Spring Summer 2012 Fashion Ideas

Yes, it's that time.  The time when I start to look online for inspiration for summer clothing.  I don't know why, as I am skint and should be saving.  Plus I can't buy any more clothes until I get back down in weight so it's naughty of me really!

But it is sooo tempting.  I thought I would share my favourites with you anyway so you could feel tempted too...

Let me know which you like best too - I love a bit of online window shopping! xx

Matalan - totally my favourite outfits here

Above = My absolute fave of all!

La Redoute

New Look

Gym wear anyone!? Haha!

Next

Love this dress!

River Island

Ted Baker - just gorgeous

TK Maxx - loving how lady like these are

FOTD - no eyemakeup - eeeeeeeeeeek!

The term "FOTD" is used loosely here.

The purpose of this post is to demonstrate how some products really can make your skin look fabulous. My hair is scraped back and unstraightened. I have no eye makeup on and haven't even coloured in the eyebrows.

So for me this is really really bare faced. I would never let people normally see me like this!

However, sometimes it's good to come clean and show you things like how straight my eyelashes really are!

So here goes...



I used:-

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
Laura Mercier Under Eye Concealer
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
Lily Lolo Flawless Silk

What I like about this picture is that my skin looks smooth and healthy. The dewy(ish) finish really is down to Lily Lolo - I swear by Flawless Silk for making my skin look pretty.

I would never leave the house like this and this is the look I ended up with:-



Whilst I was happy with my makeup that day (lippie was applied later) what really struck me was that the bronzer and blush seemed to make my skin look duller. I always tend to use darker bronzers and blushers on my face because basically I believed you skin looked "dead" (as I MUA once described my sisters skin as because she didn't have enough blusher on - cheeky c"w) but I am really going to focus on using lighter blushers for a while to see if the above look can be kept.

What do you think ladies - have you found this at all? Any tips for flawless skin? Or pretty blush colours?

What I Love About iPhone Apps

Ahhhh the fun you can have with photo applications these days. Certainly speeds up my train journey...

Here are some recent collage and instagram collaborations









And yes, they are of me... I will try and take some more interesting non-me photos soon!!!!

Any one else use these apps?? I know some of you do actually as I follow you on instagram!! Leave me your username if not as I love being nosey!!

My Foundation Collection

Barbara Daly Face Lift Cream

Like with foundation, when it comes to moisturiser I am constantly on the look out for something better.  So when I was in Tesco last week I couldn't resist giving this a try when it was reduced from £7 to £4.67.

The cream is said to have anti ageing properties with SPF 10 and is said to be good for all skin types.

You can wear it alone or under foundation.  I personally opt for the latter.






You can see that there is an almost gold sheen to the moisturiser and flicks of shimmer.  I know that this can be quite concerning in some products but with this I really like it.

The moisturiser is very moisturising without feeling greasy and makes my skin look much more alive.  It looks luminous and glowing without being too sheeny.  I have been using it both with and without primer and either way it works as a really good makeup base.

My foundation seems to cling to it well and blends nicely so overall a definite success!

I wouldn't say that I am  no longer on the look out for another moisturiser as that will just never happen, but I am definitely wearing it daily at the moment and it has replaced my recent favourite lancome moisturiser so it must be doing some good!

A definite recommendation - it's cheap and works a treat!

Remember These..? (L'oreal Lip Glow)

Just stumbled across these pictures of the L'oreal Studio Secrets Lip Glow from last year which I had intended to review for my blog.  Does anyone actually use these?  I remember really wanting the Clarins version in 2010 and never getting around to purchasing it and this seemed like another option in 2011.

I'll be honest with you.  I never ever use this.  Do any of you?

I purchased it because I wanted to try it and review, but when I actually started to use it I just thought that it wasn't that great and certainly wasn't worth replacing my usual lip balms/sticks for.  There is  nothing necessarily wrong with this and it certainly looks pretty, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to recommend.  It doesn't look that great on my lips (just a bit glossy and not that different to my lip colour) and isn't overly moisturising (I'll be telling you about an amazing lip balm later this week though).

Overall.  Not impressed ladies.

MAC Lipsticks in Cosmo and Hang Up

Just before Christmas I purchased some new MAC lipsticks for all the parties etc.  I asked for a creamy muted red shade and don't believe that I came away with that colour I had in mind but my description obviously wasn't that great.  And despite that, I did like these colours when I gave them a quick swatch with the MUA.

The top colour, Cosmo, I like. I think it is a good colour for mixing and will look nice for lots of different occasions.

I am not completely sold on Hang Up though.  I just hate how it applies on my lips.  It looks darker than the swatch below if you apply it heavily, but I just can't because it ends up bleeding everywhere even when I put liner on.  I just cannot get it to work for me!  The bottom look is from applying with a lip brush.  I'm not massively keen.  Plus I think I will be too worried to wear it out of the house on the basis that it will no doubt end up all over my face!

What do you think ladies?  Do any of you own these?

MAC Cosmo

MAC Hang Up

Definitely need to work on Hang Up more to try and get what I wanted out of it!

Have a great Saturday lovelies! x

Feel Unique Beauty Box - January 2012

Yay! My beauty box arrived in the post yesterday. Had chance to do a quick scan before bed last night and here's what's included.

This month is totally about skin care in some ways it's not as exciting as some of the items I've seen before. I like a good mix and don't necessarily feel this is that, but I'm still keen to try everything out and for that reason it's probably a more useful box for me!

I'm most excited to try the Phyto conditioner as I used to use some of their hair care products years ago and they really helped my hair.

I tried the cleanser last night and I liked it, although it felt a teeny bit like taking my makeup off with moisturiser because the product is so thick. My skin felt better this morning though! A lot less greasy!

Who else has this box this month??

Mary Kay Timewise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation

The search for that perfect foundation, which suits your skin perfectly, is a tough one.  Most of us will never truly reach the point where we believe we have found the true holy grail foundation.

Don't get me wrong.  There are times when you feel you may be close, but the promise of something better on the market will usually get in the way.

Which leads me on to today's topic.  Another foundation review for your consideration.   This time, a new brand for me - Mary Kay.  I found this foundation as a sample from the latestinbeauty website.  I only got the opportunity to try it over the previous weekend however I was very impressed with the result and will seriously consider purchasing this in a more shade appropriate colour.

First thoughts were that it instantly evened out my skin tone and texture.  The foundation itself is not too thick and very blendable, but with the added benefit of very good coverage.  Certainly a positive for me!

The colour, was a ghostlike white (shade Ivory 3 to be precise), however having seen their website it would appear there are quite a few more shades to choose from.   That said, there does appear to be colours to suit darker skin so they could do with expanding the shade range all the same.

Aside from the colour though I like the finish it gave me and would say that it lasted most of the day.  I have yet to try this during a working day, although I would imagine it would last pretty well.

Here is the way the foundation looks on the skin...

I love how matte it is. It keeps any shine at bay which is a real plus for me as my nose is terrible for being shiny no matter what I do.

I could also get away without using any concealer with this, although I used a little to brighten the under-eye area later on.

Have any of you tried this brand before? I am totally new to them although it seems like they do quite a bit. If you want to look the website is here. The foundation retails at £16.00

Time To Look After My Health

I don't know about you but this time of year tends to come with a feeling of guilt, sometimes motivation and usually realisation.

For me I'm particularly feeling the latter. Motivation and guilt not so much, but realisation yes.

I'm 25, heavier, unfit and stuck in a rut of bad eating habits.

I blame my job with the hours and commute and general lifestyle. Fluttering from one place to the next and often just going home to sleep.

So I've decided even though it's always dark and later than I'd like when I get home - I'm going to make time to run as often as possible to get fitter. It's not a new year resolution but it is a step in the right direction to a healthier lifestyle.

So last night I went on my first run in a long time. I ran for 2 minutes and then walked for 2 repeatedly for just over half an hour. Now I can run for around 25 minutes straight at a steady pace, but I'm focussing on looking after my body by preventing injuries and building up to this time and working towards a distance, because although I can run for that long it leaves me so sore afterwards I end up unable to do anything for a week after and then I GIVE UP.

Not this time! I'm a little sore today but not too bad. So I'm going to continue with this routine throughout the week and then move up to 3 mins, 4 mins etc until I'm running properly.

So I will also now be writing about my fitness journey and how it's going as often as possible to give you an idea as to how it is going.

Happy Sunday Evening

Hey ladies,

It's almost bed time for me and I haven't quite got back into the routine of work so I need to get my sleep. Despite desperately wanting to do other things.  Why is it that inspiration always occurs late at night!?  Happens to me all the time.

Anyway, I went a bit candle mad today so I am off to sleep to the scent of berry tea lights.  Ikea specials for £1 something!  True bargain.

I'll leave you with the image of my lovely candles so you may feel as relaxed as me! Night!

Holiday FOTD

Hey lovelies!!

How are you?  Hope you are side-stepping the depression that often ensues with this time of year!

As many of you will know - it has been ages since I have done a FOTD post.  I used to do them quite a lot and really enjoy them, but these days I never have the time (poor me!).  So I thought I would try and get back into the swing of things with a simple natural FOTD picture to start 2012.

I don't know about you but I find it really funny when I do these to look back on previous pictures and think about how much I have changed (or not changed), how I wear my hair, or how tired I look!! haha.

Anyway, here's the picture for your perusal ...

Definitely very on the simple side eh! It was actually a little more made up than this, but you know what these cameras are like!  Desperately want a new one but no money!

I used:-
Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC30 and Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Fresco
NARS Orgasm Blush
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine and MAC Lipstick in Hue
Costal Scents Warm Palette various Eyeshadows for eyes and eyebrows.

Thanks for looking ladies! Do any of you do FOTD posts?  If so, send me your links - I would love to look!!! xxx