Author Archives: Kismet-Lola

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Claire’s Nail Accessories

Claire’s Accessories have recently launched some new nail art goodies. Nails foils, polishes and even crackle. This affordable range is perfect for young girls who want to experiment with the latest nail trends, or if you just fancy trying something fun for a night out – prices start at £4.

I tried out these ‘Bling Nail Foils‘. I quite liked the fact that the gold gems were placed on a transparent background, so could be used in a few different ways.

All the foils were cut pretty much to prefect size, they just needed trimming at the top as i keep my nails very short. I was impressed with the finished look, they didn’t look too bling when on. I painted my ring finger with OPI’s William Tell Me About OPI, then placed a foil over it for a slightly different effect.  Looks good.

The nail foils come with a sticky back, so should stay secure on the nail. The instructions mentioned brushing a layer of topcoat over the top once all the foils are in place for longer wear. Unfortunately, my blinging nails began to peel off the next day, which is a shame as i quite liked them. I think the way to make them wear for longer is to brush on a tiny amount of nail glue before securing onto the nail.
Overall, the collection has some very fun designs, really affordable and super easy to use. I’d say these are fab for a single occasion, but if you want them to last longer then nail glue is highly recommended.
The ‘Bling Nail Foil’ retails at £5.50

*This product was a PR sample

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Nicki Minaj for OPI

Sparkle & Fly, Did It On Em, Matalic For Life, Pink Friday, Save Me, Super Bass (purple shatter)
I’m actually quite excited for the launch of OPI‘s collaboration with hip hop princess Nicki Minaj. Launching in January 2012, the Nicki Minaj range, as you would expect is quite sparkly and vibrant. Featuring fluro bright shades along with a new purple shatter, the colour range is quite representative of the star.
OPI have been collaborating with some hot stars recently, this is no exception. I am thinking Pink Friday is going to be a popular one.
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Steamcream Halloween Treats

How cute are these spooky little Trick Or Treat Steamcream  tins being launched for Halloween!

STEAM CREAM Trick or Treat –
£10.50

A soothing cream created through a revolutionary steam-infused manufacturing process.
It goes without saying the packaging is super cute, and the small tins are so handy to carry around. Steamcream offers and eco friendly moisturising experience for all skin types.

love the Steamcream tins
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Sublime De Chanel Mascara

Could this be my new mascara love?

Chanel’s ‘Sublime De Chanel’

More than likely YES. This mascara lengthened and separated my lashes in a single coat. I could feel the wand comb the length of my natural lashes from root to tip, lifting as it went. With most mascaras i would use two separate coatings of product, but with Sublime De Chanel one was perfect.

Here are some before/after pictures of my lashes:

 Eyes closed in this one:

Sublime boasts an exclusive two-tone “Stretch Bi-Injection” brush to give a 2-in-1 effect. It contains 360 flexible black fibers to lengthen lashes and is enriched with ultra-pure black carbon pigments for the darkest finish. The Sublime formula is blended with a pro-vitamin complex & antioxidants to preserve softness & shine of lashes

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Nanoblur – 10 Years Younger in 40 Seconds

Yes, exactly that! Ten yours off your face in less than a minute. There has been some serious excitement around this product over the past few weeks. Could it actually be possible to look a decade younger without the help of Channel 4 and a line of cosmetic procedures?
With a birthday celebration, a date and a family gathering all planned for the weekend, this was the perfect opportunity to try out Nanoblur. I had read some very positive reviews, so was hoping to look seriously youthful…

The first thing i did with this cream was test is on the back of my hand – as you do! It became instantly apparent why Nanoblur is flying off the beauty shelves at 1 every 10 seconds. In just moments, any tiny lines, imperfections or blemishes on my hand were blurred, and i mean actually BLURRED. To me, it seemed like someone had taken the ‘blur’ tool from Photoshop and rubbed it over my hand.

this image has NOT been manipulated
using any retouching programme

Nanoblur has been created by Indeed Labs, originally formulated to help celebs hide skin imperfections that show up under the new HD camera technology. Fascinated at the results, I tried to get my head around how this cream actually works, but was thrown off track with terms like ‘micro prisms’ and optical prism technology’. I will need to read about this more, but in the meantime this little tube of magic is going to be a godsend for many of us.

There are a few ways to apply this cream, and each is very specific:
1. Using without makeup: Apply at the end of your skincare routine, ie after moisturiser
2. Using with liquid foundation: Apply AFTER foundation. Bronzer and blush can then go over this
3. Using with powder/ mineral foundation: Apply BEFORE powder foundation

I used Nanoblur over my usual liquid foundation (Jemma Kidd). I was very hesitant about putting it on this way, particularly because i love the dewy finish i get from my foundation. On application, my skin felt tighter, it started off looking matt but then got it’s dewiness back. Although i don’t have masses of wrinkles, i do have open pores and uneven tone, these were diminished within a minute. As a result, I looked fresher and very well rested – which is part of that youthful appearance.
The result achieved with this cream really does depend on the state of your skin to start with. Basically, the worse it is, the bigger the difference you will see.
This is a mighty big statement, but Nanoblur really is a MUST have beauty product. It wont be long before the boys get in on using this stuff too!

The only thing to remember with this cream is that it is an instant fix, it doesn’t replace your SPF or your anti ageing moisturiser. Instead it is the icing on your face type thing, it gives you the look you desire whilst you skincare routine continues to work.

Nanoblur is available exclusively from Boots, and worth every penny of the £19.99 it retails at.

*My tube of Nanoblur was a PR sample

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Louis Vuitton Masion, Old Bond St

After a lovely girly afternoon at The Ritz yesterday, i took a stroll down Old Bond St. I love looking at the window displays of all the large stores there.
Of course, as always the Louis Vuitton Maison was looking fabulous.

These AMAZE shoes in the window of GINA also caught my attention. Want!

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Dr Murad: Hybrids Makeup Range

Dr Murad have introduced a small range of makeup products to compliment it’s vast skincare collection. The Hybrids range aims to deliver flawless skin not only as a makeup product, but also by providing deeper skin boosting ingredients.

I am already a fan of the ‘Eye Lift Perfectors’ which increase skin firmness by 50% in 15 mins, and take away the tired ‘haven’t slept enough’ dark cirlcles using a neutralizing violet formula. Application is a bit hit and miss, i’d prefer a brush tip as opposed to the current angled pen end. However, my eyes were instantly brightened so i was happy!

Hybrids – Eyelift Perfector



Hybrids – Eyelift Illuminator


 The Skin Perfecting Primers come in two finishes, Dewy or Matte. They can be used alone or under foundation, helping to give a flawless, smooth look to skin. The technology in the products smooth away pores, provide an even complexion and balance oil production. The primers also adjusts to the colour of your individual skin tone, hence why there is only one shade available. The ‘matte’ version also keeps shine and oil at bay throughout the day.

Skin Perfecting Primer Dewy



Skin Perfecting Primer Matte

I have been using the Skin Perfecting Primer Matte for a few weeks now, and so far am quite impressed. It’s a very light formular which sinks quickly into skin. Although it visibily covers pores and smaller blemishes, its still not enough coverage for me, so i use a small amount of my normal foundation over it. Using the product this way does help give a much more even finish, and love that my pores are less visible.

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Winning Wednesday: Dove Indulgent Nourishment Shea Body Lotion

I really don’t understand why some people simply shower, get dressed and…that’s it! I just can’t do it. I HAVE to moisturise my skin. Taking care of your skin surely doesn’t stop at the end of your chin. What about the rest? Even when i am low on time or in a rush, i can’t skip the moisturiser. Some days this extra five mins of massaging a creamy lotion into my skin might even mean i miss my train and am late for work (*roll of the eyes from the boss*), but nothing is coming between me and my body cream.
I generally tend to look for creamy textured product which doesn’t leave behind a film of grease. It has to smell yummy of course, and spread easily. Although i have my faves, i love to try new potentials to add to the list, especially as technology is constantly developing. Its a bit like dating really!

My latest ‘date’ has been with the new Dove Indulgent Nourishment Shea Body Lotion, just a bit of a mouthful to say, but an absolute delight to use. The first thing i noticed about this lotion was the smell, its sweeter than the usual Dove body creams but not at all overpowering, so you won’t smell like a chocolate cake shop.
The light texture sunk right into my skin and instantly moisturised. I have very dry elbows which i find difficult to deal with especially in the winter. So far they have been kept from flaking (sorry if that’s TMI) so am putting this down to using DINSBL (its too long to re-type). I loved that the formula isn’t sticky and i could pretty much get dressed straight after applying the product without any stains on my clothes. I think this has to be my favourite Dove body cream in terms of results, but i do still like the original Dove smell.

WIN WIN WIN
The lovely people at Dove would like you to experience Dove Indulgent Nourishment Shea Body Lotion. Simply leave your name and contact email in the comments box below. If you fancy it, it would be lovely if you could also pop over and ‘like’ my facebook page HERE
Good luck ♥

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Nails Inc. Magnetic Nail Polish

Admittedly when the whole concept of magnetic nail polish first emerged, i was a bit ‘whatever’ about it. However, Nails Inc. may have changed my mind.
Earlier in the week i had a ‘magnetic manicure‘ using two of the three Nails Inc magnetic polishes. Here are the results.

My magnetic nails. Houses of Parliament with
Trafalgar Sq on the index finger

A fellow magnetic mani using Trafalgar Sq

They look awesome. I love the effect and i noticed the end result was different on most of the girls having the same manicure. Apart from the actual magnetic effect, i love the high gloss finish, they make my nails look as though they are in much better condition than they actually are. Application is the same as all nail polishes, apart from, after the second coat you just hold a magnet over the wet polish (the magnet is attached to the bottle cap). I was assured it was simple to do!

Trafalgar Square (deep metal silver), Houses of Parliament (dark aubergine) and Big Ben (gold) are huge sellers, so if you are tempted then the online Nails Inc store might be the best place to find them, £1 of each purchase is donated to the Princes Trust.

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Shine A Light On Breast Cancer: Help Turn The World Pink

Each year, the month of October is dedicated to raising global awareness of Breast Cancer, and 2011 is no different.

As part of this years BCA campaign, Estee Lauder have launched a new initiative, ‘Shine A Light On Breast Cancer’ invites people everywhere to virtually turn the globe pink via the Estee Lauder Facebook application. Its an amazing way of spreading both awareness and hope, and with each ‘lighting’ action carrying your personal Breast Cancer message.

Estee Lauder and the BCA have been lighting famous buildings and monuments pink for over ten years through their Global Landmarks Illuminations Initiative . The Shine A Light On Breast Cancer campaign takes it a step further by reaching out to people all over the globe to make our world pink for a month.
Please pop over to the Estee Lauder facebook page here and show you care.

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NARS: Montego Bay Lipstick

NARS Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick is from their Fall 2011 collection, which is available from 13th October.

Montego Bay is a pretty pink shade which glides on smoothly and has a really nice moisturising formula. I found it difficult to actually quit applying it…just feels soooo lush.
I adore the natural pink tone, it’s a nice colour for all year round and particularly nice at the moment to  to perk up a dull winter complexion.

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Origins Plantscription Anti Aging Serum

It was with military precision that my mom used to enforce a twice daily cleanse, tone and moisturise ritual on my teenage skin, i thank her for it, but have moved on as the mighty skincare universe has definitely changed since then. Now, my absolute skincare must have is a hard working serum. I won’t be without one under my moisturiser, and I generally tend to have a different one for day and night.

I have a fair few issues with my skin, from monthly breakouts and open pores, random dullness and dehydration to slight sun damage and the first signs of ageing….wow, sounds awful, could it be worse? I want it all fixed, and want it fixed now!
My most recent serum love has been the Origins Plantscription Anti Aging Serum which i have been using day and night under my usual moisturiser. A product bursting with only natural ingredients’, it is said to have 90% of the wrinkle reducing benefits as non natural alternatives with none of the possible side effects.
For a start, it smells amazing, the essential oils literally blast through as i pump out the treatment. The serum is calming on my sometimes tight skin, it glides on effortlessly and instantly soothes and brightens. A lot of serums i have used previously have had quite a watery consistency, this one is different, its thicker but still light and easily absorbed.
The key ingredient in the Plantscription Anti Aging Serum is a plant extract called Siiga from the sacred ‘Anogeissus‘ tree. Found in the Republic of Ghana, this tree is know to have powerful benefits in the battle against ageing skin, even being hailed as the ‘natual’ retinoid – whoop to the ‘Anogeissus’ tree. Trials revealed that after just four weeks, 51% of testers noticed a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Over the weeks i have been using this serum, i have seen my skin go from dull to much perkier looking, it’s also firmer to touch and healthier overall in appearance. Although pores have not disappeared, they have slightly diminished. However, I have yet to see a change in the fine lines, but believe i need to give it more time. I’m going to stick with this serum as i really like the effect it has had so far. I also love that Plantscription is a natural product but still manages to work as hard as many of the standard anti aging formulas out there. It somehow makes me feel like i am doing something good for my skin. It’s a great choice for green beauty lovers as well as those who find many general skincare ranges too harsh or irritating on their skin. Thumbs up from me!

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NARS: Fall 2011 Collection

NARS is a staple brand in my makeup bag, particularly when it comes to bronzing and blushing. Aside from the love of their products, i am also fascinated with the continuous creative, fun and even revolutionary looks created by founder Francois Nars –  many of which are seen on the fashion runways each season. Now the mere mention of NARS fills me with excitement, admiration and big love…which is about to get a whole lot bigger.

The NARS Fall 2011 collection reveals a truly avant-garde collection. Subtle tones with splashes of deep hues to create innovative and everyday looks. Francois Nars has described the mood for the collection as “Confident, fashion forward and graphic”.

The centrepiece for me was most definitely ‘Outremer’ a single palette of cobalt blue eyeshadow which stands out from across the room. Applied sheer or intense, its more versatile than it first appears.

Outremer
Delphes

Grand Palais Duo

Mascate

Montego Bay

Oasis Lipgloss

Pago Pago

Train Bleu Velvet Matte Lip
Galion Nail Polish

The vitamin enriched NARS Concealer range has also been extended to include more shades.

I am loving the Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliners. Nine gorgeously soft, smudge free formulas, with a hint of shimmer and the coolest names eyeliner has ever seen. Choose from  ‘Abbey Road’, ‘Madison Ave’, ‘Santa Monica Boulovard’ or more. These retractable liners all have a pencil sharpener hidden away at the top too. Love.

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Pink Lady Elizabeth Hurley at Selfridges for BCA Month

Yesterday evening i attended a very touching event organised by the Estee Lauder Companies. To mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month (all of October), brands such as Aveda, Darphin, Jo Malone, Origins, Estee Lauder and many others have united in a continued effort to raise awareness of Breast Cancer. I learnt some shocking facts, and was moved by some heartfelt stories revealed in the room. Breast Cancer effects 50,000 people a year in the UK alone, including around 300 men.

the single blue stone represents the
1% of men diagnosed with breast cancer
This Thursday, 29th September, Elizabeth Hurley the Estee Lauder spokesperson and Global Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign (BCA) ambassador will be at Selfridges in London. Based in the beauty hall from 12pm – 1pm, she will meet customers and sign purchases from the Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection. If you are in town, pop in, show your support and pin on a pink ribbon. At 8pm, you can also watch as Ms Hurley helps illuminate the famous store, turning it pink.
During October, Estee Lauder Companies BCA campaign will be emphasising the importance of checking your boobies and early detection of the illness. The Pink Ribbon was founded by Evelyn Lauder back in 1992 and has had a huge impact in our knowledge of Breast Cancer today. In 2000 she founded the Global Illumination Initiative which endeavours to turn world famous buildings and statues pink in a hope to raise awareness.

Niagara Falls is turned pink

Empire State Building lit pink
Harrods, Knightsbridge illuminated pink
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Celeb Stylist Grace Woodward Goes HONK HONK At LFWE

Stylist to the stars, gorgeous Grace Woodward was presenting the catwalk shows at this year’s London Fashion Weekend.

I popped backstage on Friday to give her a quick manicure before her evening on stage. Grace already has amazingly well kept nails, so i gave them a quick file and buff followed by OPI’s Start to Finish. I then applied two coats of HONK If You Love OPI, a stunning deep, dark grape shade which looks almost black.

Grace wanted to wear a darker shade as the catwalk would feature a lot of Autumn/ Winter wear. I finished the nails with a coat of Start To Finish and then applied some OPI Drip Dry so she could continue getting ready without worrying about smudging her nails.

This shade looked lush on Grace, complimented her skin tone and looked HOT against her orange playsuit. She was also wearing two absolutely amazion rings! I have style envy!

Big heart for Grace.

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Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt Launches Mineral Makeup Range

Kimberly Wyatt, best known as one fifth of mega girl band the Pussycat Dolls, and more recently as lead judge on the Sky1 dance show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ has taken a slightly surprising turn in her career to launch a makeup range.

BM Beauty is a mineral makeup collection which Kimberly has created with Laura McComiskie – her good pal and creator of ‘Love The Planet‘ skincare products.

Kimberly and Laura
 

Last week I caught up with Kimberly who was sporting much longer locks than usual, and Laura to hear more about the new makeup collection.

Kimberly and Laura

“BM makeup is for everyone, from teens to older women and everyone in between” says Kimberly. “Its a brand that will make you look and feel good, is affordable and is also good for your skin.” In case you are wondering, the BM part stands for ‘Beautiful Movements‘. This is a website set up by Kimberly for creative minds to meet and share positive expressions.

Laura explained that the products are really versatile and can be used in various ways for different effects: “…for example, if you mix a touch of water with your favourite eyeshadow, it doubles up as a liner”.
A few of Kimberly’s must have products from the collection include the BM Lash Thickening Mascara and the nude Lip gloss which she says: “isn’t tacky and gloopy, so you won’t find your hair stuck to your face!” Laura is a massive fan of the finishing powder, which gives skin a dewy finish.

Making it through the highs and lows of creating a brand from scratch, Kimberly and Laura were oozing with delight and satisfaction at what they have achieved, and so they should. At first glance BM Beauty makeup are gorgeously high pigmented shades, with a melty smooth texture. I have a few products and i’m looking forward to testing them out. So watch this space for reviews.
All BM products are free from parabans, bismuth oxychloride and atificial colours. They have also been approved by BUAV and PETA, and won a Green Parent Natural Beauty Award 2011.

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LFW: Mulberry SS12 Inspired Nails

The Mulberry SS12 runway show paid homage to the great British seaside holiday. With retro caravans, pink lemonade, ice cream, lots candy floss colours and of course the Mulberry pooches setting the scene.
Hair was big with lots of back combing and strips of pastel colour bursting from the bottom. The makeup was girly and fresh, rosey cheeks and lips with a hint of gold. I loved the way the nails matched the candy colours of the Mulberry collection, so i have recreated the look – and quite adore it!

I used the colours listed below on the tips and then glossed over with the OPI Start to Finish
Thumb: Topshop Bee’s Knees
Index: L’Oreal Resist & Shine in 430
Middle: Barry M 305 Pink Flamingo
Ring: Nails Inc Little Miss Splendid
Pinky: Barry M 136
The Mulberry SS12 Show
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Fancy Some FREE Ojon Shampoo & Conditioner?

Tis true, Ojon are offering customers a full sized Damage Reverse Shampoo and a full sized Damage Reverse Conditioner.

Just pop down to your local John Lewis store on 29th September, pass them an empty bottle of shampoo or conditioner (any brand), and you will get these two fabulous Ojon products. It’s an offer you can’t refuse!
I am currently using Ojon for my hair and can highly recommend this trade in. Put the date in your diary ladies!