Hello everyone,

today I want to talk about one of my favourite collections for spring 2012, Lancôme Roseraie des Delices, which will be released next month. Inspired by garden tea parties and Laudurée macaroons, the collection features delicate hues of pinks, greens and peaches that will suit most skintones. I think it’s a very springy and fresh collection and I want everything! lol Here are more details:

LE YEUX DOUX (€45.00)
Available in Verte Tendresse, which features soft green shades, and Rose Romance which includes pale pinks and fuchsia hues.

LE ROSERAI BLUSH (€45,00)
The rosy shade will brighten up skin while the peachy hue will warm your complexion.

FRENCH TOUCH ABSOLU LIPSTICK (€30.00)
Available in Rose Candy, Soft Marshmallow and Sweet Marmalade.

COLOUR FEVER GLOSS (€20.00)
Available in Green Petal, Tangering Petal and Rose Petal.

LE VERNIS
Available in Green Almond, Rose Tangerine and Rose Macaron.

What do you think of this collection?

Lancome Holiday Collection, created with the collaboration of designer L’Wren Scott, features prominently two colors: deep and beautiful reds and smokier and elegant greys. These aren’t colors that I wear often so I think I’ll pass on this collection, but I still think the products all look beautiful.

The Ombré Absolue Palette (€51,51) contains four light, medium and dark greys to create beautiful smokey eyes looks you can rock both during the day and at night. And the black packaging is very elegant as well.

To define the lips and make them the focus of your look, Lancome has released L’Absolu Rouge in Rouge L’Wren (€28,50), a deep red shade that’s not for the faint of heart. I love Lancome lipsticks as they are so creamy and moisturizing and this contains SPF 12 as well. To add some shine to your pout, there’s the L’Absolu Creme de Brillance in Le Rouge L’wren, (€26,48) a beautiful cream red gloss.

The perfect accessories to complete the look are the two beautiful nail polishes released in these collection. Le Vernis (€14,75), are available in Le Gris L’wren and Le Rouge L’wren. Le Gris looks particularly tempting to me as I recently discovered grey looks great on nails, it’s pretty and elegant.

What do you think of this collection?

Laura Mercier Mystique

Laura Mercier draw inspiration from the mystery and sparkle of the city at night fall to create her latest collection Mystique. The collection features natural and rich shades for lips and cheeks and more colorful ones for the eyes to create glamorous and sophisticated but edgy and hip looks. The Sequin Eye Colours ($22.00) have a soft sparkly effect and are available in 3 new shades:Peacock (deep teal green),Sterling (pale grey blue) and Violetta (vibrant purple).

To make the eyeshadows last longer and cover any imperfection on your eyes, you can try Eye Basics ($24.00), which is available in Wheat (light-medium beige). And for easier eyeshadow application, Laura Mercier has released the Eye Colour Brush ($27.00), made with 100% natural bristles. For the cheeks instead, we have two new shades of Second Skin Cheek Colour ($24.00), a light and velvety powder blush with sheer color payoff. It’s available in City Pink (fuchsia pink) and Lotus Pink (universal pink with slight shimmer).

Last, but by no means least, we have the lip products. The new Lip Glace ($22.00) is a very shiny, pigmented gloss that gives the illusion of fuller lips. It’s available in Cocoa Lait (rich neutral brown), Pink Tulle (rosy pink and gold) and Plum Noir (deep plum shimmer). The Shimmer Lip Colour ($22.00) instead is available in Brown Plum (warm-deep-brown), Sand Castle (soft nude pink shimmer) and St. Tropez (soft neutral brown shimmer).

Lancome French Coquettes

Lancome French Coquettes collection for fall is both pretty and provocative, urban sophisticated and witty chic. The collection features dark silver, black and blood cheery red shades for both eyes, lips and nails that are perfect for fall and to create vampy chic looks. The star of the collection is La Rose Deco ($40.00), an all-over powder that mixes wood rose and pink tones to give skin a subtle shine. And it’s engraved with a gorgeous rose pattern too.

Make your eyes sparkle with the new Ombre Magnetique ($25.00) eyeshadows in Black Macadam, Urban Silver and Cherry Cherie. They have a long-wearing texture and are very shimmery and sparkly. For the lips, L’Absolu Rouge ($29.00) is now available in Rose Divine, Parisian Attraction, Cherry Kiki. This is one of my fave lipsticks as the texture is so moisturizing and pigmented and the new shades look absolutely beautiful.

Finally, another winner in this collection are the nail polishes, which are available in a trio. Le Vernis Trio in Kissed By Paris ($25.00) contains three mini sized polishes in pink and dark red shades that have a shiny and chip-resistant formula. I think all three are gorgeous and I’m glad they come in a trio cos I wouldn’t know which one to choose otherwise!

Paul & Joe Fall Moonlight Dance

Oh, how I wish I had a Paul & Joe counter near me! Their collections always have me drooling over every single product. I’ve had the chance to try a few things from the brand (thank goodness for online shopping!) and their quality was very good, plus they always pay a lot of attention to the packaging, which is always stunning. And this time, Paul & Joe took a step further in designing one of their products, the lipstick. They put a kitten on it!

That’s right, their Lipstick C, available in three shades – Clair de Lune (soft pink), Over the Moon (orange) and Moon Shadow (passion red) have a cat’s head on them. Some find them creepy, others find them cute (I fall in the latter category), what’s sure is that they’re very original. I’m very tempted to get one but I know I wouldn’t have the heart to use it not to destroy the poor kitty’s head.

Another of my favourites from the collection are the Face and Eye Color Palette – L, available in three color combinations: Silvery Moon, Paper Moon and Blue Moon. I really like the curved striped pattern, how wearable the shades are and the beautiful boxes they come in. My favourite is the one with the swans although it features the least interesting shades (I’m not intro neutrals but you knew that already ).

This is not a big collection and the only other product left to talk about is the Face Color, available in Luna (rose), Harvest month (orange) and Pagan (brown). I don’t about you, but the pink shade really appeals to me and I’m also intrigued by the orange one. I’m not sure I could pull it off though, it looks a bit scary in the pan, doesn’t it?

What do you think of these collections? Are you gonna get something from them or just skip them?

Lancome summer collection features bronze and gold shades inspired by the faces and places of the Riviera and pinks to add a playful touch to your look. The star of the collection is undoubtedly the gorgeous Mineral Bronze powder, that features a stunning and summery pattern. I’m also digging the lipsticks. Lancome one’s are so creamy and moisturizing and the new pink shades look so hot! What are you lemming?

COLOR DESIGN SENSATIONAL EFFECTS EYESHADOWS PALETTE ($45.00)
Available in Pink Party Pretty.

WATERPROOF DUAL ENDED EYELINER ($28.00)
Available in Sassy in Sunrise and Sultry in Sunset.

TROPIQUES MINERAL BAMBOO BRONZER ($45.00)
Available in Temptingly Bronze.

AGELESS MINERALE BLUSH ($29.50)
Available in Sparkling Sand, Brilliant Berry and Luminous Rose.

ALL OVER MAGIC BRONZING BRUSH ($33.00)
Suitable for all skin tones.

COLOR DESIGN LIPCOLOR ($22.00)
Available in Summer Nude, Sweetly Pink and Pink Splash.

JUICY TUBES 100% NATURAL ORIGIN ($18.00)
Available in Pink Precious, Blushing Beauty, Rose Pretty and Sheerfully Sweet.

LIPCOLOURING STICK WITH BRUSH ($23.50)
Available in Sultry Nude.

LE VERNIS ($18.00)
Available in Ms. Perfectly Pink.

AGELESS MINERALE BLUSH BRUSH ($34.00)

Source

Hello everyone,

as the year is drawing to a close, I thought I’d share with you the products that rocked my world in 2009. The list includes the products that I tried this year, not those that were released this year, and they are all things that I love very much and use again and again. Curious? Read on:

FACE

Pupa Professionals Smoothing Foundation Primer is a silicone-based primer with a very silky texture that applies like a dream. An excellent base for makeup, it diminishes small imperfections, makes skin smooth and helps makeup last longer. And I love that it is also available in a mini size which is a better value for money for people like me that don’t wear face primers often.

The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Foundation SPF 25. Although it’s not HG material (mainly because it is available in very few shades and doesn’t control oil too well), it’s one of the best foundations I tried this year. It is a pure mineral foundation that provides a light to medium coverage for a very natural finish that lasts long.

EYES

Barry M Intense Eyeliner Pen is a retractable liner that doesn’t need to be sharpened. The colors are bright and intense, easy to apply, last for hours even on the waterline and don’t smudge.

Unfortunately for my wallet, Chanel Exceptionnel De Chanel Mascara is the best mascara I’ve tried this year. This long-lasting, smudgeproof mascara provides volume, length and separation without clumps. It takes a while to learn to use the wand properly, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll get a dramatic, false lashes effect.

Sleek Eye Dust Pigments are easy to blend, last long and have great color payoff. I wouldn’t say these are the best pigments on the market (although the quality is great), but what I love the most is the size: they are almost as big as MAC pigments (actually I heard MAC is reducing the size of their pigments again so Sleek’s are bigger now) but only cost £2.99. A real steal!

And obviously, I couldn’t forget to mention my beloved Sleek Eyeshadow Palettes. The ones I got these year are Curious (LE, featuring a mix of green, blue and purple shades), Safari (LE, a mix of neutral and colorful shades), Acid (LE, bright and neon shades) and Chaos (permanent, bright and matte shades), but all the others are amazing too. They feature 12 soft and highly pigmented mineral eyeshadows that last all day. And they are super cheap too!

CHEEKS

Barry M Blusher comes in six bright shades that, if applied with a light hand, look very flattering on pale skin too. The packaging could use some work, but the blush is very pigmented, soft to the touch and provides a rosy and healthy glow to the cheeks.

E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder contains a pigmented blush that gives cheeks a rosy glow and a pigmented bronzer that is perfect for contouring. Unfortunately the bronzer is not suitable for pale skin, but overall, this duo is a steal!

Lumiere Blushing Bronzer in Sugarberry, a dark mauve that gives cheeks a natural flush. And because it has a matte finish with just the sightliest hint of shimmer, this is perfect for contouring pale skintones. In addition, it is nicely pigmented and lasts all day.

Senna Cheeky Blush was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting to like this much since I prefer powder blushes cos they last longer. But this cream blush lasts for hours and doesn’t feel sticky at all. The color is pigmented and because it is very shimmery (too shimmer for some people) it provides a nice flush with a sparkly glow that allows me to skip highlighting powder.

LIPS

Although I’m a lipgloss girl, my favourite lip products this year are both lipsticks. My favourite is Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick for its creamy and moisturizing texture. It is available in lots of beautiful and pigmented shades and it’s fairly longlasting too.

NYX Round Lipsticks aren’t as longlasting as Lancome lippies, but they are still a great and much cheaper alternative. They’re also available in a wide selection of shades, are creamy and have a great color payoff. And most importantly, they aren’t drying on the lips.

BRUSHES

E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush is my favourite brush to apply both liquid and mineral foundation. The dense bristles feel like silk on my skin and provide medium to full coverage for an airbrushed look in just a few seconds. And it’s very inexpensive too!

MAC 219 Pencil Brush is one of those brushes that, once you have them, you wonder how you could have lived without. It’s definitely a must-have. The soft and dense pointed tip is perfect for precise work. It defines the outer V and crease perfectly, deposits eyeshadows on the lower lashline effortlessly and it’s great at creating shapes and smudging colors.

MAKEUP REMOVERS

I’m still on the look out for a cheap and effective makeup remover. All the ones I tried this year are average and the only one that truly impressed me is Helena Rubinstein All Mascaras! Complete Eye Make-Up Remover. If it weren’t for the high-price, I would stick to this and never use anything else. It completely removes all traces of eye makeup, including waterproof mascara and eyeliner, in just a few seconds and is gentle on the eyes.

HAIR

I like trying new products all the time, but when it comes to my hair I usually stick to my old favourites. But this year, I had the chance to try Bottega Verde Anti-Age Cream Conditioner and I completely fell in love with it. It conditions hair well, leaving it soft, moisturized and tangle free. And it smells gorgeous too!

Can you see something missing from the list above? Yeah, that’s right, skincare products. That’s because none of the skincare items I tried this year have blown me away. Some of them are great and worked well for my skin, but I haven’t found any HG or must-have products.

What are your favourite beauty products from 2009?

Disclosure: all the products in this post, apart from the Lumiere and Senna blushes which were provided by PR for consideration, were purchased by me. For more information, please see my disclaimer.

Source

Although December has just started, spring collections are already starting to pop up everywhere! Let’s start with Lancome. For their spring collection Aaron De Mey was inspired by the energy and fashion of the 60′s. The collections features shades of dark green and coral for a  fresh and intense look. Here’s the details:

POP’N’PALETTE EYESHADOW QUAD ($54.00)
Available in Pop’n’Petrol (dark green shades) and Pop’n’Copper (copper shades).

POP ‘N CHEEKS BLUSH ($38.00)
This pretty blush features coral and sand shades that give skin a soft and natural glow.

INK ARTLINER ($38.00)
Pop Petrol: petrol green

KHOL GLOSS ($31.50)
Pop Petrol: teal
Sand: sand
Swinging Copper: copper

CRAYON KHOL ($27.00)
Pop Petrol: teal

LA LAQUE FEVER ($32.00)
Intense like a lipstick and shiny like a gloss, La Lacque Fever is available in Coral Bliss (coral) and Swinging Copper (bronze).

COLOR FEVER GLOSS ($25.00)
Available in 4 shades ranging from sand to coral:BB Sand, Coral Delight, Orange Scopitone and Shivering Pink.

LE VERNIS NAIL POLISH ($21.00)
Available in Pop Petrol (intense teal) and B.B. Sand (golden beige)

TOUCHE PRO
This concealer features two shades to mix and match to hide imperfection and get a flawless complexion.

HYPNOSE DRAMA ($30.00)
Pop Petrol: teal

I still have to get used to the idea of vibrating mascaras. I think they’re, well, weird and I’m not convinced I won’t poke myself in the eye with them (I’m the clumsiest person ever!). And now Lancome has released a vibrating foundation!

Called Oscillation Powerfoundation ($48.00), this mineral foundation comes with an applicator that vibrates 7,000 per minutes. This is supposed to break down the foundation into micronized particles to give skin a matte, smooth and air-brushed finish as well as minimising the appearance of wrinkles and pores over time.

I’m skeptical about this foundation as I think there are probably lots of other cheaper products on the market that could give the same results, but still I’d love to try it. Unfortunately, while Oscillation Powerfoundation is already available in the USA and will be out in Canada in November, there is no plan to release it internationally yet.

What do you think of a vibrating foundation? Is it cool or just weird?

Yasmin Le Bon was discovered by a modeling agency in Oxfordshire when she was only 17 and  working part time selling clothes. Since then, the British beauty has been the face of brands like Banana Republic, Biotherm, Chanel and Christian Dior to name just a few.

Married to Simon Le Bon, from Duran Duran, the model has also recently launched a clothing and jewellery collection, called YLB, she designed for Wallis. The collection was inspired by her fave items from her own wardrobe.

Here Yasmin shares the beauty products she can’t live without:

24 FAUBOURG BY HERMES (£46.50)
A floral scent that features notes of orange blossom, Sambac jasmine, vanilla and ambergris. Yasmin says it’s very classic and feminine.

ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN MARINE CREAM (£75.00)
A moisturizer that increases skin firmness and elasticity, whilst providing free radical protection. Yasmin switches between face creams all the time and at the moment she is using this one from Elemis. She says it has a lovely texture and makes her skin feel smooth and refreshed.

TARA SMITH BIG BABY SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER (£4.99 each)
The Big Baby Shampoo is a gentle clarifying shampoo suitable for babies and sensitive grownups.
The Big Baby Conditioner is a light and gentle conditioner, which eases a sensitive scalp.

LANCOME AMPLICILS MASCARA (£19.50)
A mascara that coats every lash and provides volume, separation and curl. The result is a glamorous look that lasts.