All about the Lips

I like to keep my lips in tip top shape.  Dry lips look horrible with lipstick and I hate the feeling of dry chapped lips.

So a while back I purchased a new tub of lip scrub from Lush and I use this a few times each week after I have removed my make up.  After gently scrubbing my lips I slather on a soothing balm, either Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream, Carmex or vaseline and let that soak right in and work overnight.

In the mornings before putting on my make up I use a lip balm from MAC and I always carry a balm with me to use before applying lipstick or if I am not wearing a gloss.  My current favorite balms are the Sleek Pout Polish received in my Glossybox a few weeks ago and Crème de la Mer The Lip Balm.  The Crème de la Mer Lip Balm is very expensive admittedly at £42 a pot available here but lasts absolutely ages, is very softening and has a minty taste, lipstick sits nicely on the top.

Finally to add to moisture when adding colour to my lips I like creamy lipsticks that are not too drying or lip glosses.  My favorite lipsticks are the cremesheen lipsticks from MAC with a vast array of shades or the Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm.  The Chubby Sticks are easy to apply and feel soft on the lips and come in a beautiful array of shades.

A review - Maybelline Big Eyes Waterproof Mascara

It seems like suddenly I am seeing dual ended mascara's everywhere.  Dual ended mascara's were popular a few years back and mainly consisted of a primer (base) which was normally white at one end and a black mascara the other end.

A few weeks ago I walked into Boots and thought I would check out the mascara's.  I prefer drug store mascara's as high end are very expensive and I do think you get the same result from a drug store mascara as you would from a high end brand.

The big thing again seems to be dual ended mascara as I looked around Boots.  I decided to go for Max Factor and Maybelline, my purchase post can be found here but I could have plumped for any of the drug store bands, the choice seemed endless.

Since my purchase I have been using it daily and I wanted to share my thoughts.

First the positives.

• Both brushes are a nice size, the brush for the lower lashes is small enough to catch all the lashes but not too small to make catching the lower lashes an issue.
• The colour is a decent black, with good coverage on the upper and lower lashes from the first swipe.
• The formula is waterproof, stays on all day with no flaking and lashes did not feel crispy.  Yes it is hard to remove at the end of the day but I personally want a mascara with brilliant staying power and it I have to use my cleansing balm twice to remove all of my mascara so be it.  If this is a problem there is also a washable formula I believe coming out.

Now the negatives.

• The formula that is in the tube dries out very quickly and this makes for more clumping on the upper lashes.  This is a quick drying mascara on the lashes so it is bound to be quick drying if you leave the mascara open to the air for a long time.
• The brushes are fiddly, this is a difficult thing to describe but the size of the brush handle makes it really difficult to get to the corner lashes on both top and bottom.
• This formula is meant to give volume to lashes, I didn't really notice any change in volume.

So now the question is would I repurchase?

The answer to that is no, the reason being that it did not have the X factor for me.  I found it was too drying on my lashes but the staying power was great.  It did not improve the volume of my lashes and the finished look was not glossy enough.

Upheaval & adding to my makeup

We are now in the midst of major work being completed in the house.  The study has been fully ripped out the old desks are being sold off and the new furniture has been delivered ready to be fitted together Monday.
My living space has turned upside down with the other rooms in the house being used as makeshift study areas.  In the past I would have hated this but I like seeing work in progress now and I can see that short term pain is long term gain.
The new carpet has been ordered and the walls will be repainted in shades of peacock blue and gold.  I cannot wait to see the finished room.

In all the upheaval I have kept my beauty routine the same.  I have to say that I have been very impressed with my Sigma brushes, they are as good as my MAC brushes for applying my eye make up.  The Real Technique brushes are still the best for applying my face make up.  The Expert Face Brush is perfect for applying foundation and making it look flawless. The Stippling Brush is perfect for applying the cream blushers I have from MAC and the Buffing Brush is brilliant for adding face powder to the shiny parts of the face.
I have been reading a lot about Inglot, I remember years ago they were in Bluewater Shopping Centre and I had purchased a hand cream from them.  The hand cream has long been used up and I saw the name Inglot on a recent blog post that they were still around in the UK.  I looked around some more and I liked the look of the Freedom System.  This is similar to the MAC pallets but the eye shadows are at a fraction of the price.  An Inglot 4 space pallet is £6 compared to a MAC at £6.50 but the money saving is in the actual eye shadows.  Inglot shadows for the Freedom System (square) is £4.50 and come in about 100 different shades and finishes with each shadow weighing a minimum of 2.3g, the MAC shadows are £10 each and again come in a brilliant range for colours and finishes but weigh 1.5g.  The Freedom System is not just for eye shadows but for face powders, brows, blush, lips and concealers.  There is a choice between round and square pallets with or without mirrors, with or without applicators and as a result you have a totally customized system for make up.  My favorite pallet is the Freedom System Palette EBP retails at £10 and has large square that is for a pressed powder, a rectangle for blush, and two smaller squares for either eye shadow or concealer or lip.  This makes it the perfect pallet for a night out, slim enough to slip into a small clutch with product to take you through an evening.
I decided that I would purchase the Freedom System Palette 4 Eye Shadow Square and 4 shadows as a test.  The shadows purchased are:
471 - An olive green shade
333 - A beautiful dark green
338 - A dark cornflower blue
387 - A muted grey with a hint of purple.

Depending on how they look and work I will add to my collection with colours I don't have at the moment in my collection.
I will add pictures once I have finished with all the upheaval.

Have you owned anything from Inglot, I would be glad to hear from you?

Compact pots of happiness

I remember as a little girl sitting nearby mum whilst she got her powder compact out to check her face and redo her lipstick.  My memory tells me it was blue and maybe had a bird design on it, like swans.  I used to play with this compact and pretend I was patting powder over my face like I had seen on TV and what my mum did. I do wonder where that compact is now.

Top row: Loose powder compact/1st compact
Bottom row: Epcot compact/latest compact

I have owned a powder compact since I was little, I am not sure who gave me my first one either my mum or my nan but despite who it was I still have it.  It was made by Stratton, the label on the bottom says Stratton England as they manufactured compacts in England at the time, I guess by now you can call it vintage (boy do I feel old now!).  Although old it has a timeless design on the top and is very girlie.

Floral vintage

Original sifter intact

In 1999/2000 I was given my second compact, it was purchased in "Japan Land" in Disney's Epcot centre, this one holds special memories as it was the first time in the States and the first time in Disney.

Japanese design, made in Japan bought in Epcot

 This compact has been in daily use ever since.
My third compact was purchased at a fayre, this was to celebrate my jewellery making stall, I like this compact as it holds loose powder very will with no risk of spillage.

Holds loose powder

Internal lip stops powder spillage.

My last compact was fairly recent compared to the others and was given to me by my mum.  This one again made by Stratton but by now the manufacturing had moved from England, the label on the bottom omits the England, how sad.

Latest Stratton with blue leaf design

Currently holding loose powder under the sifter

I decided that I was going to get all my compacts out, give them a clean, make sure they are still fit for purpose and use them all.  I wanted to add the timeless glamour back into my make up bag.

The first thing was to get powders that fit in the pan.  This was a tough task as some powders are small than the pan size, some are now square (thank you benefit) and some just do not have the colour/formula I look for.  I spent some time during a recent shopping trip trying to find refills that will fit into the compact and I can tell you the number of products is limited to say the least.
I looked at MAC although the pan would fit into the compact (sitting in the sifter) the trouble in getting the pan out of the MAC compact would be too much, first you would have to break away the MAC plastic housing and then try to wedge something sharp between the remaining plastic and the pan to force it out.  It is hit and miss, sometimes you could be successful getting the pan and the powder pressed inside the pan out intact but most times the powder could crack and crumble under the pressure of forcing the pan out of the plastic.  I know this as I have tried a few times in the past and I am just not willing to fork out the money only for the product to crack and get wasted.
Benefit was a no no as they have changed their packaging so that their powders are in a square pan.
Smashbox had no products suitable and Stila did not have any powders out to compare.
I decided to head towards the 'drug store' end and I looked at the products at the displays in Boots.  he problem I have here is that most of the products do not have a tester, the spaces where testers should be lay empty and standing by these displays trying to see if a product would fit into my compact made me, well lets just say I looked dodgy.
Finally I gave up and I went on line and looked at what the wonderful world of blogging had for me, first stop http://powdercompacts.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/how-to-refill-replace-powder-in-a-vintage-powder-compact/ really informative and has put me on the right road at last.  I also looked at http://twenty-something-sherbet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/refilling-vintage-powder-compacts.html this blog post backed up the first one.  Finally http://annieanniepancake.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/how-tuesday-how-to-refill-vintage.html explained what to do if I wanted to use loose powder.

Range of ways of holding powder.

I think its a shame that the golden age of the glamour powder compacts is slowly fading as seen with the limited amount of refills and I will do my bit to keep the glamour alive.

January 2014 Glossybox - Back to Basics

So the Glossybox theme for January is "Back to Basics" I kind of like the sound of that I thought as I opened the box up.
Firstly the box has been slightly revamped, it is glossy and feels nice to the touch.  I use the boxes after I have emptied them out for all sorts of things, I have one holding my belts and buckles, one for my pens at work, one holding my cotton wool pads I could go on.

Back to Basics

I opened the box right up and this bit is always thrilling to me as I have a sense of expectation of what I will find inside.  Some months I am happy, others not so sometimes I am on the fence.  This month fell into the fence category.  I always read the magazine that comes with the box but even that did not set me alight with inspiration compared to other months.

The first thing I laid eyes on were the 2 small tubes of Yu-Be moisturising skin cream.  click here for more details.  A little does go a long way and yes it is a nice cream but I was not over impressed after using it a few times and its not a repurchase product for me.

I then picked out the Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches click here.  Great name for a product and although I have not used it yet I know I am going to like it.  The packaging is bright and funky and after using their facial spray I know these eye patches will suit my skin.  The price is at a good price point £6.00 for a 3 pack and I know I will repurchase.

I pulled out next Vaseline Essential Moisture Lotion, the brand is already a firm favorite already with me, I use the spray formulas and like them so seeing this in the box was a good thing as I will use it but also a let down as I like to try new untried products with my subscription. Vaseline products is available in many places including Boots click here.  I prefer the spray function much easier in the mornings and I highly recommend the spray and go moisturiser click here

Next out was tweezers.  Now I groaned, I like tweezers and I have a few but the fact is one or two of mine have come from previous Glossy Boxes so I have a few already in my collection.  These tweezers are from The Vintage Cosmetic Company click here and look nice, floral and pretty but are no different the the HD Brows tweezers sent a few months back or any of the others I own. These will be given away and I hope someone else will enjoy them.

My last item out was Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash click here, nice smell not convinced about the toning part but lathers up and the fragrance stays with you for a good while after.  A nice product but nothing amazing.

Vaseline/Anatomicals/Yu-Be/Balance me/The Vintage Cosmetic Company

Vaseline/Anatomicals/Yu-Be/Balance me/The Vintage Cosmetic Company

Balance me/Vaseline

Anatomicals/The Vintage Cosmetic Company

Mixed feelings about this Glossy Box, but on the whole I was left disappointed but the products inside.
If you subscribe to Glossy Box did you feel the same?

Cinema, food and more shopping

It's been a frustrating week this week but as I look back I can't work out where the frustrations were coming from. The things I had put my mind to worked well and to my advantage, I was formally observed and got amazing positive feedback which is always good to hear, interviews are going well and I felt on top of my game. Maybe it's that time of year joined in with the tiredness I think the cold wet days and the long dark nights don't appeal to all.

We decided mid week that we would go to the cinema, lots of great films out now and coming out in February so I booked up "The Wolf of Wall Street".  Oh boy, did that bring back memories and a light bulb went on about halfway through.  When I was in my previous incarnation I would not suffer fools, but I realised that now working with kids slowly but surely I have become softer, more patient and dare I say it I care more deeply.  It sounds like a good thing and to be honest it is but I need to be aware and not be taken advantage of, not that I think anyone around me can take advantage of me now but I need to be aware that there will be some people who for their own selfish reasons could play on my new softer side.

So before the cinema we went shopping, I needed supplies.  My skin went very dry this week, the cold damp weather has not been helping, I move from warm dry cozy rooms to the cold 6 or so times a day and my skin does not know what way is up.  I decided to leave my skin alone this week, using gentle cleansing methods and my make up consisted of cream products such as MAC cream blush and liquid bronzer.

The first place I headed to was Boots and the Clinique counter, I wanted a tub of Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm I heard some good things about this product and the consistency looked nourishing to me, I used it for the first time last night so it is too early to say whether the product will suit me but I liked how my face felt after using the product.  I also purchased a new Chubby Stick in Broadest Berry, I love these easy to use lip gloss/chap stick they are so moisturizing with a good amount of colour.

Last weeks purchases. MAC studio Sculpt NW20/MAC Cremeblend Blush Ladyblush

Last week whilst on the way to Arsenal I stopped off for my foundation, in my rush to get to the Emirates I forgot to get a new mascara and powder bronzer.  So after seeing the lovely ladies on the Clinique counter I headed to the Boots make up displays and picked 2 mascaras the first was Maybelline big eyes mascara, I liked the fact that it was a double ended mascara, one end for the top lashes and the other for the lower lashes.  The other was from Max Factor Excess Volume Extreme Impact Mascara another double ended mascara but this is one that builds glossy top lashes.  Both mascaras have had good write ups and I am hoping they do live up the hype.  I then went to the Smashbox counter and purchased the lightest bronzer they have, just because I live in Essex does not mean I have to be orange, but I do like to have a little definition to my face and I like having a glow to my face. I purchased the sunkissed bronzer and it looks lovely and subtle on.  I also purchased a lip gloss The O Plump will change colour that is tailored to your own lip colour whilst giving a bit of ommph to the lips.

I moved on to Lush and I purchased a few things for the body and bath plus a face mask to help with dry skin Oatifix smells divine and I did so want to eat it but I hope it does what it says on the tub!

Lush King of Skin/Clinique Chubby Stick/Smashbox bronzer/Smashbox O-Plump/Lush Oatifix/Max Factor Volume Extreme/Maybelline Big Eyes.

After the film (which was very good) we had a late lunch/early dinner at Jamies Italian, amazing food and great service.  I wanted to take a picture of my dinner but I totally got caught up with the yummy smells I tucked right in without a second thought.  I had a burger (no surprise there as I am a burger addit) and and garlic chips.  I was so full I could not finish it off and I wish I had taken it away in a doggy bag.  Mr JAEG had a meatball pizza followed by a lush looking lemon meringue pie.  I would love to go back and try some other things on the menu, it all looked very nice.
Today will be spend clearing out the study in readiness for the surveyor and then a fitted home office.
I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

A week in make up

A new week meant I changed my make up. I am trying different combinations before buying any more products.

I moved back to my Nars blush in Orgasm, I have hit pan on this and I'm sure I will repurchase as some point. My bronzer was from K-co I have no idea where I purchased this,I think I got it from a clothes show/make up/model type exhibition. I like this bronzer as it's not glittery, not orange and does not look muddy on. Again I have hit pan on this, would I buy again? To be honest I am not sure, maybe but I want to check what else it out ther like this one.  I am back to using MAC mineralize skinfinish in Light Year as my highlighter, I love using this.

My foundation is still MAC but I'm now using up my bottle of Hyper Real in NW300 which is more drying than I remember, my skin did feel dry towards the end of the mornings, after day 1 I decided to spritz my face with the Body Shop vitamin E spray and that improved things but I am on the look out for a new foundation.  I decided to use the primer that came in my Glossy Box a while back. MONU first defence illuminating primer, I think this is very similar to MAC strobe cream.

I have kept my eye cream and concealer the same for the week along with my Naked 3 pallet.

I kept nail varnish off my nails for a week as I didn't want the nails to yellow and I decided to start the week with Get Your Number from OPI, another one from their liquid sand range.

The look is like stars in the night sky, flecks of glitter with a blue background. I love the liquid sand range as they are hard wearing but they are a devil to remove.

I'm looking forward to the new make up ranges being launched for spring. I see OPI bringing out some sheer varnishes, MAC have new pallets to rival Urban Decay and Stila have some fabulous products including metallic eyeliners coming out, I can't wait.

By the time this gets posted I will be on my way to watch Arsenal at home, although I'm fairly girly with my make up etc I still like going to a football match (especially if it's Arsenal) and joining in with the singing and banter you get at matches.

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend.