Nabla Lipsticks Get 5 stars Across 5 Categories

What makes a great perfect Nude lipstick: Ethics, Colour, Price, Packaging and Durability

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-07T09:22:00.0000000 2026-06-07T09:58:32.1670000

I think it’s fair to say no one epitomises the “lipstick effect” more than I.

I wear my lipstick everyday. Not in bed as some women may attest to, but it goes on as part of my routine, a habit I live by, (and have maintained over 5 decades) I don’t leave the house without it, I reapply several times a day and as a result I go through lipstick faster than any other make up or beauty product I purchase.

Before I start best to say what makes the perfect nude lipstick for me. I don’t like purple, peach or coral in my nude and anything too brown is out too. I also don’t like anything too light, beige or chalky in tone or texture. It has to be a pinky nude, always Matt, but I like moisturising and most importantly and most difficult to find, a lipstick that stays on.

And with so many on the market to pick from it’s amazing I haven’t found it yet, until maybe now. The holy grail of nudes is a combination of three lipsticks from Nabla.

I have said on here before I am always in search of the perfect nude lipstick and whilst I have reviewed and snooped about a few, Pat McGrath, Louboutin, Hermes and have tried every lipstick known to woman from well known to emerging brands available in Selfridges Harvey Nichols and Harrods in my younger days, I recently went a little darker with a new shade from Dior, I have yet to throw on the towel and say that’s it, this is the one. Maybe I just like the hunt.

That said I want to tell you about three different lipsticks I have just purchased I love from Nabla.

Nabla is make up a brand I stumbled across online and was so impressed with their all natural approach to make up and beauty and their cruelty free and vegan credentials I decided to shop without seeing and trying up close in a store setting, something I prefer.

When the three products selected arrived, my Matt Pleasure lipstick in Milky Nude, my Beyond Blurry Lipstick in Nuvola a new shade and my Nabla X Mr Daniel Beyond Blurry Lipstick in Dani (designed to prep and blur the lips of all imperfections before applying lipstick it only comes in two colour choices) I was super impressed with them.

Nabla even included a clear handbag pouch (value £14 for free) to keep the lipsticks together and stop them getting lost in my bag, a very nice touch.

The lipsticks were £25.00 each the lip primer £24.00 so compared to brands in Selfridges where I pay over £30 for a lipstick, and £36 for a Matt Trance Lipstick from Pat McGrath.

If you care about presentation and packaging these lipsticks don’t disappoint, the Matt Pleasure lipsticks come in a white casing whilst the beyond blurry lipsticks are delivered in a pearly pink casing. The beyond jelly option which is a sheer, glossy lipstick I didn’t try, I like Matt, comes in a signature black casing making it easy to distinguish which is which.

I love these lipsticks, so much I got them out at lunch to show a friend. I was raving so voraciously she snapped a few pictures for me to share with you all.

Next on the list is the Cupids arrow Stylo at £19.50 if you buy from Nablo Cosmetics, cheaper, as low as £15.00 if you shop around.

The best thing about this Stylo it’s not just for lips but for eyes or face or too, multi functional and versatile product. It’s a creamy texture you can easily blend with your fingers or a brush, and then it sets, for long wear and an impeccable result over time.

This was something I found with the lipsticks too, I have been applying in the morning and finding when I go to reapply at 11.00am no need it’s still there. Even when I’d finished lunch the other day I went to the bathroom and would always reapply my lipstick. I did out of habit but it wasn’t necessary. These lipsticks really stay put.

A thumbs up to “I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole Carol Vordeman then “I’ve got nothing but respect for women”

Robert Kenyon Faces Challenges Alongside Other Makerfield By Election Candidates 18th June, 2026

Edna Moss

2026-06-06T09:54:00.0000000 2026-06-06T10:49:21.6030000

I don’t watch Qeustion Time every week. I am not that interested in politicians dodging questions and using the platform to garner support, pitch their Particular party and blame the other side for past mistakes. politics for me are like a merry go round you cannot get off where you see the same scenarios pass you by over and over again and nothing really ever changes for the better.

And yet I need to rant after catching the latest episode.

How is it possible a sexist plumber is even on the ballot for the Makerfield By election later this month where the mayor of greater Manchester Andy Burnham is using the vehicle to get back to Westminster to challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party. Isn’t this a repeat of Boris Johnson foregoing his mayoral responsibilities in London to become leader of the Conservative Party and then PM.

High-profile politician departs parliament to become mayor of one of Britain’s great cities; achieves cult status; rides back to parliament on a wave of popularity and, eventually, becomes prime minister. That’s how Boris Johnson’s story goes, but could it soon be the same for Andy Burnham? Political editor of the independent David Maddox spoke a week ago to friends, allies and critics of the Greater Manchester mayor as he fights to return to Westminster.

The public got see him lay out his stall in a very unusual Question Time debate in Makerfield hosted by Fiona Bruce where Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Green Party, Labour And Reform party candidates for the up coming by election took questions in an American style “vote for me” TV debate.

The whole debate which left Andy Burnham to 11/2 favourite to win according to bookies William Hill after the broadcast was more political point scoring, toxic heckling and an Andy Burnham infomercial who got most of the airtime to finally admit his intentions to join Wes Streatling now a back bencher having resigned his position in the cabinet as Secretary of State for Health in a bid for the leadership of the Labour Party as Questionaire Time audience members expressed their discontent at the lack exposed Epstein Mandelson affair, publically calling Keir Starmer a liar and saying he’s got to go.

But it was explosive comments from women in the audience “I’d rather have a career politician than a sexist plumber” “why can’t politicians just answer the question?” that delighted audience members and Reform Party candidate Robert Kenyon’s response when asked how he proposed to recruit 30,000 police officers, “that would be a problem for the person recruiting them” that got the audience laughing out loud.

The whole debate was a bit of a farce for Reform. When the Green Party candidate back from maternity leave Sarah Wakefield asked Robert Kenyon to take the opportunity to apologise to Carol Vorderman, a 65 year old TV personality for a response to a comment made about her, who she said was watching the program he squirmed saying he’s was brought up by three women, his grandmother, mother and sister and had nothing but respect for them, swerving the point brought up by Fiona Bruce he’s previously admitted being a sexist.

Kenyon was challenged again by Sarah Wakefield when he tried to link housing shortages to immigration, Reform party’s inflammatory campaign stance. Following Brexit UK net migration has significantly declined from its peak, falling to 171,000 for the year, which is a nearly 50% drop from the previous year's total of 331,000 and the lowest level seen since early 2021.

It is the rise in non EU migrants being cited as the reason for low housing stock not the sell off of council houses during the Thatcher era.

Although the Green policy of scrapping right to buy was scoffed at by the panel across the board as discouraging aspiration and the hope of home ownership for working people by removing the scheme.

On this particular programme we heard way more from the panelist’s, Andy Burnham especially than the audience which was disappointing.

Conservative candidate and former Wigan Mayor Michael Winstanley came across very well, sensible, experienced, talking sense when he got the microphone which wasn’t very often and the Liberal Democrat Jake Austin came across as beige. The only thing I remember him saying was how hard it was for him and his partner to get on the property ladder, not sure how that story makes him a great option to be the local M.P. for Makerfield.

The biggest issue and raising the most audience questions was about the recent murder of 18 year old Henry Nowak and the questions around “Two Tier Policing” the suggestion if you are white you currently get treated more harshly than other residents or citizens by police. Even though Fiona gave current statistics that say if you are black you are 4 times more likely to be stopped and searched than if you are white the debate centred around whipped up fury by Reform leader Nigel Farage calling for Rage that led to the clashes with police and violence in Southampton by protestors. The point was made this was in direct contradiction to the wishes of Henry Nowaks parents for peace and calm.

The suspect £5,000,000 gifted by Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based British businessman and cryptocurrency billionaire personally to Nigel Farage was also raised currently being investigated by a parliamentary committee, it was how Robert Kenyon fielded sticky questions about that when shocking stats around 50 wealthy families in the UK having more money collectively than 34 million of the UK population was eloquently introduced by Sarah Wakefield for the Greens. Although she did have to answer tough questions about anti semitism in the Green Party, the response they were improving and making more robust their candidate vetting process.

All in all the programme was a bit of a car crash, that got a good deal more press than it deserved.

It served as a reminder for me, why I don’t usually vote. When the world is at war, more people are suffering globally than ever before my only reason to vote would be to stop a party like Reform coming to power and making things worse especially for women.

I think until we see a sensible candidate like Rishi Sunak who took the reins only after a series of catastrophes and never really got a fair shot at turning things around, everything he said would happen with a Labour government has happened, he warned us all, I don’t think I’ll be voting.

After watching QT on the BBC nothing has changed for me. It was depressing to see the candidate choices for Makerfield and understand why the bookies and pundits say Andy Burnham is going to walk it after two previous failed leadership challenges.

Gazas children on the scars of war and hopes for the future

A 6 minute film presented by broadcaster Krishnan Guru Murphy That will make you Weep

Headie Aster

2026-06-05T07:26:00.0000000 2026-06-05T09:48:19.6270000

I am so upset by the film I watched on Channel 4 News last night. Filmmakers created a 6 minute film aired last night that left me with more than a lump in my throat. It made me weep. I don’t think it matters whether you are a Jew, a Muslim, a Christian, not religious at all, or a blended family like ours who all manage to rub along together, no one can say what is happening is right for any reason. It’s just not.

And when even the President of the USA and supposed “friend” of Benjamin Netanyahu is saying “Everyone F***ing Hates You” not that I think that’s the right language to get anyone to listen or be influenced, something someone somewhere has got to be done, got to do something to make this stop.

It’s no longer important which unrelenting side is right and prepared to fight to the death it’s about all the innocents caught in the middle with no power, the victims, the children, us. The collective we.

Abraham Burg an Israeli author, businessman and former Israeli politician contributed to the program wearing a Peace jumper, symbolic of former Israeli PM known for his Peace jumper Yitzhak Rabin, prime minister of Israel from 1972-1977 and then from 1992 until his assassination in 1995.

Yitzhak Rabin is the Israeli Prime Minister commonly associated with "peace jumpers" and sweaters, stemming from two distinct events in his life:The Peace Rally (1995): He wore a dark sweater when he was tragically assassinated on November 4, 1995, by a right-wing extremist following a massive pro-peace demonstration in Tel Aviv.

The Peace Jumper (2018), Decades later, his iconic black-and-white image inspired political fashion designers to create a specific Peace Jumper or sweater advocating for an end to all conflicts.

The whole program last night night which I recommend you watch if you didn’t see it and the peace jumper created a discussion in our house that caused me to stay up and when I did go to bed I was unable to sleep.

My normally very centred and rational partner said “I don’t know why someone doesn’t just assassinate Netanyahu, something of course we don’t advocate but it just goes to the frustration of a world that in the most part just wants to live their lives in peace. The few in power ruining things for the many.

When Abraham Burg spoke to Matt Frei on channel four news, providing a different perspective, from his past experience in the Israeli government and now as an author and businessman it gave us all some hope that people in Israel see what is happening and categorically know it is wrong.

He spoke about a government that looks at war like a pleasure, he used the word party, that these people actually enjoy the scrap and won’t stop until they have killed everyone even if it means Israelis dying too.

He spoke with knowing, how as they carry on, the world turns against them, putting Israel in the weakest position internationally that they have ever been giving reason for a rise in anti semitism and yet they still continue using anti semitism as the reason for their mission of extermination, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, history repeating just like their desire to over power Egypt in the 1950s during the Suez Crisis. Even my kids acknowledged thank goodness there are still people in the world who think like him.

When Jews are hoping and wishing for someone to take out Netanyahu what hope do we have for peace. When children the same age are watching films like this and saying they hope a millionaire is watching and helps these kids, saying if I was a millionaire I would give my money to help a boy they don’t know get treatment for injuries sustained because of brutal sanctions by leaders elected to do good, what is right, perhaps the children would make better leaders, and that’s a fact.

We see the same divisive politics here at home which disturbs me, the recent rally in Southampton over the murder of Henry Nowak and the undertone of racism by right wing groups fuelling violence but nothing comes close to the 6 minute watch on Channel four as they followed the lives of four children, surviving the aftermath of what everyone is recognising as a genocide in Gaza.

I don’t remember their names but I see their faces, the 14 year old girl playing her Violin, the young guitarist dreaming of his place on Arab Idol and seeing the judges chairs turn, the boy filling his days with work, pulling a fruit cart, sweeping, before school, after school his whole family wiped out, talking of losing what is most precious to him, not possessions but people and most tragic of all the young lad blown to pieces, now unable to walk, lying depressed in a tent, his only wish, hope for someone to offer him treatment and put an end to him being stuck in the chair, his words.

Good lord, what are we doing. It’s not surprising all people including Jews don’t want to see this because we are all complicit.

We are all complicit.

Please watch and share this film. It’s the saddest thing I think ever. And then do something. We all have choices. To be brave and speak out is a choice.

Buzz Balls Proms Exams and Hangovers Are The Norm For Under Age School Kids These Days

Social Media TikTok and Instagram Make Buzz Balls Look Fun

Tara Chirpy

2026-06-04T06:38:00.0000000 2026-06-04T07:59:33.5800000

The first time I saw a Buzz Ball can it was near my house as I walked my dog with my neighbour a Mum of three teenagers. I spotted the array of discarded brightly coloured cans, that looked like coloured tennis balls I thought and said oh look, I noticed them immediately, “I wonder what they are” I said. I wish I’d taken a picture. So unusual and like nothing I’d ever seen before I stopped to pick one up and investigate.

Oh buzz balls my neighbour replied casually. They are what the kids drink. She didn’t mean her kids particularly, it was a more general statement but the way she said it really stayed with me.

“What the kids drink” A fun colourful cocktail made from booze and sweet fizzy pop served up in a neat colourful ball of fun with a very catchy clever name and candy cane like individual names designed to draw you in. Hmmm.

It looked like the Sazerac brand had done a great job attracting young customers. Adults don’t have a party in the lanes around my neighbourhood and then leave their rubbish behind. It’s the countryside. We pick up our picnic waste.

It reminded me of an amazing American documentary I watched about one of the first vape brands with a similar marketing strategy. I’d really recommend watching this chilling series available on Netflix “The Big Vape, The Rise and Fall Of Juul, released October, 2023 which tracked the multi million dollar trajectory of the “brightly coloured” electronic cigarette company/brand marketed to young people as the ease of carrying, ease of using secretively in school and highly addictive nicotine content got young people addicted very quickly and made billions for the founders. Buzz Balls sounded the same to me, exploiting the impressionability and copycat behaviour of the young. Get someone addicted to what you sell and you’ll make a fortune marketing strategy. Who better than school kids? I am not a parent, or grand parent so some might argue what do I know, but I am an adult who is not addicted to alcohol, understands the harm and dangers of addiction and can take or leave a martini if I fancy one or not. And someone who doesn’t believe being legless at any age is a good look.

In my days it was a Baby Cham or a Cherry B served in a champagne coupe for extra sophistication, don’t get me wrong I wasn’t a goodie two shoes or a non drinker at all but I was always reminded, had it in my mind too much boozing wasn’t a good look and “drunks always finish last” a saying that was repeated like a mantra it did stick eventually.

Now I enjoy a drink but I am like the French when it comes to my martinis, three is too many.

Now I have Buzz Balls on my radar I am seeing them everywhere. Even in my local news agent convenience shop where they are available in the cooler fridges next to the Ribena and Coca Cola.

I’ve even seen their print ads at the bus stop where school kids stand and wait for the bus. In plain sight. I don’t think The Sazerac brand thought let’s advertise at bus stops to get the over 60s drinking Buzz Balls and buying in.

I am not a prude or a leftie gunning for more legislation, more a thinking feminist creative child of the 1960s but you don’t have to be an idiot to see even students, legal drinking age consumers have moved on from Buzz Balls by the time they get to University, more interested in Sex on the Beach or a Porn Star Martini by then.

Why do you think the 99p shot was the next big product launched. Their audience has grown tolerant and needs the buzz quicker and harder.

Personally I think convenience booze, unless it’s a serving of one glass of wine not everyone wants to buy and or drink a whole bottle should be looked at more closely. We all know a cheap price and heavily marketed products drives sales.

If you cannot be bothered or don’t have access to glasses and ice should you really be having a cocktail in the street? Picnics with wine and cocktails excluded I cannot think of any other outdoor activity where convenience and boozing go together for adults.

I have no doubt Buzz Balls and the “nostalgic” 99 shot are here for the foreseeable. After a little research I cannot stop the algorithm showing me them on social media despite my “I’m not interested” cries.

Move over jello shots. There’s a new kid in town.

Evian Water and Wimbledon Competition 200 Years Young

Why some advertising collaborations really work and why it did for me

Holly HY

2026-06-03T06:37:00.0000000 2026-06-03T08:16:50.4730000

I don’t buy bottled water usually, I drink tap water at home and in restaurants. It has a carbon footprint 3,500 times lower than drinking bottled water. Whilst there has been a question mark around declining quality of UK tap water, (I have thought about starting to distill there is no evidence to support our tap Water in the UK which doesn’t come from contaminated rivers and streams has detonated) with the heatwave in the UK, comes a need to have more water on hand in the car. I’ve been using my local convenience store a lot to pick up and deliver online shopping and selling, they have been super helpful, friendly and really great and I’ve felt bad I don’t give them more business. So as it has got hotter and I’ve been spending quite a bit buying small bottles of water with lunch (and the plastic has been accumulating in my car) I was conscious I wanted to save money and save the planet by buying larger bottles of water and then transferring that into smaller reusable aluminium water bottles. I know I’ve still got big single use plastic bottles to recycle but at least they are better than buying one or two small ones every day.

The bottles were Evian, not for any other reason than they were the cheapest at £1.49 each.

And then I was even happier as I saw the opportunity to win a pair of centre court Wimbledon tickets 2026, they have 4 pairs to give away the top prize out of 2000 plus other prizes.

It’s interesting because the winning moments, ie the time you enter, in days, hours, minutes and seconds, pre selected and completely random by a computer are the criteria that decide whether you get lucky or not. If someone doesn’t enter at the exact winning moment then the next entry is the winner.

I made my first entries first thing. I’ve got two more bottles in the fridge to try. I bought the last two from my convenience store yesterday and I am not sure if they have anymore in the back. I will find out though.

It got me thinking about how expensive brand sponsorships actually work and what would make someone like me, who never gambles, doesn’t have membership cards or apps for discounts, doesn’t give their email out unless absolutely necessary because of the spam and marketing crap that comes back and would never enter any competition, participate.

The last competition I remember entering was a couple of years ago with Stella Artois for the same elusive prize but because I don’t drink it was too difficult for me to complete the purchase, I did intend to buy the beer and not drink it and then it was too much hassle. The time before was over 40 years ago, I had to come up with a slogan to win a Renault 5, I had just passed my driving test. I didn’t win then either.

My best friend has a saying “You’ve got to be in it, to win it” and this be true.

I’ve given Evian my email address and checked I am happy to receive promotional material. I thought this might improve my chances of a win. If I was a promoter I’d imagine someone I can promote back to is more appealing to reward with a win than someone who says “I just want to enter and then don’t bother me”

From the info about the competition this thinking is completely erroneous.

Thoughts on the Evian bottled water brand, in the 80’s Evian water was aspirational it was the still water brand that emerged after Perrier water, well they were French.

And I probably bought Evian because it represented style and sophistication to me back then living life in London, a Fulham flat owner, Golf GTI driving “Yuppie” how that makes me cringe now.

These days I am more practical, don’t waste money and desperately want to reduce my consumption of single use plastic so try to avoid buying plastic bottles period, something virtually impossible.

Wimbledon is a sporting event I am passionate about, have been a few times when I was younger invited through work or friends of friends with connections. The ballot has been less successful. Like the Evian competition every year I enter and am yet to win.

I keep reminding myself “you’ve got to be in it, to win it”

I know, there’s always the queue. I even got as far as reading the information cover to cover about the Wimbledon queue which to be honest sounds absolutely hideous, camping overnight, or joining at 6am in the morning on a wing and a prayer you might get a ticket, everyone who wants a ticket has to be present and endure the work, you can’t even stand there for hours as the nominated person for you and your friends. And who wants to turn up at Wimbledon, having been up all night, without a wash or a blow dry looking like a tramp for an amazing day out. Not me.

So Evian, that’s why your competition worked for me and you got my precious deets no one gets. For how long before I unsubscribe. That depends on how much junk mail you send me.

Fortnum and Mason Salted Caramel Biscuits and Dark Chocolate Florentines

When your mother pops around unannounced and brings you a bag of goodies to soften the blow

Savannah Black

2026-06-02T08:00:00.0000000 2026-06-02T08:36:59.8330000

I know I am not the only 30 something who doesn’t get along with their mother. I love her of course but like a lot of Mum’s and daughters we are quite a bit alike, stubborn, set in our ways and tend to bicker and get on each others nerves, probably why she doesn’t tell me when she’s coming round. She knows I’ll guiltily make an excuse or try to get out of it.

She knows I love Fortnums, so does she, she knows I don’t like their Florentine biscuits and yet she continues to buy them, why not, she likes them, except not as a gift for me.

This rave is sounding more like a story line for Motherland than a biscuit review. I’ll get back on topic.

She knows I have been in search of a replacement for the Selfridges Toffee biscuits, discontinued a few years back, we’ve been buying the Toffuloffolous (actually Toffolossus) from Fortnums which are really good but not a perfect substitute.

Her peace offering is usually a bag from Fortnums, my annoyance is I know there will be Florentines in there, except this time they were different and quite delicious florentines. A smaller box first off which is good if you’ve never tried them, very rich, buttery and for me an acquired taste. Florentines are very moorish so even if you don’t really like them especially you can find your self eating a whole box and then feeling a bit sick. The much smaller box was a blessing.

I only ate one, which I actually really enjoyed. These one’s have a hint of orange, the citrus I loved to break up the richness, helped along by the delicious dark chocolate. They are still nutty, chewy, fruity but I definitely enjoyed these more than the regular box.

In her bag of luxury goodies was a tin of the salted caramel house biscuits to try and see if they came close to the Selfridges biscuits we are searching for a replacement. These biscuits whilst not like the Selfridges biscuits we loved are good.

They are like a buttery shortbread biscuit, a blonde biscuit rather than made with treacle or syrup, with salty lumps of chewy caramel.

They come in a lovely presentation tin, £11.95 for 200g (about 12 biscuits) so make a great gift and refills are also available at £8.95.

Just for reference these are the one’s in the brown orange tin. They used to do a salted Caramel biscuit in a blue and green tin which we’ve had before. Not sure if it’s the same biscuits in a different tin or different biscuits entirely.

If you love a sweet, very buttery biscuit, like a shortbread with toffee bits and a salty kick too these are definitely one to try.

Thanks Mum, just in case you’re following me:)

Kerastase Gloss Absolu Insta Glaze Range so good I got a mortgage for the Bain Hydra Shampoo too

And I don’t change my hair styling routine ever

Holly HY

2026-06-01T07:53:00.0000000 2026-06-01T10:03:13.3530000

In the words of fashion editor Alexandra Fullerton, this is a “HARD RECOMMEND” from someone who is a little bit hair obsessed and hasn’t changed their styling product routine for at least 10 years. I am definitely a find what you like and stick with it gal when it comes to hair.

Check my feed, I’ve been using a Kerastase Elixir styling product that I’ve moved heaven and earth to source, paid massively over the odds for my stylist thinks doesn’t make a difference and it was discontinued for a reason. What can I say I don’t like to change when it comes to my hair.

So here’s the deal on Kerastase Gloss Absolu Insta Glaze Conditioner and Kerastase Gloss Absolu Anti Frizz Milk Glaze Milk, I bought the glaze drops too but my hair was so pretty much perfect by the time my stylist had finished I didn’t even try them.

I have to start by saying I have a genius hairstylist who manages to achieve lasting results with difficult hair without any product whatsoever and for me 95% of the result you get when it comes to sleekness, shine and 29 years younger looking hair depends entirely on your stylist and their level of skill especially if your hair is crazy, old, grey and totally unmanageable like mine. Even without any product at all my stylist’s result is out of this world.

That said I tried Kerastase Gloss Absolu Insta glaze conditioner, designed for hair prone to frizz, £37 on Kerastase website but I’ve found as cheap as £25 at Toni and Guy at my last hair appointment and the results literally blew me away, even though my very low key stylist said he didn’t notice any difference from my usual Kerastase choice.

We used the conditioner in combination with the Kerastase Gloss Absolu anti frizz glaze milk, spray through out the wet hair (not on the root) before blow drying.

I am usually delighted with my results, I’ve been with the same stylist for a few years now, a hair genius and he is not a particular advocate or ambassador for Kerastase, or any specific products really, but for me the results were noticeable on top of the skill of a really experienced and brilliant hair stylist.

My hair was so super shiny I was genuinely surprised. So much so I have purchased the shampoo too, Gloss Absolu Bain Hydra glaze 250ml at £30.50 from Kerastase for my visit to the salon next week. Again Toni and Guy and Noli.com (currently offering the trio of travel size shampoo, conditioner and styling milk for £26.00) were the cheapest I could find the conditioner and anti frizz glaze milk at £21 and £22 respectively. I also found the shampoo and conditioner combo on Flawless Body for £43 including free shipping. The best deal I found overall was the Bain Hydra glaze shampoo, the Gloss Absolu Insta glaze conditioner and the Gloss absolu anti frizz glaze milk all for £56.00 with free shipping at my new favourite beauty shop online Face The Future I found out about on here so I’ve included the link below.

Very very impressed with this product.

Except;

There is one downside for animal lovers, Kerastase is owned by L’Oreal and therefore not cruelty free. This does present an ethics dilemma for me, L’Oreal is a brand I avoid when it comes to beauty for this reason. Whilst Kérastase itself does not test on animals, it is owned by L'Oréal, and the parent company permits animal testing where required by law. Because of this, Kérastase is not certified cruelty-free.

Kérastase is also not a 100% vegan brand. Many of their formulas contain animal-derived ingredients like keratin or beeswax, and they do not have a dedicated vegan product line.

I know it’s a double standard to buy just because I really like the product and would only usually consider brands with cruelty free credentials. So if anyone can come up with something as good that isn’t tested on animals I am all ears.

Triangle Of Sadness Palme D’Or Winner I Cannot Believe I Missed

An Epic Black Comedy I Will Certainly Be Watching Again

Lindsey Lowson

2026-06-01T06:20:00.0000000 2026-06-01T06:57:04.5470000

This masterclass in filmmaking is from the director of the Square, Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund. I didn’t quite know what I was getting into when I stumbled across this 2022 black comedy a Triangle of Sadness that New Yorker columnist Naomi Fry said

“In “Triangle of Sadness,” the Crudity Is the Point

Ruben Östlund’s latest film isn’t just about puke—it’s also about shit.”

And it is about shit, how money and power creates it not just for others but for individuals themselves.

It also reminded me of a Machiavelli quote “Power does not belong to the strongest, but the one who understands fear, desire and timing”

And I cannot think of another film I have ever seen that depicts the validity of this statement throughout.

When you read the reviews, don’t let the synopsis put you off. It sounds like a weird film. It’s not. Don’t let the fact it’s Swedish with lesser known actors, (apart from Woody Harrelson) put you off either. The ensemble cast is absolutely stupendous too and will have you surprisingly in before you even realise what you are watching. It starts in a very glamorous world of fashion, parties, opulence that sets the story up immaculately. And the director writer, steers the ship masterfully. You have no idea where it’s going and yet you are in, hooked.

In the beginning you don’t quite know what you are watching, set on a luxury cruise liner with a drunken sailor Woody Harrelson who doesn’t like haute cuisine, served a burger and chips at the captain’s table whilst his guests devour oysters, caviar and unlimited quantities of champagne the stark contrasts, light and shade are apparent throughout. Some passengers have gained their fortunes through tech or peddling arms, others find them enjoying the luxury for free as influencers pushing good looks and marketing potential. The question of morality and selling sex and sex appeal comes up in various forms throughout the film as does the subject of societal statistics, trading currencies, status, hierarchy and ultimate power. On the cruise liner many of these markers are highlighted in the story, where people come from, what they do, how easy for some it might be to purchase a Rolex watch for a stranger or offer wealth and status as a substitute to their character and integrity.

The film not surprisingly was nominated for and won a lot of international awards most notably the Palme D’Or at Cannes (2022). At the European Film Awards it had 4 wins Best Film, Best Director (Ruben Östlund), Best Screenplay (Ruben Östlund), Best Actor (Zlatko Burić) and at Swedens top film awards the Guldbagge Awards it won for Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume, and Best Make-up.

The film's critical success translated into major international award nominations: at Academy Awards there were 3 nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay. At the BAFTA UK Awards also 3 nominations Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Dolly de Leon), Best Casting And the Golden Globes in the US 2 nominations Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and again Best Supporting Actress (Dolly de Leon).

I am not surprised Dolly De Leon, a Filipino actress I had never seen or heard of before was recognised and praised so highly for her role in this film as Abigail the “toilet manager” a cleaning lady on the luxury cruise liner.

Her role is pivotal and creates an amazing dynamic shift in the story after the boat sinks and a handful of the characters survive ending up, stranded, on a deserted island. It is here Abigail uses her real-world survival skills to take charge, completely flipping the power dynamic and social hierarchy.

It’s an amazing educational film with political ideology woven through the script where discussion around capitalism, communism and socialism forms the back drop for human behaviour, looking deeply at the drivers of power, wealth acquisition, status, ambition and aspiration.

It’s mad, crazy, extreme but so well done it will keep you thinking about why we all do the things we do and open up a whole new debate around wealth, wealth creation and what is really important when it comes to being happy, for it is the roots of sadness and misery that this film tackles through humour, dark comedy and basically a whole lot of cringe worthy scenarios.

How much you will enjoy it, I guess depends on how far you have evolved from the characters depicted, the less you see yourself the easier it is to endure and enjoy.

For me it was an absolutely fabulous watch. Had I watched it 10 years ago, let’s say I could certainly see a former self and it might not have been so enlightening. If you like luxury cruising, which is not for me, you may never book another cruise again.

Hermes Un Jardin De Cynthere and Miniature Duty Free Shopping

How I Sample, Save and Avoid an expensive impulsive Duty Free mistake

Amanda Moss

2026-05-31T06:40:00.0000000 2026-05-31T07:56:31.4630000

Who doesn’t love a splurge in the duty free shop. Except with unleaded petrol at £1.82 and diesel shockingly over £2.00 per litre watching the money has meant the l’ll have that, that, that and that in the duty free shop has had to be calmed down and curtailed somewhat.

I budgeted £200 for my duty free shopping this trip which isn’t much if you want to include a fragrance like Hermes which even for a 30ml bottle, the small one is going to set you back £60. 50ml or 100ml you were looking at £85 or about £120 not leaving much budget left for anything else.

Which is why I have grown to love the miniatures section you can find in most duty free shops. It’s tiny travel sizes of everything from skincare, lip balms, hand creams, cleansers, and expensive fragrance purchases.

Which means you can build your own holiday beauty bag on a budget and sample smaller versions of a few different things without blowing your whole budget on a mistake.

Duty Free shopping is designed by retail experts to get you spending. On the way out when you have holiday spends burning a whole in your wallet and on the way back when you giving the credit card one final battering is usually possible to achieve for retailers. I do love a duty free shop. It’s when I tend to splurge on my favourite make up purchases too.

This trip I had it in mind to buy a new perfume. A few of my perfume bottles were empty and browsing Duty Free is something I really look forward to.

I love the Hermes Jardin series of fragrances, I’ve tried a few. Un Jardin sur le toit, Un Jardin Sur le Nil, Le Jardin de Monsieur Li and most recently Un Jardin a Cythere. I am also eager to try next Hermès Un Jardin Après la Mousson which has been compared to Jo Malone Wood Sage and sea salt which I love.

Perfume is expensive and like make up it’s really easy to make a mistake. You try something in the shop and love it but perfume fades and changes, smells different on different people so whilst you can love a scent initially it’s easy to go off it over time.

I like Jardin a Cythere, probably not as much as sur le toit and sur le nil which are fresher scents, this one is more heady. Nice but I am glad I tried it first in the 15ml size, £26.00. I probably personally wouldn’t follow up with a larger size bottle.

It is definitely citrus which I like but it’s woody and nutty rather than floral. It’s called a “blonde” fragrance which definitely defies the more green or floral fragrances in Un Jardin Sur le Nil (a garden on the Nile) or Un Jardin sur le toit (the famous garden on the house of Hermes in Paris)

If you fancy a change, which is what this fragrance is, I’ve never actually smelled anything like it, it’s really original and unique, sweet, lemony and herbal all at the same time, makes me think of walking early evening in balmy air and definitely conjures a vision of the Greek Island Kythira that inspired this scent, this one may be for you.

I love it when a perfume house offers their fragrances in a smaller travel size, 8ml, 10ml or 15ml. It means we can try a few different ones and work out which is the one to invest in over time and a few wears especially now perfume testers are on the decline.

I started writing here on Poopsnoop to help my friends, it’s a family. In much the same way many people had a Facebook account in the beginning to stay connected with people we don’t see that often and know what they are up to. Now for me it’s become like a journal too. To help small businesses and big ones identify their customers and get better for sure but also for the people that know and love me to get to know me better. Since writing on here, my likes, my dislikes, what inspires me, what I’ve learnt along the way, the gifts I receive have definitely got better. People are getting to know the real me. Something I love, it’s like a public life journal and it’s so great to go back over the years since I began and see how my tastes have changed or not and I’ve grown over time. I really do recommend snooping on Poopsnoop for everyone. Writing, helping, sharing, snapping pictures, making your own life scrapbook is a real pleasure.

The beauty and best bit for me is you can really get to know the snoopers are authentic. That’s the point. To connect with a whole new community of like minded people. I even surprised myself when I looked back and saw I’d already written about these fragrances over a year ago and funnily enough was talking about trying Hermes Un Jardin a Cynthere back then, something I’d completely forgotten. It’s great for business to see how long a buying decision can take to happen. Especially in a very difficult and challenging market.

Unico Gelato What Happens When Things Go Wrong At Your Favourite Ice Cream Shop

Very fast resolution from Enrico Zecchini Chief Marketing Officer

Stylemum

2026-05-30T06:59:35.5500000 2026-05-30T07:38:13.6600000

When the marketing just doesn’t match the experience what should we do? Give feedback which may not be well received or just take it on the chin and not return? Perhaps cutting your nose off to spite your face. It’s a dilemma I found myself in with a store I love.

I’ve got to give it to Unico Gelato after enjoying their ice creams and sorbets for a few years now. The kids love a trip to this little shop on St John’s High St, they have a few shops scattered around London. You can also order larger tubs for parties and they deliver so even though it’s expensive £4.50 for a single scoop £5.20 if you want a cone, the staff have always been great and the product second to none so we are big fans.

I hate complaining, especially about something I love and would be gutted to see this popular shop depart the neighbourhood but the other day I did and with good reason I thought. Something had happened to the icecream. It was very hot, so maybe the freezers had packed up, the queue was really long, it was half term to be fair so loads of kids testing flavours undecided what they wanted, fraught parents, think Motherland, and the staff on duty not the usual team. Getting served took a frustrating 30 minutes, a testament to how good the ice cream usually is. People were prepared to wait.

When I finally got my much anticipated ice cream, paid and plonked myself outside to savour a quiet moment and enjoy, it was off. Not the flavour, the texture, kind of gritty and hard and it left a greasy residue in the mouth when it melted. Not good.

I pondered whether to just let it go but then thought what if they serve it to anyone else and fought through the queue to quietly tell the staff on duty something was wrong.

They did offer me a replacement but when I said no thanks, that was it, I left feeling embarrassed and wishing I’d just said nothing.

Things go wrong and scorching heat and high demand is especially challenging for an ice cream business. I get that. But the feeling I’d not been acknowledged and the problem dealt with, I couldn’t shake off.

I dropped an email to the company and CMO Enrico Zecchini did get on it immediately, dropped me a polite apology and to rectify the situation included a gift card for 2 complimentary ice creams.

Like I said it’s a shop and a business I have supported for a few years now and I will go back, I am sure but sometimes it’s not about the money, it’s about how an experience makes you feel. Unico say their mission is to provide “cosy and comforting, more than just a simple dessert”

Would I speak out again if something isn’t right, probably not, and has it put me off going back, for the moment definitely yes. Even with free ice cream I love waiting for me.

Sometimes it’s not about getting what you want when you want it, cold and transactional, when you are invested, have been a massive cheerleader and love a business it’s about more than that.

No. Forty Nine Open On St John’s Wood High St And it’s Lovely

It is in between a coffee shop restaurant and bistro vibe

Mark Hutchinson

2026-05-28T08:30:00.0000000 2026-05-29T19:11:49.7670000

I love a new restaurant lunch spot in St John’s Wood. I love DRUNCH and go to the Ivy a lot but everyone likes a change and to try something new. And who doesn’t love a wine bar. It’s a concept that’s been and gone but we definitely need places that encourage coming together for a glass of wine and a bite to eat. I am all for more socialising over a drink. An art we seem to have lost over the last few years post COVID.

Before child development specialist Maggie Bolger moved in To 49 St John’s Wood High St and launched the b_together family club and its eco-brasserie, AT Feast, in the summer of 2021, this big space opposite the famous Ivy restaurant in St John’s Wood was a retail space downstairs and offices upstairs.

I liked At Feast and went quite a bit, they did a good spinach, beetroot and raisin salad (sounds weird I know but tasted great) and good smoothies too, but it never really settled and found it’s identity. I am not sure locals really understood the family club offering and in a couple of short years the eco cafe closed.

Delighted to see the new restaurant cafe open No. Forty Nine.

I popped in on opening day to see the refurbishment and take a look at the menu which is giving Ottenleghi vibes, fresh homemade salads, fish and Mediterranean style dishes for lunch. They are definitely catering to vegetarians and vegans. The big freshly prepared deli style plates on the counter looked delicious, colourful and very inviting.

The menu is a hybrid concept created by Cinder owner Jake Finn and Head Chef Ella Williams (formerly of Mountain and Crispin). You’ll find the live fire place Cinder further down the High Street next to Sahara where I get my Fresh Mint tea. I haven’t been as I am not really a meat eater. The new No 49, says it transitions from a morning artisan bakery into an all-day bistro that blends New York-style bistro food with Mediterranean influences.

It wasn’t busy inside when I popped in, everyone was outside on the patio which was packed. I have to say the staff were very friendly, up beat and excited, even though the area at the back still looked a little dishevelled and unfinished.

I am sure they’ll get that sorted in the next few days.

I only had a drink, it’s fully licensed and the glass of white was fruity and crisp on a hot day. I am going back at the weekend to try the food so will update this then with more pictures but in the meantime let’s support this airy happy new restaurant in the neighbourhood.

Top Ten Tips For Successful Selling On Vinted

I’ve spent the last two to three years shopping on Vinted now I am selling more than buying

Holly HY

2026-05-28T07:30:00.0000000 2026-05-29T18:52:04.9100000

I have loved shopping on Vinted. It is now my number one go to to source anything beauty or fashion, even home is taking off and don’t get me started on the designer goods where verification is available on expensive purchases. Truth is Vinted can be very addictive. A curated feed just for you, the more you browse and shop the more Vinted knows to show you exactly what you like. In my case branded luxury goods.

Yes there are a lot of dupes and fakes but if you stick to the if it seems to good to be true it probably is motto you won’t get burned. Personally I don’t like a dupe some people don’t mind them if the price is right and I am not getting into a moral ethical debate here.

As the high quality stock to buy has dwindled, I think people are running out of stuff I spotted an opportunity for anyone like me who in the past couldn’t be bothered to have a good clear out and finally put up all the stuff I have collected and never worn up there. And do the work to pack it up and take it to the post. It is a grind, so I don’t put anything up I can’t get more than £15 for to make all the effort worth it.

I had a lot of new stuff with tags still attached which to be honest have sold like hot cakes on Vinted.

It’s been a learning curve since I began declutterring a few months ago so I thought I’d give you all the heads up on what I have learned about selling on Vinted.

1. Be nice to people. It cost’s nothing to be pleasant. Just because some people are rude doesn’t mean you have to be and every sale, every smooth transaction means that person might come back and buy something else.

2. BE realistic with your pricing. You are going to have to take a hit. People are looking for a bargain on Vinted. If you paid £150 retail for something you are not getting much more the £50 for it. (With some exceptions) Put a £10 premium on everything under £50, a £20 premium on everything under £100. Think the minimum price you want to achieve, what you’d be happy anccepting and then add in your negotiating margin. The offers are very low so without this strategy you’ll never sell anything.

3. Ignore the prices Vinted recommends. Just because they say your item is only worth £3 or £4 doesn’t mean you can’t achieve £15 or £20. I just sold two bikinis for £60 Vinted said were worth £5.

4. Don’t hang about posting your items when someone has purchased from you. Get them packed and off quickly if you want good feedback and to build your reputation as a good, reliable and trustworthy seller. Vinted shipping is notoriously slow, can take up to a week for things to arrive and everyone wants to get their item sooner rather than later.

5. Take 5 or 6 clean pictures showing as much of the item as possible, including flaws, labels, sizing, fabric, composition. Keep the backgrounds simple, uncluttered and consistent. People will get to know it’s you from your image style. People like to know what they are buying and stops the hassle of returns and disputes.

6. Don’t break the Vinted rules, even if you see other people getting away with murder. Using pictures from the internet, even designer names in descriptions “Chanel Style” “Looks like Dior” can get you suspended from the platform. And if you don’t want to get yourself banned completely don’t try setting up multiple accounts under different emails. Vinted aren’t stupid and they have a no violations policy. Once you have been in trouble it’s difficult to get your account back. Strict one account per person policy.

7. Be aware when parcels get lost, and they do, you are not getting paid until a certain time has past. Usually they give the buyer about 6 weeks to wait to see if the item turns up and then the onus is on the buyer to say they have an issue within two days. If the buyer doesn’t catch this notification the transaction is closed, you get paid and the buyer loses out which can cause you grief if they never received their item.

8. Be honest and straight forward. Don’t try and connect with buyers off line. Vinted rules may be tough but buyers fees are there for a reason to protect everyone.

9. Any problems don’t expect Vinted to resolve them for you.

10. Politely stand your ground. In any community not everyone is kosher and some people pester or heckle to get things they want cheaper. I’ve found most people to be decent, friendly, straightforward, honest and polite. If someone complains and wants their money back, my advice don’t get into it. Give them a refund. It’s not worth the hassle of a long drawn out dispute for a few quid.

It’s definitely a sellers market right now on Vinted if you’ve got a lot of decent/designer stuff to get rid of. Branded goods are obviously premium, and new with tags on are easiest to move. But if you make an effort with your pictures and communicate well and honestly about your items giving as much helpful information as possible there’s a buyer out there for pretty much anything on Vinted.

P.S. Posting new items regularly is the way to keep your items being show. You want to aim to sell in the first 2 to 3 days of listing something. Your views will tail off after that. When you get to shipping more than 4 or 5 parcels per day (it doesn’t take long, three weeks listing 3 to 4 items a day) make sure you write down what is in each package. You think you will remember but you won’t and it avoids having to unpack to check or sending the wrong item to your valued customer.

Jayne Ormonde Levant Be Careful What you Wish For

How just writing a snoop can deliver what you are wishing for

Chanel Rampart

2026-05-29T08:53:09.6270000 2026-05-29T09:53:51.0730000

I am not an influencer, I am not even a fragrance expert. I do love perfume and like to have a few different ones on the go.

I have been wanting a bottle of Levant by Jayne Ormonde (it’s actually Ormonde Jayne but I always say it the wrong way around) after receiving a tester in Selfridges and then having the most amazing visit to her perfume shop in the Royal Arcade, London.

I never visited Jo Malone’s first shop opened on Walton St in 1994, I was only ten back then, before her company was purchased by Estée Lauder but I imagine this is what it was probably like.

Linda Pilkington, a girl from Cheshire has created a haven for lovers and purveyors of fine scent and aromatics to behold.

When you enter this apothecary you can tell the creator of this space is worldly, passionate and well travelled. The array of aroma flora that hits you when you enter is fragrance layering artistry to the nth degree.

The perfume isn’t inexpensive. £175 for a 88ml bottle and on a first visit knowing which to choose is an almost impossible task. You try one, love it, another love that even more, they layer beautifully together a concept Jo Malone brought to the market, making an individual concoction by putting one scent on top of another, a unique to you fragrance, except that can get really expensive and also confusing first time around.

I did contemplate investing in the Jayne Ormonde travel set, 4 10ml different fragrances (including Levant, a fragrance of orange blssom and jasmine inspired by the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean, with its heart in the Lebanon. Levant originates from the Latin “rising” due to the sun rising in the East.) to try and designed to mix, match and layer at £110, or the Jardin Collection again 4 x 10ml at £145. It still too much for me not really knowing if I’d like the other three fragrances as much.

They also offer sets of four 10ml viels for every other popular fragrance they sell, designed for people who travel a lot and don’t want to take big bottles of perfume on holiday.

I am more on a glamping in the UK budget rather than swanning around the world in first class kinda gal, hippy vibes at Glastonbury in wellies rather than sipping cocktails and walking red carpets in Cannes where I imagine Jayne Ormonde perfume wearers to be more likely found.

Fortunately the friend I visited the Jayne Ormonde store with is a shopper and fragrance lover which was a blessing as the service was so great and the experience so wonderful I would have felt bad if we had left without buying anything.

Be careful what you wish for. A friend of mine who read my “on a budget” fragrance snoop a few days ago, reached out and said she had the 10ml Levant fragrance for me sitting in a drawer. She loves Vetiver and Ormonde Woman so never used the Levant she received as part of a bigger gift.

I sprayed a little, literally a tiny squirt on each wrist, I’ll be rationing, and I could still smell it this morning. You can just tell it’s really expensive.

Thank you Linda Pilkington for your amazing shop, amazing fragrances and my amazing mate for coming up with the perfume I’ve been thinking about for 6 months.

Yeah.

The Day The Door Blew Open and Closed for Novak Djokovic To Lift The Coupe des Mousquetaires Trophy a 4th Time

Sinner loses in 5 Sets Roland Garros 2nd round to 56th Seed Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Novak...

Holly HY

2026-05-29T07:34:00.0000000 2026-06-03T08:49:11.7070000

There will be a new champion in Paris 2026.

When I read BBC Sport tennis news reporter’s piece by Jonathon Jurejko about Jannik Sinner world No. 1 and favourite to win the Paris Grand Slam Roland Garros this year I could believe he’s lost in the second round to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo seeded 56 after being up two sets to love and 5-1 in the 3rd, serving for the match. The score line, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. To be fair Sinner wasn’t well but the young Argentine broke a 30 match winning streak and showed once again why tennis fans love the sport. You never know what’s going to happen even when it looked like it was all over for Cerundolo. Anyone would feel for Jannik Sinner who told reporters the loss was “tough to accept.”

Sinner out of the field feels like a gift to Djokovic supporters hoping to see him win his recordbreaking 25th slam and reaching the semis in each of the last five, then after beating Sinner at this years Australian Open only to be beaten by Carlos Alcaraz, out of Roland Garros this year with a wrist injury, in the final.

Without Alcaraz, pundits predicted this years men’s draw lacked jeopardy. “Who could stop Sinner?” Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have swept the previous nine Grand Slams between them, going head-to-head in three of those finals. And then this. All of a sudden Tennis Grand Slams, no longer “a predictable two horse race”

Now with the men’s draw blown wide open, a draw in which quite a few players will feel their chances of a grand slam title have increased, Zverev in particular seeded second, yet to win a grand slam title can Novak prove to the remaining stalwarts fans of great player like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal he is truly deserving of the title GOAT (his boisterous and sometimes seen as ungentlemanly and unsportsmanlike behaviour at the beginning of his career put some people off) and give himself the best 39th birthday present ever by also beating his own record in 2023 becoming the oldest man again to ever win in Paris.

Djokovic had the ice packs to hand to beat France's Valentin Royer in the scorching Paris tenperatures a few days ago, and I am sure will be thinking differently now about his quest for an elusive standalone record 25th Grand Slam.

As the third seed he is the only man left who knows what it takes to win a major, this one in particular.

Playing next, the Chatrier day session (fourth round) against the Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, when temperatures are predicted to reach 34C, will be a test for sure. Nole fans will be praying for a thunder storm to break.

When (if) Novak gets past Fonseca, fans know he has the capacity to build momentum through the tournament and with temperatures predicted to drop significantly next week and the bit between his teeth. The closer he gets who can really beat him?

Djokovic's on-court aura known to put off many younger opponents and Alexander Zverev second seed in Paris, described as the best player of his generation to have never won a major, is one of them.

When the conditions, cooler weather, favour Djokovic, he has continued to defy the ageing process even as a part timer a surprise for many when he beat Sinner in this year's Australian Open semi-finals.

Last year, it was either Alcaraz or Sinner who stopped Djokovic in the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open semi-finals.

With both now out of his way, there is only Zverev left in the draw who I think has the experience of beating the Serb great in a Grand Slam setting.

Even if Alexander Zverev makes it to the final, against Novak I don’t think he’ll be able to shake off the memory of losing to Djokovic last year in the Semi Finals of the French.

Zverev may be the favourite on paper but there’s a reason call Novak Djokovic the GOAT.

Whatever happens the tournament is now set to be the most exciting French Open especially for Novak Djokovic supporters.

There’s a good deal of talent in the draw, and in tennis we’ve seen time and time again anything can happen but what an end to the most wonderful magically and heart stopping career in sport it would be. On the clay especially where so many have not so warmly received Novak Djokovic and he has split the crowd for sure to be the champion one last time. Theresa would be tears I am in no doubt.

I’ll be wearing my lucky Roland Garros Socks.

Update 14 hours later. It wasn’t to be as Novak follows Jannik knocked out in five sets against number 28th seed Brazilian Joao Fonseca. Just five points away from victory in the fourth set Fonseca fought off two break points to take the match to a deciding 5th. Congratulations are certainly due to the Brazilian who until

now seemed unable to live up to all the hype but after consistently hitting shots 40mph faster than Djokovic and finding the lines and the corners, he deserved to beat his tennis idol. What a night for him. My lucky socks weren’t so lucky tonight for all us Djokovic fans. Let’s hope it’s not the last time we see Novak walk out on Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris.

I’ve mentioned French tennis photographer Corinne Dubreuil on here before @cocodubreuilphoto on Instagram but no one captures the tennis action in stills better than her. She has also just released a beautiful book of iconic images celebrating Novak’s epic career. Available now on Amazon. I have to say I might be breaking my Amazon boycott to purchase. I would have used one of her images here with my snoop with credits of course but without permission didn’t want to do that so I’ve snapped my precious socks instead. Check out her photos. They really are amazing.

Corona Cero Zero Alcohol In a Can Get The Barbecue Fired Up

My new favourite sober tipple

Mark Hutchinson

2026-05-27T06:48:00.0000000 2026-06-03T07:56:45.4270000

I’ve heard people say when you give up drinking you can’t (shouldn’t) have zero alcohol drinks. Something to do with breaking the habit. I didn’t find that. I decided to give up when I gave up smoking. I didn’t know if it would be forever. I wanted to feel healthier. Suzy didn’t like me smoking. Ever. She couldn’t stop worrying about me. I suppose I started worrying about myself instead. I didn’t do it for her. An important distinction. I did it for myself. It wasn’t easy but two years later I drink zero alcohol beer and don’t even think about it.

I started on Becks Blue and sometimes had a Heineken O.O I like both and honestly you can’t tell the difference in the taste. Even my friends have said the same when they’ve picked up a zero alcohol beer out of the cooler at parties by mistake.

Stella Artois have done a great one I buy. Love a pint of Stella. But my new favourite of all is Corona Zero now in a can.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw these little beauties next to the sandwiches in the meal deal for £1.95 a piece.

I’d normally have a coke or red bull with my sandwich and crisps, this time we had Corona zero icy cold in a can, drank them in the park, felt like we’d had a bit of a party and then went back to work, completely sober.

It was a more expensive way to enjoy a cold one, when you can get four bottle for under £5 but it made a weekday lunch time supermarket lunch I have to say a little bit special.

Love these little beauties. For anyone looking to consume less alcohol they are a great choice, you feel like you are having a pint but not. For me that’s a win win.

Changing your habits for your health isn’t easy but it is a very empowering achievement something you won’t understand until you have done it for yourself. It is a mindset. Deciding is the start but old habits do die hard. Having something available that tastes really good like Corona Zero I find makes it easier in the beginning. Now I choose zero alcohol automatically and have no good reason to change back.

Pixlr Batch Photo Resize Editor - For anyone else gutted It Has Disappeared

After a day of searching for an easy alternative with no learning curve

Holly HY

2026-05-26T10:49:00.0000000 2026-05-26T11:12:21.8730000

i want to begin by saying thank you Pixlr for the Batch photo editor provided for free for so many years. I understand why it has gone. Online companies, businesses have to monetise their services, especially in a very tough economy. The problem I have and I imagine other people too is getting value from premium service subscriptions when you don’t need all the bells and whistles provided. I’d be happy to pay a pound or two for the Pixlr batch editor, I just don’t want to pay £10 a month for tools I don’t use.

I am sure I am not the only one who went to use Pixlr batch editor over the weekend, a tool that lets you resize a bunch of images in one simple step and save them to your “files” on I phone. For anyone working with images for e-commerce or on websites, bloggers and website content creators large file sizes from your phone take up too much storage space and take ages to load slowing down your website visitors browsing experience. I used Pixlr batch editor pretty much every day so when the feature was removed and I was encouraged to upgrade to their premium services instead at £10 per month subscription, I was stuck.

I never mastered adobe, and it is too expensive if all you need is a basic batch editor image resizer. I tried Gimp, the “free Abobe” type product on a desktop and a laptop. Again there is a learning curve and these days I do much of my image processing either on my phone or IPad.

I downloaded a couple of apps Photoroom and Canva people were raving about online but both were paid offering a free trial period. Not really what I was looking for. All I needed was something that would resize images for me in a batch. You can still use Pixlr, if you are happy to do them one at a time, you only get three free saves per day with a way around that marketed by techies online, I didn’t get into because I want to be able to batch edit anyway. A feature that seems to have totally disappeared unless you pay. It says on google you can still do it somehow, I spent a couple of hours trying to figure it out. I didn’t succeed.

I’ve pretty much stopped using Chatgtp. When I heard Novak Djokovic talk about the struggles he had with his kids and them being the only kids in school without mobile phones “ If everyone is doing something, the herd works like this, you have to follow. Well, it doesn't have to be like that.” I could relate. I worry about Chatgtp becoming the oracle when they clearly state they get things wrong a lot so I’ve weaned myself off it and I understand what’s the difference between asking Google or any other search engine, well you don’t have to login to Google yet, to use it and you can use a VPN to protect your self. Once you login to Chatgtp they are profiling you with every question you ask. This I find spooky. Even though I use a phone that listens to me. I know. I just feel when you read about people like Open AI boss Sam Altman, information gleaned from people who actually know him in real life you wouldn’t go anywhere near something he is behind.

I was left to find out about Bulk Resize Photos on Reddit. I like Reddit and have found I’ve been using it more and more. A little like Poopsnoop, it’s real people discussing real life, products, topics, solutions to problems like this one, opinions. It’s a good source of information like eavesdropping on human experience conversations. For me that feels much safer that an isolated blogger or influencer sharing something when you don’t know their motive, if they work for the company, are a professional marketer, con person or have just been paid to be positive.

Bulk Resize Photos isn’t fancy. I think it’s Japanese as the account on X @resizephotos some posts are in Japanese. It does the job I need though, just resizing images for the web in large batches. And for free.

If you were a Pixlr batch editor user and need an easy alternative this may work for you. I know there are literally hundreds of imaging editing options out there doing all kinds of things with AI, removing backgrounds, cutting out products, enhancing images creatively even creating moving, walking talking videos from still pictures like the features in Grok so finding something simple that works and meets simple needs can be a challenge.

It’s times like this I wish I’d taken a screen shot of Pixlr Batch editor for posterity. What a great tool.

I have downloaded Google photos (for iPhone) which I have read is also very good and easy for this job of resizing images in batches, it also boasts a lot of free image storage so may end up saving me money on my iCloud subscription. I’ll snoop again when I’ve done more research.

SPF 30 Organic Lip Balm The Liplux® Tinted Lip Balm Mineral Sunscreen Gets My Thumbs Up

I Got Skinny Dip And It’s another Great Product From Coola

Amanda Moss

2026-05-26T06:22:00.0000000 2026-05-26T08:27:02.8430000

It’s been boiling in the UK this week, 36 degrees, the hottest days on record. We’ve been in the garden all weekend topping up the tans from the holiday.

My coola organic lip balm arrived from Face the Future in Wakefield with a lovely skincare magazine and a free sample of skincare I’d never heard of which was a very nice touch.

The Coola organic Lip Balm retails for £19 and Face the future are currently offering 20% vat back as they campaign to make sunscreen VAT exempt because it is a vital product for skin health and melanoma prevention, the reason and motivation behind the Coola brand.

A thumbs up for Face The Future too.

I have to say here I paid £37 for both Coola products, the sunscreen and the lip balm and the later found them both brand new on Vinted for a little lower price, £30 including fees and shipping so if you are on a tight budget a search on Vinted might be worth it to save a few quid.

I love the lip balm as much as the sunscreen. It a fat, lipstick style stick with a chocolatey, mocha sweet smell and taste. If you have ever used OGX organic Mocha Expresso shampoo or conditioner it smells exactly like that. It’s a product I stopped using and buying when Johnson and Johnson acquired the brand from its original creator Vogue International. After the baby lotion controversy Johnson and Johnson is a company I avoid completely.

It goes on easy, feels great on the lips, very moisturising and the thing I love the most is the nude tint like a natural nude lip colour so you don’t have to go without that got my lippy on feel.

I use a nude lip liner before applying, I have a great Charlotte Tilbury one that matches perfectly, pillow talk, lip cheat.

I’ve always had a pot of Carmex lip balm handy, I like the watermelon one you can buy in any chemist for less than a fiver that even using every day lasts and lasts but it doesn’t contain the same high sunscreen protection with only 15 spf.

It is an amazing cheaper at £3.59 alternative I absolutely love, always keep handy and have been buying for years.

I am prone to cold sore breakouts, especially on holiday in the heat or the cold. I find if I am diligent with my sun protection on my lips and keep them covered with Carmex they are happening less and less.

I love the Coola organic lip balm The Liplux® Tinted Lip Balm and would definitely recommend it. Much cheaper than a designer lipstick which doesn’t offer protection. If you are happy going aux naturelle and want a budget alternative with no colour just nicely moisturized feeling lips with spf 15 then it’s Carmex watermelon every day of the week.

Both Carmex and Coola are cruelty free brands.

Carmex is a British brand, Coola is American manufactured in San Diego, California

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Care Since 1991

A lesson for every small business owner good product will always sell its self

Bluebell Moss

2026-05-25T11:45:00.0000000 2026-05-25T14:32:44.1730000

Egyptian Magic sometimes it takes a decade to buy a product

When I think about my own business and market and advertising your own products or service I am reminded to be patient, to stay consistent and to keep going. Zig Ziglar said you have to knock on 100 doors before one will open, or touch a customer 10 times before they will buy.

Have you ever bought a product you found out about an age ago and when you did you couldn’t believe it took you so long?

For me Egyptian Magic a miracle multi purpose skin cream is that product. It’s not over marketed and not that visible in super markets or on TV, maybe another reason why it’s taken me so long.

I first heard about Egyptian Magic at the Glamcon show or the LV Health and Beauty Expo in Las Vegas, a man with a stand and only one product, Egyptian Magic, I remember how passionate his pitch was. I also remember looking at the simple packaging and the relatively high price, around $25 at the time and thinking about medicine showmen in the Wild West, PT Barnem’s quacks or quack salvers.

I’d been conned at the same show, drawn into a showman like sales pitch that included actually cleansing my face at a sink and receiving a hand massage by high pitch selling Israelis pushing Dead Sea miracle skincare with offers, discounts and limited time, today only pressure selling, into a $100 purchase I had serious buyers remorse for after the fact. Of course there were no refunds or any changing your mind after the fact. Probably why I didn’t go for the Egyptian Magic cream at the same time.

The Egyptian Magic cream is exactly the opposite of a heavy sell. In fact it sells itself even though it has a high profile, heavy hitting celebrity customer base including Madonna, an early adopter, Kate Hudson, Eva Mendes, Jessica Chastain, Rihanna, super model Gisele Bundchen and British it girl and Karl Lagerfeld muse and protege Cara Delevingne.

The company has been in business for nearly 40 years, 1991 without expensive advertising or marketing campaigns. They don’t have fancy packaging or flashy miracle claims. Except whatever is ailing your skin, psoriasis, eczema, cracked feet, cracked nipples, baby nappy rash, dry knees and elbows, this will help.

It’s made in the USA, in Miami by the Magic Egyptian Skin Cream LLC.

You can use it for a number of things, it is an all purpose skin cream after all. It took down heat rash for me and had literally been a miracle on cracked painful heels. You can use it as a primer or make up remover, to reduce scarring, my friend put it on a healing burn and the bright red/pink new skin lessened in a matter of days. It was crazy how quickly a flame red scar became almost invisible.

It’s all natural made from olive oil, beeswax, Honey, royal jelly and propolis, a natural resin produced by honey bees used in Wound Healing it speeds up skin cell growth and reduces repair time for minor burns and cuts. It’s a little greasy in texture but absorbs quickly with no residue or over powering scent. It doesn’t smell of anything really. In short it’s a soothing balm to oil miracle that hydrates and restores from head to toe. How to use, take a little out of the pot, rub it together between your fingers before applying. It changes texture as you work it.

It comes in three sizes and costs £38 for the big one 118ml, 4 oz, the size I purchased.

The very best thing about it, if you don’t like the product it comes with a full money back guarantee, the company states you can even even return a half used tub of the stuff for a full refund. What’s not to love, literally.

It took me about 10 years from first discovery to actually purchase and try it. That must be a record. Please share in the comments go to products it took you a long time to buy into but now wouldn’t couldn’t be without.

Dolce, Prince, Mango and Psatha My Favourite Bars and Cafes On Kamari Beach Santorini

Visiting Kamari Beach The Bars On The Promenade are the most expensive

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-25T07:25:00.0000000 2026-05-25T08:04:21.0500000

Kamari Beach Santorini Greece whilst a quiet town compared to the capital Fira or the most well known tourist area of Oia Village world-famous for its iconic white and blue architecture, domed churches and breathtaking sunset views it offers a relaxed vibe for tourists and an ocean front “strand” running parallel to Makedonias (Macedonia St)

It’s here where you’ll find all the bars and cafes.

The four best ones I tried were Dolce, Mango, Prince and Psatha.

When I visited it was the start of the season, May, and it wasn’t busy. The takeaways for me were how hard hit the island’s economy has been and whilst this area of Santorini has potential to be truly spectacular the clientele and people watching was sunburnt Brits on holiday. Had it not been for the black volcanic beaches and spectacular Aegean sunsets I could have been in Skegness.

I don’t drink very much, one cocktail and a glass of wine with diner on special occasions but I did go in search of a decaf expresso martini, I know I prefer without the caffeine these days too and a refreshing gin and tonic.

My first observation is there’s a problem with flat tonic on Santorini. After four or five attempts in different places I gave up. The tonic wasn’t fizzy. The first place I tried I actually sent the drink back until I realised it wasn’t an isolated incident.

Santorini is famous for its winery tours. The island's wine cooperatives offer expansive multi-level terraces with jaw-dropping, unobstructed caldera views but this didn’t trickle down to the wine served in the Kamari Beach bars, I am not going to point any bar out specifically but I did try reds and whites in different places and for me they were all undrinkable.

I stuck with the Expresso Martini my signature drink. The best one I had was in a sports bar/cocktail bar Dolce on Panagias Myrtidiotissas Street at the intersection with the Kamari promenade. This spot was one of the busiest, played the best music Luther Vandross, Mary J Blige; had the most obliging and best looking servers and mixed the best Expresso Martini (even though it wasn’t decaf).

Next door on the Promenade is the Mango bar offering a happy hour and 2 for 1 cocktails. Here the Martini wasn’t so good, very very sweet and I couldn’t get the wine, a glass of red down.

I ordered dessert and the waffle that arrived, laden with warm chocolate sauce, a crumbly biscuit crumb and creamy vanilla ice cream made up for the drinks. It was the best dessert I ate on the island. It’s a great bar with loads of potential, I imagined had it been my place, instead of working so hard to drag in passers by off the strip a practise I found very off putting, I’d be more inclined to use reverse psychology, rent a good looking crowd to get the party started and let curiosity do the rest. In a few weeks I am sure these spots will be packed but whilst I could see great potential were pretty dead when I visited. They are also quite expensive, a couple of drinks and dessert will cost you anywhere between €35 and €50 euros, service is not included.

A smaller “more Greek” bar further along Psatha I enjoyed. I didn’t eat dinner but the pizza coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled absolutely delicious. Behind is the Sunshine hotel so travellers with back packs milled in and out and locals sat around tables drinking coffee, chatting and laughing. It felt the most “Greek” the service was very friendly and accommodating, it was my first “gin and tonic” experience but I tried to order a gin and tonic in three of four different places and they were all the same. In one place the bar tender didn’t know what it was and offered me a “sex on the beach” instead which probably creates a picture of the clientele visiting the area. It’s rustic.

The last bar to mention is Prince, which is probably the most inviting visually. It’s large and very modern architecture with comfy couches and potted palms was appealing and although the playlist wasn’t to my taste, more Mediterranean vibes, think belly dancing music it was one of the bars in Kamari Beach that attracted the most people. Usually a good sign.

The service was great, Eugene our waiter was very accommodating and as he got to know me definitely warmed up. He worked hard to find a wine by the glass; the best wines served by the bottle. He didn’t succeed with the reds, I opted for white in the end. All I can say if you are used to drinking good wine try a local beer instead.

Again the dessert was the highlight at Prince. The banana split, served in a sundae glass, with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and nuts was the perfect accompaniment to watching a spectacular sunset.

All the bars serve food, if you want to enjoy dinner by the sea and based on the desserts and lunches I enjoyed the food is definitely a highlight. For vegans and vegetarians loads of options too. I was recommended to go to Voodoo bar for happy hour which had a lively night club scene, and also Love Boat if you like Kareoke. Both looked fun but not my style.

Korres Kyma, Adolpho Dominguez Agua Fresca Vetiver and Jayne Ormonde Levant

The summer holidays are all about finding a new perfume

Chanel Rampart

2026-05-24T07:09:52.6270000 2026-05-25T08:53:54.5100000

You can pay anywhere between £30-£40 for a new fragrance right up to a few hundred for something more luxurious with most of the well known brands sitting somewhere in the middle between £80 and £120 depending on the size of bottle you go for 30ml, 50ml or 100ml.

When I first saw the Korres fragrance range it appealed to me for a number of reasons. The first was it’s vegan. I’ve never even thought to ask if a fragrance was vegan or cruelty free but this one is. I like to try something different, something not main stream. The simple aesthetic of the packaging and bottles I loved too. It reminded me of replica by Maison Margiela, I absolutely loved Sailing Day, a salty sea spray that smells exactly as the name suggests except and although I have seen a few places where you can get it on sale like Look Fantastic, the regular price is £62.00 for only 30ml. At the moment when money is tight I am more price sensitive than probably ever before.

The Korres fragrances, a brand that originates in Greece and conjures scents of the Aegean, they also make skincare in the same lovely style and packaging is a much lower price point. You can buy 50ml of Eau de toilette for around £40, probably the cheapest fragrance I have ever purchased.

The best on a budget fragrances I have ever purchased, came from the Adolpho Dominguez concession in Malaga Airport, it was a similar shopping experience for Agua Fresca Vetiver a unisex fragrance marketed to men and his newer Vetiver Terre. I bought Te Verde too as a less expensive alternative to Bulgari The Vert, an aromatic green scent featuring refreshing top notes of green tea, bamboo, mint, and yuzu. Lovely aesthetic, a less well known brand I’d never heard of and a much less expensive price point. These come in distinctive, square/block-shaped green glass bottles with natural wood caps, retailing at around £60 - £80 but for 100ml. Although I am not sure where you could buy these fragrances from Adolpho Dominguez except online.

I didn’t purchase my Korres immediately I read a few reviews on Reddit. I’d been wanting a bottle of Jayne Ormonde Levant after being given a tester to try in Selfridges, a mile away from my usual green/aqua fresh citrus perfumes I always go for. The Levant at £40 for just 10ml or £175 for 88ml was definitely outside my budget so I had to choose something else.

My main concern with a cheaper fragrance was the scent holding lasting, the reviews said it did so I picked one, Kyma, a scent of the sea without even trying it.

And I do love it. It’s fresh and light and does smell of the ocean, similar to sailing day by replica. And I love the simplicity and aesthetic of the bottle. It’s difficult to describe but it does have that almost sour, bitter, undertone you get at the beach I love. It could definitely be worn by a man or woman.

My only issue is it doesn’t hold. I’d say it’s more like a body spray than a fragrance especially for a woman who likes to smell her perfume throughout the day. This one has to reapplied so if you don’t like carrying your perfume with you, this one may not be for you.

I may have to return to Adolpho Dominguez for a budget fragrance that lasts better, or save up for a bottle of Levant by Jayne Ormonde, a Mediterranean much headier scent that was like nothing I’d ever smelt before. There’s a reason it won the Tatler best fragrance award in 2024 where it was described as “A bottle of happiness that has no intention of being anything other than ravishing and gorgeous. An innocent note of peony, adored by all flower lovers, a singing note of lily, a garland of orange-blossom and jasmine. Brilliant, appealing, flirtatious and full-on jubilation.”

I am very happy with my Korres Kyma Purchase. I am very glad I tried it and I do love the fragrance. For a young customer who loves to spray liberally, and cares about the environment, animal welfare and choosing something all natural it is the perfect choice on a budget. I will definitely be trying other fragrances in the range. This is a brand you can afford to buy more than one. And to be fair, even with Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Givenchy, these days finding a fragrance that hold is not easy unless you pay a lot more than £100. So to conclude; would I buy Korres again, definitely. Do I think I got something lovely for an affordable price, definitely.