Jumat, 30 April 2010
Stunning mineral illuminating powders with pearl powder and diamonds...
This post is actually part two of the Haul.
I wasn't planning on getting Laura Mercier's mineral illuminating powders - I didn't even know about them, to be honest - but once I'd tried them, I had to get them. There are two colours to choose from and I first got Starlight. Then I went back and got Candlelight, too. I adore these!
Starlight (L) and Candlelight (R)
Starlight is the lighter shade and it's described as a 'golden nude' on their website. It has a beautiful, soft shimmer that's supposed to give a natural, healthy glow. The ingredients are really glam: pearl powder, diamonds, emeralds and other precious / semi-precious stones!
It's definitely not for using all over the face but it's pretty as a highlighter. If you look at the swatches below, you'll see that Starlight is the most subtle because it blends in better with my skintone. MAC pigment Naked is rather pink and Vanilla is very white with a strong and visible sheen.
(from L to R) Starlight, MAC pigment Naked, MAC pigment Vanilla
In daylight (no direct sunlight)
In sunlight - sparkles are visible
In artificial light - also sparkly
Candlelight is more of a pink tone. It would add a nice bit of colour and shimmer to a beauty powder or light blush on the cheeks. It might even work as a blush on its own but I haven't tried that yet. Or as eyeshadow, actually. These powders are basically like MAC's pigments.
I swatched Candlelight alongside some random colours on a different day in different lighting (still outside). Candlelight ended up in the middle. Naked pigment is on the left and Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish on the right.
L to R: MAC pigment Naked, Candlelight, Soft and Gentle MSF
The one last thing that I got is the new Secret Finish - Mattifying. It comes in a small tube and the consistency is slightly strange; it's described as a liquid-gel that instantly absorbs excess oil and removes shine for hours. It's primarily for touch-ups.
I've only used this once so far but noticed that you have to be careful with the application. Don't try to rub the product in because that will 'push' the make-up around and possibly 'dilute' it. Better to spread it out on the back of your hand first, then just tap it into the skin.
Whew. I think that's enough Laura Mercier for a while. Coming soon is MAC - the new collections that I wrote about in my wishlist. Yay!
Haul: Aveda, Laura Mercier, OPI
My husband didn't change his mind, of course, so I had to return his shirts today. Got that money back - and headed straight for the beauty department. Here is what I got - and I'm keeping everything.
Aveda
Aveda
I got bath salts called Soothing Aqua Therapy. It's supposed to refresh, hydrate and relax. I've never tried any bath products from Aveda before so this will be interesting. I also got samples (yay!) of their smooth infusion shampoo and conditioner.
OPI
I got their nail and cuticle replenishing oil. I've been using this on and off for years. Apply to cuticles at night before you go to bed and you will wake up with nicer looking nails. Mine look absolutely terrible at the moment.
Laura Mercier
I think Laura Mercier does great powders so I picked up a couple of those and a brow definer.
First, the brow definer. It is a wax/gel in a pot, applied with a brush, that keeps hairs in place. It comes in three colours and I got it in Fair, the lightest colour.
It's not as dark as it looks in the first photo. Here's another pic, taken outside.
Now for the swatch.
After taking the picture on the left (below), I thought I was done so I started to rub it off. Then I noticed that I couldn't get it off. It had virtually stained my skin and it only came off with soap. Great for summer.
The secret brightening powder is a very light powder made specifically to set concealer. This is an incredible powder, it's light, doesn't crease and is supposed to lighten the eye area with its tiny flecks of shimmer. In her book "Make-up Masterclass" (review coming soon) make-up artist Jemma Kidd lists her favourite loose powder as being this one.
It comes in two colours and I actually use #2, an off-white. But I wasn't concentrating (too busy looking at other products) and ended up with #1, which is very white. I can still use this so I won't bother returning it but don't you hate it when that happens?
Anyway, the white one reminds me of MAC's Prep and Prime transparent finishing powder, except the MAC one is matte and Laura Mercier's is not.
Secret brightening powder 2 and 1
What else... I got two mineral finishing powders. I won't go into that now. I tested it and wrote about it here.
There will be a separate post on the mineral illuminating powders because they are so amazing.
Have you tried any of these products?
Warehouse Summer trend alert!
We love it when you girls make an effort to look the part when attending our castings and we couldn’t help but notice the Summery twist on the basic model uniform while in Manchester last week. Our favourite looks spotted in the Style Studio were florals, pastels and pale denim, all bang on trend for this season and perfectly accessorised with Warehouse key pieces such as a gorgeous fringed bag...ideal for the festival season! Check out these highlights from the Manchester Style Studio and to start working on your Summer Wardrobe and to see the full image gallery go to http://www.warehouse.co.uk/
Elite model, EML 2009 Finalist (AND a native Mancunian!) Rachel shows us how to strike a pose, head to toe in Warehouse Summer must-haves!
The Stations of the Resurrection--Eighth Station--Jesus Strengthens the Faith of Thomas
("The Incredulity of Thomas," by Michelangelo Merisi da Carvaggio)
The Eighth Station--Jesus Strengthens the Faith of Thomas
Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You allowed Thomas to believe in the way he understood best.
Thomas had been absent from the other disciples when Jesus had breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. When they told him of their encounter with Jesus, Thomas just glared at them and did not say anything for a long time. He had no doubt his companions had experienced something--but wondered if their desire and wishes to see Jesus again had not clouded reality for them. Perhaps they had met someone who reminded them of Jesus and they wished it so. Perhaps someone had played a cruel trick on them. Perhaps they were so grief-stricken they were having delusions.
Thomas was still grieving terribly himself. He simply did not want to hurt any more than he was hurting already. He didn't want to hear these stories--it did not make his own pain any better. So finally, he growled back, "You know what? I don't want to disagree with you, but I just can't buy it, as much as I love and believe in you. I won't believe it until I see it--and I'd have to feel the nail marks and the hole in his side myself before I could even begin to believe it."
A week later, the disciples were again behind closed doors and Thomas was among them. Suddenly, Jesus was again in their midst! "Peace be with you," repeated Jesus. He looked squarely at Thomas, holding out his hands. "Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe."
The Gospel of John doesn't say whether Thomas actually did touch Jesus--that is left up to our imaginations--but whatever did happen caused Thomas to exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" What is clear, though, is that Jesus understood exactly what it took to come to Thomas on his own terms--and he was perfectly willing to do that.
Leader: Jesus came to Thomas to the way of his own understanding,
People: Just as Christ can come to us in the way of our own understanding.
Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)
Lord God, perceiver of all things,
Sometimes it hurts too much to simply accept and believe your truth.
Sometimes when our worries and fears overtake us,
the gentle touch of your loving hand sears our flesh like acid.
It becomes easier to doubt than to believe.
Remind us in those moments
that we are loved by a Son with nail holes in his own hands
and a gash in his side, a Son who cries and bleeds,
and will not ask anything of us in our pain
but to simply touch his own wounds and feel one with them.
People: Amen.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Kamis, 29 April 2010
When a Chanel goes missing
There's some bad news... but first always the good news. (Or do you usually prefer to hear the bad news first?)
It was a beautiful, sunny day for sitting outside and sipping a Bellini, my favourite cocktail. I always order a bottle of sparkling water, too. Perrier used to be my mineral water of choice but now I prefer San Pellegrino - the bubbles are 'softer'.
It was a beautiful, sunny day for sitting outside and sipping a Bellini, my favourite cocktail. I always order a bottle of sparkling water, too. Perrier used to be my mineral water of choice but now I prefer San Pellegrino - the bubbles are 'softer'.
I had a risotto with white asparagus and Parmesan. Hm, *** out of five, I would say. I had to add a bit of salt and pepper. The best risotto I've ever had was in some tiny Italian village which I can't remember the name of. I went there two nights in a row.
Then.
I took my wallet out of my bag. I also looked and looked for my coin purse but could not find it anywhere. (It's not at home, either.) Coin purse - yeah, who cares, at least it wasn't the wallet that I lost, right? Well, not when that coin purse was a CHANEL coin purse! I haven't shed any tears yet but I am a teeny weeny bit... ok, gutted. It was a limited edition thing that matches a handbag (that I still have) so I can't replace it. I probably left it in a supermarket so the odds of finding it are zero-nil-minus.
Sigh.
Then! I went to buy my husband a 'present' (some shirts). I got the extra boring plain white shirt and the boring plain blue shirt. I got a bit excited (can you imagine? in the men's shirt department) when I spotted something slightly different: shirts with subtle blue stitching on the collar. I thought they would make a nice change. Because it must get so boring wearing the same 'look' every day - suit, shirt, tie.
But you know what? My husband does not like them at all. OMG how B-O-R-I-N-G! How ungrateful! I am never, ever buying him anything anymore (even when it's with his money).
I have to return them. But tell me - are they really that bad?
ELITE MODEL LOOK HEADS SOUTH!
Another weekend...another casting for the EML team who will be in Southampton's West Quay centre on Saturday for our Southern England stop on the tour.
Aspiring models will get the chance to get catwalk ready with the help of Toni&Guy and Eylure while the Warehouse Style Studio is the perfect place to practice those model poses and get expert advice from our own Elite models - whether you decide to brave the catwalk or not! For more information about what to expect on the day visit our website and looking forward to meeting you then! http://www.elitemodellook.co.uk/
Aspiring models will get the chance to get catwalk ready with the help of Toni&Guy and Eylure while the Warehouse Style Studio is the perfect place to practice those model poses and get expert advice from our own Elite models - whether you decide to brave the catwalk or not! For more information about what to expect on the day visit our website and looking forward to meeting you then! http://www.elitemodellook.co.uk/
The usual team will be joined this week by EML World Final runner up Emily Smith and the gorgeous Charlotte Benson who will be on hand with their catwalk tips!
WE ♥ 'I LOVE YOU'
This week's editorial crush.... ‘ I LOVE YOU’ Magazine.
The very lovely Kathi Kauder (Contributing Editor) and extremely talented photographer Sabrina Theissen stopped into Elite towers this week to take a look at the board and give us the insider info on on their upcoming projects.
I LOVE YOU is a magazine dedicated to inspiration, and it must be filling the streets with thousands of excited creatives as it just sold out its 3rd issue! And with a with a manifesto that announces 'women are beautiful... life is irregular... fashion is the display of change' we can see why it's the go-to title for in-the-know style seekers.
Look out for the next issue featuring our very own Leah De Wavrin, photographed by Marcus Gaab and styled by Sarah Cobb - sneak previews right here! We're following the blog at http://iloveyoumagazine.blogspot.com and we think you should too.
I LOVE YOU MAGAZINE - THE MANIFESTO
WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL
WOMEN ARE SEXY
WOMEN ARE CLEVER AND INTELLIGENT
LIFE IS CHANGE. CHANGE IS GOOD.
FASHION IS THE DISPLAY OF CHANGE
LIFE IS IRREGULAR.
LIFE HAPPENS QUICKLY,
BUT NOT ALWAYS.
TODAY'S COMMUNICATION GETS FASTER
TODAY'S COMMUNICATION GETS
MORE PERSONAL.
FASHION HAPPENS EVERY MORNING.
THIS (MAGAZINE) IS TO HELP YOU
STAY INSPIRED.
...IS TO KEEP YOU INSPIRED AND LOVE YOU(RSELF)
Travel-friendly massage ball
It's such a pain when flights gets delayed. But once in a while it can be an opportunity in disguise. I was walking around the airport shops, bored, when suddenly I spotted one of these little reflexology balls. It's simply a ball with spikes, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
Unlike a lot of other massage props I've tried, this one is relatively hard and doesn't give way too much when you press on it. So the massage is effective, if you want it to be.
I liked it so much that I rushed back to get some more before my flight - another back-up for me and one for my mother.
Do you have any favourite massage products?
I liked it so much that I rushed back to get some more before my flight - another back-up for me and one for my mother.
Do you have any favourite massage products?
Rabu, 28 April 2010
Exotic Kit Kat - Did you know?
What got me started were these two "different" Japanese Kit Kats: potato of some sort and green tea. You would never think it but the potato one tastes better, I think.
I did some research and checked out their various international websites. Um that was interesting, sometimes just randomly clicking on the links in the hope of finding pictures.
Here it is, a map of regional Kit Kats around Japan! Can you find (my) potato Kit Kat?
From www.breaktown.com
Some other flavours around the world include:
cappuccino
cookies and cream
hazelnut cream
mint
orange
peanut butter
tiramisu
white (strawberry)
How many of these Kit Kats have you tried?
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