LITTLE RED

Five Things Friday: Luxury Christmas Wishlist

2013-11-29T03:37:00.002-08:00

I've found myself trawling the pages of The Urban Retreat Boutique - a site dedicated to all things luxurious in the world of beauty, and I thought why not put together my ultimate luxury Christmas wish list as part of this weeks Five Things Friday, so here are five things I'd love to find nestled underneath my Christmas tree...

1) Laura Mercier steal my heart when it comes to makeup, I live by their tinted moisturiser but have never tried anything from their bath and body range. This Creme Brûlée Quartet looks and smells heavenly, with a candle to boot as you sit back and relax in the tub.

2) Morrocan Oil is something I've tried, tested and loved. I really need a new bottle to bring life back to my hair. STAT.

3) I'm forever lusting over NARS palettes and the Guy Bourdin Crime of Passion is no exception - I think it makes the perfect night out travel kit - what do you think?

4) How gorgeous are these Diptyque Christmas Candles! I would still want this for the packaging alone, but this smells incredible. Chai Orange with hints of Indian spices - this is a real festive warmer.

5) During the winter my skin is lacking in hydration and in general needs a good spruce up, step in Omorovicza. This set looks fantastic for some luxurious pamper time with festive Myrrh and Frankincense oils.

What's on your luxury Christmas wish list?

*collaboration with Urban Retreat

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Bourjois Colour Edition 24 Hour Cream to Powder Eyeshadows

2013-11-27T08:12:00.003-08:00

As part of their Christmas Collection, Bourjois released a fresh take on this seasons smokey eye with their Colour Edition 24 Hour cream to powder eyeshadows. There are six shades to choose from, but I've found myself reaching most for the three used above: The Silver shade - Merveille d'Argent*, The Plum Purple (and my personal favourite) Prune Nocturne*, and finally Pétale de Glace* - a dusky rose with mauve undertones. For £6.99, these are a steal.

I love the luminous finish these cream shadows give off, and the fact that they dry to powder gives is a major plus in the longevity stakes (perhaps not for 24 hours) - although I do suggest using a eyeshadow primer. I found these a bit rough to begin with and recommend warming up the product with your fingertips and smooth over your lids. You can build up the colour using a fluffy eyeshadow brush - I use my MAC 217.

Above I have used Pétale de Glace all over the lid and then softly blended Prune Nocturne into the crease, with Merveille d'Argent as a highlight by my tear duct. For a more intense night time look, I'd suggest building Prune Nocturne up some more, or using these as a base before applying powder eyeshadow on top. Prune Nocturne is the stand out shade for me with flawless pigmentation, and also works well for a warmer smokey eye using the golden shade from the range, Or Désir.

What are your thoughts on cream eyeshadows? Will you be picking these up?

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Neom Christmas Candle in Harmonise

2013-11-26T07:47:00.001-08:00

Christmas is well and truly on it's way, it's pitch black by half three, the Christmas ads are out in full force and I have a yankering for pigs in blanket. I'm getting more and more excited about setting up our Christmas tree and starting up the festivities but whilst it's still a bit too early to whack out the tinsel, I've turned to candles to put me in the festive spirit.

Neom tick all the boxes when it comes to candles so I didn't expect anything less when it came to their Christmas range. Their Christmas candle in Harmonise*, is by far my favourite. I've been burning this every evening since it arrived on my doorstep, and it smells divine.

Think crisp walks in the woods - with hits of hibiscus and deeper woody undertones. It's a really refreshing scent, whilst also warming up your room. My mum walks in just to have a sniff, it really does create a homely and wintery atmosphere with the subtle scents of pine, cedar wood, and eucalyptus lingering throughout the day.

What are you go to Christmas candles?

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Skincare Spotlight: Antipodes

2013-11-25T07:47:00.002-08:00

A few weeks back I attended an afternoon tea with lot's of lovely bloggers and the founder of Antipodes (for more info and lot's of foodie snaps click here). Having never tried anything from the brand I was really excited to try some of their newest items, as well as cult favourite the Aura Manuka Honey Mask*.

I particularly love the philosophy behind Antipodes skincare, for me it's a major plus that the ingredients for each and every product have been carefully selected from natural ingredients for an organic product. I find natural products much more suitable for my sensitive skin and so was extremely excited to try their products.

First up, the Antipodes Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser* intrigued me as I've become accustomed to using balm cleansers instead of cream. I found this a joy to apply, I think a lot of the success behind Antipodes if the gentle formula's and amazing fragrances. Packed with essential oils such as the nutrient-rich avocado oil, macadamia nut, with patchouli and kawakawa to purify and uplift - you just know this smells heavenly. The cleanser was soft, gentle and effective without provoking any rashes or redness but instead cooling my skin. Thumbs up.

New to the range is the Delight Hand & Body Cream*. Now, it takes me a lot to get excited by a hand or body cream, but this product is something else. I can't help but whip it out and caress it into my skin, namely my hands, which are becoming quite dry and cracked due to the weather. Again, it's the scents that draw me in most. Gorgeous pangs of Gardenia hit my senses and the macadamia nut oil is silky soft and high in palmitoleic acid (Omega 7), which richly hydrates your skin with the helping hands of Marigold flower oil and antioxidant extract of Vinanza Grape for extra dry patches. My mum, my auntie, and even my brother have been known to swipe this from me to use, I just can't get enough.

I've saved my favourite for last, in the form of Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask*. You've probably seen this raved about of many a blog, so I will save too much spiel and just let you know that this is a dream in mask form. Again, soft and gentle, my skin laps this up greedily. I use this once a week as a treat to hydrate my skin, as well as tackling any pesky blemishes I might have. I apply this after the cleanser and leave for around twenty minutes whilst I potter around the house. By now you'd have guessed that this too smells divine, with hits of vanilla pod and mandarin greeting your nostrils. The manuka honey is a traditional Maori remedy to draw moisture back into your skin, breathing in new life, whilst the red pohutukwa bloom (again traditional to New Zealand, where Antipodes is based) is one of natures finest antioxidants. All I know is that science smells good, and this stuff really works at plumping up and hydrating my skin.

With all of those being such a success in my skincare lineup, I'm really excited to try some more. In particular their new Grace Cleanser* and Joyous Night Replenish Serum*, but more about that in their own post soon...

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The Autumn Lip Line Up

2013-11-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

Whether you still classify November as Autumn or not, here's my rundown of the lipsticks that have made it into my line up for the next few months...

A mixture of subtle nudes, deep reds, and berry hues are welcomed with open arms this time of year. There's even the odd occasion a full on purple (meet MAC's Up the Amp here) will make an appearance. If you're not a fan of the bold and bright, I've got a few muted options that still pack a punch for a wintery lip.

Nudes: Enter: MAC Hue and Shy Girl - not pictured above, but either one of these two is bound to hit all the nude lip check points. For a deeper wash of colour try Bobbi Brown Baby Pink* - my go to milky rose lip. Or, my much raved about Liz Earle lipstick in Heather*, a gorgeous plummy brown toned nude - looks quite grown up and somewhat 'grannyish' in tube, but applies gorgeously.

On a budget? Elf lip pencils in Natural and Tea Rose are flawless for a matte finish, and for more of a sheen pick up L'Oreal Collection Privée (swatches here).

Reds: The festive season always calls upon a strong red lip so here's my skimmed down selection for you: MAC Ruby Woo = ultimate fail safe for a deep blue toned red, great for making your teeth look white. Chantecaille's Tiger Lily* is also stunning for making a statement - for more deets click here. Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in the shade Icon is high on my list for Christmas party lip, but more on that coming soon. For a more toned down wash of colour try the Bourjois Color Boost lip crayon in the shade Red Island*.

Plums & Berries: Possibly my favourite category, and great for this time of year day or night. During the day I love to wear Kate Moss 05 or MAC Craving, which is a gorgeous plummy rose shade that truly deserves a post of it's own alongside MAC Plumful - my most worn autumnal lipstick that's slightly more purple than Craving. Budget Berries include: Topshop Beguiled - a deep blue toned plum, great for a night out; and L'Oreal Color Riche 290 in the shade Plum Passion, which has a gorgeous creamy formula and stunning pigmentation- I'm wearing it here.

Let me know what makes your autumn/winter lip line up!

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Five Things Friday: For a Top Night In

2013-11-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

This week I've been very poorly, I'm actually writing this from the hospital at the moment, and we all know hospitals suck. Tomorrow night I'm looking forward to my own bed and so this weeks Five Things Friday was inspired by a craving for a good night in, with crappy tv, hot chocolate, and my duvet.

1) You can't settle in to an evening in without having a nice hot soak in the tub, and washing all your stress away. I love massaging Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion* into my skin once I've dried off. Is it me or do all Soap & Glory bath products smell good enough to eat?

2) Whilst I'm letting the moisturiser soak in and work it's magic (and having cleansed my skin thoroughly) I like to apply a face mask and chill in my towel with some YouTube videos. Mask of choice at the moment has to go to Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask* - I think I have a thing for things that smell good. The scents of Mandarin and Vanilla Pod are extremely inviting, and this mask works wonders at hydrating my skin.

3) The pampering continues in the form of beauty magazines (did you spot me in Pure Magazine, above?), and nail primping. I'm feeling rather festive at the moment so have adorned these glittery Butter London shades.

4) Pampering done, there's nothing left but to sit back and relax with some tasty treats. So, stock up on Haribo's, nachos, and your beverage of choice (I'm partial to a glass of white wine) and slip into your onesie. I love flicking through my favourite blogs and I couldn't do this post without mentioning Jenny Purr, I spent a good hour flicking through all her recent posts and getting lost in it all - a great read.

5) I find nothing sets the mood better than switching off the lights, switching on a good Julia Roberts flick by candle light. I love melting into my duvet with various tea lights flickering on my window sill. Bliss.

What makes a great evening in for you?

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The Sweater Weather Tag

2013-11-21T06:07:00.003-08:00

I'm trying to get into more of a routine when it comes to posting videos to my channel, and so filmed quite a few tag videos over the weekend. I will be trying my best to post a video every Wednesday evening and Sunday, so keep your eyes peeled and if you haven't already, I'd love it if you'd subscribe!

The Sweater Weather Tag is truly apt for this time of year and truly put me in a festive mood, with lot's of autumnal/winter based questions now that the weather is getting a bit nippier and all we want to do is snuggle up.

I'd love to know your favourite Winter traditions and what you love most about this time of year!

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Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede

2013-11-19T04:41:00.001-08:00

I usually opt for 'young' perfumes as I prefer light floral scents as opposed to stronger and spicier scents. Jo Malone is a brand my mum loves, and has always seemed too mature for me, but I absolutely adore the subtle scent of their Peony & Blush Suede Cologne*.

I like that this lingers on your skin throughout the day, letting you catch whiffs of the scent every now and then but not being at all overpowering. I love the mildness of this scent, and have been spritzing myself with this every morning, you can pair this up with other scents from the line such as Orange Blossom if you want to up the flirty factor.

Now, I'm not the best at sniffing out scents and noting down what they are so I'm relying on the people at Jo Malone to describe it best...

The floral heart notes that are getting my smell senses in a tingle are of course the light fragrance of peonies, with hints of jasmine, rose, and gillyflower. All mingled with a 'juicy bite' of red apple, which to me is the note that hits my senses on and off throughout the day, and base notes of soft blush suede that lingers on the skin.

I do feel slightly more glam when adorned with this soft and subtle floral scent, definitely can see me picking up a full size bottle once this one runs out. I'm eyeing up some Jo Malone candles for Christmas so my room can smell just as gorgeous....any takers?

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The Sunday Post: Hogwarts At Christmas

2013-11-17T08:18:00.002-08:00

Being a huge HP fan, I was super excited (like pinch me am I dreaming? excited) that Team Gleam were holding our Christmas party at Hogwarts. The Warner Brothers Studios aren't even that far from where I live, but I'd never been so on Thursday afternoon we headed on over with a bunch of Youtubers, bloggers, and dear friends for a very magical evening...get it?

The sets were amazing, with every little detail thought out. The guides really loved their job and parted with lot's of juicy HP gossip, much to my delight.

I don't think I've laughed so much in a very long time, Tyler pulled the sassiest faces whilst learning how to fly. I feel truly lucky to be a part of Gleam, and this has to be hands down the best Christmas party I will ever attend.

The highlight of the evening had to be feasting on a scrumptious Christmas dinner in the Great Hall itself. The windows were speckled with snow, chandeliers and goblets filled with taste bud tingling cocktails all to set the mood perfectly. I devoured the desert platter, oh my was it good.

We couldn't resist getting a group snapshot of the evening, with smiles firmly planted on each and every one of our faces. Truly was a night to remember, from the tour, to delicious food, to dancing to Bump n' Grind in the Great Hall. Amazing.

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The Video: A Very Belated October Favourites

2013-11-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

Yep, it may be mid November, but I have finally put up my October favourites. As I said in my last Sunday post, I've been having a rough ride of things recently and so although this was filmed in time I just haven't mustered up the effort to edit and upload until now. I'm still learning and there's a lot of things I want to do editing wise to make my content the best it can be for you.

As always, let me know your thoughts and any video suggestions you may have!

Clinique Redness Solutions

2013-11-13T02:55:00.001-08:00

When it comes to skin complaints redness is my main issue, not on the scale of having rosacea or anything, but my irish skin does fall victim to rosy face syndrome. I don't tend to wear blusher that picks up on the pink pigments in my skin opting for plum browns instead, however I think I've found a regimen from Clinique to help combat my clown cheeks.

Now, I've raved about Clinique Super Primers before here, but I am particularly fond of their primer specifically for correcting redness*. I love the yellow mousse formula that melts into my skin, and the yellow pigments really do help to counteract any rosyness I may be having and calming it down. I find this works best having used the Redness Solutions Day Relief Cream* beforehand. This is a really cooling moisturiser that is suitable for sensitive skin and those that suffer with mild rosacea. It helps to hydrate my skin and reduce any visible blood vessels hence muting any flushing to the skin. I love how this dries matte on the skin and although can feel quite heavy when first applied, it's oil free and doesn't leave any annoying film to the skin.

Lastly the Redness Solutions Instant Relief Pressed Powder* (phew!) was something that I was really excited and intrigued about, however, I wasn't wowed. Again the yellow pigmentation to the powder does aid redness correction, but I found this very drying on my skin and not to last long at all. I think I'll be sticking to the former pair, which have helped my skin woes ten fold.

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The Perfect Nude: L'Oreal Les Nudes Collection Privée

2013-11-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

Being fair skinned I find it hard to pull off nudes, they either wash me out or lean far too dark so it's difficult to find that happy medium. I was really intrigued by L'Oreal's Collection Privée, which boasts a custom nude lip shade for every skin tone, and had to try them out for myself. I love the collaboration with various spokes models, including Cheryl Cole, Eva Longoria, Frieda Pinto, and fellow red head, Julianne Moore.

I tried and tested three nudes from the collection, and found that some shades meant for more olive, honey toned complexions still looked flattering on me, so it's worth giving these a swatch before choosing your staple nude.

Above, I'm modelling the Cheryl Nude noted as a 'greige glow' that compliments honey tones complexions, yet this was my favourite of the bunch. I found it warm and inviting, plumping up my lips without going too bold with colour. The Julianne Moore shade, which is aimed at delicate and paler skin tones such as mine, is a gorgeous rose pink. I tend to blot this on as I prefer a more subtle lip, this definitely seemed to be the brightest of them all going more towards the your lip but better route.

I found these to last on my lips a maximum of three hours, so these are one for re-applying but I do find that with most nude lipsticks. I love the creamy formula and pigmentation of these, definitely going to be braving a nude lip more now.

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The Sunday Post: Afternoon Tea with Antipodes

2013-11-10T06:00:00.002-08:00

Yesterday morning I braved the rain and wind all in the name of afternoon tea. I headed back into London to meet the lovely Megs for an afternoon of scone scoffing and the best tea I've ever tasted, all courtesy of Antipodes.

Now, Antipodes is a brand that I've heard only good things about but never tried for myself, so it was lovely to meet the founder and have a chat about their latest products with a nice hot brew. When testing something out it's always best to rely on your senses primarily. Whilst my taste buds where being treated to an assortment of miniature puddings, I fell in love with the fresh scents of gardenia and macadamia and the soft, butter consistency of their hand cream.

I can't wait to review their products properly for you all, when I got home that evening for my brother's birthday buffet my family were lining up to give the hand cream a go for themselves. A very big thumbs up from LR HQ. I'm really looking forward to testing out the night serum this evening as my skin is really getting battered by the wind lately.

How are you spending your weekend?

Zoeva Brushes

2013-11-09T02:42:00.002-08:00

Good quality makeup brushes are essential for any beauty fiend such as myself, however, that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. I have declared my love for Real Techniques Brushes, but from daily use they've become a bit tired and overused in some departments so I began a hunt for some new buddies to join them. Now, I would love to be able to afford a host of MAC brushes, but they're not the most purse friendly option so here steps in Zoeva brushes...

Zoeva are a German cosmetic brand, so you won't find these brushes in stores but their site offers international shipping and the brushes are very reasonably priced. And oh my! are they soft, I spent a good fifteen minute just sweeping these gently across my face. I've found no issues with shedding hairs and love how the white tips allow you to see how much product you have on there. To give you an estimate on price, I picked up all of the above for the equivalent of two to three MAC brushes and I haven't been able to find much difference in quality.

From L-R:

142 Concealer Buffer: Soft and delicate and fits the sensitive under eye are like a dream. Perfect for concealer or corrective colouration.

110 Face Shape: One of my favourites. Compact with super soft vegan taklon bristles to blend product in and contour your face seamlessly. Like a mini version of the RT buffing brush, fits in perfectly for your cheekbones, bridge of nose, and temples.

127 Luxe Sheer Cheek: LOVE this brush. The angled shape makes this perfect for contouring and blush application.

101 Luxe Face Definer: Similar to the RT blush brush, with the tapered end that is perfect again for contouring and blush. Even softer too. I use this for all over powder distribution.

317 Wing Liner: Super soft vegan nylon bristles allow flawless and clean eyeliner strokes along the lash line.

227 Soft Definer: The 227 is very similar to the MAC 217. Softly blends in eyeshadow, or cream products into the crease of your eye. Another stand out brush.

230 Pencil: Brilliant for blending in eyeliner or shadow along the lash and water line, as well as for extra definition in the crease. Great for a smokey eye look.

223 Petit Eye Blender: Soft taklon brushes are great for cream products, and this brush works well for smaller eyes like mine providing that extra precision to the crease and blending out the edges.

Overall, Zoeva have a great selection of brushes for every purpose. I'm very glad to welcome these into my collection and have my eye on a few more...

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Five Things Friday #1

2013-11-08T04:25:00.001-08:00

Credit to: Pinterest

Lifestyle blogs have to be some of my favourite's to sit back with a warm beverage and just endlessly flick through. I wanted to start up a more personal feature on this blog, and so Five Things Friday is born. Every Friday (don't hold me to this!) I will post Five Things that have made me smile, laugh, happy, sad, just all the feels.

Ginger Bread Hot Chocolate from Starbucks - this is like heaven in a paper cup and has become quite the morning ritual to get me all toasty and ready to start my day. If you've not tried one yet, what are you waiting for...
Rain tapping away at my window whilst I drift off to sleep. Okay, this sounds SO tumblr-esque but it's true. There is nothing better than cosying up, with my Balsam candle burning, listening to the rain hammer down whilst I'm all tucked up and warm.
Supportive friends - I've had some pretty bad news this week (hence the lack of posts, apologies!), which I'm not going to go into, but having good friends there to pick you up when you're feeling down is not to be taken for granted.
MAC Plumful (well there had to be something beauty related in this post!) has made a comeback in my lipstick wardrobe and has been fondly applied every morning this week. Very autumnal and stunning on every skin tone.
Gogglebox - now, if you're a stranger to this show I suggest finding it online STAT. Never have I laughed and cried so much at a reality based show. It's one of those shows that I actually watch without fail every week the time it's actually on tv, instead of online later. It has me stitches, especially the gay housemates and the posh couple who are always drunk. I don't think I'm selling it as much as I should be, so just believe me when I say you will LOVE this programme.

What has made you smile this week?

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The Internship Guide: Beauty & Social Media

2013-10-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

This post has been a long time coming and is probably my most requested post to date, plenty of you loved the idea when I originally proposed popping this up but I wanted to get the most experience from my internship before posting this.

Most of you will know that I started interning at Gleam back in June, I still feel so privileged to have been given the chance to work there as it is the career that I ideally want to pursue. I interned at Gleam until the end of August when I was gratefully offered a three month placement, which I'm currently on now. Gleam stuck out to me as it not only offered a glimpse into the world of community management and social media, but they are UK's forerunner in talent management. I have had a lot of people tweet me regarding working there, particularly about the talent that Gleam look after- Tanya Burr, Zoella, Pointless Blog etc.. but there really is much more to it than watching my favourite YouTubers, and the odd tweet.

First Tip: Keep your eyes peeled NOW, even if you're not after an internship until next year it is always beneficial to look out for opportunities early on. Twitter is your best friend when it comes to this. I followed various Beauty/Fashion PR agencies, social media agencies and brands and the people who work in the sectors I was interested in. Okay, okay this may sound slightly stalkerish but it's worth it. I found lot's of relevant people via Linkedin and by simple research - check out a PR's/brands contact page on their website - look out for author names within magazines or press releases. I went for my interview at Gleam back in January, whilst I was still at University. I let them know I would be available come Summer time and would love to intern then, not only was it a relief to have something ready and sorted post graduation, but it gave me time to do my research.

Interview Tips:

I'm not the most forward person, I am quite shy and reserved so I made an conscious effort to get to know the company before my interview. This could range from simply looking at their website and twitter feed to researching the clients they have. In my case this was particularly fun as I got to watch lot's of my favourite youtubers and discuss this with them during my interview. Say you were interviewing for a magazine - stock up on past issues, pick out your favourite authors and articles of interest. Jot down ideas of what you would like to see them feature. If you're going into an interview with no knowledge of the company/brands they cover then it will probably show.

Be yourself: Now, this sounds ridiculously generic but it's true. Don't lie to try an impress, it's most likely you'll be found out. Admit and fess up when you don't understand something, don't be afraid to ask questions - even if they seem silly to you. I was a total newbie when it came to excel and had to ask lot's of questions when creating spreadsheets and databases, which now seem SO simple, but now I know. It's not always best to be overly confident and out there either, this can sometimes be misconstrued as arrogance or just down right annoying. I think a healthy mix of professionalism and friendly chat is best, but again it is all dependent on who you are working for and what they expect from you.

Find out what's expected of you: Ask about expenses, dress code, and the role you will be fulfilling beforehand. You don't want to start interning with no idea what you're supposed to be doing, or in a department you're not enthusiastic about. Make sure you get the facts and let them know the career you're aiming for, as they'll probably be able to give you some pointers. I was lucky and landed a fab bunch of girls, and Dom!, to work alongside, which made it all the more easy to fit in and feel part of the team. Unfortunately, not all internships are like that and you might be seen as the lowest link in the food chain but persevere and be the best you you can be, even if they're not so pleasant in return.

Put yourself out there and go the extra mile: You may be working for 'free' (most companies cover travel expenses) but that doesn't mean you can slack off and only do the minimum set for you. I kept a notebook with notes of what I thought could help the company, and reached out when I was running low on work or wanted to try something new. I try to make it a point to learn as much as I can from all the different branches of Gleam - from community management, which involves coverage of the clients social media, creating content, and blogger outreach - to talent management, which catered to events, brand campaigns and lot's of databases to be kept up to date. Even if a task does feel repetitive, remember there are plenty of other people who would like to be there, so put a smile on your face and do everything to the best of your ability.

Skills: I do recommend sharpening up your powerpoint, google doc, and excel skills - these are needed pretty much every day so it's well worth investing some time in. Keep up to date with the latest beauty/fashion events and related news - I find keeping pinterest boards really help to inspire me when creating content and coming up with ideas. You will probably be asked to do the little jobs no one else wants to do, for example keeping stock and tidying the beauty cupboard, but most people start out this way so try not to get too big for your boots and make that cupboard the best it can be!

You may be the most efficient and enthused intern and you might not be offered a placement afterwards, but don't let that get you down. Create friendly relationships and you'll be remembered, networking is great for making contacts and you're not leaving with nothing, you're leaving with experience that you didn't have previously. PR agencies tend to look for a minimum of 3 months experience in the field I have found and lot's of people even intern for up to a year at various places, so keep at it, remember a good cup of tea always goes down a treat, and you'll get there if you want it enough. If you're passionate, friendly, and committed this will show and you're more likely to be kept on or receive a good reference.

Good luck! If you have any questions just let me know in the comments!

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Prime Time: Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

2013-10-29T07:56:00.001-07:00

Primers are my new best friends at the minute. Come winter time my skin gets very dry and I find that without a primer my makeup can stick to these dry areas in a very unflattering manner - of course a good skincare regime can help remedy this but I find applying a primer creates the perfect base for makeup application.

I recently gushed over the Clinique primers for various skin ailments - see here - but now comes the turn of Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in protect. With SPF 30 UVA & UVB this really does protect my skin from environmental factors, which is vital when you're as ghostly as I am. I love that this oil free and I'm not left with a greasy film or excess residue, I simply massage this into clean skin to even out my skin tone and neutralise any dry patches. The formula is light and gentle, which I favour immensely over heavy duty coverage.

My makeup always appears more flawless and lasts longer if I've applied this beforehand, and that's really all you need from a primer in my books. I'd love to test out their radiance primer next - for those dewy skin lovers out there.

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Top Autumnal Blush? NARS Douceur

2013-10-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

NARS nevel fail when it comes to the blush department. Pigmentation? Check. Longevity? Check. Beautiful shades. Double check. You get the jist..

NARS Douceur is a stunning soft pink brown shade, which makes it great for adding depth to your cheekbones whilst also giving you a healthy flush of colour. It's like a 'no makeup' blush of colour that is extremely flattering on fair to medium skin tones, however would probably disappear on darker complexions. I use this to help contour my moon face and add a touch of warmth for a barely there look that I go for during the week.

Soft and blendable, you can't go OTT with this blush so even heavy handed makeup application on the tube to work is in safe hands with this stuff. This blush is highly similar to Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, which you can read more about here - Exposed in slightly more on the pink side but still a gorgeous subtle shade that's great for this time of year.

Have I won you over?

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The Sunday Post: Little Red on YouTube!

2013-10-26T17:35:00.001-07:00

Eeek! So I've finally caved and put my first YouTube video up! I had my doubts about starting it up again, umming and arring over whether I wanted to put myself out there again and the question of - what if people don't like me? But, after lot's of persuasion from Suzie and my boyfriend, I decided why the hell not.

Please bare in mind I'm in no way an editing whiz, and although I may work with some pretty amazing YT talent I'm still very nervy and awkward, but practice makes perfect, eh?

I would absolutely love it if you could take a look and subscribe to support my new venture, or if you fancy a chuckle at how many times I faff around with my hair. You can find my channel here (loveohlittlered) - my YT widget in my sidebar leads to an old account and I've decided to start again from scratch, which I'm going to update as soon as I have a spare moment.

So, please like, subscribe and all that jazz ;) - but most importantly inundate me with video suggestions of what you would like to see me film next. I'm a stickler for feedback and have been jotting down possible content for over a month now but every little helps and I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Here's to a new beginning...

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Saturday Night Beauty

2013-10-26T10:19:00.001-07:00

Saturday nights at LR HQ tend to consist of a takeaway, glass of white wine, and crappy tv. Pretty perfect if you ask me. However, there are those occasions where I get my butt off the sofa and out of my onesie, ready for a night out with the girls. Here's the Saturday Night beauty line up...

For starters I prime my skin with my Clinique universal primer* (see here for deets!), before applying my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Illuminator in Pearl with my beloved Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, which I rave about here. This little gem from Becca adds a gorgeous hint of shimmer and boosts my complexion ten fold. However, it does contain SPF, which can be a bit of a no go when it comes to flash photography, so I'd recommend MAC Soft & Gentle highlight if you're planning on getting snapped.

Red lips are a must for me with MAC's Ruby Woo being the forerunner. If I'm wearing a darker lip I prefer the formula to be matte as I don't find a glossy red to be as flattering. Ruby Woo can be slightly drying on the lips so I prep with Nuxe Reve de Miel beforehand. As I've opted for a darker lip, a darker smokey eye is out of the equationwith a glam neutral eye and swift slick of eyeliner (L'Oreal Blackbuster Superliner is currently my liner of choice) taking its place. Benefits Most Glamorous Nudes Ever...* palette is fantastic for such occasions. Not only is the packaging ridiculously cute encased in a book, but the shades are subtle yet stunning. I sweep It's Complicated over the lid with Gil-y Pleasure blended into the crease for extra definition. I'm not the greatest fan of false lashes so I opt for a coating of Benefit They're Real Mascara to give my lashes so va-va-voomph.

I keep my cheeks quite muted with Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed making the rounds as contour and blush all in one, set with a light dusting of Bourjois Java Rice powder*. Now all that's left is to squeeze into that LBD, spritz some Urban Decay All Nighter Spray*, and head out for a mojito, or two...

Cream of the Crop

2013-10-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Over the Summer I truly became a cream convert, loving the dewy Cara D finish and multi-purpose functionality. But that doesn't have to stop now that it's autumn...

For cream blush beginners... You can't go wrong with Stila Convertible Color's - these blend in seamlessly with great colour payoff that lasts. I picked up their trio palette earlier in the year (review here), which was amazing value for money and well worth picking up. Also try out Benefit's Fine One One - a great all in one cream highlight and blush for both cheeks and lips in one simple swipe (read more about it, and other shimmer fav's, here).

On a budget? Why not give Topshop and Bourjois a go. Bloggers went mad for the Bourjois cream blushes and with good reason. I blend Shade 03 onto the apples of my cheeks using my fingertips, giving just the right amount of glow and colour and drying on like a powder. Topshop have a greater range of shades that won't break the bank, I recommened Head over Heels (swatches here).

Luxury Purchase? I cannot fault Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow blush. I have the shade Liquifuschia, a bright burst of pink that translates into a rosy sheen if applied gently and can be built up for a stronger flush of colour. Again, I like to use this as a lip stain also. Perf.

Onto the eyes... I've only started to recently dabble in cream eyeshadows preferring a matte look, but with new releases from Bourjois and brightening cream shadows from Origins they're winning me over. First off I tried and tested Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo's, it wasn't exactly love as they did tend to crease but the pigmentation was pretty awesome for a drugstore brand. I find using a good eyeshadow primer helps to rectify any crease issues. However, the new Bourjois 24hr cream to powder eye offerings are proving to be the pick of the bunch at the minute, but more about that later this week...

What's your favourite cream product or are you a devoted powder fan?

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Clinique Super Primer's

2013-10-18T07:46:00.004-07:00

Clinique are offering up six formula's that target different skin issues you may have from redness, discolouration, and even dullness. Not only do these primers target certain issues but they all prep the skin ready for makeup...

Recently I've been reaching for Clinique Superprimer Colour Corrects for dull skin*. There are two shades for this particular skin complaint, with one more suited for darker skin tones. I stick to the pink tube, which is more suited to my fairer skin, on days where I feel my skin is a bit lack lustre and could do with a touch of radiance. I use a 5p sized pump of product, which comes out a garish baby pink but once applied melts into the skin seamlessly without leaving a greasy film or clinging to dry patches. May I just add that I love the texture of this stuff, it's almost like a soufflé - super soft and light. It's a treat to massage this into my skin, and then come off with a soft glow to my complexion whilst allowing my makeup to glide on like a dream.

I'm yet to try the universal face primer* for the range, which is Clinique's all rounder for all skin types. I'm also dying to road test the super primer specified for redness as that's my main skin complaint at the minute and I'd love to see how much a primer could combat the issue. I thoroughly recommend picking one up that suits you as these make a wonderful base for your daily makeup.

What are your primer recommendations?

Bourjois Java Rice Illuminating Powder

2013-10-17T03:58:00.003-07:00

Bourjois keep hitting them out the park at the minute, with their new Java Rice Illuminating Powder* being no exception to that rule. 'New' is actually used loosely here as Bourjois have reinvented their first bestseller in honour of their 150th birthday, with vintage style packaging to boot.

I tend to hate loose powders with their tendency to explode in my handbag, but this comes with a nifty twist-click mechanism that dispenses the product gently when you want it. This comes in handy as less is really more when it comes to this stuff, too much and you might come across a bit too much like Edward Cullen in the sunlight. I also recommend using a duo fibre brush that lightly picks up the product without going overboard.

I like to sweep the product across my cheekbones, forehead and nose as those are the areas that need the most help controlling excess shine, and seek a touch of radiance. The product blurs over any imperfections and gives your skin that flawless finish we all so desperately crave. The Java Rice powder comes in one shade, which is universally flattering and carry's the musty signature Bourjois scent, which reminds me of watching my mum get ready when I was little.

A must have product in my opinion and at £9.99 well worth the money, are you tempted...

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A Breakfast with Chantecaille

2013-10-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a breakfast with Chantecaille to hear more about their new Wild Horses palette and autumn/winter range. As we dined on a selection of scrummy fruit yoghurt jars, banana bread, and oh-so delicious croissants, we were lead through the inspiration behind the Wild Horses collection. This collection hopes to aid conservation of wild horse habitats across America, which are being lost to mining and pollution.

The palette is divine with three smokey eye shades and a sunset rose blush, that can also be used to add warmth and depth to an eye look. However, with the eye popping price tag of £74 I personally won't be picking one up anytime soon. As lovely as the shades are with the wild horses design so beautifully etched into each one, I don't believe the pigmentation justifies such a price.

Chantecaille is a luxury brand and they do offer up a gorgeous array of products housed in equally luxurious packaging, for me their products would be a rare treat but well worth it in the case of their new Hydra Chic lipsticks. Housed in a sleek silver bullet, boasting six hours of lasting colour as well as anti-ageing protection these, whilst still more costly than your average lipstick, are well worth investing in at £29. I'm wearing the shade Tiger Lily* (above), a true burst of red that would flatter any skin tone. The formula is creamy and light without appearing overly glossy once applied. As for the staying power? I think Chantecaille might be a tad generous with the six hour mark, but I did find this to last up to four hours without the help of a lip pencil beforehand.

Can Chantecaille tempt you to loosen your purse strings?

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Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints For Eyes | Bronze & Brown

2013-10-15T04:52:00.001-07:00

After hearing the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tints (quite a mouthful!) be praised from nigh on everybody I have spoken to, I knew I had to get in on the action. I have hazel eyes and opted to road test the following selection of chocolate browns and bronze shades. From L-R: Lot's of Latte, Full of Fudge, and Ample Amber.

I teamed up the warm copper tones of Ample Amber*, swept across the lid, with Lot's of Latte in the crease. Lots o' Latte* is a warm taupe shade with a subtle golden shimmer running through it, a great shade for a neutral eye look. I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of these two during the week for work and the chubby stick form is super convenient for on the go touch ups on the morning commute. Paired up they really help to bring out the green flecks in my eyes, so I have Lots o' Love for these two. Fuller fudge* is a richer chocolate shade that is perfect for adding more definition and transitioning the above look from day to night.

I find these chubby stick shadow tints so easy to work with, being easily blend-able even when applied straight from the stick. I tend to smudge these out with my fingers and I'm ready to go, but when adding Fuller Fudge or darker shades I find it easier to using my MAC 217 blending brush to neaten things up. The twist up lid is also a great feature, no more sharpening or wasting product! I know some have found the lasting power of these to be not so great without a primer but for day wear I've found this look to last up to six hours. On a night out I would recommend using a eyeshadow primer beforehand just to keep these from fading and also to intensify your look. These aren't the creamiest of cream shadows but these are easily buildable for your desired look.

The shade selection is beautiful, I'm eyeing up Whopping Willow and Portly Plum for my next Chubby Stick venture...

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