Tesco – Christmas in July

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 16 - 2012

Tesco’s Xmas Press Day is one of my favourites and is the only one I’ll be managing to get to this year…. something which gives me ultimate sad-face.  You’ll see why if you read this post.  Nonetheless, if I was going to be able to attend just the one, Mr. T really knows how to drag the festive spirit out of me.

The beady-eyed amongst you would have spotted a wide range of Christmas beauty goodies on display (that’s if you managed to scroll past the Christmas dessert table).  Let’s face it, Christmas is still ages away, so I’m not going to go into major details but the standout selections at Tesco this Christmas include:

New range of hair styling tools called T-H-X (Total Hair Experts) offering: curling tong, hair dryer, styling wand, digital straightener, volumising hair dryer, hot air styler, wave tong, and more.

Some great-looking affordable gift sets from the Extracts range

A new Steam Cream tin for Christmas!

Very sparkly hair accessories

and my favourite…

Kings & Queens is coming to Tesco!

I got a bit excited about the last one, you know, what with K&Q being my favourite bodycare range, ever.  I usually buy it online… and was doing cartwheels at the thought of being able to pick up my favourite shower gels along with my shopping… until I found out that it’ll only be sold on Tesco Direct.  Pop goes that bubble.  Sigh.  Still, at least I can get it delivered to store for free.

Anything in the above Yuletide selection taking your fancy?

 


Laqa & Co Nail Polish Pen in Incestuous

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 13 - 2012

Su requested a swatch of the Laqa & Co Nail Polish Pen that I talked about yesterday, and I jumped at the chance of a quick and easy post so I could get to bed early (and carry on decorating bright and early tomorrow), forgive me for repeating myself!

Incestuous is one of those muted lavender shades that suit my skintone really nicely.  I know that some tones, especially olive skintones can struggle with muted purples which can sometimes make fingers appear lifeless but Incestuous (hate that name) offers enough saturation, I think, to avoid this phenomenon.

Application was basically pretty fun.  Except for the part when I realised that I would, in essence, be painting my nails with the wrong hand – with a pen.  Any ambidextrous readers out there?  Lucky.  I got my fingers in a proper muddle, made only more difficult by the fact that my nails on that hand were wet!  All in all though, the results were really good – the above image shows two coats (three on two of the fingers that I messed up).  Judging by the little window in the pen, it doesn’t seem to have consumed too much polish, but considering the pen only holds 5ml (the same as a Mavala) and costs £10.95 – this certainly isn’t the most economical way to paint your nails.

Having said that, it’s great for holidays and showing off your beauty gadgetry to anyone who gives a shit.  Which, let’s face it… is probably no-one.  You should probably just get this to amuse yourself/give as a present (the box and artwork is way cool/or for your holiday manicures.

Laqa & Co Nail Polish Pen in Incestuous is priced at £10.95 and available online from PowderRooms.

* press sample

China Glaze New Bohemian Luster Chromes for Autumn 2012

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 13 - 2012

Due to launch this Autumn are six new “specialist” shades from China Glaze that promise to leave you mesmerized as the color shifts and moves across the nail, traveling with the light.

Woohoo for duochromes!

Recent duochrome launches have been a bit disappointing no?  I still smart from being underwhelmed by the much-hyped Models Own Beetlejuice collection which offered (to my eye), a disappointing effect on the nail compared to the bottle shots.  I’m gonna be a tough cookie on these if they fail to live up to those lovely stock images below.

  • Unpredictable – Multidimensional gorgeous green
  • Rare & Radiant – Extraordinarily rich gold
  • Swanky Silk – Brilliant beige with peach undertones
  • No Plain Jane – Lavish lavender-pink
  • Want My Bawdy – Sexy sapphire blue
  • Deviantly Daring – Adventurously bold peacock teal

It almost makes me excited for Autumn.  I said, almost.

July Product Loves (vol. 533493492)

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 12 - 2012

Or is it vol. 533493491?  With over 2250 posts under my belt, you can appreciate that I’ve loved and fell out of love with all manner of things, such is the fickle nature of beauty and such is the fickle nature of “ooh shiny”.  I’m always reticent to admit to Holy Grail products because I’m not really the kind of person to stick to one thing for life (except perhaps for Mr. L and Boost bars).  If I repurchase something, that’s pretty damn good going when there’s all manner of other lovely things that promise the earth and deliver about 2 continents worth instead.  As beauty lovers, we’ve grown to expect a certain amount of over-selling when it comes to product claims and I guess that’s why blogs are so useful, they simply provide the experiences of peers who generally have the same expectation levels as yourself.

With that in mind, these are the things that I’ve been currently loving long time.  Well, about two weeks – which, in the coquettish world of beauty, is literally, forever.

1). Calling all mermaids!  VOYA Ritzy Spritzy* hails from the salty depths, quite literally!  The hero ingredient to this refreshing toner is hand-harvested seaweed, packed with vitamins B1, B2 and B12 (sounds like Bananas in Pyjamas), plus polysaccharides and alginates, all of which combine to offer a tonic that delivers a moisturising, oil-free formula.  I’m an toner-nut and after using it continuously for a week in-place of my usual variety, this one is particularly efficient in cooling the skin, making it a great holiday choice for those jetting off to far-flung beaches. £23.00 from Look Fantastic.

2). Hello Glow! Hello indeed to this budget-friendly alternative to a particularly well-known Dermalogica favourite!  If you’re a Daily Microfoliant addict, you might want to give Hello Glow‘s Whitening Plus Facial Polish* a spin.  Released just last month, the powder formulation mixes with a little water to create a mildly exfoliating paste that leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft.  It contains a 100% natural blend of coconut milk powder, potato starch, milk, honey, rice and essential oils and is suitcase friendly too! £9.99 from RoseLinkUK.

3). It wouldn’t be Summer without a fresh, summer fragrance to distract myself from the necessity to build a replica Ark and Prada’s Infusion d’Iris offers maximum distraction.  A classic, green scent which despite the name offers a more sensual, woody edge than I’d expect.  The floral is clearly there, along with a burst of Italian-inspired citrus zings that never smell too sharp but it’s the drydrown that leaves my mouth watering in it’s pure cleanliness that leaves me feeling like I’ve just stepped from the shower (minus the cheap soap!).  A perfect balance of floral, fresh and woody that simply works very nicely on my skin.  From £40.00 at Debenhams.

4). From one classic to another, in the form of Trilogy’s Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, which I purchased as a little moisture-booster to my current skincare routine.  I use it while my skin is still wet from the shower (water really makes my skin feel tight), and massage it in to my elbows, knees, heels and any little eczema patches that have flared up overnight – what’s left on my hands after this, goes straight on my face.  In the winter, I may use it more often but a couple of times a week at the moment is enough to keep my skin supple and happy. £16.50 from Boots.

5).  Another one for the holiday bag is Laqa & Co’s Nail Pen in Incestuous*.  Hate the name, love the colour!  This muted lavender nail pen is one of those products that you think will never work.  Nail polish in a pen?!  But work it does… though I discovered that painting with your “wrong” hand is significantly more tricky than when using a regular polish brush – it’s just like writing or drawing with your weak hand!  The polish dispenses easily and is fluid enough to work with without too much fuss.  5ml for £11 makes it an expensive option, but it’s great for travel and is a real conversation starter as I discovered on the train the other day! £11 from PowderRooms.

6). There’s lots of classics on my list today and Olay’s Classic Care Nourishing Beauty Fluid (Sensitive) is perhaps the consummate defintion of the word.  My day moisturiser recently ran out, and being on a no-buy meant that I had more chance of a sunny day than guiltessly hot-footing it to the Elemis counter, so I settled for Asda instead and picked up this one to tide me over.  I actually meant to pick up this one but couldn’t find it on the shelves.  That being said, it’s doing a sterling job at leaving my skin feeling hydrated with a non-greasy finish.  I’m not sure I’ll repurchase, because I’ll hopefully be off my no-buy when this one runs out and I’ll try and pick up the one I meant to get next time.  Still, £4.69 from Boots – mustn’t grumble!

7). Can you tell I’m not going on holiday until September?  My goodness am I packing in these travel essentials this month!  The St. Tropez Bronzing Gel* is a great option for pasty legs that demand a streak-free finish!  Creams are all well and good but this dark gel will ensure you leave no patches un-tanned!  Combine it with an applicator mitt and really work the formula into your skin to ensure an even tan.  I like the gel formula because it looks a bit scarier, thus making me less complacent with my application – it’s all in the mind folks and this one just makes me work harder (in a good way!). £21.99 from Boots.

8). Last but by no means least!  Benadryl Allerfy Relief (Acrivastine) keeps both myself and Mr. L free from hayfever.  I’m fortunate to only suffer from mild symptoms but when the pollen count reaches the top of the charts, I reach for one of these and it knocks all symptoms on the head within half an hour.  I do sometimes have to take another tablet later in the day and they’re not the cheapest (I don’t think you can get generic versions) but they’re the best I’ve found for controlling the summer sniffles!  £3.80 from Tesco.

What are you loving so far this month?

* press sample

China Glaze Summer Neons Collection – Under The Boardwalk NOTD

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 11 - 2012

Some polishes make you gasp with their sheer beauty, others turn down your lips with an overriding “meh”.  China Glaze’s Under the Boardwalk has me scratching my head in total bewilderment.  How can a polish look so different in the bottle compared to how it applies on the nail?

Please excuse the mistreated cuticles (I need some marigolds), but what kind of messed-up voodoo is at play here?!  Is it purple or is it pink?  I even did an extra two coats (4 shown in the photo above) to make sure that the colour was fully fully opaque.

And then it got weirder when I read this about it on The PolishAholic.  Anyone else got a freaky one?

China Glaze Under the Boardwalk, you tricky, shape-shifting polish you.  I wouldn’t mind, but you’re not even a particularly fashincating colour!  Get over yourself.

China Glaze Under The Boardwalk is available to buy instore from Sallys or online at BeautyBay.com, priced from £6.95

* press sample

WIN a GHD Gloss IV Styler

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 9 - 2012

Happy Monday morning to you!

Well, when I say “happy”… I’ve actually got my sympathetic face on.  You see, when I wake up in the morning, I’m blessed with more time to get ready than most – thems the benefits of working from home.  It’s not as luxurious as it sounds, half the time it just means that I end the day looking the same as I did when I rolled out of bed that morning.

None of you glamourous lot would ever dream of being so slattern would you?

Oh, you would?

Well in that case, keep reading because I have an early-morning hair saviour up for grabs that might just encourage you to change your ways.

The ghd Gloss IV Styler not only promises your hair the glossy finish it’s been craving but creates its own style tribe with a high-shine, patent finish in addition to all the usual features you’d expect from the best-selling brand.

When you’re as bleary-eyed as a panda, you’ll be grateful for the long, swivel cord that won’t leave you contorting your upper torso into impossible angles and the safety-conscious sleep mode will ensure that the only burnt aromas you’ll return home to are from the remains of your morning toast.

Wanna win a pair?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C
1. Entry open to UK residents only.
2. One winner will be picked at random from ALL entrants and this winner will receive a limited edition ghd Gloss IV Styler.
3. Email details are only required to enter the competition, no details will be kept once this competition is closed and personal information will only be used to contact the winner.
4. Competition closes on 16th July 2012.
5. Winner will be notified within 5 days of the competition’s closing date.
6. Lipglossiping.com is the sole promoter of this competition.

Deal Alert: Half Price Suncare at Boots!

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 6 - 2012

If you’re doing some last minute shopping for your Summer holidays, you might be interested to know that all Soltan-branded suncare (Boot’s own brand) is currently half price, instore and online.  There’s a full range to suit the entire family – I really like (and currently use on the whole family) the Soltan Kids Rapid Cover SPF50++ one but am incredibly tempted by one of the aerosol “lighter than light” options whilst it’s at a bargain price.

Are you a fan of the Soltan branded suncare products?  Which ones do you rate and which ones should we avoid!

China Glaze Summer Neons collection: Splish Splash NOTD

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 5 - 2012

Sink or swim?  I’m definitely sinking this week but I’m not going down without a fight!  Splish Splash feels rather apt and this beautiful cerulean blue is a dreamy shade.  Again, I had issues with thickness and pooling at the edges of the nail bed… thin coats are a must, but the polish redeems itself with a no-nonsense coverage that’s done in two coats.

All of the shades in this Summer Neons collection have benefited from a top coat to bring back the shine that these neon formulas often lack upon dry-down.  The shimmer gives this sea-blue a real kick and sparkle that does it complete justice in the sun.

China Glaze Splish Splash is available to buy instore from Sallys or online at BeautyBay.com, priced from £6.95

* press sample

Style it, don’t fry it with Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 4 - 2012

If we’re not straightening it, we’re curling it.  If we’re not dye-ing it, we’re stripping it.  Our hair goes through more daily turmoil than the cast of Eastenders and I’m always on the lookout for ways to protect my locks, because heaven forbid, I should actually just stop mistreating them!

Philip Kingsley, major hair guru (or trichologist to give him his proper name), offers an anti-breakage, heat protecting conditioning spray for all hair types in the form of his Daily Damage Defence* spray.  It’s spendy at £22.50 for 250ml but if you only straighten your hair a couple of times a week (like me), this hefty bottle is going to last you 6 months or more with no trouble.  If you straighten your hair daily, stop that at once!

Many of us straighten our hair to eliminate the frizzies, at least… that’s what I do.  I’m a little bit addicted to the glossiness that ironed hair imparts and I haven’t yet discovered the secrets to achieving the same with a decent blow-dry.  I’m only washing my hair a maximum of twice or three times a week at the moment because I lose too much colour, too quickly if I wash more frequently and I’m finding that this by itself is helping my hair retain more moisture than normal.

I wash (still keep cheating on my SLS-free shampo), condition (deep condition once a week), pat dry with a towel, spray with the Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence, and comb through with a boar-bristled brush.  Then I blow dry, and finally… run my straighteners through at as low a temperature as I can (anything above 180 degrees is really too hot for hair to handle).

The Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence is a silicone-based heat protectant (silicone avoiders beware) with added nourishing benefits from ingredients such as: hydrolised elastin, almond seedcake extract, amino acids and other hygroscopic (moisture-attracting) properties.  It smells good and dispenses a fine mist so I don’t overload my fine hair and weigh it down.  It’s the only styling product I’ve been using except for hairspray in an attempt to grasp any other benefits that it may be delivering.

Has my hair been breaking less?  Not really… at least, not that I’d directly attribute to the use of this product.  My hair breaks more so (in my opinion) because of my polycystic ovarian syndrome, I’m also a terrible shedder and I can’t have a shower without emptying the plughole of enough hair to stuff a pillow.  I haven’t noticed any improvements in this regard since using the Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence.

Do I see any benefits at all?  I find that it’s helping my straighteners glide through my hair more efficiently and more quickly, something which I believe is lessening the scope for damage whilst still delivering good results when I’m done.  I haven’t noticed it causing any additional colour leech, infact… I’d say that I’ve had less since I’ve been using it (and it does say “suitable for use on color treated hair”), something which has become a bit of a priority recently.  I’ve just been for the chop (4 inches off) so I can’t comment on split ends but I hadn’t noticed a significant improvement and really don’t believe that any product will deliver on that score!

It’s more than I’d want to pay for a heat-protectant… but you get a lot of product for your money and it’s packaged in such a way that there is no waste during use, so if you don’t already have something that you’re happy with and can stomach the initial splurge, I do recommend the Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence.  If you already use something that you swear by at a more bargainous price, I’m all ears!

I’ve tried a few and hadn’t (until now) found a happy balance between the product weighing down my hair and not actually achieving anything other than a bit of additional scent!  Thumbs up for this one.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence (250ml) is priced at £22.50 and available to buy instore and online at Marks&Spencer

* press sample

The “only” place in town to get your nails did?

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 4 - 2012

Sadly not my town, or my country but Essie Weingarten, she of polish conoisseur’s Essie fame has just opened the brand’s first nail salon at hair salon Samuel Shriqui in New York.

Purdy ain’t it?  The couches are even dyed in shades that match the polishes!  The salon carries a staggering 250 shades, which may well sound like a dream come true for some.  The indecisiveness would actually kill me (if the nail techs didn’t kill me first).

In my town, the only place to be seen getting your nails did is McDonalds, while your mate tenderly feeds you your McChicken Sandwich to prevent smudges, at least… that’s how it appeared to be going down last weekend in So’ton town centre.  Who says us Brits aren’t a classy lot?

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself pounding the streets of the Upper East side, you can find the new Essie flagship salon at Samuel Shriqui, 35 East 65th Street, N ew York.  Manicure prices start from a very reasonable $32 (£20).

Limited Edition Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 3 - 2012

Nana called, she wants her curtains back and she can’t get ITV any more.

I just don’t know… I mean, I’m not into design and I’m just about the least fashionable person I know, but this limited edition packaging by Laura Oakes just isn’t doing it for me.  What IS doing it for me, is the fact that it’s celebrating Elemis’ award-winning Papaya Enzyme Peel’s 10th Anniversary by funding vaccinations for children in Africa.

For every product sold, Elemis will provide a 5-in-1 Pentavalent vaccine to immunise a child in Africa against 5 leading diseases and they hope to donate 50,000 vaccines through this programme in partnership with charity SOCO.

Nana would totally approve.

Buy it on counter or online at TimetoSpa.co.uk, priced at £28.60

The Body Shop launch new 100% organic scent collection

Posted by Lipglossiping On July - 2 - 2012

There was nothing that my teen-self liked better than spending a Saturday afternoon sniffing her way around the carousel of fragrance oils in my local Body Shop.  I used to lose hours in that store, coming away smelling like an odd fuzzy peach/dewberry fruit hybrid.  I can only imagine the Pepé Le Pew-esque trail I must have left in my wake as I wandered up the high street toward Pilot.

This August will see the launch of The Body Shop’s first 100% organic fragrance collection.  The hand-picked, natural extracts have been blended with community fair-trade alcohol under the supervision of fragrance experts and I, for one, am I excited to see if I can relive my youth, turn back the clock, erase some crowsfeet, re-ignite some fond memories when they hit the shelves next month.

The range comprises five new scents, described thus:

Japanese Cherry Blossom: Fruity and floral, with top notes of Fuji apple and Chinese magnolia, alongside real Japanese cherry blossom.

Indian Night Jasmine: Spicy and seductive, notes of sandalwood and violet leaf fuse with orange blossom and jasmine from India.

Atlas Mountain Rose: Amber and musk combine with citrus notes, exotic spices and mountain rose extracts from Morocco.

Madagascan Vanilla Flower: An Oriental gourmand delight with notes of amber, frangipani, and vanilla from Madagascar.

Amazonian Wild Lily: Green and fresh with iris, orchid and papaya alongside white lilies from Brazil.

One of my favourite “lighter” day scents (you know I like the heavy stuff!) is a Body Shop one that was a limited edition release last year, so I’m really hoping that the brand will have conjured up something special with this new range.

The new Scents of the World fragrance collection will be available from August.

EAU DE TOILETTE RRP £15.00 50ML

FRAGRANCE MIST RRP £7.00 100ML

BODY LOTION RRP £9.00 200ML

BODY WASH RRP £8.00 200ML

PERFUME OIL RRP £7.00 15ML

Were you a Dewberry, White Musk or Fuzzy Peach kinda girl?

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