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!