Keeping Chic in Black...

Evening Lovelies! 

It's been such a while since I posted a proper 'OOTD', I know my New Year post included my outfit from the night, but it was also an opportunity to say that I hoped you had all had a fabulous night! 

So here we have my first 'proper' OOTD post from 2011! 

Yesterday I had my 4000 word dissertation (part one) to hand in at Uni, it had been sent to the printers on Friday to be printed & bound and so all I had to do was pick it up and make the drive into Newcastle and hand it in!.. Afterwards I decided, along with my gorgeous little sister to have a little bit of a shopping spree as a reward for all of my hard work.. So off we trotted to The Metro Centre! 

This is what I chose to wear, from top to toe...

Long Black Cardigan - Ted Baker

Mauve Silk Shirt - Zara 

Leather effect topped leggings - Zara

Thigh high boots - Dune

I wore Barry M's Dusky Mauve on my nails and teemed the outfit with my Pandora & my Bibi Alhaja Bijoux charm bracelet..

Hope you're all well

Muchos Love Xx

P.S. Remember, if you have any questions you wish to ask but don't want to e-mail me about you can contact me via my Formspring account by clicking here...

Brightening up the Bronze Age...

Evening Sweet Peas!

I was lucky enough to get quite a considerable amount of makeup for Christmas, in fact apart from beauty items there wasn't much else I'd asked for! 

My MAC Shadow Palette is now completed and the attachment I feel to it is rather absurd! hehe .. Here is how I wore my makeup yesterday, featuring a few new products :) 

Face

MAC Studio Fix Fluid NW25 & MAC Pro-Longwear NC20 (mixed)

I've recently been applying my foundation with a new brush I received as part of a set; The Sigma F84 is a angled synthetic kabuki [Obviously made by Sigma Makeup] .. The brush is amazing, buffs foundation in perfectly and really gives a totally flawless finish, well at least I think so.. I really can't wait to try some more brushes from Sigma, have any of you had much experience with Sigma?..What are your thoughts? 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Deep Dark

Another brush which I received as a present was the Sigma F25 or the Tapered Face Brush.. This has been the most ideal brush in gently applying a contour shade and working it in under my cheek bones. The brush is super soft and again gives such an amazing finish...

NARS Orgasm Blush

I featured this blush in my New Years FOTD and I'm even more in love with it than I was then.. Such a gorgeous coral shade with just the right amount of shimmer, not a hunt of chunky glitter as it's so finely milled.. You only need a touch on your blush brush, I use a MAC 116 and it applies it perfectly :)

Eyes

UDPP in Sin 

Obviously used to prime my eyes; it offers up just the right amount of shimmer and looks so beautiful when on the wand! Keeps my shadows on so well, so much so they look exactly the same when I come to take my makeup off on a night.. You can ask much more than that can you? .. I'm definitely a convert from MAC's Paint Pots which I used to swear by..

MAC Shadows in Nylon and Bronze

Nylon in the inner corner and up on the brow bone

Bronze on the lid

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold Deposit

I used this on a MAC 222 to blend out the Bronze shadow; again receiving this for Christmas I've really been enjoying it's many uses! 

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara 

MAC Smoulder Eye Khol

Lips

As the title of this post suggests, I wanted to brighten up an otherwise everyday bronzey eye... 

I used my YSL Rouge Volupte in shade No 7 - Lingerie Pink 

I hope you all like this post and don't find it borrrrrringgggg...

I kind of got out of the habit of doing 'FOTD' posts with me being so busy recently, but as long as you lovelies enjoy them then I shall keep them coming :) 

Hope you're all having a lovely night... One of my besties is currently on BBC 1 as her Mum got chosen to be in Dale Wintons 'In It To Win It'! .. Check it out! 

Lots of Love Xx

High End Cosmetics Survey... Please lend a hand?

Hey girls, 

As a lot of you know, I study Fashion Communication at University and I'm now, finally in my final year! 

As part of my dissertation research proposal we have to have carried out an extensive survey covering as many age ranges as we think possible. 

I've created a quick & easy survey on the topic of High End Cosmetics; So something I know you're all interested in hehe! 

It will literally only take you a minute to answer it and I'd appreciate it so much! 

If you just click on this link here... http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8MYRVP5  You'll be directed straight to it :) 

Thanks again girls! 

You're all super stars :) 

xx

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

Work Christmas Night Out.. OOTD & Photos ♥

Well... It seems like forever and a day since I got snap happy with an outfit and decided to post it up for you girlies! So, when at the weekend it was my Christmas Night Out with everyone from work I decided to take a couple of photos!

Firstly I'll show you what I decided on wearing...

For those of you who follow me on Twitter you'll know that I had a total and utter nightmare with what I was supposed to be wearing! I'd ordered a dress next day delivery from ASOS to be delivered for Friday, but alas, this dreadful weather we've had meant it didn't even arrive on Saturday! So, after arriving home at 6pm and having to be back out the door in less than an hour I decided on this little ensemble!

Nude Blazer - H&M

Black Tube Top - H&M

Skirt - Primark [...First thing I've ever found & bought in Primark that i've worn!]

Thigh High Suede Boots - Dune

Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 [Stephen Sprouse Print]

I also took a closer up shot, to show you how I wore my makeup...

I had a spray tan on the Thursday evening which left me rather darker than I usually am from my Xen Tan application and so on Friday morning off I had to trot to MAC to pick up yet another foundation.. Baring in mind my boyfriend had just purchased me Pro Longwear in NC20 the week before.. I was colour matched to NW25 in Studio Fix Fluid (with the tan...) and I felt after the application it fitted a lot more seamlessly with the tan than either of my NC20's; both Studio Fix Fluid & the Pro Longwear..

On the lid I used: Nylon, Patina, Satin Taupe & Carbon to create a shimmery smoked out eye.. I added some 'Frankie Style' Lashes from my own False Eyelash Company - Styleyes Lashes

Nars Laguna was my contour shade of choice, with a hint of MAC's Dollymix on the cheek lightly mixed with a little Soft & Gentle MSF...

On my lips I used one of my new favourite nudes; Estee Lauder's Pure Colour Lipstick in Vanilla Truffle [..Topped with a little Lancome Juicy Tube Gloss..]

The following are a selection of photos from a rather intoxicated night.. As you may be able to tell, we were all rather fragile turning into work at 10:30am! 

Myself, my boss Phil & the lovely 'Yummy Mummy' Ruth :)

Me & the boys...

Kris finding my ear rather too attractive, Me & Rob..

The night was eventful to say the least, but thoroughly enjoyed by everyone! 

Have you had your staff nights out already.. Or do you have one planned? I'd love to hear about it! 

Lovess Xx

Styleyes Lashes: Open for Business...

Just a quick note to let you all know that our false eyelash company; Styleyes Lashes is now open for business to cater to all of your falsie needs! 

Our website is...

www.styleyes-lashes.co.uk

All payments are made through Paypal for extra security..

The lovely Lauren who I study with at University, but who also has her own blog which you may already follow; www.fashionlooksnorth.co.uk a fab blog dedicated to Northern Street Style, will be dealing with Web orders... 

I think my favourites have to be either these...

Or these...

Both sets, plus more are available to buy now at the fantastic price of just £5 for 10 sets of lashes! 

Go on... Treat yourself to glamorous party eyes this Christmas :)

Lovesss Xx

Benefit Beauties...

A little while ago, for my birthday in fact, I was given a rather nice gift from my boyfriends Mum...

...This really fun and girlie makeup bag from Benefit! 

I was even more surprised and excited when I opened it up and found these little beauties lurking inside...

It included; 

- 'That Gal' Primer

- Powder Time Lover

- Confessions of a Concealaholic

& finally...

- Bathina Shimmering Body Balm 

It may sound crazy, but I'm yet to try any of the products.. I've been so stuck in my routine with being so busy with uni etc that I just haven't had the time to play about with anything!.. Terrible I know!! 

I was just wondering, out of all of these products do you have any favourites? Anything you repurchase time and time again.. I'm just curious as to which product to use first hehe 

Hope you're well my lovelies Xx