What’s In My Makeup Bag – The one I keep at my boyfriend’s house

As I mentioned in my 5 Minute Makeup post on the weekend, I keep a very limited bag of goodies at my boyfriend’s house. This little bag of tricks needs to cover pretty much any situation as it’s highly improbable that I’m going to get any warning or notice of what we’re up to at the weekends. Add to that my hatred of constantly carrying my life in a bag everywhere so this little collection is it! Let me list it out for you…

• Gosh anti ageing primer – mmm, I’m not in love with this and won’t repurchase. I find it a little greasy.
• Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid Foundation – I’ve already done a rave review on this one!
• A random concealer. It had to be one that did under eyes as well as anything else I need to cover up as and when
• Eyelash curlers
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural – I love this stuff! I want to get all the colours for my kit!
• A fluffy brush – I use this for putting on my powder as well as my cheek colour
• An ELF C brush – this is such a multi tasking treasure of a brush!
• 2True pink cheek and lip tint. I suspect this will never run out. You only need a tiny bit for a pretty glow!
• Benefit Ten – this is one of their “beauty powders”. It’s half pretty pink and half bronzer. I use it as an all over and crease eye colour combo as well as bronzer, cheek colour and general everything product.
• Bourjois 1001 Lashes Mascara – this has a brush similar to the Dior Show mascara wand
• BeautyUK 4 eyeshadow palette – This is packed with ten neutral eye colours ranging from black and white, grey, bronze and khaki. It’s pretty fab for being able to create a look that will go anywhere.
• Armani Lip Shimmer in 59 – this was from the Man Ray collection. So pretty and greige tastic.
• Rouge Bunny Rouge Black Eyeliner pencil
• Lush The Olive Branch solid perfume – I love this smell!
• 2True black glitter eyeliner – you never know when you’ll need a little sparkle to zush up a look!

Do you have a back up makeup bag like this that needs to cover and all eventualities in life? What do you keep? I’d love to know!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

FOTD - running super late to leave for a meeting!

Argh! So I have a couple of meetings today where I need to be taken fairly seriously. My least favourite kind of meeting. Add to that my incredible ability to faff around at home doing laundry and the fact that it's baking outside. I had about three minutes to throw a face and shoes on then run to the station.







I'm not sure why I look so grumpy! Maybe because this train doesn't have air conditioning?! Anyway, I have on my bareMinerals foundation, Benefit It Stick, ELF mineral shadow in natural, Lancome Flextencils mascara and ELF lip gloss in Ruby Slipper. I put a little of the gloss on my cheeks as well just to balance things out a bit.






The look is pretty much what I'm after. Heat proof, natural and polished.
I hope you like!
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Quick Everyday Look Using Collection 2000 Palette

I REALLY need to stop making videos without my contact lenses in!!! As you can see in this video I’m not only squinting the whole time, but I also can’t see how much product I’m putting on my eyes! Forgive the complete uneveness of application! Please! But no matter how strong or toned down you want your look to be the Laura Mercier Angled Eye Colour Brush is a fantastic way to get perfect positioning for your crease and outer corner colour.

I really like the little Collection 2000 Angelic palette. It’s got a great little collection of colours and they’re easy to apply with a decent lasting power. Defly worth the few pounds it costs to pick one up at Superdrug!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Whiskers on Kittens and Brown Paper Packages…

I thought I’d do another little shout out today about my three fave blogs of the moment.

Katy is being a big, giant show off with her lovely tan from her recent Grecian vacation and telling us how she manages to look all gorgeous and tanned while she’s there.

Laura has 5 seriously interesting facts about the life of Michael Jackson a year on from his super sad passing.

Caroline has a post about supplements that every girl needs to read and take note of. I’ve added everything on the list to my shopping list for tomorrow.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Shredding “Progress”

Having just spent a week in Cornwall the Shredding has come to a bit of a standstill. I ate my own body weight in cream tea! Yummmmm!!! We did a couple hours of kayaking and more hours than I can count on stunning coastal walks thanks to the National Trust trails. There are LOADS of pics on my facebook page of all the gorgeous scenery! I did wear my MBT’s at every opportunity and they definitely make a difference! You can really feel the burn! Even after a day meandering around the Eden Project my legs were beyond tired when we finally got back to the cottage!

There were scales in our bathroom while we were away! Argh! I don’t weigh myself for a very good reason! It brings out way too many unattractive and obsessive neuroses! It was quite inspiring to try and shred loads more now I’m back!

So I’m on my way back to my own house today and I shall be shredding before I go to bed tonight. Back to it!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Notd - Barry m cyan blue

I'm wearing a really bright dress today so thought I'd go technicolour with my nails as well. This is just one coat!

Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

5 Minute Makeup

Hi,

I’m back from Cornwall and I’m feeling all better after being struck down by some vile bug right before we left! Argh!

I missed blogging so much while we were away! Is that tres sad!??? The internet connection and phone signal out there were awful so it was just a lost cause!

So here is a little video on how I do my makeup really quickly using the little bag of products I keep at my boyf’s house. I hope you enjoy!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Interruption to Normal Programming

(pic from therowes.wordpress.com/)

Le Salon De Beaute is feeling under the weather. Normal services will resume as soon as I’m better. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later!

Kisses, (without passing on any germs)

Rebecca xxx

Tried and Tested - Andrew Collinge Shampoo and Conditioner Review

This review is so overdue!

When I was at the Andrew Collinge blogger event a while back I was very very generously given some products to try and review. Andrew actually chose our products for us individually as well!

My hair is very fine and flat. It also tends to dry out very quickly. Keeping that in mind he let me try out his Purity Volume shampoo and conditioner as well as his Salon Moisturise and Protect shampoo and conditioner. I’ve been alternating these every time I wash and I’ve never had so many compliments on my hair! Superdrug is running an offer on these at the moment and you can buy any 2 products for just £7! Usually the Salon system is £4.99 a bottle for 500ml. Not bad, eh!?

I have to admit that my favourite days are when I use the Salon products. My hair feels extra “swingy” those days and the shine is terrific! Did I mention that these are the products that are actually used in the Andrew Collinge salons when you go get your hair done there as well? This isn’t just some cheapie diffusion brand for the masses. This is what AC himself would use on a celebrity client!!!!!

I do love the Purity range as well. There is no denying that my hair has had extra lift and volume since I’ve been using it. The smell is beyond divine as well! These are a more natural product. They don’t have any artificial colours or fragrances in them. I did notice that one of the first ingredients on the bottle was the old SLS but you know what, it’s also the first ingredient on the list of my boyfriend’s prescription shampoo for his incredibly uber sensitive skin! I’m starting to question how evil SLS is as an ingredient these days. My scalp hasn’t itched once since I’ve been using these products and I’ve really been putting them through their paces.

Yet another product that will go on my repurchase list and that I’ll recommend to all my friends and family.

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Don’t Be Confused!

This is NOT me!!! I PROMISE! :)

 

(click on the pic to go to the link)

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Shred – Day 5

I did my 5th Shred last night. I’m having to give it a skip again today I’m afraid. I have a really special dinner at Coq d’Argent tonight with my boyfriend and I just couldn’t get up at 5.15 this morning to fit it in.

I’m finding it a lot easier now! I’ve got a couple bottles of water that I’m using for weights instead of my 2kg heavy free weights. This is much more in line with what is recommended. It’s not hurting much and I’m flying through all the cardio.

My back and knee still struggle a bit but they’ll never not be a problem really. I’m hoping all this work will help to strengthen the muscles around these problem areas so they give me less trouble.

I noticed this morning that whilst I feel like I’m really toning up, my clothes are actually feeling a little tighter. Do you ever find this when you start training after a break or go to a different kind of training? Is it the build up of lactic acid that needs to break down? It’s something I’ve definitely experienced before but then within a month I notice a lot of shrinking really quickly. I hope it hurries up! I’m not enjoying this feeling at all! I’m wearing a dress today that is usually a pretty sure thing for if I’m going out but need to look nice in the day as well. I just don’t feel like it’s sitting right at all and is very clingy. Last night I tried on a selection of dresses, all of which I’ve worn over the last few months. Not one of them would get up and over my tushie or zip up! What’s that about?

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Special Requests?

I’m definitely recording a tutorial tonight. And I’m going to try get time to do a few more over the coming days. Let me know if you have any special requests! Otherwise, you’ll just end up with stuff I make up!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

NOTD barbara daly purplelicious

Do you love this as much as I do? It's a lot more vibrant in person. I've only done one coat of colour as well! What makes me love it even more is that it was only £3! Get thee to your nearest tesco asap! Think I might need to get a back up!

Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Shred days 4 and "5"

My legs were killing me on Sunday! I needed a really long lie in then proceeded to sand and paint the outside of my porch with my boyfriend. I was so pleased with myself for managing to shred before bed! It hurt a lot less than Saturday morning's shred!

I'm so disappointed with myself but I skipped yesterday. I was unbelievably exhausted when I got home and my back really isn't happy right now. I'm hoping it's calmed down so I can shred again tonight. I feel like it's really important to keep the momentum up.

Spare a thought for me when I have to get up at 5.15 tomorrow morning to fit it in before I leave for work!!! At the moment I'm feeling as active as this sleeping snail I saw on the weekend!!!

Kisses,
Rebecca xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I’m Guest Posting over at Latest In Beauty Today

 

I love this website! Check out the blog and then take a look around the rest of the site!

Guest post is here

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Tried and Tested – Maybelline Dream Satin Foundation

This is another one of those drugstore foundations I bought ages ago that I intended to review for you. Better late then never! And I’ve been using all of these for ages so they’re all uber tested!

This one has probably resulted in the most compliments for me I think. I’ve been wearing it over Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (more on that in another post) and under a translucent powder. In the mornings at the moment I don’t have time for much so I forego concealer and I’ve been putting it on with my fingers instead of my usual sponge technique.

Friends, people that come to me when I’m working on a makeup counter and colleagues have all told me how lovely my skin looks and that it hardly looks like I’m wearing foundation at all. I love the smooth finish and it makes my skin look super clear. Would it be weird if I wanted to use the word “crisp”? It just looks so fresh! The combination of foundation and translucent powder lightly applied with a brush gives it an almost ethereal appearance.

Dream Satin doesn’t have that icky feeling that a lot of drugstore foundations have. I don’t feel like I’m wearing anything at all and it’s pretty good at not coming off on your collar and all that sort of nasty stuff.

This foundation definitely gets the double thumbs up from me and I’ll happily repurchase it in the future! You can get yours here!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Shredding - days 2 & 3

I've managed to do the shred 3 days in a row now! I'm starting to think I can actually make it through this 30 day challenge I've set myself.

So after the first workout I mentioned how it didn't seem as hard as a lot of other workouts I'd tried in the past. I was starting to worry yesterday as I didn't wake up in any pain at all. Going down some stairs in the tube my legs felt a little tight but that was it.

Till I was on the journey home anyway!!! I finally started to feel all that muscle fatigue! And right in time for me to do yesterday's shred! It was hurting a little during the workout but not as much as I thought. I did the workout really late and the thought had crossed my mind to skip it but I'm glad I didn't.

It was this morning that the pain kicked in! And it was really hard on my legs the whole tome but the 20 minutes goes really quickly! I'm on a train right now and my legs are so tired!

Here is a little pic of how I looked post workout this morning. Sorry my head is cut off! I need to get this mirror hung! Do you think you're going to try the shred?

Kisses,
Rebecca xxx






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Maybelline Pure Liquid Mineral Foundation, Mmmm Not So Much...

I've been using this for a while now. When I say a while, I'm talking a long time. I bought a bunch of drugstore foundations ages ago with the intention of trying them out and reporting back to you. I'm only just getting around to it now. But at least you know that they're all really well tested!!!

I'm going to start out with this liquid mineral foundation from Mabelline. I keep it at my boyfriend's house as part of the miniscule makeup kit I keep there. I really do just have to throw it out and take another one over. I've tried it with a few different moisturiser, with and without primer, with and without powder. I keep having the same problem. It makes my face really oily and greasy. To the point where the hair around my face looks downright dirty by the end of the day.

On the upside it has really nice coverage. I love how I look when I walk out the door in the morning! I layer it with a lquid cheek tint and some MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (I LOVE these!). It looks so pretty. But within a couple of hours it's moving down my face at an alarming rate and it feels like BP has taken up residence on my skin. 

The package is nice. It's a glass bottle with a pump on the top. The label does fade away really quickly even without much travelling but that's not so bad. If only it weren't for this greasy situation it would be a product I'd love.

Oh well. Onto the next one!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx 

I’m Shredding

So it’s summer time and I’m completely and utterly out of shape! For a million different reasons and I can give you every excuse under the sun but the fact remains, I don’t fit into most of my clothes still.

I spent last year on medication that, along with a bunch of other side effects, caused me to gain some seriously unbelievable weight. I decided to stop taking it for a bunch of reasons at the end of last year. A good chunk of the weight slowly came off but it’s come to the point now where I have to start putting some serious effort in.

I’ve always been a gym bunny. I love to work out. Working out doesn’t always love me back. I have a knee that never ever doesn’t ache and frequently gives out on me, my back doesn’t even move in some places it’s so injured and fused! But I’m addicted. My fiduciary restrictions since buying a house mean that I’ve had to try be a bit more creative on the working out front. As does the fact that I live half the time in my house and half the time at my boyfriend’s place a couple hours away from mine.

I’ve heard a lot about this shredding business. Today I felt inspired to ask the twittersphere what the deal was. When I found out it was only 20 minutes I was pretty excited! I’m one of the most time starved people I know! I spend around 3-4 hours a day travelling to and from home alone! Gemma assured me it was brilliant and that she’s starting the shred up again next week so I didn’t need too much more convincing. I’m ever so easily lead!

Now I haven’t done a proper workout in a very very long time. Especially in light of the fact that my back literally froze up on me not long ago whilst putting on a pair of tights one morning! But I was kind of excited about it so I came home after a truly glamorous haircut, did this to it… and proceeded to jump around for 20 minutes.

Ehm, why was I so scared? I read all these reviews saying it was a “kickbutt” workout even for the experienced and practiced. I was petrified! I’m not saying it was a walk in the park but it really wasn’t the most difficult workout I’ve ever done! (at one point in Oz I’d do two hours of bootcamp before work, an hour with a trainer at lunch time and then do spin, yoga or boxing five days a week for six months straight – i told you, i like working out!)

This is me straight after my workout. I’m not proud of this figure but I figure to properly track progress I’m going to have to show it to you in all it’s unglamorous glory. I’m going to see if I can do this 20 minute workout every day for 30 days and find out what it can do to the shape of of my body! Watch this space!

Have you tried the Shred? What did you think?

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Oooh!!!!

I'm on the train! Www.bigfashionista.blog.co.uk inspired me and now I've got one of those fancy iPhone apps so I can blog on the go!!! Woohoo! Watch this space!!!



Kisses,
Rebecca xxx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

For Me, Happiness Is...

Have you seen Get Lippie's latest giveaway? Well, it's pretty amazing and all we need to do is write a blog post or send her an email talking all about what makes you happy.

I know you're expecting me to say that it's something cosmetics related. Or for those of you tht know me in person you'll probably think I'm going to talk about cute, furry animals. But I have a secret little surprise for you!

Don't get me wrong, THIS makes me swoon!

As does this!
 
But the things that my heart truly leap for joy are the following...
 

• walking along the streets of London around at the very very early stages of the Christmas season wrapped up all warm and cosy just after dark all on my own. For some reason it makes me feel like I'm in a Christmas film or something! Even if it's raining! When it's that misty rain all the lights look so pretty! In fact, walking the streets of London in no particular hurry, passing the landmarks makes me pinch myself frequently! I still can't believe I just up and moved over here on my own!
•  Ok, I guess this falls in the cute and furry category. But most of you know I have two cats, Precious and Pouncer. They're there for me through thick and thin and I love them. It makes me beyond happy when I see them doingwhatever they're doing and watching their little faces as they think "Where is Mummy? I'm going to go get a scratch &/or cuddle from her right now" and then they come over and do just that. And no, it's generally not food related, ifthat's what you're thinking! It amazes me every time that with all their free will they still want to hang out with me!!!
• Routine. Weird but true! When I have a little routine of pre-packed lunch, healthy breakfast, eating plans I'm so happy! Yes, given the chance I'm a food nazi. I don't care what you say! I enjoy it! I also enjoy going to the gym at the same time every day and having specific workouts to do! I MISS the gym! I cna't wait to beliving back in town again and belinging to a new one I love!
• Avert your eyes now if you can't abide soppiness. My boyfriend pretty much always holds my hand whenever we're out. Even at dinner while we're waiting to be served, etc. I LOVE it! I'venever had a boyfriend before that does that and he manages to make me feel like the most gorgeous girl in the world! He looks at me like I've got ten heads if I say I'm having a fat/ugly/bad clothes day and clearly just can't get his head around it! A-mazing! He does make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

I hope you enjoyed another little insight into the life of LSDB. Leave me a comment if you decide to do one of these posts as well so I can link it back to this! I'd love to read what makes you happy as well!

Kisses,

Rebecca

Guest Post!

Hi!

I'm over at lookfantastic today! Please check it out and let me know what you think!

I should also mention that they have an A-mazing sale on at the moment as well!!!!!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Nature Walk Photo Shoot

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I was approached to do an outdoor photo shoot with Hayley K. I didn’t realise it would actually be a proper nature walk! The model and I were dragging our cases on a super hot Sunday between Highgate and Finsbury Park.

We all met up by the tube and went to a local cafe where we had a snack and a cold drink while I did Chloe’s makeup at the table!

I think we got some lovely pics though. I’m impressed with how Hayley managed to not get any of the five million little green aphids that insisted upon sitting on us all day! Ewwww!

I loved the dark lip colour I mixed up using a Barry M cerise coloured lipstick and some dark MAC lip mix.

Let me know what you think!!!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Whiskers on Kittens & Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String…

I thought you might like to see some of my favourite tings from the last week! When I say “things”, I’m not actually talking about cosmetics this time! These are the blogs that I read no matter how tired or busy I am!!!

Laura has been showing off her adorable dog again and her bargainista shopping skills with some really amazing dresses from Matalan… www.sofarsochic.co.uk.

As usual the divine Ms H has the heads up on the most amazing news in the cosmetics world. This time she’s done it with a SPACE NK SALE! (Hides credit cards from self immediately) http://beautymouth.blogspot.com/.

Finally, the girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead, MakeupByKaty has been taking us on a stroll down memory lane with the most amazing montage of teenage hair, makeup and fashion trends from her youth! LOVED it! http://makeupbykaty.blogspot.com/

I hope these keep you as happy as they have me!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

The Lip Combination I'm Loving Right Now

I was rifling through my bag last week looking for a lip colour to wear to a wedding with a dress that I didn't have "the right" makeup for. PANIC!!!!!!!!

I found this at the bottom of my bag and I've been wearing it obsessively ever since! It's Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Nude Pink and Benefit KissYou lip gloss over the top. I adore the colour and texture of the Rimmel lipstick. It's almost a pale watermelon flesh kind of colour. It has just enough shine to it as well. The Benefit lipgloss just smells YUMMMMYYYY!!! Surprisingly, the combo has pretty great lasting power as well! A-mazing!

Do you like? Do you go through these phases with obsessively wearing something you randomly found?

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

Mushed Nails

This is just a quick semi rant about the phenomenon that is the mushed (pronounced mooshed) nails.
It would seem that every time I paint my nails I have the irresistible urge to do stuff that requires my hands. Yesterday I had to do a couple of my nails more than three times because I kept mushing them!
I was wearing Hollywood Gold my Michael Kors for Estee Lauder as I was going to a wedding. My nails looked sooooo pretty but then I ended up just feeling like a hobo because of all the mush marks I couldn’t completely buff out!
Then, while I was on the train, I was trying to get some change out of my purse and another one mushed! Why does nail varnish have to take so long to properly dry? It drives me bananas! Why can’t someone come up with truly proper fast drying nail varnish/drops/some such??? None of the ones around really truly work.
Does anyone else find they can’t sit still long enough after they paint their nails and go through life with permanently mushed nails?
Kisses,
Rebecca

Giveaway Winners - Vaseline mini blog reviews

Hi,

The ten people that were the first to comment have all won a lovely pot of Vaseline Moisture Lock so they can do a mini review on it for me. The pots are getting sent out next week but not all of you have come back to me with your address details!

Don't forget to email me on lesalondebeaute@gmail.com so we can get it sent out asap!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx

MyPure – Kosmea Eighth Wonder Revitalising Serum

Do you ever have one of those products that you didn’t think made much difference but when you stopped using it you really did notice what it was doing for you? I think this is one of those products.

I am a serum-o-phile. I can’t have a skin care regime without it. I’m sure you all know how skin has three layers and that our regular moisturisers work on the top layer of skin. Did you know it’s referred to as the “horny” layer? No, not THAT type of horny! Minds out of the gutter please!!! “Horny” as in like a rhino. It’s already done and dusted. The game is over by the time the cells make their way to that layer and all we can do is soften it up with a decent moisturiser.

And that, my friends, is why I’m obsessed with serums. They get down to the next layer of skin so when the cells do reach the top layer they’re in the best shape they can be.

MyPure sent me this serum to review and I have to say it hasn’t made all that much difference. But, I’m not sure I’ve had enough time with it to see that cell turnover yet and I think if I were to stop using it I’d see a difference in the texture of my skin.

I reluctantly haven’t been using a moisturiser over it at night and I haven’t woken up with an itchy, tight feeling face or anything like that. SO miracles do still happen!

I’m not a fan of the packaging. It’s not terribly pretty but that doesn’t bother me so much. It’s the pump. It has aiming issues! I push it over the cotton pad I use to apply and it never hits the mark! FRUSTRATING!!!!! But that is my only complaint.

To read more about this little Aussie wonder or to order your own, visit this link. Don’t forget to let me know what you think!

Kisses,

Rebecca xxx