A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Says me.  And if anyone wants to argue with that, I’ll roll up my fairy sleeves and throw all the manky, strawberry-flavoured Quality Streets at you from up there on my perch branch.

If you want to have a look at some of the lovely Christmas ideas I selected for BuyaPowa’s Christmas Gift Guide, click through the link above to have a squizz.  Because I’m not super-human, I can’t link you to the OPI Muppettes Mini Pack that sold out exceedingly quickly last night on the BuyaPowa website.  Sorry about that… but I can give you an early Christmas present and let you in on a teeny little secret…

Are you listening?  No, I mean… are you really, REALLY listening?

BuyaPowa will be going live with a co-buy toward the end of the week – it’s only gonna BLEEDIN’ be Urban Decay’s Naked Palette innit!!!  The world of co-buying is fast and furious so if you want to get a heads up when it goes live, I suggest you click through to BuyaPowa and add your email address next to the photo of the UD Naked Palette to get notification of when the sale goes live.

Don’t say I never give you nuffink *sprinkles Quality Streets*

It’s finally November and the Christmas Countdown has officially begun. It won’t be long now before you’re unable get through a work-day without hearing a rendition of “Fairytale of New York”, either on the radio or from a tone-deaf colleague. Give it another few weeks and you’ll be adding “Stop the Cavalry” to the list of songs you never want to hear again — and don’t even get me started on Mariah.

Let’s face it, Christmas is a curious time of year — the very mention of it can fill a soul with both excitement and dread, for with it comes the greatest of expectations. I don’t know about you but I’ve already started planning my gift-giving. I have an iPhone app that lets me list recipients in groups, ranking them by importance and value. I can tick off the various stages of the deed from the moment I’ve decided on the gift, through to purchasing the gift, wrapping the gift and finally, delivering the gift. The shame.

I’m both a wonderful and terrible gift-giver, I take immense joy and satisfaction from tailoring friends’ and family’s gifts perfectly. I deliberate over the ideal present to suit an individual’s personality and meticulously shop to be sure that I also score the best bargains available. This is something that can’t be entered into lightly — it takes careful consideration, planning, and stealthy research. The joy of giving is something that I take very seriously indeed.

I sound great right? You’d want to receive a present from me, wouldn’t you? Well, actually no, no you probably wouldn’t. You see, the flip-side to all this wonderful giving is that the poor recipient has to live up to my expectations in the same way that I want my gift to exceed theirs. If I so much as detect a hint of indifference or ungratefulness toward the fruits of my labour… well, let’s just say, I’d make an awesome Mafioso, horse’s head or no horse’s head.

But don’t let me put you off, I’m sure you’re far more likely to occupy the sane, middle-ground than I am when it comes to treating your loved ones this Christmas. There are many joys to giving the right presents to your loved ones and many giggles that can be had from gifting the wrong ones too! I’m slowly learning that you don’t need to spend big money on flash gifts, I have a brother who loves nothing more than receiving home-baked cinnamon rolls that cost pennies to make and a friend who is always delighted to receive a jar full of I.O.Us in exchange for future baby-sitting sessions.

It’s important not to lose sight of what’s important. You’re not trying to outdo anyone with your splendiferous pressie-wrapping skills, it doesn’t matter if someone else buys Grandma the same pair of fleece-lined slippers, and above all else, people show pleasure in many different ways. Some… less obviously than others. If all else fails, come join the dark-side with me and we’ll just have to keep on practising the art of giving graciously… I’m sure I can find you a space in the Christmas Cosa Nostra.

I’ll be featuring some of my favourite Christmas gifts on the shelves during the run-up to Christmas, stick around… you might just make yourself popular with the most awesomest of pressies!

Let’s face it, we’re closer to the festive season than most of us would like to admit.  Have you made any preparations for the big day yet?  No?!

Well, Boots have devised a cunning plan to get us filling up those Christmas stockings quicker than you can devour the mince pies you were supposed to leave out for the main man himself.  They’re called Star Gifts and include a series of fabulous one-off offers every week during the Christmas shopping period.  And by Christmas shopping period, I mean NOW.

Not only that, but Boots are getting all social with their Twelve Gifts of Christmas campaign.  Once a week from now until Boxing Day, they’ll will be selecting one lucky blogger to receive the Star Gift of the week.  In turn, that blogger will pay it forward by nominating another blogger to receive the same Star Gift.  It’s like a paper-chain of beauty booty!

Seeing as I’m the lucky recipient of this week’s Star Gift from Frontcover pictured above, I’d better tell you a bit about it!

Frontcover are well known for their fantastic releases this time of year and this one doesn’t disappoint.  A one-stop make-up collection for eyes, lips and cheeks which includes hints and tips from Frontcover make-up artist, Leanne Shaw, and all the tools needed to create many different looks for the festive season.

The Frontcover Style Queen Colour Set includes:

~ 6 lip glosses
~ 7 dome baked powder eyeshadows
~ 6 pressed powder eyeshadows
~ 2 fine-line baked powder cheek domes
~ Double ended mascara/sealer
~ 2 iridescent pigments
~ Shadowline
~ 6 make-up brushes
~ Mini lash curler
~ Double pencil sharpener
~ A mirror in the lid

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For this week only, the set can be snapped up for just £17.00!

(usual price £35.00)

What’s the catch?  You’ve only got TODAY left to buy it!

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And now for the extra fun bit…

I’m paying it forward and nominating…. my good friend, Cosmetic Candy to receive this week’s Star Gift on me.  Nepotism rules OK.

Keep your eyes peeled because somewhere across the blogosphere, Father Christmas (ok, Boots PR) will be pointing the finger of fortune at another lucky soul to help them count down to Christmas with next week’s ‘Star Gift’ of the week!

Who could it be?  WHAT could it be?!

Perfume ‘jewellery’ has been big news for some time now and will again be found on many wishlists this Christmas.  I spotted this Chloé Solid Perfume Necklace at a recent press day and made a bee-line for it because I loved the simplicity of the design.  There was a release last year that did the blog rounds, it was a solid perfume ring that was hugely OTT and possibly, the ugliest thing I’d laid eyes on.

This, is a little more understated…

The Chloé Solid Perfume Necklace contains the brand’s signature scent and will be available from all Chloé stockists from the 21st September 2011 with an RRP of £45.00/€56.30

Are you a fan of solid fragrance turned into jewellery?

The Selfridges’ Beauty Advent Calendar will be making a triumphant return this Christmas!

Each window houses Selfridges’ most popular beauty products in miniature! Who needs chocolate anyway?!

Mini presents include Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, Lancôme Teint Miracle and Mini Juicy Tube, YSL Belle D’Opium, Kiehls Creme de Corps and Emporio Armani Diamonds.

The Advent calendars are priced at £70 each, are notoriously popular and sell out quickly.

I’m very tempted to start saving some pennies in a jar now, any number-heads know how much we’d need to squirrel away daily to come up with the £70 by October’s release?

Last month, I introduced you to luxury good purveyors Ancienne Ambiance and their wonderful Autumnal candle that brought a rich, comforting amber to the table.

This month, I’m bringing you a candle that brings the table to the table.

Say what?

I was sent the Christmas Pillar Candle in Christmas Fruits (£16) and it’s a gold-dipped extravagance of epic proportions.  Beautifully packaged it’s a perfect last-minute gift for any candle-lover in your life.

It burns for 90 hours with an aroma that epitomises all that is good about December 25th…

…Christmas Pudding.

The candle burns with a dark fruitiness that’s never tart nor acidic, just rich and decadent… I’m sure I can even detect a hint of booziness!

I can only burn this for short periods of time as I do find it becomes a little overwhelming after a while – strangely enough, exactly how I feel about eating Christmas Pudding!  Still, it’s better that than a scent you can barely detect right?

Ancienne Ambiance are accepting Christmas orders (by non-courier) up until 12pm on Monday 20th December to ensure that all deliveries make it to their destinations in time for Christmas.

Priced at £16 with free gift wrapping, it’s expensive appearance belies it’s reasonable price tag.

With one of those scents that manages to warm you up from the inside out – Ancienne Ambiance have captured some of the loveliest foodie essences of Christmas very well indeed.

A survey by The Perfume Shop has revealed that four out of ten men buy gifts for their wives or partners at Christmas – just so they can use it themselves.  Gits.

But on the plus side, 15 per cent of these men have ended up having a row with their disappointed spouse, with one in ten even getting dumped because of it!  Dumped.  Not that we’re shallow or anything… but seriously, don’t screw it up.

By my calculations Mr. L, you have 10 days left to buy me something nice.  Not Call of Duty: Black Ops nice… proper nice.  Jewellery is a good option as long as it’s not from that dodgy looking stall on the market.  Or Argos.

Don’t bother attempting to buy me clothes… and if you buy me lingerie?  I’ll buy you a new pillow for the sofa.

Makeup?  Yeah… I could live with that but don’t buy me green eyeshadow or coral lipstick.  Or bronzer fit for David Dickinson.  I don’t mean to pile the pressure on… I know it’s not easy for you but living off Heinz Baked Beans for the next 6 months won’t be easy either.

Here’s my thoughts on some of the last-minute fragrance buys available to your lovely selves, including my thoughts of some fragrance samples that I’ve received recently.  Here’s hoping for a sweet-smelling, easy-living Christmas.

1. Noir EDT – The White Company (£35)

Is there a woman in existence that doesn’t swoon over The White Company’s brochure?  It’s the epitome of the “my house would look like that if I didn’t have a real life to live” dream.  Noir is a fresh, fruity fragrance with a heavy dose of amber and a hit of orange that keeps it light.  Not the longest-lasting scent around, I find that I need to reapply after a couple of hours.  On the plus side – if she likes it, next year you can buy her the matching candle, bath soak, body creme and scent diffuser.  I’ve just sorted out your present-buying woes for the next 5 years!

2. Nina L’Elixir – Nina Ricci (fr. £29.50)

I’m a huge fan of the original Nina fragrance and this reincarnation has taken everything I love about the original and celebrated it.  It’s sugary and girly and packs one hell of a fruity punch.  Berries… big juicy cherries and blackcurrants.  I can’t go past a bottle without spritzing it and I’ve not long finished my original Nina…. oh Mr. L, won’t you make a girl’s Christmas? [probably not – Mr. L]

3. L’Eau D’Issey Noir Absolu- Issey Miyake (£59)

If your better half is an original L’Eau d’Issey lover… Noir Absolu should be an obvious choice.  L’Eau D’Issey Noir Absolu is a limited edition offering that takes the original’s floral empire and builds on it with notes that are less clean and more suited to the current time of year.  The ubiquitous amber is there, as is a dash of vanilla to warm it up.  I have to say though, that bottle… it’s stunning in black no?  My favourite of all Issey incarnations I’ve smelt so far and considering how many there have been… that’s saying something!

4. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique EDT – Jean Paul Gaultier (£66.50)

Another limited edition bottle masterpiece.  Don’t worry, the missus won’t think you’ve bought her this solely for the err… feminine bottle shape [tsk].  The beautiful charm that hangs around the bottle neck can be re-used as a handbag charm, whilst the classic fragrance itself has stood the test of time over the past 17 years.  Powdery, floral, soft and ultimately ridiculously feminine… there’s a reason why JPG can get away with retaining the same juice despite all the collectible flacon designs he releases.  It works for many, many women.

5. Naughty Alice – Vivienne Westwood (fr. £34.50)

Another lust-have for me is Naughty Alice by Vivienne Westwood… I think it may be slowly becoming apparent that I have a ‘thing’ for beautifully packaged perfumes.  There’s something to be said for a glamourous-looking dressing table!  Naughty Alice is actually Sweet Alice… it’s another flirty, light and rather girly scent that would have to work hard to offend.  I also think it would make a perfect Spring fragrance… and that lovely whimsical bottle and charm?  *sigh*

6. Elemis Eau de Parfum – Exotic (£35)

Out of all the perfumes included, Exotic is my tip for title of ‘most sensuous’ and with that comes the sub-title ‘most mature’.  I am an unashamed lover of flirty, girly scents but a lady always needs a heavier, headier fragrance in her arsenal aswell.  If Exotic is indeed exotic, then I’d say it comes from Marrakech thanks to the incense and warmth that lingers once the spice notes subside.  Infact, I wish they lingered a touch longer – for an EDP it’s a little short-lived.  But beautiful while it lasts!

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So, there we have it… my rambly thoughts on potential purchases for the lovely ladies in your lives.

If you’re still in doubt… raid her dressing table for a selection of the perfumes that she currently wears and take them to someone who can advise you further.  It’ll save you hassle in the long run… The Perfume Shop’s survey also revealed that one in five women said they were so annoyed with their partner’s choice of present, they made their bloke buy them another gift to make up for it!

You have been warned.  Don’t screw it up. [that goes for you too Mr. L].

This Christmas, it’s the Chanel collection that caught my eye more than any other.  Those beautiful pinks and coppers that contain the perfect amount of shimmer/glitter for the holiday season without being gaudy.

I will always be drawn to palettes that promise to create a wonderful smoky eye and this was no exception.  The only thing that could possibly dampen my enthusiasm would be pigmentation.  I wasn’t sure how much power this quad would pack.  I needn’t have fretted.

Come to Mama….

I know I usually take blog photos before I start sticking my sausage fingers in my shadows but I think I had this one opened and swatched before I’d even left the shop.  Excuse the shadow dust!

And the swatches (swatched over eye primer)…

To say that I love this palette would be an understatement.  The coppery tones in the two darkest shades really accentuate the green in my eyes and the paler, more ethereal hues brighten my eyes beautifully.

I don’t kno if you’re interested in lazy girl’s makeup application… but mine goes something like this:  The darkest copper shade… I apply all over the mobile lid, right up to the socket line.  Then I take the pink (on the far right) and use this to blend the harsh edges.  I pat the glittery shade (on the far left) ontop of the copper and finally, use the ivory to highlight the inner corner and brow bone.

All that takes me less than 2 minutes because I don’t do anything intricate in the socket line, nor do any fancy stuff in the outer corner.  This palette gives me a gorgeous smoky look in minutes.  And that’s why I love it.

For me, it’s more than worth the £35 I paid for it.  Can you tell I love this palette?

I think we’re all prone to being suckers for a beautifully packaged product.  There’s something to be said for kerb appeal and this year… some brands have pulled out all the stops to ensure that their wares will take pride of place under your Christmas tree.

Here are some of my favourites…

1. Limited Edition RapidLash Christmas Cracker (£39.99) – Very cutely packaged as a Christmas cracker, this Limited Edition RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum is available from Boots while stocks last.

2. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Limited Edition (£17.50) – The iconic Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish housed in a limited edition embossed metallic shell.  Comes complete with muslin cloth and 150ml of product.

3. Neals Yard ENCHANTING gift set (£12.50) – Rose & Geranium Body Lotion and Shower Gel make this a great choice for budget conscious gift shoppers.  The packaging holds a secret…the box, which is folded together, can be turned inside out to be reused as a gift or trinket box!  Cute AND Recyclable!

4. Fearne Cotton Nails by Day (£10.00) – A set of six easy-to-wear nail polishes packaged in an adorable grey leopard print box.  Exclusive to Boots.

5. Dior Minaudiere (£59.00) – Simply precious.  3 shadows, 2 lip colours… Dior’s exquisite Minaudiere would totally set any makeup-loving girl’s heart a-fluttering on Christmas morning.  Comes in Grey Golds (pictured) and Pink Golds… I’m swooning…

6. Liz Earle Ultimate Superskin Hamper (£94.00) – It’s no secret that Superskin is the Liz Earle range that *really* sets me alight.  I think it’s a wonderful, no-BS, quality skincare line that treats my normal/dry skin very kindly.  This hamper is a treat and a half.  The ultimate in Christmas morning decadence.

7. Victoria Moore Scented Candle & Soap Gift Set (£25.00) – Choose between: Cinnamon, Vetimos & Cognac oil, Frangipani & Jasmine or Frankincense, Jasmine & Vanilla.  Three variations to suit every discerning nose!  Beautifully presented, a simply gorgeous gift for any woman in your life.

8. Denman Hairbrush Gift Packs (from £8.23) – Referred to as the Hairdressers’ Hairbrush, Denman have some fabulous stocking filler gifts on offer this year.  Carefully presented in co-ordinating organza gift bags, the brushes sets are perfect handbag fillers – some diamante studded and colours to match every Christmas outfit!

9. Molton Brown The Three Musketeers (£42.00) – I suppose I’d better include one for the gents in our lives.  This beautifully packaged three-piece set for men brings together elements from their popular men’s body range: Active cassia hair & body sportswash, moisture rich aloe karite ultrabar, active cassia deodorant.

10. Mama Mio Boob Tube Christmas Cracker (£10.00) – Another gorgeous Christmas cracker!  The inclusion of the words: “As his hungry eyes fell to her gorgeous bosom, she knew he was hers…” makes this a saucy Christmas stocking filler.  Just be sure you know the person you’re gifting to well enough not to offend with boob-firming cream, or you may get more than you bargained for!

11. Glam Smoky Eyes Book (£4.00) – A gorgeous makeup book that includes four seriously enticing smoky eye shades to create sultry evening looks.  At the bargain price of £4 for the set, this is one to look out for whilst you’re shopping for your Turkey and Brussel Sprouts!

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Anything in my little list of perfectly packaged goodies catch your eye?  What’s on your Christmas lists this year?

Being charitable isn’t always glamourous and I think we could probably all be more generous of spirit at times but it’s often hard to find causes that resonate.

I’ll be the first to put my hands up and admit that I could be more giving over the course of the year.  There’s only really two charities that I support all year round and I need the push that their newsletters bring to remind me to do so.  Which is why Christmastime gives me a focus to broaden my horizons and learn about the other good causes out there.

It may be a cliche… but for me, Christmas is all about children… which is why I want to introduce you to a very specfic cause that has a beautifully clear and heart-warming aim.

British skincare brand This Works have joined forces with London-based charity Kids Company to release two products that promote a very worthy cause.

The aim?

To provide 2000 Christmas Dinners for vulnerable children who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.

I’ve heard that the Kids Company Christmas Event is a sight to behold… games, activities, Christmas dinners and at the end of a long, fun-filled day.. a beautifully wrapped present for each child to take home with them!

Christmas should be magical regardless of your age and it’s events like these that give one hell of a boost, not only to the kids but also to the families that can watch their babies enjoy themselves and just. be. children.

So what are the products?

Perfect Hands – £18

“Perfect Hands is a deeply hydrating natural hand cream blended with Rose oil, Mimosa and Musk Mallow for smooth and young looking hands.  It contains powerful natural actives such as Larch extract which tightens and firms the skin while anti-aging Hyaluronic acid locks moisture in.  Rape Seed extract also helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots on the skin.”

Wish – £14

“Wish is the perfect hand-bag accessory with three mini skincare solutions for beautiful skin.

· The 100% natural multi-purpose Super Lips (10g) with Monoi Oil to hydrate the lips
· Soothing Tired Eye Serum (5ml) with Arnica to eliminate dark circles and Cucumber and Aloe Vera to soothe
· A refreshing facial spray, Quick Spritz (5ml) with Rosewood Oil to keep you cool on the go.”

£1.80 from each Helping Hands product sold will go towards Kids Company

You can buy This Works Helping Hands sets online from http://www.thisworks.com/home/helping-hands

Do you try to buy gifts that ‘give back’ at Christmastime?

I won’t be parted from my brushes.  It doesn’t matter if I’m only leaving home for a single night, I can’t make do with powder puffs and spongey applicators now that I’m used to brushes.

Which can be a bit of a problem when I’m travelling to far flung exotic lands (Bournemouth, London, Darlo).

I took one of my MAC 217s away with me the last time I travelled to London and damn near killed the poor thing.  Flapping about in my makeup bag, it returned home looking like Leila had painted the walls with it and it’s so far resisting my best efforts to coax it back into shape.

With this in mind, Bare Escentuals have released a set of brushes that I was sent to try…

A magnetic brush collection with carry case!  Great!  Another cosmetic ‘innovation’… can you see my eyes rolling?

Except… this is actually useful.  But does it work in practice?

I’ll shut up for a minute and let you see the brush collection properly…

Read the rest of this entry »

The Christmas gifts are coming in thick and fast now that we’re approaching November at a blistering pace.  The latest are a pairing of festive gifts from NARS.

Kicking off with the Crazy Heart Set which contains 5 medium-sized lip glosses and features the shades:

Easy Lover (Ultra Sheer Hot Pink),
Babe (Sheer Orange Red)
Orgasm (Sheer Warm Pink with Golden Shimmer)
Turkish Delight (Pink Sorbet)
Misbehave (Sheer Cherry Red with Gold Shimmer)

Prices at £35 and available from November 1st exclusively at Selfridges.

Love ’em or hate ’em… NARS multiples tend to divide opinion… personally I’m a fan and so I should be considering I own 5 of them now – though none of these ones… *lightbulb flick*

The shades included in the Sweet Disposition Set are:

Orgasm (Peachy Pink with Shimmer)
Luxor (Iridescent Pink)
Malibu (Pinkish Brown)

Priced at £32 and availabile from November 1st exclusively at Selfridges.

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A couple of rather lovely sets no?  I’m a little disappointed that there’s no Holiday palette to get our teeth stuck into this year but at least that’s one less thing on the old wishlist.  Are either of these catching your attention?