Just an ickle haul!

I was in desperate need of some new make up bits and bobs so tonight I headed into town after work for some late night shopping.

I started off at Lush. Ok, ok, I've been shopping in Lush for years, i'm not a super fan but I mostly use it when buying gifts for others and occasionally get myself some smellies for bath time. I have never tried any of their skincare and i have to say it was the power of YT that sucked me into this purchase! Dressjunkie's recommendation of Baby Face cleanser encouraged me to buy it this evening. Recently, I have been all over the place with cleansers so I'm hoping this works well with my skin. I also picked up Sweet Japanese Girl, which is an exfoliating facial massage bar which contains tea trea, apparantly great for blackheads.I then headed to Mac where the girls where just so rude and dismissive that I walked straight back out again! ..... and off to Boots I went where I picked up a 3 for 2 offer on make up range Pure. I haven't tried Pure yet, it all seems a bit overpriced in my opinion but I thought I would give the Kajals a go ... they are £11ish each so even on 3 for 2 it was hardly a bargain but I am looking forward to trying these out. I picked up Black, Sophisticated Brown and Midnight Blue.
I was really excited about the black and blue but after I swatched them I could see how pretty the brown is, more like a bronze. Finally I headed to Space NK to replenish my Nars Laguna which hit pan ages ago. I managed to get a hold of Laguna fine but the lipgloss and blush I wanted where sold out - typical Space NK! Instead I bought a new Balanced Foundation in shade Fiji ... which is a favourite of mine for Summer and I also picked up a Shu Uemura lipstick. My final stop was the newsagent where I picked up a copy of Marie Claire which was giving away a free James Brown Intensive Hair Mask ... favoured by Kate Moss no less! I would be a little more excited by my freebie if Kate Moss' hair ever looked nice but it never does!!

Anyway, this lot should keep me amused until the next shopping trip!

Has anyone else tried the lush products or kajals - any tips?

x

Big shiny balls!

.....in the form of my new(ish) necklace and bracelet from Mango! Mango has been my most frequented store in recent weeks.... with purchases of clothing, bags and jewellery. I have always loved Mango, it's almost like a younger version of Zara and the prices are pretty reasonable.

Anyway, I was in buying a few things last week and came across this set in the sale. The necklace is pewter coloured beads/balls and is quite weighty. It is quite a statement piece and will transform any outfit.
As you can see there are big shiny balls placed at the side of the necklace like a big knot of balls .... sorry I can't think what else to call them, beads don't seem to do them justice!
The bracelet that goes along with it is attached to 3 rope like bands. Normally I would not wear matching costume jewellery - i like a bit of mix and match. I find the 'matchy matchy' look can be a bit bland however, I find although unusual these pieces have a simplicity that make them perfect match.
I did buy these in the sale, I think I bought the necklace for around £25 and possible £10 for the bracelet. They also had them in a gorgeous gold which looked so glamorous but after long deliberation I went with this colour.

So what are your thoughts on my big shiny balls??? ;)

x

Lily for Chanel

I'm sorry, I realise this must be getting boring seeing a pic of Lily pop up every few posts but this time I don't know if it's my obsession with Lily or my obsession with Chanel that has prompted the post! Probably both.

Lily was modelling the new Cocoon collection for Chanel. Apparantly Karl Lagerfield snapped these photos himself ... anyway, the padded bag in any form is one of my favourite styles. I don't have a Chanel yet but I do have a Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga Matelasse bags so I am getting there - slowly but surely.... one day, one day!
This image screams Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany's - one of my favourite films! I'd love this bag but I can imagine the horrendous copies we are going to see on the high street already!

As per usual Lily looks fabulous!

x

FOTD - Liquid Metals

Here is a quick face of the day/night. I realise I look like an extra from Fame in these photos and I make no apology for it.... don't laugh, ok?! ;p
Looking back at past FOTD they all seem to turn out similar to this ... i am not sure why as it really isn't a look I do all that often. My everyday look is very plain with winged liner and big lashes so it's a bit of a treat to use eyeshadow or any colour on my eyes these days.Products used:
FACE
ME ME ME Liquid Mineral Foundation mixed with Mac Lustre drops
Mac Select cover up in NW20
Barry M Natural Dazzle to contour and Nars Laguna to Bronze
Mac MSF Redhead to highlight
Nars Orgasm
EYES
Sleek Storm Palette - Champagne shade all up to brow bone as highlight; golden bronze on lid and rich bronze brown to contour
Illamasqua liquid metal solstice on inner corner of eye and Enrapture on outer corner blended out
Chanel Exceptionelle Mascara
LIPS
Mac Oak Lipliner
Barry M 136 Lip paint
Barry M nude gloss (don't have shade to hand - think it is No.3)Posey Poserson Alert!! A bit of vacant gazing never goes amiss on a beauty blog ;P!

So what do you think of this look? Is it just too similar to my usual looks?

x

I carried a watermelon?!!

Just for a change I thought I would show you some quick snaps of a mini crafty project I did for my friends hen night.

A few weeks ago I attended my friend Lisa's hen night! It was a Dirty Dancing themed affair so there was lots of 'Nobody puts 'Lisa' in a corner!' comments and swishing around the dancefloor to Hungry Eyes!! Her little sisters even copied the final dance and danced it to perfection!

Anyway, I was helping with arranging favours for the evening and I came up with this ...
I would love to say I made these on my own but I didn't - I paid someone else to! How gorgeous are they? They even had edible sparkle on them! Most Dirty Dancing fans will understand the watermelon reference from the famous line in the movie.

On to the part that I did do myself. Nothing over the top, I simply presented them in clear boxes with ribbon and tags that I hand wrote with the name of the bride and date of the hen night. I loved doing this, I am quite into my arts and crafts but I never have enough time to devote to it but working on things like this really motivates me.

These photos do not do them justice but this was the finished product:
I am happy to say the bride and hens loved their favours! As well as the cakes I had also made up bags of watermelon sweeties with ribbons and tags attached, however I don't want to bombard you with photos of sweets and cake!!

Needless to say, they tasted wonderful!! :)

x

Outfit of the day ...

Things have been pretty busy this weekend, it's my husbands birthday today so we have had a few days of festivities!

Today, we were nursing the hangovers and decided to go for a trip to the shops. I opted for a comfy but colourful outfit so thought I would show you all. I am not sure how interesting or inspiring anyone finds posts like this but thought I'd give my first official outfit of the day post a go. You can let me know what you think ....
Catalogue posing at its best ;P. Please excuse my peely wally (pale) legs ... they had been st moriz'd but my legs never take too well to any tan.
What i wore:
Pink multicoloured kaftan dress from Mango. I bought this in the sale last week for around £15-£20.
'Vintage' French Connection denim jacket (I bought this about 10 years ago ... does this constitute as vintage?? ... i think so ;) )
Matalan Multicoloured gladiators ... these are a great copy of the much pricier Aldo versions. I'm sure these only cost around £12.
My hobbit feet do not look their best here and my nails are very badly painted, I was in a rush when i did them!

I also wore these Topshop beads I picked up in the sale for about £10. It is actually one necklace with reams and reams of beads. I love it!
Finally I teamed with a vintage belt that cost me around £3 from a vintage store.
So what do you think of this colourful, casual combo?

x

Dupe Alert! Jemma Kidd Pro I-Perfecter v Miss Sporty Mini Me concealer

.... well ... almost a dupe, one half of a dupe!

I posted yesterday about my make up and fashion swap with Natalia and one of the items she sent was the Miss Sporty Mini me concealer. She suggested I wear on the inner corner of my eye or on the waterline to brighten. So far I have been using it as suggested and loving it. However, before I had tried the Miss Sporty pencil, I had already been using a product for the exact same thing.

.... It was the Jemma Kidd Pro I-perfector prep & prime duo.

Now, when I say this is just one half of a dupe it's because the i-perfector is in fact dual ended. One end acts a base/primer on the lids and the other is the brightening flesh toned liner. However, Miss Sporty may not be dual ended but this doesn't stop you using it as a primer for the lids as well as an eye brightener. Both products come in 2 shades - light or medium. I have light in both products.
As you can see there is hardly anything in it between the 2 products, shade wise. (i-perfector on the right, Miss sporty on the left). Miss Sporty seems to be a little softer to apply so is more comfortable to use on the waterline whereas the i-perfector has an advantage on the inner corner of the eye as the consistency is a little firmer therefore more control when applying.

In my opinion, both products perform on a par with each other. The Miss Sporty liner has become a permanent fixture in my daily make up bag as it is small and easy to carry around - great for touch ups on the go. I have tried using it as a concealer but as I am used to industrial strength cover up, it didn't do the trick for me. It really is amazing the difference this can make to tired eyes, a little highlight in the corner and a freshen of the waterline really opens up the eye.

The biggest difference in this product is the price. Jemma Kidd's I-perfector was between £17-£18 from Space NK whereas Miss Sporty comes in at between £2-£4.

I know which one I will be re-purchasing!! It's a no brainer! :)

Has anyone else tried either of these products? What do you think of them?

x

NOTD - Barry M Blue glitter combo!

I bought these polishes on a 2 for 1 offer last week so thought I would do a quick nail of the day with them.
On the left we have 294 Cyan Blue and on the right 297 Blue glitter. I applied the Cyan blue first then a top coat of Blue glitter. I am really impressed with both of these. Just one coat of the cyan blue and I had a good coverage. Also the consistency of the glitter is really good and spreads thickly without clumping. Very sparkly on the nails although this was quite hard to capture on camera - this is the best i could do on my mobile tonight!
I imagine the Blue glitter will look fantastic over a navy, black or even a dark red polish so I am sure I will do more experimenting with this. It's basically the blue version of China Glaze's Ruby Pumps.

I have just realised though that I have an important meeting at work tomorrow so I am not quite sure this is appropriate. I really don't want to take it off ... it's just so lovely and sparkly! ;)

Anyone else have any nice nail combo's to share?

x

My Landaaan Swap!

A couple of weeks ago my favourite Essex girl Natalia from I would go out tonight but ... and I decided to do a little impromptu make-up and fashion swap!

Here is the fab goodies I received fron Natalia:The contents are as follows:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist
Models Own nail polish in Orange Sorbet
The Body Shop Born Lippy in Cool Mint
Miss Sporty concealer pencil
Pearl necklace with bow detail
Barry M Lip Paint in 54 Peach

Natalia had mentioned she was worried she might double on some things I already had ... she did double on the Vitamin E Face Mist but I was so so pleased that she had sent me this as I was running out of my current bottle. It came along at just the right time and it is such a favourite of mine so yay!

Natalia had seen a previous post of mine where I styled a Mango jumpsuit and she thought that the Models Own nail polish and Barry M lip paint would compliment the outfit nicely. Well she was right! I have only used the polish on my toes so far but it is gorgeous - sorry I really can't bring myself to show you my feet! However, here is a picture of the lipcolour ... i love it! Will need to incorporate this into a FOTD shortly to show you the full effect as this dodgy pics of my lips does not do it justice!

The Body Shops Born Lippy cool mint has now become a staple in my handbag and as Natalia had already suggested, it has now taken place of my previous favourite yes yes yes! Unlike others I do find yes yes yes! to be moisturising but the Born Lippy is extra moisturising and is also perfect for toning down bright lipsticks.

The surprise product for me is the Miss Sporty concealer pencil. Natalia suggested using this on the inner corners of the eye to highlight and on the waterline to brighten. It really is great for this... I have more news on this pencil to come in a future post!

By far, my favourite item has to be this gorgeous pearl necklace with bow detail. It is just so pretty and vintage inspired! I have worn it loads so far .... cute isn't it? A BIG BIG THANK YOU to Natalia for my fab goodies, I love them all!

x

Summer Wedges!

I am going to Ibiza in 5 weeks time and one thing you can count on is a lot of dancing will be going on so comfortable shoes are a must!

So far, I have a fair selection of gladiators and other interesting flat sandals but these are not always flattering to the leg ... not my tree trunks anyway! Heels are a definite no go as I just know I will be tripping up everywhere and will get the dreaded sole burn - ouch! So, while in Dune at the weekend I spotted a comfier option in the sale.

These tan wedges were £65 reduced to £39 ... ok, not a big discount but enough for me to snap them up. I figure these will be a good alternative if my legs need a bit of slimming and lengthening with the help of some height.(AS USUAL APOLOGIES FOR TERRIBLE PHOTO QUALITY)

They are very comfortable, in fact so comfy, i wore them while tidying and making the dinner on Sunday! I wish i could say the rest of me looked as glam as my feet but I am afraid I teamed them with my pj's, scraped back hair and a naked face!!!

I should be less likely to fall over in these wedges although they are very high. So far they go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe, so that's a plus point although tan is a versatile colour anyway.

What do you think? Has anyone else purchased some killer wedges for Summer?

x

GOSH Professional - Haircare

When i was in Superdrug on Sunday I noticed GOSH was on 3 for 2 again but this time instead of reaching for the cosmetics I opted for their haircare range. To be honest, I am not sure how long this has been available but it was news to me so I thought I would give it a go.

I purchased the 'Pump up the volume' shampoo and conditioner and 'Rescue me!' repair 'n shine serum.

I used the shampoo and conditioner last night for the first time but I am afraid I won't be using again. According to the blurb on the front the tube it 'contains special proteins which add body and fullness'. Initially I was quite hopeful - I am always looking for hair products that create volume so had my fingers crossed that this could be the answer. The shampoo and conditioner smell lovely, they contain shea butter which you can smell. The consistency feels very goo-ey (technical term) but not sticky, however once massaged into your hair it almost feels like it never washes back out again. A little bit like the way Pantene feels, so you feel like you hair is being coated rather than cleaned. Despite this, I still had high expectations for the part where it says 'Pump up the Volume'.
On to the styling ... before I dried my hair I applied the GOSH professional 'rescue me!' serum. Just a pump and a half of it was required, I massaged throughout the ends and avoided the roots as I was hoping the shampooo and conditioner had 'pumped up the volume'Once my hair was blow-dryed and straightened, it is fair to say, it had no body, shape or volume to it! My hair felt so soft and unmanageable. I am all for soft, sleek hair but when it holds no shape then it really is useless to me especially given the fact my hair is quite short at the moment. What I can say is that my hair was shiny and frizz free (although slightly static) which I am not sure is thanks to my natural hair type or the GOSH 'rescue me!' serum. All in all = Fail.

Has anyone else tried the GOSH hair products? Where they a win or fail for you?

x

David Aubrey at Accessories Online

If any of you have a twitter account, I am sure you will have heard of Accessories Online. It is a great website based in the UK, where you can buy designer jewellery that may not be accessible to us otherwise.

I have bought a few items from this site now and everything has arrived in perfect timing and exactly as described/shown on their website! If only we could always receive that kind of service when online shopping!

Anyway, I thought I would show you a recent and long awaited purchase I made from Accessories Online.
I had seen this necklace a couple of months ago on the site but the initial 'K' had been out of stock. I was tempted to get an 'S' for my alter ego of Saskia but in the end waited for a K. Thankfully, they arrived back in stock a few weeks ago and Accessories Online were lovely enough to tweet to let me know, even reserving one for me until I could get to a computer to purchase! Now, that's service for ya!

It is a David Aubrey design, who is a New York based jewellery designer. I chose this particular design as it reminded me of a cross between Carries necklace in Sex and the City and Ugly Betty's initial necklace.

Some blurb from the website on David Aubrey designs:

'David Aubrey jewellery is created with plated and oxidized brass and white metal, vintage glass beads, semi-precious stones, Indian handmade glass beads, as well as wood, mother of pearl and carved bone. Collections vary from delicate, meticulously assembled jewellery and monochromatic hues to larger, more colourful pieces.
The collections are inspired by classic paintings, incorporating elements ranging from the primary colours and ornamentation of medieval manuscript illuminations to the swirling effects and lighter shades seen in vintage watercolours'

I adore this necklace, it has a really vintage look to it with a little gem and leaf sitting alongside the 'K'. It was £29.95 which I personally think is great for a handcrafted piece that is so delicate and looks so expensive. I find some online jewellery so unbelievably overpriced when in essence you could probably string a few beads together yourself but this piece has been crafted in such detail and intricacy.

I have been wearing this everyday and I always get positive comments on it. I just love it!

Has anyone else used Accessories online or does anyone have any other David Aubrey pieces?

x

NOTD - Inspired by Lily

I make no secret of the fact, I am totally obsessing over Lily Allen's look at the moment. I just think she looks amazing right now. I was lucky enough to see her perform this weekend at T in the Park where again, she looked fabulous!

As it's Summer, I have been sporting bright, colourful nails as darker nails just don't seem right in such lovely weather. However, Lily was sporting a dark nail at the weekend and inpsired me to do the same. So, here we have OPI Lincoln Park after Dark.
It's not quite as dark as what Lily seemed to be wearing but going full on black didn't seem right with the sun shining so brightly! I have been wearing this since Monday - only one coat required and so far I only have the tiniest chips ... they can hardly be seen and is really just me being fussy.

I will leave you with some pics of Lily looking fabulous at T in the Park and her inspirational nails. Loving the leopard print and sparkly tights!! : )


x

Whoops!

Lily had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction on stage at a Jazz Festival but hey who cares, she looks fabulous!

Her make up is Wow!!
Can't wait to see her this weekend at T in the Park!!

x

Festival Glam - Part 4

Remember I raved about these wellies a few months ago?Well, turns out they were the big hit that I suspected they would be?Naomi Campbell, Pixie Geldof and Jo Whiley were some of the lucky celebs at Glastonbury to get their hands on the sold out moc croc Jimmy Choo Hunters!! At £250 a pop they are not cheap but there is already a huge waiting list for them.

A couple of weeks ago I had a look on ebay to see if I could get myself a pair but with the bidding at £880 i thought it was best to give it a miss .....

x

Mango Styling

This week I have been mostly ..... shopping!

Nothing new there I guess but this time it has been with a purpose. I have a few big things coming up, T in the Park, friends hen night, Ibiza and a big holiday yet to be booked so new clothes are a natural requirement! Any excuse basically!

I thought I'd show you a few of my favourite purchases all from Mango (all mostly sale items). I never usually style a whole outfit just from one shop but so far I like how this all works together. Everything is from Mango apart from the shoes which are New Look. As usual apologies for the quality of photos ... clearly I am a terrible photographer.
I am really digging the 70's/80's style jumpsuits at the moment. This one is so lovely and light so will be great for nights out home or abroad. Usually I would add my own belt but I quite like this simple wraparound that is attached to the suit. This was £39.95, I originally thought this was a sale item but I can't seem to find an original price on it.
This chunky red bracelet with gold studding is a nice contrast to the light and floatiness of the jumpsuit. This was £14 down from £20-£22 I think.I have been lusting after this over-sized clutch for a while. I originally wanted it in the blue/turquoise tones but when I picked up the jumpsuit I knew I had to have the red clutch to wear with it. I love the clash of animal print against the floral. It's edgy but not in your face. The bag was £22 down from £32.At the moment, i am thinking of teaming the look with these gladiator style heels from New Look that I bought a while ago. Might try a few different options out on the shoe front though.

I wouldn't say these were bargains as such despite some of the sale prices but I really loved all these pieces and know I will get my wear out of them.

What do you think of this look? Tres chic or tres freak?

x