A Creative Weekend ♥

Oh Hey! How be you? Everyone have a good bank holiday weekend? Apologies for the departure again, I've got a lot cracking on at the moment, such as I'm about to go on holiday, moving house, weight watchers and just got a new bunny! So sorry for that. I have got plenty of things to review and chinwag about before holiday! So, lets crack on.

This weekend was the last date to enter a competition I heard about, which was a Make Up one! I didn't really think I'd got a chance which is why I've left it so late, but I suppose you have to be in it to win it. I've got nothing to lose. So I thought I'd take a shot at it. I had to do a make up look under 'Beauty' and one under 'Fantasy'. Whenever I do anything like this, I borrow Ed's sisters face because she is perfect for it!

This was just a small section of the havoc created at the in laws to get the make up right!

So the first look I named 'Au Naturale'. I wanted to go for a simple look that accentuated Maria's natural beauty, and add a beauty spot for a bit of depth to the look. I just popped her hair in a bun to get that polished natural look, and this way, all the hair was out of her face. This is the natural look.

The next look was a 'Fantasy' one. I wanted to do something along the lines of Cleopatra meets alien - as weird as it is, I had the image in my head using turquoise and gold colours, and really hoped it came out right. I feel like it did turn out ok and I was pleased with the result, not for the competition but just for Maria and I as we got some nice pictures out of it anyway. It took a couple of hours but it was really enjoyable.

This look is named 'Unable To Identify', a take on UFO!

 So there we have it. If I could do that as a job everyday I'd be in my element! It isn't very often I get to do other people's make up, so it was good practice anyway!

Ciao for now XxX

Update & Organising ♥

Happy Monday lovers! Can Happy and Monday be in the same sentence? Ermm...Possibly not with 5 days until the weekend.

Today is going to be a wiffly waffly post, just giving an update on what's cracking on in my world. It may be painstakingly snoring, so feel free to press that little 'X' at any time! 

Work has been pretty busy, so Ed and I haven't really seen much of each other over the last week, but we are going on holiday to Cyprus on the 5th of July for 8 days, so that will be a nice break. We return on the 13th, and then it's my birthday on the 16th! I wish it wasn't a Monday, I can't get excited for it really because everyone is at work and such, so I'll just sit in a dark corner eating cake all day. Also, on my birthday it will be the year anniversary of our engagement! I can't believe how quick it's gone, it was one of the best times of my life going up that Eiffel Tower <3. Anyway, enough of the soppies.

Another bit of exciting news, that has all come about very quickly really, is that we may be moving into a house! We found one that we really liked pretty much straight away, granted it needs working on, but it's perfectly liveable at the moment. We live in a two story flat at the moment, with no garden or anything, so it will be so lovely to be able to have BBQ's (if the sun ever comes out), parties, BOUNCY CASTLES! Exciting! So everything is in the motions at the minute, and things look hunky dory, but I'm not getting excited until the keys are in our hands. You know how it goes with house buying, it's all a bit touch and go. Fingers crossed!

Just briefly, I started organising my dressing table yesterday. As you can see, not quite done yet!

I love this dressing table, Ed got it for me when we first moved in so I absolutely love it, it's just my style! However, with the move and everything, it seemed to just get bombarded with stuff and have no actual purpose because I didn't have a stool with it. But now I do! I have been using Ed's beside table to house a lot of my make up, and I always do my make up there because the light is good, but it isn't very fair on him really! So I spent some time tidying it all up yesterday, and it's starting to take shape.

The Dressing Table/Vanity is from Ikea, as well as the wire baskets next to it which are full of skincare, nail varnishes loads more when I'm done. I sat at it this morning and it was great to have everything organised within easy reach. If you want to know where anything else was from just leave a comment and I'll be sure to let you know.

If you can see the candle at the bottom there, that was from John Lewis and is called Fairy Dust. If you have a John Lewis near by, please go and smell it. It's blummin' AMAZING! It's so sweet and fills the room with the gorgeous scent after a few minutes. 

So there's my little rambly post, Operation Wedding Dress is in Operation Fail mode at the minute too, we have been eating far too much crap. So after our holiday, it's back down to the nitty gritty! 

Ciao for now! XxX

BeDazzled: A Deep Peacock Smokey Eye Tutorial ♥

Oh Hai! Today I'm finally going to do my first make up tutorial kind of post. I have wanted to do one for ages but I never seem to have the time! However, Ed and I went out for a meal on a whim last night, so I only had about 15-20 minutes to get ready, which shows how quickly this look can be done. At the time, because I am a donut, I didn't realise I was going to turn it into a tutorial so I haven't taken step by step photos fail, but, there are only three main colours too it and it isn't too difficult so I Shall explain step by step.

Here is a piccy wiccy of the finished look.

It was inspired by a teal and purple top I wore that night, so I continued the look right up to my eyeballs, 'cuz that's how I roll. So to begin, aside from your usual foundation routine and blush/bronzer/setting routine, I'm only really 'tutorialing' (what a great word I have just made up, somebody call Oxford) the eye look here. Firstly you will need the MUA Palette in Undressed, using the shade 12 (see red arrow). This is a gorgeous grey shimmery colour, with a very slight blue undertone, a great starter for our smokey look!

You will also need the Poptastic Palette by MUA, using shade 1 and shade 7, which will give our Deep Peacock look it's pop of colour.

Other friends we will need in this tutorial are:

Any Eye Primer (I use a plain cheap lipbalm, it's amazeballs!), Nyx chubby eyestick in Cottage Cheese, MAC fluidline in Blacktrack, a couple of shadow/blending brushes (these are rubbishy old ones, but still do the trick), black kohl eyeliner - mine is by Peggy Sage but MUA do a great black for £1.00 which is in waiting for when I have finished this one, No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara, Maybelline Falsies Mascara, Fine Liner Brush, Urban Decay flat shader brush from Naked 1 palette. 

Obviously all the products here are optional, and can be adapted to something you have got at home!

Let's get to it!

Step 1: Prime the lids with your choice of primer, this will make the colour last and pop.

Step 2: Take a shadow brush, and shade 12 from the Undressed palette, and pack it all over the lids. (Don't worry about being too neat here).

Step 3: Take a clean blending shadow brush, and blend out the edges, so there are no harsh lines. Blend it up to just past the crease of your eye, but don't wing this grey shade out to the side very much.

Step 4: Take the turquoise shade 7 from the Poptastic palette, but don't load the brush heavily as this will put too much onto the eye. The key to this look is graduate and blend blend BLEND! Put this colour on the outer corner and above the crease. Keep dipping the brush in the palette and blending it out until there is a bold colour, but a soft gradient outwards. You can also wing this out towards the last point of your brow.

Step 5: Take the purple shade 1 from the Poptastic Palette, and take that over the grey beginning at the inner corner, towards the middle of the eyelid - but leaving a little of the grey colour still showing in the middle. Take a clean blending brush, and continuously blend until you are happy that it's smokiiinnnn'! With the flat shader brush, bring a little of the grey under the eye, the purple on the lower inner corner and the green on the outer, and blend out. This really makes a difference to a smokey eye.

Step 6: For added definition add a light shimmer highlight colour to beneath the brow bone, this also gives the edges of the gradient something to blend into to complete the look. I used a random off white shimmer colour from a palette I had in Cyprus, but any will do! Also, take the Nyx Jumbo stick in Cottage cheese, and pop some in the Inner Corners. Light will hit this and give the illusion of widened eyes.

Step 7: Take some gel liner, or whatever you are comfortable with using, and line close to the lashes with a fine brush. I haven't winged mine out, as it may be too much, but if you want to go on all out there, feel free! Bring what's left on the brush close to the lower lashes for subtle definition. Take a kohl pencil, and line the waterline.

Step 8: Use your favourite mascara to create volume and flare to the lashes. I use the No7 Definition mascara to give me the look of more lashes with no clumps, and then Maybelline Falsies Flared to add length and volume. You can also add false lashes here, I just didn't have time!

Step 9: Finish the rest of your usual make up, adding a subtle lipgloss or nude lipstick. I used MUA love hearts lip balm in 'Sugar Lip's', as with such a heavy eye you don't want a garish colour to clash with it. The lip balm just give's a nice gloss, and a nice finish to the look.

And you are done! A lot of reading I know, but at least it's always here if you fancy having a go. Let me know what you think of the look! What are your favourite eye looks at the moment? Do you love the MUA palettes? I do!

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished look!

 I'm not as moody as I look here, honest! Haha!

Ciao For now! xXx

Mini Online MUA haul ♥

Hellooo lovers. I did my first order from the MUA website, and thought I would share with you my little experience. I am an avid lover of MUA cosmetics and I have too much a LOT of their range. However, the Birmingham Superdrug is always either sold out, messy, or never have the product that I want in store, so I have given up going on that front. I had seen the new 'Undressed' palette was out too, as well as the lip booms that I didn't have any of, so I thought to myself - without further ado, I shall order from the world wide web. Order HERE.

I am terrible for being an online web window shopper. I don't know what it is, I look at the price and sit and think about it more if it's on the screen in front of me. Also, it drives me crazy that I have to pay for shipping, BUT if I went into Birmingham I know it would cost me that in petrol or a train ticket anyway, so I have to get over that. They can't be just sendin' stuff out for free now can they!

I ordered by about 1pm on whichever day I did it on this week...my memory fails me, and it came the next day! That is a jolly good old service if I do say so! There's nothing better than getting a package off the postie, even though you know what's in it. True, right?

So here is what I ordered:

*NEW eyeshadow palette in 'Undressed' - £4.00

*Love Hearts Lip Balm in 'Sugar Lips' - £2.00

*Nail Polish in 'Shade 13' - £1.00

*Lipstick in 'Shade 15 Juicy' - £1.00

*Intense Colour Eyeliner Pencil in 'Jet Black' - £1.00

*Single Matte Eyeshadow (my brow colour) in 'Shade 19' - £1.00 

*Pressed Powder in 'Shade 1' - £1.00 (my favourite bargain!)

*Lip Boom in 'O.M.G' (orange/coral shade)

*Lip Boom in 'Cheeky' (baby pink shade) - Currently two for £4.00

Sorry about the picture quality again, I just take quick snaps on my Iphone so I can be Speedy Gonzales in my blogging. Or I'm just too lazy to pick up my Canon.

So here is the Undressed palette. I like the name, I like the shades, I like the pigmentation, I like the price, I like the compact packaging...Someone who created this will be getting a bigger head by the second if I continue! But whoever did, deserves the recognition. For the price, it is really great, and I can't wait to give it a good whirl over the weekend - which I plan to post some Face Of The Day blogs I hope. 

There are three matte shades and the rest are shimmers, here is a quick swatch of Shade 2, Shade 9, Shade 10 and Shade 11 if you can even see it because the pic is very blue - apologies! This is just one little swipe, so you can see they have good pigmentation, with the ability to create a multitude of looks. Four quid well spent.

Here is the Love Hearts lip balm. I really wanted something out of the Love Hearts range because the packaging is so cute! They do have nail polishes too, but I figured I have too many, so lip balm it was! This is Sugar Lips, and it is a bright pink lip balm that smells AMAZEBALLS. It's so vanillery! Nice and big pot for a lip balm too, and will definitely be making a more permanent home in my handbag.

Here is a light swatch of it, a nice and sheer pink lip balm.

Onto lip booms! I have actually ordered another one with my Mom, but the two I got were O.M.G and Cheeky. The sticky marks are just where I have taken the packaging tape off, I have got them off now! So O.M.G is a gorgeous orange, coral colour and yet another product with an amazing vanilla smell. I literally can be at my desk with the lipgloss wand up my nose, eww I just love the smell. 

Cheeky is a barbie-pink colour. The lipsticks are a little waxy when you first try them out of the packaging, but after a few strokes on the lip, you are good to go with great pigmentation and coverage.

Swatch of O.M.G, glossed over on the left, withouht gloss on the right. 

Swatch of Cheeky (just to confuse you) without gloss on left, with gloss on right.

The ethos behind the Lip Boom is that it is a four in one product. Matte lipstick, lipgloss, lipgloss over the lipstick, and lipgloss as a highlight in the centre of the lips. Well I think it works a treat, and think I shall have the full collection soon enough I hope! Have you got any Lip Booms or other colours you think I should try??

Right I've waffled enough now, but I am always pleased when I have a new MUA product, they never cease to amaze.

Ciao for now XxX

What's in my work make up bag? ♥

Hi lovers! So today I thought I would enlighten you with a 'What's in my work make up bag' post today, because as you probably have gathered, I haven't bought many beauty items this week because I am unbelievably skint due to different events going on! 

My work make up bag is much different to the weekend collection, because I can't wear much make up due to the nature of my job, and I do tend to sit leaning my face on my hands most of the day, therefore transferring most of my make up onto them, and leaving at the end of the day with nothing on. Because of this, I don't wear my proper foundation during the week, and none of the products are anything fancy because there is no point. These products are all well loved by the way, so sorry about the state of them. I just thought this may be helpful if you are in a similar situation to me with work, and don't want to splash out for not many people to see you!

So here goes. My make up bag is a little chocolate one my in laws got me for chrimbo, it's by N.SPA which is available at larger ASDA stores. For a base, I have got a sample of the Garnier Light BB Cream which I received yesterday but I shall review this tomorrow as it's Thursday Thoughties time again. Then I have an MUA bronzer, which I do actually use every single day because it is matte and amazing, it is shade 3. For a highlight I have Number 17 Instant Glow, and I tend to swirl my brush just in the top two stripes in the block, and it gives a lovely shimmer. For my powder to set my face I have the MUA powder in shade 1, great for oil control throughout the day and doesn't look ashy on the skin.

For blushers, I have two MUA ones in shade 2 and shade 4, one is a dark pink colour and one is a burnt coral so I can change it up depending on what mood I am in!

I then carry a few brushes with me which are:

* Real Techniques Pointed Foundation brush which I use for concealer - part of the core collection.

* Real Techniques Buffing Brush - I use for foundation/BB cream, it is my holy grail brush - part of the core collection.

*A W7 small blush brush - not a great brush but does the job when I'm in a hurry.

*Unbranded Powder Brush - I use this for bronzer and to set my make up, but I got it at Beauty UK a few years back and it's still a great brush!

*A W7 large powder brush - used for blush or highlight.

*Models own angled brush - for brows, I love this brush, it is soft yet sturdy.

*Peggy Sage Liner brush - I use this for Gel liner but that shouldn't be in this bag!

Other bits and pieces include:

*MUA Lipstick in Shade five - a subtle shimmery pink.

*Lasting perfection concealer in Fair - a staple in anyone's kit!

*MUA single matt shadow in shade 19 - My everyday brow colour.

*Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara - A nice everyday mascara with a multifunctional brush.

*Clean and Clear spot treatment - to zap those pesky zits!

*Peggy Sage kohl eyeliner - A great black liner for everyday use.

*MUA Clear mascara - Used as brow gel (excuse the colour!)

And finally some bag essentials! Some hair grips or bobby pins, a bobble and a spikey necklace of course!

So that was an insight into my work make up bag, hope it was helpful if you are looking to put together an inexpensive one.

What do you you have for work? Any good recommendations to try? 

Ciao for now XxX

Thursday Thoughties - MUA vs Sleek Pressed Powder ♥

Hello! It's Thursday again and time for a Thursday Thoughties review post. This week seems to have gone pretty quick I think! 

I've got the MUA pressed powder, and the Sleek Luminous Pressed Powder which are both products I have purchased recently. I had the Sleek Powder before the MUA, and it was priced around £6.00, available in larger Superdrug stores. This is a luminous pressed powder with SPF15 in it, and is very fine with a slight shimmer to it. The MUA pressed powder is only £1.00 and it is a completely matt powder, and has a slightly 'chalkier' texture - that is the only way I can think to describe it!

Both very reasonably priced products, especially the MUA powder, as you can see I have hit pan on the Sleek one. They are both great for the money and I use them both as setting powders over my foundation. They are both great for different reasons, I think the MUA is a perfect everyday powder, it seems to be long lasting in the pan and lasts around three to four hours before my super oily T-zone gets the better of it. 

The sleek powder I prefer for nights out, as it adds a lovely 'satin' finish on the skin, rather than being so mattifying. It seems to last around the same time as the MUA powder, maybe oh-so-slightly longer! Packaging wise, MUA is very basic and it is literally the product you are paying for, but I don't mind that for a pound! Sleek however does come with a mirror, and a sponge applicator so it is great for carrying around on the go.

This is how they both look swatched. The left is Shade 1 by MUA and the right is 01 by Sleek. As you can see, the colours are very much the same, it is just the added shimmer in the Sleek powder. As an overall thought, I don't think I shall purchase the Sleek powder again, as I prefer the matt look of the MUA, and I'm saving myself a fiver! Win win! Still, they are both great products for drugstore brands and worth a try!

Rating out of five

Sleek ****

MUA *****

Ciao for now! XxX

Make Up Haul, MUA, MAC, Illamasqua ♥

Ahoy there! Did everybody have a nice bank holiday weekend? I hope so! Even with less than a week to Beauty UK, unfortunately I could not fight the make up minions that live inside my brain, and well and truly overspent in Birmingham. Although I only got two higher end products, it all adds up and I ended up in Primark too! Man alive, am I paying for it now.

You only live once is one of my favourite sayings ;)

So I'll just whizz through, just to give you an idea of what is out there at the moment! As you may or may not know, MACs new 'Hello Sailor' collection was launched this week, and as only this year I have learnt about MAC *shock horror*, I haven't had any of the patterned, limited edition collections. I loved this one though,  so I had to get something from it! I picked up the Frost lipstick in 'To Catch a Sailor', and it is a gorgeous sheer gold colour. I know the frost lipsticks aren't the best for colour, but I find that this one is buildable, suitable for everyday wear, or build it up and it is a very metallic bronze gold. It is a different colour for me, but I'm all into trying new things! That was £14.00. 

Talking of new things, I have been lusting after Illamasqua's Apocalips since the Human Fundamentalism collection came out! As you know, my hair is turquoise so this is a must have! Obviously not for everyday wear, but it's just something I need in my life! It is a little darker than the advertisement photos, but with a blue lip/eyeliner, or a white one underneath, that soon brightens it up. The make up artist in Selfridges put it on me so I was walking around town with blue lips, which made me look like a drag queen because she extended my cupids bow, and didn't do the best job. I don't want to tell my grandmother how to suck eggs, but I soon wiped it off. That was £15.50.

Primark have bought out their own lipbalms! They smell a bit dodgy I must admit, like more clinical than the smell they are meant to be, but for £1.00 I got two, just to shove in my bag!

I have got a fancy dress party for Ed's brothers birthday in June, which doubles as our Queen's jubilee date so we have to dress all patriotic! Most people are going as the Royals, so I thought I would be different and go as a Union Jack! I have a Union Jack dress, deely boppers, lip tattoo...the list goes on! In Primark I found these nail wraps for £1.00! I have never tried nail wraps before, but they are perfect so I will give them a go! 

I then came across this spray rapid dry for nails. It was on the test table at Superdrug and I was extremely sceptical about it. I had a go however, and it works like a dream! It's a bit wet at first but I felt the nail after about 30 seconds and it was already pretty much dry. I am looking forward to properly trying it out, and I shall later review it. This was £3.59. Next up, MUA.

We all know and love MUA, and I have tons of the stuff, but I hadn't got the red lipstick yet! Louise at Sprinkle of Glitter always says how much she loves it, and I have four other pink shades but not the red, so for £1.00 I had to get it! I am yet to try, but I'm sure it shall be fabulous!

I also naughtily got a couple of other bits while I was there. I am actually determined to have the whole collection. I got the face powder in shade 1, because I usually use the Sleek Luminous face powder, but this is £1.00 so I thought I should try it, and compare. I got the two remaining blushers that I don't have, in shade  2 and shade 6. I absolutely love the MUA blushers, I couldn't recommend them more because the colours, application and price are all beautiful.

I then picked up the new brush on concealer. I don't think this is going to be a product I stick with, as my 'go-to' concealer is of course the Collection 2000 lasting perfection. It is in one of those applicators that have the twisty, clicky bit on the bottom, to which you have to wait a lightyear for the product to come out - then it all comes out at once! Does that happen to you? It seems to dry quickly too so not that easy to blend, and although it is the light shade, it is still a few shades dark for me. That was £2.00.

And finally the last few items. Eyeliners and plumping lip gloss. In Illamasqua, when I had Apocalips put on, the Make up artist lined my lips with a blue liner, and then put on the lipstick. Of course, she tried to sell it to me, but I knew I could get the exact colour from MUA for a pound!! And lets face it, I'm not gonna wear it everyday. It is in shade 'Turquoise' and is a very close dupe to 'Debonair' from Illamasqua, just £12.00 cheaper. I got the 'Royal Blue' shade also, and the Illamasqua dupe is called 'Paddle'. I can't believe how close it is really!

For the lippies, I got two of the plumping 'Out There' glosses, which were £2.00 each. I got them in 'Shocking Pink' and 'Buff'. They do sting a tad! But no pain, no gain!

So I hope you liked my little haul, please go out and try the MUA products yourselves if you haven't already, I think you would be pleasantly surprised! 

If you are still with me, here is an adorably cute picture of our bunny, Peanut. She is the most spoilt bunny in the world, and I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Ciao for now XxX

Make up and Thrifty OOTE ♥

Hello everyone! So today I am doing a little post on a few make up looks I have had over the past couple of days, and a few things I picked up from my local charity shops recently. I am really getting into the habit of looking round the charity shops, because you just never know what you might find. I actually really enjoy the  little challenge of going into one, and trying to find a thrify outfit, or piece of jewellery that could look up to date, or relatively decent. I used to never set foot in them, (oh the shame) because I used to be worried someone would see me coming out of it which is pretty bad really. Now I realise there are bargains to be had, and vintage is the way forward!

Ed and I went into the main one near us first, and spotted a few nice things. Ed got himself a chiming wall clock for his office at the fraction of the price he had been looking for online. As you may or may not know, I really love animal jewellery and so when I spotted this little guy, it was love at first sight! It was £8.00 though which I thought was a little steep, but there wasn't a scratch on it. I decided to leave Lenny the Lizard or Gary the Gecko (I'll shut up now ), because I didn't have the change in my purse anyway.

I told my Mom about it later on, and the next day she went and got it for me! Bless her, she is a super Mom! So he will make a home on one of my handbags.

Next were these vases (apologies for pic quality, I hadn't got time to snap them properly), my Mom also went back and got me these because I was umming and ahhing. Basically, for our wedding I want to collect lots of pretty small-ish vintage vases, so we can put clusters of different flowers in them on the tables. I thought these were lovely, just the right size and £1.50 each! What a bargain. The hunt is on for plenty more.

Then I saw these little badboys, which I am pretty sure I have previously seen in House of Fraser where they are about £22.00. Here they were £2.00, and being little lion heads I had to snap them up! As well as animal jewellery, I love big stud earrings, so they fit the mould - especially for that price.

Last but by no means least, I found this pastel pink polka dot shirt. It was my size, and I absolutely loved it. The collar is perfect, almost peter pan but slightly more pointed and I love the ribbed detail down the front. It is a lovely shirt for spring/summer with the pastel colour bang on trend. With a little bit of imagination, for £3.50 I was hoping I could make it work! It was originally from Marks and Sparks, so not your average old rubbish I'll have you know ;p !

This was my outfit of the evening (OOTE) on the day I brought it. We decided to go out for an Italian so I thought what better excuse? Sorry about the blurry picture again, this was taken on my SLR but unfortunately my hubby to be won't quite make it as David Bailey just yet, bless his cottons.

So I whacked my hair into a vintage style roll and high ponytail. Shoved on the blouse - £3.50 st Giles, shoved on the skirt - £3.00 from Matalan, the black blazer - £10.00 from Primark, some tights and some patent black heels from New Look - £20.00 (which you can't see...). I then added my gold chain from the vintage fair - £5.00, pearl vintage earrings - £1.00 Charity shop, and a gold belt that came from another skirt somewhere along the line. And there you have it, thrifty outfit of the evening.

A bit closer up, this is Ed & I, just to show what my make up was like. 

Face Base - Nars Sheer Glow in Deauville 4, MUA Bronzer in shade 2 I think - it is matte anyway (which I totally adore), MUA light pink blusher in shade 1, sleek luminous face powder to set.

Eyebrows - MUA clear mascara (used as a brilliant brow gel!) MUA eyeshadow in shade 19, applied with Models own angled brush.

Eyes - Asda lipbalm as primer, Urban Decay Naked Pallette colours - sin, toasted and hustle, MAC fluidline in Blacktrack, Primark lashes, Maybelline falsies winged mascara.

Lips - MAC Sheen Supreme in Insanely It.

And thatsh'allot!

Another quick make up look I did the other day, kind of like a 3 tiered smokey look using Maybelline colour tattoo in gold, a few colours out of the Naked pallette and MAC Hue lipstick. I have been thinking I may do a tutorial on something like this, because it's pretty easy and structured so it would be an easy step by step.

Bit of a random post for you there, but at least it may give you some inspiration for braving the charity shops! As always, thanks for reading!

Ciao for now! XxX

Mini Make Up Haul ♥

Bonjour mes amis! Over the weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with my very lovely friend Sarah, and we had a little mooch around Birmingham. I was going in with pretty much empty pockets, but of course I just can't come out with nothing; why break the habit of a lifetime?

I got the train into Birmingham for the first time in ages! I usually hate hate hate public transport, but this time around I felt that it was actually much easier than battling through the Sunday traffic, losing my car in Selfridges as I do every single time, and it gives me a good walk either side of the journey. Win win situation.

SO, onto the bedlam of the every burning hole in my pocket!

This is what my hand looked like after we decided to venture into Selfridges at the end of our trip. I told myself not to go in there and risk buying anything, but I can't actually do it. Anyone else suffer with the same issue?

Ok, so first I headed into Boots, and after recently trying out Models Own nail polish in Tropical Sun, I was very impressed! So of course I went back, and they are currently on offer at Boots 2 for £8.00. I had seen on a few beauty bloggers/vloggers channels that Indian Ocean is one that is majorly sought after, and I can see why! Oh my life it is absolutely stunning! I found it and there were only about 2 bottles left on the shelf, so I snapped me one right up!!! It is a beautiful iridescent pale blue with an added pink tone running through it. It dries super quick in seconds, and here's what it looks like with two coats, and what I currently have on! 

(Used with Boots falsies)

I also got the Models Own nail polish in Aqua Violet, which is part of the Beetlejuice collection. I always go for colours like this because my favourite colour in the whole world is Turquoise, and my hair is this colour so it's great to match! Aqua violet is quite a deep teal colour, and is a duotone with purple running through it.  I haven't tried it out yet, but I can't wait to! Also as you can see there, is another duotone iridescent colour from Barry M called Silvery Purple. In the light you can see purples, greens, blues and silver flecks in the bottle. I have only done a little test coat on my natural nails and it is quite sheer, but I think after two coats it would be perfecto. It's another gorgeous colour from Barry M and for £2.99 it's another bargainous buy. 

I also got the magnetic varnish in the black shade from Barry M, but I need to have a proper fiddle about with it first!

I finally got my first Illamasqua product! And my gosh I am excited about it! Sarah and I spent a good old while rummaging through their collection, with plenty of 'Ooo's' and 'Aaah's'. I actually couldn't come out of there empty handed, I think it is my new lust brand. I always love bright and wacky make up and they fit my every need! I think I am going to find myself going there every week getting a new product. This is a pure pigment, which is priced at £15.50 which I don't think is too bad as I think this will be a product that lasts a hell of a long time. This shade is called Static, and is a glittery iridescent (can you feel a theme here?) pinky purple. It is amazing and looks just like fairy dust! It can be used on the eyes, cheeks or mixed with an existing product. I can't wait to have a go with it!

Then we headed into Primark because we had heard they were doing nail art pens, but unfortunately ours had ran out! However they are doing a few beauty products so I picked up one of their lipsticks. They aren't named or numbered but it is the spotty one in the picture below, and is priced at £1.00. It is a light muted pink, and actually isn't the best product in the world and smells a bit like playdough. It's quite drying, but over lip balm it's actually a nice colour on the lips. For a pound I guess I can't grumble, but I doubt I would re-purchase.

Next was MUA at Superdrug which you know I love, and for a pound each these lipsticks are no comparison to the Primark one. They are just great! So moisturising and glossy with such a great range of shades! The colours don't pick up too well on my Iphone camera but it gives you an idea. The second from the left is 'Shade 12' and is a shimmery pink (not coral like it looks here), the next is 'Shade 5' and is a shimmery very light pink (gorgeous for everyday wear!) and the last is a deep pink with bluey undertones, and is 'Shade 3'. All gorgeous and I don't ever have a bad word to say about MUA really!

Swatched from top to bottom: Shade 3, Shade 12, Shade 5 and the Primark muted pink.

So here we are in Birmingham Bullring after we got attacked by Illamasqua! It was a lovely day and nice to see Sarah and I look forward to catching up again soon!

Have you bought anything new recently? Anything I should try? I would love to know!

Ciao for now XxX