Putting my face on...

So here is my first make-up blog. I thought I would start easy and show you all my everyday beauty products. I have a very basic routine as I am quite lazy and usually in a rush. The image below is a typical day and the only time i really 'cake' it on is on a night out, where my routine pretty much completely changes.

My routine starts day and night with baby wipes and astral moisturiser. After suffering from severe acne I have pretty much tried every cleanser, toner and other miracle product on the market but I always come back to the cheapest and easiest make up remover and skin cleanser. I have to say Johnson's are my favourite brand just because they are really soft and really hold in their moisture.

I then apply my Garnier BB cream in Light. I wasn't too sure about this at first but now love it. It smells nice, has a hint of colour to hide any blemishes and has SPF too. Its a lot lighter than a foundation and although I do turn to foundation if I'm having a bad skin day, this pretty much does the job. I find you do have to blend a lot as it is quite orange in tone even for the lightest shade. Although I haven't photographed it, I use the Soap & Glory concealer. Its amazing because it has two shades a very pale one and one which is more skin tone which means you can blend away to hide the blemish. It also has a small mirror in the compact and a powder to stop it from rubbing off during the day. If I were to suggest one single product that everyone should buy, It would be that concealer.

I then apply a light powder to smooth my skin and keep my concealer etc in place and finish off with a bit of blusher. My favourites are by Mac. Although the brand is expensive they really are worth the money as they last for ages and they last on your skin all day. My best friend bought me this for christmas as my old one was running out and I use it every day.

Because I am a red head, my eyelashes tend to be very pale so I like to line my eyes with various eyeliners, starting with gold in the inner corner and working out to brown and always a touch of green to bring out the colour in my eyes. I am blessed with having my hair and eyes matching in colour so I like to take advantage of this. I use heated curlers by Champneys which Santa got me for Christmas and apply a few layers of Soap and Glory mascara.


Although my routine sounds like a lot. It really isn't and I literally take about 5 minutes doing it. So that was my first beauty blog. Let me know what you think and how I can improve it, i don't know if it was maybe too long? Anyway happy reading!!

Summer fun...

So originally i was going to do my first make up blog but i quite liked my outfit and hair today too. so heres a little look at what I wore and I will follow with the beauty products and makeup that i use maybe tomorrow.

I also have a hate of naked toe nails. So my latest shade is this deep purple from No7 at Boots. They always do these £5 off vouchers and i tend to stock up as they last forever.

My truly battered but favourite summer sandals, purely for comfort. They are really old and from Forever 21 before it made it across from the US. 

I love the pattern on these jeans so much and they are so comfortable. River Island jeans fit my shape perfectly as well so its wins all round really.

And here is my make-up look for the day... I will write about this in my next blog :)

Rag and Bone, A/W 2012...

I have never been a massive Kate Moss fan, apart from her iconic image from The Face Magazines iconic front cover. However her latest shoot for the Rag and Bones, first ad campaign has changed my mind.

Shot by Craig McDean using a hand held camera and natural light, you see a beauty in her that a studio just couldn't capture. She looks healthy and glowing in every image. The fact that the brand is based in NY yet shot their first campaign in London gives the images a bit of Edge. I love London, it is one of my favourite cities and I think the images show off its elegant yet laid back manner. Anyway, enough rambling, here are some of the images from the campaign. I hope you enjoy.

Images from - www.fashionista.com

DIY Ombre nails...

I haven't done a nail post in a little while and I have been dying to try ombre nails. I have done my best and although not perfect, i don't think they are and for a first attempt.

I used a dark grey base coat and then once dry, used a damp make-up sponge to dab on the brown colour. I gradually built up the colour, starting at the tip and fading it down. It did take quite a few layers to get the desired effect.

This pic makes them look blue, they are intact dark grey and brown

I think next time I will blend a little more to get a smoother transition from colours. let me know if there are any easier or different ways to approach the ombre nails.

Work OOTD...

Here is just a quick peek at what I wore to work today... I love these slouchy skirts from American Apparel and this blue version is just a little bit brighter and more summery than the black one I have. I teamed the skirt with a silky top from New Look. I really felt summery and girly today, I am not every comfortable with girly as I don't seem to dress that way a lot but I have to say I like this outfit a lot. 

I love the zip on the back and the multiple straps, it makes what could be quite a bulky shaped top seem more feminine. It also means the pattern isn't too overwhelming.

The Pattern on this top really bought the sunshine inside with me today. 

I topped the look off with numerous bangles and my vintage tree necklace. I love this necklace, it is one of my favourites as the pendant looks good on a long chain and a short chain. It also kind of reminds me of Mulberry.

I never win...

I am not the luckiest when entering competitions and contests so when I recently entered a competition on Chars blog, http://charpee-charpee.blogspot.co.uk/ i didn't expect to hear much. But i am happy to announce that for once I have won something.

This is the necklace that I won in the giveaway, a lovely French Connection number. I can't work out whether the pendant is a mouse or birds skull. What do you reckon?

I am not sure whether I will keep it all as one necklace or DIY it a bit yet. I think the pendant would look lovely on a wire bracelet.

So anyway I thought I would share this momentous occasion and say check out Chars blog. And it has confirmed my plan to do my own giveaway. So when I hit 50 followers I will do one, not sure with what yet but its in the pipeline!

my weekend in pictures...

So this weekend I went to visit my very good friend Nick. We met in halls at uni and although he left after a month we have kept in contact and I would class him as one of my best friends. We had a lush time, went to london and mooched around Camden Market even though it was packed. Ate yummy chinese food, went shopping some more and walking some more. We then finished off with a visit to Oxford Circus Topshop which is my favourite. I was really restrained and only bought two relatively cheap items, a crop top in black and some wooden cross earrings.

I haven't really got any outfit pics, although i did wear my lush tribal print hot pants as seen here : http://sunshinetosoothethesoul.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/magpie.html

I have recently got a new phone, I am now up to date with technology and downloaded Instagram. Yes I know I am a bit behind. So here is a little instagram story of my weekend. Let me know what you think and if you hate it I won't do it again :)

A very slow start to the weekend... literally

Nicks invisible socks... cracked me up... but worked!

Carnaby

Remind me of my Dad!

In Topshop they have the most amazing frozen yoghurt stand... absolutely gorgeous... we had a small topped with strawberries and blueberries. We both said we preferred it to ice-cream.

Perfect end to a perfect weekend!

please donate...

So this post has nothing at all to do with fashion. I recently stayed with a friend of mine and this video was posted on his Facebook wall. It nearly brought me to tears and i wanted to share it in any way that I can to raise some money for this cause.


A small little girl Sophie has been fighting aggressive cancer for nearly her whole life and needs to raise money for life saving surgery. Please give this little girl the chance to see all of the beautiful things in life. The links i have posted explain this cause far better than i ever could so please take two minutes out of your day to watch the video and if you feel you can, donate. Even if everyone donated a pound, 5000 people would equal £5000. Every little helps.


Thank you.


http://sophierobertsstory.com/

Dior...

A few weeks ago, Raf Simon debuted his first Haute Couture collection for Dior. Those who know me well know my absolute love and fascination with Dior. This collection again is beautiful, stunning and elegant. 

Dark Knight Premier 2012

One of its first celebrity public outings was by Marion Cotillard who is actually a face of the brand. I think everyone will agree she looks stunning. I love the way the skirt makes her waist look tiny and the pop of red from her heels! Amazing!

Dior Shoes Advert

images - www.hollywoodreporter.com
            - www.candybarbie.com

Dinner Date...

Last night I went out for dinner with my boyfriend and his mum. We went to a gorgeous mexican restaurant in Southampton called La Cantina. They do amazing cocktails and brilliant food. I had a really yummy chimichanga. A chimichanga is basically a deep fried tortilla, this was then stuffed with mexican spicy cheese, potatoes, chorizo, chicken and salsa etc. It was delicious, and I would highly recommend going their to eat.

Here is a sneak peak at what I wore out to dinner. The jeans are new and I love them, they are from Forever 21 and cost £12.95. Absolute bargain. Most cheap jeans stretch and lose their shape after about 5 minutes of wear, but these stayed in shape the whole evening. My favourite aspect of them is mainly the colour, it gives what could be a boring denim outfit a little bit of a kick. I teamed them with my all time favourite T shirt from Topshop - £18 and a boyfriend style blazer which is really old from Primark, I don't remember the exact price but I think it was around £12. Shoe wise, I wore my moccasin pumps.

So just a quick post but hope you like it anyway. Again feel free to follow me if you like how I write etc :)

Wireless Festival...

So last weekend my boyfriend and I went to Wireless Festival in London. I gave my new DIY lacy shorts their debut and they survived the torrential rain, mud and general wear and tear that a festival demands.

I teamed my shorts with a Black baggy T shirt from Topshop, tights and some old black military style boots which are really old from Claires Accessories.

I really like this look because its comfy and so quick to chuck on. I couldn't be bothered with make up and just threw my hair in a messy bun.

He's going to be so embarrassed iv put him on here!

Rain Coat- Primark - £8

Thankfully I made a dash into the massive Primark on Oxford Street and nabbed this £8 rain coat.

The day itself was amazing. We went on the Saturday and were lucky enough to see Rita Ora, Prof Green, Labrinth, The Weekend ( who was incredible) Wiz Khalifa, Nicki Minaj and the headlining act Drake. When we first got their it rained but for the whole show right up until Drake came on we had really good weather, even got a bit of a tanned face from the sun.

Whilst in the queue for another cider, we heard a band playing on a tiny stage. They were called The Other Tribe. They were possibly one of my favourite bands from the day. They play a really eclectic set with a lot of Electronica. It basically got everyone dancing which to me makes a good song. You can find them here : www.theothertribe.tumblr.com

Me and my Boyfriend Will!