2012 Favourites

So the time of year has come where I get to rave about my favourite products, brace yourself folks for a lot of I absolutely love and amazing's

Makeup Favourites:

Favourite pallet:

My favourite palette this year has to be the Dior Expert Studio Makeup Palette. It comes with a mini Dior Show Iconic Mascara, a concealer, powder, blush, six eyeshadows, an eyeliner, lip pencil, lip balm,  lip gloss and two lip colours, in addition to a double ended brush, standard double ended sponge tip applicator and a flat brush. Although  haven't used everything in this pallet, what I have used is amazing. The eye shadows are a lovely texture and fairly pigmented, the powder, although slightly to light for me looks beautiful on the skin, the concealer, again too light for me, is very creamy and pigmented and finally the lip colours are beautifully pigmented and come in two gorgeous colours.

(Full review coming shortly)

Eye Makeup:

Maybelline One by One has to be one of my favourite mascaras I've ever used. It's great for adding volume, definition and length. Not only that but i am serious in love with the wand, nicknamed "Lash Catcher", the shape of the brush allows you to easily apply the product onto all of your lashes and the placement of the rubber bristles flawlessly combs through them providing separation and definition. Once I've used up my current one, I'll definitely be repurchasing.  

Lip Product:

Although I love wearing and trying out different lipsticks, throughout 2012 I haven't come across one that I absolutely love. I did however get introduced to lip scrubs. Prior to this, whenever I had dry lips I would always just apply Vaseline and while this did help for a short period of time, it didn't do anything to combat the dryness in the long run. After searching various websites for ingredients, I combined two recipes together to make the perfect scrub: 

1 tsp honey

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp brown sugar 

1/2 tsp olive oil

While the baking soda and sugar help exfoliate the skin, the honey and olive oil leave the lips feeling smooth and soft for the whole day. It also smells like caramel :) 

Other Beauty Favourites:

Skin Care Favourite:

Sainsbury's Free Zone Face and Body Scrub

This is something that I've been using since high school and I've been in love with it for years. Although I have to confess, I have strayed away from this a few times, not because it doesn't work, but because my curiosity kicked in and I wanted to see what else was out there, need less to say nothing I tried came close to being as good as this. Although it can be used as a body scrub, I just use it on my face. It's really nice to use this in the morning because it feels amazing when it's foamed up and massaged into the skin. In addition, when ever I have a spot or a pimple, I'll usually massage this into the area and the spot or pimple will be noticeably reduced.

Perfume favourite:

Dior Pure Poison

I'm not going to much into this because I did a review of this in my perfume collection post on my blog.  Since I'm someone who loves floral scents- this is the ultimate fragrance for me. It contains Orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia, amber and sandalwood. I know jasmine is a very poplar fragrance so if you like the scent of jasmine then this is definitely something to try out.

Nail Polish Favourite:

I absolutely love wearing pink nail polish, I'm kind of boring in the sense that i never usually wear any other colour on my nails- it always tends to be some shade of pink. So that being said, it should be no surprise that my favourite nail polish this year has been the Revlon nail enamel in electric pink. I wouldn't really describe this as electric pink- more of a pinky coral. Its just a really bright, happy colour and I love it.

Fashion Favourites:

Although button down shirts have been around for sometime now, this year I finally got into them. A few months ago I pick out this sheer cream shirt- it has long sleeves but I love the option of rolling the cuffs up for a half length. I think that these types of shirts are very timeless and classic and I love how you can dress them up or down depending on the occasion. 

Miscellaneous Favourites:

Favourite TV Show:

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a huge TV nut, so this is probably the hardest category for me. I love watching shows like Glee, Pretty Little Liars, 90210, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, Made In Chelsea, Revenge, The Great British Bake Off, Eastenders (The list is literally endless) However, my favourite(s) of 2012 has to be a tie between The Lying Game and White Collar. The Lying Game- similar to PPL but for me slightly better because it's more logical. White Collar is another favourite because it's not like the typical/predicable crime shows that are also on TV. The twists and turns in the show are interesting and the dynamic between each of the characters is perfect. Not to mention Neal Caffrey/Matt Bomer is beautiful! 

Album Favourite:

Being a massive Taylor Swift fan I guess it's no surprise that my favourite album of 2012 is Red. My favourite songs: State of Grace, Red, I Knew You Were Trouble, All To Well, 22, We Are Never Getting Back Together, Holy Ground, The Lucky One, Everything Has Changed, Starlight and Girl At Home...so basically almost the entire album. 

So these are my 2012 favourites, hope you all enjoyed this little post. 
Happy New Year :D

NOTD: Neutral Elegance

Nail of the Day: Nails inc. in Basil Street & VoV in Gold. 

(Taken with Flash)

Basil Street is a great nude nail polish for those days where you want something very natural and classy. If you have trouble finding a nude that compliments your skin tone, then I'd definitely recommend checking out this particular shade. The consistency is a little runny so you do have to be careful when applying it, otherwise you do get streaks but the end results are well worth the effort.

 I bought the VoV nail polish while overseas, and I don't think it's a readily available brand in most countries. Nonetheless its a good basic gold nail polish to have because it compliments so many other colours, it's also very easy to work with and dries pretty fast. 

NOTD Holiday Nails

Hi everyone, 
I recently purchased a new nail polish kit from Chi Chi; I was just playing around with a few of the colours, and I randomly came up with this festive design.

Looking back I wish I would have done a silver accents rather than gold, that way I could have called it "Candy Canes and Silver" - a line from the song: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :) 

Happy Holidays!

Eye Makeup Tutorial: Mystic Blue Night

What I used:

Sleek Storm Palette

Blue Heaven Kajal

Maybelline Colossal Mascara

Models Own Angled Brush

Models Own Blending Brush  

1. Using an angled brush, dip the end into a gold eyeshadow and line the top lash line.

2. Using the same bush, pick up some light blue eyeshadow and create a line above the gold.

3. Continue the previous step using a slightly darker blue.

4. Next take a black eyeshadow- I used the standard matte black that comes in the Sleek Palettes and again create another line above the previous one.

Note: The width of the lines depends on your eye shape, ideally the black should be place somewhat near the crease.

5. Wing out each of the shadows slightly, and line your water line and tight line. 

6. If you want a less drastic look, then blend out and harsh edges to create a more subtle look.

Apply mascara and finish of your face makeup.

And this is the finished look... 

Thanks for reading :)

FOTD: Glam Plum

A few days ago I sat down to film another video for my channel, unfortunately since i'm still new to the  whole filming set up/lighting thing the final video wasn't something I wanted to put out there. Its a shame because I was actually really proud of the look I created. I took a few photos at the end which I didn't want to go to waste, so I thought an FOTD (Face of the day) would be a good idea for this weeks post. 

What I used:

Foundation: MyFace Foundation (Mixed with Olay Beauty Fluid) (Full Review)

Concealer: Sleek "Hide It" concealer with MyFace Concealer over the top 

Cheeks: Sleek Contour Kit, Light

Eyes: MUA Primer (Review coming shortly)

Eyeshadow: Maybelline Eye Studio EyeShadow Quad (Full Review)

Estee Lauder Pure Colour EyeShadow, 26 Iridescent Violet

Estee Lauder Pure Colour EyeShadow, 09 Amethyst Spark 

Eyeliner: Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner, 01 Black

17 Soft Liner, Soft Jet

Barry M Intense Black Eyeliner Pen

Mascara: Maybelline Volume Express Colossal Waterproof Mascara, Glam Black

Lips: Estee Lauder Kissable LipShine, 02 Maui Kiss

Let me know what you think, thanks for reading :)

NOTD: Rudolph Red Nails

Hi everyone :)

Like a lot of people out there, one of my favourite times of year is Christmas (the other favourite being summer), and one of my all time favourite Christmas traditions is sitting in the living room next to the warm fireplace watching movies, however this year is slightly different. "The reason for this?" you may ask, well this is the first Christmas that I'm actually going to remember spending in a tropical climate. Its almost as if I've hit the double whammy- Christmas and summer at the same time. I feel like I should be pleased about this but in all honesty I'm not- if only I could be transported back to cold, rainy London, bundle up in 5 woolly jumpers, a thick coat, a scarf and a 3 pairs of gloves all the while appreciating the amazing city I grew up in.

At this point you may be thinking, "What does this have to do with nail polish?" Well... while I was reminiscing about all of this last night, I was playing around with my nail polish and came up with a really fun and easy nail design I though would be perfect for Christmas. 

Nail polishes I used:

W7 (white tips): Rudolph's eyeballs

Nails inc. "Hampstead Heath": Rudolph's nose (Index and ring finger)

VOV (Gold): (Thumb, middle and little finger)

Miners Extreme Nail Colour "Granite": Rudolph's antlers and eyes 

Barry M NP310 "Mushroom": Rudolph's face and ears. 

Hope you all enjoyed this little post, let me know what you think in the comments :)

Happy Holidays!

Eyestudio Diamond Glow Quad Review

Hi everyone :)

today I wanted to do a really quick review on something that I've been really enjoying recently. I've had the Maybelline quad in coral drama in my collection for some time now however since spring has just started were I live, I've recently started using it again. 

(Flash)

(No Flash)

The quad contains a shimmery vanilla highlight, a sort of golden peach lid colour, a gorgeous coral shadow and a golden chocolate brown shade. 

(Flash)

No Flash

I'm pleased to say that all the eyeshadows are fairly pigmented- the coral and brown shadow more so that the other two.

They also have a lovely soft texture and are very easy to blend to create a beautiful everyday look. 

My only criticism is with the two lighter shades. The highlight is way to shimmery for my liking. I personally prefer matte highlights so of course I wasn't going to like this one; but I guess this is all down to personal preference. I also found that the lid colour doesn't go on evenly which is really frustrating because It's so pretty (maybe I have a defective pallet?)

Although I've had problems with the highlight and lid shadows, I'm glad I brought this quad. The coral and brown eyeshadows are super pretty and I love the overall look this quad creates. A definite staple in my spring makeup must haves. 

Collective Haul

So a few weeks ago I did some much needed retail therapy and found some gems. Watch my Haul below...

Top: $20 From Temp
Skirt: $7.48 From Target (original price unknown)

Cardigan: $9.48 From Target (Original price unknown)
__________________________________

Paired with:
White Vest: £2.50 Primark
Jeggings: £12.50 TU Sainsburys

Dress: $15 From MYER
(Original Price $89.95)
___________________________________

Paired with:
(Belt: £2.50 Primark
Shoes: £9.00 Marks And Spencer (Original pice £15)

$10 From MYER
(Original Price: $69.95)
___________________________________

Paired with:
Shoes: (Same as above)

Lace detail on back- carries on to shoulders.

Shoes: $49.50 From MYER
(Brought on promotional day usual price $89.95)

Bag: $15 From MYER (Original price $29.95)

Perfume Collection Part 1

Davidoff Cool Water Wave Eau De Toilette

Description:

"Davidoff Cool Water Wave fragrance is a surge of fresh, compelling sensuality. Luscious fruits sparkle in the top notes: the worldly pleasure of ripe, glistening Watermelon splashed into a shaker of exotic Mango, tangy Passion Fruit, and engaging Guava. At heart a feminine floral, Davidoff Cool Water Wave picks up the pace with Pink Peppercorn's sweetness and spice. Its centre lightens the breezes with blossoms of Freesia and Peony. Stirring undercurrents mingle Sandalwood and Iris Wood; Amber accord and Musk intensity cascade into a soft and sensual wave of pleasure."

My Thoughts: 

This is one of my favourite scents to wear during the day time especially during the spring and summer months. I personally find it difficult to identify the fruity elements of this fragrance, when I smell this only two words come to mind: Beautifully Fresh. The only negative thing I can say about this is that due to it being an eau de toilette, it doesn't last for very long. Despite this, the scent is very beautiful and very affordable to- you can usually purchase 30ml for around £20 (Boots often have special offers on their fragrances so you can get it for even less-it's currently £10.27)

Jennifer Lopez Live Eau De Parfum

Description:

"Live Jennifer Lopez is an upbeat fruity, floral fragrance with addictive appeal. The energetic top notes vibrate with Sicilian lemon and vivacious Italian orange, plus a brightly original note of juicy Pineapple. Lush fruity Redcurrant sweeps the heart into a pulsing rhythm, backed by heady Peony and piquant Violet. Sensual wafts of Caramel interweave with warm, golden Tonka Beans and earthy Sandalwood for a delicious finale."

My Thoughts:

To me this scent is definitely more fruity then floral, and although I'm not really into fruity scents, I do find myself reaching for this more than I thought I would. The really strange thing I find with this perfume is that I'm more drawn to the scent after it's settled as a pose to when it's freshly spritzed (I currently have a scarf which has had this perfume lingering in it for weeks and I cannot stop smelling it whenever I wear it). At first, the scent of pineapple comes through quiet strong, which kind of makes my mouth water, and then after it's had time to settle the other notes start to come through, creating a great symphony of smell. I also think that the bottle's really pretty, a bit superficial but I have quiet the obsession with perfume bottles. It's slightly more expensive than the previous fragrance (Davidoff Cool Water Wave) at  around £22 but still affordable compared to other high end fragrances on the market. Overall, if you like fruity scents then this is defiantly one to check out, and even if your not I'd still recommend giving this a sniff the next time you see it. 

MY TOP PICK

Dior Pure Poison Eau De Parfum

Description:

"Pure Poison incarnates seduction in its purest state by exploring its duality and irresistible alchemy. Based on orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia, amber and sandalwood, this delicate yet generous modern potion reveals the seductress within. Grown in southern Italy, the essence of bergamot is obtained by cold expression of peel. It brings a distinct, sweet freshness to fragrances and adds a special radiance to citrus notes.The flowers of the bitter orange tree are extracted to obtain orange blossom absolute. The essence of the Neroli flower is obtained by distillation. Often used in oriental-scented fragrances, orange blossom also emphasizes certain fruity notes in floral fragrances. Its opulence features as the heart note of Pure Poison.White musk is made synthetically, giving fragrances their clean-smelling, skin-like scent. It is the quintessential base note, revealing its accords with Pure Poison Eau de Perfum."

My Thoughts:

Firstly, this has to be hands down one of my favourite fragrances of all time (although this doesn't technically belong to me- it's my mum's ❤ but she's happy to share) when ever I catch a whiff of this perfume I immediately feel like I've died and gone to heaven... seriously it's true. For me this is the ultimate night time floral scent (although there's obviously no crime against wearing it during the day.) The floral elements come through quiet strong but with what I can only describe as a 'sedative' twist. There really is no bad word to be said about this perfume, although the price may put people off- £46 for 30ml, but I personally believe that it's worth every penny. If you haven't tried this perfume I would definitely urge you to check it out, I'm sure you wont be left disappointed.

Kate Moss Eau De Toilette

Description:

"Kate Moss fragrance is feminine, sophisticated, wild and unforgettable. A mix of elegant and risqué, it is a true to life portrait of Kate Moss. Feminine forget-me-not is spiced with pink peppercorns and suffused with voluptuous orange blossom absolute. Glamour and beauty are evoked with a heady, floral mix of lily of the valley, heliotrope, magnolia, peony and rose petals. The exquisite, sensual warmth and the strength of an independent spirit haunt the wearer in a whirl of patchouli, sandalwood, musk, vetiver and ambrette seed. Kate seduces the senses, it is the ultra feminine, quietly sexy, self-assured essence of a woman who has entranced the world."

My Thoughts

For me, the original description of this perfume says it all. From the first sniff you can defiantly tell that it's a very feminine, sophisticated fragrance and the floral mix comes through quiet strong which I really like. I have to admit, although I like the scent, I don't wear it a lot, or at lease not a lot on those days that I want to smell extra nice (you know, for that special someone*wink**wink*). I tend to use it more as as everyday scent - which it great since it's only around £19.95 for 30ml. 

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Although my perfume collection goes beyond these four, I think I'll leave it here for now. I'll be doing a part 2 shortly so if your interested in reading that then stay tuned :)

Description from Boots.com

My Thoughts written by myself

Pink Rocker

Hi everyone :)

This is my attempt at a dramatic girly makeup look that I created a few months ago. It's extremely bold and not very wearable for a normal day. However I think it would be a beautiful, unique party look. So I hope you all like the look.

Start off by applying your foundation and concealer (I used my usual Revlon Colourstay foundation/concealer)

Apply a base/ or primer onto your eyelids, this will help the colours pop.

Use a flat eyeshadow brush and apply a bright pink matte eyeshadow onto your entire eye lid, extend it into the crease and take some onto your lower lash line. 

Using another flat eyeshadow brush, take Barry M's dazzle dust in 44 Bronze and pat it around the edge of the pink eyeshadow, Blend the two colours together ever so slightly

Using a blending brush, apply a black eyeshadow into the outer "v", again blend the black into the pink.

  Line your waterline and tight line with a black eyeliner, I used Blue Heaven Kajal. Go on to line your top lash line with a black liquid eyeliner (You can also use a felt tip or gel liner, basically anything that will create a solid black line), I used the Beauty UK liquid liner (I hate this product but I don't have the heart to throw it away without using it up). Finally for the eyes, put on your false lashes, I used the false lashes from Wilkinsons- they were only £1 :)

Next apply a pink toned blush onto the apples of your cheeks.

Finally, apply a pink toned lipstick, I used Barry M's lip paint in 145 Punky Pink 

And your done :)