Urban Decay Naked Palette Autumn 2010

Ok, so hands up, I've only used my Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland eye shadow palette once...but that's irrelevant cos I know I'll use this beauty much, much more! *grins*

Urban Decay unveiled a sneak peek of its new Naked palette on Facebook last week - a mix of 12 perfect neutrals and smouldering smoky shades that I dare any make-up lover to resist. The palette is made up of five permanent shades, six brand new additions and one that previously featured in the Book of Shadows, Vol 1 palette.

Virgin – Satin chamois – NEW 

Sin – Champagne 

Naked – Matte buff nude 

Sidecar – Cocoa with golden sparkle sheen -Book of Shadows, Vol. 1 

Buck – Matte nutmeg – NEW

Half Baked – Subtle, lustrous bronze 

Smog – Deep coppery bronze 

Darkhorse – Bronze patina – NEW 

Toasted – Rich copper 

 Hustle – Plum brown satin – NEW 

Creep – Onyx with gold sparkle – NEW 

Gunmetal – Gunmetal gray with silver glitter – NEW

Pop the lid for more pics, plus swatches!

Boots No 7 Sun Drenched Lipgloss

The No 7 Summer Limited Edition range is only in-store for a few more days - July 13th to be exact and I thought it would be helpful to post my thoughts on the lipglosses I was sent to try. 

The range fittingly named Sun Drenched evokes images of looking like a goddess whilst burning basking in the hot, summer sun and these lipglosses really fit into the imagery that swirls around my head.

At first glance, I oohed and ahhed at how pretty they looked in their screw top little pots. They look almost jelly-like and even have flecks of real 22-carat gold in them, which you can clearly see. The pots they come in look like glass, but are plastic and still look chic when pulled out for use. The packaging is cute, although repeatedly having to dip your fingers in them can be a little messy.

Unfortunately they don't give such a golden performance when applied. Available in two shades Golden Peach and Golden Rum, the pigment doesn't transfer onto my lips at all. They show up clear, and despite the flecks of gold being visible, all they do is make my lips look as if I've mistakenly got glitter on them.

Despite them being advertised as lipglosses, I feel more comfortable describing them as lip balms. They don't have the typical lip gloss texture and definitely apply, feel and look like a lip balm once applied. However, I didn't like the way they feel on my lips. I found them to be a little heavy. They do give a high shine though - that's something, I suppose.

All in all, these are certainly not the best product I've tried from No 7 and given the price, you'd do better to take a look at other lipglosses that in my opinion, perform the way lipglosses are supposed to.

Check out the Sun Drenched range in its entirety here

How much are they? £9.50 each

Where can I find them? Boots, in-store and online

Estee Lauder Blue Dahlia Pure Color Collection

Estee Lauder's rise from frumpy to funky continues with the imminent release of its Autumn 2010 Blue Dahlia Pure Color collection which has been created by their Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux.

Divided into two distinctive looks - Blue Dahlia and Surreal Violet, the centrepieces have to be the five colour eye shadow palettes (£34), which display hues of electric blue and vintage violet. These are accompanied by complimentary lip shades, single eye shadows and nail polishes.

Surreal Violet

Blue Dahlia

The lipglosses are already available at counters (£15) and come in three finishes - shine, shimmer and sparkle. With 24 shades currently available online there's plenty of choice.

The new Pure Color eye shadow shades (again 24 in total) promise to be buildable and fade resistant. The endless range of shades enable users to create endless colour combinations and eye looks. They come in four finishes - Matte, Satin, Luminous and Metallic. These can be found online now, although the official release date has been stipulated as July 2010.

Does anything tickle your fancy?

The UK high street is on a roll.

It's been an exciting few weeks for UK high street fashion fans. 

First was the confirmation that U.S clothing brand Forever 21 would be opening its first UK store in Birmingham by the end of the year, with a second opening at Westfield. With plus size range Faith 21, and their more sophisticated line Love 21, Forever 21 have done their best to cater to every woman with their clothing whilst keeping prices low.

F21 (in my opinion) is a cross between Primark and H&M on a bad day, but you can find a few gems amongst the crap if you look hard enough and their costume jewellery is not bad at all - actually I think it's their strongest selling point. I would suggest going in-store first (if you can) and familiarising yourself with the fabric quality so you don't get a shock when your package arrives!

Also this week, the news that lingerie giant Victoria's Secret will soon be coming to London's West End has made many of us whoop in delight. A suitable location on Regent Street is allegedly being sought at the moment, plus an accompanying website to purchase your fave items from will also available too which is pleasing to hear. I love the VS Pink range to lounge about in, so I can't wait to add to my growing number of hoodies and sweats.  

 Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that purchasing Victoria's Secret undies will give you the body of a VS angel!

As well as the underwear lines they're most famous for, Victoria's Secret also have a successful cosmetic, fragrance and body care range as well as clothing and shoes too, so there'll be plenty to keep you amused as you browse.

As if that wasn't enough to get you giddy, I hear Bath & Bodyworks may be next to follow suit and arrive in Blighty! I can happily spend ALL DAY in B&B, so I'm very pleased to hear of it's impending arrival as I love its products and they have the best sales EVER. Check out its website here.

Oh and I'm not done yet, H&M have FINALLY seen the errors of its ways and will be launching UK online shopping on September 16th 2010! About flippin' time! No more traipsing to Oxford Street to find a specific top that sold out the second it was put out on the shop floor! We'll be able to purchase a wide range of clothing and accessories - and men's and childrenswear will be also be available to buy at a click of a button.

That's not all ..H&M will also be launching a brand new range of homeware, including bed linen, ready made curtains, cushions and towels too. The online store will coincide with the brands Autumn 2010 collection and will be launched through HM.com so keep your eyes peeled.

I'm really looking forward to Victoria's Secret and H&M online! It'll make my life so much easier! It's the small things that make life worth living you know!

What's new at The Body Shop?

On Friday I attended the latest blogger event hosted by The Body Shop, at which their new summer collection and latest product launches were revealed.

I've been impressed with recent purchases from The Body Shop (bar the grapefruit body scrub - lovely scent, but far too runny for my liking), so I was curious to view the new additions to their sizeable range of existing products.

No blogger event is complete without an obligatory 'cupcake shot'!

The Vitamin C range, has received a complete makeover bringing with it a range of new skincare treatments, including the Skin Radiance powder mix, which promises to deliver glowing, radiant skin in 10 days. With a claim like that, it's something that I'll certainly be putting to the test. Prices remain relatively cheap ranging from £8-£15. I believe the new, improved line will be hitting stores in July.

Blog sale update

All blog sale purchases were posted this morning and will be with you all shortly.

Thank you x

The eyes have it!

I own quite a few mascaras (understatement of the month methinks), but there's one in particular that has impressed me since the day I bought it. I raved about it on my blog sometime last year but I feel the need to give it a shout out once again.

My eyelashes whilst not invisible, without mascara they look prettty blah and don't stand out at all. I'm always trying new mascaras in the hope they'll transform my lashes to wispy, luscious works of art. Chanel Inimitable has been a long time fave but another mascara has since eclipsed its performance for me.

After many bouts of trial and error, I now have a winning mascara formula that has been tried and tested umpteen times on my eyelashes. Step forward Estee Lauder Sumptuous. It has NEVER given me a bad lash day - like, ever. It separates my lashes, defines, never clumps and maintains the curl when I use eyelash curlers. I'll always repurchase it. Yes, it's £18 but when I find a product that really works, the cost tends to go out of the window (well it did before the VAT increase anyway!).

Prior to coating my lashes with EL Sumptuous (or my mascara of choice that day), I use Shiseido 'The Makeup' Mascara Base. It's described as a clear base, but looks and feels similar to vaseline when you apply it to your lashes. It promises to boost volume and curl, transforming lashes and dramatising the effect of any mascara that you use. 

When I first bought this two years ago, I was sceptical, despite the great reviews I'd read I didn't think it would make any visible difference, but it really does make my lashes appear much longer and thicker than they are. I don't know what the magic ingredient in this is, but it works for me.

Finally, I need to sing the praises of Max Factor Lash Extension Effect. My lower lashes are sparse and I've found that other mascara wands are often too big when I attempt to apply mascara to them. Without fail, I'll end up smudging or clumping my lower lashes. The thin wand that Lash Extension has grasps each individual lash, enabling me to carefully and evenly coat them without creating a blotchy mess.

Gone are the days when I'd only apply mascara to my upper lashes for fear of looking like a panda by 11am!

Having found my 'dream team', you'd think I'd have no real use for these now ...

..but I find that the Shiseido base allows me to bring mascaras of all calibres back to life, that on their own might not perform as well. It's proved itself to be a great product for me. It's not cheap (I bought mine cheaper on Ebay), but you can always check and see if Shiseido have samples of this on counter. 

What are your favourite mascaras?

Beauty Blog Link Love - 19.06.10

Over at theNotice, Rae talks about a new Burt's Bees lip balm... and how it reminds her of an old Lip Smacker!

Maggie shares this Foxy dupe of Too Faced's Sexpresso and Peachfuzz duo over at The Polka-Dotted Apple.

Kim Porter talks about a miracle moisturizer that's also a makeup primer, remover, and more!

Vesna from Beauty addict blog discovered one of her blushes is fake, so read this post to find out how to spot a fake Benefit Coralista!

Head over to Beautifully Glossy to discover a lip balm that GlossQueen thinks is an essential.

Glitter Geek is obsessed with everything sparkly, and she puts a glistening spin on the summer smoky eye.

Need some wedding makeup ideas? Check out Audrey Dao's wedding looks!

Pop over to melovemakeup for swatches and thoughts on the New Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks!

Get the only 10 tips you'll ever need for a fool-proof fake tan on beautywoome.com.

Champagne, French macarons and make up...Hellcandy spends an indulgent afternoon with Terry De Gunzburg, founder of By Terry.

Vex in the City takes a look at Mai Couture's Blush Papier - blush with a difference!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed discovers the joy that is cream blushes!

Eyelining Obsession thinks you shouldn't have to spend a fortune on great eye brushes.

You can wear nudes too! Spiced Beauty shows off MAC Lovin' it Lipstick with lip swatches.

Jen from A Beauty Junkie in London has been feeling all posh whilst checking out Estee Lauder's new Pure Colour Shadow.

Retrodiva splurges a bit with Chanel's Coco Rouge and Red Shine Glossamer. Find out if she thinks it's worth it!

Here we go again - now it's Christian Dior contact lenses! *sighs*

It would appear that Christian Dior has taken a leaf out of Chanel's book and come up with their own tacky accessory to flaunt to the fashion victims amongst us.

The next designer farce comes in the form of contact lenses with the 'CD' logo etched on one side with  a weird gold strip on the other - because golden eyeballs look so natural don't they?!

You already know what my thoughts on the Chanel temporary tattoos were, and whilst I appreciate Dior's efforts to entice me to write a blog post equally as scathing, I don't have the energy! They'll have to make do with this swift mocking mention instead.

I have no idea when these will be launched or how much they'll cost, but I'd assume anybody with half a brain would steer well clear of them. Time will tell though ...fashion and labels make some people lose their god-damn minds!

MAC Venomous Villains - Leaked pics!

Nooberella gave me the heads up that a couple of leaked pictures giving us the first look of the Disney inspired, MAC Venomous Villains collection have surfaced online. I thought I'd do a quick post and spread the word to those who are yet to cast their eyes over them.

I have no idea who to credit for these pictures as I don't know who originally papped them and put them on the net, but thanks if you're reading!

I'll be passing this collection. It's a bit too 'Toys R Us' for me and it's not as if I NEED anything from it to be honest. However, no doubt there'll be plenty of hysteria surrounding it so I'll more than likely pick up a couple of bits to sell to the highest bidder who's prepared to give me their money on Ebay! Yeah, I said it - what?!!

If you want to find out the shades that will be included in this collection, Princess Livia has them listed here

Are you still looking forward to this collection, or has the packaging turned you off too?

Normal service shall resume shortly ...

As of tomorrow my home internet access shall be non-existent for at least a week as I change providers. I'll try to post as and when I get the chance but I can't promise.

I should be back with an explosion of posts some time next week!

Afro Hair & Beauty Bible - winner announced

Thank you for the entries submitted to win a copy of The Afro Hair & Beauty Bible. It was fun reading about the products that you can't live without and I've made a note to check a few out for myself.

The entrants names were all put into a hat handbag and a name was pulled out. The winner is ...

Sofrolushes! You can check her blog out here.

Well done and keep an eye out for an email from me.

Keep an eye out on my blog for plenty more giveaways. I have a few in the pipeline for you ;-)

Let's talk toners!

I always use a facial toner before I moisturise my face. I'm so used to it, that I feel my skincare regime is incomplete if I don't. I use a toner to remove the last traces of oil, dirt or make up that may be left on my skin after I've used a cleanser and I like the fresh feeling they give my skin too.

These are the three toners I currently have on rotation at the moment:

1. Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toner - £3.99 (150ml)

I've used this before and was pleased with its performance, so this is a repurchase which I think is worth a mention. This contains organic damask rosewater and naturally cleanses without drying out the skin. The benefits of rosewater are well documented and its antibacterial properties are said to help prevent pimples, wrinkles and soothe stressed skin. I like the subtle rose scent as it provides a relaxing and calming effect. I'm not so keen on the packaging, I accidentally knocked it over yesterday and spilt it flippin' everywhere!! My bottle went from half full, to just over a quarter left ..not amused.

 2. Weleda Wild Rose Facial Toner £8.95 - (100ml)

This contains extract of organic Wild Rose leaves and has the strongest scent of the three products featured in this post. The rose scent may be a little overpowering for some, but personally I love it. I think it smells like a fresh rose and I find myself inhaling it in as I sweep the cotton pad(s) over my face. It really leaves my skin feeling soft and revived. The glass bottle has a plastic stopper to avoid spillage or waste which is a thoughtful component too. I started using this back in January. My bottle has almost run out but I now use this once or twice a week in the evenings now to stretch out what's left.

3. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - £11.50 (200ml)

This bottle of goodness contains vitamin e, calendula and aloe vera, which all have a rejuvenating effect on the skin. It also has rose-scented (are you noticing the theme here?) geranium in it, but overall I pick up a floral scent when using this, which isn't really that noticeable - for me anyway. I'm loving the swivel screw on/off top which allows you to control how much you dispense and this makes my skin feel cool and hydrated without stripping it of its natural oils. This actually has the consistency of water, so it's very light on the skin and dries quickly The large bottle will last a good while too, even if you're using it twice a day.

I should probably also give a mention to The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner, which I've praised before in an earlier post. I'm on my third bottle now and this is still working fantastically well for my combination/sensitive skin.

Using a toner isn't the be all and end of of a skincare regime. It's argued that a good cleanser should be able to remove all traces of make up without you having to resort to using an additional product on top. I like to incorporate a toner in my skincare regime as this is what works for me. 

  
Do you use a toner as part of your skincare routine?

Unlocking the Vault: MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes

Make up for the cheeks tends to grab my attention first, over any other make up item. This love extends to highlighters and I embrace any product that ca make my blush look even better.

My disappointing experience of Dior Diorskin Poudre in Amber Diamond spurred me to take a look at the other products I own that can be used as highlighters. MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes (or MSFs as they're affectionately known by make up lovers) provide wearers with a gorgeous sheen to the cheek and are multi-purpose, also being used on the eyes, lips and body.

MAC say -  A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, brows, anywhere on the body: provides an ultra-deluxe polish to the skin.

Mineralized Skinfinishes are large domed powders, baked to perfection in Italy, containing a swirl of colours and mineralized micas and other ingredients in order to allow them to  adhere to the skin.

Unfortunately the vast majority of MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes are LE and the only shades currently available to purchase off the UK MAC site are Soft and Gentle (Gilded Peach Bronze) and Gold Deposit (Soft Reflective Golden-Bronze). It's not uncommon for the  popular shades to easily sell for over £50 and beyond on Ebay.

Bargain alert - Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish only £9.50

In case you didn't know, this year Liz Earle are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their iconic Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

This cult product is a firm favourite of many beauty lovers and for ONE DAY ONLY you can purchase it at its original launch price, which is £9.50 saving yourself 25% of its retail price today of £13.

If you've been considering trying this or you want to stock up on your fave cleanser, then find your way over to the Liz Earle website on Tuesday 15th June.

FREE Cinema tickets courtesy of Gillette

To celebrate the launch of the new Gillette Venus Embrace five blade razor, Venus Embrace is launching the ‘Get Close’ film season.

The Venus Embrace Get Close film season will appear in Picturehouse cinemas across the country, tickets are free and the general public simply need to go online and register for the film and cinema of their choice http://www.venusgetclose.com/

The season begins on Friday 11^th June but goes on right up until the end of July. It features 5 of the nations favourite romantic movies as voted for online by the general public, including Dirty Dancing and The Notebook.

Enjoy! 

Review: Mai Couture Blush Papier

When it comes to make up on the go, convenience is essential. U.S based Mai Couture claim to offer just that in the form of their Blush Papier - paper sheets that are lightly powdered with blush and a hint of shimmer to give you a perfect cheek wherever you are. They were present at the New York Make Up show and appeared to be having no trouble drawing the crowds in with their products and the Blush Papier caught my eye.

Available in three shades - Sunset Blvd, Prettyful and Uptown, the convenient booklet-style papers come in a presentable faux leather wallet which allows you to carry them around with ease. The Blush Papier comes in packs of 50 sheets and refills are readily available to order online. They're mineral based and talc and paraben free too.

Sleek Pout Polishes + Swatches

The new LE (Limited Edition) Pout Polishes by Sleek are now available in-store. Suitably named Lemon Meringue and Raspberry Souffle, they're the perfect additions to the existing Pout Polishes which have shade names just as playful.

These tinted lip conditioning balms currently come in four colours  - Electro Peach, Pink Cadillac, Chocolate Kiss and Perfect Plum, which are readily available as part of the perm line of products that can be found in selected Superdrug branches nationwide as well as a small selection of afro hair product shops, depending on which area you live in. 

If you want a change from lipgloss or lip balm in the traditional from, then these are a cheap alternative for you, especially if you'd still like to add some colour to your, lips. The packaging is robust, coming in a screw lid pot and is convenient enough to pop into a handbag or pocket whilst remaining secure. Yes, dipping your finger into a product can be annoying, so make sure you have a pack of tissues to hand as you're likely to end up with a coloured fingertip after application.

Be sure to keep these in a cool, dark place as they'll soften in warm conditions and they're quite soft to start off with, so bear that in mind. Press your finger too firmly in the pot and you may pick too much product up or annoyingly sink through to the bottom. Neither has happened to me, but I can easily see it happening if pots are left in direct sunlight due to the formula.

MAC In the Groove

When I first started my blog, I thought it'd be nice to do posts on every upcoming MAC collection - after a few, that series of posts soon came to an abrupt end! Copying and pasting the collection images and shade descriptions proved to be far too time consuming and in the end I really couldn't be bothered to keep it up - especially when the collection in question didn't interest me.

I still can't be bothered to spend 30 minutes copying and pasting the pictures and text, so a link to the images will have to do on this occasion.

MAC In the Groove will be to me, what Colour Craft was last year - a reason to indulge! MAC To the Beach left me cold and that Superglass nonsense they released didn't even get a sideways glance from me so I'm looking forward to getting 'my MAC on', and adding a few (more) bits to my stash.

MAC In the Groove collection and product images

'Real' swatches on Specktra.net

So, what do I have my eye on?

Mineralize Skinfinishes: Stereo Rose and Petticoat as a given as I missed them first time round. I already own By Candlelight (I'm wearing By Candlelight today actually) and suspect that Comfort may be too similar to Sunny by Nature from Colour Craft last Summer.

Lipsticks: I Like it Like That and Jazzed will be coming home with me. I loved the look of that bright purple lipstick Go For It, but then I saw it had glitter in the swatch on Specktra so that'll be staying in the store!

Mineralized Eyeshadow (Trio): In the Groove and Soften the Mood have caught my eye.

Mineralize Blush Duo: I've changed my mind and may skip these although I like the look of Band of Roses and New Vibe. Hmmm to buy or not to buy, that is the question ...

Cremesheen Glass: I think I'm gonna pass on these. I'm forever giving away/throwing away lipglosses but the number I own rarely seems to decrease!

Powerpoint Eye Pencils: I already own (and love) Navy Stain, but have no need for the other shades.

Zoomlash - Nope. At last count I had 19 mascaras on rotation!

187 brush  - Have it already.

Anybody else looking forward to In the Groove? It hits UK counters on July 1st and you can check out swatches of the entire collection here.

The LookFantastric sale is now on ...save up to 82% off

The LookFantastic summer sale started today, offering up to 82% off (no, I don't understand the random discount either) beauty and wellbeing essentials.

It's on now until June 25th so have a look and grab a bargain if anything takes your fancy. Discounted lines include Elemis, Clarins, Aveda, Essie and loads more!

Dior Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in Amber Diamond (002)

So after having it recommended to me by a couple of fellow beauty bloggers and swatching it for myself, I took the plunge and decided to buy Dior Poudre Skin Shimmer (this product appears to go by at least 3 different names by the way!) in Amber Diamond when I popped into Sephora during my recent NY visit.

Poudre Skin Shimmer is an oil-free pressed powder that's designed to make the skin bright and radiant, adding a non-glittery, luminous glow. I bought the shade Amber Diamond, which is made up of ivory, champagne, tan, bronze and peach stripes contained in a sturdy mirrored compact. 

It's finely milled so there's no fear of creating a blotchy shimmery mess on your face. This powder is supposed to emit a soft, illuminating glow.  There's not a scrap of sparkle in it, so it's great for young and maturer skins alike.

It comes in bulky navy plastic case, which has a holographic 'CD' on the lid. The  faux-suede pouch it comes in, is a nice touch too.

Am I loving it? Not much to be honest!

Celebrate with Clumps of Mascara! Giveaway bonanza!

Brittany over at Clumps of Mascara is celebrating her three year 'blogiversary' and to show her gratitude for the support her faithful readers and supporters have shown her blog over the past three years, will be hosting a week long celebration giving away over £1000 worth of beauty must-haves. Product sponsors include Zoya, COVERGIRL, Lancóme, Maybelline, NYX, Clinique, Milani, Beauty Ticket and many others.

The giveaways will run daily from June 6th-12th and will be announced on Clumps of Mascara, the site's Facebook page, Twitter page and You Tube account.

Best off all? A lot of her giveaways are open to her international as well as stateside readers. So what are you waiting for? Check it out, you never know - you may end up a winner!

The IMATS are heading to New York!

When the news broke last week that the IMATS would be adding New York to their list of worldwide locations, I'm sure I heard the roar stateside beauty enthusiasts made across the pond.

Dates have now been confirmed and on April 9th and 10th 2011, The New York IMATS promises to be bring the top brands, exhibitors and guest speakers The Big Apple that have been in attendance at the other shows that currently take place in London, LA, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney.

Make sure you're following Make-Up Artist Magazine on Twitter to be kept in the loop on all the latest developments - inclusing when tickets go on sale. If you have no idea what the IMATS consist of, then have a look at my posts detailing the London show that took place earlier this year.

Gillette Venus and Braun Silk-epil 'Get Set for Summer' challenge - Part 1

A few weeks ago (over two months ago actually) I was asked if I'd like to take part in the Gillette Venus Summer challenge. The offer couldn't have come at a better time as my legs were in dire need of shaving and my Gillette Mach 3 Turbo (Yes, I use a men's razor) had decided to go AWOL!

For as long as I can remember, I've used Gillette razors. I toyed with a razor made by another well known brand a couple of years ago and threw it away after two uses, it didn't compare to what I was used to and left me with half shaved legs. For the past year I've been using the men's Mach 3 razor and blades as I find it gives me a closer cut.

Gillette have released two more razors to add to their Venus range - the Venus Spa Breeze and Venus Embrace.

Revlon Colorburst lipsticks + swatches

The new Revlon Colorburst lipstick are now finally in the UK and very nice they are too. Available in 12 shades (there are 20 shade choices in the U.S line) they promise to deliver high-impact colour that feels weightless on the lips.

When brands give their spiel about the latest wonder ingredient in their product, I tend to switch off, but I have to say they live up to the claims Revlon have made. They apply smoothly and hours later, still display great colour - even after eating! The new Elasticolor technology Revlon have implemented in the formula, aims to distribute rich pigment evenly over the lips like a second skin - and they do just that.

The first thing I noticed when I applied one of these to my top lip late last night, was that I didn't even need to apply it to my bottom lip - that never happens when I apply lipstick! EVER! It's always a little patchy and needs a second coat to make it wearable. I simply smacked them together and the colour transferred effortlessly and had distributed itself evenly with no patchiness.

The packaging is simple, yet sleek and combined with the embossed Revlon logo adds a bit of glamour to the offerings on the high street. 

So I'm guessing you want to see what they look like on? Good grief, just how long do flippin' lip swatches take?!! I clearly remembered why I stick to my hands today!

Win a copy of The Afro Hair & Beauty Bible!

I have one copy of The Afro Hair and Beauty Bible, written by Alison Husbands - the new must have beauty book for women of colour, up for grabs for one lucky reader.

Do you find your natural hair lacks bounce and curl definition? Struggling to keep your relaxed hair from breaking at the slightest touch?

If you're after tips and advice on how to care for or improve your skin and hair routines, then this is the book for you. You'll find recommended products that are readily available to buy in the UK. There are make up recommendations thrown in for good measure too.

To be in with a chance of winning, answer the following question and leave your email address in the comments box:

"Which 3 products do you rely on to keep yourself looking gorgeous?"

The giveaway ends at 12pm (GMT) Saturday 12th June 2010 . This giveaway is open to both my UK and international readers.

www.theafrohairandbeautybible.co.uk

Beauty Blog Link Love - 05.06.10

Over at theNotice, Rae has been bitten stung by the Misikko bug -- and she is not pleased!

Betty Girl Makeup is back, and continuing on with her series on contouring!

Vex in the City shares her delight at discovering the wonders of Mehron's new Celebré HD-Pro foundation.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed checks out the multitude of choices in lash enhancers.

Louise pens a love letter to a BLUE eyeshadow, and is now trying to deal with her embarrassment.

Mz. More from The Glamorous Gleam tells you all about her experience with the Zoya Nail Polish Exchange, and shows off her new goodies!

Does your significant other complain about "too girly" shower gel scents? Want a happy medium? Look no further and discover what shower gel Hellcandy and her bf are raving about!

Jeweled Thumb shares how she spot cleans her brushes, and reviews 6 cleansers to help you find the best one for you!

Hot Beauty Health shares the top beach beauty buys for summer 2010!

Krasey Beauty meets Dany Sanz, the artist, legend, and creator of Make Up For Ever.

Spiced Beauty shows you that you can look fab in red lipstick... even if it just costs a dollar!

There's a new natural cosmetics line on the block! Lipglossiping casts her eye over Bourjois' little sister, Une.

Jolie Laide Girl is glowing with Make Up Forever's HD Blushes.

Learn how to get 'Perfect Skin' with the help of makeup artist Jon Hennessy at Makeup by Kim Porter.

Phyrra shows you the newest collection from Aromaleigh, Victoria’s Revenge. If you like steampunk, you’ll love this collection!


***
Find out what Audrey Dao is giving away for June's Reader of the Month Giveaway!

Cindy from Prime Beauty is a Stila IT girl and you can be too, with her awesome Stila giveaway!

2010 Black Weblog Awards - I NEED your vote!

The Black Weblog Awards are back and now in their fifth year. The aim of these awards is to showcase and recognise the top black bloggers within the blogospehere.

Nominations began on Tuesday June 1st and will end on Friday July 23rd 2010. The rules are simple: You can only vote once, you don't need to vote in every category, and you can vote for a single blog in MORE than one category.

I'd really appreciate your votes in the following categories:

Best Fashion or Beauty blog

Blog to Watch

CLICK THE ICON TO VOTE NOW!

Thank you x

Mehron Celebre Pro-HD Foundation

Mehron showcased their new foundation - Celebré Pro HD at The Make Up Show NYC and it instantly caught my attention. Oil and fragrance free, this cream foundation is formulated to be non-greasy and offers great coverage that is easy to build up. An added bonus is that it's supposedly suitable for all skin types as well as being rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E, pomegranate and aloe vera which all help to soothe the skin.

The Afro Hair and Beauty Bible

Yesterday I passed by The Afro Hair and Beauty Show, looking as dishevelled as I possibly could be, after stepping off a long haul flight just 7 hours previously.

One of the highlights for me, was coming across author Alison Husbands, who was promoting her new book, The Afro Hair and Beauty Bible. After years of suffering with dry, damaged hair, she decided to take matters into her own hands. After extensive research and product trialling, she has overcome a lot of the problems black women face with hair and skin care and has decided to share her findings with women seeking advice and remedies.

The Afro Hair and Beauty bible shares a wealth of information and covers everything from caring for your hair, be it natural or relaxed,  breaking down popular regimes such as co-washing and dusting as well as recommending products which work with your hair type.

The full colour glossy book is easy to digest and also provides essential skincare advice and beauty tips with a mass of shade recommendations for black skin of all shades and tones.

The Afro Hair and Beauty Bible is currently available for sale through Amazon for just £9.99 + postage and packaging and can also be purchased directly from the website.

www.theafrohairandbeautybible.co.uk

Meet Ellis Faas at Liberty

Ellis Faas will be appearing at London department store Liberty, on Wednesday 9th June taking part in a Q&A session, about her extensive career which has seen her work with the top fashion designers, photographers and models to launching her own innovative cosmetic line which has certainly made the industry sit up and take notice.

You'll have the chance to meet her personally, view demonstrations and of course, see the products up close for yourself.

Not familiar with the range? Then check out what I had to say about it here .

A £20 booking fee is applicable which is redeemable on any purchases made that evening. For more details and to book yourself a place, call 0207 734 1234 ext. 2506

The full Ellis Faas line is currently available at Liberty and online

I wonder if superfan LondonMakeUpGirl will be in attendance?