A Makeup & Beauty Blog - Lipglossiping

Leila is three today!

Lipglossiping — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:02:50 +0000

To my darling girl,

Before you were born, we were terrified of the changes that your presence would mean for our lives – not ready to grow-up ourselves, neither your Daddy nor I really wanted to share our hearts with another soul. We fretted that we’d lose the depth to our connection over time, as if adding another molecule to the formula might dilute its overall strength.

Which is why I need to tell you today that over the last three years, you have brought so much happiness and belly-laughter. You have inherited your father’s awful sense of direction, groan-worthy humour, and brilliant brain for problem-solving. From me, you’ve been fated with an inane desire to share your every thought and feeling. You are so wickedly funny, and you know it – a terrible tease with a penchant for giving me the side-eye just when you know I won’t be able to resist a smile.

That’s not to say you’re without fault my girl, for when tempers flare, you shake with rage, screw up your nose and stamp your right foot for all it’s worth. You whine like a dog when being taken away from your favourite activities and your incessant desire for independence tests my patience on a daily basis. But you have a wonderful capacity for reason, I would never have dreamt that such a small one could have the ability to be able to listen, contemplate and without fail, always do the right thing.

It’s impossible to put into words just how much I love you. A feeling that extends beyond my comprehension, a force that is both immeasurable and bottomless in its reach. When I spend an afternoon without you beside me, I get butterflies as I approach the front door, bounding through it like you’re the Mum and I’m the child. I tell you all that I’ve done that day, and you quietly listen before making me promise that next time, we’ll do it together.

Time moves so quickly, it’s a cliché that every mother tells me but a relentless reminder that one day, we won’t be the first people you think of upon waking. You won’t call out for me when you stir in the middle of the night and I won’t be able to instinctively lift you into my arms when something needs to be made better. Time has always been a cruel mistress, but for all the dreams and hopes I have for you, it’s the one that I pray for most of all. Every minute of every day. I… we, both Daddy and I, want nothing more than to share it with you.

Happy 3rd birthday Leila, you are so very loved.

Butter London Trout Pout NOTD

Lipglossiping — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:38:15 +0000

Hello Trout Pout, 1983 called – they want their nail polish back. This is one seriously retro shade that deserves pride of place in Wham’s Club Tropicana video. It’s neon-leaning with enough pink to keep it looking acceptable on cool skintones. My picture below sadly makes this look a little less bright than it is in real-life but the shading is accurate.

This is a beautiful shade for sandal-ready toes this summer and applies in two coats, though I did experience the same weird runny-yet-thick texture that I found with Bossy Boots so just be aware of this to prevent any cuticle pooling or bubbles… thin coats required!

Butter London Trout Pout is available to buy online from PowderRooms, priced at £11.95

The Lipstick League – Week of 7.5.2012

Lipglossiping — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Question of the Week: – List every beauty item that’s in your purse at this very moment.

Answer: - I’ve only got a single lipstick in mine at the moment (bad beauty blogger), and it is…. Maybelline Color Sensational in 112, Ambre Rose!

Beauty Junkies Unite – You tell us: Is the new China Glaze Summer Neons collection hot or not? Check out the review and swatches and let us know!

Clumps of Mascara – has finally come across a mascara that wow-ed her so much that she gave it a 5 out of 5. And guess what? It’s a drugstore mascara!

Gouldylox Reviews – has discovered THE facial you want if you want to look fabulous for an event or remind someone what a mistake it was to end the relationship. Plumped lips, raised brow, firmer jaw and no pain. I can see why Madonna travels with one of these beauties on tour.

Krasey Beauty – wants you to win awesome prizes from Amazon.com Be sure to enter her giveaway!

Lipglossiping – puts Bobbi Brown’s new long-wear eye pencils to the test against a well-known budget brand and concludes that you should save your pennies!

Nouveau Cheap – Looking for a bold and daring magenta-purple lipstick to wear this summer? The answer might be as close as your nearest drugstore.

Pink Sith – turns an otherwise boring review about a facial toner into a fun extravaganza by adding in Will Wheaton, Jazz Hands and Thor!

Prime Beauty – harvests the fruits of the Lipstick Tree with Tarte’s Gifts From The Lipstick Tree Trio—the perfect summer pop of color!

Phyrra – has great photo tips for beauty bloggers.

Vampy Varnish – thinks if you like mini nail polishes, you might like the new Urban Decay Showboat Nail Kit for summer!

we heart this – have a passion for fashion? Swing on over to we heart this; we’re looking for a new fashion writer. And psst…we pay in makeup!

What beauty items are you carrying in your handbag right now?

Leila’s 3rd Birthday Party

Lipglossiping — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:09:21 +0000

I may have mentioned once or twice (or seven or eight times) that Leila was having her 3rd birthday party this weekend and barring a mild-meltdown the day before – it all went well, the meltdown being from me, not Leila by the way! I couldn’t find a cake… who knew it was so bloody difficult to find a Thomas the Tank Engine cake that hadn’t been horrifically disfigured in some kind of supermarket shelf accident. I phoned stores across the county and every single store, bar one (who didn’t pick up) told me that they had a cake… but that it was damaged. Sort it out supermarkets.

Anyway, just before midnight on the eve of her party, I found a lovely train one in an Asda quite a few miles away, it wasn’t Thomas but it was carrying a cargo of jelly sweets! I pretty much did the happy dance in the middle of the aisle! Thank you to all the lovely tweeters who calmed my frayed nerves, gave me great suggestions on Thomas alternatives and brilliant recipes for train biscuits!

I’ve just compiled a video of some clips from her party and as I’m uploading to facebook for our far-away relatives, I thought I’d stick it on here too seeing as she considers many of you her internet Aunties anyway!

I’m knackered and have to do it all over again on the 16th (her actual birthday), we’re also heading into London together on Tuesday for some serious Hamleys/Rainforest Cafe/girly time!

Hope you’re all having a brilliant weekend and (if you’re in the UK), finally enjoying a little bit of sunshine! A Happy Mother’s Day to my international ladies too!

Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick in S6 Champagne Flush

Lipglossiping — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:58:36 +0000

Back when I purchased my beloved Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick in Peach Flush, I was torn – too many pretty shades and not enough pennies in the purse for all of them. Sure, I spend too much money on makeup and skincare but I get the guilts like everyone else and sometimes you just can’t twist it enough to justify it, not even to your spendy-self. Fast forward twelve months and I found myself once again perusing a Shiseido counter. Just for old-times sake, I reswatched the color sticks and instantly fell in love (again) with Champagne Flush.

From a completely superficial point of view, I love how these things feel so luxurious. They’re glossy, sexy, and have some beautiful symmetry going on – I realise that I sound a bit crazy right now. Champagne Flush is one of the most subtle highlighters that I own, which makes it a-ok by my standards. I’m always looking for a highlighter that I can really luminise my face with and this ticks the boxes on that score.

It’s a pale champagne shade with slightly pink leanings that don’t turn it too silvery, though I would say that it’s definitely best-suited to similar-toned complexions as mine. It contains no glitter or shimmer particles, it just imparts an allover, barely-there glow. It doesn’t even really catch the light when you turn your face in the same way that other highlighters do… it just, somehow lifts a tired and dull complexion, giving the illusion that you are far more fresh and alert than you feel.

This is an awful swatch photo but you should be able to make out the pale highlight that runs from the crease where my thumb and index finger meet, backward towards my wrist. It looks like a ghostly silver and that’s only because I’ve had to build it up quite heavily for the swatch. I wouldn’t wear it this heavy on my face.

My only wish is that it weren’t in stick form because I’d love a liquid this subtle that I could blend into my foundation directly. This, would infact, be my holy-grail highlighter if only I could find it – please Shiseido, make a liquid version!

Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick in S6 Champagne Flush is available to buy on counter, priced at around £26

Butter London Bossy Boots NOTD

Lipglossiping — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Who’s da boss? Leila’s da boss (when I’m not around – sorry Mr. L!)

It’s Leila’s 3rd birthday party today, though she doesn’t turn three until the 16th May it was the only day available at the venue so I’ve been trying to explain to a very confused tot why it isn’t actually her birthday yet but everyone will be wishing her a Happy Birthday – cue confused face.

I’m wearing Butter London’s Bossy Boots from their Spring/Summer 2012 collection in honour of the occasion, seeing as I’ll be rounding up a few under 8s, I thought it quite appropriate!

Isn’t it Spring-like? I love muted shades but whoulda thunk I’d go gaga for a pistachio shade like this! I like that Butter London haven’t made it too dirgy or grey and have kept it feeling somehow fresh and airy without sounding the “woah green nails” klaxon. I’m absolutely, positively against wearing green nail polish on your toes usually (fungal feet) but I’m gonna admit to being tempted by this one. Talk me out of it please!

Opaque in two coats, it needs the second to get rid of pastel streaks – the formula covered nicely but did have a tendency to pool around the cuticles… thin strokes required!

Butter London Bossy Boots is available to buy online from PowderRooms, priced at £11.95