A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Next up doing their bit for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is…

What is it?
Luxury natural beauty line Victoria Moore are donating from sales of their Tropical Collection Gentle Body Wash and Tropical Collection Hydrating Body Cream.  With a fragrance blend of frankincense, jasmine and vanilla – these exotic oil based body products contain no SLS, parabens or mineral oils.

Price
Tropical Collection Gentle Body Wash – £12

Tropical Collection Hydrating Body Cream – £15

Donation
10% from all web-site sales of the above two products to go to the Pink Ribbon Foundation

Availability
Online at Victoria-Moore.eu

I’m digging out my Autumn stuff… move over Summer, bored of you now!

I’ve bought my first pair of ankle boots for the season and I’m concentrating on the good things about the cooler weather.

Surely one of the loveliest is that whole Lorna Doone windswept thing… just in from the cold, pink-flushed cheeks, bitten lips and wild (but still very much under control) hair.

Here’s 5 Lip Plumpers to help you achieve seriously sexy lips this Autumn!

1. Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Polish in Kanani – £17

They Say: Pout-perfecting Buxom naturally creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips.  Infused with 100% pure bareMinerals, it gives a luminous shine with no sticky or tacky feeling. Tingly, cooling sensation reminds you that lips are getting an immediate increase in fullness.

Available online and at counters nationwide.

2. Plump & Shine – £24.95

They Say: Plump & Shine is a multi-functional new lip gloss that instantly and visibly plumps up the lips for a fuller, more sensual and defined pout while coating them with a moisturising liquid shine.

Call 0844 243 9243 for stockist details and mail order

3. Urban Decay Big Fatty Lip Plumper -£12.00

They Say: Urban Decay plumping lip gloss with a gold sheen. Increases lip size for up to a 20% fuller pout.  Starts after 10 minutes & lasts for up to three hours!

Available online at Boots or instore.

4. DuWop Lip Plumping Paste – £15.00

They Say: From the makers of the Original Lip Venom, Plumping Paste is a treatment masque for the lips that conditions, exfoliates, and plumps simultaneously.

Combined with the classic Venom formula, Plumping Paste leaves the lips supple, full and hydrated- the perfect canvas for lipstick or gloss.

Available online at Simple Beauty

5. YSL Top Secrets Re-plumping Lip Concentrate & Contour Shaper – £20

They Say: A targeted treatment for lip and the lip contour, inspired by the beauty tips of professionals.  A volumising concentrate to provide a wonder-full lip result, for smooth, plump, perfectly redefined lips and a glamorous smile.

Available online at Debenhams or on counters nationwide

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What are your favourite lip plumpers and do you prefer the treatment or gloss type?

Until next year, Decleor’s new Aroma Cleanse is a QVC exclusive and claims to leave your skin feeling fresh, cleansed and hydrated.

I’ve been putting a PR sample to the test over the last month…

You only need to use a tiny amount and the pump action nozzle is quite frustrating when judging how hard to de-press in order to dispense a small amount.  Answer, about a 1/3 of the way… and this isn’t always possible!

The product does indeed foam up quickly and spreads smoothly over the skin… it smells pleasant and washes away leaving my skin feeling squeaky clean.  A little too squeaky clean for my normal/dry complexion.

I struggle with this cleanser… after use I develop an immediate and uncomfortable tightness that demands moisture.  After a few days… I notice dry patches along the tops of my cheekbones that extend into the undereye area.  This is simply too stripping for my skin.

I also take issue at the cleanser’s claims that it can be used to remove eye makeup.  I have tried it twice and I wouldn’t wish a third attempt on my worst enemy.  If even a small amount of the Decleor Aroma Cleanse enters my eye… the pain leaves me unable to open my eye properly without it streaming until it passes around 10 minutes later.  I don’t even have sensitive eyes!

I’ll be interested to discover how folks with oilier skins fare with the Aroma Cleanse… it certainly leaves your face feeling clean!

Priced at £24.56, I’m disappointed by this cleanser.  Generally a fan of Decleor (I love their night balms!), this hasn’t lived up to the high expectations I had for it.

… or to give it’s full title – Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector!

Phew!

Brand new from Clinique, this is sure to be a top seller this Autumn/Winter… especially with Christmas round the corner.  Promising to combat both wrinkles and UV damage, could this be the all-in-one solution that so many desire?

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Clinique introduces NEW Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector, a de-ageing serum uniquely formulated to work day and night to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and repair and help prevent UV damage with results remarkably close to a dermatological laser treatment.  Use just three drops of NEW Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector twice a day and in 12 weeks, achieve 63% of the visible wrinkle reducing power of a laser.

Like three serums in one, delivering multiple benefits leading to visible wrinkle reducing results of a laser. Skin might not forget, but it can now help forgive the visible effects of sun, stress and pollution.

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I’ve been sent one for review consideration.  I’ve seen some pretty impressive results with it on other blogs, but in all honesty… I don’t think a review from me would do this much justice.

At 29, I don’t have wrinkles or even many fine lines… wait, let’s interject a little more honesty in that statement.  At 29 and with a penchant for cream cakes… I don’t have wrinkles or even many fine lines.  It’s the cakes, not the genetics.

I’ve also never been one to accept and review products “just ‘cos I can”, so I’d like to offer this up to one of my lovely readers to trial thoroughly and review honestly for my readers.

There are a few ‘stipulations’ though.

* You must be happy to provide before and after photos (close ups are fine if you’d rather remain anonymous!)

* You must be aged over 35

* Your trial period is 12 weeks with one reader update (no photos required) around the 6 week mark and a reader conclusion (with photos) once the trial period is over.

If you fit the above criteria and fancy giving this a go, please leave me a comment below and I’ll choose someone suitable next week.

Sound good?

If you simply can’t wait to find out what our guest reviewer thinks… then, Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector will be available at all Clinique counters nationwide from 10th September 2010 priced at £35.00/€48.00

Am I talking about the new Chanel must-have?  Perhaps a little something-something from La Prairie?

NO!

It’s none ofther than Lady Lamb herself, FINALLY making that long journey from Down Under (check out those lips and lashes!)

Basically… what I’m saying is… the time has come!

You can now pre-order your Lanolips online from VictoriaHealth!

If you don’t know what the hell I’m getting so excited about (where have you been?), I first mentioned the brand back in the beginning of March.  If you wanna have a read of my thoughts, click here.

You can also follow Lanolips on Twitter and Facebook.

Skin redness and hyper-sensitivity is a cause for concern in many women’s lives.  Whenever I announce something dramatic like that… it always makes me think of my Dad who would gently tell me that in the grand scheme of things, there’s far worse things that can affect one’s life.

But, as someone who suffers from diffused redness and visible capillaries, let me tell you.  It’s not much fun looking like a lush.

Origins have developed a serum designed to give instant relief for the appearance of redness, sensitiviy and reactivity and I’ve got a sample to put to the test.

My problem areas are the common ones… nose and cheeks.  My nose especially (hence the lush comment), but it’s something that I can generally cover up quite well with a bit of concealer.

Erm, obviously the above photo shows my skin NOT covered up well!

Read the rest of this entry »

Launching exclusively to QVC at midnight on Saturday 14th August is Decléor’s latest cleansing solution.

Decléor’s Aroma Cleanse (£28) is a mousse that promises to deliver well-balanced cleansing with an emphasis on skin-caring ingredients.

In the past, I’ve sworn off mousse or foaming cleanser in favour of cremes.  As someone with combination/sensitive skin I generally find these kind of cleansers quite drying on my easily-irritated fizzog.  However, Aroma Cleanse claims that it will leave my skin feeling (and I quote) “rehydrated”.  Interesting…

The formula promises three distinct actions:

Deep Cleansing

When it comes into contact with water the rich, concentrated cream quickly lathers to a gorgeous mousse-like texture, creating tiny bubbles to swiftly deep cleanse and soften the skin leaving it clean and velvety soft.  The inclusion of two cotton cloths with each pump dispenser also provides a further delicate exfoliating action and helps to ensure skin is left free of residue post-cleanse.

Skin Polishing and Perfecting

Grapefruit, Papaya extract and Japanese White Mulberry exfoliate and gently slough away dull dead skin cells to leave the skin crystal clear with visible clarity and luminosity after just one use.

Moisturising and Plumping

With nourishing Neroli essential oil – also known for it’s decongesting and calming properties – and Hyaluronic acid, a potent protein that occurs naturally in the skin and can hold up to 1000 times it’s own weight in moisture, immediate results on the skin are outstanding.  The skin has renewed plumpness due to the injection and retention of moisture, which gives it an extreme feeling of firmness, while wrinkles appear reduced and skin feels intensely soft and balanced too.

Just a couple of claims to bear in mind while I’m testing the sample I received then… phew!

Mostly, I’ll be concentrating on this moisturising aspect… I’m sceptical!  I’ve never used a mousse or foaming cleanser (and I’ve used a lot!) that hasn’t left me RUNNING for my moisturiser as my skin tightens uncomfortably within minutes of cleansing.

You’re up against it Decléor!

** Those of a sensitive disposition may not want to view this post in it’s entirety… just sayin’

Have you all heard of Ginvera’s Green Tea Marvel Gel?  It’s been on the market for a while now… I first heard about it three years ago when they exhibited at the Vitality Show.

Anyway, what is it?  Do you need it?

Ginvera Marvel Gel (£15) is a product that will both gross you out and enthrall you in equal measure.  Marketed as a Dead Skin and Blackhead Remover, I’d add “small child charmer” to that list of USPs.  You’ll see what I mean shortly…

The product itself is a pale green gel which you gently rub into your skin, focusing on problem areas.  For me, I have congestion on my nose…. congestion = stubborn blackheads.

As you rub the gel into your skin, you should start to feel ‘bits’ develop under your fingertips…. bits = flakes of dead skin.  It’s at this point you run for the nearest mirror to examine the nasties and hope that what you see will gross you out slightly.  Or is that just me?

After about 60 seconds, the gel dries and it’s pretty fruitless to keep massaging the product in, so take a look at what you’ve removed!

Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t get much time to spend on my ‘beauty’ routine, not half as much as I’d like… so any product that promises to multi-task captures my attention quickly!

Davines Authentic Nourishing Oil (£29.20/140ml) is designed to be used on face, hair and body.  A truly multi-tasking masterpiece?  Formulated with 100% natural ingredients, these include organic Carthame Oil, Jojoba, Sunflower and Sesame oils.

They say:

After a shower, while your skin is still wet, massage on your body, face and décolleté. (For additional moisturising power, add a few drops to your face and body cream at night, when your skin is repairing itself).  Smooth a few drops through the ends of the hair to get rid of split ends and don’t forget your hands – they must be protected against the external aggressors.  Massage your hands and cuticles daily.

I already use a body oil which I apply to damp skin – but I’m a total sucker for oils and I can’t stop adding to my collection.  At £29.20, the Davines Authentic Nourishing Oil is a little more than I’d like to pay… although 140ml would last a very long time.

What are your favourite multi-tasking products?

When better to put a so-called ‘cooling gel’ to the test than on some of the hottest days of the year so far?  Arnicare… you’re up against it!

I’m a big believer in the herbal remedy Arnica… but only recently.

I had umpteen women telling me to make sure I packed some Arnica-related products in my hospital bag when I was preparing to give birth to L.  They all said that it would help ease bruising…. “down there”.

I didn’t listen.  I couldn’t even bear the thought of bruising “down there”…. la la la la, “Can’t hear you!”.  Was convinced baby L would emerge into this world a little bit like this (infact, it was my mantra in the last few weeks):

Push
Push
Pain
PUSH
Pop.

Clearly, I’m a moron… but not spending my precious Boots points on tubes of Arnica was probably for the best.  There ended up being no ‘pushing’ involved and Mr. L struggled under the weight of my damn hospital bag anyway.

However, after some recent surgery and tremendous abdominal bruising, I remembered this ‘Arnica’ stuff and shuffled down to my local Boots to pick myself up a tube of Nelsons Arnica Cream.  I only applied it to the major bruise, which was roughly 6x worse than the other incidental bruises…. would you believe it?  The major one ended up fading more rapidly than the rest!  That’s me sold on the power of the herb.

I’m rambling really badly….

I was invited to sample Nelson’s Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel.  I’ll let them tell you why we’d need it shall I?:

Nelsons Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel combines the benefits of arnica with the refreshing sensation of natural grapefruit oil and menthol to cool and soothe the skin. Ideal for rubbing into aching muscles following physical exertion or to revive tired, heavy legs after being on your feet all day

On last Saturday, the hottest day of my LIFE (melodramatic pause) I pulled out the Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel and applied.  Lots.

It didn’t cool me down AT ALL!

Gutted.  Maybe there isn’t enough of the whole ‘cooling’ properties to make a difference in this kind of heat.  I wanted it to feel like an Arctic breeze fluttering around my calves.  It didn’t.

So I only did one leg… remember, I was really hot.  I could barely be bothered to breathe let alone bend over and massage ineffectual cooling gel into my legs.

Fast forward 9 hours… it’s 11.30pm and I’m sat there blogging.  Under my desk, one of my legs feels bizarrely fresh… fresh like I’ve just woken up.  I only noticed it ‘cos my other leg felt like it needed amputating after a day spent running around after a 14 month old.  What a strange feeling!

Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel?  I think I like you.  You might not give me instant cooling relief, but I reckon if I’d massaged you into both legs I’d at least have been able to walk myself to bed.  As it was, Mr. L had to roll me.

I’m keeping this in the fridge from now on though.

Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel is priced at £4.65 and available from pharmacies and health food stores nationwide.

After my rubbish experience trying to snaffle a bargain but effective gentle cleanser, BeautyBay.com generously stepped up to the plate and offered to send me something that they claimed was a personal hero product.

How could I resist?

Priori is a brand that’s new to me but I was interested to discover that the CEO behind the brand is more than just an expert in the field.  He actually developed and launched the world’s first glycolic acid (AHA) product in 1983 – frankly, that’s good enough for me.

Do we know what AHA’s are?  They’re generally considered as the slightly harsher big sister to Fruit Enzymes but essentially they’re doing the same job.  Exfoliation.  Obviously, I didn’t wanna use anything harsh on my skin that’s undergoing laser treatment… but at the same time, I’ve fallen for this method of exfoliation in a big way.

So that was my main concern when I was first reading into and looking at the Priori Gentle Facial Cleanser.  The clue however, is in the name.  Gentle.

I’ve been using this creamy cleanser nightly for over a month now and I’m pleased with it.  No tingling, no irritation, no hint that I’m being exfoliated other than that my skin that is remaining soft, supple and fresh day after day.

The formula is great, one pump dispenses the perfect amount of product with no waste and the cleansing cream glides over my skin without foaming.  It also rinses away instantly leaving no residue behind.  I’m not a huge fan of the scent which is practically impossible to describe (trust me, I’ve been sat here trying for the last 10 minutes).  It’s quite a clinical smell that stops short of being chemical if that makes any sense?  I think I might prefer my products to be a little more girly-scented, how tragic!

I’m finding the Priori Gentle Facial Cleanser non-drying (though I still always follow up with a moisturiser) and most essentially it hasn’t aggravated my skin or any areas of redness.  This really does appear to be as gentle as it promises.

This kind of exfoliation can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun so as with any product containing AHAs or Enzymes, I’m being careful to ensure that I’m using a facial sunblock of at least SPF30 every day.

Priori Advanced AHA Gentle Facial Cleanser 180ml is priced at £21 and available from BeautyBay.com.

If it’s good enough for Kylie…

You never have to travel far before you come across someone who will happily swear by these iconic pots of cream.  Whether it’s the original Cold Cream or some of their more uptodate incarnations, someone somewhere will happily tell you how Ponds is the only moisturiser their Nan/Mother/Sister (delete as appropriate) has been using since 1935 and that she doesn’t look a day over 23.

I’ve been using Pond’s Light Day Cream (£3.99) on and off for a while now and it is indeed (mostly) the bees knees.

Ignore for a moment the parabens, perfume and mineral oil contained within (I know, it’s hard)… these are pretty old school inexpensive ingredients designed to a) make the product stay fresh longer, b) smell nice and c) form a barrier between your skin and the drying effects of the environment.  Are there better ingredients that do the same job?  You bet.  Are there better ingredients that do the same job for the same price?  Not so much.

If you’re not sensitive to these ingredients (and I don’t seem to be) then I’m happy to use them.  Many people aren’t afforded that luxury, with artificial perfumes being among one of the biggest culprits for skin sensitivity.

But anyway, I’m going off on a tangent slightly… back to the review…

Attractively packaged in a heavyweight frosted glass jar, the cream has a thick but slippy texture.  It’s much easier to spread than that refrigerated Nutella texture that is Nivea Creme. It’s also as light and non-greasy as it claims, as long as I’m not too heavy handed.  I find that the cream sinks in beautifully and leaves my skin feeling softer and more supple than before.  If I get a bit carried away with it, it leaves my skin slightly tacky for about 10 minutes before subsiding.

It’s strong scent loses it a point (or 4)… I know it’s iconic… but I can still smell it 3 hours later!  Also, SPF 6… is that it?  It’s barely worth bothering is it?  I won’t leave the house without a minimum of SPF15 and it’s a shame that this doesn’t supply that extra protection.

There’s one thing I must mention though, it’s the one reason in particular that I will be repurchasing.  It’s compatible.

Shall I explain?

I often like to mix things into my moisturiser.  Luminizers mostly… but often I’ll add foundations to sheer them out a touch.  Things like the new LUSH Colour Supplement blend wonderfully into this cream and apply flawlessly.  Oh and another thing?  Powder products wear with absolutely no problems over the Pond’s Light Day Cream.  I can slap a bit of this on my face first thing and less than 5 minutes later, I’m swirl, tap, buffing my way to a flawless complexion quite happily.  Nothing ‘balls’ up under my fingers… it’s just a very laid back, inexpensive and light day cream for the summer.

Top marks! (nearly).