From the Vaults: A Christmas MOTD

Hi everyone,

In case you hadn't noticed, for a few months before Christmas I once again went missing from this blog. Life happened. However, during this time I was still taking pictures for this blog, but never getting time to post them. I've developed a backlog of photos on my computer, so I've decided to start a series called 'From the Vaults' and post them, mixed in with other posts, over the next little while. I'm starting with this one, which is the makeup I wore on Christmas Day.

Products used:

• L'Oréal Matte Revolution Foundation
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
• Maybelline The Matte Maker Powder
• Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Palette (For brows)
• Sleek Blush in 'Flushed'
• Charlotte Tilbury 'Vintage Vamp' Eyeshadow Quad (shades 1 and 4)
• Elizabeth Arden Eyeliner in 'Smoky Black'
• Maybelline The Falsies Mascara
• Nars Audacious Lipstick in 'Charlotte'

2015 Favourites

The best in beauty from 2015...

L'Oréal Elnett Heat Protectant Spray

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

L'Oréal Infallible 24 Hour Foundation

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette (for brows)

Sleek Blush in Flushed

L'Oréal Eyeshadow Quad in 'Jungle Jade'

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Nars Audacious Lipsticks

'Charlotte' and 'Ingrid'

MAC Satin Lipsticks

'Twig', 'Mystical' and 'MAC Red'

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks

'Bond Girl', 'Walk of Shame', 'Love Liberty' and 'Glastonberry'

Makeup of the Day| 8/11/15

Because I haven't done one of these in a while...

Products used:

• L'Óreal Infallible 24H-Matte Foundation in 11 Vanilla
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair
• Maybelline Matte Maker Powder
• Sleek Blusher in 'Flushed'
• Soap and Glory Archery Pencil
• Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner
• Maybelline The Falsies Mascara
• Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in 107

Once Upon a Time Regina Inspired Tutorial

Hi everyone,

Sorry it's been awhile, I've been very busy lately and it's gotten to that time of year when trying to light photographs after 3 pm is a nightmare. But alas, here I am.

 A TV program that I've gotten back into recently (there will be an upcoming post devoted exclusively to TV, so watch out for that) is Once Upon a Time. Season Five started a few weeks ago, and with it came the realisation that Regina (aka the Evil Queen) is probably my favourite character. And I just think that Lana Parillla is one of the most beautiful human beings ever. I've really liked Regina's makeup this season (and other seasons- I have to restrain myself from doing an entire series of Regina-inspired posts) and thought I would have a go at recreating it.

Here are the results:

1) Starting with foundation, I used the L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation, applied with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Brief disclaimer here: it looks in the pictures like my foundation doesn't match my skin, but it actually does. As previously mentioned I've been having some technical difficulties with lighting.

2)Next, in an attempt to create a "flawless" base I applied my trusty Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer under my eyes and over any blemishes, like so:

I then blended it out using a combination of my fingers and my Real Techniques Brush:

3) I then applied my Maybelline Matte Me Powder (which, after a great run, I finally dropped and smashed a few weeks ago). I also filled in my eyebrows using the Soap and Glory Archery Pencil, which is another casualty of my makeup bag.

4) Using the Natural Collection in Sun Shine (further proof of the fact that I should never be trusted with expensive makeup) to contour my cheeks a little bit. And I think I'm getting better at it.

5) On top of that, I applied the Sleek Blusher in Flushed to the apples of my cheeks.

6) For eyes, I used the Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Palette. I applied Buttercream, the second shade from the left all over the lid (and forgot to take a picture of it, I'm a clever one). Next I applied Espresso, the darkest shade on the far right into the crease and the outer third of my eyelid, and blended it out.

7) I then used an Elizabeth Arden pencil eyeliner in Smoky Black to line my upper lashline and waterline, and then just below my waterline too.

8) I then applied a lot of mascara to my upper and lower lashes. I'm pretty sure Regina wears fake eyelashes on the show, but I didn't have any, so I had to improvise.

And here is the finished eye look:

9) Finally I applied my lipstick. I used the Lipstick Queen lipstick in Red Saint, which is a really nice sheer red colour (it's much more red than it looks in the pictures)

And this is the finished look! I'm actually very happy with how it turned out. I never really wear eyeliner, especially underneath my eyes, but after this I'm tempted to try it a bit more.

Till next time...

Makeup Shake Up #1

Hi everyone,

If you scroll through this blog, you'll quickly come to realise that I have a standard makeup look. Natural base, nude eyeshadow, bright lipstick; usually red, but sometimes pink or orange. Sometimes eyeliner, but not too much. It's my go-to ,my 'Everyday makeup routine'; I've figured out what works for me and I rarely deviate from it. Which is all well and good, but it also means I rarely branch out or experiment and quite honestly have a lot of makeup that rarely sees the light of day. So with all that in mind, this week I'm going to be trying out and posting some new makeup looks, starting today, with one which features a dark lip and more eyeliner than I'm used to.
Because its always good to try new things :)

• For the base, I'm actually going to be sticking to the same things that I always use (this going so well already) because I only have one foundation, concealer and powder. They are the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Ivory (applied with the Real Techniques Face Brush), the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair and Maybelline's Matte Maker Powder.

• For blush I decided to go for a plum/purple colour to match the dark lip. I chose Sugar Plum by Natural Collection.

Remember when I said a few posts ago that I inevitably smash all my powders? Let's call this exhibit A.

• At this point I remembered I had forgotten to fill in my eyebrows, so I did that with my Collection palette.

• For eyes I decided to use my MUA Immaculate Palette. I started off by applying this heather-y purple  (first from left in the middle row) colour all over the lid.

• Next I applied a small amount of the grey eyeshadow (first from right, middle row) to the crease and other third of my eye.

• Using my Essence Liquid Ink eyeliner, which I forgot to take a picture of, I lined my upper lashline.

•  And now for the winged part....at this point I just have to hold my hands up and admit that I had no idea what I was doing. But that's the whole point of this isn't it? To experiment? Maybe?
• Anyway, I decided to start by drawing a thin line as a sort of guide to where I wanted the winged part to be, like so...

•  Using that line as a guide, I started making the line gradually thicker from the middle of my eyelid outward, until I was happy with what I'd done. And it actually went surprisingly well.

•  Next, I took my Elizabeth Arden black eyeliner pencil (which I also forgot to photograph, I'm so good at this blogging thing) and lined my lower waterline.

• I then applied some of the Rimmel Wake Me Up Mascara, which I would not recommend, but alas, it's the only mascara I have.

• Here is the completed eye look

• Finally, I applied my lipstick which is a recent purchase; the Wet'n'Wild Megalast lipstick in Cherry Bomb. It's an amazing colour, even darker than it shows up in the pictures, and I'm excited to wear it this winter.

And that was part one of the Makeup Shake up! Stay tuned for part two...