A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

The diet wagon that is!  Well, mostly.  Ignore Sunday, it was Mother’s Day and I fell off it headfirst into a box of Lindt chocolates before staggering out and tripping arse over tip into some Maltesers.  What can I say?  I’ve always been a bit clumsy.

A small selection of my recent eats, I won’t bore you with the recipes unless you want to see one in particular, but from top left and going clockwise: protein pancakes, stuffed peppers, king prawn salad and courgette fritters (the bomb.com), brussel sprouts with garlic parmesan and chicken.

In an effort to be able to get all my veggies in the one shop, I went to a local farm store over the weekend and I was BLOWN AWAY by the variety and quality which was apparent as soon as you walked through the door.  Nothing prepackaged, peppers the size of Leila’s head and prices that floored me.  I walked out with 4 carrier bag-fulls for less than £15 – throw in a packet of chicken breasts, some pork medallions and my weekly food bill was under £25.  There should be next to no waste this week too as I was able to select exactly what I needed, in the quantity I wanted it.

Is it worth me investigating a proper butchers?  I’ve only ever been in one once or twice to buy some steak for a special occassion.  T’was very, very expensive and I think it put me off a bit.

But here comes a slight downer, I haven’t actually lost any significant weight.  I’ve been doing it for nearly a month… 1200kcal daily target and I’m usually just under that.  I’ve had a total of 5 piggy days (spread out) since I started and I’m in a bloody holding pattern.  Time to up the exercise?  Bah.

Any of you currently following a healther eating plan?  How are you doing with it?

1. Francis is giving the model a run for her money in Rimmel London’s by Kate Moss line – Shade 01

2. The lovely Leah rocking the rich-looking Showbiz by 17 Cosmetics!

3. Nargis was born to wear red, and this particular beauty is Avon Smooth Velvet Lip Colour in Sassy

4. Mariana is absolutely striking in the classic Russian Red from MAC

5. Last but not least is Beth, showing us that you can look smoking hot whatever your budget in George ASDA lip liner in Hollywood and Prestige lipstick in Heartbreaker

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If you want to join in with the fun and submit your red lip look, please email me a photo of your lovely selves with the following info:

I pounced on the Zoya spring collection, probably my favourite of all the spring offerings this year – it’s subdued, with its muted softy pastels and delicate shimmer.  I could have bought so many more but stopped myself at two, here is the first that made it into my basket, Lotus.

Of the two purples in the spring collection, this is the one that had the dustier edge.  And I’m all about dusty edges… both when it comes to nail polish, and bookshelves.  Lotus has a soft pink shimmer that catches the light but sadly failed to pick up very well in my swatch photo – you can see it in the bottle though yes?  It’s not a glaringly obvious shimmer but gives the shade more depth and prevents it from sitting flat on the nailbed.

Formula was fine, the above photo shows three coats but you could get away with two… I applied my second coat with too much impatience and caused a bit of drag, hence the need for the third.  My fault, not the polish’s.

Zoya Lotus is priced at £7.99 and available online from beauty4nails-body.

With a massive amount of gratitude to reader Mary (and a little bit of fist-shaking since I spent half of last night checking my makeup’s expiry dates), I wanted to share a link that she posted in a recent comment.  The link is to a website (http://checkcosmetic.net/) where you can enter your product’s batch code into and discover its year of manufacture thanks to an impressive database of production dates.

Be warned, ‘cos just like Pringles, it’s pretty addictive stuff.  NARS Flaming Dust appears to be the oldest (well, joint oldest) of the ones that I checked… 2004, shameful…

So, tell me… how old is your oldest lipstick? (and are you going to bin it now you know how old it is?!)

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mums, Moms, and Baby-Mamas out there!

It’s the hardest job I’ve ever done and boy, do I ever feel both the responsibility and fear that it can bring with it… but it’s sickeningly true that the pride, love and all that other stuff outweighs any negatives by the bucketload.

Hope you have a brilliant day with your bumps, babes and bigger ones.  A super-special mention to those hoping/trying to conceive this year, may you be celebrating with us this time next year! x

My biggest dilemma when it came to choosing my red lip picks for this winter were not so much the brands (I knew I wanted a Rockalily and a MUFE one), but the shades.  Both brands offer a variety of reds, each with their own subtle nuances – and despite all the swatches in the world, it can still sometimes be tricky to take that plunge when you can only shop online.

Where Rockalily was concerned, I ended up plumping for the most ‘classic’ looking option, the darkest of their core trio of reds: Roulette Red.

Priced at £14 each, these are leaning into the high-end category and the packaging is distinctly… budget, both in the way it looks and in the way it feels.  Thankfully, that’s where any comparisons to cheaper cosmetic quality ends because once the lid comes off, so do the gloves.  Roulette Red packs a beautiful punch of pigment that lasts almost like no other.  The only other red in my collection that can boast the same staying power as this is my lovely Rouge Baiser Paris – N°405 Le Rouge, which is consequently, pretty drying.  Roulette Red doesn’t dry my lips even half as much as the Rouge Baiser (which was actually famous for its ground-breaking long-lasting formula back in the 20s!).

I have to hand it to ReeRee, the lady behind Rockalily Makeup – she’s got a winning red lip formula on her hands here.  It’s really something special.

Application was fine, not the creamiest… but if you want super creamy, go for a YSL Rouge Volupté and lament the 20-second wear time.  I was able to apply this straight from the bullet without too much drag and neaten up the edges with a lip brush.  Wear, as I may have already mentioned… was exceptional.  I drank my way through three cups of tea, a packet of rice cakes (gross) and a satsuma… all with minimal colour loss.  I’m also pleased to report that there was no transfer to my two big front teeth, which is normally my biggest issue with a bold lip (overbites are bitches when it comes to lipstick).

So, is it my new favourite red lipstick?

Hmmm… no, not quite… but it is my new favourite red lipstick to whip out when I’m not gonna be able to touch up during the day.  And that, my friends, is a very important lipstick to have.

Rockalily Roulette Red is available to buy online from rockalily.com, and is priced at £14.00 (postage is £2.50)

Firstly, I’d like to say a big hoorah for a “western” BB Cream with a decent SPF rating.  The Estee Lauder Daywear BB Creme* comes with a broad-spectrum sun protection rating of SPF35.  What it doesn’t come with, is a whole bunch of moisture – and that’s bad news for me, especially because it’s kind of the whole reason I fell in love with BB creams in the first place.  But let’s not forget, this version from Estee Lauder has disassociated itself with the whole BB cream ‘thing’ by re-imagining those two initials, not to mean blemish/beblesh balm, but ‘beauty benefit’.  If that sounds a little bit wanky, it’s because it is.

Having said that… every cloud has a silver lining does it not?

What the Estee Lauder Daywear BB Creme does introduce, is very good oil control.  It doesn’t achieve this by mattifying the crap out of your complexion, you’ll still see a certain amount of dewiness (a.k.a life) and definitely a lot of ‘real’ skin, but it manages to velvet-ify (that’s SO a word), keeping the greasies (also a word) at bay very effectively indeed.

Coverage is sheer/medium but it evens my skintone without arguments and reduces the redness admirably.  If you’ve got blemishes, you’ll need to conceal these – don’t be layering four coats of BB cream ontop and hoping for the best.

Many have raised concerns about the shade and yes, two shades is not enough and 01 Light (the palest) is both too dark and too warm-toned for pale, cool pink types like myself.  If you’re an NC20 upward, you should be fine with this shade.  I’m not one to be massively horrified if a foundation doesn’t match my skintone exactly, I just don’t want to look tangoed or for people to take sly twitpics of me to show their friends how ‘not’ to get matched for foundation.  You know?  Hopefully the pictures will give a better impression of what I’m trying to say but I think I can get away with this one aslong as I don’t get too fixated on it not quite being right.

What else is there to mention?  Packaging is sleek and portable, if not the sexiest I’ve seen.  It smells strongly of cucumber, reminding me of the Boots own range of cucumber products… again, this doesn’t really scream “I’m worth my £32 price tag”.

Ok, before/after time – this is taken under flash conditions, at night so the change in tone is pretty much spot on (as I have complete control over the lighting here).  Also, I’m loving the chin spot.

The bottom line is this, if you have very dry skin, there are more suitable products available in the BB cream world for you.  If you have combination or oily skin and you’re a little darker than the average sun-dodger, you should really try and beg a sample of this from your nearest counter because I think it may be the best BB cream you’ve yet to try.

Estee Lauder Daywear BB Creme is available to buy now online and on counter, priced at £32 for 30ml

* press sample

Another weekend, another deal – really, I didn’t wanna blog about CheapSmells again for a bit (I like to spread the love around all my bargain places) but they make it kinda hard when they do shit like offer BOGOF on Orly and the highly coveted Jimmy Choo fragrance for under £20 you know?  It says the RRP is £29 for 40ml… but to be fair, on Debenhams – it’s actually £34 which makes this saving even more impressive.  For those of you concerned about Cheap Smells selling older stock, this one hasn’t been on the market too long either which should alleviate those worries in this instance.

So anyway, if you like your perfume all gourmand and sweet – you’ll probably like this one.  It’s too sweet for me, though I do like the dry-down which is more classically floriental but I just can’t get past the fruity stuff at the beginning – pear… and lots of it.  I think the while stocks last element is key here… £14 off the real RRP of what is frankly, a bit of an “it” frag still enjoying its moment is not be sniffed at, no pun intended.

You can purchase Jimmy Choo 40ml EdT online from CheapSmells at this special price (other sizes available) until 18th March, or while stocks last.

I adore these collector face palettes that Clarins release, I don’t know how they manage to create such softly luminous powders but whatever it is, it’s working.  Really, really well.  I can speak only for my combo/dry skin type but for me, powders are a tricky thing.  I want something that will set my foundation, concealer and cream blush but I don’t want it to mattify too heavily.  Sure, I need to take the edge off the shine on my t-zone but I also want it to impart a luminosity to my complexion.  Basically, I want it all.

Clarins’ Spring 2012 offering is more warm-toned than their Autumn face palette.  I find it perfectly wearable on my cool-toned skin though, so don’t let that put you off.  The Colour Breeze Face & Blush Powder* imparts the same kind of luminosity whilst setting both liquid and creme products well.  It’s sheer and it’s flattering.  Ultimately, it’s everything I’m looking for.  Again.

It’s not quite as pretty as previous versions but I’m not afraid to use my makeup and take off the oversprays etc, so that doesn’t bother me.  Between these and the Guerlain Meteorites, I just don’t think that I need to explore any other powder options for dry skin.  Holy Grail people, holy. grail.

Also, just to be super-brilliant, Escentual.com are currently offering this at a saving.  You can buy online for £25.00 (that’s £5 less than RRP).

* press sample

For some of us, makeup brushes can amount to a big investment and it pays to look after them.  It’s only fairly recently that I’ve bothered – to be honest, I’m a little bit easy-come-easy-go as my Mum used to tut at me whenever I was being less than careful with my possessions.

(foundation size – good for foundation and small powder brushes)

I use Brush Guards to protect my favourite brushes.  The mesh slips over the handle and cradles the bristles tightly, it’s not the perfect solution for travelling but I love them after washing my brushes as I can simply stand them on end (brush guard down) and this protects the ferrule whilst ensuring that the bristles dry to a perfect shape.  Infact, they’ve even recovered some of my domed brushes that I thought had lost their shape for good.  A worthwhile investment!

(blush size – great for large(r) eyeshadow brushes)

Brush Guards are priced at around £5.95 a packet and come in various sizes from eyeliner-brush sized right up to kabuki.  I bought mine a long time ago from Cocktail Cosmetics.

Do you do anything to protect your brushes? (or have you got better things to do with your life? haha)

NEOM’s latest fragrance to join their impressive lineup of natural-wax candles is simply called Happiness* and strives to create an atmosphere of calm and contentment wherever it’s placed.  The North Yorkshire-based brand is stocked in hotels and spas nationwide and prides itself stripping products back, cutting out the chemicals and re-imagining the notions behind truly natural and organic brands.

Too many times, ‘natural’ means that we have to compromise on the things that make products so instantly appealable.  We sacrifice the wow-factor for the knowledge that we’re using products that are kinder to the Earth.  Rustic packaging is all well and good until you want to gift it, natural scents can often be uninspiring without a little help from the lab, and the overall impression leaves you wishing you could have your cake and eat it too.

This is where NEOM excels, it doesn’t overlook all the little things that allow a natural brand to feel as luxurious as your usual high-end alternatives.  Infact, I’ve just bought my mother-in-law’s Mother’s Day gift from them, so it’s just as well!

This three-wicked candle offers up to 55hrs of burn time, the wax melts evenly across the surface and burns cleanly, creating no soot to darken the heavy-glass container (or indeed your ceiling!)

The scent is a little hard to describe.  It’s a fresh, floral scent which ultimately gives an impression of space.  White space, open airiness with a touch of sweetness.  Like standing in a gallery that’s had its windows opened for the morning, letting the freshness breathe through without actually being out there, in it.  This clean scent is bolstered with a hint of lemon, sweet – not tart.  I sometimes struggle with white flower scents, I’m not the world’s biggest fan of jasmine and yet when done right, it can barely be beaten.

The scent lingers impressively… walking back into a room, I noticed it staunchly clinging to the ether a good couple of hours after extinguishing the flames.

This would make a wonderful house-warming gift for a loved one, it’s perfect for communal areas and entrance halls to lighten the atmosphere and give a home that freshly-aired feeling.

NEOM Luxury Organics Happiness Home Candle is priced at £37.50 (single-wick 75g versions – £13.00) and available to buy online from neomorganics.com

What are you scenting your home with at the moment?

* press sample

Or… sweety nails as I like to call them.  What is it about these punchy corals that make me want to bite off my fingertips in the hope of a sugar high?  They’re just edible.

I think I should start a tag: nail polishes that make me want to self-cannibalise.  This one also does it to me.  As does this one.

As much as I love Macbeth on my nails, the fact that the above photo shows a single coat means that I may, MAY have to save this one for my tootsies.  I hate painting my toenails but it has to be done in the Summer and a one-coater coral with a beautiful formula is pretty much holy grail for ladies with short arms, big boobs and a belly.  You know what I’m talking about.

Buy this one, buy it now – it’s a fabulous shade for Spring with a brilliant formula to boot (even if it’s not the most original shade in the world).

Butter London Macbeth is priced at £11.95 and available to buy online at PowderRooms.