A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Last weekend saw VexintheCity and myself wandering the streets of Paris, city of lights and painfully stylish women.  What is it with Parisienne ladies anyway?  Do they teach eyeliner in schools?  I didn’t see a single pair of eyes that hadn’t been expertly rimmed with smudgy black kohl.  It was both refreshing and slightly intimidating.

Here’s some shots from the (very long) day out, starting with the Paris essentials:

A map, we looked at it blankly all day long.

Jaffa Cakes – Don’t attempt the Eurostar at 6.22am without copious amounts of sugar close at hand.

Papped – I swear to God I did not pose for this!  Red lipstick made me feel almost cultured enough to tread the cobbled streets though.

Undeniably Paris!  Napoleon’s rebuild of the great city renders it thoroughly iconic with it’s long, wide Boulevards and grand Avenues!

Ahhh Sephora!  My first ever visit!  This is the one on Champs Élysées, we arrived v. early and as you can see, it wasn’t too busy at all!

Makeup, makeup as far as the eye can see!

Can you believe we sat our bums down on the posh chairs in Ladurée only to be told that we were too early for cake?  Too early… for cake?  So we boycotted all things French and went to McDonalds instead.  No really… we were famished!

As night fell, we indulged in a little of Paris’ notorious cafe culture… I recommend the house Merlot at Café Kléber, though I was a bit squiffy after only two glasses!

As you can probably tell by this photo.

But not this one!  Oooh La la!  Je t’aime La Tour Eiffel!

So what did I buy in the capital of fashion, beauty and all things ladylike?  Not a lot actually.  I’m saving my pennies for this weekend at IMATS but I did pick up a couple of bits…

See?  How restrained was I?

Despite all your fabulous advice and words of temptation, (for which I was immensely grateful and will be relying on when I return later in the year!) I held back and only picked up a Bioderma cleanser (for Mr. L!), a MAC CCB (I know, sacrilege to go to Paris and buy MAC right?) and a Rouge Baiser Lipstick (described as the world’s first ‘kiss-proof’ lipstick!)

Did I do well?  I also played with some MUFE in Sephora and expanded my IMATS wishlist tenfold.  Oops.

Luxe brand Le Metier de Beaute have kindly donated two Spring essentials that will be sure to inject some warmth into those bleak January mornings ahead!

Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Ibiza is a delicate sparkling rosy pink that will complement most looks.

Anamorphic Lash Mascara in Midnight Blue is a lovely navy shade that will enhance the whites of your eyes and make them sparkle even though you might be feeling flatter than a pancake that’s been run over by a bulldozer.

Leave a comment to enter.  Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 27th January.

UK Only.

My lovely international ladies, I’m sorry but the rest of the daily prizes will be available only within the UK.  I don’t want  you to keep returning to enter only to be disappointed that you can’t.

If you’re from outside the UK but don’t want to miss your chance at winning “most dedicated” entrant mystery prize… you can still comment.  Just let me know that you’re not eligible to win the daily prize because of your location!

Winners will be announced early next month.  Info and rulez can be found here.

It’s the 26th January and in honour of Australia/Survival Day, I’m showcasing some great products born from the land Down Under!

It’s fair to say that the island nation are becoming a beauty force to be reckoned with and 2011 is sure to see tremendous UK growth for Aussie-grown brands such as Hissyfit, Shizen and Lanolips to name just a few.

I admit to having a soft spot for these Antipodean enterprises, it’s a part of the world that I hold close to my heart.

And so, without further ado – here are some of the brands in my beauty cupboard that hail from the land that brought us Neighbours, Tim-Tams, Kylie Minogue and more deadly snakes and spiders than you can shake a stick at!

1. Aesop – Aesop’s Rosehip Seed Lip Cream wasn’t quite intensive enough for my lips… but it makes the most delightful smelling, fast-absorbing cuticle butter around!

2. Naive Beauty – Naive’s Magneteyes Under Eye Algae Mask* is a welcome quick fix for tired eyes.  Cooling, refreshing and moisturising – the pack of 10 eye pads can even be re-used if you treat them with care!

3. Glitter Gal – The Holographic Nail Polishes* from Glitter Gal are to die for!  Super blingy, super holo and super gorgeous.  They need to be more accessible in the UK though!

4. Lanolips – Lanolips ultra-nourishing lip ointments are my everyday staple, the new (and sadly limited edition) Lemonaid Lip Aid* is an innovative take on the original formula, combining organic lemon oil to naturally exfoliate whilst the lanolin takes care of the moisturisation!

5. Invisible Zinc – The cult Aussie suncare brand have rendered themselves squeaky clean with IZ Cleanser, a 12% glycolic acid cleanser.  I use this weekly as an exfoliating cleanser to leave my skin smooth as a baby’s bum!

6. Becca – Becca hails from Perth in Western Australia and is the brainchild of MUA Rebecca Morrice Williams.  I love the brand’s Pressed Shimmer Powders as seen above in the shade Princess.

7. A’kin – Australian made and owned natural skincare brand A’kin produce products using only botanical ingredients, fairly well-known in the UK… I love their Cellular Radiance Serum when my skin is being particularly reactive and badly-behaved!

8. Alpha-H – Another Aussie brand to have developed a cult following across the globe, Alpha H are well-known for their best-selling product, Liquid Gold – a glycolic based resurfacing lotion.  Their simple packaging belies a whole host of cleverly formulated products that promise anti-ageing nirvana!

9. Inika Cosmetics – This sleek mineral makeup brand is another Antipodean delight with a core range of over 70 products.  I’ve recently discovered their Liquid Mineral Foundation, which I’m enjoying for natural and moisturising coverage.

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Do you have any favourite Australian beauty brands?

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* denotes PR sample.

I’m not going to wrap this up in my usual 4348390 words incase I somehow lose the point of this post.  Let me simply tell you that I experienced a miracle this morning (yesterday morning by the time you’re reading this!).

I worked a blob of the new Pantene Colour Seal Concentrate through my hair last night after doing the usual shampoo/conditioner routine, left it on for 2/3 minutes and rinsed it out.  I went to bed with wet hair, fully expecting to regret my laziness the next morning and instead woke up to the softest, smoothest hair I can remember having.

The coarseness had completely disappeared and I was able to gather my hair into a smooth ponytail with ends so sleek that I couldn’t stop stroking them.

It’s now 13 hours later and my hair is sadly starting to feel a little more like it’s usual rough self so I’m not sold on Pantene’s claims of long-term effectiveness… still, even a full day of glossy locks has brightened my mood.  Yes, I’m as shallow as that last statment makes me appear.  I don’t care how it works (probably silicones, smoke and mirrors), I just care that it makes my hair (temporarily) very happy.

Pantene Colour Seal Concentrate should be available in your usual Pantene stockists now as part of the Pro-V Colour Protect range, it’s priced at £3.99 and I really recommend that you stop whatever it is you’re doing to go and buy some.

Sweet-smelling brand Philosophy have kindly donated not one, but two of their limited Holiday gift sets for your pleasure!

Holiday Hostess (£16.50): Cinnamon Sugar Icing Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath and Body Lotion

the perfect treat for a holiday hostess, this gift set includes cinnamon sugar icing shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath and body lotion 8 oz. for her to indulge her guests. family and friends who visit for holiday gatherings will be in heaven with this incredibly decadent scent as they cleanse and moisturize, leaving skin feeling as silky smooth as icing

Under The Mistletoe (£16.50) – Peppermint Bark, Candy Cane, Pink Frosted Cookie and Have A Cherry Christmas High-Gloss, High-Flavour Lip Shines

Kisses under the mistletoe will seem sweeter than ever with these tasty lip treats. under the mistletoe includes peppermint bark, candy cane, pink frosted cookie and cherry christmas high-gloss, high-flavor lip shines. lips will be irresistibly sweet with a smooth, sheer shine.

Leave a comment to enter.  Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 26th January.

UK Only.

My lovely international ladies, I’m sorry but the rest of the daily prizes will be available only within the UK.  I don’t want  you to keep returning to enter only to be disappointed that you can’t.

If you’re from outside the UK but don’t want to miss your chance at winning “most dedicated” entrant mystery prize… you can still comment.  Just let me know that you’re not eligible to win the daily prize because of your location!

Winners will be announced early next month.  Info and rulez can be found here.

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!

I was a very nervous girl leaving the house in this YSL Rouge Volupte Red Taboo lipstick…

It’s a beautiful cool-toned red with just a hint of raspberry but it’s a Rouge Volupte.  It threatened to slip like me on ice skates and I feared that it was just as likely to land me on my bum.

You either love or hate the YSL Rouge Volupte range.  Creamy, non-drying, deeply pigmented and scented like a fruit salad.  These are pretty nice properties in a nude or mylipsbutbetter shade.  In a red?  A red that needs to stay put?  Uh Oh.

First things first… this lipstick needs a lip liner, it’s a braver woman than I who attempts to wear this bare-backed.  Application is effortless (nearly)… I applied straight from the bullet to the centre of my lips before pulling the colour outward with a lip brush.  Then I waited for dry-down.  And I waited… and I waited.  Then I checked my watch, panicked and wondered if I should blot and decided on the “bugger it, that’ll have to do” option instead.

A word to the wise (from the utterly stupid)… don’t attempt to eat, drink, lick your lips or indeed breathe whilst wearing this beautiful shade.  It WILL transfer faster than that email you clicked ‘send’ on by accident.

I get about 2/3 hours wear from Red Taboo before needing to stage a lipstick intervention.  On the flipside, because it is so creamy… I can dab a little more on from the bullet and get away with smooshing my lips together.  Obviously, that doesn’t give me the cleanest line in the world… but if you’re on the go – you can get away with it.

CheapSmells.com sent me this lipstick for my red lip series so I’d like to point you in the direction of where you can pick it up on their website here.  This particular shade is selling for £15.90 (a saving of 24% off the RRP).

An all-in-one palette for creating the ultimate smoky-eye look, kindly donated by Jemma Kidd!

The Essential Smoky Kit is available nationwide in all SpaceNK stores, by mail order on 020 8740 2085 at www.spacenk.co.uk

Leave a comment to enter.  Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 25th January.

UK Only, sorry ladies.

If you’re from outside the UK but don’t want to miss your chance at winning “most dedicated” entrant mystery prize… you can still comment.  Just let me know that you’re not eligible to win the daily prize because of your location!

Winners will be announced early next month.  Info and rulez can be found here.

What better way to start a Monday morning than with the news that TESCO has launched new health and beauty services for beautiful recessionistas and time-pushed lovelies everywhere!

The services are currently being trialled at stores in Wembley, Cambridge Bar Hill, Milton Keynes Kingston and Manchester (Walkden) where they are offering nail treatments and threading at competitive prices.

From the end of January, stand-alone TESCO beauty salons in Leicester and Chesterfield will also offer hairdressing services.

Prices will be competitive – £20 for a cut and blow dry, £15 for a shampoo and hair cut and £12.50 for a hair cut.  A half leg wax is £10 and full leg £15.

Would you be happy to entrust Mr. T to look after your barnet?  How about a quick wax and home before your Aunt Bessie’s defrost?!

…here’s an interview I did with the lovely Emily from Sparkle and Shade.  You can check it out if you’re looking for something to fill a boring morning with… I can’t promise it’ll make it any less boring though!

Well, what a whirlwind the last 4 days have been!

I’ve been up and down to London more in the last week than I have in months and then I headed off to Paris on Saturday with the infinitely good-humoured VexintheCity!  I didn’t spend as much money as I feared I might but what I bought, I’m very happy with.  I shall do a little Paris post later this week.

I’m playing catch up with emails, comments and posts so please bear with me and if I’ve missed a question (either by comment or email), do chase me up.

Have a great week friends x

Um. Exciting much?!

This year has seen MoroccanOil emerge as THE red-carpet standard in haircare and they’ve kindly given UK readers of Lipglossiping the opportunity to win a set of THREE of their cult products worth almost £70!

MoroccanOil Light Oil Treatment (£28.95) – Moroccanoil® introduces Moroccanoil® Light, boasting the same shiny, smooth, miraculous results as the original formula, but in a lighter consistency, perfect for fine and fair-colored hair.

MoroccanOil Intense Hydrating Mask (£22.85) – Moroccanoil® Intense Hydrating Mask is infused with argan oil helping prevent hair from environmental stresses and restores dry and damaged hair to restore shine and manageability.

MoroccanOil Glimmer Shiner Spray (£17.85) – An invisible veil of pure luminous shine, Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray is infused with argan oil to prevent frizz and protect your hair against the elements for effective, long lasting results.

All products are available to buy online.

So, who wants to live out the dream of incredibly glossy hair?  Me! ME!  Can I enter? [no.]

Leave a comment to enter.  Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 24th January.

UK Only, sorry ladies.

If you’re from outside the UK but don’t want to miss your chance at winning “most dedicated” entrant mystery prize… you can still comment.  Just let me know that you’re not eligible to win the daily prize because of your location!

Winners will be announced early in the New Year.  Info and rulez can be found here.

But only ‘cos I love you.

I’ve been holding on to this prize since I bought it back in August… and then BarryM released a near perfect dupe and cheapened my giveaway prize by about £14 *shakes fist at BarryM* – still, nevermind… the ‘label conscious’ amongst us will still appreciate it on that merit!

I don’t really need to say too much about this one do I?

Leave a comment to enter.  Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 23rd January.

Winners will be announced early next month.  Info and rulez can be found here.