Five basics every makeup bag should have

I get asked, quite regularly, what makeup products every makeup bag should contain, and I always find it a difficult question to answer (I don't really carry a makeup bag round with me, and, when I do, it mainly contains lip products ... the name of this blog didn't come around by accident, you know) but, in response to a particularly heartfelt plea from MummyBarrow, asking for the five products you need to re-stock an empty makeup bag, here's what I think you need in a basic, but well-stocked makeup bag:

1) Base
2) Blush
3) Mascara
4) Eyeshadow/Eyeliner
5) Lip Colour

Here's my product picks:

1) Base 
 
Every makeup bag should contain a base product, whether it's foundation, concealer, or a powder is entirely down to individual preference, but, if I was starting from scratch, I'd pick a pigmented base with some skincare properties - either a tinted moisturiser from a reputable skin-care company, or a BB cream, again from a reputable skincare company (rather than a company better known for their colour cosmetics.  So, which ones would I pick?  Well, depending on budget, I'd either pick:

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser (£57 from Space NK)

Or Dr Jart Regenerating BB Cream (£21 from Boots)

 Both can be used as a moisturiser in their own right (confession, I never use a coloured product in place of skincare, I always use my full skincare routine then use tinted moisturisers etc, but not everyone is as obsessive about their skincare as I am, I admit), and both give great coverage.  If pushed, I prefer the Chantecaille, less mineral oil, nicer fragrance, more buildable coverage as you can apply in successive layers - but the Dr Jart has an SPF of 30,  over and above the Chantecaille's SPF of 15.  The Dr Jart is nice and soothing on the skin though, and doesn't irritate my stupidly sensitive skin. 

A good base is all-important for making the rest of your make-up (however little you spend, and however little attention you pay to it) look good, don't skimp here.

2) Blush

Only one possible choice here, for me, and that is:

New CID iGlow in Coral Crush (£24 from New CID Cosmetics)

This is possibly the most-used cosmetic item in my stash at the moment, and I adore it.  Gives a wonderful glowy lift to my cheeks (it's ostensibly a highlighting product, but I find it pigmented enough to use as a blusher), and it goes with most makeup looks.  It photographs amazingly well too.  Writing this reminds me that I need a backup.

3) Mascara

The mascara I've been wearing most often over the last few months is:

Benefit They're Real Mascara (£18.50 from Boots)

I was slightly underwhelmed with this on first release, but, over the last while, I've come to love it a great deal, and regularly reach for it over and above other fancier (and more expensive) releases.  It's a good, buildable formula that, on me, doesn't flake or smudge, and only comes off when *I* want it too.  Can't say much more than that.  It's a bit wet on first opening though, but after a week or two when it dries out a little, it's a cracking tube of mascara.

The above three products are what I would consider the absolute bare essentials, if you've evened out your skintone with a base, highlighted your cheekbones with blush, and defined your eyes with mascara, then, frankly, any other colour cosmetics are an optional extra.  That said though, here's my pick of eye and lip products to round out a new collection:

4) Eyeshadow/Eyeliner

Sometimes, you just want something quick, and versatile.  When that's the case, I reach for:

Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencils (£18 from Harvey Nichols)

Soft and smudgey, these pencils are a total boon if you're a bit short on time.  You can use them as a soft liner, a base for other shades, or smudge them and create a soft smokey eye look.   They come in a variety of no-fuss, no-worry shades, so there's something to suit most people.

If I was really splashing out, to be honest, I'd also pick up a Cream Colour from Tom Ford in Platinum. A cream eyeshadow that doesn't crease, and isn't greasy, and lasts all day.  I just wish they were a permanent part of the range (and didn't cost £28, but that's a different story).

Clinique are rumoured to be bringing out an eye version of their cult Chubby Sticks, and I, personally, am waiting with baited breath for their release.

 5) Lip Colour

Blimey, where do I start?  When it comes to lipstick, it really is up to you (your budget) and your personal preferences.  For budget preferences, I've discovered I'm a bit of a fan of the Kate Moss range of lipsticks for Rimmel, the matte collection is really cute, particularly in the darker shades.  If you want something a bit less fussy, then the Clinique Chubby sticks:

Might be what you want: Retailing at around £14, they combine the best parts of lipbalm and lipstick.  There's a whole slew of imitators around, but I definitely prefer these for their superior balm properties (little known fact, Clinique's range of superbalm lip products are amongst the best balms on the market, for me at least), and their sheer range of shades.  They're releasing an "intense" version now too, which have more pigment ... I may already have a couple, and will be bringing you a full review soon ...

If you want to splash out, and still have a balmy consistency, well, then you need a Chantecaille Lip Chic.  Which is, for my money, the most divine lipstick formulation in existence.  If you really want to push the boat out, well, then, head yourself over to Tom Ford.  Or pick yourself up a Guerlain Rouge G.  You know you want to ...


 
 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.

Christopher Drummond and Sue Devitt FotD

I've spoken of my love of "no-colour" makeup before.  This morning I was going for a totally neutral but slightly sunkissed look (so tired of it being dull and grey outside, so brought some sunshine to my makeup!), and so I reached for:

Christopher Drummond Veludo foundation in Fair
Christopher Drummond Finishing powder in Branco
Christopher Drummond Radiance Booster in Saude Pele
Sue Devitt Eyeshadow in Lonely Splendor
Urban Decay liquid liner in Smog
Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara
Cargo Illuminator in Wind
Chanel Rouge Allure in Incognito

Taupe is my go-to colour at the moment, and the Sue Devitt shadow has been a lovely addition to my makeup bag, it's a very soft and subtle shade:

As you can see, I'm still using Endora as my style icon at the moment, I love me a bit of swoosh on my eyeliner!  You won't be seeing any baby-blue shadow here though, I promise.

But what I really want to talk is the foundation, I've been having a lot of trouble with powder formulations lately, owing to having somewhat ... er ... mature skin, and it being a bit dry owing t the weather at the moment.  I find a lot of powders - and even some pigment-heavier creams are just sinking into lines and crevices during the day which I swear simply did not exist in the morning!

So it was some trepidation that I approached the Christopher Drummond foundation, powder and highlight, I'll be honest.  I was scared of looking cakey, dry and, well, old! I needn't have worried, these powders are silky smooth, and a delight to wear.

The Just Beauty Direct website (where my samples came from) says this about the Christopher Drummond range:

"100% natural, vegan, made with organic ingredients. These are products not only good for your skin, but good for the environment. Christopher Drummond believes that by having eco-friendly and animal-friendly cosmetics, we are contributing to the prosperity of our planet ... 

... Christopher's skin-friendly all-natural, organic based formulations include such soothing ingredients, including açai, and green tea, which contain healing antioxidants.

These products which have a natural sunscreen and are non-comedogenic will leave your s  kin feeling velvety soft and looking naturally radiant." 

What I liked about these was that you don't have to "buff" them into your skin, you just brush them onto your face, as you would with a liquid foundation, sometimes I find that the "buffing" required with other mineral foundations can aggravate a sensitive skin.  This foundation lasted really well, and didn't need a touch up until about three in the afternoon!  The finishing powder is very, very silky indeed, and the Saude Pele added just a touch of champagne coloured highlight to my cheekbones. I was delighted that there was no settling, no cracking, no caking and ... no ageing!

All that said, I'll definitely consider buying the full size product, even though it's priced at a wallet-thumping £50 - but that contains a travel container, full size foundation, and flat-topped kabuki for application - but, I'd be interested to see if Just Beauty Direct have any plans just to stock the foundation refills at any point, as I hate being forced into buying a brush everytime I just need a powder. Maybe I'll just get one of his liquid lip pots in the meantime, I think the samples are going to last a while!

You can buy Christopher Drummond products here and Sue Devitt products are available from QVC or Harvey Nichols.

Now, that's what I call service ...

So, after this morning's saga  of woe, I'd like to give a bit of a shout out to a brand that's getting nearly everything right, so step on down Sue Devitt and specifically to Niamh who is the Sales Advisor for the Sue Devitt counter at Harvey Nichols in London. 

A couple of weeks ago I had to take a phonecall whilst browsing on the shop floor when I was right by the counter, Niamh offered me a seat, let me take the call (and attempt to make a couple more) then stayed chatting for a while after, making sure things were okay.  I mentioned that I'd like to browse, and she happily just left me to play with the items, and stayed around answering any - and all! - questions that I had.  I pointed out that I had no intention of buying anything, as it was an accident that I was at her stand at all, and she was perfectly happy with that, gave me no pressure to buy whatsoever, and kept a personable and professional demeanour throughout.

She did give me a couple of samples of Microaquatic Primer though, which I've been using ever since, and I've been very happy with it, so next time I'm back in that part of town, I'll be picking up a bottle. It's fairly expensive, but it's silicone-free. I find it really soothes and smoothes my skin and it gives a great base for my foundation, no matter which foundation I'm using.  It also makes your skin appear to glow, even when you're using a matte base over the top, whether it be Rimmel, or something a little more high end.  It's great stuff. 

If MrLippie Santa is reading, I'd also like a couple of these and one of these.  In either Kilimanjaro or Serengeti, I'm not fussy! 

So, I'd like to say a big thank you to Niamh for restoring my faith in sales assistants recently, and let her know that I've already passed my regards on to Sue herself.