NOTD: Leighton Denny Meteor Match Nail Polish

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 13 - 2011

Another from Leighton’s Autumn collection is Meteor Match, possibly the most intriguing in the bottle but how does it translate onto the nails?

Meteor Match is an unusual silver-ed, icy blue with a hint of both purple and green.  Not quite strong enough to be described as a pure duochrome, though the tendencies are definitely clear to see.  As if those elements weren’t enough to be getting on with, Meteor Match also contains a pretty scattering of silver glitter that compliments the icy blue tones beautifully.

A little on the sheer side, I needed four coats (some fingers were ok with three) to achieve the opacity that you see above.  The formula was on the watery side, though not difficult to work with… just reminiscent of other pale duochromes that lean similarly sheer.

I’m not 100% sure how I ultimately feel about Meteor Match.  I think I’d class it as a “nearly awesome” shade.  For me, I’d love that purple duochrome to have been a hair more apparent on the nail and the formula, a little more opaque.  Either way, it’s still a very pretty, if non-commital shade and mega-props for being something a little different.

Leighton Denny Meteor Match is available to buy online priced at £11.00

* press sample


Little BU… Nail Polish for little fingers!

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 7 - 2011

My little girl Leila loves watching me polish my nails, she loves lining up my bottles along the carpet… organising them by shape, colour and height.  She makes me nail polish trains and loves nothing better than picking out my next shade.  With that in mind, you can imagine the ridiculous amount of delight on her face when I presented her with her own set of nail polishes*.  No?

Well, here’s an idea…

I’ve never painted Leila’s nails before.  Aside from the politics about whether or not children should wear cosmetics, I’ve just never felt comfortable applying solvents to those tiny little fingers.  Hell, all I need to do is look at my own peeling, yellow nails to discover more than one supporting reason why I’m keeping my polishes locked in my cabinet when I’m not around.

But Little BU make nail polish especially for little fingers with a non-toxic, water-based, solvent-free formula.  The brainchild of Patricia Dente Haimes, a former New York beauty publicist — these formulas have spent a long time in careful development and are now ready to be unveiled to the world.

I’ve tried a water-based polish before but I found it an utter pain to apply.  Streaky, watery and sheer to the point of frustration.  In Little BU’s case, I can confirm that both the shades Emma (red) and Sofia (dark purple) are opaque in a single coat and when you’re trying to paint a moving target, that comes in very handy.

Kyra (luminescent silver) wasn’t quite so successful, mostly because Leila decided she didn’t like it and wasn’t going to afford me even thirty seconds of the patience needed to apply it, but I could tell that it was sheerer than the other two shades.  Over on the right in the above photo is the top coat.  It’s not an absolute necessity if you’re just having afternoon play but I do recommend it for sealing the colour to the nails so it doesn’t wash off too easily in soapy water.

Leila has already requested that I might like to buy her Olivia (soft blue) and Riley (bubblegum pink) and I’m sure I can stretch to those for her Christmas stocking but until then she’s rocking red toenails, just like her Mum.

Little BU are having a launch party in Harrods on Saturday 15th October from 2pm – 6pm.  It’s set to be a proper knees-up with mini manicures, face painting, colouring in and balloon modelling and what’s more — we’re all invited!  If I can make it into London, I might see you there!

Little BU Nail Polishes are priced at £9.95 each and available online at www.iluvlittlebu.com or instore at Harrods.

* press sample

Pink Week: Jo Malone Red Roses Body & Hand Wash

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 4 - 2011

What is it?

Jo Malone are supporting this month’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign with their new Red Roses Body & Hand Wash, a delicately scented bottle of roses tinted goodness which co-ordinates perfectly with the emblematic colour of the BCA campaign.

How much is it?

Jo Malone Red Roses Body & Hand Wash is priced at £30.00.

How much of our money goes to supporting PINK projects?

£5 from every sale will go directly to help funding UK research grants.

How do I get it?

Available throughout the month of October from Jo Malone Express Mail Order and Worldwide Delivery Service, Tel +44 (0)870 034 2411 or shop online at jomalone.com

I’m usually the woman who loves the fragrances that others hate, so reading Julian Kynaston describe the brand’s first foray into perfumery as:

There’s no middle ground with Freak.  The name, the packaging and the fragrance will polarise opinion to simply love or hate.

I can’t help but feel tremendously excited.  I’m really hoping for something that strays wildly from the well-trodden, mass-appeal fruity-floral, mild musk that proliferates the market today.

Illamasqua’s Freak lists top notes of: Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna followed up with heart notes that include: Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of  the Night (are they making these florals up?) sitting on a base of aromatic Frankincense, Oud and Myrrh.  Finally, something I can grasp at, and although I’m not the world’s bigest fan of Frankincense, I do love (quality) Oud and Myrrh.  Freak will be available to purchase only in 75ml bottles and will be priced at £59.00.

I have a niggling concern that Illamasqua Freak has the potential to demonstrate a classic case of style over content.  Everything about the fragrance has been so carefully constructed to fit with the brand’s ethos and whilst that’s clearly not something to be criticised, I hope that the sum of these individual (edgy-sounding) notes add up to something that represents and rings true for their fans.  I don’t actually care if I hate it, I just want it to be engaging enough to make me care one way or another.  I also want it to be powerful, with great sillage and turn heads regardless – it wouldn’t be Illamasqua without that quality.  The fact that it will be released exclusively as an EDP has me hoping.

First impressions based upon the campaign film and images alone?  I dislike the name, love the film and adore the bottle.

So there we have it, Illamasqua’s first fragrance.  On paper, it works.  On the fragrance blotter and under our noses?  Time will tell.

Freak by Illamasqua is available for pre-order from the 3rd October online at Illamasqua.com before it launches on the 20th October.

Pink Week: Jane Iredale – Roses & Lollipops

Posted by Lipglossiping On September - 29 - 2011

What is it?

A lipstick/gloss duo featuring two bestselling Jane Iredale shades in a petite, portable keychain locket that features a pink Swarovski crystal.

How much is it?

The Roses & Lollipops duo is priced at £19.95.

How much of our money goes to supporting PINK projects?

The UK & Ireland distributor of Jane Iredale have pledged 100% of the net profits from sales of Roses & Lollipops to charity Against Breast Cancer.

How do I get it?

The Roses & Lollipops duo is available to buy online from MineralBeauty.co.uk

Leighton Denny Atmospheric Collection: Your Planet or Mine? NOTD

Posted by Lipglossiping On September - 26 - 2011

Let’s kick off the week with another nail polish swatch, again from Leighton Denny‘s new Atmospheric Collection.  Your Planet or Mine? is a beetle’s wing duochrome that displays mostly teal with flashes of vivid purple around the edges.  It scores extra points for providing such good coverage after two coats.

Duochromes are notoriously sheer and after a single coat, I thought this one was heading in the same direction.  Thankfully, the second topping pulled it all together and I was done.

If you love this kind of colour-shifting gorgeousness, you might also want to check out: Ciate Starlet and SpaRitual Health, Wealth and Happiness – both of which, provide similar effects but with enough differences between all three to warrant purchases.  Enabler? Moi?

Leighton Denny’s Atmospheric Collection is available to buy online priced at £11.00

Leighton Denny Atmospheric Collection: Purely Platonic NOTD

Posted by Lipglossiping On September - 20 - 2011

Leighton Denny’s Atmospheric Collection is out of this world.  There, I’ve said the line that has been plaguing me since I first saw the release for it back in the Summer.  It’s been like the elephant in the room and now I’ve shoo-ed it out the front door with a broom, I can get back to what I wanted to do… which was show you!

Purely Platonic is like molten lead on my nails.  It lacks the high shine of a silver or a chrome and it’s neither metallic nor rubberized.  It’s just… melty metal.  That makes better sense in my head than it does on paper the screen – I hope the swatch articulates itself with more clarity than I am able to.

There’s a slight river of frost running through the surface but I wouldn’t in a million years call this polish frosty.  It’s a beautifully edgy polish for Autumn/Winter and would coordinate with most outfits.

Wear was good, application even better – my only complaint is that my brush had a randomly long hair which I snipped.  I know, it’s no biggie but I like to moan about something.

Leighton Denny’s Atmospheric Collection is available to buy online priced at £11.00

* press sample

Smells like… Fashion Week?

Posted by Lipglossiping On September - 18 - 2011

They say that ‘the devil is in the detail’ and frankly, there’s nothing quite like paying attention to these finer points than when you’ve got the world’s media breathing down your neck.

So much works goes on behind the catwalks at Fashion Week that us mere mortals would never even consider, and it’s some of these less obvious details that are getting plenty of attention this year!

What’s the first thing you notice when you enter a room, the one thing that can instantly add or detract from its appeal?  Scent.

Which is why we’re all supposed to be baking cookies and brewing coffee like demon baristas when it comes time to sell our homes.  It’s all in the name of adding atmosphere to your surroundings and show designers are understandably, certainly up for a bit of that.

Show scenting is big news this year and across the Atlantic, Victoria Beckham chose to scent her Spring/Summer 2012 presentation at New York City Library with a sea of Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin and Grapefruit Candles.

Moving closer to home, the British fragrance company will also be scenting the British Fashion Council Tents throughout London Fashion Week with Jo Malone Orange Blossom as well as Erin O’Connor’s Model Sanctuary with Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin and Grapefruit.

 

One of London’s most established fragrance houses, Penhaligon’s will also be working hard to make the capital smell delicious as they get to work with Meadham Kirchhoff to scent their Spring/Summer 2012 collection for the fifth season together.

The design duo have chosen the fruity floral Artemisia as a celebration of all things feminine.  Described as a tumble of green apples and nectarines, washed with jasmine tea and sprinkled with a luxurious medley of violet, cyclamen and lily petals.

The scent will be used to fragrance the invitations and the venue, whilst each model will receive a liberal spritz just before heading down the catwalk.

 

Finally, lest we forget, London Fashion Week isn’t just there for scenting, it’s for showcasing and what better place to launch a new perfume than off the back of your Spring/Summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection?

Verónica Moncho Lobo launched her first fragrance Verónica last Friday alongside the showcase of her latest SS/12 collection.  The fresh, floral scent employs a bouquet of jasmine and cyclamen at the heart of the perfume.

The fashion designer coupled these spring and winter florals to evoke memories of  her childhood in Argentina.  Classic base notes of sandalwood and white musk promise to add a timeless touch to the fragrance.

 

Do you have a favourite fragrance that you’d scent your show with?

CEW Beauty Insiders Choice Winners Box (and a little NARS incentive)

Posted by Lipglossiping On September - 9 - 2011

If you’ve been umm-ing and ahh-ing over the influx of ‘beauty boxes’ to the market, I’m just about to make your life a little more complicated.

Latest in Beauty were the beauty box scene pioneers.  Back in 2008, I agonised over choosing my first three samples, paid my £1 (taken off my mobile phone bill) and waited with bated breath for my beauty box to pop through the letter box.  A few days later, it did and has over the years introduced me to some great brands like Ginvera, Blinc and Lavera, not to mention cultivating my addiction to Elemis.

The company went through what I’d describe as a ‘wilderness’ period a couple of years ago (a 1ml sachet of sun protection – what’s that gonna protect, my little finger?) but relaunched with a new website, adding more strings to their bow ever since.  Most recently, they’ve introduced the Beauty Insiders Choice Winners Box, where for £4.95 – you will receive 6 products worth in the region of £20 that share the common theme of picking up a trophy at this year’s prestigious Cosmetic Executive Woman awards.

Contained within the Beauty Insiders Choice Winners Box are the following products:

Dr. Organic Rose Otto Skin Lotion (5ml sachet), Clarins Multi-Active Day Early-Wrinkle Correction Cream (15ml tube), Batiste Dry Shampoo (50ml can), Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash (55ml Bottle), Nivea for Men Q10 Revitalising Gel (15ml tube) and Lanolips 101 Lip Ointment (1g Sachet).

The Clarins is clearly the shining star of the set when it comes to value, 50ml of product usually retails at £38, making a 15ml tube more than cover the outlay for the £4.95 box.  The transparency is refreshing for people who like to know exactly what their money will be buying them, I’m a bit torn – I lurve nothing more than a wonderful surprise but I am also a horrific control freak.  Just ask Mr. L.

This is the first of the new themed boxes produced by Latest in Beauty, so if this one doesn’t grab at your wallet, be sure to check back soon for more.

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As a little sweetener to tempt you into trying, Latest in Beauty have put together a rather delicious prize in the shape of a NARS-A-PALOOZA!

The prize includes:

~ NARS Illuminator in ‘Orgasm’ – £21.50
~ NARS Lipstick in ‘Jungle Red’ – £17.50
~ NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in ‘Carthage’ – £18.50
~ NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in ‘Bolero’ – £17.50
~ NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in ‘Queen’ – £16.50

…worth £91.50 in total!

This lovely lot will go to ONE person who orders a CEW box from latestinbeauty.com using the exclusive code LIPGLOSSIPING before 30th September.  Only one entry per person and DON’T FORGET THE CODE!  Good Luck!

.

What are your thoughts on the Latest in Beauty CEW Beauty Insiders Choice Winners Box?

* press sample

Hello Autumn! An Autumnal NOTD with Beauty UK and Inglot

Posted by Lipglossiping On September - 8 - 2011

There’s nothing like an el-cheapo nail polish to quench that insatiable itch to buy something.  I was walking round town last week and felt the need to scratch.  Still recovering from the new lens purchase (it may be some time), I dived into Superdrug for something that wouldn’t break the bank and emerged triumphant with this little beauty…

…BeautyUK to be precise.  Voodoo – No. 55 (£1.99) is an absolute cracking shade for Autumn, a deep russet with a playful shimmer that glows in the right light.  Two coats to achieve opacity, I did get a tiny bit of bubbling on one nail which made me a little more careful with the application than I might normally be.

After admiring my manicure for half a day, I decided, beautiful though it is, I wanted moar Autumn.  I dug out my Inglot Flakie #205 and slapped on a coat…

Now we’re talking!  I see toffee apples, fallen leaves, crisp afternoons and misty mornings.  Brrr… c’mon Autumn, I’m ready for you!

Are you ready for Autumn?  Digging out your vampier shades yet?

Lancome Fall 2011: 29, Saint Honore – The FOTD

Posted by Lipglossiping On August - 31 - 2011

I’m aware that I’ve been showing you the individual products from the Lancome Fall collection with their corresponding swatches without showing a FOTD to go alongside.  It’s always useful to see product put into context, lip swatches can mean little without being able to see how the shade marries up to the wearer’s colouring etc…

But rather than repeat the same image throughout the posts (you’d be throwing things at your monitor by the time I’d gotten round to the eyeshadow palette), I thought I’d post up the FOTD at the end so you can see how the products harmonise together.

And a reminder of the products used:

Face
Lancome Maison Lancome Blush

Eyes
Lancome Les Oeillades in Blondette Fatale
Lancome Hypnose Drama in Gris Fatal

Lips
Lancome French Touch Absolu Lipstick in #102 Rouge St Honore

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I thought it was going to be the blush that would steal my heart from this collection but I’m afraid I’ve reverted to type.  For me, it’s all about the lips and that beautiful vintage-styled lipstick casing.  I’ll be checking out the other two shades available when the collection is released tomorrow.

Will you be heading to your local counter for a closer look at Lancome’s 29, Saint Honore Fall Collection?

To complete the Fall collection, Lancome will release two new nail polishes in classic red and edgy black.

The red – #22 Rouge St Honore is a classic, vixen red creme with great single-coat opacity and a high gloss finish.  The brush on these polishes is wide and allows for 3-stroke coverage, meaning that I was completely done with the red in less than 5 minutes from start to finish (not allowing for drying time of course).

The black – #29 Noir is a little more unusual in that the inky base  is infused with mini, multi-coloured flecks.  Sadly, these don’t quite translate as vividly on the nail as they do in the bottle.  Also a little sheerer than the red, this one took a respectable 2 coats to achieve opacity.

See below for swatches…

Lancome’s Le Vernis in #22 Rouge Saint Honore & #29 Noir 29 are priced at £12.50 each and available at Lancome counters nationwide from 1st September 2011

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