Somebody That I Used to Know

I've adored the sunshine the past few days. It's been so heavenly to wake up with the sun shining and not having to layer up before going out! I can't believe it actually reached 21 degrees on Wednesday!

So, I decided to crack out another little dress I picked up from Primark last weekend. I saw this on Hev's blog and just thought it was the cutest thing! So lightweight and dainty and the crochet top is very pretty. So glad I picked it up and it was sssuuuccchh a bargain for £6! I wore it with my new leggings from Select. I haven't had a pair of leggings in a while, and I forgot how good the feeling of a new pair was! Heaven! I just threw on an old scarf from Primark and these tan suede moccasins that I got from New Look last summer. They super comfy, and even though they make my feet look flat I really adore their vintage look. If they get anymore in this summer, I definitely recommend!

Now currently boohooing over the fact the sun has gone away today, so will probably try and film another youtube video this weekend. Any requests? Thank you!

One last thing, remember my Easter themed nails? Well it's been short listed for Collection 2000's Easter Nail Art comp, so I'd really appreciate if you guys could 'like' and 'share' my entry to vote for me! Thank you so much!

Pastel Candyfloss

So, this actually was very simple, but kind of an accidental discovery...kind of. I used these rounded manicure guides from ebay (no. 3), as I was intending on painting half moon shapes on the base of each of the nails alternating colours. However, the tape just ripped off the nail varnish -_- GRR!

So, I started again. I applied the rounded nail guides at the base of each nail, trying to maintain a similar size oval on each nail. I then I painted my nails, leaving the beds of the nails beneath of the stickers bare. I alternated with my two newest editions to my nail polish collection: Collection 2000 Hot Looks in Candy Floss and Button Moon. I love these both SO much, they're are just the epitome of pastels, so perfect for Spring! 

I painted a couple of coats, then waited for the nails to dry and peeled off the stickers. And that's it! Very simple, and created a beautiful clean and pretty look for Spring now that the sunshine is out! Ahhh :)

Time For You to Stand Up

Saw this dress on llymlr's blog, and I was like 'hey, I like that' the when I saw it in Primark, I loved it! I've always been a fool for stripes and the whole nautical theme really, so this dress is so up my street. It's a really loose fit, I probably would of brought it in a size smaller if I'd tried it on in the shop. But I do like it, very appropriate for summer, and a good length for getting my legs out - just above the knees!

I teamed it with my faux Alexander McQueen scarf I got from New Look a couple of years ago now. I've always loved it, it goes with everything! And I know they have pretty much the exact same scarf in loads of different colours in Primark atm, probably even cheaper than when I brought this one from New Look!

My rings I've mentioned before - both from my trusty ebay! Available here and here.

I'm on Youtube!

Hey loves, I've just uploaded my first youtube video! You can watch it here! I decided to make it on how I do my hair,
as I asked you guys in a previous post what you thought of the idea and I got the thumbs up!

I am a little nervous of what people's reactions will be, but hopefully you will all like it! Thanks so much to my followers for their continuing support on my blog, I really do appreciate it so much.

Broken Arrows

Here's a quick nail art I put together earlier, well actually not so quick, but with a little trial and error and a little swearing (whoops) I got it down in the end!

I was inspired by Fee at Make Up Savvy, and wanted to create a manicure for Spring with a twist! As you can see I created an arrow, V shape effect on my tips using 17's Tropical Island. I began by painting my nails with my newest favourite shade, Mint Green by Barry M. I then applied sellotape when the nails were completely dry at an angle across the tips of the nails. PLEASE make sure your base colour is completely dry. I made the mistake of applying the tape too soon and ripped half the green polish off - insanely frustrating!!

When applying the tape or manicure strips, apply them at an angle which reaches just off centre. The more prominent you want the V shape to be, the more steep an angle you apply the tape. Then use this as a stencil to paint on the tip colour of your choice. Wait til the nails are thoroughly dry before peeling away and reapplying on the opposite side, using the same process to create the arrow shape.

I did figure out that I could create the V shape free hand after messing one of my nails up repeatedly. So, if you don't have the patience to wait for the polish to dry again and again, and if you have a steady hand, I recommend having a go at creating the look free hand without tape or manicure strips!  

Collection 2000 Lasting Colour Lipstick in Bubblegum

Collection 2000's Lasting Colour Lipsticks is one of my favourite high street lipsticks around at the moment. With a price tag you can't really beat, Collection 2000 provide an amazing product that's real value for money. I brought Blubblegum about a year a go now, and it's actually a shade I forgot I even had. I was organising my make up bag(s) the other day and found it nestled in right at the bottom. I immediately put it on in a haze of sheer excitement after rediscovering it, and fell in love all over again.

Blubblegum is a frosty, fuchsia pink shade. It doesn't pick up so well on camera, but against my skin tone the colour does come off quite bright! It's a very eye catching shade and really very pretty. One of the reasons I particularly love this lipstick is because it's just so Barbie pink, and not really like any other lipsticks I have. I also think it's very versatile for such a bright pink. I feel like you could wear it in the day, as a statement lip, with little eye make up and your hair up. But then it would stand out amazingly with a dark, smokey eyed look if you were going out for the night.

I would definitely recommend this range of lipsticks, especially this shade. And for £2.99, you can't really go wrong?

Helplessness Blues

I went on a little shopping trip last week with the lovely Rebecca and picked up some well needed bits and bobs! Amongst spending stupid amounts of time in Topshop and Primark (as you do) I did manage to pick up some mother's day and birthday presents! I literally just typed out what I brought for my mum for mothers day - I'm so silly! You never know when she could lurk onto my blog and have a nosey!

Anyway, as you can see I choose to sport the ombre hair extensions, which I think I've only worn once since I actually did them! I have no idea why, because I was so so excited when I actually got round to buying a set and bleaching them! Eeesh anyway, love them, they're so long and make me feel like a mermaid! You can read my post on how I did them here.

I also wore my gold tip collar shirt from Select which I absolutely adore. And tucked it in to my new pleated skirt that I got in the New Look sale for 7 little pounds! Was so pleased when I bagged this little number, it's really light weight so perfect for Spring/Summer but can be smartened up so easily! I also just threw on this scarf I got from Primark a while a go now, and this long black blazer to keep warm, also from Primark!

Just to let you guys know, I've been short listed for British Style Blogger's 'Blogger of the Month' award and I'm so, so pleased! You can go here to see the 4 other lovely bloggers who have been short listed!

Finally, just a little question for you guys. I get a lot of comments on my hair, so was wondering what you guys think of me making a video on how I create this look (click here). If you like the idea, just leave a comment below letting me know so, and I'll probably get round to it next week! If it goes well, I may start filming more videos, but who knows! Thanks!

Easter Themed Nails

Happy Sunday everyone! So disappointed it's the end of the week already, but at least we've got some sunshine! Am meant to be writing my English essay right now, but was just far too tempted to post my Easter themed nail art!

As you can see, with my thumb, index and pinky finger I've gone for the standard polka dots and stripes, trying to replicate the traditional Easter egg patterns. The thumb and index finger were done with my Sally Hanson pens, and the little fingers with a very steady hand!

I created a little chick, hatching out of it's shell on the middle nail. I simply painted the nail with the yellow, then drew on the cracked egg shell on the top and bottom with my white nail art pen, then drew on the eyes. Then with an orangey shade, blobbed on a beak! To create the bunny on the ring finger, I painted the nail with this yellowy cream shade, then drew on a bunny ear shaped silhouette and it's eyes with my navy nail art pen, and blobbed on the nose on the edge of the nail with a bright pink.

Be sure to seal your cute creation with clear nail varnish! I actually forgot this time, and all the polish from the nail art pens are already wearing off :/ major boo. All the varnishes I used are pictured above, but you've could make this work easily with any similar nail polishes.  

Would love to see or hear about any of your nail art creations!

Excuse me, you're a hell of a guy

Here's what I wore to uni on Tuesday. I got up at 7:30, and was like 'what am I going to wear to today?' and if luck were to have it, the lovely delivery man buzzed on my door, bringing with him my lovely New Look sale goodies!

I ordered this Boxy Knitted jumper, which was reduced to £11 for £22.99 (yess!) in the shade 'watermelon' because I was thinking I need more colour in my life with Spring just around the corner. When I opened the packaging, the florescent pink hit me like the sun! It was much more neon than I expected, but I kinda like it! And well, you can't go wrong with pink, can you? I don't think it's available online anymore, but they have so many others in a similar style!

Underneath, I had on a long sleeveless white blouse I picked up from H&M, just so I could pop the collar ;) And I also wore my new Dorothy Perkins blue skinny jeans, which I adore. Plus my favoruite shoeies at the moment, my studded loafers I picked up off ebay late last year. They so comfy and cool, just love them.

I felt like I hadn't had any new jewellery in forever, so had a little scour of ebay not so long ago and found this adorable pearl double finger ring. I just love it because it's so different and so, so pretty! Plus, really into my double finger rings! Will share with you some of my other finds soon!

Khloe Kardashian Daytime Make Up Look Recreated

Khloe Kardashian has been all over the press this past month, promoting the second series of one of my favourites, Khloe & Lamar. 

As a fanatic Kardashian fan, what better idea than to recreate the gorgeous Khloe's make up when she appear on US chat show Live! With Kelly in early February. The beautiful Khloe wore a simple and soft daytime look, but still included her signature smokey eye. Here's how I recreated it:

Face

I started with Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation in shade True Ivory. (Read review here) What you want for this look is really any medium to full coverage foundation, as Khloe has a very flawless and done up look. I then used Natural Collection's Cover-Up stick in Fair all round the eyes, hiding any darkness, and used the Corrector stick over a couple of red blemishes. We're really trying to create as even a skin tone as possible, finishing off with Collection 2000's Press Powder in Candlelight to lock it all in and providing a good basis for the contour. 

Contouring

This is probably the most important element of any Kardashian look. Contouring is easier than it seems, and gives your face more angles than you ever thought you had. I took MUA's Bronzer powder in Shade 2, and with a narrow brush (I used a blusher brush but a contour brush is much more practical) suck your cheeks in a sweep at an angle right underneath the cheekbones, heading towards mid ear. Then follow this up the temples, along the hair line. Follow this by hitting either side of your forehead, and round the top as well. Remember to keep close to the hair line, you don't want big orange splodges on your face. Then take it along underneath the jaw line, heading towards the chin but don't go all the way. This carefully placed bronzer creates shadows, creating the illusion of much more defined facial features. 

Highlighting

I took Technic's High Lights, and dabbed this along the top of my the apples of my cheeks, above the contour and just underneath my eye. Using my ring finger, I dabbed the product about until it was distributed evenly. The key when using a liquid highlighter is to dab, not rub in, as the colour will just group together and not spread evenly. I then proceeded to dab some down the centre of my nose and repeated the same technique using my ring finger to distribute the product. I also added a little to my cupid's bow, adding some additional glow. The highlight works well with the contour, giving you a healthy glow.

Eyes

I began the eyes with MUA's Eyes Primer, then as a base used Collection 2000's Colour Intense Solo Eye Shadow in Frosting. Using a a small round top eye shadow brush I covered the eye lid and highlighted the inner tear duct, bringing it underneath and round the inner eye. I then used the Naked 1 palette, and took a mixture of Virgin and Sin on the same brush and swept that over the entire lid, leaving the inner corners. I then took a clean brush and dabbed in Buck the gently swept this in the crease of both eyes. If you don't have the Naked 1 palette, any pale cream and matt brown shades will do. I then created a cat eye with Collection 2000's Fast Stroke liquid eye liner, ensuring it wasn't too heavy and the flick wasn't too long as it is a day time look. I followed this with Collection 2000's Kohl eye liner in Black along the waterline. I then used a small, angled brush, dipped it in some matt black eye shadow and lined along the bottom of both eyes, joining the cat eye at the outer corners. Then finished the eyes off with The Body Shop's Big and Curvy mascara. 

Eyebrows

The Kardashian's always have lovely thick and defined eyebrows, so I used 17's Eyebrow Shaper pencil in Natural Brown and shaped my inner brows to a much more square shape, then lightly dragged the pencil through to the tip of the brows. Then, using the brush provided on the lid, combed and tidy the brows and softened any harsh lines created with the pencil. 

Lips

I began the lips by lining and filling in with the BYS Lip Liner in the shade French Pink, to prevent the colour of the lipstick bleeding and to ensure a lasting look. I then proceeded with Revlon's Colourstay Soft & Smooth Lipstick in Pink Indulgence.

And that's the complete look! There's quite a few steps, but the Kardashian's always have a very done up and flawless look, so the importance is in the detail! I hope this was easy to follow!

Khloe Kardashian image: Fashion Fame

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer

I ordered Benefit's Boi-ing concealer back in December, when I was on the hunt for some high end treats. It's claim that it was a 'industrial strength concealer' is what sold me!

I love Benefit as a brand, all their products are so beautifully packaged and they always seems to give you plenty of product. The Boi-ing concealer is no exception to this! It comes in the cutest little pink, vintage design box which I couldn't help but swoon over when I received it. However, not so keen on the actually pan it comes it, it's a shiny finish, so a little fiddly to open when you've got moisturiser or foundation all over your mitts!

At first, I found the product a little greasy to the touch, which isn't the kind of thing I like to go for with having oily skin. I was applying with my finger, as advised by Benefit, but not really getting much colour pay off. Initially, I was disappointed obviously. Howeverrrr, I stuck with it and after a few applications I got to grips with it. The key is to give a good rub in one spot in the pan with your finger, this way, the product softens and you pick up a lot more concealer on your finger.

The application of this concealer is so, so smooth, it goes on like a dream in fact. The coverage is decent, and it does last all day. However, I do question it's 'industrial strength'. I picked it up in the shade 01 light, as I mainly use concealers to brighten up my under eye circles and lids. Boi-ing is available in three different shades: 01 light, 02 medium, and 03 deep.

One of the main things I love about this concealer is its texture. It's not a thick, heavy cream, so it doesn't cake when applied. It goes on very discreetly and blends so easily. However, I do question how well it would work on drier skin types, as I have read reviews online saying that it got drier on their skin as the day went on, and settled into the lines on their face.

Overall, an impressive concealer, unlike any I have tried before. It's 'industrial strength' is, however, questionable. So if you suffer from major break outs, I would research this product a little more before investing.