And The Lip Pencil Obsession Continues- Nars Satin Lip Pencil

I had a spare 5 minutes before my hair appointment yesterday and somehow stumbled into spaceNK that was just round the corner.

I have been loving my Revlon lip pencils and thought I would see how the much raved Nars lip pencils compared .

I usually go matte but many of the colours I wanted were sold out and so  then I was instantly drawn to a shade Luxembourg in the satin finish. Its a cool toned reddy/pink shade , not glossy but not matte either .
I put it on straight away , it was so smooth to apply and the colour was vibrant from the get go .  Its a little smaller in size so really easy to apply in the inner corners.   It also had no minty taste or smell which I prefer over the Revlon .

It wears really well and had so many compliments so at £17.50 I think its worth the almost £10 more than my Revlon pencils. However they are a great cheaper alternative .

My new  favourite in town is Nars.  

Best and Worst from the Grammys 2014

Becoming a little obsessed with award season favourites , and to be honest I don't really care who wins the awards, I just love to look at what they are wearing and how they have their hair and makeup done .

Here is a selection of my favourite looks from last nights Grammys . Beyoncé looks just utterly stunning  in this cream lace embroidered gown and classic red lip .

Taylor swift ditching her usual red lip for something softer but still beautiful . Rita Ora surprised me looking a little more demure but had quite a nice pop of colour on the eyes using purple. And not to forget the men Macklemore I thought looking rather dapper in velvet. 

And now to my not so favourites, Pharrell rocking some kinda mounty hat with Adidas track suit is questionable in my book . And although she is going with the music theme the ever controversial Katy Perry in a musical note Valentino number . 

Who was your favourite from the Grammys ?

( images Getty images /Jordan Strauss) 

My Favourite Look From The NTA s

(Ian West /pa wire)

I stumbled across this picture of Fern Cotton looking absolutely amazing at last nights NTA s . And after looking at all the looks and some definate makeup no- no s ( flashback much??) on many a star , she was by far my favourite .

Her dress was by Marchesa, and her stunning makeup was by Justine Jenkins. Bronze smokey eyes , flawless red lip and bed head hair what a winning combination for her .

Who was your best/worst dressed ???

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer and Matte Balms

As a lover of the stick form lip pencils I was excited to try the new Revlon Matte balms, the first drugstore brand to release something like this , with no doubt others will follow .

I picked up 3 shades in the lacquer and 3 matte balms in shades 

Laquer -Left to right - Demure, Coquette, Vivasious  

Matte -Left to right  - Audacious, Elusive ,Showy 

You have no idea how hard it was to get those names as they are so teeny tiny on the sticker. 

I absolutely love the matte balms , they give a great colour payoff , feel really comfortable to wear and easy to apply , only wished I had picked up all the shades . 

The Laquers , their high shine counterpart I'm  not so much of a fan of, firstly the lighter shades have glitter in them which I just don't like , as it wears I'm left with glitter travelling towards the sides of my lips , however the darker shade  is lovely and doesn't seem to have the same glitterfest. The other thing I don't like is the strong minty scent to them , it's really quite overpowering .

I will be going to purchase the remaining shade of the matte balms , and can't wait to try some of the darker shades. 

I purchased these from Boots costing £7.99 

 

Laquers

Matte

Blowing Away The Cobwebs

My post christmas lazyness has still been lingering , with the weather been pretty rubbish I woke up this morning feeling a new start was needed and thankfully it was a much nicer day.  

So I dragged my husband and little one for a hike up Arthurs Seat , its an extinct volcano that sits in the centre of Edinburgh .

It was a beautiful walk with am  amazing  360 view right across the city . Never made it quite to the summit as the last little bit was too muddy to push a buggy up , but 2 hours later im feeling frereshed and invigorated.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Dior Trianon Spring Collection 2014

Royal beauty Marie - Antoinette and her private domain, the petit Trianon, inspire the Dior makeup creations of this season. Powdery shades and Fontanges bow, the atmosphere of Versailles and it's gardens flourishes beautifully.

Spring is my favourite time for makeup collections to come out , and Dior are always the one that draws me in year after year . I HAVE to have it all. The beautiful pastel shades and the luxurious packaging are always a winner for me . Just look at its beauty .....

I'm going to be one poor makeup artist this spring .

Seventeen Gel Colour Nail Varnish Review

Seventeen have been knocking out some great makeup recently , a particular favourite is the Phwoar paint concealer , so I always stop by the stand to have a look.

I was wanting a dark nail varnish , that's was nt black , or dark red and the colour Blue Lagoon caught my eye, somewhere between a royal and navy blue . It's in there gel polish range which I'm always dubious about but it was more the colour that appealed to me . 

I applied it as soon as I got home , it went on smoothly , 2 coats gave really good depth of colour and I liked the shape of the brush , it's quite stiff, flat and wide which I find really easy to paint with . 

It left a really glossy finish even without a topcoat which is why I suppose they called it a gel colour . The other  reason would be that it boasts an 8 day wear , this was not so much the case I had chips on several nails after a few hours , now I'm never the best with nail varnish it does chip a lot on me , but I would at least normally expect to get the day I paint them chip free.  I have tried it again a since and did the same . So a little disappointed I have to admit as I really like the colour . 

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Review

Picking this up earlier this week in Boots £7.99 , there was just this last one left on the display , eager to try and already proving to be popular I though I'd pick it up.

I like the packaging , a tube is always a winner for me as I can dispense exactly the amount I want . It's a  gel like texture with a silicone feel, which easily goes on the skin and leaves it feeling very smooth.  Places I have larger pores I patted a little to make sure the product was filling in . After I applied the primer it looked as though the pores were slightly more obvious , however once foundation is applied over it , it really does minimise the look of the pores very well.  And my favourite thing about it is that applying foundation was really made easy , it literally glided on, no rolling off of the product at all. 

It did increase the longevity of my foundation , however I'm not generally a primer wearer , unless a special occasion as it's an added step in the morning when I'm running out to do the school run , and have 2 minutes to put some makeup on . 

I am definately going to continue to use this as a day to day cheaper alternative to the similar Benefit Porefessional and Smashbox primer which I would normally turn to on the days  I wear primer . 

My Spring Wardrobe Wish List - Highstreet

After a little wander round the shops , I got to thinking what bits I'm needing for my spring wardrobe.

Firstly the last thing I need  is another coat , but I just adore this one - River Island light pink wool oversized coat £80  

Then some ripped eva cigarette jeans also from River island £40.

An oversized checked shirt from topshop £30, and a woven striped t shirt from next £22, for some casual weekend wear. 

Lastly some boots , again I own lots of pairs of boots but none quite like these - western pointed boots , Forever 21 £47.90.

 

What clothes have you been lusting  after , let me know x

The Best of the Golden Globes 2014 Makeup

There is always a lot of speculation on the best/worst dressed when it comes to award ceremonies like the Golden Globes. I do love the fashion but for me the first thing I notice is the makeup and hair . So I have a roundup of a few of my favourites. I love how there was a lot of nice fresh glowy skin, a soft smokey eye and nude lips ,it's always a winner . But a few Like Taylor and Zooey going for the red lip another classic.  But my favourite has to go to Emma Watson , I love her whole look , from the unusual styling of the outfit , with the beautiful effortless makeup and hair , she's simply gorgeous . 

Boots Haul

So my unofficial spending ban did not last long .
A little trip into Boots  this morning left me a little lighter on the pocket .

I passed the stand for Maybelline and there was just one little Instant Pore Eraser primer all on its lonesome just had to be taken , so much hype around this so a must for my curiosoty to try. It was buy 1 get 1 half price so the Eraser Eye concealer was mine , it would be rude not to, would nt it ?

Seventeen gel colour nail polish in shade blue lagoon also just managed to  jump into my basket  . I was wanting a dark blue  so ot was fine I let it stay . 
The 2 mascara s  I was in desperate need of  . My old one is probably 9 months old and well past the recommended 3 month  guide limit . Im very strict with my kit mascara s , but when it comes to my own - not so good. I usually buy  Loreal as I just much prefer them over most brands including high end . Its normally volume million I get , but opted for waterproof as I don't have one for those  days its needed. The other again Loreal is the false lash flutter in extra black. I had seen a review ober tje5 weekend on youtube so had to try for myself .

No doubt individual blog posts will follow,  so keep you eyes peeled .  

I Do Love A Statement Necklace

My 2 year long love affair with a statement necklace is becoming more like an obsession . With numerous necklaces of varying colours I wear one almost everyday .

It started because im insecure about my weight, and feeling a little Gok Wan I thought what better way to distract people eyes away from my bulging belly with something bold and sparkly around my neck .

My favourute combo is with a big wooly knit and pair of jeans . It just adds a bit of glamour to a pretty boring day to day outfit .
So I thought I would share with you some of my favourites,  most of these will now no longer  be in shops , and if I can remember how much they cost I will add that in too. I never really spend more than £20 , as it is  costume jewellery at the end of the day , but the best place I have to say is Primark . They are forever changing there stock and there is always loads to choose from .

This one was a present from hubbie, I believe it's from River Island £12

This is my all time favourite and just £8 from Primark . It has a fabric backing which makes it sit nicely against clothing . 

Another Primark favourite £8 

This one is from New Look, love this one with a plain white top .

This one was £12 from Topshop, it has had a run in with a toddler so a bit unravelled at the back but love it with a shirt , so you can't see it .

Another New Look item , this one I always get a comment in when I wear it . 

Do you like a statement necklace ? Have you spied a little gem I might like , let me know . 

Gatineau Activ Eclat Radience Enhansing Gommage

This Product from Gatineau has a long and fancy name but essentially is an exfoliater . A very nice one none the less . It uses AHA and enzymes to gently exfoliate,  vitamins A, E,C & F to energise the skin and a moisturising comlex to moisturise and sooth . 

If you don't like the grains in a typical exfoliator and something a little more gentle then this might be worth a try . Its a little strange to begin with as it comes out as this thick , sticky sparkly gel consistency which you massage into you skin . After a minute or 2 it transforms and liquifies into an oil. This is when you know it has done its job and you are ready to rinse it off.

My skin does feel amazing and soft after use , and dare I say it a little more radiant . I have been using this off and on for the last year , and the tube seems to last for ages . 

I bought this from QVC for £29 , its a bit of a guilty pleasure sitting watching the beauty channel , but I do think you can get some amazing deals from it too . Sky channel 648.

Murad Acne Complex 30 day trial - Results

So before you go any further it feel there should be a warning , what you are about to see is very close up pictures of me with no makeup , and it is NOT pretty ......

I purchased the Murad 30 day acne complex kit ( £39) at the beginning of December and have been using it every day since . 

It came with-

Clarifying Cleanser  60ml

Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel 30 ml 

Skin Perfecting Lotion 30ml 

Acne Spot Treatment 7.5 ml

And a pack of wipes .

The proces goes cleanse , treatment gel then lotion . The spot treatment can be added to any active areas up to 3 times a day , and the wipes as a quick fix now and again.

I felt there was more than enough products in each of the bottles except the Skin Perfecting Lotion which I had to use sparingly , and still ran out a few days before the 30 days . The others I still have a little left to carry on with.

I really liked the cleanser it foamed up with water and was really comfortable and almost padded like - a bit like a shaving gel that foams up and feels thicker . The treatment gel did sting a little every time I used it, as did the spot on treatment . However I kinda feel a bit strange saying that I liked it as I feel like it's doing something .  The lotion was fine , after the initial week of my skin becoming really dry it did balance off and the lotion worked at moisturising the skin.

I can't say in the 30 days my acne has improved by much, whether it's just my skin purging and bringing everything to the surface before it clears or not , I can't see much difference. 

Where it has really helped is in my skin texture, there has been a marked improvement on how smooth and better feeling it is .

I plan to carry on with this for another month to see if it will eventually clear my skin as the improvement  in the texture alone is worth it .

I do think I just need to be a little more patient to see the full extent , so here is hoping .

It is worth noting to avoid if you have sensitive skin .  

Favourite Products 2013

I know I am a bit late in the game with the best of posts , but been trying to set up my new camera (unsuccessfully I might add) and its so hard selecting just a few products. 2013 has been a busy year with trying so many different products and finding so many that I love to use. Some are ones I love personally for me , and a few are from my makeup kit that I love to use on my brides and models.

 

 

 

My favourite product to use on my hair is the Schwarrzkopf got2b beach Matt texturizing salt spray(£3.99)  that's a bit of a mouthful . But seeing as I have short hair I need something in it to give it a bIt of texture and volume . I'm not one for wax s to put on after , but I feel this before I blow dry just gives it that little bit if grit , texture and hold that I like.

 

The Diva session instant heat hod pod I got from Salon Services (40.99) , it's for heated rollers that you pop in one at a time and takes just 8 seconds to heat up. I use this for a vast majority of hair when I'm working in the studio making women up for their Boudoir photoshoots . It gives voluminous , big , sexy hair ideal for that situation . I also use it a lot on bridal hair for a soft curl . I like the quickness and size of it , making it really portable  for within my kit. You buy the pod separate to the rollers so you can customise how you want to use it . I'm sure there are 4 or 5 different sizes of rollers starting from pretty small to giant ones if your looking just for that bit of body and wave.

Nars Laguna bronzer (£26.00) is another of my go to products throughout the year , as you can see by hitting pan . That is something I very rarely do, I have usually gone on to the next product to try before even getting to that stage , so just shows how much I love it .  It's just a great all rounder for contour  and adding colour on most skin tones. Not completely Matt nor shimmery , goes on easily and blends well and not on the orange scale either . What's not to love?

 

 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer is my hairs savior , I am constantly changing my hair colour and years of bleaching really takes its toll , and this is the only thing that really helps . You use it before shampooing , apply to damp hair and leave it for 10 minutes before washing. Now and again I will put it in and leave it in overnight with a bit of cling film / shower cap over, not attractive in the slightest.  However it keeps it in great condition . 

These are a recent purchase of mine but already in love the YSL Vernis Levres(£23.50) -  lipstick, stain and gloss in one. Really lovely to wear and the gloss stays on for hours . There is a big range of colours to choose from , ideal for my bridal clients that need something long lasting .

Avon supershock gel liner (varies in price every time I buy it ) is my favourite eyeliner pencil particularly when I am lining the waterline , it has a great creamy consistency and goes on like a dream , the colour stays put better than most too. 

 

 

I always knew this was an amazing product as I used it when I trained , I just never got round to purchasing it for some reason. I did this year and like the dinky little bottles I can get which is great for  travelling in my kit . Never really get my head round how something that looks like water can remove even the most stubborn makeup but it works. My only gripe is that there is nowhere I can just nip in and buy it , I have to order online . 

 

Mac eyeshadow s are my absoloute favourite, I have 3 of these palettes and have been a long time in the making . Such a huge variety of colours , with great pigment payoff, virtually no fallout which is my biggest bugbear . I also love that I an build my own custom palettes , I have a light , dark and brights .I use these on 99% of all clients 

 

What products have you been loving in 2013   Let me know ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boujois Paris Color Boost Lip Crayon

I picked these up in Boots the other week when I was looking for a lipstick for a party I was going to , I wanted something a little darker than my usual red and fancied a plum or maroon shade. 

I picked shades Red Island and Plum Russian and it was plum shade I wore out. 

I'm usually go bold or go home when I do decide to wear lipstick but these are a much softer option, you can draw on a light layer to keep the colour subtle or built it up with a few swipes , which is what I did. 

They are really nice to wear , not sticky or tacky , just really soft and comfortable. It does boast 10 hr wear which I would nt agree with however. I did get a good few hours of it looking great and then it wears off and leaves a stain on the lips , which I'm sure is nice with the paler colours but did nt look great on the darker ones.

All in all I like the product , I don't think it's anything particularly special compared any other drugstore brand that has lip crayons out . I have tried a few Revlon ones in a coral and pink shade and they are pretty comparable. I do like lip crayon s in general , they are just so portable and easy to apply , especially when your on the go. 

These are £7.99 each , however I got mine when boots had 3 for 2 on all cosmetics , which they do run pretty often . 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year all. Hope you had a fab time celebrating , I stayed in as hubby was working so me and the kids had a few nibbles and sat up and watched some films all cuddled in . It was a perfect night with my favorite little people . 

As always aspirations are big for 2014 , not making resolutions as such , but getting my things organised is always a good way to start the new year , so a clear out and a big sort out are in the card in the next few weeks .

I have had an amazing year in terms of business in 2013 and can finally see my little makeup world taking off . I managed to see lots of my work published online and in print , and a particular highlight was working for OK magazine . I have also had the pleasure of meeting and making up lots of brides for their wedding day , it is my favourite prt of my job to do , and pinch myself everyday that I get to do this as a job . 

I'm really hoping since changing blogging platform last month to really develop and grow my blog and in particularly photography which is never a strong point of mine, but I have recently bought a decent camera and lessons on how to use it , so fingers crossed the quality will improve . 

Bring it on 2014 ... I'm ready for you .