Chanel Rouge Coco Shine: Shades 66, 61, 55 and 54

I've been waiting for these to be released for about six weeks now, so when I noticed they'd been released early - I thought they were out at the end of the month! - I had to snap up a couple. Or four...




The shades I picked were (l-r): 66 - Bel-Ami: a lightly bronzed brown; 61 - Bonheur: a sheer berry; 55 - Romance: bubblegum pink and 54 - Boy: a pale caramel nude. In the tubes these shades look vivid and full of pigment, but the full beauty of these sticks is revealed on swatching:




Lightly pigmented, glossy and sheer, these shades are essentially a shiny, cushioned, balm for your lips. Wear isn't, of course, as good as the original Rouge Coco shades, but dang, these do feel wonderful on your lips! Speaking of which, here ate the lip swatches:


66 Bel-Ami:




Not nearly as brown as it appears in the bullet, this is almost reddish on the lips, but is entirely office-appropriate.

61 Bonheur




Possibly my favourite of the four, this pinked-berry is glorious for giving you that "just-bitten" look.

55 Romance




Not nearly as fluoro in the flesh as it appears in this picture, this is an exceptionally pretty, cool bubblegum pink. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one looks with a tan!

54 Boy




My lips are quite pigmented, so much of the colour you're seeing here is not from the lipstick itself, which appears as the merest whisp of creamy beige on my lips. A good neutral for me, possibly, but maybe not a shade I'd consider re-purchasing.

Packaged in a thinner version of the Rouge Coco packaging, these look classy, and will be an asset to my makeup bag, owing to their moisturising properties, and I think they'll be perfect for summer wear.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shines are available now and cost £22.50 each.

The Bluebeards Revenge

Because, sometimes, you can't keep a good man down ... I present you, MrLippie!

So... The world of male grooming is one populated by a mass of extreme soft-focus stereotypes, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, so it was with some trepidation that I examined "Bluebeards Revenge", fearing the worst. I'd heard nothing about it prior to it arriving in Lippie Underground Headquarters (courtesy of Get Lippie herself), and the name and the first glimpse of the steely blue box and skull and crossbones logo had my admittedly warped imagination churning out images of marketing drones desperately trying to link shaving to Cap'n Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean", or some such ridiculousness. Thankfully not! On closer examination, the skull & crossbones logo is slightly lopsided....which intrigued me somewhat. Evidence of a sense of humour? Maybe....but yes! Cue me getting a big grin on as I examined the warnings against usage by the "bum fluff brigade", women, and espoused the values of "real men" and how it can tackle even the manliest of beards! Sarcasm & self-mockery - often the best way to a customers' wallet - certainly in this highly cynical age. So, first obstacle passed, and on to the actual product. The shaving cream comes with a free shaving brush, which looks quite snazzy, being wood & bristle, with the Blubeard skull & crossbones being emblazoned on it in gold. Quite swish, but I will admit to have being spoiled beforehand by having a badger-hair brush, which just pips this in the softness stakes (but doesn't look as nice!). Spreading the cream on my face, I was impressed. It does have an aroma, but it's not massively overpowering. It's slightly flowery, but not hugely distinctive - quite classic, in fact. The cream slides well over the face, and lathers up over overnight stubble growth very nicely, clumping it up in preparation for the application of a razor. It comes off well, generally without requiring a second stroke, but obviously that's mostly dependent on the quality of said razor as opposed to the shaving cream, but we won't mention such a trifling detail such as that, will we?  Errr...yes. Anyhow. It's a good size tin of the stuff, and it's claimed that it can last up to 5 months! Given that my face is not the size of a small moon (nor a Death Star or minor planetoid), I look forward to using this over the next few weeks!   Okay, so that's the last time I'll let him watch "So I Married An Axe Murderer" (some couples fall in love to things like Out of Africa or, Love Story or something, but it turns out that "our film" is a Michael Myers film no-one has ever heard of.  HELLO!)  However, I've tried this myself, on my legs, and, whilst the free brush is a bit scratchy (to the point where I wouldn't even consider using it in my armpits), the soap itself is rather amazing.  Smooth and creamy, and leaving you with super smooth legs, and no hint of post-shaving dryness.  Highly recommended, most of all because it's paraben-free and won't leave you smelling like a fruit salad.  Incidentally, why do all women's shaving products smell of fruit?  I can't speak for the hair retardent claims made for this product, as I've only been allowed near it twice, even though it's technically mine! You can find out more about The Bluebeards Revenge here. The Fine Print: I bought this after reading a review by Do Not Refreeze. This post originated at: http://getlippie.com/ All rights reserved.

A break from our regularly scheduled programming.

Sometimes, there are no words except these:

Please give generously.

Thank you.

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Project Perfume - Yardley

Ahhhh ... Yardley.  It's hardly the trendiest of perfume houses, and if you mention it to most people, they'll sigh a little bit and mention how their grandmother used to wear Lily of the Valley talcum powder, or smell of English Lavender.

And, truth be known, it's because Yardley aren't the trendiest of perfume houses that they've been around for so long. Not reliant on advertising, and celebrity endorsements, they're rather fashion-proof, which is all to the good. They've been the world's premier producer of single floral scents for several hundred years now - being founded around the time of Charles I, and have been producing perfumes as the House of Yardley since the mid/late 1700's. 

I've  mentioned Lily of the Valley already, and English Lavender, which I suspect are their best-known scents - alongside English Rose - but they also have expanded their range in recent years and have added Peony, Iris and Orange Blossom to the basic scent range.

Last year, they also re-released their cult April Violets scent, which had been long sought after by perfume fans and had been changing hands for up to £100 a bottle on eBay.  Not bad for a scent that retails for less than a tenner in the first place!  


I was delighted recently to be introduced to the range, and have found their single flower scents to be invaluable for helping me be able to identify individual notes in more complicated fragrances.  For, whilst Yardley fragrances are simple, they're also well-rounded and "pretty" scents to wear.  They're "linear" - meaning that the top notes are woven through the entire fragrance, and the dry down after a couple of hours or two won't smell too different from the scent that you first spray on in the morning.

In particular I've found myself drawn to Orange Blossom, which is a lightly heady concoction of neroli on the top notes, tempered with a little sprightly clean musk underneath.  It's calming and clean, and I find it's wonderful for clearing my head and making me able to concentrate.

Iris is a pretty, powdery, softly grey scent.  A little more sophisticated than a lot of the other soliflores in the range, this does away with any "old lady" images the range might have.  I'd wear this one.  A lot.  And I will.

Peony.  This is PINK.  It's sweet, and younger-seeming than the others.  A fun, uncomplicated and breezy scent, it's perfect for weekends, and is unthreatening, and very easy to wear.  It's not very me, but then, it's not trying to be.

Yardley also recently introduced their first non-linear floral scent, called: Royal English Daisy, it's a limited edition inspired by Kate Middleton, and her impending nuptials. I was slightly bemused by this idea, as the only thing daisies actually smell of is ... well ... dust.  Seriously, have a sniff of some chamomile tea sometime, it's basically dust with a hint of sunshine.

However Royal English Daisy doesn't, as far as my only-lightly-tutored nose can tell, contain any dusty daisies, it's a bit of a green lettuce and apple explosion at first before gently subsiding into a sweet, lightly floral appley-hyacinth scent, with just the merest whisp of a pale sandalwood base.  It's very pleasant, extremely inoffensive, and very easy to wear.  It's perfect for a young girl just starting out on investigating perfume, but it's nice and easy enough to wear that women of any age can wear it.  Realistically, it's not my cup of (chamomile) tea, I prefer something headier, but I can see this one being very popular indeed.   Get your mum some for Mother's Day.  She'll love it.


For more information about Yardley Perfumes, please click here.


The Fine Print: Reviews - such as they are! - were written from samples received at a PR event. No fudge was harmed in the writing of this post.
 
This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Giveaway Time!

Okay, I'm nearly at 800 followers -where on earth did you all come from? - so I thought I'd giveaway a few bits and pieces to say thank you!

Two prizes:

One: a collection of three - count them, three! - limited edition Chanel Nail Polishes, including Particuliere, Paradoxal and one mystery polish ...

Two:  A mystery bumper bag of goodies from brands such as Max Factor, Rebel Nails, and a set of five Model's Own nail polishes, amongst others!

All you have to do to have a chance to win is leave a comment on this post telling me what kinds of posts you'd like to see more of on Get Lippie in the future, or if there's anything in particular you'd like me to write about. 

Please ensure you leave a correct email address, and let me know your choice of prize in the comment too.
  

As this is a follower thank you, please ensure you're following me on Google Friends Connect on the right over there, as I'll be checking!   I reserve the right to disqualify entrants for not following these (very simple!) rules, and I'll draw the winners next Sunday - 20th March.

The competition is open internationally, so jump on in!


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Random Face of the Day - Diorskin Nude Foundation Test

Apologies for the fact that I'm fully dressed here, random Googlers! I've been trialling Diorskin Nude foundation for about a week now, and I don't really have any hard and fast thoughts about it - yet - but I thought you might like to see how it photographs.

Alongside the Nudeskin, I'm wearing:
Sue Devitt eyeshadow in Lonely Splendour (a lovely taupe), 
Illamsaqua  Precison Ink eyeliner in Abyss, 
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara
NARS Blush in Sin
Guerlain Rouge G in Galante (yes, I bought another one)


Six products is about the minimum I can make a FotD these days, even one as simple (though I prefer the term "classic" as this one).


Here's another shot in different lighting:

You can very nearly see my new teeth!


Have you tried Diorskin Nude foundation?  What're your thoughts?


The Fine Print: I bought everything in this post. Not all at the same time, I'm not made of money credit cards.

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

My Current Skincare Routine

It's been a while since I mentioned skincare, I think - which is mainly because I have a rather settled routine at the moment, which I'm a bit loathe to change before the weather does!

And the title's a misnomer too, as I actually have two skin care routines, one am and one pm!  So here's my evening routine first:

(

(L-R) 

Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex, Absolution La Solution + Controle, Absolution La Creme du Soir and Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel.

Taking these in reverse order - as that's the order I use them in.  Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel is a very recent addition to my cleansing routine, but I'm a big fan already.  I'm usually a bit scared of gels, as they tend to contain high levels of alcohol, but this is a thick oil-based gel, and is almost a balm.  It's unusual to use, as it liquifies as you massage it over your skin, getting runnier the more you rub, in fact.  It's perfect for removing heavy makeup, and even removes your eye makeup, which is great.  The lightly citrus scent might be better suited for morning cleansing, being a little invigorating, but I prefer a deep cleanse at night (with my clarisonic) and a light cleanse in the morning, as you'll see.  I said this was a recent addition, but before this, I would use an oil-based cleanser anyway (either Shu cleansing oil, or the Nude cleansing oil I've been using on and off for a couple of years now)

Absolution  La Creme du Soir - Up until recently, I tended to use the same skincare for both morning and night, thinking night creams were a waste of time.  This, from my very first use of it, changed my mind totally. It's rich, it's thick, it's nourishing, it's organic, and whenever I use it, I wake up with smoother, hydrated and plumped up skin you can see the difference in.  It's amazing.  It's so amazing, I tried to use it during the day too.  Ironically, that little experiment didn't work, it was far too heavy.

I use it alongside the La Solution + Controle which is a balancing complex that you add a drop of to the night-cream and helps control blemishes and oil production.  My skin has been going through an oily phase this winter - I'm contrary, I know - and this has helped keep everything in check.

Absolution products are 99% natural, and these two items are around 65% organic.  I love the packaging too, the "cylinders" the products arrive in actually unroll to form the instruction leaflets, which is a cute and environmentally sound use of the packaging.  Also, the product packaging is both air-tight and protects the creams from the light, meaning that there are few, if any, preservatives used in the creams.

Then I use  Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex all over the eye area, including the lids.  This a cooling, refreshing and moisturising eye gel which I can't get enough of.  It's worked wonders on my bags and dark circles, and it's all I can do not to apply it twelvety times a day.

In the morning, this is what I use:

(L-R) Absolution L'Eau Soir et Matin, Alpha H Balancing Moisturiser, Alpha H Age Delay Facial Oil, and sneaking in there, Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex.

I mentioned that in the mornings I prefer a lighter cleanse (and in fact, sometimes I just have a rinse with water, if I really can't be bothered), so the Absolution L'Eau Soir et Matin works a treat.  Micellar waters are massive in France (indeed, Absolution is a French brand), and they're great for sensitive skin.  You merely wet a cotton pad with the water - and I can't tell you how much I LOVE the bottle for this, as you can pump it onto a pad with one hand - and run it over your face to remove the remains of your night creams. You don't need to rinse it off. It also works admirably well as an eyemakeup remover.  One thing, it smells - rather strongly - of lemon balm so if you're sensitive to strong scents (or indeed, you're not a fan of Thai food) then this might not be a good product for you.


I then follow this up with Alpha H Balancing Moisturiser, to which I add a drop of Alpha H Age Delay Facial Oil.  I like this combo, because the moisturiser is very light (though it contains 10% glycolic acid to help with signs of aging), but then I can add a drop - or two - of the facial oil, if it's a particularly cold or windy day for an extra drop of protection.  I really enjoy the little tingling sensation I get when I use this moisturiser, too.  And I think I can actually see the benefits I'm getting in my skin at the moment too.


Well, I could until I started using a primer that's given me zits, but more about that next week.


Then, as in my night time routine, I finish off with the eye complex.


So, what's your routine?


The Fine Print: As usual, this is a mixture of stuff I've bought, and stuff I've been sent by PRs.  It's all great, wherever it came from though, half of this is repurchases.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

What's In My Shower?

Some people might know that I'm more of a bath person than a shower person, so this is a hodge-podge of bath/hair and shower products, but this is everything I have in current rotation - and more!


From left to right:
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax bath/shower oil (just visible) - I adore this stuff, and have been through several bottles of it.  I will never be without it again.
Ren Rose Otto Shower Gel & Bath Oil - I adore the scent of roses, and for me, it's hard to beat the scent of these items, sweet and heady these are my real "special occasion" treats.
Morrocan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner (back)- I've had these for a while now, and not got around to giving them a full review, but I think these are good all-round shampoos and conditioners, but they don't have anything particularly special to recommend them, to be honest.  Rather on the expensive side, they're perfectly acceptable, but ... they're not something I'll re-purchase.  I'm just using them up at the moment.
Connock London Comforting Body Wash - This is a pricey (£22.50), but rather wonderfully moisturising shower gel.  I adore the subtly floral scent, and find that it really does leave my skin feeling softer and smoother after using it.  It's full of papain, which I think explains why.
Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak - Love this stuff.  It foams slightly in the bath, so it's a slightly different effect to my beloved Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax oil.  Intoxicatingly herbal, and truly a relief for any aching bits you might have, it's a wonderful addition to any bathroom.
Elemis Sharp Shower & Bath gel - I've mentioned before my love of minty products, and this is a wonderful smell.  I've only used it once though (it's a very recent addition to my collection!) so can't tell you how it works with my skin, but if you like minty scents, then you must try this.
Naked Rescue Repairing Hair Treatment - a hair mask.  It's okay.  It didn't really do what it said on the label, but ... it smells nice. I got it after a failed Keratin treatment last year that left me with crispy frizzy hair, and it left my hair a little softer, but didn't really treat the problem.
Haus of Gloi Bubbling scrubs - I love these, not having much experience with satisfying body scrubs, these were a revelation for me, and I love their squidgy texture, which is really satisfying to play with in the mornings.  The scents here are Eggnoggin' and Snow Wolf, both of which I also have full-size pots of.  Sadly, they were part of the Christmas collection so no longer available in those scents.  I'm hoarding mine!
Body Shop Earth Lovers Shower Gels - in Apricot & Basil, and Cucumber & Mint.  These are soap-free, 100% biodegradable, and contain no colourants, parabens or sulphates.  And they're very nice indeed, they lather nicely on a shower lily, and smell delicious.  Nice to know you're not harming your skin or the environment using these.
Shu Uemura Pleasure of Japanese Bath oil - I wish this stuff hadn't been discontinued.  That is all.  This is my back up bottle, and I shall cry - yes CRY - when it runs out.
Haus of Gloi Whipped Soap - Haus of Gloi don't always have this in stock, but it's worth grabbing them when you can.  I use this as a shaving foam, and on occasion as a soap (who knew?) and they're rich and luxurious on the skin.  This is Eggnoggin', which again, I have a back up for, as it won't be back until next Christmas.
Haus of Gloi Bathing Dust - Again, another discontinued product that I love.  This is in the scent of Samhain, which is a glorious leafy scent that perfectly encapsulates autumn in a tub.  Gloi have - currently - no ability to bring these scented salts back, which distresses me greatly.
Body Shop Spiced Vanilla shower gel - Another (sorry!) discontinued little gem.  The warm scent of vanilla mixed with just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg makes this a cuddle-some little bottle of love.  I'm hoping they bring it back next Christmas.
Paul Mitchell Wild Ginger Awapuhi Shampoo & Conditioner - These are currently my second favourite shampoo & conditioner, but don't let that put you off, they're actually excellent.  Very excellent indeed for sulfate and paraben-free products, it's just that I've found something which is unexpectedly better for my hair (and which I'll tell you about later).  The shampoo lathers wonderfully well, which means I don't have to double-cleanse with it, and the conditioner - which is silicone free - has wonderful slip and leaves my hair soft, silky and very, very shiny.  I adore the slightly spicy scent of ginger too. They're the best shampoo and conditioner on this shelf of my shower.


So, what's in your shower?


The Fine Print: This is a mixture of stuff I've bought, stuff I was sent by PRs, gifts, and stuff I've snuffled around eBay in a mournful manner for.

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Win!

Psst!  I forgot to mention in this post that if you follow @welbeckclinic on Twitter, they'll give away the full package of Zoom2! Whitening (exactly as I had) once they reach the magic figure of 150 followers!

So, if you fancy whiter teeth, and my description hasn't scared you off totally, go follow @welbeckclinic now! It could, as they say, be you ...

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com/ All rights reserved.

Zoom2! Tooth Whitening at The Welbeck Clinic

So, the amazing people at the Welbeck Clinic have finished whitening my teeth, and I can't wait to show you the results.

Before:

After:

  I couldn't really be happier, I went a whopping six shades whiter!  (Important note: no photos in this post have had the colours adjusted in any way, the only changes I've made to the originals has been to crop them)  the difference is most noticeable in this picture here:

So, what does Zoom2! Whitening involve?  There are three stages,  Pre-whitening, Zoom2! Whitening itself, and a bit of aftercare.  I'll take you through the three stages of my experience here:


Pre-whitening:

After being fitted for trays to hold the pre-whitening gel (as detailed in my last post here), you spend four days using the trays for four hours a day - or overnight, as I did - in order to get your teeth ready for the laser treatment.  Basically, you're given a couple of tubes of gel, and you fill your trays with them, pop them in, and presto!  Whiter teeth!  Well, not quite, you have to make sure you don't over-fill your trays, or you can irritate your gums (I did this, please don't be like me, I had itchy gums for a while), and you can't eat or drink anything whilst the trays are in. I think you can see why I used them overnight, really ...  Oh, and you can't drink tea or coffee, eat curry, or anything with a tomato-based sauce or beetroot etc whilst the pre-whitening is going on.  Which, for four days of just white food can be a bit ... dull.  But hey!  Cheese and champagne were okay, so I did alright ...


The custom-made trays aren't the most comfortable thing in the world, but, they're thin, and won't make you feel like your mouth is overloaded with plastic.  It is important to remember to clean them only with cold water though, or they will distort and won't fit well.


Zoom2! Whitening


So, after four days of white food, and whitening at home, you'll be in the chair, what can you expect?  Well, I was pleased to find that the treatment was neither as painful nor as uncomfortable as expected, and the 90  minutes treatment time passed quite quickly.  The procedure is explained in a lot of detail - again mentioning that results are unpredictable, and are therefore not guaranteed - then the whitening begins.


There are two stages, and the first is the one that takes most time.  This is when they are isolating your teeth to ensure that neither the peroxide solution or the laser damages your gums.  You are put into a cheek retractor (sheckshy!), then cotton wool and gauze pads are put into place to absorb excess saliva, but it is still easy to breath, and you can swallow normally too. It's not the most comfortable I've ever been, but it's in no way painful, and you soon get used to the sensation. At this point they colour match your teeth - they use your canines as these are usually darker than your incisors.  

A gel is then placed onto your gums and set with an LED, and you're all set to start whitening.  The technician will paint a peroxide gel onto your teeth, and then the laser is set in place and your teeth are zapped for between 12-15 minutes.  This gel-then-zapping takes place three times, and it's oddly relaxing.  The room is quiet and dark, and it's actually difficult to stay awake through!  They do warn you that you may feel little "shocks" of sensitivity during the third round of lasering, but I was lucky enough not to suffer that.


Once the zapping has taken place, the gauzes and gel are quickly removed (in one go), and you are colour-matched again, this is where you discover how much whiter your teeth are, and it's quite astonishing to see.


Aftercare:


I won't lie, the 24 hours after getting my teeth lasered were a bit tough.  Whilst nothing was painful, per se, my teeth did "zing" for a full 24 hours afterward, to the extent where I was grumpy and wanting to scratch my gums to death.  The dentist did warn me about this, and I was given some oral-care gel to wear in my trays overnight if I was bothered by it at all, I was bothered by it, and using the trays did give me a little relief, I have to admit.  But, almost exactly 24 hours after the treatment, my teeth suddenly stopped itching - if you've ever had prickly heat, it feels exactly like that, only in your teeth - and I've not had a problem with them since.  There has been no increase in sensitivity at all since, and I've not had to use the gel since either.  I have switched to a sensitive toothpaste (Colgate  Sensitivity Pro-Relief + Whitening, in fact, it's very good) for the time being though, just in case.


You do still have to adhere to the white food diet for a few days afterwards, and, after a week of no tea, I can tell you that that first cup last Friday was the Best Cup of Tea EVAH.


So, am I glad I had it done?  Yes, definitely.  The shade of white I've been left with looks natural, and healthy (it's not over-white, like Simon Cowell or Jodie Marsh), and it's just brightened up my look in a subtle kind of way.  I look "better", somehow, in a way that's difficult for people to put a finger on.  And I love the look of them.


So, would I get it done again?  Yes, most probably.  The treatment last 2-3 years (with a top up at 18 months), and I think that will be more than enough time for me to forget how itchy my teeth were in that first 24 hours ... ! Plus, I love the subtle way that it has improved my looks!  Let's face it, I need a lot of help ...

Would I visit the Welbeck Clinic again?  In a heartbeat.  The lovely friendly staff, and the clean comfortable surgery makes visiting a pleasure rather than a chore, and there's nothing like sitting next to the occasional celebrity in the waiting room to make visiting more interesting than my usual dentist!  I'm considering booking in with them for my next hygienist appointment, in fact. 


You can find out more about tooth whitening at The Welbeck Clinic here.


The Fine Print: Get Lippie was a guest of The Welbeck Clinic, and is very, very grateful.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com/ All rights reserved.

Prai 02 Infusion with Vacuum Technology

 At the moment, I'm on a bit of a cleansing kick, and when the opportunity came up to try this one out, I leapt at it, as it sounded intriguing.  It promises an "innovative formula" which contains oxygen molecules to stop your skin being lackluster and promises a more youthful and "refreshed" look.

In use, this light, apricot coloured gel transforms into a mousse, and it foams, foams, foams it's way to cleaner skin. It's actually huge fun to use, you massage it lightly into your slightly damp skin, and watch it do it's stuff for a couple of minutes then rinse it off, and Presto! Cleaner, smoother, brighter skin!


Or ...

As in my case, itchy, flaky, burning, sparkly skin. For this cleanser contains micro-glitter, which adheres to your skin even after you've removed the foam (with a wet washcloth, in my case).  Too late, I remembered that my (slightly oily, not as sensitive as it used to be) skin hates anything that foams, and boy, did it let me know afterward.  It took several days of intense moisturisation, and very, very, very gentle handling to get it back to anything like its former equilibrium.  This, plus looking like a Twilight reject once I'd used it makes this product a complete no-go for me, I'm afraid.  On the plus side, it smells lovely, and a little of this goes a very, very, very long way.

One for the greasy-skinned, less sensitive souls amongst us to use for Father Christmas impressions, I feel.  Prai 02 Infusion costs £19.75 from QVC

The Fine Print: PR Sample.

Lanolips - Now in Boots

(l-r: Rose, Rhubarb, 101, Dark Honey, Apples)

 I popped along to Boots on Oxford Street last week, and noticed they now have Lanolips in store. They've been available on Boots.com for a couple of months now, but  it's good to see them in-store finally. Even better, they're currently on 3-4-2, so it was an ideal chance for me to pick up a couple or three new ones to add to my collection (like I ever need an excuse to stock up on lipbalms ...)!

Made from medical grade lanolin (the tube labelled 101 is 100% pure), Lanolips are an Australian import, and are the brainchild of the lovely Kirsten Carriol, who has made it her mission to make a natural lip product based on lanolin.  I'd say she's succeeded, I've pretty much swapped out most of my other lipbalms and this winter I've rarely been without a tube in one pocket or another.

Initially I started off with just Rhubarb (I love rhubarb, I couldn't not have this one) and Dark Honey, but I picked up 101, Apples and Rose in-store recently too.  The shades are lovely and very wearable:

(l-r: Rose, Rhubarb, 101, Dark Honey, Apples)

Dark Honey (surprisingly) is probably the one I get the most wear out of, as it's a pale, dusky mauve shade that's very similar in shade to my natural lip-colour, and I find it evens out the tones in my lips very well - but I have very pigmented lips, with a natural "lip-line" that paler shades don't cover up too well.

The balms are fragrance and flavouring-free, and yes, they are a bit sticky.  Sticky to the extent that you may have to warm it in your fingers before applying it to your lips, and it's practically solid on a cold day, but on your lips it's feather-light, and hugely moisturising.  I haven't had cracked lips once, in spite of the bitterly cold weather, and I like to think it's because of Lanolips!  I've also found that it makes a great overnight treatment for sore lips too.

Enlarge to see ingredients

 So, do you need Lanolips?  I think so, they're moisturising, flavour-free, and best of all they work.  I'm not entirely happy with the packaging, the labels the UK distributor uses to seal the tubes peels the gold paint off, and there is just a plain nozzle on them, which means you can't apply direct to your lips from the tube, but these are minor gripes, my lips love these.


 The Fine Print:  I bought these, with my ill-gotten gains garnered from my other life as an accountant.
This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Nail of the Day: OPI The One That Got Away

I could give a stuff about Katy Perry, and the associated crackle polish from her recent collection for OPI, to be honest, but even so I can't deny this deep fuschia-purple shade that's just packed with glass flecks is almost too gorgeous for words:




I'm about to get MrLippie to paint my toes with this too... Don't tell him! Perfect happy-making shade for a wet Saturday afternoon.

This came from Selfridges, and cost £10.50. Thought the rest of the shades were just a bit ... meh, so passed on the rest of them.

Chantecaille Turtles Palette - Swatches

I saw this just after Christmas in some promo pics, and I have to admit, I fell in love a little bit.  Chantecaille has always been a brand I've admired, but have never really seen what all the fuss is about previously, but this palette might just be the one to change my mind.  It's beautiful.

A shimmering sand shade, a glimmering brown, a multi-tonal greyed out forest green, and a golden coral shade, it's almost as if the palette was made for me (and, if the brown had been a taupe, I may well have thought it was!)

Every year, Chantecaille produce a palette where a proportion of the funds raised from the sales go to help sustain wildlife.  Last year it was tigers, and this year (via the Widecast Organisation) it is turtles.  I've spent a few nights - in the dim and distant past - on turtle watch in Greece, so this was a bit of a no-brainer for me, but it helped that the colours are so pretty.  So, how do they swatch?

Well, the answer to that is, very nicely indeed, thank you.  The colours are on the sheer side, to be honest, but they build up well, and can also be used wet or dry with no damage to the shades in the pan, which is great.  Swatches above are shown as several passes of dry shadow on unprimed skin.  The shades are shimmery, but in a very subtle way, and they're amongst some of the softest, most velvety feeling eyeshadows I own.  Sort of a Rouge Bunny Rouge texture, only slightly less pigment, making them - in my eyes - slightly easier to work with.  Personally, I find shadows with too much pigment difficult to deal with at times.

I love that charcoal green!  It looks so different on the skin to how it appears in the pan, but it's gorgeous either way.  I used it as an eyeliner this morning:

I applied the sand as a base, the golden brown in the crease, and the green as a liner on both top and bottom.  The colours are easy to blend for a seamless look.  Here's the full face shot so you can see it in context:

I wanted a clean, professional look today for a board meeting, eyeshadows as above, plus the blusher from the palette, foundation is Guerlain Lingerie de Peau, and I'm wearing Lanolips in  Dark Honey on my lips.  I'm going to try a smokier look with it tomorrow.

So, do you need a Turtles palette?  If you like polished neutrals, then possibly.  It is expensive, at £73 the price is more than comparable to, say, a Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope, but the inclusion of blusher makes them a slightly different proposition.  I can see it's something I'm going to use a lot, but your mileage may vary.

Finally, one last shot which is actually an outtake, but I thought it looked kind of cool:

Look!  They're all swimming in a circle!



The Fine Print: I bought this.

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Malika Signature Facial

Before I discovered Browhaus, I used to alternate between going to Blink at Selfridges and Malika in Westfield to get my eyebrows done.  Both are marvellous, and I never had a bad eyebrow shape from either of them, pop along if you get the chance, you won't be disappointed.

However, just because I've sold my eyebrows to Ellie at Browhaus, doesn't mean I'm planning on abandoning Malika (mainly because it's on my doorstep, practically) any time soon.  I was invited along to their Westfield store recently for a signature facial to find out more about other services the threading chain is offering to their clients.

The signature facial is based on ayurvedic principles, and, after answering a few questions about your skin, your facialist will mix up a personalised selection of fruits, aloe vera, juices, milk and honey, based on your requirements.  This facial is all-natural, and there are no pre-prepared ingredients and/or creams and unguents used during the 80 minute facial. 


Far from relaxing, this is an exceptionally cleansing facial with an amazing massage attached, the facialist really goes to town, and gives your skin the most thorough workout you've ever had.  I liked it a great deal, afterwards my skin was smooth and blemish free, and the enzymes in the fruit juices definitely had a slight peeling effect on my skin, leaving it brighter for a good few days afterwards.  The only downside is that it can be a little messy, so make sure you take something with you to tie your hair back with.  Oh, and the treatment room is tiny, so if you're claustrophobic at all, you might have problems.  The Signature Facial costs £80 and lasts 75 minutes.

You can find out more about Malika here. 

The Fine Print: Get Lippie was a guest of Malika

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Beauty Resolutions

As beauty bloggers go, I'm a bit of a scruff. Okay, a lot of a scruff.  Oh, and I'm a bit lazy too.  If there's a choice between an extra ten minutes in bed, and giving myself a blow-dry in the morning, I'll take the ten minutes in bed, and go to work with wet hair.

Yes, I have no shame.  But I will always make the time to at least put some mascara on, I've no wish to scare the kiddiwinks on my walk to the tube ... (too often)


But no more!  Alongside my Project Perfume, I've decided that this is the year that Get Lippie Gets Groomed*.  No more fluffy eyebrows.  No more leaving my hair six months in-between getting coloured.  No more chipped nail varnish.  No more letting my toes go unpedicured for months on end (MrLippie's going to love this, I make him paint my toenails for reasons I won't go into on here again) No more letting my leg hair grow so long I could plait it .  Actually, that last one is a lie, but the sentiment is still there. So, to that end, I'm enlisting some of my favourite salons and services to help keep me in shape.

To wit: I've just booked myself a course of ten eyebrow shapes at Browhaus because it cost £100 instead of £150 (and I could pay in two instalments of £50!) and Ellie at the Covent Garden branch is practically the only person I'll trust near my eyebrows these days.  I'll be regularly visiting Equus in Knightsbridge to sort out my colour with Jack, and get some wonderful blow-dries from David Evans, who has just joined the team. He kindly sorted me out with a gorgeous swishy do for London Fashion Week over the weekend, which garnered a lot of compliments.  He's a bargain at £65 for a cut and blow dry too - make sure you book now for your Royal Wedding 'do (don't tell me you're not considering one), as they're getting booked up already ... I've already mentioned I'm sorting out teeth whitening recently, but more about that next week ...


As for stuff I can do myself  (what do you mean I can pluck my own eyebrows?  Have you seen the havoc I could wreak with a pair of tweezers?) I'm going to paint my nails at least twice a week, and I'm going to start having regular facials too. Sometimes I'll have them at home with my INSANE collection of skincare, and sometimes I'll try out facials from other places as well, but I'll talk about that another day this week. 


I shall still, however, stick to my policy of only wearing black sacks, flat shoes and cardigans.  Well, us accountants have to live down to image somehow ...


So, what else should one consider when going on a grooming regime?

*Not like that .

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com/ All rights reserved.

When Obsessions Collide...

Did I mention I had a stationery fetish?

Guerlain Rouge Automatique - 121 Rouge D'Enfer, 140 Mitsouko, 161 Cherry Blossom

One of the things I really really like about Guerlain is that they bridge an amazing history with really forward-thinking packaging and amazing textures.  It's a great contrast to think that they've been making perfume since the 1870's and yet, the packaging of their Rouge G's has more than a little hint of the space age about it, I'll say one thing for them, they're not afraid to do things different.

 Because they have such an amazing history, they have some great vaults in Guerlain HQ, and this leads creative director Olivier Echaudemaison to occasionally make raids on some great lost designs of the past.  Based on an old design lipstick case first developed in 1936 (I think the pic above really highlights their Art Deco influence) the new Rouge Automatique lipsticks are a fun - they're designed to be used one-handed - addition to the Guerlain lipstick line.

 
I was sent three to try, (l-r) Rouge D'Enfer, Mitsouko, and Cherry Blossom.  As well as taking the inspiration for the casings from the vaults, each lipstick is named after either a classic Guerlain shade or fragrance.

(l-r Rouge D'Enfer, Mitsouko, Cherry Blossom) In order to get at the colours, you slide the button on the (slightly rounded - this is important, I'll come back to this later) front of the casing, and the top slides down, and the bullet rises up to enable you to apply it.

There will be 25 shades in the range, and I have a red, a nude and a pink to show you.   In the same order as the hand swatches above:

Rouge D'Enfer:

A classic neutral red creme, with no shimmer.  It applies lightly and lasts well - I wore it for seven hours and it lasted me through several snacks and quite a few cups of coffee, but I have to admit there was a hint of "red ring of doom" when I wore it through lunch.

Mitsouko

 Mitsouko is - what else? - peach. If you don't know, the fragrance Mitsouko is based on peaches - amongst other things.  I can't deny that when I first looked at the bullet, my first thought was "Peach! Frosty! Frosty Peach!".  But on swatching, and on the lips I was very pleasantly surprised.  It's a lot more sheer than I anticipated, and it has very fine shimmer on the lips.  Not quite a micro-shimmer, but close.  It's far, far, far more flattering than I ever expected, and it's something I'll happily wear.

Cherry Blossom

Now, my favourite pink lipstick of All Time (at the time of writing - I am fickle)  is, of course, Guerlain Rouge G in Georgia.  This doesn't, for me, hold a candle to that shade, but it is very pretty.  Again, in the bullet, the impression is that it's frosty, but, like Mitsouko it's sheer on the lips, and the frost shows up as a slight hint of shimmer.  It's very wearable, if a little on the pale side for someone who likes their pinks, PINK! as I do ...


Overall


The texture of these lipsticks is fabulous. All from a gel base, the creme shades are highly pigmented, and all the variations are lightweight on the lips, and "meld" with your lips rather than sit on it (which is a particular pet hate of mine), they're very comfortable, non-greasy, and non-drying.  Lasting time is rather average, but you can extend that with use of lip pencil or a lip primer. The packaging is lovely and light, and you could carry about six of these around with you for the same weight of say, one Rouge G or two Tom Fords ...

The one thing I don't like is ... the packaging.  As you can see from the picture above, the case is rounded at the front, and is quite thick, so it can house the lever that moves the bullet up and down.  Now, the problem is that the bullet is placed facing that direction so you have the thicker side of the casing towards your lips when you're applying it.  With the more sheer shades this isn't so much of a problem, but when you're applying the red (or any other shade that requires precision), it means you have to lever up much more of the bullet to avoid having to hold the lipstick at an awkward angle when applying - and it makes me worry about snapping the bullet.  If the bullets were placed so they face the back of the case (where it is thinner), it would be less of an issue.  All that said, it's a relatively minor issue.  The texture and wear of these is superb.


Guerlain Rouge Automatique will launch exclusively in Selfridges on April 3rd, and cost £24.50.  The cost is comparable to Rouge G's, which now cost £28 ... they'll be available nationwide from 1st May.

Oh, and one final picture ... I'll be reviewing the Terracotta collection for 2011 from next week, here's a sneaky preview:

The Fine Print: Samples kindly provided by a mysterious benefactor*.

*Guerlain.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.