Neon Dots

It's so cold and rainy here at the moment, I can't wait for summer to come back and have some sun. I thought a nice bright nail would cheer me up. I've had this neon pink polish for a while now its one by Sinful Colors, it's called 24/7 (link). I just walked past it and couldn't resist picking it up. I decided I didn't want it as the only colour as it can be quite bright and in your face on it's own so I decided to pair it with this lovely nude colour by Barry M, this particular shade is called Vanilla (link). Its part of there matte collection so it doesn't really have a shine or the gloss of a normal polish. I'm not sure how to describe this colour but it's a greyish beige kind of shade. I think it contrast really well with the neon pink and it's a great base shade that works with a lot of colours. I just used a dotting tool to apply medium size dots at the base of my nails, dotting tools are pretty cheap but if you don't have one handy you could use a cocktail stick or a fine brush. My dotting tool was part of a set from Topshop (link).

Favourite Concealer

I don't think you know whether something is really a true favourite until you run out of it and miss it. That's how I feel about this concealer, Maybelline Instant Anti Age The Eraser Eye. I know I don't need it for the anti aging reasons but it just applies so nicely and blends effortlessly. It also has really good coverage and I've found it's really good for blemishes as well as under the eye. I have the shade light which is perfect for my skin tone and works well whether I have fake tanned or not. My only grumble is that I've only found it in two shades in the UK which means it isn't going to be suitable for many skin tones. It is great concealer for fair to medium skin tones though.

I originally tried this concealer when I got sent one at work, I had seen lots of good reviews about it but wasn't sure whether to try it as I wasn't completely sold on the sponge applicator. I couldn't see how it would be that hygienic. I have read somewhere though that it has some kind of anti bacterial technology in it though, not sure if that's true. When I first tried it though I completely changed my mind as the concealer itself is one of the best I've tried. I finally used the last of mine yesterday and had to go and buy another one today. If you saw the packaging you would be able to see it was well loved! At the moment they are buy 1 get 2nd half price in Boots and Superdrug, its here on the Superdrug website but currently sold out and I can't find it on Boots website again. If your looking for a new concealer to try I would definitely recommend this one. What are your favourite concealers?

Navy Eyes and a Bright Lip

Thought I'd share with you a quick make up look. I always think even when your in a rush you can look like you've spent ages doing your make up just by wearing a bright lipstick. It means you don't really have to worry about the rest of your make up because it draws everyone's attention to your lips and if you choose the right shade for you it will make your skin glow, meaning you don't need to worry about perfectly blending that full coverage foundation.

I chose Jouer luminizing moisture tint in pearl (link) as my base. Its really easy to apply with your fingers so you don't need to use a foundation brush, really quick and easy. If you have oily/combination skin you might want to powder slightly to stop you looking to shiny. You can also add a bit of bronzer or blush to brighten up your skin if you like.

On my eyes I've used Maybelline Big Eyes light catching palette in luminous turquoise (I can't find these  anywhere online but you should be able to find them in Boots). These little palettes are great as they have a light reflecting primer in the middle. You can use this under your shadow, on its own and also as a high light. There also really pretty colours and can create so many looks with them but they always look very soft and gentle on the eye. I used the pink all over the lid, the grey in the crease and the blue just in the outer corner. I then used a little bit of navy eyeliner to define my top lash line. I used Soap and Glory Smoulder Khol in Blue My Mind (link). These eyeliners are my go to at the moment there so soft and creamy, easy to work with and last all day. There really good if your not good at getting a steady line like me as you can drawer it on roughly where you want it and then smudge it with your finger to create a smoky look. To finish I just put a couple of coats of mascara on, I'm using Maybelline Big Eyes mascara* (link) at the moment which I really like. It makes your lashes look really thick and full and doesn't clump at all. I like that it has the two brushes for upper and lower lashes, although sometimes I forget to swap the brushes and just use the top lash one for both!

Finally I slick on a coat of lipstick, the L'Oreal Caresse Lipsticks (link) are great, you get a really good colour pay off but they are sheer and have a nice glossy finish to them. This means you don't need to worry about applying it really precisely like other bold lipsticks and it looks a lot softer on the lips. They're a good option if you don't want a really bold lipstick or you want something a little softer for the day time. I'm wearing a pinky red shade called Aphrodite Scarlet.

*this was a sample given to me at work.

Evening Skincare Routine

There's nothing better than taking off all your make-up at the end of the day and just letting your skin breathe. These are the products that I'm currently using, they are definitely not the most glamorous products around my bathroom sink but they do a good job and suit my skin.

The first product I use is Coconut Oil this one is from Holland and Barrett, I can't find it on the website but this is a similar one here (link). I originally bought this to use as a hair mask but one night I thought I'd try using it to take off all my make-up and its amazing. I just scoop a little bit out and let it melt into an oil in my hands and massage it into my face. Then I use a flannel and warm water to take it off. You can use this to take your eye make up and its by far the best I've found at doing that. It just melts everything away and makes your skin feel clean without drying it out. I've tried many cleansing balms before, I love the feel of them on my skin but most of them break me out. Coconut Oil has almost done the opposite and has done a great job of clearing up my skin so I will continue to use it as my daily evening cleanser.

After cleansing I like to use a toner. At the moment I am using this toning lotion from Clarins which I really like (link). I just use this to take away any left over cleanser before I moisturise. I haven't been using this one long but its very refreshing on the skin and if your skin feels tight after cleansing this just takes that feeling away.

I've been using Clarins Gentle day cream (link), its great for sensitive skin. It takes away any redness and helps to sooth irritated skin. This is the moisturiser I tend to use on a regular basis. If my skin is particularly bad I use this Dr.Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream (link). This is really good at repairing your skin and help soothe irritated skin. It's particularly good if you've had a reaction to other cleansers and creams, its clears you skin up super quickly.

Just before bed I like to use a lip balm so I wake up with super soft lips. I switch up lip balm to what ever I have handy but at the moment I'm using this Jason Aloe and Beeswax lip balm which has a minty scent and kind of exfoliates your lips slightly. And to make me feel sleepy I use a bit of this Works deep sleep stress less (link) on my temples. Its just smells so relaxing its really good at making you feel calm.

Orange Lips

Orange lips keep popping up and orange always makes a good alternative to the classic red if you want something a little fresher. So I thought I would share with you some that I own.

Tutti Frutti (link) is a nice orange if you like a decent amount of colour but with out it being like your wearing bright orange lipstick. Its a nice formula to wear as its moisturising and leaves a nice sheen on the lips. It's a great option for an everyday lipstick.

This Avon Color Trend Lipstix (link) is a great if you want to try the trend out but you don't want to spend a lot of money. It has a pink undertone to it so it's really wearable. Its long lasting and it smells like sweets which I really like.

Sleek Pout Paint (link) is definitely the most orange lipstick I have. This one is like a liquid so its easy to apply with a lip brush or a cotton bud. It has a very glossy finish and you can build it up to however intense you want the colour. Pout paints are also great for mixing with other lipsticks so you could mix it with a different shade to change the intensity.

Mac Morange (link) has got to be the cult orange lipstick I think every beauty lover owns this. Its not as orange as I thought it would be, to me its quite a red orange so it makes it more wearable. Its very bright though so its not for the faint hearted.

This Bourjois lip crayon (link) is really good for an everyday option. It just adds a sheer amount of colour and has a glossy finish. Its one of those lip products that is amazing for your hand bag because you can just apply it without a mirror and not have to worry about getting it all over your face.

No7 High Shine Lipgloss (link) looks so bright in the tube. It's a very bright coral colour and looks a bit scary but when applied to the lips you get this really pretty wash of colour. I think this one is great for people how like the look of bright colours but not sure about how to wear them.

This Rimmel (link) lipstick is so lovely. Its a pinky orange colour with a gold shimmer running through it. It looks gorgeous on fair skin as well as a golden tan and is great for those spring and summer months.

 

This Lip Lustre (link) is the perfect accompniment to the Rimmel Coral in Gold its another pinky orange with gold running through it but much sheerer on the lips. Its also really long lasting so great when you don't want to be touching up your make up through out the day.

Haul #1

I've done lots of shopping this week so I thought I would share with you what I've brought. I've had a week off work so I've had plenty of little trips planned. I've been to see my lovely cousin Zoe, who I haven't seen properly in ages. We always manage to do lots of shopping when we are together and this time was no exception. We also went for a lovely lunch at the Harvester which always brings memories back for us two and a shopping trip is never complete with out a coffee or two! I've also seen my friend Abi who I used to work with, we went for a yummy lunch at the Slug and Lettuce and then a wander around the shops. She's also given me some good ideas for some DIY, more creative posts so you'll have to out for those. Anyway on to the shopping.

I haven't been for a proper shop for ages, I did go early January with my family but it was so busy you just couldn't look at anything. Although it's a bit late now for sale shopping I did pick up quite a few bargains.

Firstly I went to Topshop where I picked up a lovely deep green belt with dark silver buckle for only £3 which I thought was a total bargain and a gold glitter dust eyeshadow that was also in the sale I thought would be good for some make up looks I want to try out. I can't find either of these online but you might still be able to find them in your local store.

I also went to Urban Outfitters and found this adorable phone case which I couldn't resist and also found this clear perspex box which sounds pretty boring. But in the lid its filled with a baby pink iridescent glitter and you can put a photo in, which I thought was quite sweet. Not sure what picture to put in it yet but I thought it would look nice on my drawers and I can store my most used things in it. Plus it was buy one get on free on all of there sale stock so I picked both of these up for a fiver!

Zara had massive reductions on a lot of there stock and I picked up a couple of t-shirts for only £3.99 I found this faded Leopard print one with simply No 1 which I thought would look nice with Jeans or leggings and this thin sweater like top with says Bonjour in silver writing.

I quickly popped into Primark to see what they had. There wasn't much that caught my eye except a fluffy jumper which has a high neck and is cropped with sleeves that finish just above the elbow. I thought this would be great to pair with patterned trousers or high waisted jeans. I picked up the black version as it was a safe option but there was also a pretty pale lilac colour one I quite liked so I may have to go back to pick that one up.

And for the beauty bits I went into Boots and picked up a Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tanning (link). I've wanted to try this for a while and lately I've got back into self tanning but I wanted something I could use on my face so I thought I'd give it a go. I also picked up a Benefit Watt's Up highlighter (link) which I've also wanted to try for a while but I've just never picked it up. Finally I went to Debenhams. I've wanted to try some Mac eyeshadows for a while I've just never really had a proper look on one of there counters but I finally picked up two Coppering which is like a burnt orange colour and Beauty Marked (link) which is a black shadow with a red shimmer to it. So I'm now the owner of two Mac eyeshadows!

Glossybox Review

I love getting parcels and knowing you're going to get one every month with lots of surprise beauty products is great! I've been getting Glossy Boxes for about a year now and although not every box is great some of them are fantastic and I've loved every product in them. This one was a bit average.

The first thing in the box was the Yu-Be moisturising skin cream (link), which is probably the thing I wanted to try the most. I got two small tubes to try and I actually really liked this, its a multi-purpose cream which is very moisturising you can use it a a general moisturiser, a lip balm, just on very dry skin like knees and elbows and what ever else you fancy it for. I've tried it as a lip balm when my lips are really dry and that worked really well and also as a face cream which has cleared up any very dry patches really well, although I wouldn't use it on my face all the time as it can make your skin very shiny, greasy looking which isn't really a good look. If your looking for a new multi purpose cream I would recommend you trying this one.

The next thing I got was the balance Me super toning body wash (link), I haven't opened this bottle yet but I've tried this before I think I got it in a magazine. I do like it from what I remember but its just not one of those things I would buy, I normally just get whatever body wash is on offer when I go to the shops, which tends to be something like Soap and Glory or Sanctuary. I like to be able to buy shower gel when I just nip into town, it's not one of those products that I'm going to track down and buy online. The little bottles are handy though so I'll probably just save this for when I'm travelling or something.

Tweezers are something that are always handy to have, my favorite ones are always going missing, so until they magically reappear another pair are always good to have. These ones from the vintage cosmetic company (link) are sweet I like the ditzy floral design. They are alright tweezers but there not brilliant but they get the job done.

These were a good thing to find in the box, I would not normally buy this kind of thing if I saw them in a shop. I've seen quite a few of these under eye masks floating around lately and they look quite interesting. I think they are more of a novelty more than anything as you can get the same effect from cotton pads soaked in cold water or ice cubes wrapped in tissue. I love the packaging for anatomicals (link) products they're simple but definitely grab your attention. These Puffy the eye bag slayer, wake-up under eye patches felt nice to put on and they definitely refreshed the skin and made you feel a little bit more awake, they're basically like rubbery patches which have been shaped to fit comfortably under the eye and you just take them off the tray and place them under your eyes and they just stick there until you peel them off. It says to leave them on for 30 minutes so I don't think its one of those things you can do on a regular basis but after a late Saturday night they're quite nice to use on a Sunday morning when all you want to do is lazy about and have a bit of a pamper.

Finally, the last thing in the box was this Vaseline Essential Moisture body lotion (link). Its quite a nice size for travelling but definitely not something I expected in a glossy box. Its nice but nothing special. I just prefer brands that I probably wouldn't really try unless its a sample or things that are a bit more on the pricey side so you can try before you buy sort of thing. I probably won't use this much as I can be quite fussy with my moisturisers and prefer something a bit more luxurious if I do use a moisturiser.

Overall this box was a bit boring there is nothing which really wowed me, it was a back to basics box though which is probably why the products were so simple, I just prefer to try something that's a bit more exciting. If you want to check out GlossyBox for yourself the link is here and if you've tried any beauty boxes let me know what you think.

Mermaid Tears

I've had this Models Own - Mermaid Tears polish for a while now (link), but haven't really worn it much. I don't know why because it is so pretty.

You can apply it over so many different colour nail polish's, and it looks different over all of them. I decided to wear it with just a black polish this time, I used a Nails Inc one which I got free with Glamour Magazine a couple of months ago. Then I layered a couple of coats of Mermaid Tears over the top. I think it looks great with the black as its such a good contrast, but it also looks really pretty over similar colours. This one looks lovely over lilacs and blues, or even white. It just adds an interesting twist to any colour.

Left to right: Rimmel 60 Seconds - Mary Mary Quite Contrary, Barry M - Blueberry and Rimmel 60 Seconds - Silver Bullet

Baby Skin

One of the perks of my job is that occasionally I get sent new make up products to try, this week I was lucky enough to get a nice little package form Maybelline with a few of their new products for 2014 to try.

Baby Skin was one of those products I wasn't sure about trying. I've just never really got into primers I don't really notice the difference to whether I'm wearing one or not. So I'm really glad I got sent one to try.

Baby Skin is a silicone based primer which claims to instantly erase pores, you can wear it on its own or under foundation. I wear foundation or BB cream all the time so I wouldn't be able to tell you how it wears on its own, but its sits quite nicely under foundation.

I apply it with my fingers but you could use a foundation brush if you prefer and smooth it all over starting in the center of my face and blending out. It does make skin feel very smooth and helps your foundation to glide over easily, I've also found it doesn't feel greasy like I have found with other silicone based primers. Although I don't have greasy skin I did find that it slightly mattified my skin, so maybe this would be a bonus for combination to oily skin. 

Here I'm wearing Baby Skin, with Maybelline Superstay Foundation and Baby Lips in Fruit Punch.

My make up stayed on nicely through out the day and I didn't feel the need to touch up my make up through out the day, I can't say whether it prolonged my make up for longer than normal though because I didn't really see that much of a difference. 

I do like Baby Skin and will definitely use it more often but I'm not sure if I like it enough to go out and buy it though. 

Top 5 Fragrances

I'm not going to lie, I have a pretty large collection of fragrance. It was so hard to narrow it down and maybe in the future I might do a fragrance collection post in full, but in the end I decided these were my top 5 fragrances of the moment. I think they all fit quite nicely into 5 little catergories, so I'll just get started.

Signature Scent - L'eau de Chloe (link)

Chloe has got to be my all time favourite fragrance, the original was the first proper fragrance I received as a gift (I think it was my 17th birthday) and I was completely obsessed. I still love the original but there's just something about L'eau de Chloe that just smells so darn good. Its a much more clean, fresh smelling fragrance than the original and is classed as a chypre-floral. It just reminds me of a sunny spring day when you know summer is coming and makes me smile every time I smell it. If you get the chance I'd definitely recommend giving it a sniff as well as the other Chloe perfumes as they're all amazing.

Evening Scent - Yves Saint Laurent Belle D'Opium* (link)

To me this is the perfect perfume for the evening, I love to wear it when I go out. It just makes you feel so grown up and sexy. It's nothing like the original Opium, which I'm not really to keen on it's just to heavy for me. Belle D'Opium is a woody oriental and has kind of smokey smell to it, which it gives that really warm, comforting feeling. It's kind of fruity as well which livens it up. I love the bottle as well its so unusual and unique.

Fun Fragrance - Vivienne Westwood Naughty Alice (link)

This fragrance is nothing like what I would normally choose. I think it's the name that made me pick it up to smell and I just fell in love with it. It really does have that playful, naughty (but in a good way!) smell to it and something I could imagine the girls at St Trinians or somewhere wearing. Its quite a sweet musky smell, which I normally wouldn't go for but this one I really like. It comes in a really sweet bottle and comes with a gold bracelet with the Vivienne Westwood charm on, which I managed to mislay before taking the photos!

Prettiest Packaging - Stella by Stella McCartney (link)

The bottle for this perfume is just beautiful, unfortunately though I don't think this particular design is still available as it was limited addition. But the perfume is just as lovely and they are always bringing out new limited edition bottles and of course there is still the original design. This perfume is like summer in a bottle, it is definitely a rose scented fragrance but it's quite citrus at the same time making it stand out from all the other rosy perfumes. It is quite strong so I don't wear it all the time but when I do decide to wear it I always remember how good it is.

The Classic - Chanel Chance* (link)

I don't think any perfume collection is complete with out a little bit of Chanel. This is my favourite Chanel at the moment, Chance. It's a light fresh scent but it has amazing staying power. It just smells so luxurious without the heaviness other luxury fragrance's have. The bottle is very simple but elegant and actually signifies a wheel of fortune as in french Chance means Luck!

*these were samples given to me at work

Miss Manga

I've been using this L'oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume mascara* (link) for a couple of weeks and I quite like it. It really does make your lashes look big and voluminous. It applies really nicely although the first few times I used it I had to wipe the brush a bit so it didn't go on clumpy, but I have no problems now. Its really long wearing and doesn't smudge even whilst wearing all day. Even walking to work in the wind and rain it didn't budge! It also comes off really easily with eye make up remover as I know some mascaras can be a bit of a nightmare to get off at the end of the day. If your searching for a new mascara I would recommend trying this one, and at £8.99 I think its a great price too.

I've applied mascara just on one eye so you can see the difference, and although its not a lengthening mascara it doesn't do to bad at that either. 

I felt like this post needed a bit of creativity so I attempted my very own manga eyes. Sometimes its fun just to play around with make up and create something you would never wear out the house unless it was for fancy dress!

*this was a sample given to me at work.

Ocean Eyes

For this make up look I did my base make up like normal - foundation, concealer and a bit of bronzer. I used Calvin Klein Summer Affair Bronzer in Sun Dance which I picked up from Fragrancedirect.com (Link). It has a subtle shimmer to it and smells like chocolate like the Bourjois bronzers. 

For my eyes I applied a little bit of my Bronzer in the crease to add a bit of warmth and definition, and then used a bright blue eyeshadow just on the eyelid. I used Peace from the Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow box, I'm not sure if you can still get this so you can use any blue you like. This one has a nice sheen to it which I like on my eyes but you could use a matte colour if you prefer. I then applied a little bit of Ransom (a royal blue/purple) through the crease to add a bit of depth but if you like more of a block colour you can skip this. Finally I applied lots of mascara to my top lashes and finished with a natural gloss on my lips. I used Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02 (link), which is one of my favourite lip glosses.

You can also switch the eyeshadow to your favourite colour, this look also looks great with green or purple shadow or whatever you prefer.