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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Frost Magazine’s Diet Books Special

bellyfatdietWant to get the weight off or even just get healthy? Well Frost Magazine has the answer. A diet book special. Read on….

Living Paleo For Dummies, by Melissa Joulwan and Dr. Kellyann Petrucci.

Some people might not know what living Paleo means but basically it is the caveman diet. It is big on meat but nothing that our ancestors would not have eaten. Which means no sweets, diary, legumes, grains, gluten, sugar, potatoes, processed food and to go easy on the alcohol. While a vegetarian could do the Paleo diet, I reckon it wouldn’t be easy. Although the book does give you information on how to do so. The Paleo diet is mostly meat, fish, fowl, eggs and vegetables.

The first chapter tells you all about Paleo. It is a lifestyle, not just a diet. It tells you the science behind Paleo and why you should adopt the Paleo way. It is very interesting and they certainly do present their case. We do eat a lot of things our ancestors would never have heard of.

The book has a 30 day reset program. The authors bill this as the ultimate health plan. One that will not only help you lose weight, but will also make you healthier and stop you getting ill and aging badly. It informs you on what will be happening to your body during the reset program and how to cope. The book lets you know how to stock your kitchen. It certainly covers everything and makes living a Paleo lifestyle easy as long as you have the willpower.

The book also covers sleep, supplements and sunshine. It even tells you about your home and what toxins you should avoid.

Of course the book also has over 40 recipes and step-by-step exercises. Potential pitfalls are covered too. This is a very good informative book. Worth a read if you want to know more about the Paleo diet.

The Paleo movement is one of today’s hottest diet and healthy-eating approaches. The paleo diet is about using natural foods to achieve great health and a perfect physique. Published in January 2013, Living Paleo For Dummies gives readers a fun and practical guide for adopting paleo diet principles into their daily lives. Offering more than 40 recipes for all meals of the day, and providing tips for getting around common roadblocks such as eating out, this essential guide to adopting a primal diet also provides the latest, cutting edge research from genetics, biochemistry, and anthropology to help readers look, feel, and perform their best.

 

Acid Alkaline Diet For Dummies, by Julie Wilkinson

The whole acid/alkaline thing is something I have always been interested in. Occasionally I would get indigestion or acid reflux and I knew this meant I was not eating properly. In fact acid reflux is widely known to cause esophageal cancer so the need to get my body more alkaline was strong.

Like all of the diet books, the diet is written about in detail. What it entails, what it can do for you, the information on acids and alkaline and handy information boxes on a variety of things from the top ten reasons to pay attention to your diet to how long the digestion process takes.

Any diet can seem scary and too difficult but the acid/alkaline diet makes things easier by letting you follow an 80/20 rule. This means your food should be 80 per cent alkaline and 20 per cent acid-forming. And unlike the Paleo diet, the acid/alkaline diet tells you to limit the meat you eat, and to stay clear of red meat.

For inspiration the book also goes through the different systems in the body (digestive, muscular) and tells you what happens to each with an acid-forming diet. To be honest it really does make you think. The human body was never supposed to be acidic. The food we eat makes it so.

This book will be great for the results-driven. The author tells you how to check your PH balance and monitor your progress. You can even test the water in your area. The tests in this book are excellent. It tells you how to test your pulse, your body fat, your calorie needs: the list goes on.

It takes you through your food cupboards and tells you what to buy. Of course it also has a lot of delicious recipes and an exercise program. It has a section on overcoming PH obstacles and helps you eat well when out and about. All of the books do this but to be honest if you are going to the expense of eating out I think you should take a day off from your diet and eat whatever you want.

I loved this book. I have recommended it to my friends and family. I will do the same to you.

The acid alkaline diet is designed to restore the pH balance in our bodies. To keep healthy, the body needs balanced quantities of alkaline and acid substances, and a simple change in our diets to achieve this important acid-alkaline balance can result in a vast improvement in our overall health. Acid Alkaline Diet for Dummies will show readers how to restore the necessary pH balance and live a healthier life, covering areas including: Symptoms of a high acid diet; Foods to avoid; Foods that have a high alkaline quality;  and how to lose weight, prevent illness and increase energy. It also contains a month’s worth of grocery lists for items to have on hand and over 40 healthy recipes to help balance pH, making it easier to follow the acid alkaline diet

 

Belly Fat Diet For Dummies, by Erin Palinski-Wade

The main complaint with most of my friends is belly fat. Even if you are slim you can still get that little bit of fat that just won’t go away. So I was quite excited to review the belly fat diet book.

The book starts of with telling you about belly fat, what it is and what it can do to your health. It has tests and information to identify your body type to start you off. The great thing about this diet is that it tells you what to eat to lose the belly fat. Okay it also has a list of things you shouldn’t eat but the good list has enough delicious stuff to keep you going. Not only that but it also has the portion sizes which I find especially handy.

This book is great. It it has three different plans, which are different for men and women. The turbocharged plans are from level 1 to level 3. The step-by-step exercises are well laid out and there is also over 40 recipes. To help you along after you get started it also tells you how to overcome potential pitfalls and has a belly fat maintenance plan.

All in all an excellent book. For anyone who wants to get rid of their belly fat I would highly recommend it.

Including a proven 7-day quick-start programme, a no-gym fitness plan and a month’s worth of shopping lists and recipes, this recently published title gives readers the information they need to help them lose unwanted weight around the middle.

So which book is best? It is too hard to say as each diet would be best for different people. Each book is great and really gets to the nitty gritty of each diet. I would say you should look at your individual needs. For those with belly fat, the Belly Fat Diet would obviously benefit, if you want to go back to a more natural way of living and eat meat, the Paleo diet would suit you. If your PH balance is out of whack the Acid Alkaline diet will get you back on track. Of course you could try all of the diets and at Frost that is what we will be doing.

Are you on a diet? Let us know what diet you are doing and the results you are getting. We could write about you in a future article.

 

 

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?

 

Running a Marathon For Dummies | Book Review

runningamarathonMarathons are hugely popular now. It seems everyone I know is doing one. Although I have yet to join in, this book has made me feel inspired. Unfortunately injuries are rife as people underestimate just how hard it is. Enter Running A Marathon For Dummies. An incredibly informative book which covers everything you could possibly want to know about running a marathon.

What I found particularly interesting was chapter three: Understanding the Physiology of Marathon Running. It tells you all about your heart and what happens when you are running. How the heart pushes blood through your body and how your muscles carry you 26.2 miles. (the length of a marathon) It is completely fascinating and essential knowledge for those serious about running.

The book also has brilliant tests like the one to tell you how high your arch is. It gives you recommendations on what gear to buy. It also tells you how to stay strong and healthy. This book will hopefully make any injuries less common, in fact an entire chapter is dedicated to recognising and avoiding common injuries and also has the treatments in case the worst happens. You will also be educated about your body and what it goes through. It has a good amount of exercises with a step-by-step guide on how to do them.

It also helps you train with running drills, the tools to help you create your own training preparation and it also gives you training programmes. An excellent book for everyone from the beginner to the more experienced. Jason Karp really knows his stuff. I loved this book. An excellent guide.

Running a Marathon For Dummies by Jason Karp,

With record numbers participating in marathons worldwide, whether you are a beginner or an experienced runner, this title provides tips and techniques to help improve stamina, speed and overall health. Taking the reader all the way from sitting on the couch through to their first marathon and beyond, it also contains advice for practiced marathoners as to how to continue improving performance.

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.

Kobo Aura photo(7)

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.