A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Help, get me a Nanny!

My beautiful little girl was up at 5am this morning, team lark all the way.  I am exhausted, I have 5 million Christmas Cards to write and post, 7000 presents to purchase, approx 3000 posts to write and instead I’m playing with my Dior Holiday 2009 Collection.  At least I have my priorities straight right?

Thanks to the fact that it’s now DARK in England all the freakin’ time (who shifted Europe 500 miles closer to the North Pole without telling anyone) I have to rely on my flash gun more than I’d like.  Which makes for crappier, starker pictures and washes out the makeup a bit.

Also, thanks to my hooded eyelids… you can only actually see the eyeliner… *whistles and wonders why she bothered*

~ Lips are BarryM Lip Paint in Lavender
~ Cheeks are The Body Shop Trio in Cool Dusk
~ Eyelashes are Rimmel Sexy Curves & Mavala Double Lash I reckon

Gonna attempt a better photo of the eyeshadow quint/liner… this is rubbish for seeing what they actually look like!

Burt’s Bees Facial Kit

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Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 9th December.  Comments made after this time will not be entered.

Winners will be announced once Advent is over. (i.e. after Christmas)

“Rules” can be found here.

…with Pass The Christmas Parcel from The Body Shop!

Click the image above to be taken to the site where you can claim your voucher.

After you’ve saved yourself some money, make yourself uber popular by sending the link on to your friends!

You can redeem online or in store, I got a 20% off voucher and Mr. L nabbed himself a 15% off voucher.  That 30% voucher eludes us this time, can you do better?  Find out now.

A few weeks ago, Cherry Culture tempted me with another 20% off sale (I think it was 20%, I can’t remember exactly)… anyway, my goodies arrived at the end of last week, packaged impeccably (as always).

Here’s what I got this time:

~ NYX Round Lip Glosses in: Ballerina Pink, Doll Pink and Whipped
~ NYX Round Lipsticks in: Electra, B52, Power, Paris and Snow White
~ Milani Blush in Luminous (supposed Orgasm dupe)
~ NYX Single Eyeshadow in: Dune, Herb, Sparkle Cedar and Golden Bronze
~ NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Cottage Cheese

Reviews, swatches etc coming up shortly but this little lot set me back £26 inc. postage (not bad huh?)

Have you been partaking in any hauls in the run up to Christmas or are you being good and spending your money on presents for other people?

Collection 2000 Eyeshadow (woo!)

BarryM Lip Gloss

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Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 8th December.  Comments made after this time will not be entered.

Winners will be announced once Advent is over. (i.e. after Christmas)

“Rules” can be found here.

The Boots Advantage Card… greatest invention since mascara… nearly.

I had a panic attack when I thought I’d lost mine a couple of months ago.  No, seriously… I actually hyperventilated and needed to sit down.

I’m a savvy Bootser!  I take advantage (no pun intended) of the offers that are available, splitting my purchases in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways to maximize the points I can get.  Nerdy? Yes. Dull? Mostly.. Worth It? Absolutely!

Every January I dive into my (2nd) nearest Boots and buy up the leftover Christmas presents that get reduced down to 70% off.  If they’re not too Christmassy themed, they make for great emergency birthday presents throughout the year and now I have Leila, it’s even easier to maximize Boots Advantage Card points on baby stuff: nappies, wipes and toiletries.  It all adds up!

Every year around this time I gleefully check out the latest Advantage Card Deals, most recently they’re offering 750pts (£7.50) when you buy 3 or more premium beauty products.

I’ve just emptied my Advantage card on the Dior Holiday Palette and a (soon to be in my hands) YSL Singulier Mascara, onwards and upwards – time to start saving them up again!

Are you good at saving your points?  Do you have a big blow out or spend them as you go along?

Not makeup related… apologies, but I saw this baby hat in H&M and had to have it!  I wish I’d bought two as Leila’s fat head is nearly too big for the 6-9months size 🙁

Now, where can I find an adult-sized one… me and the Leil’s would look *so* awesome in matching hats.. or um, maybe I’d find her scouring the Yellow Pages under ‘F’ for ‘Foster Care’.

Shiseido The Makeup Silky Eye Shadow Duo

A great neutral duo.

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Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 7th December.  Comments made after this time will not be entered.

Winners will be announced once Advent is over. (i.e. after Christmas)

“Rules” can be found here.

I adore China Glaze’s Ruby Pumps at Christmastime (me and everyone else) but I didn’t want to wear it quite so full on until a bit later in the month.  I decided to pair it up with a black creme for a little more subtlety.  Can you tell I’m still loving the whole dark nails thing?

HJ Manicure sent me a couple of their mini polishes to try and one of them was this rather basic black called Midnight.

Basic = a bit boring yes?… but basic also = essential… hmmm… like leggings! (stay with me, this analogy will make sense)… You want your leggings to be opaque, easy to pull on and look fabulous on the backside right?  Well, Midnight is your favourite pair of leggings.  It’s a beautifully glossy creme which is a solid 2 coater and really easy to apply.  I probably wouldn’t wear it on it’s own but combined with a coat of glitter (a fantastic jumper dress – see, this analogy is my best yet) it’s a total knockout.

The first picture doesn’t actually do this quick and easy mani much justice, I wore it up to London and had many nice comments on my ‘lit from within’ stumps. (Grow, grow, grow!)  The most realistic impression comes from the little finger in the top picture… you can see the red glow within the black base… see how it’s almost opal like.  The other fingers unfortunately make it look a bit gritty which it totally doesn’t.

Have you been wearing any combinations?  Do you like pairing polishes up with a great black base? Give me some ideas!

Barry M Dazzle Dust in Bronze

The Body Shop Warm Amber Bath Oil

Can you tell I’m not over Autumn yet?  Sheesh, I’m barely over the summer… slow down there Winter!

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Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 6th December.  Comments made after this time will not be entered.

Winners will be announced once Advent is over. (i.e. after Christmas)

“Rules” can be found here.

It was good to come home last night and sleep in my own bed after 2 days up in the ‘big smoke’.

I’m pleased to see that my post scheduler has been working well, unfortunately I’m all out of draft posts now!  My backups have been well and truly depleted by that little jaunt!  Best get writing then, I’m certainly not suffering from a lack of material (just a lack of sleep).

While I was away, I attended two blogging events, both of which were a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to sharing the details of them with you.

My break away from home was filled with everything I hoped it would be: fun, laughter, alcohol, makeup, good food, good company, christmas lights, iphone tweeting, shopping and eggnog lattes.  But more on all that later.

How have you lovely lot been? Any salacious gossip, life-changing events? A lot can happen in 48hrs you know!

As for me, baby L is off for a nap… and I think I might join her.

Urban Decay Ink for Eyes in Loaded

A perfect green for the party season!

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Giveaway closes at 23:59GMT on 5th December.  Comments made after this time will not be entered.

Winners will be announced once Advent is over. (i.e. after Christmas)

“Rules” can be found here.