Mary Kay Translucent Loose Powder

RRP: £18

--What does the promo say?--
"Because it’s translucent, this powder is the perfect match for any skin tone – from very fair to dark. It sets foundation for a sheer, invisible finish and has light-diffusing properties designed to help soften the appearance of imperfections for a skin-perfecting look. The powder feels weightless, natural and velvety soft on skin and is suitable for all skin types, even those with sensitive skin. The long-wearing formula keeps makeup looking fresh throughout the day, controlling unwanted shine while never looking chalky. Wear it over your favourite Mary Kay® liquid or cream foundation as a finishing touch or by itself for a naturally beautiful look."

--Packaging--
A screw-top plastic pot that has a disc inside with holes in it to control distribution. The disc twists to open and close whenever required and this is not problematic to control.

--Application--
After applying concealer and foundation, apply the powder lightly. It can be built up if you feel more is required to set your base. Again, this isn't difficult, but of course you require a powder brush (contrary to the picture, the RRP doesn't include a brush), so make sure you have one before purchasing.

--Appearance--
As promised, this worked perfectly with my skin tone thanks to its translucence, and I can imagine it would work well for just about everyone in this regard, helping to set your base for the day. Naturally, being translucent, it doesn't offer any extra coverage, so those wanting more coverage may find it less suitable. However, the powder's light-diffusing properties mean that this doesn't seem to be too much of a problem, and as promised, there is no chalkiness.

--Texture and consistency--
Light, velvety-smooth and non-irritating as promised.

--Longevity--
Seems to set the base very well, without sliding or flaking off. No worries here.

--Value for money--
This comes in at about the same price range as Laura Mercier and Elizabeth Arden, so in terms of brand reputation and visibility, Mary Kay is perhaps pushing it slightly. However, quality-wise it is worth the money, and even though I was sent mine for free this time, I would consider purchasing the product when my current pot runs out.

perfect partners
Concealer, £7.50
Mineral Powder Foundation, £14.50
TimeWise Foundation Primer, £14
Eye Primer, £16
Special Edition Kabuki Brush, £10

Motives Pressed Eye Shadow

RRP: £12
# of shades available: 27

--What does the promo say?--
"Ultra smooth and luxurious, these eye shadows are crease-proof and deflect the light away from fine lines to help visibly reduce the signs of aging for a bright, polished look. The Motives Pressed Eye Shadows have impeccable colour retention that does not run or crease so you always look your best. They glide on ultra smooth with incredible hold, a flawless look, and a luxurious feel and finish. Take the guesswork out of looking gorgeous. The Motives Pressed Eye Shadow promises to give you the long lasting, high colour look you have always wanted. Paraben, fragrance and oil free."

--Packaging--
A flip-top plastic container with an opaque lid that somewhat dulls the colour of the eyeshadow (the shade I was sent, Antique Gold, looked beige or taupe until I opened it). The pan seems to move around quite a bit in the plastic container, so be careful! It would also be nice to see a small brush or mirror included.

--Application--
Use your fingers or an eyeshadow brush to apply the shadow to the eyelids. Blend upwards and outwards towards the brow bone with your fingers or a clean brush.

--Appearance--
The shade I was sent, Antique Gold, gave a lovely burnished look that's perfect for summer. Would work perfectly with any of the brown shades in the range, and would look great with any skin tone too.

--Texture and consistency--
Really smooth and silky to apply, with no powderiness. No issues here.

--Longevity--
Lasted very well even without an eyeshadow primer, staying intact after an afternoon nap, although it didn't survive a summer afternoon swim.

--Value for money--
I can understand why people might want to go for bigger brands like Cargo, Stila, Korres, Aveda and Mac, whose eyeshadows all also retail at £12. From this point of view, Motives' price point is a bit of a risk. However, it's got a wide range of beautiful colours which last well on the eyes - plus, by buying from them, you always get the pleasure of knowing you're investing in the new kid on the block.

perfect partners
Lustrafy High Definition Mascara, £14
Gel Eyeliner, £14 
False Eyelashes, £5.50
Eye Base, £12
Eyebrow Pencil, £12 

Aveeno Moisturizing Creamy Oil

 RRP: £7.15/300ml

--What does the promo say?--
"This non-greasy formula moisturises like an oil and absorbs like a cream. It is enriched with Sweet Almond Oil and Colloidal Oatmeal. Helps maintain the skin's natural moisture level and prevent dry skin."

--Packaging--
The pump-action plastic bottle is practical and subtle. Its brown and green colour scheme nicely accentuates the oat motif, making it stand out while highlighting the key ingredient.

--Application--

One pump covers each arm and both hands, or the complete lower leg, foot and even your knee if you are frugal - so a generous amount is definitely delivered with each pump. Rub into clean dry skin.

--Appearance--

A fine, pale cream that leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--

The almond oil is clearly detectable against the neutral background of the oats. Sweet without being sickly.

--Texture and consistency--

The creamy oil rubs in well and absorbs quickly. Its light, refined texture means it doesn't weigh too heavily on the skin, which is always a bonus if you are applying it before putting on clothes or footwear. 

--Effects on the skin-- 

Twice-daily use does a good job of keeping summer legs smooth. Nice one, Aveeno! 

--Value for money--

At £7.15 it's arguably getting a bit steep, even if you account for the fact that one bottle should last you a while. However, it's hardly unaffordable or out of reach, and as it's frequently on offer too, you should be able to get even better value for money out of it. Bianca's Beauty Blog was sent theirs for free by Aveeno, but we would definitely repurchase.

perfect partners

Bath and Shower Oil, £7.99

Hand Cream, £5.10 

Run a TANATHON

Want a tan, but not the potential health problems that go with it? A fake tan is far healthier than hitting the beach or the sunbeds - and now fake tan brand St Tropez has teamed up with Malmaison Hotels and Macmillan Cancer Support to promote responsible tanning through events running up to the end of August 11th.

To support the cause, come to Le Petit Spa at the Birmingham branch of Malmaison hotels. Name your price for a St Tropez spray tan in the mini spa (with a minimum bid of £5 requested) and Malmaison will match your fee with a donation to Macmillan. With every charity spray tan, you'll also receive a free 50ml wash-off tan sample.

Book your charity spray tan in advance by calling 0121 246 5008 and quoting "Macmillan Tanathon". You may feel unable to run a charity marathon - but I reckon most people can participate in a charity tanathon!

Bohemian Chic Minerals Lip Gloss

 RRP: £15
# of shades available: 19
purchase from http://bohemianchicminerals.co.uk/lip-gloss

--What does the promo say?--
"A natural and organic lip-gloss, made from the finest natural, organic oils and waxes for a smooth application with the right amount of colour and shine to give your  lips a perfectly enhanced appearance of fuller, gorgeous lips! Suitable for acne prone skin and sensitive skin. Preservative free. Nano-particle free; bismuth-oxychloride free; 100% pure and  natural minerals. Suitable for Vegans and Halal use."

--Packaging--
A standard plastic tube with application wand included. My only complaint is that all of the writing on the tube is a bit small, meaning it's quite difficult to read and wouldn't necessarily stand out as being from this particular brand.

--Application--
Dot onto the bottom lip and blend in with your finger for a subtle effect, before pressing lips together to transfer the colour. Use the wand across both lips for a more dramatic look.

-Appearance--
The shade I was sent, Burlesque, is the one that's sampled above. In reality it's less of a red wine colour and more of a slightly rusty or coppery red, which sounds worse than it is! In fact, it's a very natural-looking colour that suits my lips perfectly when applied using the 'subtle' method mentioned above (I felt that using the wand all over my lips would be a bit full-on for me). The wide range of shades available online means that there should definitely be a shade to suit everyone - although the French resident and general pedant within me does hope that by "Bourdoux" they actually mean "Bordeaux"!

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and not at all sticky. Strangely, not like a gloss at all! More like a lip tint (think Benetint or its numerous copies) in that it 'dries' on the lips. It does this, though, without cracking or being paint-like, and it is marginally thicker than a traditional lip stain (these tend to be more liquid). 

--Longevity--
Excellent - it doesn't quite last as long as traditional lip tints, but will mostly get through a meal, and as its consistency is less like a gloss than normal, it definitely goes above and beyond most products marketed as a gloss. Its lip stain-style qualities are such that it could also be used as a cheek stain.

--Value for money--
£15 initially seems expensive. However, when you consider its longevity, natural-looking colour and multi-use properties, I would definitely purchase another when mine runs out. An excellent product for travel, swimming, and any other moment where you need to save on money, space and time. 

perfect partner
Lipstick, £14 

Competition: Deep Heat Muscle Rescue

Overdone it at the gym? Done something amazing like the Race For Life? Or just had a hard day at work? To help, you can win one of three Deep Heat Muscle Rescue kits, which include the neck/shoulder cream and the bath soak.

You know how much I like products that are both utilitarian and luxurious. These ones do both as well. The cream contains vanilla to relax the senses and rosemary to relax your muscles, and the convenient sponge applicator gives a gentle massage during application.

The bath soak, equally, combines aromatherapeutic orange and patchouli with healing rosemary to relax your aching body.

To celebrate Deep Heat Muscle Rescue, Mentholatum, the Deep Heat muscle experts, are offering three product sets. To enter, answer the following question and email your answer to soprano_seraph[AT]hotmail[DOT]com:

Which official rescue person wears a red uniform?

·         Policeman

·         Life Guard

·         Doctor

You have until 23:59, British Summer Time, on August 13th 2013 to enter. Good luck :) 

Bohemian Chic Minerals Eyeshadow

RRP: £11
# of shades available: 29
purchase from http://bohemianchicminerals.co.uk/

--What does the promo say?--
"Our mineral eye shadows are created using pure natural minerals. From soft to vivid, smoky to deep, shimmery to matt. The range is endless with  lush shadow shades with a lustrous, silken sateen finish.

Suitable for acne prone skin and sensitive skin. Preservative free. Nano-particles free; bismuth-oxychloride free. Suitable for vegans and Halal use."

--Packaging--

Comes in a tiny plastic screw-top pot, which has a plastic disc with holes in sitting inside. This is further protected by a sticky plastic sheet, which you can either remove completely or use to reseal the disc after each use. Generally this works quite well: to get more product to come out of the pot, close securely with the lid and shake it around a bit before carefully upturning and reopening. Spillage or wastage does not seem to be a problem.

--Application--

Use an eyeshadow brush to dot and blend the shadow over your eyelids as desired. This is easy - the beauty of mineral eyeshadows means that blending's a breeze and that making mistakes is nigh on impossible.

--Appearance--

The shade I was kindly sent, Kiwi, produced a lovely natural-looking sage shade that went well with my eyes and general complexion. Very pleasing! Would lend itself well to mixing with other shades of green and brown from the same range.

--Texture and consistency--

Soft and blendable without being too dusty (i.e. doesn't shower you/the sink/the bathroom with eyeshadow whenever you open the pot, put some on your brush or try to put it on your eyelids). Adheres well to brush and eyelids and is easy to manipulate to create different effects.

--Longevity--

Sadly, this is where the product fell down. Creased and faded significantly after about 6 hours' wear. You will definitely need to reapply during the day - although there's a chance that it would fare better with the help of an eyeshadow primer.

--Value for money--

While the colour and texture of this product is most pleasing, for £11 I would really expect it to last longer on the eyelids. For this price, I'd be more inclined to try Stila's mineral eyeshadows instead, which are also £11. If you're going to buy from this brand, go for their lip gloss instead - it's much better (review to follow!).

perfect partners

Eyeliner, £6.50 (2 shades)

Eyebrow dust, £6.50 (2 shades)  

Eye contour brush, £7
Eyeshadow brush, £7
Crushed Pearls primer, £18
Pigment stacks, £49.95 (pack of 6 eyeshadows)

Cosmetics Contemplations: Decisions, decisions...

even in the 1920s they were at it

We all make our buying decisions differently - and when it comes to beauty products, the wealth and diversity of recommendations out there can be overwhelming. With so many shiny new product stands, glossy advertisements and lacquered sales assistants out there to 'help' us, how can we decide what products we really need? This is made even more complicated by 'needs' that are created by the brands themselves (do we really 'need' serums, toners, or separate moisturisers for our faces and our necks? I'm not sure that we do), and by the sheer number of different opinions that proliferate. Interested buyers are not only influenced by advertisements, celebrities, in-store displays, and features in newspapers and magazines, but also by friends and family, blogs and vlogs, and product reviews on retail websites. 

But how influential are beauty blogs in particular on people's purchases? Warwick Business School researcher Marianne Johnsen wants to hear from you regarding your views on the trustworthiness of the beauty blogs that you read - and all it takes is your participation in a short survey. How far do you consult beauty blogs before making a purchase? Do you really feel that beauty bloggers are more informed than the average consumer? For how long can beauty bloggers compete against the many other sources of opinion out there? Marianne wants to know. Just a few clicks and you'll be on the way to finding out scientifically how far beauty blogs can be considered trustworthy resources when it comes to making online purchases. Naturally, the results will be shared with you as soon as they are published. 

This is a subject which has hitherto only been studied in Asia - and as they're already ahead of the pack when it comes to BB creams and so forth, it could be a good time to participate in this innovative research by following in their footsteps. If beauty bloggers are really found to be trustworthy and influential, that could affect brands' future tactics in marketing products to the public - which, in turn, affects the products you buy and how you buy them. Decisions indeed!

Schwarzkopf Got2B Beach Matt Texturizing Salt Spray

RRP: £4.05

--What does the promo say?--
"got2b Beach Matt Texturising salt spray gives your hair beachy waves - mermaid style. Every day will be like a day at the beach full of textured, wind blown voluminous waves and touselled beachy tresses with a rough and matt texture."

--Packaging--
The ergonomically-styled bottle is made even more attractive thanks to the cheerful seaside colour scheme of white, blue and yellow, which all makes you want to use it. The spray mechanism itself is also well-designed to allow for targeted application.

--Application--
Spray liberally through dry or towel-dry hair. Tousle or style as desired, before blow-drying or letting your hair air dry. This is not as easy as it sounds. I was never sure if I was applying too much or not enough and the 'tousle or style as desired' direction is too vague for people like me who frankly know nothing about hair (despite this being a general-sounding 'beauty' blog, makeup is definitely more my game).

--Scent--
None, despite the salt content. BONUS.

--Texture and consistency--
Naturally, thanks to the salt, hair still has that kind of 'crunchy' feeling after the spray has been applied. Don't expect to get away from it!

--Appearance--
Disclaimer: as mentioned above, I am rubbish with my hair. Definitely the wash and go type! You may see me messing my hair into plaits and using fancy clips if you're lucky. However, I was hoping this would be easy and that my hair would look like this in no time:

However, what I ended up with was more like this:

Mmm, yes: the 1980s rock star look. Which I could have basically got by staying in bed a bit longer, or sticking my finger into an electrical socket. No matter what I did, my hair just would not look like beach girly above. I admit that my hair doesn't hold any style well and never has. But it should be easier than this. Eventually, all I could manage was for the ends to go a tiny bit curly. I ended up sweeping it all to one side to try to mask the bed-head effect. Even my husband (who is usually complimentary) said something along the lines of "what have you done to your hair? It looks like you haven't even washed it."

--Removal--
Removing the effects of the spray will require a little effort. You will need a) a good hairbrush to get out the knots you have created; b) some patience (to also help with this); and c) a good shampoo to wash it out afterwards.

--Value for money--
I was sent mine for free by Schwarzkopf, but needless to say I wouldn't be too happy if I'd spent £4 on this. Just go and dance in the rain instead. It's more fun, your hair will look better if it curls naturally in the rain like mine does, and dancing in the rain is free too.

perfect partners
got2b Beach Matt Paste, £4.05
got2b Oil-Licious Styling Oil, £4.05
got2b iStylers Wax Define, £4.05
got2b Volumising Style Powder, £4.05

Motives Lustrafy Mascara

 # of shades available: 2 (black and dark brown)
purchase from http://ukmotives.shop.com

--What does the promo say?--
"Intense lashes are a must with any look, day or night. Maximise the length and curl of your lashes with our smudge-free formula. The push-up bra for your lashes, Motives Lustrafy Mascara lifts your lashes without the hassle of an eyelash curler. Lustrafy will give you incredible, eye-catching lashes with excellent definition and all day staying power. Hypoallergenic. Fortified with panthenol."

--Packaging--
To be honest, totally unremarkable, despite the glamorous colour scheme: many brands have this sort of appearance and I can't say it would stand out on the shelf. It's also a pretty small tube, meaning some people might feel a little disappointed by their £14 spend. On the flip side, though, this dinky size makes it perfect for travel. Quality, not quantity, friends.

--Application--
Proceed as usual: look up to do your lower lashes and down (as far as possible) to do your upper lashes. For a more full-on look, give each row of lashes one coat of mascara only, and then go back round to do them again, rather than repeatedly coating each row, otherwise you risk your lashes clumping together (this is a general mascara application tip, not specific to Motives mascara).

--Appearance--
Beautiful, long, glamorous and doll-like. In short: WOW.

--Texture and consistency--
Perfectly smooth and clump-free right from the first use. Some mascaras are too wet when new and clump too easily; not the case here at all.

--Removal--
The only flaw with this mascara is that it is difficult to remove. Go round twice with your makeup remover, or be prepared to wake up with panda eyes in the morning.

--Value for money--
While £14 initially seems like a lot, this is the best-quality mascara I've used in ages. Maybe even ever. I've had worse results from Lancome, quite frankly. This costs the same as big brands such as MAC, Rituals, and Urban Decay, but despite being less well-known, that doesn't matter a jot, because it's just as good. Definitely a contender to fight with the best of them; I would without doubt repurchase.

perfect partners
Pressed Eye Shadow, £12
Khol Eyeliner, £12.50
False Eyelashes, £5.50
Eye Base, £12
Essential Brow Kit, £24