20 December 2009

Festive feet - Chanel Le Vernis in Coromandel

I bought Coromandel a few months ago being seduced by the vibrant orangey red. I did a manicure with it but was underwhelmed - it just looked a bit in your face somehow - so thought I'd try it as my festive season pedicure colour.
















(last pic with flash)


I do like it, but again just not sure. It somehow seems to overwhelm the nail, making it look larger than it is - I cant really explain the effect, Sunday evening, tired, words failing me!


My beautician was very impressed with the texture and pigmentation. For me, it's pretty but not a repurchase. My Christmas pedicure colour last year was Chanel's Barcelona Red and I do absolutely love that shade. I'm also loving at the moment OPI's A oui bit of red which I've blogged about previously and which is a real grower on me.


Any must have red pedi colours?




18 December 2009

Essential measures #2 Sisley Radiant Glow Express Mask with Red Clay

So this is the second of those rare items in my beauty stash known as 'repurchases'!

This mask never fails to give me glowing, party-ready skin, literally in minutes. The effects seem to last a couple of days too and sometimes my skin looks good enough that I even feel like going without make up after i've used it (well base anyway!).

It comes in a gorgeous pale pink tube which retails at around £50.


From the Sisley website -
In five minutes at the most:

- your skin feels fresh, clean and toned

- your complexion looks matte, luminous and more even

- your face appears rested and regains spectacular radiance
 
The website also says the mask provides 'gentle cleansing benefits and rids the skins of impurities that can dull and suffocate the complexion'. It is aimed at those with a dull complexion.
 
I can honestly say that I agree with the three claims above. It really seems to get rid of blotchiness and even out skintone, makes my skin looks and feel really soft and rested, and makes it look glowy and, yes perhaps even radiant for a good couple of days. The mask itself is a pink paste which for some reason I love. It looks very similar in texture and consistency to the Clarins Pure and Radiant mask which also contains red clay (or pink clay), but I've not had great results with the Clarins.
 
My skin is combination with oily t-zone, but is overall in decent condition. I'd really recommend anyone to give see if they can get a sample of this from their Sisley counter. It's pricey but each application gives me skin almost comparable to having a facial, so I really think the investment is worth it. If I'm heading out for a special occassion, I always apply this mask first - so quick and easy with great results.
 
I love Sisley products, I really think they work - I had fantastic results from the All Day All Year cream but I simply cannot afford to repurchase it - I got my tube on eBay for about £70 but it costs about £150 upwards in store. I also love the Gentle Facial Buffing Cream which is about £35. When I was using these three products in unison, my skin looked fantastic.
 
Anyone tried this mask or have any Sisley hero products of their own to share?

1 December 2009

Rimmel (yes Rimmel!) Rich Moisture Lipstick - Amethyst Shimmer (84)

I was at a wedding a couple of weeks ago, and despite having already planned my make up look to go with my brown satin dress (brown sparkly eyes, nude lip), at the last minute I decided I might look a bit too tree-trunky (brown from head to toe) and decided I needed a fuchsia lip! It was about 8pm on a Thursday evening and the only store left open in Chesterfield (don't ask!) was Superdrug - so a drugstore lippy it was. After an aisle sweep Dale Winton would have been proud of, I emerged with Rimmel's Amethyst Shimmer lipstick. I actually thought it was a Maybelline (obviously paying attention!) and have to admit to having a slightly upturned nose when I realised I'd bought Rimmel - I'm not really a fan of drugstore cosmetics in general but I have a particular loathing of Rimmel, due in no small part I think to the vile, deeply unflattering Coffee Shimmer that every 13 year old girl seemed inexplicably to covet back in the day (and which I indeed owned and wore!). Very ironic, as there is actually a Coffee Shimmer in the Moisture Rich line..  I'm guessing the very same one (though hopefully the formula has been updated in the last 20 years!)

Long story short - pleasant surprise! The quality of this seemed really good, and it is indeed quite moisturising - rare to find a product that actually lives up to it's name. Of course I didn't actually wear it for the wedding (and I'm glad) but I did try it on in the safety of my own home and it really lasts. And the colour? Very punchy, very now (eg quite 80s, is that trend EVER going to die?), perhaps a tiny bit frostier than I'd normally wear and also a touch on the cool side (for me) but I may well whip this baby out on New Years Eve - it's a great party colour and I think it also plumped my lips up a bit - bonus! I may even return to Rimmel to investigate more colours... Can't remember how much it was but definitely under £5.