Gatsby 2012: Let me Shell you a Story...

For all you Luhrmann/DiCaprio/Fitzgerald/Jazz Age fans out there: the cinema trailer for The Great Gatsby has just been released today! INCREDIBLY EXCITING STUFF.

What shell we wear?

The answer is obvious!

If I could choose any era at all to tele-transport myself back to (assuming I could find a damned Delorian to get me there), it would be the days of Gin Fizz, garden parties with peacocks roaming about freely on the lawn, roaring swing parties with big bands and debonair gents. Oh, the Gatsby days. 

Its allure magnetised the world, and by the 1930s, mass production meant that everyone could live in the deco style. Travel became popular. African safaris were all the rage and animal skins, ivory, mother of pearl, and tortoiseshell began to appear in the home.

In design, seashells increased in popularity and could be found in motifs in architecture right through to clutch bags and other accessories adorning the darlings of the day.

Thanks to the fabulous Gatsby remake set to be released later this year (finally Leo DiCaprio appears in another amazing Baz Luhrmann production - it's been far too long, we say) the gorgeous shell is making a resurgence in 2012. 

 The Oriental Fan:
it never goes out of style.

So... at least if I just happened to come across a Delorian and could go back to my favourite era, I'd be ready to party with my Shell Lip Balm! Best nip off and get a flapper dress ready too, I think, you can never be too prepared after all.
 

Watch The Great Gatsby trailer after the jump!

Could Shell Lip Balm be any more 'on trend' for 2012?

Apparently you know when you've been Tango'd.

Ok, a bit of shameful 'Fash Ed' jargon there... but let's be serious, there really is no dispute that we are primed and fashionably ready for this Spring / Summer. 2012's Pantone colour of the year is (da da da daaaaaaa!) Tangerine Tango... and errrr well, need we point out the obvious connection? 

Pantone.com's blog posted, “Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute®. “They have learned how colour can help them alter a mood, while providing the vitality and enthusiasm that enables them to experiment with new looks and colour combinations. Provocative Tangerine Tango, an enticing juicy orange, is a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this spring."

We love their view on this colour and we adore the thought that every time you pull out your gorgeous Oriental Fan Shell Lip Balm that you might just be starting YOUR brighter day in 2012. Awwwwwwe.

x

PS: All of our shells are completely natural, so the colour does vary. If you'd specifically like a colour similar to 'Tangerine Tango', drop us a line once you've placed your order at www.shelllipbalm.co.uk!

Psssst! We're on Sale!

This is an exclusive offer for our very special Facebook followers to say thanks for 'Liking' us in the mere 2 months we've been going! Wow, that's seriously passed by in a flash!


So just for you guys, order online now and get... 2 shells for £22! 


This offer goes public within the next week so get in now and get your lips 2012 ready or stock up on the best, most unique gifts for your special gal pals for the whole year. Genius idea.


Because this offer isn't available to the greater public just yet, the promotional banners on the site will still have the price at 25, but don't worry, the checkout will only charge you 22. 


Let's start the year with luscious lips! x


www.shelllipbalm.co.uk

Happy New Year Lip Lovers!

Welcome to 2012 lovelies - whoot, whoot!

Have you made your resolutions? Are you vowing to drink less, always take your make-up off (even when it's 2:30am), exercise more, eat less carbs, be nice to everyone, give more to charity, take a course in something interesting, yadda yadda?

Whatever your goals are, a healthy lifestyle will help you achieve it all and that starts with what we put into (and onto) our bodies. Even if it's just for January, the below tips will help to start the year off on the right foot:

Made from all sorts of yummy stuff, it's hard
to decide whether to eat it or put it on your lips.

1. Go organic where you can - see our tip on how to get rid of pesticides on your fruit & veg at our Facebook page: 'Shell Lip Balm UK'. Also check the ingredients on your hair & make-up, toiletries and cleaning products and try to switch where you can - your body absorbs everything. Places like Planet Organic and Wholefoods are great to find natural products as an alternative to preservative filled ones.

2. Try 15-30 days of a raw food detox diet (this isn't an easy one to do, but your body will really thank you for it). I did it a few years ago and managed to kicked coffee, butter, chocolate and added salt from my diet (except on hot chips, because c'mon that's just a must). People said they really noticed a difference in my appearance actually which surprised me but was proof that 15 days is all it takes!

3. Drink at least 2 litres of water... especially having 2 glasses whenever you feel hungry. This is the best possible (and free!) appetite suppressant around and will stop you from overeating.

4. At least 1/2 hour of exercise a day. Now that we're on the downhill run to Spring, I'm going to try and wake up that smidge earlier and fit in my exercise then. Errrr, I'll have to keep you posted on how that goes though. I read recently that Molly Sims was sick of watching her weight so she decided to commit to 30 consecutive days of exercise - something every single day. Apparently after that she got the exercise bug and now feels like something is missing if she doesn't fit an activity in regularly. I'm going for the 30 day trial and hopefully the same thing will happen to me... I'm going to 'Sim-ify' my bod!

Whatever it is that you plan for or have set as your goals to fulfil this year, I wish you all the love and success possible! x

Overdo it under the mistletoe this year?

Be ready for a midnight smooch with
a dashing stranger on New Years Eve!

Did Uncle Graham's beard feel like it sliced and diced your pout when you said hello at Christmas lunch? Did you kiss your adorable baby niece's head / hand / cheeks / feet / chubby elbow so many times that your lips are tingling and maybe a little chapped? 


Christmas is not only a time for lots of food, gifts and some dodgy afternoon board games while Granny snores in the 'big chair' in the corner; but let's face it, it's a time for a LOT of kissing. Between that and the cold weather, this time of year can wreak havoc with your pout but don't worry, we've got a quick fix.


We've found a top tip to get your luscious lips back to their beautiful best, just in time to pucker up for a smooch with that dashing stranger you've seen across the crowded room on New Year's eve! 

• First, exfoliate your lips by mixing a pinch of sugar with about a drop of water. 
• Then rub the sugar water on the lips with a cotton bud and then rinse it off with cool water. 
• Finally, be sure to put on some moisturising, 100% organic Shell Lip Balm or lipstick afterwards so that your lips don't dry out. 

Your lips will be perfect and soft in no time at all.


Roll on New Year's Eve and kissable lips (yours... AND that dashing strangers).

The 'Secret Santa' sitch solved!

Search no more fellow gift hunters... that painful foraging along the High Street for an original, well priced 'something' to fill the stocking of someone special or put under the Secret Santa tree at work can finally come to a close. Let's all collectively breathe a big sigh of relief... *PHHHHHHEEEEEWWWW*

Jingle shells, jingle shells...

Shell Lip Balms are only £12.99 and are guaranteed to strike the perfect chord. If you've got the work sitch covered, it also makes an unbelievably special little something for a family member or close gal pal... or even just grab a second one for yourself and make sure you have something you actually really love under the tree this year, they're only 2 for £25!

Here's 3 good reasons why:

1. Shell Lip Balm gets delivered to your door for FREE! Because we think you've got better things to do with your time than brave the cold and crowds. Another cup of mulled wine anyone?

2. Shell Lip Balm is 100% organic, so if 'Sue in Accounts' whose name you picked out of the Secret Santa hat has an allergy to artificial ingredients, she can't pin the rash on you.

3. Shell Lip Balm comes in its own adorable gift bag and you can add your own personal message on the gift tag (just email us), so forget faffing about with the wrapping and a card, all you need to do is sneakily put it under the tree!

Easy? You bet. That's our gift to you. Merry Christmas Lip Lovers!

x

We're Officially 'Live' Lip Lovers!

Mocha Shell Lip Balm

There's absolutely no hiding it... I'm beside myself with excitement because (da, da, da, daaaaa!!!) the Shell Lip Balm website has officially gone 'live' this week and the sublime range of Shell Lip Balms are now available across the UK & Europe! Whoot!

The gorgeous and completely natural Shell Lip Balms are produced in nature-loving Australia, the land of sun-kissed beaches; natural beauties like Elle Macpherson & Miranda Kerr; home to Summer Bay Surfclub President Alf Stewart (just rolling with the beach theme there...) and of course homeland to all sorts of tropical fruits and plants which make for lovely organic ingredients. There is a lot of blogging going on lately - the article in the link below was written 2 November 2011 - (http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/213214/3/Can-the-chemicals-in-makeup-harm-your-health-) all about the health risks related to certain artificial ingredients used in cosmetics in the UK (lip cancer anyone? errrr, no thanks...). But worry not, because the ingredients in Shell Lip Balms are all natural and 100% organic. So feel free to mentally tick the 'it's good for me' box with these sweet and unique lip balms.

Tiger Crown Shell Lip Balm

While there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that an organic product is obviously much better for you than a preservative filled one, I feel that a few cosmetic products sometimes lean a bit too heavily on the whole 'organic' label. Lovely as the ingredients may be, the organic tag just isn't enough to justify a high price tag or excuse it for being an otherwise boring and uninspiring product. As savvy, sassy consumers we love discovering products that actually give us more than one reason to love them. Products like: foundations with SPF (genius when it first came out)... the dual-purpose bronzer/blush stick (total handbag space saver)... the moisturiser / self-tanner combo... you get the idea.

;

Oriental Fan Shell Lip Balm

Well we think you can go ahead and tick that 'more than one reason to love them' box here too. 100% organic ingredients aside, the real shell packaging makes these products the most divine little accessory to add to your A/W wardrobe. Oh, there's also a mirror inside every shell for 'poppyseed in teeth' and 'is my lip colour now on my chin after that cup of coffee?' essential checks. Tick, tick and tick.

I've been wearing mine threaded onto a old long chain as an oversized pendant, changing the shell style depending on what I'm wearing that day. I think it seems to add a lovely little dollop of 'vintage' to a look. The double-point-bonus here is that wearing it as a pendant means that the lip balm is always very handy which is 'oh-so' important as the weather cools down and takes its toll on our poor little, wind afflicted pouts. Cracked, dry and peeling lips does not a good look (or smooch) make!

Oriental Fan

What does make for a good look though are the rustic orange tones of the 'Oriental Fan' shell. I teamed mine with a pair of burnt orange, leather gloves to really punch out the Autumnal colour (it looks especially gorgeous on an all black ensemble). Wear with classic black wide leg, wool trousers and a cashmere sweater for work and you'll be the splash of colour the office is craving in the depths of winter. For more of a sleek, elegant look team it instead with a rich chocolate leather (or even textured tweed) pencil skirt and a form fitting, jersey turtleneck to create the most feminine silhouette possible.

White Frangipani Shell Lip Balm

So... we're officially 'open for business' on our website and now the chilly and windy months ahead need not look so bleak dear lip lovers!

Treat those luscious pouts of yours to a gorgeous 100% organic Shell Lip Balm and work these divine products into your A/W wardrobe to boot!

www.shelllipbalm.co.uk