It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Fabulous Products for a Worthy Cause!

October is not only known for the start of the cold weather, and the run up to Christmas, but also for being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising both money, and awareness for breast cancer charities.

Breast cancer affects so many lives, with almost 50,000 people being diagnosed every year in the UK alone, which equates to 1 person every 10 minutes. Just over 12,000 of those people die from the disease. Thankfully, survival rates are improving, thanks to early detection and improved treatment; but we’re not there yet, and a lot more research needs to be done, to further improve survival rates, and also to look into ways of preventing breast cancer developing in the first place.

This is why it’s so important to carry on raising money and awareness, and why I always like to blog about the fantastic products available throughout October that are donating money to the cause. As a consumer, it’s a win-win since not only do you get something to wear/use/keep; you’re also donating to a worthy cause at the same time. Guilt-free spending.

So without further ado, here are some of the goodies that you can get your hands on, right now!

1. Ciaté Duo Nail Varnish Set, RRP £18.00 - 20% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Available from Ciate.co.uk, Selfridges.com and Qvcuk.com

2. Debenhams Pink Sequins Giftcard - Any amount can be put on. Part of Debenhams’ Think Pink range with a 10% charity donation, which will be split 45% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, 45% to Breast Cancer Campaign and 10% to Pink Ribbon Foundation

Available in Debenhams stores nationwide and online at www.debenhams.com

3. ghd Pink Cherry Blossom Limited Edition Styler, RRP £129.00 - £10 donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available in the selected salons nationwide and at www.ghdhair.com

4. ghd Pink Cherry Blossom Limited Edition air Hairdryer, RRP £99.00 - £10 donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available in selected salons nationwide and at www.ghdhair.com

5. Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit, £32.50 (includes £70.50 worth of Elemis products) - Designed exclusively for Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, Elemis continues its support of Breast Cancer Care by creating the Think Pink Beauty Kit and pledging £10,000 to help continue their incredible work that offers support and information to anyone who is affected by breast cancer.

Available from Time To Spa

6. Fake Bake Breast Cancer Awareness Gift Set, RRP £26.95 - £1 from each sale will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. 3 Fake Bake products: Flawless self-tan, tinted body glow, lip gloss, application mitt and application gloves

Available at www.fakebake.co.uk

7. Clinique Pink with a Purpose Set (including chubby stick in limited edition shade ‘plumped up pink’), RRP £16 – £2 will go to THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION® (£1 from Clinique and £1 Boots/ Selfridges) from every purchase of this limited edition set sold in the UK. €4 will go to THE CANCER CLINICAL RESEARCH TRUST (€2 from Clinique and €2 from Boots / Brown Thomas) from every purchase of this limited edition set sold in the Republic of Ireland.

Donation during October 2012 from Clinique counters at Selfridges, Brown Thomas and Boots nationwide and www.clinique.co.uk while stocks last

8. Avon 2012 Magenta pin, RRP £1.50 - 100% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Available from your local Independent Avon Representative or online at www.avonshop.co.uk

9. Avon Nail File, RRP £1.50 - 25% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Available from your local Independent Avon Representative or online at www.avonshop.co.uk

1. Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Bow Satin Wrap, RRP £17.50 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Marks & Spencer stores nationwide and www.marksandspencer.com
Stockist Information 0845 609 0200

2. Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Pink and Black Bra, Padded RRP £17.50/DD+ not padded RRP £17.50/Post surgery RRP £17.50- 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Marks & Spencer stores nationwide and www.marksandspencer.com
Stockist Information 0845 609 0200

Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Pink and Black Brief, RRP £7.50 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Marks & Spencer stores nationwide and www.marksandspencer.com
Stockist Information 0845 609 0200

Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Pink and Black Thong, RRP £7.50 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Marks & Spencer stores nationwide and www.marksandspencer.com
Stockist Information 0845 609 0200

3. Marks & Spencer Woman High Impact Zip Fronted Bra, RRP £22.50 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Marks & Spencer stores nationwide and www.marksandspencer.com
Stockist Information 0845 609 0200

4. Evans Bed Socks – 2 pairs, RRP £6.00 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Evans stores

5. adidas Pink Ribbon Fleece - pink, RRP £40.00 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available in JJB and Littlewoods stores and online at www.jjbsports.com, www.littlewoods.com, www.very.co.uk, www.sweatshop.co.uk

6. adidas Pink Ribbon Women’s Track Pants, RRP £40.00 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available in JJB and Littlewoods stores and online at www.jjbsports.com, www.littlewoods.com, www.very.co.uk, www.sweatshop.co.uk

7. Marks & Spencer Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet, RRP £19.50 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at Marks & Spencer stores nationwide and www.marksandspencer.com
Stockist Information 0845 609 0200

8. Stella & Dot Hope bracelet in rose gold, RRP £25.00 - Net proceeds from the sale of this Hope bracelet will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

For more information please see www.stelladot.co.uk or speak to a Stella & Dot stylist

9. Stella & Dot Luna wrap bracelet in rose gold, RRP £95.00 - Net proceeds from the sale of this Luna wrap bracelet will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

For more information please see www.stelladot.co.uk or speak to a Stella & Dot stylist

10. PANDORA Murano glass pink ribbon charm, RRP £30.00 - 20% donation up to £100,000.

Available in all PANDORA stores

11. Debenhams Red Herring Curly Rose Fur Mittens, RRP £12.00 - Part of Debenhams’ Think Pink range with a 10% charity donation, which will be split 45% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, 45% to Breast Cancer Campaign and 10% to Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Available in Debenhams stores nationwide and online at www.debenhams.com

12. Debenhams Red Herring Curly Rose Fur Cossack, RRP £18.00 - Part of Debenhams’ Think Pink range with a 10% charity donation, which will be split 45% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, 45% to Breast Cancer Campaign and 10% to Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Available in Debenhams stores nationwide and online at www.debenhams.com

13. Debenhams Red Herring Curly Rose Fur Earmuff, RRP £10.00 - Part of Debenhams’ Think Pink range with a 10% charity donation, which will be split 45% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, 45% to Breast Cancer Campaign and 10% to Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Available in Debenhams stores nationwide and online at www.debenhams.com

14. Coast Siara dress, RRP £135.00 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available from all Coast stores.

Annnnnd, if you're not into any of the beauty/fashion offerings, you can always eat/drink your donation to the cause:

Left - PROPERCORN Fiery Worcester Sauce & Sun Dried Tomato (other flavours available), RRP 95p - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available at all good food stores, including Waitrose, Whole Foods Market and Harvey Nichols

Right - bottlepink Pomegranate & Elderflower cordial, RRP £3.15 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Available in food and drink stores nationwide.


Finally, whilst the campaign is heavily signified by the colour pink, we should not forget that breast cancer also affects men, although rare (approximately 300+ men per year), so I'm going to be actively encouraging Mr Beauty Scoop to get involved in the cause... by buying me a few of the goodies available. ;-)

This post originated at www.thebeautyscoop.co.uk

Avon Announce Alesha Dixon As Their New Beauty & Empowerment Ambassador For 2012!

Alesha Dixon has been announced as the new Beauty & Empowerment Ambassador for cosmetics company, Avon. Her newly created role will see her appearing in Avon catalogues from February 2012, launching a new make-up line and also supporting Avon's domestic violence initiatives.

I think this is such a good pairing, Alesha is such a strong, yet likeable character and will be a great voice for Avon in their plight to raise money for domestic violence charities such as Refuge, Women's Aid and UN WOMEN that help victims of domestic violence at a time when they need it the most. It's such a great cause and I'm so glad that they're making it a high profile, and high priority campaign.

Alesha comments: “I’m so incredibly proud to partner with Avon, a company that empowers women and brings beauty to their lives. Being the face of Avon make-up means I’ve discovered so many amazing beauty treats that I can’t wait to share. But more importantly Avon has a real heart and a true passion for helping to improve the lives of women, so I hope to make a difference through generating awareness for a cause that is so close to me.“

Look out for her in your February campaign brochures, where Alesha will be launching Avon's latest foundation range, 'Ideal Flawless' which is said to have the widest selection of shades available in any of Avon's foundation ranges, and of which Alesha says "With Avon’s Ideal Flawless, I’ve discovered a foundation that gives immaculate coverage and celebrates my natural complexion.”

Alesha has taken over the @AVON_UK Twitter account today, right now, until 2:45pm so if you have any questions or anything you'd like to say, then get on it right now!

Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner Offer!

The pencil is currently on sale for £2.50 which is great in itself, but on Saturday 17th September it will reduce down even further to just £1.25, for one day only. This is to celebrate founders day (which is on Thursday), and there are other offers available each day (shampoo Wednesday, £1.25 delivery Thursday, bubblebath Friday) but this is the best value to me for what I know is a great product!

Colours available are Bronze, Khaki and Plumful... all lovely autumn/winter shades!

Avon

A Recent EOTD (Well Night, Actually)!

This was my EOTN on Saturday evening when I went for a few drinks, at short notice so it was a very quick eye make-up, made very easy by the fact that I used the latest Chanel Illusion D'Ombre's in Illusoire and Épatant to create the look.

I also used Urban Decay's 'Polyester Bride' from my Ammo palette to highlight under the brow, a slick of Avon's gel eyeliner in black on top and bottom lash lines, and Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Rotating Mascara on my lashes.

It only took me about 5 minutes, purely because the Chanel gel shadows are so blendable and easy to work with and whilst it wasn't the most technical eye make-up, I thought it worked. This photo was taken when I got home, it didn't occur to me to take one beforehand. What do you think?

Holiday Eye Of The Day - Part 1!

This is one of my holiday eye makeup 'looks' - sorry about the rubbish pictures, I'm not used to doing these kinds of things yet (hence the lack of mascara etc too) so bare with me while I try to learn.

Please also excuse the dry skin and blood shot eyes - that'll be the result of me spending most of the day in the pool/on the slides on the first day!

I wanted to use bright colours but didn't want to spend half my holiday fussing over it, so kept it fairly simple. I think it turned out ok, what do you think?

I used my Sleek Safari Palette to create the look (C1, C2 and D2 in the photo, thanks to dolcevanity.com for the photo below) and my Avon Gel Eyeliner in black. I also finished the look (after the photographs were taken) with Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Rotating Mascara!

Hope you like it. x

Avon Luxe Lace SuperShock Mascara!

I was so wowed by the gel eyeliner in the Avon SuperShock collection that I got all caught up in trying that out and posting about it that I completely forgot about the mascara that I was also sent at the same time.

Well, I’ve now taken the time to try it out (many times) and it’s a good job I did as I was missing out on a fantastic product by letting it slip under the radar. The brush is rather big, which at first I thought would make it difficult to use but actually does a perfect job of applying the product to my lashes evenly and without clumping; which leads me to the formula which is equally as fabulous, thickening and separating my lashes even with just one coat. Lovely.

The mascara lasts brilliantly, I’ve never found myself with panda eyes when wearing it and actually on the one night that I rather naughtily (and shamefully... and quite possibly drunkenly) fell asleep before I’d taken my makeup off (including the mascara), I woke up to find my mascara fully intact – very impressive.

This is available for £8.50 at the Avon website... or your local Avon lady but I’ve also noticed that there’s another SuperShock mascara on the Avon website without the Luxe Lace packaging that could quite possibly be the same formula for £5.25 at the moment.

Competition - Win a Sleek Bad Girl Palette & Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner!

I've been so impressed by the Sleek ‘Bad Girl’ palette (here), and the Avon ‘SuperShock Gel Eyeliner’ in black (here) that I decided to go and buy one of each and run a competition so that one of you, my lovely readers can win both.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, is follow/be following my blog via Google Friend Connect (to the right) and leave me a comment below with your contact details. Your contact details can be your email, or your twitter name (but you must be following me on Twitter also, so that I can DM you if you win) but remember, you *must* be following on Google Friend Connect in order to be entered.

I’ll pick a winner in about 4 weeks time, so let's say that the competition will close on Wednesday 22nd December 2010 at 23:59PM (UK time).   Sunday 2nd January 2011 at 23:59pm UK Time.

I'll choose the winner using random.org.

Edit: I'm extending the competition until the New Year, firstly as I've had a couple of people email to tell me of difficulties in subscribing via GFC (so giving it a bit more time should enable these people to subscribe in time) and also because of the bad weather, I think it would take longer for me to post the prize out so I would rather draw the winner later so there's not so much of a gap between winning and receiving your prize.

The competition will now end on Sunday 2nd January 2011 at 23:59pm UK Time.

 

Avon Glimmersticks Diamond Eyeliner - Swatched!

Along with the Avon gel eyeliners that I recently wrote about and swatched, I also purchased the full set of their Glimmersticks Diamond Eye Liners too; these are also currently in the half price sale for £3 each and there are 6 colours available.

Top L-R Twilight Sparkle, Black Ice, Brown Sugar, Sugar Plum, Emerald Glow, Smokey Diamond

I’ve swatched using my flash for most of the pictures, to show the sparkle effect but there are photos without flash that I will mark as being without flash as I go, so you know which is which! I've also tried to show a few angles so you can see how the light catches the sparkle.

Colour payoff isn’t quite as spectacular as the gel eyeliners but with a few swipes I was able to get a very decent colour and effect! A little trick that helps is to slightly warm the liners by rolling in your hand for about 30 seconds, it just helps for a smoother, easier application with no drag!

Without flash:

I actually kept the liners on my hand overnight as I thought I’d see how well they lasted being brushed by the duvet (luckily one of our darker ones) and generally moved around, and actually they lasted really well (see the pictures below). If they can withstand that then I feel confident they’d last on a night out.

The morning after (without flash):

I love the sparkly colours and would completely recommend them if you want to jazz up an otherwise neutral makeup look, or also perfect for if you want to go bold and make a statement with your eye makeup!

Swatched: Avon SuperShock Gel Liner - Silver!

You'll probably remember that I swatched the black version of this liner earlier in October (here) and now I have the silver version I thought I'd show you how equally amazing it is.

Like the black, the silver lasts well on the skin (not quite as long as the black, but still a respectable amount of time) and is brilliantly pigmented, it's also superbly metallic to boot; it can even be used over the whole lid for a long lasting metallic hit.

I love it so much and it was a complete bargain at £3 in Avon's half price sale online!

Without flash:

With flash (in varying lights):

Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner - SALE SALE SALE!!

Remember the amazing Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner that everybody has been raving about? Well not only is it available to buy RIGHT NOW, it’s also available at HALF PRICE! Yes it’s just £3 for the liner at the moment on the Avon website (colours available are silver and black) so if you're hankering after one then now is the best time to buy one. I'm not sure how long it's on for so I wouldn't delay if you want to be sure to get it at this price.

Also if you spend over £20 then you get free delivery by using the code ATD, saving you another £3.50 (not that I’m encouraging you to spend more, but if you wanted to then there’s more available at half price here: http://avonshop.co.uk/beauty/c/make-up/half-price-make-up.html).

For even more money off, please visit TopCashBack for an extra 10.1% cashback. All you need to do is register with the site via my link, search Avon and then use their link to shop/checkout etc. It costs nothing to register and use the site and it’s great – I use it for a lot of my purchases and it’s always nice to see your money building back up in there, ready to be spent on more goodies.

Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner!

I love it when a product comes along that excites me, and I’m very lucky to have been offered a chance to try such a product before its official (re-)release. Now you may be surprised to see that the product in question is an Avon product as although they’re widely known, they’re not usually the first brand you may think of when it comes to products that people should be (and are) raving about.

Their SuperShock Gel Eyeliner has been on sale before (as shown above), but is no longer on the website – it appears to have had a little makeover itself, now sporting a fancy pink lace design (below).

Eyeliners can be very hit and miss, performance wise; liners that are soft enough to smudge usually don’t stay where you want them to, and liners that stay put can be too hard to smudge. I’ve been through my fair share of liners and this one is one of the best that I’ve used.

Firstly, it’s so easy to use, you do not need to keep going over the same skin area to try and get a good colour depth as the colour payoff on the first stroke is incredible. Even the lightest stroke gives great colour and you can easily make the liner as thin or as thick as you desire. Below is a quick swatch (sorry about picture quality, my camera is still out of action) showing a quick and very light sweep of the liner on the bottom, and a normal sweep on the top.

If you want it smudgy then you have a window of opportunity to do it before the colour seems to set in place, and once it has done so then it stays put. I love love love this as there’s nothing worse than having your eyeliner ending up everywhere but the place you had wanted it to be.

I do think that Avon *may* have slightly missed a trick in making it retractable, rather than a normal sharpening pencil – unless, as I suspect it’s something to do with the formula possibly being too soft to use in this way, in which case I forgive you, Avon.

This appears to be the only real downside that I have found, as this means that the liner needs sharpening (using a good sharpener) more than usual as it is a bit softer than a normal liner (although I’ve found this with Urban Decay 24/7 liners too). However, for the price of the liner this isn’t such a big deal and you’re still going to get plenty of wear out of it before you need to repurchase.

I think that there may only be around 4 colours to choose from in this range (judging off the previous incarnation) but I don’t see this as a massive issue, so long as the staples are included, and I expect they will be. Maybe Avon will branch out the range once it proves to be popular.

This liner is a complete bargain, especially when you consider how well it works and how it lasts once applied. It will be priced around the £6 mark, although Avon regularly run special offers so you may even be able to get it cheaper, and it’s available from October 28th.