You know lovelies it’s been a while since I posted about the most recent must-haves on the beauty scene and frankly that won’t do….. I literally NEED to tell you all about the latest and greatest make-up for W-day, B-Day and Just-because-I-want-to-look-extra-hot Day.

So after a weekend traipsing around the fancy department store counters in the Big Smoke I thought I’d share a bit of glossy love.

Seasonal Fingertips

As much as I adore a coral or a hot pink polish in the summer months come autumn I can’t help but fall in love all over again with the darker richer and altogether shiner hues on offer. Inspired by Vicky’s ( Love Is The Light That Guides Us) recent Big Day deep red nails I hit the Chanel counter to purchase a bottle of the famous Rouge Noir, as classic as any french manicure if you ask me……

Whilst admiring the new Chanel limited edition collection a particularly unusual and amazing shade of lilac/grey caught my eye -”Paradoxal”, got me a bottle of that too, sure to become a cult favourite in no time I bet.

And if you really REALLY want the shortest, sexiest, and most sultry digits on the planet I suggest you consider Black Satin. The secret goth in me would love to pull it off.

Burberry Does Beauty

Not content with just creating the flashiest beige mac’s in designer-ville those check loving fashionista’s at Burberry have gone and created a whole line of to-die-for cosmetics too.

A vast selection of easy-to-wear ( but never boring) neutrals with silky soft formula’s and what might be some of the most “I’m going to get my powder compact out just because it’s so darn beautiful” packaging I have ever witnessed.

I was at the Harrods concession a long while.

I tried on a lot of items.

Then I went and bought a lot of items. Um, oops….

I know I know lovelies, just can’t help myself

Good news is I wore the luminous all in one powder foundation and it stayed looking air-brushed perfect ALL DAY. I also bought a lipstick in Cameo Pink and a lip liner in Nude Beige, together they make a lovely polished “wear anytime” lip…..I am having a complete love affair with my new purchases.

The Most Luscious Lashes?

Rebecca mentioned the new craze for lash growth serums a wee while back and not convinced by the hype I didn’t bother investing.

However…… when I read about the amazing results ladies had experienced with Rapidlash on a well respected beauty forum I simply had to give it a try. The recommendation is 8 weeks to see results however I’m on week 5 and there is some significant thickening and lengthening going on already. And most importantly no weird itchy/red eczema patches which is my main concern regarding any lotions or potions that go anywhere near my peepers.

Oh and I have also been slathering it on my brows in the hope they look a little less pathetic, earlier this week my beautician even mentioned they were looking “fuller”

Result!

Available at Boots stores nationwide.

* image courtesy of Shoot Photography

Charlotte Double Dare’s You

Those of you who didn’t read back through the comments on Laine and Danny’s wedding will be pleased to hear that the beautiful bride did in fact share her make-up bag secrets. And I was straight onto Maccosmetics.co.uk to purchase the gorgeous cremesheen gloss in Double Dare Laine wore on the Big day – the perfect pinky coral red.

I actually have a love/hate relationship with lipgloss, love the way it looks, hate the way it feels and find myself favouring lipstick or those lipstick/gloss hybrid’s that have a thicker, less sticky consistency.

MAC cremesheens are my new go-to for a natural day time lip as they are completely non goopy, they apply like butter and actually last longer than the majority of other brands I have tried.

And as it’s Thursday and as I think sometimes we just all need a bit of light relief I double dare you to share with us the naughtiest shopping trip you have indulged in, what you bought, why really you shouldn’t have and how much fun you had.

There is even a MAC Double Dare lipgloss up for graps for the funniest/most indulgent/naughtiest story……

Get commenting folks!

Big Daring Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S If you don’t fancy sharing your shopping trip news you can of course share a little bit of shopping bag news – I would love to know what new beauty buys you gorgeous lot have invested in recently…

Now just like all you other make-up junkies out there I get more than a little ridiculously excited about discovering a new range, especially when the packaging is cute-as-hell retro inspired lovely and the products really do deliver.

It all began a few weeks ago whilst browsing the dreamy cosmetics department of the Manchester Harvey Nichols and I happened to stumble upon The Balm.

Queue lots of “ Ooh ahh lovely” “Oh My God I would buy this just for the name alone!”and “Ooh James look at this it is a special skin illuminiser – see how incredibly erm …illuminising it is!” whilst painting my hands with various types of lip goo and beaming like a complete goon.

NB ( My obsession with all things lip/lash/cheek enhancing is something James accepts but doesn’t necessarily understand)

The Balm was founded by the uber glamorous CEO Marissa Shipman who realised there was a gap in the market for multi-tasking products with a “beauty in 5 minutes” philosophy.

After investing in several “how to make make-up” books off Amazon and mixing a whole heap of gorgeous concoctions in her kitchen ( hmmm sounds much more fun than baking a cake)… Marissa designed a website, hired a chemist, got incorporated, and “The Balm” was well and truly born.

Previously only available in the US of A you gorgeous UK lot now get to try some The Balm fabulousness too, we are lucky lucky ladies….

And with such an abundance of brilliance what did I actually buy I hear you ask?

Down Boy Blush ( the perfect rosy pink flush for summer), Staniac in Beauty Queen ( makes my lips look cherry bitten ) and last but not least the Mary Lou Manizer . A little pot of honey-hued delicate sheen that lends a pretty youthful glow to your face and décolletage.

Oh and quote of the week?

“Youth is both a state of mind and a product of your make-up bag” – Marissa Shipman.

I think I might have a little bit of a girl crush on her.

The Balm is available at Harvey Nichols, Debenhams and on line at www.justbeautydirect.co.uk.

Go take a peek and tell us what you think and let us know what new items you have purchased recently;-)

Big Lou-Manizing Love

Charlotte xxx

I know that many a Bride spends a great deal of time searching for the answer to complexion perfection in the run up to the big day. I was no exception, having been troubled by rubbish skin since my early twenties (what’s with spots at that age?) and desperate to avoid an outbreak on the most important of days. Any reader threatening to break out in a cold sweat should be reassured at this point, that any make-up artist worth their salt will cover even the most gigantic vesuvius like spot, but everyone wants the perfect base to work with right?

So I made it my mission to achieve porcelain perfection in 6 short months, on the back of regular facials and a wicked skin care routine.

And my first stop? My GP.

La Pharmacia

There are all manner of lotions and potions out there ladies and skincare myths a-plenty but the real truth? Spots are all about bacteria or skin clogged sweat glands. It’s not as glamorous as the glossys lead us to believe but the answer lies in medicine not cleanser. So if you have a desire to remedy any greater a problem than a very occasional pimple, and particularly if the remnants of spots leave red marks on your skin, get yourself to your Doctor, pronto. (I’m not going to divulge what I used as each case is different, but suffice to say I used it for 10 weeks prior to wedding (and long after) and it did a great job – Please note all skins care treatments should be given at least 6-12 months to act, but there’s no harm in getting started!)

Ok so Biology lesson over, lets get on with the fun stuff. Given my blemish prone skin, I has been my want to try and starve it of moisture in the most, (I thought,) sensible approach to getting rid of grease. Strangely, I never had oily skin, just spots, and the answer itself lay in Oil. Aromatherapy oils, and lots of them.

Eve Lom, although firmly in the luxe skin care camp basically looks like Vaseline. Yummy smelling Vaseline that you smear all over your face when it’s dry and massage in to increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage. It’s like a mini facial every night and used with the muslin cloth provided (Yes, you would expect that for £48 a tub!) soaked in piping hot water and wrung out to hold against the skin and steam the cleanser into the pores, gives a really satisfying cleansing experience.

Eve Lom cleanser contains Egyptian chamomile, hops, clove and eucalyptus oil, together with cocoa butter to cleanse, tone, exfoliate all in one. And it’s no word of a lie. After steaming the face you use the cloth to buff off the cleanser in a circular motion removing all the makeup you were wearing plus hopefully, a ton of dead skin cells, never to darken a pore again.

Sell out Sucess.

The best thing about Eve Lom is that you can buy a starter collection for £25.00 which has 2 mini cleansers, the face cloth, a rescue mask, TLC Cream and SPF 15 day cream to try it out, and I really can’t recommend it highly enough. I have never come across a cleanser that after drying my face doesn’t leave my sin tight or flakey. Never. Until Eve came along.

I should also add that although it’s a pretty hefty price tag for a cleanser, each pot lasts me around 6 months, so not really that awful? Personally, I think it’s worth it for a great skin day everyday. Plus, with the lack of drying effects and your skin left comfortably soft, there’s no need for a second expensive item like toner or moisturiser.

Of course the range doesn’t stop there. I now use the Rescue Mask which is again, the first and only mask I’ve found that a. doesn’t break me out in a whole new set of spots, or b. actually works and stops current ones or future ones in their tracks! The Kiss Mix is divine and for a bit of sun protection I use the SPF 15 moisturiser which has a matte finish and forms the perfect make-up base. It’s Eve Lom all the way baby.

Are you all about Eve?

Do tell us all about your skin care regime running up to W-day and let us know if you are an Eve devotee or going to take the plunge…

Yours Truly,

Rebecca xoxo

Bored of the “natural” look?

Fancy creating a full-on smoky eye but can’t find the time?

Well then…… there is just one product you need lovelies.

MAC Greasepaint stick.

Whether you use it to line and define or apply a quick sweep all over the lid for maximum impact – those pretty peepers of yours are gonna be smudgy, sultry and super darn SEXY.

Not to mention the slighty sticky texture works as a fantastic base for MAC pigment powders ( think fully loaded metallic sheen) or the MAC glitter powders for ultimate disco glamour.

Genius.

Oh and my favourite?

Dirty.

A “blackened taupe with pearl”.

To-die-for.

Unfortunately these beauties are limited edition so if you fancy making a purchase make sure you hot foot it over to www.maccosmetics.co.uk pronto.

Big Dirty Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S No we are not suggesting this would be an ideal look for W-day – although it might be…… why the hell not I say.

PP.S And no this isn’t our second post. Sometimes we are a supremely generous bunch and we like to give you three.

Ever since I can remember I have been obsessed by two things.

Lipstick and Coco Chanel.

There is something incredibly sexy about a woman applying lipstick, I know we seem to be in the age of the “gloss” but for me…. nothing beats a slick of genuine waxy loveliness for enhancing your pout.

As for Coco Chanel? Well my Nan always says “Wash your face with nothing but warm water and a flannel love – it’s what Coco Chanel used to do”

And so my research and interest into Mademoiselle Coco and the iconic double ‘C” branding began….

In a bid to make me RIDICULOUSLY overwhelmed with excitement in recent weeks then Chanel has launched “Rouge Coco” which in my opinion is lipstick perfection. Not to shiny, not too dry, not too opaque, not to sheer, not too heavy.

Just divine in a tube. And a beautiful slick black and gold “satisfying click” tube at that.

I swear to you ladies – if you want to invest in one new make-up item for W-day go visit your nearest Chanel counter pronto. You won’t be dissapointed. There are 36 shades on offer covering pinks, beiges, reds, browns and corals – there is sure to be the Big Day shade for you.

And my favourite? why the actual “Mademoiselle” of course. A suit-all shade of nude delight.

And the muse behind the design? the stunningly chic and unbelievably beautiful Vanessa Paradis. She was my first girl/fashion crush….. It was the 12 year old me having just watched the “Be My Baby” video for the first time. The beginning of my love affair with all things bohemian.

( go check out the video on YouTube if you have a minute, the make-up, clothes and accessories are still to-die-for now even 18 years on. Promise)

And if you’re not particularly interested in music video’s circa 1992 but you are a lipstick/Chanel/Vanessa Paradis fan then you MUST check out this – I genuinely thought it was really fascinating ( yup I am a bone-fide cosmetics geek)

Anyone else in favour of lipstick over gloss?

Have a make-up brand you are obsessed with?

Then do tell. Would love to do a feature.

Big Coco Rouge Love

Charlotte xxx