A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

So, it seems that the UK is gearing up for the Spring release of Revlon‘s scented nail polishes… something that our cousins across the pond have had access to for a while now.

So, cousins… what’s the verdict?

I love me a bit of Revlon and these are indeed some v. pretty shades… but…

…the last time I dedicated any time to sniffing my fingers, I was about 6 years old and had just picked my bum.

And the thing is… If I saw someone partaking in a bit of finger-sniffing tomorrow… I wouldn’t be wondering what flavour they’d painted their nails.  I’d be making sure I didn’t shake hands with them.

I just don’t see how these are workable in our society.  Should we exercise our right to sniff proudly in public or will we become a nation of closet finger sniffers?  It’s not like we can even be surreptitious in the workplace ‘cos you know if you get caught with your fingers hovering near your nostrils and you’re being all clandestine about it, it’s only gonna look worse for you.

The only reason I could think of to justify making scented nail polish is to stop those stinky fumes from filling the room whilst painting your tips.  That would be worthwhile no?  Except this stuff stinks like regular nail polish until it’s dry.

Will you be rushing to buy these when they’re released next year?

HQHair have teamed up with NARS international makeup artist David Scheffen (2nd in command to Francois – ooh la la!) to offer three lucky winners a fabulous Christmas makeover (not to mention a goody bag full of NARS products to take home with you!).

To qualify for entry all you need to do is tell the HQ Girls who your beauty icon is… and why?

The three lucky winners must be available to attend HQ Hair and Beauty Store in Central London (I’ve been there, it’s fab!) on Tuesday November 30th.

For more information, T&C and to enter… click here!

Um… yay!

“Talk about it Tuesday” is a complete excuse for me to ramble.  It’s actually 3.30am and I’m supposed to have gone to bed about 2 hours ago *whistling*… but I got sidetracked by some blogs, Amazon, JamieOliver.com (have I ever told you how much I love Jamie?) and then thought I’d better at least *attempt* to reply to some emails.

All that stopped abruptly when I caught sight of my hair on my way to the bathroom.  How can hair be both frizzy and flat at the same time?

I hinted last week at finding an amazing deep conditioner… and I’ve held off posting about it ‘cos I’m hesitating that perhaps that initial WOW has since morphed into more of a WUH sound.  I need to give it a bit longer… but anyway, I digress (it is 3.33am afterall)…

Hair…

My hair seems to benefit from a salon blow dry.  No, I mean REALLY benefit.  The hair shaft lays flat and smooth, I get volume at the roots and some beautiful separation and swishiness to the ends.

Which leads me to my Talk About It Tuesday question…

I own a hairdryer, I even own a brush…

WHY THE HELL CAN’T I RECREATE A SALON BLOW DRY AT HOME?

What is wrong with my spasmodic hands that stops me from being able to co-ordinate holding a brush and a hairdryer at the same time.  I may aswell have flippers instead of fingers.

I managed a 2:1 in Media & Cultural Studies (ok, admittedly… not *quite* rocket science), I totes bagged myself a freaking GENERAL anaesthetic during child birth and I can’t even remember the last time I washed up dishes by hand.

What I’m saying is… I’m a resourceful kinda girl.  So why is this simple act so completely out of my reach?

Can you achieve a salon finish at home?  Do you bother trying? Someone teach me the magic!

The three lucky winners of my Sugababes perfume giveaway are….

Georgie Foster

Monika Wykurz

Asmaa Mangera

Well done ladies!

Expect an email from me shortly to request your postal details!

Thanks for taking part everyone, if you weren’t lucky enough to win this time round – head over to the Sugababes Fragrances Facebook Page where they’re giving away 30 bottles!

If at first you don’t succeed and all that!

The first Friday in October… a brisk morning that was threatening to drop a raincloud on my head as I made my way through Bloomsbury.  I was heading to Simple‘s Beauty Bootcamp after being asked to join a panel of judges intent on discovering the brand’s new online ambassador and ‘Simple Star’.

I was feeling nervous and thanks to an early start, in desperate need of a strong, hot coffee.  I consoled myself with the knowledge that whatever nerves I might have been feeling, I could probably triple it and still not come close to the number of butterflies that would be encircling the bellies of the nine finalists.

And what about those finalists?  Nine of the most ambitious, articulate and driven ladies that I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.  Some were naturally confident, whilst others inspired me with the strong facades they were able to construct in preparation for the tasks ahead.  As I watched them listen carefully to what the day ahead would entail, I was confident that Simple would have no problems finding a Star amongst the group.

Task 1:  Getting to Know You

The ladies were set the challenge to do a little digging amongst their compadres in order to discover some interesting facts that they could share with the rest of us in the room…

Easier than it sounds… what ensued was a frantic scrum of semi-organised interrogation!  Secrets were divulged left, right and centre as the clock counted down.  We were treated to some juicy tidbits about the finalists and the task was completed with the ice well and truly broken!

Read the rest of this entry »

Want something a little bit sexy for the party season?

Ciate Boudoir is a fire-cracker of a red!  It’s slight orange tones will make this shade positively sing on warmer skintones… and despite initial uncertainties it works it’s magic pretty effectively on mine too!

Two coats will give you an almost-opaque finish, you may be able to make out a hint of VNL (visible nail line) on my ring finger… but thanks to the shade’s vibrancy I didn’t feel that it especially needed a third coat.

Application was FAR better than I remember from Ciates of old.  I’m used to them being a bit thick, gloopy and tricky to work with.  Boudoir was a lot more fluid than I was expecting which resulted in a cuss-free application.

Wear was impressive… no tip wear until the 3rd day and I think I could have lasted 5 days without being bothered by the minimal wear.

Ciate Boudoir is available to buy online from PowderRooms, priced at £9.00

Are you a fan of classic red polishes? Which are your favourites?

Krasey Beauty tells a tale of tartan with MAC Cosmetics‘ Holiday Collection, A Tartan Tale!

Jellyminx puts together a smoky purple look for a night out.

Melissa of Lovely Android is still recovering from extreme cute overload after seeing this new perfume from Happ and Stahns.

Check out Audrey Dao’s Lipstick Diary as she takes the 30 lipstick colors in 30 days challenge!

Amy Antoinette writes about her experience with DIY Ombre Hair.

K from Beautifully Addicted To shows her naturally glam wedding makeup in her FOTD!

Sarah from IHeartCosmetics shows off John Frieda’s brand new Precision Foam Hair Colour.

Over at Eyelining Obsessions, Claire strays out of her black liner comfort zone with some rather fab ELF Cream eyeliners.

Hot Beauty Health shares an easy way to keep your perfume scent lasting longer.

Phyrra debuts Alima Pure’s new LE Holiday Collection, Fairy Tale.

It’s a classic product! Lipgloss86 shows some love for Liz Earle.

Musicalhouses shares a pretty darn awesome dupe of Orly Galaxy Girl nail polish!

Want a little bit of Lush luxury? The Lip Print tests out Lush’s Creme Anglaise Body Creme for smooth-skin goodness.

Curious about the Clarisonic Plus? Sophie has a in depth review of it on her blog. Check it out!

Jeweled Thumb trials a new mascara which held up to a sweaty workout (and she has proof!)

theNotice shares The Lazy Lady’s Guide to the Holidays, an easy-to-use compilation of many of this year’s Holiday collections, sets, and exclusives.

Been looking for some decent purples to wear, but can’t figure it out? Aijuswhanakno has some beautiful swatches she’d like to show you.

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Always wanted to smell like Kim Kardashian? Here’s your chance! Enter the Beauty Crazed Perfumania contest!

Jenn from Spiced Beauty celebrates 600+ followers with a great MACgiveaway!

Vera Wang’s Anniversary takes Cindy back to a special memory of gardenia flowers. Enter the Anniversary giveaway on Prime Beauty and make your own special memories.

Kim Porter and Yagolicious are giving away Paint Quads and tickets to the Yagolicious Beauty Affair in December.

On a recent trip to France, Hellcandy picked up three travel sized bottles of the HG cleanser…Bioderma Crealine H20! Click here to enter the giveaway.

Happy Monday morning you lovely lot!

Stop dragging your knuckles on the floor.  I know you’ve only had time for 8 mugs of double espresso so far but look lively ‘cos I’ve got a treat for you today!

Jo Givens, the infinitely wise Treatments Development Manager at Liz Earle’s London flagship store has agreed to share some of her best tips to prepare your skin for whatever Winter has to throw at it!

L-R: Jo Givens -Treatments Development Manager at Liz Earle, Liz Earle Flagship London Store

Dear Lipglossiping readers!

I’m so honoured that I have been invited to share my seasonal skin tips with you all!

As the summer has sadly come to an end, I begrudgingly pack away my summer wardrobe as my ‘tan’ starts to fade along with the sunshine.  Autumn is here and winter is on its way.  The air feels cooler and the leaves on the trees have started to transform into a beautiful sea of orange and gold.  I find that this is the time my skin starts to feel in need of hydration, as the central heating resumes once more and sucks away skin moisture, and signs of damage from the harsh UV rays of the summer start to be revealed.

It is important to remember that we need to adapt our skincare routine during these coming months, along with good nutrition to keep skin looking and feeling its best whilst maintaining flagging energy levels.

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Problem: Skin breakouts during changing seasons

Solution: Plummeting temperatures and central heating can wreak havoc with your skin- symptoms of this can be breakouts (spots or pimples), due to inflammation, bacteria and a build up of dead skin cells and excess oils.  Use a clay mask which is rich in minerals to absorb excess oils.  I would recommend using this 2-3 x a week all over your face, or just on specific areas as a spot treatment overnight.  I firmly believe in supplements for the skin and garlic tablets are perfect as an anti-inflammatory treatment for the skin – always consult your doctor before taking anything internal.

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Problem: Dull and tired skin

Solution: Exfoliate skin as once stubborn skin cells are removed your skin will instantly look clearer and brighter. Also, I always recommend exoliating your skin before using a facial mask, as this can literally double the effects of any mask.  Try to do at least 10 minutes of exercise a day – this will boost the circulation to the skin and keep it looking fresh and hydrated.

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Problem: Parched, dry skin

Solution: As your skin can feel drier in the winter months, double up with a hydrating facial oil at night underneath your existing moisturiser.  Try a facial oil that is made up of 100% plant oils packed with skin loving ingredients such as argan oil and organic rosehip oil.  Also, try using a richer moisturiser at night that will provide super hydration whilst you sleep.  Focus on massaging your skin with gentle caring sweeps for at least 2 minutes every night as this will boost circulation and keep skin supple.

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Problem: How to Survive the Christmas Preparations?

Solution: After a warm bath, pat skin dry and lavish skin with a rich luxurious body cream.  Burn a natural Lavender soy candle for 10 minutes in your bedroom before you sleep to scent the room-this will aid relaxation

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Problem: Low Energy Levels during Dark Mornings and Evenings

Solution: I would always advise to start your day with a dry skin body brush. On dry skin, brush upwards using long sweeping strokes towards the heart – this boosts a sluggish system.  Once you have body brushed, massage a body scrub over damp skin – this will remove dead skin cells and bring oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells.

Banish tiredness by not eating sugary foods at night- these energy foods can disturb sleep.  A daily supplement of milk thistle is great during the winter months to boost the liver energy which will help the body to eliminate waste and maintain vitality.  Also keep up your daily water intake as dehydration can have a negative effect on the skin and body.

Interior of Liz Earle’s flagship London store

Thanks so much to Jo for taking the time to share your great tips and solutions with us!

I’ve already contemplated introducing some dry skin body brushing into my daily routine and I love treating my skin to Superskin Concentrate as an overnight dry-skin quencher whenever I feel it rebelling against the elements.  It’s a bit heavy for daytime use… but my goodness does it sort me out while I sleep!

Also, one of my favourite bath-time relaxers comes in the form of the Vital Oils for the Bath… the site recommends 1/2 capfuls per bath but this stuff is SO potent that a couple of drops does it for me!

However, if you really want to get your skin Winter-ready, you can’t beat a visit to The Treatment Rooms in the London store to indulge in one of Liz Earle facials or skin tutorials with an expert therapist like Jo.

What are your main skincare concerns for the upcoming Winter?  Dryness?  Dullness? Something else?

Dare I say it?  Oh… I dunno… eek.  Can I whisper it?

Boots No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara is verging ever closer to holy grail!

Did you catch that?  I don’t like declaring stuff like that… I’m not even sure if I believe in ‘holy grail’ products… but my word, do I ever love this mascara.

I only picked it up because I wanted the free eyeshadow palette that came with it.

The brush is well designed, incorporating features from rival brands and merging them seamlessly onto the one wand.  I particularly like the spikey tip that ensures good product distribution into the corner lashes.  The other features on the brush include both long and short spikes which really do allow for a good comb through.

Something else that this mascara manages to avoid courtesy of a well-designed brush is product overload.  My mascara pet peeve is when a brush holds SO much product, it makes my lashes clump from 4 feet away.  I can really comb through my lashes with this over and over if necessary and they just. don’t. clump.  Amazing.

Before obviously on the left, after on the right.

That’s some definition right there isn’t it?  That’s also only one coat.  I do spend a little time combing through with this wand… not because I have to… but the application seems to perfect itself if you take 30 seconds to properly wiggle the wand about and ‘place’ your lashes.

This may look a bit spidery for some… in fairness, my lashes always look a bit spidery when I wear mascara with no eyeliner, I should probably make sure to apply some before the photos, but I quite like being able to show you how effective/rubbish the wand is at getting to the roots of the lashes.

Boots No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara is priced at £12 (but you can get it for £7 when the No7 vouchers are in circulation… I think the current lot expire today?)

Oh my… I nearly forgot one of the most important things I wanted to say about it!  Absolutely no smudges.  None.  Nada.  No flaking either.  It is a bit of a bugger to remove though… proper dedicated eye makeup remover/cleansing oil needed.

Have you tried it?  What’s your current favourite mascara?

My Sugababes Perfume giveaway closes tonight at midnight… if you want the chance to bag yourself a new fragrance in time for the party season, you ain’t got long left!

ENTER HERE

Pantene are introducing a new range to the UK market next week called Pantene Colour Protect.  It will come in two variants:  Pantene Colour Protect & Smooth and Pantene Colour Protect & Volume.

Designed to protect coloured hair from premature fading, it claims to achieve this by reducing hair porosity which over time can facilitate faster colour fade.  Coloured hair (by it’s very nature) is particularly vulnerable to damage from environmental factors and anyone who colours their hair should be looking to provide it with some extra protection from the rigours of styling.

Pantene Colour Protect & Smooth (priced from £2.19) is designed for coloured hair that is prone to frizzing… great for thicker hair types that want to protect their colour without compromising on the ability to perfect a sleek style.

Pantene Colour Protect & Volume (priced from £2.19) is designed for coloured hair that lacks volume.  That would be me (although, show me a rain cloud and I can frizz up with the best of them too!), ideal for finer hair that needs a lightweight formulation that will rinse quickly and cleanly.

The shampoo ingredients can be seen below (I know you savvy lot love to see a list!):

And the conditioner:

Alongside the shampoo/conditioners, Pantene will also be introducing 3 treatment products to the range:

~ Pantene Pro-V Colour Protect Colour Seal Concentrate (£3.99/58ml)
~ Pantene Pro-V Colour Protect 2 Minute Damage Rescue Treatment (£3.99/200ml)
~ Pantene Pro-V Colour Protect Instant Nourishing Shine Spray (£3.99/150ml)

I’m most interested by the Colour Seal Concentrate and Shine Spray… I love the idea of treatments that offer a boost to complement my current routine (which rather unglamourously is designed to protect my flakey scalp more than my colour).  Being able to mix and match in this way is like having the best of both worlds!

If you want the opportunity to get your hands on the new range before anyone else, be sure to follow PanteneUK on Twitter as they’ll be giving away 10 sets of the new range on Tuesday.

Bedcrumb is a wonderfully flirty, young brand from designer/illustrator Heidi Cannon.  Spending more than five minutes browsing her site leaves my fingers twitching at my debit card.

Check out this pretty little pocket mirror…

The mirror comes wrapped in a presentation pouch complete with a keyring tag and priced at £6.50.  Even better, all fashion accessories are posted for free within the UK (and most international orders are only charged £2).

A lovely stocking filler for lipstick lovers everywhere!

You can check out Heidi’s other beautiful designs and illustrations at Bedcrumb.co.uk