Bee Loves Beauty

Primark S/S13 New Season Picks

Bee Loves — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:07:20 +0000

Hi everyone Just a bit of window shopping this morning as Instyle has got pics of a few items that are out this month at Primark and I quite fancy a few of them. Let’s have a look…

“Cool cat jumper” out on Wednesday is definitely the pick of them all. Roll on payday!

I love an epic maxi skirt when I can get one. I’m hoping to wear a lot of this kind of outfit this year.

I think the studs on this sweater are star shaped. I love the colour and the stitch pattern of this knit. I hope it’s not made of bobbly cheap yarn but I bet it is. I’ll definitely check it out in store though.

This blouse is kind of nuts but it’s exactly the kind of mad cat lady gear I wear at home on my own…

I picked this because it’s so springlike, and I miss spring so much! Something to wear to a June wedding with lovely shoes, maybe?

If you don’t fancy Primark, that’s not all I’ve got today. I just enjoyed a look at Daily Dishonesty , a graphic designer’s attractive take on the daily lies we tell ourselves and others. Bacon is a food group you know . Check it out.

I hope you’re all having a great weekend! Love Bee

Diorskin Nude BB Creme – BB of my dreams!

Bee Loves — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:00:47 +0000

I honestly can’t believe how good this product is. Sometimes premium products are just drugstore products in expensive packaging. Diorskin Nude BB Creme is some kind of heavenly face ambrosia in make up form. I don’t know if BB Cream is really anything other than a light foundation, and when I’m wearing this free sample of Dior’s latest product, I honestly don’t care.

Look. At. My. Skin.

Ok, this stuff is expensive at £30 for 30ml. I’m not suggesting you rush out and buy it without trying it. However, they are sampling it at Dior counters at the moment and I really recommend giving it a go.

Dior foundation sample card

The Dior Complexion – frankly I want it.

Cute little 5-day sample bottle, I wish they were bigger!

Like most BB Creams, this is a light foundation product. I’ve found that I like to use a bit more of it than with other products, but the finish is phenomenal. It’s light but it definitely covers and blends really nicely while still seeming undetectable. It looks a lot like skin. Not *my* skin, some kind of superhuman, even and dewy skin that maybe angels have?

Sigh. It’s love again. Foundation love. I’m adding this to my wishlist. 5/5

Quick Sampler: Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

Bee Loves — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:30:42 +0000

In this image (above) I’m wearing Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in Shade 2

On Monday I popped into Debenhams to pick up a sample of YSL’s Touche Elcat Foundation. They’re sampling again and I thought I’d get a match for my winter skin shade to try out. While I was waiting for the YSL lady to appear I was drawn to the Urban Decay counter and couldn’t resist asking to try the Naked Skin foundation.

The lovely sales assistant applied it quickly and efficiently with a brush and -wow- I love this make up! It is a perfect match for my skin and looks incredibly natural. Just like skin!

Thanks to the scarcity of daylight, it’s really hard to photograph how much like skin it really looks. Trust me, it’s one of those where you see yourself in the mirror and go “Ooh! Good skin day!”

It took me quite a while to get home in the rain, and I’m not wearing concealer or anything, but I was so enamoured with the finish I left it on all day. I imagine, given a primed base and time to apply it carefully, the finish I could get with this product would be really wonderful. I’m much more impressed with it than I thought I would be.

Naked Skin Foundation from Urban Decay is available in 18 shades and is £27.

I also picked up my 7-day sample of YSL Touche Eclat Foundation and found that Elizabeth Arden are also doing deluxe foundation samples of their Flawless Finish sponge on make up. I was hoping to pick up a sample of Dior BB cream and the new YSL serum but they won’t be in for a few days, I’ll have to go back!

I love a free sample haul, have you tried any good samples lately?

The Problem With Pink – Growing Out White Hair For Beginners

Bee Loves — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:00:38 +0000

It’s time for adventures with hair dye again! I’ve changed my hair colour from black to back-with-red-stripes and it’s made me much happier with it.

From my personal journal…

I’ve been trying trying trying to deal with my all-white hair roots for weeks. Backstory: I started going white at 16 and now very nearly all of my hair is white. It is dyed black. I’ve got just over an inch of white roots.

I’ve read about PPD in hair colour causing anaphylaxis even after years of successful use. I know my “quirky” brushes with allergic death quite well and the chance of something like that happening to me is definitely higher than for an average person. Especially considering the fact that I dye so regularly and use dark permanent dyes. I can’t help thinking it is probably a matter of time before something happens.

So I figured, no time like the present, I’ll stop dyeing and grow it out. My hair grows fast so it won’t be long before I have a respectable chin length white bob. I even bought a couple of gorgeous hats.

The inbetween stage is bound to be a bit ugly but I’ m a brazen woman with no f***s to give so I was just going to style it out. However, there was one thing I didn’t expect, and it has ruined the whole thing. My hair is thick, but it is bright, transparent white. My occasionally sore scalp hates winter and is bright pink. Depending where my hair parts, my head either appears to have bald spots, or that gut clenchingly icky appearance of a very old man’s fuchsia coloured scalp under transparent hair. It doesn’t style out, it’s horrible! The effect is compounded by the rest of my hair being black and while I know that growing out can and will be achieved in a non winter season, it won’t be this one. I have cracked on this attempt. I can’t stand it.

I’m going to do something a bit creative with my hair to start gradually lightening it as it grows in, mostly with some red stripes (highlights to start) and slightly lighter than black, burgundy roots.

I do worry about PPD and I want to go white and stop using permanent dyes but my reflection is making me feel genuinely wretched when I’m usually so happy with my appearance. I capitulate to indulging in this risky behaviour for vanity. I plan to go PPD cold turkey by the end of the year though.

Experiencing Decleor Loveliness from Liberty

Bee Loves — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:34:31 +0000

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a lady who works with Liberty to ask whether I would like to try one of the products they sell and give you an honest review of it. I agreed and a few days later I received this Decleor balm, which was both wrapped in pretty tissue paper and secured in a sturdy envelope – I love receiving well packaged deliveries as I feel it means the sender has taken care that it gets to me in top condition.

I’m a total convert to “night” products after my experience with both Clarins Multi Active Night and Lancome Visionnaire has demonstrated to me that the most beneficial thing I can do for my skin is apply something truly effective to it at night. I was delighted to see that this product is a 100% natural aromatherapy balm with no parabens or other artificial ingredients.

The product itself comes in a small (15ml) jar which is nicely stable and minimalist/pretty for your bedside table. The jar comes with a small plastic spatula to allow you to scoop a small amount of balm out of the pot without putting your fingers in the pot or getting balm under your nails, which is a nice touch.

Pictured above, the jar with the mini spatula on top, loaded with an application of the balm.

When you open it, oh wow, the smell is wonderful. It takes me right back to the aromatherapy course I did as a teenager. Lavender is the strongest note, and I can definitely pick out the geranium, above some other comforting, floral scents. It’s certainly scented, but due to the careful mixing of pure essential oils, the smell isn’t powerful or unnaturally lingering, it’s very natural and soothing and ideally suited to night time.

Above, a small amount of the balm on the back of my hand so you can see the texture.

The essential oils in the product are blended in a base of Jojoba, Hazel and Beeswax and it makes a light, oily balm which feels very slightly scrunchy but becomes completely smooth on warming and is easily absorbed into the skin. I’ve been using it every night for a couple of weeks and it’s become a pleasant ritual, the instructions for application couldn’t be easier, warm a little of the balm between your palms and apply to your face using light strokes, finishing by sweeping your hands over your entire face. Not only does it leave my skin feeling lovely and ready for sleep, as an unexpected bonus my boyfriend tells me “you smell lovely” each time I use it, I can’t argue with that!

After a couple of weeks I feel confident to report the results of the product and I’m really pleased with it. It claims to help tone the skin and protect against free radicals, soften, soothe and fight aggressors and keep skin hydrated by limiting the deterioration of skin lipids. These claims aren’t *too* bold and from my experience I can definitely agree, I wake up with plump hydrated skin which feels soothed and soft. I can’t tell whether “aggressors” have been *fought* but I can agree that applying anything to the skin will form a barrier against free radicals (unless you’re applying free radicals, obviously) and that adding oil to the skin absolutely does limit the deterioration of skin lipids. So for the most part it does what it says on the tin which is genuinely unusual and impressive for a premium night product of this type.

This product, and a full range of other Decleor products and beauty gift sets can be bought from the Liberty site at the moment. This product is £34.50 for 15ml which is really quite pricey. However, a very small amount of the balm is used for each application and it’s a genuine lovely, 100% natural aromatherapy treat for the face. If you wanted to buy yourself something really pleasant to use as a treat, this is a definite contender. There are also Decleor beauty gift sets which offer value for money and some price reductions on the site at the moment which are very tempting indeed.

Now I’ve tested this product and found I love it, I’m definitely going to keep using it, alternating with my Clarins and Lancome favourites to get the benefit of all three. As an oily balm it balances the rich moisture of the Clarins multi active night and the nourishing serum of the Lancome Visionnaire as a top three products which have it all in terms of night time skin care. Thanks Liberty!

As above, product was provided free of charge for my consideration. The opinions are my own!

MUA Offer Alert

Bee Loves — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:45:12 +0000

Click image to visit the site

You’ll have to get in quick if you want this offer as it ends at 5pm on Thursday 13th December.

Right now MUA are giving 40% off all orders (minimum spend £10) and throwing in 5 free “Nail Quake” shatter nail polishes with every qualifying order. They’re celebrating reaching 40,000 “likes” on Facebook, which is a lot of fans!

They’re a great value cosmetics company. If you’re wondering what to spend your £10 on to qualify, the Undressed palette (£4) is still one of my favourites, and the eye primer and blushers hold their own against the most expensive ones in my collection. They’ve also just launched magnetic nail polish for £2.99 and “Nail constellation” effects polishes too.

Not included in the promotion, but looking very desirable in their own right, they’re just launched a full range of brushes between £1 and £5 which all look great.

Let me know if you go for the offer, and what you get!

Foundation Before and After: Max Factor Facefinity 3 in 1

Bee Loves — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:46:27 +0000

Max Factor have a new foundation out. You might have seen a few sachets kicking around in magazines or at Boots. I’ve got one

I’ve got to admit, I didn’t expect to like this product much. I expected it to come out pinkish, and dry on my skin. I also didn’t expect much in the way of performing like a concealer. It’s £11.99 for the usual size, which is 30ml I think. This makes it less than half the price of a premium foundation, and around the same price as something by L’Oreal or Revlon.

I got three uses out of the sachet and, by the third use I was so impressed with it I decided you needed to see Shocking Before and After Images of the product at work. I’m going to warn you, my winter skin without makeup on was *not* looking good (this is what I get for flagging with my cleanse, tone and moisturise routine!). I tried to make the shots of before and after as similar as possible so you can really see how well it covers.

Ok so here goes: there follows pictures of my skin with NO cosmetics, and then my skin with the new foundation ONLY.

Ready?

No make up! Aaargh make it stop!

Just the foundation. What blemishes??

As you can see, this stuff works really well as a foundation and concealer combined. It also evens itself and sits nicely, which I guess is its “primer” action. It is surprisingly even and smooth for a product which has quite a thick consistency.

Because honestly I look a bit spooky with just a foundation and no colour cosmetics, here it is with some eyes, lips and cheeks added:

Hi, I’m a decent full coverage foundation for under £12!

I’m going to come back soon with a bit more of a review and a Face of the Day for this look. I think I should let you know that there’s an offer on Max Factor at Boots at the moment, if you spend £15 you get a gift box with products worth £29 which looks very covetable, especially the lipstick.

Have you tried this product? What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Premium Pick: Clarins Instant Definition Mascara

Bee Loves — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:20:54 +0000

It was quite a few months ago I was given a sample size of Clarins Instant Definition Mascara to try. Having a few mascaras already open, I left it sealed until I could justify opening a new one. Why did I wait? I’ve been missing out!

Every now and then I’ll come over all “whuteverrr” about mascara, and then I’ll try a good one and it will blow my mind. Like Lancome Doll Eyes, sometimes when a product is good, it’s really good. Clarins Instant Definition Mascara is brilliant.

It’s a combination of a really excellent, deep black bold formula which builds up in no time to make lashes longer and thicker and generally epic, and a unique brush. Lots of brushes have this idea, but this is the best execution of the idea I’ve seen. The short bristles at the end of the brush make it incredibly easy to capture even short lashes at the corners of the eye. The longer bristles do a brilliant job at loading and lengthening the main lashes. Suddenly I’m sporting the biggest lashes I’ve ever had in less time than it takes to say “instant definition”. Really impressive!

Lashy

I love this mascara, it definitely makes my top 5 of all time, possibly top 3. This little tube is a serious contender. It’s better than the other Clarins mascaras I’ve used, and I like it more than Benefit’s They’re Real! . Clarins Instant Definition Mascara is not cheap, at £20 for 7ml. However, if you’re spending £20 on a mascara, you won’t be disapointed by this one.

What’s your all time favourite mascara? Let me know in the comments

Nails of the Now: Sally Hansen meets Models Own

Bee Loves — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 18:45:17 +0000

When I’m feeling really festive, I love bright fuchsia. When I’m feeling really super, super festive, nothing will do but GOLD. With this manicure I’ve combined the two to the maximum extent I can fit them on to my nails. Sally Hansen Insta Dri Magenta Motion (Poundland, £1) and Models Own Disco Inferno (Boots, £5) make a blazing, sparkling combination so bright, I feel like you could see my nails from space!

The huge, irregular glitter pieces in the Models Own Disco Inferno are a bit of a pain to apply, because if they end up piled atop one another they’ll flake off easily. If you take your time applying, and add a top coat, this manicure lasts at least 4 days before looking ropey. These pictures were taken on Day 3 I think.

Extreme Close Up!

This glitter is not for the faint hearted, but for a night out or the festive season, I think I am pulling it off ok – *Spangles*

The Sally Hansen polish itself is a bargain, most nails only needed one coat and it looks so even, shiny and PINK on my nails, good old Poundland

So what do you think? Too loud? Too awesome? Let me know in the comments. In case anyone is wondering, yes the glitter is a massive pain to remove, thanks for asking!

Where have I Bee-n?

Bee Loves — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:14:37 +0000

Ok, I know, it has been more than quiet around here. I’ve been pretty busy, and there’s some ~~reasons~~ ~~excuses~~ reasons for my absence.

Here’s one of the main culprits…

I’ve got Repetitive Strain Injury in my wrists. In fact, I think it is called “Work Related Upper Limb Disorder” now – catchy, yes? It’s caused by typing, and it means it hurts to type when it is bad. To help it I’ve got these splinted wrist supports to wear. They’re pretty goofy but I am focusing on how much more Batman I look around the wrist area these days.

In a much-needed update to my personal technology, I bought a Kindle Fire HD with the help of some Amazon vouchers…

It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s been a bit of a frenzy of book reading, blog reading, game playing and tweeting since it arrived a month ago. I’ve been so distracted by all that, I haven’t got my head around using it for actual blog updating myself yet. I’m hoping to learn soon!

I’ve enjoyed a wonderful visit from my lovely guest blogger and good friend Lana last week. There was lots of make up involved although the fluctuating light levels contributed to some epic photographic fails…

From barely any ambient light at all indoors…

To far, far too much outside! Overexposure (a very amateurish photography crime) we are in you.

We didn’t just fool around with red eyeshadow though. There was lots of other fun times keeping me from blogging. It ended up a bit like this, if I’m honest…

So, yanno… I couldn’t write all that much.

For the rest of my time I’ve been working, I’ve been knitting, I’ve been going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week for a bit more than two months! I’m quite proud of this but I haven’t lost any weight really. I think it’s all the food.

I’ve been finding the exercise more interesting than the restricted eating part of the healthy lifestyle. That is the right way around if you ask me. I’ve started actually dreaming about exercise. Unbelievable!

And in the very last bit of news…

My boyfriend has been participating in MOVEMBER. There are just a couple of days of Movember left, and if you are growing facial hair, sponsoring growers of hair, or otherwise donating, props to you! If not, it’s not too late.

I love moustaches. I wish it was Movember every day!

So that’s me. I hope my wrists get better, the light gets better, and I get busier around here, and I hope you’re all having an excellent November too

Thanks for visiting!