Help, I need somebody!

So, Get Lippie is about to stage her second round of makeovers, would you like to be involved?  Send an email to louise@getlippie.com explaining what your particular beauty concern is - just a sentence will do! - and I'll see if I can help.  Lucky volunteers will be featured on the blog.

Applicants must be over 18, be available in (or be willing to travel to) makeover sessions in Central London which will be held on various Sundays during January, February and March 2010. They must also be willing to be have their makeover session featured on the blog - camera-shy people don't worry, everyone hates having their photograph taken at first! If you've already responded on Twitter then don't worry, I'll be in touch soon!

Thanks for reading, Get Lippie wouldn't exist without you.

L

x

The small print: Sessions are on a volunteer basis only, no recompense can be made, nor will any financial arrangement be entered into.

Nail of the Day - Chanel Kaleidescope

This shimmering metallic taupe/pewter was a limited edition from Chanel in 2008, the above pic shows two coats over a Seche base and with a Seche Vite top coat. Application is smooth with no streaking, but as it's a metallic you do tend to get visible brush marks.






As for the colour - I'm not sure I like it, there were lots of raves about it at the time, but I think it's actually a really difficult colour to wear as it highlights any pink you might have whatsoever in your fingers, and
makes it look like you have a nasty case of dishpan hands. At least, that's how I feel about it. This is only the second time I've tried it, and it's doubtful there will be a third.

What do you think?

More Sale Bargains - Paul & Joe Eyeshadows

I think I may have gone a little sale-crazy over Christmas, but there were some amazing bargains around!  I was in Fenwicks last week, and picked up four Paul and Joe eyeshadows for about five pounds each!  I love the packaging, they remind me of chocolate coins!  

Here's the colours I picked (with flash and without):

 

From left to right, there are shades 94 (gorgeous velvety purple), 003 (peachy gold), 95 (rose gold/taupe shade) and 93 (mossy golden green).  The shadows feel buttery soft on the skin, but I've not worn them on my eyes yet, as I've been ill, and wearing make up has been the last thing on my mind recently!

Here's how they swatched on my skin:

Please excuse the broken fingernail on my ring finger there, I had a little altercation with a tin can over Christmas, and it's only just growing back!  All these colours have a very metallic finish, and this is how they looked after one swipe on the pan.  Am really liking the look of 95 there, I'm really looking forward to using these babies!

Lipstick Queen Fifteen (okay, Ten) Minutes of Fame ...

I was at the Space NK Sale the other day, and I managed to pick up these babies:

and

And all for £22!  That's 10 Lipstick Queen lipglosses, that normally retail at £13.30 each.  Okay,they're only 2/3s the size of the full size product, but when that difference works out at 0.2gms, that not such a big deal, still a bargain!  Poppy King is kind of a heroine of mine, so I was delighted to be able to pick up more of her products, I don't think there's a duff one in the range, I love my saints and sinners lippies too.

The Berries set contains glosses 2, 5, 11, 14 and 15, which are described on the website as: Watermelon Pink, Pale Peach, Vibrant Purple, Gorgeous Grape and Sexy Wine.  Here's how they swatch on the skin:

 

 

My personal favourite from this pack is number 15, which is a gorgeous sheer red, and not as blue as the "wine" description makes it sound:

The Nudes set contains 1, 3, 4, 12 and 13, which the website describes as: Pale Ballet Pink, Smooth Apricot, Pale Peach, Deep Rose and Pretty Raspberry.  Here's how they swatch on the skin:

 

 

My favourite one of this pack is number 12, here's how it looks in wear:

Lipstick Queen Fifteen Minutes of Fame glosses are unscented, non-sticky and shimmer-free, which makes a nice change.  I find them lovely and emollient, and highly pigmented, and - for a gloss - fairly longlasting.  Go snap some up!

Lipstick Queen glosses are available from Space NK branches nationwide.

Wonder Product - Mavala Nail Systems

 

I don't give things wonder product status very often - I'm fickle, and I get bored of products very, very easily.  Certainly, if I can't see results from a product within a short time, then I stop using them, and, expecially when it comes to my nails, I'm lazy, so if I have to use a product, say, more than a couple of times a week, then I'm prone to forgetting about it altogether ....

However, the trio of products you see above, well, I love them! And they've made such a difference to my nails in a very short time, it's almost unbelievable.

Here's how my nails looked about two months ago:

And here's how my nails look after six weeks of treatment with the Mavala nail system:

Can you see the difference? (and yes, I know this is a picture of my other hand, looooong story!) best of all, my nails are STRONG now, and don't peel, flake or just plain snap at the drop of a hat.  I'm totally in love with having nails, and I've been asked a couple of times if I've had acrylics done!

Here's how the system works:

It's a three part system - but you can mix and match how many of them you need, or want to use, this is just the products I've found that work for me in combination, you don't have to use all three if you think you don't need them.

Firstly on a daily basis you use the Nailactan Nutritive Nail cream, just massage a tiny amount into your cuticles, and this keeps the nails moisturised, and prevents dryness and brittleness.  I'll be honest here and admit I don't always use this every day, but I do use it two, maybe three times a week, and it's very good at getting rid of dry, raggedy cuticles.

Secondly, you use this stuff (and if you only get one product, this is the one I can't recommend highly enough) Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener:

It's a very thin liquid that you paint just on the very tip of your nails - twice a week to start with, falling to once a week, or once a fortnight once your nails are up to strength - and it penetrates to bond the nail plates together and make them stronger.  This tiny bottle - and it is tiny -  is an entire year's supply, but I've been using it for six weeks now, and as you can see, I've barely made a dent in the contents!

This formula does contain formaldehyde, and as such, you have to be careful with how you use it - it hardens everything, including skin, so I'd recommend that you read the instructions very carefully before you use it.  I've had no problems with it, but it is a bit whiffy, (it reminds me of sage and onion for some reason) so make sure you don't use it in too enclosed a space.

Then, before painting my nails I use the base-coat system:

Bottle number one contains nylon strands in a strengthening base, to further support the strength of your natural nails.  Once this coat is dry, you add a coat (or two) of bottle number two, which will fill in all the ridges left by the strands and leave you with a glossy base to apply polish over.  I've found that using these as a base both strengthens my nails and hugely improves the wear of my polishes.

Mavala introduced Scientifique to the UK in 1959, and they say that it's never been bettered. I think I have to agree with them.  What do you use on your nails?

Mavala products are available at independent pharmacists nationwide, but I've found all these products in my local Debenhams.  Products cost from around £3.75 for the varnishes, to around £10 for the treatment products.

The small print - these products were provided for review purposes, but all reviews are honest regardless of the source.