Glitter Tattoos Review

Kezia received a Glitter Tattoos kit from Interplay to try out. She had one of her friends round for a sleepover, giving her the ideal opportunity to test it out in the best way possible. Kits like this are so much fun to share with friends!

The kit includes 27 designs of tattoo stencils, with two of each design, along with six pots of glitter, a bottle of cosmetic glue and two brushes.

The instruction booklet gives clear, detailed step by step instructions for using the kit, and it is easy to create some fun, eye catching, sparkly, temporary tattoos.

Firstly, you need to choose a stencil from the 27 designs and peel away the backing paper. The adhesive stencil sticks to the skin gently. Then, you brush the cosmetic glue over the stencil, then use the soft brush to apply glitter to the glue.

Once the design is covered with glitter, you peel away the stencil to leave the glittery design on the skin. Simply brush away any excess from around the design to give the best result.

The finished effect is really nice with a good clean finish.  It's easy and fun to do, recommended for girls aged 8 and over. The tattoo can be removed using soap and water.

The girls enjoyed using the kit and creating the colourful, sparkly tattoos on their arms.  Here is a video of them demonstrating just how simple it is to use the Glitter Tattoos kit.


                      


The Fab Lab Glitter Tattoos from Interplay have an RRP of £9.99.  This would be a great kit to have for a birthday party or sleepover, with enough contents to make lots of brilliant glitter tattoos.

Dove Self-Esteem Project Partners with Girlguides to Improve Girls' Body Confidence

The Dove Self-Esteem Project and Girlguiding announce partnership to tackle the issue of low self-esteem and body confidence head on!

According to a survey of 500 UK girls aged between 11 and 14, 47% are opting out of everyday activities such as swimming, gymnastics, social events and contributing in class because they don’t like how they look. The findings were revealed by the Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) to coincide with the  International Day of the Girl and come as the DSEP announces a partnership with Girlguiding that aims to boost low self-esteem through a body confidence workshop and badge.

Nearly half of the girls admitted to feeling the pressure to look beautiful, and said this starts as young as 8 years old.  DSEP and Girlguiding want to ensure that girls feel empowered so that they have the confidence that they need to realise their full potential.

The body confidence badge is set to reach more than 400,000 UK girls and 3.5 million girls globally. The purpose of the badge is to educate girls on the importance of self-esteem whilst providing them with a badge that they will be able to wear with pride.

Today, a variety of activities to highlight the issue of girls missing out will take place at the Southbank Centre in London, including speed mentoring sessions in the London Eye, self-esteem workshops and talks from inspirational women, including Mumsnet founder Carrie Longton.

A ‘Missing Out’ art installation on the Riverside Terrace at the Southbank Centre has also been created by the DSEP to draw attention to the impact of low self-esteem in young girls. Unused swimming costumes spell out the phrase "MISSING OUT" to represent the girls who are too self conscious to join in activities like swimming because of issues with their body image.

Until the 13th of October, passers-by will be able to obtain information about the project and see statistics that highlight how many girls are missing out on activities because of low self-esteem. People will also be encouraged to share their own ‘missing out’ stories by writing their stories and messages of inspiration directly onto the art installation's lockers.  

Together we can all start helping young girls overcome their self doubts and body confidence issues that are holding them back.  Girls shouldn't be missing out on anything.

We have tried out the Dove Self-Esteem Project website which is a great resource for parents and teachers of young girls packed with activities, tips and workshop ideas for raising self-esteem and tackling body confidence issues.  You can read all about it here.

For further information on the Dove Self Esteem Project (DSEP) visit:  selfesteem.dove.co.uk

For further information on Girlguiding visit: www.girlguiding.org.uk
Spread the word #doveselfesteem


“I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity”.

New Lil-Lets For Teens Range

When little girls grow-up, you reach a whole new level of parenting.  Puberty can be a difficult time for both parents and their daughters, and as a mum to three girls aged 21, 16 and 10, I am no stranger to the issues faced by growing up!  I want to help ease my girls through the stages of their life giving them as much help, advice and support as I can.  When I was young girl, subjects such as periods were considered taboo.  We didn't see adverts on the TV or in magazines and apart from the confusing talk at school whereby an elderly  female teacher told us to tell her if we 'started' at school (started what??  I didn't have a clue!!) no-one really spoke about it.  I'm so glad we live in a society where things are so much more open and information is so accessible, but it still isn't an easy time for girls.

One of  the big dilemmas for girls is what  products to use when they start their periods.  There are so many options on the market that it can be quite overwhelming.  This problem has just been made easier, by the launch of a new range of sanitary products.  Lil-lets now sell teen towels, liners and tampons designed specifically for a young girl's body to provide a perfect fit.  The range has been brought together into a Teen Starter Pack which includes 2 lite tampons, 1 regular tampon, 2 regular applicator tampons, 1 teens liner pouch, 4 day teens towels, 2 night teens towels and 1 'Becoming a Teen' booklet with advice on puberty, body changes and using the products.  Everything is in a pretty little re-usable zip up bag.

This helpful pack contains everything a girl could need to help them choose the products that are right for them and are available on the Lil-lets wesite and in Boots stores nationwide.  RRP £4.49

 The Teens Starter Set is a very good product.  I really like the idea of having everything in one handy, discreet and pretty little pack that can be re-used.  It is a really good starting point for young girls to understand what products are available and the fact they are designed for a teenager's body (being shorter, and narrower but just as absorbent as adult sizes) makes them more comfortable to use.  The booklet is informative without being patronising.  I'd go as far as to say that this set actually makes a young girl feel a bit special at this big moment in their lives.  I wish I'd had something like this when I was a girl!

We were sent a lovely gift from Li-lets to introduce their new product range.  As well as receiving the Teens Starter Set, the girls were sent some pampering goodies.  Lil-lets know exactly what else helps make this phase of a young girl's life more bearable:  a cuddly hot water bottle, some fancy beauty products and of course a bar of chocolate!

Find out more on the range along with helpful wellbeing hints and tips at lil-lets.co.uk

Get Creative Paper FX

The Upcycling Craft Set for Young Fashionistas

Paper FX from Flair is a fun set that is perfect for tweens who are into fashion and crafts.  Paper can be woven and crafted to create accessories, handbags, pencil cases and belts.  It is a great way of upcycling old magazines, wrapping paper and glossy paper into a unique and fashionable accessory to glam up an outfit or spruce up a bedroom shelf.

The look created depends on the paper used.  You can go for glitzy and glam, soothing pastels or paintbox bright, to create items that match your personality and your mood.  New accessories can always be made from old mags so a new handbag is only a weave away!

Kizzy received one to try out.  The idea was really appealing to her and she was keen to grab her back catalogue of Girl Talk magazines to upcycle into something funky!

The set included a weaving machine, some tools and an instruction booklet plus a tube of paper glue.  All you need is an old magazine to get started.  A special device allows you to easily tear pages into strips which are then put into a scoring machine which makes it easy to fold and glue the strips ready for weaving.

The weaving machine itself allows you to fix the vertical strips to hold them securely under a plastic cover.  A dial allows you to lift alternate strips to feed in the horizontal strips.  A dab of glue secures the strips in place. The process is repeated to create the woven rectangle.

Kizzy enjoyed weaving the strips to create a colourful woven rectangle made from her magazine.  The effect was quite good with all the bits of the magazine worked together into an artistic creation that we decided would be a coaster.  With the edges trimmed, tucked in and glued it looked quite good.

The Paper FX set certainly kept Kizzy very entertained.  It wasn't overly complicated to make the woven rectangles.  There are instructions for creating all manner of fancy items such as pencil cases and purses, but to be honest I cannot imagine being able to make them out of the paper strips using paper glue.  I'm sure that if you put your mind to it and used PVA glue to stick and strengthen the structure it would be possible, but it would take a lot of skill and dedication.

Kizzy is more than happy making these coasters for everyone and she is loving getting creative with her old magazines. It's proving a good way to keep her busy.  She said  "It is really fun but a bit tricky and fiddly at times.  On the whole though I think it is really good to make things from my old magazines!"

Paper FX is available from good retailers with an RRP of £19.99.  It is suitable for girls aged 8 and up.

Orbeez Soothing Spa

If they are anything like my 9 year old daughter, tweens and teens love to be pampered!  Character Option have a range of products in their Orbeez range that are sure to delight girls who want to enjoy a unique spa experience in the comfort of their own home.

Kizzy received an Orbeez Soothing Spa to test out and she was very excited to plan a pamper session in order to try it.  The Soothing Spa includes removable hand bowls and a luxuriating foot tub giving relaxation a whole new element of fun.  It features a cascading waterfall of soft scented Orbeez plus ambient lighting.  It's definitely a spa treat for a pampered girl's feet!

The spa assembles easily.  It comes with two 750 bags of Orbeez.  The Orbeez are small, squishy, silky balls that you can warm up by soaking in warm water and draining.  These are put into the tub and the mechanism picks them up and cascades them out onto your feet.  A small bottle of Jasmine Perfume is included to drop over the balls to add a pleasant scent.  The Orbeez can also be put into the little bowls to pamper the hands.  They are very soothing and feel like "jelly" according to Kizzy.  A red glow gives an ambient mood light to enhance the experience.  The Orbeez Soothing Spa takes two C batteries that are not included.  The spa hums when in use and isn't too noisy.

Kizzy really enjoyed her pamper session and Freddy and Ella got in on the act as well.  They all agreed that the spa was fun and an original way to pamper your feet and hands.  Kizzy loved the Jasmine perfume which she liberally sprinkled on the Orbeez.  It was a nice way for her to unwind and relax and discover the joys of 'me time'!

The Orbeez are very squishy and lots of them burst during use.  The ones that are left after use can be rinsed, stored in the included sealable bags and then reused.   Refill bags are available to order to replace those damaged by feet or the mechanism.  One normal use of the spa burst about 10% of the 750 balls we used.  The balls do turn into sticky mush so you have to be careful to clean them up properly after use or they'll get everywhere.  I don't know how long the 1500 Orbeez that come with the spa will last before you need to purchase more at £7 a bag, but the future cost of this should be taken into account when buying a Soothing Spa.

We have had a spa mishap where Freddy lent on the tub catapulting 750 incredibly slippery balls over the laminate.  Trying to pick them up with adult fingers caused lots of bursting and left the floor slippy!  It was a big mess.   We also had quite a few individual escapees during the pampering session...I'll be finding them under the sofa for weeks.  

  
The Orbeez Soothing Spa really is quite unique offering a fun, colourful introduction to pampering spa treatments for young girls.  They will love it.   It is however much more of a novelty item than a serious foot spa and the cost of replacing the balls is a consideration for long term use.

The Orbeez range also includes a Mood Lamp, a Globe and a Light Up Star or Heart.  The Spa retails for £29.99 and is suitable for ages 5 and up.  (Not suitable for children under 36 months because of the small parts.)