Parallel Lines

I may have mentioned, once or twice, that I am a fan of smoky eyes and as such, eyeliner.
I like it on girls...

and sometimes, I like it on boys...


Mostly, I like it on me (no pic I'm afraid).

I have travelled far and wide in the search for the perfect liner and come up with a few I can more or less trust to still be there at the end of big night, approximately in the eye area. Here are my top picks.

Stile Smudge Pots - Black
If you're not totally won over by the heavy glass jar packaging (like me) you'll just love the dense, creamy gel formula that sweeps right on and once set, doesn't budge. I find the BeneFit eyeliner brush the best for this but you can just smudge it right on with your finger if you wanted a real punk rock look. Plus the deep jewel colours are gorgeous.




Smashbox Cream Eyeliner - Caviar
I have to say, this is really similar to Stila product but with smaller, rubbery packaging and a slightly creamier texture. I got this in a set and I love it. Possibly even more than the Stila but by virtue of how hard Smashbox can be to get hold of, Stila wins out. If you buy it from QVC you get the excellent liner brush in the set and there are always Smashbox goodies to be had on Ebay.



Bad Gal
The classic and the best pencil as far as I'm concerned. Yes, it's much smudgier than the gel/cream formulas but that's the point. Layer it on, rub it in and smoke away. Plus there's something about Bad Gal that makes you feel naughty just using it. Panda eyes have never looked so sexy.




Stila Convertible Eye Colour - Slate
This is my usual daytime option. It's a handy-dandy pencil and powder in one and the soft grey is incredibly wearable. The powder tends to try and escape in public so be careful with the application and ALWAYS wind the eyeliner back down or it will get smushed in the cap but really, it's fab and perfect for day-to-night looks.

My next product to try will be the Clinique cream eyeliner a) because it's another pretty glass jar and b) I just really want it.

For some reason, the internet has a downer on black/grey eye make-up products today so you get to enjoy the browny versions of the smudge pot, the Smashbox cream and the Stila convertible colour here which I'm sure are equally nice...

And relax...

I should warn you now, I'm in a foul mood.
The snow drift that deposited itself outside my house this morning not only left me cold, red and on my arse in front of a bin lorry and several bin men (it was not hilarious and neither are they), it also meant that I was two hours late to my desk which seriously cuts into my blogging time.
Sob.

But to cheer myself up I might have accidentally bought this from ebay...


We shouldn't reward ourselves with material things, I know, I know but it was this or a sack load of Mini Eggs and that would have been worse.

I discovered Smashbox on QVC and, ahem, America's Next Top Model, but never bought, despite the prettiness and the lovely, convincing man who stares into your eyes and tried to tempt you. However, in the States, you can buy all the Smashbox your heart could desire from Sephora. Wonderful, wonderful Sephora. I bought one of their seasonal box sets and already am in love with the primer and the cream eyeliner, I'd even go so far as to say I prefer it to Stila's smudge pot. The formulas are amazing and, although the packaging looks really basic at first, it's actually this slightly kicky touch-me-touch-me soft rubbery plastic. Grrrr.

Most of the colours I got in the kit are too warm for me but I absolutely adore the textures so I'm going back in for more! And do I love a mini version of a product or what? If you live in London, keep an eye out for one or more of these babies to be kicking around on a District line train near you soon... Love 'em but can't keep hold of 'em.

It's Girl Porn, that's what it is...

Now I don't know how often you...
a) mosey on into Space NK for a quick 'I won't buy anything, it's just research' peepo
or
b) think, wow, I wish my eyes looked all smoky and sexy like the girls on the runways of New York fashion show this week.

Whether you have fallen foul of either of these vices or not, I found myself in Space NK in Brighton at the weekend. With PMT. And my credit card. Luckily, I also had my boy-shaped credit card limit with me...

Here are some of the GORGEOUS things I'll be purchasing when he's not looking...

Night Clubbing single shadow
This is a delicious blackest black with gold pearl shimmer. I'm not normally a gold shimmer kind of a girl but this was amazing. For the classicists among you, go for Nightbreed that has a silver shimmer instead. I tapped my finger on the top of the shadow and looked like I'm been down a coal mine for a month. In the best possible way.

Misfit/Rated R Duo Shadows
Now I'll admit to anyone that I love a shot of colour to the eyes. Recently, I've been wearing a more neutral look but find me in the right mood and I'm the girl on the tube rocking the solid turquoise eyeshadow and big black lashes. Or sometimes it's royal blue. Or occasionally purple. Just be assured that with a neutral face that's powdered to velvetty perfection (or as near as you can get!) block coloured eyes don't have to be 80s. Nars have an amazing selection of colours, all highly pigmented and crease-proof. I want... I want...

The Multiple
Something else I've learned from my many years of trial and beauty error, is that something is a classic for a reason. Nars The Multiple (my fave is sheer pink Riviera) is a wonder. It's cheek colour, it's lip colour, it's a highlighter and man alive it looks sexy.
Yum.


Orgasm Blush
See above points and roll into one. Classic, high pigment, delicious healthy flush and who wouldn't want to keep an orgasm in their handbag? Deep Throat made me blush though. Cosmetics not for kiddies...

An Apology...

Dear Cheryl,

I am very sorry that Beauty Mecca is costing you precious pennies.
I am very sorry that is making you go over your allotted lunch hour in search of beautiful, beautiful things.

I am however, not so sorry that you sent me this fab website below:


"It’s http://www.cheapsmells.co.uk/ . I’ve used this site many a time & never had any problems with them. You can get genuine YSL for £13.95 & P&P is pretty cheap too. I always buy two at a time. You can also get perfumes, great skincare stuff e.g. Clarins/Clinique/Estee Lauder & Tigi/Catwalk products on the cheap."

See what happens when we all work together?

So happy to find new beauty websites, so happy to find somewhere that sells cheap Bedhead After-Party (my cure all hair product) and so happy that someone is enjoying Beauty Mecca!

Love,

Beauty Lover

p.s. let me know how you get on with the Smashbox Primer and the Origins starter set.

What's in the Bag Catherine Ellis?

In the grand tradition of, well, last week, today we're delving back into another beautista's make up bag and having a good old nosy around. Catherine Ellis is a designer and makes beautiful things on a daily basis - is it any wonder that she is such a cracker herself?

Here are her top picks...


What's your signature make-up product and how does using it affect your mood?
Benefit Bad Gal Eye Pencil. A good splodge of this makes me feel like I can take on the world!

A beautiful boy is on the approach and you only have time to apply one product - what is it?
Probably Bad Gal. Then I can stare him out with my panda-ringed eyes until he falls, helpless with desire, to my feet.

Out of every product you've ever had, current or sob, discontinued, what would be your favourite beauty product ever?
There are so many lovely things in the world, but I’m going to pick a very unassuming one, Liz Collinge Eye Colour in Sand. This is an idiot-proof shimmering eyeshadow that can enliven even the weariest of peepers. Soft and easy to blend, but Liz Collinge make up has ceased to exist , so I will have to find a replacement product soon... Sob!

So the bag…
I don’t actually have a bag, I have a tin from 100drine (www.100drine.com) and it’s one of my favourite things.

Foundation: L’Oreal True Match in ‘C1 Rose Ivory’. I, like Mrs BeautyMecca, am ridiculously pale but can get away with this shade. This covers most sins and can be layered on for denser coverage.

Concealer: Rimmel Hide the Blemish in ‘001 Ivory’. A true classic and justifiably so.

Under-Eye Concealer: Boots No 7 Instant Radiance Concealer. We all know it’s Touche Eclait. Just a lot cheaper.

Blusher: Ruby and Millie Face Gloss in ‘Wine 50’. Looks terrifyingly dark in the tube but delivers a pop of sheer, ‘just been for a walk in the country’, colour. Lasts forever, too.

Eyeshadow: Apart from my allegiance to the Liz Collinge shadow, I love love love Urban Decay eye shadows. The colours are amazing, the pigment is SO dense and the names are fabulous. They are a little more expensive than the average shadow but, by golly, they’re worth it. Current favourites are ‘Lust’ (a mesmeric purple) and Mildew (a sludge green that has a hint of metallic). And just when I thought they couldn’t improve on perfection, they brought out the ‘Deluxe’ eyeshadows. These have great packaging, with their own little mirrors, and the colours are divine. ‘Adore’, a rich royal blue, gives you eyes to be noticed.

Eye lash Curlers: Just bog standard Boots, though I covet a pair of Shu Uemura curlers. My eyelashes are so straight and short, a curler is a must!

Eyeliners: As you might have guessed, I love a bit of eyeliner. Firstly, there’s Bad Gal, the eyeliner of choice for a rock-goddess-look. Prestige (I think this is a Boots brand only) do a really good eyeliner; self-sharpening and a good solid colour. Honourable mention must also go to FCUK eye crayons. I particularly like ‘05 Piercing’, an electric blue. If you want a good winged 50s-style line, Rimmel Liquid Liner in Black is the only way to go.

Lips: I am not good with lips. I lick gloss off (when I’m not pulling my hair out of it on windy days) and forget to re-apply lipstick. However, I seem to have reached a compromise with Boots No 7 Matte Velvet Lip Colour. I apply it in the shade ‘20 Luxe’ with my fingers, for just-bitten lips that look pretty and natural, and last for hours. Otherwise, a slick of Blisteze Relief Cream will keep your lips kissably soft.

Perfume: I seem to smell best in perfumes that are musky and dirty. Hence my perfume collection of Agent Provocateur, Vivienne Westwood ‘Boudoir’ and Chanel ‘Allure’.

So much inspiration, so little room on my credit card... I have to say, I tried the No 7 Matte Velvet Lip Colour and it does indeedy create a whole 1940s starlet type look, all on it's own. Love it.

Ready, Set, Go!

This morning, I was running late. This is not unusual for me, I am a very lazy person and would much rather take an extra ten minute in bed and rush around like a maniac than get up at a reasonable time and swan around the flat.

However, today I have a meeting with some clients at a swanky London restaurant (I'm not paying) and it was sort of important that I didn't look like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.
Shit.

What do you do when you have fifteen minutes to make yourself presentable? Well, I can't really pass this off as good advice, but this is how I bodged it...

Shower
Always shower, even if it's a choice between eating, make up or showering - people won't know if you're hungry and you can always take the make up on the go route described below but they will notice if you pong. Fact. Scented shower gel will just make you feel better about everything. I love Angel Innocent when I need some inspiration to get me going in the morning.

Dry Shampoo
This is sort of unfair because it only really works on blondes and light brown hair unless you shell out for the pricey Bumble&Bumble hair powder option. Go to Boots, do it now, I'll wait, and get some Batiste Dry Shampoo or the lovely Lee Stafford version (it's pinker and prettier). Goodbye bad hair days, hello twenty minute lie-ins...

Make Up
Now, you don't want to make a mess and overdo it which is all too easy when you're in a rush. Just pare it down to what you really need - foundation or better yet, tinted moisturiser (the less pigment, the less likely you are to make a balls up), blusher, applied with a light hand, lipbalm and mascara. Now you should be good to leave the house without scaring the postman. The rest of your make up can be applied on the train, in the cab or outside/in the toilets of wherever you're going when you get there.

As a veteran five year commuter, I have vast experience of what make up can and can't be applied on public transport:

Lip Colour:
I would go with a sheer gloss or something very easy to apply unless you're a pro - Stila lipglazes and lipglaze sticks are perfect. Anything that means you have to fanny about with a wand or could stain is asking for trouble.




Eye Colour: Not the time to be trying Audrey Hepburn liquid liner... I once saw a girl practically blind herself with a liquid liner wand on a train. It wasn't pretty before, during and especially after. Go for neutral cream colours in easy to hold, easy to apply formulas. Benefit's eyeshadows have flip top lids so you're not going to drop the lid and lose it! Be very very careful if you need to top up your mascara and carry wipes in case of disasters.

Cheek Colour:
Same as the eyes and lips, best not to be applying from fiddly packaging and avoid anything that could spill or stain. Bourjois blush has a flip top lid and a hand little mirror. Fab. If you want to go cream, Nars has beautiful multipurpose sticks that I would die for, as do Pout. A world of options ladies.




Powder: Not a problem, every lady carries a compact doesn't she? Just don't do what I've done a thousand times and be swayed by the pretty packaging over the actual function. Try before you buy, always.

Perfume: Nothing makes me feel finished like a spritz of lovely perfume and it's a great pick me up during the day or just before you leave. When I've had a shitty office day or I have a big meeting (like today!) I'll always squirt just before I go. It cheers me up and I hope it makes the other person realise I've made an effort.

Even if my dress really could have used ironing... Hey, they can't have it all!

Lip-Licious

When you were 14, did you ever go to Boots with your friends and spend as much time contemplating lipbalms as you would now spend contemplating boyfriends/mortgages/shoes*

For me, it was such a major thing. Not quite lipstick but very grown up and the essential handbag and pocket essential. I remember buying the Natural Collection Sugar Plum and Red Currant lipbalms and feeling so grown up - they had colour and everything!

These days, my lipbalm collection is as varied as they come. I have to know I have a tube handy at all times, in fact, in front of me right now is a tin of Rosebud Salve, an Espa Botantical Lipbalm and in my pocket, let's see, Carmex stick and BeneFit Lipscription. My most coveted of lipbalms is the Creme de la Mer but it's £35 people! In today's Primarni world, I could buy the entire wardrobe for a West End Show for that!

But out of all the crap I tote around with me, is any of it really any good? Let's see.

Rosebud Salve

I've mentioned this baby before and whenever I'm in the US, I'll pick one up but I really wouldn't pay the UK prices for it - £6 in Urban Outfitters! It doesn't really delivery any more than good old vaseline but I have friends that swear by it as emergency nappy cream should the need arise. I do like a multitasker.
All that aside, it sure is purdy.

BeneFit Lipscription
The first extension of the Dr Feelgood brand from BeneFit includes a gorgeous, gorgeous lipbalm and lip scrub in cute little screw top tubes. Sure, they're beautiful to look at and really effective but they cost a BOMB. I received mine as a gift and as committed a BeneFit fiend as I am, I can't see me replacing them once they're gone - not at the rate I get through lipbalms anyway. They make a lovely gift though, if anyone's feeling generous???


Carmex
I tend to get the stick version of this rather than the cult screw top pot. Again, it's something I'd pick up in the US where it's practically free (less than a dollar at least) and it's handy to have around if you want a really thick firm stick product. It's pretty matte so you can put lipstick straight over the top and you do get that reassuring tingle. Rumours of addiction are completely untrue according the website. But then they would say that...


Espa Botanical Lipbalm

Don't be fooled by the pretty packaging, delicious scent and lovely lube feeling on the lips. For £12, this delivers no long term softness and no protection against the elements. Boo, so pretty and yet utterly useless. It's the Jude Law of lipbalms.

Neutrogena Lipbalm

It's not flashy, it's not in anyway swanky and I think it's probably the cheapest lipbalm on this page but it is my favourite. Neutrogena lipbalm has a lovely matte finish, it glides on nicely without any real sort of scent and it lasts. When it's on, it's on and your lips know about it. Plus, you can put it on your boyfriend without him worrying for his masculinity. Perfecto.

*Just me that spends as much time worrying about my shoes as my mortgage? Oh, ok then.