star violet beauty | uk beauty blog

pastel vintage floral nails

2013-05-20T18:33:00.000+01:00

COLOR CLUB TOPCOAT | BARRY M MINT GREEN | MODELS OWN UTOPIA & PEACH FUZZ | KONAD WHITE

I've been having a go with nail art again and this time steppd away from anything I had done before and ventured into trying out a floral pattern. I created little blobs with the peach shade and then added white detailing and polka dots and finished with mint coloured leaves. They don't look perfect that's for sure but I quite like the shabby chic feel to them and adore the colour combination. I've just ordered some nail brushes online meaning I will be able to add much more detail to my future designs. Toothpicks can work really well for designs like this too as you can draw thin lines and shapes with them. If you want to have a go at this yourself just have a browse on Youtube for tutorials, but I will probably post one up soon. Just be sure to use a thin polish that hasn't gone gloopy as you will find it impossible otherwise, my Konad white shade was perfect for that reason.

cosmopolition blog awards

2013-05-20T14:10:00.002+01:00

So this is usually something that I'd never write a blog post about and I was most definitely in two minds whether to do so or not. Cosmopolition are holding their yearly blog awards once again and are currently asking for nominations, which is where I need your help! I've seen these awards come and go for the past few years and unfortunately have never been lucky enough to get involved but this year I decided I'd try my best for some nominations. I love blogging and everything about it and never in my eyes does it feel like a chore or a job but it would be amazing to have some form of acknowledgement for all my hard work. I've never felt in the past that my blog was worthy of any kind of award until more recently that I've been posting pretty much every day and have spent much time researching what would be interesting to blog about, it aint easy being a full time blogger! Anyhow, if you enjoy catching up with my blog every now and then or never miss a post and read daily, please bear me in mind when nominating for the Cosmopolition blog award, just be sure to send me a tweet or leave a comment so that I can say a special thank you!

http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/cosmo-blog-awards-2013/enter-the-2013-cosmopolitan-blog-awards-nominate-now

scents for spring

2013-05-19T18:05:00.001+01:00

ANNA SUI FAIRY DANCE EAU DE TOILETTE - This is a really lovely light scent with a twist of sweetness and warmth. It's a combination of Rose and Vanilla that come together to achieve a fresh and radiant balance.

MISS DIOR EAU FRAICHE - Pretty much the freshest and uplifting perfume that I've ever smelt, this couldn't be more suited to Spring time. It's beautifully delicate and reminds me of a bright and breezy Summer's day.

THIERRY MUGLER ALIEN AQUA CHIC - I have been in love with the original Alien perfume for as long as I can remember which is why I love this lighter more toned down version just as much. Review here.

CHANEL CHANCE EAU TENDRE - One of my favourites scents to reach for is this fresher version of Chance by Chanel, it has a hint of White Musk which settles the Grapefruit notes down really nicely.

What are you favourite scents for Spring?

selfridges summer beauty box

2013-05-18T15:08:00.003+01:00

Selfridges are launching another beauty box and this time it's Summer themed! The products included have a total value of £70 and all boxes will be the same to avoid disappointment. I'm really excited by this box as I know that I will be using everything in there, which makes a change to most other beauty boxes. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is already a firm favourite of mine so it's great to have a handbag sized version of that, along with the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, and the Molton Brown Bath & Shower Gel has a beautifully fresh scent perfect for Summer. I'm excited to have the Models Own Bubblegum polish from the Ice Neon collection too as I haven't tried it out yet, and you can also check out my review of the Aqua Splash Tangle Teezer here too. The box also includes a gift voucher offering a free St. Tropez Beach Bag with any spray tan treatment, I'm not too sure as to whether it includes free products or not though!

A release date for the boxes hasn't been announced yet but you can sign up for an alert of when the box is available here: http://style.selfridges.com/whats-in/summer-beauty-box. Do let me know your thoughts on this Summer themed beauty box!

ren glycolactic radiance renewal mask

2013-05-16T19:42:00.001+01:00

If you regularly read lots of different beauty blogs then this mask undoubtedly will look very familiar to you and chances are that you've been lusting over it just like myself. When it comes to skincare, face masks have always been my favourite type of product to use. Ever since I was in my early teens and regularly used peel off masks (mainly for the novelty factor) I've always enjoyed treating myself to one at bath time, these days usually a clay based version to balance out my skin.

So a couple of nights ago I finally got round to using this mask by Ren for the first time, it's different to any other mask that I've tried in that it has a sticky texture yet doesn't peel off, after 10 minutes or so you simply rinse it off using the muslin cloth provided. Although it's built to remove dead skin cells using fruit acids, I experienced no uncomfortable sensations whatsoever and was barely aware that I had it on my skin. It has a light orangey scent which is fairly pleasant and uplifting once on the skin. Once I had removed the mask I noticed that my skin looked so much more radian, however it usually looks glowing anyway after a bath so I applied my usual moisturiser before bed and waited until the next day to look for results. The first thing I noticed was how even my skin tone looked and much more dewy than on a usual morning, secondly my face felt much softer to the touch and lastly my foundation ended up looking much nicer and less cakey than normal on my skin. Overall, I'm hugely impressed by this little miracle worker, I can best describe it as a professional facial in a bottle. I will certainly be repurchasing it once I run out and would recommend that everyone consider trying it out, considering that you only use it once a week the price tag isn't too hefty.

REN GLYCOLACTIC RADIANCE RENEWAL MASK - £30

models own indian ocean + barry m prickly pear

2013-05-15T17:54:00.001+01:00

Models Own Indian Ocean has been one of my favourite polishes for quite a while and even more so now that I've found the perfect colour combo using Barry M Prickly Pear as the base colour. Using them together results in a beautiful pearlescent lilac shade that glimmers pink and violet in the sun, such a great colour for Spring.

MODELS OWN INDIAN OCEAN - £5 | BARRY M PRICKLY PEAR - £3.99

sisley express flower gel mask

2013-05-12T16:07:00.000+01:00

We all have those god awful moments where we wake up and take one look at our dull skin and want to jump straight back into bed. These are the moments that no ordinary face creams will do the job and your skin is crying out for a little miracle worker to give your skin a radiant glow. I have a lot of these kinds of days which is why I'm forever on the lookout for products that will give my skin that much needed boost. Recently I have been lucky enough to have been trying out the Express Flower Gel mask by Sisley and have been enjoying doing so. It applies to the skin as a thin watery gel and although it's marketed as a mask you leave it to absorb into the skin fully rather than washing it off. It's the best product that I have found to give my skin an instant hit of hydration and leaves my skin looking as if I've just had a facial. It's a great product and one which I would definitely repurchase if I had the budget, my skin is generally very dry which is why it works out to be the perfect solution for me.

SISLEY EXPRESS FLOWER GEL MASK - £74.50

revlon nail art moon candy in 'moon dust'

2013-05-09T16:09:00.000+01:00

Beauty brands are certainly keeping us all busy with all of their new nail polish launches at the moment, it seems to be the year of nail art and nail polish inventions! With that in mind I had a go with the new Revlon Nail Art Moon Candy in 'Moon Dust' (quite a mouthful) nail polish lately and had to let you all know about it. The nail polish bottle is double ended, with the base colour on one end and the nail effect glitter topcoat on the other, pretty clever huh? I really like both of the shades and can imagine using them on a regular basis, the glitter was surprisingly easy to apply and after just one coat my nails looked as if they had pieces of a shattered mirror stuck to them. The only issue I found is that due to just having 3.5ml of product in each end (you get 14ml in a regular Revlon polish) I had used up 1/3 of the glitter after just one use for both hands. They are a great idea but I'm not too sure as to why the price is more expensive than of a regular Revlon polish that has double the amount of product in.

REVLON NAIL ART MOON CANDY IN 'MOON DUST' - £7.99

nuxe huile prodigieuse golden shimmer dry oil

2013-05-08T14:32:00.000+01:00

The days are getting warmer which means that if you are anything like me you will be out in the garden trying to catch a tan in the first rays of sunshine. However since my skin is currently looking rather pale and lack lustre thanks to the Winter months it needs a little helping hand before I manage to get a proper tan. I don't like to sunbathe if I'm wearing fake tan as I don't like the heavy feeling on my skin and ending up with patchy sun tan lines so at the moment I've been opting for this Nuxe dry oil with built in shimmer particles. I love how it gives my pale looking skin a natural looking radiance and also keeps my skin feeling moisturised in the hot weather, it's definitely become a favourite product of mine. The bottle has a spray pump meaning that the oil is sprayed in a fine mist onto your skin so you don't even have to rub it in. The smell is really lovely too and reminds me of being on holiday somehow, it's fairly delicate as to not clash with perfume though. All in all I seriously recommend investing in a bottle, if it looks this good on pale skin I can't wait to match it with a tan!

NUXE HUILE PRODIGIEUSE GOLDEN SHIMMER DRY OIL 100ML - £37

tutti-frutti dotted nails

2013-05-07T14:11:00.001+01:00

NAIL DOTTING TOOLS - EBAY | AMERICAN APPAREL NEON GREEN & NEON ORANGE | MODELS OWN PINK NAIL ART PEN | MODELS OWN SNOW WHITE

I've been playing around with my nail dotting tools again and have created this bright neon dotted effect. I started in the bottom left corner of each nail with a bright pink shade then moved onto the green and lastly the orange to created diagonal stripes of each colour. I absolutely love the overall effect and it's definitely the brightest that my nails have ever looked, which can only be a good thing. Nail dotting is unbelievably easy to do once you get the hang of it properly and that's coming from a very clumsy person, it's really worth giving a go.

sisley california soul: the products

2013-05-06T19:12:00.000+01:00

For Spring/Summer 2013 Sisley have combined these products to create their 'California Soul' look, I love how when everything is used together a beautifully bright yet sophisticated make up look can be achieved. I will be putting together another post on creating the 'California Soul' look but for now will be giving an insight into each of the products.

PHYTO-OMBRE ECLAT EYE SHADOW IN LINEN - £27.50 - This shade is the perfect natural matte nude colour with a hint of pink, I wouldn't say that it's a must have but it does create a nice base colour if worn alone with liquid liner for example.

PHYTO-OMBRE ECLAT EYE SHADOW IN VELVET - £27.50 - This shade is a lovely light smoky purple that works well when used for a daytime look. The pigmentation is rich so it has good colour pay off too, it's a good option for anyone who likes to avoid shimmery shadows.

PHYTO LIP SHINE IN SHEER CHERRY - £27.50 - Now here is something that you can get excited about, a beautiful bright sophisticated red lipstick with ever so chic packaging to match. I have an absolute addiction to red lipsticks and I can certainly imagine this becoming my new favourite.

PHYTO KOHL PENCIL IN KHAKI - £31.50 - Eyeliners aren't something that I ever tend to use on a regular basis meaning that I wouldn't spend a small fortune on one such as this but that being said it does match my green eyes really nicely and is very soft and easy to work with.

L'ORCHIDEE HIGHLIGHTING BLUSH WITH WHITE LILY - £60 - Last but not least is my favourite product of the lot, for obvious reasons! This blush is truly a little piece of art and puts all of my others completely to shame, the outside packaging is mirrored and once opened up reveals an elegant shimmering orchid. Obviously it costs a bomb (we are talking Sisley here) but it's truly magical in it's own right, and the colour looks stunning once on the cheeks too.

no takeaway may

2013-05-05T20:13:00.002+01:00

So I figured it's been a long time since I went on any sort of healthy eating plan and even worse actually bothered to monitor what I eat or do any proper exercise. It's not that I'm particularly lazy but sometimes I fill my life with unimportant tasks and things to do rather than focusing on myself. Summer is well on it's way which means I'm aiming for that bikini body once again and have decided to push myself into a healthier lifestyle, I even caught myself putting away the takeaway menu in favour of poached eggs and avacado on toast yesterday. Speaking of takeaways I've set myself a little challenge to avoid them completely for the whole month of May. I figured that it's the perfect month as it's just the time that we all want to start toning up again and always 'no takeaway may' has a nice little ring to it, so there we go. I have no idea if anyone has come up with this challenge before but nonetheless if any of you fancy giving it a go then I'd love to check out how you get along so use the hashtag #NoTakeawayMay on Twitter. This post was supposed to go up on May 1st so apologies that it's a little late but if you have already had a takeaway over the last few days then just extend the rule into the first few days of June so that it makes up a month, but have no slip ups as it defeats the purpose.

I'm going to be cutting out bad foods and will be rejoining the gym too but I figured the best place to start was cutting out pizza that is over 200 calories per slice and other greasy foods for at least a month. I will be updating my blog with tips and tricks along with slimming and toning products soon too. Let me know if any of you decide to give #NoTakeawayMay a go!

nourish skincare products

2013-05-04T19:29:00.000+01:00

NOURISH PROTECT COOLING TONING MIST - £8.95

Being the lazy person that I am I absolutely love products that come in the form of mists and that you can just quickly spray on your skin before bed or to wake your skin in the morning. This toning mist is really lovely to boost the hydration of my skin and give instant radiance. This will be great to use in the Summer time and would be great to take on holiday as the bottle is so lightweight.

NOURISH BALANCE HAND LOTION - £12.95

Another product that I've been impressed with is this hand lotion, it comes in a light plastic bottle and has a pump which dispenses the lotion which I've found to much prefer to squeezy tubes of cream. The lotion feels ever so light and sinks instantly into my skin and leaves a delicate apple scent whilst hydrating my hands.

colour club wish upon a rock-star nail polish

2013-05-04T15:04:00.000+01:00

One of the polishes that came with my Color Club set from TK Maxx (blog post here) was this intensely sparkly shade. It has a base of green, red, gold and silver glitter which is topped off with chunky violet hexagonal glitter, pretty crazy but results in a really eye catching polish. I was really impressed with how easily the polish applied, it only took two-three coats to get the glitter to look even and to cover the whole nail properly. It's such a unique shade and looks like a glitter party on my nails, making it the ideal shade to wear for evening wear. I just wish that Color Club polishes were easier to get hold of in the UK as they are amazing, especially the topcoat!

victoria's secret fragrance mists

2013-05-02T15:10:00.002+01:00

Whilst strolling around Westfield shopping centre a couple of days ago I spotted the huge Victoria's Secret store and spent far more time in there than I probably should have. It's filled with beautiful lingerie, colourful bikinis, nightwear and even beauty products. I could have literally spent a fortune in there and even though I ended up buying quite a lot I considered if refrained considering the amount of items that I was lusting over. I will feature everything that I bought over on my lifestyle blog, but for now I'm going to let you all know about the fragrance mists.

The fragrance mists are body sprays that come in a huge range of fruity and fresh scents to try out, there are so many to chose from that there is literally something for everyone. They are £11 each, £24 for three or £30 for five making them a great deal if you want to try out quite a few. All of the scents also come in body butter, body wash, body scrub, body lotion, and hand cr

eam versions if you have a liking for one in particular.

FOREVER PINK - PINK TUBEROSE AND PEAR

This is my favourite of the bunch that I have tried so far, it has a sharp and musky twist as to stop it from smelling too sweet, probably thanks to the pear. I've already been wearing it pretty much everyday and will be continuing to do so throughout the Summer months.

LOVE SPELL - CHERRY BLOSSOM AND PEACH

Love spell is the sweetest of the scents and at first can appear to be slightly too sickly but I do find that it settles down and becomes less strong after it has settled on the skin.

ENCHANTED APPLE - RED APPLE AND WATERY HYACINTH

In terms of sweetness this probably lands in the middle of the two other scents, the apple scent is strong and sweet but slightly sharp in a way which results in a nice blend, as with the others it becomes milder and more wearable once on the skin.

All in all I'm loving the idea of swapping my heavier perfumes for these light and fruity fragrance mists throughout the Summer and already have my eye on a couple more scents, Coconut Passion will most certainly be my next purchase once it's back in stock (I hear it's very popular).

svb blog awards #2

2013-04-25T16:29:00.000+01:00

FOR PRODUCT REVIEWS

www.jfstyleandbeauty.com - There are so many beauty blogs out there that I'm constantly swapping and changing which I read most but at the moment I've been paying attention to Jessica's reviews. She has some great You Tube videos too, her eyeliner tutorial being one of my favourites.

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY

www.redbricklipstick.com - Another recent find of mine, Lily's blog pretty much defines the word 'lovely'. It's easy to read and is full of beautiful photos, one of my favourites to catch up with on a Sunday afternoon.

FOR STAYING IN THE BEAUTY LOOP

www.britishbeautyblogger.com - I'm sure that most of you already follow Jane's blog but here it is nonetheless. On days that I don't have much time I love checking out her quick and informative updates on what's going on in the beauty world.

THE GOOD READ

www.fromgemwithlove.com - For those days that I have a little more time on my hands and sit down with a cup of tea to check new posts Gem's blog is ideal. She's wrote quite a number of posts on sharing her views on topical issues which I've enjoyed.

FOR NAIL POSTS

www.burkatron.com - I literally only found Caroline's blog a few weeks ago but have already been addicted to reading through lots of her posts from the past. I'm so jealous of her perfect nails and have definitely added a million new nail polishes to my collection from reading her blog.

FOR FASHION
www.tinytwisst.blogspot.co.uk - Laura's blog is one of my favourites at the moment for inspirational outfit posts, she's super pretty and always pulls off looking great with unique looks.

chic dotted nail art

2013-04-22T14:02:00.000+01:00

ROCOCO UNISEXY MATTE | BARRY M NUDE | COLOR CLUB TAKE THE STAGE | MODELS OWN UTOPIA | KISS WHITE NAIL ART PAINT

If you haven't already got yourself some dotting tools (why ever not?) then you can bend out a bobbi pin and use the end dipped in polish which works well too. The dots end up larger and not as precise as when using a proper dotting tool but it's worth trying out and is a handy tip for creating nail art. I decided to update my nail polish from a black French mani to this which meant it hardly took any time at all and I was super pleased with the results.

sisley so intense mascra

2013-04-21T17:47:00.000+01:00

Every time that I think I've found my favourite mascara another one is launched on the market which makes me ditch the last in favour of something different. I think all girls are in the same boat on this one and forever searching for the one. There have been a few that have come close, enough so that I'd be happy to buy them again but the perks of being a beauty blogger is that I am lucky enough to try out more than my fair share, which brings me onto this Sisley mascara.

Sisley is luxury beauty at it's best, the prices are sky high and the quality of the products scream sophistication. I've recently been trying out the So Intense Mascara and have been hugely impressed thus far. The mascara wand is nothing short of genius, it literally grabs onto my lashes and combs the product through them to create beautiful thick feathery lashes that look clump free and volumous. It's a very well pigmented mascara as my eyelashes are left a shade of jet black and as the name would suggest, intense. I also noticed how gentle it felt, there's no scratchy feeling to the brush and my lashes end up feeling soft rather than crispy and hardened as with most mascaras. The only thing to watch out for is if you have typically watery eyes, as although it stand up well all day it doesn't cope at all well with any tears. I'd happily state that it's one of the best mascaras that I've ever tried, and if I had the budget I would repurchase it time and time over. I feel slightly bittersweet towards it because it's such an amazing mascara but the price means that it's not accessible to most, but I guess it depends on what beauty products you like to invest in. I will update you all in terms of how well it stands the test of time before it dries up in the tube, who knows it may earn it's value for money in that respect.

SISLEY SO INTENSE MASCARA - £38

inside my overnight beauty bag

2013-04-16T17:56:00.000+01:00

I'm away from home at the moment and thought I'd write up a post on what I like to take away with me in terms of skincare and hair type products. I use my Cath Kidston two fold toiletry bag as I love how there are two compartments and that you can see everything inside. All of the links go to the pages of the reviews of each product and all products without links will be reviewed soon!

MANUKA DOCTOR NIGHT CREAM | BIODERMA CREALINE | BOURJOIS NAIL POLISH REMOVER | TRESEMME HAIRSPRAY | BED HEAD GLAZE HAZE

M2 BEAUTE LASH SERUM | REVITABROW SERUM | VASELINE BODY LOTION

CREST TEETH WHITENING STRIPS | LANCOME GENIFIQUE EYE SERUM | RODIAL DRAGON'S BLOOD MASK

nails inc feather effect nail polish in 'cornwall'

2013-04-14T16:49:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite nail looks recently is the Nails Inc Feathers, it's a trend that is actually wearable and is super easy to pull off. The nail polish bottle is filled with tiny strips of confetti suspended in clear nail polish that once layered on the nail creates a feather like look. I absolutely love the combination of the blue and white, it's so simple yet eye catching and will be perfect for Spring/Summer. This is definitely my favourite shade that I've seen from the Feathers collection, and I'd say if you are to invest in one nail trend this Spring then make it this.

NAILS INC FEATHERS IN CORNWALL - £11

aromatherapy associates miniature bath and shower oil collection

2013-04-13T14:05:00.000+01:00

I've recently been indulging into luxurious baths by using these little capsules filled with bath oil by Aromatherapy Associates. When your bath is running you simply empty the contents of a whole vial into the water which creates beautifully scented water that fills the whole bathroom with a calming atmosphere. You can use them in the shower too of course but I'm far more of a bath person. They really are little miracle workers for when you are stressed out for various reasons, there is even a version to soothe aching muscles and one to help you breathe easy if you have a cold. I won't be using the collection in a hurry that's for sure, only once in a blue moon when I really deserve a good pamper night. I love how the oil treats my skin too and once I come out of the bath my body feels noticeably more moisturised and looks glowing, I also like to press some of the water onto my face with my hands as it's really nourishing. The collection of mini bottles is a really great idea if you are wanting to try a full sized version but aren't sure which to get as it means you can try the whole range and decide which is your favourite, they would also make a really lovely gift too.

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES MINIATURE BATH & SHOWER OIL COLLECTION - £32

new launch: ciaté chalkboard nails

2013-04-12T14:37:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I had this rather exciting arrival through my letter box which I had been intrigued to try out ever since I heard it was launching, luckily I happen to be one of the first bloggers to try it out. The idea is that you paint on a black matte base coat to create the chalkboard as it were and then doodle on designs with the nail art pens in the kit that act as the chalk and then seal your design with the matte topcoat. I had a play around with a few of the designs that I spotted in the booklet and whilst it was really fun I discovered that the tips were far too thick to create thin lines which was a bit of a shame, they would of been much better if they were pointed at the end rather than rounded. I still managed to create a set of really cool and unique looking nails in the end with a little patience and practice though. There's no doubting that the colours really stand out on the nails and literally look like chalk but the blue is a bit dull and would of been better if it were a neon green in my opinion. All said and done I think the concept for the kit is really fun and imaginative but it's been let down by a few overlooked flaws, but I will still be having a play with it as the pens are perfect for nail dotting and creating hearts.

CIATÉ CHALKBOARD NAILS - £25 - LAUNCHES AT SELFRIDGES 20TH APRIL

bedtime beauty: current favourites #1

2013-04-11T15:17:00.003+01:00

I've seen many a beauty blogger write posts on what's included in their night time skincare routine and as I've really gotten into treating my skin lately I couldn't resist sharing my current favourites with you all.

MANUKA DOCTOR APINOURISH RESTORING NIGHT CREAM - I've been using this religiously pretty much every night now for a couple of weeks and it's become a real favourite of mine. It's a beautifully soft yet rich cream with no greasy residue whatsoever, my skin soaks it straight up and has been loving me for using it. My skin is starting to look much more radiant and feels more hydrated which I'm so pleased about. It has a subtle scent of honey too which I absolutely adore. Review here.

NUXE REVE DE MIEL LIP BALM - If you keep up with my blog regularly then you will already be aware just how much I love this lip balm, I've been putting it through it's paces for almost a year now and love it now more than ever. Review here.

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES CANDLE - A relaxing candle is an absolute essential for me when it comes to winding down and getting ready for sleep, this one does the job beautifully and fills my whole room with a relaxing scent. It's nowhere near overpowering though and has the perfect balance to create a calming atmosphere.

ORIGINS BRIGHTER BY NATURE PEEL PADS - When my skin is in extra need of some looking after, usually after a long day of wearing make up, these peel pads are the perfect option to unclog my pores and give my skin a deep clean. Using these just before bed usually means that my skin looks more vibrant in the morning too which is great. Review here.

LANCÔME GÉNIFIQUE EYE SERUM - I've only just started using this eye serum so can't say as to how well it works but I've been loving how refreshing and soothing it feels on my eyes. I'm hoping that it will work well to lighter my under eye circles. I will have a review coming up soon.

THE BODY SHOP HEMP HAND PROTECTOR - Bed time is great for applying hand cream as it means that it can get to work properly for all those hours that you are asleep and doesn't get washed off or rubbed away as it does in the day. I'm a huge fan of this one by The Body Shop as it really gives my hands the moisture that they need. Review here.

CAUDALIE BEAUTY EXLIR - I bought this product from Paris last Summer as I'd heard great things about it and it's ended up becoming a favourite skincare product of mine. It has a beautifully relaxing scent that calms my skin either throughout the day or just before bed. If my skin is ever stressed then it soothes any irritation, it sprays in a fine mist so is fuss free if I'm too tired to apply cream at night but want to look after my skin.

how to be a blogger: photography tips for beauty bloggers

2013-04-10T13:03:00.000+01:00

I'm far from a photography expert; I've been using my Canon 500d camera for just over two years now and for most of that time had been using auto settings until I recently bit the bullet and educated myself on the manual settings. Assuming that buying a fancy camera will instantly make your photos look of professional standard is a huge mistake - so many factors go into what makes a great photo, including lighting, backgrounds, getting to know your camera and also using editing software for the finished picture. I have become a complete perfectionist when it comes to taking photos of beauty products and bad lighting or unfocused images really bother me. I've made a little list of what to watch out when taking pictures, it's kind of like a little mental check list that I run through when shooting images.

AVOID CLUTTERED BACKGROUNDS - For most of my photos I use a white background which for close up shots is a piece of A4 paper laid on my window sill and for larger products is a white pillow case laid in front of a white wall. You can always have some products in the background of your image but be sure that you blur the background so that the focus is on the product that you are reviewing. Personally I much prefer the clean look of a plain white background and find it makes products stand out much more. If you have pretty bedsheets or fabrics those look great too and can give your pictures more of a unique twist.

CLUTTERED BACKGROUND

PATTERNED BACKGROUND

PLAIN BACKGROUND

MAKE SURE THE LIGHTING IS JUST RIGHT - Natural lighting is always a must for my photos, I find that it always brings out the best colours and looks the prettiest. The windowsill is my favourite place for photographing as it's the place that is flooded with most light in the house. On days that the weather has been horrendous and cloudy outside it makes such an impact on the quality of my photos so it's always worth keeping in mind to take advantage of sunny days.

STEP AWAY FROM THE FLASH - Obviously it's completely up to you as to how you take your photos but I really dislike images of beauty products with the use of flash. If you take time to use natural lighting to your benefit you should pretty much never need to use the flash setting apart from on the rare occasion to show the glitter in a product etc. It rarely shows the true colours of a product too and often gives flash spots to packaging.

BAD LIGHTING

WITH FLASH

WITHOUT FLASH AND GOOD LIGHTING

TAKE A LARGE BATCH OF PHOTOS - You can have everything set up perfectly but it certainly doesn't mean that you will get that perfect shot straight away. Try different angles and zooming in and out to get the best photo, I find this tip absolutely key when it comes to taking photos of nail polish swatches as tilting my hand ever so slightly can mean that glitter shows up so much better if it catches the light. I can take anywhere from 4-50 photos for just one post and from there choose the best ones from the bunch to make the cut.

OUT OF FOCUS

PERFECT FOCUS

I'm still finding my way when it comes to photography for my blog, I pick up new tips all of the time and find out new tricks through trial and error, so please leave some of your tips in the comments.

blue eyeliner and bronzed cheeks

2013-04-09T11:58:00.004+01:00

I had become a little bored with my usual beauty routine so had a rummage through my dresser and found this beautiful sapphire blue pencil liner by Inika. I've had never worn coloured eyeliner before but loved how simple yet vibrant a pop of colour on my eyes looked. I also noticed that it brought out the blue shades in my eyes really nicely and in general make my whole face look brighter. The eyeliner itself went on really smoothly and lasted for most of the day, making it a product that I'd definitely repurchase. I paired the look with bronzed cheeks (& Other Stories Contour Cream) and a baby pink neutral lip colour (Barry M Baby Pink) which I think worked really well, I will definitely be wearing this liner much more in the future and especially now that Summer is on it's way.

INIKA SAPPHIRE EYELINER - £13.50