Posts from January 2012

Sisley Phyto-Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow, £26.50 from John Lewis

Amanda Graham

I often find bluey-coloured eyeshadows a difficult shade to get right and I usually end up looking like a reject from an Abba tribute band, but this shade looked surprisingly nice and very subtle. It was very silky, went on easily, blended beautifully and looked freshly applied for quite a few hours.

Charlotte Paisley

This gorgeous eye shadow glades on easily and smoothly and lasts the whole day. I used it all across the top lid and along the bottom lash line to add some subtle definition. I love the beautiful, rich brown colour, which I use to produce a natural looking, pretty, brown smokey eye.

Julia Ward

This is a premium brand at a premium price, so you’ve guessed it, I was expecting a premium result. I have been using the colour sky blue which is a gentle grey/blue colour with a slight sparkle to it.

It is very smooth and fine textured and there isn’t any powdery excess. The effect of the first application is a subtle wash of colour with a glowy sheen. It really complemented my brown eyes and made them look brighter and bigger. The colour can be built up but still remains quite subtle.

I found it lasted all day and didn’t crease up. I can imagine this product will last a long time because it is solid and not powdery. It does feel expensive and the colour is great for day time.

Susan Renshaw

At £26.50 this is undoubtedly the most expensive eye shadow I have ever owned. The eye shadow is very silky to the touch, you can feel the luxury of it compared to cheaper crumblier type eye shadows; it feels almost like cream shadow. I combine using my fingers and a brush to apply and both worked equally well. The finish was very pearlescent and shimmery, but in a very elegant way, and you could only see the shimmer effect in certain lights. Stayed on well through the day, didn’t crease and fade was very minimal. Great little eye shadow for a very big price tag. I have used ones half this price that did still have the same staying power and were equally as lovely, so I would say this is a little overpriced and perhaps best saved for special occasions, a bit too expensive for me for every day wear.

Niamh Norton

A beautiful light purple shade which is perfect for spring makeup as pastel colours seem to be all the rage for spring 2012. Nice soft texture and great colour pay-off which lasted really well and blended easily. Quite an expensive price tag for a single eyeshadow but great quality.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Foundation, £28.50 from John Lewis

Amanda Graham

I've been a loyal user of a competitor’s foundation for a number of years now and was pretty confident nothing could beat it. How wrong was I?! This is a lovely, creamy foundation that blended easily to give a really natural look. It covered a couple of blemishes with ease and the result was a really natural looking, even complexion. What more could a girl want?

Charlotte Paisley

I love this foundation; it went on perfectly, leaving my skin looking smooth and flawless. It is light and natural looking and gives you and healthy glow. I will certainly be using this foundation from now on. It can be built up to give a medium to full coverage and lasts all day long.

Julia Ward

Liquid foundation takes me back to my teenage years and memories of badly applied, caked up makeup that leaves smears on my tops. But hey, that was a long time ago and things have moved on. That’s what I told myself as I nervously opened the bottle to try this one out. The foundation is a silky smooth, very fluid texture which glided onto my skin with my fingertips and was easy to apply. A tiny drop, smaller than a pea, was enough to cover my whole face. For such a thin texture it is highly pigmented and gave great coverage, even under my eyes. It evened out my skin tone and set to a velvety matte finish. I really loved the result it gave and I couldn’t feel or see I had make-up on, even close up – UN-BE-LIEVE-ABLE!!!

After a couple of hours my face started to look a little shiny and I got that sinking feeling I’d been deceived and prepared to be disappointed. I reached for the translucent loose powder and dusted some over my face expecting the awful patchy effect from my youth to appear, but amazingly the foundation didn’t cake up at all even though I ended up tediously having to repeat doing this throughout the day.

This product has definitely changed my views on liquid foundation but I think this particular product would work better for someone who doesn’t have oily/combination skin because it wouldn’t stay matte for me.

Susan Renshaw

Fantastic foundation! Over the years I have tried every make of foundation on the market, from £2 bottles off the local market, to £40 high end brands from Selfridges. There always seems to be something that stops me from buying the same one again, it was either too thin, too thick, too scented, too orange, too greasy, too dry, there was always some problem. This foundation however is probably the best one I have come across so far. It is medium coverage with a light texture and smoothes well over the skin without clogging. I normally wear powder over my foundation but with this one I didn’t feel I needed too. It had a nice matte finish that made my skin look younger and fresher. Recommend this highly, fairly pricey at £28.50, but I shall save this for special occasion wear to ensure my skin looks its best.

Niamh Norton

Nice clean scent (I am quite funny about putting anything too strongly scented on my face!!!), the lightest sample was a little too dark for my skin tone but it had a nice light texture that gave a good even coverage that blended easily and worked well on my combination skin, left a nice silky matt finish that lasted all day. I am going to pop along to the Lancome counter to check for my correct colour.

Boots No7 Moisture Drench Golden Rose Lipstick, £10

Charlotte Paisley

This is not a colour I would normally buy for myself, but having tried it I have fallen in love with this beautifully coloured pinky-brown lipstick. It has a shimmer to it, which left my lips looking glossy, and plump. It makes lips feel soft and moisturised and I found it to be quite long lasting.

Susan Renshaw

Great little priced lipstick at just £10, and colour looked lovely, not too dark and not too pale, something I could wear day or night. It is very creamy on application and feels like a lip balm, which is fantastic for me as I suffer very dry lips and cannot wear regular lipsticks without the added moisture. Colour very flattering and girly (right up my street) and would look good on any skin tone. It looks good in the day with a light cover with lip-gloss on top and I wore it for a night out, two coats with lip liner and it gave a much more dramatic look. Lovely lipstick for day or night, will be buying again.

Niamh Norton

Unfortunately the colour isn't a shade I would normally choose as it is doesn't suit my skin tone but the actual product was great, a really moisturising lipstick which is especially good for the winter months, it felt comfortable on and lasted well without having to be re-applied too often throughout the day. I will be checking out the other shades available on counter.

Boots No7 Extreme Length Mascara, £12.50

Amanda Graham

When I first saw the super skinny wand with its ultra short bristles, I have to say I was a little doubtful that this would create "extreme length" lashes but was actually pleasantly surprised. It gave good coverage and definitely did seem to define each lash. The tiny wand was especially good at covering those really small (and awkward) inner and outer lashes - which really helped to give the illusion of a wider set of lashes.

Charlotte Paisley

I really love the brush with this mascara; it coats and separates every lash and you can build it up with absolutely no clumping. It gives beautiful, long lashes that appear extended and fanned out. It’s not great at curling so I would recommend you curl your lashes before applying this mascara.

Julia Ward

The name of this one makes a great claim and I was intrigued to see if it lived up to it. This mascara has a very narrow brush and allowed just the right amount of product on it for application. It glided on easily and separated both my upper and lower lashes and did make them look longer after just one coat. It’s worth waiting a minute for it to dry before applying another coat as I found any sooner and it would make my lashes stick together. The extra coat only seemed to have the effect of darkening my lashes and not increase the length. The colour stays true and the mascara looked natural and stayed put all day. However, it made my lashes feel stiff and brittle which I personally do not like. For me it didn’t live up to its name. It did lengthen my lashes but not extremely. I’d recommend this would be great mascara for a girl just starting out using makeup or someone who doesn’t want their lashes to look dramatic. I say this because it is easy to apply, doesn’t flake off and gives a noticeable but subtle enhancement to the lashes in one coat. It will probably last the full six months too as the brush doesn’t get overloaded making it good value for money.

Susan Renshaw

Look in my makeup drawer (not bag - whole drawer!!) and you will find about 12 mascaras - ones to make lashes longer, others thicker, some promise curls and others false lash effect - the list goes on. This No7 mascara has a fairly thin wand that didn’t hold very much mascara in its bristles, so I felt a little dubious. The brush separated my lashes well and gave them a very natural look. After a second coat they did look somewhat longer, but too subtle for my own personal preference. I like full on thick black ultra noticeable lashes, I love my eyes looking dramatic. This is not what this mascara did. Many girls out there don’t want the look I go for though and are looking for the more ‘natural lash’, so this would suit this band of girlies. Me though, if I wanted natural, I just wouldn’t wear any at all.

Niamh Norton

I wouldn't normally have picked this up on counter as I am not a fan of mascaras with plastic wand applicator, I prefer quite a large brush, however I have to say it did a great job especially when used in a zig zag motion, I liked that I could build it up by adding layers without it clumping and it nicely separated my lashes.

Boots Airbrush Away Primer £19.95

Amanda Graham

As a big fan of No7 products, I was excited to try this - especially as it promises to "magic away signs of ageing". Bring it on...! After applying this very lightweight cream, my foundation did glide on easily afterwards, but unfortunately for me, my signs of ageing were as evident as ever. This is one No7 product I won't be purchasing.

Charlotte Paisley

This light primer creates a great base for makeup. It left my skin feeling fresh and smooth. It reduces the appearance of pores and gives skin a healthy dewy glow. I found it slightly greasy but not too much. This product is good value for money.

Susan Renshaw

Having never used a ‘primer’ before I was not sure what to expect. A primer is not something I have actually considered using before, as my normal make up routine takes long enough before work without any extra potions to add on my face. I was actually quite amazed at how soft it felt when applying to my face, really silky and smooth and left my face feeling lovely and fresh. When I came to apply my foundation is seemed to glide on easier than normal and I couldn’t fault it. The end result is that my face felt and looked a lot more, well- airbrushed!! I never would have believed it had I not tried it. I actually didn’t need my concealer either as my skin looked so even and clean. Fairly pricey at £19.50, but a little went a long way and this tube will last for a good while! I think I am converted to primers, and would recommend this to others.

Niamh Norton

The price tag seems quite high for such a small 30ml tube but you really don't need a lot of product to cover your whole face so it should last quite a while. Fantastic product which spreads / blends easily on application, felt comfortable on my skin and left a nice even finish for my foundation, does a great job of making your skin look better that it actually is.

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Northern women have over-taken the TOWIE set in their love for make-up, according to our beauty survey.

Northern women reveal a penchant for luxury beauty products like Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator from Selfridges, Debenhams, Boots and John Lewis

We asked you to get involved with our Beauty Magic survey and you didn't disappoint. The findings reveal a well-groomed female population with a penchant for luxury products.

A third of you revealed that they like to spend on high-end luxury cosmetics brands, priced at £30 to £100.

And you showed an enormous appetite for cosmetics, with almost a quarter of those polled saying they wore a full-face of make-up every day of their lives – with a third saying they wore a full face on “most days”.

Benefit at Debenhams and Boots

A revolution in Northern grooming

The results have prompted us to wonder if a revolution has taken place in Northern grooming. Said the Centre’s Caroline Aikman: “With the huge success of shows like The Only Way Is Essex and Made in Chelsea, the perception has been that southern ladies are better groomed and more committed to their cosmetics. But what we’ve discovered is that female northerners are every bit as make-up mad as their southern sisters – if not more so!”

Northern women clearly adore their favoured brands, with three quarters of those polled saying they had a “hero product” in their make-up bags that was so effective that it became a staple item they would use permanently.

Bobbi Brown at Selfridges and Debenhams

Mascara is a must-have
When pressed to identify that must-have item, the most popular answer was mascara, with almost two-thirds of the vote. Next up was lipstick (20%) and blusher (13%), with eye-shadow trailing in last place.

A third of women showed they took more than 30 minutes a day in front of the mirror to apply their make-up – while only one percent of those polled admitted they took more than an hour per day to apply their make-up.

And Northern women display excellent hygiene habits when it comes  to the use-by date of their cosmetics, with only 10% admitting they kept make-up for longer than a year. A more careful 62% said they would not keep a cosmetic item for longer than 6 months – the habit recommended by make-up artists which means make-up bags are less likely to harbour harmful bacteria.

Eve Lom at Selfridges

Investing in beauty

The phenomenon of the “lipstick economy” has been quoted as the reason behind increased spend on cosmetics in recent years, as women cheer themselves up with low-cost buys during times of economic strife.

But Caroline adds: “With so many women opting for luxury items on a regular basis, we see this as much more than instant gratification, but instead a continuous and well-educated investment in the way we look and feel.”

Your top picks

No surprise that your favourite brands include leaders like Clarins, Mac Studio, YSL and Benefit – but here's what you told us...

“For me, eye-shadow can do anything. My look is rarely natural, and I love adding colour, glitter, shimmer, smoke and anything that adds drama. There is so much choice in shades and finishes that it’s almost impossible to run out of options.” Shaiza

“Christian Dior Capture Totale is essential for me. It’s helped with my spots and blemishes – and at £65 it lasts for a good six months.” Sajed

“For foundation I use Estee Lauder Double Wear and YSL Radiant Touch Pen – I can’t choose between the two!” Alison

“Mineral Veil by Bare Minerals – a fantastic product that not only sets the make-up, but can be used on its own to give a photo-shopped appearance!” Samantha

“This year I decided I am finally old enough to need a good base on my skin – so after many trials I fell in love with Chanel’s Vitalumiere. It’s so light and refreshing, I can’t live without it now!” Emma

The catwalks are awash with perfect prints, from ethnic and art deco graphics to underwater scenes and vivid florals. Be brave and clash those prints for maximum effect.

Top £35 and pencil skirt £40 from Warehouse.

Per Una dress £75 and shoes £49.50 from Marks & Spencer.

Jacket £55, shirt £28, trousers £30, sunglasses £13 and clutch £35 from River Island.

Black floral jacket, £49 from Dorothy Perkins.

Neon blossom print trouser, £29.99 from New Look.

Pattern skirt £29.99 from H&M.

Palm print t-shirt, £45 from Monsoon (available from March).

Black floral cotton jumpsuit, £35 from Dorothy Perkins.

Preen Edition floral chino, £45 from Debenhams.

Oriental print tunic, £29.99 from New Look.

Multicolour floral print scarf, £12.50 from Bhs.

Wedges from River Island.

By Catrin Bell.

Let summer into your wardrobe early this year with bright shades of yellow, pink, orange and green. We can’t think of a better way to brighten up spring.

Miami kitsch shirt £22.50, bikini £19.50, Per Una skirt £29.50 and necklace £15 all from Marks & Spencer.

By Catrin Bell.

One of our favourite emerging trends for spring is pink. It’s deliciously girly but also looks fresh and bright – just what we need to see us through the last dark days of winter.

This pretty number ticks two trends at once - pink and ladylike. Dress £45 and bag £22.50 from Marks & Spencer.

If you're looking for a way to pep up your work wardrobe for spring, you've found it. Preen Edition colourblock print dress, £65 from Debenhams.

We're loving the very on trend 60s shape of this tutti frutti dress, £55 from Monsoon. (Available from March).

Bodycon isn't going anywhere just yet, update the look with a bold shade of pink. Bodycon dress, £40 from Next.

Weekend slub pocket tee, £20 from John Lewis. The perfect way to introduce a pop of spring colour to your off-duty wardrobe.

Embrace colour in the office with this Preen Edition pink crop drill jacket, £56 from Debenhams.

Trend Watch are loving the pencil skirt trend, particularly this bright number from Jonathan Saunders Edition pink pencil skirt, £40 from Debenhams.

Vibrant and beautiful, this neon pink and white laser cut-out clutch, £15.99 from New Look is too much of a fashion bargain to ignore.

It's never too early to start lusting after sandals, these gorgeous Gisella pink wedges, £80 from Bertie will be joining our holiday wardrobe.

By Catrin Bell.

January means one thing – The Trafford Centre’s annual beauty event. This year the event has a magic theme and we’re set to bring you a spellbinding week of free makeovers, goodies and advice.

Here at Trend Watch we're always looking to create the illusion of perfect skin. We asked Armand Beasley to share his magical skincare tricks and the best products from John Lewis to brighten up our skin.