A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I was treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of acclaimed makeup school, The Academy of Freelance Makeup a couple of weeks ago so I headed into Soho, dodging thunderous downpours on the way.  Highly aware of how completely rubbish my own makeup looked that day, I settled into my seat to listen to Jana Ririnui, the creator of AOFM Pro and Jason Mallett, the director of AOFM Pro explain more about the school.

The core belief held by AOFM Pro is that their students will learn most efficiently from makeup artists currently operating in the freelance industry.  Not only will students gather the techniques and theories from qualified tutors but also learn more about experiences that might befall them in the future when they join the ‘real world’ of a working makeup artist.

Although the organised ‘curriculum’ is comprehensive, there’s also the opportunity for eager learners to gather knowledge through general class conversation with a working makeup artist… learning from anecdotes and tales of the fashion industry!  The scope for picking up invaluable advice is only limited by the flow of natural conversation.  In addition to this hands-on tutoring, students also benefit from the rotation of tutors, it’s the aim of the school to introduce their students to as many different working styles, techniques, creativity and products as possible.

The final thing that I took away from my morning at AOFM Pro was the aftercare… the school offers free refresher sessions for past students and promise to always be on hand to offer professional advice long after you’ve walked out the door, makeup brushes in hand.

Thanks AOFM Pro for letting me have a nosey around your studios and in your beauty cupboards and a big thank you also to Jade, Assistant Head Of Education for a super hawt smokey eye to brighten up the rotten Summer downpours!

image courtesy of Katie at MyLipsButBetter

For more information on the school, tutors and courses visit aofmakeup.com

…and for those of you who guessed it was a mini vibrator, shame on you!  The day I start blogging sex toys is the day I realise it’s all gone a bit too far.

This slightly dubious looking item is infact… a root cover-up!  I know, I know… not as interesting as the alternatives but far more blog-worthy!  I saw this when I was last at PAM Makeup Provisions and couldn’t resist popping it into my basket in case of emergency.

I say “emergency”, it’s more like… once every couple of months.  Like a ‘routine’ emergency… one that doesn’t really sound much like an emergency at all.  Just a lazy bitch who can’t be organised enough to ensure she’s got a pack of hair dye to hand.

So, in theory… you’re just supposed to crayon over your roots with this hard waxy stick and walk around like you’re not premature ageing at all!  It actually works better than I thought it would… but it’s not without issue.

It does leave my hair feeling kinda… well, waxy to be honest.  It’s not greasy and it doesn’t *look* greasy… but I can feel the difference and it annoys me.  I’m not sure that I wouldn’t just achieve the same cover-up with one of Leila’s dark brown crayolas… perhaps I should try.  It would be the most uninteresting dupe alert the blogging world has known.

On the positive side, it doesn’t clump and once I’ve painted it over my roots, it allows me to work it in with my fingers to ensure it’s blended nicely.  Overall, it’s something I am pleased to have incase of emergencies/laziness *delete as appropriate.

Cover Your Gray for Women is available in various shades online from afrodesire.com and even with £2.99 delivery, it’s less than I paid for mine at PAM.

Who says beauty blogging ain’t glamourous?

What do you reckon this is all about then?

I’ll give you a clue… it’s not a lipstick.

The other polish I received from their Summer 2011 collection is this muted “grurple” called Native Rock, it’s somehow softer than any of the other shades of this type that I own.  It’s almost whimsical and ethereal, tres beautiful.

I think it may have a bit too much grey in it for some skintones to wear with success but I’m not complaining on mine!  The above photo shows two coats and although it looked like complete coverage… with hindsight, I think I could have gone for a third.  The photo shows it looking just a little thin in places.

Application was dreamy and longevity average.  Another solid release from SpaRitual.

SpaRitual nail polishes (£8.50) are available to purchase directly from the SpaRitual website and spas/salons.

Jo Malone’s new Wild Bluebell is a four piece collection celebrating one of the most iconic wonders of the British woodland, the English Bluebell.  Synonymous with the ending of the long winter, the flower captures the imagination of anyone who encounters its magnificent carpets across the ancient woodlands of Britain.

image courtesy of Jo Malone

How to bottle that mesmerising sight?  Jo Malone’s Wild Bluebell is a delicate blend of fresh bluebell (engineered) and clove with a heart of lily of the valley and jasmine alongside a base of white amber and musk.

Compared to Penhaligon’s Bluebell (of which I’m a fan for its almost audacious evocation of the surroundings in which bluebells grow), this is a much lighter, easy-to-wear fragrance.  It’s gentle and playful with a hint of juxtaposition from the musk that lingers very close to the skin.  Ultimately, it’s a green floral with a hint of spice… where Penhaligon’s is a confrontation, Jo Malone’s is more a sweet echo.

The launch took place at the end of last month in a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse that demonstrated the spirit of the fragrance beautifully.  I was introduced to Wild Bluebell herself, the fragrance personified… a whimsical character with more than just a hint of the woodland nymph about her.

I’ll leave you with a couple more photos from the launch, the brand had commandeered the global stock of faux bluebells for the occasion, not to mention the scarily realistic bunnies found frolicking amongst the flowers.  It was like stepping through the looking glass!

The Jo Malone Wild Bluebell collection will be available from September and include the Cologne (£36/£72), Body & Hand Wash (£30), Body Creme (£48) and Home Candle (£38).

“But you said you were completely bored of shatter top coats?”

“I never said I was bored of silver ones.”

Out of all the 24 billion photos of seen of manicures done with shatter top coats this year, the silver ones always look the prettiest to me which is why I actually couldn’t quite restrain myself from adding this to a recent eBay polish haul.  I mean, it’s Color Club… it cost me less than a coffee.

I was too much of an impatient child to apply it over anything over than what I was already wearing so it jazzed up the Nails Inc. OMP! nicely.  It also reminded me how nice it was to have something to breathe new life into a tired looking mani without having to redo the whole thing.  Forty seconds later and I’m getting another 3 days wear from something that should have bitten the dust days ago.

I like it.  But I won’t buy anymore.  No, really.  I’m totally bored of them… unless someone brings out a holographic one…

Ok, we’re really done with this trend now yah?  Just one more? Nooooooo!

When a well-known skincare brand announces that it’s bringing out a professional line with professional results, it’s a point of interest.  When well-known skincare brand points out that its results are backed by a long-term, independent clinical study that’s been published in the British Journal of Dermatology – it’s a point of slightly more significant interest.

Introducing, Olay Professional.

You can keep your Thandie Newtons, show me the clinical studies!!!  Though to be fair, better dumb ’em down a bit, I only got a C in my GCSE Double Award Science.

The study involved a panel of women aged between 40-65 who tested the regime over a 6 month period against a leading anti-ageing prescription ingredient.  The study showed that the new Olay Professional range was as effective as the prescription ingredient, Retinoic Acid (the most powerful form of Vitamin A) at reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

If you want to find more about this study, there’s an article on cosmeticsdesign.com that you may be interested to read.

POP-UP SKIN CLINIC!

In celebration of the launch, Olay will be opening the doors to a temporary clinic where you’ll have the opportunity to pre-book for a free one to one consultation with a skin expert from the world of dermatology.

The Olay Professional Clinic will be open to the public for three days only (28-29 June and 1 July 2011) at 18 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London from 10am-5pm.  If you don’t want to pre-book, you can still drop by to receive a product demonstration by an expert beauty consultant, and relax in the lounge with an anti-ageing “mocktail”.

To book, call the Olay Professional Clinic booking hotline on tel: 0207 611 3770 and register your details.

Olay Professional went live on the Boots website today on a strictly limited pre-sale basis with only 300 Olay Professional Anti-Wrinkle Kits available for purchase and I hear that over 7000 women signed up for the pre-sale.  Scary stuff!

The full, nationwide launch is scheduled for August.

Do you feel like you’ve seen it all before or are you more likely to be interested by products marketed around the results of their clinical trials?

One of the most hyped products of the last decade has been given a long overdue update, YSL’s Touche Eclat* is finally available to purchase in darker-skinned shades, why this has taken so long?  God only knows… it can’t have been due to a lack of interest.

the un-numbered one on the left is #1

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with this little clicky pen.  Many, many years ago I bought shade #1 and marvelled at its pinky paleness… delighted to discover a shade that would suit my skin so wonderfully.  Until I wore it and it made me look thoroughly lifeless.

Then a helpful MUA showed me where I was going wrong and drummed it into me that I was using a highlighter and NOT a concealer.  Huh?  First I’d heard of it… every woman and her cat had been shouting about how this was hiding their dark undereye circles!?  Confusion reigned…

the shade range swatched in the same order as above

Well, turns out that for me… I was applying WAY too much, WAY too close to the lashline.  Nowadays, I only really use it in the area that extends from the inner corner where my eye meets my nose (kinda), along the socket line to about halfway across the eye.  It brightens but it doesn’t really conceal… for me, Touche Eclat is a convenient everyday pick-me-up but no industrial strength fix for mega late nights!

You’ll find so many people telling you where to use it and how to apply it, personally…  I think it’s one of those products that you need to experiment with to find the best way to suit you.  I really don’t think Touche Eclat is a one-size-fits-all number.

the OCD in me wants to CLEAN these badly

For more information on selecting the right shade from the newly available selection, the YSL website has one of those ‘which shade are you’ thingamajigs that you may find useful.

I thought I’d leave you with this official YSL video, you can find it on their website.  I’m just wondering if he could have fit MOAR product on her face?  He should have just filled a bucket and let her dunk herself.

YSL Touche Eclat in all its glorious, new shades can be purchased online from Selfridges or instore priced at £24.50

What’s your take on this iconic beauty product from YSL?

* press samples

Following your awesome replies about the Moroccan Black Soap, I realised that I was short of an exfoliating tool to do it proper justice.  I rifled through my beauty cupboard and pulled out these dubious-looking pair of gloves*.

If you can for a moment, look past the luridness that screeches “I cost £1.00” they’re actually rather effective which makes me very happy that they only cost £1.00 afterall.

They’re rough without being unbearably scratchy and although I’m sure they won’t last longer than a few weeks, it would be hygenic to replace them once a month anyway.  I’m many things… but a dirt-bag, I’m not.  Mostly.

I tend to blitz my body in bursts of faux spa-related activity so these make a great pick-up for when I suddenly decide that tonight’s the night I’m gonna turn casa Lipglossiping into spa sanctuary Lipglossiping and take my rough bits in hand!

I also recommend the similarly ugly and polka-dotted shower cap, it holds in heat very well making it great for hair treatments.  Can’t remember how much I paid for the shower cap though, sorry!

Wilkinsons “Bath Time” Exfoliating Gloves are priced at £1.00 and available to pick up in store.

What are your favourite tools for recreating that in-home spa experience?

* pr sample

To honour the opening of one of the world’s greatest Tennis Grand Slam Tournaments, I’m dedicating this afternoon’s post to Wimbledon!

Tickets for The Championships are notoriously tricky to come by coupled with the fact that we’re more likely to see Murray win in straight sets than make it there in time to nab a decent spot on Henman Hill.

So let’s bring the atmosphere of Wimbledon to us with a few fragrances to get you in the mood for your centre court appearance!

1. Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Toit EDT 100ml – £77.00

This elegant bottle from Paris fashion house Hermès is the 4th fragrance from their garden-inspired series.  Literally translating to “A garden on the roof”, it pays homage to the roof-garden situated atop the Hermès’ HQ building in Paris!  One of the more instantly familiar notes within the jus is the freshly cut green grass synonymous with Wimbledon as one of the few remaining great grass courts!

Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Toit is available to buy online from uk.hermes.com

2. Eau de Lacoste Blanc EDT 100ml – £39.99 *

Pre-match nerves abound and the air crackles with tension as tight as strings on rackets!  If you could only snoop backstage to taste the atmosphere you’d get more than a hint of the cool, fresh notes waiting within this offering by Lacoste.  Simply titled ‘Blanc’ it evokes the spirit of the iconic L.12.12 polo shirt which translated to girl-speak means that lush, clean… crisp scent you’d get from nuzzling your nose in Federer’s freshly-ironed match-whites with just a hint of the iconic champion left behind.

Eau de Lacoste Blanc EDT 100ml is available to buy online from www.theperfumeshop.com

3. DIOR Miss Dior Chérie EDP 50ml – £59.50 *

It wouldn’t be Wimbledon with the event’s signature snack of strawberries and cream!  Like the sun with no moon, sausages sans mash… it just wouldn’t be the same without it.  Dior’s Miss Dior Chérie has some serious strawberry credentials that strike like a punnet of Kent’s finest with a backhand of caramelized sugar.  If anything can help remind the on-court grunters that they are indeed laydees, this would be the flirty scent for the job.  It’s unashamedly girly, fruity and pink!

DIOR Miss Dior Chérie Eau de Parfum is available to buy online from www.theperfumeshop.com

4. La Prairie Midnight Rain EDP 50ml – £74.00

I don’t need to tell you what this one reminds me of?  Clue: it’s not Cliff Richard.  La Prairie Midnight Rain is another fruity floral but with some serious “ooh la la” leanings.  While Miss Dior Cherie will render you the juiciest filly in the stand, Midnight Rain will have you tearing up the turf at the after party!  Opening with some tropical top notes the fragrance dries down to a sensuous musky finish, it’s not a sexydirty scent but it’s not alltogether innocent either.  One thing’s for sure… it wouldn’t let rain stop play!

La Prairie Midnight Rain is available to buy online from www.escentual.com

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Who’s gonna win the men’s final this year and what fragrance are you wearing today?

* press sample

No, you’re not dreaming… I’m talking sensuously sweet, toothache-inducing crumbly fudge flavoured just how you like it in under 10 minutes!

Here’s some I made earlier…

You don’t need a sugar thermometer or skills that Fanny Cradock would be proud of you just need a microwave and a handful of ingredients.

Homemade Microwave Baileys Fudge!

397g Tin of Condensed Milk
125g Butter
250g Caster Sugar
250g Soft Brown Sugar

1 1/2tsp Vanilla extract
2 tbsp Baileys

1. Grab the largest microwaveable bowl in the kitchen and add the condensed milk, butter and sugars.  No need to mix just ensure that the container is LARGE because the contents are going to bubble up furiously and splattered fudge mix is way not cool to clean off.

2. For a 900W microwave, cook the mixture on full power for 9 minutes, removing the bowl for stirring every 3 minutes.  If your microwave has a lower wattage you’ll need to cook the mixture for longer.  Add 1 minute of cooking time for every 50W less power.

3. Once the cooking time has finished, add in the vanilla extract and Baileys and beat the mixture until it begins to look smooth and glossy.

4. Transfer the fudge mixture into a 9″ square tin to cool.  You can be smart and line the tin with greaseproof paper to prevent sticking or just hook it out crumbled bits and all like I do.  Once the mixture has cooled to room temperature, you can pop it in the fridge for a firmer set if required.

One of the charms (there are many) of homemade fudge is the limitless scope for wonderful flavours… I’m thinking chocolate & mint for my next batch, or maybe peanut butter or mmmmm honey and walnut?!
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If you were to whip up a batch of fudge… what would be your flavour of choice?

Help: Clear Skin is a 100% natural and clinically proven skin supplement that promises to treat the skin gently from the inside out to clear spots, rather than using harsh ingredients direct on to sensitive skin.

It comes in a powder formula packaged in individual sachets, that can be mixed with your favourite beverage or soft food without affecting the taste or texture.  They should be taken twice a day every day for a minimum of six weeks for best possible results.

Today, I’ve got a potentially life-changing 6 month supply up for grabs for one lucky reader, that’s a value of £240!

Enough to do some serious blemish-busting!

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To enter and stand a chance of winning this amazing prize, simply…

1.  Follow @HelpClearSkin and @Lipglossiping on twitter

2.  Tweet: I’ve entered to win a 6 month supply of @HelpClearSkin beauty supplements in an exclusive comp with @lipglossiping http://bit.ly/lvNG2O

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The competition closes on the 27th June at 23.59.  You have one week to enter!

For more info on help: clear skin, visit http://www.workswithwater.co.uk/pages/help-clear-skin-product.aspx

T&C
1. Entry open to UK residents only.
2. One winner will be picked at random from all joint @HelpClearSkin and @Lipglossiping followers who have tweeted the required phrase.
3. Competition closes on Monday 27th June 2011 at 23.59.
4. Winner will be chosen by @HelpClearSkin and notified over Twitter within 5 days of the competition’s closing date.