A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Nothing gets me excited like a Space NK sale.

You see, I am not a woman of considerable means so I will always clap like a seal and skip like a munter at the thought of actually being able to afford the kind of treats that usually wrack me with stomach-churning guilt whenever I buy them.

Space NK have just released their (up to) 50% off sale page online, I don't know what it's like in store… our nearest is a 40mins+ drive away.  I also don't know if I'm buying yet… it's my birthday next month and I've already splashed some cash on another Sara Berman bag (my third), plus a cheeky StrawberryNET and Fragrance Direct order.  GOD SPACE NK, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME YOU WERE HAVING A SALE SOONER!

Anyway, if I do partake… here are my top picks, I wouldn't get all of them… but this is my shortlist!

01: Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in Mystere looks like an awesome Autumn/Winter shade that would either turn me into Snow White or simply exaggerate my ruddiness… I'm undecided.  I love the formula but the colour may work better on someone less naturally red-cheeked. (£19 £9.50, SpaceNK)

02: I'm a sucker for a neutral metallic and Space have put some lovely Rococo Nail Apparel shades in the sale.  This one in Mysterioso is calling me… especially at that price! (£12 £6, SpaceNK)

03: Everyone sorted for eye-cream?  I'm not.  I haven't found one that I like and as the clock ticks on, it's the one place that I'm really starting to notice a bit of age creeping in you know? I could quite easily panic buy this Reviving Anti-Wrinkle Fluid for Eyes from Skeen… I don't know much (anything) about them but the retinol sure sounds good! (£33 £16.50, SpaceNK)

04: It's always a good idea to buy off-season and there's no harm in preparing ourselves for the (inevitably) cold winter ahead.  Elemental Herbology's Wind and Cold Therapy promises to be the business for hands, cuticles and lips. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail! Or something… (£19 £9.50, SpaceNK)

05: Miller Harris is one of my favourite perfumers and La Fumée is one of my favourite Winter scents.  Gloriously smoky and reminiscent of Bonfire Night it's a cracking EdP and although I don't need to replace my bottle just yet… this price makes me wish that I did!  (£95 £47.50, SpaceNK)

06: It wouldn't be a SpaceNK sale without a bit of nicely-priced ByTerry would it? Now, while more than anything… I would have loved to see some Or de Rose Elixir Extreme pop up on the sale pages… it hasn't.  And so I'd happily content myself with some ByTerry Colour Skin Enhancer instead.  What it does, I don't really know… I just know that I've got the wantsies.  (£64.50 £32, SpaceNK)

07: Finally, and probably my most-lusted-after item from the sale is this Sniff Scented Candle from R Nichols.  A bit of a strange lust perhaps but you see, I bought one of these (not this scent) in their Winter sale and it blew me away.  I want all of the beautifully illustrated R Nichols candles.  And as for this scent, well…. leather and woods… need I say more? (£40 £20, SpaceNK)

None of the free delivery codes I've found work anymore but if I find anything, I'll be sure to update this post… otherwise, there's the standard 6% cashback on Quidco.

What are you lusting after from the SpaceNK sale pages this time around?

In a childish act of defiance (a.k.a: sticking two fingers up) at what has become my horribly dry skin… I went and bought this Kjaer Weis Creme Blush in Sun Touched.

Created by New York-based makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, this edited collection pulls off the near impossible: It fuses the very best in organic ingredients with gorgeous textures and chic, always-flattering shades. And as a veteran of the magazine world, it’s no surprise that Kirsten sheathed her products in luxe, eye-catching compacts.

Eye-catching?  Definitely!  Also eye-watering at £39 for a 3.5g blush.

The heavyweight compacts are cast in a white bronze metal called zamac and monogrammed in white enamel.  They’re beautiful and unlike some other highly elaborate products (I’m looking at you Guerlain Rouge G), these are purposefully manufactured to be kept and re-filled once you hit pan.

I picked up the shade Sun Touched as I was looking for something neutral that would complement most other shades and be something that I could wear everyday.  Well, you would at that price wouldn’t you?

Sun Touched is a warm neutral, as the name might suggest.  I’m pleased with my choice although it’s definitely warm enough to work better with other similarly toned shades.

A clean and organic cream blush that adds a fresh glow, brightening the eyes and to create a youthful sun-kissed look. Applied to the apples of the cheeks, this hydrating, soft formula gently melts with the warmth of the fingers. Kjaer Weis products are made with natural ingredients, using rose, honey suckle and gardenia as preservatives. Creme Blush is gently scented with Vanilla from Madagascar.

The texture is slightly tacky, feeling more like a gloss than a cream blush.  I’ve been applying with my fingertips and blending softly without the use of a brush.  Once on, the tackiness remains for a little while before fading.  These don’t dry to a powder finish which means that I achieve a far dewier effect.  Precisely what I wanted!

The blush has a delicate sheen without being glossy and is devoid of all types of sparkle!  I’d recommend this completely if you have dry or mature skin.  On me, it lasts the course of the day without too much fading… the picture below was taken at the end of the day (hence no lipstick!).

Refills are priced at a reasonable £18 each if you can stomach the initial outlay and Kjaer Weis products are available exclusively to Space NK both in the UK and USA.

I love store loyalty cards (as my Boots Advantage card will happily testify) and so I was delighted to hear about the new(ish) Space NK scheme that gives something back!

Benefits include:

• Points for every purchase in-store and online
• N.centives. £1 = 1 point, for every 100 points you’ll receive a £5 N.centive (reward).
• New product previews
• Invitations to private events and sales, including two 20% off events
• Access to beauty tips, perks and privileges
• Complimentary product samples
• A special treat on your birthday
• A complimentary subscription to Space NK’s beauty magazine, N.vision
• Dedicated customer care line

I signed myself up a few weeks ago after CityGirlsFashionBox ordered me to do it and am waiting for my card to drop through the door any day now (hurryup hurryup hurryup).

It’s free to sign up so if you’re a Space NK shopper, whatchu waiting for?

Ellis Faas fans will be pleased to hear that one of their favourite brands is now available to buy from Space NK online and in selected stores.

The Dutch brand launched in the UK a year ago exclusively to Liberty and have seen great success and growth on these shores over the past 12 months.

The sleek products, instantly recognised for their quirky packaging and iconic colours (Ellis Red anyone?) have garnered fans globally and I’m interested to see how they fare with the opportunity of a wider UK audience.

Initially, 14 Space NK stores will carry the line though I can’t hide my disappointment when I note that 13 of the 14 stores have London addresses.  The 14th and final store (for now) is in Glasgow… a little bit too far for a day trip methinks.

Here’s hoping for a all-encompassing nationwide roll out following this initial launch!

Prices start from £20 and the range can be viewed online on the Space NK website, here.

We know how revered Eve Lom’s original cleanser has been over the years, but when I tried it…. honestly? I found it a bit of a faff.

I loved the product, the herbal scent and the way it left my skin feeling baby-soft and perhaps with more practice, I would have gotten quicker, but the last thing I wanna do (when all I wanna do is fall into bed) is stand at the sink for 15 minutes washing my face.

Enter Eve Lom’s new product for Summer…

Morning Time Cleanser, developed on the same principles as the original but with the benefits of a quicker cleanse.  A 2 minute massage and splash off with warm water makes for a highly tempting alternative.

If you’re already an Eve Lom fan, then you may find this a perfect accompaniment to your evening cleanse.  As for me?  It’s sucking me back and tempting me in again.

£35 for 125ml and available from Space NK online and instore from this month.

Terry de Gunzburg, founder of cult beauty brand By Terry is making a one day personal appearance at the Space NK Hans Crescent store in Knightsbridge.

She’ll be in store on Thursday 17th June (10.30am – 5.30pm) with her team of international make up artists to introduce her Summer collection and offer individual consultations.

Booking fee is £20 (redeemable against purchases) and all guests will receive a special gift bag from ByTerry.

If you fancy the thought of champagne, macaroons, luxe makeup and some personal attention then you can call the Space NK Hans Crescent to book a ticket on 0207 581 25 18

Lemme tell you about this “Love Colour” event that Space NK have going on at the end of the month, then listen up… cos I’m thinking of making that 30 mile trek to the seaside (and local store) and attending.  I wanna know if you go to these kind of events.

Can you read that phone number and the small print? *squints*

020 8740 2085 is the number and there’s a £10 booking fee which is redeemable against purchases.

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OK, so now I wanna chat about these kind of events…

Do you ever attend them?  I’ve never been to one… I’m kinda shy, not hugely… but enough that the thought makes me feel a teeny bit uncomfortable.  But let’s face it… counter staff in general make me feel quite uncomfortable.

I never know what to say or how much I should buy before I reach the level of “acceptability” once they’ve started to lavish their attentions on me.  I mean, don’t get me wrong… I don’t spend beyond my means just ‘cos I feel uncomfortable (although I have in the past), it’s just… there’s etiquette isn’t there?

And what about when the events include other ‘strangers’ and you have to be all like… “oh, that blush really suits you, you look 10 years younger!”

I’m not a very good ‘pack’ shopper. Or liar.

I’m scared, someone come hold my hand and do the talking for me.  Just don’t get in my way or make me come look at your wrist swatches when I’ve got my “shopping face” on.

My posts on the launch have been a touch hiccoughy – so here’s a little recap ‘cos I know there’s a lot of interest out there.

~ Launch Announcment & Thoughts

~ Review and lip swatches of Countessa Fluorescent, No She Didn’t & My Beautiful Rocket

Fully launched now, you should be able to find the Lime Crime lipsticks in your local store…. if you do go and have a play with some of the colours, please come back and share your thoughts with me (and everyone else!).

It would be great to get lots of varied feedback because judging by some emails I’ve received… I’m beginning to get the impression that some of you are really interested and excited by the lipsticks but hesitant to display your excitement for fear of ‘going against the tide of opinion’.

That saddens me.

Getting excited about super-bright lipsticks is your prerogative and we should all be excited about beautiful colours and new launches!

The majority of you who come here aren’t beauty bloggers and don’t leave me comments and are infact interested in one thing and one thing only:  “…are they any good ‘cos I don’t wanna waste £14 on a crappy lipstick”.

I say… read my review and then go and try a few shades!  While you’re at it, please come back and let me know what Airborne Unicorn is like ‘cos my nearest Space NK is a shocking 25 miles away.  Yep… feel for me.

And that (you’ll be pleased to hear) is probably my last word on it.

Cult US eccentric brand Lime Crime are currently enjoying a boost in credbility thanks to UK based apothecary Space NK.  In an unlikely but ultimately interesting pairing, Space NK will be bringing the full range of Lime Crime CandyFuture lipsticks to the store’s shelves later this month.

The collection of 10 lipsticks which range in colour from an opaque black right through to palest lavender will hit UK shores with a price tag of £14 each compared to US equivalent pricing of $16.  The price hike is pretty much expected, and perhaps slightly less than anticipated when you consider Space NK’s ill-fated launch of excessively priced Sonia Kashuk brushes last year.

The reputation of Lime Crime… with self-proclaimed “Unicorn Queen” owner/operator Doe Deere at the helm, has recently endured the internet equivalent of a “beat-down”.

The company may initially struggle to gain trust and loyalty from cosmetic connosieurs in the UK with the recent allegations raised against the brand, but I don’t doubt for one moment that the playful, fantastical nature of the brand will appeal to many high-street shoppers.

The launch has the potential to bring a fresh, younger audience to Space NK… which may ultimately validate this unusual synergy between conservatively styled Space NK and the whimsical Lime Crime.

As an interested observer (but ultimate fence-sitter) with regards to the recent Lime Crime dramas, this has the potential to be one hell of a launch.  I just hope that Space NK have ordered in enough glitter and life-size unicorns.

Space NK are celebrating the arrival of Spring with a 2-day promotion.  They’ll be offering complementary skincare consultations, makeup lessons, expert demonstrations and mini pampering sessions instore this week.

If that weren’t enough, spend over £60 instore and you’ll receive one of their ‘ultimate’ goodie bags.

The event will be taking place this week on Friday 26th March & Saturday 27th March at Space NK stores nationwide.