Absence because of poorly...

Hello, just a quick post to say i'm sorry i've been quiet but I am currently rather poorly with a horrid cold. My whole body hurts and I just want to sleep, and this is after having severe sinusitis that I had to have two lots of antibiotics for. NO GOOD.

Still, I have got a little stash to review soon of new purchases. I got .......

Sleek Aqua Collection Palette

An initial impression, it's not anywhere near as great as i've come to expect from Sleek. The colours and not pigmented as usual, and are quite wishy washy despite their beauty in the palette. 

Diego Dalla Palma Make Up Fixing Spray

Finally DDP is stocked in the uk in easy reach of any larger Marks and Spencer store, or on their new UK based website HERE. It's alcohol based, which tends to be a problem for some people, but initial impressions is, IT DOES WORK. It's pretty pricey at £19, but Model In a Bottle is a similar formula and it's not caused me any issues! 

Bourjois Health Mix Foundation Reformulation for 2013

I love this formula, but it's STILL SO DAMN YELLOW. I wish they'd go a bit more neutral with their shades. Still, check out the blurb HERE and i'll review it in the next few days 

Till then my lovelies!

Review - Stila Stay All Day Lipstick - Shade Fiery 01

If there's one thing i'm a massive fan of, it's a matte lip. It's not that i'm a hater of a glossy lip, but there's something so classic about a matte, flat colour on a lip, almost cartoonish depending on the shade. I know a lot of girls get upset about matte colours being drying, but I don't give a toss frankly. It looks cool, and thats what Neutrogena Intense Repair Lip Balm is for. Just slather some on and give your lips and exfoliate girls, and hey presto, the world didn't end!

So, onto my latest lip crush.....

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery

I have always had problems with red lipstick. Normally pale girls look great with red lips, but such is my skin tone and odd colouring, as i'm pale, but pinky in the face, a yellowy around my neck, very dark brown of hair (naturally, but it's pink right now) and pale blue eyes, oh, and super yellow teeth because of smoking like a trooper from the age of 11 till I was 22. It's a confusing palette for some reason so many red lipsticks look awful on me. However, this guy, he's my mothereffing HERO. 

Fiery, swatched. Just now.

This behaves much like the last Stila Liquid Lipstick I reviewed, it's a massively pigmented formula, which covers completely in one swipe, and takes about three minutes to dry down completely. It leaves a beautiful, velvety finish, completely matte, and pretty long lasting. The manufacturer, Mr Stila, says it should last six hours through hell and high water. This isn't quite true, but if you're just going out, having a drink and a bite to eat, it'll see you through zero problems. If you're going for a full on snog, it's going to move a little. You'll continue to look good, but your kissing partner is going to be a little red around the mouth. Ahem. Still, who cares, as long as you're looking good! 

So above, i've teamed it with my beloved Sleek Eau La La Liner in Raisin (£6.99 Superdrug), which is a great dupe for Mac Currant . Then all I have to do is swipe, clean up (which I neglected to do above, clearly) and go. I can just touch up through the night if I need to, and everyone is a red lips winner! 

You can purchase Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery from ASOS  or direct from Stila UK for £15

Being Pale - Objects that save our souls Pt 2 Pale foundation swatches

So if you read yesterdays post Being Pale Pt 1, you'll have gathered that my paleness has been something that i've had to surmount. I have certain things I need from a foundation, such as good coverage, an ability to cover my redness, to combat my oily ways, and to stay on my face for a long time and to not flash back in pictures. Quite the list of demands, apparently, even in todays make up world.

So, to share my findings, i've decided to spend a few days swatching my paler foundations. I have both yellow and pink, as well as neutral toned foundations, so you'll get a range, no one will be left out!

So here goes. Swatch frenzy part ONE.

L-R - Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish in Porcelain

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24hr in 005

Stila Stay All Day Foundation in Bare 1

L-R - Ellis Faas Skin Veil Shade 101

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Shade BR 02

Rimmel Match Perfection Shade 010 Light Porcelain 

L-R Mac Studio Fix Foundation Shade NW10

Dr Jart Beauty Balm Platinum Universal Shade

MUA Undress Your Skin Shade Porcelain

L-R Lancome Teint Miracle Shade 005

Liz Earle Signature Foundation Shade Porcelain 01

So there you go, that is my first instalment of the swatchorama. These are all different formulas obviously, with different levels of coverage and effectiveness. I shall be back soon with another instalment to assist you girls of pallid ways. 

Being Pale - objects that save our souls Pt 1

I think i've mentioned it a few times, yes, I know I have, but for the uninitiated, I am very very pale. I have freckles, so whenever I go to buy a foundation (foundation is my version of heroin, I just can't get enough and the more I buy the more I want) I seem to have this exchange with the MUA.

Me: Hi there, I wanted to try your new foundation but i'm not sure it'll come pale enough for me
MUA: I wouldn't say you're that pale, I would put you at a shade 03 or 04
Me: I promise you, lots of people say that but it's just because my skin is red and I have freckles
MUA: Trust me, I know what I'm talking about, I think you'll be surprised.
Me: 'sighing' okay....surprise me....

10 wasted minutes later....

MUA: How weird! Do you not want to warm up your complexion a little though? No one wants to be pale do they?
Me: I do. It's the colour I am. I want foundation the colour of my skin ideally.
MUA: Oh, well I can't help you then.
Me: Thought not....

And thus, my frustration, and search continues. Fortunately, more and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon of different levels of paleness, and tones of paleness. Yellow based, pink based, neutral. It happens! However, what do you do when you've wasted a ton of your money on a foundation that is far too dark for you? Or the wrong tone? Well, I have wasted money, and I haven't really got much of it to waste sadly, so these objects have saved me again and again when it comes to my foundation.

Illamasqua Skin Base in Shade 01

If you're thinking 'that's ruddy pale, it's basically white', you'd be right, thats exactly what it is. Illamasqua skin base is a much loved version of a BB Cream by the fantastic Illamasqua, a brand that, as far as I'm concerned, can do no wrong. 

Now, given the massive shade range of this product, you may think 'why not just buy it in your shade?'. Well sadly this product isn't long wearing enough for me, and it tends to slide off/cake up around my stupid red nose. Fortunately, when mixed in small quantities with other foundation formulations that DO work, but are too dark for me, the problems don't surface. Bonza! 

I used to use Mac Face and Body foundation in White, but the shelf life of that product is ridiculously short, and it becomes a clotted, stinking filthy mess in four months, and the product is SO sheer that if you need any coverage, you're just sheering it out too much and lose the effectiveness. I also have used Face Atelier in Zero Minus, which is a very siliconey white foundation favoured by make up artists, but it's darn expensive at £34 for such a small quantity, so Illamasqua turned out a happy solution for me. 

If you'd like to give this product a go, it's available from the Illamasqua website HERE for £27.

BUDGET QUEENS BEWARE THOUGH. If you are struggling to find the money to treat yourself, there is a much cheaper pure white alternative available from trusty old Barry M called Foundation Creme White. Okay, not quite the same quality, but does the same job for next to nothing. You can purchase Barry M online, or in store at Boots or Superdrug for £6.19.

Barry M Foundation Creme in White

Of course, there is also the issue of 'what if the foundation is now too yellow, or too pink'. Well, I tend to go pretty basic here, and look for the pinkest/yellowest foundation I can even out the tone with, ideally with the same finish qualities, so long wearing/sweatproof/dewy/matte etc. 

For example, I have a big love for Smashbox Studio Skin 15hr Wear Foundation but it's so darn DARK it's like fake tan on me! When I add white, it turns pale yellow, and I am neutral in tone, leaning to pinky, so what I do is add another favourite of mine, Make Up For Ever Face and Body foundation in shade 38 Pink Porcerlain into the mix. It's not only a pink based foundation, but it's also water resistant and oil free like the first, so they work together well. Never mix an oil base with a water base, they will repel each other like hateful ex's, and separate as far as they can get from each other, on your face, leaving you red faced and blotchy. Again, like a hateful ex. 

I hope this post has been somewhat useful to the pallid of tone out there. I have written this from my poorly sickbed, so I hope I make some sense in all this ramble. Thank you for reading me girls! 

New (and desired) - Philosophy Total Matteness Pore Minimizer

My relationship with Philosophy has been hit and miss, but generally, I love their products, and there are a few that I actively lust over, such as the Miracle Worker, which looks and sounds AWESOME except for the price tag (a whopping £52), so shall remain on my 'when I win all the money in the land' list.

Anyways, for those who, like me, suffer with uneven, pore heavy, oily skin, this new release from Philosophy sounds amazing. Comprising of two products, the first a 'pore minimising, and mattifying cleanser plus mask'. It contains glacial clay, which unclogs dark, enlarged pores, which can be used daily to cleanse, and weekly as a mask to leave you with a soft touch, smooth, totally matte finish. It will retail at around £19.

Philosophy pore minimising and mattifying cleanser and mask

The second product is a treatment serum, containing natural bamboo extract to absorb and control oil, lentil seed to strengthen the pore wall whilst tightening and diminishing their appearance, and salicylic acid to brighten and even skin tone whilst sloughing away dead cells. This should retail around £32. 

Total Matteness mattifying pore eraser

These will be available for spring from the Philosophy website. Lovely stuff!

Review: RIMMEL Moisture renew lipstick - Shade 320 Funtime Fuschia

RIMMEL Moisture Renew - Shade 320 - Funtime Fuschia

I tend to avoid anything thats got 'moisture' in the name. I love my shades pigmented to the tits, with strong payoff in one swipe, and matte. However, I spied this and I loved the colour so much, I couldn't say no! It's a beautiful dark rose colour, and despite appearance in the bullet, has no shimmer once on the lips. The colour is rich, and although it's not quite as pigmented as I usually go for, if you blot and reapply, it's sumptuous! The colour stays on a reasonable amount of time, although not as long as a matte formula, but it feels comfortable, and keeps your lips lovely and moist....which is the point I guess! 

Above swatched with one swipe

On my face, a little smudged after two hours wear

So as you can see, it's a bright colour, but it's not a stupidly bright colour (although I DO love stupidly bright). It's wearable during the day, and here i've paired it with Sleek Eau La La Liner in Venom (£4.99 from Superdrug) to give it a little definition and depth around the edges. 

So if you're looking for a pink that is a blue base, and is wearable to work and during the day, as well as for nights out, this is well worth a punt.

You can purchase this at Boots or Superdrug for £6.29

Drugstore tester using skanks. An open letter.

Dear human beings. This is a plea.

The other day I was on my way out. Now, when i'm off out for the night, I need to INDUSTRIALLY protect my lipstick. I'm not like you lovely beautiful creatures who gently rub a little lippie over your mouth and look beautiful, pouting and fulsome of mouth all night. Once my lips start to wear and crack due to all the many, many free drinks, I look pretty rubbish. Therefore after I applied my brand new Poppy King Hot Rose Sinner lipsticks, I wanted to keep it on the night! I'll review this lippie soon btw, it's my new fave. It's a 90 (yes NINETY) percent pigment winner.

So what did I need? I am lucky enough to live near a Superdrug that opens until 11pm at night so I popped in to buy the Rimmel Lipstick Lock that they've recently released to compete with the old school wonders of Lipcote, which i'm a massive fan of. They're not infallible, because not much is in make up, despite its claims. However they do give you a good few hours more wear than you'd get otherwise. So I stomped in quickly in the five minutes I had before my train departed and grabbed the last one from the display...

A Rimmel Stand. At some point. 

I got to the counter and what did I notice? Oh that age old problem. Some total effing SKANK had opened it, used it, and then put it back on the shelf after sealing her dark red mucky lips with it. 

Here's the news girls. Make up is NOT a communal thing when it comes to using of it. Okay, I share my make up with my best friends. I don't mind doing it because I love them and I love to share everything with my friends, unless they've got face fungus. However, when you go into Superdrug or Boots, and I stand next to you and you are USING THE LIPSTICK TESTER ON YOUR OWN MOUTH, it makes me want to curl up and cry in horror and lack of hygienic practises. 

If you're currently thinking 'what's the big deal?'. Read this report courtesy of the LA Times.  If you do that stuff with testers, you are basically drinking 1000 peoples germs. That is rank.

So please, please stop it. I like to get an item home and not find it used by some stranger who couldn't be bothered to pay for an item on her way out to, dunno, Wetherspoons or whatever. Also, think of other people occasionally yeah? 

Lots of love,

Hygienic of London. Xxx