My 30th Birthday - MOTD & OOTD

I'm officially the big THREE - ZERO. Wowzas! 

On my birthday eve I went out for an amazing meal in Aberdeen at Eat on the Green.

Other than my husbands flight from Manchester being delayed for 4 hours (damn you Flybe!!) and us almost missing the reservation, we had a great time.
Luckily I had primed well, so my makeup was still in tact. Phew. 

Makeup Mistakes To Avoid

The fun of makeup is experimenting and trying out new looks; some of which will be successful and some won't. I've certainly tried to rock some dodgy looks in my time but it's all apart of gaining experience and having fun.

Having said that, there are some very common makeup mishaps (some of which I'm also guilty of) doing the rounds right now. I'm no makeup expert but if you'd like to know my advice on what I think should be avoided, keep reading...

My Christmas Day

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone had a fabulous day. 

I had a great day with my family up in Aberdeen. I ate lots and lounged lots - watched tons of movies and felt sick, but then ate some more! Yeah!!

I love to know what others got for Christmas so I hope people don't take this post the wrong way. (By the way, my christmas jumper is from Marks & Spencer). 

Dark Berry Lips - Revlon Colorstay Moisture Lip Stain

If you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen that I've been experimenting with dark lips. After testing the look for a few days in the comfort of my own home, I decided to brave the outside world and venture out with my dark berry lips on full display!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner

I'm on a raving mission today ...before I say any of the useful features of this eyeliner please know that I absolutely LOOOOOVE IT!

Makeup Trends 2015

I'm definitely not 'out with the old' just yet but today I'm looking ahead at the makeup trends of 2015.  I realise it's not even Christmas yet but as per usual, I'm impatient and eager to be one step ahead. I've condensed the top trends into three main, easy to do, gorgeous looks:

1. Au Naturel - Barefaced Beauty

Minimal makeup is making a come back. Even down to the eyebrows; girls ...no more colour blocking those brows!!! We're going for fresh faced and radiant, so even before the makeup begins, it's vital that skin is well moisturised and hydrated. You all know how much I love Eucerin products!

Seventeen Cosmetics + free gift

To this day I've never found a drugstore mascara that I really like. After tweeting my frustrations, someone mentioned how amazing Seventeen Falsifeye Mascara is. The brand was known as no.17 when I was growing up and it's a budget cosmetics line aimed towards the teenage market, but I was more than willing to revisit my childhood in order to gain some great lashes!

When I headed to Boots they had an offer on; buy two or more Seventeen products & receive a free limited edition eyeshadow palette - I believe this offer is still currently running (20.12.14). 

So here's what I bought:

Eye Colour - Brown £3.99 

Big Bouncy Hair with Minimal Effort

Naturally I have thin and flat hair. If you want voluminous hair without all the effort of rollers, blow drying and salon prices - I'm going to show you how! This is my quick and easy full bodied hair routine: 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet

Liquid lipsticks have been on the rise; L'Oreal, Revlon, Stila, Kat Von D (to name a few) have all come out with long lasting, 'lip colours'.  

One of the latest brands to join in with the all the fun is Bourjois. I can't actually recall the last time I bought anything from this brand ...I was probably about 16 years old, but I heard that they had perfected the formula and created an amazing, non-lip-drying, liquid lipstick that puts all the others to shame. 

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette - Raw Sugar

If you read my post about the website: Cohorted, you'll know that I got the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette - Raw Sugar, at a bargain price. 

Makeup & Beauty Favourites of 2014

2014 has been a huge year for me, both personally and for my beloved makeup hobby;

Not only did I get married, buy a dog and relocate from the South to the North, BUT I also started my blog, created a personal best in makeup shopping spree's and experimented with different looks & brands more than ever! 

Wild About Beauty HAUL

I wanted to try more Wild About Beauty products after falling in love with their bronzing powder, so figured there was no better time than when they were offering 50% off all items in the Black Friday sales.

Sweat-proof your Makeup

The clock strikes midnight on a girly night out, and after a few cocktails (and maybe some shots) and lots of dancing, you hope that the person staring back at you in the mirror with makeup sliding off and a missing eyelash is someone else. 

1950's Inspired Christmas Day Makeup Look

When I think of Christmas, there are a few things that spring to mind other than scoffing chocolates and mince pies ...Actually I hate mince pies! Anyway, I usually think of the many different shades of RED I see over the festive season. Whether it's the Coca Cola advert, tree decorations or the dodgy Father Christmas with the even dodgier fake beard!

I never ever wear red in any way shape or form, so I thought it would make a nice change to come up with a red inspired makeup look for Christmas day.

I decided to go for a 1950s inspired look with three key areas:

Cohorted Makeup Website - UK

Firstly, my posts have been a little few and far between of late as I'm in the process of moving house. Everyone knows that moving is a stressful time, so to cheer myself up I bought myself a little something (haha any excuse!). 

I bought the Bobbi Brown Raw Sugar Eyeshadow Shimmer Palette and a Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara for the bargain price of ....wait for it ....£23.75!!! + free postage and packaging!!!

Not only an AAAAMAZING price, but this palette isn't widely available in the UK. 

I bought these bargains from Cohorted.

If you haven't heard of it, it's a fairly new website that base their prices on group buying; so the more people out there that enter in to a Cohort, the cheaper the final price everyone pays! I received a 56% discount on my purchase which I think you'll agree is huge. 

Not only that but the website also offer loyalty points with purchases, that can be collected and then converted into money to make your future shopping bill even cheaper. 

I will hopefully receive my goodies soon, and I'll put up a post with swatches and review when I can. I'm not sure if I'll have the internet in my new home next week, so apologies in advance for my lack of posts.

Merry Christmas!

Essie Nail Wraps

If I'm being completely honest my nails usually look a hot mess. I enjoy painting them but never seem to have the time to re-do them every couple of days, so they're often chipped. I figured that nail stickers may help my issues and I've wanted to try them for ages now, but I've heard lots of mixed reviews. With the party season approaching, I thought I'd give them a whirl!

24 Hour Lipsticks - TESTED!

Last week I compared three highly available lipsticks that all claim to last 24 hours. I tested to see which one really is the best long lasting lipstick!
I wore each one for a whole 24 hours (yes even in bed!) to really see if this industrial strength lippie is really worth the hype. I drank lots of tea, ate lots of food, brushed my teeth ...basically everything I would do on a normal day!

Urban Decay Full Frontal Lipstick Stash - Review & Swatches

Makeup sets are everywhere right now, and although I love seeing all of the limited addition gifts, it can be tricky deciding which one (or two, ...or three) to buy! Palettes and gift sets also make amazing Christmas presents - hint hint friends and family lol!!

If you're looking for something a little different, I stumbled across the Urban Decay Full Frontal Lipstick Stash. A lipstick gift set is a little daring I know, but hear me out ....here you're getting SIX  lipsticks in a variety of shades which is perfect for the lipstick lover out there, but also great for someone like me who generally isn't that adventurous when it comes to picking lipsticks shades. I like that I get six mini's to play around with, and inspire my makeup looks as well as future lipstick purchases. 

SILVER Sparkly Party Eye Makeup - Max Factor Shimmer Eyeshadow Pearl Metallic

If you read my previous post, you'd know that I recently purchased the new metallic Max Factor Excess Shimmer eye-shadow's in shades Copper and Pearl. Metallics are big right now, and I always love some bling bling around the Christmas season!
Yesterday I focused on creating a gold party look (click here to take a peek), and today I'm focusing on silvers: 

MAX FACTOR EXCESS SHIMMER : PEARL

 

GOLD Glam Party Eyes - NEW Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow

I recently purchased the new metallic Max Factor Excess Shimmer eye-shadow's in shades Copper and Pearl, so I thought I'd create two different glam party looks - today focusing on golds and tomorrow focusing on silvers.

MAX FACTOR EXCESS SHIMMER : COPPER

 

Perfect Winged Eyeliner - Tutorial with video!

I recall being about 12 years old when I became interested in watching my mum doing her makeup. I would sneak a couple of items from her makeup bag and try to apply them before school. Those were the days before YouTube tutorials; I remember buying a magazine just so that I could try and copy the eye-makeup from a Revlon advertisement. 

REVIEW: No 7 Radiant Spheres Highlighter

I spotted this highlighter on Instagram and loved the design (I'm such a sucker for pretty things). I initially thought it was a more expensive brand, so I was really excited when I found out that it was from Boots No 7 range. I really wish I could remember who posted the pic, to say thank you!

LUSH Lovin'

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love Lush. For years my mum has bought me a hamper of Lush goodies every Christmas, and I spend the first half of every year having mainly baths and smelling of roses and lavender.

I love all the amazing scents that are concocted in to their cute handmade products, and I also like the Lush ethos of using fresh and honest ingredients. Plus who doesn't love the fact that they don't test on animals! Hurray!

My favourite way of relaxing is to have a bath. I don't actually stay in it for very long (mainly due to eczema) but I adore the initial sinking into the water and just letting go.

I have MANY favourites (Think Pink bath bomb, Space Girl bath bomb, Dream Cream body lotion to name a few), but I thought I'd share some recent purchases:

TISTY TOSTY BATH BOMB £3.35

This is a floral scented bomb that releases rose buds when dissolved. It also contains oil which is super amazing for dry skin. Plus I just love the look of this one - I have this sat in my bathroom as a decoration at the moment. So cute!

Polka Dot Nails

After experimenting with nail polish and posting the result on Twitter, people seemed interested in how I created the effect, so I thought I'd quickly write a post.

Highlighters, Illuminators and Shimmers

I have a crush on highlighers, illuminators and shimmers. Anyone can wear a highlighter and needn't look like a disco ball; there are plenty of different looks you can create with these products:

Latest Makeup Letdowns

When I love something I will tell everyone in sight ...this doesn't just extend to makeup, this could be anything ...shoes, jewellery, food blender (true story!). Some of my friends say I'd be great in sales - which is funny because it's the one job I 100% couldn't do - purely because in sales you usually have to convince others to buy something even when you don't believe in it, and to me that's sacrilege!

NARS Skin : Double Refining Exfoliator Review

I bought this from ASOS during their one day flash sale. I was so excited when it arrived that I took all my makeup off any tried it straight away! I've never tried NARS skincare products before ...I actually didn't even realise they had a skincare range.

Brighten Up with Highlighting Concealer

Firstly : What is Highlighting Concealer??

It can all be very confusing but in simple terms it's a thin concealer that bounces light to brighten and contour the face. 

A standard concealer has a thicker consistency, and is used to cover blemishes and dark circles under the eyes. A highlighter can cover minor blemishes and circles but the texture is very light so isn't always suitable to help with problem areas.

THANK YOU - 1,000 views!

I started this blog as a hobby; I'm not one for sports (other than walking Teddy) so spending an hour each day writing about my favourite topic seemed like a great way to escape from reality, and practice some writing skills whilst having a good excuse to natter about my love of makeup.

Autumn / Winter Makeup Trends 2014

1. BOLD BROWS  

This certainly isn't a new trend, but apparently it's not going away any time soon. It's NOT okay to forget to pluck the mono-brow, nor is it an invitation to draw two giant slugs above the eyes with a marker pen.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Wild About Beauty Golden Bronzer

 

No matter what time of year it is, I always wear a bronzer. As the weather gets colder and my skin becomes whiter (if that's even possible?!) I turn to my beloved, trusty sunkissed friend for help. 

How To Apply False Eyelashes (the easy way)

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5 Steps to Perfect False Lashes 

Before we begin, make sure you have already applied mascara and you have cut the end of each false lash so that it fits the length of your eye. My last tip before we start is to sit very closely in front of a large mirror and TAKE YOUR TIME.

The Best Drugstore Makeup

Inexpensive Highstreet Makeup Options

I use a wide range of products and still get a thrill whether I'm spending £5 or £50! I've had a look through my collection and these are my fave inexpensive budget beauties: From Left to Right:

1. L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara, £10.99

This is one of my favourite mascara's full stop, it's just a bonus that it's also at the cheaper end of the mascara spectrum. The wand is on the thin side which isn't to everyone's taste, but it stays on all day - no smudging and no flaking. I prefer this over most of the highend mascaras I've tried (which is a lot!).

2. L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstic, £7.99 

Sheer and very soft on the lips; leaves them feeling gorgeously moisturized. This lipstick has the most lovely light texture to it, similar to a tinted lip-balm - but with better coverage! My favourite shade is Dating Coral - warm, soft, pinky coral with a slight orange undertone; Beautiful!

3. Max Factor Bronzing Powder, £6.99

Not only do you get a lot for your money in terms of product size, but this is also an incredible bronzer. It has a very slight shimmer leaving a lovely glow to the face. I sometimes use all over for a bronzed look, or as a light contour for my cheeks, jawline and forehead.

4. L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim, £6.99

This liquid liner is very user friendly; it's in felt- pen format and has a very thin, precise tip which enables a lot of control when trying to create a wing effect. I use this when I'm in a rush and don't have the time to use gel liner. It's quick and easy to use. 

5. MUA Undress Me Too Eyeshadow Palette, £4.00

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette springs to mind here! By no means are the eye shadow's as pigmented as the Urban Decay, BUT I actually found this to be far better quality than I expected! It has a great selection of colours and at £4.00 it's a bargain!

Finished Look:

Using all the products listed above, including my favourite Revlon Colorstay Foundation:

Image 'highlighted' to show true colour likeness. No other editing.

Makeup Storage

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How to store your makeup |

This is my 'tidy' dresser where I apply the majority of my makeup. Looks lovely and neat doesn't it....

WANT. NEED. LOVE

MY CURRENT WISHLIST |

1. You Beauty Advent Calendar 

I'm Currently Loving

  MY TOP PICKS : November 2014 |

 

1. Purple Nail Varnish

I've had this Barry M Nail Paint for a while now, completely untouched, but with the change in weather I'm loving purples and reds right now, so I dug it out of my nail varnish drawer and hey presto! As usual Barry M is cheap and cheerful, big thumbs up! www.barrym.com

PRODUCT REVIEW: Majorette Blusher, by Benefit

Majorette Cream Blusher, by Benefit

I bought this cream blusher on the release day back in September 2014. I have been using it on and off for a couple of months now and thought it was time to give my verdict. As someone who prefers powder blush, I was interested to see how I got on with it.

Dry Skin Solutions

Solutions for Dry Facial Skin |

I suffer with dry skin on the best of days, so now that Winter is approaching, I wanted to share my top tips and products to help suffering skin.

1. Exfoliate 

This is the first step in achieving smoother skin. For years I knew I was supposed to exfoliate, but I just didn't. I figured that my face wipe was doing it all for me ....WRONG! Invest in a weekly scrub such as  NARS Double Refining Exfoliator.
You only need to exfoliate once a week otherwise you can make your skin drier - I learnt this the hard way!

Best Essential Makeup Must-Haves

TOP 6 MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS |

For my first ever post I wanted to share some of my favourite make-up best-buys from over the years. Yes 'drug-store' hauling is fun fun fun, but it's far more cost effective to buy a few trusty staples that are reliable and will last a long time. 

Here are my top 6 basics that I can't live without: 

1. FOUNDATION : +Revlon Colorstay 

This foundation comes in two formulas; Normal/Dry and Combination/Oily so it really does suit most skin types. I'm often tempted to try out new foundations but I ALWAYS come back to this one. It covers well, blends easily and doesn't feel heavy or sticky. I also find it to be long lasting and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, hurray! It's usually compared to far more expensive foundations it's that good! ....but it's a fraction of the cost at £12.49. 

2. EYESHADOW : +Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash (in colour Champagne)

I don't tend to use my more expensive items on a daily basis but this is the exception. I use this eyeshadow pretty much every single day (at £17.50 it's not cheap but it lasts aaaages!). I use it daily as it looks great on it's own applied with the tip of my finger, no fuss needed!

I also use it as a base when applying other colours, and sometimes as a subtle highlight on my browbone. Great all-rounder. If there was one eyeshadow that I had to use forever, it would be this! 

3. EYELINER : Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel

After using every eyeliner under the sun, from pencils, pens, liquid... I have settled on a gel for these reasons: it is long lasting, easy to build up, easy to use. No one wants a smudged cat-eye, and the liner lasts all day. To be completely honest it did take me a couple of attempts to get it right when I first bought it BUT now I apply with quickness and ease. When it goes wrong (which lets admit it, does happen from time to time) it is much easier to fix than other types of liner.

4. MASCARA : L'Oreal Telescopic

I have fallen in and out of love with many mascaras over the years and this is my trusty go to make-up essential. It is one of the only mascaras that doesn't end up speckled all over my face by the end of the day and it's a reasonable price. It does take a few strokes to apply as the wand is very thin, but I can totally live with that as the mascara is the best I've used for the £10.99 price-tag.

5. CONCEALER : YSL Touche Eclat Radiant

I wanted to try this concealer for years after hearing rave reviews but could never bring myself to part with my well earned cash. The thought of spending £20.00+ on a concealer seemed ludicrous. Then one day my mum called me to say that she had purchased this concealer by mistake and asked if I wanted it and I have never looked back. With dry skin, concealer was never a good friend to me, however the YSL is light, smooth and very easy to use. It is by far a million times better than any cheaper concealers I have ever used and therefore worth the price.  

6. BRUSHES / TOOLS: Beauty Blender 

I have quite a few brushes in my collection including many Mac and Bobbi Brown. But the very best way to apply foundation, concealers and cream highlighters in my opinion is with the Beauty Blender. For anyone with dry and or / spotty skin, this will really help you to achieve a more flawless application. You 'dab' the product on to the skin which creates a lovely end result. For me it is now the only way to apply face make-up, however please note that with everyday use, you will need to replace the blender much sooner than a brush. Purchased from Amazon.

To conclude:

Don't get me wrong, I'll definitely continue to buy way too much make-up - that could probably last someone a life time!! But now I prefer to haul and experiment with 'colours', and spend that bit more on a good base and some reliable items.

Favourite Mac Lipsticks

 My Top MAC Lipsticks (with a bobbi brown thrown in)

I always find lipstick the most exciting thing to buy over any other makeup item, but if like me, there are just too many to choose from, here are my top +MAC picks:

1. MAC, Syrup

If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I LOVE this lipstick. It has a lustre finish which means it creates a gorgeous sheen on the lips. I'd describe this colour as having a slight violet hue which makes it super stunning ...and perfect for pale skin!

2. MAC, See Sheer

Again, a lustre finish (which I forgot to mention, is perfect for people are aren't confident with bright, bold colour on their lips). Now surprisingly I wouldn't normally go for this colour as it is slightly 'orangey', however, it seems to work?! Love! 

3. MAC, Peach Blossom

This is my classic, go to, soft pink ....and the one I throw on quickly when in a rush. It's a cremesheen, which as you guessed it, has a creamy texture with a glossy finish. If you're looking for your own lip colour but better, buy this!

4. MAC, Creme Cup

This is my most recent purchase. I bought it after having my make-up done professionally for a wedding. I asked for a nude lip to go with my smokey eyes, and instantly loved this shade when she applied it. I'd describe it as the true nude version of the Peach Blossom; they come from the same family but aren't twins ....maybe sisters lol.

5. Bobbi Brown, Razzberry

Haha ok, so this isn't MAC, but I had to mention it, as it's my new favourite lipstick right now and perfect for Autumn / Winter. It actually has a matte finish but the flash on my camera has made it look more shiny than it really is. 

Perfect for someone who is new to bolder colours, or just wants something a little different from the usual pinks and nudes. +Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

(L-R) Syrup, See Sheer, Peach Blossom, Creme Cup, Razzberry

To Conclude

As with any lipstick, it's always a good idea to try before you buy. If you aren't able to get to a store selling these products then I hope I've helped in some way. I'm sure I'll continue to buy many more lipsticks to come, and will probably be raving about my NEW 5 favourites in the near future! 

Love Jemma x