A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I’ll be honest, Spring looks usually do very little to inspire me… the pastels… oh the pukey pastels.  Great if you have that 14yr old fresh faced androgynous model look.  Not so great on a somewhat hefty big boned 29 year old who left her teen years behind with the closing credits of Heartbreak High.

However…

I’ve surprised myself because I’m actually really enjoying the overall look from the Erdem Show, LFW S/S 2011!

All images property of St. Tropez

All images property of St. Tropez

St. Tropez skin-finishing expert Nichola Joss explains the skin…

[stextbox id=”custom” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa”]“The inspiration for the skin comes from Cate Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings, when she has a hint of rose in her cheeks, It is as though the girls are outside running about in the woods. We are first spraying the models very lightly with the new Dark Mist; and then applying the mix of gold and pink illuminator over the skin. I love the combination – gold represents the golden light, which comes through the trees in the forest; and the pink is the pink blossom that grows within.”[/stextbox]

And the makeup?

[stextbox id=”custom” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa”]Make-up artist Andrew Gallimore matched the face to the body with a very lightweight foundation that is almost a tinted moisturiser. “Then for the eyes,’ he said, beckoning the girl he has just demonstrated make-up to his team on, ‘there is a sort of day-glow plastic yellow colour. The face was super simple with a nude lip and no mascara. He then finished with a touch of St. Tropez Illuminator on the cheeks, down the bridge of the nose and in the cupid’s bow of the lips: ‘the whole feel is spring-like and Easter-y, in colour.”[/stextbox]

You can keep your day-glo yellow (though in fairness, it doesn’t look THAT day-glo to me)… but I AM loving the iridescent illuminator combined with those *just* pink cheeks.

For me, it’s all about that skin… I mean, no mascara? really? PAH.

There are so many illuminators and highlighters on the market and they are indeed one of my ‘downfall’ products.  And by ‘downfall’… I simply mean, I have way TOO FREAKING MANY of them.

The major problem that I encounter with these kinda products (and the reason I keep buying more) is thus:

a). They ensure that my pores can be used as ground markers for low flying aircraft

b). They tend look more metallic than naturally glowy

and

c). They often try to impart a heavy colour with the sheen.

If those photos are anything to go by… St. Tropez’s Skin Illuminator looks like it may be a pretty natural solution.

Oh and the hair’s kinda cute too!

St. Tropez Skin Illuminator is priced at £15 for a 30ml handbag sized tube and can be bought online from St. Tropez, HQ Hair and ASOS

I bought two polishes from the new Autumn/Fall Essie collection.  Sew Psyched and Merino Cool.  Merino Cool was a bit of a no-brainer for my dusty mauve/grey loving fingers… but Sew Psyched took a little leap of faith.

I was hoping that the grey tones in this would soften the green to something special.

And they do!

A two coater with a sprinkling of silver shimmer.  The shimmer is barely noticeable… but does lift the colour a little in direct sunlight.  I personally don’t think it benefits much from it’s inclusion and quite like my dusty colours to look flat anyway.

No problems with application and normal wear time make this a hit for me.

In UK mainstream outlets, Essie Sew Psyched is priced at around £8.50 and available online from BeautyBay

I requested some better pictures of a few pieces from the upcoming Boots (Strictly Come Dancing) Strictly Fab-U-Lous releases, ‘cos frankly… mine were shiteous.

Strictly The Lip Gloss Collection, RRP £6

Strictly Come dancing Look Books: Stunning, Beautiful, and Latin, RRP £10 each (I think these were my favourite!)

Strictly Fab-u-lous Lip Collection, RRP £12.00

It’s back on our screens proper from 1st October I think… Strictly is such a guilty pleasure for me.  Keep your X-Factors… I’m all about the sequins!

If matte orange lips for Spring isn’t your kinda thing… how about some coral for Autumn?

These new inclusions from New CID Cosmetics… I could handle nicely!  It’s that guava-y coral that usually works well on both warm and cool skintones!

Perhaps a touch summery, but the general consensus last week was that we don’t *really* go in for all that trend stuff anyway…

They say…

[stextbox id=”custom” bcolor=”b0c4de” bgcolor=”e6e6fa”]

New CID i – glow in Coral Crush (£23.50) offers a perfect ‘pick me up’ for dull and tired skin. The beautiful marbleised baked powders offer an easy, silky smooth application, while the light reflective pigments mimic the skin’s natural radiance. Build up the shade to use as a blusher or sweep across the face and décolletage for a beautiful warm glow.

New CID i – gloss in Coral Candy (£15.50) is the perfect companion to keep some sunshine in your life. This pretty shade is suitable for all, creating high-glam shine that really lasts. Featuring built-in lights and mirror for easy on-the-go application, you won’t be fading into the darkness this season!

[/stextbox]

I’m wondering if the i-glow is a more wearable version MAC Stereo Rose for cool, pale skintones.  Any thoughts on New CID’s i-glow range?

On an unrelated note, I’m positively itching for my new camera to arrive (hopefully tomorrow!)… hurry up!

I picked these Sue Moxley Famous bits up in Superdrug sometime this Summer, I’ve forgotten exactly when – sorry!

The eyeshadows were on offer because the range is being updated… the shimmer brick thing was full price… £7  I think.  It hardly breaks the bank, but the packaging isn’t exactly enticing is it?  Tack-tastic.  Thank god it’s being updated.

The eyeshadows aren’t my cup of tea at all.

They’re very frosty and have that slight oily feeling that reminds me of the Superdrug MUA ones.  The colours aren’t too bad.. but the frosty over-shimmer kills it for me.  This is coming from someone who doesn’t mind shimmer!

The Shimmer Brick in Pink (which has obviously been inspired by a certain Bobbi Brown version) accentuates my pores in a way that the Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks just don’t do.  The brown tone in this also creates a unnatural shade for my skintone when swirled together.

Finally, to add insult to injury… a great chunk of product broke away from the pan a couple of days later.  I don’t have a picture of how it looked after it crumbled… but flicking back through my shots from before I started using it, I came across the potential culprit.

If you’re browsing in store and want to pick one up.  Make sure that the edges are fully intact.  Along that top edge is where mine broke away.

Overall, not a very positive experience with the brand.

Sounding slightly more like a sex toy than one of E.L.F’s latest UK nail polish releases…. Purple Pleaser is a red-undertoned purple polish.  Just in time for winter!

My sample applied a little streaky, but nothing that a few coats didn”t deal with.  It could also benefit from a top coat to up the shine factor.

The colour isn’t particularly unique, but wear is pretty good with no chips for me until the 4th day.

Purple Pleaser (£1.50) can be bought online from E.L.F

Until next year, Decleor’s new Aroma Cleanse is a QVC exclusive and claims to leave your skin feeling fresh, cleansed and hydrated.

I’ve been putting a PR sample to the test over the last month…

You only need to use a tiny amount and the pump action nozzle is quite frustrating when judging how hard to de-press in order to dispense a small amount.  Answer, about a 1/3 of the way… and this isn’t always possible!

The product does indeed foam up quickly and spreads smoothly over the skin… it smells pleasant and washes away leaving my skin feeling squeaky clean.  A little too squeaky clean for my normal/dry complexion.

I struggle with this cleanser… after use I develop an immediate and uncomfortable tightness that demands moisture.  After a few days… I notice dry patches along the tops of my cheekbones that extend into the undereye area.  This is simply too stripping for my skin.

I also take issue at the cleanser’s claims that it can be used to remove eye makeup.  I have tried it twice and I wouldn’t wish a third attempt on my worst enemy.  If even a small amount of the Decleor Aroma Cleanse enters my eye… the pain leaves me unable to open my eye properly without it streaming until it passes around 10 minutes later.  I don’t even have sensitive eyes!

I’ll be interested to discover how folks with oilier skins fare with the Aroma Cleanse… it certainly leaves your face feeling clean!

Priced at £24.56, I’m disappointed by this cleanser.  Generally a fan of Decleor (I love their night balms!), this hasn’t lived up to the high expectations I had for it.

…because it’s mine and Mr. L’s Wedding Anniversary!

He wants to know if bank robbers have to serve as many as 6 years (or um, 10 if you count the rest of it).

I want to know where the hell my eternity ring is and just how many children I need to pop out in order to get one.

Originally, I only wanted Diva of Geneva.. but I kept seeing tantalising swatches of Glitzerland that made me think what a wonderful Christmas polish this would be… and that just perhaps, it wouldn’t be too warm toned for my skin.

I was right!

The formula is good, not too thick nor too thin and 2 coats are fine for a quick polish.  I did three for a perfect finish.

Super sparkly, Glitzerland is a proper ‘hey look at my nails’ shade.  I kept admiring and angling them against the light to view the individual sparkles that combine to create a lovely foiled finish.

Cool-toned ladies… this is a gold you can wear.  Very pale and as subtle as gold can be!

Love.

Ahhh Le Metier… I get the guilts whenever I step within 10 yards of the counter in Liberty.  The grip on my purse tightens and one hand slaps the other away as it reaches for the clasp.

4ml of nail polish will set you back £10.  That’s one expensive (almost) a teaspoonful of polish right there.

Still, if you’re feeling indulgent… then these new Le Cirque Collection shades from the luxe brand are sure to tempt you!

The teeny, chunky ice cube-esque bottles are adorable.

High Wire

Dynamique

Magic at Night

I believe there’s another one called Noble Passion (which wasn’t on display at the press day), a “blushing nude”.

.

Which is your favourite?  I’m intrigued by High Wire & Magic at Night… I see quite a few colours locked into that little bottle.

If there’s one ‘trend’ I could do without.  Matte orange lips pretty much sums it up.

Photo credit: Samantha Adler, www.samanthaadler.com

Big hair and bright, orange lips were the order of the day for Marc by Marc Jacobs’ fun, colorful collection for Spring 2011.

Really… no, really.  Thanks.

Not only the hardest formula for us gals to wear whilst going about our daily whatevers… but let’s do it in orange too shall we?

What I wanna know is this…

Does it really matter? I’m not sure I pay much attention to seasonal trends… I just wear whatever the hell I want.  I guess I’d appreciate it if companies don’t go ALL OUT on the orange for their Spring collections, but meh… whatever, guess it’ll save me money right?

Do you follow so-called trends or even take much inspiration from them?

Maybe I’m missing having a camera more than I thought… maybe I’m just in dire need of a plate of KFC chips (don’t they make the best?). But I read this post on BritishBeautyBlogger (and the comments that followed) with interest.

I’m a blogger. I’m not a wannabe journalist and I’m not a professional writer. I didn’t study English at University and I haven’t paid my dues working my arse off as general dogsbody in London to earn the right to give myself a more professional title.

In the same vein (and far less discussed)… if you’re a journalist with a (oh so fashionable) blog… that’s great. But in my humble opinion you’re not a blogger. You’re a journalist with a blog. And that’s fine, your blog is probably great and above all else, well written! But, there is a distinction. You aren’t a consumer in quite the same way that I am.

There’s been much talk about ‘compensating’ bloggers which really sits at odds to the other current trend of ‘Hey, lets remember why we started blogging in the first place’.

I never started my blog to make money and I think that it’s very wrong to assume that ALL bloggers want to be paid for content.

Any money that I generate from my blog comes from the visual ads placed outside of my content. Sponsored posts are never organic. I read them in the same way that I would any advertorial… with a certain amount of suspicion. I’m not saying that’s right or fair… it’s almost a subconscious choice.

Receiving samples or attending events is something that helps include a variety of content and has NEVER influenced the outcome of a review. Above all else, I’m a beauty junkie and a diehard blogger… I live and breathe blogging and engaging with the readers that I’m lucky enough to keep. How could receiving free ‘just released’ products to play with and the chance to see brands in their own environment not excite and inspire someone like me?

I can’t let it influence reviews. If I did, I would have approximately 1/10 of the readership that I currently enjoy. People aren’t stupid, they’re really not. PR companies and Brands obviously don’t like negative reviews and sometimes that’s the last I’ll hear from them. In my (admittedly limited) experience, Social Media Agencies ‘get it’ better than PR agencies. I guess that’s their job… I’ve never been penalised or ‘punished’ by a SMA, though I do find they can sometimes be a little more pushy – probably because they have more to prove to secure their fee.

On the subject of freebies… I will say that samples and events have definitely put pressure on me to make space for a brand on my blog (regardless of the review outcome)… which is something that I’m finally starting to find the confidence to address.

There are so many bloggers with professional aspirations and networks muddying the waters between consumer bloggers, journos with a blog and wannabe journalist bloggers. What about those of us who just wanna blog and are more than happy with our lot?

Aren’t our blogs loved by our readers because we’re normal people with a huge passion about our chosen subjects. So much so… that in our SPARE TIME and UNPAID, we want to create these outlets that other people can read?

Don’t we stop being that when we all start demanding compensation for our time?

If your blog is a commercial venture. Great. If you make your living from your blog? Marvellous. Some of my favourite blogs are written by professional writers… all I’m saying (in a really overly long way) is that one size doesn’t fit all.

I’m not saying that it’s wrong to make money from your blog. Hell, I’d like to make MORE money from my blog… but for me (and just for me), I’d rather it came from my ads rather than my writing. If I wanted to make money from the crap that springs forth from my brain, I’d like it to be in an environment that wasn’t my blog. Does that make sense?

If you’re a social media agency or a PR agency with relevant content and for god’s sake if it’s just video, make it INTERESTING. I’m happy to feature… take your fee… I don’t want a cut, just help me keep my blog engaging, current and fun for my readers. I’m no industry expert but I’m a grown up, and a lot of my blogging naivety ended the first time I took someone in the industry at face value. You provide me with relevant content that I wouldn’t normally have access to and if I think it’s right for Lipglossiping, then you’ll get coverage. I ain’t guaranteeing it’ll be good coverage… but that’s the exciting world of ‘social media’. The rewards can be great and genuine, but the sting in the tail can be painful ‘cos 90% of us like to tell it like it is.

Now, someone take this sodding soapbox off me before I unleash another one. I can feel it building. I’m talking about rants by the way.