As a women who has a black-belt in shopping, it’s comforting to know I keep good company.

So when the latest issue of Simply You comes out, I get really excited. On sale now is Winter 2008 and for $10 you can spend hours pouring over one of my favourite magazines.  Started originally by fashion guru Paula Ryan, Simply You is published every March and September and is now overseen by her daughter Bridget Hope.  Simply You is useful for keeping you in touch on what is hip, cool and groovy for winter.

It’s 320 pages full of new seasons clothes, accessories and helpful tips on how to make the most of your wardrobe for the upcoming season.  You will find a comprehensive list of stockist’s and great photos of outfits they have put together.  They tell you what’s hot in terms of new season directions, including the latest in beauty products, who stocks what and so much more useful information.

But there is a down side to all of this and that is you need to have won lotto in the last few weeks or not want to eat for most of June, July and August so you can afford to buy what they suggest.  I have to say when they first started producing this magazine it wasn’t always targeted at the higher end, but it appears that it is now.   Their belief is that we should only buy investment pieces (translated means expensive) to build a timeless wardrobe.  My only problem with this theory,  is that it doesn’t work for me as I get bored with my wardrobe and like to add pieces regularly not just a couple of times a year.  So If I was to buy a $1200 coat for example  and didn’t like it next season it wasn’t much of an investment then was it.

So my advise to you is this, buy the magazine if for nothing else other than to get some great ideas and to help you build your own winter wardrobe.  You may also find those few special pieces that jump out at you, but will also still have to go and find your usual basics and the odd bargain like you do every season.

Also for the latest fashion information you can go to their website  www.simplyyou.co.nz 

Available: all major stationery stores                      Price:$10.00

   A ‘hot topic’ right now is sunscreen,  what’s good and what’s not and the other day I was at an appointment telling someone about how much trouble I had with this new sunscreen I had trialed,  when this lady sitting nearby overheard and piped up saying I had the same thing happen to me with exactly the same sunblock.

New to the market last year was the Neutrogena Helioplex range which they have trademarked, it is a major scientific breakthrough in sunscreen technology and given the recent stats on skin cancer in this country, we can all do with using the latest and greatest.   They claim that it ensures long-lasting protection against both UVA and UVB rays after it was discovered that other sunscreens can break down when exposed to light and lets face it anything new and innovative is normally the way to go.

So I used it through my holidays and as an avid sunscreen user I applied it everyday and always twice a day.  It felt very thick when I applied it to my face, within minutes it tingled and felt uncomfortable. It was ok on the rest of my body but not on my face, over the course of a couple of weeks I realised that it was really aggravating my skin, it had become really red and sore.  I kept thinking I was just taking time to get use to it but, no.  My skin also became really blocked and I had lots of breakouts due to the sunscreen as well.  I tried both of the products I had which was the Ultra Sheer 55 and the 70.  After weeks of trying I finally stopped using them on my face and the problem went away, eventually.

An interesting note is: did you know that sunscreens can be split into two types chemical and physical, chemical barriers absorb UV’s converting them into energy and safely filtering them through the body’s cooling system.  Physical sunscreens bounce the UV’s back.

I love this though, the Cancer Society recommend applying sunblock in two layers in case you miss a bit on the first go and applying at least 30ml (six teaspoons) a time which makes a total of 60ml (12 teaspoons) or the size of a small orange.  As they say on the Tui billboards   Yeah right!  You would be hard pushed to find anyone who applies that much sunscreen, but I will say the main thing to remember is to reapply again half way through the day as it doesn’t last.  Also, don’t be fooled by the ‘Daylong’ sunscreens on the market, they don’t work either.

So my slant on it is this, the Neutrogena sunscreen may claim to block the sun out but, in the process, it blocked the pores on my face and caused it to become very red and sore.  The fact that it tingles within 5 minutes of applying it, is never a good thing.   So by all means buy it for the rest of your body, (although this is quite and expensive way to buy your sunblock) but don’t put it anywhere near your face.

  Rushing through Duty Free as you do when you are going away on holiday, I chose a new bottle of perfume which is great. It’s so hard when you are in the Duty Free shop as you often don’t have a lot of time and there is so much to choose from. I often get overwhelmed and can’t be bothered fending off the pushy sales staff so just give up.

But this trip I discovered a new perfume out by Yves Saint Laurent and it’s called Young Sexy Lovely. Great name isn’t it! Just buying it with a name like that made me smile.

I know that buying perfume is a very personal choice and in most cases I wont even attempt to buy someone else perfume, but this one would be a good choice if you did. The reason why I like this one so much is that it isn’t over powering but has a subtle lovely lingering fragrance which seems to suit most people.

Described by YSL as one of their new style fragrances that is attitude trendy. It’s fresh and feminine which makes it a good choice with summer coming. My husband doesn’t like strong smelling perfumes and doesn’t seem to mind this one, so that is really saying something.

New out. It’s available in a couple of different size bottles in Eau De Toilette and you can buy a body lotion to layer your fragrance to give it longevity. Especially important when you are wearing an Eau De Toilette as these don’t tend to last as long as an Eau De Perfume.

Would make a great birthday or Christmas gift for that someone special and better still it is very reasonable in price.

Available: Farmers stores nationwide

Price: Eau De Toilette Perfume - 30ml $69.00, 50ml $99.00

Body Lotion - 200ml $78.00

  Ok, so I know we all get bombarded with lots of new ways to help us fight the ageing process, and trust me I’m the first to put my hand up for that. Anything I can do to keep that next wrinkle at bay, I’m there. Hence one of the reasons for starting my blog, to help us all to decide what works and what doesn’t. Show me the next greatest wonder wrinkle remover and I’ll be first in line.

But I do think we need to start being a little more discerning about what we are prepared to do in our fight against the dreaded wrinkle. We need to be aware of what the pitfalls are, as well as the benefits.

One of the latest crazes to hit the beauty departments and clinics is Microdermabrasion. It promises to take off the top layer of skin on your face, smooth fine lines and help in the promotion of collagen. You can go to a beauty clinic to have it done. They tend to use a much stronger method which they claim can be more effective than the at home treatments you can buy.

So in my quest to achieve that youthful glow and help to produce more collagen, I went to a beauty clinic to have it done professionally. Bad move. I am still paying the price for having had it done. Not only did it hurt, uncomfortable is how I would describe it, it has also resulted in me now having broken blood vessels which I didn’t have before. I know these are a direct result of the treatment I had because they have appeared since the treatment and where I was particularly red for days.

I know that I have done irreparable damage to my face.

Now, some may argue that it wasn’t done correctly, but still this whole experience has lead me to investigate further the benefits of Microdermabrasion.

My take on it is this. I won’t go to a clinic to have it done ever again. I don’t believe it’s a good idea to have somebody rub a machine over your face, like sandpaper, in order to shave a couple of layers of skin off to achieve that younger fresh faced look. What we need to do is to be more careful and not fall for all the hype that’s associated with this particular treatment. Think about what it is you are actually doing. Taking layers of skin off your face. There are much smarter ways of doing this and I do believe that the at home treatments are just as effective and in most cases much better for you.

Save your money and your skin. Use a face cloth rubbed over your face to remove dead skin cells, buy an “at home kit”, but don’t go to a clinic! It is just too harsh and too risky.

  I love this concealer and have used it for years.  It has become one of my indispensable make-up tools.  I have tried many different ones but I always seem to return to this one.  That says alot about this product, doesn’t it. So why is it so good?

 Well firstly it doesn’t seem to matter what skin colour or skin type you are, there are several different ones you can choose from.  Secondly it comes in a wand, which makes it very easy to use and to carry around. I put it on, over top of my foundation and gently pat it into my skin. It glides on and doesn’t stretch or pull as you apply.

My eyes seem suddenly brighter,  I look fresher and younger. Radiant Touch is great for hiding all those little annoying little imperfections.  Use it underneath your eyes, sides of your nose and at the corners of your mouth for a blemish-free finish.

Because it is in a wand style it lasts a long time and though slightly on the pricey side, it is worth every cent. 

I have had mine 9 months and still going.  It’s well worth the money and one of my all time favourite beauty buys.

Rating: 4

Price:

Available at: major department stores and selected pharmacies

  I discovered this little treasure out of desperation. Having managed to burn the area around my eyes by using an eye cream that didn’t agree with me, I stumbled across this product which turned out to be my saviour. It’s Loreal’s Eye Make-up remover for sensitive eyes and it’s fantastic.

My eyes were so sensitive they had split and were very painful. So trust me, putting on  mascara to look better was a big deal to me. The problem was, I couldn’t take it off. I couldn’t use anything until I found this eye makeup remover.

Interesting enough I had tried many brands in my quest to sort my eyes out and most had been very expensive. I still couldn’t use any of them. All would sting and cause the problem to get worse.

So I imagine my surprise when I found this little gem in the supermarket and it worked. Not only is it gentle and removes eye make-up with no fuss and it is a bargain.

Don’t be put off by where you can buy it. Having tried much more expensive brands which claimed they were for sensitive eyes, nothing worked as well as this.

I have since recommended it to a friend who had very bad cyrisis on her eyes and she found it fantastic as well. She has also continued to use it and threw out her more expensive product which had also made her problem worse.

The big bonus is great value for money and it can be brought in most department stores and supermarkets. I buy mine in the toiletries aisle at New World, it doesn’t get much easier than that.

So add this to your list because, we can say in this case cheaper is better.

Rating: 5 star

Price:$12.95

Available:All major department stores

  Having just this year woken up to what a good idea this club is, I feel the need to spread the word.  This is a very worthwhile club to belong to.

There isn’t anything terribly complicated in joining,  they make it really easy for you. All you have to do is fill in your details in store on the spot, they then send out the card and all the relevant information to you.

Now, I’m not usually one to join clubs, largely due to the fact that I can never remember that I have and then I don’t collect the points.  Which then makes it absolutely pointless belonging in the first place.  So as a rule I generally don’t join clubs, but this club is particularly good.

In a nutshell, for every dollar you spend in the beauty department you get one point, when you have collected 200 points you receive a $20.00 voucher to spend within the beauty department. Effectively this equates to a 10% discount. The voucher needs to be spent within 12 months, which isn’t hard given there are great gift ideas if there isn’t anything you need at that time. You don’t however get points on already reduced stock or promotional items.

They keep all your information on the computer and you just hand over your card each time you buy and they will give you an update on your points.  If you have spent enough to receive a free voucher,  they will issue it to you on the spot.  You don’t have to wait for the voucher to be mailed out,  you can use it there and then. 

How hard is that, not very.  So really, you are already spending money in the store, they just give you a little bonus every now and then.

They mail out catalogues with all their promotions and invite you to special discount evenings throughout the year.  Their new catalogue has just come out and the offers are available from the 7th September to 1st October 2007.  All products in the catalogue are either on sale or have bonus gifts. 

Now is also a good time to join with Christmas coming, they have special Christmas evenings and if you buy any Christmas gifts there just think of the vouchers you will accumulate during that time.

So pop into your nearest Farmers store and join up now.   

  A friend of mine asked me the other day what she should use on her daughter with dry lips and it’s funny how I always resort to my old favourite Eight Hour Cream. 

I have to say without a doubt this product has been one of my top favorites for years now. It is also one of Arden ’s longest running products due to it’s popularity. It is still rated in beauty surveys as one of the top products to buy.

It is so versatile that you can use it on dry lips, cracked heels, elbows and as a hand cream. It even appears to have a long lasting effect on psoriasis. I have also used on my children with great results. So if you are looking for one of my must haves in your beauty cupboard this would be it.

Elizabeth Arden are currently running a promotion to celebrate this product with a one off by packaging it in a jar for a limited time. To get great value, a good time to buy is when stores like Farmers run a promotion.  They will usually combine Eight Hour Cream with a hand or body lotion which makes it very cost effective.

So buy this as great staple to keep in your cupboard, you will find it has many uses.

Rating: 4

Price:

Avaliable at:  Pharmacies and all major department stores.  

  

I don’t know about you, but I want a cleanser that does it all. When I am taking off my make up it’s usually late at night or cleaning my face first thing in the morning. I want this process to be as simple and painless as possible.

 A cleanser to remove my eye make-up and clean my face in one step.

So in my search for the best cleanser out there I am finding a few stinkers along the way.

I wanted to find a reasonable and very accessible cleanser, because lets face it we wash our face with it then we flush it down the drain. So I don’t want to pay alot for something that really is there just to clean my face,  it needs to be gentle and effective.

So I tried the Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser. It has a pump for easy access, can be stored in the shower without mess and is very reasonably priced. Another added bonus is that it can be purchased easily from most supermarkets. Neutrogena is also recommended by dermatologists as their preferred brand.

Imagine my surprise when after a couple of days I started to noise that my skin was really dry, then after a few more days red patches started to appear. By the end of a week my skin felt terrible, itchy and sore.

I also found that I couldn’t use it around my eyes as they reacted to it. I have used Neutrogena products in the past and haven’t had a problem but I certainly do with this one.

It appeared to strip my skin of any moisture, making it tired and dull. Any natural oils which were normally there disappeared and I likened it to using dish washing liquid on your face.

I wouldn’t buy this again and certainly will be a little more careful when changing cleansers in the future. Whilst I’m not wanting to pay the earth for it, a little more care needs to be taken when choosing next time.

Rating: 1

Price:

Available: Pharmacies and New World Supermarkets

  

I don’t know about you, but I want a cleanser that does it all. When I am taking off my make up it’s usually late at night or cleaning my face first thing in the morning. I want this process to be as simple and painless as possible.

 A cleanser to remove my eye make-up and clean my face in one step.

So in my search for the best cleanser out there I am finding a few stinkers along the way.

I wanted to find a reasonable and very accessible cleanser, because lets face it we wash our face with it then we flush it down the drain. So I don’t want to pay alot for something that really is there just to clean my face,  it needs to be gentle and effective.

So I tried the Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser. It has a pump for easy access, can be stored in the shower without mess and is very reasonably priced. Another added bonus is that it can be purchased easily from most supermarkets. Neutrogena is also recommended by dermatologists as their preferred brand.

Imagine my surprise when after a couple of days I started to noise that my skin was really dry, then after a few more days red patches started to appear. By the end of a week my skin felt terrible, itchy and sore.

I also found that I couldn’t use it around my eyes as they reacted to it. I have used Neutrogena products in the past and haven’t had a problem but I certainly do with this one.

It appeared to strip my skin of any moisture, making it tired and dull. Any natural oils which were normally there disappeared and I likened it to using dish washing liquid on your face.

I wouldn’t buy this again and certainly will be a little more careful when changing cleansers in the future. Whilst I’m not wanting to pay the earth for it, a little more care needs to be taken when choosing next time.

Rating: 1

Price:

Available: Pharmacies and New World Supermarkets