September Empties - Finally!

Quite Amazing. I have my first empties post for you! I seem to struggle to finish product, so I have decided to be more generous when applying, as I am now thinking I am being a bit miserly. It also could be that I love to try a 'few' new things, so juggle a few products at a time.

• Lush Sympathy For The Skin - A cute tub of hand of body lotion scented lightly with vanilla and hints of banana and cocoa butter which I quite enjoyed. I did find this only mildly hydrating, with the lotion sitting on my skin on drying. I do not think I would repurchase.
• Kiehl's Deluxe Hand and Body Lotion "Coriander" - A light lotion scented with coriander. Normally I am adverse to anything coriander in the culinary sense. This lotion was a surprise. A delightful "non ol' lady' powdered floral. Light in texture but perfectly hydrating. I will repurchase again.
• SkinCeuticals Sheer  Physical UV Defense. With an impressive SPF 50 rating this sunscreen has been wonderful for my oily, pigment prone skin. It is as the name suggests. sheer on application and does not look shiny. I has some initially whiteness but this disappears almost immediately. Absorbs well when used on its own and works well under my foundation. I even touch up during the day without messing my foundation. I have not had any breakouts from this sunscreen. Works well and works hard. This small bottle lasts for ages. I already have repurchased.
• Clarins Moisture-Rich Body Lotion - One of my favourite unscented all-round super hydrating body moisturiser. Thicker in texture than the above two- but absorbs well so still good for hot days. I have repurchased a number of times.
• Nars Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. This needs no introduction. For good reason this eye primer is many people's favourite. Colourless with no residue. Keeps shadows fresher for longer. New one already in daily use.
• Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester 15 - I love this product which I reviewed here. If tightening and brightening is your goal this could be your saviour. I have repurchased.

It is gratifying to have these empties to show you. Only one miss in a post of many good tried and trusted products. Which product do you always have to have back-up of?

Giorgio Armani in Venomous Green- Fall 2013

Giorgio Armani's second palette for Fall 2013 is Venomous Green. This palette is a winner for me as the green look you get from this trio is bold an unusual. As with Mystic Blue (reviewed here) it is a double tiered palette, with a cheek powder on the top and a trio of shadows on the bottom. The cheek colour is more pink toned than the one in Mystic Blue. It is very light on my somewhat NC25 complexion and acts more as a natural accent than proper cheek colour. I prefer the colour in Mystic blue over this one, but with such a bold eye this works to temper the entire look, so cheeks and eyes do not compete for centre stage. The powder is soft and finely milled, as one would expect from high-end Armani. The star of the palette is of course the three exquisite shadows. They are highly pigmented and swatch in one swipe. They require a little more attention when applying on the eye. Primer, patting, blending and patting some more will be needed to make the middle shade pop as it should.

Cheek colour still with shimmer overlay

The first shade is a sooty dense bark brown (almost matte) with warm toned reflects. It is not a true duo chrome but does have hints of bronze interlaced with the bark shade.This shade is more complex than the dark shade in Mystic Blue. Perfect for lining the eye. Of course you can add it to you outer v or use as a crease shade. The middle shade is a vibrant  forest green with a blue undertone and a satin finish. This colour sold the palette for me. This can be used in the outer v, a liner for the more shy green lover or all over the lid for dramatic effect.The last shade is an icy (not frosty) arctic green that leans blue in different lights. This shade is more shimmery than the other two. Good for the inner eye area or in the crease to help soften the forest green and to blend out. The bark shade and the arctic green could be used as a duo for a more monochromatic look. All three are a contrast in colour and finish. One might find a green palette to be restricting but I do think it is actually quite versatile.

Angled to show difference in texture in all three shades

Perfect for Fall. This palette could have done without the cheek colour, but I love it all the same.
What are your favourite colours to wear on your eyes for fall - do you love or hate a coloured eye and always reach for neutrals?

Shu Uemura Single pressed eyeshadows in G Copper, Soft Copper, Medium Purple and Medium Brown

I put together an autumnal Shu Uemura palette. I chose four single eyeshadows and popped it into one of their custom palettes. It is one of the best custom systems I have come across. The custom palette is compact and easy to store. The shades I chose were G Copper, ME  Soft Copper, IR Medium Purple and ME Medium Brown. G denotes a glitter, ME a metallic and. IR an iridescent. All go on smooth and blend well. G Copper is a bright pumpkin shade which is sparkly but no chunky glitter. Soft copper is a copper with tones of rose.- quite metallic. Medium purple is a satin red purple. Medium brown is a deep brown with slight golden undertones, slightly metallic finish. All four are soft to the touch and highly pigmented. The texture of this quad are silky and a dream to work with. Both G Copper and Soft Copper can be layered over the two deeper shades for a multi- dimensional effect. All tone into each other seamlessly.

L-R G Copper 261, ME Soft Copper 270, IR Med purple 795,
ME Medium Brown 885

I think it is time to put together another custom palette. Do you have any suggestions?

Perricone Super Berry with Acai Supplement

I mentioned a few weeks back I had bought the Perricone MD Acai Berry antioxidant supplement. I am a few days shy of finishing my months supply and I have already purchased a replacement box. It is very hard to judge a product that works in the 'back rooms' as it were.
According to the Perricone website this is what the supplement is working on:

• Helps combats the signs of premature aging.
• Promotes both cardiovascular and digestive tract health.
• Amino acids help sustain healthy muscles
• Aids in the absorption of Omega-3 fish Oil

Well, as you can see it is hard to say definitely that it is working. But, since using it my skin has a wonderful glow to it. I have added the Perricone MD Wrinkle serum ( to review soon) to my morning regime during the same period. The combination of both seems to have perked my skin up. "The proof is in the pudding", so the saying goes, and I can only say that my skin looks healthier. I have used various other supplements and other Perricone supplements, but I can say I have seen results with the Super Berry one in particular. I think as with all natural supplements full results only 'arrive' in 2-3 months.

It comes in travel friendly single dose sachets. I drink it with about 500ml of water in the early part of the morning. Make sure to stir well to mix the product properly into the water. I prefer slightly chilled water for best taste.
Are you a believer in supplements?

Giorgio Armani Fall 2013- Mystic Blue

Giorgio Armani released their fall 2013 right at the beginning of the season even before leaves were turning. Before we have moved onto later fall releases lets revel in this beautiful eye and face palette - Mystic Blue. I would like to thank the lovely lady who runs Kaisobssesions for organising my Armani pieces. I have previously reviewed my picks from the Eyes To Kill Intense shadows here. Armani reformulated their shadows towards the end of last year. The shadows themselves are highly pigmented and long wearing. They blend well but have a drier texture than Tom Ford or Rouge Bunny Rouge. Mystic blue is a double tiered palette. The bottom tier has a trio of blues. As you might be aware of now the middle shade has an overspray that reveals a pop turquoise colour. I have show it in all its virginal glory- unsullied by my fingers. In the watches below you can clearly see the middle shade is a darling turquoise blue, a surprise for a fall palette. The left shade is a granite dark brown for lining or smoking up the look. The right shade is a periwinkle blue. The top tier houses a golden peach cheek colour that is finely milled and is similar in tones the the Tom Ford Fire Lust illuminator (reviewed here) for summer 2013, but with more pigment as it is a powder not a cream. It gives a lovely flush to the cheeks.

Cheek, Eyes shades

I do not reach for blue palettes too often, but this has such a good mix that I am enjoying using it. I will review Venomous Green, also from the fall 2013 collection soon. Has Fall 2013 been a hit or miss for you so far?

Charlotte Tilbury Retoucher in Shade 3 - Holy Grail?!

The Charlotte Tilbury Retoucher found it's way into my basket at the last minute. a strange choice for an impulse buy, but it has turned out to be one of my favourite CT products so far!
I need a good concealer to conceal my chronic puffiness under my eyes. This concealer seems to have all the things I love from my other concealers, all in one amazing formula. It has the coverage of my Cle de peau, the lightness from my By Terry, the creaminess of my Chanel Correcteur Perfection and the illuminating qualities of the By Terry Touche Voloutee . I have oily skin that gets dehydrated. This concealer lasted all day with no creasing or patchiness at all!. The easy to use click pen is good for direct application- though I typically place it on the back of my hand. I  use my fingers and have achieved a seamless finish. It can also be used on any red areas of the face and if you choose a lighter shade can be used to illuminate the high points of the face further.
The benefits of this concealer are described on the Charlotte Tilbury site as :

• A hydrating complex keeps skin plumped up and moisturised for a natural, luminous finish
• A black tea derivative, rich in vitamins, fills in hollowed out skin grooves, creating a smooth, seamless surface
• A breakthrough Lipo-Siliconic compound and special elastomer pearls create an invisible plaster over the imperfections, creating a natural, traceless finish

Shade 3

The shade selection runs a bit light . There are only four shades. The first two look quite pink and shade four probably for more latino skins. Darker girls, hopefully she will release more shades soon. Three is perfect for my light/med skin tone. It is slightly lighter than my foundation shades . For reference I am Giorgio Armani 5.5, approx. MAC NC 25, Nars sheer matte in Sante Fe. I was so bedazzled by all the pretty colour in the CT eye quads that I nearly overlooked this excellent product!
What new product have you found lately?

Presenting :Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet, Amethyst Aphrodisiac and Dark Pearl - Darling!

If you have been living under a rock, I might forgive you for not knowing about Charlotte Tilbury and her new makeup collection. A huge offering for a new luxury line, from foundations, eyelash curlers and gorgeous eye palettes. You are spoilt for choice as you choose which alter ego you will be today. This concept of reinvention is of course what I love. Today I will show you three of her Colour Chameleon Colour morphing eye shadow pencils - Amethyst Aphrodisiac (night),  Bronzer Garnet (day) and Dark Pearl (day). These pencils are paired in to day/night options with them being best to enhance your eye colour. The latter two I bought, are meant for green eyes and the Dark Pearl the day option for brown eyes. I have brown eyes and thought the two pencils for green eyes would bring out more of the greenish flecks, plus I love these shades (rules are mean't to be broken?!). The retro styled packaging is fresh and new. The colours of the pencils are colour coded on the ends for easy use.

Amethyst Aphrodisiac

Bronzed Garnet

Dark Pearl

Bronzed Garnet, Dark Pearl, Amethyst Aphrodisiac

Bronzed Garnet is a bronze shade warmed with the light of the red tone of a garnet. Dark Pearl is a taupe that in different lights and skin tones will pull more gold or purple. Amethyst Aphrodisiac is a warm gem purple. These shades are all metallic. I did not find them particularly shimmery or sparkly, but strongly pigmented. I wore it straight onto the lid with no primer. It wore seven hours, when I did experience some fading. Once applied they dry quickly, so work fast if you want to blend. I suggest a brush with a bit of firmness.You could layer some shadows over for extra impact or keep it simple as one shade. They set with no tacky feeling when opening your lids, which I sometimes experience with some of my other shadow sticks. A simple intense eye can be achieved with the cute pencil, in no time at all. They are quite stout, so I am hoping I will not sharpen them away in one twist!

If you were like me and starved for reviews and swatches on the Charlotte Tilbury collection, I do hope this helps. Are you loving this collection as much as I am? I have quite a few more Charlotte Tilbury product to review for you all. Also a heads up if you are still living under that rock :)- Wayne Goss of  waynegossmakeupartist fame is launching his  makeup brushes tomorrow - ready...get set .....go!

My Lust List -September 2013

Hello!!
I was tagged by Dr Ebru of ChicScience (Thank you!) on twitter  to post my lust list.  This is going to be hard to narrow down as so many wonderful collections have just been released. I really commend the creative brains behind these brands, for continually producing such lust worthy collections  throughout the year.
Well here goes....

Tom Ford  Eye Primer Duo

I always use eye primer. This must be good as I love all things Tom Ford- right?

Tom Ford She Wolf

Tom Ford's new collection has two gorgeous trio's. If I had to choose just one it would be She Wolf.

Armani Rouge Ecstasy

The New Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy CC Lipsticks - these are mean't to be the creme de creme of Armani lipsticks. Since I adore his others lipsticks I must have a few of these. Good colour offering too!

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon
in Amethyst Aphrodisiac

Charlotte Tilbury just launched her makeup range. I would love her whole collection!

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in Glamour Muse

Suqqu Fall has one quad I need. Its the hot pink shade that I love!

Suqqu EX- 16

Foreo Luna. I love skincare gadgets. This one promises cleaner skin. It has an anti- aging component that promises firmer skin and better product absorption. On my Radar......

Foreo Luna

Lust List ........