Bitchface of the Yesterday: What is On It.

This looked bitchier in my phone, but nevertheless: onward!
FotYD> I started using, rather casually, Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer by Benefit {€35.50} — by casually, I mean: it’s a little twisty-up tube, like a big fat lipstick, and I draw it all over my face randomly. It looks ivory-coloured in the tube, but it is in fact sans colour. I am liking it loads, and considering my deep and abiding adoration for the brand’s PoreFessional, that is significant. If you feel like using primer is one step too many, this makes it super easy, and it keeps the foundation fresh.

> Continuing in the same vein, I decided on FIT MAYBELLINE fit me in 130me! anti-shine foundation stick from Maybelline New York, in Buff Beige/Praline {€13.79} The ethos behind the doubling of shades is that the inner core contains lightweight, anti-shine powders. Well, mainly. I still needed a wafting of pressed powder, as we will see. I did like the texture: while I am attracted to the idea of a mess-free foundation stick, in practice I often feel like I’m pulling my skin all over my skull trying to get a decent layer on. This has more ‘give’ than many of the sticks I’ve tried.

> Concealer — which I put on before the foundation, I’m not a complete eejit; the editorial, it flowed better going from one stick to the next — is via Clarins Paris and is new. Instant Concealer {€24} is light and fluid, and though the tube is only 15mls, I’d say it would see you through autumn and winter, easily.

> Pressed powder! Haven’t used that in an age. Oddly, I didn’t feel like illuminating yesterday, and went with a fave of old, Clinique superpowder: double face powder in Matte Ivory {€30}. I used to go through this like a Hollywood A-lister goes through Restalyne. I also used to use the pad that’s included, but no more of those amateur antics, thanks! Applied with a kabuki brush, this lasted for six hours straight, and allowed some natural shine to show through, but not the shiny-shine I was fighting in the first place.

> Brows and eyeshadow via smashbox. Still loving my Brow Tech To Go {€23.50} very muchly. The shadow is a trio that I was too afraid to try myself, because I never manage to make the make up look as well as it did when applied by a make up artist. Anyway! Photo Op Eyeshadow Trio {€26.50} in Aperture is really quite terrific. The colours — Alabaster, Sky, and Truffle — are perfect for a day to night look, the texture of the shadows is super light yet buildable for intensity, and just looked amazing on, even via my less-than artistically wielded brushes << which make allll the difference. You know the way I, and other journos and bloggers, are constantly nagging you to invest in proper make up brushes? Invest in proper make up brushes. It really does matter.

> Lashes: Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Mascara {€28}, and Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Liner {€26.65}, both of which I have written about before, and continue to make an appearance when I feel moved to take a selfie on — you guessed it! — the 46A.

> Da lips: NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm in Applelicious Pink {€2.49}I heart this colour, a delightful combination of light texture and deep pigment. It did bleed somewhat as the night wore on, and the words kept coming out of my  mouth, so that is an ish. Nothing that lip liner won’t solve, but have I said about how much I hate lip liner?

> The Hair is second day, after having been washed under the taps of the tub because my shower exploded on Friday. I was away in London and no one seemed to be able to coordinate to sort it out, and I will, fingers Xd, be in possession of a new working power shower by midday. I used Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique {€20}; I haven’t used a leave-in conditioner in some time, and ya know what, I may be about to experience a renaissance. This looks nice and swoopy, considering! As ever, Batiste {€2.39} saves the day; hate to think of life without it.

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Benefit Hydra -Smooth Lip Color: It’s Art Decorable

BENEFIT package1
Well, it seems like fun, at least at first: the matryoshka-esque packaging of Benefit‘s latest addition to its make up line, Hydra-Smoooth Lip Color is, as to be expected from this brand, beautifully designed and well-made. Speaking from beneath BENEFIT package2another of my hats, that of a graphic designer, the richness of the detail on this little cardboard tube is really impressive. It is adorable and Art Deco at the same time, and ‘adorable’ is not necessarily an adjective I would assign to the design style. Art Decorable? Hmmm.

The outer tube slides off easily enough. Despite having designed graphically for a number of years, I never did any package design. I guess there are standard tube sizes or whatever? Much like there are standard page sizes? No idea, and if not, I hope the design team had fun figuring this out. I suspect they had about a million tiny little strokes, actually, because it’s not just about the sliding, it’s about fitting in the lippy itself…

BENEFIT package3And also fitting in the piece of paper that tells you that this is a lipstick, and that you should use the angled bit to apply it to the shape of your lips. I am paraphrasing, but: seriously?

Anyway: the delight of the packaging, apart from the silly paper, continues to … delight. Look! The lipstick itself is like a tiny little sceptre, a little piece of art decorable royalty. The integrity of the design is pretty impressive, and I am, duly.

And, yeah, okay, the angled top is actually useful. Not that I was giving out about the angle itself, but rather the instruction as regards how to use it.

BENEFIT actual lipstickThis is air kiss, and it falls into the sheer finish category; there are shades that are medium and full finish, an example of the latter shown here, towards the end. This is from the bubblegum end of the spectrum, and even though autumn is nigh, it’s a lovely shade.
BENEFIT HYDRA SMOOTH in air kiss 1
It feels great on: I am certain that the ‘hydra’ has to do with moisturisation, not Medusa. There’s shea, mango butter and Vitamin E involved, and the texture feels light as a feather, which is terrific if you hate the feeling of gunky, heavy lippy. That famously angled tip means you can apply like a lipgloss, i.e., without looking.

The top of the wee sceptre/container, though… it doesn’t feel like it’s going to survive a sojourn in your make up bag, much less your handbag.  It feels a bit fussy to me, to have to mess with that tube; as one who routinely shoves sticks and glosses into all manner of pockets, this inspires anxiety.

But I do love this shade, and will use again… so it seems I’ll be happy enough for that cardboard tube, after all.

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€22/£15/$19, available in September — oh, wait, IT IS SEPTEMBER.

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Yippy! Lippy! A/W 2013: An Assortment

Let’s just get right to it, shall we?
CLARINS joli rouge
CLARINS PARIS Joli Rouge in Pink Camellia, €21
This is light and yet brimming with pigment. I likey much, except for the part where I’ve eaten and it has bled all over the place. God, I hate lipliner, but there may be nothing for it…

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YSL Rouge Neon
YVES SAINT LAURENT Rouge Pur Couture Pur Colour Satiny Radiance in Rouge Neon, €31
The orangey-red doesn’t suit me particularly, but the texture of this is pure luxe.

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ARMANI Lip Maestro
GIORGIO ARMANI Lip Maestro Intense Velvet Colour in 505, €28.50
This is amazzzzze. It is much poppier and neon pink in real life, and the compliments! They flooded in! Not so great to be wearing unless you are nil by mouth: I got some on my *nose* because I was drinking champagne and kept moving the glass around. Do people drink from the same spot on a champagne glass? Have I got some class of disorder? Don’t answer that.

This is indeed velvety, and super intense, and I adore it.

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BUFF sex on heels
BUFF MAKE UP Lipstick in sex on heels, €18
Like this one, too. The pigment is autumnal café au lait, and it is the sort of lippy I can apply like a gloss: swiftly, without looking, because it’s neutral. Which I like… I feel like this needs more make up surrounding it, to really work well.

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LANCOME l'absolu velours peche?
LANCÔME L’Absolu Velours Matte Effect in Velours de Pêche, €25
Loving matte texture as a general vibe, and liking it here espêche. Ahhhhh, see what I did there.

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BENEFIT wing woman
BENEFIT Hydra-Smooth Lip Color, Full Finish in wing woman, €22
Hmmm. There’s a new lippy in town, via our pals from San Fran, and this is meant to be the full finish version, as opposed to the mediums and sheers on offer. More to come re: this line, but I was not wowed by this coverage.

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DR HAUSCHKA novum
DR HAUSCHKA Lipstick Novum in 09, Miraculous Rose €16.50
Waa! Also feeling ‘meh’ about this, too, and I had such love for the oldum Novums, as demonstrated here. This is light, if you want light, and reflective, if you want reflective.

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REVLON Lip Butter
REVLON Colorburst Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake, €9.60
Not terribly autumnal, but the texture! of! this! lippy! It is the perfect mid-point between gloss and stick, and the shine is terrific. I am sure that they must have suitably deep colours for the time of year that is almost in it; until I find out more about them, this will do me just fine, thanks.

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Soz, probably should have posted a ‘nostril alert’. Hope no one is scarred for life…

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Okay, Okay, I Absolutely Have a Problem When It Comes to Lip Cosmetics

ALL THE LIPPYs
Okay???! I get it. A normal human female probably wouldn’t have — oh, God, must I count them? — eighteen varieties of cosmetics-for-the-lips, on the go, right? This is not counting the ones that are lurking in pockets and rolling around in my handbags. Gah.

But, but, but — okay. Since I routinely take two of these along with me on a given day, because the whole day could change and require a different hue or texture, then it’s like there’s really nine. Nine lip combinations.

{…}

I don’t buy that either. Although I will argue that giving yourself the option to change up during the day makes total sense. Like, the Pür Minerals or the No7 — or the Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss? Theses are perfect for sitting-at-the-desk wear, but you might like to give your look a wee pop in the evening, with the Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain, or the Clinique Chubby. Or that Essence red, in between the Chubby and the Pür? It is the perfect summer red I’ve yet to come across.

So, you know, options.

Nevertheless, I felt a cull was in order:

FEWER LIPPYsOnly because I need to make room for more…

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Sorry, they just look so ronrey.

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When Worlds Collide, Pt. 2: Benefit Eyeshadow Kits and That Magic Mischief

I adore BeneFit’s package design, and I find the line they do in kits to be excellent. Look at these!

BENEFIT eyeshadow 1

I’d be a big fan of neutrals, myself — but there neutrals, and then there are neutrals. The San Francisco brand has divided them into three lots: from left, Most Glamorous Nudes Ever, Sexiest Nudes Ever, and Easiest Nudes Ever.

All three come with the usual helpful Instant Beauty Tips and Tricks, with looks that suit either daytime or playtime. You get four powder shadows and two creaseless cream shadows — I am a fan of the THAT MAGIC MISCHIEFlatter, and  have found them to be great even on their own.

So: worlds have collided because my new novel, That Magic Mischief, has magic in it! Not just in the title! And my heroine, Annabelle Walsh, an American writer with Irish roots {hey, waaaaaaait minute!*}, considers herself to be an over-the-counter witch. She certainly has a way with the Tarot cards!

And these boxes have fortune tellers on them! Amaze-crystal-balls!

The Benefit kits are on counter in March; me buke is available for download on Monday, 11 February.

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Benefit World Famous Neutrals Eyeshadow Kit: €34.50/£23.50/$30

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Please to find That Magic Mischief here, for Ireland and the UK, and here, for the USA. Thanks!

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*NOT autobiographical in any way! Except, you know, the usual authorial, poaching-from-life thing.

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Top Twelve of 2012: Four, Calling Birds

Did anyone else think that this holiday was completely weird, time-wise? Not only that it came up so quickly, but also, I don’t know, it just seemed like everything was on the wrong day?

I blame Tuesday. Aw, poor Tuesday, I feel bad immediately saying that. However: Christmas on a Tuesday just doesn’t work. So let’s avoid that for the next while, ‘kay?

Because of time and Tuesdays, I suddenly don’t even have twelve days to do a single Top Twelve per day, so I’m doing some grouping here. Let’s start with makeup, my B&B birdies! Continue reading

Festive Face: Who’s Under Pressure?!?!

I feel the reindeer breathing down my neck.

SONY DSCGet back to basics with Matis Fundamental Gift Set {€69; worth €107} — you get — I mean, the person for whom you are buying this will get a full-sized Fundamental Beautifying Cream, and samples of the Lift Effect Gel, Radiance Revealing Serum, Avantage Initial, and Youth Hand Cream SPF10. The container re-purposes as a jewellery box!

CLINIQUE black tie violets2

What could be better than Clinique Bonus Time? A Clinique gift set the like of which you see here. Black Tie Violets {€70} comes with all that lovely stuff — that little wand-y thing is a lower lash mascara — in a typically lovely wee bag. I can personally vouch for everything except that bottom lash mascara, and give a very special shout out for the eyeshadow, which blends beautifully, and makes the eyes pop {not in a scary way.}

JETSET

I’ve got an eternal fondness for BeneFit packaging, and this is a new fave, because She’s So Jetset {€39.50} comes with PoreFessional and the legendary They’re Real! mascara. You also get a 4-shade eyeshadow palette, a lip gloss in Life on the A-list, and some face powder.

DEBENHAMS cristal

If you know anyone who is really good at putting on false eyelashes, here’s an attention-getting pair: Dior Grand Bal Limited Edition False Eyelashes {€26}. I would pay someone to apply them for me, as I am not so good at them. Sparkly! {And sold out in BT’s Dublin, so ring round if you are after a set yourself.}

How Now, Brown Brow?

Not bad! That is the dolled up version, via BeneFit Speed Brow and AVON Glimmerstick Brow Definer.

The base is thanks to the Colorsport 30 Day Eyelash & Brow Dye Kit — read all about the dying process here.

This is what they look like, sans enhancement:

Just for the record, that is my FFSL how many times do I have take this photo, stupid iPhone! face. That was like, round four? Whatever, Apple!

I am pleased. Would dye again.

Also, also: the grainy photo at top also features a Smokey Eye via Estee Lauder Pure Color palette in Film Noir. I like it! The colours blended really well, and even I, a Smokey Eye Hopeless Case, feel like I did a good job of it, and may be on the road to improvement.

There’s Wally/Waldo!

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If anyone knows of another brand of brow dye kit I can get in a shop, please do inform.

Are You Feelin’ Lucky, Chick? BeneFit Treasure Hunt to Hit Dublin

Do you win things? Are you good at winning things? I think some people are and some people aren’t. Two weekends ago, I was at a fundraiser, and this woman won three raffle prizes off only five tickets. Is it luck? Is it Fate?!?!

If you are good at winning stuff, or perhaps want to work on your ability to win things {can it be learned?!?!} then check this out:

If I must be pedantic — I must, I must — and suggest that ‘Scavenger Hunt’ might be a better turn of phrase, and mix the metaphor less? Is a scavenger hunt not a Thing over here?

There I go, coming over all Amurrican again.

Maybe see you there!

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Ring the number shown with any queries, I am sure that the BeneFit Gals will be happy to help.

Yesterday’s Face: What it Was

Yesterday’s make up — which, like yesterday, is gone! Take off your make up, women, for the love of God! — and as ever, will be keeping my day job. I am very sloppy about the picture-taking.

From left:

> No. 7 High Shine in Pink Veil
> Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Rose
> That Karaja Waterproof Eye Pencil that I am wearing down to the nub.
> Bourjois Paris Smoky Eyes in Rose Vintage
> Clarins Instant Definition Mascara in Intense Plum
> Bourjois Paris Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer
> Stila Set & illuminate Baked Powder Trio
> L’Oréal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream in Fair Skin Tone
> Also L’Oréal Paris, the LumiMagique highlighting pen
> Yves Saint Laurent Dare to Glow No 2 in Fatal Red
> My beloved brow duo, the AVON Glimmerstick Brow Definer in Dark Brown, and BeneFit Speed Brow

I am very much loving the Hourglass lippy: it really does last, and I counteract the dry-feelingness with a top coat of gloss — ooh, and the No 7 is super shiny! I am also very impressed with the Bourjois eye palette, less so with the primer, as it is such a small container, I don’t imagine I’ll get many faces out of it, if you know what I mean. The YSL illuminator was a little rosier than I wanted to go, but if you are feeling that pale-and-interesting is not working for you, this will warm you right up.

Stila! Completely into the this illuminator, but keep forgetting I want to use it, so I am all dressed, and the danger of illuminating my frontage is, I am afraid, about 200% guaranteed.

I would not normally be interested in a non-black mascara either, but I find myself reaching for the Clarins Plum these last few days.

The whole look is soft:

Brows and lips, betches. It is all about them.

I’ll deffo do this again. Ah, yesterday!

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