Tuesday 31 July 2012

OOTN 3

Top: H&M
Skirt: Therapy at House of Fraser
Shoes: New Look
Belt: New Look
Necklace: Primark
Hand Armour: Topshop
 MAC Studio Fix Fluid - NC30
UNE B.B Cream Concealer
Chanel Universal Bronzer
Chanel Universal Loose Powder
MAC Blush - Dolly Mix
Benefit High Beam
MAC Eye Shadow - Carbon
Barry M Dazzle Dust - Gold
Maybelline Gel Liner
Rimmel Kohl Liner - Jet Black
Dior Show New Look Mascara 
Primark Eyelashes
Barry M Lip Paint - 54
My friend Hazel did my hair and I loved it - she better do it every night in Ibiza!

On Saturday night I went out for my friends big sisters birthday and this is what I wore.
Hope you had a good weekend!
Melissa
xxxx

Thursday 26 July 2012

This Weeks Bargains


Primark - £5 £2


Primark - £1


George - £8

I went shopping yesterday and thought I'd share some of bargains with you! I picked up this collar necklace from Primark after seeing it and loving it on llymlrs blog. It was already a bargain at £5 but when I got to the till I was surprised to find out that it had been reduced to £2! I'm still loving neon and again it'll be perfect for my holiday.

Recently, I've been hearing a lot of praise from my friends on the Primark £1 lashes, so while I was in I decided to buy a pair. I'll be trying them out on Saturday, so I'll let you know what I think. Have you tried them?

My final bargain was a pair of cap toe pumps from George at Asda. I've seen loads about and thought they were cute so was really happy when I found a pair for £8. My sister also got them in baby pink with a rose gold toe.

Have you found any bargains this week?

Melissa
xxx

Tuesday 24 July 2012

DIY: Dip-Dye, Studded Shorts


I'm constantly lusting over the shorts from Bambi and Manson, but just can't afford to pay that for a pair of shorts right now as I'm trying to save for Ibiza! Above are a few I got my inspiration from.

The other day my friend Emma tweeted me a pair of dip-dyed, studded shorts she had made using an old pair of jeans. You can have a look at them here (hers are cooler than mine). So, I looked through all my jeans and came across a pink pair from Primark that I never wear and decided to try it.

What you need:
  • A pair of old jeans/shorts
  • Fabric scissors
  • Bleach (I just used my mums kitchen bleach)
  • A paint brush
  • Rubber gloves
  • Studs (ebay £1.15)


Step 1: Try on your jeans and decide how much you want to cut off, cut off the legs using a pair of fabric scissors.

Step 2: Fill up a basin with bleach (make sure you're wearing gloves so you don't burn your hands) and dip the bottom of the shorts in.

Step 3: Using a paint brush, blend the bleach up to create the faded effect

Step 4: Leave the shorts to soak on the draining board for an hour

Step 5: Rinse the shorts and put them in the washing machine to wash off the excess bleach

Step 6: Once the shorts are dry, attach the studs in a pattern of your choice. You just push the studs through the fabric and press closed the edges to attach them. I used a pair of tweezers as it's quite sore on your fingers.

And that's it, your own pair of dip-dyed, studded shorts for £1.15, bargain. 

What do you think of the finished shorts? What DIY have you tried?

Melissa
xxx

Monday 23 July 2012

My Adorning Ava Wish List


Another new website I've came across called Adorning Ava. They have absolutely gorgeous jewellery at such affordable prices. Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the website.

Geometric Collar: £10.00
Gold Tribal Armour Ring: £8.00
Neon Spike Necklace: £8.00
Gold & Orange Enamel Collar: £8.00
Silver Spike Bracelet: £8.00

I definitely recommend that you have a look!

Melissa
xxx

Saturday 21 July 2012

Soleil Tan De Chanel




I'm finally doing my review on my new Soleil Tan De Chanel, or more commonly known as Chanel Universal Bronzer. I'd wanted to try this bronzer for so long and got really jealous when my sister bought it, but she surprised me and bought me it as a graduation present a few weeks later- how nice?! 

I'd never tried a mousse/cream bronzer before, I usually stick with powder bronzers such as MAC Matte Bronze or NARS Laguna, so I was a bit reluctant as I didn't think it would apply well to my oily skin. I was really surprised to see how well it applied and blended in, giving me a lovely glow without leaving me looking shiny. It has a lovely creamy texture and a little goes a long way, you don't need to use a lot.

 I apply this product in two different ways depending on how I'm feeling; if I want to look more tanned (usually for a night out) I apply it all over my face but for a more subtle look I use it as a contour on my temples, cheekbones and jaw line. I apply it after my foundation then set it with my Chanel Universal Loose Powder as I've got quite oily skin. It can also be applied before foundation as a bronzing base.
To apply the product I use my MAC 187 Duo Fibre brush, but I'm thinking about buying the Real Techniques Core Collection and using Buffing Brush as it's slightly smaller. My sister uses her Real Techniques Contour Brush to apply it so I'll have to try that as well.

This product costs £30 and can be purchased at Chanel counters or online here. Personally, I love this product and would definitely recommend it if you want to treat yourself or maybe get it as a gift. I've been using it for a few weeks now and as you can see I've hardly made a dent in it so I think it will last for ages!

What do you think of this product, have you tried it?

Melissa
xxx



Friday 20 July 2012

My Glamorous Wish List


Recently I came across the clothing website Glamorous and thought I'd share some of my favourite pieces from it. Everything on it is gorgeous, yous should definitely have a look! Wish I'd discovered it sooner.

Waistcoat: £27.99
Jumper: £36.99
Blouse: £23.99
Dress: £38.99
Disco Pants: £29.99

Hopefully some of these will be purchased on pay day! Have you bought anything from Glamorous?

Melissa
xxx

Thursday 19 July 2012

Kim K's White Nail Polish


While looking through pictures of Kim Kardashian (as you do), I noticed how much she wears white nail polish. Recently I've started wearing really pale pink polish's such as Essie Fiji and Ballet Slippers, but I've never found the right white. Ever since I seen Heidi Montag wear white nail polish on The Hills, I wanted to try it out but could never find one that went on without looking streaky.



So, after seeing Kim wearing it, went into Superdrug in search of a white nail polish. I finally settled on Models Own 'Snow White' as I have a lot of their polish's and they are a bargain at £5. It was between that and Essie 'Blanc' but decided to go for Model's Own as it was slightly cheaper and I wasn't sure if I'd like it. 
It only took two coats of the polish for it to go completely opaque and it dried reasonably quick. I like how thick this polish is without being gloopy. 

Overall, this is a really good polish and I think I'll wear white nails more often!

What's your opinion on white nail polish? Do you recommend any?

Melissa
xxx




Benefit: Sun Beam





For years I have used Benefit High Beam, but I'm always looking for a highlighter which was bronze/gold based as I've constantly got my fake tan and bronzer on! I'd seen recently that Benefit had launched a new liquid highlighter called Sun Beam and as soon as I saw it, I was dying to try it. I eventually got round to buying it and have had it for a couple of weeks now.

"Liquid sunshine in a bottle"

Sun beam is a gorgeous gold/bronze colour which looks amazing with a tan, but it also suits any skin tone so don't worry. It gives you a lovely warm glow, a lot different from the usual pink/silver based highlighters.

I use sun beam once I've put my new Chanel Tan De Soleil on (review coming soon) and my MAC Skin Finish to complete the look. I dot it on my cheek bones and on my eye brow bones and gently blend it in for a sunkissed look.

"gives you natural, sunkissed radiance

This is definitely the perfect product for summer, although we've not been having much sun! Another product I'll be taking to Ibiza with me (6 weeks to go)! I've been using it for about two weeks now and definitely recommend it. I'm loving this more than any other highlighters I've used before.

Sun beam costs £18.50 and can be bought at the Benefit counters or online here.

 Have you tried sun beam? What's your favourite highlighter?

Melissa
xxx

Monday 16 July 2012

My Go To Smokey Eye



Products:
MAC Eye Shadow - Snow Season
MAC Eye Shadow - Carbon
Maybelline Gel Liner - Black
Rimmel Kohl Eye Liner - Jet Black
Dior Show Multi Dimensional Mascara - Black

When I'm doing my makeup for a night out I always go for a dark smokey eye as it makes me feel more dressed up. I start with a light coloured eye shadow (either a silver or a gold) and apply it all over my eye lid. I then take a black eye shadow and apply it to the outer corners of my eyes and blend it up to my brow bone using a small, round eye shadow brush. I define my eye using a gel liner along the top lid. I also apply the black shadow to my lower lash line and a black kohl liner on my water line. I finish off the look with loads of black mascara and most of the time fake lashes. My favourite are Eylure 140's. 

What's your go to night time look?

Melissa
xxx

Wednesday 11 July 2012

MAC - Impassioned Dupe: Sleek - Candy Cane




(with flash)

(natural light)

For a while now I've really wanted the MAC Impassioned lipstick, but every time I go to my local counter it's always sold out! 

However, in work the other week my friend Kaitlyn showed me her latest lipstick purchase which looked VERY similar to Impassioned - Sleek True Color Lipstick in Candy Cane. Unfortunately I don't have a swatch of Impassioned to show you how similar they are, but there are a few pictures online.

I had to go to three Superdrugs to find this shade as it was sold out in the first two. I managed to get it in the third and it was the last one!

The shade of this lipstick is a sort of pink/coral, which I love. It has really good pigmentation and a lovely creamy formula that doesn't dry out my lips. When it's first applied it has a lovely sheen to it which does wear off after time, however the colour still stays strong for a couple of hours.


Sleek True Color lipstick is a bargain at £3.99 and can be purchased at Superdrug or online here. I'll definitely be checking out the other colours.

Have you tried any of the Sleek lipsticks?

Melissa
xxx

Monday 9 July 2012

And The Winner Is...

****Jackie at The Fashion It List*****

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered the Essie competition and thanks for reading my blog!

Melissa
xxx

Saturday 7 July 2012

Miss Guided Tops





There are so many lovely things on the Miss Guided website at the moment, I could have spent all my wages in one go! I decided to be sensible and only buy a couple of tops. 

The first top that caught my eye was this gorgeous fringed crop top. I'm going to Ibiza in August and I'll definitely be taking this and wearing it with high waisted shorts. It also comes in plain black fringe but I love the dip-dye! It cost £22.99 which is a really reasonable price.

The second top I bought was the peace sign vest. I'm loving acid wash at the moment so loved the effect on the peace sign. This would look great with either jeans or shorts and it was a bargain at only £9.99 so I had to buy it! 

There's so many other things I'd like to buy for my holiday and I love how reasonably priced this website is. 

Have you been on Miss Guided recently? 

Melissa
xxx

Thursday 5 July 2012

MAC: Russian Red




I've tried loads of red lipsticks and always find it difficult to find one that suits me. I suit blue undertones much more than orange. 

When I was shopping the other day I went to my local MAC counter and decided to treat myself to a new lipstick. I had tried this on before as one of my friends had it and I loved it. It was between Russian Red and Girl About Town, but I've already got so many pinks I thought I'd go for something different.

I really love the deep red colour and how it's matte. It went on really easily and the pigment is really strong. The blue undertones make my teeth look really white too. This is the perfect red lipsticks for me and you can never go wrong with a MAC lipstick!

This lipstick cost £13.50 and I always find this is a reasonable price and never grudge paying it as they are my favourite lipsticks.

I can't wait to wear this out!

What's your favourite MAC lipstick?

Melissa
xxxx

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Essie: Ballet Slippers


While I was in Boots the other day, I was tempted as usual by the Essie stand. I was originally going to buy Fiji but my sister had already bought it so I thought I'd try a similar one. Ballet Slippers is a very,very pale pink colour. It's quite similar to Fiji, but a few shades lighter.

My favourite thing about the Essie nail polish is the brush which gives a really easy application. However, it took me three coats before this polish started to look opaque. With Fiji, it only took two coats.

Overall, I like the colour of it, but think I still prefer Fiji. I was also a little disappointed as it took so many layers to get a decent colour. Even with three coats, it is still a bit sheer.

You can buys this from selected Boots and Superdrug stores and it costs £7.99, which is a bit more than I usually spend on a nail polish.

Have you tried this colour?

Melissa
xxx

Tuesday 3 July 2012

June Empties

(sorry about the bad quality pic)

1. Clarins Eye Makeup Remover Lotion - I wear a lot of dark eye makeup, which is a pain to get it off, but this eye makeup remover is great as it helps it come off really easily. Also, it doesn't sting my eyes like a lot of others.

2. Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara - This is one of the best mascaras I've used. I got it as a birthday present when it was new out and was really impressed with the results. The brush is a thick comb that coats all the eyelashes and it gives amazing length without looking clumpy. After my Dior has ran out I'd probably repurchase this.

3. MAC Matte Bronzing Powder  - One of only bronzer's I've ever fully used up (three times). I don't like my bronzer's to have a shimmer in them, so this is perfect as it's completely matte. It is also a lovely brown colour and doesn't make you look orange. I'd like to try Nars - Laguna next as I've hear its quite similar.

4. Lauren's Way Glam Tan - After so many great reviews about Glam Tan, I purchased it. It has lasted me a good few months and gives me an amazing colour. My new favourite tan! I usually use St Moritz as it's cheap but when I want to treat myself I buy this. A must have.

5. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer - Eight Hour Cream is a necessity in my makeup bag. It's definitely my favourite skin care range. This moisturizer doesn't make my skin oily and keeps it hydrated all day. I also love the smell of eight hour cream, which is unusual as most people don't (that's why there's now a fragrance free version).

6. Garnier B.B Cream - There has been a lot of reviews on this particular B.B cream (mostly negative) and many people find it too oily. I personally like it as a makeup base but wouldn't wear it on it's own. Garnier have now brought out an oil free version so I think I'll have a try at that.

Have you tried any of these products?

Melissa
xxx