The Ultimate Beauty Blog

I've moved

2010-10-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
just to let you know I've moved. Come and find me here- http://fashion-freak-101.blogspot.com
bye x

The new MAC collection- Venomous Villains

2010-10-02T04:25:00.000-07:00

I get bored with MAC collections incredibly easily. I am already tired of seeing the Fabulous Feline collection on the MAC homepage. So imagine my excitement when the new collection was unveiled! (The collection is on MAC.com but not MAC.co.uk- which means a bit more waiting for us Brits unfortunately). It is called Venomous Villains and is based on Disney's evil geniuses (we all know them!) I am a self confessed Disney fanatic even if I did find Disneyland disappointing- and I know exactly which pieces I want to get my mitts on! Lets run through them...

^ Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians (I LOVE this film!) Animated by Disney in 1961

The black shadow on the top row is basically MAC's Carbon shadow in different packaging so I won't bother with that.

Ideally I would like to buy 'De Vil shadow' (middle shadow on top row), 'Heartless Lipstick' (the red one, top row, second from left) and 'Wicked Ways' Lip glass (the red one, top row, five from left).

^ Dr Facilier from The Princess and the frog, released in 2009. Fun Fact- I am pretty sure that this is the 1st Disney animation ever to star a black princess!

My Picks- 'Brash and Bold Pigment' (top row, third from left) and 'Resort life' lip glee (Top row, far left). Again there isn't really anything that wows me- but that's not a problem... you'll see why later. Also Dr Facilier has a pocket mirror. I personally think it's a waste of money because I have lots of cheaper, prettier compacts but if you don't and you like this one I don't see any reason not to go for it.

^ Evil Queen from Snow White, released by Disney in 1937
There are probably quite a few dupes in this but I'll have to look closely. My picks are- 'Hot House' lip glass ( top row, fifth from left) and 'Vainglorious Shadow' (top row, far right). Nothing else really appeals to me here as there is nothing completely unique.

^Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, released in 1959 by Disney.

This is what I have been waiting for. I really, really, really hope that they release the nail varnishes in the UK too because for the fabulous felines collection I couldn't find any of the polishes that were on MAC.com. *fingers crossed* I know that MAC polishes have quality issues and they stain the nail beds really easily but I love the look of these polishes so much I would be willing to look past all that. I mean look at them! How gorgeous are they! From left to right the polishes are- 'Bad Fairy',' Formidable!' and 'Mean & Green'.

I love the look of both the mineralised eye shadow quads- the purple one is 'My Dark Magic' and the green and blue one is 'She who dares'. Also the 'Dark Deed' lipstick (top row, second from left) and 'Wrong Spell' lip glass (top row, fifth from left) have caught my eye.

So that's my roundup of the new collection. I can't wait till the UK launch. What are your picks? Comment below!

I feel like having a little ramble...

2010-09-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

So it's time for an Ins and Outs post

In-

Shocking nail polish colours
Although Wine Purple can't be classed as extremely shocking the teacher's eyes did pop pretty far out of her head when she caught sight of my nails. This prompts me to try lots of different bright colours- even if it is just to see how much I can get away with. Look out for lots of nail of the days next week (hopefully!).

Fashion Fair Lip Teasers
I have been wearing this everywhere- I actually mean everywhere! I got it a while ago in the shade Lure. But basically it boils down to- wearable colour, bold colour, non sticky and nice scent for £13. Score!

Gel liner
So much better than pencil or liquid. Makes me wonder why I wasn't in on it in the first place!

Being sick
I have had a blasted cold for days now and it's showing absolutely no signs of going away! Guess I'm gonna have to deal with it =(

Having a new haircut
I am currently trying to decide what kind of cut/style to go for. I had hair up to my hips but it was getting way too hard to look after so I got a pair of scissors and snipped it straight across- It's bra length now because I would feel exposed without moderately long hair. I'm thinking of playing it safe with an Erin Silver (90210- LOVE!) style as I'm not feeling particularly brave...

Out

Korres Lip Butter
To be fair there is absolutely nothing wrong with it even though it does all it's supposed to and looks nice on my lips after a week of obsessive application (When I say obsessive I mean obsessive- as in every five minutes) I have decided to take a break from it and try something new (The Body Shop's Aloe Vera Lip Conditioner- I will post a review as soon as possible) and then come back to Korres later. Having said that I have got my eye on their cherry oil lip glosses after hearing so many good things about them.

Rain and Cold weather
English weather sucks. Enough said.

Tag- Fashion

2010-09-26T03:24:00.000-07:00

Tagged by Glam me up- http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/

1) What is your favourite accessory?
I love rings! I mean- absolutely adore them and I have a huge collection-so many that I could probably wear a different ring for each day of the year! They come from all sorts of places- Tiffany & Co, Swarovski and even tacky tourist shops from countries I have been on holiday to. I also always wear my emerald studs that my mum got me for my 14th birthday- they're so special and I haven't taken them off once since I got them. I also have an extensive bag collection which I adore and that I add to now and again (it's gotten quite impressive over the years- My favourites are my Louis Vuitton (present from a cousin), a Coach bag (present from an aunt) and a Dior bag that my wonderful mummy bought for me- of course that meant I couldn't shop for a month to compensate!)

2) What's your favourite clothing item?
It has to be my True religion jeans- they were pricey but so worth it. I wear them really regularly, they are classy but also comfy-comfort is a must for me!

3)Who is your role model?
Coleen Rooney- I love her style! She always wears clothes that flatter her figure and always gets it just right. Unfortunately I don't have that much to spend on clothes so I have to find close dupes from stores like H&M.

4) What do you always carry with you?
A MAC lip glass and my mobile/cell phone.

5)What would you describe your fashion style as?
Incredibly girly! Duhhhh!

6) Favourite jeans, sunglasses, heels?
Favourite jeans are from True religion, My favourite sun glasses are my trusty and very chic ray bans and my favourite heels are from Monsoon.

7) What inspired you to make fashion videos?
Well, I don't- not yet.

8)What is your favourite store/shop?
Monsoon and H&M it's a tie between them. I love Charlotte Russe too- I checked it out in America and I was impressed =)

9)What is your favourite fabric in clothing?
Silk or Satin- they're both nice

10)Who is your favourite designer?
Marc Jacobs! Hands down.

11)Who/What inspires your fashions?
My mood- cheesy but true

12)What would you choose to do? Buy something in high quality or make it yourself?
I am actually quite good at sewing so given the time I would make it myself. That way I could make the cut flattering and have exactly what I want.

That's it and before I go- I TAG YOU ALL! Anyone who has a blog. If you don't I will hunt you down. Just kidding.
Bye x

A blog I am lovin' at the moment

2010-09-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

http://glam-me-upxo.blogspot.com/- She does hair, fashion, makeup and nails (lot's of exciting nail of the weeks!' and I think this will stick around in my bookmarked pages for a while. Check her out!

Blinc Kiss Me Mascara

2010-09-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

There is something I desperately want to try... it is Blinc's Kiss me mascara.

Someone recommended this to me a long time ago but with a backlog of mascaras that I have been recommended to try I never actually go round to it. But I must say this is unique and I am curious. That is why I am not letting this go.

Now, we have all encountered bad mascaras- it's part of our lives as makeup hoarders- they clump, they flake and they irritate the eyes. All these problems could potentially be erased by this new idea.

You are probably wondering what is so special, right...?

Wait for it....

Wait for it....

It forms tubes round your lashes. Yes, you heard me right- tubes. This is a totally new idea to me but I believe that you apply the mascara, whilst it is still wet you apply as many coats as you want until you are happy then you let it dry. Once it has dried no changes can be made to it and the previously liquid mascara turns into tubes.

Have you ever cried and had mascara run down your face? Well that will be a problem to the past too! The tubes can't be removed using water or pressure alone but a combination of both. So- when you want to take the mascara off simply use the shower!

Sounds good right? Hopefully, I should be able to get my hands on this stuff soon, try it out and feed back to you.
I'm so excited, this could possibly be a break through in my world of cosmetics!

Stay pretty,
TheBeautyBlogger x

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

2010-09-18T03:16:00.000-07:00

Price- £4.59

Bought from- Superdrug or Boots

What it claims to do-Aussie's famous three minute miracle reconstructing conditioner claims to mend split ends and leave hair soft, smooth shiny and loved. The Australian Balm mint is said to be a miracle ingredient that will provide the tender loving care that your hair needs and Safflower Seed Oil will do away with nasty split ends. Within three minutes of application a miracle will have occurred and you will be left with the shiny, swishy hair you have always dreamt of.

My Verdict- This amazing smelling product is a bargain for such a low price. I have shelled out on a lot of fancy hair products before and I really wish that I had found this sooner! It is a deep conditioner so I only use it once a week and I really do think that it lives up to it's claims. The unique squeezy bottle dispenses a small amount so it's not easy to waste the product. This would be a great one for all you gals who use a lot of heat styling and have damaged hair as a result. It leaves my hair soft, shiny and also wonderfully scented and I would definitely recommend this to a friend paired with an Aussie Shampoo.

That's it from me.

Speak to you all soon,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Beauty Myths Decoded

2010-09-11T16:30:00.004-07:00

Myth 1- Waxing/Shaving makes hair grow back thicker

False. This is actually your eyes deceiving you. When your leg hair is growing back it looks coarser than before because it is shorter whereas longer leg hairs look wispy.

Myth 2- Cocoa Butter lotion fades stretch marks

False! Contrary to popular belief Cocoa butter will not actually help you get rid of the lines. Stretch marks are caused by weight gain or loss and no amount of lotion can get rid of them.

Myth 3- Drinking tea stains your teeth

True! So does Coffee, Red and White wine and Soda.

Myth 4 - 8 Hours of sleep a day helps you lose weight

True! As far fetched as this sounds it's not a myth. We don't eat in our sleep so there are no calories there but research actually suggests that not getting enough sleep means that we don't burn as many calories as we should during the day.

Myth 5- Drinking water will improve your complexion and clear up break outs

True. Drinking water helps cleanse your skin and a glass of water is a lot better for you than a glass of soda!

Myth 6- Perfume should be sprayed on pulse points.

True! Pulse points are warmer than other parts of the body making the scent last longer.

Myth 7- Sharing Makeup with friends can lead to infections and breakouts

True. Yes it's true. Sharing makeup is like sharing germs which lead to breakouts and all sorts of nasty infections. I will put my hand up and admit that I'm really bad when it comes to this. My friends and I always share products because we don't have massive amounts of money to spend on makeup so we trade and share. Only share products if they come from a pump bottle. Hmm perhaps I should practise what I preach!

Myth 8- Eating chocolate will break you out

False. There is absolutely nothing to prove that this is true. But, remember that any junk food is bad for you and too much rubbish can break you out.

Myth 9- Cucumbers reduce puffiness of eyes

True. So does anything else cold so a spoon dunked in freezing water would also work.

Myth 10- Trimming your hair makes it grow faster

False. Trimming your hair will not make it grow faster. It will continue to grow at it's normal rate- about 1-2 inches a month. However, don't stop trimming as it can get rid of nasty split ends.

5 Beauty Bargains that cost under a fiver!

2010-09-11T16:30:00.001-07:00

Sleek Hide It Concealer- £1.49 @ Boots

Now, I love all Sleek Makeup. Their prices are low but the products still perform well and can compete against pricier brands. This concealer matched my skin stone perfectly which meant I had good coverage as opposed to a patchy mess that I usually end up with. It is creamy, light and easy to use so I would definitely call this a steal. Another product I would recommend from Sleek is their Blush in 939 Sahara. It is a dark Brown red and as well as being a great blush it also hides any imperfections on the cheeks.

Maybelline The Great Lash Mascara- £4.99 @ Boots

This is something I would call a timeless product. It isn't new but always appears as a great mascara in any magazine you may read. I am sure you have all seen the iconic green and pink bottle on a store shelf before- next time you see it- throw it in your basket! It honestly is a great product: it makes lashes long, very thick and black. It doesn't clump, flake or irritate the eyes and that's a lot more than I can say for some other mascaras that I have tried in the past.

MeMeMe Pussy Cat Cheek and Lip Tint- £4.99

MeMeMe. Where can I begin? This company steals Benefit's ideas and repackages them. Am I complaining? No! Benefit's products, although they are great are out of reach for many young girls just because of their price tag- and I'm not an exception to that. This is basically just a less pricey version of Benetint and I am loving it!

Barry M Dazzle Dust- £4.99 @ Superdrug

Barry M is a brand that is ALWAYS on my dresser. The Dazzledusts are basically a cheap but elusive dupe for MAC's pigments. Barry M gives a lovely Strong colour, doesn't crease when used with a good base and I think it's fairly easy to apply. Be forewarned though- if you are messy this is not for you!!

Miss Sporty Fabulous Lip Tints- Definitely under s fiver @ Superdrug

I got these a long time ago when they were launched and I have loved them ever since. I can't actually remember how much I paid for it but it was definitely under a fiver and I am happy with what I got for that amount. The gloss is not sticky- unlike MAC glosses, it applies smoothly and smells wonderful. An all round winner!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

2010-09-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
During my flight from Canada back to London I was reading a copy of US magazine and I saw an advert in it for Maybelline's the falsies mascara. I looked at the model's lashes and started to look for the small print disclaimer that said the model was styled with lash inserts and that the picture was enhanced in post production. You know- the usual sneaky stuff but I couldn't actually find a disclaimer. This really excited me- a naive beauty blogger who really does believe in makeup miracles.

^The ad I saw was similar to this...

As soon as I got back to the UK and was reunited once again with my beloved laptop that I had wisely decided not to lug all the way around the world with me (especially in America where they have millions of extra security checks that they insist on doing with laptops) I googled 'Maybelline the falsies review' and trusty makeup alley popped up.

I must say that I was quite surprised that it had gotten a relatively low rating (3.5/5) because although they have the occasional bad product (Matte Mousse, Colossal mascara, etc.) they usually come out on top. Anyway out of all the Make up alley users that tried this product only 56% said they would repurchase.

The reviews were mixed but the good ones really raved about how great the product was so I was convinced and am now going to buy and try. I have high expectations for this product so it better not disappoint!

Read the reviews here-Makeup Alley

That's all for now folks,

TheBeautyBlogger x

A Perfume I am oh so in love with at the moment...

2010-09-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

So I purchased this a while ago but as I had lots of others I wanted to finish of first (perfumes generally tend to lose their smell after a year of purchase/opening) I never actually got round to using this. So about a week ago I started spraying this on lightly when ever I went out and have gotten complemented on it countless times since.

The picture probably already gave it away but the perfume I am currently raving about is Burberry weekend.

I know a lot of people generally viewed Burberry as a 'chav' brand before they got the beautiful Emma Watson on board their advertising campaign and gave the clothes a dramatic overhaul but I have always quite liked the brand and this perfume has just cemented my love.

There is actually a little story behind this. My friend went to some perfume launch where they were giving out tiny, stingy samples of this (probably only enough for one or two squirts) but she got it and didn't really like it so guess who got lucky ;-) So I tried it and totally loved it and as it was a tiny sample she told me that I may as well keep it (my friends and I always share cosmetics and trade stuff- a true sign of real friendship I think, don't you?) As I said before it was a meagre sample and soon the tiny bottle was completely empty.
So guess what?

Without a second thought I went and got a 50ml version.

I love the smell- I can never really describe smells or even pick out what goes into them- I can just about differentiate between fruity and floral but that's about it so you'll have to make do with the Burberry description (Tangerine, Sape Greeness, Reseda Greeness, Blue Hyacinth, Red Cyclamen, Nectarine, Iris, Wild Rose, Cedar Wood, Musk and Sandal Wood), packaging (Pale yellow box with silver cross hatching and the bottle is unusually shaped and very chic I must say) and the longevity- which by the way is about 2-3 hours without a Vaseline base which is the only fault I can find with this perfume. Other than that it is an absolute favourite.

By the way, I am undecided about whether or not to do a 'Favourites of the month post' at the end of the month. What do you guys think? Is it a good idea or not? Comment below and let me know (hey that rhymes!)

Anyway, See you all very soon!
TheBeautyBlogger x

Giveaway!

2010-09-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,
I have something really exciting to announce- I am going to have a giveaway!!! It is 50ml of CHANEL's Coco Mademoiselle. There are only two conditions though-
1) There have to be 200 subscribers before I do the giveaway (which means you have to badger as many of your friends and family members as you can to subscribe to this blog)- I mean there is no point in having a contest with 7 people, is there?
2) You have to be a subscriber to enter- this is to make sure that you aren't a random person who will never visit my blog again =)
Once there are 200 subscribers I will declare the contest open all you have to do is type 'ENTER ME' in the comments section of that particular post- it's that easy.

Bye xxx

OPI Nail Polishes

2010-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Yes, this is my 2nd post today but after being incredibly AWOL I feel the need to make it up to you guys. In Florida I went to Walmart, a store we don't have in England (It was so big I got lost more than just a couple of times!). Anyway, we were so sick of eating restaurant food that we took the matter into our own hands and went to Walmart to buy basic foods (Bread, Butter...etc, etc). I subtly broke away from my family and visited the beauty isle and what do I find?? OPIs for $7 each. This is what they look like... I have the one on the left (hint of mint) and the one on the right (Di-Vine is Divine) and I love them! I must say that I was disappointed with the quality of hint of mint- it was streaky and thin and I used 5 coats to get a colour as intense as one coat of Nouvelle Vague. Nevertheless I love the end result so I am willing to look past all it's faults. I prefer Di-Vine because of quality (one, easy, streak free coat) and I am wild about the colour!
I also got 2 ordinary OPIs as a present from my aunt. Meet Java Mauve-A (bottom) and Meet and Jingle (top). I feel like Meet and Jingle is a christmassy red and I love it. It's classy, timeless and elegant and I think that it may be the first bottle of nail varnish I get through. In terms of quality it was very good- no streaks or chips and it was the perfect consistency.

This is Java Mauve-A. Now I tried this out and I have got to say it is a lot pinker in person than in picture. There is also not a lot of contrast between the colour and my natural skin tone so it looks very blah. I don't think this one will be 'love it, use it, repurchase it' product- sadly.

So that's my take on nail polish

What are you recommendations?

TheBeautyBlogger x

Where has she been? Florida!

2010-09-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

I am so, so, so, so sorry for neglecting you guys for nearly a month now! Anyway, I arrived back on the 1st from my fantastic holiday and I was absolutely knackered. I have slept for 2 days straight- seriously and I think I have just about recovered and adjusted back into London life. Okay, I will tell you guys about my trip because I know that you are all dying to hear about it (let's be honest....joke). It's wasn't all perfect- but between missing our flights and fighting with American Airlines staff it was pretty good. Well, I'm gonna get started.

So we flew out to New York on the 14th and we left on the 16th. We actually arrived really late on the 14th so we literally ate and then slept and we left in the early morning of the 16th which really just left us with one whole day. It was so worth it though! We travelled by tube from Long Island where we were staying to the city.

First we went on a tour bus for a tour around New York which was amazing! Then I went to the World's biggest Macy's store in Times square...

And, all of you, knowing me know that I would not have come out empty handed- and you were absolutely right. There was a small coach store in there and I fell in love with a black handbag from the latest poppy collection. It was originally $269 down to $200... not exactly a steal but I had to have it. Here it is- it's my new baby =)

I also went to the MAC store there and I came out with the New Vibe blush duo from the In the groove collection. I actually wasn't intending to buy it but as I walked past the MAC store I couldn't resist setting foot in it and looking around. I swiped this as I was heading towards the door but when I looked down it was such a stunning colour I turned on my heels, grabbed it, paid for it and then it was mine <3

After this we (me, my mum, my aunt and my cousin) headed to Sephora. Now I don't think that we actually have a Sephora here in London but everyone always talks about it so I had to check it out. I absolutely loved it- floors and floors dedicated to makeup? Love, love, love!!! I left the store with a Korres lip butter in wild rose (purely because I loved the colour it gave my lips) and a roller ball version of Marc Jacob's Lola (the latest release) which is now firmly my favourite perfume of the moment.

So, on the 16th we were meant to fly to Orlando with American Airlines who always overbook their flights (meaning that they sell more tickets than they have seats in the hopes that someone will miss their flight, the extra people get subbed in and the airlines make more money). Anyway, we arrived at the air port a regulation 3 hours early. We checked our selves in, checked in our baggage and proceeded to security. The cue was at least an hour long and when we got there my cousin (who was also travelling with us) realised that he had left his Cologne, shampoo, body lotion, conditioner and tooth paste in his hand luggage and so it took us another 20 minutes for the security to the call the bag out, search the bag and then for us to 'surrender' the items in question. Also my mum who can't live without tea for 5 minutes decided it would be a good idea to bring sugar and tea bags in the hand luggage. Of course, the security, seeing the bag of sugar through the x-ray machine decided that it was drugs and spent another half an hour drug testing it. When we arrived at the gate there was a good 20 minutes left but the hostess at the gate simply closed the door in our faces. My guess is that our seats had already been redistributed to someone who booked a ticket on standby. There was no one nearby and we had no idea what to do- our bags were on the flight but we weren't which would mean that whatever way this played out we would only have the clothes on our back until we could get to Orlando.

We were then told (after an hour of wandering aimlessly, wondering what to do) that we had to rebook our tickets. While standing in the line to rebook tickets we discovered that many other people who were supposed to be on the same flight as us were in a similar situation. At last when we got to the head of the cue we were met by a lemon sucking job's worth who told us that it was our fault and that we would have to pay all over again for a new set of tickets. Lesson one- don't mess with my parents when they are already annoyed and tired- they yelled and the woman and argued for a good hour and lo and behold- new tickets. To Miami though- not Orlando as originally planned. AND only on standby (as overbooked passengers). I must say that I don't think that I'll ever travel with American Airlines again. A woman that we were chatting with in a cue to rebook the tickets told us that AA was 'mediocre beyond belief' and in the situation we were in I understood totally what she meant. The workers were rude, arrogant and extremely unhelpful and they had to be told several times and yelled at if you were to get the simplest of things done. On the topic best airlines that deserve a shout out- Etihad and Sri Lankan Airlines are among the best I've ever travelled with.

We then flew to Miami, stayed the night in a hotel then rented a van in the morning. We went to Miami beach, ate in a fabulous restaurant and then had a 4 hour road trip to Orlando. My family actually happens to love road trips and driving so we were fine.

Here's a pic of the beach-

Yes, the sea really is that blue and it is that beautiful- it's not digitally enhanced in any way. I would SO recommend Miami beach if you have the cash- it's truly gorgeous. If you want cheaper then I'd say Sri Lanka (where I come from!). Airline tickets are expensive but once you get there everything else is cheap.

In Orlando we spent 6 days. Here's how it went...

2 days in Disney, 1 day in The Kennedy Space Center, 1 day in the Ripley's believe it or not museum, 2 days shopping, 2 days resting/ lounging by the amazing pool.

The Kennedy Space Centre-

^ To give you an indication of how big this building actually is... you could drive a bus up one of the stripes on the painting of the US flag...

^A piece of rocket =)

Ripley's Believe it or not museum-
^ See how it looks tilted... it's built that way =) I think that I enjoyed this with Kennedy Space Center more than Disney Land. It's basically weird and wacky facts and exhibits. You can even take a picture with a wax model of the world's tallest man! Also, the tickets were super cheap when compared to Disney and Kennedy.

Disneyland-
^ Last and definitely the least was Disney. Our party paid nearly $1000 in entry fees. Was it worth it? No. Disneyland is the most over hyped thing I have ever come across. I have seen real animals, I have been on Europe's fastest roller coaster-I don't have to fly halfway across the world to see pieces of plastic 'move' and go on rides I can find in Thorpe park for a lot less money.

We went to Animal Kingdom 1st which was crap, then we went to Magic Kingdom which was okay. Third was Hollywood studios which I loved becuase there were tons of 3D movies and we were shown how movies were shot (including lots of stunt scenes from the Indiana Jones movies). Lastly we went to Epcot (which I think was the best of all four. It's really scientific and futuristic if you like that kind of thing because I do) but we only spent an hour there before the rain came down in bucket loads and we had to call it a day. If you ever go to Disney I would say go to Epcot 1st because it's the best one and Animal Kingdom last (it's the worst!!).

Anyway, that was what I did in my holiday.

What did you do?? Comment below because I love getting comments!

Lots of Love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Bye Guys!

2010-08-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to do one super-short, quickie post before I leave. It is now 11.20 at night so I am going to finish off this post, wash my hair, blow dry it and then go to sleep. As my flight is at 11 in the morning I am leaving really early- which means getting up earlier- which then in turn means that I will not have enough time to log on and say goodbye to you all. So that's what I want to say really- see you in another 2 weeks- I will miss writing on my blog like crazy but I will make up for the slacking with lots of picts and posts.

Also I am hoping to have a giveaway-but for that to work I really need 100+ subscribers. I have no idea if I'll ever get that many but I really need you guys to get suggesting for me to keep the idea alive- friends, family members and anyone else who loves makeup, fashion and beauty and badger them until they subscribe- then we can have a contest!!!!

Lots of love,
TheBeautyBlogger x

Tagged by Fashion Buddies- My favourite Mascaras and Mascaras I want to try

2010-08-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

So, I was tagged by 'fashion buddies' to do a post- 'Favourite mascaras I have tried or want to try'. Now, I have kind of already done this one so I am going to expand ones I want to try because on the last post I only mentioned one I wanted to try. Read the 1st post here.

An issue to address with Maybelline's Colossal Lash Mascara

As I was throwing out old makeup (see ins and outs post) I came across the Maybelline Colossal lash I thought was over hyped and that I was underwhelmed by. I know a lot of mascaras misbehave and after a bit of o2 exposure they start to listen. I tried the product when I was inexperienced in makeup and I didn't know all the little tricks that most people just 'know' so perhaps I should re buy and retry- the one I threw out was VERY old and mascaras can't be trusted after the 3 month mark of opening/using.

Sometimes things really are over hyped- especially when it comes to MAC but in other instances I feel that 1000s of people can't be wrong. My bottle could have been a faulty exception because I was looking into it and it isn't uncommon to have one 'bad' batch and I have only read good reviews about it online. Either was I will look into it again.

Eyelash Primers

Personally I think that eyelash primers are just another ploy by big, corporate companies to get you to part with your hard earned cash. If you were being really, really picky you could come up with primers for every little hing. So, I guess that just leaves me to say that I've never tried one.

However from a couple of descriptions 'maximises your lash look and extends wear' specifically I want to try it.

MAC Mascaras

Now, I'm not really a huge MAC fan like most people- I just feel like their products don't live up to the price tags and the hype. I have only tried 2 MAC mascaras and they were both awful and in fact I'm not alone in thinking this: many people don't like MAC's mascaras so I don't want to try any of MACs (in case you're wondering why it isn't on my list).

5 Mascaras I want to try

1) Blinc's Kiss me mascara

This is a totally new idea. Instead of painting your lashes with mascara- tube them! That is actually how it works- the little tubes coat your lashes. They can't be removed with just water or just pressure but a combination of both- no smudging, no flaking, no panda eyes! Sounds like a breakthrough to me.

2) Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

I have heard countless good reviews on it. Unfortunately I have never found it in an of the shops. However I have heard that the UK version is Max Factor false lash effect. Even the packaging is nearly the same- Covergirl's bottle is orange and Max factor's is black and it can be yours for £10.99- not exactly drugstore pricing.

3) Laura Mercier Mascara

I have heard good things about all Laura Mercier's products- her lip glaces, her tinted moisturiser... etc...etc... However La Mercier is not known for being affordable- it is pretty pricey if you're on a budget.

4) MUFE smoky Lash

A lot of big make up gurus on YouTube love MUFE- I have heard a lot about their foundation specifically-if it's not too shabby for Richie Nickel it's good for me! One of my friends recommended this to me a long time ago but I never got round to trying it. So even if it is just to please my friend I have to try this out.5) Helena Rubinstein Lash queen Mascara

This is £27 so it's definitely one to conserve but I saw Lollipop 26's before and after picts and read her rave reviews- now I want it =)

So, that's it from me.

What do you want to try? Share some love and leave a comment!

TheBeautyBlogger x

Ins and Outs of the moment

2010-08-12T02:22:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
this is just going to be a quick post rounding up all the good things and bad things of the moment. I want to get in as many posts as possible to compensate for the lack of them to come. I'll try and make this as efficient as possible and then if you feel inspired do one on your blog and post the link in the comments section.
I'll begin...

IN

- Holidays
This is completely obvious really. I mean who doesn't like holidays??- the preparations aren't too fun though (one for my outs!) but I love the excited feeling you get when you are anticipating a holiday. I really can't wait to fly as I love flying and I promise you guys I'll take a ton of pictures to document the best moments in NYC and Canada and of course, Orlando- so you can see all the Disney photos. *Note to self- BUY A DISPOSABLE CAMERA!* Also I've heard that you can't swim in the beaches of Orlando because there are tons of crocodiles! Yes, you read it right- apparently they even leave the sea and get into private pools (most of the houses in Orlando have pools) purely because they're inquisitive. The idea of a day in Miami has been thrown around but it's not yet confirmed. We're actually hiring a van so we can decide what we want to do on the day and then just drive.

-Seeing people you haven't seen in a long, long time
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. I am so, so, so excited to see my Aunt (Dad's sister). She lives in Sri Lanka and I actually saw her a month or two ago (no, I was not on another holiday- I was there for a funeral) but I haven't seen my cousins (her kids) in a year apart from on Skype- so I am so happy that I will be able to see them soon. I can't wait to see my Uncle (Dad's brother) and family as I haven't seen them since they visited London two years ago. I am somewhat anxious to see the new family friends I have yet to meet in NY (Mum's family friends) I'm sure they'll be lovely but I can't help but feel slightly nervous. I will be seeing my other uncle (another one of dad's brothers) and his family who I haven't seen for four years now (wow, time flies!) and also my cousin (Dad's older sister's son). As you have read I have a LOT of people to look forward to meeting!

-Not at all holiday related- but perfume
I have been trying out a LOT of perfume of late. I have been loving Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle (it smells incredible- so sweet) and Calvin Klein's Eternity but I think that it's time to move on and try something new- I'm thinking Chanel's famous No 5 which I can't believe I haven't tried yet, but I've also spied Miss Dior Cherie. I sprayed myself with the tester and it smells really nice- I only like the pink one mind you- I found the rest too strong for me. Jennifer Aniston's new perfume is said to be quite nice- which it should be for the £36 price tag attached to it! Being a huge Friends/Rachel Green fan I feel obliged in some way to rush out and buy her scent. I will wait till after the holidays and if the urge is too strong and I happen to see it in Duty Free I'll blame it on fate and give in to the temptation. I'm also looking into solid perfume. I saw one a couple of years ago by Estee Lauder (makers of the notorious MAC)- it was really pretty- some solid version of one of their scent in a gold case with crystals showing each star sign (mine's Aries) I didn't buy it at that time so I am looking for another.

-Reading
I have finished Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for English coursework and I must say despite my initial scepticism of the plot I really, thoroughly enjoyed the book. I am currently stocking up on trashy holiday novels to occupy myself while on transit- though I may use that time effectively and shop around. Also- reading isn't just restricted to books, in my world flicking through magazines constitutes as reading and I've done a lot of magazine flicking =)

-Michael Jackson
I have always been a fan and will continue to be one. Yesterday, whilst holiday shopping I picked up a Jackson 5 CD with all their Motown years. In fact I'm bopping along to it right now.

-Buying and trying excessive amounts of lip products
Oh yes, you all know how much of this I've been doing. I'm loving discovering new combos and lipstick mixology. It's very fun! (and you save a bit of cash- always a good thing)

-Blogging like a crazy person
You know the deal with this- I love every moment of it though <3

OUT

-Packing for holidays
It is incredibly stressful for someone like me, being reduced down to one case. Also, I'm constantly worried that I will forget something that I really need. Toothbrush-check, Underwear-check, Toothpaste-.....uh oh

-Rushing around doing last minute everything
This always happens at my house- ALWAYS! We NEVER plan ahead and what worries me is the fact that no one else in the family seems to be at all concerned about it! We are usually the last family to board a plane, we arrive at the airport late and book tickets a couple of days before leaving.

-Throwing out old/out of date makeup
I always feel guilty doing this because I see really how much makeup I have spent money on and not used up- then I feel bad for wasting money- but, it really does have to go because the slap is so old I will get all sorts of infections if I attempt to use them. To the bin they go...

-Losing things
No one likes losing things- but I especially can't stand it. I hate wasting time looking for things- which is all I seem to be spending my life doing at the moment.

Anyway, enough about me.
What are your ins and outs?- comment below!

Lots of love
TheBeautyBlogger x

America/Canada trip + Soft Lips Lip Balm Review

2010-08-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,
I'm leaving for America on Saturday and I will only be back on the 31st.

I have looked into it and there is no possible way I can blog because I won't have access to a computer. I am so, so sorry, but it means no new posts until then.

My 'I'm back' post will be long and informative and have lots of pictures and I will post as much as I possibly can for the next two days. (Our flight is at 11.45 in the morning) My family and I will be flying to New York and staying with family friends for 2 days (I am so nervous as I have never met them before and I am really awkward around new people), then we're flying to Orlando to do the Disney thing (Walt Disney is one of my idols- I am SO excited to visit Universal Studios too) then lastly we will fly to Toronto for a family festival.

Hopefully I will be able to squeeze a bit of shopping in so a haul post?? Maybe??

Soft lips

Today I had an eye test. The opticians happened to be conveniently located very near Superdrug. The urge was too strong. I went in an didn't come out empty handed.

A couple of months ago Blair Fowler (Juicystar07) a beauty guru on YouTube reviewed the Soft lips new collection. Then I wanted it. Unfortunately I could only locate one product in the UK- Soft lips lip balm in French Vanilla.

What initially attracted me to soft lips was the slimline packaging (I love slim and sleek) and also lots of people commented that it smelt amazing. That was all the prompt I needed. I looked on the Soft Lips site and they suggested an online pharmacy to order from. All was going well- until I noticed how much they were charging for shipping- $24.99! That was too much. So I guess I was pretty fortunate when I stumbled into it for £1.79 on the Superdrug website.

Now you know how I got the product it's time for the review =)

First of all- it smells INCREDIBLE nice and Vanillery.
-It has SPF 20
-It is so smooth
-It moisturises the lips incredibly well (leaving them nice and soft as a baby's bottom)

When the balm is first applied you will feel a tingle/burn- like the feeling you get when you wear mint lip products. I soon realised that this was due to the menthol in the product. My mum has Menthol crystals that you can dissolve in water and inhale to relieve a blocked nose. It is strong. So strong it makes my eyes water. Thankfully this is nowhere near as harsh but you do feel a tingle. This doesn't bother me and the results were good so the little tingle was a thing I could look past- also- once you wear it for a while you don't feel it anymore.

So, overall verdict-
Do I like it?- Yes
Would I buy it again?- Definitely! At £1.79 it's a great deal.

Lots of love,
TheBeautyBlogger x

Without a doubt the cutest nail design I have ever seen

2010-08-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share this picture with you becuase it is just SO cute! Look at those nails! I think I will recreate the look-even if it is just to show my devotion to my ipod- I mean it, literally- my ipod and I are one person (is that even gramatically correct!?). Anyway if you want to try it out feel free to do so and post some picts in the comments section becuase I will be doing this soon and I want something to compare it to!
I will do a proper post in a minute *pinkie promise*- please don't dispair!
Anyway,
talk to you soon,
TheBeautyBlogger x
Nails; How To #2 ♥ by »CAiTYY. .♥™ on Polyvore.com'>polyvore nails

L'OREAL Renewal Lash Serum Update

2010-08-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

So, I posted that I was trying out L'OREAL renewal lash serum and that I would update you guys later. If you read the last post you will see that I paid £10.99 for it in Boots after I heard that Lollipop26 really liked it and she seems trustworthy so I got it. Also Frieda Pinto is really beautiful and I wanted to try and buy Pinto lashes. Although I haven't been using it for 6-8 weeks I want to post something about it.

Some conclusions-

1) There hasn't been a dramatic increase in the length of my lashes. I initially thought that this would stimulate a lot of growth and my lashes would double in length. This is not the case. I haven't noticed an enormous increase in length but I will say that the condition had improved.

2)My lashes feel and look a lot healthier than before.

3)They are now all the same length.

4)I am totally happy with the results and the price I paid for it- will be using my current bottle up and then repurchasing.

My only issue with the serum was the actual application- it was kinda difficult and messy because of the weird curved brush. They should replace it with a mascara brush... Anyways- that's my verdict on Renewal lash.

But well done L'OREAL! I'm happy =)

TheBeautyBlogger x

The monsters behind the slap- The good, The bad and The ugly.

2010-08-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Salma Hayek
Rating- Good

Sophia Vergara
Rating- Ugly

Renee Zellweger
Rating-Ugly

Pamela Anderson
Rating- Bad

Marilyn Manson
Rating- Ugly

Lisa Kudrow
Rating- Bad

Kim Kardashian
Rating-Bad

Kate Moss
Rating-Ugly

Jessica Simpson
Rating-Bad

Eva Longoria- Parker
Rating- Ugly

Hillary Duff
Rating- Good

Dita Von Teese
Rating- Bad

Courtney Cox-Arquette
Rating-Bad

Drew Barrymore
Rating- Bad

Christina Ricci
Rating- Ugly

Britney Spears
Rating-Bad

Beyonce Knowles
Rating- Bad

Ashwaria Rai
Rating- Good

Penelope Cruz
Rating- Good

Vanessa Hudgens
Rating- Bad

Nice to see that no-one's perfect, eh?

Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

2010-08-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
I have a new obsession. I mean I am still pretty obsessed with makeup and all things beautiful in general but this one is taking over my mind of late. Fred Leighton. This diamond dealer has adorned all my favourite celebs in his jewels and I am in love with his pieces. The store deals in antique and estate jewellery (Antique=older than 50 years. Estate= younger than 50) but there are only two branches- and they are both in America- one is in Las Vegas and the other is in New York. I can safely say that I will set foot in the store but will definitely come back out empty handed- I may be able to stretch and buy one piece of jewellery...... if I sold the house and poured all the money in to acquiring the pieces! I am currently on the lookout for a cut Victorian or Art Deco style rings as they are my two favourite styles. I have browsed the website and picked out my favourites. Below... admire the little beauties....

This necklace is also a vanity case and I think it's so cute. It's sterling silver with enamel. I don't actually like the face... it looks like *dare I say it* Hitler. BUT I am sure that it wasn't intended to emulate an evil dictator I just like the fact that it's a necklace and a mirror. Sure would be handy for checking teeth after meals.

This gorgeous brooch is antique Tiffany's. Isn't it gorgeous?? I have always been a Tiffany's lover but this cutie has definitely cemented my love. It's diamond and black pearl and it's so chic don't you think?

Emerald and diamond bracelet. Diamond is my birthstone so that could be a plausible excuse. *sighs* I'm imagining this beauty sitting on my wrist right now... aah

Aren't these amazing. Fred Leighton- genius

TTYL

TheBeautyBlogger x

CHANEL

2010-08-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
From the title I am sure that you have all guessed that this is a post about CHANEL. The other day I went to the CHANEL counter and spend a lot of time trying out all the testers while the lemon sucking assistant stood patronisingly over me. I want to talk about two things in this post. The first is the new CHANEL tattoos or more fancily called 'body art' and about nail polishes.
Now, I haven't actually seen the tattoos- but I have seen the photos online. For a whooping £40 you could be wearing this...

Now, even I think this is a waste of money and I am the queen of the consumers. I just don't see the appeal. I could spend that £40 on some nail polishes, lip sticks or a perfume. I don't know... it just reminds me of when I was a kid and I used to play dress up and apply those cheap tattoos and within days it would have washed off. I think that's the most deterring factor- the fact that it will be £40 literally going down the drain. It's not something you can keep. I need something that isn't one time use because these tattoos are only temporary and I wouldn't ever get a permanent tattoo of a CHANEL logo. How tacky would that be?

Anyway those are my views on this but don't let my opinion deter you from trying it out if you have the cash to splash.
Moving on to nail polishes...

So, many of you would have already heard about the three new limited edition polishes released by CHANEL. (from left to right) Nouvelle Vague, Riviera and Minstral. Now, all three of the colours look amazing in the bottle so when I went to the CHANEL counter I expected them to all be sold out- but they weren't so I tried them on my nails.

Now here is a swatch. Please note: this is not my pict! Anyway, from the picts I got my hopes up. The blue looked so pretty and I thought that it would work really nicely with my dark skin. I was really surprised however when I found that it was really streaky, hard to work with and really sheer. The girl (in pict above) must be wearing at least 3 coats to achieve that intense blue. I am really disappointed by this because I really wanted to like this. I think that maybe because it's a tester and has probably been tried by a lot of people that it got spoilt. BUT, at £15 a pop they should not get spoilt.

Anyway, that's all I have to say.

Lots of love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Freebie!

2010-08-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

So I popped into Sainsburys the other day and I caught sight of InStyle magazine's free giveaway- a Body Shop lip/cheek stain. And it looked pretty good- Rachel Bilson convinced me. It was all her fault!

I have had my eye on the stain for a long time. I even went as far as going to the Body Shop and trying the tester. I was in a bit of a hurry so I slicked a layer on and I didn't notice much difference so with much disappointment I put it back on the shelf.

However, when in Sainsburys I decided to give it one more try. Heck- I was getting it for £3.60 (which was the price of the magazine) when it usually costs £9.50 so I chucked it into the basket and went to pay for it.

There were actually two different colours available- Rose pink (in the pict) and Bronze glimmer.
Now, being the greedy, beauty obsessed girl I am I did ponder briefly over whether I should get both- but then I realised that I would be buying two copies of the exact same magazine which was by no means cheap. Eventually I settled for Rose pink.

When I got home I ripped open the tube ready to smear it on my face, expecting huge disappointment and initially I was but then I decided to build up the colour. I guess I was expecting a really strong colour but it isn't a gloss or a blush- it's only a lip stain. It looks really red in the bottle but on the lips it actually comes out very pink.

I also thought that it was a bit drying so I coated my lips with Vaseline then dabbed the stain on top which was a bit of a challenge because the stain is watery. You know when you use Vaseline as a moisturiser and then if it hits water it slithers off??- Yeah, that's kinda what happened here. I should have known. But I somehow got it to work and I can honestly say it looks good on the lips on the cheeks it's a bit- blah?? I can't really see any change.

But, that's it.
Will you be getting Instyle??

Lots of Love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Eyelash growth...

2010-07-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

In my last blog I tried an experiment. After hearing Vaseline could be used to condition lashes I tried it out. I applied a copious amount of Vaseline on my lashes before bed for 6 weeks and whilst I did notice a definite improvement in their condition I wanted to see how eyelash growth formulas would hold up against my trusty Vaseline.

*Enter L'oreal renewal lash serum* at just £10.99 I consider this baby to be relatively cheap and brilliant value for money if all the rave reviews are true (and if I can get Frieda Pinto lashes). You can see from the picture at the top that the wand is crescent shaped and you use the bend edge to apply the serum. Well, that's how I've been doing it anyway! They also have another version of it and I think it had mascara on the other end. I have only been using this for a couple of days now and the whole cycle is 6 weeks long. So I will update you on the length and quality of my lashes then. Fingers crossed that it will be amazing and I won't regret the £11.

Lots of love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Ins and Outs

2010-07-28T04:45:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody
After a whole load of serious posts I just want to do one fun one for you all. This post is 'ins and outs' and a lot of my favourite bloggers do this so I just wanted to try it out. These are all just random things I have thought of, of the top of my head. If you have a blog please feel free to do this too!

IN-

Skirt Shorts

this is a cute new trend that I am in love with I have already bought several pairs and they're great. I love short skirts but I am terrified of accidentally flashing so these work great. I am not too sure about the pattern of these but they're not mine (pict taken from Google images). They look a lot like skirts but you get the security of wearing shorts. Score.

Twister ice cream-

I have a sudden craving for ice cream even though it isn't particularly hot over here in the UK. I am loving Twisters at the moment. Ummmmmmm...

OUT-

Having tons of work to do-

Obvious really. Too much work+too little fun= unhappy Beauty Blogger =(

MAC-

I am sick and tired of their high prices, over hyping and their under delivering. I am hereby on a MAC boycott.

Anyway, those are my ins and outs of this week.
Comment below and tell me yours!
Lots of love
TheBeautyBlogger x

Mascaras I have tried or would like to try...

2010-07-27T12:25:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,
In my post 'over hyped and underwhelmed' I mentioned Maybelline Colossal Lash Mascara as an item I felt didn't live up to it's hype and I got a response from someone thanking me for saving them from buying it. I love helping people save money by telling them what I feel is not worth it's price tag but I think that the whole fun of finding a holy grail product is the experimenting- buying and trying lots of crappy formulations before stumbling across an absolute gem- sticking to it for a few months before getting bored and repeating the whole process. Anyway the point of me saying this is that something that worked for me may not for you and vice versa so I never want any one of my subscribers to feel obliged to rush out and buy a product simply because I gave it a good review. Anyway that having been said my post today is four mascaras I have loved and one I would like to try. Just before I start I just want to say I like the natural look- not a big fan of spider lash for those of you who love that kind of thing
=( Sorry!

Trucco Double body mascara

I just want to say that this was one of my first ever mascaras! I am not really sure where you can get this from. I got it as a freebie with a Sebastian shampoo and conditioner (which, incidentally I hated but the mascara was a love <3)
Lookfantastic. com is where I got it from. I love this so much- it's creamy, dark, doesn't flake or clump and it lenghtens nicely. It lasted me AGES though so if you like to change mascaras all the time it's gonna be difficult.

CHANEL inimitable

I read so many good reviews about this and it was recommended it me a lot of times so I finally decided to get my mits on it. It was £21.50 *gulp* but I love it. It comes in the chic CHANEL packaging and lenghtens well. If you love 'Spider Lash' effect then I wouldn't recommend this because it lenghtens but the lashes look really natural- which is 1/2 the reason I love this.

Clinique high impact mascara

Ok, this is a tricky one. I know a lot of people who hate this but I love it. I personally though that it was great- smooth and the end effect was beautifully even BUT there were a few blobs initially which had to be corrected using my lash separator brush. Also I had to give this one the oxygen treatment to get it to behave but I really liked the end effect so I am willing to look past it's flaws.

Benefit Bad Gal lash mascara

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Benefit. I love their counters, I love their products and I love their packaging. This was another love of mine and it was my latest mascara and I have just finished it off. The brush is huge and has a really specific shape- something that MAC copied in their latest mascara ( I HATE all MAC mascaras). Anyway, there's not really much to say now, great product, I love it, I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

WHAT I WANT TO TRY NEXT....

Urban Decay Big Fatty Lash Mascara

I have had my eye on this beauty for quite a while now but I have never got round to actually getting it. Now that my Bad Gal is finished I might just grab this off the shelf. It has Castor oil in it- something that is rumored to improve the condition of lashes. I have read some reviews on it- so all that's left is to try it. Will be posting a review soon.

Until next time...
Lots of love
TheBeautyBlogger x

Set for Polyvore COACH competition

2010-07-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
My favourite site Polyvore teamed up with COACH to hold a competition to celebrate the release of their new fragrance- poppy. For those of you who don't already know what Polyvore is- it's a site that lets users create outfits online and assemble them- and me- being a fashionista- I love it to bits. I'll post a couple of other sets I've made if you guys want. Anyway, the competition was to create a set using at least 3 items from Coach (one of which had to be the fragrance) and create a set. The prize is a $1,000 shopping spree at Coach.com and 3 runners up (I think?) get a $500 shopping spree which I think is still pretty generous. After I created my set I went to check out other items on the COACH page and I will insert some of my favourite pieces from the new Poppy collection later on in the post. Unfortunately the contest is now closed but there are lots of others to take part in. I am just going to run you quickly through the outfit-

Inker Sheath Dress- GBP 115- Coast
Alex Blazer GBP 260- Coach
Brigett Heel-GBP 130-Coach
Poppy pop C Applique Groovy bag- GBP 150-Coach
Poppy Cupchain multi earrings- GBP 90-Coach
Poppy pin- GBP 51- Coach
Poppy Cupchain three strand flower necklace- GBP 280-Coach
You rebel tinted moisturiser- Benefit
Red Lipstick
Shanghai Nights fascinator- GBP 5- Oasis

My favourite items from the new collection are...

These are my two favourite pieces and I must say that they are pretty plain when compared to the whole collection. The poppy range is really colourful (which means plain understated outfit)and I mostly stick to non offensive colours but I must say all the bags are beautiful =)

Will you be checking out the new collection anytime soon?

Lots of love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Things that you'll always find in my bathroom

2010-07-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
My post today is 'products that you can always find in my bathroom'. =) It's a simple one but it's often missed and I feel it's quite important that I cover it AND you have exclusive access to a piece of my bathroom. BTW- I tag you all! Anyone who reads this blog and has one of their own- RESPOND!! I love responses and please please please post a picture??

I'm gonna start at the front (sorry but it didn't photograph very well but I hope you can see it).

1) LUSH- Ocean Salt Scrub and Karma Cream.
This is my latest skin care routine. I bought the Sea Scrub whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka I wasn't expecting too much of it. I have always adored LUSH because all their products smell amazing and because of their 'green image' but there's no denying that their scrubs and lotions aren't comparable to specially formulated brands- LUSH is like an ornate candle- it smells and looks great but doesn't really have any practical use. I was pleasantly surprised though when I tried this. I got a new toothbrush and dunked it in before exfoliation my face. The toothbrush combine with the salt crystals in the scrub left my face soft and smooth. The Lotion wasn't quite a love of mine though- the scent was really exotic and exceedingly strong (well, for me anyway) and gave me a head ache. I felt it was too thick to be used during the day so one day before bed I slathered a thick layer on and went to sleep. What did I wake up to?? Soft, glowing skin... The point of putting these two products in the shot was to show you all that there is ALWAYS a LUSH product to be found in my bathroom. There is also my LUSH Whip stick lip balm in the shot but you can't really see it. You can, however, see the comforter bubble bar... it's literally amazingness in a bar.

2)The orangey box behind the ocean sea scrub is a mango body set from the Body Shop another one of my loves. It smells incredible and mango is my favourite fruit- I buy this time and time again.

3) Little pink tube of Rose scented talcum powder because I am a little old lady at heart and it smells nice.

4)Vaseline moisturising body gel oil. Lollipop26 blogged about it and I rushed out to get it. I initially thought that this was a moisturiser in gel form- a new and interesting concept but it's actually an oil. I find it too oily to use on my face but it's great for applying to freshly shaved legs for a light shine.

5) Body Shop hemp oil hand cream. This doesn't smell great but my hands get really dry and this is a great hand lotion and it was 1/2 price so I had to get it, didn't I? I do find that I can't do anything for about 20 minutes later until the cream sinks in because it's too slippery ;-)

6) The yellow bottle with the orange lid is suncream/sunscreen because it was really hot in the UK a few weeks ago.

7)You can't see this in the pic but behind the sunscreen is my Aussie shampoo and conditioner which I love at the moment because it smells good, does it's job and doesn't burn holes in my purse.

8) Eau De Cologne. I have used this since I was born. Seriously. My hair is really thick so when I wash it, it takes ages to dry- rub a bit of this in and it drys quicker. It's also really cooling so when I'm not feeling too great I dab a bit on my forehead and it cools me down. I also use it as a perfume too because I love the smell though I know a lot of people who don't.

9)Charlie deodorant. Wide range with lots of choice, funky packaging and nice scents. What's not to love.

10)Vaseline is a no brainer. It can be used as a makeup remover, a moisturiser, a lip balm... the list goes on.

11)Tigi BedHead split ends mender. I love the BedHead range but it can only be bought in salons and has a salon price tag to match. But I think they're worth it as they look good, smell nice and I am virtually split end free!

So that's what you'll always find in my bathroom. If you do a response post link it below!
Lots of Love
TheBeautyBlogger x

Overhyped and Underwhelmed. Read the original here.

2010-07-24T02:30:00.000-07:00

I am doing this post in response to one that the lovely Laura (Lollipop26) did a while ago that I quite liked. It was 'Over hyped and Underwhelmed'. As well as letting you know what I have loved it's also important that you all know what I didn't like so that you don't fall into the trap too. I'm gonna get started...

Diorshow Mascara

I paid £17 for this after countless rave reviews. I believed them. Wrong. For £17 I would expect an amazing result- this was drugstore level. So, whilst I don't hate it- I do feel it's over hyped and overpriced. It was also very flaky.

Maybelline Matte Mousse

My god, was this over hyped or not? I read numerous hyped up review about this-it gives that airbrushed look' blah, blah, blah. So ever the naive little girl I rushed out to the store to get my own. OMG. I couldn't find a good match in colour so I picked up the closest one but when I tried it, it was patchy, streaky, it faded and broke me out in spots. Maybelline, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Not impressed. At all.

Maybelline Colossal Lash Mascara

Another Maybelline product to complain about- The Colossal lash mascara. I read tonnes of good reviews about this so I went to get it. It wasn't too expensive - I can't remember the actual price but I still felt that it was a waste of my money. It was clumpy, flaky and completely and utterly gross. Sorry Maybelline- it's just not a good day for you today =)

MAC Dazzleglasses

I do think that MAC in general is hugely over hyped but I think that it is 1/2 of their marketing strategy. (And did you know that MAC was owned by ESTEE LAUDER??). Anyway, I ordered my Dazzleglass and when I got it I was really excited to try it. It was bad. It was sticky, way too shiny and I hated the brush. I was really shocked by this because literally every beauty guru on YT swears by this and for the enormous price tag (£14.50 for a lip gloss? I don't think so) I was massively let down. I have had £5 glosses that were better than these. Anyway, I could complain all day so I think we need to move on.

So those are my Over hyped and Underwhelmed products. What are yours? Comment below!

Lots of love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Summer Outfit

2010-07-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,
Here is a quick, cute, casual but quirky summer outfit for all of you lucky enough to have nice, hot weather! I try as hard as I can to pick items that are not totally, completely and utterly unique just because then you won't be able to dupe them and the whole purpose of me doing this is defeated. Anyway, enough chatter.I will run through it as quickly as I can =)

Heavy Stitch Shorts- Wet Seal- 13 GBP
These can be found anywhere- just hunt round for short, denim shorts. Any good shop should have them in stock- hunt around in Primark and you are sure to find them for less than £13.

Ray Ban Sunglasses-ASOS.com-240 GBP
WOAH! £240 is not something I am willing to pay for a pair of ray ban sunglasses. Luckily these can be easily duped as it's a popular style. I only picked these out because I felt the shape matched well with the overall outfit. Any pair should do though!

Diego Bucket Bag- Alexander Wang
The idea of this was just a brown, small purse with a strap that can go across the body- because I think that's really summery.

KALLA gladiator sandals-Kurt Geiger- 45 GBP
These are cute but I am sure you can get gladiators like these for less than that. In fact I bought a pair from Apple Snow the other day for £15 in their 'closing down sale' *liars* (the sign has been up for months now) but none the less I was sucked into buying them... I also picked up a few items in the Next Sale....I feel a haul coming up... watch this space....

Petite Lace Button Cami-Topshop-25 GBP
This is a really cute piece- hunt around- I'm sure you'll find a dupe.

You rebel tinted moisturiser- Benefit
It's too hot for foundation, it'll just sweat off your face but tinted moisturiser is a nice, light alternative if you still want some coverage. You can make your own by adding a blob of your usual foundation to moisturiser.

Red lipstick
I know you all have this at home. =)

Anyway, that's it,
I hope you liked the outfit- if you did, comment below =)

Lots of Love,
TheBeautyBlogger

A beauty product I am loving at the moment...

2010-07-19T02:45:00.001-07:00

(pointless DIY photograph. This was shot taped to a piece of paper because my room was hideously messy =P)

The other day I popped into LUSH. I came out with practically the whole store in tow. I am loving one item in particular though. It's the Whip Stick Lip balm which cost £5 for 8g (I think?)

Anyways, I opened the tin and took a huge whiff and I must say I have fallen in love with the smell of it- it smells and tastes just like chocolate- without all the extra calories. Yay!

I put this on and it gave my lips a slight brown tint so if you have dark skin this could work out as a kind of nude lip balm... It was just so...moisturising and leaves lips nice and smooth, soft and kissable! Just one bad thing though- when the stuff has dried up I find flakes of dead skin on my lips which I then have to exfoliate off with my old tooth brush to keep my lips smooth. Overall, I would give it four stars out of five because I have tried better things out there. I am going to try Burt's Bees lip balm next- just because the lip product fanatic in me can't stick to one product and finish it off. My drawers are OVERFLOWING with lip products...hmmmm I smell a project 10 pan not too far off in the distance...

Bye for now =)

TheBeautyBlogger x

Outfit for Preps

2010-07-16T04:50:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
Sorry for this but I have now decided to mash my two blogs together just simply because I can't be bothered to keep posting on different sites and it became confusing for my fashion accustomed brain. So, as of today http://thebeautybloggerspeaks.blogspot.com will be a beauty/fashion site- alternating- ex. one day will be a fashion post and the next day beauty and so on and so forth...

Today is a fashion post and this is an outfit I made for all those who describe their style as 'preppy'. So I created this outfit on polyvore which is a great site to play around with if you love creating outfits and slinging bits and pieces together. Anyway, to the point. The screen print is a little blurry so I'll run through the whole outfit- none of the pieces are too hard to dupe and you can get them quite cheap and in most stores.

The jeans came from Forever21-very easy to find similars- they're just browny red skinny jeans and can be bought from most stores for a good price. My advice is to just look around- what a great piece of advice *scoffs*

The blazer came from Oli- which I admit I have never heard of before. Blazers are in right now so this was a cute little addition to bring the outfit bang up to date it's also vital to stop the outfit from being boring. It's black and white so it can be worn with anything and everything so I would say it's a pretty good investment. I have seen blazers in H&M and in GAP too- so, again, hunt around.

The grey top is pretty much what you can see- a high neck, short sleeved top that should be tucked into the skinny jeans before dressing it up with a blazer. It can be found anywhere-it's a grey top for goodness sake-if you're going really cheap go to Primark as they're sure to have it.

The bag is from BabyPhat- it's a wood red shoulder bag- for dupes try Primark, H&M etc.

The wooden cuff with the gold work is from ASOS (FACT-ASOS actually stands for as seen on screen because many of their pieces are celebrity inspired) and I can't imagine that it cost too much. But again, it's easy to find similars- a plain wooden cuff bracelet will be fine =)

The necklace is from Clares which I have no doubt that all of you have visited once in your life. You may not be able to find the exact one I've used but a long, gold chain will dress up the outfit fine. This could cost anything between £1-£5. Again, if you have a low budget- try Primark.

The ring is from Alex Monroe @ Net-a-porter.com BUT it is hideously expensive. I thought it was cute but I think that the quality of the outfit won't be affected if you go without. The idea was just a small, gold ring- again- can be found anywhere.

So that's my outfit for the Preppy girls- I hope you like it and if you enjoyed this post- FOLLOW!

Lots of Love,

TheBeautyBlogger x

Beauty Tricks

2010-07-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

1) If your lips become chapped in cold weather, try this- use an old toothbrush to get rid of the dry, rough, flaky skin and then slather on some Vaseline. If you like a bit of colour mix some of your lipstick or gloss with Vaseline to turn it into a tinted lip conditioner. I do this all the time- especially with cheap waxy lipglosses- I scoop them out of the palettes they usually come in with a lip brush- mix it with a dollop of vaseline (into an old lip balm tin) and then microwave it (make sure the container isn't made of metal though otherwise it will create sparks) leave it in the fridge for an hour and you have your very own tinted lip conditioner.

2) On the contrary to what has always been preached to us- you can actually curl your lashes after applying mascara. And in fact it makes the curl lash longer. Just make sure that you wait until the mascara is completely dry.
3) Picture this- you come home after a long day from work/school and you are about to get ready for a big night out. There's just one problem- your hair is greasy and you don't have enough time to wash it. It's a dilema that we've all faced but try this next time- massage a little talc into your the roots(don't go overboard though otherwise your hair will look white) then blow dry it. This will absorb all the grease, et voila you are ready for your big night out... grease free...

4) Apply foundation with a face brush- this makes the overall look more even and you get that amazing 'airbrushed' finish that everyone loves.

5) Mix different lipstick colours together to create new shades!

6) Dab some Vaseline onto your lids instead of shade to get a subtle shine... this is a good one if your school/place of work has a no makeup policy but you still want to look good.

7)Mix a blob of gold eyeshadow to your foundation to give you a nice overall glow- not too much though or you know what will happen...

8)Try lash primers- yes they actually have lash primers- they just help the mascara to go on better and not clump.

First Post EVER! Hi Everyone....

2010-07-13T13:33:00.001-07:00

Hi potential subscriber(s),

As you are here I thought I would take the time to introduce myself. As you have guessed from the title of this blog I am a beauty blogger (one in a million). I am totally new to this and so just bear with me :) Anyway, experimenting with makeup and beauty products is just something that I enjoy and I love discussing makeup, fashion, hair and anything else shallow. If you love this too- subscribe! It only takes a minute, requires a Yahoo, Google or Twitter account and it makes me incredibly happy (double smile!) :):)

What I love- All things shallow never fail to excite me- materialism runs in my veins, Taylor Lautner esp. when he is topless for obvious reasons, Benefit makeup, Music and beauty vids on YouTube and Blogging- of course.

What I hate- When Blogger refuses to do what I tell it to, Spinach (shudder), Maths which I can not do to save my life and unstylish people...

Okay, Enough rambling, I'll see you soon with a very exciting post (pinkie promise)
Mwah,