A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I don’t usually fire out many lust posts but I had to share my OMGWANTITNOW for the new Rouge d’Armani Hot Collection.  I’d been sorta thinking about (trying not to think about) it for a little while… but Karla’s swatches, oh my… the swatches.

Yeah.. whatever… I was talking about the SWATCHES <<<< click this link and be prepared to want one.

Want one?  I want TWO.

I always seem to fall in love with Armani Limited Edition items and I swear that the counter in Selfridges has the worst stock levels of any counter, ever.  Wish me luck on Wednesday, I’m taking L into the big city and if I don’t come back with one of these beauts in my hot little hands, I won’t be a happy pink-lipstick lover.

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Do you have a favourite from the line up?

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it once or twice already but did you know I turned 30 yesterday? 😉

I had a marvy day and despite spending the entire day looking rather, well… makeup-less, I did put some effort into making my nails as bling-tastic as possible!  Wanna see?

What with it being in focus n’ all, you don’t really get the true OMGGLITTERYGOODNESS effect.  But trust me, it was super blinging!

I used two polishes… one was an Urban Decay oldie from my youth (ok, 5 years ago) called Cult and the other was my brand new Color Club spangly holographic top coat called Starry Temptress.

Do you have any favourite combos for the ultimate in nail bling?

This week’s around the blogosphere love in…

What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a beauty product?

Oh… oh.  Err.  My husband reads my blog yano?  Especially when I don’t want him to.  It’s a sixth sense, like spidey sense but less cute and more likely to get me in trouble.

I bought a £40 blush a few months ago and I like Elemis.  A lot.  I’m also getting a taste for perfumes that go beyond sensible prices.  I’m trying to be coy about it… ok, it’s probably a Creme delaMERDEthatsexpensive eye cream that was…. ok.

But the thing is, for me… it’s the fripperies that add up.  All those little “ooh that’s a bargain, I’ll just get this, this and this” that end up costing more than I bargained (harhar) for.

Lipglossiping – champions the Brit pack with a couple of purchases from Mary Quant Cosmetics, ironically… made in Japan!

Nouveau Cheap – There’s a surprising little twist to the new Wet n Wild Juicy Lip Balms. What could it be?

Orange to LA – has been smitten with another blush, this time it is Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric #5 Raspberry. Find out if you need this blush in your collection!

Pink Sith – has pictures and swatches of the Nordstrom Annual Sale EXCLUSIVE Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Rose Tourbillon. Something to add to your shopping list!

Phyrra – has an awesome Vampirella liner tutorial for you!

Vampy Varnish – loves the new Wet n Wild Nail Color Collection called Mermaid’s Cove ! Which are your favs?

we heart this – Our beauty scientist put Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner to the test. Did it pass with flying colors, or running streaks?

Beauty Junkies Unite – Amber reviews some of the July exclusive Limited Edition Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquers to see how they perform!

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C’mon… own up!  What’s the most YOU’VE ever spent on a beauty product?

When it comes to exfoliation, I’m an advocate of all things gentle for your fizzog but I reckon you can get a bit tougher on those crepe-y elbows and knobbly knees.  I like salt scrubs, sugar scrubs and all manner of granular things!  In a pinch, I’ll make do with an industrial sander for my heels.  Put simply, I like to feel a good body scrub working.  I am…when all is said and done, a bit of a scrubber.

Which is just as well, ‘cos Neal’s Yard Remedies Rose & Geranium Body Polish is one hell of a scrub.

I once had a scented geranium plant in a pot next to my desk, it was lush… all lemony and I used to accidentally-on-purpose brush into it when walking past just so that it would release some of that aroma into the air.  This scrub takes me right back to those days but without the endless watering and tiny cobwebs.

The “scrubby” bits are comprised of exfoliating argan shell and rice powders, both providing a decent amount of exfoliation, this is definitely on the ‘I can feel it working’ end of the spectrum.  The particles are suspended in a creamy shea-butter base that doesn’t collapse under a splash of water like some.  Basically, you’re looking at the Ross Kemp of body scrubs.  It’s tough but with the potential to be a bit girly on the inside.

Being Neal’s Yard it obviously contains no nasties, is bunny-approved and suitable for vegans.  A 150g tube will set you back £16.35, placing it at the higher end of what I’d usually pay for bodycare type things but that familiar scent ensnared me and I can’t say I’ve been disappointed.  It leaves my skin so baby-smooth that I can see the jealousy in Leila’s eyes.

You can purchase Neal’s Yard Remedies Rose & Geranium Body Polish instore or online at www.nealsyardremedies.com

How do you like your scrubs?  Scrubby scrub or gently does it?

Teeny quick update (knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away!)…

I’m having the bestest day thanks to the most thoughtful husband a girl could ever dream of.

Infact, I’m composing this post on my new phone and if it works it’ll hopefully make updating on the go a real possibility! (you poor, poor things).

Anyway, look at my lovely birthday presents!! How lucky am I?

Thank you for all your kind birthday messages, this getting older lark really isn’t that scary after all!

Eek! I hope this publishes without messing up the blog :/

drinking practically illegal amounts of tea

marvelling at how much joy this one brings

doing a bit o’ cooking and baking…

…but resorting to cheese on toast when the going gets tough

reliving my past…

…enjoying the present…

…and welcoming the future as I hit the big 3-0 on Sunday.

Please tell me it’s not gonna smart too much?  I’m a little apprehensive!  Posting may be sporadic over the next few days and if it isn’t… I really do love blogging a bit too much.

Have a great weekend people, I’ll see you on the other side!

Uh, I mean, don’t go anywhere until you’ve read this post ‘cos the clock is ticking and to be quite honest, I’m not sure how long you’ve got left to take advantage of this extraordinary offer from Beautique.com.

What offer?  I hear you say…

Well, how about a free O.P.I nail polish AND free UK delivery?  At the same time, all at once with no minimum spend?

If the deal takes your fancy you have until an unspecified time TODAY to claim the offer.  I know, I know… it’s my bad, I found the email in my god-damn junk folder last night didn’t I?

RUN, RUN LIKE THE WIND AND BUY SOMETHING.  Um.  Only if  you want to of course… don’t be waving your credit card bill at me like that!

…Le jour de gloire est arrivé!

I have strong connections to our neighbours over the other side of the English Channel and I’m not just talking about my love for Steak Frites!  I spent every Summer, the entire 6 week school holidays practicing my rubbish French and playing with the local kids not too far from La Rochelle.  My parents still visit for a few months every Summer and still try to drag me over there for family holidays fifteen years later!

It’s been a good few years since I visited for longer than a day trip, I think the overkill when I was a child/teenager may have put me off a little but the country will always hold a special place in my heart.

So, in honour of Bastille day and the fact that ordinarily (were it not ‘weigh in day’) I would be stuffing my face with Brioche and Pain au Raisin to mark the occasion, I’m gonna pay tribute to some awesome and lesser-known French brands that you ought to know more about!

1.  Darphin – Hailing from Paris, Darphin is a professional, botanical skincare line that takes a more holistic approach.  Priding itself on its aromatic, plant-based formulas, the latest addition to the line: Melaperfect* is an Anti-Dark Spot Perfecting Treatment designed for skin with hyper pigmentation.

2.  Rouge Baiser – This French drugstore brand is best known for creating the first ‘kiss-proof’ lipstick in 1927.  I own #405 L’Authentique… isn’t the packaging to die for?

3.  Nuxe – Born out of a small laboratory in Paris, Nuxe is now one of the best-selling brands in pharmacies today.  Another brand firmly based in natural origins, their dry oils have a global fan-base.  Apply a few spritzes to your skin, face, hair… anything that could do with a gentle golden shimmer!  The Huile Prodigieuse Or* is an iconic holiday essential.

4.  Payot – Created in 1927, this Parisian (I’m sensing a theme) Spa brand offers a huge range of products and spa treatments.  The philosophy of the brand is also heavily invested in massage techniques and facial exercises, practically pioneering beauty rituals that are still used in spas today.  The Payot Lift-Performance Firming Remodelling Care has been put to work on my (many) wobbly bits in the hope of some remodelling of my own!

5.  Caudalie – Born from French vineyards, the philosophy behind the brand is based in the anti-oxidant properties of the grape and the grapevine polyphenols.  The Caudalie Beauty Elixir promises to tighten pores and provides an instant burst of radiance to the skin.  I’m a long-term fan of the Grape Water spritz as an alternative to my Avene in hot weather so I’m looking forward to seeing if I can achieve any ooh la la miracles with the power of wine grape.

6.  T. LeClerc – The T. LeClerc line is steeped in heritage and prestige, best known for the iconic T. LeClerc powders in various correcting shades.  One day, I will get my hands on Banane but as things stand, I will make do with my blush and lipstick in all their beautifully packaged glory!

7.  Bioderma – You can’t enter a French pharmacie without being greeted by the same staple lines: Avene, Vichy, Bioderma, La Roche Posay and Biotherm to name just a few.  Of course most people know about the Bioderma Crealine H2O by now but the brand make some other lovely products too!  Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel is a gently foaming wash for combination skin that doesn’t strip my face of moisture.  I’m getting my Pharmacie dealer (a.k.a Mum) to bring me back some more Pharmacie goodies this Autumn!

8.  Parfums D’Empire – My most expensive perfume purchase to date is Ambre Russe from Parisian fragrance house, Parfums D’Empire.  The most decadent combination of rum (though I think I’m supposed to smell vodka), amber, leather, tobacco and tea that catapults you straight into the grand corridors of an imperial Russian palace of yesteryear.  It’s completely over the top and a love it or hate it scent.  Can you tell I love it?  Love.  It.  Next on my list is Cuir Ottoman… just as delightful.

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What are your favourite French brands in honour of Bastille Day?

* press samples

…you see, the Mary Quant store is next to the Liz Earle flagship store just off the Kings Road and I was mooching around killing some time before a facial.  I’d done Zara, drooled over the pastries in Pat. Val and there was really only Mary Quant left.  I would make a rubbish defence lawyer.

The first thing I was drawn to was the display cabinet filled with (mostly) eyeshadows.  They come packaged as pans, the palettes are sold separately for around £7 upwards.  Sadly, even the largest palettes didn’t really hold a great deal so I decided to just buy the pan and work out what the heck I was going to do with the shadow later.

S-36 is a pretty, neutral taupe jam packed with multicoloured sparkle.  The sparkle is smooth… simillar to what you’d find in a well-milled pigment rather than something like an UD eyeshadow.

My swatch doesn’t show the multi-coloured sparkle at all sadly.  I believe this shade is limited edition (Spring 2011) and was priced at around £7-£9 (I’ve lost my receipt, sorry!).

The second item I gravitated towards was this nail polish that charmed my inner magpie for all things sparkly.

The image above shows two coats layered over a black creme.  The glitter particles are holographic and the clear base is packed with a pink/red pearl which turns the black base a lovely aubergine/purple shade.

This is a small 5ml bottle and it set me back around the same amount as the eye shadow.

There’s only one store in the UK but you can order from them through a mail order system by giving them a call on 0207 881 9833 or emailing them at mq.shop@maryquant.co.uk

Probably the most important invention since the 2nd World War, lasers have been put to use in countless devices that have served society well.  From a personal point of view, they’ve changed my life and made me far more confident thanks to an excellent dose of hair removal courtesy of the SK:N clinic.

But let’s not forget even for a moment… that used incorrectly, or without care… lasers can be incredibly dangerous.

In October last year, the use of lasers for many cosmetic treatments was deregulated.  This essentially means that unless your hair removal treatment is adminstered by a doctor or a registered nurse, the operator no longer needs to register with the regulators.  To me, this is madness.  It means that the operators are often left unchecked and potentially untrained.

I’ve recently had a very close shave (pardon the pun) with a laser treatment.  I booked myself in to a local clinic for some IPL and they proceeded with a test patch.  On the first shot I felt enough of a ‘ping’ to make me jump and immediately knew things weren’t right.  When I got home, I could see that notch of skin had been clean removed from the area treated.

The above photo shows how the area looked immediately after treatment.  It shouldn’t look like this.  I contacted my practitioner who was horrified.  She said that she had never ‘burnt anyone before’ (her words) and asked me to come back if it didn’t heal well.

Here’s how it looked 2 days later… excuse the hairs, I obviously wasn’t shaving in the damaged area.  I looked after the burn carefully and used Aloe Vera on it regularly.  The most important thing was not to pick at the scab or dislodge it until it was ready to fall off.

This was three weeks ago and I’m left with a very, very small scar that’s not noticeable unless you know it’s there AND look for it.  Thankfully.

The IPL clinic have been very good since I flagged up this problem and I know that the operator has learnt a lot from it herself.  When I returned to the clinic we discussed what might have gone wrong in this instance and she agreed to test patch me a number of times in different places until we were confident this wouldn’t happen again.

I just want this to serve as a cautionary tale.  There are so many ‘deals’ around on IPL and Laser at the moment.

Please make sure that you:

1.  Get thoroughly test patched on all areas to be treated.

2.  Follow any advice you are given by your practitioner to the letter and most of all,

3.  Do your homework about your IPL/Laser provider.  Ask them questions and don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re unsure.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate.  A rogue operator may not have bothered to test patch and before you know it, you’re multiple shots in (you can do an entire lower face in around 6 minutes) and left with permanent scarring.

This new treatment from Pantene Pro-V promises to tame the frizz for up to 24 hours with a non-sticky formula.  Well, it pretty much does what it says on the tin.  THE END.

Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek Range (minus the intensive treatment!)

OK, not really the end… that would be a speed review and a half.  There’s a teeny bit more to this new hair release than meets the eye.

Pantene asked one of the top UK Spas (Stoke Park Spa by SPC) if they were willing to embark on a little experiment with them.  It involved a blind test… you know the deal, get in some guinea pigs – give ’em the posh cat food hair treatment and then give ’em the high street alternative.  Well, the punters couldn’t tell the difference between the Pantene range and the £60 spa treament and neither could the expert stylists.

Stoke Park Spa by SPC, when I die… I’d like Heaven to look a bit like this.

But what does this have to do with the Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek 24h Frizz Fighter?  Well, the range that was put to the test was indeed the Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek line up which now comprises of 4 ‘spa-endorsed’ products.

Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek Shampoo 250ml – £2.19
Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek Conditioner 200ml – £2.19
Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek Intensive Treatment (wash out treatment) 200ml – £3.99
Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek 24h Frizz Fighter 150ml – £3.99

The Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek 24h Frizz Fighter feels more like a leave in conditioner in texture when compared to something like John Frieda’s iconic Frizz-Ease serum.  I’m a fan of both but I like the lighter texture of the Pantene for my fine hair.  I have to be very careful with the Frizz-Ease not to overload and the Pantene certainly seems to be far more forgiving.

9/10 cats couldn’t tell the difference between the salon at Stoke Park Spa by SPC and my bathroom.

And the results?  Well they’re GOOD!  Whether I leave to dry naturally or blast with a hairdryer (whilst trying to flatten the hair cuticles of course) I achieve smoother locks.  I still have the odd flyaway near the roots but running my fingers through the ends of my hair confirms that the entire shaft is smoother, not as rough which as you can imagine results in an overall sleeker do!

Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Sleek 24hr Frizz Fighter is available at Boots and the other usual outlets!

* press sample

£6.49, Superdrug… if you’re lucky.  If you’re not so fortunate… there’s always the Sleek website or eBay but if you know you’re going that route, grab it now before it becomes ‘rare’ and about 3x the RRP.

Have you noticed anything odd about my palette yet btw?

How about now?

I appear to have a duplicated shade… not that I’m massively bothered because the missing “The Mail” shade looks a bit turdy judging by other swatches I’ve seen.  I appear to have doubled up on “Gift Basket” instead.

Having said that, I bought my palette off eBay ‘cos my local Superdrug doesn’t stock the brand…. it probably fell off the back of the conveyer belt.

Have you got this palette yet?  Trying to?  Or just plain not interested?