Best of 2013!!!

Hey Everyone,

I hope you all had an awesome start to 2014 yesterday and I wish you the best year (better late than never :P) So, to start my blog in 2014 I am going to look back to all the products I loved! I won't be reviewing every product; that would be a mammoth of a post! So, I'm simply sharing my top picks from 2013.  

Face products:

Foundation - Make Up Forever HD Foundation

BB Cream - Kiehl's Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream 

Primer - Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Oil Free

Under-eye concealer - Bobbi Brown Corrector

Blemish concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection concealer

Cheek products:

Blusher - Laura Mercier Powder Blush in Rosette and Apricot Blossom

Contour - MAC Powder Blush in Harmony 

Highlighter - the Balm Mary-Lou Manizer 

Eye products:

Eyeshadow - MAC powder eyeshadow in Satin Taupe, Mystery, Cranberry and Sketch

Eyeshadow Palette - Urban decay Naked Basics palette

Cream eyeshadow - MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre 

Eyeliner - Stila Stay all-day waterproof liquid eyeliner in Intense Black

Mascara - Maybelline the Rocket Volume Express Mascara

Lip products:

Lipstick - MAC Rebel and Tom Ford Blush Nude

Lipgloss - Lancome Gloss in Love in 312

Nail Products:

Nail Colour - Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 660 Pat on the Black and Chanel Nail Colour in 565 Beige

Top Coat - Sally Hansen Insta-Dry 

Special Mention:

Yankee Candle in Black Cherry

Perfume - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

I hope you enjoyed this post and are having a lovely day! 

And again - Happy 2014 to you all!! :D

Emma

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Using new MAC products!

Hey Everyone,

If any of you are like me, in the sense that, as soon as you buy a new make up product you HAVE to try it! This is what this post is about - I bought these MAC products (See London Haul) and I had to make a look with them!

This is the completed look - pretty simple nothing out of the ordinary for me. This could be a day look for me or an evening look, though for an evening look I'd pair with a stronger lip.

The new products used were MAC's Sketch and Carbon eyeshadow, with Pro Long wear Foundation (NC15).

I used my normal priming technique, then blended carbon and sketch into the crease really softly (could be built up for more drama). I lined my eyes as usual, using the Stila stay all day waterproof liquid liner in intense black.

I absolutely love these two colours! Carbon is a staple (being a matte black) and can intensify any eye look. Sketch is a wonderful redy tone plum :) which is perfect for the winter season! 

The foundation I have always loved as it lasts so well on my skin and photographs well too! :) 

I hope you enjoyed this look and have a lovely day!

Emma 

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Tricks to brighten your face!

Hey Everyone,

Today's post is going to be some tips and tricks to get that fresh faced look (which we all crave on those early mornings!) 

Okay, when I said brightening I didn't mean that bright! Photo on the right seems more realistic :) A bright and fresh looking face can make all the difference to how you feel and how you appear to others. We all have those days when your face needs a good pick me up! 

The most important aspects of the face to get right are the skin and the eyes! Start with your regular foundation and don't skip out on concealer. This will make tired eyes look not so tired. 

Now the fun bit - I started by priming my eyes with MAC's paint pot in soft ochre. Then to set that, I would recommend using a matte neutral shade all over the lid (Walk of shame - third along from the left in the Urban decay Naked basics palette). Remember nothing too strong in the crease as we want to open the eyes - I used a bit of Naked 2 (same palette fourth along from the left) for a bit of definition. Then, to highlight the inner corner, I used a bit of Virgin (first shade in the palette). 

Now for eyeliner - you don't have to do this step, but a bit of black liner on the top lash line really helps to make your eyes look bigger! I flicked mine but that's just me (I used Stila's stay all day waterproof liquid eyeliner in intense black). For the final touch, I took my NYX Jumbo eye pencil in Milk to use in the waterline, if you find that white is too harsh for you, swap it for a fleshy tone pencil instead. 

Finally, we have to show the skin some love! I would suggest using a nice pretty pink blush - I used the Daniel Sandler Watercolour fluid blusher in the shade Cherub. This leaves the skin with a very natural flush and then to finish off, I used some highlighter! What better way to brighten the face than with some the Balm Cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer. Just make sure to blend with your fingers or used foundation brush to make every thing seamless!

I hope you enjoyed this post and have a lovely day,

Emma
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October Favourites!

Hey Everyone,

So, I am sorry this is late! I totally forgot to do this post! Bad blogger!
Every month I shall try to do a monthly favourites post - but I shall warn you; as I'm a poor student don't be surprised if I repeat products that I have already mentioned in other posts!
To save these posts from being too long, I'm only going to mention 5 favourites. They will be from the following categories:-
1) Make up 2) Skincare 3) Hair care 4) Random 5) An extra item from one of the 4 categories!

Let's jump into it!

1) Make Up - NARS Ita brush #21

Okay, so you might not call this a make up item - but it is a make up accessory...so I say it counts!
I've been watching beauty gurus such as Shaaanxo and Claire Marshall use this brush for so long now. I really really wanted to try it; but it's a pricey brush! So I turned to eBay - and there it was for £10.99! Honestly, it looks real and feels real - but even if it's not, I don't care it does the job! I love this brush and if you can afford to buy it from NARS than go for it! Highly recommend this brush for a sharp, clean contour!

2) Skincare - Vaseline Spray & Go body moisturizer in cocoa radiant

Now, I mentioned this in my Beauty Blogger Tag...I am useless when it comes to body moisturizer. I just hate the whole process of having to rub it in for 10 minutes and having to let it dry! So I never did it - until now!
This stuff is amazing; it smells like the regular formula moisturizer and it literally drys in seconds! It leaves my skin feeling soft and smelling great.

3) Hair care - Paul Mitchell Extra-body Sculpting Foam

Again, I have talked about this in more depth in my After Shower Hair Products post. So I won't say too much about it, only that it is awesome and that you need to try it!

On a side note - don't expect much variation in this category; as I rarely change what I use in my hair. This is just because I'm quite happy with what I use at the moment :)

4) Random Favourite - IKEA's Tindra scented candle in Tropical Fruit

Normally, this time of year, I love a warmer scented candle or a cake-inspired scent. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I started loving this fragrance - the orange colour was just perfect coming up to Halloween. Though the scent is not strong with this candle - I still love burning it for a hint of sweetness in my room.

5) Extra Make up - Stila stay all day waterproof liquid eye liner in Intense Black

This had to be mentioned; as I've been using this almost everyday this month and I LOVE IT! I have tried a lot of liquid liners and this is my fave so far! To see a more in depth review please refer to my first blog.

I hope you enjoyed this monthly favourites, sorry again that it was late. I will be staying on top of it for November!

I hope you have a lovely day!

Emma
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