The Liebster Blog Award Tag!

So this week has contained a lot of exciting things like being the featured beauty blogger on HelloCotton (you can read more about that here)! I also created my very own, very first button last night! It was my first try so watch this space for a new improved button in the coming weeks/months... But if you feel like copying into your blog... Go ahead - there it is in the sidebar to the right!  


Also this week Keymi from Polish Me Beautiful tagged me for a Liebster Blog Award  ☺. What overwhelms me is that all this has happened, and I only began blogging 11 days ago! Basically, the Liebster Award is given to rising bloggers with less than 200 followers - it's a German word that literally translates to 'dearest', and can be more widely used to mean a number of terms, including sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved and endearing. 

★ From CreativeClutters.com ★ 

The Rules:

1) Post 11 facts about yourself.

2) Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and create 11 questions for people you've tagged to answer.

3) Choose 11 people to give this award to and link them in your post.

4) Go to their page and tell them.

5) Remember, no tag backs!

11 Facts About Me:

1)  I'm half way through my Bachelors degree in Psychology.
2)  I'd like to use my degree to teach primary school aged children with psychological disorders.
3)  I'm double jointed in both my thumbs (and I can make them look pretty weird! - Don't worry, I wont show you).
4)  Kate Middleton is my idol.
5)  I've seen Westlife in concert FIVE times - see what I wore the last time I went here.
6)  My father is a chef (although I don't think I've inherited any of his skills!).
7)  I'm half Balinese and half British. 
8)  I've never broken a bone, although I seem to be dislocating my right knee *a lot*.
9)  My favourite food is profiteroles!
10) I love the smell of tea but don't much like the taste (odd, right?).
11) I am truly and completely obsessed with True Blood!

★ Top row left to right: My boyfriend, my mum, my housemates ★
★ Bottom row from left to right: my cousins, my dad, my sister ★  

Questions from Polish Me Beautiful: 

1) What is your holiest of holy grails product?
Can I be cheeky and say 2? I absolutely swear by a Sudocrem face mask every other night, and Bio Oil on scars and stretch marks every morning and night!


2) What do you love most in this world?
I think I'll have to be cheesy and say people. People make my world- my beautiful family and friends.


3) If you could make one wish what would it be?
World Peace! Haha, who's seen Miss Congeniality? But seriously, it wouldn't be bad.


4) If you could choose between an unlimited budget for shoes, makeup, nail polish or clothes... What would you choose?
Clothes! My entire budget goes on new clothes, followed closely by nail polish.


5) Why do you wear makeup?
I wear make up for myself, and occasionally to impress my boyfriend. Wearing make up gives me that extra bit of confidence in myself, and I love how easily you can change make up for different situations and events.


6) What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
I would make beauty videos on YouTube, and pursue a PhD in Educational Psychology. 


7. Do you have a pet?
None at the moment, but I've got my heart set on getting a dalmatian when I begin renting my own house. 


8. What is the most used piece in your wardrobe?
My Motel flowered shirt dress - it was a present from an ex, but I love it!


9. What is your favourite trend for this summer?
I love all the tropical print items being brought out now (very Jessie J-esque), now I just need the confidence to wear them!


10. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?
Go without talking to my sister for 4 months straight.


11. Why did you start your blog?
I'd been reading other people's blogs and watching other people's videos for years, and finally thought - I could do that!

★ Top left: Sandra Bullock and William Shatner in Miss Congeniality ★ Bottom left: Jessie J on The Voice UK in a shirt that I adore ★ Right: stock photo of my Motel shirt dress ★

My questions for the next tag-ee's:
1)  What is the worst product you've ever bought?
2)  What is your best home-made beauty tip?
3)  Blogs or YouTube?
4)  Would you rather: wear flats or heels for the rest of your life?
5)  Could you happily never wear make up again?
6)  What is the most important part of your daily beauty/hair routine?
7)  What is your favourite brand of make up - high street or high end?
8)  If you could create your dream beauty product, what would it be?
9)  What is your dream job - or are you in it?
10) Who is your biggest fashion idol?
11) If you could be anyone for the day, who would it be?

Who I've tagged: 
- Beauty Satchel
- A Quasi Aesthetic Lifestyle
- Galaxy Glamour
- Sweet Polish of Mine
- Charmed Charlee  

NOTD: Pastel Daisys and Flower Foils (and also a massive thank you!)

First of all, I would like to begin this post with a *massive* thank you to every one who reads this blog, follows it and comments on these posts. I was contacted by HelloCotton yesterday telling me that I was the featured beauty blogger on their website's homepage (and I was!) for my Topshop VS Chanel lipstick post on the 11th June 2012 (oh what a glorious day!), which would definitely not have been possible without all of you! You lot made this happen so I really do thank you so much! I've also been tagged in a Liebster award - explained here, so expect a Q and A's blog soon (if you're interested that is!?). 


And now the now onto the nail art! I've recently finished my summer exams for my university course and so have been left with a *lot* of time on my hands now I'm not cramming my brain full of revision. In the spirit of this, I decided to spend a good 3 hours or so painting mine and my housemate's nails (like the true girl I am)! 


This picture shows how I painted my nails. I'd also picked up the free Ciate (how do you pronounce this?!) paint pot in 'Purple Sherbet' from Marie Claire so wanted to try that out. 

★ Base colour: Ciate Paint Pot (shade Purple Sherbet) ★ Petals: Barry M Nail Paint (shade 66: Matt White) ★ Yellow centre: Miss Sporty Quick Dry Clubbing Colour (shade 35 ★ Leaves: ELF Paint Polish (shade Mint Cream) ★ Top coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat (one shade) ★

I found the Ciate polish to be actually very good. It did take 3 coats for it to become completely opaque (others may be happy with just the 2 coats) but the drying time was exceptional! I am such a novice when it comes to letting my nails dry and I *always* end up with at least one finger smudged from where I'm so impatient, but I have no smudges any where with this polish!

This picture is of my friend's nails after I'd performed a foil wrap on them. I used my Rio Professional Nail Foils Kit for this, which you can see in more detail here.

★ Base: ELF Nail Polish (shade Nude) ★ Flower pattern: from flower foil wrap in the Rio Professional Foils Kit ★  

So what's everyone's opinion - painted flowers or the foil flowers? I don't think my friend has quite come around to the whole concept of foils, but I think they look great! Also make sure to tell me if you'd be interested in reading a Liebster Award tag post ☺.

Products I Regret Buying ☹ : Part Two

A continuation of the Products I Regret Buying ☹ : Part One! Sorry for the delay, I just got a bit caught up in my 20th birthday celebrations! And so continuing the not-so-great reviews on products number 4 and 5...

These products are not numbered in order of quality, I just thought it would be easier to discuss them if they were numbered ☺ 

4) ELF Lip Primer and Plumper (one shade). 

This product is dual - a lip plumper on one end, and a lip primer on the other, however I unfortunately find both products to be flawed. The lip plumper contains cinnamon extract, which according to Elf may cause a 'temporary tingling sensation and slight warmth to the lips shortly after application'. What. An. Understatement! The second I applied the plumper my lips felt ablaze and I immediately rushed to take it off, this feeling certainly wasn't temporary either, I could still feel it for around 20 minutes after I'd wiped it off! And now onto the primer... It's not that this product is terrible but, well yeah actually it is. The primer is just so incredibly thick and there is no way to apply a thin layer without roping in extra brushes. The product also produces a shine effect rather than matt, and so it sometimes streaks and gets mixed in with lipstick rather than just acting as a solid base. Overall, not a good product!

5) Lord & Berry Smudge proof, waterproof eye liner (shade black/brown). 

Admittedly, I don't know much about this brand; I bought this eye liner on an impulse buy whilst ASOS were running a promotion on beauty products, saw an impressive sounding brand name and just clicked 'buy'. What a waste! The formula in this pencil is definitely not eye friendly - it's hard, much too hard for any product that should be applied around the eye (on the lid or under the eye), and when this product is run along the water line it simply does not leave any pigmentation behind. It drags the skin, and leaves an uneven line on the skin if you can bear pushing hard enough - not good, ey.

And so that sums it up (for now)! I definitely will get sucked into buying these sort of products again and so more of these reviews can be expected on a regular basis! At least other people can learn from my mistakes (a little silver lining) ☺.

Classic Red Lips: Topshop VS Chanel

A first to this blog - I will be pitting two products against each other and deciding which performs best. This time: Topshop red lipstick versus a Chanel red lipstick. For those who dream of getting the perfect, classic red lips, this dream often involves owning a Chanel Rouge Coco. I was lucky enough to unwrap exactly this product on my 20th birthday not so long ago - and seen as I had previously been content with the red lips that I achieved from using high street branded products, I decided to compare them. 

★ Numerous celebrities always choose the classic red lips for big events: (top left) Christina Aguilera, Liv Tyler, Gwen Stefani, Eva Longoria, Dita Von Teese, Cameron Diaz (bottom right) ★ 

This post will be a tutorial on how I achieve my red lips with a Topshop lipstick in shade 'Rio Rio' (RRP £8), and then a comparison with Chanel's Rouge Coco lipstick in shade 'Gabrielle' (RRP £24). You might even be surprised with the results!

Step 1: Vaseline.

I always begin any lipstick routine with a layer of Vaseline or lip balm - not too much though, you don't want the lipstick to slide straight off those conditioned lips!




Step 2: Lip liner. 

Always line the lips in a similar shade to your choice of lipstick before applying the lipstick, this will prevent the lipstick from bleeding out (crossing over the lip line), locking the colour in. This is a Topshop lip liner in shade 'Blaze'.






Step 3: Lipstick.


Fill in the rest of your lips using your choice of lipstick, being careful not to go over the lines you previously drew in lip liner. This is a Topshop lipstick in shade 'Rio Rio'.




Step 4: Concealer.
                                                                                                                                                                  

This step makes a big difference to whether you will just be seen wearing red lipstick, or whether your red lipstick will grab peoples attention. Using an angled brush, trace concealer around your lip line and blend out. This will get rid of any smudges as well as highlighting the mouth. This has been achieved by using a L'Oreal Paris Infallible concealer in shade 'Honey' - read my review of it here. This is the final step and finished look using Topshop's lipstick in 'Rio Rio'.

And now for the comparison. I followed the exact same steps, using the exact same products again, but this time I swapped the lipstick for Chanel's Coco Rouge lipstick in 'Gabrielle'. 

On the surface (aside from the slight difference in shade), you can see that these two products are in fact fairly similar. They both create a shine effect and go on the lips very smooth, and because of this they both transfer fairly easily - if you're looking for an all-day non-transfer lipstick then these products are not for you. However, I would say the main price difference between these products comes from the fact that Chanel's Coco Rouge lipsticks not only glide on the lips, but they also hydrate the lips. It lasts on the lips for an average of 4 hours without re-application or need for vaseline/lip balm, where as the Topshop lipstick will need re-application after around 2 hours, and numerous top ups of vaseline/ lip balm in between. 

If your budget allows, the Chanel lipstick is definitely the winner in this battle and worth investing in, however for a third of the price the Topshop equivalent does a pretty good job ☺.

NOTD: Geometric Foil Nail Art

My first NOTD post (how exciting)! I decided to do these nails for 2 reasons: I have a new dress that I'll be wearing tonight and needed matching nails, and I was lucky enough to receive a nail art foils kit as a birthday present recently and having been itching to try it out for weeks! 

★ My dress from ASOS £11 (what a steal!) ★

★ My Professional Nail Foils kit - price unknown ★


So those 2 pieces were my inspiration! Now onto the nail art... I wanted to incorporate black to continue the grungey look of the dress, but also silver to continue the dress's colour scheme.

★ Silver: No 7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour (shade Disco Nights) ★ Black: MUA Nail Varnish (shade 2) ★  ★ Silver foil from foil kit ★

This look was achieved with only one layer of the silver polish and one layer of the black, so both polishes are really opaque - none of this layering business! I've got to admit - the foils did *not* look like that on my first attempt on my left hand, so I thought I'd be cheeky and only show you the picture of my right hand! I was amazed at myself that my right hand  was better than my left as that has never happened before (I'm right-handed, and so my right hands nail varnish is always usually worse)! 

Let me know what you think! Have you experimented with foils yet? Put a link to your nail art in the comments and I'll be sure to look at every one ☺

Products I Regret Buying ☹ : Part One

This post is to unfortunately give some bad reviews on products that I wish I hadn't spent my money on, and maybe spare you from being sucked into the same ad campaigns! Bear in mind that there have been a *lot* of mixed reviews on some of these products, so these are just my personal opinions on them. 

These products are not numbered in order of quality, I just thought it would be easier to discuss them if they were numbered ☺

1) Revlon PhotoReady Liquid Foundation (shade natural beige). 
According to Revlon, this product promises poreless, airbrushed skin in any light, and being water-based rather than oil-based it's supposed to provide coverage as well as hydration. I've seen a lot of mixed reviews about this product - some love it, some hate it, but unfortunately... I hate it. The formula is *very* watery, and stays wet on the skin for a lot longer than any other liquid foundation I've used does. The water base causes it to streak, and it takes a while to build up an even coverage over the entire face. It retails for £12.99 in Boots, which is not too expensive, but it was definitely £12.99 wasted for me. 

2) Aussie Take The Heat Leave In Protection Spray (150 ml). 
I have always been a fan of Aussie shampoos, conditioners and hair masks before, and always make use of the numerous promotions that always seem to be on in Superdrug and Boots, but I was sadly disappointed with this product in the range. It has a very precise spray nozzle, which means that it it does not cover the hair in a fine mist of product, but tends to directly drench only one patch of hair at a time which isn't the desired effect of any heat-protection spray. After straightening with this product I also find that some patches of my hair dry hard, where the product has dried on it - not a good look for anybody! For £4.99 I think I will definitely look elsewhere. 

3) Avon Glimmerstick Retractable Eye Liner (shade starry night blue). 
For an Avon product I actually found this quite expensive at £6, especially when comparing it to similar products such as Barry M's retractable eye liners that only retail at £3.99. The colour itself is lovely - a very deep blue with just a hint of shimmer, but the quality of product lets it down considerably. It is quite hard, and so does not glide on smoothly, and it is very difficult to get an even line of colour from this product. When applying make up around your eyes you don't really want to have to press hard to achieve your look, so this product is a no-go for me.

As in my Every Day Products That I Can/Can't Live Without post, I'll continue reviewing product 4 and 5 in part 2 that will be up tomorrow (reading gets boring, I know!) ☺.

(An Honest) Outfit Of The Week

I decided to make my first fashion post an 'outfit of the week' rather than day because lets be honest, in reality I do *not* dress like this on a daily basis! I wore this outfit to travel to Birmingham and go to a concert earlier this week (which by the way was amazing - although I fear I'll get unfollowed if I tell you who I went to see! *hangs head in shame*!!). 

Blouse: River Island £30★ High-waisted jeans: Republic £29.99★ Slouch bag: Fiorelli £50 ★ Studded dolly shoes: ASOS £30.  

The blue blouse is actually a utility shirt dress, but is so versatile that it can easily be worn as a dress or tucked in to transform it into a blouse. I'd had this piece on my wishlist forever, and was lucky enough to receive it as a gift for my birthday as I probably wouldn't have spent £30 on it myself, but definitely get a lot of wear out of it now that its in my wardrobe! It is 100% polyester but has a satin-esque feel, and I would imagine it to be non-iron (I've not washed it yet to find out).

These high-waisted jeans were a great buy. I don't wear jeans all that often - in fact I only own 2 pairs because I don't like my legs feeling restricted; I'd much rather wear a pair of leggings or a skirt. I was a bit sceptical about whether I'd like these when I bought them but they're made out of such a stretchy material that I can comfortably wear them all day. And the high-waisted is very flattering (as they all are) so these are perfect in my eyes!

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with these shoes, I love the gold studs against the black suede as they're perfect for a more dressed up outfit when I don't want to wear heels, but they just rub my feet so much! If you prefer beauty over pain then these are perfect - I just always seem to find myself torn over whether I should commit and wear them, but then after 2 hours of walking in them I will definitely be regretting my decision. I bought them a couple of years ago now so I don't think this particular design is stocked at ASOS any more, but it seems to be a somewhat staple piece so every year they bring out variations of this design. 

As long as my life permits and I have interesting events to go to I'll do my best to do an OOTW post every week. So what do you think, beauty over pain? Let me know what you've  been wearing this week ☺.