Jar of Thoughts....

I am quite, quite happy to have been wrong in the allocation of Hauschka Code names at the start of this blog. Louis Smith was coded "Rythmic Night Conditioner" as amongst its ingredients is silver, the colour of the medal he picked up in the summer Olympics.  However, he struck gold in the Strictly Final, with a magical showdance routine. 

 'You blew me away. That had grace, fluidity and was sensual. That was brave to do - such a graceful and seamless dance. Very different from anything else I've seen in a show dance.' - Darcey Bussell

My next sentence is quite ironic, given that all their products gently work in harmony with the rhythms of nature, but here goes...Dr.Hauschka is a brave brand, it differs from anything else I've encountered in the ever expanding beauty market.  It is almost as if we have been brainwashed by advertising to expect tricks and a "clever science bit"; somehow products appear less valid if they don't come with a host of unpronounceable chemicals and flashy claims. 

New Year is naturally a time of reflection. All too often I find I am guilty of dwelling on the negatives - the "should have -would have- could haves", the things I find lacking and wanting in my life.  In a deluge of darkness I totally disregard the advice of the Peace Pilgrim:

 'If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought...'

So today, I was delighted to spy this lovely idea posted on Facebook. 

Many moons ago, one of my posts (Friend Number 159 and the Magic of Eight)  reflected on the notion that Dr.Hauschka products are "Bottled Love".  This idea immediately echoed in my mind (I also thought of the song Jar of Hearts, but then I do have a dancing grasshopper mind!).

I smiled simply imagining the positive energy captured in such a jar.   Remember, good things don't have to be huge, monumental, life changing events; just anything that you are grateful for, anything that brings love, laughter, joy and light into your life (especially in the dark times.)  I am going to call it my "Jar of Thoughts" (only positive ones allowed!) I already know my first entry:

January 1st 2013: Blessed to have the magic of Dr.Hauschka in my life

Bring Me Sunshine...Witch Hazel Style

This morning, instead of the usual magic of Kew Gardens, it felt like I had been transported to the closing scenes of a Stephen King novel.  There is something quite sinister about a fairground organ playing Silent Night, especially when it is in the grey morning mist and you can’t actually see the rides.  I could hear frantic rustling noises emanating from the nearby  Skimmia bushes, which with their own incongruous, pungent curry aroma only added to the feeling I was somehow in the twilight zone.  Fortunately, the noise turned out to be a rather cheeky squirrel, which scurried passed doing a pretty impressive Tommy Cooper “just like that” impersonation en route.  Alas, my lens cover was safely secured to my camera so no chance of me recording his antics, superimposing a fez onto the shot and making a fortune in the novelty greetings card market!    I was about to abort trip and return when I almost literally stumbled upon a witch – thankfully not the Blair Witch, but Witch Hazel or Hamamelis virginiana to be all Latin and posh.. camera lens safely removed and shots taken, although there really was no danger of the plant scuttling away:

  
Witch Hazel absorbs sunlight throughout the spring and summer, but does not release any of the collected energy at this time.  It is only in the winter months with the blossoming of the star-shaped flowers, that it opens itself to the world, delivering the entire concentrated power of the sun in a burst of brightness.  It is one of the key plants in Dr.Hauschka Skin Care;  essences from the leaves and bark are used in one of my favourite products - Blackthorn Body Wash - as well as in almost all face care products (think glorious Facial Toner), use these products and let sunshine flood into your life, whatever the season:

 In terms of Strictly this all brought to mind Lisa’s Quick Step from Week 9, to the tune of Bring me Sunshine (this is exactly what the Witch Hazel did for me this morning and Dr.Hauschka products do on a daily basis!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC3e3H_eEVs

Lisa was definitely the contestant who brought sunshine into Strictly 2012 and I, like many others, was sad to see her exit the competition last Sunday evening ; (

Eye of Horus...

As a fan of Only Connect I am familiar with a couple of anicent Egyptian hieroglyphs, so was excited to spot an "Eye of Horus" make-up effect during Saturday night's Strictly.  Oh yes, I'm raving on about the charleston- again - but it was my favourite dance in terms of music, costume and... well ..dance.  Denise's make-up was a variation on the striking look epitomised by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. 

Note: this is not a subtle day look I would suggest for the office; in fact only to be evoked with emergency protocol 101 (i.e. you wish to divert attention from a serious work misdemeanour, such as having deleted the sysinfo file on your PC). Saying that, I know if I tried to recreate this, I would achieve the "Eye of Horrors", the look of either Coco the Clown or Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Ok that would divert attention but not in the same "oh my goodness you are an Egyptian goddess" type way!

The Eye of Horus is a symbol of protection, royal power and good health:

The eye is personified in the goddess Wadjet, a name derived from "wadj" meaning "green". This reminded me of a post I had seen on the Dr.Hauschk Facebook page concerning the Green Kajal Eyeliner 06 - Eucalyptus Dew

"Dr.Hauschka's Limited Edition collection captures a serene mood, offering natural radiance and composure for a beautifully accentuated subtle daytime make-up, or a more intensely sophisticated evening look"

Kajal is another name for Kohl, which literally means "to brigthen the eyes" (I am now about to burst into a renditon of the Art Garfunkel song from Watership Down, but that film makes me cry, which is bad news for any form of eye make-up.. I shall refrain).  Kohl was traditionally a paste of lead sulphide and antimony sulphide, used since circa 3100 BC by Egyptian queens and noble women.  They believed it would guard from disease and ward off evils spirits whilst protecting their eyes from the sun; hence it was used in conjunction with the eye of horus symbol (used in conjunctivitis if you ask me, you wouldn't catch me putting those chemicals anywhere near my eyes). Thankfully, the version produced by Dr.Hauschka doesn't contain any lead sulphide, or in fact any scary ingredients at all - http://www.drhauschka.co.uk/ingredients/product/kajal-eyeliner-06

• Enhance your eyes by using Kajal Eyeliner along the upper and lower lid lines. Use the applicator to smudge the eyeliner lightly for softer contours and a more natural appearance.
• Always keep the Kajal Eyeliner sharp enough to draw a fine line. This creates a natural look to open and accentuate the eye.

Encouraged by Rita's lovely description of a "beautiful golden look" I shall give it a whirl, hopefully not a Jack Sparrow in sight!



Wash Like An Egyptian..

My favourite dance from Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing was definitely Denise Van Outen's Charleston, which she performed to the 1980s Bangles hit "Walk Like An Egyptian".

The inspiration for this song is apparently the sight of people walking awkwardly to keep their balance whilst on a ferry. This made the song writer recall figures in Ancient Epyptian reliefs:

 "All the old paintings on the tombs/They do the sand dance don't you know"






It is believed that the reference to a sand dance relates to a music hall routine performed by the comic trio Wilson, Keppel and Betty, who danced around in the postures portrayed on reliefs whilst wearing a fez.

Dr.Hauschka have their own trio to give away this week. Not Wilson, Keppel and Betty but rather Lemon, Blackthorn and Rose, in their beautiful Body Wash Gift Set


 "With their subtle, natural scents, this collection of Dr.Hauschka Body Washes care for skin as they gently cleanse. The nurturing formulas contain Apricot kernel and jojoba oils to soften and smooth, while each key ingredient works to refresh, tone or deeply nourish skin"

The Ancient Egyptians knew a thing or two about washing, using precious, beautifully scented essential oils in their beauty routines.  The folks at Dr.Hauschka know a thing or two about the art of cleansing, although these body washes won't get you all in a lather:

"When it comes to getting clean, it's not about the bubbles. Bigger bubbles and foamy suds may be fun, but they don't necessarily wash away dirt. In fact, bubbles may indicate that your cleanser is loaded with harsh, irritating foaming agents"

To win a set simply go to the Dr.Hauschka UK Facebook page and post a comment to state which body wash best describes how you would like to feel this week:

(WILSON)  - LEMON – energised, light and playful
(KEPPEL) - BLACKTHORN – invigorated, assertive and able
(BETTY)  - ROSE – nurtured, balanced and calm

Your opportunity to get washing like an Egyptian (no fez required, but a song and dance in the shower always make me smile) closes at 10 am on Wednesday, 21 November 2012

On Apricots

Rather ironically, yesterday I misunderstood the meaning of the word “Mondegreen”, believing it to be a description of the countryside in spring (a multicultural amalgamation of the French for "world" and the English "green").  I now stand corrected; or at least I am trusting that Wikipedia is not lying on this matter…it did once lead me astray with regards to TV gardener Alan Titchmarch when some pranksters edited his entry to state he had published a new version of the Kama Sutra!

“A mondegreen is the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase as a result of near-homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning. It most commonly is applied to a line in a poem or a lyric in a song.”

This made me recall the Carly Simon song “You’re So Vain”, subject of many misheard lyrics, such as

“Some underwear spy or a knife and a clothespin”
(Original: "Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend") 

This song is another source of confusion for me, centering around the correct pronunciation of the word “apricot” (APP-ricot at opposed to APE-ricot), perhaps it all depends on whether it is partnered with a sailing item and a strategically placed hat…

You walked into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I was writing a Strictly Meets Hauschka blog, so where am I heading with this?  Autumnabricot  - yes, a new word to describe the golden hues of the autumnal landscape (the English “autumn” and the French "apricot". I’m not sure if this will get an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary, but I pretty confident that I could edit it onto to Wikepedia!).  This is inspired by a stunning gown worn by Victoria Pendleton on Strictly last week:

It brought to mind a picture I had taken in the autumnal leaves at Kew Gardens:

Also a picture I took this morning. I have a strange fascination with tree bark, it is just so incredibly beautiful:

As I have previously stated it is reminiscent of my skin before I discovered Dr.Hauschka products. If this resonates with you, Quince Day Cream may be a good choice. It is made with a base of Apricot Kernel oil; smoothing and moisturising the skin to impart a soft, dewy glow.  I find this works better for my skin than Rose Day Cream, which alas is too rich (but excellent for tattoo care!).  RoseDay Cream Light however, is another of my skin saviours; that too has a base of Apricot Kernel Oil as does Melissa Day Cream…I feel another misheard lyric coming on…

Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your base oil was apricot..

No Trick, Just Treats

This year I am having a "No trick, just treats" Halloween, starting off with my pumpkin design (hopefully identifiable as a rose!):

Initially, I attempted to carve "Dr.Hauschka Skin Care UK" into the flesh - last night I watched a feature on scuplture and was beginning to believe I was the Rodin of the pumpkin world! Alas, equipped with only the most rudimentary of tools (a soup spoon and a kitchen knife) I soon changed my plans.  The flower inspiration came from Lisa Eldrige's make-up for Paloma Faith on the Halloween Strictly edition:

This itself was inpsired by Frida Kahlo (I love this painting, even more so since we acquired our black & white rescue cat, she is always trying to get in on the picture!).

The pumpkin sorted, I am now turing my attention to a mask. This also has a flower inspiration - Dr.Hauschka Firming Mask, which uses Rose in four different forms.  Funnily enough, when I checked out reviews for this mask on their webpage, the first that caught my eye was entitled "A Real Treat" (so I knew it was definitely the right choice for this post).

'I ordered the trial size which I received this week, I couldn't wait to try it and I have to say I love it, my skin felt amazing afterwards, so much so that I kept telling my husband to feel my face and the one thing that really stood out to me was the laughter lines around my eyes had decreased so I will definitely be ordering this one again.  I have a bathroom full of beauty products which have cost me a fortune and claim to do amazing things for your skin but now I've found this it will be the only thing on my shelf (along with the rose day cream of course)'
Michelle, North East.

• This mask can be used once or twice a week.
• Cleanse using Cleansing Cream.
• Apply Toner or Conditioner.
• Apply Firming Mask liberally to the face and neck, including the area around the eyes, ear lobes and upper chest.
• Leave to work for up to 30 minutes***
• Remove by gently compressing off with a warm, moist cloth.

*** I suggest applying around about the time Trick or Treaters are due to call!!

 





The Cat that got the Mascara

Jerry Hall (code name Translucent Powder) has sadly danced her last Strictly Routine to the tune of Mrs.Robinson (from the Graduate, not the orange squash drink popular at Wimbledon - always a source of confusion for me when I was younger). Very aptly Dr.Hauschka are running a make-up related giveaway on their Facebook page.
 
"Dr.Hauschka Skin Care is being used behind the scenes at this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and every Saturday night we’re donning the shimmering Illuminating Powder to get us in the Strictly mood.
Share your favorite Saturday night make-up tip and you could be chosen as the lucky recipient of your very own lustrous limited edition Illuminating Powder."
Opportunity ends 2pm on Friday 26th October.
 

I noticed that Grace Emmerson has a good blog on how to use Rouge Powder 03 in her recent post Pure Cheek, and already some great tips being shared by fans on the page  "A line of Charcoal Eyeliner swiped up at the outer edge of the eye and an extra layer of Volume Mascara.  Meow purrfect Saturday night peepers" from Julie Burgess.  My cat obviously likes this notion as I discovered her curled up with a make-up collection of her own:

 

Whilst on the cat theme, there is a dramatic black cat eye make-up video on Lisa Eldrige's site which I absolutely love. My only reservations (and alas rather big ones) are that I am unsure of the animal testing policies of the brands used, and some are rather high on the nasty chemical end of the spectrum.  I love Dr.Hauschka, its ingredients do not encompass the following:

 

Parabens: Mimic the hormone estrogen, which can play a role in the development of breast cancer.

Phthalates. Chemicals that could damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system.

Diazolidinyl urea This chemical releases formaldehyde and acts as a preservative. It could contain carcinogenic impurities and is associated with other significant health problems.

Ethyl acetate. Prolonged exposure can cause damage to the lungs, heart, kidney and liver.

Petrolatum. May contain harmful impurities that break down into chemicals linked to cancer.

Sodium laureth/sodium laurel sulfate. May contain harmful impurities that break down into chemicals linked to cancer.

Since Denise's look on Saturday night (don't worry I wouldn't try to recreate exactly, might get strange looks over the photocopier), I have been fixated with eye make up, especially mascara. The exact origins of the word are unclear, but most probably it came from the Spanish word meaning "mask" and it strikes me that just as the mask Nicky wore for his dance on Saturday it gives you extra confidence and va va voom.  Mascara would be a good name for my cat, she has her own little mask, which does give her confidence to be cheeky!

 

I especially liked the mascara tip posted on the Dr.Hauschka South Africa facebook page:

 

"It is old fashioned ito wear only one colour mascara … eg Black on your lashes – Rather apply Volume Black and then a layer of Aubergine or Blue or Pearl Anthracite stroked over the top of the top lashes… so you could only see this in the sun or when you are looking down slightly… how sexy…!"

 

I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the tips - so please get posting!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 3 Hollywood Glamour

To celebrate the Hollywood Glamour of Week 3, I shall be making some make-up related posts throughout this week (which reminds me still time : up until 1.59pm on Monday 22nd October you can get 10% OFF the gorgeous Natural Allure Make-up Collection.  To qualify for the discount simply use the code WEEK11 at checkout.)

 

 

In the meantime, here is a summary of Week 3

Dance 1 - Fern & Artem

Type	Charleston
Music	“Supercalifragilistic” (from Mary Poppins)
Costume	Similar to the red dress from last week, but in white with a delicate lace bejeweled neckline.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	5	6	6	6	23
Comments	Early outburst from Ravioli as he stands up to give his interpretation of punch in the step. Breville Toaster needs to swivel, or sorry he needs more swivel.  Considered the dance laboured. Darcey in microphone malfunction.

Dance Two – Victoria  & Brendan

Type	Rumba
Music	“Up Where we Belong” (from an Officer and a Gentleman)
Costume	Midnight blue with gold details, very stylish, although cause of wardrobe malfunction. Would go well with blue mascara me thinks.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	4	5	7	6	22
Comments	Apparently Victoria needs to work with a piece of paper to help with her splayed fingers. Ravioli said she started magnificently but lost concentration and the intensity created in the beginning fizzled out.  The dress entanglement didn't help on this score. Despite the low score Breville Toaster stated he is starting to see the "actress emerge"

Dance Three – Michael & Natalie

Type	Cha Cha
Music	“Hot Stuff” (From the Fully Monty)
Costume	Costume removal to fit the song
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	3	6	6	4	19
Comments	Breville Toaster declared “Hot it was not!”, timing issues, "landing like a felled tree" (this made me think of Spruce Bath - think he needs this to regain the feel good factor) Darcey much happier with the performance, apparently (and rather fortunately for him) his top and lower body are now connected. Ravioli- waiting for the Fully Monty to distract him from the total lack of musicality.

Dance Four – Jerry & Anton

Type	Quick Step
Music	“Mrs Robinson” (from the Graduate)
Costume	Lady in red, again beautiful detail, but I didn't think it flattered her body shape as much as her previous outfits
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	3	6	5	4	18
Comments	Darcey commented that Jerry must not lose concentration towards the end of the dance Len caused chaos by stating “downstairs you are quite neat and tidy!” Breville Toaster was of the opinion that the whole thing would have been better behind the screen – “posture, posture, posture!”

Dance Five – Sid & Ola

Type	Tango
Music	“Here I go Again” (from Rock of Ages)
Costume	I was distracted by Sid’s hairband, I thought he was auditioning for the next Karate Kid movie.  Ola had a fishnet tight, netting number, which is quite bizarre and I hate to say it but quite Ann Summers looking..my least favourite outfit tonight.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	4	4	5	4	17
Comments	Comments were not favourable, with Ravioli comparing him to Les Dawson impersonating Van Halen. Breville Toaster simple stated "stompy, clompy, clumpy" (I am beginning to feel guitly for having awarded the pump dispenser Hauschka code!)

Dance Six – Kimberley & Pasha

Type	Quick Step
Music	“Get Happy” (from Summerstock)
Costume	Full bodied beautiful skirt, coupled with black velvet top. I would have preferred the outfit if it were one seemless whole (i.e. a dress) but loved the swooshing effect and the deep red tones:
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	7	7	8	29
Comments	First standing ovation of the evening, with very positive comments from the judges. Beauty, glamour, captured the spirit of the song (Ravioli) Darcey " Beautiful light steps, always a pleasure to watch"

Dance Seven – Denise & James

Type	Fox Trot
Music	“You’ve got a friend in me” (From Toy Story)
Costume	I thought the outfit was just perfect for the song.     Denise is living up to her Mascara Hauschka code as she had plenty of that tonight:
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	8	8	8	8	32
Comments	Ravioli summed up the feel of the dance best, they managed to keep the character of the puppets whilst producing a beautifully controlled, beautifully acted, smooth fox trot.  Gained a "verbal pat on the back" from Len.

Dance Eight – Colin & Kristina

Type	Argentine Tango
Music	“Goldeneye” (from Goldeneye )
Costume	Red and Black – casino effect, perfect for a Bond film.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	7	6	6	26
Comments	Second standing ovation of the evening.  However, Darcey immediately stated that she would have liked a "much dirtier spy, this is a dirty street dance.  Take more risks." Len considered the dance "more shaken than stirred", again not quite enough Argentine Tango content for his liking.  Breville Toaster was however positive, stating their dance was "full of authority, dominance and the lifts were spectacular".

Dance Nine –  Richard & Erin

Type	Quick Step
Music	“Working Nine to Five” (From Working Nine to Five)
Costume	Glitzy take on a traditional office trouser suit – might consider getting myself one to jazz up work meetings.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	6	7	6	6	25
Comments	Considered to be their best dance to date, even Breville Toaster stated he "didn't mind it" (high praise indeed) and commented on their nimble footwork.  However, Len stated it was "a little bit mincy on occasions" and wouldn't "get a star on the Hollywood walk of fame".

Dance Ten – Dani & Vincent

Type	Fox Trot
Music	“Somewhere over the Rainbow” (From the Wizard of Oz)
Costume	Perfect Dorothy does glitz outfit..complete with ruby red slippers     And an adorable dog -   
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	6	8	8	29
Comments	Ravioli cheekily started his comments by stating “friends of Dorothy will be so pleased”, he said it was "flawlessly moving, romantic, sweet" Len summed up the mood by - "walk down that yellow brick road straight into next week."

Dance Eleven –  Lisa & Robin

Type	Jive
Music	“Hanky Panky” (From Dick Tracy)
Costume	Another red and black number..
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	8	6	7	8	29
Comments	Standing ovation and generally favourable comments, especially from Breville Toaster who seems to have taken a real shine to Lisa.  Darcey was the harshest in her criticism stating that the jive was missing a bit of spring and bounce Ravioli nicely summed things up by stating she is "a breath of fresh air", which "brings the whole room to its feet".

 

Dance Twelve – Nicky & Karen

Type	Quick Step
Music	“Machuko” (From the Mask)
Costume	Another dress with beautiful detail, my favourite from the night..
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	6	7	7	7	27
Comments	Despite the general agreement on a need to straighten his legs, this was the most positive reception to Nicky's dancing to date.   Even Breville Toaster stated that he is starting to be won over, he "loved the characterisation" and "the movement around the floor was fantastic."

Dance Thirteen – Louis & Flavia

Type	Salsa
Music	“Time of my life” (From Dirty Dancing)
Costume	Pink, which has overtaken as my favourite dress from today… The way it floated softly remind me of a plant I had seen posted on the Dr.Hauschka Facebook page - the Marsh Mallow (don't ask how my mind works, I have long since given up on answering that one ; )
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	8	8	6 (obtaining a look of “Dirty Len” from Bruno)	8	30
Comments	Standing ovation and the crowd went wild.  The comments acknowledged the amazing lifts,  with Ravioli making a comparison to concord taking off.  However, both Len and Darcey felt that the Salsa lacked a bit of attack.  General chaos when Darcey suggested he get out to a nightclub and free up as Ravioli got overly excited about this notion. I agree with Darcey this is the first time we saw a real connection between Flavia and Louis, they seem much more relaxed and at ease (my favourite couple!)