Elizabeth Arden recently launched Gelato Crush – a lip colour collection that includes Plush Up Lip Gelato lipstick (R295) and Plump Up lip liner (R225) – and threw out a challenge to style up their press pack and win a year’s worth of ice cream! Naturally, I wanted to get in it to win it but was avoiding carbs at the time so buying ice cream and not devouring it would’ve been impossible so I had to get creative.

My carb-free Red Velvet ice cream recipe is easy peasy. Simply mix whipped cream with two whipped egg whites, gooi in a whack of chocolate protein powder, add a bit of red food colouring and stick it in the freezer. It’s that simple and the resultant ice cream tastes like chocolate cake batter!

So, what do I think of the lippies? I love them! Each sweet-smelling stick has a balm-like texture that results in a sheer shiny finish that feels light and cushiony on your lips. The formula’s fabulously hydrating too thanks to Shea butter, hyaluronic acid and peptides and they protect against free-radicals too due to added vitamins A and E.

The lip liners are great too! They’ve got a tapered silicone paddle on the end to help you blend them in and once they’ve ‘set’ they sit tight.

Of the three shades I was given Flirty Fuschia has migrated to my handbag where it will live until the end of its days.

Now brace yourself for a car selfie!

So, what else is on my face? For, Sisley’s utterly divine new brow pencil – Phyto-Sourcils Design 3-in-1 Architect Pencil (R725, selected Edgars and Red Square stores).

Calling it an ‘eye brow pencil’ actually sells it short as it’s more of a very cleverly designed brow-enhancing powerhouse.

I was given a shade called Cappuccino and it’s the perfect taupey hue for cool-toned blondes like myself. The pencil glides on beautifully (it contains antioxidant-rich acacia wax and camellia oil) and, much like Arden’s lip pencils, once it’s dried it doesn’t smudge.

I usually fill in my brows with a powder formula as I find many blonde-focused brow pencils either don’t deposit enough colour or, if they do, it looks too severe and then it’s hard to ‘buff’ into something that looks natural but Sisley’s almost gel-like formula gets it just right. Also, as it’s tip is triangular, you can create a very sharp or thicker stroke depending on how you hold it. As for the highlighter, it’s gorgeous! A warm champagne shade that blends beautifully to highlight under your arch as well as in the corner of your eye.

I’m also wearing two shades (second from the top on my lid and the fifth from the bottom) from Maybelline’s The Burgundy Bar (R249,95) which you might have seen in one of my Instagram stories last week. Guys, for just under R250, these lovely, shimmery shadows are a total steal! I love that, despite being called ‘Burgundy’ which you think would give it a plummy-focus, it contains lots of flattering bronzey shades.

Mascara-wise, you’re looking at Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara (R159,95).

It’s got a curved plastic bristle brush so it does a great job of catching every single lash to create a very neat-looking, well-defined effect which is perfect for day.

It’s definitely one of Maybelline’s better mascaras (I’m the only girl in the world it seems who doesn’t like iconic Great Lash) and I’d go as far as to say that Lash Sensational now beats out The Colossal to become my new favourite Maybelline mascara.

See anything you’d like to try yourself?

Love, love

Leigh