That's what make's you beautiful...

...Well not quite, but some of you may know that I have developed a gargantuan minor obsession with uber cuties One direction of late, cute post title, Cute boys mmm...oh right Im blogging here!

Shall we move on? Yes! OK then...

This post is dedicated to three products that have been making my face presentable on those rushed mornings when there just isn't the time to apply a full face of Make-up (because I snoozed my alarm 4 times) but the thought of going out into the world with bare naked skin sends shudders down my spine, you know the days?

The little treasures of which I speak are, In order of  dozy morning application, Bourjois Delice de Soleil, Origins VitaZing energy boosting moisturiser, and MAC mineralize skin finish in medium plus.

Bourjois delice de soleil
 This is basically a spray tan, it can be used on the face and body for instant colour that last's all day and washes off. I usually apply this on my face in the morning after cleansing and rub over it with a self tanning mitt, the bottle states that there is no need to rub this in but I feel it best to make sure its evenly blended all over and down onto my neck and chest. I love this for evening out my skin on the days when my actual self tanner has worn off my face but not my body, I can see myself repurchasing this forever.

Origins VitaZing energy boosting moisturiser
It's not too often that I fall for a product upon first use and I never thought a tinted moisturiser could ever have this effect on me, but there is something about this that blows all others that I have tried out of the water! I think what is so special about the VitaZing is that it is one of the few products on the cosmetics market that actually does what it says on the tin. I have generally being applying this over the bourjois spray on said lazy mornings (it works just as well without though) it completely evens out my skin tone and leaves it looking much more alive and fresh. If I am in a huge rush this is the product out of the three mentioned that I will reach for.


MAC Mineralise skin finish natural (medium plus)
I think this is the perfect powder for setting tinted moisturiser. I apply it over the Origins Vitazing using a MAC 150 large powder brush. I love it because it doesn't take away from the fresh look that the vitaZing adds to the skin, it gives colour to the face and manages to keep skin looking natural and not too 'done'

Lipstick optional and usually applied whilst cramming a slice of toast in on the way out of the door. 


Do you use any of these products? 
And who's gonna fess up to a One Direction crush!?


XXX

Face of the day: Impassioned for Sunday shopping

Phew that was a mouthful of a title wasn't it? I'm not gonna lie to you I had to google the word 'impassioned' just to check that I was using it in the right context. I wonder if Corrie would like to give me her blog name (Dizzy brunette) ;) 

As you may have noticed I don't often do FOTD post's mainly because I can never take a decent photo of myself (woe is me) but today I persevered with it just so I could show you my new foundation and unusually bright lips, luckily I had a good 20 minutes of posing time while my boyfriend was driving us to town.

What I wore...

Face

Jemma Kidd Light as air foundation (shade 03)

Laura Mercier universal setting powder

Sleek contour kit bronzer (light)

MAC Mineralize skin finish (soft and gentle)

Eyes

Urban Decay naked palette shades Half baked, Dark horse and sin.

Bourjois volumizer mascara (only step one)

Maybelline gel eyeliner

Vivo cosmetics eyebrow kit to fill brows

Lips

MAC Impassioned lipstick

Barry M lipgloss (which has no number but it's the baby pink one)

Blogging has taught me so many things and today's lesson was that taking photo's of yourself in a car doing 50mph on bendy, uneven country lanes is not the best idea, never have I been so pleased to get stuck behind a tractor doing 3mph in my life!

This lipstick is the reason I wanted to post a FOTD today, it is perhaps the most beautiful colour lipstick that I have ever seen in my life. Admittedly in the many months I have owned it, I haven't given it nearly the attention that it deserves and bypassed it 99.9% of the time in favour of some nude or pale pink.Wuss.

Yes this is bright but with a more natural face and subtle eye it work's so well and I didn't feel at all conspicuous mooching around the shops this afternoon.In fact it made me feel pretty good :)

I added the Barry M lipgloss as my lips are suffering with the change in seasons and Impassioned is not the most forgiving shade on dry lips.

I had to pop into town today to take back a top from Topshop that made me look like a brick. I'm not good at taking things back, I have to have something else and it's usually something more expensive...

Rhinestone Earth burnout Tunic Tee £24 Topshop

I was instantly drawn to this tunic t-shirt, charcoal grey is one of my favourite colour's to wear and the beautiful rhinestone detailed motif just sealed the deal, I cant wait to wear it with my black skinny jeans and (beloved) Allegra boots, which by the way were sold out today in my local Topshop so I'm really chuffed that I picked them up when I did! I just re-read that and it was perhaps a tad dramatic kind of like I'm thinking I got the last pair on Earth or something..Oh dear!  

I also picked up this cute little string bracelet with a wishbone charm for £2 which goes to the Centrepoint charity for homeless youngsters. 

Next stop Primark...

Grey pleated skirt £10.00 Primark

As soon as I spotted this skirt I was all over it. It's Grey, It's pleated and its only jolly well wooly!! Admittedly in this picture it looks like it hangs a bit funny and I can't tell you otherwise as of yet having not tried it on, but Im keeping my fingers firmly crossed because the concept is just wonderful!!

Black/Gold belt £2.50 Primark

D'ya know I think that a belt is possibly the most boring thing to photograph, apologies if this picture bores you, I debated not putting it in but what the hey it's the weekend let's go wild! 

I have been loving Black and Gold accessories lately and the Gold chain detail just made this belt stand out for me as something a little different and so into the basket it went.

So that was my Sunday, ooh I also popped in to see my Nan as it's her birthday today I bought her a Cliff Richard book and this shopping bag as she's a huge TOWIE fan lolzzz...

Her reaction was "oh my God, Im going shopping on Tuesday I can't wait to take this out!" 

Not your average Nan I tell you! ;)

Wow it's Xfactor time that has come around quick, I can't wait to see Jessie J!

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend

xxx

Video: Love Make-up Haul

Evening lovelies,

Just a quick post from me tonight as Im still slightly hungover from last night and have just stuffed myself with chicken tikka masala and cheese naan so Im feeling really lazy to the point where it's an effort to type right now, I'm sure you all know what I mean :) 

Anyway I made an order with Love Make-up on Wednesday night and it arrived yesterday which I was chuffed to bits about! I do love me some speedy service!! I ordered some things that I had wanted for a really long time and things that I am really excited to finally have in my collection. I will make sure to pop up some reviews so if there is any particular product you would like to hear my thoughts on just let me know and I will get that done :) Righty Im off to watch Xfactor and snuggle on the sofa I may or may not have a giant bag of M&M peanuts aswell ;)... Have a lovely night all xxx

When you wish upon a blog...

Evening honey's 

I'm sure some of you will already be aware of the fairy hobmother (AKA David from appliances online) and how he has been busy giving Santa a serious run for his money by granting wishes and spreading joy around the blogosphere.

A little while ago I left a comment on the lovely Jennie's blog post after reading how her wish had been granted and not long after was granted my very own!

I received a £50 voucher to spend at Amazon.co.uk which I was so over the moon about! And as I am the kind of girl that money burns a hole in my pocket it didn't take me very long to spend...Originally I was going to buy Hunter wellies (Kid's sizes are a bargain just FYI) but then I remembered Amazon sell Make-up and all sensible thinking was swiftly tossed out of the window...

 (Although what I am going to wear on my feet when it snows, I do not know!)

After a tentative search I was happy to find that the item I had in mind was in fact available to purchase from Amazon... 

(Not gonna lie I did a l'il jig!)

Please excuse the dodgy photo's in this post. I am not at home early enough this week to catch the daylight 

So I have been lusting after the Jemma Kidd Light as air foundation for a good few months as Tanya Burr rates it so highly. Then when that pesky enabler Anna also gave it a rave review it became a case of the "have to have's!"

Review to come shortly...

Again sorry for the shoddy picture "/

I also picked up two Make-up books by the truly amazing Make-up artist Rae Morris (sorry for the vom fest!) 'Make-up the ultimate guide' and 'Express Make-up' and I can't tell you how happy I am with them , so far I'm only half way through the ultimate guide but It is, by far, the best Make-up book I have ever read, to me Rae Morris is God! (OK no more, Im over it, I swear )

The fairy hob mother is always watching, so do make sure to leave your wishes in the comments below...

xxx

Quick and easy EOTD...Xmas party?

Evening lovelies :)

I hope you are all good! 

This post is the second that I have written tonight, I just stupidly wrote out a whole post on a Jayne Eyre costume exhibition that I went to see a few weeks ago, then when I went to edit my pictures realised that I had accidently deleted them off my camera, so I guess that's a valuable blogging lesson learned today! I.am.a.dope!  Haha ooh well! Luckily I had a few pictures on there that I had taken of an eye look I did based on a picture of Jessica Alba that my friend Rhiannon sent me last week and had asked me to do a video on the look for her.

 I wasn't going to post these because I don't feel like I got the Jessica Alba look quite right (Im a sucker for perfection) but I do think it's a pretty look for the festive season and I am feeling sooo in the festive spirit at the moment I thought it would be nice to glitterize the blog to match my mood :) ...

Products used

benefit lemon aid eye primer all over the lid

MAC bronze eye shadow (on a MAC 217 brush) blended all over the lid

Urban Decay Half baked eye shadow (on a MAC 239 brush) on lower lid up to crease

MAC solar bits pigment (on a MAC 239 brush) patted randomly on top of the bronze and half baked  

MAC bronze (on a MAC 219 brush) on inner corner of lower lashline

Urban Decay Half baked eye shadow (on same 219 brush) on outer 2/3 of lower lashline 

Collection 2000 intense colour black kohl on top and bottom waterline and smudged slightly under lower lashes

Lashes- Eyelure 107's

For some reason I didn't line the upper lash line to disguise the lash band (or trim the end of the lashes. Rookie. lol!), I think I was rushing out of the door, but you would want to do this with these particular lashes as the band is quite noticeable. 

I hope you like it :) 

Anyhooch I have a bubble bath waiting for me which I can't wait to get into as I've felt quite poorly today so hopefully it should sort me out, then I plan on settling down to watch the rest of True blood series 1 with the boyf under a blanket with a big bar of nestle crunch! Oh and there is also a new Yankee candle burning away (vanilla frosting!!) 

 I do <3 cozy winter nights ;) 

xxx

Confessions and a MAC Studio sculpt foundation review

Evening girlies,

I thought that tonight seen as I am home alone, I would partake in a spot of late night (OK 9pm, I'm very,very old!) blogging, and seen as this one has been sat half written in my draft post box thingy for the past week, it should be a nice relaxing one to whip up while I relax in front of the TV with my decaf coffee mmm :)

So you may have heard me mention in a few past posts of my undying love for foundation, we all have a thing though, and any form of beige fluid (ahem) is definitely without a shadow of a doubt my bag baby, to prove this point I just made myself count exactly how many I actually own....are you ready?...

32!!

I'm not entirely convinced that this is normal! I had anticipated somewhere in that region and convinced myself that I must be overestimating to soften the blow when it came to counting, but seeing them all spread out like that made me so happy wonder if maybe I need checking in to some foundation rehab facility, this was a fleeting thought mind you and now that I have confessed my sins I will crack on with a short review of foundation number 32 which came into my possession on a fun filled shopping trip in Leeds a few weeks ago.

 MAC studio sculpt 

Application/price

This foundation only requires a pea size amount to cover the whole face (which means even if you used this quantity every day the 40ml tube will last for months) having said that this foundation can be built up to achieve a full coverage without going 'cakey.'I find studio sculpt applies best either with fingers or a wet sponge/beauty blender. Studio sculpt retails at £23.00 and can be purchased online or at any MAC counter or PRO store.

Who would/wouldn't it suit?

It's creamy gel based formula makes it a great foundation for normal/dry skin types, although don't completely discount it if you have a combination/oily type skin. I have even read reviews from people with oily skin that have raved about this foundation, but I would advise popping into MAC and asking for a sample if you have very oily skin as this might not be your best bet. If your skin has large open pores then this will definitely not be your best friend as it likes to settle itself in them and make them super noticeable. It also has a tendency to make a bee line for fine lines so I wouldn't suggest this foundation for a more mature skin type.

Finish/staying power

MAC describe studio sculpt as a satin finish.I agree with that, the finish is natural and dewy it has the coverage factor without looking mask like and leaves my skin feeling really silky smooth, in fact so very smooth that  I have found myself stroking my cheek a time or two...anyway moving on from that... even with all of the face stroking it lasts a good 6-8 hours on my skin (normal/dry) 

Overall I really,really love it! I wish that I could say that I had found my Holy Grail, it's very close but I feel I must continue in my quest for the perfect base and may or may not be awaiting a small delivery...ooops! 

Hope you are all having a lovely night 

xxx

Video: Massive collective Make-up/skincare Haul

Evening all,

So last week I was a lucky so and so and won two competitions, both of which had the best kind of prizes, Make-up YAY!! *happy dance* The first one that I won was held by Glossybox UK on their Twitter account, I entered in the morning and completely forgot all about it until I was sat reading a magazine at tea time and my phone buzzed through a Twitter notification informing me of my win, well I was chuffed to bits I cant even tell you how giddy I was, ooh maybe I should have told you that the prize was a beautiful set of Rouge bunny Rouge make-up, which included a v.expensive bottle of bronzing liquid, a luxe lip balm and one of the most beautiful eye shadows I have ever seen!! Needless to say I was grinning like a Cheshire cat for the rest of the night :D 

Image from motifake.com

A couple of days later I was sitting on my bum minding my own when I got a tweet from the very lovely Gem telling me that I was the winner of her 500 blog followers give away, to be honest It had completely slipped my mind that I had entered, so had to toddle along to Gem's blog to check out the prize, which left me a little bit gobsmacked as it was the biggest most generous lot of make-uppy goodness and Cheshire cat grinning was resumed!! :D

Do you want to see?

I made a rather long video today, but I hope you guys don't mind too much. I tried to make it entertaining during the editing process ;)

Big thanks to Glossybox and Gem for holding such generous giveaway's

xxx

October 2011 Favourites

Hey chicks,

OK so my laptop appears to have miraculously cured itself and 24 hours has gone by without it overheating once so I am feeling confident enough now to sit and write up my October favourites without flapping that it's going to blow up in my face.Yay! Anyway enough of the "woe is me, my laptop broke" snoozefest, I promise there will be no more! It's all make-up and beauty from here on in girls and boys...Good times :) 

On to the good stuff... 

Make-up

Vivo cosmetics lipstick shade 8 'barely there'

This has been my go to nude lipstick throughout October. It reminds me of one of my favourite ever nudes which is Hue from MAC but at £1.99 is a lot more purse friendly.It has a gorgeous creamy finish with a slight glossy sheen, feels really moisturising on the lips, and the smell! Oh my Gawwd! If you love creamy  vanilla/coconut smells then you need this lipstick in your life.

17 Supreme shine lipstick in Pink Posey

I picked this lipstick up before a shoot that I did last week (I know I'm cheating the favourites system here ;)), the photographer wanted natural make-up with a bright lip and none of the lipsticks I owned were what I had in mind for the look. I wanted a dramatic bright purple but this was the closest thing I could get from my local (miniature) Boots...Anyhoo...I wasn't expecting too much from pink posy in the way of lasting power as 'supreme shine' to me suggests that it  would be one of those lipsticks that slides off the lips within 20 minutes but no, I was proved wrong when it stayed put throughout the shoot and beyond, which all in all was about 2 and a half hours, so even though it is technically a November fave I really wanted to share it as I'm so impressed and I'm loving the colour for Autumn/Winter.

NARS Sheer glow foundation

I have had my fickle pants on this month when it comes to foundations but for the last couple of weeks I have been religiously using an old (once hailed Holy Grail) favourite.NARS Sheer glow. The shade that I have is Deauville which is my perfect match when I have absolutely no colour/fake tan which at the moment I don't (think Morticia Addams or Fester :o) I have been applying this with a damp beauty blender sponge and loving the beautiful airbrushed looking finish that this gives so much more than when I apply with my MAC 190 foundation brush.

Laura Mercier universal invisible loose setting powder

I love this powder!

 I'm not really a powder girl, as my skin leans to the dry side it's a step that I often forget in my make-up routine.This month though I have used this powder to set my foundation most days.I love how it just does what it say's on the tin, it set's the foundation, and is invisible, simple :)  

Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer

I have been loving using this concealer in two shades this month firstly I like to used medium 3 (which is a peachy tone) underneath my eyes to correct any dark shadows and light 2 to brighten the area and give me a much needed hand to look more awake and alert.

Collection 2000 intense colour supersoft kohl pencil

I picked up this eye kohl when there was a 3 for 2 on Collection 2000 eye products in Boots about a week or so ago, along with one of the above mentioned concealers and the new Pump up the volume mascara . I didn't really expect to love it as much as I do but I have been seriously impressed! It is a really soft well pigmented kohl which stays put in the waterline all day long, even on my eyes which have a tendency to run like a tap, especially at this time of the year.Big thumbs up to Collection 2000 this month!!

Hair Products

L-R- Head and shoulders citrus fresh shampoo
John Frieda Frizz ease 3 days straight
VO5 Gloss me smoothly conditioner

Front- Amargan hair therapy oil

This month I have been making a much bigger effort than I normally do to get my hair in good condition. I have a lot of fine hair with a natural wave to it and find that within about half an hour of being out of the house,  it feels tangly and develops annoying kinks.All I want is for it to look sleek, shiny and bouncy, and to be able to run my fingers through it without giving myself whiplash.

So this month I took a little inspiration from the beautiful Anna and Barbara's haircare video's and picked up the Head and shoulders citrus fresh shampoo and the V05 Gloss me smoothly conditioner (for frizzy hair) and I have really noticed the difference in my hair since I have been using them, the Head and shoulders really makes my hair feel ultra clean and my hair feels really silky soft as soon as I rinse the V05 conditioner out in the shower.My hair has definitely been alot sleeker and shinier thanks to these products.

The other hair products that I have been loving are the Amargan hair therapy oil which I picked up at a beauty supplies store. It is some sort of Argan oil (?) You just apply a small amount through damp hair and it cuts the hair drying process by up to 50% I was massively sceptical about this at first but it really works. Without this my hair takes around 15 minutes to blow dry but with it, it literally takes 5 minutes, I do love a time saving product! 

And lastly in my quest for super sleek hair I have been using the John Frieda frizz ease 3 days straight. I originally bought this to use in place of my GHD's which broke a little while ago...but I didn't read the instructions which clearly state that this is a product that is supposed to work along side hair straighteners DUH! Anyway it has helped my hair's kinky tendancies and does keep it straight for around 24hours which is fair enough. I'm sure it would work really well when used correctly ;) 

Book of the month

The secret by Rhonda Byrne

I always love when other bloggers include their favourite books in monthly favourites posts so I thought I would include mine as its a real cracker! It's kind of tricky to describe and I don't want to ruin it with some ditzy explanation, but if you enjoy philosophy books and you haven't read the secret I totally recommend checking it out as it is such a fascinating read and one that always makes me feel super positive and motivated.

Phew Im sure that has been my longest list of favourites to date! If you got to the end congrats! 

Lately it seems that at the beginning of every month I get something new, love it, then have to wait a whole month to add it into my favourites. It is now November the 7th and I already have things that are potentially faves for the end of the month (Origins Vitazing moisturiser, Oh M Gee I got it two days ago and it's already <3 )

October Favourites video

I hope everyone is having a lovely night, Im off too put the heating on because my toes feel like icicles right now brrrrr! :)

xxx

Where the posts have no name...

Hello lovelies!
If you follow my blabbings on Twitter you are probably aware that I have been without my laptop for what feels like forever, in actual fact It's been less than two weeks, but if you have ever been through the trauma of a laptop breakdown and are a geek super cool person like me you will feel my pain.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I am typing this on said broken laptop but it, in the words of my boyfriends cousin (who is a genius laptop repairman) is fucked! It wont stay turned on for longer than half and hour without getting more overheated than Peter Stringfellows loins! Did that only sound funny in my head?

Sorry, I couldnt help it!

Image (just in case you want it for yourself) from johnnyikon.com

Luckily it's only 8 months old and still under warranty...unluckily I can't find my reciept, so Im in for an afternoon of drawer surfing woo hoo! I just wanted to tap up a quick post because it's been over two weeks since anything was posted on here and I didn't want you to think that I had deserted my l'il blog :)

I'm sorry that this is a bit of a rambly, incohearent, nothing to do with beauty/make-up post but I made a quick video for my You tube channel and you will see why im tapping in a hurry :) ooooh and happy bonfire night everyone!

Have you got your sparklers ready kids?

xxx