FOTD and a Couple of Reviews

We are still having MAJOR problems with the snow up here in Aberdeen and it's showing no signs of stopping any time soon.  The novelty os snow has well and truly worn off now and it's just becoming a huge pain in that you can't really do anything and everyone is just staying indoors.  Over the last couple of days I have started to develop a cold so that's not much fun either!  Even Wolverine is feeling the chill and seems to think he needs to stock up on food...

I had resigned myself to the fact a long time ago that I would never be able to wear bright lipsticks because they simply didn't suit me.  Well there has been a revelation...drum roll please...I found a vivid pink lipstick that actually suits me...hurrah! 

I have always worn very soft nude or pink lips because I was under the impression that they were the only tones that suited my complexion.  I had been thinking recently about what I could do to mix up my usual 'going out' makeup and this is the look I came up with...

Face: Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Fresco, Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque, Estee Lauder Maximum Cover Foundation in Light (used as a concealer), Korres Wild Rose Powder, Dior Matte Sunshine Bronzer in Honey Matte, Sleek Contour Kit, Benefit Coralista, Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond.

Eyes: Clinique Instant Lift For Brows in Soft Blonde, Mac Paint Pot in Soft Ocre, Models Own Eyeshadow in Gold all over lid, Mac e/s in Vanilla on browbone, Totally Toasted Brown shade from Too Faced French & Fabulous Palette in crease, Illamsaqua Precision Ink in Alchemy on inner corners, Benefit Gilded pencil on waterline, Estee Lauder Double Wear Eyeliner in Onyx along top lashline, Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells and Lancome Hypnoise Drama Mascara. 

Lips: Estee Lauder Double Wear Lipliner in pink, Daniel Sandler Micro Bubble Lipstick in Micro Flamingo.

Let me first just say that I LOVE this lipstick from Daniel Sandler, it's just the perfect cool, blue toned pink for me.  It looked so scary in the tube and I remember thinking it could quite possibly look horrendous on me but I was willing to take a risk and do something different.  It's fun when you try something new and realise that you love it!  This picture is the best representation of the true colour of the lipstick...

See what I mean about the colour being scary at first? Well, I applied it with the small brush on the other end of the Estee Lauder Double Wear Lipliner and it instantly look so smooth, very slightly glossy and extremely pigmented.  This lipstick is described as being a "rich, creamy colour and protective treatment in one. 'Micro-bubbles' continually release conditioners to keep lips soft and colour fresh for hours". 

The formulation of this listick is divine because it feels really moisturising on the lips and the colour stays true for a long time.  The pink shade just brightens the whole face and I was really surprised at how flattering it is. 

Obviously if you prefer warmer toned lipsticks then this product isn't for you but if you have a similar complexion to me and normally shy away from bright colours, then you should give it a go! 

You can buy the Daniel Sandler Micro Bubble Lipstick for £13.00 from this website.  Now all that's left for me to do is find the PERFECT cool toned red lipstick to wear!  Any recommendations would be appreciated!

If you are interested in finding out how I styled my hair in the photos above then read on.  I used Big Sexy Hair Volumising Detangler which is a leave-in conditioner that prevents frizz, conditions the hair and creates body without weighing the hair down:

You can buy this for £8.88 from this website.

I then used Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse which is great for creating loads of volume and helping to hold your waves in place without that hard, crispy feeling that some mousses can impart on the hair.  I just apply it when my hair is damp and massage it into my scalp and ends.  I then just section my hair off and blowdry my hair pulling it upwards to create the maximum volume.  I have naturally very fine hair so I have to put in a bit of work to make it look full!

You can buy this product for £9.31 from this website.

I sectioned my hair and used the Toni & Guy 38mm Tourmaline Wave and Curl Tong to create the soft waves in the pics above.  I like using my Babyliss Conical Wand but sometimes I feel like I want bigger, less defined waves which is where this tool comes into play.  It's amazing value for money and is priced at £19.99 from Boots.  It would make a great Christmas present for anyone who wants to create looks like this.

These tongs have 25 heat settings which can be altered to suit the thickness of your hair.  One of the best features is that it has a swivel cord so it's really easy to rotate the tongs around the hair without coiling the cord and getting all knotted up.  The tongs automatically switch themselves off if left for more than 30 mins  which is handy if you are forgetful like me!  Although these tongs don't come with a heat protective mat, I always use my GHD or Babylis one to avoid setting fire to the carpet!

The tongs have the usual thin metal stand but obviously it's best just to use a mat where possible.  The barrel is the perfect size to create gorgeous, relaxed waves that stay in place all day when set with hairspray (I  just used Loreal Elnette hairspray because it gives natural hold).  The tourmaline barrel means that it heats up very quickly so I only had to hold the hair in place for 10 seconds at a time to get the effect above. 

My only bug bear with these tongs is the the heat dial is situated in a place on the handle where it can easily be moved when you are rotating the appliance so it would be great if there was some kind of heat setting lock.  I use the highest heat setting because my hair is naturally quite straight so I just put a small piece of masking tape over the heat dial to prevent it from moving whilst in use.

All in all, I think they are great value for money and they will be used alot over the upcoming festive period!

My Christmas Lust List

It's about this time of year that I start thinking about what kind of presents I want for my birthday and Christmas.  It's always the same mixture of clothes, jewellery, shoes and makeup! What can I say...I'm predictable!  I REALLY want an SLR camera because I want to get into proper arty photography and it would be really helpful for the blog pics too.  BUT those cameras aren't cheap so I may have to save for one instead of getting it as a prezzy...I think that would be a bit TOO much to ask.

So here's a run down of some things that I have been lusting after for some time...

Coast Saphire Hitched Dress - This is such a pretty dress and I have seen an amazing brooch that could be pinned to the middle of the bow on the waist to give it some extra festive bling!

Next T-Bar Jewel Shoes - Man oh man do I love these shoes! I love the retro styling of them, the fact they have an ankle strap and a platform, the silver heel and I adore the detail on the front.  Beautiful!

Accessorize Feather Clutch Bag - I have wanted a feather clutch for ages and this black one is just gorgeous.  The feathers have a beautiful sheen to them and have peacock greeny tones when they catch the light.  It's a perfect on trend accessory to update your party outfit.

Accesorize Jewel Cuff - I love the jewellery in Accessorize and I always find something (or loads) I like in there.  This cuff is a great statement piece to add interest to an outfit, whether it's casual or dressy.

Mac Eye Brush in 224 - I have wanted this Mac brush for ages ever since I saw people using it for undereye concealer.  It seems like the perfect application tool to create flawless eyes!

Mac Mineralize Blush in Dainty - I have coveted this blush for a while because it looks like exactly the type of blush I love.  A pinky-peach with a slight sheen to it.  I prefer blush with a teensy bit of sheen because it helps to add dimension to your face and it's also alot less likely to look powdery on the skin.

Mac Plushglass in Bountiful - As soon as I saw Nic from Pixiwoo using this in a bridal tutorial, I knew I had to have it! It's been on my list for a while now but I never seem to get around to buying it.  I must have a million pink lipglosses but something about the tones in this one really appeal to me.  What am I thinking?  I don't have to justify myself to you guys...you know exactly where I'm coming from!

Mac Pigment in Golden Lemon - I feel like this would be the perfect base for a fresh gold eye and it also looks great as a highlighter on tanned skin.

Mac Pigment in Melon - Everyone and their dog seems to have this pigment and I see so many raves about it so naturally, i feel like I need it in my life! It looks like an amazing summer colour!

Mac Pigment in Old Gold - Lately I have been obsessed with all things gold...maybe it's just that time of year? This pigment looks gorgeous and it's the perfect accompaniment to my bronze eyeshadows.

Mac Pigment in Tan - A warmer and intense colour, this pigment calls to me whenever I see it on other blogs.  I love anything metallic and I think this would really bring out my blue eyes.

Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Petit Peche (148) - I have owned a couple of these Chanel lip glosses before and I really love them.  The consistency, longevity and smell are all great and the colour selection is always fantastic too.

Chanel Le Vernis in Rose Insolent (489) - I feel like this is a really unique colour, it's like a raspberry pink that's verging on being slightly coral.  It would be the perfect shade to enhance a tan!

What's on your list for Christmas this year? Do you ever buy yourself presents to make sure you get what you want?

Equally taking up space in my mind was thinking about what hairstyles would be good for festive parties seeing as I'm bored of only wearing my hair straight or curly.  I can often be a bit lazy with my hair and don't experiment with different styles.  BUT I've recently found a YouTuber who encourages me to try new things and she is really great at showing and describing how to do them because she is a hair stylist.  Her YouTube name is LolaMarie7 and this is one of my favourite videos.  I LOVE how her hair turns out and how natural it looks when blended in!

Paul & Joe Face Colour

I always get drawn in by the Paul & Joe packaging, it's always so intricate and girly! I adore the floral design on the box for this product and I like the pearlised, embossed compact even more.  The product itself (003 Pagan) is a dark pink, almost rose coloured blush which sits beside a warmly toned gold highlighter.  Normally I wouldn't wear a blush as dark as this but when you mix it with the gold shade, it creates a really nice luminising colour for the cheeks.  It has the same effect as blushers like Benefit Coralista where you get a glowy effect which I personally prefer to matte blushers.  You could always use them separately but for me they work better together.  The powders themselves are smooth to apply and have good pigmentation.  I would say this is a good winter alternative to Benefit Coralista because it's pinker in tone and slightly cooler.  It's priced at £15 so if you prefer not to spend so much on a blush then Sleek have a good range of colours to choose from and they are fantastic quality for only £3.99...

I was up quite late last night and stumbled across the film 'The Last King Of Scotland' starring James McAvoy (always had a thing for him!), Forrest Whitaker and Kerry Washington which I've seen a couple of times before.  It reminded just how beautiful Kerry is! I love her hair, clothes and makeup in these shots...

I remember the first film I ever saw her in was 'Save The Last Dance' starring Julia Stiles back in 2001, when I was still at university.  I think she is a brilliant actress and especially so in 'The Last King Of Scotland' and 'Ray'.  Her face has a real softness to it and she has those big brown doe eyes...gorgeous!  She always looks very sophisticated when I see pics of her in magazines and online.

Style Crush: Frankie Sandford

She's the spunkier member of girl band The Saturdays and sometimes her fashion choices can verge on the risque side but for the most part, I really like Frankie's overall look.  Something I didn't know about her is that she (and bandmate, Rochelle) used to be members of S Club Juniors! This is a fact that will only be relevant to my fellow UK bloggers...

I really like Frankie's hairstyle with the exaggerated side fringe.  I've always wanted something like that but deep down I know it would annoy the crap out of me, having to brush it out of my eyes all the time.  Frankie has a rather enviable collection of massive bags.  I especially love the black studded one...drool!  Also loving the camel coloured coat...

I never wear shorts really but she makes me want to try out that look with tights and boots for the winter.  I guess I'm always worried that shorts won't be flattering on me but I think it's probably a case of getting the right style and fit to suit your shape.

I love all the shoe boots she wears to toughen up her outfit and I now have a desperate need for a cropped black leather jacket!  I am not one for chucking on loads and loads of accessories because alot of the time, outfits look better when they are fuss-free.

I was listening to Fearne Cotton on Radio1 the other day and she played Adele's new song 'Rolling In The Deep'.  I have to say that I love her voice ('Make You Feel My Love' being one of my faves) and she certainly hasn't disappointed with this new tune.  When I've watched her singing live, her voice is always so soulful and flawless.  I also like the fact that she doesn't seem to care what people think of her.  I really respect that trait in people when they have the confidence and conviction to stay true to who they are.

New Girl Crush/Hair Crush

I'm well and truly stuck in the flat today because of the terrible weather.  It's absolutely freezing outside, the pavements are extremely icy/snowy and that pretty much limits Saturday night activities! No one can get anywhere so it's a night in for me with Strictly Come Dancing (yah!) and maybe a movie later on.  I was determined to get out of the flat earlier so I went to the gym and did an hour on the cross trainer and then decided to go back to do 15 mins on the bike.  I am a big believer in comprimise...so to reward myself for being so good, I dropped in past my local cafe, Cafe Crema and picked up this slice of chocolate cake....

Now that's my kind of comprimise! ha ha.  That's pretty much how I work things...if I want something nice to eat, then I make myself go to the gym and work for it.  That way, you never ever feel guilty about eating it! Nom, nom, nom.

You know there are some women you see in the street or celebrities and they just make you stop and think  "wow...she is so strikingly beautiful!".  Well, in my opinion, Delta Goodrem is one of those women.  She isn't the most 'trendy' or current celebrity but whenever I see her, she just has this quiet elegance and grace about her.  In the UK, we all know her for her stint in the Australian soap opera Neighbours years ago, her short lived pop career and the fact she is engaged/possibly now married to Westlife's Brian McFadden.  She is a talented lady, what with being an actress, pianist AND singer/songwriter.  I think she had more success with her singing career in Australia and the far east though.

I have a MAJOR makeup and hair crush on this girl, I mean she always looks incredible and I wish my hair looked that voluminous! I love the shades of blonde in her hair and her makeup always looks flawless and never over done. She kind of looks like a mixture between Heidi Klum and Mandy Moore, I think.  Her fashion choices aren't always spot on but it doesn't really matter what you wear when you are that stunning!  I love her makeup in the first picture above...so fresh and radiant!

Ever since the Neighbours days, she has had this 'girl-next-door' appeal to her and she always comes across as being very humble and sweet.  She announced that she was suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancer that attacks the immune system, in 2003 when she was only 18.  She undertook chemotherapy and radiation therapy which resulted in the loss of her hair.  I remember seeing the photos of her in the press afterwards and thinking how brave she was. She handled the whole thing with real dignity and strength, even though she must have been in utter turmoil inside.  Her relationship with Brian McFadden seems to have stood the test of time as well with him describing her as his "angel wife" in October this year.  It hasn't been confirmed whether they are actually married as yet though. 

Some people just have kind faces/eyes and I think she is one of those people.  I think you can tell alot from someone's eye and they are being genuine or not.  They do say the eyes are the window to the soul.  She isn't in the UK press alot but I would say she prefers it that way to be honest!  Who wants to become overly exposed in the papers?

Here's the music video for the song with Brian McFadden poking fun at the press' constant claims that the couple have split up...



I just think she looks amazing in that video! Who's makeup, hair or style have you always admired?

This Post Has Been Brought To You By The Colour Gold...

Whooooaaaa! The snow has most definitely arrived! It has been falling almost non stop since Thursday morning and is set to get heavier on Sunday with temperatures dropping to -7oC.  But really I don't mind because sometimes there's nothing nicer than cosying up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate and feeling smug that you're not out in the freezing cold!  Plus it feels very Chrismassy so it gets everyone in the mood for festive cheer :)

I had mentioned in a previous post that since we are fast approaching the festive period, I generally start gravitating towards more glitzy makeup when thinking about what to wear to special events.  Yes I am the type of makeup geek that plans what I am going to wear days in advance.  I love the whole ritual of getting ready for a night out, I love to blare out happy tunes and I find it relaxing and almost theraputic.  It's that transformation of when you start to sculpt your features that makes me love makeup so much.  Makeup has magical powers that make you feel really good about the way you look.

At the moment, I find myself being drawn to anything with gold tones in my makeup collection.  There's something really luxurious about these products infused with gold flecks. It gives an instant glamour injection to your face and is a perfect choice for the party season so I just wanted to share with you my favourite gold toned products...

These glosses range from full on gold shimmer to pale, iridescent gold but my overall favourite has to be the Chanel gloss because it's so rich, luscious and the gold reflects are out of this world! I got this gloss about 2 years ago so the packaging is a bit shabby now but it looks incredible when worn with a bronze or grey toned smokey eye!

I love gold toned nail varnishes and these two from YSL and Vie are really subtle and pretty.  They can be worn as a sheer tint on your nails with one coat or layered up to create a more intense effect.  I also like to layer them over other colours to create different effects.  I have to say that the YSL nail polishes are the nicest that I own because they last for ages and alot of the time, you only need one coat to get the desired effect.

Benefit pencils are always a winner with me...whether it's the Gilded, High Brow or Mr Frosty versions.  They are super pigmented, creamy and soft and long lasting.  I like to line my waterline with Benefit Gilded to add a nice contrast to my blue eyes.  Another great gold liner is the amazing Illamasqua Precision Ink in Alchemy which still blows my mind.  It's lasting power is really impressive and it's the most eye-catching and intense gold liner I have seen yet.  This liquid shimmer/glitter liner is like an intense punch of gold lushness that could be used to effectively re-create (with added shimmer) Scarlett Johansson's makeup look below...  

Gold eyeshadows always look beautiful with dense black eyeliner becaue it creates a lovely contrast.  These are some of my favourite gold eyeshadows, particularly because they all have fantastic pigmentation, they're smooth with no gritty particles and they're easy to blend.  The Models Own eyeshadows in Gold is a great dupe of the gold shade in the Shu Uemura palette! So if you're after a true gold, then this one is for you.  I included Woodwinked because I love the gold shimmer that flickers as it catches the light.  I love eyeshadows that change colour depending on the angle you view them from.  Retrospeck is an interesting gold toned eyeshadow because it's very pale and has silver reflects in it too so it's great against pale skin or as a base.  Honeylust is a lovely warm blonde gold that is perfect as a blending shade when used with Woodwinked.

Mac Paint Pot in Indianwood is a really interesting product in the same realm as Woodwinked because it has a gold aspect to it when it catches the light.  This gives it dimension which means you can wear it alone and still get a really nice effect that doesn't look like a flat colour.  Top Shop Cream Eyeshadow in Goldmine (as opposed to 'Gold' labelled in the pic below) is quite similar to Retrospeck in that it's a cooler shade of gold so it looks really nice with either grey toned eyeshadows or cool browns like Mac Satin Taupe e/s.  Mac Cream Colour Base in Pearl is a very soft, pale gold shade with icy shimmer, which makes a nice base for eyeshadow but also as a highlighter for browbones and cheekbones.  It's a product you have to use with a light hand because it may crease if you layer it on too thick.  Paul & Joe Eye Gloss in no.1 is a great highlighter for the inner corners of the eyes.  It really opens the eyes up and makes them look brighter.  You can also mix it with darker lipglosses to pale them out.

And onto possibly my favourite of all beauty products...highlighters!  Oh how I love thee!  Any highlighter with golden tones will always appeal to me.  I like my skin to look slightly tanned and as I wear peachy blushes, the gold tones fuse beautifully with these two elements.  These are my favourite highlighters to add a touch of golden glow to my look...

Illamasqua Powdered Metal in Ether is soooo finely milled and delicate on the skin and it looks amazing mixed in with your moisturiser and applied to decolletage and legs!  The Dior Shimmer Powder is my all time favourite highlighter due to it's golden peachy tones...the perfect combination for any highlighter junkie!  The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige is great for when you want to really sculpt your cheekbones.  By using a contour powder then placing this highlighter on the very tops of your cheeks, it will really add an intense sheen that is great for night time looks when you want to make more of an impact.  Top Shop Highlighter in Sunbeam is alot like Illamasqua's Powdered Metal in Ether but in a baked form and with a slightly more noticeable sheen to it.  So if you are short on pennies, then this is a great cheaper alternative.  Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in By Candlelight is a beautiful light peachy shade with lovely gold reflects.  It really does create that hazy glow you get on your skin when it's candlelit...hence the name!  It's similar to the Dior powder but I would say that the Dior one has much finer shimmer in it which makes it more ideal for daytime wear.  I always think you can get away with alot more at night time because the light is artificial and more forgiving.

What are your favourite gold toned products? Are there any other colours you have been obsessing about on the run up to the festive season?