Free Lip Gloss! - Stila Makeup Amnesty: Stila Steal

To celebrate the opening of the new Stila Counter at Harvey Nichols London, Stila are introducing 'Stila Steal' makeup amnesty for one day only. On the 19th January 2012 from 10am Stila are offering all beauty lovers the chance to trade in an old lip gloss (even one that isn't Stila) for a complimentary Stila Lip Glaze in Kitten, a gorgeous suits all nude shade. The lip glaze is worth £15.

Will you be there to pick yours up?

Accessorize Eye Shadows - Dazzlingly Devastating and Aphrodite

Back in November I wrote about how much I liked the bronzer and blusher above from Accessorize in this post, since then they have been used probably more than any others I own.

Today I turn my attention to the Eye Shadows I was sent.

The trio of eyeshadows is called Dazzlingly Devastating and the duo is called Aphrodite.

Once again they feature the same cute Butterfly design packaging and sturdy flip top lid.

Baked Trio Eyeshadows 1- Dazzlingly Devastating swatches

In the pan I struggle to see the difference between the two dark shades but if I look close enough it appears to be that the shade on the left is a dark grey with mulit-coloured flecks of shimmer. The shade on the right is more of a charcoal colour with grittier flecks of ice blue! The central eye shadow is a smooth shimmery cool silver.

Pictured above is how the shadows transfer to the skin. Pigmentation is good, this is with just one swipe of my finger. You can clearly see the multi-coloured flecks, the shimmer and the sparser flecks in the charcoal.

Staying power is good and they don't crease. I am really impressed.

Baked Duo Eyeshadow 11 - Aphrodite swatches

Aphrodite is very appealing in the pan but I am not entirely sure this combo is for me and so I haven't yet applied it to my eyes but I will do!  The white would make a good highlighter for the inner corners of the eyes or the brow bone. The black with red swirl is something that is new to me so I need to work out how best to blend it and show it off on the eyes... If you take the black on its own and apply it to the skin it isn't much different from the dark grey in Dazzingly Devastating. The swatch on the right involved my finger running across the shades of black and red (not blended). Texture wise these are smooth and silky, really nice.

On the Accessorize website I have spotted Illusion Merged Eyeshadow in Golden Caramel which is a creamy swirl of baked gorgeousness and looks like it is completely up my street :-) I need to purchase this.

Accessorize makeup is available to purchase at participating Accessorize and Superdrug stores.

No7 Lash Adapt Mascara - Reviewed

I have never tried false lashes and to be honest I may probably never try them for various reasons, as a result I am always on the look out for fabulous mascaras that can give me volume and length. I have always been left disappointed by No7 mascaras which promise the earth but have never really lived up to my expectations of them until now.... Lash Adapt Mascara claims to 'take your look from day to night' and allows you to add 6 coats clump free. It promises to build, define and volumise lashes.

Lash Adapt has to be the mascara that I had the least hopes for but has wowed me the most. 2 coats of mascara is perfect for my day look but if I want an evening look I can, if necessary, add up to 8 coats, no sign of clumping and my lashes remain as soft as anything. That is seriously impressive!

Close up of brush

The wand is a good design, nice and comfortable to hold. The brush is a good size, is easy to use, and doesn't feature a funny shape that leaves you requiring a degree to work out how to use it! It separates and coats the lashes perfectly and each coat really does apply as if it were the first.

As always I provide the before and after shots so you can see just how much of a difference Lash Adapt actually makes. I haven't used eye lash curlers or enhanced the images.

Before

Using Lash Adapt Mascara

The volume and length are really visible here, this is after 5 coats.

As this was a press sample available before its launch it doesn't actually state on the tube which colour it is but it looks like it is black.

Lash Adapt is available in three shades - Black, Brown/black and Deepest Black and costs £12.50

Happy New Year 2012!

 2012 New Year Fireworks - Image from BBC footage

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

First of all I just want to say how incredible the New Year London fireworks display was, best ever in my opinion.

I cannot believe that it is 2012 already, didn't 2011 go fast?

So as a New Year dawns it is time to make some New Year resolutions...

1. I aim to increase my fruit and vegetable intake - As I am allergic to many tree fruit I need to cook the fruits before I can consume them, not just pick them from the fruit bowl like most people can do. So I foresee a year of many baked/steamed/boiled fruit.

2. I am to get more active - find time for at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise every single day

3. My last resolution is to spend more time on my hair. Try out more products to find the products that bring health and shine to my hair and make it generally more manageable.I also plan to visit the hairdresser more often than I currently do.

Last year I said I would spend more time writing. In 2011 I introduced a Friday Column to BeautySwot which created an outlet to write about various subjects and also allowed me to write fiction in the form of short stories which I enjoyed writing immensely. This year the Friday Column will continue.

Thank you all for your support in the last year and I look forward to you all returning this year for more beauty, spa and afternoon tea related news, reviews and much much more.

Bettina x

Bathing Beauties - L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil and Almond Firming and Beautifying Milk Veil

I think I have found my holy grail of bathing products. I do not use those words lightly as I have used many, many bath/shower products over the years and nothing has come close to how wonderful these are.  I have never been so excited to share my favourite products as this combination has made a real difference to my skin and is so utterly pleasurable to use.

Almond is known for its softening, firming and toning properties.

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil - 250ml - £16


Pictured above is the 500ml version which was available in the L'Occitane Delightful Almond Collection (Ltd Edition) - £46 Christmas Box.

I was a little worried that almond would equal smelling like marzipan but this really is THE nicest shower product I have ever used. It has the colour of olive oil, a thick gloopy texture but when it touches water transforms into a lovely runny milky texture. It doesn't foam or froth but that doesn't bother me at all. It is fantastic used as a shaving cream as the razor just glides across the skin and leaves my skin feeling satin smooth and incredibly soft. The scent is a gorgeously light almond scent that I just love smelling on my skin ALL day.

L'Occitane Almond Firming and Beautifying Milk Veil - 250ml - £27

L'Occitane say - Formulated with almond oil and milk to soften and supple, almond proteins and silicium to smooth and firm, this body veil melts into the skin leaving the skin soft, smooth, firm and deliciously perfumed. Its formula contains micro-pearls that illuminate and visually smooth the skin.

I find the task of applying a body moisturiser quite often time consuming and laborious which means that I tend to skip it. The Almond Milk Veil actually makes the task so easy that since I have started to use it I have never been tempted to skip. As it is a runny milk texture there is no rubbing it in to ensure it has been absorbed. It sinks into the skin with so little effort it is amazing. There is no greasiness or tackiness so you can dress immediately. It does contain a very slight shimmer to it which gives the skin a gentle glow but this is very slight, there is no disco ball effect. The scent matches that of the Almond Shower Oil, utterly delectable.

Both products leave my skin smelling wonderful, feeling healthy, hydrated and incredibly soft and smooth all day. I honestly cannot ask for anything more.

*PR Samples 

Clinique Spring Trend 2012 Almost Spring

Good news for those that favour a fresh faced appearance, this spring, a lightly flushed cheek complimented by a natural lip and flirty lashes offer the perfect palette for a fresh-faced almost makeup look. The soft colour palette of the Clinique Almost Spring look combines a pretty collection of products with the latest formulas and smooth, light textures to achieve a natural, dewy glow.


Almost Lipstick - £16.

Not a lipstick or a gloss. Its sheer, smooth formula allows the natural lip colour to come through, creating a custom-fit shade that is unique to each woman.

Available in:
Tender Honey
Luscious Honey
Spicy Honey
Shy Honey
Flirty Honey
Lovely Honey
Chic Honey
Black Honey

Blushwear Cream Stick - £20

A modern cream-to-powder blush that blends effortlessly into cheeks to provide a natural punch of colour. This silky, oil-free formula provides buildable coverage. Contained in a portable swivel up, silver case.

Available in:

Peachy Blush
Rosy Blush
Shy Blush
Black Honey (Ltd Edition)

Available at all Clinique counters nationwide from 1st February 2012

Other products shown - Naturally Glossy Mascara in Jet Black and Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer are available now

Boxing Day Make Up - Face Of The Day

My Boxing Day make-up

Primer - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Eye Primer - Urban Decay EyeShadow Primer Potion Eden
Foundation - Airbase High Definition Airbrush Make-up Shade Medium 03
Concealer - Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light
Bronzer - Accessorize Baked Bronzer Duo - Bali Shade 2
Blusher - Accessorize Merged Baked Blusher 6 - Scandal
Eye Shadow - 17 Trio Eye Shadows in Enraged
Eye Liner - Clinique Quickliner for Eyes in Intense Plum (Ltd Edition)
Mascara - Flawless You Forever Luscious Mascara in Black
Lip gloss - Laura Mercier Nude Lip Glace in Champagne