Advent Day 4 - The New Nail (the one I was !!!! about)

The almost-but-not-quite perfect shade from Nails Inc. I say almost because they already nailed (sorry) the no. 1, but only for a ltd edition promotion with Diet Coke. I still want them to make 'London' part of the main collection - are you listening Thea Green?!

'Porchester Square' is launching in January 2011. Put it in your (new) diary. You'll most likely get a hint at a good one of those too behind one door or another on ilovelipstick. I have mine already - not so much super organised as super spoilt. Thank you Clarins!

advent Day 3 - Softly Softly

I can't do a Christmas without cashmere socks. its a problem I have. Knitwear I love. Cable knit I LOVE. Cashmere I LOVE SO MUCH if it was in human form I would be eligible for a restraining order.

My parents are very good. they buy me socks as a present (dad's don't have the monopoly on these for Christmas), but I always machine wash them accidentally or lose one to that strange one-sock black hole.

So there is a vacancy. This year I would like wide stripes. According to LOOK magazine they're all the rage. My hunt has brought me to Pantherella, made in England, super soft and yes! stripey. And beautifully modelled by Bryan Morel PR intern Naomi.

Maybe this advent is turning into a gift guide. No harm, I know my mum is reading...!

Available from www.woodsofshropshire.co.uk

Advent Day 2 - To Smell It Is To Love It

Behind door no. 2 (but you have to wait till March 2011), a new look scent from diptyque. '34 Boulevard Saint Germain' is also the mythical address of the original diptyque birthplace. The oval ceramic candle is so potent I can smell it on the press release that came with it. The EDT is reet oop my street, with 40 raw materials combined, it basically smells spicy, woody, rich and masculine - my favourite kind.

Diptyque happens to be my biggest beauty love, weakness, and one of the only beauty things I'd happily spend my money on (you get indulgently used to the freebies in this job), so this is fall off my chair exciting

My first was a Rose candle, still my favourite, but at the moment I have the Xmas ltd edition Pine awaiting a burn. (kittens permitting. Elwood singed his eyebrows at his fourth attempt to sniff an open flame yesterday)...

sketches from travel notebook of Desmond Knox-Leet, one third of original diptyque founders

Happy December 1st btw

Welcome to ilovelipstick advent. This is quite a festive commitment but I'll do a little treat every day till Christmas (technology, Internet, iPad, health and snow permitting). And the first to comment gets an actual tangible treat too. If it's you email me your address...

As an extra 1st advent introduction, have a bonus round. My amazing and adorable new kittens Elwood and Columbo arrived Sunday. Nothing remotely beauty about that. Although they are BEAUTIFUL. In a bat kind of way...











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Josie by Josie

I don't know what to say about this, aside from £1 per bottle from The Perfume Shop sales go to an exceptionally good cause - Look Good... Feel Better.

And her fans chose the name - not such a creative bunch then...

And the campaign shot, well, no - there are no words.

Still managed a few though...

Today I'm Wearing...Lanvin Lipstick

In honour of the Lanvin for H&M fashion drop today (everything sold out so don't even look - it's too heartbreaking) I am wearing one of the 2 lipstick shades, just because it is the perfect anti-hangover colour. Do you get that? Bright lipstick is the makeup equivalent of Prozac. just me? anyway...

Yes I know it is only Tuesday but it was my birthday yesterday so Monday night wine was OK.

p.s. I did get the pea pod Alex Monroe necklace - from my lovely mum and dad. Hint taken! well done...

Lanvin for H&M lipstick in Hot Pink, £7.99 (I think even this is sold out so this info is a bit redundant. Try Ebay but be prepared to add another '0' to everything...)

Tell Your Friends...about Warming Peat Ritual

So this is the unusual treatment I was, I'll admit, weirdly nervous about. Let me confess - I don't actually like spa treatments very much. It's partly a control thing - I'm stuck at the mercy of someone else for an hour or so. Partly also the guilt thing. I just can't relax thinking of someone working hard to relax me. I try and try but I just can't stop worrying about how much their hands must hurt by now. I can't fathom how people can actually fall asleep mid massage. For one you miss all the relaxing action, and for another, you are sleeping, virtually naked, in front of a stranger.

So, this Warming Peat Ritual exclusive to the Espa in the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt Hotel was a new experience for me. NINETY minutes of exfoliating, peat smearing, wrapping and massaging had me in a bit of a state of dread. (ungrateful, I know...)

In reality:

exfoliating: How I would imagine a baby cat feels being licked by its mother. Weird, but true.

Peat: It's basically 9000 year old Og Ireland Peat, (doesn't stink) only obviously found in Ireland, warmed and smoothed on all over. Its got a lot of minerals and skin benefits that made my skin feel amazing afterwards. Looked odd though. Like a monkey?

Wrap: NOT the clingfilm horror I've been avoiding all these years. Just nice warm towels. The oriental head massage that went on simultaneously was plenty to knock out any claustrophobia inclination anyway, and Patrice, my therapist told me to tell him if I was uncomfortable 'being like a mummy'. The wrapped kind, not the cat licking kind.

Massage: Oh my goodness. So amazing. the best massage I ever had by far. I managed to not feel guilty, I managed to completely relax, I did spend the last ten minutes getting a bit sad that it was going to finish soon though. And no, no sleeping. But I reckon I just need to practice. So, another one next week? It would DEFINITELY be worth the trip to Ireland...

The Espa Warming Peat Ritual at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt Hotel, euro 175. Click here for more info