Wednesday 28 April 2010

Born Free


I've been an M.I.A fan for a few years now, and literally haven't heard anything new for about 3 years now, so it was very exciting to hear and see M.I.A's new disturbing video for "Born Free" - I was really very shocked watching the video, especially the ending with the massacre in a music video, even more violent than most of the trashy horror movies that claim to be the "scariest thing this year blahblahblah"

So anyway, I don't really understand what the song is about yet, I kind of get it, basically just saying we're "Born free" and just live out each moment on the front, but no doubt there's much deeper meaning to it... and the video is about racism of minorities, not just black people or Asian people, but all races, and the oppressed minorities.

M.I.A always has something to say through the medium of music, and I will always listen.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Daily Routine

Us second rate diva's love to do everything in pairs. Alice has told you all her beauty secrets... and being a second rate diva, I am going to tell you mine. I don't have many beauty secrets to tell, I'm quite lucky with my skin, I don't break out a lot and my skin isn't that sensitive, but, like Alice, I love to take care of my skin using the best products for the cheapest price I can, so, of course, I have tried many many many products to reach a stage where I can say I am happy with my routine and I don't want / need to change it any time soon...

So to begin, I am very conscious of avoiding SLS in all my products. SLS is a cheap detergent put into many cheap (and expensive) products that has many bad side effects. Like a lot of people; it gives me a rash, so I avoid it at all costs. A lot of people don't realize that a rash is caused by your shampoo, face wash or even body wash, but it's a very real problem. So this is why I use Dr Bronners:
You can buy Dr Bronner's Magic soap at American Apparel. I was introduced to this magic soap while in New York back in 2007, and I've not used anything different since. It cleans, smells great and has no SLS in it at all. Better yet, it lasts forever, I always buy the big bottle, and it literally lasts about a year, no joke!
For shampoo I use Bed Head Superstar - Sulfate-free shampoo, again, for that reason. It's great for volatilizing my hair, and smells like strawberry milkshake, what more could you ask for in a shampoo. My hair always feels extra clean and fresh after each use, and buying the 750ml bottle (about £10) on Amazon also lasts a long time. I always lather, rinse, repeat, with no conditioner (which I just use anything to hand) as conditioner isn't necessary unless you have very damaged hair. I used to use conditioner all the time and got into the habit of having slick-rick hair. However, once my hair got used to just a double shampoo, the condition became so good without the slick hair, I've never looked back.
I also always fash my face, morning and night, with "Scrub your nose in it" by Soap and Glory, and sometimes in it's place I will use face mask "No Clogs Allowed" These two products are my life saver. I have never used a face scrub or mask that doesn't make me itch, break out, or end up with dryer skin that I usually have, and with Boots always doing offers on Soap and Glory products (they're so cheap anyway) I always stock up and enjoy using my products every day.
I am a boy, so I do shave once or twice a week, and, again, I make sure I use the best possible things for my skin at the cheapest price, and this King of Shaves shaving oil is around £3 and works wonders on my skin. I never have a rash after a shave, my skin is always soft and I can see exactly what I'm doing with my razor on my face! The last thing I want to do is shave my skin off, so this is very important for a close shave.
After my close shave I ALWAYS apply Aloe Vera gel, as pure as I can get my hands on, This is, again, around £3 in any Holland and Barratt. Great for use as after shave, rash, sun burn (I've never had sunburn thank god, but it's supposed to be soothing) a hair moisturizer, good for dry, chapped skin, good for everything really. And sometimes If I fell I've shaved a little too close, I apply some Savlon to my face just in case, you might not see anything, but you are dragging a razor across your skin, so it's got to be some kind of sensitive right after a shave. Savlon also helped to heal my tattoo, helps my very dry lips every once in a while, heals my skin extra fast if I pick at any spots (I know, I know, I have to learn to leave them alone) and basically helps to heal anything super fast.
every morning and every night, I cleanse, tone and moisturize. I do this because of my dry skin, it just requires a little extra time to take care of it, and then it's fine, no trace of dry, flakey or ashy skin. Using Boots Original Formula cleansing milk and skin tonic has helped my skin tone and texture so much in recent months, and a Vitamin E cream - from a Natural health and beauty shop - Couldn't find anything online, helps my skin to stay moisturized with the least amount of chemicals as possible, actually, I don't believe there are any in this cream, and being natural, you know it's good for your skin. I try to stay away from perfumed creams as they sit on your skin and can cause my skin to dry out.
And for my eyes I use no 7 Protect and Perfect eye cream for men. Now this product is exactly the same as the women's product except in a handy pump rather than a jar, and it also costs £5 cheaper! don't ask me why, because it's exactly the same product underneath it all. No 7 Protect and Perfect was the only product on the market proven to reverse the signs of sun damage and helps combat wrinkles blahblahblah, so I thought that I would buy into this product early as a prevention rather than a cure. My eyes also get dry sometimes because of the delicate skin around the eye, so this cream has helped to moisturize my eye area and also will help to prevent wrinkles in the long run.
I also moisturize my body with Eucerin - from America though. whenever a friend goes over, or when I go over, I have to stock up on Eucerin. It's helped my skin stay fresh, moisturized and glowing in these winter months... Sometimes I'll also used Palmer's Cocoa Butter, but Eucerin beats them all hands down.
And lastly for moisturizing, I use Elemis Hand and Nail cream to help and soften my cry hands, This is the only product that I enjoy the texture of, the rest feel sticky and I feel as though I need to immediately need to rinse my hands after I apply. This is quite an expensive product, so the search is still on to find a cheaper product to replace my beloved Elemis, but for now, it works. Thankfully hand cream's are easier to try on that face creams because your hands shouldn't really break out in spots if the ingredients don't agree with you, just pop some on your bare hands in a shop and see how you feel while shopping. Easy. I'm gonna be on the hunt for a good, cheap hand cream this summer...

And two products I use every now and again, Mac Select Moisturecover concealer. The best concealer I've ever used as it's available in every shade under the sun, so you'll be sure to find one to suit your skin tone. This concealer does not dry out like most I've tried, doesn't flake off and just looks natural no matter where you apply it. I have covered many spots with this little gem, and peers are in disbelief when I tell them I have a massive spot, as they just can't see it.
And Clinique anti-blemish solutions. This little bottle also lasts a very long time. If I have a terrible spot that I want to get rid of, I just put on a little dab of this solution, and it calms it down straight away. I also do the same thing with With Doctor treatment gel, which is a lot cheaper, at £2 in Tesco, you definitely cannot go wrong. Even Alice switched over to Witch when I forced her to apply some of my treatment gel (I made her wash her hands first and everything) onto an irritating spot she once had, that disappeared over night much to Alice's enjoyment.
And that, my friends, are my beauty secrets / daily ritual. I try to stick to the same products as I know they work best for my skin, They may not work for you, but you have to give everything ago, and if it works, it works. There's no point in getting something because the packaging looks better, or because you want to buy into certain brands. Your skin will thank you when you treat it well.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

The Daily Grind.....

So I was thinking this morning of how long it actually takes me to get ready... With my new job in Central London this means I need to Leave my beloved Marilyn Bitch (My VW Beetle) at home and jump on the train so I need to re asses my situation how what time I actually get out of bed... gone are the days of me rolling out of bed when ever I felt like it when I was back at uni, and slowly I am loosing the days where I can leave my house at 9.00am and get into River Island HQ at 9.30am... I think I am finally hitting real-life commuter time with a BANG!!!

As my new job requires me to be looking bang on trend, sharp and sophis (Sophisticated is not a look that I pull off very well) more then I normally have to I need to think fast I am going to miss the days where I do the messy unbrushed look which I have supported since my early uni days, instead I have traded that look in for a sleek red crop which I am loving at the moment! No doubt soon enough my old ways will return and I will grow my hair back out to its crazy uncontrollable (Mrs Twit hair as Peter likes to call it) ways, but until then I need to work out how early I am going to get out of bed in the morning.. and what sort of effect is this going to have on my eyebags.. THEN I need to work out my plastic surgeons bill to deal with my eye bags!!! LOL

If only we could all roll out of bed looking like a plastic fantastic Heidi Montag, fully kitted out with neatly brushed hair, blindingly white Hollywood veneers legs and boobs to die for....



Unfortunately for most of us we don't...nor do we have Hollywood or even London's best styling,make-up and hair teams on hand to whip us into shape and out the door looking gorgeous, If only! Instead most of us wake up looking like this.......



Too no fault of our own.. we cant lie in bed stiff as a board so not to mess our hair up can we..?? Or should we??? NO is the answer!!! Okay I work in fashion and yes I would get very judged if I walked into the office without a full face of make-up and then I would probably get booed out of London and have to live somewhere like Mongolia as I would be to embarrassed to show my un MAC'd face in public again!

So I have tried to devise a quick routine for me first thing in the morning so I looked fresh faced and glowing with a full face of make up that hasn't cost me the earth... BUT I am a firm believer of spending a LIL bit more on your make-up as you have to wear this shizzle on your face everyday for roughly 365 days a year (well you defo do if you are me) and there is nothing worse then ill matching foundations and power!!! I am a firm believer that a good powder is the way forward for future happiness for Woman Kind!

I thought I would give you a break down of my daily routine and what I use first thing in the morning to get me looking a reasonable state to leave the house....

FACE WASH £2.00:

This Simple product is 100% perfume & colour free and cares for the needs of your sensitive skin. Simple Facial Wash Gel rinses away make-up & dirt without drying and is 100% soap-free. With added moisturisers including Pro-Vitamin B5, it leaves your skin feeling smooth & fresh.



Next I need to moisturize my skin and I have used the same moisturizer for years and years which my Mum gave to me and my Brother as a child and I swear by this product!

Moisturizer £7.49:

"Astral is full of delicately balanced and nourishing ingredients which make it a perfect all-over moisturiser. It can be used everyday to keep your skin soft and supple, and can tackle even the driest skin on your elbows and feet. Versatile Astral can also be used as an after sun lotion and make-up remover"



Next is where the real work starts applying the MAC or should I say pasting the MAC on!!! I swear by MAC and I have done ever since Peter frog marched me into the shop in Westfeilds and practically ordered me to have a make over and I cant thank that Second Rate Diva enough he showed me the light and what I was missing! The thing I love about MAC is the Flawless coverage that it gives you here are the products that I use everyday....

MAC Primer with SPF 50 £20
MAC Says "A skin-protecting cream with SPF 50. Applies under makeup to prime the skin for the sun. Featherweight, fast-absorbing, oil-free, invisible. Will not affect the look, texture or long-wear integrity of your makeup. Specially formulated with oil-absorbing powder, helps prevent oil breakthrough. Provides high-level broad spectrum sun protection. Worn daily helps guard the skin against discolouration, premature aging, dryness and other effects of sun exposure. Suitable for all skins."



MAC Studio Sculpt SPF15 £22.50
MAC Says "A creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. Hydrating, instantly revitalizes the skin while keeping it looking smooth, soft and plush. Long-wearing, water-resistant."



MAC Select Cover up £12.50
MAC Says "Liquid camouflage for the skin. Texture-free, virtually invisible. Comes in a tube. Blends in. Brightens and lightens dark areas, erases spots, evens-out skin tones. Makes skin flaw-free. Use pre-foundation, or on its own. 11 shades. Don't reveal it, conceal it!"



MAC Select Sheer Pressed powder £17.00
MAC Says "Micro-fine, sheer and silky. Pressed for portability. Goes on lightly. Won't shift your shade or leave its mark. Lets skin's natural vitality and freshness glow through. Comes with its own suede-finish sponge. Blurs lines. Makes skin look flawless."



MAC Powder Blush (Pinch me) £16.50
MAC Says "Colour for the cheeks and face. Various formulas. Different looks"



I then end with doing my eyes in either a classic Marilyn Monroe chic flick OR If I am in the moody a naughty smokey eye comes out!!!

I finish of my morning routine by drying my hair using the following Aussie products that I spritz on my hair to keep in healthy and shiny and in good condition.. I also swear by these products as they have kept my hair in great condition over the years when my barnet has taken a number of batterings by hairdryers, straightners, bleach and peroxide! and they are very good value for money and in Superdrug at the moment they are on offer 2 for £6 BARGAIN



So I think I am trying to cut my 'Prep' time as I like to call my morning routine down to 45 mins!! I hope I can do it!! Fingers crossed

Love Alice xxx

Work and Play!!

Sooooo me and Petey both had fantastic Second Rate Diva style news last week and as Peter has already told you he has a new job.... and so do I!!!! Woooop Woooop!!!!!!

I have been at River Island HQ not as long as Peter maybe 9 or 10 months but we became Second rate diva BFF as soon as we saw each other, previous to getting my job straight from uni (pretty much exactly the same as Peter) I worked in store for about 5 years throughout college and uni!

But like Peter a new amazing job and challenge has come up and we have both bitten the bullet and gone for them... This means we will be separated Monday - Friday :( BUT we have e-mail BBM FaceyB and other means of contact to keep us going until we are reunited at the weekends our as usual evening dates in Westfeild!

But I am exiting for this new chapter in my life to start and i feel very fortunate to have been handed an amazing opportunity and I am very happy for Peter to have also been given an amazing opportunity, and I wish my Second Rate Diva all the luck in the world... MMAHW xxxx

So me and Peter have had the best news last week so what did we do.... celebrated at the weekend. Petey went back to his hometown of Portsmouth and I hit central!

First stop SOHO with my girlfriends for lots (way to many) cocktails and girl time and general fun in the sun!! OH and we got free pink champagne!!! :)



Second stop East London hang out Cargo with two of my girlfriends Izzie and Alicia where we partied until the wee hours meeting lots of cool new people and generally having a laugh... and of course we could not resist having a cheeky photo taken in the black and white booth!!! Why not ey!!??



All in all a fabulous weekend in the sun!!!!!

Love Alice xxx

Saturday 17 April 2010

Work

I am due to start a new job in 2.5 weeks!!! I really cannot wait to be actually doing something that I have been longing to do.
I have only been at River Island HQ for 10 months (It will be 11 when I actually leave) but it has been a great experience. I have made such good friends there, I never thought that it would happen to me. Thankfully got the job before I even got my grade from University which means I already had a head start, but now I'm moving on up and will be enjoying life on the other side of London and experiencing new people again!
Something I have so wanted to do for the past 10 months was put on the preggo bump and have a photograph taken in the studio! I have fulfilled my dream (haha) and here's the result. Pretty good, eh? I look very proud according to my colleagues, and I have to agree with them!

I also have a holiday to Malaysia booked, and I so cannot wait to crank on a pair of shorts, sandals and sunglasses and not feel like a complete moron - as it will be bloody hot out there and I won't have to worry about breeze and rain destroying my day - Although Malaysia is very rainy, but at least it's hot rain!!!

Hoping to be getting out my holiday wear that I love so much and never really get to wear!!! yay!

Sunday 11 April 2010

My Week

Sssoooooo I have had a TRES busy week this week!!! OBV last weekend was bank holiday weekend (4 day weekend wooop wooop) Which I defo took advantage of spending time with friends and family and doing what I do best... PARTYING!!!!

One of the highlights of my bank holiday weekend was being invited by one of my besties to a dance class that she was attending with her sister, which turned out to be an intimate class of 6 being taught the art of Burlesque dancing!!!

My first thought was to freak out and run out of the door!!! BUT instead I sank half a bottle of wine and got involved with the other and it turned out to be a rather fun afternoon (NOTE: No nakedness or nipple tassels where involved!!!)

Our instructor was absolutely wonderful and make us feel comfortable instantly!! The class took place at the Proud Cabaret.

No.1 Mark Lane
Corner of Dunster Court and Mark Lane
London
EC3R 7AH

You can ring them and have one on one tutorials or group lessons.... I will warn wine or spirits may be a MUST!!! Have a look at the pics from our afternoon!!! I









Also this week I have had a few cheeky trips to the shops!!! First trip was to h&m to check out the new Garden Collection for h&m!! Which I think all looks amazing and is very very very good value for money AND I felt that I was doing my bit for the environment because they have used recycled materials like polyester and organic cotton.



I purchased this jacket which I am going to wear as a dress with leggings and my wedges!!! I will OBV not look as good as the model so please await for my own personal pic!! LOL



I shall keep you posted with my other buys of the week as my camera has gone dead!!!!

Another wonderful web/blog magazine which I stumbled across with a River work mate was www.wah-magazine.com which is based in Dalston and they have a nail workshop in Topshop Oxford Circus and I think its a great online magazine and blog!! And it inspired me and some others at work to do our own Wah style nails!!!

Mine...



Love Alice xxx