Thursday 30 July 2009

Which outfit should I wear?!

I've got a night out with the girls from work on saturday and as usual, I can't decide what to wear!! One of the girl's is leaving so we're going out for a meal and some drinks but it won't be a "big night out" so I don't need a "out dancing" outfit.

Right now my bed is covered with the contents of my entire wardrobe and I have about 8 pair's of shoes scattered on the floor. (My boyfriend will go mad!!)

So here are the 2 options i've managed to get it down to:



The first is my Zara dress from a previous post. As I want to wear heels, I feel I need to wear my leggings with it instead of just bare legs as I would do with flats. Not sure if the leggings go?!




And then the next is just my trusty black denim skirt and top combo!! I always play it safe in black and then add loads of accessories but not sure if this looks too boring compared to the dress?!

I've asked my boyfriend and as usual his answer was.... "They both look nice".

What kind of answer is that?!

It would be great to get your opinion on this as I can't make decisions at all!! x x

Wednesday 29 July 2009

My Mascara Obsession!!

Like a lot of you out there, im constantly on the look out for an AMAZING mascara. There's new one's coming out all the time but as yet, im still to find my HG mascara!!


This is my current collection of mascaras and they vary from really bad ones to really good ones. (Please note, they are not pictured in that order!!)

They are from left to right: Avon superSHOCK, The Body Shop Divide & Multiply, The Body Shop Super Volume (one in black, one in brown), Rimmel Magnif'Eyes, Maybelline Volum' express turbo boost, Rimmel Sexy Curves, Maxfactor False Lash Effect, Loreal Voluminous 4x, Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes, Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effect Faux Cils and my free-bie Benefit bad Gal lash.

I always want my lashes to look full, with lots of volume and lift. I use eyelash curlers everyday and if I have time, I sometimes use my heated eyelash curlers, but still am never 100% happy with the result!!


These are my most popular mascara's that I reach for on a daily basis. I have to say that i think the Loreal Voluminous 4x is my favourite out of all of them, just for a great day to day look. Its brush is quite large and not at all clumpy and it seems to coat every single lash, from root to tip!!


One of the comb mascaras but I love this one. Its not clumpy or flakey and the shape of the brush ensures all lashes are reached. I also love the purple packaging of Rimmel's Sexy Curves!!



The Divide & Multiply from The Body Shop is also a comb instead of a brush and this one actually does make your lashes look longer. Its good at seperating out all your lashes and making you look like you have more than you actually do. I just wish this was a brush instead of a comb as im more a fan of brushes.


This is my fave!! Look how big the brush is!! I like how its got a conditioning formula to strengthen your lashes too. I think most of you already know how good this mascara is!!



And last but not least Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes. I find this looks best on top of another mascara just to really make your eye's look amazing!! The sphere shaped brush adds loads of volume and it holds the curve of your lashes perfectly in shape. It also applies just the right amount of product to each and every lash, even the tiny one's in the corner of your eye!!

No doubt i'll keep buying mascara's, I get sucked in by the fancy packaging!!

Whats your favourite mascara?! x x

Monday 27 July 2009

Advice Needed!!

Although im in love with my new Dior foundation, come pay day, I want to try out another new one!! I've been reading through everyone's blogs and reading reviews and recommendations until I go cross-eyed!!

I think i've managed to narrow it down to a few that i've read about so, I've decided to ask you, my lovely readers, your opinions!!

I have combination/oily skin and I like a matte finish with quite good coverage.

1. - Mac Studio Fix Fluid.


Although I hate to admit it, I have NEVER purchased anything from a Mac counter!! I only own 3 Mac products (all blushers) and they were bought off eBay as my local Mac counter is in town, at House of Fraser and i've never really known where to start as there are soo many products. So, I really, really need your help!!

I've heard lots of great things about this foundation, including how air-brushed and flawless it makes your skin look. However, I've also heard a few negative things, including how it can look cakey and sometimes cause your skin to break out and thats the last thing I want!!

2. Estee lauder Double Wear Light.


I tried a sample of this a couple of days ago and really liked how it felt on my skin and the colour match was also good. However, halfway through the day, my skin did get oily and I somehow felt I needed more coverage.

3. Estee Lauder Double Wear.


I've heard amazing things about this and im thinking maybe this will give more coverage than the light version?! I've also heard how it stays on all day AND all night too but the negative apparently is the glass bottle and not being able to get all of the product out. Is this the only negative to this foundation?!

4. Estee Lauder Maximum Cover.


I really don't think I need this as its described as being ideal for covering up surgical scars and concealing imperfections. Although I do have a few acne scars, im not sure that they are that bad to need something this heavy, or is it light in texture and good for an oily kind of skin?!

These are just a few that i've been considering and if any of you would recommend a different foundation, please let me know!! Im trying to decide if its worth the journey to experience my very first encounter with Mac?!

I've got 4 days until pay day so hopefully that gives me enough time to make a decision!!
x x

Saturday 25 July 2009

20 Things Tag....

Ok, so I was recently tagged by Girl With The Golden Touch to do the 20 Things Tag, so here goes:

1. Things you cannot leave the house without

My handbag, which contains everything including, my purse, phone, keys and make up bag.

2. Favourite brand of Make Up
I don't really have just one favourite, I love loads of different brands, although my fave's include Benefit and Rimmel.

3. Favourite flower
Tulips. I love the way they look even though they tend to droop after a couple of days.


4. Favourite clothing store
Too many to choose from!! River Island, Topshop and Zara are my fave's and New Look for their shoes!!

5. Favourite perfume
I own way too many perfumes but my favourite has to be Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel. Its a lovely light fragrance that instantly makes you feel good.


6. Heels or Flats
Heels!! I wear heels all the time. This can drive whoever im with crazy, as sometimes my feet start hurting if i've been walking for too long and I start complaining!! But I just love how they make an outfit look instantly better and make you feel fab!! I've even got a little heel on my work shoes which im standing in all day, every day. (I must say though, in the winter, I live in my trusty old Uggs!!)

7. Do you make good grades
I did make good grades all through school but just did average on my GCSE's. My school was one that helped all the brainy kid's to make the school results look good and just left normal people like me with cover teachers all the time. (I had a P.E. teacher for Math's?!) This kind of explains why I did rubbish in and therefore HATE maths!!
I did go to college though to do Hairdressing as I hated the "sitting in a classroom, writing things" side of it!! All in all, I hated school and am much happier now that im working!!

8. Favourite colours
Pink is my fave colour. However if its clothes and accessories - black, tan and coral.

9. Do you drink energy drinks
Im not supposed to as I have IBS and caffeine really doesn't agree with me, but I do drink Lucozade Orange when im ill. (I can't stand Red Bull!!)

10. Do you drink juice
I love apple juice and occasionally i'll drink orange juice. I try to drink it as I don't eat much fruit and veg!!


11. Do you like swimming
Only if im on holiday somewhere hot. I hate even the thought of going to the public swimming baths. Plus getting chlorine in my hair and taking all my make up off is NOT my idea of fun!!

12. Do you eat fries with a fork
Not unless im eating out at a restaurant.

13. Favourite moisturiser
I have two, Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Lite and The Body Shop Spa Wisdom - Africa Spa Rich Body Balm, lovely light, delicate smell!!


14. Do you want to get married later on in life
Yes!! I want to get married as its what a girl dreams of right?! Me and my boyfriend have been arguing over this as he NEVER wants to get married and I do!! We've been together for 8 years now and he's never changed his mind and says he never will :-(

15. Do you get mad easily

Proababy too easy, especially when im driving!! I also tend to get mad and angry about things that dont even matter, eg, my boyfriend is very laid back and it makes me mad that he doesn't get mad about certain things!!

16. Are you into ghost hunting

No, ghosts scare me!! However I did once see a Clairvoyant with a friend and she told me things that she couldn't possibly have known about my Nan and Grandad. She told me that they're always with me, even though they dont show it as they know it would freak me out!! Too right!!

17. Any phobias
Loads!! My main phobia is sick and anyone who is going to be sick!! Its not just the fact that I don't like it, im actually petrified of it!!
The cause of this - I used to get a lift to school when I was little (like 6 years old and upwards) with my friends mum and my friend had car sickness. I would be stuck in the back of the car with her with no back windows or doors and I think thats where it all started!! All my friends know of this phobia and its also why I don't drink much alcohol as im scared of being sick. Even typing the word is making me start to get sweaty hands!!
Also spiders, any creepy crawlies, being closed in somewhere and not being able to get out and flying.

18. Do you bite your nails

No, never have done.

19. Have you ever had a near death experience

Not that I know of!!

20. Do you drink coffee
Yes but only decaff - and with lots of sugar!!

Im going to tag:

Beauty Scribings Of J
Cupcakes and Cherries
baby blonde: make-up chat

Apologies if you've already done this!! x x

Thursday 23 July 2009

My Addiction To Soap & Glory

I only discovered Soap & Glory just before Christmas and im now totally addicted to it!! I love the smell of all of their products and never know which product to try next.


I got given the above vanity case/bag for Christmas and it was full of goodies!! Some of you might have had it too but it was a great gift with a good selection of full size products. Im trying to remember what exactly was inside it as I received a few other things at the same time. I think it contained the HUGE bottle of Clean On Me shower gel, the mini Righteous Body Butter, a bath lily and the Flirtigo Spray On Moisturising Body Mist.

The body butter is a best seller but its just that bit too rich for me so I discovered The Righteous Butter Lite Body Lotion. Its an amzing moisturiser. I use this most mornings as its got a gorgeous light, fresh fragrance, exactly the same as the butter, just not as rich!!

I bought the hand soap and hand lotion set in the January sales and I still haven't used it as I don't think you can buy the products individually in this packaging and its too nice to use?!
My boyfriend (who's a mechanic), would have this hand wash used up within a week!! I have got another bottle of the Hand Food though and I use that every night just before bed. It sinks in really quickly and again has the same fab smell. It contains Shea Butter, Macadamia Oil and Marshmallow Extract!!




I bought the smaller make up case/bag from Boots and its got all of my different foundations in at the mo!! Its a good size for taking all your make up away in if your going on holiday or even just going away for the weekend. (Like me - I managed to fill this with make up when I went away for two nights recently!!) Its got quite a big mirror inside too which clips in or detaches which is a plus!!



The other product I love is the Mist You Madly body spray which the bottle says is a flirty, floral frangrance. Its in a pink bottle which is just that bit too big for carrying around in your bag (250ml) but it is a lovely smell so I just apply this in the mornings. On the back of the bottle it says: "Spritz Mist You Madly on whenever you need a flash of fabulousness" :-)

The other great thing about Soap & Glory is they don't test on animals - "only on very picky people"!!

I haven't tried any of their facial range yet though, im always a bit wary of trying new facial products. Has anyone else tried any that they would recommend?!

Definately go in to Boots next time you're out shopping and have a smell, you won't be dissapointed!! x x

Tuesday 21 July 2009

Dior Forever Extreme Wear Foundation Review


I decided that I wanted to try this foundation after I had read a few good reviews on various other blogs. I finally got round to buying it after having a lot of trouble trying to actually speak to a Dior girl. (I wrote about my experience at a couple of Dior counters in a previous post).

Anyway, I eventually got to speak to someone who actually works for Dior, she told me that I would be shade 020 and squeezed a small amout on to the back of my hand. (As I do makeovers on customers at work, I know you have to test colour shades on your jaw line as your hands are a completely different colour to your face).

I applied a bit to my jaw line and asked her opinion. She informed me that this was definately the lightest shade so would be the best for me. I asked her several times if it was the lightest, as thats what I normally am.
After purchasing the 020 on her recommendation, I did my make up the following morning and this was the outcome:


Please excuse this TERRIBLE picture, I only took it to show what an awful colour match it was, hence the reason I look just a tiny bit annoyed!! Look at my face and then look at my body!!

I drove straight to Debenhams to complain and was told i'd need to return it to the store i got it from. So I had to wait another couple of days and finally i got my correct shade, 010.

Despite my huge rant, it is a fab foundation!!



This is what I normally look like wearing foundation!!

It is described as an extreme wear flawless makeup, made with nano stretch technology which acts accordingly under different extreme environments.

After using this for about a week now, I can honestly say it is an amazing foundation.
As my skin is oily, I need a foundation that is going to stay put and not slide off my face halfway through the day. This is very long lasting, when I come home from work, it still looks the same as it did first thing that morning. This is great as I don't need to touch up my make up throughout the day!!
It is waterproof and has an Spf 25 which is always an added bonus!!
It gives a good coverage which I like and its not too heavy. I apply my Clinique gentle light powder over the top of this, just to set it and it never looks cakey, yay!!

I would definately recommend this to anyone with oily skin or anyone looking for a long lasting foundation. As long as you get the correct colour, you can't not fall in love with this foundation!!

Does anyone else love this product?! x x

Monday 20 July 2009

FOTD and OOTD

I thought i'd do another FOTD from Saturday when I was just out shopping with my boyfriend. I was trying out my new Dior foundation which i'll do a review on very soon!!




Face:
  • Dior Forever Extreme Foundation
  • Benefit Boi-ing concealer
  • Mac Fun and Games Powder Blush
  • The Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit

Eyes:
  • Two colours from the Sleek Storm palette (almost used up these 2 colours already!!)
  • Gosh Extreme Art Eye Liner in No 24 (amazing, stays on ALL day!!)
  • Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara

Lips:
  • Rimmel Volume Booster Lipstick in No 102 Foxy
My OOTD was pretty simple, i'd washed my skinny jeans and they weren't dry so had to make do with the following:



  • Top from River Island, £10 in the sale
  • Jeans, as before, from Topshop
  • Shoe boots, Faith
  • Silky scarf from Jane Norman
  • Pink and gold bangle, Accessorize sale
I've managed to pick up a few bargains from all the sales that are on at the mo!!

Has anyone else been successful and found some bargains?! x x


Friday 17 July 2009

Puppy Love

Its raining here in Sunny Scotland and the whole sky is black. So instead of going out, im snuggled up on the sofa with Max. No, he's not my boyfriend, he's my pampered pooch!!

I thought I would introduce him to everyone as he's always by my side when im blogging!!

He's a poodle with a little bit of Sheltie in him. He's only one year old and i've had him just over a year now. I begged and begged my boyfriend to let me get a dog before he finally gave in and let me get Max. I got him as he's wool instead of hair as my mum's allergic to dog hair, so this way she can still come round and visit!! This also has the added bonus of not having dog hair everywhere!!

This was little Maxy when he was just a puppy:



And this is him now:


He's fully grown now, but he's not much bigger than when he was a puppy. This pic was taken of him about 2 week's ago when we went to the coast for the weekend. Here's just a few more pics of him taken that weekend when the sun was still out!!


He was watching my boyfriend with the ball here, while I was trying to get a pic.


He sat still just long enough to get one!!


Resting after running after a tennis ball for about 2 hours!!

Me and Max!!


I had to include this pic as I think he looks just like a little lamb. He's very, very curly as you can see in this pic and everyone always says he looks just like a lamb!!


And finally, here he is looking very guilty as he's just been a bit sneaky and jumped up on the bed. He wasn't there for very long as the boyfriend only has to look at him and he know's he has to get down!!

I'll be back to blogging about all things beauty related asap, just thought his little face would cheer you all up from this miserable weather we're having!!

Hope you all enjoyed meeting Max!!

x x

Sunday 12 July 2009

Saturday Shopping....

So I went shopping yesterday with my boyfriend. If you can call it shopping when we only actually went in a couple of shops together. He was new mobile phone shopping so I was more than happy to just wander round the shops!!

My first stop was Zara where I found this really cute, summery dress in the sale. I was only going in for a look as I wasn't really in the mood for hunting through sale stuff, but this was just on an end of a rail and it caught my eye.


Its a kind of floral pattern I think, with a darker under-layer. I thought I could team it with my tan wedges and maybe a little cardigan if this horrible weather continues.
Here's a close up so you can see the pattern a bit better:



As predicted, I couldn't keep myself away from Accessorize and found myself browsing their sale again!! I saw loads of nice things, (I was in a bigger Accessorize than before, so loads more stuff!!) but I was good and restricted myself to just two things.


I had wanted this ring when it was full price, but at the time, was also purchasing loads of things so never bought it.


I thought these earrings were so cute and they were only £2.50!! You can't quite see from the pic but they have the 3 little butterfly's lined up together and kind of create that 3d effect. Also very summery colours to brighten up any outfit!!

I had intended on heading in to Superdrug as well to have a look at the Sleek Safari Palette but by this time, the boyfriend had finished his shopping and was complaining about going home, so will have to wait and have a look next time im in!!

Hope you all had a great weekend!! x x

Thursday 9 July 2009

Accessorize Sale!!

I was in work today and a girl came in carrying a bag from Accessorize with the magic word "Sale" wrote across it. The minute I saw it, I was figuring out what the quickest thing that i could eat for lunch was so i could get round there super fast!!

I knew it was a bad idea though as I can never just go in there and come out with one thing.
First thing's I picked up were these bangles and earrings:



I love the set of bangles, nice bright colours for the summer and the other little bracelet, i've had my eye on for a while so, as it was half price, I had to have it.

The rose earrings were a bargain price too and as I already have the same one's but in cream and love them, they were in my hand before I knew it!!
There was literally a rugby scrum around all the jewellery. My local Accessorize is tiny and everyone was fighting to get to the bargains.

As I moved away from the jewellery, I went looking at the bag's. (Dangerous ground for me) :-) Now for my real "bargain of the week".

One of my friend's has this exact same bag and i've always liked it but at £35.00 i've always managed to walk away from it. Last payday, which was only like nine day's ago, I was in Accessorize with this in my hand and something made me put it back. I just kept thinking, i'll come back and get it.
Im sooo glad I didn't get it last week as I found it today at HALF PRICE!! It was the last one that they had too which make's me especially happy!!


Its a gorgeous dark brown and it closes with a big zip instead of just a popper. It's big enough for all my stuff that I carry round everyday with me too. I just love it!!

All you Accessorize lover's out there NEED to get down there fast, there's some amazing find's just waiting to be bought!!

Happy Shopping!! x x

Wednesday 8 July 2009

Nail Rescue

Nail Update:

So it's now been almost 2 weeks since my poor nails suffered getting my acrylics off.
I went back to the nail salon to complain and I actually got to speak to the manager. She looked at my nails, including the one that was bleeding in the middle and just said that I must have weak nails!! The cheek of her!!
I explained that I never had a problem with them before and then she said: "Well why did you have your acrylics off?!"
I explained that I wasn't happy with the quality of them and she looked horrified.

To cut a long story short, all that she could offer me was a free weekly treatment of getting a layer of gel put over my real nails but they were so sore and i'd had such a bad experience, I decided I would sort them out myself!!

So these are the products that im now using daily:


They are both Jessica products. The first is Phenomen Oil. This is an intensive moisturiser that is formulated with healing jojoba, almond and rice oils to revitalize and maintain ideal moisture balance. You can apply it at night for a good soak but at the mo, im using it twice daily. It smells amazing, almost like baby powder!! You can also use it on any dry area's including elbows, feet and knee's.
I've only been using this for 3 day's but already the results are great. I would definately recommend this product to everyone, even just as a daily conditioning oil for the cuticles too!!

The other product is Restoration. This is a basecoat for Post-Acrylic or Damaged Nails. It contains healing echinacea which helps rebuild nails from foundation to surface. You're meant to apply 2 coats of this as a basecoat and then your normal nail varnish, but until my nails are a bit better, im just applying this on its own. This is also an amazing product and is definately helping.

When they are stronger, im going to start using this:


Originally I was just going to apply this daily but right now im just sticking to my Jessica products as they're working wonders.

I'll keep you all updated with how they work but all in all, im so glad I decided to fix my nails myself!!

Has anybody else tried either the Phenomen Oil or Restoration?!

x x

Sunday 5 July 2009

Honest Scrap Tag!!

The Honest Scrap TAG


I was tagged by the lovely Louise aka MissGlamTan to do the Honest Scrap Tag.

You have to tell your readers ten things about you they may not know, but that are true, then you have to tag ten people with the award.

Finally, let all the people you've given the award to know they have gotten it ( comment their blogs or somethings). Don't forget to link back to the person who awarded you.

1. Im a big hoarder!! I find it very hard to throw anything away. Im very sentimental about thing's even if it is just something silly like a mug!!

2. I moved up to Glasgow from Birmingham about 4 years ago now, for my boyfriend. I miss all my friends and family from home everyday!!

3. I left school and went to college to do Hairdressing and then realised I didn't like it.

4. I get VERY stressed and im a total worrier. I worry about anything and everything.

5. Im addicted to Pizza!! (Only plain cheese) :-)

6. Im very organised, but messy. I like to have everything planned out and what time i've got to be somewhere etc etc.

7. I still don't like the dark!!

8. I passed my driving test first time, but it was in an automatic!!

9. I hardly ever drink alcohol.

10. I NEVER eat any veg, unless potatoes count?!

I tag:

Holly - The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog

Hele - Hele Says....

Sarah - The Polished

Sadie - Butterfly Wings

Nicola - Fab by Nicola

And anyone else who wants to do it!! x x

Thursday 2 July 2009

Just a few things....

I just thought i'd share my lunch break purchases from today. It was SO HOT in the shop's today and only a few of them had the air-con on, including Accessorize. (Thats my excuse for going in anyway!!) :-)

I came out with these two gorgeous items:


The earrings also came in a baby pink or a turquoise green colour but I liked these one's the best as I figured that they'd go with more!! They cost just £6.00.
The little owl is my fave purchase yet this week and he only cost a fiver!! He's a sort of goldy/bronze colour although he looks silver in this pic, with amber colour eye's, he's only small but I just thought he was really cute!!

My next purchase was a new moisturiser. As I have oily skin, im always on the look out for a good moisturiser thats not too heavy.


This one was only £2.99, i've heard good things about it and I love Garnier products anyway so for the price, I thought i'd try it out. I'll let you all know how I get on with it but first impression's are good. It contains Grape Water and Vitamin E and is meant to have a non-greasy effect. Its got a light, fresh fragrance and is kind of like a gel/cream formula.

Has anyone else tried this?!

Another little note, im going away for the weekend tomorrow with my boyfriend and our dog Max, just to the coast, but I won't have internet access :-(
I'll do a post AS SOON as I get back with any pic's we take. I've not mentioned Max before and I promise that i'll do a post all about him very soon, introducing him to all of you.

Here's a little pic of him for now. (He look's like he's only got one eye in this pic, but he does have two, I promise, he's just very fluffy!!)


Hope you all have a fab weekend!!

x x