The George at Asda make-over

A package arrived this week and out spilled some of the gorgeous cosmetics from the George at Asda range, courtesy of the George PR team, so I decided to set myself the George at Asda make-over challenge...

Step one: The nothing-but-moisturiser-not-so-pretty-on-a-Sunday-morning blank canvas

Step two: Apply George Face Primer and George Under Eye Concealer

I started with the creamy, fluffy and a little bit sticky primer followed by generous dollops of the YSL Touche Eclat style concealer. Touche Eclat is one of my favourite beauty products; I rarely leave the house without mine stashed in my handbag. It's essential for quick bursts of nude coloured iridescence my cheek or brow bone, or as a light-reflecting concealer under my eyes. George's version looks exactly the same, however the consistency is thick, creamy and harder to blend; it is much more suited to the role of concealer than highlighter

Concealer applied under my eyes and along my nose

Step three: George Shimmer Me! Brush-On Powder applied using a mineral foundation brush to my full face, then applied to my eyes using an eye shadow brush

Step four: George Faux Lash False Lash Effect mascara, followed by George Blush, No.2 Peachy, finished with one last dusting of George Shimmer Me! Brush-On Powder. 

The mascara creates statement, stand out, long lashes however it does take 30 seconds to dry and did smudge a little

Step five: ask long suffering but very kindly obliging boyfriend to take one last photo! The George at Asda make-over is complete!

The range is available in large Asda stores; I've found it hard to track down recent prices online however from reading other blog posts I'm assured the range is very affordable. My favourite product is the George Under-Eye Concealer as the coverage is fantastic and the colour perfect for my skin tone. I recommend locating an Asda store and treating yourself to something from the range.

Have you tried any of the products?

Miss Piggy and MAC

I like to blog an honest product review or tell you about a beauty experience I’ve had but just this once I have to share the details of a delightful press release I received this week... Miss Piggy and MAC have collaborated.

A limited edition, online-only collection goes on sale on the 1^st February. The Miss Piggy range contains a frosted pink eye shadow, £11.50, a black felt tip eye liner, £14.00, and dramatic false lashes, £10.00. The collection is loveable, feisty and fabulous and celebrates the release of the new Muppets movie on 10^th February.

Miss Piggy is glamour personified; I just adore her brash, bossy and bold attitude. She’s dripping in diamonds and feather boas but also packs a mean punch. Nobody messes with Miss Piggy. In the MAC publicity shot Miss Piggy has gone for a dark elfin crop and appears to me to be channelling sixties chic. You must agree, the sugary sweet pink eye shadow teamed with defined, dramatic painted on lashes is pure Twiggy.  

Miss Piggy and Twiggy! Spot the difference!

But don’t let the make-up fool you, Miss Piggy’s metallic gold, shoulder padded, belted trench screams seventies power-woman. She is head to toe fabulous. I cannot wait to purchase a product from the collection; I think the lashes have my vote...!

Available from www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Any brand/celebrity/Muppet collaborations you particularly like at the moment?

Denim

When Company asked Alexa Chung to choose leather/denim/stripes, she opted for the reliable denim. I would have to agree. Don’t get me wrong I love my leather trousers, and some slimming vertical stripes are such a saving grace on a ‘fat day’, but denim has stood the test of time. I can’t remember a year, since I got it, when I haven’t worn my levis denim skirt, a denim jacket can instantly turn your favourite outfit for the clubs into the perfect attire for a day in the park, and although I have been a little late to discover the wonder of them, everyone I know has at least 3 pairs of jeans.

The S/S lines are hitting the shops already, and denim is everywhere. Pastel coloured skinnies, 70’s inspired skirts, animal print hot pants, oversized boyfriend jackets and also holiday must have playsuits seem to be popular with the high street.

Topshop, American Apparel, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Miss Selfridge.

I’m pretty sure my sewing skills are not quite good enough yet for me to make myself any of these items, so I will be heading to the charity shops and the wonderful markets of London to see if I can discover any similar items.

The not-so-Everlasting Manicure from Urban Retreat, Harrods

2011 was the year of The Statement Nail. Cracked-effect and magnetic nails from Barry M, OPI and Nails Inc became the essential accessory of every beauty blogger; Kelly Rowland flashed an intricately designed talon every Saturday night; and the beauty pages were filled with how-to guides on creating zebra print and lace effect nails at home. 

So when I received a voucher for Urban Retreat at Harrods, I chose the Everlasting (gel polish) Manicure, £55. Inspired by a nail feature in Look magazine, I opted for a French manicure style shocking pink nails finished with glittering gold tips. I was expecting outstanding results from Harrods, especially at a cost of £55 but sadly I was disappointed. Urban Retreat felt more express nail bar than luxury salon; the manicurist was friendly but I felt I was burdening her when I asked for a glass of water, which arrived in a tiny paper cup. 

 The not-as-glam-as-you-think Urban Retreat, Harrods

I was surprised when she started by painting my entire nail in the shocking pink, I expected her to start with the gold tip, and then paint the pink polish, just as a French manicure. After the pink was dry the manicurist layered the gold, in a very thin strip, directly on top. Immediately I could tell that the gold was not a strong enough colour – it was completely overpowered by the pink underneath. The gold looked muted, not the stand-out flash of glitter I was hoping for. Forty five minutes and £55 later, my nails looked good, but I wasn’t blown away. 

The manicure stayed perfect for the next seven days but on the eighth day amid a badly timed flat move (I scrubbed the oven, unpicked parcel tape and washed countless dishes... all without gloves) my nails started to chip. Unfortunately, they didn’t just chip in small chunks but in long strips - the layered gold tips began to peel off completely! Again, I was disappointed as I felt the manicurist should have recognized that by layering strips of gold polish onto the pink she was creating an uneven surface that was likely to peel off. 

Four weeks on I have one nail left standing – my thumb! I think it’s time for me to remove the polish from the rest of my nails! 

I would definitely get a gel manicure again; I loved having practically perfect nails for seven days straight. However I wouldn’t get them done at Harrods. For £55 I expect an excellent service, not an express nail bar environment, bad advice and colours that peeled off. 

And for those that don’t know... a gel manicure is a gel like substance, applied like normal polish but dried under an ultra-violet light. The gel polish isn’t damaging to nails in anyway and the polish stays chip free, shiny and perfect for two weeks or more. 

Have you had a gel polish before? What did you think of the results? Can anyone recommend a great, but affordable gel nail bar in London?

A very happy 2012 to our readers & some wise words from Christian Dior

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a fun New Year? I arrived at home in Scotland on the 22nd December and began the kind of hibernation only acceptable at Christmas time. I ate too much, I sampled the delights of many bottles of red wine and I slept for ten hours a day. I didn't blog and I barely tweeted. I dragged my boyfriend on long walks through the Scottish countryside. It was perfect. 

I'm now en route to London to reconnect with work and reality. My bag is full of beautiful Christmas presents (I will blog my favourite beauty prezzies!) and my waistline is an inch or two wider (oversized boyfriend shirt anyone?) and I'm feeling rested, relaxed and recharged. This year I plan to work hard (a promotion would be nice!) blog & engage with bloggers, have fun, choose happiness, (in the words of Little Mix) be myself, and finally (Mr Dior would be proud) channel my inner zesty-ness at all times. 

"Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest." Christian Dior

Sarah x