Clinique Blushing Blush in Cupid

Blushing Blush.... Silly name.  Thankfully it’s a rather lovely product which makes up for the daft repetition in the title. I picked this up on my honeymoon and I just realised I never got around to swatching it here! These blushes cost £18.50 so they ain’t cheap and you get 6g of product. I do love the boxes that Clinique products come in. Look at the pretty!

The actual packaging is nice to look at but not entirely practical. The bottom section is clear but the main section is mirror like metal. It’s a nightmare to keep it finger print free. You get a useless brush and a very handy mirror.

There is a faint shimmer in the pan but I don’t find that it really transfers to my cheeks which suits me down to the ground. It’s a gorgeous soft pink rose. Pigmentation certainly isn’t lacking but it’s not scarily vibrant like, for example, an Illamasqua blush. It blends like a dream and lasts all day. It certainly has the quality to match the price tag. 

The shade range in Phuket airport wasn’t huge but the other shades I spotted seemed a bit too frosty for me. If I found another in this semi matte/ satin finish I’d happily buy it x

*I bought this myself*

Sample Sunday

I have been inspired by the gorgeous Anitacska over at Pleasureflush to tackle my growing pile of samples. It’s getting silly. There are more hidden under what you can see of this pile...

I just seem to accumulate them from magazines, counters etc. Then they sit there unloved. There are several foundations here, weeks worth of skin care, mascaras, bath products. Inspired by Anitacska’s ‘Project Skincare Samples’ I decided to have a look at that I actually have and to get my bum in gear and use them.

So here we have ‘Sample Sunday’ (catchy no?). Every Sunday I’ll fish out a sample of something, use it and say whether or not I’d purchase the full sized product on the basis of my experience with the sample. I’ll start off with one that I have actually been using for the last week. This is the Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream sample. 

As a hand cream it’s lovely. None greasy, easily absorbed and definitely moisturising. It claims to be fragrance free though and it just isn’t. To me it smells a bit like the Body Shop Hemp cream which I cannot stand. To me it’s the stench of a mouldy fruit bowel. Even a work colleague commented on the smell and not in a good way. You may of course find that is smells lovely or even doesn’t smell at all but for me it’s a no brainer. I won’t be buying this. If you’re interested though a full sized one costs £14.50 for 75ml x

For my fellow pasty faced readers: A pale foundation run down

I was recently asked what foundation I recommend for the truly pale amongst us. I’m pretty pale. Not Nicola Roberts pale (how I envy her porcelain skin!) but palest shade in every foundation range pale. I also have neutral undertones just for reference. This is just a brief rundown of the bases that I currently own ranked in order of palest to darkest. All are the palest shade the brand in question offers so hopefully this might help out some people who often find that brands just don’t cater to them. Please bear in mind that I find it very hard to tell how cool/ warm something is because a.) I’m neutral so most things look ok on me and b.) I’m pretty useless...

Palest for me is the L'Oreal Infallible foundation in the shade 015 Porcelain. During the summer this is slightly to pale even for me. I find this to be very pink toned too. If you’re cool toned and pale I’d recommend checking it out. 

Revlon Colorstay (I have the combination/ oily version) in 110 Ivory. I find this to be more neutral on me though it’s kind of hard to tell when you are neutral to start off with... again during summer this can sometimes look a little too light but in winter it’s a dead on match for my skin. 

Next is the Maybelline Dream Creamy Foundation in 04 Light Porcelain (I have a sneaking suspicion they may have come out with a lighter shade since I bought this though don’t quote me on that). I find this pretty neutral, if anything just a smidgen pink. It’s a good in between seasons shade for me though I do not recommend this foundation if you have oily skin as I find it can leave me looking a bit waxy at times. You know, like a madam Toussauds.

Then we have the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in shade 1.0. I will probably get away with this shade in the winter providing I use a light powder to set it. I think this is slightly yellow toned but not overly so. It suits my neutral skin very well. 

Ah Clinique Superbalanced. I love your natural finish. I love the way you sooth my dry bits without exacerbating my oil slick nose. I hate the fact that you are now going to the back of the drawer until the sun returns next spring/ summer. Shade 27 Alabaster N (which I’m assuming stands for neutral) is fairly pale but if you are MAC NW15, which apparently I am in winter (ish...  long story), this will probably be a touch too dark and a touch too yellow for you. In summer it’s my perfect colour though. If only it lasted a little longer!

Benefit You Rebel Lite. Used sparingly and blended well I find it looks pretty good on me. Over applied and I see hints of Tango hues starting to appear. It’s handy right now but I worry that in the depths of winter even the Lite (it’s light damn it) version is going to be a bit deep. Why oh why Benefit do you think that the entire world population only comes in two shades? One size fits all is ok for scarves. It is not ok for skin tones!

For reference I don’t currently own any but I know that Rimmel and Chanel do not make any foundation pale enough for me. Both brands have left me looking like I’ve been Ronseal’d in the past. It’s a shame because I’m sure they both make fab foundations but the colour ranges apparently weren’t designed with porcelain skin in mind. 

Which is my favourite foundation? Honestly I couldn’t say. I like them all for different things. If I was told I could only wear one of these for the rest of my life I’d probably say the Double Wear Light but I’d sorely miss the other. Except the Maybelline. I’ve almost finished it thank goodness and I will not be sorry to toss that sucker in the bin... x

*I bought all these myself because I’m a naughty makeup addict and yes I know I have too much foundation....*

October Favourites

Happy Halloween everyone! I love October. It’s all snugly jumpers, deep colours and spicy scents. Here’s what I’ve been making dents in throughout the month:

Mememe Boxed Blush in Rouge – a gorgeous reddish pink with subtle gold shimmer. This is the kind of shade that suits me best and I love blushes with a touch of red in them for getting a ‘just in from the cold’ flush. And it’s less than a tenner, score!

Sleek Storm Palette – This is my favourite of all the Sleek palettes. I have a ridiculous amount of eyeshadow and yet I keep coming back to this when I’m rushing to get ready for work. 

Clinique Super balanced Foundation – My skin doesn’t know what’s happening right now. It’s still oily thanks to my two weeks in the sun but the dry patches associated with the colder weather are starting to appear. This foundation works for all areas. This is the lightest shade (Alabaster) and whilst it’s a perfect match for me in the summer it will probably be a touch dark in the winter so I wanted to get as much use out of it while I still can. 

ELF Studio Cream Eyeliner in Golden Olive – less harsh than black, prettier than brown and office friendly. I’ve already made a fair sized dent in this. 

Benefit Browzings – I find this holds my unruly brows in place far better than even my beloved clear mascara so whenever I have time to use this in the morning I do. Also as I recently dyed my hair darker and redder I’ve been doing a stronger brow and loving it.

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Pink Crush – I actually got this free in one of their gift with purchase sets. I love the formula which is completely none drying and the sheer deep pink shade is a wearable introduction to a slightly berry lip. I’ve been wearing it under...

 Lippie on the bottom, gloss on the top ^

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Frankly Flirty – I think this has been discontinued unfortunately. I got it at an outlet shop ages ago and haven’t seen it anywhere else. It’s a gorgeous berry shade. In the tube it has micro fine silver glitter but it doesn’t really look shimmery on the lips at all. If you see it snap it up! (Or if it’s not discontinued let me know ;-) 

If you’ve done a monthly favourites post please leave a link in the comments. I love reading them x

*I bought all the above products myself*

Dolce & Gabbana Cosmetics

The much-hyped Dolce & Gabbana Cosmetics lined debuted this year at New York's City Saks 5th Avenue, and then subsequently made its way the Saks Beverly Hills store. I ran to Saks when the line was initially unveiled, intent on snapping up a number of items. I was a bit shocked to discover that nothing really appealed to me. The lipsticks seemed somewhat average, as did the blushes, bronzers, and shadows. I thought the shadow duos and quads either odd combinations or ones that had been done before.

A few weeks later I decided to go back and take another look. Part of the problem is that the lighting created for the D&G area on the cosmetics floor is very, very dim and yellow, making it difficult to tell what a color truly looks like. On the second occasion I had a good amount of time to kill and decided to swatch items and then head outside to get a more accurate sense of the colors. This made a big difference in my take on the line! I decided to purchase items I found unique yet wearable, and went with a Lipstick in Naked ($30) and Eye Liner in Stromboli ($29).

Naked is part of the Shine line of lipsticks designed to be semi sheer with high shine. Naked is a shimmery pink with warm beige undertones. The color can be layered to intensify the pigment. It's too pink to be a true "naked" neutral, but it is a lovely versatile color. The lipstick does have a strong rose scent which fades in time.


From left to right, the colors in this swatch comparison are: Bobbi Brown Rosebud Shimmer, Lancome Beauty's Eve, Paul & Joe Pain D'Epice (#27), Dolce & Gabbana Naked, Clinique Gingerfrost, Shiseido SL13, Julie Hewett Nude Noir.

The Crayon Intense Eye Liner in Stromboli is a black with very subtle gold sparkles. I find black to be harsh with my fair skin, but this is a softer black shade and the gold shimmer helps to keep the liner from being overwhelming. The liner is smudgable, the the pencil has a sponge tip on one end. Unfortunately, the liner fades throughout the day, the gold shimmer barely shows up, and the product seems to get a coating on it that necessitates sharpening between uses. Not grave issues, but for a $29 eye liner I expect more. I would not use this one on the waterline due to the glitter particles. Despite my lack of affection for Stromboli, I've heard multile raves about this product in the Coffee shade and may try that one.

My Current Skincare Routine

When it comes to skincare, I'm pretty fickle and pretty picky. If a product doesn't work or upsets my normal to dry, sensitive skin, I toss it rather than try to make it work. The products I use have to be (synthetic) fragrance-free, keep my city-weary skin clear and smooth, not contain parabens, and comprised of mostly natural (preferably organic) ingredients. I know, I know. The FDA has said parabens are safe. And the concentration purportedly used in most sincare products falls far beneath the accepted threshold. And natural is not always better--after all poison ivy is natural. And chemical ingredients can be powerfully effective and gentle on the skin. I can't help it though. For some visceral reason I can't get around this preference and feel like my skin looks its best when I stick with products of this ilk. To that end, here is what I've been using lately and my thoughts.

Clinique Take the Day Off Balm ($27)- this solid cleanser in a pretty purple pot emulsifies when you smooth it over your face, breaking down even the toughest eye makeup. I use it all over and then rinse. The directions indicate that a separate cleanser isn't necessary, but I always follow up with one as I am a fan of double cleansing (using one product to simply remove makeup and another to cleanse the skin).
Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Wash ($34)- Nude uses organic ingredients when possible and the packaging is recyclable. This cleanser smells of bitter orange water and gently foams to cleanse my skin without over drying. I wouldn't call it moisturizing, but because it doesn't strip my skin, in the heat of summer I do not even need a separate moisturizer. I also credit this for keeping my skin breakout free. The price may seem steep but just one little pump is needed and I anticipate it lasting several months.
Kate Somerville Total Vitamin Antioxidant Face Serum ($65)- I've been diligent about sun protection since my early teens so I don't have any age spots or real discoloration to contend with, but I live in NYC where the smog, pollution, exhaust, and general icky grime can really take a toll on skin. Couple this with the amount of time I spend outdoors walking around, and I need a serious preventative antioxidant. This light serum is Vitamin C based, sinks right in, and doesn't irritate my skin or clog my pores. Since I'm using it for prevention it's difficult to tell if it's working, but that is true of all products used for this purpose I suppose.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle ($65)- As much as I love it, NYC is really tough on skin for the reasons mentioned above. Your pores fill with all of the muck and some serious degunkification is required! I tried the regular ExfoliKate and it was way to harsh for my sensitive skin, but this is perfect. In 2-3 minutes the product has dissolved the dead cells and cleaned out my pores. You get some manual exfoliation from the little granules it contains and are left with clear glowing skin.
Aveeno Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+ ($11)- this contains all physical sun blocks (I won't use chemical sunscreens) and while it's not featherlight, it hasn't clogged my pores either. It is chock full of chemicals so I have Devita on my list to try next.
Jurlique Balancing Day Cream ($40)- This is indicated for combination skin, but I think it would be too heavy for anyone leaning towards the oily side. It's a bit thick but does absorb, and has a distinct floral smell (though the fragrance is of natural origin). I love using this after the Kate Somerville enzyme treatment. I warm a tiny bit between my fingertips and pat in on to my skin, leaving it moisturized and smooth. It's not a miracle--you won't suddenly look 18--but it's a great basic moisturizer with antioxidant plant oils that creates a good base for makeup.
Stem Organics Hydrating Face Fluid ($58)- I use this in the winter when I need something more hydrating than the Jurlique. Despite its more fluid texture, this is a highly moisturizing product with macadamia oil, shea butter, vitamin E and a host of nourishing extracts and oils. This is definitely indicated for dry skin, though the brand makes a version for normal and a version for oily skin and they come packaged in dark glass bottles with air tight pumps to preserve the antioxidants. You never hear about this line but it is absolutely fantastic!
Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Pen with Biospheric Complex ($20)- I suffer from the world's worse undereye circles (so bad that I've had makeup artists tell me there's simply nothing they can do for them when I've sought concealer advice) and even though I logically know better, I'll still try any eye cream that claims to help with my shiners. This one not only claims to do that, but says it combats wrinkles and puffiness and contains optical brighteners. Plus it comes in a hygienic, travel friendly pen and the price is right! This eye cream is fine. Just fine. I've been using it consistently for several months now and have noticed no change in the darkness under my eyes and I haven't seen any of the claimed brightness. Concealer does go on smoothly over this but that's about it. I'll finish it up and move on the next eye cream with lofty claims!

Here is my routine:
AM:
Kate Somerville Total Vitamin Antioxidant Face Serum
Aveeno Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+
Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Pen with Biospheric Complex

PM:
Remove makeup with Clinique Take the Day Off Balm
Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Wash
Moisturize if needed either with the Jurlique Balancing Day Cream or Stem Organics Hydrating Facial Fluid
Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Pen with Biospheric Complex

Twice a week:
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle

That's it!

A Surprising Rave!

Earlier this week I picked up my pre-ordered Clinique Gift with Purchase at Bloomingdales and one of the extra samples included for pre-ordering was Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Rock Violet ($15 for full size). These shadows come in lipgloss-style tubes with wand applicators and are designed to last up to 10 hours. I normally just toss these samples aside to give to my mother or friends, but I decided to try the shadow this morning and am very pleasantly surprised!

Rock Violet is a gorgeous pearly lavender on the cool side. I find that warm purples can make my eyes look tired and so I always choose one with a cool undertone despite having a warm-toned complexion. I had only two hours of sleep last night and boy did I look it this morning, but this shadow managed to brighten my face and make me look wide awake! I applied it with my fingers, layering on two thin coats to achieve my desired depth of color, added some liner and off I went. When I got home, I discovered that while some of my liner had faded, the Quick Eyes Cream Shadow still looks perfect--no fading, creasing or smearing! What a great surprise from a free sample! Have you received any samples that turned out to be favorites?

Click images to enlarge.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15

Another day, another tinted moisturiser. This one by Clinique is a bit ho hum really and again it is mostly to do with shade, but also SPF15? to me that is too low.

So the lightest shade is 01 swatched on the hand.

Which doesn't look too bad here, probably the exposure on the camera, but in reality it is not quite right for me.

To me the texture is really more like a light foundation and not a tinted moisturiser. It is quite liquid and needs a good shake before application, and although the words "moisture" and "surge" suggest some sort of dewier texture and maybe a moisturising quality, I found the texture of this to almost set after application - I could spread it easily enough and then suddenly I couldn't, and my skin is definately combination/oily.

So here we go again, open pores, thread veins - my bare skin below

And here is it applied

The coverage suprised me if I am honest, as it really isn't too bad here. It lasted all day and only began to pill a bit on the forehead after 4+ hrs which is not bad. But the shade, I picked 01 which is the lightest shade and it just had a bit too much of the peach to it. Now doubtless for some, the hint of warmth is flattering but on my skin it just emphasises my ruddy porcelainess, the photograph really makes it look very pale but that is not what I see in the mirror.

Would I buy again? Er no. Currently £21 at Boots

Sample Sunday – Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild

I’ve been thinking about trying the Clinique three step skin care range for a while but I have resisted. This sample came free with a magazine a couple of months ago and I was thrilled to be able to try out the facial soap before having to buy the full sized bottles. Given that the full sized liquid facial soap is £13 for 200ml with the rest of the line on top of that this little freebie has just saved me a lot of money.

It’s a clear gel which foams well and does a decent job of cleaning my face. And... erm... that’s it? It’s perfectly ok but I’ve used plenty of face washes that are perfectly ok for £10 less. It doesn’t do anything to fight spots or control oil so it’s not right for my skin this summer so I won’t be bothering with the line just now. Yes I know that there is a version for oiler skin but I still have dry bits so I’m not convinced that would work either!

5 Minute Makeup

Picture the scene if you will; it’s 7am. I am supposed to leave the flat for work erm... now. I personally cannot leave the house without some slap on. It’s sad I know but last time I went to work barefaced I was asked if I was sick and wanted to go home. I need some multi tasking products that I can throw on without having to wash too many brushes (why is it that it’s only on the days I’m rushing I’ve forgotten to wash my brushes the night before?) and without too many steps. Behold my go to panic face.

Clinique City Block Sheer: Does the job of – moisturiser, primer, SPF

MAC Studio Fix Powder: Does the job of – foundation, setting powder

MAC Stereo Rose MSF: Does the job of – blush, highlighter

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow: Does the job of – eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow

17 Wild Curls Mascara: Does the job of... well mascara. It just happens to be my current favourite

Garnier Eye Roll on Concealer (not pictured because I’m an idiot): Does the job of – under eye concealer, eye cream

Maybelline Watershine Gloss in Strawberry Carats: Does the job of: lip balm, lipstick, gloss

The only brushes required for this is a kabuki for the Studio Fix Powder and a blush brush for the MSF. Generally I don’t *need* a concealer for spots as my skin is pretty clear unless it’s that time of the month. The Benefit Creaseless Cream just gets dabbed on with a finger and I find it lasts all day without creasing on me whether I use a primer or not. I say that Stereo Rose does the job of a highlighter as well as a blush solely because it’s shimmery so I wouldn’t add to that with a highlighter anyway.

As my skin is quite oily in places the Clinique is all I need in the day time for moisture. The SPF25 is a great bonus too. One of my favourite items here has to be the Maybelline gloss though. It’s quite pigmented so I don’t feel the need to layer it over lipsticks as you simply can’t see them under it. It’s also supremely moisturising and a gorgeous muted strawberry colour with gold pearl. These are actually my favourite drug store lip glosses.

The whole thing takes about 5-10 minutes to slap on and whilst the end result isn’t as polished as I prefer it allows me to leave the house without confining myself to the shadows. What about you folks. Are you happy to leave the house barefaced? What makeup item do you simply have to apply before facing the world? Let me know in the comments! Xxx

*I bought the above product with my own money. I always give my honest opinion of a product. For further info see my disclaimer in the menu on the left*

Clinique High Impact Mascara

I received a sample size of this as part of a gift with purchase, the full size costs £15 which frankly I resent. I’ll spend a whole lotta cash on a product that is going to last like blush or eyeshadow but mascara is in your collection for a matter of months then bye bye. Regardless of it being overpriced, which most mascaras are these days, I do quite like this one. I’ve been choosing it over my No7 Exceptional Definition mascara because it’s easier and quicker to use (no combing through over and over again) and it gives a lovely effect. 

Now Clinique claim that this will give length, definition and volume. I’m always a little sceptical about mascaras that claim to do all of these things. I certainly don’t notice a lot of added length and whilst the volume is there it isn’t anything dramatic. It’s just a good dark and defining mascara that I can throw on without too much hassle in the morning. The wand is a traditional bristled affair although it is slightly large so those with small eyes like me need to be careful. 

I haven’t noticed any flaking or smudging and it comes off easily with warm water. I like it but not enough to buy it in the full size. If it appeals to you it comes in Black, Black Brown and Brightening Black (which looks blue on the Boots website oddly) xx

Summer series – Clinique City Block SPF25

I’m not being a kill joy honest. Since I embraced the pale I’ve enjoyed summer a lot more. I just enjoy it from under a thick layer of factor 50+ sunscreen! Now that the sun is peeking out and the temperature is rising I thought it might be fun/ useful to do mini series of posts based on products I use with SPF in them.


During the incident of the patchwork face I also picked up Clinique City Block Sheer. The box proclaims it to be an “oil-free daily face protector”. Much like the Superbalanced Foundation it claims to absorb oil in oily bits and provide moisture to dry bits making makeup look better for longer. A ha, a primer then? Actually it works pretty well as a primer. Not as well as GOSH Velvet touch for me but pretty darn well nonetheless.

It has antioxidant properties and also specifies that it is safe for use around the eyes (I certainly haven’t experienced any problems). Importantly it has broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sun protection at SPF25. There is apparently an SPF40 but it wasn’t available.

As you can see the cream is actually a thick beige colour. Whilst it blends away pretty much invisibly on my skin I can imagine it might give dark skin tones a bit of an ashy cast. Correct me if I’m wrong though! It is a very thick cream but it spreads well so your 40ml tube should last a fair while. I haven’t had any breakouts or anything whilst using this and to be honest this combined with the Clinique foundation is all the moisture my skin needs on these sweaty summer mornings.

I would repurchase this. In summer my skin cannot cope with moisturiser, sun protection, primer and foundation. I can wear this alone on a good day and my skin looks fine, not oily or shiny. The only thing I’m not keen on is the very slight biscuit smell. It goes very quickly but it reminds me of fake tan.... ew. At £15 I thought it was a little pricey until I saw that Boots own brand sunscreen wasn’t miles off that price either. I actually consider it very good value for money!

Stay safe in the sun folks :-) xxx

Clinique Superbalanced Foundation

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you will know that I’m a bit stingy. I like my bargains. So when I say that I would happily pay more than the £19.50 Boots charge for this foundation you know it must have really, REALLY impressed me.

Funny story: Recently, still smarting from my recent failures of foundation purchases, I was walking through the duty free shopping for a new one. A lovely girl offered to help. Turns out she didn’t work for one brand though... oh no. She kept taking patches of my foundation off and trying every brand in the shop on me. This was great as I probably walked out with the best possible foundation for me. However after my flight when settling in at my parents I caught sight of myself in the mirror. PATCHWORK FACE!!!! No wonder the flight attendant looked at me funny...


I digress. For your £19.50 you get 30ml of product in a substantial glass bottle. Again no pump which is annoying but as it isn’t as thick and gloopy as Revlon Colorstay it is a little easier to control how much comes out. Clinique claim to have a magic potion here which will moisturize dry bits and control oil in shiny bits. It sounded perfect for my combination skin, and do you know what? It is! I scoffed at the girl when she told me but honestly it works for me. The flaky bits caused by Colorstay have gone and it lasts a good 5 hours on my oily nose before needing to be powdered.

The colour selection is a winner for me too. All too often I find brands have pink options or yellow options and nothing for those in between. Here I have shade 27 Alabaster N. The N stands for Neutral. Score! It is by far the best match I have ever owned.

Again I like to apply this with my ELF Studio Powder brush. I need very little to get fairly decent coverage. I would call it medium though you can build it up without fear of it turning cakey. The finish blows all of the drugstore foundations I’ve been trying lately out of the water. It looks like my skin but better. It isn’t matte, but it isn’t dewy. It’s just right.

I would repurchase this in a heartbeat. If they put a pump on the bottle I’d love it even more. In fact the packaging is the only thing I would change about it. So thank you kind lady at Glasgow duty free. This is the closest to a holy grail item I’ve ever come! x

Shimmery Complex Roses

I tend to gravitate towards interesting colors. No straight pinks or greens for me! I like complex, multidimensional colors--murky taupey browns, iridescent pinky browns, luminous reddish pinky peaches. These shades are all what I'd considering interesting. They're all a blend of several tones and are of varying depths. If pressed for a one word description I'd use "rose," but that would belie the complexity of the shades.

From left to right: Origins Rose Gold, Shiseido SL13, Dolce and Gabbana Naked, Julie Hewett Nude Noir, Clinique Gingerfrost, Lancome Rendez-Vous

Same order as before: Origins Rose Gold, Shiseido SL13, Dolce and Gabbana Naked, Julie Hewett Nude Noir, Clinique Gingerfrost, Lancome Rendez-Vous

My Bergdorf Goodman Haul

Bergdorfs was a madhouse today! The gift Beauty Event is in full swing, and you'll receive $25 off a $100 purchase on the beauty level, in addition to the gifts with purchase that many brands are offering. I had a difficult time deciding what to buy, and ultimately settled on Le Metier de Beaute Fresh Creme Tint in Tenne, Edward Bess Eye Shadow in Intimate, Edward Bess Lipstick in Pure Impulse and a replacement Clinique Take the Day Off Balm. Unfortunately the Le Metier proved to be out of stock, and I had to make a game time decision about a replacement. I ultimately ended up with Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Zero Humidity Frizz Control which I'll post about separately.

Pure Impulse: a warm nude. This looks a bit gray for a minute or so after application, but then melds with my lips to create a stunning natural shade. This lipstick is full coverage with no shimmer.
Intimate: a golden brown with strong khaki tones. Or a khaki with golden brown tones. It's a fabulous shade on my murky green eyes. It's very blendable and the shimmer is subtle.

Intimate and Pure Impulse:
The new Edward Bess Compact Rouge is gorgeous as well. It's a deep burnt rose with a stain-like texture. It looks dark in the pot but blends out well with a dewy quality.

I was helped but the most fabulous sales associate, Eileen, at the Kiehls counter. She could not have been nicer or more patient and she included a veritable slew of Kiehls samples for me to try. Please let me know if you'd like her contact information.

I ordered the Le Metier from Neiman Marcus with their free ship code, NMSHOP and it's due to ship next week.

Holy Grails

I, like most beauty junkies, go through phases where I love a certain product. Sometimes the infatuation lasts a few days, sometimes weeks, but there are very few items that I consider true holy grails--things that I'd absolutely replace right away since I would never want to be without them. Here they are:

• Clinique Take the Day Off Balm- I am not a Clinique skin care user apart from this product (though it was my gateway to higher end brands way back in my early teens) but this product is just amazing. Just a little bit completely dissolves all makeup with no irritation. I rinse it off and follow up with my normal cleanser since it does leave a bit of a film, but those with dry skin could probably just tissue it off.
• Bobbi Brown Baby Lipstick- I've posted about this several times. The formula isn't my favorite but the color is so perfect I won't let it go.
• Origins Silk Screen Powder Makeup- I don't wear foundation, but do like a powder in my T zone but to make me matte and for a little redness around my nose. Every time I stray from this I regret it. It's silky smooth, covers just enough and keeps shine at bay. There are plenty of shades from which to choose and Porcelain matches me perfectly.
• Korres Mascara- length, thickness, a rich inky black and it's all natural! No flaking or smearing either. A tube does start to dry out quickly but being much more reasonable priced than brands like Chanel and Lancome, I don't mind replacing as often as needed.
• Benefit Kohl Eye Liner in Sable- this is unfortunately discontinued but it might reappear if Benefit has a clearance sale. This dark brown lasts forever on the waterline. It's more tenacious than it's counterparts dubbed long-lasting or waterproof. The best.
• Rock and Republic Rumor Mousse Blush- A+ in terms of both color and formula.
• Chanel Brush #3- the best for adding a deep eye shadow color to the outer corner
• Lancome Artliners- these are the easiest to apply and never run, flake or smear. I have half a dozen and hope they come out with new shades soon! I much prefer these to their new Ink Artliners in the pot.
• Bare Escentuals Soul Eye Shadow- this best lid-brightening base
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle-keeps my skin clear and smooth with minimal effort (but a maximum price tag!)
• Rubis Tweezers- the sharpest and most precise.
  

Honorable Mentions:
These are products I trust and rely on and use all of the time, but as of now would not send me into a fit if they couldn't be replaced, either because I think they could be duplicated or I haven't had them long enough to truly call them a Holy Grail. They could achieve that designation though!

• Nude Facial Cleansing Wash- free of all the yucky stuff I don't want on my skin yet keeps my face looking great
• Paul and Joe Face Color 16 Canyon- such a flattering combination! I can't wait to try more shades.
• Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Eye Palette #1- my eyes look great every time I use this
• Desert Essence Organics Coconut Hand and Body Lotion- the most divine scent ever. I just wish it didn't fade quite so fast!
• Stem Organics Hydrating Facial Fluid- I love this for the fall and winter, but it's just a bit too rich come spring and summer.
  
• Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink- less harsh than black, more interesting than brown, this color is perfect on green eyes.
  

Look what the boy came home with/ A UK Clinique freebie

Ladies (and gents) get thee to a shop ASAP. This months Glamour Magazine is handing out Clinique goodies! My dearly beloved showed up this evening with the high impact mascara, liquid soap, 7 day scrub and take the day off makeup remover. They also have some moisturiser, eye cream and gloss! Considering Glamour is £2 I think we can officially call this a bargain x