Front Cover Giveaway: And The Winners Are....

Thanks to everyone who entered my recent giveaway, sponsored by Front Cover Cosmetics.
I've just picked the 2 winners out of a hat, who will each win two Easy On The Eye Palettes.

Drum roll please....

The winners are:

DangerouslyBeauty and Jinz

Please email me at laurenholden6@gmail.com and I will make sure Front Cover get your prizes out to you asap.

Thanks again to everyone.

Feeling perky?

Anyone remember the infamous Sex and the City episode where Miranda pops a pair of fake nipples down her top? Of course you do!

Well, now Selfridges has cottoned on to this new 'trend' and is due to stock what's being dubbed 'this summer's hottest accessory' - BodyPerks Nipple Enhancers (£9.99).

The silicone nipples are already a hit in the US but will you dare to metaphorically bare all this year.

What do you think of this new trend? Trendy or trashy?

A bit nippy? This could be you for £9.99

A Sneak Peek Into The Life Of....Oxford Jasmine

Anyone who takes even a mild interest in the UK beauty blogging community will have no doubt heard of Oxford Jasmine.
A regular blogger and YouTuber, Jasmine is a freelance make-up artist who's keen to promote the use of cruelty-free products.
But if Jasmine can offer beauty fans one piece of advice, it's to take a tip from Baz Luhrmann and 'Wear Sunscreen'.
Read on to learn Jasmine's top tips and how she broke into the industry....

Lauren: How did you start out in the beauty industry and what was your first experience with make-up?
Jasmine: I was an every day person who bought make up that sat in a drawer.
I would only ever wear make up for special occasions and although I loved colour and texture, I wasn't brave enough to use it. That all changed a few years ago when I just decided to start wearing full make-up to work. I worked in a big open plan office, so it got noticed and I started to feel good about myself. I got bolder and wanted to try more looks.

Lauren: What's your 'go to' every day make-up look?
Jasmine: A really simple contoured eye. For me that involves two eye shadows and some cream eye liner. Ultra simple and sophisticated by adding a winged out and slightly thicker top lash line and red/coral lips.

Lauren: What do you think is the most attractive quality in a person?
Jasmine: A genuine smile. Also the ability to look beyond the superficial (i.e. make-up) and not to judge too early.

Lauren: The biggest make-up faux pas?
Jasmine: Picking the wrong foundation shade and texture, over powdering, clumpy spidery lashes and using blusher in the wrong place for your face shape (apples for square faces, cheekbone for round!)
Or thinking that natural looking make up is easy and quick, it actually takes just as long as special occasion make up.

Lauren: What's been the highlight of your job as a make-up artist? I imagine it must be pretty rewarding doing people's make-up for their wedding day, for instance?
Jasmine: The morning of a wedding is a magical time, it's very exciting and touching to see families getting ready for the big day.
The bride is scared and excited and it is partly my job to keep her calm! So my wedding make up normally starts with a mini face massage! I really enjoyed my first photoshoot as well, it was mental busy but the adrenaline kept me working without a break all day. I was really pleased with the looks too. You can see a few on my website.
The highlight for me was actually my own wedding day. My make up took very little time but I also did my bridesmaids and sisters. They all looked amazing even if I say so myself!

Lauren: You're all about promoting cruelty free make-up. How important do you feel it is for brands to be cruelty free?
Jasmine: It's very important. It's such a minefield out there and very few are truly cruelty free.
 I am delighted that companies like Superdrug, Liz Earle, Marks and Spencers and Urban Decay exist, as they make excellent products which are cruelty free. I am annoyed that L'Oreal own the Body Shop. I still buy The Body Shop products but it is tinged with regret that the profits still go to a corporation that is not cruelty free.

Lauren: If you weren't a make-up artist, what would be your dream profession and why?
Jasmine: UN Ambassador, because let's be honest, Geri Halliwell or me, I am quite passionate about equality and make it my business to be informed about world issues.
Sometimes I feel so awful about the things I complain about when there are so many with nothing and no way to change that. I am also a keen volunteer in my community. If I had done that earlier in my 20s, my career would have been very different but as it is I am a bit too old and preparing to settle down to go down that route.

Lauren: If you could do anyone's make up in the world, who would it be and why?
Jasmine: I would love to meet Angelina Jolie and hang out as pals! She's incredibly beautiful so my job would be easy too.

Lauren: Which blogs are on your dashboard and YouTube videos in your subscriptions?
Jasmine: I really like watching people talk and engage with their audience, too many to mention really. The beauty community on YouTube is quite close knit, there isn't any competitiveness and we are open to new people coming in and showing us a thing or two!
What I don't like people who put on an act on camera or are in it for free stuff and the drama of it all. With me what you see is what you will get if you meet me! I talk a lot and try to make you laugh with self deprecating humour. I don't take myself too seriously and enjoy the experience. I don't take it for granted. YouTube could end tomorrow and I would still be the same person.

Lauren: Summer's coming up, what will be your essential make-up look/tip?
Jasmine: Suncreen! Most brands are starting to bring out their SPF ranges for summer about now. Always use products with suncreen, look for natural products that are going to be kind to your skin as the weather changes too.
Face spritzers are also really good for hot weather as they keep the skin hydrated! If you have to wear foundation then a primer is a must in hot weather. If you can find it then cake foundation (a powder that you mix with water and sponge on) is the only thing that will last well enough in very hot and humid weather. So far outside of theatrical make up I haven't found any which is accessible, but keep an eye out for it!

Lauren: Finally, what's in the pipeline for you?
Jasmine: YouTube and my blog are still very important to me and I will continue with both! I have been asked so many times for help and advice that I have started offering one to one consultations via Skype Video where I can give you more than just an email of advice - I can show you with products and I can see you use products to get the results you want! It doesn't cost very much, similar in price to a consultation at a make up concession but I don't sell you products!

A Girls' Night In With A Difference....

Last Wednesday saw Aussie haircare host their very first 'Aussie To The Rescue' bloggers' event, in a swish penthouse apartment in Manchester's swanky The Light Boutique Hotel.

Emma and Lisa's (the evening's organisers) hospitality literally knew no bounds. They'd organised a really fun girls' night in and invited a top hair stylist, make-up artist and personal stylist to make us all over.

There were cocktails, mocktails, nibbles and yummy LIME cheesecake. A taste sensation! Cocktails were courtesy of Ian, a tres skilled award-winning  bartender who's due to jet off to St Lucia to take part in a cocktail competition. Get Ian!

Without further ado then, here's some photos from the night. I took my pal Sarah along and some of the other bloggers brought a chum along too.

Lucy, Aussie to the Rescue organiser Lisa, Stevey the stylist, organiser Emma, moi and Caroline

Getting my hair styled by the lovely Amber-Rose

Just a 'mocktail' for me. I was driving. Booooo! : (

Blogging sisters Sarah and Jennifer

My good chum Sarah enjoys a cheeky cocktail, courtesy of bartender Ian

Yum! These didn't last very long....

Sarah and I enjoying a spot of Manchester air on the balcony

Sarah tucks into a lime cheesecake

Freebies too! Thank you Aussie

Thank you Aussie for such a fun evening. There were goodies too - some lovely Aussie products and a couple of Max Factor treats, courtesy of the evening's sponsors. Can't wait to head to the London event in July. Hope to see some of you there.

Don't forget to have a nosey at Emma's blog post about the event on the Aussie website.

Watch this space for interviews with the stylists who helped make us all look lovely jubbly.

Thank you Aussie! You just reminded me what blogging is about; the 'community' - catching up and meeting some genuinely lovely folk.

Ctrl, alt...Oh hello lovely nails!

I'd have done much more typing today...if I wasn't pausing sporadically to check out my new nail polish.

Anyone else guilty of that?

Said polish arrived amongst the hordes of junk mail to my work address this morning, along with a few more goodies from Miners Cosmetics (yes, they were free!).

It's 'Flamingo' (if you're wondering) and it's a stunningly shimmery peachy/pink shade.

Here it is after two coats....although the flash slightly washes it out here.

Also amongst the Miners stash was this lovely lot (below), some of which I'll be giving away to my lovely subscribers very soon. Watch this space!

Giveaway Of The Month, Courtesy of Front Cover Cosmetics

The giveaways here on A Lauren to Herself are going to appear every month from now on, which will give everyone a really good chance of winning something.

So without further ado, this month's giveaway is sponsored by Front Cover Cosmetics. There'll be two prizes...and this is what you can win....

Two winners will win a Front Cover's Easy On The Eye Hot eyeshadow palette and a Front Cover Easy On The Eye Cold eyeshadow palette, £8 each. Both products are available from May 19 (with worldwide shipping) from Boots and Bodycare200

How To Enter:

All you need to do to be in with a chance of bagging this Front Cover loot, is subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already) and leave a comment below. Simples.

The contest will close at the end of this month and I'll be picking the winner out of a hat. Good luck.

Fan Of The Tan? Apply Within

I was recently sent a few products to try from Natio Aromatherapy and in amongst the hefty package was a box of 6 tanning wipes, worth £10.

I'm not a fan of the tan  (to be quite frank, I look blimming ridiculous with one) so I'm giving one my subscribers the chance to try out this product and review it on their blog.

Natio says: "A safe and easy way to tan without the sun. Creates a subtle tan, for a natural look. Can build to desired shade. Delicately scented with pure essential oils."

If you think this is a product for you, simply be the first person (subscribers only!) to comment this post and the tanning wipes will be winging their way to you very shortly.

Thank you : )

Ballsy Celebs Get Their Kit Off!

A team of ballsy celebs, including Hollyoaks' Ashley Taylor Dawson, rugby player Ben Foden and Craig 'can I get a rewind' David have stripped down to next to nothing in next month's Cosmopolitan magazine.

But it's all for a good cause - the celebs (also including Skins' star Luke Pasqualino and Casualty's Ben Turner), are raising awareness for male cancer.

It's the ninth consecutive year that Cosmopolitan has supported the Everyman charity. Readers of the top glossy will be asked to vote for their favourite male centrefold in the new issue to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the 21 tasty chaps on show.....Stop drooling, ladies!

                                                              Rugby player Ben Foden

Hollyoaks' Ashley Taylor Dawson went from Chester to chest hair in the upcoming Cosmopolitan. Boom, boom.

Emmerdale farm's Danny Miller. Not baaaa-d!

                                                Pictures courtesy of Cosmopolitan magazine


The pictures above (as well as plenty more!) will appear in the June ‘Naked Centrefolds Special’ issue of Cosmopolitan, on sale Monday, May 10. Ashley, Danny and Ben posed to raise awareness of male cancer for Everyman.
Don't forget to follow Cosmo on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CosmopolitanUK

Desert Island Dreaming....

I recently wrote a post for Elf Cosmetics regarding your all-time must-have desert island beauty products.

Head over to the post now here and let Elf know your beauty faves by leaving a comment - you'll receive £1.50 off every £10 order on the site if you do.

For info, my desert island product is concealer! No 7's Quick Cover concealer in Extra Fair, to be exact.

What's yours? x