A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

My Nan was born and raised just outside Pontypool and I have family who still live in the area, they know when I’m coming to visit and bring out the welsh cakes.  My addiction to these little drop scones of Godliness knows no limits.  I can polish off 6 in one go.  Hell, if I didn’t get the food guilts, I could polish off double that.

They’re traditionally made on a Bakestone, a cast-iron griddle.  It’s important that the heat distribution is even which is why a well-seasoned griddle is best.  I don’t have one so made do with a very heavy-bottomed (cough) frying pan.  My Nan’s Bakestone is somewhere in the family and I might just have to start hunting it down.

They’re exceptionally easy to knock together… if you do attempt it, you may aswell double the recipe RIGHT NOW because I can assure you that although these will keep for a week in a tin.  Most of them will be long-gone by teatime.

8oz / 225g self-raising flour (or use plain with the addition of 1tsp baking powder)
1 fully loaded tsp mixed spice
115g chilled and cubed butter
75g caster sugar
75g sultanas
1 egg

1.  Sift the dry ingredients (not the sultanas) into a bowl before rubbing the butter into the mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2.  Break the egg into the mixture and combine.

3.  Stir in the sultanas and use your hands to bring the mixture into a dough.  If it needs it, add a dash of milk (just a drop) to bring it all together.

4.  On a floured surface, roll the dough out to around a CM thick and use a glass or (large) cookie cutter to cut into rounds.  Any leftovers can be re-rolled and cut until all the dough is used up.

5.  Heat your griddle/pan until hot and drop a little butter onto it to grease the surface.  You’re not shallow frying!  Just a little will do.

6.  Cook the welsh cakes for around 3/4 minutes on each side.  They can catch very quickly so lift them to check they’re not burning occasionally.  Once browned on each side, they’re done!  Sprinkle with sugar and eat!

Just. one. more.

Just as the waves tumble onto the shore, I want my waves to tumble onto my shoulders.  Defined, smooth and shiny.  I want beach-beautiful locks (minus the sand).  A bit of sunshine would be nice too!

Babyliss Wave Envy promises just this, well… not the sunshine but beachy waves that last!  Never you mind what the shipping forecast says, I wanna look like I’ve just stepped from the Atlantic dunes at La Tranche Sur Mer.

The Babyliss Wave Envy is designed to clamp your hair between the barrels for a few seconds before releasing into a perfectly formed wave.  You then move the entire unit down to the end of that formed wave and clamp again… repeating until you reach the tips of your hair.  It actually works very well and my fairly fine hair was fully (if not expertly) ‘waved’ within 15 minutes.

The Babyliss Wave Envy features:

~ A top temperature of 200°c
~ Three heat settings for different hair types
~ Ultra-fast heat up
~ Ceramic plate and barrels
~ 2.5m salon style swivel cord
~ Cool tip for safety and ease of use
~ Heat protection mat
~ 3 Year Guarantee

It is indeed very easy to use, I’m someone that has never been able to curl their hair very succesfully with straighteners but this makes it a doddle albeit in a very different style.  On my hair, it doesn’t really look that beachy… I’d describe it more like a bohemian, almost hippy-like wave.  I think I should go get some big flowers to stick in it.

The unit is light to hold, easy to wield despite its cumbersome appearance and didn’t make my arms ache during use.  I was able to wave all sections without swearing and didn’t burn my fingers/ears/head once.

My personal preference is to ‘wave’ my hair with this tool and then wear it up in a loose bun with various bits falling and looking all tousled.  In honesty, I would prefer to see slightly larger barrels than are present on the Babyliss Wave Envy… a personal preference for my tastes would be for a looser, less crimped-looking wave.  But I’m sure there are just as many who will love this more boho-chic look.

It is perfect for summer and it also holds amazingly well on my hair which usually repels all curl.  The photos above were taken around 4 hours after waving with just a v. small amount of hairspray and no pre-styling products used.

The BaByliss Wave Envy retails at £50 and is available from Boots, Argos, Tesco Direct and Amazon.

* press sample

Next up on my Summer lists are FIVE fragrances perfectly suited to long Summer days, balmy Summer evenings and not forgetting the odd rain downpour just to keep us on our toes.

What makes a Summer fragrance?  Well… obviously highly subjective but personally, I’m partial to a bit of greenery, a touch of juiciness, not too much of my beloved amber this time of year but a nice big blast of floral instead.  I want a Summer fragrance to freshen and lighten my mood, I don’t want to curl up in it.  I just want it to carry me along on a cool breeze.

1.  Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl 30ml (£9.00)

Don’t you DARE laugh.  I’ve had this since I was 15 and I’m on my 3rd/4th bottle.  I’m sure there are unwritten or maybe even written rules about fragrances not really being fragrances at all when you can buy them for £9 in Asda but I. DON’T. CARE.  I think Tommy Girl is an exquisite Summer scent.  It’s fruity and sharp without being tarte or acidic.  It’s a proper mood lifter and whilst not hugely long-lasting (it’s an Eau de Cologne), it has a real energising tang with a soft, soft heart.

2.  Miller Harris Citron Citron 50ml (£60.00)

A slightly more refined choice in the form of Miller Harris Citron Citron which is distinctly part fruit, part earth.  It makes for a wonderfully new take on a traditional juicy fragrance.  Yes, the Sicilian lemon is at the core of the scent but it’s flanked in all directions by a bouquet of wild herbs and woodland.  Don’t mistake this for your typical juicy fruit fragrance… the fruit is nicely complemented with a crisp note of mint that ensures a perfect harmony.

3.  Burberry Summer Woman EDT 50ml* (£33.00)

While Citron Citron shuns the juicier aspects of fruit… Burberry Summer holds its arms out for a fruity cuddle whilst secretly concealing a 3000 watt juicer.

A sweet fragrance with a big hit of orange.  It’s a touch syrupy but contains enough fresh, green notes to stop it from fading into the gourmand, fruit salad genre.  Not the longest-lasting scent, it wears close to the skin once the top notes have faded and I detect a soft floral with a hint of powder.  Burberry Summer is a carefree, Summer fragrance with youth on its side and if you love Nina Ricci-esque scents, you should definitely be checking this one out before the limited edition run disappears along with the last of Summer!

4.  Ted Baker Skinwear Limited Edition EDT 100ml* (£24.00)

Lemon peel, spearmint and pepper make for a zingy and uplifting opening to this deliciously light men’s fragrance.  After a few minutes, the scent mellows, allowing the woodier notes to emerge.  Vetiver, cedarwood and patchouli make for a smooth and creamy base which lingers for hours and keeps encouraging me in for another sniff.

Despite having been created for men, there is nothing locker-room about this fragrance.  It’s far more refined and if you’re keen on a little spice and some woody notes, it’s thoroughly suitable to wear as an interesting alternative to the standard female fare.  I love it and it certainly doesn’t bring me the Lynx effect.  Thank god!

5.  Floris London Florissa EDT 50ml (£45.00)

Currently available on the Floris London website at a knockdown price, Florissa is a charming floral with a heart of rose and muguet.  I don’t wear lily of the valley too well but it reminds me of my Nan and will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason.

The opening is sharp and a little overpowering, containing a delightfully crisp element of cut grass but the winner for me is in the soft, powdery floral qualities to be found from the drydown onward.  It’s babysoft and comforting… Florissa is a perfume from another era and one that I happily visit again and again.

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What are your favourite Summer scents?

* press samples

Time for another ’round the blogosphere’ love in…

What’s a beauty trend that you wish would go away?

Ohhh, controversial!  Hmmm… there’s a few.  I can do a few right?

1.  Gel lipsticks with a hint of colour.  Buy a lip balm.

2.  Accent nails.  Sorry, but they upset my sense of symmetry.

3.  Foaming hair dyes.  Either get it right, or pack it in.

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Beauty Junkies Unite – Amber shares the entire Dolce & Gabbana Italian Summertime makeup collection, is there anything here you find swoon-worthy?

Clumps of Mascara – can’t take her hands off of Milani’s limited edition Paint palette.

EauMG – reviews a spicy, garden fresh fragrance by L’Artisan Parfumeur.

Lipglossiping – puts the stamp of approval on FIVE of the hottest pink lipsticks for Summer!

Nouveau Cheap – shows you all six palettes in the Wet n Wild limited edition Dream Weavers collection. Is it cheesy to say these shadows are “out of this world”?

Orange to LA – discovers another highlighter to add to her collection. This time it’s Chanel Pearl Glow Powder (Poudre Lumiere Perlee), from the new Chanel Le Blanc Collection. She loves it, will you?

Pink Sith – Joeybunny shows you how beautiful the NYX Nude On Nude Palette can be, and why she loves it so!

Phyrra – extols the virtues of Holika Holika Essential Petit BB Cream SPF 30 PA++. See what caused her to fall in love with it!

Vampy Varnish – Thinks the new MAC Colourizations Eyeshadow Pro Palette x2 are pretty cool!

we heart this – Damn it feels good to be a beauty blogger! Especially after seeing MAC’s Bloggers’ Obsessions.

Having a little tidy up this morning and I uncovered some more precious bits and bobs to put in Leila’s box of memories.  I unashamedly hoard for this collection of papers, objects, cards and photos that make up the parts of Leila’s life she’ll never remember.

Mr. L has to keep me in check a little.  I want to preserve ever memory we ever make together but let’s be honest, I don’t think they make boxes big enough.

From photos of her first day at home, a postcard from our first family holiday, her first lock of hair and even her name translated into Arabic by a friend who was delighted we’d kept the original spelling…. everything is here for her to look back on when she is big and has babies of her own.

I’m posting this here because I’ve noticed that the collecting has ground to a halt and I want to remember that even only 2 years on, these precious snippets of her life are moments I’ll never re-live.  When she’s five, I’ll want to remember her as she is now too.

Live in the moment, live in the past and live in the future… where my girl is concerned, I want to absorb every last second.

Do you collect memories like this?

… an accidental case of perfect timing.

As the death knell sounds for the final issue of Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper The News of The World today, this newspaper manicure couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.

China Glaze Pelican Gray provided the foundation for this one.

You can watch a tutorial on Newspaper nails below from Cutepolish, they’re SO easy!

I went to the Beak St. store last week in an attempt to find a shade match for the new Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation.  I’d previously been to the Selfridges counter where they were OOS of the shade the MUA had recc’ed for me, #2.  Once at Beak St. I had a closer look at the tester for #2 and I wasn’t convinced.  It’s very pale.  Like proper porcelain pale.  I’m pale but ruddy with it and dislike “too pale” foundations even more than ones that are a little too dark thanks to a morbid fear of a face that looks like an uncooked pasty.

Again, I was matched to #2 and though I could see where the MUA was coming from with her recommendation, I asked her if she knew whether the base was prone to oxidising in the hopes it was!  In other words, I still wasn’t convinced by the shade but I wanted to try the formula so badly I was clutching at straws just so that I could convince myself into purchasing.

The MUA disappeared and came back with a little sample tube which was a kind gesture gratefully received and one that has since saved me £25.00 of disappointment.

Illamasqua’s latest foundation is marketed as being inspired by the Asian BB Cream market, promising to smooth, soften and condition your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage.  Unfortunately, my experiences don’t tally with any of those claims.

The formula is thick but not unblendable, it takes well to warming up with your fingertips before spreading over your face.  This makes it (as with most true BB creams) a good lazy day foundation… no brushes are needed, just apply… blend with your fingers and go.

As for natural coverage?  I found this a little on the heavy side.  Not too heavy… but heavier than I’d like to call ‘natural’.  As with most things as subjective as this, you may well be immensely pleased to hear that it’s a fuller coverage foundation!

But my first disappointment (aside from the lack of sun protection and downplayed skincare ingredients) was the shade.  Now, with 18 shades available, I’ve got a cheek moaning about it.  But despite those 18 shades, I haven’t found a match.  The Missha #21 is pretty much perfect for me… this is too pale and the next shade up is too yellow… any further than that and it’s too dark.

IMO possibly the first time my skin has looked better WITHOUT foundation.

The second disappointment came with the flakies.  My skin is admittedly quite unbalanced… I have flakes and congestion occupying the same areas.  Before applying any foundation, I moisturise well… it’s a rare foundation that can take the place of my moisturiser but look, flakies immediately after applying despite a good dose of Oilatum.

The foundation clearly sent out mini heat-seeking missiles to every dry spot on my face and clung on for dear life.  I just can’t recommend this for dry-skinned sisters… these flakes weren’t apparent before foundation, though of course I’m not denying they were there but I don’t enjoy foundations that accentuate my dryness like this.

Finally, despite the dryness thing… I found that this didn’t control oil very well either!  The centre strip down the bridge of my nose was shiny within a couple of hours and the foundation had slipped from my t-zone by lunchtime.

sexy

I really think this foundation should be tried before buying.  It’s garnered some rave reviews across the net by some awesome reviewers whose opinions I trust implicitely.  I think that the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is simply a slippery customer and will either delight or disgust you.  Do try and get a sample or a full face applied by a MUA before purchasing.

For me, this doesn’t compare to my BB Creams… infact, it reminds me of my MUFE HD Foundation which as a revered product is probably a huge compliment.  But then I disliked my MUFE HD foundation for the same reasons.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is priced at £25 and available instore, on counter or online.

Have you tried it?  How did you find it?

It’s the lists… I can’t escape them.  Once you start, it’s very nearly impossible not to drown yourself in post-it notes.

1.  NARS Super Orgasm Blush. I feel like a leper loving this.  I’m sure there’s some unwritten rule somewhere that if you love makeup, you’re not allowed to like NARS Super Orgasm or Urban Decay MCRA.  I’m with you on the second… but I love the glitter in this!

I do give it a gentle tap against my arm to knock the bulk of the glitter away before applying but I like to see a couple of flecks of gold as I turn my cheek.  Go on, cast me from the blogging community.  Sniff.

2.  Lord & Berry Inkwell Liquid Liner in Slate. Everyone should own a good charcoal eyeliner… sometimes, you need something a little softer than harsh black and grey is your friend.  This one has got me wanting to investigate the Lord & Berry line in greater detail, it’s a wonderful liquid liner with a good, firm tip.  Formula is long-wearing and well-pigmented.

3.  Face Atelier Ultra Foundation in #2 Ivory.  After the recent disappointment of Illamasqua’s Skin Base… this, I’m swooning over.  I didn’t think I’d like it… infact, with all the silicones I thought it might be similar to the Illamasqua one but this applies like a second (perfect) skin on my face.  I won’t review any deeper because I’ll do a proper post on it soon.  But seriously, this is lovely, lovely, lovely.

4.  Trish McEvoy Brush 5 Powder Brush. Is one I haven’t talked about before but is the cream of the crop when it comes to my brush collection.  Beautifully shaped, soft enough to tickle but dense enough to mean business, there’s not a powder brush like it in the world.

5.  Paula Dorf Sheer Crease Brush.  You can pretty much repeat the things I said about my Trish McEvoy brush, only substitute the word powder for eye.  It fits my socket perfectly, retains its shape as I blend and never scratches.  Lovely!

6.  Pixi Fairy Light Solo in #2 Champagne Glow*. This is a shimmering champagne that works beautifully over my entire lid area to brighten.  It reminds me quite a lot of my beloved Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Sugar Biscuit in terms of use.  A proper all-rounder, only this one leans more pink than the Lauder.

7.  Burberry Lipstick in Cameo #2. A pretty peachy nude that’s not too peach against my pink skin tone.  Wonderfully creamy and super glossy without a hint of frost, this is a splendiforously luxe feeling lippie in an elegantly wearable shade to see you through every season.

Yeah… I been liking ALL this stuff this week!

* press sample

Hmmm, I think I like this one even more than Happy Birthday, maybe.  I’m not sure… I like the idea that I can do glitter but still keep it looking a little sophistimacated you know?

My idea behind this one (ooh get me, *idea*) was to emulate (ooh get me, *emulate*) the rubbish Summer we’ve been having.  OK, it totally wasn’t…. it’s just reminded me of rain after the fact and I thought I’d try and sound a bit arty but I can’t even convince myself for half a second let alone anyone else.

But it does look like silver raindrops against a cloudy sky right?  Just nod.  It’s easier for everyone in the long run.

That’s one coat of Today Was A Fairytale* over American Apparel Factory Grey (also one coat).  Which makes the entire manicure a two coat wonder.  Looks like more right?  I’m suitably pleased!!

I’ve decided that I prefer a top coat over the Deborah Lippmann glitter polishes.  You don’t *need* one but if you do… just one coat renders the surface perfectly smooth like a normal manicure.

Deborah Lippmann Today Was A Fairytale is available to buy online and instore at House of Fraser priced at £16.00

* press sample

This is for the lovely Deborah at ThisWeekIHaveMostly… who requested a couple of lip swatches before the weekend from my recent Hot Pinks post.

Hope this helps D!

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Oh and just because this post is super short, I’ll take a moment to tell you about yesterday. If you follow me on twitter, you may have already heard this story… so move along, nothing to see here!

So anyway, potty training.  I haven’t actually started the process… I’m just testing the water and seeing how she reacts to the potty/having her nappy off/talking about it etc.

Well, she crapped on the floor.  I don’t know why I didn’t prepare myself for something like this but I should point out in my defence that I’ve never owned a pet that’s crapped on the floor either.  I walked around the corner to see L pointing at this (impressive) turd, look of abject horror on her face while she explained to me breathlessly that she was just playing games when a coconut fell out of her bum.

Laugh? Cry? I did a bit of both to be honest.

Have a great weekend lovely people!

The final Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio palette!  Don’t forget, I’ll be giving you an opportunity to win all of the ones featured.  For a quick reminder of the other palettes, read on…

I’m Feeling Retro
I Got Good Jeans
Silent Treatment
I’m Getting Sunburned

But today is the turn of a proper party-looking palette, Spoiled Brat.  I may have ‘eeked’ a bit when I saw this.  Silver, black and hot pink…

…really not a combination of colours I’d normally attempt.  Some of you ladies are like ‘pfff, what’s the big deal?’.  And quite rightly… I’m just an unimaginative wimp to be fair.

But what I lack in imagination, I try to make up for in ‘not afraid to put myself out there for guidance’.  So let me have it and give it to me straight.  Just don’t tell me you hate my site layout again.  We’re talking about the makeups today right? 😉

I think I would have preferred the flash of pink on my lids… just a peek when I looked down.  I fear I’ve gone a bit retro-futuristic weird with this one.  Still, truth be told, I’m not sure my application skills are up to the job of keeping a vibrant pop on my lid without muddying the crap out of it.

So… Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadow in Spoiled Brat… another win?  (not on me… just in general!)

Yes.  Christmas.  In July.

The Christmas press events (don’t know what they are? read BBB’s post here) are rolling in and I attended my first couple of the year yesterday.  They’re my favourites and I wish I could get in to London to attend more because the PR crowd (kinda like the IT crowd but with nicer hair and shoes) always work very, very hard to make the venues look super special and it really does bring a sense of Yuletide festivity to even the warmest of London days!

I know it’s all about the commercialism but you have to be a hardened cookie not to crack a smile when you enter the fairylands on display.

The Christmas events are always pretty packed too which gives me an opportunity to sneak around indulging my inner (wide-eyed) child and taking photos of all the beautiful things without getting (too many) strange looks.  I always feel like someone’s gonna wanna know why a beauty blogger is taking numerous photos of port & stilton.  I still haven’t come up with an answer but I think I should just pat my belly and lick my lips by way of a response.

Can you stomach a bit of Christmas in July?  Don’t worry… I’m not showing you the beauty offerings yet, unless it’s something super-duper hold-the-front-page exciting, they can wait until I’ve heard A Fairy Tale in New York for the first time on the radio.  So probably mid-August then…

But I can’t resist sharing some of the other pretty…. the pretty pretty.  Go on, whistle me a little Winter Wonderland.

OK, I promise not to talk about Christmas again until September.  Maybe.

Much love, me (and the elves) x