A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I feel like I’ve been waiting FOREVER for this to turn up… I ordered about a month ago, so I’m making the assumption that post from the Far East is slow-going at the minute.  Missha M Perfect Cover was the name that kept cropping up following my last post showing my small collection of BB Creams and so it was this one that I decided to add to my ever-growing stash.

Packaged in a squeezy tube with a pump dispenser, the 50g of product contained within is well-housed both for hygienic application and freshness.  I don’t know why more base products don’t use this method.

I opted for the shade #21 (light beige) and am pleased I did as it matches my skin-tone well, I’m around a NW15 for reference.  The tone is fairly neutral to my eye, neither too yellow or pink but it does tone the redness down very well, which is something I find BB Creams excel at doing.

The particular skin benefits of the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream include:  SPF 42 PA+++ (the PA+++ meaning that it is a broad spectrum product with the maximum UVA protection), skin lightening (hyper pigmentation) and anti-ageing.

The texture is thick but spreads well, it doesn’t feel particularly heavy or greasy… something which many BB Creams are prone to doing.  I find this quite moisturising but still wouldn’t be without an additional light moisturiser as base.

I would describe coverage as medium, it evens out my skintone nicely without looking too heavy.  It will dampen blemishes but not disguise them completely.  A great choice for everyday wear but you may want something that offers fuller coverage in the evening.

Compared to my other BB Creams, I find the Missha M Perfect Cover fairly matte.  It’s not flat matte but I wouldn’t describe it as dewy either…. on my combination skin, it didn’t need powdering and neither did it allow too much oil to break down the effectiveness on my t-zone for many, many hours.

It’s another LOVE to add to my collection… so easy just to apply with your fingers (as I have above) and there’s undoubted comfort in the knowledge that I have decent sun protection, good coverage and a little bit of added skin TLC thrown in for good measure.  Thanks for recomending this one to me chaps, I’ve struck gold!

I bought my Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream from seller FriedGreen on eBay and paid £11.78 inc. postage.

I was recently invited to spend a few hours at Louise James Health & Beauty, a well-placed beauty salon just a short hop from Epsom in Surrey.  I sent Mr. L off to spend the afternoon at nearby Chessington with Leila whilst I got down to the serious business of relaxation.

The salon offers a range of treatments from the more traditional facials, massages and manicures to the latest Ultra Plus VPL (stop smirking, that stands for Variable Pulsed Light) laser machines that zap unwanted hair, thread veins, age spots, pigmentation and even pores!  Throw in some tanning, waxing and Pamper Parties for little ones and you’re looking at a complete one-stop beauty shop.

I settled in for one of Louise’s Exclusive Facials which incorporates a back massage (bliss), a cleanse (squeak squeak), a steam (sweaty), an extraction (oh yes!), the most incredible face massage in the world (fact) and a mask that in my case, smelt like weetabix.  The ambiance in the room was good with mostly dimmed lighting and the gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore… my solitary niggle was being able to hear the conversations on the other side of the door as clients came in to book appointments but in limited salon space, that’s a tricky one to address.

I emerged from my facial with not only the most incredible glow (proof coming up) but also some seriously impressive bed hair!  It was like having a 12 hour sleep condensed into 90 minutes!

check out the glow AND the bed hair! (excuse the phone photo quality)

The Salon uses Dermalogica and Louise was happy to talk me through the products she was using on me, why she was using them and the specific benefits I could expect.  All this followed an indepth discussion about my skin, how it was behaving and a bit of close inspection!  Aside from clearly knowing her stuff, it was a breath of fresh air to have the info relayed in a non-patronising manner.  Hair Stylists, take note.

Before heading back into the real world, I opted for a Jessica Cosmetics pepto-bismol pink on my nails which finally got to see the benefits of some expert shaping without the manicurist trying to insist on completely squaring off my nails… now that’s a rare occurence.

All in all, it was an experience that needs repeating.  I’ve had a few treatments over the years and for me, these things are as personal as a visit to the doctor.  I’m the kind of client who values her privacy, likes to know what’s going on during a treatment (but is sometimes afraid to ask) and appreciates simple warmth and friendliness.

Salon facilities, products and everything else aside, it’s Louise herself that makes Louise James Health & Beauty a must-visit.  Not only an experienced therapist but clearly an experienced people person who will ensure that time spent in her salon is time spent wholly tailored to you.  Through chatting with her for just a short while, it became apparent very quickly just how much pleasure she takes from her job.  It’s not rocket science, a happy, qualified therapist with good people skills will make for a very happy customer.  And I’m certainly one of those.

For more information on Louise James Health & Beauty near Epsom in Surrey, please visit the website www.louisekjames.com – prices start from £25 for a mini facial.

* I was invited for a complimentary facial and manicure as a guest of the salon.

GLITTER THROW UP!

I hate glitter polishes.  I can’t apply them without thinking ahead about 4 days… the thought of removal makes me want to sharpen a meat cleaver in preparation.

I love glitter polishes.  I can’t apply them without smiling at their cheery playfulness.  I love how nothing else on earth makes Leila think her Mum is ridiculously cool like a big ol’ pile of glitter vom on my nails.

This is my difficulty.  I know, starving people all over the world think they’ve got problems?

Yeah, that’s super pretty right?

I defy you to look at Happy Birthday* and not feel the whimsy in the bottle.  It’s the polish that all 4 year olds dream of.  34 year olds dream of it too… they just don’t admit it so freely.

3 coats gives you a fair splattering over a bare nail.  It gave me enough coverage to not be concerned about my poor, yellow nail beds and that’s saying something!  It would actually layer over any shade exceptionally well… black would knock it outta the ball park no?

I had so many comments on my nails when I wore this for a few days… the glitter lies flat so it’s completely non-irritating but you might still want a top coat to smooth it further.  It’s really very lovely, though I did turn the air blue when removal time came.  I attempted one finger the usual way before going for the very successful tin-foil trick.  I’m so glad the cleaver stayed in the drawer.  This time.

Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday is available to buy online and instore at House of Fraser priced at a nail-biting £16.00

* press sample

There’s a new toothpaste in town. It’s lean, mean and err not very minty as it happens.  Featuring the revolutionary bacteria-busting ingredient Stabilised Stannous Flouride, this supposed super-paste claims to be all you need to target the oral issues that affect us daily.

It’s taken 15 years of development and 70 scientific studies ahead of today’s launch because this volatile active ingredient has proven difficult to present in a stable, usable form.  That sounds like me before my morning cuppa.

Finally, the bods at Oral-B reckon they’ve nailed it in the form of the new Oral-B Pro-Expert toothpaste which goes on general sale today.  There’s more sciencey stuff behind it about how they managed to stabilise and tame this chemical but seeing as it involves words like polyphosphate, you will excuse me if I skim over those finer details this early in the morning?

The bottom line is that Oral-B Pro-Expert is proclaimed to be the toothpaste to put an end to forced compromises.  Oral-B say that you really can have your whitening, cavity protection, plaque reduction, tartar control, enamel strengthening, sensitivity repair, gum improving and breath freshening all in one tube.  Phew!

I used it for the first time last night and it’s really a little strange!  It feels slightly gritty on the teeth (although I have been promised that it’s 100% non-abrasive) and the taste!  Oh the taste!  It is EXACTLY like the rinse you get at the dentist.  It’s not bad, I actually really like it… but don’t expect that minty zing because this is something altogether quite different!

Oral-B Pro-Expert goes on sale today priced at £3.49 for 75ml

In honour of the hottest day of the year which we ‘enjoyed’ on Monday… I wore the Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio Eyeshadow aptly called “I’m Getting Sunburned”.

I wasn’t sure WHAT THE HELL I was gonna do with a frosty pink browbone shade… infact, so far I’ve only worn the suggested browbone shades on the browbone once.  I only ever really wanna wear skintone shades in that area… it’s not Mardi Gras yano?

I ended up packing a little on in the inner corner… it doesn’t work badly.  This is a really nice combo for green eyes.

The crease colour in particular is stunning, it reminds me of MAC’s Teddy Kohl but in powder form… a rich, chocolate brown with copper flecks.  I’ll be wearing this as a liner for sure.

Sorry the photos aren’t so clear on the colours here… I couldn’t take standing around snapping pics in the window for too long, my smile was looking more forced by the second thanks to the greenhouse effect!

Do you like this one?  Next one up has a hawt pink in it – god knows what I’m gonna do with that!

* lipstick is MAC Creme Cup while I remember!

So, the news has broken.  Hold the front page.  Chezza’s got a noo doo.

Cheryl Cole by Lipglossiping aged 29 and 3/4

I’m bracing myself for the inevitable flurry of press releases for blonde hair dyes, root touch ups, tanning products that suit blondes, shampoo for fair hair, dog biscuits for dogs with owners who have golden manes… you name it, they’ll be an angle for it.

Then will come the scrutiny… ‘is it really blonde?’.  We’ll have blonde experts on morning telly firmly assuring the nation that what we’re witnessing is really caramel and not true blonde at all.  Then the cynicism as people wonder what new hair products L’oreal are trying to flog off this ‘momentous’ shift in the universe.

I just want to let it be known that I couldn’t give a flying chuff.  As you were.

… I squeed when I spotted Benefit’s new mascara wand in person earlier this month.  We all have our favourites don’t we?  Some like ’em long… some like ’em fat and others just like them to do the job well.  If you’re smirking… you are disgusting.

Benefit’s They’re Real! mascara comes in one shade.  Black.  That suits me fine… I don’t really do coloured mascaras they make me feel like an 80s throwback.

So anyway, this brush… what the hell is so exciting about it?

Well, the Boots No7 Exceptional Definition is still my favourite mascara, I even called it Holy Grail (you can see a before/after in the previous link) and do you notice a similarity between the wands?

Boots No7 Exceptional Definition on top, Benefit They’re Real! on the bottom.

They both have the end spikes but I’m liking the look of Benefit’s longer er ‘prongs’… ok, someone MUST know the proper word for that?!

Of course, the brush is only half the story.  If the formula is pants, it’ll end up in my cosmetic graveyard for all eternity but I’m expecting and hoping for great things!

Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara will be coming to the UK in August and retail at £18.00

With our (very) mini heatwave in the UK, I propose that there’s never been a better Wednesday for whipping out the sunglasses and getting your Pimms at the ready for a look at the current limited edition China Glaze 2011 Summer collection, Island Escape*.

I wonder which isles the clever bods at CG were thinking of when devised this fruity collection, not the British ones… that’s for sure!

Papaya Punch: Crème based vivid orange.

A bold orange that commands attention, a little on the thick side but opaque in two coats as a result.  No top coat… amazing glossiness.

108 Degrees: Flirtatious berry pink with specks of micro glitter.

A juicy sparkler that looks great on cool skintones thanks to the violet undertones.  Photo taken on a very overcast day so the colour in the sparkles isn’t prominent… a mix of gold and violet.

Senorita Bonita: Passionate purple shimmer with pink micro glitter.

If you can only have one from the collection, you need to make it this one.  Senorita Bonita is the most impressive of the sparklers… hot pink sparkle against a red-toned purple?  MOAR.

Blue Iguana: Bold and daring sparkly blue.

My 2nd favourite from the collection, all the boom chicka wow wow of Senorita Bonita with a heap of gorgeous turquoise glass fleckiness.  However, it did give me mega smurf fingers upon removal and was the sheerest of the bunch.  4 coats – boo.

Cha Cha Cha: Vivacious shimmer green.

A gilded green that packs a punch!  This one practically glows… very beautiful and opaque in two coats.

Electric Pineapple: High intensity crème based lime green.

I’m not digging the colour but again, I have to admire the uber glossiness of the formula.  All of the swatches were photographed without a top coat.  Noice!

Buy China Glaze instore at Sallys or online from radiantbabe-beauty.co.uk

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Got some favourites?  AND if you could escape to ANY island in the world, which one would it be?

* press samples

I made these because Leila refuses all vegetables… I don’t see them as a viable, long-term way of increasing her veg count… I just get sick pleasures from knowing that she’s eating quarter of a carrot per muffin.  And loving it.

Because I *was* trying to make them a little healthier… my recipe goes something like this (sorry it’s in cups but I wouldn’t be without my trusty measuring cups nowadays – I hate weighing things!):

1 cup sultanas (they stay juicier than raisins)
2 cups plain flour (if you want to be healthier, substitute 1 cup for wholewheat)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
tiny pinch of salt
2 tsps ground cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup apple sauce (the normal kind you get in a jar for pork roasts!)
3/4 cup brown sugar (next time I’m gonna try Agave Nectar)
3 cups shredded carrots (about 6 medium whole carrots)

1.  Preheat oven to 170 degrees celsius and line a tin with paper muffin liners.

2.  In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

3.  In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, oil and brown sugar; beat well.  Combine both wet and dry mixtures and mix briefly just to combine, don’t overmix.

4.  Fold in the carrots (I had previously pulverised them in the food processor) and sultanas before spooning the mixture into the muffin cases.

5.  Bake in a preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

You can ice/frost them if you want but this will obviously KILL the healthy stance!  They’re not the sweetest treat but they’re filling and taste pretty much like carrot cake without the frosting.  Leila eats one along with her yoghurt in the morning.

Once cooled, I pop them in a tupperware box and store in the freezer.  To defrost, I just take one out and zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Perfect!  These would be great to take out of the freezer and pop in your work lunchbox too… defrosted by lunchtime and not horribly unhealthy – whoop!

Continuing with my Wet n’ Wild palettes, today’s show is Silent Treatment.  I knew I’d like this one but well, this is just silly beautiful.

The browbone shade is gonna see a lot of use… it’s a lovely match for me to blend out harsh edges.  I applied the crease shade higher than I would normally and left my outer v lighter.

I think I like the effect… I’m not brilliant at applying eyeshadow but this seemed to open my eyes a little more though the overall effect was more dramatic than I’d usually wear during daylight hours!

Weird angles… but it shows the eyeshadow FAR better than my usual attempts!

These palettes are a little dusty with a degree of fall out but boy, am I loving them nonetheless.  We’re missing out on a trick here UK ladies.

Everytime I head into town I can’t move for a sea of yellow nails (exaggerating? me?) and it’s a trend that I was happy to watch pass me by until I saw George at Asda getting in on the act.  C’mon, it was a quid, I know you understand!

Four coats and still a little patchy in places… it’s not a bad formula for a notoriously tricky shade to get right but I’m not in a hurry to repeat the experience.  It’s a little more custard than I’d like but I admire its outright boldness.  I think I’m just gonna pop it in the back of this drawer though… *slam*

Have you embrace the yellows this Summer yet?

I only picked up three of the Shiro Cosmetics Intertube samples but now I know that I’m ok with the formula… I’ll be going back for more!

Leeroy Jenkins: Pale pinky-lavender with subtle blue interference and gold sparks

3 Wolf Moon: Dark, bold red

Sad Keanu: The type of purple that frightens little kids

And lip swatches… I’m not sure any of them suit me – will stick to the pinks next time!

You can see that each provides good coverage on the lips and can be worn more sheerly than I have above.  A couple of them were a touch gritty but this melted with the heat of my lips as I applied.

Shiro Cosmetics Intertubes are available to buy online from shirocosmetics.com