MAKE UP LOOK #4: Smokey for blue eyes

Here I have done a smokey eye which I think is best for blue eyed beauties! Sometimes I don't really like to wear a classic smokey eye as it can either appear too harsh, or often throughout the night wears off and just ends up as one grey mess! So here is a brown smokey eye which really makes blue eyes stand out... for a more intense look, try adding some false lashes.

Unfortunately I used a really old eyeshadow palette from the BodyShop for this look, and neither the colours or palette seem to have a name... however any range of brown/golden colours would be perfect for this look. MAC are probably one of the best retailers for really highly pigmented shadows which is what you want for this look and to steer away from more sheer shadows.

The rest of the make-up I used:
Maxfactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion foundation: in warm almond 45
No7 Beautiful Brows Pencil: in 15 Blonde
Bobbi Brown Gel liner: in Black Ink 1
Maybelline New York the Falsies Volum' Express mascara: in Black Drama
Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss: in Tropicoral

MAKE UP LOOK #3: Golden Glow

Today I decided to do a really wearable, everyday, natural golden glow makeup look with a very slight golden smokey eye and nude lip. Inspired by a Giselle / Southern California kind of look I think this looks gorgeous with blue eyes as the orangey/golden tones really bring out the blue and make the eyes 'pop'. The products I used are below - a mixture of higher end and drugstore products (with probably too many Bobbi Brown products!). Hope you guys like it, let me know in the comments box below! XO

FACE
1. Bobbi Brown foundation stick in 4.5 warm natural: I used this only as a concealer in areas which needed very high coverage.
2. Bobbi Brown shimmer brick in Beach : I think this is a limited edition palette, but it's gorgeous and such a lovely highlighter - if you can't get hold of this limited edition one then the bronze shimmer brick is also really really good!
3. Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser balm in medium/dark: this is fab for a sheer, dewy coverage for days when you don't want heavy make-up... perfect for this daytime look.
4. NARS laguna bronzer : my absolute favourite bronzer, I use this for an all over bronzed glow, but also to contour the cheek bones and add some definition to the face.
5. Sheer cover mineral foundation powder in latte: I use this as a light powder just on my t-zone and to set my makeup.

LIPS&EYES
6. Bobbi Brown gel liner in black ink - alternatively MAC, Clinique, Lancome and Maybelline do good gel liners too.
7. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Bone: I use this just under the brow bone to highlight.
8. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Beach Honey: Used on the outside of the crease
9. Bourjois ombre a paupieres eyeshadow in number 08: I use this as an eyeshadow base all over the lid which helps the colour to stick, however this shadow is also really nice when used with a wet brush for a more intense look.
10. Bourjois intense extra in 01: I love this eyeshadow! It's packed with shimmer and super glittery so I use this above the crease, up to the brow bone to highlight and open up the eye. I also used some of this on the tearduct / inside corner of the eye.
11. L'oreal infaillible stylo waterproof eyeliner in chocolate addiction: I used this on my bottom lash line and in the water line.
12. Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes mascara in black.
13. Rimmel London Stay Glossy lipgloss in Non-Stop Glamour 120
14. No7 Brown Pencil in 15 Blonde

MAKE-UP LOOK #1: Valentines Day

As I'm definitely not brave enough to do a make-up tutorial via video or youtube this is my 'sort-of' tutorial for Valentines Day makeup. Rather than a step-by-step tutorial (trust me, none of you want to see me make-up-less) it's more of a 'these are the products I used for this look' post. So I hope it's helpful to you and please leave comments in the comment box! XO

For a Valentines Day look I decided to do a light smokey-eye with a pink shimmer in the crease, fluffy big eyelashes, and shimmery blush/highlighter on the cheeks. The full set of products I used are in the photograph above (apart from my brow pencil which I forgot to include!)

List of complete products used:

YSL Top Secrets Flash Radiance Balm - used as a primer

Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC25, applied with a ELF stippling brush

Bobbi Brown Concealer in Warm Beige

YSL Touche Eclat - used as a highlighter on the brow bone, cheek bones and bridge of the nose

Nars Laguna bronzer - used to contour the cheekbones, temples and jawline

Nars New Order blush - applied to the apples and cheek bones

Bobbi Brown Chocolate Caviar Eyeshadow - used on the lid, and under the eyes

Bobbi Brown Pink Chiffon Shimmer Wash eyeshadow - blended into the crease

Bobbi Brown Gel liner in Caviar Ink 27 - used on the lash line, and water line

MAC False Eyelashes

YSL Volum Effect Faux Cils mascara

MAC Lipglass in Curvaceous

Eyeshadows - from the Bobbi Brown Pretty Palette. From left to right : Ivory, Pink Flannel, Pink Chiffon, Chocolate Caviar


NARS New Order Blush - a highly glittery/shimmer blush with a very light pink/lilac colour, nice as a highlighter as well as a blush.


MAC eyelashes - Not totally sure which number these are (sorry!) But they're black and brown in colour, natural to long length and with a full, fluffy volume.

S'ALL ABOUT THE POUT #1

LIPSTICK REVIEW

The Bobbi Brown creamy lip colour retails in Selfridges for £18... I don't usually wear much lip colour, and this is the perfect everyday nude for me. Barely there colour, but moisturising and with just enough gloss- loveee.

Dior Rouge can be bought for £22.50 in Selfridges so is definitely a 'higher-end' lip colour. The Rose Allegro colour is a kind of vampy-plum colour; very autumn/winter! Its colour is highly pigmented yet buildable, so it doesn't totally scare you off with the first coat... but if you're daring you could go darker and darker. (I'm not there yet!)

Like the Dior Rouge, Dior Addict retails at £22 in House of Fraser- so again, a little pricey. More glossy than the rouge, but less pigmented; I find the Dior Addict more wearable through the day. It's also super moisturising and lasts a-a-a-a-a-ges!

5 things...

Here are 5 things that I literally cannot live without at the moment...

From left to right

1. No7 Revitalising Hand Saviour

2. CLARINS Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm

3. Chloe Gold Bracelet

4. Bobbi Brown Corrector

5. Blackberry Torch Smartphone

1. This No7 hand 'saviour' is well named; it's warming oil-like base, contains exfoliators which smooth and soften your hands once washed off. Soo nice for chilly, dry, cracked hands

2. I'm not sure how long Clarins' moisture replenishing lip balm has been around for- but I have only just discovered it. It softens lips without that horrid-peeley-rubbingoff effect I often find with Vaseline / Carmex. Also- it comes in the slightest shade of pink so gives your pout a gorge colour as well as silky smooth feeling.

3. My gorgeeeeeeous Chloe bracelet Father Christmas gave me in my stocking this year... I cannot live without this just because its bloomin' beautiful :)

4. Bobbi Brown Corrector - especially made for dark circles (which are my worst nightmare) it's 100times better than any other concealer I have found (for that problem area)... a-mazing, running out and cannot live without!

5. Finally- Blackberry. Speaks for itself really... Blogger, Twitter, Facebook and Glamour magazine all a click away.... girls-best-friend.