Yesterday I was researching the traditions of the wedding garter, for my guest blog entry on behalf of Wedding Paraphernalia.
Wedding Paraphernalia design and supply everything that you need for your wedding. The beautiful 'bits and pieces' that I would probably spend days on end trying to pick my favourite from. You'll find invitations, wedding cake toppers, table plans and lots more.
I finally managed to draw my eyes away from the garters that Wedding Paraphernalia offer and started to browse for information on the tradition of the garter, when it originated, what it means and what types are available out there.
I was born by the seaside, I love the coast, sandy beaches and the sea so I would probably opt for this one -http://www.weddingparaphernalia.co.uk/wedding_garters_seaside.htm ...it's a bit different and VERY cute! That's not to say I'll be getting married anytime soon.
Anyways, take a look at their website and my blog post on the traditional wedding garter :-)
www.weddingparaphernalia.co.uk
Blog: http://bit.ly/e0ihZi
Thursday 17 February 2011
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Not so beautiful...
is my dissertation.
The deadline is looming (March 25th), to have a complete draft done by and I'm panicking a little bit. That's about five weeks to collect all of my data then analyse and come to some sort of conclusion.
So far, 38 lovely people have willingly responded to my questionnaire - I need 62 more! Then after I've got all of those, I need to carry out 10 in-depth interviews on the topic, eek. Some of which I'll be carrying out on Social Media discussion boards, again, if people are willing :)
ANOTHER plea to anyone reading... please, please, lend a student a hand and fill in my survey - it's 2 questions long with a space at the bottom for comments (comments are more important because I'm predominantly doing a qualitative study)....
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WWQKH6V
I will repay the favour, somehow?! :-|
The deadline is looming (March 25th), to have a complete draft done by and I'm panicking a little bit. That's about five weeks to collect all of my data then analyse and come to some sort of conclusion.
So far, 38 lovely people have willingly responded to my questionnaire - I need 62 more! Then after I've got all of those, I need to carry out 10 in-depth interviews on the topic, eek. Some of which I'll be carrying out on Social Media discussion boards, again, if people are willing :)
ANOTHER plea to anyone reading... please, please, lend a student a hand and fill in my survey - it's 2 questions long with a space at the bottom for comments (comments are more important because I'm predominantly doing a qualitative study)....
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WWQKH6V
I will repay the favour, somehow?! :-|
Friday 4 February 2011
Second Skin and Advanced Foundation - The Perfect Match
Amongst my goodies from Beauty Alchemy, FM Cosmetics Ltd, I was given two make-up samples to review. The first, "Second Skin Foundation" in Natural Cream (FMfl05) and the second, "Advanced Foundation" in Ivory (FMfl01).
My skin type is combined, oily and dry patches so I often find it hard to find the perfect foundation for a smooth, all over coverage. Now I'm not great at make-up application, I tend to just slap it on and go. Quick and easy are important factors for me when buying make-up, I don't have much time in the mornings to get ready so I need something that is reliable, easy to apply and lasts throughout (most) of the day.
Before applying the Second Skin Foundation I cleansed my face and moisturised with Nivea Face and Body Moisturiser (loving that at the moment). My skin is fairly pale with red tones and blemishes unfortunately. This foundation was maybe a little too dark for my skin, however, it was lovely to apply, created a smooth coverage and felt like it was moisturising all over again. I definitely didn't need to apply the Nivea before hand, this foundation does all the moisturising on its own. If you apply too much moisturiser before using this, your face looks a little greasy - which I dabbed down with a sponge.
Having said that, it did cover my red patches and there's not a dry patch in sight. If I was to apply a lighter shade, it would have an even colour and most importantly, would look natural.
As you can see, the foundation is £12.99 for a generous sized bottle. As a student, the foundation I buy is usually within the £8-12 bracket, so this is just outside budget but I wouldn't rule this one out.
Overall Verdict: 6/10
Probably not best for my skin type - my skin is too awkward, I wish all types would work on me... how easy would that be?
Good price for the size and worth a try if you have skin that needs a good moisture surge!
Now onto the second sample, Advanced Foundation that promises advanced covering and silky smoothness. I tried the lightest shade, Ivory FMfl01. I hoped this one would be slightly better for my skin than Second Skin as the catalogue told me it is perfect for combination complexions.
...and yes, it was much better for me than Second Skin. The shade was more suited to my skin tone for starters. It moisturised, but didn't make me look like I'd been working out for an hour. Combined with a good concealer and pressed powder, this foundation makes your face appear smooth and disguises all those imperfections.
Overall verdict: 7/10
Good coverage and leaves skin feeling silky smooth - as the catalogue said.
Give it a try if you're still seeking the perfect coverage from a foundation and you never know, this might be the one.
My skin type is combined, oily and dry patches so I often find it hard to find the perfect foundation for a smooth, all over coverage. Now I'm not great at make-up application, I tend to just slap it on and go. Quick and easy are important factors for me when buying make-up, I don't have much time in the mornings to get ready so I need something that is reliable, easy to apply and lasts throughout (most) of the day.
Having said that, it did cover my red patches and there's not a dry patch in sight. If I was to apply a lighter shade, it would have an even colour and most importantly, would look natural.
As you can see, the foundation is £12.99 for a generous sized bottle. As a student, the foundation I buy is usually within the £8-12 bracket, so this is just outside budget but I wouldn't rule this one out.
Overall Verdict: 6/10
Probably not best for my skin type - my skin is too awkward, I wish all types would work on me... how easy would that be?
Good price for the size and worth a try if you have skin that needs a good moisture surge!
...and yes, it was much better for me than Second Skin. The shade was more suited to my skin tone for starters. It moisturised, but didn't make me look like I'd been working out for an hour. Combined with a good concealer and pressed powder, this foundation makes your face appear smooth and disguises all those imperfections.
Overall verdict: 7/10
Good coverage and leaves skin feeling silky smooth - as the catalogue said.
Give it a try if you're still seeking the perfect coverage from a foundation and you never know, this might be the one.
Timeless Classics - Fragrance's from Federico Mahora
Yesterday I received a bundle of lovely samples from Rachel at Beauty Alchemy to test and review, as well as the FM Cosmetics UK Ltd 2010 product catalogues, packed full of perfume, make-up and skincare goodies. Here is my run down on the two perfume's FM101 and FM162.
The first perfume sample - FM101 (found on page 39) comes from the Federico Mahora Classic Collection Fragrance range for women. I sprinkled it onto the test strip and immediately I was welcomed with a lovely white musk and vanilla scent - just like Armani Code. Armani Code is a real timeless classic that I wear on special occasions only, mainly due to its hefty price tag of £35.75 at Boots.
The FM101 however will only set you back £11.99 for 30ml! A fraction of the Armani Code price tag and with a very similar, classic smell. I find with Armani that it lasts all evening and I can still smell it when I wake up the morning after. This perfume definitely still has its aroma which shows good signs of a classy, chic perfume.
I wouldn't be afraid to wear this perfume daily, because it is definitely value for money but it could be saved for special evenings out and you could opt for a more casual fruity fragrance during the day. Having said that, you won't be disappointed with this perfume that would easily last all day!
The second perfume sample I received was FM162 (found on page 17 of the FM 2010 catalogue). Again vanilla is present in this fragrance but it is entwined with the scent of oriental musk and honey which gives it a very sweet smell.
The perfume that I own that is very similar to this is Rodriquez Narcisso - Essence, which also has a very elegant, sweet smell about it. It was a christmas present from my mother who didn't stop telling me how much it had cost her... £55.15 from Boots. Now to me, that is extortionate, but it's designer so what do you expect? The FM162 fragrance is £16.99 for 50ml... so you could get over 100ml for the price of Narcisso Rodriguez! Again, I'm blown away by the price of this perfume, considering it is just as good as the designer perfume.
This fragrance is part of FM's luxury collection for women, and yes, after testing I can confirm that this smells like luxury. The bottle as you can see is possibly more stylish than that of the FM101 which represents it's luxury and exclusivity. I love the dark navy colour of the bottle - I'm a bit of a sucker for fancy perfume bottles that I can line up on my shelf.
Overall verdict: 8/10
Both of these fragrances are representative of timeless classics. To me they are 'evening smells', and although some of us cannot bare to leave the designer labelled perfumes behind, these are really worth a try - you'll feel good that you haven't broke the bank and it will be a genuine, guilt-free purchase :-).
Note: Both of these fragrances passed the boyfriend test. So, if you're going out on a date, these perfume's are sure to 'wow' them... and for any fella's reading about the FM fragrances - it's valentine's day soon remember ;-).
To find out more about FM Cosmetics and Perfume product ranges, contact Rachel at Beauty Alchemy at mail@beautyalchemy.co.uk/07528548744. Have a visit of her blog too -http://beautyalchemy.blogspot.com. She is a beauty consultant, beauty blogger and products can be purchased from Rachel. To have a look directly at FM Cosmetics go to http://www.fmcosmetics.co.uk/.
The FM101 however will only set you back £11.99 for 30ml! A fraction of the Armani Code price tag and with a very similar, classic smell. I find with Armani that it lasts all evening and I can still smell it when I wake up the morning after. This perfume definitely still has its aroma which shows good signs of a classy, chic perfume.
I wouldn't be afraid to wear this perfume daily, because it is definitely value for money but it could be saved for special evenings out and you could opt for a more casual fruity fragrance during the day. Having said that, you won't be disappointed with this perfume that would easily last all day!
Overall verdict: 9/10
- Armani is my favourite perfume of all time, FM101 smells almost identical for a fraction of the price (which is the part I love the most, being a student).
- The bottle is simple yet elegant and doesn't shout about itself too much - it is what it is.
- With such a low price tag you expect it to be of low quality, however, I was pleasantly suprised to see that this fragrance is long lasting and smells delicious!
It gets the thumbs up from me!
The second perfume sample I received was FM162 (found on page 17 of the FM 2010 catalogue). Again vanilla is present in this fragrance but it is entwined with the scent of oriental musk and honey which gives it a very sweet smell.
This fragrance is part of FM's luxury collection for women, and yes, after testing I can confirm that this smells like luxury. The bottle as you can see is possibly more stylish than that of the FM101 which represents it's luxury and exclusivity. I love the dark navy colour of the bottle - I'm a bit of a sucker for fancy perfume bottles that I can line up on my shelf. Overall verdict: 8/10
- The only reason it doesn't get above an eight is because I am just Armani Code's biggest fan and FM101 ooze's distinctiveness and class.
- Elegant, vintage bottle
- Good price, just as good as Narcisso!
Both of these fragrances are representative of timeless classics. To me they are 'evening smells', and although some of us cannot bare to leave the designer labelled perfumes behind, these are really worth a try - you'll feel good that you haven't broke the bank and it will be a genuine, guilt-free purchase :-).
Note: Both of these fragrances passed the boyfriend test. So, if you're going out on a date, these perfume's are sure to 'wow' them... and for any fella's reading about the FM fragrances - it's valentine's day soon remember ;-).
Sunday 30 January 2011
Help with Dissertation
I'm looking for some responses from Social Media users about how they search for and evaluate the information they find (on Social Media) about products, for my dissertation.
Social Media interests me, hence why I've chosen to write 10,000 words on it and consumer information search behaviour. I would love to receive some comments on my blog about how you search for information on Social Media and more specifically, why? Why do you visit beauty blogs to find out other consumers' reviews on the new Maybelline lipstick? Why do trust online, Social Media sources more than what the company/brand says? Is it purely because other consumers don't fabricate the truth?
ANY points of view would be greatly appreciated as I'm doing a qualitative study so need some direct quotes to go into my work (all responses will be anonymous). I just need to get an in-depth understanding of how consumers are using Social Media to inform their next purchase decision.
Many, many, MANY thanks :-)
(Oh and if you do come across this, please pass it on to other Social Media-using friends, families and colleagues for them to give their point of view too!)
Social Media interests me, hence why I've chosen to write 10,000 words on it and consumer information search behaviour. I would love to receive some comments on my blog about how you search for information on Social Media and more specifically, why? Why do you visit beauty blogs to find out other consumers' reviews on the new Maybelline lipstick? Why do trust online, Social Media sources more than what the company/brand says? Is it purely because other consumers don't fabricate the truth?
ANY points of view would be greatly appreciated as I'm doing a qualitative study so need some direct quotes to go into my work (all responses will be anonymous). I just need to get an in-depth understanding of how consumers are using Social Media to inform their next purchase decision.
Many, many, MANY thanks :-)
(Oh and if you do come across this, please pass it on to other Social Media-using friends, families and colleagues for them to give their point of view too!)
Change of plan...
Okay, so the ASOS dress that I ordered (see previous blog post) was the last one in stock and the one that I had, had a funky zip that kept getting stuck. Please note: this was before I put it on. Anyway, it was sent back because it was faulty, so I returned to the site find another dress (out of spite).
Now, I shall be wearing this modest, simple red dress on my birthday. (http://www.asos.com/)
I've own some shoes like those in the picture too so I'll be wearing them. For a girl with curves this is perfect for cinching in the waist and the pleated, tulip skirt accentuates the hips (but not too much). Its elasticated waistband is handy if you're going out for a big meal too!
To accessorise I may wear silver and black jewellery. Also it's time to find a perfect bright red lipstick and some false eyelashes that don't look too false.
Now, I shall be wearing this modest, simple red dress on my birthday. (http://www.asos.com/)
I've own some shoes like those in the picture too so I'll be wearing them. For a girl with curves this is perfect for cinching in the waist and the pleated, tulip skirt accentuates the hips (but not too much). Its elasticated waistband is handy if you're going out for a big meal too!
To accessorise I may wear silver and black jewellery. Also it's time to find a perfect bright red lipstick and some false eyelashes that don't look too false.
Monday 17 January 2011
My 21st Birthday
It's my 21st birthday next month so I've been browsing the net for some lovely evening dresses. I usually go for the same style of dress or safe colours so I wanted to find something that was a colour I've never worn (and is okay for a girl with curves).
After much dithering on which to purchase, I decided on this one, from ASOS.
£39 is not a lot of money for a dress that will be worn on my milestone birthday! It's not too flashy or 'look at me', it's elegant but also a party dress that can be worn 'til the early hours. Lets just hope when it arrives it looks as good on me, as it does the above model! ...if not, the search begins again.
ASOS don't usually let me down. :)
After much dithering on which to purchase, I decided on this one, from ASOS.
£39 is not a lot of money for a dress that will be worn on my milestone birthday! It's not too flashy or 'look at me', it's elegant but also a party dress that can be worn 'til the early hours. Lets just hope when it arrives it looks as good on me, as it does the above model! ...if not, the search begins again.
ASOS don't usually let me down. :)
Tuesday 4 January 2011
First Blogger Blog
Hello.
I'm aware I'm talking to no followers at the moment but you've got to start somewhere. This is my first post on this blogging site, I've found it quite easy to work so far. The hardest part is possibly coming up with a witty, clever and eye-catching blog title (there are lots of beauty blogs out there!)
The main reason for me to take up blogging is to gain experience of writing. I've written a number of essays, projects and presentations in my life of education so now I want to write about things that interest me and show others (possibly potential employers) my styles of writing, all of which will go into my writing portfolio.
I'll also be posting up my own photographs of products I'm reviewing and anything that gives me imagination for my blog. Greatest inspiration comes from each other, so hopefully I will find other inspiring bloggers here too!
Best wishes and happy new year!
I'm aware I'm talking to no followers at the moment but you've got to start somewhere. This is my first post on this blogging site, I've found it quite easy to work so far. The hardest part is possibly coming up with a witty, clever and eye-catching blog title (there are lots of beauty blogs out there!)
The main reason for me to take up blogging is to gain experience of writing. I've written a number of essays, projects and presentations in my life of education so now I want to write about things that interest me and show others (possibly potential employers) my styles of writing, all of which will go into my writing portfolio.
I'll also be posting up my own photographs of products I'm reviewing and anything that gives me imagination for my blog. Greatest inspiration comes from each other, so hopefully I will find other inspiring bloggers here too!
Best wishes and happy new year!
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