one thing there is no excess in, proper makeup storage for the true fashionista. That is something worth writing about.

The highs and lows of Monday

I really don't like Mondays which is funny as it was the day of the week I was born on. That said I didn't show up till 5.15pm so I had the right idea from the start. Anyway my morning has been one of highs lows then highs again. So much so I think I am on a roller coaster.

First of all it looks like I am off to the Marie Claire L'Occitane night next week as there is one with tickets near to me. Providing they don't sell out by tomorrow I am so there. What is even better is I am allowed to take my travel carer with me free so no crutches accidents on public transport. I can't wait, its a case of buy ticket tomorrow then off I go. I can't wait as this is my favourite skin brand and I haven't been able to get to one of these events before as I have been too ill. I even missed the free smash box one earlier this year because of lack of mobility.

Then there was the crash as I sorted out my physiotherapy. I was told I needed to be seen urgently and my referral would be labelled as such. That is a joke I can't get an appointment before 7th December and that is just the assessment. So the chances of me being mobile before Christmas is highly unlikely. Guess I will be barking orders rather than actually the doing the tree decorations. Brilliant, husband doesn't have an artistic bone in his body, that talent went to his sister, so I can envisage the state of the tree already unless I supervise. Not to mention the small matter of the tree being in the loft so it will be a case of having to buy a real one as I can't get up there and hubby is too big to get up there. Oh the fun, still at least I have an appointment and I suppose that is a good thing.

Fortunately there is then some good news I am off to the motorbike show at the end of the month with a friend. So that is another day scooting round the NEC at speed again. I can't wait as the smell of 2 stroke is sorely missed. It will be and early start and defiantly a jeans and jumper day, but hey a girl has to have a her down days where make up isn't necessary (that said eyeliner may be required to make me look awake at that hour!)

So when you add that up with a doctors appointment or two booked, a repeat prescription ordered, a call to the DHSS to sort my sick pay and trying to locate my builder its been one hectic morning. This afternoon? Well I think it is nap time before I end up with indigestion from all this.