Makeover: Donna

Meet Donna:

 

Donna has the most lovely eyes, but she told me that she's got out of the habit of wearing shadow recently, and was looking to learn how to apply dramatic "winged" eyeliner.  When Donna does apply colour to her eyes she uses a lot of teals and purples, but we discussed something a bit different and decided that orange was the way forward!  I broke out my pro palette and got to work:

As always, we start with the base.  Donna has great skin, with some lovely freckling, so we just used a tiny sweep of Lily Lilo powder foundation as a base and left it at that:

Then we got to work on Donna's eyes.  I used this palette:

Mainly concentrating on the second row from the left there, I used the second and third shades down as a colour wash all over the eyelid area, using the slightly darker shade as a contour in the crease:

The peachy-orange really brings out the green shades in Donna's eyes, yet it's not too in-your-face.  However, I'm disappointed with the quality of the shadows themselves, the colour pay-off is pretty poor, and even attempting to foil with them doesn't improve it very much at all.  I was hoping for a much more dramatic look.  Still, the colour wash is pretty, and works well enough, just not quite well enough.

Then, onto the liner.  For this, I used Urban Decay's liquid liner in Roach, which is one of my favourite shades of all time, it's a gorgeous burgundy-brown shade that's flattering on almost everyone, as it's less harsh than black.  For a really dramatic look, I always draw the liner in a tiny right angled triangle shape right next to the lashline:

I start by drawing the upright at the outside corner of the eye, then draw a line from the inner corner to the top of the line, then fill in the triangle with the coloured liner.  It's a lot more simple than this sounds, and I'll bring you a step by step guide to how to do this soon.

Here's how the eyes looked when I was finished, we used two coats of mascara, and I think this is a great dramatic look.  Yes, it could have been a bit more dramatic, but overall I like this look.  Then I made a mistake, attempting to make up for the lack of drama in the orange eyeshadow, I thought a bright orange lipstick would be in order.  All I did then, was gild the lily:

Actually, the lipstick itself is a great shade for Donna (it's a Stila one, I've forgotten the name of, but I'll find out), it's just too much with the winged liner. We toned it down later with a more neutral lip, and it looked much more in balance.

Thank you, Donna!  I'll not gild the lily next time, I promise.

Eye Makeup Remover Challenge - Pt 2

So, here is part two of my eye makeup remover challenge!  Last week, in the cheap and cheerful round, I tried Boots Botanics and Amie makeup removers, and Amie won. This week, I'll be testing Talika and Chanel (my own personal favourite!) make up removers against one another.  Whichever one wins this round will challenge Amie cleanser next week, and be declared the champion of champions ...

(as an addendum to last week's challenge, I've had two independent adjudicators also test Amie, and there was NO stinging in either case, it really is just my horrendously sensitive eyes that it appears to affect.)


The Contenders:

Here we have Talika lash conditioning cleaner (which I got free in a SpaceNK goody bag), and my personal bottle of Chanel BiPhase eye make up remover.  Once again, we have an oil-free formulation (the Talika) and an oil based one - the Chanel.  At this point I'm wondering why all eye makeup removers have to be blue?  A lot of them use cornflower extract, I'm almost certain that won't make things blue, but I digress somewhat.

Talika claims theirs is the first oil-free formulation to work on waterproof mascara, and says it strengthens and lengthens lashes, I'm only testing the first of those claims, but I'm intrigued by the second!  

Chanel claim: that it "Removes makeup perfectly from the lashes and the eye contour, leaving the skin soft and supple. Combines effective makeup removal with respect for the delicate eye area." I'm on about my fourth bottle of this stuff, and I love it.

The Challenge:

 

 

Again, three shades of shadow - over a primer - and mascara.

Round one:

First thoughts: Neither product has a particular scent, once on the cotton wool, but the Talika is actually gel that you have to pump (quite hard!) to get out of the airtight tube.  Here's the cotton wool after 30 seconds on the eye:

No idea what happened to the focus here, sorry!

As you can see, the Talika has got to work straight away on the mascara, but the Chanel has removed more of the eyeshadow.  Here's how my eyes looked at this stage:

  

 

 

Yes, definitely the Talika is ahead here. Round one to Talika.

Round Two:

I then continued and removed the rest of my eye makeup with the pads, here's the guck shot:

 

Results-wise, the products are neck and neck here, it looks like they've both cleaned the eye-area well, but I've noticed that the Talika has left the eye area feeling a little tack-y to the touch, and slightly more taut than the Chanel.  There is no stinging from either.

Round 2 to Chanel.

Round Three: (yes, I've added an extra round this week, as the results were too close to call!)

After what happened last week when I had the shower, I decided to try and replicate that situation. First, I steamed my face a little, then - as that seemed to have no effect - I splashed my face with a little warm water:

 

 

Again, not a lot has happened here, there's a tiny bit of smudging on my right eye, but nothing like as dramatic as last time!  Then, I decided to bring  out the big guns. Cleansing oil.  And this is what happened:

The Chanel has a very definite smudge of mascara!  I'm devastated. Seriously!  I've been recommending it as the best eye makeup remover for as long as I've been using it!  Coco, how could you?

Talika wins!

Next week, Amie Vs Talika  an all oil-free remover final.  I'm deeply surprised!

Nail of the Day - Rococo Utility

Saw this in SpaceNK yesterday, and kind of fell in love with it!  Grey isn't a colour that normally appeals, but this is a great shade with hints of blue and lilac, not to mention some really lovely packaging. I tried this on one thumb and NARS Rouge Andalou on the other, but this was the one I couldn't take my eyes off for the rest of the afternoon, so it's the one I bought.

Consistency is thick, slightly gloopy,  and it dries very quickly, but it's instantly opaque on the nails. This picture shows ONE COAT, (over a base) so if you're lazy like me, then it's ideal. I've no idea what the coverage of the other colours in the range is like, but I'm really impressed with this.

Incidentally, you may be seeing more nail pictures in the future, I'm trialling a top secret nail system at the moment, and the results so far have been really good. It's hardcore stuff, but if the results keep up, I'll be one very happy blogger!

Rococo nail polishes cost £11.50 from SpaceNK, but if you buy this weekend, you can get a 20% discount online with the code FF201.

Have just realised the colour matches my blog.  This may be why it jumped out at me ...

Giveaway Winners!

Well, there were 36 entrants to the giveaway, I've listed them all here:

When I entered the numbers into Random.org, it chose the lucky winners as ...

 

 

So the winners are:

Helen (Nice Things)!

 

and

 

Paula! 

 

Well done!

 

Please drop me an email at louise@getlippie.com and I'll arrange to get your goodies to you.

 

Thank you so much for entering everyone, I've loved reading your comments!

 

Look out for another follower giveaway soon ...

 

I'll tell you what I want ...

... what I really, really want:

A can of this:

Just one can.  That's all I want.  But can I find it anywhere?  NO.  Stupid London shops. 

Sorry about the earworm, it's bugging me now too.

Organic Wednesday - Dr Organic

 

Or ... "Tell 'em about the hunny, mummy ..."

No, I haven't (yet) lost my marbles, but there are two products to review this week, and the above  quote will make sense when I get to the second one.  I hope!

The Background:

The company says:

"Dr Organic utilise only the finest natural and organic raw materials wherever possible. Sourced from around the world, every single active ingredient is rigorously tested to ensure it conforms to our strict quality guidelines. Combined with the latest scientific methods of extraction, Dr Organic products ensure that active compounds are retained to create products that are truly functional."  

They also go on to promise no parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), perfumes or artificial fragrances, no animal ingredients (except honey) and no animal testing.

Dr Organic have a complete range of body products including everything from toothpaste to deodorant to body butters, in a range that utilises everything from lavender to manuka honey to tea-tree oil, so there's really something for everybody here.

The Products: 

 From their Pomegranate range, I tried the toothpaste:

The Blurb Says:

"This triple action toothpaste is formulated with Organic Pomegranate, Arnica, Silica, Aloe Vera, Icelandic Moss, Horse Chestnut and Tea Tree. Regular brushing with this fresh flavoured toothpaste helps protect against bacteria, one of the main causes of plaque and tartar, whilst leaving the mouth feeling fresh and clean."  

Lippie Says: 

It's toothpaste.  Toothpaste that's packed with the same Icelandic moss that Boots put in their eye makeup remover - that moss sure does get around, I have to say. There's not a huge amount else I can really say about this though, aside from noting my MASSIVE disappointment that it's actually a minty gel, rather than a fruity paste (obviously, I'd totally missed the BIG mention of mint on the packaging, as I'm a dingbat) but it gets my teeth clean enough in the mornings and I've not had any issues with bleeding gums or anything since I started using it, so as toothpastes go, it's not a bad one.

Having mentioned that I was disappointed that it doesn't taste of pomegranate, there is a slightly odd sour-sweet taste under the intense mintiness that I'm not entirely sure I like, certainly it's there and it's been noticeable every time I've used it.  I'm not sure it's something I'd buy a again to be honest. Mine cost £3.99 from Holland & Barret.

And, from their Manuka Honey range, I tried their Body Butter:

The Blurb Says: 

"A luxurious, deeply hydrating natural butter containing a delicate blend of Organic Manuka Honey, Aloe Vera, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Sunflower oil and Vitamin E. This light textured butter, which is easily absorbed, restores and nourishes dry skin areas; it brings silky softness to the skin by attracting and retaining moisture and gives it a supple softer, firmer, younger looking feel. It helps improve elasticity and promotes a healthier skin tone and smooth natural glow."

Lippie Says:

Now, a big confession for me, I don't actually believe in body lotion  - I'm not alone, India Knight doesn't either.  My skin, in all honesty, doesn't appear to need it, and I only use it for it's intended moisturising purpose when I'm having one of my increasingly rare scaly days after shaving my legs.  So, I tend to use body lotion as an extension of my perfume, and to that end, I do actually own quite a few, but they're all chosen for their scents rather than their moisturising properties, to be honest.

With that in mind, I was asked to review this product and I was in two minds about it, to be honest. I'm not a big fan of honey at all, and the one and only other time I tried a manuka honey-based moisturiser, the smell of it made me vomit!  It smelled like a fungal infection, and using it in the first place was like trying to rub cheese into my face, so it's not my happiest of beauty memories, I have to admit. The product will remain nameless to protect the guilty ...

Anyhoo, this turned up, and it smells just like a jar of honey, I mean, really, really, really like a jar of honey.  And it's a strong smell.  I trialled a bit on my arm, and it smelled just the same on my skin as it did in the jar, so I guess how much you like this cream will depend a great deal on how you find the smell of honey.  When I used it properly for the first time, MrLippie came into the room, immediately commented on the very sweet smell, and he didn't much like it, I'm afraid.

I found the cream very rich, but very easily absorbed, which I think is down to it having an aloe vera rather than an emulsified water base.  It's actually a pleasure to use, even if it does come in a pot (my own particular peculiar bugbear when it comes to beauty products, I hate tubs!  I want tubes!), and if it is slightly like slathering yourself in a Greek hotel breakfast at times, then at least it's a luxurious one ...

The odd thing about this body butter is the effect it has on other people when you're wearing it.  People will get closer to you than normal, and they'll - at least if you know them well enough - keep sniffing you., trying to figure out what the "lovely smell" is. MrLippie, for all his complaining that it was too sweet when it was first applied couldn't stop smelling any random body parts that came his way for an entire day.  This smell lasts! Everyone seems to adore the scent of this stuff, even I like it, and I don't like honey!  Or body lotion.  You may find people subconsciously doing impressions of the Honey Monster when you wander past though, I certainly did ...

So, if you want to get closer to people, buy it. You'll have nice skin, and you won't be short of company!   Several people keep trying to take this tub off me - one of my housemates threatened to mug me for it the other day - but they can bugger off  go away. This one's mine, and I'm keeping it. It may be the product to eventually change my mind about body lotion.  Maybe ...

If you do want a tub of your own it costs £8.99, and it's available from Holland and Barrett. You can read more about the range here

NARS Skorpios and Pop Life Pencils

Mainly thanks to the gorgeous Lipstick Rules  I bought NARS Pop Life Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Liberty yesterday, and while I was there I very graciously allowed the Sales Assistant to convince me to hand over some hard earned cash for the Skorpios Soft Touch Shadow Pencil too ... just kidding, the sales assistant was adorable, and very sweetly left me to my own devices while convincing me that I didn't, in fact, need Cruella too!  I do need Cruella too, but it can wait a month or two (are you reading this, Santa?)!

Here's the swatches:

Pop Life is a gloriously cheery orange-red with tiny hint of gold sparkle, and Skorpios is a deep and shimmery coppery-bronze shade.  Both pencils are beautifully soft and silky on the skin and not dry or powdery.  The lip pencil does work better with a touch of gloss over the top, but it's not necessary.

Here's how the Pop Life looks on the lips (no gloss):

I really, really love how this looks!  I'm even smiling!   The Skorpios and the Pop Life don't really go together in one look,  too many brights on my face these days makes me feel uncomfortable, but here's a very quick - actually an exceptionally quick - eye look I created with the Skorpios this morning:

I'm wearing Skorpios all over the lid, and up to the brow bone, I've added a touch of NARS Galapagos at the outer corner, I've lined the upper waterline with MAC Feline, and finished with Clarins Wonder Perfect mascara.  The pencil took literally seconds to colour and blend, and it wore pretty well throughout the day with only minimal creasing on the lids (I didn't use a primer, as I wanted to see how the wear was on the product itself).  I'm always a bit wary of cream-shadows, but I'm pleased with this one, and I think I may check out more of them.

I think NARS is really breaking my brown-aversion!

What do you think?