Beauty Stalker

Animal Instinct

2011-09-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not usually one for trotting down to a sale, I'm not the best person to deal with crowds and mess and riffling through racks looking for something, you probably wouldn't have wanted anyway but the price gives you a slight justification. However when on the RiverIsland website last week, without trying I spotted a gorgeous pair of boots I just couldn't say no to.

I have been looking for a decent pair of animal print boots and had my eye on this pair in the past when they were priced at £70. It was between this pair and a pair at Topshop marked at the same price range. But when stumbling across these boots marked down to £30, I knew someone was smiling down on me and quickly placed an order in my size. I've developed a slight love for animal print all of a sudden, which for me is pretty strange considering a year ago you wouldn't have seen me come close to wearing anything leopard-esq.

I'm very bad in flats, my feet haven't got much of an arch and are slightly penguin-y so I really do opt for heeled boots over flats. I love the thicker heel on these boots as it makes them extra supportive and comfortable for all day wear. I'm now on the look out for some gorgeous high helled Chelsea boots!! The saga continues...

How do you guys feel about animal print this season are you loving or loathing? And on everyday shoes are you more of a flats or a heels girl?

Ciao lovelies

xoxo

In The Still Of The Night

2011-09-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Heya dolls, lately I've realised that n comparison to other Beauty Bloggers my eyeshadow collection is a little whimpy. Im not a massive shadow junkie, I dont lack as much self control when purchasing shadows as with say my lipsticks. But with my recent introduction to NARS eyeshadows I've become a little lovestruck. My purchase of the shadow Galapogos, which I have to say is the best eyeshadow I've ever worked with, has made me want more, MORE!

After browsing on the NARS website I came across their Limted Edition Night Series Palette. Do I even need to waste words advocating for this.

The colours are beyond gorgeous, the perfect shades for a winter night out.

(from left to right) Night Star, Night Clubbing, Night Porter, Night Rider, Night Flight, Night Breed

The shades are rich, highly pigmented, easily blended and fabulous! My favourites so far are Night Star (gorgeous peachy colour with shimmer) & Night Breed ( black packed with silver glitter)

If your into a little lid luxury then defo take a look online or in-store.

What do you guys think of the palette? What are your shadow collections like? Do you ever find yourself collecting more variations of one type of make up item than the other?

Love & hugs

xoxo

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm: Review

2011-09-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hello guys! I thought that now that I'm reaching the end with one of my most reached for products, now would be a good a time as any to review it for you. I picked up the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm back in May, after reading reviews and the description online in my mind it seemed like a pretty decent buy for the summer time. Its described online as "An instant radiance booster" which obviously gave me the idea to use this for a nice summer glow; "Skin feels softer the complexion appears brighter and more radiant. Enhances make-up's luminous appearance and lasting wear." My idea was to have this glow through a light application of foundation and keep my face glistening (the right way) in the sunshine.

Did it work?

Sort of, is the best answer I can come up with in relation to this question. The product gave me an instant glow all round, that neither made me appear sweaty or greasy. Before I became dedicated to my MUFE primer I used this moisturiser as a base for my foundation, to test the theory of enhancing make up's appearance and wear. When applying my foundation ontop of this I definitely saw that glow penetrating through, but because I mostly use my Pro Longwear foundation I probably couldn't give you a 100% accurate explanation as to whether it helfdmy foundation in there for longer. Nothing is going to work to increase the wear of your foundation more so than an actual primer. But on the basis of that healthy glow, I definitely saw it shine through my base for atleast the first couple hours or so.

The other benefits are its sweet cinammon like scent, that some may like or dislike, but I personally enjoyed, and also its lightweight but effective texture. As someone with combination skin I found it works nicely to moisturise but not in anyway increase the production of oil in areas like my t-zone, it did nothing to prevent it persay, but then again nothing to encourage it. If you find you do enjoy this as a moisturser, but suffer from oily areas, maybe finding a light mattifying serum to use underneath or mattifyng primer to use on top may solve the problem for oilier skin. Another bonus would be for those who think its about time to try anti-aging products as its described to "Work instantly to promote firmer looking features and reduce the appearance of fine lines." Saying that, I think because of its light weight and sublte texture, younger skins could enjoy using this with a tinted moisturiser for a natural glow. And apparently you can use this as a mask once a week or so by applying it all over the face for 10-15 mins, I personally never did this so I couldnt tell you if there are any benefits to this, all I can say is the tube seems to small for me to waste loads on masking *shrugs*.

All in all I did enjoy my time using this moisturiser and am a little sad its almost gone, I would definitely repurchase again in the future, as it is a nice one to have around.

Have any of you guys tried the Beauty Flash Balm? If so what did you think, would you repurchase? Or are any of you interested in trying it in the future?

Wishin you a lovely day

xoxo

Asos.com Haul

2011-08-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hey loves! With the glum situation that happened in London, which unfortunately spread throughout the UK, I didn't really feel like going out and about unless I absolutely had to. I wont dwell to much on those series of horrific events (mostly because alot of it was practically on my doorstep), but instead of hitting the shops and dwindling on uncertainty about which shops were still offering home delivery or not; I hit up asos.com for some trusty and much needed retail therapy. I don't know if you guys knew but asos.com had a 20% off code running last week to give you a chance to check out their new season stock. I actually didn't know myself until a lovely friend told me about it and told me I better get shopping... no one needs to tell me twice!

Its actually a medle' of items, I thought I'd check out all departments to see what goodies to pick from. First I'll begin with the beauty related items.

The Benefit Eye Bright has been one of those items that I always make a mental note of but never find a moment that I can validate buying it. There all seems to be something ahead of it. But now I bit the bullet and clicked add to shopping bag on this straight away. I bought it to use in my waterline to brighten the eye and give it that wider look. Many often recommend using a white liner to do this but with my skin tone a white liner can look too sharp. The hint of pink in this pencil does the job at getting my desired effect.

Ok yes I took a sneak peek at the NARS products again *covers face in shame* I couldn't help myself. I've wanted Galapagos as well for oh so long! Its an amazing deep brown with tons of gold shimmer, it basically just cried out to me. I can see myself using this over and over maybe smudged into my crease during the day or swept across the lid and smoked upwards, with lashes in the evening. I'm excited!!

Since my banishment of acrylic nails in recent months I've really taken an interest in nail care, designs and have started indulging more in nail colours. I saw this Paul and Joe Nail Enamel Trio a while ago when it was £15. but now that it was reduced to £8 I saw no need to not help myself. Its rare that I buy a set of nail polishes adamant that I'll get a wear out of all colours, but this time I am more than satisfied. The colours are beyond adorable the perfect shades to see out the remaining days of summer with.

I don't know if you guys have noticed the dip-dye earring trend chain earrings. Most clothing retail stores have their own interpretation but these are definitely my fav (Topshop also have a pretty nice pair). I think their really subtle yet interesting, very much my style.

Throwing in a quick FOTD...

Face
MUFE Translucent HD Powder
Mac Pro Longwear FoundationNC42
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer Deep 04
MSFN Sun Power
NARS Orgasm Blush

Eyes
Rimmel Brow Pencil Dark Brown
Gosh Brow Set
Sleek Sunset Palette (bottom 3rd from right colour)
Mac Manilla Paper e/s (inner corner)
Loreal Volume Millions Lashes Mascara Extra Black
Lord and Berry Liquid Liner
Benefit Eye Bright

Lips
Mac Costa Chic Frost Finish Lipstick

On my nails I'm wearing the Paul & Joe Vernis 15

...Oh and sorry for the mess in the background guys, my bestie has been staying with me this week and our stuff combined resembles a mild explosion

Did you guys take advantage of the asos.com offer or any other discount codes at the start of the season? Have you tried or purchased any of the items mentioned above? Also how do you feel about hauls on my blog are you loving them or would you like to see less of them, and more of something else...more FOTD's, Product reviews or outfit posts maybe???

Hope you guys have a great day

xoxo

REVLON - Gold Coin

2011-08-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

Whilst browsing the Revlon counter at Boots recently, I managed too come across some of their new nail varnishes for this autumn/winter. One of my absolute favs is this gorgeous metallic colour in Gold Coin. Its a metallic rusty gold perfect for copy-catting that sassy Beyonce Knowles, minx nail look. Two coats will give you that even and opaque sheen, but no more than two I'd say.

Revlon nail varnishes are currently £4.29 instead of ~~£6.29~~ at Boots. Have a run down and take a look guys they have some other pretty interesting shades and I believe another new sparkly one for A/W.

Let me know your opinions on gold nails, are you a fan or do you think their a tad too much?

Lots of Love

xoxo

NARS-cissistic Perhaps?

2011-08-13T04:02:00.000-07:00

Heya Guys! I recently made a few NARS purchases form asos.com and I want to share them with, well who else but you! :)

DESIRE BLUSH

I was in the mood to try a cotton candy pink blush and it was a toss up between this and Mac's Dollymix, even though I may still purchase Dollymix I think for now I've indeed made a wise decision. This blush looks incredibly gorgeous so bright and highly pigmented, it has a matte finish and even though it may come off slightly shocking in colour, I think medium to dark skin tones would absolutely fall in love.

LIMITED EDITION SPRING 2011 ANGELIKA LIPGLOSS

The decision to get this lip gloss was a bit of a risk. I'm not very big on glosses and if I ever take the plunge its usually a pinky peach colour that I'm adamant would suit me. Angelika is a bright, slightly blue toned pink, something warm skin tones like me shy away from. But I am deeply impressed with the colour I think warmer skin tones need to cheek this out, because for a gloss it is very pigmented, but still sheer enough to not appear overpowering.

SATIN LIPSTICK NIAGRA

I absolutely love this lipstick! The colour is a warm coral that I think absolutely flatters my skin tone, it is a safe choice for me because I am comfortable in peaches and corals. This is my first NARS lipstick and I must say I am hooked! The colour applies incredibly smooth, highly pigmented and the satin formula is very creamy. I really want to try more with this finish but I'm also curious of the semi-matte lipsticks... especially one at the top of my wish list...Schiap!

ALL SWATCHED

(Left to Right) Niagra lipstick, Angelika lip gloss, Desire blush
What did you guys think of the products mentioned in this haul? Are there any NARS items on your wish lists?

Have a lovely day ;-)
xoxo

Now Available in HD

2011-08-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

Hello my sweets! Hope your all well? I want to introduce you to an amazing purchase I've made recently. Make Up Forever are a world renowned professional make up brand who's product are used by the most prestige of make up artists. Unfortunately the products are stocked in Sephora which we don't have in the UK! But they are also available at Guru Make Up Emporium a professional make up store in Parsons Green, London.

I've always been eager to try the MUFE products and have seen them in tutorials by the likes of Pixiwoo, and its through their channel that I was first made aware of Guru Make Up Emporium who do have a website where you can order products. But because I'm really into seeing products and being familiar with them before I attempt to order them online and Parsons Green although in London is quite out of the way for me to travel to, I till now have never made an order.

It was actually through a friend who had been down to the store that I gained the impulse to at least try products that weren't based on colour matching, so that I could determine the quality. I purchased the HD Translucent Face Powder and the HD Primer in Mauve (to contrast sallow undertones).

Top Pic: Swatch of MUFE primer, Pic Below: Primer rubbed into hand

The primer firstly I have to say this has a very fresh scent which I do like in skincare products. I've never used a coloured primer so I was a little worried about how this was going to show up under my foundation. But the consistency isn't too thick and the product once rubbed in, seemed to apply clear. Saying that when I moved on to apply my foundation it applied so smoothly and the finishing result was a base that was so much more even and healthy looking than usual, that I literally wanted to keep staring at my face. The primer is designed to contrast sallow undertones meaning dullness. My skin tone at times can become uneven if I'm not careful, and as a result my skin can look a little dull, even under foundation. But this seemed to work against that perfectly.

Top Pic: Shows MUFE HD powder on hand, Pic Below: Powder blended into hand

The HD Powder was a little tricky figure out at first as I've never used any translucent powders in the past (unless you count the one I used only once by Sleek, less said the better). I applied this powder once I finished applying all my makeup as I heard this is a good way to seal everything in. With a powder that has a bit of colour I'd probably use that directly after applying foundation. At no point did the application seem to be cakey or ashy or drying in anyway. Instead I barely noticed a difference... except for the fact that my t-zone was instantly mattified and stayed that way for longer than ever before. Honestly I adore this powder! I only purchased the travel sized version as I wanted to test it out but I'm going to trot down to Parsons Green and try their HD Foundation and whilst I'm there I will be picking up a full sized tub of the HD Powder. I think I'll have the smaller one on hand should I need to travel or have to pack make up with me for any other reason.

I honestly am kicking myself at taking so long to actually try out the MUFE products as the quality is beyond amazing, I'm in total excitement at the prospect of trekking down to pick a foundation. And just in case you guys were wondering, I've been using the products since the previous Monday and I haven't experienced any nasty skin reactions.

Let me know what you guys think of MUFE, have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Or do MUFE have any amazing make up items you think are worth recommending. Or if you guys have experienced a better primer and setting powder please feel free to share

Love you all

xoxo

July 2011 favs

2011-08-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hey my loves! Hope you've all had a lovely day, I actually meant to get this up sooner but I've been so distracted by other little projects in life. August to October will be a busy time for me trying to organize a lot and from October onwards I'll probably be even busier :'(. But theirs no excuse for neglecting you guys an I shall be back on form as much as I can be from now on.

I've been channeling the sun through my cheekbones with Mac's Mineralize Skin Finish Naturals in Sun Power. This is a gorgeous deep orange bronze shade, the fact that its matte makes it amazing as a bronzer or contour powder for deeper skin tones. A little goes a long way with this, I'd highly recommend taking it with a light hand and building up the intensity as you see fit. Lighter skin tones should check out "Give Me Sun" for a similar concept but more suitable for fairer complexions. I've loved using my Mac 188 brush for a precise application, and then to go over and buff out any harsh edges making the effect sun kissed and semi-natural.

Sorry guys pics were taken quite late in the day

I've played it safe with my cheek colours this month, its been between Mac's powder blush in Gingerly or Melba. Gingerly is a deep muted rose colour that looks absolutely gorgeous, I know this a fav by the likes of Kim Kardashian and I'm not surprised, I think it would look amazing on a variety of skin tones. Melba is a must-have for peach lovers, it is a matte peach shade similar to the likes of Benefits Coralista but less on the pink side. This is another flatterer of many skin tones.

I've been quite experimental with my shadow this month so I cannot pin point a favourite amongst the shadows but the Mac Eye Kohl in Teddy has looked amazing with any look that I throw together. I use this in my waterline for a less intense exaggeration of my eyes, its such a lovely dark bronze perfect to go with many key looks of the season. My choice of liner for my signature winged liner has been a black liner pen the Me Me Me Eye Sweep, I actually adore this, for such a low price its much better than most high street liner pens I've used. It hasn't dried yet and I have had it a while, the colour is strong and intense and the formula doesn't budge all day! Loving this!

(From Left to Right) Revlon Pink Crystals, MUA shade 11, Revlon Mauve It Over

My lipstick collection has become like lucky dip recently! I'm in midst of organizing my make up storage and all my lipsticks are jumbled inside a make up bag at the mo, so having a preference is pretty impossible! Even still one lipstick that I keep to the side because I know I can virtually rely on it for any occasion is Revlon's Mauve It Over. I know I bigged this up last month as well, but I totally love this lipstick, both colour and texture are both right up my street! Revlon are such a firm favourite for me when it comes to lip products. One other favourite I've had had for I think about eight years, has been Revlon's Lip gloss in Pink Crystals! I've adored this gloss since day one of my love affair with make up! Its a gorgeous peachy shade with tiny gold shimmers running through it. One of my best friends and I used to be obsessed with this gloss, its just that must have for a pretty, pink, glossy pout. A bolder lip fav that I have to include is a lipstick by MUA in shade 11. The inexpensive Superdrug brand has bowled me over with this lipstick. Its a has a creamy formula but the pigmentation is quite intense and does stain the lips. Above that the colour is really unusual much like a coral, pinky, brown... I don't know you guys tell me.

I'm rarely one to reach for just one fragrance for a long period of time but saying that I've had the Vera Wang Lovestruck for over a month now and I cannot stop spraying it. I've recommended this to nearly all my girlfriends and my mummy as its an amazing fruity floral scent that I think any girl would love. I don't think I've found anything more perfect for the summer time. Its sweet enough to make you feel dressed up and gorgeous yet, it has a lovely floral fresh side that really cheers you up. Definitely my most worn scent of the month! Being the clumsy oaf I am I've managed to damage the amazing bottle, a day of it rolling around in my hand bag resulted in one of the flowers breaking off and the ribbon untangling. This really upset my as one of the reasons I loved it was for the design of the bottle.

And that's all she wrote. Sorry if you guys feel its not as much as last time, but I there have been somethings I don't feel I've used for long enough, or some things that I've previously mentioned that I didn't think you needed to be reminded of or hear about just yet. Wishing you all a lovely day.

Hugs and Kisses
xoxo

Give Me Your Bloglovin

2011-07-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hello darlings I've just put my blog up on Bloglovin. Im totally new to the concept and very slow so please bear with me as I gradually understand what im doing *covers face in shame*.

Hope you've all had a a lovely day
xoxo

Confessions of an Online-Mac-aholic

2011-07-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

My name is Anastasia.... *deep breath*.... an I'm an online shopaholic.... No I really am! 75% of my shopping related activity takes place via my laptop. Its just a real convenience, sometimes elements of my day to day life don't allow me the time to get to the stores I want to go to. But that doesn't mean I don't know what I want. Like for instance I'm sure the Assistants at my local Mac are missing me. But even still I thought absence would make their hearts grow fonder, as I decided against the trek down there and opted for sitting on my bum and ordering some lovely items online. With the recent "summer" down pour who can blame a girl!

(left to right) Rimmel Nude Delight, MAC's Shy Girl

My fav foundation is the Pro Long wear NC42, and as I mentioned in an earlier post I had run out and had to replace this as soon as I could. The lipstick Shy Girl has been one that I've thought about getting every now and again. Its a lovely soft coral, nude, amazing as a warmer nude lip for the summer. I think its so similar to Rimmels Nude Delight but with slight pinky-coral undertones. Trace Gold has been a blush I've been brooding over for a while. I actually did a wish list post a while ago declaring my love. Now its mine *Golem voice* my precious! It is a gorgeous rose gold that honestly the swatch above doesn't do any justice to. Its packed with shimmer, not the usual blush I opt for but hey I personally think its the perfect shade to attempt that Beyonce diva glow... who run the world??!!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post? What are your opinions of the products mentioned? Yes I am 100% lazy as an avid online shopper any other lazy bones out there enjoy the convenience of shopping online?

Thank you all for having a read

xoxo

FOTD Using MAC Morange

2011-07-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hello darlings! A few posts ago I let you guys know of my purchase of MAC's lovely lippy in Morange. Silly old me forgot to swatch it to show you all how "pow" of a colour it is.

Morange is definitely a lipstick meant for the brave! The colour is a beautiful orange shade with red undertones and I'm so in love with orange and coral this season, but I'm not altogether sure how well of a job I do at pulling it off. I'm such a natural introvert, in the way that I cannot stand anything that forces an "all-eyes-on me" reaction. But saying that the British public did seem quite kind. I didnt get any "what was she thinking" or "who does she think she is" stares... well none that I noticed, bear in mind I am short sighted :(

Products Used:

Face

Mac Pro Longwear Foundation NC42

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer
Mac Mineralise Skin Finish Naturals Medium/Darl
Illamasqua Bronzer Burinish
Mac Powder Blush Gingerly

Eyes

Mac Woodwinked e/s
Sleek Storm Palette (matte dark brown + metallic bronze)
Me me me Eyeliner Pen Black
Mac Kohl Teddy
Chantechaille Faux Ciles Mascara Noir
Lips

MAC Morange Lipstick

What do you think of Morange? Or bright lipsticks in general? What have been your fav lip colours of the season?

Hope you enjoyed dolls

xoxo

Nivea Cocoa Butter Range

2011-07-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

I know dont about you guys but when it comes to body skincare I am very much all over the place. I like to sample the goods and see whats out there, mostly I care to go for body butters, that offer a longevity of moisture yet does'nt form a layer of grease over the skin (hard to find). One of my favs in that department, that I actually happened to discover last year is the Nivea Cocoa Butter Body Butter. The smell has a gorgeous sweet nutty aroma, I found it much more subtle compared to the smell you'd get with Palmer's or The Body Shop's Body Butter which can actually be quite sickly. And it allowed that sensuous moisturising feeling, without that feeling of uncomfortable oiliness. I had spotted it on a shelf at a friends house, before then I didn't even realise Nivea even had a cocoa butter range to its name, which I think is probably the case for many others. So when I was asked by to review their Cocoa Butter range I couldn't say no.

Body Care

Alas I didn't receive my much desired body butter, but instead I was sent their Deep Conditioning Body Lotion and their Vitalising Gel Body Oil which seemed like quite an interesting product. And I was right, after having another glance at this I either predicted it to be ridiculously oily or totally thin and drying. The actual result was something in between, when rubbed between the hands and applied it feels very much like any other body oil (I am not a fan of body oils at all). But one thing I will give this is that it does absorb into the skin much quicker than any oil I've ever tried, after about half an hour my skin didn't necessarily feel basted and ready to be fried. I've applied it once or twice on my legs, where I have much more dry areas of skin and it did leave them feeling quite soft and quite glowy. All in all I'd say anyone suffering from dry skin around their body especially during the summer should definitely give this a try, though I personally wouldn't take it any higher than my legs.

The lotion was pretty basic, much like a watered down simulation of the Body Butter. Having said that I didn't see a too much of a difference in either product in terms of the results they each had on my more normal areas of skin. Even though the lotion has a much thinner formula it still left my skin on my arms and other areas of my body very moisturised. But with dryer areas on my legs I'd much prefer the Body Butter or maybe even the gel for much more moisture.

Lip Care

The Cocoa Butter Lip Care was nothing to write home about if I'm honest the same old petroleum jelly formula that often leaves my lips extremely greasy. If you remember in my favourites post I referred to the Vaseline Lip Care with Rose and Almond Oil, I much prefer this version as it has a much thinner formula, absorbs better and to be honest I only truly use it once in the morning whilst doing my make up. I could easily use either but I think I'm sticking with red instead of brown for now.

I'm not really a lip balm fan so the Lip Care in the Stick packaging went way over my head, I haven't bought a lip balm as such since secondary school. But I have been putting this one on before bed time and my lips feel amazing in the morning. I have found as well that its perfect over lipstick for neutralising an overpowering colour. Its much more thick than the petroleum jelly and sinks into your lips better as opposed to leaving a greasy layer over them.

All in all I love the fact that Nivea has introduced this range; cocoa butter has much more intensive moisturising properties and for dry skin sufferers I think these products would be amazing. The smell as well is positively delicious, sweet but not sickly, warm but not overpowering. The Body Butter is still my most favourite and after enjoying the lovely scent in this line I think I'm going to pop down to Asda tonight and pick up a tub!

Have a lovely day folks
xoxo

Products I've Finished

2011-07-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Guys! This is a little random and some may even call it rubbish... hehe geddit... *coughs* I've realised this week that I've actually found myself in need to get down to the shops as I seem to have run out of quite alot. So I thought I'd share with you a few beauty products that I've found myself short of this month.

Botanics Heat Protection Spray I will definitely be repurchasing this as its one of few heat protection sprays that doesn't leave my hair feeling dry or crispy afterwards. The smell is delightful, and I cant quite recall the exact price of this but I'm pretty sure it was around a fiver.
Mac's Pro Long wear Foundation NC42 you may recognize this foundation from my June favourites post and another one of these bad boys is well on its way to being delivered to me. I love it! I managed to struggle through a week without this foundation and finally caved in today. If you have normal/combination skin I'd definitely recommend checking this out.
Superdrug Pore Strips I do suffer with an oily t-zone and huge pores around my nose so I try and incorporate pore strips as part of my home spa routine (skin care post to come). I've used Biore' strips since my teens but they are a tad pricey at around £10, whereas again I cant remember the full price of these Superdrug ones, but I'd say around or under a fiver. They work just as well if not better than the Biore', they might be a tad on the strong side, but that's the strength I personally look for.
Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise EDP I have actually repurchased this fragrance about three times since I turned sixteen. Its such a musky floral fragrance that just screams summer evening! I first stole this from my mum, and when I discovered how many compliments wearing this fragrance had earned me I decided from there on out that this was a must have in my collection. I will probably get this back in my life within the next few weeks but I'm undecided about purchasing this one or trying out another summer fragrance heavyweight (suggestions welcome). Needless to say I'll be having a play in Boots perfume aisle whilst making my decision.

And whilst we're on the subject of things I love. I thought I'd share with you guys two of my guilty pleasures at the moment. Firstly

Image from Google Images

I am obsessed with pretty little liars! I totally HAVE to watch it once a week, in silence, with a mug of hot chocolate! Please don't ask why, I really do not know... maybe its the immaculate make up, or the ominous story lines, but anyway I am tuned into MTV Shows weekly for this! If anyone knows info about any box sets please get at me!

Image from Google images

Secondly Salt & Vinegar Snack-a-jacks... let me explain. After realising that being in my early 20's is not a period in my life that I need spend unhappy about my weight I have decided to take action. I am NOT striving to be skinny I'd be happy with losing a stone maybe a bit more. Anyway I'm NOT dieting but I have altered my diet, incorporating in foods lower in fat, I've swapped white bread and chips for wholemeal pitta bread. I'm not going to lie it sucks! I can eat all the fruit in the world but none of it tastes like chocolate! But on the plus side, my savory taste buds (which are addicted to salt & vinegar crisps) have fallen in love with snack-a-jacks. I'm actually really glad I like them, as a 22g bag only has 1.6 grams of fat as opposed to a bag of walkers that contains 8.3grams. Winning me-thinks!

Hope you guys found this post useful, if you have any products you've found yourself repurchasing please share? And if you have any questions about the products featured above please don't hesitate to ask

Have a nice day loves
xoxo

My First Favs June 2011

2011-07-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

Heya loves!!! I'm so excited to do my first ever favourites post! I'm so sorry this is definitely later than I wanted to put this up. I love reading the list of fav's on my fav bloggers posts and it really helps me think of products I could also incorporate into my day to day routines. So without further delay

Hair & Skincare

One of the main products I have been excited about using in my hair has been the most hyped Moroccan Oil. I personally use this as part of my leave in conditioning routine whilst my hair is still damp, and after day to day styling. This leaves my hair baby soft! They say if it ain't broke don't fix it and this seems to be my skin care moto of the month. And Neutrogenas Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash and Mask which has never hurt me has definitely stayed firm as part of my cleansing routine, I'm not a general fan of the mask though but as a wash it works quite well.

Face

My got to foundation and maybe my HG foundation has to be the MAC Pro Long wear Foundation NC42, I always feel a little boring when saluting MAC products but this foundation gives me everything I ask for. An even medium base, works well to even my skin tone with a finish that I wouldn't necessarily describe as matte because it doesn't leave my face taught or dry. But matte enough and long wearing on my combination skin. I'm actually set to repurchase another bottle as mine has just finished. And I also want to give a brief shout out to my Mac MSFN in medium dark, which is a dream to set my foundation with! It melts seamlessly into the skin, refusing to show up cakey or ashy at all! Loves! Another great find of the month has been Collection 2000's Lasting Perfecting concealer in 04 Deep. This concealer actually applies beautifully, giving full coverage for my dark circles and lasts a substantial amount of time, for £4.19 its more than worth it.

Cheek

I've kind of been all over the place in terms of contouring. Its been a showdown between my Illamasqua bronzer in Burnish; which gives a nice healthy sun kissed glow, to the point where I've received compliments from other people as to how healthy I look with this on. Another is the Barry M Dazzle its a lovely mauve-brown with the faintest hint of shimmer, which works nicely for a healthier contour. For my cheeks I've been loving Mac's Creme Blend blush in Lady blush, its a lovely pink, very suitable for all skin tones, whilst the creme blend formula gives you a healthiness to your face. Another fav I've dug out of the back is my Creme Colour Base in Virgin Isle, those that are familiar with this product will know how shocking it is the very first time you work with it. This needs a very light hand to apply, and leaves a gorgeous coral flush on the cheeks. Another massive product has been Mac's Peach twist Blush, its an absolutely gorgeous deeper peach colour packed with shimmer. Definitely one to use without a highlighter!

Eyes

My eye routine has totally switched up in the past few weeks or so, I've given up my usual smokey crease look for either a whole wash of gold on the lid such as Mac's Wood winked (a bronze-gold). Or I've been leaving my lid totally bare with just a touch of gold like Mac's Creme Colour base in Pearl; in the tear duct to open up the eye. My mascara routine has been its usual fully loaded self! I've been piling on my favourite mascara Loreals Volume Millions in extra black but on top I've also been adding Collection 2000's Big Fake Lash mascara as a top coat. Unlike the volume millions this mascara does nothing for my lashes on its own, but when layered on top it does give that extra touch of pow! On top of that its also waterproof, great for non smudging! With the current bi-polar weather we're experiencing in London its probably safe to know that any dark eye products, would work best if waterproof, and with being a winged liner addict I turned to Lord & Berry's Waterproof Liquid Liner in black. This has a great applicator, very easy to work with and it doesn't budge.

Lips

I'm a big loather of my lips left bare, leaving them naked just wont do. So I do usually prefer lipsticks over glosses. But the Revlon Colour Burst lip gloss in Peony is a dream. Its a thick, non-sticky gloss with with a few particles of glitter in the formula, the colour has a hint of deep rose and it last for ages on the lips. Nars Turkish Delight is an odd favourite for me as for the longest time this gloss was my deepest regret, the colour was just to pale on me and I saw very little solution. But for the moment I'm loving pairing this with deeper lipstick shades. Plus I cant fault the formula on Nars Lipgloss's their damn near perfect I also love the Vaseline Lip care with Rose and Almond Oil, its the same petroleum Jelly formula but much better tailored for the lips, I apply it before I begin my make up routine and it sinks perfectly into my lips when I get to them. I don't know if the has something to do with the added oils but I'm very pleased. For my lipstick loves I have to firstly praise one of my favourite lipsticks whatever the weather or season Revlon's Matte lipstick in Mauve It Over. This is a gorgeous pastel, mauve-pink, even though the formula is matte it does glide on with a creamy matte finish. My other lippy love has to be Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion, this is a lovely balmy lipstick that requires no gloss, the colour is slightly peachy, which I think would suit many. And Last but not least Mac's Creme Cup is another winner, I'd describe the colour as a softer version of Angel, in a lovely creme sheen formula.

Do You Know/Are You A Heidi

2011-06-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hello dolls! I actually have a very different post for you guys today. I do study Journalism because I have a passion for writing. But one other quality I feel like I have a passion for is analysing behaviour in people. I am so interested in psychology, why we are the way we are and why we do the things we do. And because of this I am known a little bit as the advice giver amongst most my friends. I thought I'd share with you guys a little of my opinions about certain issues, (much like my post about "Women In Support Of Women") and try and post these "true to life" topics on a Sunday as often as I can. Lets begin :)

I am a massive fan of The Hills (sans Kristen Cavallari). I love reality tv because I love the aspect of getting attached to and analysing the behaviour of characters that are actual people (questionable I know hehe). I especially love Lauren Conrad, not just because of her sweet LA girl style but also because, I felt more attached to her as a character because her friendship values matched my own. I too prefer to have a connection to people I can call "best friends" rather than be that collector of people. The only thing that maybe I dont agree with is her pushiness. I have best friends that play different roles in my life, that all represent different aspects of my personality. I have a friends that will always sit and listen to my drama and actually be interested (Whitney's), friends that I've known for years that I'm very similar to (Lo's), friends that I share my emotions with and we'd both drop what we're doing to be there in times of need (Audrina's). And then I started to think... do I have any Heidi's?

Image sourced from Goole Images

We've all at some point known that girl that has abandoned or fallen out with her friends or changed dramatically as a person after entering into a new relationship. Some of us have even been that girl. Don't get me wrong when you get into a relationship, especially one that becomes serious, I do accept the fact that the loss of a few friendships here and there on both sides does tend to occur. Especially if you feel as if you're around people that don't respect your change in circumstances or have malicious feelings towards your relationship. But when choosing to distance yourself from true friends, as a girl, you have to make sure you are benefiting more from the loss in comparison to what you're losing.

Images from "The Hollywood Gossip"

As The Hills fans would have remembered once Heidi entered into her new relationship Lauren wasn't immediately negative towards the blossoming romance. It was only once Lauren saw Spencer's lack of morality is where she made the "mistake" of being honest with her best friend about her feelings for her new beau. Heidi herself seemed to be swept up in a whirlwind that many women do when dating a guy with a usual reputation for being a player. She begun to feel special that the "former" Lothario was concentrating his efforts on her as opposed to every women in LA. Despite issues that arose between her and friend Audrina about where Spencer's affections lay, and actually catching him in action flirting whilst presuming she was out of LA. Heidi still allowed herself to become susceptible to Spencer's charms.

Images from tonicgossip.com

Heidi then begun to become confused by Spencer's "us against the world" attitude in regards to their relationship. She started to believe that everyone around her was conspiring to rip apart her perfect relationship with a man who made her feel special, and to quote Rhianna, like the only girl in the world. You can psycho analyse this and blame it on a lack of confidence on Heidi's part, a lack of fulfillment within herself which allowed her to feed off the boosts in confidence she received from Spencer. Along with that Spencer then proceeded to cement the end of her relationship with Lauren and any other friends within that circle by pushing Heidi into a living arrangement she may not have been ready for. And then further damaging things by creating a rumour about her former bff, which was the last straw for Lauren who famously told Heidi "I want to forgive you, and I want to forget you".

Image from refolis.com

Once the finality of the friendship became apparent, Spencer then begun to exercise his control over Heidi within her job, her family and within her appearance. If you notice, even before Heidi's famous 10 operations in 24 hours, her image had already taken a drastic change to the Heidi known before. She had less of a fresh beachy look, that incorporated very little make up and shoulder length tousled hair. Then all of a sudden it was hair extensions, false lashes, heavy bronzer and Chanel bags. Not that any of those are a bad thing, but they were a far cry from humble Heidi from Colorado, in fact that Heidi seemed to have been buried by what looked like Heidi the playmate... which coincidentally is the look Spencer was most attracted to in the start of his romance with Heidi.

Images from Google

Anyway before I bore you all with anymore Hills trivia, my point wasn't to review series one to five of the tv show. It was actually to point out key blind spots most girls don't see when slowly alienating their good friendships for the sake of a new romance.

Point One:

Point Two: If you are dating someone with a reputation of being a ladies man, by being aware of this reputation and continuing on with the relationship you are whole heartily taking a risk with your heart. I am not saying that a man with a previous history of not taking other women seriously cannot change dependant on the feelings he has for you. But be aware that his reformation will be a constant test of your security within your relationship, and as a woman. Don't be naive, if you are constantly being made aware of his defects in character regarding fidelity by different sources, then they cant all be out to sabotage your relationship. Maybe you are being warned because most people recognize that you shouldn't be in a relationship with this person. And most importantly please believe, most times than not there is no smoke without fire. If it seems dodgy and feels dodgy than its quite possible that you've got a dog on your hands. And if you don't realise its time to leave, that's your business. But please don't allow yourself any illusions that people are "hating on" or jealous of you when giving you information about your partners history or current antics. They are most likely filled with utter pity for you or are finding your resistance to see the truth laughable.

Point Three: If you choose to be in a relationship with a man, by all means you should look up to him, respect him, and think beautiful lovely things about him. But you need to be aware that he is human and to the rest of us, just another guy. One of the mistakes some women make is to have false idolisation of their partner and think of their relationship as what defines them, to the point where they believe the rest of us do also. One thing a woman needs to be able to do if she is in fact a woman is to recognize and deal with the flaws of the person their involved with and to face and admit them. And to also understand that the rest of us aren't losing any sleep over what your man thinks or feels about us or life. Friends should always want to get to know and have some form of communication with someone who is a massive part in your life. But that is your life. I cant tell you the amount of moments I've encountered with people who don't seem to understand the insignificance their partner plays in the lives of others. Having a false sense of arrogance about your relationship is extremely unattractive and will push others away.

Point Four: Control in a relationship is not necessary nor is it healthy. At some points we all experience the brunts of someones standards or insecurities, in regards to what they will and will not expect from their relationships. I understand that in many ways people will need to change habits and relations they have within their social lives and with people from the opposite sex. But as a person you should still be able to be a functional member of society whilst still maintaining a loving relationship. If at any point you feel as if you are having to give up alot of aspects to your life just to please your partner, you need to communicate to them that it isn't possible for you to stop living just to live up to their ideals. Someone who loves you, wants to see you happy and when taking you on they also take on those factors that make you happy. That includes your family, your goals and aspirations and your true friends. Someone who feels threatened by any of those things, is incredibly selfish and has no care for your feelings as a person let alone someone they are supposed to love.

Point Five: This is my last and probably my most important point. If you at any point do not feel physically comfortable with your appearance because of your relationship, or if your partner is encouraging you to make drastic changes to how you look just to suit their own image ideals, then I can boldly tell you that you are in a bad relationship. As a woman you should never have to feel physically inadequate because of someone your dating, us girls are living in such an image conscious age that gives us enough pressure without the added misery of feeling ugly to the man in our lives. Or if the lack of security in your relationship is causing you to feel physically unhappy with yourself and forcing you to consider altering your appearance then please try to confide in someone around you that you trust immediately. Failing that I urge you to speak to you GP or family doctor about any counselling available for you in your area. I have no issues with a woman giving herself an image revamp, or in fact considering cosmetic surgery, but I believe you should only do this when you are feeling secure and happy in every other aspect of your life.

I am in no way a counsellor nor am I a relationship expert as such. But one thing I have learnt to take extremely seriously in life is my friendships with my girl friends. My Mummy is a typical Virgo, shes definitely a woman's woman, supporting, encouraging, honest and forces you to see how incredible you are, and that's how I truly believe one woman should react towards another if they claim to be friends. I'm speaking as someone who has experienced being burnt by many close friends in the past, yet never once could I treat them with the same negativity they displayed to me. Like Lauren I'd rather just move on with my life and create a distance between myself and the person hurting me. Its very hard for me to engage in a slagging match with someone I was once close with. In the end I know I'd end up racked with guilt and would probably feel as if I was in the wrong instead. Friendships amongst women are increadibly important. They help stabalise us as people, to have a support network amongst people who understand exactly what you go through and why is an increadibly valuable thing. I believe we are credited with emotional intelligence for a reason and thats what enables us to be the type of friends we are. Romantic involvments are just as important, but a good relationship would never isolate or oppress you, and most importantly never cause the loss of the good people in your life.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post. I know its rather long so if you made it to here I'm very impressed. Please let me know your feelings and opinions on the points and issues raised in this post. And of course if you would like to talk further away from here please don't hesitate to email me beauty_stalker@hotmail.co.uk

Wishing all you beautiful ladies a fantastic day
xoxo

Shopbop Purchases

2011-06-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hello my loves! Hope you've had a nice enough day. If your a Londoner like myself, then the conspiracy that this isn't really June, and that we've all been specially placed under some kind of coma, and its actually October; has run through your mind at some point. I know I complain about the weather alot but that's all part in parcel of reading the musings of a British person I'm afraid, at some point in the day we have to get one in about the weather. Its the law.

So whilst one is stuck indoors for fear of being rained on, the only only way one can possibly entertain one's self is to check out pretty things online. I know it can't just be me who online shops when I'm bored? Whilst browsing on one of my fave sites shopstyle.co.uk (an online directory for any item of clothing/accessories/shoes or any other fashion related items in any category possible), I came across a stunning little bag that I spent the rest of my evening convincing myself that I needed. And later purchased.

This gawj Marc by Marc Jacobs Nylon tote is soo much bigger than I expected it to be, which is a massive plus. They did have this exact back in leather aswell but my budget didnt justify being stretched that far. I think this will be great for when I go back to uni in Oct as its so wide and durable. And I didn't stop there. I can never help myself when it comes to having a further browse even after I've already decided on a purchase. My snooping took me into the sunglasses dept. where I found a pair that had me intrigued.

I'm not your usual Ray Ban fan, I love the way they look on celebs and other people. But with the size of my head I have to be very careful about what type of sunglasses I attempt to pull off. Not only is my head massive but my face shape is stuck somewhere between square and round, how that's even possible I don't know but it is what it is. But when I saw these Over sized Original Wayfarer's, I thought hmmm its the same style... only larger. That has to be a solution to my RayBan problem...

Its not that I don't like them on, as much as I really don't even know what my opinion is to be honest. I think I'll need to experiment more with hair styles and all of that before I know for sure if I'm happy or not. I really am this way about most sunglasses so no offence to these, I'm just neurotic.

I also have to comment on the Shopbop experience, as this was my first time purchasing anything from there. On the site delivery within three days was promised but in actual fact I felt as if I received a next day delivery service. I made my order on a Tuesday evening after 6pm, and I received my package on Thursday morning. Fastest delivery ever I'd say!

Also if you want to check out either of these beauts you can do so here:
Bag
http://www.shopbop.com/preppy-nylon-hayley-tote-marc/vp/v=1/845524441897241.htm?folderID=2534374302121072&colorId=12867&extid=affprg

RayBans
http://www.shopbop.com/outsiders-oversized-wayfarer-sunglasses-ray/vp/v=1/845524441851915.htm?folderID=2534374302029451&fm=other-shopbysize-viewall&colorId=12867

Have you guys made any rainy day purchases lately? Or have you ordered anything internationally and if so how was your experience? What are your preferences in terms of shades?

Have a lovely evening dolls
xoxo

Girl About Town

2011-06-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

Any true MAC devotee will already guess the contents of this post. A couple of days ago a friend of mine mentioned on her blackberry messenger status that she had orderd the infamous MAC Girl About Town lipstick, I then quickly came alive and pinged her promptely to let her know how much I love it. To which she replied "how am I not suprised you have it", my reputation definitely proceeds me.

And I have to thank my lovely friend for reminding me exactly how much I have loved this l/s, it hadnt seen much of the light of day since the s/s coral and peach trends popped up. But rocking it out today I definitely rememberd sometimes we make our own trends work.

Girl About Town is a bright deep fuschia which has an amplified finish, perfectly long wearing for such a bold colour. Its lovely worn during the day with a nice neutral eye or partnerd with a soft smokey eye and lots of lashes for the evening. Gorgeously suited to a girl about town ;-)

Im not too sure if I would be considerd a girl about town today though. My biggest highlights of the day were finally getting my eyebrows waxed after maybe three months of growing out the damage an amatuer threader inflicted upon them. Some light shopping this morning with a friend I hadnt seen for quite a while. And ofcourse I also joined the gym today.

I generally need to lose about a stone and a half to feel more confident about my body but added to that I've also put on a few pounds recently when I was struck hard with flu. A week straight of sitting in bed coughing my life away, not moving and eating a considerable amount hasnt exactly done me any favours.

How have you guys spent your day about town? How do you guys feel about this lipstick? Do you have any bold lippy favs?

Hope your all well lovelies
xoxo

Smoke and Glow FOTD

2011-06-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Shock it was raining this morning in London...in June! Seriously a KMT moment really as its been raining since yesterday afternoon. Nothing new really but its always a pain when you'd rather wear your bright summer dress as opposed to being back in UGG boots and a scarf!

Monday morning make up is always hard enough as it is, without the added thought of attempting to look flawless under the damp and grey atmosphere. Here's how I did my face today. Nothing miraculous but I did attempt to play up my eyes and pack on the highlighter forcing that June glow through despite the weather.

Face

MAC Pro Long Wear Foundation NC42

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NW35

MAC MSF Natural in Medium Dark

Illamasqua Bronzer in Wrythe

MAC Pearl Creme Colour Base

MAC blush Pink Swoon

Eyes

Sleek Storm Palette: Light Matte Brown + Dark Matte Brown in the crease, Light Gold on lid, Matte Black blended into liner

MAC Kohl Pencil Smoulder

Chantecaille Faux Cils mascara in Noir

Lips

Estee Lauder Crystal Baby l/s (my favourite l/s of all time)

Please excuse my hair guys I thought about straightening it, but then twenty odd years of life in England taught me otherwise.

And ofcourse the other half can never resist a photo opp. I'm sure you can pretty much tell what I have to live with based on the face he's pulling! *rolls eyes*

The day wasn't made any sweeter by the fact that my Coco Mademoiselle has officially run out *cries hysterically*. I have been tilting and toppling the bottle frantically to drain the last few molecules but allas it is once and for all finished.

I will probably repurchase this fragrance as in my eyes it is one of those classics every woman must own. Though I'm a little torn at the moment when it comes to choosing my next fragrance for the summer. Any suggestions?

Hope you guys made the most of the day whatever the weather. If you have any questions on this post please don't hesitate to ask.

Have a blessed day dolls

xoxo

Looking Healthy And Morange

2011-06-06T04:11:00.000-07:00

If any of you lovelies are following me on Twitter than you will remember my recent tweet about the Debenhams sale offering 10% off all beauty items. Now obviously 10% isn't exactly a large bargain but every penny counts when its time to stock up on your favourite foundation, or when your ready to try out a cult favourite. Since I'm currently fully stocked up on my make up essentials I decided to try two products that I've never tried myself but heard alot about.

I picked up the MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Naturals in Medium Dark for £16.65 (RRP £18.50) and the MAC Morange Lipstick for £12.15 (RRP £13.50). I've heard rave reviews about both products and thought now was a good opportunity to purchase them both whilst getting a few pounds off.

The powder works amazing over my MAC Pro Long Wear foundation (pics to come) helping set the look with a matte yet healthy looking finish, it even seems build able enough to use on its own as a base, as I have heard others do. Although if worn alone you would have to apply some SPF as I'm not aware that this carries any sun protection.

Morange is an amplified creme finish perfect for that creamy long wearing texture that a bold lipstick should have. Needless to say it is incredibly daring and I'm not sure how up to the job I am of pulling this lipstick off. Never-the-less it is an amazing colour perfect for the season to wear on more of an occasion perhaps.

If you did take part in the sale do let me know how you got on and what items took your fancy. Whether you just fancied taking the opportunity to replace your favourite foundation or maybe tried something new you've heard alot about

Love and kisses
xoxo

Hold The Rain

2011-05-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Heya fellow beauty stalkers! Hope you're all well! I dont know how the weather has been like around the world and the rest of Great Britain, but in London we've officially waved goodbye to the sunshine. It was inevitable to be honest.
But that doesnt mean we have to wave bye bye to the bright S/S trends. Infact we should embrace the brights and pastels even more, if anything atleast to cheer ourselves up right Londoners?

I recently purchased two YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks, I have been in total love with these lipsticks since I purchased my first back in the winter time. If the creamy rich highly pigmented formula isnt enough to captivate you, then the regal packaging will leave you feeling a little smug when pulling it out of your hand bag for a touch up.

Ofcourse I want one in every colour, but this time I choose to pick two statement colours of the season.

My colours of choice were N.15 (Extreme Coral) and N.13 (Peach Passion).

Peach Passion, is less of a peach and more of a frosty, bright, flesh toned pink in my opinion. The colour is amazing and very statment for such a light colour. I do think its one for many skintones to pull off. My only gripe with this is that I'm not sure how much the shade actually suits me, but I shall be trying it out with different looks so watch this space. Also a bigger issue is that the formula in this shade felt very different to other Rouge Volupte's. Its hard to describe but its almost grainy...:s I dont know if its because its a frosty shade and maybe thats why, but if anyone else knows of a reason for this please let me know.

Extreme Coral, is more of a fluroscent orangey red. Its probably my favourite of the two as the orangey tone in this does compliment my skintone better. I really love this shade and I'm fully prepared to rock it out as much as possible this "summer" clouds and rain aside :)

Have you guys tried any of the YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks? What are your opinions? Or do you have any other peachy or coral lip loves to share?

Love you all for taking the time to read this
xoxo

Good Friday Great Haul!!

2011-04-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! Hope you're enjoying the Easter hols!!! I must say the sun makes an excellent change to usual bank holidays we enjoy in rainy Britain. I usually spend my bank holidays bored out of my wits flicking through day time movies or reorganising my itunes library... Something that passes the day and moves it along, whilst the grey skies add to the dragging on effect and the harsh wind knocks firmly on my windows. However this Easter has blessed us with a rare bit of sunshine and glorious weather, making it impossible to consider staying indoors.

So I rushed off early this morning to my local shopping centre and picked up a few beauty goodies. I've done alot of clothes shopping online (haul coming soon) so I made it strictly beauty today, and resisted the gorgeous dresses in H&M and Newlook (Newlook have stepped it up recently *thumbs up*).

Revlon

To me the quality of Revlon products almost rivals that of the high end brands, which probably explains why the brands products are priced a bit more steeply priced than most other high street brands. I picked up a Super Lustrous Matte lipstick in Smoked Peach, a Colour Burst lip gloss in Peony (new) and from their new S/S collection I picked up Blue Lagoon nail varnish.

Peony glitters away on the left, as u can see the colour is a mix of dusky rose whilst in the light it glimmers almost coral. Smoked peach on the right is a gorgeous salmon pink with slight orangey tones, as with all other Revlon Matte lipsticks the colour goes on very matte and opaque, yet still soft and creamy.

Chanel

My local Boots has recently opened a Chanel counter, I don't know whether this is going to be a good thing or a bad thing for me yet. I cant deny I was excited, but my purse strings certainly gave a deep sigh, knowing indeed that I will be back more often than not. I couldn't resist picking up one of the fabulous Coco Rouge Lipsticks, it wasn't even up for discussion, I had to! My colour of choice was the fantastic Evasion.

Evasion is a gorgeous baby pink/peach shade, all lipsticks in the Coco Rouge Shine range apply beautifully sheer making them perfect for daytime wear. And lets face it you're going to enjoy pulling out a little piece of luxury whilst touching up your make up on the train.

Repurchase

I made two repurchase today of two items, both of which I must have first picked up three months ago. The Clinique Superfine Brow Liner in 03 Deep Brown and The Body Shop's Clarifying Seaweed Toner.

No other Brow products do it for me the way the Clinique brow pencil does, my brows look groomed and sharp, but never harsh or over drawn. The Seaweed toner is amazing on my combination skin, it helps balance oil, leave my skin refreshed and normal, whilst not being to harsh or drying out my skin which I find most toners geared towards combination skin tend to do.

After my little spree I retreated home to play with my new gifts and then enjoyed a couple glasses of already mixed pinacolada in the garden... classy ay! Tonight I think I'll enjoy Good Friday a little gracefully and treat my mummy by taking her to dinner.

Have you guys tried or are looking forward to trying any of the products listed above? And how will you be spending your Easter Holiday in this gorgeous weather?

Stay safe and hydrated guys ;-)

mwah xoxo

Going Organix

2011-04-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

I have been using the Vanilla Silk shampoo and conditioner by Organix, once a week for about two months now. I first spotted this combo in Boots one day and in all honesty I was literally drawn in by the fact that it smelled like vanilla *shrugs*. But once I had used both shampoo and conditioner and did my research on this brand I soon found that the smell was just one of the major bonuses of using these products.

The mantra of this brand is Beauty Pure And Simple, this already gives you an insight into ethics of this company. All Organix products are Sulphate and Paraben free, this allows the product to clean but not strip the hair, making it safe to use for those with chemically or colour treated hair. They are also made with active organic ingredients widening its suitability for all hair types.

The writing on both bottles reads:

Indulge your senses with this exclusive blend of smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils to instantly nourish and moisturize, while silk amino proteins strengthen and seal your hair’s cuticles, revitalizing your hair, creating silky, smooth shiny hair. Smoothing Tahitian Vanilla Bean oils blended with exotic silk amino proteins create a decadent treat. All you need for soft, smooth and seductive hair in one irresistible formula.

My personal opinion is definitely a positive one. My hair is very dry, coarse, damaged, colour treated... you name it I've got it. Yet despite all the things going against it the Organix Vanilla Silk shampoo and conditioner has left my hair soft, manageable and the smell is beyond amazing! As even after using my leave in conditioner and heat protecting spray, the lovely vanilla scent still lingers. Within the vanilla silk line there is also a soft & silky serum and blow dry cream available. There are also many other ranges available by Organix, including; coconut milk, cocoa butter and Moroccan argon oil to name but a few.

The vanilla silk shampoo and conditioner can be purchased at Boots. Some collections aren't available in the UK but most can be purchased online at Amazon.com. More information about the Organix Vanilla Silk shampoo and conditioner and all other Organix ranges can be found here: http://beautypureandsimple.com/vanillasilk.asp

Thank you guys for taking the time to read this and hopefully you've found this helpful. I hope you've been out enjoying the weather, catching tans and socialising, but if your like me and you have 101 commitments keeping you busy all week, then I hope you can make for it on the weekend like I will be doing =)

Wishing you guys a lovely day

Mwah xoxo

Gone Madly For NARS

2011-04-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely ladies! First of all let me begin for humbly apologising for the lack of posts for the past two months. I have been absolutely swamped; if it wasn't work, it was uni, if it wasn't uni, it was my attempt to have a life. But anyway regardless I am deeply regretful at the way I've neglected my blog, and I can promise you that the posts are going to be coming in thick and fast from here on out.

This week I picked up the blush Madly from NARS, the deep sandy bronzey blush attracted me instantly. I usually dump most of my peachy and pink blushes when the sun gets a bit stronger, and stick to my peachy bronzers to stand out on the apples of my cheeks.

I love the healthy glow this gives me, and needless to say the pigmentation is amazing! This is my second ever NARS blusher, my first being the highly coveted Orgasm, I'm loving the subtle glow that a NARS blush seems to inhabit. I will be posting images of me going mad with madly very soon!

without flash

with flash

Thank you guys for stopping by, wishing you a lovely day

xoxo

Wishing On A Beauty Blog

2011-02-21T07:09:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow stalkers of pretty things!

As I sit in on this grey Monday morning, feeling very much under the weather; I decide to spend time thinking over the pretty things glowing away on my wish list. I'm a constant list maker and especially since joining the beauty community on here, I have repeatedly jotted down products that have been reviewed on other bloggers that I love the sound of. So I thought I'd share with you guys some of the treats on my mind:

Benefit Porefection

Supposed to be amazing for sufferers of large pores like myself. I'm really on a mission to find that perfect primer to soothe my pore problems, and this one fights to reduce pore size as well.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

The cult classic favourite red lippy. I have seen the millions of reviews and this is top of the list as it stands. I haven't swatched it personally but I've seen it swatched on a variety of skin tones and it always looks amaze!

MAC Trace Gold Blush

I actually swatched this out of curiosity a week ago at a MAC counter and was shocked at how much I loved it. I'm not a glittery blush fan in the least, but his is gorgeous and glowy and I cant stop thinking about it. Unfortunately I was only there to pick up another blush, and my friend who was with me at the time, is one of those bubble bursters that reminds me that I don't need it... Needless to say I am never shopping with her again.

Guerlain Blush G de Guerlain Serie Noir

Do I even need to waste time bigging this up? Just look at the pretty colours *shrieks* it just belongs in my life...

Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzer

The accumulation of reviews on this bronzer have been phenomenal, so much so that I am intrigued by this more than anything else. I really want to try this out so so much, but its not cheap in the slightest and every time I convince myself to purchase it, it becomes hard to justify the price. But like all thins Chanel I expect it would be totally worth it.

Dior Show Mascara

Total mascara junkies stand up! Ask me if I was stranded on a desert island what make up item would I have to have it would be mascara. I have a preference of full voluminous lashes as I'm truly blessed to have quite long lashes anyway. And this mascara seems phenomenal in that area

Anyway that's all for now my lovelies hope you have enjoyed this little glimpse of whats on my wish list. Feel free to post your opinions below or to share any items that are on yours?

Love you all *kisses*
xoxo

Women In Support Of Women

2011-02-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

Heya sweeties, hope you've all had a lovely week, and are all relaxing pleasantly on this lovely Sunday. Today I wanted to talk about something a bit different, I want to give my personal opinions on a subject that's actually really hit me alot lately.

I am firm believer in women supporting other women. I think there's so much male perspective around in the world today, through media, music and even fashion. Theres no denying it we do live in a mans world with alot of stereotypes and pressure's on all of us to be the "perfect woman". The "perfect woman" stigma can mean different things to different people, to some it may effect them outwardly in terms of how they dress, or their looks in general. And to others this pressure could be felt in terms of over all life achievement's, i.e; career, education, motherhood.

Through my own life experience's and just by actively living in the world today, I truly believe there is alot put upon a woman's shoulders to attain a certain level of beauty and/or achievement's. We are constantly judged by men on how we look and if we are suitable enough to their perceptions of an "ideal woman". But whats worse is that we are also constantly judged by each other, as if in competition for rewards, we're not even aware of. Day after day we are in constant criticism of one female or another, ranging from celebrities, random females around us, and even close friends. As a race we have allowed ourselves to be able to be pit against one another, by bitching, gossiping and slating each other in the attempt to incur a downfall of the other person in someone else's eyes.

It's a shame when you think of it. Gossip magz filled with female columnists eager to rip apart at a young woman's weight loss or gain just because she happens to be famous. Supposed friends discussing one anothers personal details with other people to belittle that person. Females generally forming snappy or bitchy comments in relation to another females appearance or any other aspects of her life. No I'm not a martyr, of course I've been guilty of doing the same at one point or another, but in all honesty I don't regard myself a "bitchy" person. Whenever I have been guilty of being a tad "bitchy" about another female I instinctively recognize the feeling of insecurity, and I know you ladies feel it too. When we put down another woman we do it in an attempt to tell ourselves or someone else that "shes not more special than us", or "she's not in fact that much better than me as first thought."

But no matter how much we dress up the way we say it, jealousy is still ugly. Men recognize it on us and we recognize it on each other and it isn't attractive at all. And whats worse is that it doesn't even make us feel any better...does it? Taking glee in Beyonce Knowles losing or gaining weight doesn't make her any more or less amazing and talented. Saying that Kim Kardashian has had surgery anyway doesn't make her any less beautiful. Laughing at Britney Spears breakdown doesn't take away from all she's achieved.

I know this sounds a tad preachy girlie's, but I know you guys must relate to what I'm saying. There's no denying it, but whats important is recognizing it. If you have a friend that you have to gossip about then you are threatened by her, no matter what negatives you can say about her life, the fact that you are using energy to negatively bring her down means you are doing this to soothe your own ego. And that goes for any other female, because if you didn't care you wouldn't waste you're time being so eager to bring these negatives into light.

So ladies its about time we recognize what we're doing to each other, and yes it is us that are more guilty of it than the guys. Its about time we look at one another and stop comparing our lives and looks. And if you feel that this is something that you do constantly than you have to address your insecurities, because chances are if you're a bitchy person, then you are incredibly insecure. And its not her, its you! No matter what you say about her to make her seem less than what she is, it doesn't change you, it doesn't change your problems or what insecurities lay in your life. If you have a friend that you feel is doing wrong then be a friend and tell her, don't tell others in an attempt to reduce their opinion of her.

I've seen so much hate crime lately ladies and when you actually find yourself in the company of supportive females, it make you even more sensitive to the hating projected in this world, by one woman to another. I'm very pro-woman, this life is so hard for us, its full of tests and pitfalls, and instead of judging and dragging each other down, we really need to project the positivity of being a woman in the 21st century. We need to hail positive icons and even if we feel someone is acting in a wrong way or in a way different to us, we should still respect a grown woman decision to just be. I think having this kind of attitude gives off a positivity to younger and more impressionable girls growing up. We go into puberty, and the rest of our lives, and every step is scary, and with every step we are learning but also constantly being judged.

Lets ease the pressure on each other ay? Sorry this has been such a long post guys, it just something that has been on mind alot lately. And as you should know my blog is about all things beauty related, but also I thought I'd highlight inner beauty today :-). Below are some inspirational females that truly inspire me personally, in terms of my goals, my personal ambitions and also my style:

Her style, her grace, her talent and integrity. Alicia Key's is a truly beautiful and together woman. Letting her talent speak for itself, she is a natural and admirable person. Using her position and fame to bring attention to charities and organizations world wide.

My favourite of the Kardashian clan. Kourtney Kardashian is stylish, ambitious, sweet and has a great sense of humour. She's a devoted Mother and business woman as the main face pushing Dash the store owned and run by the family. Those that watch the show know she is loyal, cute and has overcome her share of struggles.

Jennifer Lopez is more than a booty; shes an amazing and progressive brand. This former dancer from the inner city has become a global superstar, designer and reputable judge. To me she has always come across as strong, feisty and independent.

Some may deem Mariah Carey as a stone cold diva. But why does that have to be a bad thing? To me she's strong, talented and very in charge of herself. Those that know about her early career know that she was in a controlling relationship. But just like a typical Aries, Mariah is a leader and has taken charge of her own career.

When I see Tyra Banks I know never to underestimate beauty. This mogul started off being known for her looks but has built an empire. A worldwide hit with ANTM, her own successful chat show and a lucrative production company. Not to mention she's tried her hand at acting and singing.

Hope you guys have an amazing week. Please do leave your opinions on this post, I am very interested in reading them

Lots of Love
xoxo