L'oreal - 180 purple obsession

If ever a coloured was named for me then this is it, I was over at the L'oreal website the other day checking out what the fuss about youth code was when I spotted a gorgeous promotional shot of the beautiful Evangeline Lilly sporting some intense blue/purple eyes.

That's it I though I HAVE to have that colour, so off I trotted to Boots and looked for the colour (180 purple obsession) I picked it up and though hang on that can't be right this is most definitely a pink/purple. As I turned it in the light I could See it was shot through with a slight blue tinge but not what I was expecting.

In reality this is a far more accurate shot of the shade.

(sorry about the tiny picture)

This is my take on the look and boy does this stuff have some staying power I really like the look and might grab some more colours from the range sometime soon.

FOTD - actually this was tuesday

Sorry it is taking me so long to catch up on my makeup looks this week, but as the title says this was tuesday, still playing with my Sunday haul I decided to give the Bourjois mini pots a try

The shadow is nice and blends well, it varies from shade to shade how pigmented they are but the do last really well over a good primer and there was no creasing. I will look out exactly what shade I used at some point and update this post.

Base

Nivea co q10

Garnier eye roll on in fair

Bourjois healthy mix foundation in 51

Bourjois healthy mix concealer in 51

Bourjois mineral powder in 02

I contoured me cheeks today starting with

No7 blush in soft apricot

then I blended with the benefit 10 powder highlighter on top and the bronze underneath the cheek bones.

Eyes

Clarins eyebrow kit

Bourjois mini pot colours

Bourjois 1001 lashes in black quartz

Lips

Revlon lipgloss in Firecracker

FOTD - actually this was Monday

The hubby is away so playing a lot with makeup this week and I have had a different look everyday. People comment a lot on my makeup at work and how it is always changing, I guess I just like to keep it fresh and match my look to how I am feeling on the day.

Keeping it quite light today with lilac and a colour theme.

Base

Nivea Co Q10 cream

Garnier Eye roll on in Fair

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in no 51 vanille clair

Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer in 51 eclat clair

Bourjois Mineral Radiance Pressed Powder in 02 vanille

Bourjois mini pot blush in No 7

Eyes

Clarins eye brow powder

Revlon wild orchid Creme shadow

Dior Style Liner Intense Liquid liner

Bourjois 1001 lashes mascara in Black Quartz

Lips

Revlon lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle

OPI - Done out in deco

This is from my south beach minis collection and it is one of my favourite shades ever. Not quite as dark as Parlez Vous OPI and it just goes with everything, tricky to apply from a mini but this was good to go in 2 coats of colour and one of seche vite. I must get myself this in the regular size as I don't think I could bare to be without it, looking at the shade it actually fits very well with all of the pastel shades that are out at the moment but as it is OPI it is always just a cut above.

Lonely haul

Ok so I really shouldn't be left on my own, the hubby is away on business and I hate it when he is gone so to ease the pain I popped into boots/superdrug for a little retail therapy to take my mind off things. I haven't bought in ages due to trying to do the 10 pan project ( I am actually getting on really well with some of the products ) but I just couldn't help myself.

Heres what I got

The new Bourjois 1001 lashes in black quartz (nearly finished my doll eyes)

Revlon 3 for 2 at boots Creme illuminance eyeshadow in 01 wild orchid, super lustrous lipgloss in lilac pastelle and firecracker.

From super drug some of their mini eyeshadow powders.

1001 Lashes

naked eye - my lashes aren't too bad on their own

With 1001 lashes, I love this the brush really grabs the lashes and coats them individually. It isn't very thickening but it does lengthen nicely and I love the natural looking finish.

Mini bourjois swatches

really hard to capture with the camera as they are quite sparkly. Top to bottom it's 15, 11 and 12.

Revlon lip glosses

Lilac Pastelle

Firecracker

New Hair

Ok so as you know a few weeks ago I got my but length hair cut off, here are a couple of shots of the new do, I am finding new ways to wear it everyday and I actually really love it even though the fringe is a little longer than I asked for but I will get it trimmed soon.

Long time no blog

Sorry I have been really rubbish at keeping this up lately, I have been in the midst of a work crisis and I have also had a mini health scare but I am fine now and really to get back into the swing of things.

Since I last blogged I haven't really made many purchases as I am trying to concentrate on my 10 pan project and curb my spending (I caved today but more about that later). I have however been keeping up with the latest trends and trying out lots of products from my extensive collection for the first time. I also went to the professional beauty show down at the Excel centre and was very unimpressed.

So without further ado here are the latest nail looks I have been sporting.

No7 - Totally Teal, I got this because boots were giving away vouchers so I thought why not. Not quite a dupe for the OPI Jade is the new black but quite close, it's a little more dusty looking but still really wearable. The application was actually really good and No7 have actually got a fairly good brush in there. The wear was good with no chipping and only slight tip wear. No7 is a brand that actually straddles the Budget/Premium line coming in at £6.25 per bottle and it seems to perfectly justify the price.

Cheshire Cat - stripes of Nails Inc in Belgrave Place and OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender. Just feeling a little silly after all the Alice in Wonderland Madness.

N.Y.C in Chinatown. Grey shimmer with a very very subtle lilac to it. I actually quite like this I have never been much of a fan of greys but this gun metal shade is really nice, I was only 2 coats of this and it was really easily applied. Suffered terrible tip wear but no chips. First time I have tried N.Y.C nail polishes and I will be picking up some other shades from the range.

Nails Inc - Belgrave Place. as ever nails inc comes up trumps this is a really bright purple and of course application was great. I have had this shade a while and I do keep going back to it as bright purple is one of my safe colours and it works really well with my skin tone.

OPI - Overexposed on South Beach. This is from the mini collection and the first time I tried it I really hated it but back then I hadn't really tried much of the spectrum of nail colours out there. It is still a little on the pinky side of purple for me to fall in love with it but I do really like it and it has that very subtle shimmer that OPI do better than anyone.

40 questions

Totally stolen from Hell Candy, some really interesting questions here so enjoy.

SKINCARE

-How many times do you wash your face daily?

Once in the shower in the morning then at night I cleanse using either wipes or a hot cloth cleanser.

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)

Combination I get a very oily nose and can be a little dry on the cheeks

-What is your current facial wash?

At the moment I am using the No7 foaming wash

-Do you exfoliate?

Yes when I feel the need, normally once a week.

-What brand do you use?

Either Dr Lewins, No7 or Nick Lowe

-What moisturizer do you use?

so so many, at the moment I am using Steam Cream and Darphin

-Do you have freckles?

No

-Do you use eye cream?

Yes, couldn't be without it my eyes are the thing I am most paranoid about.

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

Never, I am really lucky

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?

No ( I had to look it up as I didn't know what it was)

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?

All of them, seriously I have so many I am on a quest for a perfect one at the moment it's Bourjois healthy mix.

-How about concealer?

Again all of them and again Bourjois healthy mix but I also love Benefit erase paste.

-Do you know your undertone colour?

I am pretty sure it is pink

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?

Love them on other people but I have never been able to get them right on myself I tend to look like a pantomime horse.

-Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?

Yes and I do tend to I am just really bad at throwing the old ones away.

-What brand of mascara do you use?

MaxFactor

-Sephora or MAC?

I have never been to Sephora so I guess MAC by default even though I have only bought a couple of things there.

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?

No.

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?

Fingers and brushes.

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?

Yes I use Urban Decay Primer Potion an I love it, I have also tried the ELF one but it is a little dark on me.

-For the face?

Only if it is a special occasion and then I use MAC Prep&Prime SPF50.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?

Urban Decay Flash (really bright purple)

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?

Liquid (or gel) on the upper lash line and pencil under the lower lash line.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

Never, what a strange thing to do.

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

Never tried them.

-Do you use mineral makeup?

I have in the past, foundations and powders.

-What is your favorite lipstick?

Revlon Matte red

-How about lipgloss?

Urban Decay XXX slick pot in cocoa

-What is your favorite blush to use?

No7 powder in Soft Apricot.

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?

No

-Do you like drugstore makeup?

I like all makeup.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)

I would love to, I dunno where there are any near me.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?

Yes, I did a course a long time ago and would like to update my skills.

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

No I am very neat almost OCD

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?

Gah so many! OK here goes - pumping the wand in and out of a mascara tube, people putting on lipsticks from the testers on their lips, not washing your makeup brushes and not blending foundation properly at the jawline and hairline.

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?

Colourful, I am very pale so neutral can leave me a little washed out.

-Which celebrity always has great make up?

Katy Perry

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?

Mascara.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

Yup I do it a lot.

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?

No, I hate not having my eyebrows shaded in.

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?

Bourjois, great colours and good price.

-What do you think of Makeup?

It's my way to express myself.

Kittys adventures in wonderland

Ok so today I did what I have been threatening to do since before I got married in October, I had my bum length hair chopped to shoulder length (eeekkkk). I was extremely nervous and have chicken out many times but I was feeling fierce and decided today was the day, I picked the Super Cuts on Maddox Street as I have always had excellent service there and I also refuse to pay an arm and a leg for a haircut. Picking Maddox street was of course in no way random as I decided to swing by the Alice pop up shop set up by Claire's Accessories to celebrate the launch of the movie, I had no idea what to expect as I had not seen any reviews of it only that I was aware that it was there.

I was greeted by a very lovely butler (in a tux and everything!) on arriving who opened the door for me and welcomed me to Wonderland. The entrance is like a long tunnel made of white branches and twinkling fairy lights with a zillion trinkets and butterflies hanging off them, past this is the tea party table and a collection of doors decorated with playing cards. I was asked by the assistant to pick a key from the giant teacup on the table and see if I could unlock one of the doors. There were so many doors I didn't know what to pick but went for the one with the ace of hearts on, my key worked and the door swung open revealing a glowing green box surrounded by lots of chiffon, the assistant told me to put my hand in and pick a prize. I could feel tonnes of things in the box and pulled out the cutest tartan bow headband SQEEEEE!

She asked me to write in the guest book and help myself to refreshments (eat me cupcakes and drink me drinks) and said I could take as many photos as I liked.

Of course all of the trinkets in the shop are available to buy and the have some really cute things, check out the pics!

Nails of this week

Again I'm rocking the Mavala Mystic collection and I have to say I am still a little disappointed that they are not as intense as they are in the bottle and do look just like black from a distance. Having said that again these two were completely opaque in 2 coats and applied beautifully but did supper the dreaded tip wear very very quickly. Surprisingly I think my favourite of the 3 I have is actually the Cedar Green which is strange for me as I am a purple girl at heart but the purple just didn't do it for me unfortunately.

See what you think

Cedar Green with flash

Cedar Green natural light

Black Cherry with flash

Black Cherry natural light

The other nails I tried this week were a first for me, in my little haul from Fragrance Direct I got a Ciate gift set with 3 colours, file and corrector pen. this is the colour Marilyn and I love it, pretty much a dupe for cherries in the snow but a little bit brighter I think. It applied really well but took 3 coats for me to be happy with it. I applied my coat a Seche Vite and it looked prefect but then in the next hour the horror unfolded. Check out the shrinkage (click picture to make it bigger) it looks like I have had it on for a week. It did last it really well no chips or anything but I will have to try this one again with a different top coat I think. I do however have it on my toes and it looks fab!

Review - Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

With flash

Natural light

So as you know I am always searching for that perfect foundation and I am a sucker for "budget" brands with Bourjois being my favourite. So I was excited to give the Healthy Mix range a trial run, it seems like a dupe for the new Clarins Everlasting Foundation which I loved. Both products boast to improve the radiance of the skin with Bourjois using natural extracts.

Apricot for Radiance

Melon for Hydration

Apple as an Antioxidant

Ginger for Energy

I as always picked the lightest shade (51 Vanille Clair) and when I first applied it I actually though it was perhaps a little grey and I wasn't that impressed but I did like the way it set on my skin and it lasted really well. I have been using this on and off now for a few weeks and I really really like it, it layers up really well and the shade is perfect for me. I also have to report that I think my skin does look better it gives you that dewey glow with out ever looking shiny. I am also in love with the concealer in the range and it too has the fruity extracts

Apricot for Radiance

Raspberry for Micro-Circulation

Melon for hyradtion

Again I got the lightest (51 Eclat Clair) and this is the most pigmented concealer I have ever used, it is very very similar to the Dermablend concealer but without the drying cakeyness. You need such a tiny, and we are talking pinhead here, amount that the generous tube will last you years. It is great for the under eye area but it is also good for a tiny little scar I have on my chin and is actually the only thing I have ever used that has covered it, stay put and not looked like a weird blob of colour on my skin.

If you haven't already tried this DO IT NOW!