A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

You only need the quickest of peeks at the iconic flash of yellow below to see where the latest in beauty boxes is coming from…

Image courtesy of vexinthecity

Yes, iconic store Selfridges are releasing a one-off beauty box (filled to the brim with niche and luxury brands for us to sample) in celebration of the launch of their new Beauty Workshop.

The box costs £15 to buy but contains items worth that value many, many times over.

I can’t divulge the contents, so instead you’ll have to head over to my good friend Vexinthecity for that grand reveal.

The main thing to remember about the Selfridge’s Beauty Box is that numbers will be extremely limited and are likely to sell out faster than a certain Mr. Bolt could do a lap of the sportswear department.

Will you be buying the Selfridges Beauty Box? If so, you’ll need to sign up here – and be quick about it!

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?

We all like to flap our gums about beauty, some of us more than others *cough* and for once, someone is interested in what we have to say!

The Instyle team are descending upon the Selfridges Beauty Hall today to invite customers to share their best beauty tips and advice for collation and inclusion in a special September issue!

If you can’t make it to the Oxford Street store today, head on over to the facebook page that’s been set up for the task and leave your pearls of wisdom on the wall (in lipstick of course!)

You all know that I’m a touch brow-obsessed, so here’s my advice (that I wish I’d given to my younger self!)

Never underestimate the impact that well-shaped eyebrows have on your appearance. If unsure, seek professional advice from your salon and try to resist the urge to overpluck!

If you have a snippet to share, come back and let me know which gem is yours in the comments!

If you find yourselves in Selfridges, Oxford Street over the next 7 days, be sure to check out the latest installation that’s causing a bit of a stir…

Step inside a giant 5.5 metre high Chanel fragrance bottle to view behind-the-scenes footage from the new Chanel Coco Mademoiselle advert featuring Keira Knightley.

In addition to watching the short film, visitors also have the opportunity to answer questions about Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and receive a luxurious souvenir for every correct answer!

And if that isn’t enough to get your heart racing, don’t forget to gaze in wonderment at the limited edition, super-sized 200ml bottles of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDP that are exclusively available instore.

Chanel popcorn anyone?

The Art Deco signature Paloma styling on the packaging is doing it for me alone.  But throw in bejewelled lashes (that in fairness, I would probably only ever gaze upon), a red lipstick, black liner and a smoky eye set?  I’m liking the look of the collection very much indeed!

The two limited edition items from the collection are unsurprisingly, the palette and the eyelashes.  The lipstick and liner can be found in Shu Uemura’s current core collection (albeit in different packaging).

~ Paloma for Shu Uemura limited edition Swarovski encrusted false eyelashes – £55 (ouch)
~ Rouge Unlimited lipstick in 190 – £19.50
~ Black Gel Eyeliner – £19.50
~ Limited Edition Paloma Faith make up palette – £57

Paloma says… “I’m inspired by the queens of tragedy – Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Judy Garland.   Then throw a bit of Nick Cave, Etta James and PJ Harvey into the mix, add all my influences from avant garde cinema and you start to come close. My visual style is fancy dress as I never grew out of dressing up boxes! My early performances were David Lynch meets William Blake at the circus. Welcome to my world….”

The collection is available throughout February, exclusive to Selfridges, London.

When I went to London a few weeks ago, I was on a mission.  I wanted to buy something that I couldn’t get from any of my local stores and I wanted it to be something from a brand that I wasn’t hugely familliar with.

I asked on Twitter and received a suggestion for the Shiseido Accentuating Color Sticks…. cream blushes?  I was all over it.  Like an embarrassing rash.

I’m a sucker for cream blushes, particularly when they’re in stick form like this… the only problem that lay ahead of me now was shade selection.

Three shades had caught my eye and I was truly torn.

Peach Flush, Rosy Flush and Champagne Flush.

Peach Flush looked quite… well… peachy to my eye and I’m always a little fearful of anything warm-toned but I know that when I get the shade right…. peach can really brighten up my complexion and play down the redness in my cheeks.

Rosy Flush was the one I was drawn to naturally… but my only caveat was that it was really quite bright… almost dolly pink rather than a true rose colour.  Less natural looking, but lovely for the Winter nonetheless.

Lastly, Champagne Flush… one of those beautiful shimmering highlighter shades that give that “lit from within” look.  Just a hint of pink pearl…. very lovely, but did I want another highlighter?

I went with Rosy Flush.  I handed over my card, paid my monies and went on my way not entirely sure I’d made the right decision.  Infact, I got as far as the Clinique counter and changed my mind.

Sheepishly, I went back and asked if I could change for a different shade and the counter staff couldn’t have been more accommodating… even going so far as to not treat me like a nuisance… I KNOW!  In SELFRIDGES?  Ah. Mazing.

Wanna know which one I got?

Peach Flush!  Aren’t I brave?

And I love it…

I’m so pleased I changed my mind and went for the less safe option.  The Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick is a sheer cream to powder formula that doesn’t look at all greasyand I find it easier to blend than the NARS multiples (which although I love, I find a bit… tough going?).

Peach Flush really does give me a naturally warm flush and wears beautifully under NARS Orgasm and Deep Throat for a slightly bolder look.  It has a very subtle shimmer that isn’t too apparent once on the cheeks.

I take a little colour from the stick onto my finger tips and apply that way…. although tempting, I wouldn’t recommend applying straight from the tube.  Stripe-o-rama.

The only downside to the Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick is in it’s lasting power… I get about 4 hours wear from it before it disappears.  If I need it to last all day, then I wear it underneath a complementing powder blush.

Of course, now that I’ve bought Peach Flush… I’m desperate to get my hands on Rosy and Champagne too.

Shiseido Accentuating Color Sticks are available from counters nationwide priced at £26 each.

…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

.

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!

The one saving grace that enables me to keep my spends in check at the Le Metier counter is the fact that it’s a little tucked away at Liberty.

Um… not anymore.

Now available at Selfridges, Le Metier de Beaute is bringing it to the big time.

Anyone else up for walking through Selfies beauty hall with our eyes closed from now on?  Infact… perhaps that’s a technique I could well do with adopting ANYWAY.

The Telegraph reports a bit of a falling out between top department store Selfridges and Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.

So severe is the reported dispute, that as from next Spring… the entire D&G line will be unavailable instores.  It is unconfirmed which brand made the decision to step away from the partnership.

The two companies had previously enjoyed a good relationship, even up to the point where D&G used Selfridges as the venue for the launch of their first make up collection last year.  The falling out is reported to be over a proposed change to the lines’ in-store positions.

Unless a reconciliation takes place, (and sooner rather than later!) Selfies fans had better make the most of the new Autumn ad campaign featuring (as always) the tirelessly beautiful Scarlett Johansson before looking to Harrods for their future D&G makeup fix.  Look at those vampy lips!  Are we in for another splurge of Gothic lips this Winter?

It’s been quite a year for luxury lipsticks!

Only just recovering from the Chanel Rouge Cocos and the Tom Ford purse breakers, we’re now faced with the new collection on the block… and it’s a biggie!

Rouge Dior Haute Couleur Voluptuous Care (£22) is a new collection of 32 (yes, 32!) mouth-watering shades.  Each shade has been inspired by (and named after) a vintage Dior Haute Couture dress.  Check out those two beauties in the background!

The range has been grouped into three colour families to make navigating through the line a little easier.  Red to Coral, Pink to Lilac and Beige to Brown, there’s a shade to suit every taste and skintone (if not budget!).

The Rouge Dior Haute Couleur Voluptuous Care collection also promises to plump your lips both in the short and long term using some fancy schmancy hyaluronic technology.  I can’t wait to see the rest of the line up, though I’m already totally drawn to the nude there *swoon*.

If you want to get your hands on one (or seven) of these babies, you need to take your lipstick-loving selves to Selfridges who hold the worldwide exclusive on the range.  Available from yesterday (28th July), these are sure to be hugely in demand throughout August!