On Friday, I visited the Debenhams store in Clapham Junction for a lovely bloggers’ beauty event, with tutorials and inspiration, makeup tips and skincare tricks, just in time for springtime! Firstly, we were led into a room where we were offered refreshing drinks and yummy snacks before heading to the different stands to check out the newest brands and products. I met the lovely Lola from The Londonesque and we spent the day together, trying out makeup and getting pampered.
Me – with my new hair by the way! (I chopped it all off! Ok…maybe not all but it’s a huge change for me!)
Lola from The Londonesque
I went to Urban Decay first, where Danielle gave my eyes a mini-makeover by filling my eyebrows and enhancing my waterline with a white pencil which gave my eyes a doll-like look! She also added (subtly) white eyeshadow to my lids and corners of my eyes to make my eyes appear more open. I loved it and, in fact, I got this same look done in Paris by Cate from Shu Uemura – she made me look angelic and I wanted the same look done so that I could watch more closely and learn! When it comes to makeup, I’m super dependent on foundation (my face is all veins, scars, spots and dark circles!), I love lipstick and I use mascara to boot because I’ve got the longest lashes (one thing I can boast about in makeup!) and I hate blusher but use bronzer to contour my cheekbones. However, whenever I put eyeliner on, it stamps the top of my lids and smudges.
Eyeshadow is a challenge and any time I’ve tried the “smokey eye”, sadly, I look like I’ve been punched. I’m not creative with makeup and always too scared to try new things (because of the usual outcome!) so this was a fantastic chance to revamp my look and learn some new tricks! I’m already using my white eyeliner to bring out and open up my eyes to give them that “doll” appearance! I also got one of Urban Decay’s nude lipsticks from their ‘Naked’ range – number 2 – to create the perfect nude lip. I’m obsessed and will do a tutorial soon for those of you who, like me, have tried to achieve that barefaced, nude makeup but always end up looking too pale or too brown or, with pinks and peaches, not quite so “nude” at all! I promise – this one is the perfect shade and has a glossy finish instead of a dull, matte appearance which would not look so great with a total “bare” face.
Giorgio Armani was just brought to Debenhams Clapham Junction very recently and has the whole range of cosmetics from make-up to perfumes and creams. I’m super happy about this because I live close-by and I love Giorgio Armani. I used to swear by their Lasting Silk Foundation (I still do!) – but unfortunately, because of the nature of my oily skin, I had to give up the truly flawless, pore-less skin that their makeup gave me for oil-free foundations from La Roche Posay and Smashbox. Still, I love the lipsticks – they literally stay on for hours and don’t fade away like others to leave an awkward, smudged lip-liner but leave a gorgeous stain instead.
Giorgio Armani has also launched some innovative formulas like BB lightening creams to put with your makeup to illuminate certain areas like around the eyes or the cheekbones. Claudio from Giorgio Armani, demonstrated the use of one of these creams (I was apprehensive at first because I never even wear blusher, and this creamy formula was deep red in colour) but he only dipped his pinky in it and then tapped on my cheekbones to create a light pink colour to accentuate my cheeks. It was very subtle (and the lighting wasn’t very good so you can’t really tell in the photo above) but it looked really great.
Giuseppina from Benefit gave us the low-down on the latest products for Spring and the best-selling Benefit items. First on the list was ‘Bathlina’ – Lola gasped in adoration when Giuseppina brought it up and Lola even got a little sampled on the back of her hand to show us what it does. It’s like a paste and comes with a little sponge/pad that you can use to buff the paste all over your legs for an all-over subtle shimmer and flawless look.
Next were the Benefit cheek and lip tints and stains. I have the ‘Bene-tint’ which is a watery red/burgundy and one of the first tints. Giuseppina introduced us to the new ‘Lolli-tint’ which comes in a more gelly-like form and a bright, fuchsia pink which you can use to dab all over your lips for a matte stain that stays on forever or on your cheekbones for rosy cheeks. Giuseppina showed us its texture and colour by putting some on the back of her hand and then rubbing it and rubbing it to show us that it wouldn’t come off. Indeed, she was left with a nice rose-pink stain that she said wouldn’t budge even if she scrubbed it under the sink – talk about long-lasting power! Of course, we chatted a little about the miracle brow products and services at Benefit (brow tints, brushes, waxing, plucking and getting the perfect shape) before making our way to Philosophy for a skincare lesson.
Philosophy is not so well-known but it is a wonderful skincare and personal care brand that focuses on the beauty of skin. With 4 different ranges, each one is specific to a part of your skin and personal care routines. ‘Grace’ is all about fragrance; they have lovely perfumes and body creams (my favourite is ‘Amazing Grace’ and I got a mini sample of the lotion in my goodie bag!) while ‘Joy’ offers a range of rainbow-coloured body gels, scrubs and lip glosses that have delicious aromas like cake and strawberry! Then, there is ‘Hope’ a skincare range that focuses on revitalising the skin, with formula-filled creams to help rejuvenate you throughout the day or while you sleep.
Finally, ‘Miracle’ is focused on anti-age products to resist time and keep your skin looking healthy and young. Sam from Philosophy spoke to us about the ‘Miracle Worker: anti-ageing lactic acid cleanser and mask’ which gently exfoliates the skin while also brightening it and giving it an even and youthful look. Lola and I then got a little pampering as we had a little scrub demonstration on the back of our hands with the new Philosophy ‘Microdelivery’ brightening and exfoliating peel that dramatically changed the look and feel of our skin. Indeed, my left hand (which was exfoliated) felt so soft and smooth and had a glow and radiance compared to my dull and darker right hand. It was incredible and we even got a sample of it to use at home!
I haven’t used it yet but I love face-masks and peels and can’t wait to give it a try and see how my skin looks! The innovative ‘Time in a Bottle’ is also a new product from Philosophy – a serum that defies time and keeps your skin looking healthy, glowing and youthful as its formula is designed to keep wrinkles at bay!
Before we left, we were given our goodie bags (my, there were 6 of them filled with fabulous skincare and makeup samples from Clinique, Philosophy and Elemis to Benefit, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent!) and had a little chat with all the lovely girls who showed us around and pampered us! It was a lovely day and I have already been more active with my skincare products, using creams and masks, and also, slowly starting to use the new makeup products to spice up my makeup routine and try out new things! So exciting!
C x