What's Inside My Makeup Bag:

When I was younger I used to fill my makeup bag with unnecessary products, believing that any makeup product used on that day had to be in my bag ‘incase of an emergency’. I’ve now learnt the best way is to only keep ‘touch up’ products and some essentials inside your bag. Here’s a little insight into what I carry with me almost everyday. My makeup bag is from Kurt Geiger (last year) and it fits the perfect amount of products inside. Due to its canvas material it does get dirty quite easily, but nothing a quick washing machine rinse cannot fix. 

A few necessities in there are my Cuticura Hand Sanitizer – this is my favourite hand gel as it avoids that harsh alcohol scent. The passionflower and mango is a light tropical scent that does not linger on for more than a few minutes. Secondly, is hand cream, this one’s from Superdrug (from a Christmas set), and it pretty much does the job. I also keep my Bach’s Rescue Remedy purely for the fact that I’m prone to small anxiety attacks throughout the day, and this helps keep them at bay. I keep The Body Shop’s Vanilla body mist with me just to spritz all over whenever I need that extra oomph. The spray is quite strongly scented, and I find the smell to stay on for a couple of hours – love this product, and I cannot wait to try the coconut one next. A good lip balm is an absolute must for me, as I seem to have dry lips all year round! My favourite lip balm is this Nuxe Reve de Miel as it has a matte finish and makes lipstick application easy after being used. 

As for makeup products, I try and keep the content to a minimum. Mac’s Mineralize Skin Finish is kept as a touch up powder, but I also like to keep a sample size of Nars Sheer Glow incase I need extra coverage. I also keep a couple of concealers in my bag (which I never really reach for..oops). These are Collection’s Lasting Perfection and Illuminating Touch concealer. As the bronzer junkie that I am, I keep Jemma Kidd’s Perfect Tan Bronzing Trio in my bag – this product is great for adding colour to your skin, and due to its light shimmer particles, it creates a natural looking glow. To apply these two products, I keep two brushes – Eco Tools travel size buffing and brozng brush. Not only are these super soft and easy to use, but they are the perfect size!

I tend to keep two lip products, one nude and one brighter shade just incase the day takes an unexpected turn and I want to snazz up my makeup. At the moment I’ve got MAC’s ‘Creme Cup’, which is a perfect pinky-nude shade, and Chanel’s ‘Insolente’ – a bright, blue toned, medium pink with slight shimmer.

Finally, I keep a small tube of one of my favourite mascaras, ‘Diorshow Extase’ for days where I am out for longer hours and my lashes lose their curl/volume.

xo

Essie Fear & Desire

I will admit I’m not one for venturing out with bright colours, I tend to keep in my comfort zone of nude nails, pastel colours and dark colours nearing black. In an effort to add a hint of colour and accessorize my style I purchased this true orange shade from my favourite polish brand – Essie. Fear & Desire is part of Essie’s Summer 2012 ‘Bikini So Teeny’ collection. This is a bright orange that requires up to three coats to produce an opaque, streak-free finish. Applying this polish is easy, and it’s pretty true to the colour you see in the bottle. This is an all round nice orange cream colour, and creates a vibrant pop of colour to an all black/white outfit.

xo

June 2013 Fashion Wish List:

 

• I've lost count of how many blazers I own, but they seem to be all I wear in the warmer months! Oversized off white blazer here
• I basically live in jeans whether that be high waisted, boyfriend, ripped, skin tight.. I already own a pair of Topshop Joni jeans and I wear them to death so I'm pretty desperate for a new pair. here
• If you know me, you know I basically wear my Chelsea boots everyday and these cut out boots would make a good alternative to that. These would be a super cute way to toughen up an outfit, and add an edge to dresses and skirts. here
• Crop tops are my weakness. I'm pretty sure I already have about 5 black crop tops, but this is different.. it has a mesh panel..right? here  

xo

May Beauty Favourites:

This month my skin has witnessed a makeup intervention - a more brush-free makeup routine. I’ve been using the Cosmopolitan Beauty Sponge, and I absolutely love this thing. I achieve such quick and easy natural results, leaving the skin looking rather airbrushed and smooth, without looking like I’ve caked any product on at all. I use this in conjunction with my Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua, and it leaves a dewy finish with a slight glow, so if you prefer a matte finish, use a powder after to set the foundation. 

Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua is my go-to foundation during the warmer months, mainly because it feels really light on the skin. Despite its sheen finish, I find this has buildable coverage – depending on much product you layer on, you can cover almost all blemishes on those bad skin days. The foundation also has SPF 15 (which you can really smell, but I quite like the scent) and that’s an added bonus for those who like myself, are too lazy to apply an SPF. 

The BareMinerals Correcting Concealer has worked amazingly in conjunction with my foundation, covering imperfections and dark circles. I use my fingers to apply this under the eyes, around the nose and onto blemishes. There is no caking or drying out of the skin with this concealer.

This Dior mascara is a new discovery of mine. If you like big, volumized lashes whilst maintaining length and avoiding any product clumping, give ‘Diorshow Extase’ a go! I honestly feel like I’m wearing false lashes when I wear this. 

Stila Convertible Colour in ‘Petunia’ – following the brush-free theme, this cream blusher has earned a well-deserved spot in my favourites this month. I apply this onto my cheekbone using my thumb. It’s definitely a buildable colour, and it leaves a dewy (not oily) finish on the cheeks. 

OCC Lip Tar – I’m someone who wears bright colours on her lips all year round, a self-confessed lipstick junkie! And having recently discovered the OCC Lip Tars, I find that in the warmer months they are so much easier to wear – with all that Frappuccino sippin’ and all. They dry to a matte finish and I don’t have to worry about the colour budging for hours (literally, hours!). This shade ‘Radiate’ is perfect for adding colour to any look, it’s a vibrant orange toned red. 

Seche Vite & Essie polishes - As an attempt to add more colour in my life, I’ve been switching up my nail polish more often than usual. And I only have my Seche Vite to thank for that, this topcoat dries my nail polish in less than a few minutes, and it leaves a shiny, perfected finish. Some nail colours that I’ve loved recently are Essie’s ‘Fear & Desire’ and ‘Fifth Avenue’. 

xo

OOTD: The Boyfriend Jeans

 

Boyfriend Jeans seem to make quiet reoccurring appearances in the fashion limelight and then slowly exit without being really noticed. They certainly haven’t received the attention that skinny jeans caused, nor have they created a buzz like the high waisted jeans. However, if you have an eye for trends, you will have noticed that denim is back. Of course denim has always been a staple piece in all our wardrobes, though this fashion rebirth has brought into style a twist on our street trends – the double denim, the denim colour combo, the distressed denim, the second skin denim, the oversized denim – denim is back, in all cuts and hues! And with its arrival, it has brought back to the scene oversized boyfriend jeans. Some people fear this style due to height, curves or sometimes the fear of looking too masculine holds them back. I personally love the look of them and believe the use of hair, makeup and heels can add the right amount of femininity to soften the overall look.

Today, I decided to wear a simple white vest, leather jacket with khaki sleeves, and Chelsea boots with my boyfriend jeans. The look was rather casual, though I could play around with this to create a smarter, more feminine look with a topknot hairstyle, a playful lip colour, ankle strap heels, oversized clutch bag or a blazer. For a Starbucks run however, I kept my outfit fuss free and simple. 

xo

Zara jacket here 

Zara t-shirt here 

River Island jeans here 

Topshop boots here

Hair care routine - featuring Moroccan Oil & Vo5 Plump Me Up Dry Shampoo

When it comes to my hair care routine, I keep things pretty standard with minimal fuss. For reference, my hair’s quite long (about 4 inches past the boob region) and in pretty healthy condition. I never use heat on my hair (maybe twice a year?) and it naturally dries to semi straight wavy finish. In the past my hairs been put under a lot of trials from red to purple, blonde to light brown – you name it, Nye’s tried it. Then around a year ago I decided to go natural. 

The shampoo I use is the Lee Stafford ‘My Big Fat Healthy Hair’. Due to my hair’s natural straightness, I’m always on the hunt for products that will create some volume and texture to and this shampoo does exactly what it says on the bottle. The roots of my hair are uplifted with  added texture, and my ends are left with bouncy waves, whilst all moisture is maintained.

The conditioner I use is also by Lee Stafford, however it’s from the ‘Hair Growth’ range. I used to use the ‘Big Fat Healthy Hair’ conditioner but I found it gave me dry frizzy ends. As for hair growth, I cannot say I’ve seen a difference, but I am a sucker for this conditioners smell – it’s so fresh and girly, I love it. It also does a beautiful job at making my hair shinier and healthier looking.

As for deep conditioning, I’ve been using Aussie’s ‘3 Minute Miracle’ for about 3 years now, and it’s an absolute dream. I like to use this once or twice a week so that my hair does not rely on it too much but gives it that extra TLC when required.  This product helps manage any knots or frizz that I may have, and it’s just an added luxury in my routine. Sometimes as an added extra, I spritz the Aussie Leave in Conditioner through wet hair. 

One definite Holy Grail item in my routine is my Moroccan Oil. I use a couple of pumps of this through the ends of my hair when it’s semi dry after getting out the shower and not only does it leave my hair smelling beautiful, it also helps manage and prevent split ends and any dryness. I even use half a pump of this on second day hair where it requires defrizzing/taming or that extra oomph of shiny goodness.

I wash my hair about 3-4 times a week, and in between washes I like to keep it looking clean with the help of dry shampoo. Now I’m aware of the hype around Batiste Dry Shampoo, but after giving it several goes, I’m afraid to say I do not get along with the product at all. It leaves my hair feeling and looking chalky, and despite the different so-called scents, I find they all smell like baby powder mixed with cheap body sprays. However, one dry shampoo on the market has absolutely won me over – the Vo5 Plump Me Up Dry Shampoo- this product smells heavenly, and every time I use it I get asked what shampoo I use (obviously there’s not a mention of greasy hair concealed by a lazy attempt of ‘shampooing’). A couple of sprays of this towards the roots and I’m good to go! It also adds the right amount of volume and texture, giving me a preferred finish than freshly washed hair.

A couple of worthwhile mentions the brush/comb I use. There are many reviews out there regarding the Tangle Teaser so I wont bother feeding you with what you already know, but I will give it a well-deserved recommendation to anyone who has long hair that is prone to knots. This brush works like a dream with minimal tugging or pulling at the hair. I also recommend a wide tooth comb to use whilst the hair remains damp or wet – this decreases the chance of damaging your hair or stretching/ripping hair strands, which is typical of a normal bristled brush on wet hair. 

What are your hair care secrets?

xo

MAC Candy Yum-Yum Dupe?

As much as we all love the little makeup splurges, sometimes there are alternatives that are equally as good as those we spend forever lusting over. Although there are steeper and more luxurious options, £14 for a MAC lipstick may sometimes be quite a demand. Candy Yum-Yum is a super bright, cool toned pink with a matte finish, ensuring the colour stays put for hours. As with most MAC matte lipsticks, a nourishing lip balm and/or lip scrub is required as they have a tendency to drag over your lips and exaggerate any dry skin. I absolutely love this neon pink and it remains one of my favourite.

However, before this shade was brought back into the permanent range, I was on the hunt for a similar lipstick and actually stumbled upon a close alternative in Superdrug.

Look Beauty's Rock Candy is a super pigmented bright, blue toned pink with a semi matte finish. When first applied to the lips it has a slight sheen to it, but this wears to a complete matte finish. I would suggest a prior lip liner application, at it has a slight tendency to bleed or smudge if not blotted. The lasting power is surprisingly good – I could go about 3 hours before having to reapply to slightly patchy lips. 
With all that being said I have a couple of complaints -firstly the packaging. The whole magnetic closure sure is cool, but when I carry it around in my makeup bag, I find the lid slips and slides off and the last thing I want is this colour all over my white makeup bag! The plastic in which the lipstick is homed also feels quite cheap and hollow so I’m always reluctant about taking it out with me. The geometrical pattern is cute, but I find the brushed silver to already be chipping off – not a good look. Lastly, the lipstick has a distinct smell, which I find to be unpleasant. The only way I can describe is that it smells like the cheap makeup we used to get as children with the little crayon lipsticks and bright coloured eye shadows; I really hope someone understands! 

Candy Yum-Yum left, Rock Candy right

As you can see in the swatches, the two colours are almost identical with Candy Yum-Yum being slightly more vibrant, and Rock Candy has a sheen finish. With Look Beauty's lipstick at £7, I consider it a beauty steal! I also managed to bag it for £3.50 as they often have 50% off in Superdrug. 

Do you have any cheap dupes for high end makeup? 

Look Beauty Lipstick here 
Mac Lipstick here

xo

NYX Round Lipstick in Strawberry Milk Review:

First of all I’m going to start by saying that this was the first NYX product I’ve ever used, and I can confirm that I am well and truly sold! It was love at first swatch. So, NYX products are not readily available in stores in London, and I actually had to purchase this product from eBay and it cost me no more than £4!

This lipstick is very creamy and I find it gradually wears to a matte finish. It’s not at all drying and neither does it collect or exaggerate chapped lips. However, I would suggest a lip balm application before use, as with all nudey-pink shades, dry lips are more noticeable. The pigmentation is absolutely beautiful, it actually reminds me of the colour payoff of MAC Amplified lipsticks. Also, I love the name ‘Strawberry Milk’; it’s just such an accurate one for this baby pastel pink shade. Reading up on reviews, I’ve found most people complaining about the colour washing them out, however I find it looks super cute with a pink tone blush (it looked beautiful paired with MAC’s blush in ‘Pink Cult’) and winged eyeliner. I also find this colour to work well on top of a slightly darker pink shade (I used YSL Rouge Volupte shade 7), but only placed in the center of the lips to produce fuller lip shape.

Overall, I’m so impressed with this little gem and the price tag that comes with it is just a bonus! I cannot wait to try more colours. Any recommendations?

Bank Holiday OOTD - Neon Bouclé blazer and striped bag:

 

 

With the sunshine peeking over us on this bank holiday Monday, I decided to add my own pop of colour to my typical clothing palette of black, black and more black (c’mon, there must be more of you that are also guilty of this!). Today’s outfit featured one of my favourite purchases of 2013 to date - this beautiful cropped, neon yellow bouclé blazer from Mango. To keep all the attention on the blazer, everything else was kept rather minimal with an oversized black Mango t-shirt, black Zara skinny jeans, and my trusty Topshop Chelsea boots. The monochrome, striped handbag is from Zara, and I love this bag as it fits almost everything I need (laptop and all) and it can be worn on the arm or shoulder.

My makeup was kept very simple today – basic winged liner and nude lips, and my hair was in a rather messy half up-do.

Today's Outfit:

Mango bouclé blazer (bought in the sale, here's a similar option) 
Mango oversized t-shirt here
Zara black skinny jeans here 
Topshop April Classic Chelsea Boots here
Zara Striped handbag (bought a couple of years ago)  
Ray-Ban 4125 sunglasses here  

Top 5 bronzers – Featuring: Soleil tan de Chanel, Nars Laguna, Dior Bronze Amber etc.

 

Finding the right bronzer for your skin tone can sometimes be a tiring task, some are wary of looking too orange, or perhaps looking ‘dirty’. And despite the thrill that comes with purchasing new makeup products, sometimes a splurge can end up being a waste of money if you are left with a product that just does not work for you. Factors such as tone, colour, texture, are all definite things you should consider, however you must also ask yourself what look you want to achieve. A natural, healthy glow? A sun kissed skin effect? A heavily structured and contoured face? Or perhaps you lean towards the Jersey-Shore-girls side of things? All that is entirely up to you and will play a part in the product you choose whether it be one shade darker, or more, shimmery or matte etc.

Here, I have created my top 5 favourite bronzers, and I hope this insight will help anyone on the hunt for a new bronzer. (In order of swatches left- right: Soleil Tan de Chanel, Mac Format, BareMinerals Warmth, Dior Amber Bronze, NARS Laguna)

Chanel  Soleil Tan de Chanel: This product is ideal for those who are looking for a multi purpose-bronzing product. It works well as a standard bronzer, a tanning effect makeup base to be used under or in conjunction with foundation, a complexion enhancer to be used alone, cheek colour, or as a contour colour. It consists of a light creamy-mousse texture leaving a velvety finish on the skin. The colour could be applied with a light hand to create a subtle apricot glow. I find this product to work best with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush.

 Mac's blusher  in Format appears shimmery in the pan, but actually applies as a subtle golden glow throughout the super pigmented pink toned brown bronzer. This is definitely another buildable colour, and depending on your skin tone you should decide on application. For lighter skin tones this will make your skin appear way too red, although I think this will work as a great bronzer for medium-darker skin tones. The depth to this blusher works as a great 2in1 bronzing and contouring colour on my skin and I use this with the Real Techniques Contour brush.  

Bare Minerals  all over ‘warmth’ is a heavily pigmented mineral loose powder, which requires careful application. Due to the powders colour depth it can be quite dark, and therefore a little goes a very long way! It has slight shimmer passing through it, adding to the flushed glow it creates. As it’s very pigmented and quite dark I use this as a contour colour and I find the Real Techniques Contour brush collects the right amount of colour on the tip of the slight tapered brush for controlled application.  
 

Dior Amber Bronze: This bronzer is my favourite as it’s perfect for medium skin tones, the finely milled powder is orangey-brown in tone and can definitely be applied in layers to build up the colour intensity. If your complexion is already warm in tone, this powder will enhance a golden sun kissed colour. This bronzer has an ever so slight hint of shimmer running through it, which complements the glow it creates. I do not recommend Amber Tan for those with lighter complexions, as it will probably end up creating the dreaded Oompa Loompa orange. To create an overall glow to the face, I apply this with the Real Techniques Blush brush.

Nars Laguna  is well raved about and I can understand why. This is my go-to bronzer on casual days where I am looking for a ‘no makeup-makeup look’. Laguna is a finely milled dusky brown powder defused with subtle golden shimmers. This bronzer is not orange at all and therefore can be used for a natural golden tan glow or as a contouring shade. I use this to add colour to my complexion using Sigma’s F25 Tapered Face brush.

What are your favourite bronzers? 

xo