Be a Style Queen

The release of the Boots’ Christmas catalogue marks the official run up to Christmas. Each week during this run up to Christmas, Boots offers up one of its “star” gifts for half price. This weeks’ is pretty good and guaranteed to cause a stampede….

Frontcover Style Queen Reduced from £35 to £17

Frontcover Style Queen is a bumper beauty collection for eyes, lips and cheeks. It includes all the products, tools and techniques you’ll need to rock a new look and is great for party season.

The Frontcover Style Queen Colour Set includes:

• 6 lip glosses
• 7 dome baked powder eyeshadows
• 6 pressed powder eyeshadows
• 2 fine-line baked powder cheek domes
• Double ended mascara/sealer
• 2 iridescent pigments
• Shadowline
• 6 make-up brushes
• Mini lash curler
• Double pencil sharpener
• A mirror in the lid

All that for just £17! I can personally vouch for their eyeshadows – I picked up a bumper collection during last Christmas’ star gist. See the review here.

Offer ends Thursday 20 October 2011, whilst stocks last, which won’t be long!

LOOK Beauty Collection

Another new kid on the block! LOOK Magazine announced last week that they are launching their first beauty range. I think this is a brilliant idea and I’m surprised someone hasn’t beaten them to it. I picked up a few samples at the show last month and wanted to share my pics, and thoughts.

It’s a pretty comprehensive range with everything you’d expect – foundations, primers, blushers and more. For me the stand out product is the Double Hit Lip – lipstick at one end and gloss at the other. The shade I received is an orangey coral, which looks quite scary but is actually quite sheer.

The texture of the lipstick is nice, more like a balm and the lipgloss smells divine. These were used to achieve the very on trend bold pouts at the recent LOOK catwalk show (see the pics here). I’d be keen to try the red for a buildable crimson pout, with optional gloss finish.

As for the Statement Eyes shadows £4 each, again, not the best shades for me, but the textures are nice. Quite silky and satin-like.

 

I’d like to try their metallic shades – Lame and Luxe were used on the models in the show.

Other stand out products include the Ooomph Lashes mascara £7 and Holiday Glow highlighting Powder £8.

Available exclusively in Superdrug stores later this month. A donation from every product sold goes to cancer support charity Look Good… Feel Better.

Beauty Waitlist… VIVO Make up at Tesco

Tesco, is there anything they don’t sell? Ok I know they already do make up in the form of Barbara Daly, but I’m sorry it’s a bit dull and does anyone actually buy it? Their new and exclusive make up range VIVO  celebrates being “Alive with Colour” and looks set to rival other budget brands like MUA and Sleek, who give us great, on-trend products at affordable prices.

The VIVO range will start at a very affordable £1.50 offering the staples – foundation, mascara and lipgloss etc, as well as bronzer/highlighter duos, brow kits and false eye lashes.  There are also some gorgeous eye and cheek palettes containing domed and marble affect blushers and eyeshadows set to retail around £6!

To be honest I don’t think I need anymore distractions when I’m trying to do my weekly shop, I already spend half an hour in the magazine aisle and have to be dragged away from F&F and now, like a bee to honey  I’ll be drawn, actually sucked in, to the make up isle.

 

I might as well just transfer all my wages to Terry Tesco.

VIVO coming soon (End of September) to an oversized Tesco near you!

Something for the Weekend – M&S Beauty Sale

We get the emails, we see the posters – everywhere we go it’s SALE, SALE, SALE! Although it’s mainly fashion, there are beauty bargains to be had so don’t forget to look beyond the clothes rails. M&S for one are having a final summer clearance, instore and online, and there’s some delicious beauty bargains, like this eye palette for just £2!

And Nail Colours and lipglosses from £1.00!

There’s also lipsticks, blushers and eye shadows – selected colours only of course.

Be quick, things don’t hang around in marksies for very long do they. Check out the online beauty bargains.

REVIEW: Benefit Posietint

Judging by the depleted shelves at newsagents and supermarkets I’m guessing everyone and their dog got their mits on July’s much coveted edition of Glamour Magazine with its Benefit freebies. Here are my thoughts on Posietint…

First of, it’s small. Be warned, I knew it was a 4ml edition, but was still surprised by how small it is. A little does go a long way and this size it really handy for handbags and holidays. Here it is compared to a 35 ml perfume bottle…

Cheek stains don’t really feature in my make up collection. I love cream blushers and liquid highlighters, but I find cheek stains a little odd – they’re not a cream, not a powder and normally very sheer. I tried Benetint years ago, but found the consistency very running and wasn’t wowed by the rosie shade.

Posietint is a much lighter shade than its older sister Benetint. Straight from the jar it looks like a bright bubble-gum pink, but don’t be scared off, once applied it’s a suibtle petal pink.

The fluid has a thicker texture than Benetint, almost gel-like, and spreads easily over cheeks, simply dab on a few spots or small lines on on the cheeks, blend in quickly. It leaves a lovely glow on the cheeks, but it’s not dewy like a cream blush. For a more intense colour, allow to dry and apply another layer. It also works well with Benefit’s high beam, which can be dabbed on the cheek bones to further highlight the cheeks.

It’s advertised as a lip and cheek stain, but I’m not entertaining it on the lips – it’s too thin and runny. So, am I sold on cheek stains, not really, but this one deserves it’s place in my collection and is a welcome break from my usual routine and gives me a pretty, pink glow.

Coming Soon… MAC’s Surf Baby Collection

Calling all you beach babes, launching next month will be Mac’s limited edition Surf Baby collection.

“Grab the board, hop in the Jeep, cruise the Pacific Coast Highway… Surf’s up! The lure of the endless summer starts here with My Paradise Cheek Powder, Mini Blush Sticks, a Summer Stash of Crushed Metallic Pigments, Hibiscus Lipstick and Splashproof Lash Mascara that just won’t smudge. Colourful, lustrous, and full of life… journey to a world where feeling the rush means taking a risk. Hang Ten!”

Details are very hush, hush, but with hues of corals, pinks and peach, it’s the perfect addition to your summer make over. The packaging is bright and fun, but it does look a little cheap from the promo photots, but it’s what’s inside that counts. I’m chomping at the bit to get my hands on the mini blush sticks.

Surf’s up baby.

MAC Quite Cute Mineralize Blush – Giggly

Mac’s new Quite Cute collection, based around cute pastel shades, is just that, quite cute. I love this mineralize blush and the peaches and cream nail lacquers but some of the lipsticks are off the wall, lavender lips, will that ever catch on?

Mineralize ♥ Blush in Giggly

This new and limited edition duo-toned blusher launches in stores this week. It’s described as a “light pink with pearly plum heart”. The two colours compliament each other perfectly. The outer color is a darkened bubblegum pink with subtle blue undertones, while the heart itself is a frosted berry plum. When swirled together, the result is a heavily pinked plum with a soft, frosted sheen. As with all mineralize blushes, it’s qiute light, not cakey and leaves a dewy sheen on the cheeks.

I guarantee you will ♥ this!

As for the ranges other offerings. This peach blush entitled Miss Behave, I would have loved, if it wasn’t for its GREEN centre.

And the lipsticks are fun, but somewhat SCARY.

Overall it’s a CUTE collection. It’s bright, summery, Bold, but a bit too GAGA for me.

THIS WEEKS BUYS: MAC Wonder Woman Lipstick, Gloss and Blush

I already blogged about the the fab Limited Edition Opulash in Victorious. Now Mac’s Wonder Woman collection is undoubtedly the most coverted collection of the year, if not the decade, but I needed a new lipgloss like a hole in the head so I desperately tried to resist temptation. Unfortunately, I was ill last week and succum to the devil that is, late night internet shopping… and I’m glad I did.

Here’s what I got

Doesn’t it look pretty? I’m a sucker for cute packaging.

Wonder Woman Powder Blush in Mighty Aphrodite

The jewel in the crown of the collection. Undoubtedly heroic, this special powder blush is supersized and super fabulous. Duo blusher is part warm peach coral with gold pearl and part bright coral pink with gold pearl. It barely hit the door mat before I was slapping it on. The compact is gorgeous and unlike other mac blushers and compacts, comes complete with a mirror. It’s larger than the standard blushes and with two colours  it’s perfect to mix and blend for varying shades and intensities. The lighter shade is quite subtle, yet very pretty and warm looking. Gives a healthy, flushed glow. The darker pink shade is more pigmented – a little goes a long way. Mix and match to suit, great for contouring. I just love it!

Wonder Woman Lipstick in Marquise d’

I think I bought this lipstick for show,I blame the star. It’s a pale, neutral colour, MAC describe it as a sandy cream peach, but that doesn’t do it justice. Universally flattering it’s cute and very Spring. Soft, moistuising, long lasting and rocks in my handbag. A perfect compliment to the Mighty Aphrodite blush.

 

Wonder Woman Lipglass in Emancipation

 

 

Size counts with this limited-edition jumbo-sized Lipglass! With a heroine’s sense of bravado, this M∙A∙C favourite flaunts its superhero status over its frenemies, leaving them in the shade. Speaking of shade, it’s a soft pink but not too suitable, shows up lovely on the lips – making for a perfect wonder woman pout. As with all lipglasses it’s shiny, sticky and long lasting, unlike other lipglasses, it’s seriously fat, even the wand is huge.

 

Once you’ve had fat you’ll never go back!

MAC’s New Cremeblend Blush

I recenty blogged about the sad departure of my beloved Mac Blushcremes and how I hoped Mac would come back with something bigger and better, and soon! Fortunately I didn’t have to wait long.

Mac have just launched the similarly named cremeblend blush.With its creamy, easy to blend medium coverage formula, Mac claims that it imparts a natural finish that’s smooth, dewy-fresh and long-lasting. Now I loved its predecessor, but it was a quite sticky and some found it difficult to apply. This new incarnation is apparently lighter, creamier and easier to blend. Mac says it starts creamy, stays creamy and proves that powder is NOT your only prerogative. So far, so good.

Available in 6 shades, but don’t be fooled by the appearance of some old favourites, it’s Ladyblush and Posey, but not as we know them.

So Sweet, So Easy Bright yellow pink 

Something Special Light coral

Ladyblush Warm neutral coral (used to be demure cool pink)

Posey Warm peach (used to be a rosey pink)

Brit Wit Dusty rosey mauve

Tea Petal Mid-tone reddish brown

I can’t help but wonder if the lighter, creamier formula will be less longlasting? Either way I can’t wait to try them. In store on Thursday 3rd March 11, I’ll have to come back to you with my verdict.

REVIEW: Topshop Cream Blush in Hush

I’m seriously loving Topshop make up right now. Topshop has long been one of our favourite haunts, but it’s taken me a little while to take their new make up range seriously, that is until I tried their Cream Blush.

First of all, the packaging is super cute, a small polka dot compact with a mirror, but the product packs a punch too. It’s a cream to powder blusher, meaning it applies like a cream blush, but sets like a powder. But when I say “sets” it’s not cakey, or matte, it leaves a nice sheen on the cheeks, but doesn’t feel wet or sticky. I find it works best to use your fingers to dab on the cheeks, then blend with a normal blusher brush, like MAC’s 116.

It blends sooo smoothly and creates a radiant, natural glow. Hush I’d describe as a coral, pink. It looks super bright in the compact, but quite natural on the face, it can of course be layered for maximum impact. It’s pretty longlasting too, I took the compact out with me on a recent night out but didn’t need to reapply – be warned your friends might want to stick their fingers in it like mine.

Currently available in 6 shades. A snip at £6, here’s hoping they expand the colour range.