I wasn’t bowled over by the original Lancome Shaker’s simply because I just didn’t find myself reaching for them. I wasn’t excited to wear them and the colours I had were quite sheer. Now fast forward to the new Matte offering and it is a whole different ball game. These are pigmented, bold and OMG they have serious staying power.
So the idea is you shake these like a cocktail shaker so the cushion applicator soaks up the product – the more you shake the more product ends up on the sponge (so bare that in mind). So once you have shaken to your hearts content you then apply the liquid lipstick using the cute, handy cushion applicator (nub) which is pretty effortless to use. It gives you precision application and the formula is easy to work with, it dries down to feel lightweight, comfortable and gives the lips that on trend matte finish.
Lancome describe the formula as ‘feeling like a second skin’ and I agree with them. Being someone that tends to shy away from matte finishes because they’re more often than not uncomfortable and dry on the lips but these Matte Shakers have changed my opinion & I have been enjoying wearing them.
‘A water-in-oil emulsion that’s formulated with a patented Ultra Thin Film technology to deliver weightless texture and a second-skin feel without sacrificing intense color payoff. And it has Vitamin E for comfortable, non-drying wear.’
The Matte Shaker comes in 7 beautiful shades
Magic Orange – vibrant orange
Beige Vintage – nude beige
Energy Peach – nude peach
Red’y in 5 – warm red
Kiss Me Cherie – brick red
Pink Power – magenta
Yummy Pink – bright pink
Kiss Me Chérie / Yummy Pink
The two shades I have are beautiful, bold and pigmented and you’re able to build up the colour to be super intense. Once you apply these there is no shifting them and they have incredible staying power. Even after eating and drinking the colour is still there and not patchy. I’m beyond impressed and I am going to get one of the more everyday shades, I have my eye on the Beige Vintage Shade.
The Matte Shaker’s are available now nationwide and at www.lancome.co.uk for £19.50
As I said in a previous post 2017 is the year I’m going to only keep products that I 100% love. So I thought shopping my stash would be a great way of rotating my makeup and either rediscovering old favourites or realising there is a reason you’ve not reached for something in a while and thats when it’s time to pass it on.
This foundation has such a creamy formula, although don’t be scared into thinking that it is going to be too heavy or greasy on the skin. It is lovely to blend and gives a medium coverage but you are able to build up to more of a full coverage. It covers all those blemish scars, redness and dark patches that you might otherwise use concealer on. This takes care of them all with ease. I’m pretty happy to have rediscovered this. I have the shade 25 Nude and that is a great match for my skin over the Winter months.
This is meant as a concealer but I have quite a peachy shade which I find works really well to brighten my under eye area. It’s not the best colour match to use on blemishes but it can be good to brighten dark, old blemish scars and the coverage is very good. I like how creamy the formula is and because its so creamy it blends nicely. I always over look stick foundations / concealers but this one has made me think twice. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends these past few weeks so I am loving having this in my makeup bag to help me appear more awake and bright eyed. The formula also contains Vitamin E and Community Trade Marula Oil, so it is lovely and hydrating
2016 saw Benefit do a massive overhaul of their brow range and add so many exciting new additions to the collection & I have been using the Goof Proof pencil on and off for a couple of months. I do like the angled tip so you can easily sweep it across your brows filling in any sparse patches and It lays down a good amount of colour without feeling too overdone. I have started to get my brows waxed again as they were looking a little unkempt and so I’m excited to use this more in 2017. I might get a lighter shade too just for more of a subtle daytime brow
OK so this isn’t old but I haven’t used it since it was sent to me back in December. I haven’t been wearing too much makeup over the festive holidays but I have dug this out and I fully intend to use it a lot. This is full of rich neutral colours that are 100% me, you get 8 wearable shades and a mix of shimmer and matte shades. They apply with a little fall out but nothing that can’t be tidied up after.
Lacura Concealer Pen
This is part of Aldi’s makeup collection and it has almost run out, I have had it for quite a few months though. Its a click pen with a brush applicator (much like the cult beauty favourite YSL Touche Le Clait) I like to use it on my eyelids as a corrector and a primer and also under my eyes to brighten dark circles. I use a beauty blender as I find it gives a nice even finish and for a budget option the coverage is pretty good. I will be repurchasing it when it runs out.
I mostly wear lip crayons as I just find them so convenient and easy to apply. Lord & Berry do some beautiful lip products and I used this quite a lot during last summer, I am pleased to have rediscovered it. Its a gorgeous rosy brown shade, a perfect everyday colour. It has a soft, creamy matte finish and I love how long it wears. I have put this straight into my handbag and it will be my Jan / Feb lip option.
How pretty does this trio of face powders look? I love the touch of rose gold they’ve included around the edge of the lid. The highlight shade is a champagne shade but its a little on the light side, I think this could have been more radiant. However the contour and blush shade are more pigmented and although the contour is a little on the warm side all is not lost because I have been using it more as a bronzer and I its perfect for that. The blush shade is a gorgeous matte coral pink, very flattering colour. I am looking forward to using this a little more, I think this trio is idea for travel or your on the go makeup bag as the packaging is compact and sturdy.
These are the new Lip Magnets*from Giorgio Armani Beauty and boy are they pigmented! I have four out of the 18 shades available and I am so pleased with the colours I have. These new liquid lip colours are inspired by two of Giorgio Armani Beauty’s most iconic products – the Maestro Fusion Makeup and the Lip Maestro Velvet Lip Colour They have combined incredible colour intensity with an ultra-thin formula and they’ve created a range of rich, pigmented and ultra long-wearing matte lip colours. I am seriously impressed.
As with all Armani Beauty products these feel luxurious and are packaged in the with the iconic red lids with the Giorgio Armani Beauty logo in gold, I like that you can see the shades through the glass packaging, it makes picking a colour that much easier. The applicator has been developed by Armani exclusively for the Lip Magnets and they are calling it the Calligraphic Applicator. It gives you great control and precision to apply just the perfect amount of colour.
These liquid lip colours apply with ease and feel incredibly comfortable on the lips, the weightless formulation which is a combination of water, oils and pigments means that it fuses to your lips giving you that highly concentrated colour. The water gradually evaporates allowing the oils to deliver a rich, intense colour that is also 4 times thinner than a liquid lip colour.
Once these are on the lips the colour remains intense for hours and they just do not budge or transfer. I was shocked when I looked in the mirror after drinking & eating & my lip colour was still very much in place. I like that they apply quite fluid but dry down to be beautifully matte.
The Lip Magnets are available in 18 beautiful shades, everything from pretty pinks to softer nudes and of course a classic vibrant red. I have 4 shades and they’re a good cross-section of shades
Second Skin – This is a very pretty nude pink and this has become my everyday colour. It’s so easy to wear and looks fresh on the lips.
Front Row – This is deeper plum shade but it’s not too dark on the lips, this initially applied a little patchy but nothing a second coat didn’t fix. Its a great option for Autumn
Maharajah – This is one very bright, intense pink and it’s beautiful. The colour is bold with one swipe and looks so vivid and bright on the lips
Hollywood – This is a pretty orange toned red and it looks so vibrant and classic on the lips
Matte lipstick stains are nothing new and almost all brands have released their version but these Armani Lip Magnets feel different on the lips, more natural, less drying and like I said they have serious longevity. I know they’re at the top end of anyone’s budget but if you like to wear a matte lip and are looking to invest in one that is great quality, luxurious and won’t need reapplying for hours.
If you’re able to get to a counter then I urge you to pop down and swatch these, I think you will fall in love with the formula and the colour selection too.
Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets* are out now exclusively at Selfridges £27 each and launch Nationwide from 26th October
I’ve been trying a selection of beauty products which are available exclusively in the UK through Ideal World TV, who have an extensive range of makeup and skincare brands available on both their TV Channel & online shop. I have been aware of them for some time now but they’re constantly adding new product lines and always offering incredible deals. I thought I would share with you a few of the products, so you can get a little insight into a couple of the brands available.
These come in a pack of 4, you place the wrap around the target area and they say you will see the best results if you’re able to leave it on overnight (not sure how comfortable that would be). These wraps are designed to smooth, tighten, hydrate skin leaving it more slender. These contain skin-loving ingredients including, Seaweed, Ivy, Rosemary, Jojoba, Menthol and a range of essential vitamins. I love a face mask but not sure how I feel about a body wrap. I guess the results may be short-lived, I haven’t used this yet & if I am honest I’m not overly excited to.
Now, this is 100% more my cup of tea. Sheet masks are so popular right now and I love using them. If you’re new to the craze that is the sheet mask, they’ve been hugely popular in Korea for years and are a one use cotton / cloth mask saturated in powerful ingredients to help keep your skin looking its best. There are so many varieties on the market and are specific to your skin needs. This one from Beauty Pro is formulated with Green Tea Extract which combats oil, rehydrates skin and gives your skin a beautiful healthy glow. This one has a great amount of liquid which feels cooling and relaxing on the skin, I left this on for a little over 20 minutes, my skin felt instantly hydrated and did look fresher. These masks are great to travel with as they’re compact and help refresh skin after flying, or during your long haul flight if you’re brave enough to apply it. These come in a pack of 5 individual masks.
Elizabeth Grant Firming Eye Pads
These eye pads are on a similar vein to the sheet masks but these are specifically a treatment for your under eye area. These are so easy to apply and give an instant result to puffy tired eyes. I leave them on for as long as I can, to get every ounce of benefit out of them. They’re great to use before an important event or again after travelling and help revive and brighten your under eye. After I take them off I pat in what product is left under my eye. You get 12 sets in each pack.
Elizabeth Grant Hydra Cell Active Hand Cream
This is a nice rich but lightweight hand cream it helped hydrate my hands and stop them looking dry. Its lightweight formula sinks in quickly but leaves hands feeling protected. You can never own too many hand creams, I have them stashed all over the place but especially in my car and handbag.
Elizabeth Grant Wonder Effect Glycolic Mask
I have yet to put this to the test but Glycolic Acid products are really popular in the beauty world right now because of its exfoliating and skin rejuvenating qualities. This mask is a creamy, hydrating clay mask and loaded with 10% glycolic acid and Torricelum. The mask helps draw out deep impurities, encourages healthy new skin cells to reveal themselves, tightens pores, reduces lines, and moisturises. So with all those potential benefits I am excited to use this.
I have tried a couple of products from this brand and I really liked the eyeshadow palette, so was excited to test out more from their range. The Plasma Fusion Full Pigment Lipstick in the shade Natural Kiss has such a creamy, hydrating formula and it felt so smooth and comfortable on the lips. Its a very wearable pink and the perfect everyday shade. This range of lipsticks offer, ‘the best of four worlds in one handy tube. The outer layer is filled with rich, full-pigmented pure colour lipstick that goes on smooth and even, with the staying power of a stain. While the inner core is infused with Argan Oil and Rosehip Oil to sooth and nourish lips, adding a subtle glossy finish to those rich coloured lips’
I have also been trying the Skinn Luxe Waterproof Eyeliner in Rich Black. This wasn’t too smooth to apply and I did notice it feathered out in the fine lines on my eyelid. I will say the colour is very pigmented and once it dries there is no budging, it stays in place all day. So if you want to smoke this out you have about 2 minutes before it won’t move. It didn’t irritate my eyes but you will need a good cleanser to get this waterproof liner off.
Wet Brush Detangle Professional
These brushes are a must of you struggle with knotty hair after washing, these are specifically designed to be used on wet hair. Wet brushes come in a range of sizes and styles, this one is neon green & yellow and the rubber coated handle for grip, the super thin, flexible bristles detangle tough knots with ease. The great thing about these brushes is they doesn’t tug, snap or damage your hair so you can detangle it knowing your hair isn’t getting damaged. Also because they’re so gentle they prevent split ends.
If you haven’t already browsed the beauty department on Ideal World TV make sure you pop over. You might discover some interesting new brands and great offers.
