Makeup Tip Tuesday | Easier Blending |

I thought I would start a series of posts called Makeup Tip Tuesday which funnily enough will be posted on Tuesdays. There are lots of tips and tricks to be shared around the make up world so I thought I could share a few with you all. I welcome any other suggestions that you may have and they will only be short and sweet posts to maybe give you some ideas and inspiration.

My first Makeup tip is to apply powder to your face before adding contour, blush or bronzer. By doing this after your foundation it enables the rest of your makeup to blend into your skin easier as it has a smooth surface of powder to run over rather than a sticker foundation base. Blending is the key to a good contour as you don't want any harsh lines to give the game away that you aren't as chiseled as you may appear ;)

I hope you like this first quick Tip Tuesday and let me know if you like it and would like to see more.

Hayley xxx

August Glossybox | International Superstars |

As I went to snap the pics for this blog post my camera battery ran out and I have mentioned in previous blog posts my camera is in for repairs and I am borrowing a snazzy camera. I can't quite work out how to charge it yet so I am sorry for this picture lacking post. Anyway, down to the more important things. This months Glossybox was themed around items from all over the world. It couldn't have come at a better time with all the Olympics hype just ending. Many of the items are cult products in that particular country so it's really interesting to get to test things out that I normally wouldn't be able to get my hands on.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Vera Valenti eyeshadow palette. I was so excited to see this however when I swatched it the pigmentation was awful and reminded me of those eyeshadows you used to get in make up sets when I was 5. In saying this, I used a mixture of the dark browns today as a crease colour and after a lot of building up, it actually looked quite good.

The other item which I got excited about was the Alessandro Pro White which claims to optically brighten the appearance of nails which may be yellowed from staining. I have used this once and as it's blue tinged to cancel out the yellow tones, you can see it in some lights which isn't the most flattering. I will have to use this more as I am not sure whether it just claims to brighten the nails once it is on or produce long lasting whitened nails once used for a long period of time.

One of my favourites from the box has to be the All For Eve Eve's Balm which is an easily absorbed recovery balm to help moisturise any dry areas. In the pan, the product just looks like a plain balm however when you touch it, it turns into an oil. I love to use this on my lips while doing makeup ready for the application of a lipstick or gloss.

Lots of lip products in this months box! As an added extra I received the Glossybox Lipstick in Glossy Pink. It is a lovely rasberry pink colour which has a surprisingly smooth texture. After the brush that the Glossybox team sent out a few boxes ago, I was dubious of the Glossybox own brand however this is a really good product. I assume the Lipcote was put in there to team with this product and I have always wanted to try it out. Lipcote is a lipstick sealer which helps to create a more long lasting lip colour. I will definitely be doing a future blog post on this to see whether it is worth the hype or not.

Last of all, I received the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil which is a water soluble cleanser which helps to remove any makeup, dirt or impurities built up on your face during the day. I have used this once and as I have never used an oil cleanser before I didn't really know how to use it. I just whacked it on my face an massaged it in before attempting to use a cotton pad to remove the rest of the oil and makeup. This method didn't really work. The instructions say to wash your face afterwards so I guess I will do it in the shower next time and use a face wash afterwards. Even if it was a fail on my part, I love the concept of an oil cleanser and I think my skin will benefit from it in the winter when it gets super dry.

Hayley xxx

Review | Benefit They're Real Mascara |

I love Mascara. It is the one item that gives me confidence and makes me feel my age, rather than a wide eyed 12 year old child. I have been testing the Benefit They're Real Mascara out for a good few months now and the first time I applied it even my boyfriend pointed out how good my eyelashes looked (that must be a good sign.) I really like the packaging, it has a metal like finish and resembles a mini cocktail shaker so feels sturdy and expensive (which it should do for £18.50 pop!)  The picture below shows the wand way better than any of the pictures I took and I really like it as it has different length plastic bristles with a bristle ball at the end to get into the little nooks and crannies of the eye.

The formulation is not dry at all but it's not super wet which I like. If it is too wet I find it drags my lashes down once I have curled them. Once dry, this mascara does not flake off but on my long eyelashes, it does transfer on to my brow bone. Below are a couple of before and after shots of just the mascara and no other makeup on.

My eyelashes are looking a bit more sparse than usual  however hopefully you can see hoe much length an volume it gives with only one coat. I have so many mascaras on the go at the moment so expect to see more reviews and an empties post coming soon :)

Hayley xxx

Cream Eyeshadow Convert

Recently there has been an influx of cream eyeshadows in both the high street shops and in higher end products. Lots of people are put off by creams as they stereotypically crease and slide all over the place. I personally love them, they are super quick to apply as brushes aren't necessary and they last all day on my eyelids even though they can get quite greasy. If I know I will be wearing the eyeshadow for more than around eight hours I  will however use the e.l.f. eyelid primer which is surprisingly good, especially as it is so cheap. Cream shadows can be either used by themselves or layered under a powder eyeshadow to increase its vibrancy or longevity.

Popular creams include the MAC paintpots (which I have yet to try) as well as the Laura Mercier Creme Eye Colours. If you want a cheaper option you could go with the MeMeMe Dew Pots or my personal favourites, the Maybelline Colour Tattoos. E.l.f. even do their own versions which are part of their studio line and priced at only £3.50.

The first product in the swatch above is the e.l.f. Cream Eyeshadow in the colour Dawn. I love the shimmer that it gives to the lids because it is so effortless but looks really put together once the rest of the make up is done. The middle shade is the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in the colour  40 Permanent Taupe. It's a matte taupe shade which looks great under other eyeshadows. My favourite of the three is the last shade, another Colour Tattoo but in number 35 On and On Bronze. I wear this all over the lid with just a brown eyeliner and lashings of mascara to add some colour and definition. The Maybelline creams are smoother in texure than the e.l.f product which makes the application that little bit easier. They are all however great shades that I  switch between often. The only downfall of the Colour Tattoos are the shade range. The two colours I have are the only ones that to me, are wearable on a day to day basis and I wish we had some of the other neutral shades that came out in the States. I would have loved to see a champagne shade or even a peachy nude shade! Hopefully they will bring out new shades to the UK in the future.

Have you tired any of the products above? I would love any suggestions for any more neutral cream eyeshadows that are available in the UK.

Hayley xxx

NOTD #7: Jazzed Pink

I love painting my nails. I find it almost therapeutic and relaxing to take half an hour once or twice a week to give myself a mini manicure. For a base coat I always use the O.P.I. Nail Envy and at the moment I am also using it as a top coat as I am on the hunt for a good and inexpensive replacement. Any suggestions will be hugely appreciated!

For a base I applied the No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in the shade Pinky Pure. This takes three thin coats to achieve an opaque colour which isn't ideal but it gives a really chic, manicured feel. To jazz it up a bit I decided to layer two coats of the Miss Sporty Sparkle Touch Nail Varnish which has multicoloured glitter particles mixed in and goes with literally any polish. I love this combination which lasts on the nails for around seven days due to the glitter top coat which helps to prevent chips more than one without glitter. The only thing I dread about glitter nails is the painfully long process of taking it off once it starts to chip! Someone really needs to invent something that makes it less taxing :P

You can purchase the pink nail colour here and the glitter polish here. Hope you enjoyed this quick nails post! :)

Hayley xxx

July Favourites

This month I have purchase a few new things which I have loved so I thought there would be no better way of showing you than a favourites post.

I have been looking for the perfect bronzer for a while now as I own the Bourjois 'Chocolate' Bronzer however I found it a bit too orange to be worn all year round. When I was looking at the No7 make up with a £5 voucher in my hand I stumbled across the Starfish Bronzing Powder. There are two sizes, a matte dark shade and a light, shimmery shade and when both are mixed together, gives a beautiful 'sunkissed' glow and makes me look more alive. Even though the packaging is plastic and doesn't feel very luxurious, it holds a mirror which is really useful and the starfish design adds a nice touch. I really love this product and I have been using it literally every day of July on the days I wore make up.

I have been loving lip products this month and the three that I have been rotating are the Revlon Colourburst Lipbutter in Peach Parfait, the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stain in Honey and the Bourjois 3D Effect Lipgloss in Corail Idyllic. Peach Parfait is a shimmery peach shade which is very subtle, but gives a bit of oomph to your lips. (If you are a glitterphobe you will hate this!) It is similar to the Bourjois Lipgloss but a bit more opaque and deeper in colour. My favourite is possibly the Revlon Balm Stain as it stays on all day and the colour can be worn with any outfit or make up combination.

On a day to day basis I don't tend to wear foundation and save it for evenings, events or bad skin days. However, I have worn the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in the shade Universal Glow nearly every day. I must admit, it adds hardly any coverage which I personally like as my skin is blemish free most of the time. When I first squirted it onto my hand to apply it, I nearly ran for the hills as the shade I have comes out literally orange. I have found that using my fingers to apply it works best and once you work it into the skin, it gives a lovely radiant glow. As it is summer and I have a slight tan (which is still fairly pale), it does not look orange on my skin at all so darker skin tones will definitely get on well with it, however in the winter I am not sure I would be able to get away with it so I might look into getting the colour Light. This is my first dabble into BB creams and so far I really like them and am interested in any others if you have any suggestions.

Another product I have used and used in the month of July is the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze. I use my fingers to apply this to my lid and lower lash line then use another favourite, the e.l.f. bamboo bending eye brush to blend out the edges. This creates such an easy eye look with a bit of eyeliner and mascara but I always get compliments on it!

Left to Right: Honey, Corail Idyllic, Peach Parfait, Starfish Bronzing Powder,  On and On Bronze

So, that is the round up of my favourites this month and I have really enjoyed all of the products I mentioned. Above I have included swatches which I hope you like as personally, I really enjoy posts that include a lot of photos and swatches. I am impressed with the make up Revlon and Maybelline are producing at the moment as they aren't brands that have stood out to me before.

Hayley xxx

7 Things for 7 Days: August

As I enjoyed last months 7 Things for 7 Days I thought I would do it again this month. If you don't know the idea behind it please visit Louise's blog post for more info but basically it is about realistic goal setting. So in August I will:

Exercise 

As i have a bit more free time I have decided to make an attempt to get fit. The aim wont be to loose weight or anything, just to balance my lifestyle out a bit more. The first step was to purchase trainers which I did yesterday as when I started to get ready for a run I realised  didn't actually have any that fit!

Keep Calm

This is the month of the dreaded A Level results and if worst comes to worst I vow to stay calm and try not to feel like it is the end of the world :P

Pamper

This was in last months post however I plan to do a bit more pampering as for my mums birthday I have booked her and I a spa day which I am so so excited about. 

Watch

Only people living with no social  interaction and have been living under a rock for the last seven years will not know about the London Olympics. I am really enjoying watching the odd event, especially the swimming, rowing and cycling. Also, Team GB won two golds today which is great!

Spread the Love

Next week I should be getting a kitten! I already have one cat and I don't want it to feel left out and unloved so need to be able to distribute my attention between a cute, over excitable kitten and an older, jealous cat.

Save

As I have mentioned before, I will hopefully be going to uni and I need to save up. As my laptop is on its last legs, I am currently saving up for a macbook pro which should last me the three years easily :) 

Friends

I am going to Thorpe Park with a few friends next week and I will hopefully plan more get togethers however it is quite difficult as most of my friends have jobs and are busy in the evenings.

Thanks for reading my 7 Things for 7 Days and be sure to do one yourself!

Hayley xxx

Nail Tutorial: Scalloped Nails

I am in no way a professional here however I do like nail polish and every so often I dabble in nail art only to be defeated by shaky hands and impatients. However, I thought I would share this scalloped inspired nail tutorial as it is so easy but effective at the same time. It has people going 'ohhhh how did you do that?!'

Firstly, apply a base coat. This is not essential if you only paint your nails a few times a year for special occasions however it is for someone like me to prevent staining. I have the O.P.I. Nail Envy which also helps to strengthen the nails. You then need to pick three other colours that have a high opacity and complement each other. All my nail colours didn't have any shimmer or glitter to them which I think makes the overall look more effective. My base colour was Ciate's paint pot in Bon Bon and my other colours were both  Maxfactor mini nail polishes in Soft Toffee and Cool Jade.

Apply your chosen nail colour to your nails until you reach an opaque finish, I chose a muted/dusky lilac colour and applied two coats before letting it dry fully.

Then, taking your second colour get your brush with a lot of product on the end and 'blob' it near the base of the nail to create the circular scallop and drag your brush up towards the tip. A thin circular brush is perfect for this (I normally hate these brushes) however if you have any fat and flat brushes just turn them 90 degrees to the thinnest part to apply the polish. Repeat this step going closer and closer to the tip every time to create the scalloped effect. This took four stages on each of my nails but may take more or less depending on how wide your nails are or how thick you want the scallops. 

Repeat the above steps with your third chosen colour, I chose a soft jade just for a bit more vibrancy but as it was still muted I felt it tied in well with the other colours. Apply your top coat and you're done :)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and be sure to try it because it is so quick to do. Please do send me any pics of your attempt via twitter.

Hayley xxx

How To Style: Official Olympic Scarf

After seeing this scarf in a magazine I decided to get the official paralympics version because I thought of no better way for me to show my support and enthusiasm for the games, both team GB and paralympics GB. I am not a huge sports person however I do love a good old celebration as everyone is in high spirits. I then saw photos of different people wearing them in different ways so I thought I would do this post for inspiration as the opening ceremony is tomorrow. I know I primarily am a beauty blogger however it's nice to spice things up every so often. Directly below is a picture of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge sporting the same scarf and the following pictures are of how I would style it. I like to wear a plain top, jeans and a black leather jacket with this scarf as it accentuates the colours.

Hayley xxx

Glossybox: July 2012

This is just going to be a quick post to give you a sneak peak of what I received in my July Glossybox. The theme of this one is surrounded by festivals and includes five samples plus a bonus product. Also, as a quick side note, my camera has gone to repairs so I am borrowing a snazzy DSLR which will greatly improve picture quality for the next few weeks.

Probably the most disappointing thing I received in my box was yet another perfume. I don't mind getting the odd sample here and there however I have for every single box I have got so far whereas other peoples boxes haven't. This may have been something to do with my profile as you can select sample preferences and I had selected 'all'. I have since narrowed it down to only skincare, makeup and haircare. Anyway, this is the Bex London  Londoner Urban Fragrance which actually smells ok however the full size bottle is a whopping £8.

This is the Paul Mitchell Moisture Mist which I was quite excited about as moisture/cooling/refreshing sprays are something I have wanted to try ever since the infamous Caudalie Beauty Elixer came onto the scene. This one has a bit of a twist however as it can be used on  both the skin and hair which is great for the summer. The full size is a reasonable £9.25 for 250ml and the sample I have is a very generous 100ml. The smell isn't in your face at all and I look forward to giving this a go.

Above is the Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frosting which is a multifunctional cream gloss which can be used on the lips and cheeks. I have used it on the lips and it gives a nice sheer colour however seems too greasy to be used as a blush however I have yet to test it on my cheeks. Mine is the Irish cream pavlova scent which smells delicious. This is priced at £10 for 15ml which I think is quite a lot for a mediocre gloss.

I was very excited to receive an eye gel in my box as I don't yet use eye creams because I deem myself too young. However prevention is the best cure and I planned to start using an eye cream/gel casually once I found one that was light, decent and not overpriced. This Monu eye cool gel claims to revive and tone tired eyes as well as reduce puffiness (which I don't especially need) and dark circles (which I really do need.) The sample is  20ml which is actually more than the full sized version which is just £15 ml and priced at £16.95. This is one of the reason why I love Glossybox as I get to try great products that I usually would not spend my money on.

This is the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse  which is basically a dry oil which you can apply to your face, hair and body. I plan to save this to use in the Autumn/Winter months as my skin gets dry (and when I say dry I mean extremely dry!) If you were to purchase this product yourself it would set you back £17.50 for  50ml.

The last product I received was the bonus product which was a trio of Elizabeth Arden products. I got the Gentle hydrating Cleanser, the Optimizing Skin Serum and the Gentle Hydrating Cream SPF 15 which are all part of the Visible Difference skincare range. I look forward to using these and if you present the card at any Debenhams Elizabeth Arden counter you receive a free deluxe sample which I will definitely try and get my hands on.

That's it for the Glossybox round up. I have seen some other boxes which included the HD bows kit which I was so jealous of because I wasn't a subscriber last year when it got put in the boxes and really wanted it then. Ohhh well my brows will have to endure the MUA clear mascara for a little while longer. What was in your Glossybox that wasn't in mine?

Hayley xxx

NOTD #6: Petrol Nails!

Ever since the release of Chanel's Peridot, other brands such at Ciaté and Models Own have released 'petrol' inspired duo chrome shades. After looking at swatches online they were all proved to be identical which drove me to find Topshop's version. I knew I had seen a Topshop nail polish similar to Peridot however my tiny stored only had basic shades on offer. So when I went to a larger store I quickly snapped up the shade 'Hidden Treasure'. Even my boyfriend was urging me to buy it because of how cool it looked in the bottle, you know you are on to a winner when a male is impressed by a nail polish!

This polish was priced at £6.00 which I think is very decent as you only need two coats for full opacity. I have had no chips for five days now and it is still going strong which is amazing. I haven't tried any other Topshop nail polishes but after this one, I am keen to try them out. I have decided to add  few more pictures than normal to this NOTD as it was hard to capture its true colour and beauty!

In a lot of light, this polish on your nails can look either predominantly green or goldy orange however in some lights you can really see the mix of blue, green, yellow and orange which makes it look a lot like an oil slick.

I hope you don't mind such a long blog post for one nail varnish but I thought it deserved it as I can stop looking at my nails and I have had so many compliments. What is your current nail polish fav?

Hayley xxx 

 P.s. I know these pictures aren't of the best quality however my camera is playing up and  need to take it back :( Thank god it is still within its one year warranty! 

My Current Wishlist #2

Top Left: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation Top Right: Naked 2 Palette (really can't decide which I prefer, the original or the second??)

 Bottom Left: No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water Bottom Middle: Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Emerveillé Bottom Right: MeMeMe Beat The Blues Face Illuminator in Moonbeam

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

Revlon are quickly becoming my favourite high street make-up brand. I love the colourstay foundation as well as their eyeliners, eyeshadows and lipsticks. I never really used to gravitate towards lip products because frankly, I am far to lazy to re apply and check for smudging or lipstick on teeth situations... Since the release of the Lip Butters which are a more moisturising lip balm/ lipstick hybrid, I have really been getting into a bit of colour on my lips. As soon as I heard about these balm stains I knew I was in for a winner. Moisture + long lasting colour = lip perfection.

I ventured into superdrug only to find they were all sold out minus the colour Crush (a browny mauve) which didn't really float my boat. I decided to take a look in Boots and there were only a few of each so I quickly grabbed the colour Honey. The boots website and the actual store seem to sell slightly different colours as Honey isn't on the website however six other lovely shades are (lovesick I am looking at you). The name Honey to me suggests a browny toned maybe peacher shade but in reality it is more of a dusky, rose pink. It is one of the most subtle and mature shades out of the collection however as I am just venturing into the world of lip products I thought I would go with the safe option and I am in no way disappointed.

From the picture above you can probably see why these stains have been compared to the Clinique Chubby Sticks. In looks they are nearly identical however in consistency they are different. I haven't tried the Chubby Sticks however from what I have read they are unscented and a little bland compared to the minty and vibrant Revlon balm stains. 

The formulation is slightly waxy and very smooth which gives a moisturised sheen to the lips. You can either apply the product very sheerly or pack the product on to create a rather opaque colour. I would say the colour lasts a good five to six hours (being optimistic) before you need to reapply which is brilliant for such a moisurising lip balm. I guess this is thanks to the built in stain (why is this property not put into every lip product?!)

Above is the colour Honey applied to the lips as well as swatches. I love these so much that I will definitely be picking up more. They are priced at £7.99 which is great however in both Superdrug and Boots they are on offer for £2 off which is even better!

Have you tried these yet? Which colours would you recommend me to try next?

Hayley xxx

7 Things for 7 Days: July

Firstly I would like to say hello to my new followers because numbers and views have doubled and tripled in the last month. I normally put around two to four posts up a week and I know recently I have been lacking in that department however with exams I feel I don't really need any more distractions. You will be please to know that from this time next week I will be throwing so many blog posts at you, you'll go into Hayley overload and as I love blogging, I am very excited. 

As a quick post I thought I would join in with the 7 things for 7 days post in which Louise has made interactive.

Read Louise's post here

Revise

With only 3 three exams left until I finish my A levels I have been revising like a mad woman and nearing the end I really feel like giving up and taking the exams as they come. But I have a lot planned for the summer so that should keep me motivated!

Relax

As I said, after my exams are done in three days time I will be able to relax and not feel guilty which hasn't happened in around two years now since my A levels started.

Pamper

As I am soon to leave school, my ball/prom is very soon so I plan to do a whole at home pampering session which will include a manicure, pedicure, hair treatment and face mask. Bliss!

Read

I love to read. It's one of the main reasons I chose English Lit as an A level choice however with revision I just don't have time to read for pleasure. I can't wait to get into it again.

Expand

I know my blog is only a tiny tiny fish in a massive sea of beauty blogs however I have big plans to really expand my blog over the summer and make it as good as it can be. Blogging is something I enjoy a lot so I am excited to expand my blog and create new content.

Organise

Once my exams are over I plan to completely de clutter my room in order to create a more relaxed atmosphere. With all those past exam papers and text books gone everything will seem so much more neat and tidy. Also, as I go on holiday soon, I need to organise what I am taking and stock up on essentials.

Plan

I love planning my weeks and weekends because then I know what I have to look forward too so school and work don't seem as pointless. Before I go to Uni, there is a lot of time and I plan to do as much as possible with my friends before we all go our separate ways.

I hope you have enjoyed this little post and be sure to check out Louise's Blog post too!

Hayley xxx

How to tell if your MAC Blush is a fake

I thought I would write this post after my bad experience with fake MAC products which you can read more about here. After I suspected my purchase was fake I went and googled it to find comparisons however I found it very difficult to find posts that included pictures. As you will see I bought Harmony Blush from cheapsmells.com which when compared with a shop bought blush, was completely different in packaging, shade and texture. Now, I am no MAC expert however this post is just from what I have experienced and seen.

Left: Real,  Right: Fake

The main thing that gave the fake blush away was the packaging and especially the use of slightly yellow tinted writing compared to the more grey toned genuine product. Also, another big giveaway was the code on the fake one (A59) shows that the blush was manufactured in 2009 which seems very old whereas as you can see from the picture, the real blush was made in 2012 (A12). Apart from these two main differences the packaging was very similar.

Left: Real,  Right: Fake 

The MAC logo on the fake was pretty good if only a little larger and thinner than the real. The camera shows up the colour difference quite well as when I got the fake, it was more orange toned compared to swatches I had seen online. The real product is cooler in tone and more rose based which is what makes it such a great contour for pale skinned girls like myself.

Left: Real,  Right: Fake

Another massive giveaway was that the ingredients on the fake didn't correspond with the real product. This shows that you shouldn't be ok with buying fake products for their name just because they are cheap due to all the nasty chemicals that may have been added to them to make it look like the real thing.

Left: Real,  Right: Fake

Last of all, another killer giveaway was the fact that the product name and  barcode on the fake were stuck on whilst on the real thing, they were printed. The stickers just seem like a lazy and cheaper option compared to the real MAC packaging.

I really hope this post was helpful to anyone who suspects a fake product or anyone who wants to get wised  up on what fake MAC blushes look like for the future. Anyone had any other experiences with any fake products?

Hayley xxx