A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

It’s finally November and the Christmas Countdown has officially begun. It won’t be long now before you’re unable get through a work-day without hearing a rendition of “Fairytale of New York”, either on the radio or from a tone-deaf colleague. Give it another few weeks and you’ll be adding “Stop the Cavalry” to the list of songs you never want to hear again — and don’t even get me started on Mariah.

Let’s face it, Christmas is a curious time of year — the very mention of it can fill a soul with both excitement and dread, for with it comes the greatest of expectations. I don’t know about you but I’ve already started planning my gift-giving. I have an iPhone app that lets me list recipients in groups, ranking them by importance and value. I can tick off the various stages of the deed from the moment I’ve decided on the gift, through to purchasing the gift, wrapping the gift and finally, delivering the gift. The shame.

I’m both a wonderful and terrible gift-giver, I take immense joy and satisfaction from tailoring friends’ and family’s gifts perfectly. I deliberate over the ideal present to suit an individual’s personality and meticulously shop to be sure that I also score the best bargains available. This is something that can’t be entered into lightly — it takes careful consideration, planning, and stealthy research. The joy of giving is something that I take very seriously indeed.

I sound great right? You’d want to receive a present from me, wouldn’t you? Well, actually no, no you probably wouldn’t. You see, the flip-side to all this wonderful giving is that the poor recipient has to live up to my expectations in the same way that I want my gift to exceed theirs. If I so much as detect a hint of indifference or ungratefulness toward the fruits of my labour… well, let’s just say, I’d make an awesome Mafioso, horse’s head or no horse’s head.

But don’t let me put you off, I’m sure you’re far more likely to occupy the sane, middle-ground than I am when it comes to treating your loved ones this Christmas. There are many joys to giving the right presents to your loved ones and many giggles that can be had from gifting the wrong ones too! I’m slowly learning that you don’t need to spend big money on flash gifts, I have a brother who loves nothing more than receiving home-baked cinnamon rolls that cost pennies to make and a friend who is always delighted to receive a jar full of I.O.Us in exchange for future baby-sitting sessions.

It’s important not to lose sight of what’s important. You’re not trying to outdo anyone with your splendiferous pressie-wrapping skills, it doesn’t matter if someone else buys Grandma the same pair of fleece-lined slippers, and above all else, people show pleasure in many different ways. Some… less obviously than others. If all else fails, come join the dark-side with me and we’ll just have to keep on practising the art of giving graciously… I’m sure I can find you a space in the Christmas Cosa Nostra.

I’ll be featuring some of my favourite Christmas gifts on the shelves during the run-up to Christmas, stick around… you might just make yourself popular with the most awesomest of pressies!

The Selfridges’ Beauty Advent Calendar will be making a triumphant return this Christmas!

Each window houses Selfridges’ most popular beauty products in miniature! Who needs chocolate anyway?!

Mini presents include Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, Lancôme Teint Miracle and Mini Juicy Tube, YSL Belle D’Opium, Kiehls Creme de Corps and Emporio Armani Diamonds.

The Advent calendars are priced at £70 each, are notoriously popular and sell out quickly.

I’m very tempted to start saving some pennies in a jar now, any number-heads know how much we’d need to squirrel away daily to come up with the £70 by October’s release?

An exquisite gift for someone special, this Lip Polish trio (£42) from Arbonne combines three easy to wear lip polishes housed in a classy silver pouch.

I’ve talked about these Arbonne Lip Polishes before and I suggest you read the review to familiarise yourself with what it is that makes these so special.  For me, they’re the perfect lip gloss/lipstick hybrid that packs a punch of pigment without that heavy lip gloss feeling.

The three full size glosses included are: Raisin, Nude & Brown Sugar.

Raisin is a sparkle infused wine shade that can be worn full-on for a vampy, glossy finish or blotted down to leave behind a long lasting stain that still manages to look slightly glossy.

Nude is the perfect accompaniment to a true smoky eye.  With no sparkle and a slightly satiny finish… this lip polish cancels out my lip colour and ensures that it’s all about the peepers!

Brown Sugar is a wearable nude for daytime.  This is a warmer toned nude that should suit most skintones and makes for a real work-safe easy to wear colour.

I’ve tried a few things from Arbonne now but it’s these Lip Polishes in particular that have stood out to me as something of considerable quality.

Infact, I’d happily put these in my top 5 product discoveries of the year.  Which is why although expensive at £42 for the trio… for once, I’d not balk at paying this knowing that I’m paying for actual quality formulations and not just a brand name.

To view this gift set in closer detail and find your local Arbonne consultant, click here.

I was approached by BeautyUK a little while ago when they asked if I’d be interested in taking a closer look at their range of affordable products.

I’d seen their stands in Superdrug before and own a couple of eyeshadow palettes but I have never paid much attention to the rest of the range.  Infact, I didn’t even realise that they had a website until I was pointed towards it.

With the party season fast approaching, it’s the affordable brands like BeautyUK that will be taking my pennies when I’m on the hunt for party-specific makeup.  I’m not gonna drop £50 on party makeup that I might wear twice a year or a nail polish shade best reserved for C3PO.

So it’s with this in mind that I wondered “Just how sparkly can I get on a budget?”.

BeautyUK Glitter Liquid Eyeliner (£2.99)

With an impressive range of 12 colours (inc. holographic), I had high hopes for the trio I received.

The beauty blogosphere has already picked out a favourite brand for crown of the glitter liner wars but I find the ones from Collection 2000 unwearable.  They’re almost too much of a good thing and make me look trannylicious with their solid, bold lines of glitter.  I want something sparkly but a touch understated.

Out of the three that I was sent, it was only the pink that lived up to my expectations.  The silver was too weak and the base colour on the black insipid and grey.  The pink glitter liner gives a lovely pop of interest along my lashline without screaming WOAH YOU’RE NOT 14 ANYMORE!  I also don’t have to apply it 100x to notice anything (unlike the silver).

BeautyUK Metallic Eye Sparks (£2.49)

These are beautiful right?  I adore the way these chunky pencils look… check out those adorable colour-coded gems stuck to the ends.  If that isn’t cute… I don’t know what is.

They’re soft, pigmented, creamy, apply like a dream and last approximately 3 seconds on the eyelid before creasing.

Aren’t they lovely though?

I make these work by lining my eyes with them and in fairness, that’s enough for me.  I’m loving wearing them just below my lower lashline for a pop of colour.  You may not be able to get away with this if you suffer from watery eyes though.

I did wear a NYX Jumbo Pencil on one eyelid and one of these on the other (both without primer or powder eyeshadow) and the difference between them in terms of longevity was negligible.

If you’re a fan of wearing the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils as bases, these are worth a further look.  Not only that but the shades are really quite exceptional.

BeautyUK Dazzling Lips Lipgloss in PlumFun (£2.99)

I didn’t think that I would be recommending this for one second…. but I am.  I’m not a gloss girl but if I were… for the money, this would be ticking a lot of boxes.

Tacky but not TOO sticky, pigmented, completely tasteless and unscented, doesn’t clump on the lips.

For £2.99, this is a great sparkly party lip gloss.

and finally…

BeautyUK Metallic Gold Nail Varnish (£1.99)

It’s frosty.  Very, very frosty!  But it’s a Christmas cracker!

Opaque in 2 easy to apply coats… what can I say?  You need a gold nail polish that’s gonna look good on all skin tones?  This one is neither too warm nor too cool… it applies beautifully, is super metallic and will give you change from £2!

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Overall

I’m impressed… I thought I’d be fence sitting through this review and constantly reminding myself of the brand’s price point as a justification for it’s shortcomings in quality.  This hasn’t been the case.

Nothing feels luxe but neither does it feel terrible.  All the applicators are good for the job, none of the products have that cheap makeup smell that I associate with… well… cheap makeup and a couple of items really stand out.

If pushed (I like being decisive!) I’d say…

Love: Dazzling Lips and Metallic Eye Sparks

So-So: Nail Varnish

Leave: Glitter Liquid Eyeliner

You can find the above items in your local Superdrug or buy online at BeautyUK – either way, BeautyUK are definitely worth a closer look next time you’re in Superdrug.

Being charitable isn’t always glamourous and I think we could probably all be more generous of spirit at times but it’s often hard to find causes that resonate.

I’ll be the first to put my hands up and admit that I could be more giving over the course of the year.  There’s only really two charities that I support all year round and I need the push that their newsletters bring to remind me to do so.  Which is why Christmastime gives me a focus to broaden my horizons and learn about the other good causes out there.

It may be a cliche… but for me, Christmas is all about children… which is why I want to introduce you to a very specfic cause that has a beautifully clear and heart-warming aim.

British skincare brand This Works have joined forces with London-based charity Kids Company to release two products that promote a very worthy cause.

The aim?

To provide 2000 Christmas Dinners for vulnerable children who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.

I’ve heard that the Kids Company Christmas Event is a sight to behold… games, activities, Christmas dinners and at the end of a long, fun-filled day.. a beautifully wrapped present for each child to take home with them!

Christmas should be magical regardless of your age and it’s events like these that give one hell of a boost, not only to the kids but also to the families that can watch their babies enjoy themselves and just. be. children.

So what are the products?

Perfect Hands – £18

“Perfect Hands is a deeply hydrating natural hand cream blended with Rose oil, Mimosa and Musk Mallow for smooth and young looking hands.  It contains powerful natural actives such as Larch extract which tightens and firms the skin while anti-aging Hyaluronic acid locks moisture in.  Rape Seed extract also helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots on the skin.”

Wish – £14

“Wish is the perfect hand-bag accessory with three mini skincare solutions for beautiful skin.

· The 100% natural multi-purpose Super Lips (10g) with Monoi Oil to hydrate the lips
· Soothing Tired Eye Serum (5ml) with Arnica to eliminate dark circles and Cucumber and Aloe Vera to soothe
· A refreshing facial spray, Quick Spritz (5ml) with Rosewood Oil to keep you cool on the go.”

£1.80 from each Helping Hands product sold will go towards Kids Company

You can buy This Works Helping Hands sets online from http://www.thisworks.com/home/helping-hands

Do you try to buy gifts that ‘give back’ at Christmastime?

I haven’t had any trouble deciding what I’ll be splurging my Boots points on this year.  Last year… the Dior holiday collection caught my eye quite late on… but this year, it’s all about the Chanel.

I have 7578 points saved up through some tireless shopping efforts.  It hasn’t all been glamour… Leila has had to quickly develop a taste for Boots branded baby things and I suspect that with no more buggies to buy, next year’s bounty won’t be quite so fruitful *sniff*.

However, that’s still £75.78 to blow spend.  Annoyingly, when converting points to prizes purchases, you’re not allowed to part pay in cash… which means that my total spends must come to under that amount.

Can I do it?  Here’s my wishlist… (do you care? doubt it… but I love a bit virtual shopping me)

1. Les 4 Ombres / Quadra Eye Shadow Palette – Tentation Cuivre (£35.00)
2. Ombre D’eau Liquid Eyeshadow – Splash (£21.50) Criminally overpriced IMO, but when you fall in love… you get stupid.
3. Rouge Coco Lipstick – Magnolia (£21.50)

Erm, where’s my money points gone?  That comes to *counts on fingers. and toes* – £78.

Oh NOES, I’m short by just over £2!

I need to earn 222 points on as low a cash spend as possible – PRONTO!

Do you save store loyalty points for a Xmas treat?

…with this wonderfully inventive “All I Want For Christmas” Advent Calender which has launched exclusively at Selfridges.

They say: Comprising 24 windows behind which lie miniature versions of the beauty industry’s most heralded products, the advent calendar is the ultimate gift for any beauty product lover!

Designed by L’Oreal, it features some of the company’s most well-known brands… let’s see what’s actually included shall we?  Though don’t look if you don’t want your surprise spoiled!

GIORGIO ARMANI EYES TO KILL MASCARA
Longer looking lashes, 2ml 0.06 FL.OZ

GIORGIO ARMANI FLUID MASTER PRIMER
Base Lissante Perfection, 5ml 0.1 FL.OZ

GIORGIO ARMANI FLUID SHEER
Fluid Embellisseur, 5ml 0.1 FL.OZ

EMPORIO ARMANI DIAMOND
Eau de Parfum†, 5ml 0.1 FL.OZ

KIEHL’S CRÈME DE CORPS
The Original Rich Nourishing Cream, 30ml 1.0 FL.OZ

KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL CREAM
“Greenland First Ascent” 24-Hour, Everyday Hydrating
Formula with Extracts of Glacial Glycoproteins and Desert Plants, 7ml 0.25 FL. OZ

KIEHL’S ULTIMATE STRENGTH HAND SALVE
All-day care for severely dry, active hands, 30ml 1.0 FL.OZ

LANCÔME BI-FACIL
Non Oily – Instant Cleanser – Sensitive Eyes, 30ml 1.0 FL. OZ

LANCÔME GÉNIFIQUE
Youth Activating Concentrate
Lancôme have created Génifique to help reveal your skin’s youthful appearance
7ml 0.1 FL. OZ

LANCÔME HYDRA ZEN NEURO CALM™
Soothing moisturising cream SPF 15, 15ml 0.5 FL. OZ

LANCÔME COLOR FOCUS PALETTE 302 ROUND MIDNIGHT
Mini Palette 2 Shades, 1.6g 0.05 OZ

LANCÔME MINI JUICY TUBE FRAISE 17
Ultra Shiny Hydrating Lipgloss, 7ml 0.23 FL. OZ

LANCÔME TRÉSOR IN LOVE
Eau de Parfum†, 5ml 0.1 FL.OZ

LANCÔME RÉNERGIE LIFT VOLUMETRY
Volumetric Lifting and Shaping Cream, Firming – Anti-wrinkle – SPF 15, 15ml 0.5 FL. OZ

LANCÔME L’ABSOLU ROUGE ßx 06
Advanced Replenishing AND Reshaping Lipcolour, 1.42g 0.05 OZ

LANCÔME MIRACLE
Eau de Parfum†, 5ml 0.1 FL.OZ

LANCÔME HYPNÔSE PRECIOUS CELLS MASCARA
Magnified Volume Cream Mascara, Lash by Lash Volume, 2ml 0.06 FL. OZ

P&C STELLA McCARTNEY STELLA
Eau de Parfum†, 5ml 0.1 FL.OZ

P&C VIKTOR & ROLF FLOWERBOMB
Eau de Parfum†, 7ml 0.25 FL.OZ

SHU UEMURA SKIN PURIFIER
Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O, 20ml 0.67 FL.OZ

YSL MASCARA VOLUME EFFECT FAUX CILS
Luxurious Mascara, for a False Lash Effect, 3ml 0.1 FL.OZ

YSL OPIUM
Eau de Toilette†, 7.5ml 0.25 FL.OZ

YSL PARISIENNE
Eau de Parfum†, 7.5ml 0.25 FL.OZ

YSL ROUGE PURE SHINE LIPSTICK 10
Sheer Lipstick SPF 15, 1.2g 0.03 OZ

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Is there a woman in the world who *wouldn’t* like to find that hanging in the hall on December 1st?  Doubt it.

Priced at £60 and available from Selfridges.

For those of us with husbands/partners/family of the not so generous variety *raises hand*, don’t forget that you will be able to indulge again in this year’s Lipglossiping Annual Beauty Advent Giveaway instead… it’s becoming quite the tradition!

I was going to do one post that encompassed the entire Christmas Collection, but for the life of me, I couldn’t get a colour-accurate tube shot of the lipstick that I received in my goody bag.  So instead, we’ll have to make do with the eye palette that I was sent home with for now.

Avon’s Luxe Lace True Colour Eyeshadow Quad in Lace Hues is one of two eye palettes that Avon are releasing in special packaging as part of their Luxe Lace collection which is due to hit their online store at the end of the month.

Lace Hues contains four shades.  A shimmering white-gold, a matte neutral pink, a satin grey/green and a shimmering navy.  The packaging is delightful… a glossy black, well-built palette with pink lace embellishments.  It’s sturdy, secure and the large mirror inside is more than adequate for application’s sake.

On first inspection, it was the navy that caught my eye… it has a brighter blue flash to it… a certain interest that the other shades are lacking.

The texture of each shadow is quite hard and colour payoff is sheer but buildable with a bit of work.  I’ve been wearing the matte pink all over the lid with a touch of the grey/green in the socket and lashings of the blue underneath my lower lashline.  It’s a winning combination.  I’m not so fond of the pale gold highlighting shade as the shimmer is a little chunky and apparent for me.

The matte pink in particular has a tendency to kick up a bit of dust when loading up the brush, but the fallout doesn’t seem to transfer to my cheeks.  I know I’m gonna hit pan on that blue before any other colour though.  Isn’t it lovely?

What is the general opinion on Avon’s eyeshadow palettes?  I have to confess… I’ve never tried one before!

Strictly Come Dancing on Stars with Ice Factors in the Jungle makeup I can handle.  Especially when I got the opportunity to play and wasn’t completely horrified by the actual quality.  Plus they’d made the most of all the sequins, glitterballs, cutely packaged bits and bobs… it has that tack-tastic quality that you want from a Strictly Come Dancing makeup line.

This?

I’m not so sure.

[stextbox id=”custom” caption=”They Say” ccolor=”ffffff” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa” cbgcolor=”b0c4de”]Become the ultimate diva with this new show-stopping collection of Glee inspired cosmetics. The dazzling selection of nail colours, eye shadows, lip glosses and lip balms offers Glee fans the chance to create their own personal ‘Gleekover’.[/stextbox]

I’ll be honest… I’ve never watched Glee, but surely if you were going to capitalise on the whole Glee phenomena with a little sideline in makeup… you could put a bit more effort into it?

Picture the scene (and bear in mind I have no actual idea how this works.)   So… we’re in the Superdrug/Glee/Wholesale Cosmetics people’s boardroom.  Eating doughnuts… probably.

“Hey guyyyyyys!  How about some Glee Makeup for Christmas?!”

*audible gasp*

“Ah-mazing!”

“But how can we make it Glee makeup as opposed to any old generic cheap crap makeup?  We don’t want our customers to think that we’re taking advantage of an opportunity without putting any real thought into it.”

“Let’s stick some Glee stickers on it!”

*audible gasp*

“Genius! – If it’s good enough for MACs latest collection… it’s good enough for us.”

At least MAC’s stickers were printed in more than one colour.  Cheapskates.  How in the hell is this Glee-inspired makeup?  Once your Gleeky consumer has torn away the cardboard packaging… don’t you think they may be just a teeny bit disappointed with what’s left in the way of Glee-spiration? (ok, I’m stopping with the quips now).

You can go buy your *cough* Glee-inspired makeup which includes *cough* BeautyUK-esque eyeshadow palettes instore at Superdrug now.  With prices starting at £3, I’m not saying they won’t make excellent stocking fillers… but if I find one in mine?  Mr. L won’t have much to be “Gleeful” about.

If you find yourself a little flush this Autumn, then you may want to check out the new limited edition Tom Ford Black Orchid collection.

Comprising of 3 pieces:

[stextbox id=”custom” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa”]

~ The revamped Black Orchid lipstick (in black casing instead of white)

~ The new Black Orchid Nail Colour – a new venure for the Tom Ford beauty lineup

~ The new Black Orchid Pressed Perfume – the piece that captures my interest… look at that beautifully sexy slimline packaging!

[/stextbox]

The new collection will be available in Harvey Nichols from the 4th October 2010 and elsewhere from 1st December 2010.

Price?  An eye-watering £90.  Did you expect anything less?

I’ve got an exclusive 20% off discount code for my lovely readers to take advantage of Barielle’s brand new Holiday Hustle Nail Collection!

If you want to take advantage of the promotion, simply use code lipglossiping (lower case) at checkout.

The code is good for 2 weeks from today and when I checked a few days ago (I’m on holiday now), it was working store-wide!

Let me know if you succumb to temptation!  I’m a nosey sod!

I requested some better pictures of a few pieces from the upcoming Boots (Strictly Come Dancing) Strictly Fab-U-Lous releases, ‘cos frankly… mine were shiteous.

Strictly The Lip Gloss Collection, RRP £6

Strictly Come dancing Look Books: Stunning, Beautiful, and Latin, RRP £10 each (I think these were my favourite!)

Strictly Fab-u-lous Lip Collection, RRP £12.00

It’s back on our screens proper from 1st October I think… Strictly is such a guilty pleasure for me.  Keep your X-Factors… I’m all about the sequins!