Skincare trial update

I've been doing the Estee Lauder skincare trial for almost two weeks now so thought I would update you on how it's going. In short - I am hooked! I find that using the Advance Night Repair serum at night on any problem areas means that when I wake up in the morning my skin is, as the name suggests, repaired! I still have the problem of a few (two to be exact) lines on my forehead but they do seem to be slightly less harsh. In my previous post I mentioned that perhaps the product was making my skin look oily by midday - well that seems to have stopped, so no complaints there.
As for the eye cream - again, hooked! It is so light to wear that you forget it's there as soon as it's on and it just quietly works away. I use this morning and night and have noticed a difference in that my under-eye is brighter and any lines are lessened.
I will continue with this and let you know any updates!

Estee Lauder skincare trial

I’ve decided to do an Estee Lauder skincare trial on myself. After receiving a sample pot of the new Advance Night Repair for Eyes product, I was impressed with the results and splashed out on a full-sized version of it. With this, I received a sample of the original Advance Night Repair serum - so now that I have both products in my clutches, I aim to use them as prescribed until I run out of the original serum and see what changes I notice in my skin.

My problem area is my forehead where, at 25, I am beginning to notice lines appearing (kill me now). What I am hoping for is that Estee Lauder’s product lives up to its hype and not only prevents future damage to the skin but also works to repair existing damage.

I began the trial on Tuesday night (it’s now Thursday) and have instantly noticed that my skin feels incredibly smooth and my skin tone looks more even. One other thing I’ve noticed is that areas of my face that weren’t oily before, have started to look oily by midday though I make sure to cleanse my skin the morning after wearing the ANR. This could just be a sign of my skin adjusting to the product – or, as it’s only slightly oily, perhaps it’s just an effect of the product to make the skin appear more “dewy”. Oily... Dewy...Potato... Po-tah-to... who knows? Anyway, I look forward to continuing the trial as despite this, I am noticing significant benefits from using the products in conjunction with my usual skincare routine.

Watch this face space!

Monday Make-Up Must Haves: Blending Brush

A Blending Brush

It wasn’t until I invested in a blending brush that I really found make up started “working” for me. A decent blending brush and the right skills can take a look from novice to pro in seconds. The blending/contour brush of choice for many (myself included, I must admit), is MAC’s 217. This brush has fine, densly packed fibres arranged in an oval shape – meaning the brush fits perfectly in your socket line. As well as blending out harsh edges, this brush can also be used to apply colour to the socket, for example, but be aware that it will easilly pick up a great deal of product.

With a price tag of £14.50, it’s not a cheap brush but it is definately a good investment as with the right care it will last you for years.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE 217:

If you would rather not splash out so much on a make up brush, here are some more affordable alternatives:

This blend and contour brush from No7 (above) is less than half the price of the MAC alternative at just £6.50.

Bargain brush alert! This blend and contour brush from Elf (above) is just £1.50! I have one and it’s great for when my 217 is dirty and I need a back-up blender. It may not be quite as "perfect" as the 217, but for just £1.50 I think it’s a brush worth having.  

For a tutorial on blending, who better to show you than the lovely Pixiwoo / Fashion Face team:

MAC Collection: Venomous Vilians

Time for another MAC collection and collaboration, this time with Disney. In stores around Halloween time in the UK (and right now in the US I believe), the Venomous Vilians collection celebrates some of the most notorious and iconic baddies from Disney films. Vilians who now can boast their own make up range include Sleeping Beauty's arch nemisis Maleficent, the stylin' Evil Queen from Snow White, Cruella De Vil and the most recent vilian, Dr Facilier (some dude from The Princess and the Frog).

Now, whilst all these are fabulous vilians (I can't comment on Dr Facilier as I haven't seen the film yet), my first hope when I heard of the collection was that there would be an Ursula range! For some reason she is my favourite Disney vilian and although she's not such a looker as, say, the Evil Queen, the scene where she pops open a little fish thing and uses it as a lipstick always bounces round my head whenever I apply a femme fatal shade of red. MAC, you missed a trick! 

(I mean, come on - look at her bitchin' 80s make up!)

Anyway, I look forward to the collection hitting the shops and will be sure to pop by a MAC store for a peek at the products and their ~wicked~ packaging. It's great to see the bad guys getting some limelight instead of those pesky Disney Princesses! I always get excited for MAC collections and this one is certainly no exception! 

PS. Kudos to MAC for embracing Halloween! So few companies bother in the UK...

EDIT: The collection is now LIVE on the MAC site! I have purchased some items and can't wait for them to arrive!

Nailed it!

Show your true colours! Are you a fan of coloured nail varnish? Do you favour the nude-look nail? Or do you wear 'em bare?
I have to admit that I'm a fan of the nude-look. I keep my nails short and neat, perhaps use a little whitening pencil on the tips and then gloss the nails over with a clear or 'natural manicure' shade. I think this looks chic, clean and professional - and it lasts a damn site longer than colour because you can't notice the little chips and scrapes! (WIN!)
Personally, if I'm going to paint my nails a colour, I want my nails to be short and cute. I can't stand long talons! But that's just me. I don't like brights on my nails and tend to stick to vampy dark colours such as Chanel's Vendetta or Rimmel's Black Cherries.
Speaking of Black Cherries, this nail varnish is my all time favourite for my toes! I am rarely without it (obviously I give my nails breathing space between wears to avoid unsightly staining or the development of brittle nails).

So, which way do your nails claw towards? Brights? Long? Nude? Whichever way, I'm sure they suit you fabulously!
x

Pic from ASOS

September Favourites

Products I love, September 2010:

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish
You can hardly move on the internet for glowing reviews and endorsements of this product from Isle of Wight based Liz Earle. I've always found it hard to keep up skin care regimes but Liz Earle has got me hooked! To use, you pump some of the cleanser onto dry hands and massage on to the face (it's safe to use on eyes and even open your eyes when they are covered in product!), then rinse the muslin cloth under hand-hot water, ring it out and buff off the product. When you have finished, splash the face with cold water to close the pores and voila! You are done!
The Hot Cloth regime leaves skin feeling very soft and smooth as the cloth works as a gentle exfoliator. Natural ingredients leave the skin clean and smelling fresh. I love it! And at approx £13 for a starter kit, it's affordable luxury. If you think £13 is pricey, bare in mind that the lovely team at Liz Earle often pop in a free gift with each online order ;)

Liz Earle Instant Boost skin tonic
This goes hand in hand with the above product. To use, put a splash of the product on a cotton pad and gently wipe it over the face. Any remaining make up and impurities will be swept away and your skin will be left feeling fresh and devine.

Benefit Coralista blusher
You can guess from the name that Benefit's Coralista is a coral-toned blusher, but it's not an in-your-face orangey coral, more a soft pinky coral. I love the dewy sheen it gives to the face and the colour warms me up beautifully. Approx £23, so quite pricey but the product lasts well.

Estee Lauder Crystal Baby lipstick
I've never been into lipsticks - I always think they are "too much" for my face. As such, if I wear anything on my lips it's a very natural, lip-toned gloss etc (such as MAC's Frankly Fresh). But after hearing how wonderful Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby lipstick was on various sites, I couldn't help but splash out. £17 seems extortionate for a lipstick, but the product is so perfect for me that I am glad I got it. The colour is a natural soft pink which I call "my lip colour but better". It lasts well on the lip and is the first lipstick I've ever felt comfortable wearing day or night. I would definately re-buy this.  

Chanel Chance eau Fraiche perfume
Oh my goodness. I LOVE this perfume. It makes me feel sophisticated, elegant, fresh - it's perfect for the day time. Chanel is such an unattainable brand for me (price-wise), so weaing this is a daily treat. I really love it. Favourite perfume EVER? Probably. Definately the most wearable I've ever had.
N.B: All views are my own and all products have been bought by myself with my own hard earned cash.

Introduction

Thanks for visiting the Shoegazer : SkinDeep blog. You may have found it through my main blog Shoegazer Creative? If not, please feel free to visit and have a browse through posts about jewellery, homeware, fashion and other creative things! As for this brand new blog, I want posts to focus on make-up/beauty products and inspirations.
I have long been incredibly interested in make up artistry and plan to do an evening course in SFX Make Up and Media Make Up very soon. At present I work for a magazine but if I were ever able to concentrate full time on make up as a career I think I'd die happy. For now, I just want to indulge my interest and share what I pick up along the way with anyone who stumbles across this blog!
I hope you find something to enjoy in these posts. I will try and be as honest and straight-forward as I can about products. I am not a "brand snob" and don't have an endless budget so hopefully there will be products featured from all price ranges.
Claire x