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.