Beauty Crush – Olivia Palermo

Long since been one of my style crushes, she’s fast becoming a beauty crush too. It’s easy to get distracted by her enviable style, glossy hair and super long pins, but Ms Palermo’s got it going on in the make up stakes too!

Pictured here at the Green Auction in New York yesterday with lightly smoked eyes, rose coral lips and cheeks.

What’s more she rocks long hair, short hair, blonde or brunette, I don’t know whether to LOVE her or HATE her!

Brown eyes, mega lashes and pretty pink lips

Perfecting the Minimal Look

And the Bronzed Goddess

Jealous me? Hell yeah!

THIS BLOG HAS NOW MOVED, KEEP READING AT http://beautyandlechicblog.blogspot.com/

 

Ever Hip – the Perfect Coral Lipstick

“Buy it now, or regret it later” if ever there was an example of that, not buying Ever Hip would be it! This limited edition shade formed part of Mac’s Flower Flower collection earlier in the year. I tested it, liked it but decided I didn’t need it (like we ever really NEED a lipstick). Deciding to mull it over I walked away to think about it. I knew I should have bought it, but I let me conscience get the better of me. By the time I went back to buy it, it had sold out, after all it is a limited edition and we all know Mac Limited Editions don’t hang around long.

I could have kicked myself because I’d been wanting a “perfect” coral shade for the summer and this was it, I just didn’t know it until I couldn’t have it, and of course once I couldn’t have it I wanted it so much more.

I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say I searched high and low to track down one of these bad boys and finally I have it, and just in the nick of time. You see, I’m going on holiday this week and this was meant to be my holiday lipstick.

Ever Hip is a Cremesheen lipstick – meaning it’s soft, moisturising and creamy. It’s semi opaque to opaque with a sheen, not shine finish. I would say it as a nudey coral. For me it’s the perfect coral shade – not too orange, not too pink, not too bright, just right! And I know it will team perfectly with a tan.

I couldn’t compare it to any other shade, the closest comparison I could make would be Mac’s Costa Chic, although that’s much bolder and further up the orange scale.

It looks a little paler in the picture

As well as the tan, I’m also planning to team it with coral nails in the shape of Revlon’s Tropical Temptation. Ok, you might think it’s a bit tacky matching lips and nails, but hey, it’s holiday!

Tropical Nails

The good old British summer is shaping up to be another washout, but don’t let that put you off embracing all things bright and beautiful. Just a couple of months from now, the days will be short, the nights will be dark; skin will be paler, cold sores and chapped lips will come a calling and dare I say the C word…..Christmas will be looming.

 

With that in mind I’m trying to make the most of this so called summer before it’s too late…. so I decided to “pimp” my nails. Revlon’s Tropical Temptation SCREAMS summer! I have been searching for a perfect coral shade for ages, and whilst this might not quite be it, it’s still striking.

2 coats

It’s a beautiful orangey coral – with hints of bublegum pink – depending on the light. It’s really bright and very opaque. The finish is glossy, but not what I’d describe as “jelly”. Although it’s highly pigmented it did apply a little streaky. It took three coats to achieve an even coverage, but it was worth it! The colour is very striking and eye catching – and still going strong after 5 days.

3 coats

Picture with flash is probably the best representation of the colour

With flash

 

Right now save £2 at Boots – Normally £6.29, currently £4.29

Something for the weekend: Jemma Kidd Coral Lipgloss

I blogged earlier in the week about all the fab mag freebies on offer this month. I hadn’t intended to purchase this one, I tried to abstain (honest), but my addiction got the better of me and I couldn’t resist the free Jemma Kidd lipgloss with Red MaGAZINE. I had a good excuse though, I’m planning on hitting the town at the weekend in a coral dress, and wanted a lipgloss to match.

It’s my first Jemma Kidd lipgloss and I’m happy to report I’m very impressed. The colour is a PERFECT match to the dress. A true coral, not too red, not too pink.

The texture is very nice too. A little balmy, but not too sticky and not at all glupey or tacky. Glides on like a dream and smells great too. My only criticism, it’s a bit too transparent, I’d have preferred more pigmentation. This one will need teaming with a lipstick if you want maximum impact. Here’s how it looks on the lips…

Hey, for £3.80 including the magazine, I ain’t complaining.

Life’s a Peach

I love PEACH, three words I never expected to say. For most of my life I’ve hated peach, dismissing it as dull, boring, safe, simply BLAH! I can trace this hatred back to my childhood when everything was peach coloured… clothes, curtains, bridesmaid dresses, loo roll!

However, this all changed recently with the launch of Mac’s Wonder Woman Collection. I bought, well nearly the whole collection, but my favourite product by a clear country mile was the Power Blush in Mighty Aphrodite – we have been inseparable for months now. It’s a warm peach coral blush with a slight gold pearl, but isn’t glittery. The shade really suits me and it’s a welcome break from pink. I find the colour adds a perfect glow and accentuates my colouring.

I’ve now gone crazy for peaches, corals and beige. Here’s my pick of the (peach) pops.

When I can bear to drag myself away from my mighty Aphrodite and fancy a cream blush, Mac’s new cremeblend in Something Special – a light coral shade, also does the job, but isn’t as kick ass as my Mighty Aphrodite blush. See my previous post for a full review. TOP  TIP – It’s much better layered over a highlighter or cream base.

For lips I heart Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipgloss  in Peach Petal £6.99. My love affair with lipglosses goes way back, and these silky smooth glosses are up there with the best. It’s a perfect milky creamy gloss. The gorgeous texture, glides on and isn’t too sticky.

Mac Cremesheen lipstick in Shy Girl, a creamy, neutral, coral-beige.  As it’s a creamsheen it’s soft, moisturising and slightly sheer. It’s a lovely day time colour and layers perfectly under the Revlon gloss.

With summer just starting I think my love affair with peach has only just begun. Someone stop me if I start looking like a peach melba.

Coming soon: 17 Miami Pop Summer Collection

When it comes to the weather I’m typically British. The first sign of some sun and I’m digging out the flip flops, searching for summer dresses and getting excited over summery make up.  With summer just around the corner, I’m getting hot under the collar about upcoming collections. I’ve already blogged about Mac’s surf baby, next on my lust list is 17’s uber cool Miami Pop collection.

Inspired by Miami’s Ocean Drive, this is all about bronzed skin and a pop of bright colour.

Bright, tropical, summery and aptly named Miami Pop, the new upcoming limited edition summer range from 17 mixes neon metallic bronze tones with on trend brights and vivid neons.

The range includes vinyl nail polishes, a volumising mascara which promises to give you thick ‘wow’ lashes and a weightless ‘skin adapting’ SPF15 foundation, but for me, the jewel in the crown is the Miami Pop Bronzer, a gold, baked bronzer with a marbled shimmer.

It’s fun, it’s bright, it just screams summer. Available at Boots from 17^th June 11 £2.99-£6.49

Review: Mac Cremeblend Something Special?

I blogged about the sad departure of my beloved Mac Bluchcremes, which were swiftly replaced by the similarly named Cremeblend blushes. When the Cremeblends launched I rushed out to buy them, but it wasn’t love at first sight. Now that I’m finally getting around to road testing them for real, here’s what I think.

Blushcremes Vs Cremeblends

Other than the name the two are nothing alike. There are two very significant differences – the colours and the textures. In general the shade range is quite neutral. The colours enhance the natural tones of skin rather than adding significant color.

Available in 6 shades

• Brit Wit Dusty rosy mauve
• Ladyblush Warm neutral coral
• Posey Warm peach
• So Sweet, So Easy Bright yellow pink
• Something Special Light coral
• Tea Petal Mid-tone reddish brown

 

The formula is also very different, less wet and tacky than Blushcremes, they’re very creamy and quite light weight. Blushcremes were thick and slightly sticky, but once applied very impactive, shiny and long lasting. Cremeblends are less thick; they’re more lightweight, creamy and powdery than their predecessor. Easy to apply with fingers or brush, I use a mac duo fibre 187, and easy to blend. The results are less impactive.

Something Special?

My favourite shade is Something Special, a light coral/peach colour.

Great for the summer and excellent teamed with a peach lip. It’s lightly pigmented but bailable. The finish is soft and natural, there’s a slight sheen, but it’s not glossy or shiny.

Here’s how it looks on the face…

 

It adds a nice flush of colour – summery and bronzed. TOP TIP – if you want more of a sheen apply a base of Mac cream colour base first (I use Hush) or a sweep of liquid highlighter like strobe cream. I wouldn’t say it’s cream to powder, but once applied to the face, you don’t feel like you’re wearing a cream.

Verdict?

A nice product that I will wear, but not as long lasting or dewy looking as many cream blushers. It’s pretty and natural looking, but doesn’t have the WOW factor.

Available in store and online now £17.