Guerlain Holiday 2017 thoughts

The other day I was able to take a look at Guerlain's latest holiday offering at House of Fraser. I must say, the sales assistant was very knowledgeable (Jessica) which was most refreshing! We were able to reminisce about past Christmas collections and debate which meteorites were the best ones yet. (a fraught topic which could induce fisticuffs.) Sadly, I came away without the new meteorites. I love the gold opulent house it's in, but the perles themselves are just a touch too glittery for my liking. The lipsticks, whilst wonderful, are red, and as much as I love red lipsticks, they initiate so much cacophony when worn, that I rarely get to use the enormous collection I already have. Terracotta Gold light was similar enough to the erstwhile Sun in the City, which is in fact too gold for me to use.

So, this post will only discuss the Guerlain top coat mascara in Gold Light. "Adorn your lashes, eyebrows and hair with precious hints of gold!" Guerlain advises. Incidentally, Guerlain have the best writers, and best images. This year the inspiration comes from an art-deco 1920s jazz age and evokes Americans in Paris. The colour scheme is black and gold. Take a look:

Gild your eyes with the luxurious GUERLAIN Gold Light Top Coat - Lash, Brow and Hair Mascara, a limited edition mascara that will frame eyes in molten metal.

Inspired by the preciousness of gold, this sumptuous, glimmering top coat will help you to create an endless array of luxurious looks with a bold twist. Its deep golden hue sparkles with intensity, transforming your look in a single stroke.

Apply to the tips of your lashes, or through your brows and hair to create add a festive finish to your everyday look.

I haven't bought this yet, purely because I first wanted to check it didn't smudge or fall out. Although I think it did fade, I loved the dainty fairy lights effect, and it did not flake or fall. It's like a dusting of sparkle over your usual black mascara, and it manages to be gold but not infantile. This is definitely not a 'need', but ironically that's exactly why it's such a must-have. It's imperceptible until you blink or your eyelashes catch the light. It's a snip (for Guerlain) at £20.50, and I've seen it online for £18.45 here (N/A link)

The only thing I am upset by, is the packaging. It contains less product than, say, Maxi Lash (one of my favourite mascaras) at 4.5g, but why does it have to look like a tester? If ever a mascara deserved to be in an ornate gold tube, it's when it's a gold mascara topper, surely!

Nonetheless, I will be getting this as I think it's a beautifully done. And I thought it might be easily mimicked by an Urban Decay gold heavy metal liner I had, but that is a glitter and the Guerlain is more of a liquid gilding. I also had a liquid gold body lotion which I thought I could apply with an eyeliner brush, but this too failed to create a convincing gold flash. So: this is a unique product which I highly recommend. These pictures were taken at the end of a long day, but the effect has remained.

Shampoo review: Wella Elements Renewing

After years of using and loving Aveda Smooth Infusion shampoo, it didn't seem quite as incredible as it always had been. It still smelt divine, and I always, always had people deeply inhaling my hair and marvelling at the heavenly scent. But it didn't keep my hair clean for as long. And besides, I was beginning to resent paying hundreds of pounds a year for shampoo. I decided, perhaps I'll take this opportunity to step away from sulphates and parabens. Now, I have no idea what these are, as I'm not a chemist and science can only bamboozle me, but they sound bad... and if I was going to make a dramatic switch then I might as well change the entire approach.

I researched online and found glowing reviews for the Wella Elements Renewing shampoo. This is officially described as: "Sulfate free shampoo that renews the moisture of the hair, preserving and nourishing it from root to tip. Exists in 250 ml and 1000 ml." Naturally, being a greedy sort, I went for the 1000ml. I didn't realise, but for some reason, the bottle has a huge gaping neck, so I had to then buy a separate pump. Anyway, my review will not be a good one...

This, to me, smells like apple juice concentrate from a carton. Not bad per se, but not good. Perhaps my hair needs sulphates, because this literally doesn't clean my hair! I have never had this before. I have to wash my hair three times with this, as it doesn't lather well. And then, every time I've used it, my hair looks lank and greasy - right away! So disgusting. Perhaps if you have frizzy or curly hair, the way this makes the hair 'piecey' and stick together might be a benefit. But to me, this is utterly dreadful. 

Does anyone have any shampoo recs that won't break the bank? (Or do I need to shuffle back to Aveda?) Please let me know below!

& If anyone wants this please DM me using my contact details!

MAC Whisper of Gilt is online now (UK)

I am simultaneously excited and disappointed in myself -  for I have been unable to snub MAC! I, like many, waited and pined for Whisper of Gilt to return as a stand-alone product, unimpinged by an alien half. And here it is, albeit reduced from 9g to 7.5g, in a beautiful frozen glass effect compact. I vowed that by now, there were many Whisper of Gilt clones, and MAC had missed its chance. But the flesh is weak, I have succumbed.

It's £35 and comes with a rather tacky bag and a synthetic short handled brush. I've heard that MAC are discontinuing their natural hair brushes and will be moving to all synthetic soon; not sure if this is true. Anyway... If you want it, it's online NOW!

I really hope it's as amazing as I remember... with a wonderful peachy pink flare within... We shall see. I'll update with thoughts.