A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

When it comes to skincare, it can occasionally feel like I’m chasing my tail, fixing one problem only to be faced with another… but if there’s one aspect of looking after my face that I seem to have gotten the hang of, it’s caring for my lips.  This time of year reminds me of the miserable winters I used to spend with constantly sore and painful lips.  If I wasn’t licking at them like a dog attempting to heal its wounds, I was picking… or even worse, peeling.

Lip condition can deteriorate rapidly, we put the central heating on on Sunday for the first time (we didn’t make it to November!) and last night, lying in bed, I could feel that tell-tale tingle around the edges of my lipline.  It’s time to up my game and put my winter plan of action into… well… action!  Without further ado, here are my hints and tips for winter lips!

I shower in the evenings, and the first step in my annual plan for luscious winter lips involves the most basic of cosmetic tools, the washcloth (£3 for 10).  Whilst I’m waiting for my hair conditioner to turn my locks into mermaid-hair, I grab my hot flannel and gently rub back and forth across my lips.  Be gentle mind, you’re not trying to remove a wine-stain!  Doing this every day will soften any flakes that are ready to come away whilst encouraging blood flow and regeneration.

Once I’ve left the shower, my first port of call is to reach for my moisturisers and my lips don’t get left out here.  My night-time ritual (and I do this everyday) is to apply a layer of Lanolips 101 (£11) before bed – this rich, lanolin-based balm provides the best barrier for locking in moisture through the night.  When I wake up in the morning, it’s still there and my lips are plumpity soft underneath – this stuff has been a lifesaver for me over the last couple of years.

During the day, I opt for something a little lighter in texture, which brings me on to Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm (£7.25).  Whilst not as nourishing as the Lanolips, the formula is more comfortable to wear during the day and the added SPF is a bonus.  It’s a compromise that I’m really happy with for now – plus the flavours are lush!  I reapply this over the top of my lipstick whenever I feel that my lips need it.

Talking of lipstick, it can be tricky to provide your favourite shades with a great base and The Body Shop’s Lipscuff (£8) is a cult classic for priming your pout in preparation for every shade.  Swipe the bullet over your lips in the morning, massage in the formula with your fingertip and wipe the excess away with a tissue (or the back of your hand if you’re a bit of a grot like me).  The Lipscuff leaves just enough coconut oil behind to provide moisture without slip and the exfoliating granules ensure that your lipstick won’t emphasise any dry bits.

Lips shrivelled up in the cold?  I’m just joking… we’ll leave the shrivelling up thing for men to deal with.  But if you do need a little extra plumping – particularly lovely for when you’re rocking a nude lip – I still swear by the original (and the best), Du Wop Lip Venom (£11.85) – it’s delightfully tingly (IT’S BURNING, IT’S BURNING!) and leaves my top lip almost matching the stature of my bottom lip, almost.  Thanks for the genetic un-eveness parents…

Finally, you literally shouldn’t leave the house without a little bit of lip highlighting.  Don’t know where to do it?  I stick to the cupids bow, using a subtle highlighter like YSL’s Touche Eclat (£25) which makes for quick and easy blendability.  If you’re wanting to go for a full-on pout, you can also add a highlight along the centre edge of the lower lip line to give the illusion of fuller, more lifted lips.  The Touche Eclat is subtle enough for daytime but if you’re wanting to highlight for a “going out” look, choose a highlighter with a little more shimmer for added wow-factor.

What are your favourite products for keeping your lips soft and full in the colder weather?

Literally. It’s not wishful, it’s damn lustful. Now that we’ve finished furnishing the flat, I’m putting aside a little money each month for some lovely beauty things that have been catching my eye recently.  It’s only fair that I be rewarded for my diligence, stiff upper lip and horrifying withdrawal symptoms, no?

Well here’s what I was daydreaming about last weekend…

01: Burberry Lip Velvet in Bright Poppy (£22.50) – I’m not sure if they’re out yet but these matte lipsticks promise to throw away the rule book when it comes to matte lip texture.  Hydrating?  I’ll believe it when I see wear it.

02: La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Cream (£15) – Oh, um.  HELL YES.  A BB cream formulated by La Roche Posay has me salivating at the thought.  I’m like a 6yr old on Christmas morning – hoping, praying that what’s under the tree is as good as she hopes.

03: Yves Rocher Flawless Finish Fluid Foundation in Rose 100 (£9.60) – Try saying that after a few.  I can hardly say it now (hides the bottle).  I tried this one on the back of my hand in the Yves Rocher store in Prague and it looked/felt soooo good but I’d already stretched my no-makeup budget to the max on some eyeshadows AND I’m currently in love with their BB cream (review coming soon!) so I skipped on this.  And now I can’t stop thinking about it.

04: Terry de Gunzburg Haute Parfumerie Flagrant Delice (£68) – I wrote about these a few weeks ago but have since had a cheeky spritz of Flagrant Delice on my wrist and I’m captivated.  Creamy almond milk and sun-ripened fig make for the most delicious combination that not only I, but Leila too have fallen in love with.  She says it’s a very “mummy” smell which I’m taking to mean that it makes her feel as downright comforted as it does me.  Honestly, such a beautiful and lingering scent. Wantsies. Can’t affordsies!

05: Orla Kiely Geranium and Myrrh Candle (£24) – I do have a soft spot for Orla Kiely, I know that those bloody designs are everywhere but, c’mon… they are brilliantly retro and modern all at once.  I was actually hoping I’d prefer the scent of the lime green design, seeing as that would have been the one to match my decor.  But in typical sod’s law-style fashion, it’s the Geranium & Myrrh in resplendent red that I’m lusting after.

What lovely things have you been lusting after recently?

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?

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Last week brought with it The Lurgy – a stream of snots, a tide of tickly coughs and a barrage of bogies.  We swam through the Kleenex and consoled ourselves with bucketfulls of popcorn (salty and sweet) and re-runs of Ghosthunters.  I thought I’d share a few of the things that made it (nearly) all better.

01: Rituals Qi (£8.50): I can’t physically pass by a Rituals store without dragging my shopping companion in to show them this wonderful serum.  Apply a little to your temples and gently rub for an invigorating, cooling sensation that makes you wonder for just a moment if your brain might freeze.  Honestly, it’s better than it sounds!  Great for clearing the cotton wool sensation that coughs and sniffles bring.

02: Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Essence (£15.50)*: This is like a posh, grown-up version of Karvol.  Far more forgiving to the senses and doesn’t make your eyes water.  Shake a few drops onto a handkerchief and the pure blend of Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Tea-Tree oils get to work on clearing your sinuses and letting you breathe again!

03: Balham Builders Blend (£2.95): I’m no tea ponce but I’m not a huge fan of water either and keeping hydrated is essential when you’re poorly.  Tiger Spring Teas does the most delicious blend of Ceylon, Assam and Darjeeling that I drink with abandon whenever I’ve got a good excuse to.  Feeling under the weather does have its plus points after all!

04: Lucas PaPaw Ointment (£6.00): This little miracle ointment doesn’t do much for my lips but it works wonders on a dry, cracked nose!  Massage this in to your poor, red schnoz and feel the skin become more supple beneath your fingers.  Works better than any other heavy duty moisturiser I’ve tried.

05: Jurlique Moisturising Hand Sanitiser (£5.00): Stop spreading those germs with Jurlique’s natural antibacterial hand sanitiser.  It dries quickly, smells divine and actually leaves my hands in better condition than before I’d reached for it!  A handbag essential.

06: The White Company’s Cashmere Bed Socks (£32.00): I had these in my drawer for about six months before I wore them – I mean, who actually wears socks in bed?!  Lounging on the sofa infront of Jeremy Kyle soon made me realise that my chilly feet were in need of something special and if you check the OED, there’s a picture of these socks next to the definition of that very word.  Honest.

What are your favourite comforts for when you’re feeling under the weather?

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Leila is massively excited for Hallowe’en this year… so much so that I’ve been debating breaking my own anti-halloween stance and dressing her up as a pumpkin whilst parading her up and down the street.  However, Mr. L is really grumpy about this and he NEVER puts his foot down on anything, so I’m thinking I might let him win with this battle.

Where he ain’t gonna win is on the face-painting front.  I’ve already told Leila we’re gonna have a day of face-painting fun and she’s buzzing at the prospect.  Every morning she finds me to tell me what she wants to be transformed into, yesterday it was a dinosaur and this morning, she’s graduated to a strawberry.  If you have any recommendations for good face-painting kits, I’m all ears.  No, she’s not using my makeup.

Anyway, for the bigger kids among us, here’s some lovely things to get you in the mood for a bit of ghost-hunting!

 hover over the corresponding number for more info and to click through to purchase

I’m not really anti-Halloween, I’m just a bit anti trick-or-treating but in my defence, that’s mostly because our average trick or treater can barely raise an adolescent grunt before holding their hand out to mug me for my Haribo.

Do you partake in any Halloween-y frolics?