FUSION LASHES// COVERGIRL+MAXFACTOR

So I can pretty safely say that every girl I have ever met is in search for the perfect mascara combining volume and length. For me, YSL Volum Effect Faux Cils has got to be one of my all time favourites- but this still doesn't stop me from looking...

Within the package of goodies I recieved from my friend is New York (www.fashionandcircuis.blogspot.com) was this little beauty - Covergirl: Lash Blast Fusion. As we don't usually get Covergirl in the UK, I've found this to be the same product as Covergirl's sister company - Maxfactor's new False Lash Effect Fusion meaning both US & UK girlies can enjoy!

I'm lucky enough to have naturally quite long lashes so I am often on the look out for volume when choosing mascaras- however these mascara's claim to give both. 

I must admit, since having been sent Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion - I haven't actually reached for my YSL mascara. Yes, half of the reason is to save my YSL as it's pricey and I'm now back at Uni, but I also seriously haven't felt the need. I'm really liking this mascara for both day and night... It gives your lashes that fluffy, natural look yet still delivering volume and being noticeable; it's also totally build-able for night- no matter how many coats I've applied, I've never had a clump... so to be honest- it's pretty fab. 

photo: Philippe Salomon

COBOLT CRACKLE

This post is admittedly maybe a year or so out of date, but until now I wasn't really feeling the crackle nail effect trend. Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go... Whaddya think?

I used Barry M White Nail Polish as a base colour, and layered it with Barry M's Instant Nail Effects - Crackle in Blue Print.

XO Chloe

S'ALL ABOUT THE POUT #2

 LIP GLOSS REVIEW

MAC's lipglass in curvaceous (£12.50) looks dark grey/purple when packaged; which... sort of scared me... I thought "okay this is NOT going to suit my skin tone" and thought it would look better on someone with dark skin. However- when applied it gives more of a pale nude/light pink colour which I love- especially when layered over concealer/foundation for a neutral base. Okay so it's a little sticky- (but not gloopy), and needs to be reapplied every hour or so but I'm still loving it purely for the colour!

Right so.. my friend sent me the L'oreal lip gloss from NYC and I am unsure whether this is on sale yet in the UK. Google only provided my with US based websites and prices which say it retails for $12, which I think is about £7... So sorry UK lovelies but this may be a wait-and-see product!

The lip gloss itself goes on really smooth, and smells like vanilla - Gorge! Precarious is a mixture between coral and orange which is quiet daring for me; as I've mentioned before, I'm not the biggest wearer of lip colour! Saying that- I'm kinda liking it!! It made my eyes look super-blue which is always a bonus and for a gloss, the colour lasted really well. So, US girlies- get buying.. and UK beauts, keep your eyes out!

My favorite... my favorite.. tra la laa. LOVE-THIS.

Right girls... listen up. If you're wanting to try a new lip gloss- try this and let me know what you think because I LURVE it!!

It reminds me of Soap&Glory's "Sexy Mutha Pucker" but without the pain of the plumping! Too Faced glamour gloss has a really cooling sensation when applied which lasts for ages and is so fresh! There's a little tackiness to it, but no sticky, gloopy gloss which is a bonus. Plus it lasts for ages - I've been wearing it for work and it's lasted me the whole 5 hours with no re-application. The colour (This is pretty) is neutral enough for anyone to pull off so is definitely one to try!

You can buy Too Faced Glamour Gloss from ASOS.com for £14.50... DOOO IT.

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!

Pretty Purple(ish) Polish

So it's September- and Autumn trends are setting in. Even though I cannot accept summer is almost over, I thought I'd give it a go with a new 'very-autumn' muted purple polish.

'Tickle my France-y' from O.P.I is a "just-off-pinky-grey-muted-purpley" kind of colour, but I'm loving it. I then layered it with O.P.I's Nail Envy strengthener as a top coat - to add a little more strength before the cold weather starts and brittle/breakable nails are back!

So yes, it is the 5th of September and the sun is still shining... but I'm very prepared and ready for the upcoming season! What do you think?

XO Chloe

PRESENTS & APOLOGISES

Okay so I need to start by saying sorry... I seem to have been M.I.A for the last week, due to living at the top of a ridiculous hill in Cheshire, and the internet playing up- so for that, I apologise! Anyway, thanks to Mr BT I am back! And have a LOT of catching up to do.

I've just done my first guest post for www.charlottesobsessions.com which should be up soon, pretty exciting so keep having a look at Charlotte's lovely website !

Also, my gorgeous pal Alice (check her fashion blog here: www.fashionandcircus.blogspot.com) sent me an AMAZING package from New York recently (she's been interning at Nylon magazine- yep.. cool eh?!) ... a bag FULL of beauty products right from the Nylon beauty department itself!

So expect lots of reviews in the upcoming week, as I have a lot to get through! THANKS PAL!

XO Chloe

How to... Fishtail Plait

1. Start by pulling hair round to one-side - I find it's easier to do a fishtail plait on the side, however with more practice you could always do one to the back.

2. Split hair into two even sections

3. Start by taking a piece of hair from the back section (I've selected large pieces so it's easier to see but you can always use smaller pieces)

4. Pull the back piece around to the front section

5. Take a piece from the front section

6. ...and pull that around to the back section

7.8.&9. Carry on taking pieces from front to back

10. And secure!

XO Chloe

GLITTER BUG

What do you guys think about nail art? Or anything other than your straight-run-of-the-mill mani? Well, I'm kind of bored of block colour and decided to get creative.. result? Glitter nails. Verdict? I'm asking you! What do you think?

 
 What you need:
1. Block colour of your choice - I used '17 Lasting Finish Nail Polish' in 'Midnight Sapphire'
2. Base & Top coat - I used 'O.P.I Start to Finish'
3. GLITTER - I used gold.

1. Start by applying a base coat to your nails - especially important if you're using a dark colour (like moi) as this will stop your nails from staining and going that lovely yellow colour!

2. Apply your block colour - I had to apply two coats of the Lasting Finish nail varnish to get the really deep blue colour.

3. Now whilst the nail colour is still drying, dip your nails into the glitter lightly- the nail varnish being slightly wet and tacky still will allow the glitter to adhere to your nails.

4. When the nail varnish is dry, apply two coats of top coat, which will help to seal the glitter and prevent chips.

Whaddya think!?

XO Chloe

Oh! Lola .. Marc Jacobs review for Cosmo on Campus

So being a University student can at times be a pain... no money being the biggest blag! However, when opportunities come up for STUDENTS ONLY to review new fragrances for Cosmopolitan... it makes being a student a little more worth while!!

The fragrance I was sent (thanks to Cosmo's gorge beauty assistant Cassie Powney) was the new Marc Jacobs Oh! Lola perfume... and I am LOVING it!

Here is a snippet of my review for Cosmopolitan's student spin-off 'Cosmo on Campus' :

It is sweet, fruity and floral, yet a little sexy with the vanilla undertones. Both my sister and my mum have been stealing squirts and I’ve noticed the Oh, Lola! summery scent wafting through the house! The bottle is gorgeous, with a pink peony lid reflecting the fruity floral fragrance… definitely one for the dressing table.

Priced at £37 for 30ml Oh, Lola! isn’t exactly in the ‘student friendly’ price range, however the perfume is super long lasting therefore a small bottle goes a long way. It’s young and flirty, fresh but sexy- I’ll definitely continue to wear it… And hey, what’s a student loan for?!

What's your fave summer scent?
XO Chloé

SUN-(less) TAN

 photos: cupofcouture, littleplastichorses.blogspot.com

Okay so it's August, but looking out the window it seems like November. There has been SO much rain this week, and no sun at all... so this can only mean one thing: time to get fake tanning. There are so many brands of fake tan out there; and then when you finally establish the brand there's the dilemma of lotion or pump-spray or mousse or airbrush...ARGHH!

So I thought I'd share with you MY personal favorites when using fake-tan (although I haven't actually decided on my favorite) ...

The three brands I can always rely on :      1. St Tropez

                                                                           2. Xen-Tan

                                                                           3. Fake Bake

St Tropez is my first thought when considering fake tan. I personally go for the pump-spray 30ml bottle (which is sometimes quiet hard to find) and apply it with a fake tan mitt. I find the mousse a little drying for my skin, and the lotion doesn't go deep enough, so for me the spray is the best.

I first used Xen-Tan when my friend recommended it at work, she swore by the mousse and even though I don't particularly like the St Tropez mousse I thought I'd give it a go - and I'm glad I did. The first thing you notice when using Xen-Tan compared with other fake tanners is the smell. There isn't that gross 'old buscuit' smell you can get with fake tan, instead it's a sweet, marzipan smell. And then there's the colour- when first pumped out it almost looks green (don't freak out) but when applied it's the most natural olive brown colour ever... and unlike the St Tropez mousse, I didn't find Xen-Tan at all drying... fab!

Fake Bake was recommended to me buy a sales assistant at Selfridges. I bought the airbrush version which is also instant, so I could literally 'spray and go!' Like Xen-Tan, Fake Bake has a much nicer smell to it and dries super quick. The colour is deep and dark but not at all orange so is perfect for a quick fix.

Try them and let me know what you think!
XO Chloé