A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Well, I wasn’t gonna get sucked into the hype.  Oh no, not me!  But then I thought “oooh just one little look to see what everyone’s going on about… *swoon*, *thud*, *kerching*”

Sucker.

Priced at £24.50, I believe this makes the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense in #3 Purpura, the most expensive single eyeshadow I own, roundly beating my Le Metier de Beaute spangly silver that I bought on impulse and have barely worn to this day.

So first things first, is it worth that horrendous price tag?  Of course it’s not… but like my Tom Ford lippies, the numbers that ring up on the till matter less once I’ve fallen head over heels.  All that matters is finding ways to justify why I require at least one more from the range.  Sucker.

The Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense range of 12 shades incorporate multi-faceted pigment with impressive colour payoff and a rich, creamy formula.

I initially approached the counter with Lust Red in mind after seeing Temptalia’s swatch of the blackened-red shade… but a quick check at the alternatives available had me lusting after something a little lighter for Summer.  Don’t worry Lust Red… I’m coming back for you in the Autumn!

Purpura, #3 is a beautifully blended mix of purples and gold that combine to create a violet-toned charcoal that dances with a golden glimmer.

I wouldn’t class this as sheer when applied dry but it’s definitely more ‘buildable’ (that’s a diplomatic way of putting it!) than some of the other, more intense shades.  This is actually one of the reasons I purchased it as it felt “airier” and more befitting for hot days when a ‘made up’ face just looks a little too much.

The three swatches above show Purpura applied dry, ontop of primer (Urban Decay original) and with a damp brush.  There’s not a great deal of difference between using a primer or simply applying it with a dampened brush so I’d imagine the question of preference will come down to longevity.

As for longevity, well I don’t have any opinion on that yet seeing as I only bought this yesterday.  All reports sound good so I’m looking forward to decent wear from this really, rather expensive but ultimately flippin’ gorgeous eyeshadow.

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense eyeshadow in #3 Purpura is priced at £23.50 and available to buy on counter if you can find stock.  As of yesterday (31/5), Selfridges in London was out but Harvey Nichols came up trumps!

What do you think?  Like or no-like?

workhorse: noun. Something, such as a machine, that performs dependably under heavy or prolonged use.

Dior’s One Couleur Eyeshadow in Trendy Taupe is one of my go-to shades for deepening the crease.  It works well paired with anything I’ve matched it up to and blends without too much argument or swearing (from me).

Other than that… well, in all honesty, it’s completely un-exciting.  But I wouldn’t be without it.

The pigmentation is light but buildable which means that I don’t end up with “WOAH! PANDA EYES” whenever I attempt anything smoky.

Dior’s One Couleur Eyeshadow in Trendy Taupe is priced at £19.50 (ouch) and available online from House Of Fraser.  I can’t remember if it’s limited edition but I didn’t see it online at Boots.

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Anyone else suffer from the dreaded black eye effect when attempting to go smoky?

I’m already the proud owner of Sueded Brown’s little sister, Velvet Plumtones so I couldn’t help but pick this one up too when I saw it in the ‘sale’ box on counter in John Lewis.  I paid half price for this little palette.  A total snip a £12.50!

I love these Color Intrigue palettes… I mean, OK, they’re not hugely exciting in shade selection but they’re wearable, high quality shadows that are hard to screw up.  They blend beautifully, last forever on my lids and have a beautiful satin sheen without being too metallic.

4 shades ranging from a pale highlight through to a v. dark charcoal brown which I”m addicted to using as a liner.

Aren’t they rich?  The highlight shade *is* there by the way, it’s just pretty damn close to my skin tone as a colour match!

So, that leaves one palette left to collect…. the Neutral Cashmeres.  I know I can get it in the ‘ordinary’ packaging but I’d quite like to complete my set of 100th Anniversary ones!  I will have to keep my eyes peeled!

Do you own any Elizabeth Arden cosmetics?

I’m subscribed to KGBDeal updates and this one landed in my email inbox yesterday…

these eyeshadow kits for £16.99 (p&p inc. in the price).  I have a couple of Bellapierre single eyeshadows already but have never tried the makeup base (which appears to be a cross between a pigment mattifier and primer) or any of the brushes.

So what do you get for £16.99?

Kit Includes:
• 3 Shimmer Powders (2.35g)
• 1 Make Up Base (8.5g)
• 1 Liner Brush
• 1 Oval Eye Shadow Brush

Bellapierre website, the kit ordinarily retails for £39.99 which is a saving of 63% over the original price.

The colour choices are as follows:

the deal, it’s available for the next 6 days only.

I thought it might be useful to include a swatch (dry, no primer) of the Bellapierre shadows that I own, so for your viewing pleasure: Jadoo and Celebration

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Will you be taking advantage of the KGBDeals/Bellapierre offer?

I’m reviving my ever-so-slightly neglected Swatch Saturday posts!

These will be filled with images and swatches as opposed to my inane ramblings (woohoo!) and will hopefully showcase some of the products that I use regularly.

So here we go with today’s swatches of an eyeshadow that I’ve been using pretty much non-stop this week.  Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Eyeshadow in Sugar Biscuit.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Sugar Biscuit has a satin finish that shimmers without being metallic.  It is an integral part of my lazy day looks!  A wash of it from lid to browbone will brighten tired looking peepers and give the impression of 8 hours sleep. Kinda.

I usually combine with a taupe in the crease and lots of mascara!

You can see it used in a quick look here.

Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Eyeshadow in Sugar Biscuit is priced at £15.50 and available on counter or online (though currently OOS).

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What’s your favourite eyeshadow for all-over brightening?

L’Oreal Color Infallible* are a newly released set of 8 eyeshadows that pack one hell of a pigment punch!

Housed in squat screw-top pots… are they creams, pigments or pressed powders?  Well… they’re a bit of everything.  A hybrid eyeshadow with the texture of a cream, the density of a pigment and convenience of a pressed powder!

Sounds great right?  Well… they’re fairly awesome but as is usually the way, not without fault.

The lid unscrews to reveal a plastic ‘press’ which keeps the powder compacted inside the well of the pot.

The pigment under the press is a little tricky to reach with fingers (especially if you have nails!) because it’s located a little way inside the pot rather than level to the edge.  If you use a brush, this obviously wouldn’t be an issue but does make for a sheerer application.

The colours are strong and true with a blendable almost creamy texture.  Shimmery without being too metallic, they make for some really easy looks.  Infact, I can blend this easily with just my fingers for a super-quick morning pick me up!

Unfortunately, I found lasting power to be a little disappointing as these had a tendency to disappear from my lids after about 3 hours… congregating firmly in the crease in a strong, greasy line.  They fared better with primer but I still only achieved around 5 hours wear from them on my normal (not hugely oily) lids.

Having said that, some of the shades look amazing in the promo pictures and I’ll still be picking up All Night Blue from the range (a midnight  blue shade).

Talking of shades, here are the current available tones:

All Night Blue (a midnight blue)
Purple Obsession (smouldering purple)
Endless Chocolate (brown shade shown in my swatches)
Time Resist White (luminous, delicate white)
Burning Black (incandescent black with purple shimmer)
Flashback Silver (metallic silver)
Permanent Khaki (green shade shown in my swatches)
Eternal Black (true black)

L’Oreal Color Infallible Eye Shadows are available nationwide and priced at £6.99 / €10.79 each.

* press sample

Ok, I’m finishing up with the review of the bits that I was sent last month.  Click here to read my other posts on the brand.  I’m battling a bit of a backlog at the minute thanks to the frustrations of losing the site over Christmas.  Bear with me!

Milky Lips in 602 (£4.44) is a pale cool-toned pink gloss that does what it says on the tin!

It’s a bit “Barbie” for me but I can imagine it being a hit among a younger crowd.  It’s tacky and long-lasting but prone to sinking into the furrows in your lips as these milky type glosses and pale lipsticks tend to do.

Moving on…

The Eyeshadow Trio Dancing Queen in 803 (£4.24) whilst nicely pigmented is frosty as hell.  It’s just too much for me though I was impressed at the texture which was a lot softer than I would have expected considering the amount of glitter these shades hold.  Fall-out is an issue when using these so be prepared to deal with it!

The darkest charcoal/blue shade in the trio is particularly nice but like I said, it’s all a bit too sparkly for me I’m afraid.

On with the next product…

I was VERY pleased with the Paese Pen Liner (£6.08) which I’ve been using daily ever since I received it.  So far (in over a month), it hasn’t dried out at all.  It could do with a little more pigment… as it stands, you do need to go over any lines you draw twice to get a solid, opaque finish.  So why am I holding it in such high esteem?

I love pen liners, I find them the quickest, easiest way to accomplish a simple black line along my upper lashline.  You can’t beat gel for pigmentation but I’m pretty cack-handed and keep falling back on these felt-tip type pens when I don’t have all day to get a perfect line.  The tip on this is a cracker.  Not even remotely scratchy and with a fine point that allows for a nice thin ‘flick’.  There’s a bit of bounce in the tip and it never skips as I draw along my lashline.  It’s solid and dependable… something I want in my eyeliner.

And finally…

Paese Blusher in 25 (£3.32) didn’t do anything to impress I’m afraid.  It’s a nice enough peachy/rose shade with a lovely, soft texture but it’s dusty as hell.  A real shame because it also happens to contain one of the nicest and most delicate shimmers I’ve ever seen in what is essentially a drugstore blush.

It’s very pigmented and a little goes a long way but if you take more than a couple of swipes during blending you’ll notice that you start to blend the blush into oblivion and will be left wondering where the hell it went.  One of those blush on, blush off blushers!

Final Thoughts on Paese Cosmetics

I have some concerns about the website which has those horrible block swatches that don’t give a great indication of the shades available.  There seems to be some mis-labelling amongst the categories and it all seems a bit like a work-in-progress rather than a finished consumer-ready website though I can’t emphasise enough how refreshing it is to see such reasonable shipping charges within the UK!

It’s a brand worth exploring with some little gems hidden among the standard less-impressive drugstore-esque fare.  In particular, I’d recommend the eyeliner and primer as well as the nail polish.  These are the products that I would personally re-purchase.

Are you planning to give Paese Cosmetics a try?

Metamorphosis… was the first big word I learnt to spell.  I think I was 8 or 9 and I delighted in telling anyone who couldn’t get away from me quick enough exactly what it meant.  You would have hated me.

Something you might like a little better though, is this Spring Chinese-inspired palette from Estee Lauder, available exclusively at Harvey Nichols.

Metamorphosis, Tom Pechaux’s creation is described as an ethereal combination of five metallic shades: Glistening Gold, Lavender Star, Pink Drama, Glacial Blue and Black Crystals.

Looking much brighter in the pan than when translated onto skin it promises to give a look that is soft yet sophisticated, a look that is reminiscent of a butterfly at night, with its fluttering dark wings of delicate pearl and effervescent mystery. Right-o then!

I think a picture illustrating that (rather flowery) description might be more my cup of tea…

Doesn’t Liu Wen look beautiful?  Sophisticated, powerful and delicate all at the same time.

I think it’s a striking palette but sadly pastels look so pukey on me that you’d call an ambulance if you saw me wearing those shades.

The Limited Edition Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Metamorphosis is priced at £34.00 and available exclusively at Estée Lauder counters in Harvey Nichols only from 3rd January 2011.

Are you a pastels kinda girl?  Or are you like me and holding out for Lauder’s Spring release (the Wild Violet palette looks stunning!)

I bought this little palette from ASOS a few weeks ago.  There were three to choose from and I couldn’t decide between Sueded Browns and this one, Velvet Plumtones.  So I did the only sensible thing I could do…. I googled for reviews! (you thought I was gonna say “buy both!” didn’t you… tsk.)

It wasn’t long before this video by Sam from Pixiwoo came up and I clicked through to watch.  I didn’t actually have to get that far… because as soon as I’d read “Especially good on green eyes” in their title… it was in my basket.  Be aware though, that if you do watch the video… you can probably kiss goodbye to the £25 you need to get this in your hot little hands.

Ugh, I love… love… LOVE the illustration on the front.

The palette is beautifully made, one of the best I own in terms of packaging quality.  I know that’s no great shakes… but when it feels good enough to make you take notice, it’s worth a mention.

I’m getting into a bit of a bad habit of swatching then photographing.  Or in this case… using about 3 times, then photographing.  Sorry!  I like to photograph pristine palettes for you guys but I just can’t help myself!

Four satin shades are included… none of them shimmery, just smooth with a slight sheen.  The ‘most’ matte is the darkest shade in the top left and most satin-y, the palest in the top right which has a slight iridescence to it.

Each shade applies super smoothly and blends very well indeed.  A fact that was visually noticeable for someone like me who isn’t completely shit at application but has a tendency to realise halfway through the day that she could probably have benefited from a couple more minutes blending.  Does that make sense?

On with the swatches…

Clearly a cool-toned palette, each shade has a hint of plum about it… it’s subtle but coherent and makes them work beautifully together.  It’s not hugely pigmented, the above swatches show around three swipes each but the pigmentation is buildable.  Applying over the top of UDPP extracts more vibrancy from the shades but I quite like the subtle muted tones that I get without it.

So would I recommend?  Yes, yes and yes again.  I really want the other two palettes for my collection… but Lord knows I don’t need them.  Perhaps (as they’re limited edition) ASOS will discount them if they don’t sell out first.  If anyone spots them at a cheaper price before I do – I would really appreciate a heads up!

Like the look of the Elizabeth Arden Limited Edition Color Intrigue Palettes?

If you’re familiar with pigments, then you’re probably familiar with the concept of foiling them.  If not… it goes something like this…

You wet your brush by spraying it with your toner/water/fixer of choice before dipping it in the loose pigment and patting onto your eyelid.  It gives a high shine, high metallic effect that’s vibrant and striking.

Bare Minerals have introduced a new range of eye colours that they’re calling High Shine EyeColor.  The simple premise of this new line is a high-intensity metallic colour without the need for foiling.  The foiled effect but with dry pigments.

I was sent a few shades from the new line up to put to the test and I have mixed feelings on them.

Undoubtedly beautiful, they’re also incredibly portable in their well-sealed vials.  Packed with metallic goodness, they’re an enticing product.

From left to right, the above image shows the shades: Bronzed (bronze), Frost (silver), Glisten (pale gold) and Patina (khaki gold).

Purdy aren’t they?

But these aren’t just pigments in a jar a la MAC or the regular Bare Minerals offerings because they come with an inbuilt sponge applicator and delivery system.  This is where the product loses points for me.

The sponge applicator is mounted on a spring mechanism which is frankly pretty fierce.  You need to be prepared to work against it to stop it from “springing” up and dumping product in your lap.  It’s not a huge issue aslong as you’re aware of it… but I can imagine it might catch a few people unaware.

Secondly, there’s fall out as you remove the applicator from the neck of the vial.  It’s avoidable only if you’re incredibly careful and precise.  A bit like one of those fairground games that buzz if you touch the metal wire with the hoop!

Part of me feels that this is to be expected and that I’m being a touch harsh.  Afterall, these are loose pigments and no one ever said that working with them wasn’t messy.  However, I feel that if you’re going to go to the trouble of implementing an application system… it needs to do a better job than one could do without it.  I simply don’t feel that this system makes a messy job any easier.

But check out how these babies look…

Swatched on bare skin, they’re quite something.  How perfect are they for the Holiday season?

Back to the application for a minute… as with most loose eyeshadows, you’ll be wanting to do your eyes before attempting foundation.  There’s fall out from the sponge tip onto the uppper cheekbone whenever I apply.  Not a huge amount but enough to irritate and provoke much tsking!

If you can get past the inconveniences of working with loose pigment… this is how they look worn.

Excuse my Burglar Bill t-shirt.  Instead, check out the intensity of that pigment.  Infact, if anything… they’re a touch washed out by the camera flash.  I didn’t wear any primer underneath and the colour lasted amazingly well.  Easily 6/7 hours before fading… I think probably because they are SO intense to begin with.

So there we have it.  I love them but they’re not flawless.  Their intensity is electrifying and wear equally impressive.  They’re just a bit of a pain in the bum to apply.

Bare Minerals High Shine EyeColor is available in 6 shades.  You’ll be able to find them at all Bare Escentuals boutiques, selected department stores and spas and salons nationwide from December.  Priced at £14 each.

Are you happy to sacrifice convenience for the end result?

This Christmas, it’s the Chanel collection that caught my eye more than any other.  Those beautiful pinks and coppers that contain the perfect amount of shimmer/glitter for the holiday season without being gaudy.

I will always be drawn to palettes that promise to create a wonderful smoky eye and this was no exception.  The only thing that could possibly dampen my enthusiasm would be pigmentation.  I wasn’t sure how much power this quad would pack.  I needn’t have fretted.

Come to Mama….

I know I usually take blog photos before I start sticking my sausage fingers in my shadows but I think I had this one opened and swatched before I’d even left the shop.  Excuse the shadow dust!

And the swatches (swatched over eye primer)…

To say that I love this palette would be an understatement.  The coppery tones in the two darkest shades really accentuate the green in my eyes and the paler, more ethereal hues brighten my eyes beautifully.

I don’t kno if you’re interested in lazy girl’s makeup application… but mine goes something like this:  The darkest copper shade… I apply all over the mobile lid, right up to the socket line.  Then I take the pink (on the far right) and use this to blend the harsh edges.  I pat the glittery shade (on the far left) ontop of the copper and finally, use the ivory to highlight the inner corner and brow bone.

All that takes me less than 2 minutes because I don’t do anything intricate in the socket line, nor do any fancy stuff in the outer corner.  This palette gives me a gorgeous smoky look in minutes.  And that’s why I love it.

For me, it’s more than worth the £35 I paid for it.  Can you tell I love this palette?

I’m still unsure about whether or not to go for Chanel’s Holiday/Christmas lipstick in Magnolia…. it’s a lovely medium pink but I think it might just be a little too shimmery… frosty-looking even.

Either way, I couldn’t be more in love with the Chanel Tentation Cuivree palette that I picked up last week.

I’ll do a proper post with close up and swatches but here’s a very quick FOTD to be getting on with.

Face:

Prori Coffeeberry Perfecting Foundation #1
Eve Pearl Blush Trio – Sweet Cheeks

Eyes:

Les 4 Ombres Chanel Tentation Cuivree Palette (2 darkest shades)
Boots No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara
Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake in Gaze

Lips:

L’oreal Color Riche Serum Lipstick in Beamy Plum

As usual I’m doing my ‘use the least amount of products I can get away with’ trick.  Only out of necessity rather than choice.  I’m also currently trialling Priori Coffeeberry Perfecting Mineral Foundation which I’ll be reviewing as soon as I can get a well lit before/after shot.

Have a great Tuesday beauty addicts x