Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner - Review

Bonjour!

The Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Grey Velvet is one of the products I received in the goody bag from his make-up masterclass back in April - if you missed the post it's here!

The range of waterproof eyeliners are said to be smooth and easy to apply and provide rich, super long-wearing colour.  They retail at around £9.25.  You can check out the full benefits and range of colours by visiting Daniel's website here.

Swatched above - the eyeliner comes in a twist up tube so no need for messing about with sharpeners. I usually find this type of liner is better for creating a thicker, rather than super-fine line along the lash as once you've used the initial pointed tip it obviously becomes more blunt on the end, but that's fine - I like a thicker line!  It's easy to apply,  has a fairly firm waxy texture but is soft enough to not drag or pull on the lid and can be smudged up directly after application for a smokier look.  It's great for a quick swipe over just the top lashline or both top and bottom for a more built up look.  I haven't worn eyeliner top and bottom for a while but I can get away with this colour as it's a soft and smokey slate grey which adds definition without being too harsh.  I've not used it in the waterline as that's not really 'my thing' so can't vouch for the waterproof properties I'm afraid.   It does last all day on the top with no running or flaking but fades away a little on the bottom and is easily removed with a decent remover.


Lightly swiped across the top ...

Top and bottom ...

The liner is more expensive to buy alone than others I've used but all in all a decent product and loving the colour.  I am a total 'grey' junkie after all ... apart from grey skies, not so hot on those!

Have you tried the Daniel Sandler Waterproof Eyeliner? What's your favourite liner of the moment?


Jen x

August/Holiday Favourites...

Bonjour!

These are my favourite products from this year's holiday (which was obviously in August!) ... photographed by the side of the pool - she says wistfully...must forget about the pool and the sun for another year!

Clockwise ... (sort of!) ...

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Cream Factor 30 - although the recent bout of eczema has cleared up on my face and neck I needed sun protection which was gentle but effective in case it re-appeared whilst on holiday - this was just the ticket.  I smoothed it on every morning over my face and neck after moisturising - super easy to apply and provided the protection I needed - a lovely product and one I would repurchase.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Grapefruit - you can see it in action in my NOTD post here. Absolutely love this vibrant juicy colour. Don't want to put it away for autumn/winter - not going to just yet!

Wild About Beauty Multi-Purpose Tint -  a super summer and holiday product. Gives a natural flush which you can see in my review here.

Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream (Medium to Dark) - can't believe I reviewed this a whole year ago here , it was also included in last year's August Favourites and here it is again! This is in fact the same tube with plenty left (and in date of course) so I've used it again.  I said it last year - because it's quite pigmented it's a lovely product to use on holiday and keeps that bit of glow on yer kite once you return. Another product I'm not yet ready to retire for the season just yet!

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Duo - I got hold of this from QVC on easy pay instalments during the the last Beauty Day. A leave-in conditioning spray, a leave-in Elasticizer?  It was certainly a lifesaver on holiday and kept the frizzies at bay good style. Full review to follow when I've done a bit more road-testing!

Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder - still loving this bronzer - perfect for holiday evenings - full review here.

Mally Perfect Prep Under Eye Brightener - been using this for a couple of months now and it works really well to lighten up those dark circles - full review to follow.

Oh - and then there was this little beauty ...

Now - I have to say I'm not a big drinker but I did find that this super-cheap vino from our local French supermarket went down very easily indeed and is - unfortunately a distant memory! Stupidly we only bought the one box. Must make room for more next year!

So ... those are the favourites. Still wishing I was beside that pool  ... however with the  kids back to school this week I'm pretty sure I won't have time to think about holidays, pools, sunshine and the like!

What were your August or holiday favourites?

Jen x

Daniel Sandler Giveaway ...!!

Bonjour!

I recently won the Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder in a Twitter competition.  You can read my full review here but basically it's become one of my proper 'go to' products this summer and I'm enjoying it immensely! I also reached 500 GFC followers recently which is a huge deal to me!  So ... I decided to hold a little Summertime Giveaway to celebrate ... here's the prize...!

The pics are of my own product but obviously the winner will receive a brand spanking new 'un which I've bought!

To enter simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. All entries will be checked so please do complete the mandatory fields, otherwise all other entries will be deleted!  The Giveaway will run until midnight 24 August and is open internationally. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Please obtain permission/consent from an adult if you are under 18.*

Good Luck!

Jen x

Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder - Review

Bonjour!

The Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder is a product I was lucky enough to win in a recent Twitter competition - I was over the moon!

It arrived beautifully boxed within a little gold organza bag type thing - would make a lovely present actually. The compact itself is pretty sturdy and of a decent size - also comes with a handy mirror within the lid...

So - the Instant Tan Face Powder is a bit of a changeling I reckon...! It's a powder in the pan which takes on the guise of a cream during application, as it's really easy to blend, but then has the staying power of a powder once on.  It's lasted well throughout the day - even in this hot weather and just fades away evenly without sitting in dry bits or pores.  It has a luxurious texture to it with no shimmer or glitter and is described on Daniel's own website as velvety, demi-matte and silky smooth.  Obviously best to start off with a small amount of  product as per the instructions and build up gradually. You only need to press your brush lightly into the compact to pick up enough to begin with - a little goes a long way. It works well to add a bit of a contoured effect but I must admit my favourite method is to use my large blusher brush and just dust across where the sun would naturally catch  ie across the tops of cheekbones and bridge of the old nose - any excess can then just be lightly swept around the rest of one's kite!  Considering this is one of the palest bronzers I've used it works really well with my light olive skin tone and there are no orange or dirty tones. It can be used on it's own or mixed with a bit of blush for a rosier look.

Here it is swatched and then blended below...

On the kite - serious face ...

...and stupid face - sometimes you just gotta do it (don't ask!).

Sorry about that!...Anyway...you know when 'us bloggers' talk about 'reaching' for some product or other - well I've been 'reaching' for this a whole lot recently.  I love the fact that it does what it says on the can and just gives a healthy, 'caught a bit of sun' look - which is exactly what I'm after at the moment!

The Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder is priced at £22.50/9g.  It's available from his own website here or from the usual online beauty retailers including QVC.

Have you tried Daniel's Instant Tan Face Powder? What 'facial tanners' have you been reaching for at the moment?

Jen x

PS Apologies for hair - but I'd scraped it back for the school run!

Friday Night FOTD and Illamasqua Lippie ...

Bonjour!

I went out last Friday night (well I went out for dinner with the hubby and kids this Friday just gone too but last Friday was more of a couples 'out out' and not just 'out' if you get my drift!). Anyway just thought I pop up a post with my slap for the night... really should this be entitled FOTN?  I'll just shut it and get on shall I...!

The products ...

Face
Mally Perfect Prep Poreless Primer
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealers in Medium and Deep - used medium under eyes and mixed the two for the rest of my face
Laura Geller Balance n Brighten Foundation in Tan
Bourjois Blush in Rose Thé - you can see my full review here
Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder (only used a smidgen as it was my first time playing with it!).

Eyes
Mally Evercolour Eye Shadow Stick in Antique Taupe - all over eyelid - so easy to use - stays put all day/night!
MUA Undressed Eye Shadow Palette - to highlight under brow
17 Eyeliner in Onyx (got it in a kit last year)
Revitalash Volumising Primer
Mally Instant Impact Mascara - review coming up
HD Brows Kit in Foxy

Lips
Illamasqua Lipstick in Blaze - won in a Giveaway last year - sadly it's discontinued - what a shame, it's one of my favourites!

Here's the whole lot on the kite - a bit more of a half kite than usual - you can see the nose is screaming to take over the pic - ah well...!

And a quick 'awkard pose' of the outfit - both last year's H & M top and Zara jeans - what on earth has happened to the knees on my jeans - they had been thoroughly ironed although it doesn't look like it in this pic ...!

Trying to get one of me and the pooch but he had other ideas! Must have been where I got my creased knees from!


Jen x

Mally Beauty and Daniel Sandler Goodies ...!

Bonjour!

Just a quickie... you know those old Twitter competitions where you retweet to win etc - well I recently retweeted and believe it or not actually won on a couple of occasions - gobsmacked or what!

Mally Beauty QVC Customer Choice Trio and Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder

The Mally Trio contains Volumising Mascara in Black (an old favourite), High Shine Liquid Lipstick in Blossom and Evercolour Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight.

Here's a peek of the Daniel Sandler Instant Tan Face Powder - looks gorgeous.  I've got a feeling this is a favourite of Binky's (from Made in Chelsea) so if it's good enough for Binky...!

Not going to waffle too much at this point as I'll try to put up separate reviews at some point.

Over and out for now and hope everyone's having a good weekend!

Jen x

'London Baby!' & Daniel Sandler Make-Up Masterclass!

Bonjour!

About this London thing then...I'd booked myself a rare treat of attending Daniel Sandler's Make-Up Masterclass, run by The Simon Seminars at the London College of Fashion near Oxford Circus - Saturday 13th April. We decided to take the kids down for a whirlwind trip - and whirlwind it was ...!

Left crack of dawn Friday morning - (I didn't sleep much the night before - always worry that I'll not hear the alarm and we'll miss our chosen method of transport!).  Turns out I wasn't the only one who didn't get her full quota of sleep ... my little girl started to write her diary page whilst on the train and this was the result (with her permission to publish the pic of course!) which had us in stitches ...

That afternoon we somehow managed to visit three museums one after the other (not at all tiring but when in Rome etc) and then met up with my brother Mike (who had the night off gigs!) for the rest of the evening and some dinner.

Amidst all the madness I'd not had time to paint my nails before travelling down but brought my polish with me so - the middle of the night saw me crouched on the bathroom floor against the bath with my new Barry M Gelly - trying to do a fairly neat paint job in the most awkward of positions! I couldn't sleep as the heating thingy in the room was so bloomin' loud and the bed was one of those squishy ones that rustle every time you move! Off I went back to bed with my newly painted nails and the resolve to wear my specs the next morning to try to conceal my inevitable bags and dark circles from no sleep!

I was actually the first to arrive at the venue (friends of mine will be reeling in total disbelief!). We watched Mr Sandler create various make-up looks designed for 'real women'. Part 1 of the demo was aimed at  natural 'daytime' make-up to help us look 'younger and healthier'. First up was a soft smokey 'everyday' eye look using an eye pencil - building up the look gradually. Next was a subtle contoured eye using a shimmer eyeshadow (yes - older girls can wear shimmer too according to Mr Sandler - we just have to be careful where we apply!) - in this case it was restricted to the lash line and just below the brow bone - with a taupe shadow applied in the socket.

A couple of pics from the session - on the left is the lovely Gina Potter having her soft daytime smokey eye  done. Gina is a 'Kicker of Bowel Cancer's Butt' - and played a pivotal role in the organisation of the event. Inspirational or what!  On the right is Daniel's friend and QVC model Isabella having her shimmer/taupe eye shadow blended - I have my eye on that palette in Mr Sandler's hand!

We then had a short break during which I got to say hello to Mr Sandler (complete with a hug!) and then proceeded to the second half of the session which had more of an 'evening-time' air about it to help us look  'sensational but not over-made up'. First up was a lesson in contouring where the message was to (within reason) apply as much product as you want as long as you 'blend, blend, blend!' - this was then teamed with a bright pink lip. Finally Gina's 'daytime' look was 'smoked up'  - which included adding eye-shadow (keeping the darkest colour to the outer corner of the eye) and grey eye-liner.

It was fascinating to watch and Mr Sandler made it look so easy! We all received a lovely goody bag ... here's mine...!

Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Grey Velvet
Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach
Daniel Sandler Concealer Brush
Urban Retreat 'The Hydration Mist'
Urban Retreat 'Shaving Gel for Girls'

So - cheers to Mr Sandler, Gina and of course Mr Simon Seminar (Mr Simon Vallance!) It was a lovely event (despite the fact that I had one of the worst bad hair days in my huge history of 'bad hair days' and poor Mr Sandler must have thought he was talking to a scarecrow - but hey - we live and learn and that's another blog post in the making!).  I've taken loads of tips away with me (few of which I've actually had time to put into practise yet mind!) Sorry Daniel - I'll let you know how I get on with that purple eye-shadow suggestion at some stage!  There are more pics from the event - taken by Gina's hubby - over on The Simon Seminars website - here! Feel free to have a browse!

Right - apologies that I've waffled on even more than normal but honestly I could go on all night - but of course I won't - really going now! See ya!


Jen x