Accessorize cosmetics review & swatches

With Love Golden Sand baked bronzer and Gamble Illusion Card palette with primer.

I am absolutely in LOVE with the bronzer which I clearly use as a highlighter (see previous post to see what it looks like). I like how it's very sheer so you can build it up however much you like). If you swatch this in the shop, don't be fooled by the pigmentation, it's not THAT shimmery in one swipe when you brush it on your face, you don't instantly turn into a disco ball. Plus it's super soft!

without flash

with flash

I'm kind of 50/50 on the palette and prmer(I bought these online, it worked out A LOT cheaper for me then to buy them here in a shop, rip off Ireland for ya...). I probably wouldn't have bought it had I actually bothered to go swatch it in the shop before hand....
The pigmentation is quite good, except for the middle colour, which is basically non existent. In the photos here I had to build up the colour probably about ten times...
The first and fourth colour aren't all that different at all, the fourth is just slightly darker. The highlight colour is really nice. I tried to catch the beauty of the second one but I couldn't, it's golt a slight but GORGEOUS golden kind of sheen.
As for the primer: it's way too runny, after you apply it DON'T open your eyes or it will crease(a primer that creases?!) and be careful with the amount, just a tiny little or your shadow will crease like crazy. Staying power is quite good, although not as good as UD Primer Potion obviously.

FOTD: festive wonder around

I know Christmas is over an' all but I didn't get the chance to post this before. Sowwy..

This was my FOTD the friday before Christmas, I went to check out the posh Dublin shopping center mainly for the atmosphere and lights, it's not like I had money I could spend or anything..
So, here goes

For my face:
Lancome Tropique Minerale smoothing loose bronzer
GOTbeauty powder
Accessorize With Love Golden Sand baked bronzer as a highlight (I ABSOLUTELY love this!!!)

For my eyes: Maybelline waterproof The Falsies mascara
Maybelline line definer liquid eyeliner for the upper lower lash
Lancome Waterproof Khol in the colour Raisin Noir for the lower lash line and over it
Maybelline waterproof khol express in metallic blue

Paleness is Couture

From today's Daily Mail Online:

Pale... and very interesting: Givenchy casts albino model in latest ad campaign

By Tamara Abraham

Last season he made headlines for casting transsexual muse Lea T in his autumn campaign.

Now Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci has broken the style mould again, with a striking series of ads starring albino model Stephen Thompson.

Inspired by a Robert Mapplethorpe print of a white Roman bust on a piece of leopard-print fabric, the image shows Thompson posing alongside supermodel Daphne Groeneveld, whose hair has been bleached white to match his.


White hot: Albino model Stephen Thompson appears with Daphne Groeneveld in the new Givenchy campaign

Further photographs in the series, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, feature supermodels Mariacarla Boscono and Iris Strubegger.

Tisci told industry title WWD that he had always admired albino people, and explained how pale flesh tones were a key feature of his designs.

'They’re very near my world,' he said.

Thompson was previously represented by the now defunct Ugly modeling agency, which represented unusual faces.

The campaign will make its print debut in the January issue of L’Uomo Vogue, published this month, before appearing in Vogue Paris in February and several other fashion glossies from March.

(...)
___________________________________________

I think it's a great step forward in exposure and acceptance, however I think both models are way too skinny.
What do you think?

FOTD & OOTD: Dec, 14th '10

GOTbeauty powder
Lancome Tropique Minerale smoothing loose bronzer
Accessorize With Love Golden Sand Baked Bronzer
Lancome Waterproof Khol in the colour Raisin Noir
L'Oreal voluminous waterproof mascara
Catrice soft eye shadow duo in 160 Silver star on the lids
Accessorize Gamble palette, the lightest shade on the brow bone

Jacket: Rinascimento http://en.rinascimento.info/
shirt: Terranova http://www.terranovastyle.com/
jeggings: Miss Selfridge
Boots: I've no idea, I've had them for years, bought them in Italy
Bag: Leopard http://www.leopard.it
Scarf: no idea, present from Paris

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Cream review

This has been my face cream of choice since july and I couldn't be any happier!
As you know I have the most sensitive(and dry!) of skin so finding the right face cream is REALLY hard.
extremely disappointed with the limited choice Boots gave me regarding face creeams for sensitive skins, I got fed up and decided to go to the chemist's. Turning to a chemist for beauty is something I would often do back home but for some reason I haven't got into that habit yet over here. And I really should because I couldn't have been advised any better!
I went in and I asked for a face cream for VERY sensitive skins, light and possibly with an spf; she focused on Vichy straight away (I had a very bad burnt hands experience a few years ago whilst trecking in the Alps and Vichy was the one to sooth and alleviate pain a bit), so I was quite happy with that.

Vichy says:

"Ingredient Innovation:
Vichy Thermal Water + Activ Hyaluronine™, patent pending, combination of hyaluronic acid and lipidure proven for lasting moisture. Micro-encapsulated and delivered in a "sprinkler-like" system for 24Hr hydration. In a comforting yet refreshing cream that melts into skin. Non-greasy. Non-sticky.

Results:
For up to 24 hours, skin is intensely hydrated with moisture, feels soothed and comfortable, visibly fortified, with increased radiance.

Dermatological Standards:
Allergy tested. Formulated for sensitive skin. Tested on sensitive skin under dermatological control. Paraben-free. Non-comedogenic.."

I say: "HELL YES!!".
My skin DOES feel hydrated all day long, it is VERY light weight and it does dry pretty quickly, you just have to be careful not to apply more than needed or it'll take ages to dry and feel greasy. A very little goes a very long way and one jar will last you for ages!
The soothing effect is VERY good I have to say after a long day outside, be it in the sun or wind exposure.
And hey, it is also paraben free!

Great product!

Lil

POTD: Catrice "the pinker the better"

(following 3 photos without flash)




(following 2 photos with flash)

I've had this on for a couple of days but the weather has been miserable and because I live in a dingy apartment, the light has been horrible so I couldn't take any photos.
Because I've had it on for 2 days you can see it's a little chipped, especially around the cuticles, but that's because I didn't put any top coat on; I guess it's the only con of this polish that I found.
I have to say I REALLY like the brush and the great control it gives you.
If you have shorter nails one coat will do but if you have longer ones like me I would suggest 2 as the white tips tend to show a little.
It takes a little longer to dry but when it does it's rock hard and you don't have to be careful what you do for the following 2 hours.
It's a bit hard to explain what colour it is: it's between a red and a fuchsia with a hot pink sheen.
As you know I'm not usually a pink kind of person but this was amongst a few little goodies a friend sent me as a little Christmas gift.

She also sent me this hand made card

How GORGEOUS is it?!
If you're in need of cards, for whatever occasion, she is the woman to contact!
You can find her on twitter as @Shannairl and tell her I sent you :-)

Ciao for now,

Lil