Festivities

fireplace with lights, myself and my lovely friend Jane at a Christmas party, dinner candle, my dog sleeping, myself and my sister Kait at dinner, Dogeared Karma necklace, Christmas salmon starter, myself and Kait on Stephens Day, the cousins. 

I've not been the best blogger over the last few weeks. Christmas exams, essays, work, family and general seeing friends has left little time to do anything. But I'm back and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I was working almost everyday up to it after my exams, so lost the festive spirit somewhat; but there's nothing better than spending time with friends and family. 

I received lovely presents this year and was thinking I might do a post, but on the other hand don't want it to turn into something that can be construed as bragging. Let me know what you think, I personally love seeing what people got for ideas and general jealousy!

The January sales have started almost everywhere, and to be honest, I'm not bothered. While there are some bargains out there, the idea that the items on sale are the rejects always sticks in my mind. Apart from All Saints (which I have already attacked and ordered a few things), I don't really have the urge to try anywhere. I can't afford it at full price and am in love with everything from there, so happy days!

PS: I have the winners of my Christmas giveaway to announce; with work, college and exams I didn't have time to sort out the entries. But here they are: (28/263) Margaret, (69/263) Pink Pom Poms, and (51/263) Hayley (please mail me, I can't find yours on your profile anywhere), all of whom I have already contacted.

x

Morange & Sabo

Morange. Bright Orange. Dad flinched when he saw. Work will not appreciate. But I heart. 

Deeply.

MAC Morange is a lipstick that requires its owner to remain brave for the day. I thought I got weird looks with Vegas Volt, but Morange puts this self-consciousness to a new height. That's its beauty, I think. While its more for Summer nights, it works well in Winter too, and its Amplified formula means that it will last all day and isn't drying.

I can usually avoid being lured product raves, I'm so good at it. But I failed miserably when I watched this video. Tara is someone who I can't resist when it comes to describing products, she makes me want to buy everything. So the second I watched this video, I zipped out to my nearest Thomas Sabo and bought this beauty. Self Christmas gifting. Its sleek, classic and not gaudy, with the option of adding three charms to it. I'm not sure I will, as I hate charm bracelets, but its nice on its own too. Plus, the packaging is to die for!

PS. Got my hair cut and coloured yesterday. And its very blonde, which I like. But its in that puffy, 'you just washed me' earlier stage, and so was cut from the photo. There's always another day..

Currently Reading: I Covet Thee

Winter Berry Tutorial

Originality is key. Sadly, I have failed to have any with the naming of this post. Around this time of year everyone has a 'winter berry' post, don't they? Well if you can't beat 'em, join 'em I suppose. Essay writing has been top of my agenda for the last few weeks, but today I rebelled.  Playing with my face seemed more important. Obvzz. Plus its got so cold and wintery recently that I couldn't resist the warm browns and coppers of my neutral palettes. 

Instead of taking it all off and filming (which is what I should have done in the first play, sorry!) a tutorial, I thought it would be easier to do a step-by-step tutorial from the comfort of my bed. 

Step One: Prime eyes with eye primer, I used MAC Painterly Paintpot. And then use a matte cream eyeshadow all over the lid and up to the brow bone (Inglot 363/MAC Brule).

Step Two: Then taking a shimmery copper colour, use a small blending brush to run it through the crease of the eye. I used MAC Antiqued and Bronze with a MAC 217, as it fits perfectly in the socket while also blending. Then I took a larger blending brush like MAC's 224 and blended out the edges, to avoid any harsh lines.

Step Three: I then applied a matte brown/purple colour, to the crease and outer corner (Inglot 326) with my MAC 217 and blended again. Taking a gel liner and an angled brush, line the eyes and create a flick by drawing the liner out and up. Its easier to look down into a mirror while doing this as it creates a straighter line. And then apply lashings of mascara, of which I whacked on Benefit They're Real.

Step Four: For the lips, I used a berry red colour from Avon called Temptress.

Step Five: If all else fails and this step-by-step is too complicated to follow (Y U NO IN VIDEO FORM?), this is a tutorial I did and uses the exact same steps as the eyes for this post. Just change the eyeshadows to warmer tones.

Simples.

Lasting Impressions: Eyes

Eyes are the windows to the soul, right? That embarrassing phrase aside, eyes really are the most appealing and 'captivating' (larf.) element of your face, unless you have whopper lips á la Lana Del Rey or Angelina Jolie. Most probably, you don't; so we all have to work with what we have, leaving us with the eyes. After the response I got from this post, I thought I would continue on with this little series of how to keep your make up on longer.

Image courtesy of Google Images

Eyes

Step 1: Applying an eye primer is crucial before shadow if you want your eyes to look perfect day and night. Not only does it act as a base for eyeshadow, deepening the intensity of the colour but it ensures that your make up is crease-free for hours. They usually dry quickly, so if you are aiming for something with a deep colour (eg. MAC Indianwood), make sure you apply and blend as quickly as possible. Top picks: MAC Painterly Paintpot or any other MAC Paintpot, Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Step 2: Make sure when choosing eyeshadows that you check the pigmentation - there is nothing more annoying than buying a shadow or palette, sweeping it across your peepers and it looking bleugh, not like the colour in the pan. Make up, will of course fade slightly after a few hours, so by buying shadows with high pigmentation, the colours will stay bright longer, keeping their intensity. Best picks: Inglot, MAC and Barry M Dazzledusts.

Step 3: While eyeliner pencils are intense when first applied, they can fade and smudge throughout the day. For added longevity, use a gel or cake liner which will last must longer and keep its intensity. Make sure to keep the lids closed tightly in between and after uses as they tend to try out when exposed to the air. Inlot Duraline is a perfect product for when liners dry up, one pump of the liquid product and they become creamy again, perfect if you're expensive liner has died on you! Top choices: Maybeline Gel Liner, Inglot Liner, MAC Blacktrack and Bobbi Brown Gel Liners.

Step 4: There is nothing more annoying than when mascara runs, flakes or smudges. While the tube won't last as long as normal ones, waterproof mascaras are the best for keeping your eyes looking fresh all day. Best picks: Benefit They're Real (not waterproof, but as good as), Clinique High Impact and Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara.