Morocco Goodies

 Happy New Year!
Recently I went to Morocco with my school to visit the Education For All Morocco charity that we've been fundraising (but more about that in another post) and whilst in Marrakech we stopped in at this pharmacy, Epices Ibno Baytar full of spices, creams and oils. A couple of guys gave us a demonstration of all their products which at the time seemed a lot of effort for them but afterwards they offered each product out really systematically and between our group of 20 it was worth the extra endeavour.
So I bought three lip balms which happen to be called herpes cream I DO NOT HAVE HERPES. The bottom photo shows me in the background of the shot that was put on facebook by my best friend with the caption 'found Lucy's medicine.' That was certainly the highlight of Monday, reassuring my friends that I do not have an STD.
I also purchased this brightly coloured exfoliater which is a lot softer that some scrubs and an anti-spot cream that is very similar to Vaseline and absolutely brilliant! Unlike most anti-blemish products that dry out the spots this acts as more of a moisturiser and I put it on before bed and it calms down my face whilst keeping it hydrated. The black seeds are nigella seeds which are sniffed through cloth to clear blocked noses and calm headaches. This was at the point of Nigella Lawson's drug court case which seemed a little too apt for these seeds which we were sniffing like baby druggies.

Baby Lips - Hydrate, Cherry Me, Cherry Velvet

I am fully aware that Baby Lips are by no means a new trend and I have been building my collection for a while. Sadly this little lot did include the green 'Mint Fresh' one (lost to the wilds of handbag clutter probably) which while I'm here I would definitely recommend as it has just the right level of mint so it is more reminiscent of mint choc chic ice cream than overpowering gum. 

These three here are the classic blue 'Hydrate', which I use everyday for a basic balm, the tinted 'Cherry Me' which is a subtle red and more like a lipstick than balm, and this 'Cherry Velvet' which doesn't share the same packaging as the others and to be honest I have no idea where it came from.

The Hydrate has a great plumping look too and although does not have a particular colour associated with it, leaves a pale base which is fractionally whiter than the lip shade. This is really moisturising and needs to be topped up every few hours, but I am finding this really necessary for winter and the dry chapped lips situation.

Cherry Me isn't too strong a colour, though a faded red I would say, that looks like a lipstick but much less matte and precise. The only thing about the tinted Baby Lips is that if your lips are exceptionally dry, the colour will obviously not flatter the chapped bits and flaky is not where you want to be! 

The Cherry Velvet I would not say is anything particularly special and although it has the Baby Lips name to it, strikes me as a much more standard balm and isn't as moisturising and glossy as the others. Maybe I'm just living up to my stereotype though and finding fault because it's packaging isn't as pretty...

Even if you just have one, a winter essential. That is if you can't get your hands on an EOS of course.

Alternative/Indie Rock Music Playlist

I've seen music playlists up on a lot of blogs and although my music taste of alternative/indie rock isn't always appreciated by everyone, I love it and that's all that matters! It takes a few weeks for me to move on from songs so I create monthly playlists which I can listen back to. Look all the way to the end - there may be a song at the end that you miss if you judge on the first few.

Whilst we're on this topic, have you seen Lana Del Rey's short film, Tropico that was released earlier today? It's up on her Vevo and although I do like the storyline that accompanies her image so well I thought there was a bit too much dialogue with John the Baptist, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis in the Garden of Eden. I was proud of Lana for getting her body out and flaunting her more womanly, 'normal' figure which is so rarely seen in music videos and on pop princesses that flood the media. I will forever admire Lana Del Rey for her music, style and beauty; maybe she is not the classic inspiration but it's the image she has created for herself that I love and am inspired by.

1) Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey

This track was the only one I thought actually suited the glamorous, luxurious theme of the Great Gatsby in the 1920s.

2) One For The Road - Arctic Monkeys 

3) Girls - The 1975

Zac Efron is the background on my friend's phones : Matt Healy is mine.

4) Young Heart - We Are The Ocean

Get past the first 20 seconds and it becomes less shouty, more relatable. 

5) Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt

Great lying-in-bed-getting-emotional-for-no-reason song.

6) Stay With Me - You Me At Six

7) Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis

8) The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage - Panic! At The Disco

My favourite band with the Arctic Monkeys and The 1975 but feel for this name...

9) Black Chandelier - Biffy Clyro 

10) Call It What You Want - Foster The People

In my opinion these artists are not appreciated anywhere near enough so even if you just listen and enjoy, remember them when you're next having an iTunes music spree! x