Handcrafted Soap Expensive?

Why does handcrafted soap seem so much more expensive than shop-bought soap?  What’s so special about it and why spend the extra?  It’s just soap ain’t it?  Well, you may well find that some of the shop-bought varieties are not actually soap at all and are just a cocktail of this and that chemical to give the look, feel & function of soap but, in the opinion of many a convert, soap it ain’t.  This is why many are sold as ‘moisturising bars’ or ‘beauty bars’ – they aren’t really soap at all!  Read more....

Kick Off The New Year!  See the Soap Showcase with some extra special & exclusive offers here...

A ‘Saling’ Lesson

I had to take my daughter to town today (Boxing Day sales) because she was 'sooo desperate' to bag a bargain (or ten) at Lush.   However, Lush didn’t open until 11am, but I had no intention of getting into town around this time – the parking would have been a nightmare. 

So, we got up nice and early and got into town at around 9ish.  Well, it was BLISS!!!!  Hardly any other ‘salers’, so we had the ships to ourselves – well, for at least 10 minutes, after which, we were swarmed with other ‘salers’.  Anyway, it gave me an opportunity to teach my offspring the ways of the ‘saling world’. 

I tend to stick to these rules of thumb:

If you are going to ‘The Sales’ and you want to minimise the stress, tension, pushing and shoving, elbowing, snatching, grabbing, endless queuing…

• Get in there early – got out of there early!
• NEVER look at anything other than the sales racks – you can look at the other stuff anytime but sale items will usually fly,
• Many shops offer 10-20% throughout the year, so focus on those that are discounted at least 30% or more.
• Be quick and decisive about what you are going buy, hesitation and deliberation will (very often) mean the item will disappear before your very eyes (like magic!)

This was seriously put to the test in Lush I might add – my daughter’s eyes were as big a saucers with shock and surprise and she actually asked to leave!!!!  THAT’s never happened before.

Anyway, we had a bit of time to kill so, of course, we headed for Primark.  I had absolutely no intention of buying anything but oops!!  Look what fell into my bag!! 

The boots are sooo comfortable.  They were £15.00 but reduced to £8.00, so I got two pairs (great for the school run).  How could I not?  It would have been most rude not to.  The lovely chunky knit scarf was only £2.90, reduced from £4.00 and I thought it would go lovely with the boots (I have a couple of lovely grey jumper dresses too, so will be nice altogether).  The top is from New Look.  It was £9.00 but I can’t remember what it was originally.  I just liked it though.

The over the knee socks I bought from Primark but not in the sale.  They were only £2.00 anyway but I love the little detail.  I have some black ones too and I tend to wear them over the top of black tights (bit of extra warmth and added interest to the overall look I think).

I bought my daughter some things too (not pictured).  A lovely fur collared, leather look jacket (only £6.00!), a pair of boots, a bag and a cardigan.  These too were from Primark and the total bill was only £45.00 (or thereabouts). 

We got to Lush and queued (not for too long) and when the doors opened…..  OMG!!!!!  That was MADNESS!!  All the Christmas stock as half price and people were literally scooping products off the shelves, into their baskets with their arms.  Baskets were full to the brim but oh my….  You couldn’t move in there.  Needless to say that my daughter applied all the knowledge of her teachings, , only looked at the sales items, made her decisions quick and headed for that exit, quick-sharp!!  ‘You have done well my child’ 

Of course, none of those rules would apply had I gone on my own – I would probably still be there now – albeit in a crumpled heap on the floor and bags full of stuff I don’t really need and probably wouldn’t normally buy, but I won’t tell her that ;o)

We bagged a few bargains and were home by 12 (although took until about 1.30 to recover).  Overall, not bad and from what I could see, most of the High Street shops had some great sales and were well worth the visit, if you dare – gulp!

How To 'Set' Your Style... Keeping It Cool

Have you ever wondered what that ‘cool’ button on your hairdryer is for?  Obviously it gives a blast of cool air but why?  Basically, it ‘set’s’ your style, making it last longer and can help to improve shine.  How?

This article/video explains how to get the best from your hairdrying and demonstrates some techniques to set your style.


Read the article/view the video at Maboho World....

Let's Take A Moment To Just Breathe...

How often do we make a few minutes in the day to just breeeeeathe?  Well, we all breathe I guess but most of the time, we don't breathe 'correctly'.  I know I don't.  Yes, it is quite remarkable what a few minutes every day of correct breathing can do for your inner well-being.  

Rajiv from Yomojo is a yoga teacher and recently posted a wondrful, yet really simple breathing exercise to the forum, to help reduce stress, relax and re-energise the mind and body. .  I hope you enjoy it and find it useful x

Click to breeeeaaathe.....

Buy Small, Get Big! Maboho is on a mission!

Maboho is on a mission!!  In these harsh economic times, we are all feeling the pinch – some more than others.  I passionately want small, independent businesses, to do well – No! I want them to prosper.

I think, and I doubt I am alone in my in this, small businesses really care and genuinely value their customers.  They have the advantage of being able to see things through different eyes than their more mainstream counterparts.  For customers who buy from a small business means they gets big value, big service and big product, which helps support that small business grow and become bigger.

Buy Small, Get Big!

So if you are a small/independent business/retailer, specialising in beauty products/cosmetics/fashion/accessories, get involved and help build promote the benefits of buying small and getting big.

• List your business in the business directory

• Use Maboho as a platform for new product launches/press releases/special customer incentives/articles of interest (send these to enquiries@maboho.co.uk)

• Beauty & style bloggers are your friends and if you have had a great review, this can be added too (with their permission of course).

• Let your customers know you have been featured at Maboho.

• Join the new forum and encourage your customers to do so – there’s nothing better than interaction within a friendly community to strengthen a bond.  There's also a private board for business members to chat freely ;o)

Get on board!  Help spread the word that to buy small is get big.  Buy Small, Get Big!

Getting Started In DIY Face Masks

High quality face masks that match any expensive shop-bought masks are so, so easy to make at home.  From setting masks through to the freshness and goodness of natural fruit/botanical cocktails, all of which can be made in minutes at home. 

With a little basic knowledge and a few ingredients, there’s a plethora of combinations.

This recently added article outlines some of the basics and gives some recipe ideas to suit various skin types, just  to get you started.

Read the article at Maboho World….

New Video Tutorial - Salon Finish Nail Enamel

This latest video was quite a project.  I wanted to produce something that would be useful to the viewer and one that followed on from the previous video (Basic Filing Techniques), so Applying A Nail Colour For A Professional Finish seemed like a good idea.  I also think I sound ever so boring, so this project I was determined to spice up a little bit (and also include less of me).

However, what with keeping up with the Christmas rush while trying to get my poor little brain unfamiliar editing software has been a heck of a challenge.  I spent hours and hours editing the video and was nearly complete.  THEN… the nightmare came true!  The software only went and got itself a blasted error and shut itself down (I say it got itself the error because it couldn’t have been something I did *whistles innocently*.  I lost the lot!  Why?  Because, silly me, didn’t do one of the most fundamental things and save my work regularly.  Doh!

Anyway, lesson learned and I was not going to be defeated.  So I started over and, although  I am not 100% happy with the outcome (my editing skills still need a LOT of work), the end result is at least a step in the right direction.  There is also an accompanying article if you prefer.  I hope you enjoy it!!

Watch the video/read the article at Maboho World...

The Perfume Pen That's Interestingly Spot On!

This most interesting pen, from Lazer Cutz, has been hand-turned from wood sourced from sustainable managed woodland.  It is a wooden dabber pen and is incredibly high quality.  Very stylish.  It has been designed for the precise application of perfume.  You simply dip the nib into your favourite perfume and apply with great precision but it made me think..... there's another use for this.  Read the article at maboho.co.uk

New Video Review

I have had these soapies sitting here for a little while now, just waiting to be used.  Now that I have got around to finally using them, I thought it would be nice to do a video review (video reviews are so much easier to watch aren’t they?  They’re not so easy to produce, but that’s a whole other story, lol). 

               

They were kindly sent to me as a gift from Scent Trail (gosh… sometimes I feel so lucky).  So here’s my review.  Again, I am super nervous but I think I am ever so slightly more relaxed than the first video.  There’s also an accompanying written review if you prefer.

Watch/read the review here....