A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I like grey nail polish. It’s edgy enough for old people to look at your nails like you must be satan’s lovechild but not so edgy that it makes your boss search for valid reasons to move your desk into a cupboard.

CarolynK’s Helga is a neutral, concrete grey creme with no discernible jazz about it.  A straight-forward what-you-see-is-what-you-get shade that applies smoothly in a couple of coats.  It’s part of the Carolyn K London Neutrals Nail Paint Set which offers a trio of work-appropriate shades.

The set is reasonably priced at £12.99 and available to buy online from www.powderrooms.com

I’m a bit of a kebab monster.  Doner, Shish, Kofte… chicken, lamb, vegetable… I love them all.  It’s an illness.  Nowadays, I restrict the doner love for those times when copious amounts of alcohol have been consumed and I can’t taste the belly-buttons.

But how about cheese?  Cheese kebabs.  You’re salivating aren’t you?

I’m not going to write out a recipe because it’s pretty obvious how to construct a cheese kebab.  Get some cheese, string it on a skewer and add some vegetables so that you don’t only have cheese on it.  Tempting though it is.

Halloumi is pretty brilliant for this, infact… I wouldn’t recommend using anything else.  Especially don’t use Dairylea triangles, nothing good will come of it.  My halloumi comes from Asda and has chilli in it for a little added kick.

What other vegetables work well skewered?  I used: courgette, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and mushrooms.  I’m sure I missed something really obvious…

Baste the kebabs with some kind of marinade (I used sweet chilli) before popping under the grill for around 10 minutes, turning ocassionally so they don’t catch fire.

I served my Halloumi Kebabs with a mini-tortilla and some salad.  If you’re following Weight Watchers, you’ll be interested to know that this meal (with half the pack of cheese and a mini-tortilla wrap) came out at 14PP.  Who says you can’t eat kebabs and lose weight?

Do you like kebabs?  We probably can’t be friends if you don’t.

Kirsty has been one of my favourite people to follow on twitter for a while and I’m delighted that she’s finally started her own beauty blog.  I don’t know a huge amount about her but she’s got a wonderfully potty mouth, has spermy eyebrows and gets regularly impregnated on the Jubilee line (her words, honest).  Check out her newest baby at www.blushnsuch.com.  Today, she’s sharing her wisdom on how to combat oily skin.

How to beat The Oilies

Oil. I put it on my cuticles, I have no qualms with heating it until it spits and crackles and makes my chips taste delicious and I always slather my hair in it before bedtime to keep it as glossy as can be. It has its uses, definitely, and I love it when it’s anywhere but my face. ANYWHERE but the face.

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a shiny t-zone which is as irritating as it is persistent. I get all the lovely spots and enormous pores which come with having combination skin and a bit of dehydration thrown in for good measure (there is no God) – all of which serve to create a seriously fussy canvas for make-up application.

Luckily, I’ve uncovered a few things which help to balance my skin over the past few years. The products that I’ve listed below are all absolute essentials in my eyes and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who has ever applied a full face of make-up in the morning only to have it sliding all over your mush like a well-oiled tubby kid on a water park slide by the time you get to work. Enjoy.

1. Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner

I only received this in the post a week ago and it’s already one of the products I love the most. It’s a milky-coloured gel which I use as a primer to mattify my skin and also smooth over pores. You know how your make-up can look kind of melted on warmer days (or just any old day if you’re as oily as I am)? Well, this stops it. I only need to powder twice in a 12-hour period when I use this stuff, which is nothing short of a miracle. And Lisa Eldridge uses it in her professional kit too. Double joy.

2. NARS Sheer Matte Foundation

Again, a fairly recent purchase. Again, I can’t imagine myself without it. It looks awful when applied with a brush and just as bad when a BeautyBlender is used, in my opinion. To get the best out of this you’re going to have to get right on in there with your hands. I apply it bit-by-bit, starting on my nose, by slowly massaging it into my skin and blending it outwards until it turns to nothing.

This is the only foundation I own that allows me to skip powder and it keeps me matte for around six hours. Don’t let the word ‘sheer’ fool you into thinking this is a wimpy light coverage foundation, by the way. This is a solid medium coverage product that doesn’t whine when you try to build it up. If you’re on a budget, the best alternative to this is Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation.

3. Ben Nye Banana Powder

This powder is an absolute bargain. I paid £5 for 42g of product which is only just halfway gone after eight months of daily use *swoons*. It comes in several different shades but my MAC NC20/ Bobbi Brown Sand-toned skin likes the Banana powder best. It’s yellow-toned, finely-milled and, most importantly, it’s not going anywhere.

The packaging is a bit finickity and impractical (I pour some out into a Muji pot, then use it) but the value and quality of the product really speaks for itself. I have powders worth four times the amount that succumb to The Oilies within the hour – this stuff keeps me going for at least five. Nuff said.

4. Clarins Lotus Oil

I know what you’re thinking. Oil. The very thing you’re trying to keep away from your mush, and here I am pleading with you to put some right back onto it. But of all of the skincare I have purchased in my life, this has been the biggest game changer. After a thorough double cleanse every night, I mix some of this with whatever toner I’m using at the time and gently pat it onto my face. I wake up to plump, bright skin every time.

This product has really helped the dehydrated patches on my cheeks without upsetting my oily, clogged areas and it has definitely helped my skin to chill out on the oil production front. The dropper bottle also makes me feel a bit like a scientist, which is also somehow a massive bonus. Clarins, in their eternal wisdom, also sell Blue Orchid oil for dehydrated skin and Santal oil for dry/ extra dry skin, so no one need be left out. Excellent.

What are your favourite products to keep The Oilies at bay?

When you’ve got a good thing going, the wise among us know to keep running with it.

Which is exactly what Clinique are doing with this whole Chubby Stick thing.  First came their Chubby Sticks for Lips, consumers couldn’t get enough of the balmy formula in the convenient-to-use stumpy pencil.  However, some complained (cough) that the finish was too sheer, so Clinique created Chubby Stick Intense, and thus… I was happy.

Roll forward a few more months and the brand have taken their original idea and pimped it to the max.  Lo and behold, we have Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes*.  I’m fully expecting a chubby foundation next week.

There are currently 12 shades available and I received samples of a couple of the shades a little while ago.  Lots o’ Latte and Whopping Willow are two fairly neutral-toned cream shadows from the range but interestingly, Whopping Willow has a small amount of glitter running through the cream which is difficult to notice just by looking at the stick – a pretty and welcome addition, mostly because it’s kinda grown-up and subtle.

The twist-up crayons are easy to use and glide across the eyelids without any drag.  The colour is sheer but extremely buildable… a few swipes will build-up complete coverage over the eye.  The formula is easily blendable with just a finger, you don’t need a brush to apply these, making them perfect holiday-accompaniments or perhaps ideal for the desk drawer at work?

I had problems with both of these shades creasing on me within a couple of hours.  I suppose that such a creamy formula that applies so beautifully has to have a negative somewhere and on me, longevity is where it’s at.  This isn’t a complete disaster as I did find that a slick of primer underneath worked wonders to increase wear-time to a completely respectable seven-or-so hours.

I’ve included a swatch of both shades below, you should be able to pick out the sparkle in Whopping Willow, isn’t it pretty?  I don’t usually like greens… infact, I hate them… but this one is a little bit special.

Have you tried any of the new shades and are you a fan?

Clinique’s Chubby Sticks for Eyes are priced at £16.00 each and available to buy on counter or online at clinique.co.uk

* press sample

I’m delighted to introduce Abby from Un-observed to the blog.  Abby blogs about beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and decor and is guest-posting for me today about keeping a selection of oft-used products easily to hand.  Is this something you do?

I tend to keep my most used products in a basket on my dressing table. Some days I don’t want to trawl through my drawers to find something I use regularly.  The products I have on my dressing table often change though.  And I like to add things to it that I have forgot about, just so things don’t go un-loved.

Here are a few of my favourite products which I currently have on my dressing table.

First up is L’Oreal’s Color Appeal Eye Shadow in ‘Platinum Beige’.  I never used to sway from my Naked and MAC palettes, but saw this shade while going on a mad swatching session in Boots.  I love the shade on me and the texture Feels almost creamy.

I’m currently using a sample of Clinique’s High Impact mascara. I have been through a few tubes of it in the past and love how it gives my lashes a real full effect without being clumpy. The formula is wet, which allows it to grip onto the tiniest of lashes but dries pretty quickly. It doesn’t transfer under my eyes (which is a major plus for me) and it’s so easy to remove. I must get round to purchasing a full size again.

I am currently in love with Revlon’s fairly newly-released ‘Nearly naked’ foundation. I purchased it a few weeks ago and I still love it, if not more. I would say my skin is fairly clear. Nothing a good concealer can’t cover up, so I don’t like to use a heavy foundation. This one is perfect and with a little powder stays on throughout he day. I like how it feels like I don’t have foundation on at all, as it is so light and blends in so easily. It’s definitely a natural finish and I tend to use my fingers to apply it.

I purchased a magazine the other week which came with a free sample of Elemis’ ‘Softly Softly’ Daily moisturiser. My usual moisturiser is Oilatum’s daily repair and whenever I try another one out, I usually end up hating it. The Elemis moisturiser has such a different formulae than what I’m used to. As I have dry skin I usually look for a thick moisturiser, but this one is quite the opposite. It’s very light and smells strongly of Tea tree oil. I don’t like the scent, but luckily it doesn’t linger for long. It sits perfectly under my foundation, and I have noticed a massive improvement with my skin already.

I like how I have a mix of new products I am trying, samples and old favourites. I find this the easiest way to not forget about a product, as well as trying something new.

Does any one else store a selection of products away from their collection?

remembering this oldie…

A big welcome to Anna from It’s A Bloggers World who is guest-posting on Lipglossiping today.  Anna is an Italian, living in Manchester.  Today, she is talking about a rather unusual-looking makeup brush and I’m sure I can feel the stirrings of a new desire already!

I am sure that every one of you, as makeup-addicts have faced, at least once, THAT question: “Are you a foundation brush or a sponge person?”

Dilemma.

I have been through all the different stages: fingers, flat brush, stippling brush, latex sponges (in every shape created), wet or dry, everything!

Then I realized it was more a matter of what effect I wanted to achieve from my foundation than finding the perfect tool; most of the time, I’ll use a stippling brush if I want to go for medium, natural coverage or I’ll choose a flat brush with the addition of a sponge if I need a full coverage “hide-those-spots-please” finish!

This is why I couldn’t help myself from buying this little jewel.  Enter the Sonia Kashuk Complexion Perfector Brush.

I had the opportunity to purchase this last summer while in Chicago as I casually found myself walking near a Target (don’t look at me like that, of course it was planned and of course I knew where the shop was before even landing in the USA!)

As you can see, it’s a dual-ended brush with an oval sponge on one side and a brush on the other.

The brush is synthetic and has a domed shape. It’s quite firm but no worries, it doesn’t scratch your skin at all, it just does the job of keeping a well-defined shape.  The sponge is oval-shaped and quite similar to the iconic sponge that Sonia Kashuk is famous for.  It can be removed to for washing, clever isn’t it?

I basically use both parts: I first apply foundation with the sponge and work it out all over my face.  Then, I use the brush for the sides of my nose, the under-eye area and any small details (see “detail” as that spot that decided to rise like a volcano on your chin without being invited).

As you can see on the instructions, it can be used the opposite way as well, using the brush first before blending all over with the sponge, but I find it easier for me to use the first way.

Sometimes, if I am lazy, I use the brush to apply my concealer as well and it works pretty good.

I didn’t have any problem when I washed it, no loose hairs or changes to the shape (doesn’t it get on your nerves when this happen? I go mad!)

It’s part of the “Kashuk tools” and costs about £15.50. Unfortunately my dear Sonia is not sold in the UK, so you have to count on ebay, an old friend that just moved to USA or that holiday that you really need…

Are you ready for a trip to the USA then?

It’s been a while since I’ve pulled MAC Speed Dial out from the lipstick drawer but there’s something so damn irresistible about pink lipsticks and Spring-time.  Looking back through my archives, I notice that I always start wearing the pinks at this time of year, and I tend to go more “nude” (har har) in the Summer-time.  I’m such a sheep for trends.

One of my favourite things about MAC Speed Dial is that it’s a beautifully clean-looking pink.  Bright without being in your face… a little cool-toned without being blue.  As is typical of most MAC lipsticks, I don’t find this to be the best formula in the world.  The cremesheen finish is slightly claggy on the lips if you build it up, feeling quite thick and heavy from the first application… staying power is good for around 2hrs, without eating.  I’m just not a massive MAC lipstick fan I guess.

Grumbles aside, the colour just makes me happy.  It brightens up an otherwise boring FOTD and goes nicely with a simple eyeliner flick and tidy brows.

What’s your favourite spring-time pink lipstick?

MAC Speed Dial is priced at £14.00 and available to buy on counter or online at www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Hi, this is Marina here from Makeup4all guest blogging today, and I would like to tell you about five makeup products that I enjoy using right now.

First of all, you need a good canvas to start with, so Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Moisturizer is my current choice. I have a dry skin type and it’s not that easy to find a foundation/BB Cream/Tinted Moisturizer/ you name it that doesn’t enhance any dry patches and looks natural on me. And this “foundation” does wonders! It gives a beautiful radiant finish which looks like a second skin. As it is a tinted moisturizer, you get a light coverage which is, luckily, enough for me. I use the shade Adansonia.

Blush is probably my favourite makeup product and I can never have too many. My current favourite is BECCA’s Creme Blush in Amaryllis. It gives a very natural looking flush, blends into the skin beautifully and stays on for the whole day. I just can’t get enough of it. I have recently hit the pan on this baby which, considering how many blushers I have, says a lot!

I love wearing red lipstick from time to time and my current favourite has to be Lancome’s L’Absolu Rouge 160 Rouge Hypnose (It was a part of the brand’s Autumn collection but you can still get it, from Feel Unique for e.g). It goes on smoothly, gives an opaque coverage with one layer and doesn’t dry the lips out. The colour is to die for, plus I am very fond of the design, so chic!

As for the eye products, I’ve been very impressed with New CID cream eye shadows, i-colour. I have a shade called Chocolate Opal and it is a cool chocolate tone with silver shimmer. Light mousse texture allows you to get a very thin layer (or you can build it up if you wish), which doesn’t crease, smudge or fade for hours.

The last thing that I have to mention is Anastasia’s Lash Genius. For me this is a must-have, I actually got a second tube already! It is basically a top coat which makes your mascara waterproof. I have sensitive eyes that often water and this product is my saviour! The bonus is that it’s not hard to remove, as some waterproof mascaras.

And what about your current top five makeup products?

I first realised that I could make my own biscotti after reading Meg’s recipe for her Christmas DIY series, it simply hadn’t dawned on me that it would be anything other than horrendously complicated to make.  Moments before making it, I even tweeted again… just to double check that I wasn’t about to embark upon a biscuity (biscotti, gettit?) nightmare.  The responses were positive, biscotti is indeed, easy to make.

Which is why I’m sharing this diet-friendly version as part of this week’s Weight Watcher’s challenge.  The brief was simple: “Eggscellent Easter Treats – Rather than succumb to high ProPoint sweet treats that could derail your weight loss, why not use your knowledge of the Weight Watchers plan to whip up something plan-friendly instead?”

That’s fine.  I’m still going to eat my body weight in hot cross buns… no-one can stop me, I’m sorry.  Hot cross buns are my favouritest things in the whole world.  You can keep your easter eggs, your Cadbury’s Creme Eggs, your roast legs of lamb, and even your simnel cake… I’m not interested.  It’s all about the Hot Cross Buns.  Served at room temperature with cold, cold butter.  Oh god.

QUICK!  BUNS OUT, BISCOTTI IN…

the cast of characters

My second favourite thing (after hot cross buns), is lemon cake.  Lemon anything really… the clean flavour really tickles my taste-buds.  Considering I’m going for an Easter-themed treat, my health(ier) alternative needed to pay hommage to the life-giving force otherwise known as chocolate.  So here we are, White Chocolate & Lemon Biscotti courtesy of www.cookinglight.com (but somewhat modified by yours truly).

You’ll need (makes approximately 32 biscotti at 2PP-a-piece):

3/4 (150g) cup sugar
3tsp grated lemon rind
1tsp vanilla extract
1tsp lemon extract
2 large eggs
1 2/3 (200g) cups all-purpose flour
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4tsp salt
1 1/4 cups (170g) white chocolate, chopped
Cooking spray or a Silpat mat

1.  Preheat oven to 150° celsius and prepare your baking sheet by covering it with a silpat mat / spraying it with non-stick cooking spray (or grease and lightly dust with flour).

2.  Add the first five ingredients to a large bowl and mix until well blended.  Combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda, and salt and gradually add them to the sugar mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in the chocolate.

3.  Turn the (wet) dough out onto the baking sheet and shape it into two (12-inch-long) rolls; pat to 2-inch width.  You may need to flour your hands, it’s quite messy… just keep working the mixture into shape.  These will spread quite a lot as they cook, so beware that you’ll need to allow space on the sheet for this OR use two baking sheets on different shelves.

4.  Bake at 150° for 30/35 minutes. Remove the rolls from the baking sheet(s) and let them cool for 10-minutes on a wire rack.

5.  Cut the rolls diagonally into 1/2″ slices. Place them, cut sides down, back onto the baking sheet and bake at 150° for 10-minutes.  Turn the biscotti over and bake an additional 10-minutes on the other side.  Remove them from baking sheet and allow them to cool completely on wire rack.  The biscotti will harden as they cool.

a hint of lemon with chunks of white chocolate

I don’t like black coffee, this was purely for the photo. Someone needs to fix their nails.

about 1/8th of the finished quantity. We’re gonna beeescotti sick of biscotti!

What’s your favourite Easter indulgence? Will you be attempting to side-step the chocolate treats for healthier alternatives this year?

* I am a Weight Watchers blog ambassador and my links to their website are affiliated.  I have received no payment for this post.

Hi! I’m Anna and I write a blog called On the Dressing Table (found at www.onthedressingtable.blogspot.co.uk) which is primarily about all things beauty. I am so excited to be writing this post for one of my favourite blogs and I hope you will enjoy reading it. If you do, I’d love it if you’d come and say hi on Twitter @OTDTblog or head over to my blog and leave me a comment.

I met some fellow bloggers the other day at an event and one of them was kind enough to comment that I don’t look my age and asked what my secret was!

I wasn’t blessed with the skinny gene or the long legs gene but one thing I have been lucky with is my skin, I am often complemented on it and I have been lucky in that it’s always been pretty clear and I only get the odd blemish around that time of the month. A lot of this is down to genetics but I do think my passion for skincare has helped and as I approach 30 (despite a couple of very bad habits), I am relieved that my fine lines are at a minimum and my biggest skin complaints are a slightly oily t-zone and some redness along my jaw (also inherited as both of my brothers have the same).

So, for anyone who is interested, here are my top tips for improving and maintaining your skin.

Stay Hydrated

I try to drink 2 litres of water every day, not including any cups of tea or fruit juice. At first when you start doing this you can end up running to the toilet every 5 minutes but if you persevere this passes and you really notice the difference in how hydrated and plump your skin is. This is even more important if you like the odd glass of wine, cup of coffee or salt on your chips as they all have a diuretic effect which can leave you and your skin feeling dehydrated.

Cleanse, cleanse and cleanse again!

I can’t emphasise enough the importance of regularly cleansing your skin, especially if you wear make-up. We’ve all had those nights when you are so tired you want to just fall into bed and the thought of washing your face seems like too much effort. But trust me – if you clean your face morning and night and follow up with a good quality moisturiser you will start noticing a real difference after 3-4 weeks.

Invest in a High Quality Moisturiser

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream is my number one skincare product and I will never be without it. It isn’t the cheapest moisturiser in the world but I think that you pay for quality, and when it comes to skincare I am happy to invest in products with those ingredients that will really make a difference long term. The Pro Collagen Marine Cream contains Padina pavonica – a clinically proven, collagen-boosting marine algae. If you’re interested to know the science behind it: it stimulates the synthesis of hydrophilic (water loving) molecules in the skin that retain moisture and therefore improve the texture and elasticity of the skin. I also love to use a hydrating mask regularly; my favourite is Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask which has a lovely fruity smell and really intensely hydrates my skin.

Exfoliate

As our skins cells are constantly renewing it doesn’t take long for dead skin cells to build up on the surface of the skin. This not only leaves the skin looking dull and lifeless but also prevents the products that we put onto the skin from penetrating down to the layers in which they work, so you might be using some great products and really not seeing the full benefits.
My favourite chemical exfoliant is Alpha H Liquid Gold which contains Glycolic acid to dissolve away dead skin cells, and my favourite manual exfoliant is the Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains which you can add in to your favourite cleanser to give it a rough texture which loosens and removes any dead skin cell as you massage your cleanser into the skin.

Rainbow Diet

A healthy diet really does make the difference to your skin. Whatever you put into your body shows on the outside. Now I’m not going to pretend that I don’t indulge in all those things that are bad for us (alcohol, processed foods etc.) but I try to make sure I always eat a variety of fresh (organic where possible) fruit and vegetables and have at least 5 a day. I love to make fruit smoothies for breakfast or fresh vegetable soup for lunch. The trick is to eat a variety of colours of food to ensure you are getting the range of different nutrients that you need.

Exercise & Rest

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and as with other organs a good blood supply is essential in order for your skin cells to renew. You need to keep the blood pumping and regular exercise, especially if it’s outside in the fresh air, really does wonders for your skin and your general health and well-being. Rest is also really important as our skin cells renew while we are asleep so the more sleep we get the better our skin will look!

Sun Protection

It’s so easy to think that sun cream is only needed for that week abroad in the summer but the harmful UV rays are hitting your skin every time you are outside, even if it’s overcast. At the time you don’t notice the damage that exposure to these UV rays is doing but they are prematurely aging your skin so if you want to hold on to your youthful looks, in the words of Baz Lurhman, wear sunscreen every day! If you try and incorporate it into your skin care regime you will soon be doing it without even thinking about it. I would recommend investing in a product designed specifically for your face as those for the body can be too rich and result in break outs.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have managed to pick up a trick or two!

Question of the Week – Describe your everyday, go-to makeup look.

Answer: – Anything that gives my face some definition and removes some of the redness from my skin.  If I’m in a hurry, I’m generally happy with: foundation, eyeliner, brow powder, and a lipstick.

Phyrra – shares the Jesse’s Girl Julie G Frosted Gum Drops Textured Nail Polishes!

Vampy Varnish – loves the new Deborah Lippmann Staccato Nail Collection for spring but it is a bit pricey compared to some other brands with similar shades…

we heart this – check out post 1 of 2 about Stef’s Makeup Show haul; featuring Cult Nails, Kevyn Aucoin, Ellis Faas and more. That’s right, 2 posts! She may have a problem…

Beauty Junkies Unite – Amber brings us 5 facial exfoliators that absolutely rock!

Clumps of Mascara – finally does an update on Baby Clumps. She is practically a big girl as the tender age of 2 months.

EauMG – Happy spring! Victoria reviews a perfume that reminds her of blue skies and fluffy clouds.

Gouldylox Reviews – Wondering if Aveeno’s BB Cream is anything more than a re-hashed tinted moisturizer? I’ve read (and re-read) all of the ingredients. The results aren’t what I expected!

My Beauty Bunny – is giving away a Derma Evenly Radiant Gift Basket!

Nouveau Cheap – puts the new Lumene BB cream to the test. Could this possibly be her new favorite drugstore BB cream? Come find out…

Pink Sith – believes that if red lipstick was currency she would be a billionaire. Check out her latest red lipstick acquisition, the Givenchy Le Rouge in # 307 Grenat Initlé.

Prime Beauty – wanted to spy on her favorite bloggers to see what they use to pamper themselves and found out she’s not as low maintenance as she thought! See what products and rituals 13 other bloggers indulge in on Makeup Wars, At Home Pampering!

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by Phyrra – I adore Mandy from PrettyMaking and her post about tarte maracuja’s creaseless fair concealer made me want not only that concealer, but the Paula’s Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint, too!