Saturday, 30 August 2014

Revolutionary: Using Lipliner for Coloured, Defined Brows


A little while ago, I went to an event.  As I sat down on a makeup artist's chair, she said:

"Oh, let me just touch up your brows a little"

I panicked.

"You're not going to fill them in with brown eyebrow pencil are you?"

said I, quaking in my pink hair, terrified of weird non-matching brown eyebrows.

"Of course not, I'm going to use pink lip liner.  You'll get a good shade match and it'll hold better than eyeshadow."

said she.  And thus, my eyebrow routine was changed forever and I embarked upon a quest to find the perfect pink lip liner to use on my brows.


Thursday, 28 August 2014

NOTD: Max Factor Gel Shine Lacquer in Glazed Cobalt


Many brands are bringing out polishes which go one step closer to a gel manicure without the LED curing and difficult removal, and Max Factor's latest release, Gel Shine Lacquer, is one of them, promising gel-like shine, and super long wear - 7 days to be exact.

The colour I'm wearing above is Glazed Cobalt, a brilliant blue with a cream finish.  It applied like an absolute dream - two coats, almost fully opaque after the first, with a consistency which is perfectly spreadable and pigmented without being gloopy.  I found that it dries a little more slowly than some polishes in my collection, which led to a few air bubbles as I didn't leave long enough between coats.

I wish it lived up to it's long wearing claims - I found that it chipped rather badly at the edges of my nails after a mere three days.  Perhaps combined with a sticky base coat it would last longer, but alone it doesn't quite cut the mustard.

Max Factor's new Gel Shine Lacquers are available at Boots, where they cost £6.99 each.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

#MyNo7Feeling Red Lash FOTD featuring Lash Impact Mascara, Stay Perfect Shade & Define, High Shine Lip Crayon


No 7 is busy showcasing quick, flattering summer makeup looks right now - there are several to try, from soft natural pinks to low-key ways to wear red to summer bronzed.  I've been trying out Look 2, which features defined eyes and a wearable red lip - right up my proverbial makeup street.

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Eve Lom Radiance Lift Foundation in Ivory


There's no doubting that Eve Lom's Radiance Lift Foundation is a thing of beauty.  Just look at that bottle!  At £50, though, it needs to do more than just look gorgeous in the tube.  Promising flawless coverage, hydration, and anti-aging properties, I've been trying it out for a few months now - and given the hot, sticky weather we've seen in the UK, I've definitely been testing it's long-wear claims to the fullest.

Friday, 22 August 2014

BUY THIS NOW: Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Tumultuous Pink


When Estee Lauder add a new lipstick to their already fabulous Pure Color lineup, I sit up and take notice.  As a self confessed lipstick addict, I absolutely love the original Pure Color lipsticks - they deliver beautifully pigmented colour, comfortable wear, and last for bloody ages on the lip.  The newest variation is Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick, and I had to try them out.  HAD TO.


Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Soap & Glory Orangeasm


Soap and Glory have released a new mini-collection themed around a fruity, cheeky new scent - and it's called Orangeasm.  I'm not quite sure why Soap and Glory have decided that notes of green mandarin, Sicilian lemon and sweet orange peel are comparable to orgasms, but hey, this is Soap and Glory, and they can always be relied upon for a bit of irreverent fun.

Anyway, the products in the range include a body wash, body butter, and super tonic, which is a light fragrance mist.  I've been using the body wash and super tonic for the past couple of weeks, and I've been impressed by the body wash - it foams up plentifully but doesn't feel drying at all on the skin, thanks in part to the use of Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, a more gentle cleansing agent than the traditional SLS included in most body washes.  The scent is glorious - bright, zesty and bursting with citrus, it's very, very energising indeed.  Not bad for just £6.50 for a giant 500ml bottle.

I've been less impressed by the Super Tonic - I like my fragrance to stay on my skin for as long as possible, and the tonic seems to fade within the hour.  The scent is simple, but nice enough if you like citrus - it's very orangey, and I can't really detect many other notes in the mix.  If you love the scent and are prepared to reapply every couple of hours, Super Tonic may work for you, but it's just too simplistic and fades too fast for me.  At least it doesn't break the bank at £12 for 100ml.

Disclosure: PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Monday, 18 August 2014

Too Faced Bulletproof 24 Hour Eyeliner in Get Lucky, Dirt Bag and Mink


I'm not entirely sure why makeup brands think we want to wear makeup for 24 hours - Too Faced's latest eyeliner release promises 24 hour wear and a creamy texture which can be smoked out before it sets down.  Available in eight shades from neutrals to black to brights, it's a BeautyBay exclusive in the UK.


Saturday, 16 August 2014

Philosophy Miracle Worker Overnight




I've only been trialling Philosophy's new Miracle Worker Overnight moisturiser for a few weeks, and I'm already impressed.  The cream is velvety and light, almost souffle like in texture, and it absorbs quickly into the skin and leaving it feeling well moisturised and very, very smooth.  I've found that it does need to be applied to absolutely clean skin or you'll get those little strands of product appearing as you rub it in.

I absolutely love the scent - to my nose it has a gloriously orangey-cocoa scent, which makes it smell faintly of a grown up, sophisticated chocolate orange.  Other reviewers have said that it smells virtually scent free or smells of mushrooms, though, so if you're sensitive to scented products it's probably worth having a sniff in store before purchasing.

As for the effects, I've not quite been using it long enough to see the results - I can say that my skin already feels smoother and softer.  My frown lines and slight crow's feet seem a little less noticeable, too.  At £45 for a stuffed-to-the-gills 60ml pot, Miracle Worker Overnight is around the average mark for a department store brand anti-aging moisturiser.  Find it now at the Philosophy website - I'll report back in a few more weeks on my final thoughts.

Disclosure: PR sample


This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Thursday, 14 August 2014

DHC Premium Lipstick GE


Japanese skincare brand DHC, famous for their cleansing oil, has a makeup line!  This is news to me, but apparently the brand has been producing colour products for ages, having started with cheek colours.  Anyway, part of that line is the simply named Premium Lipstick GE.  No ultra-long product names with multiple made up ingredients and multiple adjectives for DHC, oh no - this is lipstick, and it's their premium one.  Don't ask me what GE stands for.  Let's just gloss over that bit, okay?


Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Quick Pick: Super Facialist by Una Brennan Purify & Refresh Face Scrub


It looks like the team at Super Facialist have changed the packaging since this little tube's been in my bathroom, but I thought I'd write a quick post about it anyway.  If you like your scrubs manual and full of bits, this one is a little more refined than St Ives and less scary than Freeze 24/7.  The scrubby bits are finely ground walnut shell, which gives the scrub a microdermabrasion feel - it also means it does suffer a bit from being difficult to wash off without leaving tiny granules in your hairline (I really hope it's not just me).

It also contains Salicylic Acid and it's supposed to control blemishes as well as giving your skin a good scrub.  Since I started using it, I've definitely experienced fewer spots, although I've not noticed a decrease in blackheads.  Still, less spots and smoother skin make this a damn good product for me, made even better by its very reasonable £8.99 pricetag.  Find it now at Boots.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Sunday, 10 August 2014

Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain in Shanghai Sizzle, LA Exclusive, New York Scene & Rio Rush


Revlon's latest lip release is a good one - ColorStay Moisture Stain promises comfortable, moisturising colour with a glossy shine and eventual stain, available in 11 destination themed shades.



Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Clinique Chubby Sticks Cheek Colour Balm in Roly Poly Rosy, Plumped Up Peony, Robust Rhubarb & Amp'd Up Apple


Clinique's phenomenally successful Chubby Stick format has finally made it over to cheeks - and they're gorgeous.  Available in four shades, they promise creamy colour for mistake-proof blush.

Monday, 4 August 2014

New Glasses: Retro Peepers Gidget

Black
Blue Moon
Leopard
And now for something a little different from makeup!  I recently decided I needed to get some new glasses.  As I like wearing reproduction 50s clothes most of the time, I was dying for some proper cat eye frames - more exaggerated than I've been able to find in mainstream optometrists.  I happened across Retro Peepers, who stock a huge range of vintage repro frames which come in reading strengths, or with clear glass ready for reglazing with your prescription.

I bought a few different styles to try on at home, as Retro Peepers have a generous returns policy to allow you to try on frames rather than taking a gamble.  My favourite was the Gidget - a cat eye frame with an uplifted edge and an elongated shape, which I felt suited me best.  I returned the other frames and bought a couple more colours in Gidget - they were a steal £17 each, with clear lenses.  I then had them reglazed by Ciliary Blue - Retro Peepers recommend them, and provide a discount code when you buy frames for reglazing.  The total cost of each pair was £39.50 - much, much cheaper than the high street, and I have three pairs of awesome glasses to boot!

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Sunday, 3 August 2014

Summer Essential: Hydraluron Moisture Jelly



This stuff is an absolute godsend on a hot, sweaty summer's day.  Fortuitously, it arrived just before I went off for a week on the beach in Egypt, where it hit 46 degrees most days, and in that kind of heat a sticky, heavy moisturiser just doesn't cut it.  Indeed Labs' Hydraluron Moisture Jelly is the absolute opposite of sticky and heavy - the gel formula makes it light as a feather, and it's absorbed into the skin in no time at all.  For something with such a light texture, it gives an incredible shot of moisture - I found myself reaching for it when I came in from the sunshine every evening, and it cooled, calmed and hydrated my skin quickly and easily.

I've got to also highlight how amazing the packaging is - the product is completely sealed in the jar, and to dispense, you simply press down on the top of the jar, which squeezes a dab of product out via a clever, self-closing aperture.  This means that the product doesn't get contaminated with anything from your fingers, nor does it get any exposure to air.

At £24.99, it's not cheap, but given the amount of product needed per application, I'd say each jar will last a good couple of months.  Perfect for summer hydration, or all year round if your skin is on the oily side, or if you dislike moisturisers you can feel on your skin.  Find it at Boots.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 1 August 2014

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint in Flowering Freesia, Poppin' Poppy and Coming Up Rosy


Meet the latest addition to Clinique's ever expanding Chubby Stick family - Chubby Stick Baby Tint, a very softly tinted lip balm designed to add a hint of colour and plenty of moisture to the lips.


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