My new favourite lip colour: Une Sheer Lips Balm

The stuff you get in goody bags is rarely blog-worthy, but I’ve made an exception for the brilliant Sheer Lips Balm by Une – a tinted lip balm that actually delivers what it promises.

I’m not a big fan of wearing lipstick during the day. I love a bright red or fuschia every so often for a night out, but for weekdays at work I tend to go with just a slick of lip balm. In search of something slightly more substantial, I actually came up with a my own homemade concoction of Maybelline NY Dream Soft Blush in Plum mixed with a fingerful of good old Vaseline – intended to give moisture but with a hint of colour. But I can now stop my amateur makeup mixology because it turns out such a product already exists. I came across it in the goody bag from the Boutique 10K run that I did a few weeks ago: Une Sheer Lips Balm is a moisturising lip balm that also gives a touch of colour. It comes in eight natural tones and is available on LoveLula.com for £7.99. The balms may look opaque, but the colour is a lot more subtle on application, and it genuinely has a hydrating effect, unlike many lipsticks which promise both moisture and colour but are actually quite dry on the lips.

I had never heard of French beauty brand Une before. According to their website, Une are all about organic ingredients and the majority of their products are certified by the Ecocert label (they also don’t like anyting to stay still, apparently). With an emphasis on natural beauty, the range is definitely worth a look  if you’re a devotee of the ‘barely there’ school of makeup.

Photo courtesy Lovelula.com

Forever 21 Store Launch: Oxford street’s newest offering

Last week saw one of the U S of A’s biggest chains open up its new British flagship on Oxford Street.  With Bip Ling fronting the advertisement campaign, it is kind of obvious the type of people they are hoping to attract i.e. not your mum.

And with over 500 stores worldwide, and already having opened their first UK branch in Birmingham’s Bull Ring last year, you would assume from all the hype this is the start of Forever 21’s ascent to becoming Queen of the High Street.  Well, they’ve already started jumping into HMV’s grave, giving Forever 21 their final break into the West End’s high street….

The store itself is actually mighty impressive.  Spanning three floors and keeping quite a modern layout, the Visual Merchers have done somewhat of an awesome job.  However, the clothing does seem a tad ‘glorified Primark meets H&M’ and I cannot say I wasn’t devastatingly disappointed.  I was day dreaming of an American Apparel meets Urban Outfitters super store.  Mind you, some of the footwear and accessories weren’t bad, and prices are ever so low (perfect for the discerning shopper).  The problem is, is there even room in the UK market for this type of store?  And is our ‘Great British High Street’ somewhat drowning in a tidal wave of American brands at the moment?  Just don’t get me started on Hollister…