A Huge Apology & Current Favourites

Firstly, I just want to say how sorry I am that I haven't blogged for such a long time. September was a very busy month for me - I had to relocate from London all the way down to the South coast for university. I have just finished the notorious Freshers' Week so now can finally sit down and blog.

I thought it might be a good idea to start with my current favourites.

^ I am absolutely loving the Urban Decay Naked Palette. It is absolutely gorgeous! I tried to stop myself from buying it as I already own far too many of these neutral eyeshadow colours, but managed to justify this purchase by telling myself that it would be good for travel... I am very happy that I bought it however. The colours are absolutely gorgeous and work so well together.

^ I have also been loving and using Chanel's loose powder a great deal recently. I find that it blends effortlessly with any liquid foundation I am wearing and reduces shine without making your face too matte. If you are looking for a loose powder I would definitely suggest that you try this one out.

^ Chanel's Le Vernis in Lotus Rouge is my new favourite nail colour. I traditionally tended to steer away from bright colours and instead stick to my trusted neutrals but I have really enjoyed the change. Lotus Rouge is a gorgeous, sophisticated dark red. I also find that Chanel's nail polishes have a lovely consistency, compared to OPI nail polishes which I personally think are rather gloopy and difficult to work with. The Chanel nail polishes dry very quickly, meaning that there is less chance of smudging and one coat delivers an opaque, strong finish.

More soon xx

Mini Mac & Nars Haul

So a few days ago I went shopping for more sensible things such as clothes or shoes...what did I come away with? Yet more make up! However, I am not being too critical of myself as they were items that I have wanted for a long time, and bought with some birthday money, so my mini haul wasn't too naughty!

^ I picked up Mac's Eye Kohl in Teddy, Nars Single Eyeshadow in Cyprus, and Nars Cream Blush in Penny Lane.

^ Nars Eyeshadow in Cyprus. Cyprus has been described by some bloggers as 'the perfect neutral,' and that's exactly what it is. It is a lovely golden-beige shade that is perfect for the daytime as an all over wash colour, but can easily be paired with a darker crease colour for the nightime.

^ Mac's Eye Kohl in Teddy. A very pretty rich, golden brown shade that will make a softer change from black eyeliner.

^ Nars Cream Blusher in Penny Lane. This is GORGEOUS! It gives a beautiful dewy finish to the skin without making it look greasy. I wore this the other night and it just made my skin look as if it had a bit of a 'glow.'

More soon! xx

Nars Ondine Eyeshadow & Update

This week I got my A Level Results, the results of the exams you take when you are 17-18 in the UK in your final two years of school. I got an A* in English Literature, and As in Politics and Religious Studies. I am now off to read English Literature at university. This means that, for the first time ever, I will be living away from the comforts of home, semi-independent..! The university I am going to is over a three hour drive from where I live in London and about two hours on the train, so I will be a long way away from home. As you can imagine, this week has been rather eventful.

I need to buy lots of things for the big move, so am rather busy at the moment. However, I thought that I would share with you one of my current favourites - Nars Eyeshadow in Ondine. One of my friends bought this for my birthday and it is beautiful!

It is a lovely brown colour, with almost mauve undertones. I would say that it is not as cool a colour as Lola Lola. The quality and pigmentation of Nars eyeshadows is superb, so if you haven't already, I would definitely recommend you take a look at the Nars eyeshadow range!

More soon! xx

Viktor & Rolf - Flowerbomb

I have wanted Viktor & Rolf's original Flowerbomb perfume for years! For some reason, I can never bring myself to spend money on perfume, and tend to buy makeup or clothes instead. It's silly really, because perfume can be very special. I personally find that perfume, and certain scents in general, evoke memories. Perfume can remind you of a certain place, event, or time in your life where or in which you wore the scent.

So with this in mind, when one of my close friends asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I came up with this:

^ The pretty box!

^ The perfume, shower gel and moisturiser

About four of my close friends clubbed together to get this for my 18th. It was very sweet of them, and I adore the perfume! xx

Birthday Jewellery

Long time no post! Many apologies.

The other day, it was my 18th birthday. Unfortunately I was not able to hold a big celebration on the day as many of my friends were on holiday (the troubles of being an August baby...!) I will be doing some more birthday posts a little later on when I catch up with all my friends..

Today, however, I thought I would show you some jewellery that I was given by my best friend as birthday gifts.

^ This is the bracelet.

^ These are the earrings

They are both silver, and absolutely beautiful! I never spend money on jewellery, so it lovely that I now have some lovely items :) xx

My Mac MSF Collection

I know a lot of people find Mac's MSFs, otherwise known as Mineralise Skin Finishes rather confusing and/or intimidating. I thought that by showing you my collection of MSFs, and explaining how I use each one, I might be able to help some people.

Going clockwise...

^ Top Centre - Cheeky Bronze, Sunny By Nature, By Candlelight, Stereo Rose, Soft and Gentle, Porcelain Pink.

^ First up is Summy By Nature. This works really well as a bronzer as it is one of the few matte MSFs, and is the only matte MSF I own. I tend to use this at night, when I don't want shimmer in my bronzer for the sake of photographs...and flash photography!

^ This is Porcelain Pink. This is definitely one of the prettiest MSFs out there, in my opinion. This works as a lovely blush colour on my fair skin.

^ This is By Candlelight, recently repromoted in the In the Groove collection. I use this MSF to highlight the cheekbones and as a brow highlight. A little goes a long way with this MSF, though!

^ Cheeky Bronze. A gorgeous bronze colour with incredible veining! I tend to use this one to contour the hollows of my cheekbones as it is too dark to use on my skintone as a blush, and too shimmery for a bronzer.

^ The famous Stereo Rose. Does it live up to the hype? I don't know. All I do know is that it gives a nice flush of coral to the cheeks and will be used by me as a blush!

^ Last but not least, this is Soft and Gentle. Fairly similar to By Candlelight, only this has more of a beige-gold undertone, whilst there is more of a pink hue to By Candlelight. This is also used as a highlighter.
More soon :) xx

Tag!

I was tagged by the ever-so-lovely Caz to answer eight questions :) My eight questions are as follows:


1. What magazines do you read?

I have to say, it really does depend! Sometimes, if I feel like treating myself, I will buy Vogue/Elle/In Style. These magazines are quite expensive though, so the magazine I buy and read most often is probably Grazia.

2. Do you have any pets?

I don't. I love pets, but my parents really don't, and as I'm a poor student living at home at the moment I don't have much choice in the matter! I am currently dogsitting for a friend though and looking after a lovely golden labrador called Gatsby.

3. What is your biggest achievement?

This is a toughie. I don't think I have one single big achievement, but in terms of academic work, this school year has been tough and I have had a few setbacks. I'm proud of myself for managing to overcome them and get through it.

4. If you had to wear one nail polish colour for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It would have to be OPI's Nail Lacquer in Hopelessly in Love - a gorgeous, milk pink-peach shade which is lovely all year round.

5. What are your ambitions for the future?

At the moment, I really don't know. My A Level results are out on the 19th August, and, provided that they have gone okay, I'll be off to university in September studying English Lit. I'm constantly thinking of different careers, so I'll have to get back to you all on that one!

6. What is your favourite food?

I haven't got particularly sophisticated taste! I don't like anything too spicy or adventurous. I love Italian food though - so my favourite food consists of pizza, pastas etc

7. Share your favourite photo
Right now, the picture below is probably my favourite photo. It was taken of my best friends and me when we were out in London clubbing for one of my friend's 18th. To me, this epitomises summer and my friendships :)


8. What was the last song you downloaded

Diana Vickers - The Boy Who Murdered Love. I didn't use to like her, as I felt she was too contrived and desperate to be 'different' which made her, ironically, just the same as every other artist. I do like this song however! It's really catchy.

That's it! I tag anyone who wants to do it :) xx

A Few Buys & Ramble

Hello again everyone! I have really been enjoying the weather in London. On Saturday and yesterday it reached 32 degrees Celcius, which might not sound that hot, but in England it gets very humid! I have been adapting my makeup to suit the weather - I tend to wear full face makeup, so foundation, blusher and bronzer, but now little or no eyeshadow and brighter lipsticks.

A few days ago I was in London, shopping, when I stopped by the Mac counter in Harrods. I just picked up two things - Stereo Rose from the In the Groove collection and the Lady Gaga Viva Glam lipstick.

^ Stereo Rose - such a GORGEOUS shade and I really think I will get lots of use out of this MSF as it can easily be used as a blusher

^ Finally got my hands on this wonderful shade - a toned down, less cool version of Saint Germain, which I love!

More soon xx

Back and OOTD/FOTD!

Hi everyone!

I finished my exams exactly one week ago on June 30th, and what a week it has been! I have finished school forever (eeeek) and now have an anxious wait until my A Level results are out to discover whether I have made the grades to get into my first choice uni.

On Monday, it was one of my best friend's 18th birthday, and it was a 'circus theme.' As you can see, I wasn't great at dressing up, but my excuse is that I had limited time to put an outfit together!

I am wearing Costa Chic lipstick on the lips which I am absolutely loving at the moment! It is a lovely coral-red colour which is perfect for summer. I will be posting much more often now :) xx

OOTD and an Apology

Hi everyone, I'm so sorry I haven't been updating my blog, but I am in the middle of doing my A Level exams and I just haven't had the time. I have now finished three exams, and have just two more to go!

I did however take a break the other day to go to my brother's school for his Leavers' Day. I got quite emotional actually as he has grown up so much! He is now considerably taller than me at 5"8 and only 13 :O

^ I know it's not very good quality but thought I would show you all anyway! Both the blouse and the trousers I am wearing are from Zara. I usually wear skirts and dresses as I happen to hate jeans, but these are trousers that I definitely feel comfortable in.

I hope you are well, and I promise to be posting much more after my exams finish on June 30th! xx

My Go-To Products

Hi everyone :) I thought I would do a quick post today about my go-to products after I saw a number of beauty bloggers and youtube gurus do it. Just to clarify - these products are not necessarily my favourite products (although a number of them are!) - they are the products I reach for most often.

^ The lipsticks. From L-R, YSL Rouge Volupte in No1 Nude Beige, Mac's Snob, Mac's Creme de Nude and Mac's Hue. The YSL lipstick is a pinky-nude, and the colour and finish are absolutely beautiful. Snob is an amazing blue/lilac-toned bubblegum pink which I wear an awful lot. Creme de Nude is a very flattering nude, and Hue is another pinky-nude which is lovely and sheer.

I do love more 'fun' lipsticks such as YSL's Rouge Volupte in No7 Lingerie Pink or Mac's Saint Germain, but those colours are more difficult to wear, so these are my most used lipsticks. Now onto my 'Go-To' blushers...

^ Mac Well Dressed. This is a very light baby pink, which gives a lovely light pink hue.

^ Illamasqua's Katie. Very similar to Well Dressed - another baby pink, perhaps slightly more blue toned.

^ Nars Bronzer in Laguna. This is the perfect bronzer for my pale skin. Unlike a lot of bronzers on the market, this bronzer is bronze and not orange!

^ Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC15 and Mac MSF Natural in Light - these two products are the real stalwarts of my collection. I have oily, blemish-prone skin and the Studio Fix foundation provides me with great coverage, leaving me much more confident about my skin. The MSF Natural is a great finishing powder, but unfortunately on me it doesn't photograph well, so that is my only gripe.

^ Mac's Studio Finish Concealer in NC15 and Select Cover Up Concealer in NW20. The Studio Finish concealer is great for covering up blemishes and discolouration on the face, and I love to use the warmer shade of the Select Cover Up to conceal my under eye circles!

^ Mac's Paint Pot in Painterly. This is the perfect base for any eyeshadow, and it also does a great job at concealing any veinage in the eye area! I reach for this every single day.

That's it, thanks for reading! xx

YSL Rouge Pur Lipstick in Tea Rose

Firstly, I want to apologise for my lack of blogging. I am about to sit my A Level exams and have an awful lot of work at the moment. I promise that when my exams finish (June 30th) I will be blogging much more often!

Now onto the fun stuff....I can't tell you how long I have wanted this lipstick for. I tried to restrain myself, but in the end my lust for it was just too great!


It's YSL's Rouge Pur in Tea Rose (148). A beautiful nude - pink colour, as you can see below:

I have only had this for about a week, but have used it most days! It compliments whatever you are wearing and is flattering on a variety of skintones as a number of my darker-skinned friends have borrowed it.

I really recommend this if you haven't got it already! xx

A Bit of Concealer ;)

Not a pretty post today, I'm afraid! This is what happens when you keep your concealer for too long:

The nice, new concealer that I rushed out to get on Friday is on the left, the horrible one is on the right (as if that needed pointing out!)

I couldn't work out why the colour had gone off and why the consistency was slightly strange - it was only when I paid a closer look at the packaging that I noticed that it should be tossed within six months - mine was nine months old! Eeeek! Let that be a lesson to you ladies, DO pay attention to use by dates for your basics, ie mascara, concealer, foundation etc

I also picked up a concealer brush on Friday:

The Mac 195 brush will be perfect for applying under eye concealer and applying cover up for blemishes :) xx

FOTD

On Friday I went to a bar in London to celebrate my friend's 18th birthday. I wanted to show you what I wore makeup-wise, though you can also see the top I wore, which I paired with jeans and heels!

My face is a bit shiny here, which I don't really like! haha

Face:

Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC15

Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick in Porcelain

Mac Select Cover Up in NW20

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Benefit One Hot Minute powder

Nars Deep Throat Blush

Dior Amber Diamond Shimmer Powder

Eyes:

Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Lancome Artliner in Black

Mac Paint Pot in Rubenesque

Mac Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch on lid

Nars Eyeshadow in Lola Lola in crease

Lips:

Mac Fleshpot Lipstick

YSL Rouge Pur Shine Lipstick in Frozen Mango

That's it! More soon xx

Mac Eyeshadow Palette

I am sorry that I have been so useless with blogging lately. I am working towards my A Levels and the work is just piling up!

Anyway, I wanted to show you my Mac neutrals palette which is gradually being filled up!

Top Row L-R: Yoghurt, Crystal Avalanche, Vanilla, Gesso, Shroom,

Second Row L-R: Naked Lunch, Ricepaper, Phloof, Brule

I am really loving using all these colours in the Spring months. I find that in the Spring I move to brighter and bolder lip colours, so I need a neutral eye to carry the look off with my fair skin and hair!

What are your favourite Mac neutral shades? Let me know if you would like me to show you my Mac palettes - I have three other eyeshadow ones and one blush palette. More soon xx

Some Benefit and Dior!

I have wanted Benefit's Coralista for a very long time, and I finally bought it last Friday so am a very happy girl :) I also bought Dior's Shimmer Powder in 002 Amber Diamond after Tali (TheGlossGloss) recommended it!

^ Both products in their packaged glory!

^ Coralista

^ Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond.

Coralista is a really fun blush colour - a coral-pink which is absolutely perfect for the summer. I have been wearing it for a few days as we are having gorgeous Spring weather in London.

I absolutely love, love, love the Dior Shimmer Powder! It really does live up to my high expectations. It gives a subtle, dewy effect to the skin without making it look greasy. Such a beautiful product, and I highly recommend it.

xx

Miaow!

The finale of the charity week was a fancy dress disco, where the disabled guests and able bodied helpers all dress up! It is always very cheesy but lots of fun.

I decided to come along as a cat for the disco, so I thought I would show you what I wore below:

I bought the ears, cuffs, bow tie and tail (which you can't see!) from Claire's Accessories for the grand total of £8, and a black tutu from a market for £5. I really enjoyed putting this together!


For the makeup, other than the usual routine of foundation, bronzer, mascara etc I wore the black Barry M lip paint (I forget the exact number) and used lots and lots of eyeliner both for the eyes and for my whiskers and nose!


More soon xx

Organisation and Storage

Hello everyone! I am back from the residential charity camp week that I mentioned in my previous post. I can quite honestly say that it was the best week of my life so far.

Today I decided to show you my make up organisation and storage :)

^ This W H Smith set of drawers is where I store all my makeup

^ This is where I keep my brushes and Mac Palettes. I have five palettes - four eyeshadow palettes and one blush palette, although they are not all filled.

^ These are the top three drawers of the W H Smith set. The far left drawer contains a few eyeshadow palettes, the centre drawer contains Mac and Barry M pigments and Mac paintpots and the drawer on the right contains a mish-mash of eyeliners, mascaras, lipliners, eyebrow pencils etc etc. I also keep a few loose eyeshadows in a box on top of the set of drawers which you can see in the first photo.

^ My 'Lip drawer.' In here I keep my lipsticks, balms and glosses.

^ This is the drawer in which I keep my face powders, foundations and concealers.

^ Finally this is the drawer in which I keep my blushers, bronzers and highlighters.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I appreciate that this might seem like a lot of makeup, but recently I have been buying less and using more.

I will be posting again soon! xx