I got C-3PO nails!

I have wanted to get Minx nails for years. I remember reading about it in magazines and thinking "I am definitely going to try that one day". Well "one day" came last Monday and here's what they looked like.

Tasteful? No. Fun? Yes.

Minx is not nail polish. And it's not a gel. It's what the manufacturers describe as a "protective coating" for the nail. In other words it's a sticker - just like the ones that you can buy in the likes of Sephora and New Look. They are hundreds of designs to chose from - I went for one of the "safest".

I got it applied in a salon. I didn't really know what to expect but it's the same standard process - preparation of the nail, cuticle work etc - up until the application process. Here it's a combination of a little bit of heat and some careful shaping of the sticker to ensure that it fits the nail bed as much as possible.

It took about 45 minutes to get them applied and there's no waiting around for them to dry. It's straight out the door and into the sun where the reflective nails proceed to blind pedestrians/drivers. They are seriously striking - as someone said on Instagram, they are right "bobby dazzlers".

It was love on day one. I was excited to finally have truly metallic nails - nail polish just doesn't deliver in the way that Minx does. I actually got stopped by a woman who asked me what I had on my nails. Whether she was mesmerized by the tacky or just genuinely interested I will never know but still, that hasn't happened before!

However, less than a week after I had them done, I had to peel them off myself. The Minx site talks about the product lasting 14 days on fingernails and 4-6 weeks on toes. I am just not sure about that. They got ropey pretty fast.

I don't know how I feel about this. I did know that they wouldn't last in the same way that gel nails do, it's more of a "lifestyle" nail product - and one that changes to reflect your look of the day/week. I also knew that the sticker itself is susceptible to water and oil exposure so if you want them to last for days and days you have to effectively avoid washing your hands - in fact I was told to do this.

I did try and protect them as best as I could but yes, I did continue to wash my hands (seriously, I can't NOT do this) and so by day 5 the peeling at the tips was too pronounced to ignore. Luckily they came off easily and no damage was caused - they really are a protective coating as the marketing would have us believe.

So after my little experience I would have to conclude the following:

a) Minx looks amazing and unique - it will amaze women and baffle men.
b) It's fantastic for a special event or weekend - ie, something less than 3 days because after that they may/will start peeling.
c) The longevity no doubt hangs on a combination of how you treat your nails and the experience of your technician. I am not going to blame mine as the average length of time it lasts seems to be in-line with my experience. I did read of some people getting a UV top coat applied after application...that sounds sensible.
d) If I wanted to dabble in this again I wouldn't pay for the manicure - I would just go to eBay and buy direct from the many sellers. For £11 you get your own set and after that you just need scissors, a lamp and some serious patience.
e) I would love to get this applied to toes for the summer - I think that would look amazing.

Have you ever tried Minx? What do you think about the whole nail sticker trend?

PS. On my nails right now is good old fashioned nail polish - OPI Vodka and Caviar :) 

The Chanel Base Coat

It's at this point I confess that I have never been one for a nail base coat.

Even when I wear the dragon blood colour polish that threatens to stain my nails for weeks, I still neglect to layer down a foundation coat. This is part-lazy blended with part-cheapskate. Why spend the extra £5+ for something that will never be seen and looks like nothing when applied? Yes, that's my superficial self's rationale and why I have avoided buying CND Sticky Base, Butter London's Foundation etc...

Well times have changed!

Without wishing to sound too high maintenance I highly recommend investing some cash in a nail base coat. Ugh, that does sound high maintenance doesn't it? But let me continue...

The difference experienced since using this Chanel base? IMMENSE.

It's not that polish goes on smoother. It's not that it protects against staining. It's not even that it lasts a couple of days longer than usual (i.e., two days).

It's that even the streakiest and bitchiest of polishes - Essie, I am talking to you - appear more opaque and require less work. The likes of Minimalistic look good with just two of the lightest coats. They apply evenly and look great.

To be honest, it's a bit of a breakthrough as it makes my crappy nail polish application technique look almost passable. This has been the reason why I haven't rushed back to Gelish. I haven't ruled out the 2 week manicure forever but for now it's fun playing around with polish again.

Speaking of which meet my acquisitions all lined up: Essie's Van D'Go - a rich peach/pink - is a happy repurchase and To Buy Or Not To Buy - the most interesting blue/lilac/grey colour I have ever worn.



Happy days :)

Any new polish recommendations for me? I am currently in the market for an eBay binge x

New in: MUFE

It's on again. That search for the flawless face and the slap that can help me get there.

I maintain that if you get the basics of brows and skin right, you don't even need anything else and ever since I first tried Studio Fix Fluid, where I saw how much better I looked and felt with a mask of base makeup, I have been obsessed with foundations.

Now of course my tastes have changed and I want a light, natural finish which still manages to hide away anything less than perfect. And preferably a product that doesn't stink.

The latest trial is Make Up For Ever's Mat Velvet +.  Every time I spot this I think "Tiffany D!" and seeing as her make up is always perfect it was about time I gave it a whirl. I was matched to the shade 35 and used it for the first time today.

The way it applied and set was a bit of a shock. In the best possible way.

I thought t would be quite thick and dry with a flat, matte finish. It's nothing like that. It's a gel consistency and looks natural - not shiny, not matte. Just skin. I think this is going to be good!  

Next - the concealer

Make Up For Ever Full Cover. Oh how I love thee!

I first bought a tube of this in San Francisco, probably 4 years ago. It's great coverage without looking cakey and a small 15ml tube will last me at least a year. No joke. It's quite rich so a little goes a long way and all that jazz but to cover redness, zits, and tired under eyes, this is what you need.

Finally - the eye brow kit

So after I had the HD brow treatment last August I realised what I needed to do to create a nice brow shape. I am one of those people who need to get artistic and draw in the sparse spots and I have been toying with a few different products to try and create a natural look.

This is pretty tricky. Try something too dark and it's "Sharpie brows". And don't even get me started with all those red-based brown brow products that have haunted my years of experimentation!?! *Angry face*

I read about the Make Up For Ever "Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector" a few months ago and got round to buying it last night.

It comes in a few colours (I spotted about 5) and is a rich cream consistency packaged much like MAC's old Select concealer.

I got the kit which comes with two little brushes as well as the product itself (number 3). And so far? It's fantastic.

It has stayed put through hours of cleaning (glam as ever) and walking outside in the heat.

Okay so application is a bit of a pain in the arse. Cream product + brush requires an investment of time and a hideously unflattering magnifying mirror if you want to get it right. I opted to use the fine eyeliner-like brush that comes in the kit and created little hair-like strokes with a teeny amount of product. It took about 5 minutes and during the working week this is likely to become something I resent.

However, I do think it's worth it in terms of end result. I instagram'd a picture earlier to give you an idea of the shape I attempt to create!

And that's all for now...

I am quite excited about all of these products. It's lovely to get all the basics sorted and feel confident with the output. I will keep you updated if anything changes but so far, very good! And I have to give a shout out to the staff at Sephora in Mall of the Emirates. They were only minor-stalkerish with their approach to customer service and this can be forgiven because they were very friendly and gave me lots of samples :)

Have you tried any of these products? 

And seeing as I am on a Make Up For Ever roll, what else would you recommend?

The lipstick that is as dull as dishwater.

Now there are some lipsticks that get makeup addicts very excited. For example, the likes of MAC Impassioned and Show Orchid are colours to wow. They are a statement of the wearer's confidence, and whilst they require careful application, the end result is inspirational.

Chanel Candeur is not in the same bracket/league/universe as the likes of that lot. It's a fairly dull neutral pink that glides on to present a glistening light nude-esque finish. You don't need any skills or tools to apply it - it's the no brainer.

And I love it.

There is something of the NARS Sabrina (RIP!) about this colour. If you have naturally light pink pigmentation all it's going to do is bring out that tone and leave the impression of fuller and more moisturised lips. It feels extremely lightweight and is more than a balm than anything else. And that's key. How they can legitimately market this as a lipstick I have no idea...

However, it's a great low key product that because of the rose scent and colour sits somewhere between By Terry Baume de Rose, MAC Hue and a YSL Rouge Pur Shine.

Part of me is tempted to head back to Sephora to stock up on this. But at the same time I know there are lots of other products that also fit the bill and have even stronger moisturizing and longevity properties. MAC's Calm Mode is something I think about often - yes I really do!! - what a perfect product that was and why it's not permanent I will never know.

So where does that leave us? Well all I can say is that Chanel Candeur is something I am very much enjoying this moment in time...another one of those dull as dishwater nudey pinks that punctuate a particular time in my life :)

In other news...

I am enjoying slightly less insipid colours in my accessories - namely earrings and nails. Hello neon accents!

Hope you are all having a lovely Monday :) 

I probably shouldn't have...

....but I damn well did.

Another neutral palette for the collection...

I consider this my rebellion against Naked 2. Packaging and Half Baked aside, I really don't like it. It's a personal thing. I find the matte colours lacking in pigmentation and the effect of the shades a little too greige on my eyes. Literally every time I tried to work with it I would look in the mirror, grimace and declare that my make up looked like crap. (And no, it's not all down to the skillz of the "artist" :)

It's strange. To look at it's the perfect palette and there are some nice shadows in there, but they just don't work on my dark coloured eyes and skintone. I need warmth. I need my eyes to be lifted in subtle colour so that they don't look so ropey.

It just shows, not all neutrals are borne equal and that's a semi-expensive lesson I have learned.

Now the Too Faced Natural Eye palette? This is more me. There is only one dodgy shadow in the box and everything else is warm toned, smooth to apply and very pretty.

It's been out for years and I have ogled it from afar on many occasions. The cardboard packaging is a bit cheap and as I mentioned, there is one absolutely awful textured colour in there...see if you can spot what I am referring to in the pictures below...but it has everything else going for it. 

I love the inclusion of the "best friend" colour - Velvet Revolver. It makes the perfect transition shade (much like Buck and Naked by Urban Decay). Erotica and Cocoa Puff are the most beautiful definition colours for crease and outer corner - laced with dimensional shimmer but not the kind that will fall out on application. Heaven is a great, uber-smooth base colour and Silk Teddy, Push Up and Honey Pot have me written all over them.

I piled on about 4 of the colours today and declared it a success.

I should say that the amount of shadow included in 6 of the colours is pretty small (.9g).  It's certainly not as good value for money as the Naked palettes and the rate I pile it on I will be hitting pan sharpish!

During the same trip to Sephora I picked up the Make Up For Ever Uplight in number 11.

I read about this before and it reminded me of my beloved St Tropez face illuminator - now that stuff is the business. Anyway, the MUFE is a pearlized white-lilac and designed to be either mixed in with foundation or applied separately. It's a pretty effect and hours later remnants of that swatch can still be found on my hand.

A small confession: I have also recently purchased Chanel's Candeur Coco Lip Shine but as it looks like the other 20 "my lips but better" lipsticks I own I was too embarrassed to post it here.

Having said that, whilst outsiders won't know how it's different from the rest I really think it is. Maybe I should do a post on it... :)

Hope you are all well!

My face is cheap

The high street has taken over my make up bag.

This realisation hit me last week when I counted 6 or 7 drugstore products which I not only love but sort of think I can't live without.

This is a fairly new thing. Whilst I have always been loyal to the cheaper end of the spectrum when it comes to mascara and the odd lip product, I would naughtily sneak over to MAC and Space NK for a bit of prestige. Now I am not knocking the expensive stuff - I remain a product junkie to the core and I am still representing some grossly overpriced stuff too - but lets just say that at the moment I am happily making use of some cheap (and great) products.

Here's my run down and not all products featured in the photo below...that's just to make the post look pretty :)

Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation - the packaging might be a bit on the tacky side and the colour range might be dismal but for whatever reason this now coats the plains of my face and makes me feel fresh and glowing. Soft Beige (200) is the colour of choice at the moment. Full review here! 

Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer in Light radiance - reserved for days when I feel very tired (i.e., look very rough), this is placed under the eyes, around the nose and sometimes mouth. It kills redness, reminds me of MAC's Select Moisturecover and doesn't collect in any fine lines. It's not as opaque as Make up For Ever's Full Cover concealer (amazing stuff!) but the trade off is a much a lighter and easier to work with consistency. Recommend! 

Rimmel Kohl Eyes in Black - one day I fancied the smudgy look that only a kohl pencil can deliver and so I picked this up. I expected it to be good - well it Kate M wear it.... -  but I didn't expect the black to be so strong and to be so easy to apply. I wouldn't say it lasts as long as say a MAC PowerPoint but it also doesn't give a distressed smudgy eye a la Stila Kajal. 

L'oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss - just rename this the liner that keeps giving because this NEVER seems to dry out. I must have had this tube for about 12 months and whilst the makeup expiry police would frown upon that there is no way I am throwing this out. If you want an easy to work with liquid liner nib and a dark black colour then there is no other choice (other than maybe Illamasqua). MAC and the likes of Le Metier de Beaute don't even come close in terms of quality. 

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel eyeliner in black - another eyeliner - I am out of control! Anyway my MAC Blacktrack ran out and I decided to try this. It was a bit of a revelation. Just as long lasting, just as pigmented and basically, exactly the same as any of Estee Lauder's brand versions. Thank you Maybelline. If you did more interesting shades you may even give Shu Uemura a run for their money.  

Sleek Lash Out mascara - I had medium/low expectations of this for some reason but as soon as I applied it I love the effect. Very separated and lengthened with an inky black pigmentation. The delicate little brush that it comes with also makes it perfect for lower lashes. In fact that's where I tend to use it and then rely on my trust Max Factor Masterpiece MAX. In fact, scratch that, you HAVE to try the Max if you want defined and full lashes that you can build to crusy spider leg status should you desire...not that I would do that of course :p 

Kanebo KATE Designing Eyebrow kit in EX-4 - so this belongs within a Japanese drugstore (talk about bending the rules of the post) but its included as it's a cheap product that manages to deliver. I will link to it here - Link! - as then you will see what it looks like. Think little plastic case with three brow colours contained within. My love for this is solely levied at the fact that the dark brown (or natural brown as they call it) is completely flat. It has undertones of absolutely nothing except brown and so for those of us irritated by reddy toned brow products, this will be your new holy grail. NB I have nothing to do with the seller but included as example!

So these are some of my current loves. I would have included Sleek's Peach Perfection - THE perfect tinted lip balm complete with nauseating faux sweet scent - but I just ran out of my back-up's back-up...as you do :)

Now I am going to ask you this question and I already know that it will lead me to some possible purchases but...

What are your favourite drugstore makeup products of the moment?

Back to Gelish...here's Carnaval Hangover

I have been Gelish free for a few weeks and whilst I enjoy applying different polish colours (LOVE that Orly one!) I also enjoy a chip-free existence. It irks me to see a perfect (and if I have applied it, a less than perfect) manicure disappear little chunk, by chunk.

It was time to return to the world of the 2 week manicure.

As always I went into the salon with the intention of having a neutral, safe colour applied. I was thinking Pink Smoothie and was quite looking forward to seeing it again. It's so clean and pretty....

But then, at the last minute, I got seduced by a bright purple/pink by the name of Carnaval Hangover  and here it is...

Just like Tiny Tower, I am basically in love with it. 

The purple tone that forms the base of the colour stops it from looking too bubblegum so whilst it's not classically sophisticated, it's wearable, fun and bright. I feel like this is the nail colour equivalent of a MAC Impassioned or Show Orchid lipstick.

<3

Another obsession of the day/week would be lashes. I finally got my eBay Ardell lash order in from the same trusty shop that I order the odd Essie/OPI from. Here lashes are expensive so even with shipping costs, I am making a saving.

I ordered a ton of "Babies" and lots of corner lashes. Sometimes I cannot be bothered to fiddle around with layers of mascara in order to create drama...it's so much easier just to slap on some falsies and go. And that's exactly what I intend to do :)

Link to the store here:

Link!

Hope you all have a great Friday!

I am excited about this weekend as I am meeting up with a fellow blogger in Dubai and have an appointment at the colorist planned...I am thinking of something semi-transformative. Lets see what I go for :)

What are your weekend plans?

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

At the beginning of the year a padded envelope containing three bottles of Wake Me Up arrived on my doorstep - courtesy of Rimmel.

I was happy. I am a foundation junkie and believe it to be the one make up product that can totally elevate your mood and make you feel like an improved version of yourself.

I also like a glowy finish and this promised an "anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow" for a price tag well under £10. Awesome.

So why it's taken me two months to try this out I cannot explain but last week I did and from the initial pump I knew I was going to like it.

It wasn't the artificial cucumber/salad scent that had me head over heels at that stage - it was the texture. This is one of those liquid foundations that almost mimics a gel consistency and immediately reminded me of Chantecaille Just Skin. Could this be the dupe I have been looking for?

As always I used a kabuki to apply it and the finish deepened my love for it. I can only describe it as "fresh" - like your skin naturally appears poreless, completely even in pigmentation and finely glowing.  Even under the eyes, this works well, never looking heavy but reassuringly invisible.

This natural finish business means that it's what I would describe as the lighter side of medium coverage. One or two pumps will serve you well but if you needed some extra war paint to hide those pesky "imperfections" then this is buildable. 

It takes about a minute to set so you have some time to work it in - no frantic blending a la Colorstay - and once it sets it stays on my skin for about 5-6 hours. After that time my nose shine adds to the glow factor and that's when my vanity forces me to touch up. But I don't powder over Wake Me Up and I don't use any additional concealer - if I did then maybe it would last for the 10 hours that Rimmel is quoting. 

(Some pointless photos added for your viewing pleasure :)



So it's perfect then?

Well this is obviously the subjective point and your opinion is going to depend on skin type and personal preference.

• I am not sure how fantastic this would be for dry skin. I have a little dry skin area on my nose and it doesn't sit so well there.
  
• The oilier skins might struggle keeping this on during the day without some serious powdering action. It's just not one of those foundations that tightly bonds to your skin like Studio Fix Fluid or Colorstay.
  
• There are "illuminating particles" suspended within the formula. Honestly, I didn't notice any glittery bits until I was in the artificial light of my bathroom and inspecting a swatch on the back of my hand. I didn't notice them on my face and whilst they are no doubt in the formula I think they dissipate post-kabuki blending.
  

The biggest "but" however is the colour range. 6 colours in all and none of them seem either that fair or dark. I was sent Ivory, Soft Beige and True Nude. You would think that Ivory would be really light wouldn't you? But no, it's not. I tried it the other day and once it dries on the skin it looked more like a sandy shade to me. And yes, they do dry a little, tiny bit darker so be aware of that when shopping.

Like Gemsmaquillage said in her post, this is probably the weakest part of their proposition. Of course, drugstore brands like Rimmel are limited by the amount of merchandising space they physically have available in store. That little stand can only hold so much and as a result they have to offer the "most likely sold" shades to maximise revenue. I understand that completely but for a brand this big - and one that is trying to engage with a mass audience - it's a kick in the teeth to serve up just 6 varying shades of beige.

So all in all...

If your skintone fits into the range that Rimmel are marketing to then yes, I would absolutely recommend this for you.

Even if we forget about the fact that it's affordable, this is a great product. It's nice to work with, makes your skin look good, lasts a decent amount of time, doesn't smell horrendous and I would pick this over Chanel Vitalumiere, Bourjois Healthy Mix and Revlon Photoready any day of the week.

Find out more about the foundation here... 

Link! 

PS. This is not currently available in the US but is set to launch at some point at the end of this quarter (I think!) 

Thanks for reading :)

Beauty boxes?

I will admit, when beauty boxes first hit the scene I thought they were a monumental waste of money.

I could not understand why I should be tempted to commit £10 a month to getting my hands on paltry samples from brands I would never be interested in exploring anyway. 

Further to that point, I knew (care of my previous shopaholic experiences) that shops like Kiehl's, Space NK and friendly sales staff at department store counters will happily pass out the samples if you catch them on a generous day - and for that I don't have to pay anything extra.

Some months later and I am slightly less huffy about it. Of course the rational part of me still thinks it's slightly insane to effectively gamble £10 away - and when I see some of the items contained in the boxes I berate myself for being such an idiot.

However, the parcel loving part of me absolutely laps it up. Even if the inside fails to inspire it's the very act of receiving a parcel and opening it up that gets me incredibly excited. And if there are one or two things inside that I am genuinely keen to try out then I suppose I consider it a worthwhile expense.

I am currently subscribed to Glambox.me (my Feel Unique subscription is over as they have pulled their boxes from the market - RIP!) , the only beauty box currently in the UAE, and received the February parcel after a spectacularly stressful day at work. After getting home at about 10pm it was an absolute treat to open/rip apart.

And this was a good thing because the first box was a slightly lacklustre, barren experience with more packaging than content.

In this month's I got a nice variety and a fair quantity. I rate a box that gives a little bit of everything - skincare, hair care, cosmetics and perfume:

• Karuna face mask - intense skin therapy? I like! Need to find a spare 20 minutes where I can lie flat and treat face.
• Philip B Peppermint and Avocado Volumizing and Clarifying shampoo - nice...always wanted to try their products and anything mint has my vote.
• Philip B Lightweight Deep Conditioning Creme Rinse - really nice conditioner so happy days!
• La Vela Patchouli & Musk Candle - a wee candle and a scent I genuinely like. Burning right now!
• Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation - not enthralled. I have nothing against Arden but I didn't "wow" when I saw this.
• Elizabeth Arden Face Powder Brush - useful and good to get in conjunction with the powder but I didn't wet myself with excitement when I saw it either.
• Elizabeth Arden Red Door perfume - hello Grandma! Actually that's harsh - it's a classic fragrance but one that I haven't fallen in love with.
• Random extra - voucher for Cupcakes at a local bakery. Free cupcakes - not going to hate on them for that.

So the Arden stuff aside (apologies to Liz!) I thought this was a good effort by Glambox. For the £10(ish) fee you get a (slightly over the top) nicely packaged product (that is mailed by courier) and a decent collection of "stuff". 

So what do I think now?

After my experiences in the last few months with both Feel Unique and Glambox I am more of a realist about this beauty box phenomena. I have realised that the contents are highly unlikely to astound us. In fact it would be a miracle if they did.

People like you and me are an informed audience with an unusually high exposure and knowledge of brands and products and so 100% satisfaction at the contents is going to be a challenge. I accept that it's okay and just enough to keep us happy with some quality samples. I think I will continue the subscription until I get bored of the concept.

...my advice?

Well to the companies I would say: for goodness sake, cut down the amount of packaging. In fact I urge you to do so! It feels wasteful and quite honestly I would rather you budget for additional samples than the box-within-a-box wrapping.

And to you? This is not a necessity. It's not food, water, shelter or Hue lipstick. It's a luxury and honestly you could live quite happily without it. I have done for months and other than facing the reams of beauty box posts that proliferate blogs it has not impacted my life one bit. However, just like the daily run to Starbucks, the ridiculous often makes you feel quite good. So, if you are feeling indulgent, pick one company (in the UAE it has to be Glambox as it's the only one - easy decision-making process :)  and try your best to enjoy the monthly surprise! 

:)

So what do you think about beauty boxes? Total waste or a monthly must-have?

Alternatively, what's the most pathetic thing you have ever received inside one of them?:)

NB: I do not get Glambox for free. I subscribed with my own cash. I don't think I will post the contents of each box every month as honestly that can get quite dull so I probably won't talk about them again unless I receive something absolutely fantastic or absolutely terrible!

TB flats and LDR lips

Yes, that was my weekend. When I wasn't in my pyjamas I was breaking in some shoes and sporting some seriously wannabe pouty lips.

The TB Flats

You all know I love my Tory Burch flats. I don't even care that the symbol looks like a Take That dedication. I love them and they are usually very comforable.

When I spotted these on shopbop.com before Christmas I fell in love. They reminded me of a pair of Chanel $600+'s that I had seen in Saks about 18 months ago - a pale nude colour with an elasticated inner edge that from afar looks like a dainty ribbon.



I got them about a month ago and whilst it was love at first sight, my toes revolted. They cried in pain. These shoes made me feel like my toenails were inches too long - a sort of scraping feeling that just feels uncomfortable an hour or two.

I am pleased to say however that I experienced a breakthrough this weekend and they are finally worn and ready to be sported without a face wince. Hurray!

Link!

The LDR lips

You all know Lana Del Rey. Well I am borderline obsessed with her.

Whilst I think her music is good I think, if push came to shove, I would rather see Ellie Goulding, Florence & the Machine or Imogen Heap in concert but yet, I am mesmerized when I see a picture of her.

I levy the blame at her lips. They are so full and just brrrrrrrrr......I won't be getting a pair of my own but for fun I decided to draw on some LDR lips this weekend, partly prompted by Tali's post.

The best product I found for this was Maybelline's liner in Toast. You could use this and just call it a day to be honest. It's a lovely liner - not as grey as MAC Stone, similar to Rimmel Tiramisu but far creamier to apply.

I added Illamasqua Sonnet and,some Viva Glam Gaga 2 gloss for a shinier finish.

It was a fun look, You never know maybe I will try stiletto nails next...(joke!)


:)

Hope you had a good one!

Checking in with an OOTD and lipstick chatter...

Hello! How are you all?

I spent the last few working days in Doha and whilst I went there with every intention to update you all, it just didn't happen. Damn networking events, meetings and project work got in the way.

It was my first time in Doha and I definitely noticed the fact that it is far more conservative than Dubai (not hard as Dubai is extremely liberal). You have to be a lot more mindful of what you are wearing (more is definitely better ladies!) but the people are friendly and the food was great. If you ever find yourself in Doha (hey, you never know!) I highly recommend Souq al Waqif - great outdoor eating/shisha/coffee and a good mix of expats, tourists and Qataris.

Sadly no outfit of the day photos were snapped. I just couldn't bring myself to whip out the camera and force it into the hands of my manager before barking photographic direction orders....I mean, could you?

I do however, have an old OOTD from Tuesday that I thought I would share. Why not, eh?

The OOTD

The Topshop peach blazer lives on!

I absolutely love pairing this with black basics. Dare I mention the pop-of-colour theory? Anyway,  I wore a variation on this theme a couple of times this week and yes, the blazer looks a lot better unbuttoned - more languid and casual and less boxy and structured.

 Oh yeah, and this is my face from that day :)

Scarf: Accessorize
Blazer: Topshop - Link!
Vest: Topshop
Trousers: H&M
Shoes: Zara
Sunglasses: Gucci
Bag: Miu Miu

Of course I did make a couple of little purchases during my trip and here they are....

Oh yes, I have replenished the nudes: MAC Creme D'Nude and MAC Shy Girl.

As you can see, I have already smeared them on :)

The purchase of Creme D'Nude is a bit of an odd one because I silently vow, with every tube, that I will never buy it again. The Mush Stage irritates me no end but then I see it on the lipstick stand and get lured in by it's pretty.

So here we go for a fifth time...

Shy Girl is a bit more stable in consistency and honestly, the more wearable. If you don't own it (and you probably do) then I would highly recommend. It's definitely light but it lightly defines and lifts - as opposed to "corpsing" out your lips. Think of it as Hue's peach cousin. In other words, absolutely essential to your make up collection.

I can't lie. Seeing pictures of lipsticks makes me very happy inside :)

What one have you purchased lately?

Big hair and geek glasses...

...seems like that was the motto of the day.

My Saturday was spent slobbing around my flat, catching up on Gossip Girl, tidying up and eating carrot cake. For that reason I decided not to waste the contact lenses I wear on a daily basis, but to don the glasses instead.

I got these last year. I am one of those awful optical consumers that is never happy with her specs. I take years to find some that don't leave me grimacing in the mirror and then when I do finally hit the jackpot by finding a palatable pair, begrudge their exorbitant cost.

They just can't win.

Having said that though, I actually love glasses. I love seeing people wear them. I love all the different styles and I love the transformative effect they can have on a face. If they didn't cost so damn much I might have more than one pair.



So these are my glasses that I picked up from the best opticians in the world - Auberbach & Steele - last year. That place, on the King's Road in London, is a haven. They stock interesting brands and will make sure you walk out with a style that looks good. They are also super nice and non-judgmental about your over-reliance/over-wear of contact lenses. (ie, no lectures - yes, I have had those before from other places!)

PS. My hair looks massive as I just brushed it with my hairbrush (Mason Pearson) - that baby is the key to big hair :) Seriously - that's one of the main things I am doing different with my hair - running a brush through it! Post coming soon :)

Glasses: Dita Courante's in Red Crystaline (I had never heard of Dita when I bought these...only later did I realise they were some big-super-duper brand...clueless!)   
Jumper: Vintage Zara (AKA about 2 years old ;)
Bracelet: Hermes

A pointless aside...

This is a pointless aside as you cannot actually really see/appreciate either product BUT...


On my face I am wearing my latest love affair...the Bioderma Tinted sunscreen.

I changed my tune with this one as I have owned it before and didn't love it at all. It reminded me of Benefit's You Rebel - ie, a colour that didn't quite work and a consistency that never seemed to set.

It might be the climate I am in right now, the fact my skin is not that oily these days or just that I applied it with a kabuki and let it set for 5 minutes but I am enjoying it. The coverage hints at the kind that you get from Chantecaille Just Skin and whilst it feels tacky initially it does set.

LOL at the kind of flash back that you would get from a 100SPF skin base though. 

La Roche Posay...

And an even more pointless mention goes out to the La Roche Posay (LRP) Redermic eye cream.

Two things come to mind when I think of LRP:

a) Their packaging is distinctive because of it's total blandness; and
b) Their products never let me down.

After running out of Avene Ystheal (not one I can pronounce out loud - eeesthe-al?) I thought I would try Redermic and like all creams, I hoped that it would be the one, that it would make a difference. And....well I think it's one of the better eye creams I have ever tried. How's that for a measured statement!?

It has almost completely changed the texture under my eyes. It's far smoother and whilst I still have fine lines I think the combination of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, the latter of which is a known "soft focus" helper, have massively helped.

It's the kind of cream that I enjoy using because I genuinely think that when I wake up in the morning, my eye area looks rested and fresh - rather than sunken and dehydrated.

It's about £20 a tube from Boots and I think that's a good price.The majority of the reviews that I have seen are on the positive side. Some comments refer to a hunch that it might be drying - I haven't found that and I use it morning and night. Other comments state that you only see real results 2-3 months in. That's fine. I am happy to continue with this one and coupled with my reliance on Effaclar K, I am quickly turning into a LRP fangirl :)

...having said that, if you have any eye cream recommendations for the more active ingredient kind, let me know!

Thanks for reading. That was quite a ramble today...

The Zara coated trousers

These trousers - and many variations on them - have been floating around for some time.

Zara has them in leather, denim and now this coated cotton version.

Now I love the zip detail at the hip and at the trouser foot. I have been very tempted but always reticent to splurge. You see trousers from Zara never seem to fit "right". It's either too big at the waist, too small at the waist, too tight on the arse, too baggy on the arse....it's always something and I generally walk out of the changing room in a huff.

In the case of these trousers however, I am really pleased. They are a bit baggy in places (which I really don't mind as I have enough suck-it-up tight/skinny jeans) and as expected the Zara sizing is a bit strange but they feel comfortable and look a bit more interesting than a standard trouser.

The zipper detail makes them as far as I am concerned - but frustratingly it's all for show as there is no pocket beneath that zip....cue awkward placing of handswhen you intiutively feel for a pocket but come across nothing.

I wore them yesterday whilst popping out for lunch...note this does not mean some lovely outdoor brasserie type affair with waiter service. It meant supermarket.

So yes, nothing special in terms of either event or outfit but in trying to keep things real, this is what I wore! :)

Trousers: Zara - Link!
Vest top: H&M
Shoes: Tory Burch
Watch: Michael Kors
Bracelet: Disney Couture
Bag-that-doesn't-go-but-I-used-it-anyway-as-I-couldn't-be-bothered-to-use-anything-else: Celine

In other news

1) I ripped off my Gelish earlier this week. It wasn't intentional but one fingernail had some lifting, so I peeled...and then before I knew it I was therapeutically removing the rest. Feel very naughty.

2) I spent the last of my Christmas money on a pair of shoes from the Boutique 1 sale. They are of the totally impractical variety :)

3) Urban Decay's Naked Palette is getting daily usage again - Virgin, Naked and Buck....it's all you need for a soft, natural and sultry eye. Am contemplating Naked 2 but not experiencing any massive urges to buy it...not sure I would like it more than this?

4) Finished When God Was A Rabbit last week and loved it. It is written in quite a staccato fashion but the narration moves at a pace and although I didn't feel huge empathy with the characters there was a moment when I cried. And oddly I do associate this kind of emotion with a well-written book. Make me cry and I'm happy.

Currently moving through Ally Condie's Crossed, the second in her trilogy and it's a bit....slow? This is clearly the character development book and so not a lot of action is going on. I just can't give up on a book though - even if I hate it I will persevere. So here goes...

5) Bioderma Tinted Sun Cream is incredible. The coverage is comparable to Liz Earle's Skin Tint but as a product it's far better. No gross scent, 100SPF, a nice "light latte" tint and a cream consistency that sets. This is my weekend-wear product!

6) I have lost alot of my time this week to the Bejewled app. This is probably why posts have been scant. I would recommend it but if you are a fan of Connect 4/Tetris type games...prepare to dedicate/lose hours.

Have a great Friday all!

Gelish Snow Bunny + The Must-Have Polish List

I had it all worked out. I was going to get a festive-type manicure and rather than opting for an obvious red, I would go with white.

I absolutely love white on the nails and so I was excited. I even decided to go all out and get a layer of glitter polish applied on top. My intentions were good.

It's a shame then that the execution was just "okay".  The white was not tippex/white-out enough and the glitter not opaque enough. So near to what I wanted but so far....

However, I refuse to be one of those odious women that have a tantrum and force the manicurist to remove and reapply the colour because they "don't feel it". I have seen it happen and you just end up looking like a fussy bitch.

And you know what? I like it. It's soft, pretty and sparkles well under artifical and bright sunlight. That will do me for the next two weeks:

Gelish Snow Bunny + Golden Treasure

The Must-Have Polish List

Of course if I get bored I can always paint over the top with a regular polish.

This is something I have yet to try and I was pondering what colour I would go for the other day. By the same token, that thought ended up with a mental list of my all time favourite polishes. These were the ones that I would immediately reach for if I had to paint my nails "something". In no particular order...

* Chanel Particuliere - the ultimate colour so perhaps I lie when I say "no particular order".  Colour family: mud.

* Barry M Lilac - the prettiest lilac polish and one that always gets compliments. All of Barry M's polishes are great to be honest but this one makes me coo every time.

* OPI Mod About You - a flight risk (it will always explode) and a consistency of tar once left for a few months but...nothing comes close to the blue toned pink shade. I am on bottle number 3.

* * OPI Pandamonium Pink - if Mod About You channels "Barbie" a little too hard then this is a softer alternative. It also has a stronger purple tone that underpins it. Was told by another customer in a nail bar in London that it looked "well nice" when I had it applied. So there you go.

* OPI Vodka & Caviar - a true red with a brightness that somehow makes it modern. I also love the name.

* Essie East Hampton Cottage - when applied by a professional this will make your nails look like pearls. Note, when applied by me it looks like crap.

* China Glaze Ruby Pumps - is it possible for a polish to hold memories? Because this does. This was at the start of the YT community boom and it was a good time filled with fantastic recommendations. I remember buying this at Sally's and its the most stunning, glitter-filled red.

* Revlon Cherries in the Snow - a rich raspberry that can be sported with the lipstick of the same name for the ultimate in matchy-matchy.

* Bourjois Rose Lounge - groomed nails a la KMidd. Great consistency and quality. This is the nail polish equivalent of MAC Hue lipstick. Non-offensive and natural.

* Nailstation's Dapple Grey - I have only ever seen this brand in Dubai and sure, this colour is dupe-able but its a fantastic creamy mid-grey. Not too light, not too dark. This brand also has about 30 variations on the taupe....*I die* everytime I walk past it in Debenhams.

* OPI Lincoln's - I say plural as there are two variations on the dark/black/purple/plum and I love them both and consider them equally essential.

Okay...

I am going to cut myself off here as I have realised, in the process of writing these out, that I could literally go on forever.

Unfortunately what this post has also done is remind me of how much pleasure I used to get from eBay polish haulin'. I might just have a quick look at my favourite store.... :)

What does your must-have polish list look like?

The Cheap Monday Seamed Jumper

I have fully lost touch with reality. The temperature in Dubai has hit a low of 22 degrees celsius and so I am starting to feel....

...chilly.

For realz.

And I am loving it as this makes it the perfect opportunity to wear my Cheap Monday seamed jumper. This has been waiting patiently in my wardrobe for some time - and now the time has finally come.

In a way it's anti fashion. It's a bit shapeless - essentially a sack with strategic holes for head and arms but it is so damn cosy. I love the chunky knit finish, the soft non-itchy acrylic and the way it just envelops the body. This is a jumper to curl up in and enjoy some steaming mulled wine :)

Jumper: Cheap Monday - Link!
Jeans: Cheap Monday
Boots: ASOS Aggie boots - Link!
Bag: Miu Miu

I also wore my new lipstick today - a new little YSL number. I think this has been out for some time and everytime I have meandered past the counters I have mentally clocked it.

Meet YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 37.







Such a perfect generic pink colour. Okay, it's nothing new and I could have lived without it in my collection but I consider this the season of indulgence and so just allow me this little treat :) I mean, look at it....how can you not deny something this light, glossy and pink! It's also a very similar colour to my handbag therefore making it a "must purchase" ;)

Finally...

How could I end this post without saying - have a fantastic Christmas!

I have the whole day off! Woo!

Yes, Christmas is more of a commercial, rather than official event in Dubai. That means offices are open as usual but shopping malls are decked out with lights, trees, and Santas.

Enjoy the day and I hope to see you all soon - in fact a quick post will also be waiting for you tomorrow :)

x

Illamasqua Skin Base

I am ready to review.

So here it is along with some scary face close-ups where I am wearing the foundation in question...

I got this foundation recently and honestly, had medium-low expectations. I was curious about it but didn't expect to really appreciate or shout loudly about it's virtues. It was the stop-gap.

My beloved/ridiculously overpriced Chantecaille Just Skin had run out and with no stockists in Dubai, I was 1-2 weeks away from a UK order reaching me. I needed a decent performing foundation to tide me over. Quite why I needed to give you this background information, I do not know, but that's the justification. Well that, and the fact that the sales assistant in Harvey Nichols looked happy.

I got it in the shade 10 and as soon as I applied it (with the help of MAC's 181 kabuki) I liked it. It covered, it matched my skintone and it left a soft, satin finish. Then, at the end of the work day, I noticed that my blusher/bronzer, along with my foundation, looked perfect. At that point I loved it.

It lasts well during the day (with just a minimal amount of fading along my T-zone), seems to help products adhere well to your skin, all whilst looking relatively natural.

The most helpful way to describe this foundation would be to comparatively assess it:

* It has more of a gel-like consistency when compared with NARS Sheer Glow - and seems to last a little longer.
* It settles into the skin better than Chanel Mat Lumiere or YSL Teint Radiance.
* It's not as hard work as MAC's Face and Body - and packs a lot more punch coverage wise.
* It smells a lot better than MAC Studio Fix Fluid and doesn't look as heavy - apply a bit under the eyes and it's not going to cake on you.
* It doesn't provide the glow of Chantecaille but does last a lot longer.
* It is easier to blend and somehow doesn't make your face look at flat as MUFE HD.

It's good and I would recommend it. The only bitchy asides would be that:

* The promotional copy describes it as being "inspired" by the BB cream genre and if by inspired they mean nothing like it at all, then yep, it's "inspired".
* I have heard that some people's skin couldn't tolerate it - I got one spot (travesty!) but that didn't have anything to do with this.
* It's meant to be BAD on dry skin.
* The packaging is a bit....meh. I really have to commit to squeeze a drop out and I cannot always measure how much I am going to get. If we get too much well, then it's a heavy makeup day with layers of slap! Wa-hey!


What I would applaud though is the Illamasqua shade chart which references other brands' shades. This is such a useful resource if you are picking out the foundation online. Really good stuff and reflective of an organization that has really tried to understand it's customers.

It costs £25 for 30ml which puts it in the higher end category but still half the price of Chantecaille's Just Skin.

The latter remains my holy grail but Skin Base rates high on my scale - and I am a picky little madam.

I would give it 7 out of 10. It's not perfect (few things are!) - I like a more dewy finish - but it's a good performer. Medium coverage, long-lasting and almost undetectable, particularly on camera.

So tell us, what has your experience been of Skin Base?



For reference: I am normal/combination skin. I normally wear NC35 in MAC, Barcelona/Pubjab in Sheer Glow and Wheat in Chantecaille Just Skin.

On my nails....Gelish Elegant Wish

A tragedy occurred last week. Yes, I broke a nail.

Whilst Gelish definitely strengthens it doesn't make your talons invincible and as if to prove that point my right thumb nail basically halved in size.

The only thing to do in such difficult circumstances is to make an appointment, get them filed down and re-Gelished.

...and here they are.

Apart from the fact that the manicurist got over-zealous with cuticle removal and caused bleeding on one nail - I am happy because:

a) I quite like the colour - Elegant Wish - a rich raspberry stuffed with red glitter that feels appropriate for December; and
b) I think short nails are chic nails. This is what I tell myself.

I have to admit, part of me does miss applying and playing with regular nail polish. Case in point - I was visually seduced by the stand at Illamasqua and felt a real craving to buy. But as much as I love polish hoarding I am not sure I will be able to deviate from Gelish any time soon. The way it lasts and looks is far better than any of my dog's dinner attempts at self-applied manicures.

Long live Gelish, that's what I say!

What are you wearing on your nails RIGHT NOW? :)

The routine rut

Some people change their make up routine daily - with me it's more like monthly. I get very happily absorbed into a rotation rut, relying on standout products to deliver a simple and quick look. And this heavily warm-color-centric "look" below is what I wear practically every single day.

It takes me about five minutes to apply and achieves all the things that I think make up should:

a) Covering up the "imperfections" whilst still feeling light and natural; and therefore
b) Making me feel prettier than I actually am.

Of course there are the odd variances - a false eyelash here, a slight change in generic pink lip there...but this is the standard right now and I don't mind admitting it :)

The Routine
NB: I notice this is written as a tutorial. I don't expect anyone to take application advice from me. That's what Pixiwoo and Lisa Eldridge are for. 

1) Apply La Roche Posay's Effaclar K all over face and let it sink in for 2 minutes whilst inspecting your eye bags and generally jaded, tired face.

2) Apply Chantecaille's Just Skin in Wheat with a MAC 181 - if you are investing in this product PLEASE apply it with a kabuki. The coverage and finish will make you fall in love. Wait a couple of minutes and dance in your knickers to some music.

3) Then apply NARS Casino with a big fat brush from MAC (number rubbed off). Casino lasts years and is my top tip over Laguna. It looks very dark in the pan but has lovely deep, olive/tan tones.

4) Apply a generous amount of MAC's Well Dressed blush (3rd pan in my makeup lifetime!) over cheeks/cheekbones with some freebie brush you got from Sigma. Highlight if you like with MAC's Grand Entrance (LE) shadow for more of a "cheekbone pop". Cos we like that 24/7.

5) Apply Urban Decay's Primer Potion over the lids. God love this stuff - even if I own the version with the ridiculously over-engineered packaging.

6) Sweep ALOT (technical term) of MAC's Mythology all over the lid and on the lower lashline - brushes used include a fat Sonia Kashuk one (or MAC 227) and a mini MAC brush that I got a long time ago.

7) Now take MAC's Sable and apply along the crease and outer corner with the same Sonia Kashuk brush. Slap it on the lower lashline if that's what you want. The aim is for subtle definition and a gradual deepening of the Mythology colour so light hand required.

8) Take a Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage brush and apply some MAC Grand Entrance (LE) in the inner corners of both eyes. NB: All Laura Mercier brushes are amazing.

9) Use L'oreal Superliner to create a tiny little flick at the outer corner of your eyes. You don't need to take the liner any further than that...I am always amazed by how much that teeny flick will "almond-ize" your eyes, whilst still making them look bright and wide awake.

10) Take some MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and some random nail art brush and apply the product along your waterline. In fact don't do that. Maybe with the Shu one but not MAC's. It's not safe and I am a fool.

11) Use some LE MAC brow set called Mink and sweep it through your brows whilst cursing the fact that they do not seem to be sprouting new hairs at the very points you need them to and then resigning yourself to a life of pencilling them in - when you can be bothered.

12) Mascara time. This calls for Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill that whilst on it's last legs still gives good, soft lashes. Then contemplate next mascara purchase - MUFE Smokey Lash or stick with Armani?

13) Berate yourself for requiring a minimum of 13 steps to apply a supposed casual and simple look and then slick on the lipstick that you will remain loyal to for the rest of your life - MAC's Hue. You chose this because it's the exact shade of your lip colour.

Ta-bloody-da!

Over to you...

I used to think a rut was a bad thing. It often translates as stale, boring...but I am starting to think that when applied to the world of makeup, it can be turned on it's head. It's positive. Let's face it the continual reaching and repurchasing of something is a very good sign of a very good product that you both use and recommend.

See where I am going with this? :)

So with that in mind I want to know what your stalwart products are...what are the items or routines that you just cannot tear yourself away from - those fail-safes that make you feel good.

I have to admit...I am quite excited to see the comments :)

Okay, okay...as much as I love this rut, I always like the thought of getting into a new one and even more than that, I fancy the thought of doing some serious make up shopping. It's been a while so some temptation from you is needed :)