text:
Every day we are hounded by advertisers and marketers to WEAR THIS! EAT THAT! DRIVE THIS! BUY THAT! And if we do - we can look like Halle Berry or jump like Michael Jordan. These "promises", absurd as they seem, are often the brainchild of a marketing copywriter. The theme of this newsletter is how to make sense of marketing messages and become critical consumers.
How do we ensure that we are making the best decisions when we are showered by advertising and being influenced at an emotional and subconscious level? How do we learn to identify the way advertisers ply our emotions? How do we learn to become smart readers of advertising information, so we are not triggered by copywriters into making rushed and ill-informed decisions?
The answer is to become a critical marketing reader.
In previous newsletters, we learned critical reading and thinking techniques. These skills can be put to great use in a wide variety of ways and advertising material is no exception.
What follows is a quick summary of what we have covered so far in critical reading and thinking.
What makes a critical reader different from an ordinary reader?
Unlike ordinary readers, critical readers do not take everything they read to be facts. They realize what they read is one particular point of view and that it is often the author's goal to persuade the reader to accept this view.
Critical readers are able to separate the "real" information from the marketing hype - information which is valid and useful to their needs.
Faulty perceptions: They avoid these by being mindful of stereotypes in their reading.
Invalid assumptions: They constantly question their assumptions to ensure their validity.
The power of words: They consider multiple meanings of words and the context in which the words are used.
Faulty logic: They look at whether the argument is based on sound logic.
Critical readers know how to identify, reconstruct and evaluate arguments. They are aware that there are two different types of arguments i.e. inductive and deductive arguments and how to assess the validity of these different types of arguments.
Inductive arguments operate on rules of thumb. In an inductive argument, if the premise is true, it is probable the conclusion is true as well. The truth of an inductive argument can be ascertained by assessing the accuracy of previous observations and the strength of the causal relationship.
A deductive argument is more strongly linked in that, if the premise is true, it is certain that the conclusion is true as well. Deductive arguments are usually reserved to definitions and mathematical rules. The truth of a deductive argument can be ascertained by assessing whether the reasoning and premises behind the argument are logical.
Hasty generalizations: Critical readers avoid these by ensuring the reasons to support the conclusions are reasonable and sufficient.
Loaded questions: Critical readers look for potential assumptions hidden in questions eg "Are you still failing maths?" automatically assumes that the person being questioned has failed maths.
Post-hoc reasoning: Critical readers are aware that just because one event precedes another, the first event does not automatically cause the second event.
Fallacious appeals: Critical readers are aware that just because an argument appeals to authority, common practices or traditions, promises positive consequences or threatens negatives ones this does not ensure its validity.
Emotional appeals: Critical readers are mindful of avoiding the knee-jerk responses provoked by emotional appeals.
Adding to the information we already have on critical reading and thinking techniques we will now reveal some of the popular marketing writing techniques used to persuade you to accept what they say. These pointers will ensure you become a savvy, critical reader of advertising information.
Just because Andy Roddick uses a certain tennis racquet, it does not mean that purchasing one just like his will improve your tennis skills! Claims that a product is supported by a celebrity, expert, or so-called authoritative report is often a marketing ploy. Critical readers will evaluate the credibility of these sources. For example, if a company claims its products are backed by a research report, it is worthwhile looking into the origins of this report. Check whether the research undertaken was independent or refers to reputable and credible sources outside the organization marketing the product.
The average American will live to age 75. But tragic accidents can occur resulting in the premature death of the family breadwinner. This can leave the wife and children without financial support in those difficult times. The ACME life insurance will protect your family, no matter what.
Can you spot the fear-factor in this example? The fear of death ranks at the top of the list of fearful things. Do not become persuaded by a marketer's point of view just because they prey on such fears. Assess the information they present to see whether it is supported by sound logic and whether a real threat exists. One only needs to look at the plethora of anti-aging products on the market to witness how marketers have convinced people that aging needs to be remedied!
Another persuasive marketing technique used to entice consumers is the use of certain "power" words. Treat words such as "more" and "new", eg. "50% More" and "new and improved formula" with caution. Bear in mind that many marketers investigate what people want to hear and then use it as a catch phrase. In many cases the phrase used is not even true for the product! Do not commit yourself into making a purchase until you have read more about the terms and conditions.
Food labelling is a particularly potent marketing trap in this instance. Many consumers are fooled into believing that "fat free" products are healthy. While these products contain very little fat, they are often packed with other fattening ingredients such as sugar and other simple carbohydrates.
Critical readers are aware that advertising material often contains these sneaky marketing words.
While numbers and statistics are a good way to back up an argument, be wary when these tactics are used in advertising material. Marketers will often make claims such as "95% of participants in our clinical trial noticed a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles." Don't be so easily won over by these impressive-looking statistics. Often, the fine print at the bottom of a written advertisement will reveal that the "clinical trial" was only performed on a small amount of people - hardly scientific proof of the advertising claims.
Another marketing trap is to entice consumers by promising impossible and unachievable results. Don't be fooled by the glitz and glamour of marketing. Be a critical reader and look carefully at the validity of the argument structures and supporting evidence. For example, reading products which promise to teach you to read at 25,000 words per minute are selling an impossible dream. By being a critical reader, you can see how outrageous these claims are - that means you'd be able to read and understand this entire article in approximately 3.5 seconds!
You know the marketing pitfalls - now see if you can spot them. Look at the following examples of marketing copy. Think of the sorts of questions you should ask in order to check the validity of these claims, then check your understanding in the next section.
Now 50% more effective as shown by scientific trials.
According to an industry report on banking and financial services, our institution is the best place to go for a home loan.
Travel to Hawaii for FREE with our special accommodation packages.
What scientific trials are these? How many people were involved in the trials? Who conducted the trials - the organization selling the product or an external organization? What does 50% more effective actually mean?
What sort of report is this? Who wrote it? Who commissioned it? Is there a potential conflict of interest? Are the research sources credible?
What are the terms and conditions of the special accommodation packages? If you have to pay for the accommodation, is the trip "free"?
Now that you can spot the methods marketing companies use to grab your attention, you can read advertising information the smart way. Don't be bamboozled by marketers into being told what to do, what to wear or what to eat. Use your critical reading and thinking skills and cut through the marketing hype!
Try the RocketReader reading proficiency software FREE. Speed reading, memory improvement and much more. Try it now.
Are you a fast and effective reader? Test yourself online FREE, and get INSTANT results: Test yourself now.
New! Develop a broad and powerful vocabulary. The ability to communicate correctly is vital for business and career success. RocketReader Vocab transforms your vocabulary by training you on a powerful set of words conveniently organized into 37 fun lessons. Try it FREE. Try it FREE.

lowercased:
every day we are hounded by advertisers and marketers to wear this! eat that! drive this! buy that! and if we do - we can look like halle berry or jump like michael jordan. these "promises", absurd as they seem, are often the brainchild of a marketing copywriter. the theme of this newsletter is how to make sense of marketing messages and become critical consumers.
how do we ensure that we are making the best decisions when we are showered by advertising and being influenced at an emotional and subconscious level? how do we learn to identify the way advertisers ply our emotions? how do we learn to become smart readers of advertising information, so we are not triggered by copywriters into making rushed and ill-informed decisions?
the answer is to become a critical marketing reader.
in previous newsletters, we learned critical reading and thinking techniques. these skills can be put to great use in a wide variety of ways and advertising material is no exception.
what follows is a quick summary of what we have covered so far in critical reading and thinking.
what makes a critical reader different from an ordinary reader?
unlike ordinary readers, critical readers do not take everything they read to be facts. they realize what they read is one particular point of view and that it is often the author's goal to persuade the reader to accept this view.
critical readers are able to separate the "real" information from the marketing hype - information which is valid and useful to their needs.
faulty perceptions: they avoid these by being mindful of stereotypes in their reading.
invalid assumptions: they constantly question their assumptions to ensure their validity.
the power of words: they consider multiple meanings of words and the context in which the words are used.
faulty logic: they look at whether the argument is based on sound logic.
critical readers know how to identify, reconstruct and evaluate arguments. they are aware that there are two different types of arguments i.e. inductive and deductive arguments and how to assess the validity of these different types of arguments.
inductive arguments operate on rules of thumb. in an inductive argument, if the premise is true, it is probable the conclusion is true as well. the truth of an inductive argument can be ascertained by assessing the accuracy of previous observations and the strength of the causal relationship.
a deductive argument is more strongly linked in that, if the premise is true, it is certain that the conclusion is true as well. deductive arguments are usually reserved to definitions and mathematical rules. the truth of a deductive argument can be ascertained by assessing whether the reasoning and premises behind the argument are logical.
hasty generalizations: critical readers avoid these by ensuring the reasons to support the conclusions are reasonable and sufficient.
loaded questions: critical readers look for potential assumptions hidden in questions eg "are you still failing maths?" automatically assumes that the person being questioned has failed maths.
post-hoc reasoning: critical readers are aware that just because one event precedes another, the first event does not automatically cause the second event.
fallacious appeals: critical readers are aware that just because an argument appeals to authority, common practices or traditions, promises positive consequences or threatens negatives ones this does not ensure its validity.
emotional appeals: critical readers are mindful of avoiding the knee-jerk responses provoked by emotional appeals.
adding to the information we already have on critical reading and thinking techniques we will now reveal some of the popular marketing writing techniques used to persuade you to accept what they say. these pointers will ensure you become a savvy, critical reader of advertising information.
just because andy roddick uses a certain tennis racquet, it does not mean that purchasing one just like his will improve your tennis skills! claims that a product is supported by a celebrity, expert, or so-called authoritative report is often a marketing ploy. critical readers will evaluate the credibility of these sources. for example, if a company claims its products are backed by a research report, it is worthwhile looking into the origins of this report. check whether the research undertaken was independent or refers to reputable and credible sources outside the organization marketing the product.
the average american will live to age 75. but tragic accidents can occur resulting in the premature death of the family breadwinner. this can leave the wife and children without financial support in those difficult times. the acme life insurance will protect your family, no matter what.
can you spot the fear-factor in this example? the fear of death ranks at the top of the list of fearful things. do not become persuaded by a marketer's point of view just because they prey on such fears. assess the information they present to see whether it is supported by sound logic and whether a real threat exists. one only needs to look at the plethora of anti-aging products on the market to witness how marketers have convinced people that aging needs to be remedied!
another persuasive marketing technique used to entice consumers is the use of certain "power" words. treat words such as "more" and "new", eg. "50% more" and "new and improved formula" with caution. bear in mind that many marketers investigate what people want to hear and then use it as a catch phrase. in many cases the phrase used is not even true for the product! do not commit yourself into making a purchase until you have read more about the terms and conditions.
food labelling is a particularly potent marketing trap in this instance. many consumers are fooled into believing that "fat free" products are healthy. while these products contain very little fat, they are often packed with other fattening ingredients such as sugar and other simple carbohydrates.
critical readers are aware that advertising material often contains these sneaky marketing words.
while numbers and statistics are a good way to back up an argument, be wary when these tactics are used in advertising material. marketers will often make claims such as "95% of participants in our clinical trial noticed a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles." don't be so easily won over by these impressive-looking statistics. often, the fine print at the bottom of a written advertisement will reveal that the "clinical trial" was only performed on a small amount of people - hardly scientific proof of the advertising claims.
another marketing trap is to entice consumers by promising impossible and unachievable results. don't be fooled by the glitz and glamour of marketing. be a critical reader and look carefully at the validity of the argument structures and supporting evidence. for example, reading products which promise to teach you to read at 25,000 words per minute are selling an impossible dream. by being a critical reader, you can see how outrageous these claims are - that means you'd be able to read and understand this entire article in approximately 3.5 seconds!
you know the marketing pitfalls - now see if you can spot them. look at the following examples of marketing copy. think of the sorts of questions you should ask in order to check the validity of these claims, then check your understanding in the next section.
now 50% more effective as shown by scientific trials.
according to an industry report on banking and financial services, our institution is the best place to go for a home loan.
travel to hawaii for free with our special accommodation packages.
what scientific trials are these? how many people were involved in the trials? who conducted the trials - the organization selling the product or an external organization? what does 50% more effective actually mean?
what sort of report is this? who wrote it? who commissioned it? is there a potential conflict of interest? are the research sources credible?
what are the terms and conditions of the special accommodation packages? if you have to pay for the accommodation, is the trip "free"?
now that you can spot the methods marketing companies use to grab your attention, you can read advertising information the smart way. don't be bamboozled by marketers into being told what to do, what to wear or what to eat. use your critical reading and thinking skills and cut through the marketing hype!
try the rocketreader reading proficiency software free. speed reading, memory improvement and much more. try it now.
are you a fast and effective reader? test yourself online free, and get instant results: test yourself now.
new! develop a broad and powerful vocabulary. the ability to communicate correctly is vital for business and career success. rocketreader vocab transforms your vocabulary by training you on a powerful set of words conveniently organized into 37 fun lessons. try it free. try it free.


text:
While composing this post on No Agenda Forums, an interesting problem came up. How can I show someone their own biases? They are obvious to me, but (by definition) the other person’s entire system of thinking is arranged in such a way as to find their biases valid.
After coming to understand the limitations of our built-in processing, this problem really bugs me. What kind of mirror can I use to show someone their errors? How could they show me my errors? Assuming my reasoning is faulty, would I be just as difficult to convince, or does my experience with fallacy and bias give me any advantage?
I guess this is what keeps a skeptic up at night.

lowercased:
while composing this post on no agenda forums, an interesting problem came up. how can i show someone their own biases? they are obvious to me, but (by definition) the other person’s entire system of thinking is arranged in such a way as to find their biases valid.
after coming to understand the limitations of our built-in processing, this problem really bugs me. what kind of mirror can i use to show someone their errors? how could they show me my errors? assuming my reasoning is faulty, would i be just as difficult to convince, or does my experience with fallacy and bias give me any advantage?
i guess this is what keeps a skeptic up at night.


text:
A new, 1st Edition trade paperback Commonwealth copy of ‘The Pearl Sister’ (book 4 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new US 1st Edition hardback copy of 'The Seven Sisters' (book 1 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new US paperback copy of The Seven Sisters (book 1 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new UK paperback of 'The Seven Sisters' (book 1 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new UK 1st Edition paperback copy of 'The Shadow Sister' (book 3 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new US 1st Edition hardback copy of 'The Shadow Sister' (book 3 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new UK trade paperback copy of 'The Storm Sister' (book 2 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new 1st Edition USA hardback copy of ‘The Storm Sister’ (book 2 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.
A new English Large Print hardback copy of ‘The Storm Sister’ (book 2 in The Seven Sisters series) signed by the author.

lowercased:
a new, 1st edition trade paperback commonwealth copy of ‘the pearl sister’ (book 4 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new us 1st edition hardback copy of 'the seven sisters' (book 1 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new us paperback copy of the seven sisters (book 1 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new uk paperback of 'the seven sisters' (book 1 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new uk 1st edition paperback copy of 'the shadow sister' (book 3 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new us 1st edition hardback copy of 'the shadow sister' (book 3 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new uk trade paperback copy of 'the storm sister' (book 2 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new 1st edition usa hardback copy of ‘the storm sister’ (book 2 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.
a new english large print hardback copy of ‘the storm sister’ (book 2 in the seven sisters series) signed by the author.


text:
I am in a literal state of disbelief that 2015 is over and that so much has happened in it. So many books read and so many more I want to read. I guess that is always the case. I read some really lovely books that will be reread again and again, and stay with me both as a writer and as a person this year (because writers aren’t people, obvi). It was near impossible to whittle the list down to ten, but here’s what I came up with! Would love to know what you think of any of these books, or what your favorite books of the year are in the comments!
So many good books on your list!! We both have Simon on ours, of course. I am so happy you loved TRB! I’ve got to read Grasshopper Jungle soon; I loved the two Andrew Smith books I read this year. My TTT!
Simon is so amazing! I’m not surprised to see it on so many lists today!
I completely forgot about The Raven Boys! Shoot, I’m really sad now. I also had The Wrath & the Dawn on my list. Can’t wait for the sequel!
Me too. That book totally took my breath away!
Great list. I see one I’ve read and a couple I have on my TBR pile.
I Also LOVED I’ll Give You The Sun!
Wow, you really have had an amazing year of books! Long may it continue.
Oh you definitely should! It’s my favorite of all of Maggie Stiefvater’s books. So good!
Yay more The Raven Boys lovers! It is such an excellent series ❤ My TTT.

lowercased:
i am in a literal state of disbelief that 2015 is over and that so much has happened in it. so many books read and so many more i want to read. i guess that is always the case. i read some really lovely books that will be reread again and again, and stay with me both as a writer and as a person this year (because writers aren’t people, obvi). it was near impossible to whittle the list down to ten, but here’s what i came up with! would love to know what you think of any of these books, or what your favorite books of the year are in the comments!
so many good books on your list!! we both have simon on ours, of course. i am so happy you loved trb! i’ve got to read grasshopper jungle soon; i loved the two andrew smith books i read this year. my ttt!
simon is so amazing! i’m not surprised to see it on so many lists today!
i completely forgot about the raven boys! shoot, i’m really sad now. i also had the wrath & the dawn on my list. can’t wait for the sequel!
me too. that book totally took my breath away!
great list. i see one i’ve read and a couple i have on my tbr pile.
i also loved i’ll give you the sun!
wow, you really have had an amazing year of books! long may it continue.
oh you definitely should! it’s my favorite of all of maggie stiefvater’s books. so good!
yay more the raven boys lovers! it is such an excellent series ❤ my ttt.


text:
On October 10th 2017, my life took on a whole new meaning as I became a mother for the first time. Little Theodore made his long awaited debut in style after keeping us waiting for 8 whole days past my due date! The days, weeks and months that followed seemed to whizz by in a flash and somewhere along the line, my tiny newborn blossomed into a healthy 14 week old baby!
It’s not been an easy initiation into motherhood (is it ever!?) but hopefully the dreaded colicky evenings seem to be a thing of the past which means I get to spend some time with my husband and enjoy some wine! It also means I have time to pick my blog back up again after neglecting it for the past year for various reasons.
I started TKBS blog to allow me to indulge in my unhealthy obsession with all things beauty related but that was before I had a tiny human to grow and look after. I still plan on writing about beauty but I’m also going to share with you my experiences of pregnancy and motherhood (and hope to hear about yours too). It was about this time last year that I first found out I was pregnant so that seems a good place to start. Keep an eye out for my post to follow on the first trimester…ah the nauseous feelings come flooding back just thinking about it!
The not so amazing face….
I managed to pick up an amazing Emma Hardie set in the January sales which included the vitamin C intense daily serum and the vitamin C face cream. Having previously used the balm I was super excited to start using these products!
I apply a serum twice a day and normally like to wear it under my makeup with a moisturiser for my day to day face. Unfortunately the Emma Hardie serum does not seem to like being applied with other products! From the very first time I used it I could tell it was going to cause me problems. Despite using a moisturiser on top, my foundation would just not sit well. Instead it would congeal and clump together giving a really attractive patchy finish. I couldn’t find anything to improve the finish to the point I’ve had to restrict it’s use to night time only. I’m also not a bit fan of the smell and it can feel a little bit tacky when first applied but I think that’s a common find with Vitamin C products.
Moving on to the moisturiser. When I first took the lid off, my eyes lit up as it revealed a gorgeous thick cream which looked really hydrating. I applied it over the serum. It wasn’t the easiest to apply, I can only describe it like when you rub soap into your hands without adding water. And again it felt quite tacky at first. When it did eventually absorb in, my skin felt quite tight like there was a residue on top. Not quite what I was hoping for! I think I will be saving this for night time use only too.
I was a little bit dissapointed to say the least but just glad I didn’t pay full whack for the products. Having looked at reviews on other websites, it seems to be a common complaint regarding the serum in particular.
I’m keen to learn more about green beauty and organic skin care products. I have some Pai and May Lindstorm products which I will move on to next and report back!
What were your thoughts on the Emma Hardie products mentioned?
So as well as being a self confessed beauty addict, I may also be a little bit of a hoarder; two things which do not go well together. Even I now admit space is becoming a problem in my dressing room aka glorified cupboard. I always like to keep the boxes that perfume/beauty sets come in as they are normally good sturdy boxes, perfect for keeping even more products in!
Cut to dozens of boxes stuffed in shelves with a vague idea of what’s in what (but I usually get it wrong and have to go through them all anyway). The reason why I’ve ended up like this…I probably have too much stuff. Hence why i’m imposing dry January on myself. No i’m not cutting alcohol out, something far worse, I’m banning myself from buying any more beauty related products.
I basically need to get better at using what I have and appreciating it. So I’ve decided to rationalise my skin care routine and try and stick to it for the next month. I’ve selected one moisturiser, cleanser, serum and night cream to use. They are all products I’m using currently but some of them I opened nearly a year a go so I need to use them up soon!
Ceramic Slip cleanser – Sunday Riley. I originally bought this for my husband but getting him to actually use it proved too much. It’s ok, not quite what I was expecting and I probably would’t buy it again.
Ultra Facial Cream – Kiehl’s. Good moisturiser especially with this cold weather!
Advance night repair – Estee Lauder. One of my favourite serums.
Pixi Glow Tonic. Another cult beauty product. I wasn’t blown away with it’s effects personally but I’m going to use it religiously over the next month and see how my skin reacts.
Dragon’s blood hyaluronic night cream – Rodial. I got this for Christmas and so far I am enjoying using it. It does feel hydrating and has a lovely creamy texture to it.
So that’s my challenge over the next month. I’m actually quite keen to use some of them up so I can open my new Emma Hardie products that I have waiting in the wings! Have you set your self a challenge for the new year? Let me know.
My husband who is big into self improvement tells me that it’s good to physically write goals down at the start of the year (he’s practising yoga on our bedroom floor as I type – one of his goals for 2017). So with this in mind, we ventured out to a cosy pub today to write them together. It lasted 5 minutes. I soon became irritated by his grand ideas when I knew in reality I would never be able to achieve them. For example, eating fish twice a week. I HATE fish. He knows it too but that doesn’t stop him trying to shove his cod in my mouth at lunch today (I said ‘cod’).
Like a lot of you I’m sure, I feel that my life is being dominated by my work at the moment which makes even little tasks like cooking dinner seem like a big deal. Bad habits have become the norm and I ended 2016 barely squeezing into a black jumpsuit, with a muffin top to boot. This is not who I am!
Exercise at least twice a week including Run Like a Girl and Parkrun.
Rely on dry shampoo less or get hair chopped off so it’s not such an effort to wash it!
Do what makes me happy, life is short…and on that note, gain a level 7 certificate in aesthetic medicine and see what happens!
I’ve already failed number 1. Ah. Must get to bed!
Happy New Year to you all! Have you got any goals? Lets encourage each other.
Good Genes has been in my life for just over a year now and for me, it’s a very unique product unlike anything else I have tried. I always find it generates a lot of questions whenever I post about it on Instagram so thought I would share my experiences of the product with you all.
Good Genes is a lactic acid treatment which can be used daily or occasionally as a mask. It claims to boost your complexion, plump fine lines and even help to reduce hyper-pigmentation over time. Generally it helps to exfoliate your skin with pretty quick results.
Its consistency is cream-like and after months of racking my brain, trying to remember what its smell reminds me of, I can now smugly say it’s Refresher chew bars! Next time you use it, you’ll see what I mean! For those not familiar with this childhood favourite of mine, it has a quite a distinct citrus smell. Not something I was a fan over in the beginning but the more I’ve used it, the less I’ve noticed it.
When I first started using this product, I applied it consecutively for around 4 nights. That’s when the burning started to set in. It would hit around 5 seconds after applying, a really irritating, itchy burning sensation – like when someone is tickling your feet and you just cant get away!
I was initially really disappointed but then I realised I had just been over killing it. The pH of the product is pretty low which means it’s acidic and therefore can be quite irritating to the skin, especially if you have sensitive skin or use it frequently. I would advise that you don’t use this product daily. I now use it 1-2 times a week (which also means it lasts a lot longer).
So the reason why I think a lot of people love this product is because it has visible results which are seen very quickly. I find this product works best for me if I apply it at bedtime with my serum. When I wake up in the morning my skin has a visible glow about it. I’ve also noticed that with time, chronic scarring that I had around my chin is beginning to fade. I don’t suffer with hyper-pigmentation so I can’t comment on this.
I think the slight sticking point with this product is its price tag. At £85 for a 30 ml bottle, it’s not something you would buy without doing a little bit of research first. I’ve recently bought my second bottle after a brief pause to see if I could cope without it (obviously not). As I said in the intro, I haven’t been able to find a cheaper alternative that has the same effects. I see it the same as an investment piece for my wardrobe. It’s there when I need to get my skin looking good quickly!
Have any of you tried it? What did you think?
My Christmas gift list for the beauty lover!
Less than 4 weeks to go to till Christmas-argh! How did this happen!? It was only Halloween 5 minutes ago. I’ve been so busy recently with work/house falling apart that Christmas hasn’t even entered my head, more specifically Christmas shopping! My family are only doing smallish presents this year as we are hiring a house in the Cotswolds for my mum’s 60th birthday instead, which falls a few days before Christmas – I can’t wait!
With a small budget in mind, I thought I would share with you some great beauty gift ideas, sure to be a hit with any beauty lover out there!
Possibly the best highlighter ever? Becca has been one of my favourite brands this year. If you’re someone who loves your makeup with a glowing, dewy finish like me, this little set will not disappoint! The Becca highlighter is available in 3 formulations and this gift set allows you to try it out in the pressed powder and liquid form. I bought mine from Space N.K for £20 but it’s also available from Cult Beauty.
I have bought products from the ‘thisworks’ range for my sister for the last 2 years running and finally decided to try it for myself after her rave reviews. This little bauble set allows you try out their ‘Sleep tight’ products which include a 5ml pillow spray and roll on rescue remedy. I’ve been using them myself recently and they really do have an instant calming affect, great just before bed!
If I had this in my stocking on Christmas day I would be a very happy girl! Baume de rose is a dream of a lip balm! It smells amazing and makes lips look instantly gorgeous and kissable – my fave! It might be stretching the budget slightly at £39 but it will last for months!
Marks and Spencer have got some great Pixi gifts on offer this year but this one seemed to be the best value at a reduced price of £30 from £72. It includes their famous Pixie Glow Tonic and would be sure to make someone very happy on Christmas day!
One thing I find I can never have enough of is make up bags! I loved this one by LOLA & GILBERT LONDON LTD. Check out their full range available from notonthehightstreet.com to find the perfect bag that sums up your friend or sister.
I’m not massively into hair products and posh shampoos and conditioners but the one thing I use religiously is Moroccan oil. I think it makes a lovely gift as it’s a little bit of a luxury and it’s nice to make people feel spoilt at Christmas. You can buy this dinky little bottle from feel unique for £13.45 (and most hair salons) but my advice would be to buy the bigger bottle which you can pick up for around £31. It’s much better value for money and will last nearly the whole year as you only need a small amount per application.
Ok, so this Surreal Light palette from Hourglass may completely blow the small budget but it’s just so pretty I had to include it! They brought out the Ambient lighting palette last year but now they have 5 more exclusive shades which enable you to highlight, sculpt and generally make yourself look gorgeous with! At £69 it’s not cheap but you can buy the Ambient strobe lighting powders individually for £34. Also, how amazing is the packaging!?
I first came across the brand Le Labo during a trip to Hawaii. I fell in love with the Rose 31 body lotion but couldn’t find it anywhere in the UK on our return. That was until this year when I discovered the brand is now stocked in Liberty! Le Labo was founded in New York and they are really known for their amazing fragrances. I would love the Rose 31 eau de parfum but at £165 a bottle I think I will have to wait for a special occasion. Never fear though as their body lotions and shower gels range between a more affordable £32-41 and smell equally as divine.
What every beauty lover needs, somewhere to put all that makeup! I’ve got a couple of these at home and they are great. I can organise all my lipsticks, makeup brushes and foundations. It makes it really easy to find what I’m looking for and to keep my surfaces clear. This particular one is £13 from John Lewis but they are very easy to get hold of from various places and in various designs.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without some sparkle! This cute Nails Inc set comes with 2 polishes and a gorgeous cosmetics bag! I know my cousins would love this gift! Available for £20 from John Lewis.
So that’s my round up of beauty related gifts! I hope it’s helped anyone struggling with ideas this year. Enjoy the run up to Christmas!
Project save Filmstar Bronze and Glow!
During my holiday in July, something awful happened…my Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow ended up on the floor and smashed into tiny pieces! (You can ask my husband how that happened – we’re just about talking again). I love this palette, it’s so easy to use and *was* part of my daily makeup routine for work. I bought it in the run up to my wedding over 2 years ago and still had plenty of use left in it despite wearing it all the time! Really worth the £49 it cost to buy it.
I had heard of the ‘alcohol trick’ and set about researching it which involved watching lots of videos online. A lot of them were american and they talked about using rubbing alcohol which I believe is not easy to get hold of in the UK. Apparently the trick works best with an alcohol concentration of at least 70% or above. I read that it is possible to use surgical spirit instead which I easily picked up from my local Boots store for a couple of pounds.
1.Surgical spirit ( or rubbing alcohol). Only a very small amount is required.
Using your dropper, sprinkle a few drops at a time of surgical spirit onto the crushed powder until it starts to melt together. It doesn’t need to be completely saturated but damp enough to allow you to press it together so that it holds.
Using the back of spoon, apply a small amount of pressure as you smooth over the powder, pressing it back together as you go. Allow to dry out for a couple of hours before using it.
Here’s the final result! Yes it may have a slight smell that makes you feel like you’re at the dentist but at least it’s usable again! Success!
Have any of you tried it!?
You’ll know when I’m tired because my eyes will sink behind dark puffy circles; a look I’ve been sporting a lot recently- attractive! I find the puffiness hard to treat (Sisley Eye contour mask is pretty good) but my staple beauty product for when I’m working nights is Nars’ Radiant Creamy Concealer!
I first bought this product over 2 years ago and fell in love with it instantly. After years of buying drug store concealers (which were awful) I decided to splash out and try this cult product (RRP £22). The first thing I noticed was the amazing coverage it provides. I often get angry looking spots and this would help minimise their appearance significantly. As the name suggests it does have a creamy texture which helps the product to stay in place. One thing I found with cheaper concealers is that as soon as you applied other makeup, the concealer would move and provide no benefit whatsoever.
The product is described as radiant but in my opinion I would say it sways slightly more to the matte side which I don’t necessarily think is a bad thing. The last thing you want is to draw attention to the areas you’re trying to conceal with light-catching shimmer. (YSL Touche Eclat springs to mind).
The longer I’ve had the product, the more wonderful uses I have found for it! As well as concealing blemishes, I now use it under my eyes, forehead and cupid bow to help sculpt and define certain features (demonstrated in the glamorous photos above). It’s amazing and so easy to use. Just apply with the wand and blend with your fingers, makeup brush or sponge. For blemishes, I prefer to dab a bit on my finger and apply to my face to try and keep the wand clean.
My shade is called ‘Vanilla’ and is one of 10 shades this product is available in. £22 may sound expensive but my first tube lasted me over 2 years and the only reason I had to buy another one was because I lost it! A little really does goes a long way with this product!
You may have noticed I’ve been a little M.I.A. recently on the blog front. Apologies for that but every spare moment I’ve had, I’ve been revising for a medical exam. Now that it’s out the way (for now) I thought I would kick off my 2 weeks of ignorant bliss with a review of Skinesis’s new Lip Enhancer. Amazingly, my friend won us one each in a competition celebrating international friendship day (we never win anything so it was rather exciting!).
The double ended lip enhancer consists of a power base and a tinted balm and normally retails at £29.The power base acts as a lip primer to smooth and plump the lips. It contains Hyaluronic acid and ‘Neodermyl® ‘needle-free’ filler’. It has a creamy consistency which goes on to leave a sheer, matte finish. It has an instant blurring effect and really does smooth over even my permanently dry, rough lips. I used it in conjunction with the tinted balm but I would imagine you could use it with other lip products as a base. Once applied, it felt fixed on the lips- it didn’t easily come off with sipping a drink for example.
Power base on the left. Tinted balm on the right.
The tinted balm is clear in colour initially but develops later on the lips into a natural looking rosy colour. It reminded me of Dior’s Glow Addict balm, which adjusts to your own lip colour in the same way. It is a glossy lip product which lasts for a good amount of time. I found it great for adding a little bit of glamour to a natural look but would maybe think twice about wearing it at work.
Me not doing the product justice at all i’m afraid!
The product is advertised as anti-ageing and advises the consumer to apply it multiple times a day. My only negative point about the product would be the size of it! The tubes are fairly small and I would imagine if you were to apply it multiple times a daily, everyday, you would be lucky if it lasted you a month. I therefore keep mine for special occasions rather than as a daily lip balm.
Let me know if any of you have tried it and what you thought!
I hope you’re all having a lovely Friday! I’m currently facing the usual dilemma post-nights; to sleep or not to sleep!? I’ve made it to 13:00 so far so thought I would write a blog post to keep me occupied (with any luck I’ll be sleeping like a baby tonight).
You may have noticed from my Instagram feed that I’ve recently returned from a holiday in a very pretty town called Saint-Rémy found in the Provence region of France. We found a beautiful converted farmhouse on Airbnb which was surrounded by luscious vineyards and lavender, the perfect place to relax. We also drank some of the best wine we have ever tasted, shame we couldn’t bring any back with us!
Ok,enough holiday snaps, lets get down to what this blog post is really about; L’Occitane’s Divine cream! So you may remember that L’Occitane celebrated it’s 40th birthday earlier this year and as a thank you to it’s customers, they gave away this gorgeous little gift below. Luckily for us it included a small sample pot of their award winning Divine cream (full size worth £74). There was no way I was missing out on this!
So since the brand was founded in the Provence region I thought it only apt that I bring it on holiday with me and test it out. The Divine cream forms part of the Immortelle range, which takes it name from the golden flowers grown on the island of Corsica, known for their longevity even after being picked. The product contains a blend of Immortelle’s essential oil and cells extract in combination with other ingredients including Marsh Clover, Myrtle, Honey, Bellis Perennis, Hyaluronic Acid, Evening Primrose Oil and Camelina oil.
The product claims to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, and improve the firmness and elasticity of your skin. It’s difficult for me to comment on it’s effectiveness with regards to minimising wrinkles as I only had a weeks supply and also I’m not in the targeted age group for this product. I did however really like it!
I applied the product at night time.It was so hot during the day I needed to use my Soltan BB cream factor 50 for my face. The Divine Cream has a very pleasant botanical smell with a creamy texture that feels very moisturising. It’s easy to apply and absorbs quickly into the skin leaving it feeling nourished and hydrated. I was impressed that my skin still felt hydrated when I woke up in the morning and had a lovely glow to it. It’s not often that I’m impressed by a moisturiser but I really liked this one…dare I say it…*whispers* I may even prefer it to Creme De La Mer – eek sorry!

lowercased:
on october 10th 2017, my life took on a whole new meaning as i became a mother for the first time. little theodore made his long awaited debut in style after keeping us waiting for 8 whole days past my due date! the days, weeks and months that followed seemed to whizz by in a flash and somewhere along the line, my tiny newborn blossomed into a healthy 14 week old baby!
it’s not been an easy initiation into motherhood (is it ever!?) but hopefully the dreaded colicky evenings seem to be a thing of the past which means i get to spend some time with my husband and enjoy some wine! it also means i have time to pick my blog back up again after neglecting it for the past year for various reasons.
i started tkbs blog to allow me to indulge in my unhealthy obsession with all things beauty related but that was before i had a tiny human to grow and look after. i still plan on writing about beauty but i’m also going to share with you my experiences of pregnancy and motherhood (and hope to hear about yours too). it was about this time last year that i first found out i was pregnant so that seems a good place to start. keep an eye out for my post to follow on the first trimester…ah the nauseous feelings come flooding back just thinking about it!
the not so amazing face….
i managed to pick up an amazing emma hardie set in the january sales which included the vitamin c intense daily serum and the vitamin c face cream. having previously used the balm i was super excited to start using these products!
i apply a serum twice a day and normally like to wear it under my makeup with a moisturiser for my day to day face. unfortunately the emma hardie serum does not seem to like being applied with other products! from the very first time i used it i could tell it was going to cause me problems. despite using a moisturiser on top, my foundation would just not sit well. instead it would congeal and clump together giving a really attractive patchy finish. i couldn’t find anything to improve the finish to the point i’ve had to restrict it’s use to night time only. i’m also not a bit fan of the smell and it can feel a little bit tacky when first applied but i think that’s a common find with vitamin c products.
moving on to the moisturiser. when i first took the lid off, my eyes lit up as it revealed a gorgeous thick cream which looked really hydrating. i applied it over the serum. it wasn’t the easiest to apply, i can only describe it like when you rub soap into your hands without adding water. and again it felt quite tacky at first. when it did eventually absorb in, my skin felt quite tight like there was a residue on top. not quite what i was hoping for! i think i will be saving this for night time use only too.
i was a little bit dissapointed to say the least but just glad i didn’t pay full whack for the products. having looked at reviews on other websites, it seems to be a common complaint regarding the serum in particular.
i’m keen to learn more about green beauty and organic skin care products. i have some pai and may lindstorm products which i will move on to next and report back!
what were your thoughts on the emma hardie products mentioned?
so as well as being a self confessed beauty addict, i may also be a little bit of a hoarder; two things which do not go well together. even i now admit space is becoming a problem in my dressing room aka glorified cupboard. i always like to keep the boxes that perfume/beauty sets come in as they are normally good sturdy boxes, perfect for keeping even more products in!
cut to dozens of boxes stuffed in shelves with a vague idea of what’s in what (but i usually get it wrong and have to go through them all anyway). the reason why i’ve ended up like this…i probably have too much stuff. hence why i’m imposing dry january on myself. no i’m not cutting alcohol out, something far worse, i’m banning myself from buying any more beauty related products.
i basically need to get better at using what i have and appreciating it. so i’ve decided to rationalise my skin care routine and try and stick to it for the next month. i’ve selected one moisturiser, cleanser, serum and night cream to use. they are all products i’m using currently but some of them i opened nearly a year a go so i need to use them up soon!
ceramic slip cleanser – sunday riley. i originally bought this for my husband but getting him to actually use it proved too much. it’s ok, not quite what i was expecting and i probably would’t buy it again.
ultra facial cream – kiehl’s. good moisturiser especially with this cold weather!
advance night repair – estee lauder. one of my favourite serums.
pixi glow tonic. another cult beauty product. i wasn’t blown away with it’s effects personally but i’m going to use it religiously over the next month and see how my skin reacts.
dragon’s blood hyaluronic night cream – rodial. i got this for christmas and so far i am enjoying using it. it does feel hydrating and has a lovely creamy texture to it.
so that’s my challenge over the next month. i’m actually quite keen to use some of them up so i can open my new emma hardie products that i have waiting in the wings! have you set your self a challenge for the new year? let me know.
my husband who is big into self improvement tells me that it’s good to physically write goals down at the start of the year (he’s practising yoga on our bedroom floor as i type – one of his goals for 2017). so with this in mind, we ventured out to a cosy pub today to write them together. it lasted 5 minutes. i soon became irritated by his grand ideas when i knew in reality i would never be able to achieve them. for example, eating fish twice a week. i hate fish. he knows it too but that doesn’t stop him trying to shove his cod in my mouth at lunch today (i said ‘cod’).
like a lot of you i’m sure, i feel that my life is being dominated by my work at the moment which makes even little tasks like cooking dinner seem like a big deal. bad habits have become the norm and i ended 2016 barely squeezing into a black jumpsuit, with a muffin top to boot. this is not who i am!
exercise at least twice a week including run like a girl and parkrun.
rely on dry shampoo less or get hair chopped off so it’s not such an effort to wash it!
do what makes me happy, life is short…and on that note, gain a level 7 certificate in aesthetic medicine and see what happens!
i’ve already failed number 1. ah. must get to bed!
happy new year to you all! have you got any goals? lets encourage each other.
good genes has been in my life for just over a year now and for me, it’s a very unique product unlike anything else i have tried. i always find it generates a lot of questions whenever i post about it on instagram so thought i would share my experiences of the product with you all.
good genes is a lactic acid treatment which can be used daily or occasionally as a mask. it claims to boost your complexion, plump fine lines and even help to reduce hyper-pigmentation over time. generally it helps to exfoliate your skin with pretty quick results.
its consistency is cream-like and after months of racking my brain, trying to remember what its smell reminds me of, i can now smugly say it’s refresher chew bars! next time you use it, you’ll see what i mean! for those not familiar with this childhood favourite of mine, it has a quite a distinct citrus smell. not something i was a fan over in the beginning but the more i’ve used it, the less i’ve noticed it.
when i first started using this product, i applied it consecutively for around 4 nights. that’s when the burning started to set in. it would hit around 5 seconds after applying, a really irritating, itchy burning sensation – like when someone is tickling your feet and you just cant get away!
i was initially really disappointed but then i realised i had just been over killing it. the ph of the product is pretty low which means it’s acidic and therefore can be quite irritating to the skin, especially if you have sensitive skin or use it frequently. i would advise that you don’t use this product daily. i now use it 1-2 times a week (which also means it lasts a lot longer).
so the reason why i think a lot of people love this product is because it has visible results which are seen very quickly. i find this product works best for me if i apply it at bedtime with my serum. when i wake up in the morning my skin has a visible glow about it. i’ve also noticed that with time, chronic scarring that i had around my chin is beginning to fade. i don’t suffer with hyper-pigmentation so i can’t comment on this.
i think the slight sticking point with this product is its price tag. at £85 for a 30 ml bottle, it’s not something you would buy without doing a little bit of research first. i’ve recently bought my second bottle after a brief pause to see if i could cope without it (obviously not). as i said in the intro, i haven’t been able to find a cheaper alternative that has the same effects. i see it the same as an investment piece for my wardrobe. it’s there when i need to get my skin looking good quickly!
have any of you tried it? what did you think?
my christmas gift list for the beauty lover!
less than 4 weeks to go to till christmas-argh! how did this happen!? it was only halloween 5 minutes ago. i’ve been so busy recently with work/house falling apart that christmas hasn’t even entered my head, more specifically christmas shopping! my family are only doing smallish presents this year as we are hiring a house in the cotswolds for my mum’s 60th birthday instead, which falls a few days before christmas – i can’t wait!
with a small budget in mind, i thought i would share with you some great beauty gift ideas, sure to be a hit with any beauty lover out there!
possibly the best highlighter ever? becca has been one of my favourite brands this year. if you’re someone who loves your makeup with a glowing, dewy finish like me, this little set will not disappoint! the becca highlighter is available in 3 formulations and this gift set allows you to try it out in the pressed powder and liquid form. i bought mine from space n.k for £20 but it’s also available from cult beauty.
i have bought products from the ‘thisworks’ range for my sister for the last 2 years running and finally decided to try it for myself after her rave reviews. this little bauble set allows you try out their ‘sleep tight’ products which include a 5ml pillow spray and roll on rescue remedy. i’ve been using them myself recently and they really do have an instant calming affect, great just before bed!
if i had this in my stocking on christmas day i would be a very happy girl! baume de rose is a dream of a lip balm! it smells amazing and makes lips look instantly gorgeous and kissable – my fave! it might be stretching the budget slightly at £39 but it will last for months!
marks and spencer have got some great pixi gifts on offer this year but this one seemed to be the best value at a reduced price of £30 from £72. it includes their famous pixie glow tonic and would be sure to make someone very happy on christmas day!
one thing i find i can never have enough of is make up bags! i loved this one by lola & gilbert london ltd. check out their full range available from notonthehightstreet.com to find the perfect bag that sums up your friend or sister.
i’m not massively into hair products and posh shampoos and conditioners but the one thing i use religiously is moroccan oil. i think it makes a lovely gift as it’s a little bit of a luxury and it’s nice to make people feel spoilt at christmas. you can buy this dinky little bottle from feel unique for £13.45 (and most hair salons) but my advice would be to buy the bigger bottle which you can pick up for around £31. it’s much better value for money and will last nearly the whole year as you only need a small amount per application.
ok, so this surreal light palette from hourglass may completely blow the small budget but it’s just so pretty i had to include it! they brought out the ambient lighting palette last year but now they have 5 more exclusive shades which enable you to highlight, sculpt and generally make yourself look gorgeous with! at £69 it’s not cheap but you can buy the ambient strobe lighting powders individually for £34. also, how amazing is the packaging!?
i first came across the brand le labo during a trip to hawaii. i fell in love with the rose 31 body lotion but couldn’t find it anywhere in the uk on our return. that was until this year when i discovered the brand is now stocked in liberty! le labo was founded in new york and they are really known for their amazing fragrances. i would love the rose 31 eau de parfum but at £165 a bottle i think i will have to wait for a special occasion. never fear though as their body lotions and shower gels range between a more affordable £32-41 and smell equally as divine.
what every beauty lover needs, somewhere to put all that makeup! i’ve got a couple of these at home and they are great. i can organise all my lipsticks, makeup brushes and foundations. it makes it really easy to find what i’m looking for and to keep my surfaces clear. this particular one is £13 from john lewis but they are very easy to get hold of from various places and in various designs.
it wouldn’t be christmas without some sparkle! this cute nails inc set comes with 2 polishes and a gorgeous cosmetics bag! i know my cousins would love this gift! available for £20 from john lewis.
so that’s my round up of beauty related gifts! i hope it’s helped anyone struggling with ideas this year. enjoy the run up to christmas!
project save filmstar bronze and glow!
during my holiday in july, something awful happened…my charlotte tilbury filmstar bronze and glow ended up on the floor and smashed into tiny pieces! (you can ask my husband how that happened – we’re just about talking again). i love this palette, it’s so easy to use and *was* part of my daily makeup routine for work. i bought it in the run up to my wedding over 2 years ago and still had plenty of use left in it despite wearing it all the time! really worth the £49 it cost to buy it.
i had heard of the ‘alcohol trick’ and set about researching it which involved watching lots of videos online. a lot of them were american and they talked about using rubbing alcohol which i believe is not easy to get hold of in the uk. apparently the trick works best with an alcohol concentration of at least 70% or above. i read that it is possible to use surgical spirit instead which i easily picked up from my local boots store for a couple of pounds.
1.surgical spirit ( or rubbing alcohol). only a very small amount is required.
using your dropper, sprinkle a few drops at a time of surgical spirit onto the crushed powder until it starts to melt together. it doesn’t need to be completely saturated but damp enough to allow you to press it together so that it holds.
using the back of spoon, apply a small amount of pressure as you smooth over the powder, pressing it back together as you go. allow to dry out for a couple of hours before using it.
here’s the final result! yes it may have a slight smell that makes you feel like you’re at the dentist but at least it’s usable again! success!
have any of you tried it!?
you’ll know when i’m tired because my eyes will sink behind dark puffy circles; a look i’ve been sporting a lot recently- attractive! i find the puffiness hard to treat (sisley eye contour mask is pretty good) but my staple beauty product for when i’m working nights is nars’ radiant creamy concealer!
i first bought this product over 2 years ago and fell in love with it instantly. after years of buying drug store concealers (which were awful) i decided to splash out and try this cult product (rrp £22). the first thing i noticed was the amazing coverage it provides. i often get angry looking spots and this would help minimise their appearance significantly. as the name suggests it does have a creamy texture which helps the product to stay in place. one thing i found with cheaper concealers is that as soon as you applied other makeup, the concealer would move and provide no benefit whatsoever.
the product is described as radiant but in my opinion i would say it sways slightly more to the matte side which i don’t necessarily think is a bad thing. the last thing you want is to draw attention to the areas you’re trying to conceal with light-catching shimmer. (ysl touche eclat springs to mind).
the longer i’ve had the product, the more wonderful uses i have found for it! as well as concealing blemishes, i now use it under my eyes, forehead and cupid bow to help sculpt and define certain features (demonstrated in the glamorous photos above). it’s amazing and so easy to use. just apply with the wand and blend with your fingers, makeup brush or sponge. for blemishes, i prefer to dab a bit on my finger and apply to my face to try and keep the wand clean.
my shade is called ‘vanilla’ and is one of 10 shades this product is available in. £22 may sound expensive but my first tube lasted me over 2 years and the only reason i had to buy another one was because i lost it! a little really does goes a long way with this product!
you may have noticed i’ve been a little m.i.a. recently on the blog front. apologies for that but every spare moment i’ve had, i’ve been revising for a medical exam. now that it’s out the way (for now) i thought i would kick off my 2 weeks of ignorant bliss with a review of skinesis’s new lip enhancer. amazingly, my friend won us one each in a competition celebrating international friendship day (we never win anything so it was rather exciting!).
the double ended lip enhancer consists of a power base and a tinted balm and normally retails at £29.the power base acts as a lip primer to smooth and plump the lips. it contains hyaluronic acid and ‘neodermyl® ‘needle-free’ filler’. it has a creamy consistency which goes on to leave a sheer, matte finish. it has an instant blurring effect and really does smooth over even my permanently dry, rough lips. i used it in conjunction with the tinted balm but i would imagine you could use it with other lip products as a base. once applied, it felt fixed on the lips- it didn’t easily come off with sipping a drink for example.
power base on the left. tinted balm on the right.
the tinted balm is clear in colour initially but develops later on the lips into a natural looking rosy colour. it reminded me of dior’s glow addict balm, which adjusts to your own lip colour in the same way. it is a glossy lip product which lasts for a good amount of time. i found it great for adding a little bit of glamour to a natural look but would maybe think twice about wearing it at work.
me not doing the product justice at all i’m afraid!
the product is advertised as anti-ageing and advises the consumer to apply it multiple times a day. my only negative point about the product would be the size of it! the tubes are fairly small and i would imagine if you were to apply it multiple times a daily, everyday, you would be lucky if it lasted you a month. i therefore keep mine for special occasions rather than as a daily lip balm.
let me know if any of you have tried it and what you thought!
i hope you’re all having a lovely friday! i’m currently facing the usual dilemma post-nights; to sleep or not to sleep!? i’ve made it to 13:00 so far so thought i would write a blog post to keep me occupied (with any luck i’ll be sleeping like a baby tonight).
you may have noticed from my instagram feed that i’ve recently returned from a holiday in a very pretty town called saint-rémy found in the provence region of france. we found a beautiful converted farmhouse on airbnb which was surrounded by luscious vineyards and lavender, the perfect place to relax. we also drank some of the best wine we have ever tasted, shame we couldn’t bring any back with us!
ok,enough holiday snaps, lets get down to what this blog post is really about; l’occitane’s divine cream! so you may remember that l’occitane celebrated it’s 40th birthday earlier this year and as a thank you to it’s customers, they gave away this gorgeous little gift below. luckily for us it included a small sample pot of their award winning divine cream (full size worth £74). there was no way i was missing out on this!
so since the brand was founded in the provence region i thought it only apt that i bring it on holiday with me and test it out. the divine cream forms part of the immortelle range, which takes it name from the golden flowers grown on the island of corsica, known for their longevity even after being picked. the product contains a blend of immortelle’s essential oil and cells extract in combination with other ingredients including marsh clover, myrtle, honey, bellis perennis, hyaluronic acid, evening primrose oil and camelina oil.
the product claims to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, and improve the firmness and elasticity of your skin. it’s difficult for me to comment on it’s effectiveness with regards to minimising wrinkles as i only had a weeks supply and also i’m not in the targeted age group for this product. i did however really like it!
i applied the product at night time.it was so hot during the day i needed to use my soltan bb cream factor 50 for my face. the divine cream has a very pleasant botanical smell with a creamy texture that feels very moisturising. it’s easy to apply and absorbs quickly into the skin leaving it feeling nourished and hydrated. i was impressed that my skin still felt hydrated when i woke up in the morning and had a lovely glow to it. it’s not often that i’m impressed by a moisturiser but i really liked this one…dare i say it…*whispers* i may even prefer it to creme de la mer – eek sorry!


text:
A cookie is a small file placed onto your device that enables Wucube.co.uk features and functionality. For example, cookies enable us to identify your device, secure your access to Wucube.co.uk and our sites generally, and even help us know if someone attempts to access your account from a different device. Cookies also enable you to easily share content on Wucube.co.uk.
Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of Web users. In contrast to cookies, which are stored on a user’s computer hard drive, clear gifs are embedded on Web pages.
What is a Flash cookie?
Local shared objects, also known as “Flash cookies”, are similar in function to browser cookies in that they store some information about you or your activities on our Websites. We use Flash cookies in certain situations where we use Flash to provide some content such as video clips or animation. The options within your browser may not prevent the setting of Flash cookies.
When does Wucube.co.uk place cookies?
What types of cookies does Wucube.co.uk use?
We use two types: persistent cookies and session cookies. A persistent cookie helps us recognize you as an existing user, so it’s easier to return to Wucube.co.uk or interact with our Services without signing in again. After you sign in, a persistent cookie stays in your browser and will be read by Wucube.co.uk when you return to one of our Websites or a partner site that uses our Services. Session cookies only last for as long as the session (usually the current visit to a website or a browser session).
Cookies can be used to recognize you when you visit Wucube.co.uk, remember your preferences, and give you a personalized experience that’s in line with your settings. Cookies also make your interactions with Wucube.co.uk faster and more secure. Additionally, cookies allow us to bring you advertising both on and off the Wucube.co.uk sites and bring customized features to you.
DNT is a concept that has been promoted by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for the Internet industry to develop and implement a mechanism for allowing Internet users to control the tracking of their online activities across websites by using browser settings. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has been working with industry groups, Internet browsers, technology companies, and regulators to develop a DNT technology standard. While some progress has been made, it has been slow and no standard has been adopted to this date. As such, Wucube.co.uk does not generally respond to “do not track” signals.
Cookies and other ad technology such as beacons, pixels, and tags help us serve relevant ads to you more effectively. They also help us provide aggregated auditing, research, and reporting for advertisers, understand and improve our service, and know when content has been shown to you. Note: Because your web browser may request advertisements and beacons directly from third-party ad network servers, these networks can view, edit, or set third party cookies, just as if you had requested a web page from their site. Ads served by Wucube.co.uk may also set third party cookies.
If you are logged in on Wucube.co.uk or browsing a third party partner site of Wucube.co.uk and one of our cookies on your device identifies you, your usage (such as your browsing behaviour) and log data (such as your IP address) will be associated by us with your account. We also use aggregate data from third parties and Wucube.co.uk activity.
If you are a Wucube.co.uk member but logged out of your account on a browser, Wucube.co.uk may still continue to log your interaction with our services on that browser in order to generate usage analytics for our services, which analytics we may share in aggregate form with our advertising customers.
We do not provide any personal information that we collect to advertisers unless you have given us permission to do so.
If you do not want to receive cookies, you can also change your browser settings on your computer or other device you’re using to access our services. If you use Wucube.co.uk without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you’re happy to receive all cookies on shaman.systems Websites. Most browsers also provide functionality that lets you review and erase cookies, including Wucube.co.uk cookies. Please note that the Wucube.co.uk site will not work properly without cookies.

lowercased:
a cookie is a small file placed onto your device that enables wucube.co.uk features and functionality. for example, cookies enable us to identify your device, secure your access to wucube.co.uk and our sites generally, and even help us know if someone attempts to access your account from a different device. cookies also enable you to easily share content on wucube.co.uk.
clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of web users. in contrast to cookies, which are stored on a user’s computer hard drive, clear gifs are embedded on web pages.
what is a flash cookie?
local shared objects, also known as “flash cookies”, are similar in function to browser cookies in that they store some information about you or your activities on our websites. we use flash cookies in certain situations where we use flash to provide some content such as video clips or animation. the options within your browser may not prevent the setting of flash cookies.
when does wucube.co.uk place cookies?
what types of cookies does wucube.co.uk use?
we use two types: persistent cookies and session cookies. a persistent cookie helps us recognize you as an existing user, so it’s easier to return to wucube.co.uk or interact with our services without signing in again. after you sign in, a persistent cookie stays in your browser and will be read by wucube.co.uk when you return to one of our websites or a partner site that uses our services. session cookies only last for as long as the session (usually the current visit to a website or a browser session).
cookies can be used to recognize you when you visit wucube.co.uk, remember your preferences, and give you a personalized experience that’s in line with your settings. cookies also make your interactions with wucube.co.uk faster and more secure. additionally, cookies allow us to bring you advertising both on and off the wucube.co.uk sites and bring customized features to you.
dnt is a concept that has been promoted by regulatory agencies, such as the u.s. federal trade commission (ftc), for the internet industry to develop and implement a mechanism for allowing internet users to control the tracking of their online activities across websites by using browser settings. the world wide web consortium (w3c) has been working with industry groups, internet browsers, technology companies, and regulators to develop a dnt technology standard. while some progress has been made, it has been slow and no standard has been adopted to this date. as such, wucube.co.uk does not generally respond to “do not track” signals.
cookies and other ad technology such as beacons, pixels, and tags help us serve relevant ads to you more effectively. they also help us provide aggregated auditing, research, and reporting for advertisers, understand and improve our service, and know when content has been shown to you. note: because your web browser may request advertisements and beacons directly from third-party ad network servers, these networks can view, edit, or set third party cookies, just as if you had requested a web page from their site. ads served by wucube.co.uk may also set third party cookies.
if you are logged in on wucube.co.uk or browsing a third party partner site of wucube.co.uk and one of our cookies on your device identifies you, your usage (such as your browsing behaviour) and log data (such as your ip address) will be associated by us with your account. we also use aggregate data from third parties and wucube.co.uk activity.
if you are a wucube.co.uk member but logged out of your account on a browser, wucube.co.uk may still continue to log your interaction with our services on that browser in order to generate usage analytics for our services, which analytics we may share in aggregate form with our advertising customers.
we do not provide any personal information that we collect to advertisers unless you have given us permission to do so.
if you do not want to receive cookies, you can also change your browser settings on your computer or other device you’re using to access our services. if you use wucube.co.uk without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you’re happy to receive all cookies on shaman.systems websites. most browsers also provide functionality that lets you review and erase cookies, including wucube.co.uk cookies. please note that the wucube.co.uk site will not work properly without cookies.


text:
Decanter magazine held their “Glittering Decanter World Wine Awards 2012 ceremony at the Royal Opera House …..An evening of celebration by producers from across the world” – their words, not mine.
The marvellous house of Gardet won Gold Medal for their ‘Brut Tradition’, a remarkable achievement. And the good news is this is the very same cuvee that is Don Hewitson Champagne. This superb bubbly is only £44.95 and always available by the glass. You owe yourself a taste next time at the Cork & Bottle!
Decanter considers this a “very good vintage”. Stephen Brook in his opus The Complete Bordeaux says “Blackcurrant pastille aromas and sweet fruit”.
Will and I think that this is the finest vintage Roseline has ever made. Deliciously bone dry with luscious, extroverted fruit.
Cabernet Sauvignon – Syrah. Gloriously robust layer upon layer of red and black berry fruits and spices, balanced with bounteous, smoky oak.
This vivacious, crisp beauty is grown on the higher slopes. Lovely citrus fruit with a soft finish.
Yalumba were the first in the New World to tackle the vagaries of this fickle varietal which requires heaps of patience. Gently spiced fruit with apricots and honey.
From the cool climate Eden Valley. Subtle fruit flavours with a splash of lightly toasted oak. The exotic attributes of Oz Chardonnay combine with Burgundian style excellence.

lowercased:
decanter magazine held their “glittering decanter world wine awards 2012 ceremony at the royal opera house …..an evening of celebration by producers from across the world” – their words, not mine.
the marvellous house of gardet won gold medal for their ‘brut tradition’, a remarkable achievement. and the good news is this is the very same cuvee that is don hewitson champagne. this superb bubbly is only £44.95 and always available by the glass. you owe yourself a taste next time at the cork & bottle!
decanter considers this a “very good vintage”. stephen brook in his opus the complete bordeaux says “blackcurrant pastille aromas and sweet fruit”.
will and i think that this is the finest vintage roseline has ever made. deliciously bone dry with luscious, extroverted fruit.
cabernet sauvignon – syrah. gloriously robust layer upon layer of red and black berry fruits and spices, balanced with bounteous, smoky oak.
this vivacious, crisp beauty is grown on the higher slopes. lovely citrus fruit with a soft finish.
yalumba were the first in the new world to tackle the vagaries of this fickle varietal which requires heaps of patience. gently spiced fruit with apricots and honey.
from the cool climate eden valley. subtle fruit flavours with a splash of lightly toasted oak. the exotic attributes of oz chardonnay combine with burgundian style excellence.


text:
Here you will find my Retevis RT82/RT90/Tytera MD2017/MD9600 downloads. Since I do not own a Retevis RT82 anymore, the RT82/MD2017 content is not maintaned anymore and here for historical purposes only.
all Dutch DMR repeaters, each in its own zone.
all Belgian Brandmeister DMR repeaters, each in its own zone.
a PMR446 zone, with general, Kenwood and Icom PMR446 sets. Make sure using these zones for TX is legal in your country.
This will fill 2998 channels (som only 2 spare left!) and about 170 zones. As abonus all dutch, belgian and german DMR contacts are also in the codeplug.
The Dutch Motorola repeater zones follow this configuration as close as possible, but may differ (a lot!).
Dutch Motorola DMR HAM repeaters have a * at the end of the callsign, so you know which repeaters are on which network, and are last in the zonelist.

lowercased:
here you will find my retevis rt82/rt90/tytera md2017/md9600 downloads. since i do not own a retevis rt82 anymore, the rt82/md2017 content is not maintaned anymore and here for historical purposes only.
all dutch dmr repeaters, each in its own zone.
all belgian brandmeister dmr repeaters, each in its own zone.
a pmr446 zone, with general, kenwood and icom pmr446 sets. make sure using these zones for tx is legal in your country.
this will fill 2998 channels (som only 2 spare left!) and about 170 zones. as abonus all dutch, belgian and german dmr contacts are also in the codeplug.
the dutch motorola repeater zones follow this configuration as close as possible, but may differ (a lot!).
dutch motorola dmr ham repeaters have a * at the end of the callsign, so you know which repeaters are on which network, and are last in the zonelist.


text:
Registration has closed for the 2019 festival. It will reopen on Thanksgiving 2019.
• Arrive Early: Load in at least 30 minutes before your slot. Plan on venues being at capacity when doing load in.
• Plan to Share Gear: Bands have 15 minutes to change over, which means 7.5 minutes to get on and 7.5 minutes to get off. Check your schedule and contact the other bands about back-lining. Set up your gear as early as possible. Please note that at some venues backstage space may be limited.
No Guest Lists: Each band member is given a wristband for full access to all Homegrown events throughout the week. You must have listed all band members on your online registration form in order to receive the appropriate number of passes. If you have band members who are in other bands, their wristbands might be in another band’s packet and not yours. New additions and “special guests” will need to purchase a wristband.
Be Polite: Introduce yourself to venue managers and sound engineers so they recognize you should you have any problems. Be aware that along with the venue owner, venue managers have the authority to stop the show for any reason.
Be Professional: Have reasonable expectations for sound engineers. Don’t expect eight vocal microphones or 10 direct boxes. Sound checks are done on the fly, and the longer you take getting “more me” in the monitors comes out of your set time.
Be Flexible: Sometimes shows run behind. You may be asked to shorten your set.
Be Epic: It’s Homegrown for cripes sake. There are no bad slots. Play the best show you can muster up, in spite of any adversity that comes your way.
Respect the Venues: No pyro or needless trashing of the stages. If you make a mess, clean it up.
Follow the Guidelines to Get Paid: Acts are eligible to be paid $75. We ask you to e-mail duluthhomegrown@gmail.com to request your stipend. Send the e-mail after the festival, but before May 15. Make sure to specify the name of your band, and include a mailing address. A check will be sent to you before the end of the month. If you don’t request it, it stays in the kitty, and the chicken thanks you for your service. Some bands donate their pay to the festival, which is great, but performers are in no way obligated to do so.
Free-drink Benefits May Vary: Some venues provide two free drinks to each person in the bands playing there, smaller venues may provide one, but some venues do not.

lowercased:
registration has closed for the 2019 festival. it will reopen on thanksgiving 2019.
• arrive early: load in at least 30 minutes before your slot. plan on venues being at capacity when doing load in.
• plan to share gear: bands have 15 minutes to change over, which means 7.5 minutes to get on and 7.5 minutes to get off. check your schedule and contact the other bands about back-lining. set up your gear as early as possible. please note that at some venues backstage space may be limited.
no guest lists: each band member is given a wristband for full access to all homegrown events throughout the week. you must have listed all band members on your online registration form in order to receive the appropriate number of passes. if you have band members who are in other bands, their wristbands might be in another band’s packet and not yours. new additions and “special guests” will need to purchase a wristband.
be polite: introduce yourself to venue managers and sound engineers so they recognize you should you have any problems. be aware that along with the venue owner, venue managers have the authority to stop the show for any reason.
be professional: have reasonable expectations for sound engineers. don’t expect eight vocal microphones or 10 direct boxes. sound checks are done on the fly, and the longer you take getting “more me” in the monitors comes out of your set time.
be flexible: sometimes shows run behind. you may be asked to shorten your set.
be epic: it’s homegrown for cripes sake. there are no bad slots. play the best show you can muster up, in spite of any adversity that comes your way.
respect the venues: no pyro or needless trashing of the stages. if you make a mess, clean it up.
follow the guidelines to get paid: acts are eligible to be paid $75. we ask you to e-mail duluthhomegrown@gmail.com to request your stipend. send the e-mail after the festival, but before may 15. make sure to specify the name of your band, and include a mailing address. a check will be sent to you before the end of the month. if you don’t request it, it stays in the kitty, and the chicken thanks you for your service. some bands donate their pay to the festival, which is great, but performers are in no way obligated to do so.
free-drink benefits may vary: some venues provide two free drinks to each person in the bands playing there, smaller venues may provide one, but some venues do not.


text: Baking Soda Mask - put 2 tbsp baking soda in your palm & mix in enough water to create a paste. Massage into your face for about 30 secs, do not scrub. Do nightly and within a week pores will appear smaller and breakouts will disappear.

lowercased: baking soda mask - put 2 tbsp baking soda in your palm & mix in enough water to create a paste. massage into your face for about 30 secs, do not scrub. do nightly and within a week pores will appear smaller and breakouts will disappear.


text:
1 She/He should be unemployed (i.e neither employed in Govt. Sector nor in private sector nor self employed) and should be Bonafide Himachali.
2 She/He should have passed minimum 10+2 from any Board/University/Institution recognized by H.P. Government.
3 She/He should be registered with any Employment Exchange in Himachal Pradesh as on the date of application since one year.
4 Her/His annual family income for the financial year immediately preceding date of application, from all sources including that of spouse should be less than Rs. Two Lakhs.
5 She/He should be above 20 years and below 35 years of age, as on date of application.
6 She/He should not be self employed.
9 She/He should not be regular student pursuing any course.

lowercased:
1 she/he should be unemployed (i.e neither employed in govt. sector nor in private sector nor self employed) and should be bonafide himachali.
2 she/he should have passed minimum 10+2 from any board/university/institution recognized by h.p. government.
3 she/he should be registered with any employment exchange in himachal pradesh as on the date of application since one year.
4 her/his annual family income for the financial year immediately preceding date of application, from all sources including that of spouse should be less than rs. two lakhs.
5 she/he should be above 20 years and below 35 years of age, as on date of application.
6 she/he should not be self employed.
9 she/he should not be regular student pursuing any course.


text:
While we will be proactively making an effort to ensure the best possible experience for customers who have purchased our service at Burning Man, we acknowledge that it is possible some users may lose connectivity due to a defective device or unforeseen circumstance.
Prior to shipment of any internet device, service will be validated by ensuring that the unit properly connects and streams data on our network by using a LTE site on the same network that will be deployed for Burning Man.
During the event, we will be actively monitoring the network and its users, ensuring that all BurningFi customers are receiving the best possible service. If for some reason there are customers that are not correctly connecting and registering with our network, we will be able to identify them and will pro-actively troubleshoot these devices for a resolution, in most cases before they need to contact us for support.
Customer Service can verify that little or no data was transmitted during the active dates for the selected plan, totaling to approximately less than 250MB.
The device is received by Customer Support in an aesthetically acceptable condition, with no apparent damage from drops, water, or software tampering that would impact the device’s functionality.
Refunds will only be issued for up to 45 days after the date range of your selected plan.
Please note, Customer Service will be available from 9am – 4pm MDT, Monday through Friday. Should you encounter a voicemail when calling, please leave a detailed message, we will respond as soon as we can, usually within the same business day.

lowercased:
while we will be proactively making an effort to ensure the best possible experience for customers who have purchased our service at burning man, we acknowledge that it is possible some users may lose connectivity due to a defective device or unforeseen circumstance.
prior to shipment of any internet device, service will be validated by ensuring that the unit properly connects and streams data on our network by using a lte site on the same network that will be deployed for burning man.
during the event, we will be actively monitoring the network and its users, ensuring that all burningfi customers are receiving the best possible service. if for some reason there are customers that are not correctly connecting and registering with our network, we will be able to identify them and will pro-actively troubleshoot these devices for a resolution, in most cases before they need to contact us for support.
customer service can verify that little or no data was transmitted during the active dates for the selected plan, totaling to approximately less than 250mb.
the device is received by customer support in an aesthetically acceptable condition, with no apparent damage from drops, water, or software tampering that would impact the device’s functionality.
refunds will only be issued for up to 45 days after the date range of your selected plan.
please note, customer service will be available from 9am – 4pm mdt, monday through friday. should you encounter a voicemail when calling, please leave a detailed message, we will respond as soon as we can, usually within the same business day.


text: Clipart Illustration of reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh across the world. This is a clipart illustration by Chud Tsankov showing reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh across the world. Clipart illustration by Chud Tsankov. This santa's sleigh clip art illustration is available in high resolution in the EPS vector image format.

lowercased: clipart illustration of reindeer pulling santa's sleigh across the world. this is a clipart illustration by chud tsankov showing reindeer pulling santa's sleigh across the world. clipart illustration by chud tsankov. this santa's sleigh clip art illustration is available in high resolution in the eps vector image format.


text:
Nip & Tuck, Love the Eye Lift – Stop the Puffiness and Dark Circles, has been clinically proven to repair and enhance the delicate eye area and give an immediate youthful boost. Nip & Tuck – Love the Eye Lift has been created using a unique formulation, containing 100% natural ingredients - ensuring the delicate skin around the eye area has the essential vitamins and minerals needed, to stop puffiness and dark circles; it will also plump and nourish skin reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. You will have beautiful, radiant and youthful eyes in no time!
• Repair and enhance the delicate eye area and give an immediate youthful boost!• Contains essential vitamins and minerals needed, to stop puffiness and dark circles!• Plump and nourish skin reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines!• You will have beautiful, radiant and youthful eyes in no time!!
• Nip & Tuck products are formulated using 100% safe ingredients!• Our treatments are clinically tested & developed alongside an expert team of cosmetic surgeons!• Nip & Tuck products guarantee great results, fast!• No need to spend thousands on cosmetic surgery!
Nip & Tuck products are the perfect solution for non-surgical skin and body treatments. Cosmetic surgery isn’t the only way to change your appearance. That is why we have developed a unique range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments that have been clinically tested and developed alongside an expert team of surgeons.

lowercased:
nip & tuck, love the eye lift – stop the puffiness and dark circles, has been clinically proven to repair and enhance the delicate eye area and give an immediate youthful boost. nip & tuck – love the eye lift has been created using a unique formulation, containing 100% natural ingredients - ensuring the delicate skin around the eye area has the essential vitamins and minerals needed, to stop puffiness and dark circles; it will also plump and nourish skin reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. you will have beautiful, radiant and youthful eyes in no time!
• repair and enhance the delicate eye area and give an immediate youthful boost!• contains essential vitamins and minerals needed, to stop puffiness and dark circles!• plump and nourish skin reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines!• you will have beautiful, radiant and youthful eyes in no time!!
• nip & tuck products are formulated using 100% safe ingredients!• our treatments are clinically tested & developed alongside an expert team of cosmetic surgeons!• nip & tuck products guarantee great results, fast!• no need to spend thousands on cosmetic surgery!
nip & tuck products are the perfect solution for non-surgical skin and body treatments. cosmetic surgery isn’t the only way to change your appearance. that is why we have developed a unique range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments that have been clinically tested and developed alongside an expert team of surgeons.


text:
I have recently (2 months ago) upgraded MSME from version 8 to version 8.6 on both of my exchange 2010 servers.
now under C:\ProgramData\McAfee\MSME there are 2 folders, Data and Upgrade.
I know they contain copies of the postgres sql database and the quarantine database, and looking at the modified dates on the contents, nothing inthe upgrade folder has been touched since the day i performed the upgrade.
Unless it was specifically chosen to use the folder name Upgrade then it is not in use and you can delete.

lowercased:
i have recently (2 months ago) upgraded msme from version 8 to version 8.6 on both of my exchange 2010 servers.
now under c:\programdata\mcafee\msme there are 2 folders, data and upgrade.
i know they contain copies of the postgres sql database and the quarantine database, and looking at the modified dates on the contents, nothing inthe upgrade folder has been touched since the day i performed the upgrade.
unless it was specifically chosen to use the folder name upgrade then it is not in use and you can delete.