I'm on holiday at the moment so updates will occur when I have time to spare between tanning on the beach and er...tanning on the beach! That's if the weather complies, of course. I must say I'm overjoyed to finally be in the sun as on the way here my dad decided we needed to make a detour and go up the Eiger mountain in Switzerland which not only gave me altitude sickness but also was a rather useless experience as it rained constantly and even when we got to the top we couldn't see anything except a sea of cloud...I did get a hot chocolate and I saw snow in August for the first time in my life so it wasn't all bad! 

Anyway, I shall sign off by informing you of a MAC give-away over at Desi Girl Does Makeup. Enter by clicking here! You have to say what your last meal would be...it's a tough one!

Let me begin this post by saying how much I adore this colour! It's a lovely deep red with slight sparkles when it catches the light, although on photos and when removing it appears to be a dark pink. The colour is initially what drew me to this nail varnish, as subtly sparkly red is right up my street. However, this product has a few drawbacks...but I'll start with the positives.

I really, really liked the brush. It was easy to direct and the colour spread easily. Now I'm no expert at painting my nails and it usually results in splodges all the way down my fingers but with this particular nail varnish I experienced none of that. I only applied one coat and it looked fabulous, didn't streak, didn't clump; in short, I fell in love. 

I felt like doing something a bit different to the usual liquid eyeliner/eyeshadow combo I usually do...

Products used: 

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Half Baked all over the lid

MUA eyeshadow (I forget the shade, but it's a dark brown) in the crease and blended out

One of my sister's Sephora cream colours as a highlight

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Bourbon on the lower lash line

I apologise for how boring this post actually is but I was quite pleased with how the make-up turned out, usually my blending ends up all over my browbone and the side of my face...

It's no secret that I enjoy shopping far, far too much...

One thing that irks me about coming home to Luxembourg (aside from the lack of decent coffee shops) is leaving all the shops I adore in England behind. British high-street-fashion cannot be equalled by anything the continent has to offer. It's not just Luxembourg; Germany is slightly better but it still can't measure up to anything the average high street in the UK has to offer. Due to this, I spend a rather large amount of my time here checking out my favourite retailers' websites and making lists of things I want...I have far too much time on my hands, clearly...it's a little bit sad that I have a folder in my bookmarks labelled "Stuff I Want"...Anyway, the items currently on my wishlist (and shopping list for when I head back to uni) are as follows:

I've had my blog a month now so I thought I could list some of the standout products I've been using over the past month or so and what I thought of them:

- L'Oreal's Lash Renewal Serum: so good I picked up a new tube today! I started using this at the end of June, swiping it over my lashes and at the roots before I went to bed and occasionally using it in the mornings as well. Initially I noticed nothing at all, but the instructions said it took 4 weeks to see a difference, so I diligently continued to use it, then...four weeks later, bam! I put mascara on one day and it looked like I was wearing falsies. The effect was so great even my own mother thought I was wearing false lashes! My lashes do look longer and fuller when bare, but the effect is even more visible when I'm wearing mascara. Not sure this will work for everyone though, as my mum and sister have been using it as long as I have and neither of them have noticed a difference, but if I'm honest they're not as diligent about using it as I am! Definitely a decent, affordable (it's about 17 euros here, so I'm thinking about 12 quid?) eyelash serum that can have rather good results.

- Oil of Olay Complete Care Day Cream: I decided to start using a moisturiser with SPF as I don't do that often enough, and this was one I was drawn to as I know Olay have a good reputation (my mum's always used them). It has SPF15 and you can get it for Normal/Dry skin or Combination/Oily, which I bought. It's really light and leaves my skin feeling super soft, and I swear my skin's got clearer since using it. It's also reasonably cheap, on offer at Boots right now for £4.29 as opposed to £6.29, although I got mine for about 4 euros in one of our cheapy cheap drugstores. It also lasts ages, I've had it over a month and have barely made a dent in it!

- Garnier Summerbody Lotion: I'm not usually one for fake tan, I'm part Indian so I tan quite easily, but after the not-so-sunny months (most of the year, then) my legs usually don't match the colour of my arms when I start showing them off! My arms are quite dark and my legs are pasty white, it looks like I've stolen someone else's legs (yet were I able to do so, I'd probably steal Blake Lively's, she has such lovely long legs!). So in order to remedy this, I er, spent a while going round Superdrug sniffing all the gradual tanners (I have a sensitive nose) and I chose this one because it smells gorgeous! I put it on a couple of hours before going to bed and by the time I got beneath the covers the smell was still lovely and not at all 'fake-tanlike'. The next day, I had a lovely natural-looking tan that everyone assumed was real! Mwahaha, success! The only downside is that, like most fake tans, it will go patchy after a while, but I can live with that. It's £4.99 in Boots, but I got it on offer in Superdrug so it's worth keeping an eye out!

-Collection 2000 Perfecting Minerals foundation: I discovered this back in July and snapped it up in the shade 'Natural' as it was the most beige of the lot, and most beige shades seem to suit my skin. It comes with a little brush, which I didn't use at first, but I do use it now as it works rather well once you get used to it. This powder is GREAT. It gives good coverage, goes on easily, has SPF and feels ever so soft to the touch. It's also perfect for summer as it stops me looking oily and keeps my skin looking good, which is a massive achievement, to say the least! For now this is my HG summer foundation, and at £4.99 it's not a huge investment either. Overall, I am VERY impressed with this product!

I was scrolling through my Tumblr dashboard when I alighted on this little nugget of information:

                                                                                                                ~ Source

Now I've heard lemon juice is great for skin (I think I read this on Bubblegarm's blog a while ago) so I'm thinking of giving this a try. If it works then it could be a great cheap alternative to all those expensive skin treatments I'm always buying! My skin is covered in old acne scars and new blemishes (I thought spots would magically vanish when I hit my twenties...alas, it was not to be) and I dream of one day having clear, spot-free skin, so I'm open to using ANYTHING. Usually I swear by tea-tree cream but that only clears spots up, it doesn't heal the scars, sadly...

What are your favourite natural skin remedies?

xoxo

This week, I recommend for your viewing pleasure,

I love this blog. Not only is Belle absolutely stunning and always dressed amazingly, but she also posts regularly about how to make things (this week it's bunting, not something you'd find on a regular blog!) and absolutely gorgeous and inspiring pics! She also has her own vintage store at www.bellevintage.co.uk, which I recommend you check out if you're a fan of all things beautiful and vintage! 


Edit: At the moment she's also running a GIVEAWAY with some gorgeous prizes! Why are you still here? Click the link, pronto!

Another rambling post...how does one go about choosing a new perfume? I honestly can't remember how I came to buy most of the perfumes I've had in the past (although the Keira Knightley ad for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle played a none-too-small role in my purchase of that perfume!) so I was wondering how do you pick out a new perfume?

This topic sprang to mind a couple of weeks ago, as I realised, upon my return from the UK, that I'd left my bottle of Coco Mademoiselle on my boyfriend's shelf. Great for him, as he could be reminded of me by sniffing my perfume, but not so great for me! I've been wearing perfume for quite a long time and I just feel strange not putting any on at all, it's like I'm not finished 'getting ready' if I'm not wearing some kind of scent! Unfortunately all my other perfume bottles (ahem, as in, the other two that I own and haven't finished yet!) are sitting on my dresser back at uni and I won't be able to get hold of them for a few weeks yet.

So the question is, do I splash out on a new scent? I love Coco Mademoiselle but occasionally it seems too 'heavy' for me and I'd like another, lighter scent. The other two perfumes I own and love are Armani Code and D&G Light Blue, two very different scents, but I adore them all the same.  The problem is, I have no idea where to start when choosing a new one! I've already attracted slightly frustrated stares from the assistants in Sephora (although that may just be my paranoia...) after covering my arms with Chance by Chanel and Acqua di Gioia (neither of which appeal to me enough to buy) and I spritzed on some Miss Dior Cherie today in the Galeria Kaufhof (a department store in Germany) but it disappeared after less than an hour so I won't be forking out my hard-earned cash for that either. My questions for you are therefore as follows: What attracts you to a new scent? And what perfumes would you recommend?

So I finally got my glasses today and I've spent the last hour since I got them wandering around trying to get used to them. It feels so weird! I can actually see now...I tried to take some photos with my sister's camera as I suspect she's stolen mine to take to the film set she's working on today, but the battery died before I could get any close-ups of my make-up and the detail on the glasses! I'm guessing the lack of battery is why she nicked mine...anyway, I am simply left with this, the only shot that actually has my whole head in it, I'm very good at getting pics of just the one side of my face...but I digress:

The light has kind of deleted my lips, I swear I'm not some strange, mouthless creature, honest...Also, please ignore the frizzy hair, I got caught in a downpour coming out the opticians. Where's the sun gone? It's AUGUST, PEOPLE! Anyway, when I regain possession of my camera I shall attempt to do more make-up related posts! It's such a shame, I finally got my winged eyeliner more or less even today, and I can't even get a decent photo of my efforts...sob...

This is difficult considering how many blogs I follow (I lost count weeks ago) but one I've recently just gone through is

UNE TASSE

Today I was too traumatised by my medical check-up (which included an inpromptu blood test, I was not PREPARED) to post a 'face of the day'; at any rate, it was not a terribly interesting FOTD as I applied my make-up in a rush and managed to rub too much cheek stain into my skin so I walked around looking like a china doll all day. NOT a fan of hospitals. They smell (honestly, they do). Thankfully I consoled myself with a new blue cardigan, a top, Cadbury's, and Cosmo. Tomorrow I am doing the dreaded-outfit-1880s film...apparently we are not to apply any make-up whatsoever as they will be doing our make-up on set! I shall endeavour to provide you with photographs so you can appreciate the horrors some people go through in order to make films look more authentic...ahem...

xoxo

Found on A Little Obsessed, an excellent blog, go check it out if you haven't already!

1.Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up, or nice hair and no make-up?
I've been known to go out with messy hair AND no make-up (the curse of a dog-owner) so neither scares me very much. Also my hair is only not-messy for seconds after I style it so I pick messy hair and nice make-up!

2.Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out?
Yuk, neither! If pressed I'd shave my eyebrows, they're bound to grow back and I could restyle them so they're nicer than they are at the moment, mwahaha.

3.Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life?
Sephora stocks more brands, including my beloved Chanel so I'd have to say Sephora!

4.Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm?
Lipgloss/lipliner! I can wipe that off at the end of the day, the perm is...well...permanent!

5.Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush?
Overdone blush, all the way. Most blushes fade anyway...

6.Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public?
Biker shorts! Don't judge me, let me explain...as a short person I like wearing short skirts/dresses to try and make my legs look longer. My daddy dearest dislikes this as he reckons people can see my knickers. I have solved this issue by buying some black short leggings (yes, okay, biker shorts, but they have lace on the end!) from H&M and I wear these under all my short garments! Knickers hidden, problem solved!

Weird tan lines! I usually get those anyway, thanks to ski holidays. I resemble Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer once a year without fail.

8.Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair colour?
Depends what kind of hair colour it is, I'd wash it out at some point! I've had enough of getting bad haircuts...

9.Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever?
I don't really use either but I must confess I don't see the point in Twitter so yes, let that be taken away!

10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara?
Brushes! I can't live without mascara!

I tag Naty and Stephie, and anyone who has some spare time on their hands!

As you can see in the tube it looks more of a pinky red, but when swatched it's definitely pink. I couldn't get a clear photograph of the swatch but here's a token awkward smiling pose showing you what it's like on the cheeks:

This is, without a doubt, my HG mascara! Apologies for the blurry photo, I'm a woefully bad photographer...I tried to take a pic of the brush but it failed utterly and completely, but it's a good size, not massive like the more recent Maybelline mascaras, but not as small as, say, Diorshow Iconic (I know this because my sister owns this mascara!). The blurb found on Boots.com and debenhams.com runs as follows:

"Extreme VOLUME, absolute LENGTH, bold CURL: your lashes take on a new dimension and become the assets of fascinating, intense eyes. The new INIMITABLE INTENSE formula features a patented blend of a vinyl copolymer and wax for a smooth and even coating on the lashes to enhance every dimension of your lashes.

As inimitable as ever, its high-tech brush in soft, flexible white elastomer evenly coats each lash from root to tip. Lashes are instantly lengthened, curled and separated. Its conical shape reaches even the smallest lashes at the corner of the eye. Daytime makeup shows off new sensuality and evening looks captivate with incomparable intensity."

The above pictures show my bare lashes, although I am wearing a bit of Urban Decay eyeliner! Please excuse my awful eyebrows, I really need to get those shaped properly at some point. Now, for comparison:

As you can see, there is a marked difference! One swipe of this mascara is enough to create the effect above, although admittedly I always use a couple of coats because I like my lashes to be dramatic and absolutely massive. In this respect the website description is absolutely correct, it delivers curl, length, and volume and it does stick around! I've worn this a couple of times from about 8am to evening and it looks just as good before taking it off as it did when putting it on. It's also pretty good at reaching the smaller lashes, admittedly Max Factor Lash Extension Effect mascara is slightly better at this, but then again that mascara doesn't deliver the same effects as Chanel... I don't know about it being "inimitable" as I've not tested every mascara on the market, but take it from me, this is better than every single other mascara I've ever used! I give this a wholehearted 10 out of 10.

Chanel Inimitable Intense retails for about £21.50 and comes in 5 different shades, according to the Debenhams website.

Although it's more like 'eye of the minute' because it was merely a result of me messing around... I was looking through my make-up bag and remembered I had one of those Stargazer liquid liners in turquoise, so I decided to try out a look using that. It took me about two minutes and I came out with this:

It's quite messy, but I thought it'd make a more interesting look to wear on a night out, rather than my usual gold eyeshadow/black liner combo. I'd probably have to practise it a few times first!

And here are the products I used:

From left to right: Stargazer Liquid Eyeliner, Bourjois Liner Feutre, then Urban Decay Half Baked, Barry M Dazzle Dust in Bronze, 17 Yeah Baby eyeshadow, Chanel Inimitable Intense mascara.

While I'm here I may as well do a mini review on the Stargazer Liner. I own two of these, in turquoise and pink. I originally bought them last year for a circus night at uni and found that they both work quite well during the day for a more colourful take on liquid liner. The pink is a really bright neon pink which glows in UV light (I kid thee not); unfortunately I can't post a photo of it as it's hiding in my make-up stash back at uni. The turquoise, as you can see above, is lovely and bright and works really nicely paired with simple black mascara for a daytime look. My only gripes with these liners really are that they're a bit tricky to put on, the brush is a little bit awkward but with a lot of concentration you can get a decent enough line. Also, the turquoise one in particular is quite difficult to get off, even after scrubbing or using an oil cleanser I still have a slight turquoise tinge to my eyelids! 

The liners are reasonably cheap, I think I paid about £3 for mine, and as they're available at New Look students can get a 10% discount on them, woo!

xoxo