Holly Just Make-Up Your Mind.

Quick Trick: Optical Illusion, Fuller Looking Lips!

2013-01-24T16:14:00.002-08:00

Make up helps to enhance our beauty so little tips and tricks on how to utilise our products allows us to look even more gorgeous, todays 'Quick Trick' is how to create fuller looking lips!

Adding lipgloss to JUST the centre of the lips creates an instant fuller pout, shine in the centre of the lips will highlight and bring forward, creating a 3D shape making them appear fuller.

If you don't like to wear lip gloss try adding a slightly lighter shade of lipstick instead, This will give the same effect just without any shine.

Give it a go and create your own 'Angelina jolie pout'. Hope you enjoyed reading if you did Click Here to follow and subscribe.

Any questions leave a comment or you can find me on...
Twitter @bolinjah
Instagram @bolinjah

Manicure Monday: Best Budget Nail Polishes

2013-01-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!

Welcome Back to Manicure Monday!

In this weeks post I will be sharing with you my favourite nail varnishes for super cheap, I have tried so many cheap nail varnishes some I have found to be quite disappointing and some I've been very impressed with.

Here are my top 3 favourite budget nail varnishes!

1. e.l.f Nail Polish

e.l.f Mint Cream

You might remember seeing one of these nail varnishes from my Manicure Mondays Leopard print nails post, but I love the pigment in these nail varnishes, for £1 I was amazed with the quality of the nail varnish and the colour range is amazing! e.l.f have always been my go to place for budget beauty as you might already know from reading my Who said beauty on a budget didn't exist post, their nail range is no exception!

2. Collection Hot Look Nails £1.99

Collection: Big Hair

This nail varnish comes in a smaller bottle than the average nail varnish, but for a price of £1.99 you can't really complain! This nail varnish takes 2 coats to get the true colour your going for, but don't they all? I usually paint 3 coats and find this gives an amazing finish, I've found quite a few unique colours such as my favourite 'button moon' featured in my top summer nail polish shades post, although I think it may be discontinued (NOOOOO). The colour pigment is amazing and the formula gives it a beautiful shine!

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish £2.99

Rimmel Lasting Finish: Strawberry Fizz

This range of nail varnishes I have known the longest and always go back to, the colour range is great and I can always find the perfect shade. I find the pigment in these are just as amazing as collection and e.l.f. The formula is quite thick which might not please everyone but I find this makes it easier to paint on and needs less coats. My favourite thing about this nail varnish is the brush, it is thicker than the average so makes nail painting super quick!

I hope you enjoyed todays post, let me know your favourite budget nail varnishes, I'm always on the hunt for a bargain and please follow my blog by clicking HERE to keep up to date, never miss a post and make me smile!

Taking The Day Off! (Removing Make Up)

2013-01-18T02:04:00.000-08:00

Make up wipes seem to be every girls favourite way of cleansing, maybe its just the convinience of a few wipes and your make up is gone... or is it?

Its bad enough having make up of for 10 hours of the day, our skin would like to breathe at some point and overnight is the best time to ensure this, as I mentioned in my 'Falling Asleep With Make Up On... GUILTY' post, overnight our skin is working its hardest to rejuvinate and repair, so lets give it a little hand by removing our make up PROPERLY.

Wipes.

These are the most popular of all the removers, but to be honest I just don't understand the hype! I have found when trying to remove a full face of make up with a wipe I end up using at least three and have super sore eyes from vigarously rubbing my budge proof eye make up away.

Surely the excessive ingredients packed into these convenient wipes should be doing the work for you so you don't have to work up a sweat before bed!

Rubbing around the eyes is going to pull the delicate skin and accelerate the ageing process it will also

rub make up into the eyes, ultimately causing infections.

Its true to say that I am not a fan of wipes but I'm not compleately against them. They are a quick fix especially when you are away from home.

My favourite make up remover has to be Garnier 2 in 1 make up remover, combining the two parts together will a little shake creates the most effective make up remover I have ever used! I like to apply my make up remover onto a cotton pad and hold on the eyes for about 10 seconds allowing the oils break down the make up then simply wipe away, this works on the most stubborn eyeliners and great for dissolving eyelash glue, now you girls have NO EXCUSE to pull off your false eyelashes! As I have very sensitive skin I was quite hesitant to try this product to remove my foundation but It works amazingly without blocking any pores on the skin or causing breakouts!

Don't be stingy with the cotton pads, I like to use one for each eye and one for the face to avoid unnesarcarily smearing makeup all over the face, I always use the cotton pads from the baby section they are alot cheaper, great for sensitive skin and quadruple the size!!!!

Now you have removed your make up you should still follow with a cleanser to wash any residue away and clean your pores, I like to use dermologica special cleansing gel as I know it works for my super sensitive skin, and hasn't got any unnessarcary toxic ingredients, but whatever you prefer to use give your face at least 1 mintutes devotion to cleansing, this way you know you have removed everything and havent just put a cleanser on for 10 seconds then rinsed.

After this you might like to tone the face to be sure make up has been removed, I just like to apply my moisturiser and jump into bed!

(Even if you have oily skin dont forget to moisturise, If you don't your skin will over produce oil to compensate and will eventually create blocked pores, vicious circle huh!)

I hope you enjoyed todays blogpost, let me know what you think by leaving a comment or tweeting me @bolinjah.

MANICURE MONDAY: Leopard Print Nails

2013-01-14T04:04:00.002-08:00


Hey guys. As you know I like to try out new nail designs so I've started a weekly post called manicure monday, each monday you will see NOTW (Nails Of The Week), a tutorial or a nail related post. This week I have a popular tutorial for you, here is the first of many manicure Monday posts. 




Leopard Print Nails









 This is one of my favourite designs to do as they are so unique and alway catch people's attention. In this blog post I will show you how to create this look step by step, it's surprisingly quite simple! Don't worry if you don't have nail pens or or brushes I'll show you how to work around that too!




Before you begin you need to choose your colours...




I always use a black for the outline but like to switch up my base colours for a more unique design.





Nails inc: candy, Rimmel lasting finish: Black Cab, e.l.f: mint cream.



Step one: prep your nails. File, shape clean. To ensure your nail design goes on smoothly. 






Step 2. Paint nails with your base colour, be sure to let your nails dry completely between each step.








Step 3. Using either a dotting tool or a hair pin dot on your chosen colour in blobs and dots.










Step 4. Add black C shapes to your blobs.







Step 5. Add black dots to your leopard print and any gaps to tie the look together








Step 6. add a top coat to your nails to keep them from chipping! 





MOST IMPORTANT STEP... 

Step 7. Let them dry!!! There's no point in sitting there for ten minutes then smudging them 2 mins after you've finished.











You can buy nail art tools off eBay just search dotting tools or nail brushes, but I always get use out of things I have indoors lying around, tooth picks are great for very fine detail, and hair pins are my favourite for blobs and dots. I like to pour my nail varnishes out of the bottle when I'm doing nail art, i've just used a plastic lid here but tin foil works great too!








Leopard print can be done in any colour so theres always a chance to match your outfit or occasion.















I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know if you have any suggestions for future nail tutorials in the comments or tweet me @bolinjah. 



Have a nice day :)

Weekend Wishlist!

2013-01-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys!

As we all know january is a hard month after the splurges on christmas and january sales, so I've put together my virtual beauty wishlist to drool over instead.

Make Up For Ever Full Coverage Concealer.£22.50

As I have a few acne scars I need something that will stay put all day,

I've heard great things about this concealer, it's full coverage,waterproof, and doesn't look cakey. This concealer retails for £22.50 online. But I've seen that some professional make up shops in London stock Make Up For Ever, so i'll be on the hunt around payday!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation £29.50

I think this product isn't going to be on the wishlist for very long as I have just tried a sample and loved it so much I'll probably be purchasing pretty soon! This foundation gives a medium to full coverage finish whilst still looking like your skin and not a mask. Usually I end up using atleast 3 pumps with my perfection lumiere by Chanel but with this foundation I only needed the tiniest amount as it was so bendable on the skin. This foundation also contains no SPF which makes it perfect for nights out as foundations with SPF can give that white flashback when taking flash photography.

This foundation retails for £29.50 which is not too for me bad considering my current Chanel foundation it's £36.

(yes I am a foundation geek)

Models Own Wah Nails, Nail Art Pens £6 each.

As you probably already know I'm crazy about nails and am always practicing nail art, I purchased the white one of these 'Models Own Wah Nails' nail art pens on a whim to see what all the fuss was about, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it made nail art, the pens have a dotter and a striper I love using the striper as it allows me to quickly create lines without my overly shaky hand ruining my effort. I'd love to get my hands on some more colours, I think ill get the most usable ones first such as black as they are quite pricey.

I could go on and list my dream car and desires for endless amounts of chocolate but I'm going to keep it realistic and leave it here! What's on your weekend wishlist? Let me know by leaving a comment or tweeting me @bolinjah. Look out for manicure monday posts coming soon.

Santa Baby... Christmas Nails!

2012-12-16T17:18:00.001-08:00

Hi Guys!

Welcome back to my hollyjustmakeupyourmind! Its now December which means its time to get festive!

I've recently been receiving great feedback on my nail designs that i've been posting to instagram and have decided to start a 'How To' on my weekly christmas nails.

This weeks nails are super easy christmas hats, each week I will create another intricate nail design so keep a look out for some more nail 'How To's'

Lets Get Started!

What you will need...

Red Nail Polish

nails inc. 'Victoria & Albert'

White Nail Art Pen

Models Own Wah Nails Nail Art Pen. 'White'

A Sheer Glitter Polish

e.l.f 'Twinkle'

Lets Get Started!

Step 1...

Paint a red triangle on the nail in shape of a christmas hat.

Step 2...

Once that is completely dry, with your nail pen, draw a bobble in white on the tip of the hat.

Step 3...

Paint a white stripe across the bottom of the hat where you would have your white tips on your french manicure.

you can leave it like this or you can add a little 'fluff' to the hat...

Step 4...

Paint on a sheer coat of glitter to look like snow or just for a touch of extra festiveness!

Step 5...

LET THEM DRY! A lot of people including me forget this step and end up ruining the pretty design they have just done so take a chill pill and relax for 5 minutes!

Quick Tip:

If your not that confident painting the red triangles free hand, do as best as you can then get a cotton bud dipped in nail varnish remover to carve out a perfect shape.

I hope you found this 'How To' blog post useful and keep your eyes peeled for next weeks nails :D

Tweet me @bolinjah

Follow me on instagram @bolinjah

Make Up Giveaway

Follow my Blog

Matte Lip Creams. Why I Never Wear Lipstick.

2012-09-11T03:56:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! Today I want to talk to you about Matte Lip Creams, these exciting beauties are just what the make up world needed, a beautiful cream lip product that sets as a matte stain and lasts hours, making it super practical for those on the go! Today I will share with you my top three brands that have created these wonderful products. Don't get me wrong I love wearing lipsticks and gloss but most of the time they can be high maitinence with touch ups and keeping an eye on smudging is never fun.

Collection formally known as Collection 2000 have created a fantastic range of lip creams,

I introduce you to.... Cream Puff.

'Angel Delight' is my favourite shade I have countlessly repurchased this product, I always make sure I have one in my makeup bag one in my car, one in my handbag, (a little obsessive I know but I'm sure you have that one beauty product you'd do the same for). Many drugstore nudes can wash me out and even make me look slightly ill but this shade is a perfect nude for my complexion making it great for everyday. I love the velvety texture as it is so moisturising and these smell gorgeous too.

Angel Delight <3

As you might already know from my previous blog post 'Possibly The Best Concealer I've Ever Owned' Collection is one of my favourite drugstore brands as it is so affordable and always bringing out new and exciting products. I would love to see some more shades in this range as i've already tried them all! I can't rave about this product enough, and at only £2.99 each why not try it for yourself?

From top: Fairy Cake, Powder Puff Angel Delight, Cotton Candy

I love mixing shades together to create a brand new lip shade without even spending a penny!

NYX COSMETICS

If you don't live in the UK and can't get a hold of Collection, NYX Cosmetics also have their amazing collection of soft matte lip creams! I have heard so many great things about them and there shade range so I've definitely got to have an online shop soon! I have my eye on the shade san paulo at the moment for the autumn season ;)

Miners Cosmetics

If you are like me and always looking for beauty on a budget, miners cosmetics is a growing brand with so many great different products to choose from! 'the matte factor' lip paints are their range of lip creams.

I've tried some of the bolder colours from this collection and I love them! As they are matte they make brighter shades more wearable as there is no glossy sheen to attract even more attention away from the rest of the face. I mean we don't want all that hard work on the eye liner to go to waste eh? ;)

Have you ever tried a lip cream? Let me know what you think of them by commenting or tweeting me @bolinjah I hardly ever wear lipstick anymore thanks to this beautiful invention!

Don't forget to enter my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY!!!

x

Make Up Giveaway!!!

2012-09-10T08:11:00.003-07:00

Hi Guys

Some of you might have already heard I am opening a make up giveaway to all my readers. I have mentioned it at the end of my most recent posts, if you would like to enter all you have to do is follow my blog... simple!

What you could win :)

Inside this box of goodies contains some great products for you to experiment with!

e.l.f Liquid Liner.

Miss Guided Lipsplash In Shade 'Misfourtune'

Lipcote

GlossyBox Lipstick In Shade 'Glossy Pink'

MUA Eyeshadow In Shade 28 Pearl

e.l.f Crease Brush And Blending Brush

Now How to Enter...

Click Here!

It should take you to this link here, you can follow via Blogger, Gmail, Ymail or Twitter, if you don't have any of theses accounts they are super easy to create it takes less than a minute to join.

If the CLICK HERE link doesn't work, on my blog you will see this on the side bar of my blog, just click join this site!

Good luck everyone! This Giveaway is FREE to enter and open worldwide... So what are you waiting for?

If you have any questions Tweet me @bolinjah :D

Have A Beautiful Day!

Make Up Appreciation

2012-09-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

This Post is just a few loved images that inspire my work as a freelance make up artist.

Hopefully my own images will inspire someone else one day.

Enjoy.

Alex Box

Rae Morris

Lisa Eldridge

Kelly Budd

Hope you feel inspired!

Suscribe to my Blog to enter my MAKEUP GIVEAWAY :)

Weekend Wishlist!

2012-09-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

Here are a few products I've had my eye on for sometime now and deserve to have their own special list.

Moroccan Oil Products.

These product has been raved about over and over again, I'm currently on a quest to get healthy hair again so anything nourishing and containing the famous argon oil I'm dying to try out!

Gucci Guilty Eau De Toilette.

I have wanted to buy this for about a year now its my favourite perfume it has such a sexy sophisticated scent compared to the sweet younger perfumes i have used in the past, at a price of around £50 I never make it to the till, I'll probably cave in and treat myself on my birthday with a quick visit to CheapSmells.com

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

Real Techniques created by Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo are my all time favourite brushes! These brushes are amazingly soft and animal cruelty free with all their brushes being synthetic which makes them dry a lot quicker after washing too, I need to get my hands on this new brush to add to my collection.

Soleil Tan De Chanel.

I've Already spoken about this product in a previous post but it still happens to be on my wish list!

This cream bronzer blends beautifully into the skin to create a sun kissed glow or can be used as a cream contour!

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation.

This foundation is amazing I've tried it on in store a few times and think I'm ready to make my purchase next payday, i like to use a medium foundation that I can build up to full coverage but still like my face to look like my own skin and not a mask and this foundation is perfect for that. I'm always mesmerised at the Illamasqua counter the products are so beautiful and their images are always so amazing and inspiring!

AHHHHHH <3

AND AGAIN AHHHHHHH <3

If you haven't already entered my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY heres the link :D
CLICK HERE

DIY: Glitter Nails!

2012-08-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hey guys today I am back with a DIY blog post showing you how to create your own beautiful glitter manicure!

Glitter nails have been trending all year and the cosmetic companies have jumped on the band wagon creating amazing glitter polishes for everyones budget but if your looking for maximum glitteryness like me you've got to be willing to splurge a little, my favourites are American Apparel and Models Own for a pure glitter effect!

American Apparel £9

Models Own £5

Although these nail polishes are gorgeous I'm always looking for a bargin! This step by step tutorial will show you how to get this immense glitter nail effect without having to buy a glitter polish! Sound good? Read on!

You will need...

Nail Varnish Remover

Nail File
Top Coat
Glitter

Step 1

Make sure your nails are clean and remove all nail polish.

File your nails to your desired shape.

Step 2

Paint your nail with a clear top coat (do one nail at a time)

Dip the wet nail into your glitter pot

Step 3

Add another layer of the top coat then dip the same nail back into the glitter

Step 4

Use a Qtip to remove the glitter from your skin

Step 5

Apply more top coat allowing the polish to dry in between layers to avoid 'gloopy' nails.

Step 6

Repeat on all of your nails

Once all your glitter dipping is complete your hands should look a little messy!

When your nails are compleately dry wash your hands to remove the last bits of glitter from your skin.

Your Done :)

I got my Glitter from Ebay for very cheap! But I'm sure you could use any glitter!

Good Luck with your Glitter Nails, I'd love to see how yours turn out so tweet me a pic :D

@bolinjah

Don't forget to enter my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY and follow my blog.

Just Click Here

Thanks For Reading :)

Quick Trick: How To Keep Eyelashes Curled All Day

2012-08-12T13:20:00.001-07:00

Quick Trick: How To Keep Eyelashes Curled All Day

Hey guys I'm back with another 'Quick Trick'

How To Keep Eyelashes Curled All Day

Many mascaras can claim to give your lashes a long lasting curl but if your lashes are stubborn or poker straight they might need a little extra aid to help them along the way. Eyelash curlers are a great way of opening up the eyes and achieving a beautiful feminine curl.

If you have REALLY straight stubborn eyelashes this might be the trick for you. Eyelash curlers can work amazingly on their own but if you want an extra boost, hold your eyelash curlers under a hairdryer for 5 seconds, test on your wrist to make sure they are not hot but just warm then curl lashes as usual. This will set the curl just like a curling wand curls your hair, apply your mascara after and you will see a difference immediately!

Please be careful and make sure the lash curlers are NOT hot!
NEVER curl your lashes after mascara otherwise you could break them off or pull them out and we don't want that!

Which eyelash curlers to choose?

PAY DAY SPLURGE

Shu Uemera Eyelash Curlers £20
The most raved about eyelash curlers in the beauty community.

SPARE CHANGE SAVE

Primark Eyelash Curlers £1
Bargin choice, they do the job!

Don't forget to enter my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY and follow my blog.
Just Click Here

Thanks For Reading :)

Top Summer Nail Polish Shades.

2012-05-30T05:38:00.002-07:00

Now Summer is finally here I thought I would share with you my absolute favourite nail polishes for the season, these colours compliment tanned skin too which makes them perfect for holidays or just sunny weather.

All of these polishes are easy to purchase online or in stores, be sure to apply a base and top coat for that salon finish.

Collection2000 Hot Looks Shade: Fruit Salad £1.79 (middle finger)

I love the Collection2000 Hot Looks range, they apply very easily and only need two coats. I find I do need to apply a top coat to resist chipping with this nail varnish, at such a low price these polishes are great for testing out more adventurous colours.

Essie Shade: Forever Yummy £7.99 (thumb)

If you want a salon finish to your nails Essie nail polishes are for you, as they are so opaque only one coat is needed making the product very long lasting. All the Essie polishes give incredible shine pay off and as they are now avaliable to purchase in boots you can pick one up on your lunch break. The price might be more expensive than others but I think its definately worth it and I'm currently building a collection of my own.

elf Shade: Mint Cream £2.50 (ring finger)

As you might know already elf is one of my favourite cosmetics ranges as it provides great products at such a low price and the shipping is always super fast, this shade is a beautiful mint but not too green which I find some 'mint' polishes can be, to maintain a beautifully manicured look be sure to apply a top coat with elf polishes.

Collection2000 Hot Looks Shade: Button Moon £1.79 (index finger)

This is definately my favourite shade out of all five polishes, Button Moon is a beautiful sky blue which always compliments my skin tone whatever the season but is also great for enhancing a tan making it great for holidays.

17 Lasting Fix Shade: Sherbet Lemon £2.99 (little finger)

Yellow nail polishes are usually a 'no no' in my books as they tend to make my nails look... well yellow, and in bad condition, but this shade is a lovely pastel yellow that looks great on all skin tones and doesn't leave your nails with a yellowy stain once removed which can tend to happen with most yellow bases nail polishes.

What are your Summer favourites? I love trying out new shades, so leave a comment below.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to CLICK HERE to follow my blog to enter my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY!

Quick Trick: Longer Lipstick Wear!

2012-05-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys im back again with another quick trick, today I will be telling you how to get maximum staying power for your lipstick!

Make sure that your lips are moisturised and free from any dry skin before applying the lipstick, an easy way to do this is to use a soft tooth brush to brush away the dead skin.

Apply a moisturising lip balm ten minutes before applying your lipstick allowing it to sink into the lips.

Apply your lisptick on evenly then apply lipcote and let dry. Lipcote has been around for over 50 years and is a staple make up item for long lasting lipstick wear, great for nights out too!

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to Click Here to keep up to date with my blog and be entered into my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY.

Quick Trick: Unruly Brows.

2012-05-14T01:55:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I've decided to start posting quick tricks for those of you that don't have time to read a long wordy blog post but still want to keep up to date with make-up, fashion and beauty :)

Todays quick trick is how to keep your brows in place all day.

There are a lot of products on the market for setting the brows, from waxes to gels but sometimes we don't have time to purchase these products or simply just don't want to, so today I have a cheap and easy alternative for you.

Quick Tip:

Spray some hairspray onto an clean mascara wand then run through your brows in the direction you want them, the hairs will stay like this all day and you wont have to worry about getting caught off guard with unruly wolf eyebrows.

Loreal Elnett hairspray is my favourite to use as keeps my brows in place all day without any flakes you can get from other hairspray brands.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to Click Here to keep up to date with my blog and be entered into my MAKE UP GIVEAWAY.

DIY: FACE MASK.

2012-05-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

I'm back again with a DIY post for those of you who enjoyed the 'Don't Splurge On Body Scrubs... Make Your Own' post. DIY is great for saving money and learning something new to pass on to someone else. This post will focus on how to make your own natural healing and calming face mask.

When I was a kid I always wanted to do face masks with my friends and have "slumber parties" like in the american movies...

My childhood dream.

But as my skin was so sensitive I would always end up in a rash from some of the strange and unnatural ingridients. As I got older I started to make my own and experiment by creating different recipies, most of the ingredients I use are found in the kitchen making this a lot easier and cheaper which is always a plus in my books. so lets get started!

Soothing Honey And Oats Face Mask.

Now I know this one sounds like porridge... because basically if you heated it up it would be, but its also works WONDERS for the skin.

OATS

A natural exfoliant.
Great for all skin types including sensitive skin.
Helps relieve symptoms of aging.
Can be used as a mild cleanser as it contains saponins.
Calming properties to help treat acne, redness and eczema.

HONEY

Works well to absorb impurities from the pores.
Creates smooth and supple skin.
Helps keep skin hydrated.
Soothes skin so also great for acne, redness and, exzema.
Healing properties, has been known to heal infections and wounds.

Whenever I use this face mask my skin is always super soft and radient the next day, Interested yet? Heres some VERY easy steps on how to Do It Yourself!

STEP 1

Add some Oats to your bowl.

STEP 2

Heat some Honey to create a runny texture then add it to the Oats and mix well.

STEP 3

Add a little water if the mixture is too thick.

Let the oats sit for 2 minutes to soak up the honey and water to create a paste.

STEP 4

Apply to your face!

This is where it gets messy so be sure to not wear your Sunday bests whilst applying. I learnt the hard way and found using a towel to catch the mess was a good idea.

STEP 5

Leave the mask on to penetrate the skin for about ten minutes.

STEP 6

Rinse it off, the porridge and honey combination will also work as a great natural cleanser.

This works great as a great breakfast too so no need to worry if any accidently gets eaten :P

I hope this post was helpful and let me know if you've tried this or any other DIY face masks. Don't forget to click join this site to follow my blog and be in with a chance to WIN MY MAKE UP GIVEAWAY or just Click Here .

'How To' Winged Eyeliner

2012-05-11T08:37:00.002-07:00

  The feline flick, winged liner, cat eyes, there are so many names for it and so many different ways to do it. Eye liner is not the easist thing to perfect, it will take paitience and practice and a steady hand. Just remember that all eye shapes are different so not every liner will look the same, today I will give you a few tips on how to achieve 'My signature flick'.

The best products to create winged liner in my opinion are either gel or a liquid liner. Using a pencil will not allow your to achieve that pointy feline look.

If you prefer gel liner like me you will need a brush, I use a flat square facepainting brush which allows me to acheive a fast straight line.

 Some people prefer to use either a fine liner brush or an angled brush it all depends on preference, practice using different brushes to find out what you are most comfortable with.

If you are new to winged liner I would recommend applying your liner on a clean base as you can easily wipe any mistakes away without having to worry about disturbing any eyeshadow.

I tend to start by drawing my liner close to the lash line first, build up the line slowly and don't try to get your liner done in one stroke. ALWAYS start thinner than you intend your line to be, this way if you make a mistake such as an uneven line you can easily go over it.

To create the flick I like to draw it in a flick motion to achieve the desired sharp and pointed effect, then I do exactly the same on the other eye to make sure they are even before I join the flick to the liner. Making sure the eyes are even is probably the hardest part, after plotting in your flicks look straight ahead into a mirror to check they are matching. This will take a little practice. (I still have trouble with this myself sometimes) If you do make a mistake just use a damp cotton bud to remove your flick, then re-apply.

Once you are happy with the angle of your flicks you want to create a smoother curve to your liner as we want to make it look like one sleek stroke instead of two separate lines. Draw a diagonal line starting half way up the flick joining back towards your eye to create the smooth gradient. (Remember start out thinner than you intend so you can build up to create the perfect Flick)

I like my eyeliner to extend into the inner corner of the eye, I do this by simply continuing my liner into the tear duct area making sure the line is not too thick. Not a lot of people share my love for this as it can make the eyes seems smaller. If you have Asian or almond shape eyes this will compliment and accentuate the shape of the eye. This part is definately down to preferance so its up to you.

Now apply your mascara and your good to go!

Here a few Liner products I would recommend:

Clinique Gel Liner in True Black

Maybeline Gel Liner

ELF Liquid Liner

Loreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss

Just remember to not give up and practice makes perfect, when I started out I would attempt the flicks about 12 times until It was perfected.

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BRONZED All Year Round!

2012-04-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

With rumours of cold weather and snow heading down from the north I thought I'd post about my current favourite bronzers whilst the sun is still shining and the weather is still warm. Summer is my favourite season which is why all year round you will probably find me wearing shorts and sunglasses. As soon as the sun is out I am ready to sunbathe and switch to a more natural summer make-up routine. Bronzer is my favourite product to warm up the face and quickly create that sun kissed look. Here are my current top bronzers and 1 for the wishlist :)

1. Sleek Makeup Face Contour Kit

Already this is a little cheat as I use this not to bronze but to contour my face, this product instantly warms up the face and defines the cheekbones beautifully, a little goes along way. I also use the beautiful highlight shade on the tops of my cheekbones to add instant glam to my make-up on a night out. I am in the shade Medium at the moment as I have caught the sun recently but I am usually in the shade Light.

2. Bourjois Paris Delice De Poudre

Also know as the chocolate bronzer this powder is a beautiful shade for adding warmth to where the face would naturally catch the sun (nose, cheeks, forehead, temples) I've had mine for a while now and it still works lovely on the skin although mine does look a little battered. It also smells divine!!!! Mine is in the shade 52.

3. E.LF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder

This duo works amazingly for bronzing and adding a beautiful flush to the face, this elf product resembles the famous Nars Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer duo but for a fraction of the price at £3.50

NARS Orgasm & Laguna duo

4. E.L.F Natural Radiance Blusher in Bronzed

This product is great for a makeup junkie on a budget at a price of only £1.50 this does exactly what it says on the label adding a 'bronzed' glow to the face but be careful as they do smash easily and can cause a little mess.

On the wishlist....

Soleil Tan de Chanel

This Product is a cream gel bronzer which leaves a velvety finish to the skin, at a price of £29.00 it is still on my wishlist whilst I find a good excuse to justify splurging on this product. I probably will end up purchasing this product quite soon as the packaging looks so luxurious and I have heard so many great reviews about it.

I hope you guys found this helpful. Don't forget to click 'Join This Site' to follow my blog and be in a chance to WIN in a make-up giveaway coming soon ;)

Flutter Those Lashes Gurl!

2012-03-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

I always get a little excited when I get a chance to wear false lashes, I think they are so pretty and transform any make up look into something even more beautiful! I must admit they can be a bit of a pain to apply as it takes a lot of practice to get them on perfectly. I usually buy the Eyelure Naturalites as they come in a choice of styles and they look very natural, at a price of £5.29 I make sure I use them on special occasions and clean them immediately after I remove them so I can wear them again to get the most for my money.

But recently I have found a new treasure... I was searching on ebay for false lashes and couldn't believe my eyes when i saw 10 pairs of lashes for 99p! My immediate reaction was "they must be rubbish because they're so cheap" So I browsed the internet for some reviews to help sway my decision, I found a lot of mixed reviews so I decided to go ahead and purchase them myself and make my own judgement.

The lashes were coming from Hong Kong with free postage so I couldn't really complain when I received them four weeks later. I expected some of the lashes to have fallen out of place or for the box to be a little crumpled after shipping (as I had seen in previous reviews) but thanks to The Royal Mail my delivery was in a pristine condition ;)

I chose lash number 064 as i prefer my lashes to look naturally long and to not look too false.

These lashes are perfect for me as they add volume but can be disguised as my own... (almost)

If you prefer a more dramatic look I reccommend trying a different set.

On each end of the lashes are these little tabs, I find they are great to help measure the size of the false lash to your own before applying, and give the lashes a little bend to create the curve of the eye. Then all you have to do is simply cut down to size.

The lashes are so easy to apply and look beautiful, I have already ordered 2 back up boxes so i always have plenty spare. I haven't tried any of the other style lashes but would love to know what they are like. let me know if you have tried them :)

Before...

After...

My Top Tips For Applying False Lashes.

Measure the lashes first if they are too long for your eye shape they can look obvious and might be quite uncomfortable.
Apply a little amount of mascara to your own lashes before applying the false lashes.
I always use Eyelure lash glue i find it works great for me and my lashes never fall off.
Add more glue to the ends of the lash strip to keep them secure
Let the glue dry on the lash for about 15 seconds until it becomes tacky then apply
Use tweezers to apply as it gives you more control.
Don't apply false lashes too close to the inner corner of the eye, they can irritate your eyes and make them water, ruining your beautiful make up.
Firstly place the lash in the middle of your lashes then tack the corners down.
It helps to hold the corners down in place whilst its drying for a few seconds to adapt the lashes to the curve of your eye.
Once the glue is completely dry gently curl your lashes to secure your lashes and the false ones together
Use black liquid liner to cover any sight of dry glue on the lash band.
Clean your false lashes after using them with make up remover and remove all the glue this will allow you to use your lashes again.
Don't rush, you have loads of time :)

The Search For The PERFECT Pencil Eyeliner.

2012-03-17T14:05:00.026-07:00









I've lost count of the amount of times I have bought a black pencil
liner in the hope that it wouldn't be painful to apply and maybe for once
actually turn out BLACK!

We choose kohl liners with names like 'Carbon' and 'True Black' yet sometimes
the products are barely grey. Ive been searching for a very long time for the
PERFECT pencil Eyeliner and I think I have finally found it...
Avon
Supershock Gel Liner
I would never usually go for the brand Avon but recently I've seen some
amazing products and can't believe how much I have been missing out on! 

This liner is great; it glides on so smoothly, with ease and no pain at
all, like some others can cause. This liner describes its colour simply as
'Black' and trust me it's 'black'. I've already got a backup so I can use it as
soon as my current one runs out!

Avon ships to 100 hundred countries which is great but also means loads
of people miss out. So for the other countries I've found a very similar
product that you might be able to get your hands on, I would compare this Avon
liner to the stilla smudge stick waterproof liner which is also just as beautiful but just a bit more pricey.


Avon supershock gel liner £6
 Stilla smudge stick waterproof liner £13
I will never again go back to the drugstore liners as they can't really
compete with my Avon Supershock Gel liner. 
If you are interested in buying this Avon liner it is currently on sale
for £3 which is an absolute bargain so snap it up! It also comes in silver
which would be great for a metallic boost to your eye makeup! Thank you for
reading and remember you can follow this blog by clicking 'join this
site!'. 



AVON
http://avonshop.co.uk/product/make-up/eyes/eyeliner/avon-supershock-gel-eyeliner-pencil.html
STILLA
http://www.stila.co.uk/collections/eyes/products/smudge-stick-waterproof-eye-liner-stingray

Cheap Teeth Whitening!

2012-03-09T11:37:00.001-08:00

I've always had an obsession with teeth, when I was younger I wanted to be a dentist, for a long while I was sure about dentistry then I saw a nasty rotting set of teeth and realised it would be my job to sort that out in the future, so as a typical child I quickly changed my mind and went on to my next career fascination.

There are loads of teeth whitening products on the market but they are always a little expensive. I've recently seen some products at £100, we can't all be splurging that kind of money on what is basically a better toothpaste so I've decided to let you in on some tips of how to remove stains and keep your teeth nice and white :D

Using Bicarbonate of soda helps to remove stains from teeth and because we can use it in our baking we can use it in our mouth! I have a little routine to keep my teeth nice and white that i use every 1-2 weeks. Here is what you will need...

Ordinary Toothpaste
A Bowl
A Teaspoon
Bicarbonate Of Soda
A Drop Of Water
Your Toothbrush

1. Take half a teaspoon and pour it into the bowl

2. Mix with your toothpaste and add a little water to help mix together to make a paste

3. Brush for 2 minutes as you usually would concentrating on the stained areas then RINSE.

Its as easy as that! remember bicarbonate of soda is abrasive so it will work well to remove stains but if used too frequently it wont be good for your tooth enamel! I also try to floss everyday to prevent stains forming in-between my teeth from trapped food and mouthwash for a good old rinse. It's all pretty simple, so try it out!

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Don't Splurge On Body Scrubs... Make Your own!

2012-03-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

This blog post is a bit of a contradiction for me as I love buying body scrubs, I'm a sucker for the sweet smells used in them. I've wanted to make my own for a while now and as my favourites are running out (Soap And Glory and FCUK) which means I don't really have an excuse not to.

After looking online ant various different recipes I found the same few ingredients appearing over and over again. As a drama student I like to improvise in most aspects of life (which is probably why my cooking isn't at a Delia standard), so I made my own!

I made two to start with Mint Choc Chip and Honey and Lemon drops

Mint Choc Chip.

Granulated Sugar

Grapeseed Oil

Peppermint Extract

Cocoa Powder

The Mint Choc Chip scrub smells delicious!

1. Pour the desired amount of sugar into a bowl then add few tbl spoons of Cocoa powder.

2. Add the oil slowly whilst mixing until you create a thick paste.

3. Add the Peppermint extract for the minty scent.

4. Mix some more then transfer into your container.

Honey and Lemon drops.

Honey

Granulated Sugar

Grapeseed Oil

Lemon Juice

I love the texture of the Honey and Lemon drops scrub and it left my skin super soft!

1. Pour the desired amount of sugar into a bowl.

2. Add the oil slowly whilst mixing until you create a thick paste.

3. Melt a few table spoons of honey 10 seconds in the microwave then add to the mixture.

4. squeeze the juice of a lemon into the mixture.

5. Mix some more then add to your container.

They were so easy to make and most of the ingredients have great benefits for the skin!

Sugar - Exfoliates the dead skin away

Oil - Mosturises the skin

Cocoa Powder - Includes antioxidants such as Flavanols

Lemon - tones, brightens and exfoliates the skin

Honey - absorbs impurities from the pores

Although I used Grapeseed oil you can use nearly any oil you find in your house, I personally can't take the strong smell of olive oil but it would have been a great one to use too as it helps to repair sun-damaged skin and clear impurities. If you want to make your scrub more luxurious try adding an Essential Oil to the mix, it will give a beautiful spa scent to your scrub and is packed with lots of antioxidants.

I loved making my own scrubs and will continue to as it saves money but on special occasions I will treat myself and purchase my favourites. I hope you guys try it out and please let me know how it goes! Follow my blog to read the latest posts first!

Who Said Beauty On A Budget Doesn't Exist?

2012-03-03T04:24:00.000-08:00

Over the next few weeks I will be blogging about my favourite affordable brands on the market, starting with

This website is full of bargains with products starting at £1, I get a lot of my make up from ELF and most of my make up brushes too. When I first found out about the website I didn't think it would be any good but I didn't mind trying out a few products as it was so cheap. After reciving my purchases I was amazed at the value for money and was glad I gave it a chance. To cut a long story short I'm now addicted! The ELF customer service is spectacular; the delivery is always fast, there is often special treats emailed to customers, shipping is free when you spend over £30 and on somedays completely free. Also the sales are amazingggggg.

The Studio Powder Brush £3.50

This brush is SOOOO soft, great for powder and also really good for applying liquid and cream foundations, I have two so I can always use one if the other is dirty!

The Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palletes £3.75

With 36 eyeshadows included this is outstanding value for money. I'm always wary when buying cheap eyeshadows as I find they are never very pigmented but these palletes are almost on par with my MAC shadows which retail for £11 EACH!

Matte Finisher Clear Nail Polish £1.50

This product does basically what it says on the bottle allowing you to top your nail polish with a matte top coat which i think is great as it makes your nails look more unique.

Mineral Lipsticks £3.50

I love these lipsticks as they are very moisturising and don't dry out your lips like other lipsticks can do, they are true to the colour and the packaging is very sleek and pretty :)

Wet Gloss Lash And Brow Clear Mascara £1.50

This product is probably my favourite from the website and I've only just discovered it. If you have unrully eyebrows like me, this is perfect for taming them and it lasts all day and even better this also a clear mascara.

Daily Brush Cleaner 3.50

It is essential to keep your brushes clean and free from bad bacteria so this is perfect for spot cleaning after you have used your brushes leaving them clean for the next time you use them!

I could go on and on as you might have guessed! But I'll stop here so you can go check out the website. Click below so you can snap up them goodies straight away :D

Click Here

Dear Maybeline Why Don't My Eyelashes Look Like Your Adverts???

2012-03-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

Maybe she's born with it? Maybe its PHOTOSHOP?!

I've never really understood how mascara adverts worked, these pictures of women with super extreme lashes all over the media encouraging us to buy their mascara but wait... I've never met anyone with lashes like this and probably never will. Why are these brands allowed to use false eye lashes and digital enhancements to sell their products?

I understand that nearly every image we see in the media is airbrushed to extremes but mascara adverts really shock me with what they can get away with.

After doing some reasearch i found that the most enhanced images I came across were Maybeline which happend to be my favourite brand of mascara, I've always used Maybeline mascaras since i first started using make-up and I love how their products make my lashes look. After seeing these over airburshed images I wondered to myself am I subliminally being brainwashed into buying these images?

In no way am I slating the products Maybeline produce I'm just tired of seeing these images reappear again and again to advertise a product that doesn't actually achieve these results.

I would love to start seeing some real lashes used in these advertisments, after all we would like to know how the mascara ACTUALLY works and not how good the editors skills are on photoshop. Lets just hope that this false adverising doesnt get any worse and us end up believing that these mascaras will make our lashes look like this. What will be the next extreme the brand advertisers will go to??

Falling Asleep With Make-Up On... GUILTY

2012-02-25T07:03:00.002-08:00

OK guys we've all done it! But we always have a 'valid excuse' eh!?

"oh I was so tired I just fell asleep!"

" I wasn't at home that night"

"I came home from a night out and just crashed"

"I was too drunk"

Sleeping with make up on is not good for your skin, no matter how many 'amazing minerals' your make up might contain! Its a proven fact that our skin cells work harder whilst we sleep, by not cleansing at night the pores remain blocked allowing any grime on the face to absorb deeper into the skin creating blackheads and spots, even if you don't wear make up it is very important to cleanse at night to clear the dirt from the pores and allow the cells to repair the skin from damage done during the day.

Another fact that might not be notice, wearing make up around the eyes to sleep increases your chance of infection, the eyes are such a delicate area so we must look after them, leaving make-up on overnight can cause bloodshot eyes, scratches to the eyeball and bacterial infections. Most people rub their eyes whilst asleep, this pushes the bacteria further into the eye causing infection.

Using a gentle make-up remover, a facial wash and a light moisturiser will leave you with glowing skin in the morning and decrease the chances of aging, infection and inflamed skin. Make up wipes are not enough, it only takes 1 minute to wash your face and I promise you will feel better about it in the morning.

Now are those excuses valid anymore?