How much do you hate queuing?

QVC asked British shoppers about queuing and came up with some startling results! According to the research, British shoppers will spend 155 days of their lives queuing while on shopping trips, equivalent to 47 hours per year or 55 minutes per week, and find it the most irritating facet of their high street shopping experience.

47% suffer from 'queue rage'
The results reveal that 47 per cent of Brits have suffered 'queue rage', with a fifth of respondents (21 per cent) admitting that have stormed out of a shop after queuing for three minutes or less.  Shoppers are likely to vote with their feet – and their wallets – when faced with long queues, with 76 per cent reporting that they have blacklisted shops where they have experienced these issues.  Others have taken it further with 29 per cent admitting to raising their voice or getting angry with shop staff and 20 per cent to arguing with other shoppers. 

Top trigger for seeing red
British consumers rate having to queue their top trigger for seeing red on a shopping spree, with 55 per cent rating it their top hate.  Shoppers estimate they spend an average 17 minutes per shopping trip standing in queues and that they hit the high street or supermarket 3.2 times per week on average.

'Superior' shopping assistants
Queuing is followed by unhelpful or ‘superior’ shopping assistants (39 per cent) and busy stores (36 per cent) in the list of top shopping hates, with poor quality goods (34 per cent) and lack of available sizes/ colour variations (34 per cent) completing the top five. 

Top Ten Shopping Hates

1. Queuing (55 per cent)
2. Unhelpful or ‘superior’ shopping assistants (39 per cent)
3. Busy stores (36 per cent)
4. Poor quality goods (34 per cent)
5. Lack of available sizes/ colour variations (34 per cent)
6. Bad store layout (30 per cent)
7. Loud music in store (30 per cent)
8. Lack of parking (25 per cent)
9. No toilets (25 per cent)
10. Not enough changing rooms (17 per cent)

What's your top ten?
Let us know if you have ever left a queue and chosen to shop with QVC instead? Or if you are one of those that finds shopping in high street stores especially stressful?

(The survey, commissioned by TV shopping channel QVC, asked 2,000 respondents from across the UK to provide information about their shopping experiences, including how much they spend and what aspects of shopping they find the most frustrating.)

Introducing YouTube star and make-up guru Lauren Luke

We're so excited to announce that YouTube star Lauren Luke will be joining us for the first time ever on Thursday 17th December at 12pm and 6pm. Famed for her how-to make-up videos on YouTube, we caught up with her to get her top tips and discover how it all began...

(Scroll to see Lauren's how-to videos, below)

How did it all start out?
 
I was working in a taxi office and hated the hours and to be honest the job itself. So, I decided to leave and go fully self-employed and start selling cosmetics online.

I used to do my make-up and like what I had created, so would then take pictures of myself and use that as my product listing pictures to show people how the product would look when applied. People from all over the world were soon asking through emails how I had achieved the look so I decided to show them with videos and that was where YouTube came about.

Why do you think your success has grown so quickly?

I think partly it's because my videos are unedited and have always been that way. I like to be honest about everything in my videos - if there's a product that I've been sent and I don't think it's any good, I will say so. My videos are as real as they come and the make-up looks are all modelled on me. I think I'm an everyday-looking girl and so I show how make-up is achievable instead of unobtainable.

What do you most enjoy about giving make-up tutorials?

I'm not a professional but what I have learned over the years will always help someone out there. I also enjoying experimenting with new looks, colours and make-up products.

I started off doing YouTube with nothing planned in mind, but now I have this voice and great use of platform to talk to people. I use this to empower and inspire everyone out there to be who they want to be, and enjoy what they are doing in the process.

What tips would you give a newcomer to creating YouTube tutorials?
 
I would say first and foremost enjoy every minute or it's a waste of time. Always try and connect with as many people as you can by keeping in contact and replying as often as possible. Oh and invest when you can in a good video camera so that you can show your creations off properly!
 
Tells us about your new make-up range

My new make-up range consists of full face palettes for all skin, eye and hair colours. Each palette comes with two primers which are great multi-purpose products. They act as a base for eyeshadows and popping a little of the lighter primer on any skin tone just under the eye area really wakens and refreshes the appearance of your eyes.
 
There are three eyeshadow colours in each palette. One large one to be used all over the eye lid and two others to be blended along the crease and applied as a highlighter to the brow bone and inside the corners of the eyes. There's also a blush, cream black eye liner and two lip colours so you get the full look under one roof at an affordable price.
 
What are your top three make-up tips?

1. Place your little finger on your cheek to steady your hand when applying liquid, gel or cream eye liners to your upper lash line.

2. Tip your head back and roll the wand from root to tip when applying mascara so that you coat each lash fully and don't catch the skin with the product.

3. Before applying lip products, dab a little concealer or powder to your lip area to prevent lipstick running during the day.

View Lauren's make-up palette

You've read the inteview - now watch Lauren in action

 

 

 

Get more inspiration with Crafts Beautiful magazine

If Craft Day has left you wanting a little Xtra info and inspriation then you won't want to miss the latest issue of Crafts Beautiful.

We've teamed up with Crafts Beautiful to create Crafts Xtra (left) a free 24-page supplement filled with new projects from Dawn Bibby, interviews with star crafters, Christmas gift ideas and plenty of techiques and tips.

Crafts Beautiful magazine is available in all good newsagents and supermarkets and, to whet your appetite, take closer look at Dawn Bibby's Cute Cupcake card project (right) from Crafts Xtra.

Top Santé magazine loves Liz Earle skincare

Exciting news! Liz Earle is a guest editor in November's edition of Top Santé magazine, which is on sale now. Here's how she found her month on the job... 
 
“I’ve had an interesting month working as guest editor of Top Santé magazine. I really enjoyed the chance to put a personal stamp on such a popular publication.
 
Not surprisingly ‘my’ issue of Top Santé is a real Skin Special. Those who have read my Skin Secrets book will recognise some familiar themes here, including a guide to ‘What’s in your products?’, packed with information about the use of preservatives and organic ingredients.

Top Santé has also picked out their favourite beauty buys, one of which which happens to be one of mine too - Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate. This aromatic blend of 100% pure plant oils is the perfect night time treat as the colder weather draws in. 
 
I look forward to seeing you on our next show on the 17th October to spread the joy of great-looking skin this winter with the exciting launch of our TSV, the Ultimate Joy Collection."
 
Excited? We are!

Woman magazine loves our ybf Bronzing Oil

Whether you're suffering from a touch of post-holiday blues or never managed to get away this year, this could be the product to boost your spirits - and your skin! 

This ybf Imitation Vacation Fragrant Bronzing Oil is perfect for keeping your skin hydrated and giving you that instant golden glow. Use daily after a bath or shower for best results.

What Woman magazine say: "It gives a subtle bronze glow, with a sultry, tropical fragrance"

What you say: cativr, London - "I plan to keep on using this to keep me glowy and smelling gorgeous in the gloom of winter."

Hot autumn trend spotted in Grazia magazine

Lace is back! To rock this trend, you don't have to dress in lace from top-to-toe - lace detailing is all the rage and our own Per Lei ring is a great way to start, says Grazia magazine.

This on-trend ring boasts an intricate lacy floral design made from Italian 9 carat gold. It's the perfect way to embrace this trend and keep up with the catwalk!

If you like this ring, take a look at the rest of the Per Lei range for more lacy designs.

Top tweezers as tested by Woman magazine

Tweezers are a beauty bag essential so choosing the right pair can be tricky. But, no fear - Woman magazine are here to help!

They've picked out Shavata Slanted Tweezers as one of their favourites...

Why they like them:

They're "lightweight with great grip."

Why you like them:

"The tip has a precision slanted edge which is smoothed to perfection and allows single hairs to be plucked with effortless accuracy." Silvercat, Sunny Rochdale

"I find them easy to use and I think the slanted edge is smoother on the skin." Star, Greenock

Keep checking back for more beauty tried and tested features with Woman magazine.

Read about Woman magazine's favourite lip plumpers

Lip plumpers tested by Woman magazine

What's on Alison Young's wishlist this season? Lip plumpers!

Our very own beauty expert has been sharing her advice with the readers of Woman magazine. Alison says lip plumpers can "take years off" and are "imperative for a groomed finish".

The Woman magazine panel have tried and tested a range of lip plumpers and some their top-rated products are available right here at QVC!

1. DuWop Lip Venom

We love its conditioning formula and high-gloss shine.

The Woman magazine verdict: 'You could feel the tingle at once signalling it was working...our testers liked its cinnamon scent'.

2. Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips

We love its tingly sensation when applied and fuller result

The Woman magazine verdict: Silver Award winner - "Natural-looking colour and a good, glossy finish."

Find out which tweezers came out top in the Woman magazine test

La Coupe reveals all about the Prima Awards 2009

QVC were the official hair and beauty partner at the Comfort Prima High Street Fashion Awards 2009.

This year it was all about sequins, big hair and tailored looks. Diversity, winners of Britian's Got Talent 2009, opened the event and spotted celebrities were Lulu, Brendon Cole and Liz McClaren. Plus, our very own beauty expert Alison Young presented an award.

We had our own experts there from La Coupe, Nails Inc and Bare Escentuals to make the models look extra glam before taking to the catwalk. La Coupe have dropped by to spill the beans...

What hairstyles did you create for the catwalk?

On the catwalk, we created sleek and super shiny hair, which we straightened with our Flat Iron Straightening Spray. We gave height at the front by using our Root Blast Spray then sleeked the sides back, all held in place with our Fix Firm Hold Hairspray.

The updo at the front looked so sophisticated and elegant - plus, it survived all the models' energetic dancing with hats being pulled on and off for all their different outfits.

In the Comfort Zone, where we gave hair touch-ups to the guests, it was all about volume! We took some of the guests from flat to full sexy glamour, which epitomised the whole feeling of the event.

Woman magazine pick their favourite QVC beauty buys

Looking to add something new to your beauty bag? Well take a look at Woman magazine's top four beauty picks for the week... go on, treat yourself!

1. Liz Earle Skincare Essentials Kit

They like it because it contains "everything you need for soft and radiant skin".

2. A'kin Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil Duo

This duo contains certified organic rosehip oil. Simply massage a few drops into the skin for an instantly revitalised and glowing complexion.

3. AD Skin Synergy Nourishing Night Treatment

Woman magazine love it for its sumptuous blend of essential oils which will "rehydrate and soothe your skin while you sleep".

4. Philosophy Starter Kit

A fantastic introduction to the Philosophy range, this kit contains all you need to help cleanse, smooth and protect your skin.