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.

GOLDEN GLOBES 2012

Unless you've been in a coma for the past two days, I am sure you're all fully aware that the annual Golden Globes took place this week. As the opening event of the red carpet season, it was the first time to see our favourite A-listers take to the red carpet in 2012.

Here are my fave beauty pics of the night:

For me, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel all looked incredible with their simple, tousled locks. Reese and Jessica opting for low-key natural curls with plenty of volume; and Kate having a swept up do' with a small quiff. Love- natural, yet still glam.

 Heidi Klum looked insane in her floor-length pale backless gown, accessorized with a statement turquoize blue necklace. I love her nude lip, copper eyes and bronzed skin teamed with straight highlighted hair - ultimate californian chic.

Jessica Alba had to be one of my favourite looks of the night. Her strapless, floor length, lilac embellished gown looked absolutely gorgeous against her dewy tanned skin. Glossy hair pulled up into a neat side-parted do' with fluffy looking lashes and a nude lilac lip - GORGE.

Did you watch the Golden Globes? Who did you think looked best?

XO Chloe

HOGMANAY 2011//EDINBURGH

I'm usually someone who really does not care about New Years Eve. There is always so much pressure to do something, and it has to be something good- that I'd much rather just chill out with friends and forget all about it! Then there is always the issue of 'do you see your boyfriend or friends?!' ...

As me and Chris have been together for 6 New Years now, we've sort of been having a 'NYE together' 'NYE apart' thing going on for the past few years and this year was our 'NYE together!'

My friend Fran goes to university in Edinburgh so invited us up there to celebrate with her friends, boyfriend etc and so me, Chris and some friends from home decided to visit her and go to the Hogmanay street parties and I'm so glad I did as it was fab!! There were thousands of people there - and despite deciding to wear heels (foolish mistake) it was a really good night and changed my mind on 'New Years Eve is crap!'

So even though it feels like a while ago now, I hope you all had a fun New Years Eve. I'm still working on a resolution - maybe to blog more?! Ideas please as I'm pretty useless XO

1)Me and Chris on our way to the street party (note: heels seemed like a good idea at this point)

2)Some friends from home we met up with in Edinburgh

3) Happy New Year fireworks!

4)Me and my pal Alex who came back from Bordeaux, France for New Year XXX

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne

Christmas Time

Carrying on from my last post - I'm still updating you guys on last year! So just a quickie..
This year my sister and I cooked our Christmas Turkey! With our matching Cath Kidston aprons we managed to do a pretty good job (If i say so myself) No one got poisoned/threw up/otherwise- pretty successful!
It was a lovely quiet day, got spoilt and spent some much needed time with the fam. I hope all of yours was equally as relaxing!
XO

1)Me, My sister and our labradoodle puppy - Daisy Mae Monroe (erm, who said a dog couldn't have 3 names?!)
2)My sister showing off our massive turkey!
3)Me dishing out breakfast - ham and poached eggs mmm
4)My wonderful boyfriend and sister
5)Our Cath Kidston aprons - very Bree VanderKamp

December Catch Up

So- it's time to apologise again. I've been slacking on the blogging front... but I promise to try a lot harder this year and keep myself motivated! I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year- I've been snowwed under with uni deadlines so far this January (excuses for my lack of blogging) but here is what I've been up to before, during and after Christmas.

December catch-up in pictures!

Photos 1,2 and 3 were all taken at my fave restaurant: Gusto. Over Christmas I spent way too much  time at both the Knutsford and Alderley Edge restaurants feasting on Chicken Primavera and their insane Nutella Calzone - so if you have a Gusto near you you have to go.

1) Nutella Calzone - possibly the best desert ever.

2) Me, in Gusto Knutsford before Christmas

3) My girlies Alex and Frankie.

Photos 4 and 5 are of my pretty mama. She had an operation in December, and despite complications is finally on the road to recovery! yayy XX

4) Harry visiting mama on Christmas Eve

5) Some beautiful 'Get Well Soon' flowers

6) My festive themed bed.... Okay so I still haven't taken down these fairylights but they just look too pretty- Decided to keep them up all year round instead!!

Photos 7 & 8 were taken before Christmas at the One Direction tour in Wolverhampton. Luckily, I was able to go with Gemma and Harry's family meaning best seats & backstage haha. It was a fab night though and the boys were great.

7) My bezzle, Gemma and I 

8) One Direction performing

9) Before my mum went into hospital she decided to buy a tonne of Selfridges cupcakes to fatten us all up over the Christmas season. These were just a few of the amazing cakes we ate

Photos 10 & 11 are of myself and girlfriend Lani as we went on a MASSIVE winter walk just before Christmas with one of her friends little dog Eddie - so frickin cute.

12) This was actually taken at the beginning of December (my bad) but, it was at Gemma's twenty-first and therefore a large event of the month! Me, my mama, Gem's mama: Anne, and Gemma. <3 xxx

IT'S STARTING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS..

Don't know about you but I cannot WAIT for Christmas...

I've had my final lecture at Uni now and I'm planning on heading home for Christmas TOMORROW !! So excited I can't wait... Mostly for the food. This year my sister and I are cooking the Christmas dinner as my mum will have only just come out of hospital - so it's bound to be eventful and I will definitely do a blog post about it after Christmas. Anyway - for now I thought I'd share with you a few of the stocking fillers I am hoping to unwrap this Christmas Day... (OK so I'm expecting a lot here!) As I haven't actually been able to buy ANYTHING recently (due to the student loan not being at ALL large enough) a lot of what I'm wanting from Father Christmas is beauty bits and bobs that I otherwise would've liked to buy myself these last few months... So if you're looking for present ideas for a friend/sister/mum/girlfriend here are some of the things I'm lusting after.

1. Rihanna's 'Talk that Talk' album.

For last year I got Rihanna's 'Louder' album and it was literally the soundtrack to December-January last year... now I need a new injection of Rih Rih

2. O.P.I nail varnish in 'Bubble Bath'

So like I said a while back, I've been lusting after this milky-pink nude for everrr and I haven't been lying about no money - so yes, I'm still wishing for it!

3. Nars blusher in Laguna

My make-up stocks are running low at the moment, and the student budget isn't stretching enough to re-fill it. Therefore I'm asking Father Christmas to bronze me up instead with Nars Laguna

4. Diptyque scented candles

This is where I become an old lady. This summer I redecorated my bedroom at home and I'm obsessed with my new white, flow-y minimalistic room! I currently have burnt out almost all of my candles apart from a BEAUT Laura Ashley one that's still going. So I'm thinking it's time to build a collection of Diptyques... and at £40ish a pop, it may take me a while!!

5. MAC 187 foundation brush

I already have quite the collection of Bobbi Brown make-up brushes that I bought last December - however, my set didn't come with a professional foundation brush! So after using my trusty Eco-tools brush for what feels like an eternity I feel like I should finally get a 'proper' foundation brush... and everybody is always saying MAC's 187 is thee best.

6. MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation

I've been wanting to try this foundation for an age now. Yes, I love my Bobbi Brown skin foundation - but for winter I feel like a little more coverage is necessary .. plus change is always good. I need to get colour matched though at a counter - so if anyone knows what the colour match is with Bobbi Brown in 4 Natural ... Lemme know!

7. Moroccan Oil

This little treat has been on the beauty scene for YONKS now and I am ashamed to say I am still yet to try it. But now the time is right! The winter chill and blustery days are making my hair dryer than ever so hopefully Moroccan oil can be my saviour.

8. YSL Volum Effect Faux Cils Shocking mascara

I've said a million times there is one mascara that I absolutely love and that's YSL volum effect faux cils. I've been out of that now for quite a while, and have seen they've bought out a NEW one adding 'shocking' to the name.... I just have to try.

 



So if there is anyone out there with bundles of cash they just need to part with... treat me!

1. Macbook Pro

2. Oversized Mulberry Alexa

3. Range Rover Evoque

4. Great Dane puppy.... nawww

BEAUTIFUL B.

Who doesn't love Beyonce - how AMAZING does she look in Harpers Bazaar?!
XO Chloe

LUSTING AFTER...

1. Coconut Oil

The health and beauty benefits from Coconut Oil are no secret anymore... Ever since Miranda Kerr revealed she is an avid user, sales have soared.- and it's about time I get myself some! Drizzled over salads, used as a moisturiser or a hair mask on dry ends, Coconut Oil is apparently "2011's must-have" ... So off to Holland & Barrett I trot.

2. Essie Ballet Slippers

So you may see a theme between the two nail varnishes I am currently wanting at the moment - no, they are not exactly the same. For ages I have wanted a nude, pink colour - but thicker than a base coat, for everyday wear... and Essie Ballet Slippers looks about perf to me.

3. Elie Saab Le Parfum

Introducing Elie Saab's first fragrance! A woman in Boots sprayed a little card for me a while back, and as I was in a rush to go and see 'One Day' at the cinema I tossed it in my bag without a second thought. It was only until later that evening when I opened my bag up that I realised how much I loved the fragrance. My whole bag had been saturated in the scent and it was amazing! Now however, the smell has well and truely left my bag and I haveee to get my hands on a bottle.

4. Nars blush in Deepthroat

I have been wanting this blush for ageees, but no longer having my bar job back at home, and student rent being ridiculous - I have had to suffer without. It's a gorge peachy-pink colour, with a little shimmer, but more subtle than the Orgasm blush. Anyone want to buy me a present?!?

5. O.P.I Bubble Bath

Yes, Yes, Yes... Another pink nail varnish. BUUUT how am I supposed to find the right colour if I don't shop around right?! Again, I'm wanting this to fulfil my need for the perfect full coverage pink. If anyone has tried either Ballet Slippers and/or Bubble Bath please let me know which is best, because at this rate... I will be buying both!

XO Chloe

The Scent Squad// COSMO ON CAMPUS

I told you lot that I wrote for Cosmo on Campus a while back didn't I?! Well, the lovely beauty assistant Cassie Powney has just sent me a sneak-peek PDF of my page!! So - all you uni kids out there - look out, and if you see a copy of Cosmo On Campus floating around ... grab it!!

XO Chloe

A week in pictures...

I owe you guys an update...
Yep once again, I've been M.I.A on the blogging front for a few days... But I've been busyyyyy!
Starting back at Uni, and 3 whole days of unbelievable October weather has meant my blog has taken a back seat!!
Here are some photos however of the past week(ish) to keep you up to date!

1.  Decided to go for white nails on Monday which, I have done before.. but I'm never quite sure of the rules for white nails... Is it a yes?! Personally I like 'em!

2. This was taken before a night out to Mechu in Birmingham with my gorge housemates. Outfit... Bodycon Skirt from Topshop, One-Shoulder top from H&M (which was in the sale for £5 BARGAIN!) and studded black waist belt from Primark!

3. So with the AMAZING weather we've been having, there's also been some not so amazing critters about. Yes, I got stung by a wasp! Thing is ... I wasn't even angering the little b*stard! I thought it was a fly that had landed on my neck, so politely went to shoo it away and it stuck its bloody stinger in me! YOUCH. (P.S it still hurts)

4.  A sneeky shot of a pitcher of Cosmos from Frankie & Bennys which the girls and I gulped down.

5. Dancing on stage at the HMV institute in Brum with my fellow housemate Alex! (Note: this was not after the cosmos!)

6. A picture of my OCD (I'd rather think of it as highly-organised) make-up drawer at my new Uni house!

7. For our 6th anniversary last weekend, the boyfriend and I stayed in Manchester... Outfit - LBD from Republic, and nude heels from Carvela :-)

8. Another night out in Birmingham (... well it was freshers week) this time at Gatecrasher.

9. A photo of our Barry M crackle nails ! (Not the strange coloured drink in our hands- I think it was this gross aldi substitute for southern comfort)

10. This is a screenshot of my mums recent tweet "I wish I was a puppy." ... If you're wanting more dog-related updates, follow her... because she's quite funny.. @louiseburcham

So yes dolls, that's been my week - and is also my excuse for being an awful blog writer. Please forgive me and keep reading because I quite like you all !!

XO Chloe