Hark the Hairold Angels Sing! LUSH brings (happy happy) joy to my bathroom!

Posted by Lipglossiping On December - 21 - 2012

Hair perfume. Hair what?! Hair perfume!

I’m sure you’re familliar with the idea of spraying your perfume onto your hair for a scent that follows you around like a haunting?

Well, this inventive conditioner from LUSH works on the same premise and uses your hair as the carrier for its wonderful scent.  And wonderful it is, a positively uplifting blend of neroli, rose, grapefruit, rosewood, orange flower absolute and benzoin that works really well now, but will work even better in Summer’s warmth.

LUSH Happy Happy Joy Joy

It’s not cheap… priced at £18 for 250g (which is about the size of a standard bottle of conditioner) but I fear that once you try it, you might be as hooked as I am. Unfortunately, it will be a habit that is ultimately too expensive for me to maintain – for one reason, and one reason only.  I have to wash my hair daily/once every 2 days at the least, I literally dream of being one of those women who wash and straighten their hair only once a week.  DREAM.  If you’re one, please tell me your secrets!

So, you see… I would need to purchase this fairly often… and I just can’t justify it.

LUSH Happy Happy Joy Joy

Conditioning properties? Well, it’s neither here nor there, it does the job – though not as well as some of my intensive conditioners… mind, this isn’t supposed to be an intensive conditioner – just an incredibly well-scented one.

I have found a cheeky solution though via the LUSH reviews on their website… the consistency of the conditioner is rather thin and after using my regular conditioner, I have been using just a little of the LUSH Happy Happy Joy Joy as a leave-in conditioner on the ends (I KNOW I PROBABLY SHOULDN’T!)  but my hair doesn’t seem to have suffered as a result and I get to use far less product.  If you hair is very fine, you may find that it weighs your locks down too much to do this.

Try and get a sample instore and see how it works for you.

LUSH Happy Happy Joy Joy Conditioning Hair Perfume is available to buy instore and online at lush.co.uk, priced from £9.00

* press sample


Jean Paul Gaultier’s NAUGHTY Christmas Advent Calendar

Posted by Lipglossiping On November - 28 - 2012

If you didn’t manage to get your hands on a Selfridges Advent Calendar this year, dry your eyes and console yourselves with one of those horrible Poundland chocolate ones that bend in half when you blow on them.  And once you’ve done that, come back here because I think I’ve found a digital one that will put a smile on your face.

Jean Paul Gaultier's NAUGHTY Christmas Advent Calendar

Jean Paul Gaultier is working some of his Eurotrash magic when it comes to Christmas this year, an alternative universe in which only the naughtiest of “children” will get the goodies!  The mischievous designer’s website is hosting a different take on the traditional advent calendar, where each day, you may open ANY three doors pockets you wish in a bid to win some fabulous Gaultier gifts.  There’s no following the rules here!

From plucking chickens, to spritzing reindeers… from eating logs to shaking the living daylights out of a poor elf, it makes for a wonderful timewaster with some lovely animations that left a smile on my face.

Play Jean Paul Gaultier’s Naughty Christmas Advent Calendar online at www.jeanpaulgaultier.com from now until the end of December.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation Review

Posted by Lipglossiping On November - 20 - 2012

When it comes to makeup, things can get pretty personal. One person’s dream product is another person’s nightmare and nowhere is this more keenly felt than when trialling a new foundation. Liz Earle’s long-awaited venture into the world of “proper” foundation comes in the form of the Liz Earle Signature Foundation. I’m glad that it wasn’t rushed out with the initial launch, the brand have obviously taken the time to create something that they’re happy represents their approach to cosmetics.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

The classically-packaged foundation offers a heavyweight glass bottle with a well-designed pump, allowing complete control over how much product dispenses from the bottle. You only want half a pump? You got it. This obviously ensures no product wastage, and so it should because unlike most foundations, the Liz Earle Signature Foundation comes in a little under the average volume count at 25ml.

The silicone-rich formula offers a lightweight texture that skims over pores and primes the skin as it goes. As with similar formulas, I feel that a primer underneath makes wear a lot heavier and less comfortable than it should be. Having said that, the little pamphlet that comes in the box recommends using their Perfect Canvas primer underneath… but then, it would… wouldn’t it? It’s also worth noting that the Liz Earle Signature Foundation provides no sun-protection as part of its formula – and I don’t know about you but I’m not a massive fan of: moisturiser, sun protection, primer, foundation, makeup. That’s TOO much product for an everyday face. Personally, I’d skip the primer unless you have a real problem with your makeup sliding off by lunchtime.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

The foundation comes in nine shades, ranging from Porcelain (which I have), through to Mocha (which promises to suit medium-dark Asian skintones). It’s obviously not the full spectrum, so hopefully the brand are working on increasing the palette next year. I usually opt for the 2nd lightest shade in a range because I favour a hint of warmth to counteract the redness in my skintone but in this case, the 2nd lightest (Ivory) would definitely prove too dark for me. Something to think about as I know that some of you consider yourselves to be paler than me.

I’m not a huge fan of the scent in this foundation, it reminds me a little of my old Dior foundations but thankfully, it doesn’t linger once it’s on the skin. I know that other reviewers have commented that they like the scent, so again, this is just another example of how personal an experience choosing a new foundation can be.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

Liz Earle Signature Foundation applies well with both fingers and a brush. I’ve never been able to use paddle-style foundation brushes with much success, so you’ll have to make do with my experience at using a buffing-style brush, which I think provides a lighter, more natural, coverage. I’d agree with the brand that the texture is lightweight, it also strikes a nice balance between dewy and matte, though it becomes more matte as it sets on the skin. Ideally, you’d have a normal/combination skintype for this one – very dry skins may find it a little too matte to be completely comfortable in this weather. I’m dry/combination and I can just about get away with it…

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

You can see that coverage is pretty good, I’d describe it as a solid medium, leaning toward the full but without the weightiness that full-coverage provides. If anyone tries to tell you that this is a sheer/medium formula – you need to ask yourself what brand of polyfilla they usually use on their faces because this is about as full as I’d want to go without classing it as a “night out” foundation.

I didn’t find the foundation getting pernickity about being layered either, it let me go back for another pass around the centre of my face (with half a pump) and didn’t start clumping or creating any skin dramas but at the same time, I wouldn’t call it a “buildable” foundation either.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

Some skin swatches on the inside of my wrist… look how blue I am! I think the shade variation between 01 and 02 is quite a jump… especially when compared to the variation between 02 and 03 – definitely try and get colour matched on counter for this one because I have a feeling that you’ll suffer from oxidisation and potential patchiness if you go too dark.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation

The picture above is a jawline swatch, stupidly in reverse order – sorry about that. You see the big leap between 01 and 02?

Longevity on my skin was fine, even without a primer it felt as though it held up admirably throughout the day and kept my redness toned down until the middle of the evening. Ultimately, I’ve been pretty happy with Liz Earle’s new Signature Foundation but I think I would have been a tiny bit happier with a little less matte-ness (totally a word). But then again, if you’re oilier than me – you should be chomping at the bit to get yourselves colour-matched on counter.

Liz Earle Signature Foundation is available to buy on counter, and online, priced at £21 for 25ml

* press sample

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 Perfume

Posted by Lipglossiping On November - 7 - 2012

Do you have a lucky number? I’m sure almost everyone does… mine is number 7, which I’m led to believe, is one of the most popular lucky numbers in the world. Not that I really use it for anything, my lottery ticket (when I remember to buy it) is of the “lucky dip” variety and I’m no gambler, but still… it’s the LAW to have a lucky number regardless of whether it has any real significance right?

Significance isn’t a problem for Liz Earle’s latest fragrance. Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.15 hasn’t staked its name on the whim of somebody’s superstition. The number 15 actually refers to the number of precious botanicals that have gone into creating this olfactory delight.  And delight it does.

I wan’t a fan of Liz Earle’s other fragrant creation, Botanical Essence No.1 – infact, it really disappointed me.  I found it sharp and reminiscent of an old-fashioned chypre that had seen better days.  When I think of Liz Earle products, I think of fragrances that soothe the spirits and calm the mind… and the perfume bods at Liz Earle have thankfully got it very, very, right this time around.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 Perfume

Isn’t the packaging lovely?  I know it’s not the be all and end all, of course it isn’t… but when it comes to perfume, it’s definitely appealing when something looks good sat on your dressing table no?

The cardboard housing tells the story of the fragrance and the process in creating it, going to great lengths to detail each of the 15 botanical ingredients, it’s an interesting touch and great for novice perfume-lovers who are interested in finding out more about the ingredients and notes that make up a complete scent.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 Perfume

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 is equally as heady as Liz Earle’s first fragrance creation but in a much softer way.  It’s a completely different genre to be fair, and gone is the sharpness that pricked at my senses to be replaced by a warmer vanilla base, studded with spices and a veil of rich Damask rose.

The beauty of this scent lies in how the variety of notes toy so playfully with one another in a non-linear way.  The cinnamon doesn’t actually deliver the scent of cinnamon into the equation, it just infuses warmth.  The caramel doesn’t bring sweetness, only creamy qualities that tone down the zing of the bergamot.

It just feels (and smells) like a clever, clever creation and the more time I take to analyse it on my wrists, the more I appreciate the work that’s gone into it.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 Perfume

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 has that feminine, sensual vibe mastered and yet I can appreciate the more masculine qualities within it aswell.  The spices are rich and deep, the sandalwood is clean and calming, and the vetiver is mysteriously earthy.

No15, it’s not the most obvious lucky number in the world, but I think it’ll do wonders for Liz Earle’s sales this Christmas.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 is priced at £45 for 50ml and available to buy at your local Liz Earle counter or online at lizearle.com and QVC

* press sample

Hints and Tips for Winter Lips!

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 30 - 2012

When it comes to skincare, it can occasionally feel like I’m chasing my tail, fixing one problem only to be faced with another… but if there’s one aspect of looking after my face that I seem to have gotten the hang of, it’s caring for my lips.  This time of year reminds me of the miserable winters I used to spend with constantly sore and painful lips.  If I wasn’t licking at them like a dog attempting to heal its wounds, I was picking… or even worse, peeling.

Lip condition can deteriorate rapidly, we put the central heating on on Sunday for the first time (we didn’t make it to November!) and last night, lying in bed, I could feel that tell-tale tingle around the edges of my lipline.  It’s time to up my game and put my winter plan of action into… well… action!  Without further ado, here are my hints and tips for winter lips!

Hints and Tips for Winter Lips

I shower in the evenings, and the first step in my annual plan for luscious winter lips involves the most basic of cosmetic tools, the washcloth (£3 for 10).  Whilst I’m waiting for my hair conditioner to turn my locks into mermaid-hair, I grab my hot flannel and gently rub back and forth across my lips.  Be gentle mind, you’re not trying to remove a wine-stain!  Doing this every day will soften any flakes that are ready to come away whilst encouraging blood flow and regeneration.

Once I’ve left the shower, my first port of call is to reach for my moisturisers and my lips don’t get left out here.  My night-time ritual (and I do this everyday) is to apply a layer of Lanolips 101 (£11) before bed – this rich, lanolin-based balm provides the best barrier for locking in moisture through the night.  When I wake up in the morning, it’s still there and my lips are plumpity soft underneath – this stuff has been a lifesaver for me over the last couple of years.

During the day, I opt for something a little lighter in texture, which brings me on to Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm (£7.25).  Whilst not as nourishing as the Lanolips, the formula is more comfortable to wear during the day and the added SPF is a bonus.  It’s a compromise that I’m really happy with for now – plus the flavours are lush!  I reapply this over the top of my lipstick whenever I feel that my lips need it.

Talking of lipstick, it can be tricky to provide your favourite shades with a great base and The Body Shop’s Lipscuff (£8) is a cult classic for priming your pout in preparation for every shade.  Swipe the bullet over your lips in the morning, massage in the formula with your fingertip and wipe the excess away with a tissue (or the back of your hand if you’re a bit of a grot like me).  The Lipscuff leaves just enough coconut oil behind to provide moisture without slip and the exfoliating granules ensure that your lipstick won’t emphasise any dry bits.

Lips shrivelled up in the cold?  I’m just joking… we’ll leave the shrivelling up thing for men to deal with.  But if you do need a little extra plumping – particularly lovely for when you’re rocking a nude lip – I still swear by the original (and the best), Du Wop Lip Venom (£11.85) – it’s delightfully tingly (IT’S BURNING, IT’S BURNING!) and leaves my top lip almost matching the stature of my bottom lip, almost.  Thanks for the genetic un-eveness parents…

Finally, you literally shouldn’t leave the house without a little bit of lip highlighting.  Don’t know where to do it?  I stick to the cupids bow, using a subtle highlighter like YSL’s Touche Eclat (£25) which makes for quick and easy blendability.  If you’re wanting to go for a full-on pout, you can also add a highlight along the centre edge of the lower lip line to give the illusion of fuller, more lifted lips.  The Touche Eclat is subtle enough for daytime but if you’re wanting to highlight for a “going out” look, choose a highlighter with a little more shimmer for added wow-factor.

What are your favourite products for keeping your lips soft and full in the colder weather?

Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer whips me up the perfect shade!

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 29 - 2012

When your skintone is resolutely adhering to its own fish-belly chic agenda, a girl has no choice but to combat the anaemic look with a touch of bronzer.  Well, she does have a choice… but unless she’s Anne Hathaway/Nicole Kidman/Julianne Moore, there’s always the risk of looking more pilsbury than palesbury without it.

Finding my perfect bronzer shade has been a journey of epic, I repeat, epic proportions.  I mean, let’s face it – I’m 31 and can only now feel confident enough to say that I have found something that could even be considered to come under the hallowe’d Holy Grail tag.

Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer

Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer

Laura Geller’s Air Whipped Bronzer (still a name in beauty that doesn’t get much UK blog love) has me turning myself inside out with glee over its slightly cool undertones that warm me up without creosoting my complexion.  Throw in a formula that would please even the most die-hard of Soleil Tan de Chanel fans and you’ve got the perfect bronzing combination for pale pink types.

The packaging is kinda ugly but I can vouch for its effectiveness in keeping the cream contents suitably hydrated and whippy.  Pigment is impressive but buildable and the texture really is so very light and blendable, providing you don’t leave it long enough to set.  And set it does, steadfastly – you get about 20 seconds before it dries down, so blend quickly and efficiently once you’ve sheered the product out.

Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer

The matte formula makes Laura Geller’s Air Whipped Bronzer an absolutely perfect contour shade and I usually buff this in to my imaginary cheek hollows before using whats left on the brush down the edges of my nose and at my temples.  My favourite tool to pair with this is a stippling brush, which I find gives me greater flexibility and a lighter touch.

An alternative use for this bronzer would be to mix a little into your daily moisturiser for an all-over glow, I think this would work pretty well thanks to the airy texture and gentle colour.  Now that I’ve fallen so deeply for this product, I’d love to see a shimmer version too!  Just for those days when a little bit of sparkle ain’t no bad thing!

Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer Swatch

Sadly, the Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer is not easily available within the UK.  Your best bet is to head on to the QVC website or hit up eBay to find a source – LG is one brand that I sincerely wish I could find in a bricks and mortar store, I’d love to play with all those baked goodies!

Laura Geller Air Whipped Bronzer is priced at £26 and available to buy online at QVC.co.uk

Do you have a favourite contour shade that you can’t live without?

LUSH Blousey Shampoo leaves me feeling shirty…

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 29 - 2012

I don’t have the easiest scalp in the world to please. It’s dry, much like my hair and this time of year is when it’s at its worst.  When the central-heating kicks in and the temperature drops a few degrees further, I know that I’m gonna be scratching like a hooker on pay day.  You know I’m still talking about my scalp…. right?  Just so we’re clear.

LUSH have recently released some new products into their haircare range and one of them is this interesting pot o’ banana-scented goop, going by the name of Blousey.  It’s aimed at people with coloured hair, those with locks that are susceptible to damage, dryness, and fading from frequent exposure to the chemicals found in hair colouring products.  That would describe the needs of my hair pretty well and I was keen to see if it would improve the general condition of my hair whilst preventing the dreaded colour-fade.

LUSH Blousey Shampoo

I don’t like any products destined for the shower to be housed in pots, I find the packaging an irritation.  Locating the driest spot in the shower, twisting open the lid and scooping out the correct amount of product?  Fine, but then… you’ve got product in one hand, the pot in the other, the lid clamped between your chin and neck – how the hell do you get the lid back on?!  All of this while you’ve got Niagara falls thundering on your back and you’re trying to stop about 7 litres of water per second from contaminating your product.  Just put in a damn bottle already.

LUSH Blousey Shampoo

The shampoo itself is a joy to use.  It’s rich and creamy, both feeling and smelling far more luxurious than your standard supermarket-fare brand of shampoo.  I wasn’t sure whether to put it in my hair or head to the kitchen to make banana bread with it, it’s that authentic in terms of banana-iness.  Delightful, if you like bananas.

LUSH Blousey shampoo didn’t leave my hair feeling as dry as some of the other shampoos I’ve tried from LUSH in the past and I feel that it made my colour quite vibrant post-washing, but it didn’t deliver the level of moisture that I was expecting, considering that this is, after all, its selling point.

Added to which, my scalp got pretty itchy within a fortnight of using it – not that I’m blaming the product for the itch at all, as I’ve said – I’m really prone at this time of year… but for such a supposedly deeply-moisturising product, I was hoping that it might offer a little relief whilst making my hair resemble spun silk and Blousey doesn’t do either.  It’s back to the ketoconazole for me for a week to bring it under control, which is a shame – because that stuff completely slays any colour I have on my hair.

LUSH Blousey Shampoo

Ultimately, if you like your bananas and a super-creamy hair-washing experience, LUSH Blousey has your name written all over it but if your needs for a deeply-moisturising product run less superficially, you might need to look elsewhere, for both your hair and your scalp’s sake.  Particularly when you take into consideration, the price.

LUSH Blousey is available to buy online at lush.co.uk and instore, priced at £18 for 240g

Do you feel the itch from additional dryness this time of year?

* press sample

Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Lipstick. Universally Flattering?

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 26 - 2012

The idea of a universal lipstick is ultimately, pretty appealing.  Now, I’m not one for gambling, mostly because I’m RUBBISH at it but I would be happy to put a punt on Lipstick Queen Jean Queen and agree with Poppy King that it should suit most ladies, regardless of their colouring.

Who wants to take me up on that bet and where can we get 4 billion lipsticks to test the theory?

The sheer, warm pink  in Jean Queen allows enough of your natural lip colour to reveal itself whilst cancelling out any patchiness or imperfections in your own lips.  It wears very nicely with most other makeup looks and outfits that you feel like pairing it with (hence the name) and also applies with plently of slip.  It’s effortless.  Ok, it’s not the most exciting or groundbreaking thing in the world – but it’s a true workhorse lipstick.

Lipstick Queen Jean Queen

My lips are lacking in pigment and need some kind of lip-covering to avoid that freshly-dug-up look.  For me, Jean Queen provides more of a sheen than much in the way of boom-pow pigment, but what it does offer is polish and completeness to an otherwise unfinished-look.  It’s casual, it’s effortless.  For such a balmy-feeling formula, longevity isn’t too bad either – I can still feel the slip on my lips a few hours into the day and it wears quite comfortably over longer periods without giving any indication that it’s drying out my pout.

Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Swatch

Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Lipstick is priced at £15, and available to buy instore and online at spacenk.co.uk

Do you have a favourite MLBB (my lips but better) lipstick?  Tell me about it!

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 22 - 2012

Surely Illamasqua’s Magnetism from the latest Generation Q collection is the perfect lipstick to welcome the colder weather?  It’s like taking baby steps into the vamp.  Tiny little raspberry-pink coloured steps.  Now, I’m no great lover of Illamasqua lipsticks – I just don’t like the harder formula… of all the ones I’ve bought and tried in the past, I’ve only actually held on to Sangers (bit dry but beautiful colour), Atomic (the violet flash slays me), and Eurydice (because everyone needs a bit of pink neon don’t they?).

But… what I’m trying to say is that… when it comes to lipstick, I don’t go to Illamasqua for their amazing, lip-friendly formulas.  Well, not until now…

I mean jeez, dare I say it… it’s almost… almost… buttery.

I don’t think I’ve raved about an Illamasqua product for a while (well, except their eyebrow cake in Gaze, eternal HG) but this… you needs this in your life.  I’d stopped looking to Illa to provide any lipstick-love for me, are there any other buttery-smooth Illa lip formulas I’ve missed the memo on?!

Please Illamasqua, please remake all your other beautiful shades in this formula.

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick is priced at £16 and available to buy online and on counter from Illamasqua.

* press sample

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Wisdom

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 17 - 2012

I perpetually live in hope when it comes to the Precision Inks from Illamasqua.  For whatever reason, my body chemistry and the polymer-whatsits inside the formula repel one another.  I also know that I’m in the minority when it comes to having trouble getting them to stay on my eyelids but regardless… here’s a quick review of the latest Precision Ink from the great (Great?) British brand…

The Precision Ink provides a neatly tapered, perfectly controllable “brush” with which to dispense the product along the lashline – it’s well designed and allows both precision and decent coverage without needing to take multiple passes.  When you get the hang of how the liquid flows from the brush you can use the angles to your advantage and swiftly draw both thick and thin lines.

The formula is fairly wet and does occassionally attach itself more to my lashes than my lashline… but I find that to be true of most non-pen style applicators, whilst they’re great for providing quick coverage, you may have to do a little cleanup afterward, unless you’re very handy with an eyeliner!

Now, as for Wisdom… what makes it special?  What made me hope and pray to the Gods of makeup that the formula and I would finally, magically become compatible?

The shade.

Wisdom is an absolutely beautiful gilded olive/antique gold – it reminds me a little of Urban Decay’s old liquid liner in Honey… but perhaps a little more sheer.

I’ve swatched it above both on its own and over a black liquid eyeliner to demonstrate the depth of pigment.  Wisdom makes a fabulous alternative to the usual black and is light enough to work really well as part of a simple neutral, work-appropriate look whilst adding a little “interest” to a look that you might be a bit tired of wearing.

Unfortunately, it just doesn’t last well on my eyelids at all.  I don’t know if it’s because they’re hooded and I literally “rub” away the product with my upper lid as the day progresses or… gosh, I really don’t know.  Either way, none of the Precision Inks I’ve tried since their launch have lasted longer than around 4 hours for me without flaking off in great chunks and leaving bald patches.  Other people I’ve spoken to on Twitter find them some of the most long-wearing eyeliners they’ve ever tried.  C’est la vie.

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Wisdom is part of the limited edition Generation Q collection, priced at £17 and available on counter and online now, while stocks last.

Do you have a nemesis product that you just can’t get to grips with?

* press sample

La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Creme

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 16 - 2012

La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Creme.  Yes, it’s pretty much as awesome as I hoped it would be.  If only it had just a little higher SPF rating, we’d be best of buds all year round.  Well, at least until my new favourite base product comes out – a girl can’t be too loyal when it comes to foundations can she?

After suffering a major, practically heartbreaking disappointment over the much lusted-after Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation (which did nothing for me other than accentuate my dry bits and make me look blotchy), along comes La Roche-Posay to stroke my hair and tell me I’m not a troll.  No, really – bad makeup positively upsets me.

Paraben-free and suitable for all skin types (allegedly), Hydreane BB Creme is a rich, tinted base with an emolliating formula.  It’s perfect for the upcoming colder months but some may feel that the lower coverage levels are more suited to Summer months when we break out our tinted moisturisers.  The difference for me is that I don’t generally achieve much coverage across my nose with tinted moisturisers, with this – it provides just about enough redness-calming to make me feel a little more secure in my skin – and that, along with the great hydration, is why I’m happy to grant this BB Cream status.

Hygenically packaged in a travel-friendly squeezy tube, the cream that dispenses is a little thinner in texture than most traditional BB Creams.  It spreads across my skin with ease and almost provides enough moisture alone to go without any additional hydration underneath.  Almost.  I find that I still need to give my skin a little hydration boost around my nose (but not on it) and between my brows.

Once worked into the skin with the warmth of my fingers aiding the process, I stepped away from the mirror.  Five minutes later, I returned and was pleased to see a great skintone match, sheer coverage and skin that looked more refined and even.  Blemishes will need spot concealing and under-eye darkness will need brightening but this is a brilliant base for anyone who needs a quick, daily product to tone down redness without looking like you’re wearing a face of makeup.  It’s a skin confidence booster rather than a full-on face-fixer and that suits my tastes perfectly.  I also have no issues to report re: longevity, though I’m afraid that I can’t speak for oilier skin types.

I’m so pleased that this one lived up to the hype that I’d managed to build up for myself around it – my favourite Western BB Cream so far.

La Roche-Posay Hydreane BB Creme is available to buy instore and online at boots.com, priced at £15.00 for 40ml

* press sample

LUSH Fun… well is it? (part two)

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 15 - 2012

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the sort of revelry you’d expect from something billed as, well… so. much. FUN.

It was time to get serious and put these curious blobs to the ultimate test.

Leila is pretty hard to please: “But this is BORINGGGG!” being her most used expression this week.  I could practically see the little green bar sweating in its biodegradeable wrapper, readying itself for the ultimate small-child test.  We broke off about a quarter of the packet and Leila looked at it expectantly.

The wetter it gets, the squishier it gets… the squishier it gets, the more bubbles it releases… the more bubbles it releases, the greener the water gets… and so on…

Leila even washed her hair with it, but only after I’d reassured her that it wasn’t going to make her hair go green.  Much. (it didn’t really make her hair go green, the picture below is of me telling her that her hair is green – bad Mum!)

All in all, she had more fun with it than us adults but she’s a total Lushie anyway (favourites being: The Godmother soap, Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment, Karma Bath Melt, and The Comforter).  I was surprised to see that there was still almost half of what we’d broken off remaining, despite Leila having given it a total pummeling – I’d describe these as longer-lasting bubble bars although the scents aren’t quite as full-on (possibly a good thing?!)

Not that this appeared to bother my little bathing belle.  Or, demonic-looking diva as the photo below TOTALLY proves.  Talking of divas…she has already lined up the remaining bars in the order that she’s planning on using them over the coming weeks.

LUSH Fun?  Well… she thought so!

LUSH FUN is available to buy instore and online at lush.co.uk, priced at £5.00 per bar (you should be able to get around 4/5 baths per bar) and 10p from each sale of FUN goes to help children affected by the Fukushima disaster.

* press sample

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4 products I want to love... but don't...

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Share a bath with someone you love!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Givenchy Vernis Please! Fatal Plum NOTD

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Screw fashion trends, let's talk brow trends!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

What's in my fridge? No, really....

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Smashbox Softbox Nude Eyeshadow Palette

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Clinique 16 Shades of Beige Collection (photo heavy)

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Guest Post: Top tips for better skin

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Happy Mother's Day!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Pamper every inch with Elemis' Top-to-Toe Beauty Skincare Collection

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

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CLOSED: Competition Time: Givenchy Very Irresistible L'eau en Rose Perfume!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

CLOSED - Win it! The Body Shop Expert Brush Collection

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Win a gorgeous "glow" trio with prizes from Urban Decay, New CID, & Arbonne!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Hello? Is this thing on?

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Avoid the brush off with Oral-B Pro-Expert

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Big savings on French Pharmacy brands, win my Escentual.com top picks!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Win it! 3 EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brushes to win!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

FOTD Busting out of the comfort zone!

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Dear Obesity...

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

Urban Decay The Black Palette - Photos & Swatches

So, with the adult testing done and dusted… Lush’s new FUN bars had yet to inspire a huge amount of whooping, or any of the …

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