New In: Benefit Dandelion Ultra Plush Lip Gloss

Honestly, six years after buying my first Benefit product, Dr Feelgood primer, I'm still on the fence if I'm mainly paying for packaging or product. I'm a total sucker for anything beautifully packaged but there's always that bit that thinks is the actual product worth it? 

My second Benefit product was one of their box powders, Hoola. Which was followed by Georgia and  Dandelion. They have recently released 6 new Lip Glosses to match their Box O' Blushers, and Dandelion, a peach shade with gold flecks was the shade that caught my eye.

I love the effect gloss has on my lips but hate the sticky, heavy feeling it can give. Which is where I fell in love with Dandelion. The texture is very very sheer feeling absolutely weightless on the lips but looks really glossy. Not being drying at all with a typical Benefit fruity scent.

Of course being a lovely weightless gloss means one thing, a lack of staying power. I would say these last around 45 minutes on my lips at the most, which is of course not the best but that's to be expected from a light textured gloss. 

Like I mentioned there are 6 available shades for £13.50 I really do recommend going to test out the texture of these if you're passing a Benefit counter!


What was your first Benefit product?

Beauty On Location: A Wedding

Wedding season. Makeup things to consider before slapping on some products...

1. Makeup must last from when the ceremony starts (in this case 5pm) to the early hours of the morning

2. Must be photo ready hence contain no SPF or light reflective particles

3. The ultimate challenge of staying shine-free while popping to the bathroom to blot & powder as little as possible 

4. Lastly, combining makeup with the outfit (aka what these 'Beauty On Location' posts are all about!) for example, with my bold red dress I personally would not pair that with a bold red lip.... Just the (yes, you guessed it) usual smokey eye and a nudey pink lip!

In this case, being a special occasion, I do tend to prolong the getting ready process by slapping on a few extra products than usual. This look contains my favourite pieces, the ones I know will deliver & can rely on, mostly 'luxurious' little goodies I don't tend to use on a daily basis.

Eyes

Seeing as smokey eyes get a bit messy I like to do them first as to not ruin the foundation. 

- Starting with applying Mac Painterly Paint Pot all over the lid as a skin tone evener/eyeshadow primer to ensure eyeshadow lasts all night

- I used a combination of two Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow Palettes, Grege 734 and Royal Khaki 454. If I was ever stuck on a desert island and had to choose two eyeshadow palettes to bring with me, these would be it. They cover every shade I would need as well as being amazing quality

- As well as the two Dior Eyeshadow Pallettes I used L'Oreal Colour Infallible Eyeshadow in 012 Endless Chocolate, stay tuned for more on this - it's a goodie!

- For eyeliner I used Maybeline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner and blended that out with a matt black eyeshadow and a Louise Young LY13 brush

- I coated my lashes in Dior Lash Primer & Serum (link to post here) followed by my holy grail mascara, Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill (link to post here)

Skin

- Outcome the trusty primer, the perfect one for me to keep me shine-free! Givenchy Mister Matt, aka my over 6 hour makeup saviour

- For foundation I used my trusty Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk (link to post here) for a photo ready base applied with what I call the 'Flawless Face Brush', Shu Uemura Goat 18 (link to post here)

- To conceal my horrendous dark circles I used Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch (post here) and blended that into the foundation using my Beauty Blender (link to post here)

- Down the centre of my face I set my foundation using my damp Beauty Blender and Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder (and kept the compact in my handbag for touchups!)

- To bronze up my skin and add some colour I used a matt bronzer, Guerlain Four Seasons in 01 Blondes just below my cheekbone and on my temples

- I mixed two blushers, Mac Well Dressed and Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine for some subtle colour and a girly glow

Lips

- I used a combination of L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in 501 Nude Ingenue followed by L'Oreal Glam Shine Fresh in 186 Aqua Grapefruit on top

Hair

- Done by the amazing Bruno Lotufo at Rosanno Feretti Salon, review & more information here

What products do you rely on for a party?

New In: Guerlain & Emilio Pucci Collection - Terra Azzurra

Guerlain and Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra Collection

Probably one of the most anticipated collections this year is the Guerlain and Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra Collection. Seeing as their previous one from 2007 was such a success I was SO excited to get my hands on these goodies. The collection features a Bronzing Powder & Blush, the famous Guerlain Meteorites, an Eyeshadow Palette, Mascara, 3 Lip Glosses (one blue!) and two Nail Polishes. Everything is perfected down to detail...even the inside of the packaging is Pucci design! 

I managed to pick up three items from the collection, the Terracotta Gloss in Porto Azzuro which is an indigo blue, the Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush and the Meteorites Perles D'Azur. 

Guerlain Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzing Powder & Blush

Guerlain Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzing Powder & Blush Swatch

Guerlain bronzers are hands down my favourite, especially their matt ones, amazingly smooth texture, so lightweight and comes in so many shades matched down to hair and skin colour. The star of the show, the Terra Azzura Bronzing Powder & Blush covers both Guerlains amazing bronzer and the Pucci prints bringing us one of those 'do it all' products that you can just slap on and leave the house! I absolutely love the universal shades in this palette - great for all skin colours!

Guerlain Pucci Terracotta Gloss in Porto Azzuro

Guerlain Pucci Terracotta Gloss in Porto Azzuro Swatch

Next up, the Terracotta Gloss in Porto Azzuro (yes I did purchase a blue lipgloss!) Whenever I'm on a lipstick hunt I search for ones with blue, cool undertones as they help enhance teeth looking more white. This gloss is pretty transparent when applied but leaves a blue tint to the lips. I found it worked best over a lipstick, the formula is very light and isn't sticky too - always a plus! Above is pictured alone and over a pink lipstick, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy. 

Guerlain Pucci Meteorites Perles D'Azur 

Guerlain Pucci Meteorites Perles D'Azur Swatch 

Finally Guerlain Meteorites Perles D'Azur, described as a 'must-have' powder by many, made for complexion enhancing. The small balls of powder include 6 shades, some shimmer and some semi-matt. Each pearl is designed to enhance for example pink to counteract any yellowness in the skin. Swirled together the colours give a lovely light tint that I loved dusting this all over my face, especially under my eyes for some extra brightening. Another way that works a treat is with a big fluffy brush over the chest and collar bones or down the centre of legs for some enhancing ;)

Wearing the Guerlain Terra Azzura Bronzing Power & Blush and the Guerlain Terracotta Gloss in Porto Azzura 

The whole range is heavily scented and smells like summer which is amazing but could be something to watch out for if you're got sensitive skin that doesn't agree with scented products. Overall I absolutely love this collaboration & am super excited to get my hands on it - especially as it's limited edition! I don't think I'll be able to throw away the packaging for a while too! I'm very impressed with the whole Guerlain Pucci range - its beautifully packaged, elegant and contains some gorgeous colours - I love it! Would you pick up anything from this range?

A Dupe For Clarins Natural Lip Perfector?

I've raved about the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector before but rightly so! It's the perfect light moisturising gloss that adds a glow to the lips without being sticky, turning all gloss haters into lovers. No7 have recently bought out a beautiful summer collection that includes two lip glosses, similar to the Clarins Natural Lip Perfectors. Especially in packaging, which is practically the same apart from the detailed lid of the No7 Nourishing Lip Shine. 

Firstly the facts - for £16 Clarins will present you with 12ml of product, whereas No7 for £10.50 will give you 9ml of product. Or if you're clever and pick up a No7 £5 off voucher when you spend in Boots you could be spending £5.50 for 9ml as opposed to £10.50...makes a difference doesn't it?

No7 Nourishing Lip Shine In Pink & Peach

The main reason why I love the Clarins Lip Perfector is the smell is soo heavenly, like candy floss,  but for those of you who don't agree, the No7 maybe a better option for you as it's scentless. Another reason why the Clarins Lip Perfector rocks is the light formula, feeling so weightless and non sticky on my lips. No7 Nourrishing Lip Shine is slightly heavier, only slightly though. The Clarins Lip Perfectors have a little more colour to them but both only have a very slight tint, hardly any colour at all - just add a moisturising shine to the lips. 

Left- No7 Nourishing Lip Shine in Pink. Right - Clarins Instant Lip Natural Lip Perfector in 01

The shade I have in Clarins in No. 01 a light baby pink and there are four shades to choose from whereas No.7 Nourishing Lip Shine comes in 2 shades, a pink and a peach. The No7 pink shade comes close to Clarins Lip Perfector in 01 but just slightly darker. 

So what do you think? I think with those £5 off No7 vouchers that are always flying around Boots I would definitely pick up the No7 ones as opposed to the Clarins for over a £10 difference. 

No7 Summer Collection 2012

No7 Nourishing Lip Shines are limited edition for their summer collection and you can pick them up at Boots (but careful I went to three before I found one that hadn't sold out!) or online is probably a safer bet here

Ps - how gorgeous is the bronzer from their summer collection too?!

Liana Beauty Award - Tom Ford Lip Gloss

Meet my most pigmented lipgloss ever, by Tom Ford. 

The colour I own is 01 Naked, a nude colour infused with small gold shimmer particles, but slight problem - as the colour does not resemble my natural lip colour I can't actually put this on without a mirror as these are sooo pigmented! The finish is very glossy and shiney and being quite a thick texture lasts a couple hours on my lips (without eating or drinking) I like to layer it over Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 001 Nude Attitude - here 

Assuming the pigmentation in the Tom Ford lipglosses are the same I would love to pick up a couple more, if you have any colour recommendations let me know!

If You Buy One Thing This Month...

Lipgloss, is probably the only product that is always with me no matter what I'm doing, regardless of if I'm actually wearing it or not. One huge problem however is that lipgloss simply does not last very long! I recently wrote about the most unique lipgloss in my collection in terms of colour, the Chantecaille Lucky Brilliant Gloss - link - but recently I've added a new lipgloss to my collection, YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres glossy stains which are the most unique lipgloss formula I have ever tried!

Described by YSL as a gloss, stain and lipstick all in one. The packaging is typical of most YSL products; sleek and elegant with a slanted doe foot applicator that's easy to use. On first use I was totally blown away by how long it lasted on my lips! Even when I ate, the colour and a bit of gloss was still visible! Unlike a lot of lipgloss the unique texture does take some getting used to and learning how to work with. It's very thick, blends easily and feels quite creamy and surprisingly did not dry out my lips and was actually hydrating! 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres glossy stain in 18 Rose Pastelle from left to right - one coat, two coats, three coats

I found the best way to apply was to apply a first coat, dab it into the lips, wait a couple of seconds for it to dry and continue to apply a second. To build up the colour intensity even more I would then add a third, as it was so easy to build up layers. The consistency is very wearable in the day as you could use it more subtly applying just one layer or build up for the evening with a couple more layers. For those that hate sticky gloss I would not recommend these as they are a bit sticky but not so much so that I would be put off buying the lip gloss again! I've actually got my eye on a couple more colours! 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres glossy stain in 18 Rose Pastelle

There are 19 shades to choose from but if you cant find one you like you can always mix colours by layering it over a lipstick and they work equally well! I've been layering mine over Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 011 Stormy Pink.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres glossy stains are £22.50 and available here or at YSL counters. 

Chantecaille Spring 2012: Lucky Brilliant Gloss

After recently blogging about one of my favourite brands, Chantecaille's Spring Collection (here) I absolutely had to go and check it out for myself. An item I picked up that is perfect for me is the Lucky Brilliant Gloss. This gloss meets all my 'lip gloss criteria' has a shimmer but not one that leaves residue on the lips, not sticky, smells wonderful, and is a mix of by two favorite lip colors - nude & pink! What was so special about this was the gold shimmer that has the ability to reflect light. I don't know if I'm the only one that comes across shimmery lip gloss and when the gloss has worn away you're just left with glitter flakes on your lips, needless to say these glosses go straight in the no pile. 

 

I rarely get excited about a lip gloss, purely because I have so many, but I have never come across a more gorgeous gloss as Chantecaille Lucky, it's just so stunning! Possibly the most unique gloss I've seen!

I will definitely be getting a back up of this before the Chantecaille spring collection disappears from stores!

Chantecaille is available at Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Space NK, Fenwicks & Liberty. You can shop Chantecaille & see more stockists here

My Current Favourite Lip Gloss

I'm definitely a lip gloss girl at heart, look inside my handbag and the contents will tell you. I think at some point during the week I carry around 5 with me for no particular reason at all. Lip products are one of my favourite to purchase as you can always use it, it always looks great on and can make such a difference!

I literally go through favourite lip glosses like there's no tomorrow, one day it will be one, the next day it will be another, but one that has stuck in my bag that I've been reaching for is the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in the shade 01.

Firstly, love the application as one can apply on the go & it isn't one of those unhygienic stick your fingers in or pump wand in and out of the tube products, its a squeezy tube with a felt sponge applicator that dispenses the product. The formula is the perfect combination of balm & gloss, the moisturising properties, non stickyness of a balm and the finish of a gloss without being uber glossy, just more like a natural shine. Great for days when I want a neutral natural lip that works to moisturise lips...aka most days!

As it can be combined with a lipstick for more colour a combination I'm loving is to use it over Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy.

Available in 4 shades at Clarins, boots or at feel unique (for £4 off!).

Oh and it smells of cotton candy!