Makeup

DHC Premium Lipsticks

- Vicki 13 Comments
DHC Lipsticks

DHC Lipsticks

Cult Japanese brand DHC is very well known for their skincare and I love their Cleansing Oil and Eye Masks but they also have a makeup line which includes Lipsticks, Eyeliners, Blushers and a few other products. They have recently released a line of Premium Lipsticks and these come in 6 easy to wear shades. I have been testing 3 of the colours.

DHC Makeup

The first thing you notice is the packaging, they have a very high-end look and feel to them, the casing is a stunning mix of gold and silver with etched flower detailing. They look very pretty and feel luxurious. The only downside to the packaging is the fact they don’t have the product names on, the boxes have only the number and the lipstick themselves have neither.

The three shades I have are all quite muted and perfect as everyday options. These lipsticks are almost an extension of DHC’s skincare line and brand ethos in that they have an underline skincare benefit too as These lipsticks ‘fight the signs of ageing in two ways, firstly by using Pure Colour Technology which contains micronized pigment to deflect light, creating a plump and 3D lip effect and secondly by reducing the appearance of vertical lines with ingredients such as macadamia oil, olive oil and rice bran oil to moisturise, collagen and sodium hyaluronic to lock in moisture and vitamin A and geranium to protect and condition’.

All three of the ones I have are rich in colour and the formula is soft, hydrating and it glides on the lips effortlessly. They have a satin finish, no shimmer (which is good) they leave your lips looking fresh, plumo and with a pop of colour. The three colours I have are, 

OE112 Bold Permission* – This is a glossy peach toned nude, this makes my lips look healthy and like I have lipstick on but nothing too bold. Its a nice nude with a hint of peach, its a great colour for warming up your complexion

RS107 Rich Raspberry* – This is the brightest of the three colours I have and it’s a stunning raspberry pink – true to its name. This looks so pretty on the lips and I think its the ideal Summer shade. It’s just such a bright, fresh looking colour.

BE111 Rose Gold* – This is more of a true nude although it leans more to a brown on my lips, this is such an easy colour to wear. Its most definitely a My Lips But Better colours. It makes my lips look plump, smooth and very healthy. I love having this colour in my handbag as I can apply it on the go, no mirror needed.

DHC Premium GE Lipsticks

DHC Premium Lipstick Swatches

If you like your lipstick to be hydrating, easy to apply and fresh looking then these DHC Premium Lipsticks are for you. I find that they last a good amount of time on me, a good couple of hours. If you are eating and drinking they will wear off as they’re a satin finish and quite buttery on the lips but topping them up is so easy too! I have had these on rotation since I got them and have really enjoyed wearing them.

As I said the packaging is beautiful and they look a lot more expensive than they are.

These are really easy to get your hands on because Escentual have started stocking DHC skincare and makeup so that’s great news. You can also find them at DHC Online.

DHC Premium Lipstick – 2.4g for £13.00 – currently in the sale for £10.40

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

 

Barry M Summer Nails

- Vicki 17 Comments

BarryM Polish

I love Barry M nail polishes, they are affordable & quite often on offer, the colour selection is huge and they are always bringing out limited edition collections. I have a few shades and finishes in my collection and thought I would share with you my top 5 BarryM Polishes for Summer. Like most people I reach for bright shades in the Summer & love wearing bright colours on my toes, Summer is the perfect excuse to wear NEON polish and also rock the brightest oranges.

Let me know what your favourite colour to wear in the Summer is.

Summer Barry M Polishes

Pink Iridescent 264 – This is a glitter top coat with pink, silver and gold flecks in a light pink polish. So pretty on top of almost any shade. The glitter flecks catch the light & look so pretty. I like it because the glitter isn’t chunky and its easy to remove.

Block Orange 301 – This is a bold bright orange, it looks gorgeous on your toes especially if you have a tan. This is opaque & vibrant in two coats.

Pomegranate 235 This is a Gelly Hi Shine Formula and these leave your nails looking glossy. The colour is a gorgeous vibrant deep berry pink. I love this on my nails and it lasts a really long time. I have to admit even thought this is a Hi Shine finish I like to use a glossy top coat just to prolong my manicure but you can skip this step and your nails will have a good shine to them. I do find this Hi Shine formula only needs 2 coats and you could get away with one coat if you were in a rush.

Guava 334 – I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this shade when it came out. Its my most worn BarryM nail polish & it just reminds me of swimming pools & being on holiday. The colour is a pretty turquoise blue (more than green). Its bright and looks so nice on fingers & toes. This is another Hi Shine formula & I find these dry pretty quickly on my nails & I’m terrible at messing up my manicure because I’m always in a hurry but this formula only takes a couple of minutes to dry.

Passion Fruit 350 – This is just the perfect holiday coral red colour. It looks bright and fresh on your nails. This is another Hi Shine finish and again the formula is quite thick but easy to apply and you could get away with one coat but I like to apply two just for that pop of vibrant colour. I love this shade & think it makes your nails look so pretty and summery.

Barry M Nail Polish is available from Superdrug and www.barrym.com

Let me know what your favourite Barry M Summer nail polishes are.

July 2014 Beauty Favourites

- Vicki 12 Comments
goodbyejuly1

July Favourites

So July whizzed by so fast, it was gloriously sunny for 99% of the month which is almost unheard of. My husband celebrated his birthday & we booked a holiday to Amsterdam so it’s been a quick but eventful month. I’m normally really late in sharing my favourites but I have a few things that I was excited to share with you.

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25*

This has been my go-to daytime moisturiser as it has broad spectrum SPF25 its very lightweight, non-greasy and can be easily worn under makeup. Its been a must during the sunny month of July and has been keeping my skin protected from UVA & UVB rays.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Mono Eyeshadows

I blogged about these a couple of weeks ago and these shadows are just so very pretty. You can build them up to be intense or just sweep a light amount over your lids for more of a daytime look. They’re beautiful, I have 2 shades and I will be buying more at some point.

NYX Powder Blush in Angel

This is a pretty soft dusky pink and just gives you that fresh flushed look & its perfect for summer. It has a pretty sheen to it almost like a Mac MSF and it looks pretty when the light bounces off your cheeks. It’s not powdery and quite long wearing. It’s so good that we can now get our hands on NYX products in NEXT stores. I bought a few things last year when they first launched and I have used this beautiful blush the most.

Goodbye July Hello August

Essence Kabuki Brush*

I use this pretty black & pink brush to apply my blush, bronzer and even my face powder. It’s a soft dense kabuki brush & it washes up so well. I love how small it is & I will be bringing it with me when I go on holiday in August. It’s so handy as I use it to apply so many products.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist*

The lovely Carrie sent this to me after I won her brush giveaway. I have used it before & I love TBS Vitamin E range, It’s gentle and hydrating so this face mist is perfect for the heat wave that took over July. I have been keeping it on my desk & liberally spritzing it when I get hot. Its cooling and refreshing as well as having all the lovely skincare benefits too, so that’s a win-win situation

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Protective Sun Protection SPF50

This has been one of my go-to sun creams this Summer. It gives good protection and it is hydrating too oh & I like how it smells. Not a lot else to say except it does a good job of keeping my skin protected & doesn’t feel greasy.

Let me know what you loved during July & if you use any of the products I’ve mentioned.

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own

The Rediscovered SIX

- Vicki 13 Comments

I think we are all guilty of having too many things such as makeup, clothes or even books that often we forget what we have. Sometimes things that we once loved get overlooked or even worse things we bought get lost amongst the clutter and never used. Well my habit is makeup & skincare, I was having a well overdue clear out & I discovered quite a few products that I’d forgot I had. Some well loved products and a couple that I’ve only used a few times and that needed to be re discovered & shown some love, so I have put them in to my everyday makeup drawer and I have promised to reach for them as often as I can.

Forgotten Makeup Items

Shopping my stash

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Starlet Mosaic – This is the most gorgeous baked highlighter if you swirl your brush through all the colours it gives you a pretty peachy glow. I have even used it a couple of times as eyeshadow and the colours are pigmented and brighten the eyes. All 4 shades are really pretty & have a frosted finish. I’ve only used this a handful of times and can’t wait to use a lot more.

Physicians Formula Happy Boost Blush in Rose – How pretty is this blush in the pan, all those hearts just make me smile each time I use it. I reached for this blush so much when I first received it in a USA beauty swap but after I moved I totally forgot about it. This blush is a pretty soft pink and is very flattering on my pale skin tone. Some of the hearts are slightly different in colour but when swirled all together they make a soft almost baby pink shade.

Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick in Hot 401* – I have a few of these lipsticks which I wear all the time and I LOVE them. This one however was lost amongst my nail polish for some reason and I’d totally forgotten about it. This was my favourite colour out of the 4 shades I have and it is a very pretty deep berry shade, it is so long wearing and applies very smoothly on the lips. It is marketed as a CC Lipstick as it has the moisturising qualities of a lip balm and the pigmentation of a lipstick, this formula looks quite glossy on the lips. Can I just say how luxurious the packaging is too, it has a magnetic close and I love the deep red bullet too.

NARS Eyeliner in Parrot Cay – I’m not going to admit how long I have had this eyeliner but I love it too much to throw away & the colour is too nice. This was the first NARS product I ever bought, this and another eyeliner in a bright blue shade. Parrot is a soft almost mint green shade. Its really brightens the eyes & looks really pretty in the summer. I’m so happy to rediscover it.

Avon Magix Cashmere Finish Foundation in Creamy Natural – I am so happy to have this back in my everyday stash as it is the perfect shade for me right now, as I have am ever so slight tan and this matches me perfectly. This Avon foundation gives my skin the most velvet finish or as the name states – cashmere. It looks soft and flawless but not at all heavy . Its easy to blend and I like that it isn’t a runny consistency I would say its quite light and has a mousse / whipped texture. It wears well on me but I do have to powder it down so it lasts all day.

Mac Wonder Woman Mineralize Skinfinish in Golden Lariat – This product wasn’t lost in my collection as such, It was just too pretty to use but I’ve decided that it needs to see some love & a lot more use. Its far too nice to be pushed to the side. Its MASSIVE you get 20g of product so I’m not going to use it up anytime and that means I can use it without worrying that its going to run out. This MSF has 3 colours a golden highlight, a bronzer and a peachy blush. And it gives you the prettiest glow. I’m going to have a lot of fun trying this out & finding ways of incorporating into my makeup routine.

Let me know what makeup you have rediscovered recently. Its crazy what gems we have hiding in our stash.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own