A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

When you’ve got a good thing going, the wise among us know to keep running with it.

Which is exactly what Clinique are doing with this whole Chubby Stick thing.  First came their Chubby Sticks for Lips, consumers couldn’t get enough of the balmy formula in the convenient-to-use stumpy pencil.  However, some complained (cough) that the finish was too sheer, so Clinique created Chubby Stick Intense, and thus… I was happy.

Roll forward a few more months and the brand have taken their original idea and pimped it to the max.  Lo and behold, we have Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes*.  I’m fully expecting a chubby foundation next week.

There are currently 12 shades available and I received samples of a couple of the shades a little while ago.  Lots o’ Latte and Whopping Willow are two fairly neutral-toned cream shadows from the range but interestingly, Whopping Willow has a small amount of glitter running through the cream which is difficult to notice just by looking at the stick – a pretty and welcome addition, mostly because it’s kinda grown-up and subtle.

The twist-up crayons are easy to use and glide across the eyelids without any drag.  The colour is sheer but extremely buildable… a few swipes will build-up complete coverage over the eye.  The formula is easily blendable with just a finger, you don’t need a brush to apply these, making them perfect holiday-accompaniments or perhaps ideal for the desk drawer at work?

I had problems with both of these shades creasing on me within a couple of hours.  I suppose that such a creamy formula that applies so beautifully has to have a negative somewhere and on me, longevity is where it’s at.  This isn’t a complete disaster as I did find that a slick of primer underneath worked wonders to increase wear-time to a completely respectable seven-or-so hours.

I’ve included a swatch of both shades below, you should be able to pick out the sparkle in Whopping Willow, isn’t it pretty?  I don’t usually like greens… infact, I hate them… but this one is a little bit special.

Have you tried any of the new shades and are you a fan?

Clinique’s Chubby Sticks for Eyes are priced at £16.00 each and available to buy on counter or online at clinique.co.uk

* press sample

I know I was supposed to be hot-footing it to Boots to spend my points on Chanel Summer… but I’ve got a little secret to let you into: I didn’t actually get that far.  I was in West Quay and when I came out of the lift, I got distracted by John Lewis… if you haven’t been to West Quay in Southampton, let me tell you… they know how to make a good John Lewis.  It’s my favourite local beauty department… by contrast, the Debenhams in town is woeful and sends me into fits of depression whenever I darken its doors.

Anyway, there I was… fingering (you can use that word in other contexts) all the pretty beauty stuff at the front of store when I spotted this Illusion d’Ombre (cream eyeshadow to plebs like you and me).  I already own two of them (Mirifique and Illusoire) and I’d completely forgotten that this shade even existed.  I was umm-ing and ahh-ing over picking up Fantasme (a sparkly irridescent shade) which I hoped would brighten my eye area without being too gaudy when the subtle peach-tones of Émerveillé stopped me in my tracks.

Summer in a pot.  Minus the Mojitos and insect bites.

Like Fantasme, it contains tiny reflects of multidimensional sparkle, though much MUCH more subtle, grown-up, and golden.  I know I haven’t properly reviewed Mirifique yet, but I literally wore Illusoire every day for a fortnight whilst up North.  The Illusion d’Ombres are completely effortless in application, blending and wear.  They last perfectly for 7+ hours without a sticky base or primer and almost melt (in a good way) onto my eyelids.  I actually can’t praise them enough for their complex finish and I love how they don’t appear metallic-y (and aging) like many shimmer shades often do.

Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in #82 Émerveillé is priced at £23.00 and available online at Boots (or instore at John Lewis!)

Do you own any of the Chanel Illusion d’Ombres?  Are you as crazy about them as I am?

Inexpensive and YSL.  Not two words that you’d usually find in the same sentence but as I was browsing some of my usual late-night shopping haunts, I came across a lovely beauty bargain.

For less than the price of most high-street eyeshadows, you can scoop a YSL Water-Resistant Cream Eyeshadow in a non-disgusting shade.  £4.99.  Bargain of the week yes?

Let me show you how pretty it is…

It applies wet and blends to a sheer, crease-resistant base of smokey purple/grey.  It’s a great start for building up a smokey eye or worn on it’s own as a subtle wash of colour.  It blends nicely with either a brush or fingertip and is one of those great work-to-night out essentials.

The swatch on the left shows a couple of layers built up, whilst the swatch on the right shows how I wear it most of the time with a slightly darker crease colour.

YSL Water Resistant Eye Shadow in Amethyst Grey is priced at £4.99, available online from DirectCosmetics.com

I’ve been trying to get my hands on these for an indecently long period of time.  Well, actually that’s a bit unfair… I’ve been trying to get my hands on the PURPLE in this range for an indecently long period of time.  I had some House of Fraser vouchers left over from last Christmas and when I saw the preview of these at a press event earlier this year, fell in love and earmarked the use of said vouchers firmly with the name Shiseido.

Of course, when they were released last month… the purple was nowhere to be seen.  Each time I went to House of Fraser I was told about the shortage coming from Japan and I left the store feeling ever more deflated.  The last time it happened, I decided that I could wait no longer and plumped for the blue instead.  I’m impulsive/stupid like that.

Here she is…

First impressions are based solely on how pigmented this thing is.  I haven’t experienced the kind of WOW factor I got with this since I bought my first Sleek palette.  The second thing that struck was just how complex the shade is, it truly does shimmer with a huge amount of depth and beauty.  Thanks to the cream formula, the jewel tones are wonderfully enhanced and you are left with an impression of something between the deep blue sea and glacier ice.

The cream spreads very smoothly, far smoother than something like the MUFE Cream Shadows, I’ve found that I fare better by tapping the shade onto my eyelid to achieve an even distribution and I’ve been mostly using this as a base upon which I apply my trusty taupe.  It gives an extra dimension to a well-worn colour, I’ll save the full on BLUE look for when I’m feeling a little braver.  Finally, I dot a little gold into the inner corners of my eyes as I feel that it complements the overall look (ooh, get me!)

If the rest of the Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Colors share the same formula merits as this one, I can’t recommend them highly enough.  BL711 doesn’t budge on my slightly oily eyelids (though I do wear shadow ontop) and the pigmentation is out of this world.

Now, if only I could brave it and rock the full on look!

Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in BL711 is available to buy at Shiseido Counters nationwide and online priced at £20.00

I was at an event last night that showcased some of Laura Mercier’s A/W collection and upcoming releases.  I have to say that although the A/W didn’t do much to whet my appetite, these little sticks of dynamite colour certainly got my attention focused.

The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours will be released next month across counters nationwide in a total of eight shades though only 4 were available to view last night so bear with me while I show you these for now.  They’re reminiscent of the MAC Shadesticks, if you’re familiar with those… you’ll recognise the concept.  It’s simple: a cream shadow/liner in twist-up crayon form.  The formula feels soft (unlike some of the MAC Shadesticks) and is incredibly pigmented.  The swatches shown below are maximum two/three passes against my skin.

from left to right: smoke, steel, amethyst & cocoa

They set after about 20 seconds into what is claimed to be a creaseproof, smudgeproof finish.  I did indeed have trouble removing the swatch of the darkest shade and needed the help of some heavy-duty scrubbing and a baby wipe to do the job.  I haven’t tried these on my eyes so can’t offer any opinions on longevity or blendability but I’m totally flagging them up as something to look out for, the colours on display were quite beautiful.

The complete shade range will include:

♦ Plum
♦ Amethyst
♦ Steel
♦ Sapphire
♦ Smoke
♦ Jungle
♦ Khaki
♦ Cocoa

They’ll retail at £20.50 a piece and can be used alone, over primer or under shadow to create a host of versatile looks.

Will you be interested in checking these out next month?

It’s been a while since I checked out the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Cremes* (we’re gonna need to abbreviate that from here on in).  I’ll have to admit not noticing that they’d been sneakily replacing the shades with a whole bunch of new gorgeousness.  That said, I’ve long been a fan of the formula… one of the most long-wearing formulas I own.  Infact, the only ones I’ve found to rival them (and I’ve used a lot) are the new Bare Escentuals Primer Shadows.

If you want to see my previous post featuring some long-discontinued Lauder shades, you can have a read back through the archives here.

Six current shades that are distinctly more wearable for neutral-loving beauty fans than the previous incarnations… same great formula.  Let’s have a swatch fest.

And one by one…

In between playing with my Wet n’ Wild palettes, it’s these that I’ve been reaching for on a daily basis.  Today, I’m sporting Pink Pearl on the lid (applied with my fingers) and Mochachino brushed through the crease (applied with my Paula Dorf Sheer Crease brush).

Verdict:

The new shades from Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Shadow Creme lineup are a lazy girl’s dream.  No primer, a brush if you can be bothered and a formula that blends itself.

My top pick from the new shades would be Mochachino, not the most visually exciting but the true workhorse of the bunch.  The slightly damp squib?  Gold Dust lacks the magic the others posess.  It doesn’t apply as smoothly and is probably better suited for layering over a dark shade for the sparkle factor.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Cremes are priced at £16.50 each and available online and on counter.

Have you dabbled in Estee Lauder’s cream eyeshadow range?

* disclosure: press samples

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* PR Sample

And so my MUFE Aqua Cream collection grows because I wasn’t able to help myself when I saw a swatch of Aqua Cream #19 and couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks afterward!

MUFE Aqua Cream in #19 is a blue-toned purple with an almost electric quality.  Like most Aqua Creams, it can be a bit tough to blend and I’d recommend applying it more as a base than an independent eyeshadow.  Unless you got the skillz of course.  And if you have?  Come show me how to do it!

Look, ain’t she purdy?

Lasting power is more than adequate on my lids, without any primers I get around 7/8hrs before creasing… the more heavy handed I am with it, the faster the product heads for my creases.

I particularly enjoy pairing this one up with NARS Ashes to Ashes eyeshadow, creating a KILLER violet-taupe from the combo.

MUFE Aqua Creams are available to buy online from Guru Makeup Emporium and PAM priced ar around £16.75

Do you own any MUFE Aqua Creams?

I received a few bits and pieces from Screenface before Christmas and have been putting them to the test.

I love the idea of using ‘professional’ makeup in my day to day life.  It’s no secret that us consumers pay through the nose for pretty packaging and the immense marketing budgets of the high street brands.  So I’m always curious about whether going for professional products really will give more bang for our buck!

Let’s start with the Screenface Shadow Magnet Eye Primers…

The Screenface Shadow Magnet Eye Primers (£8.95) come in two shades, light (left) and natural (right).  They’re both hard-textured with less slip than the likes of UDPP.  The shades can be mixed to create a good neutralizing base (should your eyelids need it) and they promise to deliver true colour and long lasting eyeshadow results.

I’d agree on the true colour… but long-lasting?  Not as much as the other eye primers in my collection.  I did a side-by-side comparison with UDPP and the Shadow Magnets were beaten by a good few hours.  I was surprised that these didn’t deliver in the way I’d anticipated from a pro-brand.

Moving swiftly on…

Screenface Cremewear Blush (£9.95) – Small, but perfectly formed.  These 2.8g cream blushes glide on effortlessly with a good deal of slip, making blending a dream.  The shades are sheer and glowy with a hint of sparkle (just a hint mind)… I couldn’t be more sold on these and am finding it very hard to pick fault with them.

L-R: Crush, Afterglow

They last and last without sliding down my cheeks or transferring… the colour payoff is great, yet they remain buildable for the heavy-handed among us.  They remind me a little of the new Urban Decay cream blushes (due out soon)… but I prefer these.

Just buy one.  Or three.

Lastly, Screenface Creme Shadow (£12.95) – Available in 6 shades, above is Moss… which looks more like an Antique Gold to me, strange considering they do a shade called Antique Gold!  However, 7g gives you a hefty amount of product for your money.  Deeply pigmented and spreads like a dream.  Longevity isn’t that amazing on this if worn on it’s own but it does make a lovely base for intensifying powder shadows.

I usually apply this with my finger for a sheer wash of colour and achieve around 5 hours wear before it disappears upward into the crease of my eye socket.  It blends beautifully without setting too quickly and is a quick-fix for time-pressed mornings!

If you find yourself in Covent Garden, I recommend taking a look around the Screenface Store on Monmouth Street.  It’s a charming shop and I defy you to walk out empty-handed!

…in Burnished Copper.

So pretty… so, so very pretty.

I’ll admit that Laura Mercier is a brand that I’ve never gotten into before now.  I’m always drawn to the sleek packaging and impeccably made up SAs but the line confuses me a little.  It’s all those powders I think… I once asked about the Secret Brightening Powder and left the counter with the impression that I needed to buy about 7 other products before the Secret Brightening Powder would be able to do it’s intended task.

So now, for the sake of my tiny brain… I ignore that whole “secret” part of the counter whenever I stop by for a look.  I’m probably missing out on something great… but don’t tell me that.

So anyway, I hadn’t even noticed these cute little tubes before… but last time I was browsing my eyes alighted on them straightaway!

I already have a particular fondness for creme eyeshadow formulations and was eager to swatch them all.  I was terribly torn between this one (Burnished Copper) and Alloy (Cool Taupe).  I went with Burnished Copper in the end because I knew it would really pull the green in my eyes to the forefront and just seemed more Christmassy (only 10 weeks away – don’t hate me).

You can either squeeze a small amount of product onto your finger tip and apply like that for a sheerer finish or use a brush to build up the colour intensity.  I would recommend using a primer underneath if you have oily lids… longevity lies somewhere between NARS cream shadows (i.e. none) and Benefit’s Creaseless Creams (good).  With a primer, they last a whole lot longer on me.

Ain’t it purdy though?  Metallic but more of a metallic sheen than robot wars.  At £18 each, they ain’t much of a bargain… but I am such a sucker for beautiful shades.

Have you tried the Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colours?

Now, I’m not usually into brand bashing but how about an original idea TheBalm?

A).  Batter Up is a stupid name.

B). Adding the words Creaseless Cream to the title? Oh HAI Benefit…

C). I get that you’re a quirky brand from San Francisco too already…

D). You could have redeemed yourselves by leapfrogging Benefit and going all out on the colour shades…

did you?  DID YOU?

No.

No, you didn’t.

Lame.

Having um said that, I think I’ll still probably try one at some point…. yano, just to satisfy my cream eyeshadow addiction.  Yeah, I’m lame too.

Though… perhaps not if the retail price of £18 (they’re $18 in the US) is to be believed… £18?!  For a TheBalm *insert stupid name* Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow that may or may not be as good as a £14 Benefit Creaseless Cream?  On yer bike.

Whilst dodging the weekly shop by loitering down the health and beauty aisles, I thought it might be high time to give the Barbara Daly range another once over after being so impressed by the nail polishes.

I was glad I did, because my eyes alighted on these:

Barbara Daly Easy-on-the-Eye Eye Shadow Pens!

I have to draw the comparison to the Ellis Faas eye pens don’t I?  I mean, c’mon… how could I not?

With the Barbara Daly eye shadow pens costing £5.62 in Tesco vs. Ellis Faas’s £22 only stocked at Liberty offering – there’s no prizes for guessing which is gonna win the price/accessibility war but let’s take a look at some of the colours and application shall we?

Let’s face it… these budget versions from Barbara Daly are never gonna win the “which is sexier” battle.  Take a look at the wonderful Witoxicity for an indepth view at the new Ellis Faas Eye Lights pens if you’re unfamiliar with the eyeshadow pen concept.

Pulling off the lid reveals a nylon brush…. pliable and soft with plenty of give (perhaps a little too much give).  The goal is to draw the creme eyeshadow into the chamber and down the middle of the brush head until it emerges onto the tip of the brush.  To do this, you twist the opposite end of the pen which clicks as it rotates and forces the creme up through the bristles… like so…

Out of the four products that I put to the test, each dispensed product accurately and smoothly.  None of this sudden gushing of eyeshadow that the Ellis Faas pens have been known to do.

There’s some beautiful shades in the range, all very wearable both as shadows or eye liners.  I think I saw another shade while I was on holiday too…. I may have imagined it though, a neutral called Hazel?  Anyway… I think you’ll agree, these look pretty pigmented and lovely no?

The cremes glide on (I use the brush pen to apply directly to the eyelid) and blend with my little finger or a separate brush.  Don’t even bother trying to blend these with the built-in brush… it’s only good for creating hard lines, you’ll be turning the air blue before you know it!

Here’s a quick FOTD with Otter as the main focus.  A great shade for bringing out any green lurking in your eyes!  I’m also currently addicted to wearing Airforce as a thick eyeliner (slightly blended along the edge with a smudger brush).

Wear is pretty decent, it sets fully within a couple of minutes and lasts without creasing for about 5 hours when worn with no base.  I know they’re not hugely sexy… I mean, for god’s sake – they have the words “make up” printed on them, but they’ve impressed me!

Check them out next time you’re in Tesco!

Have you tried the Barbara Daly Easy-on-the-Eye pens before?  Which shades are you liking the look of?