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Hi girls
I had the most horrendous beauty disaster last week and am almost too embarrassed to tell you about it. It involved getting a terrible sunburn (don't even ask – I know I should know better) then getting a Caribbean Tan so as to rock a zexy shade of bronze (as opposed to lobster) for the Loerie awards.
Now here's where the horror comes in… As I started the inevitable peel o' death, my deliciously dark fake tan started to strip away, revealing big white spots on my chest! Quelle horreur!
Chicas, I simply can't tell you how grateful I am for Rimmel's Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Sun Make-up. (Having tested just about every body bronzing gel on earth, I've found this to be the most natural-looking). It was the only thing that made me look human again when swiped over the 'holes' in my décolletage. I also love mixing it with body lotion and rubbing it on my pins when I haven't had time to hit up the self-tan.
Rimmel – for the love of God, why have you not brought out this star product again this year?
Otherwise, have you seen their new summer make-up collection, Amazon Princess? They've got some totally gorgeous, ultra-lustable-looking single eye shadows (they call these Glam'Eyes Mono's) in colours that are very, very now. Two blues (Celestial Sapphire and Posh Pack) that are so hot right now and a purple (Royal Velvet) that's supposed to be the next big thing.
Don't you just love how they've embossed the little crowns embossed into the shadow? I also like that these are nicely pigmented and, at R59,95, they be an impulsive little splurge that doesn't have to break the bank.
I also got to play around with a few goodies from Clarins New Instant Sunlight range. (You can check the full line up here.) How beautiful is their Instant Sunlight Eye Quartet & Liner palette, R395?
I've got to say, Clarins is seriously upping their game in the presentation department. Their make-up has always been fabulous, but never so pretty.
I also liked their Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm, R210. Essentially, it's a crystal clear lippie with the Clarins logo embossed on it. Just the kind of thing that when you pull it out of your bag, all your girlfriends go 'Ooooh!'. Crystal (a see-through baby pink colour) merely moisturises, but 03 Crystal Red adds a pretty hint of crushed rose petal to your lips.
More lip products I got to play with? Max Factor Vibrant Curve Effect lip gloss, R109,95, and Softlips Organics lip balm, R29,90. (The last two week's it's been raining lip goodies!)
Now, Max Factor's gloss has left me with mixed feelings. It promised something a little bit… well… stupid. Thanks to a 'curved' applicator, it's supposed to hug your lips on application, creating more 'defined looking curves'. Naturally, it didn't really deliver. I mean, sure, while the applicator makes it easy to get it onto every bit of your mouth, as such, the moment you smack your lips together, any 'special definition' you might have created is lost. So in that respect it disappoints. However, the curved applicator is interesting and comfy to use. And it does smell super-yummy – like watermelon chewing gum. It was also a nice change to use something that wasn't as 'tacky' as my usual MAC-fare… Still, I can't help but feel that this gloss would do better if, rather than promising 'defined curves', it simply offered something like 'fabulous shine' as the latter is served up very nicely.
As for Softlips' new organic lip balm (a blend of organic oils, bees wax, Shea butter), it's pretty much the same slimly packaged balm you know and love, but is now completely free of all parabens, pesticides, harsh chemicals and gluten. To up their green-factor even further, they make a point of ensuring that even their packaging is printed with vegetable based ink.
I got a few variants to try and immediately ripped open Chai Tea as I'm a freak for all things Chai-like. Alas, this had almost no scent. Papaya and Melon, however, where absolutely mouth watering. Keep an eye out for these at selected Clicks stores.
In other news… The Body Shop has a new skincare line on their shelves called Natrulift. It promises firmer, softer-looking skin from the first day of use thanks to its key ingredient, super-star antioxidant pomegranate oil.
I used the Natrulift Firming Day Cream with Organic Pomegranate, R160, and rather liked it. (It arrived at the perfect time – just after the sunburn o' death, a time when my usual retinol-based products were simply too harsh for my skin). I must say, it really did feel creamy, nourishing and indulgent yet was light enough not to aggravate my sometimes vicious oily T-panel. And yes, my face did feel suppler and better toned. If you like your anti-aging products a bit more natural and free of seriyas chemicals, this could be your face's new best friend. To check out the full range, go visit www.thebodyshop.co.za.
Wishing you all a beautiful week,
Leigh
Xxx
I had the most horrendous beauty disaster last week and am almost too embarrassed to tell you about it. It involved getting a terrible sunburn (don't even ask – I know I should know better) then getting a Caribbean Tan so as to rock a zexy shade of bronze (as opposed to lobster) for the Loerie awards.
Now here's where the horror comes in… As I started the inevitable peel o' death, my deliciously dark fake tan started to strip away, revealing big white spots on my chest! Quelle horreur!
Chicas, I simply can't tell you how grateful I am for Rimmel's Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Sun Make-up. (Having tested just about every body bronzing gel on earth, I've found this to be the most natural-looking). It was the only thing that made me look human again when swiped over the 'holes' in my décolletage. I also love mixing it with body lotion and rubbing it on my pins when I haven't had time to hit up the self-tan.
Rimmel – for the love of God, why have you not brought out this star product again this year?
Otherwise, have you seen their new summer make-up collection, Amazon Princess? They've got some totally gorgeous, ultra-lustable-looking single eye shadows (they call these Glam'Eyes Mono's) in colours that are very, very now. Two blues (Celestial Sapphire and Posh Pack) that are so hot right now and a purple (Royal Velvet) that's supposed to be the next big thing. Don't you just love how they've embossed the little crowns embossed into the shadow? I also like that these are nicely pigmented and, at R59,95, they be an impulsive little splurge that doesn't have to break the bank.
I also got to play around with a few goodies from Clarins New Instant Sunlight range. (You can check the full line up here.) How beautiful is their Instant Sunlight Eye Quartet & Liner palette, R395? I've got to say, Clarins is seriously upping their game in the presentation department. Their make-up has always been fabulous, but never so pretty.
I also liked their Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm, R210. Essentially, it's a crystal clear lippie with the Clarins logo embossed on it. Just the kind of thing that when you pull it out of your bag, all your girlfriends go 'Ooooh!'. Crystal (a see-through baby pink colour) merely moisturises, but 03 Crystal Red adds a pretty hint of crushed rose petal to your lips. More lip products I got to play with? Max Factor Vibrant Curve Effect lip gloss, R109,95, and Softlips Organics lip balm, R29,90. (The last two week's it's been raining lip goodies!)
Now, Max Factor's gloss has left me with mixed feelings. It promised something a little bit… well… stupid. Thanks to a 'curved' applicator, it's supposed to hug your lips on application, creating more 'defined looking curves'. Naturally, it didn't really deliver. I mean, sure, while the applicator makes it easy to get it onto every bit of your mouth, as such, the moment you smack your lips together, any 'special definition' you might have created is lost. So in that respect it disappoints. However, the curved applicator is interesting and comfy to use. And it does smell super-yummy – like watermelon chewing gum. It was also a nice change to use something that wasn't as 'tacky' as my usual MAC-fare… Still, I can't help but feel that this gloss would do better if, rather than promising 'defined curves', it simply offered something like 'fabulous shine' as the latter is served up very nicely. As for Softlips' new organic lip balm (a blend of organic oils, bees wax, Shea butter), it's pretty much the same slimly packaged balm you know and love, but is now completely free of all parabens, pesticides, harsh chemicals and gluten. To up their green-factor even further, they make a point of ensuring that even their packaging is printed with vegetable based ink. I got a few variants to try and immediately ripped open Chai Tea as I'm a freak for all things Chai-like. Alas, this had almost no scent. Papaya and Melon, however, where absolutely mouth watering. Keep an eye out for these at selected Clicks stores.
In other news… The Body Shop has a new skincare line on their shelves called Natrulift. It promises firmer, softer-looking skin from the first day of use thanks to its key ingredient, super-star antioxidant pomegranate oil. I used the Natrulift Firming Day Cream with Organic Pomegranate, R160, and rather liked it. (It arrived at the perfect time – just after the sunburn o' death, a time when my usual retinol-based products were simply too harsh for my skin). I must say, it really did feel creamy, nourishing and indulgent yet was light enough not to aggravate my sometimes vicious oily T-panel. And yes, my face did feel suppler and better toned. If you like your anti-aging products a bit more natural and free of seriyas chemicals, this could be your face's new best friend. To check out the full range, go visit www.thebodyshop.co.za.
Wishing you all a beautiful week,
Leigh
Xxx
