A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

One of the few benefits of being physically unable to tan is rarely finding it necessary to change my foundation shade… at most, I fluctuate between a NW15/20 and neither look too wrong on me at any given time.  If, however, you’re more prone to being ‘kissed’ by the sun, you might be on the lookout for a new foundation to complement your new, less-bronzed (cough *pasty* cough) skintone.

Or perhaps you’re just looking for a more moisturising formula to see you through the colder months ahead?

YoungBlood Mineral Cosmetics have launched a customised Foundation Bar in the Beauty Workshop at Selfridges London and are challenging you and your regular foundation to the ultimate test.

Simply bring your current foundation (and of course, your lovely self!) along and experience, what they promise, is an unrivalled degree of colour matching from within their range of Loose, Liquid, Moisture Tint, Pressed and Crème formulas.

The new Beauty Workshop at Selfridges is an exciting and innovative beauty arena offering over 5000 square feet of space.  A veritable beauty playground in which to discover new brands, trends, and products. Instore at Selfridges, London now.

Do you change your foundation with the seasons?

China Glaze I Herd That is a densely packed copper glitter that reminds me of a shiny new penny, the kind that you pull out of your purse, only to drop it straight back in because it’s just too blinging to part with just yet.  That’s normal right?

The clear base and finer-than-usual glitter gives this polish a less “chunky” feel than you might imagine and the photo below shows three coats applied without a top coat.

I Herd That is the second glitter in the collection, and the warm-toned cousin to “I’m Not a Lion” which I reviewed yesterday.  A great Autumnal glitter if ever I saw one.

China Glaze I Herd That is available to buy online at BeautyBay.com, priced at £6.75

* press sample

In celebration of the full Liz Earle Colour Collection launch, the brand are inviting fans to come and take a closer look at the new range.  Enjoy a glass of fizz and sample the new products whilst being shown the best way to wear and incorporate them into your makeup bag.

If you want to get up close and personal with the new range, head into your nearest Liz Earle store (or Liz Earle John Lewis counter) on Friday 14th September and Saturday 15th September.

Liz Earle stores (and opening hours)

John Lewis stores (and opening hours)

The British brand are also offering the chance to win a professional makeover for you and a friend, enter before the end of the day on 16th September to stand a chance at winning.

Have you been tempted by anything in the new Liz Earle Colour Collection range yet?

Are you feeling Autumnal yet?  Where did the sun go?  Why is it getting dark so early?  Come back happiness and light, come back!!!!!

It’s not coming back.

So, like a flitty shape-shifter, I shall instead focus on the positives of the change of season.  Chunky knits, cardigans (oh, how I’ve missed a nice cardy!), 100 denier tights and solidly constructed boots.  How about a bit of glitter to go with that?

Oh go on then…

I keep thinking that I’m gonna have to bite the bullet and get myself a bottle of that uber-thick top coat to go with my glitter polishes… Gelous is it?  I do like a good glitter but I like to see it fully-trapped inside a smooth resin, like a prehistoric mozzie in an amber jewel.  Or something.

China Glaze’s I’m Not a Lion is a 2/3 coater – three coats should give you a practically solid finish.  The glitters are a pretty mixture of cool and warm, with a predominantly pale gold appearance from anything other than under a microscope.

China Glaze I’m Not a Lion is available to buy online at BeautyBay.com, priced at £6.95

* press sample

I know it can be a bit annoying when bloggers feature products that you can’t get your hands on anymore but the thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever told you about one of my favourite lipsticks EVER, have I?  Well, now’s the time to introduce you because I’ve just broken into my backup.

Now, according to Makeup Alley, Giorgio Armani Sheer Lipstick (#18) was a limited edition release for Autumn 2003!  Am I really that old that I was buying grown-up lipsticks THAT long ago?  Really, really?!  I thought it was more recent than that… but I can’t honestly remember.  What I can remember is how I fell in love with the shade in the tube.  And then fell in love even more when I applied it.

You see, I haven’t always loved bright lip colours… I’ve grown to love them, but I used to only wear sheer, slightly glossy shades.  As I twisted up the new, pristine Armani bullet the other day – I decided that I had to pay homage to this one before it went the same way as some of my other previous lipstick loves (YSL Rouge Pure Shine also had one that I used to live in (now long gone *sob*)).

Ain’t she pretty?  She’s much brighter and more popsicle orange in the tube than she is on the lips, I was a little bit intimidated by her at first but we soon became inseperable!   One of the things I liked most about this lipstick was the texture, which isn’t too soft, almost semi-matte without being at all drying on the lips.  Wear isn’t great but it’s such aneasylipstick to topup that it truly doesn’t matter.

Gah, I’ll miss you when you’re gone!

Can you remember your first lipstick love?  Tell me about it!

If Kalahari Kiss is a Caramac bar…. then Desert Sun (sticking with the confectionary theme) would be a… a radioactive Daim bar?  It’s like caramel, gone a bit nuclear.

Desert Sun is a dirtied orange, very Autumnal and kinder to us cool-toned skintones.  It reminds me a bit of those giant orange slugs!  You know the ones I mean!

Now that I’ve completely put you off the actual colour, I should say that the formula on this one was nice, opaque in two coats – none of that runny but thick crap, it’s just thick.  But in a good, spreadable way.  Two coats are shown without a top coat.  I know, glossy right?  I’m liking this formula.

China Glaze Desert Sun is available to buy online at BeautyBay.com, priced at £6.95

* press sample

You know, for all the chemical exfoliators in the world, there’s still nothing quite like giving your face a good scrub. But can you actually do that past the age of 25 without feeling guilty that you’re being too harsh on your delicate skin?

Well, yes. Yes you can.

INA Crystals White Gold Glow Face Wash is an SLES-free facial cleanser that combines a rich, nourishing formula with the scrubby goodness of ground loofah and liquid crystal. The finely-ground loofah provides the perfect amount of scrubbiness without feeling scratchy or harsh against my skin.

The proof is in the post-washing glow that looks back at me in the mirror without a hint of increased redness across my sensitive areas.

Having so far waxed lyrical about the pleasures of the White Gold Glow Face Wash, I have to say that I wish it posessed a more luxurious scent.  I know many, many women can’t use highly-scented products. But, if I’m spending £23 on a face wash, I want that all-encompasing end-of-the-day relaxing experience when I take my makeup off. And for me, a big part of that is a damn-good aroma – I’d describe the scent as… earthy.

You can’t please all of the people all of the time.

That aside, the blend of sweet almond, basil, fennel, juniper berry, and carrot oils make for a nourishing experience that complements the exfoliation process and provides a longer-term moisture boost for my combination/dry skin.

Heartily recommended.

Aqua (Water), Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultane, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Disodium Cocoamphoacetate, Parfum (Fragrance), Sal (Himalayan Crystal Salt), Sodium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sucrose Cocoate, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Limonene

INA Crystals White Gold Glow Face Wash is available online at Zuneta.com, priced at £23 for 100ml

* press sample

Most of you will be familiar with the premium beauty range from makeup artist Terry de Gunzburg, the SpaceNK staple has had the blogging world in fits of rapture in recent years over beautiful, pink-tinted pots of Baume de Rose and the radiance-boosting Eclat de Teint.

Now, what will the fragrance world make of the brand’s foray into the world of perfume?

Launching on the 16th September are five new fragrances that, sticking to time-honoured tradition have been formulated in Grasse, a place synonymous as the spiritual home of French haute-parfumerie.  The By Terry creator asserts that neither time nor money have been spared in the creation of these scents, which ultimately exist to “reflect the designer’s passion”.

Of her new collection, Terry says:

It has taken me ten years to achieve this collection of ‘personified’ scents. I had to progress slowly in order to learn and understand about essences that felt right, which was a humbling yet enriching experience. I had to ignore the dos and don’ts imposed by trends or by a commercial brief. Free from any restrictions, I have followed my instinct to create pure, original and extravagantly high-quality fragrances.

The new collection comprises the following five fragrances (I’ve included the descriptions from the press release):

PARTIS PRIS

Parti Pris delivers its ‘Haute Féminité’ in seconds. Instantly recognisable, the tuberose is exquisite and compelling, revealing its power of seduction in a precious floral bouquet. The sweet, absolute orange blossom melts into the richness of the absolute Turkish rose together with a hint of an exceptional ylang ylang, created exclusively by the Maison Robertet. At the base, a surprising vintage accord through smoked vetiver and sandalwood together with Vanilla and Tolu balm. Incense, Turkish tobacco absolute, rockrose and labdanum echo ancient perfume accords.

The resulting scent is the aura of chicness swathed in silk.

RÊVE OPULENT

Restrained when it comes to extractions and other distillations, the gardenia gives little away.

A tenacious floral ensemble, with Egyptian jasmin and Indian Sambac jasmin together with essence of rose and its absolute, a touch of orange blossom, a trail of ylang ylang and a hint of Sri Lanka cinnamon become a dream of gardenia.

LUMIÈRE D’ÉPICES

Vibrant and sparkling, the fragrance opens a refreshing symphony of citrus notes. The bitterness of grapefruit, the blood orange zest and bergamot: awakening the heart, fresh as jasmine water, it is contagiously chic. With facets of roses and orange blossoms, it seems oxygenated, like fresh air. Indian sambac jasmine, with honeyed tones gives warmth together with orange blossom absolute, spices and dry woods. Muscat, clove and cedarwood bring this contemporary composition to life.

A distinctively elegant fragrance with a luminously vibrant bouquet

OMBRE MERCURE

Noble, powdery, feminine and rare, the scent unveils all the facets of a delicious woody iris. Formulated with the purest iris ‘butter’, this olfactive treat flirts furtively with a few petals of rose, ylang ylang and jasmine. This subtle blending gives it softness with the darkness of the patchouli forming the spine of this fragrant composition.

Intense, powerful and purring on the skin just like a feline, it reveals camphor-like vapours and a carnal instinct recalling mythical blends of the perfume world.

Vanilla, with a base of spicy benzoin, the iris in fusion with the patchouli reveals more femininity. This blend with accents of violet, reminiscent of loose powder, red lipstick and of the classic chypre blends, is especially designed for the passionate characters.

FLAGRANT DÉLICE

Thrillingly tempting, Flagrant Délice is infused with almond milk and sun-ripened fig. An alluring combination of modern materials with natural ingredients create a rich blend.

Instantly, the bitter almond essence gives a carnal hint with notes of bergamot and mandarin giving balance. In the heart, Mediterranean fig, with vegetal and milky accents enriched with red currants melting in tonka beans and white musk creates an enveloping magnetism.

Priced from £68, the Terry de Gunzburg Haute Parfumerie collection is available exclusively from Harrods from the 16th September 2012

I missed the Sigma brush hype a couple of years ago, because I was fixated instead on building a collection of Trish McEvoy brushes.  Nowadays, I’m skinter than a skint thing and I’ve come to the realistic conclusion that I’d be a moron not to reign my makeup budget in a little a lot.  I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and I don’t have any major hobbies that consume my monies so whilst I’m still totally commited to being buried with my makeup collection, I’m more open to the idea of not making myself destitute at the same time.

The Sigma range (some of them) have been renowned for offering great quality at a slightly lower price point and in particular, I was looking for a multi-tasking brush.  Step in the Sigma F84 Angled Top Kabuki Brush with its densely-packed head and stubby handle, I’ve found what I was looking for.

Creams, liquids and powders all work flawlessly with this brush which buffs the product firmly but gently onto the face.  The synthetic fibres withstand daily usage and wash like a dream, even if they do take a little longer than I’d like to dry.

The angled brush head makes light work of facial contours and allows me to work the product into every nook and cranny.  Not that my face has nooks and crannies just yet, but you know what I mean.  I also love the chunky handle which gives me maximum control over direction and pressure.

I’ve recently begun using it to apply my cream blushes, and it works great for that too – allowing me to really blend out the edges to give a polished finish.

The only problem I’ve encountered with the brush is that it basically has too many uses and I’m gonna need more than one.  Which kinda defeats my money-saving attitude somewhat no?

The Sigma f84 is available to buy online in the UK from Cocktail Cosmetics, priced at £14.95

If you’re looking to stock up on the classic Liz Earle cleanser – you know, the one that’s gathered a veritable army of fans since its launch 17 years ago – you might want to take a gander at the special edition which goes live on the website today.  Combining the original tried-and-tested formula with the aromatics of rose and lavender essential oils, it promises a relaxing cleansing experience.

This is all well and good, unless you’re anything like me, because by the time you drag your sorry self to the bathroom in search of a flannel, your main priority (other than emerging with a clean face) is not to fall asleep at the sink and drown yourself.

For the more alert among us, this could be just the thing to switch brain from day to night mode.  Or you could reach for it in the mornings and then BLAME the cleanser for everything you do wrong that day.  “Sorry, sorry!  Didn’t see your thumb there…. it’s this new cleanser, it’s the most relaxing thing ever and I keep accidentally washing my face with it in the mornings!”.  That would totally work for almost everything.

£2.00 from every product purchased will be donated to youth charity, The Princes Trust which aims to help provide support to young people looking for work, education and training.

The Liz Earle Rose and Lavender Special Edition Cleanse & Polish is available in a larger-than-usual 150ml pump and is priced at £19.75, available from today at Liz Earle Stores, the Customer Centre on  
01983 813913, lizearle.com, John Lewis, and on QVC

Today’s NOTD features a new shade from the China Glaze On Safari collection, it’s an unusual one for me to pick out to wear… warm-toned nudes are not my cup of tea, even though this one does actually look quite like a cup of tea.

Look.

Or as my ma would call it, “gnats piss”.

Ok, it’s not really very tea-like after all is it?  I got carried away with that one.  Still, it’s a pretty edgy choice for my tastes and I kinda like it.

The formula was good, better than CG’s summer offerings which were all-at-once watery and thick – this one applies smoothly with a good amount of pigmentation that provided full opacity in just two coats.

China Glaze Kalahari Kiss is available to buy instore at Sallys and online at BeautyBay.com, priced at £6.95

What do you make of the shade?  Would you wear it?

* press sample

Did you guess the mystery Vaseline flavour?  Well, most of us bloggers were spot-on with the scent, if not quite the name (the popular guess was “Pink Champagne”) but now I come to think about it, isn’t there extremely strict laws about calling something ‘champagne’ unless it actually is champagne from er, Champagne?

Anyway, what’s in a name?  A tin of goop that smells like sparkling booziness by any other name would still smell like a tin of sparkling booziness!  Or something.  Sorry Mr. Shakespeare.

While I’ve got your attention… you may remember my attempts at bettering the Vaseline tin for Pink Bubbly?  Well, I only bleedin’ went and won a weekend trip to Paris with £500 spending money didn’t I? *closes eyes tight and sprints on the spot*.

And not only that, but I get to offer the same prize package to one of YOU LOVELY LOT too!  Don’t worry, you don’t have to share the trip with me, I won’t cramp your style.

I’ll get back to you with further details on that just as soon as I have them.  But, yano, squeeee!

The Limited Edition Vaseline Lip Therapy Pink Bubbly tins go on sale today, exclusively at Selfridges priced at £3.49 while stocks last before rolling out nationwide at Boots and Superdrug.

Right, better go and put the lottery on then.