Chanel Eyes & Lips

[affiliate links & *press sample] 

I said I'd be back to talk about the (mostly) Chanel eye and lip products I mentioned in my previous  post... If you're after a neutral eye shadow palette, Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Clair Obscur (#308) includes a great edit of everyday shades that can easily be glammed up for evening with a touch of sparkle. I know I'm not alone in neglecting half of the shades in larger palettes, so enjoy using all four of these very wearable tones. 

The colours lean quite cool on me, my personal preference. I love the idea of warm toned shadows but rarely find them particularly flattering. From top left there's a mid brown, pale taupe, dark chocolate and vanilla shade. The two left hand shades have a whisper more warmth than those on the right. For day wear I used the lightest as a base, vanilla on mobile lid, mid brown in my crease and dark chocolate as liner. 

This pic gives a more accurate representation of the colours in the pan; they are neutral yet rich.

If you struggle with sensitive or panda eyes then *Poppy Sloane Tres Chic Mascara could be your new saviour. It's been a long time since I've tried a tubing mascara and I've been so impressed with this. It lives up to its zero flaking or smudging claims and the new formula adds substantial volume and curl.

Tubing mascara coats each lash with a literal tube of colour that stays put until removed with water and a little friction. I found the staying power a little bit too good (I swear you could go deep sea diving with this on and surface with perfect lashes). Waterproof makeup remover will have no impact... I found the best results with the Skin Nerd Cleanse off Mitt.

The two brushes in this pic are my favourite for eye shadow. The big fluffy one is a Kiko blending brush (similar here) and the other is a *Crease and Eye Smoother by Tina Earnshaw, which I use for smudging out liner. I've used these two daily for years and literally panic if I misplace either!

Shavata Brow Perfector Palette is one of the few I've tried that I think would work for pretty much anyone. It's really foolproof, easy to use and gives great long lasting results. Wax is built into the colour which really helps shape and hold brows in place all day. This one belongs to my sister who uses the darkest shade, while I use the lightest mixed with a little medium on the tails and love how the colour shows up on skin as well as it does on the brow hairs. 

Chanel Le Rouge Longwear Jumbo Lip Crayon is one of my favourite formulas, especially for this time of year. It applies like a well pigmented glossy balm lipstick and settles to a satin finish with surprisingly good lasting power. This shade is Au Naturel (#19) - apologies for not swatching but there was literally half a mm left and I will be purchasing another!

I'm wearing it with a L'Oreal liner in this instagram pic, along with the rest of the products featured. See the rest of the products in my previous post: Chanel Face.

*press sample

Chanel Face

                                             

[affiliate links]

I wore an (almost) full face of Chanel yesterday and was so happy about getting my glow on that I wanted to share my thoughts. I'd forgotten how much I love photographing makeup and have so many pics to share that I'm dividing them into two Chanel fuelled posts - one on skin/base products and a second on eyes/lips. (In no way swayed by a last minute drinks invite on this gloriously sunny evening.) 

First up, Chanel CC Cream. Not new, yet much hyped of late... and I had to find out why. Rich and creamy in texture, this performs as a light to medium foundation on my (normal to dry) skin. A definite notch up from tinted moisturiser, one light layer leaves a slightly sheer finish, while a little extra where needed covers enough to even out skin tone while allowing freckles to peek through. And in my case, the odd blemish and broken vein, yay. There are days when I prefer a little extra cover, but as a fan of skin-like finishes, this works for me. I'd rather go light on base and add concealer than look overdone... so much fresher and more flattering. 

These swatches are of Chanel CC Cream in shade B30, my (fake) tan shade. I'm naturally more of a B10-20 in Chanel, depending on the season. I photographed this in direct sunlight; it definitely looks more neutral toned on my face.

Chanel Palette Essentielle (Beige Clair 150) is a true makeup gem in my eyes. Creamy concealer, blush and highlight in one compact make everything so quick and easy. The concealer is hydrating enough to use around the eyes and dense enough to cover minor blemishes or redness. The blush adds the most flattering flush of coral - and the highlight, a sheeny luminosity for my favourite kind of ethereal glow. A  rare combination of luxurious yet practical (and great in a hurry) makeup. 

                                           

Swatches of Chanel Palette Essentielle in Beige Clair 150 (the lightest shade available): concealer, blush and highlight. 

I only needed a light dusting of powder around my nose and chin to avoid over-glow and set my concealer, so opted for Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. I can't deny that a good third of my pleasure in using this comes from the gorgeous packaging and that ingenious golden H decanter. Finely milled and 100% talc-free, this powder adds a soft focus effect and gently mattifies without dulling the skin. (Also available in a cute mini travel size!)

See the products applied (unfiltered) on my Instagram. 

Next time, Chanel eyes and lips...

Charlotte Tilbury At Your Lip Service Lipstick Trio

Charlotte Tilbury At Your Lip Service is a glamorous, limited edition lipstick trio, with two mattes and one cream shade to suit any occasion. From the old Hollywood-esque fluted gold packaging to squared off bullets and lasting formula, I'm a big fan of Charlotte's lipsticks - for me, her stand out product.

I'm all over the design of this little presentation box, which I think would make the perfect gift.

These golden cases bring a smile to my face every time I see one of them swirling around my handbag. My lipsticks are almost permanently divided between my handbags... never in my makeup bag or any one place. Just me?

On the left is The Duchess, from the super creamy, moisturising K.I.S.S.I.N.G range. The Queen (centre) and Legendary Queen (right) are both in the Matte Revolution formula, the most comfortable, velvety mattes I've come across. They look matte without feeling overly dry and while they don't set completely, I find they have very little movement or transfer and good lasting power.

(Heavy) swatches, from the top:

1. Matte Revolution in Legendary Queen - a brick red russet that works really well on redheads. I absolutely love this shade when I'm looking for long lasting drama... great for evenings out when I don't want to constantly reapply. This wears off nicely too, leaving a lasting stain.

2. Matte Revolution in The Queen - on me, this is a slightly 80s reddish bright pink, inspired by the Queen herself and not to be taken lightly. Everything else needs to be on point for me to pull this off - and for this reason, it's the one I reach for the least. A touch more pink and cooler in tone than it looks here.

3. K.I.S.S.I.N.G in The Duchess - this peachy pink nude is great for daytime, a fraction too pale for my skin tone when worn alone, but perfect when paired with the more mauve toned Lip Cheat liner in Pillow Talk (this liner is totally worth the hype). Like most moisturising formulas, this lipstick needs touched up more often than a matte, which hasn't stopped it becoming a regular everyday staple. Also lovely for evening with a slick of gloss and a smokey eye, it is soft and neutral, yet not too pale. 



Charlotte Tilbury At Your Lip Service is a limited edition set available at charlottetilbury.com (works out £12 less than buying the shades individually.) If you're only after one lipstick, I'd choose Matte Revolution in Legendary Queen, K.I.S.S.I.N.G in The Duchess or my all time favourite CT shade, the pinky coral Amazing Grace.





This post includes a press sample and affiliate links. 

Glowing Everyday Beauty

I love glowy makeup all year round, particularly in Winter when I need a little help to brighten my complexion... here are my current go-to products for instant everyday radiance.

Applied under foundation, Amazing Cosmetics' new Illuminate Primer in Glow adds a subtle radiance that catches the light in a very natural way. As I'm greedy for the glow, I like to use it both under and over foundation, patting a little onto tops of cheekbones and browbones. This adds a silvery white highlight that works particularly well on pale skin, adding a naturally luminous effect rather than high-beam highlight. This sheer, water based formula - also available in Rose and Bronze - is more about brightening the complexion than prolonging your makeup.

Clarins Everlasting Cushion foundation adds a light to medium veil of hydrating coverage with SPF 50. This is the first cushion product I've tried and while initially sceptical, I love how quick and easy it is to use, allowing me to do my base in seconds. It applies well with the compact, a brush or beauty blender, though I find a brush works best. Coverage is lightweight and buildable, leaving a natural looking skinlike finish with a little glow. I'm not sure about the everlasting claims but the light compact with built in mirror is so perfect for touch ups that I'm happy to let that slide. (I have the shade 103 Ivory)

Trish McEvoy Liquid Face Colour is my new blush crush: a sheer liquid formula in a pretty pink twist-up, brush-on tube. The soft pinky peach tones of Shade 1 bring life to my cheeks, instantly adding a wide-awake, post-forest-walk effect. The formula is easier to apply than most and so much more flattering and forgiving than powder.

I tend to wear lipgloss a lot in Winter... it has a similar effect to highlighter in adding a little life to the face and Pixi Lip Lift Max is an old favourite that I always go back to. Worn alone, with liner or over lipstick, it plumps, smooths and just works. I veer between this and Sheer Rose, a beautiful dusky pink in the same formula.

Daytime glitter is totally a thing, especially on the cusp of party season - and it doesn't come much prettier than Topshop nail polish in Unicorn. This coats nails with rainbow micro glitter in a sheer peach base for subtle sparkle on nude nails or layered up to make a deeper shade twinkle.

A citrus scent may seem an odd choice for a November perfume, but I can't get enough of Pomelo Paradis - and as it makes me glow from the inside, I felt it appropriate to include here! Atelier Cologne recently opened a counter in my local House of Fraser (Belfast) and the first time I spritzed this on counter it made me smile so much it had to be mine. With notes of pomelo, orange blossom and vetiver, I can't imagine a more feel good scent!

Products featured on Strawberry Blonde Beauty include press samples & purchases and some links are affiliate. See my full disclaimer here.

YSL Couture Brow Wardrobe: Review & Swatches

The YSL Brow Wardrobe includes four products to fit every brow style, from subtle definition right through to a catwalk look. (Can brows be catwalk? ...course they can.)

The quartet includes a powder palette, pencil, marker and brow mascara style wand. I've been trialling all four options and thought I'd share my thoughts on the type of looks they can be used to achieve...

YSL COUTURE BROW PALETTE

This new palette contains a powder formula with 3 tones for filling in sparse areas and adding gentle definition. Mine is the lightest shade (01 Black Matt), which is perfect for me; also available in a deeper toned 02 Blue. I expected this to be the product that worked best for me out of the four, as the other samples were darker than I'd normally go for, but while I enjoyed using this, I personally prefer a pencil or brow mascara for everyday use. Admittedly this is partly down to sheer laziness as I find these formulas so quick and easy to use, but I know lots of you would say the same about powder... it's all about habit isn't it? The tiny brush and tweezers with a built in mirror make this palette great for travel and it's definitely the most luxe looking of the four. Oh and the colours also work well as eye shadow!

YSL EYEBROW PENCIL

I was really impressed with the formula of this pencil - it has the perfect amount of colour payoff and is neither too hard nor soft, allowing for fine feathery strokes. The spoolie on the end is excellent for avoiding build up of product and spreading the product through the brows. I had to go very lightly with this as shade 2 (Dark Brown) was a touch too dark for me (much to my sister's delight), but really can't fault the formula. 

YSL BROW MARKER

A limited edition 12 hour wear felt tip style marker with a thick side for quickly filling in large areas and sharp edge for finer strokes. It will come as no surprise that this isn't the kind of brow tool I'd personally choose for my pale, fairly sparse brows, but it's worth checking out if you're blessed with full, medium to dark brows. And don't be put off by the word marker... think watercolour brush rather than Sharpie... it has enough pigment to define in a single stroke but does not look heavy handed as I'd admittedly expected - and fills brows in seconds. IMine is shade 01 Light Brown (more of a medium brown on me); also comes in 02 Dark Brown.

YSL COUTURE BROW

A brow mascara with a teeny spoolie that adds colour, definition and hold with great staying power. I'm a sucker for this type of brow wand and have been reaching for this one most days. Mine is the darker shade so I do need to be careful to wipe any excess off before applying, but it really is a breeze to use. Personally I like to use a pencil to fill in any gaps and add definition, followed by a gel like this to coat the hairs with a little colour and add hold. Available in 01 Brun Dore and 02 Blond Centre.

SWATCHES

From left: YSL Couture Brow Palette, Eyebrow Pencil, Brow Marker and Couture Brow. The textures work way better on brows than on my arm, but this should give you an idea of the tones.

As you can probably tell, I took this pic more for my own reference at the time, but thought I'd share to give you an idea of how the product looks applied. I had used a little of the Eyebrow Pencil followed by a light coat of the Couture Brow wand.

Find the YSL Brow Wardrobe at ysl.co.uk


Products featured on Strawberry Blonde Beauty include press samples & purchases and some links are affiliate. See my full disclaimer here.

Free Lancome Gift at John Lewis

A quick heads up on a free Lancome gift with the purchase of selected beauty bundles at John Lewis this month (while stocks last). Bundles are available on a range of budgets, from a lipstick and mascara to skincare. I opted for this one, which includes Advanced Genifique Yeux Eye Illuminator, a beautifully cooling serum to target eye bags and lines, and Hypnose Mascara, for seriously fluttery lashes. I was also very tempted by this lipstick & mascara duo as the colour is right up my street.

Every bundle (regardless of value) comes with the same free gift, which includes a generous mix of travel and full sized products:

• Creme Mousse Confort Cleanser 125ml
• Cils Booster XL 5.5ml
• Hypnose Mascara 2ml
• Muslin Cloth
• Hydrazen Day Cream 15ml 
• Hydrazen Night Cream 15ml

I haven't had a chance to try everything just yet, but wanted to share details while the offer is still on... quite a few things were out of stock when I got mine, but seem to have been replenished since. So far I've been particularly impressed with the Hypnose mascara and Cils Booster XL, a white mascara primer for extra length and volume - it really does make a difference though the mascara is great on its own.

Offer is available while stocks last - full details on all bundles here. 


Products featured on Strawberry Blonde Beauty include press samples & purchases and some links are affiliate. See my full disclaimer here.

Switching up my Make Up for Spring

There's nothing like a few days of blue skies and sunshine to put me in the mood for Spring makeup. After a recent spree at Victoria Square, Belfast, I've revamped my everyday stash, adding bold colour, sheer textures and a golden glow to the mix.

BASE

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for Face is an old staple that's hard to beat. This milky lotion is easy to apply and gives a subtle golden glow that camouflages imperfections, giving me the confidence to wear a lighter base. I've recently switched to YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint foundation in the shade B20... slightly less dewy than the original formula, this gives medium coverage with a natural looking finish that gets better as the day goes on. It has good lasting power even without powder (though Blur Primer does help it go the extra mile) and is perfect on my normal to dry skin at this time of year.

Clarins new Skin Illusion Blush in Luminous Pink is the prettiest soft rose shade in very cute packaging. A built in puff in the lid picks up just the right amount of powder blush to apply directly to cheeks and blend... great for on the go, though I do normally use a brush.

EYES

I'm a big fan of one step eye products as I rarely have time to apply a full eye shadow look. Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Amber Haze provides subtle definition as liner or added drama when applied all over the lower lid. Just smudge the edges with a ring finger and you're good to go. This gorgeous metallic bronze is recommended for brown eyes, though I think it works well with blue too.

YSL The Shock Mascara has been a bit of a game changer for me. When keeping liner and shadow low key, big lashes are a must for me - and this gives instant length and volume in a single coat. You can of course keep going for an even bolder look (subtle this is not)... I'm absolutely hooked.

LIPS

I've found the perfect Spring pairing in this lip duo: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk with Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur in Rose Violine. Both are a flattering mauve toned mid pink and very wearable for every day. Chanel Rouge Crayon de Couleurs have the most gorgeous creamy texture that goes on glossy, settles to an almost matte finish and stains my lips with surprising staying power. On days when I want a bolder look, I opt for Tom Ford Lip Colour in Wild Ginger (2nd pic from top), the most beautiful vivid orange-coral. I'm loving the new counters for all three of these brands at House of Fraser, Belfast... much as I love online shopping, it makes such a difference being able to try products in person.

NAILS

Mild weather makes me want to switch to bright nail colours immediately and Nails Inc Gel Effect in Chelsea Grove is a gorgeous glossy fuschia shade that brightens up any outfit.

I was joined on my Spring spree by blogging friend, Avril of A Life to Style ... pop over to see her new season fashion picks here! Local readers might like to check out Victoria Square's Spring Carnival on 8-9 April for fashion shows, beauty demos and loads more.



*Some of the featured products were bought from House of Fraser Belfast with a Victoria Square gift card.

All About Face

Pretty sure I'm the last beauty blogger on the block to get around to trying the original Beauty Blender. I've tried alternatives like those by Real Techniques and Barely There, but only recently had my first play with the iconic hot pink bouncy makeup sponge.



This All About Face set contains the original pink Beauty Blender for foundation, a smaller grey one for blusher and a micro mini for highlighting and concealer. The mini is particularly good for concealing around the eyes, where I find the pink one a little too bulky to really smooth concealer into the corners.

I've been using the Beauty Blenders with my current base products, YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint Eclat foundation and Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum concealer (yep, still loving this - full review here). Both of these are liquid formulas with a dewy finish, so lend themselves particularly well to this kind of application. I'm not sure if a thicker cream or compact would work so well?

If you're new to Beauty Blenders, they're firm-ish sponges used to press or bounce foundation onto the skin for a perfected, seamless finish. I dampen mine before use, which makes it almost double in size and apply product more smoothly with a natural finish. I squeeze it with a clean flannel to get rid of excess water before use, so it's not dripping wet. 

I definitely use more product with a sponge compared to a brush - almost double in fact - which is quite significant, though I'm currently sucking it up as these give such a perfect, almost poreless finish. Cleaning them is easier than I expected... little and often seems to be key (and more hygienic). The solid cleanser is great, though I've tried a face wash (the Merumaya Luxury Facial wash from this post), which works well too.  

Once the novelty has worn off, I'll probably return to makeup brushes for every day and save my Beauty Blenders for times when I want to make more of an effort. I'd love to hear your experiences of using one - and welcome any tips. 

You can find the full Beauty Blender range and All About Face collection here. 

Pixi Hello Rose Glow Kit

If anyone knows how to get the glow, it's Pixi. So many of the Pixi Beauty products help to create a more radiant, glowing complexion and this little Hello Rose kit is no exception. If rosy tones aren't your thing, it's also available in a peach and honey toned version called Hello Glow.

This is how the kit comes, with generous miniatures of cream highlight, blush and plumping lipgloss. 

Glow Booster in Pink Pearl is a sheer pearly pink toned highlighter... mix a dot with foundation, apply under base for an all over glow or add to the high points of your face as a final step (my personal favourite).

Lip Lift Max in Sheer Rose is the ultimate nude lip colour for me... I have the full size version which I've worn a lot in recent months. A rosy brown toned nude with the perfect amount of pigment for a semi-sheer wash of colour, this looks gorgeous paired with a nude lipliner. I'm a big fan of Pixi's Soft Nude Contour Liner though since mine ran out I've been using Barry M lip liner in Blush, an excellent nude shade and total bargain at £2.99.

Pixi Blush Duo in Rose Gold is a cool pink with a slightly iridescent finish and a white gold highlight. I like to use the blush side on its own, though it can be mixed with a little of the highlight for a more shimmery finish or used separately. I prefer the more subtle finish of a cream highlight, so tend to use the Glow Booster on tops of cheekbones.

Swatches from left: Blush Duo in Rose Gold (blush & highlight swatched separately), Glow Booster in Pink Pearl and Lip Lift Max in Sheer Rose.

Pixi Hello Rose Glow kit is available now for £20 here in the UK or in-store at Target in the US. 

  

Luxury Beauty Gifts: Christmas 2016

I've selected my top 3 luxury beauty gifts from Jo Malone, Charlotte Tilbury and Laura Mercier, for a sprinkling of full-on festive glamour under the tree this Christmas. Or on your own dressing table... (I won't judge).

JO MALONE LONDON CHRISTMAS CRACKER 

Jo Malone London's annual Christmas Crackers are always a best seller and this year's couldn't get much better, not least because it includes my favourite Jo Malone scents. The three luxe minis inside are Basil & Neroli Cologne, Blackberry & Bay Body & Hand Wash and Mimosa & Cardamom Body Creme, each individually wrapped in black tissue.

Who wouldn't want to find one of these under their tree - or on the dinner table if your host is feeling extra generous! 

PS If you really do want to push the boat out, check out the Jo Malone Ultimate Christmas Cracker!

CHARLOTTE TILBURY MATTE REVOLUTION MINI LIPSTICK CHARMS

Charlotte Tilbury has brought back her darling Mini Lipstick Charms (see what I did there?) in both Matte Revolution and Kissing formulas For Christmas 2016 - and they're pretty much the cutest makeup item I have ever seen. The box is admittedly tiny (think large match box) but the contents oh so perfectly formed.

Each gold lipstick is tied with a purple satin ribbon that can be hung from a tree if you trust your fellow housemates implicitly. Personally I'll be clutching mine tightly, which reminds me... they really are the perfect size for a clutch bag. Festive party top-ups, sorted. 

The matte revolution formula feels creamy on lips with just enough movement to stop them being drying, yet retain a matte finish and good lasting power. The shades include options for every occasion: a nude, Very Victoria; mid pink, Amazing Grace and very festive Red Carpet Red.


LAURA MERCIER SWEET TEMPTATIONS AMBRE VANILLE LUXE BODY COLLECTION

I've worn Laura Mercier Ambre Vanille on and off since it first launched and this set provides the perfect opportunity to pair it with the entire body range for full on fragrance layering. Ambre Vanille Sweet Temptations Luxe Body Collection includes Honey Bath, Creme Body Wash, Souffle Body Creme and Eau de Toilette. All products are full size except for the handbag sized 20ml perfume.

Ambre Vanille is a sensual gourmande scent that's a little sweeter than Fresh Fig (another favourite) but fresher than Creme Brulee. I'm a definite fan.


Products featured on Strawberry Blonde Beauty include press samples. See my full disclaimer here.