Make Your Summer Sparkle

POST SUPPORTED BY WWW.MYJEWELRYBOX.COM

So they say that diamonds are a girl's best friend? Fine - until your jaw hits the floor at what are normally stratospheric prices. You're very often looking at three figures before you even begin - and that's often for a diamond that you need a magnifying glass to look at. But as with most things these days, if you shop around a bit (thank you, Google Shopping) you can often get what you want closer to the price you want.

Another way to get diamonds more cheaply than having a socking great rock on one finger is to think smaller: diamond earrings, for instance, will be cheaper than a diamond ring. One such website bringing you the sparkly stuff for less is MyJewelryBox.com, and you can also look around for sales at the major retailers such as H Samuel and Ernest Jones. If the prices at MyJewelryBox.com are too good to refuse, but you balk in the UK at the $50 shipping charge, it's equally easy to go in with friends or to take the chance to buy some dazzling gifts in order to get maximum value out of your order.

If you're not really into jewellery, though (after all, this is a beauty website), there are still plenty of other ways to inject some sparkle into your summer, both on the high street and off. Starting with the body, you can find lots of glitter on your local high street, whether this is with Body Shop's Brilliance Powder (which has slightly flawed packaging but still does a good job) or with the ethical competitor, Lush's Iridescent Glitterbug or their Shimmy Shimmy glitter bar (which you just rub over your body until the desired effect is achieved). If you set your sights a little higher in the sophistication stakes, though, you could always try Cacharel's Noa Perfumed Body Lotion, which starts at just over £20 online and provides a divine glow as well as smelling gorgeous.

There are also seemingly infinite numbers of options for adding some sparkle to your face. For the eyes, try Avon's Colour Sparkle Lash and Line, which incorporates a glitter liner and a mascara all into one handy tube, or for a more full-on look, try MAC Pigments for wow-factor and easily achievable fairy princess looks (or their less expensive cousin, Stargazer Eye Dusts). Even the nails can carry off a Dorothy-style look as you paint your nails with Barry M Nail Paints, whose sparkly variants can make you feel like you've stepped straight out of The Wizard of Oz.

Want something more subtle? No problem. There's a plethora of glittery products out there for even the most shrinking of violets, including Bourjois' Little Round Pot Blusher, which has colours carrying the tiniest glitter particles you ever saw, and Sally Hansen's Diamond Lip Treatment, which looks natural while still making you sparkle. It's good for your lips, is hard-wearing, and is even decorated with a small faux diamond on the front of the tube. However, that's not to say that perhaps a real diamond would not be better.

Bourjois Imperfection Concealer

# of shades available: 3
RRP: £5.40 on www.echemist.co.uk

--What does the promo say?--
"We've all been through it: skin breakouts at the most crucial times! Bourjois helps you look your best with Imperfection Concealer, which provides high coverage for blemishes. Its texture is also creamy enough to use under the delicate eye area, to banish heavy-duty dark circles."

--Packaging--
I like the leopard/wildlife approach, as it's very different to other stick concealers on the market. The stick is also very dinky and I like the little mirror on the top too. The only thing to not score points with me is the use of the word 'imperfection' - really prefer the use of the word 'blemish', but maybe that's just a personal thing. The container fastens securely and, although it's made of plastic, it seems fairly durable.

--Application--
Just stroke onto blemishes directly from the stick or by using your own brush. Ideally do this after applying foundation so that the foundation has already done some of the work for you, but before applying powder.

--Appearance--
Looks slightly caked on and is only half effective when it comes to covering spots, and despite the limited range of shades it seems to blend well with even the palest of foundation or powder (though those with darker skins may have more trouble). However, I wouldn't be happy to use it on its own, as I would be with e.g. L'Oreal's Touche Magique.

--Texture/consistency--
Certainly adequate, though not the finest or lightest concealer I've ever tried.

--Longevity--
Coverage was only adequate to begin with, but it at least doesn't seem to slide off or fade.

--Value for money--
At £5.40 it's an OK price, but I'd be loath to pay much more. This concealer is average: it doesn't stand up either to other stick concealers (e.g. Collection 2000's) or pen/liquid concealers (e.g. L'Oreal's). My advice? Go with something else.

perfect partners
Bourjois Compact Powder, £7.80
Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher, £6.80

Bourjois Ombre Stretch

RRP: £5.95
# of shades available: 8

--What does the promo say?--
"Ultra Stretchable eyeshadow, ultra adaptable result. Eyeshadow that can be stretched and blended infinitely, thanks to its remarkable formula enriched with nylon microspheres. It can be used to create looks that range from subtle to intense - you can have fun experimenting! Contained within a gorgeous compact case, with panoramic mirror and expert brush - it'll look great in your handbag."

--Packaging--
In keeping with the young disco queen theme that Bourjois has been using recently, particularly popularised by their Volume Clubbing Mascara. The hinge looks stronger on this than on their Little Round Pot eyeshadows, thank goodness, and it's sleek and compact. Basic plastic with flip top lid, and includes a mirror and brush, which is always nice.

--Application--
Open to experimentation - you can layer it over the whole eyelid just using the brush, just line the top lashes, line the top lashes and then blend outwards...the possibilities are endless.

--Appearance--
Quite a matte colour, though for all I know the others may be more shimmery or glittery. It blends well and can look subtle or more vamped up.

--Longevity--
Sadly, useless. Creases worse than any eyeshadow I've tried for a loooooong time.

--Value for money--
While this product has versatility on its side, you can get far better results with MAC's Pigments or Prescriptives' Moonbeam Eyeshadow (both of which actually stay the distance).

Bourjois Suivez Mon Regard eyeshadow

RRP: £6.50
no. of shades available: 13

--What does the promo say?--
"Shimmering loose powder eye shadow with a built in brush. The unique, no spills pot and ingenious built in brush are the perfect companion for a professional application wherever you are. The clever pot deposits just the right amount of powder on the brush with each application. Explore the multiple facets of the intense, shimmering shades."

--Packaging--
Really neat and clever, and of course great for travelling. It can't be any more than 5cm tall (half of which is taken up with the eyeshadow powder) and the top half shows the clear brush handle through the transparent lid (all plastic). The bottom half shows the shadow and there's a paper strip running round the halfway point in the same colour, with the Bourjois and Suivez Mon Regard logo in white. Sadly there are no refills available for this product, so the whole thing has to be thrown away when you're done. Shame, as the brush isn't a bad quality one at all - good for blending as well as the initial putting on of the eyeshadow.

--Application--
Very easy. Unscrew the top plastic lid, and pull out the little brush. When you pull it out of the main pot, there should already be a sufficient amount of shadow on the bristles. Spread the powder onto your eyelid and dip the brush into the pot for more as necessary. When you're finished, put the brush back into the pot and replace the lid.

--Texture--
It could be finer, to be honest: even though the shadow blends well, the powder particles seem quite big. Saying this, though, I experienced no irritation while using this product.

--Appearance--
Really nice and shimmery with a strong (but not too strong) colour. However, I'd recommend finishing off your look with a slightly darker shadow and/or a liner as I feel the shadow lacks something on its own.

--Longevity--
Not great, even with a primer. Just really very average.

--Value for money--
It's fine for what you get, and one pot certainly lasts a long time, but I wouldn't want to pay any more than the RRP for it.

perfect partners
Bourjois Coup de Theatre Mascara, £8.95
Bourjois Khol&Contour Eyeliner Pencil, £4.25

Bourjois Khol and Contour

RRP: £4.20
# of shades available: 13

--Packaging--
As you see it on the screen is how you'll find it in the shop. Just a simple pencil in the colour of the liner, with the Bourjois logo and the name of the product, ingredients etc embossed onto it in silver, with a lid to keep the nib of the pencil protected. The pencil itself is about 12cm long including the lid, and weighs 0.04oz or 1.14g.

--What does the promo say?--
"Blend and shade to define the shape of the eye or apply to the inside rim of the eye for intensity. Available in a delectable palette of shades, from pearly pastels to dramatic darks."

--Application--
Depends how you want to use it. You can follow the line of your upper lashes on your top eyelid, or you can follow the waterline just above your bottom lashes, or both if you're going for the gothic look. I personally opt for the waterline. Make sure the pencil is sharp (but not too sharp, unless you want a trip to Accident and Emergency...) so that your application is precise. Taking your time is probably the most important bit!

--Appearance--
It's hard enough to create a good line, but not so hard that you can't smudge it a little bit if you want. Answer: it looks however you want it to look...

--Texture--
Perfect. No need to even keep this one in the fridge.

--Longevity--
Obviously it's going to last longer on your upper eyelid than on your waterline, but there's nothing you can do about that.

--Value for money--
Excellent. This little baby will last you AGES, and the range of colours is amazing too.

perfect partners
Bourjois Pump Up The Volume: ultimate volume for your lashes, £7.95
Bourjois Suivez Mon Regard: shimmering loose powder eyeshadow with a built-in brush, £6.50

Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush

RRP: £6.25

# of shades available: 12

--Packaging--

Very cute, pretty, girly, compact, convenient and great for travelling. The packaging colour matches the blusher shade you've chosen and has the Bourjois logo and shade name/number on the lid in silver or gold font. You just click the button on the front of the compact and pull the lid upwards to open. It comes with its own compact mirror and brush, and while the brush is never going to be of the highest standards, it is nice to have and certainly beats some of the other brushes that come with certain products *cough*L'Oréal*cough* The brush is also curved to work with the shape of the compact.

The only major gripe that I have with the packaging is that it's quite flimsy and the joint on the lid is not very strong at all. I can guarantee that no matter how careful you are with it (and I've had several of the Little Round Pot blushers and eyeshadows), it WILL break miles before you're finished with it. Happily, as the powder is compacted rather than loose, it won't go all over your makeup bag even then (though you might occasionally find little pink blotches on other makeup bottles and things).

The really clever thing that Bourjois does to make up for this, though, which I really do appreciate, is that the powder is domed rather than flat. This not only means they fit even more into the compact, but it also means the powder runs out evenly, rather than running out in the middle first, leaving you to scrape at the edges for the last traces of powder.

--What does the promo say?--

"Softer and more velvety thanks to a new pearl effect and a skilful blend of pigments. The baked texture is transformed on the skin into a light ultra-fine pressed powder, that is easy to apply and blends impeccably. One stroke of the brush reveals the irresistable aroma of rose scented powder. "


--Application--


Use the brush provided (or your own, it doesn't matter) to sweep small amounts of the blusher over your cheeks until you have achieved the desired effect.


--Texture--


Nice and smooth.



--Appearance--


It's really easy to go overboard with this, so watch it. You don't want to look like Krusty the Clown. Remember, just a little at a time - you can always add more but it's more difficult to take it back when you've done too much. Done right, though, the effect is very subtle and English-rose-esque.

--Longevity--


Excellent.



--Removal--


Easy to remove (I'm thinking this section is getting a little boring! My answer always seems to be the same. Maybe I just have a very good makeup remover...).



--Value for money--


Despite the feebleness of the packaging, I'd say excellent. I've had mine for over a year and it's still going strong.