Stylalia

Naked Palette Dupe

2012-11-15T18:39:00.000Z

I brought a new palette MUA's "Undressed" the other day for the sole reason that one of the colours looked a lot like SideCar by Urban Decay, and for £4 it seemed worth a punt.

When I went home to see how close to the Sidecar colour was the MUA version I was shocked to realise this palette was a clear and blatant copy of Urban Decays Naked Palette (the original) down to even the order of the colours!

Here is a comparison each colour side by side (Urban Decay first followed by MUA) taken in day light without a flash on my very pale skin;

It should be noted that there are some slight differences but on a whole I feel most people would not beable to tell the difference once placed upon the eyes. This is really the best Naked Palette dupe I have seen ever, MUA out did themselves with the "Undressed" Palette.

However there is a difference in the quality which is my one sticking point. Urban Decays colours are better quality; more pigment and buttery than the MUA ones. Although it should be noted that for around 9 times cheaper it would be unfair to really expect the same quality in the MUA palette and ultimately the MUA palette does do the job.

I will admit I smiled realising this MUA palette could hold me over when I need to replace my Naked palette as some of the colours are starting to show real dents and around £36 pounds is a lot to pay to replace a palette that in reality I only use three colours from on a regular basis.

So if you have wondered about the Naked Palette but was unsure if it was worth the investment than maybe try MUA palette and see if they are colours you would turn to everyday (I do) or even suit. Then you can always upgrade to the Urban Decay original. The MUA palatte would also be perfect for a stocking filler for christmas or as a token present. The colours would suit most people and would be brilliant for those just starting out with make up or those who just like more natural tones.

What is the best dupe you have every found? We would love to hear!

Lauren Conrad Youtube Inspired nails!

2012-11-13T21:52:00.001Z

(Images from laurenconrad.com)

If you are like us at Stylalia you have been religiously watching Lauren Conrad from the Hills new DIY series on Youtube. While watching I can never help but think A) Her hair is so pretty! B) I love her nail polish. Now I will never have her pretty hair but I can try and copy her nail vanish!

After a little detective work (Google) I found out it was OPI "Thanks A Windmillion" nail polish.
Sadly I do not own this, but in the mean time I decided to dig in my large stash of nail polish and found a slightly similar colour; Opi- Stranger Tide.

Its not a perfect match at all but it is in the right colour family. It should be noted that it looks closer in person! Either way it at least takes the edge off my want, so here is my Lauren Conrad inspired nails;

In its own right it is a lovely colour and was a delight to put on. 1-2 coats and it was perfectly opaque. Ok, so it is not a dead match but I can pretend.

What colours are you loving to wear right now?

Killer Camo!

2012-11-11T22:37:00.000Z

You always need a bit of Camo in your life! Just yesterday we saw Rihanna decked in camo for her SNL performance. It's been interpreted in so many different ways, and I think I'm not wrong in saying that nearly anyone can pull it off in one way or another. I think it looks amazing with the contrast of some really classic glamorous makeup i.e. bold red lip with winged eyeliner.

There are loads of ways you can incorporate it into your outfit. I've pulled together some great items you can buy right now to jazz up your autumn wardrobe...

MIA BAG - Camouflage Tote - £98.00

Adding some camouflage to your outfit with a bag is a really easy way to get in on the trend.

This wouldn't actually be my first pick for a camo bag, as I would really love a camo barrel style bag. I think that would look awesome, but surprisingly I wasn't able to find one for sale at the moment. If you know where I can find one do let me know!

Topshop - Cone Stud Camo Jacket - £58.00

I love this jacket; I think it would look great over lots of outfits, the most obvious being chucked over a pair of skinnies and a vest top.

Primark - Camo slim fit trousers - in stores now - £15

Great price, obviously as it's primark! These could look really good with some black hi tops.

All Saints – Camo Scarf - £65.00

Along with the bag, this is another easy way to incorporate camo. I’ve been dying to get hold of a camo scarf for about two months now, but I can’t find one that matches up to the image I have in my head. I always get clear images of things I want and then find myself unsuccessfully hunting to find the exact item! The All Saints one I have included here is gorgeous and subtle, and I'm considering buying it, but I'm also after something a little bolder – I’ll let you know if I find it!

Topshop - Knitted Camo Jumper - £40.00

So cute!

River Island – Black camo print stud heeled trainers - £75.00

These might not be for everyone, but I love them! Three massive trends in one, a wedge trainer featuring both studs and camo panels...stunning!

How about it Stud...

2012-11-08T21:02:00.000Z

We over at Stylalia love our studs and are over joyed that they are so in vogue for Autumn and Winter meaning they are all over the shops at the moment. I am sure you have noticed the lovely studded delights on offer some costing the world! So before you go running for your studded belts with nostelgia, I will show you some of my recent studded delights that will help update my wardrobe without costing a stud and an arm (groan)...

New Look: Suede boots (also avaliable in Brown)

I have not stopped wearing theses! They have a slight heel which adds a little height without the pain of a proper huge heel. These are comfortable and that lovely blend of causal and smart which means I have been able to get even more use out of them! Definitely worth checking out at your nearest New Look!

Primark Scarf - Gold Stud detail on the ends

This black jersey material scarf is a really easy way to incorporate the stud trend. It actually looks really smart on and luxe, so it is a brilliant way to dip your toe into the trend for a few pounds.

Primark Wallet

I love this wallet! Everything about it screams to me, its rose gold hardware, the studded details, the twist on a "corporate" boring black wallet - Also the fact it again looks a lot more expensive than it was.

So there you have it three easy cheap ways that I am incorporating Studs into my Autumn and Winter wardrobe!

Are you loving studs right now?

Manicure Madness: Halloween Edition!

2012-10-31T22:43:00.000Z

It's that time of year again...when you turn the lights off to avoid the trick or treaters! ;)

I was supposed to do this post a week ago as it becomes slightly redundant in a couple of hours! But nevermind, you might be attending some awsome parties this weekend or some of you might like to rock Misfits nails all year round!

I won't go through all of the products used as for a mismatched look like this most products will work. Just make sure that you use a fine tipped brush for the detailed parts!

If like me you're fixed to your social media accounts you might have seen some of the Halloween competitions running today, most notably the Topshop #TrickorTweet comp on twitter and instagram. If you haven't seen it yet check out the hashtag for some awsome nail and makeup ideas!

I had to take part with my own Halloween half undead look!

What do you think?

Bleeding Pumpkins DIY

2012-10-29T19:45:00.001Z

Do not have time to carve a pumpkin this year but still want a little Halloween fun than this could be the DIY for you!

Bleeding Pumpkin:

Wax crayons ( I used a pack from a Poundshop)

Glue gun

Hair dryer

Newspaper to protect your work surface

Oh and a pumpkin!

1. Place your pumpkin on some newspaper to protect the table and break some crayons into sections (I chose reds but you could use any colour).

2. Depending on the size of your pumpkin decide the quantity of crayon needed to "bleed" down your pumpkin. For a large size pumpkin it would be best to break the crayon in half using both halves for each section (positioned side by side). With my little pumpkin I decided to use a third of a crayon for each section and only used two crayons overall, for a fuller effect use more crayon sections.

3. Once you have decided how to space out the crayons heat up the glue gun and carefully glue each section onto the pumpkin as seen in picture two.

4. Now that all the crayons are glued into position start to slowly heat the crayons with a hair dryer set on hot but set on low (blowing wise...that's what she said). This low setting prevents the wax from splashing all over the shop...I found this out the wrong way!

5. Slowly watch your pumpkin turn into a blood dripping horror!

6. Leave to dry fully

7. This step is for those who picked cheap crayons like me and finds when they have dried they lack shine and look a little chalky...not much like blood or gore! So carefully cover the dripping blood with Vaseline to create a wet look

And there you have it a dripping mess of a pumpkin! Although this could be done on oranges, vases (be careful!), picture frames... the possibilities are endless really!

What are you doing with your Halloween Decorations this year?

The trusty Biker jacket...

2012-10-28T19:16:00.000Z

Let’s face it they’re great for any season…throw one over the most basic outfit and bam instant style! So make sure you have yours for A/W 2012/13!

There are so many around now, at different price points, in a million different styles; faux leather, leather, wool, cropped, quilted, studded etc. etc. etc. If you’re slightly obsessed like me this will cause you and your wallet some major issues and you’ll end up with a little collection!

Sweewe - Faux Leather

I bought this jacket a couple of weeks ago. I primarily bought it because I lurveee the studded shoulders! They add a little edge to any outfit! I also wanted it to be slightly oversized and casual so that I can easily throw it over a hoodie.

Osley - Faux Leather

As you may know from my other posts, anything black and gold and I'm sold! This jacket is fitted with a studded collar, and slightly more dressy...

Mir & Michi - Leather

This jacket is from Dubai. I love how unique it is with its snake skin style pannels and gorgeous lining. The only thing that bothers me slightly is that the shoulder pads are a little too prominent. I've contemplated completely removing or changing them for something smaller, but as yet can't bring myself to unpick the stiching of the beautiful lining!

Diesel Black Gold - Synthetic with leather buckles

This jacket is not your conventional biker jacket but I had to include it anyway. I love how different it is, half biker half mac. I haven't really seen anything like it on the highstreet, and it's the perfect jacket for the transition from Summer to Autumn.

Are you biker jacket obsessed? What's your favourite biker jacket style?

Baby Butt!

2012-10-18T22:50:00.005+01:00

Waitrose: Baby Bottom Butter

The dark nights are drawing in and with this comes the dreaded dry skin party that is winter! Want skin as soft as a babies butt? Well it seems like I have uncovered those babies secret; Baby Bottom Butter.

I had read a while ago that mothers were raving about this product for its wrinkle busting powers and intense moisturising properties, so I had to try it. At around £2 pounds it seemed very good value and off I trotted a pot in hand.

This product has no nasties; no parabens, no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or none of the normally present items found in cheaper skincare which I do try to avoid as much as possible (And you should too)

It does contain however Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Oliver Oil, Vanillin, Chamomile Oil and that is it.

The smell is to die for, best described by my partner as "white chocolate", essentially it is a sweet Vanilla smell which lasts on the skin for a while without being overbearing.

The texture is initially quite thick but the oil's warm up to your body heat they become much lighter, although still feel like a relatively heavy cream (oil). If you hate hate hate heavy products on your skin this might not be for you, although you can use it anywhere on the body so I am sure you could find the odd elbow or knee to use it on. I normally hate heavy products on my skin but I can use this and as I normally use it at night it does not bother me as much as it might if I was to be using it in the day.

The moisturising benefits of this product is amazing, I have never used anything that has left my skin feeling this nourished and pampered. It has never broken me out, which I worried about as it is an oil. The camomile oil means it is perfect if the skin is irritated as this helps soothe away any upset or redness.

I also love the fact I can use it anywhere, it is a brilliant lip conditioner, helps pamper my feet, softens and nourishes those cuticles and many other uses for it! Oh it is good for babies butts too!

This is my 10/10 product and my cheap winter saviour!

Manicure Madness! Classic Red & Black

2012-10-11T21:58:00.000+01:00

It's easy to jazz up a plain nail by simply adding a black outline (or any other complementing colour!). All you need is a steady hand and a nail art brush or pen!

Products used, from left to right:

Models Own - Red Alert

L.A. Colours Art Deco Nail Art Laquer - Black

Collection 2000 - 2 in 1 Top Coat and Gloss Enhancer

Maybelline - Salon Manicure Anti-Breakage Base (Not Pictured - But I always prepare my nails with this as it protects them to some degree)

I bought quite a few new colours in the Models Own 50% Off Summer Sale, £2.50 a polish! Bargain! I actually really like this look with Models Own Jade Stone...

Top right: Models Own - Jade Stone

Left: Models Own - Bare Beauty with L.A. Colours Art Deco Nail Art Laquer - White

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for lots of photographic treats!

DIY: CHALKBOARD DRAWERS

2012-10-03T18:36:00.002+01:00

This is by no means a complicated or ingenius DIY but sometimes that makes for the most satisfying DIY....one you actually finish. I have a sea of half finished DIY's that I just lost steam with and as such have a lot of craft type supplies which do not have a dedicated home. I really wanted to try and organise myself better as I have the tendency to be a little messy....well extremely messy if I do not make a conscious effort to organise myself.

This chalkboard drawers tutorials is not only nostalgic (although it does worry me how many of you probably never had blackboards in your classrooms before white boards) but also practical giving me the chance to label every drawer with its contents. This would work brilliantly for people like me, families or for the odds 'n ends draw at home, so on to the tutorial.

You will need: Drawers; we used untreated drawers from IKEA, Chalkboard paint; we used "Funky colours, Jet Black, Chalkboard paint" from B&Q, Paint brush, and Protected table; we used the plastic the drawers came in

1. Prepare Drawers, sand paper the drawers if they have been treated(painted or vanished) to ensure the paint will stick and so you have a smooth surface to work with. With these draws they needed a quick sand to produce a smooth surface. Clean the surface to make sure there is no dust left on the drawers.

2. Paint each drawer individually with a thin coat of chalkboard paint, ensuring you drag the brush in the same direction to create a uniform finish which looks even.

3. Leave to dry for a few hours, I left mine overnight but you probably do not need to wait that long.

4. Once the drawers are dry, paint another coat of chalkboard paint as in Step 2

5. Again wait to dry, in this case I would recommend leaving them overnight to ensure through drying.

6. Volia! Now reconstruct your draws and get drawing! - Or in my case leave to dry and wake up to a mature boyfriend leaving his doodles on them!

And so there you have it some nostelgic blackboard drawers!

Hope you enjoyed this DIY and please share with us some of your brilliant organisation ideas!

Smashbox On Location

2012-09-28T22:59:00.002+01:00

Last Friday (21/09) I attended the Smashbox on location event at The Music Rooms to celebrate their re-launch in the UK. I found out about it via facebook and it seemed too good to miss, so off I popped! and boy am I glad I did! The venue had been transformed into all things Smashbox, with DJ’s, make-overs, photo booths and the chance to take part in a photoshoot with Davis Factor. A great touch was the real time #smashboxlondon instagram photo wall.

The highlight for me was having my make-up done by Smashbox Pro-Lead Artist Lori Taylor, who gave me a bold red/coral mix lip, which looked great for my evening out!

Here’s a quick run-down of the goodies I received at the event:

Try It Kit - Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Photo Finish Lid Primer, Hyperlash Mascara, Lip Enhancing Gloss-Sheer Color, Limitless Eye Liner.
Halo Highlighting Wand
Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume
Travel Size Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Half size Full Exposure Mascara x2
Smashbox Mirror, Photo Clip & the bag it all came in!

I hadn’t previously had the opportunity to try any Smashbox products, and so far from the products I received on the day I have only used their Photo Finish Foundation Primer…and I love it! After only a week I can't imagine life without it! I’ll post up some reviews on the other products when I get around to using them.

Fashion Wish List!

2012-09-26T14:29:00.000+01:00

Krisp Soft Fine Knit Heart Printed Cream/Pink Jumper - £19.99 -Winter is now upon us and isn’t this just the cutest jumper! I don’t think I would take it off!

ASOS Mini Quilted Backpack - £28.00 - Along with my other fashion obsessions, quilted items are a huge one! It's probably based on my desire to own a Chanel 2.55.

Topshop Curb Chain Hoop Earrings - £10.00 - I loveee anything black and gold! Especially in jewellery and handbags….actually, in anything! So naturally I’m in love with these.

ASOS DENY Wedge High Top Trainers With Suede Detail -£36.00 - I’m a bit behind on the whole wedge trainer thing as I’ve been umming and ahhing over whether or not I should get a pair. I’m not usually into granny print florals but I actually think these look super cute, and they’re reduced, bargain!

Primark Limited Edition Collection All Over Studded Skinny Jeans - £15.00 - I’ve pretty much always been addicted to studs (since I was about 12, when I had a questionable fashion sense influenced by my musical preference!) and I’m still inseparable from my pyramid stud belt collection. So imagine my delight now that they’re everywhere! I’m loving studded collars, jackets, bags, shoes etc. Thanks to my most recent ebay purchase, they will also be on my nails and on Stylalia very soon!

Loving right now

2012-09-21T13:35:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the three new additions to my family!

Base colour : Essie- Sand Tropez - £7.99 at Boots

Glitter polish : Beauty Uk, Posh Polish- No.12 Intergalactic - £3.49 at Superdrug

Necklace: H&M - £2.99

This necklace is neon fun times on a string. I love neons, even more so in winter as they seem to pop with more vigour than in summer time. I was mainly drawn to the necklace as I tend to wear dark colours and this seemed like a fun way to spice up an outfit. The necklace itself is quite long so can be worn doubled (or tripled for you non-big headed girls!) or left to hang low. Definitely worth the £2.99 investment!

Essie has always been a hit and miss brand for me; if the polish is good and does not streak it is a brilliant brilliant polish, but time to time you get one that just wants to streak like a nudist on match day. However I noticed the brush seems to have been updated and I am sure this will mitigate some of the previous issues!!

Essie- Sand Tropez is a brilliant polishes, it goes on smoothly and only needs two coats (although I could have gotten away with one coat). As for the colour it seems to be a slightly greyish brownish nude.... if that makes sense at all. My partner thought it was a nude but then it took him over a day to even notice I had changed my nail polish - (boys eh)

I honestly feel Sand Tropez is a grown up, sophisticated colour, one that is neither offensive or bold but just beautiful! It is really worth a look if you happen to be in a Boots or other stockist of Essie.

Glitter glitter everywhere! Intergalactic is beautiful, sure it is not a grown up colour like Sand Tropez but my god it is fun!!. Multi- coloured glitter suspended in clear polish; which is my favourite. I hate tinted polish in glitter polishes as it closes off options- I am looking at you Revlon-095 Facets of Fushsia.

Intergalactic has multi coloured smaller round flecks of glitter as well as larger hexagon glitter. This is a fun polish that could work with all host of colours and one that I love love love.

What are you loving right now?

Manicure Madness...

2012-09-21T00:40:00.000+01:00

This week i'm rocking the leopard print look...woop...I change my nails at least once a week, if not more! I think it's mainly because I find doing my nails therapeutic! so i'll post once a week to show you what look i've gone for and the products I've used...

Products used, from left to right:

Collection 2000 - 2 in 1 Top Coat and Gloss Enhancer

Collection 2000 - Lasting Colour in 'Liquorice'

Maybelline - Salon Manicure Anti-Breakage Base

Superdrug 2true Colour Quick Nail Polish in 'Shade 3'

Revlon - Nail Enamel 042 'Sunshine Sparkle'

Seven Deadly Sins: Beauty Edition!

2012-09-20T19:45:00.000+01:00

What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most
expensive?

Sarah: Gosh I own a lot of cheap £1 make up products! Most recently I brought a MUA blusher for £1 from Superdrug and a multipack of Stilla face powders from poundland!

As for the most expensive, either my NAKED palette or my Mac Palette, I am unsure which cost more, but the NAKED palette was about £35.

Sophie: My most inexpensive (and fav!) daily beauty item is Blistex intensive moisturiser. Last time I bought it it was 2 for 1, which works out at about £1.30. I use it every day, and would highly recommend it, it works wonders. My most expensive is probably my Sigma brushes.

What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship
with?

Sarah: YSL Faux Cils mascara, I love you, you are perfect, you make life complete but my god I feel like vomiting every time I buy it!

The hardest product to get was “Majolica Majorca’s”, ‘Curl, Curl, curl, towards the sky’ I sent my mother around Asia to try and pick one up for me...she ended up having to go off the beaten track to find it- Thank god she did it! Because it was amazing!

Sophie: Probably Revlons 'Gold Coin' nail polish, it's defo my fav nail polish of all time, but always wrecks my nails even with a base. I can’t say I have anything that I found hard to get hold of?! If I go by what travelled the furthest, then again it’s the Sigma brushes.

What are your most delicious beauty products?

Sarah: Number 17-Mirror shine : Beehive. It is a stunning everyday colour which is both glossy and moisturising. Beehive is a milky pink that sits perfectly on the lips- it is delicious.

Sophie: I recently bought a Vivo Lipgloss as it was the exact same colour as my fav Models Own Lipstick (Coral) and I have to say its smells lovely for a cheap product! Pretty much all I wear on my lips is coral at the moment as I think it really compliments my skin tone.

What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

Sarah: False Eyelashes, I want to wear them just I never get around to wearing them! Or SPF I am terrible at putting it on before my make up :( So naughty I know!

Sophie: Snap with the false eyelashes… I used to wear them a lot especially when I was wearing fairly heavy make up for a club. But I rarely bother anymore!

What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

Sarah: Mascara without a doubt! I can live without everything else but my stumpy lashes which essentially do not exist; so they need whipping into action.

Sophie: I’ll have to go with my foundation. At the moment I’m using Illamasqua Light Liquid Foundation in 115. It’s the first foundation I’ve had that’s actually a perfect match for my super light skin tone.

What products would you most like to be gifted?

Sarah: Invisalign treatment! I did have braces as a teenager but with time I stopped wearing my retainer at night.... not just straight teeth anymore!

Sophie: I’m dying to get hold of the Clarisonic Mia. I actually 100% NEED it…but it’s quite a hefty purchase and I haven’t been able to part with the cash as yet, so it would be great as a gift. Also the real techniques brushes…all of them.

What do you envy about the other Stylalia writer?

Sarah: This is a tough one, there are loads of Sophie things to envy! Lovely figure, perfect skin tone and her hair always looks disgustingly perfect (my hair never holds a curl!)

Sophie: It would have to be her super strong nails! They’re amazing, you would think they were false, but no…all her own. Mine are always breaking :(

My Spiked Heels...

2012-09-19T01:00:00.001+01:00

I won some crazy new shoes on Twitter from Chockers Shoes. I actually only just recently heard of them as I’d seen their ‘Skyscraper’ cartoon heel advertised online…

L O V E! L O V E! L O V E!

They frequently run competitions on their twitter account, and I was lucky enough to win a pair! ‘Cruz’ arrived in the post this morning - red suede effect covered in (sharp) spikes. They’re amazing, I love them! I own loads of shoes, but none with a 6.6 inch heel. I presumed that they would be really painful and near impossible to walk in, but I’ve worn them around the house for a fair while and so far so good. Although… as I pretty much live in flats, I have to admit I’m not too sure how well I would cope on a night out in town…eek

I won them, so obviously they were free, but they usually retail at £39.99. All of their shoes are reasonably priced and there’s a massive selection, so if you want to check them out head to www.chockersshoes.co.uk

Welcome To Stylalia.com!

2012-09-02T18:13:00.002+01:00

Please bear with us while we get things going! We will be posting lots of cool and exciting stuff for you very soon ;p... Here's a little taste of what you can expect from me as my nails change bi weekly! I even coordinate them with my earphones ;)