Best Beauty Gifts on a Budget

There’s an advent calendar in our office. I’ve gone out wearing a sequin dress. There are scarves with reindeers on in the shops. Yes people – Christmas is coming.

Of course, along with this festive build-up, comes the obligatory Christmas gift guides in almost every publication – you know, the ones that try to convince men do really like ornaments in the shape of woodland animals and that buying your aunt an £150 cashmere scarf is the norm.

No people! It’s not! We’re all fricking poor – which is why all the beauty buys in my little gift guide are under £20. Woohoo.

Topshop Eye Palette in Atmosphere – £16

I love the look of this little palette – in fact it would be almost too good to use were it not for the lovely, shimmery colours contained within. Topshop eye shadows are generally highly-pigmented and long-lasting, and the shades in this palette are striking yet neutral enough to flatter all eye colours. A good call.

 

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick Shade 1 – £5.49

Give your loved one the gift of the ultimate red lip with this beautiful scarlet shade from Kate Moss’s Rimmel collection. I can vouch for the fact this suits loads of different skin tones having shared it with scores of girls in the ladies loos (classy bird) – although unfortunately I can’t guarantee it will make the recipient look like Mossy.

Barry M Nail Polish Gold – £2.99

The perfect stocking filler? I can’t tell you how much I love this gold polish – it’s got a beautiful, elegant sheen to it rather than being sparkly, sparkly. sparkly (not that I have a problem with that!) – and would be the perfect festive shade for teenagers and mothers alike.

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara – £10.99

I’m yet to find someone who’s tried this mascara and not loved it. Personally I wouldn’t buy anything else – it has AMAZING lengthening, thickening and defining effects on the lashes, to the point where I have actually been asked lots of times if I’m wearing falsies. To which I reply “oh darling it’s all natural” of course.

 

Max Factor Color X-Pert Eye Liner in Lilac – £6.99

Another Max Factor one – this is the best coloured liquid liner I’ve come across, and a great gift for anyone who likes to be a bit adventurous with their make up without going completely wild. The colour is eye-catching yet pretty, and the application is very easy thanks to a non-spindly brush. I do hate a spindly brush.

 

 

 

 

Paris Fashion Week S/S 13 Make Up Trends

THE TREND: ICY BLUE

AS SEEN AT:  CHANEL

If I imagine a Chanel woman, it’s someone elegant and daring, pretty yet icily aloof. The metallic ice blues and silvers used in the eye make-up at the Grand Palais show translated this perfectly. This is definitely a trend everyone can get involved with, even if you only use the colour on the lid and under the eyes, rather than right up to the brow bone. On a personal note I love the fact the glacial colour is teamed with strong black eyeliner, because I feel naked without it! Maybelline’s Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel shadows would be perfect for recreating this eyeshadow –  they do great silver and blue shades that last for ages.

THE TREND: BEEHIVES AND BOWS

AS SEEN AT: LOUIS VUITTON

Against a bright chequerboard of colour, the Louis Vuitton hair team evoked a swinging sixties feel with cute updos, side-swept fringes and pretty bows tied around the head. These are not the big, garish bows as popularised by Gaga, Minnie Mouse et al., but a more refined version that remind me of chic French schoolgirls and Blair off Gossip Girl. Creating the perfect beehive can be tricky, but Company have a great step by step here.

THE TREND: FULL ON COLOUR

AS SEEN AT: DIOR

Not one for the faint-hearted, this striking look from Dior features colour-blocked, embellished eyelids in bright, bold colours. A great one for the fashion fearless out there to try – for the rest of us losers, a crazy shade of eyeliner from Barry M might have to be our homage to the look.

THE TREND: DISHEVELLED CHIC

AS SEEN AT: BALMAIN

The idea behind many catwalk hairstyles was simple – create a perfect do, then muss it up a bit. Braids were also huge – at Balmain we saw both trends combined in a swept-back, low key but pretty look. To recreate this, loosely scrape the hair back and plait it, then pull out a few wispy strands and fix with hairspray. Simple!

THE TREND: LUSCIOUS LIPS

AS SEEN AT: ROCHAS

I am a huge fan of a punchy lip colour, so don’t need any persuading to embrace the bright lip trend as seen on the Rochas catwalk. However I’m not so sure I can cope with the make-up free eyes – maybe a slick of mascara to complement my vibrant lip colour and I’ll be happy! Revlon Super Luscious Lipstick in Fire & Ice is a good one for this.

New trend – lip pens

Every so often a bunch of brands will jump on board with a bright idea and a new product is born. We’ve seen it most prominently this year with BB Creams, but lips pens are also becoming a bit of a feature on most make-up stands – here’s a few that I’ve tested.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain – Rendezvous

 

For some reason I’m always drawn to orangey and coral lips colours, and then when I’ve bought them realise they actually don’t suit my colouring at all. However I’m quite keen on this one – it’s subtle rather than overpowering, and leaves lips looking full and glossy. I’d say the ‘balm’ part of its name applies more than the ‘stain’ – it’s not that long-lasting but does feel hydrating and is quite fun to re-apply with the little pen!

Rimmel Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Timeless Tango

 

I luuuurve the colour of this lip colour, which is much more durable than the Revlon offering. That’s probably because it has two ends – one which gives the colour stain and looks a bit like a felt tip marker pen, the other a moisturising clear balm. I have to say applying lip colour with a pen nib makes things a lot easier due to the increased precision, and the colour definitely lasted longer than your average lippie. Like it!

Collection 2000 Colour Pout Lasting Lip Stain – Pucker

 

Apologies for the slightly blurry end photo here – realised that if I spent any more time poncing about taking pictures of my lips I was actually going to miss my train to work. Again I am really keen on the colour of this – it’s rich and jewel-like, perfect for autumn/winter and the gothy trend. As I reported in my previous post, I’ve been quite surprised by the good quality of Collection 2000 products, and this one stayed on my lips for hours. Next test will be seeing how long it is before the pen dries out!