Perfectly pale

For anyone with pale skin and freckles will know finding make up that works with your skin tone and doesn't make you look like a clown or dead is hard. Well no more as the long awaited Dainty Doll range by Nicola Roberts (of girls aloud fame) has been released. This make up range created in association with Jelly Pong Pong is made exclusively for pale skinned women. The range contains foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, blushes and lip glosses. (also the packaging is adorable and I'm in love with the 'nicola doll' on the packaging- just adorable! I'd love to see this printed onto cards or notepads- it reminds me of my much loved Topshop Christmas Card selection by Julie Verhoeven )

My personal favourites are the concealer (which covers imperfections and dark circles due to its thicker consistency), foundation (the silky mousse texture goes on like a dream and has a smooth matte finish) and the eyeshadow in Honey Bronze is perfect for an '08 summer smokey eye update and looks gorgeous against pale skin. The ultra fine eye shadows are long lasting with a smooth flake free finish and each comes with a gold suede textured base to prevent smudges.

The range is available from ASOS and you can read the press release for further details here:

http://www.jellypongpong.com/whatsnew/Nicola-PressRelease.pdf

Run away to the circus!

I'm slowly recovering from a very fantastic, late night last night watching an amazing show put on by The Rogue Theatre company called Madame Lucindas Wonder Show (what a fantabulous name!). Heres what you need to know:

Ever Dreamt of Running Away with the Circus?

Madame Lucinda is Mother, Father, Alter Ego, Devil, Angel, and Ring Mater as she tempts, cajoles and teases those whose needs ache and wounds sting to step up into her limelight. They’ll receive all that they crave but only at a price.

Step right up... see the faces behind the make-up, the stories of those who dared to dream. With live music, mesmerising vocals, illusion, magic, side splitting comedy, ballet, whip cracking, explosive physical performance and powerful narrative. Journey through the doors of the imagination into a world of mystery, spectacle and horror. Marvel at the exquisite heartache, the torturous hilarity and breathtaking magic.

Conceived and directed by Angelina Boscarelli the show reflects her experience of travelling internationally with the circus. The show mixes circus spectacle and passion with the real, the mundane and gritty stories of the people behind the make-up.
Based on poems and text written for the Wonder Show by Anna Maria Murphy (Kneehigh Theatre (Including Tristan and Yseult, Red Shoes and The Bacchae), Radio 4 and The National Theatre) and combining Rogue’s daring style, Madame Luicnda’s Wonder Show beautifully blends the innocent with the macabre, optimism in the face of the inescapable and the real with the fantastical.

It was absolutely fantastic (the make up was a particular highlight! As was the stripey tights!), the performances were so engaging (I sat riveted for 2.5 hours and thats not usual for me!) and above all else it was fun, different and everyone raved about it (much of the interval involved people saying 'did you see that?' 'wow, did you get think that too?' 'Wasn't that bit really good'? Oh and the odd 'did you see that man's arms' but of course I'd never go to see a play and focus on the fact theres attractive people in it, at all!)

So if you get the chance to go and see it or its coming to a stage near you, I urge you to go- it'll be worth every penny (I'm even thinking of going again!) For more info or for details of where they're going to be next, check out the links below!

http://www.roguetheatre.co.uk/shows_current.php

http://www.roguetheatre.co.uk/shows_tourdates.php

Something to make you go mmmmmmmm

Well after another bank mishap (I say mishap when actually it was just plain laziness but still it was a chance to debut my new turquoise bag), I decided to console myself with some new make up (and a Greggs chicken slice) and so popped on over to Boots.Now as someone who hasn't been to a Boots make up counter in a long time, since when did they get so much good stuff? Not only did I find make up that was a deadringer for more expensive beauty items but make up essentials for the same price as a Starbucks coffee!


Heres my top picks (and some of my actual purchases)





The Natural Collection eye shadow in Moss Shimmer (£1.69)- use this with a wet brush and apply along the lash line in place of Urban Decay's Acid Rain liquid eyeliner and save yourself over £9 or dry and instead of Urban Decay's Urb eyeshadow (I'm wearing the naturals collection eye shadow as eyeliner topped off with some 17 liquid liner- im very impressed, even though at my first attempt I looked like some sicko clown with a black fetish had attacked me)







Try 17's solo eyeshadows (£2.79) in Punky purple, Damnson, Grey and Black or Rimmel's colour rush mono eye shadow (£3.49) in Intense and Jet Black to rival Urban Decay's eyeshadows in Fishnet, Ransom, Zero and Sting.




Instead of Lancome's Juicy Tube in Cerise, try 17's Sheer Shine Lip Gloss in Strawberry Sundae (£3.79) and save yourself just under £9

Swap Korres Lip Butter in Pomengranate for 17's Lip Glaze in Secret Smile (£3.79) for almost half the price

And finally for a much cheaper take on Chanel's insanely popular, sold out Black Satin nail polish, use Barry M's classic nail polish in black (£3) and save yourself £15