Guerlain Christmas 2011 - Vol de Nuit & Parure de Nuit

Well, after I showed you my initial picks of the Guerlain Christmas collection a few weeks ago, I said I’d be making further purchases, and here they are. Couldn't resist!

Vol de Nuit, I simply could not resist picking up this beautiful teal bottle of sparkly deliciousness, it’s both a gorgeous and glamorous addition to any dressing table.  I don’t have a dressing table … but if I did, this bottle would be out on display at all times.

The bottle contains a pink sparkly powder, which is filled with multicoloured micro-shimmer, and when you press the bulb, it emits a wonderful cloud of scented deliciousness.  It’s said to be based on the original scent of Vol de Nuit perfume (which sadly, I have no way of confirming, because I don’t own a bottle), but the scent is light and powdery and sweet, but it’s not a scent that will clash with any other perfume that you might wear with it.  It’s a fine finishing touch for a big night out.

The sparkle is fine, and not too glittery, it’ll just add a hint of definition to collarbones and shoulders, I think.

Here’s the powder swatched quite heavily to show how it looks on the skin, then out of focus to show off the sparkle:

I did, of course, pick up the Parure De Nuit too, as I simply couldn’t resist it.  Decorated with peacock feathers, with hints of peach, pink, turquoise and a touch of gold overspray, it’s a lovely piece of cosmetic goodness.

I also love the turquoise goat hair brush that comes with it:

I found that the overspray came off after the first use, and whilst it looks very dramatic in the pan, it’s actually a very subtle powder, more of a beauty powder than a blusher, but it adds a very lovely soft-focus glow to the skin, which is very difficult to pick up on camera, but the pan itself is beautiful, I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of it …

There’s another lipstick too, which I’ll show you soon …


The Fine Print:  Purchases.  Lovely, lovely purchases.

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

What's in my bath?

 One of the “joys” of moving house is getting the chance to sort through your belongings and decide which are those things you really can’t live without and which are those you’re just hanging onto for dear life.

One of the “joys” of moving house twice in a four week period is initially moving to a place with no bathtub, and realising you have to get rid of all your bathing products, then immediately moving to another place that actually does have a bathtub and realising that you have to replace all the products you got rid of …

So, what made it back to my bathtub?

Here you have:

Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath
Elemis Aching Muscle Super Soak
Kniepp Juniper Bath Salts
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax shower and bath oil
Shu Uemura Pleasure of Japanese Bath – Hinoki
Elemis Tranquil Touch Indulgent Bath Elixir
Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil

Disclosure, it actually turns out that two of these products I couldn’t bear to be parted with, and they actually made it through the moves, these are the Aromatherapy Associates, and the Shu Uemura.  I do prefer the AA as a bath oil, but it does make an excellent accompaniment to a shower too, and the Shu Uemura was discontinued about a year ago, so I wasn’t letting it go anyway.

Elemis is a brand that has really snuck up on me in the last year, for all sorts of reasons.  Whilst I don’t find that the skincare suits me too well, I absolutely love their bathing products, and the vast majority of their Spa@Home products are a complete joy.  This is my second bottle of the Milk Bath, which is great for when you’re having sensitive skin days, and I can’t even tell you how many bottles of Super Soak that I’ve been through, but it’s a lot.  A LOT.  I adore the deep herbal scent of this, and it’s about as relaxing as a bath can be.  I can tell you, however, that I have backups of both of these, and expect to be purchasing them for years to come too.  Nothing comes close.  The Bath Elixir and Frangipani Monoi oil are samples that I got with my recent purchase, I’m looking forward to trying them out.

Well, I say nothing comes close to Super Soak, but the Kniepp Juniper range (a gin flavoured bath?  I’m IN!) I was introduced to on my recent trip to Paris, does come close, but whilst it has the same soothing effect on tired muscles, it’s a little more invigorating and refreshing than the Elemis version.  They also do a matching shower gel, which brings me to the “What’s in my Shower” portion of today’s blog post:

Kniepp Juniper Shower Gel
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
Elemis Sharp Shower Gel

Like the bath salts, this is herbal and refreshing, and invigorating.  Paraben and sulphate-free, it foams nicely, and leaves your skin tingling fresh. The Tom Ford is a joy to use too, it smells of liquid sunshine and holidays (I took it on my trip to Portugal earlier on in the year), and doesn’t dry my skin out. I adore this minty Elemis shower gel, it smells, perfectly, of Wrigleys Doublemint gum (which MrLippie hates), but I find it’s perfect for waking you up in the morning.

So, what’s in your shower?

The Fine Print: The Tom Ford, and Aromatherapy Associates were PR samplea, everything else featured was a purchase.  In many cases, a re-purchase.  I take my baths very seriously.


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

Get Foodie

A few people already know that I have another blog (which has been sadly neglected owing to circumstances beyond my control recently), and I just thought I'd let you know that I've finally updated it.  Here you can find out why I want to talk about food, and what I'm planning to blog about going forward.  Take a look, please!

http://getfoodie.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-food.html 

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

You Know You've Been A Beauty Blogger Too Long ...

... When your local department store RINGS you to let you know their sale starts next week, and they'd love to see you there.

So yeah, anyway, Debenhams sale starts 16th November.  Be there, or ... they won't send me a Christmas card.

The Fine Print: No sales people or PRs harmed in the writing of this post.  I should get commission you know,  I wish Debenhams did cashback.

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

Model's Own Beetlejuice Giveaway

Hello lovelies!

Whilst I'm waiting for my broadband to be re-re-connected (I've tried blogging from a dongle, and it's no fun), I thought I'd do a little giveaway.  Would you like to own the entire Models Own Beetlejuice collection?  Look, they're so pretty!

Yeah, I let some people talk me into buying more of them than I needed, so I thought I'd give my spares to you guys!  I'm nice like that ...

Anyhoo, the rules, leave a comment on this post telling me what kinds of posts you'd like to see when I get back to full-time blogging (which will hopefully be later this week, btw), you must leave either a valid email address, or another way for me to get in touch with you.  You must be a follower on the blog, if you leave a comment here.

Or if you can't be bothered being a blog subscriber, be a twitter follower!  Tweet the following: "Lippie's back, and she's giving stuff away! @Get_Lippie #LippieBeetlejuice".  If you follow in both places, you'll get two entries, and if you only follow on one, you'll get one.

Because of the nature of the prize, this giveaway is open to my UK readers only, I'm afraid.  I'll make the draw (at random) at some point on Monday 14th November, and I'll keep you guys posted ....

The Fine Print: Draw held entirely at the discretion of the blog-owner, who reserves the right to disqualify any entries deemed to be arriving from competition forums and the like.  Blog owners decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

The Further Fine Print: Models Own are entirely unaffiliated with this giveaway, I bought the prizes, and I'll be despatching them too.  Eventually.

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

So ...

... Yeah, this post isn't very beauty related either, but ... the next one will be, I promise!  I moved house this weekend, and I have spent a few very happy hours reacquainting myself with my candles - god I missed my candles, who knew that was even possible? -  my perfumes, my unguents, my lotions and my potions and I've been arranging them in the new Lippie Mansions (yes, we've taken a little step up in the world, we're out of the dungeon at last!), which comes equipped with its very own built-in beauty bloggers closet. It's not the only reason I chose the place, honest* ... but I'll let you have a sneaky peek at it later on.  Once I've finished alphabetising it** ...

Oh, and the other great thing about the new Lippie Mansions is the kitchen.  I have a big, big kitchen, so Get Foodie is back on.  Yes, it's delayed (stress kills the appetite, we discovered recently), but it's coming, don't you worry.   I'll keep you posted ...


* Pretty damn close though.  A cupboard!  A cupboard of mine very own!
** I'm an accountant.  It's what I do.***
*** Sometimes.  Allegedly.

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

Back Soon!

...I aten't dead... *

I am, though, planning lots of blog posts, attempting to buy a new laptop, and, providing BT don't screw up again, I'm hoping that I'll be fully back in the blogosphere very soon ...

Thanks for all your patience, and support on Twitter (and elsewhere), you've been aces.  Especially you. Can't say too much at the moment, there's a lot going on, but there is very definitely light at the end of the tunnel right now.

Okay, who can recommend me a good restaurant in Windsor, please?

* Prize for whoever gets that reference**
** Not open to LondonMakeUpGirl***
***I'm serious

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

Chantecaille Lip Chics -Tea Rose, China Rose, Bourbon Rose

The Chantecaille Lip Chic formulation is one of my all time favourites.  Sheer - like so many of the new lipstick collections have been this year - but hugely moisturising, extremely balm-like, and just pigmented enough to give you a wearable and polished look.  I love them, and the funky pewter packaging, and own three, all from the rose shades.


Here they are, Tea Rose, China Rose, and Bourbon Rose:

Tea Rose, is a lovely muted rosy mauve, for me a My Lips But Better shade, which I use with stronger makeup looks, so I don't look like death warmed up by using more "traditional" nude lip shades.  China Rose is a little more red, and is a tad warmer, almost coral-ish in wear.  And Bourbon Rose is a lovely pink, good for giving a gentle flush of colour to your lips, without totally taking over your face.


Here's how they swatch, with and without flash:

Whilst it's a soft formulation, the lipsticks don't wear down all that quickly, and they're a pleasure to wear.  Yes, they're pricey, at around £29 each, but my lipstick collection wouldn't be complete without them.

 The Fine Print: I bought each of these, and have actually bought Bourbon Rose twice, the first time was a present for someone else, and I liked it so much, I had to have it for myself too.


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

The Scent of Fear

I have a confession to make.  Since my month of living hell began, I've not worn any perfume at all, it's an odd situation for me to be in, for, even before Project Perfume began, I would apply perfume daily, even though I wouldn't, actually, pay that much attention to it afterwards.

However, since I've spent most of this year actually paying a lot of attention to how things smell, what I've been trying very hard not to do is to accidentally end up attaching a scent to this period of my life.  For, I keep thinking, if I do, what would happen if I accidentally caught a sniff of that scent afterwards?

I've spent the last week with a racing heart, a dry mouth, total confusion, a constant sense of dread, and  more besides, if that was to come back, even by accident because I caught a whiff of, say, Ananas Fizz by L'Artisan Perfumer (a scent guaranteed to cheer up even the darkest day, with it's pineapple-sunshine sense of fun), then I think I would go crazy.

Scent is an odd sense, as it is most definitely tied to memory.  Even now if I smell  Origins Ginger, it makes me want to throw up, because of a bout of food-poisoning I suffered once whilst wearing it.  The merest smidge of Rive Gauche and it's 1981, and I'm waiting at the airport with my mum, waiting for my dad to come home from his first job abroad.  And for serious, you never want to know what I'm reminded of if I get within even a molecule of Southern Comfort ...

So I haven't wanted to tie a scent to this terrible time.  But, if I did want a comfort-scent, what would you recommend? 

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

Nanoblur - Review

So ... there's been a lot of talk about Nanoblur recently.  It's been hailed as the latest wonder product, and claims to make you look ten years younger in 40 seconds. It's now available in Boots, and it costs £19.99. I've had a tube for a couple of weeks now, so how does it do?

 Nanoblur is, essentially, a silicone-based primer, suffused with micro-prisms which will refract light, and make lines and wrinkles (and other flaws) seemingly "disappear".  The nano particles are the wonder ingredient in this particular melange, as the rest of the product doesn't really offer any skin-care benefits over and above what you'd be using on your skin anyway.

You can use it over your moisturiser if you're going bare-faced, or, the packaging alleges, that you can use it over your foundation, if you're going for a fully made-up look.  I've not been in the mood for much makeup lately, so I've been wearing it over moisturiser only. 

It's a white cream, which I find quite difficult to spread, and this means I have to apply quite a lot.  My skin adores my current skin-care regime (Darphin, mostly), and is more than adequately hydrated, but still I find this stuff patchy in application, and once dry it gives me matte finish to my skin.  I have severe and grave misgivings about how this would work over foundation, if it goes patchy over moisturised skin, I suspect it wouldn't mix too well with anything pigmented.  It's a very matte finish.

A TOO-matte finish, if truth be told.  My skin is combination-oily, and I know that if I were using this during my more dry-skinned phases, then this product would be a complete and utter no-no.  It doesn't have any lifting or tightening effects (and doesn't promise them), but I do find that my skin is a little more "taut" when I'm using this.

So, does it make me look ten years younger?  Well ... in a word ... no.  In the spirit of experimentation, I've actually worn this on just one side of my face once or twice, trying to replicate the effects you can see below:

I have to say that not one person (including my nearest and dearest) noticed whether I was wearing a full OR a half face of this stuff.  I did, however.  In my defence, I didn't tell them, but ... Yes, I did find that it softened lines, and made some flaws more difficult to focus on, but the difference wasn't, at all, as noticeable as promised.  It's ... okay.  I guess.

The lack of amazing results, and the matte finish (which is actually ageing in itself when you're past a certain point in life) means that Nanoblur isn't a must-have for me.  Add in my reservations as to how it would work with makeup, and I'd have to say that it's not really for me at all.  A day without foundation is a day wasted as far as I'm concerned.  However, if you have very greasy skin, you might get on better with it than I did, but if you're over forty (as I most decidedly am), then I recommend that you approach Nanoblur with extreme caution.
 
The Fine Print: PR Sample.

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