A Charitable Christmas List

This time last year, I wrote a heartfelt post about homelessness and, and how Give as You Live are helping charities by enabling you to do your Christmas shopping quickly, easily, and allowing you to donate to the charities of your choice at no extra cost to you.

Well, it's time to remind you of Give As You Live once again,  and talk to you about the charity I've chosen to support this year.  In a nutshell, Give As You Live collects money from retailers to donate to a charity of your choice, at no cost to you.  You can either shop through the Give As You Live website, or through their toolbar, which you can download to your desktop, and use through your browser.  You select your chosen charity, and shop away to your heart's content.  The full cost of the charitable donation is borne by the retailer, which include brands such as Amazon, Debenhams, Liberty, and hundreds more besides! 

Both the website and the toolbar act as price comparison tools too, so you can actually save yourself some money, and do some good for charity too!  Give As You Live have already donated more than £3 million pounds to charities in the last year and a bit, which is amazing, but there's room for more.

This year, the charity I'm supporting though Give As You Live is Diabetes UK.  In the interests of disclosure and transparency, I should let you know that I work for the organisation (I look after the accounts for several different sections of the charity).  However, this isn't why I've chosen them this year.  What I didn't realise before I started working for Diabetes UK is that diabetes used to be a death sentence. Even now, when medical research is such that we can control the condition a lot more easily than we used to, diabetes is still an incredibly serious, and incurable, condition.  10% of the entire NHS budget goes towards dealing with diabetes, and it's complications -which include amputations, blindness and kidney problems - and that is an astonishingly high figure.   

I'm choosing Diabetes UK because, in the short time I've been there, I've come to understand the value of what they do to support the lives of people with diabetes, and I hope that, if one day my life is touched by the condition - I'm a prime candidate being short and fat and rather elderly,  though I'm hoping the diet I've been on in the last six months will help lessen my risk - they'll be around to help me too. I already know they'd help anyone who is a current sufferer, and their families.

Anyhoo,Give As You Live and I have put together a little gift list of things that have caught my eye over the last 12 months, and, if you decide to buy any of them through the links on this page then a donation will be made to Diabetes UK.  No pressure though, if you want to donate to anyone else, feel free! 

OPI nail polish ‘I’m Indi-a Mood For Love’ £11

A brilliant and beautiful pink, which will raise £0.11p for charity with Give as you Live

UGG Australia Trainers £95

Heaven for your feet.  The pair I bought last year haven't been off my tootsies since they arrived. Raises £2.37 for charity with Give as you Live

OPI ‘The Top Ten’ £28.50

Ten of the most popular nail varnish shades from one of the most popular nail varnish companies around. Raises £0.28p for charity with Give as you Live

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser £57

Simply the best tinted moisturiser I've ever tried. It will raise £1.42 for charity with Give as you Live.

  

Zelens Moisture Infusion £85

I'm in love with Zelens this year.  They haven't - yet - knocked my adoration of Kate Somerville off it's perch, but as KS has just been discontinued in the UK, and Zelens are still here, it's only a matter of time. Raises £2.55 for your charity with Give as you Live.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation £27.50

The most popular foundation in the UK, and the most popular foundation currently in my flat.  Make someone's day and buy them one now. Raises £0.82 for your charity with Give as you Live.

Le Snob: Perfume £6.75

A witty and well-written introductory guide to fragrance by the writer of Persolaise.com.  I love my copy, and have been begging MrLippie to read it for weeks so he stops describing everything as "orangey" or "flowers". Raises £0.16 for your charity with Give as you Live.

Clinique chubby stick £16

The original, and still the best lipstick/balm hybrid, in the twist-up pencil.  Lovely stuff.   Get one for your lipstick-phobic best friend now. Raises £0.64 for your charity with Give as you Live.

Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad ‘Titanium Smoke’ £62

Everyone needs a bit of Tom Ford in their makeup bag, and this is my favourite palette out of the four I have, it's probably the most versatile, too. Raises £2.48 for your charity with Give as you Live.

  
 This post: A Charitable Christmas List originated at: Get Lippie All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Get Lippie, then this content has been stolen by a scraper

Lipsticks of the Week - Berries

In the winter, for it is now very definitely winter, a girls' fancy very much turns to darker shades.  Whilst I'm yet to put away my reds, pinks and coral (and, if truth be told, it's unlikely I will), I've been very much fancying juicy plummy and berry shades for my lips this last week.  It started with Top Shop lipstick in Wicked (second from the right, above), and then kind of grew, until the entire week was taken up with purpl-ish lips.

From left to right we have:

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable LipStain in Crush
Top Shop Gloss Stick in Glisten
Vapour Elixir Lipgloss in Bitten
Tom Ford Lipstick in Violet Fatal
Cosmetics A La Carte Lipstick in "Get Lippie"
Top Shop lipstick in Wicked
and Ilia Lip Conditioner in Arabian Knights

Here's a slightly closer look:

  
And, of course, the obligatory swatches:

 
As you can see, Bitten is the reddest of these shades, whereas Glisten and Violet Fatal fall into the pinker zone.  Crush and Get Lippie are the purplest shades (Get Lippie is the personal shade of lipstick created specially for me by Daniel Sandler and Cosmetics a la Carte last year, I need a back up).  Wicked is a wonderful shade on the lips, even though it looks terrifyingly brown in the bullet.

 
What shades are you craving at the moment?      

This post: Lipsticks of the Week - Berries originated at: Get Lippie All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Get Lippie, then this content has been stolen by a scraper

Mumsnet BlogFest 2012

Did I mention I was a guest-speaker at Mumsnet BlogFest the other week?  I suspect I only really mentioned it in passing in the Evans post ... anyhoo, I was, and, out of all the blogging conferences I've been to over the years, BlogFest was by far the most fun! And not just because I was one of the panellists ...

I bought a ticket for BlogFest as soon as I heard that Liz Jones and Caitlin Moran were going to be speakers. Really, I couldn't imagine two more diametrically opposed journalists, and I was interested to see what both of them would have to say about blogging. As food was included in the entry price (and I'm a sucker for a catered event), I figured that seeing either, or both of these ladies speak would be well worth the entry fee ... and how right (and wrong) I was!




I was slightly bemused at the time of buying the ticket that the "Blog  Beautiful" (which I was magnetically drawn to for some strange reason) panel featured no actual beauty bloggers, and, whilst it did contain the utterly divine Sali Hughes, beauty writer of the Guardian, it has to be said that the other panellists: Erica Davies, Avril Keys, Alyson Walsh (who are amazing by the way, go check them out) are, whilst definitely beautiful, inarguably more fashion-focused than beauty.  My plan was to go along and ask why they didn't have any "pure" beauty bloggers involved.  I'm nice like that.  Alas, my cunning plan was scuppered slightly by them inviting me along to fill that particular slot!   Our panel was lots of fun - although I understand a few of the audience were a bit confused and thought it was about making your blog beautiful - and I talked far too much, as you'll see if you click on the video above.

Me in full flow (images from the video)

The rest of the day was great too,  I developed girl-crushes all over the place for some of the amazing women on the bill.  Caitlin Moran was both hilarious and inspirational, though I'll never be able to look at a microphone in precisely the same way ever again, it has to be said.  Miriam González Durántez gave an amazing, rousing speech at the beginning of the day, setting the tone perfectly for the rest of the sessions.  In particular Suzanne Moore and Cath Elliot were amazing, strong, opinionated women, and their tales of the troubles their writing have caused them - seriously, a few "you look like crap"comments on beauty blogs are nothing compared to the trolling other women go through - really helped me put a few things into perspective.  Also, Zoe Margolis has the best hair I've ever seen.  FACT.  I may have made a fool of myself mentioning it in one or a dozen tweets or so, afterwards.

As for Liz Jones ... well.  Some of you have probably read some of the hoo-ha her piece about BlogFest in the Mail on Sunday the other week caused, so I won't go into it here (it's dull, she's dull, the Mail is dull - and IT HATES YOU, so if you have a womb, then you need to STOP READING IT.  Seriously, I used to work there. And, before you say anything, I know).  Well, let's just say that Liz Jones is ... unwell.  And very, very sad.

Oh, and the food was ace.  Any blogging conference that has a four separate officially-scheduled cake-breaks is okay with me. The food - and drink - alone was well worth the entrance fee.  Oh, and there was a goody-bag, the contents of which still make me giggle, thanks to the inclusion of the Bonne Maman cookery book, which appears to believe that the inclusion of jam into everything (beef stew with blueberry jam, steak in ale and redcurrant jelly, kedgeree with apricot conserve, those sorts of recipes).  My only regret about the day is that I couldn't attend every session.  In particular, I was disappointed not to be able to attend the "Blogging Can Change The World" session, as I genuinely believe that blogging is changing, if not the world, then women's lives all over the world.  It's certainly changed mine, and, as I sit here in my pyjamas, typing this whilst staring at a pile of boxes I haven't yet sorted, and not sure I have room for even when I do, I still think it's for the better.  Blogging has sent some amazing opportunities, and people, my way and that's very definitely changed my world.

I'll be booking a ticket for next year for sure. I doubt they'll let me speak again, bless 'em ... 

This post: Mumsnet BlogFest 2012 originated at: Get Lippie All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Get Lippie, then this content has been stolen by a scraper

Wedding Preparation with Slendertone Face

It is less than 90 days till the "wedding of the weekend"* takes place, and, I have to admit, I'm getting a bit nervous now.  The dress is bought, the invitations have been posted, the rings are ordered, we've tasted the cake(s), booked the band, bought approximately 58,754,665,476 boleros in an attempt to cover up my bingo-wings (know anybody who needs a silvery bolero?  Cheap?), recruited MakeupbyKaty, MissMerxMani's, Priya Sonn, The Beauty Slice and CookWithSheenie (hey, I'm a blogger, and I'm all for supporting bloggers with their own businesses) for various bits and bobs, and I think that finally - an outfit for MrLippie aside - that we're nearly ready.

Almost.

There's still stuff to be done, and some of that will actually involve me doing things for myself, which is where Slendertone Face comes in.  I've had a couple of facials this year (reviews upcoming), and I've enjoyed them a great deal, but I can't afford - in either time or money - to have one every week, which is what I would really like to do.  

Slendertone Face gives your facial muscles a workout every time you use it.  Essentially, it uses electrical currents to stimulate the muscles in your face, making them contract and relax and increasing blood flow to the skin, which in turn improves both the condition and tone of your skin.

Packaged like a set of expensive headphones, you wear these hooked around the back of your head, and the wider bits sit in front of your ears, just underneath your cheekbones.  There are three settings, Facial, Radiance and Massage, and you control the intensity of your "workout" via the handset:

It's easy to use, you press P to select your programme, then use the plus or minus buttons to increase or decrease the power of each connector till you can feel your muscles working.  Then you sit back and relax!  My kind of workout, frankly ... oh, if your eyelid starts to twitch, you've probably got the power too high, you need to work up to the increasing power levels.   You must make sure that your skin is clean, dry and free from creams, otherwise the pads won't stay in contact with your skin.

I'll be honest, it does feel a bit weird in use, (and MrL thinks it looks hilarious), but you soon get used to it.  And I have to say that anything that'll help me tighten up my jowls is a must-have as far as I'm concerned!

You use the Slendertone face three times a week for around 15 minutes (depending on which programme you're using), and you should start to see results in around six weeks.  I'll keep you posted.

The Slendertone Face is currently on offer on the Slendertone website, and has £50 off.  It currently costs £199, which is just slightly over the cost of three really good facials.  A bargain?  We'll see.

Now, I wonder if it'll fix my bingo wings ... ?


 The Fine Print: PR Sample. Begone foul jowls!  Begone!

This post: Wedding Preparation with Slendertone Face originated at: Get Lippie on November 22nd 2012 All rights reserved. 
If you are not reading this post at Get Lippie, then this content has been stolen by a scraper

Shopping My Stash ...

My makeup collection is insane.  It always has been, admittedly, but one of the side-effects of being a beauty blogger is that you're constantly being seduced by the call of the new, and old-favourites can sometimes get sidelined.  Sometimes, however, I like to take a little wander around products that have been favourites in the past (called "shopping your stash", by beauty bloggers) and rediscover what I loved about them.

The above picture shows some of the things I've rediscovered lately, and that I'm loving using.  From left to right we have Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place ShadowCreme (catchy!) in Pink Pearl, Guerlain Kohl in Mirage, Noir and Oriental Metal, and Malin+Goetz lip moisturiser.  Let's take a closer look:

I love the Double Wear Shadow formulas, they're smooth and easy to use, and last all day.  Pink Pearl isn't a shade I wear alone (it's pink), but it makes a great base for other shadows, and is great for adding a touch of "glow" to a neutral eye makeup look. It blends out really well, and wears all day, a perfect shadow base, as it's a lot easier to blend over than say ... Urban Decay Primer Potion.

I like this so much, I'm going to investigate a couple more shades of this, in Smokey Plum (as I can't resist anything purple), and Precious Jade, which contrary to its name is a slightly greenish-taupe colour.   I love me a bit of taupe, allegedly.

Moving onto the Guerlain Kohl's, here's how they swatch:

Mirage is a matte brown, which doesn't contain that much red, and is therefore fairly easy to wear. Noir is a lightly sparkling black, which I adore. And I don't really have the words to tell you how much I love Oriental Metal, except to say that it is taupe.  And I love taupe above all things.  Okay, most things.  Okay, some things. But when it comes to makeup, it's probably definitely safe to say that my taupe obsession borders on the unhealthy...  I've been wearing these shades a lot recently, and wish Guerlain would bring out more shades, I think a purple would be wonderful ...

Then, there is the Malin+ Goetz lip moisturiser, which I wrote about fairly recently, it is, quite simply, the best base I've found for lipstick, ever.  I must own (practically) at least one of every single lipbalm ever made, and the lack of grease and instant hydration that this product offers is unbeatable.

What's lurking in the depths of your makeup bag?


The Fine Print: Purchases, mainly.  To get to the other side, silly! What, you expected more from me?
 
This post: Shopping My Stash originated at: Get Lippie on Novemeber 20th All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Get Lippie, then this content has been stolen by a scraper

Frontcover Desk to Date Palette

  
Sadly no longer available in  Boots, Frontcover are now available exclusively online, and they're also now internationally available from Sephora, which is all kinds of aces.  Famous for their kits which provide a variety of looks - and the instructions of how to get them, Frontcover is an excellent independent British brand that deserves a bit more recognition.  They've just released their collection of kits for Christmas, and I've been trialling the Desk to Date kit, which is an eyeshadow-only kit.

Desk to Date contains eighteen eyeshadows, ten of which are highly iridescent baked formulas, just packed with pearl and colour.  The remaining eight are neutrals, in a semi-matte formula.  There are also two high-quality (and I don't say that lightly) double ended applicators, which is handy.

The baked shades (Date) are vibrant, and well-pigmented, and rather creamy on application.  Unusually for a baked formula, the shades apply well even without a primer, and are less patchy than I expected.  They are exceptionally shimmery though, so if you're a fan of the gleam, these will be perfect for you:

Applied over a primer, the shades are more vibrant.  My favourite of these is the silver, and I admit to being just a touch disappointed with the lilac above it, but overall, I've been more impressed with these than I thought I would be.

  
The shades in the base are far more neutral, with just the barest hint of shimmer - there are two shades suitable for lining (a dark brown and a deep charcoal), but the rest will allow you to create either a lovely nude look, or an office suitable look in shades of taupe:

Again, the shadows are fairly creamy, and blend well on the skin even without a primer - the shades in the paler colours do tend to err on the warmer side though, I have to say, but they're all very lovely.

Overall, I have to say I'm really impressed with the quality of this palette, the eyeshadows are well pigmented, the brush applicators are surprisingly good, and there's a nice, big mirror in the lid.  What you don't get in this palette, which you do in some of the other kits, is step by step instructions on how to create a variety of looks, personally, I don't see that as a disadvantage, but I'm aware that some people might.  Another thing I like about this kit is that it's made of plastic, rather then the more usual cardboard, which makes it a bit more durable than some of the other Frontcover kits I've come across in the past.

All in all, for just £16, I think that the Desk to Date palette is a winner.  What say you?  

 
The Fine Print: PR Sample. Why did the chicken cross the road? I'll tell you tomorrow
 
This post: FrontCover Desk to Date Palette originated at: Get Lippie on November 19th 2012 
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Technical Difficulties …

We're having some scheduling difficulties at Get Lippie this week, so, in time-honoured "Test Card" fashion, here's a completely irrelevant photo of a tin gingerbread man next to a giant lip balm to tide you over until normal service can be resumed.

You'll just have to imagine your own soothing music …