Elemis...and why not!

A home housing two highly untidy women may yield a multitude of riches. Particularly in the summer holiday when our cleaner doesn't come. Theory being that I've time to do the cleaning myself! Time I have. Inclination? No.

So I was just rooting for something in my bathroom when I found some forgotten bits and pieces. I do have more Elemis products than these but a quick scout-round revealed the above.

The cleansing wash smells particularly delightful to me. Lady's Mantle in a unique milk protein base! (From the back of the bottle.) Serum I always love and will use on my hair/hands/the lot. The best of all though is the bottom left Frangipani Monoi Moisture melt. The glass bottle is too cute with that little silver top that unscrews and the contents moreover are solid at normal temperature. So I take it in the shower to warm it and then spread it over my face. A very powerful fragrance is frangipani. It doesn't appeal universally i.e. to she who must be obeyed. But I only slather it on at night before retiring.

And better yet! This stuff is made in England! Which means jobs!

Downside? Elemis is expensive but you need to watch ebay for bargains and they can occasionally be found. The quality is excellent. I haven't even pictured their hand and nail cream. Now that is tremendously effective.

Anybody have any Elemis recommendations?

Jenni

Missguided Misstique - misnamed

No mystique about this. It's a lovely, creamy 2-coat polish. Even covers up my ridges. I do like this brand. Pity there are so few colours. Got this as a freebie just like the rest of you probably did with some magazine or other. But I'd recommend it even at full price. Not sure this aqua-turquoise usually suits me but this doesn't seem to give me "lobsters" so......result. Nowt special colour-wise but a darned good formula.

Jenni

How it all began..Fairy Dust (Sally Hansen Fairy Dust Pink)

I've painted my nails on and off since about 1969 but I haven't in recent times had a day of naked nails since August 2009. Had time and dollars to spare at Montreal airport in August 09 so I had a mani. Great Turkish-Canadian girl. Very friendly. The concession was OPI-fied so I had a coupla greens. That got me hooked again. (I think they may have been Electric Eel and Green-wich - something like that.)

That developed into buying more polish and reading blogs. Finally I got my own blog going.

One of the first polishes I ebay-ed in 09 or 10 was this Sally Hansen. I'd seen something similar on a blog and just took a punt on it. I checked the prices on ebay today and they are mega-silly. I'm sure I didn't spend more than a coupla quid though. So there's no point stimulating demand for these "magical" polishes. (That's what they're called by Sally Hansen btw.) Was minded to wear this because I just got £14.50 for GOSH Holographic on ebay so had holos in my head. This applies better than quite a lot of holos which I find almost invariably patchy. Pity SH don't do this range any longer. The prices demonstrate it was highly-regarded.

Ah, well. Just a pretty polish for a sunny day.

Jenni

Colour blocking, anyone?

 

Nothing new under the sun. You have no idea how radical these fashion images were in the 60s! Unless you're my age! I loved Mary Quant stuff. Up until then teenagers dressed like their mums and their grandmothers. Nearly 50 years has gone by since this photoshoot. Not saying you'd want to dress exactly like that now but......

See this next one? Original Sixties ad. Is this not gorgeous even now? I think so. I had that lipstick and nail polish. *sighs* This is one of my all-time favourite/evocative ads. The fact that I am crazy for black cherries really doesn't harm its cause. Black-forest gateau. Nom nom nom.

And you've guessed right. I have no personal inspiration today. I tried the Sleek Pout Paint in Peachy Keen. So little did it suit me that I felt it OBSCENE to take a photo. That's how bad it was. Not my colour. Not in this lifetime anyway....

Jenni

No drama, just good stuff....Models Own Mystic Mauve

I spend too much time lusting after collections that are either too expensive or simply unavailable that I forget we have a great brand of our own here in the UK. I refer to Models Own.

Their foil polishes are simply magnificent and, thinking back, I have never had a bad Models Own. So there. Sorry, Models Own. I will try to appreciate you better.

Mystic Mauve. 2 coats. Foil. Would look better on younger (unridged) nails but I have what I have.
(That was easy...)

My left hand now sports short nails but I'm letting the nails on my right grow. They look OK.
Jenni

Oh, dear..... sad face.....Illamasqua Raindrops

 

It's all very well. Looks quite nice. A very pretty polish. But application? Blimey.

3 coats. Then I just couldn't help myself. I had to apply another. 

4 coats! I can live with that but I had to be so careful.

Too little polish on the brush and I got fearful drag.

Too much polish and I had a puddle.

It's a jelly. I love jelly polishes usually and have never found them difficult to apply but this baby...? Whoa.

The photo makes it look a tad blue whereas it is a genuine grey.

Tricky. Coming to a verdict - tricky. I do love it but it is in my top 10 of silly buggers as regards behaviour. Maybe top 5.

Funnily enough this is one of the 'suggest a colour' polishes. I got in the top 50 in that competition. Or DID I? I've read a lot of bloggers who've had that particular email. D'you think it possible that Illamasqua flattered us in order to foster brand-loyalty/sales? I'd love to know how many of those emails went out! Allegedly. Just insert 'allegedly' in every sentence in this paragraph. *fingers crossed*

Jenni

LIP WARS! Sleek Pout Paint v OCC Lip Tar

 

This is smudgy because I didn't mess with it for the photo. I tidied it up with a brush afterwards!

I don't suggest these colours are dupes. They are obviously not. But they were compatible to be worn together.

Top lip: Sleek Mauve On

Lower lip: OCC Katricia

Sleek 

Not peppermint-y, neutral flavour

Maybe a little drier in the tube and more reluctant to squeeze out

Seems a lot glossier on the lip (which is odd considering the point immediately above)

May need a smidgen more product to achieve coverage - but quantities are so small it's irrelevant really

Seems less likely to transfer onto the teeth which can be a big problem with the OCC

It did quickly transfer onto the lower lip - is it more highly pigmented/stronger than the OCC? Maybe

OCC

Dries matte on the lip

Pigments seem from the photo to be less evenly distributed - I've had the OCC longer but didn't notice any problem in the tube - I have heard that some separation can occur in Lip Tars

Does have a sharp minty tang - less so than some of the other shades though - I know some people quite dislike it

Yes, I applied with sponges. I have found it works quite well with these. It's hard to keep lip-brushes clean and remove product whereas the sponges are ten-a-penny and you can easily keep them and match them to the correct shade at a later date.

• Quantities are identical.
• OCC tube marginally more workable because of the 'gradient' but you have to use brushes (or sponges) for these anyway - do not apply directly

Conclusion
Have to award the laurel wreath to Sleek. I do think it's a better product at a lower price (normally a fiver but currently 3 for £10 at the moment) and it's readily available from Superdrug or online in the UK. A clear knock-out win for Sleek. Not even a victory on points. Knock-out. OCC however do more colours and were initially aimed at the professional make-up artist (I think) who does a lot of blending. So if you are super-creative/innovative with your cosmetics then I'd suggest you get lots of the Sleek and supplement any blending shades from the OCC range.

I really rate the Sleek so I had better reiterate that I bought these myself and I've never had a product given to me for review by anyone. Lest you think I am too ardent in my support!

Jenni

Eyeko Liptastik Loudmouth + Baby Bonus/Bonus Baby

I failed with 2 of my 3 TK Maxx purchases. Nails Inc polishes not so good. Ditto OPI. The Eyeko however was another story....

All these for a fiver! Loudmouth is the one in the middle.

• Lasts for ages.
• Feels good.
• Not too sticky.
• Good value at 3 for a fiver.
• Very highly pigmented.
• So easy to apply. Foolproof actually. 
• Don't need a sharpener. Just twist the base (see pic).

(Oh, sharpeners for jumbo crayons! Do I have to buy a pen-knife and learn to whittle whilst humming "Ol' Man River" in order to sharpen my Barry M Lip Lacquers or is there a jumbo sharpener I can buy?)

UNfortunately made in China. I did not realise this because there was a label stuck over country of origin and I just tend to assume (bloody fool) that British companies get their stuff made in Britain. Or how about Europe even? Once I had broken the seal I couldn't return them.

My latest Illamasqua polishes are made in Australia! What's that all about?! I have to stop buying Illamasqua now. OK, the Australians aren't employing slave labour and beating people but the carbon-footprint implications are just plain intolerable to me.

I won't start on trade, the global economy and jobs for local people. But I SO COULD! And probably should.

On a lighter note, the next post will feature LIP WARS!

Plus a "baby bonus" pic. Granddaughter. 9 days.

Jenni

Couleur du jour?

Maybe even couleur du mois/ de l'annee!
Orange.

Illamasqua Insanity. Even WITH a bubble it's simply the best orange there is and moreover the best polish I've bought for a long time. £5 in the sale! Superb result. How chuffed am I.
3 coats is plenty. 2

So what d'you reckon is the genuine, current couleur du jour?
Orange
Coral
Other

And would that be a creme formula?

Oh, a little pointer for those who weren't sure. The large square cap on Illamasqua is MEANT to be removable. In fact you SHOULD remove it and leave the smaller cap for proper control. I have heard some say Illamasqua polishes are unwieldy. That need not be the case.

Jenni

BLOG SALE - over 60 polishes

The Revlon is Silver (actually a grey)

NEW, UNUSED
OPI (2) Miami Beet & Fiercely Fiona £4 each
China Glaze MINI First Mate £2
Barielle (2) June Bug & Myrza's Meadow (Barielles tend to separate out in storage but these ARE new) £3.75 each
Models Own (7) Concrete Mixer & Lemon Meringue & Sterling Silver & Baby Blues &Blue Moon & Champagne & Mystic Mauve £3.25 each

Illamasqua Rampage (in box) £6
Color Club Electronica £3.75
Finger Paints Blissfully Blue £3.75
Nails Inc The Hurlingham & Hays Mews & Chester Terrace £3.50 each (the latter 2 are suede)
Barry M Instant Nail Effects Black & Blue £2 each
Bourjois Orange Creation £2.50
Mavala Pure Diamond & Daring Pink & Milky £2.25 each
Revlon Silver £1

USED ONCE (probably only on one hand)
OPI (4) DS Coronation £7 & Hopelessly In Love £3.50 & Samoan Sand £3.50 & My Private Jet (new version) £6.50
Illamasqua (2) Purity and a red one that may be Ruthless £5 each

Models Own (3) Nyla Nude & Utopia & Lili's Pink £3 each
China Glaze Blue Island Iced Tea £3
Essie (4) Alligator Purse & Nutcracker Sweet & Gladioli & Lily Pond
Confetti Happy Birthday £3.50 each
BB Couture (3) Santa's Sak & Tuxedo Night & Bullfighter £3.50 each
Leighton Denny Golden Girl £5

missguided (3)  Misschievous & Missdemeanour & Missunderstood £2.50 each
RMK Holographic Blue Pink £4
Bourjois (2) Bleu model & Fuchsia provoc' £2 each
Pop Beauty (2) Violetta & Pinkest £2.50 each

Hard Candy (see photo for colour) £3.75
Sinful Colors Out of this World £2
Barry M Nail Effects Pink £2
Accessorize (2) Purple Dream & Pin-Up £2.50
Nails Inc Drury Lane £3

• P&P within the UK is £1.60 for a single polish. For the 2nd and subsequent polishes add 20p each (example: 4 polishes would be the price of the individual items + £2.20 P&P)  You're not in the UK? Please indicate this in your comment and I'll calculate a price for you.
• This is ordinary 2nd class post. I get proof of posting but if you want recorded or whatever then please ask.
• Paypal only - gift to friend (see next point)
• On ebay I have 100% feedback as jayannlay. I buy and sell on ebay and I have 289 transactions to my name. If you don't feel you can trust me and don't want to do the 'paypal friend' thing then I'm afraid we have no deal. I just don't want to pay the extra charges!

Jenni