Saturday, 24 August 2013
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Bideford and europe
If we took a walk down the river , we would start at the source ,a spring then.
This stream flows across the Common and kisses with laughter , a tributary , under the railway embankment.
Across the wide flat lands there is a group of allotments ,
the soil fertile from the Ice Age
and more recent accumulations of love done and finished in the marshes.
And
This stream flows across the Common and kisses with laughter , a tributary , under the railway embankment.
Across the wide flat lands there is a group of allotments ,
the soil fertile from the Ice Age
and more recent accumulations of love done and finished in the marshes.
And
I had one romantic dream
and designed a perfect trip through Europe,
a "story" I wish I could re-read, re-watch, and re-live over and over again
backwards the rest of my life.
A "story" to compensate her back for in return.
Across all the forgotten places of Europe I took her with me,
by cottages with old people and by streams where life just went on in silence,
the old peoples love long extinquished by memory but not by nearness
and one day they were you and me
old people like this as you passsed on trains in places you would never see again , they will be you and me, and love will be extinquished
old people like this as you passsed on trains in places you would never see again , they will be you and me, and love will be extinquished
but nearness will continue
Monday, 12 August 2013
relative pronouns
LESSON 2
QUESTA LEZIONE E PER I STUDENTI DEL CORSO DI RECUPERO DI INGLESE DEL INSTITUTO STRAFFA.
"Queste Lezioni si svolgeranno ogni settimana per tutta l'estate. Gli studenti sono invitati a partecipare indicando gli argomenti da affrontare.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
What does this mean ? It means purely another name for something= a name relative to the name we are talking about.
MARY, who likes biscuits,eats too many.
WHO is the second name that refers to Mary
PAUL,who has no hair, wishes he had.
who refers to paul.
The relative pronouns in English are which, that, who, whom, and whose. Who and whom refer only to people. Which refers to things, qualities, and ideas--never to people. That and whose refer to people, things, qualities, and ideas.
WHO=is used generally for People
Adriana,WHO is from Latin America, loves the tango
WHO refers to Adriana
WHICH=is used for Things
Biscuits, which are made in Italy, are nice
Which is the name that refers to Biscuits
Which is also used of small children=Babies,which do not sleep,should be given beer (LOL)
THAT=is used for people and things,
WHOM. Its not used very much today.
For instance "TO WHOM AM I TALKING TO"
Its beginning to sound too formal, its beginning to sound artificial and stilted
so you will hear "TO WHO AM I TALKING TO"
but as a relative pronoun WHO should not be allowed to replace WHOM=
THE BAKER WHOM THE BANKER WANTED TO MARRY SAID HE WAS ALREADY MARRIED
not WHO the banker wanted to marry
whom is the name that refers to the the Baker.
When WHOM has a related preposition following it sounds not so good today
HE TOLD HIM TO WHOM TO APPLY FOR A MEMBERS CARD=
Who is better here.
You cannot use WHO when the governing preposition comes directly in front of WHOM, in that case you cannot use WHO
= FOR WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE xxxxxx wrong
FOR WHOM ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE =right
but everyone (in England)says =for who are you going to vote for although in a test use whom
REASON= English evolves and the mistakes become in the end grammar. (English grammar evolves as the people use it.)
but there are exceptions ,Who is also used of non human things provided they are being personalised or in some way regarded as having human qualities
I met an Alien called Paul who said "I come from a planet far away".(sesto San Giovanni)
I bought a dog called Ken who came from a dogs home
!Italy ,who are still losing to Lower Chad ,have just scored"
of course a country should not take WHO if we consider it purely as a geographical location. If we do it does not have a relative pronoun
In regional English WHO is often left out
"Theres no man in the world works as hard as Paul" Who should come before works but as said is left out a lot in regional English in Northern England.
If we have two WHO we sometimes leave one out=
"Who was it that discovered oxygen,did you say"?AS a relative pronoun WHOM should be used as the object form but not if it sounds very false or stilted, if preceded by a governing preposition then WHOM must always be used.
RECOMMENDATION
Its acceptable in all but the most formal English to say or write WHO as the object when asking a question
QUESTA LEZIONE E PER I STUDENTI DEL CORSO DI RECUPERO DI INGLESE DEL INSTITUTO STRAFFA.
QUESTA LEZIONE E PER I STUDENTI DEL CORSO DI RECUPERO DI INGLESE DEL INSTITUTO STRAFFA.
"Queste Lezioni si svolgeranno ogni settimana per tutta l'estate. Gli studenti sono invitati a partecipare indicando gli argomenti da affrontare.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
What does this mean ? It means purely another name for something= a name relative to the name we are talking about.
MARY, who likes biscuits,eats too many.
WHO is the second name that refers to Mary
PAUL,who has no hair, wishes he had.
who refers to paul.
The relative pronouns in English are which, that, who, whom, and whose. Who and whom refer only to people. Which refers to things, qualities, and ideas--never to people. That and whose refer to people, things, qualities, and ideas.
WHO=is used generally for People
Adriana,WHO is from Latin America, loves the tango
WHO refers to Adriana
WHICH=is used for Things
Biscuits, which are made in Italy, are nice
Which is the name that refers to Biscuits
Which is also used of small children=Babies,which do not sleep,should be given beer (LOL)
THAT=is used for people and things,
WHOM. Its not used very much today.
For instance "TO WHOM AM I TALKING TO"
Its beginning to sound too formal, its beginning to sound artificial and stilted
so you will hear "TO WHO AM I TALKING TO"
but as a relative pronoun WHO should not be allowed to replace WHOM=
THE BAKER WHOM THE BANKER WANTED TO MARRY SAID HE WAS ALREADY MARRIED
not WHO the banker wanted to marry
whom is the name that refers to the the Baker.
When WHOM has a related preposition following it sounds not so good today
HE TOLD HIM TO WHOM TO APPLY FOR A MEMBERS CARD=
Who is better here.
You cannot use WHO when the governing preposition comes directly in front of WHOM, in that case you cannot use WHO
= FOR WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE xxxxxx wrong
FOR WHOM ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE =right
but everyone (in England)says =for who are you going to vote for although in a test use whom
REASON= English evolves and the mistakes become in the end grammar. (English grammar evolves as the people use it.)
but there are exceptions ,Who is also used of non human things provided they are being personalised or in some way regarded as having human qualities
I met an Alien called Paul who said "I come from a planet far away".(sesto San Giovanni)
I bought a dog called Ken who came from a dogs home
!Italy ,who are still losing to Lower Chad ,have just scored"
of course a country should not take WHO if we consider it purely as a geographical location. If we do it does not have a relative pronoun
In regional English WHO is often left out
"Theres no man in the world works as hard as Paul" Who should come before works but as said is left out a lot in regional English in Northern England.
If we have two WHO we sometimes leave one out=
"Who was it that discovered oxygen,did you say"?AS a relative pronoun WHOM should be used as the object form but not if it sounds very false or stilted, if preceded by a governing preposition then WHOM must always be used.
RECOMMENDATION
Its acceptable in all but the most formal English to say or write WHO as the object when asking a question
QUESTA LEZIONE E PER I STUDENTI DEL CORSO DI RECUPERO DI INGLESE DEL INSTITUTO STRAFFA.
comparatives
LESSON 3 everyone on the course must read this and add a comment that they read it, anyone else who is not on the course can make a constructive comment if they want, theres an italian translation from paolo ciampa my best friend and great tottenham fan
LESSON 2
QUESTA LEZIONE E PER I STUDENTI DEL CORSO DI RECUPERO DI INGLESE DEL INSTITUTO STRAFFA.
"Queste Lezioni si svolgeranno ogni settimana per tutta l'estate. Gli studenti sono invitati a partecipare indicando gli argomenti da affrontare.
COMPARATIVES
In linguistics, the comparative serves to express a comparison between two (or more) THINGS or groups of entities in quality, quantity, or degree. The comparative is signaled in English by the suffix -er or by a word of comparison (as, more, less) and the conjunction- or preposition-like word as or than.
so = TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ARE BETTER THAN ARSENAL AND MILAN
ITALY IS THE SAME AS SPAIN
BOTH ARE COMPARING SOMETHING, THIS IS CALLED A COMPARATIVE
A COMPARATIVE MEANS TO COMPARE TWO THINGS AND IN THE COMPARITIVE THERE MUST ALWAYS BE TWO THINGS, A COMPARATIVE MEANS TO COMPARE
MARIA IS BETTER LOOKING THAN ANY WOMAN I KNOW
ONE THING IS maria THE SECOND THING IS any woman i know
in the uk we have publicity like this =DAZ WASHES Whiter
its not a comparative because there is no second think so its gramatically wrong because we dont know what daz washes whiter than
The comparative is frequently associated with adjectives and adverbs because these words take the -er suffix or modifying word more or less (e.g. faster, more intelligent, less wasteful);
HAMILTON IS FASTER THAN ANY ITALIAN DRIVER
GERMANY IS LESS WASTEFUL THAN ITALY AS REGARDS RUBBISH
PROF GARY IS MORE INTELLIGENT THAN ANYONE
it can also, however, appear when no adjective or adverb is present, for instance with nouns
QUESTION. WHAT WAS THE PARTY LIKE?
ANSWER. NOT VERY GOOD BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE men than women.
Most if not all languages have some means of forming the comparative, although these means can vary significantly from one language to the next.
The comparitve can be part of a whole sentence
"Paolo is bald and so is Freddie his mate but Paolo's head is BETTER than Freddie's because it looks like an orange and |Freddie's head looks like a pear .
Paolo comes from Calabria and he says "Calabria is much better than Brianza and that Calabrians are more fun than Brianzans"
here we have two comparisons in one sentence.
The comparative in English is generally expressed by a combination of two elements/words, by -er, more, less, as and a second word introducing the second part of the comparison (as or than). As described in the following section, the suffix -er is used with many adjectives, particularly monosyllabic ones (and some adverbs), and more is used with all other words (other adjectives and adverbs, nouns).
MARY. She is smarter than him.
SUSAN. YEH THATS TRUE AND She is more intelligent than him.
HERE ARE MORE EXAMPLES
. Your music is nicer than my music.
Your music is more pleasant than my music.
Sam helps less often than Susan does.
He laughs more than you do.
More boys wanted to play than girls.
Tom is as annoying as he is useless.
The THINGS compared by the comparative can be most anything, e.g. people, places, things, actions, abstract notions, traits, etc.
Most adverbs are formed in English by adding -ly to the end of an adjective, which makes them polysyllabic; they therefore form the comparative via more, as in
This sofa seats three people more comfortably than the other one.
Some irregular adverbs such as fast or hard do not use more, though, but rather they take the -er suffix, as the adjectives do, e.g.
My new car starts faster than the old one
or
She studies harder than her sister does.
Comparatives without than
null comparative
THE null comparative is one in which the starting point for comparison is not stated. These comparisons are frequently found in advertising, for example, in typical assertions such as
Our burgers have more flavor
Our picture is sharper.
These uses of the comparative do not mention what it is they are being compared to. In some cases it is easy to infer what the missing element in a null comparative is. In other cases, the speaker or writer has been deliberately vague, for example "Glasgow's miles better".
The null comparative has sense for the english but is often used badly
MARY.The boys round here are really ugly
SUSAN . "bill is miles better".
the sense here is that bill is better than all the boys around here who are really ugly, bill is the first thing and the boys around here the second, we really need two thgings to make a comparative although the null comparative is based on the other person understanding whast the missing thing is
MARY. This pizza is better
Susan . you can say that again
but what is the pizza better than, in susan's mind the pizza is better than all the pizzas shes ever eaten, but its not clear so in a test dont write the null comparative.
on t.shirts we see ITALIANS DO IT BETTER
BUT WHAT DO THEY DO BETTER? Whining all the time?)lol
so the grammar is wrong
Scientific classification
This includes the adjectives greater and lesser, when a large or small variety of an item is meant, These adjectives may at first sight appear as a kind of null comparative, when as is usual, they are cited without their opposite counterpart. It should be apparent, however, that an entirely different variety of animal, scientific, or geographical object is intended. Thus it may be found, for example,
that the lesser panda entails a giant panda variety,
if there is a Lesser Antilles then there must be a Greater Antilles.
if there ius a lower Chad then there a greater Chad
LESSON 2
QUESTA LEZIONE E PER I STUDENTI DEL CORSO DI RECUPERO DI INGLESE DEL INSTITUTO STRAFFA.
"Queste Lezioni si svolgeranno ogni settimana per tutta l'estate. Gli studenti sono invitati a partecipare indicando gli argomenti da affrontare.
COMPARATIVES
In linguistics, the comparative serves to express a comparison between two (or more) THINGS or groups of entities in quality, quantity, or degree. The comparative is signaled in English by the suffix -er or by a word of comparison (as, more, less) and the conjunction- or preposition-like word as or than.
so = TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ARE BETTER THAN ARSENAL AND MILAN
ITALY IS THE SAME AS SPAIN
BOTH ARE COMPARING SOMETHING, THIS IS CALLED A COMPARATIVE
A COMPARATIVE MEANS TO COMPARE TWO THINGS AND IN THE COMPARITIVE THERE MUST ALWAYS BE TWO THINGS, A COMPARATIVE MEANS TO COMPARE
MARIA IS BETTER LOOKING THAN ANY WOMAN I KNOW
ONE THING IS maria THE SECOND THING IS any woman i know
in the uk we have publicity like this =DAZ WASHES Whiter
its not a comparative because there is no second think so its gramatically wrong because we dont know what daz washes whiter than
The comparative is frequently associated with adjectives and adverbs because these words take the -er suffix or modifying word more or less (e.g. faster, more intelligent, less wasteful);
HAMILTON IS FASTER THAN ANY ITALIAN DRIVER
GERMANY IS LESS WASTEFUL THAN ITALY AS REGARDS RUBBISH
PROF GARY IS MORE INTELLIGENT THAN ANYONE
it can also, however, appear when no adjective or adverb is present, for instance with nouns
QUESTION. WHAT WAS THE PARTY LIKE?
ANSWER. NOT VERY GOOD BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE men than women.
Most if not all languages have some means of forming the comparative, although these means can vary significantly from one language to the next.
The comparitve can be part of a whole sentence
"Paolo is bald and so is Freddie his mate but Paolo's head is BETTER than Freddie's because it looks like an orange and |Freddie's head looks like a pear .
Paolo comes from Calabria and he says "Calabria is much better than Brianza and that Calabrians are more fun than Brianzans"
here we have two comparisons in one sentence.
The comparative in English is generally expressed by a combination of two elements/words, by -er, more, less, as and a second word introducing the second part of the comparison (as or than). As described in the following section, the suffix -er is used with many adjectives, particularly monosyllabic ones (and some adverbs), and more is used with all other words (other adjectives and adverbs, nouns).
MARY. She is smarter than him.
SUSAN. YEH THATS TRUE AND She is more intelligent than him.
HERE ARE MORE EXAMPLES
. Your music is nicer than my music.
Your music is more pleasant than my music.
Sam helps less often than Susan does.
He laughs more than you do.
More boys wanted to play than girls.
Tom is as annoying as he is useless.
The THINGS compared by the comparative can be most anything, e.g. people, places, things, actions, abstract notions, traits, etc.
Most adverbs are formed in English by adding -ly to the end of an adjective, which makes them polysyllabic; they therefore form the comparative via more, as in
This sofa seats three people more comfortably than the other one.
Some irregular adverbs such as fast or hard do not use more, though, but rather they take the -er suffix, as the adjectives do, e.g.
My new car starts faster than the old one
or
She studies harder than her sister does.
Comparatives without than
null comparative
THE null comparative is one in which the starting point for comparison is not stated. These comparisons are frequently found in advertising, for example, in typical assertions such as
Our burgers have more flavor
Our picture is sharper.
These uses of the comparative do not mention what it is they are being compared to. In some cases it is easy to infer what the missing element in a null comparative is. In other cases, the speaker or writer has been deliberately vague, for example "Glasgow's miles better".
The null comparative has sense for the english but is often used badly
MARY.The boys round here are really ugly
SUSAN . "bill is miles better".
the sense here is that bill is better than all the boys around here who are really ugly, bill is the first thing and the boys around here the second, we really need two thgings to make a comparative although the null comparative is based on the other person understanding whast the missing thing is
MARY. This pizza is better
Susan . you can say that again
but what is the pizza better than, in susan's mind the pizza is better than all the pizzas shes ever eaten, but its not clear so in a test dont write the null comparative.
on t.shirts we see ITALIANS DO IT BETTER
BUT WHAT DO THEY DO BETTER? Whining all the time?)lol
so the grammar is wrong
Scientific classification
This includes the adjectives greater and lesser, when a large or small variety of an item is meant, These adjectives may at first sight appear as a kind of null comparative, when as is usual, they are cited without their opposite counterpart. It should be apparent, however, that an entirely different variety of animal, scientific, or geographical object is intended. Thus it may be found, for example,
that the lesser panda entails a giant panda variety,
if there is a Lesser Antilles then there must be a Greater Antilles.
if there ius a lower Chad then there a greater Chad
Monday, 5 August 2013
THE GODS OF LOVE my poem
THE GODS OF LOVE
time, culture deities dedicated ,
shy mutual
attraction, to serious fucking, god fits the bill.
petitioning the deities , offerings of incense, flowers, fruit, sacrifice
blood or by dedicating
and they don’t care , not one single fucking bit
prayer, spells, to focus the mind and will , desired goal,
ask assistance for your fuck ups
the foul breath you breathe
taken, then, savagely. between them, sin,l
they taught agricultural screwing once out there in the fields
and
observances of position.
They hated violence,
in his compassion
well
it nearly
brought him near success, his women were simply disarmed by the gentle strength
of his penis.
Her husband away charming everyone with product talk, she fucked to....well....well.....
to perfection.
She embodied cum shots
fertility, wisdom and female magic, restored his body to life after they killed him
on a day dedicated to slaughter long before
they perfected married happiness,
they
equals in power and squirting,
devoted.
Those wishing for such qualities in their own lunchtime
say a simple pray to sex
"May your love and devotion echo in my love and life".
Corn, grapes and sundry veggie shit were special to them two too,
while lotus, figs, myrrh and dates are appropriate for fucking buddies,
share the taste of the liquids
love feast
confirm your love,
wear the ankle chain,
the ancient symbol of slave sex
to keep it
fresh and strong.
time, culture deities dedicated ,
shy mutual
attraction, to serious fucking, god fits the bill.
petitioning the deities , offerings of incense, flowers, fruit, sacrifice
blood or by dedicating
and they don’t care , not one single fucking bit
prayer, spells, to focus the mind and will , desired goal,
ask assistance for your fuck ups
the foul breath you breathe
taken, then, savagely. between them, sin,l
they taught agricultural screwing once out there in the fields
and
observances of position.
They hated violence,
in his compassion
well
it nearly
brought him near success, his women were simply disarmed by the gentle strength
of his penis.
Her husband away charming everyone with product talk, she fucked to....well....well.....
to perfection.
She embodied cum shots
fertility, wisdom and female magic, restored his body to life after they killed him
on a day dedicated to slaughter long before
they perfected married happiness,
they
equals in power and squirting,
devoted.
Those wishing for such qualities in their own lunchtime
say a simple pray to sex
"May your love and devotion echo in my love and life".
Corn, grapes and sundry veggie shit were special to them two too,
while lotus, figs, myrrh and dates are appropriate for fucking buddies,
share the taste of the liquids
love feast
confirm your love,
wear the ankle chain,
the ancient symbol of slave sex
to keep it
fresh and strong.
poem MORTI
morti
Con i 'fantasmi' ,
impressioni lasciate da vite precedenti -
sul paesaggio e l'immaginazione dei viventi.
La zona morta Hackney Paludi.
I segni dei morti sono ovunque.
Macerie dalle case
terriccio sotto.
I letti filtranti, un ricordo di colera, la morte e l'utopia tecnologica.
alla deriva attraverso un sogno sporco di serbatoi,
fabbriche demolite,
reti fognarie
centrali
E chiatte arrugginite.
Sentire le grida di ormai lontani.
Reanimator per aiutare i loro spiriti.
si prega di aiutarli.
a volte
un dolce senso di persone dread
che ha vissuto e lavorato intorno al canale,
giocato qui,
e annegati qui.
Con i 'fantasmi' ,
impressioni lasciate da vite precedenti -
sul paesaggio e l'immaginazione dei viventi.
La zona morta Hackney Paludi.
I segni dei morti sono ovunque.
Macerie dalle case
terriccio sotto.
I letti filtranti, un ricordo di colera, la morte e l'utopia tecnologica.
alla deriva attraverso un sogno sporco di serbatoi,
fabbriche demolite,
reti fognarie
centrali
E chiatte arrugginite.
Sentire le grida di ormai lontani.
Reanimator per aiutare i loro spiriti.
si prega di aiutarli.
a volte
un dolce senso di persone dread
che ha vissuto e lavorato intorno al canale,
giocato qui,
e annegati qui.
Thursday, 25 July 2013
skin care
Exfoliate
Removing dead skin cell buildup is one of the most instant ways to revive your complexion, but you have to choose your weapon carefully. I don't know exactly how many women out there are still scrubbing their face with that awful apricot scrub that's so dang popular, but countless derms have told me that those kernels are way too large and harsh on your pores. Another way to screw up your skin via exfoliant is to scrub acnefied skin like crazy. All you're doing is further irritating, and in many cases, helping to spread the bacteria that caused the breakout in the first place. An alternative to mechanical exfoliation (mechanical entails a physical agent such as beads), is a product that removes skin cells chemically, like in the one, the only,MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, a blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids that many folks absolutely swear by. However, if you have extra sensitive skin, you're better off going with a product like Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash a couple times a week instead of daily.
2. Illuminate
An easy way to fake the healthy glow that accompanies skin in its prime condition is to use a moisturizer that contains light particles designed to reflect and conceal. Ever since Prescriptives came out with Magic back in the day, similar products have been a hit with consumers, and imitators abound. Again, choosing the right one is key. For example, you want to look for a formula that's light and looks natural on your face as opposed to say, a thick cakey number that resembles the kind of face glitter Christina Aguilera might wear on tour (or Brit might wear to um, the grocery store). Try one that's dermatologically-tested like Boots No7 Radiant Glow Lotion.
3. Focus
There is a treatment mask for every single skin condition these days, and a really good one, targeted for your exact needs, can work wonders right away. Red-faced? Try Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask with chamomile to instantly soothes and calm. Dehydrated? Get to know Nuxe Refreshing and Relaxing Moisture Mask. Oily? An old-fashioned mud mask is still a great way to soak up excess sebum. But road test a newer model like Epoch Glacial Marine Mud, for added benefits.
4. Lube up
Face oils are still regarded with suspicion here in the States, but women in many cultures swear by them, and for good reason. There's nothing like oil to smooth fine lines and render luminescence. And an oil does not always equal clogging. Even oily types can reap the benefits: Shu Uemura makes High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh, a version of their best-selling cleansing oil line specially formulated for normal to oily skin types and acne-prone skin. If you want to tread lightly into oil territory, first try a serum like Stem Organics Exquisite Face Fluid for a similar finish.
5. Don't ignore your eyes and lips
Your skin may look golden, but crackly, chapped lips and dried-out crow's feet can make you look a little rowed hard and washed up wet. Luckily, there are some products that combine two-in-one, which is ever so handy for carrying around in your purse for touch-ups. Decleor has a motherload of eye and lip-oriented products: Try Experince De L'Age Eye/Lip Cream for starters.
6. Get rid of zits fast
A lot of people ask me what I think of Zeno, the pimple zapping spot treating device that uses heat to essentially, burn away blemishes. I say, it seems to work okay, but it requires a freakish amount of time and attention, making even the most devoted Product Fiend feel like a shallow freak (like, even more than usual). A much easier and cheaper alternative is the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel, which doesn't always make good on its purported "clears breakouts in eight hours" time promise (it's not made of magic and stardust after all), but does seem to get the job done faster than a lot of other so-called insta-vanishers.
7. Spackle
Sometimes, you wake up, take one look in the mirror, and there's no denying you're having a seriously BFD (Bad Face Day). Times like these call for more than your average concealing and correcting. Oily and uneven? I swear by BeneFit Dr. Feelgood, a vitamin-enriched mattifying balm that creates a perfect palette for foundation and concealer. Dry types will flip for the hydrating primer wonder that is Nars Makeup Primer with SPF 20, which not only helps to reduce inflammation, but also combines moisturizer and sunscreen for less-is-more ease. When you're ready to cover up, apply a light, yet fairly-pigmented foundation like Chanel Precision Hydramax + Tinted Moisture Boost Lotion SPF 15--I use this almost daily because it gives coverage but looks really natural--and touch up blemishes and other spots with Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer, which I ----- you not, makes your skin look perfect, if only temporarily.
8. Desperately seeking NOW
Some skincare lines are going out of their way to offer quick, cheap and dirty alternatives to plastic surgery that you can DIY. Joey New York even has an entire line called Instant Results with a little special something for just about every beauty emergency under the sun. There's the Botox in a bottle, Line Up, and they even offer an Instant Results Best Seller Kit which contains lip plumper, eye wrinkle corrector and a facial contouring serum among others, which makes a great gift for anyone you know who is neurotic about their skin. Speaking of kits, Frownies just came out with Face Lift in a Bag, which includes everything you need to quick fix at-home, including their signature facial pads, semi-scary, Band-Aid like adhesives you apply to your forehead, corners of the eyes and mouth "to gently re-educate the underlying muscles to assume their correct, relaxed and natural appearance." Very Hannibal Lector!
9. Keep it simple
Nothing puts the spotlight on problem skin like harsh makeup. Most face powder only serves to showcase irregularities by clumping on top of spots and emphasizing fine lines. The makeup that will make your skin look freshest is easy breezy, and I'm not talking about Cover Girl here. Emphasize your eyes with a slightly shimmery, gold-hued cream shadow, and open them up by curling your lashes. If your skin isn't looking its best, skip blush, and apply a subtle lip stain like Lorac Sheer Wash (which rules), for color instead. Wearing your hair down (bonus for a more polished style), is another trick for drawing the eye away from problem skin. I may have spent a fortune on blowouts during a particularly harsh cystic acne spell, but at least the good hair days made me feel like less of a social leper.
10. Seek professional help
All of the above remedies work in a pinch, but the best thing you can do for your skin is make an appointment to see a derm. (Most insurance policies cover visits!) They can help suggest some treatments that may or may not be covered, but if anything, they should easily be able to offer guidance toward a high-end, prescription and/or drugstore skincare regimen that with regular use, will make your skin so loverly you'll never have to rub faux-tox on your skin again. And wouldn't that be sweet? My second, old-fashioned beauty secret is witch hazel. Witch hazel astringent was first produced in the 1800s, although Native Americans were well aware of the plant’s medicinal properties long before. I was introduced to it as a child, if I grazed or bruised myself, my mother would always apply witch hazel to the area. Its smell also evokes a lot of memories of being young! Witch hazel can even be used to treat various maladies, from laryngitis to *ahem* piles. The reason it works so well against these complaints is the same reason that it’s a wonderful facial toner - it shrinks blood vessels and pores fantastically well. I use it morning and evening to remove all traces of cleaner and tone my skin. It is wonderfully refreshing on a hot day when wiped over one’s face, and even one’s tired feet! And at 99p a bottle, it is extremely recession-friendly to boot. I have to confess here that the light day cream I use is not remotely vintage, being from Tescos' surprisingly high-quality organic cosmetics range.This next one is actually my desert-island beauty product, and is also the one that's been with us the longest. Cold cream has been around for centuries, millennia even, if Wikipedia can be believed, and it was definitely something that our grandmothers would never have done without. There is a very good reason that this traditional product has been so popular for so long - it really works! Use it as a cleanser, a deep-cleaning face mask, an eye-lash conditioner, even a moisturiser in a pinch. In its usual role as cleanser, it leaves skin baby soft, never tight or dry. And it’s also incredibly cheap!I choose Boots’ Traditional Cold Cream because I love its retro packaging and bargain £2.79 price tag, which is significantly cheaper than Pond’s (which also comes in a smaller tub over here), but the latter has an equally long and illustrious history, and many vintage girls swear by it too. Using cold cream in my evening ritual never fails to make me feel glamorous! I wash my face gently with warm water and the same soap as in the morning, to remove the worst of the day's dirt and makeup. Then, in front of my bathroom mirror, wearing my vintage dressing gown and thinking of all the Hollywood stars and gorgeous grannies that did the same all those years ago, I massage a generous dollop of cold cream into my face, and remove thoroughly with a steamy flannel, lightly exfoliating as I go; finishing with some more refreshing witch hazel. This should be all the exfoliation your face needs for a clear and bright complexion, but if you want something scrub-like to use to use once a week or so, I heartily recommend Angels on Bare Skin from Lush. This all-natural scrub definitely counts as vintage, being based on a medieval recipe. It contains lavender and rose oils, and the exfoliant is gentle ground almonds. Make sure you stay clear of scrubs with sharp pieces, like ground apricot kernels, as they cause microscopic tears in your pores, often making them more obvious.
Created in the 1930s, allegedly to soothe the legs of its creator's beloved racehorses, Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream is a staple in many modern stars' and makeup artists' cosmetic bags, and one that never leaves my bedside table. Some people aren't fond of the smell, being slightly medicinal; but I adore it, and can never go back to boring old Vaseline (itself a vintage classic, of course). Last year, on 08/08/08, Elizabeth Arden brought out a commemorative vintage container, glass, with a metal lid. So much more chic than the plastic squeezy tubes! It's pricey, but lasts a long time, and it can be used on rough skin, cuticles, grazes, sunburn... the list goes on! Try it - I guarantee its soothing vitamin E and salicylic acid formula will ensure you wake up with lips as kissably smooth as those Golden Era glamour girls', and ready for that ruby red lipstick!
Thus concludes my short guide to my personal vintage beauty routine essentials. I hope it will help you all on your way towards luminous skin. Do have a look at Boots' Original Formula range for a fantastic array of vintage-style cosmetics that will look just the ticket on any dressing table. And do keep your eyes peeled for my next beauty article, which will feature my favourite vintage makeup classics!
Removing dead skin cell buildup is one of the most instant ways to revive your complexion, but you have to choose your weapon carefully. I don't know exactly how many women out there are still scrubbing their face with that awful apricot scrub that's so dang popular, but countless derms have told me that those kernels are way too large and harsh on your pores. Another way to screw up your skin via exfoliant is to scrub acnefied skin like crazy. All you're doing is further irritating, and in many cases, helping to spread the bacteria that caused the breakout in the first place. An alternative to mechanical exfoliation (mechanical entails a physical agent such as beads), is a product that removes skin cells chemically, like in the one, the only,MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, a blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids that many folks absolutely swear by. However, if you have extra sensitive skin, you're better off going with a product like Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash a couple times a week instead of daily.
2. Illuminate
An easy way to fake the healthy glow that accompanies skin in its prime condition is to use a moisturizer that contains light particles designed to reflect and conceal. Ever since Prescriptives came out with Magic back in the day, similar products have been a hit with consumers, and imitators abound. Again, choosing the right one is key. For example, you want to look for a formula that's light and looks natural on your face as opposed to say, a thick cakey number that resembles the kind of face glitter Christina Aguilera might wear on tour (or Brit might wear to um, the grocery store). Try one that's dermatologically-tested like Boots No7 Radiant Glow Lotion.
3. Focus
There is a treatment mask for every single skin condition these days, and a really good one, targeted for your exact needs, can work wonders right away. Red-faced? Try Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask with chamomile to instantly soothes and calm. Dehydrated? Get to know Nuxe Refreshing and Relaxing Moisture Mask. Oily? An old-fashioned mud mask is still a great way to soak up excess sebum. But road test a newer model like Epoch Glacial Marine Mud, for added benefits.
4. Lube up
Face oils are still regarded with suspicion here in the States, but women in many cultures swear by them, and for good reason. There's nothing like oil to smooth fine lines and render luminescence. And an oil does not always equal clogging. Even oily types can reap the benefits: Shu Uemura makes High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh, a version of their best-selling cleansing oil line specially formulated for normal to oily skin types and acne-prone skin. If you want to tread lightly into oil territory, first try a serum like Stem Organics Exquisite Face Fluid for a similar finish.
5. Don't ignore your eyes and lips
Your skin may look golden, but crackly, chapped lips and dried-out crow's feet can make you look a little rowed hard and washed up wet. Luckily, there are some products that combine two-in-one, which is ever so handy for carrying around in your purse for touch-ups. Decleor has a motherload of eye and lip-oriented products: Try Experince De L'Age Eye/Lip Cream for starters.
6. Get rid of zits fast
A lot of people ask me what I think of Zeno, the pimple zapping spot treating device that uses heat to essentially, burn away blemishes. I say, it seems to work okay, but it requires a freakish amount of time and attention, making even the most devoted Product Fiend feel like a shallow freak (like, even more than usual). A much easier and cheaper alternative is the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel, which doesn't always make good on its purported "clears breakouts in eight hours" time promise (it's not made of magic and stardust after all), but does seem to get the job done faster than a lot of other so-called insta-vanishers.
7. Spackle
Sometimes, you wake up, take one look in the mirror, and there's no denying you're having a seriously BFD (Bad Face Day). Times like these call for more than your average concealing and correcting. Oily and uneven? I swear by BeneFit Dr. Feelgood, a vitamin-enriched mattifying balm that creates a perfect palette for foundation and concealer. Dry types will flip for the hydrating primer wonder that is Nars Makeup Primer with SPF 20, which not only helps to reduce inflammation, but also combines moisturizer and sunscreen for less-is-more ease. When you're ready to cover up, apply a light, yet fairly-pigmented foundation like Chanel Precision Hydramax + Tinted Moisture Boost Lotion SPF 15--I use this almost daily because it gives coverage but looks really natural--and touch up blemishes and other spots with Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer, which I ----- you not, makes your skin look perfect, if only temporarily.
8. Desperately seeking NOW
Some skincare lines are going out of their way to offer quick, cheap and dirty alternatives to plastic surgery that you can DIY. Joey New York even has an entire line called Instant Results with a little special something for just about every beauty emergency under the sun. There's the Botox in a bottle, Line Up, and they even offer an Instant Results Best Seller Kit which contains lip plumper, eye wrinkle corrector and a facial contouring serum among others, which makes a great gift for anyone you know who is neurotic about their skin. Speaking of kits, Frownies just came out with Face Lift in a Bag, which includes everything you need to quick fix at-home, including their signature facial pads, semi-scary, Band-Aid like adhesives you apply to your forehead, corners of the eyes and mouth "to gently re-educate the underlying muscles to assume their correct, relaxed and natural appearance." Very Hannibal Lector!
9. Keep it simple
Nothing puts the spotlight on problem skin like harsh makeup. Most face powder only serves to showcase irregularities by clumping on top of spots and emphasizing fine lines. The makeup that will make your skin look freshest is easy breezy, and I'm not talking about Cover Girl here. Emphasize your eyes with a slightly shimmery, gold-hued cream shadow, and open them up by curling your lashes. If your skin isn't looking its best, skip blush, and apply a subtle lip stain like Lorac Sheer Wash (which rules), for color instead. Wearing your hair down (bonus for a more polished style), is another trick for drawing the eye away from problem skin. I may have spent a fortune on blowouts during a particularly harsh cystic acne spell, but at least the good hair days made me feel like less of a social leper.
10. Seek professional help
All of the above remedies work in a pinch, but the best thing you can do for your skin is make an appointment to see a derm. (Most insurance policies cover visits!) They can help suggest some treatments that may or may not be covered, but if anything, they should easily be able to offer guidance toward a high-end, prescription and/or drugstore skincare regimen that with regular use, will make your skin so loverly you'll never have to rub faux-tox on your skin again. And wouldn't that be sweet? My second, old-fashioned beauty secret is witch hazel. Witch hazel astringent was first produced in the 1800s, although Native Americans were well aware of the plant’s medicinal properties long before. I was introduced to it as a child, if I grazed or bruised myself, my mother would always apply witch hazel to the area. Its smell also evokes a lot of memories of being young! Witch hazel can even be used to treat various maladies, from laryngitis to *ahem* piles. The reason it works so well against these complaints is the same reason that it’s a wonderful facial toner - it shrinks blood vessels and pores fantastically well. I use it morning and evening to remove all traces of cleaner and tone my skin. It is wonderfully refreshing on a hot day when wiped over one’s face, and even one’s tired feet! And at 99p a bottle, it is extremely recession-friendly to boot. I have to confess here that the light day cream I use is not remotely vintage, being from Tescos' surprisingly high-quality organic cosmetics range.This next one is actually my desert-island beauty product, and is also the one that's been with us the longest. Cold cream has been around for centuries, millennia even, if Wikipedia can be believed, and it was definitely something that our grandmothers would never have done without. There is a very good reason that this traditional product has been so popular for so long - it really works! Use it as a cleanser, a deep-cleaning face mask, an eye-lash conditioner, even a moisturiser in a pinch. In its usual role as cleanser, it leaves skin baby soft, never tight or dry. And it’s also incredibly cheap!I choose Boots’ Traditional Cold Cream because I love its retro packaging and bargain £2.79 price tag, which is significantly cheaper than Pond’s (which also comes in a smaller tub over here), but the latter has an equally long and illustrious history, and many vintage girls swear by it too. Using cold cream in my evening ritual never fails to make me feel glamorous! I wash my face gently with warm water and the same soap as in the morning, to remove the worst of the day's dirt and makeup. Then, in front of my bathroom mirror, wearing my vintage dressing gown and thinking of all the Hollywood stars and gorgeous grannies that did the same all those years ago, I massage a generous dollop of cold cream into my face, and remove thoroughly with a steamy flannel, lightly exfoliating as I go; finishing with some more refreshing witch hazel. This should be all the exfoliation your face needs for a clear and bright complexion, but if you want something scrub-like to use to use once a week or so, I heartily recommend Angels on Bare Skin from Lush. This all-natural scrub definitely counts as vintage, being based on a medieval recipe. It contains lavender and rose oils, and the exfoliant is gentle ground almonds. Make sure you stay clear of scrubs with sharp pieces, like ground apricot kernels, as they cause microscopic tears in your pores, often making them more obvious.
The stars of yesteryear would probably have finished with a Vanishing Cream, such as the one Boots are doing as part of their Original Formula range, but I don't find I need to use moisturiser at all, or, if I do, it's just a little bit of my aforementioned organic day cream. A caveat: a girl can have too much of a good thing, and if I use cold cream in the morning, or fail to remove it well enough at night, it can lead to breakouts, so use with caution! Rinse out your flannel well with very hot water and leave it to dry - I change mine every two or three days, depending on how well I have removed my makeup in the initial wash!
My final vintage beauty essential is one so popular today that supermodels have been said to swear by it.
My final vintage beauty essential is one so popular today that supermodels have been said to swear by it.
Created in the 1930s, allegedly to soothe the legs of its creator's beloved racehorses, Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream is a staple in many modern stars' and makeup artists' cosmetic bags, and one that never leaves my bedside table. Some people aren't fond of the smell, being slightly medicinal; but I adore it, and can never go back to boring old Vaseline (itself a vintage classic, of course). Last year, on 08/08/08, Elizabeth Arden brought out a commemorative vintage container, glass, with a metal lid. So much more chic than the plastic squeezy tubes! It's pricey, but lasts a long time, and it can be used on rough skin, cuticles, grazes, sunburn... the list goes on! Try it - I guarantee its soothing vitamin E and salicylic acid formula will ensure you wake up with lips as kissably smooth as those Golden Era glamour girls', and ready for that ruby red lipstick!
Thus concludes my short guide to my personal vintage beauty routine essentials. I hope it will help you all on your way towards luminous skin. Do have a look at Boots' Original Formula range for a fantastic array of vintage-style cosmetics that will look just the ticket on any dressing table. And do keep your eyes peeled for my next beauty article, which will feature my favourite vintage makeup classics!
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