BritishBeautyBlogger

Dior Icy Halo Palette

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

It's only because I brought back a bunch of Chinese magazines back from Hong Kong (which obviously I can't read! but I can look at the pictures) that I spotted this Asia-only spring release from Dior. Pretty, no?

Pro-Blogging.. Is it for you?

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:01:00 +0000

I know there have been a couple of recent blogging gatherings.. I wasn’t able to attend but kept an eye on feedback coming through my Twitter time-line to get the general gist of what was going on.

One thing that seemed to feature quite highly was the issue of monetizing your blog, or even becoming a Pro-Blogger (i.e. your blog is your primary source of income and you are doing it pretty well full-time). I think I would say that now, I would probably be classed as a Pro-Blogger, and initially when I started my blog I longed for a time in the future where I could just blog and nothing else. Although my blog was never started with any set goal in mind (I just went with the flow) and in fact, there still is no set goal, being a Pro-Blogger is not quite the euphoric state I’d thought it might be. It’s a huge risk to throw all your eggs in one basket and because blogging is a constantly evolving genre, there is no path already beaten; I have the constant feeling of finding my way.

For a start, the tricky issue of monetizing is always at the forefront of your mind and it is inextricably linked with stats. I saw a tweet from one of the blogging conferences that said something along the lines of ‘the biggest blogs aren’t necessarily the best’ which of course it is true, but when it comes to advertisers, they really don’t care what you’re writing about, just as long as you have enough viewers reading it. At the end of the day, they want eyes on product, and many, many of them. The harsh fact is that if you can’t keep your stats at a certain level, there won’t be a high enough revenue to feed your cat, never mind yourself. There is still an assumption from advertisers that they pay less for on-line advertising than they would to be between some glossy pages. And it is generally way, way less.

Magazines aren’t asked to prove how many people actually read about a particular lipstick – bloggers are. Because we can prove it, it is now expected that we will. I generally don’t give out individual post figures because over time these change dramatically and unlike a magazine, a blog post is always there. It doesn’t go in recycling and the information is accessible for just about ever if Google is your friend.

I source a lot of my own ads, and have very carefully used a count-down system which nobody has done before. So, rather than create a simple ad, I do a countdown to launch to create a buzz and anticipation about a forthcoming launch. It is rare that I advertise a product already available. I turn down more than I accept because I want to keep a certain benchmark for BBB and featuring endless cosmetic surgery clinics or similar isn’t it. The collective I belong to, Handpicked Media, is unfailingly supportive. I am not a natural sales person and will only tell the absolute truth about my stats so I don’t inflate or make stuff up, but without ads or countdowns, this blog can’t flourish. It’s the hardest aspect of pro-blogging – I always feel bad if there is a low response.. to the point of giving money back.. see, I said I was rubbish… but nor can I use any manipulative tactics to increase response. It just has to be what it is, and reader response is in fact a very good learning indicator.

Some bloggers have looked at the agent option; if you’re a really, really successful blogger then that seems like a very sensible course of action, although I nearly fell off my chair a couple of years ago in disbelief when I first heard bloggers were getting agents. I might do it, I might not. Nobody might want me! Eek. Having an agent will definitely bring you more revenue, but you’ll need a good point of difference and a heck of a lot of business nouse and self-control if you don’t want to end up as just a party-filler.

I don’t want to use an affiliate link company, because as I’ve mentioned before, I want a proper relationship with the retailers where I can negotiate special deals for BBB readers that aren’t the same as everyone else’s. Affiliate linking is where I would get a small percentage of any sales made from a link I provide – if I feature a £4.99 nail polish and ten people bought it, I’d get about 49p, just so you know how that goes. Beauty, unless it is very, very high end and expensive, doesn’t do quite so well on Affiliates as, say fashion, where retail price per product is generally higher. I am currently only working with two e-tailers on an affiliate basis, although more are in the pipeline.

Then, there are sponsored posts. I take these pretty seriously and again, turn down more than I accept (one a month on average). My conscience couldn’t take writing about rubbish for money, and anyway, my readers would know.. they’d just know.

Which brings me round another tricky issue. The more time you spend on your blog, the more you know your readers and the more you write for them instead of yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that and I actually love seeing a product I know that readers will respond well to, but on the down side, and again stats related, I end up not featuring some products because I know that it won’t be of great interest and I won’t get the stats even though it will bring more diversity to the blog. This issue also ties into PR, because it is very hard to say no to a PR about to lose a client because they haven’t managed to get enough coverage that you can’t help them out because you won’t get the stats. So you lose, or they lose. Once you start knowing this stuff, you can’t un-know it.

The bottom line of commercialised blogging is stats and they rules your life, night and day. When Google decided to change its algorithm (I say that as though I actually know what that means, but only in the very vaguest sense!) it wiped away 20 thousand from my stats in a couple of weeks. I couldn’t sleep, never mind eat. I’m slowly, slowly building them back again and have totally relaxed about it… but for a time, I was beside myself.

Finally, the more successful you see other bloggers being, the more you want a piece of the action. It’s natural, but it’s not nice. It is never nice – especially with friends – to feel jealous, but I do sometimes. The rational me gladly wants them to succeed, the blogging me thinks ‘why didn’t I get chosen for that trip’, or ‘what did I do wrong that I didn’t get that exclusive?’ Because it all matters for stats and that piles on tonnes of pressure. You have to work relentlessly on a pro-blog. I am not naturally a jealous person but there is something about seeing others chosen over you that can nearly break you.

You can’t turn the clock back to the early days of blogging; it’s marching onwards and evolving every single day, but really, really think hard if pro-blogging is the way you want to go. I love blogging, I love the remnants of the ‘old days’ which are still there if you look, I am amazed every single day that so many people want to read what I say about beauty. And, I love the variety, the excitement and the achievements, which on a good day are better than any fairground ride. But, it is not an easy ride, not by a long chalk. There is no way, at this stage, that I could support myself fully on blogging alone. I am full of admiration for anyone that can, because I know what has to go into it for the slightest bit of hard cash to come out of it. And I am in the very lucky position of being able to be experimental about whether pro-blogging can work for me without losing my integrity or the very thing that readers come to BBB for – the truth.

PS: Just after reading this through – it started fairly aimlessly with no end conclusion at the beginning – I’ve realised that even just saying all this is what blogging is about. Being able to say it out loud and being prepared to take the consequences, good or bad, with no editor editing out the unsavoury bits or the bad grammer. Blogging, even about beauty, is about laying yourself bare. Brilliant!

Marks & Spencer New Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:04:00 +0000

So, Marks & Spencer are opening up beauty sections within stores to contain brands other than their own. They've started at High Street Kensington in London and will roll out gradually over time and the sections will come complete with impartial beauty assistants and advisors who won't do the hard sell. That is something to be welcomed; you can browse at your leisure and won't get brow-beaten into leaving with something you aren't entirely sure you want or need.

The brands they are taking are, in my view, slightly hit and miss. The plus is that they're bringing on Apivita which is a skin care range doing a roaring trade in other parts of the world and gets rave reviews. Also, a brand called H20, which is a mid-price skin care range that again, is popular overseas, and some specially commissioned fragrances from Lynn Harris (of Miller Harris fame). There is also the welcome return of Comptoir Sud Pacific fragrances which left the UK ages ago and are a must-try (but they're £49 a pop); they're just stunning scents. It's great that you'll also be able to get Roget & Gallet - a fabulous brand that is just too hard to find at the moment.

The concept is nature and science, but I hope they don't stick too rigidly to the idea; there is so much inbetween that is amazing and if they're going to be rigid then they'll miss some great opportunities. Brands such as Nuxe I feel quite blah about - it's been around for a long, long time, and if I'm honest, I hoped to see some real excitement from the buying team - imagine if they'd got the BioDerma Crealine line for example; that's a brand we're crying out for here (and Mr BBB would be very happy not to have to lug it by the bucket load back from Paris) and to have it in wide distribution would have been fab. Another brand they're taking is Dr Brandt - a great brand, but it's very readily available so I don't quite get the point of having it as part of a new line-up. Skyn Iceland will also be available - it's been tried and tested in the UK several times and never managed to appeal enough to British women to stay. But, there is also the welcome return of Comptoir Sud Pacific fragrances which left the UK ages ago and are a must-try (but they're £49 a pop); they're just stunning scents.

I think this is entry into the mainstream beauty market is too safe, with too little to draw in new consumers who might not consider M&S as a stop-off point for serious beauty. It's also a shame for new or hard to find brands who are desperate to work in a different way; they're squeezed to the very limits by existing beauty retailers making it very hard to survive against big and more established brands. It would have been great for them to have somewhere that deals perhaps a little bit more ethically and fairly with would-be best sellers.

However, the plus points are many - a non-pushy environment to really take your time over choosing your products, with help if you should like it or not if you prefer, a clear and unchaotic environment in which to shop (the floor design is excellent) and a chance to experiment with a few new beauty brands or stock up on favourites from existing lines. There is also the welcome return of Comptoir Sud Pacific fragrances which left the UK ages ago and are a must-try. You can also see on-line what they have HERE.

Please let me know what you think on this one? Is it a hit or a miss in your view?

Thalgo Ocea Sun

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:31:00 +0000

I've been taking Thalgo Ocea Sun supplements for a couple of months now and am in no doubt, after the few days of sunshine we've had, that they work, and work brilliantly. To cut a long story short, the supplements contain Carotenoids to help develop a tan, Asaxathin to boost melanin production and best of all, Lutein, to protect your retinas from sun damage.

After really a very short time in the sun - a couple of hours possibly - my skin started to tan. I also religiously use Institut Esthederm in the sun and that also has melanin enhancing ingredients, so the combination means that it takes very little sun for my skin to start going brown.

Thalgo Ocea Sun (£25 for a month's supply) should be taken three weeks before sun exposure, and to be fair, I've taken them for double the amount of recommended time, but none the less, I love it when a product completely lives up to expectations and there is a tangible result from the claims. 100% recommended.

Guerlain Blue Lip Gloss: Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra Gloss

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:02:00 +0000

Ever since I heard about this blue gloss as part of the Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra range for summer, I've been dying to try it - and now I have.

The first thing to say is that it is really blue - it is of course highly translucent but there is a definite blue tinge. When I put in on my bare lip, it gave a very lightly greyish glaze - it's pretty and light enough that nobody is going to start giving you the Heimlich manoeuvre because your lips are blue. Swatches on the arm look REALLY blue, but because of the pink of the lips, it is not that shade on the mouth. I was curious to see what happens if you layer it over other colours, so I used it over Urban Decay Super Saturated in hyper-orange Punch Drunk, and then over Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry, a mid pink.

Terra Azzurra Gloss on bare arm

Urban Decay Super Saturated in Punch Drunk

Punch Drunk with a slick of blue over the top

Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry

And with a slick of blue gloss over the top turning it into a more raspberry shade.

The range is out now at House of Fraser but they haven't taken the blue shade of gloss, so it's a wait til the 3rd of June when it goes nationwide to see who's been brave enough to back the blue lip!

The absolute stand-out piece from the collection is the Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush in a chunky wooden palette that has a magnetic lid making for the smoothest possible opening. Mind-blowingly lovely!

Keith Lemon Nails!!

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:50:00 +0000

You might want to remember before you proceed that once you've seen a thing, you can't unsee it.

Ever since I got these Keith Lemon decals I've been dying to try them out...they're hilarious..kinda so bad they're good. I used a nude coat first (Deborah Lippmann Naked) on my nails in the hopes that the yellow (NARS Amchoor) would be easier to get an even finish with..no such luck though - this is three coats and could well have done with another. Anyway, I'm both horrified and delighted with these... !

The decals are from www.nailartcompany.co.uk

Aerin Lauder Beauty Range: Aerin LLC

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Photo Credits: www.wwd.com/Thomas Iannaccone

WWD have the scoop on Aerin Lauder's foray into going it solo with a beauty and lifestyle range. Significantly, Aerin is Estee Lauder's granddaughter, and with homes in Aspen, Manhatten and Long Island, we can summise that she isn't short of a penny and that can only mean that beauty is in the genes (see, it's like the shopping gene.. it DOES exist ;-)). In fact, Aerin still sits on the Estee Lauder board. The collection to me looks like Tom-Ford-Meets-Michael-Kors-Meets-Estee-Lauder - and that's not necessarily a good thing in a market that isn't looking for 'safe' beauty any more - we're searching for beauty adventures. The body product (whatever it is) looks extremely uninspired.. a little too tasteful, maybe.

That said, the collection is luxury and that pretty well always sells. I've no idea if we'll ever see it in the UK - I'd be very curious to see how it would slot in.

Hello Kitty Everything

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:24:00 +0000

It was always unlikely that I'd return from Hong Kong empty handed in the Hello Kitty department. On my last day, my will broke and I rushed to Mannings to buy all those things that just aren't the same without Hello Kitty stamped all over them. Namely, tissues, cotton buds, sheet masks and make-up remover pads. You know it's got to be better with the cat, right? ;-)

The reverse side of the sheet masks. Look! you'll get little pink kitty cheeks!

These obviously aren't Hello Kitty, but I forgot to put them in the last post.. collagen sweets. Everything has collagen in it - I guess maybe if you eat enough..? And finally below, no sun. No sir, not ever with the widest brimmed cap in the world...

Hong Kong Beauty Buys Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:15:00 +0000

As the week went on I got more and more tempted, but there were a couple of disappointments, too. I couldn't find any Anna Sui at all and the Sonia Rykiel make up was totally blah. Other than a striped blush (of which there are millions out there) there wasn't a single thing that caught my eye. So, it was back to Sasa and Mannings for more cheap and cheerful quick fixes.

The pink plastic thing you see above is to stop you smudging your mascara when applying it. It's actually quite handy for bottom lashes, especially if your lower lashes are long and spidery. The second is brow mascara...

...and look how worried you should be if your lashes turn upside down and drift up your forehead.

This is the same principle as the Bourjois 3 second nail polish remover that I love so much and it is just as good.

So, we have clear and utilitarian decanters from M&S or Muji - Sasa has gorgeous little decanting pots with pretty lids, showing you can do anything beautifully, even something as mundane as decanting your face cream.

This is Maybelline Baby Lips, a week long intensive treatment to revamp the condition of your lips. They have it just about everywhere but the UK.

This has to fall into the things-you-never-knew-you-needed category - an elbow mask to moisturise and smooth your elbows. I can't help thinking that you won't be multi-tasking when you use this.

Above is a squalene wash mitt and a silk cleansing puff.. I'm not sure if I have the heart to actually use them.. they're too cute!

So, if you want to know what's on the BB horizon, have a look at this BB 'Boomer' (great name); a boosting cream to help your BB last longer. I'll put money on it that this is the next trend.

My Missha BB - the coverage is absolutely amazing.. this colour, No 27, is exactly right for my darker skin-tone and Missha is one of the few brands that I spotted in Hong Kong that actually make for those whose skin is not light. It's almost like a foundation in consistency and coverage and my goodness, it really does even out the skin tone. It's my favourite buy.

Hong Kong Beauty Buys

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:45:00 +0000

Ok, so I think I have done Sasa justice so far - there are so many stores that you can't really pass a street without finding one.

I found these Tony Moly lipglosses completely irresistible - started with one - now have two and it is only day 3! The baby blue bunny is a Tony Moly solid perfume in green tea scent that smells really fresh and just like clean laundry.

So many people recommended Laneige Water Sleeping Pack (with snow water science?!) so I bought some and used that lastnight - yes, very hydrated skin!

These strange looking things are plastic on one side and velcro on the other - ideal for keeping your fringe (or bangs) out of your face while you do make up. Yes, they do make me look like Minnie Mouse.

Finally, I have bought some Missha BB cream and above some, ahem, flesh coloured spot cover up stickers and also some charcoal impurity removers.

If I was here on my own you could just park me in Sasa and leave me here for the rest of the week...I'm loving Hong Kong but have that mis-placement feeling - don't want to look like a tourist but can't quite find the right way to dress for schlepping round sights, staying cool and looking nice.. sigh. The humidity is high so is doing unspeakable things to my hair and everywhere I look there are perfect skinned Chinese women looking beautiful. I'm really starting to understand the whitening thing more - everyone walks round with UV umbrellas so their skin doesn't even see the sun, and the result of that is the most immaculate complexions I've ever seen.

BritishBeautyBlogger Is Away

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:12:00 +0000

(I think it might be impossible not to blog from Hong Kong..... )

UTan: You Genius

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:18:00 +0000

You’ve got to love an entrepreneur, right? Michelle Mone is a highly successful business woman who started the lingerie brand Ultimo and has now moved into the beauty world with self-tan range, UTan. Michelle received an OBE in 2010 for services to UK business which is incredibly impressive in such an economic climate. All the UTan products are made in the UK which of course, means more UK jobs – something you wouldn’t immediately consider when buying a tan, but it’s an important factor in commitment to the UK economy. Another aspect that you probably wouldn’t know about is that Michelle recruited two of the beauty world’s most respected women, Jill Goldsmith (whose past success includes Shiseido and Molton Brown), and Margaret Attwooll (who held the post of head of beauty at YSL) to partner in the project and if they don’t know what women want from a beauty product, then nobody does.

UTan is a self-tan range that doesn’t just tan. It’s a proper, busy-girl multi-tasker that does a bit of body contouring too by improving and smoothing skin tone and firming the skin… perfect if you have a bikini to wriggle into anytime soon. And the absolute bug-bear of any self-tan – the horrible, tell-tale smell is completely gone.

When you look at the ingredient list, it isn’t a roll-call of unrecognisable chemicals; there are some heavy-weight plant extracts in there such as Wild Strawberry Leaf, Wild Indigo Flower and Buriti. And, it is the inclusion of these potent ingredients that transforms UTan into skin care that tans. The ingredient I am most interested in is Wild Indigo which is said to remove signs of stress from the skin ‘by stimulating the release of euphoria molecules and endorphins.’ I want euphoric skin! I really do! In reality, it translates to smoother and softer skin.. and I want that, too.

The ingredients are heavily targeted at that ultra-soft, I-don’t-know-how-she-does-it skin that looks radiant and super-smooth. I only ever achieve that when I’m on holiday and slathering on sun-cream three or four times a day so I’m guessing it is down to the high level of moisturising ingredients.

Finally, the tan comes in six colour and texture variants (and yes, I’m scared of the one called Ibiza Extreme) so you can find your level quickly and easily, and there’s a gradual tan (Miami Beach) for the very fair who want to take it slow. It’s not cheap at £28.50 for the very dark shades (cheaper for the lighter tans and accompanying accessories such as body exfoliator), but if you bought a skin firming treatment and a decent self-tan it would come to about the same.

I don’t write about tans very often but this one has caught my eye because it’s come from a very successful start point from glamorous women who understand what glamorous women want. If only they could bottle that, hey?

To celebrate the launch of Ultimo Beauty UTan, Michelle Mone, OBE, will be at Boots Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow, from 12-2pm on Tuesday 22^nd May and Boots Westfield, White City, London, from 11am – 1pm on Thursday 24^th May. If you can’t make it along there, you’ll find it in Boots stores and on-line here: UTAN

NB: Sponsored Post.

BIOEffect Body Intensive Serum

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:49:00 +0000

As you might know if you check in to BBB regularly, I am completely addicted to BIOEffect Serum.. I use it pretty well every single day and have done so since I first got a bottle. More recently, BIOEffect released their Daytime cream which didn't grab me in the same way; I love the feel of the serum on my skin so I'm pleased to say that the Body Intensive Serum launching on Monday feels exactly the same. It's very easy to smooth over the skin and wherever you put it feels softer almost immediately. The clear fluid has a very, very slight tackiness to it but it isn't a long-last feeling and it absorbs quickly and easily.

At £80 a bottle, it isn't cheap but, just like the facial serum, you need only a couple of drops per body area. And also just like the facial serum, Body Intensive contains EGF, a naturally occuring skin protein (which is reproduced in barley at their Iceland laboratories). EGF is a phenomenon in its ability to trigger cell renewal and boosting the production of collagen. Personally, I have yet to find anything better, face serum wise, that does such a brilliant job at keeping skin glowy and fresh.

I guess the price point is the critical factor; if this was a tenner I'd rush out and buy twenty bottles, but it isn't. However, many women don't think twice about spending £80 on their face cream, so maybe it shouldn't be any different for body. From my quick test of the Body Intensive, if it is within your budget it is something well worth having (particularly pre holiday) for unbeatably smooth skin.

Find it from Monday at www.bioeffect.co.uk

Marian Newman for Vogue Japan

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:27:00 +0000

Okay, so I have a total girl crush on nail artist, Marian Newman. She is easily one of the most talented nail artists working today and turns nails into works of art. What she does is phenomenal; no wonder she is in demand all over the world. Better yet, she is the most normal, down-to-earth and charming person. Look at these beauties she's created using Minx for Vogue Japan.

Havaianas Beauty Bar With Mavala

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:12:00 +0000

If you are heading anywhere near John Lewis, Oxford St, pop into the Havaianas Beauty Bar on floor 2 where you can get your toe nails shaped and painted the same colour as your brand new flip-flops in one of 18 Mavala shades. Or, if that's too matchy-matchy, go for an on-trend colour clash instead. The offer starts this weekend (19th May) until 5th June. On busy days, you may need to book.

It's just a lovely, summery thing to do and whatever the weather, pretty toes are a perfect boost.

POP I ♥ Brit Eye Palette

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:13:00 +0000

A new contender for the most Britjubilympic beauty prize! This fab little palette from POP beauty launches for £10 on Asos in June.

Paul & Joe Limited Edition Self Select Eye Colours

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:13:00 +0000


Moonbeam - creamy golden finish

Under The Stars - stardust finish multishimmer

Love-in-Idleness (pink finish)

Scheduled for a June launch these individual eye colours are really rather clever. On their own they are the palest of shimmers - each one has a slightly different finish - and they are all things pretty. However, the magic starts when you put them over a very dark colour, such as the Bourjois matte black I have used here or even a black eyeliner, and they transform the black into something quite exciting.

The only drawback is that they come unpackaged so you really need to invest in the shadow holder (£8.50) to keep them in. The eye shades are £12.50 each, but because they have multi use, I'd really recommend them. You have to like shimmer though and I haven't captured even a tenth of what they can do on camera - thank you dark thundery clouds above! I also think they'd work amazingly well on navy shadow, darkest green or even deep browns to give an edgy colour selection you probably can't find elsewhere.

Bourjois matte black eyeshadow

Bourjois matte black eyeshadow with a wash of Paul & Joe Love-in-Idleness (top) and Under the Stars (bottom) over the top

Look out for them on beautybay.com.

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Today was the press launch of the new Jo Malone fragrance that launches at the end of the summer; Blackberry & Bay. The fragrance goes back to a more traditional time with Jo Malone although the scent itself is quite unusual. Grapefruit notes give it a very familiar Jo Malone theme so it is brand recognisable; that's such an important thing to bring back because without it, the fragrances could be anybody's.

Blackberry & Bay is a beautiful, fresh and green scent with fruity notes that haven't been sugared, keeping it both elegant and lively. I think by the time September comes we'll be absolutely ready for this new fragrance; think of that wet, green scent that comes from blackberrying in a country lane and you're there.

Although I don't often mention press events, this one is definitely worth noting - set in London's Manchester Gardens (roughly behind Selfridges), a gorgeous canopy kept us dry and heaters and hot water bottles kept us warm. Everyone was presented with a picnic basket full of gorgeous food to eat at long tables decorated with burning Blackberry and Bay candles amongst fresh greenery and (faux) blackberry bushes. Too pretty for words. It really was the perfect physical representation of the cologne.

Shine On Professional Conditioning Hair Glaze Review

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:03:00 +0000

I'm not one for fiddly hair treatments and I have to admit this is actually pretty low on the fiddly score but it does take a good half hour to an hour out of your day so plan in some time before you use it.

You start with a pre-cleanse treatment that strips out any lingering residue from past products. At this stage, your hair feels pretty rough, and you have to do it twice, rinsing thoroughly and carefully each time. You then mix the shine preparation by applying to the mid lengths first and working your way to the root area. You leave that for 20 minutes before rinsing away. The final step is to add a final dab of the mix into your hair and massage through for a minute before rinsing.

At this stage my hair felt very knotty and stripped; the brush through was a bit of a nightmare and once I'd begun to blow dry my heart sank a bit because I was convinced it hadn't worked. The point at which I was absolutely gobsmacked was after using hot irons to straighten my hair. The shine is WOW! Absolutely the shiniest my hair has ever, ever been - and soft as well with no tangles.

The shine lasted for a good three days - people commented on how glossy my hair looked (and that never happens!) until I next washed. The box says that the shine lasts for up to 24 washes - I would say that on my hair, the shine diminished from the next time I washed and although it is still quite shiny, it doesn't come close to the initial lustre of the very first application.

However, I still highly recommend this for a special occasion or if you just want wow hair for a week. It may of course last longer on different hair types. Personally, I will use this again and again despite the short life of the shine on my hair.. because it really is something kinda miraculous.

At £12.99 it isn't a budget breaker. It launches on 21st May so do keep an eye out for it on www.keepmeinspired.co.uk

Estee Lauder Solid Perfume Jewelled Flag of Britain

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:20:00 +0000

More recent BBB visitors probably won't know that among my beauty collections I have a vast quantity of Estee Lauder solid fragrances. They're highly collectable and I bought most of mine at the top of the market, when a book launched that documented many of the most famous and collectable. The market has died down now so I probably wouldn't get back the money I paid for them but I am still delighted to have them. Mr BBB found a display cabinet in Korea of all places and brought it home to London for me to house them all in.

The Estee Lauder solid fragrances are a Christmas tradition... Harrods is the biggest stockist of them and you find them much more readily in the US than you do here in the UK. The fans are legendary in their intricate research and knowledge of the fragrances and there are entire websites dedicated to the collections.

So, this one, right in time for all things Britain with the Jubilee and the Olympics will be a collector's dream and launches in June on line at esteelauder.co.uk and also in Harrods and selected department stores. It's filled with the Beautiful fragrance and costs £320. It is hand-crafted and embedded with 130 Swarovski Elements crystals.

butterLONDON Autumn/Winter 2012

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:57:00 +0000

This collection launches in August so we're not really too soon for a sneaky peek. As usual, it is a collection of edgy and on trend shades although not rocking my boat quite as much as past collections. Here we go:

Lovely Jubbly: a fusion of gold, red and blue sparkles set in magenta.


Trustafarian: sage green flecked with gold.

Gobsmacked: heavy charcoal with a slightly pigmented finish. Maybe the new black?

Shag: An orange burgundy fusion that's all things autumnal.

Dodgy Barnett: A grey/silver hybrid.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Limited Edition

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:15:00 +0000

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel was one of the first face masks I really fell in love with - a decade ago, when it first came out it was the talk of beauty town and on every single beauty page anywhere, ever! I can hardly believe it is ten years old this year. As the name suggests, the peel uses fruit enzymes to whisk away old cells and give your skin clarity and softness. I've moved on now to the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Peel which I totally love, but every now and again I still go back to Papaya. It's just a lovely, reliable face mask that does the trick every single time. Skin is better for it.

Anyway, this beautifully designed limited edition packaging is more than worth picking up not only because it is so pretty (designed by British designer, Laura Oakes) but also because it's the gift to self that gives to others. For every product sold, Elemis will provide a 5-in-1 Pentavalent vaccine to immunise a child in Africa agains five common diseases and are working with SOCO, a charity that works around the globe to alleviate poverty and associated disadvantages in underpriviledged societies. Papaya Enzyme Peel ingredients are sourced from the Congo in Africa and Kenya so it's completely right that these countries should benefit every time you buy a limited edition peel.

Do keep an eye out for the mask which launches on 1st June for £28.

Textured Nail Wraps

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:58:00 +0000

As if more proof were needed that textured nail wraps are the strongest emerging nail trend, the BeautyUK show in Birmingham this weekend showcased more (I showed some coming for Autumn from L'Oreal last week). I've had a little scout about on the internet and while it is still very much an emerging trend I did find a few sets, the best are the ones above (from Nail Ease) that make nails look very jewelly and blingy and we can stop pretending that glitter nail polish creates an actual jewelled nail look.

Laggridore Powder Perfume

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:50:00 +0000

I've really struggled to find a decent image of this incredible product heading to our shores in the summer. Basically, niche French fragrance brand Laggridore have encaspulated perfume in powder using 31% perfume essence which they put into the most beautiful of compacts. You'll have to head to their site HERE to see how beautiful the compacts are. The creators say it isn't a perfumed by-product and it isn't a perfumed powder, but a powder perfume. The texture is incredibly fine so that only a tiny amount is needed and it is completely alcohol free. In fact, the technology uses micro-encapsulation and there are no parabens, pthalates or perservatives. I am really looking forward to this arriving in the UK.. it's very different, very innovative and very exciting. Let's hope it smells nice!

Lash Genius Anastasia Beverly Hills

noreply@blogger.com (britishbeautyblogger) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:08:00 +0000

I've seen so many reviews of this protective top coat that transforms your favourite mascara into a water-resistant version of its lovely self, and they're pretty well all outstandingly good. It's been available in the US for a little while and is selling like the proverbial hot cakes which is always a good sign.

For me it falls into the same camp as Urban Decay All Nighter; a brilliant 'tool' that starts off as optional and ends up as essential. All you need to do is add a quick coating of Lash Genius over whatever mascara you are wearing to ensure it stays put. It also protects and refreshes whatever mascara you are wearing at the time to give it a longer last effect with no clumps or lumps. Given the UK weather, its nickname of an Umbrella for Your Lashes is pretty apt, and just like an umbrella, I suggest you keep it in your handbag so that rain never stops play.

It's £14 HERE