How to get feet like Cinderella, not an Ugly Sister

The mindless march of time means that we are almost in Advent. Which means Christmas is less than four weeks away and there is stuff to do and not enough time in which to do it.  

This means you end up shuffling about in endless queues, and your poor little feet suffer. 

What started out resembling Cinderella's little toes, turn into an Ugly Sister-esque swollen appendages, which need TLC. (Don't we all ducky?) 

So, that's today's 

PAMPER MISSION

Soak those toes!

Always best not to use the washing up bowl, I feel, but easy for me to say, as I have a selection of rather snazzy foot bowls. (Including a copper one which I can barely carry once it is full of H2O, Still it's gorgeous, and il faut souffrir etc.) 

So, find yourself a bowl, or treat yourself to one specifically for feet. Fill it with warm water, spritz in some Sage Bath or Spruce, and soak your feet.

You could read a book, knit, sip wine or watch television, as you will be immobilised somewhat. Let's hope the doorbell doesn't ring! 

Once your feet feel a little more suited to a glass slipper, rather than needing their toes or heels chopped off*, (which is way beyond the scope of the average chiropodist, so best avoided) remove them, dry them and rub in some cream. I like Hydrating Foot Cream best. 

Finish off with some socks and slippers, then put them up. Make a list of some sort, if you feel guilty lounging around, but why not be decadent and do nowt for a while? It's the weekend, after all!

Want to treat your feet like this regularly?

Get yourself a tube of Hydrating Foot Cream and bottle of Sage Bath. They come in Christmas Sets at the moment.  

Text the Pamper-Line 07961224560 to reserve yourself one, or mention it to someone who wants to buy you a present.That way, you'll get the loyalty points, as well as the present! 

And what do (loyalty) points mean? Prizes!

Have a Radiant day!

Green Thursday or Black Friday?

We've all heard about Black Friday - the American imported opportunity for retailers to clear out their old stock at risible prices. 

Stories of fist-fights over bargains and camping out the night before don't really add to the glamour of the occasion. 

Green Thursday -  a UK invention - is an attempt to encourage nice customers to buy their presents from local businesses with a green angle and environmentally-friendly products. 

Each year, Green Thursday falls on the Thursday before Black Friday, which the Americans celebrate as Thanksgiving. 

That's not really a festival here, although we have pinched the turkey idea and now eat ours at Christmas. In the past, Wild Boar, or Goose was often more common (and probably tastier.)

It should be a lot more civilised, with less need to arm-wrestle your fellow shoppers, and your conscience will be smugly aware that you are doing your bit for the environment as well as your purse, because there are still bargains to be had, but they won't cost the earth - financially or literally

At my Green Thursday event this year,  I'm running lip-balm making sessions, so you can take home your own little pot of pleasure. Either keep it for yourself or give it to someone as a charming homemade present.

Text the Pamper-Line to book your session 07961224560

Migrating Makeup - how to stop your makeup from sliding down your face

Picture from uproxx.com

There are many, many things very much worse than finding mascara on your cheeks, but it is still annoying when it happens. Even the undoubtedly lovely Heath Ledger RIP couldn't make it look that appealing.

There are ways to stop this happening, but they take a little attention to detail and a small amount of time.

Firstly - are you applying makeup straight after your day care? 

You really need to give your eye cream some time to absorb before slapping makeup over it. Asking for trouble - and sliding - otherwise. 

The solution is to apply your day cream and eye cream, then go and do something else while it sinks in. Ten minutes is ample. 

Yes, I know nobody has ten minutes spare in the morning, but I'm not suggesting putting your feet up. You can chivvy, skivvy, eat breakfast and get ready, while that's soaking in

Teint powder is a great base for eyeshadow

The next thing is a base coat of some sort. 

Even if you don't wear foundation, it's a good idea to apply that, or powder to the eye area. If you are like me, and wear sunglasses a lot, you'll look like a panda anyway, so applying a little powder, which is slightly darker than the rest of your face, will even up the white eye patches and give your eye-shadow something to cling onto. I often use this - Dr Hauschka's Teint powder - as it gives a slight tint of colour, and you can stop there, and just add mascara if time is a-fleeting. As it tends to...

Once you've got dry eye cream and a base of some sort - get creative!

Or not. Up to you. Some women are perfectly happy with a swipe of colour while others enjoy spending 40 minutes blending, with twelve types of brushes. I don't have that sort of time or inclination, so tend to draw a little eye liner along the lashes, then add a couple of colours. 

Deep Infinity Eye Palette Limited Edition 2018 

Now, to stop that eye liner bleeding

To do that, you can seal it with some powder. Matching is nice, or a slightly different one can look gorgeous. A blue eye liner crayon, with a purple shadow over it can look gorgeous. Or, my current favourite is the Deep Infinity Palette, which I reviewed here 

It's best to use a slanted brush for a neat application. The darker colour has a little glitter to it, so makes a really nice thin line over eye liner. That should keep your eye make up on the straight and narrow, unless you are planning to run a marathon.

Final touch

Once you've applied mascara et al, just gently brush under the eye area with a touch of powder, to maintain a barrier.

Lip-tastic
Lipstick is the other makeup product that tends to travel. As we age, our lips get thinner (unless we really practice Facial Exercises assiduously). Starting off with a Lip Liner helps stop this nasty habit. 

Lip Definer keeps your lipstick in place

For a super clean lip line, use a clear liner just outside the lip-line, then outline them with a colour that matches your lipstick. 

Unless you are going for that dark liner/light lipstick look, which generally only looks good on Drag Artistes - most of us don't have the Chutzpah to pull that one off. 

I use this one - Lip Definer 00. It's clear, so doesn't show but it keeps your make up where is should be on your lips.

Time well spent

Although this sounds fiddly, it really does help keep your makeup in place rather than running about like candle in a heat wave. So it'll save you time during the day, when you don't need to keep checking your immaculate maquillage!

Book a personalised Makeup session with me.
I'll show you how to keep your skin and your makeup looking radiant

Text the Pamper-line on 07961224560

National Frankenstein Day

That was National Frankenstein Day, not National Frankfurter Day, so put those sausages down. I know, I can't believe it either, but there is even a National Popcorn Day. Now we've heard it all. Anyway in my little sweetly-scented corner of the universe, rather than hiding behind the sofa sucking my thumb in disbelief at the craziness of the outside world, I'll be doing my...   PAMPER MISSION How about you? No need to look like a monster, if you look after yourself!  Treat your feet to a foot-bath. Soak those babies in some scented water Sage for pesky female hormones Moor Lavender, if you are planning an early night Rose, just because Lemon & Lemongrass if you are off out dancing (- you dirty stop out - you!) (Sage is also good for monstrous male feet, that are not as sweetly scented as ours.) Give your feet a little rub with a paste of sugar and olive oil, and then dry them gently. You can, if you are inclined, put a mask upon your tootsies. Hydrating Mask is what is extravagantly lavished upon them in the Foot Treatment chez moi.  After applying that, you'll have to put them up for a while to let it soak in. Quelle dommage! After lounging in a lady-like manner for a while, gently remove any residue and re-clothe your feet to keep them warm. Cashmere socks would be the ultimate finishing touch to this foot-tastic session Have a radiant weekend! PS Want a pamper mission every week?  Sign up for tips, tricks and more amusing waffle by clicking HERE

How (NOT) to look older and haggard

With the possible exception of underage teenagers trying to get into a trendy nightclub, nobody really wants to look older than they are, do they? 

We live in a visual culture that values youth above experience, particularly when it comes to women. We don't have that Chinese thing of respecting our Elders, we tend to diss them and their opinions, and then suddenly WE are the older generation! 

Oooh! The shock when the Prime Minister is younger than you are! (Not Theresa May, but it happened to me with David Cameron.)

This bias against ageing is unhelpful because we are lucky to age - it's a privilege not everyone gets to experience, but that doesn't mean that we need to look haggard and colourless. No beige needed - except in highlights!

There are lots of things you can do to retain your youthful looks - drinking enough (water! Not Gin!), eating wisely, but not too well, looking after your skin really well and getting regular facials. Something that is not commonly done, though, is to learn and practice Facial Exercises  

Targeted facial movements tone and smooth your face

In my youth, Eva Fraser was the doyenne of Facial exercise. I had a lesson with her a few years ago, to see how what she does, differs from what I teach. She really is an inspiring example of what you can achieve, if you are diligent. Diligence is the word though.

I'm not as well-behaved as she is and don't do them as often, but I do know that when I don't do them, I do look more haggard, so that inspires me to keep going. 

Interested? Want to read more, click HERE to read my piece in Cotswold Life about Facial exercises. If you'd like a trial lesson, please get in touch. Lessons can be done in person – which is best or by Skype. 

Text the Pamper-line on 07961224560

Flaky Skin: How to stop shedding on the people you care about!

After the splendid summer we’ve just had, your skin might be feeling, well, - if not pallid, just a little the worse for wear. Because all those fun things we enjoy in the summer - sea, sand, sunshine, cocktails – although great fun at the time, all have a drying effect on the skin.

That might be brilliant news if your face is as oily as the East Texas oil field, but not so great for those of us with - ahem! - older and slightly drier faces. So, what can you do to stop yourself shedding skin cells like a Golden Retriever sheds hair? 

Three things to think about...

1. Hydrating from the inside is a great place to start

We all need water

Most people don’t drink enough water to keep their skin in peak condition, because the internal organs also need water, and if there is a lack they’ll get first dibs. Which is as it should be, of course, but why starve your skin of water? 

So, please! Drink more water
Setting a timer can help you remember to do this. There's not much point putting expensive cream onto skin that feels like a desert. You need water inside and out. 

2. Look at your skin care routine as well, because this is crucial Your skin will love you and look so much better if you look after it properly. What you do on a daily basis will directly affect how your skin looks now, as well as how it ages in the future. Cleansing, toning and moisturising is as important as cleaning and flossing your teeth.

Start a skin regime now, if you haven't already

3. Your skin also loves a regular pampering session. 

Schedule the time for a home Skin Spa, using a Clay Mask to remove all those flaky dead skin cells gently, and follow with a hydrating cream mask to re-hydrate (who would have guessed!) and soothe your skin.

Booking yourself a professional facial is an even better idea
Not only will your skin look fabulous, after a professional pampering session, but you’ll get advice on just how to keep it like that. And, as well  as your skin looking great - and totally un-flaky - you'll feel fab too!

There's nothing like a facial to make you look and feel like a new woman!

Book a pamper session with me.
I'll show you to gain and maintain great skin. No more flaking!

Text the Pamper-line on 07961224560

50 Shades of Clay

   In the spirit of 'do as I do, rather than just 'do as I say', this is being typed with face-full of Clay. That sentence could do with revision...The face of clay is not typing - I am - but I am wearing a lot of clay upon my face.

     Bit of a giveaway, that. This weekend's pamper mission is a deep cleanse, and I've started early!

     You should know how to do this by now, but here's a recap:
 

• Remove any makeup or city grime with Cleansing Milk
• Compress with something scented 
• Cleanse well (albeit gently) with Cleansing Cream
• Apply a good layer of Clay mask and then lie down for a bit. Or amble around shouting at people. Whatever is more relaxing for you.

     When the clay starts to feel tight, dampen it, then remove gently with a sponge. You can use your muslin but it will look grim.

• Mist lightly with Toner, RNC or - even better - Intensive Conditioner
• Apply a cream mask to your damp rosy skin. Whichever one suits your current skin condition. Ask me if you're not sure, although Revitalising Mask is a good all-rounder.
• Leave that for 20 minutes, then remove with a tepid muslin.

     Admire your peachy skin and resolve to do this more often. Once a week is ideal. 

     Please remember that your face doesn't end at your chin. Well, only anatomically. The skin on your neck also needs a treat, as does your décolleté. Think of all the sunshine that bounces onto it -the perfect little suntrap. Cleanse it when you cleanse your face, and mask it ditto.

     That's all, my lovely, I've got to go and remove this mask before I crack!

      Have a radiant weekend!

Do text the Pamper-line if you need any of the above: 07961224560