ELIE SAAB FALL 2010

If theres any collection that can typify the essence of fall it would be the Elie Saab's Autumn/Winter 2010. It summarises Autumn to a 'T' in the colour palette to design and textures. With colours think red wine, pale mustard yellow, taupes, just like those of  falling autumn leaves. The collection favours velvet, ruching, beading, chiffon lace, and dyed fabrics to look like a flame type pattern. This is a very sheek and glamorous collection.

 

 

 

 

REVLON COLORBURST LIPSTICKS

So finally these little babies have reached the shores of the United Kingdom. I have heard so many good things about them and now have a chance to try them out. I got 2 first of all to try out, Carnation and Peach. There are only a few shades available in the UK (maybe 5 or 6 to choose from?).

 Colorburst in Carnation 

Colorburst in Peach

The slogan is 'Luxurious, rich color that feels virtually weightless'. Well, I do think that the packaging is nice for a drugstore lipstick and they do feel light on the lips (like your wearing something slightly heavier than lip balm). The texture is smooth and velvety and is does not dry my lips out too much like some lipsticks do. There is not really a scent, so nothing obnoxious for those that can't stand smelly lipsticks. I don't mind it but I personally like a nice scent to my beauty products (such as the vanillery smell of the MAC lipsticks). But I can live with it. Retailing at £7.99 it's on the higher price range of drugstore lipsticks but when you get it on a 3 for 2 deal at Superdrug it is worth it.

Here are some swatches of it on my lips (starting from Carnation and then Peach)...

OK all positive points so far but what do I really think? It's nice and I will probably get more colours to try out but, there is always a but.... (I'm letting this picture do the talking!)

 Booo... :(

I'm gutted! First time of using Carnation the base of the stick started shifting. Is it because the formation is just so creamy or did I just get a dud? Anyway the Peach one is still going strong but I am wary. Has anyone else had this problem?

STILA MANIA

A couple of days ago I stumbled across a great deal... Stila Cosmetics for under £6! I just couldn't pass up this great offer. I bought a few products and might even go back for more as a deal like this is hard to come by. For all of you in the UK hop over to your nearest TJ Hughes to check this out. If you don't have one close by you can buy online and have it delivered with a small charge.

I bought the Marrakesh Eye Shadow Quad, Sun Highlighter powder, All Over Shimmer power, and Sheer Colour Tinted Moisteriser. I love the packaging, there's something about the card board packaging that makes this brand have an old school feel and distinguishes it from the other products out in the market.

 

I love the eyeshadow quad. It's very pigmented and goes on smoothly. This cost me $5.99 and that is a savings of over £20 I believe. You can see how shimmery these colours are but they aren't chunky :)

The next item is the All over shimmer face illuminizer. This is nice but definitely to be used sparingly. It is very shimmery. I would almost say that this will be more of a going out night time product.

The Stila Sun Highlighter gives you a nice all over glow and colour. Again I have to use sparingly. It spreads very easily but you can get carried away. Be warned you may end up looking like a shiny disco ball. I would say another night product. If you haven't already gathered a lot of these Stila products are very pigmented and shimmery. I would say that I can see myself use the eyeshadows most. I can handle shimmer on my eyes. I like 'glow' in some parts of my face but all over shimmer in broad daylight can be a bit scary.

The last product is a tinted moisteriser. I haven't used one of these in years. If I wanted a lighter coverage I would generally just mix my foundations with a moisteriser. This product really surprised me. For a 'light' foundation it gave me quite a nice finish and coverage. I think I will be using this one quite a bit for the hot summer days to come (fingers crossed).

I hope you enjoy the swatches and if your in the market for Stila products check out TJ Hughes.

INSPIRATIONAL HAIR STYLES

I've always had a fascination in the ideology of female beauty. It is intriguing to learn why we find certain features in women beautiful as apposed to others. A very common association for beauty is hair. The length, colour, and texture of your locks can change the way people see you and how you see yourself. It could mean as much as giving you self assurance and confidence. Although I can't stand people who are self-absorbed and fake, I am all for anything that makes you feel good about yourself.

This post is particular dedicated to full and long locks that form part of the phyche of female beauty. Throughout history we have always thought of the perfect female as having long and lucious locks. People have become increasingly obssessed with hair extensions, products, and styling tools that give them that 'ideal' look.

I use to have my hair quite short and after time I started to grow it long again. It reached a point where I am scared to have it cut, in case the hairdresser takes too much off (which they often do - I think it is part of the job description!) It has been about 2-3 months since my last trim and it is about time for my next appointment. I am still aiming towards the 'Victoria Secret' style hair... but I think I will need a team of experts! But none-the-less here are a few inspirational photos of hair styles that I save whenever I come across them online.

Victoria Secrets Model Doutzen Kroes

Victoria Secrets Model Adriana Lima

Jessica Alba

Yes another Victoria Secrets model Miranda Kerr

Kim Kardashian

Megan Fox

Yes I know all these ladies are probably no strangers to hair extensions, and I suppose good genes don't hurt either! But don't they look amazing?

SPLASH OF FUN

Wearing: Jacket by Dorothy Perkins, Leggings by H & M, Singlet top/dress by Supre, Shoes by Mystify

I like mixing staple pieces (in terms of colour and cut) with something a bit more interesting whether it be the colour, pattern or detail. In this case it was a bright top.

I had a day off work yesterday and was blessed with lovely weather. I'd much prefer going out and doing something on a day off then to mope around home doing nothing. Don't get me wrong I love relaxing and doing nothing sometimes but on good days I just don't want to waste it. You don't get many of those in Ireland.
 
Some things I love about Spring: the smell of freshly cut grass, the cherry blossoms around my flat (we sometimes see people stop and take pictures), and the warm sun hitting my skin. People are just a lot happier in Spring and Summer. I know that I am. I am missing my home in Australia quite a bit these days, especially when it is a windy and dreary day. Sometimes when it is sunny I close my eyes and imagine that I am laying on a beach back home :)

COSTUME INSTITUTE GALA 2010

This year at the 2010 Costume Institute Gala there were a few outfits which caught my attention.

Hilary Rhoda wears a stunningly cut and fitted red Prabal Gurung Dress. This dress shows us an edgier side to Hilary yet does not draw away from her natural beauty.

Blair Lively, always has an eye for detail, wears a stunning electric blue Marchesa dress. Perfectly fitted and flattering. It shows off her youthfulness and beauty.

What can I say, Emma Watson just doesn't get it wrong these days. After a campagin or two for Burberry it is not surprising that it would be her choice of outfit.

Camilla Belle looks like a goddess (exotic and elegant) in this gorgeous dress by Jason Wu. A simple yet beautifully structured dress which looks like it was designed for Camilla. It fits her perfectly and shows off her beautiful figure and face.

PASTEL NAILS

Pastel nails are perfect for Spring. They are like a breath of fresh air to the darker colours of winter and the pinks and reds that are very much the norm. Don't get me wrong I still love the classic and non offensive nail colour but something different is exciting to try out.

The 3 pastel colours I love at the moment are, in no particular order, Bikini Blue by Jessica, Barry M's Pale Purple and Mint Candy Apple by Essie. Gorgeous colours and I always have compliments when I wear them. The quality for these are decent. They can be a little streaky (like any other milky light colours) so at least 2 coats are required. I would suggest layering these with the thinest possible layers each time to make it as even as possible. But honestly it is not that much of a problem. I find that by using a super glossy top coat you can get away with many minor flaws.

Barry M Pale Purple

Jessica Bikini Blue

Essie Mint Candy Apple

Out of all of these I think the Pale Purple is the easiest to wear. I absolutely love this colour and it would suit just about anybody.

A few things I would say about pastel nails... I personally find that shorter nails are more flattering for these colours. You also need close to perfect cuticles. As the colours are generally quite bright this tends to draw attention to your nails and the state of your cuticles!

NUDE PINK LIPSTICKS

We generally associate Spring with light, almost girly colours like pink. But I don't think you need to use Spring as an excuse to wear Pink nudey lips at any time of the year. I just love the affect of a light pink lip, so feminine, soft and flattering.

As I have quite a lot of nude pink lipsticks I thought I would do a post dedicated to some of them. Although they may look similar they all have different textures and finishes. Each feel and act differently on the lips. Some are a pleasure to wear and some take more effort.

Here are some swatches.

Probably my favourite out of the bunch is Plink! Amazingly smooth finish and it is flattering on pale and tan. The formula very moisturising (almost like a lip balm even) and the smell of the lipstick is lovely, I would say vanilla scented.

Twinkled Pink is a new addition. I really like it. The formula is not too drying (but not as conditioning as MAC). The colour is a slightly frosty and it has good coverage.

Sweet Pink I love but it would not be my go to lipstick for a special occasion. It is has a milkier finish that the other lipsticks. The formulation is quite conditioning and the smell is sort of a mixture between vanilla and playdo? It is not obnoxious, actually I have grown a kind of fondness towards it.






Fragile Pink was a surprise. You don't expect it to be good because it's so cheap but it is one of my favs. Out of these lipsticks Fragile Pink is probably the 2nd most conditioning apart from Plink! Very smooth and makes your lips soft. It is also easy to wear. Would definitely repurchase.






These ELF lipsticks are nice but I probably won't repurchase. The consistency is not the same for both. I find them not as moisterising as the other lipsticks, especially Runway Pink. Nicely Nude I is a little sheerer and easier to wear as it feels just slightly more moisterising than Runway Pink. Runway pink is lighter in colour and thicker in texture. I need to wear this with caution as it can streak on my lips and it will need constant attention.

My lips are quite pigmented and I need a nude that is able to adapt to my lip colour. For a lot of people the problem is finding a nude that doesn't wash you out and still give that sultry pale lip look. I feel pinky nudes are a lot easier to wear than 'true' nudes. It still gives the face a hint of colour and yet it doesn't over power the rest of the makeup.

Nude lips can look so darn good when done properly. Or so wrong and nasty when not. Let's be honest it is the most unflattering look when a girl is wearing the pale lip and it looks like she has just slapped
zinc on the lips (you know like what the cricket players do). So fake... unless that's the look your going for?

ESSIE DECADENT DIVA

I recently bought a few Essie nail polishes online. One being Decadent Diva. Painted on the nails it is in true likeness to the bottle which is a dark brown, maroon, bronze colour with shimmer. It is a gorgeous flattering colour for I think almost all skin tones. The texture is good and just 2 coats is enough for a flawless finish. Although I am not too fussed on the smell. It has a more than usual plasticy smell, but with the colour payoff I am willing to forgive.

DINNER DATE OUTFIT

Dress by Miss Selfridges, Jacket by Red Herring, Shoes from TK Maxx

This was my outfit for the night to celebrate 4 lovely years with my boyfriend. I have been bargain hunting quite a bit lately on ebay and bought this gorgeous sexy party dress by Miss Selfridges for under £10! I had a great time and felt really nice in this dress although maybe a tad too dressed up for dinner on a week night. None-the-less I don't regret my choice.

GARNIER SOFT ESSENTIALS ROSE WATER TONER

I have not always been a believer of toners but since the past year or so it has taken a strong hold on my daily routine. I now use it morning and night and it has made a big difference with my skin. I have to dedicate this post to the Garnier Soft Essentials Toner. It contains no alcohol and utilises the soothing and hydrating properties of rose water.

I have trialed toners here and there but have never been faithful. With this particular toner I am probably onto my 4-5th bottle and have gotten into the habit of buying back ups! Since using this I have noticed my skin more hydrated. It removes excess dirt and makeup that my cleanser has missed.

This product is multi-purpose. I use it to clean makeup mistakes with a cotton bud. I've used it in the past in conjunction with baby oil to remove eye makeup. I use it to refresh my skin in the morning and have also started to pour it in a spritzer bottle to use to set my makeup, it is that gentle!

Has anyone ever tried this product and what are your experiences with it?

BARCELONA

What I love about traveling is getting to see different cultures, architecture, sample the cuisine and seeing beautiful things that you don't get to see in your own country. I got all that from Spain. What a beautiful city.