New Years Eve: Outfit & Makeup..

Hello Lovelies & a very warm welcome to 2011! 

I hope you all had a fabulous New Year, whatever you may have gotten up to :) 

I've been mega busy these past couple of weeks; finishing Uni to then working full time hours at work in retail hasn't exactly been the holiday I'd hoped, but Christmas was lovely all in all and I was a very spoilt girl! 

I've seen a few of these post, with people sharing what 'glad-rags' they decided to don to hope off and celebrate the turning of a New Year...

Myself and the boyfriend decided on keeping this year pretty low key; Family drinks, a few at a local bar over the 12 o'clock period & then back to his parents for more drinks into the night!

Here are a few snap from my night...

My dress was picked up as a last minute option from ASOS which you can see here it was a super freezing cold night, so decided to team it with my Dune thigh high boots rather than heels [..I certainly didn't want numb toes!!..]

Here is me & the other half before we set off out...

I also thought I'd include a rather creepy close up of my eye to show you how I wore my eye makeup hehe..

- I took MAC's Nylon and placed it on the inner corners and my brow bone then blended out

- MAC's Patina on the lid and along lower lash line

- MAC's Satin Taupe blended through the crease and on outer corner of lower lash line into Patina

- MAC's Carbon [just a touch] in the outer V and blended into the Satin Taupe

I also used MAC's Grease Paint Stick in 'Oil Slick' along my lower lash line and then slightly smudged it out..

Face

I used MAC's Studio Fix Fluid in NW25

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Deep Dark to Contour 

NARS Orgasm Blush

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold deposit - Used across cheeks and also on a huge kabuki all over my arms, decolletage etc

Lips

I swapped it up all night between MAC's Fresh Brew & YSL's Rouge Volupte No 24 Praline Delight

I truly hope you all had an amazing night & 2011 is a great year for each and every one of you :)

Lots of Love & New Year Wishes...

Laura Xx

Love for Lashes ♥

False eyelashes that is! 

As some of you may know, myself and a few other girlies from Uni have set up a small company as part of our Business Enterprise module selling False Eye lashes. In my last FOTD post 'Shear Glamour' which you can see by clicking here I was sporting a set of the more dramatic lashes. I've gotten a fair few compliments on these lashes, but I do realise that not everyone like the 'over the top' full style lash and may actually prefer a more natural style which will thicken up their own lashes and add a touch of definition. 

The lashes in the above photo are just that; natural, easy to wear & just give your natural lashes a little oomph!

I donned them last week for an impromptu shopping trip with the bestie. They opened up my eyes and drew attention to them, but in no way did I feel that they were over the top. 

Teamed with a neutral smokey eye [my speciality hehe] and a bright pink lip, namely YSL's Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink I was ready to shop till I dropped!

As for our company, we shall be up and running just as soon as we take delivery of our stock.. I realise this is a bit of a teaser, but hopefully through my wearing them you'll see a style that will suit you and you may, when we go online buy a box to try for yourselves! 

Much love xx

Embracing New Products; Simple Sunday FOTD...

Evening girlies.. 

It's been a while since I last posted a FOTD, so after getting ready for work this morning and having some rare spare time before I have to hop in the car to get to work, I thought I'd take a few snaps and show you how I'm currently doing my makeup and what products I'm using on a day to day basis. 

Cue the cheesy photos...

[Jumper - H&M & Scarf - Zara]

I've recently been spritzing my skin with MAC's Fix+ before I apply my foundation. This leaves my skin hydrated, glowy and allows the foundation to be blended in really effectively. For me personally I am yet to find a moisturiser which sits 'right' on my skin yet underneath my foundation, they all seem to just sit there and not sink in which means when I apply the foundation I get a cakey, unnatural finish.

On another note, a couple of new products I'm really getting some use out of are; firstly the new Sleek blush in 'Rose Gold', a beautiful corally pink with a gold shimmery undertone and secondly the 'Her Own Devices' beauty powder from MAC from the Cruella line of the Venomous Villains collection. I've been using the latter almost as a setting powder to finish off my foundation rather than my natural MSF, just for a change.

On my eyes I've been keeping it fairly simple. Today I was working 11-4pm and then straight out for a glass or two of wine with everyone from work so I wanted something which would see me through. I used UDPP to prime my eyes, yes I keep trying this out, but no it has still not managed to convert me from my beloved MAC Paintpots.. Am I missing something? Shadow wise I simply used Urban Decay's Virgin all over the lid and then swept a touch of 'Smog' through the crease. You may have noticed I have lined my upper lash line. I personally LOVE this look on other people, but I could never manage to get the line thin enough to not look over dramatic, but yet smooth. However, I have 100% solved this problem with the new 'Precision Ink' liner from the new Art of Darkness collection from Illamasqua. This liner is seriously amazing, I may in fact do a separate post on this as I'm in love! 

Finally, I kept my lip simple with one of favourites from MAC, the very nude and very wearable 'Myself'..

What new products have you lovelies been wearing & embracing this week? 

Lots of love 

Xxx

The Working Girls Makeup of the Week..

This summer I've gone from being in University full time.. (Well I say full time, what I really mean is a measly 3 days..) to now working full time. To be honest it's really starting to take it's toll on me and with another 41 hour week to look forward to ahead of me, I hope you can forgive me for the serious lack of 'entertaining' posts. 

With me being up early and in work for 8.30am I needed a look which was easy to achieve, but still fairly polished. I work in a Designer Menswear Boutique in my home town called Northern Threads, click here if you fancy taking a peek at some things for your other half!

I thought I'd post a few pics showing how my makeup has been for the past week or so; simple, easy and most importantly quick to do! 

I decided to keep my eye makeup fairly neutral, you know me, not particularly adventurous when it comes to colour! By keeping it neutral it means I can wear anything I like and not have to worry about whether it'll look OK, or whether it will clash. 

I recently purchased the MAC Prep+Prime Skin Base (Primer) and have been using it every day. I've found it's given my skin a really nice glow underneath my foundation and really keeps my makeup in place all day without the need for touch ups. For instance, I've been at work 11-4 today, makeup was applied at 9am and these photos were taken at roughly 5.30pm with no touch ups in between - Not bad going really! 

Products used to get this look:

MAC Prep+Prime Base

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15 & NC20

MAC Espresso to fill in brows

Benefit IT Stick to conceal

MAC Soft Ochre paint pot

Stila Lemon & Pointille shadows

MAC Espresso in crease

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

Lancaster Sunlight Palette in Natural for an all over glow

Lipsticks used this week have included MAC's Snob, Hue & Pretty Please

So there we have it.. 

Do you ladies end up doing the same?.. Choosing & wearing the same makeup for a week at a time for ease? 

Hope you're all well! 

Oh and a massive thank you to you all for reading and following, I hit the 300+ mark last night and it just made my week, it really means a lot ♥

Lots of love Xxx

FOTD - Everyday Neutral Smokey Eye ♥

Morning lovelies :) 

Thought I'd post a quick FOTD and show you how I wear my makeup pretty much everyday; a neutral, very wearable smokey eye.. Hope you like it! 

The products I have used to create this look are:

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer

MAC SFF NC15 + NC20

MAC SF Concealer NC15

Elf Mineral Foundation to set

MAC Paintpot in Soft Ochre

MAC Espresso for my brows

MAC Shroom all over lid

Patina from centre of lid to outer corner

Smut in the outer corner, through crease and undereye

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner

MAC Pink Swoon on Cheekiess

and finally the Jemma Kidd Gloss [Free with this months Red Magazine] in Candy

I hope you all liked this simple everyday look, I apologise for the very messy bedroom! 

I'm on my way out now to pick up 3 copies of Glamour to take advantage of this months fabulous Benefit Freebies! 

Much love and hugs 

Laura Xxx

Overdue! - Bank Holiday FOTD ♥

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went out last Sunday to celebrate the Bank Holiday Weekend - I live right at the coast, and it's a massive tradition in my town for everyone to pile down to the coastal pubs which line the Sea Front! 

I forgot to get a proper close-up of my makeup, but I thought I'd do a quick bit of Photoshop cropping to show you all how I wore my face!

L'Oréal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer

MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC20

ELF All Over Cover Stick in Apricot Beige (To Conceal)

MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre to prime eyelids

MAC Patina all over lid

MAC Smut in outer corner & under eye

MAC Woodwinked (just a tiny bit in line with my pupil - doesn't really pick up on this!)

MAC Espresso for my brows

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner

ELF All Over Cover Stick in Lilac Petal on my cheekies

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze

MAC Saint Germain on my lippies!

I give credit for my tan to my ever faithful friend St Moriz!

I basically wanted to create a look which was polished, but yet not too glammed up :) 

Hope you like it & let me know your thoughts...

Lovess Xx