The Body Shop Vitamin E Range

In place of a weekly makeup this week I am going to be sharing with you an absolute beauty of a skincare range, Vitamin E from The Body Shop. First a bit of a back story. I recently went on a makeup course which involved having 2 makeup looks applied on my face each day, that meant makeup removal and cleansing up to 2 or 3 times a day! Something that I would not advise to anyone under normal circumstances. So I needed a brand that would be kind to my skin and nurse it back to health. Cue the Vitamin E range.

The trio of cleanser, toner and moisturiser were actually the first I ever used back when I was about 12/13, so I knew that they could be trusted not to make my skin go crazy. Since then I've also started using the eye cream and I have completely fallen in love with all of them.

For me it is like stripping everything back to basics. It all feels very moisturising without leaving a greasy residue. In fact my skin has really benefitted from using these products this past week as it is virtually clear. 

I would completely recommend all of these products and I am so glad to have rediscovered them after a 5 year hiatus. 

The Weekend Post: Makeup and Macbeth

Well this weekend sure was a busy one and I welcomed Sunday with welcome arms. The reason for this? I've had a pretty busy week in general and I then had work Friday and Saturday. Both days I went straight on to help with the stage makeup for a local play. It was tiring but I had so much fun doing it! I had a lot more creative power than the other play that I did a couple of weeks ago now. The photo above is a drawing that I did for the witches, the play was Macbeth if you hadn't guessed by the title! So there were also lots of war heroes, bruises and Ladies to make up. You can also see that my name was in the credits of the programme which was a very proud moment for me! I feel like it really is the start of something for me at the moment, and the only way to go is straight on.

I've got another busy week coming up and then it all starts to slow down again. I'm feeling a pyjama and gossip girl day in the making? 

NARS Makeup Masterclass

As some of you may know by now I am very interested in makeup. So much so that I have decided to follow it as my career path. So when I was offered the chance to have my makeup done in the Liberty beauty hall by the Lead Europe Stylist of NARS cosmetics, Anna Priadka, it was a no brainer really.  It was a really great opportunity to pick her brain about how to get into the industry, her tips and advice on this career choice and I also picked up a lot of new makeup tips and tricks. I was also able to speak to the other lovely NARS sales assistants who were helping Anna with the makeovers that were going on throughout the day.

I wanted to have her professional opinion on what colours suited me and she also used a base on me that I hadn't heard much about in the blogging world. The Radiant Creamy Compact Foundation. I have to say I was really impressed with this. I'm not a fan of heavy, full coverage foundations but this was absolutely perfect for those days where you want something more than just a tinted moisturizer. It was lightweight in texture, and I'd say gave a light to more medium coverage. I will definitely be picking this up in the near future! 

You can see in the photo above what products they used for anyone who is interested!  Here are some of the tips and tricks that I learnt from this experience:

-Eye cream is not just for anti-aging!  I had the view that this was the only reason eye creams were used and so had not yet purchased one. I was so wrong! Their other purpose is to moisturise the under eye area so the under eye concealer will apply smoother and last longer. 

-Bright pops of pinks are great for pale skin. I had always shied away from bright, bright colours thinking they would look unnatural on my pale, alabaster skin. But in Anna's words, these colours are 'perfect' for this skin colour. 

-Use highlighter underneath your base. The NARS multiple was used for this, and it created a lovely glow to the face. Something I'd never thought to do!

-Blue eyes are suited to most eyeshadow colours. In particular lilacs, greys and browns. 

-Orange and Cherry lip colours suit pale skin.  This was definitely to applicable to my skin as these were the two lip shades that Anna was trying to decide between. In the end we went for the cherry shade in 'Funny Face' which I absolutely loved!

-Wearing a bold lip colour brings confidence. I've always shied away from wearing a bold lip because I didn't think I was confident enough. But in fact I felt that wearing one made me feel more confident. So don't be scared and just do it! 

In the end I left with a few naughty purchases, woops? If I'd had the choice I would have bought every product that they used but that might have set me back just a little bit. I'm sure that there will be a few more sneaky purchases in the future. NARS is quickly becoming my all time favorite makeup brand! 

Spring Series: Lips

As the months get warmer, the days get longer and the flowers appear I like to switch up what I'm wearing on my lips. Gone are the darker berry shades, and in come the lighter pinks, peaches and corals.

Topshop Lips in Oh La La (£8) - This is one for the coral lovers. It can be applied sheer or more punchy. A slightly lighter shade than some other options out there.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Peach Blossom (£15) - I bought this one recently on a whim after I saw Anna wearing it in this video. It is a lovely peachy-pink neutral shade, great for everyday wear. Although I do find that it can be a bit drying on the lips so be sure to use a good lip balm before this.

Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balm in Demure (£7.99) - This one is particularly great to apply on the go. A neutral pink with slight shimmer to it, but not too much!

Revlon Colourburst Lipbutter in Juicy Papaya (£7.99) -  I wore this one alot last Spring/Summer. It gives a neutral-coral shine to the lips, whilst also moisturising the lips. A must buy in my opinion!

Revlon Just Bitter Kissable Lip Stain in Rendezvous (£7.99) - Yet another coral shade (can you sense a theme going on here?). This can be applied lightly to create a light stain or layered up to get the full shade.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Hyde Park (Limited edition) - I was lucky enough to win this in a raffle a few years ago and I have only just realised it's true potential! It is a gorgeous vibrant coral-pink shade which can be applied sheer or not. The formula is like nothing I've tried before, smoothing over the lips and feels very nourishing. Unfortunately this was limited edition so no longer available.

A Day In Canterbury

The other week I spent the day in Canterbury with one of my best friends. It had been her 19th birthday the week before so to celebrate we decided that a day out was needed. We started off being ladies who lunched at Zizzi's, one of my absolute faves. I tried something that I had never had before, the Insalata Bistecca E Funghi. For those who aren't fluent in Italian, that's a Beef and Mushroom salad. It's ok, I had to read the description to find out as well. Along with my go to drink a fizzy elderflower and I was good to go. We sat there catching up on the past two weeks that we hadn't seen each other and politely declined pudding when the waiter came over to take our plates. More on that later.

Next it was time to get our shop on. Now put together Louise and I are an absolute nightmare when shopping together. We know each others wardrobes inside out and what suits each other. So in that sense we are great shopping partners. But we are also very good at making the other spend money. We worked our way along the high street, where I picked up the ballet pumps that I mentioned in last weeks Spring Series post until we eventually got to the shops. Topshop and Boots. We entered Topshop first where Louise did some damage, whereas I was quite restrained (read: I had already bought half the store in previous weeks). Then Boots where we made the most of the 3 for 2 offer (honestly, who isn't?!) and my purchases managed to come to under £20. My best effort for a long time I tell you! Louise didn't fair so well after going in for nothing and coming out having bought products all based on my recommendation, sorry Louise! That's what you get for going into Boots with a beauty-blog reading fiend. I also made another special purchase (in the Fenwick's beauty hall, shh!) which you will be hearing about soon.

You know earlier when I mentioned that we turned down pudding at Zizzi's? Well after we finished out shopping we made our way to Costa to have our pudding there! I had my classic Peppermint tea and a chocolate easter cornflake cake. Delicious! It turned out to be a really lovely day. Well there you have it, the recipe for a perfect day with your girlfriends. Lunch, Shopping and Tea & Cake!

Weekly Makeup #3

There hasn't been one consistent makeup look this week that I've been going back to. It really has depended on the day and what I'm doing. However my favourite look to wear this week has, surprisingly, been more minimalistic. Some may say 'no makeup-makeup'. This look is from Sunday, I know I have a busy week in London up ahead so I want to keep things simple and sweet. Cue products.

I went back to my beloved Dr Jart BB cream after wearing my NARS base all week, following up with the usual concealers, powders and eyebrows. To create a nice, healthy glow I used Bobbi Brown's blush in Nectar, a dash of mascara and a slick of neutral lipgloss. And that's it! As much as I love wearing makeup and experimenting with different looks I also really enjoy stripping it all back to the bare basics. 

BASE: Dr Jart BB cream, Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer (ivory), Collection concealer (fair), Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (translucent), Bobbi Brown blush in Nectar 

EYES: MUA Brow palette (top right shade), Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara

LIPS: The Body Shop Vitamin E lip balm, Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Gloss   in Cashmere Rose 

The Weekend Post: ..And Relax

Last weekend was a quiet one in preparation for a busy week ahead. I was working on Saturday and then had a lazy Sunday with the family. I wanted to make the most of the absolutely gorgeous weather so we went to a local park that we often go to on the weekend to walk the dog. It was so warm, I was wondering around in just jeans and a t-shirt. Something I haven't done in a while thanks to what has been typically gloomy English weather.  I love the different shades of blue that you can see in the sky, and not a single cloud to disturb it!  Sunday afternoon was then spent enjoying the weather, you never know when it's going to pack up and leave again! (As I'm writing this there's a chill in the air again and the grey clouds are back, told you)

 

I'm going to leave you with this animation that I found on Tumblr the other day. It really made me think about things and what really is important in our lives. Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! 

Spring Series: Wardrobe Meet Pastels

Like many people out there I am guilty of hiding under darker shades throughout the winter months. Blacks, navy, greys; they're my thing. A bit like a comfort blanket. However now the sun has made an appearance I am feeling like these darker shades just aren't cutting it for me anymore. I want to wear some colour! Cue the pastel accessories.

As a way to ease myself into the world of real colour I have made a few investments. I spotted this lilac bag in Accessorize (Georgia Winged Handheld Bag) about a month ago now but resisted buying it. But you know when you think about something so much after initially seeing it? Well it just seemed rude to leave it sitting there unloved in the store. So last week I made the purchase. My first ever bag that isn't black or navy! I have to say I felt quite proud of myself as I walked out of the shop.

Another little addition to spruce up my monochrome wardrobe are these powder blue ballet style pumps. I've been searching for a pair of these for a while. However as other ladies with slim feet will know, finding a pair  of pumps that actually stay on your feet is a bloody pain! I had tried on the Topshop alternatives the other week, which fit but did feel like they were squashing my feet. Something I was willing to live with until I tried on these ones from New Look. They are exactly the same colour, fit perfectly, there's more padding underfoot and are half the price of Topshop. I was sold on the spot.

Are you willing to venture into the world of colour?

FIVE: Exhibitions To Visit

My photo of the National Gallery which I took a few years ago.

Seeing as I am only working part time I want to make the most of this time to explore some of the museums and exhibitions. I live relatively close to London so really I have no excuse not to experience some of the cultural side of London.

1. The Glamour Of Italian Fashion at the V&A
I have never been to the V&A so I was aiming to go for a general wander around. However I saw that this exhibition is on from 5 April to 27 July so I am going to make sure that I visit within those times. I think I'll need to book tickets for this, but I've read on the website that tickets can be purchased on the day. 

2. Fashion Rules at Kensington Palace
This is one that I am very excited about! There are supposed to be dresses from The Queen, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana, all from different eras.  This is also one that you have to book for. It is open now until Summer 2015 so I'd make sure that you catch this one if you're into fashion or just generally interested in the Royals attire.

3. The National Gallery
This musuem is free entry and I really can't tell you why I don't go there more often. The last time I went was probably on a school trip so I would love to go back there now and amble around looking at the paintings without having time limits or tasks set by teachers, something I still think is completely useless!

4. Hello, My Name Is Paul Smith at the Design Museum
I saw that Olivia from What Olivia Did wrote about this on her blog recently and it looks like a really interesting one! Not to be missed.

5. Tate Modern
Last year I was living basically a five minute walk away from the Tate Modern and I'm sad to say I didn't go there once. I've also been here before but would love to go again! It has some more modern pieces than some of the other museums I have mentioned.

Weekly Makeup #2

This week I've stuck to neutral eyes and a pinky toned lip. Very easy and casual but in my opinion looks quite chic.  For base I've been using the NARS tinted moisturiser since I picked it up on a whim last week and I still absolutely love it! It gives a lightweight coverage but makes the skin look glowy and just perfect! I have a feeling I won't be straying from this for a while. Expect to see it here for quite some time. Next I followed up with my favourite undereye concealer the Rimmel Wake Me Up and the Collection concealer for blemishes and redness. The other base products are the same as last week. I am loving using NARS' Deep Throat. The perfect colour for spring.

To create the neutral eye I have been relying on my trusted Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. Walk of Shame all over the lid, Naked 2 in the crease and then a bit of Faint along the lash line. Boom, done!  Followed up by the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien which I also mentioned in another recent blogpost. I love this! It is a gorgeous colour and doesn't dry my lips out at all.

As you can see I've been having a bit of NARS week this week. Their products are all so good! I am yet to find one that I don't like.

BASE: NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Terre-Neuve, Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer (Ivory), Collection Concealer (Fair), Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (Translucent), The Body Shop Honey Bronzer (Light Matte), NARS Deep Throat Blush, Revlon Skinlights in Pink Light

EYES: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (W.O.S, Naked 2, Faint)

LIPS: NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

The Weekend Post: The Calm Before The Storm

Our photobooth fail in Topshop

This weeks been a quiet one. I started off the week in London on Monday to meet up with Milli and Lorna who I met at my short time at Uni. We had a typical girly day. Starting off with Nandos at midday and then walking over to Oxford Street to get our shop on (and help burn off the nandos sized food babies that were occurring). And let me tell you, I did some serious damage. But like I keep telling everyone, I'm now going to give you the same pathetic excuse. I'm revamping my wardrobe! Swiftly moving on.. 

Tuesday also started off in a productive manner. Drumroll please, I went to Zumba! For the first time in about 6 months. I felt so much better afterwards. I can tell that I need to up my fitness levels but it's a form of excercise that I'm willing to commit to. Dancing along to the current tunes, yes please! I'm going to try  do a class 2/3 times a week, and maybe fit in some swimming. Maybe. 

A few days at work and now it's the weekend. I'm not doing a whole lot because I have something planned everyday of this upcoming week until Saturday. I'll definitely be ready for a lie down this time next week. 

The Transition Shade

It's not Winter. It's not Spring. Were at the time of the year where the weather is still trying to make up its mind if it wants to let the sun out or not. This past weekend had the sun shining, yet a few days later the clouds are back and the familiar chill is in the air. Oh England you are a one. But I have managed to find the perfect inbetween shade. It's not the gothic cherry colours that I normally wear in the colder months, but it's warming up to the pastels and brighter colours that get worn in the summer. Let me introduce you to Essie's 'Master Plan'.

Credit for this beauty goes to Anna when she mentioned it in her February Favourites. It's the perfect shade for these inbetween months. I can easily wear it with any outfit choice and I think that it comes across as quite chic, if I do say so myself.

So if you're popping into Boots anytime soon take a detour to the Essie stand. It doesn't look like much in the bottle. But I promise you that it is well worth the purchase.

NARS Strikes Again

So I may or may not have found myself in the Liberty beauty hall the other day. And then the Nars counter just seemed to magically pop up in front of me. It's strange how that happens..  I initially went to have a look at the tinted moisturizer which I had tried a couple of years ago when I was given some samples from Space NK. I loved it but for some reason put off buying it. The sales assistant matched me to the correct shade, Terre-Neuve (Light 0), the palest shade bien sur. I would try and make some excuse like I haven't seen the sun since it disappeared at the start of September. But, in reality, who am I kidding? I am pale all 365 days of the year, with the exception of a few more freckles in the depths of summer.

The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer offers SPF 30 and claims to create a 'sheer, naturally-glowing finish'.  I have found that you don't need a lot of product, but it can be buildable without being cakey (score!). I prefer to apply tinted moisturizers with my fingers as I have found that it's easier and the brush can often soak up the majority of the product instead of transferring it to your skin. I am interested to see how this product fairs in the summer months when it gets hotter.  One thing I would say is that this isn't a product for me that I could just slap on and go. I still need to use some concealer under the eyes and to cover some blemishes, which I happen to have more than I would like at the moment (damn you chocolate!).

On to the next product which was bought completely on a whim. I would like to place blame for this on the sales assistant. After colour testing the tinted moisturizer she asked me if I would like to try any other products. Initially I asked about their lipglosses but then she picked up a few of their lip pencils. After swatching a couple of shades on the back of her hand, I chose one, she applied it to my lips and a few oohs and aahs later I was in love and it was being purchased. I would like to introduce you to the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. A beautiful rosey-pink, just darker than my natural lip colour. The assistant told me that she'd never seen the colour look so good on anyone before, now I'm not sure if that was genuine or to make me buy it. Well it worked either way. It is so easy to apply, and gives a satin finish. For those not in the know, I would say satin finish is inbetween a matte and gloss finish. The best of both worlds. Don't worry, I didn't understand until I tried this product either, despite the number of blogposts I've read with products using this description *facepalm*.

Have you tried either of these products before? If not, have I tempted you? If so, I'll apologize now for your bank balance.

To Chop or Not To Chop?

When I was 14 for some reason unknown to me I cut my hair to just below shoulder length. Since then I have been growing it out, and it has reached the length that I have been aiming for. Yet I find that most of the time my hair is either up because it is annoying me, it is in the way or just not sitting right. For the past few months I have been considering cutting my hair to a mid length in between my shoulder and bust. So it's still long, but more manageable and will frame my face. And then I will wake up one morning, my hair will sit just right and all thoughts of going for the chop will disappear.

I have been looking around Pinterest for some inspiration. There are two celebrities hairstyles that I have fallen for: Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Leighton Meester.

All photos belong to Pinterest

With the summer coming up I think that it would be alot easier to maintain, and I could still tie it up if needs be. What are your thoughts on it? Would you be brave enough?

Weekly Makeup #1

Welcome to a new feature for this blog, my weekly makeup. I try to switch up the makeup I use once a week, sometimes more, so I thought it would be interesting to show you what products I am currently using. 

I am not one for a heavy base everyday, so I tend to stick to my beloved Dr Jart BB cream. It equalizes uneven skintone with just the right amount of coverage. As for concealer I am very loyal to my Collection one for blemishes and red areas, however for under the eyes I do prefer to use the Rimmel wake me up concealer. This was out of stock when I needed it so I am using this other rimmel one which is good however I find it to be slightly too heavy for the undereye area. I am very into highlighting at the moment, so the Revlon Skinlights is a must. As well as the Nars blush which is a gorgeous pink/coral shade with a slight shimmer to add a subtle highlight. A great addition for the spring time. 

As for eyes, on a day to day basis you wil most likely see me wearing some kind of bronze/taupe ensemble. Recently it's been MAC 'patina' which is a great sweep over the lid and go shade. Finish off the look with a swipe of MAC 'Peach Blossom' on the lips and I'm good to go. 

BASE: Dr Jart Water Fuse BB cream, Rimmel Match Perfection concealer (Ivory), Collection concealer (fair), Revlon Skinlights (pink light), The Body Shop Honey Bronzer (light matte), Nars Deep Throat blush

EYES: MUA eyebrow palette (top right shade), MAC patina e/s, Urban Decay Naked Basics palette (faint in the crease) 

LIPS: MAC Peach Blossom lipstick

(Look out for some reviews on a few of the products I used in this post in the next week or so!) 

The Weekend Post: The First Day of Spring

I say the first day of spring. Technically that's not for a few weeks. But by the looks of the gloriously blue sky outside and the warmth in the air, it certainly does feel like it. There has not been a cloud in sight all day. And for the first time this year I have braved bare legs! Yes you did hear me right. I'm taking baby steps and am wearing my Topshop pleated midi skirt from last year, which I have been dying to bring out for the past few months. Today seemed like a very appropriate day. As you can see in the picture above I paired it with my recently purchased Breton top. A look which I deem to be chic yet comfortable, just how I like it.

I have been sitting outside all afternoon whilst my family watch the England v Wales match. Our priorities are obviously slightly different. England's weather is so temperamental I am fully expecting the weather to turn cold again. Let's hope the weather man brings more sun! And you can see that my pets are also loving this weather, I managed to snap this sweet photo of the both of them.

The past week has been quite quiet, so I have organised more things to do this week. I'm working three days, going to London tomorrow and meeting up with a school friend on Tuesday for a film sesh! There are lots of things to look forward to over the next month. So if this sunshine could stick around, I would very much appreciate it.

Some Revlon Purchases

I was sauntering around Boots a couple of weeks ago, as you do, and noticed that there was a 3 for 2 deal going on on the Revlon stand. I remembered that Alix from I Covet Thee had used the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in her 'Get Ready With Me' video. So I instantly gravitated towards the shade she had used, which is a gorgeous peachy-pink neutral shade called Pink Cognito. It is a great shade to put on in the morning which will go with all eye looks, in particular a smoky eye. And then of course another shade caught my eye, Kissable Pink. It is a great, your lips but a bit pinker look. Still very easy to wear on a day to day basis. The formulations of these lipsticks are sheer, so be aware of this when looking at the shades available as it is likely the colour you see won't be so bold.  Once the shine of the darker shade Kissable Pink it does leave a slight tint to the lips which is very pretty, whereas because the shade Pink Cognito is so neutral that it seems to fade away.

Once I had picked up these products there was no point in not getting a third product, so as not to waste the 3 for 2 deal right? Well in any case that was my logic. I had been on the look out for a highlighter for a while to perk up my seemingly dull winter complexion that everyone seems to be struggling with at the moment. Summer, where are you? I had read about this Revlon Photoready Skinlights on Nouvelle a while ago. So it was the perfect fit to complete the offer. I chose to go with the shade Pink Light after of course swatching the other shades. You need the tiniest bit which I then rub between a couple of fingers and rub onto the top of my cheek bones and any other place that I feel needs highlighting. This is an absolutely gorgeous product which I would recommentd to anyone! I am yet to use it mixed in with a base, or underneath, to create that extra bit of glowwy-ness that seems to be so on trend right now.

Since purchasing these beauties Boots are now offering a 3 for 2 across the majority of their store. I am so tempted to make a little purchase, but I have just taken advantage of the 10% off beauty on Debenhams at the moment. So maybe that will have to wait for a while. We'll just have to see how great my will power is.

Life In Action #1

Some of my artwork from over the years

I am naturally quite a creative person. And then A-levels came along and my academic education seemed to take over.  So for the past few years it has had to take a backseat in my life. And to be quite frank I didn't really know how to get back into it. Up until a couple of months ago I had a few more years of academia ahead of me. And then I somehow navigated myself into a bit of a dark place for a while. But there is light at the end of the tunnel now.

I have set my sights on a career.  Something that actually makes me excited. The fact that I could actually be a part of this industry is unbelievably exciting for me! Researching different places and courses where I can learn these skills has given me a new lease of life. A sense of direction which I was lacking. A sense of direction. In a direction that I want to go in. It hasn't been influenced by other people's belief's or society. It is my choice.  And that for me has been a fresh but scary experience.  In these times up until a certain age there are a multitude of things that are expected of you. There is an invisible path for you to lead.  And breaking against that was incredibly hard. Probably more than anyone I know realised. But I'm coming out of the other end of the tunnel and there's some light out there. Shining brightly down on this earth. Guiding me down a new path. Made especially for me.

And I have somehow managed to find a job to bridge the gap between the two. It's not the average waitressing job which I expected to find myself in. I'm surrounded by other people who share the same creative spark. People who are inspired by life around them. And that is all I need right now. Up until life changes up a gear.  When it does, I'll be ready for it.