purity

Purity by Illamasqua, one fifth of the Toxic Nature's nail collection launched last week online. Purity nestles up with a host of intoxicating greens and lurid oranges, so by comparison, this shade is rather understated. However, this muted peach hue shouldn't be readily dismissed. It is such a rich unique colour that sits so prettily, I am in love with it already.

Taking two coats to achieve complete opaqueness, and like with all Illamasqua nail polishes, it is a joy to apply and goes on silky and streak-free. 


Available online now for £13.50.
Are you peachy for this polish?

View Post

present in petals

High waisted jeans - Gap
Floral print top - Miss Selfridge
Sequin jacket - H&M


Hold the phone, I am wearing jeans! These are the only pair of jeans I own and have ever held in high regard! I think the high waisted style is mildly flattering on me, and works best for my figure. High heels are completely necessary with them so I wore my cream patent heels that I featured in this outfit post.


I hope you have all had wonderful weekends. Mine, as ever, has been jam-packed. I played hockey on Saturday during the day which is my standard weekend ritual and I simply love it. This was my attire for the evening. I went out with my boyfriend Rob and two other couples. We have all been friends for years and we always endeavour to meet up as much as possible. Unfortunately, due to relocation and hectic schedules, we don't see each other as much as we'd like, but when we do, it is always guaranteed to be like time has stood still since we last met. We ate pizza, drank cocktails (well the girls did) and had a fabulous night together. Today, Sunday, more exercise resumed, kicked off with my twice-weekly Zumba class. Always assured to blow the cobwebs away. And then I played another hockey match this afternoon which was a bit dismal, not only because we lost but the heavens decided to open half way through.


I just wanted to say thank you for all the really lovely comments on my latest post regarding the new hair do. I have taken note of all your suggestions and will keep you posted on my battle to fight the inevitable fade!

View Post

seeing red

It was five weeks ago to the day that my chameleonic transformation from blonde to red began. The results were more than pleasing, but the words of warning from my hairdresser rang emphatically in my ears as I left the salon. Red is an extremely tricky colour to maintain, expect fade and expect it fast! Over the past five weeks I have mourned my colour every time I have washed my hair. Blooded water coated my shoulders, my bath awash with a ruby tinge, my hair becoming less and less red. 

Five weeks on and my hair was drab and lacklustre, yet I was torn between my head and my heart. Do I continue my plight for the red tresses I so desired or throw in the towel, surrender to nature's way, and opt for a more maintainable colour?!

These below images swayed me. A girl only lives once...

And so back to the salon I went tonight, having previously briefed my ever-patient hairdresser, and the necessary dye specially ordered in. This time around I wanted something a little bit more vivid and true. I am not shy when it comes to hair colour and I really love the brilliance of the results....

Unfortunately these photos don't fully capture the true intensity of the new colour, and it looks quite similar to how it was before, but believe me, it is a lot more wow!

And so begins my quest again to try and keep this colour as vibrant as possible, for as long as possible! If anyone has any tips or tips for protecting coloured hair, or any holy grail products I should use, then please please do share.


Happy Friday to you all and I hope you all have wonderful weekends.

View Post

Toxic Nature

Toxic Nature - Illamasqua's Spring Summer 2011 collection. A colourful juxtaposition of intoxicated neons, powerful pastels and dirtied earthy tones represent Illamasqua's visionary concept of nature's battle against a genetically modified society. Toxic Nature is unpredictable, raw and unchartered. It is a paradox of tones and hues, a beautiful contradiction, a clashing deliverance of unbound creativity.

 

I attended the Illamasqua event last week and met with other bloggers with a similar anticipating disposition. The mystical setting was perfectly apt to host the unveiling of their new collection. Rainbow-bright macaroons enticed us from a far whilst earthy foliage, enlarged critters and smouldering forestry propped the room. It was a privilege to witness the collection in all its unabashed glory, as well as being treated to having our nails lacquered by the lovely ladies from WAH nails. 

The collection comprises of the following products;

5 x cream pigment (£17)

 Emerge (peach) Bedaub (mint) Dab (lilac) Hollow (toffee) Delirium (rose taupe) Mould (grape)

5 x nail polishes (13.50) as above...Gamma, Stagnate, Purity, Radium, Bacterium

2 x lipstick (£15.50) Atomic (fuchsia violet) and Flare (bright orange)

2 x sheer lipgloss (£13) Torture (coral peach) and Divine (fuchsia pink)

Precision Ink (£17) Glister (a wonderfully enchanting opalescent nude)

I have received a few products from the collection which I will duly swatch and show in a future post. I am most excited to try Purity nail polish, a lovely true peach hue.  


This collection is available to the masses online from Thursday 10th March and subsequently launches in the Illamasqua store and on counters on Thursday 17th March.
What are your thoughts on this eclectic collection? 
Are you ravished by Toxic Nature?

View Post

a bit of eye candy

Eye Candy false lashes are certainly very sweet on the eye with their clashing colours and retro imagery. The 50's and 60's inspired packaging heralds all of the fun and flamboyance of this time, and these lashes are certainly reminiscent of all the chic and glamour that these eras are acclaimed for. Eye Candy lashes are handmade from human hair making them as light as a feather to wear and an instant solution to thicker, fuller lashes.

These lashes were easy as pie to apply, as many false lashes are. Each set comes with their own lash adhesive and a tray for storing them if you wish to opt for multiple use. I personally only ever wear lashes once and then discard their tacky, slightly misshapen and mascara-clad state to the bin. I used a pair of tweezers to help position the lashes as close to my lash-line as feasible. I did have to work quite quickly as I found the glue dried rather speedily, so precision was key. Make sure you have checked that the lashes fit perfectly to your eye before applying them. Simply snip to fit if necessary.


 Below I have applied the 002 classic strip lashes.

The above look is solely just with the false lashes applied. I wanted to show you the effect the lashes gave without any mascara added, so you could witness the soft, fluttery look they created. They are really long and luscious, but enhance your lashes in quite a natural way, with a subtle feline-flare towards the outer edge of the eye. 

And now you can see the dramatic difference once one coat of mascara has been layered on (MAC's Zoom Fast Black Lash to be precise) The false lashes merge flawlessly well with your natural lashes, and I think the extra length and volume they offer makes for a really striking, glamorous eye look. 


Added comment:  {I should have mentioned that my eye makeup was achieved by using 17 Eye Dazzle Eyeshadows in Over the Rainbow and Good as Gold}


Eye Candy eyelashes can be purchased from Boots and justbeautifully.co.uk from just £4.49. I personally think this is extremely good value considering the vast array of lashes Eye Candy have to offer, from strips to individuals, and their notable high quality.


Have these lashes caught your eye?

View Post

Bourjois - Effet 3D Lipglosses

For 10 years now, women have been seduced by Bourjois' popular lipgloss effet 3D; so much so that one gloss is sold every 13 seconds worldwide. In February 2011, Bourjois gave these lipglosses a face-lift and relaunched their much-favoured range with the addition of six new shimmering shades and a brand new formula. A whopping 15 iconic shades now grace the shelves, all offering ultra-shine and protective hydration. 

The new formula contains micro-crystalline waxes to add brilliance and dimension to the gloss, whilst added vitamin C and E leaves the lips plump and hydrated.  These glosses are lovely and rich, with a balm-like texture. They really do glide onto the lips like a dream and smell sweetly-fruity, trumpeting a scent of blackberry, raspberry and blackcurrant.
Below are three of the glosses from the new effet 3D range.

The new contouring applicator brush is softer and rounder, meaning the curves of the lips can be sculpted precisely with the gloss. This range consists of gentles pinks, beiges, browns all the way to rich reds and feisty fuchsias. Nine of the original best-selling shades have been joined by six new gorgeous shades, cumulating in a wonderful collection of colours to suit all whims and wishes.


48 - Rose Romantic, a soft rose
04 - Rose Polemic, a light pink with glimmering tints (NEW)
23 - Framboise Magnific, a purple with a light touch of pearly silver

My absolute favourite out of these three glosses is Rose Romantic (top). I love the subtle golden sheen it leaves on the lips and its pretty subtlety. A perfect Summer colour!


Rose Polemic (middle) is a gorgeous light pink with soft metallic tints. It probably wasn't as pigmented as I had hoped it would be, but I believe it would look very sweet over a baby-pink lipstick; MAC's Viva Glam Gaga for example.

Framboise Magnific is a wonderful fuchsia with delicate silver sparkles. This was the trickiest of the three glosses to work with. I felt it definitely needed a base colour underneath it to really capture its vibrance. I think MAC's Violetta would be the perfect match for this lipgloss. 


Bourjois Effet 3D lipglosses can be found in Boots and Superdrug nationwide and retail at £6.99.
Are you a fan of these classic glosses?

View Post

Bourjois - Paris Ballerine

I was invited last week to attend the Bourjois HQ and become acquainted with their new Spring Summer '11 makeup collection. Paris Ballerine is inspired by the gentle softness of ballet, with shimmering peaches and pearlescent pinks. However, delicately flushed cheeks and natural lips are tainted with a more darker eye look and black lacquered nails. It is all the romance and femininity of ballet with a dark, edgy twist.

Cupcakes, champagne and other delectable morsels were strewed across the table when I arrived at Bourjois and it was lovely to meet the team and the other friendly-faced bloggers. The room was sweetly staged with tutus and leotards, paying homage to the new collection. We were treated to a makeup master class, recreating the promotional image above, using a selection of the new products. After this, much consuming, nattering and lusting over the new products ensued.

The Paris Ballerine collection consists of:
* Volume Glamour Mascara
* 3 x effet smoky pencils (ultra black, new wave blue and sand rose)
* 2 x so laque ultra shine (rose satin and bleu asphalte) 
* 2 x little round pot eyeshadows
* Illuminating Touch highlighter (rose essentiel)
* 3 x sweet kiss naturel lipsticks (rose innocence, rose romantique and rose passionne)


Two of my favourite products are the sweet kiss naturel lipstick in 'Rose Innocence' and the effet smoky pencil in 'Sand Rose'.

The lipstick has a wonderful creamy consistency and is a gorgeous delicate antiqued-pink, making it very flattering and easy to wear. I was also very impressed with the smokey eye pencils, which I hadn't ever tried before. The pencil was soft to apply, and highly pigmented. Sand Rose is a unique ashy-mauve colour, which is perfect for lining the eye or smudging, using the brush on the other end, and a little water.


Paris Ballerine will be released mid April 2011.
What are your thoughts on this upcoming collection?

View Post