essence trend edition for summer 2013: guerilla gardening

Guerilla Gardening is essence's summer trend-based makeup collection release, featuring botanical shades of both bright and dark green, earthy browns, bright pinks and intensive reds.
 

Clarins Splendours Eyeshadow & Liner Palette Review & Swatches

I promised a separate review of the eyeshadow and liner palette that features in the Clarins Splendours summer '13 makeup collection so here we go!

Cosmetics à la Carte Brow Ink

Cosmetics à la Carte Brow Ink

Cosmetics a la Carte call this their "smudge-proof eyebrow enhancer and filler" and it is hands-down the absolute best brow product I have ever used for creating a simple, understated, natural brow.

Sleek Magnitude Mascara Review

Sleek Magnitude Mascara

This stuff is a.mazing.  And it costs €6.  Six quid!  It's a two-step mascara designed to lengthen and voluminise lashes.  And boy does it.

 

Dermalogica UltraCalming Range

I've used some Dermalogica products in the past - notably their Multivitamin Thermafoliant (an amazingly fantastic product which is simultaneously both a mechanical (via micro exfoliating beads of magnesium oxide, silica and sodium bicarbonate) and chemical (via salicylic- and lactic- hydroxy acids) exfoliator.

But that's not what I'm talking about today.  I received some sample products, having been "Speed Mapped" by the aesthetician, from the Dermalogica UltraCalming Range after a recent facial, and as these are especially formulated for sensitive skins, and as that's me to a tee, was happy to try them out...

Make Up For Dolls lipstick - my very own signature red lipstick!

Make Up For Dolls Signature Red Lipstick

It's finally here!  My very own Make Up For Dolls signature red lipstick!

Laser Hair Removal: One Year On

Laser Hair Removal
(no, that's not me looking all relaxed)

Just over a year ago, I decided to take advantage of an "Unlimited small-area laser treatment" for a year (for some very reasonable price, I don't recall the details) from a clinic I'd been frequenting for a while.  A bit of a misnomer really, as I had only eight sessions during the twelve months (*more on that in a minute).  I have naturally very dark hair and light-medium skin colouring, so in theory I should qualify as highly suitable.

New fragrances from Essence

Drugstore brand essence has released three brand new budget fragrances in April and these are available in-store (Dunnes and Penny's and pharmacies nationwide), together with the already popular first six fragrances by essence.  These will be available in two sizes, 50ml (€7.99) and a mini 10ml handbag-size (€3.49).

New Illamasqua Nail Polish Shades

Illamasqua have recently released five new nail varnish shades to their collection available in-store and online.  These are all permanent line and details follow.

Chanel Jeux de Regards - featuring new Illusion d'Ombres & new mascara

Chanel Jeux de Regards campaign visual

According to the cosmetics industry, if not the weather, we are firmly entrenched in Springtime and fast approaching Summer.  I'll stop to have a snigger at that one.  Here in Ireland, I've had the stove pumping out heat to try get the sitting room up to a comfortable 22 degrees.  Then just overnight, I'm opening the window to get it down from 24.  Oh, feckless Irish weather, how I hate you.

Anyhow digression over, off the subject of weather and onto the subject Chanel's latest eye collection, Jeux de Regards.  We're in for a new mascara (I have six Chanel mascaras and love each and every one of them), and two different colour-themed makeup collections as the supporting cast.

Clarins Splendours Summer Make-Up Collection & Swatches

Clarins Splendours Summer '13 Makeup Collection Visual

Taking its inspiration from the idea of turning sunshine into gold, the Clarins Splendours Summer '13 makeup collection takes its cue from a pre-Colombian civilization that worshipped the sun, and gold features heavily in the collection.

Inglot Colour Play Lipsticks, Kohl Eyeliner Pencil, Addicts Fanbase and Bloggers Event...

Last Wednesday I attended the Inglot Blanchardstown VIP event to celebrate the launch of Ingot's new "Inglot Addics" fan database, together with their new Colour Play Lipsticks and Kohl Eyeliner Pencil.  

The launch included a makeup demonstration, featuring the new lipsticks and nicely thought-out goodie bags, as well as Inglot's generous 20% discount available to all on the night.

Recapitulation...

It's been a funny old week.  I have had a hectic time and although I'm genuinely inundated with releases for which to produce content, I am also genuinely lacking in the time to do it!  At the weekend I plan to spend some proper time with this machine of mine and get cranking...

For now, I wanted to recap on some of my older posts, in case some newer readers haven't seen 'em yet!

Chanel Sublimage le Fluide to launch 26th April

Chanel Sublimage Le Fluide

The latest addition to the Chanel Sublimage range of skincare, Sublimage le Fluide, is set to launch on 26th April '13.

It is designed to give a glows to the complexion and smooth the skin's surface.  Apparently using this will define facial contours and give the face a sculpted appearance, fading wrinkles and fine lines. And all while comforting the face with a feeling that comes from within.

Masked Ball Makeup (Period Makeup)

Venice Carnevale 2013 Gran Ballo Mascheranda

Here's one I forgot to post last month!

As mentioned in some (reasonably) recent Facebook posts, I was lucky enough to attend a masked ball in Venice as part of the 2013 Carnevale celebrations.  I wanted to go the whole hog, to dress up in period costume, period wig, jewellery, makeup, the lot.

Research into the makeup suggested simple; very whitened, powdered, matte makeup, red "rouge" and a stained red lip.  Minimal eyeliner and mascara, just enough for definition.  Essentially this was the same for both men and women :-)

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Perfume - New Size, Matching Deodorant & Hair Mist!

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Hair Mist

Some more Chanel releases - this time it's the turn of the Chanel Chance range of perfumes - April 19th sees the release of bigger bottles and matching deodorant and hair mist products to accompany the Chanel Chance Eau Tendre scent...

Chanel Sublimage La Crème Yeux Eye Cream

On purchasing a raft of Chanel items post-Christmas, I received a number of very generous samples of this from the Chanel SA in Brown Thomas.  I have been using it sporadically since.  Overall, me likey.

KIKO Cosmetics Review

While in Venice recently, I chanced upon a cosmetics store called KIKO, selling their eponymous brand of makeup.  It's a reasonably new venture, founded in 1997 in Milan and now has stores all over the world, including an online shopping branch in the UK as I've recently discovered while doing some further research at home.

Vying with Inglot for volume of shades and formulations of both makeup- and skincare- products, and looking a lot like a candy store, I was hooked.

The most fabulous eyeliner ever: MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner (Black Line)

MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners
The three I have T -> B: Petrol Blue, Black Swan, Black Line 

The MAC Pearlglide eyeliners came out originally in the Art Supplies Collection (as far as I recall) and were once LE but are now part of the permanent line.  I am in love with these liners.  They're soft, soft, soft.  There's no pulling, tugging, dragging, skipping or missing with these.  One swipe is enough to deposit quite a lot of these - there's no messing with several applications.  There's no having to warm them up prior to use.  They go on and set in place.  They last and last and last for ever and a day without fading.  All good things.

Hourglass Cosmetics Illume Bronze Duo in Bronze Light

Hourglass Illume bronze duo in Bronze Light
... stock image

Off out to Harvey Nichols food hall went I around about the time of Valentine's day to get some treats from the OH (he's partial to the old pistachio Persian Fairy Floss).  And sure it'd be a crime not to visit Space NK concession while I was there!  A brand I'd been reading about, and meaning to try, Hourglass Cosmetics, took my eye on this particular visit, and so, armed with lighter-than-silk (and about the same price as silk) candy floss (for him) and another bronzer/highlighter duo (for me), I left Harvey Nick's that day happy out.

And it's taken me until now to get around to playing with it and blogging about it (the shame!)