nars holiday 2011 collection: 'arabian nights'.

is it possible for fingers (i totally did not just type "fingurs") to get abs? i feel like i've just been living in some kind of constant type-a-thon bubble. i've been writing this hiv/aids paper throughout christmas (260 words over my limit, not happy with the second half either, kill me now)... and as of next week i'm beginning research for the next one! it's on the human right to a decent environment, linked to development. you'll undoubtedly know how i'm getting along with it eventually.

 anyway, back to business. my second christmas delight (and i mean ~*D-LITE*~) was this bad boy, from nars' holiday collection 2011. my friend was very, VERY naughty. she spent christmas with me, and was naughty in general buy buying me something. i must've tweeted something like "WAAAA WANT WAA NO MONEY WAWAWAWA" ages ago so you can imagine my suprise - and delight! - when i opened this up. isn't it just beautiful? it's called 'arabian nights', which i think is the perfect name. it's evocative, dark, sparkly, and sultry. completely unlike anything else i own.

i've never owned a nars eyeshadow before. it's so soft and easy to blend! and AH LAV IT. definitely has a grown-up and 'evening' feel to it, as all of the shades come out really dark. the only bad point is that if you want to do a smokey eye, you essentially blend out all of the glitter. i haven't applied it in this way yet but i suspect that applying it wet and patting it on heavily should sort that out. please excuse my hair, it was pre-braid and was taken in a total of around 30 seconds.

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, 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, maybelline gel liner, rimmel kohl pencil, nars palette (arabian nights), mac  superslick liquid eyeliner (black), urban decay eyeshadow (virgin), max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud). 
cheeks: mac (stunner).
lips: mac (modesty).

ps - my friend also bought us a potted plant which i kid you not, is also just as exciting. my beloved little plant is now in my bathroom, in a sunny spot, waiting to grow - and then i will move it elsewhere. i don't think many people know that i'm mad about gardening. my kitchen window is lined with orchids and if i am in london during the summers, i go beserk and plant lilies everywhere. i'm pretty sure that only two people were previously aware of this - and now, the internet. brilliant.

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.

warm sparkly look.

here is how i wore my make-up on christmas day. unfortunately my beloved jimmy choo x h&m necklace has gone awol (and still is! i'm sending out a search party) and so i couldn't wear it as planned. :(

i went for a shimmery look on my eyes with bold lips and fresh skin - it was a festive occasion after all. sadly i didn't do anything glittery (i do love resembling a disco ball) or really 'out there' as my christmas was relatively low-key. that and i'm a wuss because i didn't want any make-up to irritate my eyes. i used bronzy browns, some gold, and a coppery red on the outer corners - although the finished result looks like something better suited to a summer holiday i feel, rather than a wintery christmas! don't be fooled by the pink lips either - i skipped red due to my anticipated non-stop eating and lightly dabbed on revlon's 'cherries in the snow' using my fingers. that's how it is when lightly dabbed! it looks like i've applied a lipstick fully...

face: sephora illuminating primer, 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, urban decay eyeshadows (smog, half baked), illamasqua pure pigment (berber), nars highlighter (albatross), maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: nars highlighter (albatross), nars multiple (portofino).
lips: revlon (cherries in the snow) with vaseline on top.

i also embraced the day of christmas with some tights adorned with crystals. forgot how much i love them!

in other news - well, i've seen so many pretty things i would love to own, but lack the money. asking my parents is an option, but i absolutely detest doing it (think i've asked once in the past two years, only because i had £3 in my bank account, o) and so i'm going to be on the hunt for some part-time work and selling a lot of stuff i don't need or use. i'm really loving costume jewellery but annoyingly enough, all the stuff i like costs an arm and a leg. i'm also back on my fitness binge, which i cruelly deserted for the past week and a half. when i say 'fitness binge', i mean FORCING myself to be sensible and doing exercise. it is horrible.

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.

it's christmas!

oh bother. i have been neglecting my blog! the very thing i said i wouldn't do! poor thing. praise the lord it isn't a living, breathing object else i'd probably have a manslaughter charge on my hands. the reasons for said neglect are the following: i was ill again (food poisoning for £2.99 from patisserie valerie), december being the season of birthdays, i helped raise £10,000 for charity, i've been applying for jobs, and i've been hideously busy with my masters as always.

2.03 - we no longer speak of it. (I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL)

i've also been working on a paper about governance feminism, hiv/aids and sex workers. pretty fascinating, but unfortunately i have a) a bitchy deadline, and b) an even bitchier wordcount. and as it currently stands, i am 3000 words OVER my prescribed word limit. oh deary me. however, i do hope to try and keep this up - even if i do have a thousand other things on my mind. sadly lipsticks do not equate to my whole life.

however, in the spirit of christmas...

 fotd darling? outfit post~?

nails - model's own (emerald city).

i must say that i pined after this shade for so long, and it doesn't disappoint. it is a stunning emerald green, and just screams festive! people always compliment my nails when i have this on, and as far as glitters go, it is decent in that you don't have to apply 1000 coats to get a full coverage (3-4 usually does the trick). i've been wearing it on/off during the entire month, and i love love love it.

i also have a secret for glitter-nail-phobes who are also serial nail polish peelers: apply a base colour first. not a base coat, but an actual proper shade. in this instance, i used no 7's 'dollar' (a deep metallic green), before applying the glitter. lo and behold, should you fancy it, you can peel the entire thing off, skipping the endless scrubbing with cotton wool. i wouldn't usually recommend people to peel their nail polish - it is a horrible habit i wish i could quit - but in this case, it really does save you time. i hope that everyone is having a wonderful christmas break.

summer make-up & winter weather.

... i have written over 1000 words... i played a part in raising just under £10,000... i also got hit on by a 70 (MINIMUM) year-old man... i also met the very lovely vanesa guallar of 17 cosmetics... suffice to say, this weekend was productive. and now it is december! december will be full of applications and writing. applications do involve typing though, so basically just a buttload of words. my fingers will grow abs no doubt. bye bye christmas.

i haven't really bought any new make-up as of late, but have once again gravitated towards my usual pinks/reds/oranges. summer make-up is always more fun.

one of my all-time favourite make-up lines is revlon's matte lipstick range. just as pigmented as the ones at mac, but much cheaper and nowhere near as drying! i honestly don't know how they do it. it feels expensive, stays on for quite a while - i mean, how?!? i'm telling you, if they ever discontinue these bad boys i may well just wilt and die. unfortunately this particular shade has been discontinued in the uk, but i think it is still being sold in the states. ebay is probably the answer.

vanesa also kindly gave me the one colour i didn't have out of 17's magnetic nail polish range - what a sweetheart. it's supposed to be green, but has photographed as blue for some bizarre reason. super fun and easy to do - i get a lot of compliments on my nails.

nails - 17 (magnetic nail polish: green).

(see this vest in the background? it's a bad ass vest. that's right, i'm resorting to vests. it's one of those uni-qlo techy ones that is supposed to conserve heat. that's the good stuff right there...)

face: 17 primer, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: maybelline gel liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: sleek blush (rose gold), benefit highlighter pencil (tangerine gold).
lips: revlon (strawberry suede).

in other news: i am hoping to put up my christmas tree(s) (that's right, PLURAL), and am staying indoors as the icy cold is causing havoc with my body. i have bad circulation problems so it causes me pain being in the cold so often. taking it easy for tomorrow.

review: illamasqua "freak" fragrance.

vybz kartel has broken (broke?) escaped from prison today. hilarious/amazing/life-completing.

anyway, earlier in the week a few of my guyfriends came over for brownies, call of duty and just general mooching that only boys (and me) are capable of. i went for a smokey eye and slightly glittery lip. smokey dark eyeshadow and pink lips seems to be the order of the day right now!

face: 17 primer, no 7 mineral foundation (light beige), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, lumiere eye pigment (taupe), rimmel kohl pencil, max factor false last effect mascara, the body shop brow and lash gel.
cheeks: bourjois (rose ambré).
lips: sephora (no 72).

in other news, i was kindly sent a vial of illamasqua's new fragrance, "freak" - i say kindly because it was a surprise, as i was expecting something diddy - and i am mega hapz. i absolutely love everything marketing-wise to do with this fragrance... i love the story behind it, the scents, the fact that its unisex... everything EXCEPT the image. i don't even know why. it corresponds with the scents used, it is in the night, it's purple (these are all things i like), but somehow for me it just doesn't click. maybe it'll grow on me. i think it's that bloody octopus on her shoulder.

nails - barry m (berry).

top notes: black davana, opium flower and belladonna.

heart notes: poison hemlock, datura and queen of the night.

base notes: frankincense, oud and myrrh.

as you can probably tell, these are all exotic, dark and floral. for that reason, i honestly didn't know what to expect nor how would it translate into a unisex fragrance. but! it arrived, and it smells absolutely lovely. to me it's quite a heady, masculine floral which lasts and stays smelling sweet for hours. very evening, and very unique. i really do like it. 

... now if you excuse me, i have a 5000 essay to write. and it's assessed. oh god of postgraduate gods, please make my essay AMAZING... i refuse to blog ever again until i make a start on it...

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.

skincare: winter essentials.

now that winter is well and truly upon us, my major concern regarding my skin isn't what make-up to put on it, but how to take care of it. i'm generally quite (read: very) obsessive about my skin routine. admittedly i won't be appearing on any clearasil adverts any time soon as i still have some hyperpigmentation from my teens, but i have had people compliment me numerous times on how healthy my skin looks, both with and without make-up. and if a goblin like me can get complimented on their skin, so can anyone. even setting five minutes aside each day to look after your skin really does make all the difference.

a lot of people don't seem to understand this, though. i've had numerous girlfriends complain about getting spots right after telling me they sleep in their make-up! even this excerpt from stylist made me gag. unfortunately, it seems laziness prevails. :(

it's sad though, because i think there is a big misconception in that you have to spend a lot of money and put in a lot of time, therefore making it a chore - which really isn't the case! touch wood both of my parents have very good skin and so genetically i think i'm alright... but, it was my mother who taught me all the home remedies, such as putting lemon juice on your face to lighten pigmentation (i.e. freckles, i used to have a few!), putting natural yoghurt on for 10 minutes to cleanse any dead cells... all of that. unfortunately though, we are complete opposites when it comes to sun - i have to nag her to put spf on, whereas i won't leave the house without it. (a fond memory of a trip in havana involves me putting on my spf 50+ on the beach whilst surrounding by people who resembled living, breathing leather). if you look at the underside of your arm, it is completely smooth and supple - give it a pinch. compare it to the other side of your arm, and you will see the difference (obviously due to unavoidable exposure to weather). SPF GUISE.

anyhow - these are the products getting me through winter. they cover a variety of price ranges, and suit my combination skin type.

from left to right: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, boots vitamin e eye cream, boots vitamin e night cream, clarins beauty flash balm, johnson's hand cream.

no 7 lift and luminate day cream: observant people will notice that i use this regularly. out of all the products here, it feels the lightest. for that reason, i wear it if i am either leaving the house without make-up, or as a base for my foundation if it lacks any spf. some days i will wake up with skin that feels dry, and so i put this on anyway before applying make-up. it really adds luminosity to your skin and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy.

boots vitamin e eye cream and night cream: if i'm honest, you don't need the eye cream. eye creams are no different to me than regular creams, and i just bought this at the time because it was on offer. the night cream is really rich, and leaves your skin feeling very soft. i actually laughed when i saw a big sign in the body shop above their vitamin e range, saying something like "one sold every nanosecond!!!11" or something - when this does the exact same job, and is much more cheaper. however, i still wish that boots would add a lovely scent to this, as it does smell somewhat clinical.

clarins beauty flash balm: i use this in a similar way to the no 7 day cream, but it is very, very luminating to the point where if i wear it all over my face, i feel like i probably resemble the moon. so, i apply it sparingly but still think it's a lovely product as it makes my skin appear less dull and tired. unlike the no 7 day cream, this can be doubled up as a very natural highlighter if you apply it onto your cheekbones.

johnsons hand cream: this is pretty much a classic and is so, so moisturising that it is an absolute must for the winter months. a simple staple that does what it's supposed to. 

the worst advice that anyone can do is to tell someone to use xyz. people are the best judge of what products work for them, and what their own skin needs - i don't use any of these at the same time, but just when i feel they're needed on my skin. these are just what work for me!

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?!

changing perfumes for the new season.

i am a sad individual. you know how i reached this conclusion? i actually like matching my perfumes to the season. this is how i know my life is exceptionally empty. nevertheless, i have finally kissed goodbye to valentino's rock n rose - with much relief i might add. floral scents are definitely my thing and i did like this, but it just had zero lasting power. you'd get about 5 seconds of a rosy scent following by a rest of pure nothing. it's a shame, as it was really light sweet, and feminine. it is now my new air freshener, as there isn't much of it left. thanks valentino.

heart notes: rose, gardenia and orange blossom.

top notes: bergamot, blackcurrant, crisp green leaves and muguet.

base notes: sandalwood, heliptrope, orris, vanilla and musky notes.

now that london has well and truly entered winter weather, i've gone for something a little warmer, muskier and spicy. guilty by gucci isn't my usual type of perfume, but it's really grown on me. it's definitely more adult and heavier - and lasts! bye bye valentino, hello gucci. i don't like the bottle as i think it looks a little tacky (i could imagine j.lo whipping this out on that night she wore that versace dress with them big ol' earrings) but oh well. it smells wonderful and i absolutely love it.

heart notes: peach, lilac and geranium.

top notes: mandarin and pink pepper.

base notes: ambery notes and patchouli.

in other news, my workload this week has been absolutely manic - and sadly, it is only just the beginning as i have to begin my coursework for my feminist legal theory module. i've given myself until january to finish it, but ideally i would like it done by christmas so that i have an extra week to begin research on the new one. in a dream world? have it done in 3 weeks. it all goes downhill from here really...

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).

polka dot nails.

recently i've been wearing patterns on my nails. i find the process oddly therapeutic. the easiest (by far) is a simple polka dot. this is a totally botched job as i rushed it, but i do love the nail polishes i used.

i really can't be bothered to have seperate nail polishes for the base and top coat. personally i think it is a little frivolous if you're a regular joe like me who changes nail polishes daily and have a terrible habit of peeling them off. for that reason, i've always used 3-in-1 polishes from barry m or model's own. both do the job. i wear nail polish every single day but my nails are hardly stained when in reality, they should be. just sayin'.

i then applied rimmel's 'ethereal', a light pearly pink. following that, i then used a dotter. i'm surprised that many people i know haven't heard of these, but then again, i can't even remember the first time i stumbled across them. i got mine off ebay and it was dirt cheap.

using the larger end of the dotter, i then dipped it in model's own 'denim' (a mid-tone blue) and lightly applied it to my nails. and then ta-da! polka dot nails. it really is that simple. apply a top coat and you're done.

review: lumiere cosmetics.

my latest rant (i might begin each post with one of these): mo' money, mo' problems. well, in reverse. i have NO money and too many problems. a whopping £17 in my bank account, an ebayer who won't refund my money (always nice), and an ex-workplace who are a fortnight late with wages. Y U NO PAY ME?! nevertheless, i was pleased to find a parcel from lumiere mineral cosmetics waiting for me at home. the kind folks there generously sent me seven samples of their mineral products which, according to them, "naturally enhance the wearer's finest features (ooooo) while simultaneously minizing problem areas (i gots lots o' dem), allowing each skin type the ability to delight in the look and feel of naturally smooth and radiant skin". sounds like a sweet deal, right?

clockwise from top left: ditto 06 eye pigment, au naturale silk blush, medium warm luminesse foundation, medium warm cashmere foundation, soft brown eye pigment, woodberry mineral blush, taupe eye pigment.

i'm very happy with the selection as i don't think i would've necessarily picked these on my own and got a bunch of pleasant surprises. looking at the products, i decided to do a basic glittery eye. my favourite is the glittery ditto pigment - how gorgeous is it?! it is just as coppery as it is in the pot, and is definitely the kind of shade i'd expect to find in mac, rather than on the high street. i had all of the pots open, and chose the two shades i thought would work best with one another. i even swatched them... i mean, serious stuff was going on. however, it was only once i finished applying my make-up that i realised i had in fact applied a blusher!

au naturale mineral blush on the left, ditto 06 pigment on the right.

nevertheless, these two shades were easy to blend, even if i am a bit slow in realising that one was a blusher... they also had decent pigmentation (much better than i was anticipating) and were soft to the touch, as were all of the samples i received. however, i am a total fusspot when it comes to packaging, and  prefer pressed powders in palettes rather than loose powders. it's easier to store, doesn't go everywhere, and is just far more convenient.

having realised that one of the blushers was already on my eyelids, i therefore went and tried out woodberry on my cheeks. woodberry definitely photographed a lot more natural than it looked in person. it's a shade that is completely out of my comfort zone (it's the first browny one i've ever tried), and it wasn't the colour that disappointed, but the application. for some reason, it looked really blotchy and i just couldn't blend it out properly. maybe you're supposed to apply it gradually, who knows. maybe it's just a bad formulation. i applied it the same way i would with any other blusher and it just didn't look right. in the future i think i will use it on my eyes instead, or perhaps very sparingly on the cheeks as a contour instead.

as for the foundation... well, unfortunately the luminesse foundation was a tad too dark for me, so i can't offer a real opinion on it. however, i really like the cashmere foundation, which has grown on me. i don't feel comfortable just wearing powder as a base, because a lot of the foundations i'm currently using have a moisturising quality to them which is necessary (given that london is freeeeeezing)! powder on dry skin just makes me squirm. so, i applied foundation but minimally, in order to let the powder do most of the work. when i looked at myself in the mirror, i did feel as if i looked really matte. so if any pin-ups are reading this (or lovers of the old-school make-up look), i actually really recommend this for that. regardless of that, it made my skin photograph like an absolute dream. in every single picture my skin looks really smooth and so  it's really great if you're going somewhere and intend on taking a lot of photographs. once again, i find loose powders hard to work with, but if this came in a pressed powder compact, i would be all over it.

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, bourjois healthy mix foundation (52), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), lumiere cashmere powder (medium warm), 

eyes: urban decay primer potion, lumiere mineral blush (au naturale), lumiere ditto pigment (06), urban decay eyeshadow (twice baked), maybelline gel liner, rimmel kohl pencil, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).

cheeks: lumiere blush (woodberry). 

lips: revlon (mauve it over).

admittedly, i wasn't sure what to expect with these products. the mineral cosmetics market (in the uk, at least) is still relatively niche and no brands really 'stand out' to me the way other brands do. their marketing always seems to be really bland, and leads me to believe that mineral make-up as a whole is outdated and dull. i know about bareminerals and some high street brands, but haven't felt drawn by what they offer. however, lumiere cosmetics has certainly showed me that there is hope and that i shouldn't be so quick to dismiss what they promise. if you have a look on their website, they have a varied colour selection. and i can promise that the colour on the site is what you get.

review is honest, as always.

versace x h&m.

so... this dropped on uk shores today. you should know this, unless you've been living under a rock. what people DON'T seem to know is that this isn't the last we'll hear of it. that's right... versace is also doing a s/s collection for h&m which should be out in february of next year. that's the one i am more excited about, as i want a bikini with a big fat medusa on it please. i'll take four.

judging from the press images, i thought that this was a really fun and playful collection. i loved the fact that the collections was based on references from versace's archive, and definitely saw a few pieces which i'd have liked to own. i particularly liked the accessories though, and the skirts. all in all, it was looking alright. not stuff i was crying over and NEEDING, but stuff that seemed relatively decent.

i couldn't brave the central london crowds (i did not wake up with the mental strength and physical power required), and went to a shopping centre instead, where a group of gypsies were also there and gave me an absolute migraine in the fitting rooms. it'd be really cute if they were trying on wedding dresses and stuff but um, no. the unsatisfactory shopping experience aside, i pretty much got what i wanted (my favourite item being a skirt which a lady actually let me have! whoever you are, i love you)... yet, i couldn't help but somehow feel disappointed at the collection as a whole. admittedly the skirts and accessories were actually really nice in person and considering the fact that i've seen uglier items in topshop retailing for the same price, i felt like it was decent value... i also liked the packaging. should i be ashamed...? it reminded me of a hybrid between carmen miranda, dolly parton and joan collins in dynasty... all three being EXCELLENT women...

buuuuuuut... there is a but. the dresses. oh my christ, they either looked horrific in person or were sized awfully. according to versace's absurd calculations, my body is a size 14/16. not my usual 8/10. not even my 10/12 on my really fat days. i always encounter problems with dress sizes anyway, but that's because smaller clothes don't usually accommodate someone with, ahem, a bigger bust. these dresses just did not accommodate full stop. i could barely get an arm through, so in the end i gave up.

on the whole, i thought the collection was o-kay. yes, it was very "versace" but i still somehow found it uninspiring as 99% of the items struck me as having a shelf life. it was nowhere near lanvin x h&m which was amazing and whose dresses i could see myself wearing for years upon years. with the versace dresses, i imagine you'd wear them for a year, maybe two max, and then forget about them. which, for that price, just isn't really worth it. saying that, my mum did get a yellow dress which looked surprisingly good on her, but her  body and style is completely different to mine. maybe that's just it. maybe i mistook cherrypicking one or two versace items for my wardrobe as me loving the brand, when in reality, i'm nowhere near a versace-head-to-toe kind of gal. my own disappointment stemmed from the fact that this just wasn't really "me", and that i just wasn't pining over everything as i usually do. it's a foreign (and scary) feeling!

i mean, will i REALLY wear this print ten years from now? really? will i sit there and unashamedly declare that i still love it because it made me feel like the secret third member of salt n pepa? 

oh well. i am totally more lanvin~ it seems. which i suppose is nothing to complain about. now excuse me whilst i go fawn over my versace homeware instead, the only part of versace which truly matters (obviously).

if anyone wishes to share their thoughts, i'm interested to hear.

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).

happy birthday dad!

today is my dad's birthday! 

dress - vero moda.

yaaaaay. happy birthday baba. it's pretty special that he is here. he works abroad (has done so since i was 7) and so sometimes he can't be with us on his day, which is pretty miserable for everyone. we went out for a meal last night and will be spending today doing family things.

my make-up was relatively simple and i do apologise the rubbish webcam photo - it was dark outside and my room is insane when it comes to light. i had thick eyeliner on and sculpted cheeks. i tend to do that if i'm going out for a posh meal, purely because bold lipsticks and eating in restaurants are a total pain in the ass. so, the focus is all on the eyes and cheeks! perhaps it was a blessing that i couldn't take a photo with my DSLR, as i felt horrendously tired seeing as i had been up since 6am (which is ESPECIALLY painful on a saturday).

face: no 7 lift and luminate day cream, sephora base subliminatrice, illamasqua skin base foundation (10), clinique airbush concealer (03 light), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus). [note: i used all of these sparingly!]
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (naked, buck, twice baked), maybelline gel liner, no 7 lash adapt mascara, eyelure naturalites false eyelashes, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), the body shop brow and lash gel.
cheeks: no 7 illuminator (peach), nars highlighter (albatross), illamasqua cream pigment (hollow), duwop blush (peach).
lips: revlon (mauve it over).

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)

natural browns.

i'm feeling pretty influenced by autumn. this is definitely the longest i've gone without bright pink lipstick, and i'm admittedly being really boring with my make-up as of late. woody colours such as browns, taupes, greens and beiges are certainly the order of the day. if i was going out i would team it with a bright orange but i didn't want to alienate the people in my international environmental law class, ha.

it really annoys me when my make-up doesn't show up in photographs properly, so you'll just have to take my word for it that my eye make-up was very, very brown indeed.

whilst rummaging through my stash looking for such colours, i found a peculiar-looking little pot with gorgeous khaki pigment inside which i had forgotten about for the longest time. i honestly don't know what brand it is - when i turned it over, it said 'jade' on the back with other little bits and pieces in hebrew...

nails - no 7 (dollar).

... who else can claim to own israeli make-up?! that's right, i'm just that worldly. what is hilarious about this little pot is that i actually bought it whilst on holiday in iran. exactly - i'm not just worldly, but am also solving the middle east crisis through make-up. can someone just hand me my nobel prize already? seriously? look, i'm just sitting right here. unfortunately it isn't fantastic quality, and certainly isn't as beautiful as it is in the pot. who knows, perhaps i'm just using it wrong... but it is a disappointment when the shade is so pretty.

definitely need to get an eyelash perm soon, oh man.

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix fluid (nc35), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), no 7 skin illuminator (peach), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, no 7 eyeshadow (khaki), last shade in revlon quad (in the buff), urban decay eyeshadows (twice baked, vert), maybelline gel liner, rimmel kohl pencil, benefit gilded highlighter (tangerine gold), max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud), body shop lash & brow gel, my mysterious jade pigment.
cheeks: nars multiple (portofino).