Primp Powder Pout - a Make-Up Artist's Life

Some Makeup and Hair Inspiration for Brides

2012-05-23T23:26:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone! I have been so busy, I nearly didn't get time to put this up for you guys!

Below are a few hair and makeup inspirations I have done for the wedding season. I am going to do some more wedding tutorials next week once I have time again, so watch this space!

I hope you enjoy!

For the makeup...
THIS IS WHAT I USED: (don't freak out...it's a lot!)
Origins - Zero Oil Moisturiser
Estee Lauder - Targeted Wrinkle Filler
Estee Lauder - Idealist Eye Illuminator
Estee Lauder - Matte Perfecting Primer
Urban Decay- De Slick Makeup Setter
MAC -Pro Longwear Concealer
Urban Decay- Primer Potion
MAC- Brule Eyeshadow
Urban Decay- Naked (Naked Palette)
Urban Decay -Puzzle (Naked Palette)
Urban Decay- Virgin (Naked Palette)
MAC- Shroom Eyeshadow
MAC- Omega Eyeshadow for brows
Maybelline- Black Gel Eyeliner
Estee Lauder - Sumptuous Mascara
MAC- Trace Gold Blusher
MAC- C1 Face and Body Foundation
Clinique- Line Smoothing Concealer

Here are two different hair tutorials for you as well!

I hope you enjoy!

BB Cream Competition OPEN!

2012-05-22T21:02:00.001+01:00

If you have been wondering about these 'BB creams' that everyone is raving about, but afraid to spend the money to try it out...then read on.....

I am running a competition for one lucky winner!!! The winner will receive their own, full size Clinique BB Cream. (and a few added bonuses....but those are MY little secret...I love surprises)

Here's what has to be done! In order to be eligible for this competition you need to:

1. Follow my Youtube Channel, and leave a comment saying 'hi' (this is where you will be able to see all of my tutorials, including ones using these amazing BB Creams)

Primp Powder Pout Youtube

2. 'Like' My Facebook page and leave a comment saying 'hi' and that you've entered the competition. This is where I often have messages from people doing requests, pictures of up and coming tutorials and you can even upload your own photos of looks you've done that were inspired by my 'Howto's'.

Primp Powder Pout Facebook

3. Follow me on Twitter and come say 'hi', letting me know you've entered the competition. (If you don't have a Twitter account then let me know in one of my other sites)

Primp Powder Pout Twitter

The competition ends once my Facebook reaches 600 'likes' OR Youtube hits 2000 subscribers ORRRR Twitter reaches 550 followers.

WHICHEVER ONE COMES FIRST!!!!

Blemish Balms aka BB Creams!

2012-05-22T20:49:00.000+01:00

So everyone is going on and on about BB creams. It seems to be a new craze, but actually BB creams have been around for quite a long time. BB creams were typically used in Asian countries but now some of our favourite brands have taken on this cream for their own.

So what does BB cream stand for? Blemish Balm. The idea behind said Blemish Balm, is that it acts as an all in one. The BB cream provides moisture, acts as a primer, sunblock as well as a foundation.

From what I know, most BB creams come in only a few shades...they are a sort of 'One size fits all'. So you will typically find BB creams in light, medium and dark shades.

You can get them in most any brand now from L'Oreal, Garnier, Olay to your higher end brands such as Clinique, Estee Lauder, Origins...and the list goes on.

I have in possession the Estee Lauder BB cream which I had written about before...that my stepmother raved about and now I can fully say that I love it as well (once my lighter shade came back in stock).

I also have the Clinique BB cream which I can now talk to you about which has an SPF30

This BB cream says it is medium/full coverage. I feel it's a little bit more of a tinted moisturiser, where as the Estee Lauder is a bit fuller coverage. BUT I think this is nice and something that can easily be worn on it's own during the summer when you don't want to feel cakey!

Just as the BB cream was intended...this cream is soothing on the skin and helps your complexion. This is exactly what has made it such a big hit in Asia and why it has been coveted for so long.

It can be worn under foundation (though I just use it on it's own....but maybe during the winter I would double up) or it can be worn on it's own.

I have several tutorials coming up with me using this cream. So you will be able to see what it looks like on with a normal day makeup! Or even an evening makeup.

The average price for this is RRP £25.00

Don't be put off by the price....a little goes a long way. :)

If you are interested in this...check out my next blog post :)

A Bride's Guide to Hair & Makeup

2012-05-17T21:10:00.001+01:00

This blog today is dedicated to all the brides out there who are needing a little bit of help on what they need to do regarding their hair and makeup on their 'Big Day'.

I receive dozens of emails a week regarding hair and makeup enquiries for weddings.

90% of these emails are from brides who have never been involved in a wedding before...or at least in the arrangement of a wedding.

The other 10% of my brides have either been involved or have been a bridesmaid and have had hair and makeup done before and I say most of those brides have horror stories of what their hair and makeup looked like on the day.

Arranging a wedding is probably one of the most stressful things a soon-to-be bride will do. Basically she has become an events planner when she has never planned big events ever before.

There are so many aspects to the arranging of a wedding that hair and makeup tends to be the last thing on a brides mind until a few months before (or unless you are my super organised brides who arrange hair and makeup a year in advance...I wish I was that organised).

Though hair and makeup is a second to last thought...it is probably one of the biggest, important things of the day....next to the dress. A bride doesn't go and spend the amount of money on this beautiful, one off dress to have her normal hair and makeup she always has.

In saying that last bit, I don't mean brides want something extravagant for their big day regarding their beauty. The majority of my brides would just like to look like themselves but on a really great day!

They want to be flawless, fresh faced, immaculate hair and glowing all over. They want to walk down the aisle and feel radiant!

Not only is it the artist's job to make the bride gorgeous as well as her bridal party, but it is also important that the artist provides a calm, relaxed environment before the ceremony.

I can't tell you how many brides I have helped calm nerves, over-excitement etc. It is a very overwhelmingly happy day and for some, bittersweet. There are moments where excitement, nervous energy, feelings of sadness that lost loved ones are not there, can take over and it is my job to help the brides through all of her emotional ups and downs.

So here is my check-list of DO's & DON'TS for brides:

DO'S:

Do- get your makeup and hair done on the big day. The last thing you want to be doing is frantically applying your mascara and eyeshadow, while setting your hair and getting everything in place while also preparing to walk down the aisle.

Do- arrange a bridal trial for hair and makeup. This is so important. Not only do you want to ensure you have exactly what you want on the day, but you want to make sure the person who is prepping you will add to the lovely atmosphere.

Do- go with your gut instinct. If you trial with someone who's portfolio or website do not suit your style...it is more than likely that when they do your hair and makeup...it won't suit your style either.

Do- check around. Just because an artist is high in price, doesn't mean that artist is the best. You want an artist who is efficient, skilled and who you click with. The same goes for artists who are undercutting. Compare artists' websites and go with your instinct.

Do- pay a deposit and hold your date. Makeup and hair artists get booked up sometimes a year in advance...don't miss out on a good artist.

Do- know which dress you are wearing as this will dictate what your hair and makeup will look like.

Do- think about what you want for your bridesmaids and set boundaries if you want to...and don't be afraid. It is your big day and if you would like your bridesmaids to have neutral makeup then say this to them. You don't want bridesmaids attempting to have clubbing makeup and overshadowing your natural radiant makeup.

Do- drink plenty of water and have a good skincare regime in place. Speak to your artist about your skin type and they should be able to advise on a skincare regime that suits your skin and your budget...as well as your haircare regime.

DO- ENJOY YOUR DAY! Breathe, take it all in and don't worry about the small things. You want to remember it for the magical day that it is. If there are little hiccups during the ceremony or party...laugh them off...:)

DON'TS:

Don't- NOT have a trial. YOU and the artist need a trial so that the day goes smoothly and everyone is happy.

Don't- have any last minute changes on the day unless you tell your artist a week in advance. If you are adding more than a few people to the party last minute, the artist may have to hire an assistant for the day and will need suitable notice to do so...especially during peak season.

Don't- expect to walk into a makeup shop and have your makeup done on the same day without a trial. You may end up with makeup you don't like or worse, have a reaction to the makeup with you definitely don't want.

Don't- fake tan without warning the artist that you may do so when you meet for you trial, so the artist is prepared for a skin colour change...the same goes with sun beds...give notice.

Don't- cut your hair unless you discuss it with the artist. The last thing you want is to trial out a hairstyle then cut your hair into a new style which will not go into your desired style for the day. (I have had this happen. A bride had long hair and had arranged for this beautiful cascading style...but when I saw her on the wedding day her hair was 5 inches shorter, in a long bob...and I couldn't do what she wanted because she cut all of her hair off)

Don't- dye your hair the same day or day before the wedding. Give your hair at least a week. Not only will this allow some leeway if you have a disaster but also, if you go darker, you won't have the dye lines around the hairline.

Don't- get a facial within two weeks of the wedding. Facials are clarifying and therefore pull out impurities which can cause breakouts...and with the stress of the wedding...a breakout or two is likely anyway, so you don't want to add to that!

Don't- STRESS! It's going to be a magical day!

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY REAL BRIDES FROM THE PAST YEAR...

The beautiful and sweet Laura

Liza's bridesmaids and flower girls

The beautiful Liza.,

Rosie and her maids

Claire who has now become a friend as well.

Charlotte

My fellow American, Nikki

The gorgeous Kirsty and her mother

Kirsty and her maids and second from the left is Shani, my fantastically talented assistant.

The Portuguese beauty in New Jersey, Adelaide

Adelaide's lovely and hilarious bridesmaid Jo!

Laura, my Basque beauty. Wedding was in San Sebastian, Spain. Gorgeous!

Harriet...super sweet and quirky!

Ojon Hair Products

2012-05-09T11:55:00.000+01:00

For the last two months I have been using a haircare range by Ojon.

Here is a little breakdown on the story of Ojon and then I will give you my honest review on the products I have been using.

Denis Simioni, founder of Ojon, was given a jar of balm which was supposed to have these amazing qualities to restore the hair after extensive damage from the sun. After forgetting about this magical jar of balm, he decided to use it one day after swimming when he realised one of his relatives' hair was looking pretty dry and shabby from swim damage.

Denis was pretty impressed as the hair was restored and they were able to get a brush through it with ease. So Denis was so amazed he went back to central America to discover what was actually in this magical balm and see why it was so amazing and work out how he could create a hair range that incorporated it.

He found that the Miskito from central America used this balm for their hair and skin for over 500 years and as a result they had perfect hair and beautiful skin, despite always being in the raging sun. (I think it could be genetics as well...but I'll go with the story :) ).

The products that Denis created for Ojon are suited to all hair types. I have been using Ojon's Dry Recovery range which is for dry, dehydrated hair. Now, I actually think I have damaged, dry hair...which is a bit different, so here's my thoughts....

I have been using the Dry Recovery shampoo and conditioner as well as the Dry Recovery Revitalising Mist. I actually think all are great....HOWEVER I think because my hair is more damaged due to processing it etc, I think I needed a little bit more moisture. BUT in saying that, the shampoo is incredibly gentle and doesn't dry my hair out further. It smells amazing as well.

The conditioner I have to apply twice. (this is actually typical for my hair as it is quite dry at the ends and I am quite used to applying conditioner, rinsing and then applying again. So this is no fault of Ojon's)

My only gripe is the Revitalising Mist. I feel it makes my hair feel a little crunchy, though it is supposed to be more of a conditioner.

However, I use it on my son's hair which is obviously undamaged and it works great to keep his hair from frizzing out.

I definitely think the Dry Recovery range is worth trying if your hair is just naturally a bit dry. For example if you live in dry climates, it can give your hair a hydrating boost.

(The above products range from RRP £16-22)

These products are gorgeous and gentle though and what I would really like to try and see if it works better for my type of hair is the Damage Reverse Range. These help actually repair the damage that has been done to your hair. i.e. over processing, sun damage, swim damage etc.

From this range I have been using the Restorative Hair Serum which I LOVE!

This serum is great for after you get out of the shower and your hair is still damp. It says to only use a couple of drops, but I probably use anywhere from 4-6 drops, melt it in my palms and run it through my hair, as I have quite a bit of hair. But this will depend on your hair length.

It doesn't make my hair oily or greasy like some serums do. What I also like to do is actually wash my hair before bed and let it air dry with this serum in it and my hair is silky soft in the morning.

This product lasts forever as well! So though it may be about £16...you can use it for a long time!

From the Reverse range there is a Treatment Plus and Smoothing Glaze which I think would be great to try.

Another great thing about Ojon is that their products are from sustainable sources. They work closely with non-profit organisations which help protect tribes such as the Miskito and helping protect the rainforests, whereas other products, which I won't mention the names of take products from trees which are dying out and are going extinct. What's the point in natural beauty if you are killing the natural source it comes from? So I think Ojon is a great company as well as providing great products.

A Day of Urban Decay!

2012-05-08T11:06:00.000+01:00

So, I am one of those girls that doesn't follow trends and likes to take my time before jumping onto the bandwagon...purely because i'm an eternal sceptic and only take the plunge once I am well and truly convinced.

This is exactly what happened with Urban Decay's NAKED palettes. Now I only have the NAKED palette and not NAKED 2, but I will eventually be able to review this one for you as well.

The NAKED palette has been around quite a while but the reason I was put off by it is I felt it was just a neutral palette for what seemed like a lot of money to me. But while I was in the US, my stepmom bought the NAKED2 palette and it was amazing. I had seen a lot of reviews on that one as well and had a lot people asking me about it, but I wasn't able to give an honest opinion on it, other than what everyone else was saying.

So I thought it was time I tried it. With so many review requests, I couldn't hold off any longer.

I received my palette a week ago and have used it a couple of times and so far I really like it, especially with the Eyeshadow Primer Potion . I don't usually buy into primers for eyeshadows either because I always think that using a good concealer or even a cream shadow with a water resistant base works well enough. BUT the primer is amazing!

I instantly pulled the palette from it's case and opened the velvety palette which revealed a veritable calvacade of shimmering shadows!

The range in shadows is great as well. Not all are overly shimmering, some are a little more matte than others with a slight sparkle while others are quite iridescent.

My only gripe about the product is that it wouldn't suit mature or dry skin. This is purely because of the shimmering texture would get caught up in fine lines and/or dry patches and emphasise it. You'd have to really slather on some moisturiser, primer etc to ensure a smooth base. But this isn't a problem as a lot of Urban Decays other products are fantastic for all skin types.

I went to apply the shadows on my arm to give you a little look and at first I tried it without the primer and you couldn't see the shadows at all...but once I applied the primer and then reapplied the shadows they were beautiful. So this is something to remember. If you don't wear anything on your eyes and want to use this shadow, you will need some sort of base, like a concealer or the Primer Potion. But that's sort of common sense!

The colours Virgin and Sin...the first two, are a bit hard to see, but these are more highlighting colours so once you have one of the others on and use them with it i.e. Naked used with Sin...you would be able to see it well.

So I am sold on these and would definitely recommend them to my clients.

I also received the De Slick Spray which you can see the box in the image above. This spray is for oilier skin types who have a difficult time getting their makeup to stay in place.

Even if you use a foundation and concealer which are for oily skin types you still cannot guarantee your makeup will stay in place.

Now I have dryer skin so this doesn't necessarily work for me, but I am going to test this out on some of my brides with oily skin and see how it fairs. If it works, which I hope it does, it really could help out a lot of people I know are looking for ways to help their makeup stay in place!

There are also some other products that UD do to help makeup stay in place, one being All Nighter. Apparently your makeup will last up to 16 hours.

I have seen these setting sprays before but never use them. But I would be interested to see how this works as apposed to a primer under the makeup.

So I will give you a little update further down the road on these sorts of products and whether they are worth the money or not.

BUT all in all...I love the products I got from Urban Decay and am a convert! woot!

I also wanted to mention that all of Urban Decay's products are Vegan and animal friendly! This couldn't make me happier! You can look beautiful and be guilt-free as well! BONUS!

Stay tuned as well... I have a few blogs coming up on skincare, prep and makeup for different skin types from oily, combination, dry and sensitive!

Bright Spring-Summer Makeup Tutorial

2012-05-07T08:27:00.001+01:00

Hello!
I've done another lovely tutorial for those of you looking for some pretty spring/summer makeup.

Let's get straight into it!

HERE'S WHAT I USED:
Clarins - Beauty Flash Balm
Estee Lauder- BB Cream in Light
(The BB cream is an all in one cream that Moisturises, Protects and hydrates...contains antioxidants and oil-free Hydration. I've only been using it for a couple of weeks but I'm totally loving it. Especially with it's SPF35! score!)
Clinique -Even Better Concealer
(Long lasting concealer which is great for dark circles and helps illuminate pigmentation. It also has an SPF 15 in it...maybe best not to use with flash photography though)
MAC- Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Estee Lauder - Enchanted Berries Shadow Palette
Estee Lauder - Sumptuous Extreme Mascara Extreme Copper
MAC- Fling EyePencil
MAC- Harmony Matte Blusher
Origins- Brighter By Nature Pressed Powder (I love this pressed powder! SPF 30. Great for Controlling oil)
MAC- Hush Cream Colour Base
MAC- Creamsheen Speak Louder Lipstick

HERE'S HOW I DID IT!

My NEW eclectic skin regime

2012-04-25T09:30:00.003+01:00

I am never one to follow rules...I use the products I like and which work for me. I don't use all of the same products. I like to mix and match skincare, just like my clothes. I use or wear whatever floats my boat and that can be different every day.

BUT for the most part I do follow a pattern which is as follows...

1. I cleanse my skin morning and night

2. I use a toning lotion

3. I use a skin serum

4. Moisturise

5. Sometimes I use an eye cream if I remember

6. Every other day I exfoliate

Here are the products I am currently using:

Clarins (Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Dry to Combination Skin)

RRP around £17

This cleanser is gentle and lovely. I wouldn't even say it foams to be honest. There seems to be no drying agent at all...which is what normal foaming cleansers tend to do. The cleanser has shea butter in it and you can tell. My skin feels soft and clean after using it and not dry and tight at all. I would say that my skin is a bit of a combination. Sometimes it's incredibly dry (could be dehydration) and sometimes it's a bit oily (depending on the time of the month) so this cleanser really works well for me any time of the month.

Clarins also has their original Gentle Foaming Cleanser which isn't for sensitive skin which can work well on oilier skin or normal skin, but I quite like this Shea Butter version as I am very concerned about drying out my skin and making it look older than it already does.

www.clarins.co.uk

After I cleanse my face I use either of these following products.

If my skin needs a deeper cleanse and I feel it is a bit clogged I will either exfoliate with:

Clinique Exfoliating Scrub

This scrub is great, especially if you have oily skin. It really polishes the skin and gives it a smooth, refined surface. You can feel it tingly and fresh once you wash it off. I wouldn't say it is great for sensitive skin, but I definitely love it. I am also using Clinique's 7 Day Scrub

This scrub is a little more gentle on the skin...seeing as you can use it 7 days a week. It's more of a cream base and leaves the skin soft. It is good for oily to normal skin and would probably work a little bit better for more sensitive skin. However it will still give you a lovely polished finish and clarifying qualities of the other scrub. I like to mix them up a little bit.

If I am not using those, there is one more thing that I use a couple of times a week (like I said, I like to mix things up a bit...I don't like to get bored :)

Clinique Turnaround Instant Facial

This is an oil-free facial mask that you leave on for about 5 minutes and is supposed to have the same qualities of a microderabrasion without the stress a microderm causes. From using it, it feels just like one of the scrubs I mentioned above, but a little bit finer. You use it on cleansed skin, which is why I use it after cleaning my face and it polishes off nicely, leaving the skin purified, declogged and even toned. Which is for all skin types.

All of these Scrubs range from RRP £17-35 Go to www.clinique.co.uk to check them out.

BUT in saying all of that...if I am not using either of those...I skip straight over to my toner. Because not every night can I be bothered to exfoliate...even with the 7 day cream!

Here are the toners I use:

Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile

If my skin is feeling particularly sensitive, I like to use this toner, which is alcohol-free. It is gentle, refreshing and soothing. It is definitely one for dry or dehydrated, sensitive skin and is great before bed so your skin is soothed and soft after a day of thrashing it with makeup, environmental polutions and stress. I love it.

RRP £17

www.clarins.co.uk

If I can't be bothered to properly exfoliate with a scrub and my skin is feeling quite congested then after cleansing I will use my

Clinique Clarifying Toning Lotion 2

This is part of clinique's 3-step cleansing routine...which has been converted to Ashley's a billion step, I don't use just one brand routine.

This is a great toner lotion from Dry to Combination Skin, though I wouldn't say it is great for sensitive skin as I think it may actually contain alcohol as it is a bit tingly when used. But I quite like the feeling of it and it's exfoliating, polishing qualities without the mess of a cream and splashing water everywhere (I am quite short and so the sink isn't low enough for me and it just ends up running water down my arms and to my feet every time I wash my face!)

A big bottle of this bad boy is RRP £24

www.clinique.co.uk

*SOMETIMES I use the two toners together. I use the Clinique 2 to clear the skin and then I use the Clarins Camomile to calm my skin and soothe it.

Once I have properly cleansed my skin I will use either three of my skincare heroes!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

I have been using this beauty for well over a year now. It is a great anti-aging serum. Your skin feels smooth, it reduces the appearance of ageing and dark spots. It's soothing on sunburns and sensitive skin. It helps repair skin with all the damage we TRY to do to it daily, from sun exposure, pollutions and diets and dehydration.

It's not cheap but a little goes a long way!

RRP £41

www.esteelauder.co.uk

After solely using ANR by Estee Lauder I decided it was time I tried something else to see the comparison and just to try something new! Not that I am leaving the ANR behind.

So in want of something new I started trying

Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Serum

This is a beautiful serum which visible reduces those fine lines you see around your eyes and forehead. The skin feels smooth and it is great for sensitive skin. I never broke out, it was great when my skin became incredibly dry when I was travelling in the US and it has been great when my skin is a bit oilier. I definitely recommend this product. Origins really know what they are doing.

RRP £45 it is a little more expensive than the ANR but it is worth it.

www.origins.co.uk

My newest product I am using is

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer

PHEW what a name...

I have only been using this for a week so I haven't seen the full benefits from it yet, but apparently it is supposed to give 'radiance from within'. Somehow it has exfoliating qualities and it is supposed to help with cell-turnover (which the latter part is what ANR does as well).

So far I am loving it and my skin is agreeing with it, but I will have to use it for a month before I know the truth behind it and what it can do for me.

(BUT I'M NOT BREAKING OUT SO THIS IS A GOOD SIGN)

RRP £32

It is the cheapest of the three products so if it is good it might be worth trying for others who would like to save a few ££.

www.clinique.co.uk

So those are my hero serums I have been using and loving. I definitely recommend getting yourself a serum if you are over the age of 25...(when your skin naturally starts to lose it's elasticity), if you live in hot, dry climates or climates with severe weather than can damage the skin and those who live in big cities, who's skin is hating them for the pollution they're being hit with! These could keep time away from your face for a little longer before you have to reach for the botox!

Last but not least I will always wear a moisturiser!

Here is what I am wearing at night at the moment.

Origins Youthtopia Lift

Typically I steer away from lifting moisturisers as they tend to not be moisturising enough for me, but the Youthtopia is extremely hydrating! I love it and it really soaks right into my skin at night, making it feel soft and smooth and plump. My skin looks lovely in the morning as well. I really cannot say anything bad about this cream, other than if you have oily skin you may find this too rich for you. But nonetheless, give it a go or get a sample from Origins.

RRP £45

www.origins.co.uk

I also use the origins Super Spot Remover

This tiny little pot packs a lot of power! I am loving this. If I feel a spot coming on or I already have one which is lovingly revealed after cleansing my entire face, then I apply just a little dab of this and my spot is either completely gone or close to disappearing once I wake in the morning. It's only RRP £12. I think it's great and a little goes a long way so it will last you a while!

In the morning I am using two things

Estee Lauder DayWear

(Advanced Multi-Protection Oil-Free SPF)

I like to use this moisturiser because it has the SPF 25 in it and it is oil-free. Because though I may have dry skin at times, I don't like a heavy cream during the day.

It helps the skin regenerate just like the ANR and it helps the skin against free-radicals i.e. pollutions, sun damage etc.

RRP £39

The other product I tend to use is Estee Lauder Sheer Tint Release

This lovely cream which also has an SPF 15, helps give the skin a natural even skin tone before I put on my foundation and sometimes I just wear it on it's own. It is a universal shade so there is no need to match colours. It has the same protection as the DayWear I mentioned above.

RRP £34

On top of this...which I won't go into detail as I will probably bore you to death...but I sometimes use Origins No Puffery Eye cooling gel which you can keep in the fridge and is great for depuffing your bags under your eyes. Origins GinZing Illumination Eye Cream which has light reflective properties and brightens tired, dark circles under your eyes. I also use Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Eye Cream as well. Obviously not all at the same time, but as and when my tired eyes need it!

So this is my eclectic collection of skincare. You should think after all of this I would look like I am 4 years old...but unfortunately I have a 16 month old son who doesn't allow me to sleep much, runs me ragged all day which seems to be ageing me at a rapid pace! HA! But he's worth it and hopefully these creams and potions will counteract everything else!

Thanks for listening me rant on and on about my skin! I hope it was helpful to you!

Pinterest has piqued my Interest!

2012-04-20T21:55:00.001+01:00

Har Harrrr! See what I did there?

So for those of you who don't know about Pinterest, it is basically an online pin board. You know the kind you had in school or in your kitchen currently? (I have one that has so many things on it, the pins can't hold all of the papers...Pinterest doesn't have this problem). Well Pinterest allows you to make pin boards or what I prefer to call 'mood boards' for just about anything and everything.

The way it works is you have to be invited...which I was about 8 months ago and only just accepted it. You then start browsing around. You can search for things you like. It can be anything from news, fashion, makeup, homeward, party ideas, hair ideas...you name it and there will probably be someone who has pinned about it. And if there isn't...well you go ahead and make your own board.

You can take images you already have...e.g. You like taking pictures of Pylons? Well...why not create a board of all the pictures you have ever taken?

Pylons- Pinterest boards

You simply create the board, choose the category you think it would be under and just start adding images. Then eventually someone in the big wide world will search for pylons on Pinterest and 're-pin' your images to their board and then it just goes on and on and on. Like a domino effect.

I have recently become obsessed with this new network site. I have loads of board categories and daily I have people re-pinning the things I like and pin. I even upload my own images from my tutorials under hair and makeup and those get repined to other people's boards for their own inspiration.

I think it is a great way to get ideas, brainstorm, see different views on different things and get great tips great and small.

Here's what my page looks like:

My personal Pinterest link http://pinterest.com/ashleykgifford/

This is a view from my own admin side. Those 6 different boxes are my pin boards I have created so far. Everything from food to fashion. I am sure there will be more that I will add as well.

Here is what one of my boards looks like when you click on it.

This is My Perfect Home board I created. In this board I have found inspiration in other people's boards and pins they have uploaded. They may have found these images online, in magazines and they may be images of their own house. You literally can pin images from anywhere (obviously be careful with copyright as these images belong to other people originally).

I am still quite new to this and have only been using it for just over a week, but you can already see I am quite addicted and can see these boards of inspiration growing and growing. I have loads more of images of my own to upload for people to pin for inspiration and I can't wait to start sharing more!

I definitely recommend you trying it out. But remember, you must be invited...which I am more than happy to do if you send me a personal message!

Happy Pinning and FOLLOW ME!!

http://pinterest.com/ashleykgifford/

Dakota Fanning - Wonderland Magazine Inspired Makeup and Hair Tutorial

2012-04-13T11:53:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I came across the Dakota Fanning spread in the Wonderland Magazine before it was available in stores. I loved the look as it was a little bit of a modern look on 1930's flapper hair and makeup. It almost had an old circus feel to it.

The makeup isn't too different from what I have done before, but the colours weren't a combo I always worked with and neither was the hair and makeup combo. So I thought it was a nice one to put up to get the overall look.

HERE IS WHAT I USED:

Estee Lauder - Matte Perfecting Primer
Estee Lauder - Invisible Fluid Makeup
MAC - Studio Sculpt Foundation and Concealer
e.l.f. - High Definition Powder
Shimmering Pink Eyeshadow
Dark Pink/plum Eyeshadow
Avon - Satin Gel Liner Black
Blink+Go - High Definition Mascara
Estee Lauder - Electric Pink Blusher
MAC - EyeBrows (Fling)
Gold Eyeshadow to highlight
LUSH - A Million Kisses Liptint

HAIR- Babyliss Pro Curling Tong - Can be bought online or at Sally's Beauty Supply.

I've done a look with my hair down and up so you can see both ways.

HERE'S HOW I DID IT:

February and March Glossy Box Goodies and Reviews

2012-04-03T12:40:00.001+01:00

I only just got back from the states over a week ago and so I missed out on two Glossy Boxes which arrived while I was away.

The two boxes were February's and March's Harrod's Box. I was mistaken and called the Valentine's Day box, February, but it wasn't actually Feb's box. Go figure. So these two boxes are the correct ones.

There will be a lot of rambling as there are a lot of products to go through, but since I have been back, I have been able to try everything out so I can do the review now as well!

Let's start with the February box.

February Box

Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Smoothing Balm

I really liked this but think it may be best on thicker hair. For example my stepmom who has really thick hair that needs smoothing. Which I am totally going to suggest it to her.

Full size 200ml
RRP £15.25
(Which is about average for a Paul Mitchell hair product. I have been using his hair products for years)

COMO SHAMBHALA
Showergel
(click the link above to see their full range)
Ok, I have been using this for a week and no joke, I love it so much that I will wash twice in one shower session because it's so amazing. It doesn't dry out my skin, it's incredibly invigorating (as it states). It smells absolutely beautiful and just what you need on a morning when you're feeling a little less than perky.

My only complaint is the price. It hurts me to even tell you how much a large bottle of this would cost but, in saying that, I would probably spend it anyway as it would last you for quite a while!

Full size 300ml
RRP £20.00

BM BEAUTY
Pure Mineral Eyeshadow
BM Beauty provides vegetarian and vegan makeup which is obviously cruelty-free. I haven't used this brand before as there are so many mineral brands out there and with my huge range of bareMinerals I own, I never buy any others. I haven't used this eyeshadow yet as I was given a black one and well it just isn't the season for me to be using black. But I will be trying it out this weekend on a shoot and I will report back on the quality of it.

Full size 2g
RRP £ 7.00

DR BRONNER
Lavendar Hand Sanitiser

Not only do I love this hand sanitiser but so does Greyson. We've been using this for a couple of weeks now and it smells beautifully of lavender and not chemically at all. It is gentle enough for my little bub's hands and mine of course.
It's reasonably priced, travels in your handbag or nappy bag without issues and you can take it on a flight as it is under 100ml! Bonus!

Full size 59ml
RRP £3.99

DUWOP
Venom Gloss

I have a friend who has been using Duwop glosses for a very long time and lives by them. In my day to day life I don't wear a lot of gloss, but this one that was sent to me is nice as it is a nude colour (hard to tell by the photo) and it does what it says on the tube. You can feel the plumping and tingling on your lips after you put it on, by bringing the blood to your lips.

I don't typically like gimmicky products so I probably wouldn't buy this myself, but for others I think if this is something you are looking for then it is worth it. (if you don't mind the price tag)

Full size 10.4ml
RRP £16

This is the March Glossybox which was a Special Edition Harrods box! Very exciting...or so I thought...

ERNO LASZLO
The Hollywood Collection: 5 Piece Cream Gift Set
(all items are found at www.harrods.com/Glossybox )

I tried the first packet which is on the left side. This was Morning Beauty Rescue. I tried this for a few days and stopped there. It is in a gel form and was lovely going on...however I kept breaking out. At first I didn't associate it with the Beauty Rescue but then realised what it was.
The initial problem was the breakouts. It clogged my pores and made my skin feel greasy. Secondly, I went out in the sun with it on my face was sparkling (I looked like I was from Twilight, no joke, my face looked like it was covered in glitter!!) Apparently it is supposed to increase collagen production...hmm it really just produced spots on me. I refused to try any of the others as I couldn't bare a week of bad skin.

Apparently Marilyn Monroe used this stuff. I reckon it has different ingredients back in the day. Other users were Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.

It's a shame I didn't love it. Maybe in a week's time I will try the other creams it provided but I am a bit nervous about it.

A full pot of just the Morning Beauty Rescue RRP £95.00
NOT FOR ME! SORRY!

CLARINS
Extra Firming Body Cream

I used this a few times, I am not sure how firming it is, but it is lovely nonetheless . It didn't dry my skin out like most firming creams do and it made my legs, thighs and arms silky smooth and soft. The cream is rich and sumptuous. The plant extracts are supposed to lift and tone the skin.

I had a friend who used to use this and loved it. I think if my sample was a bit bigger I could get a good feel for how well it works, but don't reckon you will see much difference after only using it a few times...But it could be worth a try seeing as bikini weather is coming soon!

It's not cheap but I love Clarins and always feel they are worth the prices.

Full size 200ml pot
RRP £40

OJON
Damage Reverse-Instant Restorative Hair Serum

I have been using Ojon products for about 2 months since I met with one of their PR reps recently and have been waiting to write up a review on their products. This little bad boy is something I am loving and have been using him since I first received him, so I was pleased to see he was placed in my Glossybox as well.

You warm one to two drops in your hands and apply to damp or dry hair, especially on the ends. It helps restore hair but also protect from heat damage.

I don't feel it makes my hair greasy at all, but I also have quite porous hair. I use probably 5 drops or more as my hair is a bit long as well. I wouldn't use this if you have quite fine hair as it could be too much, or just use a single drop.

I am also using their other shampoo and conditioner , dry recovery products which you can see by clicking on the link above. I find those are good, but probably better suited to hair that is a little dry and less damaged like mine. I want to try their Reverse Damage range as I think they will work better for me.

All in all I love this product and think it's totally worth it. It doesn't have an overpowering smell which is nice as well!

Full sizes 25ml -50ml
RRP £16 - £22

FENDI -FAN DI FENDI
Eau de Toilette

I am a sucker for a perfume. I love them! If you saw my bathroom you would be able to see a plethora of perfume bottles cluttering my counter and shelves!

This fragrance would make a lovely staple to your summer wardrobe. It's florally and fresh with hints of green tea and even lemon...with a hint of leather (so they say)
Of course fragrances are very personal so I recommend going and trying it out in shop and see if you like it. But if you are a girl who likes floral, fresh scents then you may like this.

BURBERRY BEAUTY
Miniature Lip Cover Rosewood No4

OK, don't hate me, but I find it a little annoying when fashion houses do makeup ranges. Don't ask me why, because I know it is usually said fashion houses who dictate the latest trends for makeup. GO figure. It's just one of my things. So I find it annoying when a brand starts a makeup range as I sort of see it as a way for them to make more money and not a genuine interest (rant over). However, in reading up on why Burberry started doing makeup it seemed pretty legitimate. The reasoning was purely because on photo shoots and spreads, they were unable to create the correct look they wanted with the makeup being brought by the makeup artists. Burberry has a very specific look which transcends through most of their ranges, A/W and S/S so they needed to get it right.

I tried this colour on myself and also on my friend Ruth who is paler than I but darker haired (black to be exact) and the colour looks lovely on both of use. It seemed to transform into a different colour on the both of us. I think Burberry have done well on this.

It is smooth and silky with a glossy finish.
Full size
RRP £22.50

PHEW! Done! Wow, that's what I get for going away. That was a lot to go through but a lot of nice things for people to try out. Though I am loving the Glossybox and all of the samples I am going to try out some other boxes which do a similar thing and see what they have to offer. It's nice to be able to try so many things for such little expense...I'm loving it!

Kristen Stewart 2012 Inspired Makeup Tutorial

2012-03-28T18:23:00.001+01:00

It has taken me a month before managing to edit this video, but finally I have!

For a year now I have been desperate to do a Kristen Stewart Tutorial on my cousin, Syd. She is constantly being asked if she is Kristen Stewart. It may not be obvious through this video, but when she is out and about, there is something about her, her hair, eyes etc that seem to attract these questions.

So we have chosen a look that Kristen Stewart wore in the start of February to a fashion show. It was a smokey eye that went out cat-like. Syd also wanted her hair done but wanted a combo between Kristen's messy mane and Kim Kardashian.

HERE IS WHAT I USED:
Origins - Quick Hide Concealer 02
Korres - Golden Eyeshadow
MAC - Engraved Khol liner
Black/Brown Eyeshadow
Bronze/Deep Brown
e.l.f. - Cream Eyeliner in Black
Clinique - Perfectly Real Makeup Foundation
Origins - Brighter By Nature Compact Powder
Clinique - High Impact Mascara
Brown Shadow on Eyebrows
Clinique - Bottom Lash Mascara
Rimmel - Tiramisu Lipliner
Estee Lauder - Crystal Rose Lipstick

HERE'S HOW I DID IT:

Before

After

Previous Glossybox Samples Update

2012-03-19T11:00:00.000Z

Hi Everyone! I am finally back from the states after being gone a total of 4 weeks 2 days! We're suffering from major jetlag but that didn't stop me from arranging a job nearly half a day after getting back and me going to bootcamp this morning! There's no rest for the wicked...indeed.

So I just wanted to do a little update quickly on my Glossybox from January (which I actually said was February's and it wasn't). In that box I received a lot of nice things but there were a few concerns or disappointments after trying things out.

Firstly, the EYECO Skinny Eyeliner I got, in theory, sounded nice. But NO JOKE, this 'long lasting' eyeliner didn't even make it out the door before it smudged down my eyes. Now my eyes have a tendency to do that but not until I have been running around and weeping (kidding) for a few hours. I literally put it on and within the hour it had run down my face. Hideous! Don't buy it!

This eyeliner is a 'Thumbs Down' from me.

Now if you are a follower of mine then you know that I love, love Clarins! Unfortunately these two creams I received didn't suit me. I think mainly because they were firming creams and though I think I am ancient and need them...I don't think my skin is ready for them.

This doesn't mean that the creams themselves had anything wrong with them but they just didn't work for my skin type.

I found that they were a little bit harsh for my skin. As I was travelling to and from very dry climates for four weeks, my skin became very dry and these moisturisers weren't cutting it for me and felt a bit stingy. I ended up switching to my Origins creams and using Clarins' Hydrating Oils to combat my sad skin and that worked a treat.

So, like I said, these may not have worked for me, but worth getting a sample from Clarins if you have mature skin and give them a go yourself. I think it may suit an oily to normal skin type but most definitely not dry. I may have to change what Glossybox sends regarding creams as I may have the wrong information down regarding my skin type.

The Extra Firming Creams best suited to Mature, possibly oilier skin types.

Next was the Murad Primer. I was pretty non-plussed about this product. I don't feel it did anything for me and I don't feel it really help hold on my makeup, so I basically stopped using it after a day. I much prefer my Makeup Forever Primers and Estee Lauder's Primers. I also hear the Laura Mercier has a fab one too!

Not for me.

The product I did love was the FABBody Moisturiser! It was so good, great for the baby too. No Nasties in it. It didn't have a fragrance so it didn't mask my perfumes! LOVED IT! I wish I had taken it to the states where my skin was so dry it literally turned to dust. It would have definitely benefited from it!!!!!

Previous Glossybox Contents

I will do an update next on the February box which I have finally be able to have a little mooch through, now that I am back from the states! YAY!

My US travels!

2012-03-13T14:01:00.013Z

Well everyone, I can't believe that it's already been nearly a month since I flew out to the states. Still feels like yesterday that I was at Heathrow (receiving really lovely service from everyone) and making our way to Arizona.

The last two weeks Grey and I have been in Colorado which is where the other half of my immediate family live which includes my mother, stepdad and sister. It is also where I have a good majority of my friends from when I was a young teen. So a lot of these people I have known for 15+ years.

I always find it difficult coming to Colorado. Though I lived here longer than anywhere else, other than England which is NOW the place I have lived the longest, I don't really call Colorado home. It doesn't feel like home, though this is where I know a lot of people that I care about.

In saying that, I am always busy trying to meet up with all of my old friends when I visit here and this time I was lucky enough to see two friends I hadn't bumped into in over 8 years. I still can't believe it's been that long, even though I have been back and forth to Colorado several times. But regardless, I was able to see them and it was lovely!

Though my trip isn't over and I am visiting some more lovely people today and doing some fun things with Grey, hopefully skiing tomorrow etc...I will put up the photos I have thus far and update it later with the rest.

A few of these photos are from the end of my Arizona trip as well.

I hope you enjoy. I know I did.

My older cousin Courtney

Grey rocking out.

Daddy doing Biiinessss (Hilarious, inside 'had to be there' joke)

My Beautiful cousin and her flawless skin before I did her tutorial. HATE HER

My cousin let me do a makeup tutorial on her.

Greyson learning to give good kisses to my cousin

Memaw and Grey having sad, last day cuddles!

Ginger Snap

Tikki, the teeniest, tiniest teacup chihuahua in the world! FACT (ok maybe not fact)

I was fairly sure he was going to be a makeup artist, but he's definitely got the DJ pose down.

My brother and Greyson having some relaxing time.

Saying 'goodbye' to his Auntie Goosey

FINALLY we arrive to Colorado! Look how 'happy' Grey is.

My sister is a bit strange...my first night in Colorado and I was greeted with this face. Apparently she is a goat...I don't see it...what you also don't see in this photo is her tongue that was jutting in and out to REALLY give the impression of her non-goat.

I finally met up with an old friend, Shantell, whom I hadn't seen in over 8 years. Someone who is actually shorter than me! Believe it or not :D

Wylie and Grey discussing the importance of tipping the waitress well. Wylie is another friend I've known for a long time but haven't seen in over 8 years. It was lovely meeting his new (but not new...just new to me) wife and catching up.

My sister Tatiana and I.

T is pretty ugly, so I like to put myself up next to her to make myself feel better....OR so I say ;)

I love this photo because it pretty much sums up what happens when I am around my family...giggles non-stop

Grey rocking out in Washington Park in Denver.

A lovely day in one of my favourite parks in Denver.

Myself, Sister and Greyson

The winners of the longest game of Pictionary...which went out with a bang! Especially when I had to draw a flacid p*nis and clouds to depict acid rain. Highlight of the evening!

THEN we went to the Denver Zoo! Grey's second time...which meant he fell asleep within 10 minutes. But that didn't stop the adults from having fun.

My step dad kept going up to empty sanctuaries and pointing and gawking at them until people would come over to see what he was looking at...then he would walk away leaving the people looking at empty cages.

Gorgeous creature! He is 37 years wold and so lovely to sit and watch!

Enjoying the zoo

My beautiful mother

Something was obviously capturing my mother's attention!

Don't give my stepdad the camera or you'll get a nasty shock

Then Grey had a chance to play with and meet some old friends of mine!

The beautiful Roisin and Grey having a bit of fun!

Laura and Ro!

One of my oldest friends in Colorado. Ryan, standing next to me, I have known since I was 14, so nearly 16 years now. What I love about him is that we always pick up just where we left off and it gets a little bit better each time. This visit I got to meet his lovely partner Tom. Such a lovely visit.

I'm off skiing now! More photos to come!

OK, so we went skiing yesterday, Tuesday...and here are some of the great photos from the day. My sister really cracks me up!

This is what Americans call 'tailgating'. It's not something i've done in a very long time, so I had to ease myself into it and turn down the Benny Benassi (cringe) bumping from the car...luckily a couple of years ago I had burned a Daft Punk 'Alive' album for them, so we had some of their live music eventually.

We decided to take a little break on the side of the mountain and have a snack and chill.

Mountain Man!

Dork

T's helmet came with a yarmulke

My sister and stepdad

My sister's hand placement clearly indicates she is about to do something naughty.

It was such a beautiful day. We didn't wear our ski jackets and if it hadn't been for the fear of snow burn (incase I fell...which I didn't) I wouldn't have even wore the hoody.

You can see that the mountains didn't receive a lot of snow this year. Though Keystone, where we ski'd was perfect.

This is the terrain park at Keystone. This image doesn't do it justice.These slopes were 50+ feet high and the things the snowboarders and skiers were doing off them made me stomach turn just watching. I had never seen anything like it.

All done for the day. Though I complained all the way up the mountain (I was very tired and my stepdad likes to wind me up with his bad driving skills) I am so pleased I went and it was a brilliant way to finish off a magical trip.

I hadn't seen Grey all day after skiing, so I was having a little cuddle.

A few last photos. My second to last day I went to Washington Park on my own to have one last play in the beautiful park. It was such a beautiful day, not wintery at all, but more like a British summer minus the rain.

Here are some Greyson photos I took, that I had to put up.

Oh and a photo of my sister and mother rocking it in my stepdad's ridiculously American Jeep! HAAA!

I am leaving today. My flight is in a few hours and we are all feeling a bit sad. My sister just came home quickly from lunch to give me a cuddle and call me 'Jane' several times (another hilarious inside joke). We like to call each other Jane (based off a radio personality here who is incredibly annoying and mundane) and we tell people that our parents couldn't think of names for us so they just called us both Jane...however mine is spelt 'Jaanne'. I guess you had to be there....

Family Time

2012-02-24T22:27:00.003Z

I have been in the US for a week and a bit, though it feels like longer.
I have been travelling back and forth between England and America quite a bit since Grey was born.
I have always been a 'family girl', but it has peaked since having a child of my own. Family always makes things better whether life is or bad. So I have been cherishing every trip I've taken out here and every moment Grey gets to spend with his cousins, Aunties, Granparents and Uncle Bubby (my brother).

So far in this trip we have been to Arizona, Lake Taheo (Nevada) and back to Arizona where we have spent time with my Dad, Stepmom Toni, Sister, Brother and long lost cousins that I hadn't seen in 20 years.

In a week I will be in Denver, Colorado to see my Mom, Stepdad and Sister.

Here are some of the highlights of our trip so far.

The day after I arrived, my stepmom was kind enough to take me to get my hair done...you can't really tell in this photo BUT I DID GET IT DONE!

The little rockstar ready for his flight to Tahoe

Sledging in the back garden of the cabin in Tahoe

Little toad on a stump

My cousin and her hubby

We look cooler than we really are- Photo curtesy of Breanna Watkins

Cousin nailing her mom with a snowball- Photos curtesy of Breanna Watkins

Highlight of the Tahoe trip was my cousin putting her blonde extensions in my stepmom's hair and pretending she was a blonde for the night.

My Dad was clearly pleased with his new blonde wife! HA -Photo Curtesy of Breanna Watkins

Big Sis/Lil Sis -Photo by Breanna Watkins

View of Lake Tahoe from the slopes

'Goose' and I rocking it up the chair lift

Daddy and I

BUSY BUSY Boy

The beautiful cabin

Memaw and Grey just having their morning coffee

Then my cousin's hubby was kind enough to let me turn him into a woman for the night.

Best looking 6'6" woman I have ever met

You can tell Grey has been on a shoot or two with me...as he tries to beautify my stepmom (his memaw)

Uncle Bubby time

Grey doing some laundry

My sister quite literally flew down the hill and just after i took this picture I had to quickly split my legs and she went flying through them....I nearly lost both legs!

My Brother, me and Sister having some alone time and being papped by my Dad

Lake Tahoe South Shore

South Shore

Bitsy having a bit of fun in the icy lake

Sand and Snow...a rare sight

Grey terrorising Tikki

Grey getting a little too personal with Syd

Dad helping me bake for the first time EVER

Dad doing the finishing touches on the cake I made (he 'helped')

Cupcakes for Grandma Jeep's Birthday...Unfortunately I didn't make these!

My double layer chocolate cake with a white chocolate ganache on top. (I didn't take into account that I am cooking in the desert and luckily I checked the cake 15mins into baking and it was already DONE!)

My masterpiece

Grey sneaking a late night snack from his nappy bag. Naughty Boy

That's all for now, but I will update with more later.

NEW Estee Lauder creams and potions!

2012-02-22T01:12:00.000Z

I meant to do this update over a week ago, but over a week ago I flew to the US for a visit and so I haven't had a chance to update on my new favourites! BUT what this has allowed me to do is test out some of these products to the MAX!

Yesterday I got back from skiing in Lake Tahoe for a few days. On my trip, I wore the following things...

After following my normal cleansing routine I would put on my:

Estee Lauder

DayWear

Sheer Tint Release

Advanced Multi-protection

Anti-Oxident Moisturiser

RRP £37.00

This sheer (universal tint) cream has an SPF15 and acts as a tinted moisturiser, evening out your skin while supplying your skin with Estee Lauder's unique Anti-Oxident complex. This complex is supposed to help protect the skin against free radicals, keeping your skin healthier and looking younger longer.

After I applied that I moved on to:

Estee Lauder

- Matte Perfecting Primer

Normal Combination to Oily Skin

RRP £19.00

I wanted to ensure my skin stayed nice throughout my skiing...and before you laugh at me for wearing makeup on the slopes...I'll have you find that everyone else does as well! Just because you have goofy goggles on, doesn't mean you can skimp on the makeup!

The primer gave me a good, smooth base! Now I actually have quite dry skin, so really should have been using the Illuminating Perfecting Primer, however I only had the Matte Perfecting Primer which is geared towards normal to oily skin.

The Matte Primer creates just that, a matte finish. It has a 'gel-cream' formula which works great for excess oil and helps calm and keep the skin oil free, minimises your pores as well as lines. If you have oily skin, this would be a great product for you to help you from having your makeup slide off half way through the day.

The formula contains green-tea and Vit-E to help normalise the skin.

Now I can't vouch for the Illuminating Primer as I haven't tried it but I can give you a little run down on the benefits it is supposed to have and how it helps with dry skin.

Illuminating Perfecting Primer

Normal Combination to Dry Skin

The illuminating properties in this primer are supposed to awaken dull skin by giving the skin a dewy finish. This is something that dry or mature skin tend to lack.

Do you have a younger sister or cousin who has perfect, dewy, fresh looking skin? Well this is supposed to help achieve that!. Now obviously there is only so much a primer can do. It can't turn back time but it can give the illusion that you look better than you really DO!

The 'hydro-gel' texture will brighten and illuminate while it conditions the skin so you get that youthful, smooth finish. Similar to the matte primer, it will minimise pores and lines to give the skin a smooth canvas.

The added Vit-E, Rice Bran Extract and Shea Butter help combat the combination skin to calm it down as well as moisturise and sooth!

I also want to try the Spotlight Instant Radiance which you can use over your makeup to refresh your look or you can also add it into your foundation and concealer. I would be interested in trying it with my concealer and making it into my own Touche Eclat ...but better (I have this big thing about buying Touche Eclat...I refuse to!)

After I let my primer set I then applied my NEW FAVOURITE foundation. This foundation is absolutely gorgeous! I am very particular about my foundations and this foundation has really made me happy!

Estee Lauder

Invisible Fluid Makeup

RRP £27.00

This foundation is completely lightweight, streak-free and smooth! The colour is brilliant and works with your natural skin's undertones...which it seems a lot of foundations are now FINALLY going this route. It's not rocket science that we all don't have the same skin colour and that it would be virtually impossible to find a foundation which is an exact match for everyone. I know that I am always mixing foundations to get the correct colour for me. But this one that I am using looks the right shade and then gets even better by adapting to my natural skin-tone once on.

It comes in a plastic bottle which you shake the bottle with a little ball in it which whips air into this lightweight, liquid foundation and once it is suitable whipped you are then ready to apply it.

I put this foundation on and my stepmom was amazing at how natural my skin looked. It literally looked as though I had perfect skin with no foundation on.

What is even nicer is I was able to build coverage without it looking like I had caked loads of foundation on.

I think I have managed to inadvertently sell this to everyone I saw over the weekend because it looked so nice!

I wore this foundation while skiing for 4 hours at a time and then went out to eat after and it still looked good! I will show you pictures below.

I also have the Estee Lauder

DayWear Anti-Oxidant BB Creme SPF 35

I will do a review on this later in the week. The colour I have is in a shade too dark for me but I am going to test this out on my stepmom as it's right up her alley and skin tone. So I will update later in the week.

These photos are after applying my primer and foundation at 8am and these were taken after skiing and fun in the snow at 5pm. My skin looks PERFECT!

Jean Shrimpton Inspired Makeup Tutorial- Modernised

2012-02-11T16:24:00.000Z

I recently had a request for Jean Shrimpton who was the muse for David Bailey in the 1960's.
I looked through a load of photos and couldn't find any that had a great representation of her makeup as it was in the 60's and slightly washed out. So what I did was take what I saw and adapted it to a modern girl.

Instead of using a light blue, like she has in some of her photos, I went for a green.

HERE IS WHAT I USED:

MAC- Face and Body Foundation C1

Origins- Quick Hide Concealer

Sephora - Pro Lesson Palette for green eyes. (I used all green colours)

Maybelline - Long lasting cream liner

Makeup Forever- Blonde eyebrow pencil

Boots No7- Brown/black eyebrow pencil

MAC-Mineralize Skinfinish Powder

Girls With Attitude Eyelashes

Clinique- High Impact Mascara

Makeup Forever- Uplight face Luminizer 32

Rimmel- Tiramasu Lipliner

NYX- Lipsmacking Lipstick in cream

Remington - Volumizing Brush

HERE'S HOW I DID IT:

A Snowy Saturday in February

2012-02-07T21:59:00.000Z

It's amazing how excited everyone gets with snow! I have the same excitement of seeing snow as I do of seeing the ocean. BUT I only like it when it is actually snowing and the snow has settled. I don't like melting, brown, icy snow! That just makes me cross.

So anyway, we had an amazing day out in the snow. My two basset hounds loved it as they galloped through the foot of fluffy snow and little baby Grey was totally happy sitting in his snow suit.

I just wanted to share a few of the photos of the snow, the bassets, my boy and Ely in general.

I hope you enjoy. I definitely did.

Dino-Snowrus (Kaytay would be proud)

Ely Cathedral

Bassets with the 'big dogs' (horses)

So cute and fluffy

Grey having a little snowy swing

GLOSSY BOX- Valentine's Day

2012-02-04T17:45:00.001Z

Ohhhh what a lovely surprise (OK I knew it was coming but I like to pretend) (...actually it was a surprise because I didn't know what was inside it, until it came...so there! )

My GLOSSY BOX arrived this week! Woot woot!

This is the glory that was within!

This is what arrives at the door!

Pretty in pink

Look at these wondrous goodies!

EYECO
Skinny Eyeliner
(This liner has intense colour and is a very soft application- However, you will not get a precise line out of this. It is better suited to something thick and dramatic)
RRP £9.50

A little Valentines day sweetie inside :)

FAB
Body Moisturiser
This is a paraben-free, fragrance free, chemical free body moisturiser by First Aid Beauty (FAB) it is good for all skin types. It's safe enough for babies! So I will be using this liberally on myself and my little one as we are both suffering from dry skin this winter!
RRP £10.00
Sold in boots or in America http://www.firstaidbeauty.com/categories/shop-by-product/bodymoistur.html

MURAD
Skin Perfecting Primer
This is an oil-free primer which you put on before your makeup to minimise your pores, give yourself a dewy glow. It has a universal shade which is supposed to work with all skin tones. I will update another day about how I am getting on with this, but seeing as it is MURAD, I am having very high hopes! I hope it doesn't let me down!
RRP £29.00

Clarins
Extra Firming Day Cream
All Skin Types
This is a firming day cream with white tea and dock-cress which are supposed to help visibly reduce signs of ageing as well as toning the skin and lifting it. From what it says on the tin, you are supposed to see results quite fast and your skin is supposed to appear younger and tightened.

This is obviously more suited for mature skin or those over 25 when you start to lose the elasticity of the skin. I have only used this once, but I am a true follower of Clarins and have faith in this product. I will update you in a week on how I am getting on with it and let you be the judge if you think I am looking younger.
RRP £46.50

Clarins
Extra Firming Night Cream
All Skin Types
This cream, like the Extra Firming Day Cream... is a renewal complex to help revitalise the skin in the night with rosemary, alfalfa and glistin. I can't wait to get using this and will update you in a week with my progress.

RRP £48.00

Hope you enjoy and if you want to get yourself a GLOSSY BOX just click the GLOSSY BOX Link.

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to get regular updates on what I am doing.

This was a lovely Blog written by Jean-Luc, the groom of one of my weddings over the summer.

2012-02-01T17:15:00.001Z

Picture perfect - Liza & Jean-Luc's Cambridge wedding

Everyone wants to know who will photograph a wedding photographer’s wedding. I featured Alice and Jamie’s wedding on the blog yesterday, with pictures by lovely Jean-Luc Benazet.

I can’t quite remember how I found out about Jean-Luc’s own wedding to the beautiful Liza, but I was delighted to see they’d chosen Geoff Reardon to be their wedding photographer.
Jean-Luc and Liza have written their wedding report to share with you, and the images of their wedding day are breathtaking — so I’ll leave you in their capable hands to enjoy today’s wedding blog.

Cambridge College wedding blog: Liza and Jean-Luc Benazet

Liza had two beautiful dresses for the distinct parts of the wedding day. In the morning she wore this Monsoon Fusion summer dress with Irregular Choice shoes from Schuh. For the afternoon blessing & reception she wore Victoria Jane by Ronald Joyce (Sable 17014 ivory) bought from Karen Forte in Bassingbourn with shoes from Monsoon, a bracelet and hair accessories from Accessorize and necklace from Ernest Jones.

Jean-Luc wore a Cerruti black suit, ivory waistcoat and cravat, Ted Baker shoes, plain white shirt bought from Savoy Taylors — and Arsenal cuff links!
The day began at 10AM with a small civil ceremony at Cambridge register office with immediate family and close friends. We had spent the previous night apart, Liza at the hotel and JL at home, we arrived with our respective families and Liza was given away by her Dad, we purposefully kept this ceremony small & simple which turned out to be very special.

We then went our separate ways to get ready for the blessing to be held at St Benet’s church in Cambridge at 2PM. Liza back to Hotel du Vin, Cambridge with the bridesmaids and JL to his family’s hotel. The French contingent (22 people) had taken over a whole B&B: Warkworth house in Cambridge.
The second part of the day was very different from the first part. With over 80 guests, the ceremony itself was quite short but exactly what we wanted. We entered the church the same way as it is done in France: First JL with his Mum, followed by the two flower girls, followed by Liza and her Dad, followed by the bridesmaids. We had three readings as well as our favourite hymn, Jerusalem. It was packed with emotional moments that we will remember forever. At the end of the blessing we had organised bell ringing, which helped to send us off in style.
Everything was perfect, the weather, the venue, the music, the champagne cocktails (Hedgerow Fizz), the canapés, and above all having all our friends and family in one place. We felt very special that people had travelled so far to spend our big day with us.

As our vintage Rover 10 car came to pick us up, we decided to walk around the corner in the sunshine (in the middle of a busy Saturday in Cambridge city centre, surprised by the number of passers by who stopped to wish us good luck) to the college where the reception was to take place: Corpus Christi college.

We were greeted at the gate by our master of ceremony who then led us to the Master’s Garden, we felt very privileged to be able to host our drink reception there as we were not associated with the college.

At about 5PM, we were then called into the magnificent dining hall for the wedding breakfast, which looked out of this world, with an amazing arrangement of vintage flowers. Although we did not have a particular theme for the day, we tried to incorporate both French and English elements, with a slight vintage glamour touch.

Jean-Luc and Liza’s most memorable wedding moments

* Greeting most of our French and British guests the evening before in a pub (The Old Spring, Cambridge), and observing how some of them used hands to communicate… Not understanding a word they were saying to each other!

* JL not being able to utter his vows, after becoming emotional as he saw his bride arrive.

* Liza walking in the ceremony room with her dad, nerves disappearing when she saw her husband to be.

* Coming out of the Register office… married! Even before everything else got started!

* The atmosphere in the hotel room, as (the blessing) preparations unfolded…

* Liza and her Dad being totally surprised when they arrived at the church in the car, being cheered by the whole crowd in the street, and people hanging out of the pub windows opposite (The Eagle).

* A friend included a reference to our cat in her reading of The Owl and The Pussycat, which brought much laughter.

* Having our organ player adapt then play one of our favourite songs as we left the church: La Ritournelle by Sebastien Tellier.

* Enjoying spending some time alone whilst having photos done and pinching ourselves that we are now married.

* Liza’s Dad jiving on the dance floor like a 16 year old.

Wedding day advice

* Don’t beat yourself up about not spending loads of time with everybody. If you work it out, 80 guests = no more than 5 minutes per person!

* Enjoy every minute as the day goes very quickly.

* Have a back up CD of the songs needed for your ceremony as the registrar snapped ours in half minutes before Liza was due to make her entrance!

* Don’t be afraid to plan the day as you want. In the week leading up to the wedding, we suddenly worried that having two parts to the day would mean that things would not flow as well as they would have if everything had happened in one place. In fact, doing it that way made it even more special for us!

The meal itself was perfect as commented by all our guests, but the “crème de la crème” had to be our traditional French wedding cake: a Croquembouche!
The party continued into the evening, with extra guests arriving and a live band playing our favourite tunes, including “Feeling Good” by Muse for our first dance. Our photographer set up a photo booth in one of the rooms which was a hit with our guests.

We ended the day sober and very happy and strolled back to our hotel…

Recommended wedding suppliers

* Photographers: Geoff Reardon — www.geoffreardon.com and assistant photographer Charlie — Very professional &friendly. Geoff came up with great ideas. We were very happy with the final images, and so were our guests.www.facebook.com/GeoffReardonPhoto

* Florist: The Flower Boutique — www.theflowerboutique.co.uk — Very happy with Leen flexibility and her vintage style theme.

* Cake: Michelle Gillot @ Chocoshells — http://chocolateshells1.com — Michelle can create any cake from scratch, just ask her!

* Pianist: Ben Cork — www.youtube.com/BenedictMusic — Ben was very pro and amicable, great at playing and singing. Book him!

* Band: Happy Daze — www.functioncentral.co.uk/acts/happy_daze

* Venue: Corpus Christi College, Cambridge — www.corpus.cam.ac.uk

* Make-Up & Hair: Ashley Kay Gifford — www.primppowderpout.com — Great make-up, she was very flexible and brought assistants with her, to be able to look after the bride, bridesmaids, flower girls, and some family members.

* Car: Brooks Vintage Car Hire — www.brooksvintagecarhire.co.uk

Remington Pearl Pro Curl Wand- Soft Valentine's Day Hair

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000Z

I did a back to back tutorial for Valentine's Day this year. I wanted to do a hair and makeup look for this special occasion...or special date occasions in general...not just Valentine's Day.

To get the look I am using Remington's Pearl Pro Curl Wand

RRP £27.99

This big barrelled styling wand gives you big, natural waves, for a Hollywood Glamour type look.

It works best on medium to long hair due to the size of the barrel, so if you have shorter hair then go for the normal Pearl Wand.

* The wand has several heat settings for those with finer hair to those with thick course hair who need a bit more heat to coax their hair into curling properly.

*You get a long lead so you aren't cut short.

* It comes with a heat protectant glove which is a fingered glove, so none of those silly mittens.

* You also get a heat protecting sleeve to put the wand in when you are done, so you don't burn anything, you can travel with it and so the barrel doesn't get scratched.

HERE'S HOW I DID IT:

Here is my hair straight and then waved up!

DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

PRIMP POWDER POUT - FACEBOOK

PRIMP POWDER POUT - TWITTER

Valentine's Day -Date Makeup Tutorial! Inspired by Dakota Fanning

2012-01-24T15:38:00.000Z

I recently received Elle UK's February magazine with Dakota Fanning on the cover.

I loved her hair and makeup. I loved the matte red lips, porcelain skin and big brows. So I thought this would be a beautiful, timeless look for Valentine's Day. It's not too over the top, but has a lovely lip feature, perfect for puckering up on your date.

HERE IS WHAT I USED:

Maxfactor - Weightless Foundation
MAC- Studio Finish Concealer
MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish Powder
bareMinerals - Well Rested eyeshadow
Estee Lauder - Vanilla Pops Duo eyeshadow
Estee Lauder - Platinums Duo eyeshadow
e.l.f. - Light Eyebrow palette
Maybelline - Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner
Clinique - High Impact mascara
bareMinerals - Intense Black eyeliner
bareMinerals - Radiance Blusher
ULTA - Wine Lipliner
Maxfactor - Lip Infinity Lip Tint 09 (colour)

HERE'S HOW I DID IT:

DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

PRIMP POWDER POUT - FACEBOOK

PRIMP POWDER POUT - TWITTER

My Current Everyday Makeup

2012-01-17T11:35:00.000Z

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying having internet again! This meant I was finally, after 5 weeks, able to upload a new video.

This little video is part of my New Year resolutions of making a bit more of an effort. I got into a terrible routine of not wearing makeup and just looking a bit bland.

HERE IS WHAT I'M USING:
MaxFactor Weightless Foundation
MAC Select Moisture Concealer
bareMinerals Powder
Makeup Store - Golden Mane
bareMinerals eyeliner
Blink+Go Mascara
MAC Blonde Eyebrow pencil
MAC Cream Blusher- Something Special
Sephora - Manic Lipstick

HERE'S HOW I DO IT:

My Wintery Fun

2012-01-13T13:00:00.002Z

I thought it would be nice to do a little update on what I have been up to the last 6 weeks. It has been absolutely manic.

Last summer we decided we wanted to move back into the city rather than living in the countryside, in our FREEZING cold farm house. Unfortunately we couldn't find THE PERFECT place until just before Christmas! This meant that we moved house on the 3rd of December. Talk about THE WORST time to move, EVER.

Not only was it freezing out, we all had colds, Grey's 1st Birthday was fast approaching and my family were coming to visit. I literally had to pull the house together in 1 week once we moved in. To make things worse, we lost a loved one our first couple of days in the house and had that trauma to deal with as well. It was a bit of a nightmare. However, we got there in the end.

Did I mention we didn't have internet...until this week! ONE WHOLE MONTH! I actually had to sit down at night and not touch my laptop...good in some ways and difficult in others.

Finally, things were on track around the 16th when my Dad, Stepmom and little sister arrived. They came just in time for Grey's birthday party on the 17th. I was on my death bed with a horrendous sore throat so it was great to have the help and of course Ruth was there to assist me with anything I needed.

This is what Grey's Birthday consisted of...and what a lovely day it was!

While everyone was busily prepping the rest of the party, I got to do the fun bit and make Grey's cake!

Of course it was an In the Night Garden (inspired) cake...that he would have no clue, nor remember I ever made it! HA

The grassy bit...I was never one to colour inside the lines...hence the overspill :D

Then the night sky was applied at the top.

All finished :D -I'm all for last minute jobs. I finished this two hours before the party.

Iggle Piggle and Makka Pakka and the little Pontipines

Grey 'trashing' the place before the party started

First taste of pumpkin pie!

Trying out the Big Boy bottle...He stole it from one of the other children at the party

Grey had no idea what we were doing and why a room of 30 people were shouting at him.

...still no clue what everyone is going on about.

My Daddy during the party. He's so cool and I loved this photo so had to put it up.

Once the party was finished, my family could finally start to enjoy the new area we moved to, which is just outside of Cambridge...a tiny city (one of the smallest in England...only considered a city because it has a Cathedral...the English are strange) called Ely.

Ely Cathedral

This is from the top of Ely Cathedral

You can see my house from this photo

I won't tell you WHIIICH house is mine though ;)

This view is the top of the Cathedral from my house

The lovely tree inside the Cathedral... I love Christmas I DO!

We then made our way into Cambridge centre which the family hadn't seen before as we lived in London the last time they came to visit.

Here's my Dad being the ultimate 'tourist'

King's College Chapel.

Grey ordering a spot of lunch!

Grey's incredibly young Mema (Grandma)

More of King's College...I live here and I still think it's pretty impressive to have this in the middle of our city

After we visited Cambridge, we started preparing for our Christmas trip to Berlin. How exciting....

Buck wasn't AS excited.

Grey was pretty chuffed though!

Bron, not so much.

While we pack, Grey and Buck play

We finally arrive in Berlin! We rented a house for 4 nights in the west side of Berlin...unfortunately we were all full of cold and flu so we didn't go and do AS many things as we probably wanted, but we definitely saw the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Topographie des Terrors (the former SS headquarters), and a few beautiful Christmas markets and LOTS of Gluhwein (Mulled Wine) mmmm.

1 of 3 Christmas Markets we checked out!

This one had the WURST Kraut apparently. I didn't try it so I wouldn't know. Har Har

Brandenburg Gate

Rainy walk in...

THEN we celebrated Christmas!

Grey celebrated his 2nd Christmas even though he is only 1.

My stepmom got some german Christmas houses for next year

We bought each other gifts at the markets on Christmas Eve so that we all had something from Germany :) I bought my dad his badger shaving brush

My Dad drinks a lot of tea!

Then we made our way to Christmas Markets again!

mmm Gluhwein

Little too many sweets...

...Had by all

My sister had a face transplant. This one suits her!

My poor Stepmom had to go on this massive toboggan slide....

The VERY punctual U-Bahn ride. England...you need to step up your game on the Underground

We were able to receive our passes to get through Brandenburg Gate :)

Brandenburg Gate

There are many many more photos but these were the loveliest of them all. So, though the rush up to Christmas was manic, we ended up having a lovely time once the family arrived.

GlOSSYBOX - first glimpse inside

2012-01-11T12:11:00.000Z

A few days ago I received my first sample of GLOSSYBOX and all of their glory!

If you don't know who or what GLOSSYBOX is, then here is the lowdown on them.

GLOSSYBOX was launched only last May 2011. They are a monthly subscription service where you pay £10 per month plus (£2.95 P&P) and receive FIVE high end deluxe samples.

The box will contain anything from makeup, skincare, body care, fragrances and hair care products. The items chosen will be new or up and coming products which will be on-trend for each season.

The idea of GLOSSYBOX is that everyone becomes a reviewer. You have a chance to tell each company what you think of their product. This is great because it helps the companies create products that are of a high standard because YOU tell them how to make it better or keep it how it is.

When I read that GLOSSYBOX sends samples, I assumed it would be tiny little samples that last only a couple of days. To my surprise I received some full size products and a few decent sized samples as well.

Here is what I received in my December Box.

It is indeed a GLOSSYBOX

So lovingly wrapped up!

A bit of insight into what products I have received...some light reading.

Some big and small samples! How EXCITING!

Item 1. RITUALS Foaming Shower Gel RRP £6.50
Zensation Organic Rice & Milk Cherry Blossom

I thought this smelled amazing and a little goes a very long way. The fragrance lasted ages on my skin and I didn't need to put on perfume to mask the smell of the shower gel.
My only downside to it, is it isn't very good for dry skin as it has alcohol in it and I felt my skin was a little tight after using it. But this is great, I think, post workout, to cleanse the skin properly and remove all the sweat!!!
Also I think the price is quite good for the size of this product! You get a lot for your money.

2. BLINK+Go Hi Definition Mascara RRP £14.99

I have used this for a couple of days now and think it is really lovely. It is a waterproof mascara...which I tend not to wear because it dries out my lashes and is typically flakey, but this mascara isn't and my lashes stayed glossy and clump free. I would definitely spend the full price for this mascara.

3. CARGO COSMETICS Classic Lip Gloss RRP £10.00

This is a miniature sized gloss to try, the large one, I assume is quite a bit bigger.
The gloss is nice as it's not sticky. I tend to hate wearing lip glosses because they can be so gloomy. This one sits nicely on the lips, the colour is opaque and lovely and shiny. I don't think the price is too bad for what it is. When I first saw it was £10.00 I sort of thought 'NO WAY', but after trying it for a few days I think it is worthy of that price and I think it will last long enough for you to feel like you are getting your money's worth!

4. DEBORAH LIPPMANN Razzle Dazzle Nail Varnish with Stripped to GO Sachet
RRP LARGE VARNISH £16.00
6 Pack of Sachets £14.00
Available at www.houseoffraser.co.uk

This nail varnish is really beautiful. It takes a few coats to get an opaque sparkle going, but once on, it is beautiful.
The sachet, nail varnish remover is lovely as well. My only concern are the prices.
I am not one to spend £16.00 on nail varnish and/or remover. As lovely as they are, not all of us can afford such luxuries for our little fingers.
I think if you want to splurge, I could think of a few other things you could get. I'd buy a new mascara, a good foundation or save my money and put it towards the JURLIQUE product I'm about to discuss.

The other day, just before I received these, I bought a MaxFactor nail varnish in gold glitter like this red one and it was amazing and a fraction of the price.

5. JURLIQUE Age Defying Firm and Lift Cream
Large Container RRP £48.00 50ml

I LOVE THIS. I have been doing a new skin regime...and I have now substituted my Boots Vit E oil for this JURLIQUE cream. It works similar to the Advanced Night Repair from Estee Lauder I am always going on about. Because it promotes the regeneration of elastin, collagen, and new skin cells. So I am using it in conjunction with my other skin regenerating products.

It is supposed to firm and lift. I have only been using it a few days , but what I can tell you is I have had next to no sleep this last week, due to my little boy and teething! I have had some MAJOR eye bags going on and when I tap this lovely product onto my skin the puffiness goes away, my bags shrink down and my skin doesn't feel so drab. I think it is worth saving a little bit of cash and splurging on something like this. Our face is the first thing people see and you want to leave a GOOD lasting impression. So I highly recommend it.

Hope you enjoyed!! I definitely have...I think I will HAVE to sign up for GLOSSYBOX. The products you get for a mere £12.95 with postage is actually a great bargain! You get to try out things you have never used before or even heard of.

WWW.GLOSSYBOX.CO.UK

ALSO, before I forget the men also have a GLOSSYBOX...so boys, go and sign yourself up, or girls...get this lovely box for the boys. This box is shipped out quarterly with 7 luxury men's grooming products!

WWW.GLOSSYBOX.CO.UK/men

Also, if you want to check out their magazine just go to

Magazine.glossybox.co.uk

Primp Powder Pout - a Make-Up Artist's Life

Some Makeup and Hair Inspiration for Brides

BB Cream Competition OPEN!

Blemish Balms aka BB Creams!

A Bride's Guide to Hair & Makeup

Ojon Hair Products

A Day of Urban Decay!

Bright Spring-Summer Makeup Tutorial

My NEW eclectic skin regime

Pinterest has piqued my Interest!

Dakota Fanning - Wonderland Magazine Inspired Makeup and Hair Tutorial

February and March Glossy Box Goodies and Reviews

Kristen Stewart 2012 Inspired Makeup Tutorial

Previous Glossybox Samples Update

My US travels!

Family Time

NEW Estee Lauder creams and potions!

Jean Shrimpton Inspired Makeup Tutorial- Modernised

A Snowy Saturday in February

GLOSSY BOX- Valentine's Day

This was a lovely Blog written by Jean-Luc, the groom of one of my weddings over the summer.

Cam­bridge Col­lege wed­ding blog: Liza and Jean-Luc Benazet

Jean-Luc and Liza’s most mem­o­rable wed­ding moments

Wed­ding day advice

Rec­om­mended wed­ding suppliers

Remington Pearl Pro Curl Wand- Soft Valentine's Day Hair

Valentine's Day -Date Makeup Tutorial! Inspired by Dakota Fanning

My Current Everyday Makeup

My Wintery Fun

GlOSSYBOX - first glimpse inside

Cambridge College wedding blog: Liza and Jean-Luc Benazet

Jean-Luc and Liza’s most memorable wedding moments

Wedding day advice

Recommended wedding suppliers