A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I’m not letting the end of the month sneak up on me again like usual.  Infact, I’m gonna do my “product love” post right now in a rebellious “up yours” to the Gregorian calendar.  Screw you end of month!

Veet Hair Minimising Body Moisturiser*(£4.99) – The difference in hair growth since I’ve been using this has been minimal BUT I’ve just repurchased a bottle regardless because it smells amazing and has become my go-to body moisturiser this month.  Light, easily absorbed and keeps my skin soft and supple during the warmer weather.  If it is slowing down my hair re-growth, good… but I’m not completely convinced on this (though do keep in mind that I has weird hair issues!)

Goody Tortoiseshell Slide Combs (under £2 a pack) – I get annoyed with Goody because they seem to discontinue my favourite hair accessories at such a rate of knots that it sometimes feels like a conspiracy *looks around*.  I’m not sure if these have been discontinued but I haven’t been able to find a backup pack when I looked this month.  These side combs are brilliant because they grip my fine hair like no other.  Brilliantly well made and discreet enough to make it look like you’re creating awesome hair styles with the help of magic pixies.

Kings & Queens Sultan of Grenada Lemon Flower Roll-On Deodorant (£3.50) – My best friend at Uni came from Grenada so this always reminds me of her.  I’m not sure she’d be keen to know that our friendship lives on in my bottle of roll-on mind you.  Without compromising on efficacy, this is simply a lovely (and slightly different) choice for deodorant scenting.  If you haven’t tried Kings & Queens yet, you should.  Keep your eyes peeled in T.K. Maxx too because I’ve seen some mini sets in there recently.

ASDA Little Angels Liquid Talc (£1.47) – If you’re well-endowed in the chest department, you may be familliar with the overuse of talc on particularly warm days.  This liquid talc is Leila’s but I stole it this month and plan to steal it again.  Talcum powder that applies like a lotion?  Clever!  No more mess, no risk of talc on dark clothing but with the same effectiveness as the powder alternative.  For less than £1.50… gerroff Leila, it’s Mummy’s now.

Neals Yard Power Berry Daily Moisture (£22.50) – This was in a try-me kit that I bought a couple of months ago and I’ve been using it on and off since then.  Whenever my skin feels like it’s ‘playing up’ I return to this… it’s like the nurturing, inoffensive aunty of the skincare world that safeguards your delicate state until you feel ready to take on the big boys again.  Make sense?  Well… it did in my head.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties, something I lurve to find in my skincare.  Big thumbs up!

Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser* (£15.00) – This has been a staple on my bathroom sink since I was given it a few months ago (and it’s still got a 1/4 left!) – I use this after oil cleansing as my second cleanser and it cleanses away any residues and leftover grime without leaving my face feeling stripped.  To be fair, that’s all it does… but it does it just as well as Cetaphil but with less product.  Basically, it’s my Cetaphil replacement.  I take issue at the product’s claims to remove eye makeup (it doesn’t) but I’m going to forgive it just because everything else is spot on.  Definite repurchase when it eventually runs out.

Trevor Sorbie Beautiful Curl Beach Hair (£5.10) – Currently a massive bargain at Boots because of a 2for£6 offer across the range, this salt spray gives my natural waves some good definition without the crunch you’d get from mousse!  I spray this on to almost dry hair and comb through with my fingers.  If I’m near the hairdryer, I give it a blast to finish.  It’s a quick fix for lazy hair days!  Also very excited that Trevor Sorbie have brought their original curl cream back recently, it was discontinued for a while, hoorah for consumer pressure!

Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl EDC (£9.00) – Still only £9.00 makes for an incredible bargain Summer fragrance.  I won’t go on about it because you can read my review here but more than one of you have fallen under its spell at ASDA’s bargain price since I mentioned it last.  I’ve been reaching for this one more than any other this month.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant* (£27.99) – This has become my morning cleanser/exfoliator in one… non-stripping and effective at ridding my complexion of dead skin it’s hugely convenient when I’m time-pressed.  I love the exfoliating action which makes use of Papain and Salicylic Acid to help dissolve excess surface cells in a more gentle way.  Who doesn’t like results-driven skincare?  Mr. L has also discovered its delights, something I’m not so keen on, it won’t be cheap to replace!

Floris London Florissa EDT (£22.50) – Another one that’s already been mentioned recently but deserves another shout out as my 2nd favourite fragrance of the month.  I’m particularly appreciating the complexity in this one which is (to me) a real outdoorsy, traditional scent and one that I’ve been complimented on more than once this month!

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Phew!  That’s quite a few products… what have you been loving this month?

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I think I rank pretty highly on the sad-o-meter… I don’t feel very confident until I’ve put some sort of war paint on in the mornings, I can’t walk past a beauty counter without going in for a closer look and my bank statement reads like the exhibitor list at IMATS.

But what about you?  QVC have commisioned a survey of over 2000 women in celebration of their annual July beauty month which reveals that more than a 1/3 of British women won’t leave the house without makeup on and that 21% of us admit that putting on our makeup is the most important part of our day!  Say what?!

If you think that’s a bit extreme, read on…

Instead of thinking of our loved ones, a third of British women admit that their beauty regime is the last thing on their mind before they go to sleep and for one in seven British women, it’s also the first thing they think about when they wake up!!

But why do we do all of this?  Well… perhaps the next juicy snippet from the survey will answer that question…

Over a third of women (31%) revealed that they are more concerned with looking good for other women as opposed to impressing the opposite sex, perhaps because 65% of British women believe they are judged by other women more than men.

Craziness!

What do you guys think about this?  Do you feel judged by other women and c’mon own up, who thinks about their beauty regime last thing at night AND first thing in the morning!

Question of the Week: – In some sort of cruel twist of fate, it’s ruled that you can only wear one brand for the rest of your life – which do you choose?

Answer: – If I had a perfect face and didn’t NEED my Lancome foundation…. maybe Chanel ‘cos I could live in their eyeshadows/blushes/lipsticks/eyeliners quite comfortably for the rest of my life.  But what about mascara?  And my Guerlain Meteorites?  No, I can’t do it… don’t make me do it.

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Nouveau Cheap – gives you an in-depth review of the new Salma Hayek Nuance Beautiful Blends Eye Quad, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before (no, really).

Orange to LA – Continues her Color Inspiration & Coordination series. This time her inspiration is a cute orange Birkin inspired tote bag. See which orange products she loves this season.

Pink Sith – is just one “Bye” short of an ’N Sync Reference when she tells you how much she loves the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer!

Phyrra – swoons over the new Too Faced Exotic Color Intense Eye Shadows.

Vampy Varnish – loves some of the new colors in the China Glaze Metro Collection Which ones do you like?

we heart this – Our Kitchen Cosmetician experiments with exfoliation, using ingredients that cost pennies per use!

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C’mon, I gave it a lame shot – spill, name the one brand you’d turn to in the face of cosmetic Armageddon.

If hell does exist, I reckon it bears more than a passing resemblance to one of the many overcrowded London bus routes in the heat of summer.  Over-tired children, sweaty passengers and dubious aromas combine effortlessly with roadworks and traffic jams to create the ultimate dystopian existence.

If you’re unfortunate enough to reside in this microcosm of despair on a daily basis, you might want to consider one of these Daniel Vaudd’s scented Hand Fans*.

The fan is delicately scented with Radiantly Romantic, Daniel Vaudd’s beautiful inaugral EDP.  Floral without being flowery, light and summery without a hint of sharpness.  It’s ethereal, wisp-like… and combined with the sweeping motion from the fan, creates a breath of fresh air that transports you to a rose-scented garden with every swoosh.

The fan comes complete with a fragrance vial to top-up the heavy paper when the scent begins to fade.  It’s become a permanent addition to my handbag over the last week, an instant mood-lifter and not a drop of caffeine in sight!

Priced at £14.95, the scented fan is available to buy online at www.danielvaudd.com

* press sample

Yeah, that doesn’t rhyme too well but ‘bossiping’ wasn’t a word last time I checked.  It’s 2.20am and I’ve spent all evening playing with makeups. Infact, I’ve been so preoccupied painting my face that I haven’t blogged and whenever I don’t blog, my head fills up with “stuff”. Stuff that will stop me from being able to sleep if I don’t turn the tap on my brain and let it flow somewhere, anywhere. I think is probably the #1 reason why I blog… when my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light. No messing. No time for books, telly, nothing. In the empty space between my photography blog and Lipglossiping, I used to lie awake for hours each night constantly searching for the cool side of the pillow and trying not to look at the alarm clock for fear of jinxing sleep forever. Blogging is good for me and it gives my night-owl habits a great excuse to manifest.

Anyway… Lipglossiping is Bossing just means that I’ve got another list for you. A list of ‘Do Its’. No reason, they’re just snippets of things I want to say I like without having to analyse in the minutest of details exactly why I like them because frankly, I’m gonna hit that pillow hard tonight.

IMMERSE: The Everyday Beauty, Long Tall Ally’s Tales from the Scales & Rouge Deluxe

ENJOY: Skinny Sugar Free Iced Vanilla Latte (tricky not to look like a twat asking for something so pretentious-sounding though)

ANTICIPATE: Clinique Black Honey Collection & Studio Look Books at Superdrug

LISTEN: Nouvelle Vague – Dance With Me

FOLLOW: @inmywindow, @lindseykelk, @cosmetic_candy & @beautie

BUY: GOSH Natural Touch Foundation, OSMO Intensive Deep Repair Mask & OCC Lip Tar in Memento

LUST: Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée

WATCH: But that’s the button for the internet…

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Have a lovely weekend people!

Earlier this month I attended the launch of a new beauty brand that prides itself on fusing ancient traditions and ingredients from the East with Western (right here in the UK!) formulating and manufacturing.

Jainnisa blends carefully selected natural plant and marine ingredients from Thailand to create the range which includes over 20 different products spanning two distinct collections colour-coded blue and red.  The first is the (blue) Calming and Relaxing selection, containing fragrant delights such as Ylang Ylang and Jasmine to instill a sense of tranquility at the end of a long day.

The second collection, the (red) Stimulating and Invigorating range employs more uplifting scents including lime, grapefruit and sweet mandarin to give you a physical and mental boost that ensures you begin your day hitting all the right notes.  Both ranges benefit from Blue Lotus, White Champaca and Frangipani to leave you in no doubt of the brand’s exotic origins.

My top pick from the brand is the Sumptuous Bath Elixir*, packed with Blue Lotus, Frangipani, Ylang Ylang, Tuberose, Mimosa and Jasmine.  It’s patented formula includes a combination of minerals that are activated when they come into contact with water, not only releasing antioxidant properties but also transforming your bath water a spell-binding cerulean blue!

From the careful selection and inclusion of such well-blended essential oils to the exquisite packaging and lovely formulations, Jainnisa is unmistakably engaging the luxe-market but you may be keen to discover that prices will start from £14.95 placing it firmly in line with other ‘spa’ brands in the UK market.  The website is due to go live very soon at www.jainnisa.com – watch this space!

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With a massive thank you to @allysonnewell for making this giveaway possible, I’ve got five Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadows up for grabs. I’ve previously featured each one in a FOTD post (obviously different palettes, yours will be new!) so you can have a look here to check out how each palette looks when worn.

These gorgeous palettes are unavailable to purchase within the UK and I’m not sure how readily available they are in other countries globally, so look sharp!

If you’d like to win this set of 5 Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadows, simply answer the following question…

Which of the five palettes did I wear on the hottest day of the year?

(click here to read the reviews and find the answer)

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T&C
1. Entry open worldwide by email only.
2. One winner will be picked at random from all entries that provide an answer to the question.
3. One entry per email address.
4. Lipglossiping.com is the sole promoter of this competition.
5. Competition closes on Monday 1st August 2011 at 23.59.
6. Winner will be notified by email within 5 days of the close of the competition.
7. No email addresses will be stored once the competition has closed and will only be used to contact the winner.

The Selfridges’ Beauty Advent Calendar will be making a triumphant return this Christmas!

Each window houses Selfridges’ most popular beauty products in miniature! Who needs chocolate anyway?!

Mini presents include Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, Lancôme Teint Miracle and Mini Juicy Tube, YSL Belle D’Opium, Kiehls Creme de Corps and Emporio Armani Diamonds.

The Advent calendars are priced at £70 each, are notoriously popular and sell out quickly.

I’m very tempted to start saving some pennies in a jar now, any number-heads know how much we’d need to squirrel away daily to come up with the £70 by October’s release?

Who knew cheesecake was so easy to make?  It’s one of those desserts where the overall impression defies the skill needed to create it.  Honestly, if you need to make something that looks super yummo and you have enough space in your fridge (move the chocolate and wine) to chill it… do it.  Do it now.

I like my cheesecake a little ‘well done’… don’t judge.  It’s meant to look like that.  IT IS!  I like the Channel4 recipe with a couple of modifications as seen below.

75g butter
200g digestive biscuits, crushed with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon
500g soft cheese
1 x 397g can condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp lemon juice
150g blueberries

1.  Melt the butter in a large saucepan before removing from the heat and stirring in the biscuit crumbs.  Tip the mixture into the base of a 23cm (9 inch) loose-bottomed cake tin, pressing them down with your fist (or the back of a spoon) to make a firm base.  Chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

2.  Preheat the oven to 170°C / fan oven 150°C / gas mark 3.

3.  Beat the soft cheese in a large mixing bowl until softened, then whisk in the condensed milk, vanilla extract, eggs and lemon juice.

4. Pour the filling over the biscuit crumb base, then sprinkle the blueberries ontop.  Place on the middle shelf of the oven to bake for 1 hour.  I leave mine to cool in the oven with the door wide open before chilling in the fridge.  Don’t panic if the cheesecake is still ‘wobbly’ in the centre after an hour’s cooking, that’s normal!

Get ready for a velvety-taste sensation!  You can serve with additional fruit… me?  I just serve it with a very big fork.

If I could pick only one lip colour to share the rest of eternity with, I would be faced with a decision-making crisis like no other.  I would find it preferable to contemplate chowing down on nothing but beans on toast for the remainder of my days than make an ultimate choice between my pinks, reds and nudes.

Having said that, the first step in the decision-reaching process would be the easiest.  Bold or neutral?  For me, it’s bold all the way.  I adore a bright lip, a pop of colour can work wonders to liven up a dull complexion, lifting weary expressions along the way.  Simply put, a new bright lipstick is one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable pick-me-ups known to (wo)mankind.

Some ladies wear their lip shades with an attitude that allows them to rock any colour they choose but the nervous among us have to be more cautious with our selections.  To play it safe, cooler-toned ladies generally look better in pinks and plums while warmer, olive-toned beauties sparkle in corals and fire-engine reds.  Of course, as with most things in life… rules are there to be broken but it’s always good to know the “rules” first in order to break them with confidence!

My favourite way to wear a bold lip is with good skin (hormones permitting), a slick of eyeliner, a hint of blush and nicely defined brows.  Bright lips can be quite draining so try to remember “fresh” face, not “freshly-dug-up” face when considering your overall look.  The key is to create a balance across the canvas that achieves a harmonious result, easier said than done but work on the basis that less = more and you’re halfway there.

My final consideration in the quest for lip perfection is upkeep.  Bold shades are the Mariah Carey of the lip world, they’re high maintenance and need careful care and attention to avoid a midday meltdown!  For long-lasting lustre, I recommend a liner to avoid bleeding, exfoliation and moisturisation to avoid the colour settling into furrows and the “apply, blot, reapply” technique to fortify dawn-to-dusk colour.  Failing that, just make sure you carry your lippie with you for mid-afternoon top ups!

I’m all about the lipstick but perhaps you’re more of a gloss girl?  The final decision lies with you but don’t forget to share your thoughts!

Tesco Magazine are running their latest campaign, Tesco Your Beauty Awards 2011 where you stand the chance to win lots of lovely beauty bits and if you’re very lucky, a trip to Antigua!

Head over there now and vote on your favourite beauty buys for unleashing the perfect pout!

* this is a sponsored post

It’s true, we don’t have much need (where did I put my umbrella?) for protecting our locks against sun damage on these drizzly shores at the moment but if you’re planning a Summer holiday to warmer climes don’t forget to pack more protection than just your SPF30!

Our hair can suffer the effects of the sun just as much as our skin and if you’re constantly dipping in and out of the sea or chlorinated pools whilst on your hols, your barnet will return home drier than a sun-dried twiglet.

Welcome to the second installment of The Cutting Room Floor, the segment devoted to Summer hair bits and bobs that have caught my eye over recent weeks!

1.  Aveda Sun Care 2011 (from £14.00)

Aveda Sun Care 2011 lineup comprises of a three-step defence and recovery system:

Aveda Cun Care Protective Hair Veil (£17.50):  A lightweight, water-resistant UV defense mist that forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure for up to 16 hours, to minimise colour fading, damage and dryness.

After Sun Hair & Body Cleanser (£14.00):  Aveda Sun Care Hair & Body Cleanser features a colour-safe formula with corn-derived chelator that gently removes chlorine, salt and product residue.

Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Treatment Masque (£16.50):  An intensive cream masque that replenishes hair’s protein balance, moisturises and defends against free radicals and the damaging effects of sunlight.

2.  Dr. Hauschka Neem Hair Oil (£22.95) *

Described as a ‘hero product’ for the Dr. Hauschka line, the Neem Hair Oil contains a rich, replenishing formula that promises to soften and restore hair that has been damaged by treatments, hair tools and the strains of holiday living!

It also lays claim to being able calm itchy, flaky conditions, encourage hair growth and even normalise sebaceous activity on hair that is prone to greasiness!  Best used as a weekly pre-shampoo treatment on most hair types but also recommended as a styling product for those with extra-dry, frazzled locks.  I have a sample here that I’m ITCHING (no pun intended) to put to good use… watch this space!

3.  Vidal Sassoon Contemporary Collection (from £17.99)

From August, Vidal Sassoon is getting a new look.  Clearly fed up with us lot buying up the high street stores in an attempt to reinvent our Summer wardrobe, the iconic hair brand is upping their game to join us!

The purple accents and redesigned packaging give a nod to the hairdresser’s love of geometric lines and asymmetric styling.  The new budget-friendly range in its eye-catching new packaging will be on shelf from August.

4.  Gielly Green Summer GWP offer (£19.50)

If you’re more concerned about the weight of your luggage than anything else this Summer (well not *anything* else, need a life much?), you might be interested in the current offer available at Gielly Green.

My love for their Argan Oil is well documented on here and until the end of August, when you purchase a bottle, you’ll receive complimentary travel-sized Lemon & Muguet Body Wash and Lotions with every order.  Perfect for sticking two fingers up at RyanAir’s baggage restrictions and indulging in a bit of pampering at the same time!

5.  Sachajuan SPF Range (from £18.00) *

Sweden’s hottest hair stylists have hit the UK with a new range expected to delight the socks off beach lovers everywhere.  The SPF line up includes three products designed to offer maximum protection against environmental damage without adding additional weight or build-up to fine hair.

A shampoo, conditioner and UV-busting mousse ensures that your style is protected with long-lasting effects without skimping on nourishment thanks to its very own Ocean Silk Technology formula containing valuable proteins and minerals derived from sea algae.

Sachajuan is available instore at Liberty and online at MichaelJohn Boutique

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Do you have any practical Summer hair tips for holidays?

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Inlight are a soil association-backed organic skincare brand hailing from deepest, darkest Cornwall with a philosophy geared toward homeopathic formulations and highly concentrated products.

The product I’m talking about today is their Organic Face Cleanser which is packed full of natural ingredients suspended in a moisturising base of coconut oil.  I’m familiar with many types of oil and balm-based cleansers, they form an important step in my daily cleansing routine since discovering the “like attracts like” properties of oil for makeup removal a few years ago.

Inlight’s Organic Face Cleanser is, to put it simply, high quality.  It contains no synthetic fillers to bulk the volume and every last gram has been engineered with great thought as to what purpose each ingredient serves.  The website impressively lists the skincare benefits alongside the ingredient list, transparency is key and it’s a real pleasure to be able to break down the properties to their base values.

For your money (£27.00), you get 60ml of product.  That’s not a lot of product for a cleansing balm, something that you reach for daily and although you don’t need a huge amount to cleanse your face… I was only able to make my pot last around 35 days.  We’re not talking an inexpensive product but then… you don’t pay peanuts and get high quality do you?

I sometimes find the scent overpowering with organics, they can be very heady and herbal.  Not unbearable but often a little overwhelming.  This face cleanser is reminiscent of a good (but not too heavy) aromatherapy oil, the multiple natural scents in the jar don’t jostle for pole position and I can appreciate a few individual notes in there (mostly the lavender and lemon).

The texture is beautifully creamy, it spreads over my face nicely with good slip but enough drag to encourage a good facial massage during application.  Breathe in deeply as you apply it and you’re benefiting from the fragrance aswell.  I have bitten the bullet, taken the plunge and can confirm that I’ve encountered no eye irritation despite being thoroughly clumsy during the mascara removal stage!  Often oils and balms will cloud my vision (at best) or send me scurrying for the cold water tap to flush my eyes (at worst).  The Inlight Organic Face Cleanser does neither, we’re in the retina-friendly zone with this one!

I don’t have any complaints with makeup removal, it does the job well and cleanses my skin nicely.  I don’t wear waterproof mascara but seeing as this is an oil-based product anyway, I can’t imagine it being less effective on more stubborn products.  My only gripe with the Inlight Organic Facial Cleanser is that it’s not an emulsifying cleanser.  Don’t expect this to turn the water cloudy and rinse cleanly away without a bit of effort on your part.

With hindsight, this is both a good and bad thing.

I’m used to emulsifying cleansers, infact I rate them on how well they emulsify.  I dislike being left with an oily residue which is precisely what this one will do unless you’re diligent in your rinsing, wringing, rinsing, repeat.  For me, this is definitely the 1st step in a 2-part cleansing ritual… I need to double cleanse after using this.  I say it like it’s an inconvenience but the truth is, I’ve always double-cleansed anyway.  Even with the best emulsifiers, so I’m not sure why I consider it an issue.  Infact, because the ingredients are so pure… I’d be tempted to suggest that those with very dry or mature skin not even bother with a 2nd cleanse.  Any residue from those ingredients will probably do you more good than stripping everything away with a 2nd cleanser.  I guess it boils down to what you’re used to.

Which brings me to my final point.  What I’m used to… well, I’m used to oils and balms leaving my skin a little tight.  Nothing I can’t put right with a dose of heavy bed-time moisture but still, it’s a compromise I’ve always made.  The Inlight Organic Face Cleanser doesn’t leave me with any tightness despite feeling more astringent (read: effective) on my combination (read: congested) bits, I’m just not experiencing the dryness I would have expected.  Perhaps it’s the lack of those emulsifying agents?

So there we have it.  An effective, high quality cleanser that I’d rate as excellent for combination skin.  It doesn’t emulsify and it (probably) won’t leave you with tightness.  It smells good and it feels like you’re treating your skin to the best you can afford.  Only problem is, I’m not sure I can afford it on a monthly basis.

Inlight Organic Face Cleanser* is priced at £27.00 for 60ml and available online from Inlight Organic Skincare

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