The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog

The knotted plait

2012-02-09T22:00:00.002Z

Every time I get my hair done I always leave the hairdressers with that beautiful but painfully boring 'salon done' hair. You know, the big, bouncy, shiny style that you could never in a million years recreate at home.

After years of this and probably due to the fact that I have to sit in those swivel chairs every seven or so weeks, I'm now deadly against the high maintenance blow dry. It's gorgeous but slightly dull, almost too perfect in a way!

So today I asked for something different. Poker straight wasn't an option, neither were curls so my stylist came up with this and I love it, hence the random and somewhat impromptu post.

I've been going to this stylist for the past six months and for the first time in a long time I really feel that my hairdresser gets me and what I want from my hair. As well as working in a salon she also works for GHD on their creative team so always knows the latest looks and techniques.

The look she did on me was one she came up with over the weekend with GHD, a new kind of plait. It has no official name, but I'm going to call it the Knotted Plait, because if you look closely she actually tied/knotted parts of my hair in loops.

I wish I could share with you how she did this but I'm not entirely sure tbh, I will try to recreate it tomorrow and let you know how I get on. Alternatively, those of you with a flair for hair please share if you can work out how to do it from the pictures above :).

Ohh and doesn't my skin look nice if I don't say so myself, I have discovered a new foundation that I truly think is THE ONE, more on this soon.
xxx

An impulsive buy - Chanel Le Vernis in June

2012-02-08T16:40:00.005Z

My buying habits have changed a lot over the years of being a beauty blogger and I'm much more restrained than I used to be.

It isn't often that I make an impulsive purchase nowadays, however, the occasional slip up does occur and funnily enough it seems to always be when I'm in too close a proximity to the pricier cosmetics counters.

One such slip up happened last week when I experienced a sudden and slightly overwhelming urge to splurge whilst passing Chanel's new Spring collection.

Two things caught my eye, the seriously gorgeous but unnecessary Blush Horizon De Chanel and this polish.

Number 539, June.

I can pinpoint a peach within seconds (talented, hey?) and under the harsh department store lights this did look very peach, almost like a lux version of Barry M's Peach Melba which btw I love.
Frustratingly, those lights can be incredibly misleading. I should have known better and done my research first, because when I got this home it was clear that this was no peach but in fact an orange! A polish imposter!

Swatch on nails

I'm not denying that it's a beautiful shade, it is, in fact it's stunning but just not one that agrees with my skin tone unfortunately. Flattering peaches on me need a little more pink to them, I'm far to pale to pull of a shade this fruity.

I'm gutted, I had hoped this would be my 'go to' spring varnish much like Paradoxal is for me in the winter months. Oh well, but I guess this is what happens when you impulse buy.

For those of you blessed with a great tan or darker skin tone then this would look amazing on your nails, it screams summer. There are also two other shades in this collection, April, a gorgeous garnet and May, a pretty soft pink.

Have you experienced the urge to splurge recently? What did you buy?
xxx

IMATS 2012

2012-02-03T13:07:00.001Z

If your make-up crazy then I've no doubt you will have heard all about IMATS, the International Make-up Artist Trade Show, which takes place this weekend in London.

It's heaven for the make-up obsessed, a shopaholics dream. Alexandra Palace will be packed full of more lipsticks and brushes than you can ever imagine, but aside from the shopping there are also professional talks and demonstrations from industry experts throughout the day so you can learn a thing or two.

I'll be going this Sunday and it will be my third time attending IMATS. I first went in 2008 when it was a civilised affair, it wasn't packed, there was no pushing and oh, it was a third of the price.

Now it's a little different, I don't know if blogging is to thank for that but the last few times I've been it was manic and absolutely heaving with make-up mad women!

Although I'm not looking forward to the crowds I still can't wait to go this year. I was lucky enough to be given a press pass, I'm not sure my budget would have stretched to the hefty £60 on the door ticket price otherwise!! Eeeek!

If you are going and happen to spot me please come and say hi :)!
xxx

An injection of colour

2012-02-02T13:40:00.000Z

It's not often I do a style related post as, a) I don't have a boyfriend/photographer, b) there aren't any edgy locations I could use as a backdrop near me, c) I'm no model, nor am I particularly photogenic either and d) my outfits aren't exactly what I'd call inspiring.

I pretty much live in jeans. Day or night, smart or casual. So you see OOTD's wouldn't be the most interesting to read, however, a recent purchase prompted me to blog today about clothes rather than cosmetics.

For the past week I've shunned my many, many pairs of 'play it safe' denim and embraced jeans of the emerald variety, my very first pair of coloured jeans.

This, I presume is no biggie for most of you fashion savvy women, but for me it's a big step as I've always stuck to safe shades and traditional blue jeans in the past.

To be honest I'm not quite sure what prompted me to pick these up in Zara last week, but as soon as I tried them on I just had to have them. The fit wasn't perfect and I didn't expect it to be for £25 but just that slight injection of colour into my wardrobe excited me.

Here's what I wore:

Clothes
Jeans - Zara Basic, skinny leg with a slight stretch and gold zipper detailing at the ankle.
Vest top - H&M
Tunic - Zara
Shoes - Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Anglomania pumps- Link

Accessories
Watch - Micheal Kors- Link
Bangle- Accessorize sale - Link
Necklace - Accessorize
Ring - Isharya Filigree ring - Link
Nails - Barry M Bright Purple
Hair - conical wanded using Babyliss Pro - Link

I know I mentioned the fit wasn't the best, but it isn't bad either and for the price these Zara jeans are really, very nice.

They come in about five colours but non of the others grabbed me like the green did. I am after a cobalt blue pair though so if you know anywhere that does some let me know below :)!
xxx

Carmine's January Box

2012-01-26T12:15:00.002Z

There's nothing better than receiving a parcel, especially when it's contents are a complete surprise and I suspect, this is the very reason that some of you subscribe to beauty boxes.

Content wise, they can be hit and miss from month to month but the risk and suspense of something unexpected being delivered to your door is somehow addictive.

A surprise Special Delivery popped through my post at the weekend in the form of Carmine's January box and I thought I'd share it with you as there are a few products in this months box from brands that I've never used before and have been loving all week.

What's included?

Korres Wild Rose 24hr moisturiser - A 10ml deluxe sized sample of their intense brightening and hydrating day cream. A bit too thick and creamy for my skin but would be great for those with dryer complexions.

Eldora false eyelashes - The set of these handmade lashes I received is amazing, super dramatic but natural. I'm so glad these were included in the box otherwise I'd never have found their website, seriously it's a lash addicts heaven! They do great Shu Uemura lookalike lashes for a fifth of the price. RRP £3.90.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil - Although the deluxe, 5ml sample looks small a little goes a long way with this. Use pre-moisturiser day and night to get your skin glowing!

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick - You know I love my UD 24/7 Shadow Pencils so I was super excited to see this included in the box. I've used it all week and I love it. Eyeko's Fat Stick is super creamy, versatile and long lasting on the lids. RRP £10.

Westlab Himalayan Pink Salt - You'll get one good baths use out of this sample which claims to give you detoxifying results of a 3-day fast in just 30 minutes!

As you can tell it's the make-up items which interested and impressed me the most. I love that I'd never have tried either of the above had they not come in my little black box.

I've already spotted some other shades of Eyeko's stick that I'm after over on ASOS and will be ordering some Shu dupes at Eldora later using the 50% off code that came in the box. (If you spend £15 you can get half off using eldoracarmine2012 at the checkout!)

Talking of discount codes, the box not only comes with great products to try but cash saving offers to use too if you like anything you receive.

Although this months offering isn't quite as exciting as previous months (November and December's were corkers) it is still a jolly nice box.

Carmine's beauty box costs £10 plus £2.75 postage a month and can be cancelled at any time so no contracts! If you are interested check out their website here!

Are you addicted to these monthly surprise boxes or not yet swayed by them?
xxx

Chanel Perfection Lumiere -an initial review!

2012-01-22T17:18:00.004Z

When Chanel announced they were discontinuing two of their best selling foundations, Pro and Mat (my HG) Lumiere, to replace them with one super, do it all, base I was mortified. Mat Lumiere, you see is my 'go to' foundation and one I always go back to.

My skin is hard to please and there haven't been many over the years that have worked quite so well on it, but the news of an improved version softened the blow a little.

The minute it hit counters last week I snapped it up and for the past week it's all I've worn. Although one week isn't quite enough to warrant a full review, it is however just enough to give an initial impression.

I would love to say I'm blown away by Perfection Lumiere but unfortunately this isn't the case. I like it so far but I don't LOVE it yet. I'm hoping it's a grower.

colour wise the selection is good, Chanel have produced 23 shades with multiple undertones so there should be one to match most.
smooth and easy to apply but very fast drying, blending needed immediately.
the scent is AMAZING! Fruitier and fresher than the usual Chanel smell.
coverage is good, it is mid-heavy.
I have oily skin and it is drying even on me! Those with DRY skin should stay well away.
The finish is NOT the most natural or undetectable, it is quite powdery. Keep it away from the eye area!
although advertised as luminous it is NOT, Pro lovers I feel will not get on with it's very matte finish.
Lasting power is average, I get oily very quickly and this lasts about 5 hrs without the need to blot/powder but if you have normal skin it would last well.

You know I love my lengthy and in depth reviews so I'll update you on this one in a few weeks for sure. Did you rush out and pick up Perfection Lumiere too? What do you think?xxx

Dream cream - YSL's Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-wearing Cream liner

2012-01-12T14:42:00.004Z

I had thought using gel eyeliner was a thing of the past for me after I lost interest in them years ago when all my pots of Fluidline and BB Long-Wear Gel dried up and became hard to use.

As soon as this happened I swiftly moved on to liquid liner and never really looked back, that is, up until recently when a few shiny pots popped through the postbox as if to remind me just what I'd been missing out on.

And remind me they did. I'd long forgotten just how good gel liners were. Easier to apply than a liquid and more precise than a pencil. The perfect solution if you like a fuss free defined look that lasts!

I do, although I don't look like I do in this picture! Cue, slightly stern expression.

Anyway, back to the shiny pot that's helped change my mind, said pot is one of YSL's new Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-wearing Cream Liners (what a mouthful) and I just love it!

Like all things YSL the quality is of course impeccable, it's by far the best gel liner or cream liner as they like to call it that I've ever used.

Want to know why?

Not only is the formula quite possibly the silkiest thing that's ever glided across my lids (no dragging here), it also offers intense pigmentation that lasts and I mean really lasts.

I have watery eyes and usually everything rubs off on me eventually, but it seems YSL's liner really is waterproof as this stuff just doesn't budge, not even on the bottom waterline.

p.s on this note it is smudgeable if you like your look a little softer but you have to do it immediately after application because this sets in seconds!

So we've established that the formula rocks, how about the application?

Well, the only downside to using gel/cream liner is that you need a brush to apply it. If you have one great, if not you'll need to buy one.

I've had a few over time and tried all shapes from slanted to flat and pointed but personally I find using a thin pointed brush the easiest and most versatile. Whether you want subtle or bold, straight or flicked a pointed brush allows you to create the look you like easily.

I used to love my Mac 210 until I lost it and since then my Louise Young LY24 has been the perfect replacement.

There are six shades available all in variations of black which I love because I never wear black, black as I find it too intense against my pale skin and blonde hair.

The almost black shade I've been wearing daily for the past few months is #2, Ashy Black, a deep graphite grey with subtle silver shimmer.

Although there are definite flecks of glitter in the pot, when applied they aren't obvious but help to create a slight metallic finish on the lids.

Yet again YSL have created another makeup bag must have for me in this dream cream and it's one I definitely recommend you checking out if you love gel eyeliners or are looking to try one, you won't regret it.

Do you use gel/cream liners? Which one's do you rate? I'd love to know as I'm going through a bit of a phase with them at the moment!
xxx

Festivities

2012-01-02T14:12:00.000Z

I had meant to do separate Christmas and New Years posts but you know how it goes around this time of the year; there's little time for anything other than eating and being merry!

Some gifts

My Christmas look

Face - YSL Teint Resist (foundation), Estee Lauder Maximum Cover (concealer), Mac Harmony blush (contour), Benefit Hoola (bronzer) and Tom Ford Frantic Pink (blusher).

Eyes - Urban Decay Naked 2 palette neutrals with Mac's Paint Pot in Let's Skate patted on the top for festive sparkle. YSL Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils in Ashy Black (gel liner), review to come. Benefit's They're Real (mascara).

Lips - Tom Ford Nude Vanille (lipstick) worn alone.

Hair - Babyliss Pro Conical wand - Review here.

Lily with her new skates!

New Years Eve'11!

Face - same as above apart from the blush, I used my all time fave Nars Sin.

Lips - Tom Ford Nude Vanille with Mac's Glamour For All gloss.

Eyes - Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Illusoire (review) all over and underneath with Urban Decay's Tease in the crease. YSL gel liner in Ashy Black.

Lashes - Benefit's They're Real (mascara). Shu Uemura Jeweled Love set (falsies).

I hope you all had a fantastic festive holiday and wish you all a healthy and happy 2012!

p.s link me up to any of your holiday snaps, love looking at there kinds of posts!
xxx

When Santa got stuck down the chimney

2011-12-25T10:36:00.000Z

Wishing you all a very, Merry Christmas!

Have a fabulous day x x x

Naughty naughty

2011-12-24T12:24:00.001Z

Yesterday I was a little naughty and may have opened a Christmas present a few days early, the BFF came over for a few cheeky Christmas cocktails and we swapped gifts.

Instead of putting hers under the tree along with all of the other parcels, I couldn't resist and had to open it. You see, I don't get many surprises; apparently I'm impossible to buy for so I usually end up with lots of cheques, great for the bank but boring for me.

The only person that ever really takes a risk and buys me a gift I haven't had to physically pick out myself is Helen, she always gets it right and this year is no exception.

Take a look!

I literally squealed with delight as soon as I ripped open the wrapping and saw the Tom Ford embossed boxes. His new line of cosmetics is a make-up lovers dream and just about as luxurious as it gets.

I'm a very lucky girl!

I've been using the lip colour in Nude Vanille and blusher in Frantic Pink over the past few days and it's love already; they even make me want to chuck away the rest of my collection and start over again being faithful only to Mr.Ford!

Intense I know but I'm all heart and no head when it comes to love, I've no doubt a full review will be popping up in your sub box soon.

Have a great Christmas xxxx

Festive fingertips

2011-12-15T18:00:00.006Z

Monday seemed like an appropriate day to start getting into the festive spirit; I decorated my tree, nicely displayed the Christmas cards, wrapped all of the presents and urghh painted my nails.

Not an essential step for everyone I'm sure, but for me if my talons don't go with the times no season or holiday feels quite so complete.

This year a shot of scarlet and a stripe of obnoxiously sparkly glitter is my Christmas nail of choice.

This look is extremely simple yet effective; I've had so many compliments on my festive fingertips over the last few days, yay!

All you'll need is a red, preferably one reminiscent of Santa's suit, a glitter polish and some french polish guides.

I used Ciate's Paint Pot in the shade Mistress, a true cherry red and applied two coats. Before moving on to the tips it's really important that your base colour is 100% dry otherwise the sticky guides will lift the colour off and smudge.

If you have a steady hand or are more talented at nail art than moi then forget this part but for those of you who aren't so precise then Nailene's Perfect Tips are a great way to get an even finish.

Stick one lightly on the nail in your preferred position then simply slap on the sparkles in the space above the strip.

You can use any glitter polish or loose glitter you like to get this look but I had to use OPI's Rainbow Connection from their recent Christmas collection. It's my favourite polish at the moment, I just can't get enough of it's multicoloured magnificence.

I'm loving my Christmassy creation so much that I can't imagine taking it off anytime soon and swapping it for anything else, it makes me feel very merry!

Do you have a festive nail polish or combination this year? What is it?
xxx

The perfect shoes

2011-12-07T21:21:00.002Z

If I could design myself the perfect pair of heels then they pretty much would look like this.

Shoeboot style - tick
Studded - tick
Black and gold combo - tick
4 1/2 inch heel - tick
Exposed zip - tick
Oh and made from leather (some brands have started cutting quality and not prices, Kurt Geiger/Carvela I'm talking to you) - tick.

I spotted them last week while Christmas shopping in Bicester Village Outlet and just had to have them.

An early Christmas gift to myself!

Not only are they beautiful but they are super comfy too; I wore them for the first time to the Clothes Show last week and if you've ever been you'll know how much walking is involved, surprisingly my feet survived.

This may partly be down to the fact they are quite big, I'm a 6 (39) in most shoe shops but these come up big. They had no smaller size and I purchased them anyway, better to be bigger than small I think!

If you've fallen in love at first sight with these studded shoes like I did then you'll be happy to hear they aren't Louboutin's or Choo's but Ted Baker.

They were reduced from £185 to £90 and the style is called Xylia if your interested.

Have you ever found your perfect pair? What would they look like?
xxx

Urban Decay NAKED 2 palette swatches/review!

2011-12-06T11:58:00.007Z

It's been almost two years since Urban Decay first released their original Naked palette, an instant hit with make-up addicts all around the world and a coveted 'must have' for neutral lovers including myself.

So when I was first told the news about the launch of their sequel palette, NAKED 2, I was ecstatic; had I not signed a waiver (?!) I would have told anyone who'd have listened, you guys first of course!

But at last I can now break my vow of silence after one long month of holding it in and share my thoughts with you about UD's latest addition to their palette family.

Looks wise the sturdy 'greige' tin is a massive improvement on the original velvet casing; cardboard and fur may look plush but over time just aren't practical and tend to wear badly as you can see from my well loved palette above.

Surely if your going to use a palette daily and take it travelling etc then it needs to be strong and hard wearing, Naked 2 is much more robust in design and on the whole better thought out.

Talking of design, inside there is a full sized mirror spanning the whole length and width of the palette which can be fixed to stand alone, handy hey?

The gap just below the shadows houses the double ended brush which comes in the palette, usually I'd chuck away any free brushes but this one is actually pretty good.

One end features their Good Karma Shadow brush (right) which is a synthetic flat precision brush, great for a dense colour application and the other (left) is their Good Karma Crease brush, a fluffier, more rounded brush for creating definition in the socket.

Both do the job well and considering each has the RRP of £14 they are a fab and of course a functional addition to the palette.

Right, I'll stop nattering about all things practical or superficial and move on to the most important feature of NAKED 2, it's eyeshadows.

Top - NAKED 2 Bottom - NAKED

At first glance you'd be right in thinking there isn't a huge difference between the two and yes they are very similar which I presume will disappoint a fair few.

Personally, it doesn't bother me, I love these kind of shades and for me the more shades of neutral in my collection the better; at the end of the day how different can they really be?

Although having said that I do think one palette outshines the other for me but more on that later, let's talk swatches.

Foxy is a pale beige matte shade with a hint of yellow to it that's quickly become my new fave base colours. The yellow evens out any uneven skin tone on my eyelids and gets rid of all redness I may have.

Half Baked, a copper with golden shimmer disappointingly was in the last NAKED palette which in my opinion was a little lazy of UD but nonetheless it's still a gorgeous shade.

Bootycall is another new fave of mine and a gorgeous highlight shade, the frosty off white with peachy tones looks great on the inner eye or brow bone.

Chopper an orangey copper is pretty shimmery and for that reason one I don't use much, glitter fall out is not a good look.

Tease is a gorgeous matte brown with purple undertones to it, although not as pigmented as the others it is great for how I like to do my eyes. I go for more subtle definition in the crease and I really enjoy using and building this shade, less is more.

Snakebite is a really deep bronze packed with tiny golden shimmer which gives a gorgeous sheen.

Suspect, a lovely soft golden bronze is really pretty on the lid and I like to take it under the eyes for a subtle but pretty look.

Pistol, a really unique shade, is a murky grey brown with a slight sheen to it.

Verve is beautiful on and again unique, the silvery champagne with a tinge of pink looks amazing all over the lids.

YDK is frosty deep pink and copper mix that's very well pigmented.

Busted, a deep brown with purple undertones and golden shimmer.

Blackout is a simple black that's very, very intense in colour with a matte finish. I don't wear black so not for me but an essential for most I imagine.

Rather randomly Urban Decay also include a mini lipgloss in the set, in the shade Naked; it's quite cute I guess but a tiny primer potion would have been more fitting, don't you think?

Back to the palette and what I really think of NAKED 2.

Personally, I love it, even more so than the original if that's at all possible. The shades are just more 'me', more wearable and cooler in tone.

I find that they suit my lighter skin tone much more than the darker, warmer and pinkier toned shades that were included in the previous palette.

Don't get me wrong I still wouldn't be without the first version but I think NAKED 2 just slightly out shadows the original for me and I find myself reaching for the sequel over it every time.

Would I recommend you buy it?

Yes, it's a great collection of natural, everyday eyeshadows to have especially if you have a lighter skintone as I think the combinations in this version are more wearable.

Do you need both?

No, I wouldn't say you need both but if you have the original and didn't find the shades were as easy to wear as you'd hoped then it's worth checking out for sure and for those of you that are going to buy it regardless (neutral lovers/addicts) you won't be disappointed.

NAKED 2 is available on Urban Decay for USA readers right now but those in the UK will have to wait a little longer as it won't be out here till January.

It will cost £36 and be exclusively in Debenhams, Jan 2012 and everywhere else Feb 2012.

Ooh and check me out in UD's Naked Around the World FB campaign - HERE :)!

Will you be rushing out to get your new NAKED fix or are you happy with the original?
xxx

Urban Decay NAKED Palette 2 !!!!

2011-12-01T10:14:00.003Z

I'm not good at keeping secrets but this I have to say has been my best kept secret for the past month.

You have no idea how much restraint it has taken not to tell you all about it; I've wanted to scream about it since I first was sworn to secrecy but today I am officially allowed to share with you possibly the most exciting beauty product launch since, well, ever!!!

Peekaboo!!

Yes, OMG, OMG!! There is a Naked Palette 2!!!!!

And it is beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, amazing; a nude lovers dream!

Encased in a champagne tin, a massive improvement to the velvet exterior of the original in my opinion.

Double ended brush included!

Swoon!

Don't worry swatches and a full review is to come but I just thought I'd give you all a cheeky, sneak peak to kick start your December morning, better than an advent choc, hey?

The Naked Palette 2 has launched today on Urban Decay.com

More info to follow! What do you think? First impressions?
xxx

Easy Pin Up look!

2011-11-29T14:31:00.004Z

I am not experimental with my make-up at all as you know; generally I know what suits me and I tend to stick to that both day and night.

It usually goes a little like this - bold brows, flicked out brown liner, major contouring, neutral eyes and a nude (ish) lip.

Just the thought of stepping outside my comfort zone makes me anxious but on Friday I faced my fear of the unknown and experimented (a little).

Ok, so I didn't do anything too dramatic but even wearing a red lip in public for me is a big deal!

I attended a fabulously vintage event where I was obliged to let out my inner Dita Von Teese, luckily for me and my lack of makeup skills the pin up look is pretty straight forward to do.

Here's what I did and used to create this classic look:

- I embraced my natural paleness and opted for a light shade (52 btw) in Bourjois's Healthy Mix foundation. Hollywood Starlets always had flawless skin that was quite matte so this foundation was perfect. Great coverage, long lasting with a semi-matte finish.

- No contouring or bronzing!

- Pink blush was a must for that english rose, natural flushed look and my shade of choice was one of my faves, Illamasqua's Tremble powder blusher.

- One of the most important features to the look is the brow, the bigger the better and well groomed. Although I forgot to include it above I used my beloved Suqqu Liquid Eyebrow Pen to fill in and perfect.

- On my lids I just applied a sweep of Mac's Grain, a gorgeous neutral beige, basically the colour of my skin.

- You can't have a pin up look without a black flick so to create mine I used my new liner love, YSL's Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils in 2 Ashy Black. Love everything about this liner, creamy, smudge proof and a gorgeous deep grey, black!

- Macarawise I opted for a firm favourite of mine, Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara, a fab mascara for creating long, volumous and curled lashes.

- Just on the outer corner of my lashes to add a little definition I applied my new Shu Uemura Jeweled Love falsies.

- On the lips there was no question of shade, scarlet is a must! As I don't wear red I had to nip to Boots to pick up a matching liner and chose MaxFactors Colour Elixir liner in Red Rush (10), a super creamy and intense bright cherry red.

- Over the top of the liner I applied a classic red using New CID's i-pout lipstick in Scarlet which was included in this months Carmine box.

Simples!!

All in all doing the retro make-up was a breeze to do as was the hair which I'll get onto now.

I know it's not quite the real deal, but my 'do' was just a nod towards the hairstyles of that era and I think it turned out pretty well.

The tool I used did all of the hard work, making this style fuss free and super simple to achieve in no time at all.

Said tool was Enrapture's Jumbo Waver, a titanium plated contraption that creates instant boho/beachy waves and as you can see tonnes of volume. Needless to say I love it!

I wanted a looseish wave so clamped my hair all over on half heat and then took a hair grip (bobby pin) to clip back a front section for more of a retro effect.

Voila! That's my easy pin up look done.

From now on I have a feeling I'll be keeping the nudes and browns for the daytime and making this vintage vamp look my new signature night out style.

Have you ever tried a vintage inspired look? As I'm into red now I bet you guys have some great lipstick suggestions, I'd love to add one to my xmas list?
xxx

Feathers, fur and fortunes

2011-11-27T16:35:00.003Z

Last Friday night I attempted to get pin up perfect and inject some good old Hollywood glamour into my life, after luckily receiving a last minute invite to a burlesque ball.

Needless to say I didn't have any feathers, fans or flapper dresses hanging around in my wardrobe, so my outfit for the night was a little more 60's than 20's.

The dress/tunic btw is gorgeous and was a spur of the moment purchase from New Look, you can find this slightly festive, floaty number here if it tickles your fancy.

Thankfully, the dress code at The Blue Ball wasn't to wear an obligatory corset but to merely adorn myself in an item of blue.

I don't own much blue but luckily two of my favourite accessories are navy, the heels are Carvela and the handbag is vintage Chanel circa 50's/60's I believe; my mums in antiques and it's her best find to date!

Whilst sipping champers myself and fashionista, Anne, perused the vintage stalls and of course the cupcake stands.

Anne from the SatiricalStylist.

Sadly I refrained from purchasing a pair of nipple tassels; I've only just accomplished the red lip so I don't think I'm quite ready for the pasties just yet!

What vintage night would be complete without getting your fortune told, right?

Things are on the up btw :)!

The gorgeous, Georgian venue was perfect for the event, vintage lux at its best.

A woman who's certainly perfected the pin up look is vintage vamp, Talulah Blue, the organiser of this fabulous shindig.

Her makeup was just flawless, bold brows, huge lashes and a scarlet pout; I love this look.

It put my attempt to shame, and talking of my attempt I will post my fotn (face of the night) tomorrow if your interested?

Anyway on to the fun stuff, I suggest you look away now if you adverse to a bit of nudity, although this is tasteful I can assure you!

Talulah Blue

Having never been to a burlesque show before I had no idea what to expect, I thought there may have been a few 'look away' moments but thankfully there were none; in fact I couldn't take my eyes off the girls!

There were five dancers and each one's routine was beautifully executed, slightly cheeky but at the same time effortlessly charming.

Beau Rocks

Emmanuelle Claire

If Beau Rocks (above) can rock retro roots then I can surely? Hurrah!!

Backstage was like being in a different era completely, it was clear to see these girls lived and breathed burlesque glamour even in their time off, super inspiring.

Millie Dollar having a cheeky cigarette, she even makes smoking look classy!

'OMG how white do my teeth look?'

Hope you enjoyed this post, I couldn't wait to share some of the 200 (yes, that many) photos I took from the night.

I loved embracing my inner Marilyn for the night and will update you on my look soon, hope you all had a fab weekend! xxx

Giveaway Win a Clarisonic Plus!

2011-11-22T17:01:00.004Z

It has been a pretty gloomy and dreary Tuesday so far and the first day this season that I've actually worn my proper winter coat and (faux) fur scarf to keep warm.

Although the weather may be chilly, hopefully this may just brighten up your day a bit.

As you know I went to QVC for a Clarisonic event a few weeks ago and they kindly sent me away with one of their Clarisonic PLUS cleansing systems! Wowee but as I already own the very same model I'm giving one of you lovely readers the chance to WIN this one!!

Worth a whopping £179 this set comes complete with the PLUS model which can be used on both the face and the body, a universal charger, body brush head and 60ml skin polish.

All you have to do to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, it's free!

2. Comment below and tell me your favourite skincare tip, that way you get a chance to win and I get a chance to learn! :)

3. Leave your e-mail with your comment so I can easily contact you if you win.

Thats it!!!

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere and will end on the 30th November 2011, so you have just over a week to enter. ONLY ONE COMMENT PER PERSON!

The winner will be drawn randomly, good luck xxx

Clarisonic and QVC - A perfect combo

2011-11-21T14:36:00.002Z

It's rare I attend events despite the many generous and tempting offers I receive; I'm not a Londoner which means it quite often costs me triple figures to attend and that's even with my Young Persons Railcard (expiry is looming, ahhh)!

But a few weeks ago I grabbed the early train down to the big city and headed over to QVC's headquarters for a small event hosted by the TV station and Clarisonic.

This was one opportunity I didn't want to miss out on, when else was I going to get the chance to go behind the scenes of QVC and even have a test shoot myself?

Unlike most events this was an intimate affair with just myself (obviously), Ambarina from Beauty Passionista and Rowena from Cosmetic Candy.

Here we are below with QVC presenter, Julian Ballantyne.

We were given a backstage tour of the studios, watched a live show and then had a spot of lunch with make-up artist and Clarisonic brand ambassador, Daniel Sandler.

One of the reasons I wanted to attend this event was because it was for the Clarisonic, a product I already own, use and love everyday.

Anyway, we then got to take part in a 7 minute test shoot/mock interview each with the presenter which was filmed and recorded.

I can't tell you how nervous I was but it was great fun and because I knew already all about the Clarisonic my answers were surprisingly coherent.

I would show you the video but I'm somewhat of a technophobe and have no idea how to copy from DVD on to my computer!

I've been meaning to review the Clarisonic for yonks, I've used it for almost a year now so I think it's about time don't you?

Anyway I will get around to that but I just wanted to share some snaps with you from my day and tell you about a very exciting giveaway I'm holding tomorrow (this post may be a clue)!
xxx

Almost all gone!

2011-11-18T14:18:00.002Z

As I try more make-up and beauty products than I can every realistically get through it's rare that I finish anything.

Although, having said that there are some stand out products that I do use up and often re-purchase.

I will do a blog post on some of my favourite products that I've 'hit pan' on soon but in the meantime I thought I'd share a video I filmed yesterday with you.

I'd love to know what your hitting pan on right now as I think as much as I love finding out peoples current loves it's probably more valuable to find out the items that actually get finished!

Let me know below :)
xxx

This is what I got....

2011-11-16T18:00:00.002Z

I can never resist a wander around a good beauty hall, and as far as beauty halls go, Harvey Nic's have one of the best.

It's a real haven for the makeup obsessed; packed full of a diverse range of the known, lesser known and virtually unknown beauty brands on the market.

This makes shopping there mega exciting for me, so when I popped up to Leeds this weekend it was my first port of call and...

This is what I got.

I bypassed all the usual cosmetic counters, the ones I can get anytime, anywhere and sought out the unusual and hard to find.

Louise Young brushes.

Having heard so many amazing things about Louise Young's super foundation brush, the LY34, when I saw her little stand placed conveniently next to the till I just had to grab it!

As you know I'm fanatical about foundation and am always on the pursuit for perfection when it comes to achieving a flawless face, this brush I've heard can help me do just that.

I'm not going to say too much now as I will do a full review soon but what I will say is, ladies put this on your Christmas list; my foundation has never looked so good.

The other brush I purchased from her range was the, LY24, a fine, sable eyeliner brush. I lost my beloved Mac 210 a few weeks ago and thought I'd give this one a go for a change.

I used it yesterday and it's great; goes perfectly with my new gel liner love, YSL's Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils (more on that later).

LY34 - £24.50 and LY24- £11.50

Macadamia Natural Oil.

After receiving a sample of this pricey product in a Boudoir Prive box not long ago I fell instantly in love with the nourishing oil.

I'm a little hair oil crazy at the moment and have three different kinds on the go, this one though is the most intense and luxurious of the bunch, great for my over processed and heat damaged locks.

It's a fab multi use product; I use it on wet hair to detangle, on dry to add shine or to get rid of frizz and then also overnight as a moisture treatment.

£13.75 for 30ml.

Shu Uemura false lashes.

Mini Indigo £14 and Jeweled Love £18.

I don't often wear falsies but when I do I wear Shu!

There is no other lash brand quite like Shu Uemura, their quality and design are impeccable and a worthy investment.

Each pair is hand-made and will last you many a night out if you look after them; my favourite pair, the Mini Khaki, lasted me for at least 15 booze ups before I painfully had to chuck them.

I always go for corner lashes as they best suit my eye shape, I love the winged out effect they give without being too OTT.

Talking of OTT the pair I wore out this weekend were a little mad but I had to have them.

WKW for Shu Uemura, Jeweled Love set.

Part of their Christmas collection these feather and diamante lashes look so much better on and because I only wear them on the outer corner of my eye they will last me forever.

I think Jeweled Love are perfect for the party season!

A little less dramatic and daring the other pair I purchased were the Mini Indigo's, a fluttery and winged out corner lash set.

No more beauty hall hauling for me now until after Christmas, unless for pressies of course! Which beauty hall is your favourite to browse and buy at?
xxx

Win £120 worth of Caudalie skincare

2011-11-14T20:35:00.000Z

I don't usually blog about giveaways or offers but I thought this one was too good for you to miss if your looking for some new skincare this winter.

Caudalie are giving away 15 sets of their Vinosource range worth over £120, all you have to do is head over to Carmine and follow the three simple steps for a chance to win.

ENTER HERE!

Each gift pack will contain all five full sized products from the range including their Quenching Sorbet Creme, Nourishing Concentrate, Anti-Wrinkle Nourishing Creme, Anti-Wrinkle Ultra Nourishing Creme and Creme Mask.

I've been using the daily moisturiser (Sorbet Creme) for the past few weeks and my skin is loving it so far; although not targeted at my skin type (oily) it's surprisingly light and non greasy.

Read my article on the range HERE is your interested.

Good luck if you enter!!
xxx

Mac's Glitter and Ice collection purchases

2011-11-07T16:24:00.004Z

Just like surfing the obligatory crimson wave, Mac hauls used to be a regular monthly occurrence in my life, but lately their (many, many) collections have been slightly overwhelming and in my view disappointing which has led me to skip the periodical purchasing of them.

However, this month I seem to be back on track with Mac after falling in love with their newest collection, Glitter and Ice, which hit counters last Thursday.

What was meant to be a quick peek at their holiday offerings led of course to a few purchases; the ice princess in me just couldn't resist!

I'm a complete sucker for packaging, especially when Mac changes theirs, so the slightly clinical, Apple-esque look grabbed my attention instantly.

I have heard some describe it as being cheap looking but personally I think the patent white is winter perfect and adds some snowy sophistication to my mostly black collection!

L-R - Let's Skate Paint Pot, Morning Frost Paint Pot and Double Spin lipstick.

I've tried many a cream shadow but I always seem to go back to Mac's paint pots for their durability and capability to resist creasing on the lids, so when I saw these two shades they had to be mine.

Let's Skate is a stunning milky pink crammed with hot pink and soft gold glitter throughout; texture wise it isn't as smooth as normal paint pots but still easy to use and highly blendable.

Generally, I would use paint pots as a base but this shade isn't one for layering, it looks amazing built up on its own; it almost looks like your lids have had a sprinkling of sparkling snow on them, subtle but stunning and I think unique.

L-R - Morning Frost and Let's Skate paint pots applied lightly.

Gorgeously metallic and creamy, Morning Frost, is the most wearable of the bunch and perfect for a neutral lover like myself. Although it is shimmery there are no glitter particles in it like in Let's Skate so it's much smoother and good worn alone or as a base.

This mid-tone brown with a hint of taupe has been my 'go to' eyeshadow the last few days and I love it applied simply on its own. It can be worn sheer or layered for a more intense look, use fingers for the best application.

Note: If you do own Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit it is very similar!

Swatches

T-B - Morning Frost, Let's Skate and Double Spin.

Last but not least and possibly my favourite purchase from Glitter and Ice is Double Spin lipstick, a cremesheen formulation that I'm now addicted to.

This shade will not be for everyone but for serious nude addicts this colour is a must have; it's a milky pink with unusually mauve undertones.

It is very pale but because of the cremesheen texture and tone it's creamy on the lips and not at all cakey like most nudes.

Personally, I love Double Spin worn alone (below) but I also think it makes a great base for coloured lipgloss to sit upon in order to get the true glosses colour. I also wore it over Snob yesterday to tone it down a little which looked pretty.

All in all I'm very impressed with my recent acquisitions from Glitter and Ice and glad to be on friendlier terms with Mac, oh how I've missed those monthly collection splurges!

The collection is available at counters and online at Mac, Selfridges and Debenhams.

Ohh and I also did a more in depth YT vid on the collection HERE.

Have you seen Glitter and Ice? What did you think? Anything I missed that I'd love?
xxx

Stila Dream In Full Color palette - Swatches/Review

2011-11-03T16:07:00.002Z

A few weeks ago while innocently browsing ASOS I created a fantasy shopping basket, like I do on most online shopping sites and filled it with 'lust haves'.

It's almost like window shopping but better, just clicking the 'add to bag' button makes me happy even if I don't always follow it up with the 'pay now' click. Don't tell me I'm the only one that does this?

Anyway, this time I was in the mood to shop seriously and completed the process which resulted in a nice little parcel at my door the next day.

In it was this.

Stila's Christmas collection treat the Dream in Full Color palette.

I ordered this :

A. Because there is no denying it is gorgeous looking despite slightly resembling a child's make-up palette from Argos.

B. Having never tried anything by Stila before it was a great way to try some of their range.

C. It was amazing value, you just wait until you hear the price.

So despite not needing another eyeshadow for the rest of my life as I already have 453,000 others I purchased it.

Unlike most palettes I already own this one not only contains 29 eyeshadow shades but there are 7 blushers too and a full sized eyeliner with it.

That's a whopping amount of make-up for one palette to hold but then again this is one whopping palette; size wise it's bigger than my face!

Proof!

Like I said before this palette may not be in the most attractive packaging but what this palette lacks in superficial beauty it more than makes up for with what's inside.

All 29 shades are gorgeously pigmented, there hasn't been one that I've had to work hard with; finish wise there are 4 matte and 4 glitter colours. The rest of the shades have a metallic finish similar to many Urban Decay or Mac's Satin/Veluxe Pearl/Velvet shadows.

There are five matte blushers and two that contain a hint of shimmer to them, all have good colour payoff but can be a little fiddly to use. While the eye shadows are relatively large and easy to get to with a brush the blushers aren't so well designed.

I use a fan brush mostly so don't have much of a problem but if you do use a bigger brush there is a bit of clever maneuvering and swirling needed to get the right amount of product on the brush.

Ok, now for the tricky bit.

Swatches.

L-R,T-B - shades 1-6, 7-11, 12-16 and 17-21.

1. Kitten 2.Inspire 3.Stargaze 4.Sky Blue 5.Twilight 6.Tickle 7.Ebony 8. Espresso
9. Infinite 10. Fable 11.Bud 12.Delight 13.Muse 14.Lottery 15. Imagine 16. Fairy
17.Mystical 18. Peace 19.Dream 20.Oasis 21.Sizzle

L-R - 22-26, 27-31 and 32-36.

22.Surreal 23.Twig 24.Copper 25. Mirage 26. Coral 27. Vision 28. Whimsy 29. Reverie
30. Rosie 31. Cozy 32. Cassis 33.Supernatural 34. Wisteria 35. Dreamcatcher 36. Raspberry

Phew! So I know it's a little complicated with all the numbers and that but there's just so many colours in this thing.

You also get a full sized Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner in Stingray with this kit which I have to say I'm loving. It's super creamy and easy to apply, the colour is a very rich black but with a slight hint of indigo to it, gorgeous.

Alone this stay put stick costs £13 which makes the whole set great value when you know the price which leads me nicely on to the cost.

The Dream in Full Color palette with eyeliner and lookbook retails at just £25!!!!

For the quality and quantity I think this is one beauty bargain not to miss if you wanted to add a good colour range to your collection, try Stila cosmetics or are looking for a great gift this Christmas.

I purchased mine from ASOS.

Will you be dreaming in full colour? What do you think of my latest beauty bargain?
xxx

Don't be a muppet and miss OPI's Christmas Collection 2011

2011-10-25T13:14:00.002+01:00

I quite literally squealed with excitment when I first saw the promo images months back for OPI's Christmas collection, The Muppets; I frickin loved Kermit and Miss Piggy as a kid so the combination of childhood nostalgia and nails for me was a definite winner and one worthy of purchases!

Originally, I had only planned on buying the mini collection of four polishes, or lacquers as OPI like to call them but when I saw the bottle of glitteryness (on the left) I had to grab that one too.

I don't own many glitter or shimmer polishes in my collection as usually they aren't really my thing but this collection is so festive and sparkalicious that I couldn't resist, my tacky side is loving it!

Mini Nail Lacquer Collection

Wocka Wocka!, Excuse Moi!, Designer...de Better! and Warm and Fozzie.

When OPI says mini boy do they mean mini; these baby sized bottles are teeny weeney, each one contains just 3.75ml which is almost a fifth of a full sized OPI.

Now, I know that it's not a lot and I do reckon that if you liked a shade you'd go through it like no ones business but in my opinion they're still a great way to try shades out without splashing the cash.

The collection is made up of four shades, three shimmers and one glitter.

Swatches!
R-L: Wocka Wocka!, Excuse Moi!, Designer... de Better!, Warm & Fozzie and Rainbow Connection (more on that later).

Wocka Wocka! and Excuse Moi!

Wocka Wocka! is a deep raspberry red, a true Christmas colour. It is described as a shimmer shade but visually there are no shimmer particles in it, although when applied it does have a slight metallic dimension to it.

Excuse Moi! is the only glitter in the mini collection and a gorgeous one at that; it's a hot pink glitter with larger multicoloured glitter particles in it, very girly!

Designer...de Better! and Warm & Fozzie.

Designer... de Better! is quite possibly one of my favourite from the entire collection and one I didn't think I'd like at first. It's a stunning spaceage silver that's littered with tonnes of hot pink glitter, super pretty on.

Warm & Fozzie is very autumnal, it's a metallic copper shot through with tonnes of green and red glitter, gorgeously unique.

The set costs £12.75 which I don't think is a bad price considering I love all four shades but I'm already halfway through Designer... de Better!, on the plus side these pint sized polishes may mean I might actually finish a bottle or two?

Rainbow Connection

'Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me'

I had to have this polish, the magpie in me had to buy this; just looking at the bottle makes me happy.

Rainbow Connection is a clear polish absolutely jam packed with glitter of all shades, shapes and sizes.

Have you ever seen anything so pretty?

Swatch!

Applied on top of black and alone on my ring finger.

It's no problem to apply and looks great alone or on top of plain polish, it can be worn lightly or layered for the ultimate glitter nail.

Looking at it you'd think that it would be a b**ch to get off but surprisingly because it's quite chunky it's easily removed, not that you'd want to remove it once it's on, I'm addicted; it's a Muppet must have for sure.

I think it's safe to say that if your not a fan of glitter or shimmer and won't be swayed like me then I'd avoid The Muppets collection but if you do like the look of it there are 6 full sized glitters and 6 shimmers altogether plus the minis.

So for all you magpies out there don't be a muppet and miss the chance to grab your glitter fix before it goes, a few online stockists are HQ Hair and Asos .

Have you gone Muppet mad too? Or not for you?
xxx

Half Term Holiday

2011-10-17T10:31:00.002+01:00

I'm off on a mini holiday today, nowhere warm or exotic but a holiday all the same.

I'll be chilling with Lily and some friends in a chalet deep in Sherwood Forest, maybe I'll bump into Robin Hood and his merry men!

I won't be able to blog while I'm there as I'm on a techonlogy ban to be at one with the nature but if you do want to read some beauty updates I've written recently, pop over to Carmine's blog where you can find out all about HD Brows and my pursuit for browfection or read my interview with Balance Me's co-founder, Rebecca Hopkins.

Link HERE and HERE.

Oh and I have a video to watch to on the make-up I'll be taking into the woods!

Hope you have a good week and I'll speak to you in just less than a weeks time.
xxx

Beauty Box Half Price

2011-10-14T20:00:00.000+01:00

Still undecided whether or not to give a beauty box subscription a go, well, this offer may just help you decide.

Sign up to Carmine using this link unique to my blog and you can try your first box for half price, so instead of £10 you only pay £5 (plus p&p)! Original £10 will be charged after the first box.

This flash sale only lasts 72hours so finishes at 8pm on Monday the 17th of October and remember you can cancel your subscription at any time.

To get a box for half price follow this link - HERE!

xxx

My Signature Scent

2011-10-14T14:44:00.004+01:00

Apparently every girl has one and by one I mean a signature scent.

Well, if they do then I have only just found mine.

I'm no perfume buff, in fact, I'll go as far as saying I know absolutely nothing about perfumes; the only thing I do know is whether they smell nice or not.

I only started purchasing perfume myself about a year or two ago, before that I had always let Christmases and birthdays decide how I smelt.

Here are some of my faves just to give you an idea of the notes my nose prefers before I get into my new scent of preference

- Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria, Mandarine-Basilic - The freshest, most beautiful smelling and lightweight fruity fragrance you'll ever smell.

- YSL Parisienne - A gorgeous girly but grown up rose scent.

- Escada Taj Sunset - The most amazing seriously sweet, tropical fruit flavoured fragrance there is.

As you can probably tell I have rather a sweet tooth when it comes to scents; I like perfumes to be light, fresh and girly usually.

Although I love all of the above there has never been one perfume I've owned that has reached signature scent status, but the bottle above may be, just that.

Released in August, I fell in love rather superficially at first with Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial's good looks; the pink, the blue and the classic bottle = serious dressing table eye candy!

I spritzed it and fell deeper in love, the mix of sherberty, sweet fruit scents with vanilla, caramel and a touch of bergamot had me hooked.

There's something about this perfume that really is quite special; it's sweet but at the same time deep, behind those good looks this scent has brains, a winning combination in my mind.

The all important notes:

Top Notes - Bergamot, Orange, Green notes

Middle Notes - Fruity notes, Rose, Jasmine, Iris

Base Notes - Patchoulli, Vetiver, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, White Musk

Don't be put off if you've ever smelt Guerlains legendary, original Shalimar perfume, because this is nothing like it. It's a fresh and young approach to a timeless classic and simply beautiful, well worth a sniff!

Check out these sites for more information if your a perfume buff. Here and Here.

Have you smelt Shaliar Parfum Initial? What is your signature scent?
xxx

A magnetic pull

2011-10-10T14:40:00.001+01:00

Having passed up other 'easy' nail art solutions like all those shatter polishes and nail wrap things I had absolutely zero intention of investing in the latest talon trend to hit the shelves.

However, a powerful attraction (couldn't help it, sorry) pulled me towards 17's promo stand while I was in Boots the other day and I couldn't help but slip one of their new Magnetized nail polishes into my basket.

This was a bit of a risky purchase for me as I don't usually like nail art, I admire it on others but it's not something I'm really into.

Generally I like to play it safe with plain polish but for some reason I was drawn to these.

Out of the four available colours I opted for the dark grey/silver shade which in its bottle looks just like any other metallic polish.

This is it sans effect.

Now, in order for the magic to happen it's quite simple all you do is paint each nail, one at a time with a generous coating of the polish, I found a thicker amount worked best.

Then straight away while the nail is still wet hold the clever cap which has a built in magnetic strip, over the top of the nail.

Depending on the direction you place the magnet over your nail different effects can be achieved.

Allow the little shelf to rest on your finger enabling you to hold the cap at the perfect distance away from your nail to prevent any polish from smudging.

Luckily for someone as impatient as myself the whole process is very quick and the effects are almost instant, it takes around ten seconds maximum.

And here's the result... instantly mesmerising nails.

I can't tell you how many comments I've had about my nails when I've worn this but everyone seems to think it looks amazing and I for one can't stop staring them.

They almost look 3-D when they hit different lights.

This look isn't for everyone and to be honest I didn't think it was for me but having tried it I actually really like this quirky look for days when I'm feeling slightly more adventurous.

I know there are several brands doing these magnetic polishes at the moment but to be honest they all look identical shade wise so if you are feeling the pull towards these too then I'd definitely recommend 17's version for just over a fiver at £5.99 a bottle.

What do you think? Are you feeling the pull?
xxx

What's in my box?

2011-10-08T15:55:00.001+01:00

As you know I am doing a spot of freelance writing for the newest box on the block's blog, but I just wanted to make it clear from the start that I am not under any obligation to blog about their services and can therefore remain entirely impartial regarding my opinions.

Phew! So now that that's out the way I can get on to my review of sorts and give you a sneaky peek into Carmine's first ever box!

(please excuse my chipped nails, total beauty faux pas!)

The whole beauty box phenomenon never really grabbed my attention before to be honest; the bazillion posts every month have driven me a little crackers and although I've been lucky enough to try a few boxes, I've still remained on the fence about the whole idea.

I was swayed a little however yesterday, by the arrival of this cheery looking parcel at my door.

Carmine have packaged their boxes beautifully, the vibrant and bright colours are gorgeously eye catching. Good first impression indeed!

Inside the orange box lies another box, this time it's a sleeker, more subtle parcel. The quality is top notch, this is one of those boxes that's too good to chuck and I've no doubt will house my nail polish in no time.

I don't know whether it was me rushing to discover what lies within but I did find it rather difficult to get into the box, the lid just wouldn't budge!

Anyway, after a few minutes of frantically shaking it, the lid slipped off to reveal this opulently tied package.

What's inside? What's inside?

Almost there ...

Beneath the ribbon, tissue paper and notelets lie October's surprises of which there are five.

All, I'm happy to say are from brands I've never tried, super exciting! The great thing about these boxes is the chance to discover something you never would have thought of, let alone bought.

1. Caudalie Quenching Sorbet-Creme, 10ml - A light weight and luxurious cream to refresh and hydrate the skin.

2. Trind Nail Repair Natural , full size - a nail strengthener which I can't wait to use, my nails are in such bad nick right now!

3. Daniel Sandler, Eye Delight in Peach, 3g full size - a fairly large pot of shimmery eye dust, love this but unfortunately not a colour I'd use. The shade Ice is also available in the boxes.

4. TheBalm, FratBoy All in one shadow/blush, full size - Easily the best thing in the box for me, love, love, love this! Packaging gorgeous, very retro and the shade is perfect for me. It's a very natural pale rose with a hint of peach.

5. Balance Me, Super Moisturising Hand Cream, 30ml - A large sized sample of their award winning 98.8% natural hand cream. Been using this for the past few days and love it. Bye bye dry hands!

The October box has exceeded all my expectations, having met with the team behind Carmine I knew it would be good but not quite this good.

I am really happy with all the products included, three of which are full sized and two are of a deluxe sample quantity. I think it's important when giving samples that they are of a decent size because there is no way you can form an opinion of something you only can use once or twice.

Now that I've written this I'm off to play with all my products, my nails are in for a treat and TheBalm is blush of choice today!

If you are interested in Carmine and pondering whether to subscribe or not, check out their website for more information or read my previous blog post here.

What did you think? Swayed by the whole beauty box idea?
xxx

Carmine - Beauty's best. In a box.

2011-10-04T14:40:00.003+01:00

Remember last week I mentioned an exciting meeting I couldn't wait to tell you all about, well today I can break my silence about it and am allowed spill the beans so to speak.

About an hour or so ago, Carmine, a new beauty subscription service launched online, yes you heard right another beauty box is on the block, but this time it's promising to think outside of the box and bring something fresh to the samples service.

Subscribers to Carmine will receive an exclusive beauty parcel packed with five hand picked, deluxe sized samples of the latest and greatest cosmetics on the market every month.

Each sample will be luxury sized and big enough to try out for the amount of time needed to form an opinion making it a great way to open your eyes to products you never knew existed or would work for you.

To ensure you receive products that will suit your skin type, colouring and scent preferences Carmine have come up with a clever beauty profile section so each parcel will eventually be personalised to each subscriber, making it easier for you to discover products you'll love!

Take it and see, I was Classic, Glam. Spot on!

Ok, so we've established you get a beautifully packaged box of surprises that's personalised to you but now comes the thinking outside the box part and my involvement.

Carmine want to be much more than just a box delivered to your door, they want to connect with beauty addicts and allow us to share our experiences as a community with one another and the brands themselves through their website.

You will be able to rate products, have discussions and share your favourites with other make-up lovers as well as get a deeper insight into products and brands you will receive plus VIP access to special offers and events.

So where do I come in?

Carmine wants to be able to offer you great online content, an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the beauty industry with video tips and tricks, beauty expert interviews and guest beauty columns from beauty bloggers (that's me).

I am one of the six freelance beauty columnists that will be contributing to the website writing two articles a month! Exciting! I can't wait to share the ones I'm working on right now with you.

Although I will be working alongside the lovely Carmine team this won't affect my opinions or thoughts on the service, impartial as always.

The subscription service is £10 a month with a £2.75 p&p charge and will be available to order from today so go check out their site if your interested.

Are you subscribed to any other beauty box service? What do you think yay or nay?
xxx

Make-up is the new Champagne

2011-09-29T12:43:00.004+01:00

An exciting meeting took place in Birmingham last week, which in weeks to come you will be hearing all about, but for now my lips are sealed I'm afraid.

I couldn't wait to celebrate; any normal person would have cracked open a bottle of bubbly at the nearest bar but me being, well, me rushed over to the nearest beauty hall in honour of the occasion, because let's face it there's no need for a glass of fizz when you can have lipgloss and liners right?

Well, not on a midweek afternoon there's not anyway.

Despite my good mood and 'party with the plastic' attitude that day, I was actually pretty restrained with myself and walked away with the following three products in my little yellow bag.

As I don't live near any exciting beauty counters or do much beauty buying online I wanted to look at a few brands I don't get to see much and their new products.

Nars Larger than Life, Long-wear eyeliner

I passed up Nar's Fall collection as the colours weren't very 'me' but on good recommendation I did check out their new (ish) range of Larger Than Life eyeliners.

I rather predictably went for the brown of the bunch, Via Appia, and have to say, I absolutely love it.

The formula is amazing, they're almost like a gel liner but in an easier to use, foolproof stick form so they're super soft with an intense colour payoff making them a dream to apply and work with.

I will do a full review soon but in short these beat Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide on pencils, Mac's Pearlglide liners and Estee Lauder's Double Wear eyeliners hands down as they are completely transfer resistant, so no smudging or budging throughout the day.

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Glister

On days when I feel like winging it (flicked out black liner) I always turn to my Illamasqua Precision ink in Abyss (review); it is the easiest liquid liner I've used and the staying power is incredible so I've always wanted more colours.

I passed up the newest shade, Havoc, as I'd just purchased the Larger than Life pencil and being unusually practical/reserved for me I plumped for their nude shade Glister instead.

An absolutely stunning shade, Glister, is a neutral with a mauve tint to it that's full of tiny pink and purple shimmer, totally unique.

If I'm honest I'm not entirely sure how to use this best yet, I've been applying it in my inner corners to open up my eyes which I love but I'm sure it has other uses!

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bare Naked.

My all time favourite lipgloss LM's After Hours, it is the epitomy of peachy pink perfection and the formula is AMAZING (review) but of course, like all great things it was limited edition.

The permanent shades in their range just aren't tacky enough for me, they're all a bit 'sophisticated neutral' whereas I'm all about the 'trashy nudes'.

Anyway, LM's new collection The New Smokey Eye has SIX new lip glace shades and all of them are baby nudes!!!!

I reluctantly only bought one, Bare Naked, which I'm obsessed with right now, it's a gorgeous milky pink with beige tones, very similar to Mac's Boy Bait.

Bare Baby (After Hours dupe) and Bare Peach are next on my hit list, as is a glass of fizz after writing this post! Phew!

When you feel happy do you celebrate by hitting up the beauty counters too or is it just me??
xxx

Golden girl

2011-09-20T14:28:00.005+01:00

I'm a firm believer in the rule 'accessories can make an outfit'. The right shoes, handbag or jewellery can transform even the simplest of ensembles and that's the reason I always invest in good quality 'finishing touches'.

I never buy high-street jewellery (H&M being my only exception), simply because I resent the fact the pieces rarely last a few weeks, tarnish like mad and are wildly overpriced for the quality.

I also know that that there are amazing designers out there who offer well priced, quality made designs at affordable prices that last much, much longer; fellow blogger/jewellery designer, Farah, just so happens to be one of them.

The Sasha necklace and the La Perla bracelet, Designs by FaraM.

Farah approached me several weeks ago and asked me to check out her new designs (Designs by FaraM) online which I did and I have to say it was love at first click.

Her designs were simple, elegant, chic and unique. They were 'right up my street' and needless to say I placed an order with her right away.

Each piece I ordered was custom made by Farah, she adjusted the bracelet to fit my wrist perfectly, checked the lengths of chains with me and even changed some crystal colours for me, amazing!

L-R: La Perla bracelet(£14), La Corde (£15), The Grace(£11) and The Sasha (£12 - wrapped twice here).

The quality of each piece is fabulous, every chain is tarnish resistant and is 16K Gold plated, genuine Freshwater Pearls, Mother of Pearl, Onyx and Swarovski Crystals are also used.

I'm over the moon with all my pieces, but I have to say the one that stands out and I would say is the 'must have' piece is the Sasha necklace.

Similar in design to the Lisa Taubes chain necklace the Sasha is versatile, elegant and I love the addition of the randomly placed black onyx beads for a classic black/gold combination. I have literally not taken this off!!

I know this is far from make-up related but I am so happy with my latest acquisitions that I couldn't wait to share them with you, so if you are interested you can take a peak at Farah's whole collection here.

Ohhh I almost forgot, if you are interested and want to purchase then Farah has offered my readers a special 10% OFF any item, one per customer using the code YMBB10!

What do you think? Are the designs right up your street too?
xxx

Too Good To Miss

2011-09-17T10:35:00.001+01:00

I often receive daily offer e-mails from companies, £2 off this, £10% off that, etc that don't interest me much but the one I got this morning was too good not to take up and of course share with you guys!

In fact I did take up the exact same offer about a month ago and it was well worth it as you'll see below.

ELF (Eyes,Lips,Face) are having their LAST EVER (not sure if this is some publicity stunt but whatever) 50% off everything deal over this weekend and it's well worth a look.

Here are some of my picks from my recent ELF haul.

I love ELF, surprisingly; despite their budget prices their products are incredible value, the packaging is sleek and more impressive than most drugstore brands and they are fantastic quality.

Their Mineral and Studio lines rock.

Rack up your order and be sure to type in LAST50 (UK/EU) and LAST50IT (Italy) to get your discount!

Have a great weekend!
xxx

Seasonal shade switching

2011-09-15T14:25:00.005+01:00

I'm a constant shade switcher when it comes to polish; I repaint practically every day, this is partly down to boredom and partly due to wear and tear, because one thing I can't tolerate are chipped nails (FYI)!

Meaning I rarely wear the same shade twice and I can honestly say I have NEVER ever finished a single bottle!

This is not a good thing but I like to think that it's not down to my vast (ridiculous) varnish collection but simply that companies make the bottles too big, right? Not counting Mavala of course.

Anyway, I've gone way off tangent with this as always, the point of this post was to share with you the polish that has converted my shade switching ways (for now).

Say hello to Strictly Legal!

I purchased this beautiful, bowed bottled a couple of weeks ago to mark the transition into Autumn/Fall which is my favourite time of the year colour/trend wise and it hasn't come off my nails since.

I've painted, repainted and touched up 'legally' all fortnight with it, which makes it one of the only polishes I've ever had a long lasting relationship with.

I think it's safe to say I'm in lacquer love!!

Here's why?

Firstly, it was created by boudoir nail enamel brand, Ciate who make some of the best quality polishes around, their peachy nude, Sugared Almonds is my absolute fave (totally recommend).

It lasts really, really well on my nails, around three days to be precise, which on me is saying something but the real reason I love this so much is the shade.

Strictly Legal is a very deep plum shade which is jam packed full of the tiniest gold sparkles that give it the most gorgeous dimension and effect when applied.

In some lights it looks like a definite purple but others it could almost be a very, dark and warm brown, the perfect Autumn shade in my eyes.

Having said that it must have been my favourite shade last Autumn too! After a few days of wearing it I realised Strictly Legal had an uncanny resemblance to another great polish I own, NYC's Canal Street.

They are practically identical, I wore both last night and couldn't even tell the difference.

Have a look at a swatch of Canal Street here and if you do like it then I suggest you save yourself £6 and opt for the purse savvy NYC polish instead! Oops!

How often do you shade switch? What's the polish you wear again and again? I'd love to know!
xxx

Get your beauty sleep with Silkskin

2011-09-08T11:39:00.009+01:00

Forget sleeping for 100 years like Aurora because you could wake up looking like a sleeping beauty every morning thanks to one of the best kept beauty secrets around.

Shockingly there are no lotions or potions in sight, just pillows!

Sleeping on silk has long been famed for it's anti-ageing and frizz fighting properties, but it's never really been something I'd ever seriously looked into before; to be honest I was too much of a sceptic to splash the cash.

But, for the past four months I've been catching up on my beauty sleep after being kindly sent my very own piece of luxury linen to try by Silkskin.

Made from 100% pure silk the pillowcase is of course sheer luxury to sleep on and the softest thing my head has ever laid on, but all that's to be expected as nothing can compete with the opulence of silk.

As I'm not here to review bedding I'll move on and talk about it's high claims for delaying the ageing process and taming your mane.

What they say:

- Helps to maintain the moisture levels in your skin and hair delaying the ageing process.

- Helps to prevent bed head and stop hair from falling out.

- Can benefit those with health conditions such as sensitive skin, breathing problems, allergies and circulation conditions.

- Contains amino acids which aid in skin healing and aid moisture absorption, making night creams more effective.

- Does not dry out hair/skin as there are no added colours or chemicals.

I think it's almost impossible for me to give an opinion on whether or not it has helped my skin or to be precise whether it would help anyones skin, as it totally depends on how you sleep; I sleep on my back with the back of my head against the pillow so my skin rarely touches the silk.

Although I may not be able to form an opinion on how it fights wrinkles or aids health complaints I can however comment on how it tackles frizz.

Over processed and heat damaged my hair was basically a big tangly mess, it used to resemble something of a rats nest in the mornings which was an unavoidable nightmare to tackle.

I didn't notice any difference for the first few weeks but after a fortnight or so my hair was much calmer and easier to tame.

Don't get me wrong, I don't wake up with perfect, sleek tresses but it is considerably, I'd say 80% less bushy and a million times easier to tackle in the shower.

Because it prevents the need to weaken the hair from combing and also from drying out as the silk helps to maintain its moisture levels I think it's definitely worth looking at if you want to maintain long term hair health.

Like all things luxury it doesn't come cheap at £36 a pillowcase, a hefty investment but in my mind worthy of consideration if you dye your hair or if a birds nest mane is the bane of your life!

Check out Silkskin's website for more information and countless dermatologist and renowned hairdressers commendations.

Have you ever slept like a princess on silk? Worthy of investment yay or nay?
xxx

My Six Summer Staples

2011-09-05T17:18:00.007+01:00

I don't think I've ever done a collective favourites post on my blog before; I usually leave the waffling to YouTube and stick to one product reviews on here, but little time and lots of lovely things have meant that this is my only option.

Above are six products that have really been the backbone to my make-up routine this summer; I do use the term 'summer' lightly though when referring to the past season as the UK hasn't had much of one this year unfortunately.

However, on the odd week or two that the sun has been scorching then the following products have been real staples in my face routine and all of which I highly recommend looking at.

1. Clarins UV Plus, SPF 40, Oil Free

Firstly, discard all those negative thoughts about suncream being a big greasy mess that you couldn't possibly slap on your face before your make-up, because this sunscreen is amazing and a great solution for all those who can't stand to be bare faced in the summer months.

That's me included btw; whether I'm at home or on holiday I need coverage and I previously only used to rely on the small SPF's that foundations offered to protect and perfect my summer skin, which simply isn't good enough; especially since I exfoliate my skin mildly everyday and use fruit acid peels weekly, which make it increasingly prone to sun damage.

I have oily skin all year round so have always discounted sunscreens for the fact that they would be too heavy and greasy on me but this is neither, the formula is amazingly light-weight and leaves a silky but slightly matte finish to the skin which is what I think makes this also great to use as a primer prior to foundation.

The slight pink shade calms uneven tones in the skin and evens out the skins texture allowing the perfect base. If your skin is not as oily as mine then you can apply a moisturiser over the top too!

Key points:
- Oil Free
- 100% Mineral screen
- Anti-Pollution
- SPF 40
- UVA/UVB/PA+++
- Non - comedogenic

I really love this for protection and prep but the only drawback is of course it's price, which is just under £30. However, if you are looking for a cheaper alternative then I've heard great things about La Roche Posay's Hydraphase UV SPF 30.

2. Clarins Mosaique Summer Bronzing Compact SPF 10

I have waxed lyrical about this beautiful bronzer in many a video and really wanted to dedicate a whole post in its honour but I never got around to it in the end. (Note to self - be a better and more organised blogger!)

Anyway, this gigantic bronzer which offers a whopping 20g of product in its compact has helped me fake bake all summer with it's foolproof bronze shade.

It is not dirty in tone, nor red or orange, just a gorgeous matte natural tan shade perfect for fair to mid skin tones.

The formula is great and easy to work with making blending a breeze, no stripes in sight!

This is quite possibly my favourite matte bronzer from my collection and well worth a look if you want a flawlessly tanned face without having to go in the sun but unfortunately the compact was limited edition as part of Clarins Summer 2011 collection but is still available at various stores online for around £25.

3. Clarins Instant Light, Natural Lip Perfector

I seem to have had something of a summer fling with Clarins over the past few months as my next must have item is again by them.

The Instant Light, Natural Lip Perfectors have been a firm favourite of mine for well over a year now. I have to have at least one of the three gorgeous shades with me at all times.

Top-Bottom: No3, No2 and No1.

I have never owned a lip product as essential as these tubes; the formula offers the creaminess and hydration of a lip balm, the glossiness of a lipgloss minus any stickiness and a colour payoff similar to that of a good sheer lipstick.

PERFECT! I can't emphasise enough how much I love these, every women should own at least one shade in their make-up bag.

4. Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation

The best drugstore (affordable) foundation I have ever tried and one I reach for regularly over many of my high-end cover ups.

Healthy Mix is spookily similar to Chanel Mat Lumiere in my opinion, offering a great medium coverage level, a light but long lasting formula and a matte yet at nicely luminous finish.

Oh and if that wasn't good enough, it also smells amazing and is enriched with radiance boosting fruit extracts to hydrate and repair the skin.

Key points:
- Oil Free
- Long lasting
- Medium coverage
- Light-weight on the skin
- Non cakey
- Mattifying but not flat

5. Bourjois Delice de Soleil bronzing spray

Delice de Soleil is a wash off spray that melts into the skin instantly and offers a slight powder finish of subtle bronze.

It's similar to Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs (LOVE) but in a facial friendly formula. It has been a summer staple for me as I've loved using it on 'no' make-up days all over my face for a slight natural tan and light coverage so I didn't have to use foundation.

Also it's perfect for days when your feeling a little pasty and want some colour without the hastle of fake tanning as you can use it anywhere on your body. The scent is also divine, Terrys Chocolate Orange anyone?

6. Urban Decay De Slick, Oil Control setting spray

I'm a huge fan of setting sprays; I love how they remove that powder look that make-up can sometimes leave, add instant luminosity to your skin and help to keep your make-up on just that little bit longer.

I love Mac's Fix Plus in the winter but in the summer when your foundation feels like it's going to slide off your face then I find I need something a little stronger.

I've been through several bottles of Urban Decay by Skindinavia's All Nighter spray (LOVE for nights out and long days) and was all out when I spotted this one, specially formulated for oil control so I decided to give it a go.

It's fab, if you have a problem with make-up sliding off, oily skin or just want your foundation to look perfect all day then I really recommend De Slick. I don't know how or why it works but it just does.

I wouldn't have survived the (occasional) heat without it!

I know this is a mega long post but I was desperate to share my favourite summer finds with you. Well done if you got all of the way through and I'd love to know your summer staples in the comments below!! Or if you have tried any of the above?

xxx

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre review

2011-08-24T11:38:00.002+01:00

Firstly, apologies for the blandest title ever, but in the interest of all those make-up hungry and Chanel obsessed women out there I thought I'd keep it simple for Google searches seeing as this gorgeous product is brand spanking new!!

It's so new in fact that it's barely been out a week, and the tell tale sign as to how this review is going to go, I guess is that I'm already blogging about it.

I'll keep the story short and sweet, I saw, I swatched, I spent.

The Illusion d'Ombre eyeshadows, of which there are six, are quite possibly the prettiest little pots of metallic magnificence I've ever seen and completely irresistible.

On first appearances, prior to sticking your finger in them for that ever so tempting swatch, these shadows look just like any old pot of pigment or glitter but when you touch them they transform.

Illusoire, Number 83

Are they a cream? Are they a gel or a mousse? It's hard to describe but they are more solid than a cream, bouncier than a gel and not creamy like a mousse.

The best way I can describe the unique formula is that it reminds me oddly of a memory foam cushion, a strange comparison I know but if you swatch one you'll get it.

Illusoire, Number 83

So how does this crazy new formula perform?

Amazingly! I love it; it's so soft to touch that you can barely feel it and gives a beautiful and intense pigmentation that's hard to beat.

The shade I purchased was Illusoire (83), a stunning purple with grey undertones and multi-dimensional sparkles.

As you can see above it's very sparkly but not in an over glittery way, it's more metallic in finish than sheer sparkles, just beautiful!

Chanel advises that you use the cute travel brush it comes with to apply them but personally I found this didn't pick up nearly as much pigment as my good old digit did.

I think if your going to use this product as an eyeliner then the brush would be good as it's slightly angled but again personally I preferred to use my finger to apply it under the eyes.

Illusoire (83) and Mirifique (85)

I wore this out the day I got it and absolutely loved it, super easy for those of us that don't know how to do a complex make-up look for a night out.

A few swipes with your finger and a little blending - voila!

My bestie, Helen, above, wore Mirifique (85), a stunning black with silver sparkles in case you were wondering what's on her lids.

Chanel describes their pretty little pots as a long wearing luminous eyeshadow and I have to agree they do last a long time, till 3am to be precise without fading, creasing or smudging.

I was a little surprised actually with the longevity because when you swatch them on your hand they just wipe straight off unlike other cream shadows which just don't budge (Benefit's Creaseless shadows, Urban Decay's primer potions etc) but somehow they do stay put.

I am not positive but I think these cushion like creations are limited edition so if you like the look of them I advise you to run to Chanel asap, as I predict these are going to sell out faster than the new cult polish, Peridot (amazing but not for me)!

Oh and the cost before I forget; They are Chanel so they do carry a premium price tag of £22.50 a pot, hefty I know but you won't regret splashing the cash on one of these.

Have you spotted these yet?Any other shades I should look at (buy)?
xxx

Kimono - not such a no no

2011-08-15T10:50:00.002+01:00

I often dismiss prints, especially florals, when it comes to fashion.

Bleached blonde and without soft facial features I've always felt I don't have that bohemian/romantic 'look' that's often needed to pull them off; but the girly girl in me spotted this a few weeks ago and couldn't resist it.

It's floral but not over the top or obvious, the pattern has a soft and almost Monet-esque look to it which I think is just beautiful.

The mix of pastel green, pink, white and racing green make it perfect for across the seasons, pastels for the spring/summer and with the hint of darker green I think it may just work in Autumn too.

Worn with - Topshop Baxter jeans, Dorothy Perkins bandeau and Accessorize tigers eye necklace.

I've seen Kimono style jackets all over the high-street recently and loved them but the cut/style of most have not been right for me, mostly too short, the sleeves too big or the prints too opulent but this one from good old H&M is perfect.

The length is super flattering, softly covering the hips and more importantly my derriere, the sleeves are loose but not like wings and as I said above the print is just right!

Worn with - Topshop black Baxter jeans, Zara T, H&M pink skinny belt and Lisa Taubes chain.

I love this oriental inspired jacket and it's been the perfect, chic cover up this summer. I like to wear it open, with a belt, or with the pink lining flicked out which you can see in one of my recent YT videos below.

If you'd maybe dismissed Kimono's as a firm no no or even floral prints then I'd definitely recommend tracking this down in your local H&M and enjoy embracing your inner Geisha!

I can't remember exactly but I think it cost around £20!

I'd love to know if you've found any other gorgeous Kimono's recently as I want more! Please let me know below.
xxx

Crazy dumb collection

2011-08-12T22:48:00.005+01:00

I know after purchasing the infamous Naked palette I swore those 12 shades were the only eyeshadows I'd ever need in my life again.

I'd even, somewhat drastically considered selling the rest of my collection in devotion to it; but alas the hoarder, addict, or whatever you want to call it, in me couldn't go through with it and I still have a 'crazy dumb collection' (Tinie Tempah) of colours.

I say colours but by colours I mean mainly neutrals.

Anyway, I don't think I've purchased any eyeshadows for about a year now, seeing as I probably own every shade of cream, tan, taupe and brown going, but this palette popped up and it was love at first sight!

Nothing too dark, no random brights, no blues, greys or blacks just 12 gorgeous variations of neutral.

All wearable and foolproof, perfect.

MUA's Heaven and Earth palette really is the lazy girls' (that's me) palette, there's no need for faffing around as it has endlessly gorgeous combinations for both day or night looks, I love it!

Top row swatches!!

Bottom row swatches!!

Right, I'll get onto the most important parts of any product, the quality and the cost.

There are no matte or glittery shades in this but they do all have a reflective finish similar to that of Mac's Satin, Frost or Veluxe Pearl formulas.

All 12 have great colour payoff and an almost creamy like texture which makes them really nice to work with, altogther the quality is damn good, rivalling even high-end shadows.

I'm really am genuinely shocked at the quality of these as this palette cost a mere £4!!

I've paid much, much more for one shade that's been half the quality of these, making this palette the one of the biggest beauty bargains I've ever come across.

All I can say is clever, clever MUA, a Superdrug own brand, for cottoning on to the fact that we all love our palettes and for trying to cash in on the success of Sleek.

I for one think they are on to a winner with these and I urge you all to check out MUA on your next shopping trip, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Do you have the Heaven and Earth palette? Are you in love?
xxx

A meaningful weekend

2011-08-03T22:00:00.002+01:00

Life sometimes passes by so fast that we don't have the chance to just sit and appreciate it.

I know I'm guilty of this; I seem to always focus on the negative things in life and rarely stop to think just how lucky I am and how beautiful the world is.

This is getting a little profound so I'll stop now, after all this is a beauty blog or supposed to be!

So I'll cut to the chase.

The past weekend for me was the first time in a really long time that I felt inspired and to be truly honest, really happy.

Lily and I

Lily and some strange sculpture!

Dad. Grandpa, younger brother and Lily

Brunch! Yummy!

On Sunday my dad dragged my grandparents, brother, Lily and me to the cinema to see an independent film. He works in the arts so often tries to take us to cultural things you see, some of which are great and others just plain odd!

Life in a Day

Filmed across 180 countries by over 40,000 individuals who posted their clips on YouTube of a single day in their lives, 24th June 2010, it's magical and eye opening.

Watch this film and I guarantee you will feel inspired, simply by life.

I know this is random but I just wanted to share some pictures with you and the film which I doubt has been publicised much. Has anyone else seen it?
xxx

Stud muffin

2011-08-01T22:53:00.004+01:00

Saying I'm in love with all things studded is a bit of an understatement; I have a slight obsession with the embellishment if I'm honest, if it's studded then more than likely I'll buy it.

I'm probably as far away from being rock n' roll as you can get, but there's something effortlessly edgy yet classic about studs that make them such a foolproof fashion for me.

Now, I'm guessing some of you may think I've taken my obsession a step too far by embellishing my nails with them and I did when I first applied them.

It's odd having knobbly nails to start with but they've grown on me over the weekend.

All I can say now is that I think they ROCK!

I'm rubbish at anything creative beautywise so if you think it looks tricky, its not.

All you need are Andrea Fulerton's Gold Nail Studs which I purchased from Superdrug for around £5, your base coat and a clear nail polish.

My nails are Shellac'd so I didn't need to paint them, I just applied a clear polish on top and while wet used the sucker stick they come with to pick up the studs and place them where I wanted.

When that was dry I went over the top of them again with the clear polish to set them, simples!

Moving onto something entirely non beauty related but definitely stud related, my new bargain bag arrived on Saturday.

Dubbed the 'Focco' by Laura, this Alexander Wang inspired *cough* ripoff is a stud lovers must have!!

It may be made from pleather in China and cost just under £30 but this bag is so good that I've discarded my designer handbags and am proud to have this baby on my arm instead, for now anyway!

I chose the grey shade which is slightly lilac as I've been after one this colour for yonks and refused to add yet another tan (another obsession) bag to my collection.

I purchased mine from this seller and it was shipped very fast, arriving in less than two weeks. I have seen UK sellers with this bag too though.

Studded nails, a step too far?
xxx

A moustache mishap

2011-07-28T21:55:00.001+01:00

I'm not going to be blogging tonight but my good friend, PR extraordinaire and fashion blogger Anne is.

I've never had a guest blogger on my blog before but after hearing about Anne's recent beauty disaster over coffee a few weeks ago, I felt the need for her to share her story with you.

If your a top lip waxer or are thinking about tackling your unwanted hair this way then I advise you to read on for Anne's word of waxing warning.

My lingering shadow

I went on a trip earlier this year to Thailand; an amazing, sweltering experience.

About one week into my travels I noticed a prominent shadow descending on my top lip, I was slightly confused as I had, had it waxed the day before I'd left, but simply assumed it was growing much faster than usual.

I often find my hair growth speeds up in the sun, great for my ever tumbling locks, yet not so great for unwanted bodily extras.

I snuck off to bury this issue in a Thai salon as soon as possible, so was unpleasantly surprised to find the shadow still there next time I looked in the mirror.

It then dawned on me that this was in fact not down to my hair growth at all but something more serious, my skin, a worrying realisation.

Pictures of how the shadow slowly progressed throughout my holiday.

I have always been very skin conscious so I was feeling increasingly paranoid as the trip went on, what made things worse was that I was away on holiday with my boyfriend. A new relationship, where such matters were not comfortable enough to discuss yet.

I know it was only a shadow but, it was lingering on an area of my skin that no-one wants to draw attention to!

To make things worse as soon as I got home one of the first things my mum said to me was:

"You need to get your top lip waxed!"

By this I knew it had to be bad as my mum's not the type to pick up on things like this, so I went straight to my sister, thankfully, a beautician, who explained that years of upper lip waxing had left my skin weak and as a result, prone to sun damage.

Repair and Prevention

I've found two products to help me tackle my rather unsightly and cough* slightly embarrassing problem.

Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector and Clarins UV plus, SPF 40.

Although not quite back to normal yet my skin has improved significantly as you can see below.

In order to prevent this ever happening again I know I will always need to wear a high factor sun block on that area and most definitely never put it near a wax strip again.

My method of choice from now on will be threading for facial hair removal, that is, until I can afford laser treatment!

This is a warning to all you top lip waxers out there, please protect your skin as it didn't just cast a shadow over my holiday but it could have shaded my future...

Eeeek!! Makes me so glad that I've never waxed there as my skin is sun sensitive and I've no doubt I'd have ended up in the same predicament as Anne had I done it. I agree threading all the way, you can't beat it for cheap, quick and easy hair removal!

Be sure to check out Anne's fabulous fashion, life and all that's in between blog, Anne's-Aneries.

xxx

Grab it before it goes

2011-07-23T16:13:00.002+01:00

There's never a shortage of glossy giveaways on the UK magazine shelves.

Typically, I'm not a huge magazine consumer, but if there's a freebie to be had then I'm going to grab it.

This months offering in Marie Claire was a lipgloss by boudoir nail company, Ciate.

There's no doubt about it, Ciate do nail polishes perfectly, the shade Sugared Almonds just so happens to be my favourite ever varnish (FYI) but even so I was a little sceptical about their venture into make-up.

This was mainly due to the cheap looking, plastic packaging. It's such a shame they haven't kept the classy and sophisticated look of their nail polish bottles.

Anyway, superficiality aside this product may not be the best looking but it's whats inside that really counts, right?

St.Barts, the lighter of the two shades available is gorgeous, it's Mac's Hue but in lipgloss form.

Pink but not too pink, nude but not too nude, just right!

Aside from the colour which is a foolproof, everyday shade, the formulation is very similar to that of a Cremesheen; offering a non sticky glossy wash of semi- opaque colour with the same vanilla scent Mac lip products have.

I really recommend picking up this copy of Marie Claire before the September issue comes out in a weeks time and getting this great lipgloss for a mere £2.50 (their travel size version mag).

I'm going to grab another today as I'm going through this quickly and there's no way I'm spending £9 on something that looks like it should belong on the Natural Collection shelf.

Did you grab any good glossy giveaways this month?? Did you try the Ciate lipgloss?
xxx

A sprinkling of stardust

2011-07-18T23:20:00.003+01:00

A random purchase from Superdrug got me all creative yesterday; No , not with my makeup, not yet anyway, but with my nails.

The Shellac came off after 18 days (impressive, hey) and I was in desperate need of a drastic change of scenery, coral for that long can bore anyone.

So, like a magpie I spotted the sparkliest thing I could find, which happened to be on the shelves of the Gosh section.

I've no idea if these are new but I've never seen these teeny, tiny pots of shininess before.

Out of the ten shades available I chose classic gold and grey moonstone.

I don't usually wear glitter polish that often as it's hard to apply evenly and famously even harder to get off but the simplicity of these shouted out to me.

Paint and put in a pot - voila!

The 'look' I came up with is so simple and easy but absolutely beautiful, I literally haven't been able to stop staring at my nails all day, it's as though the galaxy has fallen at my fingertips.

All you need:

- A black nail polish, I used NYC Expert Last in City Blackout
- A nail glitter pot by Gosh
- A clear nail polish, I used one by Nailene
- A good top coat, I used First and Last by Chinaglaze

It looks so much harder than it is, honestly, its pip squeezy.

I painted two layers of the black polish (when dried) then applied the clear polish along the tip as if doing a french manicure then I poured some glitter into the lid of the pot and tipped over my nail immediately.

I then gently blew off the excess and when dry applied a top coat. See, simples!

I can't say enough how much I love these, I prefer the look of the loose glitter so much more than any sparkly polishes I've tried and they allow you to be so much more creative.

The pots are £3.99 each and a must have for any magpies like me!

Will you be sprinkling your nails with stardust?
xxx

Get your glow on with Rose Quartz

2011-07-11T11:27:00.005+01:00

I'd resisted the lure of filling my virtual shopping basket with gems from Mac's latest mineralised collection, Semi Precious, by clicking the 'x' several times last week.

I find being restrained online easy, the page closes and I destract myself by opening another site, but resisting the urge to buy makeup in store is almost impossible for me, hence this very small haul.

I couldn't say no!

I saw, I swatched, I purchased.

Semi Precious Rose Quartz MSF

It's funny, the one thing I walked away with was not even considered in my online basket. I'd originally wanted Warmth of Coral blusher (bit too orange), Pure Magnificence lipglass (similar to some I have) and the 234 split brush (would be impossible to blend with).

Anyway, the product I did like which surprised me the most was one of the MSF's (Mineralized Skinfinish) in Rose Quartz.

I dismissed this originally due to it's design, the strange blob of swirly, sparkly colours was quite frankly bazaar and not something that appealed to my superficial self, I also thought it looked too similar to Stereo Rose.

Boy was I wrong.

Stereo Rose MSF, Rose Quartz (pink alone), middle section and swirled together.

It's nothing like Stereo Rose as you can see above. Stereo Rose is much peachier and deeper in colour whereas Rose Quartz is more of a true pink with a definite blue undertone.

Muhsine's (Bubblegarm) has some great swatches on her blog, check out her Semi Precious haul here.

I've worn this every day since I bought it, it's cool toned and I love it.

As it's a mineral powder the pink section is very soft and easy to work with, like all MSF's it's very glowy, almost pearlised in finish which adds a beautiful sheen when applied.

Although the middle precious stone portion is a little chunkier in texture it's not difficult to work with.

As you know, I love my matte foundations, well, I have no choice but to with my oily skin; Anyway, to stop them looking flat I love to use blushers that give me a glow.

Rose Quartz eliminates the need for a separate highlighter (me lazy, never!) and acts as a 2 in 1 by adding colour and a soft sheen which I think looks beautiful on the skin.

Although mineralized collections always look pretty, some products are better for looking at than using which is why I passed on everything else, the blogger in me not that long ago wouldn't have though (learning restraint, clearly).

Oh and you can purchase the new collection in store or online at Mac, Selfridges or Debenhams! Good to know in case anything gets sold out on one site.

Did you get your glow on with Semi Precious or pass it up??
xxx

Gel nails, third time lucky

2011-07-08T18:27:00.006+01:00

I love nail polish; I love looking at it, buying (collecting) it and of course wearing it, but on me nice nails don't last long.

A day, maybe two if I'm lucky.

I've tried every polish that claims to be anti-chip or wear resistant and invested in multiple top coats but alas they chip every time and I end up having to paint my nails most days but for the past ten days I haven't touched a bottle.

Why? Gel nails that's why!

First day!

I had them done just over a week ago and I'm happy to say I still have shiny, flawless fingernails almost two weeks in, that's pretty impressive, right?

I know gel nails are nothing new but for me the thought of having salon perfect nails for several weeks has always appealed.

I've had them done a few times before but was left bitterly disappointed as they only lasted a few days before peeling off.

This could have been down to how they were applied, my heavy handedness or the fact I had peeling nails from previous acrylics, I just don't know but they didn't work.

Anyway, this is my third attempt with Shellac, a gel nail system by CND, there are other brands that offer similar such as Gelish, OPI Axxium, Nails Inc, etc but most salons near me seem to provide Shellac.

Ten days in!

These are my nails today, perfect and not a chip in sight, the only sign of wear is the fact my nails have grown so there is a little gap between cuticle and polish.

I love them, they look so good and glossy.

If you've never had gel nails before it's a very simple salon treatment which takes around an hour, there are no extensions or anything like that involved.

Layers upon layers of special polish are painted onto your natural nail and set under a UV lamp which then results in a very hard wearing, chip free, smudge proof finish that lasts.

I had the shade Tropix applied, the perfect, bright, summer coral.

Although gel nails are expensive at between £25-£40 a treatment it's definitely something to consider if your going on holiday or want perfect nails for work.

I'd be really interested if anyone has used the other brands of gel nails as I'd like to try another next?

xxx

Something a little special

2011-06-30T19:25:00.001+01:00

Sleek MakeUp seems to be going a little palette crazy recently with three new additions in the past month or so.

Not that I'm complaining, I love my Sleek palettes, but I was a little confused when this popped through my letterbox.

Anyway, confusion aside, OMG, OMG!!

A palette I can finally use and not just stare at.

Oh So Special is about as close as Sleek has got to creating a neutral palette for all us cautious colour wearers and I frickin love it!

Most of the twelve shades are very wearable and would be flattering on all skintones; the only shades I'm not overly keen on are the pinks but hey there's only two so overall I'm pretty impressed with the shade selection.

I've reached for this palette everyday over the past week to create the perfect neutral eye using Bow as a highlight, The Mail as an all over wash colour and Gift Basket in the crease.

I'm also a little partial to a purple smokey eye so when I went out at the weekend Wrapped up and Celebrate were perfect.

Swatches of top row

Left to Right

Bow - a soft cream shade (matte)
Organza - a midtone champagne pink (shimmer)
Ribbon - a peachy pink (matte)
Gift Basket - a bronze shade (shimmer)
Glitz - a deep silvery blue (shimmer)
Celebrate - a deep plum (shimmer)

Swatches of bottom row

Left to Right

Pamper - a soft but bright peachy pink (shimmer)
Gateau - a champagne lilac (shimmer)
The Mail - a midtone tan (matte)
Boxed - a dark brown (matte)
Wrapped Up - a deep plum (matte)
Noir - black (matte)

Like all Sleek MakeUp I-Divine palettes the quality is high, all have great colour payoff and are mineral eyeshadows so extremely soft and easy to blend.

I believe this is a permanent addition to their range which gets a big thumbs up from me, I have a love/hate relationship with LE (Limited Edition) products.

Oh So Special is available now in Superdrug stores and online at SleekMakeUp for £6.49.

Have you spotted Oh So Special yet? What did you think?
xx

A (Nars) Deep Throat Dupe

2011-06-22T14:28:00.005+01:00

I'm no psychic but I predict this week I'll be getting record traffic numbers thanks to the title of this post, lol!

Although the boys may be left a little disappointed with what they find on here, I hope your not, as this happens to be one exciting find.

These days I rarely walk out of a drugstore with anything more than cotton pads and babywipes, but last week while swiftly scanning the shelves in Superdrug this blush caught my eye.

From afar, first impressions were good; Looks wise it had a Givenchy Prisme thing going on mixed with a hint of a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick.

An interesting combination that had me intrigued instantly so I swatched the pink version, Blushalicious and almost squealed with delight at what I saw (sad aren't I).

I lay my superficiality aside a little at the till and you can see why above, the packaging just ain't that pretty but who cares when the product is beautiful right? And costs less than a fiver!

Blushalicious is made up of four gorgeous complimentary colours, a bright peachy pink, a mid tone mauve, a soft pink with a hint of lilac pink and a true peach.

This is my dream blush palette, I just love it.

L-R - Top two shades followed by bottom two shades.

So we've established I like the shades but what about the colour payoff?

Surprisingly it's really, really good. As good as any high end blush and the formula is just as soft too, a real winner!

Now, the name Shimmer Shades would suggest a slightly glittery product but luckily this isn't the case, the powder does have a slight pearlescent finish but no chunky sparkles!

So you must be thinking why the comparison to Nars Deep Throat, one of my favourite ever blushes btw?

Well, the first time I applied this I loved it but I couldn't put my finger on what it reminded me of until I got my Deep Throat out the other day.

Blushalicious and Nars Deep Throat.

When all the colours are swirled together it makes the above colour, a true pinky peach which as you can see is almost identical to the colour of Deep Throat.

If the Nars blusher at a whopping £21 is a little out of reach at the moment then Blushalicious is a great dupe for less than a quarter of the price!

The other great thing about this blusher is the fact that Collection 2000 has been practical in their design, unlike other brands, *cough Chanel, *cough Guerlain, that tend to make powders with several colours impossible to use each shade alone.

The four shades are designed to be used easily with a normal blush sized brush alone, in pairs or mixed in whatever colour combination you like, big thumbs up from me!!

Personally I love the bottom two shades mixed together the best.

The funny thing about this product is that I guarantee if a high-end cosmetics company had bought this out I'd have paid serious cash for it but this cost just over £4 making it a seriously good buy!

What good dupes have you come across recently? I'd love to know, there's nothing better than finding one!!
xxx

Summer with Sleek- Mediterranean and Caribbean swatches

2011-06-17T14:01:00.003+01:00

WARNING! Before you read on you might just want to go and grab your sunglasses as the swatches of Sleek's Limited Edition summer collection are seriously bright!

Released last week (June8th) and available at your local Superdrug counters now, their Caribbean and Mediterannean mini ranges promise to bring the holiday to you; A small but thoughtful consolation for those of us with zero holiday plans this year.

Top L-R, Santorini blush (Mediterannean), Bonaire Pout Polish (Caribbean) and Monoco IDivine palette(Mediterannean)

These collections are far from subtle and as you can see, may not be for the shy or for those of us that like to stay fairly neutral with our make-up no matter what the weather is.

But if you do like to experiment with colour then the shades Sleek have created in these collections are perfect for injecting some fun into your make-up.

Santorini and Bonaire swatched!

Santorini (£4.29) is a fabulously bright, almost neon fuschia. It's a stunning shade which surprisingly I have attempted to wear over the past few weeks and loved.

Like all Sleek products Santorini is super pigmented so a very, very light hand is needed with its application.

I recommend using a duofibre like Mac's 131 or a fan brush if your as pale as me or just don't want clown cheeks! Also as it's a bit of a statement blush I've found wearing very little eye makeup and using this 'pop' of colour as the focus works really well.

Bonaire (£4.29) may look scary in the pot but when applied the shocking orange turns into a pretty, coral wash of shine on the lips.

Pout Polishes are very similar to Mac's Tinted Lip Conditioners so they offer hydration and shine with a touch of sheer colour for a fraction of the price. I do like these but I don't use them often enough as I really hate using my fingers to apply them.

Top row - Bamboo, Aquamarine, Midnight Garden, Sunset, Washed Ashore, Magenta Madness.
Bottom row - Summer Breeze, Sand Walker, Kiwi Zest, Lotus Flower, Hummingbird, Moors Treasure.

For me the most exciting part of any Sleek collection is the palette; Nowhere else on the high-street offers such great quality eyeshadows and astounding array of shades for the tiny price of £6.95.

L-R - Bamboo (matte), Aquamarine(matte), Midnight Garden (matte), Sunset(shimmer), Washed Ashore(slight shimmer), Magenta Madness(matte).

The Monoco palette inspired by the blue seas and bright skys of the Med is stunning to look at, but unfortunately that's all I'll be doing with it.

Although there are some unique and unusually gorgeous jewel colours in this palette as you know I play it safe and probably will never wear most of them.

Having said that, I have been using Bamboo (soft cream) as an all over wash colour and Sand Walker (light taupe) in the crease a lot.

If I'm feeling a little braver I've also enjoyed adding a touch of Washed Ashore (mid-tone orange) to the centre of the lid but that's as far as I'll go!

L-R - Summer Breeze(matte), Sand Walker(matte), Kiwi Zest(shimmer), Lotus Flower(shimmer), Hummingbird(shimmer), Moors Treasure(matte).

Sleeks latest shades would look amazing teamed with a tan this summer so if you are interested they do tend to sell out fast so run to your nearest Superdrug or order online not to be disappointed.

Too bright or just right? What do you think?
xxx

Samples were kindly sent to me by their PR.

Blame it on the weather

2011-06-13T11:01:00.005+01:00

Shopping wasn't supposed to be on the agenda this weekend (I'm trying to be good) but the rotten rain ruined any of my good intentions and I quickly found myself sheltering among the shops.

It seems fair therefore that I blame this impromptu haul on the weather and not on my weak willpower!

However, laying blame aside, shower shopping proved fruitful and I'm really happy with my new wardrobe additions.

Bandage skirt (Topshop £22), Over sized blazer (H&M £19.99) and Halterneck top (Warehouse £14)

My style doesn't seem to have changed a whole lot in the past few years, dark skinny jeans have been a daily essential and my drawers are overflowing with camis and cardis.

But yesterday I threw caution to the wind and adopted a slightly different approach to shopping by trying trends I'd previously dismissed.

I've always completely written off the whole bandage dress/skirt craze thing as a style I just wouldn't feel comfortable wearing but for some reason recently I've been craving a skirt to wear.

After asking the twitter fashionistas where to find the best one, the answer was unanimous and off to Topshop I went. I tried, I loved and I left with one.

As usual H&M never fails me.

I've been on the hunt for a light summer jacket for weeks now and I found 'the one' yesterday.

It's a neutral coloured, lightweight boy blazer which has a smart but casual feel to it with it's rolled up sleeves and slightly over sized fit, a good alternative to the granny cardis I feel!

£14 Accessorize

Accessorize have been a little disappointing lately as they seem to have some sort of obsession with diamantes and slightly tacky styling at the moment but I spotted this one off necklace and had to have it.

Simple, gold and tortoiseshell - perfect.

Seeing as I rarely wear silver jewellery anymore I thought my Thomas Sabo charms circa 2005 would never see the light of day again but the designers new wrap bracelets have reignited my love for them.

I know it's a little Kabbalahesque but strangely I like it.

The silk wraps come in about ten colours and can be worn as an anklet, hairband, belt, necklace etc as they are a metre long.

They cost £6.95 each which isn't bad but personally I reckon you could nip down to your local haberdashery and buy some silk cord much cheaper.

Anyway, it's a nice new way to wear your old charms this summer if you have any lying about.

And finally, a haul just wouldn't be a haul without a few beauty purchases now would it?

I've been using a sample of Clarin's Wonder Perfect mascara for the past week and surprisingly I love it. The wand looks very generic but somehow this stuff works wonders quite literally on my lashes, a review to come soon.

And as there was an offer at Debenhams where you got 1000 (£10) of points if you spent over £25 I couldn't resist their undereye concealer stick too which I can't wait to use, the colour looks perfect for erasing circles.

Did you find shelter in your shopping centre this weekend and do a spot of shower shopping?
xxx

Spring Cleaning Blog Sale

2011-06-06T22:04:00.002+01:00

If your a savvy bargain hunter and like the odd blog sale then check out my latest one here.

xxx

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Shadow Pencil - An everyday essential

2011-06-04T11:00:00.001+01:00

I've been meaning to blog about these beauties for months now but somehow it always seems that I never quite get around to talking about the products I really rely on.

The one's I use, day in and day out.

These most definitely fall into that category and they have done for months now so it's only fair they get a mention and some well deserved attention from me on here.

If you were wondering what product I was talking about then it's the 24/7 Glide-on shadow pencils by Urban Decay. A chubbier, more diverse version of their infamous 24/7 eyeliner pencils.

I was a bit late on the whole 24/7 eyeliner bandwagon thing as I only discovered them myself when I purchased the Naked palette last year but needless to say I fell head over heels in love with them!

Who wouldn't? They're an eyeliner that offers the softest application, an amazing range of colours and a waterproof formula that's completely smudge proof.

Anyway, onto the shadow pencils which are essentially the very same thing only fatter making them much more diverse to use.

I have two. Sin, a champagne pink and Rehab, a deep brown with a purple undertone and use them pretty much everyday as my eyeshadow, base, eyeliner and highlight.

The formula of these is simply amazing, they are so soft that you can barely feel them when applied with absolutely no dragging on the skin (Mac shadestick *cough) and they last, like really last.

The waterproof formula ensures that once they are on, they stay on!

Above is the shade Sin which I use in several ways everyday, most of the time I apply it all over my lid and wear it alone for a neutral but very basic look.

It's also a good base for other powder eyeshadows as it just doesn't crease and is a great inside eye/waterline highlight colour which stays put all day long.

As you can see even Sin which is one of the lightest shades in the range is very opaque in colour, the colour payoff is very strong and not wishy washy like other cream eye shadows.

Out of all the shades of which there are around ten Rehab was the one I NEEDED in my life, as you know I love brown eyeliners but sometimes they can be a little, well, bland and flat.

Rehab is anything but bland, it's part brown, part deep purple with a touch of copper which creates the most stunning and flattering brown shade.

Although Rehab is supposed to be an eyeshadow I use it predominantly as an eyeliner, it's so easy to apply due to its texture, gives just the right sized line which can be precise or smudgy depending on how you feel.

This shade is perfect for creating an instant everyday smokey eye that's subtley sexy but not OTT. I do this most days as it takes no time but gives an amazing effect.

The shadow pencils are blendable for about 20 seconds before drying so as soon as I apply my line I just go over it with my finger and lightly smudge it out at the edge to give a softer look.

Generally Urban Decay is not a brand I'm overly keen on but you can't fault the fact they do make the best eyeliners in the business and having tried so many cream products over the years in sticks, pots and pencils none come close to these.

The intense pigmentation, lightweight, silky soft texture and lasting power make them a real winner and well worth a try if your looking for a multi-use eye product that's well worth the money.

They cost £14 each and offer twice the amount of product when compared to the 24/7 eyeliners for just a pound more.

xxx

Diorskin Nude Glow in Aurora

2011-05-24T23:07:00.005+01:00

Originally it had been a toss up between this or Chanel's new bronzing/blush/highlight powder from either of their latest limited edition summer collections.

Both looked amazing and I have to say Chanel was firmly in the lead looks wise until I got a chance to swatch them.

Surprisingly their new Moisturising Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing powder is a bit of a let down, the pigmentation was poor, the four colours were too close to use individually (defeating the object) and most importantly when applied the tones were just so wrong on me.

Both shades were muddy and didn't give the natural bronze glow effect I crave from a bronzing powder so I hopped along to the Dior counter to check out their new Healthy Glow Summer Powders instead.

Thoroughly impressed and wowed by Dior's offering I walked away with the lightest of the two shades, Aurora, which has left me somewhat speechless, making writing this review pretty tricky!

You see the only word that comes to mind every time I see, think about and use Dior's new compact is STUNNING, but for the purpose of this post I will of course try to elaborate some more.

Encased in silver the compact is simple and sophisticated in design complete with a large mirror for touch ups on the inside.

Unlike most powder product packaging the mini brush it comes with which BTW is very soft is not housed within the case instead it's home is a little pouch in the blue, velvet cover.

I almost swoon every time I open this compact and see its beautiful, delicate pattern. Beachy bronze is woven intricately between a pretty peachy tan and a subtle soft pink.

This is a powder that is meant to be swirled not separated so it was hard to swatch the shades individually as they are pretty minute.

At the top is them all together, then below is the matte pale pink, the matte mid-tone brown and last the bronze with a slight shimmer.

Although the swatches above look a little on the orange side this is not the case in real life, Aurora adds a beautiful peachy tan to the skin, very natural and subtle which now leads me perfectly onto formulation.

The consistency of this powder is like non I've ever tried before, its extremely light, almost weightless and feels like satin to touch which makes applying it effortless and in turn allows an amazing finish on the skin.

Pigmentationwise it's payoff is a happy medium, not so pigmented that I need to tap off the excess from my brush and blend but nor do I have to literally scrape it out of the pan to get some colour, this is a product that can be easily built to suit you.

Pardon the picture above but I'd just had my eyebrows waxed and was looking a little worse for wear but at least you can see Aurora in action and that's all that matters, right.

I have no blush on at all in that picture, just Mac's Harmony powder as a contour and then Aurora on my cheeks and face to add some colour and a slight sun kissed glow.

I usually have to use another bronzer with shimmer on my face after contouring and then a blush so I love that this combines both those steps as essentially I am a lazy person and to me the less products I use in the morning the better.

Bottom line Dior are on fire right now.

It's funny, they were a brand I rarely looked at before but now their products form some of my everyday staples, Singuliere Addict lipstick( wearing here), Dior Nude concealer and now this.

As much as I love this please note that if you were looking for a bronzer, bronzer then this is not for you. It won't make you look a shade darker than you are but it will allow you to fake healthy, glowing (not glittery) skin perfectly.
xxx

Competition: Clear your skin in 6 weeks!

2011-05-24T12:00:00.003+01:00

Acne, spots, blemishes, uneven skintone and oiliness.

Above are just a few of the skin problems that seem to be the bane of so many peoples' lives including my own.

Although I don't believe there is a miracle cure for all of them, I know there are things on the market that are out there to help minimise them.

Help:Clear Skin is a 100% natural beauty supplement developed and created by Works With Water Nutraceuticals to do just that.

Works With Water are so confident that the clinically proven supplement will transform your skin that they're giving you the chance to use it and prove it!

Help: Clear Skins 6 Week Challenge will allow FIVE lucky winners to take part in trialing their supplement for six weeks and sharing their results via a 'skin diary'. The person with the most dramatic results at the end of the challenge will win a whole YEARS supply of their supplements worth £520.

It's really easy, all you have to do is take a photograph of your problem skin and submit it on their Facebook page, here, with 100 words about your skin and why you'd be suited to take part in the challenge.

If your a little self-conscious please note all entries will not be uploaded onto Facebook but submitted straight to Works With Water.

The competition is in association with www.soFeminine.co.uk.

The contest closes on Friday the 27th May 2011.

xxx

Summer in a Stick, Mac's Hibiscus

2011-05-20T14:18:00.003+01:00

Surf's up at your nearest Mac counter dudettes!

Their latest collection Surf, Baby! was released in the UK last week and although I'm no surfer chick I couldn't resist a peek.

It's a collection full of summer staples, think copious amounts of colour, gorgeous golden bronzers, pretty pigments and lots of luscious lipsticks.

All together very summery and the perfect collection for all you beach babes or sun worshippers out there.

You may have concluded that I am neither of the above, so I walked away with very little from Surf, Baby! One product to be precise, Hibiscus!

This lipstick screamed out to me at the counter, it screamed ' I am summer in a stick' and ' you must take me home', needless to say I listened and obeyed.

Hibiscus is truly stunning, a bright summery red with just a hint of coral.

It's not one of those lipsticks, of which I have far too many, which look amazing in the tube but just sit in your collection gathering dust and looking pretty, barely worn because your too scared of them.

Hibiscus is surprisingly a very wearable shade and this is coming from someone who's literally been glued to nude lipsticks for the past three years, so it's quite a turn around for me to feel comfortable in colour.

It is labelled as a cremesheen formulation so in theory it should be mega creamy and soft to apply but Hibiscus doesn't seem to be quite as moisturising as my other cremesheens.

Having said that the texture is still lovely and easy to apply with a gorgeously, glossy finish.

Applying red lipstick is often tricky which is why I rarely attempt it but Hibiscus is really easy to apply if you use a light hand.

I find the best way was to line my lips first with a natural toned lip pencil (NYX Natural) and fill them in with it too then dab and slowly build Hibiscus on top.

Red lips look of yesterday!

I have had so many compliments on my new slightly more daring look and now feel really confident embracing a brighter lip colour, even in the day!

If you, like me have always been a little frightened to experiment with red lips then Hibiscus or other orangey toned reds are a lovely way to try the trend, somehow the corally tones don't seem so full on.

So board babes have you hauled Surf, Baby! Anything good I missed? And I'd love to know you recommendations for a lipliner to match Hibiscus?
xxx

Fancy having Pepto Bismol nails? A Rococco review

2011-05-10T14:57:00.003+01:00

I bet your wondering from the title what Pepto Bismol and nails have in common?

Nothing really, apart from the fact that I've found the ultimate shade of polish that's sure to settle your stomach by luxury lacquer brand Rococco.

I was given this gorgeous box a few Christmas's ago by my BFF and had totally forgotten about it until I dug it out at the weekend.

I now can't take it off and am finding it impossible to stop gazing at it's beauty, the shade which by the way is Hot Pants (love) is amazing!!

Although I don't quite have the legs for hot pants I definately love them on my nails!

This is where the comparison to Pepto Bismol comes in, if you've ever used this medicine or seen it hanging around in your mums emergency kit you'll know what I'm taking about.

It has the most amazing, vibrant blue toned pink shade to it.

A medicine even I'd gulp down and I hate medicines, just because it's pretty.

The colour in pictures has come out a little lighter than real life but it's pretty much accurate.

If you love lipsticks such as Snob, Saint Germain and Viva Glam Gaga then this is the nail polish equivalent.

The quality as you can tell from the extravagent box it comes in is going to be good, the consistancy is lovely and thick (not too thick), easy to apply without any streaks and surprisingly ONE coat perfect due to the opaque colour.

Hot Pants is a Satin finish which Rococco describe as being a smooth, creamy and full coverage, spot on!

Rococco is not a brand I've heard much about probably as it isn't stocked many places (Space NK and Cult Beauty) and is reasonably expensive at £12 a bottle but after rediscovering this one, I NEED more!

They do an amazing looking Gold Leaf Varnish which just oozes glamour and well, gold ,which I'm after.

Amazing isn't it? Have you ever tried Rococco? Are you lusting after stomach settling nails?
xxx

New Dior Addict lipstick in 465 Singuliere

2011-05-08T15:12:00.001+01:00

I always enjoy saying goodbye to heavy, full coverage consistencies and welcoming weightless formulas into my routine as soon as the sun comes out.

Less is most definitely more when applying make-up in the summer. It's a time to strip off and embrace lighter textures.

For me, getting the perfect pout in the heat means having dewy, hydrated and healthy looking lips with just a slight splash of colour.

My latest lip lust does just this, beautifully!

Just one of the new additions to the already extensive (44 shades) Addict range, 465 Singuliere, caught my eye while perusing the counters for an impulsive purchase a few weeks ago.

A lot of the shades in the range have a slight shimmer to them which personally I'm not keen on, especially for the summer when I think a simpler, fresher, no fuss colour looks best.

This was one of the few without the shimmer.

Singuliere looks like a beautiful, bright bubblegum shade in the tube but when applied it's a little softer due to it's balmy formula.

The colour payoff is not as strong as a traditional lipstick but it isn't the sheerest I've tried either (more than YSL Pur Shines = super sheer for comparison) it's bang in the middle.

Enough colour to be seen but not so much that it looks full on. When applied it translates into the most gorgeous, gloriously girly pink on the lips.

As you can see the formulation has a high shine and almost wet look finish to it due to the fact it contains 25% less wax than usual lipsticks. Dior replaces the wax with radiant looking, reflective gel instead to create this finish.

I love this effect (Mirror Shine, Shu Shine Supremes and Coco Shines are similar), it eliminates the need to faff around with sticky lip gloss and carry around multiple products with you all day.

Applying this is like applying silk to your lips, it's super soft and feels just like a good lip balm would.

Consequently this has meant I just can't stop applying it and I never reapply lipstick usually, it literally melts on the lips.

Lasting power on sheerer lipsticks is never as long as the waxier/matte formulas as it just doesn't stick to the surface but acts more as a glowing, glass like layer on the top.

Having said that it does last a reasonable amount of time, having worn this every day for the past few weeks I'd say an hour or maybe a little more.

This doesn't bother me as I said above I just like applying it!

Easily a shade that be worn in the day for a pretty, pink pop of colour and at night too with a killer smokey eye to tone down the look a little.

Singuliere is the perfect mix of balm, colour and shine, a real lipstick lovers must have and one of this summer's make-up bag essentials.

Do you go a little lighter in the summer? Have you been tempted by one of Dior's 44 new shades?
xxx

Nailed the Nuptials

2011-04-30T20:41:00.003+01:00

Three hours into the celebrations yesterday and boredom sunk in a little so I decided to do a few useful things while the ceremony went on in the background.

Unkempt eyebrows were tamed, crumpled clothes ironed and more importantly new nail polishes applied, tried and swatched.

I've been on a ban from buying varnish since Christmas but last week I caved and splurged on a few, seven to be exact.

Two nail necessities were purchased from a trip to Sally's Beauty Supply (also available in Boots), Seche Vite's Dry Fast Top Coat and Ridge Filling Base Coat both around £9.

Having used Seche Vite for the last three or so years as a top coat it is in my opinion the best on the market. No others that I've tried have ever come close.

It locks in the polish below by covering it in a gel like layer which prevents chipping and allowing it to last much longer. It can be applied on semi-wet nails and dries super fast leaving a lovely shiny finish.

Ruined by acrylics a few months ago my nails have never been the same since so I picked up a bottle of their Ridge Filling base coat as a cheat in the pursuit of perfect nails.

The base coat is a sheer, pearly white which subtly covers nail imperfections and creates a smooth even surface for polish application. It in effect is a primer for the nails.

But now onto the fun stuff, the colours.

L-R clockwise: Revlon (Mad about Mango), Barry M (Coral296), 17 Supreme Shine( Mink), Barry M (Peach Melba 318) and finally Barry M (Dusky Mauve 313).

There are some new colours and formulations on the high-street at the moment that I've wanted to try so I picked up a few.

Here are some mini reviews and my initial thoughts on the above.

Revlon Scented Parfume polish in Mad About Mango £6.49

Although there isn't anything particularly unique about this vibrant orange shade apart from the fact that it smells, which by the way is inherently pointless as it's only when your nails are dry (who wants to sniff nails??) and lasts less than 24hrs, I really like it.

The bright tangerine colour is perfect for the summer and looks fabulous on my short nails and toes, it's easy to apply and has the same great formula of all Revlon's polishes.

Barry M Coral 296 £2.99

Another great summer shade this bright orange with a hint of red is a gorgeous way to add colour to your look in the sun.

I'm a huge Barry M polish fan, for just £2.99 the formula is amazing quality and the selection of colours is so varied. The majority of my polish collection is made up of Barry M!

Thumb left: Barry M Coral, Revlon, 17, Peach Melba, Dusky Mauve.

17 Supreme Shine up to 10 Day Wear polish in Mink £3.99

Lets start by saying there's no way any polish lasts ten days unless your an acrylic wearer of have Shellac etc so I'm a little sceptical of this claim, however I haven't put it to the test yet so we will see.

If it does the whole range will be mine without a doubt!

Mink is a lovely mid tone taupe which applies really nicely, the brush is one of those great fat but dense ones which allows one swipe for application. The formula is really creamy and very opaque.

Thumb left: Barry M Coral, Revlon, 17, Peach Melba, Dusky Mauve.

Barry M Peach Melba 318 £2.99

The must have shade of the moment, this pale, milky peach colour is beautiful. I have a passion for peaches in general so I knew I'd love this.

I didn't think it would look so good against my pale skin as it's fairly light in colour but surprisingly it has a warm hue to it which worked. I think this would compliment those with darker skin tones or tans amazingly though.

Barry M Dusky Mauve 313 £2.99

I searched for this colour for months last year when it was proclaimed Chanel Paradoxal's dupe but alas never found any until now.

I own Paradoxal which is beautiful but like many reviews said this shade is almost identical and for a fifth of the price. Dusky Mauve is a deep taupe with purple reflects which changes in different lights, stunning.

Did you do anything to occupy yourself as the nuptials continued for hours yesterday?? Any other good polish shades that I MUST have??
xxx

Some summer style shopping

2011-04-22T23:15:00.002+01:00

You know that feeling when you've been out and treated yourself whether you should have or not and found some real fashion gems that you can't wait to share with someone or anyone?

Well, I've got that feeling today after a few shopping trips this week and I'm super excited about my new wardrobe additions.

In preparation for the glorious summer that seems to already have arrived a little early I trawled the shops for some summer staples.

New Look is not a shop I buy clothes from usually, I'm not a fan of some of the fabrics they use and I often turn over the price tag to find a 'more than I think it's worth' price but their summer collection has some great pieces this year.

I came away with two great tops this week, a loose fitting bright blue vest top with black zip detailing at the back which I just love. The length, fabric and colour selection of this style is great, needless to say I want some more and for £15.99 a great summer basic.

The other purchase was the cream shirt style top which I've hardly taken off all week, I love the cute button detailing, loose fit and floaty fabric. This was £22.99.

Definitely check out New Look at the moment, they have so many great summer essentials ,I'm after more of the zip tops and some of the T-shirt block colour dresses next.

I nipped into John Lewis yesterday to do my bit of course and recycle some of my used Origins bottles in return for the cleanser they were giving away only to be told they had already sold out!

Grrrr, in my frustration I used up my birthday vouchers and bought some Origins Vitazing, an oil free moisturiser with a slight tint (review to come) and these AMAZING sandals to cheer myself up.

Probably the most gorgeous sandals I've ever set eyes on, I knew they had to be mine.

I double checked they were leather first as Carvela and KG recently have a BAD habit of selling plastic for £100 plus at the moment but thankfully they were.

They have a tiny wedge heel, are made from a gorgeous nude pink and the chaining detail is just stunning. They were £95 but John Lewis currently have 20% off at the moment so they were £75.

More shoes I know, but I received some Birkenstocks for my birthday which simply aren't my style anymore no matter how comfy they are so I took them back and swapped them for these.

A little wacky and unusual but these wedges look great on, they are a great colour (stone), have a peep toe and the raffia wedge heel perfect for the summer.

I've only worn them with turned up skinnies so far but I think they'd go well with leggings, denim shorts, skirts and dresses. They are by Bronx and were £75.

Also from New Look I picked up these belt like enamel bangles which were in the sale at £2 each, I really love the simple yet unique design of these.

Although I didn't find any good H&M fashion finds I did come across some lovely accessories.

The skinny pastel pink belt above is made from really soft leather and was only £6.99, it also came in a gorgeous pastel green.

I love a statement ring and H&M have loads of them at the moment which I'm loving! The absolutely humongous brown stone knuckleduster was £3.99 and the stacking bright rings were £3.99 for the pair.

I'm not much of a summer lover and prefer winter dressing usually but this season I'm embracing the heat, the fashions it brings and all things bright!

Have you started adding to your summer wardrobe yet? Were else is great to to at the moment?

xxx

FREE Origins when you recycle

2011-04-20T09:43:00.001+01:00

Do you have any beauty products sitting unused and unloved in your drawers?

I bet you do!

If so get yourselves down to your nearest Origins counter tomorrow, April the 21st or Friday the 22nd of April to take up their latest offer to celebrate Earth Month.

For these days only if you trade in any skincare product from any brand, used or full, they'll give you a free full sized bottle of their 'Perfect World' or 'Checks and Balances' cleansers worth £16 when you recycle.

What a great offer!! I know I'll be running down to my local counter tomorrow before stocks run out.

For your nearest counter see the Origins website.

Get recycling ladies xxx

Mac's Quite Cute Collection haul and review with swatches

2011-04-19T19:14:00.004+01:00

This collection had me a little confused, at first I was soooo in (Hello, peaches ahoy), then I was soooo out (I really don't need anymore) but in the end my passion for all things peachy won out and I shamelessly hauled Mac's latest collection.

Quite Cute is very aptly named as it is simply just that, quite cute.

The key being in the word quite; the products are not very cute or gotta have that cute but yes, quite cute.

There are some nice colours in this rather small and compact collection but all I saw when ordering was peach, peach and more peach.

Playing Koi lipstick

This for me is the winner from the collection without a doubt.

Playing Koi is a killer combo of being a pale, almost but not quite concealer like nude with a gorgeous hint of pretty peach.

I'm not going to say everything about this lipstick is peachy because it's not, the colour is fab and I love it on the lips but the formula is a bit of a let down.

Playing Koi has a Satin finish and is rather drying on the lips, this consistency teamed with the paleness makes it quite hard to apply.

As long as you have smooth and primed lips this looks great but any hint of dry skin or cracking and it stands out a mile, this lipstick is not forgiving.

But if you do have lips in good condition this is a beautiful colour for the spring/summer and a lovely unique nude to own.

It would have been my favourite ever lipstick had the formula been that of an ultra creamy cremesheen.

Bubble Tea Plushglass

My first ever Plushglass, I'm not really a fan of plumping glosses in general as I've never owned one that does anything so have never tried Mac's version.

Bubble Tea is actually really lovely, it isn't a sickly sweet peachy nude but a very natural, softer toned and almost muted peachy nude.

It leaves that tingly feeling on the lips but like I said before no visible plumping difference just a nice creamy feeling and shiny finish.

On it's own it gives a sheer and subtle colour but paired with Playing Koi leaves a lovely pale, pinky peach shade.

Playing Koi with Bubble Tea on top.

Miss Behave Mineralize Blush

Probably the prettiest blush to look at that I've seen in a long time, it really is quite cute isn't it?

But unfortunately that's all it is, eye candy plain and simple.

The colour payoff on Miss Behave isn't great and the colour is super pale and chalky.

It is non existent on my face but weirdly I have found a use for it in my daily routine. After applying contour and a bit of bronzer instead of using my setting powder to soften edges and tone down the effect I now reach for this.

It does work well for this but definitely not worth purchasing for this purpose alone.

Swatches

Playing Koi, Bubble Tea and Miss Behave.

All in all a nice little collection but nothing amazing, if your a peach/nude lover then Playing Koi must be yours and if you like more of the subtle peach then Bubble Tea is lovely.

Anyone else done some Quite Cute hauling recently? What did you think?
xx

Wedding beauty through the ages competition

2011-04-15T13:17:00.001+01:00

To celebrate the upcoming royal wedding of William and Kate in a few weeks time, Help: Clear Skin are holding a wedding inspired competition on Facebook.

For a chance to win an amazing vintage style digital camera in their Wedding Beauty through the Ages contest all you have to do is visit their Facebook page and add your favourite family wedding snap of the bride.

So get rooting through those albums and dig out a picture from the past, perhaps your grans, mums or even your own wedding.

Upload on www.facebook.com/HelpClearSkin and like the page for a chance to win.

Help: Clear Skin's favourite photo will be chosen on the big day, well Kate and Wills big day, the 29th of April 2011.

I absolutely love looking at vintage wedding dresses, especially from the 50's, so simple and classic hence why I chose my favourites worn by Audrey in Sabrina and Funny Face above.

This whole competition got me thinking about what kind of wedding dress I'd go for if I was getting wed and this would be it.

Ellie Saab makes the most beautiful gowns and one day, somehow and someway I will wear this on my wedding day! Wishful thinking!

For more information on Help: Clear Skin, a natural skin supplement visit their website here, it is available from Boots, Waitrose. Holland&Barrett and Ocado.com.

Hope you have fun rummaging through photo albums, I'm off to do just that right now and take a look at my Gran's gown.

xxx

Parisian purchases

2011-04-12T23:12:00.000+01:00

My recent mini break consisted of lots of culture, copious amounts of good wine and cuisine to die for but surprisingly for me very little shopping!

Time was tight, with only three days to take in possibly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, spending wasn't my priority.

Even the Champs Elysees didn't tempt me.

However, one thing I knew I had to get my hands on while in France was some Bioderma Crealine H2O solution.

I LOVE this stuff! It's every bit as amazing as Lisa Eldridge and other bloggers say it is, a miracle water with no scent, incredibly gentle and zero oily residue which removes ALL make-up.

I'd purchased two 500ml bottles for a reasonable £13 from MonGuideSante about a month ago but shipping cost the same so for 1000ml it was £26 which I still think is worth it personally.

Anyway, after passing several pharmacies I decided to pick up another 500ml for myself and a few for friends. Just for reference 250ml was 9Euro and 500ml was 14Euro.

A treat!

Half an hour before I had to catch the Eurostar home I popped into a department store in a mad dash to find my brother's girlfriend a gift and of course the beauty counters pulled me in.

Nothing says Paris like Chanel so whats the harm in a little memento right?

So I purchased my first ever Chanel lipstick from the Rouge Coco Shine range as a little treat.

I've been lusting after these for a while, I love sheer, hydrating lipsticks for the summer and Chanel's range of colours is just gorgeous.

I went for Number 48, Evasion.

Evasion is a very pretty, natural pink with a hint of peach. It's a little darker than I'm usually drawn to, I often opt for the washed out, ultra pale shades but this will be my new sophisticated, when I want to feel grown up lipstick I've decided.

Full review to follow for both products if your interested, let me know.
xxx

The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog

The knotted plait

An impulsive buy - Chanel Le Vernis in June

IMATS 2012

An injection of colour

Carmine's January Box

Chanel Perfection Lumiere -an initial review!

Dream cream - YSL's Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Long-wearing Cream liner

Festivities

When Santa got stuck down the chimney

Naughty naughty

Festive fingertips

The perfect shoes

Urban Decay NAKED 2 palette swatches/review!

Urban Decay NAKED Palette 2 !!!!

Easy Pin Up look!

Feathers, fur and fortunes

*Giveaway* Win a Clarisonic Plus!

Clarisonic and QVC - A perfect combo

Almost all gone!

This is what I got....

Win £120 worth of Caudalie skincare

Mac's Glitter and Ice collection purchases

Stila Dream In Full Color palette - Swatches/Review

Don't be a muppet and miss OPI's Christmas Collection 2011

Half Term Holiday

Beauty Box Half Price

My Signature Scent

A magnetic pull

What's in my box?

Carmine - Beauty's best. In a box.

Make-up is the new Champagne

Golden girl

Too Good To Miss

Seasonal shade switching

Get your beauty sleep with Silkskin

My Six Summer Staples

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre review

Kimono - not such a no no

Crazy dumb collection

A meaningful weekend

Stud muffin

A moustache mishap

Grab it before it goes

A sprinkling of stardust

Get your glow on with Rose Quartz

Gel nails, third time lucky

Something a little special

A (Nars) Deep Throat Dupe

Summer with Sleek- Mediterranean and Caribbean swatches

Blame it on the weather

Spring Cleaning Blog Sale

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Shadow Pencil - An everyday essential

Diorskin Nude Glow in Aurora

Competition: Clear your skin in 6 weeks!

Summer in a Stick, Mac's Hibiscus

Fancy having Pepto Bismol nails? A Rococco review

New Dior Addict lipstick in 465 Singuliere

Nailed the Nuptials

Some summer style shopping

FREE Origins when you recycle

Mac's Quite Cute Collection haul and review with swatches

Wedding beauty through the ages competition

Parisian purchases

Giveaway Win a Clarisonic Plus!