Top Picks of 2009

I do love me a list. No really, I'm a list making QUEEN, I'll make lists for anything.
What to pack when I'm travelling, shopping lists, work lists, project lists, I even made a list of everything I was looking for in a boy once after a friend suggested it and would you believe it worked? The next boy I met was everything on that list. Sadly, I'd forgotten to add 'not a complete twat' so it didn't work out but still. The point is, I love a list.

So, here are this year's discoveries that I wouldn't/couldn't be without...

1. Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
I have rattled on about this endlessly here, here and here to list but a few posts and there is a really simple reason for that. This stuff is AMAZING. I've never had terrible skin until about a year ago when I started suffering from adult acne and seriously, it was ridiculously depressing. The topical antibiotics I used to get rid of it worked a treat but left my skin dry, red and sore and nothing was helping resolve the issue. Until I busted open this bad boy. It is amazing. Having just turned 29, ageing is totally playing on my mind (2010 is the year of the big three-oh after all) but this stuff is great. I absolutely credit it with inadvertently passing myself off as twenty-seven for the last couple of months (I totally didn't, he just wasn't listening) and cannot see a time when this lovely stuff will no longer take pride of place on my dressing table.

2. Clairol Perfect 10
You know how I feel about the recession but, well, bloody hell, I suppose I HAVE to acknowledge it now. So the best advice I can give is to do what I did, back away from the two hundred quid hair colour at the salon and pick up a box of Clairol Perfect 10. No one believe I colour my hair myself, very few people even pick up that I colour it but tis true, I go from blonde bombshell to brunette minx about every six weeks and this is my preferred route. Honestly, I'm all smoke and mirrors these days...

3. Smashbox O-Plump
I've been obsessed with this since I got it back in April and am now on my third tube. Not that the tubes don't last that long, just that I have one in each major handbag in rotation... I'm THAT serious about this shizz. Get it. Now.

4. Komenuka Bijin Conditioning Treatment
I left mine in London. I cried. I had to go out and buy more.
That is all.

5. MAC Hello Kitty Range
I'm wearing the blush RIGHT NOW. It breaks my heart that this isn't available every day, everywhere. Seriously, I mean at like Starbucks or something.

5. Dermalogica Multi-Vitamin Power Recovery Masque
Out of all the awesome masks I've used this year, it's always this one I turn to in times of extreme shittiness. It really does make you look like someone has slapped you around the chops with the healthy stick. Even if you feel like craaaaaaaaap.

6. The Sanctuary Hot Sugar Scrub
I think I miss this more than anything else (people aside) in the UK. You can't get it here and it breaks my little heart. Honestly, I'm a soft skin maniac and this is the quickest, yummiest route to the softest skin on earth. I love it. Sob.

7. Eyelash Extensions by Natalie
I don't think I lied in the last post, I miss my eyelash extensions to an extreme degree but more than the actual extensions, I REALLY miss Natalie. Not only is she awesome at applying the lashes, she's actually just pretty bloody awesome full stop. Next time I'm in London, I will be seeing her. And then seeing nothing for a week because my eyelashes will be SO LONG.

8. Urban Decay 24/7 Pencils
My collection of these bad boys is now fairly well evolved (I have them all) and I don't think a day goes by when I leave the house without my eyes outlined just so. They're The Best Pencils Out there. That is all.

9. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
And when I'm wearing the 24/7 pencils, I'm usually wearing this underneath them. Miracles. Miracles the pair of them...

10. Johnson's Baby Cream Shea & Cocoa Butter
Ok, so I know this says baby on it but really, it;s one of the best moisturisers I've found all year. I go through an abhorrent amount of body lotion and so as much as I'd love to be extolling the virtues of Body Shop Body Butter, Bliss Lemon+Sage or Creme de la Mer even, I am talking a couple of tubes a month so this, at about $5 a pop, is a godsend. It's rich, it's softening and it smells really, really nice. Job's a good 'un.

So that's it. Mostly because I dropped a bookshelf on my head and I'm feeling a bit spacey so I'm going to stop typing. Or actually start typing. I don't know, it's late.
We're going to be three in 2010, can you believe it? THREE? Actually, that sounds much more manageable than thirty...

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Post-Christmas Blues

So, due to complete and utter exhaustion, I failed EPICALLY to grab any goodness at Duty Free on my way back to NYC. Can you believe it? I was supposed to stock up on Touche Eclat, Beauty Flash Balm and YSL Parisienne but instead I just about managed to get two bags of Galaxy Minstrels, snap a shot of I Heart Hollywood in WH Smiths (not officially out yet but there you go) and pass out in a really uncomfortable chair with Grazia until I was herded onto a plane. Fun times.

Anyway, I'm sure I had a point... what was it again? Um, oh yes. Well, because of my general failings as a human being, I had to use what I could grab on the way home/rustle up from Mummy BeautyLover's bathroom and do you know what? I had totally forgotten how much I love Aussie Three Minute Miracle. It was bloody brilliant and I'm absolutely going to be stocking up back here in the US of A. Also, I used a Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash travel sized sample I picked up at Sephora not long ago and it was really good. Nice and granular so you could really feel it working at unclogging your pores (total necessity when you've been flying) but not so harsh that it took ten layers of skin off.

Other than that, I just hit my midday wall and am about to fall asleep. Damn jetlag.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for the day. Presumably I'll have more tomorrow, you know what I'm like...

Last Minute Gift Needed! Ahh, Thank You, Jo Malone

Honestly, where else would I go for a last minute gift?
Everyone loves Jo Malone (especially my friend who shall remain nameless but was given a TON of their stuff by a corporate client as a thank you but got so wasted at her Christmas do she PUKED ALL OVER THE PACKAGING) because the products are beautiful and effective. The swanktastic equivalent of Ronseal. It does exactly what it says on the tin.

Every year I wish I was adult enough to actually have the products myself and not just buy them for others (even though the actions of the nameless buddy suggests you don't have to be a total grown up) but when I went strolling at lunchtime, looking for a last minute gift, my first go to place was Jo Malone. The hardest thing of course, is just getting something for my unexpected gift buddy and not buying everything else for myself. My name is BeautyLover and I'm a candle addict. Plus, good lord, the Pine & Eucalyptus room spray? That is Christmas to me. Well, Christmas shopping anyway.

I finally settled on the Pomegranate Noir candle because its gorgeous but really, (cough, cough, hint, hint people) who wouldn't love to find a Jo Malone box under the tree this Christmas?

Naked

No, not me you dirty minded people and not fat tongued Oliver either... no this is some lovely, lovely beauty goodness from Naked Body Care.

Basically, the lovely people at Naked are going to give the next 100 people to sign up to their Facebook page the chance to win a massive hamper full of Naked goodness (the products again, not nudey people). So look for Naked Body Care on the Book of Face, become a fan and then email nakedcompetition@yahoo.co.uk with your details.

For more Naked news (but NO RUDE BITS) check out NakedBodyCare.co.uk. Sorry mi Americano amores, this is a UK only offer. But I'll have something awesome for you in a little bit!

Lee Stafford Electrical Range

I have nothing to say but...
WANT.



Hot pink?

Mock croc?
Electrical hair appliances?
Who WOULDN'T want this?

I lived and died by my original Lee Stafford hair dryer before I moved out to the US or A and the straighteners were well used in the Big House of Gay (honestly, gay boys put straighteners through waaaaaaaaay more than we do) and last year's travel set will be awaiting me when I land at Mummy BeautyLover's on Thursday so I think these would be a solid gold purchase, plus my hair is almost long enough for curling now which is super exciting. I think it would only be right for the first curls to be put in my hot pink, mock croc curling irons, don't you?

Get 'em from Boots and Boots.com, ladies...

Things I would like for Christmas Santa, thank you very much

There is no real reason for this post other than I went to Sephora at lunch (to buy something for SOMEONE ELSE) and it gave me the self-purchasing shakes.
So, Santa Baby...

Philosophy Winter Escape set
I like Philosophy. I like marshmallows. Therefore it makes sense that I would like this. Also, I already bought it for someone else and NOW I SEE IT'S ON SALE. GODDAMN. I mean, ooh, what a shame. No mention of God or Jebus or Santa or anything.

YSL Parisienne
I keep getting spritzed with this everywhere and bloody hell, if those cows with the squirters haven't done a complete job on me. BeautyLover likey. BeautyLover wanty. BeautyLover buyee at Duty Freey. That last one really didn't work but you get the idea. And yeah, I'm ignoring La Moss' involvement. Get off the ads and tout your own crap, missy.

Sanctuary Hot Sugar Scrub
This is one of my UK staples that I really haven't been able to replace out here. Honestly, I think it's the best scrub out there. I love the smell, I love the way it heats up and I adore how soft it leaves my skin. I miss it. Sob.

Nars Day and Night Palette
I can't tell you how many times I've fingered this in Sephora. I think, besides having a book published and my Fraggle costume at Halloween, not buying this so far has been my proudest personal achievement. But what am I trying to prove exactly? How is my life improved by not owning it? Well, now that you mention it, I don't know! Really, I owe it to myself, to Santa and to everyone that has to look upon my face to purchase it posthaste. Thanks for sorting that out, BL! Why, you're welcome, BL!

Stila Lipglaze and Smudge Pot Sets
I just want them. I love Stila, I love lipglazes and smudgepots and these are dinky versions which instantly make them better than the originals. Don't ask me how that works, it JUST DOES.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Collection
Because a) Elemis Pro-Collagen products are awesome and b) because I've been SLAUGHTERING my skin by flying so much this month, I needs it. And it comes in a pretty silver case that matches the jewellery case my Pro-Collagen eye duo came in. Reason enough? I think so...

* note to all potential gifters.
I know gifts have been bought, I know I'm not getting anything else. I also know I'm travelling with only hand luggage and as such can bring FRIG ALL back with me to the US. But I also want these things quite badly. And you know, love will find a way...
And all these items, except for The Sanctuary stuff which I can't find out here ANYWHERE, should be available in the UK and US. I've given US links because, suck it up bitches, I live here, but I reckon between HQ Hair and Boots, you should do nicely my beloved UK ladies.

GO SMiLE

Eurgh, sorry I've been away but I've been poorly bad. Actually, having read the last couple of month's entries, I've been nothing but bloody poorly bad all year. Crapola. Here's to 2010 being relatively healthy...

Anyway, off my sleeping sickness and on to my new obsession. As you may have heard, shiny, white, Hollywood teeth are quite the thing out here in the US of A. Now, I don't have terrifying gnarled gnashers or anything but I don't have the sparkling pearly white smile of my US counterparts either. Not. Ideal. So I've been through the lot, White Strips, Brightening Toothpaste, Gel Pens, all that shizz, but it would appear I've found an option that a) works and b) (more importantly) looks awesome and comes in really funky packaging...

GO SMiLE works under the philosophy that brightening your smile should be as easy as refreshing your lip gloss and I have to say, it really is. No need for icky trays or plastic strips, you just snap open a teeny, portable ampoule of gel (massively satisfying and comes in loads of flavours) and then squeeze until it appears on the foam applicator and rub on your teeth. Ta-da! Stains come off, shiny teeth are revealed. And it's party time right? Lots of red wone, coffee and general badness to come. Think of the teeth! Won't somebody think of their teeth?!
Along with the little ampoules, I've been using the AM (Lemongrass) and PM (Lavender and Vanilla) toothpastes, both really lovely and a nice change from the abrasive arctic blast/baking soda aftertaste of some whitening toothpastes.

And most important of all, you can get online here them at Sephora.
And if you can get it there, it must be amazing, right?

Headmasters Christmas Blowouts

Obviously my recent flying trip to London required me to be looking really rather passable at all times - you can't vanish from people's lives for five months and then turn up looking like shat, can you? But combining six hours of turbulence and a hectic social calendar does not a rare beauty make.

What does a rare beauty make however are the awesome Christmas blowouts at Headmasters. Friday morning, I popped into the Mayfair branch to meet with the lovely Jonathan (note to all ladies: by lovely, I mean HOT) and within an hour, I was back out on Regent's Street trotting around in my over the knee boots with a sexily dishevelled do that even Cheryl would think was worth it. I knew that we would find hair harmony when he said he was going to for something a bit Leigh Lezark. Now really, there's a hair soulmate* for you.



Behold... and yes, I know I look slightly deranged but it's early and I'm tired but I look pretty and that is cause for the crazy eyes. And didn't I tell you Jonathan was hot?



Check out HMhair.co.uk for more details and your nearest salon. Really, is there any better treat to yourself than a blowout at Christmas? I don't care how handy you are with a pair of GHDs, nothing looks better than getting a professional to tame your locks and for twenty-two quid, you can be the belle of the ball. Or the skanky office Christmas party. Or, you know, whenever. It's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!


*I am aware that I've been a huge hair whore lately but really, I'm just trying to fill the void in my heart that was left when I had to ditch my beloved Jonny in Londinium. Sob.

Wow...

Believe it or not, I'm back in New York. No, really. Not that I would recommend a 72 hour flying visit to anyone else but it was fun. And I actually managed on the teeny tiny quantity of slap I took out there with me, which was probably a bonus when I woke up wearing all of it Sunday morning.
Seriously, I never, ever sleep without cleansing and moisturising. This was a big night. I will spare you the gory details. Cough.
And that's an actual cough, I'm totally sick again for a change. Stupid recycled air on a plane full of sick people. Gah.

Anyway, just FYI, if you are going to destroy your health/skin with a 72 hour trip across the Atlantic (and the massive number of Moscow Mules I consumed and approximately three hours sleep I managed, have nothing to do with my current dry and deathly pallor) you MUST cleanse and moisturise and on return home, you MUST use Prescriptives Instant Gratification scrub (which means you need to buy it now before it's discontinued in January!) and you MUST slap on a Dr Bragi mask. It is the only reason my face didn't fall off this morning.

Now, to consume three times my body weight in water and book a facial before my next flight in two week. Meep.

Travel-Tastic

I am so excited.
In just seven hours, I'll be on a plane back to London for the first time since I flitted out to NYC in July, should be SO much fun.

What is not fun is a) how much I worry about the damage to my skin in flight and b) trying to rationalise what to take with me. My lovely, lovely friends have loads of good stuff that I 'donated' from the BeautyLover Moves to NYC So Please Take All My Shit fund in summer but still, there are always things you can't live without, right?

So this is what I'm taking...
Komenuka Bijin conditioner because I officially cannot live without it
Tigi After Party cream because it makes my hair super soft and it sometimes goes flyaway post-flight
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, Skin Bliss Capsules, Skin Buff, Tri-Enzyme Wash, Papaya Enzyme Mask and Rose Quartz Collagen mask (which might sound like overkill but I'm going to be SO busy, my skin will need looking after! Plus I have a shit ton of travel sizes, God bless ELEMIS for putting samples in their full size products)
Dermalogica Daily Resurfacers are amazing for travelling as they're individually wrapped and help clear any clogged up pores that have been upset by the recycled air on the plane. Not to mention lack of sleep while I'm in London...
Beauty Flash Balm and Eye Cream - I really love this in-flight
Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter
Creme de la Mer lipbalm. The ONLY lipbalm I travel with. One slick on the plane and your lips will be totally hydrated when you wake up.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle (I'm totally getting this at the airport, YAY Duty Free Shopping!)

I'm also attempting to travel light with the slap (HA) so at the moment all I have is my Nars foundation, mini Copacabana Multiple and pressed powder, Touche Eclat, Prescriptives Lash Envy mascara, MAC Hello Kitty blush, Stila eyeshadows in Cloud, La Douce, Golightly and Shore, Urban Decay eyeshadow Primer Potion, Naked lipstick and 24/7 pencils in Stash, Rockstar, Oil Slick and Corrupt and Smashbox O-Plump lipgloss.

I'm as excited as you are to find out what I actually pack when I get back to my apartment... What do you reckon, twice this amount?

All I Want for Christmas... MAC

Whee, this time next week I'll be getting my Christmas on and hitting London for a wee weekend visit. Can't wait.
And almost as exciting, will be a week on Sunday when I hit the MAC counter at Heathrow on my way back... I know the exchange rate means that it costs more or less the same as it does here but is there any better guilt-free shopping than at a duty free counter? The answer is NO.

Top of my list are the holiday collections - always SO beautiful and I use the shadow compacts more than any others (I have a love hate relationship with compacts. I know, I'm fickle) but I'm also desperate to get my mitts on something from the Baroque Boudoir collection - isn't it GORGEOUS?

The powder compact actually makes me want to do a little cry.
And if the Put a Spell on You holiday lip bag doesn't find its way back on a Virgin Atlantic flight, something has gone very, very wrong.

Oh MAC, how I love you.

Stila Event at Sephora Times Square

Super sorry non-Americano BeautyLovers but this is exclusively for the ladies that love NYC. If you're in the Big Apple this coming Saturday, then you can pop along to Sephora at Times Square for a free Stila make over!

I heart Stila in a big bad dirty way, seriously, hardy a day goes by that I'm not wearing Cloud (no matter how often I try to break the habit, it's my go to neutral to make my eyes pop) and generally cloud is accompanied by La Douce, Golightly or a little Shore, depending on my mood. All TOO pretty for words. And I'm out of my Fuchsia Convertible Colour. And my Strawberry lipglaze. Oh good lord, this is going to cost me, isn't it?
Anyway, here are the deets:

For every $50 Stila purchase, customers will be entered to win their own personalized Stila girl. Three lucky winners will receive this personalized Stila icon as well as a Stila Gift Package.
Additionally, each person who gets a Stila makeover and purchases any Stila product will receive a FREE full size Camellia Convertible Color

Saturday, December 5th
11am-8pm
Sephora Times Square
200 W 42nd Street
New York, NY‎
(212) 764-2525‎

Perfect excuse to do some Christmas shopping/party prep.
See you there my lovelies!