Shiseido Spring/Summer 2014

Everyone's favourite Japanese brand, even if they don't know it yet, Shiseido have just launched their Spring/Summer 2014 collection with thanks to Artistic Director Dick Page. 
There's new Face Trios, new Laquer Glosses, new shades of brand favourites Cream Eye Colours and laquer Rouge and a brand new Sheer Eye Zone Corrector to behold. 

Breaking from the nude norm, Shiseido are doing here what I would've liked to see every brand do, they're bringing back colour. Flattering, wearable, beautiful colour. Can you tell I'm a fan yet? 

Shiseido The Makeup Face Colour Enhancing Trio in Peach: €38

One of the new additions to the Makeup line is the Colour Enhancing Trios. With 4 colours available ranging from Lychee to Plum, there's something here to stop pretty much everyone in their counter passing tracks. Fragrance free and multi functional, this palette has been in my mála all week. 

The powder formulation in my Peach trio (above), which looks dry in a close up, is velvety soft to the touch and anything but. I've been using the shades separately to contour, highlight & blush but a swirl of the brush included (gorgeous quality by the by) across the whole trio gives a beautiful skin finishing pick me up when swept over my full face half way through the day.  

Shiseido Laquer Rouge & Laquer Gloss: €26 & €25

The Laquer Rouge line up has been boosted with 7 new shades, Ebi here (bottom right) being just one. The epitome of a high end cream lipstick, the colour glides on easily and stays put for hours. Hydrating on the lips yet distinctly non sticky, I've found myself reaching for this pinky, red hued beauty more often than the rest in the past few weeks. It's just incredibly easy to wear. 

For those wanting a glossier finish the new addition of Laquer Gloss will be your favourite of this entire collection. Buildable colour from subtle sheers to deep vibrant gloss, the Laquer Gloss line reminds me very much of the infamous YSL Glossy Stains but this gloss stays as long as the stain and that's a winner for me. These are what everyone thought the L'Oreal Extraordinaire by Colour Riche Lip Colors were.

Plum Wine & Lust above can be worn anywhere and with anything. Such is my grá for the latter that it made it into February Favourites, something I never thought a vibrant red lip colour would do. You're changing me, Shiseido. 

Shimmering Cream Eye Colours - Cardinal & Yuba: €29

A big fan of a cream eye colour of any nature, I was delighted to see the eight new shades proffered in this collection. More so when I touched them. Soft as silk but with incredibly vibrant jewel tones, I expected these to have slid into oblivion by 11am on my first wear. I was very wrong. 

Even though I wore them, both together, Cardinal all over the lid and Yuba in the inner corner without primer for their full effect - my cotton pad still had a job to remove them at 11pm that night. No creasing, no sliding, no messing. 

I had several compliments throughout the day about my eye colour (purple makes green POP), apparently no one at my job knew I had green eyes... but it's safe to say that these beauties will be joined by several others from the line very soon. 

Shiseido Sheer Eye Zone Corrector: €30

Finally, the Shiseido Sheer Eye Zone Corrector. Much akin to my HG Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand, this nifty pen is not intended to be a concealer but a luminous highlighter to disguise pesky dark circles and bring light back to your súiles. 

Applied in a triangle under each eye and patted in with my ring finger, this corrector (in conjunction with my HealGel Eye) has meant that I haven't used concealer under my eyes in weeks and Lawd knows I usually need it. Available in 3 shades this translucent formulation claims to not only disguise fine lines but over time reduce their appearence - we shall see. 

As I've said, I'm thrilled to see Shiseido bring some Spring time shades back into our actual Spring time. You'll find all of the above and their collective counterparts on Shiseido counters from now in both Arnott's & a brand spanky new counter in Harvey Nic's, Dundrum. 

Anything catching your fancy? 

Dr Hauschka Limited Edition Chorus Collection for Spring/Summer 2014

In a world seemingly gone mad at the slightest sniff of a nude palette, the launch of Dr Hauschka's limited edition Chorus range is a sight for bland eyes. Bold, bright shadows that shouldn't work but do and incredibly so are paired with more subdued hues and tones to give your make up stash the shimmer and matte Spring awakening it needs. 

This six piece strong edit has just hit counters and if you haven't yet sampled anything from this natural skincare and makeup line then I'd urge you to dip your toes with Chorus. 

At the heart of the collection is the matte & shimmer blush trio. Housed in a sturdy compact, smudge proof (WE LIKE) and sedate but for the holographic accents, this all in one product can be used for a wash of colour in a natural day time look or built up to get you from office to an evening out. 

Flattering on all skin tones there is nothing here not to like. Well pigmented and soft to the touch these colours can be used separately or swirled lightly together for an all over skin finish. 

The gloss is non sticky with a slight sheen. Scented of lavender, this and the neutral toned, slightly shimmering, scent free lippie are the ideal accompaniment to not only this collection but any strong eye look you might be hoping to achieve. As always with Dr Hauschka, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the natural ingredients used will have your pucker in top condition as it naturally nourishes lips throughout wear time (approx 2 hours). 

Both Eyeshadow Duos are not colours I would have ever thought to put together but just seeing Karim Sattar (Dr H International Gorgebag) use them on Roz on the evening of the launch was literally eye opening - as in my eyes widened as I saw the results he achieved with little or no effort using these shimmery soft and matte shadow couplings. 

The soft taupe kajal liner is precise enough to up the ante with your eye look but soft and smudgeable enough (if you work fast) to create a more muted effect. 

Let's be honest, Karim had a stunning canvas to work with but LOOK at those colours together

Available online here or in all good pharmacies and some health food stores

As you can see prices aren't that spendy, considering the quality of product on the counter. Made using all natural ingredients, Dr Hauschka's Chorus is naturally pretty on every skin tone and for that reason I'd nod my head toward a counter near you before it leaves us in late March. (Momma's Day, anyone?)

Are you a Dr Hauschka fan, anything here tickling your Springtime pickle? 

Elie Saab SS14 Haute Couture Nails Tutorial - AKA The Only Way I'll Ever Afford to Wear His Designs

I never claimed to be a Fashionista but if one designer makes me swoon every single time, it's Lebenese sartorial genius, Elie Saab. His wedding gowns (and pretty much everything else he puts his hands to) are quite literally breathtaking. When I saw his SS14 Haute Couture show (Linked here) I was agog. AGOG. Being realistic though, the only way I'll ever afford to wear one of these works of art is to paint it on myself. Elie Saab nails Howaya!

You know me and nail art by now, I try to find the simplest way to get the best effect, mostly because I want to be able to do my right hand too. I've come up with a tutorial so simple that it needs NO INSTRUCTIONS. Look at the pictures with your eyes, pick out your colours and go! 

What did I tell you? Simples. I love this look for Spring/Summer, of course you can mix and match what colours you'd like to use but once set against a stark white nail bed you really can't go wrong. 

I used all Essie for these but there's no need to be so precise. Just grab: 

• 1 White
• 4 Greens
• 1 Peach
• 1 Fuchsia
• 1 Black (for flowers)

These remind me of the Rihanna Marc Jacobs nails in how simple they are to create. 

What do we reckon? Will you give them a shot?