Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow

I think this is a relativley new product from Shu Uemura. It is a backstage inspired product, designed to enhance make–up finish and deliver a natural glow. It is a good light cream for skin that looks tired in the mornings as it helps provide a sort of 'radiance' to the skin.

It claims to make the skin feels healthier, revitalised and renewed after a few weeks. The complexion appears more even and pores look less visible. 

It has an ever so slight green tinge to it, not picked up by the camera.

Blended in, I feel it really brightens things the skin up and makes my face look healthier (especially after a heavy night out). It doesn't clog up the pores, instead helps smooth out the skin to make make up application better.

It can be used in place of your usual daily moisturiser and I find it a great base for make up. I use this on mornings where my skin looks that extra yucky from the night before, and always for a party or a big thing. What I do is I'll put it over a moisturiser, and let it sink in for a bit before I apply foundation on top. The cream glows through the foundation in all the right places and I like the effect it gives on a photo. I usually use this for a night out.  I suppose its comparable to the Mac Strobe Cream but thinner in consistency and more subtle with a natural looking finish.

Foundation applied on top

You can get this from SpaceNK or any Shu Uemura store or counter. Priced at £35 for 50ml, its pretty steep. But its a really good pick me up for fatigued skin.


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Maybelline 24 hour superstay foundation

For a while now, I have been thinking about buying a lower end foundation to wear to work and just being out and about in during the daytime. I was thinking about getting the Bourgois Healthy Mix Foundation, but I thought it would give the same 'dewey' effect as my Chanel Vitalumiere and Mac Face & Body (both which I have problems working with) and wanted something a bit more matt which I can mix with moisteriser if I wanted a lighter coverage.

So, I picked up my bottle from Boots for £9.99 (for 30ml). 

It comes in a heavy-ish glass bottle, with spf 19 (what an odd number). Mine is in the shade 048 SUN BEIGE, which I think may be a shade too light for me, but the one up was far too dark. Not a problem as I swipe my Clinique 'Almost Bronzer' on top.

It's micro-flex formula is meant to provide 24 hr stay with no transfer, which is great news for my lighter work shirts and tall people's clothes when they hug me.

It comes in a pump which is also good. It is oil free and claims to be suitable for all skin types, which I don't think it true. Its an odd foundation. The texture is kinda thick but doesn't feel heavy on application to the face. Though, I find that I have to work with it quite fast as it dries up pretty quickly on my skin. But then it still feels a bit tacky to the touch.

Foundation brushes left streaks on my face, so it worked best with my fingers (although I'm going to try in with a stippling brush tomorrow). I used about two full pumps for my face which I think is quite a lot of product. Plus, I had to put on two layers to get a decent coverage.

Once blended in, it doesn't look too bad. But I think for the slightly more mature ladies, it will sink into any minor laughter lines. I haven't worn this for a full 24 hours straight so cannot comment on its longetivity, but I suspect it wouldn't last that long. I did wear this between 3pm and 12.30am the other day, and I have to say, it did a pretty good job of holding up. One thing I have to mention, is that is photographs brilliantly. For instance, even with the expensive Nars sheer glow, my t-zones will start shining through towards the end of the night. But with this Maybelline one, when I looked at pictures that was taken towards the end of that  night - my skin looked really good in the photos - no shiny forehead or any of that sort. But, again, during application, make sure its very even or else it fades in patches which can make the skin look horrid by the end of the night.

Overall, I don't totally regret getting this foundation (although I probably won't repurchase), I just find it odd and full of contradictions. What I will do however is every now and then, mix it with some Mac Face & Body or moisteriser to thin it down a bit and help give it a bit of a glow.

As for non-transfer, the picture below answers that point!

This was from just patting the tissue on my face!

Denman D3 Kiss Brushes

Do you remember you/your brother/sister/mum/dad/uncle/aunt etc having one of these a some point in your life?

I took (stole) my brother's when I went off to university, and it ended up in one of my friend's house after a few years. Its probably still there.

Seeing these new D3 Kiss brushes was a bit like a trip down memory lane for me.

They are pretty good brushes, although you may have to wear them in the first couple times you use them because the bristles may feel a bit harsh on the scalp at first. The semi rounded handle  provides a very good, steady grip when blow drying and I manage to get poker straight or slightly wavy hair when I use this. I'm thinking for hair thinner than mine, it will be good for volumising. The smaller, red one stays in my handbag when I need to smooth my hair down throughout the day.

As these brushes last a lifetime, they kind of hold a sentimental feeling for me - I am such a sucker for reminiscing!

Available in red and black, and priced at just over £7, check out their website for the full range.


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Lierac Paris Skincare

Lierac is a french skincare brand that I've been hearing more and and more about recently.  It may have been around for ages and I've only just picked up on it. BritishBeautyBlogger, someone whose articles I really enjoy reading, recently wrote about using Lierac products as staples in her skincare regime. It made me more curious.

There is a website (the UK version could be better) but other that that, I didn't find a lot of information about Lierac online. Its main philosophy is the use of botanical - plants, flowers, root, leaves etc - fused with technology (increasing the effectiveness of the ingredients?) that will help renew and restore skin. 

My problem areas from the beginning of time are the dark circles under the eyes (which I think I have finally found something that is helping combat this - for another post), darkness around the mouth and brown spots on the sides of my face. Very common ailments for indian skin. Sun screen is helping to stop the development of more dark spots. My skin is also ridiculously senstive, and gets all bumpy around the cheeks whenever its gets in contact with a product it doesn't like.


I have been trying a couple of Lireac products for about three months now, and thought enough time had passed to give my opinion on them.


First up, my: The favourite 'Apaisance Anti- redness fluid cream'. 

The cream contains :

• Linden Mallow extracts - limit inflammation and increase the tolerance of the skin.
• Oat Extracts - helps the skin to fight against external factors and their accelerating effects of skin aging thanks to their richness in essential amino acids
• Algae Extracts and Correcting Pigments - reduce the appearance of small blood vessels on the skin surface.

I like using this in the mornings before a moisteriser when not using a serum. I concentrate around the mouth area and have noticed that it has evened out the skin time ever so slightly. It might be due to the tinge of green in the product itself that gives an illusion of a more even complexion, but it is really exciting and have found myself a bit addicted to the stuff. It is not a serum and has more of a 'lotion' feel to it. I find that it sits really well under a moisteriser and foundations. 

Next up is the 'Apaisance Dermo-Comfort Cream'. 

This cream contains :

• Plant Extracts - Also with Linden and Mallow and Oat to strengthen the skin's natural barrier to help protect the skin from external aggressions
• Indian Ginseng Extract - intensifies the anti aging and protection action.

I use this once a day, either under a serum in the mornings when I am not wearing make up or as a night cream. This is because the consistency is thick and my skin is loving it in the winter at the moment. Sometimes I use the two both together at night to give my skin that extra treat. They make my face feel plumper and look a bit better.

Both products are from their anti-aging range, and designed for sensitive skin. I have been quite reluctant to start such products as I don't want to start too early. But now that I have (ahem) just ended my 20's (I'm cool, I'm cool about it.... I think...!), I've been slowly introducing it to my routine. 

I alternate between different products because I don't want my skin getting used to anything as eventually, I find things can stop working for my skin. Both priced at £30 for 40ml, you can peruse their entire range on the Lookfantastic website.

Side note: Lierac is part of Eco-Emballages and participate in a European programe to eliminate and recycle all components of their packaging. What a wonderful thing.

A book, some movies and my nails

I have about three books that I have started reading but yet to finish, as well as about eight that are waiting on my shelf at home or my desk at work to begin. This is not like me, I usually only read one before going on to another, but I will start picking up the pace again soon. Despite the abundance of books I need to get through, I did an impulse buy on Amazon, and bought 'Richard' by Ben Myers.

The novel is a fictional take on the life of Richey Edwards of Manic Street Preachers. Richey was very depressed, disappeared and has never been found. The author is a few years older than me, but would have been a teenager like me when Rickey vanished in 1995. Less than a year before, Kurt Cobain had killed himself and I still remember how awful it was for Nirvana and MSP fans to lose such huge idols in such a short period of time. I remember the Samaritans launching a nationwide campaign with REM's 'Everybody hurts' out of concern and I think it was backed by the NME, Melody Maker and the Big Issue. Ben Myers has apparently done tonnes of research for this novel, so it would be interesting to read his take on this whole tragedy, and I suppose what Richey was going through in this mind. I don't know if he got the blessing of Richey's family or the rest of the Manics, but I really hope he did. I am really nervous about reading this novel especially with the timing, but at the same time feel like I need to and should read it. I think I'll do a review once I've read it.


I am a big fan of the Bengali film maker, Satyajit Ray. His most notable works are the Apu Trilogy, which are amazing and I recommend this series to any Independent film fans. A very kind friend got me three more of his movies in a box set. Its the Volume 1 of his collection.

I have already watched Charulata (The Lonely Wife) which is an adaption of a novel by the Bengali novelist, Rabindranth Tagore. But looking forward to revisiting it again along with the other two films. As this was a gift, I am not sure where this came from, but you can get it from Amazon, Play.com, HMV amongst other places.


On a lighter note, I got myself done gel nails with white tips today... and I love them! I took a couple of pictures when I was waiting for my fish and chips.

 

 


I have only ever got gel nails done with the white acrylic tips, and I find that over time, it makes my nails very weak over time. I had a conversation with the lady who did my nails and she said that I need to take them off professionally so not to damage my real nails. As previously, I would dunk them in nail varnish remover and peel them off. The first time I tried them was in Portugal, and every now and them I treat myself to them. Prices range from £25 - £60 for a set depending on where you go. Plus you have to ensure you go back to maintain them so it can prove to be costly for just nails. But I do love the clean, healthy look it gives. Plus, I can paint over them with a different colour and still keep the french manicure look underneath. It looks great, but be aware that they can weaken the nails if not looked after properly.