7 Sins Tag

The other day I read the lovely Grey Walls 7 Sins Tag and I thought it was such a great post and so I thought I would do my very own 7 Sins...

 

 

Greed

What is your most expensive beauty item?

 

The most expensive beauty item I own is probably my Jo Malone Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub which is an eye watering £68! However this was a gift so the most expensive beauty item I purchased myself would have to be either my Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume or my Dior Fairy Gold Eyeshadow Palette.

 

Wrath

Which beauty item do you have a love/hate relationship with?

 

Probably foundation. I love foundation but sometime I can never find one I love, that is the right colour, the right finish or that lasts long enough. I also have a problem with foundation oxidising a lot.

 

Gluttony

What brand makes up the biggest chunk of your make up collection?

 

For me this would have to be MAC, especially where lipsticks are concerned. They are definitely my favourites.

 

Sloth

What product do you neglect to use due to laziness?

 

I mostly use make up remover wipes to take my make up off at night so some of my more heavy duty cleansers can be neglected and I never use toner (this may all change since I ordered a Clarins toner the other day!).

 

Pride

Which beauty product gives you the most confidence?

 

Mascara definitely gives me the most confidence. It is the one beauty product I probably couldn't live without. I love having long dark thick lashes.

 

Lust

What item is at the top of your beauty wish list?

 

This has to be Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder. I have been looking for this everywhere but shade 30 seems to be sold out :(

 

Envy

What make up product/look looks great on others but not on yourself?

 

I think smudgy khol liner looks great but on myslef I prefer liquid liner. Also I love the look of almond or stiletto nails on other but don't think they would suit me, I am a square nail girl.

 

I tag everyone so if you do this post then make sure you link it down below so I can check it out!

 

 

 

 

MAC Lipstick In Please Me

 

Please Me is the newest addition to my lipstick collection and no surprise it is yet another MAC one.

I have had my eye on Please Me for a while, MAC describe this as a muted rosey tinted pink. In the picture above it is showing up ever so slightly lighter than in real life. This pink is gorgeous and looks so pretty on adding just the right amount of colour to the lips.

 

 

Please Me is a matte finish lipstick. As ever matte lipsticks are slightly harder to apply in that they don't just glide on like some of the other MAC finishes. It is slightly drying as well so I would recommend popping a bit of lip balm on either before of after applying a matte lipstick. The huge plus for matte finishes is their staying power. They literally don't budge for hours and hours which is nice not to have to reapply all day because lets face it who has time to whip out their lippie constantly?

 

 

I have been getting really in to my matte lips recently and have been loving not having to worry about it getting on my teeth or touching up. I have been slicking a little bit of my Nivea Caramel Cream Lip Butter over the top to keep my lips hydrated.

 

I have been wearing this pretty pink lipstick with bronzed skin, my Avon Pink Sands Quad and flicked out liner.

 

What do you think of Please Me?

 

 

Holiday Health Kick

It's that time of year again when everyone starts their health kicks in preparation for summer time and holidays. I'm no exception. The weather in Scotland has only just started to feel like spring time in the last few days with the sun shining and temperature rising. It has put me in the mood to start thinking about holidays and cute summer dresses. It has also made me more focused on my healthy eating and exercise. Now my exams are over I am definitely going to step up my exercise regime now that I have more free time.

One activity I am looking to take up is swimming. It is such a great workout burning 500 to 700 calories as well as toning nearly every muscle in the body. I definitely like to look and feel good when I work out and have quite the little workout wardrobe. One thing it lacks though is swimsuits.

I have bikinis and fancier swimsuits but when I want to go swimming to workout bikinis don't really cut it. Usually sporty swimsuits are pretty boring and dull but I managed to find some really nice swimming costumes from a brand called Zoggs. They have lots of great swimwear as well as swim accessorises. The three swimsuits above are my favourites as I think they look really nice and stylish but are very practical. for the working out in. The one of the far left reminds me of the Beyonce Single Ladies video for some reason haha. Definitely check out Zogg's women's swimwear if you are looking for something cute and functional to workout in.

I also invested in a bright pair of running shoes a couples of months back. Aren't they gorgeous?

I have also been loving doing the Tone It Up girl's videos on YouTube. Those girls are inspiration and motivation in themselves. Their videos are great and they have tonnes of different ones to target different areas of the body. I am a huge fan!

 I think I am going to do a little mini health and fitness series so definitely look out for an upcoming health and fitness post. If you want to see the contents of my gym bag then check out my post I did a while back to see my gym bag essentials.

How do you like to workout?

Perfect Polishes For Work

 

I have to be wearing nail polish no matter what. I hate having unpainted nails. I love bright colours but I work in a professional environment and some times hot pink nails just won't do. I love my nudes and pale pinks for wearing to work but also think a classic red nail also looks nice and polished for a working environment. I have put together a selection of my favourite polishes that I think are perfect for work...

 

Top (left to right):

 

Nails Inc Elizabeth Street-this is a really soft creamy pink, similar to Essie's Ballet Slippers. This is subtle and natural looking but extremely polished looking.

 

Dior Vernis in 840- this a beautiful red shade with just a hint of sparkle. I did a blog post on this a few months ago so if you want to see it on my nails click here.

 

Essie Sand Tropez- I think this could be my favourite nude polish of all time. I have raved about this on my blog before. I have this on my nails right now and can't stop looking at them.

 Mavala Nail Colour in Nicosia- this is the perfect neutral shade with a little peach and a little sheen. I wore this to my first graduate job interview and I ended up getting the job so it is my lucky nail polish.

 

Nars Nail Polish in Orgasm- this is such a pretty shade. It is described as a peachy pink with shimmer and it is just that. This goes on quite sheer so you need around 3 coats to get this looking opaque but I love it.

 

 Bottom (left to right):

 

Essie Marabou- this is my go-to pink polish. It isn't too bright but still stands out and just makes your nails look so polish and manicured.

 

Mavala Nail Colour in Rose Shell- this is one of my newest additions to my nail polish collection and already it is a work staple. This is a soft pearlescent pink which is just the perfect shade to wear to work. I blogged about this polish not so long ago. You can see it on my nails here.

 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Black Cherry- I know some people don't like nudes and like to wear darker polishes to work instead. I wear darker colour to work more so in autumn and winter time. Black cherry is the perfect darker work shade, with it being almost an aubergine type colour.

 

Chanel Vernis in Particuliere- this is a classic. Particuliere is the infamous greige Chanel polish. It is classic and very chic looking on the nails. Truly a working girls essential.

 

Nails Inc St James- this a true pillar box red. It is an staple for any nail polish collection regardless of wearing it to work. My nails always look great with this on. You can see it on my nails here.

 

So there you have my round of up of the perfect polishes for work. Hope you might have got some inspiration or found a new shade that you love.

 



Millie Mackintosh Ibiza Lashes

 

I have previously raved about Millie Mackintosh lashes on my blog before. I bought the Soho lashes from her range a while ago and loved them. I have worn them so many times now and they still look brand new. When I spotted that she was bringing out two styles of lashes for summer time I was really excited to try them out. Nouveau lashes and Millie have released two summer styles St Tropez and Ibiza. It was Ibiza that I fell in love with.

 

 

 

These lashes are different from her normal lashes in that you get one set of full strip lashes and two sets of corner lashes. They cost £12.95 which I think is great for 3 sets of high quality lashes. In the set you also get eyelash glue, mini tweezers (these are the cutest things you have ever seen!) and a leaflet showing you how to apply and remove the lashes. I love that you get all these little extras with the lashes. The glue in these lashes is great and really holds the lashes on well.

 

I went for Ibiza as they looked full, fluttery yet natural. I loved that you can wear the corner lashes if you just want that little something extra to your look or the full ones for a more full on effect. The leaflet that came with it suggested layering the corner lashes on top of the full strip for an extra glamourous look. I did exactly that on Saturday night and loved the effect that it gave.

 

These were easy to take off and were still intact, looking brand new. As I have worn my other Millie lashes time and time again, I know I will get good use out of these ones as well. The quality of these lashes are far superior to any others I have tried.

 

I ordered thes online, got free delivery and they arrived really quickly. Can't say enough good things about these lashes! If you are looking for gorgeous lashes to last you all summer then definitely have a look at these. The St Tropez lashes are also pretty and slightly more subtle.

 

What do you think of Millie Mackintosh's summer lashes?

 

 



 

Baking Accessorises

I love beauty but I also love baking. Over the last few years I have perfected my cupcake recipe (find it here) and mastered my icing skills (check out my rose petal cake). I love buying baking accessories such as fancy cupcake cases and things to decorate cakes with. It means that I can use the same basic sponge recipe that I love and just switch things up with the decoration.

I came across a website called www.makebake.com which has hundreds of great and unusual baking supplies. I could go mad and buy so many things.

One of the things they sell are the edible glitters. I adore these for sprinkling over my cupcakes. I have a few but my favourite is the Rainbow Dust Glitter in Twinkle White, this just add the prettiest sparkle to my cup cakes.

I also spotted cupcake domes which I have been searching for everywhere. I love to give my cupcakes to people as gifts so these little clear plastic container are perfect for putting them in. I am definitely going to be ordering some of these. 

If you love baking or are just starting to bake then definitely have a look at the cake decorating supplies from Make Bake because I am sure you will soon become obsessed like me.

Let me know if you try to make my easy peasy cupcakes or how you like to decorate your cupcakes. I am always looking out for new baking ideas :)

Prom Beauty Tips

It's nearly prom season and I know lots of you will be getting ready in the run up to your prom. It's actually scary to think that my own prom was nearly 7 years ago!!!! That makes me feel so old haha. Today I thought I would share some prom beauty tips with you to help you get ready for your big day!

So you want your skin to be looking great for prom so a month before hand try to up your intake of water and make sure you remove your make up every night before bed. This will make sure that your skin is clear and healthy come prom.

You also want to think about how you want to wear your hair for prom and try out a few styles before hand. I love big hair with lots of curls. Hair extensions are the perfect way to add volume or length to your hair and make it look fuller for prom. For lots of different styles and types of hair extensions check out www.pauls-hair-world.co.uk. They also sell lashes, tan and nails products. I love the look of these clip in extensions. 

Make up wise you might want to try this out a couple of weeks before hand as well to make sure you like it. As you will probably be having lots of pictures taken at your prom, its essential to where a foundation that does not contain SPF. This will stop you from getting the scary flash back that makes your face look white in photos. You also want to use a face primer and eyeshadow primer to make your make up last all night and use a setting powder as well. 

False lashes are perfect for prom. Party lashes (individual lashes) are really good to try for prom as they stay on for 2 to 3 days meaning they won't budge on the night. You can also get them as natural or as dramatic as you want.

If you want to look bronzed and sun kissed then I would definitely suggest going to get a spray tan done by a professional. The last thing you want to deal with on your prom day is streaky or patch fake tan.. If any disaster do happen mix some lemon juice in with a body exfoliator and rub over the patchy areas in circular motions and apply plenty of moisturiser afterwards.

Remember to carry some plaster, hair clips, safety pins and fashion tape with you incase something goes wrong whilst at prom. 

Finally remember to be yourself, wear something that makes you feel good, enjoy your prom and take plenty of photos to look back on :)

TJ Hughes Discount Beauty Products

I love my beauty products and being a beauty junkie can be really expensive so whenever I can find some beauty bargains I'm a happy girl. At the weekend I popped in to TJ Hughes to have a look at their  beauty department. They always have really great products at cheaper prices and you often spot really hard to find products as well. As well as their actual stores they also have a website www.tjhughes.co.uk, so if you don't have a store near you then you can still shop online.

I picked up a few bits and pieces that I was really pleased with. The first was the SEN Hydramood Soothing Moisturising Mask. I was so excited to see that TJ Hughes stock Sen as it is really hard to come by. It is a french company which specialise in Chinese herbal skincare products. This mask is really similar to the idea of the Origins Drink Up Intensive mask in that you apply it to the skin and simply let it soak in. This only £2.99 when it usually retails for over £16! Total bargain.

I snapped up the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. I have been wanting to try this for ages and ages as I know Tanya Burr loves it and uses it in a lot of her tutorials. So far I have been really liking it. I got 003 Peach glow.

Finally I just had to get some haircare. I love the TIGI Bed Head products so when I saw that they had loads of Bed Head products I just knew I had to get one. I decided to try the TIGI Bed Head Self Absorbed Mega Nutrient Shampoo. This big bottle was only £4.99. This is supposed to add the goodness back in to chemically treated hair. I love that it comes with a pump as it makes it so fuss free in the shower. It also smells nice and fruity.

Definitely check out the beauty and fragrance section of the TJ Hughes website if you are looking for some real beauty bargains. I was so surprised with the amount of different brands they sell. They even had MAC lips glosses on there. Love a beauty steal!

*this is a sponsored post however my views are honest as always 

MAC Lipstick in Hue

 

Another day, another lipstick. Today I am wearing one of my favourite MAC Lipsticks, Hue. This lipstick is described as a soft pale pink. I think it is definitely more a nudey pink.When I want a nude lip I always reach for pink toned nudes as opposed to true nudes as they tend not to wash me out as much.

 

Hue is a glaze lipstick so gives a little sheen but nothing too much. This is my go-to lipstick if I am wearing a really heavy smokey eye as I like to keep my lips more neutral. It is also a really nice lipstick to pair with a gloss as anything put over this will instantly stand out. Nars Lipgloss in Orgasm looks really pretty paired with this.

 

As ever, I love the MAC Lipsticks and think they 100% worth every penny. If you aren't really a lipstick person, try one from MAC and I guarantee you won't look back!

 

Have you tried Hue by MAC?

 

Beauty Tips For Mature/Ageing Skin

(image: she knows.com)

I know that people of all ages read my blog so I thought I would share some beauty tips and tricks for mature or ageing skin today. As I have mentioned before it is so important to know your skin type and to treat your skin appropriately to get the best from it. If you aren't sure which skin type you have then definitely check out my 'Know Your Skin Type' post.

So here are a few things I would recommend for mature skin that have picked up through beauty school  and my general beauty knowledge...

• Looking after your skin is essential for looking and feeling good. Mature skin tends to be drier because as you age your body doesn't produce as much natural oil. Hydrate is key. Making sure you drink plenty of water as well as using moisture giving products will help rehydrate the skin.

• Mature skin can often look dull and lifeless. This is a result of reduced blood circulation and the cell renewal process. In order to boost circulation a facial massage is a great idea. You can do this at home and is great to do at night with a rich night cream. Starting with sweeping motions up your neck, move on to circular motion along the jaw line and chin, on to the cheeks and up to the temples. Gently knead along the eyebrows and press down firmly with two fingers tips on the eye socket. Finish with large sweeping motions on the forehead.

• Exfoliation is another great way to add some brightest back to the skin and help desquamation. As mature skin can be thinner and a bit more delicate or fruit acid exfoliator would be best instead of a harsh granulated exfoliator.

• As far as make up is concerned less is more. Sometimes ageing skin can become irregularly pigmented therefore a light foundation can even out the skin tone. Always reach for a dewy, more radiant finish rather than a matte foundation to help add a youthful glow and stop the make up from drawing attention to fine lines.

• Light reflecting products are great for mature skin as they help diffuse the light making imperfections and lines less obvious. Products such as YSL Touche Eclat and Nanoblur are perfect for a soft focus finish.

• Forget dark lip colours and reach a for a 'my lips but better' shade. You can also use a nude liner to carefully line just outside of the lip line slightly to give the illusion of fuller lips. A dad of lipgloss in the centre of your lower lip can also add back that fuller look which can be lost through age.

• When it comes to eyes overly shimmery eyeshadows can emphasis crepe eye lips there more neutral matte shadows are the best. Forget strong eyeliner and instead tight line your eyes by applying eyeliner to the upper water line or dot the eyeliner in between the lashes for definition without the heavy look. 

• Finally try to use more cream make up products than powders. A cream blusher will make the skin look more youthful than it's powder counter part. Chanel Soleil de Tan Bronzer is great for mature skin as it is a cream like bronzer which adds a subtle glow to the skin.

Hope these tips and tricks are helpful and remember growing older is a privilege that many people don't get so be grateful and grow old gracefully!