Following on from last week’s FrontCover set, this week’s Star Gift of the Week at Boots is a Ted Baker Make It Big Vanity Case, picture below:

Until Thursday, 3rd November – the set will be priced at only £19 (regularly £40) and includes:

Butterfly Wings Body Wash (250ml)
Butterfly Wings Body Lotion (200ml)
Butterfly Wings Body Spray (150ml)
Butterfly Wings Body Scrub (300ml)
Origami Bath Foam (250ml)
Origami Body Souffle (300ml)
Origami Body Spray (150ml)

For a closer look at the actual case… you can watch the short video below:

Ted Baker Make It Big Vanity Case is available online and instore at Boots priced at £19.00, though be aware that the GotW’s usually sell out online fairly rapidly.

 


Bag a Blistex Lip Brilliance on Facebook

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 28 - 2011

Just a quick PSA to let you know that Blistex are giving away 1000 of their new Lip Brilliance daily care lip balms.  If your lips are starting to feel the effects of the colder weather, you could do worse things than popping on over to the Blistex Facebook page this lunchtime.

You also stand the chance of winning some Topshop vouchers but…. meh.  Am I the only one who has never bought anything other than makeup from Topshop?  Don’t say yes…

 

Coming Soon: Lanolips Golden Ointment

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 28 - 2011

I’m excited to share this with you… because over the past few months, I’ve been hiding a pot of gold.  A little lab sample of Lady Lamb’s latest launch (try saying that drunk).

Lanolips Golden Ointment is a deeply rich, nourishing balm for ultra-dry skin.  The kind of skin that tears at your clothes and makes your tights feel like sandpaper against your shins… the skin we dread each Winter.  If you’re in need of deep moisturisation and instant relief, this could be what you’ve been looking for – provided in the form of some of the most natural, pure and most-overlooked ingredients in the world.

Smelling like warm, buttered-honey, Golden Ointment has a creamy consistency to match.  The ointment is enriched with Ultra Pure Medical Grade Lanolin, Manuka Honey & Vitamin E, and contains no artificial colours or fragrance (of course).

Simplicity always was the recipe for success.

Lanolips Golden Ointment will launch mid-November EXCLUSIVELY at Victoria Health (waiting list available), priced at £17.99 before rolling out across Boots stores nationwide from February.

 

Rituals Sunglow Peach: Cheek & Eye Glow

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 27 - 2011

Rituals Sunglow Cheek & Eye Glow in Peach is a multi-tasking palette filled with some truly lovely warm-toned shades that work well even on my cool skin tone.

The palette (which contains a generous 9g of product) is currently on sale on the Rituals website and reminds me of a more affordable version of something like Laura Mercier’s Shimmer Bloc or Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Brick.

A total of five colours that harmonise well together to create some different eye-variations or if swirled gently with a large, fluffy brush will impart a warm glow to the cheeks.

My preferred way of using this is as an eye palette, it’s one of those no-nonsense palettes that does the hard work for you.  The shade placements are pretty obvious and the mineral formula means that these shades blend together effortlessly.

The high shimmer finish means that this won’t be to everyone’s tastes and when I use this on my cheeks, I use just the tiniest touch over the top of my blusher and edging my cheekbone rather than the apple of my cheek.  In other words, I use this more as a highlighter than a blusher.

I’ve got some swatches below and I’ll make this the feature of my next FOTD – it is quite Autumnal after all no?

A comparison with my other peachy shimmer palettes (Prescriptives The Illuminator, Rituals Sunglow Peach, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Block in Nectar)…

Of the three, the Rituals is the most genuinely multi-functional but also the softest-textured, meaning that it imparts a lot of product onto the brush and creates a little dust when working with it.  The Bobbi Brown is hard-textured and doesn’t work anywhere near as well as eyeshadow but is my preferred option for blush.  The Prescriptives?  Well, seeing as you can’t get it anymore… there’s not much point me going on about it!

Rituals Sunglow* also comes in a range of pinks and a bronze-toned version.  Currently on the Rituals website priced at £17.90

* press sample

Liz Earle TV!

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 27 - 2011

Following the British brand’s scoop of Best Online Shop at the 2011 Which? Awards, Liz Earle are further developing their popular website with a new video channel.

Liz Earle TV includes video features on some of the brand’s greatest selling products and ranges, aswell as a comprehensive look at the brand’s back-story.  The clips include useful knowledge from some of the brand’s in-house experts including: Jennifer Hirsch (Botanist,), Jo Givens (Treatments Expert), Ian Denson (Hair Specialist), and Jane Bradley (MakeUp Artist).

I’m really hoping the brand also uses this new portal to share a real insider’s look at the workings of a beauty brand.  Anything that makes a brand more accessible to fans is a good thing and I think something like that would fit really well with the brand’s customer-led ethos.

I’d love to see sneak peeks into the distribution process, manufacturing, how the botanicals are sourced, etc. etc.

OH GOD YES!!  A slow-mo video of how to wrap things beautifully in time for Christmas!

Liz Earle TV is available to watch 24/7 from the Liz Earle website.

 

NOTD: Leighton Denny – Astronaughty

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 26 - 2011

I’m usually fairly decisive about nail polish but I really can’t make up my mind whether or not I love or loathe this one from Leighton Denny’s Autumn/Winter Atmospheric collection.

Astronaughty is beautiful.  Let’s get that out of the way first… I’m not denying that it holds that special something to elevate it above the ordinary.  It’s described as an intense plum with sizzling red shimmer – and I have to say that I don’t ‘get’ that.  To my eye, it’s more complicated.

Firstly, it’s not intense.  The above shows three fairly thick coats and although not instantly apparent in the photo… there’s a whisper of sheerness that will remain for at least another coat.  Not that there’s anything wrong with this, but it gives a more smokey effect than the wham, bam intensity you’d expect from the description.

The red shimmer is also quite copper-y red which leans a touch yellow on my already yellowed nails — something that makes this polish really intriguing but ultimately not massively flattering on my nails.

I’ve experienced a bit of tip wear with this one but no chipping.  Ngggh, I just don’t know about this one!

Leighton Denny Astronaughty is available to buy online priced at £11.00

* press sample

 

Review: St. Tropez Perfect Legs Spray

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 26 - 2011

I’m not a great self-tanner. I mean that in both senses of the word — I don’t do it very often and when I do, I’m pretty shit at it. The historical exception to this rule is with Sally Hansen’s old Airbrush Legs… you can still buy it, but the formula is a little different now and they’ve ditched my shade. I used to love it and would go through cans of the stuff when the weather called for a bit of leg-display.

So, when St. Tropez’s new Perfect Legs Spray landed on my desk, I had barely opened the envelope before I was prising off the lid and putting it to work, ever-hopeful that I might find my pasty-leg saviour.

Look how stained my hand is!! I’ll tell you more about that in a minute…

The new St. Tropez Perfect Legs Spray promises an instant, natural bronzing effect combined with a longer-lasting self tan. The aerosol can contains 75ml of product, which isn’t a lot — about enough to do your legs twice/three times at most. The product is fairly reasonably priced at £10, making it a cost-effective choice for special events or big nights out. Don’t forget that as-well as the instant bronzer, you’re also benefiting from a normal self-tan at the same time. Although, I’d obviously like to see more for my money, I think the price is reasonable for special occasions when compared to alternative options.

Unlike my old Sally Hansen cans, this isn’t like makeup for your legs. It won’t conceal veins, freckles or give you a massively airbrushed effect but it excels at what it does deliver: healthy-looking, bronzed pins.

It’s ridiculously easy to use and dispenses a very fine mist. Any slightly larger droplets that appear from holding it a little too close blend easily into the skin for a completely streak-free finish. I blended one leg with my hands and the other with a mit. Use the mit, this stuff sets faster than an 80s perm and despite rushing to the basin mere minutes after my first blend – my hand is perma-tanned. Looking on the bright side, this is obviously great news for my legs as it didn’t transfer once touch-dry.

Product doesn’t leak/drip from the nozzle during operation and the spray works regardless of the contorted angles you put the can through. It may just be, that as a novice, I’m having a hallelujah moment with tans in a can but I simply didn’t run into any problems with this one.

And as for my legs? Oh god, hold on to your breakfasts…

It works well right?  My left leg (right as you look at it) was tanned with the St. Tropez and it doesn’t look remotely orange or streaky!  Honestly, if I can use it… a total fool can use it and make it look good in under 5 minutes. I’m so pleased to be able to recommend this to ultra-pale girls who suck at applying fake tan like me. I’m so jealous of wimmen to whom this stuff comes naturally. It’s a bleedin’ art-form to get it right I tell ya!

St. Tropez Perfect Legs Spray simply takes the hard work out of bronzing. Definite repurchase for those times when tights just won’t do.

St. TropezPerfect Legs Spray is priced at £10.00 and available from the usual stockists.

* press sample

 

Illuminum Fragrance Lounge: London never smelled sweeter!

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 25 - 2011

You’re more than likely familiar with the name Illuminum thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge’s decision to wear the brand’s White Gardenia Petals on her wedding day earlier this year, causing a mass sell out of the floral fragrance.

Following this runaway success, the British-based fragrance house are opening what is thought to be the largest independent perfumery in the world right here, in the heart of London.

‘Fume heads everywhere will be delighted to hear that the concept behind the boutique revolves around the idea that luxury fine fragrance should not be about rushing, tills and counters.  The space has been designed to invite customers to sit, have a cup of coffee and take their time over the all-important business of scenting!

I want to create an oasis of fragrance in the heart of the city.  There will be no rushing at The Fragrance
Lounge, you can sit and enjoy an espresso or a glass of champagne and take you time – selecting from my scents should be a joyous experience and there are 32 to choose from! — Michael Boadi (creator)

From bespoke offerings to the Haute Perfume Collection comprising of 16 newly launched scents, there should be something for everyone to admire, though with prices starting from £70 for the classic collection and ranging up to £7,500 for a uniquely bespoke creation — it won’t be for everyone.  I quite fancy going in there for a Pretty Woman moment, anyone wanna be my Richard Gere?

The Illuminum Fragrance Lounge will open at 41/42, Dover Street, Mayfair, London.

 

Smells like… well, just spirit actually.

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 25 - 2011

I’m currently compiling a list of my top Autumn fragrances which naturally involves a little bit of pruning and today, I thought I’d show you one that just missed the billing.

Demeter Whiskey Tobacco is a fairly recent acquisition that caught me by surprise late one night as I was browsing some fragrance sites.  I love warm scents, so naturally, this time of year is like nectar to me.  I can douse myself in all my boozy ambers with the kind of abandon that hasn’t been witnessed since… oooh… March?

Demeter is a brand well-known for their fragrance library which encompasses many well-loved scents that would have passed under your nose at some point in time.  From Apple Pie to Laundromat, Mushroom(!) to Wet Garden – the range is exhaustive AND exhausting!

I couldn’t resist picking up a bottle of Whiskey Tobacco when I read the description…

We think this blend of Whiskey and Tobacco Smoke is a great masculine scent. And sometime it’s nice to be reminded of your Dad.

My father used to smoke a pipe and I was sure that if anyone were to capture that sweet, resinous scent unaltered and unapologetically, Demeter would probably be the ones to do it.  I love tobacco scents in general and was hoping this one wouldn’t disappoint!

Whiskey Tobacco, as you might imagine, is a full-on scent which I would (rubbishly) describe as less about ‘being in a smokey, boozy environment’ and more ‘alternating sticking your snout in a jar of whiskey / pouch of honeyed-tobacco’.  This distinction will obviously make you less repulsive-smelling to people around you who might not share your tastes for boozy/smoky scents but I will admit to missing the actual smokiness in this one.

Longevity is pretty poor, I get around 40 minutes tops before all traces have vanished into the ether.  However, whilst it does linger, sillage is brilliant.

Overall, it’s one to conjure memories and spritz randomly when you want a touch of (southern) comfort.  Priced at around $20 it’s cheap but not super-easy to get hold of in the UK.  E-scentialbeauty.com will ship internationally and also offer sample sizes on all Demeter scents so that you can try before you buy.

 Do you have any favourite Demeter scents?

 

Nail Rock goes dotty for Children in Need

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 25 - 2011

I’m not a big fan of nail wraps but wanted to give a shout out to these rather cute dotty ones from Nail Rock which are currently available to buy in Boots priced at £6.65

If I don’t like them, why the mention?  Well… a very decent 25% (£1.66) from each purchase will go directly to BBC’s Children in Need and help disadvantaged kids across the UK.  Now as charitable as I aspire to be, I’m not one for bathing in tins of beans or sponsored beard shaves (what?) – this is far more my cuppa tea.

Having said that, if you prefer to donate directly — you can find out all you need to know about donating right here.

 

Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Cream (and the poor relation)

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 24 - 2011

I wonder if my body ever gets jealous of my face?

I mean… I spend a fortune on trying to make my face look good, and if you discount x amount of moolah that I’ve spent on dieting over the years… my body is like the poor relation.  The hand-me-down kid.  At least it has my hair to keep it company, I neglect that too.

I haven’t gone mental… (in case you’re wondering).

You see, British brand, Elemis have just released a body version of their incredibly covetable Pro Collagen Marine cream.  It’s specifically designed to target anti-ageing and combat the loss of elasticity allover our *cough* vital areas.

It contains mystical-sounding ingredients such as Castanha Oil, Laminaria Brown Seaweed, Babassu Oil, Bilberry Oil and that ever-intriguing marine extract Padina Pavonica.  It even promises to help breakdown fatty deposits.

AND…

Let’s face it, once we hit 30, everything starts to head South faster than a pair of migrating blue tits.  Yeah, you totally saw what I did there.

But back to my original point.  I love Elemis’ original Pro Collagen Marine formula and it’s one of my very few top-end luxuries (the other being perfume I can ill-afford) and I’d slather it all over my body if I could afford to (oh hello cheaper body version!)…

BUT…

I’m just too lazy you know.

Do you guys make use of the wonderful technologies in your face creams and put them to use on your bodies?  Am I a bit weird for blatantly and completely ignoring what is (in fairness), the largest proportion of skin on my body in favour of this much smaller *circles face* bit right here?

Perhaps it’s more of an upkeep thing?  If I had the body of a goddess… I’d be more willing to put the effort in to keep it that way?  Hell, to get the bits below my neck reach any kind of level worthy of a bikini, I’d need about £20k in surgery and KFC/McDonalds/KrispyKreme wiped off the face of the Earth.  Minimum.

Which leads me to something that’s going to keep me awake tonight.  Do really, really ugly people not bother with face cream?

Elemis Pro-Collagen Body Cream is priced at £49.00 for 200ml and available on counter and online from www.timetospa.co.uk

 

Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner

Posted by Lipglossiping On October - 24 - 2011

I’ve heard SO much about this eyeliner over the past couple of years and following my semi-disappointment with my Illamasqua Precision Ink, I was in the market for trying out something new.  Combine this with a late night mooch around eBay, and the rest (as they say…) is history.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner is the finest-tipped eyeliner pen I’ve used.  It’s a brush tip rather than a felt tip and the bristles hold together tightly to provide a very tight line.

I find the formula to be quite watery and it can bleed a little but thankfully dries very quickly.  For a very dark line, you’d need to make a couple of passes which is a shame.

I paid around £10 for mine (inc. shipping) which brings it well under high-end prices but toward the top end of high street.  It does fade throughout the day and I’m not going to give this holygrail status simply because I’m not completely sold on the formula.  The precision brush though?  Well, it’s an absolute dream for winging out.

The above photo shows one pass and you can see that it could do with a second swipe, there’s a hint of feathering but check out that sharp wing!

Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner is available to buy on eBay (prices vary).

What’s your favourite eyeliner at the moment?

 

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