Online Obsession: What’s in my Handbag

What's In My Handbag

You know when you stumble across a website and think “ooh, this is interesting” and then three hours later you’re still on it? Well, that’s how I feel about What’s in my Handbag. It brings together two of my favourite types of content – other people’s beauty products and recommendations in an editorial format – to create an extremely addictive online magazine. You can browse through the handbags of beauty gurus like Charlotte Tilbury, Tanya Burr and Caroline Hirons, and see what essentials they cart around on a daily basis. You’ll spot plenty of cult classics like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour…

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What To Pack: Girls Weekend Away

This past weekend a group of us girls made our way down to Grotto Bay Private Nature Reserve to celebrate our darling Natalie’s 25th birthday (sweet man, she’s still so tiny!). It was a weekend filled with good food, great wine, lots of laughing and, of course, elasticated waistbands. For weekends like this, minimal/no make up is the order of the day, but since the whole weekend was being documented and I didn’t want to look like a complete dog, I had to pack a few basics. Here’s what made the cut…

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Friday Lust: Cult Beauty Wishlist

What would Friday be without a little product lust, am I right? Cult Beauty is, without question, my favourite beauty website – it stocks the most elite products, which have been tried and tested by industry professionals, so you know you’re getting the very best. I have been known to cruise the site obsessively, earmarking all the products I’m desperate to try (problems).  Sadly, it seems that I have been able to exercise restraint for once in my life (I can neither confirm nor deny that this restraint was brought on by the exchange rate), so these beauties will have to…

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Review: The Body Shop Shampoo & Conditioner

The Body Shop Rainforest Shampoo and Conditioner

I recently decided to try a few more products from The Body Shop, a brand that I feel dwells in the limbo of being established and well respected, but maybe a little bit forgotten as new, more exciting eco-friendly brands become the norm. The Body Shop is the original, natural and ethical beauty brand, and really were light years ahead of their time when they launched in 1976. Since then they’ve become synonymous with fair trade, environmental friendliness and cruelty-free beauty. Even though most new brands claim to have these values (since it’s so very fashionable these days!), few truly…

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Fairlady Best of Beauty Awards 2013

We have been nominated in the Beauty Blogger Category of the Fairlady Best of Beauty Awards! We couldn’t be happier and feel honoured to be nominated alongside blogs we love, such as Kiss Blush and Tell, Style Scoop and For The Beauty of It. This nomination means the world to us because we have poured our hearts and souls into All Dolled Up over the last six months, and to see it go from strength to strength has been the most fulfilling, rewarding experience. We really value all of our loyal readers and we still can’t quite believe that anyone…

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Favourite Five: Neck & Chest Creams

Best neck and chest creams

I was prompted to write this post after receiving a tester of the Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Neck Cream, and starting to pay a little more attention to keeping that area moisturised. As my skin is combination-oily, I tend to use quite a light moisturiser or oil on my face which isn’t necessarily rich enough for the skin on my neck and chest. Keeping this skin soft, supple and protected with SPF helps to slow down the signs of ageing, reduce the effect of gravity and improve its overall tone. I’ll be the first to tell you that you don’t NEED…

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Review: Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer

I have read a lot about Smashbox primers over the years but for some reason I never got around to buying one until recently. As you will no doubt know by now, my skin has gone a bit haywire so I have had to make the most of every cosmetic option available. This primer came home with me last week after a little (read: large) V&A Waterfront spending spree and it has really won me over.

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Review: Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-In-Place Makeup

A few weeks ago I popped into Edgars and picked up a sample of the Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-In-Place Make Up, as I had been wanting to try it for a while. As I’ve mentioned previously, you can visit any Estée Lauder counter and they will happily give you a sample of any foundation which should last you up to seven days (why don’t more brands do this?). I have played around with this foundation a lot recently, and I must confess, I am seriously impressed.

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