Cherry Pick of the Week: The Velvetizer from Urban Decay!

When the brand new Irish Urban Decay flagship store opened on Dublin's Grafton Street last month, one of the most exciting elements was that we would have exclusive access to certain products. One of those products, The Velevetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium is worth the trip to the city alone. A new take on Makeup Artists' old trick of using translucent powder to alter foundation finishes in a pinch, The Velvetizer is about to be a go to makeup product, rather than a last resort. I was thrilled when UD Ireland popped a sample my way. 

*WIN* A Stunning Pippa Palette for You AND Your Pal!

There is nothing, NOTHING I like more than seeing blogging throwing open doors and helping people realise their dreams. That's why I did an involuntary warm & fuzzies shoulder scrunch when I saw Pippa O Connor of Pippa.ie announce her first beauty product, the Pippa Palette for Blank Canvas Cosmetics. 

The palette contains 6 shadows, a blush, a highlight & a contour shade. Each named after a special person (or madra) in Pippa's life. We're talking flattering mattes, semi-mattes, a gorgeous champagne highlighter, a super flattering coral blush and a warm matte blendable brown as contour. 

It's no surprise, given our grá for Pippa that the pre-sale palettes were all but snapped up in days. The official launch isn't until July 20th but having spoken to our good beauty pals over at Cloud10Beauty we've teamed up to bring you the second in our dazzling giveaways. Not only will you win an Exclusive Pippa palette for your good self but you can nab one for your pal too!! (the first is for A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF THE TAN enter below)

Entry for this one couldn't be simpler, you know me. Just pop your details in the widget of wonder below. 

Entries are open to both the UK & Ireland but if you happen to be under 18 do please get permission from your parent or guardian - Maybe don't mention it's for the Pippa palette - I can see a LOT of Mamas wanting this versatile beauty too !

Good Luck!! <3

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Enter our Stunning
Giveaway for A YEAR's
SUPPLY OF TAN here too!

Tom Ford's Adriano & Giacomo. Pictures, Swatches & Review!

Can we just take a minute? Just inhale deeply and behold the beauty that is Tom Ford lipsticks. I'll readily admit that I have never been swayed by Mr Ford's hella expensive products before but when I saw the Goddess of beauty blogging that is Temptalia swatch the entirety of the Tom Ford Lips & Boys limited edition collection. I knew I'd have to have at least one. That's how Adriano & Giacomo here became the newest boys in my life. 

There's just no getting away from the price with these miniature lippies, with each of the 50 strong wardrobe coming in at a hefty £26 (€33.49) for just 2g of product. TWO GRAMS OF PRODUCT. But this, dear reader, is where any beauty addict worth their salt will tell you, it's an illness. I HAD TO HAVE THEM. 

Of course I spent the two weeks before release on Stephen's Day googling and regoogling swatches. Hmming and hawing about which colours I absolutely, positively couldn't live without and that's how Adriano & Giacomo found their forever home in my stash. 

Before my Selfridge's order even arrived to Parcel Motel, reviews began to filter through the blogging world of disappointment with the product amount. Not with the lipstick itself, because Tom Ford but with the weenchy bullets that arrived for the money dispatched. I began to regret my purchases before these lads even arrived. But then they did. 

The packaging is classic TF black and gold and is surprisingly weighty for its size. Though the bullet weighs in at just 2g, gram per gram these are the same price as their full size counterparts. That news lifted my spirits immediately. Then came swatches, from the shaft of the bullet at first because who wants to ruin that TF embossing? Of course once I'd seen one swipe I wanted more and went for a full swatch each. 

Adriano is a bright coral with orange leanings but just enough pink to make it wearable for me. Completely opaque in one richly saturated swipe, I found it incredibly moisturising and soft for such a long wearing lipstick. I favour this one on evenings out with a subtle matte shadow look and lashings of mascara. It's as brave as I've been with lipstick and I'm loving it. 

Giacomo is a much pinker coral with a extremely subtle golden microshimmer. Again it applies like a dream and wears for hours on end, without the need for retouching or checking it's stayed in place. That doesn't stop me looking at it again and again as I'm wearing it though. It might just be my most perfect colour. 

So the question is thus, are they worth the spend? In my honest opinion? HELL YES. 

I've been carrying both little boys in my mála since they arrived a fortnight ago and I never thought I'd be saying this but I've already got my eye on 3 more, once my freelance sheckles clear (Guillermo, Richard & Alejandro).... (and maybe Cary) Wha? I can't help myself! 

You can pick them up exclusively on Selfridges here but they are limited edition and some colours have already sold out. That sentence is enough to give any beauty fiend sweaty palms right there. 

Tell me, would you part with €33 for 2g of lippie? Even more importantly, if money were NO object, which of the boys would you be buying? I'd love to know!

New Lancome Grandiose Mascara - Review

I've been at this beauty blogging malarkey for coming up on 3 years now and still not many launches excite me as much as a new high end mascara. Yes, for the most part, what brands are telling me isn't really true and if it is, it really isn't applicable in every day life but sell me slippers and call me Dorothy if I don't fall for it every time. Lancôme's Grandiôse and its swan necked applicator are case in point here but still, I'm sold. 

Shehla Shaikh, Head of Lancôme's Elite Team
shows us the perfect application technique at the product launch. 

The problem identified by Lancôme is that many women struggle to apply mascara evenly to both eyes, without reaching across the bridge of the nose and smudging product in the process. Their solution? The patented swan neck applicator. (That twisted doohickey above). 

In their studies of make up application, eye experts at the brand have broken the eye down into six zones to ensure expert application every time. There are nine steps for both eyes combined with a further four should you be feeling dedicated. I won't copy & paste or relay them verbatim but you can see them here. 

What I will say is that taking my time, concentrating on my lashes as outer, middle and inner and applying Grandiôse with care has given me the most amazing false lash effect that I've ever achieved from a mascara. Like ever. 

The Grandiôse tube itself is beautiful with the signature Lancôme rose outstretched from the black bell shaped end and suspended in clear resin. While I'm still hesitant to twist and pump the wand from the tube - it goes against all my mascara bacteria fighting inclinations - there is no doubting the finished result is a sight to behold. 

My lashes are separated, elongated and volumised without feeling heavy or overly made up. I'm not one to smudge my mascara on application normally but there are definite benefits to the swan necked wand. The bend reaches over the bridge of my nose easily and I just seem to get a better job done faster. That's a win, right? 

Whether it's the formulation, the wand, the technique or a combination of all three, Lancôme's Grandiôse is definitely worth your attention. You'll find it on counters exclusively in Brown Thomas until August 1st for €30 and nationwide thereafter. I'm definitely a fan. 

If the eye experts are watching though, could we have some research into why I can't keep my mouth closed when applying mascara? The struggle is real!

**Exclusive Fine One One Reader Giveaway**

If you've dipped your toe in beauty tags on social media over the past week, you'll have seen that they're awash with #FineOneOne and #GetGorgeous hashtags. This new brightening cheek and lip colour from Benefit has Beauty Bloggers and devout Benebabes in a tizzy and with one look at the product, it's not hard to see why. 

Promising to instantly Lift, Shape and Pop your cheeks in one simple stroke, Fine One One is the ideal blush product for those of us wanting to skip a couple of make up steps in our routine. With three colours, Pink Champagne to highlight, Sheer Watermelon to blush and Soft Coral to softly contour, this roll up stick of loveliness is a cinch to use. 

Fine One One: €34

While not recommended for use over powder, if you find that Fine One One needs a little staying power on your skin you can double up by using your favourite powder blush lightly on top. ( I always liked that duality with Benefit products) Think SugarBomb as a day time choice and Bella Bamba for brighter cheeks in the evening, though I haven't had to top up at all as yet.  

While at the launch last week I was so taken with Fine One One that I knew you lovely CherrySue readers would appreciate the chance to be one of the first in the country to try it, luckily Benefit Cosmetics Ireland agreed and have kindly offered one up for the taking. 

Entry, as ever, couldn't be simpler. Give the widget there a click or three and voila(!) you're in the running to get gorgeous. Good Luck, everyone. 

*Header Pic Credit

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First Look: Vogue Fashion Night Out 2012 : Exclusive Les Twin-sets De CHANEL

Today I've a little heads up about an exclusive launch coming to the Chanel Fashion Boutique in Brown Thomas, Dublin this September. As part of the Coco Mademoiselle 15ml Pure Perfume release, this Vogue Fashion Night Out campaign is bringing us 3 Limited Edition 'Twin-Sets'.

These sets consist of a Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick (€30.50) and a matching Le Vernis (€22.00). They are intended to be worn as a complimentary twin set, bringing glamour and sophistication to lips and nails but will be sold separately. Want a closer look? 

Rouge Allure Velvet La Provocante & Les Vernis Provocation are both this unique autumn plum shade, designed to bring out your vampish side and the ideal shade to bring you into Autumn/Winter. 

Rouge Allure Velvet L' Infandéle & Infidéle are both an intense pink with a burst of energy. Each a flattering, wearable shade for any skin tone. 

Rouge Allure La Délicate &  Délicatesse are a refined expression of beige, designed to play on the natural side of sophistication. These will appeal to those wishing to add to their Chanel collection that can be worn year round. 

All three sets will be launching, exclusively, in Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin on the 6th of September but will be available from Chanel counters worldwide following this so should anything take your fancy you have a little way to go to get your sheckles together. Although darker than my usual taste, La Provocante has certainly piqued my interest.

How about you?

Introducing Lancôme's Newest Fragrance - La Vie Est Belle

La Vie Est Belle is the newest Lancôme fragrance, set to hit counters on September 1st 2012 and is based on a 'concept' according to Anne Flipo, one of the three master perfumers responsible for the scents creation ( the other two being Oliver Polge and Dominique Ropion)

The concept of this fragrance is centered on the idea of natural and simple beauty, freedom from conventions and the choice of one's own vision of happiness. The fragrance is a kind of outlook on life, inspired by joy and pleasure in small things.

Over three years in creation with approximately 5000 attempts at the perfect scent, La Vie Est Belle is bottled in the heavy weight glass creation of Armand Petitjean from 1949, its grey chiffon ribbon reminiscent of an elegant silk scarf blowing in the wind.

La Vie Est Belle - The redesigned classic Lancôme 1949 bottle is said to represent the curvature of a woman's smile

Containing just 63 ingredients, such as black currant, pear, orange blossoms, iris and jasmine. There's an almost nutty element to the scent due to tonka bean, praline, patchouli and vanilla. To my nose there's a sweet powdery finish that stays on the skin long after the scent has dissipated.

Priced at 30ml: €47, 50 ml: €65 and 75ml: €80 for the EDP, there will also be a body lotion for €34 and a shower gel for €32. BTs in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway have, once again, secured a worldwide exclusive with this scent and will launch on August 1st, preceding worldwide availability on September 1st.

Looking forward to a spritz?

World Exclusive: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat

I've managed to unhand this beauty for just long enough to tell you about it. After 10 years of research, development and leading edge technology, Le Teint Touche Éclat is 'the first product to bring you the weightlessness of a tinted moisturiser yet the coverage of a foundation' according to Fred Letailleur, international make up artist for YSL.

It promises the magic light of Touche Éclat in a foundation that's suitable for all skin types and age ranges and is the first of it's kind to boast 22 shades, each of which with three separate undertones, Thanks to Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director of Make Up with YSL, so there's bound to be one to suit your skin tone perfectly.

Fred Letailleur shows us how Le Teint & Touche Éclat are the perfect duo to target shadowy areas and define contours

This is about as excited as I've ever been to begin trialling a foundation and I need not be alone... On the 28th of June with a Worldwide Exclusive, BTs in Dublin, Limerick, Cork & Galway and Selfridges in London are offering a complimentary shade match and seriously generous, bespoke for your very own face, 7 day sample (For pics see Beaut.ie's post here) with a nationwide launch following on July 9th 2012, it will be very fairly priced at €38.

I'll have a review up very soon but just couldn't wait to share the sneak peek, there were some fabulous Bloggers in attendance at the launch yesterday too so expect to see stunning pictures as the beauty world is set alight for this breakthrough foundation. Not from me though, I tried but Lorrrrrrrrraine couldn't resist the photobomb... le sigh...

Get out of the mirror, Carol Anne!

What do you think? Excited? Ecstatic? 

Exclusive Look at The Bourne Legacy Teaser Trailer

One of my favourite things about working with movie studios and production companies for this here blog is bringing you exclusive content and exciting teaser trailers. This peek at the upcoming Bourne Legacy thriller is a prime example.

Introduced by Mr Renner himself, behold 2 and a half minutes of why I can't wait until August 17th.

It's looking like Jeremy purposely didn't over extend himself as Hawk-Eye in order to beef it up and kick some ass in the latest of one of the best franchises to date.

Excited much?