A Facebook Friend Requested this look!

What a gorgeous look! A friend on my Facebook facebook/oxfordjasmine requested this look. I took a close look at it and something didn't ring true about it. I realise that all images in adverts are digitally airbrushed and enhanced just as this one is but see below for my interpretation.

It is near impossible to recreate this look. Check out how the eyeliner goes across the crease and on the inner corner. It doesn't look natural. Then look at mine below. No one has an eye crease that will make this look flawless. It's still a beautiful look and it makes your eyes look huge! Just bear this in mind if you send me a photo to recreate, it might be impossible unless I learn how to photoshop! I prefer Arab inspired than Amy Winehouse please!

Products used:

e.l.f cream eyeliner in black* This eyeliner does not budge once set.

e.l.f dramatic lashes*

Urban Decay Rocks (gems)* The glue is really good for eye lashes too.

Since no one bought lonely gorgeous gold e/s from my MAC sale I decided to use it! I also had a sample of Vanilla pigment. Project kill all my MAC products commences!

Products marked with * were sent to me for review.

Jelly Pong Pong Super Model Stain.

I must be in a good mood today... it must be because I giggled at the name of this product! What sort of a stain does a Supermodel make???! So here's my verdict: I can only describe this as my perfect lip product. (Apart from lip balm, I can't live without that.)

The list of ingredients put me off a bit, who knew that were that many ingredients in a lip stain?However, in the interests of giving you guys a review I had to try it! Oh the things I do for you!

photo taken in natural light, no flash.

Why do I like it so much? It does EVERYTHING I want from a lip and cheek product!

• Highly pigmented, a little goes a long way, giving my lips a perfect colour that is true to the colour in the pot.
• Moisturising, no dryness here just plump, healthy looking shine
• No stickiness or grittiness, YAY!
• Long lasting, lasts well over a few hours and doesn't cling to my lips
• Easy to remove, just a tissue will leave a bit of stain, but a wipe or make up remover easily deals with it.
• Gorgeous colour, I am using the colour CUPCAKE POUT.
• Easy enough application, now if only this was available in a stick... as you need to apply it with a brush. I don't like fingers!
• Cute and portable size, at only 2.2g it's easy to slip in a pocket or clutch bag

The only downside, *sigh* there had to be one, is the price. At £15 for a container which is roughly half the size of a standard lipstick, it's a bit pricey and if used every day, won't last that long!

Would I buy this though? I find myself nodding, yes I am delighted with it.

What's your perfect lip product, does it even exist?

This item amongst others from the range was sent to me for review, I am not paid to endorse this product.

In addition to this product I also tried the Jelly Flush in Grape Colada. I had high hopes for this product but as I have dry skin it stung my skin on application. I think if you have oilier skin and have had no luck with cream blushers, a gel product might be good for you. It will not slide off or add oil. At 28g of product, it's a lot more generous, for £18.

Jelly Pong Pong products can be purchased from their website.

Sleek Make UP Creme to Powder impressed me.

Today's Face of the Day was created using minimal products (well minimal to me anyway!).

Sleek Make UP Creme to Powder Foundation in Latte* used a concealer and foundation. This foundation is surprisingly good. I sound surprised as after my last experience with a clinique creme to powder I used a few years ago, I was not expecting much beyond looking old and creased. This one will crease around the eyes because it is thick. My advice is use a separate light and fluid concealer instead. However, it provided excellent coverage and is amazing at evening out skin tone. My skin did not feel plastered but I do feel that it is not powdery enough to set, so I would suggest a translucent around the nose, chin, forehead to prevent slippage. I only got a tester sample but I am quite keen to get in to the nearest Sleek Make Up stand and get a full size.

Marks and Spencer Lip and Cheek Tint in Pink on cheeks and lips. This is fast becoming a go to staple (specially when I can't find my Bobbi Brown Pot rouge). The lip colour is lovely layered over with e.l.f Moisture Care Lip Colour in Ruby Slipper* to add a shine and juicy look.

Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Care Mascara
Bourjois Liner Stylo in Black on lash lines and brushed through eye brows. I've had this for so long but it is wonderfully smudgy and sets fast. I smudged it lightly to elongate the eyes.

Beauty without Cruelty Blusher in Hot Chestnut* used on the eyes and cheeks. This is also a lovely warm shade, which is so nice if you don't fancy a hugely pink cheeked look.

The necklace was a Valentines present from my adorable husband!

Items marked with * were sent to me for review.

That was a quick! I feel fresh faced and ready to go anywhere!

Face of the Day, a no eye shadow day.

Sometimes I feel like creating using eye liners rather than shadows. You can put shadows over eye liners to increase the impact as well.

Products used from Bourjois:
Healthy Mix Foundation in Beige 54* (far too light for me)
Healthy Mix Concealer in Medium*
Duo Chrome Eye Pencil - green/gold* - inner corner
Kohl and Contour Brown and Purple - Brown on lower water line and eyebrows, purple in the crease, upper and lower lashlines.
Volume Glamour Ultra Care Mascara in black

Items marked with * were sent to me for review.

Some tips to using pencils as eye shadows:
Make sure the pencils are warmed so they glide on, and test them first on the back of your hand (this also warms them up a bit).
Draw in the basic lines over the lids and colour in using the pencils.
Then take a small short bristled brush rather than a fluffy brush to blend gently in very short strokes. You might need to add more pencil and then use a fluffy brush to blend afterwards.
Blending with fingers works really well too as you aren't likely to remove that much pencil.

BACK TO MAC SALE!

In an earlier post I mentioned that I will be selling a lot of my MAC cosmetics from my bridal kit. This is because I do not need them any longer. I want them to go to good homes with you!

Each Refil Single Eyeshadow is £3.

All other items are £5 each.

Payment through Paypal only.

If an item is unpaid with 24 hours, it will be offered to the next person who expressed interest.

Please leave the item number(s) and your Paypal email address for invoicing.

Items will be dispatched once payments have been received.

All items have been used, sanitised and there is plenty left in each container.

Postage and Packing costs:
UK £2.00 per item
Europe Airmail (no tracking) £2.50 per item
International Airmail (no tracking) £4.00 per item

Airsure tracking and insurance is an additional £4.50 per package according to Royal Mail (eek!).

Multiple purchases will mean a significant P&P discount.

Single Eye Shadow Refils (all have magnets on the back for your palettes):

1 Pincurl duo chrome grey/lilac - SOLD
2. Illegal Cargo - duo chrome lilac/silver SOLD
3. Graphology - very deep indigo almost matte SOLD
4 Shadowy lady - very deep indigo/plum SOLD
5. Electra - silver SOLD
6. Pandemonium - gun metal silver with lots of glitter SOLD
7. Indian Ink - deep violet SOLD
8. Carbon - matte black - SOLD
9. Time and Space - Mid Brown with gold shimmer - SOLD
10. Magnetic Fields - dark brown with silver and bronze glitter - SOLD
11. Soba - Mid Brown Tan with golden shimmer - SOLD
12. Sketch - deep plum with dark pink shimmer - SOLD
13. Rite of Spring - Cream with pink irridescence - SOLD
14. Gorgeous Gold - Duo Chrome gold and green - SOLD
15. Aquadisiac - Light Turquoise with silver glitter - SOLD
16. Submarine - Deep Blue - SOLD
17. Femme Fi - Beige with pinky/gold shimmer - SOLD
18. Juiced - Deep Mustard Gold SOLD
19. Antiqued - Deep Plummy brown - SOLD
20. Twinks - Deep Brown with bronze shimmer - SOLD
21. Ricepaper - silver/beige - SOLD
22. Shroom - creamy golden/beige - SOLD
23. Amber Lights - golden bronze - SOLD
24. Satin Taupe - Deep silvery brown - SOLD
25. Expensive Pink - bronzed pink - SOLD
26. Romp - Deep Bronze - SOLD
27. Cranberry - dark pink/blue tones - SOLD


Lipsticks (left to Right)
28. Amplified Blankety - SOLD
29. Satin Retro (spiced deep red) - SOLD
30. Amplified Spiceflower (blue toned mid pink) SOLD
31. Lustre Patisserie (is a bit lighter than in the photo) - SOLD
32. Lustre Spice it Up - SOLD
33. Lure Lip Pencil (mid red) SOLD
34. Spice Lip Pencil (the perfect lip pencil for everyone!)
35. Auburn Lip Pencil (goes perfectly with Retro or Spice It Up) SOLD
36. Lipglass Baby Blooms mid pink/peach with gold shimmer SOLD
37. Lustreglass in Beaux - deep gold amazing over dark lipstick -


38. Shadestick in Sharkskin - SOLD
39. Eye Kohl in Smoulder - SOLD
40. Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Duck (dark brown, great for every day) -
41. Paintpot in Indianwood - SOLD
42. Paintpot in Rubenesque - SOLD
43. Paintpot in Delft - SOLD
44. Phloof! e/s in case - SOLD
45. Black Tied e/s in case - SOLD


Face Products
46. Sculpt and Shape Powder in Warm Light - for contouring/highlight SOLD
47. Blot Powder in Dark - SOLD
48. Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NW45 - SOLD
49. Selection SPF15 Foundation in NC44 - SOLD
50. Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NW15 + Pump Dispenser - SOLD
51. Studio Mist Foundation in Dark- so fast, like airbrushing! - SOLD
52. Studio Finish Concealer Palette SPF 35 in Dark - SOLD

Shine On, Shine Off!

We're a funny bunch, we want luminosity to our complexion, just not where Mother Nature decides it is going to go! So I like to carry a pack of beauty blotters. As you can see I have quite a few!

They are convenient, portable, inexpensive, discreet and they work without removing make up underneath. I was using a powder compact on the tube the other week as I happened to have it in my bag and it was like a eye magnet. There is something people find deeply fascinating about a woman doing make up!

All of these belong in one purse or another, just to make sure I never run out!

If you'd like to win a fresh pack of the Girls with Attitude Matt Beauty Blotters (kindly sent to me as a prize by www.beauty21.co.uk ) then leave a comment below with your email address so I can do a random prize draw. I'm happy to post this out anywhere in the world.

Urban Decay Powder Brush

Urban Decay Brushes, my local stockist (Boots) has been holding out on me! You can see these brushes on line at Debenhams. The prices are more than I thought though, starting at £10 for a "wonder brush" (an eye, lip and concealer brush) to £24 for this Powder Brush. Seems a little pricey to me but then I am used to e.l.f and Crown brushes.

This is the only UD brush I have so it's hard to compare it to the rest of them. It is the most dense powder brush I have, and I have a few.



The brush measures about 16cm in length, is very lightweight and has synthetic hairs. It's aluminium handle and grips make it easy to hold and use.. It's really easy to clean and robust enough to quick dry in the airing cupboard or on a towel over a radiator. I find synthetic brushes easier to use as they are softer and shed a lot less.



Here's how it stacks up against my other powder brushes.

It's not the fluffiest. That goes to the Generic one (I bought from Panacea81 ages ago) on the far right.

It's not the longest. That also goes to Panacea81 Generic.

It's not the heaviest. That goes to The Body Shop, also a taklon beast but quite heavy and "flappy".

It's not the cheapest, that goes to the e.l.f Powder brush at £3.50



I do prefer it the most to some of them for the following applications:
If you squash it between your fingers to flatten it, it is a great contour brush.
If you use one side and sweep it up the cheek, it's a great blusher brush.
It's also very good for buffing in liquid foundation, but not for applying it.

Would I buy it, no I wouldn't. Of all the brushes I own, the least useful is a Powder Brush, and for £24 I can buy a set of brushes from Crown or e.l.f. Saying that, no look is complete without a liberal dusting with the Powder brush, pressing in with a sponge, then a sweep over with the brush to remove excess.

What's your most useful brush?