Super by Dr Nicholas Perricone

Skincare has become a bit of an obsession of mine lately. Ever since I tried Liz Earle Hot Cloth cleanser in my first year of uni (and promptly got my mum hooked on it too) I've been on a mission to pin down the perfect skincare regime. With my Clarisonic and a weekly use of Alpha H Liquid Gold (full review on its way) I feel like I'm pretty much there, but there's always room for improvement.

So when I was contacted about trying the Super by Dr Nicholas Perricone range I couldn't say no. I've heard Dr. Perricone's name bandied about over the years - he's written a number of books on diets and aging and has something of a celebrity following...though what interests me more is that he is doctor and certified dermatologist. Super by Dr Nicholas Perricone is a new (ish) range based on the 'power of Superfoods'. If my Dad reads this he'll be giggling to himself - we've had many a discussion about how I think the words 'superfood' and 'detox' are, invariably, bollocks. That said, the whole range is cruelty free and free from parabens,  mineral oil, sulphates, synthetic dyes and fragrances.

Before I get onto the contents, can we just take a moment to appreciate the packaging? I've actually loved seeing these in my bathroom in the morning. The matte glass and simple, bright branding is just perfect. Ok, geek moment over. All the products come with their respective pumps and applicators inside the box.

I was sent the Super Sweet Clean Face & Eye Cleanser (£25.50 / 118ml) and the Super Breakout Solution Blemish Treatment (£37 / 30ml). I've been trialling them for almost a month and there hasn't been much change in my skin, but in some ways I think this is a good sign. I don't have naturally great skin but it has been pretty well behaved for the last year with my current skincare routine so these haven't disturbed my relatively sensitive skin at all. 

I haven't been able to give the Super Breakout Solution a full test because I haven't had any significant breakouts, however it did seem to reduce the redness in those that I did get. This might be due to the Quercetin (a flavanoid found in Green Apple if you're following the superfood bit), known for its calming properties. It also contains Malic acid, Salicylic acid and Alpha Lipoic acid, which are all relatively common ingredients in skin peels. 

The Sweet Clean cleanser isn't up to removing a full face of makeup but I found it to be a soothing second cleanse after using my Liz Earle Hot Cloth cleanser. One of the benefits is meant to be anthocyanins (the pigment in some berries) which 'reduce oxidative stress', however the only research I could find studied its effectiveness when ingested. And I won't be chugging down my cleanser any time soon.

The main thing I noticed about both Super products is that they feel completely neutral on the skin. Despite the lovely, but quite strong fragrance, after using the face wash my skin felt clean (although I do always double cleanse) but not at all tight or irritated. Even some gentle cleansers I've used have left my skin feeling a little unbalanced. The breakout solution too was completely non-irritant, unlike some that I've tried, and did seem to reduce redness without causing dryness. 

Neither products are miracle workers and I'm not sure I buy into the 'Superfood' business (although I'm no scientist), but if you're happy to drop some (significant!) cash on a lovely gentle cleanser and non-irritating blemish treatment then you can't go far wrong.

Available at larger Boots stores, Selfridges and Getsuper.co.uk

'Important' info.

You may have read that Google Friend Connect is being removed from non-Blogger blogs. Lips So Facto is powered by Blogger so I shouldn't affect anything if you follow via GFC. However, should you be switching to another method of following blogs I thought I'd let you know there are some other ways to follow Lips So Facto.

Find lipssofacto on Hellocotton

I don't have a button on the blog yet, but you can follow via HelloCotton - a really friendly network which has a gorgeous magazine-style front page with handpicked featured posts from blogs worldwide. This is my personal favourite and I'm in the process of finding my favourite blogs on there!

Alternatively there is trusty Bloglovin'. There has been a button in the sidebar for a while and I know some of you already use it - but if not maybe give it a look.

Should you wish to, you can have new posts delivered to your inbox via the 'subscribe by email' button in the sidebar. 

Lips So Facto has a dedicated Facebook page where I post links to both new blog posts and Youtube videos. Anyone can write on the wall so it's also a good place for requests or, err, leaving me abuse. Whatever floats your boat. 

Finally you can follow me on Twitter. Alongside riveting updates about the pigeon with the stump leg that I can see out of my window, I also partake in a bit of shameless self promotion and tweet links when I publish new blog posts or videos.

No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter Powder

'OOOOH, PRETTY!' would probably be a more appropriate name for this post, but y'know, I wanted to be professional about things. I fist spotted this on Lipglossiping and it reminded me of the Guerlain Cruel Gardenia and Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous highlighters - except it is only £13. 

The Vital Enlightening Highlighter is part of the new 'Floral Brights' spring collection created with the help of Lisa Eldridge. The shade is a touch more neutral than the swatches I've seen of Guerlain and Laura Mercier, which I personally think makes it more wearable - but still peachy enough to warm the complexion. Blended, which is super easy as the powder is so soft, the effect is quite subtle so perfect for this time of year when your skin needs a bit of a boost.

Available online and in Boots stores - and definitely something to consider if you get a £5 off voucher with your next Boots receipt.

Super Liner

(Swatches L-R: L'Oreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss, L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim, L'Oreal Super Liner Gel Intenza, Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner, Shu Uemura Painting Liner)

L'Oreal have brought out a couple of new liners in their 'Super Liner' range and as a true eyeliner obsessive I thought I would test them out.

First up is the L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim* which comes in pen-style packaging with an easy-to-grip collar. I did notice that the lid comes off very easily, which makes me think it would be prone to drying out, although I haven't had any issues after 3-4 weeks. The nib gives a really sharp, precise line but is still flexible enough not to drag or tug at the skin. The pigmentation is reasonable but the L'Oreal Carbon Gloss (which I love) is better as you can see from the swatches above. It wears all day without any smudging or flaking issues. I can forgive the slightly weaker pigmentation for how easy this is to just grab in the morning - no faffing with a brush and precise lines so it gets a thumbs up from me.

L'Oreal have also brought out a gel liner - L'Oreal Super Liner Gel Intenza*. Both the pigmentation and formula seemed great upon first swatch; intense black and very creamy. However I found it smudged and smeared much more easily than the Maybelline or Shu liners, leaving rather unattractive half-moon prints on my eyelids. I really want to like it as it the packaging, formula on application and pigmentation are impressive but I don't think I could trust it to last all day so would probably give this one a miss (the brush is rubbish too, but you probably didn't need me to tell you that!).

Have you tried either of these eyeliners? What did you think? 

xx

*Both L'Oreal eyeliners provided for review purposes.

Birthday Nails

Barry M 'Peach Melba' and Saffron Gold Hex Glitter

No 'proper' post today as I'm celebrating (or lamenting) my 23rd birthday.

The (fairly unrelated) photo is me, aged five, in floral denim suit. Thanks Mum. That said it would probably be considered quite on-trend now!

Thank you for reading my little blog, it has really been a highlight of my 22nd year.

Meg. 

xx

Makeup Starter Kit

The giveaway is now CLOSED! 

Swatches and a closer look (from my own products...obviously!) -

Melba, Melba.

(MAC Melba, Natural Collection Peach Melba)

Two of my favourite everyday blushes are MAC's Melba and Natural Collection Peach Melba. Similar names, very different price tags. MAC blushes weigh in at £17.50 and Natural Collection blushes cost just £1.99, so I thought I'd compare them side by side. 

In the pan, they look very similar but the slightly more orange lean of the MAC blush becomes more evident when swatched. MAC Melba is slightly silkier and more pigmented compared to the Natural Collection, which is a touch chalky (but still a beautiful colour!).

Natural Collection Peach Melba isn't an exact dupe for Melba, but still great quality and absolutely worth the £1.99 price tag!

xx

NARS Douceur - Instant Model Cheekbones?

The newest addition to my blush collection is NARS Douceur. My (rubbish) French tells me 'douceur' translates as 'softness' or 'tenderness', but it always is the quiet ones, isn't it?!

Swatched, it really doesn't look like much at all. In fact it's barely visible on my skin and, whilst doesn't necessarily lack pigmentation, it is less pigmented than my two other NARS blushes (Sin and Orgasm). This probably means it would be relatively useless for skin tones darker than MAC NC40.

What it does have, however, is a transformative quality that I haven't come across in any other blush. When applied to the skin the dusty pink appears to subtly change across the contours of the face; more brown in any areas of shadow and more pink on the cheeks. I have a veritable moon-face but when I stepped back from the mirror my cheekbones looked more naturally sculpted than they have from any contour/highlight combo I've tried - which is quite nice if your self esteem is taking a battering from all the photos of razor sharp cheekbones at London Fashion Week. It's technically a matte blush but as you can see from the swatch, like most of the NARS blushes, it seems to let the skin's natural sheen show through.

It's a mysterious beast, but worth every penny of the *gulp* £21 RRP. Available from NARS counters and online - I bought mine from House of Fraser.

What's in my bag?

'What's in My Bag?' is probably one of the most popular Youtube tag videos. I think we're all just a bit nosey, and/or comforted that other people carry around as much random junk as we do. Personally I think the contents often say a lot about their owner too...

So here we go. My first ever Youtube video, remade. I actually got an email from Youtube confirming my partnership just after I filmed it. It seemed quite fitting! As the info box of this video says, if you follow my Youtube channel too - thank you, so much, for subscribing, commenting and liking my videos over the last 10 months.

And lord knows what my bag is saying about me!

Have a lovely weekend.

xx

Moo!

Before I went to my first blogger event (not so long ago), I thought it was really bizarre that bloggers were having business cards printed. I mean, surely the clue is in the name...'business'. 

However, once you've had to spell out your URL numerous times - 'double U, double U, double U, dot...'...'no, two S's' - or write your blog name on the back of a receipt (eek) it makes perfect sense to keep a couple of printed cards in your bag. And they're a bit swanky looking too.

I heard that moo.com offered ten free sample cards with free postage, the only catch being the tiny bit of branding on the bottom left corner, so thought I would test them out. I was pleasantly surprised! I'll admit I'm a bit of a stationery snob and of course I'd love some bespoke letterpress cards, but I can't justify the price so these will do nicely. For anyone interested, I opted for the Green 100% recycled card which would cost a couple of pounds more if I place an order - which I probably will. You can have a different design on each card for no extra cost but I prefer a bit more simplicity and consistency. 

You can order samples at moo.com.

Neom Luxury Organics: Happiness and Inspiration

A week or so ago I went to a Neom Organics event with Estée (I say event but it was more like sitting in someone's swish yet cosy and beautifully fragranced dining room), where we had an opportunity to have an in-depth chat with Nicola, the lady behind Neom Organics. She was refreshingly open about the trials and tribulations of starting up your own business (whilst having young children!) and explained, in particular, the difficulty of producing totally organic scents for Neom's products.  

The two newly launched fragrances feature fresher, 'grassier' notes: 

Happiness White Neroli, Mimosa & Lemon 'A sparkling blend of White Neroli, Mimosa and Lemon is combined with natural fresh grass notes to create the awakening of spring.' 

Inspiration Violet, Chamomile & Cedarwood 'A light and pretty scent that will make you feel inspired, confident and motivated.' 

However, as Nicola explained, the natural extract of grass doesn't actually smell very grassy at all. So instead the green notes of the new fragrances are created from complex combinations of other natural extracts, such as the stem of an iris. This dedication to the finished product is evident right through to the little quotes hidden in the packaging (which is beautifully simple and not at all ceded to its eco credentials). Even the reed diffusers, which I'll admit I don't usually 'get', look elegant.

The girls at Neom kindly gave us a goodie bag containing the 'Inspiration' Reed Diffuser and 'Happiness' Candle - it was if they'd read my procrastinating, jaded post-grad mind! Clearly I broke a beauty blogger 'rule' and used a product without taking any photos of it beforehand. In fact I've used it quite a lot when you consider that the candle is pure vegetable wax (soot-free!) with a burn time of 50 hours! Both products smell incredible and it is difficult to explain quite how they fill a room, or several rooms, without ever feeling overpowering. They have an authenticity and depth of scent that I'm yet to find in any other home fragrance.

I'm an absolute convert, in particular to the joys of a soothing, soot-free candle in a room with a sloping ceiling - but also to a brand which seems to be really trying to show that 'organic' doesn't necessarily mean a sacrifice of luxury, fragrance or aesthetics.

'Happiness' Home Candle, £37.50, 'Inspiration' Organic Reed Diffuser, launching soon, both available from www.neomorganics.com.

*Candle and Reed Diffuser provided for consideration - all opinions my own, as always!

The Hunt for the Perfect Contour

When I mentioned the NYX Taupe powder blush in my IMATS post, I made a passing reference to it in comparison to MAC's Harmony powder blush (which is also a great contour colour for paler skin). So I thought I would do a comparative post of the two.

However when I got around to swatching them next to each other I realised they aren't very similar at all. To see just how dissimilar I pulled out every shade I've ever used for contouring (as you do) and thought the results might be helpful if you're hunting for a contour colour.

 (NYX Powder Blush in Taupe, MAC Powder Blush in Harmony, NARS Laguna Bronzer)

NYX Taupe looks very mauve-y indeed when swatched here, but it really is a gorgeous subtle contour colour on paler skin. The powder is silky and pigmented but still easy to work with. In the centre is MAC Harmony blush which is obviously more orange toned but still looks natural when blended. It's more pigmented than the NYX blush so does require a bit more buffing but the finish is great and it lasts for ages. On the right is NARS Laguna Bronzer; something of a cult product and not one I often reach for when contouring due to the tiny golden flecks. I do find it gives a really natural looking contour, however, when used with just a gentle wash on the temples and under the cheek bones.

 (Benefit Hoola, Sleek Light Contour Kit, Bourjois Delice de Poudre 51, Chanel Bronze Universal)

I've got a bit of a soft spot for Benefit Hoola Bronzer despite the inflated prices and crap cardboard packaging. It's a fantastic matt bronzer and I find the yellowy-tan avoids the 'muddy' look and works well with my skin tone all year round. The Sleek Contour Kit is also a favourite, if a tiny bit on the orangey side. The powder is soft and blendable unlike my other highstreet/drugstore option, Bourjois Delice de Poudre in 51 (the lightest shade!), which I find quite hard to both pick up on a brush and blend. It has also swatched the most orange of the lot which is probably why I prefer it as a summer bronzer rather than a multitasking contour shade - even if Lisa Eldridge says it's good! Finally, on the far right, is Chanel Bronze Universal (or Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base if you prefer). This looks a tiny bit orange in the swatch but, as the only cream product shown, it's so easy to blend out that the final colour is much more neutral. It's another one that I think I will get more use from in summer but it is definitely workable as a contour on paler skin (as demonstrated in this video by Estée!).

What do you use for contouring? Have you tried any of the above?

xx

Excuse my hairy looking arms. It's just peach fuzz, honest - but then I'm a beauty blogger what do you expect?! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Quick!

It seems they're already out of stock now, sorry if you missed it!

If you're a NARS Sheer Glow or Sheer Matte fan but haven't managed to get your hands on a pump (which the foundation, irritatingly, doesn't come with) then hurry on to the Space NK website where they are currently offering free shipping until 13th February. 

I've been hunting for one for absolutely ages but they're like hen's teeth in stores and I haven't been able to justify the £5+ shipping from NARS or Space NK. I managed to dodge the other temptations on the site and my order came to a grand total of £3. Result!

xx

(Well obviously it would be nice if the foundation came with one...but y'know.)

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic

(Creepy eye photos: before and after with one coat.)

I've heard people rave about the L'Oreal Telescopic mascara before but I never gave it a chance because, as a rule, I'm not a fan of plastic brushes. 

The newest addition, pictured above, is the False Lash Telescopic* mascara which L'Oreal claim contains '1.2mm micro fibres' to build length and volume. The press release features some relatively retouch and lash insert free images of Cheryl Cole which I found incredibly refreshing and it actually performed very well indeed. I think the length was most impressive; the ends of my lashes are blonde so any black mascara makes a noticeable difference, but the False Lash Telescopic mascara made them look very fluttery indeed. Unfortunately it doesn't hold a curl very well, which is a shame as the extra length can make your lashes look a little droopy after a few hours. 

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic is in pharmacies now. RRP £10.99.

*PR sample.

Handbag Essentials: Vol. 3

Origins Peace of Mind On-the-spot Relief  Origins original stress-buster. When the world closes in on you and your head feels a size too small, apply just two dabs and you'll feel a tingling sensation as pressure, tension and tightness begin to melt away.

Before I sing its praises, a couple of things to note:

- I'm a certified 'alternative therapy' sceptic.

- If you suffer from panic attacks (in my experience) this won't necessarily prevent them. It is, however, brilliant for helping to prevent mild to moderate anxiety from escalating.

Some time last year, in the depths of despair about my final year at University, I happened to pass an Origins counter and noticed this little green bottle. The sales assistant explained to me that it was an aromatherapy 'de-stresser' (at which point I probably rolled my eyes) and told me to rub a dab between my fingers and inhale. To my surprise the effect was instantly refreshing and relaxing, like a gust of fresh air had just wafted through my head. 

I decided to take a gamble on it, needless to say I'm glad I did. I'm terrible about getting myself worked up, trying to think about one hundred things at once until I can't even see straight anymore. I'm also prone to anxiety at really inconvenient moments - like when my head is pressed against somebody's armpit on a packed tube. In both instances I always reach for Origins Peace of Mind On-the-spot Relief. It is a quick absorbing, powerfully scented white lotion and the fragrance is predominantly spearmint with the addition of some more complex notes. 

There are a couple of ways to use this, either simply by rubbing it between your fingers and inhaling or alternatively massaging it into your temples and the back of your neck. The smell lingers for a good twenty minutes and I find catching whiffs of it over that time period helps remind me to chill out. The minty scent is also pretty good at pepping you up in the afternoon if you feel like you're fading.

It is £11 for 15ml (I know, right?) but I honestly won't be without this in my handbag.

*Bought by me and, believe it or not, Origins did not sponsor this post!

Glossybox: The Valentine's Edition

Ok, Ok. I know I promised not to mention Valentine's day again, but the lovely girls at Glossybox took me by surprise with the January box...which happens to be themed.

Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Emerald Green 

Glossybox say: Get a handle on your eyeliner for precise definition and intense colour with a long-lasting finish.

I say: I'm not a fan of Eyeko's rebranding and price-hike and I think the fact the brand turned up in both this month's Glossybox and Carmine box, says more about Eyeko than the beauty box companies. I recieved the 'Emerald Green' shade which I'm unlikely to use but the pencil is quite soft and applies nicely - it also withstood quite a lot when I tried to remove the swatch.

Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream and Night Cream

Glossybox say: Infusing skin with firming benefits that are immediate and long-lasting.

I say: I was really excited to see Clarins included in the box this month, as it is one of the few skincare brands that has never caused a break out (clearly my skin has expensive taste) and never fails to feel 'luxury'. I can see how these are effective for firming as they made my skin feel quite tight - unfortunately I was expecting the Night Cream to be a lot more moisturising but my normal to combination skin was left feeling quite dry so I will be sticking with Clarins' amazing Hydraquench range. 

FAB Gentle Body Wash

Glossybox say: A moisturising, irritant free everyday cleanser ideal for even the most sensitive skin.

I say: I copied the above from the info card...but the contents are actually a Body Moisturiser, not a wash. I do have rather a lot of body moisturiser samples from various beauty sample boxes so I'll admit to a bit of an eye roll when I spotted this, but it's actually really quite lovely and the sort of moisturiser I would use on a daily basis. It's appears to be unscented, which is great if you're layering your own perfume over the top, it's paraben free and sinks in quickly to leave a soft but non-greasy feel.

Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting primer - Dewy finish

Glossybox say: Oil-free primer ignites a radiant glow, powered by light enhancing minerals.

I say: Firstly, I love that this came in a little pump bottle rather than a sachet or similar, it feels pretty ritzy! It's nice to see a 'dewy finish' primer on the market but to be honest when I applied this I didn't notice much of a difference. Perhaps my skin type needs a more silicone heavy primer for noticeable effects but this isn't worth the £29 RRP to me.

Final thoughts:

• Glossybox's Valentine's themed box is quite luxury-brand-heavy (though none of the products really continuing the Valentine's theme...imagine a little sample of Agent Provocateur body cream instead?!), which is always nice. Unfortunately none of the products really wowed me - with the exception of the FAB body moisturiser. FAB aren't a brand I've come across before, so for me that's the whole point of a beauty sample box in action.

Glossyboxes cost £10 plus £2.95 P&P per box.

Glossybox provided me with this month's box for consideration. All options are my own. 

January Favourites

I didn't use many products in January, the first half of the month I was ill and pretty much chained to my laptop writing essays, and the second half I was catching up on work for my MA. So I've pretty much just reached for my most reliable, faff-free products.

The Blink + Go mascara* came in the December Glossybox and, whilst it is absolute swine to remove, it holds the curl of your lashes brilliantly - which is great when I'm not sporting my usual winged liner. I also love the brush shape and size as it allows me to coat the smallest lashes and blonde tips of my eyelashes without ending up with panda eyes.

I started using my Louise Young LY34 again in between washing my Sephora Mineral Powder brush and I've been reaching for it ever since. It's just so soft, which is great as my skin has been a little bit sore from being ill, and it never leaves brush strokes. The Sigma E45 Tapered blending brush is a newer acquisition but really great for blending out crease colours and I've not had any problems with shedding so far.

One of my favourite blushes in January was Rimmel's powder blush in Pink Rose, which is something of an unsung hero as it's very affordable but has the silky texture of a more expensive blush. It gives a really nice healthy flush and slight sheen. There is a post on the Narciso Rodriguez perfume here, on the Sleek Pout Polish here or you can see this post in video form here.

xx

*Blink and Go mascara was from the December 2011 Glossybox which was provided for review.