Red Hot Glitz!!!!

A really, great blogger I’ve come in contact with recently is Kamen from Kaka’s Beauty Blog. She’s really my kind of girl. She is all kinds of wacky and loves to try out new things on her blog . . .plus she seems to have a creepy obsession with all things purple (Yes, Kamen you do . . . don’t try and deny it). 

Today’s post is Valentines Day (or Singles Day) Inspired as I am going to be covering myself in red. It actually looks like red threw up on me . . ok that’s not a pretty visual, ignore that I wrote that. This post was originally meant to go up on Monday but life and me losing my memory card got in the way. Hope you like it though and do check out Kamen's take on all things red

I've used Barry M's Pigment in Cherry Red all over my eyelids, blending in the crease with a intense black eyeshadow from Bourjois. Slapping on my favourite bright red lipgloss; besotted from Illamasqua all over my lips. The red blush you can see is Sleek Scandalous, a bright red, limited edition blush I recently got in a blogsale that just seemed so perfect for this post I had to add it.

Hope you love all this red because quite frankly I’m surprised I had this much in the first place. Just goes to show that when you’re on a spending ban, past hoarding comes in useful. I really wish I wore more red as a classic red nailpolish would have been perfect but alas I'm not actually the biggest fan of red nails . . . ok I can't paint my nails so I don't buy nailpolish but if I had the patience to do them, just know some red talons would have been featured

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It's A Haul Video!!!

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. I’m really busy and ever so slightly frustrated at the moment but I didn’t want this week to go by without at least one or two posts from me.

I haven’t recorded a haul video (or any video for that matter) for a while now and I just wanted to do something a little different to get my creative juice flowing. Despite getting major cottonmouth and tripping over my words, I really hope you enjoy my video and make sure you keep watching til the end to watch my bloopers.

Yes I actually make all those sounds while filming and wasn’t acting up for the sake of it. I thought I should show you that it takes a whole lot of editing on iMovies for me to come off as almost normal on camera

Products Mentioned

Illustrated People Skull Tshirt – link

Illustrated People Waterfall Sweatshirt – link

ASOS Mix Knit Hooded Snood - link

Jeffrey Campbell Studded Litas in Black

H&M Red Cardigan

H&M White Jumper

H&M Green Jumper

H&M Pink Jumper

H&M Black Wool Jumper

United Nude Clog Abstract Hi Wedges - link

Call It Spring Stillinger Wedge Ankle Boot

Traffic People Oriental Painting Print Maxi Dress

MAC Magenta Matte Blush

MAC Fleetfast Satin Blush

MAC Pink Lemonade Lipglass

MAC Apres Chic lipstick – review

MAC Stereo Rose MSF Blush – review

Sleek Scandalous Blush

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Are You Willing??

Salutations everyone!!!

It is I!!!

Your Blog Host, Annie aka the chick who experienced a blogger meltdown over the weekend because she doesn't know how to use her new Nikon DSLR and broke her trusty Fuji, then managed to break her lighting by tripping over it and therefore couldn't take any blog pics and was tempted to delete her blog in protest *deep breath*

In a few weeks (16 to be exact) my blog is going to be 2 and I really want to host a blog event/ meet up some time before that.

 I'm thinking the 14th of March which is a Thursday and really wanted to gage the interest and also the number of people who would be interested in coming down to it.
Please let me know what you think so I can start making the necessary arrangements and make sure I order enough cupcakes!!

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Review:- MAC Apres Chic Lipstick

MAC Apres Chic Lipstick is from the newly launched Apres Chic Collection from MAC and 2 weeks ago when I wanted to post this review  . . . the minute I tried to swatch this lipstick at home, I really didn’t like anything about this shade.

This was one of the last products I bought before my spending ban kicked in so you can imagine I wasn't impressed that I spent £14 of my own money on this, not to like the shade once I got home.

It’s like from the time I left the MAC shop; swatching it on two separate occasions and all the Google research, and getting home, Après Chic turned from a lovely pinky red shade to a sheer coral like pink lipstick with a drying and horrible finish.

The first time I swatched this lipstick for this blog post the pictures came out so horribly drying and patchy that I had to redo the picture taking but using my Dr Lipp Lip Balm underneath to try and moisturize my lips, and apply it straight from the tub without a lip brush. . . but that didn't work either the pictures were just that bad. I decided to halt this review for a little while and move on to the next item on my review list.

Thinking back, I now know that that reason my swatch looked horrible was because I was about to fall ill for two weeks and was suffering from dehydration. It's almost laughable that I was forcing myself to swatch a product and getting frustrated over the colour when there was nothing wrong with the shade and everything wrong with me.

Now that I am better and my lips are back to a much more manageable moisture level, I am loving this pinky-red brown shade and I have a feeling that it is going to bypass my favourite lipstick (MAC Viva Glam VI) and find its way into my coat pocket (the end destination for my must have makeup).

Have you ever been in the same position I was? On the verge of falling sick but completely oblivious? Did you pick anything up from MAC Apres Chic Limited Edition Collection? Leave me a link below if you did so I can have a snoop.

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Review:- MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize SkinFinish

Despite the fact that I’m getting sick & tired with the number of collections MAC have been bringing out, I am quite pleased that a few re-promotions have been included into the new collections. It’s always a pain when you hear that someone swears by a MAC product only for them to say ‘Oh, but it’s Limited Edition’ . . . well that’s just great! *huffs*

Adrienne from the Sunday Girl was so excited about the MAC Stereo Rose Mineralise Skin Finish and was so excited about its re-promotion in the Après Chic on twitter, that I felt I had to get it just so I knew what all the hype was about.

While I’m not the biggest lover of highlighters or shimmer blushes, MAC Stereo Rose is a Coral-Pink MSF with gold and bronze veins that will work on darker skin as a warm highlight.

 I’m not sure who exactly told me this tip (I bet it was Adrienne) but I think it’s a worthwhile tip to know so I’m going to share it with you. With Stereo Rose (or any Mineralize Skin Finishes) the veining in each MSF is different and unique to that product but this means that the veining can MAKE OR BREAK the product. The unique veins can mean that the Stereo Rose looks amazing on one person but horrible on another so please, please, please check what your MSF veins are like before you buy your product. With mine (and my sisters) I chose MSF’s with prominent golden/bronze veins, as I knew we would be using this as a highlighter.

I'm really sorry that these pics on my cheeks are not the greatest but I'm still learning how to use my new DSLR camera and trust me when I say it's a 'step forward, two step backwards" type of progress. 

This is the last beauty product I can buy for a while (Damn you Spending Ban!!!) and it’s not even going to be used til the summer loool. If  you have picked up the Stereo Rose MSF or any MSF in general how has the veins affected how the product works 

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What I'm Listening To #1: Justin Timberlake - Suit & TIe

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Four Foundations For a Flawless Finish

When it comes to foundations, I think its safe to say that every girl is particularly fussy about what she likes and what she doesn’t like. For some it is all about coverage, others its about the finish, for me it is all about the colour. I can tell with a quick glance in the mirror whether I am going to spend my money on a foundation but to be fair it is fairly easy. The foundation is either shade-perfect or makes me look like an un-moisturized ghost or like I’ve been playing in red paint.

As I have normal skin, I really don’t have much to cover up but for me the perfect foundation is relatively long lasting (I hate doing touch ups), matches my skin colour and most importantly it has to be fragrance free so doesn’t make my sensitive skin react . . or make me want to gag.

As I’m on a spending ban and can’t buy anything anymore (why or why did I do this to myself??) and I haven’t done an in-depth review of my foundations, I though I should do a post giving you an insight into my favourite cosmetics and the type of cosmetics choices I make, so without further ado let’s dive into the world of foundations.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Trindad (RRP £29.50)

Though I am warm toned, my skin is super funny in the sense that I still have a lot of gold tones to work with but these tones are only evident when I’m exposed to sun. In the winter, my red skin tones are more prominent so I have to go with a foundation that matches this and Nars Sheer Glow does this perfectly.

This shade is a bit of a one trick wonder as it is a shade darker and redder than what I normal use, so I can’t really use it in any other season but it’s lightweight and blendable so I’m not complaining.

Illamasqua Skin Base in No. 16 (RRP. £27)

This my favourite foundation and the foundation I would recommend to anyone with normal skin or those just looking for a light coverage foundation with a dewy finish.

It is a bit difficult to blend sometimes. I’m not exactly sure why but I’m guessing it has something to do with its formulation but it’s nothing a few extra wrist movements won’t solve.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW45 (RRP. £20.50)

This is the 3^rd foundation I ever used growing up, but the 1^st ‘luxury’ foundation I ever used my own money to buy. I  used this foundation actively throughout my time at university but I honestly don’t use this that much anymore as I find that it is too orange toned and honestly only looks good on me in the summer when my yellow tones are at its strongest,

This is the heaviest liquid foundation I own and honestly I probably wouldn’t use a foundation with a stronger coverage than this as I don’t need that level of coverage.

Becca Cosmetics Stick Foundation in Almond ( RRP £35)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This foundation is my skin colour in a tube. It is SO on point with my actual skin shade that when I apply it, I’m not too sure where I applied it because it’s practically invisible.

Depsite having a sheer to medium coverage, the foundation feels a bit heavy and is the only foundation that I have when I can tell I am wearing foundation but this is probably more to do with the fact that this has a cream formulation while the others have a liquid formulation

I do invest a bit in my foundations and I know these are all luxury foundations so not everyone can afford them but I find that lower-end foundations either make my skin react or just stink to high heavens and make me dizzy. I really want to try out the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and the YSL Touche Eclat foundation but it will have to be after my spending band . . .  April the 11^th can’t come fast enough!!

Anyway what do you think of my selection? Have you got any brands to recommend to me?? Also did you notice how I managed to fit 5 f’s into my title pats self on the back*??

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A Great Combination or Utter Stupidity?

With what looks like a snow blizzard outside the comfort of my office, why am I seeing certain individuals (not saying any names throwing major side-eyes over my desktop screen) strolling into the office wearing sunglasses.

Now I understand that I would probably have to dig out my shades (or just buy new ones) when the snow has finally settled as the glares from the sun hitting the snow can be almost blinding but I don’t really understand the reasoning behind wearing sunglasses with falling snow . . . wouldn’t the darker lenses obscure your sight?

Well it doesn’t matter anyway because I have some great news!!!!

I’m going to:-

AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

Yup yup, the country where the roads are actually melting. I’m not going now unfortunately but during the summer but I am soo excited to go there even if it is across the world from me . . . and I’m a hearing stories of a 24hour airplane flight  . . . and sharks live there . . .

Seeing as sunglasses should be cheaper in winter compared to the summer (logical, non?), I’m going to get myself the Dolce & Gabbana Aviator Sunglasses in Gunmetal Grey and hide them in my suitcase til June. 

I'm sooo happy about going to Australia. . . I get to meet a real life Joey!!! 

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Trend On Trial : A (Dark) English Rose

‘A rosebud lip, the first blush of spring and a luminous glaze in homage to the fresh start of the New Year”

I really wish my words carried as much imagery as Anita Bhagwandas words do but lets face it, I struggled through my GCSE English Language classes (though I wished my English Literature classes would never end) and the fact I can even string together a blog post that is not covered with grammatical errors is a win in my book. In this week’s StylistMagazine, the beauty team was inspired by the “Jane Austen-esque” makeup look worn by the Valentine S/S13 models and decided to try it out for the day.

While I’m all for natural and dewy makeup looks, I can’t say I have every tried anything remotely close to being classified as ‘English Rose” but I’m also up to try anything once the inspiration hits. So pushing aside my powders and vamp lipsticks; with a few colour appropriate tweaks, I’m going to don highlighters, concealers and a lot of rose pink for a “Dark English Rose” look.

Luckily for me I have normal skin so that’s half my job tackling concealers and correctors done, I’m still going to go in with Black|Up’s Corrector Palette in 02 to correct the purple-blue tones of the straightener burns on my forehead and the dents on my noses *Oh, the woes of being a glasses user* and apply a thin layer of Illamasqua’s Skin Base in No. 16 with a duo-fiber stippling brush.

I’m really focusing on highlighting my face for this look so taking my L’Oreal Paris True Match Concealer in Café Coffee, I’m going to highlight the bridge of my nose, my chin and under my cheekbones and slap on Becca Cosmetic's Beach Tint in Strawberry on my cheeks with MAC’s Stereo Rose MSF as my inner radiance highlighter  . . . or that’s what I’m aiming for anyway.

For that just bitten lip effect, I’ve taken MAC Apres Chic lipstick and blotted it on with some tissue to give my lips a rose colour that hopefully ties everything together.

You would think that a subtle look would involve less products but here you go . . . now all that’s left to decide is whether I want to go find my Mr. Darcy or curl up in my bed with a book.

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How To:- Give Your Hair A Quick Hot Oil Treatment

I’m not the most ingredient saavy blogger on the block, I might just be the laziest (but the award for that is still pending). I took out my extensions last week as I just wanted to give myself and my hair a break but today everything is going back into cornrows so I thought that I should share a SUPER QUICK DIY Hot Oil Treatment you can do to nourish you hair and beat the cold winter conditions.

While a normal hot oil treatment requires an oil (obviously), it’s worth noting that different kind of oils have different kinds of effects on your hair and in my opinion concocting the right mix takes a lot of time. To fast forward the cauldron process I am going to be using Curl Harmony’s Buttercream, that I received just before the winter break.

Curl Harmony’s Buttercream is a mixture of natural butters and oils (Shea Butter, Kokum Butter & Avocado Oil) that’s conditions your hair to stop frizzing and add shine. It costs £4.95 for 60ml or £14.50 for the 250ml version so is quality for money.  If I was using it as a hair-dress I would use this SPARINGLY as it is so rich it would weigh down my hair but as I’m going to be heating this up with hot water and using this as my main hot oil treatment ingredient.

Step 1 – Heat the Oil

The easiest way is to take off the label from the buttercream container and dunk it in some hot water (yes I am that lazy), but if you want to do it the “right” way I recommend removing the buttercream from it’s container and putting it in a small bowl.

Step 2 – Apply Oil to Hair

Pour a small amount of oil into the palm of your hand and massage it into your scalp. Continue this process until all your hair is covered in oil.

Step 3 – Comb

Using a large tooth comb through your hair to make sure the oil is evenly distributed. Don’t forget to pay extra attention to your ends as they are the driest part of your hair and need the most TLC.

Step 4  - Cover Your Hair & Wait an hour

Cover your hair with a shower cap (or in my case cling film because you couldn’t remember where you chucked your shower cap after being liberated of extensions) and wait an hour.

Step 5 – Wash!!

After an hour, wash everything out and comb your hair to remove any tangles.

I really hope you like my lazy way to do the hot oil treatment. I actually loved using Curl Harmony’s Buttercream as I don’t normally use these oils on my hair and me thinks my hair loves the change. I almost (almost) regretted having to put my hair in extensions but let’s be honest . . . I’m too lazy to deal with my hair without extensions loool.

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Navigate My New Blog Layout!!!!

2013 has started off on an awkward note for me as I’ve been ill on and off from the start of the year *Spent new years eve in bed . . Yaaay me* and I’ve had a MUCH needed split from my on-off boyfriend. *Some things are better left in 2012*. 

To celebrate a new year and some change in my life, I decided to sit down, shut down all scheduled blog activity and spruce up my blog template.

I’m really proud to say that an e-course from pudgypixel.com; a screencast e-course for Html/CSS users aka Bloggers (which is just amazing and cheap as chip at £16!!!!) plus a lot of Bruno Mars has resulted in this new blog template you see here.

Isn’t He AMAZING??!!!

I have edited the blogger Simple Template and thrown a whole bunch of html and css to get my baby to this point and can I just say that I am a happy chappy. To celebrate my new template I thought I should do a little post detailing how my new template works

I’m still working on a new logo design  and thinking up more tabs to add to my menu page and sidebar but all-in-all I’m super happy with the way things look. Now if a link isn’t working properly please let me know so I can correct it.

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Review:- Curl Harmony Intense Repair Deep Conditioner

It seems that the only hair care products I ever review on my blog are intensive conditioners but to be honest, they are the only haircare product I frequently use and finish on a monthly basis. As I have started become more and more product ingredient focused, I’ve been checking the product list of EVERYTHING I use and choosing more products that are either natural or have natural ingredients in them. Just before the Christmas break; I received the Intense Repair Deep Conditioner (RRP £14.50 for 250ml) from Curl Harmony to test out.

Curl Harmony is a haircare brand that promotes natural products or naturally derived products that are paraben and formaldehyde free with just a small amount of fragrance oils to revitalize and moisturize wavy, curly or afro hair. I really love what this brand is about because they are focused on creating products that don’t include ingredients which are particularly drying for the ladies on the curlier side of life (which just also happens to be the dry-hair side of life).

To really give you and honest view of what this product is like. I am going to be posting mine and my sister’s (aka Bunny) results and opinions on this product. Though we both have the same curl type, my hair is relaxed and in Brazilian hair extensions while my sister has a cropped-relaxed, pixie cut, so I thought it would be a much more honest review to get two opinions on this product as we are both looking for different results.

Smell

You guys know that I am big on smell, more so than Bunny is but both of us were in agreement that the Intensive Repair Deep Conditioner smells like an afro-hair relaxer. It’s not super overpowering smell but it does have that distinct chemical smell which did confuse us at one point (and I receive a lot of ‘Annie, Are you sure this is hair conditioner??’ comments).

Ingredients

The Intense Repair Conditioner is infused with Shea butter, Jojoba oil and Coconut Oil, which are some of the most enriched ingredients known to haircare so I felt very positive seeing this.

With a mixture of oils (coconut, jojoba) fatty acids and protein (wheat) this will definitely rich in terms of moisture. It also contains Behentrimonium Methosulphate which is one of the gentlest detanglers on the market (it is so good it can be used on kids), which made me just love this product even more.

This product does contain Phenoxyethanol which is a synthetic produced organic compound used as an alternative to Formaldehyde and Parabens. This is a bit higher up in the product ingredient list than I would have liked but considering how short the ingredient list is for this conditioner, it is not something I am overly worried about.

Application

Repeat after me . . . 

‘This conditioner is THICK!!!’

While I normally welcome a thick conditioner into my routine, I found that I used a lot of product on my extensions and when applying it to my Bunny’s hair than I would normally use . . .though this might say more about my technique than anything else (as Bunny says I am very heavy handed). I did make sure to coat the hair evenly so it would be very obvious what the effects were but we both felt that the effects were not amazing.

Bunny said her hair did not feel as soft or as shiny as when she normally washes her hair while my extensions felt a lot lighter than when I use my normal conditioner (which honestly is a plus), I did feel my extensions were a bit dryer than normal but once I added a leave in conditioner and my Aveda Hair Polisher, the effects from using this conditioner really shone through.

Comments

Neither one of us were really blown away by this product. While I loved the ingredient list and was very happy at the natural alternative for my hair, Bunny; who is not ingredient-conscious, did not feel that this product was anything special and she didn’t get any amazing results, which would make her switch products.

I think the Curl Harmony Intense Repair Deep Conditioner is a good product for all my natural haircare lovers. Those who are specifically looking for the best conditioner with the simplest ingredient list, which gives them the same effect as their favourite deep conditioner but without the gallons of silicones and preservatives. The Intense Repair Deep Conditioner is basically for the ladies who know a bit better (and this is not a wise crack, with me saying I know better than my sister . . .although I do).

So there you have it. Two different opinions over the same product, what do you guys think? What are you after when choosing your haircare products?

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