YSL Shocking Mascara

I love big lashes, black lashes, in your face lashes.  I pile on the mascara like there is no tomorrow to achieve the thickest, bushiest of lashes.  You see, I just feel naked without it.

I was a fan of YSL Faux Cils and Singulier mascara so when I was asked if I would like to try their new false lash effect offering, YSL Shocking, I obviously jumped all over that bad boy.

My first attempt at this mascara wasn't great.  It is very very wet which made it blob - I hated this, however, I loved how dark it is (I have shade 'Deep Black') it is almost like black ink.  The brush is long, slim and a little bit messy looking with it's multi direction bristles.  Instead of dismiss it immediately, past experience has taught me to stick with a product a while before making a final call, and i'm glad I did.

After a week or so, the formula starts to dry out a little.  Just enough to have more control of the wand and application and that's when you start to get the best results.  While it is still wet, blobbing occurs, a lot.  However, after it settles in its tube, I found I could layer it on my lashes, flaring them out where desired and really getting into the roots which was too hard to do beforehand without getting mascara all over my eyelids.

Excuse my early morning tired and red eyes!

Now the result isn't  going to be everyones cup of tea.  It is prone to clumping although this can easily be combed through but I quite like when it clumps especially with a smokey eye.  It really lengthens and thickens the lashes making them appear big and almost baby doll like.

I tend not to have to curl my lashes with YSL Shocking but if I do, it holds the curl well.  The best thing is I never feel the need to give my lashes the once over with the wand throughout the day or if I was freshening up my make up before leaving work for the day.  It looks exactly as it does in the morning as it does at night.

However, do I think it's worth it's 'Shocking' title and £22 price tag.  Yes and No.  Yes, as I love the mascara, it's great to work with (after those first few days), it gives a pigmented and voluminous finish and lasts the entire day and then some.  No, because it's not that different from the YSL faux cils formula however, if you like faux cils then i'm sure you would also love YSL Shocking.

Have you tried YSL Shocking? What's your verdict?

x

Belle D'Opium by YSL

As a child in the 80's I remember my sister in law always had a huge bottle of YSL Opium on her dresser.

I would sneakily spray it on myself hoping she wouldn't notice but of course the strong, overpowering scent of spiced amber was always a dead giveaway. Back then Opium was a bit of a 'power perfume'. To me it equated to the smell of success.

Now welcome to the scene Opium's younger, cooler, sexier sister in the form of Belle D'Opium. Don't get me wrong, this is still a 'power perfume' as such with it's sensual and femine base notes but it's not flouncy or delicate and thankfully doesn't send you into migraine hell.

Definitely more of an evening perfume amongst other things it contains a mix of spicy white flowers, lily, amber and notes of sandalwood, patchouli, tobacco and vibrant incense - an ideal blend of femine and masculine.

I really really like this perfume, definitely a winter choice for me and can already imagine wearing it to many a Christmas party.

The bottle itself is gorgeous with it's deep blue and purple shades with striking gold and red detailing, all very glamorous. When I look at the bottle it reminds me of Dita Von Teese wearing her deep purple wedding gown when she wedded Marilyn Manson.

In fact, I imagine Dita Von Teese would love this perfume.

Has anyone else tried this perfume? What are your thoughts?

x

Another EOTD

It's been a very busy week so I've not had much time for anything so I thought I would show you another effort from when I was having a play with the Sleek Graphite palette.

This look was completely inspired by Pixiwoos video.
I followed the Pixiwoo's tutorial as much as I could. Using the dark grey/silver from the Sleek palette all over my lid and blending out with the lighter silver. I then used the purple shade from the palette on the outer v and crease of my eye and on the inner quarter I blended through some Urban Decay Mossgreen. I brought the grey from the graphite palette underneath my eye and then used a blue shade I had lying around on top (can't remember what this was)
I finished off with some MAC fluidline in blacktrack and YSL Singulier Mascara. Again with some tweeking and more care I could definitely wear this for the party season.

What do you think? Tips always welcome :)

x

The search begins ...... and mini haul!

So after the warm/cool debate ........ i decided for myself i must have a warm skintone and lucky for me the Mac assistant agreed with me when i went in to have a look in store today! yay!
However she did say i should still wear my NC foundation but break it up with NW concealer and powder to set so that i don't end up looking too golden yellow! I still haven't chosen a new foundation yet but i did pick up some Chanel pro lumiere samples and my friend bought YSL perfect touch and it looked great on her! So now i know I am warm toned (sorry but i had been needing confirmation of that for like 2 months before i could move on with my life! lol) i can begin the search for the perfect foundation to give me flawless beautiful skin.

So my little look around the shops turned into a bit of a shopping spree ..... and here is what i got!

• I picked up a cute pair of little purple pumps fromCoast in the sale ..... normally not the kind of thing i would go for but they were so cheap (£16) that i could not leave them in the store!
• Chi Volume Boost and the infamous Chi silk infusion ... this is my second bottle of this in the past month but again its going so cheap in Sally's just now that i would not dare leave it!
  
• RMK eye make up remover ...again another sale item. I have never tried this before but i have just run out of eye make up remover so nice timing!
• YSL Faux cils mascara in black ... love this!
  
• Urban Decay Velvet rope set - i have been hearing about these eyeliners from everywhere at the moment ... they are just so gorgeous and creamy and such a lovely colour selection - so wearable. love love love!
• My beloved Nars Orgasm. Its a kind of peachy pink blush with a gold shimmer going through it ... hmm lush!
• Mac select cover up concealer in NW20 and Mac select sheer pressed powder in NW20 ... i have never tried either of these so i am hoping they work well. I bought the powder because the other night i dropped my studio fix in the toilet while getting ready to go out for the night - whoops!! Hopefully this will be better than studio fix as it could be a bit cakey. I also bought Patina eyeshadow but didn't get a picture of this as i put it in its palette then misplaced it in the house somewhere .... so at the moment i desperately want to try a look with it but can't find it!!! idiot!
  
• Finally, i bought a candle from Nars called Shangri-la .... ooh it smells so gorgeous

So all in all quite a good spree i would say. I have a few other things I am on the look out for when i finally decide on a new foundation .... like Estee Lauders signature palette in 'Amber Honey' ... I've always thought of Estee Lauder as a brand for older woman but i am really drawn to this palette ... has anyone else used or uses Estee Lauder?
What do you think of it?
Rate or slate?!

xx

Too cool for school?!

So .... first post on my blog! wow! Here goes ..........

Since around about Christmas time I have been looking for a new foundation. I normally wear Mac Studio fix fluid in NC25 .... however i find it can be a bit thick ... look patchy after a while ... and tends to make me look a little on the jaundiced side!

So being an NC this would mean i am a cool skin tone, which is exactly what the Mac assistant advised me when i purchased the foundation. (Bear in mind i have been wearing this shade for around 3 or 4 years now). Now, I have red hair, quite a deep auburn in fact. I have blue eyes and very pale skin - in fact i never tan nor even burn but i do have a multitude of freckles! I am rarely seen in my naked ghostliness however as I am a major fake tan addict so i always have a bit of colour about me ...... sorry Nicola Roberts of Girls Aloud - i just don't do pale!!

So already i think i am sending mixed messages according to the following chart:

Cool: Eyes are typically blue or grey. Haircolor typically blonde, brown or black. Skin has definite blue and pinkish undertones. Cool-toned people look best in colors such as blue, red, pink and purple, or "gem-tones". Usually look best in silver jewelry. In natural light, the color of the veins on the underside of your wrist are bluish. You can wear a white shirt and it is flattering on you.

Neutral: Eyes may be any color. Hair may be any color. Skin has unspecifiable undertones, such as pink, olive or yellow. Those with neutral coloring can wear just about any color clothing and look good. Can wear gold or silver jewelry (no preference as to which looks better)

Warm: Eyes are typically brown, green or hazel. Haircolor typically brown, black, red, auburn, blonde or strawberry blonde. Skin has yellow/orange or olive undertones. Warm-toned people look best in earthy-toned clothing, such as browns, yellows, oranges, yellowish green and ecru. Look best in gold jewelry. In natural light, the color of the veins on the underside of your wrist are greenish. You are most flattered by an off-white, cream or ecru shirt (i.e. pure white makes you look washed out)

So blue eyes = cool ......BUT .... auburn hair = warm

But to add more confusion ... I suit both autumnul tones(warm) and 'gem-tones'(cool) ..... i get away with gold jewellery (when i have fake tan on) and silver jewellery but suit gold clothing better than silver clothing!!????

I am sooooo confused!!!

All i know is that with my current foundation I don't look as sparkling as i should and can look washed out in photos. I also wear Nars Fiji from time to time but again i am not sure whether that shade is warm or cool. I guess i should ask the assistant next time about that one but i am not sure they ever really get it right either!

This week I am hoping to pick up a new foundation so kinda need to know whether i am aiming for warm or cool tones ... i am looking to pick up one of the following foundations so if anyone can rate or slate then go ahead:

Chanel pro lumiere
Estee Lauder double wear
YSL - can't remember the name but it has its own brush attached

So cool or warm, what is your take on this - does it even really matter?