The Fake Face of Beauty

Recently a colleague of mine informed me she had had a splurge on makeup. All mid to high end brands she had bought two palettes of eyeshadow from Chanel, five MAC lipglass, numerous bits from Benefit and a couple of Dior mascaras. Sounds good? Yes indeed, a good spree even if you are much poorer at the end of it. So when my colleague told me that the grand total spent on these products was just over £50 online there were some loud alarm bells ringing. Despite trying to gently suggest this to my colleague it did fall on deaf ears. Until a couple of days later when she came into work sporting dull, pink eyes - conjunctivitis, not a look she'd created from using her new palettes. Compared to some she came off fairly lightly.


Looking at the sites she had bought from it was abundantly clear that none of these items were legit. Unfortunately the fake cosmetics industry, along with its fashion/accessories counterparts, is booming. Sites like eBay and Facebook make it much easier to pass on fake products, never mind doing a quick Google search and finding entries like cheapmacwholesale.com (or thereabouts, you get my drift!) where you can buy a lipglass for a couple of pounds. We all love a good bargain, especially when money is tight so it may be tempting to go for the cheaper option - paying £20 for a genuine (it is, honest! The website says so ;-) ) set of 20 MAC brushes as opposed to a few hundred pounds on the MAC website for the equivalent brushes?


Why so against the fakes? When reading on sites about people buying counterfeits because 'why should they pay extortionate prices for an eyeshadow?' or 'the copy is just as good as the real thing' my heart does sink a little. Consider these...

Ethics - First of all another company is getting credit for 'creating' somebody elses product. It's also illegal - why fund crime? If you choose brands that don't test on animals, chances are the counterfeit will not be guaranteed to follow this either.

Health concerns - Unlike wearing a fake Chanel 2.55 handbag, a knock-off foundation might just cause a few more problems to your health. Skincare and cosmetics companies undergo rigorous testing before they are up for sale and have passed stringent laws for the country of sale. Increasingly high levels of lead, copper and arsenic, amongst others, have been found in counterfeit cosmetics, bacteria have even been found in some eye makeup. Lovely. If you develop an eye infection or an allergic reaction there will be no comeback, and lets face it, with such lax analysis of their products this is pretty likely.

How to identify fakes?

Unfortunately it's pretty difficult as the counterfeit companies are making some strong similarities with their items. There are some key points to check and consider though:

1. Cost - be realistic, a genuine Dior lipstick which retails for £25 is never going to be sold for £5. Ever. All of these so-called wholesale websites will say that they are selling factory seconds which justifies their low price-nope! A product that is flawed in some way won't be put out for general sale.

2. Ratings - eBay isn't the most reliable place to purchase higher end cosmetics, but if you're careful you can find some gems. Check the sellers rating - if there are any comments suggesting they are selling fakes, beware. Likewise if somebody is selling vast amounts of the same products (usually brushes) alarm bells may ring.

3. Packaging - difficult to assertain for sure unless you have seen genuine items already however MAC products are always named, they aren't sold as shade 01, 02 etc. There should be a batch number available.

4. MAC brushes - do not come in sets, apart from the limited edition sets usually released only at Christmas. They never do sets of 20 brushes and this is a common fake that crops up on eBay!

5. MAC palettes - 88 eyeshadow palettes? Not in MAC's product list. Another eBay item, don't be fooled. At most there is usually six eyeshadows in a made up palette as part of a promo, certainly not 88/100.

These are just four of many fake MAC products on eBay at the moment.These are more obviously fake if know the brand than some.

For more information have a read of these links:

Daily Mail article   this is worth a read to look at some of the dubious and quite frankly scary materials found in counterfeits.
Specktra forums    fantastic, knowledgeable forum where there is a lot of information on identifying fakes. Spotted an amazing deal on that limited edition lipstick from long ago? Check here first.
eBay review - spotting fake Benefit cosmetics    some useful information on checking if your Benefit cosmetics are real.
eBay review - spotting fake MAC    and another one for MAC too

There are some good comparison pictures found on other blogs too which have some clear pointers on what to look for, very useful if you are unfamiliar with a brand.

Please do take a moment to consider if your next bargain is in fact real. Its not worth risking your health to wear something that has not undergone testing to the same standards as the original. If you suffer a reaction (at the very least) you have nobody to come back on for this - the 'warehouse' these items came from won't be admitting any responsibility. There are plenty of affordable brands who are reliable, don't break the bank and are good quality (MUA - try it!), otherwise bite the bullet and pay for the real thing, your skin will be much more appreciative of it.

Review - MUA Pro Base Fixing Mist

Yes, like many others I have jumped on the MUA Fixing Mist and after wearing it for the last two weeks? I love it!





The idea of the fixing mist is to hold your makeup, regardless of weather conditions. My skin is combination and at its oily stages it does have a tendency to 'slip' by early afternoon - cue a supply of pressed powder and blotting sheets! Having tried MAC Fix+ and not being overly amazed by it, I thought I'd give this one a try as it was getting some good reviews.

Once I'd sprayed the mist as directed over my face from an arms length distance I noticed that my skin didn't feel particularly wet - some mists/sprays do have the effect of pretty much dousing your skin. This did sink in very quickly. Some reviews recommend that you buff the mist into your skin, especially when using mineral or more heavy makeup to prevent a cakey look and this isn't ideal if your face is soaking wet! There is a very faint scent to it as well which is pleasant enough.

MUA claim that Fixing Mist gives up to eight hours of in-place makeup. And does it? Well...yes! I've got to then ends of the working day with my makeup still in place. Depending on my skin at the time I might reapply base in some areas (nose and chin mainly) if I was heading straight out after work, but to have gone through the day without powder touch ups/reapplication is pretty impressive.

Would I repurchase? Definitely!

Fixing Mist can be found at MUA online or at Superdrug stores for £5.

January wish list

Lancome Blush in Love in Peche Joue Joue - Part of of the spring 2013 collection by Lancome, this blusher is just beautiful for the season. Must-have!


La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF50 - I've heard some excellent reviews of this facial sunscreen. I'm heading off to Antigua soon and will be in desperate need of something with a high SPF and is effective.


Revlon Just Bitten Kissable lipstain in Honey - Like I've mentioned before I'm loving these types of lip pencil and am currently using my Clinique Chubby Sticks daily. I do already own one Revlon lipstain in Rendezvous which is a beautiful red, and one advantage that these have over the Chubby Sticks is as the name suggests, their lipstain properties. Even after eating and drinking once the gloss has gone, there is still a good amount of colour left on my lips. The honey shade is a mid-pink, very much one of the 'my lips but better' type of effects.


Benefit Laugh With Me LeeLee perfume - I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the Crescent Row fragrances as I find them very strong, and some particularly overpowering, yet I have to have a spritz when I pass the counter. Laugh With Me LeeLee however is a much lighter scent described by Benefit as a woody floral, with a light blend of citrus, jasmine and lilly blossoms. It's a very wearable every day scent and reminds me of the long-gone 'B spot' perfume.


Nuxe Reve de Miel lipbalm - I'm easily sold with lipbalms and have a stash of them, but am always looking for one better than the last (which is currently Nivea lip butters-impressive by the way). This one has received lots of praise from blogs and the press and being a sucker for anything honey-related also means this is high on my 'to buy' list.


Have you tried any of these products? What are your views on them?

Review - Lush Mask of Magnaminty

When it comes to Lush there are very few of their products that I don't get on with. Their skincare products are something I always love though, their face masks in particular. The majority of face masks are fresh meaning they have to be refrigerated and have around a months use by date from the date of manufacture. Mask of Magnaminty doesn't fall into this category although keeping it in the fridge really gives a zingy effect on application, it is not essential and it does last longer than the fresh masks.


Lush describe the mask as refreshing and brightening and can be used on the face and body. It is a thick clay and peppermint mask ideal for deep cleansing, and with fine grains also gently exfoliates at the same time.


I tend to use this mask weekly, more if my skin is misbehaving or if I have been working nights where I might have been somewhat lax with my skincare routine. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes or until the clay has set and rinse (a lot, it does take a while to wash off!) and a brighter face should be revealed. This is one product that really does do what it says on the tin, and I have found that for many clay masks it is difficult to go wrong with them if their use is to get rid of blemishes for instance. If you have problem areas such as chin or nose you can just apply the mask there on a more regular basis if needed. The bonus with this mask is the exfoliation - only gentle exfoliation is needed and I can see a difference, especially if my skin has been looking a bit dull or tired. It's certainly good for a pick me up.

The only disadvantage for me is the smell. In theory it should be all pepperminty and lovely, but all I can smell is potatoes. Yep, boiled potatoes at that. Other people however can just smell peppermint and none of the potato nonsense so don't let that put you off!

Mask of Magnaminty is available in Lush shops or online. It is available in two sizes: 125g is priced at £4.95 and 315g at £8.75.

Disappointing products

It's always disappointing to buy a product that doesn't work for you, especially when you read in magazines and on blogs how great it seems to work for others. This was definitely the case for five items that I just haven't been able to get along with and just shows that what works well for one person won't necessarily work for another.

MUA cream blusher in Dolly - I so wanted to love this product as I'm really impressed with MUA so far and I generally prefer cream blushers over powder. This just didn't wow me at all. Application is fairly patchy and it seems to be that the cream is a drier consistency which makes applying it relatively difficult. I've tried different brushes and just using fingertips but unfortunately get the same result. I'm also wondering if the rectangular packaging doesn't help either? 

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker - I got this lipgloss as part of the bargain Best of All set from Boots just before Christmas. The colour in the tube is beautiful but when applied? Pretty much non-existant. That I can manage, some lipglosses are like that. However this is thick, sticky and doesn't feel very pleasant on the lips, almost film-like.

Max Factor nail polish in Fantasy Fire - One product that received huge hype last year was Fantasy Fire, and in the bottle it does look impressive although this has probably been the biggest disappointment out of the lot. I cannot get a decent coverage which actually shows the true colour and sparkle unless I use around five coats. This sized bottle is not meant for five coat applications! On false nails it looks great, on natural nails this polish is a real chore.

VO5 Give Me Texture tousle spray - I like these tousle/salt sprays and have used a few different brands on my wavy hair with good results so decided to try this one (yes, I do think the pink bottle probably steered me towards it...). The instructions on the bottle said it can be used on damp or dry hair for beach waves. Sadly no beach waves were found here. Used on either dry or damp hair I was left with knotted, dry hair that looked as though it was in desperate need of a wash and deep condition. Nice!

Benefit Hello Flawless foundation powder - I started using this when it first came out about three years ago. Loved it then, it provided good coverage and gave a flawless look. Bought another one recently and am just not getting the same effect anymore. I've tried both the enclosed sponge and brush, as well as using other brushes and unfortunately don't get the same look as I did back in the day. Its a bit of a waste although is pretty useful for touch ups during the day as a setting powder.

Are any of these your favourites? Do you carry on using products you're not overly keen on or just bite the bullet and chuck them out?!

Tried and tested - the usual look

Does anyone else go through phases where they just don't change their look? Recently I've been at a standstill with my makeup, autumn and winter tends to have that effect. I need some new inspiration and am checking FOTDs on blogs like no-ones business. This is what I'm currently going for:

Face




- Benefit Porefessional I have a number of these little sample size tubes and it will be a definite one to purchase once they've ran out. Very silky on application it provides a smooth base while minimising pores before applying foundation. It's not a miracle product by any means but certainly helps reduce pore size.

- L'oreal True Match foundation in Rose Ivory One of the best foundations I have found for me. Matches my skintone perfectly, and although it provides good coverage it feels light on application.

- Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair My go to concealer, this is a great budget buy. Again the shade is ideal - I haven't found other Collection products to be light enough for pale skin so this is perfect. Covers anything and everything from blemishes to under eye darkness without looking caked on or creased.


Cheeks




- Benefit Posie Tint A pinkier alternative to Benetint, and one that is much easier to apply, this is used for both lips and cheeks. Gives a nice flush of colour without being overdone.

- Benefit Hoola I've never really got on with Hoola after an unfortunate experience as a teenager having my makeup done at the Benefit counter. The SA was new, very enthusiastic and very heavy handed on the old bronzer - not good. Still, I got this as part of a set and after testing it out its actually more pale-friendly than I thought.

- NARS Deep Throat blusher You can't go wrong with this blush, love it!

- Benefit Highbeam One of the best liquid highlighters and lasts forever. I tend to mix a drop in with heavier foundations such as Estée Lauder Doublewear to perk my skintone a bit.


Eyes




- MUA Heaven & Earth palette A relatively recent purchase for me considering how long ago it was released and the [well deserved] hype it received. Very wearable colours, it you want neutrals go for this palette.

- MAC Teddy kohl The best brown eyeliner ever, this is one I've worn for about 10 years now. Glides on perfectly, great pigmentation and lasts.

- Collection 24 hour Extreme eyeliner Not that I ever wear eyeliner for a full 24 hours as a rule, this does do its job of staying put. And it's a bargain. It does however dry quickly so not easy to correct any mistakes.

- Lancôme Doll Eyes mascara Lancôme mascara are a favourite of mine and this is no exception. Lengthens lashes and the tapered brush means all lashes are covered. As much as I love this mascara it may happen to be superseded by....

- Benefit They're Real mascara ...which is even better than the above! If you want full, thick and long lashes try this. Anyone remember back in the day when Bad Gal lash was amazing (its really not like it used to be...)? Well this is better by far.


Lips





- Clinique Chubby Sticks There is nothing I don't like about these lip pencils from any brand but I do tend to use my Clinique ones more often. You get the best of both worlds- the colour and coverage of a lipstick, but the shine and moisture of a gloss, what more could you ask for?!

- Benefit Box O' Powder gloss Part of a set but Coralista and Sugarbomb are the two that I use the most. The perfect non-sticky, pigmented gloss which is very similar to a past range that Benefit used to sell called 'The Gloss' these glosses have corresponding powder boxes for a full colour effect.

- No7 / Poppy King lipstick in Glamour This is my first lipstick from the Poppy King range as I rarely wear No 7 makeup. A beautiful pink, this suits day and evening looks and has become a staple in my bag.


While you can't really go wrong with neutral eyes I'm in need of some colour! Does this lack of inspiration happen to anyone else?!

Review - Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser

The concept of hot cloth cleansing isn't unheard of thanks to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, later followed by brands such as No7, Soap and Glory and even M&S bringing out their offerings too. Superdrug have followed suit by releasing their hot cloth cleanser as part of the vitamin E range. Priced at £5.99 for 200ml, including a muslin cloth, there is often money off the range or is part of 3 for 2.










As you can see the cream cleanser is thick, and for me there is nothing better than slathering on a thick layer of cleanser to remove makeup on an evening. Cleansing foams and oils just don't cut it for me during makeup removal so this does the trick perfectly. Using the muslin cloth that is included I run it under hot water (funnily enough..), wring it out and keep on my face for a minute or so before wiping my makeup off. Once done a splash of cold water over my face, spritz of toner and my face feels soft and clean.


Scent-wise this isn't dissimilar to The Body Shops vitamin E range, just very clean and fresh smelling. It can be used to remove eye makeup but personal preference for me is to use a separate eye makeup remover first, and then a light going over with the cleanser. My eyes can be pretty sensitive at times but they certainly haven't reacted to this. How effectively does it remove heavy makeup? Well it's passed the Estée Lauder Doublewear challenge without too much effort!

Overall the main difference I would notice between Superdrugs own and Liz Earle is cost primarily. I don't think anything of using a generous amount of the vitamin E cleanser whereas am a bit more frugal with C&P. Both work just as effectively at removing makeup but if you're aiming for beauty on a budget, give this one a try.