Manuka Doctor ApiClear Blemish Cream Review

Mille Mackintosh

Everyone has the occasional break out no matter how good their skin is. I am no exception. The last spot cream I used seemed to take the occasional spot I got and multiply it so my usually clear skin had a bit of a freak out. Enter Manuka Doctor ApiClear Blemish Cream. I had high hopes for this as I have previously reviewed their face mask. It also has Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh as a fan.

Millie Says, I won’t be going to anywhere this year without Manuka Doctor’s ApiClear Blemish Cream. Breakouts often occur during festivals and holidays and so having this to instantly soothe my skin is a lifesaver! It is so easy to use – I just pop it in my bag and know that my skin will stay blemish free.

The cream has UMF 18+ Manuka Honey, witch hazel, vitamin E and Propolis. It is calm and cooling and non greasy. It doesn’t have any nasty parabens or SLS.

I use it on the occasional pimple and it does speed up the healing process. My skin looks a lot better. Considering how inexpensive it is (£5.99 from Holland & Barrett) I will be buying this when it runs out. A great little cream that helps clear up spots quickly.

Top marks.

Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick Review

Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick in Cosmopolitan.

IMG_3470I must confess that the colour of this lipstick was a bit challenging. I see women wearing bright lipstick all the time and feel a tug of envy. It just looks so fabulous on them. I usually wear nude lipstick. My problem with bright lipstick is that I have a big mouth – no jokes please. At school I was made fun of because of my big lips. Of course now I see them as a plus. I get compliments on them a lot. But I always thought that wearing bright lipstick made them look too big and was just too much of a hassle. Which just goes to show how much I don’t know.

The lipstick looks amazing on. Although my boyfriend has reservations, ‘Jeez, that’s bright. It really doesn’t suit you.” he says. Thanks for that! I persevere anyway.

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I like how the lipstick brightens up my face. I like the colour, it is beautiful. The lipstick is good quality, as you would expect from Calvin Klein. It stays on my face all day and it does not dry my lips out. I get a lot of compliments and even my boyfriend comes around to it.

So am I converted? Completely. I will be brightening up my make up look, and as for the Calvin Klein lipstick, it is a piece of luxury at a completely reasonable price, and an excellent lipstick to boot.

Available from Fragrance Direct and Debenhams.

 

 

 

 

May I Kill U? Film Review

kevin bishop may i kill uI had no idea what to expect from May I Kill U? I thought it was a horror but googled it to learn that it was also a comedy and had noted British comedian Kevin Bishop in it. In fact this black comedy is sharp, dark and incredibly funny.

The film is also a modern take on society. It has a young police officer (Kevin Bishop) who becomes a social media literate vigilante serial killer. Quite a mouthful. He announces his kills on Twitter and asks his ‘fans’ advice on killing methods and who he should kill. It is a witty and smart take on modern society and crime.

The killer is very polite. Asking his victims if he can kill them and only doing so if they give him their permission. He announces certain areas crime free zones and warns there is a death penalty if this is broken. He bumps off drug dealers, people traffickers, wife abusers and thieves.

Director Stuart Urban previously directed a brilliant feature-length documentary, I Am Not Dead, about his father, a Polish Jewish doctor, who escaped the Nazis and the Soviet Union.

Frances Barber is excellent as the bitter mother who Bishop still lives with and Hayley-Marie Axe puts in a great performance as Bishop’s partner in the police force. The script is very well written, making the film a funny and modern comedy. Go see.

Runtime: 90 mins
Directors: Stuart Urban
Cast: Ali Craig, Frances Barber, Hayley-Marie Axe, Jack Doolan, Kasia Koleczek, Kevin Bishop, Rosemary Leach

Superdry + Timothy Everest Womens Sebiro Collection AW13

Superdry founder James Holder and contemporary British tailor Timothy Everest have designed an exclusive new women’s collection. It is a tailored collection with a very classic British feel. This follows on from their men’s collection. I went along to the launch and grabbed a cocktail. The show was part fashion show and part theatre. Lots of fun and I liked the clothes.

The women’s collection has a shooting and fishing crowd feel with a mix of rock’n’roll rebel. The material and cut is superb and the clothes can take you everywhere from work to an evening out. Take a look and let us know what you think.

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From £75 to £250, available at Superdry International.

Errol Douglas Tells Frost Magazine How To Get Great Hair. Exclusive Interview

erroldouglasErrol Douglas MBE, one of the most influential hairdressers in the world, has been announced as the incoming President of The Fellowship For British Hairdressing. Douglas, who has 3 decades in the hair industry and a roster of high profile clients, will take the helm at an official handover ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel on April 22nd 2013. Receiving an MBE for services to Hairdressing in 2008, Douglas has a recognised track record in championing the hair industry and nurturing young talent. He was also named Hair Hero 2013 at the Hair Magazine Awards.

After receiving the award, Douglas said “This means the world to me, I’ve received many awards over the years, and to be recognised in this way at such an important event really is incredible. I love my industry, its creativity, talent and integrity. I’m so very lucky to have a stunning team who’ve worked alongside me for many years, and it never feels like work, because I knew as a boy that this brilliant industry was for me”

We were very excited to interview him and learn how to get great hair with lots of volume.

 

How do Frost Magazine readers achieve their best ever hair day? 

 

By investing long term in hair health.  That means weekly conditioning treatments (Moroccan oil Hydrating Mask is great because it’s easy to use at home in between salon visits and only a small amount is required), regular salon visits as the finish really is in the quality of the cut and using a small amount of a styling product suited to your hair type to prep it before you style.

 

 

What are the main causes of flat hair?  

 

Without a doubt it’s product overload, it’s the worst offender, weighing hair down and dulling it. Less really is more in terms of product.   A close second is not building the right foundation before blow drying or styling. Volume needs to be built into the roots by using a firm tension and barrel brush to blow dry, consider it the scaffolding for a polished finish. A small amount of Moroccan oil Treatment on wet hair will infuse moisture into the hair and  help eliminate frizz in the final style. It’s been a game changer for the quality of finish in styling for my clients.

 

What products are best for big hair?  

 

A “working” hairspray that allows hold to be built in as the hair is styled without that “crispy” stiff result.  I like to use Moroccan oil  Luminous  Hairspray on wet hair to blow dry it into roots.  Using rollers at the crown builds in movement, which allows the hair to look thick and healthy. Plumped cuticles are the scaffolding of volume based styling. Wash the hair in cool water so as not to stimulate the scalp’s sebaceous glands and create unwanted grease. Using Morrocanoil Extra Volume Shampoo and conditioner will begin the root plumping process and create the right canvas.

 

What is the best way to achieve volume?

 

One way that volume is achieved  is by texture brushing. Apply direct heat from the nozzle of the hairdryer directly onto the roots and pull firmly as you dry with the Morrocan oil barrel brush. What I love about this brush is that it maintains a consistent temperature and reduces drying time. The bristles produce negative ions causing water to evaporate more quickly. To really build the lift into the whole head, section off the hair with silver pins and work the texture brushing as you dry equally on all parts. Once dry with big roots and volume, a little gentle backcombing with the barrel brush at the crown is how to achieve that dramatic lift specifically as on the catwalk.

 

How do you get big hair when you have fine hair?

 

The best trick is to lightly backcomb the roots or lightly emboss the roots ( this means using a heated crimping tool just at the roots)

 

How do you get your hair to stay full of volume all day?   

 

Use hairspray “up and under” not “around and on top” – the hold needs to be built from the bottom up to maintain the lift, spraying directly onto the crown in a halo is a flattener by the middle of the day.  To refresh, tip the head upside down and brush the hair gently forward.

Thank you Errol.

Learn more about Errol here: www.erroldouglas.com

Rimmel Lash Maxxx Mascara | Beauty Review

Catherine BalavageEvery woman knows that all mascara is not created equal. Those in the beauty know will also be aware that the shape of the brush is just as important, if not more important, than the actual mascara.

Catherine Balavage

Rimmel’s Lash Maxxx mascara (in Black Noir 001) has a few things going for it. One: it’s waterproof. Actually waterproof. In my opinion this is the best thing a mascara can be. Two, it has a great brush that can make your lashes really pop. The brush is just a row of bristles. They have the ability to make your lashes really big for a night out, or to make them more subtle but still great for day use. Another thing the brush has going for it is the lack of clumps it creates. it is like an eyelash brush but better.

The packaging says it has a 3X multiplying lash effect. After testing the mascara I would say this is completely true. If not an understatement. Another thing the packaging says is that the micro fine bristles capture and maximize every lash. I agree with this. The brush does justice to lashes and doesn’t look unnatural. I really like it. It get’s the Frost stamp of approval.

You can buy it for a measly £1.99 here.

The ingredients

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Calvin Klein Intense Mono Eyeshadow Artic Beauty Review

Catherine BalavageWe all know that Calvin Klein makes great clothes and ubiquitous underwear. But what about their make up? I try their eyeshadow to find out.

Calvin Klein’s Tempting Glance Intense Mono Eyeshadow in Artic is a lot lighter than my usual eyeshadow. In fact it looks more like a highlighter. A nice colour, but a highlighter.

I put it on and decide to pair it with some lilac eyeshadow on the crease on my eyelid for definition. The eyeshadow feels great. As expensive and high quality as I expect a product from Calvin Klein to be.

I really like the look and to top it of, when I bump into Krista Madden, owner of excellent blog Beauty And The Dirt and founder of Handpicked Media, at the launch of Superdry and Timothy Everest’s new clothing collaboration she compliments me on my make up. High praise indeed. In fact, I look very bright and fresh. My make up looks like spring. I feel so inspired that I have decided to experiment more with my make up.

The eyeshadow is both matte and shimmery. It blends on easily and you can also build it up. It doesn’t crease or fade. It is long wearing and lasts the day. It is also allergy tested & fragrance free. A Frost thumbs up.

Tempting Glance Intense Eyeshadow #101 Artic

What do you think of the look? Do you like light eyeshadow?

 

Kobo Aura HD Launched

I went along to the launch of Kobo’s new eReader at Millbank Tower in London tonight. Kobo launched their new eReader: The Kobo Aura HD. It is the most advanced HD eReader, has a 30% larger reading surface and it’s design was inspired by, wait for it, paper books. It has the most paper-like E Ink display. Kobo did a lot of research into just what their customers wanted and the Aura is it. It is an eReader for people who love books and reading. It is a beautiful device. Very elegant and easy to use.

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The Aura is lightweight and easy to hold. Kobo are calling it the ‘eReader, re-imagined’. It is elegant and has high resolution, 265 DPI. It has 4GB of storage and one charge equals two months of battery life. It also has 20% faster page turning.

In stores April 25. RRP £139.99. You can pre-order from later today.