* ♔ P R I N C E S S L I V I A ♥ *

DIY: Scalloped Shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:46:00 +0000

I know I'm late to the bandwagon but I just recently had this fascination for scallop cuts on clothes. Take this dress for example...

Black Scallop Dress - Boohoo, Tights - Primark, Shoes - Clarks
Some of these pieces are quite difficult to find lately, and most of the really pretty ones don't quite make my poor student budget. Thinking about ways to get around that, I had a eureka! moment as I realised I can make my own scallop clothing, with just a little more than charity shop finds and a pair of scissors.
I used...

Black Trousers from my local Oxfam - I love this cloth. Its wash and wear and doesn't need ironing. Perfect! Not a fan of the flared end though and it was only £2.99, I wouldn't feel guilty if I somehow ruined them.
Sharp Scissors - I had 3 pairs of scissors at home, and I tested each of them on the cloth to find out which one left the neatest trim.Bobby pins - To stabilise the fabric. Safety pins would be ideal however I didn't have them at home.RulerMarker Pen - To mark where I want to cut the cloth and to trace the scallop template. I used old lipliners. My pens and pencils wouldn't show up on the black cloth.Scallop Template - I used this template, maximised it on microsoft word, printed, cut out, and traced on fabric.
I found this YouTube video particularly useful:
Results:

Black Bow Detail Top - H&M, Shorts - My DIY, Tights - Sainsbury's, Shoes - Aldo, Bag - Accessorize
I didn't want it too short or too long. About 3 inches above the knee.
I hope this inspires you to DIY designs on some clothes. It's really quick and easy.If you are indeed inspired and do end up creating something, let me know - I'd love to check out your results! :)
What do you think? ♥

Good Girl, Bad Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Nude Waterfall Cardigan Primark

Lace Dress H&M

White tank top H&M

Makeup here

Cream Waterfall Cardigan Dorothy PerkinsBlack Tank TopRed Trousers New LookBlack Bag AccessorizeNecklace OldMakeup: NARS Madly blush, Maybelline Red Glamour Lipliner, Vaseline Lip Therapy

Maybe I should learn how to crop out the background....

LOOK: 100 Strokes of Glitters

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:28:00 +0000

I had a lunch date with one of my friends and I wanted to wear a smokey look with neutral eyeshadows. I realised my MAC eyeshadows have been neglected lately and I have therefore featured some of them in this look I wore.
FACESleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandSleek MakeUP Luminaire Concealer in L01MAC Blot Powder Pressed in MediumBenefit Hoola BronzerIllamasqua Lover BlushMAC Pearl Cream colour base (highlight)
EYESMAC Painterly paint potMAC eyeshadows in Shroom (highlight), 100 Strokes (crease), All That Glitters (lid)NYX Retractable Eyeliner in BrownL'oreal Double Extension with Serum Inside Mascara
LIPSVaseline Creme Brulee lip balm (my lips were pretty chappy)

What do you think?

My New Preciouss - es

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:59:00 +0000

I did some damage last week and picked up these two things, a bag and a pair of wedged Mary Janes. I've been really loving all clothes and accessories black for the last year - I just think they look classy and are quite versatile with outfits. I suppose I'm getting older and less hippy as well. Hah.
Accessorize Curved Zip Bow Lady Bag - £35/£31.50 with student discount I feel in love with this bag as soon as I laid eyes on it. Its a It's such a cutie.
Primark Black Patent Wedge Mary Janes with Cut Out Detail - £16 These shoes are quite high - 1 inch platform in front, 4 inch wedge heel at the back. These are quite light compared to other shoes I've tried and they're quite comfortable to walk in. I love them!
What do you think? ♥

Disney Princesses

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000

One of my friends shared me this link and I really wanted to share the beautiful adaptations with all of you! They're all Disney Princesses or heroines to be more precise,
can you name them all?
And who is your favourite?
On a side note, I have been watching the American series Once Upon a Time, and if you follow my twitter, you would know I'm addicted to it. Its not particularly thrilling, does not make me feel any strong emotions and is quite slow paced... but somehow I'm just really drawn to it. Do any of you watch it?

Spring Brights: Peach and Pink Looks ft Laura

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:33:00 +0000

I decided to give my dear friend, Laura, a makeover today. As a natural beauty, she hardly wears makeup - mainly just eyeliner and mascara, but today we wanted to try something different. To make a transition from the natural to a look with more colour, I opted for a peach-toned look.

Here's what I used on her:
EYESMAC Painterly paint potSleek MakeUP Oh So Special Palette Eyeshadow in Bow (brow highlight)Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Buck (crease)Sleek MakeUP Paraguaya Palette Eyeshadow in Peach Gold (lid)Maybelline 2 in 1 Impact Shadow Liner in Black (upper lashline) and Pearl (lower lashline)L'oreal Double Extension Mascara (Primer)Colossal Volume MascaraEtude House Eyebrow Pencil
FACEMAC Oil Control LotionSleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandSleek MakeUP Luminaire Concealer in LightMAC Blotting Powder in MediumBenefit Hoola bronzerIllamasqua blush in LoverMAC Pearl Cream Colour Base
LIPSVaseline Creme Brulee lip therapyMAC Mouth Off lip pencilMAC Vegas Volt lipstick
And of course, I put makeup on myself too. To complement her springy peach shades, I choose a pink-themed look.

Here is what I used on myelf:
EYESMAC Painterly paint potSleek MakeUP Oh So Special Palette Eyeshadow in Bow (brow highlight)Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Naked (crease)Sleek MakeUP Oh So Special Palette Eyeshadow in Pamper (brow highlight) Maybelline 2 in 1 Impact Shadow Liner in Black (upper lashline) and Pearl (lower lashline)L'oreal Double Extension Mascara (Primer)Colossal Volume MascaraEtude House Eyebrow Pencil
FACESleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandSleek MakeUP Luminaire Concealer in Light MAC Blotting Powder in MediumBenefit Hoola bronzerMAC Blush in PleasantryMAC Pearl Cream Colour Base
LIPSVaseline Creme Brulee lip therapyBarry M Lip Pencil in 12MAC Chatterbox lipstick

What do you think? ♥

My Lip Pencil Collection and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:37:00 +0000

I have been a makeup ~~addict~~ collector for about 5 years now *whew time does fly fast!* and here's a collection of my lip liners/pencils. These are from various brands including Barry M, MAC, Sleek MakeUP, Maybelline, Rimmel, NYX and 17 cosmetics. I initially swatched this for my own purposes, and then I realised someone else might find them useful too. I hope the swatches will be useful somehow!

MAC Mouth Off, Barry M 24, Barry M 12, MAC Magenta, 17 Valentine

Sleek MakeUP Mossberry, NYX Currant, NYX Mahogany, MAC Mahogany, MAC Life's a Breeze, MAC In Synch, MAC Pink Treat

MAC Test Pattern, MAC Stripdown, MAC Oak, MAC Subculture, Rimmel Tiramisu, MAC Naked Liner,MAC Redd, MAC Cherry, MAC Brick, Maybelline Red Glamour

Here are some notes on a few of them:
* MAC Magenta is a hot pink with a purple frost. A duochrome lip pencil.
* Sleek MakeUP Mossberry is actually an eye liner, but also works as a lip liner, albeit a rather rough one. It serves as a good lip liner for the matching lipstick from the collection.
* Sleek MakeUP Mossberry looks similar to NYX Currant.
* MAC Life's a Breeze is a light pink with a slight frost.
* MAC Naked Liner - I sometimes use this on my lower waterline as a nude pencil to brighten my eyes and make them look more wide and awake.
* MAC Pink Treat is my only mechanical pencil - ie. twist up nonsharpen pencil.
* Most of my nude lip pencils look really similar. I think I should give some of them away.
* Rimmel Tiramisu and Maybelline Red Glamour are soo soft and easy to apply on the lips.

I quite like lip pencils as they are useful to provide a defined lip line *essential for reds and darker lipsticks*. If the colour pay off is good, they are also good to fill the lips instead of using a lipstick. I have done this a lot in the past, so easy to use on the go. Line and fill for a *usually* matte finish, or top with a lip gloss for a shiny finish.

What do you think? ♥

Few Bits and Bobs I Bought This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:04:00 +0000

I bought a few bits and bobs last week - some necessary, some not - as most of us girls do. Lets run through the unnecessary things first and follow with the actually useful ones, that way I feel like I have not really wasted so much money. Ha ha.

Moustache Ring Topshop £6.50/£5.85 with student d/c

When I first spotted this gold look ring in Topshop, I immediately laughed out loud, not too loud that I'd looked like a big idiot, but enough to make me look like just an idiot. I picked it up, put it on, and showed my friend, who laughed out loud herself. It's such a cutie. Depending on how you look at it, it could be a Ram's horns, but I'd like to think of it as a Moustache. I know I should have found this in November for Movember. Really unnecessary, but its still too cute to pass up.

Sunnies Ring Topshop £4/£3.60 with student d/c

And then I found this ring. Another cutie. Perfect for the summer. Not too expensive either.

Seems perfect with my other ring too. Highly unnecessary, but hella cute!

Floral Laminate Card Holder Accessorize £5/£4.50 with student d/c

I needed a replacement for my old purse, and I thought this was a nice compact substitute. I put my cards in all the different pockets, and my folded up cash and a few coins inside the zip pocket in the middle. Really quite snug and tight as its just meant to be a card holder, but it still works. 50% necessary. Ha ha!

Cod Liver Oil with Multi Vitamins Capsules (500mg) Holland and Barrett £4.79

I admit I have not been eating as well as I should be, and no way are multivitamins a good substitute for a healthy diet, but they are a useful adjunct. I found this while browsing the Cod Liver Oil section at Holland and Barrett. I picked up the 60-caps mini bottle and paid for it. I'm really happy about these. The soft gel capsules are so easy on the gullet. When I finish this up, I'll pick up the 180 capsule one, which is slightly cheaper per capsule. I have a family history of cardiovascular disease (heart disease) and adequate Omega-3 is good at reducing cardiovascular risk. Its harmless, everyone should take it!

Zumba Fitness Wii with belt Amazon.co.uk £19.99 (much cheaper than shops on the street!)

I haven't had the time to do my bellydancing this year, and I do need some exercise. I've been thinking about picking this up for a while, and I'm glad I did. It's really quite fun, especially with friends or family (erghm my brother) to do it with. I just feel sorry for the folks in the flat below however, as the our floor isn't quite motion-proof, but I only use it during the daytime and before 10PM, however, so I suppose it should be alright!

What do you think? ♥

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Blush in Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:54:00 +0000

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose

I purchased this blush when I was in the states last August 2011. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose is a rosy-pink colour with a silvery sheen. It applies really well and looks like a natural winter flush. It comes with a mirror and a brush - which is a bit scratchy and I don't use it much. I have other blush brushes to use!

Doesn't it look really cute in the packaging? I'm in-love with the hearts!

I believe you can purchase this at US drugstores or the webpage: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/07322.html.
Do you have this blush?
What do you think? ♥

NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:35:00 +0000

NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Brown

This is a retractable eye pencil that does not require sharpening - which is very convenient for on-the-go. However with these types of products, my experience has been that the adhesive at the base inevitably loosens up leaving me with an unstable (and sometimes falling-out) pencil. It is too soon to tell whether this will have the same fate.

I have this product in Brown, which is a medium-dark brown colour with a matte finish. The pencil itself is thin in diameter - approx 5mm - and allows for a very thin line. So far on my eyelids, it does not seem to smudge, which is remarkable because I tend to have oily lids.

Overall I am very impressed with this product, and I definitely recommend it! NYX has several other colours of this Retractable eye liner, some matte some shimmery. And especially with this affordable price, I definitely think this is one to check out!

NYX Jumbo Pencils in Iced Mocha, French Fries, NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Brown

http://www.nyxcosmeticsstore.co.uk/

www.nyxcosmetics.com/

What do you think? ♥

My First NYX Products !

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:49:00 +0000

Here's a collection of different NYX products recently purchased. I can't believe I haven't tried NYX cosmetics before, these are actually really good! I got 2 lip cremes, 2 plumpling lip glosses, 1 Mega Shine Lip Gloss, 1 Jumbo Lip Pencil, 2 Jumbo Eye Pencils and 1 retractable eye liner pencil. These will be reviewed in the following posts. :)
These aren't actually all mine, half of this haul is my sister's, but she's kindly allowed me to photograph and review them. ;)
For those who have tried NYX, what are the must-have products you think I should check out?
I managed to find a few stores in Davao City selling NYX products. I found them at the Rainbow Project in Gaisano Mall and at Chimes shopping mall. Hope this helps!
What do you think? ♥

Etude House Party Queen Gradation Nails in No. 3 Party Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:29:00 +0000

Etude House Party Queen Gradation Nails in No. 3 Party Gold

I really love this nail polish trio from Etude House. Its a set of three nail polishes meant to be applied in a gradation manner. The first polish is Glam Beige is meant to be the base colour, then Crystal Gold the second to be applied mid-nail outwards (I tend to use it from the second third of the nail out) and the last Dazzling Gold from the last third of the nail.

The result is beautiful. Very dainty, glamorous nails.

About the quality of the polishes, the speed of drying of these polishes are average, a bit long-ish with more than a single coat. Dazzling Gold glitters are chunkier and can come off if you forcibly peel them off the nail, but I think a top coat like Seche Vite top coat would make it adhere better. The glitters are not as difficult to remove compared to other glitter polishes, which I am happy with.

Etude House also have other colour schemes for Gradation nails. Off the top of my head, I remember seeing a Pink one and Silver one at the store. I might check them out at the store to see if I want any more! :)

After Step 1, Step 2, Step 3

I also tried Etude Hosue Fresh Nailwash Safe Nai Color Remover. This acetone-based nail polish remover just smells lovely! It smells clean and berry-ish, which is a delight to use compared to the stronger acetone smelling scents. But compared to others, it is a bit less efficient at removing polish and it takes a few scrubs to use to remove the polish, which depends on the actual polish you're using.

Have you tried any of these?. What do you think? ♥

Few Outfits During the Past Week

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:28:00 +0000

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share with you a few outfits I wore during the last week. If you've been following my tweets, you'd know I arrived in the Philippines to spend my Christmas holiday here, and I've been having a wonderful time with my family and amazing food. I haven't got much sleep though and I am ill with a sore throat and my voice is almost completely gone. I hope I start to recover though. Anyway, enough about me! Enjoy these photos, and there are more outfit photos to come!

Dress by Asos

I wore this dress to a Christmas party dinner with my friends on the night before I left for the Philippines.

This was when I had just arrived in the Philippines, and I looked awfully tired!

Dress by Forever21

This flowery halter top dress was for my little brother's Christmas party at Tropika, Davao City.

Glossybox December 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:13:00 +0000

This December Glossybox has currently dominated UK beauty blogs as of late, and I'm sorry *well, not really* to add this review to the Glossybox overload. This is the second beauty box I received from Glossybox. For more on the Glossybox mechanics and my thoughts on them in general, read my first post here.

Compared to the other Glossyboxes, you would notice a striking *yes literally* difference in packaging - it's RED! Perfect for the festive season, and I'm happy to see a change in colour for more variety in my storage collection - I re-use these boxes to store my makeup and other products. In this box, I received 6 products:

Bionova Eye Wrinkle Treatment, Deborah Lippmann Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped to Go Sachet, Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in Serengeti, Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Yogi Flow, Blink + GO Eyeshadow and Blush Palette in 05

I was particularly impressed by two products in this set, namely the Deborah Lippmann polish and the Blink + GO Eyeshadow and Blush palette.

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Razzle Dazzle . This polish contains red reflective glitters in a dark red berry base. It is stunning in person, this photo does not do it justice at all! It takes 2-3 coats to become opaque.

Blink + Go Palette in 05. This palette contains a rainbow of 6 eyeshadow shades on the top layer, and flipping it over reveals 2 blushes: a light yellow pink and a coral shade. I have not swatched these yet, so I cannot comment on the quality.

Overall, I am a lot more impressed by this month's Glossybox compared to the November 2011 one, but if were not for the nail polish, I would have probably been left unsatisfied.

What do you think? ♥

You can subscribe to Glossybox through their website here.

Sk:n Care Products: One Word - Fabulous!

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:28:00 +0000

I have tried these skincare products from the brand Sk:n and they leave me nothing but impressed. I have tried two of their Vitamin-Rich Cleansers, one for oily skin and one for normal or combination skin. From their Repair and Protect range, I tried their award-winning Sunscreen in SPF50, and from the Anti-Ageing range, their Age-Delaying Cream for Younger Skin.

sk:n Vitamin Rich Cleanser - normal/combination skin

RRP £11 for 200ml

This creamy cleanser is applied straight onto dry skin, with either a cotton pad or straight with clean fingers (my preferred method), massaged onto the skin, and rinsed off with water. I prefer cold water as it is believed to tighten pores. This gently but efficiently removes makeup (including non-waterproof mascara) and does not irritate my eyes. After drying my face, it leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated, not tight at all as other cleansers might feel. It does not irritate my skin... I'm in love!

sk:n Vitamin Rich Cleanser - oily skin

RRP £11 for 200ml

This Vitamin Rich Cleanser for oily skin comes in a gel form, compared to that for Normal to Combination skin which ones in a lotion form. My skin is more of the dry-combination type, so using this one for oily skin makes my skin feel a bit dry and tight after washing - nothing a moisturiser can't fix! Those who are acne-prone or with oily skin might benefit from using this.

While you are supposed to avoid the eye area when using this cleanser, I found that it also effectively removes eye makeup *naughty me!*

sk:n Age-Delaying Cream - Younger Skin

RRP £29 for 30ml

This luxurious cream is so smooth to apply, and dries within minutes, leaving a super soft velvety feel on the skin. I apply this after cleansing and patting my face dry; this way the moisturiser is easily absorbed and keeps the skin's moisture in. This is a wonderful product for this winter, and does not make my skin break out. A Winner!

Because this product contains Vitamin A, I advise to use this at night when you don't have sun exposure as Vitamin A can make your skin photosensitive. Vitamin A, of which a derivative of is used in anti-acne products like Roaccutane, is an anti-ageing product that regulates cell turnover, however for the purposes of this review, it is too soon and difficult to tell its effects!

sk:n Sunscreen SPF 50

RRP £15 for 100ml

While the anti-ageing cream is applied at night, this product should be applied during the day to protect your skin against the sun's UV rays with the impressive SPF50. To be specific, sunscreen should be typically applied about 30minutes prior to sun exposure to give the skin enough time to absorb the product. Especially during sunny days, it is also recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. I love this product - it is very easy to apply on the skin, the consistency is perfect - not to thick or thin, moisturises enough for the winter and smells heavenly. Love love :)

I am a strong advocate for these products, not one of them disappointed me. These are reasonably-priced good quality products, and are definitely worth checking out. You can find out more about them and purchase these products from the website: https://www.sknclinics.co.uk/shop
For this December, they currently have a 3 for 2 online offer. Be sure to take advantage of it! :) What do you think? ♥ Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

Boudoir Prive Beauty Box

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Like Glossy Box, Boudoir Prive is a beauty box company that sends you monthly beauty samples. You can subscribe to them online for £10 + £2.95 (for shipping) per month, which you can cancel any time. This review is pretty late - its for the September box, but nonetheless my thoughts on the products it contains doesn't change.

The Boudoir Prive beauty box typically contains 5 to 6 beauty samples, but in this edition, they had 7, which is useful, depending on the products themselves. I got the following products:

Zoya Marina Nail Polish Mini
This is a semi-metallic denim blue colour. I'm not ecstatic about it, and as it dries relatively slowly and I'm a little bit impatient when it comes to nail polish. I've been spoilt by other brands such as drugstore Rimmel and China Glaze, which seem easier to use and of better quality.

Cargo Boogie Nights Mini Pencil Eyeliner
This is a sparkly denim blue eyeliner, along the same colour scheme as the Zoya nail polish previously mentioned. I found this quite smudgy and I don't really appreciate it. I've been spoiled by the MAC Greasepaint Sticks and Maybelline 2 in 1 Impact Shadow Liners, which are longer lasting and relatively smudge-free.

A Tiny tub of Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish
This is a lemon-scented sugar scrub - or feels like it at least. This smells really good, however the tub is really tiny, maybe enough for 1 use for both legs or both arms. It really is a sample size!

I also got other products like the Agent Provocateur perfume sample, Macadamia Hair Oil, and Mai Couture Bronzing Blot Powder sample (which I'm a bit intimidated to use).

Overall, I was not really impressed with this selection of products. A lot of them I haven't heard of and after testing, they would not be products I would pick up for myself. I suppose the thing with these Beauty Boxes is the content can be a bit of hit and miss. Sometimes you would get products you absolutely love for the fraction of the retail price, and sometimes you feel you might have just wasted your money.

Exciting news however, is that Boudoir Prive joined the Joliebox, which is the leading beauty box subscription service in France. They have worked with high-end brands like Benefit, Kiehls, Essie, Lancome, etc, which means they will likely provide samples from these high end established brands.

Again, you can subscribe to the ~~Boudoir Prive~~ JolieBox at their website here.

What do you think? ♥ Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

Beauty Blog Link Love - Week of 04/12/11

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:29:00 +0000

Beauty

Tina Marie Online shares her stunning Smoke and Ice look. Lipglossiping shares a post on Lipstick Psychology: What does your lipstick say about you?
Enjoy!

Glossybox November 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Here is my first ever Glossybox! This, like Boudoir Prive, is an online subscription-based company that sends a monthly Beauty Box containing samples of beauty products for you to try. You can find out more from their website here.

In the November 2011 Glossybox, I received the following...

Monu Revitalising Moisturiser.

Dead Sea Bath Salts. I'm more of a 'shower' girl rather than a 'bath' girl, so I don't know if I will ever be using this. I might save it for an upcoming giveaway! :)

Arbonne FC5 Ultra Hydrating hand Cream. I quite like this product! The smell reminds me of sweet lemon cheesecake. It's a dream to use; easy to spread, dries, and keeps my hands moisturised for a few hours in the cold weather.

I was happy to receive this sample of Illamasqua Freak. It smells different from the other scents I typically go for ie sweet ones like Miss Dior Cherie, rather it smells like a feminine version of a musky scent, which unusually - I quite like.

Nail Rock White polkadots on Black. These nail wraps are the new trend, with simple to complex designs, which are easy to apply like stickers, following the three steps written on the back. My sister already called dibs on these, so I will give them to her to try!
What do you think? ♥

Sweet Spice - Primark Haul & Outfit Post

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:04:00 +0000

The London winter drastically got even more chilly this week, and I decided I needed more items to add to my winter arsenal: gloves and warm tights. I ventured to Primark to get the said 'necessities', and ended up getting even more. I tend to have a colour I'm crazy about each season; last winter's was grey-taupe, and I think this years' is black.
Black Leather Gloves - ₤ 7
Most Primark leather S/M Gloves tend to be too big for my tiny hands, but this one seemed to have a better fit than most. I love the design and it's comfortable to wear; I have never owned leather gloves before, and I'm very happy with these.
Super Cosy Tights - ₤ 3.50
I love these. These are super soft tights with a cushiony soft lining inside. Helps insulate heat in!
Ankle-length Leggings - ₤ 6
These are stretchy leggings up to the ankles. This pattern has become popular lately, and I needed a pair like these!
Lace-pattern Knee High Socks - ₤ 3 for pack of 2
I have been looking for knee high socks to wear underneath my knee high boots, and these are perfect. Very comfortable to wear, and quite cheap too!
Pink Sparkly Princess-sleeved Top - ₤ 10
Now this is my preciousssss. It's a long-sleeved top with slightly puffed princess sleeves. The colour is predominantly pink with gold sparkles. It looks so dainty. See my look wearing it below:

What do you think? ♥

Revlon Pink in the Afternoon Lipstick

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Revlon Pink in the Afternoon Lipstick

Here is a new favourite - Revlon Pink in the Afternoon lipstick. Its a mid-tone yellow pink that brightens the face and makes teeth look whiter too! (but I don't have a smiling picture to prove that - haha). The finish is awesome, very creamy, glides very well and long-lasting. You should definitely try it. I love it!

I believe you can purchase this at your local drugstore or the Revlon website.
What do you think? ♥

Blue are the Feelings that Live Inside Me

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:57:00 +0000

I tried to work my camera again for an outfit post, here is a simple one I did last weekend!
Blue Cami Top: PrimarkCroc Print Black Skirt: Wet SealShiny Tights: Primark

Shoes: E-bay
And I busted out my gorgeous new shoes I bought from e-bay! These are really high (5.5 inches) nude platform heels with an ankle strap to keep my legs safe and secure. These are the highest shoes I have ever worn and I am inlove with them. The seller was really good too; this pair arrived within 2 days of paying for them. I am contemplating getting another pair, maybe the black patent one!

I wore these for 5 hours straight for the entire night - I probably would not have lasted as long if were not for these wool toe pads I also bought from e-bay. These pads are the ones ballerinas use to protect their toes when using pointes. They really help comfortably shield your toes from the impact and friction as your toes hit the front of the shoe. Initially, these were too big for the shoes, so I wore them, outlined the excess parts and trimmed them to fit. Now I can tuck them in the shoes and you can't even tell I'm wearing them! :)
What do you think? ♥
I had a night out attending a girl friend's birthday drinks she had at The Book Club at Leonard Street. They had a bar on the ground floor and a club at the basement. I had a great time spending time with friends and meeting new people, and it would have been great if the music at the club was not so... boring. No R n B, no current hits, just melody-less voice-less beat music - it was just so lame and difficult to dance to. We requested so many times that the DJ try playing club anthems as no one was really dancing but he just completely ignored us. Ugh. I'm not going back there again!

LOOK: Me Myself and Eye Palette

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:24:00 +0000

I am quite intimidated by the Sleek MakeUP PPQ Me Myself and Eye palette because of its bright bold colours, but I somehow managed to come up with a more wearable look using a few shades.
I have also discovered this amazing lippie from Revlon; it's Pink in the Afternoon. It's a yellow pink with a lovely creamy finish. It applies really well, it practically glides on my lips, well-pigmented, and I felt that it lasts quite a good few hours before fading. I am very impressed with this. I will probably take a closer look at Revlon lippies.

FACESleek MakeUP FoundationMAC Blot PowderBenefit Hoola bronzerMAC Pearl cream colour base
EYESMAC Painterly paint potSleek MakeUP Me Myself and Eye palette - Barry White (lid and highlight), Supernova (crease)Maybelline pencil liners in Pearl White (lower lashline) and Black (upper lashline)Maybelline Colossal Volume MascaraEtude House Brow Pencil
LIPSRevlon Pink in the Afternoon Lipstick

What do you think? ♥

Beauty Blog Link Love - Week of 27/11/11

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Makeup

Vanity-Fashionista swatches the new Collection 2000 Cream Puffs.

Beautiful Aspect shares such a pretty natural makeup look.

XSparkage reviews the new Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette along with comparison swatches to the first UD Naked Palette.

Fashion

ShineByThree looks beautiful in this stunning Mrs Press Michelle Silk Dress.

Nails

Vanity-Fashionista blogs about the new Barry M Croc Polish.

Hair

StyleSuzi reviews the new Instyler Rotating Hot Hair Tool, and her curls look fabulous!

DIY
Amy Antoinette gives her second hand furniture a makeover~!

LOOK: Red Eyeshadow with Sleek MakeUP

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:20:00 +0000

The Christmas season's here and I wanted to do a bold-red-eyeshadow look. I've used quite a few Sleek MakeUP products in this look - foundation, illuminating concealer and Sleek MakeUP's PPQ Me, Myself and I palette, and I quite like it. I think it would be fab for nights out. I've also used NARS Luster blush for the first time and I love the glowy look it gives. Let me know what you think!

FACESleek MakeUP New Skin Revive in SandMAC Blot Powder in MediumSleek MakeUP Luminaire concealerMAC Pearl Cream colour baseBenefit Hoola bronzerNARS Luster blush
EYESMAC Painterly paint potSleek MakeUP PPQ Me, Myself and I palette: Barry White (brow highlight), Chris De Burgundy (crease), Simply Red (lid), Black Box (eyeliner)MAC French Quarter eyelinerMaybelline Colossal Volume mascara
LIPSMAC Boy Bait cremesheen glass
I was really surprised at how Chris De Burgundy eyeshadow looked, as this colour usually makes my eyes look bruised. I suppose it could be the combination with the brighter red, Simply Red, or because it is a matte finish, but nonetheless it looks pretty good for a burgundy!
What do you think? ♥

Batiste Dry Shampoo Review: Blush, Tropical, Wild

noreply@blogger.com (Livia) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:45:00 +0000

I have been a fan of the Batiste Dry Shampoo range for a while now. They are perfect for those emergency situations where your hair needs quick refreshing but you haven't got the time to wash it. It banishes oily roots, refreshing dull, lifeless hair without water.

It comes as a spray in a pressurised can. To use it:
1. Shake can vigorously before use2. Keep nozzle about 30cm from hair and spray into hair roots.3. Massage through hair with fingertips4. Brush and style.
Easy peasy ~!

Batiste Dry Shampoos come in a variety of scents, and so far I've tried three.
sourceThe first one I've tried is Blush, which unfortunately did not get along well with my scalp. Within seconds of applying it, my scalp became all itchy and stingy, that I had to actually wash my hair to get rid of the product. Thank goodness I wasn't in a rush. I threw the can away.

The next one I tried was Tropical, and this is my favourite one. It smells of yummy sweet coconuts and does not irritate my skin at all. I love it!

Wild is Batiste's latest offering. It comes in a gorgeous leopard print can and smells of spices - reminiscent of cinnamon and a hint of chocolate - I could just be hungry, ha ha! It does not irritate my scalp.
Overall, I definitely recommend these products to refresh hair in a pinch. Just be wary that some of the formulations might not react well if you have sensitive skin.
You can read more about Batiste Dry Shampoos on their website.
Have you tried Batiste hair products?What do you think? ♥

Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!