Getting rid of Bin-bags under your eyes - AKA My fav under eyeconcealers.

I’m in my 30s, while all things have not gone down south, YET, I have had to really pull my finger out when it comes to under eye concealer.  I used to live on coffee and ciggies for a while in my 20s, and I am paying for it now when I wake up in the morning.  While on the wrinkle front I think I am doing pretty good, my biggest problem is the massive industrial bin liners that hang under my peepers.   For a number of years I used YSL touché eclait, I had a such an obsession with this stuff.  To the point where all the pictures of me in my 20s I was sporting a beautiful reverse panda look.  Nice.  YSL has moved on and does provide different range of shades to counter-act the reverse panda look, and they are good…..however I have moved on.

So what is it that I actually want a under eye concealer to do for me?

-Not too white

-opaque enough but clear enough not to go gunked up

-no sinking fine lines

-last all day 

-handbag friendly size

Here are four of my favourites

By Terry, Touche Veloutee £35 and Touch Expert Advanced £29

Enter the creator of By Terry – Terry de Gunzberg.  Creator of touché eclait for YSL, created her own version touché veloutee.  It’s basically touché eclait on steroids, nicer formula, that does not sink into wrinkles. This also doubles up as a highlighter, base as well as a concealer.   I once forgot my foundation whilst at the gym and this worked perfectly instead.  My only gripe is the while the applicator is lovely and big and chunky perfect for the face, for under the eye it’s a little awkward.   Also for those of you how hate not knowing how much product you have left, if you twist the bottom of the clicky-button thing it actually comes out and you can see how much you have.  (thank you to the angel on makeupalley who pointed this out)  Be sure that you screw this back on properly because I had thought I had finished mine, but actually it just wasn’t twisted back on properly.

Another version by Terry is the Touch Expert Advanced, which just as good.  I would say this offers more coverage than the touché veloutee.  With this you can actually layer on the coverage without it looking too gunked up, the shade is good as it very natural, as opposed to bright white.  No sinking in lines.  Lasting power for both is pretty good, I don’t finding myself wishing I brought one of them in my handbag during the day.  Which is just as well as they as the veloutee is awkward to carry around.   Between the two if you are looking for an ‘all-rounder’ go for the touché veloutee, if you want a ‘best in show’ go for the Touch Expert Advanced. 

Where to buy

Space NK in store and online.

 

Benefit – Fake up £18.50

I am a fan of the concealing options from Benefit, I have used erase paste (19.50) and bright eye (15.00) for many years now.  My only gripe is while they do work at covering up the black circles the texture close up is not great.  They can sometimes have a quite grainy texture under the eye, even though it’s quite opaque.  Generally good for evening make up but under bright sunlight it can look a bit fake and cloggy on eyebags.

Fake up is the latest offering from Benefit and it doesn’t disappoint.  Fake up’s texture is totally different the concealer is wrapped around a balm which makes the concealer creamy but not gunky.  Looks like one of those lipstick/balm sticks from Body shop of yester-year.   It’s easy to move around on the face, with none of the graininess of the erase paste and eye bright.   I do really love using this stuff it really lights up the face if used under the eye.  It doubles up as a kick-ass face concealer for blemishes.    Lasting power is okay, between 5-6 hours, on me I just need a quick top up before I leave work.  It’s lipstick-size format makes it easy to pop in handbag and carry around as well.  The only downsize is don’t use too much under the eye, it doesn’t look bad but it feels like you have a slick of Vaseline under your eye.  (SA at Benefit got a bit excited and went to town on me when I tried this before buying)

Where to buy

Benefit in store/online, in bigger Boots store and don’t forget to get your points!

 

Garnier –Anti Dark circles roller ball £10.19 or (£5.09 in superdrug now)

This is very nice to use, roller ball is cold and is very soothing under the eye.  I keep this in the fridge and then use this on my eyes, it’s divine.  The formula is sheer, can be built on a little bit, this is not industrial strength concealer.  It can be really runny which I don't like, however is good if you just need a light coverage.  I tend to use this over a another concealer(collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer is a good one to mix with or Erase paste), or if I have a tan or have been on holiday for a couple of days.  This does not last the whole day 3-4 hours  This is a great budget it does not completely cover you bags, but does a decent job.   This is good to buy if you have a 3 for 2 offer on boots, or if they are doing promotions.   This can’t be used as a normal concealer and has to be used just for under eyes. 

Where to buy

Boots, Superdrug, bigger supermarkets.

 Hope that was helpful :)

Looking for ‘the one’- My favourite hand moisturiser

Looking for ‘the one’- My favourites mitt moisturiser  

I have suffered from dry skin on my hands since I was a teenager.  This partly due to genes, and also may have something to do with the fact that I wash my hands all the time, and I do it under boiling water.  I don’t think they are clean otherwise.

I have hands that NASA would be proud of, SERIOUSLY….

I have pretty much used every single hand cream on the market bar the super expensive ones from crème-de-la-mer.

I have in my usual fashion limited to three favs.  I would love to put every single recommendation down in each post but then I would have like 10 blog posts and that would be it.

Yu.Be- Moisturising Skin Cream £12

Japan’s equivalent to Elizabeth Arden’s eight hour cream and cheaper too.  I love this stuff for winter and as an additional layer on your normal hand cream if your skin needs a moisture boost.  The marketing for this product come across as utilitarian and reminds me of the Swiss/Norwegian stuff Neutrogena hand cream balm.  (but works better and is more Luxe) In fact in the tube box there is a nice little story about a Japanese lady called Sumiyo Tsuzuki who is a mountain climber. She has appeared on IMAX Everest wearing a tube of this product taped to a shoelace around her neck. She used this product to protect skin against the weather on Mt. Everest. WORD.

The texture is like a creamer version of Elizabeth Arden’s eight hour cream and is like a yellow buttermilk colour.   It smells very medicinal but that quickly disappears after application. The moisturiser itself sinks in very quickly and is not greasy afterwards.    It contains Glycerin vitamins B2, C and E.  It survives a hand wash or two, so a little of this goes a very long way. 

Where to buy

Prices vary on Amazon for a pot/tube, or you can shell out £12 on a purse friendly size tube from Space NK.   Yu.Be can also be purchased in the larger Boots stores for £12 for a tube or £19.99 for a pot.

Aesop –Resurrection Aromatique Balm £18

Made from mandarin rind, rosemary leaf and cedarwood atlas.  This smells divine, sinks in very quickly.  (This was a recommendation from my favourite beauty blogger VivannadoesMakeup blog or vlog.  She reminds me so strongly of a beauty-centric Rachel Weiss).  Aesop as a brand does not use any artificial nasties, they market themselves on natural products in utilitarian packaging.   This comes in a larger tube for £18 a pop for 75ml. 

Where to Buy.

You can purchase this in a number of smaller stores around London (check website www.aseop.com for store locator or buy online) If you do work next to one of these store be sure to sign up for the discount of 10% and hop onto their mailing list for evenings.  Also ask for samples I usually get between 4-6 sachets each time I go.   Space NK and Selfridges also stock Aesop. 

Soap and Glory – Hand Food £2.50 (50ml) £5.00(125ml)

Made with marshmallows, macadamia, fennel and lotus flower this smells of Dior’s perfume ‘Miss Dior Cherie’.  While it’s not a scent that I particular care for I know some of you go nuts for it.  If you like this perfume I suggest you buy these products rather than shell out on Dior all of their products smell like it.   This is a very good budget friendly hand cream, you don’t get as much bang for your buck for the mini versions, however perfect for travel.   (3 for 2 offers on soap and glory are also a great way to save your pennies with this, and I recommend you try the foot version of this cream) The cream sinks in leaves the scent on, works great on my cuticles if you don’t have any oil and I generally use this in the summer when my mitts aren’t battling with the weather. 

Where to buy

Any Boots wait for 3 for 2 offers and of course buy with boots card!

 

London EATS shoes! Or London resistant boots.

I decided a while ago that London definitely eats shoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

My sister-in-law tells a story about on her first ‘proper adult London’ pay check in her early 20s she splashed out a bought a beautiful pair of Emma Hope shoes sky high and made of the most beautiful, delicate, soft nude suede.   She didn’t tell me how much they were but I have a feeling we are talking over the £200 mark here.  After wearing them only twice the London pavements, and rain claimed them making them into a dirty black/brown pair of clodhoppers.  A reverse Cinderella transformation if you will.  Having come from ‘up north’ where pretty much everyone drives to work instead of fighting their way to work (Londoners on the tube) the practicality side of the suede leather just did not occur to her.

She always gets a bit teary eyed when she tells this story, bless…..(but then wouldn’t you?)

Winter

It’s a difficult to know what kind of shoes you want to buy in London for winter/spring.  But generally a boot will see you through.  When I boot shop there are always several factors in play.

·         For me personally I will always take comfort and speed over elegance and making my calves look slimmer.   Yep I wear flats whenever I can, however I am not averse to a wedge or a block heel or two.  

·         Another issue is quality over price.

·         Yet another issue for me is how flattering will they look on me?  I have chunky calves and ankles so it’s a challenge to find shapes that work for me. 

But ultimately when it comes to my boots in winter I know they have to tackle A LOT. 

·         They pretty much have to repel all kinds of water and dirt.  (deffo NO SUEDE)

·         They need to be fairly comfy, I need to be able to move quickly if I want.

·         They need to last at least three/four winters.  (I extend the life of boots by visiting my local cobbler a lot)

·         They have to make me look good!!!

Unfortunately this usually means that they cost within the £150 -£200 mark if they are going to last.  It’s a lot of money I know but it’s worth it in the long run I think.

Here is what I have in rotation at the moment………..

DMs.  £110

God thank god for DMs what did we do before Agness Deaton make them fashionable again?  What did I do, what did I wear instead?  (It is so earth shatteringly significant I would almost par it with ‘What did we do before the google map app on my phone? How did we find our way around?’)

·         Resistant to all forms of wet weather (yes I have used them in the snow in December in New York and they were fine!)

·         I love them more the more they seem to get battered.

·         Only issue with these is they take ages to break in, BUT once you pass that barrier enjoy. 

Jules Booties form All Saints. £175

I love these boots.  My Auntie who was over for 6 months from brunei just gave me a wad of cash for xmas (Chinese people give each other cash instead of pressies usually)  I used that to buy these. 

·         Again resistant to all wet weather. (would not risk in snow)

·         Lovely little heel that you barely notice

·         Nice to casual-down a dress or skirt. 

·         No breaking in time unbox and wear. 

Acne Pistol Boots £350

I ummed and aaaahhhed about these for months and months.  These have been on the fashionistas blog set for a couple of years now.   They are not cheap at a whopping £350!  I got a nice bonus in January which is why I treated myself to these. 

·         Really comfy 3inch heel and flattering when paired with black tights or black Jeggings.

·         Dressy enough and casual enough to wear both ways.

·         Tough leather, not quite water proof but if you spray them a water resistant spray they have been holding their own in the rain.

·         A little hard on the balls of your feet, but I have pretty much jogged a mile in them (to keep an appointment).  My feet hurt for about 10mins after but then I was fine again.

Hopefully when the sun arrives in London I will do a post about Summer footwear.  

The elusive wide legged trouser

I was going to do a holiday wardrobe post but where I went to in Spain was freezing! So didn't manage to wear any floaty maxi dresses or short. Instead I just wore an amalgamation of what would keep me warm!

Anyhoo - a recent fashion phenomenon of the skinny jean/jegging/legging does not look like its going away this summer. Don't get me wrong I love me a black jegging the problem is that jean style generally dictates the tailored trouser. Which seems to be going through a tapered pleated crazy print phase. Due to my massive thighs and short legs there is simply no way I can wear any of these. Believe me I have tried them ALL. The only I mean ONLY trouser shape I can get away with is a low slung palazzo pant or its luscious brother the silky pyjama bottom. Can I find a decent pair any where? Not likely....
I was about to fling myself down on the ground and have a adult tanty when I stumble upon Fatface. Now I usually avoid fat face like the Black Death, not because it does bad clothes but it is simply not my style and reminds me of a time in my teenage years where I would where nothing but chinos (rolled up so I looked dumpy) and my brother's old rugby shirts (so i looked as unattractive as possible) Lo behold what do I find? The perfect cut linen wide leg trousers in navy! The relative leper amongst the taper leg trousers just begging me to take it home. (which I did)

Now they look alot more straight legged here, but I assure you they are lovely and wide.  They are made of linen and will set you back a decent £45 (Linen Trousers you can see them here at www.fatface.com)
Other options I stumbled upon after this wind fall was at Hobbs.  Again another quality shop, a bit pricer than what I would noramally spend on a trouser but these are another lovely pair in a darker navy linen. 

Dade Trouser £110 (see here online at www.hobbs.co.uk)  Ladies with longer torsos like me would do best to avoid. As they are just too small around the torso area..
And PJ bottom lust from Zara which I will deffo get next pay check are the silky cool wide legged printed tousers.  There are number of these on offer on the website at the moment all resonably priced at £39.99 each.  (see online www.zara.com) Love these so flattering.  Can just imagine me skipping around these with platforms etc.  Hope you Enjoyed this post and found it helpful.