Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick Shade 08

I liked shade 5 sooo much (read the review here) that I bought another.

Shade 8 – I’m still really annoyed that they didn’t come up with sexier names like Mossy Mauve – is a muted pink. I went to a ball at the weekend sporting plum smoky eyes. I didn’t want to clash with bold lips so opted for this soft pink and it worked really well.

As with shade 5, it’s soft, moisturising and velvetty. It’s long lasting and smells gorgeous.

Shades 1,2,3,4,5,8,12

At £5.49 they represent really great value and are now available, 3 for 2, at both Boots and Superdrug stores in the UK.

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.

You need to know about… FashionistA Cosmetics

It’s hard to keep up with all the new make up brands hitting the high street. We’ve had Sleek, MUA, Accessorize, VIVO, the upcoming LOOK magazine cosmetics and the much anticipated, not to be missed FashionistA Range.

FashionistA cosmetics, launch in Superdrug at the end of September, include everything you’d expect from a good high street brand, and more. Their stand out products are the Custom Design Palettes, which are empty palettes that you can fill with a mixture of 4 eye shadows or blushers (Frontcover do something similar, which I love but theirs are limited to eyeshadows). With a huge 49 eye shadows and 12 blushers to choose from, you can really design a palette that suits you. Set to retail for £12 for the palette and 4 shadows/blushers.

And if that wasn’t enough, they also have the Magnetism nail polish range with The Saturdays coming out at the end of October.

Each Saturday has their own shade and will retail for a reasonable £6 for the polish and £3 for the magnet. Frankie’s is a silver shade, Mollie’s is a metallic pinky purple, Rochelle’s is a metallic red, Una’s is a metallic forest green and Vanessa’s is a sort of smoky metallic grey magnetic polish.

Garnier’s BB Cream arrives in the UK

Just a quick reminder ladies (and gentlemen) that Garnier’s BB Cream has hit the UK’s shelves.

If you’re a die hard beauty obbessive you’ll already know all about BB Cream – the wonder product from Asia that combines the benefits of skincare and make-up in just one step – if not I blogged a couple of months ago about the benefits of BB cream – read it here. 

Garnier’s BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector £9.99 in available in Superdrug stores now and Boots from next week.

Tried it yet?

Something for the Weekend… a £1 lipstick

Get on trend, celebrity approved lips (a la Jameela Jamil and Jenifer Hudson)  for just £1!

I’m all about the bargains. Yes, I do love my premium brands, but can’t resist a good buy and this is certainly a good one. Not only that, BOLD LIPS is one of the season’s hottest trends.

 In case you’re not familiar, Superdrug launched it’s MUA (Makeup Academy) range earlier this year, offering products at a credit crunch friendly £1! With everything from eyeshadows to blushers, their products are surprisingly good value and their colours are gorgeously bright.

I picked up one of their lipsticks in (the unimaginatively) named Shade 3. What it lacks in name, it makes up in the colour department. Hot lips were huge on the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks. Hot pink, neon pink, fushia pink –  any pink as long as it’s bright! I’m happy to report that “Shade 3” fits perfectly into that trend. It’s bright, longlasting and gorgeous. If I was to compare the colour to a Mac lipstick, it would fall somewhere between “Girl about town” and “Lickable” – a bright hot pink, verging towards a fushia.

Pictured here with the flash…

and without

It’s easy to apply, comfortable to wear and long lasting. They texture is very nice and not at all drying. The finish I’d describe as satiney. For £1, there’s got to be a downside??? Well, yes, but just a small one…. It stains – but hey, you don’t need to reapply it very often and it does wash off.

Oh my GOSH

Gosh have launched these limited edition nail varnishes for spring 2011 and they tick all the trend boxes – an über-bright pink, two pretty pastels and a matte grey, all with a different special edition lids. Gaw-Jus! Team with your best colour-block outfit and a popping bright pout to put an instant spring in your step! Exclusively in store at Superdrug, just £4.99!

Snap them up quick, they’ll sell out fast.

Ten Under a Tenner – Best Budget Beauty Buys

Proving that you don’t need a celebrity bank balance to look like one, I’ve tried and tested some of the best budget beauty buys and they’re all under a tenner!

Barry M Nail Paint, £2.99 each

Great quality, great price and available in a rainbow of colours it’s no wonder Barry M nail varnished have just won In Style’s Best Beauty Buy’s 2011 “best inexpensive nail varnishe” category. Available from Boots and Superdrug stores.

L’Oreal True Match Touche Magique £7.19

The minute I stopped comparing every under eye concealer to the wonder that is the YSL  touche eclat, I discovered lots of great alternatives. Cheaper versions are never going to be the same, they’re usually thicker, more pigmented, but that aint necessarily a bad thing! L’Oreal’s Touche Magique is great for dark bags and also packs enough punch for the odd blemish, and at £7.19 you can bag 3 for the price of 1 touche eclat.

Topshop Kohl Eye Pencils £4

Deep, intense colour in a gliding and soft pencil to give easy and precise application. Velvety finish and deep colour with just one stroke of this soft kohl pencil. Avilable in fantastic shades including Dragon Fly and Petrol.

No7 Limited Edition Spring Collection Lipstick £10

New to the No7 range for Spring/Summer 11. These soft moisturising lipsticks available in two shades – Brigitte a pale and pouty pink shade and Grace, a warm, peachy pale coral. You had me at the packaging. Catch them quick in Boots stores now!

Perfection Colour Intense Lip Lacquer M&S £7.50

Super shiny, highly pigmented gloss that glides on and stays put. Available in vivid shades: pink fizz, pink magenta, vamp, red nude, scarlet, orange fizz, wild plum, claret, pink parfait and jewel. Available online and in store.

Girls Aloud Party Lashes by Eylure £5.10

Since hitting the market in 2009, these falsies have gone down a storm. Five styles available, each designed by your favourite member of girls aloud. Featuring an easy application design, with a glue adhesive and a contact lens friendly design. I highly recommend Nadine’s bambi esque lashes! Available from good chemists and department stores.

Urban Decay Big FATTY Mascara Colour Collection Minis £9

It’s big, it’s fat, it should be illegal. Big Fatty Mascara creates the fullest, fattest lashes imaginable. Infused with hemp oil to moisturize & keep lashes soft, this thickening mascara takes lashes to a new realm. The creamy formula thickens, lengthens & glosses lashes. Step away from bog standard black and try out Purple Haze or Electric Blue…Just one try and you’ll be hooked. Available at Asos.com.

Models Own Powder Eyeshadows £5

Over 60, yes 60 colurs available in stylish matt, sexy shimmer and glam glitter for every look and mood. The colours are intense, rich and vibrant and you don’t need to use much to create fab looks and effects. Right now on Models Own website, buy 3 for £12. Also available at Boots and Superdrug stores.

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm £2.50

Available since 1937, this culy beauty buy has sold over 1 billion jars Worldwide, now available in Cherry flavour – yum yum! Perfect for soft, kissable lips. Never be caught without yours, I have on in my bag, one on my desk and one next to the bed. 3 for 2 now at Superdrug.

No7 Eye Shadow Blend and Contour Brush £6.60

I’m a big fan of No7 brushes, in my opinion they’re every inch as good as many expensive rivals. High quality, super soft bristles and large head area make this brush perfect for blending eye shadow along the lid area and beyound. A great go-to brush for everyday use. Also highly recommended in this range, the foundation brush, but at £12, doesn’t qualify in this category.