A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

So, I was in Poundland yesterday afternoon…  I was TOTALLY on my way to DIOR (I wasn’t), I just got kinda bundled through the door (I didn’t)…. swept in on an errant wave of pedestrians if you will… (nuh uh).

Anyway… aside from the HIDEOUS Christmas musak that they were blaring at 140db and the one sales assistant that I couldn’t look at because she had a bogey on her cheek… I was kinda impressed!

I’ve decided to economise on some of the essentials in order to free up the cash for some guilt-free luxury purchases.

I need a list.  Come on ladies, you’re savvy (if not always frugal), what are the things I can stop hammering my Boots Advantage card with?  I know I love collecting the points (I’m at £70 this year *whoop!*)…. but, it’s not really the most economical way to shop is it?  I’ve probably overspsent triple that in order to collect those points.

I’m not prepared to compromise on quality, because afterall… we’re talking the essentials here.

I don’t wanna swap my bath smellies for cheapies, ‘cos they’re exactly the kind of things I wanna luxe out on.  Same goes for shampoos until I’ve pinned down exactly what irritates my scalp.

But what are the things I could pick up for pennies and not really notice any differences other than to my purse?

Edit: Just to clarify for my one ‘reader’ who got her rocks off on a bit of comment spite this afternoon… I don’t think I’m ‘above’ shopping in Poundaland… I am the pikey queen of discount Maryland cookies.  So shut up and get a sense of humour.  You’re in luck ‘cos they’re on 2 for 1 next to the Toffifee.

Head on over to Vichy’s facebook page today and build yourself your ideal handbag.

You can choose everything from colour to material, from compartments to closures.  The sky’s the limit!

Then once you’re done… enter your name and address to receive a free sample of their new Normaderm Tri Activ!

Here’s my creation… groundbreaking and edgy… sophisticated yet playful.  Move over Viv, there’s a new designer in town *polishes knuckles*

I thought I’d do a quick post with some of the Halloween looks and tutorials that have been inspiring me!

I don’t have any plans that would warrant recreating any of these amazing looks (and I don’t want to traumatise L for life), but my goodness aren’t these girls fabulous?

Do you have any plans to makeup for Halloween?

I wanna know… are there any brands out there who don’t do cosmetics that you think absolutely SHOULD?!

I was thinking about this because back in the Summer (remember that? No, me neither), I had the opportunity to meet Liz Earle alongside two other bloggers and one of the questions that was put to her was about the possibility of the brand branching into natural cosmetics.

She answered with a wry smile and a slight twinkle in her eye, I’m thinking it might be a case of “watch this space”… but apart from that little bombshell… it got me to thinking…

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Which brands would you love to see come out with a cosmetic line?

It could be anyone!  From B&Q(erm) to Heinz… from Vivienne Westwood (did that happen in Asia already?) to Apple!

Just don’t say McDonalds.  .

Because they shouldn’t.  Ever.

…even though you know you should.

Do you have any personal items (no, not THAT personal!) that you just can’t let go no matter how old, battered and bruised?

Here’s mine…

I am as ashamed as I am proud of it.

My beloved 27 year old Mason Pearson Nylon & Bristle hairbrush that my mother bought me when I was just 2 years old.

It’s seen better days.

I’ve dropped it hundreds upon hundreds of times over the years… it’s been submerged in water, raked through various shades of hair dye, cleaned with all kinds of horrifically damaging cleaning fluids and yet still, it soldiers on.

The nylon bristles have split in places and you can clearly see the marks from a temper tantrum I had around age 13 when I threw it against the wall and then sobbed my heart out when I realised I’d chipped the head.

It’s been sung into, used as a back-scratcher and even circum-navigated the globe with me.

Am I ready to part with it? Am I hell.

This is still the brush I reach for in the mornings to weaken the tenacity of the knots that have appeared overnight before reaching for a paddle brush to finish the job.

Leila has just started to use the one that I bought her in May for her 1st Birthday and already she loves it. It’s a little smaller than mine, easier for her tiny hands to grasp. She bashes herself over the head with it more than she manages to pull it through her locks but she loves to find both brushes and pair them together as in the above photo.

I wonder if she’ll still be brushing her hair with it in nearly 30 years time. I hope for my sake that hers won’t show the signs of quite so many teenage tantrums though.

Mason Pearson hairbrushes are available to purchase instore at Liberty or online at HQHair – price varies depending on brush size.

C’mon, give up your secrets… got any beauty related treasures that you just can’t part with?

Let me set the scene…

My makeup is lovely.  I’m very happy with how I’ve scrubbed up this evening… there’s definitely room for improvement, but on the makeup front?  The girl’s done good.

I’m getting into the swing of things and have been at this function for a couple of hours… I’m relaxing and smiling more… joining in with the odd conversation and life is generally pretty sweet.

But hang on, what’s this?

Oh… one too many gin and tonics tells me that I need a loo break.  Off we go!

Oooooh squeee mirrors!  Let me give myself a quick check, make sure my hair’s not gone too wild, lips aren’t too faded….

….

…errrr wtf?

You don’t see it?  Look closer mi amigos…

Check out the nice mascara smudges… I got off lightly, I sometimes develop matching ones on both eyelids.

Seriously though…for  just HOW LONG had I looked like I needed a bloody good wash?  I stand infront of the mirror, my brain working overtime trying to calculate just how many people had clearly done the polite thing of NOT STARING?

Mascara…

You fail me.

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Do you have a beauty nemesis?

…as voted for by you (and me).

Do you remember this post?

Heathrow wanted to know what we considered our must-have pampering products when travelling.  It would have been uber nice if we’d had a wider initial range to choose from… but I was still able to pick a definite favourite from each category.

Anyway, the results are in… and the winner is:

Prevage Face Advanced Anti-Aging Serum

I have to say, the Prevage range from Elizabeth Arden has kinda passed me by.  It’s just not a range that I know very much about… but it seems that lots of you do because the BAA website had over 8000 votes cast in their hunt for the nation’s number one.

The full results list for the beauty category were:

1. Prevage® Face Advanced Anti-Aging Serum

2. Soltan Light Lotion

3. Sisley Supremÿa Anti-Aging night cream

4. Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus

5. Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector

6. Dior Extase mascara

7. Rituals Sundance Shimmer Powder

8. Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie

9. YSL Nail varnish

10. Guerlain Rouge G lipstick

The 10 winning products will be showcased in a giant suitcase in Terminal 5 for the month of October.

They’re all available to purchase at Heathrow with some nice savings (not to mention exclusives!) when compared to the high street.

Before I gave up smoking, the only thing that really interested me at the airport were the cartons of duty-free Silk Cut!  Since dropping the habit, I have been enjoying the freedom to explore what else duty-free has to offer.  Actually, I always pick up a YSL Rouge Pur lipstick once airside at the terminal – I’m not sure why those in particular?  I’ve bought a new YSL lipstick at the airport ever since my first long-haul to Sydney over 10 years ago!  It’s a lovely tradition I think 😉

A good reason to go on holiday if ever there was one…

Do you beauty shop at the airport?

I’m a total lip liner eschewer.  I love that word… eschewer… makes me think of nuts.

It just seems like one of those extra steps that quite frankly, I could do without.  Same as applying my lipstick with a brush.  I have a beautiful NARS lip brush that NEVER gets used.  I just don’t see the necessity?

I was killing 10 minutes last night before I had to be somewhere and my fingers alighted on a Laura Mercier lip pencil in Petunia.  I think I bought it off a blog sale or stole it or something.  I certainly wouldn’t have paid PROPER money for a lip liner… heaven forbid!

So anyway… yeah… I had a go at lining my lips.  I usually go a bit wonky around the cupid’s bow, but this time I was pretty spot on.

Then I filled my lips in with it like wot we is supposed to do..

Finally, I dabbed some Revlon Colorburst in Soft Rose ontop and it looked pretty decent.  Sharp, defined… dare I say it… sexy.

But more importantly?

GOD THAT LIPSTICK LASTED!

I came home 4 hours later and it looked amazing still!  It had obviously faded a little but the undercoat of liner really gave the illusion of picture-perfect lips.  And the best bit?  My lips didn’t suffer any extra dryness from adding this step.

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But now I need your help please ladies (I’m a drain, I know).  Are most lip liners created equal?  I’m still not converted enough to drop lots of money on them but I want a stash to play with and I want it QUICK!

What are your favourite budget liners?  I’m thinking maybe NYX?

Please educate me!!

You do?

Well take your lovely selves over to HQ Hair to enter their exclusive competition!

HQ Hair are giving away a stack of goodies to celebrate the launch of the new Burlesque collection which has surely been one of the most well-received O.P.I collections to date?

It’s a simple email entry system… they just wanna know your favourite nail polish colour.

I’ve entered… so actually, sod off – move along, nothing to see here.

My lovely friend Julia sent me a fabulous parcel of goodies from her local drugstores in the Philippines and I have been dying to play with them.

My camera is still MIA (I’m on my 2nd attempt at ordering… why do companies say they have stock when they don’t?) so I was holding off opening and swatching until I could get some decent shots of the products.  But yanowot?  I’ve caved…. I actually just can’t wait any longer.

I grabbed Mr. L’s phone* and snapped…

Several lipsticks, some lovely eyeshadows and a BB cream!  Whoop!

Ever Bilena Extreme lipstick in Ambrosia – the sparkle in this is quite something!

Ever Bilena Matte lipstick (nude shade)

4U2 Gemone eyeshadow palettes in Amethyst and Goldstone

Maybelline 8-in-1 BB Cream

4U2 I-Pro Palette in Contemporary

IZGO La Belle lipsticks

Aren’t they all lovely?  I’m not really sure where to start (though am currently typing this with Goldstone on one eye and Amethyst on the other!).

I hope to do some swatches very soon!

*I was lent a lovely camera from a rather spiffing twitter buddy, but my card reader won’t read SDHC cards!  I’m completely camera-screwed ATM.

I’m totally guilty of makeup snobbery… in public at least (the blog doesn’t count).

In private?  Not so much… though I’ve definitely become more snobbish as my collection has grown.  It wasn’t that long ago that MAC seemed like such an aspirational/posh brand… and now?  Not so much.

That’s the problem with being a beauty addict.  It’s a never-ending journey from Collection 2000 to Chanel and beyond…. and this, my dear readers… is probably why Terry de Gunzburg can make a rose-gold infused lip balm and I have to be physically restrained by my cousin until I swear on my life that I won’t drop the £45 asking price for it.  I’m still seething with resentment about that.  It’s limited edition for chrissakes!

On the other end of the scale?

Well… at the moment?  I’m resisting the urge to head to Aldi and buy one of everything from Lacura.  I refused to get into the hype first time round… but a recent email from one of my lovely readers has ignited a hankering.  The thing with these brands is that the pricepoint makes it just so damn easy no?

Go on… give me a little push, should I go and explore my local German cheap food emporium for their beauty lines?

And if I choose not to accept my mission… what’s a misread vowel between friends?

Are there any brands that arouse the makeup snob in you?

I under-estimated how hungry the fish were.

Ok, not really… real life has caught up with me in a big way this week (sadly!).  Normal service to resume tomorrow!

xx