Reflects Antique Gold Glitter Smokey Eye =

A few weekends ago I went out in London and decided to go for some SPARKLE!!! 

♥ Face:

Mix of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation with MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC20

Bourjois Healthy Mix Illuminating brush concealer

MAC Sheer Mystery Powder in Light Medium from the new 'Marcel Wanders collection'

Shu Uemura Bronzer in Dark Bronze to contour
MAC Blush in Warm Soul (one of my favourites, review here)

MAC charcoal brown eyeshadow to fill in brows

♥ Eyes:

MAC paintpot in blackground (base)

MAC Copper plate eyeshadow (crease)

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - Blackout eyeshadow (outer V and lower lash line)

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - Bootycall eyeshadow (brow bone highlight)

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk (tear duct)

MAC Vanilla Pigment (tear duct op top of the white eyeliner)
MAC Glitter - Reflects Antique Gold (applied on the centre of the lid)

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (waterline)

L'Oreal Super Liner (upper lash line)
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

MAC Reflects Antique Gold is one of my favourite MAC Pro products! The shade is a beautiful dusty brown gold glitter that looks like diamonds on your lids. This glitter is more fine milled than MAC's regular glitters and therefore manages to look more 'natural' and gives your eyes an elegant 'bling' factor instead of looking like cheap chunky child-like glitter.

You do need a good base to apply the glitter onto to ensure it sticks. I often use use a MAC Paintpot  (Blackground in this look, but you can use any kind of creamy based eyeshadow) on the lid and then gently pat the glitter with my finger op top. Yes there will be some fall out, but hey it's glitter you are working with so that is to be expected.  You can also use this glitter as a eyeliner or all over eyeshadow for a more 'foiled' look if you apply it wet with a mixing medium (like MAC Fix+).

I just adore this glitter! It adds a very sparkly amazing pop to your eyes and a little added pretty WOW factor for a night out :) I used to buy 1/4 teaspoon samples online (via eBay) of the glitter until I managed to order a full sized jar in via a pro MAC store. A little goes a long way so even a small sample will last you ages and I am sure my full sized jar will provide me with a lifetime full of sparkle!

Here I am with my girls at Beach Blanket Babylon sipping cocktails!

(their Pornstar Martini is just delish - they serve it with a shot of Bubbles on the side, need I say more?)

Avon's Circle of Support Necklace

Did you know today (8 March) is International Woman's Day? Congrats to us amazing women :)

In celebration of of IWD, Alesha Dixon, Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador for Avon in the UK is launching Avon new Empowerment necklace and the ‘Pass it On’ initiative.

Did you know that one in three women worldwide will experience domestic violence in their lifetime? Avon is calling on people to wear and share the new Avon Empowerment necklace, which aims to drive support and solidarity for the domestic violence cause. One hundred percent of the net profits from the necklace's sale will benefit Avon's Speak Out Against Domestic Violence initiative.

The silvertone necklace features the infinity symbol, which in Avon's Speak Out campaign represents lives with unlimited potential when free from violence. The lovely interlocking silver-plated charm comes on a thin 42cm+9cm chain.

The necklace retails at ONLY £3.50 or $5.00 (US) and will available through the Avon website UK (link) or USA (link) and all proceeds go towards the Avon Foundation for programs dedicated to ending violence against women worldwide.

Here is Reese Witherspoon, an Avon Global Ambassador, in Washington, D.C. on the 2nd of March showing off her 'Circle of Support' necklace and looking beautiful and elegant as always! (I love her soft bronze eye makeup here)

Don't you agree that domestic violence has got to stop!?

Well I think this really is pocked change for a gorgeous necklace which at the same time supports this wonderful Avon initiative. So let's pass it on and get empowered!!! Thank you xoxo

Photo diary of a week in the Norwegian snow...

Hey everyone!

I am back home in London after a lovely week in the snow :)

Here some photos of my holiday; sorry this post is a little picture heavy....

Trysil, Norway - the mountain in the middle of nowhere

Me and my brother on the ski slopes

Beautiful panoramic view, skiing above the clouds!

Every day we'd ski straight from the slopes to our ski hut for lunch!

Lunch often consisted of a whole lot of the above. Smoked Salmon; omg yum!

One of the only snowy days we had but we didn't let that spoil our fun ;)

A lot of my evenings were spend like this......

With cups of tea and chocolate, nom nom!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Booooom! The thick layer of snow outside our ski hut :)

We also did cross country skiing one day. Wow new respect for this sport, it was HARD work!

Cross country tracks; it was lots of fun and yes we had a couple of falls but that's they only way you learn. Overal it was a great experience and beautiful to be in the quiet country side working up a sweat.

After a week of skiing I finished off my relaxing holiday with a weekend in Oslo with my parents.

Me by the Opera House in the Oslo harbour

The most amazing fresh strawberry jam on delicious bread at United Bakeries.

We had this for lunch on saturday sitting outside in the sunshine on the terrace; Oslo spring time!!

At Oslo Akershus Castle. You know me; I couldn't resist a jumping shot! ;)

Now back at work trying to deal with a huge backlog of emails....sigh!
At least the week is flying by this way. Happy Hump Day :) xoxo

DIY waxing with Parissa wax strips

OK whether I like it or not,  I admit that just like a large number of women out there I have a whisker or two that needs regular attention. Luckily, being a natural blonde does mean that I am blessed with blonde and pretty light facial hair growth.  When I was younger I only used to pluck my eyebrows but by the time I reached my early 20's I became increasingly annoyed with small bits of 'fuzz' on my upper lip; so I decided to start waxing.

Many years ago I tried some DIY (do-it-yourself) waxing at home which left me with lumps of wax stuck to my face and me painfully and slowly trying to remove it! Yes I know you are supposed to do it quickly but this just didn't work which made it like pulling off a plaster slowly and the whole ordeal left my skin red and sore..auwwwchh. So ever since that traumatising experience I had sworn off home waxing and this means that every 2-3 months I go to the beauty salon to get my eyebrows and upper lip waxed to super smoothness!

However, this was until I discovered Parissa Wax Strips!

From left to right:

♥ 2 in 1 Roll on Sugar (£20.45 here)

♥ Wax Strips for underarm, bikini and face (£10.99 here)

♥ Brow Shaper Wax Strips (£8.69 here)

My favourite Parissa product is definitely their assorted sized wax strips pack. Lined with a sensitive formula cream wax, these strips offer quick, mess free & easy to use hair removal virtually anytime, anywhere. 

You can actually zip away unwanted hair on your upper lip, jaw, cheeks & bikini line instantly - keeping skin smooth up to 6 weeks. 

The pack contains: 24 ready to use, pre-waxed strips (12 double sided strips in 3 different sizes), 8 ml vial of Azulene Oil aftercare and an easy to follow photo instruction sheet in 5 languages.
The strips on the right are from the Mini Brow wax pack which ideal for touching up your brows!

So how to use these strips? Don't fear, it's easy peasy lemon squeezy...

1) Warm the product by rubbing a double strip between your hands (or holding it against a warm radiator really quickly works wonders too!)

2) Slowly separate into 2 strips as seen in picture above

3) Press on. Smooth down sticky side of the wax strip firmly onto skin in direction of hair growth.

4) Hold skin taut below strip with one hand and use other hand to grasp lower end of strip & quickly zip-off in opposite direction of hair growth.  Keep strip/hand as close & parallel to the skin as possible.

5) Repeat; the same strip may be used several times.

You can download the full instructional guide here

I also love that the pack includes a vial of Azulene Oil to soothe & soften the skin and prevent ingrown hair. I apply this with some cotton wool after I have pulled off the strips which removes any wax residue, soothes my skin and prevents any redness or irritation.

Since I discovering these strips I have not been back to the beauty salon once, saving me quite a bit of dosh; and all the little bits help right? :) I have recommended the Parissa waxing strips to a few friends and they all agree that these strips are so easy and (relatively) pain-free to use.

Containing only natural ingredients, Parissa products are free from harsh chemicals that can often cause nasty irritations and are therefore ideal for people with sensitive skin. The products are easy on your conscience too; the natural, PETA approved ingredients are biodegradable and pollutant free whilst the packaging is recyclable and also made from recycled materials.

I honestly can't rave about these strips enough; love them! Bye bye fear of DIY waxing, thanks Parissa! :)
Parissa products are available from Boots and Sainsbury’s stores nationwide in the UK or for world wide stockists information, check out their website.

Do you ever DIY wax and if so what product do you swear by? xoxo