Monday 31 August 2009

Durex Play Aloe Vera

On occasion, I get sent things to review which are not necessarily entirely beauty related and might make my mother (a regular reader) blush. Today is one such day. However, in the name of journalistic integrity and, you know, increasing my search-related readers*, today I will be reviewing the newest addition to the Durex Play family, Durex Play Aloe Vera.


So the press release says that Durex is taking sexual pleasure back to nature (which worries me a little bit - did it go away from nature? Did I fall off a very important mailing list due to inactive membership?) and that the aloe vera-based lubricant soothes, restores and nourishes, promoting healthy skin while enhancing intensity and increasing arousal.
Wow.
It sounds like some sort of miracle.

As well as being chock full of good stuff, it is odourless, non-greasy and safe to use with Durex condoms. Now, we at BeautyMecca might not be getting any right now but we do encourage and promote the safe doing it and this sounds like it might just make safe doing it that little bit more fun. And more fun is better than less fun, isn't it? Unless they changed that rule while I've been away. It's really quite possible.

I've just made myself miserable now. Sorry, must dash off out into Midtown Manhattan and find some city boy to test this out with. You'd think it would be crawling with men, wouldn't you? No, they're all midgets with bad hair in cheap suits. Sob. Sorry, distracted. Durex Play Aloe Vera is available now for 3.99 from, well, everywhere you'd expect really. Why not cheer yourself up after the Bank Holiday?

*You don't want to know how many readers find BeautyMecca because they were searching for Durex Play reviews. Unless you're one of them. It's loads, anyway.

Thursday 27 August 2009

Urban Decay Lip Envy

I've gone slightly insane for Urban Decay since I got to New York, I blame the proximity of all the Sephoras, it's bloody everywhere. Anyway, it's also because it's ace and I'd sort of forgotten.

The eyeshadow palette I picked up when I first got here has been brilliant, the colours are super blendable and the eyeshadows are so intensely pigmented, they last for ages and go on completely true. And when I'm not rocking sparkly Bambi eyes, I'm pouting like a bee-hatch in Lip Envy.

Now, I don't know how many times I've said here that I'm not a really lip colour wearer and I'm too lazy to go back and count it up but if there was anything that was going to convert me, I think it might be Lip Envy. It's a light, easy to apply stain, a little like Benetint but comes in two shades Envious (pink) and Greedy(berry) and for whatever reason, it's just better on the lips than my beloved Benetint (don't worry, Benetint still finds a home as my cheek stain as choice). A couple of layers and this bad boy isn't going anywhere. I like to wear Greedy and then top up with Smashbox O-Plump gloss which gives you a killer pout and only needs retouching maybe once between a day at work and a night on the tiles.

I'm not overly enamoured with the packaging but that really is a small concern when a product is so awesome. I may forgive them for discontinuing Lip Gunk after all. Then again, that was a pretty big blow... maybe not.

Monday 24 August 2009

Jemma Kidd Lasting Tint Waterproof Lash Colour

It's not until you're rolling around in ninety-five plus degrees, day-in and day-out that you start to really value a waterproof mascara. Obviously mascara wasn't an issue for me while I was rocking my eyelash extensions but they are now long gone (a combo of my not treating them tremendously well and the insane humidity here - don't blame the lashes, I'll be back on them by autumn) and so I'm after something inky black and long lasting.

And by jove, I think I've found it.


I wasn't ever a massive fan of the Jemma Kidd range when it was in Boots, don't know why, it just didn't appeal to me, but having sampled a couple of items from the new Space NK/Harvey Nicks range, I'm a convert. The Lasting Tint waterproof lash colour bills itself as semi-permanent and so it should. Once it's on, and it goes on smoothly, evenly and clump free, it stays. Seriously, stays. I love the gloopy formulation, it really does look like ink and if you're patient and run it very slowly through your lashes from root to tip a couple of times you will get gorgeous, defined lashes that will not budge.

Loves it.
Check out international stockists and online at JemmaKidd.com

Friday 21 August 2009

Fancy a trip to the Maldives?

I might be in New York but I wouldn't turn down a little trip to the Maldives if it came knocking... I could really, really use some serious rest time at the moment. But who has the time? Or the cash?

Well, the lovely people at Headmasters and Kuoni are teaming up to combine three of my favourite things: blowouts, bargains and holidays. Quote Kuoni when booking any - that's any - service at Headmasters before the 15th September and you'll get 25% off. Bejesus that's a big discount. Plus, you could win a holiday for two in the Maldives.

And you'll come out looking all pretty like this.

Score.

Tuesday 18 August 2009

Marc Jacobs Lola

Just like everyone else in the entire world, I went faintly mental for Marc Jacobs' Daisy perfume when it was launched a couple of years ago but, unlike my passion for Mr Jacob's bags (and clothes and accessories and everything else ever), I went off it after a little while and hung my head in shame, begging Coco Madameoiselle to take me back.

Well, Coco did take me back but things were never the same between us and there have been a few dalliances since then, mostly with the Harajuku Lovers fragrances (Music and G, I'm talking to you) but my nose has been known to stray from time to time, I've still got my handy dandy Madamoiselle twist&spray in my handbag.


But in celebration of my move to New York, I thought it was only polite to try out the new Marc Jacobs fragrance, Lola. It's still exclusive to Bloomingdales out here, in the UK you can bag it at Harvey Nicks until the end of August when it's launched everywhere.

It's weird, I heart Marc Jacobs above all else (check my Bloomingdales receipts if you don't believe me) but I'm still in two minds about this. My first issue is with the bottle. Beautiful but impractical. Foolishly, I bought the smaller bottle and thanks to the mad rubber flower cap, it keeps falling over which is pretty annoying, so if you're going to purchase, commit and get the bigger bottle.

My second is I'm still undecided on the actual fragrance. Admittedly, most perfumes smell like cat wee on me and this is still pretty so it's got a good start. And maybe I'm just not used to it yet. Lola is warmer and than scents I'm usually drawn to and there are touches of vanilla and musk which I would usually steer away from but somehow, it still works. I want to say it's a bit sexier than my usual scents too but that sounds lame. Perfume is sexy by default. It has no other purpose in life than to make you feel like a minx. Which is why I love it.
Also, buying and trying in 95 degree New York heat is less than ideal, the scent lasts about two minutes on me at the moment but I'm sure it'll be an autumn winner.

Anyway, Mr Jacobs has my unwavering support for now and always so I'm going to persevere with this bad boy for a couple more weeks and see how I feel. No matter what I decide, I expect Lola to be the dominant perfume at all your office Christmas parties...

Monday 17 August 2009

MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

By god it's hot here. Not sure if I've mentioned that yet...
What I know I haven't mentioned is that. praise be, my make up has finally arrived and not a moment too soon.

Another thing I might have mentioned on occasion is how pale I am. Well, foundation might still be a pain in the arse (although I'm loving having hot and cold running Stila at the moment, 10 Watts Oil Free Foundation, I love you) finding pressed and loose powders is just as difficult. Or at least it was.

Ladies and gay gentlemen, behold MAC's Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder... I freaking love this stuff. It looks white in the pot but somehow, it manages to take away any and all shine without a trace of colour, white or otherwise, and leaves skin looking fresh and flawless, not cakey and overdone. Even in this sticky, sweaty heat, it doesn't clog, doesn't mush up into one big glob of nastiness or anything. It just, well, finishes perfectly.

And that makes me very happy. Pressed version for fall please, MAC?

Friday 14 August 2009

I want to be a superhero...

www.youtube.com/bnevertoobusy

How cool is THIS?

Wednesday 12 August 2009

The Perils of Moving

I need to colour my hair.
I am almost ready for a fringe trim.
These two factors have sent my US adventure into a tailspin (and not the good Disney cartoon kind, there is no Baloo bear here). What do I do? I've been going to Jonny at Lee Stafford FOREVER and I love my hair. I'm freaking out on an epic level.

Also, it is really hard to but spray deodorant in the US. They only have those massive bulky cans that we had in the 80s. Why, oh why? It's ninety bloody degrees out there, I need more than a Dove stick.

Grump.
Other than that, I am ecstatically happy. Hot and cold running Sephora, Bliss bikini waxes and massages at reasonable prices... USA! USA! USA!

I promise to review things more fully very soon, like the Bare Escentuals Buxom range (love) and the new AMAZING Lola perfume from Marc Jacobs.
Honest injun.

Monday 3 August 2009

I'm so rubbish

God, I've been incredibly slack, haven't I?
Well, I did move to another country but that's really no excuse I know. A better excuse (and my current favourite) is that I only have a twin airbed and a too-low-for-the-desk chair in my room so typing is uncomfortable at best. Damn it.

Anyway, that doesn't really stop me from beauty blogging, does it? So far, my favourite NY find is Jergens Naturals, really amazing body moisturisers that are saving my life out here. It's so freaking hot, I promise never to complain about British summer time ever again. They are apparently out in the UK so I recommend them muchly. Super inexpensive but really effective and yummy, yay Jergens.
Go on, buy one and I'll use mine here, you'll use it there and it will be just like I never left.

Yes, I'm starting to go slightly mad...

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