Friday 25 July 2014

Caviar Nails from Ciate;

Hey there!
Today I thought I'd present my first every nail post (sound of trumpets). I used to be quite into nails but lazy person + working in a bar = constantly chipped nails. But with Marie Clare a couple of months ago I spied a Ciate caviar nails set for just £2 and I had to give it a shot.
In this set, there is a lovely almost-coral, almost-red and the caviar beads are pearlescent, transparent and a metallic red. The polish itself is very watery but in a good way, it makes a thinner layer which makes for quicker drying time hurray! It doesn't chip as quickly as other brands but like I said pub work doesn't make for long-lasting polish. It's super shiny which looks amazing.
Onto the beads and technique. Do this on a flat surface and on a peice of paper to catch most of them to put back into the bottle and expect beads to scurry away from you onto the floor, into your bed and even in the loo. Quick tip: Probably keep a Hoover at hand. The idea is you leave your nails wet and just sprinkle the caviar-ness on top which works it just makes one hell of a mess. When you're done your nails look and feel fabulous... while it lasts. The beads in this kit are smaller than from cheaper brands I think the idea is that they will stay on for longer, but even with top coat they were dropping on like flies from day one.
Don't misjudge this I did genuinely like the look it gave, but I think I will be saving this for 'special event nails' and I think you should save your money if you're paying full price kit because a cheaper one will do the same short-term job.

Monday 21 July 2014

DIY Sunglasses Holder;

Good evening and welcome to the world's simplest DIY. The picture pretty much shows you what to do because it is that simple, regardless I'm going to tell you how I did it and the utensils I used.

It all started on a hot summer day when I retrieved my many 14 pairs of sunglasses and set to put them back in the drawer they're supposed to be kept in, but it simply wasn't happening. I have quite a collection of boxes and pots that I have once used as makeup storage but none quite worked. I keep all of my bits and pieces on a shelf in my wardrobe, and on a trip to find another pot I was, quite literally hit in the head with idea, actually with a coat hanger but hey ho! It is a velvet covered one from a set in Primark that I keep all of my more sheer items of clothing on as they don't slip off. Any hanger with a bottom will do, and I decided to hook my sunglasses around it. I had a spare screw in the wall from an old photo but any hook, screw or nail will do. To jazz it up I used a tartan bow from an old dress that's been hanging around my wardrobe handle for an eternity. I grabbed a hair band and tied it around the handle.
I think this looks chic, tidies my sunglasses and is something Kirsty Allsopp would be proud of. I discovered afterwards that this is all over Pinterest already so I won't be buying hangers and ribbon to make my millions in after all....

xoxox

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Haul and First Impressions: I Heart Makeup;

Warning photo-heavy post coming up....
So recently I couldn't resist making yet another order from Makeup Revolution. They have recently started offering a new brand called I <3 Makeup. I decided to pick up two items from the range, which I bring to you today.





The first item I ordered is this beyond gorgeous Blushing Hearts, Triple Baked Blusher in the shade. This is clearly a complete dupe for Too Faced blush and the packaging is so amazing I almost wouldn't care if the product were crap because it looks great just sitting on my dresser.
It comes in a gorgeous pink box with metallic fuschia writing and the bottom gives you a preview of the product, which I think will be so handy when the product is in store. The blush itself comes in a sturdy cardboard casing in the shape of a heart, this really makes the product stand out in my opinion. The top is the same pink and fuschia as the box but the bottom is metallic gold. Inside the product is held by a plastic container which is held in place pretty strong (I have tried to shake it loose). The only only problem with the packaging is that over time I can see excess product building up between the plastic and the cardboard. The product itself is made up of 3 striped shades of blush. Starting from left we have a light pink with a slight sheen, a sheeny peach shade and a darker pink with glitter. In theory you could use these shades together or separately (if you can find a small enough blush brush). If you're a lover of matte blushes this probably isn't the one for you. The last shade has a lot of chunky glitter, but I find it you don't go in too heavy on that shade it isn't too noticeable. The overall shade is a lovely more pink that peach shade with a nice sheen.




The second thing I purchased was one of the slogan pallettes, ironically named 'No Photos Please'. Ironic purely because the shades are so eye-catching that they call for about 143 selfies. This products' box also comes with a preview of the shades. The front of the palette is holographic although shows both; from some angles you see 'No Photos' and from others it says 'Please', I think this is a unique twist. This is a small size compared to the Makeup Revolution Palettes, but that makes it great for putting into your handbag. It has a mirror along the top, and ten sparkly shadows. A favourite feature of mine it that this palette has shade names such as, 'Back Exit' and 'Publicist' which I think are absolute show stoppers.
I decided to get this palette over the rest as, like any makeup lover I own far too many neutral palettes. This has a few sparkly brown shades to add a twist to an everyday eye look, but also a lot of really eye-catching blues and greens which will be amazing for trying out different styles and for nights out. I've only created two looks with this so far but the shade I have used are both highly pigmented and easily blendable. Paired with my Revlon Photo Ready Eyeshadow Primer the looks lasted very well and the palette has impressed me.

Along with this palette came a free, Mini Eye Primer. I tested this on my lids and was surprised to find it had a sparkle through it, which even though the shadows are glittery, immediately made me think this wasn't for me. To make matters worse once I'd applied a shade to my brush and went back to my eyes the primer had creased, badly. If the primer creases on its own it doesn't strike me as a product that will keep my makeup on. This, I'm afraid is sitting in the drawer for emergencies, but the shadows are what I ordered and they're good enough not to put me off ordering another palette.
Have you tried anything from the I <3 Makeup line?
xoxox











Wednesday 2 July 2014

June Favourites;

I will do this every month, I will do this every month.
It's that time again, I only have a few products this time around as I haven't switched up my makeup too much.
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Ivory
The first thing is my Revlon Colorstay foundation in the lightest shade they do. This is an older foundation of mine that I have been neglecting for a few months. It is medium/high coverage that makes you look flawless. I love this foundation to death but even though mine is in the normal/combination skin version I find it can be abit drying. But my skin has been oily from the hot weather so this foundation is working wonders at keeping me matte all day. Another great thing is that this foundation is offered in a range of shades that actually goes pale enough for me hallelujah! This doesn't come with a pump but if you remove the cotton from a Q tip you can scoop out the right amount and not end up with half the pot on the back of your hand.
Avon Glow Illuminating Bronze Duo in Light Bronze
Avon is one of those brands I think is overlooked and I think this bronze/highlight duo is a little gem. One side is a matte bronzer and the other a highlighter. The bronze is lighter than any other I've tried which makes it great for pale skin. You can't really go overboard and it always looks natural. It still gives a nice amount of contour to the face and I think it would also be great for anyone just starting out with contouring. I have only tried the highlighter a few times its a nice warm-toned highlight but it isn't too gold.
Jelly Belly Eau De Toilette in Blueberry
This isn't strictly beauty but I have been loving this blueberry scent from Jelly Belly. It's a lovely sweet but light scent to pop that I think is great for summer. And the bottle is small enough to pop in your bag for a midday touch up.

Muchos Love, Girl About Village
XOXO