Where have you been? + A Very Late August Loves

 

I keep disappearing and I am trying my best to keep my blog up to date, but the last month and a half have been MANIC, to say the least. My brother got married and preparing for it was hectic, crazy and very tiring, but the wedding day itself was amazing. Everyone looked amazing and we had a crazy reception party with everyone drunk (including me, first time in my life getting dunk- I drank everything under the sun). I also did a speech for my brother where I ripped him to shreds, which he deserves, haha! :)

 

Excuse the very poor pic, I took it from my Dad's iPad (the second one) and I did not know how poor the camera was, or is it just mine?

 

My favourites for this month are pretty simple.

 

1) La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo- After hearing alot of positives from this I decided to give it a go. I think it was around £13 from Boots and I really like it. It has helped with blemishes and helps to control my skin. When I bought it I thought 40ml is really small for  £13, but I have used for a month and a bit, but there is quite a bit left. I just apply it to the areas of my face that I am most prone to blemishes.

 

2) Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Oil- This stuff is sooo nice, I have been using this on and off for around 3 years and I rediscovered it. Apply this after a shower and it moisturises the skin so well and you look glowy *BONUS*

 

3) Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin- Even though my skin can break out, it is very dry, so I use this cream at night to inject some moisture in my skin. I love this cream, my skin is soft and looks healthy when I get up.

 

4) MAC 239- I have been wanting this for ages. It works at packing on the colour of eye shadows and even paint pots. I used to use my fingers to apply paint pots, which I didn't like because I thought it looked poo on me. This brush is something you have to own (along with the 217) they are amazing.

 

5) Real Techniques Stippling Brush- I use this to apply my blush (current choice- MAC Margin), and it gives control and stops me from looking like a extra from Geordie Shore. Funny enough, the RT blush brush is HUGE to apply blush, so I use it for bronzer or setting my make up.

 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! :)

Devia xoxo

Beauty Loves of July 2012

I always forget to do these types of posts so here is my *first* loves of the month of July and its slightly late (oops!).

 Here is the list of stuff I have been loving this month:  

Kiehls midnight recovery eye cream

I only picked this up in July but it has made it on to this list. I tried a sample of it before and I was amazed at how lovely it was. I can't say if it has sorted out my wrinkles, BUT my eye area is much more nourished and looks nicer in the morning.

balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve

This was free in this month's Glamour mag and after one application I shot out and got another one. It claims to: 'plump, smooth and hydrate' which is most definitely does.
This is such a beautiful lip product, it has even replaced my Carmex (and that is saying something).  Its a 100% natural, which is something I am becoming more and more interested/concerned about in terms of skincare.
I love the applicator and it smells good (very rosy). I apply it for bed and my lips have thanked me for it.

Real Techniques Detailer Brush
This is part of the Core Collection which I got as I never had any proper make up brushes. I never really wore foundation but I am beginning to and love this set of brushes. I hear a huge hype around the buffing brush (which is understandable, it is truly remarkable) but I personally love the detailer brush for concealing blemishes or small areas of the face, it does such a good job in concealing blemishes and redness around my nose.

CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara

One of my all time favourite products. My aunt from Canada originally bought this for me when she visited last and have been holding onto this one for about a year (unopend, of course). This is my last one, sad times, but I managed to ask her to send me some over, so I felt it was the right time to open it ;) I seriously love this mascara, it is the only mascara that I get compliments on. My eyelashes are straight but slant down a bit, so I need something that will hold a curl fairly well and this works for me and plus it adds tonnes of volume.

MAC Eye Kohl in Phone Number

This is one of my long lost products and I rediscovered it this month. I actually hated this when I originally bought it, but then again I never gave it a chance.

Its like a charcoal grey with a silver sheen running through it, the glitter particles are really fine. I use this on the days where I don't want a heavy look but still want some definition. This does smudge but I found that when I applied it to my waterline it stayed in place and it is quite pigmented.

So there you have it, my favourites of July 2012.

Thanks for reading! :)

Devia 

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi

I realised I don't wear lipsticks enough, maybe I am not that brave yet... I am happy to just wear Carmex or a lipgloss..... So, when my girlie Hena got this for me, I thought 'hey this is my time to get out of my comfort zone and wear lipstick.' A year on, I am still waiting for that moment! But I just feel a bit more Hercules now ;)


I know I am a bit  very behind and I know everyone knows what the lipstick looks like, but there was sooo much hype around the Viva Glam Gaga (which I love, but defo could not wear, I probs would look like a clown!) I thought I would give this baby a try...


Viva Glam Cyndi!

Just a quick heads up...my lips looks weird! I am not pouting... Feel a bit katie Price-ish! (Not good! FAIL!) :(

One Coat

Two Coats

Two coats with a little bit of carmex ontop

Swatch

 The lipstick is perfect for someone like me who wants to wear a red lip but don't think you can pull it off. This lipstick is very versatile, one slick and it doesn't even look like you are wearing lipstick and the more comfortable you get, the more lipstick you can wear. In the day when I wear it I just do one slick and chuck some lip balm/gloss over it, but for night time, I go a little heavier.


And THE most important thing... The lipstick smells soooooo good! :) Lol! Its a shame I can't blog the smell! :(


So, I am thinking of getting a few coral/pale pinky colour lippies.I am going to get experimental ;)


What is your take on lipstick? Lover or hater?


Have a good week everyone! :)


x

Eye Look 2: MAC neutrals

My Body Shop order arrived today! How quick was that?! Very impressed :) I'm a very happy shopper! :) Oh and I ordered 9! Yes 9!!! I'm nuts! I don't even know where I am going to keep them! :/

Look at how the body butters came- cutely packaged with straw! 

On the menu today, I got an eye look I wanted to share using a few of my favourite MAC eye-shadow colours. It is a shimmery look that is quite low key because of the neutral colours used. This would still look amazing when you go out!

Excuse the eyebrows! :S

The picture above shows combination the browny, reddish and gold colours that help make this eye look really beautiful.


As you can see I brought the eye-shadow higher up on my crease (the right eye) and the left side the eye shadow just outlines my eye ball (if that makes sense?!) So you can wear it either way, depending on your eye shape. I got almond eyes, which are small, so I would choose the right one so that you can see a hint of the eye-shadow colour.

My camera is not brilliant but it did manage to pick up the colour and shimmer but I do love how it compliments my eye colour.

This look is a defo a night look in my opinion, well I would wear it at night, but if you can rock it in the day, you go girl, I take my trilby off to you! ;)

Colours used: (all MAC)

• 1)Woodwinked (all over the lid)
• 2) Sable (all over the lid on top of Woodwinked)
• 3) Antiqued (crease)

Top to bottom: Antiqued, Sable and Woodwinked

Mascara: Cover Girl Lash Blast


There are other brands that you can use,(which have really nice colour ranges) if your don't want to use MAC ones. For example:

• L'Oréal
• Rimmel
• Bourjois

What are your favourite neutral eye looks?

And its the WEEKEND!!! Yay! Hope you have a good weekend!

x

My Favourite Eyeliners...

BEWARE: VERY LONG POST :)


I totally understand/get it when ladies spend sooo much £££ on finding the best eyeliner. Why do I know this because I do it! :) and I am not ashamed to admit it. Finding a decent eyeliner is important to me because I wear it almost everyday and I love how it makes me not look like a zombie! :)


I search high and low to find a good dark, waterproof eyeliner that has amazing staying power. I am happy to pay that little extra if I know that the eyeliner will work and not be absolute crap (sorry, excuse the language!) and at the end of the day it will not make me look like a panda who has been punched in the eye a million times! (trust me, been there done that and got the t-shirt!) Haha!


In terms if coloured eyeliners, I just want something that has good pigmentation and stays on for a night out. Im not that brave to wear coloured liners everyday! :( 


Anyway, so here are a few of my favourite eyeliners:


MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
I know everyone has heard of this, but I love it! It dries instantly, has really good staying power and is a nice black ( I would prefer if it was a little darker, but beggers can't be choosers!) I use my MAC 210 brush when using the Fluidline. Its amazing, it will allow you to create thick or thin lines. I wear this eyeliner mainly as a top liner but I used to wear this on my waterline, which MAC don't tell you can't do it, but when I got speaking to a my friend who is a makeup artist, she practically passed out when I told her that I was wearing the fluidline on my waterline! Ooops! She was like you should only really use khol's on your waterline because they are safest, fluidline is only meant for topliner... 
So that is where the next baby comes in...
Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl Waterproof in Raisin Noir

I decided to try Lancome after speaking to a few people (one being my mum, who loves Lancome and Estee Lauder from back in the day!) and she, along with the others told me if I wanted a good liner I might as well try it from a good brand.  So off I trotted to John Lewis and bought this baby...

And I am soo glad I listened and this is definitely a keeper I <3 it! It is not the darkest gothic black, but it has fab staying power, good transfer and I can build on it. Win Win!

TIP: On nights out, to get that bold look, once I have applied the Lancôme eyeliner, I put a thin line of Fluidline just underneath my lash line- not only does this ensure that it stays in place but it helps create a defined look!

MAC Fluidline and Lancôme Crayon

Top two swatches are Fluidline and the bottom is the Lancôme liner

Benefit BadGal Waterproof Eyeliner

Unfortunately, I don't have a swatch to show you, but it is very similar to the Lancôme eyeliner, but in my opinion, it does not have the same staying power, however,it is a bit darker.
I do still like this eyeliner and would recommend it to you if you don't mind a bit of smudging where the eyeliner 'falls' just below your bottom lash line.



MAC Eye Kohl in Phone Number
I have used this a few times and I love the colour. It is not too dark and is perfect for girls who don't want a harsh black liner. It does have a bit of shimmer in it but it is not overpowering. I wear this as a top liner and it does look good :)

Top: MAC Phone Number
Bottom: Saddle

Topshop liner in Saddle
I was very impressed with the colour, pigmentation and price when I got it. I use this when I don't want a harsh look but I still want a defined look. It has little specks of glitter in it but this is definitely an amazing colour, especially when it is on.

 No7 Metallic Eyes Pencil in 05 Purple
This pencil is very affordable, especially with the £5 off voucher ;) The colours are really nice and have good pigmentation. The No7 eyeliners are very wearable for everyday looks, especially the purple and I think they have a green emerald and a sky blue which are beautiful too.

No7 Metallic Eyes 05 Purple

L' Oréal Super Liner Carbon Gloss Waterproof

The only drugstore brand on here (shame on me!) but the L' Oréal liquid liners are very very good and precise! Like the Fluidline, you can create really thin lines or thicker lines to create a more dramatic look. It stays on for a while, but I have found that you can't build on top of it or apply it really thick, as it can flake :(

L' Oréal also have the Super Liner with gold shimmer in it. I do like this as it adds something different to a look when you go out. But you have to be careful as to how you use it because if you over do it, it could look weird. A thin line is all that is needed.

Top: Super Liner in Carbon Black (waterproof)
Bottom: Super Liner in Black Crystals

I am sorry that some of the eyeliners are expensive but if you cannot justify spending like £20 on an eyeliner, which, let's face it, is quite crazy, then the drugstore ones mentioned are very good too. The other brands that I like are Rimmel and Prestige. Both have a really nice colour range too.


And oh, before I go, I am soooo LOVING The X Factor... I love the categories and the judges match each category perfectly! Soo happy :)


Have a good week everyone! 


x