Burberry Spring/Summer 2016 Runway Palettes

This week we're loving Burberry Beauty's limited edition Spring/Summer 2016 runway palettes! These beautiful highlighters are inspired by the use of lace in Burberry's SS16 show and are ideal for adding a dewy glow to the high points of your face.

Pictured above are White No.01 (left) and Nude Gold No.02 (right). At £45 they aren't cheap but if you're searching for the perfect highlighter or a beautiful gift for a friend, these might well be for you.

As they are limited edition they are likely to sell out fast, so hurry if you want to get your hands on one!

Available from www.net-a-porter.com

Images via Vogue.co.uk

Barry M's Showgirl Mascara

If you are looking for a quick fix mascara that isn't expensive and gives volume to the lashes, then Barry M might have what you need.

When taking an weekend break, I picked up 'Showgirl' at the airport and as it cost under £5, I was happy to throw it away before returning home (we took hand luggage only). 

Mostly, it was good and although I wouldn't repurchase it as an everyday mascara, I would if I needed a travel beauty companion, as it was long wearing and did volumise the lashes. 

PROS: 

• Long wearing without fall out. 

• Cost 

• Volumised the lashes 

CONS: 

• Difficult to remove 

• Didn't lift to lashes as much as other brands 

• Felt quite thick and heavy 

www.barrym.com 

£4.99 

Make Up For Ever 'Pro Sculpting Face' Palette

I often find that powder products are too much and make my skin look dry. With central heating being switched off to cranked up and moving from outside to inside, skin becomes a bit fed up.

That's why I wanted to find a product that I could use as quickly as a powder but that would add a look of luminosity and as if my skin was hydrated!

I know contouring is going out of style but, quite frankly, anything that will help define my hamster-like chops is well worth doing.

After looking at Kevyn Aucoin's 'The Creamy Glow Duo' palette and reading some reviews that complained about blending, I decided to try Make Up For Ever's 'Pro Sculpting Face' palette. So far, so good.

The way that I use it is with a 'beauty blender'.

I don't do the popular trend of painting stripes on the face and blending them in – no one has time for that. I use a damp or dry 'beauty blender' (it works well with either) and lightly dab it into the product and onto the face. It's quick, easy and efficient. Basically, it contours without making the face look two-toned.

THE PROS:

• The selection. I love that the palette has a brightening cream and a shimmer to enhance the highlighting process. 
• The palette comes in light, tan and dark to cater for different skin tones and, although that isn't a huge selection, the light palette works perfectly for my skin tone and would work for lighter and darker skin tones than myself. 
• The blush is a beautiful coral colour and blends beautifully. 
• The shimmer is delicate and doesn't cover the face in glitter particles! 
• The contour colour is dark enough to create the contour but doesn't look like you have rolled in mud. However, less is more and check that it is properly blended. 
• The palette has made my skin look less dry and I have currently given up using my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, which is saying something, as I have been using that religiously for over a year. 

THE CONS: 

• The product can get a bit messy – not on you but on the packaging. Not enough for the colours to intermingle but enough to tell that it's been well used! 

£29, www.debenhams.com 

Bobbi Brown Afternoon Tea at Balthazar

If there's one thing we love as much as makeup, it's a good afternoon tea. Anything that combines the two is an instant win right?

Following in the footsteps of the Berkeley's fashion-themed Pret-a-Portea comes Balthazar's Bobbi Brown Afternoon Tea. This year Bobbi is celebrating the brand's 25th anniversary and she has teamed up with Balthazar's head pastry chef to create a selection of cakes inspired by some of her most iconic products.

The tasty selection includes a Champagne Infused Rhubarb 'Shimmer Brick' and a Praline & Mango-Passion 'Foundation Stick', to name just a couple.

As if that wasn't enough, the beautiful Vintage Red for Balthazar Lip Colour has been created to mark the anniversary too!

I'm fairly sure I had you at 'cake' but if you need any further encouragement, all diners are offered a complimentary Instant Lip Makeup Lesson with a Bobbi Brown makeup artist at the nearby Covent Garden store!

For more information visit www.balthazarlondon.com/bobbi-brown-afternoon-tea

Sephora's Minnie Mouse Collaboration

As we are both massive Disney fans, this news cheered our week! Sephora has announced that it will be creating a limited edition, seven piece makeup collection based upon Minnie Mouse, which will make its debut this April.

Rumour has it that there will be a white and black eyeliner duo, a twenty eyeshadow palette, a luminising blush, a cherry red lipstick and of course, a smattering of polka dots and bows! As Sephora now ships internationally, this means nabbing limited edition collections is far easier.

We can't wait to see Minnie's ideas....about time that she did something without Mickey being involved!

www.sephora.com

Beauty Treats for Valentine's Day

Hearts, flowers, chocolates, cheesey greetings cards... yep, Valentine's Day is filled with predictable clichés. But why not treat yourself or a friend to a gift this year? Here are a few of our favourite beauty treats....

Clockwise from top left:
• Project Sukuroi Gold Smoothing Balm £30
• Beauty Blender in Red Carpet £16
• Aerin travel gold-tone comb £25
• Nars semi-matte lipstick in Jungle Red £21
• Burberry First Kiss lip balm in No.03 £23
• Smith & Cult Lip Lacquer in The Warning £23
• Bella Freud Loving Tuberose and Sandalwood Candle £40

All items available from www.net-a-porter.com

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment

This product was a very lovely Christmas gift and so I hadn't done any research into the product or the brand. To be fair, I was pretty happy with my skincare situation. I was loving my coconut oil and still am, but I wasn't looking for any kind of addition. However, I have been using the Progenius Omega Treatment for six weeks and the combination of this, the Aveda Botanical Kinetics and Coconut Oil is making my skin look very healthy... even when I haven't had enough sleep and been at work for what seems like a million hours. 

THE PROS

• Consistency: It's a very thick oil and because of this, you only need two drops. It's almost like a moisturiser. I put it on the areas that need more moisture, or rather the areas that could do with rewinding a few years, such as my forehead, around my eyes, my laughter lines and chin. 

• Moisturiser/Foundation: As per the instructions, the product can be added to moisturiser or mixed with foundation for a more radiant and hydrated look. 

• Omega Oils: The product is an omega oil treatment and contains omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9. Those fatty acids are plumping my lines nicely! 

• Ingredients: Nude skincare is formulated without: Parabens, Sulphates, Metacrylate
Polyacrylamide, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, Petrochemical, Synthetic Fragrance, Synthetic Color, Urea, Sulfate Detergents, Pegs Silicones, Polypropylene, Glycol Poloxamer, Elastomer, Synthetic Chelating Agents, DEA, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium,

Their view is that you can have high performing skincare without certain ingredients and the ingredient list can be found on their site. 
 

• Combination: I use the product in the morning with Aveda's Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Rich Creme and Energizing Eye Creme and in the evening with Coconut Oil. My skin has looked at its most hydrated since doing this and the Omega Treatment has been the extra thing that has really helped. Despite the price, I will be re-purchasing this and have stopped using any other serum/oil treatments since using it. 

• Skincare Routine: I will be doing a little trial over the next few weeks and substituting Coconut Oil for Avocado Oil. It will be interesting to see how the Avocado Oil works on its own (it's meant to soften and nourish skin) and then, how it works with the Progenius Omega Treatment. Nothing like a beauty experiment! 

THE CONS

• Oil: Be careful not to put too much around the eyes prior to doing makeup. Your eyeliner will slip right off! I forget and do this regularly! 

• Price: £62 for 30ml. Thank goodness you only need two drops a night. I'll be interested to see how long it lasts. 

www.nudeskincare.com 

Marc Jacobs makeup now available in the UK!

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It's been a long time coming but the entire Marc Jacobs makeup collection is now available to buy in the UK! A small selection has previously been available in the London Mount Street store, but the whole range can now be purchased in Harrods or online at www.harrods.com.

This is great news for those of us who have been lusting after products like the Le Marc Lip Creme Lipsticks or the new Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara. Since the range's launch in 2013 it has been readily available across the pond in Sephora but this is the first time the full range has been accessible in the UK.

Personally it's this rather beautiful La Parisienne eyeshadow palette I'm after...

Shop the full collection at www.harrods.com/brand/marc-jacobs-cosmetics/

'Would You Rather' - skincare edition

When Jen and I play a little game called 'Would You Rather...' it becomes disgusting and weird fairly quickly. That's the whole point of the game, neither option should be a pleasant one! (If you've never heard of it, Google it. You're missing out on a classic.) However, keeping it clean and family friendly, today I'm going to play a tame beauty version of the game. I know, how dull. But the good news is that it does narrow down the skincare champions from the last few months of reviews – particularly useful if you are trying to decide which of the items we have reviewed to spend your money on!

1. Would you rather use Coconut Oil or Barefoot SOS Repair and Renew Intensive Treatment? 

This is an easy one, definitely Coconut Oil. I use it nightly and although I intend to try Avocado Oil, this is one of the cheapest and best moisturisers I have ever used. I use the Barefoot oil as a body moisturiser. I really liked it on my face but it plateaued after a while. However, it has reduced redness on my arms and always feels as if your skin is really moisturised after a hot shower. It's been great in the winter months but the Coconut Oil is cheaper and just as good. 
Read: Coconut Oil, is it worth the hype?
Read: Barefoot SOS Repair + Renew Intensive Treatment Oil

2. Would you rather use Colbert MD Illumino Oil or the Alegenist Anti-Aging Repair Oil?
Colbert MD Illumino Face Oil. I am yet to try the Body Oil but I have already purchased the Face Oil. Yes, it is a lot of money for 30mls (£100) but it is one of the only products that you can see an immediate improvement the day after. I use it the night before special occasions and my skin looks visibly better. Lines are reduced, tone is even and skin is really hydrated. Don't get me wrong, the Alegenist is great but it doesn't have the immediate effects and, for me, you have to use more than a couple of drops to get results


3. Would you rather use Burt's Bees Citrus Face Scrub or Glam Glow Flash Mud Brightening Treatment? 

Glam Glow. I know it's a mask but I often use it as an exfoliater because of the exfoliating particles within it and yes, the product doesn't work as well as if you leave it on for 25 minutes but it works very well and leaves the face smooth. The citrus smell is gorgeous too. I want to love the Burt's Bees Citrus Scrub but it's so messy and goes everywhere, which drives me nuts. 

Read: Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub

4. Would you rather use Dr Jart's Ceramidin Oil Balm or Aveda's Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Rich Creme? 

Aveda. They are both great products but the Aveda Creme absorbs better and works better under makeup. 

Honourable mention: Nude Progenius Omega Treatment. Review coming soon. 

Diorshow Fusion Mono

The Dior Show Fusion Mono is a gel-mousse texture that gives a mirror shine effect when patted onto the lid, but when applied to the crease and intensified it gives a subtle matte definition. The above colour, 821 Chimere, is a rose gold on the lid but adds a little something extra to the 'No Makeup, Makeup' trend when applied to the crease. It's almost as if a contour powder has been used as a crease shade. There's no fall out and judging by comments on Instagram, it can be used as a highlight too. 

The colour lasts and although described as mirrored, it's too not glittery and transparent, it is multifaceted and buildable. I have used it daily and by looking at the product above, it's hardly noticeable, so it looks as if it will last a long while. 

The product is used in the crease to give subtle definition to the eye.

Having read Jen's post on Dior's spring line, I'm excited to see future products! 

£22.50 for 6.5 grams. 

www.dior.com

Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay – blush, lipstick and lip liners

Having brought you news of the Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay eyeshadow palette back in November (you can read about that here), I am pleased to say that the collection has been expanded and now includes a blush palette and a selection of lipsticks and lip liners.

The blush palette contains six shades of blush/bronzer/highlighter; Cherry, Easy, Angel, Lo-Fi, Hush and OC. Much like the eyeshadow palette the packaging is beautiful and although I haven't tried it, I have been informed that the colours are very versatile and will work well on a variety of skin tones.

Blush palette, £35

The lipsticks come in a fantastic range of colours, although they might not be for everybody as they mostly bold (with the exception of one nude) and mostly in varying shades of red. But hey, this is Gwen – what did you expect?! The lipsticks are in a variety of finishes too; I believe the nude is a sheer shimmer while several of the reds are matte. There are six lip pencils to complement the collection.

Lipstick, £16
Lip pencils, £14

www.urbandecay.co.uk

Have you tried any of these products yet? If so we would love to know what you think!

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner

Maybelline's Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner is something that I always come back to because no matter what else I try, nothing comes close to this eyeliner. 

THE PROS: 

• Price: it's £7.99. Bargain. 

• Colours – I use the black but the product also comes in brown, charcoal and eggplant to help create different looks. 

• Longevity – despite this being in a pot and, therefore, has the potential to dry out, the product lasts for months. I bought my last one in April of last year and have only just opened a new one. 

• Consistency – the liner is oil free and because of the gel consistency it glides across the eyelid, without any pulling, which not only means an even line but helps not to irritate the eye and prevents the aging process by dragging the lid. 

• Long lasting colour – the liner lasts for hours and hours. The packaging states up to 24 hours and, although I haven't worn it for 24 hours, I can imagine that is true. I generally put it on at 7.30am and by 6.00pm, it hasn't moved at all. 

• Pigmentation – the colour is intense but can be used to create a thin line or a super duper wing. It's easily buildable and can create a thick line without looking too much. 

• Safe for sensitive eyes – I find that some products and eye creams can irritate my eyes, especially in the summer months, when my hay fever drives my eyes nuts but this never irritates and the packaging states that it is fine to use for those who wear contact lenses. 

THE CONS:

• Ingredients – it's not awful by any means but it's not something like Dr. Hauschka or something that helps to protect the eye. 

• Drying Out – From the ones that I have thrown away, the product has started to dry out but it lasts so much longer than products like M.A.C Fluid Liner. For the price, it certainly is worth it. 

• Brush – a brush comes with the liner but I don't find that it works very well. It's too chunky. I use a Sigma E11 brush, which costs about £14 and works really nicely with the product. However, any angled or thin liner brush would also work. 

Dior Spring 2016 Collection – Glowing Gardens

The temperature has taken a serious nosedive here in London and, although I am hugely grateful for today's blue skies, there's no denying that I am looking forward to spring. Warmer weather, longer days, bunnies, flowers... you get the picture. Of all the spring 2016 beauty collections that I have seen so far, I think Dior has captured this essence of spring the best.

The limited edition Glowing Gardens collection is exactly how it sounds – a range of products that celebrate that quintessential Dior glow using colours inspired by the flower gardens of Granville.

Below are a selection of my favourite items – I particularly want to get my hands on that beautiful illuminator! I thoroughly recommend checking out the whole collection on Dior's website and, if there's anything you want, get in there quickly before it sells out....

From top to bottom:
• Illuminator – currently sold out
• Nail Polish £19 each
• 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow £43.50
• Dior Blush £32.50
• Rouge Dior Baume £26.50

For UK readers most items are available at www.selfridges.com, for US try Sephora or Saks.
See the full collection at www.dior.com

Nars Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

This product has become my favourite primer. Don't get me wrong, Urban Decay's Primer Potions are great, especially Eden, as it neutralises the colour of the lid. However, this Nars primer keeps eyeliner in place all day and night and quite possibly, the next day!

THE INFO:
'A polymer and mineral-powder blend establishes a firm grip on color ensuring hours and hours of gorgeous wear. Fortified with a special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract, the Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base dries on contact and keeps the delicate eyelid smooth and prepared for color application.'

THE PROS:

• Prevents creasing, smudging and caking. 

• Prolongs winged eyeliner (ensure that the product is applied to the edge of the eye too).

• Easy application.

• Works with any type of eyeshadow product (cream, powder, shadow stick etc.).

• Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested (i.e, skin and eye tested). 

• It lasts a long time. I have used it daily since July and I am only now going to need to re-purchase at some point soon. A little goes a long way. 

• £19.50 for 0.28oz, which lasts 5-6 months of daily use. 

• Fragrance free.

• Holds up in hot, humid weather and the rain. 

• You can use half the product from the applicator on one eye lid and half on the other. This is why it lasts for so long.

THE CONS:

• The doe foot applicator means that it often gets makeup on it and can get quite dirty.

• The packaging is prone (especially the lid) to attracting makeup, moisturiser, hand cream and anything else! Be prepared for it to look like you've had the product for years, after a week! 

• Once the product has been applied, you need to blend eye shadows quickly. Otherwise, you end up pulling at the lid because once the primer has dried, the colour is locked on! This isn't really a bad thing, considering that the product is doing what it says. It just means that you need to apply it as you are doing your eyeshadow and not when doing skin prep.
 

Overall, I think it's a very good product and I will continue to purchase it. 

www.narscosmetics.co.uk 

Coconut Oil – is it worth the hype?

Coconut Oil is all over the place, heralded as the best oil for skin, nails, hair and health. Being able to cook with something that you can also use on your hair has always made me cringe but I have to say, I like it and it's doing wonders for my skin and bank balance. When it comes in a 500ml jar, has a sell by date of next Summer,  costs £4.00 and improves the hydration of skin, it's a good find!

THE PROS:

• A little goes a long way. What you see in the picture is enough for the face, neck and to use as a hand cream. 

• It really does hydrate but don't use too much because it will cause spots and nobody wants that. I melt it in between my hands and lightly press it into the skin. 

• It's helped to plump the skin, which is linked to the hydration but wrinkles have appeared finer, especially around the eyes. 

• It absorbs into the skin quickly and doesn't leave skin feeling greasy for hours. 

• It smooths and tames hair. I only use it on the ends but using a small amount. I would imagine that if I got the quantities wrong, I would have greasy limp locks. However, it is better than any other hair oil or serum that I have compared it with, including Moroccan Oil. 

• It can be used as a cleanser and removes makeup. 

• When used in cooking, it's a good source of saturated fat and boosts metabolism. 

THE CONS:

• It needs to be stored away from direct sunlight and that is for good reason. It goes from 100% cold pressed to full on oil, so be careful where you stash it. 

• I can only use this at night, as I find it doesn't hold my makeup in place. 

• When using it for cooking, I would recommend decanting or buying a separate jar for the kitchen. It prevents any beauty regime/kitchen cross over. It tastes nice when making something sweet, like banana pancakes (which if you haven't tried and can't eat wheat, I would strongly recommend), as the coconut oil is a nice addition. I find it odd tasting when cooking savoury food. It's great in smoothies though. 

• Raw versions of the oil tend to have better reviews because they haven't been refined using chemical processes that can make the oil taste a bit bland and don't have the same skin care benefits. However, not all refined oils have been chemically distilled, so worth doing some research. 

• To use the product, you need to scrape some of it out. To me, this is always a bit gross because it allows bacteria to go a bit nuts! 

All in all, I really like using it, mainly because its multifaceted. Although I don't tend to use it in cooking, it really makes skincare easier when cleansing, moisturising and taming stray locks with the same product, especially when it has the same effect as products that I have paid a small fortune for! £4.00 is an excellent price! 

Getting ready for 2016 and your favourite YBBF posts...

Happy New Year! The first week of January is well underway and we are starting to look at the year ahead. But first we thought we would take a little look backwards and share the nine most popular YBBF posts to date, from new launches such as the Vice 3 palette and the Preen/Nails Inc. collab, to product reviews from Kiko, Balance Me and more. So if you are new to our blog why not check out some of our most-read posts from the last eighteen months.




1) Champagne, Cupcakes and the Official YBBF Launch Party
2) Urban Decay release Vice 3 palette
3) Personalised Hoola Bronzers by Benefit
4) Bellapierre Coral Cheek and Lip Stain
5) Welcome to Our Beauty Blog!
6) Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Collaborate with Nails Inc.
7) Best Beauty Advent Calendars 2015
8) Balance Me – Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm
9) Kiko Color-Up Long Lasting Eyeshadow

Looking ahead to 2016, we are planning some changes for the blog based on the posts that you have enjoyed most and the things we are excited to share throughout the year. We would love to hear your opinions, so please feel free to get in touch with comments, suggestions and even requests for product reviews. You can email us at info@yourbeautybestfriend.co.uk or get in touch via social media. We are both busy ladies with day jobs, but we would love to spend a bit more time this year getting to know you all and finding out how we can continue to make YBBF as useful and enjoyable as possible.

INSTAGRAM @your_beauty_best_friend
FACEBOOK Yourbeautybestfriend KayandJen
TWITTER @YourBeautyBF

We will be continuing to post every Tuesday and Friday, but you can also get every new post sent directly to your inbox by putting your email address in the 'Follow By Email' box at the top of the page.

We look forward to hearing from you and wish you all a very happy 2016!

xx

New Year's Eve Looks

Happy New Year to everyone! For New Year's Eve and general Christmas party looks I have been using the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette that was launched last month. It is ideal for a bright-eyed look and the colours are extremely blendable with very little fall out. I used the hot pink (Harajuku) and dark navy blue (Danger) shade in the crease, which resuulted in a very wearable look – not at all like a six-year-old playing with blue eyeshadow thank goodness!

This palette contains a really good mix of colours and a variety of neutrals – even those with cool skin tones will find that the colours work for them. It's an everyday palette but the brighter colours make it ideal for when you want to create a look that's a little different.

£40, www.urbandecay.co.uk 

For the look below, I used Verve from the Naked 2 Palette on the lid. Then, with a thick angled brush by Real Techniques Brush Starter Set, I used Danger from the Gwen Stefani palette from the outer corner, along the crease of the eye. I used Harajuku and a fluffy brush to blend the colours, focusing on the outer crease. The angled brush was used again to put Danger underneath the eye, before eyeliner and mascara was applied. It wore well throughout the day and although colours were noticeable, they didn't stand out too much. 

This is after 11 hours of wear and without setting spray. Despite some fading, the colours lasted well and didn't overpower. 

Whilst I was banging out the pinks and blues, Jen looked super swish in a LBD with red nails, champers in hand! 

We hope that you all had a fantastic New Year's Eve too and that 2016 brings more champagne, fun and festivities....with some excellent beauty products thrown in for good measure! Happy New Year!