Beauty Update: Summer Tanning, the Best Concealers

I read recently that Anna Wintour and her "FROW" chums (those frosty faced ladies at the fashion shows) never wear tights, not even in the depths of winter. Well, fair play to them if they can withstand the cold plus endure the upkeep required to keep legs suitable for all-weather exposure.  I find it's enough of a "faff" in the summer to keep my legs in the required state.

Exploring Drew Barrymore's Flower Beauty Range

As you know, I'm very keen to explore make-up intended for young women, often at bargain prices, to see if it works for the more mature woman. Today I'm giving you the lowdown on a range of make-up and skincare from a Hollywood favourite, none of it gifted, so you know you're getting an unbiased report.

My Summer Skincare Routine

Here's my latest beauty round up with no products gifted, so you can be sure you're getting an entirely honest view of them. I'm going to cover my summer skincare routine, two hair heroes, and what I thought of my beauty Easter egg.

Beauty Bonanza and Link Up

Greetings all.  It's been a while since we talked about beauty, so in this bumper post I'm going to show you what happened when I copied a tutorial for a fake eyelash effect, using three products;  share my current routine, and talk about cleansers.

Using a Primer for "Fake Eye Lash" Effect

I mentioned before how I saw a tutorial on creating a natural make up  with just three products by  Katie from Beauty and the Boutique.  I'm still using the blusher.  So when Katie popped up showing how to use three products to get a fake eyelash effect, I was hooked.  I'm forever trying different mascaras, as regular readers will know.

The three products used, above, are a mascara primer from Code Beautiful called Forget Fake Lashes, mascara Back in Black from Lord and Berry, and eyeliner Goddess Pencil from Eye of Horus.

Katie is a makeup artist and a very relatable one.  Here she is, right, giving the spiel, with her friend, also called Katie.

I applied the primer first: it looks like a beige mascara.  The technique is to wiggle it at the base of your lashes and then pull it outwards. It dries instantly.  The mascara has an unprepossessing wand - it's a fairly straight stick - but this style of brush is best suited to wiggling and then using the wand vertically to gussy up the tiny lashes.  Finally, there's the Goddess eye pencil - which looks like a felt tip pen, and is double-ended - which I chose in amethyst.

The eyeliner is applied at the waterline of the top lid.   Hold up the lid and aim the tip at the lashes.  I've found this is a great effect: it fills in the gaps if your lashes are a bit sparse. You can use this without any mascara.

My "after" is at the top of the page.  I certainly have thicker and longer looking lashes, not as good as Katie's, but she probably has 20 years on me. Watch her tutorial here.

I'm now going to see if the eye make-up passes my "Panda test" and for how long. Very few eye products go more than an hour or two. It's probably because I'm a contact lens wearer and my eyes can get a bit watery.

UPDATE: I was amazed that by the end of the day, even after having to manoeuvre a roast dinner in and out of the oven, the eye make-up was still intact. No smudges.  In fact it was quite challenging to remove, took 3 attempts.  I will definitely use this technique when I'm going Out Out, but it's too much of a faff for everyday.  The eyeliner pencil works brilliantly on its, however.

My Current Routine

This is the current line-up of skincare and beauty products that I use most days.  I start with a serum, from Clarins. This has a delicious fresh scent and glides nicely over the skin, disappearing into the skin quickly and giving a glowy base.  I then apply an eye cream - StriVectin Multi Action R&R Eye Cream. I add a couple of drops of Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster to my face cream and neck cream. In the winter, it helps reduce the pallor.

I recently finished the jar of moisturizer I was using so I'm now using up what's left of a Magic Cream from Charlotte Tilbury.  This one takes a lot of beating. It has a rich hyaluronic acid formula so it revives tired dull skin in an instant.  I've nearly finished the expensive Perricone Neuropeptide neck cream, right, which I wrote about here.  It's lasted a long time.  I have some new Prai neck products which I was given for Christmas to use when the jar is empty.

A couple of other products in the line-up: the two round pots are:  a Body Shop blusher in a pretty pink, Marshmallow, that probably suits everyone, and Trinny London's Miracle Blur.

Repeat Buys

In the picture there are three very regular repeat buys. I already mentioned the eye cream, which I'm convinced has diminished slightly the crow's feet lines. I have just re-ordered the foundation, left, Darphin's Melaperfect, which I always buy in bulk because I'm afraid they might discontinue it.  I love this foundation because it hides pigmentation and dark circles better than anything I've tried, without looking too heavy. I'm still using the cheap Pro Base concealer from MUA which I showed you in my post Party Face With Bargain Make Up.

The other repeat buy is Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer.  I keep one in the car and actually look forward to the moment when I apply it, on the way to work. My lips can feel horribly dry and scaly in the winter.  Most balms feel bitty or need reapplying too quickly. This one glides on to create a smooth shiny finish, and lasts a good while. I'm wearing it on its own in the picture at the top.

Cleansers

I have a bit of a backlog of cleansers, after being given a couple for Christmas.  I love to use Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm every morning.  It cleanses very gently and thoroughly and doesn't leave any redness. I have been a fan for several years.  When it's finally used up, I will try the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.  This is a Japanese company and I've heard great things about the cleanser.

In the evening I like to remove makeup with a micellar or cleansing lotion, even though I'm sure that the products don't really remove the makeup - they simply push it round your face!  But it's a throwback to when I was a teen and we all used Anne French cleansing milk - which you can still get.  I'm currently using the Vichy product, which is rich and soothing.  When it's used up I will open the Elemis rose petal cleanser. And then the Caudalie Micellar.  I have enough to last me the entire year.  The Dr Dennis Gross pore cleansing gel is quite a small tube so I'm going to take it when I'm travelling or on holiday.

None of the products featured was gifted - I bough them all.  I've included a shopping guide below to help you find them, and I receive a couple of pence if you click through.  It won't set me up for retirement any time soon!

Which are your favourite cleansers ladies?  Have you used any products by Trinny London? And share your most precious buys of all - the repeats, in the comments.

In the Green: Happy New Year! And #WowOnWednesday

I hope this first day of January 2020 finds you in fine fettle. I've got a mixed pot pourri today, covering Christmas presents, beauty Advent calendars and New Year's resolutions.

One of my presents from Mr Mutton was this green City Poncho from Kettlewell. I find ponchos very useful - they're good as a cardigan substitute indoors and in spring/autumn they're just right when you don't need a coat.

This one is in my favourite kelly green shade. Plus, it's in the sale, although not now in this colour.

I'm wearing it with my old Hush jeans and ankle boots from Sainsbury's (old).
I was given some fabulous beauty and skincare presents, below, including a huge palette of eye shadows by Morphe, the James Charles palette.  (I didn't know either, but he's apparently an "American Internet personality, beauty YouTuber and make-up artist").  I went to town with the green shades in my poncho picture.

I liked my 2019 beauty Advent calendar from Look Fantastic.  I'm not showing all the products - a Neal's Yard hand cream, for example, has already been taken to work. My favourite product was Elemis's Pro-Collagen Marine Cream which I have used before.  It came along at actually the right time:  I'd just finished a jar of moisturizer.  

I find some of the products perfect sizes for travelling. A very luxurious product, which I probably wouldn't buy for myself, was Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist, Rose Gold Limited Edition. Gorgeous.  My stepdaughter had a different Advent calendar, the Space NK one, but her final product was also by Omorovicza. 

New Year's Resolutions

I don't tend to make many resolutions. January is such a dreary month it seems cruel to impose sanctions on one's self. Normally I start the new year determined to shed at least half a stone but I hit my target weight just before Christmas, after a low carb eating regime which started in September after a stay at Grayshott Spa.  I've found it a very easy way of eating, for me, and I've lost 12 pounds in total (just under 6 kg).  I could probably lose another half a stone to look more slender, but no, this would make me look more gaunt and wrinkled, so I take Barbara Cartland's advice: after a certain age, you can keep your body but lose your face. 

I'd like to start yoga again:  last year I did hardly any yoga because I couldn't find classes nearby at times which suited me.  I'm determined to find something on a Saturday or Sunday. It gets more important as we get older to retain flexibility and stretch.

Stand On One Leg

I'm going to stand on one foot more often (!) - for example when cleaning my teeth.  This is great for balance.

And my biggie, as far as exercise is concerned, is to take up the Walk 1000 Mile Challenge.  I attempted this in 2018, as training for the 200 mile Coast to Coast walk, and for the first four months of the year was determined to get out every day. I clocked up around 500 miles traipsing around Cambridge in my lunchtimes at work, and around the local area at home.  Some days I only walked for a mile and a half  (the daily target is 2.73 miles) but anything is better than nothing.

Getting some mileage under my belt will be good for when I join Mr Mutton in the Lake District for a few weekends.  He has set himself the goal of walking all of the Wainwrights in 2020 - that's 214 - and he'll be driving up during the week and staying there, coming back for the weekends. But occasionally I'll go up by train to join him. 

Walk 1000 Miles in 2020

If you want to give the Walk 1000 Miles Challenge a go, there's a thriving community on Facebook and you can get lots of support plus buy badges and other memorabilia at the Walk 1000 Miles website.

Another resolution I have is to organise more weekends and outings with Mr Mutton. He's often a bit resistant to this although he enjoys it once the activity is underway. I've already booked our June summer holiday in Greece and we're seeing Elton John in Liverpool in November, so that'll be a fun weekend away. I have a big birthday this year and need to give it some thought:  a party, dinner, holiday?  It's all to play for.

Now for the return of the #WowOnWednesday link up. This is a great way for bloggers and Instagrammers to find new readers, and for readers of this blog to discover new writers. Next week I will reveal the readers' most clicked, and my favourite post.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Luxurious New Pink Lipsticks from Lisa Eldridge

A few days ago celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge launched her new collection of four new lipsticks in pink shades and they were sold out almost immediately. But not before I got my hands on Love Of My Life and Skyscraper Rose, which came in a limited edition free pouch.

Beauty Update and #WowOnWednesday Link Up

It's been a while since we had a beauty catch up so I thought we'd start with my current routine before moving onto bubble face masks and a great offer from John Lewis.

This concealer really works!

It's sad but true ladies that as we get older, we have more to hide. On our faces. It's not just pesky under eye circles but redness around the nose and pigmentation.

I've used dozens of concealers in my time, starting at age 14 with Rimmel "Hide n Heal" as it was called then.

Most of them start out OK:  there's a degree of coverage, then, over the hours, it all falls apart.  They either disappear or "pill," flaking into your lines and making you look far worse than when you started. But now I've found a real game changer in the world of concealers: Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Away liquid concealer.

Endermolift facial to stimulate collagen production

After a week in Germany at an industry trade event, I was exhausted, dehydrated and feeling the effects of a convenience diet without many fruit and vegetables. So it was a great time to indulge in a special facial courtesy of Sue Ali at her salon Endermospa in Loughton, Essex.

The salon specialises in Endermologie, which is extremely popular in France where there's a salon practically on every high street.  Unlike many treatments, this one is backed by serious scientific studies. Endermologie tackles the connective tissue beneath the skin with a gentle massage machine that has dozens of different protocols.

The Endermolift facial uses the same technology specially adapted for the face. A study showed that it's the only technique in the world capable of stimulating the natural production of hyaluronic acid by an increase of +80%* without the use of injectable sources.

Sounded good to me, particularly as Sue uses the respected SkinCeuticals range in her salon.

The Midas Touch

After a cleanse and exfoliation, Sue put her magic machine to work. The "probe" makes a cute chugging little sound which is quite relaxing, and the treatment tackles different areas. My facial was intended for lifting and firming. Sue explained how the treatment also increases the natural production of collagen as well as elastin in the skin cells.  If you've been having other treatments, it enhances the results of Dermal fillers, Botox and Mesotherapy.  Importantly for me, it reduces the appearance of dark circles and eye bags and smoothes wrinkles. I like the fact it is a 100% natural, non-invasive, non surgical treatment.

Sue is one of the most highly qualified LPG practitioners in the country (LPG is the French company behind Endermologie), holding the Advanced Expert LPG Practitioner Certification.

She regularly takes new training courses and experiments on new technology from LPG as it is developed. Sue  will be bringing a new medical machine to the salon soon which tackles skin pre and post liposuction, in collaboration with cosmetic surgeons.

After the relaxing treatment, a gold colloidal mask was applied - the final Midas touch!

Sue finished off with SkinCeutical's famous CE Ferulic Serum and a moisturizer.

Afterwards I could definitely see the lifting effect, and my skin was glowing.  This is me without any make-up. My jaw line is a little more defined, my eyes are lifted and the dark circles underneath are diminished.

Disclosure: I was given a complimentary facial at Endermospa in Loughton, Essex, but as always my opinions and editorial judgment are my own. 

For More Mutton

Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies (handbags and shoes) on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter. 

It's Time for #WowOnWednesday!

Now folks it's that time of week when fashion and beauty bloggers are invited to share their posts, giving readers the opportunity to discover sites that may be new to them.

Last week's readers' favourite was Maria at Passion Fruit, Paws and Peonies, with her post "What do you wear on cool spring days?" 

The link up will be opening at 12 noon GMT - the new link up tool doesn't allow you to set a time on Chrome so I need to look into this for next week.

Inlinkz Link Party