Nails! Essie Demure Vixen

I bought this nail polish a while ago but hadn't gotten round to wearing it until now! I did the whole "Go pick me a nail polish" to Tommy and he came down with this. Awesome!

Its such a beautiful colour!!

It has beautiful hidden sparkle in it (click the picture to enlarge). I love having longer nails again!! 

Say hey to my new ring!! One of my birthday presents from Tommy, its from Thomas Sabo :) 

I freaking love it!!!! His name is Henry.

P.S My birthday Isnt until the 1st October

Nails! Using Konad

Konad is a little harder to use than it looks! I had my first go at it tonight, and I had to take it all off then do it again with different polishes. This is the finished result!

Products Used:

Nails Inc Caviar Base Coat

Barry M 161 Vivid Purple

Eyeko Tea Rose
Seche Vite Dry FastTop Coat

I used the Konad M51 Image Plate

From talking to Leanne on Twitter, your best using an opaque colour for the image your pressing onto your nail, which was my first mistake. My second mistake was pressing too hard to lift the image, I found that a lighter hand was easier after about 6 attempts! That and Jo was kind enough to tell me where I was going wrong. Thank you so much girls!!

I will definitely be dabbling more in this area of nail art! I have a load more plates coming so I cant wait to use them! I really need more practice.

Thanks for reading! :) xxxx

My Top 5 Blushes

I love these kinds of posts, so I will show you my top 5 blushes! I might make it into a kind of series, or just simply update different categories when I find 5 of something I like!

As you all know I am a blush addict, It just makes me so happy when I have a nice pretty blush on to warm up/ cool down my face, give my face definition or just plain make me look alive!

Korres Blush - Natural

I love this blush so much!! It just warms up my face without having to reach for a bronzer, it feels like butter and blends to an even finish. I reach for this on my neutral days when I dont want too much colour, but just enough to give me some cheek bones.

Models Own Blush - Warm Glow

Rumoured to be a dupe for Benefit Coralista, which it is by the way, I actually find myself reaching for this more than my Coralista!! I think it actually blends a little better and gives me a beautiful finish. I dont need to use a highlighter when I wear this which is good!

NYX Cream Blush - Golden

A blush that just screams "take me on holiday!!" I wore this a lot this summer and I more than likely still will into winter! It gives a golden, flushed look like you have just been out sunbathing (without the sweatyness). It makes you look like you should be in an editorial with a stripping young man beside you *sigh*. An all time favourite for me I think!

NYX Cream Blush - Natural

An amazing alternative to using a powder blush. It also is not a cream-to-powder finish so it gives an amazing glow without looking greasy or too OTT. As you can see from the below swatch, it is a beautiful 'flush' of colour, and really brightens up your face without looking too pink. I would probably describe it as a "coming in from the cold" sort of colour.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish - By Candlelight

The best highlighter I have ever used, I know it might not be classed as a blush, but when I have no tan on and I am a pasty ghost-like figure, this gives me a little colour as well! I can go bronze goddess with a tan or a subtle pinky glow for no tan days.  I only need a little at a time as well!

What are your top 5 blushes... any that I need in my life?!

My new project!

I am so excited to be trying this! I will post before and after pictures soon!

I really want boob length hair! Hopefully this will keep it in good shape and help it grow quickly!

Quite possibly the best mascara ever...

I think I have really found my Holy Grail Mascara!! Its just.... ugh... Awesome :)

I am talking about the Korres Vitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara

I bought this in my most recent haul and have been using it every day since... that would be around a month now. I and I have to say I have noticed such a dramatic difference!

Korres say:

Lash-strengthening mascara naturally volumizes thin and brittle lashes, while adding length and deep pigment 

• Nourishes lashes with a non-clumping buildable formula, providing maximum lash health 

• Provitamin B5, a proven natural hair strengthener, improves both the length and number of lashes, treating them while adding drama to the eye 

• Rice Bran natural extract expands (just like rice does in water) to provide maximum lash length, volume, and fullness.

Of course as soon as I read that I had to get it, and after using it for just over 4 weeks, I am noticing less lash fallout, my lashes now naturally look thicker and darker and they have definitely got longer!!

I shall show you the results, unfortunately I forgot to take before pictures as I didnt think this would actually work!

Sorry I know I am wearing liner, but that doesn't change anything :)

As you can see my eyelashes are how hitting my eyebrows!!! This hasn't happened to me since I was about 15 and started to wear mascara (when my eyelashes were healthy). This is 1 coat of mascara... yes... one coat. 

I cant sing this enough praises, I was so shocked when I looked up one day when I was driving and felt my lashes on my eyebrow!

If you have thin sparse lashes like I did, I definitely recommend that you try this for a few weeks! You can thank me later ;)




Edit- I emailed Zuneta.com to ask them why this mascara wasn't on their website any more, and unfortunately I got the reply saying that it has been discontinued!!
Fear not though... It as been replaced by a "new version" called Abyssinia Mascara. I will maybe try it and see once this one is done!

Im 1 today!!

Happy birthday to my blog!! It is 1 today!

I cant believe ive been blogging for a whole year already...

I still love it though, so thank you for following me guys!!

Image from www.lifelovelipstickblog.com

How cute is that cake?! I want it! 

Clinique Anti-Blemish Foundation and Concealer

I am still looking for another foundation... I love foundations so much and I seem to never have enough! I like different finishes and coverage on different days I guess.

I got a sample of the Anti Blemish Solutions foundation from Clinique and tried it out for 2 days, and my experience? Not so nice...

Clinique state: 
Non-irritating, oil-free makeup helps blend away bumps, neutralise redness. Targeted ingredients help treat existing break outs and keep them from coming back.


I tried this on the first day as I had a little bit of a break out on my chin. It applies well and doesn't streak on me, but I still needed to be quick about it as it dries quite quickly. It is a Medium-full coverage so it covered any redness that I had from the slight volcano appearing on my face.

It felt comfortable enough during the day, and it dries to a matt finish on me. On the clinique scale of skin types, this foundation is for number 3 and 4 people (Oily- Very Oily) and I am a number 2... so I expected it to be slightly drying in places, but that is the whole point as it is meant to dry out blemishes to get rid of them quickly.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Foundation, Ivory

On day 2, I wore it again and it was horrendous... It accentuated my blemishes as they were drying out, it make my whole face feel very dry and tight. I honestly couldn't wait to get home to take off my make up. Even using a cream blush didnt sort it out! It lasted all day though... but foundations usually do with me, Im lucky :)

Would I buy it?
No... I cant stand drying foundations and this one is clearly not made for my skin type. It would be excellent on those with oilier skin than me!

Anti Blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer

I whip this out when I have a few spots. Its just an OK concealer... but I just love the fact that it is a clearing one. You have to work super quick with this, if you leave it on your skin for any length of time, it dries and its very hard to blend and goes cakey. 

See what I mean? Its very thick and very little goes a very long way. On me It has a tendency to crease up and look cakey, because I only really have break outs on my chin, talking and general mouth movements make it go that way.

I would love to find a different concealer for clearing up my blemishes... what do you all use?

NOTD: American Apparel

American Apparel are lovely polishes, I have around four of these now but only ever tried one. This is the second! The first attempt was awful, it chipped within a few hours, so I am hoping this will last longer! So far so good!

American Apparel: Mouse

This is such a beautiful colour!! I cant stop staring at it! If you love your greys, you need this in your life. 

I used:

Nails inc Kensington Basecoat Caviar

American Apparel - Mouse

Seche Vite - Dry Fast Topcoat

Favourite... Brushes!

Over he last month I have used no other brushes except these, they are my holy grail brushes and I cant see me changing any time soon unless someone can sway me!

I have more favourite face brushes than eyes as regular readers will know that I always prefer a good base to striking eyes. There is nothing like flawless skin to turn heads ;)

Face Brushes:

NARS Yachiyo Brush #27

Honestly, I have never used such an amazing brush for my liquid foundation!! To be honest I couldn't part with £37 for a brush at the time, but I bought this from eBay (Probably a fake) for £10... yea... that was more in my price range! If it is a fake, I really don't care because it is so soft and gives such a flawless finish, it is goat hair so it'll do that!

ELF Complexion Brush
This brush is great for applying my MSF Natural and it still gives great coverage. A lovely soft brush, actually one of the softest I have ever used!

ELF Powder Brush
Another great brush for applying powder, though I only use this to apply blotting powder on my T-Zone before I leave in the mornings. I used to use this for liquid foundations, but now I see that it didn't give such a great finish.

MAC 224 Brush
I spotted this being used in a lot of YouTube videos and decided to use it for my concealer! I am SO glad I did! It just diffuses the product and gives a flawless finish, I can hardly tell I'm wearing a mountain of concealer for my under eye circles! (not so sure what everyone else sees though! haha)


MAC 109 Brush
I use this brush for contouring with bronzer. I'm not a fan of applying bronzer all over my face, but as long as I contour my cheek bones and up to my temples in the classic 'C' shape, it darkens my face a bit and gives me  a lovely bronze glow. I mainly use my Soleil Tan de Chanel with this brush.

Everyday Minerals Kabuki
This is great for applying the Origins Multigrain Makeup. I sometimes use this as a setting powder so with this extremely dense, soft brush I can achieve as light or as full coverage as I like!

Cheek Brushes:

MAC 187 Brush
This is great for applying blush, it creates a soft sheen of colour that doesn't create any harsh lines. A few dips in a powder blush is all you need!

MAC 188 Brush
I looooove this for cream blushes!! It picks up the product so well and I use it to stipple and buff it all in to a beautiful finish. Cream blush is an excellent way to create a soft glow to the cheeks without using a highlighter. The cream blushes that I use (NYX) are so soft and make me feel so confident that I don't look greasy!


NARS Yachiyo #27
This brush comes up again... yea its that good!! I bought another one of these off eBay I think this one was a little more expensive, but again I think its a fake, but I don't know. It is still unbelievably soft and I don't experience any shedding with either of these brushes! I use this one for contouring with bronzer, and using it to apply powder highlighter.

Eye Brushes:

Yes I only use three. I love using a single colour with liner what can I say? :)

Sigma 266 Brush
This is so soft and amazing for using eyeshadows for an eyeliner, which you all know I love to do! It creates a soft line while applying just enough product for the colour to stand out whether its blues, greens, purples or just your average neutrals!

Sigma 209
A-MAZING to use with fluidlines, I can just use the tip for a thin line or use it flatter for a thicker line. This is one I would definitely repurchase!

Sigma 239
As I said I like using one colour and a liner, so this is great for applying colour all over the lid in a precise way. I can get right into the corners of my eye if I want to or apply as heavy or as sheer a coverage as I like.

How do you keep them clean?!

Well my dears I use these wonder products!

ELF Daily Brush Cleaner
This is the most amazing thing that I have ever purchased! After I use every brush I simply spray this a few times over the bristles and wipe on a dry face cloth. I have 3 back ups of this I love it that much! It disinfects my brush while keeping it lovely and soft. It also dries very quickly, so much so that I can pretty much use it again for a different product. Excellent!

Baby Shampoo
I use this for a weekly deep clean of my brushes. This doesn't disinfect your brushes so you need to be careful about bacteria, but because I use my daily brush cleaner I dont need to worry about that! Its great for Amber's noggin as well as my brushes :)


What are your all time favourite brush/brushes that you ALWAYS reach for?! Give me some ideas that might be better than mine ;)

FOTD

Hey Dudes and Dudettes! I have been away from this blogging thing for a while, I missed it! I have been so busy with Amber lately and doing extra hours at work, Im just shattered!!

Amber has her first tooth up with more on the way, she is crawling at the speed of lightning AND shes pulling herself up on everything and trying to walk everywhere... Its hard to keep track of her and I hardly know if I am coming or going any more! She's almost 9 months now so she's doing really well! I am sooooo proud of my wee munchkin :)

For the first time in ages I decided to make an effort with my make up, I was stuck in a big rut for a while not using much colour and just generally looking boring. So I came up with this for today which was a step in the right direction!

Also I am using a lot of new products that I am very happy with so will definitely be reviewing them soon!

Face

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Foundation - 03 Ivory

MAC Supermoisture Concealer - NW20

Lancome Flash Retouche - 01

NYX Creame Blush - Natural

MAC MSF Natural - Medium

Korres Multi Vitamin Powder 

Eyes

MAC E/S - All That Glitters

MAC Fluidline - Dipdown

MAC E/S - Vanilla

Korres ProVitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara

BarryM Instant Liner Pen - Black

MAC Mineralise Eyeshadow - Soften the Mood (Just the blue colour on the lower lash line)

Lips

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi *LOVE!!*