Its all about the base!...

Hello again,

I hope you all enjoyed last nights post.

Firstly I just thought id let you all know I'm back on slimming world!! I've been trying my hardest to eat healthy to drop a few pounds for the summer, but I just cant to get to grips with it this year. So after having a slight mental breakdown which included comfort eating I'm back in the game! YEY! This time im not attending the classes as quite frankly i cant afford it and have all the stuff i need from when i went before, however i really do recommend, if its your first time trying Slimming World, to go to the classes just for the friendly faces and invaluable support! To find a class near you go on: http://www.slimmingworld.com/ I'm not going to preach about it too much this week but once I've got properly back into it ill let you know loads of recipes and how much weight I've lost (hopefully!)

Anyway moving on, tonight's post is about different foundations and just a few tips on how to add them. I think its really important to have a good base, its like a canvas with all the painting going on top :)

1, Moisturiser

Before adding any foundation to my face I always make sure it is well moisturised. Your moisturiser does not have to be an expensive one, just something that makes your face feel rich and nourished. I personally find that my 3 step dramatically different moisturiser is good enough however there are a few others to recommend. Nivea is one that got recommended to me yesterday by my friend Bethan Jones. She uses one in the day 'Nivea Visage Oil Free Moisturising Fluid' and one at night 'Nivea Visage Regenerating Night Cream' I havent personally tried these myself, however did go out today and by the day one so ill let you know how it goes. Bethan said the night cream is amazing and has made her skin much softer! Both of these are under a fiver!!!

Night Cream.

Do not use this one if you have dry skin!!

Another moisturiser that I've used which was really nice on my skin was Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser. It is quite light and I would suggest this for combination skin types. If you buy it off www.amazon.co.uk you can get it for around £3.

 

If you suffer from really dry skin and really need a moisture surge than a good product to use is Johnson's Daily Essentials Nourishing Cleansing Lotion. It literally does what it says on the tin and really hydrates your skin especially areas that get really dry. You can get this off http://www.boots.com/en/Johnsons-Daily-Essentials-Nourishing-Cleansing-Lotion-for-Dry-Skin-200ml for only £3.05! I couldn't get a photo of that one without being sued by Johnsons!

OK so now to move on to the foundations! I have literally gone through them all, like fake tan, so I'm just going to give a few of my faves and at different price ranges.

2, Foundations

The most important tip when using foundation is to match it up to your skin tone, if you dont you'll end up with a massive orange line. If your not sure yourself go to one of the girls on a makeup counter and they'll do it for you. I always have two different colours as I'm always two different shades haha! I have one I use in the day and one I use in the night and may be a more darker colour ;)

Clinique-Even better

Even Better is a really good foundation for full coverage and also includes an spf 15 to block out the environment. Its brilliant for people who suffer from dark spots or uneven skin tones. Even Better retails at £21. http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1599/5276/Makeup/Foundations/Even-Better-Makeup-SPF15/index.tmpl

Mac-Studio Fix

If Mac were a man i'd marry him! I love all their products and how they really pride themselves on being individual, plus their the only counter in Harrods I can work on with flat shoes! All their makeup is designed so you look like your having a photo shoot or on stage and studio fix is no different. It has an absolutely flawless finish and good coverage without being too thick. It also either come in a compact or a fluid! These both retail at £19.50.

Compact

Fluid

Rimmel Renew and Lift Foundation

This foundation gives a new look to your skin and is really low cost. Ideal for all skin types and also helps to firm your skin (ideal for aged skin.) You can pick this up for £4.95 off http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/makeup/rimmel-renew-and-lift-foundation/

Dream Matte Mousse

This foundation, i think is perfect for teenagers just testing out their first foundations. Its light really easy to apply and isnt to think. It comes asa mousse so isnt really runny and wont go everywhere. This retails at around £7. http://www.maybelline.co.uk/PRODUCTS/Face/FOUNDATION/Dream_Matte_Mousse.aspx

Handy Little Pot.

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Exreme Radiant Lifting Makeup

This is an amazing anti-ageing foundation with ingredients within that help fight against ageing. It has a flawless finish and makes your skin look bright and vibrant. It is a little costly at around £30 but is well worth it.

I hope you've found this post quite useful, I will do another post again with more types of foundations. Just before I go ill just let you know of a few tips.

1, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use a foundation brush. I cannot stress this to you enough, its so much better than using your hands. Using your hands can make your foundation patchy and not blend properly.

2, Dont apply to greasy skin as the foundation can slip off, make sure your skin is dry.

3, Use a moisturiser first.

4, Camouflage your blemishes and dark circles with a good concealer. (Post to come)

5, Dot your face with foundation in order not to use too much.

6, Put a loose or pressed powder over the top, this will make your bronzer or blusher not patchy.

7, If you think you don't need to use a foundation try a tinted moisturiser.

I hope you all enjoy tonight's post ill be back soon I'm sure!!

Much Love

Lorna xoxox

The past week...

Hello blogging friends! 


Just a quick one tonight before I do a proper blog tomorrow!
Firstly I must tell you all about my fabulous friend Geraint's showcase! He is in his final year at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance and performed at the Unicorn Theatre from 17th to 19th March. The play was called 'Assassins' a piece written by Stephen Sondheim and Geraint played the part of Guiteau, and in true Geraint style had a real comical side to it! 
There was also a lovely comment made about Geraint on the Stephen Sondheim Society site saying:


Saw a superb performance of Assassins last night at the Unicorn Theatre in Southwark, by graduate students of the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. Produced in 'John Doyle' style with all the main actors doubling on instruments, it was near-perfect in all respects, with strong performances all round, especially Geraint Rhys Edwards as Guiteau 'Going to the Lordy'. Just occasionally the balance between music and lyrics was a little off so that anyone hearing the words for the first time might well have missed them, but overall it was one of the best Assassins I have seen for a long time. And as a bonus, 'Something Just Broke' was included.

On this evidence the future of British Musical Theatre is in safe hands. Well done.


So i just want to say a big well done to all who performed that night and say how very proud i am of my boy :)

Any agents looking for an amazing Actor should definitely get in touch!

Another good part of my week was going to see Justin Beiber with my sister!! I know quite sad, and i was the oldest person there, but i still  enjoyed myself and most certainly caught the Beiber Fever. I did however nearly die running back to my seat in order to whip my hair to Willow Smith, aww little Jayden was there too and the Wanted!! Please dont judge!! Here we are at the Rocket on Wednesday night getting excited before the concert.

Going crazy at the Rocket!

Anyway this was just a short post tonight I'm going to write another one tomorrow about different kinds of foundations and good ways to apply it! So ill speak to you all then!

Much Love

Lorna xoxox

Emi clothing!...

Hello Everyone,


I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for new places to buy clothes and accessories that are affordable. I like to buy items that are different and I like to buy from companies that seem to really care about their customers. A new brand that I've come across that are just amazing and a complete breathe of fresh air is Emi. Emi is an ethical and fair trade brand that really prides itself on being green! A lot of their products are hand made and some are even made from recycled goods! So, being so environmentally friendly must mean the products aren't that nice right? WRONG! Their bohemian inspired jewellery is absolutely beautiful and has a real unique touch! This gorgeous vintage inspired Nikon Camera Necklace is one of my favourite jewellery pieces that Emi has...

So Pretty for only £7!

Another is this Alice in Wonderland inspired rabbit necklace...

A gorgeous accessory for just £12!

As Emi has currently been focused on their jewellery, they are branching out and have a fabulous clothing range coming out in late April/May! I have had the privilage of interviewing the clothing designer for Emi, who has also sent me some sneak previews of what we can expect. Xander Kostroma is the ideas behind the unique styles that are soon to be released and here are some of his designs!..

LBD with a twist!

One of my favourites! The hooded black dress, P Diddy style!

Stunning purple dress!

Interview

Lorna: When did you discover your passion for fashion?


Xander: I have always been interested in fashion, I know it’s something that designers always say...but it is true. I have never really followed it to the T though, I have always been slightly different and I love to put my own spin on things.
I guess I have always enjoyed dressing up and it was this love of how the different clothes made me feel that really started my interest in fashion.



L: What would you say are the key trends for this spring/summer?


X: Well, we have brought you something different for our 2011 collection. We have stuck to a monotone pallet and have used purple and red accent colours. We like to be a bit different at EMI, and yet show off our fashionista side. We look a lot to Asia for inspiration and have gone with bodycon structured pieces instead of the classic “hippy” trend that always seems to be churned out year upon year. Our 2011 collection is about empowering yourself as a woman and dressing in confidence.



L: What is your favourite item that EMI sell?


X: Alan has produced one helluva jewellery collection this year...although, as I am slightly biased, I do love The Hood Dress that is due to launch over the next few months. It’s a slate grey cowl neck that can be worn 3 ways. It’s sleeveless and comes with a detachable turtle neck with thumbholes. It can either be worn as a cowl neck, off the shoulder or with the hood up. That’s 3 looks all out of one dress!



L: On your site you mention that you use recycling to make some of your jewellery, what exactly does this mean?


X: Well, in the UK your typical high street stores (and I won’t name any names here) tend to have a lot of slow moving lines each season. These lines are usually disposed of by means of incineration or they are sent to landfill, which in my eyes is such a waste! We sourced a supplier that takes this end of line jewellery and buys it from these retailers. We then purchase the stock from them, work some of our magic on them and then launch them as *new* recycled jewellery.
We love anything green and can’t stand the thought of all of this waste in the fashion world. We are currently working with a range of new suppliers and plan to expand our recycled range later on in the future.





L: Who is your market?


X: Our target audience is around 90/10% split women to men. We design for all ages really, and design for people with a love of fashion & who are interested in ethical issues.
At a jewellery show we attended last year we had a lady in her 80’s purchase one of our Disc Necklaces...we really do design for all ages!



L: Tell us more about EMI agents?


X: This is a new platform we are currently working on where we will guide anyone interested in starting up their own jewellery business. We will provide the raw materials you will need to launch your own business. So, as an example you want to host your own jewellery party one night. For a small fee we will grant you access to our members only section of the website. We will post all available stock QTY’s we have on new ranges that we are working on in the members section. You then select the jewellery you want to sell at your party and send us an order.
We then sell the jewellery to you at wholesale cost. We will provide you with materials such as jewellery pouches, business cards, selected POS and so on. You then host your party and sell at your own discretion. EMI agents is different to becoming a stockist as we guarantee to buy back any jewellery that is unsold within a certain time period, so the risk to you is minimal. Whereas becoming a stockist you wouldn’t necessarily fork out expenses before hand as we can sell our collection at sale or return. You just take a cut of the profit of any item sold. EMI agents is more about a quick turnaround time frame and fast moving stock.



Your clothing range is out late April, what can we expect?


X: We have been posting sneak preview shots on our site & on our fan page on Facebook. Our collection is structured, bodycon, monochrome & chic. Think high waist skirts, puff ball sleeves and cowl necks. Then throw in black, white, purple & red accents et voila!

Why do you feel it is important to be an ethical fashion label?
It’s really important! We can’t continue to live in this throwaway society and not care what happens to the planet after we are gone. As a designer for the brand, I am always thinking to the future and wondering “what if...?”
We have to understand where our clothes come from. They don’t just magically appear on the rack in the shop, someone, somewhere has painstakingly made that garment and in some cases made it under horrendous working conditions. We are so fortunate to have born into a culture where we have the choice to do what we want. Some people on the planet aren’t as lucky as us, and I want to be able to provide a voice for them via fair trade and ethical clothing. At the end of the day, I am designing for a cause and not just a garment.


So as you can see Xander, along with the team at Emi, are really passionate about their products and the way its made! They really are a unique fashion line with some beautiful products so you should definitely check them out! Here's the link to their website: www.ethical-emi.com You can also follow them on facebook Facebook.com/EthicalEmi and twitter Twitter.com/Ethical_Emi! Also check out their blog: www.ethical-emi.blogspot.com!


Speak to you all soon! I'm going to see Justin Beiber tonight in the o2! oh and I also lost another phone!


Much Love


Lorna xoxox

Battle of the Tans!!...

Hello all :)

Its approaching that time of year again where bikinis and little dresses are a must! But if your anything like me and just burn in the sun or cant lay in it for more than 5 minutes, this can prove to be a bit of a problem! As I am naturally as pale as a ghost, this time of year only means one thing- FAKE TAN! A bit of a glow is an amazing way to fake a tan during the summer, however there is a huge difference between a beautiful bronze and an patchy palava! I am the first to admit that I have had some tragic times regarding tanning here is a prime example of one when I'm 18!

Look at the colour of my arm and then the girls next to me!

However you live and you learn and over the years I have picked up some really good tips (not to apply too much being one) and found some fab tans that give you a perfect glow!

Exfoiliators

Most important tip for tanning is to use a good exfoiliator first in order to get all the dead skin cells off and any excess tan! I always apply this on to damp skin as skin that is too wet doesn't get the grip it needs! If times are hard you can also make you own exfoiliator with sugar/salt and a body wash! It does the trick! The exfoiliators i use are the Soap and Glory variety's. The three i use are:

Flake Away is perfect for a vigorous exfoiliator and is ideal to be used all over the body.

The Breakfast scrub is perfect for a morning exfoiliator and smells just like porridge!

Scrub actually is perfect for scaley legs!

Soap and Glory products are one of my favourite cosmetic company's and have some amazing beauty items! Ill dedicate a whole post on them in a few weeks so stay tuned! You can buy these product from any Boots store or off  http://www.soapandglory.com/

Tanning

I have tried every tan under the sun so couldn't even begin to write them all down! But here are some I've tried and tested and aren't too expensive.

I like to have a healthy glow all the time so for an all year tan and a nourishing moisturiser I use Dove holiday skin! Out of all the holiday skins this is my favourite as it doesn't leave any streaks, it also makes your skin feel lovely and smooth. http://www.boots.com/en/Dove-Summer-Glow

Another good holiday skin is the Asda tan which is sooo cheap but is only OK for a few days and then it goes really patchy.

The next tans are those I wear when going for a night out and want to look a bit darker! First is St Tropez mousse! I love this tan as it never leaves streaks and fades gradually without leaving patches! I know a lot of people love St Moriz but I just don't find it as brilliant as this. However it does take me a while to get the darkness I want so I start to apply about 4 days in advanced. http://www.feelunique.com/p/St-Tropez-Self-Tan-Bronzing-Mousse-240ml?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=gen&ctype=2&gclid=CMCP6NmswqcCFQEY4Qod5mRP_A

It is a little more expensive and retails around £25!

The other tan I use when im a bit skint is Superdrugs tanning mousse! This is perfect and gives me a brilliant tan however can go a little patchy as it begins to fade! http://www.superdrug.com/body/solait-self-tan-foam-dark/invt/201842/

A pet hate of mine is being asked to go out on the day and being pale! So whenever this happens to me I use Rimmel instant tan which is perfect as it washes off and isn't streaky! I always get the matte instead of the shimmer as I find the shimmer too sparkly!

Life Saviour!

Top Ten Tanning Tips!

1, Use exfoiliating gloves!

2, Don't over apply! (You don't want to look like an umpa lumpa!)

3, Try to have a friend handy to do your back ;)

4, Persevere - if you don't have a friend to do your back, wrap a mitt around a back brush!

5, Always moisturise to maintain your tan!

6, Apply with a tanning mitt or latex gloves so you don't have orange hands!

7, Preparation is key! DON'T APPLY ON TOP OF PATCHY TAN!

8, Moisturise knees and elbows and any other dry areas before applying tan!

9, Rub Vaseline onto eyebrows and hairline!

10, Wear loose, dark clothing after tanning for obvious reasons!

I hope you have all found tonight's post helpful! If you have any tips please let me in on them! Have a good week! I'm off to Trafalgar Square on Sunday for St Patrick's Day parade if anybody fancies it?

Much Love

Lorna xoxox

Happy Saint Davids Day and such stuff!...

Hiyaaaaa my beautiful friends! 


I hope your all well and had a wonderful St Davids Day! I went all out and made Welsh Cakes and Welsh Cawl mmm :) I'm so proud to be Welsh its quite pathetic and all my house mates hate as their English and Irish hehe!! It took me 4 hours in total to cook everything, but it was soooo good! I ate enough to feed Wales but I couldn't get enough! Here's the end results:

Welsh Cawl!

Welsh Brekkie!

These are my Welsh cakes!

Last night I went to a pyjama party at my student union and had the most fun! We had a few drinks at mine before we left and then walked to the tube in the freezing cold in our jammys looking like the people who get banned from Tesco! Classic! I took my duck along for the ride, she hasn't been out before and enjoyed herself! haha!

(By the way i found out there is going to be a Hangover 2!! Omg major news) Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xXBjtAGIzE

I've started to use a new eye cream over the past couple of days, but I only apply it in the night, so I still use GinZing in the day. Its an Estee Lauder eye cream and retails at £35, which is quite expensive but is worth for people who want to prevent ageing and dark circles around the eyes. 

Heres the link: http://www.esteelauder.co.uk/templates/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT21200&PRODUCT_ID=PROD99167 

Its called Advanced Night Repair and also comes in a facial moisturiser which I'm yet to try. The reason i love this eye cream is because it actually targets environmental damage which is what cause all problems in the first place! As skin is thinner around the eyes it easily damaged so this helps to repair it! I really recommend this product to everyone as it helps with everything and makes your eyes feel so hydrated! Although the bottle is small it lasts for ages as you only have to use 3 little dots on each eye. It comes with an applicator so its easy to judge the amount your putting on.

Heaven in a pot!

Anyway that's it for tonight people! I'm so tired! i'm off home again this weekend for my twin cousins first birthday! Awwww! Here's a picture of them with their big sis Lily-May xxxxx

Tyler, Lily-May and Darcy x

Goodnight everyone ill speak to you all soon!

Much love

Lorna xoxox