beckys makeup | UK Beauty, Makeup and Lifestyle Blog

Mavala SS13 Chili and Spice Collection

2013-05-15T09:00:00.000+01:00

If theres one thing that I am a sucker for and thats nail polish so when I feasted my eyes on these new offerings from Mavala as part of their coveted Chilli and Spice Collection* I was keen to give them a whirl. Breaking away from my Essie comfort zone wasn't too hard when I saw the array of vibrant colours available, which range from a vibrant blue, bright enough to rival Nails Inc Baker Street to a straight up in your face red, all in a rather cute 5ml bottle. At almost half the size of a standard size bottle of polish these still pack a pretty mean punch and as someone that fails to ever finish a bottle of polish the size does not affect me. Its not all about the size ladies right?. I digress. Despite the smaller bottle design these are pretty easy to apply, rather than being fiddly as I had envisaged for my chubs of fingers. The caps easy to get a good grip and the brush is pretty much the same size as a normal bottle of polish. First up on my agenda was Bamoka and if you saw my Instagram a couple of days ago I gave a quick preview (username: beckysmakeup). A bright tuquoise bluey green this is a far cry from my usual shade of choice, and gave me the chance to break out of my colour comfort zone! The polish itself applies smoothy, no streaks and gives an almost opaque first coat, with the second giving it extra something. Whilst drying time is a little longer than desired, this can be worked around by applying thinner coats and using a quick drying top coat such as the aforementioned Seche Vite. Being someone that chops and changes her polish on a regular basis, longevity isn't usually something I look for in a polish as Seche Vite usually sorts that issue out regardless, so you are going to have to watch this space for how long this stays put!

If you fancy getting your mitts on the Chilli and Spice collection then it will be available from Boots, Debenhams and John Lewis from today for £4.50 each.

*PR Sample

Hair Care Additions

2013-05-14T09:00:00.000+01:00

My haircare routine is pretty simple. Wash check. Condition check. Then its a quick no faff blow dry and a straighten with the odd spritz of dry shampoo for volume and I am good to go. With my no fuss routine perfected down to 10 minutes in the morning, I was sparing a few minutes to add some bolt on products in an attempt to up the condition of my hair and generally give it a more polished look.

Yuko anti-frizz leave in conditioner*. Yuko is a brand specialising in hair straightening which also boasts a rather impressive product line alongside its salon treatments. More importantly with the likes of Jennifer Anniston reportedly being a fan I knew I had to give this a go. It smells ridiculously fruity and refreshing whilst detangles my hair amazingly. Specifically designed to react with heat styling my hair has never felt so soft and conditioned. Plus the no nonsense spray bottle means its easy to apply quickly after stepping out of the shower before attacking with a wide tooth comb. I like to pull my hair to the side and hold in a pony tail fashion and spray on the ends. Note that this is best used on the ends of the hair only as it can leave the roots a tad on the greasy side if used too liberally.

Yuko's anti-frizz serum*. For those that suffer fly away hair or hair thats verging on the frizzy side this is your product. I like to add one pump of this between my hands, rub together and apply to the ends and then run the remainder over the top of my hair to calm fly aways. I have always steered away from serums due to their greasy formulas, or my tendency to use too much. This dispenses just the right amount and its non greasy formulation has definitely restored my faith in hair serums. Again avoid applying too much to the roots and resist the urge to apply too much. Remember less is more and you can always add more if needed.

Macadamia Fast Drying Working Spray*. One thing that lacks from my collection is hairspray. To be honest I have never really found a purpose for it. Macadamia though is a brand I am familiar with yet had not ever tried. I like the fact that Macadamia have cleverly named this a 'working spray' rather than a generic hairspray. And I am pleased to see that hairsprays have come a long way since the days I used to spray it on like it was going out of fashion during the Croydon facelift school days (the shame)!. Since having a fringe cut in, I need something to keep it in place and serum just won't cut it without leaving me with a fringe stuck to my forehead. I have been spritzing this over my fringe and then brushing through to give it a boost. Albeit this does not keep it in place all day, it does allow me to leave the house with my fringe in a half decent condition.

So whilst my hair will never be Kardashian perfect, a few additions to a somewhat simple routine has certainly changed my attitude towards my haircare in general. What additions are currently rocking your routine?

*PR Sample(s)

Weekend Wish List #9

2013-05-12T12:41:00.002+01:00

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After somewhat a busy fun filled week I have been left with a list as long as my arm in terms of products I am coveting lately. This week saw me attend my first blogger event in London at the Pure PR #puregetaway, and with the persuasion of the lovely Lisa and Alice I ended up at my second event of the night. So thanks ladies. I am pretty sure my bank balance is still recovering from a brief encounter with Liberty's and the Aesop counter though. I digress. So onto this weeks wish list.

1. The Body Shop Banana Shampoo/Conditioner - I used to use this back in the day and heaven knows why I stopped. I quick whiff of this over the weekend took me back to my youth and it has been firmly placed back onto my shopping list. Its definitely a love it or hate it scent. I am definitlely of the former and find banana scents rediculously addictive.

2. Bourjois Cream Blushes - I got the heads up on these a little while back and I believe they are available from Boots on the 15th May (they are available at Selfridges now though FTW). This year saw Bourjois celebrate an incredible 150 years in the business and in celebration they have released a rather gorgeous selection of cream to powder blushes. Sweet Cheeks and Nude Velvet have definitely caught my eye.

3. Topshop Joni Jeans - Just because I love a good pair of black jeans. I live in my Leighs and most recently purchased a few Zara skinnys which I adore. I don't think you can beat a good pair of jeans in your collection and they are definitely my uniform of choice.

4. Argos Heart Drawers - A few years back I purchased the Alex 5 drawer. Cue a few years later and its the beauty bloggers storage of choice. However having packed it to the brim I don't really want to buy another so this cute chest of drawers from Argos looks the perfect alternative. Just a shame it is sold out or it would be mine.

5. Chanel Les Beiges - I don't think theres any lady around that has not seen nor heard of this powder from Chanel. Every time I see a Chanel counter I have to have a swatch and admire it but at £38 its quite a lot of notes to part with for a powder. But with a few advantage points lurking about I may forego my Chanel lipstick purchase I was initially going to use my points for and put towards this beauty.

6. Estée Lauder Brow Duo - Whilst in London on Thursday I was treated to a mini brow make over by the absolutely adorable MUA Joanna Bernacka-Pettit. She used this on me and I was immediately sold. I am quite partial to the pencils which you don't have to sharpen, the Clinique Superfine is my go to. But every time it runs out you have to buy an entire new one. I loved the fact that this is refillable so you can just buy re-fills each time which works out slightly cheaper than my current one.

What have you been lusting after this week?

Essie Meet Me at Sunset

2013-05-08T09:30:00.000+01:00

Essie Meet Me at Sunset £7.99 (Boots.com)

Its no secret that I have a weakness for Essie nail polishes, which are slowly but surely taking over my entire collection bar a stash of Nails Inc and a few miscellaneous offerings. Essie's Meet me at Sunset actually featured in a wishlist post back in April (post here) where I jabbered on about it being a possible dupe for Chanel Holiday. So, when beauty pro Anna confirmed this, it was unquestionable whether I would purchase or not to say the least. And so that brings me to this post as the proud new owner of Meet Me at Sunset, which has been sat proudly on my nails this (rather hot) week. Not for the faint hearted, this is a bright, in ya face reddish orange. Its definitely, a let me stare at my hands all day admiring the shade. As with all Essie nail polishes the application is one of my best finds yet, this I put down to their rather special brush which allows one swoop per nail. I am pleased to note that quite a few other brands are following suit with this style brush, in particular Bourjois Gel Polishes and Rimmel (take note polish brands). A couple of coats achieves a full, vibrant opaque covering, however if you are in somewhat of a rush then you could get away with the one coat, albeit it may not last as long as the 2. So in a nutshell I so believe this could be my summer shade of choice for a while.

Have you found your perfect summer shade yet?

Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils

2013-05-06T12:32:00.002+01:00

Relaxing is something that tends to get neglected in my busy life. If I am not working, I am cleaning the flat, blogging, and grabbing a quick shower day to day. But every so often I like to run a bubble bath, light a candle and indulge in a glass of wine (or two). In fairness I am a bath girl, I like to chill out in the tub often with a YouTube playlist, a stash of mags and just relax. Aside from bubble baths I have been really getting into my oils lately. Face, body, nails you name it they have been oiled up and my latest edition is the Aromatherapy Associates Mini Bath and Shower Oils. The collection boats 9 of their popular bath and shower oils in minature form. Each glass bottle has enough for roughly 3 baths, a capful into a steamy hot run bath is all you need and just sit back and enhale the aromas. Relax Deep being a personal fave is a combination etivert, camomile and sandalwood aromas, which is perfect just before climbing into a warm bed for a good nights kip. If bathing, however is not your thing then fear no less as these can be used in the shower too which I have been doing of a weekend morning with Revive Morning being my go to option, a refreshingly wake me up scent of Grapefruit, Rosemary and Juniper. To use in the shower, I will get the shower going up to a nice temp and then rub a capful between my hands before rubbing all over my body and jumping in the shower. The hot steam really penetrates the oil into the skin and trust me you will be sniffing yourself all day after this. I do recall my boyfriend stated I smelt like that shop we have to go in (I believe he was referring to Space NK) which can't be a bad thing.

Now these will set you back around 30 notes for the set. But at 3 bath/showers per bottle it works out roughly a £1 a bath which is pretty good going for a good quality soak! I did however have a snoop on Beauty Bay and they are currently on offer for £24.23 here.

Why not check out my latest advertiser? Madame G's Lifestyle

Top Beauty Sites You Should Visit

2013-04-29T09:00:00.000+01:00

Suffice to say I love a bit of online shopping. Often more than I should. And more often than not I am presented with a 'sorry we missed you' card through the letter box with the excitement of what it could be. When it comes to beauty, I tend to use the high street to swatch and then scour the net to see whether any online bargains can be had, thats if my patience has not got the better of me. With shopping online it can be swings and roundabouts in terms of savings, taking into account postage and whether you are willing to wait for the item. But over my time blogging I have added a rather hefty bookmark of sites under my belt, and with a majority of them offering free postage whats not to love.

1. Beauty Bay - Probably the most viewed site in my browser. This offers free delivery to the whole of the UK and is dispatched pretty quickly despite advising it can take up to a week. They often have sales on so you can usually save a few pence on top brands and products alike.

2. Fragrance Direct - If you are after bargains then this is your stop. With Essie polishes for £1.99 (yes, you heard right) and over 50% off all products its definitely worth a peruse. OK, you won't find the most up to date of products on this site but its worth a look if you are working on a budget.

3. Space NK - Just because its Space NK. I have a smallish shop near me and it does not often have the items I want in stock. However my only bugbear with this is that it does charge for delivery - a whopping £5 to be precise so shopping on here is always last resource. Although if you do go instore and they do not have the product you want in stock its worth asking for a delivery code, the lovely ladies are usually happy to oblige!

4. Feel Unique - Again, second to Beauty Bay I am definitely a frequent shopper here. Fast, free delivery and you can get almost anything here. If it is out of stock they also have a pretty handy email service so you can be emailed when it comes back into stock.

5. Escentual - One stop for all your beauty needs including a lot of French skincare thats otherwise hard to find in the UK. Bioderma anyone?

6. Cult Beauty - Described as the insiders guide to the worlds best beauty buys this is a fairly new discovery for new to me. Although, I have become slightly addicted to their 'whats new' tab, which I am often found browsing on a daily basis to get my fix of all things new in the beauty world.

7. Look Fantastic - Another great site that offers free, rather speedy delivery. Its worth checking this site for their offers page alone as they often have great deals on the latest beauty products.

So there you have it, these are the main shops which I venture to when beauty shopping online. They all offer a great service whilst keeping up to date with the latest product innovations. I would definitely recommend a quick peruse on your lunch break.

Weekend Wish List #8

2013-04-28T15:32:00.003+01:00

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A week passes and another list of goodies gets added to my 'list'. This week was no different and with the boyf working late most nights, the internet has been my only form of company bar an obligatory visit to mum and dad's for some homemade grub.

1. Topshop t-shirt - Hot on the list is the rather fetching tee from Topshop. Not my usual taste but after seeing Emma's post, it would be wrong not to add. I am quite penchant to a tee and skinny jeans cough leggings when lounging around the house. At £20 a pop its not the cheapest on the market for a tee but I am pretty sure a little 'research' could return a few cheaper replica's - I am looking at you eBay.

2. Chanel Lipstick in Boy - I have been slowly accumulating my Boots advantage points for this and I am almost there. I think I have swatched this more times than I can account for so will be a well earned treat and addition to the stash.

3. Next Photo Collage - It just so happens that I get 50 free prints with my broadband and have failed to use them up. Since I got a digital camera many moons ago I have failed to keep up with printing pictures which is a shame as who remembers the excitement of getting films developed after their hol's right? I moved into my place 6 months ago and its about time I started using some of the bare wall space, this large photo collage is personal and fits in with the clean minimilist theme I love.

4. Aldo Sandals - The weather is finally starting to heat up. I will ignore the slight rain earlier in the week that dampened my idea to get out the summer sandals but these are perfect for when the sun does make an appearance. Plus having a holiday in the pipeline gives all the more reason to purchase.

5. Gossip Girl - I am not usually into American series with the exception of Sex and the City which has been on replay for god knows how long. Yes I am a fan. No I am not sorry. Much. However with my boyfriend working lates more and more I am finding myself looking for a new series to get my teeth into. After much research I feel this could be the one most up my street.

6. Vintage Post Holder - If you are like me then as soon as you get the post it gets thrown into a drawer/corner/table never to be seen again. This cute post holder would look pretty in the hall and keeps my bills in order.

Hope you are all having a gorgeous weekend. Let me know what you are lusting after this week!

Check out my recent post feat. Hydraluron here

Introducing Hydraluron

2013-04-28T12:07:00.000+01:00

There was a time when I would opt for the most abrasive of skincare to combat my more than oily skin. My skincare selection would resemble the teenage section of skincare in Boots opting for foaming (shudders) oil stripping face washes and mattifying moisturisers. Skip forward a few years and my skincare has changed dramatically. As I head towards my 30's I have found my skin to be more dehydrated (thanks to Carolines blog for pointing this out). To give an overview my skin can sometimes feel tight, its absorbs moisture like its going out of fashion yet can be prone to breakouts whilst still looking a tad on the oily side of normal. So after ticking all the boxes on Carolines tick sheet a self diagnosis of dehydrated skin was the conclusion and called for action. Out went the foam cleansers, and anything abrasive and in comes the oils and hydrating serums. The Clarins Lotus Oil has been on rotation in my skincare routine for sometime now. You can read my full post on this little gem here. For a while this was my go to alongside the cult Esteé Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum. A new addition to my evening routine is Hydraluron which I have been using alongside the Clarins Lotus oil to give my skin boost. I was initially introduced to this via Sarah over at Beauty Geek and I have not looked back since. When I heard that skincare guru Caroline had given it the thumbs up I knew I was onto a winner. Hydraluron boasts a hefty quantity of a Hyaluronic Acid which in the world of skincare is the current must have ingredient when it comes to hydration. To give you the spiel on what this ingredient does without getting too scientific on you, Hyaluronc Acid or HA as we will call it is found naturally in the body however as we age (boo, hiss) our ability to produce HA naturally decreases and needs a little helping hand so this is where Hydraluron steps in by inducing HA into your skin means that your skin can maintain water a lot more efficiently. The directions of this are simple. Use AM and PM prior to your usual moisturiser. In the evenings I have been slapping this on and then patting on a few pumps of Clarins Lotus Oil and pressing into my skin as a perfect skincare collaboration Now needless to say that it is not one of those instant wow my skin looks amazing products. It takes time so persevere. After a few weeks of using it I have noticed that the dryness I used to experience around the crease of my nose has started to clear and makeup lasts a lot longer. Beforehand my skin would drink up the water in foundation and I would be left with a patchy mess by mid morning. This has definitely assisted in lesser touch ups required throughout the day. Now onto the nitty gritty, Hydraluron will set you back £24.95 for a 30ml tube of the stuff and at the time of this post was exclusive to Boots. The packaging is pretty plain and simple which by my books means you are paying for good product and not fancy packaging. You only need a small amount per use, a large pea size amount should do you good, and I have a biggish head to say the least and should last you a while. I am hitting the month mark and its still going strong. The plus side is that this is suitable for all ages so whatever your age I would highly recommend adding to your stash.

Weekend Wish List #7

2013-04-21T13:41:00.002+01:00

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1. Essie Nail Polish in Meet me at Sunset - Chanel Holiday has been on my radar ever since Anna posted about it, but at £18 a pop its a little bit steep for a nail polish. I have heard rumours that Essies Meet me at Sunset is a rather good dupe and at £7.99 its only a fraction of the Chanel.

2. Mulberry Small Del Rey - I broke my Mulberry virginity earlier in the year with a new purse which I love. I am yet to own a Mulberry handbag and being the fickle person that I am with handbags I can't see it happening anytime soon, but a girl can dream right? This tan number is right up my street and would be perfect for the summer.

3. Beauty Blender - I flit between a Sigma F80 and Real Techniques buffing brush/expert face brush to apply liquid foundation but I have heard such good reviews on the beauty blender that I am rather intrigued to try it.

4. Marc Jacobs Daisy - Yesterday caught me browsing the perfume aisle of House of Fraser. I have never tried a Marc Jacobs perfume and their bottles aren't really my cup of tea but I actually loved the scent of Daisy plus it got the boyfs approval. And despite my earlier claims about the bottles I actually really love the simplicity of this one.

5. Zara Wedges - I love me some Zara wedges and was quick to pick up the black ones from their TRF range last summer. These are very similar bar a gorgeous colab of nude and black which suits me fine. Plus their not too pricey either.

6. Topshop Pug Pyjamas - Its time to store away the onesies and opt for a more summer friendly night atire. I jest as I never actually fell on the onesie bandwagon despite temptation. This cute pyjama set from Topshop is going to be perfect for when I eventually get away for some sun!

Birchbox - April 2013

2013-04-18T18:54:00.000+01:00

Birchbox April 2013* £10 plus p&p

I initially heard of Birchbox via Youtube a couple of years back when I would see YouTubers from across the pond reviewing this box which they were sent monthly with a selection of high end beauty products to try for a monthly subscription fee. I was intrigued and immediately went in search of a similar concept in the UK which is when I was introduced to Glossy Box. From the moment Glossy Box went on sale I have been a sub, and like most serious relationships there have been some ups and downs. We have fallen in and out of love more times than I care to count and sometimes it has surprised me and others it hasn't. But ultimately we are bound together. That was until this week when I cheated on my beloved Glossy Box and tried out the other side. The original beauty box that is Birchbox. It came to the UK earlier in the year and is set to be a big competitor in the beauty box stakes. Offering high end samples each month for £10 plus p&p this box comes beautifully wrapped in your generic beauty cardboard box with the products enclosed in a pretty handy drawstring bag. This month I was sent the April box* to test the water. I was presented with 6 products, all deluxe sample sized with a full sized lip pencil. Despite being brands which I was unfamiliar with I actually enjoyed discovering newer brands and this was the chance to try those that I had not heard of before, plus the cute mirror will definitely be a handy addition to the handbag! Although the soap I think I shall be passing onto my mother. Ultimately I would have liked to have seen a few recognisable brands, I think it helps you feel like you are getting more for your money none the less there are a good few items which I am looking forward to trying. If you fancy giving Birchbox a try for yourself then check out their website here. Plus if you sign up for a yearly subscription then you get 2 boxes absolutely FREE.

*PR Sample

Glam Glow Mud Mask

2013-04-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

Hollywood California Glam Glow £25

Not so long ago I caught wind of a new face mask circulating the blogosphere. I quickly grabbed my notebook and scribbled down a note of Hollywood California Glam Glow and then briefly forgot about it. That was until I was making a rather quick purchase of the last Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm in Space NK and out of the corner of my eye caught a glimpse of Glam Glow on the counter, willing me to purchase. Before you know it I am throwing it at the assistant not even taking in the £25 price tag attached to it.

I am not going to lie to you ladies but I failed to research the mask, not even read a review but something inside of me told me I had to have it, so with it ticked off 'the wish list' leads me to this post. A clay mask, Glam Glow originated from the Hollywood film industry where it is used in between shoots to give skin the WOW factor. If its good enough for an A lister then its good enough for me right? Aside from the minuscule jar the product actually smells rather delicious with a hint of aniseed, black jacks anyone? After exhaling the scent for a few moments, it was onto the nitty gritty of applying the mask. The directions state to mix well before use, the pots not big enough to delve a spoon into and there is no way I am wasting this by getting my fingers into the jar, so after a brief thoughtful look around the bathroom I grabbed a clean bobby pin and got stirring. It does not liquify as the instructions state but it does make the product that little more pliable. Under normal circumstances I would apply with an old foundation brush purely to lessen the mess and reduce wastage but this was a major fail with this mask and I had to result in an albeit rather messy application using ones fingers. Do not. and I repeat do not apply with freshly manicured nails or you will spend an age cleaning your finger tips. I found the trick to applying was smooth over in a thin layer rather than slather it on. Adding a tiny and I mean tiny bit of warm water helps spread the product a little easier as it does have a habit of drying the moment it hits the skin. Once applied leave it for 10 minutes. It will sting, not as much as I had imagined though, and I am rather partial to 'the sting', its that feeling that the product is doing something. I can, however imagine that if you have sensitive skin then this could be a tad painful. In fact if you do have sensitive skin I'd highly recommend either avoiding the product altogether or try to get hold of a sample beforehand and test on a small area of your face. Once ten minutes is up, rinse. Its not the easiest of products to remove by far and advises that you use a cloth to remove in circular motions which allows the product to gently exfoliate your skin thus leaving a 'glowing' complexion. I have to say my skin did feel pretty good after the initial use, ridiculously smooth and soft but nothing greatly more than my usual REN Pore Minimising Detox Mask. So would I buy again? I personally think this is one of those products you buy and stash away for the big nights out rather than a general weekly mask. Purely on the price alone and the fact it failed to give me the wow factor. Now don't get me wrong I liked the product and the price didn't bother be initially. I am used to spending 20 plus quid on a decent face mask. They are my vice. I don't smoke, I have a bottle of wine at the weekend so figure that splurging on skincare is an investment. What did disappoint me though was the amount of product that you get. A mere 15ml. Having used this twice already, by my guessing theres 2 mores uses left, at a push. If you are however looking for a skin tingling detox mask then a more purse friendly alternative I would recommend is Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed which gives the 'sting' without breaking the bank.

Worldwide Wardrobe Competition

2013-04-15T09:00:00.000+01:00

H&M BLAZER £29.99

NEW LOOK DRESS £74.99

ASOS SHOES £40.00

ASOS CLUTCH £18.00

URBAN DECAY NAKED BASICS £20.00

BOURJOIS ROUGE LIPSTICK £7.99

TOTAL OUTFIT COST £190.97

Its fair to say that I am a city girl at heart. And its even fairer to say that New York won my heart a long time ago. From the fashion, to the hustle and bustle of city life, to the fact that you can emerse oneself in beauty products all hours day and night (Yes, thats right, Sephora opens until midnight most days don't ya know!). So when I heard about Travel Supermarket were hosting a blogger competition to win a dream holiday from 5 destinations, choosing 'Cocktails in New York' was a given choice, no doubt about it. The rules are pretty simple, pick a destination (all 5 if you are feeling adventurous) and put together an outfit for your chosen destination ensuring that you don't go over the £200 budget. The lucky winner will then get the £200 to purchase their outfit in addition to a trip to their destination. Pretty amazing huh? You can read all about it over on Travel Supermarket by clicking here.

When I first envisaged the scene I was taken back to a good old favourite - that is Sex and The City. I have spent a lifetime in awe of the outfits and the makeup of none other than Carrie Bradshaw herself. I didn't have to re-run episodes for inspiration either seeing as every episode is etched in my brain with the final episode a constant in my DVD player much to the boyfs dismay - I always knew Mr. Big would come around eventually. So in true fan style my initial thought was 'what would Carrie wear...'

After trawling through all my favourite online fashion haunts I was drawn in by this Nude number from New Look. Part of superfan Lydia Rose Brights range this lace skater dress is the perfect day to evening dress. The gorgeous neckline means you can get away with minimal or no jewellery at all, me being more fond of the latter 'minimilist' look. Although this is a far cry from Carries' infamous 'Nude' dress and is slightly 'Charlotte', in true Carrie style its all about the shoes. During the day I am a flats or boots girl to be honest but come evening and its 'the higher the better' in an attempt to counteract my lame 5'3 height. These black platforms with subtle nude detail are right up my street, and although not quite Manolos', they could definitely pass for way more than their rather reasonable £40 price tag! Being the sensible type you won't see me out without a jacket, bar my "wine jacket" on the odd occasions but thats for another day. H&M are renowned for their blazers and they always fit me like a glove without leaving my purse weeping. A classic black jacket would set the dress off a treat, whilst looking stylish but not overdone. I like to push the sleeves up, occasionally showing off some wrist bling and a clutch tucked under the arm for effortless chic. Can you believe that this nude clutch with gold hardware is only £18 from ASOS and is big enough to carry the nights essentials which brings me onto my final touches. A night for me is not complete without a bold red lip. The new Bourjois Rouge collection has been on my radar for a while with 'Rouge Buzz' being the show stealer for me personally, I will throw this in my handbag for touchups throughout the night. Finally nothing says 'happy hour' than a subtle smoky eye and the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette is the ideal collection of shadows to pop into your bag to take you from day to night. Now I am in the mood to get all dolled up and head out for cocktails...who's in?

SHOP THE PRODUCTS

As part of the challenge I had to choose 5 other bloggers to take part in the challenge. Its fully optional by the way so if your names on the list then please don't feel obliged to take part. I chose all of the following as they all have styles either similar to myself or completely different and I think it would be great to see their choices. Please note that the comp is open to all bloggers so if I haven't tagged you then head over to Travel Supermarket for the deets. Oh and don't forget to keep an eye on these ladies blogs as to whether they take part.

Weekend Wish List #6

2013-04-14T13:32:00.000+01:00

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1. Casetagram - I keep seeing these floating about the blogosphere and after having a play on their website I am seriously considering getting one. I love anything personalised and I love the fact that they are not restricted to Instagram photo's (there's only so many food shots one gal can stare at all day) I used Facebook images.

2. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy - Despite having been to the states a couple of times in the last few years I have never picked one of these up - darn it! If anyone knows if you can get these in the UK then please let me know!

3. River Island Gold Watch - Although the spendaholic in me says get a darn Michael Kors already, the sensible me knows its not practical. I have been eyeing up a more dressy watch for evening where and this River Island MK looky like fits the bill!

4. Alphabet bag Makeup Bag - I can't resist a cute makeup bag and I love this one from Alphabet bags. With a trip to Ibiza later in the year this could be a contender for all my summer makeup.

5. Moustache Jewellery Holder - I have turned a corner of the spare room into my 'dressing area' and have been eyeing up cute storage ideas. This looks perfect for my nik naks.

6. Nars Lip Pencil in Happy Days - Theres something about coral makeup that gets me a little too excited. This Nars Lip Pencil is perfect for a quick splash of colour for the summer.

Amazing Advertisers

2013-04-13T13:56:00.000+01:00

Looking for some weekend reading? Then why not check out my most recent advertisers.

Liv Florence is written by the lovely Liv who describes her blog as predominantly beauty related. Not only does her blog boast some great clear photos (something I love) but it holds a multitude of really good quality, informative posts. I personally really enjoyed Liv's Contour and Highlighting post here which more than deserves a read!

http://http://livflorence.blogspot.co.uk

Madame G's Lifestyle is written by Daniella who describes herself as a shopaholic. My kind of girl :). Daniella is a mummy of two as well as being a fully qualified Complementary Therapist and Psychotherapist all alongside writing her blog. This is one busy lady! Madame G's lifestyle is a healthy mix between beauty and lifestyle with the odd personal post. Definitely worth a read.

www.madamegourmand.com

Liv and Daniella are taking advantage of the 50% off discount offer which is available for the first 10 sponsors. Full deets here!

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Review

2013-04-12T09:00:00.000+01:00

Its a beauty bloggers worst, nightmare, running out of their holy grail cleanser and as I scraped out the last dregs of my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm panic mode set in. An impromto trip to Space NK was called for whereby I left empty handed (this is popular stuff), cue a second failed attempt and third time lucky saw me reunited with my new best friend in the skincare depot. I discovered this gem of a product like many others, through blogger hype and when I saw it had skincare goddess Caroline Hirons seal of approval I was sold. Admittedly I shudder a tad as I hand over the best part of 40 notes on a small tub of skincare but as I moved onto my second tub of the stuff I thought it about time it received a good ol' review.

Having the longest name in skincare history - Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing balm (phew) is a balm cleanser designed to thoroughly cleanse the skin whilst removing every last trace of makeup. Packed with Moringa Seed Extract, Wild Sea Fennel and Vit E the balm is specifically targeted at balancing, purifying and minimising the appearance of open pores which is something that I definitely fight on a daily basis. So if you do have skin verging towards the oilier side of normal do not fear the oily texture of this as if anything it helps with reducing oil production. Whereas more abrasive products can strip the skins natural oil thus making it produce more to counteract, this actually balances the skin helping to control the level of oil you produce naturally.

In terms of the product itself theres not much that I can fault from its gorgeous smell to its texture. In the tub it appears solid but I use my fingers to scoop a pea sized amount and work between my fingers to soften, I then apply to a dry face, after removing my makeup with The Sanctuary's Facial Cleansing Oil. I gently rub the product all over my face, adding a little water if need be which emulsifies the product making it go that little bit further. I know there are various ways to use but I have found this the best for me. I then use a muslin cloth, or a flannel, whichever is hanging around at the time and gently rinse in circular motions before patting dry with a towel. The product does not leave any residue and just leaves my skin feeling, well, plump I guess is the word and moisturised without feeling greasy. Aside from the rather hefty price tag, this is definitely a winner in the skincare stakes and gets a big thumbs up from me and as they say the true beauty obsessive starts with the basics - skincare. Once you sort that, then the rest just falls into place ;-).

If you do want to go that one step further with this cleanser then Emma Hardie has a great video on facial massaging and how to use the product to its full potential which for all you skincare junkies is worth a watch!

Models Own Mini Glitter Collection

2013-04-08T09:00:00.000+01:00

Models Own Mini's - Glitter Collection Limited Edition*

A little while ago I was lucky enough to win the lovely Lucy's giveaway. Included in the prize was this rather stunning Models Own Limited Edition Glitter collection comprising of 3 glitter polishes in miniature versions. Having been a complete Models Own virgin (I am an Essie gal through and through) I was keen to try these out. I am not usually a fan of the glitter look bar the odd accent nail so these were a welcome addition to my collection. The collection consists of 3 colours - Southern Lights, Pink Fizz and Blizzard and are roughly half the size of the generic sized bottles. To give you a quick run down of the shades - Southern Fairy is a mix of colours which changes in the light, verges more towards the bluish/purple tone. Being a Southern 'fairy' this was by far my favourite of the bunch. Pink Fizz is a straight up pink glitter and works well as an accent nail against a darker shade, think Essie Luxedo (another personal fave). Finally Blizzard is a clear confetti which would work well over another colour but does not fair too well on its own, a good alternative to the L'Oreal confetti top coat in my opinion. All in all they applied well with only 2 coats needed to get a good opaque coverage, the formula is a tad thick so a good shake is well advised beforehand. As I find with all glitter polishes they do take a tad longer to dry, so make sure you take a toilet break before starting this. The verdict? A big thumbs up from me and the miniature collections are definitely a good introduction to Models Own as a brand as a whole.

* Giveaway Win

Amazing Advertisers

2013-04-07T17:51:00.002+01:00

I only just discovered Joanna's blog after she got in touch through my advertising programme and I can safely say that her blog has been bookmarked for future reading. Boasting some amazing photography which is a big plus for me her blog comprises of a good mix of both beauty and lifestyle posts. Plus not only does the lovely Joanna find the time to post regular good content she does this alongside caring and bringing up a family of 4 daughters! wow! So I urge you all to click, subscribe and check out Joanna's blog!

Joannas Blog: Just Joanna

Joanna is taking advantage of my current offer of 50% off all advertising, if you are interested you can read the full deets here.

Weekend Wish List #5

2013-04-07T14:14:00.001+01:00

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

1. Marc Jacobs Limited Edition Coke bottles - Loving these limited edition Marc Jacobs coke bottles from Selfridges. Coke always tastes better out of a glass bottle, right? Plus these would be super cute additions to brighton up my kitchen.

2. Zara Flats - I am in dire need of some new flats, the sole is literally falling off my current Topshop numbers and these classics from Zara fit the bill for comfy work week chic.

3. Lady Million - This has been on my list for a while now. I can't resist a cheeky spritz when in the perfume aisle. I may have to buy it soon...

4. Benefit Fine One One - The more swatches I see of this the more I need/want. Its the perfect summer shade with a multitude of uses.

5. GHD Candy Collection - How gorgeous are these new GHD's from their current Candy Collection? I am in love with the mint one. Its a shame that they don't come in the wider version as this is the one I use most often.

Hope that you are all enjoying the sun this Sunday!

Current Makeup Base

2013-04-03T09:00:00.000+01:00

I have spoken about my love affair with Laura Merciers Tinted Moisturiser a while back (post here) and that has not altered. I am now happily scraping out the dregs of my second tube ready to move onto my third, a rather expensive obsession but one that I am happy to accept. Lately though I have felt my skin has needed that little extra coverage. I don't know whether its the lack of sun or the poor weather in general but its sucked the life out of my poor skin and I have been suffering with the odd pimple here and there. I have a love hate relationship with MAC Studio Fix and as much as I want to love it I find it a tad drying and a little cakey on my oily/combo skin. But not wanting to throw money down the drain for want of a better phrase I thought I would see how it faired teamed with my holy grail. The result? One pump of Laura Mercier plus one pump of Studio sculpt, mix together with a foundation brush (current brush of choice: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush) and apply. This little combo actually works. The moisturising properties of the LM give me the moisture that I need and actually takes away the cakiness of the Studio Sculpt whilst giving my skin that little extra coverage in a natural way. Finished off with a little MAC Moisture concealer and I am ready to face the day.

Have you tried mixing up your products?

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

2013-04-02T09:00:00.000+01:00

Urban Decay Primer Potion £15

Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer Potion has long been an addition to my makeup bag ever since I got the original Naked palette and tested out the sample size. I happened to pick up the full size whilst perusing the UD aisle in House of Fraser whilst my best bud was having her eye makeup done at the counter and haven't looked back since. Bursting with a full 11ml now rather than the original 10ml the primer potion now comes in a nifty tube - say goodbye to wasted product which was the case with the original packaging. There is of course the ongoing debate as to whether primer on your eyelids really does help. As someone that gets rather oily eyelids, eyeshadow literally slips off me, I can safely say that this does work, for me that is.

The original primer potion actually makes up one of four primer potions which Urban Decay offer. The original is a plain cream which is applied directly under eyeshadow, dries clear to your skin tone and generally mattes the eyelid area. The other three additions to the primer family are - sin, greed and eden. Sin is more copper similar to its powder eyeshadow sister and can be used alone or under shadow, Eden more of a yellow toned and Greed a straight up golden tone.

When it comes to eyeshadow I am less is more kind of girl during the day. And for the office its usually a quick slick of primer followed by a slick of Naked from the original palette over the top generally with a Mac 217 brush which I find is by far the quickest brush to apply. Even for someone like me. This will usually see me through to the end of the day with no creasing. You can usually see some wear of the shadow, I put this down to rubbing my eyes throughout the day usually head on desk in frustration style. As with all Urban Decay products they're not the cheapest on the market but they're not the most expensive either - Tom Ford anyone? An 11ml tube of this will set you back £15 but it will also last you a long long time given that you only need a smidgen per use so its definitely value for money. Now all I need is the other 3 to complete my collection...

Add a Fixed Background to Sidebar

2013-03-31T16:51:00.000+01:00

Adding a sidebar pattern that runs all the way to the end of the blog content has always been something I have struggled with when designing blog layouts in the past. So I thought I would share with you how I manage to do it on the 'simple' template and hopefully this should be of some assistance to you. Please bear in mind that I use the simple template which I have customised and edited myself. I can only really advise on this specific template as it is the one I am most familiar with. But by all means ping me an email if you are struggling and I will try to assist.

Firstly you are going to need to choose a background pattern. You need to be careful when choosing a pattern as some patterns are copyrighted which means that they may not be available for everyone to use. A good place to get simple backgrounds is www.subtlepatterns.com. Although they are not everyones cup of tea its a good place to start. Alternatively head to google and have a search of FREE background patterns.

Once you have selected your background pattern, upload it to a photosharing site. I use Photobucket, but you could also use Flickr or many of the other free hosting sites available. Once you have uploaded it should look something like this. The code which you will want is the direct code. Keep this open in a separate window and you can flick back and forth as you please.

Once you have chosen your background we can get onto adding it to your blog.

Go to your template and choose the Edit HTML section. Tick the box 'Expand Widget Templates' on the top left. Then BEFORE going any further download your entire template. You do not want to be making any changes which can't be rectified. I will usually copy the entire code and then paste into a word document and save. Then if I make any errors I can re-copy from word back into the HTML section to restore it back to normal. I can't stress the importance of this enough.

Once we have backed up/saved/saved again etc you get the drift we can move onto editing. You are going to search for the following piece of code >

}

.fauxcolumn-left-outer .fauxcolumn-inner {

border-right: 1px solid transparent;

}

.fauxcolumn-right-outer .fauxcolumn-inner {

border-left: 1px solid transparent; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px;

}

A quick CTRL and F of .fauxcolumn-right should bring up the code you want. Note this is for those with a right sidebar those with a left use the .fauxcolumn-left code. Do everything the same just under the left one which is the top one in my HTML code for the simple template.

You are now going to add the following code underneath, directly before the } symbol. Edit the following area in red to your image URL (the direct link from Photobucket).

background-image:url(ADD THE DIRECT IMAGE LINK HERE);

background-attachment:fixed;

overflow: hidden;

}

It should look something like this >

Click preview and you should be left with a fixed sidebar background all the way to the end of your blog content. Something like this >

Let me know how you get on with this. I hope that I have explained it as clearly as possible yet if there are any areas that are not clear then drop me a note in the comment box below as it is open to amendments. Also please note that this has been done using the simple template on blogger. If you are using a different template then the codes may be slightly different. Feel free to ping me an email and I can always take a look.

Weekend Wish List #4

2013-03-31T11:10:00.001+01:00

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

01 Ipad - Ok I don't need an iPad or so I keep telling myself. I own an iPhone and a MAC book and a Kindle so at the moment this is an unjustified desire. I am sure temptation will get the better of me but for now I am reluctantly resisting the urge to buy.

02 Ray Ban Wayfarers - The more I see these across the blogs and Instagram the more I want. I know there are some really good dupes out there which may be the way to go considering my history with breaking sunglasses.

03 NARs The Happening Palette - why is it that as soon as I catch glimpse of a Limited palette then it goes completely out of stock, everywhere thus making me want it even more so. I have hunted high and low for this with no luck. This includes 2 of my most used NARs products plus a selection of shadows right up my street I had imagined this to be the perfect holiday travel palette.

04 Essie Polishes - As my love for Essie polishes grows so has my collection somewhat. A slight confession I have already purchase Sand Tropez and can't wait to slap some on my nais tonight.

05 Tom Ford Lipstick in Wild Ginger - The more I see of Tom Fords lipsticks the more I want. But what really makes a relatively sane girl drop the best part of 40 notes on a lipstick? Right? A girl can dream though...

06 The Cambridge Satchel Chelsea Collection - I own a plethora of black handbags and have been eyeing up some colour to add to my collection. This is perfect for summer, if summer ever makes an appearance that is.

07 - Canon EOS 600d for dummies - I purchased the 600d just before Christmas and have been slowly getting to grips with such a beasty bit of equipment. I am still a noob when it comes to the workings of a DLSR but I want to be able to use it to the best of its potential so this looks a great starter book.

So this was quite a hefty wish list this week. Other than chocolate what have you been lusting after? Wishing you all a splendid Easter and hoping that you are having fun whatever you may be doing.

New Look Top Picks

2013-03-26T09:00:00.000Z

I don't know about you guys but I am getting slightly fed up of the cold weather we have had in the UK lately. Bring me some sun already. Despite there still being dustings of snow on the ground I have been willing the sun to make an appearance just so that I can start packing away my winter wardrobe and introduce a few lighter items of clothing. New Look has always been a go to shop of mine when it comes to stocking up on trends due to their budget prices so whilst wrapped up in several layers including a blanket this weekend I found myself perusing through these gorgeous dresses at New Look amongst other equally gorgeous items. As I filled my virtual shopping basket, I resisted the urge to 'proceed to checkout' and thought i'd share with you the pick of the bunch of what I am currently loving.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Being on the shorter side of average maxi dresses can swamp me so the latest offering in the form of the midi dress is a pretty good compromise. I have had my eye on a few midi dresses yet I was surprised how wide a selection that New Look have, ranging from neutral basics to garish aztecs, I have already made a mental note of these and reserved a hefty chunk of my pay check for a splurge, I think a holiday is called for to make these a justifiable purchase...right? I tend to stick to darker colours but I have made it a resolution to start playing with colour more, whether that be in clothing or accessories and this coral number is definitely stands out!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Speaking of wedges - give me a wedge for a heel any day of the week. I probably own about 3 or 4 pairs of New Look wedges from last summer and always find them super comfy whilst giving me those much needed extra inches! This summer will be no different and for less than £30 a pop they won't leave your purse weeping either.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Finally, I am not going to lie, but whether or not its 28 degrees outside I can never be with out my trusty ankle boots with the Topshop Mighty Boots being my current go to boot. However since I have literally worn the heels away to nothing I have been eyeing up these little numbers for replacement.

So will you be picking anything up from New Look this Spring/Summer?

*Sponsored Post

Weekend Wish List #3

2013-03-24T11:54:00.000Z

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

1. Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning - The latest spurts of cold in the UK has left me pale and dreaming of summer so this is the next best thing. I have heard some great reviews of this however am always a little sceptical when it comes to self tanning after a few mishaps in the past.

2. Cath Kidston Limited Edition Roberts Radio - I have always been a fan of the Roberts Radios. I love the vintage feel of them although my boyf would be inclined to disagree. I think this limited edition number would add a little colour to our kitchen although I am not so sure I can justify the huge price tag...

3. Leighton Denny Top Coat - I have been looking to replace my HG product of the Seche Vite top coat after hearing all the rumours that the ingredients could be harmful. I am not sure whether the concerns apply to the UK version as I have heard it is made differently but with this in mind I have been on the look out for a new top coat. I spotted this Leighton Denny one in John Lewis the other day and have been contemplating it - thoughts please?

4. Clinique Even Better Eyes - I already use the Clinique all about eyes but having seen this reviewed a few times I love the roller ball and this could be perfect for early mornings. Watch this space as I already have this on my 'to buy' list.

5. Ikea bedside lamp - when my boyf and I moved into our apartment we settled for cheap 'do the job' bedside lamps. Mine has already broken so I have been eyeing these shabby chic numbers from Ikea. The photo does not do it justice and I have actually had a play with these and they are such good quality for their £21 price tag.

What are you lusting after this week?

Merumaya Skincare - Quick Review

2013-03-22T09:00:00.000Z

When it comes to skincare I hold my hands up to only going to the brands I know and trust or has been recommended by a fellow beauty enthusiast. So I am always a little sceptical when trying a brand thats not familiar, I always feel a little out of my comfort zone so to speak. However when I was sent a couple of samples of Merumaya skincare* they could not have been sent at the right time. Having run out of my HG Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm and my local Space NK being completely out of stock I was keen to try the Merumaya Melting Cleansing balm which has been sitting on my bathroom cabinet waiting for its debut.

The cleansing balm is quite a thick consistency which can either be applied directly to a dry face and worked into the skin or can be mixed with a touch of water to provide a more milky cleanser. Initially I found it quite sticky and was not used to the scentless formula but with a little work it did the trick of removing makeup but failed to cut it in the eye makeup stakes which I would recommend you remove beforehand rather than relying on the balm alone. After a quick rinse with a muslin cloth my skin was left feeling cleansed and smooth without feeling dry. Topped off with the Iconic Youth Serum which compliments the balm perfectly and I was good to go.

I actually really liked the combination of the balm and serum, as I only had sample sizes its hard to say whether it had any effects on my skin as this can sometimes take a few weeks for me to notice the difference however if you ever do find yourself perusing around the skincare aisle of John Lewis then its definitely worth a look.

*PR Sample