The Logitech K830 Illuminated Wireless Living-Room Keyboard - User Review

As a digital native who uses my laptop both at home and at work, I enjoy streaming movies to my television via my computer during family time as an excellent means of entertainment, relaxation and catching up on our favourite series' and movies.  With the festive season well upon us and holidays imminent, we were always on the look-out for the perfect gadget that would take the hassle out of home streaming, for instance, we have all experienced the fuss of unavoidable interruptions such as PC timing out, the cable spaghetti coming undone and the inevitable reattaching of adaptors, HDMI cables made all the more inconvenient when we've lowered the lights for an authentic screening experience!  

Thankfully the perfect gadget to eliminate previous PC to television viewing hassles, the Logitech K830 Illuminated Wireless Living Room Keyboard, quite literally fell into my lap when I was lucky enough to win Logitech UK's excellent product via their Twitter competition!  The Logitech k830 includes invaluable features that makes streaming a pleasure and totally hassle free.  The keyboard itself is compact and can be set up in a matter of minutes, some of the Logitech K830's key features include:

• Bright backlit keys, making seeing and typing a breeze, even in a darkened room.  The keyboard contains an automatic light sensor that detects the level of light in the room adjusting the backlit keys accordingly.
• A built-in touch pad allowing the user to type and control the mouse pointer on one device.
• A 10 metre (33ft) wireless range providing ease of access effortlessly from even the largest living-room.
• Ability to re-charge without the hassle of batteries or constant cable switching.
• Customisable function keys.
• The ability to connect additional devices such as games consoles or multiple PC's effortlessly via the supplied Unifying Receiver.
• A Logitech 2 year warranty.
• A sleek contemporary lightweight design.

I would highly recommend the Logitech K830 as the perfect, times saving and highly efficient addition to take the stress out of PC to TV viewing that can be easily set-up and fully functional in a matter of minutes.  This is one device that does exactly as it claims and would make an excellent Christmas gift or affordable addition to any home.  The ability to add additional devices such as gaming consoles makes this perfect for the whole family's needs.

Check out the Logitech website for further details and features: www.logitech.com

Save £30 on Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks - The Most Shocking Dupe of All Time

Everyone has heard of the famous Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks.  These multi-purpose bricks which give the most beautiful highlight to the cheekbones, cupid's bow, centre of the nose and inner corner of the eye, can also be used as eyeshadow.  The shimmer bricks which are available in an array of shades, consist of 5 stripes of colour, which can be used individually or together.  Priced at approximately £32.50 in the UK, the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are by no means a budget buy.  It may surprise you, as it did me, that there is an alternative which is not only a dupe for the Bobbi Brown range, but the real thing, albeit in a different guise!

For a number of years I have purchased Sue Moxley's Famous range of Shimmer bricks, named after some of the today's most iconic pop stars, including: Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Mariah Carey.  The budget range was available at Superdrug and can be purchased for as little as £2.99 on EBay and Amazon.  I couldn't help but compare the range to the Bobbi Brown one as they appeared virtually identical in appearance and in terms of colour payoff.  

You can imagine my surprise when I tweeted my followers a few days ago, letting them know that the Sue Moxley Famous range of Shimmer Bricks were "virtually identical to the Bobbi Brown range and a fraction of the price."  No other than the lovely Sue Moxley herself, retweeted my comment and also notified me that:  "they come from the same factory" and that the only difference between the two is: "the packaging."  In my opinion the packaging on the Sue Moxley range is even better and more supportive of the contents.  I found that the Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks were always smashing and I have never had that problem with Sue Moxley's range.

So ladies you have it from the lady herself, you can pay £32.30 for a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick or save yourselves £30 and buy exactly the same product, made by exactly the same people.  This seems crazy to me and shows just how easily we are being fooled by expensive high end branding.  

Follow me on Twitter

Please follow me and feel free to comment

Email: kohlandlipstick@gmail.com

Inside Victoria Beckham's Makeup Bag - Victoria's Beauty Secrets Revealed

Victoria Beckham, the mother of 4, wife of David Beckham, former Spice Girl, fashion designer and entrepreneur often tops the list of best dressed stars.  Her timeless fashion, coupled with her immaculate hair and makeup, has put Victoria firmly on the fashion radar.  It is no secret that the star suffers from skin problems.  This article focuses on Victoria's favourite skin care products and the makeup the star relies on to achieve her flawless complexion.  You may be surprised to learn that along with some high end products, the star also has some go to drugstore products that she reaches for time and again.  Let's delve into Victoria's makeup bag.

DERMALOGICA MULTI -VITAMIN POWER RECOVERY MASQUE 

Victoria suffers from acne prone skin, and is a devotee of the Dermalogica range.  This masque is a firm favourite  Victoria states: "I use a combination of products by Dermalogica, depending on what I feel my skin needs at the time."

DERMALOGICA SKIN SMOOTHING CREAM

This smoothing cream is another favourite of Mrs Beckham, who always uses Dermalogica products on her skin.

LA PRAIRIE CELLULAR NECK CREAM

Victoria has openly admitted that she is concerned about the effects of ageing, and relies on this luxurious cream to keep her neck toned and smooth.

SCOTT BARNES BODY BLING

A former fan of the St Tropez tanning range, back in her deep tan days, Victoria has now opted for a more natural shade of tan.  She claims the best is:  "Body Bling by Scott Barnes, which I stock up on every time I go to the States."  She also reveals that:  "so many actresses use it when they have to go to red-carpet events because it looks so natural but at the same time makes such a difference.”

THE BODY SHOP COCOA BUTTER

Victoria is a huge fan of this super rich body moisturiser. Cocoa butter has been a long time favourite with pregnant women, in the prevention of stretch marks.

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM

This wonder cream soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked dry skin. It soothes roughness, redness and minor skin irritations.

JOHNSON'S BABY OIL

This bargain buy is a favourite of Victoria's. She says: "This is a good everyday body moisturiser."

JO MALONE VITAMIN E GEL

Victoria is also a fan of Jo Malone's candles (she has them burning on every step on the staircase of her London store). She says of this Vitamin E Gel: "Vitamin E oil is good for soothing skin. Jo Malone's Vitamin E Gel is great. I try to avoid overly oily moisturisers as a rule."

YSL TOUCHE ECLAT

A celebrity and makeup artist favourite and Victoria is no exception. She says: "If I'm looking a little tired, I'll dab on some Touche Eclat- it's amazing at covering up dark circles."

GIORGIO ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION

Victoria is a huge fan of this silk foundation which blends seamlessly.  She advises: “If you want to spend a bit more on your make-up, I definitely recommend Giorgio Armani, I don’t normally wear foundation but Armani foundations are so light anyone can master them, and the colours are really nice and subtle.”

NARS THE MULTIPLE IN COPACABANA

Victoria loves this Nars highlighter, which is comparable to Benefit's High Beam.  She says: “I love Nars, especially their Multiple in Copacabana which I use on my cheekbones to give them a bit of a lift. Subtle dashes of iridescence really make your face look so youthful and healthy.”

STILA LIP GLAZE IN MOCHA

Famed for her nude caramel lips, the beauty world went wild when Victoria was papped touching up her lips with this gloss, in the back of a car.  She claims: “Stila lipglosses are great.  The thing I love about make-up, it lets you enjoy designer labels and packaging,  it’s about being able to enjoy life’s luxuries without having to spend a fortune.”

LANCOME JUICY TUBES IN MELON

Lancome Juicy Tubes are the most popular lipglosses in the world. Victoria says: "The famous Lancome Juicy Tubes are great." Like Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, her favourite shade is Melon.

BOURJOIS EYESHADOWS

Victoria has long been a fan of Bourjois eyeshadows and lipglosses and says: "Bourjois is very good, especially it's pearlised eyeshadows."

BOURJOIS 3D EFFECT LIPGLOSS IN BEIGE ELASTIC

Another budget buy, Victoria has raved about this lipgloss a number of times over the years.

RIMMEL THE MAX VOLUME FLASH IN BLACK

This budget mascara is a favourite of Victoria's. She says: "Rimmel has some really great products. I particularly like their mascaras."

MAC STROBE CREAM

Victoria is a huge fan of this popular highlighting cream and uses it both on the face and body: “For the rest of your body, it’s always flattering to have a bit of body shimmer or tinted moisturiser, just a slick of something like MAC Strobe Cream.”

Victoria Beckham Makeup Tutorial by Nic from Pixiwoo

Please feel free to comment and post suggestions for future 'Celebrity Makeup Bag Secrets Revealed.'

Follow me on Twitter

Email me: kohlandlipstick@gmail.com

Great Tips and Products for Dry Skin from Drugstore to DIY

If, like me, you suffer from dry skin you will know how annoying and problematic this can be, especially if you wear makeup on a daily basis and suffer from dreaded dry patches.  After a lot of trial and error, I have finally found methods and products which work fantastically for me.  This blog post will focus on my favourite products for tackling dry skin, most of which can be purchased from the drugstore and also includes a DIY guide.

SOAP AND GLORY SCRUB YOUR NOSE IN IT

Over the years I have tried tens, if not hundreds, of facial exfoliants.  This product by Soap and Glory is my all time favourite facial scrub.  The scrub helps refine large pores and also prevents blemishes while also doubling up as a face mask.  The product helps exfoliate, clean and purify the skin, removing dead skin cells,  The scrub has a good sized exfoliating grain, which is a must when you suffer from dry skin.  The directions advise to apply to a damp t-zone (I use it all over my face) and massage for minute before rinsing away and recommends the scrub is used twice a week.  I would advise, if your skin can handle it, to use this every day if you suffer from very dry skin or perhaps every other day, until you get the dryness under control, and then reduce to twice weekly usage.  As mentioned, the scrub doubles as a face mask, which soaks up excess oils and helps stimulate fresh oxygen to your face.  Apply a layer of the scrub to the skin and leave for a few minutes before rinsing off.  After using the scrub, I apply a little more and leave this on the skin for 3 minuets before rinsing away.

SANCTUARY WARMING MICRO - BRASION POLISH & 5 MINUTE THERMAL DETOX MASK

                                     

I would recommend alternating your facial exfoliator once in a while, as the skin can get used to a product, thereby making the product not as effective as it once was.  I love Sanctuary's Warming Micro-Brasion Polish.  Again this exfoliant has a good sized grain for exfoliating and getting rid of dead skin cells.  This polish is a favourite at London's Covent Garden Sanctuary Spa and it is easy to see why.  Apply the scrub to a damp face and massage in circular motions.  The scrub will heat up on contact with damp skin, opening the pores, drawing out impurities and stimulating circulation.  You can remove this scrub by simply rinsing or using a muslin cloth (not provided) as per the directions of the product.  I enjoy using this product in conjunction with the Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask.  After exfoliating, leave skin damp and apply a thin layer of this clay like mask.  The mask also heats up on contact with damp skin, helping to open pores, which in turn enables the charcoal and kaolin clay draw out impurities from deep within the skin.  You leave the mask on for 5 minutes and rinse.

SUPERDRUG DEEP ACTION EXFOLIATING DAILY WASH

This exfoliator from Superdrug is excellent for those on a budget or for those who suffer from acne.  Again, the exfoliant has a good sized grain for removing dead skin cells and is gentle enough to be used on a daily basis.  This product contains the maximum concentration of Salicylic acid, which helps with acne and other skin conditions such as eczema.  Great for those on a budget this scrub retails for under £3.00.  The directions for use are fairly straight forward.  Apply to a damp face and massage in circular motions before rinsing.

DIY EXFOLIATOR - LEMON AND SUGAR

Make your own facial exfoliator.  Cut a thick slice of lemon and cover with sugar (you could also use salt but I wouldn't recommend this, as if you have any little cuts it will sting).  Rub the sugar coated lemon slice in circular motions over the face.  The combination of the sugar grains and the citric acid in the lemon will help to remove dead skin cells and can also help to reduce skin pigmintation.  Can be a bit messy but great for those on a budget and well worth a try.

FACE CLOTH

Everyone has probably heard of the famous 'hot cloth' polishes which are very popular at the present time.  A hot cloth polish, for those who don't know, is basically an exfoliator which contains a piece of muslin cloth, which you rinse under hot water and use to remove your exfoliator.  This aids the exfoliating process.  I agree with the theory behind these products. However, I would advise you to purchase a simple face cloth.  Rinse the cloth under hot water and wring out.  Place the cloth over your face for a few seconds and then simply wipe away your exfoliator with the hot face cloth.  This method definitely assists your exfoliator and I would highly recommend it.

NO7 BEAUTIFUL SKIN HYDRATION MASK

This mask, from Boots' No7 range, is designed for dry or very dry skin.  It is a whipped creamy mask which gives skin an intense moisture boost.  I apply it after exfoliating.  You can leave it on the skin for 3 minutes or for extra hydration leave on the skin for 10 minutes (which is what I would recommend).  The mask can then be simply wiped off and the face rinsed.

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM

This wonder cream is a firm Makeup Artist and celebrity favourite and is fantastic at relieving dry skin.  I apply it to dry patches at night and in the morning they have gone.  It is also perfect for multiple purposes such as chapped lips, minor skin irritations, use on the cuticles and is also great as a skin highlighter on the high points of the cheeks. I would advise you to warn the product on the back of the hand before application.  If you are on a budget, good old Vaseline is a great alternative.

NSPA DEEP HYDRATING FACIAL OIL

Facial oils are very popular at the moment and this one from the nspa range, available at Asda, is a great budget buy and extremely effective.  The oil comes with a dropper, which prevent waste and allows you to apply precise amount of the product.  Simply drop 3 to 4 drops of this oil into the palm of your hand, rub hands together vigorously to warm the oil and then press into the skin until absorbed.  Apply prior to your favourite moisturiser.

L'OREAL COLLAGEN RE-PLUMPER MOISTURISER

At this point apply your favourite moisturiser.  My current favourite is the L'Oreal Collagen Re-Plumper Day Cream.  The anti-ageing cream contains Boswelox which helps rejuvenate facial contours and reduces the appearance of fine lines, crow's feet and expression lines.  The formula is rich and easily absorbed and also provides UVA and UVB protection against the sun.  It is also available as a night cream.·

CETRABEN EMOLLIENT CREAM

Cetraben Emollient Cream is a medicated cream which can be purchased and is also available on presciption.  It contains white soft and liquid light paraffin which are emollients that rehydrate the skin, forming an oily layer on the skin which helps it retain moisture.  The cream is primarily used to treat dry skin and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.  It is a fantastic all over moisturiser which can also be used on the face.  Leave it to absorb into the skin for approximately 10 minutes before applying makeup.

Bowl of Water Trick

In colder weather, when the central heating is on, place a bowl of water in your bedroom.  This prevents your skin from drying out while you sleep.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

EMAIL ME: kohlandlipstick@gmail.com

Please feel free to comment

Inside Sienna Miller's Makeup Bag - Sienna's Beauty Secrets Revealed

The focus of this article is Brit actress and queen of boho chic Sienna Miller. As the fiance of actor Jude Law, Sienna burst on to our radar in 2004 and a style icon was born.  Single handedly responsible for the explosion of boho chic.  Sienna's style is one of the most enduring and the inspiration behind the boho revival. The star of movies including "Alfie", "Layer Cake" and "The Edge of Reason" to name but a few, Sienna is one of the hottest female stars around. In recent years Sienna has happily settled with her fiancee, Tom Sturridge and baby girl Marlowe. The film Alfie showcases Sienna's style and is one of my all time favourite looks.  This blog explores the beauty secrets of the woman herself and reveals the makeup and skincare products Sienna relies on.  Also featured is a makeup tutorial, by the lovely Sanni (Miss Mai 27 on You Tube), which shows you how to recreate Sienna's iconic look in the movie Alfie.  Lets delve into Sienna's makeup bag.

CREME DE LA MER MOISTURISING CREAM

Creme De La Mer is a celebrity favourite and Ms Miller is no exception. She says: "This is amazing if you're dehydrated and spend a lot of time on planes."

BOBBI BROWN LONG-WEAR GEL EYELINER

This cream eyeliner is Sienna favourite. Long-wearing, this eyeliner is best applied with an angular eyeliner brush.

YSL VOLUME EFFECT FAUX CILS IN BLACK

This mascara gives the illusion of false lashes and is Sienna's favourite. She says: "Nothing beats" it.

NARS EYESHADOW IN ALL ABOUT EVE 

Sienna says of her favourite eyeshadow: "I love this gorgeous coppery colour."

MAC STUDIO SCULPT CONCEALER

Sienna's secret to the perfect base: "I don't wear foundation regularly, so rely on this."

BY TERRY BAUME DE ROSE SPF 15 

Sienna says: "This is gorgeous, but it always gets lost in my bag". Poor Sienna..it's not easy being her.

BOSS ORANGE EDT

Sienna is the face of this scent and says: "I find it totally addictive!"

DR HAUSCHKA BLACKTHORN BODY OIL

Sienna Used this throughout her pregnancy to prevent stretch marks and still rates it today.

SKIN CEUTICALS

Sienna attributes happiness and the Skin Ceuticals' range of skincare products as her secret to great skin.  She describes the range as "fantastic".

AMORE PACIFIC ABC SERUM

Sienna adores this oil-free serum which minimises the appearance of wrinkles and age spots, and improves the complexion for younger-looking skin. 

MAC SELECT SPF FOUNDATION

Sienna does not wear foundation on a daily basis but when she does glam up she relies on this foundation which she mixes with MAC Strobe cream as an illuminator.

MAC STROBE CREAM

A must have for most makeup artists, Sienna mixes a few drops of this with her MAC Select foundation for an illuminating glow.

GIVENCHY HIGHLIGHTER PEN

Sienna adores the Givenchy range and loves this highlighter pen to highlight the cheekbones and Cupid's bow.

GIVENCHY HYDRA SPARKLING LIP AND CHEEK BALM

Sienna loves this products which delivers a dewy finish to cheeks and can also be used on lips.  She claims: "it is great and comes out really pink", so a little goes a long way with this product.

NARS THE MULTIPLE BRONZER IN PALM BEACH

Sienna uses this bronzer when she is on holiday and if she want to brighten her complexion.

LANOLIPS 101 OINTMENT

Sienna is a big fan of this all purpose ointment made from lanolin.  It hydrates chapped lips, cuticles and dry skin.

SIENNA WITHOUT MAKEUP

SIENNA CHANNELS BRIGITTE BARDOT IN THE MOVIE ALFIE

MY FAVOURITE SIENNA MILLER MAKEUP TUTORIAL BY MISS MAI 27

Please feel free to comment & post suggestions for future 'Celeb Beauty Secrets Revealed'!

Follow me on Twitter

Email me: kohlandlipstick@gmail.com