Tom Ford ≡ Lips and Boys Limited Edition ≡

Picture Credit

Picture Credit

It's rare, but on the odd occasion I get so excited about something that I want to cry. It's even more rare that the thing in question is lipstick. Ok, maybe not that rare. On a rainy Tuesday evening I was watching videos from My Subscriptions on YouTube and absentmindedly clicked on this. In case you are too enthralled in this blog post to watch the video, it's a post from Vogue of a girl opening a box of 50 Tom Ford lipsticks. That's right. 50. Including 36 brand new shades. Anyone who knows lipstick knows that Tom Ford is basically the Rolls Royce of the lip world with their regular line tipping the scales at £37/$50 a pop. The new "Lips and Boys" collection are "Clutch size"(which is pretty much just a fancy way of saying mini) and retail at £22/$32. It seems the set isn't available sold as such and the lipsticks are sold individually which means £22 x 50 = £1,100. Yes, it is seemingly possible to consider, even if only for a fleeting moment, spending over a grand of a collection of lipsticks. There's no denying it's a beautiful sight to behold but I can imagine that, like most palettes and makeup collections, you'd end up having a few favourites, a few occasionals and some you'd never touch. And at £22 each, that adds up. I know that in the bottom of my heart and yet I still want them all. So badly. Praise The Lord for the wonderful work he does! And by "The Lord" I mean Tom Ford obviously. 

My second favourite thing about the collection are the names. (the first is the box. It's just so shiny. And it makes such a satisfying sound in the Vogue video. And all the gold tops look so pristine when they're all sitting in it) Each shade is named after a man in Tom Ford's life from his son to his first crush. It's a personal touch and such a nice deviance from the generic names lipsticks are normally given. 

Picture Credit

As usual, Temptalia has done the most amazing swatches, so check out the post if you want a more in depth look at the colours. Personally I'm swooning over James and Richard. 

The collection is limited edition and will likely sell out fast, so get your hands on it when it comes to stores and online on December 26th if you "like, totes need." or even if you instagrammed or tweeted a picture of the collection and put the hashtag #goals.

DressBetter

Last night, in the early hours of the morning, I got my 4am rush of inspiration and started a tumblr blog just for my Polyvore outfit sets. I wanted to have a page where I could look at them quickly for inspiration. And so, without further ado I present to you DressBetter.

DressBetter

A first look at Beaute Louboutin

Christian Louboutin. 
A household name in the world of fashion and the subject of many a girl's day dreams - the King of Shoes needs little introduction.

Famed for his sky high, red soled stillettos, Louboutin has ventured out into the world of the beauty industry. As a lover self proclaimed addict of all things Louboutin, it was without doubt that I had to get my hands on some of the new Beaute Louboutin nail polishes when I was out in London for a 21st Birthday shopping spree. Christian Louboutin's first dip into the beauty industry came as surprise to many who would have predicted a Loubie-Red lipstick or perhaps a perfume but it was the red nail polish itself which brought the iconic red Louboutin sole to life in 1992.

"In 1992, I was designing a shoe called Pensées," Says Louboutin. "I was satisfied with the sketch of the shoe, but disappointed when I received the prototype from the factory. I couldn't put my finger on what was missing, even though the prototype was very similar to the sketch. My assistant was painting her nails red next to me, so I grabbed her polish and proceeded to paint the soles of the shoes red. From that moment on, red soles became my signature. The red sole was born from red nail polish." On his debut into the world of beauty Louboutin says "I am giving back to the nails what the shoe took from the nails many years ago"

Louboutin has paid homage to this with the 'Rouge Louboutin' shade, a perfect match to the iconic red soles. Almost instantly sold out, it appears that I wasn't the only one desperate to own a bottle of it. At £36/$50 a pop, the polishes are certainly not cheap. Their price point makes them one of the most expensive nail polishes on the market, even more than Tom Ford, a brand well known for being pricey. But it makes sense as Louboutin heels are anything but cheap. Ranging from £400 to £4,000 per pair, Loubies are certainly more of a luxury investment. The polishes are certainly a feature piece - something to stand proud on your dressing table, rather than a £4.99 Rimmel polish which will get lost at the back of a shelf and go clumpy before it ever sees the light of day again.

Unlike the shoes, however, which come in a brown packing paper coloured box which is far more modest than the shoes inside it, the nail polishes have packaging which is anything but subtle.


 The bottles mirror the sharp point and height of a sky high Louboutin stiletto; the Ballerina Ultima which was created as part of a collaboration with David Lynch and features a mysterious Egyptian figure paying homage to Louboutin's fascination with Egypt.

There's something about the polishes in their dagger-esque glory which is both inviting and intimidating at the same time. 

The Beaute Louboutin polishes come in a range of 30 colours from 'Nudes' to bright summery 'Pops' to 'Noirs', a collection of deep, seductive tones worthy of a gothic beauty queen. You get 13ml in a bottle, which is an average amount for a nail polish (They normally range between 10ml and 15ml) and the long stemmed handle actually makes for a very comfortable application. The polishes are all named after various Louboutin shoe styles. 

The range looks breathtaking when it's displayed under the twinkling lights of the Louboutin concession in Harrods. By the time I got to even see the polishes in the flesh the 'Rouge Louboutin' was completely sold out, and so I settled for two shades, 'Alta Perla', a stunning light greeny/grey (which compliments my olive skin tone so beautifully) and 'Lady Page' a deep, mysterious purple which I can't wait to paint onto long stiletto nails and adorn my fingers with glittering rings. 

'The Pops'

'The Nudes'

'The Noirs'

"I want the woman to take her time and enjoy this different experience of painting her nails - the pleasure of the object as well as the pleasure of colour. The application will be a painterly and artistic experience, both for her and for anyone who may be watching her. My goal is for a woman to feel beautiful, and the most important thing is that she feels satisfied when she looks at herself," 

Louboutin has got it spot on. The polishes are beautiful to apply, the formula is smooth and creamy. The handle is weighty in an expensive-feeling way and is super comfortable to hold. (I always wonder if I'm the only one who can't stand when a nail polish comes with a teeny tiny little blob for a handle. I mean, how are you supposed to hold that steady?) Inside the lid is signature red, one of the tiny details that makes me love high end products so much. (That's a nod to the tiny CC logo on the inside of the lid of my chanel lipsticks) Using them really is like a tranquil experience that I just want to relive over and over again.

TO ADD swatches, pics of bottles, bottle display in store nails after application and then in the days after longevity test, in different lights, 


This was always going to be a positive review. In my eyes, Christian Louboutin is a god and can do no wrong. I am so blinded by love for him and everything he creates that I would happily buy a single sock for £100 and rave about how warm it keeps my one foot.

BagInc Vanessa Leather Tote Black With Black Horse Fur - Review

The other day I treated myself to a new bag because, well, I wanted to. I wanted to invest in a good quality leather bag that would last. I've been using the Zara Mini City bag and as much as I love it, I just am a big bag girl and the mini city just doesn't have room for all my crap that I insist on carrying around with me. I did a bit of internet research (aka, online shopping) and I found the website BagInc which makes designer bag copies (not knock-offs because they are not claiming to be the real thing) but they are top quality, real leather and beautiful, unlike the usual cheap plasticy and slightly wonky ones you usually get. I have been OBSESSED with the Celine Smile bag for so long and so of course I went straight to the "Vanessa" bag on BagInc. I toyed with the idea of getting a spring appropriate colour but I fell in love with the black horse fur version. At $129/£78 it wasn't cheap but I'm so impressed with the quality I think it's totally worth it. 

The bag is made of a lovely soft leather with (faux?) horse fur. The zips feel really expensive and glide smoothly. It's got the usual pockets inside with plenty of space to put your phone and keys ect. It has little metal feet on the bottom which I like in a bag because it means less floor touching which means (hopefully) less germs. Yes, public toilets. I'm talking to you. It's lined in a dark fabric and comes with a shoulder strap which is detachable. Every last detail down to the tiny stitching is high quality. The bag as a whole just feels and looks so much more expensive than it is. 

It's a really good copy of the Smile bag as well. Many "inspired" bags have obvious differences but slap a celine logo on this and I wouldn't know the difference. 

The bag arrived quickly and came packed in a dustbag and bubble wrap (The child in me approves of this). The shipping is free over $99 too.

The website says:

 The Vanessa Leather Tote is made of high quality leather to give it a soft, luxurious look. It includes a fabric interior lining which complements the exterior of the bag. This bag has become a part of one of the classic street style looks on celebs and fashionistas alike. 

The design and size of the bag are chic yet practical - with and 11.4 inch height, 11.4 inch width and 6.3 inch depth, you can fit your daily life into this bag without having to cram it in or worry that you'll look like you're carrying a piece of luggage. 
The top closes with a zip to ensure nothing falls out as you go about your day. A front zipper pocket and multifunctional slip pockets in the interior provide space for small, valuable items such as cash, keys or jewelry. The gold toned hardware adds a glamorous finishing touch. 

Sizing:
Width 11.4"/ 29cm
Height 11.4"/ 29cm
Depth 6.3"/ 16cm
Handle Drop 5.5"/ 14cm
Weight:1.1kg

I'm totally head over heels (why do we even use that phrase?!) in love with this bag and I can guarantee I'll buy more from BagInc. I've already got my eye on the smaller Vanessa bag in light blue. It would be perfect for the spring/summer. I need to go to bag rehab... baghab?

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser Review - Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Dupe?

I recently went for a little browse in Superdrug in my lunch break. I gravitated towards the skincare aisle and I'm glad that I did because I came across this little gem. I'm a huge fan of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but haven't used it for a while mainly because it's so hard to get hold of! It's expensive too but I would have paid that happily because it's such a great product (until I found the Superdrug dupe that is). There's also a big drama about Liz Earle selling out to Avon and concerns that Avon won't stick to Liz Earle's values or even change the formula. 

The Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser is part of Superdrug's own Naturally Radiant range and retails for £5.99 for 150ml although I bought it on special offer for less than £3. Compared to Liz Earle's £24.75 for 200ml, it definitely wins on the price front. 

Superdrug's skincare ranges are suitable for vegetarians and vegans and don't test on animals. All of Liz Earle's products are vegetarian friendly but not all are vegan, including the Cleanse and Polish which contains beeswax.

The Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser comes in a tube similar to the Liz Earle one and comes with a muslin cloth (Liz Earle charges you extra for these). Although I would recommend using a fresh muslin cloth each day for hygiene purposes. I've built up a collection of them over my hot cloth cleaner obsession! I couldn't tell the difference in quality between the Liz Earle and Superdrug muslin cloths. 

Superdrug's website says about the Hot Cloth Cleanser:

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser is formulated with a unique energising complex and infused with Kiwi Fruit and Mulberry extracts to help revive skin’s radiance and even out skin tone.
Enriched with nourishing Cocoa Butter, this rich and creamy formulation melts into the skin and cleanses away make-up and impurities, whilst also providing gentle exfoliation, leaving skin feeling renewed, soft and ultra clean.

Infused with plant extracts:
- Kiwi Fruit extract is a rich source of Vitamin C, which is renowned for its remarkable ability to help brighten and even out skin tone, while also providing antioxidant protection against free radicals.
- Mulberry Fruit extract has naturally strong brightening properties which can help to reduce discolouration and even out skin tone.
- Cocoa Butter is a rich emollient with excellent skin softening and conditioning properties.

The consistency is very similar to Cleanse and Polish, a sort of thick creamy balm. The smell is similar in that it smells very natural and herbal. I have to say that I prefer the smell of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. Superdrug's cleanser smells nice and relaxing but it reminds me a little of an old lady! It's not unpleasant though.

The two cleansers feel surprisingly similar to use. Apart from the the difference in the scents, if they were put in unbranded packaging I would have trouble telling which was the high-end one. I was dubious about the radiance claims because most of the products I've used that claim to make you look radiance do so by containing tiny glitter/shimmer particles which I'm not a fan of because they get on everything I touch and of course the effects will only last until you next wash your face. I want a product that acutally contains ingredients that will make my real skin look glowing and I can say that I've noticed a difference since using the Superdrug cleanser.  

All in all I'm very, very, super impressed with this product. I'm definitely converted from Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I really want to try some of the other products from the Naturally Radiant range too.


You can purchase the Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser from a Superdrug store or online here.