This or that? Tagtime!

I love doing tags, especially beauty ones. I think they're fun, lighthearted and if I enjoy reading then hopefully you will too! I got this particular tag from Beaumaquillagex.

Makeup

1. Blush or bronzer? Blush. At the moment I don't own a decent bronzer. I love using peachy coral blushes with a hint of golden shimmer which add warmth to my face.

2. Lipgloss or lipstick? Lipstick. I prefer having my lip products stay put for a long time and love how intense lipstick colours are.

3. Chapstick or lip butter? Definitely my lip butter. I adore Revlon Lip Butters and can't wait to purchase some more!

4. Matte or sparkle eye shadow? Ideally a shadow with a metallic look or a slight subtle glow rather than a shimmer. I think sparkles are really unflattering on my eyes.

5. Eyeliner or mascara? Definitely mascara, I won't leave the house without it on! It just makes you look so much more awake and put together. I'd rather not wear foundation than not wear mascara.

6. Gel, liquid, cream or pencil eyeliner? Probably pencil due to the smudgey effect they give. Liquid is a little too precise for me and I've never tried the other two. A good, soft pencil is hard to beat.

8. Liquid or powder foundation? Normally I'd say liquid, but I adore my bareMinerals powder foundation!

9. Neutral or statement eyes? I normally play safe with neutral, but I love bold eyes if they are done well!

10. Pressed or loose shadow? Pressed. I think you get more for your money and I'm yet to see someone come out with a palette of loose shadows.

11. Waterproof or non-waterproof? Non-waterproof. Waterproof products just take so long to take off and take piles of rubbing and scrubbing. Seeing as I don't have problems with makeup smudging, and I'm not generally out in the rain, I just don't see the point!

12. Brush, sponges or fingers? Brushes! Just don't see the point in sponges as they absorb half the product and fingers make makeup all smeary and I try to avoid touching my face with my hands in order to avoid breakouts.

13. Powder, cream or liquid highlighter? Liquid. I like to dab a few dots of it on my cheekbones and browbone and just think liquid highlighters give a much more natural glow.

14. Contouring or no contouring? I currently don't contour my face, but I'm really interested in starting!

15. Red, bright or nude lips? None. I'm into rosy, corally lips.

Nails

1. OPI or Essie? Haven't tried either!

2. Acrylic or natural? Natural. Acrylics absolutely destroy your own nails!

3. Brights or darks? Brights. I wear brights all year round, very rarely do I use dark nail polishes.

4. Matte or shiny? I haven't bought a matte topcoat yet, but I do love matte looks. Especially matte glitter looks!

5. Glitter or no glitter? I adore glitter. So much. Hate it on my face, love it on my nails! I just wish it was easier to remove!

6. Short, medium or long? Medium. I'm pretty busy and active, so I find long nails break too easily. Also, no one likes claws!

Body

1. Perfume or body spray? Definitely perfume. I'd rather have a scent on just my neck and wrists rather than all over my body and perfume lasts a lot longer.

2. Lotion or body butter? Body butter. I'm normally lazy with moisturising my body, so whenever I do get around to it, I like a really deep treatment that will last longer! I also love the way body butters smooth onto the skin and slowly sink in, without leaving a greasy, wet residue like a lotion.

3. Body wash or soap? Body wash. I've always been told that soap isn't great for your skin, so I try to avoid it at all costs.

4. Self tanners, tanning salon or au naturale? Self tanners. I have legs that seem to reject all fake tan, so being able to top up at home is a bonus for me. Anyone who has any tips for making fake tan stay on your legs? Let me know!

5. Body brush, exfoliating glove or body scrub? Body scrub. I think it gives the best exfoliation and smells great!

Fashion.

1.  Jeans or sweat pants? Jeans - although I would never leave the house in them, I do love my sweats and live in them at home!

2. Long sleeve or short? Generally short. I find long sleeves get in the way and can look a little frumpy.

3. Dresses or skirts? I love dresses, mostly because you don't have to find a matching top to go with them! I'm not lazy... I swear. Seriously though, I love how dresses give you a feminine look and come in so many styles to suit every body shape.

4. Stripes or plaid? Stripes. Plaid is ugly. Haters gon' hate.

5. Flip flops or sandals? Sandals, flip flops kill my feet! I wish I could walk around in flip flops all day, but the blisters they give me are crazy.

6. Scarves or hats? Don't really wear either to be honest!

7. Studs or dangly earrings? Dangly earrings! I think they're gorgeous! However, if I had my ears pierced I'd probably stick to mainly studs. I'm always moving around and being active and would end up getting my earrings caught in everything.

8. Necklaces or bracelets? Bracelets. I find necklaces just get caught in my hair or clothes and annoy me. Probably due to the aforementioned 'can't sit still' problem I have.

9. Heels or flats? Heels for going out, flats for daytime. My feet would be wrecked if I wore heels every day.

Hair.

1. Curly or straight? Wavy is definitely my favourite look. I just wish I could achieve it easier with my thick, long hair.

2. Bun or ponytail? Probably bun. As my hair is getting longer, pony tails look a bit strange and tickle the back of my neck, which drives me mad. I've been practicing doing messy buns around the house - not sure if I'm ready to brave the outside world yet though!

3. Long or short? Long! I've been growing my hair all summer and I'm about an inch away from my ideal length. If you'd like tips on maintaining long hair - let me know!


I tag all my followers to do this tag! Link me your answers in the comments below! x

MUA Wishlist!

I've decided to start doing some pictorial wishlists on my blog based on different brands, trends etc. I've found some great products through reading other people's wishlists, so I thought I'd post my own for my lovely followers!

So, to start off this new series I thought I'd start with everyone's favourite budget beauty brand... Make Up Academy (MUA).

1. Pearl Eyeshadow in Shade 11
2. Extreme Metallic Quad in Go Getter
3. Trio Eyeshadow in Innocence
4. Nail Quake in Shockwaves
5. Blusher in Shade 2
6. Lip Liner in Red Drama
7. Gel Liner in Underground
8. Gel Liner in On Move
9. Out There Plumping Lipgloss in Pin Up Pink
10. Out There Plumping Lipgloss in Sienna
11. Lipgloss in Shade 2
12. Lipgloss in Shade 3
13. Glitter Nail Quake in Blue
14. Glitter Nail Quake in Gold
15. Lipstick in Shade 3
16. Lipstick in Shade 5
17. Intense Glitter Eyeliner in Gold Nugget
18. Intense Glitter Eyeliner in Malt Chocolate.

If I could choose only three products to receive, I would definitely choose the Intense Glitter Liner in Gold Nugget. After using my Bourjois Kohl and Contour liner in Brun/Caramel, I'm hooked on gold eyeliner! It really brightens up the eye area, without being too tacky. However, I'd love a more pigmented version, and I hope this MUA liner could be what I'm looking for.
I'd then reach for the Out There Plumping Lipgloss in Pin Up Pink. It is such a vibrant, pigmented shade which can be worn sheerly for a subtle tint or more opaquely for a real pop of colour.
Finally, I couldn't forget the Gel Liner in Underground. I've been on the look out for a gel liner for a while now, and I'd love to try this pocket friendly version!

What do you think of MUA? Let me know in the comments! x

Tag | My Makeup History

 As a little 'get to know me' post for the benefit of all my new followers (eek! exciting!) I thought I'd do the 'My Makeup History' tag. This will hopefully let you all get to know my skin type and makeup tastes a little better!

1. How long have you been wearing makeup?

I started wearing makeup when I was about 12 years old. This usually consisted of some brown or clear mascara and some eyeshadow for special events. I started wearing foundation regularly from the age of roughly 13 or 14 onwards. I was quite late onto the bandwagon with blush and bronzer - it wasn't until I was 16 that I really started taking makeup seriously!

2. What was your favourite makeup product in the beginning?

The first makeup product I ever bought was a brown Miss Sporty XX Volume mascara. I wore Max Factor Lasting Performance foundation for a while, before moving onto the famous Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse.

My first ever makeup purchase - how cute!
[Image from aiszaperfumy.pl]

3. What is your favourite makeup product now?

Either my Maybelline Express Volum mascara, my MUA Undressed Palette or my Collection 2000 concealer.

4. What were some of your favourite brands in the beginning?

I loved Natural Collection and Rimmel for makeup and Barry M for nail polish.

5. What are some of your favourite brands now?

I love bareMinerals for foundations and blusher, Maybelline for eyeshadow and mascara and MUA in general!

Words cannot describe my love for MUA!
[Image from vonvonsinterests.blogspot.co.uk]

6. How would you describe your makeup style?

Natural! I tend to go for a brown toned eyeshadow, with a coral blush and a natural lip. I'm a bit wary of very bright makeup looks, as I'm not sure whether they suit me or not!

7. What is your everyday makeup like?

bareMinerals powder foundation or Stila tinted moisturiser, with a bareMinerals primer, a few coats of mascara, a coral blush and a natural toned lip butter.

8. What is your going out makeup like?

I usually play it safe, but I'll add some darker browns into my eye looks, with perhaps some liquid liner and a more opaque lip. I'm still very timid though!

9. What makeup look are you known for?

A natural, flawless finish. (Concealer is a girl's best friend...)

10. What is the worst beauty crime you have committed?

I did go through a phase of wearing foundation that was too pale for me, with black eyeliner. I went through a 'scene' stage where I did the above and backcombed my hair. I was a cool kid, honest.

11. What is the worst beauty crime you are proud to have not committed?

Scouse brows! I detest girls who fill in their eyebrows too heavily, I think it just looks awful! I'll either fill mine in with a blonde or light brown shadow or just leave them.

Err... NOT a good look!

12. What is one beauty trend your were part of but now aren't a fan of?

The heavy black eyeliner. I find it just doesn't suit me now. I'm not sure whether it's my skin tone or my eye shape, but it just makes me look silly!

13. What is one trend you are proud to say you were never a part of?

Neon. I think neon is the tackiest, most awful thing ever. Neon nails are okay, but anything else is just disgusting!

14. What is one look you are unlikely to go for?

Probably bright eye looks. I'm very much a neutrals girl, not brave enough for anything else!

15. If you were brave enough to wear any look what would it be?

I'd love to wear bright lipstick and to be able to contour my cheekbones. With my ghostly pale skin however, that's never been an option for me.

Basically I just want to look like Zoe from Zoella. Can I be her, please?

16. An old Holy Grail product of yours?

The Maybelline Express Volum mascara - does what it says on the tin! Fab volume and length with no clumps. Sorted.

17. A new Holy Grail product of yours?

My MUA Mosaic Bronzer in Sunkissed glow. I bought it to use as a contour/typical bronzer but I've found it works amazingly as a natural blush if worn just below the cheekbones.

Stop what you're doing and admire this...

 ... oh my, someone pinch me.

This has to be one of the most perfect palettes I've seen in a long time. Just look at those shades. Admire them. Take them in. Oh my. Wow.

This beauty is the limited edition 'The September Issue' palette from bareMinerals' READY line of pressed powder cosmetics. Enough from me, let's hear what bareMinerals have to say about this gem:

"It's the biggest issue of the year in the fashion world. bareMinerals READY^TM Eyeshadow in The September Issue is your perfect palette for this season's 'in' colours.

It provides exceptionally vivid, long-wearing colour in an ultra smooth, silky texture for effortless application and seamless blendability. Powered by our proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral^TM Complex along with powerful antioxidants, cold-pressed borage oil, caffeine and cucumber-ingredients known to deliver anti-aging benefits including reduced look of puffiness and antioxidant protection for a softer, smoother, revitalized eye area. It looks like a powder but feels like a cream and delivers a beautifully smooth application of vivid, long-wearing colour."

Some claims, eh? As a bit of a bareMinerals junkie, I can definitely agree with the claims that their products "look like a powder but feel like a cream". Their foundations and blushes buff into the skin so smoothly, turning into a velvet finish with very good pigmentation. I've never tried any of their eyeshadows however, as they've always been out of my price range. 

Onto the most important bit - the shades!

Please note, the image above is computer generated and therefore makes all the shades seem matte. As I don't own this palette, I couldn't take my own images. See the first image for a better representation of the shades.

The shades are as follows: Couture - a dark bronzy wooden shade; Silhouette - a milky cream highlight shade; Statement - a vibrant bright purple with golden shimmer; Pret-A-Porter - a true gold with shimmer; Très Chic - a matte shade of warm champagne; Editor's Pick - a deep seaweed teal; Glitterati - a really girly baby pink and finally Ensemble - a dark smokey purple.

This palette is bang on trend with this season's Autumn/fall looks. I'm just imagining the colourful smokey eyes and colour blocking looks I could do with this baby. The only drawback? The price. £35.00 for eight shadows? Ouch.

Well, a girl can dream, right? xx

Birthday Haul!

It was my birthday recently, and I had a blast! Had a load of my friends over, went for dinner with them and went to the spa the next day - bliss! I thought I'd show you a few of the things I was given, as I'm really excited about using some of these products. I'm not here to show off, just to say a big thank you to my friends for being lovely!

Some of the non-beauty related items I received were New Look vouchers (which I cannot wait to spend on new jumpers for autumn), a handy technic mirror and a horcrux locket! Any diehard Harry Potter fans like me will know that Voldemort had a horcrux in the form of a locket and my friend Ben bought me a replica for my birthday - he knows me too well!

I now own a Jack Wills nail file. This is exciting. I'm planning on bringing it out while in public places and watching the popular girls swarm towards me... or not. Seriously though, I really needed a new nail file, and as well as this one being really pretty it actually does a fantastic job of shaping my nails.
The Rimmel Pro Matte Finish topcoat was something I've had my eye on for a while, but never would part with the money to buy it. It was an amazing gift which I've been using daily - matte nails look great for autumn, especially when teamed with dark nail polish.
I don't yet have my ears pierced, despite contemplating it for months, but since receiving these earrings I'm sorely tempted to! The picture doesn't do them justice, they are beautiful diamond look earrings that are clean and sparkly without being tacky, right up my street.

And finally the one I was most excited about... I finally own an Undressed palette! This beauty has been sold out at my local Superdrug for months, so I haven't been able to get my hands on it until now! The shades are far more gorgeous than I hoped - I'm really into warm champagne and rose golds so to find not one but four of these shades made my day. Also the inclusion of the two darker shades was a really nice touch. I especially love the blue toned shade which creates a fab smoky eye without being too harsh!

Shades

To conclude, I'm over the moon with the presents I was given. I can't wait to do some new eye and nail looks with them, as well as hopefully getting my ears pierced... wish me luck! xx

The results are in... Isadora 30 Day Dynamic Lash Growth Challenge! *

It's been 30 days, and I'm so excited to tell you guys all about how I've gotten on with the Isadora Dynamic Lash Growth system! I've already written a blog post explaining the products in depth (click here to view) but basically the system contains a mascara and a serum infused with potent peptides which increases the natural growth of your lashes - what's not to love?

Mascara

Serum

 

 

I have been using the mascara during the day instead of my normal mascara, and the serum at night as the final step in my skincare routine. Both products are so easy to work with - just apply them as you would a normal mascara. It literally takes seconds, which is fantastic when you have patience as limited as mine!

The mascara itself is a very nice product. It does a fantastic job of separating every individual lash and can provide either a very natural or a very dramatic look depending on how much you apply. I'm a girl who is very into volume, but hates clumpy lashes, so I'm hard to please but I find this product does a fantastic job at lengthening and separating and an average job at creating volume - I find it can become a little clumpy in the process until you get used to using it.
However, part of this was due to the fact I wasn't used to plastic wands such as this, once I've gotten used to it, I'm a convert! They are fantastic at picking up the tiny baby hairs at the edges of your eyes and coating them evenly - they really make your eyes pop!

The serum is in similar packaging to the mascara, and has an identical wand. It does just as great a job of separating the lashes and ensuring each tiny lash gets covered in the product. As for the serum itself, it is nicely thick without being gloopy and dries reasonably quickly - no worries about it rubbing off onto your eyebrows, that wouldn't be a good look!
One thing I love about the packaging of both the mascara and the serum is that they both have click to lock closures - keep twisting the lid on until it clicks to create a fully airtight seal - this ensures that your mascaras last far longer without drying out. What a great idea!

And now onto the pictures... *drumroll*

Before

Now, before I get a lot of hate - I know my eyelashes were always fairly long. However, they had taken a lot of a beating from using waterproof mascara daily. Note how uneven the lashes are - particularly on the left eye. Also, my lashes had lost nearly all of their curl and were weak and brittle.

After!

In this picture I have just taken off my mascara (my eyelashes are still a little clumpy from being wet, woops!) and as you can see, my lashes are looking a lot better after using the system. It hasn't worked miracles, and I didn't expect it to, but it has definitely made my lashes thicker, stronger and more healthy. Also, my left eye's lashes are now catching up with my right eye - they have definitely grown in the past 30 days!

After - using the mascara

 As you can see, the mascara coats the lashes evenly and adds even more length - a fab choice if you have shorter lashes! In fact, the left eye's lashes look nearly longer than the right! Mascaras can work miracles!

The mascara after 8 hours of wear - not bad!

All in all, I really believe this system works. While it's not going to turn your lashes from smurfs into supermodels, it definitely will speed up the natural growth process. My lashes have definitely benefited from using this system and I will continue to use this on a daily basis for the foreseeable future!

Find out more about Isadora's Dynamic Lash Growth System by checking out their website here: Isadora Global

Review | Heaven and Earth Palette

 I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon with this post, but I have gotten so much use out of this palette in the past few months that I had to mention it! MUA are famous for their superbly high quality cosmetics at extremely affordable prices - who could say no to twelve eyeshadows for £4? Definitely not me anyway!

The Heaven and Earth palette is MUA's first take on the Urban Decay Naked Palette. It contains a collection of the lighter shades from the Naked Palette, focusing on soft browns and sandy shades, with a few darker taupes and a gold shade. Basically, this palette is everything you need to create your standard neutral eye.

Shades with flash - personally I think this gives a better representation of the colours.

 The packaging of the palette is very sturdy and practical. It definitely does not reflect the very modest price of the product. Its pans are circular in shape which I personally love - the less product contaminating its neighbours the better! It does come with a dual ended applicator, but I very rarely use this. One use I have found for this applicator is for applying eyeshadow on top of your eyeliner to set it. This means your eyeliner lasts much longer - especially on your waterline.

No flash

 The consistency of these shadows is generally very good. A small amount of fallout does occur, which can make the palette look quite messy. However, this very rarely translates on to the eyes themselves which I appreciate. The lightest shade on the top left can be a little chalky, but if blended smoothly into the skin it loses some of this texture and becomes a lot smoother. The rest of the shadows are of a smooth consistency and texture which I am a big fan of. The eyeshadows also last for an extremely long time on my eyes.

Swatched in the same order they appear in the palette

As for the shades themselves, I think they are lovely! The top left shade is a gorgeous browbone highlight, the third from the right on the top row is beautiful as a warm, golden base for your shadows and the second from the right on the bottom row and the shade on the far right of the bottom row are both great for defining your crease and even creating a slightly 'smokey' effect. The only shades I'm not as impressed with are the third from the left on the top row and the farthest right on the top row.  The former can be rather yellow toned and 'dirty' looking, while the latter is slightly too orange based for my skin tone and I find it hard to blend. A real cracker is the second from the left on the bottom row - I use this shade on my eyebrows!

All in all, this is a fantastic product at an amazing price! It was my first eyeshadow palette and in my opinion is a great starter kit. Definitely check this out next time you're in Superdrug!

The MUA Heaven and Earth palette is available from Superdrug or the MUA store for £4.00.

The OMG Nail Challenge #1 Bold

 I've decided to take part in theOMGDiaries' nail challenge! They have created a challenge with a difference - you change the design every 3 to 4 days in order for you to keep the designs on for longer. Day 1 is 'Bold'. Here's my take on this theme.

 I used MUA's I <3 U polish from the Loveheart Collection as a base, then applied a streak of a hot pink polish from a Boots hamper a few years ago. I really like the way the subtle, nudey pink polish contrasts with the bold streak of fucshia! I did this freehand, but you could definitely use masking tape as a guide.

This nail art was super easy to do, I'd rate it 2/5 for difficulty. I feel this would be an ideal look for going from the office straight to an event as you could wear the neutral pink polish during the day, then quickly apply a streak of hot pink to spice it for for the evening.

Review | The Isadora 30 Day Dynamic Lash Growth Challenge *

I was recently fortunate enough to be one of the four lucky bloggers Isadora chose to test their new lash growth mascara and serum. This is a really exciting product for me to review as my lashes have been rather depleted lately. To fill you all in, I used to have eyelashes which were quite long and thick - I often was asked if I was wearing falsies! However, through a stint of wearing waterproof mascara daily, my eyelashes suffered. I had to scrub at them to remove the mascara, as I only had some cheap high street makeup remover solution and as a result of this my eyelashes became thin, fragile and had lost all traces of a curl.

This made me really excited about trying these two products! Designed to work in conjunction with each other, they both contain potent peptides and natural extracts which stimulate the growth of your lashes. Unlike most lash growth products however, they do not both need to be applied at the same time. You replace your mascara with their Lash Growth Mascara and then apply the transparent serum at night onto clean eyelashes. This was a major bonus for me, as I don't like how some other lash growth products require you to apply a white coat of the serum under your everyday mascara. I find that this leaves your eyelashes with a grey tinge - not attractive!

They claim that after 30 days of using the mascara or the serum, the natural growth of your eyelashes will increase by 169% and they will increase by 13% in diameter! These are definitely some amazing claims and I sincerely hope this product lives up to them. Also, this is all done without being tested on animals, which is extremely important to me.

I will write a full review of the products after 30 days of constant use, but will also fill you in with how my lashes are progressing after 15 days as the packaging states that constant use of both products will show results by then - I'm definitely intrigued!

Review | Tresemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo

 Dry hair shampoo has been one of my lifesaving products since I discovered it a few years ago. My hair tended to be very oily and would often become greasy, flat and horrible after one or two days. Since I discovered dry hair shampoos this has definitely been reduced. I can now wash my hair every second or third day, without losing the bounce and volume I adore.

I started out with the Batiste range of dry hair shampoos, but always found it was hard to manage the fine line between slightly limp hair and a grey mess! I struggled to remove the grey tint the product left from my roots without making them feel even oilier from touching them so much. It was a lose - lose situation.

This is one of the reasons I adore Tresemmé's dry hair shampoo! This product does as it says on the tin, removing oil and boosting body without leaving that horrible chalky mess behind.

Here I sprayed a liberal amount of the product on my hand, and as you can see it is barely detectable. Fantastic or what? Also, this product gives my hair real body instantly. I actually prefer my hair when it hasn't been washed for a day or so and I use this product instead as opposed to my freshly washed hair as it has so much more volume and bounce to it, with a light, fresh, clean scent which I adore.

I simply spray this product directly onto my hairline, parting and to any areas which get oiler faster such as my fringe, the sides of my hair and on the crown of my head. I would rate this product 5/5 as it is simply perfect - I'd rate it higher if I could!

In addition, there are also two other products in this range for different hair types. One is a Waterless Foam Shampoo which helps to add moisture and shine to frizzy hair whilst still removing oil and the other is a Volumising Dry Shampoo which I cannot wait to try out!

Tresemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo is available from Boots for £4.79, Superdrug for £4.99, Tesco for £4.69 and Asda for £5.00 as well as from many major chemists and drugstores worldwide.

Review | Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is something which has been on my 'to buy list' for an extremely long time. Beauty Vloggers Holly Arabella and Fleur de Force are big fans, so I thought it was time I tried it out for myself. Lasting Perfection is Collection's best selling concealer. It was this concealer that has since led me to try out other Collection cosmetics, as I had previously dismissed the brand as being 'tacky, cheap and nasty'.

Collection claims that this product is "an ultimate wear concealer which conceals flaws, imperfections and blemishes for up to 16 hours. It is transfer proof and water resistant for full and long lasting coverage. It provides beautiful, shine-free, blemish-free skin for every waking hour."

Do I agree? Yes and no. This concealer definitely packs a punch. It masks blemishes, redness and even scars very well. This is an extremely full coverage concealer which I am happy to wear daily to cover my imperfections and to prep troublesome areas for further foundation. As for the 16 hour wear time? I disagree. This concealer needs topped up every eight to nine hours on my skin. While this doesn't bother me, it might disappoint some. Concealer doesn't stay very well on my skin at the best of times, however. It is quite matte and definitely controls shine and oiliness. I haven't tested its water resistance however!

The main downside to this concealer is the smell. Oh my, this boy is strong. The only way I can describe it is that it smells like the very strong, full coverage foundation older women wear, times two. For this reason, I don't use this concealer on the sensitive skin around my nose and my eyes. The scent does fade with wear, but I'm not a fan.

 

 This concealer comes in four shades which should flatter most skin types. However, there isn't much choice for those with very dark or very pale skin tones unfortunately. Also, this concealer does oxidate and dry a slightly darker colour than when applied wet (see swatches below) so do allow time for this concealer to dry before leaving the house! I am the palest shade (Fair 1) and this shade suits my skin tone very well, but if you're much paler than I am (ghostbuster white!) then it might be too yellow/orange based for your skin tone.

L: Once dried R: Fresh application

Application is very simple due to the doe foot applicator which dispenses just the right amount of product to cover a few blemishes or a large area of discoloured skin. I usually apply with the applicator straight onto my skin, then blend with my fingers or a foundation brush.

L: Blended R: Fresh application

I would definitely rate this as one of my all-time favourite concealers due to its amazing coverage and easy application. However, the smell does let this product down. Despite the fact its wear time is not 16 hours as it claims, it will easily last during a day at work or a night out. I would rate this concealer 4/5 and will definitely be repurchasing it in the future.

Collection Concealer is available from Boots, Gordons Chemists, Lloyds Pharmacy, ASDA, Morrisons, Wilkinson, Tesco and Superdrug for £4.19.

Review | Nail Care for Beginners

I've never really been into nail care. Yes, I love my nail polish (a bit too much in fact...) but I was never into treating my nails - it always just took too long in my opinion! Recently, however, my nails were looking quite grotty. They tend to flake at the ends, with ragged cuticles and chips taken out of them hidden under my layers of nail polish. I have recently started using some tools to look after my nails a bit more, and have found that they have made such a difference overall to the state of my nails. Polish looks shiner and less streaky, and I can even go out without painting my nails as they look so healthy!

The first kit I have been using nearly everyday has been this manicure kit. It was a present from a friend from a little boutique in New York, so unfortunately I cannot find it online! However Tweezerman do a similar kit (click to view) and I also found similar ones on Amazon from the brand Hoter (1) (2). 

I absolutely love this kit. It contains a cuticle pusher, tweezers, a nail cleaner, a nail file, cuticle scissors and a nail clipper. This is basically everything I need to groom (if that's the right word?!) my nails. I especially adore the tweezers and nail clippers. They both are really easy to use and very precise, so they allow me to make both of these jobs as pain free as possible! The tweezers are also great for eyebrows as they are so accurate and allow you to pluck individual hairs at a time.

Another kit I've been using a lot is this nail care kit from H&M. It cost a very bank account friendly £1.50 and I have been loving using it. It contains a very effective nail file, nail brush, cuticle pusher and a File/Smooth/Buff/Shine block. I will use the nail brush first, cleaning my nails with hot soapy water. Then I will allow my nails to dry while pushing back my cuticles with the rubber topped pusher. Then once my nails are dry I will file them with the individual nail file. This file is very effective and abrasive, filing my nails in seconds. Then it's time for the block. I use it to smooth off my filed nails, then buff and shine them until they are glossy and healthy. I will buff and shine the entire surface of my nails, allowing my polish to apply a lot more smoothly.

I would really recommend buying a manicure/nail care kit, especially the one from H&M - a steal at £1.50! Let me know about your experiences of nail care and leave your tips in the comments below! xx

1S2L Tutorial #1 | Duo Eyeliner

 This is the start of my 1S2L series which stands for "One Style Two Looks" in which I will show you how to take a trend and wear it in two different ways to suit different events, times of year or even just your mood!

As much as I love my neutral eye looks, I was getting a little bored with your traditional light all over the lid colour with a smudgy brown in the crease. While looking through my makeup drawers (which I made here) I found a turquoise eyeliner I hadn't used in a while and was wondering how I could use it without making my eyes look too crazy! So I came up with the idea of using a duo liner look to really make your eyes pop!
 

First of all, I primed my eyes with an illuminating concealer and a neutral wash of a sand coloured eyeshadow. I also highlighted my brow bones with a creamy white eyeshadow.

For my first look I created a thick line with the turquoise eyeliner, winging it out slightly. I did so by drawing the upper line and then colouring in down to the lash line.

Then, to create the duo eyeliner effect, sweep a fine line of black liquid liner across the lashline. Please excuse my rather shakey eyeliner skills - hand eye co-ordination was never my strong point!

You could finish the look there, or for extra sparkle sweep a purple glitter liquid eyeliner or some purple loose pigment glitter across the lashline, over the top of the black. Gaga eat your heart out! Finish with a few coats of mascara or a pair of falsies and you're done! However, despite how fun this look is, it might not go down too well at the office. For a more natural daytime look, read on!

For my second look I used a golden eyeliner to create a thick line with a slight wing. I then lined my upper lash line with a chocolate brown eyeliner to create this lovely neutral look.

If you want to spice it up a little, simply line your waterline with the chocolate brown eyeliner and smudge some of the gold eyeliner just beneath your lower lashes. Finish with one coat of brown or black mascara - it's up to you!

And you're done! Two fab, very different looks using the same technique! Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to send me a few pictures if you've tried out this look yourself! x

Products used: Rimmel Match Perfecting Illuminating Concealer, MUA Heaven & Earth palette, 17 Perfect Definition Eyeliner in Emerald Green, Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in 100% Black, Nkdskn Glojob iGroove Eyeliner, Bourjois Kohl and Contour Shadow and Light duo eyeliner in Brun/Caramel, Maybelline the Colossal Volum' Express mascara.