Dark Circles...Can't live with em!...CAN live without them!

Ive been searching for the best under-eye concealer FOR YEARS!  Ive tried them all, from the highlighter-type ones including Touch Eclat and other, more cheaper versions to the ones that simply 'cover' as opposed to reflect.

From my experience and usage so far, I have to say that for me (and I have circles, not bags) the ones which cover and camouflague are the best.  I was advised by an Illamasqua make-up artist to actually use one that covers and then one that highlights/reflects.  This did work, but if you're watching your pennies, it may not be the best option.

So, Im writing this entry today, because in the last week, I think I may have found THE best dark circle concealer I have used so far!  Where is it from?  It's from a brand which Ive been using since my early teens; the wonderful MAC!  The Select Cover-Up in said to be 'liquid camouflage for the skin.'  When I was chatting to Heidi the artist about it, I made it clear that it had to fulfil two factors: One, cover my dark circles and two, not dry my already dry skin out!  I have to say that it scores full marks on both points.  There's a beautiful, creamy consistency to it and you really do not need to use very much.  The price of £12.50 in my eyes (pardon the pun!) is well worth it!

I will also add that I think for concealers and foundations, it's so very important to seek advice from one of the artists in store.  As far as MAC shades go, I am an NC shade for my face (cool) and an NW shade for my concealer (warm)  This I was told, is because our circles are often shades of blue/purple which are cool and therefore need to be neutralised by the warm (NW) type shades.  See, you learn something new every day!

Have a good weekend popsicles. 

Belle x

The Runaways

Watched a really fab movie last week, The Runaways.  It's about Cherie Currie and Joan Jett of The Runaways.  Both Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning were AMAZING!!!

...But it's not out in the UK yet, I hear you cry... No, it isn't isn't it? ;) 

The web is a weird and wonderful thing fizzy pops.

Sebastian Horsley - A tribute to my friend

Last month I was at work, doing my thing when a friend emailed me saying "Have you heard the news?"  My answer was no, but a few minutes later, I knew exactly what she was talking about.  My friend, the artist and self-confessed dandy Sebastian Horsley had died, from what I understand was an accidental overdose.  I was and still am, devastated.  I wont go into how we met, but Ive put below, a comment, albeit a rather long one, that I wrote on the website of one of Britain's broadsheets.

I am so upset after hearing the news. I was lucky enough to know Sebastian for the last two years and told him on a number of occasions how proud and happy I was to have a character such as himself in my life.

He made such a difference to how I saw things and the world itself; seeing it in his often amusingly distorted way (which often contained much truth I believe) He was so kind, witty, funny and of course had a fabulous sense of style. I love the fact that I turned him onto Barry M nail varnish; it was so funny seeing him wearing the red glittery stuff on This Morning!

I remember when he had a chat with my mum on the phone after she'd read his book and wanted to say hello to him. He was so sweet and sincere to her and even that phonecall which lasted a matter of minutes gave her such a buzz.

I have just been looking through my emails from Sebastian and Im glad that Ive kept every one of them.

I cant believe you have gone Sebastian. I will never forget you and Im so proud to have had you in my life xxx

If you haven't heard of him, check out the below:

His book - Dandy In The Underworld

His occasional blog (Ive posted the link to my favourite entry) - http://sebastianhorsley.typepad.com/sebastian_horsley/2008/09/fuck-the-aged.html

Make Up Store - more fabulous products!

My new make up crush is the aptly named Make Up Store!  Having recently opened in London, I couldn't contain my excitement when I walked past (and then into) the wonderful treasure of a store!

My favourite parts of my face that I just love to 'make up' are my eyes and lips.  Today, Im going to talk about some of their eye products.

Micro Shadow

These products are said to give you the colour that you see, they are highly pigmented and give a long-lasting result.  Well they sure do!  After a long day at work the colours are pretty much as intense as they were at 8am!  There are so many shades to choose from too.  Pictured here is Pharao, a kind of yellow-gold shade which I have, it's beautiful and extremely wearable.

Eye Dust

As a comparison, if any of you are familiar with the Barry M Dazzle Dust, these pots are pretty similar.  However, they do last longer.  Like the eyeshadows (or infact all the products in Make Up Store's range!) there are tons of shades, I mean loads!  So in short, they are loose eyeshadows that can be used in many ways; alone to get a sparkly effect or with a wet brush or on top of a eyeshadow, for a more intense colour.  These are fab!

High Tech Lighter

This is a multi-functional product.  It can be used as a highlighter, lipstick, eyeshadow or blush.  It can also be used as a primer for eyeshadow.  It comes in many shades (Comet is pictured above) and it has a lovely, creamy consistency.  These are brilliant products for making a look a bit more funky!

As far as price goes, Make Up Store are pretty much the same as other premium brands out there; the MAC's of the world which I think is great, and most importantly, they do what they say!  If you haven't already, do give this brand a try!

http://www.makeupstore.se/gten/home.php

Ok, this is THE best moisturiser I have EVER used, EVER!!

I say this time and time again.  I am ALWAYS on the search for new products, I love to find and try new things, and I get quite excited when I can see the results (good ones that is!)

So here it is, the best moisturiser I have ever used.  It ticks all the boxes, yes, all of them.  What is it's name?  Well, it has two!

Bamboo Leaf Ultra Soothing Anti-Redness Cream.

Bamboo Leaf Anti-Redness Intensive Night Cream.

These two WONDERPRODUCTS are from the Grassroots Research Labs line, a company owned by Estee Lauder.  As you would expect, the night cream is the richer of the two, yet both give my skin perfect moisturisation.  The bamboo creams of this line are said to 'visibly relieve stressed skin and instantly help calm irritation, redness, dryness and discomfort, while rebuilding the skin's natural defense mechanism.'  For my skin, this is a dream come true.  I do suffer with redness, dryness and irritability and after using for the last 6 weeks, I can say this has worked more than anything Ive ever used; I could actually even see/feel the results after using for a couple of days!  These creams are also free of Parabens which ticks the extra box!

Now like they say, you can't always have everything, and this my friends is no exception.  At the moment, it is only possible to purchase this from within the US, you cannot even get it over here online.  BUT, there's often a way.  Take a trip over there, rack your brains on anyone you know who lives there who could purchase it for you and send it over!  I really do hope that they introduce it over here in the UK, everyone would love it and it would certainly be on my gift list, both to and from people!

http://www.grassrootsresearchlabs.com/

My love affair with Shu Uemura!

As you'll be able to see from some of my entries, Ive recently been trying products from Shu Uemura's range.  So far, Ive been very impressed.  I want to reiterate how amazing I believe their UV Underbase is - it certainly does the trick and smells good enough to eat!!

So, today Im going to be talking about the Hard Formula Brow Pencil and Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation.

Hard Formula Brow Pencil - This is the most unique brown pencil I have ever used or seen!  Why?  Well although the pencil can be sharpened with a regular sharpener, it's recommended that you go instore and have it sharpened using a kind of pen-knife into a broad, flat shape.  This is done for the lifetime of the product as a complementary service at any Shu Uemura counter.  I have found that this different approach to shaping the pencil has a huge benefit for the way in which my brows look compared to other pencils I have used.  The website states that the pencil only releases colour pigment when it interacts with the oils in the brown hairs giving natural and defined brows.  It is definitely true that they look much more natural and that 'harshness' which is all to easy to get when enhancing your brows has been completely removed.  I give this product a well deserved 10 out of 10.


Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation - The problem Ive had in the past with foundations is that they don't moisturise my dry skin enough, they cause spots and don't last through the day or night!  This product says that it gives coverage, yet allows skin to look flawless.  It is also said to give skin a fresh and natural look, be semi-matt and give a hydrating sensation.  Does it pass the test?

Well, Ive been using it for about a month now, and apart from the usual once per month breakout I seem to get around one side of my chin (one of the many perils of being a girl!)  my skin has been crystal.  It both feels and looks smooth and fresh and I can easily go out after work without having to re-apply.  It also smells divine too; a bit of a common theme with this brand!  I will gladly give this product a 9 out of 10.  It misses out on the 10 mark, purely because it isn't the cheapest of products at approx £28.  Not that cheap is good, because it often isn't and I usually tend to spend approx £20 on foundations anyway, but at near the £28 mark and considering the amount of money I spend on make-up, I have to have some restrictions, if only a few!  I suppose out of all the make-up products a person uses, the foundation could be the most important, as it gets abosorbed by pretty much, your whole face!  It therefore makes sense to spend a bit more on your foundation.  Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation, would be a good choice to make!

http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/

Make Up Store - AMAZING nail polish

You'll see from a previous entry that I recently discovered the fantastic Make Up Store.  At the launch party, I was given some fab products to try, so today I will be reviewing their nail polishes.

Elin, is a fabulously fluro orange-pink, perfect for summery toes!  For me, the most important factors when purchasing nail polishes are:

- the colour in the bottle IS the colour that ends up on your nails! 

Isn't it annoying when you purchase what appears to be a rich, vibrant colour, to then apply it and find it's thin, watery and a lesser version than what the bottle in-store/online suggested?

- it doesn't take ages to dry. 

They say it can take a good few hours for polishes to dry fully, but once they are touch dry, you can usually get on with whatever it is you are doing.  This is important in this ever-increasing pace of life that some people impact on themselves.

- it doesn't chip easily.

Some polishes are better than others at this (for me, Barry M, OPI are great, Chanel isn't)  Of course they will chip, and it can sometimes depend on if you have used a base/topcoat, and what job you do (!) but in general you want them to last a day or two before chipping/peeling!

- the brush glides on well and is of a decent quality.

Such an important point when it comes to applying and getting an even coverage.

So, how did the Make Up Store's nail polish fare? 

Top marks on all of the above points!  The colour is exactly as I expected, it dries in good time, easy to apply brush and is durable; my nails did not chip for a couple of days (and I spend much of my time typing!)  I want to also add that I've used their polishes on both my toes and fingernails and they have lasted very well so far!

If you havent paid a visit to a Make Up Store yet, put it on your 'To Do' list; you won't be disappointed!!

http://www.makeupstore.se/gben/home.php

Shu Uemura

I've been using Shu Uemura eyelash curlers for the last couple of years and they are amazing; I certainly agree with the fabulous reviews that the top beauty & fashion magazines give them!  The last few times I've been past their counter, I've noticed that their extended line of cosmetics is ever increasing, and so today, up for trial are their Ultimate Expression Mascara, Liquid Eyeliner, UV Under Base and Red: Juvenus Vitalizing Line Reducing Eye Essence....Phew!

Ultimate Expression Mascara

Now you probably know if you read this blog that I LOVE mascaras and am always on the lookout for a better one!  This one promises extreme volume, dramatic length and a beautiful curl.  Does it do this?  In short, YES.  I would like the formula to make my eyelashes a bit thicker (in the way that Diorshow does) BUT it does lengthen, curl and volumise (to an extent) so what more do I want?!  Upon feeling my lashes (I am wearing two coats) they feel a touch dry, but no more than the average mascara makes them.  They aren't crumbly, flakey and they are very jet black and they still look great at the end of my working day!  Id give this mascara a 7 out of 10.

                                 Liquid Eyeliner

All I can say about this is WOW!  I discovered liquid eyeliner pens a couple of years ago as I was desperate for the cat's eye effect, but was having no luck with the standard liquid eyeliner pots (think Rimmel, Mac)  I invested in the Shiseido one after reading in a magazine that it was the preferred one used by make-up artists on the gorgeous Angelina Jolie....and well, if it's good enough for Ange...  If I am to compare this to the Shu Uemura one, the latter wins.  I cant put my finger on why, but the pen glides on so smoothly and the effect is amazing...for me, it's Shiseido 8 out of 10, Shu Uemura, a 9!

UV Under Base

I've never been one for using bases, as I just see it a another expense, and there are already enough aren't there?!  A good friend and fellow make-up addict of mine is really into using bases/primers and she swears by the difference they can make to your look. 

So, here we have the UV Under Base by Shu Uemura.  Now I have dabbled in primers/bases over the years (make-up artists would give me small samples of them sometimes when I purchased foundations) so I do understand how they work, important elements being covering/minimising pores, evening out skintone and simply creating a flawless bass upon which to apply foundation.  This base, is fabulous!  It is in the format of a foam and only one pump is needed.  It absorbs and dries quickly and smells pretty good too.  My foundation definitely lasts longer when I wear it and I don't get the flakiness towards the end of the day like I often do when I haven't used a base.  Need another plus?  It contains SPF 10.....Winner!  This gets a HUGE 10 out of 10!

Red: Juvenus Vitalizing Line Reducing Eye Essence

There are many eye creams available and a variety of price ranges span across them.  It's always important that it doesnt sting or give the delicate eye area any pain!  I say this because a while back I purchased one from YSL, specific to dark circles, and it really really hurt!...of course I binned it!....looking back, I probably should have taken it back instore as it was pretty pricey...but anyway...  This one is meant to target fine lines and dark circles and make skin feel more supple.  I've been using this for about six weeks now and my dark circles are certainly reduced; their appearance is better, less noticeable.  Are the fine lines any finer?!...not really.  Maybe this is because I don't have any really noticeable lines around my eyes (well not yet!) and I am using another line-filler at the moment too (to be blogged about in the coming weeks)  We must remember that we shouldnt expect miracles from these creams, beauty companies don't create miracles (yet!) BUT my dark circles are reduced and the area around my eyes does feel more supple and moisturised.  I'll give this cream a good 6.5 out of 10.

Im pretty impressed so far with the products from Shu Uemura; keep reading for more product reviews!

http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/

Make Up Store has landed!!!

Well.  I was strolling down Carnaby Street in London a few weeks ago, and like a magpie to glitter, as soon as I caught sight of the Make Up Store, I legged it over there!  Wow, a beautiful boutique of colours, make-up varieties, glitter, pigments, tools, body creams....Oh my!

I had a chat with one of the artists and she explained about the different products that they sell, informed me about the pigments (a big thing if you like your colours to be bold and last) and I was also given a beautifully put together Make Up Store magazine, which is full of features, step-by-step guides to various techniques and a full worldwide pricelist.  I was pretty impressed and bought myself a lovely lipstick and lip pencil (in Prairie and My Precious Coral, if you're wondering!)

The store officially launches this week and they are having various nights targeted at customers, media and make-up artists.  I popped by last night, where I received a 12 month discount card which entitles me to 20% off products from the store (see cards T&C's)  There were also canapes and glasses of wine on offer along with many of the company's artists to advise you on finding those perfect products to beautify yourself.

I was lucky enough to be able to get in touch with one of the guys from their head office a couple of weeks ago, and so last night, he very kindly gave me a 'wonderbag' of products from their current Fifties range (see above) to try!  Keep your eyes peeled for my reviews.

From what Ive seen/tried so far, the products work like a treat and their costs are on par as other premium brands such as Mac and Illamasqua.

Check it out!
www.makeupstore.se/gten/home.php

Living Nature - 100% natural skincare

If you've read any of my other entries, you'll see Ive been getting into the whole Paraben-free lark.  More and more, Im taking notice of what exactly is in the beauty products that I use, and Im finding that in many cases, they are not all that beautiful!

A friend of mine who works in the skincare industry told me about this brand called Living Nature, she calls this her skin saviour.  Enough said, I had to try the products for myself!

I have pretty dry skin, and of course around the eyes, where the skin is thinner, is always an area that I think we should all pay attention to!  The products I tried for this was their Extra Hydrating Toning Gel and the Firming Flax Serum.  Both products, although different, are meant to nourish and hydrate dry skin; did they work?  Yes, and I have to add that the Firming Flax Serum is AMAZING!  I have never used anything that feels so beautiful and smooth on the delicate eye area.  Could I see a difference after using it?  Yes.  Could I feel a difference after using it?  Hell yes!

I also tried the Nourishing Night Cream which like the Flax Serum, is so creamy and velvety; it too, works like a treat!  I dont want to overlook the Extra Hydrating Toning Gel, as this works well too, but for my skin, the other two mentioned ones were the best.

Yes, their products do cost more than some other well-known brands, but they also cost less than other ones AND contain much better ingredients for you.  Many stores stock the brand, and it's also possible to purchase online from their website.  Id definitely recommend this brand to anyone!

http://www.livingnature.com/

Biotherm Homme – proper skin care stuff for the modern day geeza.

No, I havent had a sex change...  Today's entry is brought to you by a member of the male species, my significant 'other'....Enjoy!

I’m not one for all that ‘metro’ male lifestyle business.  In my opinion, that’s for guys with too much time on their hands and have their priorities all mixed up.  These views have been challenged somewhat of late following my acquaintance with the male skin care brand, Biotherm Homme.  It was the Mrs - who you can probably see from this blog knows a thing or two about beauty products and what it takes to look after yourself, who bought me a collection of these products as a special treat.  I promised her I would write about my experience so here you go, promise kept!


Cleansing Gel

I’m someone whose skin produces enough grease to run a fish and chip shop.  I’ve always been told this will help me to age well, albeit with the occasional unwanted spot.

After just a few days of using the cleansing gel, I noticed an immediate reduction in grease.  My skin also feels really smooth.  With results so immediate, I wondered whether the rest of the products would be as good???

Aquafitness – Shower Gel

This is without doubt the best shower gel I have ever used!  I never thought I would feel so strongly about a shower gel but I suppose after years of using the cheaper mass market brands, Ive never known any better. Yes, it makes you feel clean but Id be worried if any shower gel didn’t result in a clean body.  What makes this gel so good is the smell.  I can only describe it as modern day masculinity.  Masculine smells often get mixed up with your dad’s old Brut aftershaves – this is nothing like that.  There’s nothing ‘girly’ about the smell either.  Its fresh, lathers up well (if that floats your boat) and smells fantastic.  This will be on all future birthday lists!

High Recharge Yeux

The Mrs probably knew that as soon as I opened this, I would say this wouldn’t work and was simply a gimmick – she wasn’t wrong!  But like all things in life, I'm willing to give it go…

Described as an anti-fatigue cold eye serum, its supposed to give the eye’s an instant recharge as well as help to reduce the appearance of dark circles – great for those early mornings after a night out on the tiles.  The description is pretty accurate.  It does give you a pretty instant boost – a bit like splashing your face with cold water, minus the water.  It's hard to admit but I quite like it because it does work!  The only slight drawback is that the ball doesn’t always roll perfectly over the skin and the ‘wake-up’ feeling it gives you doesn’t last long enough.

Aquapower – Absolute Gel

It's basically a moisturiser.  It was only a 50 ml size tube, but you don’t really need that much.  It smells quite fresh and has that same masculine smell which ive come to recognise as distinctly unique to the Biotherm brand. Result: Another thumbs up!

So how would I describe the Biotherm Homme brand to my other like minded blokes?  Proper skin care stuff for the modern day geeza.

http://www.biotherm.co.uk/

http://www.biotherm.co.uk/_en/_gb/men/index.aspx

Marvelous Mineral Mascara by Kiehl's - is it really marvelous?

There's a lot of press about mineral make-up products, and since their launch in the 70's, many brands worldwide have cottoned onto this.  In short, they are products made of all natural, finely ground minerals from the earth, without any of the chemicals, dyes and preservatives found in traditional make up.  Does any of this really equal 'better'?  As with anything, there are always both sides, so really the best way is to try it for yourself!

Kiehl's is one of my new favourite brands so when I came across their Marvelous Mineral Mascara it needed to be tried!  I simply love mascara, the darker the better!!  Ive never had to worry about the length or thickness of my lashes as they are pretty good, of course with the aid of a good mascara!...but hearing that this one doesnt contain any Parabens or fragrances, means it is certainly worthy of a try.  As well as the formula in a mascara, the brush is very very important.  So many times have I tried mascaras which have terribly limp brushes and even if their formula is any good, it certainly gets overlooked because if the brush is no good, then even the best formula wont apply well.

It is important to note that this mascara has been both opthamalogist and allergy tested, which is a major plus for me, since I often get sore and watery eyes from mascaras which are too fragranced.  The brand also doesnt test on animals, which is an even bigger plus.

 

So, the verdict:

Does it apply well?  Yes. 

Does it make your lashes look all glossy and dark?  Yes.

Does it last the day, without going all flakey?  This mascara does flake a bit, but no more than some others which Ive used.

Does it clump? After using the mascara a few times, it does seem to get a bit clumpy/gooey so you may need to use a tissue to wipe some excess off the brush, but apart from that, it's fab!

How does the brush contribute to application?  As Ive mentioned above, the brush is so important in a mascara.  You wont be disappointed with this brush, it is spectacularly designed and easily glides onto your lashes.

Does the Acacia Senegal make a difference?  From what Ive read on this, in cosmetics, it acts as a conditioning agent.  I must say that my lashes do feel quite soft when using this mascara, so I will see if in the long term, they become 'more conditioned'?  I cant say that the conditioning of my lashes is anything Ive ever really thought about, but if after using this mascara for a while they strength and dare I say it, thickness and length improves, then I certainly wont complain!

See below for some Kiehl's links which contain information and even a video on application.

So is this Marvelous Mineral Mascara by Kiehl's really that marvellous?....I think it is!

http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/face/whatsnew/marvelous-mineral-mascara.htm

http://www.kiehls.co.uk/index.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=brand&utm_content=brand&utm_campaign=brand&gclid=CP7V98Tm3aACFcUB4wodv2F4BQ