Beauty in Practice

Wednesday Wishlist #13

2012-10-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Hello, guys!

Hope you're all doing well. And again, and I'm sorry, here is another wish list to keep me and you going for another week! I swear when I get a job I'll begin reviewing the products that I buy with my dollars!

1. Myleene Klass Lace Prom Dress for Very £79.00

2. Zara Shopper Bag £29.99

3. ASOS Buckle Heel £35.00

4. Topshop Clueless Lipstick Pencil £7.00

5. Boohoo Camo Jacket with Faux-Leather Sleeves £30.00

Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #12

2012-10-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hi, guys!

Hope you're all doing well! Here's another want-post for your indulgences!

1. Topshop Pencil Dress £46.00

2. Ardell Demi Wispies Eyelashes £5.49

3. Elegant Touch Classic French American Pink Nails £4.95

4. AKA Ecstasy Lipgloss £7.00

5. Clarins Instant Lip Perfector Rose Shimmer £14.40

Thanks, again!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #11

2012-09-26T13:48:00.002-07:00

Hiya!

Here's another lusting post for you all but only four items this week; I couldn't seem to find anything else I wanted. That's a good thing, right?

1. Nasty Gal Leather Jacket £147.90

2. Embryolisse Cleanser £9.50

3. Eylure Lash Dye Kit £7.49

4. ASOS Floral Shorts £35.00

Hope you're all having a lovely week! Thanks for having a nosy.

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #10

2012-09-12T10:18:00.001-07:00

Hi, there!

Just another lust-haves post!

1. Topshop T-shirt £22.00

2. Missguided Jumper £19.99

3. John Frieda Deep Conditioner £5.99

4. Topshop Ring Set £12.50

5. CK One Shock £32.99

Rebecca xx

Review: L'Oreal True Match Foundation

2012-09-12T08:40:00.001-07:00

Hello, lovelies!

Hope you're all doing well!

So, I was in a dire need of a new foundation - my old bottle was making that noise when its straining to get the remnants out of its casing. And I decided to go with a brand I've never used. It's £9.99 but that's the normal price of any "drugstore" foundations. I'm afraid to admit that I actually purchased it a few shades darker than my skintone. I had been feeling quite pale as of recently and hence wanted to try something darker. And I'm glad I did! (Don't worry, I don't - well, I hope I don't - look like a tangerine!) You just have to be careful to be even throughout the planes of your face in order to create an even colour and coverage.

This particular foundation is medium to buildable coverage and hides things such as spots or redness adequately. You'll still have to use your favourite concealer. However people with oily skin should avoid this - it's oily itself and somewhat thick. Powder is an essential! Throughout the day it tends to slip from the face, and having bought a darker shade, makes it easier to spot the blatant parts of my natural skin tone underneath.

I apply this over Bourjois Flower Perfect primer with a Real Techniques Buffing brush and I've been impressed so far. A little goes a long way as it's easily blended. Most foundations I've used in the past have dried the skin around my eyes and forehead but I've seen nothing of the sort with the L'Oreal foundation.

I will have to say that it's my favourite foundation so far.

Pros

1. Medium to buildable coverage
2. Easy to blend
3. Glides on smoothly

Cons

1. Can be thick
2. Not recommended for oily skin
3. Unfortunately, and all too common, the range of shades is awful

Thanks for reading!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #8

2012-09-05T13:25:00.002-07:00

Hello, there!

Hope everyone's OK and settling back into school comfortably! Here comes another post detailing my wants for this week:

1. Boohoo Dress £15.00

2. Topshop Jacket £48.00

3. Urban Outfitters Icon Purse £18.00

4. River Island Boots £50.00

5. Gosh Eyebrow Kit £8.49

Thanks, again so much!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #7

2012-08-22T13:59:00.001-07:00

'Ello!

Good luck to all those receiving your GCSEs tomorrow! Hope you get all that you're hoping for. Here comes another Wednesday wishlist to possibly empty your purses!

1. H&M Dress £29.99

2. Topshop Denim Shirt £34.00

3. Missguided Peplum Skirt £19.99

4. ASOS Boots £38.00

5. Zara Dress £39.99

Hope everyone's doing well as always and thank you very much for taking the time to read my little blog!

Rebecca xx

Thursday Wishlist

2012-08-16T12:31:00.004-07:00

Hello, beauty lovers!

I'm sorry I didn't manage to get a round to making my normal Wednesday Wishlist; I was just too tired yesterday and allowed my obligations to fall by the wayside. Sorry again! Hope you're all doing well and those living in England who received their exam results are enjoying their successes! So, let's get on with the post:

1. Zara Peplum Top £29.99

2. OPI Ovacome Charity Nail Polish £11.00

3. ASOS Coat £85.00

4. River Island Slipper Shoe £28.00

5. Topshop Ring Set £14.00

Well, until next week thanks for checking out the blog!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #6

2012-08-08T13:45:00.001-07:00

Hiya!

Sorry I didn't do last week's Wednesday Wishlist - it completely slipped my mind! But I hope you're all doing well and those you have had their exam results got what they wished for. Here's my wants for the week:

1. Boohoo Shirt £14.00

2. Oasis Cuff £16.00

3. Oasis Watch £40.00

4. Lo-Top Converse £30.00

5. Topshop Bag 48.00

Thank you all for taking the time to read my posts. It means so much and I'm always overwhelmed when I get more views, so thank you, again.

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #5

2012-07-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hiya, everyone!

Hope you're all doing well! Here I come with another desirous post.

1. Boohoo Crop Top £12.00

2. New Look Chelsea Boots £19.99

3. Aveeno Moisturiser £9.99

4. Butter London Black Knight Nail Polish £12.00

5. Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit £24.00

Thanks very much for reading!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #4

2012-07-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

Hi, there!

Hope everyone's doing well!

1. Oasis Silk Shirt £60.00

2. Topshop Boots £36.00

3. L'Occitane Hand Cream 30ml £7.50

4. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation £27.50

5. Bioderma Crealine Solution £19.36

Thanks for reading my blog!

Rebecca xx

£100 ASOS Blogger Challenge

2012-07-12T04:13:00.001-07:00

Hello!

Again, I hope everyone is doing well. Recently I saw that discountcoder.com was having a competition to win £100 worth of ASOS vouchers and I thought it was a nice idea so I gave it a shot!

1. Trio of Rings £8.00

2. Denim Jacket £38.00

3. Beanie Hat £6.00

4. Boat Shoes £20.00

5. Whistles Ring £12.00

6. Eyeko Skinny Mascara £15.00

Thanks again!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #3

2012-07-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, there!

Hope you're all doing well!

1. New Look Denim Shirt £19.99

2. Topshop Army Jacket £90.00

3. Accessorize Oval Ring £14.00

4. H&M Earrings £2.99

5. Mango Dress £44.99

Thanks again so much for reading my blog. It means so much and I'm thankful for every reader or comment made!

Rebecca xx

Reading List for 2012

2012-07-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hello, fellow beauty lovers!

I thought I would write an odd post about what I intend to read through this year (as well as others) as I have nothing to review or anything of interest to write about.

1. Phantom of the Opera - Gustav Leroux
2. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
3. The Return of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
4. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
5. War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells
6. The Picture of Dorian Grey - Oscar Wilde
7. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
8. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
9. Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult
10. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

I know these all seem quite boring and pretentious, but I felt like I needed to expand my knowledge of the classics and writing of a greater standard.

And so, there it is. Quick and easy reading. Please let me know what all your reading plans are!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlist #2

2012-07-04T14:10:00.001-07:00

Hey, there!

Hope everyone's doing alright and relaxing during your holidays or waiting excitedly for them. I thought I'd just do another wishlist to tantalise those purses!

1. Topshop Cuff £8.50

2. Topshop Pillow Talk Lipstick £8.00

3. Topshop Jumper £34.00

4. Origins Ginzing Eye-Cream £21.00

5. Monki Purse 8 Euro

So, I hope to do more posts. I know that I often make this empty promise but I hope, for once, to keep it!

Rebecca xx

Wednesday Wishlift

2012-06-13T11:50:00.003-07:00

Hello, there!

So I just thought that after my admission of having no inspiration for writing that I would start the classic traditional of a wishlist every week but just to make sure it has a particular ring to it, I'll do it every Wednesday. Get it? Just something fun and easy and not too onerous to read. I only know, personally, that sometimes I really don't want to read screeds and screeds of blogposts however well they may be written. And so, without further ado, here's my Wednesday Wishlist.

1. Regal Rose Nina Double Ring £9.00

2. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation £7.99

3. Studded Platforms by Chloe Green for Topshop £115.00

4. Zara Bucket Bag with Double Handle £19.99

I have wanted this ring forever, but just never have the courage to wear it, but I see quite a lot of people with similar rings and they just look gorgeous. The foundation, everyone is speaking about, so I thought I might have a try at it. And the shoes. Well, I would personally never wear anything so vertiginous but Demi Lovato had them on during the American X Factor auditions and she looked fab! Way out of my price range unfortunately! And the bag, well I just love it and it's not too expensive for Zara. Possibly my next purchase.

So, again, thanks for reading, if you have!

Rebecca xx

Review: Simple's Kind To Skin Vital Vitamin Night Cream

2012-06-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone!

After a very stressful few months of tedious studying, I'm finally at a place where I can blog again! And I'm happy to do so; it's hard not to have an outlet during the study period. But, anyway, on with the review.

So the time came when my night moisturiser was done - there was no more I could scrape out of it. And so, beleaguered, I began the long, arduous hunt for a new one. It's my personal belief that shopping for skincare is our fate in regards to Karma. Nowadays there are so many products causing confusion, claiming different things, contradicting each other. And don't mention skincare advertising! They take their customers as fools by depicting images of youthful, un-lined, worry-free woman and it's just dishonest. Presently, I'm not at the age where I'm worrying about lines but I think there should be no poetic licensing when it comes to beauty.

And so, with my rage burning, I slipped into Boots in search of a remedy for my nuisance skin. Having a disinclination to the smell of my previous moisturiser (review: Nivea Moisturiser) I decided that I would purchase one without a pungent aroma. And that came in the form of the titled Simple moisturiser.

Yes, it's good. Yes, it works. Yes, it doesn't smell. But I'm in the predicament that any moisturiser I use isn't strong enough to clear me of the dry spots around my hairline and mouth. But, I refuse to use stronger moisturisers as they only function to fuel the oil on the rest of my skin. Does anyone else have this problem? Because it's just so infuriating. It means that my foundation looks alright around my cheeks, nose and such like but then when it comes to my forehead it's just horrible. Every little imperfection and crease is seen and it just looks bumpy and as thought I've caked it on.

Although, I'm sure the moisturiser would be competent if you had skin that behaved. I'm sorry to anyone who has this moisturiser and loves it, but we've all got different skin so that's why it makes a product impossible to please everyone. And this certainly hasn't overwhelmed me with brilliance. It's good. And that's about it!

So, thanks for listening to my little rant and rave. But, please, don't be scared to try this out as I perceive it only to my uncooperative skin that detests it.

And, on another note, if anyone has any suggestions on what I could write could you possibly comment below. I'm having writer's block at the moment and have no inspiration to write.

Rebecca xx

P.S. These are all my own opinions and I have neither been asked nor paid for my view.

My Favorite YouTubers and an Apology

2012-04-27T16:39:00.001-07:00

Hey, everyone!

First of all, I am so sorry for my lack of posts in the last ... um - I have no idea when my last post update was. And that admittance in itself is shocking enough. The reasons are I'm lazy (sorry) and EXAMS! The bain of everyone's life and there has to be mock exams! That's just mean. So in response to this, this post will be second last until the end of May or such. But after that I will endeavor to make more posts and keep up to date with the changing world of beauty and fashion!

So, onto the post about my favorite YouTubers. These people are the reason I started doing blogs. They are so informative and really helped me when I first started to delve into beauty and such like. I just thought if I could help one person like these YouTubers help hundreds of people, I would be ecstatic!

UglyFaceOfBeauty

I only recently began watching Gracie (before December) and instantly became obsessed with her unique sense of style and her humor. I think she's quite different from other beauty gurus and differs from the norm. She's not afraid to voice her opinions and despite the hateful and vile comments she receives on YouTube, she continues to make her videos and that is truly admirable. Oh, and if you get the chance, check out her sister's channel 'beautymusicfashionx'!

ThePersianbabe

Otherwise known as Barbra, thePersianbabe is the guru I first watched regularly. Known for her talkative videos where she infamously "rambles" - her words not mine - she is truly honest and is never influenced by companies offering her samples and such. She has found a niche in her style, but some of the pieces she wears are stunning. Barbra is warm and friendly on the screen and gives great advice. She is consistent in her videos despite the fact she is at university. Great, relaxing videos that are definitely worth a watch.

FleurDeForce

Fleur is so classy and honest. If I am ever in need of a review, her YouTube is often my first stop as they're always in-depth and completely honest. With soft make-up and light eyes, her tutorials are brilliant for school-day or those days when your skin is behaving. Her clothing is always pretty and girly in every way. She's just such a lovely person to watch.

Pixiwoo and Pixi2woo

OK, OK, I know I have included a 2-in-1, but often they go hand in hand. Samantha and Nic Chapman are wonderful make-up artists and down-to-earth. They constantly upload and all their videos are fabulous and very instructive. That brings me on to Tanya's videos which are very interesting and enjoyable to watch. Through both their videos they give great advice to young lovers of beauty and budding make-up artists. If you're looking for tutorials both their YouTubes are a must.

Sprinkleofglitter

Her opening catchphrase, 'Hello, sprinkleorenos', always brings a smile to my face. Without the capacity to edit, her videos are always hilarious and often intermingled with clumsy accidents. Her reviews are fantastic and often in-depth. She varies her make-up collection between drugstore and high-end and it's always easy to find something you want in a haul or review. I cannot sit with a cup of tea to watch her videos because I end up tipping it down me in laughter, especially when coupled with Zoella.

Zoella280390

And onto Zoella who is fantastic to watch for easygoing hauls and reviews. Her tags are hilarious and her style advice is incredible. Hair that is always styled to perfection, it is enviable and gorgeous! Her lipstick collection is impressive and the little 'bloopers' at the end of her videos are always funny.

Gemsmaquillage

Gemma is my holy grail for hair; her hair is fantastic and everything she uses is a must try. With a cute and girly style, she often makes brilliant Primark hauls that are so useful! Her Lookbooks are always incredibly detailed and always inspires me to create an outfit.

I know that the gurus all have been British, but when I watch those from Europe, America, Australia, etc, I feel that when they haul of give advice, it isn't really productive due to the fact our shops are completely different.

Thanks, Rebecca

xx

Haul

2012-03-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hiya everyone!

Hope you're all doing well and if you're sitting any exams that they are going well and you haven't been stressing out too much! These are just some recent purchases I have made:

Beauty UK Eye Palettes

New Look Coral Loafers £15.99

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum £10.99

Topshop Toe Skull Ring £4

Topshop Cross Earrings £4

New Look Distressed High-Waisted Shorts £19.99 (Ignore the jewellery ...)

**On an extra note, I would like to say that I am so grateful to everyone who reads this blog and takes a few minutes out of their day to read whatever I have written! Any criticism and improvements that people think I could make would be appreciated! Thank you, again.

Rebecca xx

Pastel Paradise

2012-03-10T04:47:00.000-08:00

Hiya!

My friend recently gave me a clipping from a magazine that made me want to run out and buy every pastel nail polish I could get my hands on. Sadly, I can't. Sad face for being skint! But I thought I'd upload some colours that will huge over the upcoming spring and summer. These are wearable by everyone, feminine and gorgeous!

Models Own Peaches and Cream

Zoya Megan

Essie Crewed Interest

Andrea Fullerton Emma

Chanel May

Nubar Vogue Vert

OPI Did You Hear About Van Gogh

Revlon Dreamer

Rebecca xx

Review: OPI Nail Envy

2012-03-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Hiya, everyone!

This has been my life-saver. I had nails that tended to crack and were very soft. But this is heaven on Earth. I've been using this as instructed for four weeks (one week without) and am amazed by the sudden strength and longevity of my nail length. It really does what it says on the tin - or bottle. And, once you see the outcome, you'll realise how nice your nails look with growth and not want to bite them! There is so much I could say about this, but I would just be rambling, so I'll stop right now!

Personally I have no qualms which this product, but some have said that overuse had caused the opposite effect and made their nails brittle. Maybe, you'll have to play around with it to see how it affects your nails, but worthy of a try.

For £18 it's a bit ridiculous, but there are amazing deals all across the internet and lots of varieties for you to try!

Rebecca xx

Review: Emeli Sande - Our Version of Events

2012-02-26T14:00:00.004-08:00

Bit of a different post this time around, but I'm feeling lost on what to write about. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd gladly appreciate it!

Emeli Sande has been on the radar since her collaboration with Professor Green in October '11 but has been on the music scene as far back as 2008 with her abundance of musical talent. I have to say right away that this woman's voice is perfection. If I could possibly describe it it would be a gritty version of Beyonce's.

Having been played incessantly (but welcomingly) on most radio stations, I had to run out in buy this the moment it came on sale - well in the figurative sense as I ordered it on iTunes and I am glad I did!

Harrowing, heartfelt lyrics compose 'Our Version of Events' into a lyrical master piece. Encompassing the epic 'Read All About Part III', the edgy 'Daddy' and heartfelt 'My Kind of Love' this is my album for winter 2012. Her voice is strong, powerful and echoing and the perfect album for mouthing along to when you're down and out. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that! Her lyrics are simultaneously morose and uplifting; her melodies calm and climatic; her voice soft and loud. An album that truly shows of an immense talent.

With a voice as good as it is and a song-writing ability to die for, I except we'll be seeing a lot of Miss Sande in the coming future!

Spring/Summer 2012: Fashion

2012-02-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hello, my fellow beauty lovers!

**I would like to apologise for my lack of posts during last month. Google decided to prevent me from viewing my blog dashboard and then wanted me to download Google Chrome. That didn't work for ages, but it is now, so I'll leave my rant for now!

Colour is finally back in the world! Yes, that's right. As you go about your day-to-day life, you'll notice a subtle dispensing of colour in people's wardrobe and a whole revamp of many stores who have been hidden in a colour wheel that ranged from black to grey. That's because spring and summer are creeping closer and its time to throw on that bright pop of colour on your lips and inject versatility into your wardrobe!

Underwater World

Florence Welch, in a shell, dressed in beads? Not at all conspicuous! After that Chanel performance, the underwater world trend was evident. With metallic shimmers, iridescent sequins and wave-like detailing it appears we've jumped back into the Disney's Little Mermaid. Intermingled with the twenties trend, it's time to shine and glitter in short and long hemlines! Try ASOS for a cheaper version of this fun trend.

Versace

Chanel

Givenchy

Bra/Crop Tops

Not for the shy and conservative, this look needs attitude and lashings of it. It's fun, flirtatious and refreshing on a hot day. Each designer did their own versions of the trend with Emilio Pucci taking the a gothic, full-skirted route, whereas Nina Ricci did a patterned, simple look that was a combination of sixties and seventies. Dolce and Gabbana went sparkly and short for a more party-appropriate take on the crop top. But you can do it your own way. One way is to pair a small crop top (like those from Topshop and American Apparel) with a pair of very high high-waisted jeans. This looks gorgeous and for the self-conscious, only a little skin is visible.

Emilio Pucci

Nina Ricci

Dolce and Gabbana

Pastel Palette

If it works on the nails, why not on clothes? This lovely, fresh, summery trend has been regarded as feminine and workable into an everyday wardrobe. Easily wearable and complementary to most skin tones, it is a trend that everyone can try. Coupled with lace at Erdem; ombred at Jonathan Saunders; used in conjunction with granny chic as Louis Vuitton. You'll find this at most stores wherever you are and adds a light touch to any outfit.

Erdem

Jonathan Saunders

Louis Vuitton

Print Mania

In total contrast to the light pastel trend, bright prints makes a fashionable attack to the eyes this spring and summer. An array of prints have been seen from Preen to Emilio Pucci and everyone in between. They're fun, flirty and fabulous, so why not try out a couple of clashing prints and see what you think? Take heed from Miu Miu and Ted Baker and opt for some animal prints or seaside scenes to really make a statement!

Preen

Diana von Furstenberg

Emilio Pucci

A Twenties Frenzy

With drop waists and beading, it wasn't hard to see the affects of the new rendition of 'The Great Gatsby' set to be released this December and the newly found interest in Sherlock Holmes. Cloche hats, masculine tailoring and loose-fitting is a brilliant revival of this pretty trend that is accessible to the girly and the boyish. If you're nervous about your hips, drop waists tend to draw the eye to them, but if you have a boyish figure, then this is perfect for you. But don't be afraid to emphasise your best assets! If you're not looking for full-frontal twenties, then try accessorising with fur, hats and gorgeous jewellery. These can all be found at charity/thrift stores, Topshop and ASOS.

Emporio Armani

Alberta Ferretti

Ralph Lauren

Pretty Peplums

This trend moves in and out of the radar constantly and it usually flattering for most figures. But be careful if you're self-conscious about your waist as it will naturally direct all attention to that spot. If you're more liable to opt for a conservative hemline, this might just be your subtle injection of quirkiness. From Christian Dior to Jason Wu, it was done in innovative and pretty ways that can be worn for a night out or possibly for the office - if you're feeling daring! It can be found in stores like Primark, ASOS and stores like Dorothy Perkins if you're interested.

Christian Dior

Giorgio Armani

Jason Wu

So, my lovely readers, here are just some of the trends you can rock during the spring and summer of 2012. Hope you've been having a great month and I promise to try and update more regularly!

Rebecca xx

Haulage

2012-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

Hiya, everyone!

I was recently shopping at the weekend and also brought a couple of items from Forever21. Don't think this amount of buying for me is normal; I just had a teeny, tiny urge to buy some (needed) things. So, without further ado, let's carry on!

Forever21 Glitter Oval Earrings in Teal (£3.15)

Forever21 Inverted Triangle Earrings (£3.15)

Forever21 Arrowhead Tarnished Drop Earrings (They have removed this from the website, but they were around £3.15)

**They are more tarnished and darker in reality, but my camera was having some sort of fit. Sorry about that.

Forever21 Ribbed Knit Beanie with Pompom in teal (Now £4.66)

Forever21 Wool Fringed Scarf (Now £5.49)

Primark Jumper (£5 reduced from £10)

Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Wash (Around the £2 mark from Bodycare)

Nivea Hand Nourishing Hand Cream (£1.25 from Sainsbury's)

Vo5 Ultimate Hold Hairspray (Again, around the £2 mark from the Bodycare)

Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner (About £1.50 from Bodycare)

And there you have it: my buys from my latest shopping excursion. Hope you enjoyed it!

Rebecca xx

NOTD: OPI Alpine Snow & I Lily Love You

2012-01-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

Hello, lovelies

I painted my nails about two hours ago and just thought I'd upload a little post. On all my nails is 'Alpine Snow' and on my ring finger is 'I Lily Love You' (from the Nice Stems Collection). I found the white colour to be a thick, but streaky consistency, so needs a few coats to look alright. But apart from that, I really like the combination.

Hope you're all doing well and staying gorgeous!

Rebecca xx