QGossip - QVC insiders let you know what's going on in front of and behind the camera

10 July 2009

Guess the presenter revealed...

Julia Robert's self-portrait Julia Roberts How do you think you did this week? Well now you can find out... this self-portrait belongs to our very own Julia Roberts!

Well done to everyone who got it right!

Check back next week for more guess the presenter...

Pick up beauty tips from more of our experts

As part of Beauty Month, we've launched a brand-new show Meet the Beauty Experts and it's second show is airing this Sunday 12th July at 4pm.

We caught up with the experts from the show to get their top tips and advice for products featured in the show...

Real Hair Real Hair on Real Cleanse and Moisture DuoReal Hair Cleanse & Moisture Duo

Real Cleanse shampoo is as gentle as a facial cleanser and contains acerola fruit and red seaweed, usually found in Eastern skincare. Dampen your hair, place the product into your hands and lather into your hair - repeat again if necessary.
 
Real Moisture is an everyday conditioner that won't leave your hair feeling heavy, and can be applied to even the finest hair. Once the hair has been freshly washed, this conditioner should be combed through the entire length of the hair, from the ends up to the root. Rinse thoroughly.
 

Continue reading "Pick up beauty tips from more of our experts" »

09 July 2009

Recreate the latest sun-kissed look featured in Grazia!

Grazia magazine The style gurus at Grazia magazine have revealed their secret to sun-kissed skin - a 'blonzer'. This, they say, combines 'the skin-brightening flush of a blusher and the sun-kissed sheen of a bronzer' - and everyone's wearing one!

What's more, you can achieve this gorgeous summer holiday glow with our very own Laura Geller Balance 'N' Brighten. Sweep it over your face and decollete with a large blusher brush to brighten up your complexion. Laura Geller Balance 'n' Brighten Face Powder

So, wherever you go this summer, don't forget to apply a little 'blonzer'!


For more summer beauy buys, check out Alison Young's holiday essentials.

06 July 2009

Guess the presenter...

Self-portrait Get your guessing hats back on because here's another arty self-portrait for you to puzzle over. Who is this glam-looking presenter?

Let us know who you think it is by leaving a comment below.

Good luck!

02 July 2009

Win more Elemis goodies in our Woman and Home competition

Woman and Home To celebrate our July Beauty Month, Woman & Home are offering you the chance to win one of six sets of pampering Elemis goodies!
 
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine CreamEach set contains: Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (50ml), Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream and Pro-Collagen Radiantly Smooth Body Cream (200ml) - worth about £250!

For your chance to enter, simply visit www.womanandhome.com and click on 'Competitions'.

And if you haven't already, don't forget to enter our other Elemis competition to win a luxurious spa break for two!

01 July 2009

Guess the presenter revealed...

Glen's self-portrait Glen Campbell Well this certainly was the hardest self-portrait yet! It seems the suit threw you. We can reveal that the presenter is the ever-stylish Glen Campbell.

Well done to those of you who got it right!

Keep your eyes peeled for more guess the presenter coming soon...

30 June 2009

Our Bare Escentuals make-over winners enjoy their prize

Liz and Jane after their make-over Back in May, we ran a competition to win a Bare Escentuals make-over for two by our lovely guest Sarah-Jane. Jane Little (right) from Carlisle was our lucky winner and she chose to bring her friend Liz (left) with her on the day.

We caught up with them after their make-over to find out how they got on and to check out their transformation (see photos below)...

So, what do you think of your finished look?

Jane: We're really pleased with it! It's not too heavy and quite natural looking, which we both prefer. We're both big fans of Bare Escentuals and love all of their products, so it's nice to be treated to the make-over and to see how SJ uses all the different products.

Continue reading "Our Bare Escentuals make-over winners enjoy their prize" »

Meet our beauty experts and get their top tips

To celebrate July's Beauty Month, we're launching a brand-new show... Meet the Beauty Experts.

Here the experts share with you their tips on how best to use products featured in the show...

Elemis


Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Discovery Sarah Gilpin from Elemis on
Pro-Collagen Quartz Discovery Collection

This is one of my personal favourite collections for introducing friends to the Pro-Collagen range. Once you’ve used it, I guarantee you’ll be hooked! 
 
My tips for getting the most from this collection:
 
 - Cleanse and tone first. Then, twice a day use two pumps of Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Serum followed by Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. 

Continue reading "Meet our beauty experts and get their top tips" »

29 June 2009

We announce the winners of our Philosophy competition

Philosophy goody box Thanks to all of you who entered our Philosophy competition to win a fantastic goody box worth over £200.

Just to remind you all, the question was: Who founded Philosophy?

And the correct answer was: B) Cristina Carlino

Well done to all of you who guessed correctly. Now, we have five of these fabulous goody boxes to give away so I won't keep you in suspense any longer. The lucky winners are:

Val Lloyd from Norfolk
Jenny Nielsen from Southampton
Ms. M. Patel from Essex
Natalie Crane from the Wirral
Yasmine Choudhry from Sheffield

A big contrats to you all! If you weren't lucky this time, try your luck with our Elemis competition - you may just win yourself and a friend a luxury spa break worth over £500! Good luck!

28 June 2009

Win an Elemis spa break for two worth over £500

Wildmoor spa and health club To celebrate ElemisJuly's Beauty Month, we're giving away a luxurious spa getaway for two worth £505 - and we're throwing in goody bags too!

If you're the lucky winner, you and a friend will be treated to an overnight stay at Ettington Park Hotel. You'll get to enjoy dinner and breakfast - as well as a two course spa lunch at Wildmoor spa and health club (see photo left). Plus, you'll both be thoroughly pampered with an Elemis facial, 60-minute Swedish massage and lots more!

To get you even more excited, each goody bag contains a fantastic eight-piece Elemis collection to complement Elemis 8 Piece Gift Boxed Super Spa & Skincare Collectionyour spa experience.

To enter, simply answer the following question: Which Elemis product did SHE magazine vote 'Best for Anti-Ageing'?

A)
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
B) Elemis Daily Shine Control
C) Elemis Body Sculpting System

Hint: Check out the Elemis award-winners page

If you think you know the answer, simply email the relevant letter of your answer to webmasteruk@qvc.com. Please note that any comments with the answer in them will not be published or added to the draw.

View the full terms and conditions

Tune in throughout July for new beauty shows and advice from a host of experts.    

26 June 2009

Guess the presenter...

Presenter self-portrait It's that time of the week again, so put on your thinking caps and try your luck with this week's mysterious self-portrait. Who's this stylish presenter? 

Tell us who you think this is by leaving your guess in the comment box below.

Good luck!

25 June 2009

Philosophy expert Robin reveals her top skincare tips

Robin from Philosophy To celebrate our Philosophy Mini Series, we caught up with Philosophy expert Robin to find out about her skincare routine, top tips and much more.

Robin has over 20 years experience in the beauty business and now spends her time researching beauty trends and representing Philosophy at award ceremonies and on TV among other things.


Which is your favourite Philosophy product and why?Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser

Purity Made Simple Cleanser! It's my desert island product. It easily removes my make-up (including my eye make-up) and leaves my skin feeling amazingly fresh all in one step. It's perfect on the days that I’m feeling lazy.

Its rich texture and calming scent make me look forward to washing my face. It has also become a bit of a family affair as I use it on my son and my husband uses it when he shaves – it's the ultimate multi-use product.

Top tip: I use this product to clean my make-up brushes. Its gentle formula will thoroughly clean off all the make-up and will leave them feeling super soft.

Continue reading "Philosophy expert Robin reveals her top skincare tips" »

24 June 2009

Guess the presenter revealed...

Alison Keenan Alison's self portrait This presenter's self-portrait had many of you fooled, with lots of you guessing Claire and Julia as possibilities.

We won't keep you in suspense any longer, this presenter is... Alison Keenan!

This was a tricky one so if you got it right, you deserve a big pat on the back!

Look out for more guess the presenter self-portraits coming soon...

Take a peek at Tuesday's Casio camera TSV

Casio compact camera If you're in the market for a high-spec compact camera from a name you can trust, then see our Today's Special Value on Tuesday 30th June.

Perfect for taking super holiday snaps, you can find out more about this stylish Casio camera by tuning in to QVC TV or checking out qvcuk.com

In the meantime, read our expert tips on how to take the best photos.

19 June 2009

Gardening advice from Charlie Dimmock

Charlie Dimmock Charlie Dimmock of Ground Force fame is making her QVC debut this weekend in our Summer Garden with Charlie Dimmock shows. We caught up with her to chat about growing her own veg, ponds and getting the giggles...

What's your own garden like?

It's quite cottage-like - my front garden is totally chaotic and everybody turns up and goes 'Oh, what a mess!" but I've left it like that for the wildlife.

You don't want to be too tidy in your garden, have one or two areas where you just let things happen - then you'll have more wildlife and less pests.

In my back garden I've got a pond with a little waterfall. It's very cottagey so I've got lots of poppies, corn cockles and roses, lilies, clematis and a few bedding plants. And then I've got quite a big vegetable patch.

Continue reading "Gardening advice from Charlie Dimmock" »

Guess the presenter...

Presenter self-portraitHere's another self-portrait for you to work out... this one's a little tricky but the fabulous big hair is a bit of a clue. Can you guess who this smiley presenter is?

Tell us who you think it is by leaving your guess in the comment box below.

Happy guessing!

Tova tells us about today's special TSV

Tova I just wanted to tell you a little bit about today's extra-special TSV - a sparklingDiamonique ring by Tova Diamonique ring. Ernest presented this ring to me to celebrate 25 years of our marriage together.

We're incurable romantics! You may remember that we have renewed our vows five different times over the last years.

In celebration of this romantic occasion, this magnificent ring was created to depict the bridge of love in dazzling princess-cut simulated diamonds. Marriage is filled with bridges so I've create dazzling rows of sparkling stones to show just this. And I want everyone to enjoy the feeling of romance and elegance every time they wear it.

It's my joy to share this love ring with you...

Love Tova

18 June 2009

Hairstyle tips and trends from ghd guest Jo Robertson

ghd guest Jo Robertson with a modelFeel like doing something a little different with your hair? Want to jazz it up for a special occasion? We chatted to Jo Robertson, hair stylist for ghd, to find out how she balances work at fast-paced ghd and being a busy mum and to get some of her style secrets too...

Did you always know you wanted to work with hair?

It was a done deal really, I always wanted to be a hair stylist. I started about 21 years ago when I was about 16 and worked in various salons. Five years ago I opened by own salon Harrington Robertson and two years ago I joined ghd. Since then I've been kept busy with magazine work, fashion weeks, teaching seminars and much more.

How would you describe the brand ghd?Ghd - a new religion for hair

Cool, iconic and always a step ahead. I always compare ghd to Madonna, who is constantly reinventing herself. You think that she can't take her look any further, and then she does. That's what we try and do at ghd.

Continue reading "Hairstyle tips and trends from ghd guest Jo Robertson" »

QVC jewellery graces the pages of Grazia magazine

Grazia magazine style page Kenneth Jay Lane gold-tone necklace The style fashionistas at Grazia HQ ploughed through rails of designer clothing, the latest heels and elaborate jewellery collections to form their Grecian-themed fashion feature (left).

And look who made the cut, none other than QVC's Kenneth Jay Lane lion's head necklace (right). Who's to question the experts - they know style when they see it!

 

Style tip: Team this chunky statement piece with a floaty white dress and gladiator sandals to pull of this season's look.

See more from the Kennth Jay Lane collection.

The QGossip team.

17 June 2009

Guess the presenter revealed...

Simon's self portrait Simon Biagi Did you have a go at guessing who this smart presenter is? It did have a few of you a little undecided, but I think the daily papers were a big clue.

Well, we can reveal that it's... Simon Biagi!



Well done to everyone who guessed correctly, and keep your eyes peeled for more guess the presenter coming soon...

15 June 2009

Alison Young celebrates 14 years at QVC

Alison Young

Our resident beauty expert, Alison Young, has graced our screens for 14 years, sharing her tips, tricks and beauty secrets with us.

We caught up with her to find out her most embarrassing moments, her favourite guests and much more...

What's your top make-up tip after 14 years with QVC?

My top make-up trick would be to get clever with your utensils, such as brow pencils, eyeliners and lipliners. The older you get, the more shape you need so it's important to learn how to shape properly.

For overall beauty, my top tip would be to wear an SPF factor every single day. Start as early as you can and remember that it's never too late.


Continue reading "Alison Young celebrates 14 years at QVC" »

14 June 2009

Vote in the QVC Customer Beauty Awards 2009

QVC Customer Beauty Awards 2009 To all you beauty fans out there,

You've been busy rating and reviewing our beauty products. Now's your chance to tell us which products should win in our first ever QVC Customer Beauty Awards 2009!

Choose from top-rated products in ten categories, including best moisturiser and best anti-ageing product. So get your thinking caps on, turn your beauty bag upside down and pick out the products you think deserve to win.

Vote for your favourite beauty products in our online poll.

Then, don't forget to tune in on Friday 31st July when we'll be announcing the results and your favourite products will be crowned our 2009 winners.

Happy voting!

The QGossip Team

12 June 2009

Guess the presenter...

Presenter self-portrait Let's see if you can do as well as you did with last week's self portrait! Who's this smart-looking presenter?

Tell us who you think it is by leaving your guess in the comment box below.

Good luck!

11 June 2009

Guess the presenter revealed...

Pipa's self portrait Pipa Vanderburg Wow, this week you certainly knew your presenter! Well, as everyone guessed, this self portrait belongs to Pipa!

Well done to everyone, and keep a look out for more guess the presenter coming soon.

09 June 2009

How to use the Vidalia food chopper

Vidalia food chopper

If you snapped up the Vidalia food chopper TSV on Monday 8th June, we've put together some useful information on how to get the most out of this handy kitchen gadget.

The food chopper features three different attachments - a wedger, a 1/2" slicing blade and a 1/4" slicing blade. Here's what you can use with each part…

The wedger is great for:

  • Tomatoes
  • Apples
  • Pears
  • Potatoes

Continue reading "How to use the Vidalia food chopper" »

Meet Jo Wood, the star behind our brand-new beauty range

Jo WoodAlways looking to bring you the hottest beauty ranges on the market, we're Jo Wood Organics excited to introduce you to our new beauty collection, Jo Wood Organics.

To find out more about the range that everyone's talking about, we chatted to creator Jo Wood. She's well known for her marraige to Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood, for her glam model looks, and for her enthusiasm for all things green and organic.

What inspired you to create your own beauty range?

I initially started by making my own oils. I wanted to know that I was putting something pure onto my skin - after all what you put on your skin is just as important as what you eat. I always compare bodies to Formula 1 racing cars – you would only put the very best fuel in to ensure the best performance.

Continue reading "Meet Jo Wood, the star behind our brand-new beauty range" »

08 June 2009

Introducing our new jewellery designer - Lesley Vik Waddell

Lesley Vik Waddell As part of our celebration of Coutts London Jewellery Week, we're proud to introduce our very latest jewellery designer - Lesley Vik Waddell.

Lesley is considered to be one of the UK's hottest young talents in jewellery design; she's already worked alongside the likes of John Galliano at Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Antonio Beradi.

We caught up with Lesley as she prepared for her first shows coming up on Wednesday 10th June at 11am and 10pm...

Continue reading "Introducing our new jewellery designer - Lesley Vik Waddell" »

Learn to… Stitch and Knit

Shad Sewing Machine with Wireless Foot Control Have you ever fancied making your own clothes and home furnishings, but aren't really sure how to?

Well, to tie in with our Learn to… Stitch, Knit and More show, we met up with sewing pro Paul Shadwell, creator of the Shad Sewing Machine. Here's his sewing advice…

 

What do I need if I'm new to sewing?

If you're starting out, or just setting up a new household, here are a few essentials:

  • Assorted size needles

  • Good scissors

  • A steam ripper to remove old stitches

  • Fabric tape

  • Assorted small spools of thread in basic colours

  • Straight pins

  • Fabric chalk

What can I make with a sewing machine?

With a sewing machine you can make your own dresses, home furnishings, repairs and alterations, as well as upholstery and crafts quilting.

Continue reading "Learn to… Stitch and Knit" »

07 June 2009

Enhance your garden with tips from Colin Crosbie

Here's the second part of our interview with gardening expert Colin Crosbie from the Royal Horticultural Society. You can read more gardening advice from Colin in our first RHS interview

Naturalistic planting How can people recreate the look of wild planting in their own gardens?

The term 'wild' is often misused. What people are trying to copy is naturalistic planting.

Naturalistic planting is where plants are placed in 'drifts' of about 5 plants in a group. These drifts merge into one another, mixing flower, foliage and texture. 

Plants often used in naturalistic planting include grasses, Echinacea and Eryngium. In shady positions, go for ferns, Hosta and Hellebores for a natural feel.

Remember: Planting can appear very disjointed if you plant in ones or twos.

Continue reading "Enhance your garden with tips from Colin Crosbie" »

05 June 2009

Simon Brown's sizzling summer recipe

Simon Brown

Hi everyone,

I'm Simon Brown from cook's essentials and I want to share my tasty summer recipe with you. With summer finally upon us, it’s a great time to start cooking again using the best of local, seasonal produce. 

Try to think ‘light’ for summer meals – stodge has its place during the winter months, so now’s the time to enjoy fresh fish, asparagus, strawberries and, of course, the barbecue.

Try replacing a Sunday roast with a barbecued joint instead. Lamb, chicken and even a whole fish barbecue beautifully and make for great al fresco dining. 

Continue reading "Simon Brown's sizzling summer recipe" »