Empties #16

I have got some super exciting news to share with you all (although if you follow me on Twitter you probably know!) but I will do a separate more personal/life themed post so you can read it if you are interested :) Anyway, onto this next bunch of empties!

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner

Thoughts: I received this to try out along with other John Frieda products.  I wasn't particularly impressed by the others but I really liked this deep conditioner.  I used it just as a normal conditioner but sometimes I would leave it on for longer as a hydrating mask.  £6.99/150ml here via Boots.

Cruelty-free?: Yes.
Repurchase?: Yes.

REN Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk

Thoughts: I got this as sample with an order from LoveLula and I really like it!  It leaves my skin feeling so clean and soft.  The Hydra-Calm range have been rebranded as Evercalm now but as far as I'm aware they're just the same.  £16/150ml here. 

Cruelty-free?: Yes.
Repurchase?: Yes.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in Light

Thoughts: LOVE this product!  This is now my everyday tinted moisturiser - I only wear foundation on special occasions haha!  I like to mix it with a highlighter such as Soap & Glory Hocus Focus to give it a nice and glowy finish.  £21/40ml here.

Cruelty-free?: Yes.
Repurchase?: Already have!

Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara

Thoughts: This mascara was fine, I quite liked the shape of the wand.  As the name implies, it was in a one sided fan shape which was quite good for coating the lashes and giving them a bit of curl.  £9.99/9ml here via Boots.

Cruelty-free?: I thought so but there's a bit of confusion with them at the moment as they've been seen selling in China.  I have emailed them asking so we shall find out soon hopefully!

Repurchase?: Probably not.

Lush So White Bath Bomb (not pictured)

Thoughts: So White is a Christmas bath bomb which smells like apples!  I love apple scented products and this was no exception.  Fizzes nicely with some white foam and it even changes colour on the inside which was a nice surprise! 

Cruelty-free?: Yes.
Repurchase?: Yes.

EOTN: Belated Christmas Night Out

This is how I did my make up for a night out I went on with my friends for Christmas, just a bit late!  I was wanting more of a purple effect on my eyes as the colours I used from the Urban Decay Naked Palette are purpley toned but it turned out quite neutral still, silly Urban Decay :(

Eyes

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Sin, Toasted, Hustle and Virgin to highlight

Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack (not CF)

Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark 02

Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara

Face

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51

Illamasqua Face Base in 02

MUA Pro Conceal & Brighten in Porcelain

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Kiss

Lips

Bourjois Effet 3D Lipgloss in Rose Romantic

<3

Empties #12

I haven't done an empties post in a good few weeks actually, but here we are again!  I kind of stopped blogging for a while as I was so tired after work or just too busy - I actually lost my memory card which must be somewhere in my house but luckily I found a wee 1GB one lying around so that'll keep me going! 

Avon Solutions Plus Pure Pore-Fection

Thoughts: This dried my skin out so badly.  I was trying to finish it so I was just using it but in the end I had to stop when I realised how badly it was drying out my face.  It's full of SLS, one of the highest ingredients, horrible stuff!

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No.

Virgin Vie Pretty Calm Shower Gel

Thoughts: I got this in a set with the body lotion as a Christmas presents.  It smells quite nice, kinda manly in a way haha.

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No.

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover

Thoughts: This works pretty well actually, it's a thin water-like liquid, I found that if you use too much it can sting the eyes.  They seem to have rebranded it so I'm not sure if it's exactly the same or not, maybe less stingy now!  £8/250ml here.

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: Possibly, but still on a quest for the bestest one!! ;)

Bourjois Volume Glamour

Thoughts: I bought this as I couldn't find my favourite spinny one!  It is a very average mascara to be honest, and I had to buy another different one this time as spinny one still wasn't shelved :( £7.99 here.

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: No.

Lush Honey I Washed The Kids Soap (not pictured)

Thoughts: I got this ages ago and had kind of put off using it as I'm not a huge fan of honey but it's actually not too strong and is just more of a generally warm, sweet scent which was generally quite pleasant.  £3.40/100g here.

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: Probably but there are so many others I want to try first!!

<3

Paperbacks & Beauty Facts: Evening Makeup

Here is a little video of me doing a night out make up look :)

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My Everyday Makeup!

I made this video for my youtube channel but it's also quite appropriate for on here too as I haven't done a post like this before.

Products used:
Soap & Glory Glow Job
No7 Luminate Radiance Serum (not CF)
MUA Pro Conceal & Brighten Kit in Porcelain
Bourjois Volume Glamour Mascara
Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark
Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher
ELF Translucent Mattifying Powder

<3

1920s Themed Murder Mystery

On Saturday night I went to one of my close friends Emma's Hen Do, there was also a day part to it but unfortunately I was working so I just met everyone else later on.  The evening section was a Murder Mystery set in the 1920s so we all hard to dress up accordingly.  There were 4 actors, a 3 course meal and lots of audience interaction, so all in all it was a good night!  I finished work just after 4 so I had plenty of time to get ready - I planned to go all out with the dressing up!  I thought I would share with you my clothes and make up from the night:

Make Up

Eyes Lightest shade from Sleek Storm palette all over lid up to brows, Urban Decay Gunmetal in the crease and Creep in the very outer crease.  On lower lash line Creep, Gunmetal then Sleek shade going from outside to inner corner.  Black eyeliner on waterline & black mascara on upper & lower lashes.

Brows Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark

Base  Illamasqua Skin Base in Shade 02 & Bourjois Healthy Mix in Shade 51

Concealer MUA Pro Conceal & Brighten Kit

Powder ELF Translucent Setting Powder

Cheeks Nars Lovejoy Blusher

Lips Topshop Inhibition

Costume

Flapper Dress Fancy Dress website from years ago 

Beads Found in an old jewellery box!

Coat Vero Moda

Hat Dickens & Jones

Shoes Next

~

I actually had heated rollers in for a good hour would you believe - my hair hates me!!  Luckily I didn't have to buy anything for this as I already owned everything!  I hope you enjoyed this more lifestyle themed post, I wish I had a better photo of my make up.  I am going to be having a blog sale within the next week, just swithering whether to put it up before or after IMATS, hmm, we shall see!

<3

Paperbacks & Beauty Facts: OOTD

The second video for Paperbacks & Beauty Facts is an outfit of the day!  Subscribe to keep up to date with the other girls'.

Dress - Primark

Jacket - Primark

Shoes - Flossy

Foundation - Illamasqua Skin Base in Shade 2 & Bourjois Healthy Mix in 51

Eyebrows - Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark [review]

Eyes - Urban Decay e/s in Grifter (lid), Last Call (crease), Sin (brow highlight) and Polyester Bride (inner corners); and Nars Kuala Lumpur II (crease).

Blusher - Illamasqua Kiss

Lipstick - Avon Golden Wine (not CF)

<3

EOTN: Grunge

I had my first night out for a very long time the other night!  Unfortunately it was just local which is expensive and bit crap but still, it was better than nothing and good catching up with people I hadn't seen in a while.

This look turned out nowhere near what I had expected but it worked out quite well as I was wearing orange shorts so it matched!

Sorry for my weird expression and odd eyes... I hate full face photos!

• I primed my eyelids with Urban Decay Primer Potion, then applied Mac Painterly Paint Pot over this (not CF).
• Using Lounge eyeshadow by Urban Decay I packed this onto my lids and blended out until I got the desired shape.
• I also brought it underneath the eye bringing it about two thirds along.
• I then used Urban Decay eyeliner in Whiskey along the top lash line and blended it with a brush.
• Lastly I applied loads of Benefit They're Real mascara on the top and bottom lashes.

On my face I have Illamasqua Skin Base foundation in shade 2 mixed with a bit of Bourjois Healthy Mix in shade 51.  I filled my eyebrows with Avon brow pencil in Brown (not CF), on my cheeks I have Marine Life highlighter by Mac (not CF) and on my lips I am wearing Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti (not CF).

I did not expect Lounge to come out this colour!  I'm looking forward to trying it over a dark base to really see it come to life, it's so versatile.

<3

FOTD: BBQ & College Practice

This is the make up I wore to a family BBQ on Sunday - it rained obviously - and I also wanted to do a  trial run for the make up I would wear to college the next day.

I actually ended up forgetting to put on eyeliner the next morning, also my mum had told me that I was too pale so I darkened my foundation slightly but those were the only differences in make up!  Oh and excuse my hair in the photos, I'd clipped it up to do my face haha!

• I first used Two Faced Primed and Poreless mainly on my forehead and under my eyes.
• Then for foundation I mixed Illamasqua Skinbase in shade 2 with a little bit of Bourjois Healthy Mix in shade 51, on Monday I used slightly more of the Bourjois one to darken it.
• Under my eyes I used Mac Studio Finish concealer in NW20 (not CF) and powdered over it with Benefit Powderflage.
• I filled in my eyebrows with Avon eyebrow pencil in Brown (not CF).
• On my cheeks I used No7 cream blush in Rose Silk then went over it lightly with the Covergirl (not CF) blush I'm trying to use up, and highlighted using Physicians Formula highlighter that I love.
• For my eyes I just lined the upper lashline with Mac Fluidline (not CF) in Blacktrack and applied Benefit They're Real mascara.
• Finally on my lips I wore ELF Moisturising Lip Tint in Berry.

<3

EOTN: Makeshift Teal

Tonight my friends and I sang at friends and family night at a cancer unit.  We really enjoy singing as a group and have put together a choir totally just for fun!  We have been to a few different places now; we sang at that cancer unit and a care home around Christmas time last year, and we also sang at my friend Beckie's wedding (who is in the choir but obviously being the bride she didn't join in!).  Our general theme has been to wear black and then we all have different coloured folders for our song words which we match to our eyeshadow!  My folder is a dark teal sort of colour which is quite a tricky colour to find a matching eyeshadow for, so I just used blue and green and hoped for the best!

Photo from my phone, shows off the highlights better as they get washed out from the flash!

I actually hated this during the process but this happens most of the time for me lol!  I just persevered with it and ended up quite pleased with how it looked.  I used quite a lot of products so I will use bulletpoints below to try and make it clearer!

• UDPP all over the lid (no longer CF - grrrr).
• Covergirl 'green' all over the lid (not CF).
• I then pressed Barry M dazzle dust in 92 over the 'green' (which ends up blue anyway!)
• Then mixing Mildew and Oil Slick from the Urban Decay Ammo Palette (no longer CF) together on a tapered brush I applied this into my crease and blended it out.
• I then used the blue and green shadows from the E.L.F. Eye Transformer palette, blue around the inner corner and up then green under the brow bone, blending them together.
• I used the Covergirl 'green' under my lower lash line.
• Finally I applied black gel eyeliner along the upper lashline, and then mascara - Bourjois Fast & Perfect - on upper and lower eyelashes.

'Green' is second on the right - got this in Florida years ago

I used the two outer shadows here

The E.L.F. palette is fantastic, it is an almost-but-not-really dupe for the Naked Cosmetics Ivory stack.  These are perfect for highlighting the inner corner as they are subtley coloured.  From left to right they are green, gold, pink and blue.  You can also apply them over different colours such as black and it creates a really nice iridescent shimmer.

Oh and I had my music exam yesterday!!  It wasn't too bad,  it wasn't perfect and my nerves were definitely showing but we'll see in two weeks when I get my results!  I feel like I can finally relax for a bit now, phew!

<3 

EOTN: Matching Coral

I went out for a 21st last Thursday and I was wearing orange shorts so I decided to tie in my make up (for a change - I tend not to match make up and clothes!) with this theme.

I used a primer then MUA in shade 16 all over my lid up to my eyebrow, then in the crease I used a few orange shades the Coastal Scents 88 palette (not CF), some are hardly pigmented so I just played around until I got the colour I wanted.  After this I applied a thin line of liquid eyeliner to my upper lash line and used a brown eyeshadow on my lower lash line for some definition.  Lastly, I curled my lashes and used my Bourjois Fast & Perfect mascara - I already had a layer on from being at work that day which is why it looks more spidery than normal!

For my lips I realised that my Lip Butter in Tutti Fruitti would be perfect!  It's such a nice soft orange colour which went really well.  I love this Lip Butter but so many people have done reviews and things on it so I will give it miss.  However if you do want me to do one I will be happy to, I just don't want to bore you all!

And here is a photo of my face... before doing my hair obviously, not that it looked much better to honest haha I'm so bad at doing hair!  I would show you my outfit but all the photos of me from the night are actually hideous!!!

 <3

EOTD: Sleek Storm Palette #2

I wasn't actually doing particularly exciting when I did this make up, I was just going shopping (click for haul!) but I just felt in the mood to wear some eyeshadow and went with it!  It ended up looking quite similar to the make up I did for my friend's wedding but never mind, I enjoy purple eyeshadow!  I even remembered to take photos of it before I went out, yayy!

I applied primer (I think I forgot to mention this in my last eyeshadow post but I always need to wear primer as my eyelids are quite oily, mmm...) and then used 1 in the outer 2/3s of my eye lid, then 2 in the inner 3rd and corner to highlight.  I the applied 3 to the other corner but it ended up looking a bit brown and muddy so I used Sugarpill Poison Plum over the top and also brought it down under my lower lash line.  Next I used a liquid liner to thinly line my top lash line, and finally applied my Bourjois Fast and Perfect mascara to top and bottom!

<3

EOTD: Sleek Storm Palette

I usually get up an hour before starting work but recently since I've started at 11.45 a few days, I've been getting up at 10ish!  So I decided to actually wear eye make up to work.  On a normal work day my make up is usually concealer, brows, mascara and blusher which is just slapped on at the very last minute!  I still managed to run out of time and nearly forgot to make my lunch (I'd have cried!!) so I didn't take photos until about half 8 that night...  Hence it's not looking as smart as it did when first applied but hey ho!  Also excuse my bloodshot eye, you can't really see it in the photo but compared to my other eye it's noticeable, no idea what's wrong with it :(

I used the Sleek Storm palette simply because it was closest to hand.  I applied 1 all over my lid, then 2 in the crease and 3 in the outer corner of the crease.  I used Bootycall from the Naked 2 palette as a highlight, and I can't actually remember what I used in the inner corner!  Either Bootycall or the very pale one in the Storm palette...   I also ran 2 under my lower lashes.  Then applied some black liquid liner (it was black at some point, I swear, haha!) and Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect mascara to the top, and very gently to the bottom lashes.

I'm hoping now that I'm pretty much free for the summer I will be able to do more eye make up looks, and I will photograph them at the time so they don't look a mess lol!

<3

Treating Myself!

Today was my first exam and it did not go well... I had expected this so I'm feeling okay, and more positive about the other 3!  We went to Boots afterwards and I had a wee list in my head of things I wanted to buy so I just took that opportunity to get them sooner rather than later as I'd thought.

I got the No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser as I've heard good things about about it, and that it is a cheaper alternative to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish.  I had the Liz Earle one a few years ago but I was a bit young to fully appreciate it to be honest.  I did love their moisturiser but it just got a bit expensive as my mum would use it too!  So I thought I would try this as it is a lot cheaper at £10, and huge too!  However I got this as a sort of incentive to cleanse more (I am terrible!) and use up the cheapo Avon (not CF) one I have at the moment before I can use this one!

I also got the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation as I'm running low on the one I use normally (another Avon one, can you tell I used to be a rep? haha!) and thought I'd try this one.  It was £9.99.

I got the concealer to match as I've been getting a few more spots recently and I can't use my Mac Studio Finish (not CF) that I use under my eyes as it's the wrong colour, so hopefully this one will be good!  I got them both in colour 51 and the concealer cost £7.49.

So there you have it!  That's cheered me up a bit.  I also wanted one of those doughnut things for making hair buns but it was £4.69 - FOUR SIXTY-NINE?!  So sack that, I'm sure I can find it cheaper elsewhere!

<3

EOTD: Copper on Mother's Day

Today was Mother's Day so we had my grandparents and a family friend over for afternoon tea!  I decided to do something with my eyes - as much as I love eye make up I hardly ever do it, only really for nights out or special occasions!  This is a really quick and simple look which I've done a few times now.

I took this quite late on so it's a bit creased (even though I used primer!)

• I applied Urban Decay Primer Potion all over my eye up to my eyebrow and underneath too.
• Next I used Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Whiskey over the lid and I blended it in with my finger.
• I then used the darker side of Too Faced eyeshadow duo in George & Weezie all over the lid and used the lighter side to blend it in slightly.
• I used the eyeliner pencil under my eye along the outer half.
• Then I used the darker side of George and Weezie again over the eyeliner under my eye.
• Lastly I applied Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect mascara on top and bottom lashes and filled in my eyebrows with the E.L.F. eyebrow kit.

I was going to put either a liquid eyeliner or pencil in black on my top lid but by this time I was supposed to be making pancakes and tidying the living room so I just finished it off with mascara!  I also used a peachy/orange blusher from a random Virgin Vie kit I got for Christmas and my Mac Studio Finish Concealer under my eyes.

Hope you all had a lovely day and my thoughts are with those who have lost their mums as today must be so difficult.  My mum's friend's mother died on Friday so today must be so hard for her.

<3

Wedding Make Up!

I posted this on Tumblr a few days before my friend's wedding when I was trying to decide what to do with my makeup so I thought I'd put it on here too for anyone interested :)

Trying out make up for the wedding!  For some reason I totally forgot about my lips so I've just cropped them out... whoops, I'll worry about them later!  Also I am getting my eyebrows waxed tomorrow, cannot wait! They're actually driving me crazy so just try not to look at them...

• I didn't use a primer but I will use UDPP on the day as it is going to need to last!
• Painterly Paint Pot by Mac over the lid.
• I then used a mixture of Sin and Virgin from the Naked palette over the lid.
• Then using the two purpley colours from a limited edition Mac mineralize eyeshadow in Eccentricity, I applied these to the outer corner but unfortunately they ended up looking quite muddy and didn't appear very pigmented - probably my manky brushes...
• So I then used my Sugarpill eyeshadow in Poison Plum which is really nice and strong, to go over this in the outer corner and into the crease.
• I also brought this underneath the eye, and went over it with Last Call from the Urban Decay Ammo palette, to darken it as the red pigments in the purple made me look slightly ill!
• I also tightlined using Avon Glimmerstick in Black.

Here it goes slightly odd because I used different eyeliner on each eye:

• On the right eye (pictured) I used blue gel eyeliner in Indigo from Coastal Scents and used Avon Supershock pencil in Golden Fawn on my waterline.
• On the left I used Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack and Avon Supershock in Blackberry on my waterline.
• Lastly I applied Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara.

So now I just need to decide on eyeliner colours, how big to make the wing, lipstick and blusher!

<3

Day 9. Your Nine Step Daily Makeup Routine

I'm going to be honest... I am terrible with routines!  So, hmmm, this will be interesting!  Okay so let's assume that this is a day where I have enough time to do my make up - minimally - but properly i.e. not on the train!

Rinse face (I don't cleanse in the morning... or at night - BAD!)

Apply Origins VitaZing Moisturizer and leave for 5/10 minutes.

Foundation: Avon Cream-to-Powder foundation in Ivory - I don't love this product but I did a big clear out so this is the only foundation I have left, it is nearly finished so I'll be getting a new one soon.  Hopefully Illamasqua Skin Base!

Concealer: MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 under my eyes.

Blusher: At the moment I am just trying to use up and old Covergirl one (not cruelty free) to get rid of it!

I then fill in my holey eyebrows using No7 Beautiful Brows Pencil in Blonde.

Lastly I apply my Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect mascara. 

 
but if I've got time... I like to put some liquid eyeliner on, I'm using MAC Penultimate Liner in Black, but NYX also do a really good felt tip one too.

Powder!  I am trying to use MAC Blot powder as I smashed it so it's just in a wee tub now all loose and I'm trying to finish it!

Yasss I think I managed to fudge 9 steps there!  Proud!

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