Showing posts with label FOTD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FOTD. Show all posts

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.

Monday, 30 September 2013

Clarins Autumn: Joli Rouge Lipsticks in Pink Camellia and Royal Plum


I've tried and enjoyed Clarins' Joli Rouge lipsticks before, so I was pleased to see three new shades added to the range for the autumn collection, Graphic Expressions.  I have two of them to show you today - Pink Camelia and Royal Plum.



Pink Camelia is a lovely mid pink shade which straddles the boundary between pink and ruby - it's not super bright, nor is it a neutral.



Royal Plum is the absolute opposite - it's a rich, sexy plum with a brown undertone.  It looks vampy, but it's more of a plush vampy stain rather than a full on, high pigment look like Urban Decay's Shame.  Paired with a slightly deeper chocolate brown eye, or lashings of charcoal liner, it looks very autumn appropriate.

I really like the formula of the Joli Rouge lipsticks - they're hydrating and comfortable but not too slippy, and they have a medium pigmentation which means you can sheer them out easily or build them up for full coverage.  That's pretty appealing with a colour like Royal Plum - I'll confess to struggling to get a clean application with Urban Decay's high pigment vamp-fest Shame, but applying Royal Plum was easy.  Wear is reasonable - you'll get a couple of hours before they start feeling a little dry, and when they do fade away, the fade is even, leaving a soft stain.

Find them at the Clarins website, or at Clarins counters, for £18.

Disclosure: PR sample

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

Saturday, 17 August 2013

Illamasqua Sacred Hour - A/W 13 collection






Dusk and dawn are the two "sacred hours" providing the imaginative fuel for Illamasqua's new autumn winter edit for 2013. There's a pagan, woodsy feel to the collection, with campaign images that show two female figures, one for dawn, one for dusk, roaming through a lovely deciduous forest, and looking a bit like they're off to conduct a fertility ritual with a liberal scattering of crystals. Dawn and dusk are also important makeup-putting-on ritual times - first thing in the morning, and before heading out at night.


Will this brand ever run out of original ideas? In such a well-trodden, packed-out niche as cosmetics, it's always impressive how they come up with something fresh. I love seeing what they roll out each season.


The Sacred Hour collection gives a nod to the prevailing seasonal trend for full-on eyes and full-on lips (at once! Shock horror), and also includes some diaphanous duochrome shimmeryness, and some lush, full-on pigments as well.





The collection includes a new under-eye concealer, Skin Base Lift, which is designed specifically to nuke dark circles under eyes using a peachy compensating tone. There's a relatively small range of shades, but there's also a pure white, intended to be used with the coloured shades to add a lifting highlight element. The concealer is rich and creamy in texture, and adheres keenly to the skin of the undereye without much creasing or slippage.




There are two nail polishes in the collection, the green-beige duochrome Hemlock*, which is a repromote (as we used to say in the MAC days), and Facet, a beautiful mid-tone grey with coppery gold shimmer.

There's also a set of outrageously thick and feathery false lashes. These are inspired by one of the Illamasqua artists who wears multiple sets of lashes on counter, and the aim is to recreate her look with just one strip.



Probably the star of the collection is the new Reflection palette. Like last season's Paranormal palette, it features Illamasqua's exciting new liquid-gel-powder eyeshadows. They're designed to be easy to apply with fingertips, and the liquid-gel texture makes them extremely blendable and easy to layer. The Reflection palette is ideal for a neutral smoky eye. It's got a dark silvery gunmetal, a classic taupe, a warm bronze and an ivory-lemon sort of highlight colour.

There's just one lipstick involved, a cool, vampy plum called Shard, which Illamasqua describes as red-violet. This isn't such a pigment-fest as previous colours, taking a few swipes to show up true to tube on the lips. The texture's quite solid, giving it good stamina, but it's definitely best worn in combination with a balm.



Two cream-to-powder Velvet blushes round out the collection, the warm coral Sleek, which is in the group photos, and Peaked (above), an insanely pigmented cool rose.

FOTD: Featuring Sleek blush*, Reflections palette*, Skin Base in Light 2*, Shard lipstick* and Motto brow powder



Sacred Hour will be released on counters and in stand-alone stores on Monday 19 August, and is available exclusively at Selfridges from 9 August until the general release date.

*Disclosure - PR samples

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

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Interview FOTD and an explanation


Recently I've not really posted as much as I used to.  I explained a while back that I was finding it difficult to fit everything in - between work life, social life, family life, blog life, there wasn't a lot of time left.

Shortly after I wrote that post, things at work took a turn for the worst and the office I've come to regard as a second home is closing down.  The colleagues I've come to regard as a second family are all dispersing, and I've had to get over my emotional reaction and start looking for a new job.

The past couple of weeks have been spent travelling between interviews, in interviews, and waiting in coffee shops for interviews to begin.  It's paid off though - I now have a few offers to consider, all of which look like an interesting next step.

Anyway, hopefully the coming few weeks will see a more regular posting schedule.  The photo above is my trusty interview FOTD - subtle but still made up, and with a mid-pink lipstick instead of my usual red.  Red can wait for my first day.

Face
Stila Stay All Day Foundation in Fair* (because it lasts ages with grace)
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface (because it also lasts ages)

Eyes
Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Stark
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Rouge Bunny Rouge eyeshadow in Bohemian Waxwing

Clinique Quickliner Intense in Intense Charcoal*
Benefit They're Real Mascara*

Lips
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in BG 955


* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples


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

Thursday, 4 April 2013

FOTD: Maybe it's Maybelline


I've been really enjoying using a few little gems from the Maybelline range recently.  Their waterproof mascara was a surprising success, and I've found myself reaching for their Dream Touch Blush a lot since I picked it up randomly at Boots.  I still love my high end, high luxury products, but my re-discovery of Maybelline has reminded me that there are some damn good products to be found on the high street.


Face
Stila Stay All Day Foundation in Fair*
Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Berry

Eyes
Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Stark
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in Rose Gold
Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc
Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express mascara

Lips
A bit of lip balm from one of the many pots in my bedroom
* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples

Friday, 1 February 2013

FOTD: Iris Blossom with Clarins Spring 2013

 

Now I've shown you a few products from the Clarins Spring 2013 lineup, I thought I'd show you how it all fits together.  In the above photo, I'm wearing the Iris Blossom eye palette and the Palette Eclat powder (all over my face and as blush), as well as Sweet Plum Joli Rouge lipstick.

The eyeshadow palette is lovely, making for a subtle smoky look which is totally daytime appropriate and which is super flattering on my hazel eyes.  I'm less keen on the Palette Eclat - I suspect it might be a tiny bit too dark for use as a powder for me.  It does give a lovely refined texture to the skin and a soft, gentle glow, though, so it's a shame that it's a little too deep.  Less pale-n-pasty girls may find this a lovely finishing powder.  As a blush, it's okay - I had to swipe pretty heavily over the pinkish strips in the palette, which is fine- but there's probably no point owning it as a blush in its own right.

And here are some eye closeups...



Those eye shades are really lovely.  They're not over the top sparkly, but have a sheen to them that gives dimension and depth without glitter.  The Iris Blossom palette is definitely the stand out for me - although I have to say I absolutely love the Sweet Plum Joli Rouge!

Disclosure: PR samples

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

FOTD: New Year's Eve Makeup


We spent New Year's Eve at a friend's pub having some not-so-quiet drinks, and whilst it was definitely a big night, it wasn't a particularly dressy one.  I decided to go with simple but sparkly makeup - and I couldn't resist the lure of false lashes.

Excuse the slightly terrible lighting, trying to take photos after dark in winter is bloody impossible.


These lashes are Shu Uemura Soft Cross False Eyelashes, and I've worn them many, many times.  They're soft and full and give a great voluminous look which isn't too OMGLASHES.  


I used one of my favourite glitter products on my lids - Makeup Forever Glitter in 13 Silver Multicoloured - which is a gloriously holographic loose glitter.  I wore it last New Year's Eve.  I wear it to pretty much every party I go to.

Anyway, here's the lowdown on all the products I used...

Face
Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic 01

Eyes
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Urban Decay Smoked Palette* (specifically Mushroom eyeshadow and Perversion eyeliner)
Makeup Forever Glitter in 13 Silver Multicoloured
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara
Shu Uemura Soft Cross False Eyelashes 

Lips
Benefit Sugarbomb lipgloss*

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples


Sunday, 18 November 2012

FOTD: Havoc


Granted, this isn't the most adventurous or interesting of looks, but it's quick, easy, and goes can be transformed into something a little more glam with a bit of bold lipstick.


Face
Avon Ideal Flawless Matte Mousse Foundation in Ivory*
Clinique Fresh Bloom All Over Colour in Plum Poppy Blend* (as blush)
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC1

Eyes
Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Stark
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Pink Taupe*
Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc
Avon Supershock Max mascara in Black*

Lips
For once, nothing but a quick swipe of lip balm

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

EOTD: Back to MAC

Pretty much every beauty addict goes through their "MAC phase" - building up a collection of eyeshadows, lipsticks and lipglasses from the permanent line, and rushing to the counter for every limited collection to add the most coveted LE shades to their stash. Sooner or later, the ardour cools and you step off the merry-go-round of chasing collection after collection, returning to a more level-headed relationship with the brand.

My MAC phase lasted from around 2005 - 2007, and I've still got some of the colours I collected during that time. Many of them are discontinued now, but I still like to revisit them from time to time, particularly the eyeshadows in the three 15-palettes I amassed on a crazy shopping trip to New York in 2006.



Here's a look using some of my oldest and best-loved MAC eyehadows - Bitter, Blu-Noir, Tilt and Vex. Of the four, only Tilt and Vex are still on counters, and it's no wonder, as the pink-green duochrome on a champagne base and the blue/green/purple shift are both timeless classics.


Did you have a MAC phase? What were/are your big loves from the brand?

Monday, 30 July 2012

FOTD: High Summer


Newflash!  Summer has finally landed in Great Britain!

Well, it sort of did, for about four days, and now it's back to raining again.  But still.  Those four days of sunshine, humidity, and having to travel on the underground made me reassess my daily face, and I thought I'd share my current hot-weather look with you.  It's all about SPF, light textures, and most importantly, things that last all day despite the hot weather making me a little.. err... sweaty glowy.


Face
BRTC Jasmine Water BB Cream SPF30
Becca Beach Tint in Grapefruit (Watermelon also pictured.. lovely stuff)

Eyes
Kiko eyeshadows (brows)
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Shu Uemura Pressed Eye Shadow in IR Brown 850

Lips
Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Currant

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples



Sunday, 10 June 2012

More Ready from Bare Minerals

If you read Gemma's previous post on Bare Minerals' new Ready pressed powder range, you'll know that their matte rubberised packaging and buttery-like-woah eyeshadow is pretty good stuff indeed. I've been trialling some other bits from the range, namely The Top Shelf eyeshadow duo and The Tease blush.


The Tease is a generously proportioned 6g blush pan in a mirrored compact, which comes with its own surprisingly effective mini blush brush. The formula contains camellia oil, reputed to have skincare benefits. It's a lovely springtime-esque dusty pink with medium pigmentation - one to apply lightly and build up, as a heavy hand will leave you decidedly clown-cheeked. The finish is matte. 





Anyone who's ever owned a Nars product will immediately be thinking "fingerprints" on seeing a Bare Minerals Ready compact. And yes, this packaging is pretty much guaranteed to be utterly besmirched with paw-prints and bald at the corners within a matter of weeks. Looks nice now though.



The Top Shelf is another eyeshadow duo, consisting of a warm shimmery champagne highlight and a rich bronzey gold. The pigmentation on these is phenomenal - think Urban Decay but even smoother and finer.


The colour choice is a winner too. I normally shy well away from warm-toned eyeshadows but the paler shade ( Mixologist) is very flattering used as a wash on the lids, and Cognac, the gold, blends effortlessly as a crease colour. These contain "cutting-edge rejuvenating sea minerals". Right you are.



FOTD with The Top Shelf and The Tease:


Bare Minerals really have gone hell for leather in positioning their product range as far from the typical all-natural touchy-feely mineral makeup ideology as possible. They're going for a high-tech, fashion-savvy and modern brand feel, and the wording used on the promo materials and packaging highlights that particularly well. From the cheeky "Hello" on the plastic insert protecting the mirror to the snappy manifesto on the inside of the eyeshadow box, the brand never lets you forget that it's urban, smart and on-the-ball.


An marketing copywriter woz ere
Bare Minerals Ready blush comes in 10 shades, each costing a fairly pricey £22, while the eyeshadow duos come in 22 enthralling combos, each costing £19 (a distinct saving on their obvious rivals, Nars duos, which cost £24). You can browse to your heart's content at bareminerals.co.uk/ready

Disclosure - PR sample

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

FOTD with YSL Touche Eclat Foundation


YSL's new Touche Eclat foundation lands in stores in July, and given the almost fanatical following that the original highlighting pen has gathered over the years, it's set to be a big launch.  At £28, it's very definitely a high end foundation - but it does make some rather high end claims too, including a weightless texture, brightening properties, and a lightweight, natural finish.

Does it deliver?  I think so.  I'm wearing it in the FOTD above, and I've found it to be incredibly brightening, making my skin look awake and glowing without leaving it dewy or shiny.  The texture is indeed lightweight, and the finish is natural.  It's also totally buildable, and you can apply a tiny bit for a bit of a kick in the morning, or a full face of the stuff for a smooth, even, glowing finish.  It doesn't really cover blemishes, so if you want more of a medium/opaque coverage product, this one probably isn't for you.

I'm wearing shade B10, the palest neutral shade available.  There are 22 shades available, covering warm, neutral and cool undertones, and it looks like the shade range is wide enough to match the palest to the deepest of skintones.  Lovely stuff.

Face
YSL Touche Eclat Foundation in B10*
Cargo Tonga blush

Eyes
Kiko eyeshadows (brows)
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara
Clarins Long Lasting Kohl Kajal (more on that later this week)*

Lips

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples

Sunday, 1 April 2012

FOTD: Polished


Face
Mamechiyo for Shu Uemura Under Base Mousse BB*
Cargo Louisiana blush

Eyes

Lips
Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony*
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in BG922*

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples


Friday, 16 March 2012

FOTD: Old Favourites


I recently had a poke through my stash and pulled out a few things I'd not used in ages - an Armani foundation, and a Paul and Joe eye gloss.  And used them.  Turned out quite well, I think - definitely a look I'll repeat for spring!

Face
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation
Cargo blush in Tonga

Eyes

Lips

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples

Wednesday, 29 February 2012

FOTD: Coral Glow


This look was all about a glowy base with a shot of shiny, coral lip colour, thanks to my new favourite lip product, YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains.  I wore this to an afternoon tea at a posh hotel and felt plenty polished and lady like!

Face
Laura Geller Balance n'Brighten foundation in Porcelaine
Cargo blush in Tonga

Eyes


* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples



Sunday, 26 February 2012

FOTD - Nars Dogon's Revenge

Today's makeup is an outing of Nars' Dogon duo, which I was rhapsodising about last year*. (Update: it's still amazing).



I also used Boots No 7's Vital Brights blush in Blossoming Pink*, 17 Falsifeye mascara*, Clinique Lash Building Primer*, Illamasqua Motto brow powder, Soap & Glory It's About Prime eyeshadow primer* and Benefit It Stick as a concealer.


*starred products are PR samples

Monday, 20 February 2012

FOTD: Topaz Spring



Here's an FOTD using some of the products from the limited edition Estee Lauder spring collection, Topaz.  The combination of golden brown, amber and turquoise is somehow more summery to me - but hey, I guess it's never too early to inject a little warmth into the face after a long cold winter, and anything's better than the usual spring fare of pastels.

Face
Laura Geller Balance n' Brighten Foundation in Porcelain
Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Topaz Chameleon*

Eyes
Estee Lauder Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic*
Estee Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal*

I'll revisit the Illuminating Powder Gelee and eyeshadow palette in depth later on, but I've got to say that my favourite item is the one that solicited the least "oooooh" on first glance.  The Intense Kajal Eye Crayon is gorgeous - it applies very smoothly with strong, opaque colour, and whilst it remains perfectly clean on the eyelid if left undisturbed, it's eminently smudgeable.  The bright, striking teal colour is lovely, too, although I can see the black version being incredibly popular for creating a smoky look.

All in all, though, I can't help but feel that this collection is likely to suit warmer and darker skintones more than it suits us pale cool girls.  The colours look OK on my skin, but I suspect that they'd look a lot more striking on someone with a more warm-toned or olive complexion.

The collection is out now, and available from Estee Lauder counters and concessions, and online via the Estee Lauder website.

* items marked with an asterisk are PR samples
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