Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener, Pot Vs Pen.

Since having Lily just over three years ago under eye concealer has become my best friend, sleepless nights still plague me and trust me they leave their mark. Big purple ones.

I've tried them all to conceal my lack of sleep but over the time there's only been one winner.

In my book there is no concealer like a Bobbi Brown concealer. I have them all in my collection and use them daily so when I heard a 'Touche Eclat' like pen was being introduced I had to have it.

Essentially the Tinted Eye Brightener Pen is the same product as the Tinted Eye Brightener in the pot with slight differences, both are great concealers but which one would I re-purchase?

This is the original version sans pot which I love. The pale salmon coloured paste is perfect for hiding bags and circles. The consistency is lovely and light, blends easily and is non cakey leaving a natural semi matte finish on the skin.

I apply it using my Bare Minerals eyebuki brush which helps to blend it flawlessly and making it easier to get in the fiddly areas around the eye.

The only negative about this product is the POT, it's so messy, you can't take it on the go for touch ups during the day which used to drive me mad. When you love a product, you know it works but you can only use it at home kind of seems pointless.

So... Introducing the Tinted Eye Brightener Pen.

You'd be right in thinking I thought my prayers had been answered with Bobbi Browns latest addition to their range but alas in reality it isn't as good as it looks.

It's not all doom and gloom, on the plus side I do love the tiny black packaging and the fact that this pen comes in 7 different shades as opposed to 3 in the pot, making it much easier to find the right shade for your skin tone.

I don't know if it's just mine but I have to click it literally 20 times to get any product out every time and when it does come out too much flies out, leaving a big mess and excess product.

Also the consistency is not the same, obviously they had to make it thinner to make it work in a tube which I understand but it simply isn't as good. It doesn't cover and brighten as well, leaving me a little disappointed every time I use it.

Pot (left) Vs Pen (right)

As you can see in the photo's its nowhere near as creamy or of the same coverage. Having said that it does cover OK and is good for on the go, better than Touche Eclat any day but I still wish it was as amazing as the pot.

Oh and one last reason the POT out ways the PEN in popularity is the VALUE aspect, both cost a hefty£22 but the pot contains 7g of product where the pen has only 1.5g of product. That's a big difference in my mind not really fair.

It's rare that I am negative on my blog as I try to only review products that really impress me but I thought a comparison might be useful if the Tinted Eye Brightener was something you were thinking of purchasing.

For me it's the pot all the way. Have you tried either?Thoughts?
xx

My Shu Uemura lash loves

Every so often us women need a little artificial help.

Now I'm not talking anything drastic like Botox or surgery but it is amazing what a pair of false lashes will do in both enhancing appearance and confidence.

I don't know why but I feel like a whole new women wearing falsies, especially when I'm wearing my Shu Uemura's.

Yes, there are loads of great false eyelashes on the market for under a fiver, Ardell and Eylure's Girls Aloud sets being some of the best but nothing seems to beat my Shu's and I always end up reaching for them when getting ready for a night out.

At around £12-£20 they may seem pricey but trust me they are well worth it. Shu has an amazing range of unique and beautiful lashes which not only look amazing can be used over and over again, making them well worth every penny.

Here are my faves:

Personally I prefer corner lashes, if you have almond shaped eyes like I do I find these look the best and really enhance my eye shape. I do like the look of full lashes but I've never really found a pair that looks right on me so I end up cutting them to leave the outer corner.

The lashes above are my absolute favourite ever, they are the Mini Khaki and create the most amazing, fluttery, girly lashes.

They are a mix of black lashes with a light green which sounds odd I know but they look amazing on. I must have worn these at least 15 times since I purchased them last year for a New Years Eve party.

In the photo above and below I'm wearing my beloved Mini Khakis, hopefully you can see how they create such a gorgeous shape to the eye and really enhance the almond shape without looking too dramatic.

Me and Hele last New Years!

Now I'm not the kind of girl that does bling, crystals are not usually my thing but I couldn't resist these Madonnaesque corner lashes.

I've had these for quite a while but was a bit unsure to wear them as they aren't the most natural falsies but this New Year's I thought to hell with natural and dug them out.

Lily and I before we went to a New Years party so you can see what they look like with my eyes open. They add a subtle amount of length and flick when looking straight on, it isn't until I look down or close my eyes that you see the bling.

I have been converted. I love the crystals, they add just a little something to a somewhat otherwise pretty boring eye look.

They were a little fiddly to apply as the diamantes mean the part of the lash you stick to your eyelid is more rigid but I eventually got them on OK.

If I was to wear a full lash then these are my favourites, they aren't your usual full falsies, the V shape really makes them stand out and create a gorgeous effect with your own lashes.

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of me wearing the Black V lashes but they really are pretty on and unique in shape.

Apart from their amazing range of gorgeous falsies Shu Uemura also do the best lash glue I've ever used, no matter which brand of lashes I wear I always use this glue. It comes in a cute little white tube containing 7g of product for £12. I've had mine over a year and it's still 3/4 full.

It keeps lashes glued all night, is easy to apply and although looks white on first appearance turns clear when it dries making any mistakes invisible.

I have 5 pairs in total and I love them, there are so many to choose from, full, corner, individual, natural, dramatic, feathered, lace and all different colours. If you love your false eyelashes and are looking for something a bit different its definitely worth a trip to your nearest Shu lash bar.

I've always purchased mine from Harvey Nichols but they also stock them in other department stores and online at Space NK here.

What are your favourite false lashes? Tempted to try Shu Uemura's range?
xxx

A nail polish with my name on it...

Quite literally.

I'd like to say this was named after me but if I'm honest I don't think it was. Wouldn't it be great to inspire a nail polish colour and have your name on it.

I like to think of it as my polish anyway!

It is made by the all natural nail care company, Butter London, so not only is the colour to die for it's good for you too, no nasty chemicals here.

They have a great range of colours in their 3 Free range (NO Formaldehyde, NO Toluene and NO DBP (Phthales) ) and they are great quality.

Yummy Mummy applies evenly, the formulation is creamy and lasts a reasonably long time especially when a top coat such as Seche Vite is applied.

Yummy Mummy is the most gorgeous neutral shade, in some lights and depending on the number of coats you apply it is a beautiful dove grey colour and in others a beige shade with a hint of lilac.

It is described on their website as being their 'Magic' lacquer, they say that Yummy Mummy suits all skin tones and is the colour to choose if you can't decide and I totally agree.

This colour is beautiful in real life and is the perfect everyday neutral which would suit fair to dark skin colours perfectly.

As you can see it is 'magic', it so strange I've never had a polish like it, it changes colours constantly.

In the top picture it is a pretty beige shade and in the lighting of the photo where it is applied to my nails it looks a gorgeous grey.

If your looking to invest in Butter London polishes they sell for £12 on their website but I actually purchased mine via Zuneta for a little bit cheaper at £9.79, every little helps!

Oh and BTW in my latest YT video I'm having a New Years Giveaway and I'm giving one lucky winner a Butter London gift set as part of the prize so if you'd like a chance of winning check my video out - here.

If you are a Yummy Mummy or have a weakness for natural coloured nail polishes this is definitely one to try.

Has anyone else tried Butter London?Any good shades to buy?I need more!
xx

I must have been a good girl!

I know it's a bit late to still keep talking about Christmas after all it's long gone now ( sad but true). As of yesterday life is back to normal, festive celebrations are over and I can get back to doing what I love doing best, blogging!

One of my new years resolutions is to blog more often, every other day to be precise and make at least two videos a week. 2010 is the first year I've made any resolutions so we'll see how it goes.

Anyway onto the good stuff, what Santa bought me this year. I must have been really good this year as I was spoilt rotten. Here are a few things I got apart from the usual gift vouchers and socks.

Introducing my new love, the Vitello Lux by Miu Miu, a gorgeous reddy brown shoulder bag. I searched high and low for this handbag, I went to every city and surfed every website to find this baby.

I finally found what I was looking for the weekend before Christmas in Leeds and it was love at first sight.
I love the battered leather effect it has which I think will help it to age well and the gorgeous bow details on each side. I haven't used any other bag since I got this one, it is perfect, just the right size and can be casual or smart =LOVE.

Another non-makeup item I got this year which I love and mean a lot to me are these cute earrings.

When I graduated this year my parents gave me a lovely Monica Vinader gold ring with square tigers eye stone set in it which I treasure and wear every day. I was so happy when I opened this box as my wonderful grandma had bought me the matching earrings!!

Onto the good stuff -

Christmas Makeup!

Nothing makes me happier than makeup, again sad but true and the sight of a few black and white Space NK bags under the tree had me desperate to rip them open.

Firstly your probably wondering whats in the big yellow box, well my naughty grandma also got me this lovely gift set as well as the earrings!

Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temps, I have never seen or tried this before but on first impressions it is not what I would personally go for but it is pleasant. I love the bottle though, gorgeous dressing table ornament, it has glass love birds on the lid.

Onto eyeshadows, I received two duos this year, both are lovely and have colours I don't already have in my collection.

This is Nars's Eurydice duo from their winter collection, a lovely deep plum with blue glitter running through it, really unusual and beautiful. It is paired with a dark grey with silver reflects, perfect for a smokey eye which I'm really getting into at the moment.

I also was kindly sent this Hourglass duo as a Christmas present from a great website for hard to find, high end cosmetics, Zuneta, it is the net-a-porter of makeup.

This Visionaire duo in Prism is gorgeous and again consists of colours I would never have chosen but am so glad I have. The pigmentation on these are fab and so soft.

Swatches of both

Nars Eurydice above and Hourglass Prism below

The next item probably has to be my favourite gift this year, I remember seeing the Sonia Kashuk Faubourg Saint Honore set in Space NK a few months ago and falling in love. The quality is amazing and there were a few brushes that I had to have but the 120 pounds price tag put me off.

Luckily Hel, who bought it for me was able to get it just before Christmas in the winter sale for half price. The leather case is a lovely lilac, perfect for travelling and the brushes are amazing, especially the mini foundation brush and fluffy eyeshadow brush.

Personally I think Sonia Kashuk's brushes are great quality and would use them over my Mac any day so if you are interested in trying some Space NK is having a great winter sale with her brushes starting at just four pounds, bargain, click here to see.

Another item from Space NK I was desperate to try was their By Terry special edition Or de Rose which is basically the same as Baume de Rose but with a gorgeous addition.

I was so surprised when I found this in my stocking, what a fabulous gift. As you can see above it is the same milky pinky white formula as the infamous Baume de Rose but with luxurious 24carat rose gold particles running through it.

Nothing says glamour like a spot of gold, I knew By Terry was a high-end brand but putting real gold in lip balm is amazing while at the same time a little ridiculous but hey I'm not complaining.

The particles create a lovely subtle shimmer to the lips which looks amazing when applied over a pale nude or pink lipstick.

Here it is alone on the lips.

Illamasqua was feeling particularly festive this year and kindly sent me some products for Christmas. I was so excited opening this parcel, I really like a lot of their products but don't buy as much as I'd like to as I don't live near a store that sells them.

Sonnet lipstick - a gorgeous pale peach matte lipstick, not at all moisturising so best applied with Vaseline underneath and looks gorgeous with Mac's Florabundance or Feelin' Dreamy lipgloss.

Unrequited powder blusher - a really pretty bright barbie pink blush, looks lovely alone blended well or with a lilac toned blush on top such as Smashbox Flush, the combo is gorgeous.

Snap nail polish - a colour I would have never chosen but I actually love and looked perfect around Christmas/New Year time. A deep grey with subtle shimmer.

Lewd volume mascara - not the best mascara to be honest, didn't do much for my eyelashes but I found that applied alone to the lower lashes it really bought out my blue eyes as it's a deep blue colour. Using a lighter shade other than black, say brown or blue underneath always makes eyes appear bigger, just a little tip.

Swatches

Sonnet lipstick, Unrequinted and YSL 142.

Lily knows how much I love my YSL lippies and gave this to me on Christmas morning. It is the Rouge Pur in number 142, a lovely natural peach. It isn't as nude as I usually go for but actually looks really natural and pretty on the lips.

Last but not least is this gorgeous nail polish I got given by Hele.

Not the best photo but this polish is lovely, the perfect bright barbie pink and I love the name, Hot Pants. I've always wanted a Rococo polish but I've never really been a big spender on polishes so I'm so grateful I got given one to try.

They are from Space NK and are great for gifts, they come in this gorgeous box and have some lovely colours.

Sorry for the long post but I didn't want to do it in parts. Well done if you got all the way through.

Hope you all had a fab Christmas/New year and got everything you wanted from Santa!

xxx

Christmas Part One - Outfit and Look

Can you believe Christmas was nearly a week ago, time goes so fast at this time of the year and most mornings I have no idea what day of the week it is.

I meant to post this a few days ago but all the festive fun has kept me busy and oh so tired, leaving little time to blog.

I thought I'd share with you the look I went for this Christmas in this part and in part two, most importantly what Santa brought me.

Yes, I know I opted for a pretty standard and shall I say boring face look but hey I was spending the day with my over 80 year old grandparents and my three year old who won't even come near me when I attempt a smokey eye or wear red lipstick.

What I used:
- Nars Sheer matte foundation in Sante Fe
- YSL matte and radiant pressed powder
- Bobbi Brown creamy concealer
- Benefit Erase Paste
- Barry M Natural Dazzle bronzer
- Smashbox Flush blush


On my eyes:
- Gosh eyebrow pencil
- Mac clear brow gel
- NYX Champagne and Caviar palette, peachy nude wash and darker brown crease
- Mac's Pearl cremecolour base as highlight
- YSL eyeliner Moire in 6 winged liner
- YSL Singulier mascara

On the lips:
- vaseline as base
- YSL Lingerie Pink
- Laura Mercier After Hours lip glace

I thought I'd play my face safe and let my outfit do the talking, after trying on four potential ensembles I opted for nautical chic with a hint of festive cheer in the end.


What I wore:
- Zara black beret with flower detail
- New Look stripey dress with bow brooch detail
- Zara red cardigan with customised gold buttons I added myself
- New Look black stirrup leggings
- Aldo knee high suede heeled boots (showed in last video)

I rarely wear dresses, usually opting for skinny jeans or 'jeggings' most days with a cute top but as it was Christmas I thought I'd glam it up a bit. I loved this look but I don't think I could wear it on normal days, Christmas was an exception.

Here's my little Lily on the day.

Since Lily turned three and became a 'big girl' in her words she decided to be in control of what she wears every day. Mummy has no say, I was sceptical at first but Lily has great taste and most days she styles herself really well. My little fashionista.

She chose to be ' just like mummy' and also opted for a monochrome dress and leggings.

What did you wear this Christmas?Did you glam it up?

xxx

I'm slowly changing my mind on lipgloss!

I have never really been a fan of lipgloss until now, it's probably the only make-up product that doesn't interest me much. I've had some bad experiences over the years and gave up wearing it long ago because for me there is nothing worse than having a sticky gloop all over my lips. We all know what happens when the wind blows, a gust and my hair is plastered to my face.

But oh how things have changed over the last six or so months I have slightly changed my mind regarding lipgloss, I still don't regard it as a staple in my make-up bag or reapply it constantly throughout the day but I do like to wear it when I remember.

There are some great glosses out there made with great formulations, non sticky, non patchy, long lasting and pigmented enough to wear alone that helped to change my mind. This Laura Mercier lip glace is one of them and my absolute fave.


You may have heard me mention this amazing lipgloss in a few of my recent YT videos, it really is the nicest and most wearable lipgloss I've ever worn.

And guess what it's Limited Edition, why does this always happen? All my favourite products are LE, maybe it's a little case of loving something you can't have.

Anyway, After Hours is the most gorgeous milky pink with a subtle gold shimmer and goes with most lipsticks as well as looking fabulous on it's own.

I've been opting for this on it's own most days as it provides enough colour payoff and makes my lips look plumper and gorgeously glossy.

Here it is alone worn alone!

After Hours is from the recent LM Club Couture collection and won't be around much longer, I have one back-up but I have a feeling I may get another if I can get my hands on one.

Another of my favourite lipglosses are by Clarins, I have been through two tubes of each colour in the last six months! The Eclat Minute (Instant Lip Perfecting) glosses come in three gorgeous shades, a peach, baby pink and nude.

The formulation of these is perfect its a non-lipgloss, lipgloss, it feels like a balm, wonderfully moisturising but with great pigmentation. I love all the shades especially the peach and it tastes delicious, like caramel.

If like me you thought you'd never wear lipgloss again afraid of having a sticky mess on your mouth, I really recommend trying these the best lipglosses I've tried by far.

As I'm just starting to get into lipglosses are there any you think I'd like?Some of your favourites?

xxx

Two gorgeous things for Christmas parties!

Like most women I love shoes, especially ones with 5 inch heels and I just wanted to do a quick post to show you the newest addition to my collection.

These heels are fabulous and as soon as I saw them I had to have them, it doesn't matter that my normal size were too wide for my feet and the size smaller really pinched my feet. I HAD to have them, to hell with practicality.

Close up!

The bows are gorgeous and really remind me of Christmas (gift wrapping on the brain), I can't wait to wear these out this party season! This weekend I'm going up to Leeds for cocktails and dinner parties, I'm so excited to show them off.

I just love the combination of patent leather and velvet. If you were wondering where they are from you can get them from River Island and they were £59.99. They also come in an amazing electric blue which I may just have to buy too!

While shopping yesterday I also spied these amazing hair bobbles in Accessorize, if you've watched my latest YT video you'll know of my love for anything black and gold or studded.

They come in a pack of three, each with a different shade of bauble. I love these and since I've had my hair cut have really been enjoying wearing it up.

These make a nice change from ordinary bobbles and make the pony tail just that little bit prettier and dressed up. Great for looking nice at work or going out.

The pack of three cost £5 which I know sounds a lot for three hair bobbles but they are so worth it, they look gorgeous and are really great quality. The bands are really stretchy and I doubt will snap easily.

I may have a go at trying to make my own over the next week, red ones would be nice and festive!

With the shops full of gorgeous things this Christmas have you found any amazing pieces you can't wait to wear this party season?
xxx

Feeling Festive and a hair change!

Christmas is just over a week away and I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm fully prepared. The tree has been purchased, is up and fully decorated. This year I didn't have a particular theme or colour scheme, I just went with the flow and I have to say I like it.

Last year I was feeling reds, pinks and purples, the year before that it was powder blue and silver, I'm usually into colour co-ordination but not this Christmas.

I love buying Christmas decorations, there are some amazingly pretty and different ones in the shops at the moment. I love all the crystal and jewel like ones, they makes a nice change from the traditional shiny baubles to adorn your tree.

Here are a few of my favourite:
I love this pale yellow/gold crystal, I bought them this year in all different shapes and sizes. The nice thing about decorations like these is you don't just have to use them over the festive period, they look great all year round in your house.

I have some hanging from my wardrobe handles and on lights. Surprisingly I found these in B&Q for 49p while looking for a Christmas tree.

This gold teardrop bauble is so cute, it has a pretty reindeer on it in velvet. I have four of these two with Christmas love birds and two reindeer's. These were also a mere 49p from B&Q, what a bargain.

This decoration is probably my favourite, I love the fuchsia colour, the tassels, gold beads and pretty crystal. It looks so chic, glamorous and non christmassy!

I think this was a few pounds from another home ware store but I bought it a few years ago so can't quite remember.
This was also from the same shop, I just love them both!

I really have got Christmas all wrapped up this year (haha), unusually for me all my presents are bought and ready to go.

I'm usually a leave it to the last minute kind of girl and don't get round to wrapping my presents till Christmas Eve but last night I sat for over 3 hours and finished the lot.

So proud, phew!

On a completely separate note I made a subtle change to my hair last week and I'm loving it. I'm so much happier with this style than the previous one, I can't wait to go for Christmas cocktails now.

I know it sounds silly but when you don't feel right about your hair you don't feel like partying or being confident, well I didn't anyway. So last week I booked a hair appointment at a new salon I'd never been to.

I usually go to a L'Oreal salon but I wanted to try something new and went to a TIGI one instead.

I told them how unhappy I was with my recent cut and that it felt too severe and heavy so this is what the stylist came up with and I love it.

The colour is a little darker with more of a caramel undertone which I think is perfect for Christmas and the cut is so much better. She created a heavier side fringe and added layers all the way round to add shape.

It feels so much thicker and bouncier, I love it. The cut isn't the best bit either the price is, usually I pay over £100 for a colour,cut and finish but this cost just £53 pounds, half the price, wow!

So what did I do with the extra £50 in my pocket, went shopping of course!!

How are your Christmas preparations going? Are you last minute or an early bird?
xx

FOTD using my NYX runway palette!

First blog of December, happy holidays everyone! As usual I am nowhere near prepared for Christmas. I just about bought Lily an advent calender on time, that's how unprepared I am and I would of totally forgotten if they hadn't been on offer near the till.

I haven't done a FOTD post for a while but feeling inspired by some new products I've purchased recently I thought I'd throw one together with a product rave. Please excuse the awful roots in the pics, I am having them done next week.

I had no plans today apart from cleaning up the house and nipping to the post office so I kept it simple.

What I used on the face:

• Nars Sheer Matte foundation

• Givenchy Sari Glow blusher

• Bobbi Brown bronzer

On my eyes I used one of my new NYX Runway palettes which I just love, they are really compact, great quality and have some beautiful colours.

I've wanted some of these for a while but kept forgetting to order then when Laura (Lollipop26) mentioned hers recently I placed an order. They are such great quality for the money, I purchased these for $12 for any two from an EBay seller here.

They came within 10 days and I love them, well worth around£12 including shipping.

On the left is 04 Catwalk and on the right is 03 Champagne and Caviar.

Yes, both of them do include very neutral shades but hey I'm a neutral kind of gal and it's what I wear 9 times out of 10.

I've always loved NYX eyeshadows, I have some trios and think they are fantastic quality for the money, these palettes are just as good. The formulation is lovely, so soft to touch and most are have great colour payoff.

Champagne and Caviar swatch

A really gorgeous set of neutral colours with a few darker shades to create a great smokey eye which I hope to create this weekend.

Today I kept it simple using the pale pink in between the darkest shades all over the lid then the reddy brown from the top row ( far right) in the crease.

Sorry, it is brighter in real life but my camera didn't pick it up very well.

Along my upper eyelid I used my favourite YSL eyeliner Moire in number 6 with Revlon's new Double Twist mascara. Underneath I simply took the crease colour and smudged it along the bottom of my eye to connect both halves.

Catwalk swatch

There are so many different possibilities to creating an amazing combo with these little palettes and I can't wait to find some more.

Does anyone else have a Runway palette, which others are good?I want more...
xx

I pimped my grandma!

Forget 10 years younger, I reckon I shaved at least 15 years off my grandma's age when I gave her a makeover last week. She'd been asking me for a while to impart some beauty knowledge and to help her to get a new look.

So this is my grandma with Lily pre makeover!

I don't think my grandma looks old or her age by any means but I do think that she could look better.

When most women reach a certain age they seem to get stuck in a rut, beauty wise. They tend to stick to the same trusty foundation 3 shades too dark, pastel coloured eyeshadow all over the lid and on the lips, the same brightly coloured Estee Lauder lipstick that they've been using for the last ten years.

At nearly 80 years old my grandma was definitely stuck in this rut and eager to help her out of it I jumped at the chance to give her a glam gran-over.

No nip, tuck was required but all I needed to help freshen up her look and turn back the years were a few makeup gems from my collection.

This is the finished look I came up with.

Gone is the baby blue eyeshadow and hello to natural tones, a bit of blush and some eyeliner!

The first thing I got her to do was to apply L'Oreal's Studio Secrets resurfacing primer all over the face (she had never heard of a primer before, guess what shes getting for Xmas?) which really helped to mask her fine lines, hide dark circles and age spots prior to foundation.

I then applied Maybelline's Satin Finish foundation which gave her a really nice medium amount of coverage and an airbrushed look, much more natural on the skin than her usual heavy coverage base.

One benefit of ageing skin is that spots are rare and as my grandma didn't have any no concealer was needed anywhere apart from under the eyes. I used a touch of YSL's Touche Eclat to help brighten her eye area and to highlight her brow bone.

One thing I've become really passionate about recently are eyebrows and how defining them just a little can really open up the face and add structure.

Before my makeover my grandma had never considered eyebrow grooming as part of her routine but when I showed her the difference it can make she now does it religiously.

I used Gosh's eyebrow pencil in grey/brown (which is amazing) to groom and fill in the patches, I honestly think doing this took years off her, healthy looking brows definitely makes the face appear younger.

For her eyes I steered clear of any pastel shades which she usually loves and showed her how to get a gorgeous natural look using a pretty dusty pink and deep brown from my Sleek Storm palette.

After applying neutral eyeshadow I lined her upper lid with YSL's eyeliner Moire in number 6 (brown) which gave instant results. A little eyeliner really can change and define someones eyes.

On the cheeks I dusted a little of Barry M's Pink Orchid blush to add a little flush and touch of youth.

Last but not least I used Mac's Hue on her lips, staying neutral but with a hint of pretty pink. It was the first time my grandma had ever used a lipstick so light, why is it that older women always wear a brighter, bolder lipstick?

So whats your verdict? Whats my glamorous grans poll age now post makeover?

xx

The perfect dupe!

Last week I placed an ELF order so I could get my hands on the much raved about Studio line, the more professional range with most items costing a mere £3.50!

Usually I'm sceptical about make-up this cheap but I have to say ELF has impressed me so much I'm going to place a second order after writing this. This post won't include all the products I purchased but one GIANT product rave about my favourite item.

If you love pale nude lips your going to love this beauty!

After popping most of the Studio line in my basket I thought I'd check out ELF's mineral range and spotted this gorgeous lipstick. The online swatch looked lovely but in real life it is just beautiful.

This is Natural Nymph!

It was love at first sight, as soon as I popped off the lid I knew Natural Nymph would be my next lipstick love!

As you know I love my nudes, especially ones with peachy undertones and this one really reminds me of some of my faves, Mac's Close to Real, 2N and Jemma Kidd's Wendy. It is a great dupe for any of these, if you don't want to break the bank, Natural Nymph is the perfect alternative.

Just so you can see a comparison, ELF's Natural Nymph is in the middle with 2N on the left and Close to Real on the right!

Swatches, Top - Close to Real, Middle - ELF, Bottom - 2N.

As you can see it really is similar to the Mac lipsticks, Close to Real especially, so if you missed out on grabbing the Limited Edition lipstick a few months ago this is a great buy.

So the colour is spot on, what about the formulation? Can it really be as good as Mac's?

The simple answer is YES and if I'm honest I prefer it, shock horror!

Natural Nymph's consistancy is amazing, it reminds me of the YSL Rouge Volupte's, soft to touch on the lips and it goes on like a dream.

The formulation feels very nourishing almost like a lip balm which amazingly lasts a long time too. I'm not sure if this is because it is a mineral lipstick but anyway ELF has got their lipsticks spot on. I love it!

The only negative I have about this product is the smell or lack of, I miss the fruity scents from YSL and vanillary notes by Mac. I know you don't eat lipsticks but I do like mine to smell like I could!

On the lips!

Elf have really impressed me with this lipstick, I would of never thought I'd prefer a lipstick costing £3.50 to most of mine which cost 6 times that!

Anyway just wanted to let you in on a great dupe and if you are placing an Elf order soon make sure you check out the mineral lipsticks, they are amazing quality!

P.S If you spend £25 or more at Elf and enter this code AGIFT4U you get a free mini make-up collection palette worth £15!

xx

Trish McEvoy

My beloved Nar's Laguna has hit pan and is nearing the end of it's life, I'm thinking a month max. So on a recent shopping trip I decided to scour all the makeup counters in Harvey Nicks for something new to try, as Laguna is being DISCONTINUED (shock,horror!) and I saw no point repurchasing something I couldn't re-buy.

Thinking about it I'm sure I would be able to get my hands on it again from a rip off merchant on eBay but I'm not prepared to pay £50 for a bronzer, so the search began.

After testing powders from the likes of Laura Mercier, Mac, YSL and Bobbi Brown I stumbled across the most amazing bronzer by Trish McEvoy. I rarely look at her cosmetics line as I don't live near a Harvey Nicks (only available there) but I have had bits and bobs by Trish before.
What I love about her range is that all the compacts can be customised and personalised to suit you and your needs. There are several sizes of compacts, I went for the medium magnetic one which alone costs £11.

I can't tell you how happy I am with my new compact, it has everything I need to create my daily face in one sleek,black palette. I know I only wanted a bronzer originally but I ended up getting a few other things to fill my compact.
So in the top half I have a blusher and two eye shadows. I fell in love with the blush as soon as I saw it, Blush Perfect 1, is the most gorgeous milky pink with a hint of peach. Like all the powders I bought in this compact the blush is like velvet to touch with great colour payoff and adds a subtle peachy pink to the cheeks.

So with half a space left I could of picked a highlighter but I opted for two eye shadows. I chose Lilac which is a gorgeous colour to use as an all over wash, I've being using it instead of a beige colour most days and it can be paired with most shades as it is a very subtle lilac.

The other colour I chose is of course a neutral shade, Gilded Bronze, which is a beautiful golden brown. Both shadows have a glaze finish, meaning they have a slight shimmer to them.

From left to right: Blush Perfect 1, Lilac and Gilded Bronze.

And now on to the nicest bronzer I have ever used, Dual Resort. As you can see it is made up of two halves, a lighter peachy gold and a mid tone golden brown.

Why do I think this is so good? Well, apart from the lovely, soft consistency and good pigmentation, when both colours are swirled together and applied it makes my perfect bronzer shade.

I have never had a bronzer look so natural in tone on my skin, as I'm quite pale most bronzers are too dark for me and look very unnatural. Dual Resort matches my skin tone perfectly and adds the most gorgeous peachy bronzed glow to my cheekbones.

Dual Resort!

Right at the bottom is the lightest shade, in the middle is the darker half and at the top is them swirled together!

This is one of the best makeup purchases I've ever made, it's been the only thing I've needed on a daily basis apart from foundation and concealer as it has everything I need in one tiny compact.

However it does come at a price, Trish McEvoy is not cheap but the quality is fantastic and being able to customise a palette to your needs makes it really worth it. You could make a small compact with just eye shadows, one with two blushes, a blush and a highlighter etc.

They would be great for a personalised Christmas presents for a make-up lover or yourself, I've added some more Trish on my never ending Christmas wish list.

Here's a price breakdown for you:
Compacts - from £9, mine was the medium, 2 tiered = £11
Eye shadows - £9 each they are refills.
Blush/Highlighter - £16
Bronzer - £21

I know it sounds a lot but I love having everything in one place, my Trish compact is my only go to item now most days other than the basics (foundation etc).

Has anyone else tried Trish McEvoy?!
xx

YSL Singulier mascara review!

Once every so often a product comes around that stands out and gives amazing results, making you realise that what you thought was good before is nothing compared to this. YSL has accomplished this with their new mascara, Singulier.

I bought this about a month ago and it was love at first use. I'm predicting this will be just as much a cult product as their other mascara, Faux Cils. Anyone who has used Faux Cils knows it's a great product for creating volume and gorgeous black lashes but when compared to Singulier it is definitely overshadowed.

Singulier is the first mascara I've used that really does it all. It isn't just the fact that it makes your lashes considerably longer, voluminous and gives them a gorgeous lasting curl without the need for eyelash curlers.

What I love about this mascara is that it can transform your lashes depending on how many coats you use. One layer creates gorgeous fluttery lashes perfect for daytime but add another and there's no need for false lashes. My mascara's are usually split in half, one group for natural and the other for dramatic, Singulier is the only one I've found to do both jobs so well!

It is my perfect mascara!

One Coat!

Side shot!
Front!

I think the reason this mascara works so well is down to the innovative brush design, YSL has combined traditional, natural bristles with plastic ones in order to create a mascara that grabs every lash.

The unique shape which somewhat resembles a helter scelter coats lashes from root to tip, lenthening and volumising as you wiggle it upwards.

Two coats!
Up, just so you can see just how amazingly long and volumous it makes them.
The formulation of this mascara is just right, bang in the middle. Usually they are either too wet and gloopy or just too dry making them impossible to apply well.

As with most YSL products this mascara is heavily fragranced with a floral scent that may put some people off. Personally I like this but I can understand why some people wouldn't, so if you are interested in giving this mascara a go, smell it first.

YSL's combination of the perfect formulation and unique brush have created one amazing mascara, I honestly love this product so much and I think it's the best 20 quid I've ever spent.

If you were thinking of purchasing this mascara I hope this review has helped, if like me you like dramatic and exaggerated lashes then this is definitely a mascara you should try.

Has anyone else tried this? What did you think?!

xx

Happy Birthday Blog!

Happy 1st Birthday YM beauty blog!

If I were to buy my blog a cake this most definitely would be it, designer handbag (check), lipstick (check) and lipgloss (check), perfect!

I can't believe it's been a whole year since I started blogging, oh how time flies when your having fun, as they say and fun I certainly have had.

When I first started my blog as part of my University course (I merged my passion for writing and make-up =YM) I never thought I'd still be here a year later and could not of imagined the wonderful beauty community that has developed in that time.

I have done some amazing things during my blogging time, met great people, made friends from all over the world, had fantastic opportunities, found a convincing outlet for my cosmetics obsession and most importantly realised my true passion.

I had always loved make-up but not until I started blogging and getting involved with the whole community did I realise this is what I wanted to do. I've never really known what direction in life to take, first it was fashion, then writing and now cosmetics, with my blog I've been able to merge them all into one!

Thank you so much to all of you who continue to follow my journey into the magnificent world of make-up and long may it continue. I love blogging, reading all your blogs, getting tips, learning tricks and most importantly finding out what products to add to my list when I next hit the shops!

xx

New Sleek Graphite palette!

Calling all Sleek MakeUP lovers, a brand new Limited Edition palette will be hitting your nearest Superdrug shelves this week.

The Graphite palette which has 12 gorgeous shades of blues, greys, black and two highlight colours will be perfect for creating an ultra glam smokey eye.

I had no idea a new palette was coming out so soon but some fellow bloggers who were on the ball e-mailed me this week to tell me, thank you girls. I love sleek palettes, such fantastic quality and gorgeous colours.

You will be able to pick one up this Wednesday the 28th! When I get hold of one I'll definately be posting some looks, I can't wait to play around with this.

(Picture, courtesy of NY beauty blogger Belle De Jour)

Will you be running out to Superdrug on Wednesday?

xx