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I’ve been on a bit of a Summer boot camp these past few weeks, reinstated my exercise routine, been trying to eat right, all that. Everyone I know is raving about coconut water post workout to replace minerals lost when you, er, glow. So, naturally enough I thought I’d give it a go.
Now I’m really trying here because I do honestly want to be that healthful, effortless girl who has everything in control and basically knocking back the old coconut water with abandon was really representing this to me, right?
But I have to say, health kick or no, there is altogether too much kick in this stuff.
It tastes fine while you’re drinking it, then BANG, it gets you. No no no. And the flavoured ones are not much better.
Such a shame, apart from anything else, look how pretty! But it’s water all the way for me from now on, less glamorous, but true.
Have any of you guys tried this and liked it?


Aha! Holiday time and, given the ‘Summer’ we’ve had here in London, about time too.
Packing is always a big deal isn’t it? What to take, what to leave behind, what looks good in one place looks totally wrong in another and all of that. I’ve got my suitcase packing pretty down by now but what I’m really obsessive about is the carry on situation. Wait, that sounds like a film, but you know what I mean, the stuff you actually have with you when you fly. The stuff that protects you from the budget airline with the screaming baby you know is going to sit near you.
Now this is all a lot less fun since the security got tightened up post 9/11 but still, there are certain things I deem essential in flight.
So, with apologies to these guys, this is my list..
Big pashmina (aka the comfort blanket) because planes are always cold.
Cosy cardigan, see above.
Socks, see above. (Now actually don’t look, they’re not beautiful any more, but they are snuggly soft and cashmere.)
Fan, because sometimes, planes are hot.
iPad, hello Easyjet.
iPhone, yeah Mac addiction, whatever.
Headphones, see above.
Eyemask, nicked from previous flight, for sensory deprivation.
Moleskin notebook and pencil, for ideas and because pens always explode on me in planes. I have the clumsy thing.
Wallet, obviously, with passport and all that jazz.
Camera, never far from my person, would never check it.
Massive sunglasses, I know the smaller ones are cooler but I just like ‘em big.
Stuff to read, of course.
Sweets for take off and landing.
(Now, this is the bit that got trickier, but with judicious use of sample sizes and a clear ziplock, I find it’s all still possible.)
Bioderma cleanser, possibly for flight but really in case my luggage gets lost.
Avene water spray, yum.
Avene moisturiser.
Bioderma sunscreen, really in case my luggage gets lost, are you getting the theme here?
Dr Hauschka lip balm, seriously the best.
Mario Badescu Control Cream, because, clearly, I need control, and just in case my…you know.
Mini toothbrush and toothpaste, because I like to brush ok?
Ducray hand cream and nail file, for distracting myself. We’re in the air you know, it makes me a leeeetle bit nervous sometimes.
Lavender oil, we’re in the air..
Rescue Remedy, yeah, d’you think?
And then really in case my luggage gets lost, in the black pouch, emergency bikini, underwear, rolled up tshirt and silk slip dress/nightie. Just in case is all I’m saying, just in case.
Big bag to put it all in.
(Full disclosure the source of all the luggage losing paranoia stems from a holiday I took with a group of friends about eight years ago. All the suitcases went on, all the suitcases rolled off..wait, all except mine. Now this would have been ok had I not been with a group made up entirely of boys. Not a bikini or moisturiser among the lot of them. So there you are, this is how I deal.)
(And actually, of course, it didn’t matter a bit even at the time because we were all having way too much fun but anyway)
OK, I’m stopping, I’m stopping.
What about you, what do you have to have with you?


Sometimes I suspect that I’m just a bit rubbish at being a girl.
Earlier in the week I went for a facial. Now, I’m saying that like it’s something I do all the time but, because of the lack of basic girl skills I’ve actually only had one a couple of times ever. My problem is not with the facial itself, mask that makes you feel like you’re trapped under a rock, squeezing and tutting, hot, cold, hot, all fine. My problem is that when you come out, all pink and shiny and blotchy (but knowing you’re going to look fabulous the next day, right?) with hair like a crazy lady with little bits of face pack nestled in it (I know, it’s an unbelievably beautiful picture I’m painting here for you), when you come out in this state and head home why do you then bump in to everybody you have ever met ever? And why does everyone you see fancy a chat?
Paper bag? Balaclava? Private chauffeur?
Told you, rubbish.


Ever since my friend Leslie bought me a bottle of this stuff a couple of years ago I have just been obsessed. I know, I know, it’s a classic, I’m the last person on the planet to know about it yadda yadda but it smells soooo good. And it’s not at all greasy the way some oils are. And it makes even my scruffy bathroom feel like a hamman. And I love it. So it’s an essential. I thank you.


I had this problem with my eye. It was kind of a red problem. It was a problem that made me want to, you know, reeeeally casually, permanently hold my iPhone or book or whatever over the left hand side of my face.
Or wear a deeply, deeply angled beret at all times (and frankly there is no way of pulling that off well).
This despite the fact that apparently it was really not so obvious to anyone else (is it ever?) But most annoying of all it was a problem that really actually hurt. My eyelid was swollen and red and looking like it was extremely cross indeed.
I tried quite a few things to remedy this situation, I tried hydrocortisone, (yes, I know, it’s bad for your skin, but so is having a REALLY SWOLLEN EYE). I tried every moisturiser I could lay my hands on, even ones that promised to be really gentle and kind and soothing. Nope.
Hello Pinkeye, nice to see you again.
My friend Sarah told me I should try this mad cult-y cream she’d ordered from the states. Really? I don’t think so. And anyway, what if it makes it worse? But then again, Ow, it really does hurt. What’s the harm? Go on then, give me a bit to try.
Oh.
My.
God.
One day. Gone. Three days. Can’t remember the problem. Done. No more problem.
So, yes, of course, I’m sharing the name of this stuff, in its extremely unprepossessing packaging, with it’s ever so slightly odd smell. And I’m telling you if, like me, you have highly strung skin that likes a little tantrum every now and then, you need this stuff in your bathroom.
Bang.

Mario Badescu control cream


As discussed previously I have a little bit of an unhealthy addiction ongoing love affair with blonde hair. ( I blame all those Bergasol ads that were out when I little. The blondest girl was always the most tanned and the most popular.) I keep reading articles about people who have hairdressers who ‘totally get their shade’ (thanks Gywnneth) or who ‘really understand the colour blonde they want to be.’ Hmmm, well, jolly good for you I say but, honestly, I never have found that person which is why I found myself conducting a late night Internet search and ordering up chemicals I didn’t have any experience of like some sort of apprentice Unabomber.
What I was after was a super pale blonde without grey/purple/granny overtones or ANY, let’s whisper this please brassiness. The B word, lest we forget, is the enemy of all self created blondes, from salon to kitchen sink.
Anyway, let’s not go into the full on glamour of dying your hair yourself at home. I like to keep some allure going on here, (although actually, advantages include having decent magazines to read and not being overheated to within an inch of your life. Hairdressers are always too hot for me, makes me panic, anyway) but do you know what? The results are really not too bad. I think there’s room for improvement, there’s certainly room for another mirror in my bathroom so that I can see the back of my head (ahem, no duff spots no, since you ask, but I would have liked a better view). And the main lesson learned? Toner is your God, get the right one and the transformation is amazing.
So yes, I’m now addicted to DIY hair, just like I was when I was a teenager, is this really a good recession proof tip or a sign of some sort of second youth revival?
Either way, bring on the sunshine.


The time has seriously come (oh OK it’s come and gone several times but I mean it this time) I have to do as I’m told and wear sunscreen every day. Despite the lack of a single ray permeating the tupperware box effect cloud that we have been having for weeks (did I mention it’s driving me crazy? So crazy. And the rain, ugh) Anyway, there’s a drought and I need to wear sunscreen.
The main problem here is that a couple of years ago my absolute favourite Dr.Hauschka sun cream was discontinued and, although I stockpiled mightily at the time, I eventually ran out and I’ve never really found a replacement that is as good. I hate the feeling of wearing a heavy cream on my face and I don’t want anything clogging or cloying or hair annoying. For everywhere else I like Avene or Jason, I have a feeling I want to stay in the realm of natural, or at least the veneer of natural, products here. But the face is different. I liked the Hauschka one because it used zinc as a block and that seemed comforting. (But not Euro-reg compliant apparently, hence the end of the line decision. Small tear.)
At the moment I’m trying Bioderma’s Photoderm 50+ for intolerant skin. The jury’s out.
My skin is slightly huffy at being referred to as intolerant as it considers itself to have a perfectly appropriate level of tolerance thanks very much, but I know different so I’m going for the gentle stuff.
What about you? Do you have any favourites for protecting your face from sun?

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