Product review: JN Beauty Camera Ready Face Primer

Throughout the years, I have been creating a makeup routine for myself. From only slapping some (wrong colour, btw) powder in the late 90’s to my 5-step face base makeup today, lots of product came and went.

The primer, however, has been one that never left since its addition around five years ago. I could go on for hours on why you should wear a primer, but I will save it.

The JN Beauty Camera Ready Face Primer provides a good base for makeup. It is a transparent gel like product which applies really well, leaving the skin velvety to touch after application.

It really helps foundation glide better and have a smoother finish – it helps prevent the makeup falling into enlarged pores, fine lines, dry patches – and in my case, in the scars (that is why a good primer is very important for me, especially!).

Packaging is actually of high quality and very effective – metal and glass which are sturdy and have a lovely weight to it, even though I don’t think it looks that way, for some reason, you can only feel the quality when you touch it.

In terms of durability, this one proved to have a similar holding power as some of the ones I have been using lately: Beautiful Movements Mixing medium and Lancôme LA Base, which have a very similar colour, consistency and feeling on the skin to this one. Thumbs up!

You can get the Camera Ready Face Primer from the JN Beauty website – it costs £25.

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Red lipstick: how to apply

It was love at first stroke. And I knew it was going to be for life. There are colours I like on my lips. But love, red is the only one.

Being a 90’s teenager meant nothing but lipgloss coloured (?!) my lips for a very long time. Until I had the red lippy epiphany and my life was never the same. I realise THAT is my real self – the expression of my personality via a red lip.

I consider myself quite fortunate as blue-ish, orange and true reds suit my skin. Being olive-skinned, the oranges do look much nicer, but jointly with MAC’s Lady Danger (which I believe is the best shade for me), Russian Reds reigns.

However, there is nothing worse than a badly applied red lipstick (I lied, there is, but for dramatic purposes, I won’t elaborate), and lots of people ask how I do it and keep it all night. Well, I’ll tell you how. It happens in stages. At the moment, my skin is extra dry – weather and medication being the culprits.

Look after your lips. I use Lush’s sugar lip scrub to exfoliate. When my pucker is feeling rougher, I do it every night. If not, from time to time, when I need. My dad used to tell me off an awful lot when younger “Ni, stop licking your lips”. Well, no surprise, he was right. Avoid. Use a balm instead!
Use plenty of lip balm when not wearing lipstick. I apply every night before bed, generously, without fail. It is part of my night routine, just as cleansing, toning and moisturising. I realised some make my lips drier, even though they work for most people. At the moment, I am loving Nivea Lip Butter, any flavour!
For unexpected roughness and dry skin, put some lip balm on and use a toothbrush to gently scrub away the dry skin, preparing your lips for colour.
When I start my makeup, even before I start prepping, I apply lip balm on my lips. And do my makeup. By the time I get to them, the balm has almost been completely absorbed (I usually wipe if off anyway, not to interfere with the lipstick) and my lips are ready! I don’t use a lip primer, I tried a few but didn’t think it was any more effective than my current routine.

First, I line my lips (01). Use a good liner with a colour close to the lipstick. doesn’t need to be the same. I use Redd from MAC with almost any red I have (but not burgundies). If I want it a bit more vibrant, I use an orange-y one (Lasting Sensation is a fave). Line within your lip line for a natural effect. I paint a bit of the lip with the pencil (02), to help blending the colours.
Then, using a lip brush (MAC 318 retractable lip brush is my godsend) fill the lip, blending the lines (03). I just go over them carefully with the brush.
Sometimes I pat a tissue on the lips to remove excess, repeat application and remove excess again.
Finally, I apply my saviour product Lipcote (04). I cannot live without it. Really. Make sure you apply it correctly. First, around the edges, then fill the lips. DO not eat or drink for 30 minutes. If you follow the instructions and use a matte lipstick, it is very likely it will hang in there for a few hours, even when drinking, Oily foods will remove it for sure.

And that is it! To be honest, I wear red day or night – and highly recommend, as long as you feel comfortable!

Product review: Lancôme Doll Eyes mascara by Alber Elbaz

Lancome by Alber Elbaz Doll Eyes mascara

Vanity. I am guilty as charged. And will confess I wanted this mascara so much because of the gorgeous – and gorgeous doesn’t quite describe – packaging. Something about the hearts and the words “limited edition”. The Lancôme loved Doll Eyes mascara has received an adorable gown. Yes, it shall go to the ball.

Packaging aside, the review boils down to the Doll Eyes mascara. The wand is funnel shaped, to give inner corner lashes more definition and outer corner more volume. The bristles are medium-long size and of a medium consistency – not too hard, not too soft. The formula is medium weight.

I am a big fan of Lancôme mascaras and this product didn’t disappoint; it gives good volume, but lacks a bit in definition. You can also notice the heavier coating on the outer corners for the desired doll eye effect.

Lashes do look lovely with only two coats, as seen above. Three coats make lashes look quite lush. Four makes them start to clump. Admittedly, I don’t spend as much time carefully applying each coat as I should, so I stop at three.

Pretty with content. What else does a girl need?

Have you tried the Doll Eyes mascara? What do you think?

Product review: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

Confession: I cannot go one day without eyeliner. And I mean it. I tried all types: pencils, felt tip pens, gel pots, eyeshadow+slanty brush… you name it, I’ve been there. And I settled for the pen, which is the most practical. For that reason alone, I was more than excited to try the Eyeko Skinny Liquid eyeliner in black.

To start with, I love that the tip is super long. I don’t know why, but I just do. And it is indeed very skinny and precise.

Now, I used this one to the end. Using everyday, it lasted about three months. I mean, the liquid is clearly ending, but the tip remains pretty sharp. It is still going – if I leave it upside down or shake it a bit, it will go back to almost new glory. It is still going but I know it is at the bitter end – it has given me all the signs it wants to retire. And I am re-purchasing. I don’t think I will ever let this one go, as I tried many liquid eyeliner pens and this one is really the best one!

The liquid is smooth and very black. It dries quickly and I cannot remember having any transfer after applying, at any point.

Application is easy, it glides very well with just the right amount – not too dry or too wet. One stroke and you have a solid colour. With any liner, a steady hand is always welcome, but the strong tip really helps. And because the tip is so fine, you can create perfect flicks, with precision. It is also easy to build up to create thicker lines.

Durability is also great. I do use an eyeshadow primer, but this baby stays in place all day and doesn’t smudge – even through my spin class (my best and probably unfairest test to makeup durability!). After 8 hours, it starts to fade, but stays in place. It is easy enough to remove with a good eye makeup remover and rubbing is not required – just wipe gently with the damp cotton wool!

I especially recommend this to those who are new to eyeliner – as mentioned, the tip really helps if you are not that confident with other eyeliners, and you can create delicate lines! actually, there isn’t a single Eyeko product I tried and did not love. Seriously. Eye wizards!

The Skinny Liquid Eyeliner retails from £10 from the Eyeko website and they . At the moment, QVC has a brilliant twin pack for £15 plus p&p – which will come in my Christmas stocking, through “very subtle” hints!

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Product review: JN Beauty Gel eyeliner pencil

Eyeliner is a part of every makeup I do. A black flick is to be found on my peepers on a daily basis.

The JN Beauty gel eyeliner comes as a pencil. Yes, a pencil – which is very practical. I used the Black Caviar and it glides beautifully, without the need to apply too much pressure, making application quick and easy with one stoke. It is also highly pigmented – it looks super black with a glossy finish.

The eyeliner dries quickly after application so it doesn’t transfer; durability is fantastic – it stays put all day!

As it is a pencil, the tip is not super fine when sharpened, and it goes thick after a few uses. This is a very minor negative for me as durability of the pencil is reduced, as you need to sharpened more often. Having said that, because the durability is so brilliant, you don;t need to re-apply or re-touch, so maybe it balances out. As for my precise flicks, I just need to be careful when doing the it with the sharp pencil and it ends up perfect!

I was very impressed with how quickly I applied my eyeliner perfectly in the morning, the intense effect and also how long it lasted ! This baby will certainly live in my makeup bag!

JN Beauty is a British brand founded in 2011 and you can find the Gel eyeliner pencil in six gorgeous colours on the JN Beauty website.

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Naked Fake It Gotta Glow gift set with self tan lotion and bronzer

That time of the year. All hopes of sun rays have long passed and I feel so white I am bordering on see-through – honestly, you can see all my veins and if you squint enough, you might be able to spot the outline of an internal organ. Quite tragic.

No wonder this little Naked Fake It Gotta Glow gift set landed on my lap at the right time – the time of need.

The set has the Glow it up self tan lotion and the Dust Me mineral shimmer powder.

The self tan lotion is enriched with cocoa and shea butter. It looks like a very rich moisturiser, a thick cream, white in colour. It spreads well, and smells lovely on application. I got the light/medium and applied it before bed. I woke up with a lovely glow, I could definitely see the effects of the self tan lotion, but it wasn’t too blatant, just sunkissed. It didn’t stain and – wait for it – there was NO biscuity smell! None at all.

The shimmer makes a lovely loose bronzer, applies and spreads well and is not glittery – the colour is pretty and warm, giving your face that healthy flush – but it is also great for the body!!!

Always worth mentioning that the Naked products are 97% natural – this is true for both tanning lotion and shimmer. Also, the tanning agent on this beauty is 100% natural, so no nasties. Naked is one of the good and super nice companies in the beauty world – natural ingredients, no parabens, SLS or petrochemicals, no animal testing, recycled packaging, ethical sourcing and involvement with humanitarian and environmental charities.

You can get the Naked Fake It Gotta Glow gift set for £14 from the Naked Bodycare website, where you will also find their fantastic range products!

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

118 118 Beauty Pass brings “more gorgeousness” to our lives

118 118, the phone directory assistance service, is launching today, 15 December 2013, a prettifying helping hand of a service called 118 118 Beauty Pass – a little card that gives us beauty lovers 50% discount in salons and spas around London.

The pass works on a membership basis, so you pay a fee of £79.99 to use the discounts for a whole year. For salon and spas regulars this is a great deal and only a few uses will make up for the membership fee, making the rest pure savings! They even have a little savings calculator so you can see how much you could save before signing up.

The pass is available at 118118beauty.com and can be used for hair, nails, body and face treatments at around 300 salons and spas in London, with many joining in everyday! It is very easy to subscribe via their website, where you can also find beauty tips and reviews.

What I would also love to see in this product would be small discount with beauty retailers too, so we can save on our beauty products as well as treatments… maybe one for the 118 188 Beauty team to think about *hint hint*.

Now, for me, this is a great idea – a no-brainer for those who use beauty services regularly, but also a little incentive to those that want to treat themselves more often! I have already subscribed!

And great news: until Valentine’s day 2014 they are offering a special price annual membership: for £29.99 only! Hurry to their Facebook page and @118118Beauty on Twitter to get the exclusive discount code and head to 118118beauty.com to sign up and start saving!

This would make a great Christmas gift to any beauty babe!

The launch information was sent to me by 118118Beauty, but opinions (and suggestions) are my own.

Liz Earle product launch

Not many things are more exciting than check out new products. Especially if they come from a brand that has delivered many great ones before. No wonder I was excited to attend the Liz Earle product launch in London.

The main launch was for their brand new Indulgent Bath & Body collection, which promises to help you “immerse yourself in a world of relaxation”. Basically, this range tells you that you should be allowed to bombard your senses with exquisite fragrances and sensations to treat your body and mind on a daily basis. And this should be affordable.

So this is exactly what they delivered: three exotic fragrances developed in partnership with top perfumers, available in March 2014.

In separate thematic rooms, we were expertly guided through the sensorial world of the fantastic blends:

Tiare & Jasmine, a floral blend of the exotic Tahitian tiare flower (which only flowers once a year) and the well known jasmine, neroli, orange blossom, almond milk and sandalwood, developed with master perfumer Oliver Cresp. I found this lovely and sweet, in the right amount.

Bergamot & Ginger, a zingy and fresh mix of citrus-y bergamots and ginger with flowery freesia, lily, jasmine petals and lemon blossom, created with Sabine de Tscharner. This is a refreshing fragrance, almost masculine, but very summery. My personal preference is for sweeter scents, so although it is a very pleasant scent, this one is not really for me.

Vanilla & Saffron, an exquisite blend of Madagascan vanilla with spicy saffron create a fragrance almost as good to eat. It also counts with water lotus, honeydew, gardenia, lily of the valley and white orchid, tonka bean and musk notes. Needless to say, this was my favourite, I feel warmly hugged and wrapped by it. I just love it and could be doused on it 24/7. It was developed with Harry Freemont.

Each fragrance has four products: Creamy Shower Nectar (£12.50) with a lusciously thick and pearly consistency; Melting Sugar Body Scrub (£14.50), which feels divine against the skin and leaves it oh-so-soft; Silky Body Lotion (£14.50), which glides, perfumes and moisturises beautifully and the Indulgent Body Butter (£16.50) which is absorbed quickly by the skin but offers that extra rich moisture touch.

You can see I am sold – they offered an amazing hand massage using the products and I could not stop smelling my hand for the rest of the day. The scents linger in a very discreet and comfortable way and I keep catching a whiff of the deliciousness of Vanilla & Saffron all day long.

In addition to that, they were also showing off their new nail colours for Spring/Summer 14, Moonlight, a pale grey and Awakening, a pretty coral, as well as their beautiful Radiant Glow Bronzer, a quad-shade bronzer which delivers a warm gold colour with discreet shimmer, really giving the skin a gorgeous glow!

A lot to look forward to come March next year!!!

You can also purchase and get more information on the current Liz Earle fabulous skincare and makeup ranges on their website!

Beautiful christmas: my selection of beauty gifts

Ho ho ho. It is December and I feel I am officially allowed to say the C word without attracting some dirty looks (and the “already?!” expression n their faces). Obviously, I am talking about CHRISTMAS, silly.

Most people know someone who is a beauty fanatic and if you are not one yourself, choosing the right thing can be quite difficult. But fear not, So Many Lovely Things will give you an easy solution that is certain to cause a good impression.

I went through my favourite places for beauty buys and here are my picks:

Up to £25

A good all rounder for a great price. Studio products are great value for money. This Smokey eye kit, for £6, is certain to please. New Years eve eyes, sorted!

I love the Eyeko Skinny liner – it is my favourite and I use everyday. This double pack from QVC is excellent value for £14 and after trying you will certainly need a second (and a third – you won’t live without it, ever!)

Classic skin care brand Nivea pulled together a lovely pampering selection with Honey Face Masks, Body lotion, Pearly Shine Lip, Cleansing Wipes, Moisturising Day Cream, amongst others. For £15, this gift goes a long way. Available at Boots.

Post Chirstmas excesses will show on your face. Pull yourself together with this L’Oréal Port-Party Beauty SOS and be ready for the next one in no time! £10 from Boots.

A pretty bauble from Rodial, with its lovely Glam Balm inside. A tiny bit of luxury to plump those lips for that all important unde the mistletoe action! £14 from Harrods.

I love this book. Rae Morris’ classic Makeup: The Ultimate Guide will help you get the grips with makeup and look even more fabulous! Only £12.50 from Amazon.

The Sanctuary’s Best Sellers Collection is a great body indulgence kit with their classic scent. £15 from Debenhams.

Clinique’s Chubby stick Whole Lotta Candy collection means you will have three beautiful shades to choose from for the New Year’s party! £20 from House of Fraser.

Pretty doll eyes with YSL Baby Doll Mascara Set – to put it on and remove later! Find it at Boots for £24.50.

Must Have minis from Nails Inc – lots of shades to start well the year – fro nudes to neons – this will keep your talons colour going for a while! Great value of £23.52 from QVC!

Festive talons courtesy of Clinique’s Party Tips nail polish set.. Three pretty shades for sensitive skin for £20 from House of Fraser.

Discover Elemis’ great Tri-enzime kit with this 4 piece set, for only £24.12 from QVC.

OPI’s Fit to be Tied #2 has two beautiful nail shades and delivers glitter in the right amount. £18.55 from QVC.

Clinique’s classic 3 step kit is one of my favourites cleanse, tone and moisturise sets. Have a go with this intro collection and see for yourself. £20 from Debenhams.

The Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is a classic – and is has a special edition for Christmas – £26.25 for 200ml cleaner and 2 muslim cloths!

Over £26

I couldn’t leave out the Naked 3 palette from Urban Decay, coming out on the 12 December for £37. Hurry!!!

Beautifully packaged MAC’s Stroke of Midnight eye kit in Smoky got me hooked. Smokey eyes paradise with Chillproof, Retrospeck, Gaelic Gold, Well Put Together and Carbon (my fave matte black eyeshadow). At £32, exceptional value for money.

Benefit’s Groovy Kinda Love gift set has their best sellers to keep you pretty – and all for £29.50 from Boots.

Sparkle! The Urban Decay Starlight Glitter set can help with that! £30 from House of Fraser.

Guinot has brought some lovely gift boxes this year, each one looking to fix a “problem” in a girl’s life.

Ready Set Glow will deliver complexion brightening tools; Damsel in De-Stress will pamper and help relief stress; Supercharged Youth Boost delivers a boost for ageing skin. They also have a male grooming gift set called Tied up, with a face wash, after shave and shaving brush! They are priced between £46 and £64 and can be found at your nearest salon using Guinot products or at the Salon Skincare website, amongst others. website

Reveal a younger you with YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum set, £64 from Boots.

Lancôme’s Visionnaire is of my favourite serums – and this set has lots of amazing goodies to accompany it! It costs £82 from Boots.

This classic selection of half size MAC brushes is amazing – and a fantastic value too at £42.

And finally, a girl can dream…. fro £300 you can get the WHOLE Alber Elbaz collection for Lancôme at Harrods. Sigh…

Product review: Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream blush

Although I have a few other shades, coral/peach is my favourite colour for blusher – it goes well with most skin tones and makeup colours. I was very happy to try the Liz Earle healthy glow cream blush in Coral, 05.

Packaging is lovely – simple, elegant and most importantly, extremely compact. It also has a little mirror on the lid.

Now, I might have mentioned before that I avoid using cream makeup products as my skin is prone to oiliness and it all melts and also because of my scarring – these products tend to sink on them. Not pretty to look at.

I am delighted to say I was pleasantly surprised with this Liz Earle blush. It looks darker in the pot than it is on the skin – but it is highly pigmented, so you only need a little.

It has a lovely creamy consistency that applies and blends extremely well and a matte-ish finish to die for. And somehow it delivers a lovely glowy flush of colour. I don’t quite get how it does it, but I love it. Most importantly, it does not sink into my scars after a few hours of use. Score!

The Healthy Glow Cream blush is available in seven beautiful shades, retails for 16.50 and can be purchased at the Liz Earle website where you can also find a fantastic line of cosmetics and makeup!

So Many Lovely Things

A blog about beauty, style, shoes, fashion and lifestyle

Category Archives: Make Up

Product review: JN Beauty Camera Ready Face Primer

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Red lipstick: how to apply

Product review: Lancôme Doll Eyes mascara by Alber Elbaz

Product review: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Product review: JN Beauty Gel eyeliner pencil

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Naked Fake It Gotta Glow gift set with self tan lotion and bronzer

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

118 118 Beauty Pass brings “more gorgeousness” to our lives

The launch information was sent to me by 118118Beauty, but opinions (and suggestions) are my own.

Liz Earle product launch

Beautiful christmas: my selection of beauty gifts

Up to £25

Over £26

Product review: Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream blush

This post contains PR samples.