February Five Steps

Hello!

Recently, as I've been committing whole heartedly to my challenges I wanted to set myself some more goals. I thought, knowing me, a weekly themed post is just going a bit too far. I know. I know. Pathetic. However, I thought monthly, I can probably handle that. I've therefore decided that every month, a few days before I change the Image of the Month, I'll do a five step tutorial of the look in the image. Sound good?


This month, in honour of my eyeliner withdrawal, I chose this throwback look of Taylor Momsen. Ya know, when the raccoon eyes were there but she hadn't discovered the hair to match yet.

Go grunge and follow:

Step 1: Prime your eyelids, face and under eye area. You can do this with specific primers that work with your skin and a separate eye primer if you want. You're aiming to smooth out the skin, tackle any issues such as enlarged pores, oily skin etc.

Step 2: Using a creamy black eyeliner, gel liner or black cream shadow, create the shape. Line the lower last line, the water line, tight line, and the entire eyelid. Follow the natural shape of your eyes. Do NOT create a wing.

Step 3:With a black eyeshadow, use a packing brush, or your finger, to set the base. I like to use the glittery Oil Slick by Urban Decay but you can use a dark grey if you like. Play around with satin, shimmer or matte finishes as you wish. Use a fluffy brush to blend out harsh lines around the eye to create the smoky effect shown above.

Step 4: Dust away any eyeshadow fallout from the face, curl lashes and apply two coats of mascara in an upward curling motion to open up the eyes as you're using dark colours.

Step 5: Let your eyes do the talking and apply a light pink lip balm. Done.


And there you have it. This is the perfect grunge look for that 'do you want to come out in five minutes?' call at 1 o'clock in the morning. Emo chick in under ten minutes. See you in March!


In case you missed:

Kiss Me Quick

The World According to Moi

Bring In The Suits

Bring in the Suits

So this week I took some time to really reflect on my favourite award show of the lot. I had promised to do a big BAFTA's analysis and select all of my favourite dresses and makeup masterpieces, as I've enjoyed reading about everybody else's favourites. However I've noticed that there just isn't enough love out there in the blog world for our wonderful leading men. Personally I think all of our favourite prince charmings were looking extraordinarily dapper last Sunday, despite the current penchants for beards... no comment on that Movember hangover...

Here's my countdown of the top ten BAFTA beauties in suits.

Bradley Cooper

Whilst I'm undecided about the scarf - yes, it was cold - I think there's a certain amount of effortless cool going on here. At the end of the day, look how shiny that man's hair is!

Daniel Day-Lewis

Ah! Daniel. Now I must say that this leading man has had me swayed since Last of The Mohicans. Now don't judge - it's my favourite film. I was shocked to see how, erm, not so well he was looking in Lincoln but isn't it amazing what you can  do with makeup? Either way, scrubbed up to perfection, Daniel Day-Lewis is sporting that bow tie like nobodies business.

George Clooney

I have to admit, I'm not a Clooney fan, but as it happens there is actual scientific study into his, allure? Our George here actually conforms exactly to the Greek's 'Golden Ratio' which means he's actually scientifically perfect. Now I'll leave that up to you to decide but both Hugh Jackman and George Clooney were shown to be fighting off the cold with some very fetching overcoats. Raise a cheer to our practical men.

Hugh Jackman

I do like the Clooney blue but Hugh Jackman just pips him to the post for seventh place by throwing a bow tie into the mix. Now, as this countdown continues you'll see that not only is there a bow tie vs. tie rivalry going on but also that I have a love for the unusual. However, no cravats? Okay, maybe that's for the best. I digress. Jackman looks just about ready for anything, strolling down the London streets or doing his thing on the red carpet. What can we say, the man's a pro.

Henry Cavill

Okay, okay, I know Superman looks amazing in anything but are we not loving the swarve taking place? As far as I'm concerned the Cavill style is a no gimmicks look. There's no weird hair styles or dodgy scarves, (yeah, you can tell I wasn't too fond) just your classic tall, dark and handsome. Winning sixth place with some impressive lapels and a kick of the James Bond swagger, it's Henry Cavill.

                                                                          

Jeremy and Toby Irvine

Can I hand out an award for cuteness. Brothers, or twins separated by time as I like to think of them Jeremy and Toby Irvine are pulling out the matching suits card. That's just plain sneaky, but apparently it works. I'd like to draw your attention to the silk lapels that are a common red carpet accessory now, turning any old suit into something a little bit special. Well done all round in the Irvine family.

Tom Hiddleston

It's interesting that I left Ben Affleck off this list because I just wasn't feeling the chunky black tie but Tom has clearly been listening to some very fashionable people because just by slimming that black tie down the entire look embodies casual sophistication. Plus he looks pretty clean cut too.

Eddie Redmayne

He's come a long way since Savage Grace, has he not? Oh well, he was amazing in that too. Whilst Eddie was too ill to attend the actual award presentations and is looking a little peaky here he still managed to rock the red carpet. It seems Redmayne and Irvine had similar ideas suit wise but for me the hair just gets it. Another inch may have been bumping into Jedward territory but it's hard for men to make statements at this type of occasion so Eddie, his shiny shoes and wonderful hair take third place.

Make way for the top two of BAFTA 2013: Dave Berry and Alex Zane

Are those... waistcoats? Praise the lord that these two decided to grab their own personal style by the horns. I wanted to have a draw BUT I did make a decision and Alex Zane just sold me with his pocket watch chain just peaking out. That having been said, and the top shot having been sold I'm loving the casual, no-tie style donned by Dave Berry.

Until next year...


In case you missed it:

The World According to Moi

Kiss Me Quick

Drugstore Makeup Tag

The World According To Moi

Okay, so call me picky, but even my very favourite products have flaws. The recent rave reviews for Garnier's new BB cream compared to their awful original is an example of a product that took everything I don't like about it, and fixed it. So here's a selection of products that recently I've been thinking, 'this would be amazing if...'





Nivia Lip Butter

I have this in the flavour Vanilla and Macadamia. My word it smells amazing. That marshmellow fluff you get at Selfridges? Yep, that's the smell. The moisture given by these little pocket size tins is like a miracle and the formula wears really comfortably.

The catch? It's white. Or at least it's white based so even the pink shade makes your lips look a little pasty.

In Sophie-land: More pigment, less white. I'm not saying make it a lipstick but something a little less, Dawn of The Dead meets my Dolls house.




Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

I really like the texture of this products and it just blends so well. It's almost like a medium coverage tinted moisturiser and gives a lovely dewy finish.

The catch? I cannot get over the oxidisation. This foundation reacts so much with the air that I end up looking like an orange addict.

In Sophie-land: This formula needs some serious solidifying to stop the Wotsit colour change and the patchwork face effect when the foundation drifts.






Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains

The Just Bitten Lip Stains are a go to for me. I love the intensity of the colour and the staying power is incredible. To explain exactly how I feel about this product, a few quotes from my Kiss proof colour? The lip stains that did NOT rock my world. 

"This full colour lip stain is none drying, durable and most importantly, staying put! Eat, drink, kiss as you will, this stuff will not budge. A bright summer collection of shades from fire engine reds to precious pinks, subtle nudes, you name it adds a splash of colour to any look."

The catch?

"The innovation of this product was the nourishing lip balm that came as part of the package. I agree with all of it, the balm is great.... oh, wait... the balm is great if you can get it to stay on! We've all done it, wound our lipstick up to far and felt that horrifying break, well with this that break is inevitable."

In Sophie-land: This desperately needs either a reformulation or a a retractable balm. Ideally though, I would be happy to just get rid of the balm and bring the price point down a little.

Feel free to let me know how makeup would be in your world.



In case you missed it:

Kiss Me Quick 

Drugstore Makeup Tag

Au Naturel Week One

Kiss Me Quick

Helloooo!

 So now that I'm getting well and truly stuck into my Au Naturel challenge I've been picking up a few unusual tricks that have been helping me keep my lips in tip top condition. As they're my main feature to really play around with now that eyeshadow and eyeliner (to see how far my craving for that has gone, just check out the new Image of The Month) are off the menu I've been paying extra attention to them.






 A product that gets a lot of praise are Lush lip scrubs and whilst I do actually own one in Bubblegum, I'm not a very big fan. I would much prefer to make my own, super sweet lip scrub. It's as simple as honey - or golden syrup if you're like me and don't like honey - water and sugar. Make sure you work in small amounts. It's always easier to add than take away. I would suggest melting your water and honey or syrup together as they will mix better when hot and runny. Let them cool and add your sugar to form a grainy paste perfect for any sweet tooth. Scrub away.

Another thing I've been thinking about is multi purpose products. It sounds crazy, so bear with me, but the other day I had a realisation. The skin on your lips is a much thinner version of that under your eyes. So surely if under eye serums work to firm up your under eye area, should they not do the same to your lips? I've spent the last few days testing this with my Soap&Glory You Won't Believe Your Eyes under eye roll on and it's startling the difference it makes.  Fuller, firmer lips? Job done.

Last but not least in the cold, snowy, weather I've been finding that my lip balms just aren't enough. I need the real deal. So I've been doubling up my Re-gen repairing moisturiser, as an intensive lip treatment as it sinks in quickly and repairs my poor chapped lips in no time.

All of the above have really been helping me out with my Spending Ban, which is going rather fabulously, so far my tactic is to avoid temptation. I'll be doing a one month update and wish list on that so prepare for a long one!

To keep updated with my various challenges feel free to hop over to my Contact page to find out how to follow my everyday beauty updates.


If you've missed any of my latest posts: 

I ❤ Drugstore Makeup Tag

Au Naturel - One Week Down

From Comfort Food to Comfort Face

I ❤ Drugstore Makeup Tag

Hello! 

So I haven't done a tag in a little while and I've been meaning to get around to this one for a long time. The world and his wife have done this task so I'm going to dive straight in and add mine to the bloggersphere. 

So first up: 

1. What is your favourite drugstore makeup brand overall?

This just HAS to be Maybelline. They're absolutely taking hold of makeup by the horns this year and with their mid-range pricing I find myself just gravitating towards them when I'm in Boots. Plus, they're lipstick range looks pretty impressive on display; there's just so many! 

2. What are your favourite face, cheek and lip products?
  
 My face products are constantly changing as my skin battles the classic British weather. My old favourite isn't going anywhere. I always try to find a foundation that I love more than my MaxFactor Xperience Weightless Foundation. The colour range always seems to match me and it really keeps that matte finish going all day. After all the hype I finally caved and swapped from my Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer to the Lasting Perfection Concealer. At the moment I'm loving them both for different reason, I may just have to have both! That's when my spending ban is over. (Which is going well by the way!) And lastly I've jumped on the Rimmel Stay Matte powder bandwagon as well. 

For cheeks I'm going crazy over the Topshop cream to powder blushes, more on those here: From Comfort Food To Comfort Face. 

For lip product I'm going to be terribly boring and say Burt's Bees lip balms. They smell divine and make my lips feel ridiculously hydrated. 

3. Least favourite product?

I know I'm probably going to be showered with shocked faces but it has to be the Revlon ColorStay Foundation. I just hate it. No matter what I apply it with or how I apply it I just cannot get it right. It's far too thick and considering it only had an SPF of 6 it smells so strongly of sunscreen that I can barely stand to have it near my nose. It's an expensive drugstore product to go in the bin but for me it is by far the worst, over hyped product out there at the moment. 

 

4. What is the best makeup bargain?

By a mile the best bargains out there are coming from MUA. Their blushes for £1 are just amazing. They're very pigmented with a slight shimmer. If you need a blush on the go, then these are your best bet. 

5. What is your favourite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)

There is definitely not enough hype out there for Natural Collection Eye shadows. I love their texture. Their eye shadows have a matte finish but if I look really closely I'm convinced there is a minute glitter in them. I especially love the eyeshadow duo's.  

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?

I would say that Soap and Glory's lip glosses seem a little pricey. Perhaps I'm being stingy, but I would always expect to pay less for a drugstore lip gloss than I would a drugstore foundation. Soap and Glory's most expensive lip gloss is ten pounds. I think their far too sticky plus for an extra two pounds I could get my favourite Urban Decay lip gloss. They're on the wrong side of the price line for me. 
 

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!!

So my dupe is the most obvious one out there but it has to be Revlon Just Bitten lip balms as a dupe  for... you guessed it, Clinique Chubby Sticks. Let's face it, they're the same product. 

8. Drugstore product that isn't worth the hype?

Other than the Revlon ColorStay as I said above however, what is all the craze about Maybelline Fit Me Foundation? Firstly, I followed Maybelline's match guide to the very letter and it doesn't match very well. I think their foundation shades are a bit off and last but not least, it oxidises like a crazy thing after you've had it on for an hour. 

I'm not going to tag anyone to do this because there isn't anyone who HASN'T done it already. My word, I am behind!

Au Naturel - One Week Down

So my first week of Au Naturel is over and I thought I'd give you a little update on the hair and skin changes front.

I've actually found this week dramatically easy. Whilst my updo's will never look quite as good wet as they do dry and soft, I have fallen back in love with my natural hair. If you're wondering what that looks like, see embarrassing photo. I've even started planning my Au Naturel party look for my friend's 18th next month - I like to plan ahead.

So there have been a few products that have saved me this week. 

The first is Trevor Sorbie's Beautifully Moisturised Ultimate Moisture Mask, phew, what a name! This is a wash out mask but as it's so light I've been mixing it in with my Loreal Paris heat defence and applying it to damp hair as a leave in mask. Just because I'm not using heat doesn't mean it doesn't need protecting from the sun.

For my skin my gorgeous Skinetica - Read the review - Has been serving me well and keeping those nasty spots at bay whilst I'm baring all. Out skin takes longer to react to changes in routine so I haven't noticed too much of a difference in quality but I'll be sure to keep you updated on that.

Lastly, because I'm not wearing any foundation and therefore no SPF, my Good Things Face The Day moisturiser with UV filters has been a must for keeping my skin hydrated and protected. 


So overall - I am missing my concealer, a little, but I've really enjoyed shaving an hour of my morning routine. Sleep. Sleep. zzzZZZ!

From Comfort Food to Comfort Face

February is upon us and I'm sure we're all looking forward to that special day; when we come home to find our loved one hot, sizzling and drizzled in chocolate sauce.... I am of course (ya naaaasties!) talking about Pancake Day! For those of us who are not going to be graced with a big box of Ferrero Rocher on the 14th of February we can start our celebrating two days earlier with some equally tasty treats. Pancakes are indeed delicious but they are also the perfect comfort food to get us through a months worth of loved up couples so today I'm going to share with you my comfiest makeup picks.



 Eyes - As I'm currently in the first week of my AuNaturel Challenge I've rediscovered a mascara and eyelash primer that I am in love with. This duo just makes my lashes so feathery and stops those nasty, uncomfortable clumps that fall into your eyes all day. Makeover Essentials Mascara Duo takes the number one spot on my ultimate hassle free eye makeup.

Cheeks - Cream blushes are always more comfortable than powder for me because I know they're going to stay were I put them all day. As I have combination skin I'll admit I haven't experimented much with cream blushes but recently - before my spending ban - I purchased Top Shop's Blush Duo (Which is now sold out!) in the sale for just £3. The colours included in the set are Morning Dew (left) and Head Over Heels (right) I think... Either way these melt into the skin all lovely and when applied with a stippling brush are so comfortable to wear.

Lips: What would I do without my Clinique Chubby Sticks? I received the five piece Chubby Stick set for Christmas and these things are just a dream. They're super moisturising and the perfect mix of sheer and pigmented. I love. Simple as.










Nails: This will seem like a weird one, but although it's bold I feel the Korres Dark Red Nail Polish is the perfect 'go with everything' shade. I've been wearing it constantly since I got it from my Secret Santa this Christmas. The only thing I don't like is the name - I got mine in a set called 'Black Cherry' which is much more exciting that 'Dark Red'. Each to there own, I suppose.









So those are my comfiest of comfy makeup products. All of the above are stress free and make me feel ready to look gorgeous whilst I curl up with my pancake mountain.

Have a good day!

Another little something I found ;)

So you will not believe what I found the other day. Hidden somewhere in a folder on my memory still I found my birthday haul (from September) that never saw the light of day. I feel like I should put quotations around it or something. Either way, original intro included, please enjoy my very outdated birthday haul. I have made a few adjustments, were necessary.

Finally! 

It’s been a while, trust me I know, but after a brief spot of illness I’ve finally got around to it. So as some of you may already know I turned 18 on Saturday (of last year) and all I can say is that my family clearly know me very, very well. (I have left out gifts from my friends as this post was incomplete and I can’t quite remember what everybody got me, sorry!)

Disclaimer/Brightside: I may have been ill but I have had almost a week to try out each product so my opinion is 100% my own – unless stated otherwise. As usual this isn’t meant to be a show off it’s simple a haul and a collection of honest product reviews. 

1.       So first up was actually the last present from my parents that I opened.  My Mom decided to play the tease and said ‘I don’t know if you’ll like this one, we can send it back if you don’t.’ Do you recognise it? I know I did. Yes this featured on my August wish list and now it sits proudly in my bag draw.  So instead of me gushing on and on about how many hugs my Mommy received for this one I’ll just let you read again what I said last time I went on a love rant for this thing:

“If I see a bag and fall in love in an instant, it’s pretty safe to say that on closer inspection I’m going to find that it’s a Fiorelli. Whilst dragging my rather unlucky boyfriend around the bags I 

stumbled across a shoulder bag that took my breath away. Now it you haven’t already guessed, I’m a big bow fan and this does not disappoint. This bag has sparkles. It has prints. It has texture! What more could you want. And all for the not so bargain basement price of £39. But when did you ever get a Fiorelli for a fiver?” Taken from: http://www.topkattv.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/august-wish-list.html

Cue excitement! 

2.       Perfume. I thought I would do these ones after the others as I received perfume from my Mom (I say my Mom because my Dad deals with all the gadget type presents and Mom tackles the beautician in me)  and boyfriend (at the time) . The first bottle that I opened was the new Roberto Cavalli perfume. I do believe it’s the first fragrance but if not don’t hesitate to correct me. I firsts got a whiff of this perfume from a sample from which magazine I can’t remember, it may have been ELLE. It was love at first smell(?) I suppose. I have a big bug bear for people who describe a perfume by saying, ‘It’s... sweet, but musky, and fresh at the same time. It’s a little oriental, kinda floral...’ It always leaves me sitting there thinking, ‘erm, what now? It can’t be all of those.’  And yet I stand corrected, there is indeed a perfume out there that smells like all of those and more. This unique fragrance seems to be constantly changing on my skin. Sometimes it smells like chocolate, other times like walking through a meadow. It’s a wonder. 

3.       My next enthralling fragrance was one of my all time favourites that I may have carefully hinted to my then boyfriend that I loved (loved the perfume that is). I’m a big fan of all of the Christina Aguilera fragrances but By Night is definitely tops of her range for me. Beware though, this is very sweet so if you’re not a hard core ‘wish you slept on a bed of cupcakes’ type girl then I wouldn’t really recommend this as an every persons fragrance. 

4.       Whilst I love a good surprise my dear Mama kept quite strictly to a list of things I fancied. On that list was our next item, Benefit’s ‘Porefessional’ primer. I’ve been wanting to try this for a while and it certainly does the job. Pore minimising: check.  Matt: check. Long wearing: Definitely. This product leaves skin with a very very smooth base and soaks up oil like you wouldn’t believe. I decided that seeing as I’d been neglectful of my moisturiser whilst bed ridden I’d forgo this product as I was afraid it might dry out my already parched skin. Wrong! We’re talking oil slick by the time I got to college and I soon found myself in the bathroom dabbing this product on. It’s multi use with a hint of concealing power which means it can be used underneath make up and on top of foundations like a liquid blotting paper. 

5.       Last beauty related item from my Mom was the Nails Inc. Caviar Top Coat and Base Coat set. I’ve had these before and absolutely loved them. I’m a nail freak and there’s nothing I hate more than a chipped manicure. This set ensures that you’re polish is good to go all week and the top coat is super glossy. Mom also threw in a Nails Inc. Nail buffer as she knows I’m a big Nails Inc. Fan and let’s face it, why bother painting your nails if they’re not buffed to shining perfection underneath. You look after your skin under your make up, why not your nails!

So that’s a somewhat condensed version of my birthday beauty haul.

2012 is so last year!

A few, some experimental looks, that I stumbled across from last year :) Enjoy.

Au Naturel: Is it possible?

I begin this post even now with trepidation. I had a little bit of a meltdown the other day and took a vow of 'healthiness'. Read the rant: Boom! So I figured whilst I'm on my little health kick I might try a huge, shock tactics, overhaul on my current life style and revisit a few of my failed past challenges.
The first, is the Spending Ban challenge which I failed after less than a month but this time I am determined. So here are the rules that I set for myself last time:

• Whilst I will be cutting down on unnecessary spending on eating out etc this ban is mostly on beauty products. So that's makeup, clothes, accessories, perfume, skin care and body care (other than essentials). 
• Having said that I will not be buying books, CD's, DVD's or magazines or the like. 
• As stated above, I'm not going to stop all spending because I'm a student and there often isn't another choice but to eat out. However I will be sticking to plans that I have made with friends already. Cuts on leisure activity's will be enforced after these pre-arrange events have taken place. 
• This challenge will last one hundred days.
• The ban will exclude any birthdays in the next few months. Because why should my friends suffer! 
• Obviously college supplies etc. Class books, educational trips and such will have to be payed for.

I will do my best, but no promises lol. This blog has always had a fairly random post set up, but I may have to begin posting wish lists!

So the other challenge I've also failed in the past is the no heat hair challenge. I have a plan and I will get this one done. My general time frame on this is generally just as long as I can last. I will keep you updated!

Last but not least. The bare, naked face. This does not mean I'm going to stop wearing mascara but basically if it goes on my skin, then it's out. So powder, foundation, concealer, blusher. Not touching me.



So I'll see you with my apology failure post in about, two days?

Tah Tah!