beauty lover's notes

Cath Kidston inpired nail art

2012-02-28T12:34:00.000Z

Last week some nail wheels I had ordered from eBay arrived and my first little project was to try out some Cath Kidston nail art. Cath Kidston has always been a favourite brand of mine, which is quite funny if you know that my Mum is a Laura Ashley addict (go on... guess what my sister's name is... co-incidence she assures us!).

Cath Kidston's girly prints are perfect for spring and this was a great chance to improve my nail art skills. I'm still no WAH artist but I think practice is definitely helps!

So here are the designs I chose:

Lots of florals, pretty pastels, polka dots and even Stanley made an appearance!

Things I learned:
1. My hands can be a little shakey. I thought I was pretty steady but nope!
2. I need some more precise brushes - I wanted to try a pastel Union Jack but even the smallest brush (in combination with my shakey hands) ended up getting polish in the wrong place!
3. Nail art should be done in a well ventilated area - hello headaches!
4. Flowers are hard to do!
5. Top coat makes everything seem a little more 'together' and finished
6. I love seeing the finished product (even if it isn't perfect!)

I used lots of polishes including China Glaze Electric Beat (blue), OPI Nicki Minaj Pink Friday (baby pink), Models Own Snow White (white), OPI Kiss Me On My Tulips (hot pink), Revlon Red (red), Models Own Lemon Meringue (yellow), OPI Jade Is The New Black (dark green), OPI Thanks A Windmillion (light green), and Seche Vite (topcoat).

I bought most of the OPI and China Glaze polishes from this eBay seller (read my related blog post).
I got the Models Own polishes from their website (during various 50% off sales).
The Revlon polish came from Boots, but any red polish would do.

The nail wheels were £1.99 for a pack of 10 from eBay. I used dotting tools from eBay and nail art brushes from eBay (I won't link the ones I bought as they're pretty crap quality and I think some more precise brushes would be better anyway).

Have you ever tried Cath Kidston nail art? What should my next theme be?

Thanks for reading!

My MAC Mineralize Skinfinish collection

2012-02-23T20:17:00.002Z

MAC's Mineralize Skinfinishes are shimmery face powders that can be used as blushes or highlight. I think these products are really special, not only are they beautiful to look at, but a light dusting adds polish to your look. I tend to use a Crown Duo Fibre Blush brush to apply just the right amount of product - too much product can look a little too frosty!

I own Stereo Rose, By Candlelight, Porcelain Pink, Lightscapade and Blonde:

Clockwise from top left: Stereo Rose, By Candlelight, Porcelain Pink, Lightscapade and Blonde (flash)

Clockwise from top left: Stereo Rose, By Candlelight, Porcelain Pink, Lightscapade and Blonde (no flash)

Stereo Rose is a pink coral with gold and pink shimmers. It has a 'metallic' sheen and looks really pretty as a blush, particularly with a tan. I bought this from the limited edition 'In The Groove' collection in July 2010. I would definitely re-purchase this as it's a unique, pretty colour.

By Candlelight is a pink toned champagne with shimmers. I prefer to use it as a highlight as it is very shimmery. I bought this from the limited edition 'In The Groove' collection in July 2010. By Candelight is quite a dupe-able colour but the quality of it is fantastic and I would re-purchase it.

Porcelain Pink is a light peachy pink with gold veining. It's quite powdery and doesn't give enough coverage to be a blush, so I tend to use it as a highlight. I bought this from the limited edition 'Fall Colour' collecton in October 2011. I probably wouldn't re-purchase this colour as it isn't as strongly pigmented as the other MSFs.

Blonde is an 'ombre' of soft rose pink to medium rose pink. Lately I've really enjoyed swirling the colours together and wearing it as a blush, and as a highlight over a matte pink blush. I bought this from the limited edition 'Naturally' collection in February 2011. It is sold out online but our local counter may have one available! I would re-purchase this colour.

Lightscapade is a white/beige with gold and pink shimmers. It's a really pretty highlight but to be honest I was slightly disappointed with the veining. Mine has some faint blue, pink and yellow veins but I was expecting the strong veining seen in the original 2006 version (see here). Really, the veining doesn't make that much of a difference and the colour ends up being the same light white-ish colour. I bought this from the limited edition 'Fall Colour' collecton in October 2011. I probably wouldn't re-purchase this colour, I think half of the excitement was seeing what veining it would have, although it is a pretty highlight.

MAC Stereo Rose MSF with flash, without flash

MAC By Candlelight MSF with flash, without flash

MAC Porcelain Pink MSF with flash, without flash

MAC Blonde MSF with flash, without flash

MAC Lightscapade MSF with flash, without flash

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish powders are £21.50 for 9g/10g (depending on the particular shade). Watch out for limited edition collections as some great colours are usually released!
MAC products are available online from MAC, Selfridges, Debenhams and House of Fraser.

Are you a fan of MAC's MSF powders? Which is your favourite?
Thanks for reading!

Meadham Kirchhoff SS12 Nail Rock wraps (plus giveaway - CLOSED)

2012-02-18T13:34:00.005Z

Ever since the craziness that was Meadham Kirchhoff's Spring Summer 2012 show back in September (where models were sent down the runway wearing ruffles, pastels and cartoon characters with candy coloured hair to the sounds of Hole) kitsch enthusiasts around the world have been dying to get their hands on the nail wraps worn by the models, which were created especially by Nail Rock.

Packs were given away to lucky attendees and are finally now available to buy for a limited time from Topshop (£7) - they sold out online very quickly so check your nearest/biggest store if you want to get hold of a pack!

The designs match up with certain pieces worn on the catwalk but there is a hidden shocker - yes I'm talking about the vagina design!

Can you spot it?

An interview with the designers (Messrs Ed Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff) revealed all - they were aiming to both celebrate and destroy what it means to be a girl. All the femininity, sugar and spice, the frills and glitter were a nod to our modern 'role models' - beauty queens, models and princesses. They took the 'frou frou' to the extreme to prove a point.

They ended up highlighting and protesting the sexualisation of and expectations laid upon young girls - which explains the vagina to an extent! I really don't think they needed to include two in the pack though haha! I love that this show can be enjoyed for the creativity, the talent and the message.

Here is how I wore my Meadham Kirchhoff nail wraps last night:

Two coats of China Glaze Electric Beat (from eBay) with a Meadham Kirchhoff cat accent nail

I don't have the longest nails so I did have to cut the design down a lot (sorry cat!). I'll probably use these with false nails next time so I can take advantage of the larger designs like the giraffe and the teddy bear. This was my first time using any Nail Rock nail wraps, and I found them really easy to use. I did find that part of the design started lifting at the edge of my nail, especially after washing my hands. I think this is possibly because I didn't press the design down properly when applying it as I was in a rush - oops!

I have one pack of these nail wraps to give away to a lucky follower, please use the Rafflecopter app below to enter. Please click 'use your email' so I can easily contact you if you are the winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

You must be a follower to enter
There will be one prize winner

If you are under 18 you must have your parent or guardians permission to enter

Ends Sunday 26th February at 23:59 (UK time)

The winner will be drawn at random

Open worldwide

Good luck!
(If you have any problems using the Rafflecopter app please email or tweet me!)

EDIT: The giveaway is now closed, congratulations to the winner Debbie!
Thank you to everyone who entered - if you didn't win don't fret as I have more giveaways coming up very soon!

Lana Del Rey

2012-02-17T00:07:00.000Z

There's been a lot of controversy around Lana Del Rey. The 25 year old New Yorker's image, voice and UK Vogue cover have led to full on conspiracy theories as to whether she's a creation dreamt up by record company executives.

Lana Del Rey for Vogue UK March 2012

Whatever the truth, she's doing something right, her album has been at number one in the UK since it was released two weeks ago, and fashion labels are booking her to play their shows left, right and centre (she played Dior's SS12 show in Beijing, Mulberry's pool party at Château Marmont and 'Video Games' was the soundtrack to Christopher Kane's LFW show in September).

Please click 'read more' to read the rest of this blog post!

I personally love Lana, there's something about her that feels so familiar, yet she's totally different from anyone else on the music scene right now. She fits perfectly into an Americana, vintage starlet niche that I didn't even know was there. Her music and image is a kind of modern nostalgia (yes, that's a total oxymoron) and she describes herself as a 'gangster Nancy Sinatra'.

Nancy vs Lana

Lana Del Rey for Interview magazine

Lana Del Rey for NME

I think a lot of the intrigue around Lana stems from the fact that she is often very reserved and perhaps deliberately vague in interviews, although I've seen a few pictures of her meeting fans and she seems to be nice in real life.

I absolutely love her hair, makeup and style, and although I couldn't fully pull off Lana's look (I love a bit of nail art but I couldn't cope with stiletto nails in reality) I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing a little of her retro glamour into my own look. Her soft Hollywood waves can be easily achieved with a pair of ghd's and winged eyeliner can really bring a look together when done well.

Lana Del Rey for Spex magazine

Lana Del Rey for T magazine

My favourite tracks from her new album are 'Born to Die', 'Video Games', 'Blue Jeans' and 'Diet Mountain Dew'. Not all of the tracks have grown on me yet but I did only buy it three days ago!

What's your opinion on Lana? Or should I say Lizzy...?

Review: Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine

2012-02-16T04:02:00.000Z

Just before Christmas the Bumble and Bumble website was offering free delivery and samples with every order, so it was the perfect time to order a tube of Brilliantine, which I'd had my eye on for months.

I'm a huge fan of the LLYMLRS bed head look, but I can't break my habit of washing my hair every day. I just don't feel awake or fresh with day old hair, so I needed a product to take away the smoothness and fluffyness of freshly washed hair!

Brilliantine is a hair cream that can be used on wet or dry hair to create texture and separation as well as giving a slight sheen. I prefer using it on dry hair, and I only need to use a tiny amount rubbed between my palms to give my hair a slightly messier look. I've used 'high street' products like this before, but Brilliantine seems a little different - it's thicker in consistency and seems to give a better effect on my thick and heavy hair.

I am really pleased with this product, and I can see it lasting a good few months. I usually apply it after straightening my hair (to get rid of frizz!) and apply hair spray after to hold the look. It is easy to apply too much and end up with slightly greasy looking patches so I'd advise using a small amount and building up from there.

Before and after using Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine

I will repurchase this product, but at £17 for only 50ml it doesn't come cheap! There are lots of texturising products available now and here are a few alternatives I found on the Boots website (note - I haven't tried any of these products they just sound good!):

VO5 Give Me Texture Tousled Style Spray £3.36, Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray £7.19, Toni & Guy Casual Forming Spray Gel £6.39

Aussie Dual Personality Texturising & Conditioning Gel Spray £4.89, Charles Worthington Front Row Rough & Tousled Salt Spray £6.29, Lee Stafford Messed Up Spray Wax £5.49

Have you tried Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine or any of the other products? Let me know what you think in the comments!

The Bourjois Boutique, 16th - 20th February 2012

2012-02-15T08:00:00.002Z

If you're in London this week I definitely recommend that you drop into The Bourjois Boutique. Starting on Thursday 16th and running until Monday 20th, Bourjois are opening a pop up makeup shop at Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch!
The event coincides with the start of London Fashion Week, but unlike LFW The Bourjois Boutique is not an exclusive ticketed event, all fashion and beauty lovers are welcome to drop by!

You will be able to buy Bourjois products at discounted prices (up to 65% off!), as well as being able to chat one-to-one with a makeup-artist and have your hair and nails done for free! A schedule of special guest experts is planned, T4 will be filming their LFW coverage from the event, and fashion brand Never Fully Dressed will be there with pieces available to purchase.

Fashion illustrator Zarina Liew will also be at the event ready to sketch you and your friends for free! I am a huge fan of Zarina's work - you can see her website here and her blog here.

A beautiful illustration by Zarina Liew

The first 50 customers each day will receive a goodie bag and there will be daily giveaways at the event, but if you are unable to make it you should definitely check out the Bourjois Facebook page for regular competitions (the next one to launch will be the Bourjois Belle competition!).

The event is running at Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch, and the opening hours are 12pm-5pm on Thursday 16th, 12pm-6pm on Friday 17th, 12pm-8pm on Saturday 18th, 12pm-8pm on Sunday 19th and 12pm-8pm on Monday 20th. If you need more information visit the Bourjois website.

I am totally gutted that I won't be able to make it to London to check out The Bourjois Boutique, it sounds like so much fun! If you do go please tweet me and let me know!

(Note: I was sent the press release for this event from Handpicked Media but I have not been compensated for this post, I just think it's a really nice event!)

Valentine's Day pink leopard/heart nails

2012-02-14T16:03:00.002Z

Happy Valentine's Day! In honour of this day of love I decided to have a go at Gem's WAH style leopard print nails. I've always loved that design and I thought it was about time I give it a go myself!

No flash

With flash

I used:

Three coats of China Glaze Dance Baby (from eBay)

China Glaze Fuchsia Fanatic (from eBay) applied with dotting tools (from eBay) for the leopard's spots

The Models Own WAH nail art pen in black (I have the old version, I hear the new version is much better!) for the leopard print outline

OPI Bullish On OPI (from TK Maxx, you can get it from eBay but any red would work) also applied with dotting tools for the hearts

INM Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat (from eBay)

Seche Vite (from eBay)

I was a bit impatient in leaving the WAH pen to dry so it smudged a little - I'll be a bit more careful next time. I love that this design is so easy and because there are so many 'styles' of leopard print it will never look wrong! Gem's original manicure was done with a black liquid eyeliner pen which is a brilliant alternative to the WAH pen.

I'll be spending tonight with my boyfriend, we'll be eating quorn spag bol and chocolate cake, and we'll probably be watching 24 (we're up to season 4!). His Valentine's day present to me is to take the Christmas tree down... it's still in our front room without any decorations! It's a pain to do as we have nowhere to store it so it has to be taken to my Mum's to put in the loft. True romance haha.

Thanks for reading!

P.S. If you haven't seen my tips for buying nail polish from US eBay sellers you can read it here!
P.P.S. If you don't celebrate Valentine's Day link me to your anti-V-day nails in the comments!
P.P.S. My nails were actually getting to a good length and were quite strong but I had a job interview last week and have been helping my sister to move house so they've ended up really short!

Huge IMATS London 2012 post!

2012-02-06T16:32:00.001Z

I had an absolutely brilliant time at IMATS this weekend, I met lots of lovely girls, was inspired by talented make up artists and got my hands on some great products. I attended Saturday and Sunday and already cannot wait for IMATS 2013!
I have so many photos to share! Please click 'read more' to view the full post...

IMATS was moved from the West Hall to the Great Hall, which was a great idea. Although there were still crowds there was much more room to breathe! Sunday was a lot quieter, I'm told it generally is although I'm guessing the snow drama played a part in that.

Check out my pictures of the event and the exhibitors:

Kryolan at Charles Fox

Crown Brushes (and the Grand Willis Organ)

David Klasfeld of OCC makeup giving a talk

The lovely Eldora lashes ladies

Lots of interest at Inglot!

Koren giving a talk - that Hello Kitty brush belt is amazing!

Hair gems at Miss Adoro

The Velour lashes range

The Sleek stand

Royal and Langnickel's stand

The Real Techniques stand

OCC's stand

Here are my pictures of the live body art, prosthetics and transformations going on throughout the day:

This was so appropriate for Sunday after the snow!

I'm not sure which company these guys were with but they were entertaining the crowds!

The inspiration

Getting ready for the Saturday Beauty/Fantasy Student Competition (Wild Kingdom theme)

A stunning entry for the Saturday Beauty/Fantasy Student Competition (Wild Kingdom theme)

The Sunday Character/Prosthetic Student Competition entries and winners (Men in Black aliens theme)

I loved this entry!

I spent around £150. I had originally budgeted for £100 but I bought some more MUFE on the Sunday, the discount PAM were offering was too good to resist!

I was very lucky to be invited to the Royal and Langnickel Media/Blogger Lounge, where we discussed the brand, were offered OPI manicures, massages, fresh fruit, pastries and other nibbles.
I loved meeting Bill Dovellos, Royal and Langnickel's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and I will definitely be paying this brand more attention in the future. I was given this S.I.L.K. GreenLine brush set as a gift from the brand. Royal and Langnickel launched this more eco-friendly line in 2011. The set includes 12 synthetic brushes with 100% bamboo handles.

All of the exhibitors had discounts, deals and offers. For example, PAM were offering 35% off MUFE, Illamasqua were selling many products for £5 and they further discounted this to 3 for £10 on the Sunday, Eldora lashes were 3 for £10, and Real Techniques brushes had 20% off.

Eldora lashes are offering a post-IMATS discounts online: Save 25% on lashes at www.eldorashop.co.uk (free delivery, ends 31st March 2012)

Look who I met!

L-R: Louise and Baby Glitter (such a happy little cherub!), Leanne, Georgie, Kim, me, Becca

Me with Sam and Nic aka Pixiwoo!

My tips to have a great time at IMATS:
♥ Make a list. If you know what you want you can get those things first, then spend time exploring and swatching - popular items can sell out!
♥ Get an Oyster. An Oyster card makes travelling around London a bit cheaper - you can also use it to get the bus from Wood Green tube station to Alexandra Palace.
♥ Get there early. Doors opened at 8.30am on Saturday. I was there at 8.35am and the crowds were so much easier to deal with. If you don't like crowds I'd advise getting your shopping done before 11am, having lunch and coming back in the afternoon as a lot of people have left by then.
♥ Wear comfy shoes. My biggest mistake was wearing uncomfortable shoes! You will be walking a lot, and carrying heavy bags - wear flats or Uggs!
♥ Take a small handbag. You are provided with a large bag to put your purchases in, so you don't need a big handbag - you'll just end up knocking into people and you won't be able to get close to the counters when there are crowds!
♥ Buy the heavy things last (magazines, books) - saves you dragging them around all day!
♥ Set a budget and take cash. Most exhibitors don't accept cards, and the ones that do can have problems with their card machine. Cash is easy and quick, but try to remember what you've spent!
♥ Don't be scared to chat! The make up artists and exhibitors are so friendly and are more than willing to answer questions and give you advice!
♥ Check out a class - you might learn something new or be inspired! Take a notepad so you don't forget what you've learnt.
♥ Bring wipes - if you are planning on swatching lots of eyeshadows or lipsticks then a pack of wipes will be really useful. Some stalls provided them, but not all.
♥ Follow @MakeupArtistmag and exhibitors on twitter to get exclusive news and insider info!

Thank you for reading! If you couldn't make it to IMATS 2012, I hope this post has convinced you to get your tickets for 2013 as soon as they go on sale!

Thank you to the IMATS team for giving me the opportunity to cover the event on my blog.
P.S. You can see my 2011 IMATS posts here and here.

Bring on Spring!

2012-01-31T13:31:00.000Z

I couldn't decide whether I wanted it to snow, or whether I wanted Spring to arrive. After putting this look together I have decided - bring on Spring!

Topshop dress, Topshop sunglasses, MAC Creme Cup lipstick, Topshop studded belt
Topshop Allegra boots (no longer available, I got copy pair from eBay instead! See here and here)
Meadham Kirchhoff Nail Wraps (available from Topshop from February)
Topshop pink frosted bag

Needless to say Topshop is rocking my world right now! I love the dress but it'd probably have to be worn with a slip, it seems a little see through! I would definitely 'rough it up' a little with some chunky chelsea boots and a studded belt. Plus, how cool are the cat eye sunglasses!

As Milly noted Topshop's frosted range is a take on the Furla Candy bags. Would you be daring enough to show the world the inside of your handbag? ASOS is also doing a small range of these style of bags.

I'm so excited for the Meadham Kirchhoff nail wraps to be released, the designs are so cute (except for the vagina) and I'll be wearing these as accent nails so I can extend their life as much as possible!
Someone really needs to start a petition for MAC to release these lipsticks though:

Lipsticks produced by MAC exclusively for Meadham Kirchhoff Spring 2012 catwalk show
(kinda tempted to try and DIY?!)

Will you be wearing pastels this Spring?

ghd Heat Protect Spray review

2012-01-31T11:09:00.001Z

I have been a fan of ghd straighteners for years, although I had never tried out their styling products, so I was pleased when I was recently contacted and offered the opportunity to try out their Heat Protect Spray.

I've never really committed to a heat protect spray before, I've tried a few but none have convinced me really. Surely if anyone knows how to protect hair from heat it's got to be the inventor of the original most popular styling tool!

Straight away I loved the sleek design. The packaging feels more 'high end' than 'high street' and it definitely stands out among my other hair products.

Here's the blurb from the back of the 120ml bottle:

"ghd Style Heat Protect Spray with the ghd Heat Protection System, so you can maximise your style with heat, whenever you want to use your styler or hairdryer.For all hair types, this lightweight spray helps leave hair looking and feeling smoother.

Directions: Apply to towel dried hair before blow drying. Or spray lightly on to dry hair before heat styling. Also use with any styling product for maximum heat styling confidence."

There is a little more information on the ghd site which I think should have been included on the bottle:

"Apply Heat Protection Spray first if you’re layering it up with other styling products.
Spritz from roots to tips (around 6-8 sprays for mid-to long hair) and comb through to ensure the product is distributed evenly before using your hairdryer or styler."

I've used this for about two weeks now and I really like it. I use 5-10 sprays on my towel dried hair before adding styling products (Bumble and Bumble thickening hairspray on roots, Tigi Love, Peace, Planet 'Freak of Nature' Volumiser and Thickener cream on lengths and ends). After blow drying I use 2-3 sprays before I straighten with my ghd IV styler.

The scent really reminds me of baby powder, which I personally love but some people may not like! The nozzle is good as it sprays a fine mist over your hair rather than squirting it onto patches.

I love that this product feels weightless on hair, and actually made my hair feel softer and smoother. I used it with several other hair products and it didn't affect them at all.
I did make the mistake of using too much product to begin with (I used about 20 sprays, oops!) and although it didn't affect my hair straight away, the next day my hair looked a little greasier than usual. I wash my hair daily but thought this might be useful information to those of you who don't.

Overall, I think this is a good product and if you're looking to try a new heat protection spray I'd recommend the ghd Heat Protect Spray. The Total Volume Foam (£14.95 for 200ml) and Root Lift Spray (£12.95 for 100ml) are also catching my eye!

You can purchase it online from:

official ghd website for £9.95 with free delivery
feelunique for £8.50 with free delivery
lookfantastic for £4.95 with free delivery
HQHair for £4.95 with free delivery

Thanks for reading!

P.S. If you are thinking about buying ghd straighteners please never buy them from an un-official retailer (including eBay, Amazon marketplace and fake ghd websites) - there are so many fakes around and they could be extremely dangerous!
Safe and official ghd styling tools can be bought online from the official ghd website, ASOS, Selfridges, lookfantastic, HQHair and feelunique.
For more information on counterfeit ghd styling tools click here and here.

Note: I was sent this product by Best British Bloggers, this does not affect my opinions and my review is 100% honest

Tips for US eBay nail polish hauling!

2012-01-29T19:20:00.003Z

I always buy OPI, China Glaze and Essie polishes from US eBay sellers as I just can't afford to spend £10-12 on a bottle of nail polish! I have bought:

China Glaze for £4.46 each (32% cheaper than the UK RRP £6.59)

OPI for £6.05 each (45% cheaper than the UK RRP £11.00)

Essie for £5.42 (46% cheaper than the UK RRP £9.95)

(These prices are for two polishes with combined shipping!)

These polishes are 100% authentic and are exactly the same product that is sold in the UK. We are simply charged more which I think is a bit unfair!

My favourite eBay sellers are:
beautyzone2007 (for China Glaze, CND, Essie, OPI, Orly, Seche plus Ardell lashes)
enchantedbeautyspot (for China Glaze, CND, Essie, Orly plus Ardell lashes) - This seller used to be called 'Jolie Beauty Store' and used to be my favourite for OPI hauling but unfortunately they no longer sell OPI.

I've never had any problems with these sellers and would thoroughly recommend them.
Check my posts here, here, here, here and here for details of my nail polish hauls in the past.

My top tips for buying nail polish from US eBay sellers are:

♥ Make sure your eBay and Paypal accounts are fully set up before you start purchasing ♥

If you haven't verified your Paypal account I would recommend doing so before you buy anything. If you are not familiar with eBay then have a look around the site and make sure you are confident on how to contact sellers if you have a question or a problem that needs to be sorted out.

♥ Research the polishes you want to buy ♥

I always search for swatches on blogs, check reviews on makeupalley and compare it with polishes that are already in my collection. This helps make sure I won't be disappointed with my buys!

♥ Haul small ♥

This one is really important! HM Revenue & Customs are able to charge 20% Import VAT and an £8 Royal Mail handling fee on packages containing goods over £15. See here for further details.

I have ordered lots of times with up to 6 nail polishes and I've never been charged. I'd say ordering more than 5-6 polishes is going to draw attention to your package and is probably pushing your luck a little! If you were hoping to order lots of polishes then you might want to whittle down your list to save money on potential import fees!

♥ Watch and plan ♥
When I've decided what polishes I want to buy I add them all to my eBay watch list and from there I make sure they are all from one seller - this reduces postage costs. If you are after a particular polish only one seller stocks, unless it is limited edition you might be best buying it another time when you can combine it with another item to save shipping costs.

♥ Combine shipping ♥

Most sellers (including the two I listed above) will, if you buy more than one item from them, post the items together and offer you a discount on shipping. For example from one eBay seller who offers this promotion the first item costs £2.90 to ship and each additional item costs £1.60 to ship.
To take advantage of this click 'buy it now' then 'commit to buy' on each polish you want but do not click 'pay now' until the last polish.

When you've clicked 'pay now' you will be redirected to a 'review your purchase' page.

Click on the 'request total from seller' link next to the seller's name and click 'continue' to send them a request.

The seller will send an invoice back with the discounted postage price within a day or so - when they do so you will be notified by email.

Make sure you pay by Paypal as soon as possible!

♥ Be patient ♥

Your package will take 7-14 days to arrive from the US. It could be delayed at customs although if you followed the above tips that risk is reduced. I personally would rather buy my polishes from eBay and pay a lot less even if I have to wait a little longer.

I really hope you found this helpful! I already had a few polishes in my eBay 'watch list' but writing this blog post tipped me over the edge! Some of the new China Glaze Electropop polishes and two OPI polishes are now on their way to me. I chose China Glaze Electric Beat, Dance Baby and Fuchsia Fanatic, and OPI Pamplona Purple and Jade Is The New Black.

Note: I am not associated with these eBay sellers - I just thought this post might be helpful!

Topshop Metallic NOTD - Crystal Clouds and Hyperreal

2012-01-29T17:00:00.000Z

Topshop were recently doing 20% student discount and since this hardly ever happens I grabbed my boyfriends NUS card and managed to pick up a few things I had my eye on. Topshop were also offering free delivery over £75, and since I despise paying for delivery I ended up adding two nail polishes to my basket to bring the total up.

L-R: Topshop Metallic Nails in 101 Hyperreal, Topshop Metallic Nails in 102 Crystal Clouds

Hyperreal is a copper/rose gold foil polish with tiny silver flecks that is kind of an inverted version of OPI 'Designer De Better' from the Muppets collection (see here).
Crystal Clouds is a champagne foil polish that shimmers beautifully.

I applied three thin coats of each polish to ensure full coverage - there were some bald patches at two coats but they were fine at three coats. The polish was very easy to apply and dried quickly. The only problem I had was that one of the nail polish brushes had a stray strand but I fixed this by snipping it off.

No flash, natural light: Crystal Clouds with Hyperreal on ring finger

Flash: Crystal Clouds with Hyperreal on ring finger

I then decided to use my nail dotting tools to create an inverted polka dot effect. I'm not sure I'm totally happy with the results, I think that since it was my first time trying the dotting tools I didn't get the pressure exactly right each time, and also I don't think foil polishes are the best type to use - Crystal Clouds didn't contrast amazingly well with Crystal Clouds as they both contain silver shimmers.

Topshop Hyperreal and Crystal Clouds polka dot nails

I sealed the design with OPI's RapiDry topcoat. I haven't tried this before but I got a mini bottle in a set and wanted to start trying other topcoats. I usually use Seche Vite and although it's amazing for drying your polish quickly the manicure rarely lasts more than two days due to shrinkage and peeling of the polish.
It's hard to say how good OPI RapiDry is as the Topshop polish dried quickly by itself and was already very shiny. I will report back on chipping and shrinkage and will be trying it with some creme finish polishes!

Topshop Metallic nail polishes are £6 each for 8ml. Hyperreal is here and Crystal Clouds is here. Topshop also do a set of 3 of their metallic polishes for £12. I assume they're full size, if they definitely are then I think that's great value and I would recommend checking them out!
The full size OPI RapiDry topcoat can be bought for about £7.30 including shipping from the US from this eBay seller. It is also available from Boots for £13.25.

Thanks for reading!
P.S. Sorry about the two nail posts in a row, I have had a really busy weekend but still wanted to blog :)

Nicki Minaj for OPI NOTD - Fly and Save Me

2012-01-27T12:51:00.001Z

When the details of this collaboration started leaking towards the end of last year I was really excited to see what kinds of colours OPI would come up with. I was half pleased but half disappointed when I saw the official information:

Top row L-R: Did It On 'Em, Fly, Pink Friday

Bottom row L-R: Metallic 4 Life, Save Me, Super Bass Shatter

My immediate favourites were Fly, Save Me and Pink Friday. However the Pink Friday that was released wasn't the same as the leaked promo info... more on that shortly!

I bought Fly and Save Me via this eBay seller at the end of December (my polishes came to £12.61 inc delivery). My polishes were with me about 10 days later and I'm pleased with my choices!
Fly is a slightly green toned turquoise. Save Me is a silver glitter with holographic bar glitters.
Here is a look I put together with Fly and Save Me (note the tip wear after one day, argh!):

No flash: two coats of Fly, one coat of Save Me on ring finger, Seche Vite top coat

Flash: two coats of Fly, one coat of Save Me on ring finger, Seche Vite top coat

I think Save Me would also look great over a silver polish!
I love the colour of Fly but straight away it reminded me of something I already had. I compared it with Barry M 295 Turquoise and Models Own Top Turquoise.

Flash, L-R: Barry M 295 Turquoise, OPI Fly, Models Own Top Turquoise

(two coats of each)

As you can see the Barry M is much lighter but Fly is very similar to Top Turquoise - but Fly is just a little darker and greener. Some would say the difference is too great to be a dupe but personally I think that if you have Top Turquoise you can probably skip Fly!

This was the first leaked picture of Pink Friday nail polish:

It appeared to be an amazing pink holographic polish but sadly for some reason it was never released. We ended up with the pink creme polish instead which I think is quite dupeable.
I had a look through my collection and found this Milani 3D Holographic polish in Digital. I bought mine from Cherry Culture. It can be quite sheer so needs to be layered over something else but it gives me that pink holo I'd hoped for!

That's more like it!

L-R: OPI Fly, OPI Save Me, Milani 3D Holographic Digital

I hope you've enjoyed this post. To finish off I'd like to share this absolutely amazing and inspirational nail wheel that just uses the Nicki Minaj polishes with you:

The Illustrated Nail is updated by the fabulously talented nail artist Sophie Harris-Greenslade who is based in the UK. Her tumblr is regularly updated with great manicures! Find out more about Sophie here and follow here on twitter here. My favourites are the star print, leopard print, 'N' and 'M' initials, the 'Nicki' heart and the lightning bolt... only a few then haha!

P.S. If you missed the mini OPI set on Buyapowa they have it listed as coming soon again! They also have a Save Me and Metallic 4 Life duo coming up. If you enter your email here you will be emailed when they go on sale!

Night out FOTD - MAC Girl About Town and Eye Candy lashes

2012-01-22T15:43:00.002Z

Last night my boyfriend, my sister and I went to my cousin's 18th birthday party in Liverpool. Cue scousebrows, beehives and 'Louboutins' all round. I wore this ASOS dress with the chest straps removed, a leopard print belt and my lilac Vivienne Westwood shoes (see this post!).

As for makeup, I made use of my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, some Eye Candy lashes I was kindly sent and an old favourite - MAC Girl About Town lipstick! I absolutely love this lipstick, it's the perfect hot pink that looks amazing against both pale and tanned skin!

Here's the finished look:

Face:

YSL Matte Touch Primer

Estee Lauder Doublewear Light in 1.0

Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer in Light (under eyes, around nose, chin)

MAC Cream Colour Base in Tickle Me Pink (blusher)

MAC MSF Natural in Light/Medium

Dior Amber Diamond highlighter along cheekbones

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay YDK (lid)

Urban Decay Half Baked (inner corner and excess blended over lid)

Urban Decay Suspect (crease)

Urban Decay Bootycall (brow bone highlight)

Benefit Eye Bright (lower waterline)

MUFE Aqua Eyes eyeliner in Black (tightline/upper waterline)

Estee Lauder Doublewear Liquid Liner in Black

Rimmel Day 2 Night mascara (I usually use this as a base for more volumising mascaras, it separates lashes well!)

MAC brow pencil in Lingering and MAC eyeshadow in Espresso to fill brows

No7 clear brow gel

Eye Candy 60s Dramatise Strip Lashes in 009

Lips:

MAC Girl About Town patted on to give a matte stain effect

(Really wishing I had a better camera/lighting for these pics!
Please leave any tips for taking good pics with a basic digital camera in the comments - I do use macro!)

As you can see in the above before and after pictures, the Eye Candy lashes gave me long, pretty lashes that were not too OTT or obviously fake looking. I much prefer the more 'natural' fake lashes these days!
They were really easy to apply - I just snipped off a little as they were too long for me, applied my glue (I used Duo, although these come with glue!), waited 30 seconds and used a pair of tweezers to place them on my lashes which I had already applied one coat of mascara to.

They wore really comfortably and the band isn't too thick or dark. There are so many lash brands out there that it's hard to know where to start but I think they would make great lashes for beginners.
I love that all the Eye Candy lashes are available in either the 50's style or 60's style packaging! The lashes are made from sterilised human hair which I was a little unsure about but after a bit of research this means that the lashes are of a higher quality than synthetic lashes - it's just like human hair extensions.

The lashes are in good condition after one use and I'm sure I will be able to wear them at least 3-4 more times.
The Eye Candy lashes retail for £4.49 and are available from Boots, justbeautifully.co.uk, and Gordons Chemists (based in Northern Ireland and Scotland but they sell online).

Thanks for reading!

(Disclaimer: I was sent the Eye Candy lashes for consideration. This doesn't affect my opinion at all and my review is totally honest.)

Clear skin tips

2012-01-20T16:47:00.000Z

If like me, you're past your teenage years yet you still get spots then I hope some of these tips are helpful. These are things I've read about in skincare books or in magazine articles and wanted to bring together here.

1. Stop touching your face!
I am really guilty of this one, I'm a fidget and I touch my face all the time. Think about the amount of bacteria you pick up from your phone, on the train, touching money or (and I swear I have seen someone do this) sneezing and not washing your hands straight away - yuck!
I don't really like using anti-bacterial gel (it takes at least two minutes to work, dries out your skin and can only kill 99.9% of bacteria - that 0.1% is important!) and prefer carrying a small pack of hand wipes with me. I feel like anti-bacterial gel just rubs dirt around on my hands whereas the hand wipes actually remove dirt.

2. Change your pillowcase!
You lie on it for 8 hours a night, so you're essentially pressing sweat, oil, dead skin particles and bacteria on to your skin for that long. I change my bedding once a week but I think I might start changing my pillowcase more often. If your pillowcase isn't 100% cotton I'd recommend investing in a good quality one (180-200 thread count) - remember that polyester is plastic and you don't want that on your skin for 8 hours a night!
If you are having quite aggressive breakouts it's also worth making sure you are not allergic to your detergent or fabric softener!
You should also either use a separate towel for your face or use a fresh towel daily to make sure you aren't putting dirt back on to your clean skin!

3. Sort your products out!
♥ Overcleansing oily skin with harsh alcohol-based products can actually increase oil production and lead to blocked pores aka spots! Don't be afraid to use an oil-based cleanser but ensure it is non-comedogenic and will not block pores. An oil-free moisturiser will help your makeup last longer.
♥ Using a moisturiser that is too rich can result in milia (small white spots around the eyes). If you are affected by this try using a lighter moisturiser or a separate eye cream.
♥ Give a new routine at least three weeks. New products may cause an initial breakout but this is due to the impurities already just under the top layer of your skin. After that breakout you will be able to fully judge the effect that the product has on your skin. That being said, if you are obviously allergic to a product you should not continue using it!
♥ Make sure you clean your brushes once a week, especially ones that have been in cream products as bacteria grows quickest in cream products.

4. Tie your hair up!
Hair products contain oil, silicone and derivatives of plastic that on hair can work amazingly - when they are transferred to skin it's not so great! Having your hair down over your face (particularly if you have a fringe) can result in clogged pores and a breakout.
Try wearing your hair up now and again to reduce the amount of hair products coming into contact with your skin. I came across this picture on Pinspire which gave me a few ideas for up-dos. Also, if you usually sleep with your hair down try clipping your fringe back.

5. Supplements
If you're often on the go you may not be getting all the nutrients your skin needs. I take Perfectil when my skin needs a boost. Perfectil tablets contain nutrients essential to maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails. They cost £7.70 for a months supply which can seem a bit pricey but they are almost always on 3 for 2 in Boots! (This is not sponsored by the way, I just know a lot of people are skeptical of these products!)

I hope some of these tips have been interesting. Do you have any more skincare tips to share?
Thanks for reading!

Birthday nails - Essie and Models Own NOTD

2012-01-11T14:39:00.000Z

(With flash)

I am 24 today, it seems like I only just turned 23! I have been really excited for my birthday this year but at the same time, I feel like I'm getting old now. I can't deny it any more, I've hit my mid-twenties and life has definitely not panned out the way I had planned it at 16. That is not a bad thing by the way!
I still have a baby face though and have been mistaken for a 6th former a few times at the school I work in! I hope that if I lose weight this I will end up looking a bit older!

For my birthday nails I decided to go for something 'grown up' with a hint of fun. I opted for Essie Lady Like with Models Own Gold Finger for the ring finger. I first saw the Essie polish worn by Anna and I knew I had to have it!
Lady Like is a pretty yet sophisticated dusky lavender with a hint of pink in a certain light, and Gold Finger is a great glitter polish that can be built up like I have for this look.
I got my Essie polish from this eBay seller for about £5.50, and I got the Models Own polish from the Models Own site when they were having a 50% off sale - it normally costs £5.

Please ignore my cuticles, I tried to sort them out last night with Mavala's Cuticle Remover but I think I need to get into a routine of using my CND Solar Oil and hand cream in the afternoon as well as at night! I love the Soap and Glory hand cream for day time use, and the Liz Earle hand cream for a intensive night time treatment.

(Natural light, no flash)

Right, I'm off to the Post Office to see if they've got my OPI Nicki Minaj polishes and to check whether my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette has been delivered to my Mum's house! I'm tutoring some GCSE Science tonight so my birthday celebrations are on hold until the weekend!

What do you think of Lady Like? Are you a fan of Essie or Models Own? Is 24 really old??

Catwalk beauty Spring 2012

2012-01-08T09:00:00.003Z

Reading through the February issue of Elle I was excited to see the Spring 2012 makeup and beauty looks. A lot of designers opted for a very fresh, bare look (which I personally think is a little boring!) but these beauty trends stood out to me:

Clockwise from top left:

Maryna Linchuk for Dolce and Gabbana

Joan Smalls for Louis Vuitton

Toni Garnn for Viktor & Rolf

Jospehine Skriver for Louis Vuitton

Fresh skin, long lashes and barely pink pouts. Viktor & Rolf gave their girls an edge with pink lashes and stained lips! Hair is pretty, slightly tousled and almost flyaway.

I love lashes by Shu Uemura, Eye Candy and Eylure. Diorshow Black Out mascara is also the best volumising mascara I've ever used - it's a night out fail safe!

Clockwise from top left:

Abbey Lee Kershaw for Chanel

Magdalena Frackowiak for Dolce and Gabbana

Melissa Tammerijn for Jil Sander

Hedvig Palm for Jonathan Saunders

Daga Ziober for Marc Jacobs

Winged liner can seem a bit heavy for Spring, so the nude lips and glowy skin keep the rest of the look light. Jonathan Saunders really ran with it and exaggerated the liner almost up to the brow bone.

My favourite black liner is Estee Lauder Doublewear Zero-Smudge Liquid Liner because it doesn't budge! It can turn a little grey throughout the day so I carry a black pencil liner with me for a lunch time top-up.

Clockwise from top left:

Martha Streck for Dior

Jessica Stam for Prada

Jourdan Dunn for Anna Sui

Jessica Stam for Giles

Daphne Groeneveld for Jason Wu

Lindsey Hoover for Mary Katrantzou

Marcelia Freesz for Rick Owens

This was an absolutely huge look! Wear red, orange, hot pink, coral, nude... as long as it's matte.

My favourite matte shades are: MAC Ruby Woo, MAC Please Me and Revlon Pink Pout.

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage looks amazing! You can buy it from ASOS.

Clockwise from top left:

Frida Gustavsson for 3.1 Phillip Lim

Candice Swanepoel for Fendi

Andreea Diaconu for Giorgio Armani

Toni Garrn for Fendi

Stephanie Rad for Ashish

I absolutely love how the MUAs used gold and silver leaf at Fendi! For a more wearable version try Emma Watson's TDHP2 Premier look. Silver cream shadow shapes were used at 3.1 Phillip Lim and Giorgio Armani - something like the new MAC Metal X cream shadows in Cyber would be perfect but the lasting power can be an issue. I'd probably just use something like MAC powder eyeshadow in Electra or the new Chanel Illusion D'Ombre shadow in Fantasme.

The pink glitter on the eyes at Ashish is fab, it really makes me want to buy lots of MAC glitters!

Images from style.com, elleuk.com, vogue.it, vogue.co.uk and elle.com

What is your favourite beauty trend this Spring? Will you try any of these looks? Thanks for reading!
P.S. As always you can open the pictures in a new tab for a closer look!

Galaxy/nebula/space/cosmic nails tutorial

2012-01-07T18:42:00.002Z

Whatever you call them, you can't deny that Galaxy nails are pretty cool. The best thing about them is that every design is unique and anyone can come up with something beautiful.

After watching loads of YouTube videos and seeing Tumblr, weheartit and blog posts with galaxy nails I had a go myself. The links to my favourite galaxy nails are at the end of this post.
I've split this tutorial up into six steps and tried to keep it as simple as possible. Open an image in a new tab if you want to see a larger version!

You will need:
♥ Nails (obviously) - I used these nails from this eBay seller (note: I think they're good for practicing nail art but aren't that comfortable to wear and take a lot of shaping)

♥ A base coat

♥ Polishes in black, white, navy blue, purple, red, yellow and any other space-esque colours you'd like to use

♥ A chunky glitter polish

♥ A holographic topcoat - see this post

♥ A clear topcoat

♥ A makeup sponge or a sponge eyeshadow applicator - I got mine in a bag of about 20 from poundland

♥ A nail art brush or small paintbrush - I got mine from this eBay seller

Step 1: Prepare your nails. Clean and shape them, and use a base coat to avoid staining.

Step 2: Paint your nails with the black polish. I used two coats of OPI Lady In Black to ensure full coverage.

Step 3: Drop out a blob of your white polish. I did mine onto some sellotape so it wouldn't go straight through the paper and on to my desk. You could use the back of a magazine. Pick up a small amount of the white polish using your sponge and dab off any excess. It's better to build up slowly than to splodge on too much! Lightly sponge the design you want for your galaxy onto your nails.

Step 4: Sponge over the white with the navy, purple, red and yellow polishes. If you go wrong just sponge over with some white or black. I used mostly navy and purple with only a small amount of red and yellow in my design.
See this highly professional video for help on sponging (hey auto focus!):

These are the colours I used for step 4. L-R: Models Own Snow White, Barry M Navy 292, Models Own True Blue, OPI Funky Dunkey, Revlon 680 Revlon Red, Models Own Lemon Meringue.

Step 5: Use a small brush to apply a chunky glitter polish across the galaxy part of the design (i.e. not the black background). I used Maybelline 246 Icy Mauve.

Step 6: Add your stars! Apply a holographic topcoat over the whole nail - I used INM Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat. Use a clear topcoat to seal the design - I used Seche Vite. Sit back and admire your design!

If you created your design on false nails you will need to either glue them on or use something like these Ultra Tabs from Nailene. I prefer using the tabs as they don't damage your natural nails at all! They're easy to use (as long as you're not in a rush) and easy to remove when you have had enough. They're not as strong as glue but are still a good option and cannot leak in your bag! A variety of sizes is included although I wish Nailene would release a 'petite' version of these for my teeny child-sized hands.
The Nailene tabs are available from Boots at £2.49 for a pack of 24.

My favourite galaxy nails: cutepolish @ YouTube, xolildancerx3 @ weheartit, Claris Ribeiro, Samii Ryan
Some blogger galaxy nails: BBB, Kelly, Zoey, Cris, Victoria, Lily, Heather

Have you tried galaxy nails? Link me! Thanks for reading!

Holographic topcoats swatches and comparison (Nubar, China Glaze, Models Own, Northern Lights)

2012-01-07T17:54:00.000Z

Being a total glitter Magpie I have amassed a small collection of holographic topcoats. I have swatched them over OPI Lady In Black so you can see what the differences are.

Top - flash, bottom - no flash

L-R: Nubar Star Sparkle, China Glaze Fairy Dust, Models Own Juicy Jules, INM Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat

Top - flash, bottom - no flash

L-R: Nubar Star Sparkle, China Glaze Fairy Dust, Models Own Juicy Jules, INM Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat

Left pics - no flash, right pics - flash

Top L-R: China Glaze Fairy Dust, INM Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat

Bottom L-R: Nubar Star Sparkle, Models Own Juicy Jules

China Glaze Fairy Dust - This is probably my favourite to use as a topcoat. The holographic glitter small but dense. The holographic effect is great on this polish. I picked mine up in Sally's for £6.59. It's on their website here.

INM Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Holographic Top Coat - This is most similar to the China Glaze polish, except it's a little less dense. Again, this has a great holographic effect. I got mine from this eBay seller for about £6.50 (with delivery to the UK). I think this one is a lot cheaper in the US so I'd advise picking that one up if you're US based! It's probably worth mentioning that the glitter settles at the bottom of the bottle hence the sticker saying 'shake it up'!

Nubar Star Sparkle - This is holographic glitter as well as silver glitter, therefore the holographic effect isn't as intense as the CG or INM polishes. It's available from this eBay seller for about £6 (with delivery to the UK). The seller always relists it after it's finished so keep your eyes peeled!

Models Own Juicy Jules - This is a chunky, sparse polish but it's easy to build up. It has a good holographic effect and I really recommend it! It's £5 and is available from Model's Owns' website, Boots and ASOS. ASOS is probably the best option as you can get NUS discount if you're a student and free delivery!

Which is your favourite holographic polish? Is there another one you'd recommend? I've always wanted to get my hands on the China Glaze Wireless topcoat!

Second Blog Birthday

2012-01-06T00:19:00.001Z

(Source)

Two years ago today bloggers like bloggers like Gemma, Lily, Laura and Bicky inspired me to set up my very own blog. I have really enjoying blogging so far, and hope that 2012 is even better for Beauty Lover's Notes.

I realise that with blogging that you get out what you put in, and so this year I am aiming to be a better blogger. I have become much more active on Twitter in the last few months and definitely think it makes all the difference in feeling like a part of the 'blogging community'. Being based in the North makes it hard for me to get to London for meet-ups and events but I hope this year I can meet some more lovely bloggers!

I'd also like to invest in a better quality camera and brush up on my photography skills in 2012. I currently use a bog standard Sony digital camera that I've had for years, and I know that flash photography looks pretty naff 99% of the time!

This post is really a thank you to all of my followers, it makes me so happy to see that GFC number creeping up! Although I love blogging for me I can't deny that the feedback through comments and page views is really encouraging.

IMATS London 2012

2012-01-03T00:01:00.003Z

If you're not familiar with IMATS let me tell you a bit about it. The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show is a gathering of artists, vendors and enthusiasts which began in Los Angeles in 1997. I attended the London event last year I knew I had to come back in 2012!
This year, IMATS takes place in London at Alexandra Palace on Friday 3rd February (Pro Only), Saturday 4th February and Sunday 5th February - i.e. you only have a few weeks to get your tickets!

Last year the event mainly took place in the West Hall, but this year the organisers have moved everything to the Great Hall which is absolutely huge in comparison - so there will be much more room for artists to lead workshops and seminars. Speakers and guests include Nick Dudman (make-up artist for the Harry Potter series - he'll be doing a goblin look on Warwick Davies live - amazing!), Dany Sanz (founder of Make Up For Ever) and Terry Barber (MAC Cosmetics' Director of Artistry for the UK). Click here for the full schedule.

(The Crown Brush stand at IMATS London 2011)

Of course, one of the main draws for me is the amazing brands and companies that will be present, a number of which will be offering discounts on products for the day. My recommendations are:

Crown Brush - Good quality brushes for decent prices. I'll be going there first to avoid the queues later on.

Guru Makeup Emporium - A pro brand stockist who last year offered great discounts on MUFE products, although MUFE have their own stand this year so I'm not sure who will offer the best discount this time!

Pam Ltd - Another great pro brand stockist. You can pick up MUFE, Ben Nye, OCC, Kryolan and more here.

MAC Pro - I got my hands on some lovely Pro only mixing mediums last year which I have used with pigments and glitters. There is no discount available for non-Pros so I won't be buying loads but I may pick up Show Orchid lipstick and a glitter or two. Remember MAC Pro products are always available for anyone to buy from their London Pro store or via their mail order phone line: 0800 054 2676.

Illamasqua - Last year their products were packed into sets, no individual products were available to buy which was a shame. I hope to try some of their Precision Ink eyeliners and Pure Pigment in Beguile after seeing Zoe's post on it.

Paperself - Offering avant-garde lashes as worn by Janet Devlin on X Factor. My curiosity is growing and I want to see what all the fuss is about!

Sleek Makeup - If you haven't heard of Sleek... were you living in a cave in 2011? Lots of cheap but decent quality products. I may pick up an i-Divine palette and some of their blushers (Rose Gold, Pixie Pink and Flamingo are fab!).

NYX Cosmetics - Another cheap and cheerful brand, I recommend their lipsticks, powder and cream blushes and individual eyeshadows. I fancy giving their Soft Matte Lip Creams a try!

Inglot - A fairly new brand to the UK. I got a palette last year but might just pick up some individual shadows this year that I can stick in an old MAC palette. Check out of Christine of Temptalia's swatches here - I really recommend their Pearl finish eyeshadows.

See the full list of exhibitors here.

I will also be keeping an eye on the student competition throughout the day - the theme this year is Wild Kingdom. I'm expecting to see lots of beautiful birds, interesting insects and remarkable reptiles.
For an idea of how amazing the student artists are, here is Loren Huckin's winning look for the 2011 IMATS 'tribal beauty' theme:

Tickets for IMATS London 2012 are available here.
For the general public (i.e. you are not a Pro or student make-up artist) prices are as follows:
Saturday 4th February - £45
Sunday 5th February - £45
Saturday and Sunday - £70

I have already booked my hotel (staying in South London) and will be booking my train soon! My boyfriend has just broken it to me that he might not be able to come down to London with me that weekend (he would have visited a friend whilst I was at IMATS) which does mean that I will have a double bed to myself, but it also means I'm going to have to be brave and get to LDN all by myself which I've never done before! I'll be meeting up with lots of lovely YouTubers, Bloggers and Tweeps so I should be fine when I'm there!

If you're going to IMATS or want to ask any questions please comment below or tweet me! My twitter is @beautylovenotes. Thanks for reading!

P.S. My 2011 IMATS posts are here (part one) and here (part two).

Happy New Year! Lush and Boots sales buys

2012-01-02T19:07:00.000Z

I hope you all had a lovely New Year's Eve! Mine was spent sorting the guest list for my sister's party and being the designated driver whilst my family and boyfriend downed £1700 worth of free drinks (my sister won a competition for a free party with a huge bar tab!). Not all of my friends could make it to the party so I will be making up for it with them on my birthday night out on the 14th!

A few things I ordered in the online sales arrived last week. I didn't buy too much since I'm pretty skint at the moment but here's what I bought:

All of the Christmas range from Lush was half price. It took me about 12 hours on and off to actually place an order since the site couldn't cope with the traffic, but I really didn't fancy going shopping on Boxing Day!

I got lots of Snow Fairy! I just love the glitter and pink-ness of it! I haven't ever paid full price for this. Three 500ml bottles should last me a good few months.

I also got a 500ml bottle of Glogg shower gel - it's supposed to smell like mulled wine but I'm not really sure I like the scent of it so far! It seems more of a manly scent but I will give it another go before giving my boyfriend the go-ahead haha!

The 100ml bottles of It's Raining Men and Flying Fox weren't in the sale but I've wanted to try It's Raining Men for ages as it's supposed to be the shower gel version of Honey I Washed The Kids soap (which is gorgeous), and Flying Fox is absolutely amazing for 'that time of the month'!

I am more of a shower person than a bath person, but I do like a bath every so often when I'm feeling a little self indulgent! I got these Bubble Bars:

Three Gold Rings - supposed to smell like vanilla and orange but I gave it a sniff and it smells disgusting - hopefully it will smell nice when it's actually in a bath

Candy Mountain - vanilla and candy floss scented - yum!

Gingerbread House - spicy ginger scent, so sad my cinnamon stick was snapped boo!

I ordered this Crafty Nana Custard Cream keyring kit from Boots for £5 (reduced from £10). I am really getting into crafty things and this is an easy way for me to try oven-bake clay! The little case it comes in is so cute and will make a nice storage space after I've used the kit! The kits are currently sold out on Boots.com but are still available from Fred Aldous for £14.99 plus £2.80 P&P if you really wanted to get hold of it!

Lastly, I ordered this Sanctuary Spa Perfect Essentials set for £5 (reduced from £10) as I've never tried the range before and thought the miniatures would be a nice way to test it out! Included is a body scrub, body wash, foaming bath soak, body lotion and luxury bath float. I will review the products after using them as they're all still available to buy individually from Boots.

How did you spend New Year's Eve? Did you buy much in the sales? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading!

2012 Resolutions

2011-12-28T18:35:00.000Z

Every year I make a few resolutions but I've really never stuck to them before. I am determined to stick to these though!

1. Start exercising regularly

30+ mins of exercise 3+ times a week

2. Learn to knit

I've been getting into crafts lately and this is one I've always wanted to try! I have a beginners knitting book on my birthday list so I'll take it from there...

3. Use my electric toothbrush instead of my manual toothbrush

I have had my electric toothbrush for a few years now but I always end up forgetting about it as soon as it needs charging. I've got a new head on it and I want to get my teeth a bit whiter!

4. Blog at least once a week

2011 was a bit of a fail blogging-wise for me, I hope to rectify this in 2012 since I have A LOT of free time

5. Get a decent job and pay off my student overdraft

Five years of dependence will be difficult to reverse but it's time to sort my life out!

Have you made any resolutions for 2012?

Thanks Santa!

2011-12-27T16:05:00.000Z

I didn't get that Christmassy excitement at all this year (I think it was the lack of snow) but it was really nice to spend time with family and enjoy a gorgeous meal together.
I was very lucky to receive some lovely gifts, some of which are below. Please don't think I'm showing off by sharing them with you - I love reading about what people got as it gives me ideas for future gifts or sale buys! I also got lots of chocolate, wine and random things I didn't photograph (including cheese and a dinosaur keyring from my boyfriend's mum, she's crazy but hilarious).

Lots of books! I'm still reading books I was given last Christmas so I need to hurry up and finish them!

Brian Cox - Wonders of the Solar System/Universe
Richard Dawkins - The Magic of Reality

David Nicholls - One Day/Starter for Ten

Sarah Winman - When God Was a Rabbit

Kathyrn Stockett - The Help

Fifty Dresses That Changed The World

Reviews to come!

Warehouse purse
Shu Uemura lashes
Pull & Bear bow necklace
Marc by Marc Jacobs Panther iPhone 4 case
OPI polishes in Bullish on OPI, Bling Dynasty and Ogre-The-Top Blue

FrontCover Style Queen set
Hugo Boss Orange set
Beyonce 4 DVD
CDs: The Black Keys - El Camino, Adele - 21, Drake - Take Care

M&S Marcel Wanders Knuffel bear (with a light up nose!)

Red glitter pumps (from Claire's)

Soap and Glory Big Splendour set

I've done a bit of sneaky online sales shopping (Lush and Boots!) so I will post about what I bought when the orders arrive.

Now that Christmas is over I'm looking forward to my boyfriend's birthday which is tomorrow, and my birthday which is exactly two weeks afterwards. Neither of us want to turn 24, feeling old!
My sister has also won a competition for a £2,000 New Year's Eve party so that should be ridiculous. I'm trying to put together a list of requests for the DJ but my mind is blanking - please stick any good tunes in the comments!

Hope you enjoyed your Christmas! Let me know what your favourite present was in the comments!

Free Bumble and Bumble goodies - expired!

2011-12-10T19:15:00.005Z

Whilst I was browsing Facebook last night a little advert for Bumble and Bumble appeared. It said something about free samples so I clicked through to check it out.

(These are the full size products - you will receive the travel sized ones which I estimate to be 30-40ml each)

~~What I found is a pretty amazing offer: With ANY order you can get free delivery, a free travel size "Thickening" set worth £15, AND~~ ~~three two free sample sachets (7ml Curl Conscious Smoothing Conditioner, 7ml Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque~~ ~~and 7ml Creme de Coco Masque)! - UPDATE 13/12/11: They seem to have run out of the Creme de Coco Masque sample sorry! Well done if you managed to get one (or two!).~~
~~EDIT 12/12/11: Use the code Emerald to get another free 30ml Thickening spray with your order! Thanks to Becky for sharing this in the comments!~~ UPDATE 13/12/11: The Emerald code has now expired!

I think Thickening travel set is 50ml each for the Shampoo, Conditioner and Hairspray, but I am not 100% sure!

(This pic is the full size products - you will get your samples in sachets!)

The Bumble and Bumble site sells some cheapish products- the 50ml Prep spray is £5 and 50ml Styling Creme is £6.50 so you could order a great little stocking filler for someone.
If you wanted to order two products I'd advise making two separate orders to maximise the freebies!

I ordered the Brilliantine hair polish for £17 as I've always wanted to try it, but I may make another order for a Christmas present!

Here are the TandCs: Free delivery is for standard delivery with any order. Samples are to be selected at checkout and are subject to availability. No offer code necessary. Free travel size Thickening Set is available on all orders whilst stocks last or until midnight Sunday 18th December 2011. Offer is not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Here is the link to the site: www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk

Enjoy!

EDIT 27/12/11: This offer has now expired sorry! There is a new offer on the site if you want to check it out: www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk