Sunday 3 June 2012

Splurge! Dior Addict Extreme Paparazzi & Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour Rose Petal

Not a very recent splurge but one that took place before my recent blogging hiatus, I fell in love with the idea of the Dior Addict Extreme lipstick in Lucky when I saw it on a number of blogs and was determined to buy it as soon as I could.  In the meantime I dealt with my immediate need for a sheer, glossy, balm like lipstick by buying Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie.  As you know I do try to not splurge too often, my budget isn't limitless and I like to get a lot of bang for my buck.  So when I did finally check out the Dior Addict Extreme lipsticks I just couldn't justify buying Lucky, the colour was just too similar, or if not similar, not different ENOUGH to warrant spending £24 on.  But I wanted one!  (horribly in touch with my inner two year old, I know)  After swatching all of them on the back of my hand the one I kept coming back to was Paparazzi and even whilst I knew that such an expensive lipstick should be purchased in a very wearable, every day shade Paparazzi's juicy berry'ness was really calling my name!


In shade

In direct light - more colour accurate

It does feel lovely to wear, the usual balm like texture all of this sort of lipstick share and no discernible taste or smell.  I did also buy a Bobbi Brown lip pencil to wear with this as my lips do really need some defining although I still cant decide whether a defined edge, even blended out, really works with a sheerer lipstick and I think it affects the colour even if it is only slightly.  All in all £24 well spent, I am crazy about the packaging and I completely love my splurge lippy!

Blusher has long been an absolute minefield for me.  Even when I seem to think I have found my hg I catch sight of my reflection in the wrong light and it looks shocking.  Now that my beloved Estee Lauder Double Wear light has dealt with my foundation issues I feel much better able to deal with the blusher situation and on my birthday shopping spree in Leeds I decided that a really good blusher was top of my list.  

I had Nars in mind when I set out but couldn't find one that really worked on me, they were too opaque and just too "blusher" rather than "natural ethereal glow only gained from brisk exercise, a healthy diet and a love of quiet living" (oh yes I demand a lot from my make up!) This wasn't helped by the fact that the lovely girl on the Nars counter grabbed a big, huge, massive brush, swirled it generously in a bright, candy pink blush and then, kill me please, splodged it right on to the fattest bit of my cheek and made roundy swoshing motions.  It was all I could not to slap her hand away!  It was only then I took a look at her blusher.  Should have done that first as this was clearly her "technique".  

I blended it in as much as I could and beat a hasty path to the Laura Mercier counter.  This was staffed by a porcelain skinned beauty wearing the most flattering and subtle make up I have ever seen on a Sales Assistant, made the ladies on the MAC counter look like jaded harlots.  She spent a couple of minutes looking at my colouring and skin tone, insisted that pink not peach was the way to go - which was what I was wanting to hear - and put a delicate hint of Rose Petal right where I wear my blusher - more of a contour than on the apple of my cheeks.  I was instantly smitten and couldn't get my purse open fast enough.

I know it looks really quite peachy here but its pink, I promise!
Rose Petal is beautiful it gives an incredibly sheer wash of colour like no other blusher I have ever worn and which is exactly what I want in a blusher.  I am too prone to pinkness and colouring up to want to add too much in the way of colour, the hint of a flush Rose Petal gives is perfect and I would strongly recommend Laura Mercier blusher to any pale skinned readers looking for that effect.  It wasn't until I got home that I remembered that Strawberry Blond had once said that the Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colours would be exactly what I was looking for in the way of blush - not only is she gorgeous, she knows her stuff!

So here they are then, the two of them in action!
Bloody glasses really mark my face - should NOT have gone to Specsavers.




This one probably shows the blusher off best


And this one the lipstick, and my rather sleepy looking left eye. God I am weird looking!
 The blusher is £20.50 and for me worth every penny!

9 comments:

  1. Looks beautiful on you, Debbie. I have a LM kit that I've never even used! Must break that bad boy out!! x

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    1. Thanks hun. You have an unopened LM Kit???! wft how could that even happen?! Will be watching your blog closely for a post when you do get round to using it! xx

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  2. You look absolutely radian - very definitely money well spent!

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    1. Thank you lovely, I do completely love it, its so nice when you spend big (its all relative - £20 for blush is big to me!), fingers crossed, and then get what you were hoping for! xx

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  3. The LM blush is perfect for you! I'm really fancying one of the LM second skin blushers.
    I'm not sure if it would be of any use to you, but instead of a coloured lip pencil to use with paparazzi, would a clear lip pencil work? I know they work to stop feathering (Laura Mercier's is called anti feathering lip pencil, IIRC) not sure if they would offer anything in the way of definition?
    xx

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    1. Thank you gorgeous, I am very happy with it and would definitely suggest having a look. The idea of a clear lip pencil is good I might have to look into that, even if I used the colour lip pencil for the definition and then sort of blended it in with a clear pencil to remove the "line" if that makes sense, thanks for the idea will have a look at this. xxx

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  4. I really like both the lipstick and blusher on you. I know the colour of the lipstick isn't considered an 'everyday'er but it looks great on you and so my opinion is that you should rock that bad boy as often as possible! Hahaha

    As for Laura Mercier, love her stuff! Especially blushers. ;0)

    Looking good, Debbie!

    xxx

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  5. Thank you lovely, sound advice on the lipstick front I think too! Am definitely going to look at more Laura Mercier next time I have the ££, have never ever heard a bad word about any of her products. xxx

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  6. Where did you buy your necklace from? I have been looking for such ones for a long time now :(

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Would love to hear from you, I always read comments and reply and I love not feeling like I am talking to myself! dx

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