Barry M blush winners!

Happy to help!!

I can't believe so many of you beauty bloggers entered my giveaway last week, I'm sorry I can't give you all something but I will have more contests in the future, so there will be lots more chances to get your hands on some make-up.

There were 176 enteries in total, to pick the winners I wrote them all down on paper, which took ages, then I scrunched them up for Lily to pick out the lucky three from her Easter basket.

Randomly picking!

With the lucky three!

Above are the winners of the Pink Orchid Barry M blush!

COCO BELLA
TABITHA SHERIDAN
PIPA

Well done!! If the above three could e-mail me their details then I can send them out as soon as possible!!

Thanks to everyone who entered, there will be more chances to win soon!
xx

Winter weather and OOTD!

My favourite time of the year is fast approaching, the winter.

Of course I love the summer too but I'm no sun worshipper. I much prefer the winter season and the style possibilities it brings.

I find it really difficult to dress when it's hot, I always see these gorgeous girly dresses around the shops but I never wear them.

This weekend I got to dress how I like for the first time in ages and I loved it. Is it just me or isn't there something deeply satisfying about pulling on some leather boots, a warm coat and a scarf to brave the weather?

I couldn't resist picking up some winter warmers while shopping and wanted to share them with you.

My new hat as worn above and below!

I'd never really worn a hat in the winter until last year when suddenly I became obsessed with them, the shops, especially Accessorize had some gorgeous ones.

Being prepared for the cold, I picked this black beret up from Zara for a bargain at £9.99. I love the felt flower detail around the front.

New gloves/mittens!!

I'm still animal print obsessed and couldn't resist picking up these cute mittens from H&M, a bargain at £5.99. They are so soft and warm as they are made from 80% mohair. I can't wait for the weather to get a bit colder so I can wear these with a big black winter coat.

Another winter favourite of mine is also from H&M, my new poncho/sweater! Yes you read right, a poncho, I never thought I'd ever wear one again after the craze for them around 5 years ago but I found this and I love it.

It has a poncho style body but with ribbed jumper sleeves. I love how simple and chic it is, I always feel when I wear skinny, skinnies I need a bit of volume up top!

To add my own style to it I always wear it slightly off one shoulder otherwise I find it looks to baggy and shapeless. I have this in a dark grey also, I have worn this nearly every day since I bought it, it's definitely going to be my wardrobe essential this winter.

I wore:

• Patent shoe boots from Moda In Pelle

• Jeggings from Miss Selfridge

• Vest top (underneath) H&M

• Poncho/jumper H&M

• Black chain bag by Micheal Kors

• Chain and ribbon necklace from Accessorize

I know I'm preparing for winter early but I just love the clothes for this season and wrapping up. Do you love dressing for the winter or are you a sun worshipper?!
xx

Barry M blush GIVEAWAY!!

CLOSED!!

It's giveaway time again bloggers!! As you know I just can't get enough of Barry M's latest addition to their range, the 6 new blush colours.

Personally I'm in love with Pink Orchid, the barbie pink one and I've been wearing it daily ever since I got it, it never leaves my make-up bag!

Here it is on and my full review here.

Well, I was shopping today and decided to pick up a few so I could give all you beauty bloggers a chance to try it out if you haven't already or can't get hold of it in your country!

I have 3 Pink Orchids to giveaway and will send them anywhere in the world.

All you have to do is follow my blog and comment below with 'ENTER ME PLEASE' before Middnight UK time Thursday!

All winners will be drawn randomly and multiple enteries will not be counted.

Good Luckxx

Jemma Kidd lipstick in Wendy!

Lipsticks are my new love. For months I was caught up in finding my HG(Holy Grail) foundation but since I've done that (thank you Dior+Nars) my obsession has turned to lipsticks.

I can't stop myself buying them at the moment, if I see a colour that catches my eye whether it's £5 or £20 I have to have it!

This is my latest addition, Wendy!

Wendy is the most amazing lipstick and is part of the renowned make-up artist, Jemma Kidd's new make-up collection from Space NK!

Her range is the only one I've seen with so many gorgeous and wearable nude lip colours. Think baby pinks/peaches and neutrals, I could definately do some damage on the old credit card if I'm let loose at her counter again.

Anyway, on to Wendy, I first met Wendy a few months ago when I was in London for a blogger's event. I tried to buy her but the rude shop assistants ignored me (don't you just hate that) for a good 5 minutes so I left, leaving her behind.

I went back last week and at last bought her along with some other great products, check out my latest YT video here to see.

All of Jemma Kidd's lipsticks come in this ingenious double-ended packaging, in fact most of her range is really innovative. Most products have multiple uses or come in dual purpose packaging enclosing several products.

The white end is a lip conditioner/primer. It's really moisturising and is great at prepping my lips pre lipstick application, as you can see below it whites/mutes out my lips allowing the true colour of the lipstick to show.

I just love the colour of Wendy, as you know I love my peachy pinks and this is the most gorgeous baby pink with a hint of peach!! It really reminds me of my beloved India by NYX(my absolute favourite lipstick of all) which is a beautiful and unique colour, see it on here.


The consistancy is good, has great pigmentation and lasts a considerable amount of time on the lips.

Overall I'm really impressed with the quality of Jemma Kidd's lipstick and so I should be, as it cost £16. I know this is a little expensive but it is double sided and a gorgeous colour so totally worth it.

Has anyone else tried anything from Jemma Kidd Pro?
xx

Barry M's new blusher in Pink Orchid!

As most of you avid beauty blog readers will no doubt already know Barry M has recently released a new range of brightly coloured blushers. After seeing fellow bloggers raving about their new cheek candy I had to rush out and buy one.

On first impressions the packaging is a real let down, I can't stand clear plastic compacts on any makeup product. Also the tiny free brush which was included is pointless and will be never be used by me but it does have it's uses and went straight to Lily to play with.

All that said I can't really complain or expect too much as this blusher only cost £4.20.

Out of the six shades on offer I chose the lightest in the range Pink Orchid. As soon as I swatched it I knew I had to have it, if Barbie wore blusher this is the one she would wear.

Pink Orchid is a gorgeous colour in the pan but I was a little sceptical about how good the quality would be for the price. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy my brush picked up the colour, it's really pigmented so less is more ladies. The formulation is matte which I like as the focus is on the colour and not the sheen!

The powder is finely milled making it really soft to touch and comparable in quality to those of the more expensive brands such as Mac and Nars.

As I said above I shunned the freebie brush and opted for Mac's 109 brush to apply this blush to the apples of my cheeks. I always reach for this brush when I'm using more pigmented blushers to get more control. I find it picks up just the right amount of product and it's shape makes it easy to dab as much or as little as you like on your cheeks and blend it outwards.

Pink Orchid on the cheeks!

I really love this blusher. I'm usually a little scared of wearing too much as I tend to look quite hot or rosy if I over apply but I feel really comfortable with this. The cool colour tone means it gives a healthy glow and flush but no redness to my cheeks.

Close up!

I really didn't have to apply very much to achieve this affect, regarding this blush a little goes a long way!
I think this blusher is going to be my new love, it gives me just the right amount of colour needed to look fresh, healthy and alive!!

Another great thing about this blusher is that it is a great dupe for one of Bobbi Brown's blushers in Pale Pink which cost me four times the amount. When I applied it to my cheeks it reminded me of something and BB came to mind, after rummaging around in my makeup drawer I found it and they look remarkably similar see below.

The Barry M version is just as good as the Bobbi Brown blusher so if you were thinking of investing in Pale Pink save some pennies and opt for Pink Orchid.

I do love this bold cheek colour but I'm a little wary of it, I'm just not used to wearing such an obvious and unnatural colour in the day.

What do you think, too much colour or healthy flush?!
xx

Make-up I took vs make-up I used!

Why, why, why do I always over pack when I go away? Whether it's for a night, a long weekend or a holiday I always take too much stuff with me, 5 pairs of shoes, enough clothes for 3 outfits a day and more makeup than I could ever possibly apply.

I honestly thought I was being good this holiday, I only took one makeup bag (a considerably large one at that) full and managed to somehow squish it into my overflowing suitcase. Above is what I took with me, looking at it now it is pretty ridiculous.

I mean who needs 5 different foundations, 4 kinds of mascara and 10 different coloured lipsticks. Clearly not me, below is what I used throughout the whole holiday, I barely reached for any of the pile I took along with me.

On the first few days I found it really hard to change my usual makeup routine which on average takes around 40 mins but as the days went by I realised it was time to relax and not bother with all the things I would at home like eyeliner, eyeshadow and blusher.

I eventually mastered the fool-proof ten minute holiday face. I'd prep my face with L'oreal's amazing Studio Secrets resurfacing primer, apply Laura Merciers TM with my fingers them blend in with my big flat topped kabuki. I then applied a light dusting of Cliniques invisible setting powder to help hold in the shine.

I did take my beloved Mac Blot powder to do this job but unfortunately it smashed on the first day. Luckily I had a back-up in the form of Clinique, otherwise I would of looked like a big shiny mess all holiday without it.

I would then apply Mac's Sunny by Nature all over for a healthy bronze glow, some lip balm and one layer of mascara. I was testing out No 7's new Extravagant Lashes while I was away so expect a review soon.

So that was my simple and really quick daytime face, in the evening when we went out for dinner I basically did the same but added a bit of eyeliner, Estee Lauder's Double Wear cream eyeshadow in Apricot all over the lid, a bit of blush (Mac's Moon River) and some lippie.

Usually when I go out I feel I have to pile more makeup on to feel right for a night out but on holiday I really enjoyed keeping it simple. Lipstick really helped me to glam it up a bit. As you can see in the first pic I took over ten with me, the only 2 I reached for were these.

YSL's Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink No7, I love this lipstick so so much. The consistency is amazing, YSL's lippies are like no other, top of the crop by far and the colour is gorgeous. I just love the milky pale pink especially with a bit of a tan, it really brings the colour out.

The other lipstick which I reached for most of the time was my beloved NYX Black Label in India, this has to be my favourite lippie of all time. The colour is so unique and I love it.

It's such a beautiful milky peachy pink unlike any I've ever seen before, I recently received Orange Soda by NYX and it's similar to India but not as bright. If you ever come across this lipstick snap it up its gorgeous, I have 2 on back-up!

When I took the photos before my holiday of my makeup bag's content I really thought I was being quite reasonable and now looking at it compared to the photo of what I actually used I can't believe how many unnecessary products I took along. It's no wonder my suitcase weighed 32Kilos.

I know it's every girls prerogative to over pack and take more than we need but I think I've realised now and hopefully learnt for the future, less is more as they say!!

Does anyone else always take way more than they ever possibly need?!
xx

My holiday in Crete - lots of snaps!!

I'm back!! As most of you know I recently jetted off to the beautiful island of Crete for just over two weeks. I had such a great time it was so nice to relax in the sun, drinking iced coffees by the pool and eating greek food all day.

The weather was amazingly hot which I wasn't expecting, there was a heat wave while I was there, the temperature was nearly 40 degrees every day. I wouldn't have coped without the lovely Cretan breeze or the gorgeous infinity pool to jump into.

I was lucky enough to stay in a beautiful boutique hotel near the small town of Elounda which has been voted the best hotel in the world over four times in a row. Lily and I had our own apartment which had views overlooking the crystal blue sea.

Our living room!

The hotel bar and restaurant which was next to the inifinity pool, which is where I spent most of my time sunbathing and drinking cocktails.

Our bedroom, the hotel even offered a pillow menu which I thought was pretty funny but came in useful was I had to ask for some goosedown pillows instead of the normal ones as they were huge!!

Lily having fun around the pool in her inny winney polka dot bikini or 'kini' as she calls it!

While we ate breakfast by the pool Lily decided to do some sunbathing while waiting for her pancakes and icecream (yes icecream, the only thing she wanted to eat, well it is her holiday!!)

Most days we chilled by the pool in the morning when it was hottest then in the afternoon we would go sightseeing. This is the deserted island we took a boat ride to see, it was so strange to walk through the houses and shops that haven't been inhabited for over 30 years, like a ghost town.

Lily and I at the aquarium, she loved looking at the sharks and she even found Nemo!!

At the beginning of the holiday I promised Lily she could have this Hello Kitty watch if she was good, she kept to her promise and was so excited when I surprised her with it. Now I can ask her to tell me the time which according to her is always 'half o'clock'.

Relaxing in the pool.

Before I went away I tried to find myself some nice bikinis but every shop I went to didn't have any, so strange because August is still the summer and people still go on holiday. The only one I found which I absolutely love was from Primark and cost £3, what a bargain. So simple and I love the retro top shape.

Here are my brothers on the front of the speedboat we rented for the day to go exploring, if you click to enlarge you'll see Arthur pulling a silly face, so attractive.

Sorry about the picture heavy post, I took hundreds of photos while I was away and it was hard to choose. I'm glad to be back, I really missed the beauty community it was so strange to bwithout blogger, twitter and YT for that long.

Lots of makeup related posts to come this week and the competition winners will be announced!!xx