MAC make up birthday SURPRISE!

Tuesday 14th January came around and I turned 18! Here in the UK 18 is a massive age as the only thing you cant do is hire a van. So, that meant, drinking, gambolling and being a responsible adult was all legal! 

In my group of friends every birthday, one friend bakes a requested cake and we all sit around during break and watch the present opening. Every birthday leading up to this has been very normal, presents first then cake afterwards and everyone would look over the presents and all be very merry. For my birthday, did that happen? oh no of course it didn't.

Me and my rainbow birthday cake

I turned up to school very cheerful and prepared for my request rainbow cake and gifts. Break came around and i got given my bag of goodies and cake. Now, I'm not going to lie, if my friends knew me well enough they would have bought something make up related. Firstly I opened a Starbucks mug - IN LOVE! Then a candle and a very glamorous photo album and an envelope....

I was left in suspension for over a week but the 23rd came about and after school me and my friends got on a bus to the local large shopping centre and guided me through the shops. At one point, i was suddenly blindfolded and when i was able to see again i was in heaven on earth... otherwise known as MAC. Surrounded by about 5 make up artists and too much make up too take in. Turns out i was getting my make up done which i figured out after 5 minutes of utter shock!

Sat down for an hour and a full face of make up with a lovely make up artists. As a MAC policy, it costs £15 for a half an hour session or £30 for a hour session and after your allowed to either have a refund or spend that money in the shop. I had chosen to have lashes with my make up, so i had £20 left. With that i bought Naked Lunch eyeshadow which was in my last blog post and Russian Red lipstick which is a typical glam red colour. 

Loved every second of it and would highly recommend! I cant wait to go back and get my make up done for prom! Love all my friends so much!

Laura xo 

♥

Spring Beauty Picks

Spring has eventually sprung once again here in the UK, daffodils have popped out the ground and the is peaking around the clouds! It only feels like yesterday that it was spring 2012! Even though trends are changing every year, there are always the same type of products that always seem to come out and that I personally like to use every year and will carry on using until they get discontinued!

1. Topshop Cream blushes:

Firstly, can we all please take a moment to appreciate how cute the packaging is! The packaging is also surprisingly practical as the whole of the inner lid inside is covered by a mirror!

Cutest packaging EVER!

With a cream to powder finish the Topshop cream blushes are a perfect way to add a little colour to any look. I love to have more of a natural make up look once the sun decides to show itself around this time of year and these are a great way of achieving this. The formula blends really easily to give that natural flush that I look for around spring time.

Topshop change and swap all their cream blush colours so it may not be possible to get the same colours that i have and love. But anyway, the colours i own are called 'Head over Heels' and 'Morning Dew'.

Left - head over heels, Right - Morning Dew

Head over heels is a orange coral colour which compliments any pale or pink toned skin perfectly! Whereas 'Morning Dew' is a bright pink colour with slight plumy undertones which offers a natural flushed look.

2. MAC Mineralised Skin Finish

During hotter or warm season I also love the glowing dewy finish to my skin. As highlighter can sometimes look harsh, and unnatural the one product I've found and loved the finish of is MAC's Natural Mineralised Skin Finish.

This is a lovely light setting powder with a natural slight sheen through the colour. I find it sets my make up all day without looking too powder like. I have the colour medium which suits my skin tone perfectly. The product itself glides over my skin effortlessly and lasts ages! I use this product regularly and it shows no sign of running out anytime soon! Absolutely love! 



3. Tanya Burr lip gloss - Exotic Island

My next spring pick is a new product for 2014 and is one of the Tanya Burr lip glosses! When the youtuber and Beauty Blogger, Tanya Burr announced that she was launching her own range of lip glosses and nail varnish however I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit disappointed as I don't usually like lip gloss and don't really rate nail varnish as much as I do cosmetics. How I was proved wrong...

In order to step out of my usual zone I ordered a lip gloss once they were launched. I ordered the colour 'Exotic Island' which is a bright pink. Thought if i was going to order one I at least want it to be noticeable. I'm so happy to say that I was surprising happy with the colour and quality of the product.

Unlike other lip glosses Ive tried the Tanya Burr lip glosses are not sticky and don't feel like plastic on the lips. The smell of the product is so fruity and the colour pay off is the same as some lip sticks. The colour is really easy to wear subtly or to build up for a bright vibrant colour! These lip glosses are without a doubt my favourite lip glosses and I cannot wait to get some more in different colours!

4. MAC Eyeshadow - Naked Lunch

Finally my 4th spring pick is one of my current favourites. Just like my skin, around spring and summer time I like to use shimmery and champagne coloured eye shadows to make my eyes seem a lot larger and wide awake. 

However as I'm currently in full time education I do not want something too OTT or noticeable as I want to stick to the more natural look for school. My favourite product to achieve this look is MAC's Naked Lunch eye shadow. Its such as pretty shimmery eye shadow which allows me to get away with it in school due to some of the more natural peachy tones.

Hope this was helpful or insightful to anyone looking for spring make up inspirations!

Laura xo

♥

My Favorite Fall Trend

Recently in a lot of magazines, videos and on the cat walk I've noticed that there is a growing trend for the fall of heavy under eye make up. I really love this look, its so pretty and makes it possible to really show off the colour on the upper lid.

Its such an easy look which is possible with all colours of eye liner to match and extenuate any eye colour. So I gave it a shot.

To go along with the fall trend I chose to do a Gold eye look with a heavy black line under the bottom lash line. After a few experimental looks I found that this type of look is a lot easier with Gel liner instead of Pencil or Liquid. As pencil is, for me, quite harsh and insensitive for my lower lash line and liquid was too difficult to control between the skin and the bottom lashes on the lower lash line. Gel liner is also easier to blend than pencil or liquid so is easier to achieve a more smokey look.

Lining the waterline with a very black pencil will also bring the look together and give extra depth on the lower lash line.

I love this look. I love changing my make up look and stepping outside of the normal comfort zones that all my other friends seem to love to stay in. I am most defiantly going to be wearing this look out more regularly, I would defiantly recommend it!

Laura xo

♥

Review: Collection Work the Colour Eyeshadow Pencils

As a person who suffers from annoying oily eyelids when I found the Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadows, I have been crazy in love with them. The only disappointment I got from the Colour Tattoos were the colour range, I love the 'On and On Bronze' and the 'Taupe' colours but they are quiet dark. When I want to do a lighter look for on the eyes, its difficult to find a base which i know will last all day. 

Vanilla Sky at the Back, Vintage Blush at the Front

So I have been on the hunt. I know some brands such as Clinque have their eye shadow chubby sticks which have been raved about on the web, but the drugstore princess i am, I've been keen to find an alternative. That, my friends, is when I came across the Collection Work the Colour Eyeshadow Pencils.

Once again, i have fallen head over heels with a product. These pencils are sooo good i can not emphasize enough and at the price of £3 each, its hard to go wrong.

Vintage Blush - Left, Vanilla Sky - Right
(Excuse my UGLY hands)

The texture of the pencils themselves are so creamy and the colour pay off is beautiful. The texture also makes them incredible easy to work with and very blendable.

The packaging claims the pencils to be long lasting and waterproof. Now I have tried these out a couple of times and they do last a good length of time considering the price. Unfortunately however, i have yet to test out the water endurance of these products, so for the claim of being waterproof, i am still not sure on.

Left - Vanilla Sky, Right - Vintage Blush

Nevertheless, I have been successful in my mission to find a cheaper alternative to some of the higher end eye shadow pencils and I'm extremely proud of my purchase, if i do say so myself.

Laura xo

♥

Quick and Easy Glamorous Look.

Its nearly Friday Night and as i usually work Fridays i get home late and if i have something planned such as a party or a night out i need a really easy and quick make up look that wont look too rushed! These are some simple, easy to follow steps that could help you in a rush. Enjoy!

For this look i will be using only a small sample of products, this photo shows the products i have used. 

(From top left to bottom right)

1. Benefit cream shadow - Skinny Genes

2. MUA 'undress me too' Palette

3. MUA Harry Kiss You Lipstick

4. Rimmel Glam'eyes Eyeliner

5. Rimmel Scandal Eyes Retro Look Mascara

 1. I first apply 'Naked' from my MUA palette. 

2. I apply my Benefit Creme Shadow in 'Skinny Jeans' with a flat faced brush. This will create a base for my next shadows to stick too.

3. With my Duo - Fibre Real Techniques brush i apply 'Lavish' to the crease and place 'Corrupt' to the outer corner of the eye.

4. With my Rimmel Glam'eyes liner i create a winged cat eye 

5.Then wear the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Retro Look Mascara.

This look for the eyes is really easy and will last the night because of the base of creme shadow. To pull any quick or unfinished look together is really easy by adding a bright red lipstick to add the glamorous factor! I've chosen the Harry Lipstick from the new one direction range available from Superdrug or online, mainly because this is truly a really good lipstick and lasts all day. Hope you enjoyed this post, a little different to usual but oh well. 

Laura xo

♥