Paul & Joe Beach Baby Collection SS13

Hello beautiful people!!

I suspected that May was going to be a bit sporadic for London Beauty Banter, and I was right. I'm juggling so much at the moment and the exhaustion is creeping in so much of my blogging time has had to become nap time in the last week. I'm slowly getting through all these university deadlines though and I've taken this evening out to schedule a couple of posts for this weekend and the number one item on the agenda is definitely these fantastic new releases from the Paul & Joe Summer 'Beach Baby' collection. 

I got a little excited when I walked into the P&J offices for this event. You can't help but stare at Paul & Joe products can you?? The packaging is stunning! As always Paul & Joe have taken their inspiration for this collection from 60s nostalgia and all those gloriously retro beach films. The shades are perfect for that retro POP of colour that looks so beautiful in the sunshine.   

The Beach Baby Limited Edition Collection consists of....

Smoothing Base £26

Foundation primer and pore minimiser. Formulated with Apricot and White Lily Extract to deliver hydration whilst Jojoba oil helps skin retain that moisture throughout the day. This product refines the skin, making it smoother and more toned in order to provide the perfect canvas for flawless summer makeup.

SPF20 Pressed Powder £28

This powder comes in two shades; Beach Baby Pink and Summer Sand to cater for both warm and cool skin tones.  This powder will add a beautiful glow to your skin whilst disguising pores and absorbing excess oil to create a 'soft focus' effect.

Eyeliner/Eye Crayon Duo £22

A great multi purpose product! This product has a water resistant formula and combines liner to define the eyes as well as a versatile crayon which can be used as a liner or a smooth, glossy shadow. Great for popping in your beach bag for touch ups. The colours are...

Saint Tropez (01) Soft, natural sunkissed tones

Fiji (02) Beige and Lavender

Cypress (03) Earthy tones

Las Palmas (04) Aquatic, bold blues/greens

Santorini (05) Smokey Charcoal and Turquoise

Eye and Lip Gloss Duo £28

Another multi use product which is ideal for slipping into your beach bag. Inspired by sunsets and seascapes, these shades have been paired to be reminiscent of the 60s era. The shades are muted, but buildable to achieve an effortless summer makeup which will not budge. The shades are...

Santa Monica (01) Rose tones

Nice (02) A pop of purple with a subtle pink

Monaco (03) Sandy beige tones

Maui (04) Nectarine and Lemon

Bahamas (05) Vintage pink flamingo

Nail Enamels £12

Retro shades which pay tribute to some of the worlds' most beautiful beaches. These polishes come in the same adorable Paul & Joe packaging, with a summer twist of pink. I'm so excited about these colours! Paul & Joe haven't left anything out with this selection. There is everything from muted lavender to opal to aqua and orange. The shades are

Miami (031) Soft, yet striking Lavender

Caribbean (032) Cool aquamarine

Bermuda (033) Sunkissed Rose

Mauritius (034) Sparkling, pale sand tones

Rio (035) Rich, rusty orange

Blotting Papers £3.50

The trusty Paul & Joe blotting papers have had a summer dolphin makeover for this collection and are a must for absorbing excess dirt and oil while on the go or on the beach. Instant face freshening and perfect for your beach kit. 

I was lucky enough to take home some of the products, although I think I need more! I can't wait to try them out. I've been in need of a new brown liner and Saint Tropez is perfect! The smoothing base has got a lot to live up to because I'm expecting great things. I will, of course report back! 

It was so lovely to catch up with all the ladies from Paul & Joe and, of course, the awesome Craig-Ryan French (P&J Beaute's brand ambassador and SFX Makeup artist to the stars) who talked us through all of the new products with demonstrations on unwitting 'victims' and letting us swatch to our hearts content! 

The Paul & Joe Beach Baby Collection is available NOW instore at Harrods, Fenwicks and Selfridges as well as online at ASOS. It will also go live on BeautyBay from 1st June. It's well worth investigating and will look BEAUTIFUL on your vanity. 

Do you look for vintage inspiration when the weather heats up?? Do you think you will pick up any of these products?? What are your beach bag essentials??

New Discoveries at Paul & Joe

Hello there beauty seekers!!

I was introduced to the wonderful world of Paul & Joe just recently. I'd heard the name and a little bit of info about the brand, but had never actually experienced their products for myself. This has now all changed and i thought i'd share my thoughts on the products with you!

I recently went along to an event at their store just off Sloane Square in London. There, i was treated to a bottle of Champagne (through a straw, which made it even better haha), and a masterclass from the lovely Craig-Ryan on how to create the perfect red lip. He actually changed my mind about red lips. I have struggled to find a shade of red to suit me, but he just seemed to KNOW and transformed me into a red lippy lover. 

As well as all the tips and tricks and treats i got to take home some amazing products! I can safely say i've now had the complete Paul & Joe experience and i'm totally a new fan! Here's what i came home with along with some swatches.....

Firstly, how GORGEOUS is Paul & Joe packaging?!?! I just love how dainty it is and all the little detailing that is on it. This is definitely a brand to have on display on your vanity! 

Nail Polish in Shade 014

I'm slowly coming around to glitter nail polish this year in the run up to Xmas, and this one is STUNNING!! I haven't had chance to wear it yet as i've been seriously sidetracked by my recent new Nails Inc additions (more on those to follow soon), but i'm really looking forward to rocking this over the party season! 

Lip Lacquer in Shade 10

How perfect is this shade for Autumn/Winter! This product is not technically a lip gloss, nor is it a lipstick. It's something in between. It does feel like a gloss on application but offers a much more opaque finish than most glosses. I've been using it over the top of my MAC Spirit lipstick to ad a bit of extra shine. 

Lipstick in Shade 205

These lipstick shades do have individual names, however they only show the shade number on the packaging so i can't give you much more than that at the moment. This lipstick feels lovely on. The shade is lovely and warm and also very on trend for the season. It's just a little bit on the sheer side for me. Don't get me wrong, i LIKE the effect it gives. Like a wash of colour for a more subtle, glowy hue. I just prefer my lippy to jump out at me more haha. 

Lip Pencil Duo in Shade 03

There are 2 ends to this lip pencil. Both are versions of the same shade, just that one is more pigmented than the other. The lesser of the two is designed for a more subtle effect, whereas the darker (which is pictured here) provides a stronger line. I have been using this pencil a LOT with shades such as MAC Spirit, Myth and Honeylove. It really makes nude lips stand out more. 

And here are the swatches for everything (except the polish of course). I've shown both shades of the lip pencil here followed by the lip lacquer, then the lipstick. These shades all complement each other really well. Credit to the Paul & Joe team for putting such thought into their goody bag! 

I don't think there's one product here that i won't enjoy using. There were some other beautiful shades in the range that i am DYING to get my hands on, including the amazing lipstick in 'Rouge' and 'Cherry' lip pencil that Craig-Ryan transformed my lips with on the night. 

You can snap up Paul & Joe's AMAZINGNESS at ASOS, BeautyBay and Selfridges as well as by popping into one of their stores. Prices are mid-range and quite similar to the likes of MAC so you won't feel TOO guilty to snap up a couple of pre-Xmas treats.

Have you tried Paul & Joe products?? What are your favourite shades?? Are you a Red lippy convert like me??