A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

This is unexplored territory for me… white.  It’s one of those nail shades that suddenly become “bang on trend” and throw everyone into a fizz of polarised opinions on how great/terrible it looks!

Butter London’s Cream Tea isn’t a pure, stark white.  As the name might suggest, it’s a slightly creamy white that would work nicely for the tips in French manicures were it not so sheer.  The above shows three coats and there’s still a certain veil-like quality to the finish.

I’m on the fence… I think it’s one of those shades you appreciate more freely on someone else’s fingers than your own.

Butter London Cream Tea is available online from Powder Rooms priced at £11.95

What say you?  Do you ever wear white or off-white polishes?

The lucky winner of the delightful Esme Perfume Pendant is….

*insert dramatic X-Factor style pause here*

Ann Grey

Congratulations Ann, please get in touch with your postal details so I can get this little beaut whisked off to you ASAP.

I’ve got another giveaway coming up next Monday so stay tuned!

NOTE: I’m breaking the sun protection series into small chunks because I can only take so many -enzones before I want to pull my eyes out.  If it seems a little disjointed, bear with me.  Making a series like this coherent may prove to be my biggest challenge!  I hope you find it useful.

Talking about sun protection is such a minefield and I’m certainly no expert, infact I’m not in any legitimate place to be talking to you or posting about the topic.  So why am I?

Well, for all the science and controversy that surrounds the subject… as a consumer, I just want to know one thing.

Which easy-to-wear sun protection should I buy to give me the best UVA/UVB protection without risk of potential harm from its formulation?

It’s not much to ask is it?  So why am I still searching?

photo credit: D Sharon Pruitt

Let’s break the question into its three key segments to ensure we’re on the same page before continuing with the series.  What I’m essentially looking for is…

1). Sun protection that wears like a dream.  For the majority, this means: A lightweight formula that applies like an invisible veil alongside other products I use and causes no skin irritations, breakouts or dryness.

2). The best UVA/UVB protection available that will protect my skin both from burning, sun sensitivity and cancers but also prevent premature aging.

3). NO risk of interaction with my hormones, winding up those pesky free radicals and preferably doesn’t penetrate the skin at all.

C’mon… we can put man on the moon but we can’t create a simple answer to an ideal sun protection?

Coming up next, Sun Protection 101: Part 2 – What we’ve got…

I’ve just received word of something tres exciting to interrupt a boring Monday!

Debenhams have announced today that they’ll be slashing the VAT on over 300 beauty products from lines including: Guerlain, Benefit, Elemis, Lancome, YSL, Clinique and Clarins until the 31st July 2011.

Sara Stern, Director of Beauty at Debenhams said: “Whether customers are holidaying abroad or staycationing this year, we wanted to give everyone a kick start to summer.  Our duty free cuts across a fabulous range of the nation’s favourite beauty products have done exactly that, saving shoppers money on everyday essentials and a top name treats”.

Can I get a whoop whoop?!

The new cream shadow range from Bare Escentuals had me foaming at the mouth when I saw swatches of them over on Temptalia earlier this month.  I’m a cream eyeshadow fan, there’s nothing like them for a quick application and depending on the brand and packaging, you can often get away with just using your fingers to blend.  A lazy girl’s dream.

Six shades will be available in the UK from August 1st, with one particualarly special looking duo-chrome (Urban Nature) that is bound to set many hearts-a-racing.

• Urban Nature – duochrome khaki/purple
• Racing Green – vivid forest green
• Sundance – metallic peach which leans toward gold
• Bronzed Twig – the ubiquitous bronze
• Gunmetal – pewter grey
• Chroma Violet – purple with silver shimmer

I’ve been playing with the shade Chroma Violet for almost a week and have a few thoughts about the formula, longevity and price.

Let’s get the (very small) elephant in the room out of the way first.  Size.  These things are tiny.  I’ve photographed a MAC Paint alongside for reference.  Considering the UK are receiving them priced at £16 a pop, we’re not getting a whole lot of product for a considerable amount of money.

A Chanel Ombre D’eau costs £3.60 per ml.  A Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer Shadow will set you back £5.33 per ml.  Value for money?  Frankly, I would like to see more product for the price.

Having said that, Chroma Violet is beautiful.  It’s a stunning purple that doesn’t move an inch on my lids once set.  I can blend the edges with my fingers easily and it doesn’t do that thing of sheering out too much leaving only sparkle.  It’s a pretty awesome cream shadow with a punch of pigment.  Very awesome infact.  Very expensive (no, I’m not letting that go), but truly high quality.

I’ve also worn this as a priming base for an intense smokey eye.  A wash all over with Maybelline’s Cosmic Black blended in the crease and pulled down into the purple.  It was one of the least fussy but most effective smokey eyes I’ve done and it lasted through both a swim and a night out in London!

It’s because of the quality that I know I’ll take myself to the boutique in Covent Garden next time I’m in London to buy the gunmetal shade… I feel a little hypocritical moaning about the price of these when I’m still considering picking up another Armani ETKI and they don’t even last on my lids!

The Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer Shadows will be available on counter from August 1st priced at £16 each.

Do you stretch the budget if something ticks all the right boxes?

* PR Sample

I mentioned this new Mii Cosmetics base last week as something a li’l special.  I’ve been wearing it solidly since then in an effort to pin down exactly what it is that makes it stand out for me…

I mean look at it…

It’s a bit too dark and a bit too peachy.  It comes in a big plunge pot and heaven knows, I hate getting product under my finger nails.

This is the lightest of 5 shades, 01 Gentle Glow and you get 25g of product for your pennies.  If you’re paler than a NW15 – I would be hesitant to recommend it at all.  Yes, it’s sheer and has the potential to blend without too much bother but really… the colour may well limit your enjoyment of this product.  And that’s a shame, because this is an awesome base.

Mii Cosmetics Illuminating Face Base (£25.20) is for drier skin types and in my humble opinion, you won’t appreciate this product if you’re oily… it’s incredibly luminizing without sheen or glitter, imparting moisture and dewiness as if by magic.

I suffer the kind of dryness that concentrates itself in tiny flakes around my nose and eyebrows, I occasionally get scaly patches under my eyes and when things are out of control in the winter, a general dullness to the overall appearance of my skin.  I don’t have anything as bad as that at the moment… but I know how it feels on my skin in comparison to other products I’ve used and I’m going to love this when the weather turns cooler.

It’s sheer… more like a tinted moisturizer, don’t expect blemish coverage but it will dampen mild redness and uneven skintones nicely.  It’s very creamy and my preferred method of application is with my fingers because I can literally feel the product melting and gliding more smoothly as it heats up from the warmth.  Once on, I bounce my (dry) beauty blender over my skin to remove any excess (something I do with most foundations that I use my fingers to apply) and set with a finishing powder.

For extra coverage, I wait a few minutes (it feels quite ‘wet’ when you first apply) before going back in with a light dusting of mineral foundation.

Want to see a direct before/after comparison?  I didn’t finish off with any additional powder because I thought you might like to see the coverage…

I would love, LOVE Mii to create something with the same formula but with slightly heavier coverage and in a tube.  I would literally sell Leila’s Granny (sorry Mum) for that product.  As it stands… I’m still hugely enamoured.  It’s dewy, fairly long-lasting (about 8hrs with a little slip on my nose) and doesn’t grumble when I slap other face products over it to get better coverage.

Here’s a shot showing the base combined with finishing powder (MAC Magically Cool <3)…

If you already have awesome normal or normal/dry skin and you’re looking for sheer, summer coverage… do see if you can discover Mii Cosmetics Illuminating Face Base.  I really don’t think you’d be disappointed.

Mii Cosmetics are sold exclusively in Spas/Salons, call 0845 217 1360 to find your nearest.

* PR sample

Let’s have a ’round the blogosphere’ love in…

Tell us what’s in your purse right now…

That means handbag right?

Mine contains: a billion tissues, my purse (what do you call a purse if your handbag is a purse?), 2 lipsticks (burberry and rimmel), MAC MSF Natural, BE Flawless Face brush, NARS Torrid Blush, compact camera, 7p in loose change, half empty bottle of water, bunch o’ receipts, mobile phone, car keys, tangle teezer, blue inhaler, leila-sized hair clips and my travalo perfume atomiser.  Boring stuff really!

we heart this – takes a look at MAC’s Beauty Balm. If you’re the right candidate, you may just have an HG on your hands…

Beauty Junkies Unite – Amber test drives the new COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara to see if it’s worth picking up on your next drugstore beauty adventure!

Clumps of Mascara – has a guest editor show us lovely swatches of the MAC Surf Baby collection. See any must haves?

EauMG – EauMG reviews a limited edition Thierry Mugler men’s fragrance just in time for Father’s Day. It’s so good you may just want it for yourself!

Lipglossiping – takes you on a tour around her small but perfectly formed BB Cream collection!

Nouveau Cheap – is in love with NYC’s new Liquid Lipshines and wants to share the love with you. Enter now for a chance to win all ten shades!

Orange to LA – is getting colorful with Bright Eyes For Summer, see her swatches for ways to mix-n-match neutral eye shadows with fun, bright, bold eyeliner!

Pink Sith – Gives you a sneak peak at one of the NEW Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadows being released in late July. And Yes. It’s TAUPE!

Phyrra – takes a trip to Siberia with NARS Sheer Glow foundation.

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Your turn to tell us what’s in your purse right now?

Whilst in London last week, I trotted along to Gielly Green, a boutique hair and beauty salon located just off Baker Street hopeful that Shai Greenburg, co-founder and creative director would be the man to inject some life into my tired hair.

I’m finally past that awful ‘growing out’ stage and to get it there, I’d been dodging regular haircuts left, right and centre since Christmas.  I know you’re not supposed to but we all know how tempting it is to eschew the snip in favour of growing length more quickly!

It also doesn’t help that in general, I’m not the biggest fan of going to hair salons.  I’m not massively precious about my locks but I detest (in order of distaste):

1. Salon small-talk (going anywhere nice this Summer?)

2. Being made to feel like a reprobate for colouring my hair at home.

3. Having to coax recommendations out of nervous stylists about what they think I should do re: styling.  I’m paying them for their expertise right?  If a full fringe will make me look like a git, I want them to tell me!

Better tell you about Gielly Green then…

The salon is a chilled-out space with brown and cream accents, seating you could drift off in and one of the most comfortable hair-washing experiences (electric chairs sweetie!) I’ve ever had.

Prior to washing, Shai asked me to take my hair down from the bun I’d scraped it in and I momentarily panicked that he would admonish me for failing to remember to brush my hair that morning.  Passing no judgement (at least none that I could see), Shai felt my hair’s texture before recommending which products should be used for the wash.  It was a good example of the personalisation I felt was key to the salon experience.

Once seated at the workstation, I explained to Shai that I didn’t want to lose too much length because I like to wear my hair up but that my two main objectives were to restore health and incorporate some ‘kind’ of style without going too heavy on the layers.

Then came the dreaded moment as he lifted my slightly pathetic 4-stranded side fringe between his fingers.  I braced myself for the question that I still didn’t have the answer to…

“This fringe, it’s not really doing anything…” he said before continuing…

“Shall we make it a little thicker, more substantial?  I don’t want to go too thick, your hair is quite fine… but a little more depth would suit your face shape.”

“err yes, ok” I nodded.  OMG, that was easy – he *actually* considered what would suit both my hair AND face shape.  I heard birds singing and harps playing in the distance.

It made me bold… I pushed him a little on the thick fringe question.  Here stood a man, a professional who had just proven he had the cajones to TELL me, the customer what he would recommend.  I couldn’t resist…

“I do like the look of a heavy, straight fringe though…”

He smiled a little wryly but not unkindly, like he knew I was being mischievous and gently motioned how far back he felt he’d have to cut the hair for the thickness of fringe I desired, explaining that I would lose a lot of volume in the process but was happy to do so if I wanted.  I quickly dispelled the thick fringe idea and settled back into the chair like a good girl, finally confident that I had a considered answer to a question that had plagued me for months.

Shai is quick, his scissors moved over my hair in a blur… he doesn’t talk much, if at all when he’s working.  It was momentarily awkward as I wondered whether I should initiate a conversation before giving in to the silence and simply enjoying watching him work.

30 minutes later and we were done, I had beautifully feminine, soft, flippy hair that looked healthy and shiny!

The layers are perfect, I can still scrape my hair back into a ponytail without the need for hairgrips.  The ends feel lighter, less weighty and my fringe… although still not that Zooey Deschanel dream, is definitely serving more purpose than its first non-commital attempt with my last stylist.  A good, uplifting experience… and best of all, he didn’t mention my dodgy home-colouring once!

Prices start from £45 for a cut and finish with a junior stylist.  You can visit the Gielly Green website for more information, services and even book your appointment online.

* I was invited for a complimentary cut and finish as a guest of the salon

Changes are afoot in the iconic shopping destination that is Liberty of London, the beauty hall has undergone a huge revamp and now boasts double the floorspace!

This will hopefully mark the end of shoe-horning my frame into impossible angles whilst trying to take a peek at the latest OPI & Essie shades.  I hate that little polish alcove with a passion.

An additional benefit to having all that extra space means more brands, perhaps most noteworthy is the introduction of U.S. brand Hourglass Cosmetics (Modesty Brown has some pics of the counter here) to the store’s portfolio!  Long-lusted after and previously available only online in the UK, it will be a treat to letch muse over the counter and have a close-up look!

Other new introductions to the beauty hall include Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown, Chantecaille, Dermalogica, Colbert MD, Decleor, Aromatherapy Associates and Sachajuan (phew!).  The store will also be expanding its rather fragrant ranges from Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Byredo and Malin + Goetz.

Have you checked out the newly renovated space at Liberty yet?

Following my pledge to suffocate the makeup snob in me that threatens to overwhelm, I spent a little while swatching at the Maybelline stand in my local Tesco the other evening.  OK, I swatched at all of them, I’m a quick healer.  Infact, I was gone for so long (just popping out for a pint of milk dear!) that Mr. L looked slightly white-faced when I returned home after 10pm having forgotten to take my phone.  Oops.

I thought I’d share some photos of my favourite purchase of the evening, Maybelline’s Eye Studio Mono Eye Shadow in Silken Taupe (£4.09)…

Alright, so it’s not exactly the Show Orchid of the eyeshadow world.  It’s taupe.  But damnit, I like my taupes… and I like them a lot.  Wanna know how much?  Well… here’s some potential dupes I pulled out…

From left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Shu Uemura M810 ♦ Helena Rubenstein Dark Ebony Duo ♦ NARS Ashes to Ashes ♦ Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha

Swatched from left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Shu Uemura M810 ♦ Helena Rubenstein Dark Ebony Duo ♦ NARS Ashes to Ashes ♦ Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha

Wait… there’s more…

From left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Chanel Safari ♦ MAC Style Snob ♦ Paul & Joe #23 ♦ MAC Satin Taupe

Swatched from left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Chanel Safari ♦ MAC Style Snob ♦ Paul & Joe #23 ♦ MAC Satin Taupe

Last one, I promise…

From left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Stila Cloud

Swatched from left to right: Maybelline Silken Taupe ♦ Stila Cloud

The moral of this post of boring eyeshadows is…

a).  Go and buy Maybelline’s Silken Taupe right now.

b). Count your neutral shades and work out just how many millenia it will take to use them up.

c). If you want to borrow a taupe, you’ll have to ask elsewhere… I don’t seem to have very many, must rectify this.

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* estee lauder’s tempting mocha was a pr sample

With celebrity fragrances reaching saturation point a couple of years ago, it’s not really surprising that 2010 saw a decline in both sales and new releases.  With anything so inextricably tied to fleeting popularity and snapshots of pop culture, it’s inevitable that these releases would be churned out rinse, wash, repeat style until we all got sick of smelling like a mixture of fruit, white flowers and vanilla.

Except, there’s always room for a latecomer to the party right?  Especially when it comes from a brand as big as Brand Kardashian.  The self-titled fragrance was actually released in the U.S. last year but saw it’s UK launch on Wednesday when hoardes of fans descended on Debenhams, Oxford Street for the chance to purchase a bottle and if lucky, catch a glance of Kim herself.

Floral top notes of mandarin, honeysuckle and orange blossom reflect Kim’s captivating nature; while at the heart, pink jasmine, tuberose, sensual spices and lush gardenia evoke her femininity. The last impression of tonka bean, jacaranda wood, vanilla orchid, sexy musk and creamy sandalwood add warmth to represent Kim’s softer side.

I haven’t had an opportunity to sniff it yet, so will try and spritz while in London today.  I’m expecting it to be all about the tuberose and anticipating bold things!

It’s worth pointing out that the Kim Kardashian 100ml Eau de Parfum is currently available at CheapSmells.com for £27.85, a sizeable saving when compared to the Debenhams online price of £40.00

Well, I’ve tried one and you still ain’t gonna convince me that I need scented nail polish.  Infact, if anything… the scent gave me a low-grade headache.  Me no like and I sniffed my fingers.  Once.  It made me feel like a pervert.

Scent-aside, Revlon’s Peach Smoothie is an adorable colour.  I can’t decide whether it makes me want to snuggle in a cable knitted jumper or go lick an ice-cream.  It transcends seasons with its peach loveliness.  Depending on your skintone you may also find this making a good nude shade.

It’s a little sheer and needs 3 full coats to avoid a VNL but I’ll forgive that because it’s a quick-dryer.  It contains a very pretty gold sparkle which isn’t quite as prominent as I would like.

Revlon Scented Nail Enamels are priced at £6.49 and available from Boots.com

* pr sample