Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 Review

Not to long ago I blogged about Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Liquid sunblock that makes a great facial sunblock, but as it's winter my skin needs more moisturizing as well as SPF protection. That's when I turn to another Neutrogena product, Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50. Although I always apply a moisturizer after washing my face, I find in the winter a creamy sunblock for my face doesn't go amiss. 

This stuff is great. It's thick and creamy, but blends into my skin well leaving it feeling moist and not greasy. I do have fairly dry skin, so I find this a great alternative to the Ultra Sheer Liquid on days when I need a bit more moisture. It also doesn't feel heavy and works well under makeup. I really can't recommend this stuff enough. My only regret is that it's not easily available in the UK, but it is in the US and retails for $13.99. 

Jill Stuart Illuminance Eyes 08 Dazzling Moon Review and Swatch

When Jill Stuart released 08 Dazzling Moon in the Illuminance Eyes range, I wasn't totally ready to take the dive. Eyeshadow palettes from Jill Stuart are usually in shades of pinks, so anything not pink piques my interest. I did however have a blue/aqua palette from the first eye shadow palette series that I bought because it was blue, but then actually didn't love the colours enough to wear ¬_¬ So when Dazzling Moon came out I wasn't sure if it was a blue palette or a purple palette. I finally made the plunge and I'd say it's a purple-blue palette.

It's definitely more purple than blue. I'd describe the colours from left to right as: 

• cool light purple silver
• cool lilac
• purple blue (yes, it's blue, but is so cool it's almost purple) 
• navy 

I'm really glad I went for this palette. The colours are just lovely and tonnes of sparkle, which I love. Another wonderful product from Jill Stuart. 

How is everyone's Christmas shopping coming along? Feels like December is just flying by! 

Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf Fashion Inspiration: Bows and Hairbands

For those of you who know me, you know my ultimate style icon is the character of Blair Waldorf played by Leighton Meester on the US TV show Gossip Girl. I especially love her preppy looks with big bows and feminine details. She's also never seen in anything other than a dress or skirt. (I think she may have worn trousers like once!). Everything she wears just gels so much with me. I dig the tights, the skirts, the bows, the frills, and even quite a bit of her attitude (should I admit that!?)

If you had to pick one item in the wardrobe that eptimizes Blair Waldorf, it would have to be the head bands (or alice bands). Although we're now on Season 5 and Blair isn't sporting them as often, I still can't get enough of them!

I love her chocolate tresses with those bright hair bands! Nothing looks as striking against her beautiful shiny dark hair as a bright red or white bow and band. Unfortunately, I don't have dark gorgeous hair, but over the last few years have had pale blonde, dirty blonde, bright red, and dark blonde hair shades, and have always looked for colours that contrast with whatever shade I'm sporting. I found that a dark brown hair band looks amazing with pale blonde, and navy with dark blonde, black with red hair, and so on. Of course, that hasn't stopped me from wearing any colour! My personal favs are dark brown, blues, greens, and gold.

Here's some of my stash!

I can't help looking in accessory shops and picking up a headband if I see an ace one! I think they can really finish an outfit giving a polished look with minimal effort.

Still coveting Blair's hair bands? I've found a few places on Etsy that you can get dupes! (All pics below taken from Etsy pics)

 Blair's Bow II $20.00 USD

Pearl Bow Headband $10.00 USD

Gossip Girl Blair Black Velvet Bow Headband $25.00 USD







Now I'm tempted to expand my collection!

Chanel Glossimer 119 Wild Rose and 158 Braise Lip Gloss Review and Swatch

While my moms was visiting, she was kind enough to treat me to a couple of Chanel's levres scintillantes glossimers in the following shades:

• 119 Wild Rose (rose pink with silvery glitter)
• 158 Braise (a dark blue red with gold glitter)

Swatches: Wild Rose on top, Braise on bottom.

I'll admit, I was still a bit sore on missing out on Chanel's holiday release Triomphal, which was a deep true red with red glitter, so went for Braise in an attempt to appease my craving for a red lip gloss. Although Braise looks red in the tube, it was actually fairly sheer and doesn't really give me a bright red on my lips. I couldn't believe it was the same colour! It looked so blue red in the tube, but looked warm on my swatch! My lips are fairly dark, so Braise doesn't add as much as I'd hoped for. I am still pleased with how it looks, but Wild Rose is by far my favourite of the two. Wild Rose is fairly pigmented and looks lovely with my skin tone (if I do say so myself! ^.^) The sparkles also seem to shine more in Wild Rose, and I just love its pigmentation! So lush!

I have to admit to being a massive fan of Chanel lip glosses, ever since I picked up my first, it's been a love affair. They are fairly tacky (i.e. sticky) and have decent staying power. I usually find they last 2-3 hours on me, unless I eat or drink. I often wear them alone and I probably own more of these than any other lip gloss. Don't make me count, it would probably be embarrassing! >_<

What's your favourite lip gloss? 

MAC Fluidline Cream Eyeliner in Blacktrack and Dipdown Review and Swatch

This summer I booked myself a makeup lesson at my local MAC counter. The booking cost £25 but was refundable against purchases, and I picked up my first Fluidline Cream Eyeliner in Blacktrack (on left above). The MAC makeup artist was very helpful and taught me how to do a wonderful smokey eye and of course, introduced me to Fluidline in Blacktrack. As it comes in a little pot, you need an eye liner brush (such as MAC 209), dip in the pot and then just glide on.

I loved Blacktrack (black) so much, I have since picked up Dipdown (on right above, brown). Here are swatches of both: Blacktrack on the left and Dipdown on the right.

They are so opaque and creamy and have staying power. I really do love them. They're really good for doing a thin line or a thick 60s style eye. I don't have any complaints about these. They are so pigmented and lovely, I recommend you try them out if you haven't yet.

Fluidline is available from MAC and retails for £13.50 or $15.00 US. I'm  currently tempted to add Ash Violet to my collection!

Just felt like sharing the manga (Japanese comic) I'm currently reading: Tsumi ni Nureta Futari 罪に濡れたふたり. I picked up the series used from BookOff in Paris. It's about a brother and sister separated as children end up hooking up as young adults without realizing they're related. Eep!  It's an interesting read so far! The first cover is pretty racy, isn't it?

Are you reading anything interesting? Have you tried MAC Fluidline?

You always remember your first... Chanel purchase

I love Chanel packaging. I know it's silly, but my heart just speeds up when I see those lovely black boxes with gold/silver trim that all their makeup comes packaged in. I still remember my first Chanel purchase. It was when I was still in university, and I felt like I should start being a grown-up and wearing makeup. I had recently been shopping with my cousin in NYC, who despite being younger than me, had better sense with makeup. I remember we went up to a makeup counter in a department store and the sales lady told us what colour lipstick would suit us. She said a nude or light brown would look natural but with a bit of colour.

So when I was back in Santa Barbara, I went up to my local Chanel counter and asked for help in selecting a beige, nude lipstick. Chanel Infrarouge lipstick in 25 Beach was the result. I loved this colour. Sadly I don't have a swatch to share with you, as it's since been discontinued (Why, Chanel? WHY?), but you can see some reviews of it here. I wish I had bought more! Well, okay, I do have one left, but it's old and hard. Even so, I can't bear to part with it. I keep looking for its dupe, but have yet to find anything so lovely!

I've been busy this week with the Christmas Show at work. Okay that sounds silly, but it's actually a really big deal. We have 4 shows of sketches, singing, and dancing after work, so that basically means this week I'm like a zombie working all day, then setting up a stage, putting on a show, taking apart a stage and heading home each day this week. Yep, that means like no free time! Since you all can't come watch (thankfully), I'll let Lady Gaga entertain you instead.

Do you remember your first Chanel purchase?

Tabio Tights & Leg Warmers: Shopping at London Westfield Part 4

I might have mentioned that I went shopping at London Westfield last week. Today I want to share some treasures I found at Tabio.

Tabio is a Japanese sock company. They don't just have socks though, they also carry tights, leg warmers, and footsies. Basically if it's a foot-related clothing, Tabio has it.

I first discovered Tabio a couple of years ago at their London Westfield shop. I wandered in, intrigued by all the brightly coloured tights available. When I saw that they had a range of denier from 30 to 210 in so many colours, my heart sang. I love super opaque tights (i.e. 80 denier and above please!) and I hadn't seen a selection like this since I was visiting a friend in Taiwan. Yes, it made sense that Tabio was a Japanese brand. I immediately purchased several pairs, hoping against hope that I would not be disappointed.

Disappointed I was not! Farthest thing from it. Tabio is now my go-to for tights, and I wear a lot of tights! They are super opaque and such high quality. Yes, they are expensive compared to M&S tights, which I also own a tonne of, but I just love these. I always wear Tabio when I have a special event. My favourites are the 110 denier tights, but I have occasionally bought an 80 denier when I needed a colour that wasn't in stock of 110. Needless to say, it's been a love story for me with Tabio.

Also loved the special Christmas shopping bag. I suspect these are actually the same as the ones for the Japanese shops as it reads: ２０１１年、世界中のサンタよ日本に来い or 'In 2011,Santa(s) from around the world, come to Japan'

I managed to snag my first Tabio leg warmers and on sale! I had long admired and ummed and ahhhed about some of these, so I was excited to see them in person and get them for such a great price as £10 each!

I also picked up a pair of 110 denier charcoal gray tights for £20, and Softy 210 denier in dull dark brown for £28. I realize this is a lot to pay for tights, but honestly, I got through tights like no one's business (I wear tights almost every day of the week!) and these are the best I've found. They have one of those wonderful waists that doesn't bunch too much. I mean, ya know when you can see the line where your tights end and your tum-tum bulges? Even when I'm super thin I still can have this problem. Well, these tights don't allow that. You get a smooth seamless transition from your waist and no bulging (well, not *excess* bulging!).

How you tried Tabio?