a winter walk

Snow is falling...all around me.
Any desired movement today by yours truly can only be undertaken on foot. With my mini buried under the snow flurry and many a country road to be navigated around before I reach civilisation, it was the perfect excuse, and postcard setting, for a winter walk...


I fully confess that snow blizzards bring with them upmost inconvenience and spiral the place into cuckoo chaos, but who doesn't love being the first person to bequeath their footprints onto a freshly-cascaded blanket of snow?

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John Frieda - Precision Foam Colour

I am sure many you are au fait with John Frieda's revolutionary new launch of their recently developed, home hair colouring range.
Snazzily named Precision Foam Colour, this new product promises to make colouring your hair as quick and easy as shampooing in five simple steps...

I actually attended the launch of this new range of products last month, which proved a fabulous evening, particularly enlightening as we were able to witness the foam hair colour in action. One willing soul proffered her locks so we could see the entire transformation from start to finish.

Precision Foam Colour comes in 20 different shades to satiate every woman's dream hair colour, through from white blondes to rich warm browns and autumnal plums.

Although I now no longer dye my hair at home due to the infestation of highlights that have adorned my barnet, I used to always reach for the home colour when I was sporting dark tresses. And yes, it was a hassle. Invariably it required two people and a whole evening dedicated to mixing, shaking, parting and slathering, whilst mummified in your grubbiest towels in a futile mission to protect all clothing and furniture from drips and stains!

This product, from what we witness that night, has well and truly eradicated all this messy business. The mixture is combined by gently tilting the developer and colourant together. Shaking is not required here. At this point, you are left with a rather dreary looking, and a rather deceivingly inadequate volume of the mixture. But this is the clever bit...

By gently squeezing the bottle into your gloved hand, the mixture transform into a rich, blossoming foam. I think the John Frieda team quoted that each bottle will generate 2 litres worth of foam!

We then watched the willing volunteer independently apply the solution to her hair. Starting at the roots, she worked her way around, not worry about precision at the point. The beauty of the foam is that it will expand, especially at the end when you start massaging it in as if shampooing your hair. The foam will flawlessly cover all the hair and 100% of greys.

Once the product was applied, you could see there was zero dripping. No need to shuffle about with a towel wrapped round your shoulders. It was just staying put and was easy to wipe away from the hair line without leaving any staining. And another bonus, it didn't have that heinous hair colourant smell!

Whilst, the colour was left to develop, we all enjoyed some japanese delicacies and chit chatted about many a hair colouring disaster!
Luckily, the palatial surroundings of the suite meant our lovely model for the evening could skip off, and get her hair washed, and emerge to showcase the results.
Her hair was blow dried, and we were all summoned up to take a peek and oooh and aaah at her freshly-coloured, and ever-so shiny, locks.
And it did look lovely. The colour was rich and even, and had given it an all over, luscious feel to the hair. Whilst we stroked and gazed at her mane, she gushed how easy the whole application was from start to finish, and it made me sad that due to my current, highly salon-dependent hair colour, I couldn't give it a whirl myself.


The Precision Foam Colour retails at £9.99 which does make it one of the priciest products on the shelves at the moment, but it has launched at Boots and Superdrug with an introductory price of £6.66 and £5.99 respectively. So if you did fancy giving it a cheeky trial, now would be the best time.


Let me know if any of you have tried it yet, and what were your thoughts??

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let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Being nestled in the South East of the country, I haven't yet been graced with any snow yet! 
I am a true child when it comes to the white stuff and I hope, and pray, it is en route, and very soon I can fashion some snowballs and take some winter walks with the crisp-crunching sound underfoot.
Have you been frolicking in the festive flurry yet?

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Double Wear Double Love

I will hold my hands up and proclaim that I honestly thought I was forever destined to be a MAC Studio Fix Fluid kind-of-girl.

I have been using this foundation for possibly the past two years, on and off, and fully admit I thought, and still do think, it is a wonderful foundation. I loved to bask in its medium to full coverage and flawless finish, but recently I have been left feeling a little bit unfulfilled. I think after a while it is all too easy to slip into a foundation rut and I needed some severe intervention to pull myself out of it!

My divine inspiration came in the form of Estee. Estee Lauder Double Wear to be precise.

Foundations are something I really do not mind spending my pennies on and having tried many a drugstore brand, I do feel, for my personal requirements, the higher-end of the foundation spectrum is best. Estee Lauder Double Wear retails at £25.

I am always nervous to run the gauntlet of the beauty counters that litter by local department store. I embark on a buying a new foundation with utmost trepidation. I fear for the removal of my makeup in a public place and am too mild-mannered, at times, to say when I don’t like said product, after they have meticulously plastered it all over my face.

But thankfully, I took solace in my Estee Lauder lady with her amenable attitude. She was so helpful and we tried a few varying shades until I felt happily and successfully colour-matched.

(FYI - I am a MAC nc25 - nc30 and was matched to Tawny in EL Double Wear)


I like to apply any liquid foundation with a brush, namely my MAC 190, and Double Wear is no different. However, this foundation can be left a bit streaky after application, so I tend to buff it in with a stippling brush, MAC 188, or lightly blend with my fingers.

The coverage is medium to high…just how I like it, but a little does go a long way so I don’t find it too heavy at all. Actually, in comparison, it feels a lot lighter than MAC Studio Fix Fluid.

It really is long wearing. Currently, I am plastering my face at roughly 7:25am each morning, and often am not home until gone 7:00pm most nights. Within this 12 hour stint, much brow-furrowing and eye-rubbing has occurred, as well as at least an hour’s exercise either to the dulcet tones of Ricky Martin or around a hockey pitch. And yep, it is still there at the end of the day. No slipping, no sliding and no creasing! Marvellous.

The consistency of Double Wear is luxurious and silky. Once I have applied it, my face does feel rich and velvety and, although I detest the word flawless, it does seem…well…flawless! I don’t really have any blemishes to cover, but I love achieving that even skin tone and the perfect foundation can present the ideal setting for the rest of your makeup. I finish my foundation routine with a dusting of MAC Mineralised Skin Finish, and don’t feel the need to wear any concealer at all when using this product.

The not-so good about this product...obtaining the liquid from the bottle can be quite mischievous, but the MAC foundation pump fits onto the bottle perfectly so I just use this.

The smell is a little solvent-like, but ho hum.

As a little side note: I got given these two tinsy samples to try after I had bought my foundation. I like to hold them in my hand and pretend I'm a giant!

These two little gems are quite frankly, incredible. I have been using the Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher in the mornings before applying my foundation, and it really evens out your skin, leaving it silky smooth and acts as the perfect primer for your makeup.
At bedtime, I have been using the Advanced Night Repair in place of any moisturiser and my skin has never felt so hydrated, soft and radiant.
I would seriously debate spending some more of my pennies and purchasing these two products as they are just a dream for my skin.


Have you tried any of these products?
Would love to know your thoughts and which is your fave foundation of the moment?

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Motto Monday

I went dancing tonight.

I say 'dancing' in a plea to make the whole experience sound mildly romantic, but in fact, it was Zumba.
Ricky Martin and the shaking of imaginary maracas was the order of the night.
I had so much fun and just love that post-exercise rush you acquire after an hour of hip shaking and bongo drumming. I am a true convert and will be adding Zumba to my weekly repertoire of fitness festivities.


My Monday Motto of the week: Capture that Moment.
Cliched but oh so true and relevant. Since I began blogging, my love for big lenses and sharp focus has become more astute and I now rarely find myself without my camera by my side, just poised, ready to portrait those little things in life that can so easily pass you by.

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Fringed with Simplicity

A simple Sunday outfit perfect for a day of tea-drinking and foraging for peculiar foods at a local market.
Today I came to the conclusion that I dislike the proportions of my forehead so I attempted a swishy, side fringe. It was a clear failure and just ended up tickling my nose.

My outfit is nothing spectacular, Sundays are not made for much outfit deliberation.

I opted for denim shorts: H&M
Black tights...M&S
Cream oversized tee - Topshop (this does have a cute pocket on the breast which is sadly concealed in both my photos)
Toy soldier coat - Miss Selfridge
I have MAC's Violetta on my lips
Necklace: Wallpaper Rose

I really adore this sweet spoon necklace, with its charming teapot, heart and flower adornments. It is a perfectly quaint accompaniment for any outfit. If you wish to peruse any of Wallpaper Rose's jewellery, then you can get 10% offer any order until the 14th December 2010 by using the code PEARLSANDPOODLES. 


And on the subject of pretty jewellery and treasured trinkets, my dear friend Claire also creates handmade jewellery and has just established her own site, Sara's Secret, showcasing some of her her precious works of art.  So if you are a jewellery junkie in search of something unique and special, with a quirky twist, then be sure to check out these two fabulous ladies for some pretty pieces.


Let me know your thoughts and what escapades you've been up to on this serene Sunday?

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Treating Your Tresses: Part 2

A couple of weeks ago I blogged the first in my series of hair treatments post in which I reviewed the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shusu Sleek Smoothing Treatment Mask, which really is sheer amazingness in a tub! I absolutely love this hair masque and would highly recommend it to the masses wishing to achieve gorgeously conditioned and deeply-treated hair.

Dismally, I am not quite as ecstatic about the second product to review.

The Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme

Philip Kingsley products get an awful lot of hype and exposure, especially their cult Elasticizer, and merely by googling said treatment, I was faced with a multitude of raves and hallelujahs about this wonderment. So needless to say, I was flooded with the utmost excitement and anticipation to try this treatment out. 

But please take note at this point, I was using the Elasticizer Extreme which is different to the normal Elasticizer. The Extreme version is for hair that is extremely thirsty, dry and porous and in need of instant replenishment, hydration and nourishment. I chose this treatment as I felt my hair was an extreme case and in dire need of all of the above and more, especially as it is suited to coarse, curly and damaged hair.

(in hindsight I think the normal Elasticizer would have been better suited.)

So with shower cap in hand (provided with the product) I slathered on the scentless, and highly luxurious cream, onto damp hair, donned the shower cap and proceeded with my bathing ritual as per usual. It suggests leaving the treatment on for 20-30 minutes. With any treatment, I will drown my hair with it for as long as possible and do not believe there is any harm to extend the time as lengthily as you see fit. I have a vast, thick, troublesome mane so left mine on for 40 minutes.

The Elasticizer range is a pre-shampooing conditioning treatment which means, due to the intensity, and ingredients used to carry the treatment to the hair cuticles, it needs to be shampooed out otherwise hair would be left lank, sticky and without shine.

I followed all advice to the tee but was sadly, and lankily, left a little bit lacklustre. 

My hair was left sticky and tacky despite a whole dedication of shampooing and conditioning to wash the treatment out. I also was faced with the mortifying discovery half way through blowdrying my hair, and running late for a hot date, that remnants of the treatment were still loitering in my hair and further ruthlessness under the shower-head was required to eradicated this sticky situation!

This was my first experience with the Elasticizer Extreme, but like the hardened beauty blogger I am, I went back for another trial.

I noted that:

I need to apply a lot less product

I need to be more meticulous with my shampooing. Haphazardness shall not do here.

I followed my own advice and the results were a lot more pleasing ie: my hair was not sticky, and there were no mischievous globules left behind harbouring in my barnet.

I have tried to be fair to this product and have used it a few more times, but I really do not think it is doing anything magical for my hair. I think the consistency is too rich and is very difficult to wash out. Even once I had mastered the correct ratio of product to hair, I didn't find it left my hair feeling noticeably shinier, bouncier or manageable.


All in all, a little miffed with this product from such a highly-acclaimed haircare specialist brand. All I can hope is that the Extreme was too...extreme for my hair and maybe, possibly, the Elasticizer would be better suited, although I did tick all the Elaticizer Extreme boxes.


This treatment, along with the whole Philip Kingsley hair range is available from feelunique, who do actually have a veritable feast of haircare treatments and other delights for purse-happy prices.


I'd love to know your thoughts if you have tried any of the PK Elasticizer products, or if you have ever been disheartened with certain cult products?

xxx

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