Of course, this was a great disservice on my behalf. I'm the go-to girl it seems so I figured it was time there was something here for those of you who wish, to come to. I went to the local college on Saturday for a workshop on Bridal Make-Up (darling little sister has asked me to do hers next year) and was quite shocked to see trained make-up artists with less know-how and inferior kits. So, time to join the big girls and dispense what I think about the pots of paint we cover our faces with.
For this first blog post, I'm taking inspiration from the wonderful Frankie Close who commented on a Facebook post I made about the Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar. I'm going to write about some of the different kits the big names have launched for Christmas 2012 and tell you why I've plumped for the golden wonder I have.
So if you've outgrown Christmas selection packs (you're no friend of mine if you have) then these might be what you're looking for to fill that gap.
Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar:
image: selfridges.com
Love It/Want It: The Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil almost had me and the choice of Lancome lipstick (the beautiful 302) was very nearly a clincher. Bonus Points for presentation: It actually comes with all the goodies behind little doors like an actual advent calendar (no chocolate though).
I'll Pass,Thanks: This advent calendar has gone up in price from £60 in 2010, £70 in 2011 to £82!!!! in 2012. They've dropped the bonus full sizes and the trial sizes from brands who rarely do GWPs (YSL make up items beyond the dull dull dull kohl pencil) and instead it's full of the kind of things Lancome are forever (YSL pun gonna stay) giving away. Seriously, how many mini Genifiques does one girl need? (With my skin, very few).
Make-Up Trivia: Anyone know the French megacorp who owns all these brands? So as much as this might look to the untrained painted lady like a selection of the best bits from the beauty hall it's not. It's just one house dangling its goodies from the tree.
Selfridges, £82 and currently out of stock (which also makes me cross, I really understand why retailers/manufacturers make sure demand outstrips supply but for it to be gone before Halloween is just silly).
Estee Lauder The Make Up Artist Color Collection:
image: boots.com
14 items plus a pretty bag from Estee Lauder. Mostly make-up, an EMR and 4 brushes.
Love It/Want It: Really nice colour selection which, as the palettes interchange and fit into the wallet, would make a brilliant starter or travel kit. Add a foundation and concealer if you need one and you're done. Also, excellent products in themselves; EL lipsticks are to die for and that Sumptuous Extreme Mascara works wonders. Any kit that throws brushes in is always worth a look and EL brushes are pretty good (their amazing foundation brush is sadly not included here).
I'll Pass, Thanks: It's just not for me. There's nothing in this kit I don't have close approximations of already. I'm really drawn to the lipsticks but I think this is because they're those universal shades that everyone can wear and that I must have variations of already. It's just neither statement n'or cult enough for me. This is exactly the kind of thing I'd grab if I got to an airport and realised I hadn't packed any make-up but when I got home it would just join the rest of my kit and be overlooked for its dullness.
Make-Up Trivia:
The Estee Lauder company runs a series of outlet stores called The Cosmetic Company; look out for kits like this if you find yourself in one of the stores and you'll get a great bargain.Boots (I think HoF/Debenhams etc. too but they're not advertising it yet) £50 when you buy an Estee Lauder fragrance from 29th October 2012. (Set is valued at over £250)
Elizabeth Arden Day to Night Holiday Colour Collection:
image: boots.com
I'm getting bored. I can't be bothered to count the items. It's really similar to the EL one so I'll list the differences instead:
EL has 8 eyeshadows per palette, EA has 6 but EA has lip liners.
EL has 8 eyeshadows per palette, EA has 6 but EA has lip liners.
EL has 4 brushes, EA has 3 but loooook: there's a funky angled eyebrush which is far more interesting AND there's a mini brush with the shimmer thingy.
There's a trio of shimmer powder which I think is a compexion enhancer and I would use it as such.
The bag is far less glam than the EL one but seems far more practical. This is the kit you could throw your other bits in with and chuck the lot in your case.
If I had to choose between the Estee Lauder and the Elizabeth Arden I'd probably choose this one, but that's more to do with the fact that Estee Lauder have released some brilliant fashion-forward (what a horrible term) recently under the direction of Tom Pecheux and their kit is a maiden aunt to that range. Elizabeth Arden do basics very well and that's what you're getting here.
Boots and House of Fraser, £45 when you spend £30 on Elizabeth Arden ; Debenhams £45 with any two purchases. (Set is valued at over £300)
Lancome The Ultimate Beauty Box:
image: houseoffraser.com
13 items and a glittery gold vanity box. Make-up and skincare.
Love It/Want It: This is more like it!!! Full-size BiFacil EMR (one of the most highly rated EMRs out there and rightly so) and generous travel sizes of cleanser, toner and moisturiser (all the right formulations for my skin at that). Two mini mascaras, a mini kohl and two mini L'Absolu Rouge lipsticks in nudey pink and vampy red - not the gorgeous 302 from the Selfridges set but I can live with that. Now, you ready for the best bit? FULL-SIZE LIMITED EDITION EYE PALETTE in colours which are actually exciting and beautiful and a far far fling from the DULL palettes in the EL and EA. Yes, it's browns and golds but such beautiful browns and golds. There's a highlighter shade (even though it's dark) which is so close to the lauded Erika F you'd swear they just took those pigments and ramped them up. Wanna hear some more about the palette? It's the five-pan palette that's been available in The States (at $50) for a while now but not on these shores. This is no selection of colours you could throw together and hope they work: this is coordinated base, highlight, shadow, crease and line. This is how to make art on your face. And it comes in a sparkly gold case to match the bag. Sorry, you thought that was the best bit? No. There's a full-size blush in Rose Sable and if you don't know why that's reason enough to hotfoot it to House of Fraser right this second you are reading the wrong blog and I'd like you to relegate yourself to Just Seventeen or whatever else exists these days.
I'll Pass, Thanks: Yawn. More Genefique and Visionnaire. Dear Lancome, please stop trying to make me full in love with these wonder serums (or whatever they are) that you sell at £50 a bottle. My skin is ace, thanks. But hey, I've worked out that with all the freebies of these I've been given as GsWP I have two full-size bottles now. I just have to remember which one is open so the others stay fresh. Jeez, Helen: ungrateful much? But, y'know, just saying...I'd have taken a mini perfume or lipliner in their place.
Undecided: The box is lovely and gold and sparkly and reminds me of the case I used to carry my ballet shoes in as a kid, but it's kinda impractical. This is my problem though; not everyone needs a tea-chest to carry their kit in.
House of Fraser, £45 when you spend £30 on Lancome. (Set is valued at over £150 so maybe your ml-for-ml value is less than the others but it's far less likely to end up slung into a drawer and forgotten).
So, which one do you think I went for?
a low quality webcam shot of my first look with the kit.
