A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

You already know that I’m a big fan of the gorgeous Face Lace designs, artfully created by makeup artist Phyllis Cohen… but did you know that she’s just released a set of uber-colourful designs to complement the current collection?

You can read more about what Face Lace is and how they work here and here.

These re-usable, Woodstock-inspired designs are sure to bring out the love child in each of us without the need for orgies, drugs, and booze.  I know, sorry about that.

The good news is, I have eight of these pretties to give away, if you’d like the chance to win your very own Face Lace in either a Dovechild or Sunbeam design, simply do the Rafflecopter thang below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C
1. Start date for this competition is 2nd July 2013
2. Closing date for this competition is 9th July 2013
3. Winners will receive 1x festival-inspired Face Lace chosen at random (worth £8.29 each). No cash alternatives.
4. Competition is open worldwide.
5. Lipglossiping.com is the sole promoter of this competition.
6. Personal details will not be kept or forwarded and are only used in the context of this competition to inform the winner(s) of their prize status.
7. Eight winners will be selected at random from all entries received.
8. Winners will be notified within 5 working days and will be expected to reply to an email sent to the address used to enter the competition within 5 working days or risk forfeiting the prize.

When it comes to judging the merits of beauty products, opinions don’t come much more highly-regarded than those of the end-user themselves.  Which is why I like the QVC Customer Beauty Awards.  QVC shoppers are a real pro-active bunch, you only need to read the product reviews on the website and check out the forums to understand how much effort they invest in being part of the QVC “community”, they’re hardcore!

Returning for another year, the QVC Customer Beauty Awards have been gathering ratings and votes from this tight-knit community over the past month and last night, the results of the best available at the shopping channel were revealed.

Across a total of 12 categories… 48 beauty product nominees battled it out to be crowned the ultimate winners, and here they are:

Best Moisturiser – Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream
Best Facial Cleanser – Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Best Haircare Product – Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
Best Foundation – bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation
Best Nailcare Product – Leighton Denny Crystal File Duo
Best Beauty Essential Product – L’Occitane Hand & Foot Care Duo
Best Anti-Ageing Product – Decleor Aromessence Iris
Best Make-Up Must-Have – bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer
Best Summer Essential – Ultrasun Face 50+ Duo
Best Male Grooming Product – Liz Earle Men’s Face Scrub & Cleanse & Polish
Best Targeted Treatment – Gatineau Melatogenine Force Collagene Duo
Best Newcomer – Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm

All of these products are available to buy online at qvcuk.com

I was disappointed that the lovely Lipstick Queen Sinner range didn’t beat off the competition for best newcomer but the might of Elemis was just too strong!  Leighton Denny’s fabulous nail files triumphing over Seche Vite’s top coat made this SV dissident smile broadly but I was shocked that neither Emma Hardie nor Alpha-H picked up a win!

Did any of your favourites make the winner’s podium?

Question of the Week – When it comes to nail care, how often do you moisturize your cuticles? Do you prefer balms, creams or oils to get the job done?

Answer: – It’s the one part of my nailcare routine that suffers the most… I try to oil them when I remember which is usually at the point of polish removal but really… I should be doing it every evening.  My nails are very dry and as a result, prone to peeling.  Must. Try. Harder.  Oh, and oils… definitely oils!

we heart this – How could OCC improve upon their beloved Lip Tar? By adding a see-thru, glossy look to their original “hyper-opacity” formula and launching the Lip Tar Stained Gloss!

Beauty Junkies Unite – See why Amber thinks the Perlier Italian Lemon Sorbet Crackling Ice Body Water is literally the coolest new body product for summer!

Clumps of Mascara – can’t get over how awesome Avon’s newest mascara is. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before!

EauMG – shares one of her favorite natural finds of 2013 (so far). It’s Phoenix Botanicals Night Bloom perfume oil, an intoxicating white floral with vanilla.

Gouldylox Reviews – This braid tutorial is so easy anyone can do it!

Lipglossiping – asks the all important question: Salt or Sugar? Is your exfoliator scrubbing you up the wrong way?

My Beauty Bunny – Too hot and humid to wear foundation? Jen checked out Too Faced’s Tinted Beauty Balm (BB) Cream and found it’s the perfect lightweight alternative for summer.

Nouveau Cheap – If you haven’t seen the Dip-It from Target yet, it could be a game-changer for you (and it’s only $2.50).

Pink Sith – Sometimes you just have to buy a nail polish because, KITTY!

Prime Beauty – has a question for you. Is there a foundation that provides a flawless finish AND substantial sun protection? Why yes, thanks for asking. Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50.

Phyrra – shows you how to be Naturally Chic with Milani Shadow Eyez Pencils and Liquid Eye Liners.

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by we heart this – We love Beauty Info Zone for their straightforward and informative reviews on all things beauty, and we check in every week for The Sunday Scoop, which always includes a list of the very best beauty giveaways on the webs.

Please excuse this lazy excuse for a post, I’ve had an exhausting weekend and I’m so completely done in and ill-prepared for the week ahead.

Anyway, I had my camera out and about with me on Saturday when I attended our local village’s carnival so I thought I’d take a moment to document what I got up to over the last couple of days. My niece was stoked to be part of the procession and dressed up in all her Pirate finery.

Leila was just delighted to be watching her big cousin strut her stuff!

The sumo suits were amazing, I wanted a go! It was too much fun watching respectable-looking people turn into competitive monsters as soon as they stepped inside their fat suits. It got quite vicious at times!

Saturday night, Leila enjoyed a sleepover so Paul and I settled down to finally getting round to watching The Dark Knight… I know, we’re only five-years late.  Sunday morning brought with it an early start at the car boot sale where we finally started shifting some of our stuff that’s been clogging up my parent’s spare room… we’ve been in our flat a year on the 9th July, so I think it’s about time we fully vacated our old home!

My highlight of Sunday had to be cwtching up on the sofa with my family and getting ready to watch my brother play bass at Glastonbury, “proud” doesn’t quite cover it! What a rock star!

Leila couldn’t quite believe that she was watching “Unkie Steve” on the telly. Infact, I think she got a hairball from all the excitement…

We topped off a fabulous weekend with a few episodes of vintage 24, a Weight Watchers friendly Black Bean Chilli with Sweet Potato, and a very, very cheeky bowl of ice-cream.  Back to the gym tomorrow (I managed to destroy my HRM belt on Saturday by putting it in the tumble dryer FFS) and a full week of far-less exciting things to contend with.  I’m also going to my first Dance-Fit class on Wednesday, I don’t do classes… I couldn’t be more frightened!

What did you get up to this weekend?  Hope you had a great one!

Layla, Leila… what’s a few letters between friends… I’m pretty excited for these new Summer shades from child-friendly nail polish brand: Little BU.

Of course, I should be more excited for the actual colours than their names but heck, I can’t help it. I’m just a big kid at heart. *buys all the everything with Charlotte on it*.  And don’t think I don’t see you trying to look all cool as you scramble around the fridge for a Coke bottle with your name on it.

So anyway, I’ve got two new Little BU shades to show you (but not the Charlotte, they’re messing with me!)  My mini-model even agreed to wear one at super-short notice, which was nice… considering she was in a head-spinning foul mood brought on by the fact that we only had Biscuit Dairylea Dunkers and not Tube Dairylea Dunkers. There’s a difference (apparently).

Carolina is a sheer peach with a hint of subtle sparkle and Layla is a sheer (but buildable) lilac with a myriad of multi-coloured glitter.  No prizes for guessing which one was my little Leila’s favourite?

She made me do three coats… I thought it looked better with two… but you know, she’s four.  She doesn’t know when to stop gilding the lily.  MOAR GLITTER.  MOAR.

I sealed the final layer with a slick of the Little BU top coat which keeps everything pinned down for around 24hrs or until you chuck them in a bath to soak.  These really give off absolutely no scent at all during application, they apply without any frustration, and I’m happy in the knowledge that they contain no harmful toxins.

Little BU polishes (9ml) are priced at £9.95 each and are available to buy online at iluvlittlebu.com and instore at Harrods and Selfridges.

* press sample

Who knew that I’d been wasting all this time worrying about how my face looks, spending hundreds upon hundreds of pounds in an effort to soften my skin, zap my zits, and plump up my wrinkles when really… I should have focused on what was happening down below.

Fanny facials.

No, don’t laugh… this is serious business.  THIS is why you’re not sleeping properly at night, you have been neglecting your foof in the most heinous of ways.

Except, don’t be walking into the Ministry of Waxing and asking for a fanny facial, that term is just between you and me… heaven knows, you wouldn’t half look silly.  No, what you need to be demanding for your va-jay-jay is a Brazilian Facial.  Much classier don’t you think?

I am reliably informed that should you wish to pamper your poon, this can also be done immediately after a hair-removal session… a wax and polish if you will.  Convenient.

So, what the heck happens during a Brazilian Facial?  Well, the procedure delivers a full cleanse, exfoliation, and massage to your most delicate area, which will help treat any ingrown hairs, acne problems, moisturise dehydrated skin, and brighten dullness.  Because, let’s face it… who doesn’t want a flashy flange?  (you KNOW I’m loving writing this don’t you).

“Honey! I spent all afternoon in the salon… do you notice anything different about me?”

A Brazilian Facial costs £50 and is available from the Ministry of Waxing, Floral Street, Covent Garden.  To learn more, log on to ministryofwaxing.com

5 a day. Do you?

I don’t… although God loves a tryer.

The problem with vegetables is that they’re just alright.  I’m simply not gonna get excited over a carrot in the same way that I get excited over a slice of cheesecake.  Thems the breaks veg… you don’t make me want to eat you, it’s your fault, not mine.  Have you ever thought about that?

And so, in my endless quest of ways in which I can make vegetables tempt me… I wanted to make a slightly-more-healthy version of my much-loved courgette fritters… except, with broccoli, baked rather than fried.  ‘Cos that’s what I had.  Lots and lots of slightly-yellowing broccoli bought with the best of intentions.

Here’s what I did:

The cast of characters included:

2 medium-sized heads of Broccoli (don’t de-stalk this too vigorously)

1.5 cups breadcrumbs (I used Weight Watchers Malted Bread – 3 slices, Panko would be great!)

30g grated parmesan (I love the Lidl one)

A generous squirt of English Mustard

1 medium egg

3 Tbsp egg whites (or just use another medium egg if you’re not points counting!)

1 tsp garlic paste

3/4 tsp smoked chilli flakes (you can substitute this for any seasoning you’d prefer)

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees celsius (180 fan)

Begin by chopping the broccoli into small, less than bite-size pieces and steam them for a couple of minutes until tender.  Once cooked, add all the ingredients one by one, mixing as you go to ensure you get everything evenly combined.

Take a bun tray/muffin tray or similar (I use this 12-cup one from Asda) and give it a light spray with cooking oil.  Use your hands to gently shape the mixture into golf-ball sized balls and place into the hollows of your bun tray.

The mixture should feel quite wet, the broccoli tots will spread a little whilst cooking but retain their shape within the hollow.

Bake on the middle shelf for 15-minutes then remove from the oven and flip each tot over.  Pop back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes.

The beauty of these veggie tots is that I’m already thinking of all the other vegetables I could cook like this.  I would love to do bubble and squeak… something which I LOVE but can never get brown and crispy in a frying pan.

The parmesan was great but I think I might try it with a bit of reduced fat mozzarella next time… or even a sprinkle of my beloved blue cheese.

As far as the Pro Points go… these worked out at 2 Pro Points per three tots or nine points for the whole tray of twelve!  Not bad for a plate-filling side.  If you’re up for a bit of batch cooking, these will also freeze beautifully, just heat  them up from frozen in the oven at around 200 degrees for 15-minutes and they’re perfect.

What are your favourite ways of making vegetables more tempting?

fid·dle·stick

exclamation /ˈfidlˌstik/ 

Nonsense

Who knew such a bunch of "nonsense" could look so pretty?

Butter London Fiddlesticks is a deep magenta glitter suspended in a raspberry base.  It was released as part of their Holiday 2012 collection and thus, horribly inappropriate to be wearing in June.  Whatever.  It's pretty and I like it… so I'm gonna wear it.

The coverage is pretty full-on and the above photo shows it worn with 3-coats, which as you can see, delivers full and complete opacity.

Removal is a minor bitch… what with it being glitter and all.  You could layer this one over something like Butter London Blowing Raspberries and I'm sure that a single coat would have much the same effect with less irritation during the removal process.

Butter London Fiddlesticks is priced at £11.95 and available to buy online from PowderRooms.com

Nothing gets me excited like a Space NK sale.

You see, I am not a woman of considerable means so I will always clap like a seal and skip like a munter at the thought of actually being able to afford the kind of treats that usually wrack me with stomach-churning guilt whenever I buy them.

Space NK have just released their (up to) 50% off sale page online, I don't know what it's like in store… our nearest is a 40mins+ drive away.  I also don't know if I'm buying yet… it's my birthday next month and I've already splashed some cash on another Sara Berman bag (my third), plus a cheeky StrawberryNET and Fragrance Direct order.  GOD SPACE NK, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME YOU WERE HAVING A SALE SOONER!

Anyway, if I do partake… here are my top picks, I wouldn't get all of them… but this is my shortlist!

01: Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in Mystere looks like an awesome Autumn/Winter shade that would either turn me into Snow White or simply exaggerate my ruddiness… I'm undecided.  I love the formula but the colour may work better on someone less naturally red-cheeked. (£19 £9.50, SpaceNK)

02: I'm a sucker for a neutral metallic and Space have put some lovely Rococo Nail Apparel shades in the sale.  This one in Mysterioso is calling me… especially at that price! (£12 £6, SpaceNK)

03: Everyone sorted for eye-cream?  I'm not.  I haven't found one that I like and as the clock ticks on, it's the one place that I'm really starting to notice a bit of age creeping in you know? I could quite easily panic buy this Reviving Anti-Wrinkle Fluid for Eyes from Skeen… I don't know much (anything) about them but the retinol sure sounds good! (£33 £16.50, SpaceNK)

04: It's always a good idea to buy off-season and there's no harm in preparing ourselves for the (inevitably) cold winter ahead.  Elemental Herbology's Wind and Cold Therapy promises to be the business for hands, cuticles and lips. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail! Or something… (£19 £9.50, SpaceNK)

05: Miller Harris is one of my favourite perfumers and La Fumée is one of my favourite Winter scents.  Gloriously smoky and reminiscent of Bonfire Night it's a cracking EdP and although I don't need to replace my bottle just yet… this price makes me wish that I did!  (£95 £47.50, SpaceNK)

06: It wouldn't be a SpaceNK sale without a bit of nicely-priced ByTerry would it? Now, while more than anything… I would have loved to see some Or de Rose Elixir Extreme pop up on the sale pages… it hasn't.  And so I'd happily content myself with some ByTerry Colour Skin Enhancer instead.  What it does, I don't really know… I just know that I've got the wantsies.  (£64.50 £32, SpaceNK)

07: Finally, and probably my most-lusted-after item from the sale is this Sniff Scented Candle from R Nichols.  A bit of a strange lust perhaps but you see, I bought one of these (not this scent) in their Winter sale and it blew me away.  I want all of the beautifully illustrated R Nichols candles.  And as for this scent, well…. leather and woods… need I say more? (£40 £20, SpaceNK)

None of the free delivery codes I've found work anymore but if I find anything, I'll be sure to update this post… otherwise, there's the standard 6% cashback on Quidco.

What are you lusting after from the SpaceNK sale pages this time around?

You know, back in the day… us beauty bloggers were pretty simple human beans. We didn’t glam up and go to events, we didn’t get papped on the red carpet, and many of us didn’t know the difference between a cupcake and a cake pop.

How things have changed in this funny old world. I’m somewhat sheltered from all these goings-on, living out here in the sticks. Both a blessing and a curse, let me tell you!

But it struck me yesterday, that despite my self-proclaimed delight in all things beautifying… there are a few certain experiences I’ve yet to encounter.

No, I’m not talking about the it girl exploits that some of my peers get up to, I’m talking about the kind of stuff that lays fundamental shame at my beauty-blogging front door.

1.  I’ve never had my hair professionally coloured.

Nuh-uh, not ever.  You see, I started going grey when I was 17 and when you’re 17, you don’t want to do anything more “open” than scurry home with a box of Clairol and turn your Mum’s best towels black in an attempt to rid yourself of your roots.  Old habits dye hard and I’ve just carried on…

Except, I recently had a celebrity hairdresser (we’re talking major name-dropper super-talent) tell me that my roots were kinda green.  Ground, please open wide… I’m yours for the taking.

2.  I’ve never had a full-body massage.

Colour me timid but what does that even entail?  Do I have to get, like…uh… naked?  Is there paper pants involved?  I’m not saying I’m a prude but I did wonder about the possibility of keeping my knickers on when I went into the labour ward.

3.  I’ve never been waxed.

Well, half-heartedly… twice, by me… out of curiosity more than anything.  But as a routine?  Nope.  I hear some girls even go so far as to spread their bum cheeks in the name of depilation.  I’m like the Mary Whitehouse of hair removal.

4.  I’ve never left the house in orange lipstick.

I know my limits.

5.  I’ve never bought clothes from Top Shop.

Take away my blog right now.

So, you see… sometimes I feel like a right old phony sitting here, waxing lyrical about beauty and the like.  But I feel somewhat cleansed (no… not colon, not done that either) by airing my inexperiences here today.

C’mon, make a girl feel better… what “#thingsivenever” have you never done when it comes to the world of beauty?

Keeping up with the latest trends in the fast-moving world of many manicures can be pretty hard work!  In light of this, Nails Inc have recently launched their Guest Manicure initiative which allows you to get to grips with a new nail trend for just £15, available from Nails Inc bars across the country.

This month sees the launch of the Green Queen manicure, a nod to the colour of the season, worn in a slightly more demure way than going all out HULK on your tips.

Nails Inc. say:  This is the Queen of all manicures for the festival season – a base of Royal Botanical Gardens in mint with with stunning emerald green Queen Victoria Street tips.  This is a subtle look to make your nails pop all festival long.  It’s the perfect way to accessorise your outfit – through rain, mudslides, thunder or sunshine, whatever the weather throws at us this summer, your nails will be bold, beautiful and bursting with colour.

I say… this one’s a bit manageable innit!  For once, will I be on trend?

Grabbing the closest colours I could muster, I did a pretty neat job (even if I do say so myself).

Not got the time for such frivolities?

Your life is undoubtedly more exciting than mine… perhaps you’re off to Glastonbury this week to sample the delights of the long-drops and the she-pees.  In that case, skip the am-drams and get a pro to sort you out.

Book in for your Green Queen Manicure at your nearest Nails Inc. via their online booking service, here

Beauty brokers extraordinaire, Cult Beauty are turning 5 this week and in celebration of a birthday well-earned, the company are hosting a week of special offers and giveaways.  I’ve got the lowdown on the programme, so here’s what to expect over the next 7-days…

Nice Prize!

Monday Birthday Offer: From 10am on the 24th June

Win a £500 Beauty Hamper Curated by Cult Beauty Founders + 5 additional winners will get their choice of 1 Cult Classic (either a Molecule 01, Sunday Riley Good Genes, Alpha H Liquid Gold, DJV Fiberwig & Volume Lash or Eve Lom Cleanser) – Simply spend £50 to enter.

*terms & conditions apply, stated on site* Offer ends Sat 29th June 2013.

Tuesday Birthday Offer: From 4:30pm – 9:30pm on the 25th June

Raise a glass to our Cult Classics – Cult Beauty Soiree.. For 5 hours starting 4.30pm – 9.30pm GMT Get 15% off selected lines only. Promo code CELEBRATE.

*terms & conditions apply, stated on site* Offer ends Tues 25th June 2013 9.30pm GMT.

Wednesday Birthday Offer: From 10am 26th June

Win Your Wishlist… Win a £500 voucher to spend on your favourite Cult Beauty booty!

Create your own birthday wishlist (to add a product to the wishlist all one has to do is go to the product’s detail page, and below the ADD TO BAG button click the one saying wishlist) and email it to competitions@cultbeauty.co.uk to be in with a chance of winning the lot!

*terms & conditions will apply stated on site* Offer ends midnight Sat 29th June 2013.

Thursday Birthday Offer: From 10am 27th June

The best things in life are free! Get 5 free LUXURY samples with any £30+ spend.

*terms & conditions will apply stated on site* Offer ends midnight Thurs 27th June 2013.

Friday Birthday Offer: From 10am 28th June for 48 hours

FINAL Birthday Treat for 48 hours…

Spend £100 & save £20 with code BIRTHDAY20, spend £70 & save £10 with code BIRTHDAY10 or spend £50 & save £5 with code BIRTHDAY5.

*Offer ends midnight Saturday 29th June 2013. Excludes Escentric Molecules.

For more details on each of the promos, head over to the Cult Beauty website.

Let me know if you enter any of those super competitions and I’ll keep my fingers tightly crossed for you!  Good luck guys!