where my brain is leaking out of my ears

I'm frustrated with the amount of novella-length WIPs in my 'writing' file, just sitting there and pissing me off. (You can tell I woke up hungover this morning.) Also with the amount of 'FIC TO WRITE' in my inbox, which is a list of all the stories I have ever owed people, ever, that I have thus far failed to write. Bollocks.

I might go sit in a cafe today and bring out ye olde pen and paper and see what can be done. Now if you excuse me, I have to go and be sick, and curse all alcohol everywhere.

The Product (tm) Issue

I am bored, and not writing. Technically I'm watching S1 Gossip Girl and primping, but that requires long periods of doing nothing, so ... I'm bored.

Let's talk beauty.

I'm using...

- I am allergic to most beauty products out there. One of the few names I am not allergic to is Origins. I am particularly fond of their A Perfect World range, I use the face wash, moisturiser, skin serum, and have just started using their eye cream. I used to use their checks and balances face wash, but it's a little too dry for my skin; I've found the Perfect World line a really good fit. If you have really oily skin it might be a good try, though.
- I also use the Origins face masks, particularly their charcoal face mask. I'm a great fan of the Modern Friction exfoliator as well, although you have to be careful with it as it's pretty thorough stuff.
- On the body, I opt for whatever shower gel we have in the house, and simply slather on Palmers Cocoa Body Butter (again, I'm allergic to most moisturisers). It's excellent for skin firmness, and will also reduce scars, stretch marks, blemishes, etc - which is really important for me, as I managed to fall down an escalator a few years ago and had scars all down my left leg. After much usage of this wonderful cream they're completely gone now.
- I still have a pot of Pout's bustier bust-enhancing cream left, although don't bother trying to find this anywhere: Pout went bankrupt and all their products are no longer available. Sob. Palmers will fill the firming & lifting gap once my final stash runs out.
- In terms of make-up, I'm veering between tinted moisturisers and foundations at the moment, quite wildly in fact. I've got the following on my mantlepiece: Lancome Colour ID, Lancome tinted moisturiser, and Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. The latter seems to be the best compromise, although it's a little trickier to apply than the Lancome products. I often have to blend in a little Benefit high beam, which also does instead of eye-shadow just blended in around the lash area to brighten up tired eyes. I use Christian Dior mascara and skinflash concealer, although I have found it too similar to the YSL touche eclat that I use for specific touch-ups. On my cheeks I use Benefit's dandelion blusher and for powder I opt for Christian Dior's loose powder. I use Body Shop make-up brushes, which I have found generally soft enough and flexible enough for most purposes.
- Favourite and most flexible item? My limited edition 1950s 'classic' packaging pot of Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream - perfect for anything. My mother managed to get her hands on this particular pot, long now sold out, and I love it with a fierce passion. Not quite sure why, other than I've always thought that make-up should be a glamorous, indulgent activity, and definitely not something you do while on the train. So my mirror and mantlepiece are surrounded by beribboned headbands, a mask from Venice, earrings, postcards and beautiful pots and bottles of every size. I think I tend to choose my products as much on the packaging as on everything else - given that it's going to be in front of me every day for the better part of the year, I need it to be lovely. And the classic glass pot for the requisite 8 hour cream - a must for everyone - is also refillable - so it's eco-friendly, too.
- Perfume: I almost always wear Dior's La Dolce Vita, although I do have Flower by Kenzo (which is fresher, and which I tend to wear on beach holiday), Angel, by Thierry Mugler (much sweeter, almost chocolate-like, which was a gift), and I have also recently been given JPG's Classique summer fragrance, which I have yet to try out. I have to say, I mostly use La Dolce Vita - and that's about it. I've read some amusing reviews that try to restrict its use to the evenings, or to a particular age group, which I find hilarious. If a scent works for you for a particular event or part of the day, great. I find this one makes me happy, so I wear it all the time.
- You'll notice I haven't talked about my hair. Woe. My hair currently refuses to behave, no matter what I do to it. I shall be getting up half an hour early to attempt curls with a curling iron for the next week, and see how I get on. I tend to use the TG smoothing serum after washing it, and I'm currently using the cheap wonder of Tresomme shampoo and conditioner. Almost as good as TiGi's Honey & Oatmeal... but it doesn't smell as nice.

*

I'm wearing...

I would exceed the post limit if I tried to talk through my wardrobe! And yet I never seem to have anything to wear, it's most distressing.

A few years ago I discovered that I was allergic to most man-made fibres (and lanolin, hence my issue with most beauty products). I therefore slowly but surely converted my wardrobe into cotton and silk. Now, I can wear some synthetics, but my wardrobe is till mostly natural fibres. As they tend to be more expensive, I've had to focus on investment buys rather than simply buying disposable clothing (which I tend to purchase when travelling, so I don't need to worry about it getting ruined).

Some of my favourite summer constant-use pieces are:
- several light summer dresses, mostly silk or silk-blends in neutral or bright summer colours.
- a white cashmere cardigan, and a pink light light wool cover-up.
- the requisite pairs of jeans: normal, and cropped.
- t-shirts of every description and variety, mostly light colours with scoop or V-necks.
- a few summer skirts in light summer colours, lightly lined. I dislike unlined skirts, I think they hang badly. Even if it is a summer skirt, there should be a lining, however light.
- two coats: a taupe single-breasted mac that goes in at the waist (for spring and early autumn), and a royal blue Milly wool coat with gorgeous swirly print lining and 3/4 sleeves.
- formal wear: an organza silk navy blue polka dot dress, a taupe asymmetric hem dress with black net overlay, a chocolate brown silk "red carpet" dress (my pride and joy, currently being repaired), and a teal 60s low-back silk dress that does equally well for winter evenings. I found that my past life in corporate whoredom means that I am well prepared for any eventuality.

Shoes! Oh, I spent today reorganising my shoe closet, yay. I am currently in love with the following:
- my metallic block wood wedges. They are currently on their way back to Kurt Geiger to be reheeled, as I am concerned about the wood splintering. Woe.
- My new Carvela sky-high sandals, brown leather with a purple suede flower... and a 5-inch heel.
- my Merrell walking boots i.e. my trainers - realistically, the shoes I wear most often, whatever the weather. Hey, they're comfy!

I'd talk about my recent underwear acquisitions, but I would be tempted to post pictures, and that way badness lies. So tell me, flist, what are you wearing and using on your gorgeous bods this summer? Inquiring and vicarious minds want to know.