I Need to Look Fabulous Giveaway

For those eagle eyed people on my Instagram, I did indeed hint at a giveaway. I do love a good giveaway, and Friday I won the Truffle Shuffle Friday competition to win some money to spend on the site. I hardly win anything before the Truffle Shuffle I think it was a lip balm in a Twitter giveaway over the Summer. I did find it ironic after the latest win that I was scheduling a giveaway for here.

This giveaway has the cutest Limited Edition Liquids Sand minis from OPI that I brought from Olympia Beauty. They are not in the shops yet (October is the launch date I have), so they are exclusive at the moment. To help with glamming up is a set of false lashes with glue and a mini version of Laurens Way Darker than Dark tanning lotion will also be sent with it.

• It is UK only (Stupid Royal Mail and their stance on sending nail varnish aboard).
• There are mandatory entries which must be completed to qualify and yes they will be checked.
• The varnishes were purchased by me but the rest have been gifted to me.
• Closing time and date is Monday 14th October 2013 at 12.00 GMT (London).
• All prizes will be sent 2nd to the winner and a proof of postage will also be collected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck Everyone

Dispatches: Celebs, Brands and Fake Fans

I instantly tweeted this last week when I saw the advert for this, as I knew a high majority of the blogger community (regardless of your topic) would be interested in this.

I hate to say that this is nothing new, being able to buy a significant amount of ID's for a few hundred didn't really surprise me. This actually brought up by several other Beauty Bloggers including Really Ree who wrote Twitter Fakes and Twitter Fakes Part 2 which I think has the best writing on the topic.

The most thing that rattled me about Dispatches (as well as making a mountain out of mole hill), is that celebrities only apologise when their hands are caught in the cookie jar. Us bloggers lose respect, followers and can also get named and shamed for doing this.

The Beauty Bloggers I read/follow are honest and will have open discussions on the issue of affiliate links (these are links that if customers purchase they get money from it), gifts, sponsored posts etc. I also like to think that I am also open about what I write on here.

The key tweet that I made tonight on the #fakefans hashtag was this: "Bloggers have a lot more respect for the real followers they have, as we engage more with our readers" We are more clearer than ever before on all of our activates. A large amount of my relationships have actually come through engagement from Twitter.

We are in an age where social media is becoming bigger and bigger, where advertisement and marketing is also getting smarter. Multi million pound sponsorship deals still continue and this is just another branch of advertising.

Channel 4, consumers are not as blind as you think, stop treating us as so.

#Bloglove

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone."
Burt Bacharach

Image from Jaynes Kitschen

I keep in touch with a lot of other beauty bloggers through twitter and would like to think I do contribute towards on the hash-tag twitter chat called #bbloggers (Wednesday and Sunday nights at 8pm - For more information #Bbloggerschat Blog).

From one of the chats it came through that one of the things that other bloggers wanting to do for 2013 is  to promote other bloggers. I think this was a great idea and while chatting about it another blogger, Jayne from Jayne's Kitschen jumped in and said that she started a hash-tag with the same idea. Read her original idea here

For me the beauty bloggers community is just that - A community of like minded people who share ideas, problems and the love of what we do. I am fully behind something that brings people together because together we can knock any problems and negativity. It also not a place for competition on who has more followers than others, we write because we chose to and if people read it - even better!

I have met some of nicest people with a varied mixture of experience and they've all been ready to help (this even included the people who inspired me to start this blog in the first place). No one has ever turned me away for being a "small" blog, they've noticed I'm like them and have spent a good hour talking to them.

To spread some #Bloglove:

• Comment on their entry - Tell them you liked it! I still get excited by comments, for me it shows that what I'm writing is being actually read and not glanced over.
• Play it forward - This is where the hash-tag comes in, tweet about it (or Share on Facebook depending on your social media preference) and share it with other people.
• Think before you speak - Is what about to send to the wide world really a reflection on who you are? Is it promoting #Bloglove? There are ways of providing feedback without being judgmental  a friendly mail is better than broadcasting it to Twitter.
• Engage with other bloggers - Tweet, Email, Facebook, Instagram: we now live in a world where we can connect with more people easier. Like what some says? Tell them, like, share, re-tweet, favourite. 

Share the #Bloglove.

"Your talent makes you who you are. You should be proud of it." –Tinker Bell

Don't know what to buy her? Askherfriends.com

 

 

Christmas - The word is enough to strike fear into any ones heart. I still get asked to write a list for my mum every year, and then would be asked about items on it. My husband is still one of the people who would go out Christmas Eve and panic buy (however he's said he's booked a day off this year to get it right).



On the other side I have been one those retail assistant who has ended up Christmas shopping for entire families. I won't even start on the stories on bad presents (My 18th my ex brought me an empty hip flask, ). When the details of Askherfriend.com came through my mail,  I'd must admit it did get my interest.

The idea was created by Ben Blomerley, who after buying his girlfriend a worm farm for a present, thought there was a better and easier way of finding out what she really wanted.

It's starts with a simple questionnaire about your relationship and a series of preferences. They are then presented with a list of suggestions which can be tuned into an advice list of ten items. This can be then be tweeted, facebooked or linked to her friends for feedback (a due date can also be added). The final choice can be purchased and praise can be received!

There is a really good choice of shops - Not only your high street names like Debenhams, luxury stores like Selfridges, but some great little indie stores like Two Red Trees (ethnically jewellery and soft home furnishings store), and Flights of Nancy (family run leather handbag store).

OK sounds good in theory, but does it actually work? One night I set husband the task of finding me a present using this system. The highlights from his list include Scent Library By Penhaligon's (a brand I've always wanted something from), Burlesque Dinner Plate 'Ophelia' by Pickled Ruby (I love Burlesque and the uniqueness of the design), and Nails Inc 10 piece set from Debenhams (If you read this blog you know that is perfect for me).

I did have a lot of fun making lists up for myself and increasing my already long Christmas list. Askhisfriends.com is already in development (but I do think whathehasntalreadybroughthimself.com is more appropriate).

You Can Do More With Clay Than Build Pots

I, as probably the entire female population at some point, has worn a face mask, and I would beat some money that most of them are from Montagne Jennesse. I am a big fan of them, they're mud face masks are not only a skin savour but I find for the amount of product you get in a sachet they're also very good value for money.

Founded in 1987 after founder Greg Butcher was mixing products in his kitchen, Montange Jenesse has grown into one of the front runners in the beauty markets.They are sold in over 80 countries around the world and now have 50 products in their range including hair masks, feet treatment and even cellulite treatments. All are one use products and can be mixed and matched to what you require at the time. All within an easy price that any pocket can suit and can be nicked by your male boyfriend/husband.

Their latest range of products combines two of their most popular ranges, the clay masks and tonic cloth masks. I adore the clay masks, leaves my skin feeler amazingly fresher and that cleaned feel that I want when using a mask.

There are two with the range, The Dead Sea Mud Spa and the Glacier Clay Spa. Both are infused into a bamboo fibre mask that you sit onto the skin rather than the traditional method of massage it onto the skin. The mask already has all the holes cut in, and you will get a little over your hands putting it on but no where near as much as if you were applying it directly with your hands. A word of warning this mask is made for you to lie down and relax in, not move around and it will fall off.

It's hard to smile in face mask :)

After 15 minutes you then remove the mask, I actually put it into a ball and massage the slight textured material as a light exfoliate. Rinse off the left over mask with warm water and use your normal skin care. My skin looked a lot more refreshed and even toned, the next morning (I use mine before bed) it was still very smooth to touch. I was given these to try, but I still would of brought them as they still appealed to me and my skins needs.

You can get your hands on it's website www.MontagneJeunesse.com (It might be worth checking out their Facebook Page first for a discount offers...shh). It will then be in Boots mid-August and ASDA's in September at the cost £1.49. They are all vegetarian, PETA and BUVA (leaping bunny) approved, made from natural ingredients and paraben-free, as well as environmental friendly where-ever they can be.  

1000 Blog Hits

This morning I hit 1,000 hits on the site, and I'm very proud of that. I started this at the beginning of the year as something of a hobby as well as somewhere that I can throw my two cents in. 40 (this being the 41st) entries later its something not only I love but has kept me sane and something to do to distract from life. I'm constantly am thinking, "should I blog this?", it's also developed my own skills as I try out things I've read.

So Thank You to everyone that has read my ramblings, if you want to keep in touch then the links are below:

Hellocotton (Awesome woman blog site, I've spent hours on here!)

Bloglovin' (Some really good selection of blogs - some of the bigger names use this)

Twitter (More up to date ramblings!)

Facebook (Like me :D )

Enjoy the sun (but please use SPF!) and have a great weekend!