Beauty School

 5 Lip Products I’m Addicted To

I used to be one of those girls who absolutely hated using lip products. The most I’d use was chapstick, but otherwise, I’d shun every form of lipstick or lipgloss that came my way… which was a considerably easier task back then, since it was only just lipstick and lipgloss. Now there’s freakin’ lip butters and lip tars and lip stains and how am I ever supposed to own them all?!
Anyway, my aversion to lipsticks continued for many years, until suddenly – almost overnight, really – I was obsessed with lip products. Now my friends very pointedly steer me away from all makeup counters just so that I’m not triggered into another round of manic buying. The point is: in a very short space of time, I acquired many lip products. And for some reason, I toted them all around, because you just never know what lip product you’ll need when…

My make-up bag

Yes, this used to be my daily make up bag. I’ve toned it down considerably since then, mostly because I’ve gotten a chance to really use them all and figure out my favourites… and also because on any given day, I really don’t need four types of lipbalm. So now I’ve streamlined my make up bag and will carry only two or three – no, I’ve still not brought it down to one – of these lip products.

Maybelline Baby Lips

Maybelline Baby Lips

I couldn’t possibly start off my list without mentioning Baby Lips. One of the main reasons I never wore lip colours was because my lips used to be super chapped and nothing would look good on them. I’ve tried everything – from drugstore chapstick to herbal lip balms to high end ones to just plain olive oil – and nothing has worked on my lips the way this has. I really can’t rave enough about this, so suffice it to say that Baby Lips is perhaps the biggest force behind my lipstick addiction. (Thanks, Baby Lips. My bank account hates you. I love you.)

Mac’s Ruby Woo

MAC’s Ruby Woo

What can I say about this lipstick that hasn’t been said already? This was a recent purchase, and let’s just say I’m in looove already. It’s supposed to be one of those shades that’s just universally pretty on everyone, and while I haven’t tested that theory, I know it’s pretty on me. I love matte lipsticks and I love red, so it’s perfect – and it stays on all day, so no issues there. It’s become my “special occasion” lipstick because I think it’s impossible to wear it and not feel a little extra glamourous.

Wet ‘N’ Wild Mega Last Red Velvet

Wet ‘N’ Wild Red Velvet

I didn’t need a red lipstick when I picked this one up, but it was called “red velvet” so I was sort of morally obligated to own it. Wet ‘N’ Wild is a US drugstore make up brand that’s inexpensive, and while it’s usually hit and miss with their products, the Mega Last range has been receiving some great reviews. This is my only colour from the range and I love it – plus, I bought it for only $2! Seriously. It’s extremely pigmented, goes on smooth and has decent staying power. Some people also call it a Ruby Woo dupe, but I think it’s a bit brighter, which I actually like. See the difference?

Red Velvet vs Ruby Woo

Red Velvet is the perfect, inexpensive choice to pick up if you want to test out red lips and see if the look works for you – though you’d probably have to ask someone from the States to send it over. (See also: their Stoplight Red shade. Haven’t tried it yet, but from what I read, it’s a closer dupe of Ruby Woo.)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart

Revlon Just Bitten in Sweetheart

Ohhh, how I love this product. I’ve got it in two shades: Sweetheart and Romantic, and while I use both, Sweetheart has become my go-to lip product. I’m obsessed with these jumbo lip balm gloss stick thingies, so I own quite a few, but the Revlon ones are my favourite. It’s such an easy product to apply, and Sweetheart is a gorgeous pink. They don’t dry my lips out (although I wear all my lip products over lipbalm) and they fade evenly. Strangely, I find my lips even more pigmented after I’ve been wearing Sweetheart for a bit, since it leaves behind a stain, which I’m quite okay with since I like lip stains! You can also build this one up: if I want a sheer look, I apply it very lightly over lip balm and it just gives a mild pink, glossy look. (Check out the difference between one swipe and multiple swipes in the picture above.) Obviously most times I apply it properly, because I am all about a bold lip.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in #06

Rimmel by Kate in #06

And when I do want to wear a bolder pink lip, I pick up my Rimmel by Kate lipstick in shade #06. It’s a gorgeous hot pink and has become my lipstick of choice for the days when I really want a bright “pop” of colour. It’s also a creamy lipstick, which means that it goes on extremely smoothly and doesn’t dry my lips out. On the flipside, it transfers and bleeds very easily, so you may want to wear it with a colourless lip liner. I’d say that I love this one more for its colour than anything else, because I’ve got it in another shade and I’ve barely worn that one yet.
What are your favourites? Tell me in the comments below; I’m always willing to try out new shades! In the meantime, I’m going to trawl online make up stores, because there’s the perfect coral shade out there somewhere, and I’m duty-bound to find it.

Top Home Sets

Is the keyboard phone making a comeback?

Following Samsung's attempts to reinvent the flip phone, Motorola is aiming to bring the physical keyboard back to smartphones.

Leaked images and specifications, which were first posted on Sina Weibo and subsequently picked up by New Cell Phones, show a new Motorola smartphone with a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard -- a feature that many thought had been consigned to the history books thanks to touch screens and voice recognition.

However, Motorola isn't the only company that has been looking to the past for future inspiration over the course of 2013. While other companies have been focused on improving water resistance, upping their screens to 5 inches, making "mini" versions of their flagship devices and squeezing professional cameras into their handsets, Samsung has been attempting to resurrect the flip phone design for the smartphone generation.
Its Hennessy SCH W789, which launched at the beginning of August, boasts two 3.3-inch touch screens and a numerical keypad, runs Android version 4.1 and is aimed at the Chinese market. What's more, Samsung didn't stop with one device, subsequently unveiling the Galaxy Golden, a bigger flip phone with dual 3.7-inch super AMOLED screens and version 4.2 of Android, for the South Korean market.
And just as for a short time at the beginning of the century, the folding phone or ‘clamshell' design (popularized by Motorola, incidentally) was considered the standard for all mobile phones, the slide-out keyboard phone was once considered the de-facto standard for any smartphone with business use aspirations. As such a ‘slider' keyboard was a standard feature on many high-end devices, that is until a certain iPhone came along.
Fast-forward six years and the only smartphone maker still committed to the physical keyboard, BlackBerry, is on a very uncertain footing and could soon cease to exist as a phone maker altogether.
That's what makes the leaked images so interesting. Motorola is currently under the stewardship of Google and therefore living in the shockwave directly ahead of the cutting edge in terms of smartphone technology, trends, demands and user habits. All of which suggests the company knows something that the rest of the phone-making world doesn't.
According to New Cell Phones, the Verizon (US network operator)-branded  phone will feature a 4.3-inch or 4.5-inch display, wireless charging and NFC compatibility and will be water and dust resistant. However, there are no details about a potential release date or whether it will be launched beyond the US.

New mobile app helps find dates easily

A new mobile app is helping its users find a prospective date without the effort of actually looking for it on their own.

Tinder runs through the user's Facebook profile, transposing five pictures, age, mutual friends, and the 'about' section, Stuff.co.nz reported. Then, the app displays users of the desirable gender or genders from within the chosen geographic radius using GPS.

On the basis of their information, one can decide whether they see a future, or an evening, with that person, tapping a green heart if you do or red X if you don't.
If two users 'like' each other, Tinder declares a 'match' and a private forum is opened for them, where the pair can flirt, exchange info or arrange a date.
Tinder avoids awkward rejections and you are notified only if someone likes you when you are matched.

A peep across the veil

Performers get ready for a parade for the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong.

 Performers take a break during a parade for the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong

 Performers wearing traditional costumes take part in a parade for the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong.

 Performers dismantle a dragon at the end of a parade for the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong.

Mexican Rice Recipe

• Total Time: 55 mins

• Prep Time: 20 mins

• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces tomatoes, very ripe and cored

• 1 medium white onion

• 3 medium jalapenos

• 2 cups long grain white rice

• 1/3 cup canola oil

• 4 minced garlic cloves

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (may omit if using canned tomatoes)

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, minced

• 1 lime

Directions:

1 Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350.
2 Process tomato and onion in processor or blender until pureed and thoroughly smooth. Transfer mixture to measuring cup and reserve exactly 2 cups. Discard excess.
3 Remove ribs and seeds from 2 jalapenos and discard. Mince flesh and set aside. Mince remaining jalapeno. Set aside.
4 Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until water runs clear- about 1 1/2 minutes.Shake rice vigorously to remove excess water.This step removes the starch
from the rice so it will not stick.

IF YOU OMIT THIS STEP YOUR RICE WILL NOT BE DRY AND FLUFFY.

5 Heat oil in heavy bottomed ovensafe 12 inch straight sided sautee pan or Dutch oven with tight fitting lid over low-medium heat about 2 minutes. (The recipe is very specific about this but I
used a 10 inch dutch oven and it worked out fine.) Drop a few rice grains in and if they sizzle then it is ready. Add rice and fry stirring until rice is light golden and translucent, about 6-8
minutes. Be careful that the oil doesn’t get too hot too fast or the oil will splatter.
6 Reduce heat to medium, add garlic and 2 minced jalapenos and cook , stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes.
7 Stir in broth, pureed mixture,tomato paste, and salt. Increase heat to medium high, and bring to a boil.
8 Cover pan and transfer pan to oven to bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 30-35 minutes.Stir well after 15 minutes.
9 Stir in cilantro, minced jalapeno to taste, and pass lime wedges separately.
10 Edited to add 6-15-05: If you can’t get good fresh tomatoes you are better off using canned tomatoes. Don’t use those awful hard and underipe tomatoes that are at most supermarket chains.
Just be sure that the processed tomatoes and the one onion equals 2 cups. One the other hand- if you find that after processing your tomatoes and onions that you have less than 2 cups- simply
add enough bottled salsa to make up the difference.
11 Edited 8-21-06: Do not skip any of the steps. It may seem stupid- but rinsing the rice to remove the starch is very important if you want fluffy rice. It will only take two minutes of your time
but it makes the difference.
12 Edited 8-15-08: Leftovers are just as delicious the next day so this is a perfect dish to make ahead time for potlucks. This rice also freezes well. For Freezing Ahead: Cool, portion and freeze in a
ziploc bag. To reheat from frozen: Place in a pyrex dish and warm in the microwave, stirring every 2-3 minutes until heated through.
13 You’ll love this rice! Money back guarantee.

Delicious Yogurt and harissa chicken rice And salad

A healthy chicken recipe, with a hint of North African flavours, this makes a great light supper to eat as the sun sets.

Ingredients

1. 4 boneless free-range chicken thighs, with skin
2. 2 tbsp rose harissa, plus extra to serve (we like Belazu, from Waitrose)
3. 100ml Greek yogurt, plus extra to serve
4. 1 garlic clove, crushed
5. 2 tbsp olive oil
6. Small bunch of fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped if leaves are large
7. 250g basmati and wild rice
8. ½ cucumber, deseeded and chopped
9. 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
10. 1 tbsp sesame oil
11. Juice of 1 lime
12. Handful fresh coriander leaves

Method

1.  Place the chicken in a dish with the harissa, yogurt, garlic, olive oil and mint. Season and mix together to coat the chicken. Set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
2.  Meanwhile, cook the rice in boiling salted water for 10-12 minutes until tender, then drain, refresh under cold water and drain again. Place in a bowl and add the cucumber, chilli, sesame oil and lime juice.
3.  Preheat the grill to high. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and grill for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Slice up and mix half of the chicken into the rice salad, then top with the remaining chicken. Garnish with a few coriander leaves. Mix some yogurt with a little harissa pastein a small bowl and serve with the chicken salad.

Nutritional info

Per serving: 423kcals, 17.2g fat (4.5g saturated), 22.8g protein, 43.8g carbs, 2.9g sugar, 0.7g salt