Tuesday 23 June 2015

Current ASOS Wishlist

Crop Top (£16) | Dungarees (£45) | Mesh Insert Top (£20) | Swimsuit (£20) | Shirt (£25) 
It's been forever since I spent a good while browsing online to put together a wishlist so I thought where better to start than ASOS! Everything you could ever want for any occasion, they will almost always have it and since I just booked a 5-day break for a month's time with my boyfriend I thought now would be the perfect time to find some new bits and document my finds for you guys! 

The first thing I spotted was this stripped crop top which is navy stripes with yellow neckline and arm banded detail. It caught my eye straight away as it's something different to your average crop top and can go with so much! I'm always conscious of wearing anything cropped as I'm very self-conscious of my stomach (I'm working on it but it's gonna take a fair while...) but I'd definitely be comfortable wearing this with my high waisted denim shorts from Topshop, the dungarees featured next, or a high waisted skirt. 

Dungarees. Taking things back to my childhood when I hated wearing them but now I think they look so cool! Bang on trend for this season but also versatile enough to wear in any season, particularly if they're full leg like these ones. They'll be so easy to throw on and head out the door with. 

This top would be perfect to dress up or down due to the mesh detailing adding something a bit extra. Nice with skinny jeans and some nude heels or tucked into a pair of shorts. 

Swimsuits -eeeeek.  I'm 1000000000% not ready for swimsuit season. To compromise, I wanted to find a full body suit rather than a bikini and I love this one. I think it's something I'll have to order, try on and see what happens. I love the plait detailing on the crossover back, I think it makes a plain black swimsuit a bit more interesting. 

I've always been a fan of blouses so obviously I was naturally drawn to this one, I like how ASOS have styled it tucked into denim shorts, I'd probably style it pretty much the same. Blouses like this are great cause you can dress them down in the summer but also pair them with jeans and they're perfectly fine for autumn/winter. 


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Sunday 21 June 2015

The Two Product Smoky Eye


I'm all for a smoky eye, especially when it's as easy as 5 minutes, a quick blend and you're away. This smoky eye is perfectly subtle for everyday but also a bit more 'done up' than a bare eye - a happy medium. You should all know my love of eyeshadow bases by now so it will come as no surprise to you that the main feature of this look is Maybelline's 24hr Colour Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze'. (Also before we start can we please ignore the fact that I really need to pluck my eyebrows, and the two products doesn't include mascara and eyebrow products cause then this would be a hell of a long post!)

This look is so easy, I simply apply a layer of the eye base, blend, then build up the colour in stages focusing at the lashline and blending between each layer. Then if you like (and I have done here), you can deepen up the lashline with a dark brown eyeshadow which makes your lashes look fuller and gives a deeper smoke to the eye. I then draw the eye base under my eye, I like to bring the colour quite low but you can do whatever you fancy, even leave this stage out if you don't like colour under the eyes! The beauty of this look is that it doesnt need to be neat, if it gets smudged throughout the day it doesn't matter, and this is just a basic starting point, you can add a feline flick, more smoke, a heavy inner corner highlight or whatever you like! This is one of my go-to eye looks as it takes seconds and looks like you've put in effort!  

x
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Wednesday 17 June 2015

What's In My Bag?




Since finishing my second year of university I no longer have not carry around tonnes of folders and stuff so thought now would be the perfect time to do a What's In My Bag? post. I am a huge fan of ASOS handbags as they are reasonably priced, good quality, and last a pretty long time. This tote bag is the perfect size to carry a folder (if need be) and all the other crap necessities that I carry on an everyday basis. 

Daisy Print Notebook (Etsy) I am forever taking notes, coming up with blog ideas, or writing lists for all manner of things so a notebook is essential along with pens. (I found 6 while emptying my bag..)

Current Book (Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson) I always carry a book for when I'm waiting around and if you're into psychological thrillers then I highly recommend this one. I haven't finished it yet but I was hooked since the first page! Next up on my list is definitely The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins. 

Diary (Paperchase) I can't live without my diary! Although this one from Paperchase isn't on sale anymore, they still have loads available and even mid-year ones for those at school/college/uni. 

Purse (Monki @ ASOS) I love this purse as it's big enough to hold all my cards and lots of change but not too big that it becomes a place to hoard receipts!

Headphones (SkullCandy) A necessity for travelling, waiting around. Now I have 10GB of 4G I'm forever watching YouTube videos on public transport to pass the time!

iPhone Charger Pretty self explanatory! I also use an external charger (when I remember to charge it... and put it in my bag...)

Keys My car keys, house keys, memory stick with my uni work on, and several key rings!

Makeup Touchups Stay Matte Powder, Match Perfection Concealor, usually a lipstick (or two) and an Ebay Makeup brush which I don't mind bumbling around in my bag all day! 

Moringa Body Spray (The Body Shop) This is my second repurchase of this fragrance cause I love it! It's so fresh and is good for on-the-go freshen ups.

Hand Maid/Gel (Soap and Glory) I always carry antibac hand gel cause the world is a gross place, the Soap and Glory one is my fave simply because of the scent!

TIC TACS Cause who doesn't like minty fresh breath without having to find a place to throw away chewing gum?

Camera (Not pictured but is the Samsung NX3000) New camera! I love the DSLR quality, flipout screen, light weight and compact form for on the go snaps as well as my blog photos. 

x

P.S If anyone wants to buy my old Canon 1100d camera with all the original packaging, strap, lens, etc, including a UV protection lens and a remote control then please let me know! I'm open to offers on price, but since it's in perfect condition I'm looking for at least £140 which is less than half price!
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MAC | My Everyday Quad


Since completing my MAC palette I've not wanted to carry round my whole pro palette when I've been staying at my boyfriends or out on days where I would need to touch up, so I decided to buy the four pan palette which I can store my eyebrow shades but also my everyday eye look. It keeps everything simple and compact. 

The four shades I have included are Shroom, Patina, Omega, and Coquette. Combined they can create a simple golden eye or smoked out for a more evening appropriate look so this quad is perfect for everyday or even if last minute plans arise!

I simply comb my brows through with a spoolie and then use an angled brush to define the mid-part and wing of my brows with Coquette and then fill in the fronts and mid-parts with Omega. Simple as!

I'd be lost without my paintpot in Painterly as I use this everyday to smooth and even out my eyelids, I then set with a transparent setting powder to ensure this lasts even longer and leaves a more powdery base for the eyeshadows to blend on to. I then define and warm up my crease with Omega, taking this slightly above my crease so the deeper shade blends out evenly. I then define my outer corner and slightly through my crease with Coquette and blend out by mixing both wha's left on my brush with a bit of Omega. 

I then apply a small amount of my Barestudy paintpot to the mobile lid, focusing mainly on the inner part of my lid and putting a small amount on my inner corner. This will add an extra bit of shimmer but also help the next shade, Patina, to really pop. I apply this all over my lid, pushing it with a flat shader to help really build up the colour, then going back in with my blending brush to ensure all the colour are blended together. 

To finish I simply apply Shroom to my inner corner to brighten up my eyes, then go in with a few coats of mascara, I used a sample of MAC's False Lashes Extreme Black which I like, the spoolie is very soft of my lashes, it doesn't tug or pull at my lashes. 

I tend to pair this look with a nude lip for everyday, especially when I'm at work as it is low maintenance, today I've used MAC's Faux which is my current favourite! 

x
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Friday 12 June 2015

Eye Bases


If you follow me on various social media you'll probably know my love of eyeshadow bases, they're just so EASY! So I thought I'd dedicate a whole post to the ones I own and how I use them! 

First up are my MAC Pro Longwear Paintpots in 'Painterly' (middle) and 'Barestudy' (to the left of painterly). Painterly is one of my most used simply because it matches my natural eyelid colour perfectly and covers all my veins and imperfections. It helps any powder eyeshadows I use to stick and the colours to pop whilst not removing the blendability of the shadows. Barestudy is a beautiful champagne shade with gold shimmer which works wonderfully all over the lid as a wash of colour with a warm toned contour through the crease and lashings of mascara. MAC paintpots are super longlasting and wonderfully pigmented. 

Next are my three Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo's in the shades 'On and On Bronze', 'Pink Gold', and 'Permanent Taupe'. On and On Bronze is exactly what the name suggests, bronze which can be washed all over the lid or build up and blended out to be pretty smoky. I adore this in the autumn and winter smoked out with a black eyeshadow along the lashline, so easy but looks like you've spent ages applying shadows and blending them out - winner! Pink Gold is my least used shade, I bought it on a bit of a whim really and have only used it a few times! I think it would work really well the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette because of the rose gold tones. Permanent Taupe is fab as a liner with a bare lid and smoked out along the lashline for a bare eye with a twist. The 24hr colour tattoos are quite waxy in formulation but this makes them extremely longlasting, they don't crease or budge all day which is fab. 

Seventeen's eye base in 'Wild Nude' is a beautiful taupe which can be used very similarly to 'on and on bronze', the formulation of this is extremely creamy as so easy to blend which means I love using it on days where I have very little time! 

The Max Factor Excess Shimmer in the shade 'Copper' has a mousse like formula which initially gives a subtle wash of bronze shimmer but can be build up to a more opaque finish which sets and stays in place. 

As you can tell I don't just use eye bases as a base, I utilise the different texture and formulation which each brand takes on and use them to my advantage! I'm always on the look out for more eye bases so send your recommendations my way! 

x
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Review | MAC Plumful Lipstick


A recent purchase, a long lusted after shade, and a heavily influenced buy from Avi (@avisaxenaa on twitter and she also has started a new blog linked here). Plumful is a beautiful rose plum shade in a lustre finish which is perfect for the summer months. It gives a lovely wash of colour without being overpowering and too purple on the lips, and the finish also means that although the lasting power isn't amazing, it is low maintenance as it fades well and can be re-applied effortlessly. 

When it comes to MAC lipsticks my collection was pretty much reds and brights which is fab but I wanted more range. The lustre finish is a welcome addition as it gives a lovely finish, is moisturising and low upkeep for the summer months (or all year round). 

x

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Wednesday 10 June 2015

Brush Collection | Zoeva



A new type of post for me, but since my brush collection is expanding I thought it would be fresh content! I owned a few Zoeva brushes before being lucky enough to receive the Zoeva Rose Gold Collection from my parents and then I've bought a few extras because they're just such good value for money! 

Base Brushes:
106 Powder - brilliant for giving a light dusting of powder leaving your foundation looking flawless and lasting all day
127 Luxe Sheer Cheek - my absolute favourite for contouring as it fits perfectly in the hollows of my cheeks!
105 Luxe Highlight - does exactly what it says on the tin, perfect for highlight
102 - Silk Finish - The best for foundation, especilly my MAC studio fix as it builds up the cover well and doesn't leave my foundation streaky, just beautifully buffed in. 
110 Face Shape - I love using this for stippling my concealor onto blemishes, it packs on the coverage but doesn't draw attention by leaving the areas cakey. 
142 Concealor Buffer - Good for precision concealor application or for packing on colour to the eyes

Eye Brushes:
222 Luxe Allover Shader - Wonderful for packing on colour and smoking shadow underneath the eyes, it's dense but sift so gentle on the eyes
2 x 227 Luxe Definer - Like the MAC 217's better half. It's less dense so beautifully blends out any shadow as it's so soft and fluffy.
231 Luxe Petit Crease - Great for blending darker shadow into the crease or outer corner, also for deepening up the lower or upper lash lines.
232 Luxe Classic Shader - A staple for packing on shadow, especially when adding that extra 'pop' shade to the lid.
230 Luxe Pencil - Good for an inner corner highlight or adding depth to the lashlines.
317 Wing Liner - Lovely for filling in my brows or as a wing liner applicator.

As you can see I tend to multitask my brush uses because why not break the rules once in a while eh?! I could not recommend a brand for brushes better than Zoeva, I much prefer them to my MAC one's and they are much cheaper too, what more could you want? 

x
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