Review | Is It Just Me? | Miranda Hart

Ever wanted a book that was both funny and thought-provoking? Pick up Miranda Hart's Is It Just Me? autobiography.

This non-fictional book is filled with Hart's life stories and advice to her younger-self. If you've ever heard of her then you should know the TV sitcom Miranda. The book features the same humourous style perfectly - I could quite literally hear her voice saying it all in my head as I read it through. If you're unaware, Hart's portrayal is similar to Bridget Jones but much more comedic and (dare I say it?) realistic.

The book's available as a hardback copy, Kindle edition, audio book and an enhanced e-book, so you've got a range of choices. The cheapest option now is the Kindle version at £8.55, but I got my hardback for a lot more when it had just come out.

However, the writing is hilarious and genuinely good quality for all those language perfectionists like me, so the price is worth it. I don't have much else to say except that if you like Hart then you'll like this - and really, if it can win the National Book Awards for being 'Non-Fiction Book of the Year' then it must be good, right?

There aren't many negatives about this book; I suppose it's long, but I'm sure someone who likes reading won't care, and plus, you can always read small sections at a time. There aren't many pictures and no photographs, so if that's what you want, then I wouldn't bother.

Overall, I found myself crying with laughter all the way through this book. I don't normally read non-fiction, but this is definitely a must if you're a fan of Miranda Hart, or if you simply want to know that embarrassing things happen to everyone and it's not just you.

Review | Kohl Pencil No.30 White | Barry M

Good eyeliners can be tricky to find, especially white ones, but Barry M's kohl pencil fits the bill.

When buying an eyeliner, you want it to last a good length of time, be clearly visible, and be easily applicable. I find the colour white to be tedious when it comes to staying in place; it seems to be more 'slippery' than other colours. However, this little stick is quite satisfactory in all areas and more as it can be used to highlight the eyebrows as well, being that it is actually a kohl pencil, not simply an eyeliner.

The pigment is rather clear and bright, showing up very well, and can be applied with ease. The colour lasts for quite a while on the eye and gives you roughly 5 or 6 hours of duration unless disturbed. The nib is soft and doesn't scrape harshly on the skin, which is particularly useful when working around the delicate eye area. The kohl pencil's packaging is nice too - it is small and compact, and really very simple in design. The price, at £2.99, is cheap compared to its quality, so it's no money-spender either.

Unfortunately, the pencil isn't very easy to rub into the skin so as to blend it, making it somewhat difficult to use as a brow highlighter. And when wet (even by watery eyes), the colour tends to fade or collect in the inner corner of the eye like a little white dot of sleep. It is also incredibly simple to rub off - not exactly a good thing when the eye is so commonly touched without thought.

Overall, I find that this kohl pencil is pretty good as white eyeliners go. As long as you avoid rubbing your eye too much, you should be fine.

Review | Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser | Simple

Problems with dry, rough skin are no more with Simple's "Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser".

This creamy formula is a good little addition to your handbag if you have a bad skin day. Trust me, I know how irritating dry skin can be and this moisturiser isn't half bad at solving it. It's said to contain vitamin goodness and able to hydrate your skin for 12 hours, with no colour or fragrance. And honestly, they aren't completely lying on the bottle.

You only need a little blob of it to rub into your whole hand, so the bottle lasts for a long while. It works fast, hydrating the flesh to be soft and supple with no evidence of dryness or cracked skin. It doesn't appear as a slimy coating of substance, rather it absorbs into the skin after a good rub, and has no smell to trace - don't be put off by its first appearance out of the bottle! The price is great for its worth at £3.79, and the packaging (which screams cleanliness) is good too.

Some not-so-great points about the product include that it can be a bit difficult to actually rub in; if you use too much of the formula you have to put the excess elsewhere on your skin or simply wipe it off with a paper towel. The moisturiser does not last up to 12 hours - if you're lucky, it will hydrate your skin for roughly 6 or 7.

Overall, though it isn't very long lasting, it does help soften your skin and smooth out any dry patches. Being that it is a "light" moisturiser, you can't really expect it to be amazing for long lengths of time, so I'm pretty happy with this product.

Review | 100% Natural Lip Roll-On | The Body Shop

Want softer, less cracked lips? Don't bother with The Body Shop's "100% Natural Lip Roll-On" in Orange.

The main selling points of this lip roll-on are that it moisturises, smells/tastes of orange, and is made from all natural ingredients. On the site, they also say that it has a "non-tacky, non-waxy feel". Personally, it seems to be mostly advertising.

The roll-on does genuinely smell and taste (not that I ate it or anything...) of orange. The packaging is pretty cool and very mobile - it fits in your pocket perfectly if you don't want to take your handbag with you everywhere. I'm not an expert on all things natural, but I guess it is also concocted from 100% natural ingredients. (Really, if you're that worried, read the list of them on the back!)

Not once did I feel that it moisturised my lips; in fact, it settled on them in a very tacky, very waxy way! The roll-on feature is nice, but the substance itself just lays on the surface of your lips like a very slimy lipgloss. Perhaps I spent more time licking it off than waiting for it to settle, but it definitely didn't help soften or soothe my cracked lips. The price is a big whopper at £4 for such a teeny-tiny tube, and it blatantly isn't worth it.

Overall, I found this product, to be blunt, utterly useless. I just don't understand what all the fuss is about. It may look cute, but the value (in my opinion) really does not add up to the cost.

Review | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | Peter Jackson

I recently had the pleasure of watching The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). I have to say, if you're a fan of The Lord of the Rings then this should pique your interest.
 

Personally, I have watched all three of the trilogy and was quite excited to see this film. Peter Jackson is a legend in the fantasy/adventure genre of movie-making, and this film is made even better by the addition of Andy Serkis (AKA: the voice of Gollum) as the second unit director. There was also talk of it being shot in 48 frames rather than 24 (the first film to ever do this) for an enhanced experience; something else to make me curious.

What are 'frames'?

The amount of frames in one second (as usually you say frames per second) is the same as saying the amount of still shots you see in one second of video footage. The more frames there are, the smoother the transaction between shots. For example, 60 frames per second is miles better than 6 frames per second, which we would probably term as lag. 

The film is beautiful - nobody can say otherwise; the landscapes and scenery are just the type of magical you'd associate with a fantasy film. The acting is pretty darn good too, particularly Martin Freeman (as Bilbo) and Richard Armitage (as Thorin). Any and all visual effects are done superbly, as to be expected, and look very realistic. The plot keeps your interest with moments of comic relief to tone down moments of stress and you're never short a suspenseful scene.

However, though you can still follow along and enjoy yourself, there is the time old issue when it comes to renovations of books as films. Facts that an avid reader would know appear throughout the film and fun references, such as Glóin being (in the future) Gimli's father, are mostly lost to those who have not read J. R. R. Tolkien's work. The topic of frames is very controversial for this film; some say 48 is better, some say it's rubbish. I personally think that 48 frames allows for more 'blurred' moments of footage, though it can make the film richer. It's a matter of opinion - if you're unsure, watch it in the normal style of 24 frames.

Overall, I suppose the bad points can be overlooked. Whilst watching the film, I couldn't have named all of the dwarves for you at all, but it didn't really lower my enjoyment of the film. Anyone who likes The Lord of the Rings is certainly still in for a treat.

Review | Eyeshadow Palette No.2 Soho | Beauty UK

If you're ever looking for a really bright pigmented eyeshadow palette, then Beauty UK's "Soho" is perfect.

The colours are really beautiful and actually turn out very well on the eyelid. Only a select few are shimmered, so if you want matte colours then these are pretty useful. The palette is great for looks that stand out and can be blended into an even bigger variety of colours.

The packaging is great; the eyeshadows are firmly compacted and stay in the palette unless cracked. The price is extremely good for its value at £3.99, so it's definitely worth trying if you're unsure. Applying the colours is generally easy - if you're not a fan of sponge-tip applicators, fingertips work well too.

A downside I've found with this palette is that there is a slight bit of fallout, which (considering the price) is to be expected. The damage isn't terrible though; it just means a quick sweep under the eyes for any excess afterwards.

Overall, I really like this palette. It's good quality and pretty darn cheap too.