pinkappleblush beauty blog

Current Favourites & Lust Items!

2012-01-23T07:29:00.001-08:00

Just a quick update on what I'm using at the moment, & what's on my shopping list!

Current skincare routine:

Clinique 3 Step Skincare - Type 1 (Very Dry Skin)

Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector - I use this to even out my skintone (fortunately I don't have dark spots yet at 24 years old!), & I can't believe the difference it's made!

I do all this twice a day & since I've started my skin has completely transformed from flakey, dull & dry to smooth, even & radiant! It's so good at the moment I'm confident enough to go out without foundation on my days off, but I still get dark circles (this product isn't safe for the eye area) so I usually pop a bit of concealer under the eyes. I am still on the hunt for my HG eye cream, having tried various ones from Clinique, Estee Lauder, & Clarins.

Current make-up routine:

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - I use this about 3 days a week as any more than this & it loses it's effect. I find it smells gorgeous, feels smooth & lifts my complexion a bit. To be honest it just feels like a little pamper before foundation too!

Diorskin Sculpt Line-Smoothing Lifting Make-Up - I've only been using this for a week so far from a sample (Dior are giving away samples of foundation at the moment and ask you to challenge them to find the right one for you - if you weren't aware of this go & get one!), but I am absolutely blown away. I had been using Chanel Vitalumiere & classed it as my HG foundation, but it seems they have changed the shades & my newest bottle of the same shade I always get is considerably darker (I have checked & it wasn't a faulty :( !), giving me a different colour face to the rest of me - not a fan of this look! Unfortunately it's the lightest shade in the foundation, so I

had to look for something else. I tried various other Chanel ones but they were no good with my skin, then I saw this Dior offer & took the plunge. I am so glad I did. I've

tried different ways of applying it but my favourite is to dot it on my face & blend with a MAC 109 brush. It really fuses with my skin & gives me an even glowing look, I don't get any dry patches (my main concern with foundation), & it lasts all day. I really couldn't ask for anything more from a foundation & will be buying a bottle on my next day in work! I'm using the lightest shade, 010 Ivory. On my day off I'll either go barefaced or pop on some Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturising Balm in Extra Light.

Clinique Almost Powder - I swapped from MAC MSFN to this as a little experiment & I quite like it. It's similar to the MAC but more coverage. It's not HG material but it'll do for now! I'm looking to try MAC Careblend once I get to the end of it.

MAC Blush in Springsheen -gorgeous peachy pink with gold shimmer

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz to highlight

Bobbi Brown Gel Liners - really loving Denim Ink at the moment, I tend to switch between this and Black Ink

Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara - Really like the short handle on this & it's quite a compact brush too, which gives you a lot of control. Gives a natural look with plenty of length & separation.

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Pink Fish (LE from Hello Kitty Collection) - I finally opened this & I am now so sad it was LE! I've been using it all day every day, kept it in my pocket. It's really moisturising and a cute bubblegum pink shade that really suits my fair skin. I'll have to explore the other TLCs once it's finished but after having a quick look I don't think there's a shade that similar :( !

Lust Items:

Enrapture Heated Rollers

Diorskin Sculpt Concealer - having seen how amazing the foundation is, I really want to try the concealer for under eyes!

MAC Careblend Pressed Powder

A good eye cream for dry skin, dark circles & fine lines

Something to get rid of lines on the forehead!

xo.

How long has it been?

2012-01-23T06:57:00.001-08:00

So I haven't posted for 2 & a half years?!

Wow!

A lot's gone on in my life to be honest.

Quick summarised update: Finished Uni, got a full-time job managing a cosmetics counter (yay!), bought a house, got engaged (getting married in July!), got a dog!

So really you can see I've not had much time for blogging.

I also completely stopped watching YouTube tutorials for a while as I had no time & enough make-up inspiration in the outside world!

But I now get amazing discount on high-end cosmetics which means I buy more(!), & I am constantly surrounded by them and by other make-up people, so I am really excited about getting all this back into my blog.

So here's to a new start with the blog, I have a haul coming this week which I will post up with pictures, look out for it.

xo.

Lingerie

2009-07-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

I have worked in lingerie for over 2 years now, & I felt I could share some common misconceptions with you as no doubt you will have heard or possibly believe any/all of these things.

First of all - GET MEASURED! I can't stress how important it is to get measured for a bra, however well you think yours fit you, it's 90% likely that you're in the wrong size so get a professional to fit you.

Getting measured - you don't take your bra off, it's not embarrassing & remember us bra fitters see about 20 boobs a day so we won't remember yours & they're nothing we haven't seen before! DO NOT get measured at a department store, this includes M&S, BHS & Debenhams (no matter how good your mum says they are!). The staff there are not trained properly & in my experience are likely to fit you into the wrong size. The best place to go is a specialist place, i.e. Bravissimo, La Senza (although I have heard mixed reviews but they fitted me correctly when I went), or the shop where I work (I will reveal more later), Intimas.
If you get fitted & you were in the wrong size it WILL change your life. I thought I was a 34B & when I got measured found out I was a 32D. I have since changed to a 32DD but would still be in a 34B if I hadn't been measured. Wearing the wrong bra affects your posture & means no support for your bust which will make it sag (& no one wants that!!). You look slimmer & stand up straighter when you are in the right size!
The most common mistake people make is to pick a bigger back size, when in fact what they need is a bigger cup size. People just seem to think 'theres no way I'm a D cup, that's huge!', when really it's not that big at all, they just don't know how big it is & because of the media etc there is this misconception that D and DD are large cup sizes. In fact the average cup size for the UK is D. Just as a general pointer, see below for how dress sizes and back sizes tend to compare.

Size 8/10 - 30 back
Size 10/12 - 32 back
Size 14 - 34 back
Size 16 - 34/36 back
Size 18 - 36/38 back

So, if you are in a size 10 top & wearing a 36 back size in your bra, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG SIZE! Please get measured! I saw someone yesterday like this, who was sure they were a 36C but when I measured them they were in fact a 32E.

Measuring services are free - so please take advantage of them!!
Intimas - we have stores in York Designer Outlet (where I work), Derby, Long Eaton, Braintree, & Castleford Junction 32 Outlet. We sell Lepel, Charnos, Discover Mademoiselle & Ted Baker underwear, nightwear & swimwear. Everything is really good quality & if you go to an outlet store we have at least 30% off everything. At the moment we have a sale with 70% off most items, our new season stock comes in 3-4 weeks. Every member of staff is trained to fit!! We have sizes from 28 - 38 back (& a couple of 40s), & from an A to a G cup.

That's all for now but please, as I find myself saying every single day of my life, GET FITTED!
Comment here if you get/got fitted & found you were a different size as I really want to stress how common (and shocking!) it is :)
xo.

8 followers away from a contest

2009-06-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Just to let everyone know, when I reach 50 followers I'll be doing a contest, it'll have a 1st, 2nd & 3rd prize so you have a 3/50 chance of winning which isn't bad, & to be honest I reckon you'll have an even better chance than that as not everyone will enter. The prizes will be make-up items, 1st prize will be high-end, 2nd & 3rd will be from good quality drugstore brands such as Barry M, GOSH, Bloom etc.
xo.

Top 5 Perfumes

2009-06-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

One essay left which I have until tomorrow at 12 to finish, hopefully I'll hand everything in later today though & then my hiatus will be lifted! Although I haven't done too badly at keeping up!
Just thought while I'm eating my breakfast & before I put my uni head on for the day I would indulge in a quick post - Top 5 Perfumes. I've recently found myself drifting to the fragrance part of stores which is pretty new for me as I've kept to the same perfumes for most of my life - Anna Sui Dolly Girl / Thierry Mugler Angel. But I feel I've outgrown these now & there are better things out there so here's my top 5 of perfumes I've been wearing recently & will be wearing this summer (not in any order).

1. YSL Baby Doll
I saw this at YSL about a year ago, & while I was waiting to be served I smelled it for the first time. I then found it in an outlet shop of Perfume Point at £15 & with my extra 10% off for working in the outlet managed to pick it up for £13.50! Such a bargain as I absolutely love this scent. It's one you can wear day or night & is a bit stronger than some of the others in this list (people can smell it as you walk by, although it's not overpowering). Overall I'd say it smelt of sweet flowers. The bottle is such a cute shape as it's pointed at the bottom which makes it lean like a spinning top. Looks gorgeous on display. My only gripe is my boyfriend doesn't like it, but I'm working on him!
Notes: Almond Tree Blossom, Amaryllis, Amber, Mimosa, White Peony.

2. Paul Smith Floral
My most recent addition! I got this again at the Perfume Point, it currently has £7 off the price & with my 10% off was around £13.00 for 30ml. The bottle is nice looking & it comes in a cute tin although the size of the tin is really disproportionate to the bottle & you end up with this huge tin & tiny bottle! Really deceiving! As the name suggests it smells floral, I'd class it as a light everyday scent & it's the one I am actually wearing every day at the moment.
Notes: Top notes of orange, grapefruit, ginger, and water lily. Then blending into white magnolia, orchid, and osmanthus blossom, finishing off with woods, musk and tonka beans.
3. Chloe
First off, let me point out that this perfume is expensive. Unless you can find it discounted or duty free then expect to pay around £40 for the smallest size. But the smell is to die for. This is the one perfume in my top 5 that I don't actually own, which is completely down to the price. It's probably my favourite perfume of all time as well! Every time I go shopping I always make sure to find a tester of this somewhere & spray it on (which may sound a bit sad but remember I am a student! - although only until tomorrow! yay!). The bottle is absolutely gorgeous, silver plated with a ribbon tied in a bow round the top. The scent is light, fresh and clean and perfect for every day.
Notes: Fresh, Green airy notes subtly grow richer and more sensualrevealing the velvety interior of the rose. The base notes of warm amber, honey and elegant cedarwood create a smooth and comforting finish.
4. Vera Wang Princess
Now I know this perfume is worn by every teenager & their best friend, but I still love it. I first wore it when my Dad brought it back for me from Duty Free when I was about 17. It reminded me of Angel but has an extra dimension, you'll know what I mean if you smell it. Plus the bottle is 10 times prettier & the lid has a real ring that you can actually wear (although you'd be pretty lucky to actually get it to fit your finger as it's not the average size!). It's just a fun, sweet smell, one I probably wear more for going out than every day. Most of the scents I like at the moment are floral, as it's summer & I'm tending to lean more towards smells that remind me of outside & nature. But every girl needs one or two that are sweet & yummy & this is it. The bottle is gorgeous - purple diamond cut glass with curly writing & a crown lid encrusted with purple gems. They also recently brought out Rock Princess which is along the same lines but smells a bit 'darker' & has a black bottle & lid. Not sure of the prices of these but think they're around about £35 - £40 for 50ml, so mid-range.
Notes: Sparkling in a breeze of lady apple and waterlily... Sweeping into ripe pink guava and Tahitian tiare flower... Tempted to taste with dark chocolate and pink frosting, forbidden woods and chiffon vanilla.
5. Avon Tahitian HolidayThis is a perfume with a purpose - it's the one to throw in your suitcase & take on holiday with you. The reason for that is two-fold. Firstly, it's dirt cheap - I think I got it for £5 (full price it's £15 but Avon always have offers & if you wait you'll get what you want for half the price). This means it's no big drama if it gets lost, stolen, or broken. Secondly, it smells like what I imagine Hawaii to smell like - coconuts, pineapples & tahitian flowers. I don't wear this in the winter (coconuts are slightly out of place), & I don't wear it at home, but it's one I got last year & have just bought again this year as a holiday perfume & it does it's job perfectly :). There are also matching products in the range, this year I picked up a matching sun-protecting hair mist.

What are your top 5 perfumes & have you tried any of these?
xo.

Time to panic buy!

2009-06-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have just heard the worst news in a long time, so I had to interrupt my hiatus & post it up on here.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges are being discontinued in Summer Tan, Calypso Coral, Blushed Rose, Stonewashed Pink, Pink Raspberry, and Raspberry. Pink Raspberry is a must have! I am so disappointed & heading out now to stock up!!

Apparently they will be replaced by the new Sheer Colour Cheek Tints, which come in a stick & don't have such a variety of colours. There isn't a dupable colour in them for Pink Raspberry :( why are you doing this Bobbi Brown?!?!?! :(
xo.

Urban Decay Get Baked Palette

2009-06-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Back for a quick post in between essays! I am so in love with this palette, as far as I know it's not out in the UK yet but it's a definite for summer & taking on holiday! You get 4 shadows: Twice Baked, Half Baked, Flipside & Baked. You also get a travel size 24/7 Liner in Bourbon, & a mini size of the new primer potion in Sin.

GORGEOUS!
Swatches:EDIT 8th June - I saw this palette in Debenhams today for £15! What a steal! If only it had been payday I would've snatched one up! I swatched the colours on my hand & they are gorgeous - pigmented & creamy. Perfect palette! Definitely on my wishlist.
xo.

Short Hiatus!

2009-05-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update as I'm hardly posting at the moment & probably won't for a few weeks! Got so much on!

End of Uni FOREVER! - Thank god I can't wait to get out of this place! I finish on 12th of June & all my assessment is coursework now, no more exams, but it means I have a lot of essays in the next few weeks meaning not much time for blogging!
Make-Up Clients - I have quite a few make-up clients booked in for June now, my first one is the 6th & one is a trial for a potential wedding in October, so that should be good. Everything to do with being a make-up artist is really taking off now, I have clients, business cards, leaflets, a website, & my kit basics (I get them from one particular company) are on their way! I did my course a few weeks ago & that was excellent as well, I can't wait to finish Uni & concentrate on make-up make-up make-up!

So I don't know how long it will be till I post again but don't give up on me I will be back! & it's not like it's costing you anything to stay as a follower!
xo.

Rose Romance & Double Dazzle

2009-05-15T05:07:00.000-07:00

Quick haul post!
Rose Romance - I got Blush of Youth, Way to Love & Rose Romance lipsticks, Et Tu, Bouquet? eyeshadow (2nd column from the left, middle row - 1 space saved in this pallette for carbon when I can be bothered to depot it!)
Double Dazzle - Goldyrocks (as it's LE I thought I should pick this up, & I'm so glad I did as it's gorgeous!)
Others - Russian Red lipstick & Rushmetal pigment. The other eyeshadows in my pallette are ones I already had.
Really pleased with the haul overall!
xo.

May Beauty Tip Of The Month

2009-05-09T03:11:00.000-07:00

Time for beauty tip of the month again!
If you have trouble getting your blusher even on both sides, try using a creme blush. Do 3 or 4 dots up the cheek bones, look straight on from the front to make sure these are equal, then blend from the centre outwards and up the the temples. This way you can see if you have more or less product on one cheek. Also remember, start off lightly as you can't take it off without ruining your foundation, but you can always add more! Creme blushes are great for a dewy look which is why they can look more natural than powder blush.
Recommended products for this:
High end: The gel blush that's just come out with Rose Romance is perfect for this, MAC also do a range of creme blushes for around £15 each (my favourite is 'Posey', a perfect pink!).
Low end: No7 Blush Tint Creme Blush (this comes in a stick, similar to a NARS multiple) at £9.50, MAX Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blusher (comes in 6 shades & currently all Max Factor is 3 for 2 at Boots) at £6.84
xo.

Lily Lolo Experience

2009-05-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

There's been such a fuss about Lily Lolo & with them doing samples & cheap shipping I thought I'd order a few. The short of it is: nice blushers, not-so-nice foundation.
The long of it is as follows:
I got samples of 2 foundations, In The Buff & Blondie, as I'm using holiday skin at the moment so I'm a bit darker than usual so didn't know which I'd be. I turned out to be In The Buff. I also got blushers in Doll Face & Sweet Cheeks, more for the name than anything I think. I also got Peep O yellow concealer as I get bad dark circles & am always on the lookout for a miracle way to make them disappear.
They took TWO WEEKS to get here, which explains why this post is only just here after the Lily Lolo craze has passed! I expected them within 4 days as other people had had them in this time, & was checking the post every day, but nothing! I suppose you can't really complain for £1 though.
They came as expected in cute little containers & plastic bags. I then put them into these little stackable pots from Boots (around £2) so I could keep them altogether & not lose any. I thought this was a bright idea until I managed to flick Doll Face all over myself, losing most of it & making my white dressing gown turn pink :[! So I didn't really get to try that one as much as I wanted to, but from what I saw I liked it.
To be honest, there's nothing wrong with the foundation & it's one of the best mineral ones I've tried. But as I have such dry skin, mineral foundations just don't agree with me & make my skin look & feel dry & tight. To be fair they normally also make my skin flake which this didn't, so I did like it more than normal. I knew I didn't get on with mineral foundations but I just had to try it just in case this was the one I would love!
The blushers look super glittery in the pot, & super glittery when you first put them on. & it's silver glitter so stands out a mile. But it didn't take long to buff in & after that they looked natural & glowy :]
Overall I'd rate the products I tried as nice, nothing special but they do get extra marks for cute packaging on the full size products!
xo..

FOTD - Pink/Silver with Bold & Brazen crease

2009-04-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

Face of the day for today, perfect for everyday or with thicker eyeliner can be turned into a night-time look :] using my new camera which is a million times better!! I can actualy see this as a pretty nice bridal look as it's pink & silver :] ignore my hair as I haven't straightened it yet! haha!
Used (any brands not mentioned are MAC!):
Urban Decay 'Scratch' Deluxe Eyeshadow
'Girl Friendly' Paint Pot
Silver Eyeshadow from my Dame Edna palette
'Bold & Brazen' Eyeshadow (crease)
'Vanilla' Eyeshadow (highlight)
'Carbon' Eyeshadow (used as liner)
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in 'Zero'
NARS 'Mata Hari' Blush
'Refined' MSF
Benefit '10' for Bronzer & Highlight
Chanel Vitalumiere in '10 Limpide'
MSF Natural in 'Light Medium'
NYX Round Lipstick in 'Frosted Beige'
Barry M Lipliner in 'Baby Pink' (for lips & also on waterline - love this multiuse pencil!)
xo.

EDIT pictures removed.

Free Nails Inc & An Offer Not To Be Missed!

2009-04-29T04:03:00.001-07:00

Heads up for any UK girls :]

On the front cover of next month's £3.50 InStyle magazine (June) is one free full-size 10ml bottle of Nails Inc nail varnish, worth £10.50. There are three different colours to choose from: berry, bare and coral. The June issue is on sale from Thursday 30 April (tomorrow).

Also, tomorrow only on the Nails Inc website, you can get three nail varnishes (usually £10 - £11 each) a hand wash and a hand cream (usually around £15 each) all for £15. The promotion will happen online for one day only and could save you over £40 if you bought all the items separately.

Happy shopping :]
xo.

2 Questions... Hope Someone Can Answer!

2009-04-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

I've got 2 questions I'm struggling to find the answers to so if anyone can answer them that'd be great!!:

1. Where can you get Stila in the UK? I think I've seen it in Selfridges in Manchester but I may be making that up... ?

2. I need a brush belt as I'm starting doing proper make-up for people starting with Roxie Hart from Chicago for a girl in a production in 2 weeks!! I know about the MAC one 7 you can get a similar one from ELF in the US, but I just wondered if anyone knew any others that may be good (want to weigh up all the options before I buy one!) ?

Hope someone can answer these, I've been searching the internet, posting on forums etc, & no luck!
xo.

Tiny CCO Haul

2009-04-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

CCO has so much nice stuff in right now. I think I luckily went in straight after the delivery as the stuff I got was sold out when I went in 2 days later!! But I'm so pleased with the 3 items I got. From Dame Edna I got 'Gladiola' lipstick - the brightest colour ever! Matte finish & perfect for going out. From BBR - 'Peroxide' & 'Live & Dye' Lipglasses, these worked out at just £6.47 each with my extra discount (I get 10% further off discounted prices as I work in the shopping outlet where the CCO is). I had a look at 'B-Babe' lipstick but felt it was too sheer & similar to my NYX round lipstick in 'Harmonica'. They also had just one MSF from BBR - Redhead. But I didn't get it as I've already got Blonde (which I love) as a pink toned one & just got Refined from Sugarsweet as a bronze/peach toned one so I doubt I'd ever use it. Not sure if that's sold out yet.

So glad I got the Dame Edna lippie from the CCO as the packaging is a real disappointment with the peeling stickers, but I don't mind so much as I picked it up for around £7.
I also got myself a new empty 15 es pallette as I've got too many single eyeshadows & I'm worried I'll start losing them if I don't sort them out!
Also, non-related really but(!), I got a new camera! I think you can tell that picture I just took of this haul is way better than my old one. So hopefully I can start taking pictures of looks I'm doing as my camera before never picked them up well enough to post pictures.
Also! I went to Sally's a couple of days ago to get a moisturiser, & found that they've gone Trade Only! This means you now need a Sally's card to shop there. To get a Sally's card you must have a beauty qualification/business I think. However the good news is all the prices are trade prices, so they're cheaper if you can get a Sally's card.
Hope everyone's having a good week, I'm just revising for my exams next week! But having a break & off to the hairdresser at 11 :)
xo.

Smashbox O-Glow

2009-04-15T14:00:00.001-07:00

What an amazing product!!

O-Glow is a clear gel which reacts with your personal skin chemistry to turn your cheeks the exact colour you blush. Because of this it works on all skintones. & because it's a gel blush it's hydrating & looks natural all day. Can be used over/under foundation, or alone. There are other products in the line for lips as well.
Also winner of Allure Magazine Best of Beauty Reader's Choice Award for Most Innovative Product, Glam Beauty Editor's Pick Award, and Best of Sephora Award Nominee for Best Blush and Biggest Beauty Breakthrough.
I really recommend this to everyone, & I guess it's a great one for make-up artists as it'll suit any client regardless of skintone. One thing I would say though is use a brush!! This stuff will stain your fingers!Smashbox say
When applied, your skin's moisture activates the energizing Goji Berry-C Complex™. It creates a microcirculatory effect, producing a rosy flush that lasts all day. This revolutionary silicone-based clear gel works on every skin tone and is microcirculating and skin energizing to keep cheeks naturally flushed for hours. O-GLOW's unique Goji Berry-C Complex™ formula is full of antioxidants like vitamin C, pomegranate seed oil and marine plankton for added healthy-skin benefits. '

Smashbox cosmetics are pretty hard to come by in this country, but by far the best site I've used for them (& where I got the O-Glow from in the first place!) is www.justbeautydirect.co.uk
The post was pretty fast & well packaged, & they have a wide range of products. For a direct link to O-Glow on this site click here! It's priced at £17.62 for 15mls.
Happy shopping!
xo.

Double Dazzle Collection

2009-04-13T14:43:00.001-07:00

Click to enlarge!

Money Honey, Rags to Riches, Baby Sparks, Bare Necessity, Girl’s Delight, Get Rich Quick

Money Honey, Rags to Riches, Baby Sparks, Bare Necessity, Girl’s Delight, Get Rich Quick

Love Alert, Date Night, Funtabulous, Extra Amps, Like Venus, Stop! Look!

Love Alert, Date Night, Funtabulous, Extra Amps, Like Venus, Stop! Look!

Sugarrimmed, Goldyrocks, Moth to Flame, Smile, Steppin’ Out, Utterly Posh

Sugarrimmed, Goldyrocks, Moth to Flame, Smile, Steppin’ Out, Utterly Posh

All permanent except Goldyrocks, Utterly Posh & Stop!Look!.

Must-haves for me: Money Honey, Rags to Riches, Baby Sparks, Sugarrimmed, Goldyrocks, Smile.

Which do you like?
xo.

Perfect Pastels

2009-04-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

So as you may know if you've followed my blog, I've been on the search for perfect pastel nail polishes for a while now, in particular a pastel yellow. I can't find the stupid colour ANYWHERE, & believe me I've searched high & low & any I've come across have been either discontinued or too bright!! Well I may have just found the answer, & to top it off there are 3 other gorgeous colours in the collection.

It's the nails inc Pastels Collection - brand new out & perfect for spring.As you can see the collection has 4 colours:
Portobello Market – pastel orange nail polish
Spitalfields – lemon sorbet nail polish
Kings Road – pale lilac nail polish
Marylebone High Street – pale pink nail polish
& at £20 for the whole set I'll be purchasing these!

I've had nails inc polishes before & to be honest, I didn't like them. I found they chipped within a day. I tried them with base coat, top coat, no coat... every combination I could think of to get them to work... but no luck! But I'm willing to give them another chance as they've come out with these colours... & for £20 for 4 of them I won't be too sad if they don't work out & I end up swapping them!
What are your pastel nail polish recommendations?
xo.

Sugarsweet & General MAC Haul!

2009-04-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

Quick haul of my MAC online order & some purchases from CCO :]
Dear cupcake & Newly Minted e/s.

Black Tied & Tempting e/s.
Refined MSF from Sugarsweet collection - gorgeous for spring/summer!
Love Rock from Grand Duos - haven't tried this yet but it looks pretty in the pot!
Light Flush MSF - I picked this up at the CCO, it gives the nicest warm flush look & is the rosier & more user-friendly sister of Petticoat. I love this one so much it's replaced my Blonde MSF in my make-up bag! Best purchase by far!
Everything :]

Sorry there's not much text in this post but the pictures say it all really! Love this haul, best things I've bought in a while. I'm going away for Easter weekend & taking all these goodies with me so will be sure to review any when I get & maybe get some pictures up of what they look like when applied.
For the moment I'd say if you can get to the CCO then go!! They have so much gorgeous stuff in at the moment & Light Flush MSF is a must-have in my book!
xo.

A Rose Romance Collection Update

2009-04-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

A quick update with some pictures I've found of the gorgeous blushes!

Source is credited on the pictures.

Too beautiful to use?!?!
xo.

Colour Craft Collection

2009-04-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

There is so much in this collection to get excited about! Can't wait to see pictures... I'll keep you updated.

MAC Colour Craft Collection

U.S. Launch Date: July 9th, 2009

Lipstick

Madly Creative Pink neutral with white pearl (Frost)
Ever Embellish Plum brown with red pearl (Lustre)
Made with Love Bright coral pink (Lustre)
Colour Crafted Milky pink (Frost)
Trimming Talk Bright fuschia (Frost)
Most Popular Purple with yellow undertone (Lustre)

Lipglass

Pretty Pattern Warm mid-tone beige
Crazy Haute Blue pink
Nice Mix Up Burnt ginger
Funky Fusion Pink coral
Eclectic Edge Cool violet
Miss Marble Muted pink

See details for new mineralize skinfinishes and blushes!

Mineralize Skinfinish

Sunny by Nature Rich bronze with pink pearl pig
Cheeky Bronze Soft golden coral wth bronze pearl
Porcelain Pink Soft pinky coral wth gold veining
Triple Fusion Left: Soft champagne gold, Center: Soft golden peach, Right: Rose pink with gold nuances
Smooth Merge Left: Soft champange pink, Center: Deep rose, Right: Pale cool pink
Warm Blend Left: Antique gold, Center: Mahogany Bronze, Right: Copper

Mineralize Eyeshadows

Assemblage White with silver pearl / Deep grey / Black with silver glitter / Warm yellow gold
Odd Bits Mid-tone silver grey / Dusty rose with gold pearl / Dark burgundy/ Peachy bronze
Fashion Patch Ice blue / Off white / Black with silver glitter / Light white pink
Eccentricity Rich gold / Light violet / Deep plum/ Rich bronze
Natural Flare Copper / Yellow orange / Mid-tone brown / Rich gold
Girlish Romp Mid-tone violet / Yellow white with gold pearl / Light pastel coral / Mid-tone pink

Mineralize Blush

Hand-Finish Light pink with deep gold veining
Fab-dabulous Mid-tone burnt coral with yellow gold veining
Daft Pink Deep blue pink with light white gold veining
Improvise Mid-tone neutral coral with light white yellow gold veining
Cheek & Cheerful Mid-tone bronzy brown with yellow gold veining
Style Demon Mid-tone brick red with copper veining

Brush

226 Small Tapered Blending Brush Small tapered blending brush (Limited Edition)
109 Small Contour Brush Use on the face to apply, blend or contour powder products. Softly rounded dome tip delivers just enough colour; smoothly blends colour into the face. Of natural fibres. (Permanent)
130 Brush Flat Tapered Face Brush with short natural hairs and long synthetic fibres (Limited Edition)

Source

Pre-Haul Post

2009-04-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been buying make-up recently... which explains the lack of hauls! We recently booked our summer holiday (well it's in September), so all my money's gone into that. We're going to Kusadasi in Turkey... has anyone been & what was it like?

I'm not really that impressed with the Sugarsweet collection. I've had a look & am just ordering the few things I wanted but I'm not going overboard this time (normally I spend around £100 on limited edition collections!).

This is what I've gone for:
Dear Cupcake e/s
Refined MSF (going for the more bronze one now summer is coming!)
Plus from Grand Duos (I only have Moon River so far & love it!):
Loverock
& a permanent line shadow which I've been meaning to get for ages:
Tempting

& I'm waiting for these to come back in stock before I do another order:
Aquavert e/s
from Grand duos:
Intenso (this is in currently in stock but I'm thinking one at a time...! will have to be quick!)
& from the permanent line:
Creme Cup Lipstick (so glad this is now in the permanent line as it's my absolute HG lipstick which I am desperately in need of a back up for!)

Things that got crossed off the list!:
Lollipop Lovin Lipstick - looks a bit similar to Cute-ster which I got from HK so I'm giving it a miss.
I'm also in two minds about shadesticks so I'm thinking about a couple but not sure yet...! I find they drag a bit & shadow is easier.
Peppermint Patti Nail Polish - this was the one thing I really wanted from the collection but it's not as pale as I thought it would be so I'm going for an OPI one instead called 'Hey Get in Lime'. They're pretty similar in all honesty but I think OPI polishes are better quality.

I already have the 'Seasonal Peach' polish as it's a repromote, I forgot I had it til I saw it in this collection! So I've dug it back out & am finding a new appreciation for it!

Anyway, I've put my first order in & a haul will follow!

What did you get/are you getting from Sugarsweet?
xo.

Beauty Tip For April

2009-04-03T01:19:00.000-07:00

I'm gona start doing these.... a new beauty tip for each month :]
The tip this month is:

Outline just your top lip in a dusty rose colour before lipstick/gloss to make your lips appear fuller & really emphasise your cupid's bow :]
Recommended products for this:
High end: MAC Lip Pencil in 'Dervish' at £8.81 - a gorgeous peachy pink pearl with a hint of mauve
More affordable: NYC Lip Pencil in 'Natural' at £1.95 (available at Superdrug)
xo.

I Found My HG Foundation!

2009-03-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

I've found my HG foundation! I went to get a sample of Vitalumiere a few days ago. The colours run slightly dark so I think I should be the lightest shade, 10 Limpide. The Chanel girl confirmed that too. But for some reason they only do samples of shades starting from the one up from that, which is 20 Clair. She gave me a sample of that despite the fact that it would probably be too dark for me! But I tried it to see whether I liked the formulation & application, thinking if it was really too dark then I could just take it off again.
In fairness, it is about a shade too dark, but it's not really that noticeable & as I've just fake tanned my body it's not a bad match at all - probably my perfect summer colour. The formulation is more runny than I'm used to, & quite sheer. Despite that it covers dicolouration well (I have dark under eye circles & red areas around my nose & cheeks), & I've felt fine going without concealer. It gives a gorgeous glow & blends really easily. The first day I used fingers, which was quick & gave even coverage without much effort. Today I've used a 187 & stippled/swirled it on, which has given it a more airbrushed look I think. Yesterday a girl at work commented on it saying my skin looked really nice. She asked me what the foundation was & it's made her want to try it, so that can't be bad! I found it stayed on all day, & last night when I was going to bed I looked in the mirror & still looked as fresh & glowy as I had done in the morning! The sample I was given was a good size, enough for about 3 days worth. I've taken a picture of it today so you can see how nice it is:
For this look I used:
Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation in 20 Clair
MAC MSF Natural in Light Medium (to set)
MAC Powder Blush in Stark Naked
MAC MSF in Blonde (over blush)
MAC Grand Duo in Moon River (highlight)
MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque
MAC Shadows in Neutral Pink (lid), Folie (crease) & Vanilla (highlight)
Rimmel Liquid Liner in Black
Urban Decay 24 7 Liner in Zero (waterline)
Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Brown Black (the best drugstore mascara I've ever used, it's the one advertised by Sophie Ellis Bextor & is amazing!)
Barry M Lip Liner in Baby Pink
GOSH Darling Lipstick
Fix + to finish!
A lot of products for a neutral look but here it is!:xo.

Essie Barbuda Banana

2009-03-19T03:18:00.000-07:00

Trust me to love a discontinued colour that I can't find anywhere! I just saw this colour on the site I linked in my previous post & I am so in love! It's by Essie & is called Barbuda Banana.
I am loving pastel nail polishes right now, I love the creamy plastic effect they give & the colours really suit me. I now can't find this colour anywhere... even eBay! If anyone can find this, please let me know! Or if you know of a similar coloured nail polish that would also be great :] I read that Maybelline Banana Puddin' is similar but as that's also discontinued I can't find that either!
xo.

Holy Grail Products

2009-03-19T02:10:00.000-07:00

This is a quick tag for anyone who wants to do it & thinks it might be helpful!
Basically you just list any holy grail products you have, if anyone wants a review on any of these then let me know :] I may have missed things out but if I have I'll add them in later!

Facial Cleansing Wipes - Olay Gentle Cleansers Wet Cleansing Wipes

Nail Polish - China Glaze in 'Lavender Lingo'

By the way, this is a great site if you can't decide which China Glaze colour to pick!

Eye Cream - Clinique Firming Lift Eye Cream

Fake Tan - Fake Bake Mousse

Hand Cream - L'Occitane Hand Cream in Rose/Cherry Blossom/Honey & Lemon (I got these in a trio which is still available but limited edition for 15.00).

Eyeshadows - MAC Folie, Carbon & Brule/Ricepaper (just some staple neutrals but the folie has a purple undertone which is great for my hair and skin colours) - I really need Tempting & Satin Taupe though so this may change!
Eye Base - Rubenesque Paint Pot - they actually have this in the CCO at the moment, which I am so mad about as I paid full price!

Lipstick - MAC Cremesheen Creme Cup - the first lipstick I'll actually finish before swapping to a different one, I'm nearly there!

Fixing Product - Fix+! I was absolutely amazed to find this in the CCO so snapped up a bottle for around 7.00 with my staff discount! Haven't looked back since, been using it every day & my make-up looks & feels so much fresher. Definite holy grail product & I need to get a back-up before they sell out.

Still looking for:
Foundation - going to try Chanel Vitalumiere in the next week/couple of weeks depending on money.
Primer (not sure about my Prep+Prime yet!), thinking about Benefit's That Gal as the girl at Benefit put some on me once & I had it on for a day & liked it... although it was about a year ago.
Brow products
Eyeliner - my Urban Decay 24/7 pencils aren't sharpening properly so I'm finding it hard to get a sharp point.
Any recommendations for any of these?

I may have found some HG skincare products too (facial scrub & moisturiser) but I'm giving them a bit longer until I reveal them.

What are your HG products?
xo.

Harajuku Lovers Freebie

2009-03-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

I went to Boots this morning to get a Chanel sample... but it turned out the Boots I went to (it's in a retail park) doesn't have a Chanel counter! I was gutted! But I'm going into town on Friday so I'll get one from that Boots, & if that doesn't have one at least I know Fenwick does!
Anyway, as I had gone all that way for Boots I thought I may as well have a look around & see if there was anything for my Mum for mother's day. They didn't really have many gift sets though, & any they did have were perfume ones which I couldn't get as my Mum only uses one perfume! As I was browsing I noticed the Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers perfume on a snazzy looking stand. The bottles are pretty cute - japanese girls- a different one for each scent in the range. I sprayed 'G' on my neck & 'Love' on my wrists, then got a sample card with 'Angel' sprayed onto it as they were the 3 I liked best. I am so impressed with them! They smell absolutely gorgeous, all day I could smell them as I was walking around. The final test for me is if my boyfriend notices when he comes home... we will see! They're not too pricey either, 19.95 for the standard size I think. Or there's a smaller size for 12.95 ish.Well now for the first 1000 people that enter the barcodes onto the Harajuku Lovers website in the Rewards section, you will receive a free HL Globe stand to display the perfumes on! I've already done mine which says it will be posted on Monday. If you want one of your own then be quick & enter these barcodes. Remember there's only 1000 to go round!

Love - 0031655666389

Angel - 0031655666396

Music - 0031655666402

Baby - 0031655666419

G - 0031655666426

You also get various free downloads for each one you enter.

xo.

Search for HG foundation & verdict on MAC Studio Sculpt

2009-03-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm searching for my HG foundation, & everyone seems to be raving about Chanel at the moment....!
I was planning on trying Pro Lumiere as I thought the Mat Lumiere would be too drying for my very dry skin. But having looked on Make-Up Alley at some reviews of it for my skin type, it seems Vitalumiere is the one I should get. It's expensive, 28.00, so I'll be getting a sample before i go anywhere near a full size one!
This is the description:
This fluid texture revives tired, dull complexions. Its fluid texture containing moisturisers ensures maximum comfort for the skin. Presented in a pump-action bottle, Vitalumiere Fluid delivers the ideal amount for a single application.. The light texture of Vitalumiere Fluid gives a slightly satin finish for a radiant natural youthful looking makeup.
Every time I get a foundation I get a different one, I haven't found one that's anywhere near perfect yet!
At the moment I'm using MAC Studio Sculpt in NC20. First off, I think the colour is slightly yellow for my skin (I did get matched at MAC!). It's not noticeable when you blend it in properly but I am concious of it & would prefer one not so yellowy! I love the consistency of this foundation, the gel feels moisturising & is really easy to apply. It goes on great with a 187, flat foundation brush (I use the Benefit one), or just fingers. It's versatile too & can be worn sheer or layered up for better coverage without looking like a mask. It looks absolutely perfect & completely flawless when first applied.However, I find it gets tired by about lunchtime. It has good staying power (lasts all day), but dries out & starts to look cakey on me, I just don't think it's suitable for my dry skin. If only it stayed as fresh as it is at first! It would definitely be my HG foundation if that was the case. But as it is I won't be repurchasing. I can imagine it's perfect for normal skin as it is slightly moisturising, maybe a bit too much for oily skin.
Definitely try it out though :]
My search continues...!!
xo.

Pretty Pastel Polishes

2009-03-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

I am so into pastel nail polishes for spring! They really suit my skin tone no matter what the colour!! I'm still on the hunt for the perfect pastel yellow & coral... but here's my recommendations for pink, lilac, orange, blue & green! These nail polishes are China Glaze & Barry M :]
Firstly here's my favourite pink & purple... Go-Go Pink & Lavender Lingo. That orangey colour is That-A-Way. :]

Spring Green & Turquoise from Barry M... at 2.95 each these are worth getting in a few colours! Mine has just started to chip (I've had it on 3 days)... you can see in the picture, sorry! I'm going to paint them now! Which brings me onto my newest addition to my collection... Turned up Turquoise! This is SO bright! The picture doesn't do the colour justice... it's nearly blinding! But such a fun summer colour. I only got this yesterday so today is my first try of it... hopefully it looks as good on as it does in the bottle!
I started a new skincare routine yesterday following my Sally's trip. I won't let you know what I got yet as I want to see how good it is but in a couple of weeks I'll do a full review! So far I'm loving it as I smell like honey all the time! Update to come :]
xo.

A Rose Romance & Wondering About Fix+ Spray

2009-03-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

A Rose Romance Collection is coming out in May this year.

Look at the blushers, Blush of Youth & Summer Rose... how gorgeous!
Furthermore they're bringing out some nice ip products... lipsticks, a new tendertone, & lipglasses & see thru lip colours (new), in various shades of pink. Also a new waterproof mascara, splashproof lash, a quad, some single shadows & a pastel pink nail polish. The other thing that caught my eye from this collection was Fix+ Rose which is, as the name suggests, Fix+ scented with Rosewater.
This got me thinking about Fix+ in general... has anyone got an opinion on it? I've read some reviews & it sounds like just what I need. I love all my make-up & it looks great for the first half of the day when I apply it, but at lunch if I touch up with MSF Natural it can start to look cakey, especially by the end of the day. As far as I can see, Fix+ fixes your make-up so it stays all day like it is when you first apply it, also it's meant to be really hydrating, great for dry skin like mine. It's about 10 pounds so I'll probably pick one up next time I get a MAC haul but it would be great to know if anyone's tried it & what your thoughts are!
xo.

Hello Kitty & Grand Duos

2009-03-09T03:53:00.000-07:00

Just a quick snap of my Hello Kitty haul... it's been a long time coming!
I ended up getting:
Medium make-up bag
Cute-ster lipstick
She Loves Candy Lipglass
Pink Fish TLC
Tippy Blush
Fun & Games Blush
I haven't used the Pink Fish yet as they don't last that long once you've opened them so I'm saving it for the moment! But I'm really pleased with the rest, the only thing is I've tried Fun & Games today & I'm not sure about the colour yet... maybe one to use with a tan. But I've only tried it once so I may grow to love it! I'm still looking to get Popster TLC & Big Bow Lipstick. I looked at the Quads & although the packaging is gorgeous & a really nice portable size, the colours didn't really catch my eye & when I swatched the shadows on my hand they were chalky & not the quality I expected, so for £30 I gave them a miss!
I also got Prep & Prime SPF 50 which I'm trying out at the moment so don't really have any opinion on it yet! Although I don't really like the packaging - it's in funny shaped tube which makes it difficult to get out!! Much prefer the pump! & I got an empty quad from my CCO which I haven't filled yet but I'll get some neutrals in there to carry around with me.
They didn't have the Grand Duos when I went on Friday but I went back on Sunday & they had them! I got Moon River - I also liked Grand Duo & Love Rock so will probably get those next week. Earth to Earth also seemed like a nice bronze one for the summer. Despite the reviews saying these are like glitter balls (& they do look really glittery at first glance), when you apply them the glitter goes & you're left with a nice sheen. I'll be carrying mine around as then I don't need a separate blush & MSF taking up space in my bag!
Swatches of Moon River:
Hasn't come out that well but you get the idea :]
xo.

Off Topic - Yankee Candles

2009-03-06T02:42:00.000-08:00

This is a bit off topic & not beauty related but I absolutely love these so I needed to post about it!
I first got obsessed with these about a year ago when my boyfriend brought one home that smelled like xmas trees & we had it on all the way through xmas - our flat constantly smelt gorgeous & festive! Since then we always buy each other them, & as there's a whole shop devoted to them nearby we can get loads of different flavours. They are the strongest smelling candles I've ever had, they actually scent the room rather than just the candle itself smelling. I have them in every room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen & lounge, & even keep one in my underwear & sock drawers as they smell so good :]
These are the flavours I've had so far (I keep all the stickers so I know which I've had!):
I tried a couple of Colonial candles as you can see - they're nowhere near as good, don't recommend them! You might notice I've had a couple more than once as well, Cinnamon & Sugar is a definite favourite.
These are the flavours I've bought but not used yet:
This is my gorgeous burner!! I love stuff with cherries on & it's so kitsch! My lovely boyfriend bought it for me :]. Currently has farmhouse apple candle in it :] :
& this is another candle stand I have which I also love! Love cupcake things - they go all the way round! My boyfriend bought me it for xmas & it currently has a banoffee cake candle on which smells nice but it's no yankee candle so I'm trying to use it up then get a yankee on there!
I couldn't recommend these more, not only do they smell nice but they really lift my mood! The best flavours I've had are Cinnamon & Sugar, Cherry Blossom & Peaches & Sweet Berries. Check out Yankee Candle website to see all the flavours & find your nearest stockist. I also often find retired scents on eBay so that's a good place to look if you can't find any near you :].
xo.

Grand Duos

2009-03-05T01:30:00.000-08:00

I'm going to Leeds tomorrow (unless my friend wants to meet up as I haven't seen her for ages!), so I'll be going to MAC to haul myself some Hello Kitty. I've almost completely changed my mind on what I want to get from this collection since it went live on the website!! So now I'm thinking:
Make-Up Bag 25.45
She Loves Candy/Sweet Strawberry lipglass 10.28... I'll decide when I see them in person!
Pink Fish TLC 10.28
Tippy Blush 14.68
Cute-Ster Lipstick 11.26
:]
I don't think I'll get either quad although I may get Lucky Tom when I get paid next week... depends what else I've seen by then & whether I like it in person!

Anyway... the main purpose of this post... GRAND DUOS! I'm pretty curious about these, in case you don't know what they are... they're in a compact and half is a mineralise blush, then half is a complementing MSF. MAC describes them as: Mineralise Blush Duo. A Mineralize Blush featuring soft-shimmer super-shine pearl in pretty tricolour veining to enhance and glorify cheekbones, followed with the pop and dimension of solid colour shimmer without an overly frosted look.
Pictures from Specktra.net.
Here's the collection.

top from left: Grand duo, Intenso, Moonriver
bottom from left: Loverock, Earth to earth, Hot planet

I'm thinking Grand Duo or Moonriver, but I think these are one of those things you have to see in person in order to choose the right one as they all look pretty!
Here's the swatches of both of those:

And some close ups:These are available now from MAC at £16.15.
Which will you be getting?
xo.

Lush Miranda Soap Review

2009-03-04T10:56:00.001-08:00

I know everyone raves about Rockstar, Honey I Washed the Kids, Porridge, Sultana & I Should Coco Soaps.... but the one I ALWAYS turn to is Miranda. I don't know why it's so under-appreciated!! I first picked it up about 6 years ago(!!) & it was the first Lush product I ever tried. I'm sure in those days it was called Carmen Miranda but I may be mistaken! Anyway it's a pale green soap which goes to pink at the edge, & has colourful chunks in it that look a bit like fruit! It smells absolutely gorgeous - like kiwi fruit but also has a lingering calming scent to it. I always use it in the bath/shower & just rub it all over so it lathers up & it scents my skin for the whole day! Lush can explain it better than me so here's what they say about it:
The juicy kiwi fruit one.
We make Miranda with fresh, organic kiwi fruit because they are full to bursting with vitamin C and gently astringent on your skin. We add bergamot oil, the one which flavours Earl Grey tea, which is said to be good for skin conditions which are caused by stress, and because it smells of oranges. There's toning ylang ylang, which is said to be good for firming the breasts - always useful - and juniperberry oil, which is good for brightening up congested skin and for refreshing tired spirits and used to flavour gin. Definitely the soap with the mostest.
This is a very fruity soap. It is filled with little fruit shaped pieces of soap too like a big fruit cocktail. Carmen Miranda was a singer from the 70s, who dressed in very elaborate head- gear made of fruit. She was as famous for her singing as she was for her fruity head- dresses. We had to change the original name for Carmen Miranda to just Miranda, but the fruity soap got it's name from the Fruity lady.

Oh I hadn't read that but there you go, it did used to be called Carmen Miranda! I just find it a really nice refreshing change as most of the time I go for sugary sweet smells. It's a bit moisturising but not greasy, the smell is to die for & it looks pretty cute too :] I got a reasonable size piece for £2.87 which will last me a month - 2 months.
Next time you go past Lush, if you can push past the overpowering smell of that shop & actually go in, I urge you to try this soap!!
xo.

Truths

2009-02-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

So I cut some of these out as they were a bit personal... what school did you go to etc... !

001. Real name → Candice
003. Zodiac sign → Saggitarius
004. Male or female → Female

008. Hair color → Brown
009. Long or short → Long
010. Loud or Quiet → Quiet
011. Sweats or Jeans → Jeans
012. Phone or Camera → Phone
013. Health freak → Well I try to eat healthily & go to the gym but still pig out sometimes :)
014. Drink or Smoke? → Drink
015. Do you have a crush on someone? My boyfriend!
016. Eat or Drink → Both.
017. Piercings → Two in each ear.
018. Tattoos→ No.

HAVE YOU EVER?
019. Been in an airplane→ Yep.
020. Been in a relationship → Yep.
021. Been in a car accident → When I was a baby.
022. Been in a fist fight → No!

FIRSTS:
023. First piercing → Ears.
024. First best friend? Elizabeth.
025. First award → Don't know... probably dancing.
028. First big vacation → Probably Florida.

LASTS:
029. Last person you talked to → My boyfriend.
030. Last person you texted → My Dad.
031. Last person you watched a movie with → My friend Kelly - we watched Accidental Husband the other night!
032. Last food you ate → KFC!
033. Last movie you watched → Accidental Husband!
034. Last song you listened to → Don't know.
035. Last thing you bought → Some soap from Lush - it's called Miranda & smells GORGEOUS :) has always been my fave by far.
036. Last person you hugged → My boyfriend!

FAVES:
037. Food → Pasta.
038. Drinks → Tea.
039. Clothing → My new top from French Connection.
040. Flower --> Cherry Blossom - love the smell!
042. Colors → Pink!
043. Movies → Dirty Dancing... still haven't seen a film to rival this!

In 2008...
045. kissed someone... my boyfriend!
046. celebrated Halloween...not really.
047. had your heart broken...nope :)
048. went over the minutes/texts on your cell phone... No I have far too many, need to drop my contract down!
049. someone questioned your sexual orientation....No!
050. came out of the closet... No!
051. gotten pregnant... No.
052. had an abortion... No.
053. done something you've regretted... Nothing major.
054. broke a promise... Not that I can remember... probably small ones!
055. hid a secret...... No.
056. pretended to be happy... No.
057. met someone who changed your life.... Not in 2008 I don't think.
058. pretended to be sick….No.
059. left the country... No.
060. tried something you normally wouldn't try and liked it... No.
061. cried over the silliest thing... Probably!
062. ran a mile... No!
063. went to the beach with your best friend... Only Scarborough... hahah!
064. got into an argument with your friends... No.
065. hated someone... No.
066. stayed single the whole year... No.

CURRENTLY:
067. Eating → Nothing.
068. Drinking → 7UP
069. I'm about to → Finish my essay when I stop procrastinating!
070. Listening to → Nothing.
071. Plans for today → Do essay!
072. Waiting for → Nothing.

YOUR FUTURE:
073. Want kids? → Yes.
074. Want to get married? → Yes.
075. Careers in mind → Make-Up Artist/Make-Up Counter

WHICH IS BETTER?
076. Lips or eyes → Eyes.
077. Shorter or taller?→ Taller.
078. Romantic or spontaneous → Romantic.
079. Nice stomach or nice arms → Arms.
080. Sensitive or loud → Sensitive.
081. Hook-up or relationship → Relationship.
082. Trouble-maker or hesitant → Hesitant.

HAVE YOU EVER:
083. Lost glasses/contacts - No.
084. Snuck out of your house → Don't need to... I only live with my boyfriend!
085. Held a gun/knife for self defense → No.
087. Broken someone's heart → No.
088. Been arrested---- No.
089. Cried when someone died → Yes.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
090. Yourself → Most of the time!
091. Miracles → Sometimes!
092. Love at first sight → Yep!
093. Heaven → Not sure.
094. Santa Claus → No.
095. Sex on the first date → No!
096. Kiss on the first date - Yep.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → Yes & he's sitting across the room from me!
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life? I will be when I finally finish Uni & can start living life properly!
099. Do you believe in God? No.

I tag you if you've just read this :)
xo.

Maybe a strange question!!

2009-02-25T03:51:00.000-08:00

So this may sound like a strange question... but I've noticed whenever I sharpen my eyeliners they never get a sharp point on them like they have when they're new! I don't know if it's because I'm not using a good enough sharpener, or because the eyeliner's too soft so it ends up squidging in the sharpener... but does anyone know??!! I'm using Urban Decay 24 7 liners & just a plastic sharpener.
Thanks :]
xo.
PS I'm thinking of doing a review on some mac blushers soon with pictures :]

Lack of hauls!

2009-02-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

So just to tell you all quickly, sorry for the lack of hauls recently! I'm saving up for HK collection, plus it's my boyfriend's birthday tomorrow so I've bought him presents & am paying for our meal tomorrow, not really anything left for make-up.
However I will review some products I've got & been using pretty soon so look out for that :)
xo.

Current Products

2009-02-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

This is a tag from Hele of current products I'm using :)

Shampoo: T-Gel

Condtioner: Fudge Shine Shot Conditioner

Styling products: CHI Silk Infusion

Don't use that many hair products!

Shower Gel: Imperial Leather Little Treats (Cherry Blossom & Vanilla I think... whatever it is it smells gorgeous & it's pink!)

Body moisturiser: Palmers Cocoa Butter

Deodrant: Dove Cucumber

Fake Tan: Not sunny enough yet!

Foundation: MAC Sculpt & Shape in NC20

Foundation brush: Mac 187/Benefit foundation brush/fingers - depending on if I'm in a rush or not!

Concealer: Laura Mercier Concealer Pot

Powder: MAC MSF Natural in Light-Medium.

Blusher: NARS Mata Hari.

Bronzer: The bronze half of Benefit 10.

Highlighter: Blonde MSF!

Eyeshadow base: Paint Pot in Rubenesque.

Eyeshadows: my Clinique palette.

Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24 7 Pencil in Zero.

Mascara: MAC ZoomLash/CoverGirl Professional.

Lipstick: MAC Creme Cup.

Lipgloss: Dior Kiss in Candy Apple.

Nail Colour: China Glaze in Aqua Baby.

I tag everyone who follows me :)
xo.

BBR MSFs

2009-02-17T06:23:00.000-08:00

So I'm just writing this post really quickly as I don't have much time. But it's just to tell you.... BUY ONE (OR ALL!!!) OF THE MSFS FROM BBR COLLECTION!
I have Blonde and I absolutely LOVE it! I was on the hunt for Petticoat, or just any pinky MSF(!), then Blonde came out & saved my life!! :]
When I was in MAC the girl showed me how to use it, she said to swipe from the dark to the light to use as a highlight, or the other way to use as a cheek colour. I'm finding I swipe from dark to light and use either over a blush or alone, or I just use the light part for highlight and use a separate cheek colour. I really cannot rave enough about this product, I'm going back for a back-up and to try out Redhead. If you only get one product from the collection, GET ONE OF THESE!! :]
And how weird as I just came on to post this & Hele has just posted nearly the same about Redhead...!!
I've only just done my make-up so I'm not taking it off just for a picture of the MSF on it's own (sorry!), but here's a picture of it as I have it on today (and every day!!). I used it today over Dollymix.xo.

Hello Kitty Release Date

2009-02-17T03:36:00.001-08:00

Thank you for taking the time to contact MAC cosmetics online. The Hello Kitty Collection will be launched on the 5th March.

Kind Regards,

Monique Stobart
M.A.C Cosmetics Online Customer Services
0870 0342999

Not long now!!

xo.

Collective haul - BBR, Well Defined, Creme Team, China Glaze & Chi

2009-02-13T05:06:00.000-08:00

So the haul is here!
I made my trip to MAC. I loved so much of the new collections, wish I was richer! Before that, my sister gave me this really cute neutral eyeshadow palette from Clinique. She hardly used it so she said I could have it! It's a permanent in my handbag now as the colours are really useful, great pigmentation & the palette size is perfect to carry around for touch ups.

I went to Sally's to get a last chance look at the sale & got some more Chi. I haven't used it yet, it's the Volume Booster, but I've only heard good things about it.

So here's the MAC part of the haul. I got matched for foundation - she tried to match me up with an NW shade - no way I look sunburnt! She said I'd be NW as I have pink undertones in my skin, so I told her that's the whole reason I choose NC, so the yellow counterbalances the pink in my skin! She said it's personal preference (I don't think it is... it's what blends into your skin?!?!), so she matched me with NC20 in the end. Now I've tried it in natural light & played around with it I do think it's a good match, was worried about that, and I love the radiant finish it gives. The only thing I'm finding is it fades over the day, I've been wearing it with the MSF Natural in Light Medium (which I got at the same time), so I'm going to try it without & see how it wears. Overall though I am impressed & would repurchase. I also got Blonde MSF from the BBR collection. I am so in love with it!! It gives such a gorgeous pink sheen over blush or alone & I definitely need to buy a back up!!
I also got tempted by Chanel so I ended up getting a kabuki. It's so soft! The bristles are the perfect density so I can use it for my MSF natural & I'm also finding it works well for blush.
I got the 226 & 214 brushes. Finding them both good. I used the 214 for the first time today - see pictures below!
I just did a neutral look. I used the 214 brush with black tied & folie to continue the lower lash line upwards to the crease, then I used a mixture of folie & vanilla for the lid, & vanilla to highlight. Pretty simple but I love the natural look it gives & how it defines my eyes.
This is how it looks in the bigger picture! Ignore my undereye bags, really tired at the moment!

I used peachykeen blush with blonde MSF over. For foundation I used my studio sculpt with MSF Natural Light Medium. For lips I used Creme Cup from Creme Team collection which I Back2MACed for. I'm really liking this lipstick, the colour is really wearable, pretty close to my natural lip colour and the cremesheen finish is gorgeous.Also at Sally's I picked up some more China Glaze. The one I'm wearing at the moment is Aqua Baby. I really like their creme finish nail polishes more than the shimmer ones.
I also got (don't know why this pic is sideways...?! but from top to bottom) Go-Go Pink, 643 TMI 80808 - this is holographic!! the finish is amazing!, Wild Mink & China Rouge.

Well that's it, saving up for HK collection now, plus I'm thinking I'd love to get some Studio Sculpt Concealer & Prep & Prime also caught my eye.
xo.

Hello Kitty

2009-02-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

So having done a bit more research on HK Collection these are the things i'm thinking of getting:

Tinted Lip Conditioner in 'Popster'
Lipstick in 'Strayin'
Lipglass in 'Mimmy'
Powder Blush in 'Tippy'
Brush collection
Make-Up Bag

How much do you think I need to save up for this?! I'm thinking I'll Back2MAC for the lipstick, can you do that for LE lipsticks?

I went to MAC on monday & got some things from BBR & Well Defined, I don't have time right now to do a haul post but just so you know, it's coming!
xo.

Sugar Sweet Collection

2009-02-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

So this collections not coming to the UK for ages!! But I knew it was coming & this time when I searched it I found pictures! Looks like a nice collection but not one I'd get too much stuff from. Here's the list:

Lipstick

Sweet Thing Mid-tone magenta with multi dimensional pearl (Lustre)
Bubbles Sheer frosty white beige (Glaze) (Repromote)
Touch Peachy cinnamon (Lustre) (Permanent)
Lollipop Loving Mid-tone coral with subtle green and gold iridescence (Glaze) (Repromote)
Saint Germain Pastel pink (Amplified Creme) (Repromote)

Tricolour Lipglass

Tasty Top Sheer blue pink with reflects, Middle Mid-tone blue pink with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Dark creamy red pink
Just Dessert Top Sheer yellow pink with reflects, Middle Mid-tone yellow pink with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Mid-tone creamy yellow pink
Simpy Delicious Top Sheer peach with reflects, Middle Pale coral with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Creamy mid-tone coral
Triple-Yum Top Sheer gold with gold reflects, Middle True gold with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Mid-tone bronze
Consume Me Top Sheer white with reflects, Middle Pale mint with duochrome pearlized pigments, Bottom Creamy light peach with pearlized pigments

Eyeshadow

Sugarshot Pale frosty beige (Lustre)
Dear Cupcake Mid-tone pink coral with gold pearlized pigments (Satin)
Aquavert Soft mint with white pearlized pigments (Veluxe Pearl) (Repromote)
Stars n Rockets Lavender with red/pink reflects (Veluxe Pearl) (Permanent)
Club Muted reddish brown duochrome with green opalescent shimmer (Satin) (Permanent)

Shadestick

Cakeshop Frosted light neutral beige
Butternutty Frosted pale white gold
Lemon Chiffon Frosted pewter
Red Velvet Frosted mid-tone pink
Penny Light pinky copper (Repromote)

Mascara

Zoomlash

Nail Lacquer

Peppermint Patti Creamy mint green (Cream)
Seasonal Peach Creamy pale peachy pink (Cream)

Mineralize Skinfinish

Perfect Topping Pink/peach/lavender melange
Refined Tan/peach/coral melange

Lash

34 Lash

The tricolour lipglasses look gorge! I'm thinking consume me tricolour lipglass (shown above) & perfect topping MSF. What do you think?
xo.

BBR & Hello Kitty

2009-02-05T01:24:00.000-08:00

So I looked on MAC's site last night & all the BBR stuff was there ready to order but I resisted! I want to see what they're like in real life as my list is too long & expensive so I'll need to cut it down based on real life impressions! I'm planning on going to MAC on Monday, I hope the 226 brush isn't sold out as I heard it's selling out everywhere. May have to order that one off the site if it is. Apart from that I'm thinking I'll get Skinfinish Natural, Mineralise Degrade Blonde & Redhead (may just get one I'll see what I think when I get there), Top Knot eyeshadow & possibly French Cuff, depends what I think. Also 214 brush & some foundation as I said before.
I need to save up for Hello Kitty! Having seen fafinettex3's YT video (I'll put it in the bottom of this post), there is so much GORGEOUS stuff in that collection! I'm so excited it rly will be the collection of the year for me, & it's only coming out in March! The one thing I rly want is the brush holder! This was her haul, you can see the brush holder & brushes it comes with in the top right of the picture. It's $49.50 in the US... so about 34/35 pounds.
& here's her video:

x0.

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

2009-02-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

So I've been thinking about what to get when I go to MAC to get some goodies from the BBR collection, & I was thinking about anything else I should get from MAC that's not in the collection, seeing as I don't get to go that often.
Well I'm thinking I'll get some foundation, not sure which yet. But I also thought about Skinfinish Natural - has anyone tried it? I've never tried it & I can hardly find any videos about it on YT. Does it give a polished glowing finish without looking powdery?
Does anyone have any other recommendations for a flawless base? I find Bronze Universel de Chanel is great for summer for a polished look but not really one to use in winter. I need a similar thing without the bronze!
xo.

Haul

2009-02-02T01:50:00.000-08:00

So I've got quite a bit of stuff since the last haul & not had time to post so here's a collective update!

2 eyeshadows from CCO - Folie & Vanilla - been meaning to get these for ages, just basics really.
Fafi blusher in Fashion Frenzy.
NARS Mata Hari blusher - waited so long for this but it was worth it!
NYX lipsticks!! So excited about these! I got them from a site called nonpareil boutique - check google for it! They were $1.90 each & I got 10 to make it worth the shipping (1 is missing from the picture as it was in my pocket!) - so it worked out at 20 pounds - so only 2 each!! I luckily escaped customs charges so they were a bargain but watch out as it's luck of the draw if you get charged or not!They are all gorgeously silky & so moisturising I find I don't even need lip balm on underneath if I don't have time or forget it! Great colour pay off as well. Swatches are (from top to bottom) - Harmonica (quite faint but rly nice & shimmery), Orange Soda, Circe, Narcissus, Thalia, Frosted Beige, Summer Love, Strawberry Milk, Margarita & Frosted Flakes. At the moment I'm using Frosted Flakes & love it, you see a lot of people raving about it on YT & now I know why!! But to be honest I tried them all on when I first got them & love them all!! A couple of the stronger ones (Margarita & Narcissus) will be best for going out but I did well in picking mostly every day colours that all suit my skin tone! I really recommend these if you can find them anywhere but just watch out for that shipping charge!
Sheertone Shimmer blush in Peachykeen (top left). Also sheer blush in Pink Swoon - really nice buildable colour. This picture has turned out great for seeing what they really look like - look how gorgeous the shimmer is in Dollymix (top right)!!
That's all for now, can't wait for BBR on Thursday!!
xo.

MAC Release Date

2009-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

So I emailed MAC about the release dates of their collections & this was the response I got:

Thank you for taking the time to contact MAC cosmetics online.

The BRUNETTE BLONDE REDHEAD is available in all locations, online, in store and mail order and will be released on Thursday 5th February. The Hello Kitty collection is due to be lunched in March, However we do not yet have a particular launch date.

I hope this is of assistance to you. If you have any further enquiries then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards,

Monique Stobart
M.A.C Cosmetics Online Customer Services
0870 0342999

So not long!! 5th Feb!! Can't wait!! In particular looking forward to Blonde Mineralize Skinfinish Degrade & Top Knot eyeshadow - will see how I like them in person :).
I got some more things from CCO & also FINALLY got a NARS package - been waiting SO long for one blusher! So I'll post those when I have time, maybe tomorrow, if not then next week.
xo.

Haul

2009-01-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

2 posts in one day?!
lol

Well I still haven't got one of the things I was going to put in this haul but I won't have time to do this post if I don't do it now, so I'll just post that one when I get it.

So I got a new blusher from MAC, it's called Dollymix. It's bright malilbu barbie pink with loads of tiny sparkles, so you get a nice sheen. I love it so much it's my new favourite!! I'm using it every day at the moment & I depotted it as soon as I got it so here's a picture of it in the palette. I don't wana depot everything yet as I haven't got any labels to stick on the bottom yet so I'll forget the names of things! So that's why there's only this one in the pallette!
I also went to Boots & got Barry M Lip Paint in 101 Marshmallow & a lip pencil to go with it in Baby Pink - love both of these & have also been wearing them every day! The only thing I'm finding is I need to get a better lipbalm to go under the lipstick as a primer as otherwise my lips get all dry - has anyone got any suggestions?

I got 2 more China Glaze nail polishes in Lavender Lingo & Thataway. I've been wearing Lavender Lingo all week at work & got LOADS of comments from customers (I work in a shop), plus it hasn't chipped at all & is a gorgeous creamy colour. I'm just about feeling like a change now so I'm going to try the other one from tonight & hopefully it'll be just as good. The only thing I found is it's not really lavender it's more baby pink, but still gorgeous! If you put it next to something pink you can tell it's a bit more purpley but just on it's own it looks more pink. Thataway is an orangey coral colour with gold sparkle - bet it'll be gorge in summer.

I depotted 3 shadows as well, these are the first ones I've ever done. As I said in a post before I completely wrecked one of them as it was in a pot with a twist on lid so was really hard to do, but the other two turned out okay. The colours are Scheme (blue), Llama (neutral) & Petalescent (pearly pink-purple).
I need to get some labels, there's a Staples near me where I was gona try to get some, does anyone know if they sell them? Or can anyone recommend a good place to go & get some?

Not the biggest haul ever but just a few things I've got/done this week. Like I said there's another thing coming in the post, in fact there's 3 as I bought some more stuff again today (shopamakeupaholic!), so I'll post those when they get here. & no doubt I'll get some more China Glaze as it's made it to my favourite nail polish ever!
xo.

Blonde, Brunette, Redhead Collection

2009-01-23T03:07:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for this collection! When I first saw it nothing really hit me as amazing, but I keep seeing it everywhere & after watching about a million videos on it there's some things I'd love to get. I can't find an exact date for it's release in the UK, the best I can find is late January/early February - so anytime now!
These are what I'm looking to get:
Blonde & Redhead Mineral Skinfinish Degrades - Brunette looks a bit deep for me. These are great as the colour goes in a gradient rather than being all veiny like normal so you can mix it up or just use the lighter or darker parts.

214 brush - such a shame it's limited edition! Great for doing eyeshadow under bottom lashes.

226 brush - great for blending & crease but more of a rounded end than 224 so you can be more precise with it :)

Lipglass in Red Devil :)

Eyeshadow in French Cuff.Eyeshadow in Top Knot - look at the gorgeous glitter in it!

Pictures from temptalia.com

Just need to save up now!!
xo.

Back2MAC

2009-01-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

So I was never sure if the Back2MAC program was just in the USA or if they did it in England too. Well I just looked it up & here's what I found on the UK site:

Back to M·A·C Program
Because we share your commitment to the environment, M·A·C accepts returns of its primary packaging through the Back to M·A·C Program. By returning six [6] M·A·C primary packaging containers to a M·A·C counter, you will receive a free M·A·C Lipstick of your choice as our thanks to you. Since 100% of the retail selling proceeds of Viva Glam Lipstick is provided to organizations that help people living with HIV/AIDS, these colours are excluded from this program.

In countries where it is permissible, the returned packaging is forwarded to appropriate waste management centres to recycle/reuse through energy recovery. M·A·C will continue to explore alternative means of waste disposal in all markets.

Most primary packaging of M·A·C products is accepted as Back to M·A·C "currency". M·A·C does not accept the following as a part of the program:

Secondary packaging of any sort [paper box, plastic/cellophane wrapper, shopping bags, etc.]
Samples [sample containers, special/trial size products for promotional/seasonal kits]
Cosmetic applicators/tools [disposables, puffs, sponges, scissors, spatulas, swabs, sharpeners, tweezers, curlers]
Accessories [bags, belts, makeup cases, lashes, Blot Film]

In addition to our "Back to M·A·C Program," M·A·C uses minimal packaging and recycled paper to paperboard packaging in our offices, manufacturing and distribution facilities. Vegetable-based inks are used for printing whenever possible. At M·A·C we share your concerns about the environment and we are continually looking for ways to address those concerns while providing our customers with complete product satisfaction and safety.

So YAY! Annoyed I've never kept my empty packaging before! I depotted 3 shadows yesterday - one completely ruined but my sister gave me it for free & I don't use it much, it's so old it's got a twist-on top instead of one that flicks up, which is why it was so hard to depot! So never mind, the other 2 are ok! & I kept the empty pots. I should have a blusher coming in the post tomorrow hopefully so that'll make 4 once I get that in my pallette. Just 2 more to go!
I went back to Sally's today & got 3 more CHI silk infusion - that means I have 4 back ups now - lol!! I wanted to stock up in case it's discontinued as it's £15 a bottle to buy it on the internet. The girl in Sally's said she didn't think it was discontinued as it's popular, it's just in the sale but not clearance although it says 'Reduced to Clear' on the sticker. I also got 2 more China Glaze nail polishes, which I will take pictures of & share once my other bits come in the post. So a collective haul is coming in the next week (as long as the post hurries up!). It's not that much stuff, 2 blushers & 2 nail polishes, plus my 3 (or 2 & a half!) depotted shadows. I'm trying not to spend too much this month as I need to get presents for my boyfriend, my mum & two friends' 21st birthdays! So the beauty will reluctantly have to wait!! :(
xo.

A Late Xmas Present

2009-01-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

I haven't posted for a few days - I've had exams so I haven't really done any beauty related stuff apart from put my make up on in the morning!
I've got some stuff coming in the post which I will share with you once it gets here so look out for that.

I got a late xmas present a couple of days ago from my manager at work & I really like it. It calls itself a compact vanity & it is so handy to keep in my car. The brand is Victoria Jackson - I don't really know anything about this brand but I think it's a department store brand? Not sure though.
On the outside it's a little black box:
When you open the top it's got 4 different eyeshadows - the pigmentation is ok, it's not MAC or anything but fine for work or something like that - & a powder which I haven't used as it contains talc so it'll dry out my skin.
Then you can swing the different layers out. The next layer is 2 blushers & a mascara - I love both blushers they're quite sheer but buildable & both nice colours, haven't tried the mascara yet.
The next layer is 8 lipgloss/lipsticks & a lipliner - all nice!
& the bottom layer is just tools which I haven't used & I don't expect they're much good but handy to have in the car I guess.
In the lid it's got a mirror too & when you open the whole thing out it looks like this:

So there's my little compact make-up kit for the car! I'm so pleased with it & it was a really nice surprise!
I'll do a haul when I get this stuff in the post. My palettes came the other day, really quick post & I'm really pleased with them so I'll get depotting then I'll share that too.
Hope everyone is having a good new year.
xo.

Products I Might Get...

2009-01-12T01:32:00.000-08:00

Hey

So I need a new foundation... the one I'm using at the moment is a Bobbi Brown cream compact. I got it from CCO & I thought it would be good for me as I have really dry skin. But it's not, it makes my skin flake by halfway through the day. I've been using it for a while now & I really don't like it. I was looking on MAC website as I've never used a MAC foundation before & everyone raves about them. The one I'm thinking of getting is MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation, I found a couple of videos on it on YouTube & it looks good so I'm gona have to make a trip to Harvey Nics to try some out. Has anyone used this? If so is it good? & would it be ok on my dry skin? On the web it says it's for normal - dry skin.

The other thing I've been watching is videos on the new Blonde Brunette Redhead collection that's come out in the US. I really like the look of the Blonde & Redhead Mineralize Skinfinishes so I think I'm gona get my hands on those at some point! I'm still looking for Mineralize Skinfinish in Petticoat, I fell in love with it a while ago & asked for it for xmas but I guess no one could find it!! I might have to give in & pay a bomb to get it from eBay... does anyone have it & is it worth it?

Well that's it for now :)
xo.

Green Eyes

2009-01-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone
I've been sick for a couple of days, got a bad headcold, so today I decided to cheer myself up by playing around with some stuff I've had for ages! I did a green look, it's come out nicely :) sorry my hair kept getting in the way!

(For my face i used:
Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
Glycerin (I have really dry skin & this is a neat & easy way to stop it flaking)
Benefit You Rebel (Adds like a base tint of colour & another moisture barrier)
Bobbi Brown Moisturising Cream Compact Foundation in Shade 2.5 Warm Sand
Laura Mercier Undercover Pot (for dark circles)
Cheeks:
DiorBlush in Natural Rose
Benefit 10 (for contouring))

Eyes:
YSL compact - I used both greens in the compact (light for all over lid colour, dark for crease)
Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencils in Covet (under bottom lashes) & Zero (waterline & above top lashes)
MAC Pigments from Little Darlings in Frost (highlight) & Teal (crease and shading at the outer V)
Covergirl Superthick Lash Mascara

Here's a pic of most of the stuff I used:

That's it really :) !
xo.

1st Ever Post & Weekend Haul

2009-01-08T03:34:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone

Hopefully you have come here from YouTube as that's where I've posted the URL for this.

So seeing as I can't do a video haul I thought I'd make a blog instead. At the weekend I went to Manchester for a weekend-break with my boyfriend. We had a really good time & I got some really nice stuff.

I went to Space.NK as I got their catalogue through my door & I noticed this product so I got it. It's by Laura Mercier - Undercover Pot. It's a lot smaller than I thought but really good for covering dark circles. It comes with a cream concealer and a powder concealer in the top, then you can unscrew it for irredescent loose powder in the bottom - great to carry around. The concealers are slighty diferent colours & the girl at Space.NK told me you put one on one side of your brush then one on the other side & you can then blend them on your skin to get the right colour. I've been using it for nearly a week now & I love it, the only downside was it cost £27.

I also went into Boots to look at their Urban Decay bar as my nearest Boots doesn't have one. They had loads of great stuff & I got a full size 24/7 eye pencil in Zero (my sister got me the minis for xmas & I love them!). This is the creamiest eye pencil I've ever used, they do loads of different colours & it stays on all day even on the water line. I can't remember how much it cost but I think it was around £10 or £11.
- Zero full size.
Mini eye pencils in Lust, Covet, Zero, Electric & Lucky.

I also got a single deluxe eyeshadow in Scratch after I saw it on Allthatglitters21's video on YouTube. It is so creamy & pigmented, the colour is a really nice shimmery dusky pink. It's really wearable & I tried it for the first time yesterday & really loved how it looked. It stayed on all day & didn't crease.
Gorgeous packaging!
I also got a cute little bag for my pink brushes in the sale at Waterstones - it's meant to be a pencil case but it fits them perfectly & it was only 88p!

I went to the MAC counter in Selfridges & got a new paintpot in Rubenesque. I've heard loads of good things about it. It's more gold than I thought but is really nice & sheer when you get it on. I'm trying to build up my paintpot collection, so far I've only got 3 - Girl Friendly, Perky & Rubenesque - but I like them so much more than just using a clear primer.
Girl Friendly, Perky, Rubenesque
Swatches - they didn't come out that well, sorry!

While I was at MAC I also saw the Dame Edna collection. I didn't want to get anything with a sticker on that was gona peel off, but I did wana get something from the collection. So I got a really nice eye pallette. It came in a gorgeous purple sparkly box. The pallette is also purpe with sparkles & her glasses on the front. It's called the Wisteria Eye Trio & once you open it up it's got 3 colours - Fineshine, Wisteria & Divine Night. Fineshine is a really glittery silver, Wisteria is a pale blue, & Divine Night is a shimmery black. I used the pallette a couple of days ago to do a smokey eye & was pretty impressed but I think it's more one to use for night looks than everyday so I'm going to keep it for when I'm going out.

I also went to Sally's - they have a really good sale on. I got Chi Silk Infusion & 44 Thermal Spray for half price - about £5 for silk infusion & £3.80 for thermal spray. I've used them both & they make such a difference to my hair - it's really glossy and feels gorgeous and soft now. I definitely need to go back & get some more while they're on sale.

I also got some China Glaze nail polish while I was there, in Golden Meringue & Awakening. I like them both a lot, they haven't chipped at all. The only thing is that Golden Meringue needed about 3 coats to build up the colour as it's really sheer, but it would be really nice on top of another colour to give it a golden shimmer. I really recommend China Glaze as they were only £4.25 each & are so much better than Nails Inc, Creative, OPI etc!

I'm trying to find an empty 15 eyeshadow pallette to put my mac shadows in - I found one on ebay but it's £17 plus post! My nearest MAC pro store isn't near at all so I can't go there to get one, so if anyone knows how I can get one please let me know
xo.