Random Ramble...In A Pickle.

Good Eveningg,

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blog action this week, I've had a crazy few weeks work wise, I've had a massive report due in and this week has been lectures and workshops galore...

I've also been a tad uninspired, I've kept this little baby running over the past 18 months and a bit and I think it's only natural to not "feel it" all the time. If my heart isn't in the post I'm writing, It's not the best I can do and you certainly won't enjoy it.

(A picture says a thousand words!!)

I don't think I'm alone is feeling like this at the moment, we're all aware that things are shifting around in the Beauty Community at the moment and I'm not sure where I sit in all of this.

We can all protest that we just do this for ourselves but at the end of the day we all do care what our peers else think/have to say. It's a vicious cycle to break!

I'm not saying it's the end, I'm just going to have a think about where this is going! I need to recapture that excitement I felt when this whole thing took off.

I really would love to know what you all think, is this just blogging block or are you feeling it too?

In other news... 

- I'm enjoying the Sigma E45, a godsend if you want to achieve a precise crease colour.

- The Nude Miracle Mask...Is, well, a Miracle...

- Barry M Dusky Mauve is the cat's pyjamas.

Laura xxx

A Few Bits & Pieces

I haven't got anything planned today, so here's a few bits and pieces from this week!

A Few Bits From Boots

- Barry M Nail Paint In Indigo

- Barry M Dazzle Dust in Oyster Grey

-Barry M Lip Pencil in No3

Rummaging in TK Maxx

I picked up a few pairs of Ardell lashes for £2.99 each, don't mind if I do! I might test my patience tomorrow and apply the individual lashes! 

I'M IN LOVE WITH

The Sigma F82 Round Top Kabuki brush, seriously flawless skin...

I'm Rather Enjoying...

Backcomb in a Bottle by Umberto Giannini...It's GENIUS.

FOTD....

Excuse the blank expression, I'm all shopped out and little tired!

Face - MUFE Face and Body

MAC MSF Natural

Bourjois Bio Detox Concealer

NARS Penny Lane Blush

Urban Decay Blush in Quickie

Brows - MAC Espresso

Eyes - Urban Decay Naked Palette...Sin & Virgin 

MAC Gel Liner in Blacktrack 

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara 

Have a lovely weekend, i'll be in my tracksuit bottoms watching XFactor tonight, i'm just that rock and roll!

xxxx

With A Little Bit of Gold And A Pager...

I've had this vile of chunky gold glitter staring me in the face for the past few weeks and I swear it's been calling my name...

I painted my nails with Barry M last night and it was just missing that special something...a big old chunky glitter nail??

It's almost as if i'd stuck gold leaf on my ring finger, I kinda like it! It survived the shower this morning as well, thank you seche vite!

Laura xxx

Getting Naked...?!

After using all of my (limited) willpower to avoid this little devil I finally caved...

Hello Urban Decay Naked Palette!

I'm definitely a neutral kind of girl, I've bought into brighter eyeshadow before but in reality it just sits in my drawers feeling unloved...

It's a neutral girls heaven, 12 luscious shades packed into an adorable suede box - Urban Decays most sophisticated offering yet.

It's a lovely mix of matte, satin and glitterfest eyeshadows that we know and love from old UD and it will satisfy almost all of your everyday shadow needs.

l-r

virgin, sin, naked,sidecar, buck, halfbaked, smog, darkhorse, toasted, hustle, creep, gunmetal.

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Whiskey & Zero.



Priced at £27.00 I think it's an absolute bargain for what you're getting, I could happily only just use this palette for the rest of my life...or until something else comes along!

Have you got Naked yet?

xxxx

p.s The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed some changes to The Beauty Spark layout, what do you think??

NOTD: Barry M Bright Purple

Another polish dug from the archives...

It's a bright, but creamy purple that's the perfect antidote to these dark and wintery days!

Over & Out
xxx

Product Rave: Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation.

Well all have are own ideas of what makes good make up, and I must say, mine is a flawless base. I will admit I watched in amazement at the THIS Lisa Eldridge video as she transformed her models skin.

The star product was Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation. 

Now I don't have terrible acne but I sometimes suffer from the occasional spot and due to a massive workload and the stress that comes with it, my skin took a turn for the worse a couple of a weeks ago. 

I had a couple of evenings out planned and didn't fancy venturing out looking less than my best so I popped into Boots and picked it up in shade 15 Opal. 

(I probably don't even use this much on my whole face, but for the purpose of the photograph!)

I wisely decided to follow Lisa Eldridge's instructions and  only apply it to areas that needed more coverage, using my usual MUFE Face and Body over my whole face first.

I couldn't use this any other way as it is FULL COVERAGE! Buffed on with a 224 brush leaves a flawless finish, however red the spot, however discoloured the skin - it covers it. I didn't even touch any concealer apart from a tiny bit under my eyes. This has imperfections covered!

(blended with a 224 brush)

I don't use this on a daily basis as I just don't feel I need it but for that extra confidence boost on a night out or special occasion it's amazing.

It also lasts for ages and doesn't budge. I lightly dusted my MAC MSF Natural over my t-zone and it was there all night. I didn't touch up once, which is a miracle for me!

The one thing I will say is the colour range is a little small and for you very pale ladies this may be a touch on the warm (orange) side for you, Vichy do also make a Corrective Foundation Stick which carries the shade 11 Porcelain that might be slightly better.

It cost me £14.00 from Boots which for what it does is more than worth the money.

Laura xxx

In & Out

I haven't indulged in one of these little posts for a long time so...

IN

- Scented Candles, I'm burning through them like they're going out of fashion!

- Winter Knitwear, the chunkier the better.

- Starbucks Gingerbread Latte, need I explain this one?!

- Bright Lips, see the post below!

OUT

- No More Jersey Shore...I'm actually getting withdrawal symptoms. The Cat's obsessed too.

- Winter Weather, wind and hairspray do not go!

- Ridiculous work load, I cannot wait for Christmas now.

What are your In & Outs this weekend??

Laura xxx

Breaking News...

                             You heard it hear first, I'm forgoing the nude lip and embracing bright lips!



I popped into MAC on Saturday just to get some duo glue, and came out with these two beauties...

L-R

Rebel & Lady Danger

I've been craving a deep plum lipstick for a while and I 'plumped' (terrible) for Rebel, it's a gorgeous mix of plum and pink, it comes out lighter on the lips which is lucky as i'm not sure i'd wear it enough. 

Lady Danger is a classic matte red that i've had on my mind for months, feircely pigmented yet doesn't feel drying, I love it!

L-R Rebel, Lady Danger

A Couple of Ridiculously Sloppy Lips...

If I was going to wear these on a night out i'd line my lips underneath and use something like Current lipliner by MAC underneath Rebel to give it a richer hue.

FYI: Rebel is a lot darker than pictured, my camera was having none of it!

I can safely say I'm a convert!

I'm also IN LOVE with my new chunky cardigan from H&M, it's HUGE and is more of a knitted coat than cardie but I adore it!

Laura xxx

NOTD: Nails Inc Jermyn Street & Bonus FOTD

It's free with Glamour, it's a murky grey with a hint of purple...it's nice but not worth the rrp of £10.50, snap it up with Glamour whilst you can!

A Bonus Face of the Day!

Excuse the terrible quality of the photo I snapped it on my phone whilst I was sat at my desk, getting an A+ in procrastination...

FACE: MUFE Face & Body in Shade 20 & Vichy Dermablend in Opal

MAC Fleur Power Blush

MAC MSF Natural on T-Zone

EYES: MAC Espresso through the brows

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous

LIPS: MAC Rebel Lipstick applied lightly to stain the lips (I bought this at the weekend and I'm OBSESSED, expect a post this week)

Laura xxx

How To Cheat Glowing Skin In Winter

I went to stay with my sister at the weekend and she was complaining that she couldn't get her dry skin to look glowing and healthy. With the winter flexing it's muscles it was only going to get worse.

We took a little trip into town and I told her about a few of my favourite products to cheat luminous skin when you're a little on the dry side...

She ended up picking up MAC Strobe Cream & Shell Cream Colour Base and I set to work on her face!



The Kit...

 - ELF Warm Bronze

-Revlon Colorstay in 110 Ivory

- MAC Strobe Cream

- Vichy Dermablend in 15 Opal

- MAC Lingering Eye Pencil

- Revlon Fabulash

- MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell

- MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush

The absolute key to this look was creating a hydrated looking base:

I took the Colorstay and the Strobe Cream

And Mix!

The Result??

I applied the Colorstay and Strobe Cream with a MAC 187 then as Hannah is has a little redness on her chin I applied one of my new found lifesavers, Vichy Dermablend using a MAC 224...you literally need a MICRO PEA SIZED amount and it blends like a dream, I didn't need to use concealer at all.

I then lightly contoured with ELF Warm Bronze and used MAC Dainty Blush on her cheeks, the shimmer in the blush helped to give off a radiant look too.

Finally, to really make her skin glow I applied Shell CCB on the top of her cheekbones and down her nose.

Shell is a lovely nude shimmer and the creamy texture is a bonus for dry skin.

When it catches the light it gives such a lovely effect!

EYES: Super simple, Jest all over the lid and Revlon Fabulash: this is all about the skin!

Eyebrows were lightly defined with MAC Lingering Brow Pencil...

LIPS: Simply Barry M Lipgloss in No11

Do you have any tips for making dry skin glow??

Laura xxx

October Favourites

This Months Loves:

- Dark Nail Polish: I'm talking vampy plums and dark crimson reds. Illamasqua Scarab is up there as well this month but it's not photographed, see it here.

- Bourjois Bio Detox Concealer: This is a lovely concealer for under your eyes, it doesn't cake and crease and smells lovely, I will say it seems to be running out ridiculously quickly though as I only purchased it a couple of weeks ago...

MUFE Smoky Lash: I adore this mascara, I'll keep on repurchasing it again and again - a big statement from a mascara fiend!

Blistex Intensive Relief: I bought this at the train station when I went down to London a month or so ago and It's stayed in my handbag ever since, as it's getting colder my lips are becoming more susceptible to dryness and it's super moisturising, I love it.

Gel Eyeliner: In particular, MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. I've really got back into lining my upper lash line and I forgot how much it can pull your look together. I apply this with a MAC 209 if anyone's interested!

Seche Vite: LOVE LOVE LOVE this, It's my new nail savior and I cannot believe I haven't tried it earlier!

Love Ring: I bought this from Topshop and it's stayed on my finger constantly, It's just so sweet!

ELF Mineral Blush in Coral: A recent rediscovery, It's perfect for daytime, packed with colour and gives you a healthy glow!

What are your favourites at the moment?

Laura xxx