MAC Zoomlash Mascara

Whilst applying my makeup this morning I thought that I'd try a different mascara. I have many mascaras sat in my draw but I always find myself using my all time favourite mascaras.

I decided to use my MAC Zoomlash mascara and to be perfectly honest, I'm so glad I chose to wear this today because I genuinely forgot how good it was. Not only does it separate my lashes but it makes my non existent lashes look remotely long. For some odd reason my right lashes are a lot longer than my left lashes and I find it difficult to make my left lashes look longer. Luckily MAC Zoomlash has solved my lash problem and I'm most definitely going to use this everyday.

Look how amazing my eyelashes look...

Oh I do love my MAC Zoomlash mascara, it's amazing.

:)

How to create Teddy Bear Nails!

So today I'm going to be showing you all how to create teddy bears nails. There are 2 reasons why I decided to create teddy bear nails, one teddy bears are superly duperly cute and two my penguin nails went down such a treat I thought I'd carry on with the animal theme. Everyone loves animals right?.. :)

To create teddy bear nails you will need:

• Black nail varnish
• White nail varnish
• Light brown nail varnish
• Dark brown nail varnish
• Top coat
• Dotting tools/ cocktail sticks

You can use any black, white, light brown and dark brown nail varnishes to create teddy bear nails, it's not essential that you have to use the same ones as I did. If anybody would like to know which nail varnishes I used then feel free to comment in the box below. Don't feel like you have to rush out and buy nail art tools too because there really is no need, cocktail sticks and Q-tips work as great nail art tools!

If you wish to create teddy bear nail then follow my nice and easy steps.

1.) Apply the light brown nail varnish to your nails. You may need two coats depending on what your nail varnish is like.

2.) Once dry, it's time to create some paw prints! Using the dark brown nail varnish and a large dotting tool, apply two dots to every finger nail apart from your middle finger nail. Then using a small dotting tool and the dark brown nail varnish, apply four dots around each of the large dots. if this sounds confusing then just copy from the photograph.

3.) Let's create our lovely bear. Using the dark brown nail varnish apply a large circular shape (the head) to half of your middle finger nail. Again using the large dotting tool and the dark brown nail varnish apply two dots (the ears) to either side of the circle.

4.) It's time to give our bear a face. Using the light brown nail varnish apply a smaller circular shape to the large circular shape. Also using the light brown nail varnish and a small dotting tool, apply a dot to the centre of each 'ear'. 

5.) Once dry it's time to give our bear a nose, mouth and a pair of eyes. Using the white nail varnish and also a small dotting tool, apply to dots just above the light brown circle. Then using the black nail varnish and another small dotting tool, carefully dot the centre of the eyes. 

To create a nose, all you have to do is use a large dotting tool and the black nail varnish and carefully apply a dot to the centre of the light brown circle.

To create a mouth draw a small black line connecting from the nose, using the black nail varnish and also a tiny dotting tool. 

6.) Once your nails are fully dry, apply a top coat. Top coat will make your nails look ultra glossy and it'll also prevent your nail varnish from chipping and also coming off. 

I hope you like my teddy bear nails! :D 

If any of you would like to request a tutorial then comment in the box below!

Thank you for reading beautiful people! 

:)

Top 3 Eyeshadow Primers

Eyeshadow primer is probably the most essential product to use before applying eyeshadow. I always apply eyeshadow primer even if I'm just wearing a bit of eye liner, mascara and a wash of colour. Not only do eyeshadow primers keep your eyeshadow on a lot longer but they also help to intensify the colour of your eyeshadow.

My top three eyeshadow primers have to be Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Urban Decay Primer Potion and MAC Paint Pot in 'Soft Ochre'. 

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - £18.50 - Available at Nars

The applicator...

A swatch...

Nars smudge proof eyeshadow base is such a great primer and I'd say that in terms functionality, this primer has the best functionality out of the three primers. The Nars smudge proof eyeshadow base has three functions;

1.) It extends the wear of eyeshadow, eyebrow pencil and eyeliner.

2.) It instantly transforms into a matte finish. This doesn't effect the finish of the eyeshadow it just create a matte canvas.

3.) It maximises colour intensity therefore making your eyeshadow look a lot brighter and generally a lot better.

The Nars smudge proof eyeshadow base also prevents smudging, creasing and caking, this is ideal for people who suffer from oily eyelids as it'll prevent your eyeshadow from fading and also creasing. 

The Nars smudge proof eyeshadow base is also colourless meaning no white eyes...YAY! Some people may see this as a negative as you cannot see where you've applied the primer once you've blended it into your eye. This doesn't bother me at all, you just have to make sure you've fully applied it to your eye. 

This little beauty is a costly £18.50 but it really is amazing. I've had the primer for 4 months too and there's still a lot more left, so you really do get your money's worth. 

Urban Decay Primer Potion - £14.50 (15ml) - Available at Look Fantastic

The applicator...

A swatch...

Urban Decay Primer Potion is probably the most talked about eyeshadow primer there is and I can understand why. It's such an great primer, not only does it keep your eyeshadow on all day but it also makes your eyelids feel soft. In my opinion this primer is the most blend-able out of the three primers. 

Here's what Urban Decay state;

"Eyeshadow Primer Potion is coveted by makeup artists and makeup junkies alike because it guarantees more vibrant eyeshadow that lasts for 24+ hours and NEVER CREASES! Once you experience its powers (plus how smoothly it glides on – an added bonus) you’ll never want to live without it. Original formula dries down invisibly."

I couldn't agree more with this statement and I honestly can say that Urban Decay are 100% truthful in what they say. Primer Potion really does make your eyeshadow last, in anything I'd say it'd last a lot more than 24 hours. I have never experienced any form of creasing when using Primer Potion and I genuinely think that it could turn an awful eyeshadow into something great. It'd be interesting to see if Illamasqua Liquid Metals would crease when using this.

The Primer Potion is also colourless once applied to your eyes. The primer does take a while to dry so be patient, I'd let the primer dry for around 5 minutes before applying your eyeshadow.

MAC Paint Pot in 'Soft Ochre' - £13.50 - MAC Cosmetics

A swatch...

MAC Soft Ochre probably isn't my HG primer but it acts as a great base for eyeshadows. I usually apply this underneath brown toned eyeshadows or sometimes use it on it's own when wearing eyeliner and mascara. 

MAC Paint Pot is available in a wide selection of colours, and they are generally used on their own but they are great for using as an eyeshadow base. MAC Paint Pots are long lasting and they also create a seamless coverage without looking cakey, they also prevent your eyeshadow from creasing. 

MAC Paint Pots aren't exactly the most blendable and they do dry fast which means you have to work quick with them. 

Overview

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - Practical for everyday use but I recommend using this with vibrant eyeshadows.

Urban Decay Primer Potion - Practical for everyday use, definitely my HG primer!

MAC Paint Pot in 'Soft Ochre' - Great for using on it's own or with brown toned eyeshadows. I think this would be good for using with pigments too. 

Hope you liked this post!

:D

O.P.I Nail Varnishes

If you have read my post about nail art books then you'll know that I'm going to be doing a Teddy Bear nail tutorial this week. I have hunted high and low for the perfect brown shade but I just couldn't seem to find the perfect colour.

I looked at every brand imaginable and thought Essie would have had the perfect shade but unfortunately this wasn't the case. I then stumbled across the O.P.I Texas collection, I hadn't seen the nail varnishes in this collection so thought I'd have a look, luckily this collection included 2 brown toned nail varnishes.

After looking at swatches of the 2 nail varnishes I decided to buy them. They are perfect for creating teddy bear nails. The 2 nail varnishes I purchased are 'San Tan-tonio' and 'Suzi Loves Cowboys'. I bought the nail varnishes off ASOS as they offer 10% student discount for any student with a valid NUS card, 'San Tan-tonio' was also £8.40 instead of £10.50.

San Tan-tonio - £8.40 - 15ml

Suzi Loves Cowboys - £10.50 - 15ml

Some of you probably think I'm mad for spending near enough £20 on 2 nail varnishes but O.P.I nail varnishes are probably the best nail varnishes ever. I'll also use these 2 nail varnishes on a daily basis so it's not like I've bought them just for the purpose of doing teddy bear nails. I think both of these will come in handy for doing other nail art designs too. 

Once the Home Delivery guy kindly delivers these I'll swatch them for you all. 

If you wish to buy any of these nail varnishes then click on this link; ASOS

Hope this has been helpful!

:)

Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturiser

Yesterday I bought the new clarins hydraquench tinted moisturiser. This is exclusive to Debenhams at the moment but I presume that it'll be available at others places sometime soon.

Here's what Debenhams say about the tinted moisturiser;
"A collection of 6 hydrating and radiance boosting day creams, with a subtle powder and rose fragrance, that glide effortlessly onto the skin to deliver an incredibly natural, healthy looking glow, with just a hint of sheer colour."

The tinted moisturiser is available in 6 different shades;
01 - 'Naturel'
02 - 'Beige'
03 - 'Peach'
04 - 'Blond'
05 - 'Gold'
06 - 'Caramel'

The shades appear to be really dark but don't be put off if you have a fair complexion. I am really pale and can never find a foundation to match my skin tone but 01 was fine for me. When the SA tested 01 on the back of my hand it looked really dark but once she'd fully rubbed it in, it looked fine.

Here's the tinted moisturiser...

It's important to know that only a pea-sized amount is needed. You literally need the amount shown in the above picture.

A swatch...

As you can see, the tinted moisturiser spreads far and it just shows you how little you actually need. The moisturiser looks really dark and you'd imagine it to look horrendous but once rubbed in everywhere, it looks lovely.

Here's before...

And after...

My final thoughts...

The Good:

• The tinted moisturiser gives you such a nice golden glow. It would be great for taking on holiday.
• It smells divine, I couldn't believe how nice it smelt! My foundations all tend to have a chemically smell so it was nice to apply something to my face that didn't smell like a chemistry lab. The tinted moisturiser smells like a mixture of flowers and fresh water.
• It makes your skin feel so soft and I felt like I had no product on my face. 
• You only have to use a tiny amount which means one bottle of the tinted moisturiser would last you a very long time!
• The tinted moisturiser is available in many different shades which means there is something for everybody. 

The Bad:

• The tinted moisturiser retails at £27.00 which is pretty expensive. There are cheaper options available but I don't know if they'll be as good.
• The tinted moisturiser provides no coverage so I probably wouldn't recommend it to those of you who like a medium or full coverage. 
• It's exclusive to Debenhams at the moment, it'd be better if it was available at Boots too, handy for those who have a Boots advantage card. 

I adore the Clarins tinted moisturiser, it's such a lovely product and I can see myself using this daily. I only intended to use this whilst on holiday but I really can see myself using this everyday. I was a bit unsure about buying this at first as it doesn't provide any form of coverage but to be honest, I actually think that the tinted moisturiser makes my skin look really nice. Even if it doesn't cover my little imperfections. 

Hope you liked this post!

:D

Lipstick Of The Week (LOTW)

My favourite lipstick this week has to be 'Lady Danger' by MAC, I absolutely adore this lipstick and it's probably the best red lipstick that I own.

Lady Danger is a bright red lipstick with a slight orange undertone, It's also a matte lipstick. I find that MAC's matte lipsticks can be quite drying. MAC 'Russian Red' is probably the worst MAC matte lipstick ever, it's a great colour but it does make your lips feel uncomfortable, I'd only recommend this to people who do not have dry lips. You would expect Lady Danger to be drying too but it really isn't, it's comfortable to wear and would be perfect for those of you who have dry lips.

Lady Danger is superly bright so if you're a little colour shy then this probably isn't for you, MAC 'Lady Bug' may be a better alternative.

Lady Danger is such a great lipstick, it's probably the most pigmented MAC lipstick that I own and it really does last all day. I also find that no bleeding or feathering occurs, I have other red lipsticks that cause horrendous bleeding, i.e OCC Harlot.

Here's Lady Danger...

A close up...

A swatch...

After wiping the swatch off my hand...

The lipstick has actually stained my hand, I've tried everything to remove it but nothing will work. I guess this shows you how good this lipstick is.

Here's how it looks on my lips...

MAC Lady Danger retails at £13.50 and can be bought from any free standing MAC store or MAC counter.

Hope you've all liked my lipstick of the week!
:D

Haul - New Look, River Island, Clarins...

So today I went shopping, I especially went shopping to find a new pair of shoes. I'd seen a couple of pairs of shoes that I liked in ALDO so planned on buying them today, unfortunately the shoes were not like I'd imagined them to be. The lovely tan and feathery sandals were in fact hideous. At first glance they look fabulous, it wasn't until I tried them on that I realised they were really awful, they are far too feathery and they overall made me look like I should be dancing around a fire.
The flower espadrilles I'd seen also looked lovely at first glance but they just didn't look right on me, the flower didn't look like a flower, it looked more like a pom pom so as you can imagine, I looked like I were wearing oompa loompa shoes. If you're unfamiliar with oopma loompa shoes then google an oompa loompa.
The Topshop watermelon espadrilles were fab, they really would be awesome for summer but I doubt I'd wear them. I don't see the point in buying shoes I'm not going to wear.
If you wish to see any of the shoes mentioned above then click on this link; Shoes! :D

Anyway enough of the shoe update, it's time to tell you all about my purchases. I didn't buy any makeup today which is really unusual for me, I did plan on buying some new MAC lipsticks and MAC blushes but the MAC counter was so crowded I really couldn't be bothered looking. I think I'll have to resort to online shopping even if the postage is ridiculous. I got a mixture of things today and I have to say that I'm very happy with my purchases.

Here are my lovely things!...

New Look gold and coral necklace - £4.99 - New Look

Accessorize fruit earrings x 10 - £9.99 - Accessorize

Primark striped flower wire headscarf - £1.50 - Bought from Primark

Colour B4 hair colour remover - £10.20 - Boots

Clarins One Step Facial Cleanser - £18.50 - Debenhams 

Clarins HydraQuench Tinted Moisturiser - £27.00 - Debenhams

I bought this in 01 'Naturel' this is the lightest shade so it's ideal for other people who have a pale skin tone like myself.

Clarins free gift - If you spend £25 or more on Clarins products you get a free gift and 1000 Debenhams beauty club bonus points.

The Clarins free gift includes: Wash bag, Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser, Gentle Refiner Exfoliator, Gentle Foaming Cleanser, Lipgloss.

River Island tan bow sandals with diamante detail - £26.99 - River Island

New Look floral cape playsuit - £21.99 - New Look

I have taken this photograph from the New Look website as you can get a true representation of what the playsuit actually looks like. 

I hope you've all liked my haul! If any of you have any questions about the products I've purchased then feel free to comment in the box below. 

Also, if any of you know of any good places to buy summery shoes and sandals then please can you comment below. I need to find a nice pair of black sandals and also some form of canvas shoes.

Many thanks for reading!

:D

Nail Supplies

If you follow my blog then you'll know that I'm very fond of nail art and for the past few weeks I've been doing weekly nail art tutorials. I'm really getting into the whole nail art thing and I'm going to take several nail courses in the future, including a full nail technician course and also nail art courses.

I'm also going to be doing make-up courses too so in the next couple of years I'll be a fully qualified make-up artist and a fully trained nail technician. I did think about doing a hair course too but I'd be terrified of cutting somebody's hair, imagine if they hated it! The thing with make-up and nails is that you can re-do them, so if I make a mistake it can easily be rectified. 

I can't wait til I've done the courses, I just wish they could all be completed in the space of a week! I also hope to go quite far in life but I doubt it'll happen, especially since there's loads of other fabulous make-up artists/ nail technicians out there!

Anyway, lets get down to the nitty gritty! I've recently bought a few nail supplies so I thought I'd share them with you. I bought a few acrylic nail paints, more nail art brushes, finger rest, nail art display wheels, nail glue, orange sticks, lint free wipes and a manicure dish. I do intend to buy more nail supplies but I thought that these would do for now. 

Acrylic nail paints - £2.95 each - Available at Viva La Nails

From left to right: Brilliant Red, Brilliant Orange, Primary Yellow, Brilliant Green, Brilliant Violet, Rose Pale, Black, Platinum White, Silver.

I primarily bought the acrylic paints because my nail varnishes were drying out. Since doing nail art my nail varnishes have become really gloopy, probably because I have the lid off every two seconds. I thought that it would be much cheaper for me to buy acrylic paints than having to buy new nail varnishes every week. The acrylic paints aren't exactly the largest but for the amount I'll need to use I'd say that they are very good for the price. 

Nail art brushes - £3.65 including postage and packaging - Bought from eBay

Finger rest - £0.99 - Available at Naio

Nail art display wheels x 2 - £2.49 - Bought from eBay

You can buy nail art display wheels from any nail suppliers but the cheapest place to buy them is eBay. 

Nail glue - £1.42, Orange sticks x 10 - £0.76, Lint free wipes x 200 - £2.19 - All available at Naio

Manicure dish - £2.19 - Available at Naio

A manicure dish is used when removing acrylic nails. The idea is that you fill the bowl with remover and then soak your nails in the remover for a short period of time. I didn't buy the bowl for this reason, I bought it as a method for cleaning my nail art brushes. 

Hope you like my little goodies, I shall certainly be buying more nail supplies, especially acrylic nail paints! Once I've got a good enough collection of the acrylic paints I shall do swatches for you all!

Hope this has been helpful! 

:)

Lovely lovely shoes...

I have so many new summer clothes but I haven't been able to wear any of them, there are 2 reasons, one being the amount of rain we've had and two I cannot find any nice flat shoes or sandals. I've bought a few pairs of wedges and heels for summer but they aren't exactly practical for our brilliant english weather. I've spent ages this week hunting for a pair I like and I was beginning to feel a huge lack of hope until my mum suggested looking at ALDO. I'm so glad my mum suggested ALDO because they have some gorgeous shoes!

I'm going shopping this Saturday and I definitely will be popping into ALDO to buy two pairs of fabulous shoes that I've seen! :D

Here are the first pair...

I think these are a mix between ballet pumps and espadrilles but I really like them, especially that huge flower. I initially wanted a pair of plain white espadrilles but for some reason they look really daft on me. 

I think these are a lot better than espadrilles because they are like proper shoes, espadrilles tend to be a bit floppy. 

Here are the second pair...

These probably aren't to everyones taste but I love them. I love the feathers and I like how these sandals have a covered heel. You can also buy these sandals in black and also white.

The next pair of shoes I'm going to show you are from Topshop. They are in fact espadrilles so I don't know if they're going to look right on me so I'll have to try them on on Saturday. 

Here are the lovely espadrilles...

I primarily like these espadrilles because they match my watermelon shorts. I also think they are extremely girly and summery and they are right up my street! I really hope that these suit me! 

Hope you've liked this post! 

:D