Fashion Influx

You know those days when you could do with being on time? I usually find they're the ones where I end up in a flap, running around like a blue arsed fly. When I'm late, it's my makeup routine that I have to shave some time off. Generally, it doesn't take me that long to do my face - a good 20 minutes is plenty for a work day, but when I'm running late I can probably get this down to just over 5 minutes. I reckon that's quite good?! Yeah, I'm probably not Instagram ready, but presentable enough to head out. So, for rushing out the door I cut down to 5 main products - these are the ones I use when I really need to get my face done fast.  Brow Gel –  Maybelline Brow Drama Because there’s not a chance in hell I’ve got time for that ombre brow when I’ve woke up with 10 minutes to get ready. I don’t mind a natural brow, even though mine are really crap. I don’t have much shape or that fleek-y arch I dream of, but a feathery brow can be just as nice as...

Swatches L-R: NARS Illuminator - Orgasm, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - Bronze (lightest shade), Laura Mercier Illuminator - Indiscretion, NARS Multiple - Violet Atom, Sigma Bright to Light Highlight Duo Do you know how hard it is to get highlighter swatches to show up on a (badly) fake tanned arm? It's tough, but then this beauty side of blogging isn't exactly my forte. Seen as 'strobing' is a bit of a thing right now, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite highlighting products. I'm definitely one to jump on the bandwagon, especially when it involves shiny, pretty looking makeup stuffs. Here goes.  NARS Illuminator - Orgasm This one has a really nice warmth to it, so it's perfect for doubling up as a bit of cheek colour (more so if you're a pale Gail like me). I just add it up from the apples of my cheeks to the top of my cheek bone and it's a light flush of colour with a slight shimmer. As it's a cream I use this one mostly ...

This week I’ve been trialling the new NARS Audacious Mascara , adding it into my daily routine as a go-to for my lashes. You all know I’m a fan of lash extensions, but I still love the feeling of taking my own eyelashes from barely there to something way more fluttery, and at the end of the day I can scrub it all off and give my eyes a good rub! For my look here I’ve gone for really natural makeup (that’s usually all I have time for when I’m on the go), with some defined looking lashes. Here I’ve just used a couple of coats of the NARS Audacious Mascara, before I popped it in my bag for freshening up my makeup during the day. Verdict wise, the formula wears really well on me, and I can layer up slightly if I head out in the evening, without creating a big clumpy mess. I think it’s the brush though that really makes it. It’s packed with these hooks like bristles, which separate out my lashes really well. I love the look you end up with, lengthened lashes, yet still...

If I could only have one beauty item (oh the horror) it would definitely be under the base makeup heading. Scrap fluttery lashes and rosey lips, I need a good base before I can think about anything else. To me it's like giving yourself a good canvas to work on. These are my current favourites for smoothing out all the face stuffs. MAC Face & Body Foundation My current foundation after switching from Estee Lauder Double Wear. I'll probably head back to DW for more coverage over winter, but I do think it's a tad heavy for all year round. Face & Body on the other hand feels like you're hardly wearing makeup, with a really light coverage that you can gradually build up. I love it for something more natural. Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder I don't know if this actually counts as a 'base' product, but it's the one I go for for setting all the other stuff. It's got a good colour payoff to it without the yellow tones you can get wi...

Heels - New Look , NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (Honey) & Illuminator (Orgasm) I've been trying to reign in the spending a bit recently.. I don't know when I got into this whole 'I'm in my twenties, I work hard, I can buy whatever the hell I like' notion but it needs to stop before I end up living on crisp sandwiches for the rest of eternity.  I did have reason to buy a couple of newbies though. I was heading on a night out and some of you may have also seen on Twitter/Instagram that I've just got a new job! All very exciting. I feel like I've been a bit absent from blogging recently with all this life stuff going off, but I'm hoping this new job will make blogging life a lot easier. I'll probably update you all on YouTube about goings on with me at some point.. It's not that exciting but there are a few new things I can mention! Anyway, new job = new heels & makeup required. I feel like it's justified. I'd been...

I’ve definitely got a bit of a thing for fashion and beauty collaborations. It takes two of my favourite things and pops them together for a mash up that suits me down to a tee. When I heard about the Christopher Kane for NARS collection it was indeed one for me to get a bit giddy about. I’m a big NARS fan (what is a world without Laguna bronzer?), and the Christopher Kane influence sounded ideal – taking the vibrant neons and finding those neutrals that complement them perfectly. For me, I can add this collection into my get ready routine in stages. With my typically monochrome outfit I’ll first go for the neutrals, starting with the Silent Nude blush.   It hasn’t got that orange undertone you get with a lot of neutral blushes so I love using it a bit like a contour. I then take to the stand out colours – a swipe of highlight on cheeks and eyes before dabbing on some Mezmer Lip Gloss. With nudes to pair with it’s so much easier to build up on the bold. ...

NARS 'Deborah' Lipstick, MAC 'Whirl Lip Liner, Illamasqua  Precision Brow Gel & Angled Brush Just an update on a few recent loves that I've added to my life. I've gone a bit mad with makeup over the last few weeks - I've bought my first ever MAC brush (I know.. what have I been doing) and  updated  my makeup after throwing out a load of disgustingly old stuff. I'm blaming Instagram - I'm always on Pinterest for outfit inspo but Instagram is my go-to for looking at makeup queeens. I'm 23, I wanna be able to do eyeliner totally fudging it up okay. Ha.  There's only one real newbie here. The NARS Lipstick I got at Christmas and I've mainly put it in there because it's just generally a dreamy consistency. The colour isn't something I can pull off every day, but I just love it because of how thick and creamy it is. Plus it's really matte - I'm not a shimmery lip sort of gal. MAC Whirl is up there too as I've bee...