Illamasqua Fundamental Pallete.

Yet another Illamasqua review for your viewing pleasure today. This time I've broken with tradition & plan to do some good old fashion praise singing.

Illamasqua Fundamental Palette

The Fundamental Palette is part of the Human Fundamentalism range, that's based on the desire to express your inner self on the outside. The premise of this palette is to experiment with a range of different textures. It contains a matt cream pigment (Bedaub), a liquid mental (yuck!) & two matt powder shadows. (Inception and Hype). I picked this up for £10 on sale from the Illamasqua site, a complete steal as full price this retails for £34.

Fundamental Palette Swatches

I find the powder shadows from Illamasqua are really good in terms of pigmentation & wear time & I love the shade range. I've already had a lot of wear from Inception & had been on the look out for a bold yellow like Hype for a while & neither have disappointed. They blend well & keep their intensity for around 8 hours. Although Inception needed to be applied wet to keep its vibrancy otherwise it blended to a much darker almost dirty grey. 

For me the unexpected star of this palette is Bedaub. A pretty, minty green cream shadow that I've been using as a base for Urban Decay's Aquarius as well as wearing it alone. It's really smooth to apply, doesn't crease & lasts all day. I'm so impressed with this I'm already eyeing up other shades. Unlike some of my long wear cream shadows, this stays blendable for a couple of minutes before it sets. It's also easily built up from a sheer wash of colour to a really striking intensity without caking. I'm think this colour will come into its own when spring has finally sprung & it's pastels a go-go.
I've only used the liquid metal as a highlight for the inner corner of my eye. I'm not usually a fan of these but I noticed the consistency of the one included here is far less greasy than those in the Liquid Metal Palette.

Overall this a great little quad. I'm not sure how many looks you could achieve using solely these colours but individually they are great products. Even at full price this is quite good value when you consider the price of the individual colours.
I've had quite an extensive play & will post some looks once I get some decent photos.

Illamasqua Cream Foundation

Its been a while since I used a cream foundation, I had a little love affair with Max Factors Miracle Touch but I'm a liquid girl at heart. Illamasqua's Cream foundation was in the sale at a bargainous £10 & as I seem to be reaching the ends of my current favourites thought I'd give it a whirl. 

Illamasqua Cream Foundation C150

Likes

• Blend/build ability
• Consistency
• Didn't exaggerate large pores
• Shade. Much less orange than appears in pan.
• Styling of packing, good size mirror for touch ups

Dislikes

• Sponge applicator included makes it really hard work to apply & there's nowhere to store it within the casing so it's a fairly pointless addition
• Styling. Although I really love the way Illamasqua products look its a bit of a faff when riffling through your make up bag to distinguish between them
• Shininess

Illamasqua Cream Foundation C150 swatch

I was initially fairly impressed. The shade was a good match, the colour appears much less yellow once blended. This product has had mixed reviews but like all foundations one man's trash is anothers treasure. It's probably best described as medium coverage, much lighter than the Max Factor equivalent but it is buildable. It doesn't feel as greasy as I expected from the quick swatch on my hand & has plenty of slip to allow for easy blending. I found I didn't need a concealer with this foundation as I added a little dab more under eyes & on blemishes & it did the job well enough. 

I blended it out using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush after applying a thin layer using a MAC 190. I only powdered the areas I'd concealed & fixed with Urban Decay De-Slick. I found it lasted really well. Even a 2 hour power nap (woops!) failed to make too much of a dent in its lightly luminous finish. It did crease slightly under my eyes by the 14hr mark but I think that was more to do with the powder I used (Max Factor, trying to make a dent before I ditch it). Its perfect for a causal Saturday or a lunch with the girls but I'm not sure it'll be making onto my week day list as it takes a little more care to apply than a liquid. It's not transfer or climate resistant either which is an essential to me for work. 

I gave this foundation another outing before posting this review & I'm not sure my original opinion still holds. It was still comfortable to wear & lasted a good 6 hours but I looked so shiny all day. It didn't feel particularly greasy but appeared to me to be a step too far past luminous. It also transferred really badly when I blew my nose or used a napkin. Perhaps I should have powdered with a heavier hand, perhaps I used too much product but either way I wasn't overly impressed. I've not experienced foundation transferring onto things before & as I'd used my faithfully De-Slick, before & after, was amazed & alarmed. 


This product is far more natural looking than many cream foundations & the satin like finish I achieved the first time I applied it was really pretty. I think the jury is still out on this one. Perhaps it's best suited to good skin days where a feather like touch is all that is needed to even out skin tone.

My Frustrated Silence

Having some technical issues here at Esme's towers which has slowed my blogging right down. Grr!

This little post will be winging its way to you via the power of the bat phone. Although I find the Blogger App useful for drafting I much prefer posting from my, sadly unwell, laptop. I like to add headings, change font colour & intersperse my images & text, it's a shame Blogger doesn't yet support this on the phone.

So as I'm holding back my more significant posts for a day when I have the patience to battle with my bruised & battered computer, I thought I'd take a moment to tell you what 2013 has in store for my blog & I.

There's exciting times ahead for me & my brushes. Weddings a plenty, playtime make up with friends & a little drop in session where I'm going to be making up people with the sole intention of getting some decent photos for my fledgling portfolio. There may also be a chance for me to work on a shoot for some PR images for an accessories company, more on this soon I hope.

This year I intend to invest much more time into whipping my blog into shape. I'm currently awaiting delivery of a couple of books recommended by other bloggers to improve my skills in this area.
My second resolution is to really try to get some 'proper' make up jobs under my belt. I intend to market myself like a fiend & offer my services for free to get some great pictures in my 'look book'.

I've stock piled some lovely bits to review & have been playing with some colourful looks that I'll be posting as soon as I've photographed them. I'm enjoying playing with Ed Hardy inspired brights at the moment, which has been super fun.

With pay day peeping around the corner I've got a February wish list planned & haul post coming up. I'm starting to get really exited by the spring collections &, for the first time ever can't wait to play with pastel shades.

So the moral of the story is please stay tuned throughout this barren spell & send happy thoughts to nurse my laptop back to health!

Beauty 'app'enings. My 4 current favourite beauty apps.

Ok, rubbish title but I couldn't help myself, I do apologise!

You'd be forgiven in thinking my phone is actually surgically attached to my arm. If Steve Jobs was still with us I'd probably hunt the man down & snog him for the gift that is an iphone! Lately I've redeveloped my unhealthy addiction to the app store & have been exploring (free) beauty related apps.

As with all genre of App, the beauty world has its fair share of duds but there are a few worth a little look.
I use these apps as a way to inspire me & keep me updated with what's going on in the cosmetic cosmos. Some also make it a bit too easy to purchase little treats wherever, whenever.

I'm currently favouring four, all were free from iTunes App store within the past three months. So, in no particular order.......

Beautylish.
This little app holds a wealth of advice & information from all corners of the beauty globe. There's articles on everything from building the perfect kit & creating looks to workout advice & hair style considerations. There's a chat room/forum board function, product reviews, videos & inspirational photos. It's fully interactive so users can add their own content. I've really enjoyed the articles from people in the industry & have learned valuable tips from this app.

Debenhams Beauty Club.
I could lose days of my life browsing through the products & a months worth if salary buying direct from the app! The wish list function allows me to keep track of the products I've noted as future purchases, potential gifts or things to research further. It includes advice & videos, features a new arrivals section & allows me to check my Beauty Card points. I love the offers section for directing me straight to the bargains. I also like the scanner that allows me to compare prices or add a product somebody else is using to my wish list. It's super easy to use & the Top Rated section is handy when you want to try something new but need it to be tried & tested.

MySkin.
At first I wasn't convinced by this one. It asked some pretty broad questions to ascertain my skin type & I had to create a profile. From this it recommended products matched to my skin type. The products are listed by rating as well as percentage match to skin type which makes you feel like you can be confident in anything you decide to invest in.
It's an American app so all prices are in $ & many are from brands you'd struggle to find here in the UK. However, it did throw up some little gems that I've added to my wish list. The discussion section is useful for picking up skin care advice for a whole host of problems. I expect I'll quickly lose interest in this one but for now it's aiding me in my quest for skincare to placate my madly blemished chin.

InStyle Best Beauty Buys 2012. Although this app may be somewhat limited it's handy if you're considering updating your beauty routine in 2013 or are in need of inspiration. You can browse through the winners in each category & favourite those you're considering. You can also buy the products direct from the app thanks to its association with John Lewis. I really like the fact it's divided into very specific categories making it easy to find the best product for you need/desire.

Two Magazine from the PixiWoo sisters is also worth a mention, although I don't consider it a fully paid up member of the app club, being a magazine. It's full of great advice, tips & interviews from top industry insiders. There's some stunning photography show casing some amazingly constructed editorial looks too.

I'd love to hear your suggestions for apps to try or what you thought of those above, so go on leave a comment & let me know.

New Years Day Pamper

Is there a better way to kick off the new year (& celebrate my lovely new bathroom!) than with an at home pampering session. I love reading other blogger's  'pamper day posts', so I thought I'd continue the indulgent spirit of the festive season and tell you how I spent a large slice of my New Years Day.

I was itching to try a couple of the products from the Nip+Fab Ultimate Pamper Kit. I picked this set up at Sainsburys for £10 (reduced from £40) and it includes some real gems. Taking inspiration from its name I headed bathroom-ward clutching a couple of the face products and set to work.

I started with a mini facial. Shu Umeura Fresh Pore clarifying oil to cleanse. To exfoliate, Nip+Fab Face Scrub which contains Salicylic Acid to combat blemishes (so sorely needed after the last few weeks!) and Bamboo to exfoliate. To breathe some much needed life into my tired, dehydrated skin I applied a massive helping of Nip+Fab Hydrating Mask. This mask is heavy on the Hyaluronic Acid to plump and Blackcurrent oil to sooth.

Then I took to slathering L'Oreal Perference Wild Ombré to the ends of my hair. Whilst this was working its magic, I sat back with my face encased in mask. I left the mask on for the full 45 minutes of the hair dye! After washing dye from hair, I showered with Yves Rocher Tradition De Hammam Shower Oil. Slipping into a wonderfully rose scented bath, courtesy of English Floral Garden Rose bubble bath, I settled down to watch the flame flicker on a Lily Flame Rose Petal candle. I emerged so completely serene that I decided the time was right to use the very last drops of my Ole Hendricksen Rose body oil. Then I finished the facial moisture binge off with a generous helping of Elemis Maximum Moisture Day Cream. 

The whole experience was blissful and went a long way in relieving my gin jaded state. Every girl needs a bit of top to toe TLC now and again.

I'll be doing a full review on the Ultimate Pamoer Kit once I've given the products a proper run for their money, but I have to say so far, so good for Nip+Fab.

A few of my favourite things 2012

As the year drew to a close I read many 2012 favourites posts, which have made me consider my own.Being so fickle with my beauty 'likes' it's no mean feat for a product to nudge itself into my top ten. The list isn't exclusive 2012 releases just a collection of things I've repurchased, have had a love affair with in '12 or use on a frequent basis. So, in particular order........

1. Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. The clue is in the title with this one, it really is a wonder. After draining 2 free samples I was hooked & bought a tube (£20). It's the perfect everyday eye cream, it brightens, tightens & is low in nasties. It's introduced me to the whole Balance Me range which really delivers.


2. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation. It wears longer than anything I've ever tried, more than living up to its 16 hour claim. It builds well, blends well & controls my greasy T zone. Everything I want from an everyday foundation, worth every penny of the £24 price tag.


3. Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray (£23). I only discovered this a few months ago but cannot imagine my world without it now, it knocks others I've tried, MAC fix+ , Ben Nye Final Seal & Clarins Fix Make Up, to the curb. Eyes, cheeks & base stay where they should & fresh as daisies from breakfast through to midnight feast!

4. MAC Melba Powder Blusher (£11). My fail safe for looking brighter & healthier. It's the perfect peachy shade, blends & builds nicely lasts well. An everyday essential for the girl who will free admit to having a little fear of blushers!


5. Nars Yachiyo Kabuki Brush (£37.50). So soft, beautifully different in styling with its wound bamboo handle & picks up just the right amount of product. It's tapered domed head is that cheek perfect size that makes applying product a dream. I use it for blush,contour, highlighting and sometimes to blend the whole eye area. Its a really hard working brush that justifies its price tag.

6. Whilst on brushes I couldn't leave my beloved Real Techniques off the list. As a self confessed brush junkie I thought it'd be hard to replace Trish McEvoy in my affections but every single on of these is perfectly crafted for the intended job, multi tasking & affordable. Every make up wearer on earth should at least own a Buffing Brush & a Deluxe Crease Brush.


7. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil (£12) in YeYo. I've loved the 24/7 pencils for so long, with Zero being an absolute staple in my box. I've included Yeyo here because I've found finding a white pencil that clings to the waterline a real challenge. I use it to highlight as well as line my waterline when my eyes need an injection of 'wake up'.
 

8. Collection 2000 Lasting Colour Lipsticks. An expensive feeling lipstick for £3, what's not to love. These babies really last & are pigment heavy. They don't feel at all drying either. One of my favourite finds this year, I've been converting anybody who'll listen! 


9. Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum (£35 for 10x 1ml sachets, Boots). My little sachets of miracle juice! I finally invested after a Glossybox sample left me pining for more. Its one of the few products I've tried where the instant results claim actually stands up. My skins looks fresher & smoother when I use this & it really does plump out lines even if it is only temporarily. I'm actually contemplating splashing out on a 25ml pump, at £125 its an investment product but trust me when I say, I think its worth every penny.

10. Yves Rocher Tradition De Hammam Oriental Shower Oil. This was a Christmas gift & so has only been in my life for a week but it was LOVE at first use. A thick argan oil infused with oriental scents, which turns to a rich milky lotion once wet. Each shower feels like an indulgent, luxurious treat when using this, it leaves skin so wonderfully moisturised but not at all greasy. The scent lasts but doesn't over power any fragrance applied afterwards. I've already vowed never to shower without this! 


So there you have it, my 2012 in 10 products. It was harder than I thought narrowing it down to ten but that's the final cut. I'm only sorry that Clinique Chubby Sticks, Jemma Kidd Dew Me & Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Instant Anti Wrinkle didn't make the final cut!

Excitement on all fronts

There's plenty to be excited about in the Queendom of Esme at the moment. The arrival of Clinque's Chubby Sticks for eyes has me counting the days to their February arrival. The chubby stick wasn't an instant hit with me but they've become a daytime staple over the last month & I do love an eye crayon so expect a review on Massive Midnight & Whooping Willow towards the end of February.

Whilst on the topic of new releases I'm having a complete girly moment over the Dior Cherie Bow Collection for spring. Its just so pretty, ultra feminine with a nod to quirky in its bow shape. tipping its hat to the iconic bow that was the final flourish on Christian Dior's designs. Love that the packing was designed by the in house jewellery design too. I can feel an indulgence coming on when this super cute palette is released. By the way, the rest of the range is just as lovable.

Nip+Fab have recently entered my bathroom. I've been looking at this range for ages & managed to get a heavily discounted gift set so I could try a few of their products. I'm already in love with the Hydrating Mask & Face Scrub after just 2 uses so will be scouring sales for some more from this range. There a review in the pipe line so won't ramble on too much here.

I happened to find myself on the illamasqua website the other day & the sale was pretty good so dropped a Cream Foundation,  Fundamental eye shadow palette & a Medium Pencil, in a deep candy pink (Manic) into my basket. Can't wait to have a play with these, I love their powder eye shadows and have had good results from the Skin Base foundation in the past. Here's hoping they help me get over the Liquid Metal saga!

I'm lucky enough to have an amazing friend who gifted me a Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Ultra Violet. Now my world is complete. My favourite liner in purple, what more can a girl ask for! Just like the others, this limited edition is uber smooth when applying and last all day and night without moving a millimetre. Love it with my Badgal Plum mascara as it lifts my eyes in a way black could never.

Well I think that's enough about what I'm currently enjoying. Its time to look towards spring and explore the pretty pastel-ness of the new collections whilst dreaming of bright (& hopefully drier!) days. Would love to know what you're enjoying on these cold dark nights and grey damp days.

Illamasqua Liquid Metals

At first sight it's easy to fall in love with this quad of highly metallic creams. The pigmentation & shiny is beautiful & the super soft texture is not at all irritating. The shades are wonderfully wintery & scream NYE party. With names like Enrapture, Surge, Electrum and Phenomena (from top left) its hard not to harbour some lust. This is sadly where my love affair ends.

Oh my word! This palette is awful. A friend gave it to me & said "make it work, I really want to love it but everything I try fails". Never one to shy away from a make up related challenge I snatched it from her with gusto, resolute that I'd report back with some stunning results.

Now, I usually like Illamasqua, the colour & shade ranges are exceptional & the goth in me loves the styling but in my opinion the palette (£34) is an epic fail.

I should confess I'm quite picky about cream shadows due to the creasing issues I've experienced but from a fairly high end product with such a good reputation I had higher hopes.

Firstly I tried Surge as a shadow smudged with fingers over eyes prepped with foundation. Creases appeared within 10 minutes but were easily corrected with fingertips. After about a hour it looked horrific with the only colour remaining being crease lines. Then I tried Phenomena over Mac's Soft Ochre paint pot. This faired no better.

Determined to find a use for this seemingly gorgeous palette, I tried applying a thin layer over Urban Decay Primer Potion then patting a Mac Pigment in Old Gold over the top to set it. I fixed this with Urban Decay De-Slick spray. Loved the super dense shine & thought I may have cracked it. However, after a hour of sitting & doing very little, the creases were not only very evident but impossible to correct.

Following some research (& a little sale purchase, whoops!) on the Illamasqua website I tried using the Liquid Metals in different ways. They failed as eyeliner, as disappeared quickly & applying them over a powder shadow was tricky as they either caked or rubbed the shadow off. As a highlight on the cheekbones they looked amazing but faded fast (2hours of sitting in a cool room!). On the collarbone they faired a little better but I was scared of transfer onto not only my clothes but the clothes of anybody I dared to hug.

 Finally I tried them as lip glosses. For photographs this would be fab but after about 3 mouthfuls of wine you're left with a sticky glass and naked lips.

I really do want to like this palette. The colours are stunning & very metallic but sadly I cannot find a use for it that lasts & doesn't require mega efforts to achieve.

I'd love to know how others use it, if only so I can admit defeat & go back to playing with products that work!

Roll on 2013!

So it's been a while since I posted on my poor abandoned blog. Not through choice but December turned out to be pretty shocking as months go. Now we're (mostly) moved into a wonderful new home & have enjoyed a lovely family Christmas with my daddy, it's time to look forward to the New Year.

I'm itching to get back on the blogging pony & have some reviews & looks planned. I've got some exciting purchases in mind & the perfect excuse to organise my collection & set up a new dressing table. I'm off mirror shopping in a bit & hope to find some unusual storage solutions at the same time. You never know 2013 may be the year I finally whip the jumbled box of tricks into shape!

I've got a list of resolutions as long as my arm, my poor neglected face/skin & hair needs some proper TLC, my exercise routine needs a kick up the backside & the month of takeaways needs to end now the kitchen is sorted! So it's time to dust myself off & leap into the glamorising that has been so sorely missing from my life over the last few weeks.

Here's to a beautiful 2013!

Party Eyes

I love weddings. I particularly love getting dolled up for weddings. I absolutely adore the opulent colour palette of this time of year, so I'm took full advantage of the opportunity to get my glam on & break out a completely decadent smokey eye at a recent wedding. I couldn't resist writing a post about my dress rehearsals.You'll have to excuse the lack of gel liner (usually a staple) as I couldn't find it (it may still be in the hotel!) the evening I had Mr Esme poised with the camera. There will be a part 2 of this post as I've more looks to recreate but waiting for a sunny day to get some decent quality photos for once!

Black & Gold

This super easy look would have complemented my outfit perfectly. I really like black and gold together and with some super sharp liner to finish this off would have been ideal wintery chic. 
Primed with Maybelline 24hr Eye Tattoo in Immortal Charcoal
Took MAC Carbon over outer corner and out into a wing, smudge some under lower lashes.
Blended Benefit Show Off in Jacki into inner corner and over the edge of Carbon. Lined upper lashes with carbon and filled in lower water line. I forgotten how much I love Jacki, its really pinky but turns a beautiful antique gold colour when applied over a darker base.

Navy and Bronze with Teal Liner

This is the look I wore on the day. Its my new favourite eye look. I love the teal under the eye, brightening the look. I love the bronze edges to the navy, not a combination I've tried before but I think the warmth from the bronze really sets the Navy off. 
I primed lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion (Greed) and contoured the crease with a reddish bronze from Sleek The Original Palette. Just underneath the reddish bronze I blended a more gold base tone from the same palette. I covered the lid with MAC Nehru and lined with Carbon  in place of a gel liner. I smudged some Shiseido Hydro Powder in H5 under the lower lashes as a primer then the teal from the Sleek palette over it.

Bright Blue Liner

I've been trying to find an excuse to wear MAC Liquidlast Liner for a while now. It was given to me by a friend who 'could get on with it'. I see her point. Its an amazing colour and REALLY lasts (I have to use baby oil to remove it) but I find it difficult to work with. I always end up with lashes caked in it, whether I use the brush that it comes with or decant onto my favourite liner brushes. Grrr. It stays wet for a really long time too. 
Anyway, I primed my lid with Maybelline 24hr Eye tattoo, Immortal charcoal and covered the lid with Blue Smoke from an Estee Lauder gift palette. I added a thick sweep of Liquidlast, a little flick and some Benefit Bad Gal Blue. I lined the lower water line with MAC Fascinating Pencil. I think its far too casual for a wedding but fun party make up. I love the silver and bright blue combo but still not sold on the Liquidlast formula.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation, Concealer & Powder

Taking full advantage of Superdrug's 3 for 2 offer I thought I'd road test the latest foundation offering from Maybelline.

What they say..

Fully customisable range of 12 shades with matching concealers & powers.
No nasties like fillers or waxes
Gel formula
100% natural looking skin

Excuse the dirty finger prints!

Packaging...

The pump on my foundation leaks a bit & seems to dispense too much product but it looks classic.

There's only so many ways to package a concealer, this is a pretty standard square-ish tube with rabbit foot applicator, not ground breaking but looks quite slick.

I do really like the way the powder is packaged. Its a sturdy, square compact with a good mirror under the powder so it stays clean & a very soft velour puff.

Thoughts...

Foundation

This takes a bit of blending but gives a very natural finish with just the right amount of luminosity for combo skin like mine. Feels light on skin but seems to stay wet for a bit longer than I'd like, not great if you're in a hurry. It gives a sheer to medium coverage which is a bit light for my normal tastes but adequate for a good skin day.

 I found you need a good primer with it to ensure it lasts past the 4 mark. I haven't set the whole face using the powder yet so perhaps that extends wear time. I didn't want to ruin the natural, fresh finish by adding powder where I don't need it. 

Concealer

The Concealer is very easy to blend and builds to a full finish without any hint of caking. Applied after foundation, an impressively small amount covers blemishes well. Although I was initially put off by the very liquid consistency of this product, it's light weight texture makes it great for under my eyes, where I need quite a lot of coverage.

 I fear it's longevity is probably not great if its not set but when used with the powder I got around 4 hours from it in normal daytime conditions.  I would normally opt for something more creamy but on top of a light base this really does the trick as it looks so natural but covers what I ask it to, its surprisingly opaque.

Powder

It's been a while since I bought a powder in compact form. I use MAC Mineralise Skin Finish (which lasts ages!) & loose powders, so I've gone out on a limb with this one. To be honest, I didn't expect to like it much as I'm very picky with powders. However I think this is probably the star of the trio.

 It's really light & the shade is great for my skin tone. I hated it when applied with the applicator it comes with but once I'd blended it out it gave a nice matt but not mask like finish. Used under my eyes to set concealer, it blended  to almost an invisible finish & didn't settle into my fine lines. It feels a lot more like an expensive powder, fine smooth texture & soft finish.

Overall

These are by no means Holy Grail products for me but they are reasonably priced and do seem to work in harmony with each other. The create a really natural base but don't have the staying power I long for in face products. I felt like I should be recommending this range to my 18 year old sister, I'm not sure why but it feels like it'd be suited to younger, clearer skin than mine!

 The shade range seemed quite impressive, with the lightest being really fair and the darkest looked deep and rich. I didn't swatch it but it did not look at all ashy in the bottle. I like the concept of having matching products and I think Maybelline have pulled it off. If you're after a super natural, affordable range of base products this is certainly worth a look but I do think there are better high street products out there. 

My worst skin day ever!

I'm no stranger to bad skin days (or even weeks) but I've never experienced anything like what I was faced with this morning.

A Bit of History

 Following a painful breakout that resulted from using Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant I was left with angry bumps all over my cheeks that were very sore. They appeared almost immediately after the 2nd use. I cleansed with Bioderma that night & left off any other creams as my face was too sore to touch. The following morning I skipped any foundation (don't worry I was staying at home!) and applied some Avene Recovery Cream in a hope to sooth the itching. Last night I cleansed with Shu Uemura oil as normal, then moisturised with Avene Recovery Cream. This picture shows what I was faced with when I came to do my make up this morning. It's not pretty & it's really painful! 
 
I couldn't risk bumping into anybody at the shops, so had to attempt a major cover up. I applied a thin layer of MAC Pro Longwear all over my face with my fingers. I then mixed Estée Lauder double wear concealer with Jemma Kidd Front Cover Touch Up & applied over the (great many) areas that were most angry. Still unhappy with the levels of redness I used some more Pro longwear on a concealer brush over the top. I looked less cakey than I felt, honest! It wasn't quite the fresh & flawless effect I was hoping, wishing & praying for but it was fit for human consumption! 

Now I'm about to research the ingredients to find out exactly what it was that caused my skin to rebel in such dramatic fashion and spent the next week nursing my wounds and perfecting the art of hardcore concealing!!

Collection 2000 Volume Sensation & Lasting Colour lipsticks

On a recent trip around Superdrug I gave Mr Esme the task of choosing me a new lippy. He rose to the challenge admirably and was soon rooting around the testers with a vigour I've only ever seen in a woman on a mission! I told him I was open to anything but something bright and a break from my normal reds and berries. 

He presented me with two he was struggling to decide between and when discovering they were £2.99 each I thought it may be rude not to throw both into the basket. 

I've not really investigated Collection 2000 very closely as a brand. I use the Cream Puff Lip Cream and love the Glam Crystal eye liner but discovered these through recommendations rather than exploring the counter in store. To be quite frank, I didn't expect too much from £3 lipsticks but as it was an exercising in experimenting with different colours it didn't matter if they turned out to be a bit rubbish. They didn't. In fact, I'm considering the shades I want to pick up next. 

Volume Sensation in Plum Perfection claims to contain ingredients to make lips look up to 40% fuller. I'm not sure if 40% might be pushing it a bit but I did notice a more full pout. The pigmentation was good and the colour lasted a good 3 hours with liner. The formula is rich and smooth, it has that sherberty scent that Rimmel lipsticks have, which I find quite appealing, it doesn't linger but is noticeable when applying. I've read some reviews that claim this makes your lips tingle when applied (like DuWop Lip Venom) but I didn't notice this. I'd wear this lipstick anywhere, I love how it makes my lips look, I love the way it feels moisturising but not sticky or greasy and I really like the shade, punchy but not overtly bright. I would say its quite a pinky shade for something labelled as plum but its wearable as it looks surprisingly natural when on the lips.This is perfect for a colour hit in the cold, dark days of winter. It gets a big thumbs up as an every day lipstick that is really affordable and of decent quality.

Lasting Colour in Sweet Tart is a true bright pink, its on the neon side of Barbie but it is definitely in the bubblegum league. It is wearable with a bit of caution, with very natural face and a sweep of black liner takes a plain and simple look and gives it the appearance of much more effort. I've fallen head over heels in love with this shade! As it claimed to be 'lasting colour' I gave it a proper road test by applying a quick slick before sitting down for lunch. No liner, no primer, no second coat. Not only did it withstand lucnh but four hours, two cigarettes, two coffee, some cake and a bottle of water. Impressive.

The formula is beautiful, it is so smooth and soft and unlike a lot of my long lasting lip colours, it doesn't feel at all dry on the lips.  It doesn't crack or sit in the fines on my lips either. I'd call the finish satin, its not flat matt but doesn't have much shine to it. I love the fact it contains an SPF of 15 and feels so moisturising and is available in 11 shades so there's one for every occasion. I really struggle to believe this is a £3 lipstick it rivals and of my higher end brands. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Review

I received this sample as part of November's Glossybox. I really liked the sound of it, as I like to exfoliate regularly but gently. It claims to be for 'all skin conditions' from which I take 'suitable for most people. It contains a lot of the ingredients I look for in skin care, salicylic acid, tea tree, plenty of other plant extracts and papaya enzyme.

 I've only ever tried dermalogica once before, when I invested in the mediBac Clearing adult acne kit. At the time I was suffering from a particularly bad flare up that nothing would shift, this was recommended to me so I tried it. Within 48 hours my skin was red raw, think horrendous chemical peel! I attributed it to the fact the products were too strong for my delicate and picky skin.

Sadly, it would seem that my crazy skin refuses to know whats good for it and has a dislike for dermalogica in general. I've used this product twice. The first time it gave beautiful results, softer, brighter skin. The next morning I had a break out on my chin, I didn't initially blame the Microfoliant, just rubbish skin. The next day I used  in the morning and within a few hours I developed painful, angry, cystic acne type lumps on my cheeks and jaw. This time I had to blame the product as I had not used anything else of out the norm and had no make up on. I'm so sad as my first impressions of this were so good. 

Results

Both times I've used this product I've been really impressed at how it leaves my skin so much softer and smoother. It didn't feel in harsh in any way and my skin looked brighter, results similar to using a vitality mask of some kind. I imagine with regular use this product could really improve the overall texture of the skin and brighten the complexion. The texture is very smooth but feels grainy enough to be doing some good. I really liked the soapy, clean smell too

The Good Bits

Although fairly pricey (£38.50 for 75g) I think this product would last a while as you don't actually need much powder to form enough paste to cover the whole face. It contains some great ingredients, has a clean smell (a bit like old fashioned soap) and I like that it is an addition to an established routine rather than having to swap products out to make room for it.

The Not So Good Bits

Obviously the way I reacted to this product isn't great and looking through the extensive ingredient list, it is probably best avoided by sensitive folk as it  includes methylparaben which has been known to irritate sensitive skin. I think the packaging could be improved too, not sure how but I'd worry that keeping a powder in a steamy bathroom could cause it to swell and clump if the lid is not full closed every time.

November's Glossybox

Its that time of the month again, after a very long week of waiting, I've  received my Glossybox. My box usually arrives the day after the dispatch email, but this month it took a whole week. This served to heighten my excitement so I could not wait to peel back the packing and explore its contents. 

Its with a heavy heavy heart that I inform you that I was not bowled over by this month's offerings. Its not an awful box, just a bit lack lustre. I can't really complain too much, if you do the maths, it is worth over the £10 price tag and my previous boxes have been great. I guess I've got to take the rough with the smooth.

 

The Products

This months theme was stocking fillers and the products were mostly skincare. Firstly there's an Olay Regenerist 3 Point Treatment Cream, this is a good product, I've tried it before. Its slightly too rich for my skin to be used daily but great if I need a bit of extra TLC. The sample is 7mls (it retails in 50ml jars) which I think is a bit stingey from such a big and easily available brand. It also makes it difficult to give it a proper road test if you've not tried it before. I'll use the sample but without much excitement, It'll probably end up in my locker for post night shift emergencies.

Next I found a pouch containing a tiny 4ml tube of Wei Beauty Jujube age Control Serum. I'm quite excited by this brand as it bases its products on theories from Chinese medicine, which I find fascinating. I've looked at these products on SpaceNK before but they are quite pricey so have yet to pluck up the courage to splurge on something that I've not read too much about. Its a very small sample but a 30ml pot would set you back £60 so price wise the size is understandable. Can't wait to try this out but hoping for great results from it. It claims to renew, revitalise and restore elasticity. I sure as hell could do with some revitalising right now. 

My need for revitalising is partly due to too much fun this weekend but also, in no small part, due to the reaction I've had from the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. I won't ramble too much about this as its getting its own post, but it is a good product just not for my fussy skin. Its a good sized sample at around a quarter of a full sized jar. I really like the powder to paste formulation, I thought it was nice to mix your own preferred consistency. The £5 off an order from the Dermalogica was a nice touch, sadly me and this brand have fallen out twice now so I don't think I'll be trying anything else from the range.

The Alison Claire Natural Beauty Body Butter was happily received, I never get bored of body butters. Loved the fact its in a pump, negating the body butter under the nails issue. Its a lovely consistency, thick enough to qualify for body butter status but easily absorbed. It has a delicious, almost edible mango scent and the 50ml bottle makes it ideal for travelling. It is fabulously natural, 70% organic, suitable for sensitive skins and from Devizes (!!) There's 20% off orders on the website until January too, I may well be filling my own stocking from there!

I thought that was my lot, slightly miffed by only recieving 4 products I started to read the info card and realised there should also be a Nails Inc product. After a bit of a rummage among the shredded packing I found a 'so small its cute' bottle Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat. This is one of my favourite top coats and I already own a full size so was disappointed I didn't get one of the colours on offer (Porchester Square of Notting Hill Gate). It gives a good shine and a bit of longevity to any polish and I'm sure you'd be impressed by it if this was your first try. I don't tend to take nail products away with me but if you do this 4ml pot would be perfect for travelling and at almost half a full size its a good sized sample. 

Thoughts

I think my vague disappointment with this box stems from the fact I already owned two of the samples and the first product I tried from it distroyed my newly healed skin! I've had two fantastic Glossybox's before this one and think I'll renew my subscription. It was certainly worth the price and reminded me to add Wei Beauty to my wish list. I'm happy to have discovered Alison Claire too. Hoping for a really festive box next month with a bit of sparkle and wintery scents.

Movember Male Grooming Product Round Up

Everywhere I look at the moment men are sprouting moustaches in support of Movember, a charity event to raise money for men's health causes in particular prostate and testicular cancer. I love this concept and its great to see so many people taking part, even if some are looking better than others! Anyway, after a conversation with my husband about beard oil, I thought perhaps I should do a little round up of some of the male grooming products we like the look of. If you're looking to treat the man in your life to a post-Movember treat or something to help a patchy nose beard on its way, keep reading!

£163.50 mankind.co.uk

I love giving my man beauty gifts, it stops him pilfering my products and indulges his decadent bathroom habit he won't admit too! I'm often a bit disappointed by the 'manly' styling of many of the products I find. Not so with eShave S Stand shaving set I think its classic but modern style would look great in any bathroom.

£25 notonthehighstreet.com

Every new razor needs some shaving products to accompany its maiden voyage. Shave Kit & Face Rag by The Botanist is created using natural ingredients, suitable for all skin types and contains a shave oil for a smooth, close shave, a beard oil to moisturise skin beneath a beard or stubble & condition the facial hair. It also comes with a 'face rag' to remove excess oil. Both oils contain essential oils like tea tree, patchouli, lime, and sandlewood and are packaged in the cutest cork topped bottles. 

Tweezerman Moustache scissors and grooming comb (£15.95 cheapsmells.com) are surely an essential for any facial hair cultivationist. This handy set will keep your man's 'tasche neat and tidy with straight, sharp blades for precise trimming of all facial hair and complete with a fine tooth comb to help achieve a  truly professional finish. 

£4.99 foadwax.com

No man worth his facial hair can be without a tub of moustache wax and we think we've found the finest there is! Toad Satin Wax from Foadwax.com is vegan friendly and made in Britain using all natural British ingredients. The website says;
Foad's Toad Satin Wax is our Vegan pomade style moustache and beard wax suitable for everyday use. It has a loose to medium hold and a satin sheen finish. It can be used alone for groomed, neater facial hair, endowing your face fuzz with a natural flowing look. However it can also be used in conjunction with Foad Wax to aid its distribution, and create your own unique mix and level of hold for a more styled look. 
Love the styling of this product and the handy pocket sized tin making those all important on the go touch ups hassle free!   
 

Grimas Water Make Up (£9 funtimefaces.co.uk) can be used to darken or fill in patchy facial hair. It's probably something that most men (the ones I know anyway!) will need a bit of practise at. Its applied with a damp sponge directly to the area. Its actually a stage make up product but comes highly recommended, check out the Wayne Goss video link at the end of this post for more information on make up for men.

When you consider facial hair, its not actually that different from eyebrows and so a good eye brow pencil or palette would be more than adequate for filling in sparse areas. I really like MAC Eye Brow pencils ( £12.50 maccosmetics.co.uk), as they stay put well and don't need sharpening and are available in 6 shades so there's bound to be something for everybody.

£25.60 lookmanfastic.com

£40 mankind.co.uk

Once Movember is over and your man is once more naked of top lip foliage, why not treat him to some pampering skincare.
Billy Jealousy's Shave3some contains everything a man could possibly need for a luxurious shave. A hot towel pre shave treatment, shave cream and after shave balm work in conjunction to provide a comfortable shave, professional results and minimise irritation.

Elemis Men Post Shave Recovery Mask is formulated to replenish nutrients that are stripped from the skin with shaving. It contains macadamia, lavender and rosemary oil to calm irritation and shea butter to moisturise. My man has not tried this mask, but it smells lovely and has a beautiful texture. If its anything like the other Elemis masks it'll delivery great results.

A Few Good Websites
Need more inspiration for beauty treats for your man? Here are some websites that have been tried and tested by Esme's male counterpart!

http://www.mensmake-up.co.uk/ is definitely worth checking out if you know a man who isn't afraid to conceal, line or buff himself up a bit. 

http://www.mankind.co.uk/  has a great range of skin care brands that are difficult to find in the shops.

Visual Aids
I thought I'd include a couple of YouTube videos that contain some useful tips for male grooming, whether you're a man looking for hints or a woman wanting to learn some male friendly techniques.

The mighty Pixiwoo have done a great tutorial on male grooming, including how to clipper stubble,  that can be found at //www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7TOUg9udfc&feature=related

On of my YouTube favourites, Wayne Goss gives a great Make Up for Men tutorial here; //www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmUXF_W21Rc