Sunday, 19 May 2013
It's Lisa's turn to visit the Beauty Spotlight Desert Island
Beauty Info Zone's Lisa has way more fun than a blogger should picking her 12 items for a fantasy desert island experience...
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Beauty Spotlight Roundup 12/05/13
If a luxury nude pink lipstick makes your heart skip a beat…then Lola's Secret Beauty Blog urges you to look at By Terry Rouge Terribly Age-Defense Lipstick #100 Terribly Nude! It's stunning!
Got dull, dry, lifeless or problems with aging hair? Prime Beauty found her solution with Nexxus Youth Renewal Hair Care. You're welcome :)
What products are you loving lately? Pammy Blogs Beauty shares her Spring Favorite Beauty Products!
The Pink Sith has finally found a hair treatment that moisturizes, shines and de-frizzes her hair without the use of silicones. The miracle product is the Deep Moisture Hair Elixir from Luxury Lane Soap.
Beauty Info Zone can't help but be enchanted by the spring Lush products. Whether you need a treat for your mom, a grad or yourself, Lush knows how to do it right.
Fresh, Luminous and with a touch of gold and coral zest, lets have a taste of some of the Sisley California Soul Collection for this Spring/Summer with Visionary Beauty.
If Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed was a Bond Girl she would be Fluffy Falaise (which incidentally is also her porn name) - we're sure it will be included in the next OPI Bond Girl collection - until then admire the current sans-Lisamarie one!
Perilously Pale is excited to announce that she has been asked to be a Spokesperson for Almay! As part of Almay's Makeup Moments With Mom campaign, with Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson, they are giving away a trip to NYC and Makeovers for two so be sure to check it out and enter!
Want to know more about Paula from Older Girl Beauty? She was interviewed by Jamie at The Beauty of Life blog for her "First Look Fridays" series.
15 Minute Beauty found a great lip stain which she's obsessing over!
Friday, 10 May 2013
I'll name that taupe in...
Just a bit of fun as it's Friday. I've bought a new pretty and couldn't resist taking a group comparison shot. I wondered how many of these eyeshadows you eagle-eyed* taupe fiend could name without assistance?
There are no prizes for guessing correctly, just a sense of satisfaction. I'm also wondering how many of you are old enough to remember the game show I've misappropriated my title from?
* yes, I couldn't resist!
There are no prizes for guessing correctly, just a sense of satisfaction. I'm also wondering how many of you are old enough to remember the game show I've misappropriated my title from?
* yes, I couldn't resist!
Firmoo Glasses Review
I have been in desperate need of a new pair of glasses for longer than I care to admit so when I was approached by Firmoo to review their glasses and the process of buying glasses online, I jumped at the opportunity. I hate shopping for glasses and finding a good frame shape for my face is always harder than it ought be: those of you that have been following my blog for a long time may remember the "Penfold" episode! I had been dabbling with the idea of going down the online purchasing route for a while, so Firmoo's offer sounded ideal.
Firmoo is an online optical store that ship worldwide. They have a reasonable number of frames to chose from and they are relatively inexpensive as glasses go. They have a first pair free program so if you're completely new to online glasses shopping, as I was, you can order a pair and only pay the shipping costs. The free glasses come with 1.50 index single vision lenses as standard.
The process of browsing and measuring up for buying glasses online made me realise there was an element of truth about what I'd been told at Specsavers. Glasses that are too wide across my face do not sit or look right and as each of glasses thumbnails also gave the recommended pupillary distance range, it was far easier to narrow my options. I found the virtual trying on tool useful too. Although it's not a perfect guide, as you will see for the #CP6061 frames, it definitely gave me a clearer idea of which shape to go for.
From the options I was given, I chose the frames #CP6061 ($46/£31.74) and #CP6096 ($39/£26.91). I've always wanted to have a pair of glasses with quite chunky frames but I've never found a shape that I was happy with. This seemed like the ideal opportunity to experiment with something a bit different.
The process of browsing and selecting the glasses was easy, as was inputting my prescription details. As with buying at an opticians, you are given a range of lens options including varying lens thickness and coatings, tints etc. at extra cost. What I did find tricky was measuring pupillary distance or PD. It isn't given as standard on your prescription in the UK and I wouldn't be surprised to find that opticians are reluctant to give you that information. I found a youtube video which I made my husband watch and asked him to measure for me. I did get an unfortunate case of the giggles whilst he was measuring which I'm certain professionals don't ever have to put up with!
The glasses arrived very quickly. Each pair comes in a fairly basic but sturdy case complete with cloth, and there was also a little pouch included with tools for adjustments. I immediately tried both pairs on when they arrived. I really like the shape of #CP6096 and would love a pair like this in lighter coloured frame, possibly tortoiseshell, as I think the black is a little too much on me. The depth of the #CP6061 is greater than I was anticipating from the virtual tool and I have likened myself to Mike Read in this pair! The shape also accentuates the natural wonkiness in my features. This is something I've come across with other frames in the past.
Moving away from the frames, I have had some issues with the lenses. For reference, I am shortsighted and I do have to wear glasses all the time. When I put these glasses on, the lenses are absolutely fine for things that are near distance (so I'm generally fine around the house) but the perspective in the far distance is off and also when I look at the ground. I have a suspicion that this problem is a minor error in my PD which I've already mentioned was not measured by an optician. The PD measurements are in mm, and go up in increments of 0.5mm, so you can see how someone that is not professionally trained could easily make such an error.
For me, this has been a really interesting experience. I think if you're a confident about your prescription and PD, this could be a inexpensive way of experimenting with frame shapes or buying a second fun pair. It has given me useful ideas about frame shapes and potential colours but I'm not sure I would go the online route again because of my error with the lenses. I think the first pair free program is certainly an inexpensive way of seeing if online glasses shopping would work for you too.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I received the glasses free of charge in exchange for an honest review of glasses and online shopping process. I have not included affiliate links.
Firmoo is an online optical store that ship worldwide. They have a reasonable number of frames to chose from and they are relatively inexpensive as glasses go. They have a first pair free program so if you're completely new to online glasses shopping, as I was, you can order a pair and only pay the shipping costs. The free glasses come with 1.50 index single vision lenses as standard.
The process of browsing and measuring up for buying glasses online made me realise there was an element of truth about what I'd been told at Specsavers. Glasses that are too wide across my face do not sit or look right and as each of glasses thumbnails also gave the recommended pupillary distance range, it was far easier to narrow my options. I found the virtual trying on tool useful too. Although it's not a perfect guide, as you will see for the #CP6061 frames, it definitely gave me a clearer idea of which shape to go for.
 |
| Top - #CP6061, Bottom - #CP6096 |
From the options I was given, I chose the frames #CP6061 ($46/£31.74) and #CP6096 ($39/£26.91). I've always wanted to have a pair of glasses with quite chunky frames but I've never found a shape that I was happy with. This seemed like the ideal opportunity to experiment with something a bit different.
The process of browsing and selecting the glasses was easy, as was inputting my prescription details. As with buying at an opticians, you are given a range of lens options including varying lens thickness and coatings, tints etc. at extra cost. What I did find tricky was measuring pupillary distance or PD. It isn't given as standard on your prescription in the UK and I wouldn't be surprised to find that opticians are reluctant to give you that information. I found a youtube video which I made my husband watch and asked him to measure for me. I did get an unfortunate case of the giggles whilst he was measuring which I'm certain professionals don't ever have to put up with!
The glasses arrived very quickly. Each pair comes in a fairly basic but sturdy case complete with cloth, and there was also a little pouch included with tools for adjustments. I immediately tried both pairs on when they arrived. I really like the shape of #CP6096 and would love a pair like this in lighter coloured frame, possibly tortoiseshell, as I think the black is a little too much on me. The depth of the #CP6061 is greater than I was anticipating from the virtual tool and I have likened myself to Mike Read in this pair! The shape also accentuates the natural wonkiness in my features. This is something I've come across with other frames in the past.
#CP6096
#CP6061 - AKA The 'Mike Read' Specs
Moving away from the frames, I have had some issues with the lenses. For reference, I am shortsighted and I do have to wear glasses all the time. When I put these glasses on, the lenses are absolutely fine for things that are near distance (so I'm generally fine around the house) but the perspective in the far distance is off and also when I look at the ground. I have a suspicion that this problem is a minor error in my PD which I've already mentioned was not measured by an optician. The PD measurements are in mm, and go up in increments of 0.5mm, so you can see how someone that is not professionally trained could easily make such an error.
For me, this has been a really interesting experience. I think if you're a confident about your prescription and PD, this could be a inexpensive way of experimenting with frame shapes or buying a second fun pair. It has given me useful ideas about frame shapes and potential colours but I'm not sure I would go the online route again because of my error with the lenses. I think the first pair free program is certainly an inexpensive way of seeing if online glasses shopping would work for you too.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I received the glasses free of charge in exchange for an honest review of glasses and online shopping process. I have not included affiliate links.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Polish Insomniac visit the Desert Island
This week is it polish insomniac's turn to be stranded on a desert island. Will this lacquer obsessed lady have the common sense to leave the polish at home? Let's find out!
Friday, 3 May 2013
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!
I recently mentioned in passing that I couldn't quite decide what to do about my hair. In typical me fashion, I made the absolute worst decision and decided to visit the the local walk in hairdressers. 'How much of a mess could they make of a little trim?', I thought to myself. Well, as they completely missed the fact that the lengths were asymmetrical, the answer was a very big mess, in just over five minutes. I never learn, do I?
A week on, and the cut looks a bit less severe. Unfortunately, the cut also turned my partially hidden unnatural colour in the longer lengths into a full on stripe. In order to make it look less obvious, I decided to colour it purple again, so I haven't had opportunity to try out my recently purchased bottle of Peacock Blue. On my bleached section, Hot Purple fades to a two toned blue-green which I really like and I'm hoping that Peacock Blue will cut out the middle-man. I had been considering bleaching more sections into my fringe but after taking pictures of myself today, I'm actually wondering if I should just cover the grey and the purple with a brown semi-permanent. Harumpf!!
On a more cheerful note, my hair is in excellent condition at the moment, including the side section that I doubled bleached for the Crazy Color. I have been using Alterna Caviar Repairx Instant Recovery Shampoo* and Phytobaume Hydration Express Conditioner together for a couple of months now and they make a really good pairing. I particularly like the fact that they leave my hair soft without it becoming greasy quickly, so I can still leave a day between washes.
I found the opening mechanism of the Caviar Repairx shampoo tricky to work and managed to pull the twist off cap right off on the second use. Oops! Fortunately, it's still water tight and works just fine despite the cosmetic damage. It foams well, rinses away easily and doesn't knot my hair up. It's sulfate and paraben free formula (however, it does contain silicones) and the formula reminds of the Pureology Shampoo I've used in the past. It is quite expensive at £33.50 for 250ml.
I'm very pleased that I picked up the Phytobaume on London MakeUp Girl's recommendation. I've found it a good substitute for the very lovely, but more expensive Rahua conditioner. It smells divine and reminds me of the creams they used to encourage you to slap on before hopping into the tanning booths (don't judge me to harshly, it was a long time ago). The Phytobaume conditioner is a really rich, cream conditioner and you don't need to leave it on for before rinsing. However, I rather like massaging it in and find it lathers slightly when I do this. It rinses from my hair without too much trouble but I do find it has a tendency to leave a slightly greasy residue in the bottom of the shower. It costs £13.50 and I bought this tube from SpaceNK but you can also buy Phyto from John Lewis and Feel Unique.
I had vowed to style my hair more often when I initially had it cut short. I haven't stuck to this as much as I meant to but before my most recent trim, it had been cut in such a way that it was easy to make it smooth or give it texture. I liked to mess it up by pulling out random sections and then running my straightners through these sections straight up from the roots. I'd finish off by breaking it up with a bit of Fudge Rocker Wax. The Rocker Wax has clearly been a hit with Mr MB too based on the speed it has started to disappear!
* Indicates press sample
A week on, and the cut looks a bit less severe. Unfortunately, the cut also turned my partially hidden unnatural colour in the longer lengths into a full on stripe. In order to make it look less obvious, I decided to colour it purple again, so I haven't had opportunity to try out my recently purchased bottle of Peacock Blue. On my bleached section, Hot Purple fades to a two toned blue-green which I really like and I'm hoping that Peacock Blue will cut out the middle-man. I had been considering bleaching more sections into my fringe but after taking pictures of myself today, I'm actually wondering if I should just cover the grey and the purple with a brown semi-permanent. Harumpf!!
On a more cheerful note, my hair is in excellent condition at the moment, including the side section that I doubled bleached for the Crazy Color. I have been using Alterna Caviar Repairx Instant Recovery Shampoo* and Phytobaume Hydration Express Conditioner together for a couple of months now and they make a really good pairing. I particularly like the fact that they leave my hair soft without it becoming greasy quickly, so I can still leave a day between washes.
I found the opening mechanism of the Caviar Repairx shampoo tricky to work and managed to pull the twist off cap right off on the second use. Oops! Fortunately, it's still water tight and works just fine despite the cosmetic damage. It foams well, rinses away easily and doesn't knot my hair up. It's sulfate and paraben free formula (however, it does contain silicones) and the formula reminds of the Pureology Shampoo I've used in the past. It is quite expensive at £33.50 for 250ml.
I'm very pleased that I picked up the Phytobaume on London MakeUp Girl's recommendation. I've found it a good substitute for the very lovely, but more expensive Rahua conditioner. It smells divine and reminds me of the creams they used to encourage you to slap on before hopping into the tanning booths (don't judge me to harshly, it was a long time ago). The Phytobaume conditioner is a really rich, cream conditioner and you don't need to leave it on for before rinsing. However, I rather like massaging it in and find it lathers slightly when I do this. It rinses from my hair without too much trouble but I do find it has a tendency to leave a slightly greasy residue in the bottom of the shower. It costs £13.50 and I bought this tube from SpaceNK but you can also buy Phyto from John Lewis and Feel Unique.
I had vowed to style my hair more often when I initially had it cut short. I haven't stuck to this as much as I meant to but before my most recent trim, it had been cut in such a way that it was easy to make it smooth or give it texture. I liked to mess it up by pulling out random sections and then running my straightners through these sections straight up from the roots. I'd finish off by breaking it up with a bit of Fudge Rocker Wax. The Rocker Wax has clearly been a hit with Mr MB too based on the speed it has started to disappear!
* Indicates press sample
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer Review
I've been using the SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer every morning (not morning and night as recommended, which may be significant) for a full two months now and I thought it was time I report back. I had been hoping to see a major difference in the level of redness in my skin, particularly on my cheeks. Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case. If there has been a reduction in redness it has been subtle and wouldn't be visible in before and after photographs
What I have noticed is a reduction in the intensity of my flushes. I still get them, but they don't feel as hot or aggressive as before. The acid test would really be to observe what happens after I drink a glass of red wine but I rarely drink red these days in order to avoid palpating cheeks and also because it tends to make me headachey. Typically, my cheeks would flush after only a few mouthfuls and one large glass would be sufficient to make me a purpled-red all the way across my cheeks to my ears and down to my jaw. It also has a tendency to spread down to my chest as well. I might have to indulge in a glass, simply in the interests of thorough research. It's a shame I couldn't hire a VISIA specifically to quantify the red wine effect!
The texture of the redness neutralizer is very nice. It has the feel of a light cream and absorbs readily. I apply it after cleansing and leave it to sink in a little before applying a moisturiser. I do find it to be hydrating and I don't need to apply as much moisturiser, in a similar way to when I use a serum.
Although I've been disappointed in the lack of dramatic results, I have continued to use it and I intend to carry on until the bottle is empty. This will probably take quite a while as a pump and a half is enough to cover my face. I think I've refused to stop using it just in case it has had more of an impact than I realise. I'm particularly interested to see if there's a sudden increase in skin redness after I've stopped using it and of course, I will report back if that is the case.
SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer costs around £70 for 50ml. You can find a list of authorised retailers here.
Disclosure: Press sample
What I have noticed is a reduction in the intensity of my flushes. I still get them, but they don't feel as hot or aggressive as before. The acid test would really be to observe what happens after I drink a glass of red wine but I rarely drink red these days in order to avoid palpating cheeks and also because it tends to make me headachey. Typically, my cheeks would flush after only a few mouthfuls and one large glass would be sufficient to make me a purpled-red all the way across my cheeks to my ears and down to my jaw. It also has a tendency to spread down to my chest as well. I might have to indulge in a glass, simply in the interests of thorough research. It's a shame I couldn't hire a VISIA specifically to quantify the red wine effect!
The texture of the redness neutralizer is very nice. It has the feel of a light cream and absorbs readily. I apply it after cleansing and leave it to sink in a little before applying a moisturiser. I do find it to be hydrating and I don't need to apply as much moisturiser, in a similar way to when I use a serum.
 |
| Ingredients |
Although I've been disappointed in the lack of dramatic results, I have continued to use it and I intend to carry on until the bottle is empty. This will probably take quite a while as a pump and a half is enough to cover my face. I think I've refused to stop using it just in case it has had more of an impact than I realise. I'm particularly interested to see if there's a sudden increase in skin redness after I've stopped using it and of course, I will report back if that is the case.
SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer costs around £70 for 50ml. You can find a list of authorised retailers here.
Disclosure: Press sample
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