A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I never get round to doing “products of the month” posts because there’s inevitably something else that I wanna blog about when the ‘critical’ time is approaching.

I do love reading other people’s picks though so instead of giving up on these type of posts completely I think I’ll just throw random ones out there when the mood takes me instead.  Who needs time restraints anyway?

1.  Gielly Green Argan Rescue Oil (£19.50)

This has given my dry, overprocessed hair such a lift these last few weeks.  I don’t know how it compares to the likes of Moroccan Oil which I haven’t tried yet but the Gielly Green Argan Rescue add shine, softness and smooth ends without being too heavy on my fine (but lots of it!) hair.

You can buy the Gielly Green Argan Rescue Oil here.

2.  Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel (£19.40)

I received a sample size of this tucked into my last Debenhams order and “uh oh”, ‘cos it’s on the repurchase list!

I’ve been trying to work out a morning skincare routine that suits my combo/dry skin and this has become my morning cleanser of choice.  Normally, I use a ‘cleansing gel’ to remove my makeup but this one is so light that a pea-sized amount cleanses my bare face beautifully.

It has a delicious ‘wake me up’ grapefruit scent and is the only cleansing gel/oil/balm type product I’ve used that makes me feel clean without doing a double cleanse.  Add to that the fact that it’s one of the least drying cleansers I’ve discovered and I’m delighted to start the day with this gem!

Now, I’ve said that… watch me hate it once I purchase the full size.  It’s always the way right?

You can buy the Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel here.

3.  Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum 20ml (£34.00) *

Now available in a travel-friendly 20ml bottle, Balenciaga Paris is simply exquisite.  I’m not sure how it manages to capture so much in one small bottle.

It opens with a crisp, floral freshness that announces itself with all the fervour that BIG openings bring before mellowing into something quite creamy yet grown-up.

It seems to capture both a lightness and a depth that feels more sensual, darker… naughtier!

My only gripe is that it needs a top-up every 3 hours or so as the fragrance sadly doesn’t last the day… but I guess that’s the benefit of a 20ml bottle!

You can buy Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum 20ml here.

4.  Bliss Blood Orange & White Pepper Hand Cream (part of a duo set that cost £8.00)

Beautifully citrusy with a hint of spice, this hand cream is light, fast-absorbing and nourishing.  The scent lingers for a short while and will keep you sniffing your hands until it fades!  It’s a great daytime moisturiser that sadly only comes in a 30ml tube.  I think it may be limited edition too…

Oh well, as much as I love it – I guess I’ll have to find something else to replace it.

You can buy Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Hand Cream here. (on offer!)

5.  Vicks First Defence (£7.14)

I know this is a bit of a weird one… but I’ve used it twice now at the onset of a cold.  As soon as I get that “drowning feeling” in the back of my throat, I pull this out and use as often as the directions allow me.  Whilst it hasn’t killed or cured the ensuing snuffles, it’s made a real difference to it’s severity.

The last two times I’ve used it, my cold hasn’t progressed into full-blown face ache/streaming nose type horrors as it normally would.  I’ve been able to get on with day-to-day life with a couple of paracetamol and this nasal spray nearby quite happily!

You can buy Vicks First Defence here.

6.  Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist (£12.95) *

Since my run in with the Prai o2 Infusion I reviewed yesterday, my skin has been in dire need of TLC and the Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist has provided this well.  Once made up in the mornings, I obviously can’t moisturise with normal creams and this refreshing spray gives my skin a hydration boost with a couple of squirts throughout the day.

It’s alcohol-free and at 60ml is handbag-friendly.

You can buy Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist here. (Guthy Renker sells products through a ‘membership’ scheme and you may need to cancel your membership if you don’t want automatic product topups every 90 days)

7.  Melvita Eye Contour Gel (£18.00) *

Organic brand Melvita failed to impress me first time round… I tried a particularly stinky oil that I just couldn’t bring myself to use because of it’s… um… aroma.  However, the Melvita Eye Contour Gel is a delight!

Incredibly lightweight and fast-absorbing, I’ve finally found an eye cream that I’m happy to wear under my makeup.  I’ve noticed a decrease in puffiness since incorporating this into my routine… not sure it does much for fine lines or dark circles but it feels wonderfully refreshing and lifting for bleary morning peepers!

You can buy Melvita Eye Contour Gel here.

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What are you currently using and loving?

* press sample

There’s only three.

Do you like my artistry?  You better hope I get a new camera soon, I’m starting to get into it…

There were more things that I liked, but actually… I couldn’t be arsed to draw them.

1. Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate (£37)

I’ve avoided using this sample all Summer, thinking that it would be too rich for my skin in the warm weather.  Curiosity (and impatience) got the better of me and I’ve been using it for the last 3 weeks.  Since then?  My skin has COMPLETELY evened out in terms of texture.  The dry patches around my hairline and eyebrows where foundation used to cling are gone.   Spread thinly and evenly over my face, the Superskin Concentrate hasn’t made my oily bits any more oily either!

Application is a joy, it feels like a proper treatment.  One pump, warmed between my fingers and then I pretend I know what I’m doing with that whole facial massage thing.  Lots of sweeping, exaggerated gestures and wrist flicks.  At £37 for 28ml, it’s not cheap… but judging by my usage so far… I’m thinking a bottle will last me nearly 3 months, which puts things into perspective a little.

Also, I should mention the smell…. the overpowering aroma of rosehip won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.  I don’t mind it… it serves to remind me how herbal-ly and botanic it all is.  I’m gonna have to say it… this has overtaken the Instant Boost Skin Tonic/Superskin Moisturiser… Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate is now my favourite product from the brand.

You can purchase Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate online or instore.

2. Illamasqua Loose Powder in LP005 (£19)

LondonMakeupGirl can take the blame for this one.  I’m not sure if that’s justified but I think I got the recommendation from her.  Whatever, she can shoulder it.

I bought this with some trepidation.  It’s pink.  Bright pink.

I thought it might make me look like a candyfloss or Barabara Cartland’s impossibly younger sister.  In reality it’s a wonderfully subtle powder that practically melts into my skin.  It gives a soft-focus effect and by some strange witchcraft, brightens my complexion.

I *wish* I could pin down exactly what it is that this powder is doing to make me look healthier.  That’s the best way to describe it… it’s not illuminating, it doesn’t give me any kind of ‘glow’.  It just makes me look brighter and fresher.  Definite repurchase.

Be aware though, I wouldn’t describe this as mattifying… it doesn’t do a whole lot to keep oilies at bay, though obviously on initial application, it dispenses with any shine.

Illamasqua’s Loose Powder in LP005 can be purchased online, in their brand spanking new store (open today!) or from various concession stands.  Ooh also on BeautyBay, ASOS… cor, the list goes on!

3. E.L.F. Studio Single Eyeshadow in Raspberry Truffle (£3.50)

Bargain, bargain, bargain.  Seriously, E.L.F. has to be one of the few bargain brands with the capacity to get me all snooty about liking their stuff.

I feel funny about putting their products in the same drawer as my high end stuff (yeah, stupid I know) but the simple fact is that my love for some of their products FAR outweighs this snootiness.  So in it goes.

Raspberry Truffle is an intense chocolate brown with lashings of fiery copper sparkle.  Not chunky sparkle either… just smooth, velvety, light-catching goodness.  I adore this shade, it couldn’t be more perfect for an Autumnal smoky eye.

It definitely needs a bit of help to last longer than 20 minutes without disappearing on your eyelid, but that’s where our primers come in to their own isn’t it?

It’s hard to write about this without showing a swatch… but well… I’m not THAT talented.  You’ll have to take my word for it.  At £3.50… you NEED this in your life.

E.L.F. Studio Single Eyeshadow in Raspberry Truffle is available to buy online.

…totally random, unorganised and perhaps just a touch lame.

But I’m having a good makeup week.  Does anyone else go through periods of delight in discovering and more importantly re-discovering fabulous products?

Here’s my fabulous products of the week:

1. Smashbox Muse Palette – just the prettiest selection of soft, wearable shades housed in a (sturdy) cardboard casing.  I’ll do a proper review on the palette next week ‘cos I’ve spotted it on sale and a few swatches may be useful.

2. Max Factor Second Skin Foundation – Wonderful if you’ve got skin that doesn’t need too much concealing.  This foundation seems to give me an overall more even appearance without blanking out my natural skin texture.  It feels light and fluid for the summer, but lasts a really decent length of time for a high street foundation.  Big thumbs up this week!

3. NARS Crazed – I can’t believe I had this in my blog sale the other week.  Let me just say, it won’t ever be going in another.  I’ve FINALLY worked out how to apply it with a light enough hand to stop short of looking like Aunt Sally.  It’s taken me a year, but I’ve done it!  A lovely rosey flush is now mine.

4. Max Factor Lash Extension Effect – I’ve already reviewed this in the last few days, so I won’t go into detail… but this is making it into daily use for me.

5. Une Cosmetics Multipurpose Brush – I’ve said it before… it’s scratchy… but it’s made me fall in love with my NARS Crazed blush, and for that… I’ll be forever grateful.  I simply touch the flat surface to the blush pan… that’s it, no tricks nothing… it just picks up the perfect amount of colour.

6. Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in Natural – It looks scary orange in the tube, but blends away to a lovely nude shimmer.  I’ve been wearing this all over my face under my foundation and it gives me a nice glow.  To be honest, in this weather… I don’t really need any kind of glow product.  But regardless, I’ve rediscovered it in my stash and it’s staying in the fabulosity list!

7. MAC Fun & Games – From the discontinued Hello Kitty collection, MAC Fun & Games is a beautiful peach blush that’s sheer enough for my cool-toned skin to wear.  Shimmery without being too glittery, it’s a nuder alternative to rosey pink cheeks.

8. Bourjois Khol & Contour Eye Pencil in Brun Design – Soft and deeply pigmented, I’ve been blending this along my lower lashline to give my lashes some extra definition.  Lasting power is great (though kinda crummy on the waterline) it’s real strength lies in it’s soft smudginess.  Hate a pencil that drags, don’t you?

9. Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate – Last but not least, I’ve been switching out my evening moisturiser a couple of times a week for this lovely oil and I’m noticing that my dry patches are softening up nicely.  I hate nothing more than dry flakies that foundation just loves to hunt down and accentuate.  Not 100% sure if this is the reason or if the humidity is playing a part… either way, I’m loving the smell and appreciating the feeling that a little facial massage brings during application.

…catchy title I know.  Don’t steal it.

Anyway, here’s some stuffs that have been turning the head of this hardened beauty addict recently.  Are they any good?  Dunno, but I’m gonna make it my business to find out!

“No you’re not.” <– (Mr. Lipglossiping woz ‘ere)

1). Trish McEvoy Correct and brighten Loose Mineral Powder SPF 15 – £28

Seeing as I’m having lasery type treatment at the moment, I couldn’t fail but have my curiosity piqued by a product whose/who’s (help me grammar nazis!) description begins:

Originally designed to soothe and neutralize redness post laser treatments at the Dr. Ronald Sherman/Trish McEvoy Skin Care Centre, devotees begged to take home Trish’s wonder powder because of how remarkably bright and even-toned it rendered the overall look of their skin…. Blah, blah, blah whatever… you had me at even-toned.

2). Elemis Bath and Shower Treats – £27

Not only are Elemis super-sizing their Pro Collagen Marine Cream this month, but I found this mega multi-use pairing on the website.  A total 600ml of product would see me through to Christmas!

3). BI MAT CAY Holistic Balms – £24

Inspired by ancient Vietnamese beauty recipes, but made in France and new at Space NK, this little set of beautifully-packaged balms promise to fulfill life’s needs for on-the-go calming and healing.  The set includes: Miracle Balm, Skin Balm, Hand Balm and Lip Balm.

I like the idea of the set presented in a little coffret… it would make a lovely gift without breaking the bank.

4.). Laura Mercier Luster Eye Colour in Marina – £18

From the new Sun Drenched collection, this beautiful blue is my pick of the bunch.  I swatched it the other day and it’s the perfect mid-toned summery shade that would work beautifully as an accent to a neutral eye.  Lemming.

5). Elysambre Long Lash Natural Mascara – £12.99 + £4.99 for the case

I’ll be honest, it’s the case that’s pulling me in rather than the mascara.  The copper casing can be refilled with the mascara units which are sold seperately at a cost of £12.99 each.  What a fabulous idea no?

6).  The Body Shop Banana Shampoo – £2.79 (on offer)

What is it with The Body Shop atm?  I can’t go on the website without buying something, anything!  They’re spoiling us with discounts and I’m struggling to resist stocking up on essentials (and luxuries!) each time I log on.  The Banana Shampoo from yesteryear is the only one from the “bring it back” range I’ve yet to try… better fix that sharpish!

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What’s on your radar this week?

EVERYTHING!

But I can’t have it all…. so here’s a few key things that are currently making me go a bit weak at the knees:

Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle

It’s gonna make me look *just* like Vanessa Paradis. I know it. 😉

Figs & Rouge Rambling Rose Shower Wash

I am such a sucker for a prettily packaged product!

MUFE HD Blush in #5 Warm Pink.

Sephora needs to come back to the UK, right NOW!

Sephora Professionnel Mineral Powder Brush #45

Sephora, bloody Sephora – day trip to France anyone?

Beaute Weightless Lip Creme in Trace

I know, “baaahhhh” right? Don’t judge me!

Weleda Wild Rose Facial Toner

I’m really into my toners at the moment, find a good non-drying toner and it’s a fabulous partner to a cleansing oil routine.  I dunno if this is a good non-drying one… but I like Weleda and I like rose… so it’s on the list.

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What are you lusting after this week?

I’m a few days late with this (should be an end of month post) – but here’s what I’ve been loving in September.

Shampoo: Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo
Conditioner: Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner
Styling products: Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum
Shower Gel: Soap & Glory Clean on Me (yes, still – this stuff lasts and lasts!)
Body moisturiser: None – but I need to buy some
Deodorant: Vaseline Aloe Fresh Anti-Perspirant (same as last month)
Fake Tan: None
Cleanser: SKII Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil followed with Virgin Vie Fresh Face Cleansing Foam
Exfoliator: Queen Helene Mint Julep Natural Facial Scrub & Garnier Body Tonic Sugar Scrub (same)
Primer: L’oreal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer (Not for much longer!)
Foundation brush: Pout Airbrush
Concealer: Grimas Camouflage Concealer
Powder: Art Deco Silk Touch Loose Powder
Blusher: The Body Shop Blush Trio in Cool Dusk
Bronzer: Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Rumour makes a great contour colour for me
Highlighter: Prescriptives, The Illuminator
Eyeshadow base: Art Deco Eye Shadow Base
Eyeshadows: Kryolan Shades Palette in Santiago
Eyeliner: Gosh Velvet Touch on the lower waterline, Infinity Liners on the upper lids
Curler: None
Mascara: Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express
Lipstick: MAC Hue
Lipgloss: MAC Lipglass Pas de Deux
Nail Colour: Various!

I tag anyone who fancies an end of month recap.  If you do it, link me up!

Shamelessly stealing this tag for a bit of filler whilst I’m on my hols!

Shampoo: Dove Colour Care for Dark Coloured Hair
Conditioner: Dove Colour Care for Dark Coloured Hair
Styling products: Fudge Erekt and Tresemme Heat Defence Spray
Shower Gel: Soap & Glory Clean on Me
Body moisturiser: Body Shop Coconut Body Butter – yes I smell good!
Deodorant: Vaseline Aloe Fresh Anti-Perspirant
Fake Tan: None
Cleanser: Shiseido Perfect Oil followed with DHC Mild Soap
Exfoliator: Queen Helene Mint Julep Natural Facial Scrub & Garnier Body Tonic Sugar Scrub
Primer: L’oreal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer
Foundation brush: Pout Airbrush
Concealer: Art Deco Camouflage Cream
Powder: Art Deco Silk Touch Loose Powder
Blusher: Illamasqua Cream Blush in Sob
Bronzer: Barry M Natural Dazzle
Highlighter: Prescriptives, The Illuminator
Eyeshadow base: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eyeshadows: The Body Shop Eye Colour Mattes 05 & 10
Eyeliner: Gosh Velvet Touch on the lower waterline, Shu Uemura Painting Liner in Brown on the upper lashline
Curler: None
Mascara: Rimmel Sexy Curves
Lipstick: Revlon Matte in Pink Pout
Lipgloss: Barry M Lip Gloss Wand in Toffee
Nail Colour: Nails Inc. Mayfair Mews

I tag anyone else who has yet to do this (there can’t be that many of you still about!)