123 Perfect Foundation - Face of the Day

As far as drugstore foundations go I have to say Bourjois seem to know their stuff! I love their Healthy Mix Gel Serum foundation (review here) and the Bourjois 10hour sleep effect foundation. Their latest foundation '123 Perfection' is no exemption to their winning foundation formula. 

The new liquid foundation contains 3 colour pigments to give you a beautiful even complexion!

1. A yellow concealing pigment to cover dark circles for a rested complexion

2. A mauve radiance boosting pigment to light up your skin

3 A green anti-redness pigment to eliminate high colour and even the tone

And just like that 1,2,3 Perfect ;)

The foundation is available in 5 shades; 51 (vanilla clair) - 52 (vanille) - 53 (beige clair) - 54 (beige) - 56 (beige rosé). For me 52 is a great match but may need 53 as I get a bit more tanned in summer. 

The formula is very smooth and perfectly blends into my skin providing me with medium coverage.  I apply the product by buffing it in flawlessly with my Stigma stippling brush (link). The foundation has 24-hour hydrating benefits which means it lets the skin breathe and it contains SPF10 to protect you from UV rays. 

Plus I just love it when foundations come with a pump to dispense the product!

But my favourite thing about this foundation is that it has a beautiful soft matte finish which means I have not been using any powder on top which has been a really nice change for me. 

Here is a recent FOTD.....

MAC Studio Finish concealer NC20

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation in 52

Bourjois' Délice de Poudre bronzing powder (as seen here)

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush (as seen here) 

HD Brows kit (review here)

NARS Silk Road eyeshadow (lid)

NARS Abyssina eyeshadow (browbone & tearduct)

Urban Decay Snakeskin eyeshadow (outer V & lower lash line)

Blink & Go mascara

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation will be available from mid April 2012 and will retail at Boots for £10.99. Do you think you'll try this new foundation? xoxo

The Super 'O' Glow - NARS Illuminator

"RADIANT. SHIMMERING. SEDUCTIVE"

No I am not talking about myself in those three words; I am talking about NARS Illuminators! :)

"NARS Illuminators are a collection of light-reflecting liquids that glide on to refresh the skin, enhance the complexion and create a shimmering incandescence". These great multi-use illuminators come in the shades Laguna, Orgasm, Copacabana and Super Orgasm. 

♥ Silky, shimmering highlighters that create instant radiance and luminosity

♥ The translucent weightless formula makes skin look glowing and refreshed

♥ Flattering on all skins and dermatologist tested
♥ Can be worn alone or mixed with moisturizer, primer or liquid foundation to provide a subtle luminescence!

I have the NARS Illuminator in the shade 'Super Orgasm'...

Super Orgasm is a gorgeous peachy liquid infused with gold shimmers to give you a dewy glow.
The illuminators are not marketed as a blusher so don't expect it to look like the Orgasm blush (which is one of my all-time-fave beauty products). The illuminators are very blend-able so can be used all over the face and even on the body. I think it looks absolutely stunning on the cheekbones, collar bone and your decollate for a sexy, chic look.

It may seem quite pigmented at first swatch, but don't worry it blends out very easily once on your cheeks! One quick tip: Give the tube a little shake to make sure it is all blended before applying.

A tiny bit of this illuminator goes a long way so the 30ml tube will last you ages. 

I like to apply this with my fingertips by patting a small amount of Super Orgasm onto my cheek bones, and bring it downward for a radiant, healthy glow. Or I mix mix a small dot into my foundation to add instant warmth with a slight shimmer to my complexion. 

NARS Illuminators are available online here or at your local NARS counter at £22 for 30ml. 

Do you have any of the NARS Illuminators and if so how do you like to wear yours? xoxo

Flatmate makeover night $

A couple of weekends ago me and my lovely flattie had a party to go in the hill....Notting Hill that is ;) I love those fun evenings of getting ready at home with her, doing makeup, music playing, a drink in our hands and getting amped for a fun night out.
For my look of the night I went for grey and smokey eye:

♥ Face:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - 2N2 Fresco

MAC NC20 Studio Finish Concealer

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium

NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Orgasm blush

♥ Eyes:
MAC Paintpot in Blackground (all over lid)

MAC Knight Divine eyeshadow (all over lid)

MAC Pandemonium eyeshadow (lightly applied in the centre of lid on the top of knight divine)

MAC Wedge eyeshadow (applied to crease to blend and soften the grey)

NYC Jumbo eyeshadow pencil in milk to the tear duct

MAC Nylon eyeshadow (in tearduct over the white eye pencil to brighten the eye)

MAC fluidline in Blacktrack (waterline)

L’Oreal Super Liner (to line the upper lashline) - my current FAVE liquid liner!

Blink & Go Mascara

♥ Lips:

MaxFactor Vibrant Curve Effect lipgloss in Trendsetter (03)

Now check out my BEAUTIFUL flatmate....

Think she's pretty happy about living with a beauty blogger and 'getting her face done' by the Dutchess before a night out :) She was wearing a nice purple top so I decided on a silvery/purple smokey eye.

♥ Face:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder

MAC Well Dressed blush (apples of her cheeks)

MAC Belightful Iridescent Powder (on cheekbones as a highlighter)

♥ Eyes:

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (primer)

MAC Paintpot in Bare Study (all over lid as base)
MAC Devil May Care eyeshadow, Silver (applied to inner lid)

MAC Shale eyeshadow (applied from center to outer lid and into crease)

Estee Lauder Violet Orchids 5 Eyeshadow Palette - I used the darkest shade in the palette in the outer V to darken the look and applied the grey shade in the crease to blend it all together in a smooth smokey look. 

MAC Fluidline in Black track (waterline)

L’Oreal Super Liner (to line the upper lashline)

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

Doesn't she have the most gorgeous big eyes? I think this light purple smokey eye looks amazing on her. I used to get quite nervous about doing my friends' makeup, because I am by no means a professional makeup artist but over time I have gained more confidence in my 'skills' and I just love seeing the end result by bringing a smile to their faces and making them feel beautiful, sexy and confident!

We had a great night out with some very funny moments! Ranging from crazy snow fights, hilarious conversations in bars to scoffing down banana bread in the kitchen after coming home in the early hours of the morning.

[Roz and Kerry approach the door of a cocktail bar.
An attractive man is leaving as they enter the bar].
Hot man: “Am I making a mistake by leaving now?”
Roz: “Errrrm,.... maybe” [smiles].
Hot man: “Where are you from? Are you Swedish?”
Roz: “No, I’m Dutch”.
Hot man: “Oh”. [Hot man turns on his heels and walks off].

So maybe from now on I should pretend to be Swedish, Ja?! ;) 

Blue Smokey Eye FOTN $

A couple of weekends ago I went out for dinner and a few drinks (and ok maybe a boogie too!) in South Kensington with some friends. Back in September I'd bought this navy, lacy and slightly sparkly lowcut back dress from Trafaluc by ZARA so I decided a blue smokey eye would accompany this look perfectly. 

Here is my face of the night:

♥ Face
MAC Select Cover-Up Concealer (under the eye & to conceal any blemishes)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in the shade Desert Beige.
This is very much a 'stay-in-place' kind of foundation and I love wearing this when I'm going out.
It provides great smooth coverage and stays on perfectly all night long!
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Light
NARS Laguna Bronzer to contour
and MAC Well Dressed Blush on the apples of my cheek

♥ Eyes
Urban Decay Primer Potion (as a primer to ensure my smokey lasted to the wee hours of the morning)
MAC Wedge eyeshadow to fill in/accentuate my brows
NARS Copacabana Multiple - applied over entire eyelid right up to my brows as a shimmery base
Estee Lauder – Pure Color Eyeshadow Duo in Clouds using the light blue colour on the inner corner of my eye until about half way and then applying the darker navy on the rest of the lid and working up into the crease/outer V and blending in the socket towards the brow.
MAC Wedge eyeshadow - I used this a little bit to soften the socket/crease to blend it all together
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack along the waterline and upper lashline
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara applied (top & bottom) after curling my eyelashes

See here the Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow Duo in Clouds that I used for this look and swatches of the eyeshadows in the palette. Very pigmented, long lasting and quality eye shadows! Available online here for £22.5

And to finish off my look...

♥ Lips

Ciate Lipgloss in St Barts (I got this for free with the July Marie Claire Magazine)

What do you think of my blue/navy smokey eye? xoxo

Bronze summery night look with a pop of aqua! #

Hey my lovelies,

This is another look of the night from my holiday in the Amalfi Coast back in August (pictures here).

We had been at the beach all day and I felt like a bronzed, summery and fun look! I wore this zebra/tiger like kaftan which has a lovely bright blue stone on it so I decided to incorporate the blue into my makeup too :)

The kaftan I bought about 3 years ago while on holiday in greece. It's more of a beach cover-up really and therefore very see-through, but when you match it with a nude slip underneath it's suitable for a summery evening out.  The hair...quite messy after a day at the beach so decided to braid the front to deal with the 'out of control' side fringe. Here's a close up look of my face of the night makeup:

♥ Face

Collection 2000 - Lasting perfection concealer (3)

VIE - One step face base in soft beige

NARS - Laguna Bronzer

NARS Orgasm Blush

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

♥ Eyes

Estee Lauder - Island Oasis Eye Palette, aqua shade tear duct & inner 1/3 of eye

Estee Lauder - Island Oasis Eye Palette, warm yellow gold shade to mid of eye lid

Urban Decay - Naked Palette, smog eyeshadow in outer crease, blended into crease & lower lash line

Bourjois - Effect Smokey Pencil in ultra black (76) in waterline & smudged along upper lash line

Lash Perfect - Ultimate Black Mascara 

♥ Lips

Lancome - Juicy Tubes in Fraise

I really loved this look. Think the aqua in the corner of they eye gives it that real summery POP!
What do you think? xoxo

A day out at the Races - Royal Ascot!

On Saturday the 18th June I went to the famous Royal Ascot Races at Ascot Racecourse.

Royal Ascot is one of Europe's most famous horse race meetings, and dates back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne. Every year Royal Ascot is attended by Queen Elizabeth II and various members of the British Royal Family, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage. It is a major event in the British social calendar, and press coverage of the attendees and what they are wearing often exceeds coverage of the actual racing! ‘Tradition, pageantry, fashion and style all meet in a glorious setting at one of the most beautiful racecourses in the country.’

What does this mean??? DRESSING UP TIME! :)

I’d done all my shopping and had found the perfect outfit at Reiss; a stunning green Grecian style dress!
I matched my dress with a colourful fascinator (that I already owned) by Australian Designer Alannah Hill.
MakeUp wise this was my Face of the Day:
♥ Face
MAC Studio Fix concealer in NC20
Estee Lauder Double Wear (Stay in Place Makeup; SPF10) mix of Fresco (N2N) & Desert Beige (2N1)
FYF Cosmetics –Impeccable Mineral Loose Powder in Medium
NARS Laguna Bronzer
MAC Warm Soul Mineral Blush
MAC Charcoal Brown e/s fill in brows
MAC clear brow gel to set brows

♥ Eyes
NARS Dogon eyeshadow Duo (light shade all over lid & dark colour in outer lid, crease & lower lash line)
MAC Fluidline in blacktrack applied with MAC 210 eyeliner brush
MAC Smolder kohl liner in waterline
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

I proclaimed my love for the NARS Dogon eyeshadow Duo back in April at the launch of NARS's Summer 2011 Collection. You can read my original review here. I think this is such a beautiful duo and I have been using it lots! I love wearing the lighter colour all over the lid with the darker shade in the crease (as done in this FOTD) but have also used the two colours on top of each other for a stunning charchaol green smokey eye!

♥ Dogon Duo Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) £23.50 - get it online at Nars Cosmetics

Named for the Mali-based culture, this metallic taupe (with icy green sheen) and charcoal black duo eyeshadow delivers an unexpected twist on an otherwise neutral color combo. Blend the lighter shade from lashes to brow and smudge the darker hue in the crease and along lashes for added impact. When blended together, the shades create an iridescent green cast on the charcoal hue!

NARS Dogon Swatched:

From left to right: light colour, dark colour and both mixed together

Left: No Flash                                                                 Right: With Flash

Here some more pictures of my day at Royal Ascot!

Loved my green dress! Reiss is one of my favourite shops here in London.

Oh and my friend’s blue dress is also from Reiss – it’s the blue version of this one!

I had a lovely day at the races; I got to see the Queen, drink (quite a few) champagnes, placed some bets on the horses (actually WON £20!) and watched a fashion show. Might have to do this again next year :)

Have you ever been to Royal Ascot or a day out at the Races in your country? xoxo

A little bit retro...

I opted for a red glossy lip and winged eyeliner look the other day and for some reason I felt a little retro hehe but I loved it :) Check out my Face of the Day:♥ Face
Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation
MaxFactor Translucent Loose Powder
NARS Laguna Bronzer
Body Shop Blush in Tea Rose
MAC Charcoal Brown e/s fill in brows
MAC clear brow gel to set brows

♥ Eyes
NARS Abyssinia eyeshadow (Makeup Your Mind Palette)
Urban Decay Naked & Buck eye shadows blended into crease
MAC Fluidline in blacktrack applied with MAC 210 eyeliner brush
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

♥ Lips
Bourjois Effet 3D Balm Action Gloss in 06

Hair wise I was inspired by a post on The Beauty Department which featured the lovely Marianna (she's got a fab blog!) See the post that inspired my twisted, textured hair-do here. It comes with instructions on how-to create it yourself - super duper simple!

What do you think of my 'a little bit retro' look? xoxo

NARS Lippy Love; Mayflower & Carthage

Hey everyone,

Hope you are all having a good weekend? I'm having a pretty relaxing one and loving it! Just wanted to quickly share my love for two new NARS lippy's! Both are part of their 2011 Summer Collection and I have been wearing them lots. One lovely natural shade and one bold hot pink one! Check them out:

♥ NARS - Mayflower Lipstick (Limited Edition) - £17.50 

Mayflower is described as a sheer raspberry lipstick, that delivers subtle colour with a shimmery finish. It’s semi-sheer, so while it doesn’t deliver opaque color (nor is it supposed to), it does still add color to the lip, giving lips a subtle, rosy raspberry color with a lightly shimmered, glossy finish. The lipstick has a lovely creamy texture that is quite moisturizing.  Mayflower is the perfect all day lipstick for a day at the office but also great to go with a bold dark smokey eye for a night out!

♥ NARS - Carthage Pure Matte Lipstick - £18.50

Carthage is named for the string of cities that line the Gulf of Tunis and is described as a matte, hot pink hue that saturates lips with rich, bold color. It has a slight sheen to it so I wouldn’t say it’s completely matte, and its a really rich, vibrant fuchsia pink with blue undertones. The colour coverage is excellent and its very long lasting, about 4 hours on me. The pure matte lipstick creates a sophisticated, eye-catching statement that’s both timeless and modern.  I love wearing this with simple natural eye makeup with some black liquid liner and lots of mascara! Because the lipstick is so bold, it makes any simple outfit and makeup a stand-out look :)

Have you tried any of these lippy's? If not, I definitely recommend checking them out online or at your local NARS counter! Enjoy the rest of your weekend :) xoxo 

Emily Rossum inspired gold & black smokey eye

A while back I spotted a photo of Emily Rossum at an event in NYC which totally inspired me! I loved the colour combination of the yellow gold and dark eye shadows. She applied black liner almost all the way around the entire rim of her eyes but leaving the inner v’s free of the dark due. This is very smart because it keeps the eyes open and bright, but still leaves them looking defined. So I re-created the look:

The eye shadow application of this look was my favourite bit! The way in which they applied a daring dark hue on the outer corners and blended a gold pigment across the inner v’s is beautiful. To give the eye a little bit of balance, they even applied a very thin line of the dark hue underneath the lower lashes on the outer corner, and ever so slightly taken the gold hue down to where her lower lashes begin. Perfection! Add a mean dose of mascara and you’ve got a great but slightly different smokey eye! So here it is, check out how I created my inspired FOTD

♥ Face
VIE Prime Time Face Primer (a lovely primer for under your foundation to give you a radiant glow & keep your foundation in place throughout the day) Get it online here for £13.00 €16.25

MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC20
MAC Studio Fix Foundation (NC20) mixed with a little Revlon ColourStay Foundation (180)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish
MAC Bronzer in Golden
MAC Peachykeen blush (apples of cheeks)
MAC Vanilla Pigment (highlight on cheekbones)

♥ Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eye shadow Base (primer)
MAC Charcoal Brown e/s to fill in brows & set with MAC clear brow gel
Estee Lauder Island Oasis Eye Shadow Palette – Gold shade (lid & lower lash line halfway)
MAC Carbon e/s (outer V, crease until middle and along outer lower lashline)
MAC Smolder Eyeliner (waterline – top and bottom)
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara
MAC Dazzlelight e/s (highlight underneath brow bone)

♥ Lips
Estee Lauder Lip gloss in Electric Ginger

I absolutely loved this look and will definitely wear this more often.
What do you think? xoxo

Soft Grey Smokey EOTN $

Hey my lovelies,

About two weeks ago I was so lucky to have an opportunity to get all glammed up for a black-tie dinner out in the countryside. The company I work for had organised two amazing 'Away Days' for all their employees and partners at the b-e-a-u-tiful Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire. For the black-tie dinner I chose to wear an electric blue dress so I decided on a soft grey smokey eye. Check out my FOTN:

(click on image to enlarge)

♥ Face:
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC20
Bourjois 10hour sleep effect Foundation
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Light
NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Orgasm blush (apples of my cheeks)
MAC Vanilla Pigment (lightly dusted on high cheekbones as highlighter)
MAC Charcoal brown eyeshadow to fill in brows
MAC Brow Gel (in clear) to set brows in shape

♥ Eyes:
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (primer, all over lid)
MAC Vanilla Pigment (applied inner third of lid and lightly underneath browbone)
MAC Scene eyeshadow (padded onto the mid of the lid, blended into crease and on lower lashline)
MAC Haux eyeshadow (blended in outer V and crease to soften the grey)
MAC Carbon eyeshadow (lightly in outer corner to slightly darken outer V of crease and lower lashline)
Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner pen (winged along top lash line)
MAC Lashes #33
Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencils in Ultra Black (waterline)
MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara in black

♥ Lips:
Estee Lauder Liploss in Sugar Rush (44)

Think this is a really nice soft smokey eye! We had such a fun night :) Here are some more pictures:

I love this bright blue dress. I got it about 3-4 years ago when I was on holiday in Noosa (Australia). It's by Zimmermann, an Australian swimwear & fashion designer. Also if you are wondering, wow roz your hair is looking really long.....well it's because I cheated :) I recently found my old clip-in hair extensions again and decided to give my hair that little bit extra oomph and length for the night, do you like?? xoxo

NARS Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself Kits!

In conjunction with the launch of the Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself Book in the UK, NARS has teamed up with Harvey Nichols to offer three limited edition beauty kits that will help you attain the glamorous looks highlighted in the book. Instead of confirming to a specific look, each of the three kits focuses on a facial feature; Cheeks, Eyes & Lips!

The 'Cheeks' set is priced at £55.00 (and has a value of £82.00 so great bargain) and comes with the following:

- Orgasm/Angelika Blush Duo

- Copacobana Multiple

- Laguna Bronzing Powder

This is the pretty blush duo.  Orgasm is one of my Holy Grail blushes! Angelika is a bright pink blush which gives you a lovely flush to the cheeks. Watch out though, because Angelika is very pigmented so you want to apply it lightly, if not, you may end up looking a bit like a clown.... ;)

The 'Eyes' set is priced at £65.00 and comes with the following:

- Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette with 6 NARS eyeshadows (love, love love it!)

- Medium Sized Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow Base

- Medium Sized Eye Makeup Remover
- Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

Am loving this gorgeous limited edition eye palette! Eyeshadows in the palette:
Top Row: Abyssinia, Silk Road*, Strada & Bottom Row: Galapagos, Fuji and Brumes*
(The * indicate the shades are from duos) I can't wait to mix Brumes and Strada for an amazing smokey eye.
Let me tell you; the dark grey mixed with the amethyst (infused with gold) look stunning together!!

The 'Lips' set is priced at £47.00 (has a value of £71.00 so another major bargain) and comes with the following:

- 'Roman Holiday' Lipstick- 'Bangkok' Pure Matte Lipstick
- 'Dolce Vita' Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
- 'Orgasm' Lip Gloss

I think these kits are an ideal pick for people who have never tried NARS before because you are getting a great selection of their well known products at a reduced cost! Are you loving any of these? xoxo

NARS - Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself

The other night I was invited to Harvey Nichols in Knightbridge to check out the new NARS makeup book, plus to experience one of their amazing 'MakeUp Your Mind' masterclasses for myself!

In 2001, François Nars published Makeup Your Mind, a best selling beauty manual featuring glossy photographs uniquely overlaid with clear instructional guides. The first in a series of three books, featured professional models photographed 'before' (without makeup) and 'after' (with makeup), demonstrating the transformative effect of makeup effect plus instructions on how to achieve the looks at home! 

In his new book, Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself he takes the before-and-after concept to the next level by transforming 56 real women and men scouted on the streets of New York City. The people vary in age from 16 to 64, and represent a wide range of countries including Russia, South Afrika, Guatemala and Sweden. I love the fact that in François books, he doesn't just write about the makeup application, but shows readers how it’s applied by including “before” and “after” pictures overlaid with clear paged diagrams, it gives you a great instant visual of the transformation!

"My hope for this book, and for my makeup, is to give you the information and tools with which to express yourself in as many different ways as you can dream up" - François Nars

At the event I got to have a good look through the book and check out all the amazing transformations!
Then I got told to pick a look that I liked, for one of their talented makeup artists to transform moi :)
I chose a look called 'the Ballerina' because I really liked the soft eye matched with a bright pink lip!This is me at the end of my Makeup Your Mind Masterclass showcasing the finished look! I really loved the result, because it's quite different to my usual makeup looks! On my lips he used the new 'Carthage' Pure Matte Lipstick, which has just launched as part of their Summer 2011 Collection. I want.... ;)

Also check out this cool website they created for the the Makeup Your Mind book! Here you can select some of the looks from the book and 'try it for yourself' - it will provide you step by step instructions how to recreate the look!

Inspiring customers to have fun with different makeup looks, you can now experience one of these great Makeup Your Mind Masterclasses for yourself at Harvey Nichols at only £35 for a 2 hour class, which is redeemable on product! Plus you will leave with a personalised face chart & complimentary travel size 'Orgasm Illuminator'.

If you are looking for a beauty manual book then I think Makeup Your Mind; Express yourself is fantastic because it provides very detailed instructions to create so many different looks ranging from natural and demure to dazzling and outrageous. It's also lovely to see the looks on real men and woman with different skin tones, face shapes, ages and ethnicities. I also really like that on the clear overlay it will say 'champagne eyeshadow' for example so if you don't have the particular NARS product used, you can still recreate the look with a similar product that you do own.  The book provides insider knowledge from François but also encourages people to be who they are and express their individuality through makeup. In a recent interview with François he talked about how he came up with the looks for each subject:
"Instead of crafting each look based on what suited the individual's personality, I focused on bringing out her or his natural beauty, rather than concealing it. Ideally you want someone to say to you, "you look great!" rather than, "your makeup looks great". You should always see the person first and the makeup second" I think this is SO true!

Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself (£29.99) is available now at Harvey Nicols and narscosmetics.co.uk 

Plus check out this amazing video tutorial by Sam of Pixiwoo, where she recreates an emerald green eyes look from the book! xoxo

Black & Grey Smokey Look $

Last weekend I had a friends birthday drinks so a group of us went out to celebrate! We were going to Kensington Rooftop Gardens in London so I wanted to look 'glam'! I decided on a very smokey black and grey look. Check out my face of the night below...

♥ Face:
NARS Pro Prime, Pore-refining primer 
Revlon ColorStay Foundation in 180 (normal/dry skin)
FYF Impeccable Mineral Loose Powder in Medium (loving this powder, review to follow!)
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess, Sea Star Bronzer Blush 
He- Shi Bronzer, all over face
NARS Super Orgasm Illuminator (Gorgeous! Review to follow)
BobbiBrown Browshaper

♥ Eyes:

MAC Black paint pot (all over lid as base, softly blended into crease)
MAC Black Tied eye shadow (all over lid)
MAC Scene eyeshadow (crease & along lower lash line)
MAC Copperplate eyeshadow (blended into crease)
MAC Shroom eyeshadow (applied to tear duct)
New CID Cosmetics i-open pencil (applied under brow bone & blended as brow highlight)
MAC Smolder kohl liner (waterline)
Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner pen (upper lash line)
Bourjois Volume &Fast Perfect Mascara

♥ Lips:
Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Sugar Rush

It was such a fun night out! Great music so definitely had a boogie! Here some more photos of us girls...

Spot anything different about me in these photos? Well, yes, I had a haircut! However, if I am honest, I'm not really happy with it because I came out with more of an actual fringe, rather than a deep side fringe...Also when going out that night I was a bit frustrated with my hair because he'd styled the fringe to the opposite side that I normally wear it and it was just annoying me the whole time. Think ill be growing it out a little (hopefully that won't take that long) and then i'll get it re-cut to more side, blended style. Outfit wise I am wearing a new dress that I recently got at Zara for only £29.99. I received a lot of compliments on the dress so feel it was a good little purchase! You can get it online here.

Also, am loving the NARS Pore-Refining Primer that I wore that night! It recently launched as part of their Pro Prime series. It's an oil-free primer that instantly refines the look of pores, regulates shine, and creates a matte surface to the skin for smooth and long-wearing makeup application. Mineral Powders manage oil in the T-zone while blurring the look of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Key ingredients include:
* Natural Bisabolol & Butterbur Root Extract, known to calm and soothe skin
* Vitamins A, C and E, known to protect the skin from free radical damage
Plus its oil-free, paraben-free, synthetic fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested.

It makes my skin super smooth (which allows easier & longer lasting makeup application) plus it controls shine on my face all day and night! Great new product, find it at www.narscosmetics.co.uk for £24.

NARS Runway Trends & Summer 2011 Collection

Recently I attended an event by NARS showcasing the Autumn Winter 2011 Runway Trends and the looks created by some of NARS's best makeup artists. See a selection of the looks below!

From left to right: 

Show: Honor - Trend: Graphic Eyes 

Show: Marc Jacobs - Trend: Blushed cheeks and lined eye

Show: House of Waris - Trend: Lined eyes with a hint of color, complemented by sun-kissed skin 

Show: 3.1 Phillip Lim - Trend:Theatrical eyes

Show: Mandy Coon - Trend: Art-deco “inside out-lined” eyes

Show: Thakoon - Trend: Tribal eyes and muted lips 

As much as I love this bold style of runway makeup, they can be a little unwearable for everyday people like you and me. However I really liked the simpleness of the Honor, Marc Jacobs and House of Waris looks!

Also on display at the event was NARS's new 2011 Summer Collection! Created by NARS Founder and Creative Director François Nars, collection is a range of warm, sophisticated, shimmering shades, punctuated with shots of vivid, nature-defying color. Eyes are washed in icy sea foam, silver-green and frozen turquoise. Lips are infused with mandarin orange gloss and hot pink matte color. The look is finished with nails in bold sunflower yellow or matte opaque white for a modern, edgy effect that’s strictly NARS.

My favourites picks from this lovely bright collection are:
♥ Dogon Duo Eyeshadow (Limited Edition) £23.50
Named for the Mali-based culture, this metallic taupe (with icy green sheen) and charcoal black duo eyeshadow delivers an unexpected twist on an otherwise neutral color combo. Blend the lighter shade from lashes to brow and smudge the darker hue in the crease and along lashes for added impact. When blended together, the shades create an iridescent green cast on the charcoal hue.
♥ Exotic Dance Duo Eyeshado (Limited Edition) £23.50
A well choreographed pairing of metallic white with silver sheen and metallic gold, creates a dazzling duo eyeshadow. The shimmering hues can each be worn alone or layered for a mixed metal look that has added intensity.

♥ Carthage Pure Matte Lipstick (£18.50)
Named for the string of cities that line the Gulf of Tunis, this matte, hot pinkhue saturates lips with rich, bold color. The pure matte lipstick creates a sophisticated, eye-catching statement that’s both timeless and modern.
♥ Mayflower Lipstick (Limited Edition) £17.50
This nourishing, sheer raspberry lipstick, delivers subtle color with a shimmery finish. Wear alone or with other lip products, it’s the perfect complement to a bold eye.

Oh and another thing that really caught my eye was the Orgasm, Albatross, Laguna 'Blush/Bronzer Trio'. This handy portable zip-around compact contains the three most iconic NARS products!

I love my Orgasm blush to pieces plus Albatross and Laguna have been on my lust list for sooo long....meaning this compact may be something I just need to get my hands on. Because it's limited edition and priced at £39, I reckon this will sell out fast!

This new NARS collection will be available in the UK from May 1st, 2011 at narscosmetics.co.uk or from any major department store. Have you spotted anything that tickles your fancy? xoxo

Win an exclusive NARS make-over!

Would you like receive a make-over from a top NARS makeup artist? Well this is your chance! HQhair is offering 3 lucky winners a make-over by celebrity makeup artist David Scheffen PLUS each winner gets to take home a fabulous goody bag filled with NARS products! 

Entry is super simple, all you have to do is tell HQhair, who your Beauty Icon is and why!
Please click the image below for all the information and to enter yourself in! Good luck :)

Hula Hula FOTD

NARS Hula Hula Eyeshadow Duo is from the NARS Spring 2009 collection. It comes with two cool-toned eye shadows; a shimmery strawberry pink with gold particles & a hazelnut with gold glitter particles.

Note: The glitter in this eye shadow (especially the gold) is pretty chunky. When using these eye shadows I normally tap off any chunky glitter before applying it onto the eye. However when I really want to show off and use the glitter I spray my eye shadow brush with a mixing medium (like for example Fix+) and then dab the shadow with its glitter gently onto the lid.

I think this is a beautiful duo compact & feel it would suit most skin tones! Here is my FOTD I created with Hula Hula:

(eww hate this photo but was not having a very good photo morning...grr!)

♥Face:

MAC Studio Fix Fluid & Powder in NC20

Revlon Concealer

1.       Revlon Bronzer
MAC Springsheen (blush)
MAC Belightful Iridescent Powder (highlighter)

♥Eyes:

MAC Prep+Prime Eye Base

NARS Hula Hula - gold (all over lid)

NARS Hula Hula - pink (crease & lower lash line)

MAC Brule (brow highlight)

MAC Smolder (waterline)
MAC Liquid Eyeliner (top lash line)

Nutrimetics Curvy Lash XL Mascara

♥Lips:
MAC Angel Lipstick
MAC Lipgelée in Lilacrush