Smashbox’s Mega Lips Lip Gloss Duo fills the void for pouty girls

Smashbox Mega Lips
Lip Gloss Duo 

Having full lips can be both a blessing and a curse.  It’s a blessing because a fuller pout is upheld as the ideal aesthetic we all aspire to, and it’s less likely that I’ll need to resort to faddy lip-plumping treatments later on in life.  

However, the downside is that I can’t always pull off lip gloss with style.  This sounds crazy, but some glosses, with their reflective glass-like effect, can actually look a bit much - like my lips are melting, or dripping, as has been politely commented on in the past (thanks, sis).    

I think that’s a common issue for fuller lipped ladies, which is why you usually see Angelina Jolie and ‘kipper lips’ (her words, not mine) Rosie Huntington-Whitely wearing matte, natural or rosy shades, to tone things down and flatter their pout.  Exception to the rule is, Kim Kardashian and the UK’s ‘answer’ to Kim (and I say this loosely), star of The Only Way is Essex - or TOWIE - Lauren Goodger.  Both ladies lather on the gloss, but let’s face it, when you’re famous for being famous, the last thing you want to do is tone things down.        

However, there’s no denying that I do love lip gloss for its vibrancy and sheen, so I just have to choose more carefully than others when it comes to selecting a gloss for me.     

That’s why I’m so impressed with Smashbox’s Mega Lips Lip Gloss Duo.  It was practically invented for the fuller lipped girl.  You see, loyal to the name, the gloss really is mega, with its almost ridiculously fat wand, which allows me to coat my lips in one sure sweep. 

Also the colour of the duo, is more matte than glossy.  My particular fave is the pink shade, which is particularly flattering to Asian skintones.   

I would say that Smashbox’s Duo is the perfect compromise between lip gloss and lipstick.  This is because the gloss’ matte finish takes away the mirror-like shine, yet it still has a sheen that a lipstick couldn’t compete with. 

What I’m particularly enamoured on is the depth of colour, or pigmentation if you really want to get technical.  Some lip glosses need several layers before you can see colour, whilst others come on thick, but are actually rather light and wishy-washy and leave you with the barest hint of colour.  Smashbox’s Mega Lips Lip Gloss Duo actually comes on strong and stays strong.    

                    

It also lacks the gloopy-ness other glosses have.  Again, this is possibly due its pigmentation, though I suspect its high quality has something to do with that, too.  

Of course, there is a chink in the Smashbox Duo’s armour – like any gloss, you get your hair caught in a gust of wind, and it’s all over your face.  But hey, it won’t stop me wearing it.   

Smashbox Mega Lips Lip Gloss Duo is £19.40 and available on QVC: http://www.qvcuk.com/ 

          

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Beauty habits survey

Hello, 

I just thought I'd give another push for the beauty habits survey I'm conducting, to find out more about us Desi girls.  This should hopefully inform future posts, so I'm writing about the stuff you want to read.
 
If you could spare a second to fill out the survey, that would be great.  All answers are anonymous.  See questionnaire below:   

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TGFLNMD

Thanks peeps!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

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Bourjois Rouge Hi-Tech Lip Stain – great for cheeks

Let’s face it - some things work best when they’re not used as advised.  For example, I’ve read rave reviews about Milk of Magnesia – the indigestion remedy – being a great primer for oily skin.  I tried it myself and it really worked.  I nearly blogged about it, until I read that it’s high in alkaline and decided to ditch MoM (well, I’ve stored it away in case I do get indigestion).  However, many oily faces still swear by it, which proves it has more functions than soothing upset tummies.          

Apparently, celebrities have a hidden secret for under eyes – wait for it – haemorrhoid cream.  I would just like to quickly add that I won’t be reviewing this as part of ‘The great eye cream shootout’, as I’m simply too embarrassed to buy the cream.  But anyhoo, it proves my point that certain products perfectly with when not reading the label.              

This is no more the case than with Bourjois Rouge Hi-Tech Lip Stain.  Though intended for lips, the stain looks fabulous on cheeks.  The stain is very similar to Benefit’s Benetint (which I now love!).  Like Benetint, Bourjois’ Stain is weightless, which is great as I actually hate the heavy feel of make up on my skin.  With the tint, it feels like you’re pretty much make-up free.    

The Stain’s application is very similar to Benetint, too, with its neat wand and liquid-filled pot. In fact, with its lip gloss style head (it is intended for the lips, after all!) I would say its more streak-proof than Benetint, which has a nail polish-style brush.             

  

Plus, Bourjois’ Lip Stain is a fraction of the price of Benefit’s cult tint.  It retails at around £7.49, however, if you’re savvy, you can pick it up from Fragrance Direct at the pocket-money price of £2.49.     

Bourjois’ High Tech Lip Stain has staying power.  I wore it in the morning before going to work, and it was still vibrant by the time I got home, a feat many powder blushers fail to achieve.

Despite its highly pigmented lasting power, the Stain is actually light and sheer.  I’ve opted for the (insert colour) shade.  And it’s just as well it’s sheer, otherwise I’d look like I’d been tango-ed!  It comes in a variety of hues, from brown to the lightest pink, so you’re likely to find a shade for you.  

So for Benetint on a budget, I’d give Bourjois Rouge Hi Tech Lip Stain a whirl, so break the rules.

Oh, and it’s pretty awesome on lips, too.  Layer it  few times and it can be very vampish.                     

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Desi girl’s beauty blog goes to print!

Hi desi girls,

This is just a quick note to say that Desi girl’s beauty blog has been picked up by the fab new lifestyle magazine ‘Fusion’!  Desi girl’s beauty blog takes pride of place, with excerpts from the blog featured in a double-page spread. 

 

The gorgeous glossy, which is packed full of beauty, fashion and lifestyle features, such as ‘ten ways to wear a headscarf’ and ‘exclusive wedding venues’, is sure to give the likes of Asiana a run for its money.  Even better, it’s free!

  

Initial copies are available in the North West in all good supermarkets, so get yours while you can.

For those further afield, you can check out the online version on: http://www.fusionlifestylemag.com/  

xx   

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The beauty myth? Why every woman has the right to feel pretty

I recently read an article in the Daily Mail which I totally disagree with (for a change).  No, it wasn’t a conservative right-wing piece on broken Britain or immigration, nor was it a story about the Kardashian’s. 

In fact, the opinion piece article detailed that most women will never be pretty – so they shouldn’t bother trying.  It also went on to say that beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, but a fixed ideal.  Finally, it said that mother’s shouldn’t tell their children they are pretty when they aren’t – it gives them a sense of delusion.

  

While looks certainly aren’t everything, let’s face it, in society there is a big emphasis placed on a woman’s appearance, more so than for men.  While men can be judged on their success, intelligence and business prowess, for women, first and foremost, it will be their looks.  It might not be fair, but it is a fact of life.

  

Feminists may balk at what I’m about to say – but let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to look pretty?  Who doesn’t make sure they have a flattering Facebook picture?  Who hates their gym card photo or staff pass because the picture was taken hastily in an unflattering light?        

So it’s incredibly sad that something that is so important to women – whether we admit it or not – should be denied.  Because the truth is, despite the comments in the Daily Mail article, beauty is subjective.

For example, I’ve personally never seen the fascination with Gwyneth Paltrow, yet she’s managed to carve a career in looks-obsessed Hollywood.  Subjectivity also exists for men.  For example, shock-horror, I don’t get the fuss over Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, or Javier Bardem, yet millions of women would disagree with me. 

Also, what is seen as beautiful varies culturally.  While in Asian culture it’s all about big eyes, in western culture, high cheekbones is the desirable look.

 

As for the ill-advised notion that most women aren’t pretty and shouldn’t bother trying, again I couldn’t disagree more.  All women can be pretty.

I recently saw a picture of Twilight star Kristen Stewart, posing for W magazine, where she’d swapped her usual plain, moody teen look for a gorgeous vampish image, and she quite simply looked amazing.  It goes to show that makeup really does work wonders, and can work for everyone.

Kristen Stewart turns vamp




Kristen Stewart without makeup

 

As a celebrity-obsessed society, we’re constantly bombarded with unattainable images of beauty.  These stars are then put on a pedestal, as superior beings who are beyond us. 

However, if you’ve seen a picture of Britney Spears, or countless Bollywood stars without their face on, you’ll see that beauty is attainable, and these stars are just like us, except they have better makeup.                

So, to be told that most of us are plain and shouldn’t bother trying is just damaging.  If a women feels pretty, she will exude a confidence that will resonate with others.  If she doesn’t her lack of confidence will show, and will have an effect on every aspect of their life, where they’ll feel unworthy of being popular in school, or even getting married in the future.  As the domino-effect of a lack of confidence therefore lack of trying, she’ll unfortunately be boxed in society’s ‘not pretty’ compartment.   

When I embarked on writing Desi girl’s beauty blog, I aimed to do so with the normal desi girl in mind.  I myself don’t wear makeup everyday, and won’t think twice about stepping out of the door without it.  However, I know I look better with a bit of eyeliner and blusher, so I feel better with it on.

     

So, the point of the blog was simple, no gimmicks, no unattainable ideals, just beauty reviews and realistic advice for real women.  Because after all, being pretty is not the be-all-end-all, but it does make a difference to our confidence.  And we all have the right to confidence, and we all have the right to feel pretty.    

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Pecksniff’s Petal – bringing back summer

Pecksniff's Petal

We might be in August, but you wouldn’t know it here in the UK.  Drizzling rain, dark clouds and surprisingly cold temperatures have put paid to our barbeques and our patio sets.  I’ve even had to put away the maxi dresses I was intending to rock at my new job on dress-down Fridays.

     

However, one thing that’s managed to keep me summery and lift my spirits is a new perfume I’m wearing – Pecksniff’s Petal. 

   

Pecksniff's is one of the last independent British Fragrance Houses.  I’d not really noticed the brand before, perhaps because its exclusivity means that it doesn’t sit alongside more mainstream brands such as Diesel and Gucci, or my personal favourite, Stella.  And there’s good reason.      

For decades, Pecksniff have been producing bespoke fragrances.  That’s right, bespoke - made to order to your exact desire.  So you don’t need to be a celebrity to have your own fragrance.  The Pecksniff’s team spend time with you to know your personality and taste, and then send you three perfumes to choose from.  Once you’ve selected your perfume, it is then given any name you choose.  So essentially, it’s Saville Row for perfumes, only better. 

      

But such exclusivity doesn’t come cheap.  The ‘design your own fragrance’ experience costs nearly £300.  However, before you scuttle back down to Debenhams or Selfridges, I’m glad to inform you that Pecksniff’s also do a ready-to-wear collection (with a much more justifiable price tag of around £40) which is available on QVC.  They’ve recently launched some new fragrances, and Petal is one of them. 

  

Though it’s off the shelf, Pecksniff’s Petal doesn’t skimp on fine ingredients. With rose, sandalwood, patchouli and melon, Petal is a fruity, floral and feminine concoction, which is perfect for summer, or at least the pretend summer we’re having.

The perfume is a lot lighter and ‘younger’ than my trademark Stella, which has more of a mature, rosy, musky smell, so it’s a nice change.  Plus as it’s eau de parfum, despite it’s delicacy, it lasts all day.   

Presentation-wise, it’s clean, minimal and androgynous, so could easily pass for an upmarket aftershave.  Yet the clue to it’s femininity (apart from the smell, of course) is down to the beautiful pink and white box it is presented in.

So, until I can justify such a luxurious treat as a bespoke Pecksniff fragrance, I will happily opt for Petal, as it’s got the luxury of the brand, without the price tag.       

Pecksniff’s petal is available through QVC:

http://www.qvcuk.com/ / Orderline 0800 50 40 30 / Freeview channel 16, Sky Channel 640, Virgin TV Channel 740 / Freesat Channel 800  

Or QVC Beauty:

http://www.qvcuk.com/qvcbeauty%20/%20Sky%20Channel%20658%20/%20Freesat%20Channel%20816     

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The great eye cream shootout – Beauty Parlour Dark Circle and Puffy Eye Treatment

As you may have noticed from my previous blog posts, I am on something of a quest to find the perfect eye cream which will erase lines, lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness. 

I’m beginning to thing that such a thing doesn’t exist.

I’ve so far tried RoC Sublime Energy Eye, while my sister has dutifully helped my research by using Yon-ka Nutri-contour Eye and Lip Care.  Neither creams delivered a ‘wow’ factor, but this is perhaps due to the fact that neither my sister nor I have particularly noticeable issues in the eye department.  It’s just something we would like to improve if possible.   

The other factor may be that our expectations are simply too high.  I thought that I would notice results straight away, but in fact I’ve come to realise that eye creams are all about maintenance, and prevention rather than cure.  So if it halts any development of fine lines or dark circles, it’s doing its job. 

However, this makes for a very difficult review.   

While it’s easy to critique a lipgloss, foundation, or even a cleanser, when it comes to eye creams, the results are so subtle that it’s hard to report any big changes.  So, in order to help desi girl’s make a fairly informed choice.  Each cream I review details the claim (made by the marketing department), compared with the real results.  

The latest review is for Beauty Parlour’s

Dark Circle

and Puffy Eye Treatment. 

The claim: 

The treatment contains a special phyto complex to effectively reduce dark circles, whilst soothing and cooling cucumber helps to de-puff under the eyes. A beauty must-have, you can party the night away without being caught the next morning!              

The reality:

My sister reviewed this treatment, and her thoughts were as follows:

“The roll-on style treatment is very cooling at first.  It’s very refreshing - a sensation which lasts for around 40 minutes.  This cooling sensation, helped along by the cucumber, is what makes the eyes feel a little brighter.         

However, I haven’t really seen long-term benefits.  This makes me think that the treatment is more of a quick fix, as it does provide instant results.  It’s great for if you’re feeling tired, as it perks the eyes up immediately.”

So, apart from the bit about reducing dark circles, it pretty much lives up to its promise.  What’s really impressive about this treatment is that it gives immediate results, something which the other creams haven’t achieved.  Plus, at £6.99, it’s a snip.      

The Beauty Parlour’s

Dark Circle

and Puffy Eye Treatment is available at Superdrug.   

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A quick flick with Scarlett and Crimson



Scarlett and Crimson 'Punk Your Eyes' eyeliner



If you’re anything like me, when it comes to day-to-day makeup, you need something quick, easy and low maintenance.    

Rushing out of the door in the morning to get to work, if I’ve got ten minutes to put some sort of face on, it’s a bonus.  

This is why Scarlett and Crimson’s new ‘Punk Your Eyes’ eyeliner suits me well.  Scarlett and Crimson is an offshoot of Ruby and Millie’s cosmetics, aimed at a teenage audience. 

Admittedly, I don’t fall into that category, yet the convenience of the eyeliner has made it a staple in my casual day makeup.  Why?  It’s chunky, marker pen style means I can glide the deep black colour across my eyes in one quick stroke.  Though on the other hand, the chunky marker pen style means that it’s one to keep away from small children.    

In the past, I’ve used Rimmel’s liquid eyeliner, which not only made my eyes water, but it also smudged away with a gust of wind.  And while I like Maybelline’s Gel Eyeliner, it takes a little more time and precision to apply, which I don’t often have in the morning. 

The downside to Scarlett and Crimson eyeliner pen?  By the end of the day, my quickly applied flick had just slightly worn at the corner.  Though only slightly.  That’s why, when I’m not rushing and I want to spend more time on my makeup, I’ll opt for Maybelline’s Eye Studio Gel eyeliner, just for it’s staying power.           

I’ve been using the Scarlett and Crimson eyeliner for a few weeks now, and it’s showing no signs of running out yet.  Though I’ve heard that pens don’t tend to last as long as traditional eyeliners or pencils.

     

And, true to the range, my teenage sister loves it.  

Scarlett and Crimson ‘Punk Your Eyes’ eyeliner is currently available at Superdrug at a reduced price of £2.49.      

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