“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous”
It’s got to be said Coco Chanel nailed it with those words and who doesn’t like a bit of Chanel in their life? Well this isn’t a beauty product post but it’s a beauty I would like to share.
This beautiful acrylic painting on canvas is by the talented Asma of Coco Style Studio. I’ve been following Asma on Twitter for some time so when she started doing original bespoke artwork, I placed an order. Asma will pretty much create anything you desire which made it all the more harder to pick something!
I settled for one of my favourite fragrances – Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. I figured this says a lot about me…well, mostly because I’m still a ‘mademoiselle’ (proud of it, mind!) but I adore the scent more than No.5 and envisaged this would look beautiful on canvas.
Photo: Coco Style Studio
My order arrived a few days ago and I’m thrilled with it. It measures 25 x 25cm (10 x 10 inches)and is 3.5cm deep approximately. It’s also ready to hang with no framing required.
I can tell how much attention to detail and care has been devoted to it, which makes the finished piece all the more special. Asma’s customer service is impeccable too, with that personal touch.
If you’re interested in ordering a unique piece of art, you can email Asma for more information. Coco Style Studio also has a Facebook page so you see other examples of commissioned work and it’s definitely worth reading her blog too.
Thank you again, Asma. This has been the highlight of my week.
It is Good Friday today and have I got something good for you to read about. I am very excited to feature Fashionicide for the latest instalment of 20 Questions. Halima is the oh-so-pretty lady who pens this beauty and fashion blog.
This girl has the most amazing cheek bones but she’s also deeply passionate and rightfully opinionated – and not just about beauty. Please follow her blog Fashionicide, it really has an identity of its own and it’s true to Halima’s heart. Plus she’s a top Northern bird too.
Why did you start your blog?
When I first started out, I was watching the likes of Lollipop26 and Lauren Luke on YouTube and naturally ended up checking out Blogger. At the time there was a dearth of Asian bloggers, and I found it really difficult to find products that suited my skin tone. So whenever I did find something that suited me I just wanted to tell the world, and thus the blog was born.
How long have you been blogging for?
Well it all started way back in September 2009, so I guess that’s 3 and a half years? Wow, time flies!
What do you enjoy most about blogging?
The most enjoyable thing about blogging is the fact that I’m finding an outlet for my creativity, and that there are others out there who appreciate my work. I love the beauty/fashion blogging community and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people through it. I also love how cosmopolitan the community is; people from all walks of life coming together talking about a shared passion.
What frustrates you most about blogging?
Recently I’ve become a bit frustrated at the spammy comments that are coming through. When I leave a comment on someone else’s blog it’s because I’ve actually read the post and want to strike up a conversation. I seem to get people saying, “Love your blog, follow me @ www.crapblog.com“. I also don’t like the bitchiness out there at the moment, disagreements get blown up out of all proportion and taken to Twitter, where their friends stick up for them. Take a step back, remember why you started blogging!
What do your family and friends think of your blog?
To be honest not many people in my life know about the blog, I only really share it with people that have similar interests. I’m quite a private person (would you believe?) and I don’t think many people understand the whole idea of blogging!
How frequently do you post?
Not frequently enough! At the minute I’m doing one a week. Typically I try for two or three in a week.
What’s your day job?
I’m sorry, that information is classified. 
How many bottles of nail varnish do you own?
I’ve never counted my nail varnish, but I was actually counting my lipsticks the other day and hit 60. Then I spotted one I hadn’t worn for ages, applied it, admired it, and lost count… Let’s just say I have a big box for nail varnishes and it’s overflowing! This makes me both happy and sad as I wonder, “How did this happen?!” :/
Do you set yourself a budget, or do you buy on an as-and-when basis?
I’d love to say I set myself a budget, but I don’t. Budgets are like New Year’s resolutions for me, they will be broken within days! I buy whenever I feel like it, so some months I’ll spend loads whilst others I will spend next to nothing.
What is your favourite make-up brand, and why?
Ooooh toughie! I have to say Illamasqua at the moment, there’s something a little ‘edgy’ and alternative about them. They cater for both the classic and the avantgarde looks and their brushes are synthetic, so cruelty-free. Oh and Growl lipstick is my fave! 
Do you ever leave the house without wearing make-up?
Yes, sometimes if I’m going somewhere in my area I like the feel of fresh air on my skin. Also, I’m supremely lazy so like to wake up as late as possible! If I’m travelling I try to avoid wearing make-up, I find it ridiculously easy to fall asleep while on all forms of public transport – sleep-smeared make-up is not a good look!
What’s your favourite beauty treatment to indulge in?
Wow, I rarely ever go out for beauty treatments. I think I’ve had a manicure once in my life! I do go to salons maybe once or twice a year to get my eyebrows threaded, but that’s not indulgence it’s panic-inducing! I do love doing my own facials at home, once a month. Cleanse, exfoliate, steam, massage and mask. Bliss!
Tell us about the best holiday you’ve been on.
I’ve just came back from it! I went to Jerusalem for a week and spent some time in the West Bank too. It was an experience unlike any other! I’ve always been fascinated by the Holy Land in general, it’s been fought over for thousands of years and is so important to so many. I’m also interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wanted to know what it felt like to live under the shadow of that. It was eye-opening that’s for sure.
What would be your ideal day off?
It would have to be going out and doing something. I hate having a lie-in, as it makes me feel bleurgh! I guess an ideal day would be cycling around Manchester with my camera, stopping off for some afternoon tea!
What is your favourite TV show?
I never really get hooked on TV shows and don’t watch too much, but The Big Bang Theory is awesome. I wish I had someone like Dr Sheldon Cooper in my life! If I’m in a rubbish situation, I think to myself: WWSD – What Would Sheldon Do?!
What music do you enjoy listening to?
My taste in music is quite eclectic, and I’m not quite so fanatical as I used to be. I’m into Indie, Electro and House but I love anything from Friendly Fires to Ellie Goulding…
What is your favourite food?
Hmm, I love eastern cuisine! Maybe a bit biased but I love Indian food, and after visiting Nepal I started loving that too. I think Indo-Chinese is great , but not many places do it up north.
Where would you most like to go in the world? (money no object)
I’m going to be spoilt and pick two places! Firstly, I’d like to go back to the West Bank but as an activist to do whatever I can to help the ordinary Palestinians who are trapped under the illegal occupation. Secondly, I’d love to swim with a whale, any kind so long as it doesn’t fancy an Indian take-away!
Which 3 guests would you invite to dine with you and why?
Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama. Maybe Ali and Mandela could talk to Obama about their struggles to be accepted in a white nan’s world and how Barack is betraying them by killing innocent people the world over with his drone wars.
Tell us a secret…
I hosted my own radio show for a month in the North West of England at the tender of 15.
Thanks for answering 20 Questions for JNT, Halima. Don’t forget you can chat to Halima on Twitter too.
I am optimistic that we will start to see some warm weather this year…no, honest! If like me you’re trying to remain positive or if you’re a realist and are about to jet off to sizzling climates then here are some tips to have you prepared for a heatwave…
When you go on holiday, you like to be guaranteed a couple of things. Good food, nice accommodation and friendly staff are important factors, but there’s one thing you seek more than anything, hot weather.
And although you want to bask in the warm sun in your best summer wear, you’ve got to keep yourself cool, as dehydration and overheating can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, headaches and sun strokes.
Here are our favourite tips to ensure you stay cool when the heat strikes:
1. Light clothing
Lightweight clothing, like linen and cotton, will keep you cool when the temperature is at its highest. These fabrics absorb perspiration, (sweat) and then evaporate it, keeping you cool. Heavier, synthetic fabrics like polyester, acyclic and nylon trap the heat, so avoid them when the weather is warm.
2. Take a bath
When you’re feeling the heat, get into a tepid bath or shower, just below body temperature. Although an ice-cold shower seems more appealing, your body will generate its own heat to compensate for your heat loss.
3. Ditch the duvet
Heavy cotton duvets are great to snuggle up to when it’s cold outside, but they quickly become your enemy when the weather heats up. So try swapping the duvet for a sheet, or even better, stick the sheets in a sealed plastic bag and pop them in the freezer for an hour before bed.
4. Avoid alcohol
As much as you’ll be longing for a nice cold beer or white wine spritzer, unfortunately, alcohol dehydrates the body. Instead, opt for cold water or low-sugar fizzy drinks to keep you cool.
5. Aloe vera
Ladies, to keep you chilled this summer, invest in the soothing, cooling qualities of Aloe vera. So replace your normal moisturiser for those rich in the African plant, as it will bring down your body temperature.
6. Cool your wrists
OK, this sounds a little far-fetched, but chilling your wrists can help to cool you down. Simply run your wrists under cold water for five seconds or so, because your main arteries are there and it will help to cool your blood.
7. Botox treatment
Having trouble with excessive perspiration? One option to combat this is Botox treatment. It takes about 20 minutes and involves multiple small injections into the skin, blocking the problem sweat glands. But don’t worry, the injections are relatively pain-free.
So there you have it, just a few hints and tips to keep you cool this summer. Just don’t forget to pack your sun-cream!
*This is a sponsored post provided by Face Clinic London, a Botox clinic providing wrinkle treatments, dermal fillers, sweating treatments and much more.
We are a nation obsessed with purifying skin. To pander to our needs, the market is awash with several types of products that claim to offer you the best method of cleansing against make-up, pollution and other impurities so how’s about I throw one more on the heap to inject some curiosity (or excitement)?
DHC’s Cleansing Oil came to my attention by my friend, Jess. She was introduced to it when she visited her other half’s family in LA a few years ago and for a while, Jess had the cleansing oil posted to her from the states until it was made available in the UK.
It is a Japanese skincare brand and its hero product seems to be this olive oil based cleanser – an extremely popular water-soluable deep cleansing oil that works at breaking down and removing make-up and clearing impurities whilst hydrating the skin with olive oil and vitamin E.
You just take a few pumps in dry hands (very important) and apply to a dry face (also very important), work into the skin before washing it off. But don’t mix water and don’t wet your face and hands before or it (probably) won’t work properly! There is a good reason why there are specific instructions for correct usage on the back.
The sensation of using an oil cleanser (as opposed to a cream or lotion) feels a tad strange; oiliness is not usually associated with the practice of hygiene and cleanliness so it’s reverse psychology in the making.
The smell of olive oil is noticeable too (maybe that’s just me as I use it all the time in my cooking) and as for melting the make-up off the visage? Well I looked like the Joker (the Heath Ledger one) when my red lipstick dispersed all over my face. Amazingly, the muck washed off and my skin looked clean and felt so soft after.
On first impression, it doesn’t look like anything special. The bottle is fine, it’s the label that’s dull, and the DHC branding is easy to miss at the bottom. It should be more prominent in my opinion. Come on DHC, this is your best-selling product – a little effort in showing it off. Image is important, you know and a plain old label slapped on the outside just makes it appear ‘ordinary’.
DHC’s Cleansing Oil may not be to everyone’s liking and could trigger off an unpleasant reaction, as one or two fellow beauty bloggers confirmed from their experiences. For me personally, it works really well but I feel more satisfied with wiping off the excess with a hot flannel.
DHC Cleansing Oil comes in a handy 30ml, 70ml and a whopping 200ml size with prices from to £4.50 to £21 so if you aren’t sure, you can purchase the trial size. The brand is currently only available online at www.dhcuk.co.uk.
*PR sample*
