MAKE-UP LOOK: Bronzed Rose

When I was round my mums house the other day, I rummaged around my make-up draw which I haven't done in a LONG TIME! I found lots of treasures and two particular eyeshadows who screamed at me to put them together in a make-up look! (Not really, but it's nice to be creative... But they did go together beautifully!)

I don't really wear eye-shadow much, simply because when I was going to college, I just didn't have time to 'faff' about in the mornings (usually because I was running late) and it's that kind of place where it's just relaxed and chilled. However, I do like to spend time on my make-up especially if I am going out to a party or clubbing with my friends.

FACE:

These are the face products I used.

Firstly, I prepped my face with my usual moisturizer and allowed that to sink in to my skin. For foundation, I used Rimmel's 'Wake Me Up' Foundation (there is a review on this product on my blog) and using a sponge, I applied this all over my face, starting in the center around my nose and then my chin as this is where most of my redness and blemishes are that I want maximum coverage on.

Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation in 200 Soft Beige

I then set the foundation with my powder. I used Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder and I really like this powder because it takes the shine out of your skin and makes it look flawless!

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in 03 Golden Beige

To tan my face up a bit, I used Guerlain Terracotta Tan Booster in 02 Medium. I used this on the hollows of my cheeks, nose, chin, a little on my forehead and my neck to ensure I don't have any tide marks.

Guerlain Terracotta Tan Booster in 02 Medium

For my blush, I used Body Shop's Cheek Colour (the colour has rubbed off on the label, so I have to use their website as a guide) and I believe it is the colour '10 Sweet Nutmeg'. However, any blush you have will look good with this look.   

Body Shop Cheek Colour in 10 Sweet Nutmeg (I think!)

 EYES:

These are the products I used on my eyes

For my eyebrows, I used Body Shop's Brow and Liner Kit in '01 Blonde and Auburn'. I simply filled in and arch my eyebrows to darken them ever so slightly because my eyebrows are naturally very light. 

Moving on to the eye shadow, I used two from the No. 7 range. The pink is '42 Antique Rose' and the brown is '65 Truffle'. I used a Body Shop eye shadow brush to colour the outer lid and then used a Jemma Kidd rounded brush to deepen the crease with the same eye shadow. I then used a clean Jemma Kidd colour brush to blend the edges to make sure it didn't look to harsh and more natural. With the Body Shop eye shadow brush (which I wiped off on a piece of tissue), I put some of the pink on my inner eye lid and blended across into the other colour to make it more natural.

From left to right: '42 Antique Rose' and '65 Truffle'

For my eyelashes, I just used my usual Maybelline 'The Colossal Cat Eye's Volume Express' mascara. I usually do two coats to make sure my lashes stay long and voluptious!

 

Lastly, for lips, I used an Avon lipstick in 'Pout'. I got this from my friend who is an Avon representative. My mum has this and I tried it out on myself and loved it so I had to buy it! It's a really cute, girly pink but in person, it has elements of a nude lipstick.

Please excuse my bad skin! My chin is a real problem area at the moment!

Avon lipstick in 'Pout'

Avon lipstick in 'Pout' (with flash)

TADAAAA!

Here is the final look! What do you think? I feel like this is perfect for everyday and this will definitely be a look that I will do when I'm on holiday because it is so easy to do!

Let me know what you think!

xoxo

A/W 2012 Fashion Trends! #4 MAXI

Maxi's are great for summer in the form of dresses and skirts, but they have really progressed into the winter months and it's become so much simpler to pair them with the right accessories to make them easier to wear. Upon surfing the internet for some maxi's for winter, I found some real treasures!

I found this gorgeous floral print maxi dress from River Island that costs a very respectable £40. I actually think this dress could be worn all year round. The print is so pretty and girly that it could be paired with some black pumps, a matching leather jacket and possibly a chunky knit scarf to soften the look a little more. This would create an outfit that has the edginess of the leather but the softness of the print and scarf which will make it feminine. For the summer, this dress would look perfect with maybe a light beige blazer or leather jacket with gold flip flops and some cute gold jewellery and accessories. One word of advice would be, do not wear this dress if there is rain in the forecast. This is because the dress may be a bit long and the bottom hem may get ruined by the dirty rain water on the pavement.

Image from www.riverisland.com

For an everyday look, I found this cute dark purple maxi skirt, also from River Island for £25. I love the aubergine colour because it's perfect for autumn and winter as it's not too dark or drab but not too bright that it looks out of season and better suited for summer. Having said that, I believe you could wear this in summer too, which is a bonus! To make this into a cute outfit, you could pair this with a simple white tank top, beige leather jacket, Oasis beige leather pumps in my previous post and gold accessories. Alternatively, black would look just as good if the weather isn't that great.

Image from www.riverisland.com

I've also seen a style of pairing maxi skirts with military boots. I am not a particular fan of this combination but it's a definitely a viable option for you if you want to wear a maxi skirt but keep your feet warm :)

From Missguided.com, I found this really cute wine coloured long sleeve, maxi dress with a slit along the leg. This would be cute outfit for a special occasion. You could put on a gold skinny belt around the waist to hide the seam and matching jewellery. I like the nude platform heels with the dress too. 

The dress also comes in black and would look good with a gold metal plated belt (there are plenty from ASOS) and matching jewellery and you'll have an outfit that hosts an eclectic mix of femininity with the slit and body con silhouette and grunge with the belt and jewellery.

Both these dresses from www.missguided.com retail at £17.99 which is a bargain in my eyes.

   

   Image from www.missguided.com

Image from www.missguided.com

I hope this post helps you in putting together outfits with a maxi dress or skirt! They are perfect too for autumn and winter, not just summer! 

xoxo

A/W 2012 Fashion Trends! #3 LEATHER!

The classic leather jacket to the edgy leather look leggings can give the rock chic look to any outfit and there's an eclectic range out there for us to choose from. Simple!

I'm constantly on the search for the perfect leather jacket (I haven't found it yet!) but there are so many out there in all different styles to choose from. If you have the money and want to invest, a real leather jacket would be ideal, preferably in black simply because it will go with every outfit! However, there are faux leather versions available too!

Image from www.asos.com

Starting off with the most expensive piece I've found. This leather and sheepskin jacket from a brand called Muubaa, sold on ASOS.com really caught my eye because it's different. I like the draping and the large lapels. I really like that the sheepskin lining is inside the entire jacket, not just the lapels. However, for £225, I would expect them too! I like the sleeves, they are a much better alternative to the fabric elasticated ones you see on a lot of other leather jackets. I'm not a fan of those because they cut off my hands and really cling to my wrists, which I find very uncomfortable. For extra warmth, I think you could throw on a chunky knit scarf over the top along with the sheepskin lapels which could make the look very comfy! Pair with some simple jeans and you've got a lovely casual outfit whilst keeping warm at the same time.

The only thing that would put me off is the price. It originally retailed at £430 so you're making a saving of (if my maths is correct) £205! This makes the jacket an investment piece. I personally wouldn't buy it because I do not have the money and even if I did, I would feel very hesitant to lay down this kind of money.

Image from www.asos.com

Image from www.asos.com

Here is a slightly more affordable leather jacket, also from ASOS in their collection. It retails at a discounted price of £67.50 from £135. What is different about this jacket is a couple of things. Firstly, there are no lapels, very different to the previous jacket. This jacket also has little pockets on the side; which could be quite useful but I don't think I could fit my keys or iPhone in them. One particular difference of this jacket is the texture. It features a laser cut design (shown in the close-up on the right) which I really like because it adds some femininity to the piece. I like the structured shoulders and three-quarter length sleeves which just smarten up the piece.

I like the outfit that the model is wearing with the jacket. It shows a good contrast between leather and a girly, baby pink, floaty top and jeans. This outfit would be perfect for going out for dinner; simply pair with some heels, or even travelling; throw on some brogues or even Converse for the comfort factor.

Moving onto bottoms. I remember when I was younger, my mum bought me some leather trousers (I vaguely recall she had some too; maybe she wanted to match!) and when I think back, I do wonder "How did I not sweat in those?". I wouldn't buy leather trousers now, simply because I know it would take a fair few hours just to get them on! Also, the sweat factor isn't appealing to me!

Recently seeing these 'leather look' leggings, I thought this could be a great compromise because they'll be thinner and easier to walk in. You can find these type of leggings EVERYWHERE! Topshop, River Island, ASOS, Missguided, New Look, H&M, Primark etc etc etc! One piece of advice would be, be prepared to pay a little more for these just because you want them to last a long while and when it comes to washing them, you don't want the leather to crack. Having said that, I would've thought most of these leggings would have to hand washed, which makes more sense.

Image from www.riverisland.com

I found this pair from River Island that retail for £18 which is very reasonable. These are very simple and are a great alternative to plain fabric leggings. I do like the wider waistband at the top, I guess it could work as a tummy shrinker possibly, which is always a bonus for me because I don't particularly want to wear magic knickers all the time! :)

For the same price, you could get these 'Ultra Wet Look Leggings' from ASOS. They are very shiny and I do like them. However, for some reason, they make me think of the brightly coloured 80's inspired leggings you see in fancy dress shops. All I can say is thank god they don't come in these kind of colours!

Image from www.asos.com

Image from Google Images

You really would stand out in those, wouldn't you? ;)

Moving onto shoes and accessories! As the colder weather approaches, you'll put away your flip flops and dig out your boots. I found these Ted Baker 'Bronko Leather' flat boots from ASOS but I think they also retail on the actual Ted Baker website too. 

Image from www.asos.com

These boots are very simple but I like the gold buckle on the ankle. I think it makes the boot look more Western; almost riding boot? I like the length of these and they would look perfect with any outfit, as well as keeping your feet warm.

For a more glamourous shoe, I found these leather heels from Ravel on ASOS. They're called Geraldine and they have a laser cut detailing on the front with a slingback strap and peeptoe. They come in a variety of colours which also vary in price. These ones are £50 from RRP £80. 

Image from www.asos.com

I think you could pair these with some denim jeans, a floaty top and jacket for a cute evening outfit. You could also pair it with a pencil skirt and blouse. I like the zip detail at the front, which makes the shoe more edgy because of the femininity of the laser cut. 

If you're looking for a more everyday casual shoe, I found these flat pumps from Oasis on ASOS. Again, like the Ted Baker boots, I believe these are sold on the main Oasis website too. These retail for £38 and they feature a beige snakeskin print with a gold toe cap. I think the snakeskin gives the shoe an edge and the toe cap is just a nice finish. 

Image from www.asos.com

Image from www.asos.com

These could be paired with some basic leggings or jeans and a top and if you can find one, a light coloured leather jacket or even a black jacket (leather or not) would work nicely too! Another piece of advice; be careful not to scuff the toe cap. I wonder how durable the material is as it may be prone to scuffing which would spoil the shoe. I think general care for these shoes would be enough to make sure they last and you get your money's worth. 

Okay, I must admit. I LOVE this belt. I'm very tempted to buy it for myself! I love the modern metal plating on the most part of the belt with the traditional buckle at the front. This would make a simple black outfit really stand out. I imagine this would look good with dark jeans too! It reminds me of a Moschino belt that I so badly want need in my life, which unfortunately costs £209 :( Maybe a Christmas present? I don't think so, somehow. This belt retails for an ever so slightly cheaper £18 (BARGAIN). I think it is perfect for this season because the metal plating and traditional buckle is quite masculine and androgyny is very on trend this season too! 

Image from www.asos.com

Image from Google Images.
I need this in my life!

Now handbags. Like most girls, I am OBSESSED with handbags. I feel the need to have one in every colour, of every kind! Clutch, Tote, Shopper etc etc! 

I found this bag, again on ASOS, by a brand called Amused by Ameko. It reminds me of the Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. Clutches. Everything about this bag, I love. I like the ornate laser cut detailing on the fold over part which adds some femininity to the bag, but was mans this up is the little skull cut out in the middle. This adds an edge to the bag. It has two straps; an over the shoulder and a grab handle. It retails at a pricey £125... So maybe could be a Christmas or birthday present? I love the lining too; it features a floral skull design. I like it when bags have lining that is tailored to the exterior just because it makes the bag look more expensive and better quality. All in all, this bag is a delightful mix of grunge and girly.

Image from www.asos.com

Image from www.asos.com

So, I hope I have given you some ideas about how to wear leather this season! I chose to pick a range of expensive and affordable pieces in case you have a birthday coming up and would like some ideas on presents that family or friends could get for you whilst also being on trend!

What do you think of leather? How do you like to wear it best; clothing or accessories?

xoxo

A/W 2012 Fashion Trends! #2 PEPLUMS!

When I first saw peplums, I must admit, I was a little confused. I initially thought "Oh, that wouldn't suit me!" simply because I'm quite curvy and as much as I like to accentuate my curves, I was concerned that peplums would accentuate them a bit too much. However, I went shopping with a couple of friends a few weeks ago and I spotted a really lovely peplum top from Primark and my friend bought it and encouraged me to get one as well! I'm so glad I did buy it because I love it and it's so easy to wear. I can pair it with jeggings, wet look leggings and even denim shorts when I'm on holiday. I am very tempted to buy the coral/pink colour from Primark too, it is a bargain at £8!

This peplum top from River Island is very similar to mine but just with a floral print. I really like it and it would actually be very wearable! You could wear it with jeggings, white shorts or wet look leggings for a casual look. If you want to smarten it up, maybe for work, a plain black pencil skirt and some simple black heels would look really professional but still young! It's reasonably priced at £25 and could be a real staple this autumn because it's still nice to look colourful even if the weather is pants!

Image from www.riverisland.com

River Island have a lot of peplums on sale in the form of tops, skirts and dresses, but this was my favourite!

Next up is a peplum dress from Lipsy! I never really shop in Lipsy simply because I don't have anything from there and I've never been bought anything from there to spark interest (apart from a bath gift set my friend got me for my birthday!) However, I do really like this dress and I know Lipsy are somewhat known for their dresses.

Image from www.lipsy.com

It retails for £45 which I think is very reasonable for this kind of dress! I really like the slightly longer, almost cap sleeves because I find completely sleeveless dresses can almost cut off your arms and emphasise them. This is something I'm not a fan of simply because my arms are not one of my best features, so I think this sleeve would flatter them better. The peplum isn't too dramatic which is good. If it were much bigger, it could look a little false, as though it's just been stuck onto the dress with no kind of thought to how it would look altogether. The length is OK- probably not suitable for the office if you were looking for a peplum dress for work, but I think it is good for a night out.

One feature of this dress that I do like is the fabric. Up close, it has a textured look to the fabric which I think makes the dress look a better quality and it's also just a good change from the plain white fabric that many peplum dresses have.

I like the nude shoes paired with it in the picture. To be honest, this dress is such a neutral colour, that you could pair it with any colour of shoe. Personally, I would have to wear this dress with a tan. I'm naturally fair skinned and I would be conscious that I would almost blend in with the dress. A tan would really set this dress off! I actually did see a young woman wearing a dress similar to this although I cannot remember if hers was strapless or not. Nevertheless, it did look really nice on her!


Finally, peplum skirts! I really like these because they, like peplum tops, can make an outfit that touch more glamourous and interesting! There are loads out there in the shops so you'll be spoilt for choice, but here are a couple of my favourites!

This brown peplum skirt from Topshop is really nice I think because it's a neutral tone as opposed to a black peplum, which could sometimes be a little harsh. This would look good with a tan or beige tank top and some cute tan heels. Alternatly, you could pair it with a bright pink tank top and matching heels for a night out where you need to dress up this neutral colour!

Image from www.topshop.com

It's also a suitable length if you're looking for something for the office. I think the brown will relax your work wardrobe (which sometimes could become very monochrome and in need of a lift) but the peplum and the right top or blouse could really set this off and make you look very professional but still on trend!

Reasonably priced at £34, this skirt could definitely become a staple in your wardrobe. It also comes in a bright baby pink, if you would prefer something a bit brighter although the brown is perfect for autumn/winter!

If you're looking for something a bit cheaper, www.missguided.com offer a whole host of colourful peplum skirts ranging from £14.99 to £19.99!

Image from www.missguided.com

Looking at the collection, I think the coral colour is my favourite because the hot pink is probably a bit too bright for autumn and is more suitable for summer.

So, what do you think of peplums? Have you bought anything with a peplum recently?

xoxo

A/W 2012 Fashion Trends! #1 BAROQUE

Image from www.riverisland.com

Autumn/Winter is fastly approaching (although in England, the weather is atrocious so it feels like autumn and wintery weather is a constant!) and now it's time to look ahead into what pieces are going to be staples in your wardrobe to keep you on trend for the end of 2012!

Firstly, a trend that has been seen on many catwalk's is baroque. It is basically a very ornate looking, busy print. In regards to the high street, a lot of pieces in River Island feature this design, and of course, will be super affordable!

To the right is this first piece. It's a black and beige cardigan, showcasing the baroque design. I must admit, it's very busy; I would be definitiely stepping out of my comfort zone if I rocked this! But I am definitely a fan of this and it looks very comfy and warm, which is ideal in the cold, winter months that are approaching! It's reasonably priced at £40 and I think this could go well with a lot. Maybe a cute black dress, jeans, or even wet look leggings? If you're really daring, you could pair it with some similar style baroque leggings/trousers!

Image from www.riverisland.com

This second piece, also from River Island, is a lovely bright summer dress. I really like the baroque design on this because it will really highlight you're curves (even if you're not curvy, it will give you curves!). I do like the yellow, but I would like to see it in other colours. I think a nice coral pink would be good, turquoise also! I think you could really dress this up, maybe for a date? By pairing it with simple black court heels and a black leather jacket, it will really allow the dress to 'pop'! In the winter, as it does get colder, you could wear this with black tights, although I haven't seen this dress in person so I would not be able to comment on whether the tights would show through. It sales at a very reasonable price of £25 and you'll definitely be on trend with this, plus looking very glamourous!
                                                       
Moving on to bottoms!
I've spotted these really cool baroque leggings from www.missguided.com.

Image from www.missguided.com

I think these are really cool and would really brighten up an already basic outfit. You could pair these with a simple plain black tank top. Alternatively, like the model in the picture, you could pair it with a bright baroque jumper. I think personally this would make the outfit a bit garish and I wouldn't wear it. Having said that, you may look at the outfit and think "Wow! I would so wear that!", which is great! I guess I just don't have the guts for that! :) If you wanted to wear these on a night out, platform heels would look great with these. Even for a casual look, you could just pair it with ankle boots/brogues/pumps!

These are available online for 30% off the original price which makes them £9.09! Bargain, I must say! They also come in pink if you're not a fan of the blue.

Image from www.missguided.com

For something even more daring, check these leggings out! Also from missguided.com retailing for £6.50 (with an amazing 50% off!) Now, it seems very hypocritical of me, but I would wear these rather than the previous pair, despite being even more bright and garish! I think it's just that I'd prefer to have a piece that I can dress with many different things and colours... Whereas the previous pair I would find I could only wear with black. Nevertheless, I really like these!
                                                                                               
 So, after seeing these products, would you be more willing to buy a piece of baroque? I think I would just because with the right design, it can flatter you very well; just like the River Island dress. With the leggings, it just gives a boost to your wardrobe and a great alternative to jeans or plain black leggings!                  

Let me know what you think and stay tuned for more fashion trends in Autumn/Winter 2012!


xoxo                                                                  

Add a touch of sparkle to your manicure!

Everyone loves a french manicure. I think they look so classy and go with any outfit. I've recently mastered how to do it on my own nails (a lot of practice and shaky hands!) and I love how it looks on me. However, it could get a bit boring after a while so I tried to thing of how to make it look more exciting (as exciting as nails can get!). I was rummaging through my wardrobe as it needed a tidy badly and I found a nail varnish that my mum got me for Christmas. It's by Barry M, and it's like silver glitter varnish. Now, it is limited edition so is most likely to not be on sale now. However, I was in a huge beauty warehouse yesterday and spotted an OPI nail varnish called Pirouette My Whistle/Whisper (can't remember the exact name!) which was very similar; I think the only difference was that the glitter particles were ever so slightly bigger, which could make them too big for just the tips, but that's down to personal preference. I'm sure there are also other beauty brands that sell a silver sparkle nail polish, it's just a matter of spotting it!

Here are a few pictures of the white tip manicure with the Barry M nail varnish just on the tips, I didn't do my whole hand because some nails are chipped and it wouldn't look as good. Plus I wanted to get this post completed and uploaded ASAP. I will do all my nails and post pictures probably tomorrow when I sit down and re-do my manicure. However, for the time being, enjoy!

(With flash)

(Without flash)

Let me know what you think of this! I think it would be really cute for parties where you want to add a bit of sparkle to an outfit :) Would you ever try it? What is your favourite nail varnish?

xoxo

Review: Maybelline's 'Wake Me Up' Foundation

So, the time came when my Maybelline Pure Mineral Liquid Foundation ran out and I needed to re-purchase. However, instead of buying the same again, I had tried a sample of Rimmels new 'Wake Me Up' foundation which came in a magazine and I really liked how it blended onto my skin. I was quick to buy a full bottle and try it out as soon as I got home!

I wasn't disappointed! I loved how it blended onto my skin really easily but yet still gave a lot of coverage for my blemishes. It also evened out my skin tone like a treat!

Would I re-purchase this? Most likely. The only thing that would hold me back would be if I could afford a more high end foundation because I love Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation.

Have you tried Rimmel's 'Wake Me Up' foundation? What did you think of it? What other foundations do you love?

xoxo