Pin It Forward UK!

You may have noticed a new little button in my sidebar the past few weeks and I'm really excited to be taking part in the Pin It Forward UK campaign. I've been using Pinterest for over a year now but just recently started getting back in to it. Pinterest is basically a way to create an online scrapbook of photos that inspire you by 'pinning' pictures from the web on to a series of boards.

The board I have chosen to feature is my 'Neon' one. I've pinned some inspirational pictures from some of my favourite fashion blogs and websites featuring the neon trend for Spring/Summer 2013. This is definitely one of my favourite trends this season and I love looking at this board when I'm struggling to put an outfit together. There's also a couple of pieces I've actually purchased and I've pinned some photos of myself wearing them as well. Pinterest is a great way to get inspired by Fashion and help you to discover your own style. You can click here to view my board on the website.

As well as my Neon board I also have ones such as My Style Crush and Pretty Little Obsessions which features some of my blog photos. I remember when I was at college and university studying Makeup and Fashion and I'd sit for hours ripping out pages of magazines to stick into scrap books, if only I'd known about Pinterest then! I'm also wanting to redecorate my room so I think this is going to help me a lot.

If you fancy joining this gorgeous site then you can do so by clicking this registration link.

Also it's my pleasure to introduce the lovely Rosie Tapping from A Rosie Outlook who will be posting tomorrow - her pins are gorgeous!

Rodial Brazilian Tan: Light

If you don't already know I'm a huge tan lover, whether it be real or out of a bottle. I wear fake tan all year round and there will very rarely be a day where I don't have it on. The only time I don't wear it is when I've been on holiday and have a real tan from the sun. My skin tans really well and my natural skin tone (before picture) isn't that light so fake tan takes to my skin well and I'm always looking for the darkest one. I've tired a lot of tans during the years and my motto is 'the darker, the better' so I was a bit skeptical to try the Rodial Brazilian Tan in Light*.

Rodial's Brazilian Tan range has been re-formulated to leave the skin glowing and glossy and is enriched with pomegranate ellagic ingredients that help tone the skin every time it's applied. It comes in different ranges including dark, light, daily and facial tanning. The 'Light' tan is designed for lighter skin tones to provide a natural glow all year round. The formula is a light-weight, tinted gel that promises not to block pores and keep the skin hydrated for a longer lasting tan. It gives an instant caramel tint when applied and then develops in to a natural tan in 4 hours. It also smells like caramel which I love - no horrible fake tan smell!

I found this really easy to apply as it was tinted and it dried quite quickly without leaving me feeling sticky. From the photos above you can see that it has given me a really subtle tan. However, every time I purchase a fake tan I always go for the 'dark' option (or when it comes to the one I'm using right now, 'Darker Than Dark') as light doesn't usually make much of a difference to my skin. To be honest this tan just doesn't make enough of a difference to me and personally I prefer my tan to be much deeper and darker. I know some people might think I'm crazy and be like, what?! but it's just my own personal preference.

If you are naturally really pale and are looking for something to give you a really subtle glow then this is the tan for you, however if you already have quite dark skin or prefer a deep tan then I wouldn't recommend it. I was going out the next night and quickly applied a darker tan over the top which I felt more comfortable with. It also comes in Dark though so maybe that would be better for me. The Brazilian Tan Light retails at £35* and can be purchased online here.

Have you tried the Rodial Brazilian tan range or is this something you'd be interesting in trying?

OOTN: Cobalt Blue Trousers

Crop Top: Topshop

Trousers: Forever 21

Shoes: Primark (old)

Necklace: Zara

Nails: Essie Sand Tropez

Tan: Lauren's Way Darker Than Dark*

I haven't done an outfit post in a while so I thought I'd take some quick photos before I went out. Last night I went to my friends 21st Birthday party and wanted to wear something that wasn't a dress or a skirt for a change. I tried on loads of trousers in Topshop but fell in love with the colour of these ones from Forever 21. I also picked up this plain black crop top from Topshop for just £8. I'm loving the crop top trend at the moment, especially with high waisted trousers and pencil skirts. I seen a few lovely patterned pencil skirts recently that I think will look gorgeous in the Summer. I also wore a Zara statement necklace and the comfiest Primark shoes ever that I've had for a couple of years.

Ever since I got my hair dyed and stopped wearing my extensions I've been feeling like my hair has been looking really fine and flat so last night I got out my hairdressing scissor and chopped my extensions so that they were the same length as my hair. They are slightly lighter than my hair now but once they were in they actually blended quite well and made my hair look a lot thicker and added some volume to it. For my makeup I just did a simple black smoky eye (as usual) and added a pair of Eylure lashes and a nude lip. I've also been trying out a sample of the Lauren's Way Darker Than Dark tan and I absolutely love it. I've got fairly dark skin anyway so a lot of fake tans don't make much of a difference but this is definitely the darkest tan I've used - I wouldn't recommend it if you're quite pale though! This is the second Lauren's Way tan I've tried out and they both get a thumbs up from me, I'll definitely repurchase. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend, unfortunately it's not a bank holiday for me and I'm working tomorrow!

My Favourite Affordable Concealer Duo

Concealer is one of the products that I don't tend to splurge on, although I am lusting after Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. I usually buy drugstore concealers and have now found the perfect two for me; Rimmel Wake Me Up for under my eyes and Collection Lasting Perfection for spots and blemishes. I use both of these products over my foundation every day and love how affordable they are, I definitely don't think you need to break the bank to find a good concealer.

I've been using the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer for a few months now and loved it so much that I bought the foundation a couple of weeks ago (I'm the shade Soft Beige in both). I use this for the dark circles under my eyes as it has pink undertones which help brighten them. According to Rimmel it has an anti-fatigue effect and illuminates your under eye area which I definitely agree with, it's amazing for those early morning starts. I don't use this on my spots and blemishes because I think the illuminating qualities would highlight them more and my skin and foundations have yellow undertones so it wouldn't blend well.

I've been use Collection Lasting Perfection on my spots and blemishes for about 8 months now and it's a really close match to my foundation which means it blends in seamlessly (I use shade 3 medium). The coverage is amazing for such a cheap product and I can go a whole working day without having to reapply it. I's also great for the redness I get on my cheeks that my foundation sometimes doesn't cover. The only thing that annoys me about this product is the packaging, all the writing rubs off really quickly. Despite that, it is definitely a product that I'll continue to repurchase.

At under a tenner for both of them (£5.49 for Wake Me Up and £4.19 for Lasting Perfection), I think they're definitely worth purchasing. Have you tried any of these concealers?

Topshop Glow Highlighter: Gleam

My highlighter collection is slowly but surely growing, I've got powders and liquids but the only thing missing was a cream based one and I decided I needed one (or two) in my life. As you know I've been totally converted to cream blushers at the moment so thought a cream highlighter would be the perfect addition to my makeup collection. Last week on Twitter, I asked you all for some recommendations and a few people mentioned MAC and Illamasqua (thanks everyone) but since I'm pretty skint right now I'm waiting until I get paid to go investigate these. Luckily, when I was in Topshop a few days ago I stumbled upon this little beauty for just £9 (£8.10 with a student card) and just couldn't resist.

I've always been a fan of the Topshop lipsticks and nail polish and really wanted to buy some more of their products so when I spotted the Glow highlighter I was eager to try it. Glow comes in two shades; Gleam and Polished. Polished is a pink based highlighter (the website calls it white though) and Gleam is more gold based which is what I usually go for (Dior Amber Diamond, NARS Albatross) but I wanted to try something different and go for Polished. Sadly, every pot of Polished had a horrible, dirty finger mark in it - why can't people just use the tester?! So I ended up settling for Gleam which I'm kind of glad about as it suits my skin tone.

Anyway, on to what I think of the product...The cream/mousse formula is so easy to apply, I just use my finger tips to dab it on to my cheekbones and brow bones. I find this much easier to blend that my liquid highlighters, it blends really seamlessly for a lovely natural glow. I've been wearing this every day since I got it and it lasts on my skin for a full shift, maybe even longer. I also love the little screw-lid pot it comes in, it's really cute and the perfect size for my makeup bag. The only downside to Topshop's packaging is that it gets really dirty.

I think this is a perfect Summer highlighter and would look especially gorgeous with a tan. I've been loving pairing it with my Chanel Tan De Soleil and my Kevyn Aucoin cream blush for a dewy makeup look. I think the next time I'll definitely purchase Polished and also I'll be taking a look at some of the cream highlighters you guys recommended. Overall, Topshop Glow is definitely a winner - it's so reasonably priced as well! What's your favourite highlighter for Summer? I need more!!

What's In My Everyday Makeup Bag

When I go to work everyday, I can't be bothered wearing much makeup (especially when I'm up at 5.45am) so I just tend to keep it to a minimum. I decided to do a post on what's in my makeup bag for my natural day look which is usually dewy skin, an eyeliner flick and natural lips.

Face
On a daily basis I switch between my Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation and Chanel Perfection Lumiere which both give my skin a natural looking finish. My favourite concealer at the moment is Rimmel Wake Me Up which is great at hiding those dark circles and because I loved it so much I've just picked up the foundation to try too. I use my NARS Laguna bronzer as a countour and apply it in the hollows of my cheeks, my jawline and my temples then add a cream blush and highlight to my cheeks for a dewy look. At the moment I've got Topshop Glow highlighter and Kevyn Aucoin Euphoria creamy glow blush in my makeup bag. I finish my base off with a dusting of MAC Blotting powder to stop my t-zone from getting oily (not a good look).

Eyes
On a night out I love nothing more than a dark smoky eye but for everyday I usually just apply a slick of eyeliner and loads of mascara. My choice of eyeliner at the moment is the L'Oreal Perfect Slim Super Liner because it's so quick and easy to apply in the mornings and I'm using Maybelline The Falsies mascara which is my favourite drug store mascara. I also fill in my brows with my Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil which is really natural for day time and has a handy little spooly attached to the end.

Lips
My two favourite natural lipsticks to wear daily are MAC Angel and Chanel Romance, I usually just apply whatever one I pick out first. There's also nothing worse than dry lips so I always keep a lip balm or two handy. I've been using Nivea Caramel Cream for a few months now and it smells amazing but I also carry around Eight Hour Cream in my handbag in case my lips are feeling extra dry.

So that's my every day makeup at the moment, it can vary from month to month depending on what products I've picked up but I usually always go for the same old look. Hope everyone's having a good weekend, I'm spending mine blogging, relaxing and reading my new Lauren Conrad books.

Orange & Coral Lipsticks for Summer

So this week we had one day of sun (yay!) and hopefully this will be the start of more to come. Like I said before, when the warmer weather comes I like to switch up my makeup routine and this usually starts with my lipstick. In the Autumn/Winter I tend to go for dark berry colours but in the Summer my favourite colour to wear on my lips is Coral so I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you.

I'm a big fan of Topshop lipsticks and last Summer I picked up both Infrared and Ohh La La. Infrared is a deep orange that looks amazing with bronzed, sun-kissed skin. In Ibiza last year I wore this on my lips almost every night. Oh La La is a pale coral colour and the lightest shade of the bunch which is perfect for every day wear, especially if you're not a bold lipstick kinda girl. I find Topshop lipsticks really good quality for the price (£8) and I definitely need to buy some more shades, they're all so pretty! The only downside is that the packaging gets super dirty.

If I had wrote an April favourites post (I took the pictures and just didn't get round to it) then Vegas Volt would have been in it. It's a bright coral with an amplified finish which is one of my favourites as the pigment is amazing. I've been wearing this non-stop on my lips the last couple of weeks and it's definitely a MAC lipstick I suggest you add to your collection.

If you prefer lip butters to lipsticks, my favourite shade at the moment is Juicy Papaya. The Revlon lip butters are so moisturising and a great alternative to lipstick as they're really natural for every day wear.

Now the prettiest of the bunch, YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Paris. This is a more pinky/coral that the rest of them and probably one of my favoutites. I absolutely adore the colour of this and the gorgeous packaging is an added bonus. I don't think my Summer lipstick selection would be complete without one of these beauties and another Rouge Volupte shade I think would look gorgeous for Summer is #13 Peach Passion...maybe I'll treat myself soon!

What are your favourite Coral lipsticks?

The Met Ball 2013 - My Best & Worst Dressed

This morning while I was sitting on the train on my way to work the first thing I did was Google 'Met Ball 2013.' Whenever there's a big event or award ceremony I get so excited to see all the gorgeous (and not so gorgeous) dresses. I also love watching Fashion Police on E! in case there's any I've missed. I decided to write a little post to show you who I think looked amazing and who just didn't get it right. I know some people will have a different taste to me, this is just my own opinion feel free to disagree and let me know what you think. This years exhibition theme was 'Punk: Chaos to Couture'...I think some people didn't get the memo! 

The Best 

[all images c/o Vogue.com]

I picked 6 of my favourite looks from the evening which all seem to be either Black or White. First up is Taylor Swift in J.Mendel. I'm loving all of Taylor's recent style choices (the Brit Awards dress), she seems to be going for a more grown up, sophisticated look these days and I think she looks gorgeous. I love the embellished neckline and cut out panels, the black smoky eyes and pulled back hair adds that little bit of 'punk' to it as well. Jessica Alba in Tory Burch and Miranda Kerr in Michael Kors both opt for black peek-a-boo gowns. Not very punk, but the both of them look stunning as usual. Nicole Richie wears a custom-made Topshop creation covered in beading. I love Nicole's style and to me she can do no wrong - not sure about the hair though, I hope that washes out! I also had to add in Stacey Keibler's Rachel Roy dress. It's not as extravagant as the rest of them but I love it, it has that Balmain (one of my favourites) look, non? Finally, my favourite look of the night has to be Rooney Mara in custom-made Givenchy Couture. I absolutely love the contrast between the white lace and the the zip detailing and plunging neckline, oh and the dark Gothic lip - well done Miss Mara! 

The Worst

[all images c/o Vogue.com]

Now on to 6 of the worst; Gisele Bundchen wears Anthony Vaccarello, not the worst of the bunch but to me it looks a little cheap and tacky. I know the theme was Punk but I think this is a little more 'Pretty Woman.' One person who definitely didn't get the memo, Kim Kardashian in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. Now don't get me wrong, she looks glowing and her baby bump is cute but that dress, eugh! The high neckline and gloves just aren't flattering and the floral pattern isn't doing it for me - where are your hands Kim!? I wonder if Kanye dressed her... I'm sort of lost for words at Madonna, also in Givenchy Couture by Riccardo Tisci. I just don't get this outfit, I kind of wish Madonna would start dressing her age but maybe she just wanted to have some fun with the theme? Erm, I think you forgot your trousers Madge. Gwen Stefani wears Maison Martin Margiela and I'm really shocked she's made my worst dressed list, she usually looks amazing. I don't think this dress is flattering at all, she has such an amazing figure and you just can't see it in this dress - you're still a babe to me though Gwen. Next up is Elle Fanning in Rodarte, the only thing I disklike more than this dress is the makeup she paired with it! Finally, Kerry Washington in Vera Wang. I think there's too much going on with this outfit and it drowns Kerry's tiny frame. The gloves are also a bit much, they'd maybe look cool with a more simple dress but definitely not this one! 

So that's my best and worst dressed lists from the Met Ball 2013. A bit of a different post for my blog but I enjoyed writing it. Do you agree with my choices? Who were your best and worst dressed of the night?

Summer Makeup Bag Essentials

Since it's now May and Summer's (hopefully) on it's way, I wanted to do a post on some of my Summer makeup bag essentials. I like to switch up my normal routine quite a bit when the Summer comes and go for a more natural, dewy look. I don't like my makeup to be as heavy and tend to go for brighter colours on my cheeks and lips. Here are some of the products I'll be using this year...

So when the warmer weather comes around I'll be swapping my full coverage foundation for a lighter CC cream. I usually swap between Laura Mercier Silk Creme and Armani Luminous Silk on a daily basis but I think I'll be keeping these for night time during the Summer. This month I've been loving L'Oreal Nude Magique Anti-Redness CC Cream which neutralises the redness I get on my cheeks and nose. I started off using it as a base but now I use it on it's own because I find it makes my skin look even and natural. I did a full post on this here if you'd like to see it in action. When this runs out I'll definitely be repurchasing it because for under a tenner it's a bargain compared to other CC creams on the market.

I've always been a powder blush kinda girl and avoided cream blushers because I wasn't sure about them. However, recently I've purchased my first couple and have been converted! I'm in love with my Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow Blush (and can't wait to buy more) and have also been using the Revlon Photo Ready Blush in the shade Pinched. This gives my cheeks a really dewy, natural look as it's quite subtle and perfect for every day wear. I find it harder to work with than my Kevyn Aucoin one but that's to be expected.

Two products I can't live without are bronzer and highlighter to achieve that Summer glow. I switch between my NARS Laguna and my Chanel Tan De Soleil but I think I'll be using my Chanel one more this year as it'll go well with the cream blushers. Still straying from the powders, I love Benefit Sun Beam to give me a gorgeous golden glow. I either mix a little bit of this into my foundation for a luminous base or use it as a highlight on my cheek bones, the bridge of my nose and my brow bone. I prefer gold toned highlighter's in summer because they look amazing with a tan.

I'll also be ditching the lipstick (sometimes) during the day and switching back to my lip butters for a more subtle, natural look. One of my favourite Lip Butters at the minute is Revlon's Juicy Papaya. There are so many shades in this range that I want to get my hands on!

So that's some of the products I like to switch to during the Summer months and I'm praying we get a hot one this year (not holding my breath, I live in Scotland). What products do you switch to in the Summer?