Versace Lights All Over Loose Powder

RRP: £43.50, or £25.50 on www.strawberrynet.com
Weight: 6g

--Packaging--
An attractive clear plastic pot with opaque sifting tray. The lid is a mock-gold plastic screw-top lid with a raised Versace logo. The sifting tray is also easy to remove so you can refill it with any powder you choose. Overall it's a substantial object, and even just holding it you feel you've had value for money. The brush it comes with is just as nice: a good size, glossy bristles, not synthetic-looking. The bristles are soft, pick up the powder nicely and don't fall out of the brush.

--Application--
Just swirl the brush gently in the sifting tray to pick up the amount of powder desired, and brush over cheeks, arms and decollete.

--Appearance--
A pearlescent, fine powder, with tiny gold particles. On the face the effect is subtle, though on the face I'd still restrict it to cheeks only rather than going for an all-over look.

--Texture--
Feels very smooth on the face and doesn't feel at all gritty or irritating.

--Longevity--
It gives the face a light sheen for hours and hours that is really very beautiful. You won't need to reapply it all day.

--Value for money--
Excellent, given the little you apply in the first place and the extent to which you have to reapply (maybe once when you're going out). However, there's no denying that it is expensive, so try to buy it as part of a set if you can (Versace have been issuing various makeup coffrets for years - it's how I got hold of mine, which also contained a Versace mascara and lipgloss).

perfect partners
Versace Wet Cream Lipgloss, £11
Versace Eyeshadow Duo, £16
Versace Soft Cover Duo (Concealer and Highlighter), £15

*all prices from www.strawberrynet.com

Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream

RRP: $75 or £57.40 for 50g (£51.66 if you buy 2 or more)

--What does the promo say?--
"Symptom: Winter weather can ravage your skin. Cosmetic procedures put it through the wringer. What you're left with is stressed, irritated, uncomfortable skin that needs immediate relief!

Solution: Pure Cloud Cream is the cosmetic equivalent of kid gloves. Incredibly soothing and comforting, this light-as-air cream provides hyper-protection and healing relief for super-sensitive skin. Formulated to rescue skin from external aggressors like harsh weather and provide comfort after dermatological procedures and surgeries, it pampers and calms seriously stressed skin. Irritation and inflammation are soothed away by aloe and oat extract while peptides stimulate the release of feel-good endorphins. Hydrolyzed rice protein and ImmunoBoost help bolster skin’s immunity and inhibit collagen breakdown for improved healing."

--Ingredients--
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Didecene, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Canola Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Bisabalol, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Simondsia Chinensis, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Gold, Silver, Copper Sulfate, Glycosphingolipids, Cetyl Alcohol, Oleth-10 Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Monostearate, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Lecithin, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Perfluorodecalin, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Trideceth-6, Lauryl Glucoside, Laureth-3, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

--Packaging--
Really nice opaque, dreamy-looking pot that is really reminiscent of clouds of white, adorned with minimal writing in a simple grey font. Utterly luxurious and almost breathtaking. The lid is a simple white plastic screw top, and there's little/no risk of leakage.

--Application--
Sweep a little out of the pot using your finger, and apply to your face. Very little is needed to moisturise the whole face.

--Appearance--
Quite a thick, stiff cream, but still smooth rather than lumpy. A real creamy white colour that's just a joy to look at. On the face, it doesn't leave any visible residue.

--Texture/consistency--
Stiff - it stands up on its own as egg whites would do. However, it's still very easy to rub in and it absorbs really well.

--Scent--
My first thought was that it smelt of lemons, which was a very pleasant surprise. On closer inspection, though, there is also a chalkier, more powdery smell in there. The grapefruit scent comes through nicely though perhaps it would be nicer to be able to smell the other scents, like aloe vera, as well.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
Yes - my skin felt fabulously smooth even after going out in strong winds (well, if it can withstand Iceland, it can handle merrie old England, right?). However, it didn't do anything that my Liz Earle intensive treatment doesn't do. (Please note that my skin is too oily to use this as an everyday moisturiser, so I am using this as a rescue treatment only.)

--Value for money--
I was disappointed to find that this product was so expensive: not because I didn't like it, but because in principle I refuse to spend that much on a face cream. If I was going to buy it, I would buy it in America, where at today's current conversion rate it is approximately £20 less than the current British RRP. I'd guess that a pot would last quite a long time, seeing as each application requires so little of the stuff, so given that, and given that it works so well, it probably is good value for money in a sense. Oh well. Perhaps one day when I am rich...

L'Oreal Colour Juice Sheer Lip Gloss

RRP: $5.50-$7.50 for 15ml
no. of shades available: 20-40 across a range of sites

--What does the promo say?--
"Quench your thirst for glossy lips that burst with a sheer colour and juicy shine with Colour Juice Sheer Juicy Lip Gloss. Just squeeze and apply for fresh, ripe colour and a moisturising shiny finish. Wear alone or use as a topcoat over your favourite lipstick to really juice up your look."

--Packaging--
At first glance this looks just like any other plastic squeezy lip gloss tube. And, let's face it, it probably is. But I actually rather like the rounded lid, it seems somehow unusual. And even though the tube is pretty plain, its transparency shows off this gloss in its full subtle shimmery glory.

--Application--
As usual really, just squeeze a little and apply directly from the applicator to the lips.

--Texture/consistency--
A little sticky when first applied, but give it time and your lips do start to feel more moisturised. The particles of glitter aren't really big either, so you don't really feel them.

--Appearance--
It looks better once it's had time to sink in and move around your lips, so that it doesn't look so slicked-on. It looks really natural but still with a bit of glamour, so it works well for day or night. Very sheer, too - there's no solid flash of colour here.

--Scent--
Smells really fruity and definitely lives up to its name in this respect. Shame it doesn't taste as nice. Fruity and sharp scent without being sickly.

--Longevity--
Pretty good, but you do have to reapply after eating and drinking.

--Value for money--
Excellent - one tube lasts such a long time and there really is a shade for everyone too. They just need to make it less sticky and they'll have themselves a winner.

perfect partner
L'Oreal True Match Powder

Fyrinnae Rice Powder Face Primer

RRP: $7/£3.50 for 7g, plus postage

--What does the promo say?--
"Our primer powder gives your skin a silky-soft feel and is perfect under foundation or alone for a line and pore minimizing look. This primer is designed to gently absorb any excess oil without drying skin (we've tested this on dry skin as well as oily and combination, with no adverse effects), as well as prime your skin for a more even, lasting application of mineral foundation. Also works under traditional foundation. Contains a large percentage of silica to soften the appearance of fine lines and pores."

--About the brand--
"Fyrinnae is NOT a "mineral makeup" company. We do create and carry mineral foundation, bronzer, and finishing powder, but our other cosmetics were never intended to be pure "mineral" (then again, most other companies' products aren't either--always check ingredients if it's a concern!). Our colour depth and complexity of shades is what sets us apart. Fyrinnae is proudly a gay-owned company located in the US, though we do not operate out of a physical store, and our studio is not open to walk-in traffic. Everything is produced and packed in a clean, smoke-free environment. We never have, and never will, discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or anything else!
We never test on animals (that would be silly), and there are no animal parts, such as carmine, silk, pearl, and tallow in our products.
About our product names: we like having creative or unusual names for products (let's face it: "Rose Pink" just sounds boring!). Our cosmetics line has many Celtic/Nordic/East Asian/Fantasy names. Some names are just totally random, some come from east Asian music for example, and some are personal references.
Our popular eye shadows: unlike many companies, we do not take pre-made mica colourants and add our own label, or shake two or three colours together and deem it a new product. Our rich colours are formulated by us, some of them taking hours to get just right. With so many shades, we need to re-make large batches (not each colour per order, but each shade is re-made at least once a month, more often for the biggest sellers) of at least four colours every day, not to mention the other cosmetics, and then each "batch" is tested by at least two people. Rest assured that we work every single day so that orders are out the door as soon as possible. We never take vacations! At least one of the guys is always in the studio or office every day of the year, even when the site is listed as closed for orders. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us.

--Packaging--
The primer is packaged in a very non-descript sifter jar: clear jar, black lid, white opaque sifter tray. All plastic. No logos anywhere. All product info is on a sticker on the bottom of the jar with the ingredients clearly labelled. It does the job, but it's all very boring. From such a clearly unique company you'd perhaps expect something a bit more special.

--Application--
The website instructs: "To apply, simply brush on a very small amount over moisturizer (if you use it) using a powder/kabuki brush or flocked sponge. You can also spot "conceal" fine lines with fingertip application." This is an accurate description and I followed it with no problems.

--Appearance--
The powder is pure white, with very fine particles. On the face, however, the powder and colour diffuses wonderfully, with no patches of powder or visible whiteness.

--Texture/consistency--
Like talcum powder, but without the chalkiness, and it doesn't fly everywhere in clouds either. On the skin it feels smooth, light and natural.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
It definitely fulfils their claims that skin will feel smoother and less greasy and provide a level base for makeup. However, it most certainly doesn't do anything to balance out the effects of my wrinkles and (admittedly very large) pores. Shame.

--Longevity--
It does make the skin feel smooth and dry all day, so credit where credit's due. Makeup doesn't slide off either, which is the main thing - concealment of lines and pores is a bonus if anything.

--Value for money--
Excellent value, but it would be even better value if it actually did deflect attention away from pores and wrinkles! I'm wavering over whether or not I would buy it again - I'm really impressed by the natural ingredients and how it seems to let the skin breathe, how it absorbs excess oil, stops makeup from budging and makes the skin feel so smooth. However, I'm slightly disappointed that it doesn't fulfil some of its claims, particularly since I'm so self-conscious about my large pores, and given that I live in the UK, they will ship here but it takes ages, so plenty of patience is required.

perfect partners
Mica-Free Mineral Foundation, $8/£4
Daemon's Tail loose eyeshadow, $5.25/£2.62 for 3g

Max Factor Mastertouch Concealer

RRP: £6.99

no. of shades available: 3

--What does the promo say?--
"Ever wondered how top models keep their skin looking flawless at all times? Tried backstage by professional make-up artists at the hottest catwalk shows, new Mastertouch Concealer is a miracle product to give you the expert touch of a professional make-up artist. With an easy-to-apply texture it hides blemishes. It’s all down to a special skin smoothing applicator and light-diffusing creamy formula that makes precise coverage a breeze!"

--Packaging--
Slender black and clear plastic pen-type packaging, with the Max Factor logo on the black parts of the packaging in white, and a clear lid showing the brush end clearly. The other end of the pen has a twist mechanism and the clear parts of the packaging show the where the concealer is stored, which is always useful for seeing how much you have left. The pen end is made of sponge rather than being a brush or made of plastic - this is something of a downside as any excess tends to be soaked into the sponge and thus wasted. Nice to look at and the packaging is a good match to the new Max Factor foundation, Miracle Touch, which was released at about the same time and uses the same black-and-clear theme.

--Application--
Twist the end of the pen that DOESN'T have the nib of the pen attached. You luckily don't have to twist for too long for the concealer to appear at the end of the pen, and it doesn't all shoot out at once sending concealer everywhere. Apply to blemishes on your face directly with the nib of the pen and then use your fingers or a separate brush or sponge to blend (using the nib of the pen to blend is unsuccessful as it just adds more concealer/spreads the concealer around your face).

--Texture/consistency--
Perfect - not too runny or thick, and not too heavy. Lovely, light, creamy consistency.

--Appearance--
Sadly the results were not all I'd hoped for. Despite choosing the lightest shade available, it still seemed rather orange on my pale skin, and it seemed patchy rather than helping to create a perfectly smooth base. A lot of work therefore had to be done with my foundation and powder to make up for this.

--Longevity--
Good, but not good enough - it certainly doesn't last all day.

--Coverage--
Good initially, but as implied above, will need topping up.

--Value for money--
I got mine free with said Max Factor foundation, so I don't really feel I've lost anything. However, I'd recommend spending the same money on L'Oreal's Touche Magique, particularly since there are far more shades available on that product than on this. Overall, something of a disappointment.

Lola Refine Eye Mousse Base and Primer

RRP: $20

--What does the promo say?--
"Create the perfect canvas! Our mousse texture REFINE EYE primes lids and provides an even tone. Helps shadow and liner to go on smoothly and evenly with long-lasting effects."

--About the brand--
Think natural beauty. Think cutting-edge chic. Then imagine it all being so effortless. "There's a little Lola in every woman," says Victoria Jackson, creator of sexy sophisticated LOLA Cosmetics. The LOLA in you is the part of you that is simply unlike anyone else. LOLA's products are like none you've ever used before. Triple-milled European ingredients. Uncommonly rich pigments. Formulas that elevate cosmetics to the next level. From our show-stopping shimmer shades to our addictively sensuous lip gloss, LOLA has something for every woman whether you are an adventurous glam queen, a cosmetics novice, or are simply looking for the next "it" product. Each of our uniquely packaged powders, blushes, eye shadows, lipsticks and pencils was created to put the power of beauty right at your fingertips. Who knew you could feel this gorgeous? LOLA did. Ignite the LOLA in you...

--Packaging--
A small clear pot with an eye-catching screw-top red lid (all genuine plastic of course), which bears the sultry Lola logo on it in cream cursive script. It also comes in a dinky little red cardboard box which wouldn't look out of place on a 1950s makeup table. Nice, simple, good-looking stuff. Easy to open and close and because it's a mousse the possibility of leakage is greatly reduced. There's also a small white plastic disc inside the lid which I'm not sure of the purpose of, but I guess you can use it as a small palette if you like.

--Application--
This product is designed to be used on the eyelids to prepare them for eyeshadow, but also under the eyes to even out skin tone and act as a base for concealer etc. The easiest way to apply this is probably with the fingers rather than with a brush, though a sponge is also an option (NB the product does not come with any application devices included).

--Appearance--
A thick but airy and non-runny skin-coloured mousse. On the skin it goes on smoothly with no lumps and blends in perfectly with the thinner skin under the eyes as well as the thicker skin of the eyelids. However, only one shade is available, and it seems a slight stretch of the imagination to think that it would suit every skin tone (although it should serve most Caucasian skin tones well). Once the product has been fully blended into the skin, there is a visible evening-out of skin tone in both texture and colour.

--Texture/consistency--
Light but still substantial enough to make you feel like you're not just applying nothing to your face. Smooth and creamy without being greasy.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
Yes. It provides an excellent base for concealer and any under-eye circle products, and it stops eyeshadow from creasing or fading. Good stuff.

--Value for money--
$20/£10 a pot seems expensive, but the fact that you use so little each time and the fact that it's multi-use (unlike its nearest rival, Benefit's Lemon Aid) makes it more and more worth the money by the minute. Not to mention it's effective AND travel-friendly. Score.

--Where to buy--
www.lolacosmetics.com , select Victoria's Secret stores, Sephora, and Ulta stores.

perfect partner
Lola Eye Shadow Trio (available in 12 combinations), $24

Avon Ultimate Age Repair Elixir

RRP: £25 for 30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Ultra luxurious, highly concentrated light cream immediately reactivates and reawakens skin by stimulating youth protein. Smooth over face and neck every morning and evening."

--Packaging--
An elegant (but nonetheless definitely pitched at the older market) gold-coloured container approximately 8cm long, this package sports the Avon logo and product name in black on the front of the bottle, and a dainty pump-action mechanism on the top. The product is released by pressing the top of the bottle. It's a very aesthetically pleasing design whose size, weight and shape sits very well in the hand, and looks great on your dressing table. However, when empty the package is still heavy, indicating that the luxurious packaging is unnecessary.

--Application--
1-2 pumps is a more than ample to adequately moisturise the face. The hole from which the moisturiser is released is small and it is therefore easy to control the amount released.

--Appearance--
The moisturiser is of a creamy, foundation-like colour. However, the colour is not visible at all on the skin.

--Texture/consistency--
The moisturiser is light, but not runny, and absorbs well into the skin. The consistency is more liquid than creamy or watery.

--Scent--
Has a distinctively fresh, perfumed, slightly melon-like smell that is olfactorily pleasant.

--Anti-ageing effects--
The tester reported a visible reduction of lines around the forehead area, and also reported that it served as an excellent moisturiser.

--Value for money--
The tester reported that she would buy the product again, although said that one canister only lasted a couple of months, even without everyday use. She also said that even if she wasn't totally satisfied with the product, she would choose another Avon product as an alternative as she has found other Avon products more than satisfactory.

perfect partners
Ultimate Age Repair Day, £18 for 50ml
Ultimate Age Repair Night, £18 for 50ml

Barry M Glitter Nail Paint

RRP: £2.95
no. of shades available: 10

--What does the promo say?--
"Glitzy Glam! Be extreme! These are ideal to be the knockout party disco diva, whatever your age! Bright shades bursting with minute particles, you’ll certainly get noticed with these enamels wherever you go to party."

--Packaging--
A square, clear bottle (allowing the nail colour to be visible) with a chunky plastic lid. What makes the bottle distinctive, however, is the instantly-recognisable Barry M logo emblazoned across the bottle in gold cursive script, making it an overall simple but striking and good-looking design.

--Application--
As usual - prepare your nails with a base coat before adding the glitter, and finish with a top coat when dry.

--Appearance--
Really striking, unique appearance with large and clearly visible glitter particles. Most glitter varnishes are more subtle, but Barry M goes all out and the results are fabulous.

--Longevity--
Pretty good, even on its own with no top or base coat.

--Removal--
I don't normally include a section on removal unless I have problems. However, I am including it this time to serve as a warning: you *must* wear top and base coats with this polish or I can guarantee it will be nigh on impossible to remove.

--Value for money--
Exceptional - you pay very little for a high-quality varnish that gives you a really individual look. Nice one.