Birthday Shopping

Bank Holiday Monday = Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!!!

BUT

I only came away with a meagre haul...

NARS didn't have ANYTHING I wanted, but the lovely girl on the counter gave me a sample of the make up primer I've been wanting to try, does anybody else find that NARS counter staff are nicer than your average?? We had a nice chat about different bits and bobs and she didn't try to push any alternatives on me when what I wanted wasn't in, thumbs up!

Nothing at MAC really excited me this time, I wanted to get my hands on Viva Glam Cyndi but the counter didn't have it.

I did however pick up Creme Cup

It comes across as a lot more pink on this picture, this has just beat out Shy Girl as my favourite day lipstick!

I was wandering through Selfridges make up department when I was confronted with an exciting sight, an Illamasqua Counter! I had no idea that one had opened as it's quite out of the way and in a bad position.

The lovely MA said it had been open since October, how did I miss this!

I picked up Rude Cream Blush & Jan Nail Polish, they're both gorgeous!

(l-r Rude, Creme Cup)

Rude looks like an extreme peach when you swatch it, but dabbed on the apples of your cheeks it just brightens your face up without looking too over the top.

Jan is a gorgeous pink with lilac undertones, NOTD to come!

I didn't pick up any exciting clothes, nothing was cutting the mustard! I bought some very exciting basics from good H&M but do you really want to see three white vest tops, a grey jersey dress and a grey jersey skirt...

I did however grab this on my way to the till,

Isn't it a beauty?? It was £6.99 and just perks up any simple outfit.

I've put in my NARS order and I'm currently trawling ASOS before I head back to work tomorrow... four days isn't enough!!

Did you have a nice bank holiday?

Laura xxx

Happy Birthday To Me FOTD/OOTD

Hello Girls,

Just a quick FOTD/OOTD done on a very shoddy camera phone!!

I'm off to buy a shiny new camera tomorrow, so I'm excited!!!

FACE

Nars Sheer Glow

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Warm Ivory

MAC MSF Natural in Light

MAC Tippy Blush

MAC Style Blush

E.L.F Warm Bronzer

EYES

Bare Study Paint Pot

MAC All That Glitters, Jest e/s

Ruby & Millie White Pigment (Total Dupe for MAC Vanilla Pigment)

Espresso e/s through brows.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara.

LIPS

MAC Costa Chic 

YSL Rouge Volupte No.2

(hello scary eyes!!!)

Also, the most boring OOTD ever?? Possibly!!!

I'm obviously demonstrating my amazing camera skills here....

I got this beauty at a Frock Exchange near to where I live yesterday for £24 and I'm in love!!

I had to double check the price with the lovely lady who ran the shop!

Shoes: Primark

Jeans: ASOS

Bag: Fiorelli

Vest Top: H&M

Cardi: Topshop

Necklace: Present :)

Also, Happy Birthday to me, I turn 22 today, eeek!!

(www.weheartit.com)

NOTD: Illamasqua Jo'Mina

I've been sporting this on my nails all week and I can say without a shadow of a doubt it is my shade of the summer.

Jo'Mina is a gorgeous lilac with pink undertones, but it's impossible to pick it up on my camera as it's decided to add a blue tone to everything!

I'm also IN LOVE with the quality of the polish, it takes one coat to get a gorgeous opaque colour, although I've put two on the photo above!!

Lots of Love, Laura xxx

Shiver, Surge and All Things Nice.

After being SO impressed with Surge Liquid Metal from Illamasqua's Body Electrics collection, I was interested to explore some more of Illamasqua's extensive range. I adore their blushes and lipsticks, but one area I didn't have any opinion on was eyeshadow.

I was ordering a pair of jeans off ASOS and my mouse wandered onto the Beauty section, and I just happened to slip in Shiver eyeshadow from Illamasqua!

I didn't really have a clue what to expect, other than a neutral highlight...it was a large margin for error! My first impressions were mixed. It looked like a pleasant champagne, no offensive highlight. I was a bit concerned about the initial texture of the product though, it looked a little "beat up" in the pan, and the edges seemed to distorted, the whole eyeshadow just seemed a little, well crumbly. Not what I was expecting from a high end brand. I gave it the benefit of the doubt though as ASOS did deliver it in it's usual plastic big liner type bag, so who knows!? I love the outer packaging, much like the rest of the range, it's classic but sleek and modern.

My initial swatch screamed out two things to me:

1) This looks very familiar
2) This feels a little dry

The first point was quickly cleared up when I realised It was painfully similar to one of my favourite highlighters, Dazzlelight.

When put side by side, Dazzlelight is slightly pinker in tone, but only a real fanatic would notice!

l-r Shiver, Dazzlelight.

With Shiver, it's definitely feels less creamy than Dazzlelight, but when blended out they work to a similar standard.

I'm not going to completely pass judgement on all Illamasqua eyeshadows as i'd love to try some more out, but I'm just unsure to rave about them just yet, I have a little voice in the back of my head telling me it could be better!!

If you want to see what it looks like on, I'm wearing it in my blush post as a a highlight, and it does photograph amazingly so my judgement remains undecided!!

Now to end on a momentous high, I ADORE Surge liquid metal.

It's insanely pigmented, it's creamy and it's FANTASTIC.

Just one quick swipe leaves a rich metallic trail on your hand, It's a beautiful pewter/old gold colour and I makes an amazing base to any eye look, I've worn it alone on the inner third of my eye and I have had so many compliments!

Illamasqua, I love you, but you can't love everything can you!

What are you favourite Illamasqua products??

♥

"The List"

I've been trying really hard recently to use up some of my ever expanding make up collection, and whilst my willpower has remained strong, my wish list has just grown and grown!

Thing are forever added and crossed off "the list" but my birthday is coming up and I think I just may have to indulge!!

The products that have stood the test of time are:

Nars Gina Blush

MAC 130 Brush

Michael Kors 'Very Hollywood' Purfume

MAC Lipstick in Pink Nouveau, Hue, Russian Red & Creme d'Nude.

Illamasqua Blush in Lover

Nars Lipstick in Barbarella & Dolce Vita.

This is was a VERY edited version but I'm going to wait until I get the chance to go in person to look at all of these, yay for spending!!

Lots of Love, Laura xxx

(www.weheartit.com)

Products I'm Loving Right Now: YSL Creme de Blush

I got this product a few monthes ago from a friend and I hate to say it, but It just got put into my drawer without much of a look as I saw the colour in the pot and just though, woah...bright. She didn't use it enough, and I was unsure I would either.

The packaging is just divine, like most YSL, you just want to look at it all day, and this has that lovely rose scent I tend to associate with the brand!

Now for the scary hand swatch...

It's vivid, scary and something I would usually run a mile from, but I'm regretting not playing around with this more now as I've become addicted!!

If you just take the tiniest amount and blend it out well with your fingers (I've found this works the best) it gives you a pretty flush which lasts all day.

Cue the akward picture of my cheek...this was the best I could do to get the colour across!!

As it's the weekend I don't want to go overboard with the old slap, and this is just the ticket, it leaves a gorgeous natural flush, I've just lightly sweeped Style blush (MAC) over the top to give me a bit of that glow I cannot live without!!

 I'm pretty sure this was LE but if you know otherwise please let me know, I don't think i'll be running out soon though as you literally need a dab to get a flushed cheek! The amount I've put on my hand for a swatch was way too much.

Have you found any products recently that you've neglected but adore?? 

Lots of Love, Laura xxx

MAC Neutral Palette.

Hello Sweet Peas,

I thought I'd share with you my most used MAC palette.

I realise a couple of these are not neutral shadows, but they're waiting for a new home!

TOP ROW: Dazzlelight, Orb, Woodwinked, Cork, Electra.

MIDDLE ROW: Phloof!, Jest, Patina, Espresso, Nehru.

BOTTOM ROW: Shroom, All That Glitters, Sable, Nocturnelle, Black Tied.

These six are my most used shadows in the day time, I'm obsessed with Orb as an everyday highlighter and Jest is my usual lid colour if I'm feeling unadventurous.

Phloof! has always been my favourite shadow for lifting a tired eye, It's the ultimate inner corner shadow.

My camera has made the top two look the same, so here's a close up!!

L-R Dazzlelight & Orb.

Crease Colours

I really do think that everyone should own at least one of the above shades.

I use Espresso to shade in my brows if they need it, it works perfectly for me.

Nocturnelle is the odd duck of my pallette but I was given it as a gift and it's just stayed put since! Although it looks a bit vivid in the pan, applied in the crease this is a lovely alternative for a night out.

Blacks & Silvers.

T-B Electra, Nehru & Black Tied.

These three shadows are probably my least used shades in this pallete, but I they're perfect for when I fancy a more 'classic' smoked up look. The pigmentation of Electra is insane, it's a true silver. I use Black Tied mostly for setting eyeliner but I'm not a big fan of this shadow, it's too glittery for me!! 

Nehru is a lovely subtle blue/black and I adore it! 

What are your favourite MAC eyeshadows?? 

Lots of Love, Laura xxx