FAVOURITE BEAUTY PRODUCTS OF 2010

This year my beauty favourites is going to be a long one! I'm going to try and cover as many bases as possible but if you don't see a category (i.e primer & fake tan) it's because I don't use those products!

So without any further delay lets get started!

EYES
Favourite liquid eyeliner = Benefit Magic Ink
I love the super fine brush and intense black I get from this product.
Honorable mention goes to Illamasqua's precision ink in Abyss. If it were not for the applicator being one of those felt brushes this one could have possibly been no1! 

Favourite Kohl eyeliner = Topshop Kohl pencil in "coal"
I would usually say Mac feline but at a bargainous £4, the topshop one apply super smoothly and is a lovely dark black. It does smudge a tad so set it with some powder ;)

Favourite mascara = Make Up Forever Aqua Smokey Lash
This is still by far my most favourite and ticks all the boxes I require from a mascara, gives length, volume, deeply pigmented and keeps a curl!

Favourite eyeshadow = Mac
I've been a bit boring with eyeshadow this year am afraid. It's really been the year of the lipstick for me! I love mac eyeshadows because you can always find a colour that surprises you & they blend so easily.  

LIPS

Favourite lipstick = Illamsqua's "Box" is my HG red! Click here to read my review.
My natural go to lipstick has been Edward Bess "Secret Desire". A warm natural nude that goes with every colour of eyeshadow :)


Favourite lip balm = Lanolips
One of the very best products I have been introduced to this year. Lanolips is definitely a product worth all the hype and more. Amazing stuff!

FACE
Favourite moisturiser Spring Summer = Estee Lauder Day Wear
I've used this product religiously for 12 years now. It smells fresh and sinks in with ease and packed with antioxidants. Just wish they upped the spf as it's only factor 15.


Favourite moisturiser Winter = Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser
This product has been a skinsaver this winter. My skin gets incredibly dry and tight during the colder months but since using this it's been fab.


Favourite treatment serum = Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate
Smells incredible & one pump does my whole face. I've been using this as my night time treatment this Winter and love it immensely.


Favourite inexpensive face cream = Dr Organic Manuka Rescue Cream
This stuff works WONDERS, if you haven't tried it yet, definitely do. I've gone through tubs of this as my night cream during the warmer months. To me I feel my face looks brighter in the morning after using this and is a little luxury at a great price.


Favourite Foundation = Make Up Forever HD Foundation
It's a little on the pricey side (approx £27), a bitch to get hold of here in the UK, but is super lightweight whilst still ensuring good coverage. Love it.

Favourite Blusher = Mac Mineralized Blusher Stereo Rose
This product is well worth all the hype and is the blusher I get the most compliments from. When I wear this I often get people asking me what I am using...alas it's not in Mac's permanent line :(


Under eye concealer = Bourjois healthy mix concealer
I originally bought this for blemishes but it's not dense enough to do the job well enough for me. What it does do very well is conceal dark shadows under my eye...without creasing! Smells nice too. Just wish the colour range was better...


Blemish concealer - Laura Mercier Secret Camoflage
It's expensive but it's a goody. Concealer lasts very well and hides imperfections perfectly. Just make sure your skin is well prepped else it will show up dry skin...


BATH & BODY
Favourite bath product = Aromatherapy Associates bath & shower oils
For pure luxury and absolute bliss, the AA oils are the best indulgence for a good long soak & work wonders on my mood ;)


Favourite shower gel = Lush Glogg (xmas limited edition)
Hands down the best shower gel I have used all year. The bf loves it even more than me so we have two large bottles stocked up! Please bring this back next year Lush!


Favourite luxury body moisturiser = Davina Peace Body Cream
I love how rich this cream is and yet sinks into the skin completely. Leaves skin feeling wonderfully scented and soft.


Favourite every day body moisturiser = Dr Organic Manuka skin lotion
This is a fab rich lotion that smells lovely and sweet. Sinks in quickly and moisturises very very well.


HAIR 
Favourite Shampoo = Bumble & Bumble Mending Shampoo
I don't look after my hair at ALL but have been very fortunate enough this year to get the chance to try some amazing products. The B&B mending shampoo feels amazing when you use it. A real noticable difference as it has a rich lather and my hair feels as if it's been conditioned when I use this!


Favourite Conditioner = Nutrideep Multiplier
I've wrote about this quite a bit and I think it's just such a wonder hair product. It's the only conditioner I've found that has managed to turn my dry tangled and strawlike ends silky soft.


Favourite styling product = Aveda Smooth Infusion
I don't style my hair much but when I do I've been reaching for this fresh citrus scented product to help prep my hair before styling. 


Favourite hair treatment - Moroccanoil
I love this stuff. It makes my hair feel like spun silk & oh so shiny! Considering how much I dye it this is a miracle!


NAILS
Favourite nail treatment = Zoom Nail food & drink
This combo helped repair my nails after horrible gel extensions and for me is THE BEST treatment to help grow long and strong nails. Works over nail polish too!


Favourite cuticle remover = CND Cuticle Away
This makes such a difference to my cuticles! A must have for any NOTD shots I do and a bottle will last me years.



Favourite cuticle moisturiser = Qtica Repair Balm
I apply this at night to help keep my cuticles moisturised. It's very thick and slightly sticky but you can see the difference overnight.


Phew! That was a LOT or products! Sorry there are no photos. Am currently staying at my family home & couldn't lug all these products here as much as I wanted to! 

I'll be writing detailed reviews on the products I haven't covered very soon so look out for them, but in the meantime those are mind but what are yours? Leave a comment and please let me know!

PARTY LASHES FOR A FLIRTY NEW YEARS EVE ;)

If there is ever a time when I don the falsies, then it has to be for New Years Eve. In all honesty I have no idea what I am going to do for it yet, but regardless, it will involve me wearing lashes whether I am out with my friends & their babies or at my parents annual party gathering.

So! In no particular order, here are some lashes that have caught my eye recently:

Illamasqua Ltd edition luxury lashes - £25

My friend recently bought this to wear to a Lady Gaga gig and they looked incredible! Admittedly they are on the pricey side but look stunning and will definitely bring that sparkle to your NYE make up :)


Urban Decay Minx lashes - £11.50

I really love this type of lash, slinky and mischievous! I bought a pair similar to these in Sephora and got lots of compliments for them :)


Models Own lashes - £5

 

I've been browsing the Models Own website and only just discovered their fantastic range of falsies, and only £5 too! Loving the criss cross feature of the top lashes and the super dense subtle sparkle of the other.

I'd add some of Eylure's lashes but huge shame their website doesn't show detailed photos!

What's your favourite falsies? Leave a comment and let me know!

BIG PORES? YOU NEED BENEFIT POREFESSIONAL!

I was kindly sent a fantastic bundle of products from the lovely Benefit team for Christmas and one of the standout products in my parcel is the "Porefessional". It is an absolute wonder product for me.

I have relatively large pores on my nose which I cannot stand. I've been told they aren't bad at all but I notice them and will pile on the concealer to try and disguise their horrible existence.

The Porefessional does a much better job *nods*

In fact, the difference in my pores is instantaneous, concealing and filling them all in one. Check out the rather grim photo below (apologies...it's macro so really quite ewww but I think shows you just what I mean):

 

The things I decide to post! So gross..so so sorry but it really does work don't you think? I think if I used a bit more product I'd have them all well and truly hidden.

The product is slightly tinted and more liquid that I thought it would be (thought it would be more creamy) and a little goes an insanely long way. I use a tiny bit more than this to cover my nose:

I've read a few reviews that have said you need to retouch this throughout the day but I'm not one to reapply anything bar lippy so I can't really say I've found this to be the case. 

If you like me can't stand your pores then this product is well worth you checking out. 


I've shopped around and you can get it for £18.50 (RRP £23.50) on the UK site Look Fantastic

Visit the website here: www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Will be reviewing the rest of my goodies very soon so keep your eyes peeled :)

(PR sample. All opinions as always are my own. I heart this product very much!) 

INTERVIEW part 1: MARY GREENWELL'S BEAUTY TIPS FOR NEW YEARS EVE 2010

Earlier this month I got the chance to interview one of the world's most iconic makeup artists, the fabulous Mary Greenwell!

With an enviable celebrity portfolio (Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss, Uma Thurman, Gweneth Paltrow and the late Princess Diana to name a few), Mary shares some of her tips for creating your ideal New Years Eve look, and how to look perky for the morning after :)

With New Years Eve just around the corner, what would you recommend for a great party look?

MG: I love the fact that what suits you is what you do, there's no question of following any trend. If you want to go for smokey eye then go for it, if you want to look like Cheryl Cole go for it. I think we can use the X Factor as a really good example. Every time those girls came out they looked different, and you know why? Besides looking stunningly beautiful there is no trend, it's whatever you want to do.
Whatever mood you are in that day just do it, but by the way if you don't suit smokey eyes then never do it. If you just suit having a very delicious full mouth then that’s all you have to go for so really do whatever suits you.
I think Cheryl Cole and Danni Minogue gave us a fine example. We were looking forward to seeing their makeup just as much as their outfit. I thought they were both great and they did their make up so beautifully for every show. They are a great example of what’s happening now. In other words anything goes as long as it’s well applied. 

What are your essentials for the morning after to keep a fresh face?

  

MG: I think a lot of people, especially for women of a certain age, you put on lipstick and it changes everything. It just wakes up your face. I think lipstick is one of the greatest tools you can use. The same goes for younger females. Sometimes when you're so young, for example when your 14, you put lipgloss on and you look completely made up. There's something about just adding something to your mouth, whether your older or younger, that changes everything. You will look made up immediately.

---------------

So there you have it! Choose your best asset, be it eyes or lips and go for it. Stick to what suits you and accentuate your features but above all, forget about trends and go with what you feel like on the day! Me? I'm a huge glitter cliche although I think I may wear it on my lips this year ;)

Look out for part 2 of my interview coming very soon and find out what beauty products are Mary's favourite must haves!

What are your tips for New Years Eve partying? Leave a comment and let me know :)

DITA VON TEESE...FIRST IMAGE FROM HER MAKEUP BOOK!

I have been waiting forever for her makeup book to be released, so when Dita tweeted an image from it recently I let out a little squeal! I adore her! Check it out:

Image source: www.twitter.com/ditavonteese

The book is scheduled to be released mid 2011 (fingers crossed!) and I can't wait to read her tips on how to achieve perfect old school glamour.

Am particularly intrigued on how she creates her brows and nails (she mentioned the half moon mani a bit in her burlesque book but am hoping for step by step photos). Plus I would LOVE to know more about what products she uses especially blusher.

CANNOT WAIT! 

REVLON 1950s CLASSIC RED LIPPY...FIRE & ICE IS BACK!

As you may well know...I am a huge HUGE fan of red lipstick. It's such a simple way of turning on the glamour and Revlon's "Fire & Ice" does exactly that.

This lippy is another iconic shade from the Revlon archives, originally released way back in 1952. It's quite an unusual red and not one I would usually consider but I love it!
The original advert for Fire & Ice, and the new 2010 one staring Jessica Biel, so glamorous!:

It's a warmer tone of red, not your typical orangy red as there are hints of cherry in there too (well at least that's what I can see anyway!)It's appropriately fiery! *nods*
The formula is fabulous too, as it is with all the Super Lustrous lipsticks. Easy to apply and one swipe is all you need for full coverage. They are also long lasting and moisturising too! Perfect!


Check out what it looks like on:

The "all fired up" nail polish seen below is also another revived colour from the Revlon archives and is a stunningly cheerful red which I wore for xmas:

If you're a red lippy wearer definitely check this one out at Boots, retailing for a purse friendly £7.29. I think Boots still have the 3 for 2 offer so you can get the lipstick, nail polish and my absolute FAVOURITE Revlon lippy, "Cherries in the Snow" all together! US readers can get a limited edition vintage style version which I am LUSTING over. Why don't we have this in the UK?!

Have you tried this iconic shade? Leave a comment and let me know!
(lipstick and nail polish = PR sample)

NOTD: FESTIVE XMAS NAILS!

Hello!

How was everyones Christmas? Hope you all had a lovely time spent with family and friends :)
My Xmas was spent with family and of course our little dog, celebrating a quiet little Christmas with a traditional dinner, exchanging presents and just enjoying the time together.
To celebrate Xmas I decided to jazz the nails up a notch with some festive sparkle!

Pardon the awful cuticles! Unfortunately I'm continuously discovering things I should have packed in my bag (staying with my family for xmas) such as tweezers, cuticle remover and Liz Earle's Superskin moisturiser *sigh*
Nail polish = Revlon's "All Fired Up"...amazing red and great formula. Two coats was all I needed for an opaque and even finish.

After a huge hunt to find the sparkly bits (they were always too small), I found a fantastic set at Sallys. Will post a separate review about them tomorrow me thinks.
Hope you like them!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope you are having a lovely Christmas and are spending it with loved ones!
I'll be back and blogging on the 27th but in the meantime a huge MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my lovely readers :)

 

No dogs were harmed for this photo shoot :P He's my parents little Westie and the best little brother I could ever ask for. Can't wait to spend xmas with all of them!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

JAPANESE NAIL ART: XMAS THEMES!

Hello!
Having worked today I've only just started to get into the festive spirit and I thought I'd share some images I found in Nail Venus that I thought would be fab for a little big of nail art inspiration:

Think I might jazz up my nails this evening...hopefully I won't screw them up and I'll have something to show you all in my next nail post :)


Hope you are having a wonderful xmas eve :)

XMAS GIFT GUIDE 2010: STOCKING FILLERS!

Having just finished my bf's xmas stocking I thought I would share with you a few things I think would make perfect stocking fillers!

SUPERDRUG MUA RANGE - £1 each

I recently bought a few of the eyeshadows and LOVE them! MUA has some lovely bright and bold shades and each product in the range is only £1. Bargain!

STEAM CREAM - £10

I blogged about this amazing multi-purpose cream in super pretty tins wayyy back at the start of the year and it's still a firm favourite of mine. My bf again adores this one having gone through two tins of it already.

LUSH PERFUME - solid kind especially! 

Lush have brought out a range of new perfumes in various sizes so you're bound to find one that's stocking friendly!
I was sent some of the new ones recently but I still think Karma is my favourite Lush perfume. An oldie but a very good goodie ;)
Tuca Tuca is an interesting violet one whilst Lust reminds me of Lush's discontinued "potion" body lotion which I use to love.

ACCESSORIZE NAIL POLISHES - £4 from Superdrug

I've been looking for this range in Superdrug in AGES and finally found it! The nail polishes are incredible value for money. Worth checking out just for the Mac Bad Fairy dupe!
Watch this space as I will be doing an Accessorize Nail Polish xmas giveaway very very soon...

LUSH BATH BALLISTICS - £1.95

No xmas stocking is complete without one of these! I am a huge fan of the Lush Pud. I loved them when they were full sized but the mini ones a tres cute.

TOPSHOP CREAM BLUSH - £6

Cute packaging and great value for money, these are perfect little fillers and come in a variety of cheerful shades.
 
What are you putting in your xmas stockings?

XMAS GIFT GUIDE 2010: last minute beauty gifts!

If you like me have failed to complete all your xmas shopping then tomorrows going to be one heck of a mission! To help you along your way I've compiled a list of 5 fabulous beauty gifts out there...hope they help!

LIZ EARLE SUPERSKIN TRY ME KIT - £26
(available in John Lewis & the Liz Earle store on Kings Road)

Hand on heart I love every single product in this kit. Liz Earle do several types of mini kits but this one by far is the best. Containing the infamous Cleanse & Polish, the set also includes the Instant Boost Skin Tonic toner and Superskin Concentrate, both of which smell divine! You also get a 15ml jar of Superskin Moisturiser which is perfect for the cold Winter we are having.

LUSH GINGERBREAD HOUSE TIN - £13.95

Lush have really upped their game with their xmas gift sets over the last few years with the pre-wrapped sets looking visually delightful. I am particularly attracted to the Gingerbread House Tin as well as the fab Bathtimes Favourites Tin (£24.95) which beats a biscuit selection any day!

MAC A TARTAN TALE SMOKEY THRILLSEEKERS PIGMENT/GLITTER - £27.50

Each year Mac release miniature vials of selected pigments and glitters which are a fab introduction to these multi-use products. Available in three different sets I like the smokey one the best. I received one of these last year and loved it!

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE - £27
(available from Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser)

The minute I saw this I immediately decided it would be the perfect gift for xmas so when Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on cosmetics I snapped three of them up.

Colours are so versatile, taking you from a natural day time look to a Keira Knightley-esque smokey eye look. LOVE IT!

ORIGINS SALT RUB - £25(available in larger Boots, John Lewis & most department stores)

For me, this is still the very best salt scrub out there. I love the combination of spearmint and rosemary, wonderfully fresh clean scent and theres no need to moisturise after!

TRACIE GILES BLOGGER EVENT: semi permanent makeup

Whenever I think of semi permanent makeup I think of tattooed eyebrows, you know, the greeny black ones you often see people sporting!

SO when I was invited to attend the Tracie Giles blogger event last week I said "hell yeah!" , such was my curiosity to see how it was done, and more importantly whether semi permanent brows could actually look natural.

Tracie Giles is recognised as an established leader in permanent make up cosmetics, both here in the UK and globally and has over 25 years of experience in the field. She is also a member of the Society of Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (USA) and the British Association of Beauty Therapists and Cosmetologists (UK).

The event was held at Tracie's clinic in Harley street where two  bloggers agreed to go under the needles. I say needles because there are in fact four used at the same time.

First up was BeautyWowza, aka Priya, who went for a beauty spot. Tracie used a pencil to determine exactly where Priya wanted her mark before applying an anaesthetic gel to minimise any discomfort during the procedure.

She custom blended a colour that would look natural against Priya's skin with the colour consisting of completely natural minerals which are specifically selected for their safe, non-toxic and hypo allergenic properties.

The actual procedure lasted a mere minutes and the next thing we knew Priya was proudly sporting a new beauty spot just above her lip:

I think it looked fab and made me really want a Dita Von Teese style mark as it looked so natural! the whole application was pain free too...horray!


The second procedure was for Aly who opted for semi permanent eyebrows. 
Aly's brows were threaded before Tracie patiently set to work measuring her brows with some calipers to completely ensure that they were exactly even. 

 

Again Tracie mixed a custom blend of mineral pigment to best suit Aly's brows before slowly setting to work, shaping and filling them in:

The whole process takes approximately 2 hours with the finished look incredibly natural and nothing like the green tattooed types I was previously familiar with (apparently the green/black brows are made using tattoo ink which is what makes them so bad).
Aly's almost finished brows:

I found the whole evening incredibly informative and very interesting as I had such preconceived ideas of what the treatments would be like...i.e it will hurt or look un natural, but I can safely say that Tracie has put my mind at ease, especially over the brow treatment. They look so natural!

Fore more information on these treatments and to view Tracie's work, visit the Tracie Giles website here: www.traciegiles.co.uk

I'd also just like to add that I met some lovely and super friendly bloggers at this event! You know who you are ;)

FOTD: TOPSHOP QUICK & EASY SMOKEY EYE LOOK

My bf and I were so eager to run out into the snow last weekend that I literally had minutes to apply my make up before we were out the door!
The look I was going for was a super simple smokey eye. Think it would also work well for a party look if I added a bit of sparkle to it and I managed to create the look below in about 5 minutes:

I used the following products to create this look:

Topshop cream eyeshadow in "darkness" £7

This is the first cream eyeshadow I've used that doesn't crease! I am always dubious of using cream products on my lids as I often find the slip and slide. This one stays in place and does it brilliantly. A little goes a long way and I apply them with a synthetic concealer brush but fingers will do the trick too!

Topshop kohl eyeliner in "coal" £4

I am pleasantly surprised by Topshop's eyeliners. They glide on with ease and give great colour payoff with "coal" a great budget conscious alternative to Mac's "smoulder".

On my cheeks I have Mac's "Prim & Proper" from the Give me Liberty of London collection.


Lips = "Innocence! Beware!" from Mac's Venomous Villains collection.
(topshop products = pr samples)

MY NEW FAVOURITE EYELINER...BENEFIT MAGIC INK!

I am a HUGE fan of liquid eyeliner, ain't no doubt about it. It helps me accomplish my signature flicks aka cat eye effect and I am always on the lookout for new products to hit the market.

For years I have used Urban Decay's Liquid eyeliner, before when they were in the slender tubes and now in their current ink well style packaging. My go to shade has always been "Perversion" as it's a lovely dark and rich black.

However! I have a new favourite...I love Benefit's Magic Ink.

I was super excited to try this product when I first started reading about it on the US blogs, a deeply rich and dark dark black...Mmmm.
You see, black is not just black. There are different shades of black believe it or not and my eyeliner has to be jet black *nods* 
Magic Ink ticks all the right boxes, the pigment is wonderfully dense with the formula long lasting, staying in place without any smudging or flaking. Much love!

But that's not all...Magic Ink has a brush!None of that flocked felt nib tip thingy, it's got a high quality brush that's long and slender making it perfect for precision lining. I've found that some of the brushes you find in liquid liners tend to have loose bristles or they might not always be of the same uniformed length which makes it super annoying when you're applying liquid eyeliner! I am super happy to say that Magic Ink does not have this problem.
Swatch below:

If you're looking for a new liquid eyeliner and want to achieve that super thin precise line may I highly recommend this product. 
If you struggle applying liquid eyeliner check out the Benefit Magic Ink video for some tips:

Have you tried Magic Ink? 
I have been trying a few different eyeliners lately so look out for more reviews soon!
(pr sample, all opinions are my own and my own only!)