Kate Hates

2012-01-25T22:14:00.000Z

DIGITAL WORDS / IDOL's Top 5: Tracks of the Week

2012-01-24T23:18:00.000Z

IDOL's TOP 5: TRACKS OF THE WEEK

New Look – Teen Need
Canadian husband and wife duo New Look continue to produce bytes of lo-fi, barely-there electronica on their latest single Teen Need. Sarah Ruba’s hushed, blasé vocal delivery, which details a linear, adolescent plot of loners at parties, waiting by the phone and being together forever, lends this teenage-centric track some stylised maturity.

Sylver Tongue – Hook You Up
New singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sylver Tongue introduces herself here with this sci-fi electro number, produced by Fever Ray remixer James Rutledge. We don’t know her real name, where she’s from or any of Sylver Tongue’s vital statistics for that matter, but the crisp, twinkling melody of Hook You Up was all it took to captivate us.

Little Green Cars – The John Wayne
The gathering pace, power and pomp of this track from Irish quintet Little Green Cars knocks us out. Mirroring Arcade Fire, with a mixture of sentimental lyrics and a sprawling, folk-rock anthemic sound, Little Green Cars, similarly, are a modest band with big, promising ambition.

Grimes – Genesis
Clare Boucher, a.k.a. Grimes, apparently locked herself away in a sunlight starved room to concoct her forthcoming album Visions (to be released on 4AD in March). So considering the darkened gestation process, this airy synth-pop LP preview is something of a pleasant surprise, which sounds, not unfavourably, like Lykke Li floating by on a cloud with ghostly backing vocals on her tail.

Childish Gambino – All The Shine
Donald Glover is best known over in the States for his comedic, writing and acting talents. Not satisfied enough with winning plaudits for his writing for 30 Rock or his role in NBC’s comedy Community, this precocious Californian is now making waves as America’s most potent rap export. Under the stage name of Childish Gambino, Glover has recorded four albums, with last year’s acclaimed Camp being his first studio release, but his name is set to become far more familiar this month with a few sold-out London shows and the release of All The Shine, his debut UK single.

Written for IDOL

I Hate... 2012 / "No nice woman has any anatomy between her neck and her ankles"

2012-01-23T11:48:00.000Z

This year's (belated) list of things to do...

1) Dress like a 90s fashion icon. Silk, heavy footwear and a parka are essential.

2) Make academic progress.
http://youtu.be/C5IwwLrf1eU

DIGITAL WORDS / IDOL's Music Tips for 2012

2012-01-22T20:41:00.001Z

Friends

The zealous radio air time given to Friends’ I’m His Girl and it’s placing in NME’s top 50 tracks of 2011 gave everyone the clear tip-off that the New York five piece will be making an even bigger impact in 2012. The band’s unexpected inception stemmed from front woman Samantha Urbani airing a few solo demos to her then-housemates, now band mates. A jam session quickly ensued and within a week they were playing their first gig in Urbani’s back garden under the name Perpetual Crush. Even at this early stage their eclectic sound was strong; their rhythm based, tropically-tinged Italo disco vibes are distinctive even before Urbani’s nonchalant vocals enter a track. Despite fierce competition from their native Bushwick contemporaries, Friends are poised to be the breakout act from NY’s busiest hive of creative energies.

Find IDOL's full list of 2012 tip off's HERE

Written for IDOL

Music Cuts of the Year

2011-12-29T21:32:00.000Z

Top five tracks of 2011 (in no particular order):

1) Yuck – Get Away

2) Summer Camp – Brian Krakow

3) Nicki Minaj – Super Bass

4) Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out

5) Lana Del Rey – Video Games

Album of the Year: Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials

Essential reading of 2011: Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson by Joe Vogel

Super star of 2011: Nicki Minaj, for services to impeccable lyricism:

“I'm the best now; anybody with some money should invest now / Soccer moms need to organize a pep rall / Your game over bitch, Gatorade, wet towel”

“I don’t sympathize, cause you a simple bitch”

“You know the real bitches love me, fuck the fake girls”

“I look like yes and you look like no”

“Ain’t on my period but I got a new pad”

Beauty Buys 2011

2011-12-27T15:46:00.000Z

Must-Have Nail Colour of 2011 - Revlon 'Facets of Fuchsia' £6.49

The “I can’t live if living is without you” prize winners – 1) Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler £20 / 2) Bioderma Créaline H2O Solution Micellaire €11 / 3) Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat £9.95

Skincare Discovery of the Year - Sanofi Aventis Avibon €7.90

Makeup Hero - Benefit They’re Real Mascara £18.50

Essential Eye Care - Aveeno Positively Radiant Eye-Brightening Cream £9.99

King of Cleansers - Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser £10.72

2011-12-24T13:53:00.002Z

DIGITAL WORDS / Michael Jackson Fan Fest Review

2011-12-20T22:22:00.000Z

Read my review of the Michael Jackson Fan Fest HERE

Written for the Michael Jackson World Network

I Like... Transatlantic Sojourns Part II / Khaos

2011-12-18T21:23:00.000Z

(Tardy) November: Beauty Buys

2011-12-16T16:01:00.000Z

1) Rimmel Match Perfection Fix and Perfect Primer £6.99
This is one of few options if you’re looking for a primer from a more affordable brand as primer is a particular product which is yet to be embraced as an essential rather than a take-it-or-leave-it addition to daily makeup regimes. This primer is pretty good, but perhaps not quite as good as it claims to be; it claims to smooth, resurface, brighten, mattify and protect skin. Well, yes, it gives skin an extremely smooth finish, but isn’t this exactly the same as resurfacing? Why would you want anything but a smooth facial surface? It doesn’t brighten in any way. It does keep skin matte but how it provides skin protection is beyond me as it contains no SPF. So not an all-purpose wonder product but definitely a good pre-skin makeup choice for oily skin types.

2) Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler £20
The most iconic of beauty tools and the worst kept secret in the makeup industry: Shu Uemura’s eye lash curler is ridiculously popular. But how innovative can eye lasher curlers be? Surely they’re all the same? Definitely, no; one use of this masterfully designed product and it’ll dawn on you A) just how much damage you’ve been doing to your lashes with whiever cheap-ass curling alternative you’ve been using up until now and B) just how poor all other eye lash curlers are. If you’re looking for a perfect sweeping curl without tugging at your lash line, invest now.

3) 17 Shine Control Pressed Powder £3.99
An inexpensive handbag essential for those oh so lady-like pampering moments when one must powder one’s nose; a finely milled, translucent compact powder that peps up and refreshes oily skin throughout the day without any cakey build up. However, be warned that the mirror inside of this compact is evil - I’m not sure why and I’m not sure how but it inexplicably makes every flaw on your face startlingly visible, so use a separate mirror when applying on the go. And the sponge provided with the product is pretty dire too so pick up a new one at the same time.

4) Revlon Nail Enamel in Facets of Fuchsia £6.49
*Perfect winter nail colour alert* Every glitter nail polish should be like this one, a combination of small and large, super shiny flecks of sparkle. This shimmering shade will see you through the colder months when wearing a dark nail colour just seems like the right thing to do. As this polish is a bitch to remove make the most of it and apply three coats for long lasting wear of this glam meets goth shade. Grazia too consent to the beauty of this glossy hue as they named it their second favourite nail product of the year.

5) Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer £16.50
“Industrial strength” anything sounds downright awful, but don’t let the name fool/frighten you as this is an impossibly high quality concealer. With a soft, malleable texture that hides redness instantly, blemishes and dark circles alike are kept under wraps without looking heavily covered.

I Like... Transatlantic Sojourns / "It's my taste"

2011-12-07T14:22:00.000Z

PRINTED WORDS / Summer Camp "Welcome To Condale"

2011-12-02T17:38:00.000Z

MOJO | 218 | January 2012

I Like... Michael Jackson's Bathroom / Julien's Auctions

2011-11-23T13:52:00.001Z

More interior design inspiration and pictures of Jackson's LA home HERE

DIGITAL WORDS / Idol's Top Five: Music Tracks

2011-11-21T19:22:00.001Z

Top five IDOL tracks of the week, HERE

My pick: Serenades - Oceans

Sit back, relax and surrender to the aquatic lullaby of Swedish duo Serenades.

Swedish indie rock outfit Shout Out Louds have temporarily lost their front man Adam Olenius to his latest project Serenades, which sees him teamed up with Markus Krunegard to produce atmospheric electro escapism.

Oceans, taken from the pair’s Come Home EP and available as a free download on their website, is awash with warmth and languorous allure. Combining layers of wistful vocals of gentle yearning with a sparse chiming piano and relaxed percussion, Serenades boast a richly textured, swooning sound that is downbeat yet optimistic, unassuming but striking. Oceans is also just a hint of what is to come with the duo’s album scheduled for a 2012 release. But if can’t wait until then and the stresses and strains of “grey town” living are getting you down, then check out Serenades live when they play two London dates next week.

Written for IDOL

DIGITAL WORDS / Idol's Top Five: Music Tracks

2011-11-14T20:04:00.001Z

Find the full five HERE

My choices...

Lana Del Ray - Born To Die (Live)

Video Games is everywhere. Even Radio 2 have made it a regular fixture on their playlists. Take a look into Idol’s crystal ball to see what the future holds for Ms. Del Rey. Born To Die is set to be the follow up to, arguably, the best single of the year, and it measures up pretty well. It has that same entrancing minimalism and chanteuse vocals, but sees the good girl of Video Games becoming that bad girl she longed to be as she implores us all to “get high”, “take a walk on the wild side” and “fuck hard in the pouring rain.”

Bruno Mars - Runaway Baby
As the X Factor empire is falling apart at the seams it’s still one of very few high profile places that book big name acts for live televised performances. And the guest star performance of the series yet to be topped is Bruno Mars. Usually, I have pretty strong aversion to Mars’ “woes me, all I want is a stable relationship” schtick, but damn is this performance slick. The matching band outfits, the sharp, synchronised dance moves and the effortless vocals all evoke the golden era of Motown when perfection was standard.

Written for IDOL

2011-11-11T13:44:00.002Z

DIGITAL WORDS / Review: David Gest's incomplete history of Michael Jackson

2011-11-09T13:22:00.000Z

Please find my review of the premiere screening of "Michael Jackson - The Life of an Icon" HERE

I just want to stress that I have tried to find the positives in this film. I would not reccomend buying it to any Michael Jackson fans. You are really not missing out on anything apart from finding out what exactly a "David Gest Production" consists of... Don't give David Gest your money. The best part of this whole "event" was discovering just how smokin' hott Rebbie Jackson is, and seeing her carrying the coolest clutch bag, like, ever.

Written for The Michael Jackson World Network

DIGITAL WORDS / Oh My! single review

2011-11-08T19:29:00.000Z

Read my review of Oh My!''s latest single HERE

Electro-pop duo Oh My! get their mockney and deadpan swag on with their second single Dirty Dancer

Songs about meeting boys and wearing new shoes on the weekend? Yawn. But in the hands of London-based double act Oh My! it’s a different matter. Made up of 19 and 20 year old Alex and Jade, not only do they have the sass and blunt put downs that would make Lily Allen proud: “Creative with your chat up lines, you’re staring at me like I’m in a shop, err, stop?” They’ve also got the mockney affectation to match too.

On this Patrick Swayze-referencing track, co-written by Example and featuring an appearance by Tinie Tempah sound-alike Scru Fizzer, Oh My! present themselves as a self aware version of 90s bubblegum double act Shampoo, and keep their tongue-in-cheek lyrics on the right side of downright dodgy cheekiness with their blasé delivery. This is brash, novelty, two-fingers-up pop – whether that be a girl power gesture to their gaudy pop foremothers the Spice Girls, or a fuck-off two-fingered salute, it’s up to you. Both sum up Oh My! pretty well.

Written for IDOL

DIGITAL WORDS/ Idol's Top Five: Music Tracks

2011-11-07T19:24:00.001Z

Find the full five HERE

My choices run thusly:

Friends – I’m His Girl

If you’re not the Fresh Prince of Bel Air it’s difficult to pull off using the adjective “fly.” But I’m going to try anyway as “fly” is the only way to describe this retro 80s funk throwback from Brooklyn band Friends. A band who put cowbell accompaniment and slap bass to good use.

Amy Winehouse – Our Day Will Come

This cover of 1960s American doo wop group Ruby & The Romantics is one of the first couple of songs to have been unveiled as part of a posthumous Winehouse album release. It could have fitted in comfortably anywhere on Back To Black with its warming lilt and Amy’s effortlessly glossy vocals. Hopefully the full LP, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, which is scheduled for an early December release will unearth more unheard material of this high quality. Listen HERE.

Written for IDOL

DIGITAL WORDS / Florence and the Machine "Ceremonials"

2011-11-06T17:22:00.001Z

Read my review of "Ceremonials" HERE

Florence and the Machine make a grand re-entrance with the glitteringly grand Ceremonials.

Broken hearted women have made the three biggest pop albums of the 21st century; Back To Black, Lungs and 21. And so it falls to Florence Welch, now reconciled with the absent man who inspired her platinum selling debut, to demonstrate what one does after making your man and the entire world fall for you.

Lungs, of course, served Ms. Welch and her machine well; it saw her dominate two consecutive festival seasons and took her from self-sourced vintage stage clothes to being swathed in custom made Gucci creations for her increasingly high profile performances, including supporting U2 and, oddly, lined up next to Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson at the Grammy’s in a salute to Aretha Franklin. However, as singles were continually re-released and her cover of You’ve Got The Love became inescapable, it felt as though we were risking becoming glutted by and with Florence and the Machine.

Now with the dust of the storm caused by Lungs settled, Florence’s second LP, Ceremonials, is set to create an even more potent tempest. Like Lungs, an album with a title perfect in its precision, an album all about the gusto within one woman’s capacity, Ceremonials is a title of equal accuracy. This is an album so defined in its musical vision that it plays out like a ritual in gothic chamber pop.

Ceremonials, in many ways, is a far more refined and cohesive version of Lungs. Whereas Lungs felt schizophrenic and disorderly without fully formed intention - perhaps because the artistic identity for Florence herself, as a glamazon, Romantic woodland nymph, had not been fully realised either - Ceremonials is an unquestionable whole. Familiar sounds remain and dominate, in the form of thumping and hounding tribal rhythms driving each track with gushes of strings and harps, but everything simply sounds bigger and better. It also feels as though Florence is now comfortable with the prowess of her own voice. The enormity of her belting vocals is undeniably impressive, but when she allows herself to relax she adds new shades to her melodramatic repertoire. The undulations of Never Let Me Go see Florence drift dreamily between ghostly verses and an explosive chorus. Whilst the vulnerable honesty of Breaking Down presents a far more gentle, but no less enchanting Florence.

Now that Florence and the Machine possess a sound so purified and singular it’s impossible to predict how it will evolve or what its next permutation will be, but it’s an exciting prospect.

Written for IDOL

DIGITAL WORDS / Ben Carrigan "The Greatest Narrators"

2011-11-05T14:34:00.000Z

Find my review of "The Greatest Narrators" HERE

Ben Carrigan, former drummer of The Thrills, steps into the spotlight with a refined and stylishly orchestrated debut solo album, The Greatest Narrators.

*Insert drummer joke here* I’m gonna go for this one: “What’s the advantage of using a drum machine over a drummer? You only to punch the rhythm into a drum machine once.” Anyway, put all those drummer jibes and clichés aside. Ben Carrigan, previously the drummer of melodious indie rockers The Thrills, has released his debut solo album; a far removal from his previous musical life.

The Greatest Narrators sees Carrigan taking centre stage with his compositional skills on an LP that combines skilfully mastered pop with filmic grandeur. Ben proves himself to be a man of many talents on an album that he wrote, arranged, recorded and mixed himself, with an unexpectedly soulful and soothing voice to boot. The arrangements throughout are rich and copious but kept strictly to pop song structures and time frames, forming three minute bursts of secure romantic orchestration.

Ballads are clearly Carrigan’s strong point as they dominate the album, but each decorated with flourishes of homely harmonicas or melancholic piano. The quivering, almost hesitant, opening vocals of Small Towns (That Heal Big City Wounds) make for a graceful and emotive starting point to a track that modestly progresses into a gentle burst of rolling drums and luxurious strings. Even during the more up-tempo moments of the album, there is a persistent and charming amount of sophistication to Carrigan’s work; We’ll Talk About It All Tonight is a brisk, light-hearted yet gentlemanly number.

The Greatest Narrators is an ambitious album, for sure, but Ben Carrigan’s Scott Walker-inspired cinematic pop is deftly crafted in its feeling of ease which makes for rewarding and tranquil listening.

Written for IDOL

I Like... A good ol' megamix / Immortal

2011-11-03T14:11:00.000Z

F.Y.I. The part where fans chanting "Michael" over and over forms the beat to Billie Jean is what it sounds like inside my head 24/7.

I Like... Plugging good stuff / OUT TODAY

2011-11-01T17:33:00.000Z

GET IT NOW. GET IT HERE.

October: Beauty Buys – FRENCH PHARMACY SPECIAL

2011-10-29T15:20:00.000+01:00

Life dream #3 – to run my own Parisian pharmacy.
It’s a well known, scientifically proven fact that the best skincare known to mankind can all be found in French pharmacies. They have all the best shit in there, stacked high and wide in a setting that sees staff situated behind a counter doing important medical stuff, I’m sure, so they can’t ask you if you need help or pressurise you, A.K.A. department-store-assistant-syndrome. Whilst on a recent whistle-stop trip to Paris I frequented three pharmacies in as many days, just to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything. So here are the products that have made me swear eternal allegiance to French skincare.

1) Lierac Paris Masque Pureté €19.90
This purifying face mask comes in the form of a lightweight mousse that needs to be applied to dry skin. It’s an excellent reviver for dull or problem skin as it works to provide deep down purity, mattified skin and tightened pores. Upon application you can feel it instantly working, with a tingling sensation that lasts for a couple of minutes. The instructions advise leaving the product on for ten minutes, but I was feeling sorry for myself the other day so left it on for an hour, and whadayaknow? My skin looked and felt mighty fine afterwards.

2) Bioderma Créaline Eau Dermatologique approx. €3
I have no record of how much this water in a can was, but €3 seems like a fair guess. This is just a light, hydrating mist to use on irritated skin or just when your face needs some extra hydration. Spritz after cleansing and again after applying moisturiser as an additional refreshing step in your skincare regime.

3) Bioderma Créaline H2O Solution Micellaire €11
This no-fuss makeup remover is often hailed as the product to stock up on whilst in France. I must now verify that the preceding statement is in fact 100% true. This stuff is so good I can only assume that it’s actually holy water. Saturate a cotton pad with this and swipe your makeup off in an instant. It’s fragrance free and neutral pH. Essentially, it’s water but way better.

4) Bioderma Sébium Hydra €9.20
I got a bit enthusiastic with the Bioderma products, but they really are a skincare revelation. This is a moisturiser designed for gross oily skin types like myself. It regulates excess skin oil without scrimping on keeping skin soothed and silky at the same time. The only drawback of this product is that it’s only 40ml. I’ll be restocking. Roger that.

5) Vichy Purete Thermal Exfoliant Creme €11
I always exfoliate before applying a face mask because I read somewhere once that it helps the face mask to get deeper into pores and thus work a whole lot better. So I’m combining this with product une this month. This exfoliator combines a rich and creamy texture with a generous douse of skin smoothing beads and,, as with all Vichy skincare it’s paraben free, plus there’s some antioxidant vitamin E in there too. So, overall, totally beneficial to one’s face.

6) Sanofi Aventis Avibon €7.90
No, I did not buy this because Gwyneth "Goop" Paltrow recommends it on her unobtainable-lifestyle blog/bible. I read about this unassuming tube of magic in a summer beauty supplement with Elle magazine earlier this year. They raved about it as an anti-ageing miracle worker due to it being made up of such a high level of Vitamin A. This rich skin balm in fact contains, yes, an outrageous amount of vitamin A, which you’re sure not going to find in such an excessively potent form anywhere else, lanolin and vaseline. Whether it works on wrinkles, I can neither confirm nor deny, but I can reliably inform you that it does work well on spots, acne scars and general fed-up skin that needs a wakeup call. This stuff is pretty thick, so I layer it on as a night time ablution and it works wonders by morning with its skin healing properties. F.Y.I. You’ll need to ask for this from a member a staff as they keep it behind the counter. Sneaky.

DIGITAL WORDS / New Navy

2011-10-25T16:05:00.000+01:00

Click here to read my review of New Navy's debut EP "Uluwatu"

Written for IDOL

I Hate... My natural taste / Versace for H&M

2011-10-24T14:55:00.000+01:00

Despite my highly reserved "fashion" choices (i.e. I only wear black, white and grey, with just breton tees adding colour and excitement - red or blue stripes ONLY) inside I have to suppress my natural urges to wear anything garishly bright and patterned, as this is what my impulses tell me would look good. Of course my mind and eyes know better, but the kitsch '90s garishness of Versace's designs for H&M are making it difficult for me to resist...

I fear that this tropical re-worked pattern of that oh-so famous plunging dress worn by Jennifer Lopez in her dating Puff Daddy days (when he indeed was Puff Daddy) will get the better of me.

Am I so wrong that I'm right in thinking that these leggings (another clothing no-no for me) would look undeniably good?

Also, whilst we're on Versace, let us correct fashion history and remind ourselves that J.Lo wasn't the only one to wear that palm tree print. Rock it Gezza.

PRINTED WORDS / The Thrills and Patti Smith Compilations

2011-10-16T16:01:00.000+01:00

Uncut | Take 173 | October 2011

The Thrills

2002-2007

EMI Catalogue

***

Going back to Big Sur with Dublin's lost psych-poppers

The title of this gathering of singles and favoured albums tracks reads like a headstone, and acts as a sad reminder of The Thrills' premature end. With a brand of Americana that melded Beach Boys-style melodies together with the melancholia of The Smiths, The Thrills were much more than a mere summertime band. "One Horse Town" and "Big Sur" - the easy West Coast grooves from 2003's Mercury-nominated debut So Much For The City - are still irresistible. Their later work, particularly "Whatever Happened To Corey Haim?", offers a similar warm exuberance, but with added maturity and string orchestration.

Kate Allen

MOJO | 215 | October 2011

Patti Smith

****

Outside Society

Sony CMG

Single disc comp selected by the high priestess herself, in no-nonsense chronological order from 1976's punk landmark Gloria to a 2004 sparse and countrified cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. KA

I Like... Soujourns / "Paris! Paris!! Paris!!!"

2011-10-13T17:01:00.000+01:00

Yeah I saw the sights and absorbed the culture (see my breton jumper below) and blah blah blah, but the best part of my all too short trip to Paris was getting to see Captain EO.

I Like... Amazing books on Michael Jackson / "Man in the Music: The Creative Work and Life of Michael Jackson"

2011-10-12T13:52:00.000+01:00

I put a few questions to Joseph Vogel, the author of the best Michael Jackson book I have read... well, ever.

Read my interview here courtesy of the Michael Jackson World Network.

You can order "‘Man in the Music: The Creative Work and Life of Michael Jackson" here. I strongly suggest you do so.

My review of the book will be appearing in the near future.

In the meantime, find out more about Mr. Vogel and his work here.

September: Beauty Buys

2011-09-30T22:36:00.000+01:00

1) Rimmel The Kate Collection Lipstick in shade 001 £5.49
Vrai ou faux: have cosmetics been the glaring omission from Kate Moss’ growing self-branded empire of clothes, handbags and fragrances? Vrai... until now. Finally, after ten years as the face of Rimmel, Kate Moss has been granted her own line of Rimmel products. This deep shade of red, as modelled by Moss in the TV and print adverts, is the stand out shade from the seven colours available. It’s a statement hue with a semi-glossy finish with a lightweight feel that means you can keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Here’s to hoping Rimmel will extend this sure-fire-success partnership to products of every beauty junkies dreams – Kate Moss bronzer and super smudgy kohl. The thought makes me dribble.

2) Models Own Blusher Brush £8.50
It’s always a nice surprise when a well priced makeup brush is actually made up of soft, non-shedding bristles. This angled blusher brush from Models Own is the only tool needed to achieve sculpted cheek colour application in one simple stroke.

3) Benefit They’re Real Mascara £18.50
The selling point of this mascara is its claim that it makes you look like your wearing false lashes without actually wearing any. Well it doesn’t quite do that, but this is by far the best mascara I’ve used, well, ever. The plastic bristles on the wand capture and coat every lash with its clump-free, no flaking formula and extends lashes to unknown lengths. Plus on the very tip of the brush are tiny bristles that allow you to coat the very outer lashes which gives eyes a subtle feline finish without a flick of eyeliner in sight. The results of this mascara are spectacular.

4) NYX Powder Blush in Natural PB07 £5.50
I’ve fallen for NYX pretty hard lately as their products are more than reasonably priced and come in a wide array of colours that rivals the likes of MAC. My current favourite item from NYX atm is this finely milled powder blush which prior to my daily usage of it bore a Givenchy-esque square pattern – it was very chic for a £5.50 blush. This is a pretty good doppelganger for Benefit’s Dandelion Face Powder but without the flecks of gold glitter, which is good as I’m not a teenager anymore so wearing glitter without the excuse of an embarrassing fancy dress event really isn’t an option. Anyway, I’m liking this a whole lot and won’t be buying blush from anyone else for the foreseeable future.

5) Yum Yum Pukker Lip Plumper £11
This product may be a little tricky to find: search “Yum Yum Products” and then select “Purchase Skin Care.” Now the admin is out of the way, please take note of this lip plumping balm. Unlike every other product out there that aims to pump up lips with a temporary and sometimes rather painful bee-sting effect, this fragrance-free balm comes from an organic company and gradually increases the fullness of lips with prolonged use and has no nasty side effects. I’m an extremely happy customer, but if you don’t believe me, let the numbers do the talking: testers found that they had a 40% increase in lip volume and 60% improvement in lip hydration after applying the balm three times a day over a month.

I Hate... Flaking out / "And nothing makes me happy, Not even TV or a bunch of weed"

2011-09-22T14:48:00.001+01:00

This "blog" hasn't been up to much recently due to general despair and my uphill, one man battle against this mountain of art and knowledge:

"Blogging" to resume when my life does the same.

I Hate... Yet another birthday / "I don't like being twenty-two. I hate it more than anything in the world."

2011-09-05T07:42:00.000+01:00

Oh great, another year of my life gone and depleting levels of elasticity in my skin. Joy.

How to celebrate this year? Here's what's on the agenda:
- Rise at 5am for an early morning music news editing shift.

- Read Aristotle's Poetics from front to back.

- Cry (if I have time.)

- Eat curry.

I Hate... Global Live Events / "Don't play the fool for the rest of your life"

2011-08-27T15:56:00.000+01:00

Are tribute concerts ever a good idea? Unequivocally, N-O. In what way, in which universe, in whose mind does recruiting a haphazard group of “talent” to perform songs of an artist that they can never do justice to seem like a wise or fitting way to commemorate someone’s talent and life? This rant is of course sponsored by Global Live Events Michael Jackson Forever Tribute concert. With each and every development of this most ill-advised of events, my skin crawls, my blood boils, I excrete a cold sweat of rage and start to yank at my face with frutration. Like so:

Right from the get-go this concert was clearly the ultimate defacement to Michael Jackson and all that he stands for. Firstly, Chris Hunt of Global Live Events seems to be barely able to keep a smug grin from his face as he announces (with a terrible play on song titles, which I’m sure he put more thought into than this disaster of a tribute) that he will be insulting a musical legacy. This unseemly individual also crassly handed Katherine Jackson a hefty cheque to deposit into the saving funds of Michael Jackson’s children. Of course, this seems like a marvellous gesture, but he decided to do so at a press conference which simultaneously embarrassed Mrs Jackson and marked him out as an industry leech if ever there was one. Secondly, the line-up is an embarrassment. Smokey Robinson, you should know better. The thought of Alexandra Burke, Pixie Lott, Christina Aguilera defacing Michael’s music is actually unbearable for me. Thirdly, Global Events seem to have done everything in their power to make a joke out of their own cause; not only did they make Craig David (WTF?) the premier act to be confirmed, but they also booked Kiss to play. Good idea – Gene Simmons only stated that he thought Michael Jackson was a paedophile. I know, why don’t we just get Tom Sneddon and Diane Dimond to compere the show and that will really offend Michael Jackson fans everywhere? And the latest laughable update? Beyoncé is to perform... via a video link.

It is with much relief that Michael Jackson's fans and estate have both denounced this joke of a tribute. I hope that the Estate of Michael Jackson sues the ass out of Global Live Events for the use of Jackson’s intellectual property without their permission, and I hope fans will congregate and simply bask in the joy of being Michael Jackson fans and being together in Las Vegas in December for the first ever official Michael Jackson Fan Fest.

August: Beauty Buys

2011-08-26T21:52:00.000+01:00

1) Botanics Skin Brightening Cleanser £4.07
A cleanser that’s less than £5 and actually does good things to your face? Yes, it’s true. This plant-based cream cleanser pretty much does it all; peps up skin in the morning, removes all traces of make-up at night and is ideal for a skin-calming facial massage. Organic products usually don’t do anything for me as a) the packaging tends to be dreary in order to reflect nature’s palette, I suppose and b) I don’t trust stuff without chemicals because since when has nature ever been our friend? But this skincare goodie bucks the trend.

2) Une Skin Glow Pencil £6.99
Again, a product that covers all bases; this fairly unassuming looking pencil is a multi-tasking wonder. Here is a list of its uses: line the waterline and inner corner of your eyes for a naturally wide-awake look (far more subtle than ghostly white eyeliner), draw and blend beneath the arches of your brows to give them a lift, cover and blend over red patches and blemishes and highlight your cupid’s bow for standout, full lips. All that in one, take-anywhere pencil.

3) Kate Moss Lila Belle Eau de Toilette £29.22
First and foremost I bought this for the cutesy, vintage bottle. And second the fragrance itself is pretty pleasing too. It’s a hard perfume to describe as the only thing I can compare it to is the scent of Johnson’s baby powder, but in an oddly sophisticated way, if that makes any sense (which it does not). Whatever the notes are in this, it’s an airy, soft fragrance with a refined, lady-like aroma.

4) Colgate Max White One Toothpaste £4.99
This product promises whiter teeth in one week – an offer I couldn’t refuse. Who knows what’s in this toothpaste doing the work as all it states is that the “white accelerator micro-crystals” are kind of like what dentists use, but I can confirm that seven days later my teeth were (to me, at least) noticeably whiter. However, the packaging does instruct to brush teeth with this three times a day (as opposed to the usual two), so if you brush your teeth an extra seven times a week with normal toothpaste you’ll probably achieve a brighter smile anyway.

5) Aveeno Positively Radiant Eye-Brightening Cream £9.99
The worrying thing about potions and lotions that claim to “brighten” is that they may just be full of glitter and will thus not brighten your skin but make you look like you’ve had a body glitter mishap that shouldn’t happen this side of 1995. But fear not, this eye cream contains not a flicker of glitter but does deliver on the brightening front. The nourishing, buttery texture of this cream is what my dried-out, dark, dull eyes have been literally crying out for. This eye cream makes me want the entire Aveeno brightening range in my possession.

DIGITAL WORDS / Idol Interview - Hannah Makes Things

2011-08-25T16:23:00.000+01:00

Read my Idol interview with the young queen of trinket-jewellery-cool, Hannah Nuttall HERE.

Here's a very few of my favourite charms that she makes.

Browse and buy HERE.

2011-08-23T07:50:00.000+01:00

2011-08-08T13:35:00.000+01:00

July: Beauty Buys

2011-07-30T19:31:00.000+01:00

1) Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blusher in Soft Pink £6.99
After reading an article in Stylist (pp 32 - 35) all about the merits of the English Rose aesthetic I felt compelled to dab on some cream blusher. A few touches of this baby doll pink rouge from Max Factor is ideal for lightly candy-kissed dewy cheeks.

2) Olay Complete Care Multi-Radiance Cream £7.65
I found this moisturiser way too rich and scented for my face but its ideal for using on bare legs to give skin a warm pearlescent sheen. I’ve been adding a few drops of oil to this as well so that skin (when it does see some sun) has a moisturised (thanks to the oil) and light reflecting (thanks to the moisturiser) warm glow.

3) Ginvera Green Tea Marvel Gel £10
Possibly the best cleanser ever – this is a certified cult classic. Apply this smooth exfoliating gel to dry skin and rub in a circular motion to remove impurities and dull, dry skin without irritating your face. The big selling point of this popular Asian product is that you actually see the dirt coming off your face in beads. This anti-oxidant gel does it all; softens skin to an unbelievable degree, evens out and brightens skin tone. The only drawback is the price, I get through this quite quickly plus as this is an Asian product UK retailers can be a little pricey. I got this 60ml tube from a seller on Ebay – shop around for the best price as this cleanser is worth it.

4) Boots Ingredients Coconut and Almond Conditioner 91p
It’s the end of July, I should be recommending a conditioner that will comfort hair that has been ravaged by the sun and the sea, but alas this coconut hair crème has been tending to my wind and rain battered mane instead. Cheap, smells good and softens brittle hair.

5) Kate Moss Love Blossoms £15
A light and airy eau de toilette with a fragrance that sits somewhere between sweet and floral. This is a perfume that also fits the trend for all-things-English Rose. However, I’ve been getting through it quite quickly so enjoy it while you can as Kate Moss’ summer perfumes tend to be seasonally limited.

I Like... Bluebirds / Joyful Jukebox Music

2011-07-26T21:32:00.000+01:00

I Like... Awards and Whiskey / MOJO Honours List 2011

2011-07-20T23:43:00.001+01:00

I'm chaperoning at the Glenfiddich MOJO Honours List tomorrow night (21/07/11).

Follow all the rock 'n' roll antics of the highest order on MOJO's Twitter and Tumblr pages from 5.30pm GMT onwards.

If you know what good music is and what's good for you, you'll be digitally tuned in.

**UPDATE** - See pictures and speeches from the night HERE

Being in the same room as a Beatle and a Beach Boy felt good.

DIGITAL WORDS / "Francois sais pas, Flashe no deux"

2011-07-17T22:15:00.000+01:00

Blondie live at Somerset House

Read my review HERE

Written for THE FLY

DIGITAL WORDS / Wireless 2011

2011-07-16T15:09:00.000+01:00

Read my review of the Pulp headlined final night of Wireless HERE

Written for IDOL

DIGITAL WORDS / Morrissey Live - Plymouth Pavilions

2011-07-08T14:35:00.000+01:00

Read my review HERE

Written for THE FLY

I Like... Results / "The ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function"

2011-06-30T14:03:00.001+01:00

Bachelor of Arts Part 2 grade = FIRST

Hard work paying off feels awful nice.

Just the small matter of dissertation research to contend with now...

June: Beauty Buys

2011-06-28T16:05:00.000+01:00

1) Garnier Caffeine Anti-Dark Circles 2-in-1 Roll On in Fair £10.20
As someone with permanent dark circles and inexplicably dry skin around my eyes, this cooling concealer gets a thumbs-up from me, or whatever physical sign of approval takes your fancy. Anything that simultaneously conceals and hydrates the eye-area is A-okay with me.

2) Batiste Fresh Dry Shampoo £2.99
What’s better than a 150ml can of Batiste freshly fragranced dry shampoo? A 200ml can, that’s what. As well as re-designing their packaging (which I am not on board with – I preferred the non-chic of their original canisters), Batiste have increased the size of their products which has to have been a long time coming since it’s impossible to make dry shampoo last more than a few weeks.

3) Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat £9.95
This top coat is obviously no beauty secret what with it making nails super shiny, drying them in 60 seconds and providing chip resistant protection. Although almost a tenner seems a bit much for a clear nail polish this product is more than worth it means no more time wasting on actually watching paint dry.

4) Montagne Jeunesse Natural Charcoal Nose Pore Strips £1.50
Don’t you hate how overpriced pore strips are? Most of the ones available from chemists tend to be material strips that use glue-like formulas which do nothing but exacerbate blocked pores anyway, so I doubly hate them. These, however, are a snip at £1.50 for three strips, and use hard-setting charcoal and ash to draw out impurities. I’ve been using these strips every few days this month (I like to bulk order) and my pores are pretty much unclogged. So never bother with Biore’s nasty strips again...

5) Maybelline Great Lash Blackest Black Mascara £5.19
This iconic green and pink mascara tube is the Coca-Cola contour bottle of the cosmetic world – it’s that much of a design classic. And the mascara itself is just as undeniably pleasing as the packaging. With its intense black pigments, clump and flake free formula, no wonder it has apparently been America’s favourite mascara for over 40 years.

PRINTED WORDS / Lady Gaga 'Born This Way'

2011-06-20T14:20:00.000+01:00

F.Y.I. - I was unhappy with the edit of my review which was printed in Spark. Here's the full monster:

She promised to bring us ‘the album of the decade’ and with it brought a surreal promotional campaign as if from the mind of Salvador Dali; appearing on the red carpet of the Grammy’s in an egg incubator, popping out of a coffin wearing a patent prosthetic pregnancy bump live on stage, and styling herself as 21st century, couture Mary Magdalene for her latest music video. Yet aside from these sumptuous shock tactics, the first two singles taken from Lady Gaga’s second album missed the number one slot in the UK charts. Is Lady Gaga’s saturation point on the horizon? Forget her not – ‘Born This Way’ is the result of Gaga’s transformation from fame-hungry pop starlet to a self-aware tastemaker.

The dominant theme of ‘Born This Way’ is a message of unashamed self-love, with Gaga in her self-appointed role as the voice of and preacher to the disenchanted and disenfranchised. Sometimes she unquestionably hits the mark; ‘Americano’ is a mariachi electro response to the unremittingly strict immigration policies in Arizona, but at other times falls flat – the bubblegum sentiment and chorus of ‘Bad Kids’ is as patronising and unconvincing as the picture-perfect cast of Glee lamenting their social pariah status at McKinley High week on week. Having been recently named the world’s most powerful celebrity by Forbes, can Gaga keep playing the outcast card when she’s the focal point of popular culture? She certainly makes her impassioned intentions clear with her riveting proclamation of self-empowerment on ‘Hair’ (‘I just want to be free, I just want to be me’), even if her vigour does push her vocals into questionable Bonnie Tyler territory.

Luckily the album’s title track and lead single was something of a false start; just when it looked as though all the Madonna comparisons had swallowed her whole (the accusation of ‘Born This Way’ bearing more than a passing resemblance to ‘Express Yourself’ reduced Lady Gaga to tears in a recent interview), Gaga proves she’s at her best when she puts her own failsafe formula of molten dance-pop over a narrative of love gone woefully wrong to work (‘Judas’). Similarly, Gaga revisits the sentimental tone of ‘Speechless’ on the amplified power ballad ‘Yoü and I’ which shows her free of pretence and exercises her noticeably enlarged vocal range. She truly hits her stride on ‘Schiße’; the most instantaneous moment of smack-you-in-the-face Gaga greatness on this bilingual rave-disco oddity. However, there are moments of either laziness or self-indulgence when Gaga becomes a pastiche of herself, take ‘Government Hooker’ which opens with thirty seconds of disorientating operatics but descends into clinical electronica and a series of buzz phrases (‘Put your hands on me, John F. Kennedy’). Likewise, the smut of ‘Heavy Metal Lover’ with the request for ‘your whisky mouth all over my blonde south’ lacks the tongue-in-cheek knowingness of ‘bluffin’ with my muffin.’

Despite this album not containing as many unquestionable occasions of pop revolution as the likes of ‘Paparazzi’ and ‘Bad Romance’ have made us accustomed to when it comes to the output of Miss Germantotta, she artfully bookends the album with tracks that keep her reputation as an innovator intact. ‘Marry The Night’ is an unassuming opener, but is all the more enticing for its unaffected nihilism and copious anthemic sound. Closing the album is ‘Edge Of Glory’; not one for subtlety Gaga professes herself to be, ‘On the edge of glory... hanging on a moment of truth’ on this exhilarating specimen of synth-pop on a stadium scale.

And hanging on the edge of glory is where ‘Born This Way’ leaves Lady Gaga. Although her second album does show outstanding progression from ‘The Fame’, it doesn’t quite propel her over the periphery into the oblivion of eternal greatness, or whatever it is that lies on the other side of being the most powerful pop star on planet earth.

I Like... Unexpected New Music by Morrissey / 'Everybody has a date with an undertaker'

2011-06-16T16:50:00.001+01:00

THREE NEW TRACKS BY MORRISSEY. THREE NEW TRACKS BY MORRISSEY. THREE NEW TRACKS BY MORRISSEY.

HERE

I Like... Adoration / 'Don’t let your idols be anything but inspirational'

2011-06-15T15:44:00.000+01:00

Meeting Michael Jackson was obviously the coolest thing that could happen to a human being, let alone someone who has spent their life dedicated to a man they have never met but know they share some kind of boundless, semi-divine affinity with, an affinity which causes them to scream, cry and just generally melt into a pool of emotion which I imagine afterwards nigh on drowns them. It’s this sudden outburst of sensation that makes watching footage of MJ fans meeting their hero so god-damn heart warming. So here’s a rundown (in no particular order) of my favourite ‘Meeting Michael Jackson Moments.’

1) I like the polite but direct requests of this female fan; she asks for a hug and she gets one, proving the maxim of ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’ to be unequivocally true. And then her admirable composure disappears after not only a prolonged hug but also a kiss, and expresses her joy with a fellow fan/friend in a series of non-linguistic but nevertheless reasonable squeals. I also admire the second female fan who takes it upon herself to deliver the message of an entire nation to Michael Jackson. I’m not sure who elected her to do so, but she does so without losing her cool, something which many fans fail to do.

2) The passion runs so high in this clip that it’s kind of confusing; does she want to meet Michael Jackson or doesn’t she? What biologically happens that makes her legs collapse at the sight of Michael Jackson? I don’t know, but the reverence shown by this young lady is commendable. She doesn’t just cry, but she heavily weeps. And I don’t think MJ wanted her to genuflect before him, but the fact that she does so anyway is just lovely. Oh yeah, and there’s a massive gorilla in the background.

3) Another example of emotion gone wild here. To say the least, it must be odd for fully-grown men to begin jumping, twirling and yelping like a Teletubby in front of you, but MJ deals with it well by standing at a healthy distance.

4) My gosh – to stumble across Michael Jackson not only at Disneyland but whilst exiting the Peter Pan ride is like going on safari and spotting rare exotic creatures in their natural habitats. The woman filming sums it up nicely, ‘Oh my word.’

5) So from natural surroundings (for Michael Jackson) to the highly superficial setting of a meet and greet signing. At first this woman seems timid, but she quickly pulls herself together to propose to the King of Pop. Since he takes the ring and does not decline her offer, if I were her I would consider the two of us legally betrothed and I would change my last name to Jackson with immediate effect.

6) Finally, meeting Michael Jackson before a huge crowd of your, no doubt envious, peers must feel just great. Exhibit A: Oh to have been the female fan plucked from the crowd to embrace Michael on stage. I have no idea how the selection process for this privilege worked but I know I would have fought to the death for it – no kidding.

Exhibit B: this fan seriously goes out on a limb here. Presumably he is an MJ fan (why else would he be risking his life to meet him otherwise?) so he must know how important showmanship and perfect performances are to his hero. But despite this knowledge, this fan invades not only the stage but manages to jumps on board Michael’s famous cherry-picker crane; a dangerous decision but one which ultimately pays off as he spends an extended amount of time with Jackson and is even prevented from a fatal fall by Michael. Meeting your idol is one thing, but having them prevent your untimely death is another.

So what have we learnt? In order to get the most out of meeting Michael Jackson these rules are clear; firstly, be direct, concise and clear. If you want a kiss/to be wed/to profess your love, then do so quickly as this was/is the 20th/21st century and unfortunately people do not have time to listen to your feelings in the form of epic love complaints anymore. Secondly, take risks. If you put your life in danger to meet your hero then at least you can rest peacefully in the solace that your final moments were well spent. And, most importantly, let it all out. Don’t hold back – this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments, so bring every emotion you have ever felt with you and be ready to unleash every single of one them simultaneously.

For trustworthy and knowledgeable information on Michael Jackson and fan interaction experiences pick up a copy of It's All About L.O.V.E.: Michael Jackson stories you were never meant to read.

I Like... TV / Sidney Ferocious

2011-06-08T22:11:00.001+01:00

Having no exams to lose sleep and sanity over is a nice feeling and having the freedom to watch TV is nice too. The time I have been accustomed to spending on memorising quotes and convincing myself that my brain is not a worthless organ is now dedicated to watching and wondering the following:

1) Glee - I <3 Glee and everything, but how can it possibly go on? How dare they make Sue Sylvester (a.k.a. the woman we wish we all could be) cry? And why oh why opt for their self-penned drivel at nationals? Oh, wait - I guess that's where the next season comes into play as their poor compositions will allow them to fail and thus go through the whole we're-the-world's-least-convincing-high-school-outcasts schtick once more. But for the record, I genuinely enjoy the dialogue of Glee.

2) Meet the Elephant Man – This was some poor programming, Channel 4. The documentary culminated with the anti-climax of various researchers and academics coming together and making a cartoon of Joseph Merrick which looks and sounds exactly like John Hurt’s portrayal in the 1980 film release ‘The Elephant Man’. Anyway, perhaps the one redeeming moment in this ‘documentary’ is seeing the hat-bag Merrick used to wear. Watch it here, if you so choose.

3) Miami Mega Jail – Just because Louis Theroux is the daddy of Gonzo journalism. My favourite moments are when Louis frequents the cells of inmates.

4) Queen – Days of Our Lives – I’m not a Queen fan really, but I am a Freddie Mercury fan. Whenever I feel my buck teeth may be holding me back in life I tap into my inner Mercury and carry on living my dentally challenged life (whilst simultaneously blocking out the fact that Freddie Mercury had killer cheek bones to offset his beautifully British gnashers). The second part of this programme has some very rare and sad footage which makes Mercury’s illness painfully clear.

5) Glastonbury – Yeah, yeah so the BBC sends and feeds the 5000 down on Worthy Farm, but who cares? When it comes to Glastonbury coverage, the BBC provides the best weekend of television programming known to man. Why anyone would wish to miss it by attending the festival itself I’ll never know. You can find some rough guidelines to Glastonbury broadcasts here, but as long as you tune into BBC 4 at 21:00 on Friday 24th June (Morrissey’s slot on the Pyramid Stage) you’ll know that you’ve chosen wisely from the wide range coverage on offer. This is what television was made for.

DIGITAL WORDS / Emmy The Great 'Virtue'

2011-06-01T16:20:00.001+01:00

Read my review HERE

Written for IDOL

May: Beauty Buys

2011-05-28T20:16:00.000+01:00

1) Natural Collection Lash Care Mascara £1.99
Clear mascara is a rather non-makeup product when worn alone but pair it up with your favourite black mascara and you have a lash curling dream team. Apply a clear coat, curl your lashes, apply lashings of black mascara and then another coat of clear, before one final clamp of the lash curlers for nigh-on vertical eyelashes that won’t droop all day.

2) Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising Foundation (in ‘Warm Ivory’) £29
A product sent direct from the beauty heavens – this is easily the best foundation I’ve used, well, ever. It gives smooth, even coverage with a lightweight feel and keeps skin feeling fresh, soft and cared for. And believe it or not, this foundation actually does what it says on the bottle; yes, it gives a luminous finish, and yes, it keeps skin moisturised. The naturally perfect complexion this foundation delivers is more than worth the price tag.

3) Topshop Foundation Brush £7
My semi-divine new foundation obviously called for a new brush, plus my old foundation brush was losing around 50+ bristles with every use (that’s a rough estimate, I didn’t count). This brush from Topshop is a worthwhile bargain; it’s soft, doesn’t shed and gives a streak-free finish.

4) Bumble and Bumble Hair (un)dressing Creme £21
I think my cosmetic recommendations may become redundant next month, as not only have I finally found the best foundation, I have also uncovered THE hair product that actually delivers that elusive, oh-so-effortless but oh-so-perfect undone look. Although this gel-creme is kind of gross and sticky when working and combing it through your hair, after a blast with the hairdryer you’re left with perfectly imperfect hair that has slight kinks in all the right places. That’s it – no more styling products for me.

5) Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Day Cream with Sunscreens £5.60
I have no idea what’s in Simple products, I mean, they all look and smell exactly the same, it could be the same fragrance and colour-free cream in every tub, tube and jar. But saying that, this daily moisturiser is far better than any other made by Simple as its silky rich texture gives skin a cushiony soft boost. Plus the plastic packaging is kitsch, in a good way.

I Like... Freedom / Summer Reading, in celebration of my freewill

2011-05-27T14:59:00.000+01:00

Reading list of pleasure (in no particular order):

1) 'The Obama Movement: Why Barack Obama Speaks to America's Youth' - Joseph Vogel
2) 'Metamorphoses' – Ovid
3) ‘On Michael Jackson’ – Margo Jefferson
4) ‘Surf Beat: Rock 'n' Roll's Forgotten Revolution’ – by Kent Crowley

I Hate... Make Up Envy / Luminescence

2011-05-22T12:29:00.000+01:00

I Like... Teen Drama / Sweet Valley High

2011-05-09T10:30:00.000+01:00

I Hate... Exams / Lockdown

2011-05-06T21:34:00.000+01:00

See you on the other side *massive sigh*

I Like... Access All Areas / The Libertines – There Are No Innocent Bystanders

2011-05-04T00:47:00.000+01:00

The glittering embers of hope for a Libertines reunion were simultaneously stoked and dashed last week at the premier screening of ‘The Libertines – There Are No Innocent Bystanders’ as part of the East End Film Festival. All four members were billed for attendance, but alas Pete Doherty was noticeably and sorely absent, which perhaps acted as the catalyst for Carl Barât’s dismissive answers to questions of the band working together again beyond their appearance on the red carpet that night. Barât being put into awkward situations and corners would turn out to be a motif for the film itself as well.

The Libertines’ long time photographer Roger Sargent (who provided all the shots for ‘The Libertines Bound Together’) filmed the band during their phase of cuteness and cuddles as they announced their reformation for the Reading and Leeds festival 2010, their rehearsals and also sat them down individually for some frank interviews. Throughout the narrative of the band’s reunion are snapshots of their origins. But alas, Barât is made to stroll down memory lane alone, visiting the sites of their glorious and debauched past. Why the rest of the band couldn’t, or didn’t, join him to visit the infamous Albion Rooms, the alley where they filmed the video for ‘Up The Bracket’, which has since become a place of homage for Libertines fans and is decorated with lyrics and messages of adulation and appreciation, is left to be pondered.

Equally awkward is the light that Pete Doherty casts his fellow frontman in. When questioned about his drug use, that lead to his ejection from the band and their subsequent demise, Doherty retorts, unfazed, that if Carl had simply asked him to stop taking drugs, then he would have. Unfortunately even the most compelling of friendships is no match for deadly addictions – a biological fact which Doherty seems frighteningly unaware of. Cut to an exasperated Barât who gives his touching and truthful opposition to the lure of heroin.

But aside from the Class A kitchen sink drama, there are numerous more warming and personable elements to the film; Pete strolling down the street sipping from a jug of Pimms, Carl inviting his doctor, who evidently has never heard of The Libertines, to watch the band play, and John Hassall keeping up the image of being lucky to have been caught up in the storm as he admits he gained his place in the band by the virtue of owning numerous guitars, which proved all too irresistible to the starry eyed duo living next door to a brothel. Plus footage of the band carefully crafting their setlist and their endless pacing up and down the dressing room before their warm-up gig at The Forum shows that they do truly care about what they’re doing, and the fans they are doing it for. Sargent’s candid access to the band creates the same stomach altering feeling of precarious excitement which pervaded the festival crowds waiting for them back in August.

As ever, the question is still ‘What next?’ Well, according to Pete Doherty, he’s ready to get the band back together at the drop of a Trilby, it’s just Carl holding them back – once more laying responsibility and blame right on his doorstep. As Pete’s no-show exemplified, The Libertines are still as fraught and fractured as ever, and certainty about them evades even this access-all-areas documentary.

I Like... Glitter / The Auction: Michael Jackson by Arno Bani

2011-05-03T23:41:00.002+01:00

Read my review HERE

April: Beauty Buys

2011-04-22T21:02:00.001+01:00

1) L'Oreal Infallible Brush Foundation £12.99
Tentatively, I’ll recommend this latest foundation from L’Oreal. After simultaneously running out of foundation and my foundation brush malting with each use, this dual product/applicator seemed like a cost-effective resolution. The brush is extremely soft and makes for a streak free, even complexion whilst the foundation itself spreads well and gives full, velvety coverage. But as the weather’s been warming up recently I’ve been mixing this with either moisturiser or Strobe Cream for a lighter, balmy finish.

2) Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Wash £2.85
I’m currently in the throes of a rigorous revision routine which leads to frequent bouts of despair and anguish, but after seeing an advert for this body wash where a baby is calmed and lulled into a gentle sleep after using it, I thought I should give it go; surely my life is less confusing and disorientating than a small child’s day-to-day existence – at least I know what’s going on, right? Whilst this did make for a lavender and chamomile-infused shower treat, it didn’t exactly quell my Restoration Literature induced night terrors, but you can’t fault the high quality and low cost of Johnson’s Baby products.

3) Florentine Museum Nail Art Decals
Flowers, stars, butterflies, Hello Kitty and cute crap like that are pretty standard for nail decals, but how about a Renaissance masterpiece on your nails? How about Botticelli’s La Primavera, or The Birth of Venus or even Michelangelo’s David? Well thanks to my very kind sister who spent a few very cultured days in Florence and picked up these marvelous talon accoutrements, I can now have a piece of art on my nails everyday that reminds me of man’s true creative potential, which is actually rather comforting. At the end of an inevitably dreary day, I can look down at a little image of David on my thumbnail and know that everything’s going to be okay – there’s beauty and art out there somewhere. (NB I can’t find an online outlet for these, so you’ll just have to visit some souvenir stalls around the Uffizi until you find them, and soz for photographing them upside down, I really am not worthy of Renaissance greatness.)

4) Barry M Nail Paint in Mint Green 304 £2.99
I know I’m two years late with this one, but I’ve only just come round to just how perfect Chanel’s strictly limited, cult nail polish Jade was. After this rather belated revelation I had to set about finding a dupe, and it’s no secret that this mint green Barry M polish is a pretty satisfactory doppelganger. Three coats give a perfect, shiny finish which won’t go unnoticed – I’m yet to wear this without receiving compliments. Next time I’ll actually pay attention to Chanel’s dictatorial say over what nail varnish I should be wearing.

5) Eucryl Freshmint Tooth Powder £1.45
And one final minty product of the month is this unbelievably cheap yet worthwhile teeth whitening powder. After brushing your teeth, dip your toothbrush into this pot of powder (which incidentally is the exact same colour as the nail varnish above) and scrub away tooth stains and any other signs that you’re British with this mildly abrasive treatment. Use it twice a week, and you’ll notice a difference within a few weeks.

2011-04-10T17:11:00.002+01:00

DIGITAL WORDS / Carl Barât @ O2 Academy 2, Oxford

2011-04-06T21:23:00.000+01:00

Click here to read

(written for The Fly)

PRINTED WORDS / Cults, Lykke Li and dishonest, but beautiful, adverts

2011-03-25T15:44:00.000Z

Click for close-ups

March: Beauty Buys

2011-03-24T15:22:00.002Z

1) Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser £10.72
Have I done it? Have I actually found the best face wash a gal could ask for? Well, I think I have and here’s why: this purifying foaming water is perfect for quick, convenient cleansing – no mess, no fuss, just one pump and a swift facial massage and impurities are gone. Unlike many foam formulas, which seldom have positive complexion effects, this one does not scrimp on skincare benefits; made with Vichy’s trademark thermal spa water, plus it’s soap and paraben-free, this delicate cleanser sweeps skin clean to reveal a radiance you never knew your skin had. Vichy amo.

2) American Apparel Nail Polish in California Trooper £7
High-street fashion retailers dipping their toes into the pool of cosmetics is not something I usually approve of, as it conjures images of cheap packaging, sticky products and generally undesirable goods. However, I have been on the lookout for a cream - not white, not yellow - nail varnish for some time and American Apparel is apparently the sole producer of said shade. And it ain’t half bad. Admittedly the brush is a little thin which makes for slightly streaky application, but you’ll need two coats for an even, opaque finish anyway. So never mind – a simple but chic shade.

3) MAC Strobe Cream £21.50
Obviously a product that requires no introduction, MAC’s Strobe Cream is antioxidant goodness in a tube. This green-tea charged, multi-purpose wonder does everything it can to brighten drab complexions; whether used as a primer, mixed with foundation or applied as a highlighter, you are guaranteed an iridescent glow from this moisturising superhero.

4) Clinique Airbrush Concealer £15
Not much bang for your buck here, a mere 1.5ml actually, but this lightweight, light-reflecting concealer is ideal for on-the-go touch-ups when dark eye circles start to emerge during the day, like murky sea monsters emanating from a lagoon. That’s what mine are like anyway.

5) VO5 Hot Oil Moisture Soak Elixir £4.07
Although this hair oil doesn't really heat up, it’s still a decent fortnightly hair treatment. In order to avoid oil overload, there are markers on the bottle indicating how much product to use per application. So show your locks some love by massaging into wet hair, leave on for two minutes and then shampoo and rinse as normal, leaving you with super soft, shiny tresses.

I Hate... The End of Glamorous Reigns / Queen Elizabeth

2011-03-23T21:30:00.000Z

Elizabeth Taylor was a shining star of grace, intelligence and generosity, not to mention the ridiculous abundance of beauty she had at her disposal.

And let us not forget that she first knighted Michael Jackson the King of Pop (as well as Rock and Soul), she gave him elephants for his birthday, organised his first ever Christmas and, most importantly, was a lone but loud voice who supported Michael Jackson when he needed it most.

2011-03-21T19:49:00.000Z

I Hate... Anniversaries / 'Just look over your shoulder, honey'

2011-03-11T23:06:00.000Z

I'm sad.

Two years ago today I got a ticket to see Michael Jackson.

Yes, I remember this sort of stuff.

I Like... Good TV / Viewing Pleasures

2011-02-28T20:53:00.000Z

McQueen and I - watch it here.

The Brain: A Secret History - watch it here.

February: Beauty Buys

2011-02-27T23:49:00.001Z

1) Sanctuary Illuminating Lotion SPF 15 £2.55

My skin tone has reached unchartered levels of paleness recently. So with my nigh-on translucent complexion I’ve had to find a cost-effective method of lightening my foundation which is where this moisturising miniature comes in. With one part foundation to two parts of this brightening lotion, my skin is evened out and protected. I wouldn’t use this as my sole moisturiser (slightly too scented for this purpose) but it’s a good ingredient for your own beauty concoctions.

2) Lancôme Le Rouge Absolue (shade 150) £18.89
I’ve gone all grown up this month with this pillar box red lipstick. It has a light weight feel and gives lips a moisturised sheen. For intense lip colour and ultra staying power, I slick this over the top of my favourite bright red lip stain – Pixi Lip Blush in Love.

3) Garnier Intensive 7 Days Daily Body Lotion with moisturising aloe vera £2.99
The initial attraction to this product was the packaging, as for some rather OCD reason, products that make up my showering/bathing routine must be in either pale pink, white, green or blue bottles. I’m not sure why – some kind of associations these colours have with hygiene, purity and gentleness is most likely the cause of my strict colour code policy. Anyway, not only does the green bottle please me but the body moisturiser itself does too. It has a light, fresh fragrance, absorbs quickly and leaves skin with a silken sheen. Welcome to the exclusive pink/white/green/blue bathroom club.

4) Lancôme Hypnôse Custom-Wear Volume Mascara £20.43
More loveliness from Lancôme; this mascara is pretty much cosmetic perfection. No clumps, no flakes and no brittle lashes. Quite simply, a long-lasting formula that keeps lashes thick and lengthy from your morning application until you remove it at night.

5) DHC Revitalizing Moisture Strips: Eyes £4.50
I use these gel eye strips when I have important engagements and need a bright-eyed, zest-for-life look about me in order to prevent scaring people off with my usual corpse looking dark eye circles. They comfortably fit under the eyes (which makes this 20 minute treatment a pleasure as they stay put once applied) and are infused with olive leaf, mulberry and alpha-arbutin to nourish, brighten and cool stubborn eye bags. Once removed my eyes are primed for optimal concealer application.

PRINTED WORDS / White Stripes love, The Strokes, Y Niwl, Scheiße and £5< Beauty

2011-02-25T18:52:00.000Z

Click to read

I Like... Popping It Like A Hood / Don't Call It A Comeback

2011-02-24T01:35:00.002Z

Has Britney Spears finally made her actual comeback?

Despite the inexplicable feat of her recording and releasing the aptly titled Blackout in 2007 during what was her not-so-lost weekend under the blinding glare of voracious paparazzi, and it subsequently being dubbed by Rolling Stone “possibly the most influential pop album of the last five years” it just did not look, feel or sound right. How could anyone buy into the idea of Britney Spears as a polished product for our consumption after having been witness to her ending two marriages, shaving her head, losing custody of her children and checking in and out of various rehabilitation facilities? Anyone who could watch her writhing around in the video for Gimme More and forget all about the troubled, lost look in on her face as she took the electric razor to her hair has a stronger stomach than I do.

Equally, her next album release in December 2008 still felt too soon; is it wise to name your new LP and world tour ‘The Circus’ after having been confined under involuntary psychiatric hold a mere 12 months earlier? Yes, she looked good and, yes, Womanizer was an irrefutable success, but she was under the conservatorship of her father, she was busy putting restraining orders on lecherous ex-boyfriends and managers, and the promotional trail for the album was lacklustre to say the least - the high point of promotion in the UK was a four minute mimed performance on the X Factor.

But the premiere of the video for current single, Hold It Against Me, now seems right. The song, admittedly, closely toes the line of insipidity (even with its dubstep-lite middle eight) but the video is nothing short of a visual, yet commercially endorsed up to the eyeballs, delight. From the cascading white dress to the Rocky Horror red lips and the smatterings of neon paint, it all adds up to a glossy, first-class, Spears production.

Britney has also bravely surrounded herself with images from her now iconic cannon of music videos; anyone willing to hold up images of themselves from 12 years ago has to be feeling rather plucky, right? Although this retrospective does give a reminder of Spears as America’s teenage southern belle siren, it also provides a startling contrast of Britney’s eyes. *Cliché Alert* The eyes are the window to the soul (a biological fact, I’m sure) and where Spears’ eyes once brimmed with ambition and passion, they now appear somewhat sallow and blank. But for the girl who underwent a meteoric rise during her teens and endured a painful, borderline tragic, fall it is a testament to her will as a pop icon and performer that she can even look into a camera at all these days.

So, Britney Spears, if I said that you now seem poised and ready to reclaim your title as the queen of 21st century pop, would you hold it against me?

I Hate... Vacuums / 'My coffin doesn't have a phone'

2011-02-20T22:06:00.000Z

January: Beauty Buys

2011-01-30T19:37:00.001Z

1) DHC Washing Powder £6
Clearly I bought this for its novelty value due to the cutesy Asian packaging and the odd idea of a powder formula cleanser. However, after a month’s use I’ve found this daily face wash is more than just a quirky bottle. This fragrance free powder turns into a mild lather when mixed with water and massaged into the skin, leaving a squeaky clean, softened complexion. Despite its claim that this product is suitable for 'all skin types', those with dry skin should give it a miss due its powder/foam properties.

2) Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera £1.32
According to Vogue this month, shimmer and glitter are out as skin highlighting options whilst moisture and gloss are in; so here’s a multi-purpose product to get the current skin sheen of choice. Get shower fresh skin with a few dabs onto the cheekbones or slick over eyelids for a simple but fashion forward makeup update. Other uses include, lip balm (obviously), intensive night time under-eye treatment and dab a small amount onto a cotton bud to smudge black kohl eyeliner for a lived-in, grungy look.

3) DHC Make Off Sheets £4.50
Another treat from this Japanese skincare brand are these aloe-infused cotton makeup wipes. Again, packaging plays its part, with the re-sealable baby blue box keeping the fifty face wipes inside gloriously moist. Although the face wipes themselves are slightly on the small side, they are so nourishing and refreshing that makeup is removed in just a few gentle swipes. Plus the fresh apple scent is a little mouth watering.

4) Cosmopolitan Blend Perfection Sponge £4.99
Admittedly this looks like a rather strange implement but I am certifying this sponge as beauty must-have. If, like me, you’re tempted by the promises of an airbrushed complexion but refuse to pay double-figures for a Beauty Blender, then this less-than-£5-bargain is the answer. Simply dampen the sponge and dab on your foundation – so easy any moron can do it. This dabbing application method gives skin a dewy, hyper-natural but perfected finish. No more foundation brushes for me; uneven, streaky foundation be gone.

5) Penhaligon’s Bluebell Bath and Shower Gel £25
*Inhale* Ahhhh, I adore this fragrance classic. The Penhaligon’s Bluebell scent is strong but chic and this bath and shower gel is serious bathroom luxury. What could be more delightful than foaming bluebell bubbles? One day I hope I’m enough of a lady to have the entire Bluebell range displayed on some kind of ornate dressing table.

I Hate... My Current State of Affairs / 'It's a real parchment turner'

2011-01-13T20:39:00.000Z

Memorising Latin by day. Reading Shakespeare by night.

2011-01-10T16:57:00.000Z

I Hate... Resolutions / 2011 To Do List

2011-01-09T22:27:00.000Z

1) Make more effort in life, overall.

Beauty Buys 2010

2010-12-30T14:00:00.000Z

Due to the 21st century obsession with lists, and a lack of $$$ preventing me from indulging in any cosmetic treats this month, I instead present to you a compilation of the best Beauty Buys of the year.

(Starting from centre and moving round clockwise)

1) Best in Highlighting – Shiseido Accentuating Colour Stick in Champagne Flush £24.50

2) Beauty Trend of the Year – Mannequin Hands brought to you by O.P.I Samoan Sand £10

3) Hair Care Innovation - Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo £2.55

4) Bargain Beauty Hero - Batiste Dry Shampoo Fresh £2.09

5) Skin Care Saviour - Carita Ideal Contrôle Powder Mask £33

6) Body Blitz in a Bottle - Jergens Naturals Total Nourishment £4.99

7) Under the Radar Makeup Secret - 17 Candy Collection Blush and Glow in Strawberry Swirl £3.99

8) Fresh Face Essential - MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer £12.50

PRINTED WORDS / Carl Barat and Kate Allen (That's Me) Special Edition... Plus The Drums, Michael Jackson and a tidbit on perfume

2010-12-27T17:20:00.000Z

Interview by James Foley - Record of the Day

I Hate... Absence / Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T21:40:00.000Z

This festive message from Michael Jackson should see you through the Christmas period.

I Like... Being Student Music Writer of the Year / Record of the Day Awards 2010

2010-12-01T19:49:00.000Z

My Dad inspecting David Bowie

Thanks to the good people at Record of the Day. Thanks to the zuegma towards the end of The Libertines Reading review I wrote, as I'm pretty sure that's what won me this award. And thanks to Alexander Pope for teaching me what a zuegma is.

November: Beauty Buys

2010-11-29T21:12:00.002Z

1) Simple Kind to Eyes Balm £3.99
I’m usually not much of a “Simple” fan – apart from their face wipes – but two factors made me pick up this item: 1) the word “balm.” I can’t resist it. 2) The skin around my eyes is a state. When winter rolls round my eyes water in windy conditions which causes irritated dry skin at the outer corners of my eyes. Yes, I am every bit as feeble as that statement makes me sound. Although there is nothing discernibly balmy about this product, it is slowly restoring my skin back to health. Plus I’ve been mixing a small amount of it into my concealer for extra moisture.

2) Simple Kind to Eyes Nourishing Eye Make-Up Remover Cream £3.49
Okay, so it seems that I’m becoming more of a “Simple” fan as this post progresses... This eye product was bought for the same reason as the eye balm – dry eyes. This eye-make up remover is tough on mascara but gentle on skin, therefore successfully living up to its name and claim.

3) 17 Candy Collection Blush and Glow in Strawberry Swirl £3.99
The buzz on the beauty grapevine is that this 17 blusher/highlighter duo is a budget price doppelganger of Nars’ cult powder Orgasm. I can neither confirm nor deny this claim, having never tried the aforementioned Nars blusher, but this delightfully kitsch offering from 17 is a good enough product on it’s on own merits; with its lasting golden glint, and the warm hue of the blush having a soft sculpting effect.

4) John Freida Frizz Ease Original Hair Serum 5ml £1.95
The last few times I’ve worn my hair in a fishtail plait, the slight air of frizz around my roots has frankly ruined my do. So with trepidation I eyed up this John Freida classic. I’ve never been one for serum as I can’t shake the associations I have with it being a product that every girl used to slather onto her hair at school, and really not look the better for it. But a couple of pumps of this serum evenly distributed through my hair has left my tresses unfeasibly soft and sleek. And despite this tiny vial being as small as a bullet, and my compulsory daily hair washing, this miniature has lasted me quite some time. So don’t bother buying the full size one.

5) China Glaze Nail Varnish in Frostbite £5.99
Ever since blue nail varnish became cool again (I believe that was around three years ago) I have been looking for a shade that when applied to nails actually looks blue. From Chanel to Rimmel, every blue nail polish I’ve tried, upon application becomes a mass of streaky, gothic ink. Well no more as I’ve finally tracked down a true blue. This shade from China Glaze is the perfect shade of cosmic blue, with an oh-so slight hint of shimmer.

I Like... Holographics / Starlight

2010-11-27T15:30:00.000Z

Book Review - Michael Jackson: The Making of Thriller: 4 Days/1983

Click Here

If anyone can seriously answer the question at the end of this review - get in touch. It keeps me awake at night.

I Like... Summer Camp / "Like I'm gonna die"

2010-11-24T20:38:00.000Z

I Hate... False Advertising / Pure Hate

2010-11-23T20:46:00.001Z

It has come to my attention that I have been “liking” too many things on this blog lately. So just to even out the scores, here’s a list of things that have annoyed me in the past 72 hours:

- Cold hand-dryers
- Tristram Shandy
- Inferiors attempting to tell me what to do
- Blue nail varnish that looks black
- Iceberg lettuce
- Face wipes that dry out real quick
- The price of chocolate bars
- Time
- Dust

I Like... Luck / Bello Diablo

2010-11-12T20:20:00.000Z

Look what I won.

Topshop asked what my favourite Kate Moss for Topshop item was. I told them...

“As gorgeous as every Kate Moss for Topshop garment is in my wardrobe, and as gorgeous as each of those pieces make me feel, from the perfect denim hotpants to the second-skin wet-look maxi dress, the Kate Moss for Topshop item I treasure most has to be the studded leather bag from her debut collection. That little butter-soft shoulder bag has gone everywhere with me for the past three years; from London, to New York to Paris. And everywhere I go girls and women stop to ask where I bought it. It’s draped over me at every gig and festival, and since Kate is the queen of festival chic, she knew exactly what she was doing when designing this beautiful and versatile bag. It’s always good to know that I’m wearing something that has been pre-approved by an unrivalled style icon.”

In exchange they sent me this specially designed jumpsuit, as worn and designed by Miss Moss to her specifications.

There are only two of these jumpsuits in existence, one’s in my wardrobe and the other is in Mossy’s – weird.

The subtle shimmer, art deco inserts on the shoulders and ultra flared legs make me feel like a Rolling Stones groupie (that’s a good thing, obvs).

Thanks to Topshop for selecting me as the winner of their competition, and thanks to Kate Moss for another sparkling design.

I Like... Recognition / "Working to make butter for my piece of bun"

2010-11-02T17:06:00.001Z

The above pictures are not only adorable, but sum up my academic work ethic - an ethic which has paid off. Say hello to the recipient of Reading University's Achievement Prize.

After being told that 'we don't give firsts to first year students', I got one. A good one too.

The secret to studious success?
1) Go to the lectures and seminars you're paying for - only fools disobey this financial/moral logic
2) Don't waste your time - i.e. socialising with people you don't actually like; if I don't want you at my funeral I certainly don't want to spend time drinking milky-frothy-cappa-mocha-chinos with you when I could be working.

This studying thing might just work out after all

October: Beauty Buys

2010-10-29T21:10:00.000+01:00

1) Carita Ideal Contrôle Powder Mask £33
The problem with most face masks seems to be that they’re only ever designed to do one thing, and usually at the expense of another skin benefit. This mask, however, hits two birds with one allegorical stone – it purifies and brightens simultaneously, in just five minutes. I discovered the gorgeousness of Carita Paris products whilst at Lucknam Park Spa (aka heaven on Earth) and took the opportunity to sample every cream, serum and gel they had on offer. The price of Carita products seems to depend on where you’re buying them from, so shop around.

2) Vichy Normaderm Purifying Cleansing Gel £10
I must admit, I’m having serious skin issues right now; I’m currently taking antibiotics and using a prescribed night treatment, but alongside that I have been using this cleanser. I’m not crazy about gel formula cleansers as they tend to tug at and dry out my skin. This one however has a softening and calming affect and is keeping my painful breakouts in check without the use of any harsh, nasty chemicals. Plus the positive reviews for pretty much every product in this Normaderm range on the Boots website indicates that I’m not the only one tending to my skin woes with this stuff.

3) No. 7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator £7.75
As per usual the lexical trigger ‘radiance’ made me buy this (plus the ‘£5 Off’ No. 7 voucher I had in my hand). Since the blurb on the bottle talks of ‘natural fruit acids’ I did a little sigh when this product was more fragrance-free than fruit salad scented, but aside from that this makes for an effective but gentle exfoliator to instantly shift any sudden dry patches that the cold weather brings on.

4) Dior Show Iconic Lash Curling Mascara £21.50
This product was a gift from a generous and thoughtful friend and it's the best mascara I’ve ever used in my not so little life. No clumps, no smudges and no crumbling black flakes. Just full, fat lashes that stay that way all day long. Now that I’ve been spoilt and sampled the delights of high-end mascara I’m not sure if I’ll be able to revert back to a high-street brand any time soon... What a snob.

5) Dior Addict Lip Glow Colour Awakening Balm £20.50
Another gift from the aforementioned generous and thoughtful friend - a skinny lip tint that touts the 'colour adapt' card – i.e. claims to change colour in accordance with your lips. And you know what? It actually does. I slicked this on, just expecting a sheer balm but ten minutes later I caught my reflection to find my lips had a glimmer of rose pink to them. Pretty cool; just like the slight mint scent this balm has.

PRINTED WORDS / Choosing your favourite Lennon song is like choosing your favourite child (if you like kids) & A/W Beauty Trends

2010-10-24T15:25:00.000+01:00

PRINTED WORDS / Reading Festival - The Libertines and Guns N' Roses, Beauty - Skin is In

2010-10-16T13:47:00.000+01:00

I Like... Previously Unreleased Material / Vision

2010-10-13T22:29:00.000+01:00

On 22nd November Sony Music are releasing Vision – the 3 DVD Michael Jackson boxset includes:

- 42 short films, all restored and remastered

- 10 videos which up until have not been available as home releases

- The NEVER before seen video for the 2003 single One More Chance (that’s a total of 4.5 hours worth of Michael Jackson videos, people)

- An accompanying 60 page hardback booklet

Be cool like me and pre-order now

I Like... Iconic Kate / "The glitter of fashion misleads her"

2010-10-08T00:18:00.003+01:00

So Kate Moss is kind of shutting up shop with Topshop this month. The official line is that Kate will now be desiging “limited edition drop-in collections.” I.e. not so frequent and not so large collections.

However, the actual news to report here is that to initiate this new fashion venture, Moss has chosen her top ten favourite pieces from her past 14 collections to be reproduced under the label “Iconic Kate.” So with that, here is my personal plea for the ten pieces I’m hoping to be brought back to the Topshop rack:

1) The Panther Dress – This one has already been confirmed as one of the chosen ten, but I just want to lodge my support for it after missing it first time round. I might take up smoking whilst I wear it as well.

2) The Cropped Leather Jacket – You know what this is? The prefect form of the leather jacket - that’s what. When this came out I tried it on, had the money for it in my hand but I actually needed a coat for the winter and thought a garment that fails to reach my stomach may not be the wisest investment. What was I thinking? The leather was so buttery soft and it made me feel instantaneously cool; not feeling I experience all too often. By far the best item from the entire KM for Topshop archives.

3) The Yellow Chiffon Dress – Of course when this piece appeared in her first collection The Daily Mail was all “oh it looks just like that dress she wore that one time.” Yeah? That’s why it’s so desirable – duh.

4) The Corset Tee – So simple but so cool. I was once ripped off with a fake version of this top on Ebay, so a real one would be a treat.

5) The Red Pansy Dress – I believe this is actually the best ever selling KM dress, so surely it’s a shoe-in for reissue? Plus I like pansies and I want red to be “my colour.”

6) The Original Pansy Tea Dress – I actually already own this, but the print is so perfect it makes my eyes water with joy a little bit. So I may buy one in every size available so I can wear it for the rest of my existence or in case I balloon up in the future. The dress is actually an exact copy of a vintage Busstop by Lee Bender dress that Moss owns, but she did us all a big favour by bringing it to the masses.

7) The Black Silk Skirt – Luxury grunge. This will look perfect with the little leather jacket.

8) The Stripy Jumper – There isn’t anything particularly discernable about this item, but I really need some warm clothes in my wardrobe right now, plus Mossy looks too good for words modelling it in the promo shot.

9) The Skinny Jeans – I’m sorely missing some signature Moss jeans and, let’s face it, she singlehandedly made this style of jean the only one anyone with a clue wears anymore. Plus, here’s a shock revelation; I don’t actually have a pair of blue jeans in my wardrobe these days. Honestly, what century am I living in?

10) The Cut-Away Mini – The ultimate LBD; modelled on her “I’m dating Johnny Depp” days but made disgustingly short. Firm thighs required.

And not to be forgotten – Kate’s final seasonal collection hits stores on 28th October and will be comprised of “signature boho-chic, with pretty day-dresses, uber-glam evening gowns, vintage-inspired knits and a new range of semi-precious jewellery.”

September: Beauty Buys

2010-09-30T20:26:00.000+01:00

1) YSL Top Secrets Re-Plumping Concentrate Lip & Contour Shaper £20
My slightly full lips are my only physical attribute that I wish to pass onto any children I may be unlucky enough to have in the future. So I figured I better keep these bad boys pumped and plumped. After three weeks of use my lips are looking just slightly fuller – the level of difference is that which I notice but nobody else would, y’know? This luxury-in-a-tube contains Hyalufix –‘a plant complex which boosts the hyaluronic acid production at the very heart of the lips’ thus restoring lip volume from within, as opposed to that nasty throbbing bee sting effect that most lip plumpers provide. Whether this works or not, the packaging is flawless.

2) MAC Mineralize Satin Finish SPF 15 Foundation £21
I went to MAC recently for some serious cosmetic help. “Can you help me look less dead please?” “Sure thing honey, just sit in front of this glaringly bright mirror which magnifies every imperfection on your face and I’ll make them disappear.” I asked for a lightweight foundation with buildable coverage, a dewy finish and a no less than perfect colour match to my skin. And that’s exactly what I’ve got here (in shade NW20). Plus just one pump gives the exact amount required to cover the whole face, therefore no wasted product.

3) MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer £12.50
Also from MAC is the first ever concealer to not settle into the creases under my eyes. Big talk, I know, and I couldn’t believe it at first either, but OMFG I can finally cover my crack addict eye bags, rather than exaggerate them. Also, this works equally well on hiding blemishes without feeling heavy or drying out problem skin.

4) Boots Concealer Brush £5
Whilst having my MAC makeover I really liked the concealer brush they used but I needed to eat that night, so I thought I better get my priorities straight and invest in nutrition over a £20 cosmetic tool. Subsequently I settled for this bargain Boots own brand brush. Sure the bristles aren’t as soft as MAC’s but it’s getting the job done just fine.

5) St. Ives Invigorating All Over Body Scrub £4.99
I hate St. Ives facial scrubs; it’s like exfoliating with sand. Rough. This body exfoliator however is gentle but effective. It removes dead, dull skin, helps to dig out unsightly ingrown hairs and smells so good it makes me drool a little bit. Now a bathroom staple item.

I Hate... How much I enjoyed my birthday this year / “I am just eighteen, the finest age possible”

2010-09-29T13:27:00.000+01:00

I usually hate getting old and being the centre of attention, but this year I actually enjoyed my birthday.

My celebratory events schedule went thus:
- Cake with the Grandparents
- 5K run through Hyde Park
- Costume change then family time
- Another costume change then friends time
- A day spent at Lucknam Park Spa complete with massages, sunflower seed exfoliation and Japanese salt room detoxing
- An evening with Stephen Fry – a national treasure live onstage

Such an enjoyable run of events that I actually forgot about the now decreasing levels of collagen production in my face for a while.

I Hate... Negligence / Inactive

2010-09-28T23:37:00.000+01:00

Lack of updates due to:

1) being busy turning 21

2) my reading : writing ratio = unbalanced

3) spending my time with crocodiles

I Like... Pictures / Not As Much As Words

2010-09-11T15:40:00.000+01:00

Please find my review of Neverland Lost – A Portrait of Michael Jackson by Henry Leutwyler here

Thanks to MJWN

I Like... How much Morrissey hates human beings / "We're all lonely, but I'd rather be lonely by myself"

2010-09-04T16:57:00.000+01:00

Latest Morrissey interview from The Guardian

I Like... Reading / "I wanna watch you bleed"

2010-09-02T14:06:00.001+01:00

Summer Camp were enchanting.

Axl Rose was frightening.

The Libertines made life worth living again.

The Drums have some serious moves.

Full review to follow in due course

I Hate... Time / Countdown to Reading

2010-08-24T12:40:00.000+01:00

August: Beauty Buys

2010-08-23T13:29:00.001+01:00

1) Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh £27
I’ve been rather distressed with my skin recently, it just refuses to behave; it acts up and erupts inexplicably like a bratty child in a supermarket. And like a worn out and broken down mother I just did not know what to do about the situation... So I thought, ‘when was the last time I was actually happy with the state of my skin?’ A quick flick through some photos and I found that the last time my skin looked healthy (without makeup) was after returning from a holiday last year when I had been using a mysterious Japanese cleansing oil. So I’ve gone for the best of the best when it comes to cleansing oils this month. This formula utilises cherry extract to tackle acne and oil, but also combines deep sea water to keep skin hydrated and glowing. There is nothing not to like about this product as it makes cleansing quick, easy, luxurious and effective.

2) Batiste Dry Shampoo Fresh £2.09

Damn do I like a can of dry shampoo. I remember that my older sister introduced me to it whilst she was a drama student and I used to go and stay with her, thinking I was too cool for school. Anyway, she was like ‘have you tried this stuff? Its clean hair in a can,’ and then chucked the original green spray at me. Since then I’ve been hooked. I bought this latest Batiste reincarnation for its ‘forest-fresh fragrance’ which is undeniably pleasing. This is also the first product that Batiste is pushing as unisex, but I am not sharing mine with my other half. No way.

3) Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil £2.99
I have a small scar in the middle of my left eyebrow (it’s a long and ridiculous story how I got it but basically boils down to me being accidentally being pushed into a door frame, blood everywhere and having my eyebrow glued back together at A&E), which has left me with a bald patch mid-arch where hair is unable to grow back. I’m totally self-conscious about, it but this marvellously priced pencil fills in the gap and stays put all day. Confidence restored.

4) Collection 2000 Naturally Radiant Foundation £3.99
This is easily the cheapest foundation I’ve ever bought. And why did I buy it? For the name, obviously: ‘Naturally Radiant’ is exactly what I want to be. I’m using this in a shade called ‘Vanilla’ which is just the right level of pale with a pink undertone to perk up the complexion with a light dewy finish. Admittedly you’ll need to reapply around midday, but for only £3.99 I don’t really mind.

5) GOSH Nail Lacquer 549 Holographic £5
A holographic nail varnish was way too much of a novelty for me to resist. This nail polish is a bitch to apply; you definitely need a base coat to protect your nails, the brush is tiny (thus causing streaks) and the lacquer itself is so thin you’ll need at least 3/4 coats, but the space age silver shine you’re left with is ridiculously satisfying and distracting. I’m pretty sure this is what people in the 80’s thought nails would look like in the year 5000.

I Hate... Having not used my bones, organs and muscles for 20 years / ‘I’ve been walking for miles’

2010-08-20T16:30:00.004+01:00

During my school days I was known for skiving off of P.E. lessons. My record was missing 12 consecutive lessons of outdoor winter hockey – an achievement I am vehemently proud of. I would get my mum to write me notes, friends with ‘grown-up’ handwriting to write me notes, hide in the toilets, just whatever it took to get me out of playing King and Queen Ball in an icy gym that smelt like vomit and death.

Anyway, my hatred of wearing shorts and trainers, the whole ethos of competition and being told by an alcoholic P.E. teacher that I was going to die before my parents meant that I haven’t really completed any exercise since primary school when we had weekly swimming lessons. (Don’t even get me started on the scarring experience of being the only kid to turn up unable to swim and having to put on armbands. That’s another tale for another day.)

The point I want to make, is that my Dad has always been pretty disappointed that I’ve never taken part in any sport or any kind of fitness routine, as he himself is a very healthy and fit individual. So this summer my untameable need to make my parents proud of me took over once more (after the glow of achieving a first wore off) and I signed up to run the Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge in Hyde Park on my 21st birthday in September.

I’ve overcome my fear of exercise, bought some trainers and have been hitting the gym as much as possible since June. I’ve been keeping my training a secret from most people as I know they will find it hilarious and unimaginable. But guess what? I’m skinny, young and don’t smoke so I’m pretty good at running actually. So a big two-fingers up at every butch netball player from school who thought they were so much better than me because they could pivot and complete a shoulder pass.

In fact, I would go as far as saying that I actually like my new found exercise regime. It’s nice to feel that I deserve to eat, sleep and sit down for once; rather than feeling guilty about it 24/7. Here are some of my favourite tracks from my ‘keep running otherwise you’ll never have a body like Lady Gaga’ playlist:

1) Michael Jackson Jam - What could possibly spur one on more than thought of ‘It ain’t too hard for me to Jam’?

2) The Drums Let’s Go Surfing – The fact that the band jog to the beach in the video to this track means that this song provides a gentle encouragement.

3) The Killers Somebody Told Me – Have you ever noticed how short this song is? The fact that there is barely a second verse and a minimal middle eight means you won’t even notice the time you’ve spent running when this is playing.

4) Robbie Williams Let Me Entertain You – Is it just me that wishes I could be Robbie Williams onstage at Knebworth performing this? Anyone who says they don’t imagine singing ‘Come on, come on, come on, come on’ to a crowd of adoring fans is a liar.

5) The Rolling Stones Brown Sugar – I wish I had Mick Jagger’s physique. End of.

I Like... My fellow Michael Jackson Fans / Is this what religion feels like?

2010-08-19T18:33:00.001+01:00

Michael Jackson fans are wonderful, but I find them hard to come by face-to-face. Where are they? Would it be way too 1990s of me to get an MJ pen pal? I’m seriously considering it, so whilst I think this over (so far, not one con has entered my head...), please peruse these lovely MJ fan organisations:

1) Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California
This fan club does exactly what it says on the tin; they’re MJ fans based in Southern California. So if you ever want a letter, flowers or a gift taken to Forest Lawn, this lovely lot visit once a month to pay their respects and deliver all donations for Michael there. So thoughtful. Plus they organised the release of 400 doves at Forest Lawn on 25th June, which was an anniversary marker that I was only too happy to contribute to.

2) ‘His Name is Michael Jackson’ Petition

Michael Jackson HATED being called ‘Jacko’: fact. So sign this petition because I hate it too and so should you. Plus when I was looking back through some magazine and newspaper archives on Jackson from the late 80s to early 90s, it seems that the media referred to him by this nickname exclusively, which annoyed me and put a halt to my research.

3) Michael Jackson World Network

This is my favourite UK MJ fan club, with a few of the team members having previously worked for the Heal the World Foundation and have received official recognition from MJJ Productions for their work. They’re very friendly and knowledgeable MJ fans and are truly dedicated. Plus, I am a contributor to their marvellous network now. Click here to read a review of The Michael Jackson Opus I wrote for them here. More book reviews and other MJ musings coming soon....

And finally, I'm really enjoying this video of Michael at Studio 54. Nice to see him having a nice time:

I Like... Jeff Goldblum / 'It's mysterious what attracts you to a person'

2010-08-10T17:07:00.000+01:00

I went to see Jeff Goldblum in The Prisoner of Second Avenue at the Vaudeville Theatre.

I would write a review, but I would be somewhat bias due to the fact that I want to marry Jeff. (It was rather good FYI - like Death of a Salesman except approaching the subject of econmic meltdown and a midlife crisis with humour and wit, as oppossed to Arthur Miller's insanely bleak and depressing take on what consumerism does to our minds and selfworth.)

After seeing this play, I watched The Fly - Note to Jeff: If you ever asked me to get into a teleporter I would climb on in. No questions asked. And I could not even fathom the thought of aborting your mutant baby.