Favourites: August 2013

I changed things up a bit in the last few months due to the 'unseasonal' Summer weather we had here in the UK! Here's what I have been using in August...

Skin 79 Super+ BB Cream

This is my third bottle of this original Korean BB cream. I found it on eBay after seeing it in one of Miss Glamouratzi's videos. I know that Ingrid has combination skin like myself so thought this would be a good option that wouldn't leave me with a face like an oil slick by lunchtime.

The formula is thick, creamy and fairly grey in tone, though it does alter to match the colour of your skin when blended. Having said that, I have very pale skin so I don't think this would work for anyone darker than an NC/NW25 in MAC foundations.

The coverage is medium but buildable and I have found that it does let some shine through towards the end of the day, even after powdering. I think this has also helped to fade some of my previous blemish scars as many Asian skincare and make-up products are whitening.

If you are on the paler side and want to try an original Korean BB cream if highly recommend this.

Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Pinched & Flushed

I bought these two beauties about 6 months ago but always struggled to use them without the cream taking all of the foundation off my cheeks on blending. Then I tried applying them before powder but after the BB cream above and I love the result.

I often don't use powder on my cheeks when wearing one of these to let the dewiness of the blush shine through. It provides a nice contrast to the rest of my skin, which I like to keep quite matte.

These are a great affordable way to test the water with cream blusher and perfect for the warmer weather. I have since purchased a lovely MAC cream blusher, which I'll review when I've had a bit more of a play.

Maybelline EyeStudio Colour Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze

This is a fairly recent purchase and one I have been loving for a quick smokey eye. Paired with a waterproof/long-lasting black pencil liner it gives a dramatic and long-wearing look.

I apply this with my ring finger all over the lid up to the crease and then blend the edges into the crease with a MAC 217 or similar fluffy brush. It lasts all day without creasing and I can't fault it.

I now want to try the Permanent Taupe colour as I think this would be great for an easy defined crease eye look.

What were you loving in July?

Katie xx

Review: Oribe Dry Texturising Spray

Oribe Dry Texturising Spray £18.00

This product is quickly achieving cult status, particularly in the blogging world, so I thought I’d give it a go. I was in Space NK picking up a new brush head for my Clarisonic Mia and this was next to the till (damn you Space NK and your tempting till offerings!).

The first thing to point out about this product is the not so purse friendly price point. I picked up the travel/handbag size and even this was a whopping £18.00 but I was so excited to try it I put it to the back of my mind and handed over my debit card.

For a while now I have wanted to try and perfect the ‘undone’ hair look for that ‘just rolled out of bed looking gorgeous’ feeling and I thought that this product would be the key to achieving it. The result, unfortunately, was a messy (not in a good way), dry feeling mop.

I know the clue is in the name of the product but I just wasn’t expecting my hair to feel so dry after using this. Oribe promote this as an alternative to dry shampoo for creating texture and volume and it definitely has the same feeling as my beloved Batiste.

After really trying to make this work for me I have come to the conclusion that I just can’t pull off the messy hair look. Particularly as I get older I think having ‘messy’ hair just makes me look like a harried mother of three (even though I don’t yet have any kids!).

I think I’m going to stick to the clean, shiny ‘done’ look for now!

Have you tried this product? What do you think of the ‘messy’ hair trend?

Katie xx

Haul: Boots August 2013

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Effects in Papaya

This is the second of these gel-style polishes from Barry M that I have picked up. I rushed out to buy Lychee when they first came out like everyone else but, whilst I was having a browse the other day, I noticed they had a few new colours.

Papaya seemed like a quite unique muted orange. Previously I’ve steered away from all things orange-toned as I worry they will clash with my hair but I really like this colour. A bit different to the traditional coral, I can’t wait to try this one out on my nails.I have heard that the darker colours in this line stain the nails so I’ll make sure I used a good base coat.

Barry M Sequin Nail Effects in White

This was a complete impulse purchase but I couldn’t leave it on the stand. I have been eyeing up a really similar version from Revlon for ages and this was at least half the price. I’m not sure how this will translate on the nails as, quite often, you need to slap on a good few coats to get a decent amount of the glitter to transfer.

I quite like the idea of this toning down some of the brighter colours I have with its milky, white base. It might be one of my last forays into glitter polish due to my advancing age. Can a 30 year old still wear glitter nail polish??

Rimmel Scandaleyes Thick & Thin Eyeliner

I couldn’t resist trying this one as soon as I got it. I’ve been wearing a slick of black eyeliner with a flick almost every day for the last 12 or so years and I’m a big fan of these pen-style liners.

I love the really fine nib as it makes getting a precise flick so much easier. I wasn’t however too impressed with the colour pay-off of this. It’s not as black or opaque as many others I’ve tried but the staying power is good. It claims to be waterproof, which I haven’t tested but it definitely passes the inner corner smudge test, which may other pen liners don’t.

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Red Sunrise

After seeing these new lip crayons on Lily’s blog I immediately added them to my list. Originally I was planning to get Peach on the Beach but when I saw Red Sunrise I couldn’t resist it.

This is different from the other lip crayons I’ve tried in that the colour you get when you first apply it is really close to the colour you’re left with after a few hours. I wouldn’t call them stains but they do leave a nice, subtle colour behind if you’re lazy like me and only remember to apply lip colour in the morning.

This is the perfect lazy red colour. It gives great colour pay-off but you don’t need to be too precise with your application (sorry lip pencil!) I find this perfect for work.

Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Polish in Tourquoise

This was a slightly older purchase but I thought I’d add it in here anyway. I have barely had this off my nails since I bought it and LOVE the colour!

The application is the best of any nail polish I have ever tried. The brush is wide enough to coat the whole nail (apart from the thumb) and you can get away with just one coat, although I often do two just for staying power. This coupled with my Seche Vite top coat are a dream combination and have definitely been my Summer nails of choice this year.

Have you tried any of these beauties?

Katie xx

Review: MAC Cream Blush in Ladyblush

 

This lovely cream blush featured in my recent MAC & Primark Haul post and wasn’t really a planned purchase.

I recently fell in love with cream blusher after buying the Revlon Photoready cream blushers ages ago and finally finding a way to wear them.

MAC Ladyblush is a pigmented, peachy-orange cream blusher that applies with a slight sheen but no shimmer, which is just what I was looking for.

I wanted something slightly darker than a coral or a true peach and this is the perfect shade and will see me through to Autumn.

I apply this after foundation and concealer but before powder and, more often than not, don’t powder over it to keep the radiant sheen show through and make me look younger more awake than I am.

Although there isn't a massive shade range in the Cream Blend blushers, I think MAC have got this one just right. You can pick this up anywhere that sells MAC products and it is £18.00 or £15.00 in the pan.

Have you tried this blusher?

Katie xx

Life: Cupcake Decorating Course (Hey Little Cupcake)

A few Sunday's ago I went along to Hey Little Cupcake in Manchester's Spinningfields to their cupcake decorating course. It's something I have wanted to do for a while having previously been an avid baker it was always the butter cream/icing part that let me down.

There were 6 of us in the class on the day I went, all women, and I wasn't the only one on my own, which was reassuring. The lovely Ashley was teaching the class and we had the cupcakery to ourselves.

Several techniques were demonstrated during the class; working with sugar paste (we made leaves, flowers, butterflies and hand-rolled roses), making butter cream and piping using 4 different nozzles for different effects.

Throughout the class you each decorated 6 cupcakes that you could then take home to dazzle your friends with your new-found skills. Here are some photos from the day...

I think my favourites are the cookie monster and the garden. Let's hope I don't spend too much money on cake decorating equipment and then eat everything I bake!

The course was £35 for 2 hours and you can book yourself in here.

Which is your favourite? Have you ever done a baking or cake decorating course?

Katie xx

Skincare: My Evening Routine #1

Recently I have added a few new products into my evening skincare routine and switched things up a bit so I thought I'd do a bit of an update post.

After suffering a looooooong period of breakouts, particularly around my chin (hormones!), I came to the realisation that my skin was pretty dehydrated and that was essentially causing the breakouts. I think this was due to me switching from a night cream to a night gel. Never again!

My evening routine now consists of the following hydrating, but still purifying for my combination skin, products.

L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil

After a few years of using the MAC Cleanse Off Oil and a flirt with the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm I saw this L'Oreal version on offer in my local supermarket and decided to give it a try.

At a fraction of the cost of my usual MAC oil I wasn't expecting much. Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised. The only differences I have noticed between the two are that the L'Oreal version has a slight scent, which isn't offensive or two string, and it also has a slightly darker colour (amber-ish rather than clear).
I remove my make-up with this, taking any stubborn eyeliner or mascara off with a Simple Cleansing Wipe. 

I follow this with a second cleanse with the oil but this time I use my Clarisonic Mia 2 with a sensitive brush head to really remove all traces of make-up from the day. The results are the same and, above all, this did not break me out. Score!

Eau Thermale Avene Ystheal+ Anti-Ageing Emulsion

I follow my cleanse with my eye cream of the moment. This Avene product sits nicely between light and heavy and leaves the eye area feeling well hydrated without feeling greasy. I also use this in the morning and don't feel the need to add an extra eye primer to stop make-up slipping or smudging.

Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream For Normal and Combination Skin

This is possibly the cheapest night cream I have ever used, and do you know what? I actually love it! After realising that my crop of constant spots was caused by dehydrated skin and a gel-based night cream I was desperate to find something more hydrating that wouldn't break me out for a different reason.

Cue another trip to the local supermarket. I saw it, it was cheap so I thought I'd give it a try. It has that classic Nivea cream smell, which I find quite comforting but if you're sensitive to scented products you may want to avoid.

This cream does leave my skin quite greasy by morning but it has not once broken me out and since adding this to my routine I haven't had one spot on my chin.

Have you tried any of these products? What's your current evening skincare routine?

Katie xxx

Haul: MAC & Primark

After finishing work a wee bit early on Friday afternoon (thanks boss!) I had time for a browse around Primark. I wasn't expecting to find any clothes and I was right! I did however find some nice jewellery bits.

Spike & gem necklace £4.00

Dove & Leaf Bracelet (part of a set of 3) £2.00, Leaf & Stone Bracelet (part of a set of 3) £1.50, White cord & bead bracelet (part of a set of 3) £1.50

I also had a Selfridge's voucher burning a hole in my purse and, in addition to a new MAC 15 eyeshadow palette and insert to replace my old and well-loved one, I picked up a new cream blusher in the form of Ladyblush. Full review to follow shortly.

Mac Creamblend Blush in Ladyblush £18.00

Have you found any jewellery/accessories gems in Primark recently? Have you tried MAC Ladyblush?

Katie xx

Life: Guest Room Makeover & Inspiration

** Warning: Long, photo-heavy post alert!! :) **

When we moved into this house in December 2012 there wasn't much to do thankfully. However, we did re-paint everywhere. Everywhere that is apart from our guest bedroom.

There were still unpacked boxes and junk that we needed to sort through and give away to charity and, after decorating the rest of the house, we just wanted a break for a while.

Then the niggles started. Every time I would walk past this room the old lilac walls and unpainted wooden wardrobe left by the previous owner would leave me with a sinking feeling. It was time to do something about it! So one wet weekend we went down to the DIY shop to buy paint, primer and frog tape.

I knew I wanted a Hamptons/New England style for the decor and really wanted to give stripes a go. Here are some inspiration photos I found on Pinterest...

Now I had some inspiration I wanted to get started straight away so I Googled 'how to paint stripes' and went from there. With loads of tutorials and blog posts to choose from I took the best bits from each. I measured the height of the walls I wanted to paint the stripes on, divided the height equally by nine to get the number of stripes, rounded up the results to the nearest whole centimeter and added the leftovers to the bottom stripe. This means your bottom stripe will be wider than the rest but nobody will notice and, as we were putting furniture up against both striped walls, even I would be able to let this go!

Another great tip is to stick short pieces of tape inside each alternate stripe to make sure you're painting the right one (as shown in the photo below). I know this sounds obvious but when you've been at it for hours, frog tape blindness starts to kick in! Here's the journey..

We knew we wanted a day bed in the room. Partly so we had a double bed if we had guests to stay and so it could be folded away when the guests left and partly because they offer great storage. After much searching we bought the IKEA Hemnes Day Bed. We already have the Hemnes range in our master bedroom so we knew it was great quality and we're really pleased with it.

We also primed and painted the solid wooden wardrobe that the previous owner had left. The black, metal fixings work fantastically with the pewter drawer handles on the day bed and, again, this offers much needed storage.

You can just about see in one of the photos above that we have added a few simple white frames to the walls. We still have a few to put up but we're keeping the coastal theme going here too by hanging old holiday photos from my husbands' parents and shots we took on our honeymoon in Cape Cod.

The last thing to do is to style the floating shelves we have had put up. So far I have the little succulent plants below, which I love, but they're looking a little lonely.

I feel a shelf styling inspiration post coming soon...

What do you think of our makeover? Would you try the Hamptons/Cape Code style in your house?

Katie xx

Wishlist: ASOS Saved Items August 2013

All images from ASOS.com

I love a good wishlist or saved items post and, as the seasons start to change (well here in the UK at least), my eye is already on Autumn/Fall fashion. That's why there are a few boots, sweaters and jackets in the mix this time...

1. ASOS Top with Tie Waist and Drape Cape Back £32.00

This top is a gorgeous silvery pink colour and would work both in warmer weather or in the Autumn with black skinny jeans and beaten up ankle boots.

2. ASOS KARMA Leather Over The Knee Boots £85.00

I have had my eye on some flat, over the knee boots for a few seasons now. Almost bought some Oasis beauties last year but made my mind up just in time for them to be sold out. Won't make the same mistake with these!

3. ASOS Aran Jumper £38.00

I have this jumper in a mustard colour from last Winter and got so much wear out of it. The berry colour is perfect for those dull Winter days. I might get this one a few sizes too big to make it extra cosy and big enough to layer a collared shirt underneath for super cold days.

4. Warehouse Leather Look Drape Jacket £55.00

I have almost this exact jacket in black from a few years ago and can't help trying to justify getting the grey one to myself (I do wear a lot of grey!). The leather looks really soft and buttery, just how I like it. I sometimes layer a leather jacket like this under another coat or mac in the Winter months for added warmth and so I can get away with wearing sleeveless or short sleeved tops for longer.

5.  6.  7.  Cute Jewellery Bits

Not much to say about these three other than they're very cute and I need them in my life! Jewellery seems to be my category of choice at the moment (no need to worry about sizes etc.). I love layering pretty bracelets above my watch and I like the necklace for obvious reasons (I'm a capricorn!).

8. Just Female Dip Dye High Waist Skinny Jeans NOW £36.00

I actually saw these on Laura's blog and fell in love. Grey? Check. Ombre? Check. What more could you ask for in a pair of skinny jeans? I'm struggling...

9. ASOS Blouse With Ruffle Cape And Pussybow £30.00

Yet another floaty, peach blouse to add to the collection. No matter how many of these I buy I always get my wear out of them. This is a nice option because it could be dressed up or down. It would look great tucked into some black, skinny tuxedo trousers with killer heels for work or equally with some light washed boyfriend jeans and ballet pumps for a relaxed weekend look.

10. ASOS Backless Cami in Mono Ombre Animal Print £25.00

I spied this little beauty in the 'New In' section just the other day and immediately saved it for later. I love how ASOS have styled it tucked into a black pencil skirt as these swing/trapeze style tops can often be difficult to tuck into things. When I first saw this I thought it would be good for a Christmas night out (planning ahead!) and at £25.00 it's a bit of a bargain.

What's in your ASOS 'saved for later' list at the moment? Have I tempted you to buy any of these lovely things?

Katie xx

Life: A gift from me to me

I like to have fresh flowers in our living room all the time. It can get expensive but it really cheers me up.

On Sunday, these took my fancy and worked out at only £9 from my local supermarket. White roses, scented stocks and freesia. Bargain for such prettiness...


Katie xx

Life: Sea Life Centre Manchester

On Saturday we had a little day trip over to The Trafford Centre where the new-ish Sea Life Centre is.

I'd definitely recommend booking online before you go. Not only is it £2 cheaper, the queue was massive when we arrived and it would have take us about 2 hours to wait if we hadn't booked.

Here are some photos from the day...


Have you visited Sea Life Manchester? What did you get up to this weekend?

Katie xx