Japonesque Lip Palette

... Painstakingly decanting my kit lippies into my new Japonesque 36 lip palette.

It's just too much to carry around lots of individual lippies in my kit.  It's heavy and takes up far too much space so this is a perfect solution.  

The Japonesque palette is a handy and very lightweight item however it does feel a little bit flimsy for the price.  I paid about £23 for it and I can imagine it won't be long before it breaks on me which is a little disappointing.  BUT ... I could be wrong.

I have so many more lipsticks to decant and will probably need a few more palettes but I would like to see how I go with this one first before purchasing more.

I have tried to make this a multi choice palette ranging from reds, oranges, peaches, pinks and nudes.  The brands also range from MAC, Estee Lauder, Shu Uemura to Barry M and Rimmel.  Hopefully it works as a one stop shop until I can arrange all my other lipsticks.

Does anyone else use these palettes?

x

You're the boss, applesauce ...

Its nearly day 10 of my flu and I'm only just starting to feel better! I can't wait to get back some kind of normality, get out and about, book some gym classes and just feel like a functioning human being again. I haven't even seen 2011 yet apart from through a window.

Since I still haven't been feeling 100% I have been going for easy casual outfits that are comfy to lounge about it. It's actually felt great to be out of pyjamas for a change.

I had a bit of a nightmare trying to photograph this look too hence the crazy posing and blurred shots. My camera is so awful but if things go to plan I hould have a new one by the end of the month. I am looking to buy a DSLR but also need a new digital compacy ... oh, and a new laptop but one piece of technology at a time, eh? Any camera recommendations would be greatly appreciated though.
My best 'ard boy impression ;)
Top from Boy London at Urban Outfitters. This was a present from my husband knowing my love for Warhol's work. The snood was to help comfort my sore throat (which has absolutely killed all week) and is from a store called Dom in Berlin. Dom is a quirky interiors store but also has some jewellery and occasionally some items of clothing. The leather trousers are River Island and are surprisingly comfy. Jewellery was just a few bracelets and rings thrown on from what I could find lying around.
Make up was pretty simple since this is probably the first time in over a week I have applied any. Some Rituals foundation with Nars Laguna Bronzer and Orgasm blush and a slick of frambroise juicy tube was enough. I made myself look half alive with a flick of Shu Uemura liner and mascara.

My hair is still 'ombre'd' in these pics and I am supposed to be getting it redone at the weekend however I have had a change of heart and may go for an all over dye again ... I just can't decide. I just don't see any hairstyles or colours that really appeal to me at the moment.

Do you have any hair suggestions I could consider?

x

My favourite cosmetics of 2010

My favourite's list this year is not exhaustive... this year I have probably spent the least ever on cosmetics as I tried to cut back and be realistic about what I wear.

Truth is, when i like something - i wear it to death ... so my picks are the things I have used the most over the last year and will probably continue to wear into 2011.

From left to right:

Estee lauder Extravagant Gold eye palette. I posted about this a while back and since then it's practically been the only shadows I have used. Either used together or seperately, this neutral palette has the most wearable shades. It has been perfect for my winter make up but equally amazing when I went to Egypt ... creating fabulous summery looking smokey eyes. I have also found no need to purchase the Urban Decay naked palette now I have this ...

Illamasqua Powedered Metal in Erzule - this is the newest of my picks, only purchased last week but is already a firm favourite and can't believe I have only just discovered it. I lost a bit of love for Illamasqua for a while but it is definitely back on my radar. I had always been told this was for darker skintones but I find it absolutely lovely on my paley walley skin. It is lovely both on the eye and cheeks, although a lighter hand is needed for cheeks. This is also fabulous when used with a damp brush to the eye, creating a gorgeous metallic effect. Lush.

Another Illamasqua pick is their nail varnish in Boosh. This was sent to me by the lovely Mizzworthy who knowing I had a love for the Mighty Boosh and illamasqua nail varnish ... she knew I would love it. It is a tar like polish, the blackest of black and is fully opaque after one coat. Illa really do make the best nail varnish - they are always top of my list and well worth their price.

MACs Sun & Moon mineralised blush took a while to grow on me but once it did I couldn't resist it. It came out with one of their collections, unfortunately I can't remember which one... please remind me if you know. It is a lovely bronzed effect blush with hints of burnished pink. It adds a lovely glow to a bronzed look and for me was a perfect holiday colour.

My best discovery of the year was the Shu Uemura painting liners. My particular favourite and most worn being night blue. These liners are just so smooth and flawless to apply. They don't budge or fade at all throughout the day.
Surprise favourites for 2010 is the Topshop make up range. Cream blush in Neon Rose is an absolute love of mine ... I wore it all Summer and it gave a gorgeous glow of colour to the cheeks. So much so I have now hit pan on it (first blush I have ever hit pan on) and needs replacing. The highlight in Sunbeam is another favourite. Great pigment with a lovely sheen that can be worn during the day without too much glitter or shimmer cheapening your look.

What are your favourite make up choices of 2010?
Do any of these feature on yours?

x

There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow

New Year was brought in at a friends club night - Compact Disco at the Black Sparrow. Great night, great tunes, great company ... and a very very sore head and poor memory the next day.

As one of the many changes I would like to make to my blog this year ... Outfit posts are one of the main things I want to introduce. What better way to start than to show you my New Year get up. In keeping with a bird theme I went for full on feathers ... and of course as mentioned in a previous post ... my love for leather is still going strong. Feather and Leather. Nice ring to it.
Feather cape: ASOS; Black Boob tube: Topshop; Leather trousers: River Island; Moc Croc bag: Mango; Wedge heels: New Look

I went with the comfiest shoes I could find as it was a night of dancing, fun and frolics ... normally I would have gone for a long skinny heel with these trousers.
Accessories were kept low key as the feather cape was the statement piece of the outfit.
Bauble bracelet: Mango; Friendship bracelet: Links of London; Rolex: FAKE; Bling Ring: Marc Jacobs

Make up was quite bronzed using Illamasqua powdered metal in Erzule on cheeks and eyes. I used MACs Deep Truth (gorgeous dark blue/navy) underneath the eye and lined with Shu Uemura painting liner in night blue, using the Kimberley Walsh festival lashes by eyelure to finish off (I cut off the end feathers from the lashes to suit).

Lips were simply glossed using Estee Lauder extravagant ruby. I used Mac's sun moon and stars as a blush and cream colour base in Pearl to highlight the inner corner of the eye.

My finished look was statement while remaining comfortable enough for a night of fun twinkling my toes on the dancefloor.

How did everyone else spend Hogmanay?

x