A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

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?

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!