Bobble Hat & Smokey Eyes

So, I thought i'd start this post with a little apology. I have been somewhat MIA, and although this may have been a slight annoyance for you lovely lot (or not, depending on how much you like to read my blog..haha) but it has been a positive time away for me. A battery re-charge shall we say! After my last post on "Just saying YES", I took my own advice and started doing lot's more things. Things i'd always been a bit scared to do, meeting up with old friends, making new ones and banishing my anxiety, as it had got quite bad. I also had somewhat of a mental block on the blogpost front. You know sometimes when you sit with a blank page/screen and you just don't know what to write? Yeh, that. FEAR NOT though, I have returned, with a much brighter outlook on life and feeling much more positive about certain aspects of my life. I was also extremely overwhelmed by the HUGE positive response I received from THIS blogpost. That is the whole reason I love blogging, being able to reach out to lot's of people and help in some way, even if it's just a teeny bit. 

So, whilst away from my laptop, I started to get into the habit of doing my makeup a bit more. Feeling a bit "meh" in general, meant I stopped doing creative things with my makeup or even making the effort to do it most days. However, I have started spending more time on it, and I found my beloved "Mekong" eyeshadow by NARS in the back of my makeup draw, and since then I have been having a full on love-affair with it. I have been applying it all over the lid and smoking it out with a blending brush, then applying my eyeliner for a more edgy, smokey look. I haven't been doing it every day, as it is quite full on, and doesn't pair too well with my beloved bold lip, but I feel like it makes my eyes stand out a little more. Mekong is a deep brown, with flecks of gold sparkle in it. Being a Nars eyeshadow, it's highly pigmented and will probably last me millions of years. I highly, highly recommend it! If any of you are also interested in which lipstick I am wearing, it's "Desert" by Topshop. 

Another thing I have been loving is bobble hats. This one in particular is from Topshop. Being small-headed (a pea head..ehem), I didn't ever think they would really suit me, or fit me properly, but I actually quite like them. I also like that they can hide bad hair days, or dress up an outfit AND keep your ears and head warm (it's main purpose). I can see myself wearing hats all of Autumn and Winter. 

♥

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Smokey Eye FOTD with Nars & Illamasqua

Today, i thought i would play around with some of my new shadows...

In real life, this looks really dark and smokey, the flash has bleached it out alot. So, i guess you could either wear this in the daytime or the evening. :)


Face
♥ Mac select cover up concealer on blemishes
♥ GOSH touch up concealer in no. 2 under eyes
♥ Benefit erase paste in no 1 in corners of eyes to brighten
♥ Bare Escentuals mineral foundation in Medium Beige, using the Body Shop Kabuki for application
♥ Bare Escentuals "Faux Tan" to contour & bronze using Mac's 109 brush
♥ Mac MSF in Porcelain Pink using 109 brush


Eyes
♥ Mac's Blackground paint pot as a base, only on outer corners of the eyes.
♥ Nars Pleasures Of Paris palette col. Abyssinia in inner corner of eyes
♥ Nars PofP col. Fez in center of the eyes
♥ Nars Mekong single shadow in outer corners and blended under the eyes.
♥ Mac Retrospeck as brow highlight
♥ Loreal Voluminous mascara
♥ 2True waterproof eyeliner along top lashline

[Fed up of photos turning out rubbish]

Lips
♥ Illamasqua Obey Lipstick
♥ Mac Baby Sparks Dazzleglass on top


I had so much trouble with taking a photo of myself today. I just hated all of them & almost gave up.
In this very last photo it's my "URGH I GIVE UP" face :)
and in another i think i look pretty fed up.
I like this look, but none of my cameras really gave it ANY justice. I used 3!
I used my webcam last, just so you could see it zoomed out a little bit, and with my hair :)
& i actually prefer the webcam shots albeit a little yellow...

I lovelovelove these nars shadows. They look amazing on.
♥

The Pleasures of Paris.

I have never been to Paris.

shock horror.
In fact, i've never been to france...how weird is that?
Everyone's been to France!

Anyway, I don't personally know the Pleasures of Paris, but when scouring the Nars counter last week in Selfridges, i fell in love with the Palette "Pleasures of Paris"


It is gorgeous.
I've looked at Nars palettes before & theres always one or two colours i know i would never wear.
But when i saw this one, i loved every single colour.
I restrained myself last week, but when i saw i had more money in my bank than i thought i did, and after i'd been working so hard for my dad, i thought i'd treat myself yesterday in Space NK.

*grins*


Colours in Palette:

Top Row L-R: Nepal, Violetta & Demon Lover
Bottom Row L-R: Fez, Abyssinia & Cordura

Swatches in natural light:

L-R: Nepal, Violetta, Demon Lover, Fez, Abyssinia & Cordura

As i've said before, Nars shadows are such good quality. I do prefer them to mac.
The swatches above were done with one swipe.
I also noticed that the matte shades are so creamy to touch. They're not cream shadows, but the consistency is so smooth.

I heart this palette

P.s. It's also Limited Edition, so grab it while you can ladies. The Lady in Space NK said it had been flying off the shelves and was really popular.
♥

London Purchases - Illamasqua & Nars

Before the Body Shop Event, we "popped" into Selfridges...

I only bought a few things, I was being a good girl :)

Of course i had to check out the Illamasqua counter, I really wanted to try one of their eyeshadows as i've heard great things about them & obviously i couldn't help purchasing another lipstick as i love the one i bought previously & wanted another for my collection. (This one was actually on my wishlist!)

The Lipstick is called "Liar" & It's a gorgeous pastel pink, very opaque but is one of a few with tiny shimmery particles in it rather than being matte.
Holly tried this one on & we both fell in love with it.
I cannot wait to wear this, I really love Illamasqua lipsticks, the lasting power is seriously good.
The other one i purchased (Obey) i wore in my latest FOTN, and i had to scrub it off my lips before bed..AND in the morning. I was thouroughly impressed.
Im not too sure if the shimmery ones will have the same effect but we shall soon see.

The eyeshadow is called Tango..and again, among all the hundreds of mattes they have, is a shimmer.
I love my shimmers clearly.
It's a gorgeous reddy brown, and i actually dont think i own anything like it. I have browns, but none with a red/orange undertone.
The pigmentation i would say is similar to Mac's, although i actually think that Illamasqua shadows last longer on the eye. :)

Next was the Nars counter.
I don't know if you've had a chance to look at the new collection but there are a few gems in there.
One being this shadow...

It's called Mekong, and it a deep brown, with tiny gold specks.
It looks a little purpley in the photos, i don't know why but it's not showing it in all it's beauty.
I was trying so hard to get it to show up the right colour...dang!
One thing i love about Nars shadows, is the pigmentation
They are by far the most pigmented shadows i have ever used.
one swipe and it's there in all it's glory.
They also last AGES.
I swiped this on my hand the other day (before urchasing) and even after i'd scrubbed at my hand, there was still a little mark there at the end of the day.
I havent used many of the lighter Nars shadow shades, so i cant say whether they are as pigmented as the darker ones, but from swatching at the counter many times before, i have never been dissapointed.

Look out for these products in some FOTD's in upcoming posts.
These are all far too pretty to let them go un-demonstrated.

Anything else in this Nars Collection you think is worth the buck?
I loved the look of the duo..but one shadow was very glittery (of the chunky nature).
& theres a palette i have my beady little eye on.

♥

Favourite Eyeshadows | Nars Isolde Duo

Nars Eyeshadow Duo Isolde - £24 

This post won't come as a shock to most of you, considering how often I bang on about how much I adore this eyeshadow duo. I was gifted this for Christmas a while back from none other than my brother (after i'd picked it mind you) and it has become my absolute go-to for an everyday eye. I reach for this above any other eyeshadows (and I own a sickening amount of eyeshadows - including two Mac palettes). Nars is definitely my favourite brand when it comes to eyeshadows and blushers. The consistency of the powders are phenomenal. The pigmentation and longevity surpass any other eyeshadows i've tried. A bit higher on the scale brand and price-wise, but totally worth it. I have used this duo almost daily for over a year, and it looks as though i've barely touched the surface. The reason for this is that because the pigmentation is so good, and the powder so finely milled, I barely have to push my brush into the product before applying the shadow. The fact that they're so finely milled, means they also blend like a dream. 

This duo has two very orange based bronze/gold shades. Now, normally, you wouldn't really think to go near a bonze, or a gold with an undertone of orange, but actually orange is the most flattering colour for blue eyes. I really notice a huge difference in my appearance once I have these shadows on, my eyes appear a lot bluer in colour and I just find it effortlessly more dramatic makeup-wise. I like to wear both shadows either together, or the darker colour all over the lid with a matte brown in the crease and under the bottom lash line for a more smokey effect. I get a lot of people asking me which eyeshadows i'm wearing in my videos, and 8 times out of 10, it will be this duo. I'm one of these people that can't really wear cool toned colours on my eyes, greys appear blue and drain any colour from my face. So over the years i've learnt to stick to mainly warm toned shadows, and this duo is almost smoking on the warm-toned scale. 

I would whole-heartedly recommend Nars eyeshadows, both individual and in duo form. I believe buying  them as a duo is better value for money and I do intend on extending my collection (over a large period of time obviously haha). Absolutely love them!

Do you own any Nars eyeshadows? Love them as much as I do?

♥

I LOVE Bootsales - NARS 3 for £1

Some of you will know what i'm talking about when i say "Boot Sales", some called them jumble sales i think. But anyways, It's usually a gert field filled with car's selling all their old junk.

My mum has dragged me to these since i was born pretty much & this morning when she came into my room at 7.15am i almost turned over and went back to sleep.

I AM SO GLAD I DIDN'T, LOOK WHAT I FOUUND!!

Nars Deep Throat Blusher

Nars Lipglosses "Boogie Nights" & "Bilitis"

Not my usual colours, but would look FAB on a night out!

And how much for all of these?

£1 (!!!!)

Bobbi Brown Lipliner in "Nude"

Cuteee Little Jars of highlighting powder! I don't know the company but they're just adorable & look gorgeous on the skin.
Benefit Lipgloss in "Didn't Hear It From Me"

This beautilicious bunch only cost me

50p

And then i found lots of Smashbox goodies...& we don't have this brand in the UK. So i grabbed these...

Smashbox Eyeshadow's "Ingenue" & "Wrap"
Smashbox Shadow Trio "Wide Angle" and Smashbox Cream Liner Duo in "Putty/Midnight Brown"

The Smashbox Goodies were

50p

for the lot!!!

I cannot stress to you enough ladies...PLEASE go to bootsales. I was so chuffed with these finds & I want you to find some amazing things too. If you look through the junk you are bound to find something. It's like searching for diamonds :)

I think this is the cheapest Haul ever & Is way better than Ebay.

and i know it's early on a sunday morning...but so what? Look how much money i saved & It was so much fun.

If you look through your local paper, it will tell you where and when the sales happen. They are mostly every sunday :D

I also have some sugar sweet and barry m things to show you that i purchased on thursday, so look out for that post too.

♥

Reviews On Items Recently Purchased...

Phewphh what a long day. I do hate working on saturdays, it means my weekend is cut short.

Blog time...

I'm affraid there's negative feedback on a few products i've got recently...which makes me sad...and kindof angry.

FIRSTLY...

Chanel Pro Lumiere

So i was in House of Fraser...and i thought, right...liquid foundations...where the fook do i start? Then i remembered that there had been an awful lot of amazing raves and reviews on Chanel Pro/Matt Lumiere. So i strolled on over to the Chanel Counter..and there was nobody there..no MA..nobody. So i sortof tested a few of the foundations hoping somebody would realise i needed assistance..but no. So at that point i though "MEH, i'm going to walk away" when a blonde lady with an orange face appeared (She had been over at another counter chatting) and she said "Are you okay?" and i said "Um..Id quite like a new foundation" so she sat me down in a hurry and said "Okay well, this looks like it could be your colour" and she smeared it on my jawline. It was orange. I said this...and she said "OH um..oh yes so it is" so she brought back a slightly lighter one...and said "Oh yes, this is deffo your colour" So i purchased it...got it home and put it on only to find it was WAY too dark for my skin. Was this woman on crack or just blind? I did alot of blending and bronzing on the neck as i wanted to see if it was a good foundation.
Sadly, i did not get on with this at all. It made my skin dry and look incredibly flakey...and by about 3 o clock i looked in the mirror and i had weird patches, and all my blemishes were orange and standing out? I was going to the cinema with my boyfriend and i actually "lick-damped" a tissue and wiped it all off as it looked SO bad, i would rather have exposed my natural skin than keep that on, and that is saying something...i also would NEVER lick my foundation off? WTF lol

Oh Chanel...how i wanted to love you but ohhh you are going straight back. Maybe it was because the shade wasn't right? But that wouldnt mean it would make my dry patches any less visible? Oh well. I'm glad it works amazingly for most people but my skin refused to co-operate.

And for £28.30 I don't think it's worth it.

LUSH's Chox Away Soap

Never have i felt so sick from using soap...Seriously guys...I had to get out of the bath because i was almost gagging. (nice image for you there ;)) Now usually, I love Lush products...and what makes it even more stupid is that i smelt it before buying it and though "Oh that smells nice". Chocolate scent? What's not to love? I washed with it...and the longer it stayed next to me in the bath the more sickly, and disgusting it became. It's a smell i never want up my nose again. I even had to ask my boyfriend to remove it from the bathroom before i went back in. I sound like im pregnant and im going through some weird nausea stage. haha. Some of you may like it and think "WTF is this girl on about? Its soap that smells like chocolate? YUM" but for some reason..i absolutely hate it & I am going to hide it until i can stomach the smell enough to give it to someone or sell it on ebay. :D

LUSH's The Soft Touch Body Butter

I loove this body butter. It seriously does leave your skin silky smooth. I think Body butters are amazing full stop. Buffy is one of my absolute Favourite Lush products. Although it makes me sad how quickly it dissolves :( And i know that some people find it a little too invigorating , so this would be the perfect substitute. No harsh grains but leaves the same smooth skin. The smell is nice too! I would highly reccommend this and will be using it alorra lot. I would also like to point out that it certainly is not this colour. It's more a salmon pink. :)

I'm also seriously loving my NARS purchases. Nothing bad to say about those. The quality is amazing. I have a feeling Laguna is going to be a staple bronzer from now on & I absolutely LOVE Ondine eyeshadow. It's fab for those of you who don't go crazy with colour and like to keep eye colour neutral like me. It's a colour i haven't really seen before and i would reccomend all of you who like similar colours to go check this one out. (Check my "Birthday Treats" post for photo's)

So there we go, the main things I'm loving and hating this week.

Anybody else had any similar results with any of the products i mentioned. Am i only one who doesn't get along with Chanel foundation? haha

♥

Birthday Treats.

As some of you will know, it was my birthday on saturday (yay)

This was my birthday box from my boyf...sweeties, creme eggs, mini eggs (i'm obsessed with these, he got me 4 bags) & lots of LUSH goodies buried in there.

Inside the goody box..

Top left to right:

• Pop In The Bath bubble bar (one of my fave scents)
• Ultrabland cleanser
• Imperialis moisturiser
• Breath of Fresh Air toner
• Heavanilli massage bar & tin
• Each Peach & twos a pear massage bar & tin
• The Soft Touch body butter & tin

Bottom from left to right:

• Fluffy Egg Bath Balistic
• Chox away soap
• Bohemian soap
• Hunny Bun Bath Balistic
• Choccy Egg Bath Balistic
• Magic Egg Bath Balistic
• Free MMM Bath Melt
  

I also went into Space NK & House of Fraser to spend some birthday money...

Left to Right:

• Ondine E/S
• Amarcord Cream E/S
• Laguna Bronzer
  

Chanel Pro Lumiere. I'd heard good things about this foundation and it has been on my wishlist for a while, so i thought since i had a bit of birthday money i would treat myself.
My lovely boyfriend also surprised me with these flowers and whilst i was at work he came back to my house and tidied up my room...was a nice surprise when i got in :)

My Mummy has booked me in for a MAC makeover aswell, with some money to spend in Mac. I'm exCITEDD.

I had a loverlllyy birthday. :)

Let me know if you want any reviews peoples.

♥

The Smart Casual Combo.

Face:
Benefit Erase Paste no1 under eyes
Maybelline Mineral Cover concealer on blemishes
Bare Escentuals Foundation in Medium Beige
Sleek Contour Kit to contour and highlight
Mac Sun & Moon blush

Eyes:
Nars Ondine all over lid
Nars Mekong in crease
L'oreal Superliner in Carbon Gloss
Barry M Black Kohl eyeliner
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara

Lips:
Gosh Darling lipstick

Nails:
Revlon Minted

Wearing:
Blazer - New Look
Pink sequin shouldered top - H&M
Leggings - New Look
Black Patent Boots - Primark
Flower Ring - H&M
Swallow Brooch - Bootsale
Necklace - Frock Exchange (Mums Shop)
Spider Earrings - Boutique
Silver Heart Bracelet - Watlings Jewellers

♥

NARS Orgasm dupe for £2.

So, If you have an ALDI shop near you, you're in luck. ALDI is a gert cheap supermarket with imported food produce (thus making is so cheap, but cheerful none the less). I was helping out with the weekly shop (as you do) when i came across their makeup section...i used to whizz past this...but on this ever so boring day I decided to have a little look. I was seriously amazed by the quality and price of the makeup they had. I bought a lipstick for £2, an underye concealer pen £2 (comparable to Yves St Laurant "Touche Eclat"...no joke) and lipgloss, an eyeshadow duo (which is so pigmented i swiped it and couldnt get rid of the colour on the back of my hand...like NARS) Then i spotted the blusher...This particular one is called "Sunset". I noticed it looked alot like NARS blush, so as it was only around £2 i thought "Oh eck..whyever not".

This blush is amazing...When i have it on my cheeks, i wouldn't be able to tell the difference between it and NARS Orgasm, and this is the tinyest fraction of the price. They don't look identical in the pans...but on the cheeks..you seriously wouldn't be able to tell any difference. It comes in a cute compact with a mirror and a brush (Although i wouldn't advise you to use the brush for application)

PLEASE go and buy it, you'd be stupid not to. :)

Sorry, swatches are a tad rubbish..but you get the general idea..both give off the same effect.

My Everyday Makeup

I thought I would do a little post about the makeup I currently use on a daily basis. I always get into a little routine with the same products then once I get bored, I'll switch it up a bit and change the colour products around like lipstick, blush and eyeshadow. I've been rocking a dark or bright lip for so long, that I wanted to dull it down a bit and go a bit more natural. I'm enjoying it a lot. I feel like my face looks a bit more fresh. These are the current products i'm using!

Nars Sheer Glow in "Mont Blanc"

Maybelline FitMe Concealer in "Light"

Erase Paste Concealer in "No.1"

Sleek Blush Face Contour Kit in "Light"

Sleek Blush in "Mirrored Pink"

HD Brows Kit in "Vamp" 

Estee Lauder Eyeshadow Duo in "Raisins"

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara

Stila Smudge Stick in "Damsel"

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in "13 - Peach Passion"

I hope you enjoyed this little update. I love having a nosey into everyone's makeup bags and I also find it useful to see what others are loving so I thought you'd like to see mine too. I want to review a few of the products mentioned separately as they deserve an individual rave, but for now I thought it'd keep it sweet and simple.

♥
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