Blaque Pearl

FOTD: Purple Lips

2012-02-10T11:06:00.000Z

You may remember in my previous post (if you missed it, you can have a read >>HERE<<) that I recently bought a Rimmel London- Kate Collection lipstick in 'Rossetto'. As promised, here's a Face Of The Day with it.

The purple was a little too deep and dark for my liking, so I softened it up a little by applying a bright pink (MAC's Speak Louder) on top of it and added some gloss for a shine finish.

FACE:

Mary Kay Concealer in Bronze 2

Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation in Bronze 607

Fashion Fair Blush in 'Earth Red'

EYES

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara

Collection 2000 Black Khol Eyeliner

LIPS

Mary Kay Nourishine Lipgloss in 'Sugarberry'

MAC Cremesheen in 'Speak Louder'

Rimmel London, The Kate Collection in 'Rossetto'

See. Purple isn't so bad on the lips, is it? I reckon it's a lovely alternative to bright pink; sort of an in-between of plum and pink.

What do you think?

Rimmel London Lipstick: The Kate Collection

2012-02-07T13:09:00.000Z

I haven't blogged in such a long time that you'd be forgiven for thinking I'd gone into hibernation, and with the amount of snow that fell early on Sunday morning in London, that's exactly what I want to do. I'm so glad it's cleared up now though, because even though it looks absolutely gorgeous when it has freshly fallen, once it turns mushy and into black ice it loses it's appeal. Anyway, I've actually been working on a really exciting project, and gueeessss whaaaaat? It's beauty related. However, that's all I'm going to say about that for now. All will be revealed in due time.

So, back to this post. I picked up a lipstick from the Rimmel London Kate Moss range (it's £4.59) while doing my normal beauty shop at Superdrug late last week. I was quite impressed by the 7 shades that are available because the majority of them seem quite suitable for most skin tones.

As I already own similar shades of lipsticks (in other brands), I opted for 'Rossetto' (04). It's a lovely deep purple of matte finish, which is great because bold-coloured matte lipstick is bang on trend at the moment and it seems like it will carry on into the spring/summer.

My local Superdrug seem to love going hardcore when it comes to taping on the bar codes and security codes for makeup items so it's a bit of a nightmare opening what I've bought when I get home and I hate the sticky remnants it leaves on the product. Does your local store do that too? Anyway, here it is, swatched:

The range is marketed as being "long-lasting"and really is; it doesn't rub off easily at all, so thumbs up on that. It's lightly moisturising and smells plummy, which is nice because I can't stand the waxy scent of some lipsticks. Put on, it creates a very vampish/gothic look. I probably wouldn't wear it on it's own so would mix it with a pink lipstick or gloss to soften it a little or alternatively, mix it with the white pout paint by Sleek to lighten it a tad. It'll go great with dark smokey eyes. I'll probably use it in a FOTD post some time soon so you can see how it looks on me, if you're curious.

Have you got any of the Rimmel lipsticks from The Kate Collection? If so which one(s)? Do you own any purple lipstick shades?

Bloggers.Com Editors' Picks Of The Day

2012-01-21T16:34:00.000Z

This morning I received an email from the Bloggers.com team informing me that I would be featured on their homepage as part of the three blogs awarded 'Editor's Picks of the Day'. How lovely! It's the first time that my blog has been featured anywhere so this was a pleasant surprise; a great way to begin my day. I've still got a very long way until my blog becomes established; call it a work in progress (content, and appearance-wise), if you will. Slowly but surely it'll get there; baby steps, eh?

If you're a blogger and don't already have an account with Bloggers then I'd urge you to set one up because it's a great way of networking with fellow, like-minded bloggers (national as well as worldwide), and attract more people to your blog. I've certainly discovered some great ones on there.

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Temporary:Secretary 'Love' Double Ring

2012-01-17T14:41:00.000Z

Don't you just love it when you either almost forget that you've ordered something online or don't expect the item to arrive as quickly as it does? Yeah, me too. That normally happens when I make an impulse buy, as I did the other day.

I routinely went to check for any post this morning, and when I opened the door, I discovered a parcel on the step. If you're anything like me, my eyes always light up with glee when a I get a package. The level of excitement and eagerness to open it is equivalent to the feeling you get when you receive a present on your birthday. I'd purchased the 'Love' double ring (£12) from Temporary:Secretary Jewellery after seeing Sarah (the founder of the online boutique) model it in her Newcastle Quayside blog post. She's lucky that I don't have access to her jewellery box or wardrobe because I'd claim everything as my own quicker than than you can say: "Style envy".

Having followed her work for months now, I know that Sarah is a perfectionist when it comes to presentation and that always puts a smile on my face. Now, I've never been keen on multi-rings because I like all my fingers to be free but this is surprisingly comfortably. It's brass-finished and the diamante-filled 'O' is heart-shaped. The rings are adjustable so you can alter them to fit your finger size, which is great because that means you can wear it on any two neighbouring fingers. This particular ring is currently sold out (which doesn't surprise me in the slightest because I can imagine just how popular it is) but I'm sure it'll be back in stock soon.

I bought the Swooping Swallow Love Letter Necklace from there a couple of months ago. You can read the post >> HERE <<.

If you're into statement piece accessories that are cute, girly and pretty then I'd definitely encourage you to head over to www.temporary-secretary.com and have a look. You're guaranteed to find something that you love. Oh, and don't forget to have a read of Sarah's award-winning blog: www.temporary-secretary.blogspot.com.

Have you bought any Temporary:Secretary jewellery before? What are some of your favourite online jewellery boutiques?

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Tangle Teezer Compact Styler

2012-01-16T17:02:00.000Z

"Grrr", followed by me kissing my teeth was usually my expressions of discontent when I used to attempt detangling my hair, but all that changed when I discovered the wonder that is the Tangle Teezer. I know this product has been around for a while now but I've only recently used it for the first time so it's relatively new to me. And yes, I know that it has already been reviewed like a gazillion times, so I need not go into too much detail about why it's such a great product.

I ordered the pink and black compact styler two weeks ago (I paid £9 on Amazon) because I thought it would be handy to have one that I can pop in my handbag. The wind these days does nothing short of upsetting me so this brush saves me from walking around like a scarecrow or looking like I've just been in a fierce brawl with a fan.

I usually have my hair in a weave so this is perfect for sorting out stubborn tangles and random knots that can often form in extensions. I was amazed (literally mouth open, catching flies) at how effortlessly it glided through, detangling the strands. Its ergonomic design makes it comfortable to hold and manoeuvre. Hassle-free and quick. Pow! It's one of those "Where have you been all my life?" purchases.

I have yet to use it on my own hair but I'm sure it'll work just as well. I've been warned not to go crazy with it though because it can cause breakage if enough care isn't taken, so I'll bear that in mind when I take my weave out next.

Have you got a Tangle Teezer? What do you think of it?

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Currently Reading...Classy By Derek Blasberg

2012-01-14T16:31:00.000Z

Do you know your class from trash? Lady from laddette? Sexy from slutty? You've probably answered yes to all of them, but just in case, and for general giggles, you might want to check out 'Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady' by Derek Blasberg. This book has been described as an etiquette bible and having been awarded the title of New York Times bestseller, I'd say it's not far off.

I heard about the book after Christiana recommended it in a tweet earlier this week. I'm half way through and can't tell you enough just how much I have chuckled, squirmed and nodded in agreement. I wouldn't suggest reading it while drinking a beverage because you'll probably end up projectile spitting it all over the place from sheer laughter. It's such an effortless read and so cleverly illustrated that I often find myself smiling as I sail through the pages.

In the book, Blasberg defines two types of women: ladies and tramps. By exploring a range of social situations and scenarios- such as how to dress, going abroad, making friends and dating- he elaborates on what distinguish the two. I bet you read that thinking: "Well, that's easy, I know what category I fall into." Me too. But admittedly, I'm guilty of some of the things that he sees to be traits of a "tramp", such as eating with my hands. I mean, how do you eat fries or your burger at McDondald's, for instance? I know I don't scoff mine with a damn knife and fork. Or when I go to Nando's and order my extra hot quarter chicken, I'm not looking at other people's faces. I devour that meat with my fingers. (Ha! I sound like such a neanderthal, but I assure you I'm not.) The way I look at it is: if you want to watch me eat, that's your prerogative.

I don't take everything he says as gospel, but, in all, I agree with a lot of what he documents in the book. I'd like to think of myself as being quite ladylike. Sure we've all done things that are worthy of a side-eye or two but personally, I reckon the key is to bear in mind that there's a time and place for everything. A time to act like a slob- such as on a rare lazy day at home- and a time to act 'proper'- during a date, for instance. Some things are subjective, I guess. One man's "tramp" is another man's "lady".

You can purchase this book from Amazon for under £7 and his follow-on title called 'Very Classy: Be a Lady, Not a Tramp'.

What unladylike habits do you have? What are you currently reading?

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Bag Envy | Marks & Spencer Per Una Double Handle Bow Tote Bag

2012-01-14T11:17:00.001Z

It's more than likely that whenever I meet up with a friend, I'll love at least one item of clothing, accessory or makeup that they have on. Yesterday's lunch date with one of my closest friends was no exception. As she strutted towards me in her usual elegant fashion, my eyes were immediately drawn to the item on her arm.

I'm a sucker for anything with bows attached because I think it's such a cute and feminine detail and when it comes to bags (particularly statement pieces), the colour trend at the moment seems to be bright or fluorescent- this one's citrus.

I was surprised when she told me where she got it from. I gave her that "WhatchutalkinboutWillis?" face. For £27.50 it's more than lovely. Now, when I think about Marks and Sparks, the words "middle-aged", "conservative", "safe" and "boring" come to mind. It's just not a clothing brand that appeals to me, hence why I don't own anything from there- yet. But, having glanced at a few of the pieces online, I now have my eye on a few gorgeous items (mainly from the bags and shoes departments), and I just might make my first ever purchase some time soon.

Come to think of it, in recent years a lot of retailers have made a really conscious effort to appeal to a broader consumer spectrum by bringing in more fashionable stock. New Look and Next, for instance, have seriously upped their game.

Anyway, my friend is lucky that I don't have access to her wardrobe because I've seen a few other things she has that I'd snatch in a hot second.

What have your friends been wearing recently that you've adored? Do you shop at M&S?

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January Feel Unique Beauty Box

2012-01-13T22:09:00.000Z

I'm usually fairly excited about receiving my beauty boxes but for some reason, my enthusiasm this month (or lack of, more to the point), left me feeling quite aloof about the whole thing. Maybe it's because my Feel Unique box- usually the first of all my subscriptions- was dispatched much later this month. Perhaps it's the fact that I was so beauty-boxed-out by the very impressive December boxes. Or it could be that I've subconsciously put myself into a 'don't expect anything special' mode so that I won't be disappointed if the boxes don't live up to my heightened expectations. Who knows?

1. DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK Salt Brushing;

2. GREEN PEOPLE Gentle Cleanse;

3.CAUDALÍE Vinotherapie Nourishing Body Lotion;

4. LIERAC Coherence L.IR Infrared Lifting Cream;

5. PHYTO PhytoBaume Colour Protect Express Conditioner.

It took me two days to actually open my Feel Unique box after it arrived (I know, how very out of character), and when I finally did get round to revealing its contents I must say I was initially mildly impressed. However, the only item that seriously grabbed my interest was the bath salts. Can't wait to try these out. I've become increasingly accustomed to the Dead Sea Spa Magik brand because in recent months I've had at least one of their products in a beauty box, namely the body lotion or facial cleanser.

I'm always keen on trying new facial cleansers and I seem to be drawn to a lot of organic products of late so I thought the Green People Gentle Cleanse was a great inclusion.

The Lierac Coherence L.IR Infrared Lifting Cream is marketed well but because it's so lightweight in texture and consistency I doubt it will do anything for me on the hydrating front.

Having Afro hair (naturally) I always take a miss with the hair products because, like I always stress, I'm picky about the products I put or test on my hair so I unfortunately didn't give this item more than five seconds of my time.

When it comes to body lotions, I prefer them oil-based for maximum hydration and nourishment, particularly in winter. The Caudalíe Vinotherapie Nourishing Lotion is too light for my liking but it smells nice and works really well as a hand cream though.

So what do I think overall about the box? Well, I know some people prefer to exclusively have skincare products in theirs but, even though I have a wealth of cosmetics, I quite like makeup items in mine, if I'm honest. However, bearing in mind that the people behind this month's box were going for a "starting over" theme after the "festive frivolities", they did deliver a good selection of products. But, and this is a big 'but', from a personal perspective it's a little bit of a disappointment because most of the items aren't really suited to my skin/hair type.

If you'd like more information on the Feel Unique Beauty Box then click on the link >> www.feelunique.com/beautybox .

What did you make of this month's Feel Unique beauty box?

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2012:Week 1 | Skincare, 'Carnival' Nails, Primark, Nude Lip, Sophie's World...

2012-01-08T19:36:00.000Z

First- Seventh January, Twenty Twelve

Salutations And A Belated Happy New Year!

So, we're well into 2012 now. I'm not going to lie, the beginning of this week was tough for me emotionally and mentally- the first week into a new year usually is. It's the over-contemplating, over-reflecting, over-planning et cetera, et cetera. That fear of the unknown, I suppose. I know exactly what happened in 2011 so find comfort in sort of holding on to it, but what 2012 has in store is anyone's guess. I was M.I.A for a few days. I had to take some time out to clear my mind but I'm feeling fresh and reloaded now.

I'm not a resolution person, I just make sure that I'm realistic about what I want to achieve but most of all I stay true to myself. Just because the clock has struck 12am on the 1st January doesn't mean that I will miraculously become a changed person or have all the answers to my troubles. Far from, in fact. I make mistakes and learn from them all year round. That's what life is about. Learning. Developing. Evolving. I know what I want and I simply take the necessary small steps to get there. As Henry Ford once said, and agreeably so: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal".

So...This week? On New Years Eve, my hubby managed to claim his full chicken from good ole Nando's before his loyalty card expired at midnight (I missed out on my quarter chicken, but I'll live). The evening was spent indoors with my two favourite fellas (husband and baby boy), peri peri style (extra hot), a bottle of wine ( sparkling white zinfandel, to be precise) and watching 'Alan Carr's New Year Spectacular (chuckles all round). I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I know it's incredibly British to talk about the weather but it's been so predictably unpredictable, I just have to give it a mention. Well, it rained cats and dogs on New Years Day (Sunday). The superstitious person in me saw it as a washing away of negative energy from 2011 while the grumps me just thought Mother Nature was taking the Minie Mouse. Monday was chilly but really sunny, so much so that one could have be forgiven for wearing shades in January...in England. Tuesday's wind was my alarm clock and the rest of the week, to my relief, was relatively mild and more settled.

Don't worry, I've been up to a bit more than focusing on the weather's shenanigans....

BEAUTY: Let's Face The Day

I've finally put together a face cleansing routine that I'm really happy with (for now, at least).
Johnson's Day and Night Creams have become a staple part of my daily skincare regime. I've been using them for the last two weeks and have been rather impressed with the results. Hydrated, supple and smooth skin.
I can't rave enough about the Clarisonic Refining Skin Polish. Skin feels remarkably smooth after use and there are enough grains in a pea-sized amount to get a really good exfoliate going on. I'm saving up for the brand's electronic brush. I've heard so many great things about it.
I started using the Clean and Clear Morning Energy- Shine Control Cleanser after reading about it on Sara Hassain's Blog. As a cleanser, it does exactly what it says on the tin and does it well. I tend to wash my face with cold water. I like the added tingle and rush when the ice-like water hits my face. Re-fresh-ing.
Fashion Fair Cleansing Creme is amazing for removing stubborn makeup because it picks up every ounce of dirt.
Kleenex Facial Cleansing Wipes are great because each sheet hat got just the right amount of moisture for a thorough clean. I love the quilted texture.
I use the Tea Tree Oil Face Mask from The Body Shop every three days. You only need to put it on for about ten minutes and the results are instantly noticeable.
What skincare regime do you have for your face?

NAILS: Car-ni-vaaal

As the festive season was nearing an end, I figured I'd get all things glitter and sparkles out of my system (a trend, however, that seems to just be getting started, judging from the amount of glittery shoes and accessories- not to mention other glitter polishes- featured on a lot of blogs I read). I bought the 'Carnival' nail varnish by Technic three weeks ago and like most polishes I buy, I don't really get round to wearing them 'til I'm in the mood for that particular colour, finish etc. Anyway, it's exactly the same as the OPI Rainbow Connection one. Call it a dupe, if you will. I used my Sleek 'Nailed Polish' in 'Poison Ivy 12' as a base colour. I love the way the glitter looks when it catches the light from different angles *wiggles fingers*
What nail polish(es) have you been rocking this week?

FASHION: Primarni and an OOTD: Tanned

Did some retail therapy at Primark this week too. It was much needed, I tell ya! Still trying to get my head around how ridiculously cheap that store is. I always go there first before forking out my money in any other clothes shops because if there's something you want fashion-wise, it's more than likely that you'll find it in Primark.
Treated yourself to anything nice this week?

I like teaming different brown and cream shades together. I bought this tanned faux leather jacket about three months ago for £30- an absolute steal. It's very warm, trendy and cosily hugs the top half of my body. The detachable faux fur collar allows you to be flexible with the look. I love it.
I don't normally go for long skirts but I liked the knitted detail and the fit of this one so I was drawn to it in the store. As it's very fitting, it works really well as a high waisted skirt.

What have you been wearing this week?

MAKEUP: Colour Me Naked

My Beauties Factory 120 eyeshadow colour palette (No.2) arrived on Tuesday. The pigmentation isn't great but it's workable, however, I do like the mix of matte/sheer and shimmery eyeshadows. I know what suits me so there are a few shades I won't be trying (not out of the house, anyway). When it comes to eyeshadow- like with most of my makeup- I prefer to keep it nude/natural-looking and subtle. Having said this, I think it's always handy to have a colourful palette to use should you choose to add a pop of colour to the eyes. Come to think of it, I haven't really worn any vibrant colours on my eyelids. Wait, no. Tell a lie, I have >>here<<.

Since getting the palette, I've wanted to test out a few looks but have played it safe and only done a royal blue smokey eye. For experimentation's sake, I only worked on one eye:

I'm embracing the 'nude lip' too. I've been really into bright red lips this autumn/winter but I figured toning things down a little (or a lot, in the case of the nude lip) wouldn't go amiss. When it comes to the nude lip, I'd rather do gloss than lipstick- don't know why, it just seems to suit me better. With some nude lipsticks, no matter how well I put on the liner, I feel like I run the risk of making my lips and the surrounding area look ashy. These are my current favourite nude lip products:

In order (L-R):
MAC Lip Pencil in Dervish;
New CID Cosmetics iGloss in 'Coconut Ice';
NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 'Tanned';
Rimmel London Vinyl Gloss in 'Cosmic';
MAC Lip Glass in 'Liqueur';
UNE Natural Beauty Lip-Toned Colour lipstick in 'L14';
(All swatched below in same order).

What have you done recently makeup-wise that's a little out of your comfort zone? Have you been into any particular lipstick shades of late?

FOOD AND DRINK: Mash It Up

This week, I've been more focused on my little bubba's food. He's at that weaning stage now so we're slowly introducing him to new tastes and textures for his palette. My husband picked up a hand- held blending set from Next. It's for making cupcakes but obviously does the trick for the purpose we need it for. Plus, this is a considerably cheaper alternative from Avent's baby food steamer and blender which is retailing at £75. <-- !! Daylight robbery!!

A friend gave me the Annabel Karmel's Top 100 Baby Purées book so I've been reading through that to get a few ideas. I make two days worth of purees at a time (one fruit set for the afternoons and one carb or protein set for dinner, for example) and put them in cute little plastic pots. At the moment, I'm making single purées rather than mixing different fruits, veg etc because I'm trying to figure out what foods little man likes and dislikes. I love the way babies give you that "what's this you're feeding me?" look then proceed to cautiously, yet willingly sample it before giving full approval by opening their mouth widely for the next spoonful. Yesterday I accidentally made a large batch of plantain puree for him. He seems to love it. Just as well for me, really.

What's cooking? Have you tried any new foods this week? Eaten out anywhere particularly nice for the New Year?

WELLBEING

I've started taking my multivitamins again as nutritional support and have made a very conscious effort to drink at least 1.5 litres of water every day. So far so good. My skin appears clearer and I have noticeably more energy. They say "the body is a temple" so it's high time I show it a little more respect. It's funny how throughout my pregnancy, I was fussy about what I ate: whether I was eating enough, getting the right nutrients and yada yada yada- and that's because it's imperative that from the moment you find out you're carrying all selfishness stops there. For those nine months it's not just your body anymore. your growing baby relies on you so you have to go into a permanent selfless mode. As soon as me and my husband's little bubba was born, I neglected my body, for instance only having one proper meal a day and not consuming enough fluids, and on top of lack of sleep I started feeling the repercussions. I'm a big believer in healthy home-cooked food, so nutritional value has never been a problem when it comes to my diet, thank goodness, otherwise I would have been in such a poorly state.

CULTURE: Sophie, Me and a Cup of Tea

There's nothing quite like sitting on the sofa in winter, rain banging against the window pane, cup of tea and biscuits (preferably milk chocolate digestives), and snuggling under a massive blanket on the sofa and getting really stuck in to a good book. A close friend of mine lent me 'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder all the way back March last year and admittedly, I've only just gotten round to actually reading it (Sorry Mona). She's probably forgotten that I even have it. I've been so bogged down surfing the Internet that I forgot how much I love reading- an actual book. I'm not really a fan of Kindles. Great idea, don't get me wrong, but I love the tangibility of having a paperback. Being able to turn the pages, leaving it doggy-eared, the smell...So, I started reading it yesterday afternoon and have only got through four chapters but I'm completely engrossed.
What are you currently reading? What was the last book you read?

Well, that's a snippet of my last seven days. How was your first week of 2012?

"Years end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." - Hal Borland

I hope you all have a prolific and productive week two.

As ever,

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VIDEO | December Beauty Boxes

2011-12-30T19:39:00.001Z

So, as I've managed to test out all the December products from the four beauty boxes that I subscribe to, I figured now was the time to cast my verdict on my favourite and least favourite items and boxes.

If you missed the posts and would like to have a look at what each box had to offer this month, the links are below:

December GlossyBox

December JolieBox

December Feel Unique Box

December Carmine Box

Which was your favourite box? Which items did you love? Which did you dislike? Please leave a comment below.

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Sleek Brow Kit

2011-12-28T19:08:00.000Z

I first used the Sleek Brow Kit in 'Dark' two weeks ago and was really impressed, so much so that it's now part of my regular makeup routine. It's great for filling in the brows and gives a really lovely, natural finish.

The kit comes with an angled brush to use with the pigmented wax, a blending brush to apply the setting powder and tweezers to pluck out any stray hairs.

There isn't a huge difference. I've just lengthened it a little and tidied it up. Luckily, I don't have really sparse eyebrows so I don't have to spend ages on them. Here's what I do:

1. I use an eyebrow brush in gentle upward, diagonal motions to neaten the hairs;

2. With an eyebrow pencil, I give them shape, then use the pigmented wax to soften the line;

3. I fill in my brows using the setting powder;

4. I use a spool brush to fade the beginning of the brows to prevent them from looking harsh and blocky. This gives a more natural look;

5. Finally, I neaten it all up and give them added definition by applying a little bit of concealer using an angled brush.

I think it's a handy little kit. It's also available in 'Light' which would suit blondes ('Dark' is better suited to brunettes and darker hair shades). The kit retails for £7.99 and can be purchased from www.sleekmakeup.com and Superdrug.

Have you tried the Sleek Brow Kit? How do you do your brows? Please leave a comment below.

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My Ensemble (OOTD) : Christmas Day

2011-12-25T19:13:00.000Z

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas yesterday. Mine involved peeling loads of potatoes and wrestling a very large chicken. Good times. Here's what I wore to the mid-day service at church:

Dress: ASOS

Jacket: New Look

Silk Scarf: Tie Rack

Shoes: ALDO

Bag: Miss Selfridge

So, that's another Christmas done and gone. Belly fuller than full (*burp*), presents exchanged, washing up done, laugher galore. Spending time with loved ones puts so much into perspective and forces you to remember just how blessed you are, something we should acknowledge all year round. Seasons greetings, everyone.

Did you do anything special yesterday? Who did you spend it with? What prezzies did you get?

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The December Carmine Beauty Box

2011-12-23T17:47:00.000Z

This is the last of the beauty boxes. I promise! Am I the only one that finds this box a pain to open? By the way, apologies for thinking the last one was December's; I received it at the middle of this month, you see. Anyway, here it is. It's interesting *stokes chin* and came with six goodies.

1. JAPONESQUE Smudger Brush;

2. WELEDA Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash;

3. MYFACE COSMETICS Blingtone in Sp"ice"y;

4. INSTITUT ESTHEDERM Time Technology Cream;

5. BENITO BROW BAR Free Brow Threading;

6. KMS CALIFORNIA Freeshape Quick Blow Dry.

I haven't got a smudger brush and this looks nice and densely packed so will come in handy when creating different eye looks. I had a peek at the Japonseque website and they have some pretty nice makeup accessories.

This smells so nice. I've heard that pomegranate is good for the skin and like the fact this is a creamy wash, so I'll try this tonight. Oh, excuse the glitter in the swatch photo. The product below is to blame.

Indeed this will bling up the eyes. A little goes a long way but It's slightly too shimmery and messy for my liking.

This cream promises to give my skin "instant glow" and provide "deep moisturisation". Nice. Very 'Ooh là là' website. Had to mute the music.

I don't thread my eyebrows. Never have done. I've heard it's very painful. I'm sure one of my friends would appreciate the voucher though.

This will "reduce you blowdrying time by up to 50%", which is good because that means you're exposing your hair to less heat. I'll try this on my extensions but not my natural hair because I only use selected products on my real locks and something tells me this product may dry out my natural tresses.

It's not a particularly festive box, but there are some very nice products inside.

What do you think of this month's box? Have you tried any of the products or brands before? Please leave a comment below.

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NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss

2011-12-23T16:04:00.000Z

I've become more of a lipstick wearer of late but I still like a little bit of gloss every so often. I bought four NYX glosses on eBay about three weeks ago. As they were coming from The States they only arrived today. All of them smell really nice - plum-like actually- and glide on really well with a very high-shine finish (as you would expect).

Here's what they look like on my lips. Bear in mind that I'm not wearing any lip pencil or foundation and haven't muted out my top lip (which is much darker in pigmentation compared to my bottom lip) with a foundation or concealer, for example.

I only really like two of them. My favourite is 'Garnet'. It's a gorgeous cherry red, the most pigmented of the four glosses, and suits me the best. I like 'Tanned' too; it's a lovely nude. 'Pink Rose' is VERY bright, even though it looks quite subtle in the photo. Great if I was going for a modern black Barbie look but that's not my thing so erm, nah. I didn't like the way 'Taupe' came out. It was frosty-looking, and I hate frosty lip gloss. I think they can look cheap. Just as well that I only paid £2.50 for each of them.

Which is your favourite of the swatched glosses? Have you tried NYX lip glosses before? Which ones and in which shades/colours? Please leave a comment below.

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Black Radiance Shine Control Primer Review

2011-12-20T17:40:00.001Z

I've been using the 'Black Radiance Complexion Perfection - Shine Control Primer' (*draws breath in*...now breathe) for the last month and I'm astonished at how effective it is. My face is quite oily, particularly on my T-zone area and more so when I put on makeup. I hate looking like I've just been chased down the road by a vicious bulldog or just come out of the sauna at the gym.

It's an American brand so it's not readily available in stores here in the UK but you can purchase it on >> Amazon << in packs of three for roughly £17 (You'll have to go onto the US version because when I checked earlier today, I found that it's currently unavailable on the UK one).
I first heard about it when I was watching a YouTube video by user 'lipSH0CK' (I love viewing her tutorials because I find it fascinating to see how makeup can transform the way a person can look) titled "Beauty Blurb / Control Those Oilies". This product was her number one recommended drug store primer and now I know why.

I completely trusted her judgement, bought it and totally agree with her for these reasons:

APPLICATION is a dream- it's a clean cream that can be put on effortlessly by dabbing and blending. It absorbs really well too, making applying makeup on top a breeze;
The FORMULA is perfect. As a water-based cream it isn't sticky, hasn't got an offensive odour, and doesn't leave your skin looking dry or ashy;
The shine control is ridiculously LONG-LASTING (at least 8 hours, I would say);
It leaves a lovely flawless FINISH to your look.

The Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Primer gets 5 out of 5 pearls from me!

What face primer(s) do you swear by? Please leave a comment below.

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NOTD: Barry M & Bourjois Simple Christmas-Themed Nails

2011-12-19T17:01:00.000Z

As it's the week running up to Christmas Day (I still can't believe it), I thought I'd paint my nails red and green. After all, no other colours scream X-mas like these two. I applied two coats of Bourjois' 'Rouge Escarpin' on the ring finger of each hand and then two coats of Barry M's 'Spring Green' on the other fingers. Using my eBay dotting tools (post >>here<<), I put green dots on top of the red polish. Ah, I feel Christmassy already.

What Christmas-themed nails are you/ will you be rocking this week? Please leave a comment below.

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MIZANI In-Control Workable Holding Spritz Review

2011-12-19T14:35:00.000Z

I'm fairly new to using MIZANI products and hadn't heard much about the hair brand before a friend mentioned it to me a couple of years ago.

It's a high-end American brand that was developed by Soft Sheen and Redken in 1991 but today, it's a division of L'Oreal Professional USA.

The products are quite pricey but very high in quality. I've been using the 'In-Control Workable Holding Spritz' for the past week (particularly on my fringe because I hate it looking flat) and like it A LOT. It retails at £17.50 but is a great product.

The very few MIZANI products I've tried in the past have always smelt pleasant and this spritz is no exception. I like the fact that MIZANI products are for all hair types so I can use it on my natural hair and my hair extensions. Once applied, this is light and doesn't feel sticky like a lot of holding sprays do, so I can use it with my straighteners or curling irons without burning or drying out my hair. It's not called 'workable' for nothing. It's just as effective to use before, during or after styling. It doesn't leave my locks stiff and doesn't clump up the hairs in noticeable chunks so I can still brush through the strands if I need to re-style or neaten up the look. I have nothing bad to say about this product really. As it's more expensive compared to my other hair products, I wouldn't use it daily but definitely for when I'm getting ready to go 'out out'.

So I'd say buy this product if you want a holding spritz that....

...provides very long-lasting hold;
...helps prevent breakage and split ends;
...is alcohol-free;
...provides heat protection for your hair;
...is frizz resistant.

Don't buy this product if...

...you think £17.25 is too expensive for a holding spritz.

MIZANI In-Control Workable Holding Spritz gets 4 pearls out of 5 from me!

For more information on the products available by MIZANI click >> HERE <<

Have you tried this particular product or the MIZANI brand before? Let me know your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.

*This MIZANI product was sent by Unleashed Potential for review and consideration. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% honest and that of my own.

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Winter 2011 GlossyBox For Men

2011-12-19T11:43:00.000Z

OK, so this is one for the fellas. There's a beauty box for you lot too and here it is: the GlossyBox for MEN! It's quarterly-so you get one every three months- and comes with seven product samples. The box costs £15 plus £2.98 p&p.
I got this for my husband- who was very adamant about it because he's not into beauty products at all- because despite the fact he's a simply guy when it comes the cosmetics, I was curious to see how he'd respond to the products inside.

It's a grey-ish/ browny coloured box, which is a good, safe masculine colour. Normal, nice presentation inside i.e. ribbon tied into a bow (my husband didn't really care about that detail. Ha!)

1. YVES SAINT LAURENT La Nuit de L'Homme and L'Homme (£43 / 60ml);

2. MONU Vitru Conditioning Body Wash (£12.25 / 200ml);

3. MONU Vitru Energy Rub (£15 / 150ml);

4. GOLDWELL StyleSign Roughman - Matte Cream Paste (£9 / 100ml);

5 GOLDWELL Dualsenses FOR MEN Hair & Body Shampoo (£7.60 / 300ml);

6. MURAD Clarifying Mask (£35 / 75g);

7. SHAVEWORKS The Cool Fix (£31 /156ml)

My hubby doesn't really like YSL fragrances so wasn't excited when he saw these samples in the box. To me they smell OK but OK as in just standard, typical male smelling perfumes. Both smell really similar. The only difference is that the eau de toilette (L'Homme) is milder.

Body wash is usable. He's tried energy rubs before and reckons they're a waste of money.

Yep, he could use the hair and body shampoo but as for the hair gel? Well, he's black and has short hair so erm, no.

This is the only product that he seemed remotely happy with, even though he hardly ever breaks out in spots and already has lovely skin.

My husband luckily doesn't suffer from any of these things so this product is irrelevant to him but I suppose it seems like a promising solution if he did.

My verdict on the box is that you'd pretty much have to be a hardcore metrosexual to appreciate its contents otherwise you'll find it to be a bit of a disappointment. However, it's a good way of discovering cosmetics brands. Overall, my husband was far from impressed and no way will he spend that much money on for the full sized products. He's not fazed by the marketing spiels or what super-rare ingredient is inside a product. Let's just say I'll be hitting that 'unsubscribe' button.

For more information, visit: www.glossybox.co.uk/men

Ladies, did you get a GlossyBox for Men for your brother, dad, uncle, other half? I'd love to know their thoughts on it.

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November Carmine Beauty Box

2011-12-18T02:00:00.000Z

Here's November's Carmine box. I thought it was December's one because I've only recently started subscribing and it arrived yesterday (mid- December!) Anyway, it's a good'un.

1. NEW CID COSMETICS i-Pout Lipstick;

2. DAINTY DOLL Eyeliner Pencil;
3.COSMETICS À LA CARTE Brow Ink;

4. LULU'S TIME BOMB Flasback Night Cream;

5. NEOM ORGANICS Real Luxury: Body Lotion.

This is my second New CID product (I got my first in my December JolieBox-- read >> here), and I'm not complaining. I love that the lipsticks and glosses light up and have a mini mirror on the lid. Great for doing a touch up in dark settings. Even though I have quite a collection of cherry/plum red lipsticks, at least this suits my skin tone so yaaay.

Didn't realise that Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud had a makeup range. I'll check it out. This eyeliner is OK. Would have preferred it in black though (it's in 'Goody Two Shoes' << basically brown), but I can work with it. Might be more useful and look better on than I think. Will most likely use it on my brows.

Ah. Perfect for filling in the brows and it also doubles as an eyeliner (if you want to use a brown one). It's in 'Taupe' but is much darker than a taupe.

Out of curiosity, I've wanted to try a night cream for a while now so was chuffed this was inside. Will use this tonight.

This is OK but I don't want to smell of it. Reminds me of incense.

Good stuff. I'm happy.

For more information, head over to www.carmine.co.uk/box

Do you subscribe to the Carmine beauty box as well? What do you think of the products inside this month's box? Have you used any of these products or brands before? Please comment below.

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December JolieBox (Formerly Boudoir Privé)

2011-12-17T13:43:00.000Z

It's here! Boudoir Privé is now JolieBox. They've teamed up with France's leading beauty box subscription service which has worked with top brands such as Benefit, Essie and Lancôme .Weh-heh-heh-heh-hell! Let me tell you ladies, this month's box is a scorcher!

The dimensions of the box are slightly smaller, but what it may lack in size, it definitely makes up for in contents.

1. OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer;

2. NEW CID COSMETICS i-Gloss;

3. JANE IREDALE 24-Karat Gold Dust;

4. MITCHELL AND PEACH Shower Wash;

5. YON-KA Vital Defence;

*BONUS 1* KUSMI Detox Tea;

*BONUS 2* (Hidden under wrapping paper) JOLIEBOX Concealer Brush.

Although I've already got a few shatter effect nail polishes, I love OPI so whey-hey! Aaaannd, it's the full size *does cartwheel*

This is a new brand to me and I'm already in love with. Yay. The item not only has a mini mirror on the side (sorry, forgot to photograph it), but it also lights up, which is perfect for when you're out clubbing or partying and need apply some gloss in the dark. When I looked at the colour ('Coconut Ice'), I thought: "No way will that suit me", but it does. It's a nude, which is loverly!

This shimmer powder is great. It's in 'Rose Gold' and even though it can be applied all over e.g. "eyes, lips, body and even hair" (<< what? seriously? no thanks), I reckon it's best on the cheeks.

Nothing particularly wow-smelling about this but I shall try it when I shower tonight before bed.

This sample came in a little tube. I'm not into anti-ageing products but the anti-pollution element is selling this to me. London is ridiculously congested with toxic fumes we don't notice so even though I'll have to use it over time to notice it's effects, I'll give it a go.

Bonuuuuusss! Whooop! I love tea, and with all the X-mas grub I'l be stuffing my face with, this will surely come in handy for my post-Christmas detox regime.

Bonuuussss number two. Whooop whooop! It was hidden underneath the wrapping paper as a surprise. Good thing I read the email I was sent earlier this week about looking out for the additional item, otherwise I may have chucked it away with the box, unknowingly. I have a few concealer brushes but another one won't hurt. This brush is nice and soft so thumbs up.

Oh JolieBox. Oh JoliBox. How lovely are your items?! I love it. I love it....Did I mention that I love it?

For more information, visit www.boudoirprive.co.uk

Do you subscribe to JoileBox too? What do you think of the first ever UK one? Have you used any of these products or brands before? Please comment below.

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NOTD: Deborah Lippmann And E.L.F. - Razzle Dazzle Red

2011-12-16T22:06:00.002Z

Three coats of the E.L.F polish as a base, then one coat of DL 'Razzle Dazzle'.

The Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle nail polish came in my December GlossyBox but was too translucent on its own so I decided to use my newly bought 'Medium Red' polish by E.L.F. (read haul >> here) as a base colour. They team quite well and sparkly, glitter nails are perfect for the festive season.

What nail polish(es) are you currently wearing? Do you have any glitter polishes? Please leave a comment below.

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E.L.F. Makeup Haul

2011-12-15T15:30:00.000Z

Eyes Lips Face. This makeup brand is ridiculously cheap. That's probably why I didn't feel guilty at all about spending just over £30 online for 19 items. Most of the products are only £1.50. It's sort of like the Primark of makeup.

Black False Dramatic Lash Kit // Black Waterproof Eyeliner Pen // Eyelid Primer in 'Sheer'

These lashes looked nice and even though they're the "dramatic" ones, something tells me they might look quite natural.

I'm forever looking for the perfect eyeliner. I've found that gel liners seem to be the best but was curious to try this eyeliner pen.

Loads of YouTubers seem to have an E.L.F eyelid primer so I thought I'd get me some of the action too and see what the fuss is about.

Mineral Lipgloss in 'Crystal Clear' and Night Owl// Lipstick in 'Voodoo' (top) and 'Posh' // Plumping Lip Glaze in 'Fire Coral' and 'Ruby Kiss'.

Sometimes you just want clear gloss, especially if you're wearing a lipstick colour that you love and don't want to alter the shade.

These lipsticks smell delightful! Not waxy like some tend to smell like. I love the shades too. They're subtle in difference (one's more of a soft pink cherry and the other is more of a deep cherry) but look great.

Gosh. These lip plumpers don't mess. I can't bare the tingling. I only bought these because I liked the colours, and not necessarily to achieve fuller lips. I already have that.

Tone Correcting Concealer in 'Toffee' // Natural Radiance Blusher in 'Flushed'

This is the darkest concealer E.L.F has but it works well on my brow bone to give my eyebrows added definition.

Took me forever to figure out how to open the blusher. Got there in the end. I normally go for bronzing shaded blushers because they suit my skin tone the best but thought I'd try this one out to wear during the day. It's quite nice actually. Different for me but quite nice.

Top (L-R) Passion Pink - - Gum Pink -- Rosy Raisin -- Plum
Bottom (L-R) Champagne -- Mango Madness -- Fire Coral -- Medium Red

E.L.F Have such a great range of nail polish colours. I selected these eight, some of which are new shades.

The only thing I find annoying about shopping at E.L.F is that one minute the item you want is available and then the next minute it's not. When whatever you want is out of stock, it's back within a day or so after you've already placed your order, but hey, 'tis life.

Why not treat yourself? Head over to www.eyeslipsface.co.uk.

Have you used or bought any E.L.F products (recently)? What are your thoughts on the brand? Please leave a comment below.

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December GlossyBox (Christmas Edition)

2011-12-14T12:49:00.000Z

Sorry guys. I know I've ben bombarding you with beauty boxes for the last couple of weeks but they all seem to be coming at once. My X-mas Edition GlossyBox was sent sent out at the beginning of this week. It was promised to be a good'un and they certainly did not fail in making it just that!

1. NOUVEAU LASHES Noir Mascara (£14.99/8g);

2. FIRST AID BEAUTY (FAB) Face Cleanser (£13/141g);

3. RITUALS Foaming Shower Gel (£6.50/200ml);

4. CARGO COSMETICS Classic Lip Gloss (£10/full size);

5. DEBORAH LIPPMANN Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped-To-Go Sachet (£16/polish; £14/x6 removers).

This is a swanky little mascara that comes in a box and sits a holder (it's heavier that most mascaras too because it doesn't come in a plastic tube but a metal one). It's very liquidy so could possibly quite messy and clumpy. There's nothing particularly fascinating about the brush but it seems OK. Will review this some time soon.

I hate the smell of this but I'll try it out, nonetheless. I have so many face cleansers but I'm alway keen to try new ones.

Oh my goodness! Heavenly smelling! I'm definitely going to use this in once I publish this post. Never tried a foaming shower gel before either so this should be interesting.

This is a nice subtle pink- 'Morocco' to be precise. I've got lipglosses that are similar in colour so I'm glad that I got mine in a shade that I would go for.

Sparkly nail varnish! How fitting for the festive season! Lovely colour too. I'm curious to see test out the nail polish remover mitts, especially with glitter nail varnish because I've heard it can be a nightmare to take off.

Overall, I'm really chuffed with this month's box! Lovely!

Visit www.glossybox.co.uk for more information.

Do you subscribe to GlossyBox? If so, what do you make of what was inside this month's box? What did you get in yours? Have you used any of these products or brands before? Please leave a comment below.

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NOTN: Barry M Gold Foil Effect With Glitter

2011-12-14T12:38:00.000Z

As you may have seen me tweet or read on my Night Eyes: 'Humid' Eye Shadow By MAC post , last Friday was my offfice X-mas party. I wore my gold Celeb Boutique dress (you can read the post about it >> here) so decided to go with matching gold nails. I hadn't tried the Barry M foil effect nail paint since I bought it in October so thought it was high time I did.

To add extra glitz to the look I decided to put some glitter on the ring finger of each hand using some gold glitter I purchased on eBay a few months back. I know there are lots of glitter polishes out there but I thought it would be fun to use actual glitter to get the look (time consuming and messy, I know).

STEPS

1. I simply applied one coat (that's all I needed) of the Barry M polish on all my nails- doing the ring finger last;

2. Then I sprinkled some glitter onto my ring finger before the polish dried;

3. Tapped off any excess glitter;

4. Let nails dry;

5. Finally I applied a top coat of some clear nail polish (I used my Rimmel 60 Seconds one) to set and protect the glitter.

Have you tried Barry M's foil effect polish? What do you think of it? What nail looks will you be rocking during the festive season?

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December Feel Unique Beauty Box

2011-12-13T16:48:00.002Z

My first Feel Unique beauty box arrived this morning. Whoop!

1. ANNICK GOUTAL Mandragore Eau De Toilette;

2. NAILS INC. Oxford Circus Limited Edition Nail Polish;

3. FIGS & ROUGE Sweet Geranium 100% Organic Balm;

4. TIGI BED HEAD Candy Fixations Sugar Dust;

5. CLARISONIC Cleanser.

I don't dislike this fragrance but I don't particularly like it either. The smell reminds me of a cooking enthusiast's herbs cupboard/draw. I can definitely smell the peppermint, ginger, bergamot and boxwood. Once it settles, though, it's a little soapy and musk smelling.

I've never thought about what colour Oxford Circus would be if it were a nail polish but I certainly wouldn't have come up with a baby pink. Maybe a neon blue or deep purple. Anyway, it's a cute shade.

Yep, this definitely smells like geraniums. As soon as I took a whiff of this, my mind triggered back to when I used to help out with the gardening as a teenager. This product is moisturising and very soft on the lips. Although a little oily, it absorbs well. However, it doesn't last very long.

I get a lot of stress spots (I'm such a worrier) around my chin and jaw line. When they begin to fade, I'm often left with dry skin and blemishes so this should be good to try out as part of my skincare regimen over the next few days.

When I took this out of the box, I thought: "seasoning pot" (you can imagine my face, right?). Basically, you sprinkle this onto your roots so it absorbs your hair's natural oils and it claims to help give it more volume. Interesting.

Head over to www.feelunique.com/beautybox for more information.

Do you subscribe to the Feel Unique beauty box? If so, what do you think of this month's goodies? If not, have you tried or used any of these products or brands before? Please leave a comment below.

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Mini AVON Haul (December 2011)

2011-12-12T14:57:00.000Z

It's been such a long time since I bought anything from Avon and I almost forgot how much I love so many of the products. They've always got deals and promotions on so you're bound to get a bargain and their range of products are perfect as Christmas presents. I couldn't be bothered to locate my nearest representative so just went online.

1. Far Away Eau De Parfum;

2. Eternal Magic Purse Spray;

3. Super Enchant Mascara in 'Black';

4. 24K Gold Lip Gloss in 'Golden Peach';

5. Glazewear Sparkle Lip Gloss in 'Shimmering Amethyst';

6. Little Red Dress Lipstick in 'Broze Treasure.

I only ordered three items-1, 4 and 6. The other three were promotional freebies (result!).

One thing I absolutely love about Avon, is their perfumes. So ridiculously affordable and they don't smell cheap at all. They've got a fantastic range. 'Far Away' is one of my favourites and at £8 it's a steal! It's a sweet, yet fresh, mature fragrance. I like the tassel around the lid too. Nice touch.

I was going to buy 'Perceive' as well but it was out of stock when I placed my order so I was a little gutted about that, even more so now that it's back in stock. But hey, I got a free perfume. Now, I wouldn't have selected 'Eternal Magic' (didn't even notice it) but it's a gorgeous lavender smelling perfume that I would definitely wear.

I haven't tried this mascara yet but I really like the brush. Seems good for doing the lower eyelashes.

I've been looking for a peach lipgloss and was pleased when I saw this online. It's got a hint of gold shimmer in it so would be perfect to wear on an evening out.

This was one of the three freebies. I definitely would not have bought it in this colour. It looks like a sort of cerise pink but when I swatched it, it appeared to be more of a purple. Although I've been quite curious to try out deep pink/purple on my lips, I'm not a fan of the glitter in it.

I've been into bronze, brown and nude lipsticks of late so popped this in my virtual shopping cart. I liked it a lot when I swatched it and realised it's roughly a shade lighter than my skin tone so would work if I was to go for a subtle makeup look.

Have you bought anything from Avon (recently)?

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Night Eyes: 'Humid' Eye Shadow by MAC

2011-12-11T15:19:00.001Z

Friday was my office X-mas party so I decided to add a bit of colour to my eyes by doing a green smokey eye look (I can't get enough of the smokey eye!) using my MAC Eye Shadow in 'Humid'.

STEPS:

1. To avoid creasing and allow the colours to really 'pop', I primed my eyelid using NYX eyeshadow primer in 'pearl'.

2. Then I applied the bronze shade from my Black Up 05 Duo Palette (post >> here) in the inner corner of my eye, up to a third of the way out.

3. Using a dabbing technique (in order to get maximum pigment), I applied the 'Humid' eyeshadow starting slightly over the bronze and then all the way out with a densely packed eyeshadow brush.

4. Next, using a pointed brush (for precision) I applied a dark brown shade (from my Blush Cosmetics 88 Colour Hot Earth Palette - - post >> here) all the way into the crease of my eye to add depth.

5. Using a black eyeshadow (also from my Blush Cosmetics 88 Colour Hot Earth Palette), I formed a small sideways 'v' in the outer corner of my eye and worked it very slightly into the creasy of my eye (making sure not to go all the way in).

6With a pencil brush, I applied some bronze in the lower inside corner of my eye and a quarter of the way out, then the 'Humid' to the other 75% of my lower lash line.

7. I used a clean medium sized blending brush to to ensure all the colours were well blended together.

8. I applied Maybelline's gel eyeliner to my top lash line.

9. Next I used my Mary Kay Concealer in 'Bronze 2' to tidy up the look and define the smoke.

10. Finally, after applying some Rimmel Scandal Eyes Macara, I completed the look with a pair of false lashes ..... Voila! Party over here!

What do you think? What are some of your favourite eyeshadow looks for nights out?

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VIDEO November Boudoir Privé Beauty Box

2011-12-11T05:18:00.001Z

Here's my mini review on the products that were in November's Boudoir Privé beauty box.

You can have a read of my blog post about the November Boudoir Privé box >> here!

Visit www.boudoirprive.co.uk for more information on the beauty box.

Do you subscribe to Boudoir Privé (if so, I'd love to know what you got inside your box) or any other beauty box? Please leave a comment below!

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VIDEO Nail Care- Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover & Nail Tek

2011-12-08T09:26:00.001Z

You may have already read the posts that I did on these two products but I thought I'd have a video ramble about them too (why not, eh?).

Blog Posts

Fresh Therapies- Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover

Nail Tek II - Foundation & Intensive Therapy

What nail care products have you been using recently? Are there any that you would/could recommend?

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Face Of The Day Using The Black Up 05 Duo Palette

2011-12-08T08:00:00.000Z

This is my first ever Face Of The Day (FOTD) post. I'm still a beginner at applying makeup (as I keep stressing, so be nice!) but I think I'm getting better at it and definitely finding certain things easier to do. I didn't really have anywhere to go so just took it as a makeup practice exercise.

I wanted to use some of my new buys so I went with the Black Up Duo Palette (see Makeup Haul post >> here). Because of the colours in the palette, I decided to wear a nude lipgloss. Personally as a general rule of thumb, if I'm wearing vibrant eyeshadow, I go with a nude/subtle face, and vice versa, if I have a neutral face and eyes, I team the look with bright lips. Stage makeup is different. That has no rules really. But since I'm dealing with everyday life, I stick to this rule to avoid looking like a clown.

OK... so here it is:

FACE

Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Face Primer

Yana Cosmetics Liquid Foundation in 'No. 9' (have a read of my review >> here)

Mary Kay Concealer in 'Bronze 2'

MAC Blush in 'Sweet As Cocoa'

Sleek Contour and Highlight Kit in 'Dark'

EYES

NYX Eyeshadow Base in 'Pearl'

Black Up Duo Eyeshadow in 05

Collection 2000 Fast Stroke Liquid Eyeliner

Collection 2000 Mascara in 'Black'

Eyelashes (I don't know. These were put on me during a makeup workshop I attended)

Sleek Eyebrow Pencil in 'Black'

LIPS

MAC Lipglass in 'Liquorish'

I intend on getting MAC's eyebrow pencil in 'Stud' because black is too dark for the brows (and even though my eyebrows are naturally quite dark, no one has jet black eyebrows) and some browns are too light but I put this on as lightly as possible so it doesn't look too bad.

I'm not really feeling these lashes because they're a bit too dramatic for my liking. Also, as the eyelash clusters are separated rather than densely packed, your natural eyelashes don't blend very well with them.

I despise liquid eyeliner! It's messy and gives you very little control (and as I don't have a very steady hand, it can sometimes end up looking like a kindergarten kid put it on for me). I need to buy the gel liner by MAC and I've heard the one by Maybelline is really good too.

I'm getting much much better at blending though, so yaaay!

What do you think?

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Makeup Haul: Sleek, MAC, Black Up, NYX, & Rimmel

2011-12-06T15:00:00.000Z

I thought I'd share a few of my payday splurge makeup buys with you. These products will feature in future posts so I won't go into too much detail about them.

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Dark

I have a relatively slim face but I thought I'd give subtle contouring a go just to define my facial structure a little more.

Black Up Paris Duo Eyeshadow in 05 and Lipstick in No.21

One of my friends has been ranting and raving about this brand, which specialises in cosmetics for ethnic skin, so I ordered a couple of things to see what all the fuss was about.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara (Black) and Vinyl Gloss in 'Heartbeat'

I've heard so many mixed reviews about this mascara but was intrigued to try it out for myself.

I love Rimmel lip glosses, particularly the nude pinks.

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Humid' and Lip Glaze in 'Liquer'

I got these when I attended the Macquille Moi makeup workshop last weekend (I'm finalising the post so it should be up later this week).

NYX Eyeshadow Base in 'Pearl White'

As I'm getting into wearing more eyeshadow these days, I've heard that a good base is vital to help the colour pop, keep your eyeshadow on for longer and help prevent creasing. I've used it once since I got it and can definitely notice the difference with and without.

Have you got any of these products? If so, what's your opinion on them? If not, what makeup products have you bought recently? Please leave a comment below.

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Nail Tek : Foundation And Intensive Therapy

2011-12-05T17:46:00.001Z

I've been a little nail obsessed recently (this is a consecutive post about nails) but I can't stress enough how important I think it is to look after them. It's all well and good painting them pretty colours and designs, but if they're deteriorating in state then you're doing yourself no favours. It's just like wearing makeup but not looking after your skin. In the long run, you're only causing yourself more damage.

As I mentioned in my last post on Eden natural nail polish remover, I've suffered from peeling, weak nails that also often split in the most awkward and painful of places (right in the middle , which means I have to grow it out before I can even cut, file, and shape). Sometimes it's not enough to just drink loads of milk or have good calcium intake. A friend of mine, who is a complete nail junkie, recommended Nail Tek to me. She swears by it so I decided to take her word and try it. I bought Nail Tek Foundation II and Intensive Therapy.

Both work together. The Foundation (the cloudy/creamy one) acts as a base coat, then if you wish, simply apply the nail polish you want to wear on top; the Intensive Therapy (clear one) can then be used as a daily top coat to help strengthen the nails.

Alternatively, if you don't intend on applying any nail polish, this is wearable on it's own because when put on it gives a French manicure effect to the nails. The photo above is what the Foundation looks like on its own. It has a matt finish with a velvet texture but obviously with the Intensive Therapy on top, the nails look glossy. When applied and dried (which takes about one minute), your nails instantly feel stronger.

I'll be testing them out for a couple of weeks or so and do a progress update video.

If you're interested in getting these, I'd advise to you to shop around. Amazon and eBay sellers do some pretty good deals. I got this set of two for under £11 (inclusive of p&p) on eBay.

What nail care products do you use? Leave a comment below.

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Fresh Therapies: Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover

2011-12-03T00:00:00.000Z

I tested out Eden natural nail polish remover over a week ago and was so impressed with the results and the product as a whole that I purchased the full 50ml bottle.

How does it compare to other nail polish removers?

PRICE: At £12 (inclusive of p&p) for 50ml, it's considerably more than your standard nail polish remover which costs less than £3 for a 100ml/200ml bottle (less for more).

PACKAGING: Comes boxed and product is contained within a swanky glass bottle, as opposed to a plastic one.

APPEARANCE: Clear in colour rather than other removers which are often artificially coloured pink, purple, blue or yellow;

SCENT: Unlike other nail polish removers that are offensive and toxic in odour, this is citrous smelling;

INGREDIENTS: This product is made from under ten natural ingredients which are vegetable or fruit derived compared to other nail remover brands which have double the amount of ingredients (and un-natural ones), including acetate (which gives off that horrible odour).

USE: Easy and quick to remove nail polish with and you only need a few dabs onto cotton wool to remove varnish on all nails; Other brands are also easy and quick to remove nail varnish but you often have to wet the cotton wool with more of the product to complete both hands.

NAIL CARE: It moisturises your nails and cuticles, rather than drying them out and making them feel brittle and weak.

As you may know, I have a four-month-old, so I've always been concerned about exposing him to the instantly inhaled chemicals that are present in nail polish removers. For this reason, I normally go into another room to take off my nail varnish, so this product instantly appealed to me.

I don't know if you can see in the photo above, but it left a nice, temporary sheen on my nails. One of the selling points for me with this product is the fact that it doesn't damage the natural oils within the nails. I already suffer from pealing nails so this gentle, nourishing treatment provides some relief.

Also, the Barry M Crackle Effect Nail Paint (post >>> here) discoloured my nails yellow. I'm glad to say that this product has gradually restored my nails to their natural colour. It's also really effective at removing dark nail polishes.

So, definitely buy it if....

...you have a baby/todler or young children;
...you're pregnant;
...you're generally particular about inhaling the chemicals present in most nail products (which can often give headaches);
...you dislike the strong smell of acetone lingering in your room after usage;
...you like natural products.

Don't buy if...

...you think £12 is too pricey for a bottle of nail polish remover.

I'm thinking about exclusively using this product. With the amount of times I change my nail polish in a month and considering how very little you need to completely remove varnish on both hands, I estimate that one bottle could last me anywhere between three to four months. I don't mind spending £12 quarterly for it.

Eden natural nail polish remover gets 9 pearls out of 10 from me!

For more information and/or to request a sample, visit www.freshtherapies.com.

Have you heard of or tried this product before? If so, what do you think of it? What nail polish remover do you use? Are you even that concerned about the type of nail products you use?

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November GlossyBox

2011-11-30T20:10:00.000Z

This post is super late because the postman didn't leave a 'we have something for you' slip after making an 'attempted' delivery over a week ago. Typical. But anyway that's another story. I collected it from the delivery office this morning, so here's what's inside this month's box:

1.NAIL ROCK Designer Nail Wraps (£6.65/pack)

2. ILLAMASQUA Freak Eau De Parfum (£59.00 / 75ml)

3. DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK Gentle Cleansing Facial Wash

4. ARBONNE FC5 Cooling Foot Crème (£19 / 118ml)

5. PHILIP KINGSLEY Elasticizer (£52.10 / 500ml)

I've never used nail wraps before so this should be interesting. I've heard they can be a nightmare to cut and file to the shape and size of your own nails but I'll see how it goes. Will do a post when I attempt to put them on.

I've heard the hype around this new fragrance so I was eager to try it when I saw it in the box.

Top Notes: Black Davana, Opium Flower, and Belladonna <---whatever they are!!

Heart Notes: Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of the Night <--- never heard of them either.

Base Notes: Frankinscense, Oud and Myrrh <--- Two out of three 'aint bad.

I like the scent enough to consider buying it but it doesn't last as long on the skin as some of my other designer fragrances do.

I got a Dead Sea Spa Magik item in my November Boudoir Privé box so I'm becoming quite accustomed to this brand now. I'm a fan of facial cleansing products so can't wait to use this over the next few days.

I actually have rough, dry skin on my feet so I'm keen to see if this product will work its wonders.

As I've stated before, when it comes to my natural hair, I strictly stick to the products I currently use (the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil brand, for those of you wondering), but I'll give this to a friend to test out for me and review. "Elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine", eh? Sounds promising.

I'll be testing out the products over the coming week and will do a YouTube mini review on them so look out for the video.

For more information on GlossyBox, head over to the website www.glossybox.co.uk

What was in your GlossyBox? Were you happy with this month's box? What did you like/dislike? If you don't currently subscribe to GlossyBox or a beauty box, is it something you'd consider?

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Photography by...Jerry Barnett

2011-11-30T20:00:00.000Z

Every month I do a photography-related post because I love the art. Last month I wrote about my friend Catherine Doherty who took my wedding and maternity photographs (read the post >> here). If you read my blog yesterday, you may remember that a Nikon D5100 was on my End-Of-Month/ X-Mas Wish List. I definitely want to get involved in photography (as a hobby) in 2012 and enhance my blog with better quality images.

This month the spotlight is on a photographer whose work I've been following for about three years now: Jerry Barnett. I love how he captures people in their element. His photos are so natural, which makes a change from a lot of the airbrushed stuff out there.

Bio:

Jerry Barnett is a London-based technologist and political activist who began taking a serious interest in photography around 2000, and has done professional photography work since 2007, when he has time to spare between running a small software business and engaging in political activism. While in London, his photography is usually focused on music and musicians, along with portrait shoots and the occasional wedding. Africa has always been a place of deep fascination for him, and he takes his camera there when he can; he has carried out three trips to West Africa in the past three years, visiting six countries.

I asked him to compile a few of his favourites and I (cheekily) picked my favourite from his selection. Here it is:

Who better to tell you about the photo than the man himself?

"This was taken during a bike ride in Casamance, the southernmost region of Senegal. After a stay in the busy capital, Dakar, I'd travelled by overnight ferry to Ziguinchor, the Casamance regional capital, and spent some time travelling around the region. Casamance is sleepy, very scenic and friendly, a gently hilly landscape that becomes more marshy towards the coast. This shot was taken between Oussouye, a pretty inland town, and the coastal town of Cabrousse.

On a journey like this, I stop often to take photos of the scenery or people. This woman had been walking with friends, probably back from shopping at a market. It was taken a little before midday, as the sun was becoming hot (though this was in January, so the heat was comfortable), and presumably she was heading home to make lunch. I saw that her tall elegance (a typical look of Senegalese/Gambian women) along with the backdrop, the child on her back, and the large yellow golfing umbrella, could make for an interesting portrait.

I always ask if I want to take a close-up shot of a person - generally not if the shot is wider. Sometimes, especially in more touristy areas, people will ask for payment; I always refuse to pay for a photo. If you're travelling in a poor country, it's far better to spare your money for hard-working people rather than those who have become skilled at extracting money from tourists for doing nothing. Buying food and souvenirs from locals, trying to stay in locally-owned accommodation are far better ways of helping the local economy than giving money to touts and beggars. In less touristy parts like this one, it's unlikely people will ask for money; however, having a photograph taken is a relatively expensive luxury for many Africans (every town of any size will have at least one photo studio), and I often offer to email a copy of the photo (Internet cafés are becoming widespread in West Africa)."

I love the cultural/ethnic element to this photo. My eye is instantly drawn to the subject but without overlooking the calm scenery.

If you want to know more about Jerry's work or have a look at some more of his wonderful photos you can do so at: www.blackandwhitebritain.com and www.facebook.com/jerrybarnettphotography;
You can also follow Jerry on Twitter www.twitter.com/JerryBarnett .

Which photographer's do you follow and why?

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End-Of-Month/ X-Mas Wish List: November

2011-11-29T13:29:00.001Z

So, December is almost here, and that means Christmas is upon us. Here are a few wish-list-worthy things that caught my eye.

1. Elie Saab- Le Parfume: I sampled this last week. It's slightly woody smelling, which I don't normally go for but the jasmine and honey rose overtones are what sold it to me. I like fresh, flowery scents.

2. Rag & Bone Black Pleated Leather Skirt: I actually don't have anything leather in my wardrobe despite it being 'so in' at the moment. The pleats make this skirt a bit more feminine and less biker chick. Love.

3. Jinkksy Candy Grande Royal Blue Bracelet: This jewellery brand screams luxury to me. Bling heaven.

4. Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR- Black with 18-55mm Lens: - I've been saving up for this camera. Hopefully, I can get it at a reduced price during the post-xmas/ New Year sales, if not, I'll just have to be patient and save up a little longer. It's currently retailing between £500 and £600.

5. Urban Decay Naked Palette: As I tend to stick to more neutral colours and wear natural tones, this palette is perfect for me. These eyeshadows look as though they'll blend really well together too.

6. Nails Inc. Magnetic Polish ( in Whitehall): Facinated with the physics behind this and the colour is hawt!!

What's currently on your wish list? Let me know by leaving a comment.

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My Ensemble: Flora Butterfly

2011-11-28T16:26:00.001Z

This is one of my simple autumnal outfits. It's warm (literally, because of the materials) and bright. My way of saying to the weather "Take your doom and gloom elsewhere".

Wool Dress (Krisp)

Red Cardigan (Bershka)

Black Turtleneck (Bershka)

Black Leggings (Topshop)

Black Riding Boots (Linzi Shoes)

I don't normally buy things with butterflies and flowers (I don't mean floral prints) because I think you run the risk of looking a bit school-girl-ish and that's just not my style at all. But when I saw this in Krisp about three years ago, I thought it was pretty and liked the croché detail around the chest area.
I love red and I think this cardigan really brings out the accent colours of the dress.

What bright autumnal outfits do you have? Or do you tend to just stick with the blacks and greys during this time of year?

If you like this outfit, you can 'hype' it on Lookbook (link below).

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November Boudoir Privé Beauty Box

2011-11-26T11:46:00.001Z

This is my first Boudoir Privé beauty box so I was super eager to receive it this month. It arrived this morning.

As I always mention, I absolutely love the concept. It's like getting a box full of miniature presents every month. Who doesn't like getting presents?... Oh, the Helena Rubinstein quote above made me el oh el... Here's what was inside:

1. RAHUA Voluminous Shampoo (£27.00 - 275ml) & Conditioner (£28.50 - 275ml)

2.VINIES AYURVEDA'S SOUL Luminous Skin Mask (£32.85 - 40gm)

3. DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK Silky Smooth Body Lotion (£7.70 - 350ml)

4. STUDIO MAKEUP Rich Hydration Lipstick (£12.25 each)

5. KORRES Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisuriser (£19 - 40ml)

I'm very strict about the shampoo and conditioner I use on my natural hair so I'll be giving this one of my friends to test it out for me. It's a shame, because I would have loved to have tried it myself.

Guys, I'm not going to lie. This looks a little gross. Luckily, it smells OK. It's got an incense fragrance to it and is made with the "finest ingredients", including mint leaf, licorice root and magnolia extract. Despite how it looks, I'm really eager to try this tonight.

I'm always on the lookout to try new body lotions so was chuffed to see this inside, especially as I've heard very good things about the Dead Sea therapeutic and cosmetic properties.

The Studio Makeup lipstick is by far my favourite item inside. Being dark-skinned, I'm always very weary about red lipstick. If you remember, I did a post on red lipsticks that suit black women (read it >> here) and came to realise that plum reds suit my skin tone the best. Now, when I saw red lipstick in the box, I had mixed emotions. However, as soon as I swatched it on the back of my hand, I instantly, to much relief, knew it would suit me! Yay! It's gorgeous. Oh and I'm totally loving the undercover-agent-esque way it opens.

This face moisturiser has got vitamin C, grape seed and phytic acid in it and "helps repair fine lines and uneven skin tone". I thought "Great!" because I'm a gazillion shades of brown (not that I'm complaining).

I'll be trying these products out over the coming week so watch out for my YouTube in-depth review on them. Really happy about my first box.

***UPDATE (12/12/11)***

Here's the video!

For more information, head over to the Boudoir Privé website: www.boudoirprive.co.uk

Do you subscribe to Boudoir Privé too? If so, what did you think about this month's box? If not, is it something you'd consider subscribing to? I'd highly recommend it. Leave a comment below.

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Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil/ Skin Purifier

2011-11-25T15:29:00.001Z

I got the Shu Uemura Skin Purifier in the goodie bag from this Monday's HPM Social event that I attended.

I'd never heard of the brand before so was intrigued to find out more. It's a Japenese beauty brand founded by its namesake, a makeup artist and beauty pioneer. They offer skincare treatments, makeup and related accessories.

"the Shu Uemura brand was developed on the founder’s holistic philosophy that beautiful make-up starts with beautiful skin." - shuuemura.co.uk

Quite rightly so.

The product description online reads:

"For ageing concerns.... #1 selling...in the world....A premium anti-oxidant skin purifier that thoroughly cleanses the skin while protecting it against the internal and external aggressions associated with skin ageing."

It comes in a transparent plastic green bottle with a pump. I almost forgot it was oil inside and expressed the contents aggressively as if it was going to foam. Oops.

The instructions are simple enough:

1. Take 3 or 4 pumps into the palms of dry hands;

2. Smooth over dry face;

3. Wet face to emulsify cleansing oil;

4. Rinse with water.

Initially, it felt a little strange washing my face with oil but I soon got past that. The aroma made using it a pleasant experience.

For the ageing element, I would obviously have to use this over time to really notice it at work but as a cleanser, it's wonderful. I've used it every day so far this week and my skin feels very fresh and noticeably clean and smoother every time.

The Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil/ Skin Purifier gets 8 pearls out of 10 from me.

The 150ml bottle is £28 from www.shuuemura.co.uk. Admittedly, if it wasn't in my goody bag, I'd be reluctant to buy it for two reasons: 1) because I prioritise what I spend my monthly fashion/beauty budget on and 2) I'm not into anti-ageing products. Yes, it's a little pricey but it really is a top quality product and works effectively so it's worth the cost. I'm definitely keen on trying some of their makeup products.

Have you tried any Shu Uemura products before? If so, which one(s)? What did you make of it? If not, is it a brand you'd consider trying?

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My Ensemble: Smart-Casual

2011-11-24T18:27:00.001Z

Sorry I haven't done a 'My Ensemble' post in a while. Here's a smart-casual look I put together this week.

Tailored Jacket (New Look)

Blue Striped Shirt (United Colors of Benetton)

Jeans (Krisp Clothing)

Silk Scarf (Tie Rack)

Brown Belt (H&M)

Brown Riding Boots (Linzi Shoes)

Red Lipstick (MAC: Viva Glam I)

The bottom half is casual while the top half, smart. Here, you've got your classic skinny jeans tucked into riding boots. I wore a matching (well close enough) brown belt to complement the boots and break the outfit colours down a little.

I own quite a few shirts from United Colours of Benetton because I love the tailored fitting from there. This blue striped one is no exception.

My favourite jacket (which you've probably noticed has featured in quite a few ensemble posts) is so versatile and pretty much puts the 'smart' in this outfit.

I finished the look with an elegant silk scarf. Oh, and some red lipstick which I thought went well with the outfit's colour palette.

If you like this outfit, don't forget to hype it on Lookbook >>> here.

What smart-casual looks have you rocked recently?

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RM:BP- Weekly Roundup W/B 14th Nov 2011

2011-11-24T07:27:00.001Z

Here's the roundup video for last week. Enjoy.

Links to relevant posts:

Nails- Addicted To Crackle: Black And Gold

I Heart...The Body Shop

Models Own Smokey Eye Kit: Seduce

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NOTD: Dotty Rust Using 'Nailed Polish' By Sleek

2011-11-23T11:04:00.001Z

My eye caught this nail polish colour last month when I was shopping online at Sleek. It's part of their 'Nailed Polish' collection and is called Rust 37. Because I pretty much have all the basic colours in my personal nail varnish collection, whenever buying polishes these days I tend to go for ones with unusual colours, shades, finishes/effects. I was delighted when I spotted this.

I recently bought a 5-pack of two-way dotting tools from eBay for £1.70- they come in different dot sizes- and thought I'd go for a different nail look today.

As it was my first time using it (excuse the white polish still on it in the photo), I was uncertain about how much varnish I needed to put on or the amount pressure I had to apply but I got there in the end. The key is to not put too much varnish so the dot ends up looking like a big, fat dollop on your nail and on the other hand making sure you have enough to ensure more than just a round imprint is made.

Now, as I learnt, it's important to apply the same amount of pressure for each dot otherwise some will be noticeably bigger/smaller than others, regardless of the fact you're using the same size tool. It's also a good idea to try and plan the dots so you don't get a cluster in one area and a massive gap elsewhere.

I applied two coats of the 'Rust' -which glides on beautifully and dries super quick- before using my medium dotting pen (the blue one) to add on the white spots (with the white polish from a 24-colour nail art kit I also got from eBay- post on that next week). I really liked the polka dot look. It's cute and eye-catching because these two colours go so well together.

You can buy the 'Rust' nail varnish at sleekmakeup.com for £3.89.

Have you discovered any unusual nail colours lately? What new nail looks have you tried recently? Leave a comment below.

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Handpicked Media Gets Social (21st Nov 2011)

2011-11-22T09:54:00.001Z

I went to the Handpicked Media Gets Social event yesterday and boy was I glad that I did. I got the opportunity to meet some lovely, like-minded lady bloggers who were just as inspirational as the guest speakers. They were Nicole, the writer of bellenoirbride.co.uk, a blog for black brides-to-be; Madeka who writes afroboudoir.com, a fashion blog for ladies of colour; Also Caroline, the founder of mutiboko.co.uk, an Audrey Hepburn inspired fashion blog aimed at the elegant, contemporary woman.

The day consisted of breakfast, lunch, networking (or 'getting social') and of course, talks by some of the industry's most experienced bloggers, blogging experts and magazine giants.

A few brands were represented including China Doll Boutique, an online ladies fashion store which, up until yesterday, I'd never heard of. I totally fell in love with the lookbook and will definitely be making a few purchases from there in the coming weeks. I was quite keen on the Bourjois eyeshadows too.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know how much I love perfumes, so no prizes for guessing which section of the reception room I spent a huge portion of my time around. I so want the Jimmy Choo fragrance for christmas, so hubby *cough*, friends *cough cough* and family members *cough cough cough* reading this, heed note. Surprise me!

Regarding the talks, one word : Sháá. Well, it's a name. The name of THE MOST motivational speaker I've ever heard in my life. She gave me so much inspiration. Gah! I could talk about her (in a nice way, of course) all day, but I won't so have a look at her site www.shaa.com. If you're a blogger/entrepreneur and don't know about her, get to know.
We got a bag full of goodies and samples to take home as well. I luurve freebies (who doesn't?).

I left the event feeling even more high-spirited than I arrived and ready to actually get my butt in gear to take things (blogging) to another level.

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88 Colour Hot Earth Eyeshadow Palette by Blush Cosmetics

2011-11-21T03:57:00.000Z

I'm off to the Handpicked Media Gets Social event today and know I'll be way too tired to blog when I get back in so I thought I'd share another new buy with you in the meantime.
I spotted this 88 Colour Hot Earth Eyeshadow Palette on the Blush Cosmetics website (for a very reasonable £8.99) while actually searching for a 120 colour palette. I thought I'd opt for this instead because the shades complement my skin tone very well. There are some matt textured eyeshadows in the palette as well as shimmery ones.
I love the fact that it not only has different shades but also different tones of your golds, oranges, bronzes, pinks, peaches, purples, greens and blues. Can't wait to start testing them out. Will probably do a gold/bronze/cocoa smokey eye combination for today.

**UPDATE**

Here's the look I did:

What eyeshadow palette have you bought recently? What's your favourite eyeshadow palette?

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Models Own Smokey Eye Kit: Seduce

2011-11-19T01:07:00.001Z

I saw this smokey eye kit the other day while doing a spot of online shopping on the Models Own store. It's available in six different colour combinations and comes with a shading brush and an angled brush. I chose 'seduce'- a gold, cocoa and black mix. Inside the kit is a handy little how-to guide as well.

The idea of having the three shades in one palette is quite useful because the look is ready for you. My makeup skills are a far cry from that of an expert's and the smokey eye is probably one of the trickiest makeup techniques to master. Nonetheless, I thought I'd give it a go. Here are all the products I used (as it was a practice, I didn't want to use my expensive makeup i.e. mascara, lashes, so I chose the lower priced stuff):

Models Own Smokey Eye Kit

Sleek Au Naturel Eyeshadow Palette

GOSH Velvet Touch Eye Primer

MAC Brushes: 275SE, 212SE, 219SE

Models Own Brushes: Angled Brush, Shading Brush (inside kit)

Collection 2000 Fast Stroke Liquid Eyeliner

Collection 2000 Colour Lash (Black)

Collection 2000 Kohl Pencil (Black)

Miss Eylure Lashlets

Revlon Eyelash Glue

QVS Eyelash Curler

QVS Tweezer

And here it is. Goodness. Don't laugh. I clearly need to work on my blending and tidying up, but for a beginner, I think I did quite well. Excuse the badly put on eyelash- by this point I was so frustrated about not being a pro that I just plonked it on, plus I wasn't too bothered about applying loads of eyeliner/pencil.
I had to use some "Honeycomb" from my Sleek Au Natural eyeshadow palette to help deepen the gold a little because it's so shimmery.

Practice makes perfect, eh?

In all, the Models Own Smokey Eye Kit is alright, I suppose. Theres not a huge difference in the cocoa and black so to me it kind of came out looking like I just used two colours rather than three. A lighter brown would have been nice to blend. The gold, for my skin tone, is really 'in-your-face' and even though in future I would select another medium shade eyeshadow colour, I liked the look, in general.

The kit is £8 from www.modelsownit.com

What do you think of my smokey eye attempt? Have you tried the Models Own smokey eye kit before? If so, which one did you go for? What's your favourite smokey eye colour combination?

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I Heart...The Body Shop

2011-11-18T19:00:00.000Z

I hadn't been to The Body Shop in a while and really didn't intend on going in but the fruity aromas were enough to entice me into the store last week. Here's what I bought:

MORINGA MILK BODY LOTION

The moringa (plant extract) milk is a very light lotion and has a lovely fresh perfume aroma to it.

As it's water-based and extremely light, I apply this after I've put my Dove moisturiser on because I just love the smell, which lasts on my skin for hours too.

PASSION FRUIT SHOWER GEL

There's just something about tropical fruits that I love so much. Passionfruit is no exception. Just like the papaya one, this is lovely to shower with. I use this mainly because it's fragrant rather than because it makes my skin feel soft (my Dove one covers that).

PAPAYA SHOWER GEL

Mmmm...Papaya! My favourite smelling fruit. I love making the whole bathroom smell of this after coming out of the shower.

As shower gels go, this foams and cleanses my skin well but its selling point for me is its scent.

TEA TREE OIL FACE MASK

This was a top up because my other one is close to finishing. You may have read about this in the My Daily Body Care Regime post >> here. It works a dream! Skin feels ridiculously smooth after use and stays feeling like that for about three days. A must have.

PAPAYA BODY BUTTER

Mmmm... Papaya (again)! I initially wanted to get the body lotion but it's been discontinued so I opted for the body butter instead after the sales assistant (who by the way gave the best customer service ever) persuaded me to buy this. As it was on offer (reduced to £5 for a limited time) I thought "hey, why not?". Glad I bought it.

Have you been to The Body Shop recently? What are your recent buys from there?

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YouTube Weekly Roundup Video w/b 7 Nov 2011

2011-11-17T18:00:00.000Z

Hey hey! This is the corresponding post with my YouTube Weekly Roundup video so you can find all relevant links discussed right here. If you haven't watched it yet, here it is. Enjoy. It's in two parts because the file was quite large and the video longer than my 15 minute limit.

MY ENSEMBLES

It's Chilly Outside But In My Heart It's Spring

Links:

I got my necklace from www.temporary-secretary.com. Have a read of Sarah's (the designer/maker) blog too. Photos are awesome. www.temporary-secretary.blogspot.com

Grey Day

A Sista's Werkin' It Like She Gettin' A Pay Rise

MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG POSTS

MAC Shape & Perfect Brush Set

Vaseline Lip Therapy Limited Edition: Creme Brulee

Lipcote Plus New Lippy

Links:

www.lipcote.com/liptips

Sorry guys and gals, I accidentally said lip sealer. We don't want that now, do we (unless you talk a lot, in which case, that may be helpful to those around you)? I was meant to say lipSTICK sealer.

Also, forgot to tell you that the Max Factor lippy is in Sunbronze.

October's GlossyBox

Links:

www.glossybox.co.uk

Three Ways I Cleanse My Face

If you enjoy my videos, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Check me out , follow, hype etc etc by clicking on the social networking links below. Thanks for watching and reading!

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NOTD: Addicted To Crackle - Black And Gold

2011-11-14T16:48:00.001Z

I bought Barry M's crackle effect nail paint in gold last week and thought I'd try it out today.

I picked gold from the selection of colours they have because it would pretty much go with any base colour of choice.

It's the first time I've worn any kind of instant nail effect polish so was intrigued to see how it would work.

I applied two coats of Bourjois So Laque Avec Vinyle in 'Noir De Chine' then a single coat of the Barry M polish on top.

I had to apply the top coat of Barry M on fast because I noticed that the excess polish that I'd wiped back into the bottle started to get clumpy.

I was staring at my nails with amazement just watching the effect happen. Smart. Very smart, and the black and gold combination goes very well. Will definitly be experimenting with more nail effects and patterns.

What special effects nail polishes have you used before? What's your favourite?

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My Ensemble: A Sista's Werkin' It Like She Gettin' A Raise

2011-11-13T17:18:00.001Z

On yesterday's X Factor, Ms. Kelly "Who Knew You'd Do An Uptempo Oowww" Rowland rocked an androgynous black suit with a high-necked white shirt. I liked it a lot, though it did seem like her shirt collar restricted her neck movements. The things us women go through for fashion, eh? In all, it was very Vogue, and very chic.

Speaking of 'very', I thought I'd do corporate today as well, but a more classic, feminine kind of smart and wear a figure-hugging black and white pussy bow dress.

Dress (Very.co.uk)
Tailored Jacket (New Look)

Bag (Dorothy Perkins)

Flats (Linzi Shoes)

If you like this particular look, don't forget to hype it on Lookbook.

What did you make of Kelly's outfit yesterday?

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MAC Shape & Perfect Brush Set

2011-11-12T12:04:00.001Z

I got this set of five makeup brushes by MAC a couple weeks ago. They're a collection of packed-to-go brushes so they're short-handled.

I still intend on buying more brushes (not necessarily MAC ones) but I've heard that MAC makeup brushes are really good quality and long lasting so I thought it'd be a good investment.

I'm still very new to makeup so haven't really got a clue about what brush is for doing or applying what but I'll soon be a whiz at it. In the past I've just used whatever miniature brush/applicator etc came with the item *holds head down in shame*.

Oh, and how confusing is the numbering system with MAC brushes? Or is it just me?

Brushes from left- right: 187SE, 168SE, 275SE, 212SE, 219SE

The set is £39.50 at www.maccosmetics.co.uk.

What makeup brushes do you use? Do you have a set or individual brushes? Do you have a favourite?

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My Ensemble: Grey Day

2011-11-11T19:14:00.001Z

Oh this weather. I need a Light Box because my energy levels are way low. Darn you Mother Nature. You've deprived us of even the slightest ounce of vitamin D. This kind of weather is the type where you feel like putting everything on hold and just curling up under the duvet all day long.

Grey Knitted Dress (Dorothy Perkins)

Dark Grey Leggings (Next)

Wooly Grey Hat (New Look)

Thin Plaited Belt (H&M)

Boots (Linzi Shoes)

Ring (Peacocks)

Nails (Leighton Denny in Sex Kitten)

Swooping Swallow Love Letter Necklace (temporary-secretary.com)

I was drawn to the greys in my closet this morning before I left home (no prizes for guessing why) and figured I'd wear this dress from DP that I bought a couple of months ago. Though I mainly own plain coloured items, I occasionally like wearing clothes with patterns and designs on them, especially knitted ones like this. To give it a bit of shape, I teamed it with this thin belt.

My wooly hats, scarves and gloves are out from the back of my wardrobe so I whipped out this grey one to match.

Oh, remember the nail varnish from the post I did on October's GlossyBox that was an horrendous shade of blue? Well, as it so happens, it actually goes marvellously well with this outfit. It's growing on me.

How's the weather been treating you? What colours have you been particularly drawn to lately?

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First YouTube Video

2011-11-11T18:14:00.001Z

Guys and gals, it WILL get better and more interesting to watch. I promise. I just wanted to do a test video to get to grips with the whole YouTube thing.

It's so weird how odd it felt recording this because I talk to myself all the time (not in a crackhead kind of way).

Anyway, here it is *covers eyes* (alternatively, click here to watch it on YouTube).

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Three Ways I Cleanse My Face

2011-11-10T20:32:00.001Z

It occurred to me the other day that I have quite a few face-cleansing products which could be put into three different categories in terms of type: foams, creams, and wipes. Here are my three faves

Kleenex Facial Cleansing Wipes (Extra Gentle) (£2.99)-
When Kleenex recently (fairly) brought out their new range of facial cleansers with the tagline "Feel the difference", I certainly did, and was very impressed.
I love the quilted texture of these wipes. They're very moist so don't dry out before you've got round to wiping your whole face (and neck, I like using these behind the ears too), like other face wipes, so one wipe suffices per use. I also use this product to remove makeup. Cleanses very thoroughly indeed.
Out of the three cleanser types, I use the wipes more, probably because they're the most practical. You just taken one out of the packet, wipe and dispose.

Fashion Fair Cleansing Creme With Aloe Vera (£18)-
Although this is great for removing makeup, I use this before applying mine on because as well as cleansing, it adds moisture to my skin, giving a really nice glow for when I put my foundation on. I just dot on some at different points of my face and use round cotton wool pads to wipe my face with it.

Iman Liquid Assets Gentle Foaming Cleanser (£17.50)-
This product foams really well with a gentle lather that's easy to work into the face. Whenever I'm going to be putting on a lot of makeup, I wash my face with this first because it prepares the skin really well and after because it washes it off thoroughly.

Here are some top-rated face cleansers (foamers, creams and wipes). In each category I've found three in different price brackets: cheap and cheerful, affordable and pricey. Shop around though, because you might be able to find some of these items cheaper from other retailers.

What face cleanser(s) do you use? Which face-cleansing type do you prefer and why? Foaming cleansers, wipes or creams?

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Vaseline Lip Therapy Limited Edition: Crème Brûlée

2011-11-09T19:33:00.000Z

I know this post is waaaay late, but I finally remembered to pick this up earlier on in the week when I took a trip to Superdrug (it's £2.99).

I've never eaten crème brûlée before and even though I really like custard, don't particularly have the urge to after trying this but it's alright, actually. Sweet and vanilla-smelling. It's quite similar to the cocoa butter one I've got. I'd really like Vaseline to do a papaya flavour. Love that fruit.

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Kiss Me Quick: 50 Years Of Lipcote, Plus New Lippy

2011-11-09T17:51:00.001Z

Earlier this week I saw tweets and read a few blog posts about Lipcote lipstick sealer regarding the brand celebrating 50 years of providing us ladies with longer lasting lipstick. Because I've only recently began to show an interest in lipstick, I'd never heard of it before so, of course, I popped down to my local Superdrug to get myself some (£3.19).

Don't know whether this was supposed to happen but there was a slight tingly sensation when I applied it. Guess it's the sealer getting straight to work. Not too keen on the chemical scent but I couldn't find it in the new vanilla fragrance in the shops so had to buy the original. Applied properly by following the tips and tricks recommended on the website, it works very well. I've yet to try it during a day out but it certainly kept my lipstick on for the two hours I wore it at home (during which I had brunch), so thumbs up.

This was a lovely little discovery because I'd recently bought two new lipsticks: Max Factor in Sunbroze (£7.99 from Boots) and Mary Kay Creme Lipstick in Black Cherry (£12).

Mary Kay items are always very moisturising, particularly their products for lips. I really like this shade on me. Plum/cherry reds suit my skin tone best.

I've never tried Max Factor products before but I'm keen on the other stuff on offer after buying this lipstick. It's more of a pearly pink which is great if I wanted to go for a more natural look. I love that this lipstick doesn't smell or taste like wax.

Have you bought any new lipsticks? Heard about or used Lipcote before? What do you think of it?

*Lipcote is available at www.lipcote.com, Superdrug, Boots, health and beauty stores and independent chemists.

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October's GlossyBox

2011-11-08T18:24:00.001Z

So, I've jumped on the GlossyBox bandwagon, and with the amount of time it's taken me to subscribe, thank goodness it's still moving!

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the concept is simple. You subscribe for £10 a month (+p&p) and during the second half of each month you'll receive a box (beautifully packaged) full of beauty/cosmetic goodies, five items to be precise. You test out the products and review them on the GlossyBox site. I really like the idea and even more so because it's great to discover other brands and products you wouldn't normally choose or pay interest in.

I subscribed right at the end of October so that means I'll get two Glossyboxes this month (October's and November's). Yay!

As if it wasn't torture enough being one of the last people to get October's box, the stupid postman decided to leave one of those 'we've got something for you' slips instead of actually ringing the buzzer or even knocking at the door so I had to wait 48 hours (working days, which turned out to be 4 days because of the weekend. Yeah, peeved.) before I could collect it. I did so first thing today. Here it is:

Because I had subscribed late in the month, I already knew what to expect inside this one.

1. DERMALOGICA AGE SMART MultiVitamin Thermafoliant

2. DERMALOGICA AGE SMART Multivitamin Power Recover Masque

I'm not really one for anti-ageing products but, I'm a good sport so I'll test them out over the coming days.

3. LEIGHTON DENNY EXPERT NAILS Colour & Care -

Even though I wouldn't have necessarily picked this colour (I think it's called 'sex kitten'), I don't have a nail varnish that's this shade of blue so I'll paint my nails with it when the yellow one I currently have on begins to chip off.

4. STILA Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner

This is a highly pigmented eyeliner, which is great, though swamp green is not my colour of choice. Looked OK, nonetheless and application is a dream.

5. ROBERT PIGUET Eau de parfums

Took a whiff of these as soon as I opened the box. I luurve me some perfume. All three- Calypso, Visa and Fracas- smell OK and flowery, but a little musky. I dislike musk. Very subtle differences between them in aroma but very nice- if you like musk. Didn't last very long either. If I had to pick one, I'd go for Fracas.

*DERMALOGICA AGE SMART Renewal Lip Complex (With beauty bag)

I'm always looking for new and different products to help maintain the smoothness and moisture of my lips. I like it, and it smells nice too so I'll be using it before I go to bed in the evenings. Handy bag to pop all the Dermalogica products into as well.

First impressions go a long way, and I'm, well, impressed. Bring on November's GlossyBox!

If you're interested in subscribing or just want more information on GlossyBox, the website is www.glossybox.co.uk

Do you already subscribe to GlossyBox? If so, what do you think of October's box? If not, is it something you'd consider? Leave a comment below.

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My Ensemble: It's Chilly Outside But In My Heart It's Spring

2011-11-07T19:25:00.001Z

I'm still kind of trying to hold on to a little bit of spring/summer, even though we're in November (and Christmas ads have already began to be bombarded on our TV screens!!) and it gets dark at like 3pm these days. I feel totally robbed by Mother Nature, but that's another story. Gosh is it chilly outside, right? Completely regretted wearing a mini skirt without leggings or tights but like the soldier I am, braved the goose pimples.

This is by far one of my less dressy ensembles but I figured it'll be good to show me in all my elements. Dressed up and down. Where effort and time has been made and put in and on the contrary where practicality and nonchalance has played a part. So here I am, making a dash to the supermarket.

Who: With family
When: Monday 7th November 2011
Where: Supermarket
What: Floral Cardigan (New Look); White Tank Top (New Look); Green Bodycon Mini Skirt (Forever 21); Shoes (Linzi Shoes); Swooping Swallow Love Letter Necklace (temporary-secretary.com); Nails (Barry M in Yellow).
Why: I'm sure we've all been in the situation where we need to quickly go and pick up a few things from the supermarket and throw on anything that looks half decent. Well, this was me earlier on today.

Do you remember my October Wish List? Well, this is the second box ticked out of the nine things I wanted (the first was the Models Own Beetlejuice nail varnish which I blogged about a few days ago >> here). I ordered the Swooping Swallow Love Letter Necklace from temporary-secretary.com after having my eye on it for quite some time. I think the concept is cute and clever. It arrived this morning (beautifully wrapped and packaged, might I add) and I couldn't wait to try it on. Sarah's got some gorgeous pieces in her online shop. I first discovered her jewellery during the time I was following the Look Magazine's AW 2011 Blogging Awards. She was the deserved overall winner. So humble and polite. I've come across a few bloggers who are a bit up themselves because of their success, but anyway, I digress.There were so many fantastic blogs shortlisted but hers really stood out for me visually. In fact, reading her blog gave me so much inspiration to start mine. My photography skills (or lack of) and quality of photos leave a lot to be desired in comparison to how amazing hers are but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. You can check out her blog here.

This is my favourite cardigan. The floral print is so feminine and pretty. I've had it for about three years now and it's one of those pieces that hangs on the foot post of my bed ready to be worn at any moment's notice.

I saw this skirt in Forever 21 for under six quid and decided to buy two, the other being in black. I need to stop going into that store or I'll become bankrupt!

The yellow nails are another attempt to bring some sunshine to my day, because goodness knows we all need it. This gloomy weather is doing nothing great for my mood. Oh, and got to do flats, right? Who shops in high heels?

So this was me, doing a supermarket sprint.

What do you wear to the supermarket? I know that seems like an odd question, which should probably warrant the sarcastic response "clothes" but are you a pyjama and slipper person (I won't judge)? Do you get dressed up? Or, like the majority, just go casual and presentable?

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Perfume Of The Moment: Miss Dior Chérie by Christian Dior

2011-11-06T13:40:00.002Z

I'm feeling a little under the weather today and didn't really have the energy to do an ensemble piece or test out any products. You know how it is. It's just one of those days. So, I thought I'd share with you my favourite eau de parfum at the moment: Miss Dior Chérie by Christian Dior.

If you know me well then you'll be aware that I love my perfumes, particularly ones by Christian Dior. I pretty much have the whole Poison range, J'adore and now this lil fresh smelling one joins my collection. A lovely addition.

I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to perfume. It has to be a designer brand or I won't take much notice. Yes, they're expensive but unlike a lot of cheaper perfumes out there, the smell doesn't fade within a couple of hours. I like waking up in the morning and getting a whiff of what I wore the previous day, and it not smelling stale. With perfume, you really do pay for quality rather than just the brand.

I've always got to have a fragrance in my bag. You never know when you're going to meet someone and need to freshen up quickly especially for that greeting hug. Or if a stinky person sits next to me on public transport ('cause Lord knows they always seem to pick the seat next to me!) and there's no escaping them, instead of curling up my top lip and screwing up my face, I simply put my hand close to my nose so I can get a whiff of my fragrance.

I change my perfume every three months or so. Over the years, I've acumilated quite an impressive collection, each one holding either a specific memory or memories of a particular stage in my life.

I like Miss Dior Chérie because it's a mature, sweet yet fresh fragrance. I love the cute, feminine bow on the bottle too.

What perfume(s) are you wearing at the moment? What scents do you normally go for and why? Do you have a favourite perfume? Let me know.

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Yana Foundation Review

2011-11-05T17:32:00.000Z

The lovely people at Yana Cosmetics London sent me a couple samples of their foundation to try out. They do make-up for all skin tones which is great because there are a few brands out there (not naming any) that do really nice products but only cater to a niche.

They've got a really handy system for you to select which foundation shade is right for you. All you need to do is pick from their selection which celebrity skin tone is similar to yours. This is a great (and quite accurate) system, particularly when buying from them online for the first time. I'm sort of in between 9 and 10 which is Oprah Winfrey and Missy Elliot. The difference is subtle. I tested both:

Verdict: Now, I'll be totally honest. I'm new to this brand of make-up, but I'm impressed. I like the foundation a lot. It feels light on my skin, unlike a lot of other foundations out there and it's really easy to blend in evenly. It's not messy or really staining either and dries quickly. My face is naturally oily but I was relieved that the foundation didn't make it worse. It gave me a lovely, even glow rather than a shine, which is exactly what you want. It's also suitable for sensitive skin, which is another bonus. Although 9 didn't look bad on me at all, 10 is my shade. It's an exact match- I guess that's one thing me and Missy have in common then. The foundation is a little pricier than the one I currently use (Mary Kay Medium Coverage) but the professional finish really is worth it.

Yana Foundation gets 9 pearls out of 10 (I never give 10 but this is very close) from me.

Where can I buy it?: Online at Yana Cosmetics London, specifically here.
Price: £20.50 each (Foundation sample testers are £1 each)

Visit www.yanacosmetics.com to have a look at more of their products.

What foundation(s) do you wear?

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*Please note that the products in this post were sent for consideration. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and that of my own.

NOTD: Models Own Beetlejuice Collection

2011-11-04T20:29:00.001Z

Metallic nail varnish has been very popular this year and even though I'm not too keen on that type of finish on nails, I couldn't resist buying at least one bottle when Models Own released its Beetlejuice collection on Tuesday this week. There's five in the range:

In order L-R: Golden Green, Pinky Brown, Purple Blue, Aqua Violet, Emerald Black

I ordered it in Aqua Violet from the online store www.modelsownit.com and it arrived today.

I applied two coats for a nice solid finish. It dried relatively quickly and it bounces off the light beautifully.

They're £5 each from www.modelsownit.com . You can save money on their multi buy offers too.

Have you tried the Beetlejuice collection yet? If so, which one(s)? What's your take on metallic nails? Hit or miss? Let me know in the comments box below (that was an unintentional rhyme, by the way).

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Blaque Pearl

FOTD: Purple Lips

Rimmel London Lipstick: The Kate Collection

Bloggers.Com Editors' Picks Of The Day

Temporary:Secretary 'Love' Double Ring

Tangle Teezer Compact Styler

Currently Reading...Classy By Derek Blasberg

Bag Envy | Marks & Spencer Per Una Double Handle Bow Tote Bag

January Feel Unique Beauty Box

2012:Week 1 | Skincare, 'Carnival' Nails, Primark, Nude Lip, Sophie's World...

VIDEO | December Beauty Boxes

Sleek Brow Kit

My Ensemble (OOTD) : Christmas Day

The December Carmine Beauty Box

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss

Black Radiance Shine Control Primer Review

NOTD: Barry M & Bourjois Simple Christmas-Themed Nails

MIZANI In-Control Workable Holding Spritz Review

Winter 2011 GlossyBox For Men

November Carmine Beauty Box

December JolieBox (Formerly Boudoir Privé)

NOTD: Deborah Lippmann And E.L.F. - Razzle Dazzle Red

E.L.F. Makeup Haul

December GlossyBox (Christmas Edition)

NOTN: Barry M Gold Foil Effect With Glitter

December Feel Unique Beauty Box

Mini AVON Haul (December 2011)

Night Eyes: 'Humid' Eye Shadow by MAC

**VIDEO** November Boudoir Privé Beauty Box

**VIDEO** Nail Care- Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover & Nail Tek

Face Of The Day Using The Black Up 05 Duo Palette

Makeup Haul: Sleek, MAC, Black Up, NYX, & Rimmel

Nail Tek : Foundation And Intensive Therapy

Fresh Therapies: Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover

November GlossyBox

Photography by...Jerry Barnett

End-Of-Month/ X-Mas Wish List: November

My Ensemble: Flora Butterfly

November Boudoir Privé Beauty Box

Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil/ Skin Purifier

My Ensemble: Smart-Casual

RM:BP- Weekly Roundup W/B 14th Nov 2011

NOTD: Dotty Rust Using 'Nailed Polish' By Sleek

Handpicked Media Gets Social (21st Nov 2011)

88 Colour Hot Earth Eyeshadow Palette by Blush Cosmetics

Models Own Smokey Eye Kit: Seduce

I Heart...The Body Shop

YouTube Weekly Roundup Video w/b 7 Nov 2011

NOTD: Addicted To Crackle - Black And Gold

My Ensemble: A Sista's Werkin' It Like She Gettin' A Raise

MAC Shape & Perfect Brush Set

My Ensemble: Grey Day

First YouTube Video

Three Ways I Cleanse My Face

Vaseline Lip Therapy Limited Edition: Crème Brûlée

Kiss Me Quick: 50 Years Of Lipcote, Plus New Lippy

October's GlossyBox

My Ensemble: It's Chilly Outside But In My Heart It's Spring

Perfume Of The Moment: Miss Dior Chérie by Christian Dior

Yana Foundation Review

NOTD: Models Own Beetlejuice Collection

VIDEO November Boudoir Privé Beauty Box

VIDEO Nail Care- Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover & Nail Tek