Beauty Wishlist

I am constantly lusting over new products online and in store and have put together a list of products that I simply MUST have in my collection. Instead of buying them all at once and spending money I don't have I might treat myself to one every 2 weeks when I get paid. My list includes skincare, haircare and makeup of course.

1. REN Glycolactic radiance renewal mask 

I have previously tried a small sample of this mask and really enjoyed using it. Although the texture is different to my usual favourite masks it seemed to instantly brighten the skin so I am keen to get my hands on the full sized product. Many of my favourite bloggers have raved about this so I know that it will be worth the investment. Anything to brighten my dull skin this winter will greatly appreciated!

2. Vita Liberata Extra Rich Silken Chocolate gel

I have tried pretty much every tan on the market but have yet to try this one which I have heard quite a bit about. It is the darkest version available from this brand but I have heard that it may not be as dark as some of my other favourites such as Xen tan dark lotion or Sienna x glowing tan. I am however keen to try it because it contains no nasties and I'd like to use more paraben free products. This will be my next tan purchase!

3. Chantecaille Just Skin tinted moisturiser 

This £57 tinted moisturiser is something that might just always stay on the wishlist. It is very pricey for a makeup product and I just don't know if i can justify that price however I am desperate to try it. I popped into Space NK the other day to try it and the texture and coverage is beautiful. I have read some amazing reviews of this product so hopefully I will be able to treat myself to it around Christmas time when I do more overtime at work!

4.  Kerastase Elixir ultime imperial tea

I got given the original version of this for Christmas last year and have nearly come to the end of it so I was thrilled to hear that there is a new version which is ideal for coloured hair. I change my hair colour alot and often get highlights so despite having normal to oily hair I do like to treat it before using heated styling tools and this product is the ultimate in hair luxury. It is an oil yet somehow not heavy in the hair and with only one pump needed in the hair it really is an investment worth making!

There are many other products that i'm interested in trying but these are the very top of my list at the moment! Have you tried any of these and which should I treat myself to first?!

x

September MAC favourites

I can't believe it is October already but this new month is the perfect time to look back on my favourite products of September! I have chosen my favourite MAC products but will be doing a general updated skincare, bodycare and haircare favourites post soon too. As a MAC retail artist I am constantly surrounded by the products and am always drawn to certain products whether it be because of the pretty packaging, impressive colours or how it helps me to create a flawless finish. It is always hard to pick favourite because they change almost daily but here are the products that I have been using or loving the most during the last month.

MAC Studio Sculpt foundation in NC37

I do like to wear a good coverage foundation particularly on counter and this is a great alternative to my usual Studio fix Fluid. Studio sculpt is a hydrating gel based liquid foundation which is fantastic for normal to dry skin types. As a normal/combination skin type I have always used studio fix which provides great coverage but I wanted to see if my skin took as well to this more hydrating formula. And I love it! It feels so comfortable on the skin despite giving a flawless finish and covering all my problem areas. The tube is so handy for carrying round and the formula lasts all day on me without going patchy on my dry areas. NC37 is a great colour for my skin with a layer of self tan on and it blends in beautifully with a 188 brush. I would highly recommend this for those of you with any dry areas or fairly normal skin who want a beautiful natural finish with impressive coverage.

MAC Supercontinental blush

This peachy toned shimmer blush is part of the limited edition Styleseeker collection which launched last month. It is almost like a mix of my favourite two blushers Melba and Margin to create a soft peach with a sheen to it that makes the skin look radiant. I would recommend this blusher to anyone who likes coral or peach tones and would suit any fair to medium skin tones. Because this is limited edition you may want to order online as the product is sold out in many stores! It is lovely to find a peach tone which is soft enough for Autumn but would still give a great pop of colour when used a little stronger in Summer months.

MAC 209 brush

I am a gel liner addict and have always been on the hunt for the perfect liner brush for applying on top and bottom and to create flicks at the edge. The 209 is the perfect brush in my opinion. It is soft enough to use in the waterline yet firm enough to apply enough product for strength of colour. I use it right in the inner corner with its pointed end and the shape allows you to produce a vintage flick in an instant. It is the perfect size for a line on the top lash line glides like a dream! If you use gel liner this is a must have!

MAC Soft and Gentle

This product is a highlight junkies dream. It is a soft mineral powder formula with a warm skin coloured tone and shimmer texture for highlighting any areas of the face. I use this to highlight the cheekbones, the nose, the top lip and the brow bone. The shimmer itself is not too glittery and therefore not too unnatural for day wear however this is a product that I use mostly for nights out. The sheen picks up incredibly well in photos and when used with a contour powder or bronzer makes the cheekbones really stand out. It is a flattering colour on many skintones and I like to use it with a 109 brush on the cheekbones and a 224 on smaller areas.

MAC Impassioned lipstick

I have been wearing this colour a lot recently purely because it makes such an impact on its own that it allows me to do more simple eye looks such as mascara and liner on my days off and I am ready to go! Impassioned is a popular colour on celebrities such as Rhianna and Jessie J because its neon pink tone is modern and fresh but flatters many skin tones. It is a brave choice of lipstick there is no doubt about that but I always invite people to try it because despite its neon appearance in the packaging it actually comes out a little softer on the lips and is a beautiful hot pink shade with an almost coral undertone. It is a real one of a kind in my opinion and a must have for any lipstick addicts

Of course there are many other products which I adore but these have been my must haves this month and I seem to use them time and time again. 

What are your current MAC favourites and have you tried any of mine?

x

Victoria's Secret London

I have wanted to go to the VS store in London ever since I heard that one was opening I finally I managed to get there! I went with my friend and fellow MUA/blogger Vicky http://agirlandherzuca.blogspot.co.uk and knew I would end up spending some money (oops) as we both have a shopping addiction and seem to enable each other! 

The store was incredibly impressive. Located on new bond street, surrounded by the best designer shops in London, the store stands out from the crowd with huge window displays of beautiful VS show costumes and seductive dark wood finish. The interior is just as stunning with perfume,bras, knickers and costumes lining the walls and drawers full of goodies! 

Chandeliers and underwear - heaven!

2 hours and lots of money later...

Vicky showed more restraint than me but still left with goodies 

VS bodies (or not) but yum for Vicky's gateau!

MAC taxi on Regent Street

I bought 3 bras, 2 pairs of knickers and...

a body mist which smells gorgeous!

I will definitely be going back to the store soon to buy more underwear and beauty goodies! The service was fantastic particularly from associate Katie who measured me and made sure that I found the perfect bra. The team make sure that you are given a perfect bra card which documents your size and which bra styles you have tried and works as a checklist system. They suggest getting measured every 6 months to double check sizing. It is worthwhile getting measured in there because the American sizes can differ from UK.

Have you been to the store yet and what did you think?

x

Make up shopping haul!

I've been absent from blogging for a while thanks to some rather horrible events in my personal life and a very busy schedule but I'm back and ready to tell you all about some exciting things I have bought recently! As a MAC girl I have of course bought a few make up products from the new collections and couldn't resist popping into Illamasqua to see their new collections too.

So here are my most recent make up purchases! 

Illamasqua "Brink" lipstick - gorgeous coral matte shade is so different from anything I already own! 

"Intimacy" lipgloss - nude shade from the new Naked Strangers collection which will go well over any other colours!

MAC 217 brush - a girl can never have too many of these, an essential blending brush

MAC lip palette in "Plums" - contains some of my favourite colours for Autumn such as Captive and Hang up! A new product I picked up from the Pro store which will be so handy for photoshoots and freelance jobs!

"Supercontinental" blusher - From the new Styleseeker collection this peach shade with a hint of shimmer looks amazing with a tan!

"Rosy Outlook" Pro Pongwear powder blusher - So creamy yet still a powder this longwear blush is from the new Office Hours collection. It really does stay put and this soft girly pink shade would suit girls who are afraid of going too dark with blush!

Top to bottom: "Saigon Summer" "Sunny Seoul" "Coral Bliss"

These cremesheen lipsticks from the new Cremesheen Pearl collection are soft and pretty yet pack a punch of colour. I have been wearing these non stop since I bought them as they are comfortable on the lips and last really well! Limited edition so grab them while you can!

Is there anything from the new collections that you have your eye on?

x

My Ombre Hair!

So I recently took the plunge and decided to steer away from my regular blonde highlights and jump on board the dip dye wagon. I don't usually follow hair trends but I loved the idea having my healthy original hair colour at the root whilst being able to add a bit of the blonde which I love so much :) I had seen photos of celebrities, bloggers and most importantly Lauren Conrad (love her) and these gorgeous images were the inspiration I needed to go for it! I decided to only have the top layer of hair done as my bottom layer is already light from previous highlights and this way if I didn't like the style I could change it back more easily! So.....here is my new hair!

In foils at the ends

Finished result - a sleek graduation from light brown to light blonde

Ombre looks nice curled too!

In natural light ready for work!

I am glad that I stuck with my original root colour as I didn't want to contrast between light and dark to be too severe, especially as this was really a trial run! Next time I will definitely be getting the same again with more blonde through the ends and perhaps a darker colour at the root!

What do you guys think of my new do?

x

Chanel pop up shop!

I went to Covent Garden last week with my make up artist and below beauty blogger friend Vicky from http://agirlandherzuca.blogspot.co.uk/ and we accidentally stumbled across the Chanel pop up shop! Of course we couldn't resist going in and luckily were given permission to take some photos for our blogs! The shop is situation in the plaza area and looks as sophisticated and beautiful as we expected. The sleek black and white interior, winding staircase and pops of colour with bright nail polishes and sparkling lip glosses on the walls were stunning. 

Gorgeous nail colours!

Vicky in lipgloss heaven!

Vicky in front of the famous C's!

Make up art on the walls

It is definitely worth heading to this pop up store especially if you are a make up addict like me! I didn't make any purchases that day (finally I have shown restraint) but the staff were very helpful and attentive and the range was fantastic. I tried a few products including the matte lipsticks and certainly have a few colours on my ever growing make up wish list. I also need to invest in some more Chanel foundations as I adore the textures and finishes of them. My favourite everyday Chanel foundation is Vitalumiere aqua whilst Perfection Lumiere is stunning for a flawless finish. This store is well worth a visit!

 Find out more about the shop at http://popupstore.chanel.com/coventgarden/flash/index.html

x

Hair inspiration!

I have been playing around with new hair colours recently as I have got a little bored of getting the same blonde highlights every month and for some reason becoming single has inspired me to get a little more creative with my style! My hair journey started with blonde, then slightly darker, then back to my natural mousey brown colour with blonde highlights underneath and now I am hoping to go for ombre hair! I have my hair appointment at 4pm today and am seriously considering trying the dip dye trend and have been looking for inspiration photos to show my hairdresser! I have always loved Lauren Conrad's style and so when I found that she had ombre hair now it certainly convinced me to give it a go!

Here is my hair journey so far!

Blonde highlights

Darker blonde with blonde highlights

Mousey brown with blonde underneath

Darker brown with darker blonde underneath

Current hair which has slightly faded with brown and blonde tones through it!

What do you think of ombre hair and do you think I should go for it?!

x