The lipstick effect is upon us! In times of a recession, instead of cheering ourselves up by spending money on expensive items, we women tend to purchase less costly 'feel good' items such as lipstick. As an inexpensive pick-me-up, wearing a new lipstick can help you look good as well as feel good.
We had a lovely email from one of our customers last week. Instead of buying a lipstick, she had purchased a Make Your Own Cosmetics kit and spent a happy time making lipstick...."my daughter and I shared the box between us and we spent the afternoon making a lip balm, a lip gloss and a lipstick. The results are amazing, I can't believe that we are wearing what we made. It's a double whammy - not only do we have the pleasure of making, but the enjoyment of wearing it too. Thank you - we'll be back for the handcream one next".
So - in times of bank balances going into the red, cheer yourself up and make a shade of lipstick to match!
An entertaining and opinionated perfume blog ...
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Cosmetics College - even more beautiful than usual
This week we have had a Cosmetics College student visiting us from Antigua. Not only was it her first trip to England, but it was the first time she'd seen snow! And what a performance the weather put on for her.
Deep, crisp and even.....beautiful twinkling mica-like snow covering everything it could touch. This was no dusting of talc, this was a heavy dollop of ice-cold pleasure! OK, so she missed the first day of college due to the plane being delayed, but luckily with other students finding they couldn't make the journey, we could dedicate our time during the second and subsequent days and cover everything she needed.
It's quite incredible to think that her family were basking in 80 degrees and relaxing on the beach drinking coconut rum while she was enchanted by mineral makeup, coconut soap and snowballs!
Deep, crisp and even.....beautiful twinkling mica-like snow covering everything it could touch. This was no dusting of talc, this was a heavy dollop of ice-cold pleasure! OK, so she missed the first day of college due to the plane being delayed, but luckily with other students finding they couldn't make the journey, we could dedicate our time during the second and subsequent days and cover everything she needed.
It's quite incredible to think that her family were basking in 80 degrees and relaxing on the beach drinking coconut rum while she was enchanted by mineral makeup, coconut soap and snowballs!
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Making Perfumes - the power of smell
Never underestimate the power of smell, its an extraordinary sensation (excuse the pun)
Whilst writing the Making Perfume: An Adventure Trail course, I had an overwhelming urge to sniff everything I came into contact with. I guess it's like reading a cookery book when you're hungry, you want to devour the contents of the fridge! Translate 'reading a cookery book' to 'writing a perfume course' and you'll understand how I felt. My nose sampled everything from wet washing to dry washing (they smell very different - and yet the only difference is water...), a ream of freshly opened printer paper, a brand new leather diary, burnt apple sauce (don't ask) and every conceivable fruit, vegetable and flower I could lay my hands on. I think Sainsburys have be down as a serial veg sniffer, luckily they appear to be very understanding.
The rather cloying and not-my-favourite ylang ylang, became livened up with lime, mellowed with vetiver and full bodied with patchouli. It was then spiced with sandalwood, peppered with bay, lightened with a pinch of orris and rounded off with a touch of bergamot. What a splendid aroma it is now - I've splashed it liberally around the shop and been noting people's reactions when they come in. The result is a definite success and ylang ylang is back up there on my list of 'gorgeous essential oils'!
Whilst writing the Making Perfume: An Adventure Trail course, I had an overwhelming urge to sniff everything I came into contact with. I guess it's like reading a cookery book when you're hungry, you want to devour the contents of the fridge! Translate 'reading a cookery book' to 'writing a perfume course' and you'll understand how I felt. My nose sampled everything from wet washing to dry washing (they smell very different - and yet the only difference is water...), a ream of freshly opened printer paper, a brand new leather diary, burnt apple sauce (don't ask) and every conceivable fruit, vegetable and flower I could lay my hands on. I think Sainsburys have be down as a serial veg sniffer, luckily they appear to be very understanding.
The rather cloying and not-my-favourite ylang ylang, became livened up with lime, mellowed with vetiver and full bodied with patchouli. It was then spiced with sandalwood, peppered with bay, lightened with a pinch of orris and rounded off with a touch of bergamot. What a splendid aroma it is now - I've splashed it liberally around the shop and been noting people's reactions when they come in. The result is a definite success and ylang ylang is back up there on my list of 'gorgeous essential oils'!
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Make Your Own Perfume Course
We have been drooling over some of the wonderful products included in the Making Perfume: An Adventure Trail home study programme.
The amber resin is so lovely that I keep smelling the back of my hands where I rubbed a little of the crystalised pieces. We have some infusing in jojoba oil in our workshops and Cathy keeps undoing the lid so she can have a little 'snort' .......mmmm quite delicious!
Writing the course has made me 'hungry' for scents and I'm delighted that today I've satisfied my desire with a perfume that starts with the top notes of aldehyde, peach and leafy greens with a subtle hint of neroli. Just as your nose adjusts to this fizzy explosion, the sensuous middle notes unravel and burst into life with an uproar of sweet jam-like rose, sugary fresh jasmine and tuberose. Ylang ylang makes a subtle lazy appearance quickly followed by a glorious full bodied musky finish.
If you want to know what perfume I'm wearing, and how to make a similar one yourself, all is revealed in the course!
The amber resin is so lovely that I keep smelling the back of my hands where I rubbed a little of the crystalised pieces. We have some infusing in jojoba oil in our workshops and Cathy keeps undoing the lid so she can have a little 'snort' .......mmmm quite delicious!
Writing the course has made me 'hungry' for scents and I'm delighted that today I've satisfied my desire with a perfume that starts with the top notes of aldehyde, peach and leafy greens with a subtle hint of neroli. Just as your nose adjusts to this fizzy explosion, the sensuous middle notes unravel and burst into life with an uproar of sweet jam-like rose, sugary fresh jasmine and tuberose. Ylang ylang makes a subtle lazy appearance quickly followed by a glorious full bodied musky finish.
If you want to know what perfume I'm wearing, and how to make a similar one yourself, all is revealed in the course!
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Highest Toast and Lipstick - World Record
We were delighted to see that Freddie's toaster has succeeded in gaining him a place in the Guiness Book of Records for the world's highest toast! See his toast in action here!
We met Freddie when he came to our workshops to make the world's longest lipstick. He had carefully calculated - based on an article he'd read in Vogue - how much lipstick a woman will consume in a year. We then worked with Freddie to create a lipstick weighing the same weight. Not exactly a handy size to carry around in your handbag - but hey, what a creation!
Back to the toast......I'm hoping that Caroline, Alison & Ruth (yes, my chickens arrived on Saturday!) will start laying soon so that I can enjoy fresh eggs on my piece of the world's highest toast!
We met Freddie when he came to our workshops to make the world's longest lipstick. He had carefully calculated - based on an article he'd read in Vogue - how much lipstick a woman will consume in a year. We then worked with Freddie to create a lipstick weighing the same weight. Not exactly a handy size to carry around in your handbag - but hey, what a creation! Back to the toast......I'm hoping that Caroline, Alison & Ruth (yes, my chickens arrived on Saturday!) will start laying soon so that I can enjoy fresh eggs on my piece of the world's highest toast!
Friday, 12 September 2008
Just like buses!
Two come along at once......
Having recovered from our radio 'appearance', we then find ourselves as part of a Channel 4 production! We had a hilarious afternoon filming with Channel 4 for a programme called Bite.
The presenter, Zena, came to Plush Folly and had a whacky afternoon making lip gloss, 'pink pampering pack' and 'Me Me Me Me ME!'
I shall say no more. Check out the Plush Folly website to watch the shinnanagans (I've no idea how to spell that word.....)
Having recovered from our radio 'appearance', we then find ourselves as part of a Channel 4 production! We had a hilarious afternoon filming with Channel 4 for a programme called Bite.
The presenter, Zena, came to Plush Folly and had a whacky afternoon making lip gloss, 'pink pampering pack' and 'Me Me Me Me ME!'
I shall say no more. Check out the Plush Folly website to watch the shinnanagans (I've no idea how to spell that word.....)
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Biodiesel Soap
Not the most glamorous of soaps to look at, but we have made our first batch of soaps using brown glycerine gloop from biodiesel.
Chris, from Essex, sent us a large pot of the brown gloop to try out before we teach him how to create his own soap. Carefully wrapped in newspaper and secured in a box, it arrived leaking. As we were out, the postman kindly delivered it to our neighbours house......dripping its gunk in a steady, but discreet flow. Luckily, if you put in enough elbow grease, it makes a wonderful parquet floor polish so our neighbours were more than understanding!
We ended up with 480g to include in our first batch - so only 4 bars were produced. We used the hot process method to make the soap and even after a week it is a little on the soft side. We'll leave it a little longer before we try a bar and send the rest back to Chris for his comments.
In the meantime, it's fading to an amber gold colour and, thanks to the addition of sweet orange and patchouli essential oils, smells a darn site better than it did on the neighbours floor!
Chris, from Essex, sent us a large pot of the brown gloop to try out before we teach him how to create his own soap. Carefully wrapped in newspaper and secured in a box, it arrived leaking. As we were out, the postman kindly delivered it to our neighbours house......dripping its gunk in a steady, but discreet flow. Luckily, if you put in enough elbow grease, it makes a wonderful parquet floor polish so our neighbours were more than understanding!
We ended up with 480g to include in our first batch - so only 4 bars were produced. We used the hot process method to make the soap and even after a week it is a little on the soft side. We'll leave it a little longer before we try a bar and send the rest back to Chris for his comments.
In the meantime, it's fading to an amber gold colour and, thanks to the addition of sweet orange and patchouli essential oils, smells a darn site better than it did on the neighbours floor!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)