Finding A Nars Do Me Baby Velvet Matt Lip Pencil Makes Me Very Happy

DIscontinued Nars Lip Pencil Turns Up Unexpectedly

Jeanie Davidson

2025-11-03T16:00:00.0000000 2025-11-03T16:52:54.9270000

It was an instagram influencer, Negin Mirsalehi who sold me on the Nars Matt Velvet lip pencil in unforgettable shade name  Do Me Baby, something I would never say let alone wear. But the lip pencil turned out to be my go to shade and then like so many brands have done to me in the past, Nars discontinued it. So instead of using it with reckless abandon, the two I had left, as rare as a canary diamond were saved for special occasions.

Periodically I would search EBay and Vinted to see if one would turn up, the regular size Nars Matt Velvet Lip Pencil 2.4g I found in the Netherlands but the seller wanted £60 for it, a price I just couldn't justify. I could find Cruella, Never Say Never, Roman Holiday, Endangered Red, Dolce Vita, Damned, Sex Machine, Training Bleu, Walkyrie, Mysterious Red, Red Square. Not sure how many shades there were in the range, but it felt like everyone was available except Do Me Baby.

Then a few days ago an email popped into my inbox, when my last one was all but a stump. It was like a big win. I am sure many understand the feeling when something, a product you love just isn't available anymore. It was a travel size, 1.8g instead of the 2.4g but who cares, it wasn't a million pounds and a few days later it was safe in my hands.

I understand why make up brands stop making certain products, consumers are fickle and they have to keep bringing out something new to keep the 'lipstick effect' in place.

But when you've found the product you love, wear every day, this particular Lip pencil is the perfect blend of creamy and Matt and stays put,  there's nothing more frustrating than never being able to replace it, or if one drops in the hands of an opportunist having to pay way over the odds.

It would be so good if we as loyal customers could reach out to a brand like Nars and buy product left over, maybe for a small premium, like a back room closet where discontinued stock goes or every year, they bring back a limited edition version of something from days gone by so die hard fans get a chance to stock up on their favourite whatever.

My Do Me Baby will last another 3-4 months maybe if I don't use every day. Ecstatic for now but if your reading this and have one or more you don't use, pop a comment. I am a buyer.

And if anyone from Nars or any other other make up brand, or make up artist/expert can recommend an alternative for me, I'd love to hear from you. FYI I've tried the Power Matt High Intensity Lip Pencil and like so many fans for the Velvet Matt Lip Pencil it just didn't stack up for me.

And while I am on the subject, the Bobby Brown art stick in Nude and Rose Brown are two others I have been in search of for a few years now. What the hell. WHenever I get a notification from EBay about these beauties, lucky if they come in under £100. I am in the wrong business.

Thanks for listening to me RANT and RAVE all at the same time.

My Cartwright and Butler Sea Salted Toffee addiction

Jeanie Davidson

2025-07-11T07:15:35.0630000 2025-07-11T07:35:07.0030000

Whenever my friends come to visit they have come to expect me to have an interesting selection of sweets. I gave up smoking a few years ago now, a habit I enjoyed but gave it up because it was continue to smoke and potentially lose my teeth. The thought of false teeth put me off smoking. I took my dentists advice and quit. I appreciate it’s not the smartest move to replace the fags with sweets but keeping the toffees in moderation and my subscription to Listerine (I’ll be snooping about that next) the new regime is better I am assured by my dentist. A little of what you fancy does you good.

The beauty of choosing luxury toffees and you don’t have to stop there, Cartwright and Butler make fudge and delicious biscuits too, you don’t need very many to be satisfied. I pop one in and savour it, sucking it until it is gone. I can make one last and last. And because they are traditional, buttery, sugary a couple in the evening is all you need.

The other great thing, the lovely tin on toffee makes a wonderful gift at £11 but and this is the thing I love the most you can buy refills for your tin at £5 so you don’t end up with hundreds of tins you have no use for.

These toffees with a hint of sea salt are absolutely sublime. And it’s not just me. I’ve always got them in the house now because my visitors don’t ask for a biscuit with their tea, they say “have you got any of your toffees?”

Aura Dental not quite what I expected from the Google reviews

Jeanie Davidson

2025-05-12T11:58:34.0800000 2025-05-12T15:14:44.4930000

This is one of those experiences where the website and the reviews on Google didn’t set my expectation correctly.

The positives. Aura Dental is a large, beautiful private dental practise with spacious treatment rooms and all the latest technical equipment. They have four or five different doctors to choose from, men and women, all seemed quite young, the practice owner I got the impression is Dr. Tissera, 4 hygienists, other specialists, an orthodontist for braces and Invisalign trays and an oral maxillary facial surgeon if you need extractions, two receptionists, a treatment coordinator sales person and a practise manager. It a large operation and the high value offices reflect the £85 initial consultation fee. There’s certainly a lot of salaries to pay. In context, I’ve got two other appointments booked with practises in Primrose Hill and the other practises, the exam fees are £70 and £75 respectively.

That’s as far as I got.

I am between dentists. I’d had an NHS dentist in Swiss Cottage who retired, I didn’t go for a while and then I’ve struggled to get registered with a new one so I have finally decided I must explore other private options. I don’t want to find myself like so many older people in an emergency situation without a dentist.

I cannot comment on the care at Aura Dental because after my first experience I decided not to go ahead with my treatment plan.

The practise didn’t do anything wrong specifically it just wasn’t a fit for me, a little impersonal, it felt mainly about money, taking a payment, getting me started, signing on the dotted line and I needed time to think about whether I wanted to go ahead or not. It was just a bit too high pressure sales for me.

Afterwards when I had time to reflect, I revisited all the glowing Google reviews I had read initially.

When I looked more closely the most recent reviews didn’t seem to be from people who were regular reviewers on Google, the majority of positive reviewers had only reviewed this business which did make me question whether they were real or not.

There were a couple of very negative reviews I originally ignored in favour of the positive, for me I didn’t get the warm caring genuine vibes I was ready to receive from the glowing patient reviews.

The space is beautiful, clean, modern, even luxurious. The fees seemed high to me, £85 for a new patient exam, £75 for a recall exam, and £120 for a scale and polish. I have periodontal deep pockets so my deep scale quarterly was quoted at £180.

White fillings depending on the number of surfaces range from £180-£350. Root canals on back teeth start at £750 and if you are interested in veneers you are looking at about £1000 per tooth so think 8 lowers and 8 uppers are going to cost £16,000.

Yeah even if I was super wealthy the practise wasn’t able to show me the value they offer. The practise does specifically mention a “no pressure” approach on their website. This is very definitely a business and maybe I am just not used to that at the dentist. I felt a bit like I was on a very expensive conveyor belt.

Incipio Award Winning Compostable Organicore Phone Case

Jeanie Davidson

2025-05-01T07:28:37.9430000 2025-05-12T16:08:34.5000000

I’ve had a few phone cases usually plastic, usually purchased conveniently either at a mobile phone stand or in the local charity shop. I even had one that was sensitive to heat and changed colour, a gift, although it didn’t protect my screen when my phone dropped to the floor as I got out the car, perhaps a three foot drop and a £150 bill.

I’d read a snoop about this Californian company Incipio and all they do is phone covers. The key for them protection for your phone from 8ft.

I did read a lot of phone cover reviews although it is difficult to decipher and decode the good from the clearly not so good with all the different opinions, all the different options, all the different claims and all the different prices.

In the end I saw this one by chance, I’d heard about the company already from someone I have got to know on here and the most important factor for me now retired it was really cheap.

The beauty of finding out about Incipio a company never ordinarily on my radar when I spotted this beauty for £4 I knew I was buying it. I have since seen this exact phone case on Amazon for £12.99. To buy the Organicore clear phone case on the Incipio website it is $45.00 reduced to $25.00 and completely sold out. The Organicore for I phone 13 pro exactly like mine is regular price $39.99 on sale for $21.99 and again completely sold out.

So about the case. It clips on easily and is VERY sturdy it was difficult to get the phone out once in. It’s eco-friendly, made from plants and although I haven’t tested it myself the 8 ft. of drop protection guarantee seems to hold up in the reviews I read. Every Organicore product is guaranteed to break down completely in a proper compostable environment, which I love leaving only good stuff behind but it won’t disintegrate in your hands something I’ve heard about other eco phone cases.

I am also happy to support a brand giving back to the environment, for every Organicore case sold, one tree will be planted in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects.

The case might not be aesthetically the best looking, a bit like generic hospital food containers or plastic bathroom accessories, toilet brush holder springs to mind, think about melamine Bakelite cookware from the 1950s and you are close to the reality, however it is very light and easy to hold, feels good to the touch and the most important thing it protects the phone.

I am usually wary of ethical brands selling very successfully on Amazon as this is a bit of a disconnect for me and kind of makes them less credible although I also understand the challenges good brands face trying to grow online so Amazon becomes the only option however unpalatable that may be for sustainable business leaders.

The beauty, once you know the brand you want like me you can wait until it pops up in an unexpected place new in the box for only £4.

Dansk Flower Stand St John’s Wood High St

Jeanie Davidson

2025-04-07T09:12:20.0770000 2025-12-01T17:21:59.0600000

I buy a bunch of flowers every week at the bottom of St Anne’s Terrace, St John’s Wood. I think the flower experience is a spectrum and goes from spray carnations and gypsephelia from the petrol station to heavenly blooms peonies and orchids trailing and spilling over antique tables. I love flowers, I love my garden and especially at this time of the year, the Spring, English country garden blooms are always one of of my absolute favourite things. I adore hand tied daffodils my all time favourite bloom, that grows like a weed across the English countryside carpeting ugly verges and banking sidings. I’ve even tackled the wedding flowers for two of my friends as a passionate amateur and although really hard work and a great deal of pressure (you get to see how much organisation goes into a wedding and the flowers when you try and do it yourself) the results were incredible and my friends, the Brides' delighted. We explored the ins and outs of getting into the flower market to shop wholesale ahead of time (different snoop) and saved a fortune. We got so many more flowers for the budget. Another great idea if you are shopping for loads of flowers is to go direct to the growers in the UK.

There are a few options for flowers retail in my neighbourhood of North London. Yeomans in Primrose Hill, the big flower stand on the corner on the left as you go up the hill to Hampstead, Harry's Flowers, known for its long-standing presence at the fountain on the Swiss Cottage end of Fitzjohn's Avenue and delivery from Freddie’s Flowers if you prefer. You will often come across Freddie not, posh boys and girls with the bike and a few bunches standing in the high street getting people to sign up to the subscription based flower delivery service. It’s a great idea but only if the flowers that come are amazing, I haven’t heard any rave reviews although every time I have been pitched the staff are lovely and I am always seeing the bikes going around the neighbourhood stacked high with flower boxes.

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Small businesses take note, Harry's flowers have been there for years, about 25 and they do sell lovely flowers at a reasonable price and I've had great friendly service until one day I caught someone on a bad day and they gave me an unsolicited mouthful, then realising it was me they immediately apologised. I accepted the apology however it did put me off shopping there.

For me the best place to buy my weekly blooms is Dansk where the combination of choice, price, friendly service and convenience for me has been expertly balanced.

I’ve been going for a few years now. They know what I like. They always make a suggestion. They discount if they know the stems I’ve chosen won’t last as long as they’d like, an honesty I appreciate that keeps me returning.

And don’t think Dansk flowers are only here for passing hand tied bunch or two. The talented team will tackle your event or wedding with gusto regardless of scale or size.

Give them the challenge and watch them rise up to it. Lovely people I enjoy supporting.

The shop in St John’s Wood is open 7 days. Monday and Tuesday 9am to 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday 8am - 6pm and then on Sunday 9am to 5pm. I love buying flowers and arranging them on a Sunday when I have more time.

Dansk Flowers have a beautiful shop in Islington too.

The Hampstead Butcher family tradition

Jeanie Davidson

2025-03-28T11:43:00.6500000 2025-03-28T12:15:52.2130000

It's so important we support the shops and shop keepers we love. I went to Browns Fishmongers on Charlbert St in St Johns Wood to buy something special for my friend who was visiting, she loves a rollmop herring, to discover they've gone. How? When? they've literally been on that corner for decades, an institution and puff, they are no more. It was the best place to buy Sashimi in the whole of London.

The hampstead butcher is another such institution. These guys have two other locations in West Hampstead and Muswell Hill. I go to the one on Roslyn Hill in Hampstead.

I prefer Europe to the UK when it comes to their daily eating, shopping, supporting local culture. I prefer a daily/weekly market to posh shops, something harder to find in London. Sure there are specialty shops and farmers markets dotted around Alexandra Palace and Blackheath on a Sunday, Ealing and Brockley on a Saturday, all of which I have visited and it's a day out rather than popping out to get something delicious for lunch.

Why I support the Hampstead Butcher. I come from a family of butchers. My grandpa owned a butchers shop and my elder sister to her absolute chagrin found herself working in a butchers shop on a Saturday, her first job, on the recommendation of someone he knew in Butcher shop circles.

Most of us eat meat, beef, pork, lamb, veal, poultry, game but after the horsemeat scandal a few years back now it became very clear big brands are perhaps not so diligent as to the smaller family run independents who care a lot more about their customers and their customer feedback.

At the Hampstead Butcher the customers are not numbers with a loyalty card, handing over data for a discount, we are real people with names and personal preferences and the expert who serves us, or prepares our Sunday roast, a piece of topside, or silverside actually knows the difference.

At the Hampstead butcher you don't get slabs of meat on polystyrene plastic covered trays you get beautiful cuts, proudly displayed with skilled professionals who know how to fillet, debone, trim, Spatchcock, literally whatever you need can be done for you without issue.

And don't think it's just your joint or bangers they've got covered. The deli display is so extensive from hors d'oeurves, olives, the best smoked salmon and caviar and ask them to make you a picnic and you won't be disappointed. And even if you don't eat meat, their selection of cheese is as good as Fortnum and I've never had a bad bottle of wine recommended. At the holidays, Easter and Christmas this place goes all out and if you ask nicely, bones for stock and drooling pouches will be added to your bag with a wink at no charge.

Thank you Matthew for all you and the team do.

Studio Acca Hair Primrose Hill Welcome To Japan

A beautiful experience made me want to go to Tokyo

Jeanie Davidson

2025-03-19T08:27:00.0000000 2025-12-01T17:18:28.5770000

I had to tell you about my truly memorable experience at Acca Studio, a hair salon in the leafy posh London suburb of Primrose Hill. The salon is like the neighbourhood. Just lovely. For anyone nervous about walking in somewhere for the first time. You’ll be greeted with the warmest of welcomes. I felt immediately at home.

I don’t think I have ever been cared for so diligently and well in a hair salon setting in my life before.

This salon is Japanese I think and what an experience from start to finish. it’s a tiny place in my neighbourhood at the bottom of Regents Park Road next to the pub and opposite the railway bridge.

You know that first class feeling you get when you check into first class on British Airways or Emirates, the fully reclined bed, the pillows, the blankets it’s the same treatment at studio Acca. Expect a five star pampering on every level.

I have never been to Japan but the level of care and attention in my appointment made me want to visit.

The salon is very very small, only two or three stations but for me this didn’t matter.

The end result wasn’t as good as my regular stylist (who was away) hey how could it be, he does my hair every week.

The salon stood out in a way I have NEVER experienced.

When you have an hour to kill and in the neighbourhood, Primrose Hill go and sink back in that space ship of a chair and let the Acca studio team take you on a journey.

This is a pampering experience you’ll never forget, over and above a blow dry by a clear mile.

The appointment cost £60 and lasted about 1 hour.

I didn’t buy any products as I get my hair done at the salon but they also had a gorgeous display of totally unique luxury haircare from Japan that looked gorgeous. The branding was stylish and I love seeing things I’ve never heard of before.

It’s the Tokio treatment everyone is talking about for ladies and gents with thinning hair.

Try our special product

“TOKIO Treatment”

TOKIO INKARAMI’s salon system is a 4-step system treatment repairing the inner layers of the hair.The patented technology, INKARAMI includes all the steps needed to balance out the make-up of the hair layers.

£10 off introductory offer as the 6th anniversary of studio

City Of Westminster Parking and PCN Protocol

Jeanie Davidson

2025-03-14T09:34:12.5770000 2025-07-11T08:06:34.6170000

Update: July, 2025. I waited it out, went through all the challenges available to me and still was found in breach so had to pay anyway.

Even with the best of intention and a genuine justifiable mistake brought about by changing all the signage Westminster council made it very clear the onus was on me to read the signs every time I park. Yes sir.

I have just had two calm and very interesting discussions with the parking app people and subsequently Westminster City Council.

Where I live and shop has had a makeover. The high street in St John’s Wood has been refurbished and whether we like it or not all the parking has changed.

I found out a few weeks ago we now have designated loading bays on the High Street where you are not allowed to park but the parking app doesn’t warn you, so as I found out, I parked somewhere I’ve parked without issue before, paid and returned to find this lovely present in my windscreen.

My first action was to “Challenge The PCN” penalty charge notice online. This failed. I got a letter from Jonathan Rowing Head of Westminster Parking Operations, no contact details and a PO Box address in Sheffield (someone who doesn’t want to be contacted) saying basically pay the ticket.

Furious I got into the parking app people to at least get a refund for the parking I’d paid for. Even though it was only a few quid I couldn’t stomach the council moving the goal posts, fining me and having the parking fee as well. The parking app people said absolutely no parking refunds until the PCN was paid and then the paperwork process to get it, so complicated and convoluted no one would bother. Surprise.

But when I called Westminster City Council quietly and calmly I got to speak to a very helpful and well informed civil servant who told me to stay calm and go through the process.

He told me that all I had to do is sit tight and wait. After 28 days the opportunity to challenge formally window opens up. They don’t tell you this of course. The psychology is pay the £65 now or it’s going to be £130 in 14 days.

He also told me even if the formal challenge is denied there is still another level with the Corporation of London where if you believe something is truly unfair you can ask another team to look at things for you.

This morning I was about to give in and pay the fine as I am sure many other people do, now with this information I am waiting it out and making a formal challenge instead.

Please be advised it’s a timing thing. I tried to make the formal challenge to soon, so the website told me I was out of challenges and tried to get me to pay the PCN.

My advice, when it comes to council fines, everything is geared in their favour to encourage us just to pay and make things go away but based on what I have found out today, patience is a virtue.

Gail’s Bakery St John’s Wood

Jeanie Davidson

2025-02-04T10:31:37.5330000 2025-04-22T15:37:05.3700000

It’s almost 20 years since Gail’s opened their first bread shop in Hampstead, 2005. I was perhaps not the first but an early customer and have been going to the one in St John’s Wood on and off for about 5 years.

The bakery has opened its 150 store with plans for 30 more in 2025. The business is now worth a staggering 500 million.

And yet today I was turned away.

I had a problem with my phone, the internet and I couldn’t get my daily bread.

Even though they know me, I couldn’t pay tomorrow.

I had no idea this is a cashless business. I wonder what the Big Issue lady does if she wants to buy a loaf, I bet she doesn’t have a bank card or Apple Pay.

What happens if the internet goes down everyone’s phone doesn’t work. Or not being able to get on a banking app stops us getting a loaf of bread?

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It does if you are a loyal Gail’s customer.

_

I feel this is a big shift in community and neighbourhood. Not sure a cashless business serves us the people as well as perhaps the business.

I know the posh bakery chain has expanded across London, made easier by the number of vacant properties across the UK high st, boss Tom Molnar told the times, and plans to hire an additional 1000 staff this year. However not everyone is excited.

In my neighbourhood, Primrose Hill there’s been a campaign and petition going to stop them taking over and ruining the local bakers business and apparently the people of Walthamstow didn’t want the high priced bread either.

Gail’s began when Gail Mejia brought together a group of artisan bakers to provide wholesale luxury product from “The Bread Factory” in the 1990s.

Today the cashless business, which says on its website, they welcome everyone, actually everyone with an iPhone or Android phone or bank card. For me it’s a real shame such a good business, with so many shops across London and stretching from Oxford to Brighton, is not more inclusive.

I guess that’s why they call it posh bread.

Schuller Opticians St John’s Wood

Jeanie Davidson

2024-11-17T12:55:11.5930000 2024-11-18T14:20:00.3730000

This is a beautiful shop offering no less than the worlds most advanced eye examination. A speciality opticians. I haven’t purchased glasses from here yet but I am certainly thinking about giving them business and wanted to write this because of something that happened to me the other day whilst out and about.

I do rely on reading glasses. I dropped mine the other day and the lens popped out whilst I was out and about. I didn’t have a spare pair and couldn’t get home or to my opticians.

I was a little nervous going into this shop to ask a favour as I wasn’t even a customer, something I blurted out to the well dressed lady running the shop.

In fairness the first thing she said was are you a patient? Followed by, you didn’t get these here?

I felt a little uncomfortable standing in the shop in the clothes I’d just finished weeding in.

Just before I could get my broken specs off her and high tail it out the shop she flounced in the back and completely disappeared leaving me in the company of another posh assistant and her even posher customer.

I wasn’t sure what to do so I just browsed and tried not the eavesdrop the conversation of the gentleman and his wife shopping for sunglasses for an upcoming vacation.

He spent about £1200 if I remember correctly.

After about 10 minutes a young bespectacled quiet man appeared from

the back with my mended glasses.

When I asked how much I owed, no charge he said.

So to recap, not a customer, never been in this shop in my life, helped and sorted out with efficiency and kindness.

Everything you want from a small independent shop paying it forward.

SKY Black Friday Deals

Jeanie Davidson

2024-11-12T11:43:23.5730000 2024-11-12T14:54:11.9070000

When you are about to hit purchase for an exciting new Sky glass TV you’ve been thinking about for a while, you make a quick call to check one thing and the sales process completely puts you off.

This is what has just happened to me. I am a Sky customer already.

The story;

Over the weekend our old faithful terrestrial TV went and after a few years contemplating a digital subscription like Netflix we decided to do the Black Friday deal with Sky and get a Sky glass TV, paid for over two years for a monthly premium of £42.

We were just about to click buy online when we decided to just check ahead of time how long the new TV would take to arrive and find out more about the logistics of setting it up.

After being routed through a call centre in a far off land where the echo time delay on the

line was so bad we were speaking at the same time I got put through to my sales person who shall

remain nameless, the guy’s just making a living. I am still in shock as to how this conversation went.

The sales agent had a script and he wasn’t deviated from it even when it became very obvious I wasn’t playing along.

He started asking me really nosey sales questions like why had I decided to think about a new TV, how old was my old TV, what had happened to it, how much TV did I watch, what were my favourite TV programs, it was so intense I wanted to say mind your own business.

To be honest it gave me the ick this person was so on a mission they were oblivious to what I was saying on the other end. I was even so brutal as to tell him I only phoned up to get one question answered and I didn’t want a friendly chat. It didn’t make any difference.

He was so pushy I ended up getting off the phone. I’d been offered a black

Friday deal online a little cheaper than what was being offered over the phone, but he couldn’t understand why I wasn’t happy with a different lower price online not being available over the phone.

The long and short of it was the sales call centre was so aggressive and not listening it completely put me off.

When I told the agent I wanted to have some time to think about it and actually put the phone down, it was the only way I could get off the phone, he phoned me back immediately.

He’s calling back at 5pm tomorrow even though I said I would get back to Sky if we wanted to go ahead.

Update 24 hours later

Pushy much????? At 5pm the phone went, we didn’t answer, it went a further 6 or 7 times over the course of the next 30 minutes. I wish Sky were this keen when I tell them our Broadband speeds are diabolical.

The truth is I am so glad I didn’t just go ahead and sign up for the contract online.

After I got off the phone I actually felt violated, which I know is a strong word, like my personal space and privacy had been disrespected.

In 2021 Dana Strong took over the corporation of group chief executive. She comes from managing both cable and satellite businesses globally and was recognised for her track record for accelerating growth. Maybe the strong arm selling is part of that strategy.

For me, as a Sky customer for 10 years I’d love to ask the CEO, what’s the point spending thousands to produce glossy ad campaigns and marketing strategy around Black Friday or any other special offer and then treat your customers like this.

You must think we were born yesterday.

Got to be a more authentic Sky, get real and less blatant. Care more about the customer than the money and things might be more successful.

Courtney’s Chemist St John’s Wood

Jeanie Davidson

2024-11-08T13:32:01.7670000 2024-11-08T13:32:01.7830000

I don’t go to Boots the chemist, ever since I read about the company’s clever and legal UK tax dodges, I think the Nottingham company somehow has it’s affairs in Switzerland I have tried to avoid the brand, except when travelling at the airport and support independents instead.

We have two gorgeous pharmacies on St John’s Wood High St, where there is also a Boots.

My favourite is on the corner of Wellington Place and it’s not just an old fashioned chemist with a super kind and helpful pharmacist it is also the kind of chemist ladies used to have to travel to Europe to experience.

Spice Independent shoe shop

Jeanie Davidson

2024-10-23T15:14:24.4600000 2024-10-23T15:31:25.5430000

If like me you enjoy shopping the old fashioned way you will absolutely LOVE the experience at Spice, where I get treated like a queen every time I step through the door whether I am shopping or not.

I try not to browse small shops without intent but these guys are wonderful to everyone. A real family affair.

Shopping for shoes, they have their own brand Spice London as well as stocking quite a few European style brands.

So we’ve still got Clark’s hanging on but if you like sitting down and being served this is one of the last remaining independent shoe shops in London. (There is a ladies shoe shop in neighbouring St John’s Wood, nice product, staff not so helpful)

Every independent business starts somewhere and these folk were selling school pumps at a £1 a pair on Camden Lock long before they were serving celebrities in the swanky Primrose Hill location.

I don’t buy loads of new shoes, maybe a couple of pairs a year, I don’t like wearing them in, the beauty of the shoes at Spice London they are such good quality shoes fitted to perfection they rarely need wearing in.

They do get quite a few famous people in the shop, so make sure you don’t look too scruffy when you visit, I had a very old coat on when I bumped into Jimmy Carr coming out.

Tepe Dividers Made In Sweden

Jeanie Davidson

2024-10-09T18:15:29.6900000 2024-10-09T18:29:06.8270000

I’ve been a flosser since my early twenties, I heard Donny Osmond say a zillion years ago on Breakfast TV his number one top top for looking younger was being an habitual flosser. He said he believed it took at least 10 years off him. So I began flossing.

Then in 1990 Julia Roberts told us in Pretty Woman,

“I had all those strawberry seeds. And you shouldn't neglect your gums.”

And I was reassured I was already on it.

30 years and 3 years adult orthodontic treatment later and I have a permanent retainer that needs looking after.

Most interdental brushes are like tiny bottle brushes on a twisted wire frame or a plastic handle. Interdental brushes are not inexpensive so I try to use them more than once, the problem is they bend and then are really difficult to get into tight spaces.

These silicone ones from Tepe are a game changer, they remove debris and plague so much better, and they don’t collapse so when used in conjunction with antiseptic mouthwash you definitely get more uses. Also they come in a neat plastic case which makes for easy storage and travelling.

If you are a die hard flosser I’d recommend swapping to interdental brushes, quicker and easier and you do get a cleaner feeling mouth.

Shades Salon Primrose Hill

Jeanie Davidson

2024-10-01T10:53:54.3270000 2024-10-03T11:09:43.1200000

If you like a home from home feel, Shades is where you’ll find Nico and team, yes Nicky Clarke, (not that Nicky Clarke) but some argue equally gifted, Claudia who cuts and Emily who washes. It’s a family feeling, a happy place.

The salon is located on Eskine Road, off Regents Park Road, a quiet side street in my neighbourhood, Primrose Hill but very easy to access from Chalk Farm Tube Station too.

This is the type of salon you might find in a strip mall in Malibu or Santa Monica, very cool and low key and then your sitting next to Quentin Tarantino.

Nico the salon owner is unusually exuberant, full of life and energy yet warm, friendly and accommodating and you never get the upright stand offish vibes in some salons.

Nico prides himself on being able to do everything hair so whether you need a hip barber, a great blow dry, super out there colour or conservative chop amazing extensions he can do it all.

I have been to a couple of other members of the team when Nico was on holiday or having a rare day off and I have never been disappointed with my results.

The salon has a unique feature in the hair washing area, multi coloured light therapy which I have to say I really enjoy every time I go. And the products they use, ask for the honey oat conditioner mask. It’s dreamy.

Stila Eyeliner

Jeanie Davidson

2024-09-30T10:07:46.0900000 2025-07-07T12:38:17.6100000

The Stila eyeliner in black cost me less than the Dior On Stage line by about £12. I think I paid £17 from Space NK.

I am not a young girl so it might be fine on younger eyes but for me, did it go on easily in one swipe, no.

It sort of got stuck as I tried to apply it, like it was old and bit dried up but I’d only just bought it.

I should’ve taken it back but I am not sure you can return make up once you’ve tried it, as it cannot be resold.

This is one to avoid for me. Dior On stage liner is very tough to beat.

Chantecaille Vital Essence Face Serum

Jeanie Davidson

2024-09-24T15:11:55.2270000 2024-09-24T15:19:47.0200000

Absolutely love love love this product just can’t really afford it.

Funny story about my experience with this product. I bought it at a fund raiser yard sale in America for 50 cents no lie.

I am kinda a wash and go gal, I know more about stargazing than I do about skincare. It was full pretty much and even though I’d never heard of it at the time I decided to go for it after running a bit on the back of my hand. I don’t like anything with heavy scent and this didn’t smell of anything.

I began using it every day after washing my face. I don’t use anything else especially on my face. It soaked in beautifully and after a few weeks I genuinely started to notice how different my skin felt. You could argue anything would have made a difference but I don’t believe that, this product is not just about the results over time it’s a lovely daily experience.

The shocker, when I came to the end of the pump action dispenser, it lasted me about 4 months using a small amount every day, it costs $128 for 50 ml which converts to about just over £100. I know it’s a lot.

If you’ve got the budget you won’t be disappointed and if anyone has a budget busting alternative please give the heads up below. I’ve heard about Beauty Pie but don’t know if they do an equivalent face serum? Or if it’s any good.

I even kept the empty bottle in case I forgot the name it’s that good

Space NK Apocathery

Jeanie Davidson

2024-09-23T13:56:37.6630000 2024-09-23T16:21:39.8130000

Not sure how I put this but I am a bit afraid of going in this shop (unless I am going in to specifically buy something) because unlike the gorgeous independent chemist in St John’s Wood - Courtney’s where they say hello and then leave you alone to browse the strong arm selling approach reminds me of morning meetings past and targets, targets, targets.

It is a nice chain and fills a gap for make up cosmetics, skincare, haircare and beauty and offers many of the latest products people talk about like Diptyque which I have to go to Liberty for or buy online. So really good for a quick gift or to find something urgently like Wow hair powder to deal with the parting when you cannot get to the hairdresser.

Like I said if I can get in and out and just buy what I need it’s fine but prepare for the sales onslaught if you don’t plan to shop. I made the mistake of going in there the other day and came out with an eyeliner I didn’t want Stila that actually turned out to be pretty rubbish FYI. I made the mistake of saying I loved the Dior On Stage Liner and bam that was it. She was persistent I’ll give her that.

Dior Colour Reviver Lip Gloss Stick

Jeanie Davidson

2024-09-10T15:56:43.1100000 2024-09-10T16:02:28.7370000

I don’t buy lipstick, I don’t like lipstick particularly. I am a smoker and don’t like the bleeding into the wrinkles around my lips.

I also suffer with cold sores from time to time so like to keep my lips hydrated with a natural balm. I have a few in small pots I scoop a bit out with my finger and I did invest in a Kiehls one, Facial Fuel lip balm that was very nice cost £11.50 which was steep for me. And to top it all

off Kiehls is actually owned by L’Oreal a brand I try not to support as they still test on animals.

Dior Beauty is owned by luxury retailer LVMH who in turn own global beauty retailers Sephora and DFS (Duty Free Shopping) globally who too are not cruelty free. They say whilst they do not test on animals, they agree with testing on animals when required by law. Sounds like have your cake and eat it to to me.

It’s a dilemma because I love the lip balm gifted to me from a friend. It £33 to buy retail, goes on so easy, feels lovely, sheer and natural. made with cherry oil it’s 97% natural a credential I do like. It’s the first designer lipstick I have ever used up

completely and would like another. For me it’s a really lovely product.

If the cruelty free thing isn’t a thing the product is fab for anyone who likes a primer under their lipstick or just younger over feeling hydrated lips.

Euro 2024

Jeanie Davidson

2024-07-10T15:54:33.3100000 2024-07-10T16:10:19.6370000

As kick off approaches on England verses the Netherlands in the semi final of UEFA 2024 I am sure I am in the minority when I say to TV executives across the UK, what about the rest of us. I don’t have cable TV so I have felt the full onslaught over the main channels with no refuge, not a massive tennis fan either and all my favourite shows either cancelled, changed time slot with no warning or on a different channel altogether. I found Eastenders on BBC3 the other night.

I appreciate this is a big deal for football fans and sure I understand the semi finals and final taking priority but to move everything else around for a whole month for one sporting competition does that mean I as a none football watching license payer I get a discount next year?