Pearls and Poodles

Chanel Perfection Lumiere

2012-02-01T19:50:00.000Z

As a beauty blogger, it is my prerogative to one minute love a product, proclaim it is the best thing since sliced bread and vow never to stray away from its awe-inspiring properties. The next minute I am casting that item into the realms of those loved but discarded products on the search for the next best thing. Here is where my story of foundation begins. It wasn’t long ago that I was wailing from the roof tops that Estee Lauder Double Wear IS the most incredible foundation of all the land. And yes, it is blooming brilliant. But skip forward three months and several empties later and I was in need of something new. However much I love a product, I cannot relentlessly use it day on day and pledge my faithfulness forever. The mundane repetitiveness soon makes the product lose its appeal and it seemed I, and my skin, had had enough of Estee Lauder Double Wear.

Right on cue, Chanel launched their latest foundation, Perfection Lumiere. Shockingly, I had never tried any Chanel foundations before. I felt this was a sign, an awakening for better, more flawless times. Perfection Lumiere steps in to replace Pro Lumiere, a foundation that I have always heard such good things about. Surely this meant that Perfection Lumiere was destined to be even better than its predecessor, the selling points being it is lightweight, semi matte, lasts for 15 hours and is moisturising and mattifying all at the same time. And with 23 shades, apparently this new foundation is perfect for all skin tones and skin types. It seemed too good to miss so I rightly went and got myself a sample. I was coloured matched to 30 Beige. My skin tone is yellow based and I am usually a NC25-30 in MAC. 30 Beige was honestly the best match to my skin out of any foundations I have worn in a very long while. In hindsight, Estee Lauder Double Wear was always that tad too dark and NC25 was always a little too yellow toned. This one however was spot on. Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere is a lighter, thinner consistency to Double Wear and has less coverage, but still airing on the side of medium to full. This was a welcome experience for me. For too long I have clung on to the security that Double Wear offers in regards to its coverage, but upon reflection, I don’t actually need such a heavy foundation. My skin is fine, I don’t suffer from any real spots or blemishes, I think I just liked the way it looked on my skin. Double Wear does give you a perfect, made-up finish. Perfection Lumiere still has great coverage but does leave you feeling less cakey and more natural, definitely the way to go especially as we approach the lightness and delicateness of Spring time makeup. I think I had hope that Perfection Lumiere, as deceivingly suggested from its name, would offer a more radiant, luminous finish on my skin, but I can’t say it does really. I have resorted to mixing a drop of MAC Strobe Cream in with my foundation to help create a more glowing, dewy finish.

On my skin, Chanel Perfection Lumiere just works. It sits well, doesn’t get oily or dry any areas and it really does last for a long time. Maybe not quite 15 hours, but it’s a close call. However my skin type is normal. Very normal. If anything, I may get a little oily on my forehead and dry around my nose, but 9 times out of 10, my skin is very manageable and, well normal. It was through reading Holly’s review and discussing this foundation with others that has led me to believe that it does work best with normal skin, but poses a bit problematic with very dry or oily skin types, so I would definitely suggest you getting a sample first if you want to give it a go. Chanel Perfection Lumiere is a heart-wrenching £36, a price that caused no more than a little quicken of my heart as I handed over two crisp twenty pound notes. I don't begrudge paying money for luxury - and this foundation has all the opulence and quality one would expect from a Chanel product. It smells amazing, fruity and light, and blends dreamily into the skin leaving it velvety soft. I have been using my Real Techniques stippling brush to apply this foundation and the two work harmoniously together.

Have you tried Chanel Perfection Lumiere? What foundation are you currently loving?

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a fresh look

2012-01-31T17:50:00.001Z

You may have noticed that my blog has had a little makeover recently. Nothing drastic, but after two years of supporting a three column layout I was becoming bored and irritated at the appearance of my own blog and wanted to freshened it up a bit. I always get a little nervous when I start fiddling around with my blogger template, backing it up a zillion times just in case, so I wanted to enlist some help (ie someone else to blame if it all goes wrong!) Sometimes I wonder how I actually have an operational blog on the internet as I am not the most technical savvy when it comes to blog design and layout. I have seemlingly fumbled my way through the unknown world of HTML and CSS codes thanks to a lot of googling and plenty of patience. However I was truly stumped when I wanted to change my blog from three to two coloumns and to add some smart social media icons.

Faye writes Girl does Geek, a blog which explores all aspects of technical wizardry from layouts to widgets, offering lots of handy hints and step by step tutorials. I knew she was the girl for the job! Faye will admit herself that she loves all that geeky technical stuff, so much so that she has built up her knowledge to a level that enables her to offer consultations and complete whole web designs. Therefore I was more than happy to hand the reigns over to Faye and let her work her magic! She was awesome and literally completed the job on the same day. I am pretty sure my request wasn't particularly challenging but I was still really impressed with the quickness and efficiency, and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that Pearls and Poodles was still fully functional on the world wide web!

You can contact a Faye via her website or tweet her @fayemarieblogs if you fancy a blog makeover any time soon. I hope you love my new look blog as much as I do!

small print: Faye does charge for her blog redesign work and I of course paid for mine. She certainly didn't ask me to write this post but I just thought it would be really handy for anyone who may be thinking of having a blog revamp and not really knowing where to start.

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fashionistA lipsticks

2012-01-29T22:42:00.001Z

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it is time to brace ourselves for the onslaught of pink packaging, gushing sentiments and overpriced flowers flooding the shops. Usually I am totally immune to all the specially concocted makeup collections that begin to emerge around this time, but unsurprisingly I was quite excited by a new lipstick range from FashionistA. FashionistA, a fun and obtainable makeup range available in Superdrug, have launched a range of seven new lipsticks to ensure you have the most desirable, kissable lips for when Cupid's arrow strikes. Encased in a striking red tube, these lipsticks offer a selection of sumptuous colours to give you the perfect pout this Valentine's Day.

FashionistA Double Take Long Wear lipstick - Natural Pink*

This is an easy to wear, petal pink lipstick with muted tones and a wonderfully creamy finish. In some lights it almost gleams with a hint of coral and is so soft to apply. Both lipsticks are laced with a deliciously coconut scent.

FashionistA Double Take Long Wear lipstick - Raspberry*

This is definitely my favourite out of the two lipsticks. The rich raspberry hue is gorgeous, highly-pigmented and surprisingly long-wearing. It is so creamy and leaves your lips with a lovely sheen.

FashionistA is available from selected Superdrug stores and offers a range of products including their custom design palette system - a fun way to get creative and put together your own palette of blushers and eyeshadows. The Double Take Long Wear lipsticks are now available from the collection and retail at £7 each.

Will you be puckering up for FashionistA lipsticks this Valentine's?

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static pure pigment

2012-01-26T22:52:00.001Z

Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Static, £15.50

If you could capture fairy dust, put it in a pot and marvel at its magnificence, I am pretty sure it would look something like this. This stunning iridescent pure pigment from Illamasqua is simply beautiful, perfect for adding a metallic shine to an eyeshadow as well as highlighting brows and cheekbones. In the pot it appears quite tame, but as you begin to swirl the silvery white dust, glimmers of lilac and flashes of pink and blue begin to appear. It becomes a mirage of dancing sparkles. This pigment works best when pressed into a cream base or applied wet for an intense finish. It definitely requires a base colour to realise its true potential, and be prepared for fall out...lots of fall out!

With quite a dramatic eye, I kept the rest of my makeup simple and natural, and let the glitter take the glory!

Estee Lauder Double Wear/Tawny
Bourjois Delice de Soleil bronzer
Look Beauty Make Me Blush/Pinch
The Body Shop eyeshadow duo/Amethyst
MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner /Zero
MAC Hue lipstick

Have you tried any of Illamasqua's pure pigments?

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Carmine: the January box

2012-01-25T17:25:00.004Z

Carmine's January beauty box*

1. Westlab Himalayan Pink Salt: A natural, mineral-rich treasure straight from the Himalayan mountain range that will transform your bath to a heavenly soak, helping you to relax and detox.

2. Balance Me Radiance Face Oil: This 100% natural face oil is set to dramatically renew your skin, leaving it glowing and moisturised. Simply massage it onto your face and neck to give your skin back the radiance it deserves.

3. Korres Wild Rose 24 hour Moisturising & Brightening Cream: A lovely treat from sunny Greece. This organic face cream will not only brighten and repair your complexion, but it will also pump up the hydration for a full 24 hours.

4. Eyeko Fat Eye Stick: A chubby stick of soft creamy colour works as a liner and as a shadow to create the perfect smoky-eye. Available in six different colours.

5. Eldora handmade lashes: With over 200 different types of lashes, Eldora offer an extension range of hand created lashes fit for every occasion; from diamante encrusted to glow in the dark.

This month's beauty box from Carmine could definitely be described as a bit of a mixed bag. I certainly didn't get a pang of excitement as I lifted the lid and revealed the contents like I have in previous months. I saw bath salts and my heart dropped. Bath salts really don't float my boat! But on closer inspection, I would have been foolish to dismiss this month's box quite so quickly. The eyelashes look fabulous - I am a big fan of falsies and I know I will find the perfect occasion to flaunt these. Eyeko's fat eyestick is a chunky eye kohl ideal for lining the eyes as well as giving your lids a glossy slick of colour. It is soft and creamy and will suffice as a new eyeliner when my current one runs out. I don't go crazy for Eyeko products; I feel much love was lost when they stop doing their dinky nail varnishes, but for an eyeliner, this is actually alright. The Korres Wild Rose Moisturising Cream should be a nice product to try based on my pleasant experiences with a few other Korres products, plus it does smell lovely. And as for the Balance Me Radiance Face Oil with its rollerball applicator...the jury are still out on this one!

So all in all, I felt it was a bit hit and miss this month. The false lashes and Eyeko fat eyestick were good finds in the box and it is nice they can be used in conjunction with each other to create a dramatic, evening eye look. The Korres Moisturising Cream will be a nice addition to my skincare selection, but the other products didn't really bowl me over.

What are your thoughts on this month's box?

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very berry

2012-01-23T21:38:00.003Z

Sleek Makeup lipstick in Cranberry, part of The Berry Collection*

This gift set was released over Christmas as a party season essential, containing an eye kohl, blusher and lipstick, all deeply enriched with sultry berry tones. Unsurprisingly, the lipstick was the only item that really appealed to me, despite its lacklustre appearance in the tube. It is a stunning colour; intense with a matte finish. Cranberry lipstick is a spicy reddy-brown shade, not too dissimilar from that mug of mulled wine you may have enjoyed over the festive time. The only disappointment with this lipstick is that it is incredibly drying; I don't suffer from dry lips but it even managed to make my lips look and feel a little scaly. This is such a shame as my lipstick collection is crying out for a beautiful burgundy lipstick like this.

The Berry Collection is currently still available from Sleek Makeup and is only £10.
Are you going very berry for this lipstick?

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i've been lovestruck

2012-01-19T19:51:00.003Z

I'm a big fan of Vera Wang fragrances. Princess, Preppy Princes, Rock Princess; they have all adorned my dressing table at one time or the other. My most recent (Christmas present) addition to the shrine of Wang is Lovestruck, a florally sweet scent with an addictive fruity aroma. It heralds tropical tones of juicy guava and aquatic lotus flower making it the perfect choice for a spirited, classic fragrance.

In the words of Vera herself - "Lovestruck is about the emotion and rush you feel when you are falling in love and going for it, those heart-pounding moments of spontaneity." Definitely more of a daytime than an evening time perfume, I can be found dousing myself most mornings in this luscious scent.

What perfumes are you lovestruck with at the moment?

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getting lashed

2012-01-16T21:38:00.002Z

Of course every girl dreams of long, fluttery, gorgeous lashes. Of course not every girl can achieve this through mascara alone and sometimes a little intervention is needed. I had always shied away from the idea of eyelash extensions. With a plethora of fake lashes on the market for quick and easy, stick 'em on, whip 'em off application, I never felt the attraction of having individual lashes painstakingly applied for long full lashes, day and night, for up to two weeks or more.

As part of my freelance writing work for Carmine, I was sent to the Benito Brow Bar on Oxford Street, London to have a set of dramatic semi-permanent eyelash extensions applied in order to report back on my experience. The brow bar was in the main Debenhams on Oxford Street and was quite a mission to find as I weaved between the beauty counters in a haze of hairspray and perfume. Once I arrived it was like a haven of tranquility as I was shown to a sumptuous reclining chair and calmly told how the procedure would unveil. The whole process took about 50 minutes, 25 minutes per eye and simply involved me lying there with my eyes closed the whole time. Sounds easy enough...but I actually found it quite hard, forcing my eyes closed for a long length of time under the harsh glare of the store's lights. So much so that a mortifying eye twitch ensued for about 3 minutes where I, and my lash technician, could do nothing but pray for the spasms to cease. Thankfully they did!

So here are the results...

My first impression was wow. Wow at how natural they looked and the way they blended beautifully into my own lashes. They seemed to perfectly flaunt that fine line between "you have amazing natural eyelashes" and "you have had eyelash extensions" and most definitely steered clear of any spider legs connotations. They felt so light and completely normal on my eyelashes, not alien or intrusive at all, and I very quickly forgot I had them on. The extensions are meant to last up to two weeks providing you take care of them, avoiding oil-based makeup remover and staying clear of steam and hot water for the first 24 hours.

I definitely under-estimated how robust the eyelashes were and I was extremely delicate when removing my makeup for the first couple of days. I needn't have been so careful. These eyelash extensions were solid and weren't going anywhere. As I became more use to them, I was able to judge how much they could take and I even wore mascara on them a few times, which gave a really dramatic look, and was easy enough to remove with an oil-free cleanser. My lashes lasted a good week before I noticed any falling out.

I think after a week of having my lashes, I ready to get rid of them. They weren't at all irritating or annoying, but I kind of missed my oil based products and really being able to scrub my face and rub my eyes without fear of losing a handful of eyelashes. And once a few started falling out, I felt the need to apply mascara every day to fill in any (very unnoticeable) gaps. Benito Brow Bar suggest that you should return to them after the two weeks to have the extensions professionally removed, which I foolishly did not do! It was over Christmas and I felt that with a bottle of bio oil, a tube of vaseline and some patience, I could do a little bit of home removal. Two hours later, I was de-lashed. I would definitely not recommend taking this course of action and next time, I would just go back and have them removed by the experts, especially considering it is all included in the initial price.

Benito Brow Bar offer two types of eyelash extensions, natural and dramatic. The ones that I had done were the dramatic set and would cost £45, however mine were gifted for review purposes.

What are your thoughts?
Are you eager for some extensions or more than fulfilled with your falsies?

Glossybox for men

2012-01-12T23:25:00.002Z

Let me introduce to you Glossybox for men.* A quarterly beauty box filled with 7 luxury sized grooming products to satiate every modern man's needs. January's box is packed full of finely picked, yet little less than man-sized samples, that range from haircare, shaving and fragrance. I presented my boyfriend Rob with this latest offering from Glossybox and we unveiled the contents in unison with great anticipation. As the charcoal grey lid was lifted, the ribbon untied and the paper ~~parted~~ ripped open, we were met with some familiar brands, as well as some lesser known names.

1. Goldwell StyleSign Roughman - Matt Cream Paste 2. Monu Vitru Energy Rub

3. Monu Vitru Conditioning Body Wash 4. Goldwell Dualsenses Hair & Body Shampoo

5. Shaveworks The Cool Fix 6. Murad Clarifying Mask 7. Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de L'Homme and L'Homme fragrances

I think it is transparent that, broadly speaking, the female demographic have been reeled in by the lure of beauty boxes, hook, line and sinker! A further excuse to laden our already brimming beauty bounty with more products and new discoveries was always going to be a no-brainer. But is this move by Glossybox into a male beauty box imprudent or ingenious? Let's hear the verdict from the man himself...

- Hair and body shampoo? Legendary! A product that does two jobs in one is a winner with me.
The samples are the perfect size for my gym bag - much more feasible than lugging around a full sized body wash with me.
This is the perfect lazy boy's option to shopping and sampling new products.
I would definitely consider ordering one for a friend as a gift.
I especially like that it only comes every three months. I like trying new products but would feel a bit overwhelmed if seven new samples were descending upon me each month! -

The products in this (first) month's box are high-end and varied and were really liked by Rob. Whereas I would usually be the first to snubbed the fragrance samples, I think these were a really good addition to the box. From experience, men can get stuck in a rut with aftershave; just repurchasing their trusty old faithfuls. Sometimes it is time to put down the Old Spice and branch out and sniff new things! And the YSL samples are actually divine, such an amazing scent. I will definitely be urging Rob to purchase the full sized product of La Nuit de L'Homme in particular. Rob was impressed, genuinely impressed with Glossybox for men, and rather thrilled that he for once was in receipt of a parcel from the postman!

For more information, the details and deals on Glossybox for men, then you can visit their website.
What are you thoughts on Glossybox's maverick move into a male grooming beauty box? Would the man in your life be pleased or perplexed by this?

parallel universe

2012-01-11T21:08:00.002Z

Dress - Yuki Tokyo*
Lipstick - Revlon Love that Red

So here we have it, my first outfit photos from the new abode. I seem to be very small and a little startled, having not quite mastered the whole logistics of my new photo area setup. My new camera is pretty amazing but I have so much swotting up to do. I am pretty sure I am nowhere near using it to its full potential. However, the best part of it surely has to be the ten consecutive photos it can take all in one go...bam bam bam! This is a whole new world to me which may explain the slightly 'rabbit caught in headlights' look in the second photo!

This dress was a recent sample sent to me from Yuki Tokyo and I was instantly enamoured with the fierce angular shoulders. The cut and material of the dress is really flattering, and the cinched waist with the contrasting bow is a really sweet addition. This dress is not actually available yet but will be coming soon to their SS12 collection so keep your eyes peeled!

Since my recent move I am totally embracing the fact that I can now walk to work. It is the best feeling ever, inducing a fresh glow and heightened heartbeat as I power walk the two miles or so into the office. The soundtrack of the week is the Red Hot Chili Peppers, hence the blog title. Such great motivation for the morning!

blonde ambition

2012-01-09T21:31:00.001Z

Lipstick - MAC Petals & Peacocks

I am blonde. Blonder. And so unbelievably happy with my new colour. A creamy white blonde has been my sometimes unachievable dream ever since I ditched the red last year. I wanted to turn my warm golden tones of two months ago to a cooler, brighter, whiter blonde which, if my plan comes together, will lend itself to some pastel pink and lilac dip dying in the near future. I had half a head of highlights as I didn't want the colour to become too dense all over; I like to keep a few different threads of colour running through my hair. I had my locks blown dried straight at the hairdressers (I never wear my hair poker straight nowadays since I've embraced my natural curls) and was left marvelling at how long it has gotten. I am going back in six weeks time for a whole head of highlights on the one condition that I have my ratty ends trimmed, a small price to pay I feel to be one step close to my blonde ambition.

I apologise for being a bit AWOL recently. Blogging has taken a bit of a back seat whilst I have been moving abode, heaving boxes up and down stairs, unpacking numerous hoarded items and generally trying to settle myself. There was a time when lipstick shades used to fill my thoughts, now it is all about lampshades...momentarily anyway! I have generated the winner of my Benefit gift set giveaway, thank you all who entered, and the lucky lady is... KatieCakes. Well done Katie.

impassioned

2011-12-30T20:46:00.001Z

MAC impassioned lipstick

Described as an amped-up fuchsia, this lipstick is a true beauty to behold. On me it is a little less fuchsia, a lot more bright pink with a warm orange undertone running through it. Gorgeously creamy on the lips and perfectly opaque after one application. It is a bit of an unsung hero in my lipstick collection but definitely a rediscovered love!

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Christmas presents

2011-12-28T19:47:00.002Z

1.Matthew Williamson bulldog cushion. 2.Yankee candles Christmas Cake and Christmas Cookie.
3.Vera Wang Lovestruck perfume. 4.Lush Handy Gurugu handcream.
5.Illamasqua Static pigment. 6.Paperchase diary. 7.Star cookie cutters. 8.Topshop voucher.
9.Hotel Chocolat gemstones. 10.Homemade hot chocolate mix. 11.River Island bobble hat and gloves.
12.Hollister joggers. 13.Canon EOS 600D camera

I love love love all the presents I received this Christmas. I feel so privileged to have been given such personal and thoughtful gifts; I really am extremely lucky. Probably one of the most endearing presents I received was the homemade hot chocolate mix which my boyfriend made up for me. If you saw the Jamie Oliver programme over Christmas, THIS is the hot chocolate mix he created, but Rob went one step further and added even more chocolate and hidden spices to the blend to give me a heavenly, heart-warming mug of loveliness!

Also, needless to say that I was more than ecstatic when I was surprised with the Canon EOS 600d, the very baby I have been lusting after for months now. I still haven't fully mastered how to use it, and have been avidly studying the manual at every opportune moment, but it really is a fantastic camera! I am over the moon.

I hope you all have had gorgeous Christmases and feel rested and ready for 2012! I have been making the most of my last day off work today, as I am back to the grindstone come tomorrow! Pretty sure I won't get away with an afternoon nap at my desk, or have the time to continuously devour endless supplies of Quality Street and cups of tea! But, like they say, all good things have to come to an end and I had such a wonderful time with family and friends over this festive break. Roll on New Year's Eve!

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the Christmas jumper

2011-12-27T16:32:00.002Z

Jumper - Topshop

Nails - Barry M Berry Ice Cream w/ Models Own Juicy Jules

Well Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Christmas jumper! I received this beauty from my boyfriend and have lived in it ever since. It is perfectly warm and snug, having taken it on a post-dinner walk yesterday, and is such a lush concoction of colours.

I hope you have all had joyful yet restful Christmases and are enjoying the festive break. I had such a lovely time with my family and feel very content with life right about now. Today I had to brave the shops to return a few bits and bobs and was absolutely terrified at the volume of people going barmy over the sales! I for one have absolutely no desire to go sale shopping after Christmas. I am more than happy drawing out my last few days off work surrounded by burning Yankee candles and a mountain of chocolate begging to be eaten. I will not be defeated by the tray of Ferrero Rocher calling my name!

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mistletoe and wine

2011-12-24T14:46:00.001Z

Cardigan - Topshop

Shirt - H&M

Leggings - Topshop

Earrings - gift

Happy Christmas Eve girls! I just managed to squeeze in a quick outfit post in between visiting some family bearing gifts, and braving the supermarket for some last minute essentials. I now plan to watch some festive films and scour the Radio Times, highlighting the unmissable tv programmes this Christmas. To be fair, Christmas television is often quite naff, but providing they show Love Actually at some point, I will be happy.

I truly hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Christmas tomorrow. I hope it is filled with much joy, happiness and plenty of mince pies, and you just have a really lovely time with family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

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Real Techniques

2011-12-22T21:12:00.001Z

I am pretty positive that many of you will have heard of Real Techniques brushes. If not, then most definitely you will be familiar with Samantha Chapman, the sister who puts the woo in Pixiwoo and is quite a big deal on YouTube! I am not really one to gush over YouTube gurus as such, but Sam and Nic are by far one of my favourite people to watch on YouTube. I admire them as makeup artists and avidly watch their tutorials and reviews because of their professional, yet lovely, friendly nature. I just think they are brilliant and their foundation reviews are absolute gospel in my eyes and have helped me many a time when seeking out a new foundation.

Real Techniques are a collection of hi-tech makeup brushes designed and used by Sam; neatly colour coded and offering a concise range for all aspects of your makeup application. Real Techniques have a blog which Sam actively writes for and keeps updated with tips, tricks, trends and tutorials. I was really honoured when asked if I would like to write a guest post and contribute to the Real Techniques blog, given the freedom to write about whatever I fancied, based around the brushes of course.

I was sent the complete range of Real Techniques brushes to have a little play with and to help inspire my guest post. I was instantly drawn to the Travel Essentials kit, a perfectly portable brush case housing three essential brushes; a foundation brush, a shadow brush and a powder brush. I decided to create a simple, natural look solely using these three brushes, proving that makeup on the go can be as easy as 1, 2, 3.

And this was my finished look!. If you want to see how I achieved it and what products I used, then my guest post is now live on the Real Techniques blog. I am no makeup artist by any stretch of the imagination but really enjoyed writing this post so I hope you like it.

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Carmine: the December box

2011-12-21T14:44:00.004Z

Apparently 'tis the season to be jolly and all, but I am feeling anything but as I am snuggled up at home nursing the dreaded lurgy. One benefit however of being bed-bound, with only some balsam tissues for company, is that I was actually able to receive my post today as it arrived rather than impatiently waiting until I get home from work. In between drinking gallons of orange juice and blowing my ridiculously red nose, I managed to muster up some strength to open up Carmine's December box and share with you its Christmas offerings. This month we have been treated to not five, but six, products. This will just be a quick overview in case you wanted a sneak peak inside the Christmas box; obviously I haven't had a chance to try any of the products so can't comment too much on how great (or not) they are.

Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash

I have been using Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil recently which I absolutely love, so I was very happy to see a (full sized) Weleda product in this box. This body wash smells heavenly, a fruity and herbal combination, and is packed full of nutrients and organic pomegranate oil.

KMS California Freeshape Quick Blow Dry

A small sample of KMS California's Quick blow dry spray. It apparently can reduce your blowdrying time by up to 50% and leaves your hair soft and smooth. Blowdrying my mane is a mammoth task so anything that might help make the task a little less arduous is a winner with me.

Institut Esthederm Time Technology Cream

This is described as a miracle, light reflecting cream for all ages. It gives your face an instant glow whilst providing deep moisturisation to your skin. It is nice to receive a cream that is suitable for all ages, rather than an anti-aging product like last month which would not have suited everybody.

MyFace Cosmetics Blingtone (Silver Screen)

This Grazia awarding winning pot of colour will definitely add some bling to your eyes during this festive time. I received Silver Screen, a fierce metallic shimmer with a pretty pewter finish, but there are two other colours in the boxes. I really like this shadow, just perfect for creating a sparkly eye look. These retail at £9.99 so I think this was a fabulous addition to the box and will definitely appease those who like to make sure they get their money's worth.

Japonesque Smudger Brush

I recently reviewed some Japonesque brushes and was highly impressed with them, so it was great to see one of their brushes in this month's box. The smudger brush gives you control for creating a variety of looks and blending eyeliner or shadows. I think it is a nice touch that they have included two products that can be used together, ie: the blingtone and the brush.

Benito Brow Bar Eyebrow Threading voucher

This card entitles you to a free brow threading at any Benito Brow Bar, as well as offering you 20% off a wow lash treatment. There are quite a few Benito Brow Bars nationwide, a full list is available here, and I had a great experience there last week when I went and had some eyelash extensions done. I have wanted to get my brows threaded for a while now so I am looking forward to using this.

So there we have it. What are your thoughts on this month's Carmine box?

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sweet peacock

2011-12-20T18:56:00.001Z

Orly Sweet Peacock* from the Birds of a Feather AW11 Collection

I love this shade, such a stunning peacock foil blue with a very fine, silver iridescent shimmer. It is wonderfully vibrant and would actually suffice just after one coat, but I played it safe and applied two. Like a strutting peacock, this polish is extremely majestic and certainly isn't a shy colour to wear on your nails. I am usually quite wary of blue nail varnishes, finding them a little too garish, but there is something very wearable about this shade and I find the electric blue hue really enchanting. It does dry a little bit gritty, but nothing that a swift addition of a top coat didn't sort out!

Would you flock towards this polish?

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Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10

2011-12-20T17:57:00.000Z

So apparently once you reach your mid-twenties it is the perfect time to start introducing anti-aging products into your beauty regime, which means I had better sit up and take note!

Back in Spring 2011, the Vichy laboratories were busy concocting a new anti-aging skincare range, Vichy LiftActiv Derm Source, which is a now a breakthrough range that helps reactivate youthful skin. By targeting the Derm Source, which is the uppermost layers of your skin, it can help make your skin look re-plumped and feel velvety soft. The essential, and some may say, secret ingredient to making this range so effective is Rhamnose: a sugar derivative and active ingredient of plant origin which is capable of reactivating the youthful activity in the Derm Source.

The LiftActiv Serum 10 is a powerful anti-aging serum from this range which contains this much heralded ingredient Rhamnose, along with Vichy Thermal Spa Water and soothing, regenerating minerals. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid, an ingredient that helps plump and hydrate the skin. Vichy say that the result is an effective re-plumping, anti-aging serum which is specially formulated for sensitive skin. It is light and soft in texture, hypoallergenic and paraben-free. A few drops can be used every day and/or night leaving skin smooth, supple and with improved elasticity.

This serum is available exclusively from Boots and retails at £29.50.

It all sounds very fancy but I just don't know if I am ready to commit to anti-aging products just yet. Give me five more years and I am sure I will have an entirely different perspective!
What anti-aging products do you use, if any?

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please please please

2011-12-19T20:01:00.001Z

Jumper - H&M

Skirt - H&M

Can you believe it is only six days until Christmas?! With all my shopping done, bar a few cheeky last minute online orders today, I feel I can now start getting properly excited. I have been so busy recently, I haven't felt Christmassy at all and even discovered today that I had five, yes five, advent calendar windows to catch up on! I braved Oxford Street with sharpened elbows on Saturday which was quite an experience - children and slow moving people everywhere! However I really wanted to see the lights and the wintery windows of Selfridges and I definitely left feeling suitably festive. Whilst I was there I went and had some eyelash extensions done which you can see in the photos above. Laying back with my eyes closed for 45 minutes was such a welcome relief from all the hustle and bustle going on outside. I feel really happy with the results; very natural with some lovely added length and volume. I will be writing all about my experience at Benito Brow Bar over on the Carmine blog, which is the column I freelance write for, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

I hope you are all well and counting down the days until Christmas! Whenever I see the John Lewis advent, I get a little bit more excited and my heart melts all over again. It's just so sweet.

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Serengeti

2011-12-18T12:04:00.001Z

Cargo Cosmetics lipgloss (Serengeti) from the December Glossybox*

I had high hopes for this product - it looked so impressive in the tube, a gorgeous peachy hue with a thread of iridescent blue and pink shimmer running through it. On the website it is described as 'tropical melon' so I thought it would be a wonderfully punchy colour on the lips. However, I was left a little bit disheartened.

A very pretty colour nonetheless, but decidedly less bright and colourful than I had imagined. The consistency is very nice though, not too sticky and it does give the lips a really glossy sparkle with a subtle blue/pink duochrome shimmer. For maximum impact I plan to layer this gloss over a bright lipstick such as Barry M 147 (Peachy Pink). I think this combination would be gorgeous together!

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glossybox - the christmas edition

2011-12-16T22:10:00.002Z

What's red and shiny and comes through your letterbox a few days before Christmas? It's the Glossybox Christmas Edition!*

The usually girlish pink box has had a festive facelift and is as shiny and red as Rudolph's nose! This box is part two of the Glossybox Christmas Gift Guide and is packed full of products to get you in the seasonal spirit.

This is the first time I have decided to feature my Glossybox contents on my blog, despite kindly being sent a few boxes in the past. I am always a bit too late to the table with my posts and then I feel I have nothing much to add to whatever has already been said. However I am so impressed with this month's offerings, so much so I may have even snuffled a little squeak of glee as I raised the lid and revealed its goodies, that I really wanted to share them with you.

Blink + Go Eyeshadow and Blush Palette, (full size - RRP 14.95)

Popping a full sized makeup item in the box is a sure fire way to get my eyes dancing with delight! I was really pleased to unearth this palette rather than the mascara that I have seen in some of the other Christmas glossyboxes. I think it is nice that they have varied the contents slightly, but that is because I am smugly happy with my box. This is way more exciting than a mascara. The palette has two layers, the top layer offering six very wearable eyeshadow colours, the bottom revealing two pink-toned blushers. I can't vouch for the quality of this product yet, but am looking forward to giving it a whirl.

Bioniva Eye Wrinkle Treatment (small sample size)

Possible the consolation product in this month's box. No not a perfume sample, but a small pot of Bionova's eye wrinkle treatment cream. This doesn't really float my boat, but that's because I don't have eye wrinkles...yet. Others may be thrilled that they can trial something that retails at £43 for a full-sized product, and isn't that the whole point?

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel (full size - £6.50)

At first glance I thought this was a deodorant which I thought was an odd addition to the Christmas Glossybox, unless they suspect us all getting a little bit sweaty as we race around the shops doing our last minute shopping! But no, it is a foaming shower gel from Rituals which has an amazingly sweet, floral aroma.

Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss, Serengeti (travel size)

A lipgloss: thumbs up. A lipgloss in a gorgeous, iridescent peach colour: double thumbs up! The full size of this lipgloss retails at £10, but I think this dinky travel-sized product is more than adequate. Lipgloss seems to last me ages anyway. I really love the look of this and am excited to review it in more detail in a future post.

Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail Vanish (mini) with Stripped to Go Sachet

Possibly the trump card of this month's offerings. This mini Deborah Lippmann nail colour is an enticing blackened raspberry varnish with magenta and red glitter. It is really quite fabulous and perfect for the impending party season! Full size, this would cost £16 so I am more than happy with my little pot of Razzle Dazzle. Along with the nail varnish there was also a Deborah Lippmann polish remover finger nail mitt. Can't say I have ever used a finger mitt before but sure it will be very handy.

So all in all, Glossybox's Special Christmas Edition certainly got my bells a ringing-dinging and it really did feel like Christmas had come early when this box arrived!

To sign up or to find out more about Glossybox, then you can find all the info here.

What are your thoughts on this month's box?

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liz earle pampering hand treat

2011-12-13T22:26:00.000Z

With only 12 days until Christmas day, you are either feeling particularly smug with yourself as you are surrounded by neatly wrapped Christmas presents, or you are filled with mild panic as your shopping list grows and the shops become more frenzied.

I wanted to share with you this really sweet Pampering Hand Treat gift set from Liz Earle which could be the perfect last minute purchase for that tricky aunt or beauty-obsessed sister. Inside the package you will find:

Hand Repair (100ml) This is a non-greasy, powerful hand cream that provides instant protection and relief for your hands; enriched with natural soothing ingredients such as echinacea and vitamin E. I am obsessed with hand creams, especially during the winter months when my skin can get really dry, so this product is perfect and I love the chunky packaging and handy pump.

Orange Flower Hand Wash (30ml) This fragrant, foaming hand wash is particularly gentle leaving your hands soft and sweet smelling. It contains Panthenol and betaine, derived from sugar molasses, which moisturise the hands whilst extracts of orange essential oils and geranium fruitily fragrance the skin.

Superbalm (5g) This is known as Liz Earle's emergency skin salve, which rescues and soothes the skin. It can be used on any dry areas such as lips, elbows, knuckles and heels to gently soften and calm dry skin. It can also be used to condition nails and cuticles. It is made from pure plant oils, natural waxes and Shea butter and is a handy little addition to your handbag.

So, have you got all your Christmas shopping done?
Or are you like me and leaving it to the last minute as always!

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rawr

2011-12-10T18:10:00.001Z

top - H&M skirt - Forever 21,
belt - charity shop earrings - Accessorize

Another amazing find in Forever 21. I had been looking for a fitted, knee length, animal print skirt for a while now and this beast of a skirt ticked all the right boxes; and it was only £10 something! Bargain.
I hope you are all having super weekends. I am just warming up from a day of hockey spectating and getting ready for my first festive outing of 2011 with my hockey team tonight. We are going for some yummy grub and then a few drinks afterwards. I think there might even be some pulling of the crackers! It officially feels like Christmas now.
x

Benefit the POREfessional

2011-12-08T13:19:00.003Z

I'm not going to lie and say that I religiously use a primer in my day to day makeup routine. In fact, it is the one stage I would gladly skip when time is precious, and I have happily pasted on my foundation sans primer many a time. For me, priming is more of a luxury step in my makeup routine for when I have plentiful time and a desire to achieve the perfect base. My primer of choice at the moment is MAC's Prep & Prime Skin Brightening Serum which is alright - but to honest, I am not sure whether I use primer because I like it or just because I feel a good beauty blogger ought to! Sometimes a well moisturised face is just adequate.

Benefit's the POREfessional is a dual-action prime and touch-up balm that promises to minimise your pores, help blend your makeup and refine your complexion. It would be true to say that I hate my pores. At the start of the day they are pretty much invisible but as the day, and my makeup, wears on, they slowly become more and more exaggerated as my makeup begins to sit in them. I hoped the POREfessional might be my salvation...

The formulation of this product is extremely silky and lightweight and the skin-coloured, oil-free cream glides onto your bare skin so smoothly. It is a lot thicker in consistency to your average serum and clearly leaves a fine, translucent layer on your skin after application. The moment the balm touches your skin and you begin to blend, the feel of the cream magically transforms into a silky, powdery finish. The idea isn't to totally swamp your face in this balm, but to pat and blend it into your troublesome areas with your fingertips. I mainly focus on my cheeks and down my nose - these are the main areas I suffer from pores. Wait a few seconds and then apply your foundation as you normally would. Benefit also say that you can use the POREfessional during the day, to disguise any pores that may have reappeared, by applying the balm over your makeup. Now this did not work for me, applying this product over my existing, particularly powdery makeup just made it a bit messy and didn't make any difference. Because you are only applying the POREfessonal to key areas and not smothering it all over your face, you could still use your primer first, and then layer this on top. I have pretty much cast my Prep and Prime aside and am just using this alone for the time being.

The POREfessional really does work wonders when applied under your makeup and does definitely help minimise the appearance of my pores. Imagine polyfilla if you will, the way it glides over cracks and holes, creating a wonderfully smooth and even canvas to then create your masterpiece on. Benefit's the POREfessional is the beauty girl's polyfilla, just slightly less industrial and definitely more pretty and sweet smelling!

The POREfessional (22ml) is available from Benefit Cosmetics and retails at £23.50, a pretty exemplar price by Benefit's standards. It may seems quite pricey, but you need to apply so very little, this tube will last you a good few months or more.
Have you tried this product? What do you reach for to prep and prime your skin?
x

frost bite

2011-12-06T20:24:00.001Z

Top - Forever 21

Necklace - Forever 21

Leggings - Topshop

Fur coat - Motel Rocks

My much awaited fur coat finally arrived from Motel Rocks! I attended a recent Motel Rocks event as a guest of Glossybox and we were given the opportunity to chose one piece from their new collection. The decision was not hard as upon arrival I had instantly navigated towards this 90's boyfriend fur coat which is oh so strokable, soft and snug! The sizing is a little suspect - I went for extra small and the coat is still huge on me; I feel a bit like a giant gorilla! I think it is just the style of it, and it doesn't stop me from absolutely loving it. It really is the perfect coat to keep me toasty during these wintery days.

On a side note - I love Forever 21! I went to the Westfield Stratford City last weekend and could have spent a small fortune in their store. Three levels of loveliness! I am trying to schedule in a cheeky revisit before Christmas if I can.

I hope you are all well, having good weeks and keeping warm.

pink punch

2011-12-04T20:35:00.001Z

Double Hit Lip in Pink Punch - LOOK Beauty £7
available from Superdrug

Pow wow! This lipstick and lipgloss duo from the new LOOK beauty range certainly packs a punch. An awesome hot pink with blue-ish undertones which does wonders for making your teeth look decidedly dazzling! The lipstick itself has quite a glossy finish and goes on very smoothly. The consistently is quite slippery on your lips so you need to apply it a few times to work up an opaque colour. This is a bit of a shame but does mean that it doesn't stain your lips at all. The lipstick is pretty scentless, whereas the lipgloss actually smells like those old-school fruit salad chewy bars. Very sweet. Some may not like this - but personally it doesn't really offend me.

First two photos - the lipstick sans gloss.
Second two photos - the lipstick and the lipgloss for a double hit lip look!

This is really fun product - and both the lipstick and lipgloss have quite a good staying powers and didn't dry my lips out at all. If you like the look of this lip duo then LOOK beauty do it in a few various shades and is great value at just £7! I personally would probably just wear the lipstick on its own as I am not that fond of the overly glossy/gloopy lip look. It doesn't mix well with long hair and English windy weather!

Have you tried any products from the new LOOK beauty range yet?
x

primary instinct

2011-12-02T19:25:00.001Z

Dress - H&M Necklace - H&M

Woo, it's finally the weekend :)
Have a good one girls.
x

prepare to sparkle

2011-11-30T19:48:00.000Z

1. OPI Rainbow Connection 2. Miss Selfridge 3. Topshop 4. Topshop

5. River Island 6. ASOS 7. NYX River Island 8. Folli Follie 9. Forever 21

With Christmas just around the corner; shoppers are being bombarded with the jolly jingle of Christmas songs and ~~children~~ adults everywhere are eagerly awaiting to open the first window of their Advent calendar. With diaries becoming a cobwebs of scribbles with upcoming festive functions and seasonal shindigs, I thought I would scour the shops and summarise the most sparkliest of items to ensure you're are the glitter belle of the ball this Christmas.

I am in love with the Topshop Sequin Ballerina Dress -
Which is your favourite item?
x

a brush with the orient

2011-11-28T21:13:00.001Z

When it comes to makeup brushes, I am not really a fussy customer. My collection is an amalgamation of The Body Shop, Sigma, Sleek and MAC with some e.l.f brushes thrown in there for good measure. When I'm feeling flush I like to spend a fair few pennies on higher-end brushes, but am also more than happy to pick up some cheap and cheerful brushes from the high street. I tend to find myself spending more on face brushes, and less on eye and brow brushes. I don't know why.
Japonesque have been creating makeup brushes and beauty tools for over 20 years now and have earned the reputation of producing the most versatile, innovative and distinctive beauty accessories in the industry. As well as carrying their own label, they have also been responsible for the craftsmanship of beauty accessories for many well-known and respected beauty brands such as Illamasqua, Nars and Sephora. Japonesque's repertoire doesn't just stop at makeup brushes but expands right through to lashes, tweezers, palettes and eyelash curlers. Japonesque is now stocked in Boots, so ticks both those boxes of finding high-quality, superior brushes on the high street, for a reasonable price.

I was sent a selection of their travel, short handle brushes which feature all the same quality materials and construction as the pro range, but simply in a more compact, travel friendly size. I think the range looks really smart with their slick silver handles and the perfect dimensions for fitting in your makeup bag. The brushes are extremely soft and evidently of a very high standard. I have ben using, and washing, all these brushes for a few weeks now, bar the brow comb (does anyone actually use these anymore?!) and can safely say that I haven't experienced any shedding or skin irritation.

From left to right:
Powder Brush, Angled Foundation Brush, Brow/Lash Comb, Retractable Lip Brush, Eyeshadow Fluff Brush (medium), Angled Brow Definer Brush

Japonesque use natural and synthetic hairs in their brushes, depending on their use, so you really get the best application and finish with each brush. I thought I would highlight and share with you my favourite two brushes from this range.

The powder brush (£29.25) is dreamy; I just wish I could convey to you how wonderfully soft and supple the brush is. I could quite happily sit and stroke my face with it all day...! It is perfect for applying loose powder for a flawless finish. The brush doesn't pick up too much product, a problem I often encounter with my kabuki brush, so you never end up with a heavy finish. After I have applied my foundation, I use this powder brush to lightly dust my MAC mineralised skin finish natural all over my face. Its domed top means it follows the contours of your face so applies the powder evenly all over.

The angled foundation brush (£19.50) is great, especially as I love applying my foundation with a flat brush like this, rather than a stippling brush. I just cannot get on with stippling brushes! It is quite a firm brush to the feel, but is very pliable when you start applying the product. I really like the tapered end which makes it extremely useful for detailed application under your eyes and around your nose. The bristles are synthetic, they wash really nicely and the brush maintains its shape which is always a bonus!

The Japonesque range can be viewed online and can now be located in Boots and John Lewis.
What are you favourite makeup brushes? Do you save or splurge when it comes to buying your brushes?
x

creme de la femme

2011-11-27T19:30:00.001Z

On Friday I went to the new Westfield Shopping Centre at Stratford on the premise that I was to start my Christmas shopping. Well, unsurprisingly I failed on all accounts and didn't buy any presents; the temptation of Forever 21 and MAC was far too strong! I had six mac empties so took my chance whilst I was there to back to mac and get myself a brand new lippie. I had previously thought I would choose a dark vampy colour like Rebel or Up the Amp but I was rather taken with Creme de la Femme, a frosty pinky-purple laced with gold shimmer.

Creme de la Femme, with its berry pink colour, golden flecks and frosted finish is so pretty, but also quite underrated. I certainly hadn't really given it much consideration before now. In the tube it looked a little too 'mature' for me, but actually, I am rather smitten with my choice, so much so that creme de la femme could be the creme de la creme of my lipstick collection!
I hope you have all had lovely weekends.
x

back to black

2011-11-24T18:28:00.001Z

Top - H&M . Maxi skirt - H&M . Belt - charity shop . Necklace - Accessorize

Nothing better than getting that Friday feeling a day early. Tomorrow I have a day off work and am taking a trip to the new Westfield at Stratford for a day of supposed Christmas shopping...although I know (and you know) that Forever 21 may take precedence over this! I also have six mac empties which means I can back to mac and pay homage to the MAC store. I am in a real quandary as to what lipstick to opt for. I originally thought I would get Angel before discovering I already had this lipstick in my collection. Oh the shame! So now I am thinking either Rebel or Up the Amp? What do you think?
x

my hair heroes

2011-11-22T19:48:00.001Z

When it comes to investing precious time and money, it is definitely my hair that seems to get the most attention, thanks to countless colours, cuts and conditioners. I often have so many hair lotions and potions on the go, it can get a bit overwhelming! Therefore I thought I would sit back, slap on a hair masque and reflect on a few firm favourites that I have been using religiously for the past few weeks and have led to some very healthy, happy hair.

Split Mend Intense Recovery Masque
This hair masque is part of the new Split Remedy range from Tresemme which focuses on repairing split ends; an inevitable consequence of everyday styling, sun exposure and heat damage. Personally, I don't think I suffer too frightfully from split ends, and having just had my hair cut, I am rather proud of my healthy locks. This masque however, whether it has special mending powers or not, is an amazing treatment and is genuinely great at adding nourishment and softness to your hair. I wasn't bowled over by the shampoo or conditioner, but would definitely recommend this intense masque if you are on the hunt for a new, inexpensive treatment for your tresses.

Neal & Wolf Silk Smoothing Blow-dry Balm
This is a really luxurious balm to be used on towel-dried hair before blow-drying. I always have to put something on my hair before I start the epic task of blow-drying it, and I find myself alternating between oils, serums and creams. This is one of the most effective lotions I have used at calming my hair and increasing its manageability once my mane has been dried and styled. It contains a hydrating wheat protein complex which provides moisture and balance, for a silky-smooth, frizz-free finish. It smells lovely too and isn't overly heavy if used sparingly.

Moroccan Oil Treatment
With it syrupy consistency and sweet-woody scent, Moroccan Oil honestly works magic on my mane. It is quickly absorbed when applied onto damp hair, and works especially well when particular attention is paid to your parched ends. I think my hair thrives best when I use oils and this is one of my favourite luxuries for my locks. My hair is thick, frizzy and quite coarse, so soaks up oil like a scorched desert receives the rain; happily and very easily. This oil probably wouldn't be best if you had quite fine hair, or hair that gets greasy easily. I also use Moroccan Oil as a finishing product too by lightly smoothing it over my dry and styled hair, which adds instant shine and gloss to my coiffure.

I had my hair coloured last week and am overjoyed with the result. I had some soft creamy blondes weaved in to lighten it, whilst still keeping my aura of golden tones. I now just need it to grow six inches and I'll be content!

What products do your locks love?
x

Carmine: the November box

2011-11-21T21:11:00.002Z

I present to you this month's Carmine beauty box.

After much shaking and shimmying of the lid, swiftly followed by much huffing and puffing and a few cursed words, I finally managed to detach the stubborn lid from the box and reveal its contents. Apparently there is a particular 'lid-removal' technique. Clearly I have not quite mastered this technique yet! Faced with a reluctant lid and a box packed full of surprise products, maybe it is all just a clever ploy to heighten the excitement of the whole experience!

So here is what I received in November's box...

This is what Carmine says about the products...

Neom Organics Real Luxury Body Lotion (50ml)

An organic product from an award-winning brand, this lotion is packed with the fragrances of lavender, jasmine and basil.

Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream (15ml)

A powerful anti-ageing night cream that turns back time whilst you sleep.

New Cid i-Pout lipstick

A revolutionary and incredibly wearable lipstick equipped with a built-in mirror and light for perfect application in absolutely any circumstance.

Cosmetics a la carte Brow Ink

A soft, semi-permanent ink which allows you to define your brows perfectly by allowing you draw in individual hairs. It can also be used as an eyeliner.

Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil

From the makeup line of fashion icon and solo artist Nicola Roberts, this eyeliner pencil contains skin-loving vitamins and is just oozing with colour.

Well I was pleasantly surprised with the items in this month's Carmine box, mainly because there were three full-sized makeup products, and I would always choose makeup over skincare any day. The fact there was a lipstick in the box absolutely delighted me, especially as it is a really nice colour and is from a brand that I am familiar with but never sampled before.

The Neom Organics body lotion is an alright sample size at 50ml. It smells rather lovely and is a nice, rich consistency. I have never tried anything from Neom Organics so it will be interesting to trial one of their products, however I am not sure it will lure me away from my Body Shop body butters! The Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream doesn't really excite me, purely because I am naively living under the illusion that I am not getting old and do not need to invest in anti-ageing remedies just yet. I suppose from such a small sample, it would be very hard to gage whether this is an effective product or not, but I have passed this to mother bear for her appraisal.

I think the two winning products in this month's box are the Cosmetics a la Carte brow ink and the Dainty Doll Eyeliner pencil, although understandably the colour might not be to your personal taste. I absolutely love the look of these two products and look forward to featuring them in a more detailed review. I am having a slight love affair with my brows at the moment so can't wait to try this felt-tip like pen to define and shape them. The Dainty Doll eyeliner is quite an exquisite emerald green which I think could make for a really pretty peacock-inspired eye look.

You can discover more about the Carmine beauty box and subscribe via their website.

What are your thoughts of this month's products?

floral blue

2011-11-20T09:06:00.002Z

Jumper - H&M
Skirt - H&M

Morning all!
I am up with the birds and off to help mother bear renovate her new house. Until now, I honestly didn't know how much fun one could have with an electric drill and a crow bar! I am clearly not wearing this outfit for today's DIY escapades; this was a mid-week ensemble.
I hope you all have lovely, restful Sundays.
x

baby doll

2011-11-18T21:19:00.001Z

Loud Lips Baby Doll lipstick - Look Beauty £7

It goes without saying that this was instantly the first product I honed in on when I returned home from the Look Beauty event. Zoe, our beautiful hostess with the mostess, provided us with a bespoke beauty bag and boy, that girl knows me well! Baby Doll lipstick is powdery pink and pure perfection on the lips. It is soft to apply and really moisturising. Its lasting-power isn't amazing, but this I don't mind so much, as I habitually reapply lipstick throughout the day anyway, whether I need to or not. The packaging is rather funky too with its geometrical design and magnetised lid.

Donations from sales of this range will be going to Look Good...Feel Better which is a charity helping ladies combat the visible side-effects of their cancer treatment. LGFB runs over a thousands free makeup workshops aiming to increase women's self-esteem and confidence, having reached out to over 85,000 women during the past 17 years.

The Look Beauty collection is launching in Superdrug stores nationwide from the end of November, and with its range boasting over 100 products, (including 32 nail polishes!) I am pretty positive there will be something that catches your eye!

Will you be taking a LOOK at this new collection?

my look for look

2011-11-17T18:47:00.001Z

Dress - H&M
This is the outfit I wore for the Look Beauty event I attended on Tuesday night. I am really excited about this collection which surprises me as I would usually be a little sceptical of a makeup range spawned from a fashion magazine, but the Look Beauty collection has won me over. I am not sure whether to post about the event or just dive straight in and feature some of my favourite products? Unsurprisingly I am completely in love with a few of their lipsticks and their rainbow of eyeshadows and nail polishes are extensive and oh so pretty.

In other news, I am loving my new H&M dress with it 80's Madonna-like coned top section and a mix of leather and velvet panelling. It is part of H&M's conscious collection which focuses on sustainable fashion and produces garments from environmentally-adapted and greener materials such a organic cotton and recycled polyester. All good in my books.

I hope you have had good weeks and are looking forward to the weekend which is now just sniffing distance away. Tomorrow evening I am hitting the peroxide and going blonde(r). I am ridiculously excited about this latest venture to the hairdressers even though I vowed I would never to return to the bleach. Never say never I guess!
x

juicy jules

2011-11-16T19:01:00.001Z

I couldn't help but be dazed by this glitter-ladened nail polish when I saw Hannah wearing it at the Motel Rocks event last week. There has been much jubilation over Juicy Jules from Model's Own so I knew I needed to pick it up (Boots, £5) and lavish my nails with some sensational sparkles pronto.

I am wearing Elegant Touch false nails and used some nail stickers to create a clean line when painting the tips.
I've got to be honest - I had high expectations for this polish and my experience was slightly tainted by the gloppy consistency and the meagre amount of glitter after one coat. I foolishly thought that I might have achieved complete opaqueness after one quick slick but it did require three generous coatings to get the perfect look. Rumour has it that other people are blessed with a gloriously glittery finish after one coat which makes me wonder if I bought a dodgy bottle?! Either way, it is a cheap, fun, sure-fire way to some festive fingers this Christmas.
x

i'm gonna marry the night

2011-11-13T20:33:00.001Z

Last night I wore a black vest top from H&M and a pink pleated skirt from Never Fully Dressed
I strutted out in sparkly shoes from Next.
I ate a mighty mushroom and thyme pizza and had a great evening with a beautiful boy.

How has your weekend been?
x

jumping about

2011-11-12T12:01:00.001Z

Jumpers - H&M
Yesterday I was determined to purchase some real winter woolies. For too long I have tried to dismiss the chilly air creeping upon us and fooled myself that my thin layers would suffice. Of course I made a bee-line to H&M and picked up not one but three new jumpers. The top and bottom ones are the same style but in different colours, both shimmering with an abundance of glitter - hello Christmas knitwear! The bold blue jumper really caught my eye, laughably so because it is the exact same colour and style as my old school uniform jumper. The only difference being that this one is decidedly less itchy!
Which is your favourite?
x

scarlet fever

2011-11-09T21:27:00.001Z

Russian Red lipstick from MAC is an absolute favourite of mine, albeit a recent rediscovered love of late when rummaging about for a red lipstick to wear in my latest outfit post. I would say it is the perfect 'classic' red lipstick, with a matte finish and amazing staying power! I would definitely recommend applying this one with a lip brush and double check those teeth for that lipstick mark faux pas. I certainly feel foul to this!

My earrings are from Gogo Philip - gorgeous and gold with intricate etching and little baubles that tinkle when you walk! I hadn't really been that aware of Gogo Philip before I was sent these, but I actually really like the look of some of their pieces. They have a store at Westfield Stratford as well as a concessions in Topshop and an online selection with ASOS.

Today I went to see my ever-patient hairdresser to discuss going blonder! I vowed I would never go blonde again, especially in the midst of my red spell when I thought a fiery mane was the only way to go. But I had a change of heart and now have my sights on keeping the golden base but adding some soft blonde highlights. I am thinking a warm, creamy blonde so it isn't too harsh and blends in nicely. My bouffant is being bleached next Friday and undoubtedly I will share my latest transformation with you all.

I am attending the Motel Rocks-slash-Glossybox event tomorrow evening which seems like quite the extravaganza of the moment! I am really looking forward to seeing everyone that is going. If you are attending, do let me know so I can say hi :)
x

a medley of monochrome

2011-11-08T19:15:00.002Z

Shirt: H&M Blazer: H&M
Leggings: Topshop Cardigan: River Island
Lipstick: Mac Russian Red

You will rarely catch me wearing black. I am a magpie to colourful clothes, especially during these dull dreary winter months. Monochrome however is another tale. I love a monochrome palette; so simple, chic and easy to wear. AW11 trends sees the stores studded with dalmatian and dog-tooth prints, as well as block patterns of black and white. I think these hues are really flattering and I love wearing a bright red lip as an playful juxtaposition to the outfit.

The blazer and the shirt are both quite recent purchases from H&M. I had been after a boyfriend-style blazer for a while and my search was finally satiated after a quick visit to H&M on my lunch break. The shirt is a lovely silky material and is just long enough to uphold my modesty when wearing leggings. And it has pockets - what more could you ask for!

The oversized chunky cardigan from River Island was an item recently sent to me to feature. I love the patchwork pockets, and the soft grey tones against the cream. It is so big and snug, it is the perfect cardigan to wrap yourself up in whilst sipping hot chocolate and dreaming of a warmer times.
If you fancy winning River Island's new AW collection, the Style Tribe range, which includes this cardigan, then simply play their Facebook game here. Find the nine hidden items and you will be entered into the competition. Good luck.

Have you immersed yourself in monochrome this season?
x

Original Source Bath Soaks

2011-11-07T22:07:00.002Z

As the Autumnal air starts to threaten a chill and we all begin to layer on our winter woollies, it is no better time of the year to soothe ourselves in a long hot bath to keep our toes toasty and banish those icy shivers. Such comfort comes from patiently watching the bubbles rise as the bath fills and dipping your toe in for the first time, revelling in the warmth that welcomes you.

Original Source, well-known for adding a splash of colour and burst of fragrance to our shower time, have created a new bath range, perfect for creating a relaxing, reviving and moisturising bath time experience. The three new bath products are packed with the best of what nature has to offer – set to awaken the senses and warm your cockles as the chill sets in. The bottles are a really sweet design - reminiscent of retro milk bottles with a gloriously colourful concoction inside. I really love the Original Source shower gels; my boyfriend opts for the tantalising tingle of the tea tree and mint whilst I prefer the soft comforting caress of the Shea butter and honey.

The three new bath soaks from Original Source are luxurious and aromatic; packed full of nature's greatest gems, from fragrant lavender and sweet vanilla to bracing black pepper and chilli. They are a blissful bath time addition for a sensual soak.

Black Pepper and Chilli Bath – this bath soak packs a punch and will revive tired limbs after a tough day. The heat of the little Habenero chillies makes for the perfect plunge to warm up and energise your muscles. I think this would be my bath treat of choice after a gruelling game of hockey come mid-December, when all feeling in my fingers has deserted me.
Lavender and Tea Tree Bath Foam – this bottle of natural goodness will help you float away in a state of pure relaxation. The healing properties of the tree tea oil are combined with the soothing powers of lavender to create a sea of tranquillity and calmness. This purple bottle is perfect from bringing some peace to the more traditional bather.
Cocoa and Vanilla Bath Cream – a deliciously relaxing concoction of sweet-scented vanilla milk and cocoa beans makes this bath cream soothing and uplifting. The serotin-rich cocoa beans, proven to boost positive messages to the brain, will ensure you are awash with a wave of happiness whilst providing nourishment to your skin as you soak.

This trio of bath soaks is available from Boots, and other supermarkets, and retails at £2.20 (RRP). More information is available on the Original Source website, where you can also marvel at the rainbow of colours and assortment of products that Original Source has to offer. You can follow all the natural goodness goings-on with Original Source via their twitter and on their Facebook page.

What is your favourite bath time treat to add comfort, and a splash of indulgence, to your bath during the winter months?

This post is sponsored by Original Source

cake glorious cake

2011-11-06T11:50:00.001Z

As a little sideline enterprise, I find myself baking bespoke cakes for special occasions, which has only ensued from word of mouth through my family and work friends. Last week I was asked to create an indulgent chocolate cake for a lady's retirement in my office. Excited about the prospect ahead, I set to work researching and preparing for the chocolatey task before me. I wanted to photograph the creation of this cake step by step, but thought it was more sensible to concentrate of my flour sifting rather than my camera focus. However I will detail the simple steps taken if you wished to recreate this gigantic ganache-covered cake yourself, which I think is quite reminiscent of the cake that Bruce Bogtrotter triumphantly devoured in Matilda!

The cake is two tiered, so you will need to repeat this recipe twice so you are left with two round cakes of the same sized, so you can sandwich them one on top of the other.

For the sponge;
10oz butter, 10oz caster sugar
5 free range eggs, 10oz self raising flour
Large tablespoon of cocoa powder

Whizz together the butter and sugar until you have a light, fluffy creamed consistency. Add in the eggs, flour and cocoa and mix together again until all the ingredients are combined. Do not over-whisk the mixture otherwise it won't rise as well. Spoon into a greased baking tin and pop in the over at 180c for 40+ minutes. Every oven is different and all cakes will cook at varying rates so just keep an eye on it and skewer the middle to check all the mixture is cooked. When the skewer emerges clean, you know the cake is done! (repeat again to get your second cake)
Let the cakes cool completely before you add the ganache filling.

Ganache can instil mild panic amongst bakers, but it really isn't anything to be afraid of. Ganache is simply the combination of good quality chocolate and double cream, which creates a decadent, glossy and pliable coating for cakes. Ganache is the Rolls Royce of cake coverings and is far superior, and yummier, than buttercream.

To make the ganache;
350g good quality dark chocolate, 350ml double (pouring) cream

Break up the chocolate into a bowl and add in the cream. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir the chocolate and cream together until all the chocolate is melted and you have a sleek, rich mixture. It is so important you don't let the cream boil otherwise the ganache will split and be ruined. To begin with the ganache will be very loose and runny but as it cools, it changes state and will become firmer and then eventually will set completely. You can pop the ganache in the fridge or just leave it out to cool, until it is a stable consistency. You want it loose enough to roll off a spoon but firm enough to hold its shape otherwise it will just drip off the cake.

Layer the ganache all over one of the cakes and then gently place the second cake on top, pushing down firmly so they are securely sandwiched together. Don't worry if any ganache comes out the sides as you will be covering the whole cake with the ganache as well. With the remaining ganache, simply spoon it all over the top of your cake and with a palette knife, work it towards the edges. It will then roll down the sides of your cake and you can smooth it around with the palette knife. Continue to work the ganache over and around the cake until it is completely covered and you are left with a smooth, even finish.

For the decorations;
The next stage calls upon your artistic flair and there is no limit to what you could do. I used rolled icing and letter cutters to write the message on top and then prettified the edges on my cake my adding white buttons. You could make chocolate curls, add a splash of colour with smarties or create a fancy finish with some raspberries and berries.

The cake was presented to Jo on Friday and was so thrilled that she liked it and it went down a treat in my office. I luckily managed to scavenge myself a small slither before it was all scoffed and it was rather tasty...if I do say so myself!
x

vying for my love

2011-11-03T20:49:00.001Z

oh (MAC) Violetta lipstick, how I love thee!
Vivid, violet, with a velvety finish, it is a vivacious colour that just vies for my love.
As the autumnal chill beckons, I have cast aside the pastel pinks and have opted for the powerful purples and bewitching berry lipsticks for an enchanting and pigmented pout!
What is you favourite wintertime lipstick?
x

sparkling in milan

2011-10-30T23:10:00.001Z

No 7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour - Milan
I have a love/hate relationship with this polish. I love the colour, the finish and the glorious glitter, I hate the fact that it is impossible to photograph accurately. Believe me, it is much prettier, and paler in real life! It is an intriguing iridescent pink with silver shimmer running through it - perfect for getting your fingers festive as the Christmas season approaches.

I bought this varnish in a moment of mild panic as I realised I had an expiring No 7 Boots voucher and no real need for any of their products. I wouldn't normally peruse the No 7 (or Ruby & Millie) counters if it wasn't for those pesky, enabling vouchers, so I thought I would have a quick look and was drawn in by this particularly sparkly polish.

I wish I could say these are my real nails but I owe all their loveliness to Elegant Touch fake nails. They are the french manicure ones I wore to the Cosmo Blog Awards. I was impressed they were still intact by the weekend so, before they all flicked off, I seized the chance to give them a speedy swatch of this new polish. I only needed two coats to achieve a deep opaque finish and the glitter is really fine, so doesn't leave you with a gritty finish to your nails, which is always a bonus!

What products have you picked up recently with your No 7 voucher?
x

keep calm and carry on

2011-10-29T12:55:00.001+01:00

Keep Calm and Carry On Necklace - Temporary Secretary

I actually won this necklace last week from the lovely Sarah who was running a little twitter competition. Ever the opportunist, and wishing to show some support for her cute, kitsch jewellery range, I entered and was chosen as the fortunate winner. It is such a sweet piece and I wore it yesterday for the first time, generating much swooning and admiration. If you are endeared by trinkets like this, then definitely have a little look at the collection.

I have forgotten to mention before now but Pearls & Poodles has skipped into the 21st century and is now on Facebook, perfect if you want to keep up to date with all my posts and general goings-on.
I hope you all have wonderful weekends, and don't forget the clocks go back tonight meaning we are treated to one more blissful hour of sleep! :)
x

cosmo blog awards 2011

2011-10-27T20:56:00.002+01:00

Dress - River Island
Earrings - Primark
Shoes - Next
Nail - Elegant Touch French Manicure (short pink)
Rings - Vintage and Thomas Sabo
Bag -Accessorize

Last night was the highly anticipated, much mused about, Cosmo Blog Awards. The evening's festivities were held at 24 Kingly Street, in a maze of mirrors lined with Cosmopolitan cocktails, canapes and the obligatory cupcakes! It was a super occasion, mainly because I got to spend time with a bevy of brilliant bloggers who are just lovely ladies and a joy to be around. Despite the venue and sparkles on show, it was quite an informal gathering which was nice and meant we were at ease to mingle, play havoc in the photobooth and scoff cupcakes on the sly in the corner.

Luckily I had perfected my gracious losing face as sadly there was no trophy in tow this year, but all the winners were very worthy and I was so pleased for everyone, especially my fellow beauty blogging/vlogging nominees, Zoe and Anna and Sammi.
Here are some snaps from the night...

The girls pictured are:
Corrie, Lily, Zoe, Natalya, Fleur, Anna, Sabrina

One of the nicest touches to the evening was the showreel of our blogs projected on the walls of the venue, accompanied with a quote. This quote was one of the quotes that was submitted when our blogs were nominated. This was mine; it made me smile.

It read, "I love the way Milly writes her posts. She goes into great detail and her photos really pick up the essence of the products. Her style of writing makes it so easy to read, it is like listening to a friend. Her blog was the reason I decided to set up my own."
- To whoever wrote that - thank you :)

As I have said all the way along, I was just so happy, and honestly rather surprised, to be shortlisted and just thrilled for Pearls & Poodles to be recognised as an Established Beauty Blog. I would like to say a massive congratulations to all the winners - really well done. If you want to see all the winners, they can be viewed here. This whole occasion really highlighted to me how much blogging means to me. Not for the awards, the limelight or the fancy cocktails, but just for the sheer pleasure it brings me and the fact that I get to share that enjoyment with you all. So thank you.
x

sky line pink

2011-10-25T21:12:00.001+01:00

Revlon's new Sky Line Pink lipstick has been taunting me for several weeks now. Ever since I spotted it whilst doing my obligatory rounds up and down the makeup aisles on my lunch break, I figured I needed to add it to my ridiculously swelling lipstick collection. Yes it is pink, pale and pearlescent and well, a little Malibu Barbie like, but I am endeared. Worn on its own, it is a frenzy of frostiness, but worn over another lipstick, it really does add the perfect icing on top!

Revlon's Sky Line Pink lipstick is sheer and pretty and a little like MAC's Pretty Please. My plan is to wear it tomorrow night for the Cosmo Blog Awards - I wanted something subtle and sweet on the lips to counteract the lashings of lashes, statement earrings and colourful cerise dress on show.
x

better late than never

2011-10-24T20:45:00.001+01:00

48 hours until the Comso Blog Awards and I finally have my dress sorted! (cue shameless changing room shot!) River Island came to my rescue with this (brighter in real life) cerise, layered wrap dress. I think I am going to wear my hair up in some fancy, still to be decided, up-do and bling up the outfit with some gold chandelier earrings, glitzy heels and my fur jacket. Tonight signifies the start of my beautifying regime. Sadly I will need to slap on the fake tan for the first time since I returned from Egypt, and also treat my talons to some falsies as my nails are in a sorry state.

I sill honestly cannot believe I am nominated and am just so thrilled to be attending and sharing the evening with some wonderful girls. I promise to take lots of snaps and share the occasion with you, bringing you all the couture, cocktails and Cosmo champions from the night!
x

a salute to the sixties

2011-10-23T21:38:00.001+01:00

Twiggy, the English fashion model, is synonymous with the swinging sixties, and remembered for her A line dresses, short boyish bob and over-exaggerated "twiggies" eyelashes. Her look was so iconic, I was desperate to try and recreate those infamous doll-like eyes using Eylure's upper and lower lashes duo. I received these at the recent event I attended and knew I had to give them a whirl. I used a Pixiwoo Twiggy makeup tutorial to help give me an idea on how to do my makeup, which I clumsily tried to follow using most of the same products. Her makeup was always quite simple, letting her famous freckles show through, but with the emphasis on the eyes, with a heavily defined crease, a light bronzing and a nude lip.

These lashes are truly amazing, if not a little fiddly to apply. I had never used lower lashes before so didn't know how well I'd fare. You have to make sure they go under your bottom lashes, as close to the waterline as possible. I tilted my head back and used tweezers to navigate them into position. They weren't quite as perfectly placed as I would have liked them, but they sufficed. They just scream sixties wide-eyed beauty, and I love them!

If you want to flirt with some seriously sixties-inspired lashes, I would recommend giving these a go.
Would you trial this Twiggy look?
x

fur the love of it

2011-10-22T11:08:00.001+01:00

Faux fur stole H&M £12.99
Faux fur trimmed gloves H&M £6.99

The chilly Autumnal air is truly here now, therefore I wish to envelope myself in faux fur and woolly gloves and keep the cold away. I bought a faux fur stole last year from H&M and wore it to death...so much so that it is actually balding now, so I needed to find a suitably furry replacement. I love the colour of this one and am especially smitten with the concealed clip with means to can clasp it together or attach it to your coat.

The gloves were a must-have purchase this week; I have been suffering the early mornings and the fate of the icy steering wheel gloveless for too long now. They also come in cream but I quite liked the rusty-brown colour. I am pleased the cold weather is here now - however much we I moan, there is nothing nicer than pulling on the layers, wrapping up warm and going on long, icy walks rewarded with a mug of piping hot tea on your return. Bliss.

What winter warmers have you been buying recently?
x

a bow to the brow

2011-10-20T20:44:00.002+01:00

Sleek Makeup has created the perfect compact to answer the cries of many an unruly brow. Bold, furry brows are big this season and impeccably defined brows are crowning flawless faces everywhere down the AW11 catwalks. I love statement brows, I think they look fabulous and frame the eye beautifully, but sadly due to a spell of over-exuberant plucking, circa 2001, I have been left with quite sparse brows. I usually use mac eyebrow pencil in spiked and then comb them through with mac eyebrow gel, but was keen to give this new brow kit a go.
As you lift the lid you are greeted by a shaping wax and setting powder, accompanied by a pair of diddy mini tweezers, an angle brush and a blending brush. The kit comes in two shades; light and dark. I was sent the light one to trial, and it suited my eyebrows excellently as you can see below.

To achieve my defined brows:
1/ Tidy up the brows and tweezer any loose hairs away. Comb them through with a brow brush to prep them for application.
2/ Apply the shaping wax with the angled brush. This brush is great in creating the sharp, clean edges to your brow. Run the brush through your brow, following its natural shape.
3/ Apply the setting powder with the blending brush, sweeping through your eyebrow and filling in any gaps. This will help create a fuller, shapely brow.

I can't really say anything bad about this product; it does exactly what it sets out to do and is so easy to use with the brushes included. I love that everything you need is in one place and it is a definite makeup bag essential.

Sleek Makeup launch their brow kit (£7.99) on 26th October 2011 and it will be available online and in Superdrug stores.

Is this something that gets your eyebrows raising?
Do you like to boast a big brow?
x

pillow talk

2011-10-18T18:16:00.001+01:00

Pillow Talk lipstick - Topshop £9
I must confess that I hadn't given much consideration to the Topshop makeup range before now. I always feel a bit suspicious when fashion retailers branch out and introduce beauty ranges to their already brimming repertoire. When it first came out, I was rather dismissive - I was in Topshop for clothes, not lipstick. However, as the stands slowly started to dominate more and more of the floor space, it was hard not to be sucked in towards the cutesy polka-dot packaging and plethora of products. Obviously the first items I lurched towards were the lipsticks; and Pillow Talk seemed to be the obvious choice. It's pretty, it's pink, what more do you want?!

The consistency is lovely and velvety and gives a subtle, glossy finish to the lips. It reminds me a little bit of MAC creme cup; a soft baby-pink. It is a very easy colour to wear, nothing too daring and doesn't require careful execution and a handy mirror to apply it. One thing I really dislike is the scent of this lipstick. I think I have been living in a sweet vanilla-y cocoon of mac lipsticks for too long - this smells a little bit over-perfumed and old-lady-like. It is a nice lipstick, but nine pounds' worth of niceness? I am dubious.
Have you tried anything from the Topshop makeup range?
x

the cherry on top

2011-10-16T18:24:00.002+01:00

Baking is such a simple pleasure of mine, but it has been far too long since I baked some sweet delights. Over the past few weeks I have been consumed by The Great British Bake Off with utmost glee and hungriness, and it made me determined to done my Cath Kidston apron again and get back into the kitchen. Mary Berry is pretty much my baking idol - she makes everything look so delectable, with the gentleness of touches, and seems to just love the comfort of home baking. Her elegant Battenburg looks like a dream.
Rob, knowing my adoration for Mary Berry and all things sweet and baked, bought me the 'How to Bake' book, which I have pretty much embraced as my baking bible. It has all the recipes featured on the shows, some simple, others a tad more technical. I have devoured it from cover to cover and wanted to give one of the recipes a go today.
I therefore present you with my Cherry Bakewell Cupcakes.

Ingredients: (makes 12)

150g unsalted butter, 150g caster sugar, 100g self-raising flour

3 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 60g ground almonds

1 tablespoon milk, raspberry jam

250g icing sugar, lemon juice, glacé cherries

Preheat oven to 190c/375f/gas mark 5

Firstly make sure you butter is nice and soft and then beat it in the food mixer until it is fluffy and creamy. Next add in the sugar, flour, baking powder, ground almonds, milk and eggs and combine together until you have a light, smooth mixture.

Place your cupcake cases in the baking tray and evenly divide the mixture between them, smoothing the mixture flat with your fingertip. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch. You can test your cupcakes are baked completely by skewing the middle. The skewer will come out clean once the cakes are done.

Let your cupcakes cool completely and then take an apple corer and gently remove the middle of the cakes, about two-thirds of the way down. The soft sponge centres make a perfect appetiser whilst you finish off making your cupcakes!

Take 4 tablespoons or so of the jam and stir it separately in a bowl. This will make the mixture looser so it runs sweetly into the holes. Use a teaspoon to fill the centres up almost to the top, but be careful not to overfill them otherwise the jam will mix in with the icing.

To make up the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and add the lemon juice to make a thick, yet spoonable consistency. You could forego the lemon and just make the icing plain by adding small measures of water until the desired thickness is reached. Dollop the icing into the centre of the cupcakes and gently ease the mixture to the sides until the whole surface is coated. Let the icing harden for a few minutes before popping on the crowning jewel, the glacé cherry.

And there we have it, a perfect Sunday afternoon treat; quick, easy yet wonderfully indulgent.

Just as a little side note, it is the final few hours to place your votes in the Cosmo Blog Awards. I am honoured to be nominated in the Established Beauty Blog category. If you did wish to vote for Pearls & Poodles then you can just click here, enter your email address and then go to the Established Beauty Blog category. That's where you'll find me.

Thank you to anyone who does vote for me, but as cliched as it may sound, I am just chuffed to be nominated and nestled amongst many other super duper blogs. The results are going to be announced at an evening do in London on October 26th, so I had better find me a dapper dress for the occasion.

lashings of lashes

2011-10-15T11:16:00.001+01:00

Wednesday evening saw me journeying to London town to attend the Eylure and Elegant Touch event. With enough fakery on display to rival the set of TOWIE, it was a super occasion to meet with other bloggers and check out the up and coming ranges from both these brands. It was hosted at Callooh Callay, a funky bar in Shoreditch with decadent velvet seating and all the quirkiness of a Lewis Carroll novel. With a 'Top Hat' cocktail in hand, a deliciously sweet blend of rum and...some more rum, I navigated around in awe of the lashings of lashes and fake nails laid out before us. I love false nails but am trying to kick the habit and regain some natural length and strength to my own nails. However some of the nail sets were so wonderfully tacky and sparkly, I think I might have to succumb and whack some on! All in the interest of beauty blogging you understand...

I got the chance to meet and share some beauty banter with many other lovely bloggers, whose blogs I have avidly read for ages but never had the chance to meet IRL.
From left to right,
Vivianna, Zoe, me, Laura and Corrie (who kindly let me use her photo)

We had the chance to have some lashes or nails applied but I declined. a) Because I was too busy chit-chatting away and b) I was heading straight home on the train so feared they would go a little unappreciated.

As a consequence to this event, I have so much fakery to share with you over the next few weeks! I am particularly excited to fly the flag with these Queenie Rocks nails and encapsulate all the iconic glamour of the 60's with these Twiggy-esque upper and lower lashes.

Let me know if there is anything you would particularly like me to feature.
x

pleased to announce

2011-10-14T20:36:00.000+01:00

A big thanks to you all who entered my recent giveaway to win this lovely TFNC dress.

I have used random.org to generate the winner and am pleased to announce that the lucky girl is...

Aysh

who would wear this dress to her work's Christmas party.

Well done :) I will be popping your prize in the post next week.

carmine flash sale

2011-10-14T15:51:00.001+01:00

Last week I brought you details of Carmine: the latest beauty box service to be popping through your letterbox. If the idea appealed to you but you didn’t fancy paying full whack for your first box, I have a fantastic flash sale opportunity for you, for 72 hours only!
Just click on my unique link, sign up and you will receive a 50% discount off your first box, making it just £5 + £2.75 (p&p). Simples! Your subscription will then convert back to the usual £10 a month after the first box, and this of course can be cancelled at any time.

This exclusive offer will end on Monday 17th October at 4pm, whilst stocks last!

Let me know if you take advantage of this.

blink & go

2011-10-13T20:29:00.001+01:00

I picked out these rather extravagant lashes at the Glossybox event I attended last month. It was a really fun occasion where we learnt more about their service and met with the brains behind the box! We were invited to make up our own boxes from a vast array of products, highlighting the tricky task of choosing just five products from a host of super brands as well as considering the logistics of fitting them all in the box! Mine failed on this basis and I had to saunter home with a wobbly lid concealing a treasure trove of goodies. I automatically honed in on these lashes from Blink+Go, ridiculously over-the-top but lusciously long, fun and flamboyant.

These lashes (no.8) were really easy to apply with the lash glue included, but were a bit long, so I did have to do a bit of careful trimming. I used them for my recent flapper girl look - perfect for adding lashings of glamour and elegance to your eyes.
x

getting in a flap

2011-10-10T17:57:00.002+01:00

The 1920's is probably my favourite era - the glamour, the glitz, the quick step of the Charleston and the iconic fashion flaunted by the notorious flapper girls. It was such a flamboyant and creative time in history, with the rise of jazz music, the emergence of the art deco movement and the sheer existence of Coco Chanel. The roaring twenties was awash with decadent parties, toe-tapping dances and rising hemlines, all fuelled by an intoxicating mix of cocktails and spirits.

To celebrate the launch of Penhaligon's new fragrance, Juniper Sling, I decided to immerse myself in the fun and frivolity of the 1920's and show you how I would prepare for a 1920's themed party. This new scent is inspired by the most iconic and atmospheric of spirits, London Dry Gin, a favourite tipple of the flapper girls and a much sought after spirit in many a Speakeasy during this time.

Not one to miss an opportunity to get creative, I thought I would show you how I would go about transforming myself fit for any 1920's knees-up. I am fascinated with the makeup, fashion and hairstyles of the 1920's. Shorter hair styles began to emerge and the bob was the most popular style for ladies to wear, crimped and pinned, usually adorned with a jewelled band or feathers. I softly waved my hair using my Enrapture Amplify Jumbo Waver and then profusely pinned it back, and finished it off with a plaited bando.

The makeup of the 1920's focussed heavily on darkened eyes, defined brows and coloured lips, often dark pinks or reds. The face was often left powdered but bare, with maybe a smudge of rouge on the cheeks. I used false lashes (Blink+Go Temptress) to creative a dramatic and playful eye look accompanied by a berry-pink lip (MAC Petals and Peacocks) and softly contoured cheeks (MAC Peachtwist)

As for fashion and accessories, my number one accessory would be pearls, obviously! You could also embellish yourself with feathers or ornate headbands, a cloche hat, or a silk scarf nipped together with a jewelled brooch.

Simply sling in a gin fizz cocktail, blast out some jazz, get your dancing shoes on and you've got yourself a 1920's party!

Penhaligon's Juniper Sling Eau de Toilette is available now at Penhaligon's boutiques, concessions and online. I have had a sniff of the new scent and it is wonderfully intoxicating, crisp and fresh. It is laced with juniper, black pepper, brown sugar and black cherry making it a complex but rather compulsive fragrance!

Penhaligon's have also created a really clever, tongue-in-cheek 'mock-umentary' to celebrate the launch of their new fragrance. I personally love things like this; the grainy film, mechanical voiceover and the frenzied flappers dancing is just brilliant.

I will leave you with this quote I found which I think perfectly sums up the 1920's;

"The restlessness approached hysteria. The parties were bigger. The pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper; but all these benefits did not minister much delight."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

this post is sponsored by Penhaligon's however ideas and creations are my own, unlike my lashes!

angel of mine

2011-10-09T12:15:00.001+01:00

As the seasons shift and we slowly merge into Autumn, I like to take the time and reassess my perfume collection, and decide on the scent that will see me through the wintery months. During the Summer, I like to flirt with fresh, fruity and frivolous fragrances, a perfect accompaniment to hazy days and picnics in the park. However, as the dark nights draw in and the log fire crackles, I prefer to indulge in more sophisticated scents, being seduced by a heady mix of spices and musk.

I love the original Angel - it is a very wearable, sugary scent - with a blend of exotic fruits and a passionate base of sweet tones such a chocolate, vanilla and toffee. I was therefore excited to receive a sample of the new Angel which was released last month. This revised scent of an old classic promises all the glamour and sensuality as before, but with a softer smoother scent for a more subtle seduction.

The new fragrance is structured in three waves;
Heavenly Wave - pink peppercorn for a spicy burst
Delicious Wave - delicate praline and pink fruits
Voluptuous Wave - soft tones of cedar and luxurious white musk

The new Angel really is a gorgeous soft scent, almost as delicate and beautiful as Eva Mendes who is the new face of Thierry Mugler's latest campaign. It is warm and musky, but not overly so. Encased in a magical bottle with a mystical star lid, it is an angelic addition to any dressing table.
Are you spirited away with this new scent?
x

lifting the lid

2011-10-08T17:25:00.002+01:00

So here we are, D - Day for Carmine, the newest beauty box to hit the market. This weekend will see many of their new customers receiving Carmine's first contribution to the beauty box phenomenon and lifting the lid to reveal their surprises. Please read my first post on Carmine if you want to familiarise yourself more with this new sampling service which is thinking outside the box!
I mentioned in my previous post that I am one of Carmine's new beauty columnists - this means I contribute content to their blog through my own beauty column. That is my role with Carmine and my role here on Pearls and Poodles remains unchanged, to be honest and open with my readers. I am certainly not here to push this beauty box on you. It was my choice to feature the newest Carmine box in this post as I thought it would be interesting to you all, and help you decide if it is something you fancy subscribing to.

So below are the products I uncovered in my Carmine box this month. There are five items, and a nice mix of bits from nail care, makeup to skincare.

01. Trind Nail Repair Natural - a little lacquer with a big claim, to naturally help strengthen and protect your nails.

02. The Balm Fratboy all-in-one shadow/blush - a peachy apricot-coloured blush which doubles up as an eyeshadow, encased in cute retro packaging.

03. Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach or Ice - a pot of sweet, shimmery dust to give your eyes a subtle look, or can be mixed with water for a more intense finish.

04. Caudalie Quenching Sorbet-Creme - a creamy sorbet which naturally refreshes and hydrates your skin with all the anti-oxidising powers of red grape seed.

05. Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream - this multi-award winning cream will keep you soft and smooth from head to toe with delicate aromatherapy scents included.

I have sat on the fence over the past few months as a barrage of beauty boxes have been released and reviewed. The idea never really appealed to me; I like to know what I am getting for my money and tend to play it safe with brands I know and I love. One of Carmine's main missions is to acquaint their customers with new products and brands which they may never have used, or heard of, before. Bar Daniel Sandler, I have not used any of these brands so it is refreshing to try something new and maybe find my next holy grail product. The items in this month's box are a good size, featuring three full size products. I know the size of the samples can be a concern when subscribing to these beauty boxes, and does put people off, but for £10 (+2.95 p&p) I think three full-sized products is very good.

I think with any beauty box comes an element of risk, you cannot be assured that every month you will love every product, but with that also comes guaranteed fun. You know you are bound to discover new items and have the privilege of them being delivered straight to your door each month.

If you want to learn more about Carmine then you can visit their website.
Let me know your initial thoughts, Are you a beauty box fan?
x

show orchid

2011-10-07T20:32:00.001+01:00

I remember Show Orchid lipstick from MAC being one of the first lipsticks I ever purchased. It was probably my first venture in vibrancy, having nurtured a collection of nudes and pale pinks previously. It is an amplified creme and has a beautifully rich texture, gliding on like a dream. Show Orchid is a bright fuchsia pink with blue undertones and a gorgeous glossy sheen, making your teeth look dazzling white.

Show Orchid is a pro product but it has recently been released in one of MAC's new collections, Wild Colour, which means it can be purchased in store and online. If you are after a show-stopping lipstick I would seize your moment and pick this up. It is unashamedly bold and is my pink perfect lipstick for a night out, or simply to perk up a bare face on a dull day.

Do you share my love for Show Orchid?
What is your favourite bright lipstick?
x

golden girl

2011-10-06T22:43:00.000+01:00

Farewell faded red and frazzled ends, hello honey tones and happy hair.

My hair has been long overdue some TLC. It is hard to believe that a few months ago I had vibrant Rihanna red hair, but we all know red is a hardship to maintain and over time, and thanks to some Egyptian sun, it had pretty much become a distant memory. However I was left with patchy colour, desperately dry ends and generally a barnet crying out for some love and attention.

I skipped along to my hairdressers this week, my patient, lovely hairdresser who has seen me all colours under the sun. She did a whole head of highlights, weaving three different colours through my hair. We knew that, realistically, my hair wouldn't withstand the blondest of blonde, so we opted for warm honey and caramel shades. A halo of warm, golden loveliness! I also had about 3 inches hacked off which was totally necessary, although I was really keen to hold onto the length of my fringe through the front. Colours and cut agreed, she set to work whilst I reclined and revelled in some trashy gossip and the sweet aroma of Aveda products. Three hours, a multitude of magazines and a jittery amount of tea later, I was done! I am so happy with the end result and my hair has never felt so swishable.
I am once again a golden girl!
x

illamasqua morale blusher

2011-10-05T21:50:00.002+01:00

Last month I attended the Illamasqua event to celebrate the launch of their newest collection - Theatre of the Nameless. It was an intriguing, climatic evening of costumes and flamboyance, fuelled by a heady cast of cocktails. The new collection offers an eclectic range of products and revels in the gloriousness of opulent shimmer, rich and sophisticated tones and fearless application.

There were quite a few products that really appealed to me; namely Beguile, a spellbinding iridescent pigment and Havoc, an exotically coloured Precision Ink. This is not to mention their two new sets of false eyelashes; handmade, extravagant and offering a fluttery, theatrical finesse to your eye look. However, Illamasqua's two new shimmer blushers, Ambition and Morale, are truly beautiful and stole the show for me. They are decadently ladened with glimmer and luminosity, adding such radiance to your face.

Morale is described as a 'rosed flush' and is a gorgeously glowing pinky/purple with metallic shimmer. It dusts on like a dream and add such a pretty flush to your cheeks. This blush is extremely pigmented so a little goes a long way and you have to be delicate on application. Over the Summer I was obsessed with peachy and golden-toned blushers, but for the Autumn Winter, I am tending to veer towards the warmer, richer tones and berry hues - Morale being the perfect blush of the season.

Theatre of the Nameless is out now and available online and at Illamasqua counters.

Have you tried anything from this new range?

thinking outside the box

2011-10-04T13:13:00.002+01:00

Hello ladies. So today I have some exciting news to share with you all. This is something that has been brewing for some time now and I feel relieved that I can finally spill the beans and fill you all in on some interesting developments in my world. Today sees the launch of a brand new beauty box. Now I know, I know, the beauty market is currently awash with various subscription boxes, all offering you a monthly parcel packed full of beauty goodies and the like, but I believe this one could bring something new to the table.

Carmine is an exclusive beauty parcel that thinks outside the box! Not only does it give you VIP access to new beauty products every month, but also offers you unique content and a fabulous online community experience via their website. Each month it will deliver to your door some of your favourite products as well as helping you discover some hidden gems, items you may not have considered purchasing before. However, Carmine is going one step further than offering you a simple sampling service. They are aiming to build up a strong online community, allowing their subscribers to share their thoughts, discuss and rate products online with each other, as well as participate in activities and competitions. Over time it is Carmine's aim to build up a truly personalised service for its subscribers; through completing your online beauty profile, your boxes can be tailored to fit your personal wants and needs.

Finally, and this is the bit where I come in, Carmine want to offer great online content to give you a deeper understanding and insight into the brands and products you receive. This will include video tips and tricks and interviews with beauty experts, giving you a more wholesome experience from your subscription. As well as all that, Carmine will be hosting online beauty columns bringing you beauty news, reviews and hot topics each month. I am really thrilled to announce that I am one of Carmine's freelance beauty columnists. It is such a crazily amazing opportunity, one where I can grow and nurture my very own beauty column, and do what I love doing most - writing creatively about beauty, fashion and lifestyle. I will be writing two pieces for my column each month, the first based around one of the products featured in the box; the second being a more personal approach based on a subject of my choice. My first article is well under way and I will of course share this with you when my column is up and running!

Having met with the enthusiastic team behind Carmine, I feel very positive and excited by this new venture, and think it is a fun spin on the beauty box idea that could really appeal to a wide market, adding a new online dimension for those who love to immerse themselves in all things beauty. Despite my work as one of their freelance beauty columnists, this will not affect my honesty and transparency if I chose to review their service, as I am only contributing to their online content. I will be learning about Carmine, and discovering the good and the bad, along with you all. I will shortly be running a competition giving five of my readers the chance to receive Carmine's first beauty box completely free, as well as giving you more details on how you could 'Win a Job' with Carmine, being your very own guest beauty columnist., so stay tuned for that!

Apologies for the rather lengthy post but I felt there was so much to tell you and I wanted to update you with my exciting news as soon as possible.
The Carmine beauty box monthly subscription is £10 per month (+£2.75 p&p) and is available to order as of today. If you have any initial questions then feel free to comment me below and I will endeavour to get them answered. Carmine has literally launched today, merely a few minutes ago, so have a little look and let me know your initial thoughts on this new beauty box service and Carmine's creative community.
x

starry eyed

2011-10-03T20:40:00.002+01:00

Earlier this year I shared with you Sleek Makeup's new Molten Metal metallic eyeshadow duos in two gorgeous golden shimmers, Golden Leaf and Pewter. You can revisit my post here.
Well now Sleek Makeup have released a new starry silver addition to their range; offering two intense creamy eyeshadows for a dramatic night time look.

Left - Steel, right - Ash.
These two cool, and highly pigmented, cream shadows glide on like a dream and can be used to brighten the eye, with the silver (steel), and to create a smouldering look with the graphite (ash). Their consistency is velvety soft and they are rich in colour, designed to show up on all skin tones. Dramatic and show-stopping, they are ideal for a glam night out, adding dazzle and glitz to your makeup look.

Above I am wearing one colour on each eye...not because I am a crazy person, but just to illustrate how the cream shadows look once applied. I used a soft eye brush to blend the colour all over my lid and then a thin liner brush to edge my bottom lash line. I particularly love the lighter silver shadow in Steel; it is really pretty and adds a lovely metallic sheen to the eye. One thing I would note about the Molten Metal eyeshadow duos is that they do crease over time. Their wearability isn't great and would probably only hold up for a few hours before they started creasing and looking a bit messy. Perfect for partying but not ideal for everyday wear.

This new Molten Metal eyeshadow duo was launched last week and retails at £6.99.
It is available from Sleek Makeup online and Superdrug stores.
Are you starry eyed for this product?
x

flops and frills

2011-10-02T12:24:00.001+01:00

Blouse - TK Maxx

Hat - TK Maxx

Trousers - H&M

Rings - Vintage and Thomas Sabo

Bare nails - shameful!

A few weeks ago I popped to TK Maxx purely on the basis to check out their homeware section. I love TK Maxx for picking up interesting and one off pieces for the house; all for a pretty decent price. They always have a lot of Indian and African influenced items, which I really like, such as intricately carved Buddhas and wall-mounted African masks.

I ended up leaving (well almost leaving) empty-handed when I spied this hat; the perfect style I had been yearning for for ages. I had seen a similar one in H&M but they only had it in large which was far too big for my little bonce. I love floppy hats for AW and so was very pleased I found this one. I had always dismissed TK Maxx clothing before now, but after I picked up the hat I decided to have a little shop around. It was love at first sight when I saw this blouse; I adored the light sheer material and the gorgeous Victorian frilly laced collar. I felt rather smug with my unplanned purchases and shall definitely be visiting TK Maxx a little more often!

I hope you are all well and enjoying a rather unsuspected sunny weekend here in England.

What have you purchased recently?

spotted

2011-10-01T10:25:00.000+01:00

Beautiful (New Look) boots, you shall be mine!

wear it pink

2011-09-30T19:16:00.002+01:00

This year, on 28^th October 2011, Breast Cancer Campaign launches their 2011 event and is encouraging people to Wear it Pink. It is a really fun and easy way of showing your support to the Breast Cancer Campaign and a great way to raise money and awareness. The premise is easy; wear one, or more items of pink (if you are feeling daring), team up with friends, family or colleagues and donate £2 to the charity. It is something we could all get involved with and a simple way to be part of the cure and support thousands of people affected by breast cancer in the UK everyday.

I really want to get involved with the Wear it Pink event so I will be baking some special pink cupcakes and encouraging my office to wear pink on the day, even if it is just a slick of pink lipstick or a flush of blush, perfect for the more conservative of work places! I decided to have a rummage and pull out a few of my favourite pink beauty products which I could wear on the day and/or makeover my work colleagues with!

01. Barry M Nail Paint in Bright Pink
02. YSL rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink
03. MAC Viva Glam Gaga
04. The Body Shop baked eye colour in 04 Quartz
05. Benefit Thrrrob boxed blusher

Let me know if you are going to get involved with the Wear it Pink day. If you go onto the website, they have a section of really good fundraising ideas as well as some pink-themed recipes. Lorraine Pascale's pink fondant fancies look particularly delicious; I think I might give these ones a whirl!

This is sponsored content. I will be donating part of my fee to Breast Cancer Campaign.

win this dress

2011-09-28T20:23:00.001+01:00

The title says it all really! I featured this gorgeous dress from TFNC London last week and it seems a lot of you like it as much as I do. Well luckily for you, I have one to give away. Thanks to a rather overzealous PR company, I actually ended up receiving the same dress twice so I asked if I could give one away on my blog. It is such a sweet dress, I thought it would be a lovely treat for one of you girls to win. The dress is in small, which I am wearing above, and will comfortably fit a size 8-10.

Please be a follower of Pearls & Poodles

One entry per person

Open to UK residents only

Giveaway will close at midnight GMT on Saturday 8th October 2011

The winner will be chosen by random.org

Leave a comment below telling me, if you were to win this dress, what occasion would you wear it to? Maybe you have an upcoming wedding, party or swish dinner to attend.
Please leave your email address so I can contact the winner.

Good luck girls
x

be a rebel

2011-09-25T19:33:00.090+01:00

I struck gold when I won some Rebel Nails through one of their twitter contests. I received the Limited Edition 22 carat gold wraps which I thought looked really fun and I couldn't wait to give them a go. I had never used nail wraps before; call me old fashioned but I quite like just painting my nails rather than messing about with stickers and hairdryers. Rebel Nails however offer some fabulous patterns and finishes which you could never achieve from nail varnish alone, which is probably what makes nail wraps so popular.

On the Rebel Nails website there is a whole step by step guide on how to apply the nails, along with a video so you can ensure you are doing it correctly. But basically, you chose the nail wrap that will fit best on your nail, peel it off and hold it under a heat source, such as a hairdryer, for a few seconds. This makes the material more pliable which means it lies better on your nail and makes it easier to smooth out any bumps or bubbles. Simply smooth the sticker over your nail from cuticle to tip and then pull the wrap taught over the end of our nail and onto your finger. To remove the excess sticker, the video demonstrates just pushing down the sticker with an orange sticker and then file down the edges to get a clean finish.

I have to say I did struggle with the whole technique of applying my Rebel Nails and it was a frustrating half an hour or so. It was all going well until I had to trim the excess wrap off. It looked so simple in the video but I ended up have to snip the end off with nail scissors and then file the edges. I don't think the finish looks as smart as I would have liked and it did take quite a while to perfect them. It was just a bit fiddly and time consuming for my liking although I can't argue with the finished product. They do look very bling bling and extremely eye-catching - certainly a bold look which couldn't have been achieved by nail polish alone. Practice definitely makes perfect, but I think I might just stick to my trusty nail varnish in future! To remove them, you just need to heat them up again and gently peel off.

What are your thoughts on nail wraps? I'd love to hear if you have tried these yourself.
x

this is only the beginning

2011-09-24T13:24:00.001+01:00

Scallop dress: TFNC London
Earrings/bracelet: Accessorize
Ring: Thomas Sabo

Last night I went out with Rob and le fam for a rather biblical last supper to bid farewell to my little brother. He is moving to uni tomorrow; off to the London School of Economics to study Philosophy. I will miss him dreadfully but I know he will have an absolute ball and he is only a quick train journey away so I can visit him lots.
For the occasion I wore this gorgeous dress from TFNC London. They asked me if I wanted to chose a piece to feature and l fell in love with this dress instantly. I thought it was very me! I just love the 20's inspired scallops and the beading detail. I chose it in small which fitted me perfectly. I did actually receive this just before I went on holiday but I thought I would save it for when I returned so I could flaunt a natural tan with it. I simply wore this dress with a black boyfriend blazer and nude heels.

I have been back from my holiday for 6 days now and I am well and truly back into the daily drudge again and cocktails on the beach is just but a distant memory. Today however sees the start of the hockey season again. I am really excited to get back into it as Saturdays have been a bit dull without my weekly hockey matches; triumphs, injuries and all. Hoping to start the season with a good win!
What are you up to this weekend?
x

enraptured by waves

2011-09-22T21:01:00.001+01:00

I am blessed with natural curls and can achieve poker straight hair with a quick flash of my straighteners, but boho waves have always been the unachievable hair dream for me. I have longed for that beachy, bed head look...big and carefree waves, very Carrie Bradshaw series 3.

Well I think my dream may have come true thanks to this brand new styling tool from Enrapture which I received to review. The Amplify Jumbo Waver boasts 25mm jumbo barrels to create gorgeous 'S' waves, easily and quickly, giving you a bouncy bouffant and fabulous volume in no time.

The Jumbo Waver features polished titanium plate technology which means they are ultra smooth and prevents any snagging of the hair. They also heat up extremely quickly and distributes the heat more evenly giving you a more defined finish, without having to go back over the same section of hair.

For easy storage, the waver has a handle locking ring and also comes with a heat protection pouch. The tool is turned on by the switch under the handle and the heat level can be altered using the dial. This means it can be used on all hair types from the fine to the thick and unruly.
Low temperature - 140 degrees. Medium temperature - 180 degrees. High temperature - 210 degrees.
Once it is switched on, it takes less than 2 minutes to heat up and be ready for use.

The jumbo waver looks quite big and menacing on first appearance, and it does take a while to become accustomed to the best way of handling it. But after a few minutes of use, it becomes very easy to operate. It has a 360 degree swivel cord which is extremely handy.

To create perfect tousled waves, you must first ensure your hair is completely dry. Next you need to take sections of you hair, working from the underneath first, just as if you were straightening it. Take 2 inch pieces and hold the end, pulling the section straight. Clamp the hair between the waver, starting at the roots, and hold for a few seconds. You will slowly start to learn how long you will need to hold the waver in place before releasing it to achieve your desired finish. Next move the styler down the hair towards the end and clamp again. Once all your hair is styled, you can leave the waves defined or lightly brush them out or run your fingers through them to create a looser, beachy look. This is what I did. I didn't want my hair to look too polished and preened, I opted for the messier, bed head look!

I absolutely love this styling tool. It is just perfect for creating the type of waves I have dreamed of having. Because it gets so hot, it can wave quite big sections of hair which means even a mane like mine takes less than 10 minutes to style. If you wanted tighter, more defined 'S' waves, then you could take smaller sections and clamp the waver for longer. I lightly misted my hair with hairspray afterwards and found the style lasted really well.

Enrapture have three new styling tools on the market at the moment, the Amplify Jumbo Waver as featured, the Encode Totem Styler for ringlets and curls and the Extremity Heated Rollers for glamorous volume and root lift. Each styler retails at £74.99 and can be purchased online or from Boots and Argos.
Are you enraptured by this styler?

some nice news

2011-09-21T22:48:00.001+01:00

I just wanted to do a quick post to let you know that my blog, somehow rather miraculously and to my wide-eyed bewilderment (as pictured above!), has been nominated for a Cosmo Blog Award. Pearls & Poodles has been shortlisted in the Established Beauty Blog category.

Of course I am so flattered and happy and send my thanks to any of you who may have nominated me. I really am grateful but didn't even ask for any nominations when the awards were first launched as I felt there were so many other more worthy beauty blogs out there. And that's not just me being all coy - this is genuinely how I feel and still see my blog as a very small fish in a big pond. So to see my dear little blog up there against so many other bigger fish is just so humbling. So thank you so very much.

If you wish to take a look at all the blogs that have been shortlisted over the 14 different categories, then you can click here. You just need to enter your email address. I am under the Established Beauty Blog category, nestled amongst some other wonderful blogs which I urge you to check out. Obviously I would be thrilled if you decided to vote for Pearls & Poodles but I can truly say I am just over the moon to have even been shortlisted so thank you.

palm trees in paradise

2011-09-20T18:21:00.001+01:00

So the holiday is well and truly over. Gone are the days where it is acceptable to eat ice cream at 10am and sleep at 3pm. I arrived home early on Monday morning from Sharm el Sheikh after a frustrating two hour delay, greeted by a slightly chillier climate than I have been use to! To say I had a wonderful holiday in Egypt would be an understatement. It was the best two weeks spent with my lovely boyfriend Rob in pure paradise. The temperature was an unfaltering 38 degrees + and many lazy days were spent sunbathing by the pool under a cloudless sky.

Our hotel, the Baron Palms in Sharm, was just magnificent. It lived up to all my expectations and more. It had a majestic air about it with its seamlessly endless marbled floors, plush velvet chairs, cascading waterfalls and aesthetic architecture. Following a breakfast feast of pancakes, waffles and maple syrup, we adopted our position by the pool, book in hand, soaking up the rays, occasionally refreshed by the cooling breeze and a spritz of rose water by the pool staff. We spent most the time lounging around the pool as well as taking a stroll along the sandy beach and finding fishes in the crystal clear sea. We also took a trip out on the quad bikes for a sunset trail through the desert, visiting a Bedouin camp and cavorting with some camels.

Unfortunately I did get ill, really quite ill on my second day, but I went almost half expecting this. It seems you are more than likely to suffer from some sort of bug when visiting Egypt and I packed plenty of supplies to deal with any such eventuality. I wouldn't blame the food or the cleanliness of the hotel in the slightest; it was kept pristine all day long. Rob ate and drank exactly the same as me and he remained unscathed all holiday. It didn't put a dampener on our time away or taint the holiday memories at all. Following a quick visit from the doctor and a mortifying injection in the bottom, I was right as rain the next day. I would definitely recommend our glorious hotel and I would go back to Egypt in a heartbeat. I miss it already...

Happy holiday memories :)

my holiday sunnies

2011-09-16T19:20:00.000+01:00

Spotty sunglasses (pink and green) - H&M
Aviators - stall at v festival
Jackie Ohh shades - Ray Ban

You can never have too many sunnies on holiday!
x

my holiday nails

2011-09-11T17:36:00.000+01:00

My holiday nails;
Deborah Lippmann - Lara's Theme
Bourjois So Laque! - Bleu Model
Filthy Gorgeous Nails - Tu Tu Much
No.7 Stay Perfect Nails - Hot to Trot

It was really hard to whittle down all my nail polishes to just a select few to take away with me. With my suitcase already brimming and heaving over 15kg, I had to be ruthless. I chose these shades as I thought they were wonderfully summery; the exotic brights and shimmery bronze, which will look gorgeous in the sunshine.
I hope you are all well and having a good week.
x

my holiday reads

2011-09-08T18:11:00.000+01:00

My holiday reads;
The Millennium Triology - Stieg Larsson
Complicit - Nicci French
Blue Monday - Nicci French

add a cocktail, bask in sunshine and enjoy...
x

a vintage affair

2011-09-06T18:47:00.001+01:00

I was going through my photos the other day and realised I had never shared with you the snaps I took whilst at the Vintage Festival last month. This was held on the Southbank in London and was a culmination of everything kitsch and retro, from delightful antique teacups to some great vintage garments. I picked up a few items of clothing, a lovely pleated skirt and a fab headscarf, which I am sure will make an appearance on here in the future. If you get the chance to go to this festival next year, I would highly recommend it. It was really enjoyable.

leaving on a jet plane

2011-09-04T10:48:00.000+01:00

Tickets - check
Passport - check
Umpteen bottles of suncream - check

Eeeeeee, and we are off. I have been counting down, and annoying several work colleagues in the process, for this holiday for seven weeks now; constantly refreshing the 5 day weather report and reading reviews on trip advisor. Safe to say the weather is set at at balmy 38 degrees for the next week or so! Our flight is at 1.55pm today and we will arrive in Sharm el Sheikh at 7.55pm this evening. Perfect timing I think to dump our bags and head to the pool bar for a refreshing cocktail!
I am really looking forward to the prospect of being technology-free for two weeks, no emailing, no blogging, nothing; although I have scheduled a few posts for whilst I am away which I hope you will enjoy. I will definitely take lots of photos so I can share my holiday with you all when I return.
But for now, ciao, have good weeks and speak to you soon. :)
x

let's converse

2011-09-03T15:59:00.001+01:00

I love Converse trainers and have admired them on the feet of many for ages, but have never bought any for myself, until now. Faced with a plethora of pretty pastel plimsols, lemon, pink, lilac and blue, I just didn't know which ones to go for. I finally plumped for the purple pair, but then whilst I was paying, Rob sneakily got me the baby blue pair also! :)

New shoes = happy feet.

sun on the horizon

2011-08-31T20:06:00.001+01:00

jumper - H&M
skinnies - H&M
earrings - primark
ring - vintage

I bought this light knitted, stripy jumper a few weeks ago and then the other day I was flicking through my tv channels and, lo and behold, saw it features in the new H&M ad campaign. So I have a feeling it will become quite popular. They also do it in cream/black which I may have to purchase as well, and for £7.99, it is no great expense. It is the perfect transitional piece, and I have found myself wearing it loads recently as the days have gotten so chilly. I cannot believe it is September tomorrow. Did I blink and miss our Summer?
I also cannot believe I go on holiday in four days time. I shall try and bring you back some sunshine. I have been busy preparing for our trip away; dusting off the passport and doing the dreaded Boots shop for all those holiday essentials! I still need to get some suncream and a good book to read. I have been recommended One Day so I think I might pick this up. A few people have asked where I am off to. We are heading for Sharm el Sheikh and staying at the Baron Palms Resort; a gorgeous boutique hotel. It has been four years since Rob and I have had a proper sun, sea and sand holiday so needless to say, we are highly excited!
I am off to London tomorrow eve to some events. Illamasqua are showcasing their new AW collection, Theatre of the Nameless, and then I am popping over to the GlossyBox event. I'm really looking forward to seeing some new and familiar faces; I now just need to decide what to wear...
x

liz earle sheer skin tint

2011-08-30T22:14:00.001+01:00

I know there has been a lot of coverage of Liz Earle's new sheer skin tint, their first smart move away from skincare and into makeup, but I still wanted to stick my two cents in and comment of this product, which I was sent a few weeks ago to review. I must confess however that my opinion does not differ too much from all the other raves I've read but I hope you will find my post useful if you are considering purchasing this.
Liz Earle are known for always listening to the thoughts and desires of their customers, and acting on them, so when their faithful followers spoke up and requested a venture into the realms of cosmetics, Liz Earle set about to fulfil these wishes.

Words from Liz herself -
"Over the last 16 years our customers have been requesting make up and now we're ready to share what we've been working on. Approachable beauty is our priority, and as always our goal is for women to feel confident about how they look by helping them achieve natural-looking, beautiful skin, simply and without fuss."

Sheer Skin Tint is a really rich and creamy formulation like a foundation, but obviously is a lot more sheer on the skin like a tinted moisturiser. I was actually surprised at how thick the liquid was, and even though it doesn't conceal blemishes or spots completely, it does give a lovely colour to your skin and brilliantly evens out skin tone and covers redness. It is a lot thicker and more pigmented than any other tinted moisturiser I have toyed with. It blends effortlessly into the skin and leaves it looking dewy, fresh and natural. Sheer Skin Tint has SPF15 protection and is enriched with vitamin E and avocado, which works in harmony with the Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare range.
The product doesn't really smell of anything notable, it is just quite a neutral scent and similar to many other Liz Earle products.

(I didn't rub that all in btw!)
The Sheer Skin Tint currently comes in 3 shades; 01 Bare, (the lightest) 02 Beige and 03 Beach (the darkest). I was sent 02 Beige which is perfect for my nc25-30 skin. I applied the liquid with my fingers and I was really impressed with how smoothly it blended into the skin. You can use a small amount to get a light coverage or use a bit more to get a heavier finish. But however much you use, this will not act like a foundation and completely cover any problematic areas, as it is only a light base. But you can always use concealer over the skin tint to add any extra coverage you need. But what it does do is add a healthy glow to your skin and I felt that when I removed it, my skin was left feeling incredibly soft and smooth. That might just be me but it made me love this product even more.
I wouldn't feel confident wearing this product alone, every day to work, but for those days when I am just pottering about and don't particularly want a whole face of foundation, this would suit me wonderfully. It will also be coming with me on holiday as I think it will be the perfect product to wear in the evening as it is much lighter than foundation and lets your skin breathe; as well as having SPF 15 protection.

Liz Earle's Sheer Skin Tint will be available online from 15th September 2011 and will retail at £21.00 (40ml). It can be tricky deciding on the right shade for you so if you order your Skin Tint by mail, Liz Earle will send you a sample size of all three shades so you can check you have ordered the correct colour for you before opening your full sized product. Handy huh?
Is this a product you will be purchasing?
Are you a fan of your foundation or do you prefer a lighter layer?
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