Interview: The X Factor's (and N Dubz') Tulisa!

This year's X Factor sees N Dubz' frontwoman Tulisa Contostavlos join Louis Walsh, Kelly Rowland and Gary Barlow on the judging panel. And seeing Tulisa on last night's show encouraged me to dig out an interview I did with her a couple of years ago for Barry M Cosmetics.

A huge fan of Barry M, Tulisa shared her beauty secrets with me, along with her favourite products from the brand.

Picture: Yahoo Omg

And you can read the full interview here.

Are you watching the X Factor this year? Are you a fan of the show? And what do you think of this year's judging panel?

What Sundays were Made for...

 

It was the Great British Bake Off that inspired me to get my pinny on, break out the baking gear and come over all 50s housewife this morning. Well, isn't that what Sundays are all about?

So I dusted off my favourite cook book and got to work on some chocolate muffins. True, mine look nothing like the picture you see in the open book above (I think that's down to not piling enough mixture into the cases), but I can reveal that they tasted delish - and took less than half an hour to make.

After polishing off two (yes, two!) of my just-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip muffins with a cup of red bush tea, I donned my pinny once more to whip up the evening's tea - a cheese and onion plait. Super easy to make and absoluely lovely - proper Sunday comfort food.

How did you spend Bank Holiday Sunday? Still one more day of the long weekend to go....

I think I'll make rock cakes tomorrow!

Just Because...

It's not often I write about fashion on ALTH, but I thought the latest press release from the PR folk behind the Jeans for Jeans charity was worth a push.

Receiving support from Jaime Winston, Amber Le Bon, Kelly Osborne, Jodie Kid and Stacy Solomon (amongst others), the charity aims to change the world for children with genetic disorders.

And in partnership with the London College of Fashion, Jeans for Jeans has created the first ever LCF t-shirt (pictured below) - a product of a design competition amongst the students.

This year's Jeans for Genes fundraising day takes place on Friday, October 7, with the aim being to ask work colleagues to wear their jeans for the day and make a donation.

Will you be donning your jeans on October 7?

So Who's Won a Box of Doughnuts?

Thanks to everyone who entered my Krispy Kreme giveaway - it really was my most tasty competition yet ; )

I've collected all the entries, bunged them into a hat and got a colleague to a draw a winner the old fashioned way.

And that winner is....Carlito86!

Congratulations Carlito! What a fantastic way to start the long weekend. Enjoy!

Love Krispy Kremes?

If you're licking your lips at the mere mention of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, then no doubt you'll love my tasty little giveaway.

GLAMOUR magazine is collaborating with the brand to design an exclusive autumn/winter capsule collection of the popular GLAMOUR Glaze range for London Fashion Week.

Get ready to drool, as this season’s collection features the trademark Strawberry Glaze doughnut, synonymous with the GLAMOUR Glaze line, accompanied by a new Orange Glaze doughnut. 

To celebrate this delicious collaboration, I've teamed up with Krispy Kreme to offer A Lauren to Herself subscribers the chance to win a box of tasty doughnuts.

All you have to do is subscribe to my blog in the panel on the left hand side and comment below telling me what you like to do while enjoying a doughnut. I love a nice cup of tea and a good film with mine.

Simply comment below by noon this Friday (August 26th) and I'll pick one lucky lady (or man) out of a hat.

Good luck everyone!

PS: Want to ensure you never miss another post on A Lauren to Herself? Enter your email in the box on the left to receive my posts to your inbox.

Which X Factor Star's Collaborating with Collection 2000?

I don't know about you, but I love Collection 2000 - I always have. Great make-up at affordable prices. I used to spend my pocket money on the brand in my teens and still pop into Superdrug now on occasion to stock up on cheap as chips mascara and concealer.

And now, the X Factor's (and fellow northerner) Diana Vickers is putting her face to the brand with a new collaboration

I can't say I'm as big a fan of Diana's music as I am of the make-up brand she's lending her face to, but there's no denying she has a good voice. Plus, love her or hate her, she was one of the most interesting X Factor contestants to date.

And after bumping into her in a pub in my hometown a couple of years ago (she had friends in the area), I can reveal she's as nice as she comes across on the telly.

Watch out for the collaboration in autumn and winter this year, which will see Diana's capsule collection of her favourite products from the Collection 2000 range launched nationwide.

Diana says: “I grew up with Collection 2000 which has always been one of my favourite brands.  I love experimenting with makeup and Collection 2000’s incredible range of fashionable, colourful products allows me to ‘play’ to my heart’s content!”

Dian's involvement with Collection 2000 will no doubt do the company wonders; not that it needs much help. She's just the kind of role model those who buy brands like Collection 2000 (namely teenagers) no doubt look up to.

So what do you think of this new venture for Diana? Are you a fan?

FTC Disclaimer: I have not been paid to write this post; neither am I affiliated with the brand. My opinions are 100% honest and my own, as always.

Celebrate the New Look Miners Website with Free Delivery!

There's been plenty to celebrate these last few days; what with Aussie's Aussie-versary (see previous post)...

But now, Miners Cosmetics (anyone in their twenties will remember the brand from their youth) has launched a brand new website - and they're offering A Lauren to Herself FREE delivery until September 30th to celebrate.

All you need to do to claim free delivery on your order is enter the code 'FREED' at checkout.

And there's plenty of new products to choose from, as well as exciting new features to check out on the all-new Miners website (pictured below).

Need some help deciding what to purchase? I can thoroughly recommend the brand's Fashion Matte line of lipsticks, as well as their cute Tin O Tint lip balms.

The latest addition to the collection are these cute pearl-esque lip glosses, £3.49 each.

And here's some swatches (classily modelled on my pasty white wrist).

From left to right: Pink Pearl, Oyster, Pearly Girly, Pearly Kiss, Mother of Pearl, Crushed Pearl.

You getting this pearl theme, then? Designed with the modern Audrey Hepburn in mind, the pigmentation on these iridescent glosses is pretty amazing. I don't, however, like their slightly tacky consistency. Great price though - and there's a lovely range of shades.

Have you tried Miners yet?

Aussie Winners!

A big 'A Lauren to Herself' welcome to my new subscribers and thanks to everyone who entered my recent Aussie competition. It really was difficult picking my 7 winners; your celebration stories were wonderfully heart-warming and I wish I could pick you all.

So without further ado, my seven winners are:

Second Time Mummy

Laura G

Robyn Clarke

Brolo

Kirsty

Inside the Wendy House

V82Chris

Congratulations! If you see your name above, you've won an Aussie party pack (pictured above), as well as the chance to win VIP passes to the next big London event. Email me at laurenholden6@gmail.com to claim your prize. I hope everyone's having a lovely weekend.

Just a Note to Say....

Pic credit: We Heart It


I've reached 500 followers - what a way to start the weekend! This is just a little note to say thank you to each and every one of you for subscribing to my blog, commenting and genuinely being lovely. When I started up this blog a couple of years ago (then known as Lauren Loves...) I never imagined I'd have 10 followers, let alone 500. Thanks for sticking with me, people. Oh! I'll be announcing the winners of my Aussie giveaway soon, so 7 of you lovely lot will be celebrating too. Thanks again and have a lovely weekend.

Aussie Competition - Hurry: You Have Until Tomorrow (Friday) to Enter!

Update: Please note, this competition is now closed and the winners have been announced.

The team behind the Aussie hair care brand is inviting you to 'sharpen your stilettos and let down your hair' to celebrate their Aussie-versary (i.e. any excuse to party!).

This is YOUR chance to win your very own Aussie summer party pack (like the one pictured below), as well as the chance to win one of 10 tickets to be an honorary VIP angel and attend the brand's next big shindig, dubbed the 'biggest, most exclusive' Aussie party yet - held on Saturday, October 29th in London.

And let me tell thee; you wouldn't want to miss this opportunity - being an Aussie Angel is fantastic!

As well as the chance to win a VIP pass to the next event, each winning community member can choose one product from the following ranges (to be included in their party pack).

Take The Heat range – shampoo, conditioner, 3MM, heat-protection cream, heat-protection spray – For beautifully blow-dried hair wrap these products around your locks.

Miracle Moist – Shampoo, conditioner, 3MM – These heavenly products infuse moisture into dry damaged hair, leaving hair quenched, luscious, smooth and conditioned faster than you can say ‘shine on me’.

Luscious Long – Shampoo, conditioner, 3MM, leave-in conditioner – Blended with wonderful lovelies like Blue Mountain Eucalyptus extract, these products help transform weak, distressed hair into luscious locks.

So what do you have to do?

Do you have something to celebrate, like Aussie? Whatever it is - however big or small - let me know in the comment section below (or blogging about it - linking back to me).
There'll be 7 winners on A Lauren to Herself (chosen by moi!), which means you've got a great chance of winning.

Good luck everyone!
The important stuff:

Terms and Conditions:


1. This competition is open to the Aussie Angels online communities

2. Winners must be UK Mainland residents and aged 18 years or over

3. Winners of the giveaway are to be chosen by Aussie Angels

4. To enter, community members must write a blog post, OR comment on an Angels’ Giveaway blog post, stating how they qualify for a Summer Party pack

 5. To qualify for winning the Summer party pack, they must have something to celebrate (there are no restrictions on their reasons for celebration)

6. Selection criteria: Each Aussie Angel will select their own 7 community member winners. Selection is entirely at each Angels discretion

7. The Promoter will not be liable for applications not received, incomplete, delayed or damaged. Last date for receipt of entries is Friday 19 August 2011

8. There will be up to 7 winners per Aussie Angel

9. Winners must be chosen and notified in writing, by the Angels, by Tuesday 23 August 2011

10. The Angels must also notify Aussie, in writing, who they have chosen, by Tuesday 23 August 2011

11. A list of the prize winners will be available on www.uncoveraussie.co.uk after this date.

12. The prizes are as stated and cannot be transferred, sold or exchanged. There is no cash alternative. Only one prize per household. No bulk or third party entries accepted

13. Summer Party packs will be sent by Aussie, and all delivery costs covered by Aussie

14. By entering this competition, entrants agree to be bound by the rules and by any other requirements set out in the promotional material.


PROMOTER: Procter & Gamble UK, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 OXP

First Human Placentas, Now This....

I thought rubbing a human placenta on your face to achieve youthful-looking skin was bad enough, but now the Daily Mail has revealed a new beauty must-have - snail slime.

I'm practically grimacing at the very thought of this brand new beauty treatment, said to help heal acne scars and beat wrinkles.

Eurgh! Holland and Barrett's snail gel.

The Daily Mail say:

"Primarily marketed as an acne solution, the gastropod's mucus is also touted as a scar and burn healer.
"The beauty potential of snail slime was discovered by chance, when Chilean snail farmers noticed their skin healed quickly and with no scars when they handled snails for the French food market. Those same farmers went on to launch Chilean snail slime product, Elicina, which this year enjoys its 15th anniversary.

What do you think? Would you do anything in the name of beauty? Or is this going a little too far?

In the meantime, you can read more here.