Beauty Spotlight 30/03/13

It is no secret that Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog long ago fell down the Rouge Bunny Rouge rabbit hole. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she has loved their Succulence of Dew Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings since the first moment that she saw it! It is sheer lipstick perfection!

We all want that healthy glow, so does the new powder from Chanel deliver what its promises? Visionary Beauty shares her thoughts on the
Chanel Healthy Glow Sheer Powder.

Prime Beauty is crushing on Sam Fine. Originally formulated for women of color, EVERYONE needs to try Sam Fine for Fashion Flair Supreme Color Lipsticks. From nudes to deeps to brights, Sam's got you covered!

The MAC Matters Challenge Continues!!! See how Pammy Blogs Beauty is continuing to build her MAC Core Collection with (less than) $21 a Month!!!

Marcelle has a new mascara with a twist that Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed is only too happy to try out - is mascara getting too complicated? - come check out her Marcelle Twist Push-Up Mascara lashes and see what you think!

Beauty Info Zone is working on pretty hands and wants to help you with yours. Find out about Hand Perfection's newest products and enter to win one of them. This is open internationally.

Modesty Brown re-visits her Desert Island picks in the form of a face of the day.

London MakeUp Girl finally had her personal colour analysis. Which season did she end up in? Find out in her post on her SciArt colour analysis.

Christa from Perilously Pale shares why Giorgio Armani's new Maestro Fusion makeup feels more like an indulgent treatment than a foundation.

Does the new L'Oreal Miracle Blur look familiar? It did to Paula from Older Girl Beauty, so she compared it to her old favorite Avon Magix.

15 Minute Beauty has 9 tips for a great updo, start planning for prom and weddings now!

Sheswai Nail Lacquer in Winesnob

Thanks to the sun putting in an appearance this morning, I finally managed to get a picture of this lovely nail polish. The Sheswai Lacquers are a range of 3-Free nail polishes and the formula is a good based on my experience with Winesnob.

I love this polish for the colour, the name and the fact that I can get away with a single coat if I'm pushed. In fact, I think the only thing I'm not struck on is the wooden handle. It's an aesthetic/textural thing too rather than it being difficult to use.

The colour is a beautiful, deep claret colour with a glossy finish. It reminds me a little of Chanel Rouge Noir but I find the Sheswai formula easier to apply. Edit: It looks slightly translucent on the nail wheel but two coats on my nails is completely opaque. Wear time is average but my weak and uneven nails make it very hard for any nail polish to last well, so I don't consider myself a very good barometer of this sort of thing. The current state of my nails is the reason why the colour has been swatched on a nail wheel rather than my finger nails. I draw the line at photographing pedicures!

The Sheswai Nail Lacquers are available from Mise Beauty and cost £12.50 each. They have a really nice selection of colours and they range is well worth a look if you're a fan of 3-Free formulas. You can find a review of the colour Rootsy here on London MakeUp Girl.

Disclosure: This item was sent to me without cost for consideration for review.

Desert Island FoTD and Colour Ramblings

I discovered this FoTD post sat in drafts today and thought now would be a good moment to share. The products I am wearing are items I picked out for my Beauty Spotlight Desert Island visit. Based on my hair, these pictures were taken a while ago but the items I used remain firm favourites, irrespective of hairstyle.

Face
NARS Pure Radiant tinted moisturiser in Finland
rms 'Un' Cover-up in 11
Hourglass Aura Cheek Stain in Rouge

Eyes
Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon eyeshadow
Kjaer Weis Wisdom
MAC Teddy eye kohl
Maybelline The Falsies Flared mascara

Lips
Ilia Arabian Knights lip conditioner

I was having a moan today on Twitter about my habit of wasting time filling up virtual shopping baskets, only to talk myself out of the spend. I know I'm not alone in doing this but it is an incredibly frustrating habit. I was eyeing up the Clarins lipsticks that are currently reduced on Escentual, but had to concede that the colours I was looking at (Rouge Eclat in Pink Berry and Woodrose) bear a striking resemblance to about 50% of the lip colours I already own. I curse my own inner sensible side for refusing to allow more dupes for 'research purposes'.

Another reason for vetoing more lipstick purchases is my current obsession with what 'season' I might be. I suspect London MakeUp Girl's recent Sci/Art analysis has sparked a veritable tidal wave of similar curiosity. I am clueless about which colours genuinely suit my colouring. I have been told that my uniform of black and white aren't particularly flattering but knowing which colours don't suit me, hasn't particularly helped me deduce which do. I remain hopeful that pastels or yellow aren't the answer! Both Grace and Stiperstones have suggested I might be a Light Summer, so I have been looking at the appropriate colour recommendations on Pinterest. I rather like the suggested colours and have been messing about with coloured scarves that are similar to the colours in the swatches. This blue/green scarf is probably one of my favourites, not least because it matches the colours my streak has faded to.

I think the time has probably come for me to save some pennies and investigate who offers colour analysis locally, so that I can get a professional opinion. I will also be interested to hear whether my rapidly greying hair changes things in terms of what colours I should choose. Watch this space!

Beauty Spotlight: Older Girl Beauty visits the Desert Island

Paula, from Older Girl Beauty, has been dropped on the Beauty Spotlight Desert Island to spend some time "disconnecting". We've allowed her to take 12 products with her so that she doesn't feel too cut-off from her beauty loves. Find out what she would take along with her to feel civilized by clicking here!

March Madness

I thought I ought to write a quick post to explain my recent blogging absence. Without me really intending to, I've managed to take a couple of weeks off.

March tends to be a busy month for us but this year seems to have been busier than usual. So far I've had my parents to stay, celebrated my birthday, Mother's Day, missed my blogging anniversary, painted four rooms and a hallway, had some lovely friends to visit and survived a really upsetting assessment appointment for one of my children. I've also attended my first event in ages, volunteered myself for some fundraising work at nursery and had a brief dalliance with the idea of being an Avon lady. There's been tears and laughter but not much time for writing and the never ending bad weather hasn't helped much either.

New purchases

Although it's been busy, makeup and skin care hasn't been entirely forgotten. I've bought a few new bits recently and I've also started trialling some PR samples for review. I'm still focusing on using things up: the Avene Anti-Rougeurs moisturiser is my most recent empty and I'm really close to finishing the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, Live Native Exfoliating Cleanser and Pai Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinty Tonic. So there are definitely plenty of posts in the offing, I also have pictures and swatches ready for a little taupe eyeshadow comparison (see sneak peek below). Hopefully I can ignore the call of the paint brush long enough to get some writing to go with the pictures!

Testing, testing...

Empties and almost-empties

Have you had a good March so far? Any new good purchases to share?

Beauty Spotlight 17/03/13

15 Minute Beauty shares her 8 essential products for a DIY pedicure

Pink Sith has managed to forge a connection between the new Lise Watier Power Pink Blush and the Groundhog Illuminati. Of course!

If you favor pinky peachy nude lips, like Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog , then prepare to be dazzled by the new Chantecaille Lip Chic in Daphne and Luminous Gloss in Pink Melon. Their beauty simply cannot be overstated!

Anti-Aging foundation? Yes, please! Pammy Blogs Beauty tries out Paula's Choice new Resist Anti-Aging Foundation and Serum.

Do the new Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows hit the mark? Visionary Beauty shares her views on Ribbon.

Beauty Info Zone has a lot more swatches to share for the Lush Emotional Brilliance collection. If you need some motivation or just a bubbly charming post, then this is the one to read.

London MakeUp Girl gives nail wraps a try, and finds that NCLA nail wraps are pretty much goof-proof. Have a look at her efforts with the very gothic glamorous NCLA nail wraps in I Am Your Muse.

Time for a browse through the archives: Modesty Brown's review of the lovely Pai Camellia & Rose Cleanser is just as pertinent now as it was when she first wrote the post, more than a year ago.

Perilously Pale is excited to announce that she is part of Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel! Check out her post telling you all about her first challenge as a member describing how she incorporates Pantone's colour of the year Emerald into her beauty routine.

Prime Beauty is a smooth operator with the new Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colours and right on trend too!

Paula, from Older Girl Beauty, tells us about her bad self-tanner experience and wants to hear yours, too.

Even with one stolen, Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed still has a couple of glosses to swatch from the new Benefit Ultra Plush lip glosses - check them out and see if you would have been tempted to be light fingered too!

SPAMATHON - Check out polish insomniac's swatches of the new China Glaze Hologlam Collection!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog on the Beauty Spotlight Desert Island

Original image source

This week Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog was dropped off on the Beauty Spotlight Team Desert Island, and was only permitted to bring 12 beauty products. Given her proclivity for skincare products these restrictions presented quite a challenge, and narrowing down her choices to a mere dozes was no small feat. Can you guess what she brought with her? Click here to find out!

Beauty Spotlight 03/03/13

The new By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge Lipsticks take the coveted hybrid formula to a whole new level, and Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has swatched all 10 gorgeous shades for you!

The prettiest lip palette ever!!! Pammy Blogs Beauty falls for Le Metier de Beaute's Kaleidoscope Lip Kit.

The Pink Sith is finally back in good health, so of course her first post would be about a Taupe Eyeshadow! This one is from Real Colors and it's called Regal Eyes Embellished Eye Shadow in Poker Face.

Cindy over at Prime Beauty chose the colorful Entice Me Eye Shadow Palette from the new Smashbox Love Me Collection for Spring 2013 and Marcia from Beauty Info Zone chose the neutral Admire Me. Who chose best? You decide.

Modesty Brown reviews the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Tinted Balm in SB02 and compares it to some other similar tinted moisturisers from her stash.

Worth the price tag? Visionary Beauty gives us her take on the new Tom Ford lip colour shines.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed had a chance to dress her lashes in all the different L'Oreal Voluminous mascaras to try and decide which one she liked best - check them out and see which one is your fave!

15 Minute Beauty has 10 easy anti-aging tips that are so easy to follow that anyone can do it!

Perilously Pale flirts with a lip colour choice for Spring from Guerlain that stands out from the usual soft pinks and peaches we are used to seeing for the season.

Jessika from polish insomniac has a wicked sweet tooth. Check out the latest Sweet Treats from Barielle that she has been sinking her teeth (and nails) into!

Have you heard of Joey Healy, the brow guru? Lisa from Beauty Info Zone shows you his amazing Elite Sculpting Tweezer along with his Oscar brow comments.

The French Pharmacy Discount Returns to Escentual.com

This is quick heads up that the popular French Pharmacy discount returns to escentual.com today. There's a 1/3 off Vichy, La Roche-Posay and Nuxe. Avene, Klorane, A-Derma, Rene Furterer and Pierre Faber are all reduced by 25% and there's 10% off Caudalie. Great news for those of you that are keen to get your hands on the famed Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

I will be taking advantage of the offer to re-stock on a few basics, particularly because my parents won't be returning to France until May. My Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk is almost empty and I need another tube of the LRP Effaclar AI Targetted Breakout Corrector. Also, Mr. MB wants some more of the Vichy Shaving Foam I bought for him last time the offer was on. As Escentual have recently started carrying the Bioderma range, I might have a look and see if they have the wipes pictured above but for goodness sakes don't grass me up to Mrs Hirons.

Talking of Mrs Hirons, if you haven't already spotted it via Twitter or Caroline's blog, the good lady herself will be holding skin care workshops and one to one consultations at Liberty's on the 12th and 13th March. Caroline is a lovely, extremely entertaining lady and I have immense respect for her knowledge of skin care and problem skin. You can find out more information about the workshops and personal consultations here.