Stick ‘em up: Original Stickems

Don’t you just hate those fingerprint marks all over your touchscreen phone, your Kindle, you iPod?

I get unusually wound up by them if I’m honest and it actually put me off getting a smartphone for a while. Pathetic I know.

My colleague went to the Gadget Show in Birmingham last month and brought back a stash of these.

Stickems cling to the back of your device waiting for the time when you’re screen gets mucky. You just pull it off, give it a little wipe and then stick it back. Genius.

Well, it would be if they passed the handbag test. I’ve had a Stickem stuck to the back of my phone now for a month and it will no longer stick and even after a week it was more of a one-end-stuck, one-end-flapping-off’em. I’ve hardly stuck and unstuck it. If anything I’ve wiped the screen of my phone less than I normally would. Sigh.

They are quite cheap, ranging from £2.99 to £4.99 and you don’t have to have this boring design as there are hundreds – some of them very pretty – to choose from. Plus they did clean my screen really nicely. Maybe they're just not sturdy enough for a jam-packed handbag? I just expect too much?

Magic in the making: Harry Potter studio tour, London

Well we’re seven books and eight movies down and it seemed like the Harry Potter juggernaut had come to a standstill. Although I’m a grown woman this thought made me sad. The books had been special to me, seeing the films a pleasure. So when I heard that Warner Bros were opening a studio tour I was beside myself with excitement.

Not only would I get to indulge my love of all things Potter but I’d get to relish in my geeky side by glimpsing behind the scenes. I begged my other half for tickets as a Christmas present (I didn’t mind waiting) and he relented obliged.

The doubts started to spring into my mind. Would seeing exactly how the films were created spoil the magic behind them? Would it be too crowded to see anything? There’s been a lot of hype about the cost; would I need to re-mortgage my flat to afford it?

Happily the answers were no, no and mostly no.

Heading into the Great Hall

 

If anything, seeing the secrets of the Harry Potter films has added to my admiration of all the films. The detail and hard work that the crew and everyone involved at Leavesden Studios took my breath away. There were tickets for the Hogwarts Express, a handwritten letter to Lily Potter informing her she had a place at Hogwarts – things that would only be seen on screen for a fleeting moment, if at all.

The matter of crowd control was nothing to fear. We went on a busy day in the Easter holidays when places had sold out but it was never push-shove. The timed entry helped, as did the fact you could basically make your way around in your own time. We spent four hours there but could have spent longer.

With the cost, well, the tickets were £28 for an adult. It seems expensive, but is comparable with other ‘days out’ in the UK like Alton Towers and the like, and as someone like me who’s afraid of rollercoasters it was better value. The food there can be expensive, but there’s an undercover picnic area half way around where you can eat your own lunch. The gift shop is expensive, but all gift shops are overpriced if you ask me.

And the butter beer (yes you can try butter beer) is about the price of a Starbucks at £2.95. Well, you MUST to try it. I can’t say I enjoyed it. My advice would be to drink it quickly as it starts to congeal and look positively disgusting, but it’s an experience, part of the day. 

Knocking at number 4 Privet Drive. Harry wasn't home.

Highlights for me were the art department models, seeing the beautiful dress that Hermione wore to the Yule Ball, the make-up artist’s work station (lots of wigs, MAC and Laura Mercier products) and, of course, the stunning scale model of Hogwarts Castle. I spent ages looking at it from every angle as the lights showed how it would look in daylight and at night.

I hope that gives you some idea whether you want to go. I was so glad I wasn’t disappointed and I hope you won’t be either.

Once you pop…

Popcorn. It’s something I just never think of eating outside a cinema. 

Even in the cinema it’s not always my first choice; multiplex popcorn is hardly a culinary delight. I generally just have a fizzy drink and – if it’s available – some Ben and Jerry’s. Those options are much quieter for my fellow audience members and far more delicious.

Yet good old Marks and Spencer has gone a good way to changing my mind and making popcorn seem, well, indulgent. They have a healthy snack range with a cupboard full of treats that all come in at fewer than 100 or fewer than 150 calories. Among them is this:

Chocolate and pecan popcorn at just 130 calories. Yes, even with chocolate! I’ve got a real sweet tooth and this really hits the spot without making me feel guilty. And hey, it’s got to be better than a bag of crisps, right?

Now I’ll admit there doesn’t seem to be very much chocolate drizzled on the top and the pecan nuts are few and far between, but the rich toffee coating on each kernel is enough to pack in the flavour and make this humble cinema snack all the more luxurious.

There’s a strawberry and white chocolate version too but I’ve not sampled it as I’m not keen on freeze dried berries.

Of course, this being Marks and Spencer food, it is a little pricey. When I bought these they were around £2.50 for five bags and, to be honest, the bags aren’t that big but the goodies inside are so rich and decadent you probably won’t care!

It’s a yes from me provided I’m feeling rich.

Nail addict

I was lucky enough to get a set of Champneys nail polishes for Christmas and I’ve been biding my time to use them. Although I’m a nail varnish addict I am hopeless at actually painting my nails and have to wait until I have a lot of time on my hands (no pun intended).

Finally one Sunday it came and I broke out the polishes. The set came with five different colours – a red (a bit vampy for me) a nude colour, a fantastic shimmery purple and a reddy brown they call mulberry. There was also a clear version that can be used as a top coat or base.

 

I started doing the mulberry shade but it looked a bit boring and didn’t suit my skin so I went over it with the purple and loved the results. Here’s the least badly painted nail for you to see.

I’ve also tried the nude shade which adds a very classy look to your nails, the bonus being that you can’t really see the mistakes. All the colours are shiny, so if you prefer a matt look then steer clear. 

The polishes lasted about day without damage for me; quite an achievement as I am fairly clumsy and type all day at work. It would probably last at least three days on a proper lady.

It was easy to paint over the chipped parts without it going clumpy. Yes, I know I should take it off and start again but really, who has the time?

The only problem I found is that if I used the clear polish as a base it didn’t seem to last as long so I stopped bothering. Still, I’ve had a good introduction to Champneys nail varnishes and although I prefer more modern colours I’ll consider them in the future.

BB Beautiful

I have to admit I’m not entirely sold on the current craze for BB creams. Maybe it’s because I haven’t tried one of the swanky ones but I have tried a market leader – Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector.

BB Creams, or blemish balms, have been slowly creeping onto the market with many high street brands now having their own version. They are billed as the dream product with primer, lightweight foundation, concealer, moisturiser, anti-inflammatory and UV protection in one. They are hugely popular in Asia and launched in the UK last summer, the perfect time to embrace the dewy, lightweight complexion they give you.

I have to say I do think the cream evens out a lot of problems with my skin tone and just makes me look more ‘glowy’. People have even complimented me saying how well I look. I think it must be down the light reflecting properties it gives your skin.

Apparently the colour comes from minerals so it doesn’t block your pores, but I wouldn’t say it improves the skin either. And if you have spots then you will need something with more coverage.

The Garnier cream is perfect for those days when your skin just won’t behave and your usual make-up doesn’t work, especially if the skin is dry. The colour doesn’t emphasise any dry patches and feels comfortable on your face. It’s also great for a weekend when you don’t want to mess about doing a whole face of make-up and just want to get out there!

I do feel better knowing it will moisturise my skin and protect it from UV, but I just feel a bit too, well, shiny. I know the idea is to avoid using a powder on top to keep the look modern and dewy, but I just can’t do it. I feel too greasy. I have compromised by just powdering the T-zone so it’s not too bad. 

Price wise Garnier’s Miracle Skin Perfector is at the lower end of the scale at around £9.99 for 50ml, but if you have an Asda nearby it is £7 for 50ml until February 27.

One from the boys

No matter how diehard your feminist credentials nor how independent you are as a woman, sometimes you just need to get a man in. Or, in my case, have to turn to male grooming products to get a satisfactory result.

It’s a bit of a cliché that men will steal your expensive night cream but if that’s true in your house then it’s time to seek revenge. The range of stuff for men on the shelves of our chemists is growing by the week and although they don’t come in the same pretty packaging as products targeted at women many of them do the job better.

Take face scrub for example. The ones I get aimed at women just aren’t scrubby enough – there’s barely two exfoliating microbeads to rub together. 

Get a man’s scrub – like this one from No 7 for men and it’s a different story with plenty of grains to really polish the skin. The only one that comes close, for me, is Clinique’s 7-day Scrub Cream, which costs a lot more.

Another example (sorry it’s Boots again) is this face wash from the Botanical range for normal/dry skin. 

I really like the scent and my face just feels much cleaner when I use it in the shower. Plus it seems to control my spots, which is the order of the day.

These products aren’t the only ones though. Have you ever tried razors for men? They are fantastic at getting a clean shave without irritating your skin. I have a conspiracy theory that razors for us girls are no longer as sharp since the recession in Britain a few years ago, yet the price has gone up, but the cost of razors for the boys has hardly changed.

Similarly I love using shaving foam for men (designed for the face) on my legs as it leaves my skin feeling softer. Maybe it’s psychological but I am convinced!

Hopefully you won’t be shy in raiding the male grooming sections of your nearest chemist, or stealing stuff on the sly from your boyfriend/husband/housemate/GBF. What items would you recommend?