Festive Beauty 2022: Day 14

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In the run up to Christmas I'm blogging limited edition, beauty collections from the 'Holiday' period every day. Last time was Kiko's 2019 Magical Holiday liquid highlight. At the bottom of the post there's an online offer and over on The Shoe Girl Diaries I'm sharing festive shoes from my Irregular Choice collection.

Festive Beauty 2022: Day 10

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Every day up until Christmas, I'll be blogging past and present limited edition beauty releases from 'Holiday' collections. Yesterday I shared Lancôme's gold lipstick from 2019 and I'm on a similar colour scheme today. Remember to check the bottom of the post for a discount code or free gift offer and also see The Shoe Girl Diaries, where I'm sharing Irregular Choice Christmas shoes from my collection.

Flashback Beauty Friday 73: No7 Sultry Nude Lipgloss

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Sometimes as I'm writing these posts, I realise I may have had more than the item shown from the collection, this is one such week, but more on that later. Last time, I shared the BeneFit Black Orchid eyeshadow in I Pretended Not To Notice. I forgot to mention that I thought the shade name was weird, but in a good way. Imagine someone asking what colour you're wearing and replying "I Pretended Not To Notice"! It may not be a good descriptor for the colour, but I'm sure the name would stick in your head. This week, I'm going back to an old No7 Summer collection. 

Flashback Beauty Friday 69: No7 Petal 2009

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I hope you're all well this week? Today I have a selection of items from 2009. I had already photographed the blushes for this post, then later discovered I owned the eyeshadow quad from the same range. I decided to retake all the photos so you could see all the items together. Last week, I shared the Summer 2007 YSL palettes if you missed that.

Festive Beauty: Day 17

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I'm back with another Festive Beauty post, sorry for the long gap, I've been exhausted and needed a break. I've also been getting very frustrated as we haven't had daylight at all this week, not even an hour, so I can't take any photos. Anyway, my limited edition pieces today date back to 2010 and as always read to the bottom for an online treat. My Irregular Choice Festive Footwear post will be up later, but I did post a new one this morning of the original Santa heels (I was a day behind on there).

Festive Beauty: Day 12

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I've definitely bitten off more than I can chew with my post today and it's going to take more than a day to organise the photos, so I've abandoned that to bring you a quick one. Yesterday I shared my By Terry highlighter from 2020 and I managed to take swatches of that today, so will update that post soon. Likewise the cream eyeshadow in the advent calendar...and there was something else, oh the unused MAC Shiny Pretty Things, yep that'll get updated too.  My Irregular Choice Festive Footwear will be up later on The Shoe Girl Diaries and remember to read to the bottom of the post for a little treat.

Festive Beauty: Day 5

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Day 5 of Festive Beauty and we're heading back to 2009. If you missed my post yesterday, I compared the new Too Faced Cinnamon Bun Melted Matte to previous shades and over on The Shoe Girl Diaries today, there's a double post (well technically triple, but I'm counting it as 2) to make up for not posting yesterday. As always, there's a little treat the bottom of each post.

20 Must See Beauty Advent Calendars for Christmas 2021

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For Christmas 2021, beauty advent calendars are back! During the pandemic last year, for many reasons I would assume, a lot of brands didn't launch calendars for Christmas. Between shop closures, restricted numbers in stores, shipping delays and likely just the general mood (though to be honest, I could've done with some extra sparkle), we missed out, but I've put together a list of 20 beauty advents that I think need your attention, starting with "the big one" launching today!

Flashback Beauty Friday 44: No7 Tropical Eye Colour

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Last week I shared the capsule like FCUK lipsticks for Flashback Beauty Friday and today I have old limited edition eyeshadows from No7. They came in these cute chunky round compacts with a pearlised finish, which my camera wasn't keen to pick up on.

Flashback Beauty Friday 30: No7 Summer Limited Edition

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We're at week 30, so I'm sure you know the drill by now. Flashback Beauty Friday is a series looking back at old beauty products, mostly discontinued or limited edition pieces and their packaging. Last week was the beautiful Givenchy Golden Chantilly gloss and today, I have a couple of No7 limited edition summer palettes.

Flashback Beauty Friday 21: No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter Powder

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Another week gone by and I haven't published any new posts other than my weekly shoe review on The Shoe Girl Diaries. This week has just been ugh. From start to finish, if it could go wrong, it has. I'm honestly done with this week already! In fairness, I am working on a big post at the moment that is very picture heavy, so it's taking time. I've been really lacking in motivation this week to tackle to it though. However, here's our weekly trip down memory lane and I don't think I've featured No7 yet. Last week, was the beautiful carousel Paul & Joe lippie and case. Going through my makeup I've been surprised by the amount of No7 items I have to be truthful. I wasn't aware I bought all that much from them, but I guess I got sucked into every limited edition release and it was likely 3 for 2 (isn't it always?!) and I probably played that game where you use a £5 voucher for whatever you're buying, only to qualify for another, so buy something else to get another voucher and so on and so on. I remember actually having to ask them not to give me another voucher one time, because it was the last day of the promotion and I'd just about bought one of everything off the stand in separate transactions, it was ridiculous. Anyway, I digress.

No7 Serum Sheet Masks: Deal Better Than 1/2 Price

I'm a massive fan of masking. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll likely be aware of this, as I regularly post photos of my masking exploits in my Stories. I was in Boots a while ago and noticed No7 had launched their own sheet masks and I was super excited! I don't know why masking is so fun to me, but it is, I just love it and am always thrilled to see new releases or try one I haven't. 

What's In My (Travel) Bag: Skincare Edit

I'm back from my overnight stay in Glasgow and thought I'd put this together, much like the 'what's in my bag' style posts you see, but of the beauty products I took with me. I've separated the makeup bit for another post, so this is the skincare edition. Being away from home is a bit of a novelty for me. I used to be here, there and everywhere but now it's very rare that I'm anywhere but home! I hate packing though and always have. I usually take too much because I like having choices and hate that feeling of completely forgetting something or choosing to leave something behind that I probably end up needing. This time though, I tried to pack as light as possible and thankfully had everything I needed. Well, almost.
Ok, so starting with cleansers. A small bottle of Lancome BiFacil for removing eye makeup and I squeezed some Lancome Gel Eclat cleanser into this small jar my sister lent me. I have several Galateis Douceur travel sizes, but they aren't as efficient at makeup removal as this cleanser and at 50ml, they were bigger than I needed (considering I would only be using it twice). I also poured a little Tonique Douceur toner into a small travel size version. I considered leaving it behind altogether as I'm sure I wouldn't die from skipping it (!), however I think the pristine white hotel towels would thank me for ensuring all traces of makeup are removed!  I also took lots of cotton-wool pads.  
The smallest moisturiser I could find was this YSL Forever Youth Liberator Cream, which I haven't tried before. I'm usually a stickler for night and day creams, but there's little point in cramming two in.  I had several Lancome moisturisers in bigger jars and some were even glass, so this YSL one was definitely the most portable. I've been applying Lancome DreamTone twice a day for a couple of weeks now and didn't want to skip that, thankfully the bottle was small and light to take with me. Getting these mini versions in GWP's is so handy if you're a frequent traveller. Also in this photo is Oxy Emergency Spot Gel which needs no explaining really. Along with Lacura Eye Roll On. Again I'd usually have separate day and night (gel and creams) for the eyes, but there was no need for two and I've completely run out of eye cream right now, so this is all I had.
Regardless of how far I'm travelling, I'll always have a bottle of Soap & Glory Hand Maid with me. It's really....'handy' to have! My hands have been feeling quite dry lately, which is unlike them (I apply hand cream every night all year round anyway), so I found this little tube of No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Hand Cream (again from a gift with purchase), which was the most portable. Fragrance wise, I'm loving Lancome's La Vie Est Belle, so had two little spray vials in my handbag and this mini bottle in my makeup bag.  
The cute little jar below is my pill case (adorable huh?) for the meds I need.  I knew there would be mirrors in the hotel room, but I like having one in my handbag and also prefer to apply my makeup sitting on the bed rather than at a big mirror.  This Soap & Glory one came in a set and it's really light to carry and the glass is protected.  
The only thing I regret not taking and I swithered and dithered right up until leaving the house, was some dry shampoo.  My hair was playing up on Sunday night and I could've done with some va va voom from Batiste!  I didn't have a mini one though and thought it was pointless to drag the big can along, so left it behind.  In the grand scheme of things, it was no biggy.  You can see my travelling and evening outfits from Sunday on The Shoe Girl Diaries and tomorrow, I'll have finished my Monday outfit.  How light or not do you like to travel?  Do you hate being unprepared or forgetting something?

Comparison Swatches: YSL Cashmere Pink

After my swatch request last month, I had another from Lissa Jaye this time, regarding a YSL lipstick. I immediately came up with some comparisons, but finding the time to write it up has taken longer than I expected, so I apologise for that. I do love getting these requests though (and would kinda like to make it a regular feature) and will respond but it might take some time to fit it in around everything else. Hint-hint if they're lipsticks or pencils or something really easy to swatch then I'm likely to respond quicker : )
So Lissa wanted to know if I knew of any dupes for YSL Rouge Pur in 126 Cashmere Pink/Rose Cachemire. If it's because this line is now discontinued then the perfect dupe is YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 09 Rose Stiletto, the 'newer' version if you like. It's a really good match in colour. However if you're looking for a cheaper alternative then I have some close but not perfect dupes. My product photos aren't that hot (my camera really hates trying to focus on several things in one photo) but my swatches are good and that's what matters.
From left to right we have No7 Moisture Drench in 90 Waterlily, Wet'n'Wild Mega Color in Eternal Rose, Bourjois Docteur Glamour in 19 Brique secouriste, YSL Rouge Pur in 126 Cashmere Pink, YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 09 Rose Stiletto, Clinique High Impact in 17 Rosette and hiding in the corner, Barry M Lip Paint in 73 Mulberry.
I've had a quick look online and I think they discontinued that Barry M shade, Bourjois is definitely discontinued but you might find it on a discount makeup site and as for the No7 one, there is a 'Waterlilly' but I'm not sure if it's the same colour as the number was different and their swatch looks like a light pink. WnW is difficult to find in the UK now and I'm not sure that they still make that particular shade. This is probably proving very unhelpful (!) and I probably should've checked what was/wasn't discontinued beforehand, sorry!  
Ok, so onto the swatches and I've placed the lipstick in question along the top, so it's easier to see how the other lipsticks match up to it.
From left, No7 is lighter than YSL and less 'dirty', it's got an almost coral tone to it. Wet'n'Wild is a pretty good match, although it leans a little more red. I think it's the nearest in my 'budget' lipsticks though. Bourjois is much darker, more brown and reddish and not a good match at all. As I've already said, the YSL 09 Rose Stiletto is almost identical, it's probably a little bit darker than 126 Cashmere Pink. Clinique is more red and also has this copper sheen to it which the YSL doesn't. Barry M is a mauve colour and not much like it at all.
Off the top of my head, I think Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in 06 Rose Nu would also be a really close match, but I couldn't find mine the day I took these photos.  It's certainly worth checking out.  I hope this is of some help and I'm kicking myself for not picking some more alternatives that are available right now.  I already have another request for a discontinued Rimmel lipstick-I've yet to search for it and find dupes, but will get on that when I have a spare moment.  Please let me know if I can help out with anything else and thank you all for your helpful comments yesterday regarding my Topshop/Meadham Kirchhoff stuff.  I parcelled up and sent the return today...broke my heart a little, but there you go.  I thought all of your comments were particularly lovely though.    

Monster High Monday: Toralei Stripe

Did you miss Monster High Monday? Well, it's back! I've missed it, although it was all a bit alien to me when I started yesterday. Day to day my makeup has become much the same and I think part of that has been down to the more complex looks I do on MHM's. It takes so much effort, that I just want something simple and quick for the rest of the week. It was nice to wear some different colours though and to try and find something that works with my new hair colour too (a full post with details of that coming soon). It's probably surprising then, that I chose this doll as her colouring and clothes are much different to mine. However her makeup is something I hoped would work on me, without orange skin and stripes!
She is Toralei Stripe, the very catty kitty who as my nephews would say "is the baddie" of Monster High! I can't help but find her adorably cute despite her conflicts with my other girls. She has shaded skin; more orange on one side of her face than the other which I didn't replicate, but you have no idea how badly I wanted to add the browns stripes to my cheeks. It would've finished the look off perfectly, but I decided against it.  Maybe a bit much for daytime, no?    
She has plummy lips and several colours on her eyes (you can probably best see that on the photo above), which I managed to find dupes of in my stash relatively quickly. She's got very thick liner (which I had just the tool for) and I 'greened' up my eyes a bit more, albeit without the cat eye-ness. None of that was proper English, I know.
Ok, so for the eyes I started with Urban Decay Primer Potion and applied ArtDeco pearl eyeshadow in 04 under the eyes and on the lids, up beyond the crease, winging it out slightly. On top of this grey shade, I applied a bright pink just on the lid concentrating in the inner corner of the eye and letting it fade out towards the opposite end. I took the pink from MAC's Eyes On Manish palette that I sooo want to rename the 'Monster High Monday Palette' because I use this almost this every week! It's got lots of brights in it that come in handy for this challenge.
You can then see a bright, bold green on Toralei's eyes, so I used a wet brush and dipped into an old limited edition palette by No7 called Jewelled Eyes. It gave the colour more intensity and also this lovely metallic finish. I used a narrow brush to apply that in a very thin line from the inner corner, gradually widening towards the outer corner, following the shape of the crease. I mentioned the liner was super thick on Toralei, so I used L'Oreal SuperLiner GelMatic* along the lower lashline and their bold SuperLiner Blackbuster* pen along the top lashline. It looks like a jumbo felt tip pen.  I even managed a little thick flick with this, tidying up with another SuperLiner (Perfect Slim*). On my lashes is Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara and I finished my brows with a little L'Oreal SuperLiner Brow Artist* pencil in Brunette 03.
On my face I applied Lancome Teint Miracle foundation in 005, contouring with The Balm 'Bahama Mama' bronzer and highlighting with Dainty Doll Concealer in 001. I used the same concealer in 002 on blemishes, YSL Touche Eclat in 2 under the eyes and finished with Paul & Joe UV Pressed Powder in 003. Seeing as Toralei has an orangey complexion I used a soft, peachy blush, MAC Legendary, on the cheeks.
For the lips, I lined with Dior Lipliner Pencil in 883 Magenta Brown with Rouge Dior lipstick in 976 Plum Plot. The finish was probably a bit too sparkly and metallic, but the colour was close enough.
I thought the green and deep purple looked pretty against my hair (I'm wearing bold green eyes today as I liked it so much) and all in all, it wasn't a bad "first week back"!  You can see my full outfit here on The Shoe Girl Diaries.  What do you think?

Monster High Monday: Gloom Beach Clawdeen

My goodness, I'm behind with work right now. I've had a pretty hectic few weeks, so want to apologise to all the lovely bloggers that I've not had time to visit lately. I've missed getting to comment on your blogs each day, but am planning a Bloglovin' super catch-up when time permits. I have a couple of The Shoe Girl Diaries posts for you and some beauty hauls (finally got me some pennies, whoop whoop), but for now, here is this week's Monster High Monday.
Clawdeen the fiery little wolf, has a plethora of bright colours for this swimwear line and a lot of purple in her hair which I'm sadly lacking (I just woke up one day it and it was pale lilac!). Not to worry I tackled a freshen-up colour today and gave my hair quite the chop. You know when you just cut off a little bit more to even the sides, then a little bit more and a little bit more, until you practically have no more to cut? Yep, that was me! Less to dye, that's my reasoning! Anyway back to wolfy and I can't say I love wearing pink eyeshadow and coral lips, but I guess I got the colours pretty spot-on. The only thing to note is, Clawdeen's lips are really washed out from the flash in these photos and in real life are the darker shade mine are.
So I'm still into my contouring this week, can't say it's very noticeable when I'm looking at these photos, but I'm still trialling different things and have made a few purchases to help. On the face is Lancome Teint Miracle in 005 with Dainty Doll Concealer in 002 on blemishes and finished with Clarins Ever Matte Mineral powder Compact in 00. For highlighting I used BeneFit Eye Bright pencil and Pout Face & Body Illuminator in Love Glow and for contouring, Teint Miracle in the darker 010 shade. On my cheeks is the blush colour from Lancome Blush Subtil Palette in 01 Rose Flush.

The main issue with the eye makeup was 'is it pink or is it purple?' Well it's an in-between violet shade, although when I zoomed in on the images I took of the doll, it definitely leaned more pinky. I trialled a lot of purples and pinks before finding dupes and my dupes were definitely more pink than purple. So on my eyes is Too Faced Shadow Insurance, over which I applied Anna Sui Eye Color Accent in 303 up to the crease. On Clawdeen there is very little colour difference between the two shades she's wearing, but the lid shade appears to be frosty looking. The Anna Sui colour has a little shimmer so seemed appropriate. I felt it was leaning a little too pink though, so smoothed some of the frosty lilac shade from Milani 07 Wild Violets quad over the top using my finger. It toned down the pink and helped get that slightly pink, slightly purple tone.
Above the crease I applied the deep pink shade from Givenchy Prisme Again! in Purple Emotion 3 palette and also ran it along the lower lashline. My eyeliner is YSL Waterproof Pencil with Lancome Artliner for the flicks and YSL Shocking Volume Mascara on my lashes. I then ran a thin line of the black eyeshadow (called Graphic Garden) from MAC's Graphic Garden Palette following the crease. The line isn't hugely prominent on Clawdeen, but I felt it helped separate the two colours.
I think the colours looked brighter on me because of my pale skin compared to Clawdeen. The lips were a coral shade but with a red undertone and not a 'bright' coral. I used Lancome Color Fever Lipstick in 110 Hot Stuff Rouge, which was actually a perfect dupe when swatched, but looked different on my lips. So over that I applied a sheer, almost neon pink, No7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick in 08 Pretty Please and my lipliner was MAC Subculture. I think it helped combining the two shades.
So that's me for another week! Not as much fun as last time, but I certainly got to test the power of my cleansing water to remove this lot! I should have my outfit post up tomorrow and I'll update this post with the link afterwards.