AW10: Trends that’ll Never Catch On

aw10 trends

We’ve been eagerly previewing the Autumn/Winter launches for the last while, and indeed there’s been lots of soon-to-hit counters loveliness to salivate over. However, every season throws up a couple of unlikely looks – here are two that I suspect none of us will be will be rushing out to try this season…

Seriously morning-after eyes

You can keep your smoky eyeshadow and your sexy smudged eyeliner. Artfully applied, intentionally messy-looking eyes with a graphic edge are where it’s at this season if the catwalks are to be believed. It was stippled black eye make-up a go go on the Chanel A/W Ready To Wear runway, where Peter Philip’s intention was apparently to mimic the smudged print effect featured on shoes and bags in the collection.

Bet he didn’t count on giving me flashbacks to leopard print versions of those press-on eyeshadow strip yokes.

At Jean Paul Gaultier and Zac Posen, it appeared that the make-up artists on duty had taken a fit of sneezing half-way through doing the model’s eyes, with smudged horizontal striped lines of eyeliner radiating out across the crease of the upper lid (and putting in an appearance beneath the eye, too.)

Runway to reality: Don’t cleanse your eye make-up after a heavy night out and you’ll be pretty much all set for the following evening, simply add some random stripes or spots. Could hardly be easier!

Ombre hair

For Spring/Summer, the magazines were full of talk about letting your roots grow out a centimetre or thereabouts for a two-tone effect. Everyone was at it, sure: Alexa and SJP and… well, everyone.

While it was a look that I didn’t really see happening much in real life – and did anybody else wonder if the celebs who were sporting it were just en route to the salon for a touch-up? – it’s going a step further for Autumn/Winter. Ombre hair, where mid-lengths to ends are much lighter than the top couple of inches, is supposedly The Next Big Thing where colour is concerned. Good news if a lack of cash has had you stretching the gap between your highlighting visits, but I can’t imagine that hairdressers are best pleased about this one.

Still, Ashlee Simpson is a fan, so the ombre hair trend is sure to catch on in a big way … right?

Runway to reality: Cancel the highlights for the next couple of months and book yourself a mini-break with the savings. Just send your colourist a postcard to let them know you’re thinking of them.

Pix via EmmaHill.net and MTV

Psst: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Launches + Freebies!

advanced night repair eye

We love a freebie.

We love a new product.

We love Advanced Night Repair, Estee Lauder’s acclaimed evening-time wünder-potion.

Needless to say, a combination of the above three things, culminating a chance to try the new Advanced Night Repair product, is something that’s guaranteed to please.

Joining the Lauder line-up today is another shiny brown pot of goodness: eyes are the next thing targeted by this high-tech range. Overhauled last year, it’s now Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Complex, and is the sort of product beauty editors and skincare junkies get breathy about and for good reason: it’s a sciency brown serum you slap on before bed and it works over time as you sleep to betterise your complexion.

The eye product promises more of the same, except with a texture and formula suited to the more delicate skin around your peepers. I’m of the opinion that until you really need more – and you’re using the right moisturiser for your skin – you probably won’t need a separate eye cream until it starts to become obvious your routine needs to be cranked up a notch, with the appearance of puffiness, dryness etc. I’m (sadly) at that stage now, and after years of Not Really Seeing the Point of Eye Creams, the sight of my encroaching crows feet in bright light and mirrors are changing my opinion on eye creams rapidly.

Handily, I reckon this isn’t a product aimed at a younger audience anyway; think 35 plus, given the price-point (€49) and what it’s designed to do. It’s always good to try before you buy though, eh? Here comes the freebie bit: TODAY only, from 4pm at Estee Lauder counters nationwide, you’ll be able to pick up a FREE five-day supply of Advanced Night Repair Eye, exclusively available from 4pm this afternoon. Get in quick – the offer only runs today, only while stocks last, and is limited to one sample per customer.

There’s more: if you buy Advanced Repair Eye, you’ll get a 7ml Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Complex sample for free – that’s a ten day supply.

Beaut.ie Blather: Thursday

by Aphrodite, August 26th, 2010 in Beaut.ie blather | 261 Comments |

Sunny Side Up: Kerastase Soleil 2010

Kerastase soleil

Developed to help protect and repair hair from the trauma of overexposure to sun, sea, and chlorine, the Kerastase Soleil range has had a bit of tweaking for its 2010 incarnation. New to the line-up are Aqua Seal, a fluid-cream protectant that you apply to dry hair prior to sun or water exposure, and Lait Richesse, €28.70, a leave-in daily use conditioner.

I’ve been giving the shampoo (or Bain Apres-Soleil Cheveux Colores, €19, to give it its full French title) and new leave-in conditioner a whirl over the last little while. Unfortunately – or fortunately, maybe! – I actually didn’t have too much summer hair damage for them to contend with. While my highlights looked impressively sparkly after use, I thought the shampoo was a little on the heavy side for my fine hair and it left my roots looking a bit limp. I’d definitely use it on holidays, when I’d be washing my hair more frequently anyway.

The leave-in conditioner, meanwhile, is a light milk formulation, and although it left my hair soft and smooth, soft and supple after application, I suspect coarser or more damaged locks would prefer something more intensive.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara: black as the hounds of hell

doublewear mascara

I’m putting this review up today because we started our Rate It: favourite mascara yesterday and I knew there would be loads of different opinions and loves ‘n’  hates.

So I just want to use this example as a case in point. Lynnie reviewed Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara, €23, over a year ago and it didn’t float her boat at all. Whereas I love it.

It’s not perfect by any means – it is very thick and that means of course it can clump quite easily if you’re not careful.  And boy is it wet.  You need to wipe most of the mascara off the wand before applying it or you’ll get overload.

But the effect you get is fantastic once you get the hang of it.  If you like blacker than black lashes with plenty of body and drama then this is your only man.  (It’s definitely not your only man if you like a natural look.)  And because it’s Double Wear it does of course last and last. And last.  In fact you may well find you need to invest in some super oily eye makeup remover to do the job of taking it off.

Anyone else rate this – or hate it?

AW10: Benefit Porefessional, Girl Meets Pearl, Prrrowl & Magic Ink

by Kirstie, August 25th, 2010 in Eyes, Lips and Cheeks | 43 Comments |

benefit new products aw10

Lots of new and fancy stuff’s in-coming from Benefit this autumn – you can see the lovely above.

So lets take a closer look, shall we?

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Get the look: Blake Lively’s Gossip Girl Eyes with Gosh Cosmetics

gosh bananas

Gossip Girl may be off screen for the break between seasons at the moment, but I’m way behind the times and still watching the season two DVDs, which is why the topic for this post is on my mind. More often than not it’s Leighton Meester’s on-screen looks which attract my attention – her dark hair and pale skin are closer to my colouring than Blake Lively’s golden tresses and warm skintone.

One thing I always notice about Blake-as-Serena’s makeup, however, is the shimmering gold applied just under her lower lashline. The colour works really well against her skin and brightens up the whole eye area. Paired with black eyeliner and a neutral shadow on the upper lid, it’s a look that is both pretty and fairly simple to imitate.

I was browsing the Gosh cosmetics stand in my local chemist last week when I came across an eye pencil that immediately brought Serena’s look to mind. Velvet Touch Eyeliner, €7.99, in Bananas is a lovely pale gold pencil that recreates the look perfectly. Not overly yellow in tone, this colour could be worn by a variety of skintones. It shimmers without being too glittery, catching the light perfectly and is ideal for application below the lower lashes, or on the inner corner of the eye.

The texture of the pencil is gorgeous – creamy enough to glide on easily without tugging the delicate eye area, it is also richly pigmented and will last forever without smudging. I tested it on the back of my hand and the line lasted through a few washes without disappearing. Velvet Touch Eyeliners are very similar to MAC Powerpoint pencils or Shu Uemura Drawing Pencils, though the price is a lot more attractive.

Beaut.ie Blather: Wednesday

by Aphrodite, August 25th, 2010 in Beaut.ie blather | 173 Comments |

Sorry for the delay, ladies!

AW10: Shiseido Autumn Winter Colour Collection

by Kirstie, August 24th, 2010 in Eyes, Lips and Cheeks | 15 Comments |

Shiseido luminizing colour palettes

Yammy! En route from Shiseido in September are lovely new colour goodies, including seven Luminizing Satin Eye Colour Trios, €39 each.

There are some other products in the AW10 lineup but they were swiftly abandoned when I opened up the pair of palettes I was sent and began to adore and love, zombie-like. “Must. apply.” “Must. swatch.”

These are gorgeous – satiny, creamy shades with medium pigmentation, I find the brand’s shadows apply beautifully. But don’t expect Mac-alike intensity: Shiseido is a luxe line for ladies, and not a showgirl-esque brand where every look has to scream ‘dramz’. There’s a lot to be said for a more subtle finish, y’hear?

I got two to stick my paws into. Wanna gander?

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Rate it: best mascara

by Aphrodite, August 24th, 2010 in Eyes, Lips and Cheeks, Rate it | 118 Comments |

Not a week goes by it seems without a new mascara being launched. We’re obsessed with mascara at Beaut.ie – and so are the cosmetic companies. They’re constantly inventing new types of brushes (thank you Wand Wizard), colours, vibrations and consistencies. All of which we are happy to try out for them.

Mascara is something that you make multiple purchase of over the years, making us all experts in knowing what’s good, what works and what kind of mascara lives up to the claims. Well okay, I take that back. No mascara can possibly live up to its claims – unless you (tiny print running along the bottom of the screen here) “style it with some lash inserts”.

So tell us what you think lives up to the hype! Rate your favourite mascaras.

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