Mediamarmalade

Search results for: “back to work”

  • Watching.Paint.Dry

    Watching.Paint.Dry

    On Friday I popped out in my lunch break for a manicure with a friend I work with in the magazine industry (one of the perks of our jobs). Now normally we’d hit likes of Cowshed, Bloww or some other Soho based salon but for ease I suggested we nipped to one of my fave little salons in Neal’s Yard (Seven Dials in Covent Garden) called Hair By Fairy as it’s just round the corner from work (and the Japanese we were heading to after for lunch). The salon is in a fab location and offers really good quality and value beauty treatments. They work with Essie, OPI and Jessica namely and I love the shades they have available.We had full manicures & chose some deep burgundy / purple shades (I am wearing OPI Black Cherry Chutney) – seemingly my colour of the moment. I wanted to share it all with you as it really is such a good value salon (I am even going back today in my lunch break). Our manicures cost £30 … not each FOR THREE PEOPLE. It’s an absolute bargain, such good quality, and the polish lasts for a good week or two before it needs topping up / taking off. If you are ever in London and need a quick mani or pedi before an event, or you live and work up here, i’d recommend you pop in if you need your nails doing. I’m always really pleased with the results and would call this my ‘local’. Just make sure you confirm your booking before you go :)
    Do you have a favourite cheap but chic nail parlor? Or can you recommend any others in London I shouldn’t miss?
  • A Beautiful Face

    A Beautiful Face


    I popped to Gunwarf Quays in Portsmouth today to do a tad more Christmas shopping. Gunwarf is full of outlet stores including the likes of Kurt Geiger, Jack Wills, Ralph Lauren, French Connection etc, so you always manage to grab yourself a little bargain. As is becoming my Christmas tradition this year, I managed to purchase two little treats for myself too (quelle surprise). There is a fab cosmetics store which I’ve never actually been in before, and boy have I been missing out. They have top quality makeup at outlet store prices … yes i know, hard to believe the pure luck of this. Mac, Estee Lauder, Clinique, and Bobbi Brown were my fave brands featured, and I really can’t believe the discounts.
    I purchased these two Clinique make up goodies, at a bargain of a rate. Firstly the Super Balanced Clinique Foundation RRP £21, I paid £14.75 & secondly Clinique’s Shimmering Stripes blusher (Limited edition) RRP £24, I paid £12. Hard to refuse right?

    I’m not usually a big foundation wearer, I tend to stick to my Benefit Boi-ing cover up or my new Benefit Gorgeous Gal concealer to hide my imperfections but every now and then I do wish I had a good foundation which is light on the skin but a miracle at covering blemishes. The Christmas season and the unworldly consumption of mulled wine and beige food (we like to call the extreme canape consumption ‘media beige’ in my industry) has made my skin suffer even more than usual, so I thought it was about time I invested in a good quality but hard working foundation to help me look a little more human.
     
    I’ve heard a lot of reviews about the Estee Lauder double wear foundation so instinctively I went to purchase this (RRP £26 but in this store it was £16). However then I tested this Clinique one, and being a big Clinique fan anyway, I was very impressed with how light it was on my skin and yet how well it covered and cleared all skin imperfections. I’ve been very very impressed with every other Clinique product I’ve used, and I live by their skin care products so I decided to be brand loyal and choose this ‘Super Balanced’ foundation in Neutral (no.65).
    My second treat was less of a necessity and more a little indulgence as I absolutely loved the colour palette and I’ve been interested in buying a powder blusher for a while now. I usually use my Bobbi Brown Blusher Stick or my Benefit Benetint, but as much as I love both these products, I still wanted a nice powder blush as I do feel a powder sits a lot more lightly on your skin. So when I saw this cute little compact blush I was instantly grabbing for my purse. It was a toss up between the Clinique blush and the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick blusher, now don’t get me wrong I LOVE the Bobbi Brown blush and bronzer sets (I use the bronzer set already), but to be honest the Clinique one was £10 cheaper and actually the colours were a lot more vibrant on the skin, and so the Clinique shimmering stripes powder blusher got my vote in the end. 
    I’m totally chuffed with both my purchases and can’t believe that for the foundation and the blusher I paid £26, opposed to the £45 it should have cost me. I don’t even feel bad for treating myself yet again at that rate … it would have been rude not to :) I may even go back to stock up on some Mac Lipstick and eyeshadow sets too.
  • THE CURE

    THE CURE

    . BLOODY MARY .
    I keep talking about Christmas party season … and there is one very important, fundamental accessory to a Christmas party.
    The morning after cure.
    Now I know everyone has their own tipple of choice to cure the nausea, migraine and usually still drunken-ness, bacon sarnies, coca cola, Mc Donalds breaky, full blown fat boys… but mine is farrrr more sophisticated darling. AND it works EVERY time :)
    My secret weapon … The Bloody Mary

     

    I feel qualified to write this post as I can assure you I have had my fair share of bloody mary’s, I am a huge fan (and not just when I am hungover). I know the good from the bad, and let me tell you … some can be BAD. It takes a skilful master to create this delicacy and there are 3 places I know I am guaranteed to get a top notch bloody mary.
    1) Gaucho I recommend the house bloody mary, there is nothing like it
    2) Jamies Italian Mr Oliver knows how to serve up this classic drink, don’t hold the horseradish!
    3) Tsunami Their bloody mary is perfect teamed with a larger than life japanese banquet
    If you can’t get yourself to these three restaurants, then the local pub usually do a pretty good bloody mary. Just make sure they have all the essential accessories.
    But if you really can’t leave the house … then make sure you stock your fridge with this genius invention …  All in One, Blood Shot Vodka
    Bloodshot vodka is cleverly infused with Bloody Mary ingredients so it’s ready to drink … just add ice ;) You can buy this from Selfridges for £19.99.
    Happy Hangovers

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