A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I’m a foundation floozy.  A total sucker too ‘cos I can never resist a new release that promises me the skin of an angel.

I’m currently trialling one that’s almost ticking all the right boxes for me (review coming v. soon!) but in putting this particular product through its paces, it’s made me realise just how demanding my requirements are for the perfect base.

Holy Grail foundation, dude… wherefore art thou?

Infact, not only are my requirements kinda demanding… I’m not sure they’re wholly realistic.  A bit like the images used to sell us the foundations then?  Touche.

My Holy Grail foundation, let’s break it down…

1. Thou shalt give medium coverage

I don’t want heavy coverage from a foundation, I want *even* coverage… it needs to give enough oomph to subdue the redness, dampen down the blotchiness and remove all traces of motley bits.  So, I want a mask… but like an invisible one ok?  Or someone else’s face.

2. Thou shalt not stick to my eyebrows

I have an eyebrow/foundation issue.  Yes, I know the simplest answer would be to keep my foundation the hell away from my eyebrows.  But I like to apply my base in about 15 seconds flat with minimal fuss.  Infact, in an ideal world… I’d like my base to apply itself.  Some foundations spot my eyebrows from a mile away and make a direct beeline so that when I look in the mirror, my face is bare and my eyebrows? Skin coloured.

3. Thou shalt not make me matte

I don’t do matte very well.  I have dry/combo skin… my nose gets oily by lunchtime but I’m ok with that (hello powder), I’m not ok with looking like I’ve been dug up.  Matte makes me look…. lifeless.  I want the glow (not the chip pan glow) but the “oooh la la” satin glow ok?

4. Thou shalt not squat in my pores

I have cheek pores that you could fall into and never escape from.  Some foundations make them appear smoothed over… some foundations install neon signage around each one to ensure they’re visible from the International Space Station.

5. Thou shalt glide on with fingers/brush/sponge/elbows if necessary

I can’t be doing with finickity foundations.  I want my Holy Grail foundation to apply happily with whatever utensil I have at hand.  I already have too many bases that look amazing only when applied with a coral reef sea sponge dampened with virgin water from iceberg B-15A on a Tuesday afternoon.

6. Under no circumstance shalt thou oxidise in my presence

Nothing worse than applying a perfect shade only to discover you’ve been oompah loompah’ed by tea time and your colleagues left wondering if their transition lenses are playing up.

Oh.. and finally?

If you don’t last longer than a chocolate button caught in Leila’s line of sight then it doesn’t matter how good you are at all the other stuff.  You fail.

.

What are your foundation pet peeves?  Have you found your Holy Grail base?

A FOTD of a different kind.

This week, Lucy from Miss Lucy Loves is bringing us her guest review on the Doctor Brand Blemish Relief Kit which promises to be a simple, comprehensive regimen to help treat and prevent acne and breakouts, take it away Lucy!

This three step system aims to reduce the appearance of blemishes within two weeks.  Step 1 is a purifying cleanser, step 2: a pore-cleansing gel and step 3: an oil-free moisturiser.

For someone who suffers from huge, hormonal under-the-skin spots, my skin is actually quite dry.  I have a dry T-zone and normal cheeks with most of my painful blemishes clustering on my chin and around my mouth.  As a result of my dry skin, I usually use a heavy duty moisturiser such as Oilatum and have to say that after about a week I had to stop using step 3 of the Doctor Brand Blemish Relief Kit as the oil-free moisturiser just wasn’t cutting it on my dry areas.

The cleanser is a joy to use, it lathers nicely with a little water and leaves the face fresh and tingly.  The scent is similar to those Clearasil face pads I used to use as a teenager; clinical but reassuring.  Step 2, the pore-cleansing gel, is also great.  It stings slightly on any open blemishes which, again, I find reassuring as it feels like it is actually doing something.

I’ve been using the system now for nearly a month and am amazed at the results.  Yes, I still have blemishes but they are completely different in their nature.  I do still get huge under-the-skin lumps form, but they quickly disappear, never reaching the surface.  Instead of these huge ones, I tend to get smaller white heads which (naughty, I know) I just pop and then they vanish much more quickly.

I’ve now finished my tube of the cleanser and have already been out to buy a second tube.  I will also repurchase the cleansing gel but not the moisturiser.  The moisturiser would be great for someone with oily skin though.

The second shade that I was fortunate enough to preview from the upcoming OPI Touring America collection is this olive green number called Uh Oh Roll Down the Window.

Autumn/Fall’s OPI Touring America collection is set for release in the UK this August and sees an eclectic mixture of Summer brights and Autumnal earthy shades making the cut.

Uh Oh Roll Down the Window is an olive green creme with more than enough grey to keep it muted and work-appropriate.  The above photo shows two coats in hindsight, I should have given it a third for a perfect finish.  Wear has been solid and without issue as I’d expect from the professional nail brand.

The shade bears more than a passing resemblance to Nails Inc. Battersea Park which isn’t available to buy anymore but after receiving a few enquiries about it last year, you might be pleased to hear that you can get your hands on something similar..

O.P.I – Uh Oh Roll Down the Window will be available on our shores this August from LenaWhite.

You would be forgiven for not having heard of Aroma Therapeutics before… I stumbled across them when I was at The Vitality Show last month.  They were doing an offer on their bath and body oils and being the sucker oil lover that I am, I couldn’t resist parting with my pennies for a few.

In the bottle, they smell incredible.  Easily as good as offerings from the more well-known brands such as Aromatherapy Associates, Tisserand and NEOM… but sadly, this is pretty much where the similarities end.

Once dispensed into water… the scent dissipates far too quickly, we’re talking gone in a matter of 30 seconds.  Frankly, a fart would linger for longer.  I’m guessing that although exquisitely blended… there just isn’t enough of the potent stuff in these bottles to carry the aroma for a decent length of time.  I’ve also tried applying to my skin before jumping in the shower… but again, as soon as the water hits it, sayonara good stuff.

It truly is a bit of a tragedy because the Recharger scent (Rosemary, Ginger, Rosewood, Nutmeg and Orange) in particular is divine.  I haven’t tried any of the other products in the same scent lineup which includes massage oils and spray concentrates, perhaps I should limit the use of these purely on my skin rather than as part of my bathing routine but damn it, I bought these as bath treats!

Aroma Therapeutics are available to buy online from Fragrant Earth and are currently on BOGOF and are £26.65 for 50ml.

What are your favourite bath-time treats?

I’ve written previously about my love for Gielly Green’s Argan Rescue Oil that I use a few times a week to perk up my over-processed hair.  I recently took delivery of a couple of samples from the Gielly Green body range which included a hand & body lotion and a hand & body wash.

At 300ml a-piece, these understated but elegant bottles will last a fair length of time which is reassuring when you take into account that the ‘wash’ and ‘lotion’ are priced at £12 and £18 respectively.  These are luxury prices for products squarely aimed at the luxury market.

Now, whilst I don’t bat an eyelid at paying nearly £20 for a hair treatment, lipstick or facial moisturiser… I get more frugalistic stirrings when it comes to the kind of purchase that generally needs to be replaced more frequently.  This would include hand washes.

Having said that… I can’t actually fault the deliciousness of these products.  The Lemon and Muguet (Lily of the Valley) scent is fresh and airy.  It delivers a sparkling citrusy zing without skimping on a more grounding floral that lingers for a few hours after application and the scent conveys an overall carefree lightness without being too ‘young’, fruity or sweet.

The formula of the hand and body lotion is blissfully light, not great for those requiring more intense moisturisation but I’ve been using this on my hands (and lower arms) after washing and whilst not moisturising enough to keep my cuticles in check, it’s doing a sterling job on the rest, including my rough elbows!

The hand and body wash smells a little zestier than the lotion and delivers a non-drying formula thanks to the addition of Argan Oil (not too far down the ingredients list either!) and a welcome lack of SLS and alcohol in the formulation.

Overall, if your purse can stomach the price tag – you could do far worse than treating yourself to these bathroom gems.  Gielly Green have delivered a perfect pair of body essentials that bring a touch of luxury to a normally mundane task.

Gielly Green Hand & Body Wash and Hand & Body Lotion in Lemon & Muguet are available to buy online from the Gielly Green website.

This week’s question of the week…

What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about blogging?

My favourite thing about blogging is having an outlet.  Don’t get me wrong… I’m no great writer and I don’t feel a compulsion to express myself “creatively”.  I just enjoy cataloguing products I encounter (like a nerdy list-maker really), chatting to like-minded people and chewing the cud on a subject that doesn’t interest anyone I know in my day-to-day life.

I’ve met some really good eggs, had some great experiences that I wouldn’t have been fortunate enough to enjoy otherwise and I can look back through my archives with a sense of achievement that I’ve managed to write so much about such a shallow, frivolous subject instead of doing proper work instead.

My least favourite thing about blogging is having an amazing hobby that doesn’t pay the bills.  If I could, I’d spend 3x the time on site but my husband would divorce me first.  I already have major guilts about how much time I dedicate to it… finding work/life/blog balance is always an issue for me.  I wish I could throw myself into it completely.

This week’s links…

Orange to LA – has been sick for a few days but that didn’t stop her from testing out Giorgio Armani ‘Eyes To Kill’ #10 Airy Jade. See swatches, and find out if this color was a hit or miss.

Pink Sith – Joeybunny shows you one of the NARS Spring eyeshadow duos and why you NEED to own this DOGON duo!

Phyrra – debuts the Tokidoki Devil Girl Cromatico Palette & shows you swatches and looks. It’s hot for summer!

Vampy Varnish – Channel your inner child with Crayola Scented Nail Polish!

we heart this – There’s something gorgeous blooming at MAC, and it’s called Fashionflower…

Beauty Junkies Unite – puts Tarte’s new emphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadows to the test, find out how they fared!

EauMG – What is your favorite spring floral? EauMG reviews Guerlain Champs-Elysees and there is a sample draw!

Nouveau Cheap – Get your first look at the gorgeous new Wet n Wild limited edition Summer 2011 collections (rumor has it there are some fantastic dupes here).

Do you have a blog?  What are your loves and hates about blogging?

…that got your attention didn’t it?

I’ve been using the Lumos High Speed Top Coat (and base coat) for a few months now, it’s a product that I hadn’t heard much about before.  It’s not cheap but I’m confident that you’re going to need it.

To be honest with you, it’s been *killing* me that I haven’t been able to blog about this sooner but I wanted to make absolutely sure that I didn’t go ahead and rave about this top coat only to watch it go the same way as my numerous bottles of Seche Vite a few months down the line – i.e. gloopy and unusable.

The Lumos High Speed Top Coat hails from a company called Famous Names LLC and a little bit of digging reveals that this company is owned by none other than Jim and Linda Nordstrom of Creative Nail Design fame.  These are people who quite frankly, know what they’re doing when it comes to nails.

So… why do you need it?

Because it appears to be the top coat we’ve all been waiting for.

~ It dries solidly in a couple of minutes… touchproof, smudgeproof.  It’s equally as good as Seche Vite in providing a quick-dry finish.

~ It applies effortlessly, floating over the nail bed without pooling and it doesn’t complain and drag if you need to ‘go over’ it to spread it a little thinner.

~ I haven’t noticed any shrinkage or colour change to my polish after application.

~ It doesn’t go gloopy after a couple of months (3 months of frequent use, still perfect).

~ It seems to last and last and last!

How about some cons to even things up a bit?

Well.. it’s a bit expensive at around £10/£11 a bottle… but considering the image above shows 3 months usage (yes, really – there’s barely a dent in it!), I think it still represents great value for money.

I’ve also been using the Lumos Instant Impact Bottom Coat which promises to increase polish longevity but in all honesty, I’m just not the best placed to comment on its effectiveness simply because I don’t suffer from chips and I rarely want to wear my polishes for longer than 4/5 days at most anyway.  I can say that I haven’t experienced nail staining from my blue polishes (a.k.a smurf nails) since using this, so on that score – it’s a good base coat.

The UK distributor for LUMOS are Sweet Squared, a professional-only distributor.  I bought my duo set from eBay in January (£19.50 for both) but a quick google search also reveals a few other stockists that will sell directly to consumers.

Be quick guys, this really might be your last chance to nab one of these beauties now that the brand have pulled out of Boots.

The Urban Decay Naked Palette is priced on the Debenhams website at £28.80, a 10% saving on the RRP of £32.00 – I’ve had a quick scoot around the web and can’t find any additional codes to bring that price lower but SHD1 still appears to work for free delivery.

Last time around, stock lasted for less than 24 hours.  Get it quick!