Shorty: The Silly USB Stick

Net a Porter Marc Jacobs Shorty USB Keyring 068 mini

Just a short post this evening, showing something silly I have been after since before Christmas that showed up in the net-a-porter sale here.

It’s really the most ridiculous USB stick ever – 2GB for £25 when you can get non-designer one’s which have 100 x the storage. My dad refused to buy it for me as my Christmas present on grounds of practicality; he’s now immune to my silly ways.

So, a stupid purchase. But that’s kind of the point. I just love that little boston terriers black and white mug, and now it is pride of place on my key ring.

Any one else picked up anything anywhere near as stupid in the sales? Please share and make me feel better, thanks.

My Skin-Care Regime (Spots, be gone)

I went through most of my tweens, teens & early twenties feeling incredibly blessed by my good genes and my smooth and spot-free appearance (me, smug? why never); then I hit twenty-seven and suddenly all pimply hell broke loose. It seems that when you do things that are good for you, like give up smoking, alcoholic binges and terrible boyfriends, spots rear their ugly heads just to remind you that nothing is ever perfect. So I’ve had to get a new skin-care regime (warning, work in progress).

Clinique Liz Earle Kiehls Skin Care Regime Spots 069 mini

This is my new regime in all it’s glory. And when I say regime, I mean whenever I can be arsed – approximately 3 times a week. Oh God, please don’t tell the real beauty bloggers of this world.

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions 3 Pack 070 mini

You can see that this is really just the result of a spendy trip to Boots where I fell foul of the Clinique girl’s wiley ways and returned a la maison with £50 worth of potions that I knew probably wouldn’t work. But, I’ve got to hand it to her and her slidey chart (which worked out within 10 questions that for my spotty skin I needed the anti-blemish variation of their hugely popular range). Since I’ve been using the cleanser, toner and moisturiser my skin has been in it’s best condition for years: supple, smooth and (almost) spot-free.

Clinique Take The Day Off 071 mini

I also bought this, which is actually now the favourite part of my skin-care. Having always been a wipe devotee, but aware that dragging on my eyes with a piece of almost-damp cloth was probably not doing my crows-feet any favours, I enquired about make up remover. I came away with this greasy oil type thing which you just slap on (including onto mascara) and then wash it off – hey presto, no rubbing, everything dissolves. AMAZE. And I reckon it’s going to last ages!

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Clay Mask 072 mini

Finally, some Liz Earle goodies. This clay mask may actually turn me into a real-life elephant, but you can definitely feel it working on your pores and I love doing a bath and feeling all Bridget Jones before removing it with the natural sponges it comes with.

This wrinkle serum, well, I suppose I am being a little premature and to be honest I barely use it, mostly because it is oily and doesn’t like being under foundation (if only I was organised enough to do these things at night!)

So that’s that. The secret to a not-so-clear complexion. Any one have any other good tips about what to use to plug up my dastardly chin-pores? What’s your favourite skin-buy at the moment?

OOTD: Puppy Interlude

It’s friday, so as a treat, I won’t subject you to a picture of what I’m wearing.

Here’s a picture of Eva Jasper took; she was but a wee thing a few weeks ago.

mini dachshund upside down

OOTD: Back to the Winter

Mac A Wear Tea Dress 057 mini

Now is the Winter of my discontent, or something. And that something is being back in opaque 60 denier tights in June! What fresh hell is this!

I forgot I owned this Mac, I think it cost me £20 from H&M about 5 years ago. Now look at me rollin’ around in it feeling smug it didn’t cost me £100! And it’s only a little bit tight..

Work Look Awear Teadress 058 mini

Floral Tea Dress // A wear via ASOS
Mac // H&M
Biker Boots // Office
Bag // Mulberry
Tights // F-off Weather

I think the most ironic thing is I’m a little bit sunburnt from a day away in the New Forest. Not a good look!

How are you all coping with this sudden, unexpected (come on, it is the UK after all!) bout of bad weather?

Palm Print & Hair Indulgence

Topshop Skirt Black Vest Warehouse Long Chain 056 mini

Palm Print Skirt // Topshop
Vest // ASOS
Biker // Zara
Gold Fan Necklace // Warehouse
Sandals // Office

Good day!

I’m going to tell you a secret – this outfit of the day post was actually taken last week when the weather wasn’t so terrible. Since then I’ve actually bought some new thick black tights; I heard rumblings that rain will be all we see until August (say it isn’t so!).

I find Topshop a bit hit and miss. I think if you’re a nubile 18 year old who’s a size ten with great legs, then it’s amazing – real fashion for real prices. For someone like me who’s a bit more mum then Miley, I definitely feel like I’m edging towards being a bit fat wolf in a slender sheep’s clothing. But does that stop me dabbling? Hell no.

This ‘Palm Print’ (it’s actually Forest Print according to their site, but Palm Print is more on trend so we’ll go with that..) midi-skirt with slits up the thigh is a bit risque, but I was drawn to the colour and the almost mini-skirt length where the slits start. So basically it’s a midi mini-skirt for people who can’t wear real mini-skirts anymore. Get it? Great.

Beauty Look Hair Bangs June 054 mini

Notice anything new about my hair?

Nope, it’s not been cut. It doesn’t even look that different (it never does, I’ve been blessed/cursed with poker straight thick hair forever). But it does smell and feel amazing!

Neal & Wolf were kind enough to send me some very lovely conditioner, intensive conditioner (hell yes, love this) and blow-dry balm to treat my fly-away locks. My general haircare routine is very poor – I pretty much choose whatever Shampoo is on deal at Boots (and I always run out of bloody conditioner before shampoo, ARGH – anyone else get this?). I blow-dry, and mostly straighten my hair, and it is therefore prone to getting dry ends.

Neal And Wolf Hair Indulgence 068 mini

Neal and Wolf Silk // Smoothing Blow-Dry -Balm
Ritual // Daily Conditioner
Harmony // Intensive Care Treatment

The branding looks very classy, but the first thing that really hits you is the smell. I know smell is personal, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t love the rich aroma emanating from these nicely designed purple & cream bottles! And this definitely translated to my hair – I had great smelling hair for 2 days after using the Intensive Care Treatment.

But how does it work? The conditioner and intensive care treatment both worked Well, in a word. I wasn’t totally blown away – but then as I said my hair is pretty much as-is, all the time. I can however laud the smoothing blow-dry balm. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve used something before blow-drying which is supposed to prevent frizz, but just leaves my hair feeling sticky and like I need a wash. This was the opposite – it left my barnet silky and smooth like I’d been to the hairdressers – major thumbs up from me!

You can get all 3 as part of a ‘Smooth Trio’ gift pack from the site.

What are your favourite daily hair care tips? Do you just do Shampoo & Condition or do you go a bit more intensive?