FOTD

I have been debating whether or not to do a FOTD post for a while now. Reason being that every time time I go to post one I feel really vain doing so - that's not to say that I think beauty bloggers who do it are vain - not at all. I find FOTD posts are a great way to showcase what makeup brands are truly like on the everyday person, and you gain an insight into new ways of using make-up. I've just always felt self conscious about doing one, but I have finally decided to take the plunge. I thought today would be as good a day as ever to start since I am trying out a new lip colour and would love to hear your thoughts on it.

So here goes... my first FOTD. 

Eau Thermale Avène Cleanance

M.A.C Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20

M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid in NC40

The Body Shop Bronzing Powder in Shade 03

M.A.C Sheertone Blush in Pinch O' Peach

M.A.C Studio Fix Powder in NC30

M.A.C Fluidline in Blacktrack

L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes (Luminizer Blue Eyes)

MUA Lipstick in shade 13

I'm not really sure if the red lipstick suits me or if it makes me look more like a circus act. What do you reckon? Are you a fan of red lips in general?

I will be doing a full review on MUA's lipstick soon.

I hope you are all doing well.

Side note -  I have placed the products in order of application.

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No Longer A Fake Bake Virgin

I am a girl who loves a bit of fakerage, especially when it comes to tanning, and for almost 4 years now I have stayed loyal to Garnier Summer Body Lotion. Ok, so it's not quite a fake tan, but it leaves me with the desired effect. The best part is that it gives me an even coverage that lasts for over a week after just one application. However, for the past couple of weeks I have been working at the PR company who looks after Fake Bake, and they said I could take home some goodies. So I decided it was about time I tried 'real' fake tans rather than moisturisers. I opted for Fake Bake's Original formula as I wanted something that would last - I do not want to waste my time on something which will only wash off in the morning!  

Without further ado here are the before and after shots:

I prepared the skin by exfoliating with Fake Bake's Passion Fruit Body Polish a few hours before applying fake tan. After this the instructions say to just use it once a week to keep your tan looking it's best.

You get two very attractive looking blue gloves to apply the fake tan with, but after a couple of times of using them I found that the tan started to streak more. I'm guessing it's because of build up from the previous usages and they had started to stretch a lil' but I can't say for sure.  Once I started using a mitt though I found it real easy to apply and it hasn't streaked since - Yay!

I am pretty impressed with Fake Bake's coverage, however quite a bit did wash off in the shower the next morning so you do need to re-apply a few days in a row to gain the right coverage - though to be fair to Fake Bake this is written on the care sheet that comes with the tanning lotion. Once you have achieved your desired colouring you only need to apply once a week in order to keep your tan looking luscious.

I should add that it does have a distinct fake tan smell. My boyfriend described it as 'a tramp's BO'... I'm not too sure about that one!! I would say it's more of a musky sort of smell but it does disappear once you have a shower. For any of you who have a problem with the smell, I would suggest applying it before you go to bed at night to ensure that the tan has enough time to develop and then just shower in the morning - that way nobody has to know that you are faking it.

My overall opinion is that I will always love my Garnier Summer Body Lotion. However, Fake Bake will be my go to tanning lotion for a darker complexion and definitely gets my seal of approval. 

I also got my hands on Fake Bake's Face formula which I will be trying out over the next week or so. I will let you guys know how I get on with that. 

You can browse Fake Bake's range by clicking here

Fake Bake's Original formula can be purchased from here

Shellac Who?

I am wearing Black Tulip on my nails

On the second day of my work placement I was offered the chance to be a, well, I don't really know what you would call it, a hand model? Basically I had to make a mad dash across London to attend a meeting and have Gellux nail polish applied to my nails to show a possible client what it was like. 

The Facts:

- Have you heard of Shellac? Of course you have... Well Gellux nails provide a new twist to this already extremely popular mani.

- Instead of curing the nail with UV it uses LED which means a faster application but without the compromise of lasting power

- The treatment is perfect for people like me who are 'hard' on their nails e.g. normal nail polish chips within two days

- The nail polish lasts up to 3 weeks before chipping occurs

- Gellux have 24 colours to choose from so you will be spoilt for choice! (check out the colour range below)

- It costs around £30

Up Close

Both pictures of my nails were taken 5 days after application, and as you can see there is no chipping in sight! I also love the way it keeps hold of it's glossy finish and the colour doesn't transfer when handling things such as paper. This mani would be perfect for special occasions and if you are going away on holiday.

The Gellux Colour Chart

My only complaint is that, unless you are trained in the removal of gel nails, you have to go back to a beauty salon in order to have them removed without damaging the nail.

Have you tried Gellux or other gel nail brands before? If so what do you make of them?

A Great Pick Me Up

A coral shade is definitely my go to nail varnish colour during the summer months and has been for at least two years now. 

Since it has been pretty dull and depressing these last couple of weeks I decided to cheer myself up by painting my nails coral... little things please little minds as they say...

Collection 2000 - Tutti Fruity

I can't seem to find the shade online, but I know that Avon does a similar one called Coral Reef.

What's your go to shade for summer OR winter (seeming as it's almost upon us)?

I have also exfoliated, shaved and prepped - ready to try out a new fake tan tonight... slightly nervous as I have never strayed from my trusty Garnier SummerBody Lotion. Lets hope I don't turn orange!!

Become a FashionistA with The Saturdays nail polish line

It seems like every celebrity is desperate to get their hands on a slice of the health & beauty industry these days - from eyelashes by Girls Aloud to condoms by JLS - and incase you haven't heard The Saturdays have now got in on the action and have teamed up with FashionistA to create a new range of nail polishes. Using the revolutionising Magnetism Nail Lacquer each of the girls has created their own unique colour. Frankie's shade is Notorious Silver, Mollie's is Purple Me Up, Rochelle's is All Fired Up Red, Una's is Ego Green, and Vanessa's is Forever is Blue.

The Magnetism Nail Lacquer works by by applying two coats of nail varnish and then hovering a special magnet over the top for around 10seconds. I think this is such a neat idea and I cannot wait until it is out in the shops on 26th September!

What do you girls think about it?

Loving Liz

I have heard so many people rave about Liz Earle's multi-awarding winning Cleanse & Polish that I just had to get my hands on it. 

Firstly, I just wanna say that I am super impressed by Liz Earle's high level of customer service as I ordered it on Thursday, and baring in mind that I am in Holland right now, it arrived on Saturday! I looked into getting one of the travel packs just so that I could get a Liz Earle wash bag. Sad? Extremely! But to my great surprise the Cleanse & Polish comes in a real cute bag so that will excite my 'needs' for now :) I also received a complimentory 50ml pot of Instant Boost Skin Tonic with my order, which made me a real happy customer :) 

Now, onto the actual product. I normally don't notice much of a difference when using skincare products, so that's probably why I have never really bothered sticking to a proper routine. However, I have definitely noticed a difference with Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish. My spots are disappearing, my skin is suuuuper soft, and my oily complexion seems to be calming down. A big thumbs up to Liz Earle!

I have only been using it for a few days so far, so I have yet to see whether it stands the test of time, but I can already report that it has yet to disappoint. I am also trying to start up a proper skincare regime so we shall see if this becomes a staple in that routine.

Let me know what your thoughts are on the Liz Earle range :)

Beauty Confidential

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If you have a love for expensive beauty brands, like me, then you need to hot foot it down to your local House of Fraser store asap! They are currently running their annual Beauty Confidential event which, simply put, is gonna save you money! If you spend £50 on beauty and fragrance in store or online then you receive £10 off of one of 20 products handpicked by beauty experts. The event has already started and runs until 25th September.

I know one thing that I will definitely be getting my hands on is the Origins GinZing eye cream. I have heard nothing but good things about it, but at £21 I have been apprehensive about buying it, especially as I have a fairly low budget right now, but House of Fraser have currently got it on offer for £10!!

If you wanna find out more about Beauty Confidential and it's great savings then just click this Link.

Happy shopping everyone :)

Headkandy Hair Extensions

Hey Beauts,

Today I wanna talk to you guys about Headkandy Hair Extensions. I have always been envious of Kim Kardashian's flowing locks but can never be bothered with the upkeep of long hair! So I decided to invest in some hair extensions - that way when I can't be bothered with all the styling I just simply don't put them in. I spent hours researching hair extensions online as I wanted to make sure that I was getting value for money, and the majority of the time Headkandy Hair Extensions came out on top - so naturally I went with the majority. I ended up going for the 20-22" Melted Chocolate hair extensions.

The Facts
*They are made from 100% Remy Human Hair which means that the hairs have been specially selected and are 'sewn onto the weft in the same direction of natural hair growth' (taken from Headkandy's website). As a result you are left with soft, silky, and tangle free hair extensions *
*Each weft is made up of multi tones which means that the extensions blend in a lot better with your natural hair*
*You get 180grams worth of hair extensions when you buy the 20-22" set (it's different for other lengths, so check out their website here)*
*They retail at £79.99 for the 20-22" hair extensions (please check their website for other lengths/prices here)*

*As with many online hair extension companies you can send Headkandy a photo and they will pick out the best shade of extensions for your hair (I did not do this as I was pretty confident that I was Melted Chocolate)*

In the Box
*It comes in a snazzy little black box which is substantial enough for you to store your hair extensions in when not in use*
*The hair is placed into two compartments - the smaller one is so that you can take the hair out and check the length/colour against your natural hair. That way if is not the right one you can send it back without any qualms*
*You also get a little booklet which includes advice on how to clip in, take care of, and dye your new hair extensions*

In the box

How to Clip in Headkandy Hair Extensions

Each weft is cleverly numbered which I love as it makes for easy application, especially if you use that in conjunction with the instructions found in the booklet or online (please see below).

When I was a newbie to hair extensions I did follow the instructions step by step, but I actually found that there was far too much hair! So now I just play around with the wefts every time I wear them. For example, if I don't have much time I'll just put four of the longer wefts in the back of my hair, and then just add one clipped weft on either side of my head. I always back comb each section of hair that will be holding a weft as it gives the clip something to grab hold of and it makes sure that it stays in place all day. I have added a before and after picture below - just so you guys are aware in the after picture I am wearing all of the wefts.

BEFORE

AFTER

Styling
*If I want to achieve a bedhead/curly effect then I use my Babyliss Pro Curl 210 (£18.49 from Boots). Make sure not to clamp the hair extensions against the barrel and instead use your fingers to hold it in place as otherwise you create a kink which is REALLY difficult to get out*
*I find that the extensions hold their curls for around 5-6hours and then start to drop, but even after wearing them for a whole day the curls still look good*
*When I want straight hair I simply use my GHDs to straighten my natural hair and the extensions separately*

Care
*Always, always, ALWAYS use a heat protection spray on your hair extensions as this will keep them looking silky smooth for longer - nobody likes hair extensions with frazzled ends!*
*Make sure that you shampoo and condition your hair extensions regularly. The amount you wash them depends on how many times you wear them e.g. I probably wear my extensions between 2-3 times a week so I wash them every other week or so, whereas someone who wears them daily should wash them once a week. I use the Love Hair Extensions range*
*I also use a daily conditioning spray on my hair extensions which again are from the Love Hair Extensions range*


The Verdict
*I received my Headkandy hair extensions super fast as they came a day after I ordered them*
*I am really impressed with the quality and thickness of the hair extensions - they are just so silky and soft!*
*They are a great purchase if you are newbie to hair extensions because they have the numbers stitched into the top of the wefts and instructions*
*When I use my Babyliss Pro Curl 210 the curls hold for around 5-6 hours so I'm pretty impressed with that*
*I have had my hair extensions for 3months now and they are still in great condition*
*Headkandy suggests that you have wefts 5-10 layered and shaped so that they blend in more with your natural hair. I haven't actually done this yet, but when I get more money I think I will get this done as you can slightly tell where my natural hair ends and the extensions begin, especially when I wear my hair straight*
*They are really comfortable to wear even if you are wearing them for the whole day*
*I would definitely recommend Headkandy Hair Extensions to a friend as they are comfortable, thick, silky smooth, and keep their shine*


You can buy Headkandy Hair Extensions by clicking here

What are your favourite hair extensions?

MUA Professional Eyeshadow Palette Vs Avon 8in1 Eye Palette

Hey Beauts,

I know that MUA's Eyeshadow Palette in Heaven and Earth has pretty much been blogged and youtubed to death, but here's to hoping that I can provide you with a post with a difference. I was looking through my make-up collection the other day and stumbled across Avon's 8in1 Eye Palette in Neutral Tones which is pretty similar to MUA's palette. So I thought why not compare them in a post - so that's exactly what I'm gonna do now.

Similarities

Both palettes consist of very earthy/neutral tones, so perfect for an every day look

They are extremely cheap compared to more expensive, yet similar palettes (mentioning no names!) as MUA's palette comes in at £4 and Avon's palette is £10.50 (currently on offer at £6 on Avon's website)

Differences

The MUA palette is definitely more pigmented compared to Avon's

MUA treats you to an extra four shades than Avon - and it's cheaper!

The MUA shades lasted over 5 hours LONGER than the Avon palette

The MUA palette is more versatile in that the darker shades can be used to create a heavier look for an evening out

Uses

The lighter shades in the Avon palette would work best as highlight colours, whereas the darker shades could be used as contouring and shading colours

As for the MUA palette, you can create an everyday neutral look by using the lighter shades, or go full on out with a heavy bronze smokey eye when using the darker shades

Conclusion

I personally feel that the MUA palette wins hands down as it ticks all the right boxes - it's cheap, versatile, highly pigmented, long lasting etc. Don't get me wrong - I am a big fan of Avon's products, but unfortunately this eyeshadow palette doesn't really do it for me.

What do you guys reckon??

Beauty Tip

Hi Beauts,

I just wanted to share a quick beauty tip with you guys. Acne is the bane of my life so anything that promises to help with, and speed up, the recovery process is tested out in my daily skincare routine. I was reading a magazine about 2 years ago and it talked of how models use a product called Biafine Emulsion to help clear up blemishes, so I thought why not give it a go!

I am so glad that I started using it as it cuts my recovery time in half - normally it takes just under a week for a spot to disappear, but when I apply Biafine the blemish disappears in less than two days! As you can probably tell from the photo I use it a lot but it seems to just last forever cos you only need to apply a tinsy-winsey bit to each blemish.

I will warn you though, unfortunately it is quite hard to get hold of in the UK (my Uncle got it from France for me), but I'm sure you can buy it online and I promise it will be worth it!

Pixiwoo/Avon Launch

Hey Beauts,

At the beginning of this month I got the amazing opportunity to help out the beauty team at more! magazine... and it was just, WOW! During my first week there I was asked if I wanted to go to the Pixiwoo/Avon launch. I have been an avid fan of Avon's make-up for over 6years now, and I have watched pretty much all of Pixiwoo's youtube videos - so naturally I jumped at the chance to go. I just wanted to share my findings with you guys :)

First and foremost I'm afraid this collection won't be out until October, but I just had to share a quick sneak preview with you guys!

When it comes to my eye make-up I am a girl who strives for a high-pigmented colour finish which is forever fashioned on celebrities. Thanks to a little tip from Sam (one half of Pixiwoo) I now know how to create the desired effect! Yipee! Start off by applying Glimmerstick Diamonds Eyeliner (£6) all over the eyelid, then add your chosen shade from the True Colour Eyeshadow Quad (£8.50) and watch the magic happen. The eyeshadow latches onto the Glimmerstick base which enhances the colour to create a more intense, vibrant, and long-lasting finish. Check it out for yourselves below - the faint purple eyeshadow is without the eyeliner underneath, and the more intense colour has got the eyeliner underneath - look at the difference!

Another product that Pixiwoo are launching with Avon is the Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel (£6) which comes in four gorgeous colours - Gleaming Gold, Sequined Turqoise, Violetta Sparkle and Mercury Metal. I can tell that the Sequined Turqouise shade is going to become a staple in my autumn/winter make-up kit as it's just so fresh and different to anything I have tried before.

I was also given a sample of the Glazewear Sparkle Lip Gloss (£6) in Gleaming Gold. It is very sheer but it does leave your lips with a nice gold shimmer. I think it will be the perfect lipgloss for Christmas.

Last but by no means least you have the SuperEnchant Mascara (£8.50). Now, I have always been a fan of Avon's mascaras and I'm happy to say that this one does not disappoint. It enhances my already fairly long lashes and doesn't leave me with a 'spider's leg' effect (which is a pet hate of mine!).

Avon are also proudly celebrating their 125th birthday this year so they gave each of us a personalised Avon goody bag - I will be testing out these products over the next week and a blog will follow.

So what do you reckon girls?? Are you as excited as I am about this launch??

Nails Of The Day: 20/06/2011

Revlon Scented Nail Enamel - £6.49

Right now I am looooving Revlon's scented nail enamel range and us girls are spoilt for choice as they have a grand total of 16 hot summer shades to choose from - I decided to go for 320 Ocean Breeze, 315 Pretty in Papaya, and 360 Bubble Gum. I was slightly doubtful as to how long the scent would last, but so far it has lasted for three days, so I'm pretty impressed. They truly smell scrumptious!  

They are slightly pricey at £6.49 each but right now at Boots they are 3for2.

WARNING - you may get some strange looks from people because you won't be able to stop smelling your freshly painted finger nails!! haha.

My day at more! magazine!

I was one of the lucky five to be picked as one of the 'Superfans' for more! magazine - I had the most AMAZING experience and it has just made me even more hungry for a job in magazines, especially as a beauty editor.

Whilst I was at more! magazine I helped out with choosing headlines, writing copy, sorting out the layout of a few of the pages, and trying out make-up - my idea of heaven!




Articles that I helped out with on the day:

Check back soon because things are only just heating up!

Long lasting make-up testing at more! magazine!

Party Proof Make-up Introduction

 I still can't quite believe it, but I had the amazing opportunity to go and help out on a shoot for more! magazine on Friday 20th May! It opened my eyes to the world of magazine journalism which combines my passion for writing and obsession with beauty products and wraps it all up into one nice lil' bundle. Since then I have been ploughing through the mammoth amount of information available online about magazine journalism and journalism in general to find out exactly what I need to do in order to get my dream job. Journalism, especially magazine journalism is a pretty competitive market to get into, so I know that there are gonna be a lot of tears, let downs, sweat and blood along the way, but I am extremely determined to get there in the end! 

Go check out the new issue of more! magazine

My friends and I rating the make-up

I am loving...

I recently went into The Body Shop and treated myself to some of their shower gels - they were on special offer which was a bonus. They just smell absolutely gorgeous and really get me in the mood for summer. Although they are slightly pricey I would definitely recommend them as they leave your skin feeling refreshed and soft. So what are you waiting for girls, treat yourselves!

Whilst I was in The Body Shop grabbing some other goodies I decided to sign up for the membership card - although it does cost you £5 I think it is definitely worth the money as you get 10% off of your future purchases and free gifts too! Now who can resist free gifts?!

Official Introduction

Hi, my name is Sophie and I have just finished a BA in English. I am obsessed with anything girly and I love a bit of vintage, but then again what girl doesn't? I am currently working part time at a stationary store whilst trying to gain as much work experience in journalism as possible; so I thought what better way to spend my free time than to share my passion for fashion and beauty with you lovelys! 

Expect to see product reviews, best beauty buys, fashion related posts, hauls and the odd hair tutorial thrown in for good measure. I'm new to this so feel free to send in any requests!  

Until next time...

Uni is over... what next?

I am at that disheartening stage in life where I have finished my English degree, and yet I'm still unsure as to what I want to do with my life. I am made to feel like a failure, whether intentional or not, when people constantly ask me, 'so, what are you going to do with your English degree?' - Pure and simple, I have no straight answer for them. Statistics suggest that, on average, people change their careers 5 to 7 times during their lifetime; so it always baffles me when people my age and younger are made to feel like they should know exactly what kind of profession they want to pursue. Saying that, now that I am no longer tied down to looming deadlines and revising for exams I have had a careers meeting, which has opened my eyes to the world of www.prospects.ac.uk. It provides graduates with an insane amount of information, whether you know what you want to do or not. I certainly have a lot of reading to get through over the next few days, if not week. I just wish I'd of known about this site sooner!

I'll let you know how my career search pans out, but until then wish me luck.