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Showing posts with label urban decay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urban decay. Show all posts

My love affair with make-up started when I was around 6 years old. I remember having these lip balms - I think there were 3 of them. I can't recall the shades but I do know one of them was orange - and that they smelt awful. You know that typical cheap cosmetic smell? Yeah, like that. I kept them in this little Tweety handbag and I would get them out every so often to look at them and smell them etc. There wasn't much wearing of the lip balms, mainly just admiring. I guess that's where it catapulted into me becoming a make-up collector.

Soon enough, I started buying magazines. Not really for reading, more for the free make-up. I remember I used to buy like 6 different magazines - Sugar, Mizz, Top Of The Pops, Smash Hits, Bliss and Shout. I rarely missed an issue. Now that I look back, it would've been waaay cheaper for me to just buy proper make-up!

I had this big box where I would store all my magazine make-up, and it was filled to the brim. At this point I was around 8 or 9, and obviously I didn't wear a full face of make-up but I would rock a bit of lipgloss, eyeshadow and mascara once in a while. I just loved dressing up, and to me make-up was an extension of that.

I guess when I started wearing a full face was probably in Year 7, so I would've been 11 at the time. A girl in one of my classes said that I'd look better with make-up on (in a nice way) - so I took her advice and started wearing some. I went to my Mum and she gladly said that she'd share her make-up with me. Now if you haven't realised - I'm very pale. So pale that still to this day, I struggle finding a foundation that will match my skin tone. My Mum, on the other hand, has very tanned olive skin. You can see where I'm going with this. I guess it wasn't too bad as it was a tinted moisturiser rather than a foundation, but instead of using powder to set it, I used bronzer. Shimmery bronzer. My Mum knew absolutely nothing (and still doesn't - I love you Mum!) about make-up so her 'tips' were pretty unhelpful. Despite the super-tangoed image you have of me in your head - it surprisingly didn't look too horrific. I'm not saying it was a good look by any means - but it wasn't so bad either.

At this point I started experimenting more with make-up - glittery liquid eyeliners, turquoise eyeshadow etc. Very 'retro-disco' if you will. To be honest I'm kinda proud that my younger self actually had the balls to wear hot pink glitter eyeliner - cause I'm not too sure if I'd be able to own the look so much now...

So now I'm around the age of 13 and I've become obsessed with Avon. And before you say anything - they didn't used to test on animals but yes, they do now. Anyways, my Mum would bring the catalogue home from work as her assistant was an Avon representative. I used to get that feeling like when I was younger and my Mum would hand me the Argos catalogue and say "Circle what you would like Father Christmas to get you and I can send it to him.". It really did feel like Christmas every time. Even more so when the products actually came! I would spend around £30 each time on various different bits and pieces because it gave me this ecstatic buzz when I opened the little white bag to see what I'd ordered. Usually I had forgotten so it was always a nice little surprise.

Mum would always tut whenever I bought make-up - and still does to this day. I try to constantly remind her that I could be like most other young adults and instead of spending my money on eyeshadows and lipsticks, I could be spending it on drugs, alcohol, and admission into sleazy nightclubs. Also known as the complete opposite of me. She should count her blessings that I'm an angelic little princess with a penchant for eyeshadow palettes! It could be worse, Mother.

It's gotten to the stage where I'm asking myself on a daily basis: 'Is my love for make-up getting out of control?'. Heart says no. Head says yes. Despite me rolling my eyes over the opinion of my conscience - I know it's becoming - or has the potential of becoming - an addiction if I'm not careful. Addiction. It feels weird writing that word. Something I've always associated with alcohol, nicotine, and not-so-legal narcotics. Make-up 'addiction' seems extremely mild in comparison.

To be perfectly honest, I can't see myself going down the 'I will sell one of my Dad's kidneys for an Urban Decay eyeshadow palette.' road. Not yet, anyway. Despite my almost blasé attitude on the matter, I know that I need to be careful. I've always been good with my money. Very good, in fact. So good that I have the ability to turn a few measly £s into designer accessories and top-of-the-range techno gadgets. I honestly have no idea how I do it - I guess I'm just good at saving money for the things I really want. And maybe make-up just happens to be one of those things. I'm trying to get my heart to synchronise with my brain like it does any time make-up is not involved. Maybe one day I'll have the strength to ignore the countless e-mails from Illamasqua telling me they have a sale on, or I'll be able to walk through the Beauty Department in Debenhams without batting a perfectly cut-creased-and-cat-eyed eyelid. Or maybe, just maybe, I will find it deep within myself to throw away *gasp* those Boots vouchers offering 200 points when I spend £20 or more. I did say maybe...



Have you got your make-up obsession under control, or is it running wild like mine?

"There are barbarians who seize this dog, who so prodigiously surpasses man in friendship, and nail him down to a table, and dissect him alive to show you the mezaraic veins. You discover in him all the same organs of feeling as in yourself. Answer me, Machinist, has Nature really arranged all the springs of feeling in this animal to the end that he might not feel? Has he nerves that he may be incapable of suffering?" - Voltaire

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So this is my first ever empties post and I've been meaning to do one for aaages. My main concern is that I don't finish enough products to do one, but it wasn't until I started putting all my empties in a box for this post did I realise that I actually do! Me being me wrote this a little late, mainly because I had other posts planned but I've finally got around to it. Now I can't remember which order they were used up in so I'll just do them at random.


Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner
By far my favourite shampoo and conditioner, ever. This stuff is absolutely fabulous and I can see myself using it for years to come. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you may know that I'm a huge fan of Lee Stafford's hair care and styling range, I can't get enough! I rave about his products to anyone that'll listen, they're the best and I ain't just saying that. I go through these two products so quickly though because my hair is so long and I have so much of it, and as the products aren't exactly cheap my mum kindly gets them for me (hi mum!) as I can't afford them myself. Sigh.



The Body Shop Earth Lovers Apricot & Basil 100% Biodegradable Shower Gel
A friend of my mum's bought me a bunch of these Earth Lovers shower gels a couple years ago in different scents for my birthday and I just got around to using them, and I must say, they smell soooooo good. You wouldn't think that apricot and basil would work, but it really does. It's hard to explain the scent but it smells a little like them fruit salad chewy sweets. Consistency-wise, it's not as thick as average shower gels, it's actually pretty watery. But because I use all shower gels with one of them scrunchy, net-like thingymajigys (I am so good at explaining stuff) it doesn't bother me, although I have noticed that this one has lathered more than average shower gels. I would've happily bought it again if they hadn't have been discontinued *sad face*.




Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Ah, Liz Earle. My favourite skincare brand by far. This is the first tonic that I haven't found to make my skin drying or tight, which just shows how good it is for my skin. It leaves my skin silky-soft and it smells so clean and slightly floral...a bit like a meadow on an early morning in spring, but not overpowering. The perfect toner for all skin types!



Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray
This is the kind of product that I love, but would prefer to find a cheaper alternative to. It's good n'all, and I have bought a replacement, but at £20 for 118ml, I'm debating whether it's worth it. It makes my make-up look more 'skin like' after I've applied powder and the bottle lasts ages, which are both a plus but it just doesn't seem to keep oil at bay as much as I would like it to. I'm gonna search around for a cheaper alternative to compare it to, as I feel for the price it should have a lot more going for it.



No7 Stay Perfect Smoothing & Brightening Eye Base
I do like this product, and I could see myself buying it again as it keeps my eyeshadow in place, but it creases. It's annoying because I find it so much easier to use than Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion, and to be honest creasing doesn't actually bother me that much but it is £7 for a little pot so if I needed a cheap(ish) eye base, I'd probably go for this one.




Soap & Glory Trick & Treatment Concealer
I got this about 4 years ago and only just found it again, and no, I didn't use it...not after I'd smelt it anyway. I used to absolutely adore this concealer, I'm so annoyed at myself for letting it go off as I used to swear by it. I can't remember if it's actually as good as I thought it was, but I'll definitely be buying it again! I know it's not empty but I was gonna throw it away anyway and wanted to share that with you all because I'm strange.



I'm gonna start doing empties posts more if you guys are interested in them, as I quite enjoyed going through the stuff I've used up. Plus, I'm trying harder to use up older products before new ones, and this is a good incentive to help me!


What have you used up recently?
♥
Liebster is the German word for dearest, sweetheart, beloved person, darling etc and so when I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the beautiful Caitlin, I was a little confused. I thought there would be an online poll or something where people voted for their favourite bloggers. I was wrong. Basically, the Liebster Award gives the opportunity to the lesser-known bloggers to mix with other bloggers, strengthening their connections which have the possibility to form into friendships. It's quite sweet, really.

Last week, whilst I was on holiday Sophie also nominated me, so instead of doing another post I thought I'd just add her questions onto this one. Thankyou Sophie for the nomination!

The rules are as follows:
1. You must link the post back to the person who nominated you.
2. You must answer all 11 questions that have been chosen by the person who nominated you.
3. You have to pick 11 people to nominate - but they must have under 200 followers.
4. You can't nominate the person who nominated you.
5. You must tell the nominees they have been nominated.


These are the questions that Caitlin gave me - and my answers:

1. What's your favourite drugstore foundation?
- That'll have to be No7's Beautifully Matte Foundation that I did a review on here. It's been a fave of mine for years.

2. What are you goals for your blog in 2014? 
- I'm really hoping that it takes off this year. I've been doing it for around 14 months now and I keep seeing all these beginner bloggers have thousands of loyal followers mere months after they've started. I know I shouldn't compare to others but sometimes I can't help but feel like I'm failing and that I should quit whilst I'm ahead. Especially seen as that's what so many people keep telling me to do, seen as writing a blog will never put food on my plate. Ah well, I'll just have to keep everything crossed! 

3. Name a lipstick you couldn't live without
- Oooh, this is a toughie 'cause I'm a huuuge lipstick junkie. My faves would have to be Illamasqua's Ignite, Bourjois' Rouge Edition in 11 Fraise Remix or Barry M's 162... I love so many but it's so hard to pick haha!

4. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time?
- I hope I'm still blogging and have a YouTube channel by then, maybe even have moved out and got a job in the beauty/fashion industry! 

5. Have you got any beauty resolutions for this year?
- Yes! I'm gonna try and get my skin into the best condition possible (more than I have been these past 6 or so years!) because although I adore makeup, I don't enjoy having to wake up early to put it on. It's less enjoyable spending at least an hour on my makeup when I'm tired! Also, I wanna start contouring properly, white foundation n'all!

6. A skincare product that's an essential
- Montagne Jeunesse (I can't pronounce it to save my life, I also had to google the spelling *hangs head in beauty blogger shame*) face masks - they smell amazing, do wonders for my skin AND they're cruelty-free and vegetarian. I love 'em I do!

7. What's your favourite healthy food?
- I'm slightly addicted to falafels and houmous at the moment (ooh hark at me being a good veggie for once!).

8. Who's your current favourite blogger and why?
- This will have to go to Zoe Sugg, a.k.a. Zoella. I pretty much idolise her and she's the one that gave me the inspiration to start blogging.

9. How many posts do you aim to post a week?
- Usually I go for two - a Manicure Monday and then a general post on Friday. I'm pretty rubbish though and sometimes don't post at all, or when I do I post late *tut-tut*.

10. What are your thoughts on Maybelline Baby Lips, yay or nay?
- NAY. Maybelline test on animals and therefore I refuse to purchase any of their products.

11. What products are you hoping to try this year?
- Urban Decay Naked3, Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation...and probably many more cult products that my mind has just decided to erase.



And these are the questions Sophie asked me...

1. Where would you love to travel to?
- California probably, I've never been to America ya'see.

2. What's your favourite High Street shop?
- Oooh this is hard... Jack Wills, Zara and H&M are my faves, but I can't pick one 'cause I love them all for different reasons haha!

3. What are your favourite skincare item/s?
- Answered this in Caitlin's questions (No6).

4. When did you start blogging?
- Monday 3rd December 2012. Check out my first ever post here.

5. Favourite singer/songwriter?
- LORDE ALLLLLL THE WAAAAY!

6. What are your hopes for 2014?
- That I've passed my driving test, got my Mini and earning a proper wage!

7. Are you a student? If so what are you studying?
- No, I'm not a student.

8. What would be your dream job?
- Honestly? Doing this...blogging, YouTubing (if that's a word?) because ever since I was little, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up (apart from being a princess...the dream still lives on!) and now that I've 'grown up' this is what I'm passionate about, what I think about every day and what I'm excited to do - even when I'm watching TV I've got my laptop on my knee and writing out new posts!

9. Do you have any hobbies?
- Blogging, collecting beauty products, talking to my cats...I'm a very boring person haha.

10. Do you have a blog you read everyday without fault?
- ...does my own count? Haha! I don't have a blog that I read everyday to be honest because I know that once I start reading, I won't stop.

11. If money was no object, what would you like to buy? Only one!
- Can I be really sensible and say a mansion? That way I could rent it out and make a bunch of money from it, and then when I'm ready to move out I've already got my house sorted! God I sound like I'm in my 40s or something...

Now, I was meant to nominate other bloggers but after being unable to find any that hadn't been previously nominated, I sent out a tweet to which no-one replied to. Sigh. Oh well, I really enjoyed doing this little post so once again I'd like to give a huge thankyou to Caitlin & Sophie for nominating me.

Have you been nominated for a Liebster Award?
♥
Urban Decay has once again created an almost unattainable piece of heaven, this time in the form of the Mother Lode, a limited-edition collection of  UD's legendary eyeshadows. The colour-rich collection which boasts 68 mind-blowing shades was created to celebrate the re-launch of Urban Decay's newly packaged and re-formulated shadows, which this collection contains all of. All of the eyeshadows are full-sized, individually packaged and easy to pop out. The collection also contains an exclusive four-pan Build Your Own Palette so you can create the most perfect mini palette with all the shades in your arsenal to choose from, and it is all housed in a beautiful purple open-top box.
yes, it really does exist *insert dribble here*

The Urban Decay website states 'From super smooth mattes, pearly satins and shades loaded with shimmer and glitter, to gorgeous duotones that change color before your eyes, it's all here. Switch between sultry neutrals and daring brights with shocking ease.' - I must admit, I have had dreams of owning this gorgeous collection, which were soon shattered by the stark reality that I sadly do not have several hundreds of pounds to spend on mere (she doesn't mean it, she loves you really!!) eyeshadows. Despite this, the set is actually value-for-money. I know it sounds surprising 'cause it's pretty pricey, but a single shadow is normally £14, and because there are all 68 shades that would mean it should cost £952, and yet you end up saving a whopping £507. I guess it's more of an investment, especially if you're a make-up junkie like me. You can continuously tell yourself that whilst you cry over your credit card bill at the end of the month, I won't be judging you, I promise.


Unless I win the EuroMillions sometime in the very near future, I think that this collection will just have to be a dream to me...sigh.

The Mother Lode costs £445 but is currently on sale at Debenhams for a mere(!) £400.50 

Do you pine for The Mother Lode too?

♥
Now that Autumn is finally upon us and Summer feels like months ago, I thought I'd treat you guys to an Autumn & Winter favourites post, so I can tell you guys what I adore during these colder and darker, yet more beautiful months. I also thought it would be ever so nice of me to do both cheap and premium alternatives, so anyone on any budget would be able to enjoy the same stuff as me!

First up, is skin/bodycare because we need to look after our skin even more during these cold months!

Lip Scrub 
Cheap: my D.I.Y. Lemon Lip Scrub (post coming soon!)
Premium: Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips (smells like After Eights which are a Christmas staple) - £5.50



Hand Cream
Cheap: Soap & Glory Hand Food - £5 (125ml)
Premium: the Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector - £10 (100ml)



Body Scrub 
Cheap: Ted Baker Butterfly Wings Body Scrub - £6.50 (300ml)
Premium: Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub (this stuff smells phemomenal but doesn't taste too good though...) - £8 (300ml)



Body Butter (because lotion just won't do)
Cheap: Soap & Glory the Righteous Butter - £10.50 (300ml)
Premium: the Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter - £13 (200ml)



Bubble Bath (indulging in a hot bubble bath when it's cold outside, ahhh) 
Cheap: Soap & Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath - £6 (500ml) 
Premium: Boux Avenue Pink Taffeta Bubble Bath - £10 (300ml) 


Next, makeup!

I find that I reach for burgundy and bright red lip products and rosy blushers more during this time of year 'cause one, I'm paler so it complements my skin tone, plus it matches the fallen leaves and Christmas decorations...ahh Christmas<3 



Lipstick
Cheap: Barry M Lip Paint in 162 - £4.49 & Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon in No2 - £4.99
Premium: Illamasqua Lipstick in Ignite, Sangers & Encounter (I'm a big fan, can you tell?) - £16.50



Lipgloss
Cheap: Bourjois La Creme Des Levres Lip Cream in 05 Rosé Moelleux - 99p starting price at my ebay
Premium: Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Follow - £14.50



Lip Balm
Cheap: The Body Shop Christmas Edition Lip Balms in Spiced Vanilla, Cranberry Joy and Candied Ginger - discontinued sadly :( but, they do have new versions, Cranberry being the one that I purchased but still have to critique
Premium: Balmi Lip Balm in Mint - £4.99



Blusher
Cheap: Sleek Blush in Rose Gold from the Contouring and Blush Palette in Light - £4.49 (£9.99 for palette)
Premium: No7 Natural Blush in 12 Coral Flush - £8


As for eyes, it's all about purple, grey, gold and dark caramel as they are always big this time of year. Think rich hues with golden shimmers or alternatively colours that don't stray from your skin colour, as the no-make-up-make-up look is huuuuuge this season!



Cheap: Bourjois Little Round Pot Eyeshadow in (from left to right) 72 Violet Absolu, 12 Bleu Magnetique, 55 Bleu Myosotis, 90 Blanc Diaphane, 93 Tabac Blond & 05 Brun Irreel - 99p starting price at my ebay



Premium: Urban Decay Naked (£36), Naked2(also £36), Naked Basics(£20), Glinda & Theodora Great and Powerful Oz palettes(£35 each) and also Melt and Rock, that I got in my BYOP's (£14 each). What can I say - Urban Decay eyeshadows will always make the top of my lists! Also Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Electrum (£17.50) which not only makes a great eye primer but also a fabulous eyeliner, it's so creamy and pigmented!


Subscribe to my blog so you can be notified when the sister post, Autumn & Winter Fashion comes out, plus it'll put a big smile on my face! 

What are your Autumn & Winter favourites?

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Ok, so I've been a vegetarian for around 7 years now. A lot of people ask me why, and my usual response is 'I've never really liked meat' but I guess it's more than that. I've always been a huge animal lover and I became a vegetarian after I found out that animals were killed for meat (I thought they died naturally - how naive) and I can easily say I'll never go back. Because of my passion for animals and their welfare, I began researching animal rights and came across the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website. For some of you that may not know, PETA is an animal rights charity based in America, and they basically fight for animal rights and reveal the raw truth about what really happens to animals behind closed doors. On their homepage there was a link to their 'Companies that test' and 'Companies that don't test' lists, and as I was an intrigued 11-year-old I decided to check them out. I didn't know up until then what went on in laboratories. I didn't know what animals went through just so someone could have a tube of mascara. It's fair to say I was in complete shock. I went on several of their other posts about animal testing and actually saw what happened to the monkeys and the kittens. I recall just sitting there and crying for hours, I just couldn't understand how anyone could ever do that to a defenceless animal! Luckily, as I was only young I'd only ever used mum's Marks & Spencer's make-up which was - and still is - cruelty free. I decided from then on that whatever make-up I purchased would NOT be tested on animals, and I trusted in PETA's 'Companies that don't test' list for guidance. Sorry for the long intro, but here it is, my top 10 cruelty-free make-up brands!


10. Natural Collection - Cheap & Great Quality
One of my favourite face powders is the NC Pressed Powder. It helps keep shine at bay, it's perfect for my porcelain skin and most importantly it's a mere (drum roll) £1.99. Yes, you read it right. I'm pretty in love with the powders, they aren't super pigmented, which you kinda expect from something so cheap,  but I don't use powders for coverage, I use them just to set my foundation and prevent oil attacking it, and it does it for me.


9. Lee Stafford - Soft & Shiny results
I have a fairly big collection of Lee Stafford products, one of my favourites being his Hair Growth range. All his products are encased in the famous pink packaging which makes it a stylish addition to your dressing table, a bonus on his already great quality products. Even though it's a high-quality brand, it's affordable. If it's slightly out of your price range, Boots often do a 3 for 2 offer on the Lee Stafford range, making it that much more appealing. If you're like me and fall for products just by sniffing them, you'll fall in love with these products, guaranteed.


8. Liz Earle Skincare - Natural & Really Works
I've got really bad scarring from having acne and I've tried all the skincare sets that are meant to help me, like Clinique's Anti Blemish range and Manuka Doctor's apiclear. But none of it really worked... I mean they might've made a slight improvement but not enough for me to notice. I tried Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser set a few months back and i've really loved it. I'm not sure if it's this or the weather or me not wearing makeup so much but my skin has vastly improved. My scarring has reduced dramatically and I can see a major difference in my skin. I was so sceptical about it seen as the Clinique and Manuka Doctor ranges didn't work for me, so I'm really hoping that these results are down to Liz Earle. One thing I have noticed is that my skin seems 'happier' because of the set. As in, my face doesn't get oily as quick after I've washed it, the toner doesn't make my skin feel tight like the others did and the moisturiser leaves my skin reeeally soft. Fingers crossed that by this time next year my scarring has completely gone, go on Liz, work your magic!!


7. ghd - Elite & Professional
When it comes to styling, ghd is THE company. It's world-renowned status has made it notorious for it's array of straighteners and more recently, hair products and the ghd air. I own the air myself, alongside the Pink Orchid styler and several products including the Final Fix Hairspray (I wrote a review for it here), the Heat Protect Spray and the Straight & Smooth Spray. The quality of ghd's products are phenomenal, there's a reason why they are so famous! ghd can be pricey, but boy is it worth it.


6. Soap & Glory - Vintage & Kooky
I am a huuuge Soap & Glory fan. When it's Christmastime and Boots do their 3 for 2's I can't help myself but buy almost all of their sets. I know, I know I don't need it all but when it's on offer and the packaging is that cute and it all smells so gooood I just can't help myself. I am not sorry. Some of my favourite S&G products include their Arch De Triumph eyebrow pencil, Kick Ass Concealer and Sugar Crush body wash (you just need to smell it)!


5. Bourjois - Colourful & Pigmented *NO LONGER CRUELTY FREE*
Bourjois are famous for their eyeshadows (which I happen to be selling here and here) and blushers, but one thing I love about Bourjois are their Rouge Edition Lipsticks (will be doing a review on these at some point probably). My current tally is at 5 and counting with my favourite being Fraise Remix which is a beautiful bright pink, perfect for going out but tame enough for a work environment. Another Bourjois product I love is their Healthy Mix Concealer, which I use as a 'base' concealer underneath my foundation if I need super full coverage. I'm determined to collect all their Little Round Pot eyeshadows, I only have 8 at the moment but they are so luxuriously pigmented and affordable that I just can't help myself!


4. No.7 - Sleek & Flawless
I have a major love for No7's Beautifully Matte foundation, which I wrote a review of here. Not only is their match-made service revolutionary, their range of foundations, concealers and powders is wide enough for any skin tone or type. Besides my fave foundation, I also adore their felt-tip liner, it makes lining your upper lashes so much easier due to the nib being fairly stiff so you don't end up with black all over. Plus, their brush cleanser is a must-have!


3. Real Techniques - Vegan & Affordable
These brushes are sososo soft, and they're made using synthetic hairs! Sam Chapman is the lady behind these phenominal brushes that promise to give you a flawless finish without spending an arm and a leg! I'm obsessed with them, I only have 8 in my collection at the moment but I intend on buying them all, they've changed the way my makeup looks completely. I didn't realise before but it wasn't until I made my first purchase on their Stippling Brush that it was so easy to create an airbrushed look, before I settled with blotchy - not good.


2. Barry M - Cheap & Cheerful
I've only used Barry M's lip paints, lip crayons and nail paints but they are some of the best i've ever come across, especially the Paints. As you may have seen in a previous post on the Barry M Gelly Nail Paints i'm a little in love. The Gellys are my ultimate fave when it comes to the polishes but I also have the textured paint in Kingsland Road, the special Christmas gold edition paint, the sequin paint in Pink and the neon paint in Fuschia (amazing colour)! I'm adament to collect all the Lip Paints, they're so creamy and long-lasting, and for £4.49 you can't really go wrong, plus the green one that changes colour to the alkaline level on your lips is so freaking cool, and I managed to nab it after months of searching!


1. Urban Decay - Luxury & Ridiculously Pigmented
And finally, at number one it has to be the exquisite Urban Decay. The pigmentation of Urban Decay's eyeshadows are astounding, although they are quite pricey they're definitely worth it - I use mine for occasions, not daily use as I'm quite worried about hitting pan! Despite this, I find that no other eyeshadow can even compare to that of UD's. I currently have the Naked, Naked2, BYOP Rock, BYOP Melt, Glinda and Theodora palettes, and I still feel like I need more! I use their b6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray and their De-Slick Setting Spray daily, it makes such an impact on the longevity of my makeup, thus saving more makeup in the long run. I'm also a big fan of their Super Saturated Lip Crayons, SuperCurl Curling Mascara, all their brushes, and their powders. Not only are their products commendable, but so is their attitude to animal welfare. Urban Decay is recognised as being one of the biggest cruelty-free brands, with a wide vegan range. When they were considering expanding to China, I was furious. I sent emails begging them to not lose their morals just so their makeup could be sold in a big country. Luckily, UD listened to the thousands of us and decided not to sell in China, thus keeping them cruelty-free. YAY YAY URBAN DECAY!


p.s. i'm sorry the post is a day late - Celebrity Big Brother finished last night and I couldn't miss it for the world (shut up that is not sad, Charlotte & Mario needed me okay)


What's your favourite cruelty-free brand?!
♥
I have seen many bloggers and vloggers do a 'What's In My Make-Up Bag' post and I've been wanting to do one for a while, but recently I got a request to do it so I thought what the hell! I'm gonna show my makeup in order of application, and if you want reviews on any of the products comment below or message me on ask.fm and I might write one! Lets get started :D




Ted Baker Make-Up Bag

Urban Decay b6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray (applied after toner, before moisturiser) - £21


The Body Shop Concealer Pencil (I depot as it's much easier to use, and apply it under and around the eye) - £9

EcoTools Concealer Brush (used to apply the Bourjois concealer) - £5.49

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer (as a base concealer) - £7.99

Real Techniques Detailer Brush (used to apply the yellow S&G Concealer) - £21.99 (part of a set)

Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer (the pink shade to lighten under the eye and the yellow shade for blemishes not hidden by the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer) - £10

Real Techniques Buffing Brush (used to apply foundation) - £21.99 (part of a set)

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation - £12.95

Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Face Brush (used to apply both powders) - £23.99 (part of a set)


Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Contour Brush (used to apply bronzer) - £23.99 (part of a set)

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder - £13

Ted Baker Beauty Blusher Brush (used to apply blusher)







What's in YOUR make-up bag?!
~requested~
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I've started buying genuine makeup in bulk and selling them on eBay at a cheaper price than sold in shops. Because I've only just started I can only list 10 things every month, this month I'm selling Bourjois La Creme des Levres Lip Cream in various shades which is RRP'd at £6.99 but I'm selling them for £3.50 - bargain ;)

In the future I will be selling No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour, Bourjois Bio Detox Organic foundation, Bourjois eyeshadows, Urban Decay Lipsticks, Bourjois Rouge Hi-Tech Lip Tint and many other products. I'll pop a post on here before I put new products up, and may even give a review on them too!

I only ship to addresses in the UK via First Class Royal Mail so I'm sorry if you live overseas. There is a link at the top of the page to my eBay account so check out my products and comment below or send me a message on ask.fm telling me what you'd like me to sell! 

Happy eBaying!

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For those of you that have never heard of it, White Rose is a big shopping centre in Leeds and houses your average high street shops like Topshop, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and my new favourite, Boux Avenue.




First we started off in Debenhams and I came across the Illamasqua Alter-Ego Mystery Selection box. I'd seen it before but never bought it, but this time I thought what the hell! The box contains a nail varnish in Collide  (a neon pink shade) and a Liquid Metal in Electrum (gold). But the box also includes four 'mystery products', mine were a blusher in Create (a dark orange/brown, more of a bronzer), a lipstick in Encounter (a deep red), a lipgloss in Fury (a dark lilac) and an eyeshadow in Fame (bright green). The contents of the box are valued at £91.50 but retailed at £39 but I got mine on sale for £19! I had some points on my Beauty Card to spend so I also purchased the De-Slick setting spray from the Urban Decay counter, something I was a little sceptical about because I've tried the All-Nighter setting spray before which was pretty much useless but I must say the De-Slick one seems to work, although I have only used it twice so I may have to wait a little longer to really be able to judge.









Next we went to Ernest Jones as I'd received some money from my Gran for my 18th birthday back in March and I'd been wanting a watch for a while, so I decided on the Michael Kors rose-gold chronograph with a crystallised bezel, and although I was on the verge of collapsing when I handed over my debit card, I've come to the realisation that it is an investment and something I will treasure forever (cheesy, but oh well!).





As I mentioned in the intro, I've become a fan of a new shop in WR called Boux Avenue, it's a lingerie shop and although I haven't actually purchased any lingerie yet, I did get a candle and some pyjamas! The staff in there were really lovely, one girl in particular showed us round the store and explained the layout (if you've never been in before it can be kinda confusing, but simple when you know). The store itself was so beautiful, like a perfect boutique. You walk in through these massive 10 foot-or-something black glossy doors, (you know the fancy kind with the big silver doorknobs) and then there it is. White chests of drawers holding underwear, each drawer labelled with a different size, big white wood cabinets housing candles and reed diffusers and in the middle a huge white table, matching all the other furniture, dressed with bubble baths and body lotions and the cutest vintage perfume bottles! When you get to the back on the left are the changing rooms, which are incredibly cool... Each changing room has a name (I was in the Silk suite!) and inside each one are three buttons to change the lighting, I felt like such a kid ahahaha! I know this is supposed to be about the products but this store was so beautiful, and when the lovely shop assistant bagged up my stuff she wrapped it in pink and white lace tissue paper and sprinkled these white scented petals on top, how fancy! I honestly can't wait to go back there, I intend on buying another candle but this time in the Pink Freesia fragrance, and I shall definitely be getting my hands on those vintage perfume bottles, they'll look perfect on my dressing table! But anyways, back to the task at hand...I purchased a pair of cute pyjamas with a bunny wabbit (the only way to say it) on! I also got a candle in the White Chiffon fragrance and because me and mum had our stuff put through together and she had bought two of their home products, that qualified us for a free 'square product', and I decided on a bubble bath in the Pink Freesia fragrance which was worth £10 - bargain!






Finally we stopped off at Schuh 'cause I was in desperate need of some shoes. Now I know most people will say that and they will have like 50 pairs of shoes but my collection consists of heels, flip-flops, flats that rub so much that my feet bleed and fake Uggs that are bending at the sides. So yes, I really needed some day shoes. I'd been wanting some Nike Blazers and managed to find a vegan pair but I wasn't really willing to pay the price after the whole watch fiasco, so I opted for some Vans! A pair of beautiful, pink Vans...and I feel it may be the first pair of many, they're so flipping comfy!

What are your favourite shops and shopping centres?!

♥
'oooooooooo, puuuuurdy...'
I've always been a big fan of neutral eyeshadows, as they accentuate your eyes but look natural at the same time, therefore perfect for school or work. Urban Decay, creators of the famous Naked and Naked2 palettes. But the question is, which one is better?



Naked features 12 shades and comes with the Good Karma Shadow Brush and a travel-sized eyeshadow Primer Potion:

- Virgin (satin)
- Sin (shimmer)
- Naked (matte)
- Sidecar (shimmer)
- Buck (matte)
- Half Baked (shimmer)
- Smog (shimmer)
- Darkhorse (shimmer)
- Toasted (shimmer)
- Hustle (shimmer)
- Creep (sparkle & shimmer)
- Gunmetal (sparkle & shimmer)






Naked's colour range doesn't suit my skin tone or eye colour very well. I have fair skin and very dark brown, almost black eyes, and I feel that this palette suits more bronzed skin tones, but depending on which colours you choose, you can make it work for yourself. My favourite shades from this palette have to be Virgin, Sin, Naked and Sidecar, the first 4 shades of the palette. These colours are gorgeous, and Virgin and Sin are perfect highlighters and Naked and Sidecar are perfect bases. The other colours in the palette that are meant for shading don't look good on me at all, although Creep and Gunmetal do look good together for a night out.



Naked2 also features 12 shades and comes with the double-ended Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush and a travel-sized Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked:

- Foxy (matte)
- Half Baked (shimmer) also in Naked
- Bootycall (satin)
- Chopper (sparkle & shimmer)
- Tease (matte)
- Snakebite (shimmer)
- Suspect (shimmer)
- Pistol (shimmer)
- Verve (shimmer)
- YDK (shimmer)
- Busted (shimmer)
- Blackout (matte)





Naked2's colour range is similar to that of Naked's, but is much more wearable for different skin tones. I love all the shades, my favourites being Chopper and YDK (I'm a sucker for glitter!) and Blackout makes a perfect eyeliner due to it being jet-black and matte. The double-ended brush that comes with Naked2 is perfect for application, with an additional bonus that it's cruelty-free! The packaging is more hard-wearing than that of the first palette, as it is similar to an artists paint palette and stays closed, whereas Naked has a magnetic close and has a velvet finish.


Urban Decay is a luxury make-up brand, so it's not surprising that Naked and Naked2 are such good quality. The colours are very pigmented, which is how they should be due to their slightly expensive price tag. Naked was dubbed 'the world's best-selling palette of all time', and Naked2 was by far the most anticipated palette in the beauty world after the success of Naked. In my opinion, I would have to say that I prefer Naked2. This is because Naked2 seems to include more neutral and easy to pull off colours than in Naked. Shades like Darkhorse, Toasted and Hustle that are in Naked never seemed to work for me, so I wasn't too keen. I must say, I am in eager anticipation for a Naked3. Because of the major successes of Naked and Naked2, surely UD will make a 3rd?! We can only hope!

Naked and Naked2 are both retailed at £36 and available at Debenhams!

 What's your favourite Naked?
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