Vex in the City| Beauty, Make Up and Lifestyle Blog

NEW! Illamasqua Naked Strangers - Nail Polish Swatches

2012-05-24T06:45:00.000+01:00

Illamasqua launched their capsule collection Naked Strangers, online yesterday, for registered members on the website. The miniscule collection which includes two blushers, two lipglosses and three nail polishes pays homage to warm earthy tones and metallic, glisteny (is that a word?) nudes.

Nail Varnish (£13.50)

Monogamous - creamy flesh pink

Faithful - coppered metal

Swinger - glistening platinum gold

Lipglosses (£13.00)

Intense Lipgloss in Stranger - platinum gold

Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy - nude pink brown

Blushers (£16.50)

Powder Blusher in Naked Rose - neutral beige brown

Cream Blusher in Zygomatic - naked pink brown

I arrived home yesterday to unexpectedly find two of the three polishes waiting for me, so I got swatching before retiring to bed.

In all honesty, I'm not particularly a fan of either shade. Faithful makes my skin tone look ruddy and I think its pretty metallic copper shimmer would look better on lighter complexions than my own. It Monogamous dries to a pale pink rubbery matte finish - my least favourite polish finish. It's very 'fleshy' You can add high shine by adding a top coat but it still looks too "tippexy" for my liking. I personally wouldn't wear either shade. I found Faithful applied easily in two coats but I struggled slighty with Monogamous and could spot the slightest of streaking after two coats. You really need a steady hand to apply it neatly - which I don't have at 12:30am!

I'm more interested in the blushers and will most likely swatch them when I'm next by a counter. The Sheer Lipgloss in Intimacy sounds like a shade I'd wear regularly too - depending on just how sheer it is.

Naked Strangers will be available nationwide and globally (excluding Sephora) from 31st May 2012. It will be available at Sephora.com from 7th June 2012. As I mentioned at the top of the post, you can order online if you already have an Illamsqua account or you can register and start ordering right away.

*PR samples

The Nail Files: Revlon Longwear Nail Enamel in Rain Forest

2012-05-23T05:50:00.000+01:00

I have a lot of time for Revlon, it's definitely one of my favourite high street beauty brands. I spied their Longwear Nail Enamel polishes in CVS and they caught my attention as I'd never seen them before. A spot of online research revealed that they were released at the start of the year.

Revlon Longwear Nail Enamel comes in 32 shades, mirrors a gel-like shine and when worn with base and topcoat claims to give shatterproof colour for up to 11 days. The formula is based on a unique combination of resin and high molecular weight polymers (don't fall asleep, stay with me!) designed to provide flexible, shatterproof colour with excellent colour retention and gloss.

The stand I spotted them on, didn't have many shades left, which in my eyes translated that they must be pretty good in order for them to be almost sold out. I was immediately drawn to Rain Forest, a rich forest green with light green shimmer infused throughout it, and flung it in my basket as from memory I didn't own a polish like it.

Apologies for my swatches, the sun had well and truly GONE when I woke up from my slumber yesterday evening and I really struggled to get half decent pics, without the use of flash.

Swatch perfection courtesy of Vampy Varnish

Despite being a shimmery polish, the base is super-smooth. I adore the finish and my only regret is that I didn't have time to scour more branches, for more shades. I'd have happily picked up another 10! Rain Forest only needed two coats to give full coverage.

Whether or not this lasts over a week chip-free remains to be seen another time as I have too many other polishes I want to swatch and play with at the moment! Even if it were to last just three days I really don't care, I love the colour that much.

These polishes are priced $7.99 from Walgreens and CVS and will be top of my list when I'm next across the Atlantic. I have no idea if these will eventually become available in the UK.

Trilogy Certified Rosehip Oil - Worth the Hype?

2012-05-22T10:06:00.000+01:00

You can guarantee that whenever a celebrity mentions a product as their skincare saviour, it'll fly off the shelves. The most recent product to receive a barrage of press attention has been Rosehip Oil, after Victoria's Secrets model, Miranda Kerr claimed to use it to boost her complexion. Media sources such as The Daily Mail were quick to cite Trilogy's Certified Organic Rosehip Oil as a recommended product, which made my ears prick up as I've been using this on/off for months.

Miranda Kerr sans make up sporting glowy skin.

Miranda all made up, as we're used to seeing her

Rosehip oil has long been recommended as a remedy for healing scars, pits and other skin blemishes, including stretchmarks.

I use this as a night treatment, only needing a few drops to cover my face and neck area. Sometimes I use it on its own, on other occasions I apply a moisturiser over the top. Each time I use it, I wake up with really refreshed skin which feels supple. I particularly like using this after I've exfoliated as I can feel the effects immediately after application as my skin feels incredibly soft to the touch.

This small 20ml bottle has lasted me absolutely ages - over a year with occasional use and after the recent press attention it's got. I now feel compelled to use it more often - at least 5 nights a week. It was one of the skincare products I chose to take away with me to New York, which I think says a lot considering how many I own to choose from! I only have a small amount left in my bottle, but will definitely be repurchasing it.

You can buy Trilogy Certified Rosehip Oil from Holland & Barrett here in either a 20ml (£16.50) or 45ml (£28.60) bottle. Find it here.

Are you a fan of natural oils for your facial skincare? I remember going through a phase of using Vitamin E oil at night, but I bought such a high concentration (the higher the IU, the more effective it is) I found it too heavy and super greasy for my skin, to use on a daily basis and abandoned it after a few days.

*PR sample

Review: Thai Square Spa, Covent Garden

2012-05-21T12:15:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago, I hauled my aching bones to the Thai Square Spa, a day spa located on a quiet side street in the heart of Covent Garden. As I walked through the doors, I was immediately transported to the Far East - cheesy as hell, but true! Recently refurbished and extended in December 2011, my surroundings oozed regal grandeur and their treatment menu boasts a range of authentic Thai treatments.

As I sat in reception, I took in my surroundings marvelling at the immaculate mani/pedi area with an extensive display of polishes to choose from. Already impressed by what I was seeing, I was further taken aback when shown the dining area at the rear or the spa, which is almost completed. It looks like a Michelin rated restaurant!

I was swiftly introduced to my therapist, Hae, who took me downstairs where I slipped off my shoes and was presented with spa slippers. She also handed me a towelling robe and paper knickers to change into. I was then taken to the changing room, where I changed and placed my belongings in the secure lockers available.

Once in the treatment room, the first step was a foot wash and massage. My feet were placed in a large bowl with salts and orchids. I was then given a cup of Thai herbal tea to drink and directed to lie down on the massage table.

I chose to experience the Definite Detox Ritual, a two hour treatment which began with a 'Spice and Shine Scrub' being applied all over my body to exfoliate my skin. Hae expertedly applied it limb to limb, taking care to not disturb the towel which was strategically covering my modesty. The scrub was then removed thoroughly with hot towels which felt very relaxing.

Next, 'Asian Invasion Detox Clay', was spread all over my arms, legs and back to draw out toxins and impurities within the skin. I was asked if I'd like it massaged over my boobs - but I politely declined. As I lay on my back, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful brickwork on the ceilings and walls, the spa has the perfect mix of modern and rustic decor.

Once the warm clay has been applied, I wrapped up in towels from head to toe and left to lie on the massage table. I felt like a tortilla wrap - it was kinda fun though an I made myself giggle as I imagined the fire alarm going off at that precise moment! After 10 mins or so, Hae returned to the room, unravelled the towels and asked me to step into the adjoining shower room where I washed off the mask and any remaining body scrub granules, to reveal super smooth skin. The shower room was spacious and clean with plenty of clean towels within easy reach and the shower itself powerful with simple temperature control.

Couples treatment room

Finally, the treatment was then further complimented with a unique massage technique to speed up metabolism and stimulate toxin elimination. The massage oil used contained cinnamon, camphor and black pepper which ensured skin rejuvenation and gave me a sense of complete relaxation. The massage was extremely thorough, resulting in tense knots in my shoulders being pummeled out

Relaxation Room

All too often I find that treatments finish before the time specified or overrun but exactly two hours later my Definite Detox Ritual was over - and how sad was I! My therapist was so attentive, ensuring I was comfortable and at ease throughout and my experience from start to finish was perfection.

As I left Thai Square Spa, I couldn't help but let out a redundant sigh as the hustle and bustle of city life, yanked me back to reality. My unforgettable visit to the Far East ended all too soon.

The Definite Detox Ritual costs £182 for a two hour treatment..All treatments include a complimentary refreshment and traditional Thai foot wash and massage.

Thai Square Spa
25 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2
Tel: 0207 240 6090

For more info and prices, check out the website here

*This complimentary treatment was provided free of charge

And I'm BACK!

2012-05-21T10:30:00.000+01:00

...back in the UK, back to work (well, tomorrow - urgh!) and back to blogging!

How are we liking the new layout? As you can see, I didn't stray from my trademark black background, but I did try and keep it simple. Less is more.

My blog was down less than five days but I received a lot of queries from readers wondering where it had disappeared to - I didn't think you'd even notice, given I haven't blogged for a while! If you don't follow me already on either Twitter or through my Facebook page, please do, so you can keep up to date with changes regarding the blog and other chit-chat.

I feel refreshed and ready to get stuck into blogging agian. Every few months, I switch off and need a break to recharge my batteries.

Anyway, I'm back, so hit me up and let me know in the comments what you'd like to see more of on Vex in the City xx

M.I.A

2012-05-16T03:29:00.000+01:00

Some of you may be wondering where on earth I've disappeared to, having not blogged for a whole month now. The past few weeks have been stressful with lots of 'family stuff' taking place and I'm currently in New York, so no blog posts for at least another couple of weeks.

I managed to miss my blogiversary - again. I think I only remembered the first one. Three years of inane ramblings about make up, who'd have thought it! I'll be throwing a few giveaways when I get back so keep an eye out for those.

In other news, you can find me on Instagram under VexintheCity, where I'll do my utmost best to keep you entertained with artistic photos of whatever I'm shoving in my mouth or what I can see in the distance!

Failing that, just follow me on Twitter

What am I missing in Blighty? Please tell me it's stopped raining! I hope all is well with you and I'll be back blogging soon! xx

NARS Summer 2012

2012-04-15T11:59:00.001+01:00

Along with the new limited edition Thakoon polishes, NARS have launched their latest summer offering. The new summer collection sees a combination of warm earth tones and brazen shimmers.

* Ramatuelle Trio Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) (£33/$45) – shimmery silver/shimmery icy peach/matte apricot
* Marie-Galante Duo Eyeshadow (£24.00/$34) – an iridescent combination of orchid paired with regal blue
* Calabria Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (£17/$24) – shimmering plum
* Liberté Blush (£21/$28) – burnished apricot
* Moscow Pure Matte Lipstick (£18.50/$25) – strawberry red
* Vendanges Lipstick (£17.50/$24) – sheer grape
* Buenos Aires Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil (£17.50/$24) – Nude beige pink
* Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (£17.50/$24) – lilac rose
* Trouville Nail Polish (£14/$18) – seashell pink

Just over a week ago, I attended an interactive masterclass, conducted by NARS Jane Richardson where she created a look using the products in the new Summer 2012 collection.

What was different (and more beneficial, I thought) about this masterclass was that we we able to mimic Jane's artistry, step by step on our own faces using huge NARS palettes and the new summer products. I found this really useful and picked up a few application tips along the way.

All images courtesy of The London Lipgloss - cos like a twat, I forgot my camera!

I was given a few products to take home:

Liberté Blush (C'mon now, you know I was gonna choose the blush!)

Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30 in Martinique.

I don't really opt for tinted moisturisers, mainly because I don't feel they give me the coverage I desire. To date, the one I've returned to has been the bargainous one by ELF. However, with the right concealer coverage I was pleasantly surprised by the finish of Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser. On the other hand, I think I applied so much concealer to cover up imperfections that it kinda defied the point of wearing a tinted moisturiser in the first place. I've decided to take this on holiday with me in June to see how I get along with it in a warm climate. This is very lightweight, offering light to medium coverage at best.

As you can see, Liberte blush is worlds apart from NARS Taj Mahal blush, so don't let the shade description fool you. Liberte is a warm 'burnished apricot', which warms up the skin beautifully. This looks great for a sunkissed look on tanned and dark skin tones and wears just as well on pale skin tones too (see the model above).

As per usual with NARS blushes, the pigment is great and as the day progresses, the blush holds up really well. I've been impatiently waiting for a new blush shade from NARS and I'm not disappointed.

As soon as I swatched Never Say Never matte pencil, I knew I had to have it. Look how sexy it looks on my hand - that pink is POW!! The intensity of colour, unfortunately doesn't transfer onto my lips, but for a low-fuss pop of colour to the face, it works. This pencil has the potential to be a little drying, so make sure lips are well prepped with a moisturising lip balm before applying it.

NARS Summer 2012 is now available to order online and at counters. Is there anything you have your eye on? If you buy one thing, I'd recommend the blush!

*PR samples

The Nail Files - Misa Grey Matters

2012-04-08T18:33:00.003+01:00

The weather's been a bit gloomy with sporadic showers today, and my nail polish choice mirrors the current climate.

Grey Matters by Misa is a cool light grey, infused with dark grey and silver specks. Up close it reminds me of birds eggs and looks so cool. A nice alternative to a plain grey which can dull the skin if the shade isn't right.

Grey Matters up close

I bought this in November, from Transdesign. I don't think they ship to the UK (I only order from them when stateside) but check, just in case circumstances have changed.

Two thin coats give perfect opacity and I'm really pleased I ordered this.

What colour nails are you sporting today? Oh and Happy Easter everybody!

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick - No 28

2012-04-08T10:06:00.000+01:00

I was browsing through the dozens of pics I've taken for planned blog posts and came across images I took back in early February to show off a lipstick I was wearing quite regularly at the time.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in No 28 is described as a satin light taupe which is rather misleading. Yep, it's a satin finish but not 'taupe' in colour at all. It's more of a mid tone dusty pink. An ideal nude for every day wear with great pigment.

I must stress how impressive the pigment in these lipsticks are, as they're formulated with 50% more pigment than that found in traditional lipsticks - and it shows. This nude doesn't give a 'barely there' effect on my lips as some nudes tend to do, you can clearly see the colour in the photo above.

My overall experience of this, is that while it isn't the most moisturising of lipsticks that I own (nothing a slick of lip balm didn't fix, but that's a given as lip base for me anyway), I wore this almost daily for approximately two months before forcibly removing it from my make up bag to give something else a go!

I really like the colour and it lasts pretty well, requiring minimal touch ups, other than the usual adjustment required after eating.

Rouge Artist Intense lipsticks are available in three finishes - matte, pearly and satin for varying effects and come in an impressive 50 shades.

Take a look at swatches of them on fair skin, by Karlasugar here
Swatches on dark skin here, taken by The Style and Beauty Doctor here

Priced £16.50 from Guru Make Up Emporium or $19 at Sephora.com

Have you tried the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense lippies?

NEW! Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

2012-04-07T18:50:00.003+01:00

Coming soon to your local Boots or Superdrug, this nifty little pot will make future nail polish removal much easier. Bourjois' new nail polish remover, may well have you ditching your bottles of nail polish remover and wads of cotton wool for its convenience will cut down the time you spend furiously scrubbing your nails free of polish.

Bourjois are not the first brand to introduce a formula-soaked foam sponge polish remover, but this works reasonably well. Does my polish remove itself in '1second per nail' as claimed on the bottle? Nope, on average it took around 10 + seconds per nail when I removed my NARS polish last night.

I kept reading in other reviews that this smells amazing - yet each time I took a sniff, I was knocked out by evil smelling toxic polish fumes which made me heave! The key is smell your nails AFTER removal, not stick your nose in the pot like I did. Yes, I can smell a nice fruity scent and so could a friend when she used it last night too. The formula also includes sweet almond oil, which is known for its nourishing properties. Overall it's a good product - which removes glitter polish too, with a bit of extra effort!

Funnily enough, when I was in Paris a few weeks ago, my friend's flatmate had a similar remover from Sephora which works, dare I say better than the Bourjois one! I literally dipped a finger in, twisted and off came the polish in like TWO seconds, it was amazing. My friend passed by the nearest Sephora an hour later to pick one up, but it was closed - argh!!

Sephora's version - which is REALLY good!

So anyway, Bourjois' Magic Nail polish Remover will hit stands in mid-April and for the price you can't complain!

How much it it? £3.99
Where can I buy it from? Boots and Superdrug (online too).

*PR sample

Review: Chanel Perfection Lumiere - Me Likey!

2012-04-07T09:41:00.000+01:00

It's true what they say, Chanel really does make a girl feel special and that's how I've been feeling each morning as I apply my new favourite foundation - Perfection Lumiere.

Since using up a few samples from counter after I spotted their new darker foundation shades, I've since purchased a full size bottle and it's been my go-to base ever since. I love this foundation. It's the perfect shade match for me (No. 94), blends well and lasts on average approximately six hours on me before I need to blot away shine - my skin tends to get quite oily by early afternoon and needs a touch up.

For obvious reasons, this is the first foundation I've tried by Chanel, but I'm pretty impressed with
the accuracy of the shade I use to match my skin tone. There are 23 shades in total, so check it out next time you pass by a counter and pick up a couple of samples as a commitment to this doesn't come cheap.

All I need are two small squirts of this on the back of my hand and I get medium to full coverage with a radiant finish. I like the finish it gives me, as it definitely 'brightens' me and doesn't leave a dull cast on my skin. It also has an unexpected pleasant scent to it too - kinda fruity! Good stuff.

How much is it? £36
Where can I buy it from? Chanel counters nationwide, Boots.com

Thakoon for NARS - Nail Collection Summer 2012

2012-04-06T16:18:00.002+01:00

I attended a brilliant NARS masterclass on Wednesday evening which showcased the new Summer 2012 collection (more on that later). Also on display was the new nail polish collaboration with designer Thakoon Panichgul which sees the launch of six summer brights which pack a real punch. This is also the first nail collaboration NARS have embarked on with a fashion designer.

Inspiration for this collection comes from the rich shades found in Indian spice markets.

(L-R)

Lal Mirchi - Mandarin Red

Anardana - Azalea Pink

Ratin Jot - Orchid Purple

Amchoor - Bright Yellow

Kutki - Powder Blue

Koliary - Cyan Blue

Here I am sporting Amkoor - a vibrant, egg yolk like, mustardy rich yellow (it's NOT neon), which is surprisingly far more flattering than I imagined a yellow polish could be. I purposefully chose Amkoor as I find yellow polish quite difficult to pull off and this shade is the best I've seen by far.

The formula is quite thick, so thin coats are required and opacity is reached with two coats - one coat leaves a very streaky finish.

I'm now on day 2 of wear but unfortunately I've already suffered chips to one nail (not pictured) despite wearing both base and top coat. Annoying. Nevertheless I still love the colour. I couldn't capture the exact shade of yellow with my camera (don't ask me how on earth to use the settings on that thing), so I've added an image of an egge yolk to get my point across!

I can highly recommend Ratin Jot and Koliary as lovely shades too. Be mindful that Lal Mirchi is only available to buy in person at the NARS boutique on Bleeker Street, New York - but you can still buy it online.

Priced £14 each, you can currently pre-order the collection here online.

*PR sample

Colladeen Visage - Skin Plumping AND SPF in a Pill?

2012-04-06T15:06:00.000+01:00

For the past four weeks I've been trialling a skincare product, which claims to work wonders - no change there, don't they all? Colladeen Visage is already available to buy and is marketed as a complexion enhancer, however a new version has recently been launched which trials have proven protect the skin up to SPF10.

Colladeen Visage contains plant chemicals lutein and anthocyanidins, which help the body build a basic barrier against harmful rays.

Now I've been dutifully taking two pills a day as instructed and I've been told on three separate occasions that my skin is looking well over the past few weeks. Personally I think it's down to how much care I've taken with my make up on the mornings in question, but who knows, perhaps the Colladeen is adding to its current vibrance.

I have a two month supply and will continue to take them until they're finished, but it's unlikely that I'll repurchase for now. I have more than enough supplements to work my way through and combined with healthy eating and exercise I'm sure they'll continue to do just as great a job.

They don't cost the earth either at £18.95 for a month's supply and you can find Colladeen Visage at www.naturesbest.co.uk

Would you be tempted to try a pill which offered you sun protection or are you more likely to stick with traditional methods such as moisturisers?

*PR sample

Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee - Topaz Chameleon

2012-04-01T15:52:00.000+01:00

Estee Lauder's Topaz collection hit counters a few weeks ago and I'm pretty confident that this has been one of the bestsellers in the collection.

The second Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée is easy on the eye. Encased in the usual decadent packaging that we're used to from Estee Lauder, Topaz Chameleon is marketed as a Tribrid formulation, of powder, liquid and gel. For me, it looks like a mousse, applies like a powder, yet feel buttery smooth like a gel on my skin.

Topaz Chameleon flatters deeper, warmer skin tones with its warm bronze hues, better than its predecessor Modern Mercury, which featured in the Modern Mercury 2011 A/W collection. Both are incredibly pigmented and should be applied with care, so as not to leave a metallic mess all over your face.

You can use this as a highlighter, eye shadow, bronzer on your cupids bow, for contouring - this is a really multi-functional product. If you have very dry skin, you may find this a little difficult work with, likewise if you have very oily skin.

How much is it? £28

Where can I buy it from? Estee Lauder counters and online.

*PR samples

Guest Review: Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers - Worth the Hype?

2012-03-25T16:08:00.000+01:00

When I was contacted by Enrapture a few months ago, to test their Extremity Heated Rollers, I knew just the girl to holler at for a guest review.There were of no use to me as my hair is no longer chemically relaxed, but I immediately thought of Amber, my little ray of sunshine, whose tumbling locks I thought would be ideal to test drive them.

Here's what she had to say about them...

When I first received the Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers, I was excited to try them out and see what they'd do to my hair. I have naturally curly hair which is quite think and heavy, so a lot of heated styling machines won't do much for it. Previous experience meant I wasn't expecting a dramatic effect from the rollers.

Although they're quite heavy, the case they're stored in is pretty nifty, but it's also quite bulky so it's not something you'd be able to take on holiday with you unless you wanted an excess baggage charge. That was quite a downside for me as I'd want something portable so I could style my hair anywhere.

I blow dried my hair as straight as I could before using the rollers, to get the maximum smooth curl effect.The rollers get hot very quickly once they've been turned on and the heat indicator on the case is useful.

Each roller is wrapped with velvety material and comes with a clip, which makes it easier to hold them when they're hot and makes them really secure. Like I said, my hair is quite heavy, so normal rollers don't usually hold it very well, especially if I do them myself.

I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to section all of my hair and put the rollers in. It was something I managed to do in the morning before work, which is pretty amazing as I hate styling my hair in the mornings - would rather get more sleep! The unit is plugged in and it takes approximately three minutes for the rollers to heat up. A red LED light will switch on once they're ready for use.

The only annoying thing for me was that there weren't enough rollers for my whole head, so I had to do half at a time. There are 20 in total, 10 medium sized rollers (which will give tighter curls) and 10 larger ones (which will aid with volume). I could've done with about 10 more.

I left them in for about 15 minutes until they felt cooler, then started removing them. They gave my hair a smooth curled effect which looked a lot more glamorous than my usual style. I can imagine, with a bit of hairspray, you could get the full on big hair red carpet look.

I decided not to put any product in it as I liked it to stay flowy for a change. it wasn't a dramatic difference from my natural style, as it was still curled, but it looked much tamer. It gave me that 'hairdresser blowdried' effect which I find so hard to do myself. I was pleased with how well the rollers smoothed out my mane.

Overall they were great and gave me the salon styled effect that I wanted. The only thing that would stop me from buying them is their size - they're very bulky, heavy and just take up too much room. I feel that you could probably achieve the same effect with some curling irons or a blow dry brush and some practice.

How much are they? £74.99 (but shop around)
Where can I buy them from? Boots, John Lewis, Debenhams, Amazon

From Paris With Love

2012-03-19T10:13:00.001Z

It's Monday morning and I'm tired. I travelled to Paris first thing on Friday morning, courtesy of Chanel (just kidding, but your jaws dropped for a second, didn't they?!) returning yesterday, yet feel as if I've been on a long haul flight from Oz! Lots of fun was had, yummy food and red wine consumed (I don't even like red wine, but whatever I was necking tasted alright!), and I had a great time.

I had no intention of buying any make up whilst I was there, mainly because I'm yet to use the blusher I bought from my last trip which was last January, and I have enough to open up a shop. However, I did stock up on a couple of skincare products.

Bioderma Crealine H20 Cleanser has a devoted fan base, including many a supermodel. This gentle cleanser allows you to remove make up effectively without irritation. This is my third time purchasing it, and as you can see this time round I bought a twin pack which worked out cheaper than buying a single bottle.

I use this most nights and I like how effectively it removes every last trace of make up - even mascara without causing my skin to flare up. I tend to use this after I've used my usual cleanser of choice as I can use up to five cotton pads a time (both sides) to fully remove all the rubbish sitting on my face if I use it on its own and I think that's quite wasteful. However it's great for those nights you feel a little worse for wear after and can't be bothered to partake in the usual cleaning routine in the bathroom.

I also bought Bioderma Atoderm - Nourishing Cream for Very Dry Sensitive Skin after it was heartily recommended by my friend, Danielle and her friend 'B'. My skin's been acting weird again over the past couple of weeks, displaying extreme dryness and a rash across one half of my face forehead down to my nose - silly face! However, I think this latest episode may have been caused by using a face cream I didn't realise was two months out of date. Oops!

Anyway, no word of a lie, I applied this on Saturday night before I collapsed into bed and on Sunday morning the last of the rash had completely disappeared and my skin showed no signs of dryness at all around my jaw and chin area. How's that for record results?! I used it again last night and yet again, awoke to soft, supple feeling skin this morning. I'm very pleased with this purchase and shall definitely repurchase. Despite being touted for very dry skin, it's not heavy at all, which I was worried about and absorbs very easily too.

If you're not lucky enough to have easy access to these products, then I'd recommend checking Ebay out as the only site I could find was http://www.leguidesante.co.uk/279/purchase/crealine-cleansing-solution-perfume-free/?utm_campaign=gmc_uk&utm_medium=gmc&utm_source=ggs and I have no experience of them, nor could I find any immediate reviews online.

Have you tried any Bioderma products?

NEW! S/S Illamasqua Human Fundamentalism

2012-03-07T01:04:00.003Z

I'm sure many of you have noticed that Illamasqua have had an overhaul of their website. I love that you can now view 'real life' swatches of products - very useful. Navigation is much easier and makes online shopping far more enjoyable. The image currently featured on the homepage is taken from their new spring/summer collection, Human Fundamentalism, and it certainly wetted my appetite for what the unique brand had in store with their latest launches.

The new look Illamasqua website

As always, Illamasqua go beyond conformity and their latest collection is no different. Human Fundamentalism is an explosion of colour which contrasts textures and shades which encourage the wearer to be as tame or experimental as they'd like.

Make up should be fun and not confined to age or mainstream limitations. I admire Illamasqua for continuously promoting this message and not churning out the monotonous, 'safe' looks that some brands stick to.

Human Fundamentalism features two eye shadow palettes, Fundamental (£30.00) which includes glistening Liquid Metal in molten pewter to matt cream pigment in mint green. Bold yellow and rich violet are also thrown into the mix.

The Neutral Palette (£30.00) is ‘a Kardashians dream’. Create a perfect sex-kitten smoky eye using Illamasqua’s new antique gold shade, Vintage and matt shades Stealth (creamy buttermilk) and Wolf (rich chocolate brown). Obsidian (rich black) adds depth to a classic look.

Eye shadow palette swatches - love 'em both!

New polishes -Stance (fuchsia violet) and Nomad (Bright Jade). £13.50 each.

Nail art designed by manicurist and nail tech, Rebecca Jade Wilson

Check out the new Limited Edition Skin Base Foundation in Au (£25), the chemical symbol for gold. This contains tiny flecks of metallic shimmer. Great for ALL skin tones, you can mix this with moisturiser or foundation, use it as an eye primer, a cheek contour or wear it alone or a luminous effect.

Singe eye shadows!

Lipstick swatches, single eye shadow and precision ink swatches

I dare you to take your lip colour up a notch with Apocalips, a vibrant teal shade. Failing that, don a scarlet pout with Box, a rich red. Both priced £15.50.

Alex Box was also on hand showing off the Human Fundamentalism collection in all its glory.

Personally, I love both the eye palettes, the idea of the new Skin Base and dare I say it, the teal lipstick! No, I can't ever envisage doing the weekly shop down in Tesco wearing it, but the promo image is pure fiyah!!

Human Fundamentalism is available worldwide from March 14th, online from Illamasqua.com and at Sephora.

So, first impressions? What do you guys think?

Review: Glycolic Peel at Sk:n Clinic

2012-03-04T09:23:00.000Z

Since turning the big 3-0, I am all about anti-ageing treatments, so when I was given the opportunity to review a microdermabrasion treatment, I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth!

I was vaguely aware of Sk:n clinics prior to my visit. They're a company that I've been subtly exposed to on a number of occasions, over the years. I'm sure I've seen them advertised in the back pages of women's magazines, where you're also likely to find plastic surgeons, weight loss plans and dodgy online stores, selling even dodgier wares! I think I may have even caught a TV ad - I may be mistaken about that though.

After a cancelled appt and then an unfortunate incident where I turned up to the London Wall clinic to find it closed (it had been shut early due to staff illlness, but nobody had bothered to notify me. I later received an email claiming that I had indeed been contacted ..but again I'll reiterate that I wasn't), I eventually arrived a couple of weeks later to have my microdermabrasion treatment.

Sk:n Clinic - London Wall. Image from Google.

Google Image - not the London Wall branch, but they all a similar design/layout.

Upon arrival, I was met with confusion "You've definitely been booked for microdermabrasion?" asked the friendly woman on reception. "Yep, that's it", I replied, bemused, yet somewhat irritated because at this point, I just wanted to get it over and done with. It turns out that microdermabrasion is not carried out on black skin at Sk:in Clinics, as we're more prone to scarring from the treatment. Okay, that's fine , although I was confused as I've read a number of reviews dotted around the internet by black women who've successfully had a number of sessions performed on their skin with no side-effects.

It was recommended instead, that I try a gylcolic peel instead.

I was asked to complete a consent form, which also assessed my skin type, associated skin conditions and known reactions to similar treatments. I was then taken to a nearby treatment room, where Zoe my beauty therapist went through the questions I've answered, explained what the process would be and answered my queries.

She then looked at my face through a weird machine, so she could assess how bad my pigmentation was. Surprisingly I was told that it was treatable and not as bad as I thought. She also highlighted that I was oily around my nose and t-zone but that overall my skin was in good condition. This was news to me, as I think it's pretty rubbish.

She began the actual treatment by cleansing my skin with a gylcolic foaming cleanser. Then she applied the 10.8% glycolic gel for a total of four minutes. After one minute, she rubbed the gel into my pigmentation marks It wasn't painful and on a scale of 1-10, I'd describe the tingling I felt as a 3 - obviously, everybody reacts differently to this though.

Once the four minutes were up, the gel was removed with water and bicarbonate soda to ensure it had completely neutralized.

An oil reducing moisturiser was applied, then a hyaluronic based product to hydrate the skin, a product that contained kojic acid to help with my pigmentation and a product with a high concentration of mandelic and salicylic acic to combat any excess oil on my skin. My skin was then prepped with an SPF30 moisturiser.

And that was it - all in all the actual process itself took no more than say 20 minutes or so. My skin felt very smooth and having expressed my concern at walking out of the clinic make-up free, I was introduced to a foundation gel by the name of Lycogel which I could apply straight afterwards, which enabled my skin to breath properly. I'd bought along my Bare Minerals foundation to slap on afterwards but thought I'd give this a go instead. The shade wasn't quite right after testing it on my jaw, so I used my Bare Minerals and off I went.

When I got home 15 mins later, I did notice dryness down the sides of my nose and around my chin area, but wasn't too phased by this as I'd been warned that dryness was to be expected. The dryness lasted for approximately 2-3 days and so I made sure I used a slightly heavier moisturiser to boost my dry areas.

Sk:n Clinics advise that each client starts with a selection of 2-3 products which they'll recommend to you. These are to be used daily between In-Clinic peels - a cleanser, a corrective product to combat the clients main concerns i.e pigmentation, acne, aging and all clients should be wearing an spf 30 all year round.

A course of eight treatments is recommended in order to see full benefits and whilst I'm keen to book follow up treatments to see what difference I'd benefit from in the long run. I've left it too long after my first treatment so would be starting from scratch again should I have another. My skin appeared a little brighter than usual some 4-5 days later but had reverted back to normal after about a week and a half.

A glycolic peel at Sk:in Clinic will set you back £80. You can currently buy 3 for 2 priced £160 as currently seen on the website.

Have any of you tried glycolic peels and if so, how many treatments did you have and were you pleased with the results?

*Treatment provided courtesy of PR

Tampax/Arcadia Giveway - Winner Announced

2012-03-01T10:45:00.000Z

Remember that giveaway I held in conjunction with Tampax? Well I've chosen a winner (well actually Big Fashionista did, this morning).

Up for grabs was £350 worth of Arcadia vouchers, which can be spent in Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins amongst other stores, a goody bag filled with Max Factor make up and a years supply of Tampax supplied in £50 vouchers.

*DRUM ROLL*

The lucky winner is GRACE AVO - well done lovely, and happy shopping! You have an email waiting in your inbox.

Thank you to all who entered and keep your eyes peeled for my next giveaway.

17 and No 7 - Spring/Summer 2012

2012-03-01T08:29:00.000Z

The Boots Summer Press Show gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Concrete Jungle'. Held in the Barbican Centre, in what can only be described as an indoor rainforest - complete with artificial heat!

As I wandered through the trees and flamingos in awe of the transformation and quite bemused, I eventually found what I'd arrived to see - the latest product launches from 17 and No 7.

First up 17 - I was greeted warmly by their official make up artist Vanessa Guallar, who has the most infectious personality, who excitedly took me through their latest products.

First up, there are some new new additions to the existing 17 Miracle Matte Collection. If you suffer from oily skin or want to fully prepared for when the sun makes a permanent appearance (you never know, it might!!) then you may want to try 17's Miracle Matte Skin Primer. It claims to leave you shine-free for up to 22 hours. Just apply a thin layer of primer over your face and eye area, massaging it lightly into the skin. It'll also make a great base for your foundation too. Available from 16th May 2012.

Also ready and waiting in the wings to help combat shine are Miracle Matte Pressed Powder (£3.99) and 17 Miracle Matte Loose Powder (£5.49). These fine, translucent powders promise to deliver great coverage for up to 16 hours. Available from 16th May 2012.

Last but not least, get ready for another lash blast in the form of new 17 Blow Out Mascara. A thickening, conditioning formula enriched with vitamin E and argan oil, complete with a huge brush to sculpt and tease lashes - making them bigger and bolder than ever (£6.29).

Available from 11th July 2012 in Black and Brown/Black.

Oh and before I forget, check these beauties out next time you're in Boots as they're available to buy now....

17 Spring Fling Palettes Spring Brights (L) & Hazy Days (R)- £5.99 each

17 Instant Glow Bronzing Rocks - £4.99

17 Instant Glow Shimmer Brick - £4.99

Boots have their infamous 3 for 2 Mix and Match offer on at the moment ..*ahem*, so knock yourself out!

Make up artist and No 7 Creative Consultant, Lisa Eldridge, has created a delightful capsule summer collection. The Summer of Dreams collection is Limited Edition and is inspired by festival chic intertwined with sunkissed memories of summer days, infused with bold flashes of colour.

The Summer of Dreams Bronzer (£13.00) is a lightweight bronzing powder with gold and coral shimmer coating. Surprisingly it did show up on me better than I thought it would (on my hand mind, not my face which is darker), but I already own bronzers which I prefer in terms of depth. If you're lighter than say, MAC NC50 then check this out.

I predict a stampede when these limited edition polishes go on sale. As you know I adore my OPI for Sephora glitter topcoat, Only Gold For Me and the silver version, Flurry Up. and now those of you who won't be gracing a Sephora store any time soon can snap these up instead as they're exactly the same!

Photo courtesy of make up artist extraordinare Lisa Eldridge herself, who tweeted it yesterday.

Also included in the collection is this set of jumbo crayons. These are my least favourite product in the collection as I didn't find the shades particularly flattering or eye catching if I'm honest. Available in Metallic Bronze, Hazy Green, Cornflower Blue and Metallic Grey, the set is priced £13.00

Finally, and these were a pleasant surprise - the Summer of Dreams Nourishing Lip Shines. Available in Pink and Peach, these glossy balms give lips a subtle hint of colour, Enriched with liquorice to smooth and nourish lips, they also come with a sponge applicator and are great for low-key no fuss beauty on the go. Priced £10.50 each.

Apologies for the blurry swatch, but you get the idea!

Summer of Dreams will be available in-store and online from 16th May-10th July 2012. See anything you fancy?

Benefit - Your Place or Mine Gina EDT

2012-02-29T12:03:00.000Z

Benefit are well known for their cosmetics, but are you also aware that they have a fragrance range?

I'd still be none the wiser to Benefit's fragances, had I not been introduced to them at a Benefit event a few months ago, but I'm glad I did, having found a favourite in My Place or Yours Gina. I really, really like this - good work Benefit!

The kitsch pretty packaging which we're used to from Benefit, is no different for their Crescent Row fragrances -which resembles a front door and open up revealing interior design most likely spotted at a stand present at The Ideal Home Show.

Available in eight eau de toilette scents, with playful names such as Laugh with me LeeLee and Ring My Bella I was instantly drawn to My Place or Yours Gina, which embodies warm notes of pink pepper, wild raspberry and vanilla bean to name a few.

Top notes: pink pepper, bergamot, tangerine

Middle notes: peony, wild raspberry, white lily

Bottom notes: patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla bean

My Place or Yours Gina is seductive and sexy without being overpowering. I can really pick out the raspberry and vanilla notes and they compliment one another beautifully. Being an EDT it does lose its punch as the day goes on, but it leaves behind a subtle trace on clothing in its wake. I wish this was an EDP, I'd be all over it like a rash.

If you're looking for a light fragrance great for day or night which will turn heads, then have a smell of this next time you pass by a Benefit counter or boutique. Check out the other scents too.

How much is it? £29.50

Where can I buy it from? Benefit counters, boutiques and online

Have you tried any of Benefit's fragrances?

*PR sample

Buyapowa Blogger Takeover

2012-02-28T11:43:00.000Z

In case you're not aware, this week sees a Beauty Blogger invasion over on BuyaPowa. A number of beauty bloggers, myself included have all chosen a product fave to include as their co-buy.

Not familiar with BuyaPowa? Then have a quick read of this

Each day this week sees new products becoming available and for a full list of what's up for grabs and from who, check out the list below. Be sure to sign up to the products you have your eye on, so you're alerted as soon as they go live!

Yinka from Vex in the City (yeah, me!): NARS Gina Blush

Charlotte from Lipglossiping: Tom Ford Lipstick (Scarlet Rouge)

Milly from Pearls and Poodles: Benefit Coralista Blush

Kim from Dottie K: Illamasqua Pigments Trio (Ore, Furore, Android)

Sarah from I Heart Cosmetics: YSL Faux Cils mascara

Jen from Beauty Junkie London: St Tropez Bronzing Mousse

Jen from A Little Bird Told Me: Chanel le Vernis (Paradoxal)

Amrita from The 6 Inch Stilettos: Benefit They’re Real mascara

Charlotte from Charlotte’s Obsessions: Benefit Porefessional

Nic from Strawberry Blonde Beauty: Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel

Lily from LLYMLRS: Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner (Black)

Bettina from Beauty Swot: Benefit Watt’s Up Highlighter

Jennie from Sailboat: Illamasqua Cream Blush (Promise)

Claire form The Beauty Scoop: YSL Rouge Volupte (#13 Peach Passion)

Khila from Miss Budget Beauty: Benefit Hervana Blush

Zoe from The London Lipgloss: NARS Multiple (Orgasm)

Charli from Charli…: NARS Laguna Bronzer

Lucy from Lucy’s Stash: OPI Holland mini collection

Liloo from Le Petit Jardin de Liloo: Shu Uemura Smoky Layers false lashes

Emma from Milkteef: Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh EDT

Stephanie from May Loves Makeup: Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo

Kate from gh0stparties: Smashbox Softbox eyeshadow palette

Charlie from Lady of the Lane: Too Faced Natural Radiance face palette

Karris from Karrisx: Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette

It should come as no surprise that I chose a blush as my BuyaPowa Co-Buy? And I went for one of my faves, NARS Gina - in fact I'm wearing it today (again)!

I can't stress enough how much I love this blush. If you follow me on Twitter, you've most likely seen me heap praise upon it for making me look alive first thing in the morning. As it stands it's been my go-to blush for weeks now and has had residency in my make up bag since last November. That's says something, considering I have well over 80 (at last count) blushes to choose from.

What do you think of the BuyaPowa bloggers choices? Do you have your eye on any of them?

Never Feel Guilty Again...

2012-02-27T07:27:00.000Z

The next time you feel buyers remorse for buying yet another nude lipgloss or fuchsia nail polish. Rest assured that it's unlikely you'll accrue as much make up as Wayne aka Gossmakeupartist.

Yeah, so okay Wayne is a make up artist, but watching a video of him sharing his make up collection on his You Tube channel, still didn't stop my jaw from hitting the floor anyway!

Oh to have just five minutes in his make up cupboard - OH. MY. GOD!!

Make up porn at its very best. Enjoy!






   

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The Nail Files: Models Own Beetlejuice Pinky Brown

2012-02-21T10:02:00.000Z

When Models Own Beetlejuice collection was released back in November, I was psyched! So excited in fact, that I ordered three sets! Why, I don't know (Oh actually, yeah I do, they were to flog on Ebay, then I realised they were flippin' permanent!) but then I always appear to lose my mind when it comes to rationally buying cosmetics.

One set has since been given to my best friend and the second handed over to my younger cousins. To date, I'm yet to swatch my set in full as I was so disappointed with the first two I tried!

First up Pinky Brown, which is burgundy speckled with pink flecks. Now in other swatches I've seen the duochrome effect switches it to a cool coppery brown. My bottle must have been a dud polish, because I failed to see anything, whichever angle I swerved my nails. Like seriously, what the hell?!

I'm not loving it. In certain light it looked flat and made my skin tone look 'muddy'. Don't be fooled by my photo which was taken approx three days after application hence the tip wear. I know the colour doesn't look particularly bad against my skin tone, but believe me, when I say that in reality it did! I applied three coats as the polish is quite thin, and didn't think much of the formula either.

Not impressed. I doubt very much that I'll wear this again, unless I'm slapping glitter over the top of it. I don't know if I can even be bothered to do that!

Better Than Expected - Proactiv Solutions Deep Cleansing Wash

2012-02-20T07:01:00.000Z

We've all seen the cheesy adverts for Proctiv Solutions right? The world's best selling anti-blemish and spot treatment skincare brand which happens to have more than 15 million customers in 60 countries, counting Avril Lavigne, Kate Perry and Justin Bieber as fans. Maybe you've caught their adverts flicking through TV channels late at night here in the UK or on U.S TV where they seem to be on every five minutes! Either way, I've always thought "Yeah, whatever" and have changed the channel. The fact they seem to go on forever grates me too.

I heard that Proactiv had launched in Boots last week, and was pleasantly pleased. Why's that then? I've just written a paragraph slating it right? Well I still think it's cheesy as hell and no, I don't for a second believe that the likes of Kate Perry and Avril Lavigne are regular users either - after all, we all know money and advertising talks, so being 'the face' of anything these days means nothing to me.

I will say this though, I love Proactiv Deep Cleansing Wash (pictured below) although I thought it'd be cheaper than its £15.95 price tag.

This was included in a gift bag I received at an event back in December and curiosity got the better of me over the festive period. I wanted to see what was supposedly so great about this range, so I tried it one morning and haven't stopped coming back to it. I still use this regularly, alternating between my favourite Murad cleansers.

Containing exfoliating granules which don't scratch or irritate my skin, it cleanses really well, helping to unclog pores and reduce oiliness. It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight and dry either despite containing salicylic acid. This is good stuff - my skin loves it anyway!

Have you had success with Proactiv Solution products? I'm interested to know. My best friend succumbed to the ads a couple of years ago, but it didn't work for her at all.

The Proactive Solution 3 Step System to Clearer Healthier Looking Skin is on sale at Boots for £39.99 and more on the brand and products in the range can be found on their UK website - which offers a 60 day money back guarantee with all purchases.

http://www.proactiv.co.uk/