make-up inspired by lana del rey.

can't say i'm a killer lana del rey fan. sure i like some of her music, but i have to be honest and say that i hate the rubbish she comes out with in interviews. when 'video games' came out i was like fjdghhfgdshfgshfgs this is like, SO amazing~ ...but then it just turned into total overkill. interviews everywhere, a vogue cover (gotta love uk vogue for being a massive turd when it comes to covers) and all sorts - and this was way before she even released an album! nevertheless, i saw this cover and really liked the make-up. very simple, no? so here is my take on it. 

i liked the bold cat liner and nude lips - all in all, it looks pretty retro and classic. however, i had to tweak it for a few reasons. firstly, i don't have the products to add that 'sheen' to the liner that is in the cover. if you really want to have that effect, just apply your liner as you normally would and then add mac's 'mixing medium shine' on top. i don't own it because i can't justify it, but it would look awesome. i'm also lacking in white eyeliner (for the waterline), which has mysteriously vanished. also, lana's matte lipstick is also exceptionally pale (it's not far off her own complexion) which would never, ever work for me - so i had to change that too. i am also sorry to say that i also have misplaced my bumblebee.

all of that aside, it's so basic - a really easy look. even if i did somehow end up with a lot of eyeliner on my hands. in lana's cover, the flick is a little longer but as i'm a regular joe, i also toned it down a little. 

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: urban decay primer potion, revlon 8-hour colourstay quad (in the buff), urban decay eyeshadow (virgin), maybelline gel liner, rimmel exaggerate liquid liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.

cheeks: illamasqua (lover).

lips: no 7 lip pencil (nude), revlon lipstick (mauve it over).

i'm also realling loving silver nails at the moment. adele rocked the grammys and i loved her nails so much ('jewel' by deborah lippman)! but as the broke ass bitch that i currently am, i gotta make do with what i've got. silver? glitter? even more glitter? oh go on then. a little bit of NASA, a little bit of drag queen, and a little bit of ghetto diva. you just have to love it.

nails - barry m (silver), gosh (silver star), barry m (hologram hexograms).

betty blues loungerie and a story about never winning.

aren't i naughty! i won a prize at #zomgbloggersbash (i always feel the need to type that without spaces...) and forgot to blog about it when i said i would! next it'll be heroin and alcoholism.

one thing i really liked about the event was their 'blogger's bingo' - it was a nice way to break the ice with people and with goodies up for grabs, a double perk! now, anyone who knows me (platonically, intimately, biblically) has probably had to deal with my recurring rant about how i never, ever win. i honestly don't win ANYTHING. even if there's 3 prizes, and 4 people, i will still always lose. it really is the bane of my life.

the first (and last) time i won something was three years ago, at a charity art reception where i volunteered to sell raffle tickets. i use the term 'volunteer' very loosely as i apparently have enough charm to make people cough up cash - i sort got made to do it, so to speak. anyway, the night went rather well and i sold £400+ worth of tickets. first prize? two return business-class tickets for flights to hong kong. HONG KONG! closest i've been to hong kong is going to oriental hong kong in north london for noodles. so, after i was done selling to everyone there, i purchased two tickets for myself.

... i came second place. my heart was racing when the prize was being announced. the consolation prize... return flights to paris? barcelona? DUBLIN? but no. i won a bottle of wine, hahaha. i don't even drink wine! so i took it home and made everyone else drink it... deary me...

WITH THAT MENTAL SCAR ASIDE, i was utterly thrilled to win something and have it be something i actually do like! this gorgeous 'marilyn' scarf is by betty blue's loungerie, which is bringing glamour back into loungewear. having checked them out, i actually really love EVERYTHING they stock. i particularly like this fabulous red robe, but unfortunately lack the funds right now. something tells me it would look sweet with my sonia rykiel x h&m slippers, no?

make-up wise,  i went for a sort of marilyn look myself. well, as marilyn as i can get away with (which coincidentally isn't that marilyn at all). okay okay, say marilyn if she woke up one day, having had an identity crisis, and became an olive-skinned, brown-eyed brunette.

please excuse how tired i look.

face: no 7 beautiful skin day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (virgin, naked, hustle), rimmel exaggerate liquid liner (black), maybelline gel liner, eyelure naturalites false lashes (101), revlon 'grow luscious' mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: mac (fleur power), no 7 vital illuminating highlighter powder.
lips: mac lip pencil (cherry), rockalily lipstick (rockette red).

 as i don't use heated rollers like the ladies in the picture and therefore have nothing fabulous to cover, i figured that i'll just use this scarf the same way i use all my other scarves. i messed around with it for a little while but a) taking pictures of yourself is harder than you think and b) i realised i was late to my international protection of human rights class. dropped the camera, and RAN to the station!

ps - i went to the only way is blogging event. mixed feelings.
pps - i finish level one of my 30 day shred tomorrow. OH HAPPY DAY
ppps - thinking about vlogging, but i'm terrified.

nude.

eek, i've been a busy bee - haven't done a fotd post in a while have i? sorry blog. i'm working very hard on my essay (there aren't enough hours in the day, seriously) and casually saved 2,500 words i accidentally deleted from it earlier today. awwwwwwwww yeah. saved myself from my own retardation. maxine is staying round mine this weekend too but will be gone during the days (london edge, dah-ling) so i'm hoping to essay all day whilst she's gone. not to mention my 30 day shred. and then we'll have super hang out time in the evenings, possibly with pizza. sorry jillian.

because of my hectic workload, i've really been liking nude lips. i'm liking this kind of look because it's quite low-key and easy to do; it's a way of looking 'done' in 5 minutes even if you are feeling massively trampy and unglamourous. the only thing that used to put me off nude lips was their capability of looking very, very wrong. for example, i once found a shade lighter than my face, which to my horror, was then recommended to me by a sales assistant. um, okay lady. it would have looked awful! can you imagine?! (actually, i think i'll save you the trouble). you can also sometimes look washed out, or find a shade that's so nude, it's a total waste of money...

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix foundation (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadow (naked), revlon 8-hour colourstay quad (in the buff, second colour), rimmel exaggerate liquid liner (black), no 7 amazing eyes pencil (brown), benefit 'they're real!' mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.
cheeks: nars multiple (portofino), no 7 vital illuminating highlighter powder.
lips: no 7 lip pencil (nude), mac lipstick (modesty), no 7 high gloss (smile).

sometimes i think that this lipstick, mac's 'modesty', isn't always right for me. today was one of those days so i changed the colour of the base with lip liner all over the lips, and then added gloss with the tiniest tint imaginable just to make it a little less milky and more... pinky. works quite well i think! the end result is like a nude equivalent of one of my all-time favourites, mac's 'see sheer'.

i'm also wearing my hair in my old old style. i'd been curling my hair with wide-barrelled ghd straighteners for ages now and got so bored of it. it would take 5 minutes, whereas this takes 10. i do like me some waves. please excuse the extremely-poor, half-arsed attempt at doing a swooshy hair shot.  

i'm hoping to write 6,000 words from today until sunday. wish me luck!

a post about brows.

bleurgh. that is how i feel in a nutshell. just pure BLEURGH. i've been feeling so tired recently, and feel like i'm going through one of those weeks i'm just bloated and gross... not to mention with a load of stress thrown on top... and a horrible cold. sexy, right? ha. i have so many deadlines and the pressure is really getting to me but i'm hoping to make real progress this weekend.

for that reason, i've been keeping my make-up simple. now i usually just line my eyes with kohl and pencil in my brows so that they look thicker and more arched - but nothing beyond that i'm afraid. talk about boring! unfortunately i'm not much of an expert when it comes to brow products, as i have never attempted using powder or eyeshadow in my brows (they are already dark and thick, and i'm worried it would just be brow overload). instead i use my beloved brow pencil from mac, which has great staying power and a thin tip so that you can draw on individual hairs for a natural look. it's this tip which sets it apart from other eyebrow pencils i've used from other brands (e.g. estée lauder). if i've altered the shape of my brows and want it to stay on for even longer, i use a brow gel from the body shop to seal it in place.

the way i make it more arched is really simple. using an eyebrow brush (everyone must have one, surely), i brush my eyebrows down. then, i begin by filling in any obvious gaps. i then slowly draw on the arch - where it would be if i had one, that is - and keep going back and forth to make sure my brows look the same. then, brush your brows back up and voila! done. it really is that simple. if your brows are naturally quite identical, it will take a matter of seconds.

one thing i miss about the middle east (probably the only thing i miss) is how amazing their girls are at threading. they know how to thread and shape brows without making them look thin or awkward on the face. now my brows just look a state and i'm far too apathetic to do anything about it. my eyebrows are naturally a weird round shape, and only those girls know what to do with them - weep. if anyone knows any middle-eastern salons in london, do let me know!

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skin finish (medium plus).
eyes: bourjois bronzing powder, illamasqua fine pencil (eerie), maybelline gel liner, mac studio fix lash (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.
cheeks: bourjois bronzing powder, no 7 illuminator (peach), nars blush (orgasm).
lips: mac (see sheer).

sorry for such a miserable post. i feel like i'm becoming the unluckiest person on the planet, 2012 is letting me down man!

kung hei fat choi!

yesterday was chinese new year. happy new year if you were celebrating! i went out to chinatown with a few chinese friends and we had a meal. it was nice even if i ate about 50kg of pure carb. i've recently just been eating a lot of far-eastern food actually, and would love to learn how to make it. dim sum. sushi. kare lomen from wagamam's. raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar food porn.

to channel my inner china/dragon/communist fan, i went for a block of red shadow on the eyes. red eyeshadow is one of those things which can easily tread that fine line between 2005 emo and looking like your lenses have given you hell. i probably tick both boxes but i don't care, because thie pure pigment i used ('berber' by illamasqua) is absolutely beautiful and is definitely one of my all-time favourite purchases. i think it photographs beautifully and is so unique! i've honestly never seen any pigment like it still.

i could've easily toned it down by applying it with a mac 217 and blending out a lot of the shimmer but i thought that i'd go all out. i patted the colour on my lid using a no 7 eyeshadow brush, and then used the 217 to blend it. i didn't line my lashes with black eyeliner as usual, just so the red could do the talkin'.

this dress is also unbuttoned because, to put it bluntly, cos forgot that girls below a size 10 may also need breathing space around their boobs. i felt that if i had buttoned it up, the buttons would pop and go flying into someone's dim sum. i paired it with a tiger brooch from kenneth jay lane. 

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, sephora base sublimatrice, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skin finish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay 24/7 eye pencil (lucky), illamasqua pure pigment (berber), maybelline gel liner, mac studio fix lash (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: no 7 illuminator (peach), nars highlighter (albatross), mac blush (ladyblush).
lips: tiny bit of revlon (peach), clinique superbalm moisturising gloss (grapefruit).

grr.

how annoying! i hate it when you do your make-up and the sun sets. means i can't take proper pictures! nevertheless, here is what i wore (on my face that is) today. big lashes and dark lips.

face: clarins beauty flash balm, sephora base sublimatrice, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), no 7 illuminator (peach), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (naked, buck, virgin), rimmel exaggerate liquid liner (black), illamasqua fine pencil (eerie), nars highlighter (albatross), mac studio fix lash (black), eyelure girls aloud false lashes (nicola), mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), duwop blush (peach).
lips: illamasqua (poison), sephora gloss (08).

my brooch still hasn't turned up. i've eliminated the taxi as a line of enquiry (wasn't there) so i only have two feasible explanations left: that it is at someone's house, or that it's simply awol in my own home. my friend is going to call the house for me on monday. keep praying!

benefit's 'they're real!' mascara.

yesterday was my best friend's birthday celebrations and so i am feeling a tad "delicate" as i type this...

her birthday was an excuse for me to try out my latest mascara, called 'they're real!' by benefit. it was always sold out in shops (undoubtedly due to the hype, grumble grumble) so i bought it online around christmas time. my immediate impression was a good one, as i think that the packaging is really sleek and glamourous. 

nails - no 7 (totally teal).

however, when it came to application, i was a little let down. it's a good mascara, but not as great as people make out. i felt as if i had to apply it sparingly else it'd clump, and there isn't anything revolutionary about it which would make me want to re-buy. the wand is made out of plastic but i don't sense any sort of difference there, and i didn't feel that this product was that much better than a drugstore brand to warrant paying almost double the price. however, the only good part about this mascara is that it doesn't flake, which usually can be the bane of my life as a lens-wearer - so if that is an issue for anyone then this may be a good option to check out. i do think i'll keep it, but it definitely isn't the best mascara i've ever tried. perhaps it's because i already have long eyelashes, and therefore the change just isn't as drastic as it would be on those who haven't.

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, illamasqua skin base foundation (10), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralise skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, revlon colourstay quad (in the buff, second colour), benefit 'they're real!' mascara (top lashes), lancome hypnose mascara (lower lashes), maybelline gel liner, mac superslick liquid liner (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: mac (fleur power).
lips: urban decay (buzzkill).

and here is what i wore! i don't really do outfit posts because i'm not interested in my own outfits and i don't think i'm dedicated enough to the cause to get a remote control/tripod/photographer boyfriend...

dress - whistles, belt - chanel.

basic red.

my skin feels and looks awful. i think it's due to the fact that i'm back at university (certainly a jolt to the system), drinking less water (oh dear) and just feel lethargic even though i do next to nothing. my skin is therefore feeling quite dull and so i'll be sorting that out... probably the prime opportunity to do a review on something, right? my ebay jaunt is going okay, so far i've only sold a ps3 game (red dead redemption, 100% game completion, yessssssss) and i've still got 22 items on sale. unfortunately i wish i could say i've made money but i sold my game for almost £9, and had in fact purchased ANOTHER game off ebay the day before for the same amount. this brings my funds to... oh wait. £0.

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: maybelline gel liner, revlon grow luscious mascara (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: mac (ladyblush).
lips: mac (mac red).

nails - 17 (forever). ring - asos.

i've been going down the snoozefest nude route when it comes to nails. 'forever' is actually a pretty decent shade though. when i first saw it, i thought it might be a dupe of  model's own's 'nude beige', but 'forever' is a lot more pink and more suited to lighter complexions. it's very grown-up and classy, neither of which i can relate to right now. i do feel quite sorry for 17 because i forget how great their polishes are until i use them - which, considering i own two, is not very often. it has a fantastic quick-drying formula, is high shine, and after two days, shows no intention of chipping. i do really love it and think that their polishes are underrated. particularly by yours truly. whoops.

the great big jewellery sort of 2012 is still ongoing. i have made minimal progress. see this panda ring? this was my favourite ring in the whole wide world, but unfortunately isn't the original of the favourite-ring-in-whole-wide-world ring. i bought the original (rip) on holiday whilst in tehran in 2009, and loved it to death. hallowe'en 2010, some dumb ass fool steals my oyster (also commonly referred to as "MY LIFE") AND my ring, which i had left in my bag. i was absolutely, inexplicably devastated. i searched high and low for this ring, but it was nowhere to be found. not in the bar, not abroad, not anywhere. 

six months passed and i was perusing a few blogs when i stumbled across a blog which had a lot of rings in its banner. ONE OF THE RINGS WAS MY PANDA. besides initially deciding that i had nabbed my panda thief, i instead got my massive creep on and messaged her asking where she bought it from. she said she got it from river island the year before, and once again, my heart sank. nevertheless, a quick ebay search led to ONE seller who had ONE ring left and HERE IT IS!!!!!!!! 

so, um... yes. i am making progress.

in other news, i am very excited to be attending the #zomgbloggersbash! i think it's extremely unlikely that anyone going will know of this blog (i barely do) so if you do see someone and suspect them to be a gatecrasher, it is probably me...

that gurl is poisoooon....

such a tune. it also shares the name of my lipstick today! anyway, my make-up for today was probably subconsciously influenced by my desire to watch this film. it is indeed 'the artist' and i'm absolutely dying to see it! no one else is interested so i may have to go it alone. i love musicals to death you see (i grew up watching all of them, thinking that one day i'd meet fred astaire and we'd be bff), but as the vast majority of my friends are boys, i have a hard time getting people to go with me. i once threatened to make them come with me to see priscilla: queen of the desert for my birthday i'll have you know. because i am that cruel.

back to make-up. oddly enough, i purchased this lipstick thinking it would be my staple for autumn 2011. however, when it came to it, i barely used it. not because i didn't like it, but because i had some kind of cold-induced breakdown where i needed the reds and pinks and oranges to lift my spirits. i love the colour as it is a very peculiar sort of purple, unlike nothing i've found elsewhere - and so i gave it another whirl today. illamasqua's lipsticks are definitely unique in terms of colour which is why i like them (when i can't find a particular colour stocked in mac etc., i know where to go!) and they are long-lasting, but i do wish that they were a touch more creamy. this particular shade has quite a matte finish so i'm assuming that's why it's lacking on the hydration front.

earrings - forever 21.

very film noire, non? i teamed it up with a grey smokey eye and the result is a soft take on what would otherwise be a very evening look. truth be told, i can't think of nothing worse than doing a smokey eye, because a) it gets messy, b) i don't think it suits me as much as it suits others and c) all that blending does my wrist in. 

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, 17 primer, mac studio fix fluid (nc35), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (virgin, gunmental, creep, hustle), nars highlighter (albatross), l'oreal stylo eyeliner (grey obsession), maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).

cheeks: nars (orgasm).

lips: illamasqua (poison).

i'm also loving this shade by gosh, called 'purple heart'. unfortunately the sloppy application is due to the fact that there's barely any of it left! :( and the penmarks on my hands are also naughty, i'm sorry. it's a dark purple which, in some lights, also looks green. i love it, and think it's a classic shade which will never go out of style.

back to work.

that day. that one day, post-christmas, where you have to return to society. whether it be work, school, university or a grocery shop, the 3am bedtimes and lie-ins are over and you have to become reacquainted with your worst enemy: the tube. unfortunately i am still recovering from the traumatic ordeal that is the central line, and so this will be a simple fotd post.

face: l'oreal studio secrets primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), rimmel exaggerate liquid liner, maybelline gel liner, mac studio fix lash (black), mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: topshop (pop).
lips: collection 2000 creampuff lip cream (fairy cake).

2012.

i cannot believe 2011 is over!  it had extreme highs and lows but i anticipated that from the start. i'm usually quite opinionated on new year's eve (slurring "next year will be SHIT" with cocktail in hand) but i'm oddly neutral this year. 2012 could be good. it certainly has potential. resolutions? to maintain a healthy body and mind, and to not buy anything beauty-related. try not to let this blog die. you know, the usual.

i went through all of my make-up last night and fell in love all over again with a lot of old products. and i basically own everything now as it is... so i'm done. bye bye make-up, hello a less battered bank statement! and before anyone rolls their eyes thinking i won't do it, i'm incredibly determined. :) fortunately this blog was never about 'hauls' anyway, which i find relatively boring to read about. so, for today, here is the make-up i wore - all of it being old!

face: 17 primer, no 7 mineral foundation (light beige), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (lightly all over lid), maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: nars multiple (portofino).
lips: sephora ultra-shine gloss (no 08).

i also wanted to share one of my favourite purchases during the sale reason! these earrings from mikey were an absolute steal and are definitely the sort of thing i lust over on a daily basis. :)

rockalily lipstick.

a part of make-up which really excites me is discovering new brands. if you own as much lipstick as i do, you either a) own all the shades that one of the 'big brands' offer, b) feel uninspired by what is there, or c) simply yearn for something different. my 'something different' for today is lipstick by cult-favourite rockalily. i actually was introduced to the brand half because the owner follows me on twitter (who essentially has my dream job, she must tell me her secrets), and half because she knows one of my best friends who SWEARS by the stuff (note: said friend is the utterly gorgeous and extremely talented maxine who runs little miss delicious).

however, as i own about 4 or 5 red lip products (and god knows how many pinks), i just couldn't justify purchasing it there and then. but whaddyaknow. maxine went and got it for me for christmas! the gift of beautiful red lipstick. what a sweetheart. FYI, i also got a new plushie too, although it's not edible. don't ask how i found this out. 

nails - no 7 (pillarbox).

maxine had chosen 'rockette red' (£13.50). if you go on the website, the shade is described as "a creamy and luxurious matte lipstick [and] a classic blue-based lipstick".

i noticed an immediate difference when it came to applying the lipstick. i thought that it might have been due to the packaging being slightly bulkier than what i'm used to, but once i compared it with another lipstick, i realised that the bullet is different in shape.

see what i mean? apologies for the bad picture and everything - the sun was setting and my room has little light. the tip of rockalily's lipstick is a lot smaller than that of mac, which seems to be the more standard size. i think it will take some getting used to seeing as i haven't been blessed with much of a pout a la angelina jolie - but i can see how a smaller tip would make for more precise application. if i don't get used to it, i can always just use a lip brush instead anyway.

application over, my lipstick faced then face the ultimate test: dinner and cocktails. nachos grande, to be precise: chips, cheese fondue, guacamole, salsa, jalapenos, the works. poor rockette red... however, once my carbfest ended, i decided that i really liked the lipstick - it didn't lose any pigmentation as time went on, and even though it did fade after dinner, it still left a red stain on my lips. it felt creamy and soft and oh so good - performing just like any other high-end brand (warranting the price). however, i think it's more of a semi-matte finish rather than being fully matte, which is probably a great alternative for anyone who wants something inbetween the two. if you want something extremely matte as mac's ruby woo, this isn't it.

so yeah, long story short: i really love it. it's a sort of red i don't have, and i adore how creamy it is. i showed the website to another friend who was slightly intimidated by the fact that it's a brand adored by alternative girls - but please don't let this put you off (if it works for illamasqua...!). trust me when i say that it's a lovely product who would suit 99.999% of the population. possibly even obama.

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, 17 primer, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (naked, virgin), maybelline gel liner, little bit of rimmel kohl pencil and mac superslick liquid eyeliner (black), no 7 lash adapt mascara (black), eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), bourjois blush (rose ambré) and benefit gilded highlighter (tangerine gold).
lips: no 7 lip pencil (fire), rockalily lipstick (rockette red).

also, check out the new earrings. i was eyeing up these bad boys for the longest time and bought them on sale. they're by mawi x disney. i've been to disneyland three times but as i share my name with a disney princess, i think i'm going to excuse myself.

it's not you eyeliner, it's me.

A LATE MERRY CHRISTMAS!

right. for the first time in my life... well, no. okay, let's start again. for the first time in approximately 6-7 years, i have tired of black eyeliner. that's right. anyone who knows me knows that the thick black eyeliner is pretty much a staple. yet, i guess i just grew tired of it - so much so that i haven't worn any for over a week. GASP! maybe it's because i love my new mac eyelash curler so much and want to show off my eyelashes as much as possible? or maybe it's because i'm lazy... 

the plus point is that in person, i feel as if i look a lot more fresh. in reality though, it photographs badly and i end up looking tired and lifeless. you win some, you lose some.

face: 17 primer, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: mac studio fix lash, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.

cheeks: sleek (rose gold).

lips: no 7 (classic rose).

'classic rose' is definitely my favourite lipstick (OF ALL TIME! imma let u finish). it's long-lasting, highly pigmented, and the colour is just perfect for me - especially when i want to add some colour without going down the hot pink route. it's photographed quite pink here but if you see it in person, it isn't loud at all and still looks natural. i actually have two of these because i am a mong and thought i lost it in a fit of despair when really, it was in my bag pocket. WHOOPS.

ps - i got some fabulous presents which i can't wait to try out!

pps - my skin is awful right now.

pink sunday! no? does that not work?

i am busy busy busy. busy doing uni work, busy writing, busy editing, busy drafting, busy applying. unfortunately this sort of work doesn't come with an expiry, and so things will be very hectic from now until june. it's solid work, and absolutely exhausting. i hope that i don't neglect this blog too much as a result of that.

what can i say. i'm back on the pink lipsticks. i would do a post on my lipstick collection but that would be taking my workload up to another level, haha! as it's winter and very drab outside, this was admittedly an unusual choice - my outfit was very grey and so i just needed that pop of colour. i usually go for the more deeper, less in-your-face pinks when it's cold outside. nevertheless, i absolutely love this shade and the fact that it's a cremesheen formulation makes it even better - it's super duper creamy and extremely long-lasting.

face: 17 photo primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (virgin, oil slick, tiny bit of twice baked), rimmel kohl pencil, rimmel exaggerate liquid liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: sleek blush (rose gold).
lips: mac (speak louder).

i am also rather proud of myself for finding a nail polish that is the exact match of my lipstick. loooooooook! it's like they're dupes of each other. i bought this along with barry m's grey nail polish (does it have a shade name? it probably does) as i've been hankering over a grey nail polish for the longest time.

nails - barry m (shocking pink).

this pink actually isn't so shocking - it isn't neon or some kind of baby pink barbie shade. it's a really sweet, bright berry-pink, and is totally me (i actually HATE it when people say "that's so me~", what have i become)... i wore it for about 4 days which is possibly a new record and it didn't chip once despite me skipping a top coat. considering how cheap barry m is, i really really love it.

gushfest over.

very very sleepy fotd.

i am so horrifically tired and feel really rough as i type this. it's like having an exhaustion-induced hangover. sleepover? no. fatigover? no. hmmmm. i will need to work on this. come back to me later.

(see the rest of me looking pregnant in the background?)

i haven't really been doing much make-up wise recently, just keeping it simple. it's a little matchy-matchy - but i'm just not feeling anything remotely different right now. i think it's definitely the exhaustion and bad skin talking. saying that, i do have my eye on a headband with spikes poking out of it so i'm sure the old me (the old badly-dressed-with-questionable-taste me, that is) will be back soon enough. make-up wise, i'm just going for a look which makes me appear energised, well-rested and basically not rough. and i must warn you, this is an extremely difficult task.

now excuse me while i doze off....

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (blunt, chopper, twice baked), maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, rimmel kohl pencil, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: no 7 illuminator (peach).
lips: no 7 lip pencil (melon), vaseline.

....... ZZZZZOVER?!

I LUV U KANYE :'(

i love him. seriously. is it awkward that my guy best friend is also the spitting image of him? ... possibly (yes). i love it when people are so creative and not in a contrived way (which seems to be the order of the day in 2011); when they bring out products just for cash, with zero input. kanye is always bringing fresh ideas to the table and so i totally excuse him for having a huge ego. it sounds SO cheesy (i am wincing) but i really see his passion in everything he does, and so i really respect him for that.

IF WE CAN'T BE BFFL IN REAL LIFE, YOU LEAVE ME WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO DRESS LIKE YOU.

face: sephora base subliminatrice, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer, mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), revlon grow luscious mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).

cheeks: illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), illamasqua blush (lover).

lips: max factor (chilli).

walk in the park.

dress - pearl lowe for peacocks.

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix (nw30), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: urban decay primer potion, illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), urban decay eyeshadow (twice baked), maybelline gel liner, clinique high definition mascara, eyelure naturalites false eyelashes, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).

cheeks: bourjois (rose ambré).

lips: mac (lustering).

feeling blue... rimmel's colour mousse in 'mermaid'.

it's my reading week this week. i have a LOT of work to do, a panic room to sort out, and a final pay cheque to chase up. i haven't got a lot of money right now and it's stressing me out, because my travel costs me approximately £100 per month and i would have enough if work would actually pay me when they're meant to! >< i'd give anything for another week off though. i have a stack of reading and just looking at it sends me off to sleep. the cold weather is also wreaking total havoc with my skin, leaving it uncomfortably dry and dull. for all of the reasons above, i've been pretty stressed to say the least!

earrings - asos

this is my newest budget-friendly dress though, from vero moda. i saw it on asos whilst it was on sale, but couldn't justify it. i then saw it again in their sunday sale (which was vilified on facebook for having "disgusting dresses", WHATEVER SUCKAZ) for £10. £10. that is basically the same price as my sessions of happiness at wagamamas. i had to have it! it's very 60s and i usually avoid short shift dresses but this just about works on my figure.

in terms of make-up, i decided to get all matchy and go for blues. if i'm honest, i actually do hate blue make-up. i hate it on 99.999% of people and i don't know why, it's just an irrational hatred of mine. it makes my eyes look really dead and for some reason, the lighter the blue, the more i hate it. i was therefore hideously unhappy when i got an extra pot of rimmel's colour mousse ages ago with a purple one i bought against my own will. admittedly, at the time i thought i'd sell it or give it to someone.

however, i decided to give it a whirl - and it was not as traumatising as i anticipated. this shade, called "mermaid", is a really intense metallic shade. it's so vivid that if i saw it on someone else, i would basically never guess that it's from a high street brand. it's really easy to build up or tone down, by virtue of being really blendable. if you want it to look really bright, you can just put the mousse on and it won't dull at all after a few hours. so yeah, i don't LOVE this shade, but am surprisingly neutral towards it. i would've put on some false lashes too, but i was only going for drinks round a girlfriend's place.

damn eye shape always causing creases...

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, 17 primer, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: urban decay primer potion, rimmel kohl pencil, rimmel colour mousse (mermaid), urban decay eyeshadow (oil slick), benefit gilded highlighter (tangerine gold), maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow & lash gel.

cheeks: no 7 skin illuminator, bourjois blush (rose ambré).

lips: vaseline.

nails - model's own (slate green)

basic look.

(check out those bags!)

face: sephora base subliminatrice, mac studio fix fluid (nc35), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), no 7 illuminator (peach), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara.

cheeks: mac (ladyblush).

lips: revlon (kiss me coral).