Berry Lips

I haven't always been obsessed with lipstick. 

In fact I only started wearing it properly about 2 or 3 years ago.  Before that I was attached to my lipgloss... preferably a Lancome juicy tube. 

These days I prefer a brighter, bolder definition on my smackers and since my last post  was about taking care of your lips I thought I'd show you one of the shades I have been getting great wear from at the moment but definitely needs a smooth lip.

It's Estee Lauders Extravagant Berry.  The sister to Extravagant Red which I wore in this post.  Estee Lauder lipsticks really are gorgeous in both colour choice and moisturising qualities.  This colour in particular is very long wearing.  It fades subtly through the day but it takes hours before a reapplication is required.

This is a gorgeous winter colour and I am trying to make the most of it before all the bright spring/summer colours are more acceptable to wear ... can't say I haven't started wearing them already.  In fact there is one gorgeous colour I am dying to share and I will get round to it soon.

 

These photos are pretty bad quality wise but I am sure you get the jist of what a gorgeous colour this is.  

I seem to go through stages of either lipstick or eyeshadow for that burst of colour to the complexion and just now is a definite lipstick phase.  It's such a simple and easy way to completely change your look.

Is anyone else getting their bright lippies ready for the spring/summer?

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

Californian FOTD

This is might be better described as an Egyptian face of the day as it was the make up I wore on a night out on my recent holiday.

However when my husband seen me he told me he thought I looked like a California girl because of the bronzed tan glow. It was quite a simple look which didn't require too many products and was of course aided by the fact I had a little bit of colour (read freckles) to my face thanks to the sunshine.

FACE
Foundation: Rituals Precious Foundation (my ultimate holiday foundation)
Concealer: MAC select cover up NW20
Bronzer: NARS Laguna
Blush: MAC mineralise blush in Sun & Moon
Highlight: NARS multiple in copacabana

EYES:
MAC fluidline in blacktrack
Lancome Hypnose mascara
Bronzer sweeped over the eyelids in place of shadow to contour

LIPS:
Nude pink lipliner
MAC Angel lipstick

And that was it.

Simples.

It's a nice look for a simple, quick fotd giving a healthy, fresh glow.

I think I will continue with this look in this cold winter to remind me of sunnier times ahead :)

x

Lancome Hypnose Drama

It may be apparent by now that I am super fussy when it comes to mascara.

You see, my lashes are so so pale that I really need a bit of a wonder product to create the intensity, volume and length that I love. So far, products that have worked for me are YSL Faux Cils and Singuliar and Chanel Exceptionelle as well as Clarins Wonderlength ... there are a few others but those are the stand out products that I remember and go back to.

Back in the day I was a fan of Lancome mascaras but hadn't made a repurchase for quite some time, that is until I was reading Hele's Blog where she recommended Lancome Precious Cells mascara. Welcome back Hele! You have been missed :)

I decided to go for it and headed to my nearest Lancome counter. After asking for precious cells the SA asked what I was looking for in a mascara and advised me that precious cells probably wouldn't perform as well as I wanted ... it wouldn't give me the dramatic lashes I was after, so she recommended Lancome Hypnose Drama instead. So I purchased on the SA advice.

Now, I don't want to slate this product as I imagine it works really well on lashes that may be darker to begin with but on me it just doesn't work so well. Since my purchase I have only used it 3 times. Now that ain't so good is it?

Lancome Hypnose Drama comes with a very voluptuous brush which is what helps create the dramatic eyes but I can't help but find it just a bit too big, mis-shapen and clumsy. I find the formula very very wet therefore making it a little difficult and somewhat messy to apply. I also find it clumps then seperates making my lashes look a little bit spindly and spider like. Now don't get me wrong, I want my lashes to look fake, that is the desired effect however, i don't want lashes that look like they would snap or crumble if I touched them.

I think I may wait until the mascara has dried out slightly and try again when it is less wet. Hopefully then it will give a more smouldering but cleaner finish.

On the other hand, the bestie also uses this mascara and adores it, and admittedly it does give her great results. Her lashes are darker than mine to start with but where she lacks length and volume, Lancome Hypnose Drama assists with wonderfully.

What do you think of this product? Should I have stuck to Hele's recommendation of Lancome Precious Cells?

x