London Skyline Tights by M&S

I wore these very discreet tights on the first day of the Olympics and they garnered a lot of attention from patriotic British folk, Olympic enthusiasts and curious bystanders alike, so I thought I'd share them.

It's not everyday one gets to wear national icons on one's legs, so I think these are rather a hoot.
The limited edition skyline tights were £9.50 from Marks and Spencer .

They seem to be out of stock online but some stores might still have a few pairs in if you fancy walking around with Big Ben on your thighs (not a euphemism)!

Thank you for looking!

L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum!

I'm totally into serums at the moment and lately I've been putting L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum through its paces.

The original Youth Code collection hit the shelves a little while ago but the 'Luminize' version contains all the nifty anti-ageing components of the original, with the added bonus of illuminating particles to instantly improve the appearance of the skin.

The selling point of the Super Serum is that it's a 2 in 1 product - the high concentration of vitamin Cg (a slow release form of vitamin C) goes to work on refining texture and banishing pigmentation while the luminescent pearly formula creates a healthy glow instantly.

The formula itself is quite light and refreshing with a strong yet pleasant citrus scent and one pump of the serum is more than enough for one application.
While I've not seen a huge difference in my skin (yet), I can say that this is a pretty decent product and I'll be using it to pep up my dry complexion this autumn.

L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum retails at £24.99 for 30ml at Boots but is currently on offer for £16.66.

Have you tried anything from the Youth Code range? Thoughts?

Thanks for reading :*

Stop Press! Rimmel London Kate Moss Matte Lipsticks

Hold the phone, the new line of Kate Moss for Rimmel lipsticks have been released and to make things even more exciting, this collection is all about Matte.

The new range is available today exclusively through Rimmel's Facebook Shop with the collection available in stores in a month (yes, a whole month!) so click on over to Rimmel on Facebook here and check out the new shades.

xx

Love Label Biker Boots

My faithful Migato biker boots virtually fell to pieces on my feet recently and I needed to find a replacement quickly, so I logged onto Very.co.uk and found a pair that ticked all the right boxes.

I placed my order for these at around 11pm on Sunday and they arrived Tuesday morning, which was a lovely surprise and obviously really speedy!

The buckle biker boots cost me £45 - but not upfront thanks to the 'take 3' option that spreads the cost over 3 months.
 £15 a month for 3 months for a pair of quality boots to see me through Autumn & winter? Don't mind if I do..

I've never purchased footwear online before now because I didn't want to bother with returning shoes that didn't fit properly, but I found these suited my size 5 tootsies pretty perfectly.

I wore these up the street today in torrential rain and they have proved themselves to be both waterproof and extremely comfortable, with a Doc Martens-esque 'bounce' factor.

The fact that these boots aren't too fussy mean they are going to be versatile enough to wear with pretty much anything.

Toughening up a girly floral dress by H&M

My day to day look of skinny jeans & something black on top!

Though they're not leather, these boots do seem to be great quality and pretty durable, so I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Have you got your autumn/winter footwear sorted yet?

If you like the idea of a 3 month payment plan, log on to Very.co.uk here and see what they've got on offer :)


Thanks for reading & hope you're staying dry :)

casual wants

casual wants by lippyinlondon featuring a studded clutch

River Island shiny black pants
$47 - riverisland.com

Lace up rubber boots
$355 - gravitypope.com

Miss Selfridge studded clutch
missselfridge.com

*Cheap Monday Tee

Oasap Leather-look & Mesh Spliced Leggings

Another day, another blog post featuring my pins in a pair of socially unacceptable leg wear. 

 When these first arrived from Oasap I wasn't feeling quite as bold as I was when I added them to my virtual basket a week before. After careful deliberation I decided to take the plunge and now I'm rather partial to the kooky cut-out look.

I'm not in love with how these look from behind (a little too bike-shorts-esque?) but I'm not one to wear leggings without something covering my bum so this won't stop me wearing them.

The mesh/gauze cut out panels on these leggings give them a bit of a sassy, grungy edge without revealing too much flesh.

 The weather's been a bit too muggy to wear these leggings a lot lately but I'm looking forward to wearing them through the Autumn paired with big baggy cardigans, oversized t shirts and ridiculously bright lipstick.

These leggings are available at Oasap for $16 (around £10), which is reasonable enough for something a bit different.
You can have a gander at them in all their glory on the Oasap website here. 

What do you think of these? Right up your alley or too risqué?

Thanks for looking!

*I bought these with shopping credits c/o Oasap

Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Makeup

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup:  say that ten times fast and I'll bake you a cake, but for now you can just read my thoughts on one of the most anticipated cosmetic launches of 2012.

My Urban Decay Naked eye shadow palette is now one of my favourite, almost essential beauty products so I kind of had to try the matching foundation. Though I wasn't entirely convinced by the hype surrounding it (or the £27 price tag), I figured I'd go for a quick colour match on my lunch break. 
I'm now £27 poorer with happier looking skin, so you can probably guess what happened next.

It's not often that I say the word 'wow' to a make up artist in Debenhams, but I couldn't really help it as I watched her buff this stuff onto my face - it just looked like a smoother, more even, less pigmented version of my own skin. Surely that can only be a good thing?

I was matched to shade 3.5

The airbrushed effect of the foundation is down to loads of 'light-diffusing spheres' that hang about in the formula waiting to blur away imperfections. It all sounds a bit technical really but I found that the proof certainly is in the pudding with this one.

Swatched

Blended

One and a half pumps of the liquid formula do the trick for me and I find that it's quite easy to blend out without leaving any nasty tide lines. 
If you're skin is quite dry, I'd recommend slapping on a little extra moisturiser because Naked Skin leaves a slightly matte finish that may cling on to any dry bits.
I find this is very long wearing on me and it doesn't slide off of my face like a lot of formulas, instead it sort of blends in with my skin and feels like I don't have foundation on at all - hence the name ;)

It's encased in a rather sexy plastic pump bottle which I know some people don't like but I really dig it because it looks like glass yet weighs virtually nothing.

This product has really impressed me, so if you've not been down to an Urban Decay counter to get yourself matched up, I really think you should! There are 18 shades to choose from so chances are you'll find one that suits your complexion perfectly.
You can read more about it online at Debenhams here.  

Thanks for reading as always :)

Handbag Friendly Beauty Essentials

Most handbags have at least one thing in common- among the miscellaneous and often nondescript bits and pieces lies a stash of go-to beauty products poised for beauty emergencies or general maintenance throughout the day.
Similar to a 'what's in my handbag' post, today I want to show you the products that go virtually everywhere with me, minus the gum wrappers, receipts and biscuit crumbs that you would be exposed to if I actually showed you what's in my bag...

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

I bought this for the first time as an 18 year old back home in Australia. I had no idea what it was supposed to do or how to use it, all I knew was that the words 'beauty' and 'flash' used together could only be a good thing. Almost ten years later I use it to pep up my under eye area and pat it onto my cheeks for a dewy look. I especially love Beauty Flash Balm in the winter when applied as a mask- dry skin drinks it up.

Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment

Everyone should know about this stuff. It's one of those super products that does everything except make you a cup of tea. Produced in Queensland, Australia, the thick emollient balm instantly soothes dry skin, burns, cuts and insect bites and makes for a wonderful long lasting lip balm. I have been know to use this paw paw ointment to tame my eyebrows and highlight cheek bones. This isn't easy to find here in the UK but you can pick it up at the Australian shop in Covent Garden or get it online. *I haven't got my own photo of this because my man friend has stolen it!*

Moisturiser Sample

I've usually got a sample sized tube or pot of moisturiser that's the perfect size for popping in my bag. At the moment I'm using a rather generous sample of Kiehl's Rosa Arctica which is fantastic because it's a fairly thick, rich product., therefore has lasted me ages because I don't need much.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

This is a cult product for a reason and I can't help but worship at the altar of this beautiful colour. Highly pigmented, smile brightening and uber long lasting, I'm rarely without this lipstick in my bag or on my lips.

Foundation Sample

I've found that those little '7 day trial' bottles of foundation many beauty brands provide after a colour match are perfect for carrying around in my bag with me. They weigh virtually nothing, can hold quite a lot of product and often come with a little spatula which minimizes mess. Don't actually like the foundation you're trialling? Rinse the little bottle out and fill it with your regular foundation. I've de-cantered some of my YSL Touche Eclat Foundation into this little bottle so I can touch up without having to lug around the full sized product.

Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara

I do love this mascara, but it stays in my bag rather than on my dresser because I'm currently in love with an Avon mascara I got with a magazine recently. I know, it makes no sense to me either.

Bourjois Rose D'Or Blush

The pearly gold bits in this are terribly good at waking up my face and the rosey-pink base of the blush is so wearable it's almost ridiculous. I like how sheer and easily blended the colour is and the scent is lovely. The teeny size of the compact complete with built in mirror and brush make it handbag perfect.

So there you have it. Those are the products that reside in my handbag ready to pretty me up when I'm away from home. Do any of these live in your handbag too?

Thanks for reading :)

Lipstck I Love: L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in Dating Coral 301

This lipstick is a world away from the usual bold, bright mattes that I love so much, but sometimes I like to dress up my lips with something a little bit muted.

Rouge Caresse lipsticks are the latest pout perfecting product from cosmetic powerhouse L'Oreal and after trying one of the colours out this morning, I've already become a firm fan of the range.

The colour I have is 'Dating Coral 301' - an innocently pretty hue that would suit pretty much any skin tone.

Upon application Rouge Caresse sort of melts onto the lips like an oily lip balm yet feels virtually weightless, a far cry from that heavy gloopy feeling that some balms and glosses can leave you with.

Here it is on my arm...

With Flash

Without Flash

Unnerving Close Up. (mind the moustache :0)

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse comes in 13 playful yet wearable shades perfect for a fresh summery make up look.
I found it to be exceedingly easy to apply as it literally glides on and it seems to stick around on my lips for a while despite its slippery formula, which I think is pretty impressive!

You can find the Rouge Caresse range at L'Oreal stands everywhere for £7.99 a pop (of colour).

Boots are currently holding a L'Oreal promotion that means you receive a pretty great gift when you spend £15 or more on selected products, so now is an ideal time to quite literally put your money where your mouth is and pick up a couple of these lovely lippies.

Have you tried Rouge Caresse by L'Oreal?

Thanks for reading xxx


*PR sample

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

L'Oreal released this BB Cream a few months ago now but this is a handbag staple for me, so I say it deserves a few kind words.

The 'magic' aspect of this BB Cream is the incorporation of 'Smart Pigment Capsules', which burst and self adjust to your personal pigmentation upon contact with the skin.

To me, this concept is a little far fetched (and the fact that the BB Cream comes in different shades is testament in itself that it's not going to match your skin as perfectly as it claims) but I think it's a great product all the same.

Prior to blending the formula is a greyish liquid suspending millions of pigment capsules

After blending, the capsules explode and 'adapt' to your skin tone...

The liquid formula is quite runny, so I wouldn't recommend wearing your best whites while applying it, and I've found that a small amount goes a very long way, so don't go to crazy with it!

To give you as much evidence of the results as possible, here are some freakishly close up photos of my bare face, spots and all.

Having grown up on Australia's East Coast, my face has quite a bit of sun damage and pigmentation/ freckles

After applying a small amount of L'Oreal Magique, these are the results:

My skin looks brighter, mattified and more even overall.

This BB Cream is available in 2 shades: Fair and Medium, though I picked up Fair and it's still quite dark, so if you're very pale this might not be your best match.

Have you tried L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream? I'd love to hear you thoughts :)

I purchased mine months ago at Boots for £9.99.

Thanks for reading!

Boots Botanics All Bright Skincare

In desperate need of an affordable moisturiser and exfoliator that I would actually enjoy using, I nipped into Boots on my lunch break a few days ago and triumphantly emerged moments later with a jar of Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream and All Bright Purifying Face Scrub.

For me, the selling point of the Botanics range of lotions, scrubs and cleansers is the fact that they contain plant extracts  approved by the one and only Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, which is about ten minutes on the tube from where I live. This shouldn't really excite me, but it does.

Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream

Aimed at normal to dry skin, this muddy- pink cream contains hydrating Hyaluronic Acid - basically another name for Restylane, (which is the stuff that people have injected into their face to smooth lines).

The cream is rich in Hibiscus flower extracts, which leave the skin smoother and brighter thanks to the gentle exfoliating properties of AHA's that occur naturally in the flower.

Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream SPF 15
£3.33 (on offer)

So far, I'm rather enjoying this hydrating cream. The consistency and colour are a definite change from the usual white hue of moisturisers and the scent is lovely and floral.

Botanics All Bright Purifying Face Scrub

There have been arguments against grainy facial scrubs, with some claiming they do more damage than good as the grains can scratch and tear the delicate facial skin. This could be true (and I do prefer fruit enzyme exfoliators such as Origin's Never a Dull Moment) but there's no denying the fresh, zingy feeling you get after a session with a good scrub!

Boots Botanics All Bright Purifying Face Scrub
£2.66 (on offer)

Designed to be used 2 or 3 times a week, this scrub contains crushed walnut shell and apricot seeds that work in tandem to banish flaky bits of skin and Hibiscus, which takes care of the brightening side. The scrub also contains ultra soothing shea and cocoa butters and sweet almond oil to counteract the gritty bits.

I would compare this to St Ives Apricot Scrub - it basically feels the same, but perhaps a little more gentle and my skin feels kind of 'minty' after using it.

There are also cleansers, hair products, serums, mens products and more in the Boots Botanics range and all products are free of parabens, contain an SPF of 15 and are tested on people, not bunnies! You can have a look at the range online here


At Boots right now, they are offering 1/3 off all Botanics facial skincare so these products cost me under £6 for both :)


Have you tried anything from the Boots Botanics range??