Vitiligo and it's patchy self....

Not sure if I've mentioned before that I have a skin condition called vitiligo? Pictures for reference are included.

Its basically an immune disorder where the body essentially attacks its own pigment and you end up with pure white patches all over.
They start out really small and eventually they all meet up to make one huge big patch.

My mum has the same condition and hers started when she was around my age (29) too.

We've been told its linked to the fact that we have under active thyroid glands and given that this is a life long thing, there's pretty much nothing we can do but wait to become one big white patch. Oh the joy!

My mum has huge big patches which have joined up over the years but luckily she had never had any on her face.  Unlike me....

It started out as small patches on my hands and under my arms....these have and are still getting bigger.
Then came my very own connect the dots on my upper thighs. ..then my hands and now, either side of my chin.
I have bilateral symmetrical vitiligo, so I look like one of those paint splodge pictures!

Now obviously I can cover up with makeup on my face,  but gradually I wonder how big these patches will get?

I'm kind of getting used to it, but I'll admit,  I really really dont want the patches on my face to get bigger.

Is that vanity? Maybe.... I do feel conscious of it. Hopefully one day there will be something to help it disappear.

Until then, patchy as ever.....
UG
xx

Unimpressed with Bare Minerals.....

This week, after months and months of deliberation and seeking advice from fans of the products, watching countless QVC UK shows and visiting several Bare Minerals counters in several different stores (including a Bare Minerals Boutique in the USA), I finally took the plunge and coughed up £49 whole English pounds on a starter kit. I had originally wanted the "try me, love me" kit, a dinky little £20 kit with just enough to see if you like it before having to jump in feet first with a £50 purchase......however it appears you can only get this in the USA from Sephora.
You might want to rethink this Bare Minerals!

Keen to see if the hype surrounding the "swirl, tap, buff" phenomenon, I eagerly tore in to my newly purchased addition to my ever increasing make up collection.

I have to say I was utterly disappointed.
Although the pots are convenient with a "click, lock, go" system to avoid spillages etc that's pretty much the only thing going for these products in my opinion.

I bought the "medium" kit, which includes a 2g pot each of original formula foundation in medium and medium beige, a mineral veil finishing powder and a powder called "warmth" which is waaaay too dark for anyone unless you're going for the oompa loompa look this season and a mini prime time face primer.
It also came with a full flawless face brush, a flawless face brush and a concealer brush plus the most long winded "how to" dvd ever.

I do think the brushes are good quality, however I did hear that this kit used to come with a kabuki brush,  which I think would be much better than the 2 face brushes (full flawless and flawless) which are essentially the same brush but one is fuller as the name suggests.

Basically,  and this is only my humble opinion, it just doesn't work.

The brushes dont seem to pick up enough product,  the product itself doesn't seem to stay on the skin, it dries out skin, takes about an hour to actually have any effect and lets face it,  who wants to wait an hour before going out after doing make up? ?
The primer I felt was too greasy and made my skin feel tacky.

I attempted use of this over three days and by the third day my usually clear ish skin was irritated, itchy and clogged atound the nose and chin.

In all, I really think this was a waste of £49 and there's no way I'll be converted.
There are plenty of BM fans out there,  friends of mine included. If it works for you, then great but this certainly won't be on my re-purchase list.

Bare Minerals UK tweeted me and said I "wouldn't be disappointed". Well, I am.
Massively so.

Back to liquid I go......

UG
xx
Apologies for badly lit pics!

The grand old U S of A......

Soooo, its November. Its cold where I am at the moment (Mid West USA)....how cold? Minus 4. Yup.....snowmen could have a fiesta outside its that cold.

I travel back to the UK in a days time......and thought before I leave I should ponder on my first trip here to the States.

Things I have learned on this (my first) trip to America....

1. The lovely folks over here like things big....when I say big I mean HUUUUGE!!! I have eaten more in the few days that I have been here than I ever thought possible. Some things they do really well....Meat for example..some things they don't (I had a bad eggs Benedict experience on my first day).

2. Thanksgiving can be somewhat of a let down if you've only ever seen it in a movie....

3. I now say movie and not film.....(irritating)

4. When you are in a non tourist area in the USA, as a Brit, YOU are inevitably the entertainment. From a bank clerk getting super animated, asking "do you know the princess"(yeah lady...because every person is a second cousin of royalty in the UK)  to every single person that has served me food or drinks either doing a double take or out and out asking me where I am from (because clearly the accent doesn't give it away at all) to the nicest people just striking up a conversation over dinner one evening who then become friends.......,my whole trip has been filled with these encounters.

5. The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) can only be described as........OMG!!!!!
Never in my life before this event have stayed awake until 3am in order to go SHOPPING! It is a bizarre tradition the the States that sees people doing daft things just to get a "bargain". From camping out in snow and wind to charging the doors of somewhere called "Best Buy" at midnight (yes, midnight) to get a TV.....it both baffled and fascinated me in equal measure.
I'm glad I got to see it....would I do it again? Probably not...but only because I like sleep.

I've experienced 2 seasons in the space of a week...warm Spring and now Winter. I've crossed the Mississippi River more times than I care to count, had random bouts of laughter for the silliest of reasons, eaten 6 burgers in 10 days, been to a wine store in a cave, seen a car sail across a river , had beer and cheese soup and tried something called "milk duds".

My first trip to the USA has been what I would call EPIC...... I cant wait to come back and do it all over again with someone very special.

Much Love
UG
xx

Research, research, research....

Sooooo.... you may or may not know that I'm writing a book...welk, attempting to at least.

Its been a work in progress for so long I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get round to actually putting all my ideas in to paper!

Supposedly everyone has a book in them... well, I think I have about three!
However,  this one is basically going to be my ultimate guidebook to all manner of things. Make up;  skincare,  dinner parties,  packing for various trips away to baby bump beauty and pre wedding prep etc etc etc.

I don't expect it will sell billions,  to be fair if the only copy I sell goes to my mum I'll be happy!

I'd love any suggestions on what to include. ...

Speak soon
UG
xx

All new skincare products direct from Urban Goddess

Hello lovelies!

As previously mentioned in my earlier post from today you can now purchase custom made skincare products from Urban Goddess (how exciting is that?)

Some of you may know that I am in the process of writing a book and all the skincare is going to be featured including "recipies" you can try at home to build your own all natural skincare routine.
However, I have decided to create a small line of products which are ready to buy and will be made to order. Initially there will only be a limited number of products but you never know, you may eventually be able to purchase an entire range!

The Urban Goddess Spa Skincare range is based on essential oils and traditional spa treatments from all over the world.

Available to purchase at the moment:

Facial Oils - Various oils designed to treat different skin conditions and skin types
Body Oils (which can also be used in the bath) - Various oils designed to soothe, comfort, nourish and relax
Lip Balm - Super moisture boost for the lips
Stimulating Tonic Body Rub - Ideal if you need an instant boost and feel like you haven't had a good nights sleep.
Exotic Hand Cream - Super Moisturising and leaves hands soft and fragrant

If you would like to purchase any of the products, please do get in touch and we can talk about a custom blend for you (particularly for facial and body oils).

Much love
UG

xx

When you cant find your mojo and life gets in the way.....

So, its been a long long time since I wrote anything on the blog. I honestly went through a phase of thinking that I had nothing very special to say to the world.
When I first started, I thought that I would be posting every day, sometimes more than once a day (how wrong i was). It turns out that I've got loads of things to talk about but I just didn't have the time to actually talk about them on here.
Back in February of this year I wrote a big post about Valentines and how much I didn't like it. I was single at the time.
5 days after valentines I took a chance on someone who had been in my life for almost a year but who I had kept at arms length for silly reasons like I didn't think I wanted a relationship and I didn't think that he would actually want to be with this slightly overweight, slightly stressy and grumpy thing.
Turns out, he was just lovely, we really clicked and I found myself wishing that I had given him a chance sooner.

So that's partly the reason that i haven't been posting - i was all realtionshipped up! (yaay!) That and work has been very up and down lately. I am first and foremost and makeup artist and skincare specialist, however I'm also the type that can never be out of work so I like to have a 9 to 5 to keep myself going and to keep a regular income, especially as I'm trying to get Urban Goddess off the ground properly.

I had one of those soul destroying call centre jobs for a while, but I literally felt like I was in job hell so I had to leave. I am helping out now and again at my lovely friend Robyn's catering business Little Bird Catering  and I'm also doing some temping to keep myself going. Its all not too bad on the work front really.

The boy and I recently split up too. I'm still unsure why but he felt that it wasn't working and he somehow thought that I wanted to settle down (we had been invited to my friends wedding and he thought that it meant I was in the same place???) who knows how he got to that conclusion but that was over a week ago and although we have talked a little by text, we haven't had a proper conversation yet so I'm not sure if we'll work it out. I hope we do, because we had some great times (random trip to Cornwall etc). I'll keep you posted on that one.

So...here I am and its 30th July (where has the first half of the year gone?) and I find myself in a reflective mood and i felt like I could pick up the blogging again.

The good news is that my mojo is coming back slowly. I'm actually writing a book (super exciting!). Its going to be about all the things I love, super skincare you can do at home without buying pricey products, (some of whch you can actually buy directly from Urban Goddess - see the next post on how to do that) home spa treats, makeup tips, cooking amazing food for friends and family and so much more.
I'm planning on having it ready in 2013 so of course I'll write posts about it and maybe even do some sneak previews on here.
If there is anyone out there reading this who would like to contribute to my research, please do get in touch and I'll email some questions over to you.


So lovely people, a very brief update on all things Urban Goddess. Here's to the second half of this year bringing bigger and better things.

Much love
UG

xx

Tuesday thoughts........

Ok, ok...I know its been a loooong time since i posted anything on here, BUT  it has been super busy and although I've had the inclination to post i just haven't had the time.

Anyway, here i am finally!
As i mentioned in my previous post I'm working on ideas for a themed photo shoot in collaboration with a lovely lady at Yum Yum Candy Cart.

We've come up with 2 themes so far (which I'm keeping under wraps until we do them) but I'm very excited about working with her.
Think candy, glitter, rich colours, fluffy petticoats, lickable lips and all things sugar! (enough said for now methinks)

Other things I've been up to lately.....

Several bridal makeup trials, some of which booked me there and then which is a huge honour. I love being involved in someones big day and the planning and trials are huge fun. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming wedding season, I kick of my run of 2012 weddings in July so its a really busy time with trials and meets over coffee etc...

I've recently had the logo designed for Urban Goddess. Its utterly gorgeous and i have to say a HUGE thank you to Mel for her hard work on the design. She's one of the most lovely people I've worked with, and despite only having met via Twitter i knew from the start i could trust her to take on my ideas and come up with something great.
Looking forward to getting it out there and seeing what you all think!

I'll keep things short and sweet for now, but I promise I'll be back soon with more updates and I have a couple of reviews that i want to do too.

Speak soon.

UG

xx