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Tuesday 6 November 2012

Mua 12 shade undressed palette.


I really love MUA eyeshadows , this is the newest to my expanding collection of the palettes.



This is a serious dupe for the Urban Decay Naked palette from the point of view of the colours used in the palette. Seen as I do not own the naked palette (it's on my things to buy list!) I cannot comment on the difference between the pigmentation and lasting abilities of the naked palette , other than that  I have heard those who do own it say it is to an extremely high standerd and lasts for ages :) 

MUA 12 shades undressed palette.




Urban Decay Naked palette
(Not my own photo)


As you can see from the images above the colours are quite similar and with the MUA palette retailing at £4 and the Urban Decay at £36 it is defiantly a bargain!

The good: The colours are really pigmented and blend really well.

The bad: Without the use of a primer it doesn't last very well.

For anyone who is new to eyeshadows ,  or just loves the colours I would defiantly recommend for you to give this try :) The colours are AMAZING and so wearable :)

Thank You for reading :)

Please leave any comments or questions below.


Sunday 4 November 2012

October Favourites.


Hi Guys , I just thought I would do a quick post on the products I am using atm. Let me know if you would like a review on any of the following products :)

Makeup

  • Bare minerals original foundation - light
  • Rimmel Wake me up foundation - 103
  • Sleek contour kit - light
  • Mua 12 shades undressed eyeshadow palette
  • Bare minerals flawless definition mascara
  • Maybelline 'the falsies flared' mascara
  • Lancome black kohl eyeliner

Hair Care

  • TreSemme Moisture rich shampoo and conditioner
  • John Frieda frizz ease - medium frizz
  • John Frieda dream curls styling spray
  • John Frieda frizz ease leave in conditioner
  • Loreal Elvive extraordinary oil - for all hair types.
  • Aussi 3-minute miracle shine deep conditioner.

Favourite Quote




I know it's been a while since my last post but I have been feeling overwhelmed with school work and other such things , I hope to upload a blog soon on how to get organised and healthy :)

Thanks for reading

Please leave any comments or questions below :)





Saturday 13 October 2012

More Bare Minerals..

Flawless Definition Mascara-


This is only a sample size of the mascara but I was given 2 , which is almost the size of the full mascara I think (happy days!) I have to start of by saying I usually hate spiky plastic bristles because every time I try to use them I end up poking it into my eye, but I actually really like this one! I have short black eyelashes so I like to combo my mascaras to get a more intense look. This mascara is paraben-free and fortified with antioxidants and conditioning extracts which is why my eyelashes don't dry out during the  day. This mascara actually does what it claims to do, as it really gives length and definition to my eyelashes without clumping, at the moment I am using this and the my maybelline 'the volum' falsies flared' which gives it a really dramatic look :) I also use it Lancome Doll eyes which I also got 2 samples of! I would recommend this mascara if you are looking for a natural look or if you want to look like you have naturally long and defined lashes. This mascara retails at approx. €20 :)
Overall, I think this is a really nice natural mascara and combos really well with other mascaras but since I prefere more dramatic looking lashes I'm not sure if I will purchase once this one is gone as I will than also need to buy another 'volume' mascara :)

The Faux Pas Blush-


This is a natural pretty pink blush, The colour looks really nice on the skin, gives a healthy 'flush' and the colour is build able , having said that for the price I would have thought it would be a bit more pigmented, this blush stays put well though. The bareMinerals' READY blush contains proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral™ Complex with antioxidants and cold-pressed camellia oil and also comes in a wide variety of shades ranging from pink shades to bronze :) Bare Minerals claim that the blushes "deliver skin-nourishing benefits for softer, smoother skin while enhancing cheeks with a gorgeous flush of lasting colour", and I do believe that my skin feels softer with a long lasting colour when applied. I really like the idea behind the 'Ready' as when your in a rush minerals seem to spill everywhere! I apply this blush using a regular fluffy brush as I think the compact one can give a streaky effect and it's not the most skin friendly of brushes :P This blush retails for approx. €26.
Overall, I believe this to be a nice blush but at €26 a pop , I think you would be able to find blushes that compare to this one colour-wise for a fraction of the price :)

So far I am really impressed with Bare minerals products!

Thank You for reading :)

Please leave any comments or questions below!


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Thursday 11 October 2012

Bare Minerals..

Bare Minerals 'Get started kit' in medium beige.

Please excuse the products not being in the original packaging , I lost the box!

The ' Get started kit' is 58€ and can be bought at Brown Thomas , Debenhams , Online and many more shops I'm sure :) This is the customizable kit as you choose your correct full size foundation and they just 'pop' it into the box.

This Kit includes-


  • 1 full size foundation (matte or original) that is matched to your skin.
  • 1 medium size MineralVeil (Finishing powder)
  • 1 medium size warmth all-over face cover 
  • 15ml PrimeTime (skin primer)
  • Full flawless face foundation brush
  • Flawless face brush (for lighter coverage, warmth and MineralVeil)
  • 1 maximum coverage concealer brush
  • 1 get started DVD 

A Closer look-

The foundation - Medium Beige Original. 



I really love this foundation and it is defiantly my HG foundation. I have combination/dry skin, it can be quite dry usually but my nose can get a bit oily at times. This foundation blends so-so nicely not cake-y , no streaks and best of all it doesn't go blotchy like many foundations. When I first bought this I was a bit worried it would seem powdery when I applied it but nope it really gives a flawless finish! I apply this using the full flawless face brush using the 'Swirl.Tap&Buff' method. To get a full coverage you will need to repeat that around 3 times :) Also I love to combo my foundations and this looks really lovely over my Maybelline foundation which i will review soon :) This foundation is actually good for your skin (for a foundation anyways) as it is made from minerals and I can honestly say I haven't had as many spots since I've used this. This foundation stays on really well - especially when used with the primer and veil. If you are considering trying mineral foundations i would defiantly recommend this one :)

Mineral Veil-


MineralVeil is the setting/ finishing powder used over your foundation, it minimises fine lines , absorbs oils and softens your complexion and give a more flawless finish while helping your make-up to stay put. A little goes a long way with this so make sure you don't waste it! This is a really fine powder and I really love how it looks on the skin :) I wouldn't use anything else to set my makeup :)

Primer-



This is a clear gel primer that glides on silky-smooth and when combined with the mineral veil it really keeps your foundation on all day/night. As far as primers go I like this one but having said that I don't really use primers usually so I have nothing to compare it too :P Like the mineralVeil a little goes a long way with this. I'm not quite sure if I will buy the full size one once this is gone though.

Warmth-


I like this product for giving a healthy glow and colour to the skin (which I need -especially during the Winter months as i tend to look 'washed-out!') I must warn you though you need a really light hand to apply this! I use the flawless face brush to apply this and I apply it in the figure 3 either side of my face :) Warmth has nice sheen to it and is a really warm brown colour (Obvs) At first I didn't really like this but as I got to use it I began to love it, although I wish you could choose between the Faux tan and warmth as I hear Faux tan is a lot lighter :P 

The Brushes-



The flawless face is used to apply wamth, mineralVeil and for a lighter coverage foundation. The quality of the brush is nice, the brush is fanned out (thinner when turned on its side) and domed. When I first bought this brush I loved it as it was the perfect length didn't shed and was so soft, but after several washes the bristles get really dry and almost scrap the skin. Having said that it is (suprisingly) the best brush for bare minerals as it doesn't waste any of the product.


I really like this brush, it gives a full even coverage and is so soft, this brush is a lot thicker and less fanned that the flawless face brush.



Finally, the max coverage concealer brush, the bristles are really compact which mean full coverage. I love this concealer brush as it gives a really good coverage and is a nice size too , I actually find this brush also works great with cream/liquid concealers. I would defiantly recommend this brush!


Well thats my review to the Bare Minerals 'Get Started kit'

Overall I love this kit and I think it is defiantly worth the money, It feels so nice on the skin and is now my HG foundation, If you are considering Bare Minerals get this kit!


Sorry for not blogging in over 2 weeks, I have been so busy! 

My next blog will be more Bare Minerals ;) 


Thanks for reading!

Please leave any comments or questions below :)





    Wednesday 26 September 2012

    Coconut Oil..


    Last week I was in a health shop and I decided to buy Coconut Oil. I bought it solid in a jar and it was only €2 and let me tell you this stuff is AMAZING! I'm actually going to buy another one this weekend because it can be used in so many ways! 

    So basically, what makes coconut oil so good for your hair is that its one of the few oils that due molecular structure it can penetrate inside the hair shaft , therefor being able to moisturise and repair the hair. I way prefere this oil to any of my other hair oils and serums at the moment. 


    To use coconut oil place the jar of coconut oil into a bowl or sink of hot water for a few minutes for it to turn from soild to liquid. As the oil cools it will turn to a solid again if not used.

    The uses of coconut oil are as follows:
    • Use it as a pre-shower conditioner on dry hair. Melt the oil and apply to dry hair, leave for 10-30 minutes (depending on how much time you have) or leave it in over night for a more intensive treatment.
    • Use on your hair after you shower. Apply some of the oil to wet/damp hair after you shower. Apply a small bit at a time or you hair could turn greasy! I found using this on my curly hair made it softer, more ease to manage and gave my curls for bounce.
    • It makes a really nice scrub, which I will show you how to make below :) 
    • It can be used as a massage oil or a body moisturiser.
    • For extra strengthening you can make a coconut oil and egg hair mask. I use this one a week. Our hair loves coconut oil and just soaks it up. 

    To make this hair mask-

    1. Melt the coconut oil until its warm (you dont want it too hot or the eggs could scramble!)
    2. Crack in one egg and mix it quickly together (you dont want it too cool as the heat will make it penetrate the hair.) 
    3.  Put a towel around your shoulders and then apply the mask, pay particular attention to the ends and massage it into scalp as coconut can help with dandruff and massaging the scalp encourages hair growth.
    4. Leave in for 30-40 minutes, wash out and shampoo and condition as normal.
    • I have read that a few drops melted/liquid coconut oil on a cotton pad can be used to remove eye make-up, although I haven't tried this myself.
    • Coconut oil can be used as a face moisturiser and is really lovely if used in a DIY facial :) 

    To make a Scrub-


    You will need:
    Sugar 
    Coconut Oil
    Lavender essence (optional)
    You roughly need 2 parts sugar : 1 part oil.

    1.Melt the coconut oil in a bowl of hot water.


    2. Empty the water from the bowl and pour in some coconut oil.

    3. Then add the sugar and a few drops of lavender (you can add a bit of olive oil if you want) Your scrub should look something like this:



    Then scoop it out and put it in a pretty jar and leave it in your bathroom :)

    Put a bow around this and it makes a lovely handmade gift!
    I hope you have found this post helpful , Overall I really like coconut oil and for just under €2 , I would recommend this to anyone :) 

    Let me know what you think below!

    Thanks for reading :)



    Sunday 23 September 2012

    Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Cake..

    I absolutely love marble cake as its so simple to make and tastes delicious.
    This is my favourite marble cake recipe and is taken from the book 'Bake' by Rachel Allen.
    This cake keeps really well and is best served plain or with a hot chocolate sauce and ice-cream.
    Serves 6-8.

    You will need:

    225g (8oz) of Butter , softened
    225g (8oz) Caster sugar
    4 Large eggs
    2 tsp Vanilla extract
    225g (8oz) plain flour
    2 tsp Baking powder
    50ml (1¾ fl oz) Milk
    Roughly 50g (2oz) Cocoa powder , sifted

    Recipe

    • Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F), Gas mark 4. Butter and flour the sides of the cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.
    • Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
    • Whisk the eggs and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Gradually add the eggs to the butter mixture, beating all the time. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold in gently to mix, then add the milk and mix gently to combine.
    • Tip in half the cake mixture into another large bowl and into this bowl , fold in the sifted cocoa powder.
    • Place the cake mixture into the prepared tin by alternating spoonfuls of the vanilla batter with the chocolate batter, then with a skewer or knife , gently draw swirls through the cake mixture to 'marblise' it. Don't overmix or you won't have that wonderful marble effect.
    • Bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until the skewer/knife comes out clean.
    • Turn the cake out onto a wire rack and allow to cool or eat warm!




    Enjoy!


    Leave any comments or questions below :)





    Wednesday 19 September 2012

    We Heart It Love..

    Cupcakes , Paris and the Olsen twins..


    I have found the prettiest pictures on WeHeartIt lately.
    I could spend hours just scrolling through pages and pages of beautiful pictures, 
    Photography is something that I love and I hope to improve my skills as I blog :)

    Here are some of the pictures that I've found.

    Look how gorgeous these cupcakes are! I hope to bake some cupcakes soon so expect some photos along with the recipe in a few days!

    These cupcakes remind me of christmas and hot chocolate :)

    This looks so pretty!


    Oreos
         


    I am actually in love with Mary-Kate and Ashley hehe.
    They have such amazing style and they have perfect messy/boho hair.
    Oh how I wish I was an Olsen! 



    Their hair looks amazing here!








    Paris..





    And Finally , 


    Thanks for reading :)
    Hope you are having a lovely week , 
    Leave any comments or questions .. I'll reply!











    Monday 17 September 2012

    Ombre Obsession..

    Once again,  I am absolutely loving ombre hair , I think ombre has been everywhere the past couple of years since various celebrities have been trying out the sunkissed look , including Drew Barrymore , Khloe Kardashian ,  Jessica Biel just to name a few :)

    For those of you who dont know what ombre is heres some info.
    In french une ombre means to shadow or shade.
    Ombre is the term used to describe the gradual lightning of the hair strand.
    It is recommend that this technique is done by a professional to achieve the desired effect and also this look requires bleach which is very damaging to the hair.
    Other names for this technique includes dip-dye , smudged or balayage (although there is a sight difference between balayage and ombre which I will explain below)

    Balayage is a technique where the majority of the brush strokes are 'painted' vertically down the hair shaft and usually only to the front of the hair creating natural sunkissed highlights.
    Warning: This should be done by a professional with experience and knowlage of using the balayage technique as if not done correctly the highlights can appear 'chunky' and obvious.

    These are just some of my favourite of the (many) images I have saved to my computer of ombre hair.

    This must be one of my favourite pictures of ombre hair





     





    I just love how Boho and effortless ombre hair looks , this a really low maintenance colour as you dont need to touch up your roots ever few weeks :) 
    Personally I prefere ombre hair with Curly/Wavy hair as it looks more gradual and beachy.

    I hope you found this post helpful if you are considering getting an ombre.

    Just a bit of advice if your are considering ombre:

    This look will damage your hair as bleach is involved, so i would recommend investing in a good hair mask or using olive oil as a deep conditioner , and to give your hair a break from heated styling tools.
    Also the blonde can go quite brassy so it might be worth your time to buy a purple shampoo to counteract the brassy-ness :)

    All of these images have been found on google images , Pinterest or We Heart It 

    Anyways , I hope you enjoyed reading my blogs and please leave any comments or questions below :)
    Let me know what do you think of ombre ? Love it or Hate it ? 






     


    Sunday 16 September 2012

    MUA Makeup Academy / Sleek contour kit Review..



    While I was in London , I decided to make the most of having a huge superdrug , and bought a few MUA products and the sleek contour kit. Overall I really like these products - with an eye palette only £4 who wouldn't love it ?

    I was really excited to try out some MUA products as I had heard so many great reviews about their Heaven & Earth palette, and I must say I am now a huge fan!
    The colours in this palette are AMAZING and really wearable if your not a fan of bold eyeshadow. The eyeshadows are easy to blend and I find the colours are really pigmented when applied with your finger or the brush that comes with it , although when i tried to apply it using my own eyeshadow brush , it wasn't as good. So I would recommend to apply using your finger and then to blend using your own brush :)


    MUA Eyeshadow Palette in Heaven & Earth £4.
    I then bought the Glamour Nights eyeshadow palette.
    The quality of this palette is similar to that of the Heaven & Earth only 1 colour disappointed me , the white. Other than that , this is a really great palette and i adore the Green , Purple and Crimson/Hot pink colours. 

    Glamour Nights £4.
    After that , I bought the MUA blusher in shade 1 and pressed powder in shade 2.

    I really like the colour of the blush as its a soft pinky colour with a slight gold sheen to it as i think it goes really well with my skin tone, the only fault i have with this product is that the texture is bit chalky. But for £1 its a great product and i will defiantly be buying the other colours next time I'm in superdrug.

    Blusher in shade-1.
    £1
    I haven't been able to use the pressed powder much as i bought it in shade-2 , and my skin tends to be quite pale and dry in the winter months , so i find i don't need a powder. From when i have used it , it seems ok , im not that pushed on this product and i wouldn't be in a rush to recommend this anytime soon. Having said that if you need a cheap powder you cant really go wrong with £1 to test it out.

    MUA pressed powder shade-2.
    £1

    Finally , I bought the sleek contour kit in Light. I have been on the hunt for a contour kit for a while and I really like this kit , this product actually reminds me of the Make Up Forver Sculpting kit which a good bit more expensive. I find the colours to blend easily and stay well. I would recommend to apply the darker colour lightly and build it up for a less obvious effect :) For the price this is a really good product and i would highly recommend if your are looking for a contour kit .

    Sleek contour kit - Light.
    I can't remember what i paid for this in pounds , but it's €7.99 :) 


    Thats the end of my little shopping trip to superdrug :) Please excuse the products being in a not so perfect condition as i didn't realise i would be blogging them! I hope you enjoyed my first blog - Im sure ill get better at it soon!
    Please leave any comments below :)