Give Yourself Some Bounce

I heard a lot about Philip Kingsley Elastisizerbefore I tried it out and the hype was all true. One of the few conditioning treatments that you use before you wash your hair this adds stretchibility, bounce and shine to your hair and makes a noticeable difference. In the two weeks that I've been using it my hair has become more manageable, looks in much better condition and I've had comments on how healthy and shiny its looking.

You can use this either as an intensive conditioning treatment or a quick 5 minute pick-me-up. Wet your hair and then before shampooing apply the elasticizer in sections. If you have thick hair (I'm jealous) you can add all over, for those of us with finer hair apply from the mid lengths and ends. Then either put on the shower cap that's included and go and do something else for 10-20 minutes or just leave on for 5 mins and rinse. Then wash, dry and style your hair as normal.

My hair is dyed and damaged so I usually put the cap on and go and make my lunch (I was my hair every other day before work) and the results speak for themselves. You can see why Philip Kingsley is renowned as one of the leading authorities in hair and scalp health. For me it's so nice to find an easy to use conditioning treatment that doesn't weigh my hair down and has an immediate affect. It's not cheap (£23.50 for 150ml) but I really think its worth every penny and you can probably find some cheaper deals if you search on the net a little. In these difficult financial times money spent on good hair products means less money spent getting your hair sorted out at the hairdresser! xx

Skin Deep

It's a bad time for money by all accounts - many have had to cut back on their little luxuries but there is no reason why you have to let yourself go! I've been doing at home facials for my sister before her wedding (I do the facial and get paid in sushi - fair deal I say!!) and have been testing the products out for myself beforehand. A fantastic, cheap and easy at-home face peel is Soap and Glory's The Fab Pore 15 minute Facial Peel (£5.88).

I just love Soap and Glory products - I've yet to try out something that I don't like and it's so affordable, even their spot cream works! The 15 minute facial peel is great for either a quick five min refresher or a full on at-home facial. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and not at all dry (which I can find a problem after using some scrubs and peels) and really makes your skin look replenished and healthy.

I had a red blotch on my cheek for a couple of months. It just appeared and wouldn't go away no matter what I used. I wish I'd taken before and after photos now because it's nearly completely gone in the three times I've used this peel (which seems more like a scrub crossed with a face mask to me). Great as a stocking filler or indeed just as a present for the girl who has everything - I'm planning on buying a couple and keeping them as reserves for those surprise Christmas presents that always get sprung on you and make you feel useless!! xx

Affordable Lips

I can't count how many lipsticks and lip glosses I've tried that are supposed to last for a certain amount of time - usually 12 hours - which last 12 minutes. I admit that once I have applied anything to my lips I become a dedicated chewer until nothing is left except large sore patches (attractive I know). Still I always feel slightly let down, like it hasn't even tried to stay on properly.

MeMeMe's Long Stay Lips lip gloss however did have some staying power. Ok so the gloss lasts about an hour and a half tops (maybe more if you are not a lip worrier like me) but the colour is really long lasting. I tried Infinite Nude (where do they get these names from!!) and although its not a colour that screams nude to me, it was quite browny coloured and noticeable, the colour fades out really nice and then stays at the nice faded colour pretty much all day. I would definitely say that it lasts a long time - I'm not quite sure it does the full 12 hours. It's £5.99 and available at Superdrug - I'm definitely going to give this a try in some other colours. xx

Primed and Ready

I'm a big fan of primers. OK I'm a big fan of all make-up for some reasons primers are something I never get bored of trying. I think it's because I thought they were just another rouse by make-up companies to get me to spend money but then I found some that actually did make a difference. It should come as no surprise then that I've been testing out another one.

I wear quite a lot of eyeliner and find that this can stain my lids. I have been using Benefit's F.Y..eye (£17) which I just love the texture of (it leaves your eyes feeling silky smooth) and it does take the lids back to their natural colour. However, it does occasionally let those evil creases appear (which I hate). I did think that this was just inevitable but have now found something which defies the crease!

Laura Mericer's Eye Basics (£19.57) creates a perfect canvas for your eye make-up - enhancing the durability of it and camouflaging imperfections. Not only that but the skin friendly ingredients soothe your lids and provide healing benefits and anti-oxidant protection for this delicate skin area. It comes in different shades - I've been using Linen which I thought would be too light but is actually perfect.

The primer itself blends easily and drys smooth leaving a semi-matte finish that is crease proof and water resistant. For those of you who brave the world with a minimal amount of make-up this is great on it's own as a natural colour for your eyes.

I have really noticed the difference in the staying power of my eye make-up since I started using this. It comes highly recommended from me - definitely worth a try (and available here) xx

Why?

I'm sorry to be writing this as I've tried to ignore all the goings on but how the hell has Jordan/Katie Price been nominated for Mother of the Year. Admittedly compared to Kerry Katona, a previous winner, she is a wonderful parent but slagging your ex-husband off in every media channel available, discussing your sex life with ex and new boyfriend publically and often, moving a new boyfriend into your home with your children weeks after splitting from said husband and encouraging those children to call this new man 'dad' is absolutely appalling and I find it sickening that her behaviour is being condoned in anyway. There I'm done I will now go back to being completely bored of their goings on and wishing their sections in the papers were taken up by people with any talent whatsoever. xx

Beauty Sleep

I've always had trouble sleeping and recently it's been pretty bad. Nothing seemed to be working but luckily help was at hand in the form of the Silksleep Eye Mask - made from 100% Mulberry silk with deep silk filled padding that completely blocks out light. I don't usually like sleeping in eye masks but I think that is because most of the time the fabric isn't particularly nice and the strap is too tight. The strap on the Sleepsilk mask is comfortable and just the right tightness - the mask stays on but you can't feel it on the back of your head. I have occasionally woken up to find that I've taken it off in my sleep (oops) but I have been sleeping so it must work.

A good nights sleep has a multitude of health benefits including helping reduce blood pressure and having the prescribed eight hours sleep a night can help to build your immunity and avoid receptiveness to illness and infections. Now not everyone needs eight hours sleep but for however long you do sleep and eye mask helps block out the the distractions - lights, clocks, street lights...

Not only that but silk is beneficial to the complexion. Soft and gentle on your skin and helps the delicate skin around the eyes retain moisture as silk holds the same pH as the skin! This allows the skin to remain supple helping to reduce the effects of wrinkles so you are looking radiant, refreshed and healthy in the morning.

The Silksleep Eye Mask is chemical free and awarded a coveted Oeko-Tex 100 textiles certification and it's only £12.95 (available here) - a small price to pay for a good nights sleep. xx

Sure

I very nicely got sent some new Sure Women Maximum Protection deodorant to try out. I have been using the same deodorant for such a long time that I have to say it was a bit of a novelty to try out a new one (how exciting is my life!). Deodorants are so person specific once you get into it. Everyone has their preferences - spray, roll on, gel, scented, unscented let alone brand.

Sure Women Maximum Protection is a cream deodorant formulated with innovative TRIsolid body responsive technology to moisturise the skin, fight odour and give maximum wetness protection! It is supposed to give 48 hours protection - you apply it before going to bed (the TRisolid formula works best while the body is resting and builds a strong level of protection. This is supposed to last throughout the following day and is even showerproof.

This lightly scented deodorant does smell really nice and has a nice light application. I did find that it didn't last as long as it said however. I tried applying it post-bath before bed and found I was a little niffy half way through the next afternoon. I didn't mind this at all though (not the smelling... I do mind smelling). I actually like to sleep with no deodorant on if I've just had a bath - I think it's nice for my little pits to breathe a bit. So if you applied this in the morning it will definitely last all day and into the night with not a sign of wearing off, it has a nice light feel to it and should last a long time. Definitely worth a try xx

MOP

For the last three weeks I have been testing out Modern Organic Products MOP Glisten Shampoo 250ml. I know that Miss F is a big fan and although I snuck a try of hers when we were living together I'd never used it regularly enough to see how it actually works. I have to say I'm impressed - people have commented on how shiny and healthy my hair is looking which can only be a good thing and it has lasted really well. You don't need to use very much for this to have a real effect.

As the name suggests this is an affordable, modern, organic hair care range which protects you hair and your wallet. There are a couple of ranges from Mop - the Glisten that I was testing is a natural shine producing range designed to accentuate the hairs natural pliability and lustre. Because this has made a noticeable difference I really wish I was trying the MOP Glisten Conditioner (250ml) too as I'm sure together they would have an even more fantastic effect.
The MOP Glisten Shampoo 250ml contains linseed oil, whole wheat protein and Vitamin C which thoroughly cleanse the hair, maple syrup and honey to lock in the shine and moisture and protect the hair from heat (which is fantastic if you can't put down your GHD's). Although at approx £10 this is not the cheapest shampoo on the market is is by no means the most expensive - a bottle does last and you will see the difference.

Although this is not specifically a volumising shampoo like I would usually go for this, as with the majority of shampoos (except Head & Shoulders I HATE Head & Shoulders) does give your hair lift if you really massage your scalp - there is no way this is going to coat your hair and hold it down. It adds shine and I can really feel the difference in the texture of my hair. If you are having hair troubles then give this a go. Highly recommended xx

P.s Mr J and I got engaged a year ago today - have been secretly reliving it (the rain, the shouting, the swearing, the champagne) all day. Can't believe it was a year ago... where's the time going... where's my life going! xx

Atheist's Guide to Christmas

You've all seen and heard about the Atheist bus campaign well now here is the Atheist book campaign. This beautiful hardback, The Atheist's Guide to Christmas, is out on 1st October but available on Amazon and in all good book stores (and Tesco!) now. Buy it - it has great contributions from some fantastic people including Richards Dawkins, Derren Brown, Charlie Brooker, Simon le Bon and David Baddiel. It makes you think, it makes you laugh and it is the perfect present for the atheist in your family - whether it's Christmas or not and all the proceeds go to the Terrence Higgins trust xx

VMA's

I used to watch all awards show. Slightly lame you may think but if that's the case you're probably not as nosey as I am. I'm very nosy. Mr J is not. I can't remember the last time I sat and stuffed my face whilst making shocked noises at who was wearing what and snorting derisively at acceptance speeches. Mr J went and watched football on Sunday afternoon - by the time he returned home I was fully ensconced in the warm up to the Video Music Awards. There was no escape for him, he had to make me supper and shut up.

I have to say I thought Russell Brand was a bizarre and poor choice. I'm British and I didn't find him funny so was not surprised by the lack of laughter from the audience (but of course the Britishness in me did find the stony silence incredibly embarrassing from my sofa). His suit was also dreadful - how he manages to get laid in such unattractive trousers is beyond me!

I don't really want to dwell on the whole Kanye/Taylor thing although I will say that I do agree with Obama the man is a jackass. I felt his comments about the Beyonce video were partly due to who she is and who she's married to but what pissed me off most was that he later 'apologised' saying he was still sad about his mum. I'm pretty sure she'd be pretty sad to be used as an excuse for terrible and completely avoidable public bad behaviour. Obviously Beyonce rectified it on the night by behaving like a complete lady.

The outfits didn't really set my world on fire. I thought Pink looked great in her Balmain dress and dealt well with the fact that Shakira was wearing the same one and arrived five minutes after her. I do hate Pinks trapeze outfit thought - the star over one exposed boob is not a good look for anyone no matter in how good shape you are. I liked Beyonce's red dresses even if one did seem to have a sort of built in bum bag arrangement at the front - I guess she needed somewhere to keep her lipstick - but I found the leotard she performed in pretty unattractive. She does have a fantastic body and I do hate leotards on everyone but I felt the same as I do every time Madonna dons one - 'I just don't want to see that much of your thrusting barely covered crotch'.

I thought Alicia Keys looked good when she performed (I didn't see her non-performance outfit very well) but again leggings can be unflattering and they didn't do her justice. In fact I can remember being quite surprised at how un-great she looked but I think I'm probably just so happy that she got rid of those dreadful side plait/cornrow things that I'll forgive her many a fashion faux pas.

Of course you can't comment on outfits without a little mention to Lady GaGa who managed three costume changes (not including her performance outfit) and looked horrifically uncomfortable in all of them. The first involved a partial mask and full neck brace necklace. The mask I can kind of get my head around even if it made me imagine her living in the roof of Radio City but she looked so uncomfortable not being able to move her neck and I don't think that's a good look. As for the red lacy number over her face - even she got sick of that one when she pulled it off to give her acceptance speech. Third time lucky? Third time better I'd say even though she looked like she'd been called to attend the VMA's in the middle of an ornithological accident and had a birds nest stuck to her face. As a result of all these face cover costume changes her hair looked so unhappy - if hair could cry it would have done. I was shocked to find she is three years younger than me... she looked older on the night and I now think it must have been the hair.

When it comes to the performances I thought they were all pretty good. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys did 'Empire State of Mind' which was fantastic, really atmospheric... almost made me a little weepy and I've never even been to New York. They both sounded great (Jay-Z maybe a little gravelly) and I'd forgotten how talented Alicia Keys actually is. I'm so used to processed music now that I always get a surprise when a girl has a real good pair of lungs! The Michael Jackson tribute was fantastic - was really impressed with the dancers. It's one thing doing all of his most difficult dances but doing them with a massive screen showing him doing them at the same time, talk about pressure. Thought it was slightly weird that they put someone at the front who couldn't do the famous Smooth Criminal lean but maybe it was stage fright. Thought Janet danced well and was really brave - out of all the dancers though she was the only one slightly out of time she does have that Jackson flair though so I think that makes up for it.

Beyonce of course was duty bound to do the 'Single Ladies' dance but didn't actually sing much of the song. Ok I thought, it's a vigorous dance no one wants to hear her singing in a wobbly exercise voice so I forgave her... until I saw Pink perform 'Sober'. 'She's miming' said the ever cynical Mr J. She was not. By far the best performance of the night (I think it was during this performance that she made have separated her shoulder) the trapezing was fantastic and she sang well enough to sound like a recording only her own personal additions made it clear that she was singing live. The woman was being tossed around in the air upside down and was note perfect. Frankly made Beyonce look a little lame for not singing more.

So that's it. That'll probably be the last awards show I'll be allowed to watch for years xx