How To Keep Your Skin In Tip-Top Shape This Winter

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Frostie

Winter can really leave your skin looking awful. It is not just the weather outside, central heating indoors can also take a toll. The differences in temperature and humidity can dry skin out and leave it looking red. Cell turnover can also slow down resulting in dry, flaky skin. So what to do? The best thing to do is winter-proof your skin from the inside out. Here are our tips.

Stock up on omega fatty acids and plenty of water. Omega 3 supplements are great for those on the go.

Instead of using a light lotion use a heavy, thick moisturiser. If it feels too heavy on your skin then pat your face with a muslim cloth after you have applied.

Another top tip is to add a little face oil to your moisturiser. A good face oil can be expensive but you only have to use a few drops and it can make a huge difference to your skin.

A good under-eye concealer is an essential. Dark circles do no one any favours and you can also cheat your way to a healthy glow with blusher and bronzer.

A hydrating face mask makes all of the difference to winter skin.

A mild cleanser will stop harsh chemicals stripping your skin and making it more sensitive.

Go easy on the exfoliating. Skin is more sensitive in winter and over-exfoliating will lead to irritation.

Wear a good SPF. UVA rays are strong all-year round and they really age the skin.

A bowl of water near or on every radiator helps put moisture back in the air. Add some lavender oil for extra benefits and a lovely smell.

Use a good conditioner for your hair. Even fine hair can benefit from a good leave-in conditioner.

Follow makeup artist Bobbi Brown‘s tip to neutralise redness: ‘pick a tinted moisturiser or foundation with a slight yellow tone, which neutralises redness. Finish with a light dusting of bronzing powder- the brown tones will counteract any remaining redness.’

Skip perfume as the alcohol content can strip moisture further and also irritate skin.

Be careful about what you put on your skin. Harsh products full of chemicals will just dry it out more and increase sensitivity. Something that happens more in winter.

Don’t forget your hands, slather on a good hand cream and make sure it has an SPF. Just because it is winter doesn’t mean the sun isn’t out. Lips also dry out terribly in winter. So make sure you are carrying a good lip balm.

What are your winter skin tips?

Fiona Cairns’ Christmas Baking Tips

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Frostie

Forward Planning – Lists
I am a great believer in making lists, and part of Christmas for me is planning my baking, writing lists and enjoyable hours in the kitchen. You can’t start early enough and this way you really cut the stress in half. Choose a few of your seasonal favourite recipes, maybe factor in a couple of new ideas which have caught your eye. Think about how much time you have, don’t be over ambitious and remember to know your skill limitations.

Store Cupboard
Read through the recipes and check your store cupboard. Stock up on the longer life ingredients you might require such as dried fruits, nuts, sugar, flour and spices.

Freezer
The deep freeze does come into its own for Christmas. Unbaked goods especially can be stored and baked off freshly as required – little and often.
Clear space and ensure you have plenty of freezer containers with lids, labels, foil, freezer bags etc.

Baking Ingredients – Prepare
The temperature of your ingredients when baking is so important. Remove butter at least a few hours, or even the night before from the fridge. Stand uncracked eggs in a bowl of warm water for 15 minutes or so if chilled.

Fresh Bakes – Anytime
I always make a big batch of gingerbread men and festive shaped shortbreads (stars, hearts and Christmas trees are my favourites). I roll the dough, cut the shapes out and layer with silicone paper and store in large containers in the freezer. Defrost and bake a batch when required, your family and guests will be so impressed. The house will have a delicious aroma too. Some cakes e.g. chocolate cake freezes especially well, although freeze buttercream separately. Chocolate ganache is best freshly made.

Enjoy
Why not arrange a “Christmas bake in day” or an afternoon with a few friends or family members. I do this every year with a few girlfriends it gets us into the festive spirit and its great fun.

Bake Ahead
The Christmas cake, pudding and mincemeat can be made as early as October and the earlier they are made the better they will taste.

Edible gifts
Delight family and friends with beautifully packaged little boxes of gingerbreads, seasonal biscuits, a Christmas cake, batch of cupcakes, or a jar of mincemeat. Start collecting and recycle ribbons little boxes, bags etc. I do this all year so by Christmas I have a wonderful assortment.

Christmas cake
A traditional rich fruit Christmas cake is not for everyone, children often don’t like it. Bake a delicious chocolate cake, cupcakes or roulade too, or light airy meringues, or even a tropical fruit pavlova as alternatives.

Cheat
If you really don’t have time (or the inclination for that matter) why not buy a cake. It could be iced or un-iced, add a little booze, perhaps a fabulous ribbon, a few candles, a bundle of cinnamon sticks, candy canes or deep red and white roses for decoration.
Do remember a simple design is often the most effective.

Fiona Cairns has a delicious selection of cakes available from Waitrose.com. You can find out more about her at www.fionacairns.com

Christmas Beauty Looks

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Frostie

Christmas Beauty Looks 2015

Christmas Beauty, don’t you love it? When else do you get to be so glam and over-the-top? As long as no-one mistakes you for a Christmas tree, it is all good. However, Christmas can feel like a marathon of endless parties and family get-togethers. Your hair and make up has to look good and last so here are our top tips and ideas from Frost.

Christmas is tiring so work on your skin first. A good base is all you need to stay looking fresh. A primer will help your make up last all day and make sure your skin is looking it’s best. Before you apply your primer use a good cleanser and then exfoliate as it gets rid of dead skin cells and leaves skin smooth and fresh. Using a weekly face mask before a big event will also make sure your skin is in it’s best condition. Making sure you drink enough water and cutting down on caffeine will keep skin looking healthy. Keep a concealer handy to freshen up underneath eyes and cover up any other flaws. Powder is very underrated but not much else sets make up like it. It will stop you looking shiny and keep make up in place.

Now for some Christmas touches.

A glittery nail polish. Not only glam but also very hard-wearing. Should last a week at least.

A beautiful red lipstick or red nail polish. Endlessly glamorous with the added benefit of being a very Christmas colour.

A shimmering eyeshadow. Something that catches the light gives an extra pop of glamour.

For your hair, do an up-do like a fish tail plait or a loose bun. Add a glitzy clip or a hairband and you are good to go!

Christmas Beauty Gift List

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Frostie

Christmas is here and decorations are up, it is a time for joy and happiness. To spread a little joy of your own we have put together a Christmas Beauty Gift List. If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet then buy one of these beauties for your nearest and dearest.

Chanel No 5

This is a classic perfume which tends to be a huge hit whether as a present for someone else or yourself. Add it to your list or buy it for someone who has been very good indeed.

Available hereand from boots.com and debenhams.com

Nails Inc Nail Set

This Winter Wonderland Collection is gorgeous. A limited edition trio of full size, special effect polishes from Nails Inc. Very Christmassy and cool. Includes: Trafalgar Square – full coverage red glitter polish, St George’s Square – white and silver shimmer polish and Buckingham Square – rose gold glitter polish

Available hereand from Selfridges.com, johnlewis.com and debenhams.com

Benefit Cutie Cravings Christmas Gift Set

Benefit make amazing makeup, and this gift set is stunning. Full of classics.

Available from Selfridges.com, johnlewis.com and debenhams.com

Elizabeth Arden Lipstick Color Christmas Gift Set

Ultra-conditioning and hydrating, this glamorous lipstick set is gorgeous with a good selection of colours.

Available from Selfridges.com, johnlewis.com and debenhams.com

Clarisonic

Loved by beauty editors the world over, a good high-end present for one of the amazing women in your life. This limited edition Clarisonic Aria is cute but you can also get the normal one.

Available from harrods.com, johnlewis.com and debenhams.com

Morphosis – A New Album From Boris Carloff

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Frostie

In new music news, award-winning producer, musician and a highly respected artist Boris Carloff releases his second solo album ‘Morphosis’ on February 16th 2015, exactly two years after the release date of his debut ‘The Escapist’ a record which won three music awards and featured Doug Yowell (drummer for Lana Del Ray and Suzanne Vega) and singer Ghetto Priest (Asian Dub Foundation, Massive Attack). Check out some of his music in the video below.

Nine track record ‘Morphosis’ is a sophisticated blend of electronic and indie sounds with smooth vocals. Carloff recorded the album in the Icelandic studio of producer Bardi Johansson who gives the music its Icelandic signature sound.

Boris explains his choice of producer saying “I wanted to find out what the sound of my album would be if I were not the producer of it. Originally I was thinking of a British producer but then I said to myself that I was actually into a different sound than those currently coming from the UK. I researched many North European bands and ended up in Iceland”.

Bardi Johansson is mostly known for his work with Bang Gang, Olafur Arnalds and new project Starwalker that saw Bardi working with Jean-Benoît Dunckel from the French electro pop duo AIR.

About Boris Carloff:

Winner of 2 Czech Music Awards Andel 2012 for the Best Video and The Best Electronic Album from 5 nominations ( The Best Singer,The Best Album, The Best Newcomer, The Best Video and The Best Electronic Album) in the Czech Music Awards.

Winner of the Czech Critics Award Apollo 2012 for the Best Album of 2012.

Boris Carloff is a producer, composer, engineer and musician whose musical style is hard to pinpoint, it takes in the flavours of classic music, indie rock, pop and electronic music. Boris, who has played as a musician in Norway, UK, Germany and Italy, comes from the Czech Republic and has a classical violin education.

Combine all this with a childhood musical diet of the Jazz classics and it’s easy to recognize his musical inspiration and discipline. His debut was on London based label Tracktion with a project called Palm Beat. Then he signed to Red Salamanda records as an artist and released the ‘Good Stuff EP ‘. The EP was received well from all corners of the world’s tastemakers, most notably were the airings on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide BBC show of the track ‘First Joy‘. Boris has also released in Japan with label NURO, whilst locally in his native Czech Republic he was also nominated for a Czech Grammy in 2006.

Christmas, The Most Wasteful Time Of The Year?

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Frostie

Christmas is a time of joy but also a time of giving. Unfortunately, it is also a time of waste and this Christmas is set to be a wasteful one, as new research today reveals Brits will throw out 4.2 million Christmas dinners across the country, amounting to the equivalent of 17.2m Brussels sprouts, 263,000 turkeys and 740,000 Christmas puddings.

The poll of 2,000 adults by Unilever shows that while we spend hundreds of pounds catering for the big day – on average £112 is spent per host on food alone – nearly 10% of every dinner plate is thrown away once the Christmas festivities subside, equalling a whopping £64m of squandered food.

Typically, there are six of us around the Christmas dinner table and we’re expected to eat £18.60 worth of food each. It would take the average family nearly 4 days to eat all of their food bought just for Christmas Day.

As part of Project Sunlight #ClearAPlate campaign, aimed at showing that ‘food poverty’ and ‘food waste’ are issues closer to home than many of us think, the research exposes the excesses of the festive season, with 75% of people admitting to overspending on their Christmas Day shop, and having too much leftover food. We all know that Christmas is a time for giving and, through the campaign this year, Project Sunlight are asking people to give just a moment to plan their festive food and think about what goes into the trolley. We’re also asking that if you do buy too much, don’t forget to drop some tins into your local food bank to help those that need it.

20% of Brits admit to buying traditional Christmas food they don’t necessarily like to eat, resulting in the nation discarding literally millions of roast vegetables. The amount of neglected Brussels sprouts alone would fill 1,000 wheelie bins, and all the leftover carrots could reach from London to Munich, end-to-end. Astonishingly, Brits could even fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool with all of the wasted Christmas gravy!

Top 10 most thrown-away Christmas foods:

We throw away:

17.2m Brussels sprouts
11.9m carrots
11.3m roast potatoes
10.9m parsnips
9.8m cups of gravy
7.9m slices of turkey (approx. 263,000 turkeys)
7.9m cups of stuffing
7.5m mince pies
7.4m slices of Christmas pudding (approx. 740,000 Christmas puddings)
7.1m pigs in blankets

When it comes to the festive season it seems our eyes are bigger than our bellies, with one third of respondents admitting to serving themselves an excessive Christmas dinner that they can’t finish. Additionally, 36% of adults cite ‘getting caught up in the Christmas spirit’ as their excuse for buying too much food for the day.

Under 35s are the worst culprits for food wastage at Christmas, as they lash out spending more than the national average (15% spending up to £200), but confess to discarding 13% of their Christmas food shop.

Top 5 Christmas Leftover Recipes:

Best Ever Turkey Sandwich
Spiced Persian Turkey Soup
Marzipan Panettone Pudding
Bubble & Squeak
Turkey Meatloaf

The #ClearAPlate campaign pledges to provide an additional half a million meals to families in need through its partnership with Oxfam and calls on people to do their bit to address food waste, in order to help fight hunger.

People can show their support for the #ClearAPlate campaign through three simple steps:

CLEAR their plate of food and take a photograph
UPLOAD the image on their social media using #ClearAPlate to raise awareness of the issue
VISIT www.ProjectSunlight.co.uk to find out other ways to support the campaign, including donating meals or time to Oxfam. People can also find tips and advice on reducing food waste and clever recipe ideas

Top Christmas Picks | Christmas Gift Ideas

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Frostie

Robert Elms The Way We Wore

A cult classic, available to buy again. Hooray!

It’s back. For a few years now Robert Elms has had a stream of people asking where they can get a copy of The Way We Wore, the street style memoir he wrote back in 2004, and rather frustratingly he’s had to tell them all it is not available. Well, you could spend increasingly large sums on a second hand copy online – evidence of the fact that it has acquired something close to cult status – but it was impossible to get your fashion fix through the normal retail channels. Thankfully, you can now.

Robert Elms has teamed up with Autharium to republish The Way We Wore as an eBook and print copies are now available for a much more realistic price.

Robert Elms comments: “As part of this process I have re-read the book and I am still very proud of it, and it brings back amazing memories of terrible haircuts, great music, good friends and bad hangovers. So if you want to read about solatio box top loafers and pink pegs, bondage trousers and bowling shirts, ties in pins, hankies in pockets and shenanigans in Soho you can.”

This is the story of a life’s obsession. From Ben Sherman shirts to box-top loafers, from bondage trousers to Comme des Garçons, Elms has been there, seen it, and worn it out. It’s about why you’d rather not go out at all than go out in the wrong sort of brogues, and why you just had to have a Budgie jacket to cut it in the playground in 1970. It is ultimately a hilarious, passionate social history of London street fashion from the Teddy Boys and rude boys battling it out in his homeland of Notting Hill in the fifties to its end in acid house in the nineties. A fond memoir of working-class lads in tumultuous times and laity schmutter.

The Way We Wore: A Life In Threads

Baileys Mini Delights

We loved these. They are just incredibly tasty. Available in milk, white and dark chocolate choices, these tasty truffles have distinctive twists of coffee, caramel and hazelnut and that rich, creamy Baileysflavour. So yummy.

The Baileys Mini Delights are available for just £2.49 RRP (102g). Baileys boxed chocolates are available at waitrose.com They will be available from £5.00 RRP.

Tanqueray Export Strength London Dry Gin

This is amazing, superior gin. Export strength London dry gin made from premium botanicals and distilled four times for a distinctive, crisp taste. A great present for gin lovers. Available from drinksupermarket.com

Grand Marnier Orange & Cognac Liqueur

This liquor is delicious and to top it off Grand Marnier, the luxury liqueur that is the icon of Parisian chic, is launching a modern, playful and elegant limited edition bottle in tribute to French creativity to celebrate the coming of Christmas.

This years Limited Edition bottle harks back to the Breton striped top that was introduced into France midway through the 19th century. Known as the “Marinière”, worn by sailors and popularised by Coco Chanel, it is today the symbol of Parisian chic, which is emulated all over the world today.

The couture style label looks showcases the rich history of the brand through the family crest, while the blue, white and red striped ribbon that runs around the uniquely shaped bottle reinforces Grand Marnier’s home place – in the heart of France.

The translucent quality of the brighter rouge glass bottle radiates chic sophistication and creativity, while the glossy iconic red wax seal serves as an eternal stamp of approval from its founder Louis-Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle.

It will be available in luxury retailer Harvey Nichols with an RRP of £26.05 for a 70cl bottle from mid October.

THE FRENCH ARTIST

In celebration of the new bottle, cutting edge Mixologist and GRAND MARNIER® European Brand Ambassador, Julien Lafond has created The French Artist. A cocktail that brings together flavours which best highlight the richness of GRAND MARNIER® and also echo the playful nature of French Creativity.

Ingredients

30ml GRAND MARNIER® Cordon Rouge

15ml VSOP Cognac

15ml French Dry Vermouth

20ml Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

20ml Homemade Redcurrant & Vanilla Syrup (or Grenadine Syrup)

20ml Egg White

Garnish: Redcurrants coated with icing sugar

Method

Pour all ingredients into a shaker

Dry shake (Shake without ice), to create the emulsion

Add some cubed ice and shake vigorously

Double strain into a coupette glass and add the garnish

Units per serving 2.5

Grand Marnier, is available from Ocado.com and DrinkSupermarket.com

The Leash Safe+ Phonestrap

Perfect for people who are prone to lose their phone. The Safe+ Phonestrap – The Leash – will keep your phone safe and always at hand. Using a powerful 3M tape, the button fastens to your phone or hardcover case. The Leash comes with two buttons, allowing you to interchange the Leash between your most favourite devices. Available here: The Leash – Phonestrap

The Leash – Phonestrap

Coding For Kids

This is an excellent book for little ones. Coding is an essential skill in the work place now and this book sets kids on their way. It has 15 fun coding projects and it teaches kids how to create games and apps, customise projects and learn real coding skills. The book is both fun and easy.

Coding For Kids For Dummies

The Compleat FoodBag

We love this at Frost. This is a space efficient and stylish lunch bag. The only lunchbox that makes a fashion statement. 100 % food grade silicone and BPA safe and dishwasher safe, you can easily pack it away after use. The Compleat FoodBag is stylish, handy and easy to clean. Perfect.

Foodbag by Compleat available here, StressNoMore.co.uk and iwantoneofthose.com

Le Fear II: Le Sequel Review By Jason Croot

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Frostie

After reading BFI advice on writing a review of your own film I thought why not!

Le Fear II: Le Sequel is a 90 minute 100% improvised feature film about the making of a film. Based in London U.K it follows the journey of hapless 22 times film director Carlos Revalos [Kyri Saphirs] who is about to embark on his biggest movie yet Le Fear II: Le Sequel a film noir horror love story. Carlos’s journey starts with a meeting with the shrewd movie executive Dirk Heinz [Andrew Tiernan] who agrees to back Carlos’s film as long as Revalos puts up some of his own cash as collateral, one other condition is that Carlos intertwines his movie with Nollywood [Nigeria] the fastest growing film industry in the world. Dirks Secretary Helga [Shona McWilliams]does the paperwork and the deal is done commence the movie.

The world’s worst director Carlos Revalos meets the world’s worst film producer Efi womonbogo [Seye Adelekan] the clash of the titans or rather the clash of the tits, because these guys each are as clueless as the other about filmmaking. Efi has his entourage, Africa special effects [Roxy Sternberg], Femu [Schee Bell] the runner and Witch Dr Charles [Sean Earl McPherson] none of which really have a clue what to do. Carlos has his film crew Jacques the French cinema photographer, [Hadien Mekki], Jessie [Leila Reid], the production assistant Chafarafa the Script Supervisor [Jay Croot] Berwyn [Catherine Balavage] the stunt coordinator and Queenie [Victoria Hopkins] the Makeup artist. Hollywood meets Nollywood this is where the fun begins, and Conflict time! Everything Carlos wants, romance, film noir and horror is not delivered by Efi who has a different take on it with his motley crew. Africa the vibrant special effects girl, who apparently worked on big movies, Efi Tells Carlos “Avatar and Pride and plagiarist”. Africa brings Carlos nothing but cheap sci-fi effects which she believes is the best thing since sliced bread. That’s the problem with the Nollywood guys they believe their shit is good shit, and Carlos the man who has his own money on the line £500000, is in deep lumber. Bring on the Piece de résistance the actors within the film. We have the fiery French actress Racquel [Denise Moreno] and the green drama school first time film actor Oliver[Jack W. Carter] they cause poor Revalos’s pain to deepen not only is he combating of a motley crew from Nollywood he has disgruntled actors to please now can it get any worse? YES. The film set is not a beautiful purposed built location but a make shift set the input of Efi, “I wanted to make a film noir not a camping film” Jacques tells Carlos. The plot thickens and Carlos calls Dirk to sort out this rabble “Dirks going to have your arse” Carlos tells Efi who replies “My ass is he gay?” Dirk arrives and puts Carlos straight, the movie continues we now bring in two other actors within the movie these hired by Efi Vanessa [Vampire] Eleanor James Dr Strange [Julian Lamoral Roberts] Bmovie actor, Vanessa drives Berwyn the stunt coordinator barmy and proceeds to act more like a L’Oreal shampoo advert than scare people. We also have a student filmmaker Mickey [Warren Taylor] who is filming behind the scenes of the film within the film.

The night scenes have to be the most classic and funniest ones we have Witch doctors, Lesbian Vampires, Alien Explosions and a very angry actress “SUSHI DE MERDE Carlos you are a piece of shit little man! I’m going back to Paris right now” Carlos now one actress short of a picnic or rather of making his worst movie, and now without a location when disgruntled land owner Tom Dickinson[Ian Cullen] arrives and kicks them off “my land what are you doing in my land are you filming one of those pornographic films?” Efi replies “I swear on my father’s grave and my mother’s goat”

Le Fear II: Le Sequel will go down in history if Carlos can manage to complete it won’t be the classic he longed for but his worst yet. Bring on a new actress Racquel replacement Lucy Lou [Aiko Horiuchi] a Japanese actress brought in by Efi she joins the madness. “Can we use it?” Carlos asks Jacques about the new location, “Yes but I don’t want my name on that movie” Jacques replies “At this stage fuck your name” Carlos tells him the film gets more crazier and continues to deliver humour right until the end.

Summary Comedy is complex some people laugh at Dad’s Army, Fawlty Towers and Porridge all classic British Comedies others won’t get the humour of those classics! some will love Flight of the conchords and Curb your enthusiasm and others won’t, you can’t make everyone laugh no matter how good the comedy is, Le Fear II: Le Sequel has already made a few people smile and laugh and we hope to continue to do so, I’m not going to say we created the best film within film the world but we have made a film that me and the producers are very proud of we are proud of the cast and how hard they worked to create the humour the crew and how hard they worked to get the camera lighting and sound to be as good as it is the editor who has done a great job and the musicians who have supplied us with a great soundtrack.

I will leave you with some other funny lines from the film Le Fear II: Le Sequel

Cast Lines

Carlos Revalos [Kyri Saphiris]

“They Buy a bloody blow up doll, stick some sparklers up its arse, and call it special effects of a high budget production”

Dirk Heinz [Andrew Tiernan]

“You’ve got a fucking film to make, so pull it out of the bag”

Lucy Lou [Aiko Horiuchi]

“My English is very little”

Jacques [Hadrien Mekki]

“You’re just crazy fucking English people who want to drink tea; I just want to make a good film”

Racquel [Denise Moreno]

“If we die what happens? Because I don’t feel I’m going to come out this film alive”

Africa [Roxy Sternberg]

“It’s beyond Hollywood, Nollywood, Woody Allen my gosh we have it”

Dr Strange [Julian Lamoral Roberts]

“If Crossed I get cross if cross I need Blood”

Jessie [Leila Reid]

“Can you teach Carlos to keep the fire inside of him”

Vanessa [Eleanor James]

“I’m a professional actress I have been in god knows how many movies”

Queenie [Victoria Hopkins]

“Do you like it wet? I bet you do I bet you like it real moist Don’t you?”

Berwyn [Catherine Balavage]

“Oh I’m swishing my hair like I’m in a 1970’s fucking porn film”

Witch Dr. Charles [Sean McPherson]

“Ring Nigerian now £5, no problem”

Twitter https://twitter.com/Lefear2lesequel @lefear2lesequel

Facebook Like Page https://www.facebook.com/Lesequel

Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/163431550389968/
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1982759/

[Editorial note: Frost Magazine founder and owner Catherine Balavage played Berwyn in Le Fear, Le Sequel]

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Author Archives: Frostie