Beauty: The Benefit Christmas 2014 Advent Calendar

Hi guys,
I know it's only November, but it's time to start thinking about and (worse still!) talking about Christmas. All of my Christmas presents to be sent everywhich-way around the country to extended family are being distributed on the 30th November, meaning the usual December Christmas gift guides just come too late for me. I have to have shopped, wrapped and sent by then! I'm sure I'm not the only one that has to plan this early, so I thought I would get a head start on my Christmas posts this year!

First up, on my shopping list: an advent calendar. On Saturday we popped to Debenhams to collect my Benefit advent calendar, which I ordered at the beginning of October. The theme this year is the 'Candy Coated Countdown' and the contents are:

- 0.25 oz “That gal” brightening face primer
 - 0.25 oz the POREfessional pore minimizer
 - 0.08 oz Benetint cheek and lip stain in Rose
 - 0.08 oz High beam liquid highlighter
 - 0.08 oz Chachatint lip and cheek stain in Sheer Mango
 - 0.08 oz Posietint lip and cheek stain in Poppy Pink
 - 0.04 oz Stay flawless foundation primer
 - 0.1 oz They’re real! mascara
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Dandelion
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in A-lister
 - 0.22 oz Ultra plush lip gloss in Fauxmance
 - 0.14 oz BADgal lash mascara
 - 0.08 oz Stay don’t stray concealer and eye shadow primer in Light/Medium
 - 0.1 oz Fakeup concealer in 02 Medium
 - 0.1 oz It’s potent! eye cream
 - 0.3 oz Total moisture facial cream
 - 0.08 oz Ooh la lift eye cream
 - 0.08 oz Watt’s up! highlighter
 - Beauty sticky notes
 - Doodle pad
 - Heart-shaped paperclips
 - Pinky, polka-dot hair tie
 - Elastic hair band with bow charm
 - Metallic silvery hair tie

Lots of lovely miniatures and a wonderful way to try the full range of Benefit products to help you decide which ones work (or don't work) for you and which ones you like best. I'm sure a better blogger would have opened it all up to show you what's inside, but I want to open mine each day of December in traditional advent calendar style and be surprised and delighted by each of my daily treats - I will post little updates as I open it throughout December though.

The calendar cost £60, but the goods inside rrp at £110, so it's a massive bargain really. Although it is a lot more expensive than the £2.99 chocolate calendar I usually munch on! These have sold out in most Debenhams stores, but there are still some available directly from the Benefit website. It sells out really fast each year though, so if you want one of the few that are left be quick: there are plenty selling on eBay for £120 already!

Have you started thinking about Christmas yet?

Love Tor x

My New Skincare Routine: In Love With Clarins

Hi guys,
I've always been blessed with having pretty youthful looks (in fact, most people would say I was 'baby faced'). But since I turned 30 I have become fairly obsessed with looking after my skin as much as possible, in order to ensure the ravages of time don't strike whilst I'm being distracted by something else! So when Clarins asked if I'd like to sample some of their products, I was genuinely delighted: more fuel to the fire of my new skin care addiction? Yes please! And I have to say, now that I've tried some of their products (particularly the Water Comfort Cleanser with Peach and the famous Beauty Flash Balm) I won't be using anything else!

First up in the cleanser: this product smells incredible, which is an instant win. But it did so much more than that too. It also left my skin feeling fresh and smooth and incredibly soft. I actually look forward to cleansing my skin each morning and even the usually oblivious Mike has mentioned how soft my skin is. This softness is no doubt helped by the Beauty Flash Balm, which is the best moisturiser I have ever used (since I got it my usual Clinique Moisture Surge hasn't had a look in) It makes my skin look smoother, brighter, and it is an incredible base for wearing under make up.

I am yet to try a Clarins skincare product I don't like. The Moisture Replenishing Lip balm is also another essential (replacing my Bert's Bees) and my lips really haven't ever been so soft. I suffer with really chapped lips, so this has been a revelation. The rose oil it contains also smells incredible, and when I'm wearing it I have to stop myself from smacking my lips together!  I also have to give a special mention to the summertime specific products which smell better than any other sun protection lotions I have tried, and don't leave my skin feeling oily at all. Can you tell that I'm completely smitten?

As an extra added bonus, it seems I've picked just the right time to write this post: The Clarins 30% off beauty sale has just started! Result!

Love Tor x

Holiday Beauty: Pale is Interesting!

Hi guys,
My mum always taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say then you shouldn't say anything at all, and that's the ethos I've followed when writing this blog. So when I had a disastrous experience with Dove's summer glow lotion (a gradual tanner that left me with orange legs after just one application) I had no intention of writing about it: after all, given I've never used it before I could've just done something wrong! But then I got thinking about why I, the palest woman in the world, thought I needed to have tanned legs before I go on holiday and realised it probably would make an interesting post. Just not about the pros and cons of gradual tanning lotions.

Pretty much as soon as the first rays of Spring sunshine dapple the lawn we are bombarded with images of tanned people everywhere we turn. Lithe, sun kissed girls dance across our television screens with their big toothy grins. Women with seriously healthy tans jump from magazine pages advertising everything from razors to swimsuits to wide screen TVs. The subconscious message of all of this is that to have fun in the summer you have to have a tan, which probably explains why I succumbed and had my first unsuccessful experiment with tanning lotions of any kind! And I'm not the only one feeling the pressure not to be pale.

I read an interesting article that said in many US cities there are more tanning salons than coffee shops. Given the fact that skin cancer (in fact, all kinds of cancer) are on the rise, it seems mental to me that women are jumping on sunbeds to achieve 'perfect' skin: what's wrong with the skin you're in? It might be the norm to be tan if you live by the beach in California, but we're British! We're a nation of sun starved folks with skin that looks transluscent and grey after a long winter under wraps. Where are all our pale summer icons? I can only name a handful of pale but interesting British style icons and dozens more that turn to sunbeds or bottles to achieve an unnatural colour.

Me? I'd rather be pale than orange. And as I spend another hour in the shower scrubbing away at my seriously stripey legs I wonder whether if more of our role models and examples of popular advertising  didn't promote the need to tan, we might all feel a little more comfortable in our own pasty skin.

Do you fell better with a tan or are you happy to embrace your pale and interesting self? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Love Tor x

Fabfrocks Reviews; MDM FLow Lipsticks

Hi guys,
When it comes to make up, there are two things I wouldn't be without: mascara and red lipstick. I think if you can put a slick of lipstick on you immediately feel better; even if you don't have time to do anything else! The newest red lipstick in my collection is this one: a shade called 'Self Made 2' by MDMFlow.
MDMFlow is an emerging British beauty brand founded by London College Of Fashion graduate Florence Adepoju. The packaging is inspired by her love of hip hop and the nineties (hence the gold and black, and the cases that look like bullets).

The lipsticks come in six different shades, ranging from this classic red to vibrant shades of orange and purple. All of the MDMFlow lipsticks are made here in the UK (huge plus points for home grown talent supporting local industry) and they're perfectly easy to apply. Here's how the red version looks when I'm wearing it:

If you ignore my slightly gormless look, I think it looks great. It's blue undertones means the shade really compliments my skintone (I suffer with redness in my cheeks, so I tend to avoid warmer shades). I also love it's velvety matt finish: I prefer matt lipsticks and immediately blot away any shininess anyway. All in all, I think this is a lovely lipstick and definitely one I will be using again and again.

The lipsticks are available from THEN AND NOW SHOP for £18 each. Why not buy one for yourself today?

Love Tor x

*I received the lipstick for the purpose of this review 

Guest Post: Top Tips for Sensitive Skin

Did you know that sensitive skin is not only caused by your lifestyle and diet but the ingredients found in your skincare products too? If you suffer from sensitive skin, it can be difficult finding the best products to keep your skin healthy and flare-up free.

We’ve put together our top tips to combat skin-irritation and help you select the best beauty essentials for your skin type.

Testing

Testing a product before using it on your skin is extremely important, particularly if your skin is prone to reactions. When using a new product or brand it is advisable to carry out a patch test, this is where you apply a small amount of product onto your skin and monitor the area for 48 hours to see if it causes irritation. Testing is also essential when visiting a beauty salon, whether you’re treating yourself to a facial or changing your hair colour, asking for a patch test will help avoid any unwanted reactions.

Always read the label

If your skin has been affected by certain products and brands in the past, take a look at the ingredients label, you may notice reoccurring ingredients which could be causing the reaction. There are a number of hypoallergenic products on the market which have been specially formulated without harsh ingredients for sensitive skin types.

Make-up

Mineralcosmetics are a popular choice for those who suffer with sensitive skin, as the natural mineral combination is much gentler on the skin. Many brands specialise in mineral makeup and foundations that work in harmony with your natural skin tone, avoiding harsh chemicals and future irritation.

Cleaning and Cleansing

Thoroughly removing your makeup is important to keep your skin looking great. Always remove your makeup before sleeping but try to avoid rough scrubs and harsh makeup removers to do so. We recommend using mild make-up remover face wipes, which will gently remove your makeup, whilst cleansing and moisturising your skin.

Food and Lifestyle

Diet and lifestyle play a big part in keeping your skin radiant and healthy. Drinking lots of water and incorporating regular exercise into your routine are both proven to have a great effect of your skin. Ensuring your diet is full of fruits, vegetables and essential Vitamins such as C and E will help to keep redness and irritation at bay. 

*This is a guest post. The content has been written for the site with my approval. 

Beauty: In love with everything Chanel

Hi guys,
Last week I used the Christening as an excuse to do a little make up shopping. I headed straight to the Chanel make up counter in Debenhams, and felt like a kid in a sweet shop. I had a faceful of Chanel make up on my wedding day, and when I can afford it, it's my preferred premium make up brand. But that doesn't mean this post is biased - I promise!

This time I replaced my foundation, and had a new lipstick and lipliner,and tried a sample of their newest mascara too. Before I go onto the product names and details, here are the pictures:
The Perfection Lumiere foundation is the replacement for the Matt Lumiere foundation I used to wear.  (This is shade 020 - Beige) It has the same light coverage but more sheen, meaning that it gives my skin a really healthy glow. It feels rich and light when you apply it, and it blends quickly and easily.

The lipstick and lipliner were an impulse buy whilst I was at the counter (I only went for a new foundation!) but once I'd tried them I liked them so much I knew I'd be taking them home with me. The lipstick is the Rouge Allure Velvet and it is a perfectly matt creamy lipstick. I don't like a glossy/shiny lipstick so this one was perfect for me: it has no sheen at all. In fact, I've never tried such a matt lipstick and I'm now completely in love with it!

Finally, although I didn't buy it (I'd already spent enough money on make up for one day!) I tried a sample of the newest product in the Chanel make up range: the Le Volume de Chanel mascara in shade 001: Black. I usually swear by the DiorShow mascara as the most volumising on the market, but this one was just as good! My lashes were long, thick, fully covered, and it stayed on all day.

You can buy a full range of Chanel make up at www.debenhams.com here.

Also whilst we're talking about beauty, I'd like to heartily recommend Cerys at Stands on Drayton Road to anyone in Norwich looking to get their hair colour done. She did mine last week, and it's the happiest I've been with my colour for a very long time. Two thumbs up from me!

Have you made any changes to your beauty routine lately? And have you discovered any new products you'd like to share?

Love Tor x

Latest on Fabfrocks and Family: Days out guide - Dinosaur Adventure at Weston Park
Latest on Fabfrocks at Home: Our new house - The master bedroom

October 2012, According to my iPhone...

Hi guys,
It's officially November! That means it is officially the month we will be having this baby - it feels like I've been waiting forever! But it's not time to get ahead of myself and think about next month when I haven't told you what I did last month yet.

Here's what I got up to in October:

Carving pumpkins - You can check out my tutorial on how to carve your own here.
Baking cookies for my nephews first birthday party - I can't believe he's about to turn one!
Caviar manicure - I was really excited when I saw this new nail technique (and it looks great!) but was disappointed on application. It only lasted one day, and the little balls started falling off almost immediately.
Hello Kitty lust - I saw these lipsticks in Superdrug and immediately bought one because of how cute the packaging was. As a lipstick it has no staying power at all, but it does brighten up my dressing table!

Checking out dresses - At the V&A. I went to see the ballgown exhibition with some friends and was just obsessed with some of the dresses. I wish we lived in a time or place where I got to twirl and dance in full skirted frocks occasionally!
Bedroom mini-make over - The bedroom was the only room we hadn't done anything to since we moved in, so I decided to give it a quick mini makeover: new bedding and curtains, new blankets and cushions, and new artwork. Easy peasy!
Pickling! - It's that time of the year again! If you want to make your own pickles and chutneys for Christmas then you need to get a wiggle on - God, I sound all domesticated and old don't I?!

Feeling festive - In Primark! Primark have got a great selection of Christmassy jumpers instore at the moment - early I know - for both men and women. In a slightly-ironic-but-secretly-awesome way, I really love a good Christmas jumper but because you can wear them so little they just aren't worth the money. These Primark ones are the solution!
New eyebrows - I had my eyebrows shaped at the Benefit brow bar. More expensive than a quick wax at my local salon, but the results are totally worth it.
New hair - I've been trying to get myself pampered as much as possible before bubs arrived, so I also had my highlights redone. Next on the list is a relaxing pedicure and a massage or two - I'm reliably assured that in a couple of weeks I won't have anytime to do these things so I'm making the most of it!

Love Tor xx

London Fashion Week SS13: Spijkers en Spijkers hair inspiration

Hi guys,
The Spijkers en Spijkers collection this season was very 1920s inspired, with a mix of simple geometric prints and intricate screen printing. But what really caught my attention was the hair.

Most of the models had natural-looking blonde hair which had been simply styled in twisted plaits. The hair was then lifted at the crown to give a half chignon feel, and then a strand of soft gold string was tied around the forehead to give a relaxed, hippie, bohemian feel. It caught my attention because of its undone look, and the fact that it would be so easy and effective to replicate at home. I know these are the Spring/Summer collections, but wouldn't this be perfect Christmas party hair?




The make-up was also understatedly lovely: Think healthy-looking dewy skin and pink tinged lips. The only really 'done' part of the look, designed to compliment the 1920s feel of the collection, were the heavily black kohled eyes. The Body Shop were the official make-up sponsor of Vauxhall Fashion Scout this season, so it's nice to know that you can get everything you need to replicate this look at affordable prices from the high street too.

What do you think of the undone hair at Spijkers en Spijkers? And have you got any new hair or make-up inspiration from the London Fashion Week shows you've seen so far?

Love Tor x

Beauty: Fancy nails for beginners!

Hi guys,
Nail art is officially the current 'big thing' in beauty, so I'm told. If you have a steady hand and an artistic eye then you can create just about any pattern you like on your nails, and I am totally in awe of what many other fashion and beauty bloggers can do with a nail art pen!

But if you have monkey paws, like me, and still want to do something lovely with your nails then you'll be delighted to learn that I have discovered the magic and the ease of nail glitter. And the best thing is it take less than 5 minutes to do, is almost impossible to get wrong, and it looks so damn fancy:



GOSH Nail Glitter in Silver £4.99 , Rimmel 5 in 1 base and top coat. (Both from Superdrug)

All you do is apply a slick of nail varnish to your nail (I used a clear base coat, but you could use any colour), dip the nail into the pot of glitter, then brush off the excess with a soft brush. I then let it settle for a couple of minutes, apply a top coat to seal the glitter in, and that is literally all there is to it!

I am reliably informed you can do so much more with this nail glitter, including using it to give yourself glittery french tips or create glittery patterns. But as I can't actually draw a straight line across my nails with nail varnish I'm happy to settle for full on metallic glittery talons!

Can you do nail art? Do you have any tips for getting it right, especially fool proof tips for the unskilled?! I'd love to hear them!

Love Tor x

John Lewis unveils their new Oxford Street store beauty department

Hi guys,
What can you buy with £7.8 Million? Well, you could buy a new house, a yacht, half a dozen cars, a couple of football players and 78,000 lipsticks.  Or, if you're John Lewis, you could spend that amount on completely revamping your beauty hall! And if you're asking me, I would say it was money well spent!

I just got back from a guided tour of the new beauty hall at John Lewis, and I have to say I was impressed. The hall is built around a town square concept, with the bigger brands around the outside of the hall and the more tactile 'help-yourself' products in the middle. It is also (rather uniquely) zoned: so yes, if you want something from Chanel, you can head straight to their counter and find all their products there, like in an ordinary department store. But you can also go to the skin, hair, nail, or make up zone if you want a specific product, but don't know what brand you're looking for.

Other features of the new beauty hall include:

- The only Topshop make-up counter outside of a Topshop store

- Products and launches exclusive to John Lewis such as the new Clinque matt foundation, the Diptyque 34 collection, or the Floris Royal Arms Diamon Edition perfume. Only 6 bottles of this £15,000 perfume have been produced. One went to the queen, one went to charity, the rest are for sale in the Floris boutique apart from the one which is for sale in John Lewis. Exciting, but out of my budget. However they also have a £99 version available.

- Two on-floor treatment rooms, including one from Lancome. Apparently, this is the only on-floor Lancome treatment room outside of Paris.

- An interactive Chanel fragrance zone to geek out about. You place a fragrance on top of the touch-screen table, and the table will tell you all about the fragrance, including what notes are included in it.

It's not like me to get excited about a department in a department store (they usually all look pretty much the same) but I was very impressed by what John Lewis have done to their Oxford Street beauty department, and especially impressed by the thought and unusual structure that have gone into it. If you're in the area and looking to buy make-up, skin care, or fragrance, then this is the place I would recommend you go!

Love Tor xx

Beauty: A week in my finger nails!

Hi guys,
According to new research, the fastest selling beauty product right now is no longer the lipstick, but the humble nail varnish. The theory is that in the recession, where we can't afford to update our looks with new clothes right now, women are instead choosing to update their look by changing their nails.

I've always loved painting and looking after my nails, and generally I varnish them every other day: every day if they chip. So rather than look at what I wear in a week (because let's face it, you've seen almost every piece in my wardrobe before!) I thought I would show you a week in my nails:

Friday: You may have seen these nails in my post of what I wore for London Fashion Week, Day 1. I cheated with these and applied nail wrap: these are Nail Rocks. As you can see, they peeled really quickly though, and the ends didn't look great!

Sunday: The grey base colour is from Essie. The shade is called Then and Now, and was specifically designed for the new online shop of the same name. The mustard is from Topshop. I don't have any nail pens or fancy tools, so I applied the polka dots using the end of a lolly stick! I wore these nails with a simple grey dress and mustard heels: I love coordination!

Tuesday: I'm prepared to admit that I was watching My Big Fat Gyspy Weddings when I painted my nails on Tuesday, and that definitely influenced the results! To create this look I applied a lovely rich red Nails Inc. varnish called Victoria, and used my Barry M glitter varnish for the tips. It looks a little bit cheap (like badly applied acrylics) and I was definitely pleased when it started to chip and I could take it off!

Thursday: I went home to my parents house for my nephew's Christening over the weekend on Friday, so on Thursday night I applied a simple and glossy coat of this neutral looking brown Boujois varnish. I wanted something that I could touch up quickly and easily over the weekend, and this definitely fit the bill!

How do you update your look without spending a fortune? Are you a slave to your nails, or happy to let them chip?

Love Tor xx

Competition: Win a trip to New York with BIC Soleil

Hi guys,
BIC have got a new razor on the market - called the BIC Soleil Bella. I know it's not something we ladies talk about a lot, but unless you're really lucky (in which case I curse you!) we all have to deal with our unwanted body hair.

I'm going to come clean about my routine: I use a hair removal cream on my upper lip, I have my eyebrows waxed, and for everything else I use a razor: admittedly I normally steal Mike's, so maybe it's time to invest in one of my own! And apparently the BIC Soleil is tailored to be more comfortable on a woman's curves, so it might be a good place to start.

I know it's considered much more trendy to have regular waxing appointments, but I just find it the quickest and easiest form of hair removal. No planning, no appointments: just jump in the shower and go!

In order to encourage women to 'Just live' (without worrying about their body hair all the time) and promote their new razor range, BIC are running a competition over on their facebook page. The star prize? An amazing Trip to New York!! Plus as well as the grand prize, they are offering a load more prizes on a weekly basis! This could be a theatre outing, a day-trip or a similar experience for you and a friend.

Want to enter the competition for your chance to win? Then head over to the BIC facebook page now and whilst you're their check it out: The page is pretty cool, and has weekly beauty tips and blog posts from a monthly-featured blogger!

Love, Tor x

*This is a Sponsored Post

Viral video by ebuzzing

Fabfrocks reviews: Sen spa @ Harvey Nichols

Hi guys,

As part of Saturday's dream day out, I had a relaxing lower legs and foot massage at the Sen spa in Harvey Nichols, and I found the experience so enjoyable, I thought I should write up a review!

When you walk into the Sen spa it just looks like a normal herbal therapy shop with rows of teas and people browsing, but when you get into the spa area at the back it's completely different: it feels weird, because you know you're in the middle of a busy department store, but it feels like you're a million miles away from anyone.

The therapy room had the obligatory low lighting and pan pipe music, and I was already feeling relaxed before the therapist even came into the room, bringing a bowl full of hot soapy water to soak my feet in. After a long days shopping sitting on a big sunken chair sipping on green tea and soaking my feet felt really amazing!

I was left alone to soak for 5 minutes then the therapist returned, gesturing that it was time to get on the bed. She didn't say a single word before, during, or after the treatment, but that didn't bother me at all. She worked wonders on my feet. I usually hate getting massages (I don't really like being touched by strangers) but this was so relaxing that I started drifting off to sleep! I didn't know you had knots and tension points in your feet, but I could feel her working them out and after the treatment my legs felt lighter and I had a real spring in my step: I also felt so relaxed that it was a struggle to keep my eyes open, so I probably wouldn't recommend this as a pre-shopping treatment!

As a post-shopping treat I would more than recommend this though: I think i'm going to make another appointment for next week to have my aching back and shoulders done too!

Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: the fish pedicure

Thursday's deal from Wahanda was a half price fish pedicure (just £9) and having read so much about them via twitter, I decided I had to give it a go! A fish pedicure is a pedicure with a difference: you dip your feet into a tank full of garra rufa (or doctor) fish, who suck away all your dead hard skin. For those of you worrying about losing more than you expected (a toe perhaps!) they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow.

My experience was disappointing: I went to Wanda Fish in Camden, which was a very basic establishment, rather than the salon I was expecting. I was very cautious when I dipped my feet into the big tub of fish, but aside from about a minute of weirdness, it didn't feel uncomfortable at all: in fact it just felt like having your feet in a bubble spa. The sensation was really gentle and soothing. The water was tepid, which was great as I expected it to be cold, but apparently garra rufa are warm water fish.

The problem with fish is that unlike a therapist, you can't tell them to concentrate on your problem areas: the fish seemed to enjoy the tops of my feet, which didn't need any work, and left the soles of my feet alone. I also didn't think there were enough fish in each tank, and that may have affected the performance: other salons say they have between 150-200 fish per tank, but I would estimate that there were only around 50 in mine. So although this had no real affect on my feet, it could be that the experience is better in other locations. I think this kind of treatment would work best in conjunction with a therapist as well, which this salon didn't offer: after my half an hour with the fish I would've liked the rest of the hard skin removed from my feet and my nails painted, which you get with a normal pedi, but don't get with a fish one.

I'm glad I tried it, and it was definitely worth giving it a go, for the experience if nothing else. But sadly it hasn't made any real difference to my feet, and i'm still going to have to go for a proper pedicure to remove the hard skin on my heels, and for a shape and polish.

Love, Tor xx

Skip the coffee, buy a manicure!!

I get excited every morning when my Wahanda newsletter arrives in my inbox (yes, I am that sad!) But, you know, what's not to get excited about? This website has revolutionised my (previously barely existant) salon life: You can get your hair cut for less than half the price, spa days for less than the cost of a lunch date, and I am seriously holding out for a teeth whitening one in time for the wedding...

....But today I had to snap the deal up before they realised they'd made a mistake! Any £20 beauty treatment for just £2!? That means a beauty treatment for less than a latte, a sandwich, or the standard tube fair home! I got the London deal, but it is also available in Birmingham, Manchester, or Leeds. In London, £2 will get you one of the following: a manicure, a pedicure,
eyebrow/eyelash tint, and a whole load of waxing!

And if you want a treatment that's a little more expensive? Well then you can have it, and pay the difference! I'm going for the 30 minute city pedicure: a nice treat for my seriously neglected tootsies. You can only buy the deal today though, so time is of the essence. Give up that extra coffee from Starbucks (you really don't need it anyway!) and get pampered instead!

Love, Tor xxx

The power of false lashes....

You will never know what a difference false lashes make to your eyes until you see yourself with one eye done and one eye undone: the contrast is so dramatic! Half way through putting my slap on I couldn't believe what a difference the new lashes made, and I just had to share.

These are the get gorgeous feather lashes from get lashed, and they cost £11, which I don't think is too bad. Get lashed have lash bars in House of Fraser stores all over the country and the professionals will put your lashes on for you, included in the price of the lashes. I bought mine and had them put on a couple of months ago, and loved them, but haven't worn them since, as they're really heavy. If you keep them in the get lashed box, which they come with, then you can take them back instore and have them applied by the experts as many times as you like, making the cost even more reasonable. But I didn't have time to go to HOF so I bungled my way through it at home: and i'm glad I did, as seeing them as a work in progress really made me appreciate how good they look!

Sorry that this is just a short, a slightly vapid post: I'm having a really busy weekend, but really wanted to share my exciting lash find!

Love, Tor xx

KAO Competition for my American friends

So, last week when I posted the UK-only reebok competition, I promised you guys that I would post a giveaway for my American friends. However I don't often work with American brands. So when I was invited to post about this one, I decided to share: This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of KAO Brands. All opinions are 100% mine.

KAO brands (who I hadn't actually heard of until today!) own Jergens and John Frieda, amongst loads of others. (Curél, Bioré, Ban, Guhl) These are the two of their brands I have actually used though - where would any of us be without frizz ease?! They have set up a new microsite called Temptation is Beautiful. Basically, all you have to do is visit the site and enter your email address for a chance to win a weekend of temptation in Las Vegas with three friends. Plus, you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win today's daily beauty basket prize. (I think it's probably more realistic to think you will win one of these, but you never know!)

For a corporate micro-site the website is pretty cool (believe me, i've seen a lot of awful ones!) As well as the competition, there is a temptation quiz where you can decide your temptation level. I know it's childish, but I love stupid quizzes, and I get really excited when I get a good score. Plus when else do I get told i'm hot, hot, hot:

It's a bit ad-heavy for my tastes but I find that on a lot of American websites. And the quiz masters accent drove me crazy but maybe that's just because i'm not used to it! So why don't you give it a go? You might win a prize or at the very least you can tell me how hot (or not!) you are. Or that you despised the computerized sex kittens accent too!

This is the first sponsored post I have ever written, and I opted to try it because there was a prize for you guys involved (and a promise is a promise!) If you don't like sponsored posts please let me know, as it will help me make a decision about whether or not to write another.

Love, Tor xx

Bathtime: My favourite treat!

When I got home this evening I indulged myself in my favourite treat: a long soak in a steaming hot bath with a magazine. Heaven! But it got me thinking about how many products we smother ourselves in after every bath and how we all have our favourites: like most people it has taken a lot of trial and error to find the perfect routine and the products I love most, so I thought I would share the products I use:

I wash and condition my hair with Mark Hill Lighter Brighter Blonde, which I swear by. It smells incredible and leaves my hair glistening and super soft. As an aside I also use Mark Hill straightening balm and John Frieda full blown blonde root lifting spray to style my hair.

I have really dry skin so I scrub myself with Soap and Glory Flake away every other day. I then use a Skin so Soft (from Avon) creme gel for general cleansing. For my face I use a Soap and Glory face scrub, Clean on me cleansing milk and then Ponds cold cream (I know it's old school but I love the way it feels!)

Post-bath I have almost a different product for every part of my body: Soap and Glory Slimwear for my thighs, Girlglo body mist for my torso, and Elemis pro collegen body serum on my arms and decolletage.

I am increasingly aware of the need to look after my feet so I use the escenti softening foot lotion and Oriflame reviving foot spray. My mum has always impressed on me the importance of taking care of my hands so I scrub them weekly with No 7 Revitalising hand saviour scrub, and I use an Aveeno hand cream every day.

I know there's a lot of Soap and Glory on this list but I don't want you to think they sponsor me: I just really love the way their products smell! What's your routine? Are there any products that aren't on my list that you would recommend I try?

Love, Tor xx

Fabfrocks reviews: Aveeno handcream

Since I had my operation I have been extra fastidious about taking care of my hands; they were already covered in little nicks and scars from fencing as a teenager, and I rub bio oil into my op scar as often as I remember, then I use hand cream to keep them soft as babies.

The one i'm using at the minute is the Aveeno (http://www.aveeno.co.uk/) handcream with oatmeal. Luckily though it doesn't smell of oatmeal: it smells quite sweet! It forms what they call on the label a "protective glove" and basically this means that your hands stay soft and mosturised all day; even if you wash them (but not after a bath or shower!) .

The cream is recommended for dry hands (which I have) but I don't think i'm alone: who doesn't get dry hands in the winter?

This picture was supposed to show you the consistency: it's quite thick but pliable and rubs in fairly instantly. As you can tell I slather on loads, but you probably only really need half this much!

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I remember once being told that you can tell a "real lady" by her hands. I hope this isn't true because mine are a mess, but I do try to keep them as soft as I can; there's nothing worse than shaking hands with someone who has dry calloused palms, and i'd hate someone to think that about me!

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Love, Tor xx
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PS - Happy birthday to my 'lil sis: 24 today!! (Don't worry: I'm not going to go all sea of shoes on her and post lots of pictures of her as a kid!)

Pop! Pop! (up store)

Pop up stores are popping up (see what I did there?) everywhere, but this is the first time i've heard of a beauty pop up store. Skincare brand RoC are opening up a pop up store in 18 Maddox Street, Mayfair tomorrow.

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Visitors to the boutique, open from 11am to 7pm, will get to sample the new RoC© Wrinkle Correxion range before it hits the shops in October 2009 and will also have a chance to receive a free skin analysis and personal RoC product recommendation, enjoy a 10 minute mini-facial with the new RoC ranges, participate in make-up masterclasses with Ruby Hammer at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 and receive free RoC samples!!

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As you know I love pampering my skin and getting stuff for free, so I will definitely be popping down (I just cant stop can I!?) to check it out! What better why to prepare your skin before the weekend!?

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I am heading to Norwich this weekend to visit the fabulous (and soon to be famous performance artist, just so you know!) Miss Becky Wigmore. I will be baking her a cake and descending on her armed with birthday gifts. And hopefully, thanks to RoC, I will be doing it with skin that glows like the sun! Pop down and check it out tomorrow, or if you don't/can't get there I will be reporting back tomorrow night!

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Love, Tor xx