A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

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?

* press sample

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

* press sample

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!