Dior Addict Lip Glow

Dior Addict Lip Glow 'Colour Awakening Balm.'

I've been searching for a 'perfect' natural pink lip colour for quite some time. On my quest I've tried a number of products with some very mixed results. I was looking for a lip colour which could look natural enough to be worn to classes or the library and yet accentuate my fairly mundane natural lip colour. Thankfully I recently stumbled across a product by the name of Dior Addict Lip Glow which is, in my opinion, the holy grail of natural pink lip colours. 

This product isn't your ordinary tinted lip balm; it contains Dior's 'Color Reviver' technology which reacts with the chemistry of your lips to give a unique colour. The lip balm will therefore be a slightly different colour on each wearer. It should provide a natural pink shade that is perfectly suited to their skin. I really love this aspect of the product. In addition to lending a lovely source of colour, the Lip Glow moisturises your lips well. However, I would recommend Burt's Bees lip balms if you're specifically looking for something to sooth dry lips.

The packaging in front of Singer Sargent's Lady Agnew of Lochnaw and Botticelli's Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child. 

The Lip Glow has a very slight mint-y flavour and smell. This scent is almost unnoticeable and vanishes soon after application. The colour and shine provided by the balm lasts for a brilliantly long time. It survives for much longer than tinted lip balms from other brands in my experience (for instance, those by Korres or Burt's Bees.) One of my favourite things about the Lip Glow is it's packaging. It is contained in an absolutely beautiful pale pink tube with a metal stem shaped in the iconic Dior Addict style. The product would look lovely inside any handbag or purse. I tend to find that packaging and product design is an area where 'high end' make-up brands excel. 

(L-R) Without the balm - Ten minutes after application.

The one big downside of the product is it's price. It costs £22.50 for just 3.5g of make-up which is rather expensive, especially when compared to 'drug store' (or high street) alternatives. However, I think that this price is justified by the quality of the product. It seems as though a lot of research has gone into bringing this lip balm to market and it shows.

If you're looking for a source of lip colour that is both naturally enhancing and unique, Dior Addict Lip Glow is for you. I definitely look forward to wearing this product as an everyday lip colour. It's quick to apply and appropriate for almost every situation. My quest for the 'perfect' natural pink is finally over!

Three Months

September: A day in Venice - Planning a trip to Italy - On top of Monte Grappa

September: The DW - Travelling home on an away day - Upton Park

September: Craven Cottage - King's Cross - Our first breakfast in a new flat

October: The weather turned colder - Exploring London - Hospital

October: Rain at the Madejski - Currently one of my favourite nail polishes, 'A-List' by Essie - Fresh air

November: The US presidential election - Zara flats and Pablo II the Pumpkin - Library

November: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland - Christmas decorations arrive in London - An evening in with a Spaas candle, Barry M 'Red Glitter' nail polish and Korres lip butter in 'Wild Rose.'

Instagram - BoyFromBirkenhead

Cambridge Satchel

The Classic 14" Satchel in black with gold embossed letters.

I'll admit it: I'm smitten. I've been a fan of the Cambridge Satchel Company for quite some time now. It's lovely to finally own one of their bags.

The bag itself is beautifully made. I was originally a little nervous about damaging it or scratching the leather. The satchel is in fact remarkably hardy. It's emerged unscathed from journeys during London's rush hour and contact with numerous lecture theatre floors. Despite this, I'm secretly looking forward to when the bag gets a little scratched and battered. Aged and battered satchels have a unique charm about them.

I've been using the satchel for nearly three weeks now. When the bag first arrived it needed to be used and stretched a little before it expanded to it's optimum size. It's now the right size to hold the essentials and is light enough to carry around throughout the day. Although the colourful Cambridge Satchels are a lot of fun, I'm very glad that I chose to purchase mine in black. It's a practical colour which is less likely to show dirt while neatly harmonising with most outfits.

The back of the Satchel - Inside the bag.

One criticism of the bag is that it can take a while to open and close. The buckles are quite fiddly to work (especially if you're carrying a hot drink or an umbrella at the same time!) Hopefully with time and practice they'll be easier to do up. The satchel also smells very strongly of leather even after three weeks of use. This is unavoidable but is still important to note before purchasing a satchel if you don't like leathery scents.

The satchels can take up to thirty days to be delivered as they're handmade. While this is quite a long time to wait for a bag, it's well worth it. Alternatively, a number of brands including ASOS stock ready-made Cambridge Satchels which can be delivered within days. The Cambridge Satchel Company recommend using a leather protection spray on their bags to protect them from the rain. This is a worthy investment as the leather can be damaged by water. If the satchel does get wet, it's important to dry the bag straight away rather than letting moisture sink in.

Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. The satchel is very functional and I'm still a little in awe of it. Hopefully it'll age well and prove to be a worthy investment.

Recently

Hampton Court Flower Show - 'Invisible Sculpture' by Andy Warhol (1985) at the Hayward - Victoria Station

Lewes, Sussex - Currently one of my favourite nail polishes, 'Master Plan' by Essie discovered through the fab ChelseaWears

 A pick-me-up in Paul - John Lewis' Olympic Spirit - An evening

A bargain Angora jumper picked up in the French Connection sale - Brunch with A - An afternoon

Instagram - BoyFromBirkenhead

Toluene: Seche Vite

Left to right: School of Hard Rocks by Essie, I Mainely Eat Lobster by O.P.I and Seche Vite's Fast Dry Top Coat

This evening I was painting my nails using a Seche Vite fast dry topcoat and noticed a rather frightening warning on the outside of the bottle. It stated that the product contained a chemical known to 'cause birth defects' and 'other reproductive harm.' Why hadn't I noticed this warning before? The topcoat itself is an incredible product that dries your nail varnish in little to no time. It seemed almost too good to be true when I first began using it just a month ago. What if it was just that?

The chemical found in Seche Vite and in many other nail varnishes is called Toluene. It can also be referred so as Phenylmethane, Methylbenzene and Toluol in ingredient lists. It is used in some nail polishes to make the product apply smoothly and may also be found in items including petrol, paint thinners and varnishes. According to TLC Style [1], exposure to the chemical has been known to cause eye irritation, nausea, headaches and dizziness. Studies have also concluded that high levels of exposure to Toluene can cause liver and kidney damage, birth defects, developmental abnormalities and even miscarriages.

The good news is that Toluene (in addition to the equally nasty nail varnish ingredients, Formaldehyde and Dibutyl Phthalate or DBP) was banned by the European Union in 2004 [5]. They judged that the chemical posed a serious threat to human health and was not safe for use. As a result many companies have changed the formulations of their nail polishes to fit EU regulations and Toluene is no longer found in cosmetics sold in European markets. Additionally, some well known nail varnish companies including O.P.I, Sally Hansen and Essie have removed Toluene from their products worldwide [4]. Hooray!

Despite this success, Toluene has not been eradicated from all markets worldwide. In the United States cosmetics companies can still sell products which contain potentially dangerous chemicals [2]. Some states including California have instituted laws that require brands to publicly declare their use of Toluene but this will not completely prevent exposure to the chemicals as in the European Union. I ordered my Seche Vite topcoat from the United States and as a consequence received a potentially dangerous product. I wonder how many other people are blindly using products which contain these troublesome chemicals without knowing the risks? It is unacceptable that the cosmetics industry and global governments allow people to endanger their health in such a way.

Until Seche (the makers of Seche Vite) reformulate their cosmetics and discontinue their use of Toluene, I will not be using any of their products. It's up to each individual to judge whether or not they wish to continue using these cosmetics. However, it's crucial that consumers are made aware of the risks involved so that they are able to make informed decisions. I personally believe that there is too great a risk involved with using nail polishes which contain Toluene. Let the hunt for the best Toluene-free topcoat begin.

References and further reading about Toluene:
1. Jasmin Malik Chua and Planet Green, TLC Style: "Know Your Cosmetic Ingredients: Toluene."
2. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Nail Products and Salons. 
3. Cosmetics Info: Toluene Information.
4. All Lacquered Up: The Big 3 (Toxic Chemicals, that is.) and Check Your Ingredients.
5. European Commission for Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General, 'S.C.C.P opinion on Toluene.' 

A Saturday Afternoon

Dad's Chelsea Bun (which I had a little of despite my ban on eating gluten, eep!) and Cappuchino with my lovely iced Cappuccino.

Coffee with Dad

 Art on the street - My reflection in a shop window

 Purchases - A Moleskin art gallery notebook, Designing for Social Change by Andrew Shea (this relates to the degree I'm currently studying for and is a beautifully but together book) and The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret Sullivan (I'm a shameless Austenite - this looks fantastic!)

 Purchases - baking goodies and a beautiful summer scarf by Beck Söndergaard.

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