beauty

26th April 2020

Guerlain Rouge G lipstick and case

I have hesitated over posting this as during the current Covid-19 pandemic, while we are all still in lockdown, it seems very frivolous. But then I thought about the things that give me comfort at this time and lipstick has been one of mine. Even though I am working from my dining room table now and see no one apart from Mr 101BT and the occasional colleague via video for an online meeting, a swipe of lipstick is definitely a morale booster.

In the Second World War women were actively encouraged to wear lipstick. The slogan of the time was ‘beauty is your duty’ and many letters sent to loved ones on the front line had lipstick kisses added to boost morale and convey love. There are many advertising posters at the time of women in uniform wearing lipstick with names such as victory red or regimental red, a sales gimmick definitely, but the name alone might justify the purchase for the buyer.

I haven’t seen any beauty related advertising during this pandemic but there is a definite increase in posts on YouTube about DIY treatments and looking good during video conferencing on Zoom.

I coveted these lipstick cases for a while before getting one. Funnily enough, they remind me of the vintage lipstick cases that some of the beauty brands such a Max Factor and Helena Rubinstein brought out after the war.

Guerlain have quite a big selection of cases and are all so lovely it was difficult to choose one, so Mr101BT got me two as a gift (I think one was from the cat!). You buy the lipstick and case separately. The lipsticks themselves are shaped to fit in the case but you can interchange if you like, just keep the original cap safe.

Definitely a lipstick to bring out in public, the lid flips up to reveal a mirror under the flap and when you put the lipstick back in the case it holds the flap down. The lipstick itself is really nice and comfortable to wear, lightweight with good pigment and reasonable longevity.

Makes a fabulous gift for a friend, or why not treat yourself?

1st December 2019

Red lipstick

There is something about Autumn and Winter that says red lipstick and red wine to me. Put away the nudes and get out the red. I love red lipstick. To me there is nothing more stunning than seeing a woman come towards you wearing a red lip. It stands out, says power and makes the whole face light up.

Having said that, it does take some maintenance to keep it looking good. There is nothing worse than a dark red line around your lips when you have eaten and drunk something and the inner area has worn away which doesn’t appear so obvious with a nude lip. I know some people hate seeing women reapply their lipstick in public but I love the ‘don’t give a damn about what people think, I don’t need to hide away in the bathroom’ attitude.

I have several red lipsticks in varying shades of red, from orange reds to blue reds and a few pink reds in all finishes. The one shown is Ruby Woo by Mac. I know this is a real favourite among makeup junkies. It is a bluey red, which looks great on a paler skin and makes your teeth look white, but for me I like a warmer tone. My favourite is Liza Red by Mac, sadly no longer available. It is a true pillar box red and when I finish the current one, I will be scouring the reds to find a similar tone.

If you are thinking: ‘I can’t wear red’, just try it. It can be a bit intimidating when you first apply it and see yourself in the mirror, but dab a bit on from the bullet and build it up gradually. I guarantee people will pay more attention to what you are saying and will really watch your lips as you speak.

1st January 2019

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Unlocked

The great thing about Christmas is that you can ask for gifts that you probably wouldn’t buy yourself. I saw this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Unlocked palette on several beauty blogs and put it on my list. Luckily Santa managed to get one. I am not sure if it is available now as it was limited edition.

What attracted me to this particular palette was the variety within it. There are two face finishing powders, a bronzer, two blushers and a highlighter so it is a great way to try out several items from the brand which is known predominantly for its powder finishing products.

I had never heard of the brand until a shop assistant came up to me in John Lewis a few years ago and tried one of their primers on the back of my hand. It was lovely and smooth. I asked her how much it was and she quoted a price around £50 without even blinking. I certainly did though, several times, then said my thank yous and scurried off. It is a very popular high-end, well, luxury brand and comes out with some groundbreaking formulas at equally groundbreaking prices.

This blog could well have been a beauty blog as I love make-up. I have been trying to perfect the art for years. Still trying, still making mistakes. I first dabbled in make-up when I was really young, trying on my mum’s lipsticks and found an ancient pot of blue eyeshadow in among some makeup at the back of a cupboard in my parents’ bedroom. I have a feeling it was made by Yardley, it had a bee on the lid but I cannot find any reference for this. I don’t think I ever tried it on but would frequently visit the cupboard where it lived and gaze at it lovingly.

Later I got a free eyeshadow on a teen magazine and it all started there. I spent hours in my bedroom trying it on with my finger. First the silver and then the blue side. I was very sparing with it and tried to wear it outside the house but always got stopped by my parents and told to wash it off. Even in those days I would spend birthday money on make-up and when I was allowed to go out wearing it, would do so with pride.

These days make-up still means a lot to me. I probably spend more time thinking about and applying it in the morning than I do about what I am wearing. I certainly spend a lot of money on it. To me, make-up is a bit of a comfort blanket. I feel secure wearing it. It is something to hide behind, it can hide your true feelings but also enhance your mood and make you feel more confident. Very occasionally, I will go down the road to a shop with nothing on my face and I feel so insecure and insignificant. On the other hand there is nothing more empowering than a red lip. Frightening really, that something so relatively innocuous as make-up can have such a profound effect.

My New Year’s resolution, as always, is to wear more lipstick. Happy New Year.

Hourglass makeup is available HERE.