bat those lashes

Thought today I would let you in on a little make-up secret of mine. One thing I could not do without on a daily basis is mascara - I have the blondest eyelashes that are literally invisible.

And so I have tried so many mascara's in my time always bouncing from one to another trying to work out which is best and I like a lot but my favourites are the ones I currently own (and need to re-purchase!). Before I tell you about them though I wanted to tell you about a little trick of mine that gets the mascara to apply nice and thick and sleek with no lumps and bumps. 

It's called Vaseline ladies, yes, vaseline can be used for pretty much anything (I say vaseline but I mean petroleum jelly). I used to and still do watch make-up tutorials and yearrrrs ago, we are talking donkeys, when I started using mascara the three tips that stuck with me are as follows:

1. Hold your mirror low/tilt your head upwards to that you can avoid getting mascara on your eyelids

2. Shake your brush from side to side after a few strokes to get your lashes to split from one another

3. And always apply vaseline to your lashes before putting the mascara on - don't ask questions just do it

And a new tip that I need to invest in as soon as possible is one passed on by my lovely best friend Juliette, when I was telling her about my vaseline trick she told me that she uses coconut oil on her lashes (or at least she had heard of it). More specifically, she had the Superdrug own brand one on her bed side table, it was a waxy texture and smelt lovely (looking online here it is only £2.29). However, upon doing more research it is rumored that vaseline makes your lashes grow also .. So hey presto, another amazing reason to listen to my advice!!

My favourite mascara at the minute and I think ever acutally is the Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Retro Glam - My eyelashes look so so so long, now I don;t know if they are and the mascara is the only one that covers them all or if it is a case of lengthening in the mascara?, either way I love it. The brush hugs all your eyelashes that makes it so easy to get all the little iddy biddy ones in the corners (even though it is what I call a bushy brush which I don't normally like).

Another one I love at the minute is the Max Factor Eye Brightening for Blue Eyes mascara - It's brush is a type I've always loved, its straight with little spikes and it super thin so again easy to get into all the difficult places your eyelashes like to hide. I don't know about the whole 'eye brightening' idea, at first it excited me but really I don't see a different. However I do like the mascara a lot a lot so maybe it does do something different.

The final one is a newby to the bunch - a little tester that I am considering to be my next mascara buy! - it is the Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara. The brush curves right around your eyes - maybe even better than the Rimmel one - and is thin and spiky the way I like it! It goes on well, comes off well and doesn't crust off over the course of the day (which I find happens with the Max Factor one). It's perfection in a tiny weeny tube.

Which mascara do you like best?

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what's black and white and not so red all over?

The answer to that would be my Louis Vuitton nails - inspired by the S/S 14 showstopper that Edie Campbell strutted along the catwalks inspiring every designer possible to tear fashion limb from limb, scribble all over it, stick some feathers on it and create themselves a masterpiece -

As print is going to be a huge trend, more specifically lettering/typography, this Spring/Summer season this stunt of body graffiti done by Stephen Sprouse is well in fitting with what we will be wearing in a couple of months time - some already. 

And as the whole show set to inspire thousands based on LV's past 16 years of fashion experience and artistry in turn it inspired me and my next set of nail art. I am entering a little instagram competition by @Glittr and the theme is black and white. So, instantly I was going to enter a totally 'Black and White Ball' design with elements of my Wolf on Wall Street design (see it here, it's a massive favourite of mine!).. But for some reason I just couldn't nail it. (excuse the pun)

And as my nails got weary of the reapplication of white polish I remembered how much I loved the design that I transferred onto my nails a little white ago (here is the post) and bada bing bada boom - hey presto - voila.. this is the result...

Hope you love! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

giving in to the gradient

So I promised all my insta-followers I would pop up a tutorial of the latest marbling I've done.

This is probably my favourite design (however it's not in my favourite colours) and I am going to do a black/white version tonight (for a little competition) that I'll post up tomorrow for you all to see. Either way everyone that has seen them has asked 'How did you do that?' 

And when I say 'With a tool, its actually much easier than it looks' - They do not believe me! 

So a quick tutorial to show how easy it is is just want we need. I'd love to do a video but I can't video myself! - however much a tried holding the camera with my chin/propping it up on my dvds/getting my teddy to hold it - I failed everytime.

Hopefully though this step by step will still help and you can have a go yourself and instagram/tweet me the results because I would love to see if it really is as easy I think!

what you need:  

a small dotting tool/needle if you don't have tools

two shades of polish you think work perfectly together - 

I chose Cheeky's Minted and Purpl-exed shades (these are currently available on the website at £7.00 each, just click the names to get to wear you want to go)

step one

 Apply - to a primped and prepped nail with a shiny base coat - your first polish to the bottom half of the nail like below, (don't worry if it isn't neat or straight or over half way for that matter).

step two

Apply your second polish to the top of the nail - making sure as much of the nail is covered as possible, like below:

step three

Now, quickly before it dries, swirl the tool/needle through the nail polish. Working from one colour to another in circle motions creating the below:

Now if you aren't happy with your design you can always redo it, like I did...

Once happy with your design you can carry on with the rest of the nails and then give yourself a shiny or matte top coat and you can end up with something like the below:

You can use this design as a feature nail or use three colours to make things more interesting!

Have fun lovelies x

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my percy & reed needs .. amongst other hair essentials

So, I made a courageous decision a couple of weeks ago to invest in receiving a beauty box every month.. After feeling particularly pooped about being so skint I thought 'Why the hell not?' and it worked out to be pretty worth it. I got some really nice bits and pieces that I will blog about once I've had the chance to use and abuse them all. I have to say, I am most excited to try the Beautify Me supplements as my skin has been really bad lately, you can look out for that in a month when my current pack has run out!

One product I used straight away and instantaneously loved was the Percy & Reed Dry Conditioner. My hair as I have said before gets itself into bad condition fairly quickly despite the fact I hardly ever blow dry it or straighten it - so I was pretty eager to see what it was like seeing as the piles of oil I've been putting on my hair is starting to give me an uncomfortable oily feeling on my face. I LOVE IT. It just makes my hair super soft - just like the Keratin did the other day - but with no need to start from the beginning. It's brill if you have - like me- spent the day trekking around Manchester in the wind and rain, hunting something down for your niece after 3 hours on tubes and trains from London, right before you run out of time to get ready for a night out with the girls! (and breathe) - it's a really good quick fix (and I don't particularly like that phrase however this time it's true!)

I have also found out how amazing the one minute transformation is by Color Wow after kindly getting a little sample from a feelunique event for LFW this week. It was pretty magical when I slapped it onto my 'fro to see just how good it was - but don't apply too much! (my major product tip when it comes to hair, avoid over usage or you will end up washing your hair daily and that isn't good for the natural oils that make your hair grow).

These aren't the only amazing instantly transforming - from work to night out - products I use. I obviously am a massive fan of Batiste Dry Shampoo (pairs well with the dry conditioner I think) and am head over heels for the new oriental scent as it is right up my alley (and prepping me for my trip to Thailand/Vietnam).

Then, once all creams and spritz's and sprays have been applied, you can quickly comb through with the amazing Tangle Teezer (which I have always avoided due to the fact I NEVER brush my hair but I am happy to say it is well worth the wait) and voila, instant hair in an instant for a night out, instantly. 

Good luck ladies xxx

sex and the citygal

I accidentally posted this the other day and hadn't even uploaded the pictures! typical me.. didn't notice till two whole days later. If I had a brain I'd be bloody dangerous!

Moving on from my tendency to be a numpty.. I was offered an amazing position at the PR agency I work for, Imagination, last week and it means I can stay in London until July like I originally planned before my previous employer had to let me go. No hard feelings.. not know I'm working for brands I actually like! So I concluded after much turmoil and struggle over the past few months I am officially a citygal again - and in celebration of this wonderful fact I did some sex and the city inspired nail art.. Hope you like :)

I used my new Andrea Fulerton Glitter Kit, Color Show in Blackout and Winter Baby and Models Own in Hot Pink as my bases. I also popped some little glitzy gems on for extra girly factor.. even if they did fall off after a day of running my hands through my super smooth hair. I also used my GOSH silver glitter nail polish for added glitter on the Big Ben I included in my city landscape. I loved drawing my little comso glasses.. now if only I had a full sized one in my hand as well...

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valentines kiss

2 days to go until you will be giving your Valentine a great big kiss - best done with bright red lippy - whether it be your best friend, husband, boyfriend, grandaddy or dad (like me). Whether you want to be sexy or subtle, red lipstick on Valentines is the way to go.

So you can give them the perfect red lip print on the cheek or lips [ wink ] I have gone through my hoard of red lipsticks to see which is suitable for each Valentine possibility and which will leave the best print (I've done the leg work as far as wearing it goes, however, the kissing is your bit) - thats right it is totally up to you to pick a lippy and give your Valentine a massive kiss!

Day Date

Lush, It Started with a Kiss Lip Tint

This lip tint from Lush is so perfect for a day date - When you don't want to go for risky red because as they say 'A woman in red, is ready for bed'... You want a light lip print to keep a reminder in the air of what they are missing - subtle but still obvious.

Bright & Bubbly

B. by Superdrug, Pizzazz 155

Want to maintain your innocence? Don't wear red lipstick..

No but seriously, this lipstick is such a lovely bright and pretty shade of red that it gives off a vibe that is more 'cute' than 'come at me'. I tend to wear this one during in the day because the light reflects off it really nicely too.

Bring me a Rose

Collection 2000, Volume Sensation in Cherry Pop 8

In all honesty this is the lipstick that gets a guys respect.. Okay yes I am joking again. This one is still subtle and nice enough to be sweet, but it also has an edge to it that is sexy and fashionable - Best of both worlds, why wouldn't a guy give you a rose? (Probably because it isn't 1950)

Bite it

Maybelline, Colour Sensational Fatal Red 530

This one has a funny story behind it actually - I found it in my bag when I moved to London last June and have no idea where it came from. I keep tabs on my red lipsticks because I love them so much, so I know I didn't buy it - One of my friends is definitely down a lippy, oops. But it was worth it, it is a sexier shade and I imagine it as the kind you see on the model biting her lip on the advert - you know the one...

The Mistress or the Wife?

B. by Superdrug, Carmen 038 

You can be either in this shade I recon, the sexy mistress who steals the married man from his frigid wife in the middle of the night, or the demanding wife with an attitude problem and a rich man on her arm who gives her whatever she wants. I don't know which I would rather be!

Let's Talk About Sex Baby

Collection 2000, Volume Sensation in Ruby Red 3

Pure sex on a stick, I LOVE this lipstick. It is my favourite I have at the minute (I used to have an amazing Kate Moss shade that I always get mixed up with this one - but hey ho this one is probably cheaper). It's dark, broody, full of attitude and has a slight matted effect - which is gorgeous. If you are up for the seduction, pick this up.

All Nighter

Maybelline, Super Stay 24 Hour Colour in Red Passion

I wore this lipstick for my first big night out in Manchester city centre, when I found out I passed my A Levels and at 7 o'clock in the morning in the taxi with my best friend Chlo in her smeared lippy, it was still perfect - even after all the shots. It's tough to apply to be honest but worth the effort. If the walk of shame is something you like to do with your lipstick still in tact. This is the one you want. 

I also highly recommend this GOSH lip liner to neaten up the edges of your lipstick - I've never been that bothered about lip liner till I used this one to be honest - but it is really good. GOSH, Velvet Touch Lip Liner, Simple Red.

My next post is to celebrate the fact I am still a citygal after much stress and struggle - yay me!

Sex and the citygal nail art. See you tomorrow! MWAH xxx

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PS I wasn't able to pop in pics of all the lippies on my gorge lips because my lips weren't agreeing with the constant cleaning and re-applying! - the pains of a beauty blogger.

smooth talk

So.. this post is a hairy one. Full of hair and hair talk. I have taken to the idea of doing some beauty blogging and decided - given my tendency to hoard and use a ridiculous amount of products - it would be a good idea.

Over the past 3 days my hair has been a massive curly fro - like that of Julia Roberts or at least I like to think so - something like the below to be more exact ;)

Well I say exact.. that's what I like to think ;)

When it came to washing my hair I have to say I was dreading it - so I piled on the conditioner plus this amazing Shea Butter hair mask! I got it in Primark - Les Karites Hair Mask.

I was really impressed with the results after washing my hair I applied the mask for 5-10 minutes (I have no idea how long I waited to be honest) either way, I then washed it out and it was really easy to brush - surprisingly - and blow dry. And boom I have the smoothest hair I've had in a lonnnnnnggg time.

Woohoo! I would definitely recommend it - and I swear it was only a pound.. but given my terrible memory I can't guarantee a thing but it was definitely at the till! One of the temptation last minute buys ;)

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my sweet nonexistent valentine

This Valentines Day like all the ones that have past in my life, 21 of them to be exact will be spent all by my lonesome - Minus those I have spent with a card from my crush in Primary School or a mystery card from my Granda. But don't worry I don't at all feel lonely because I spend it with the Scream films - something I love verrrrryyy much and other single ladies :)

See technically its about being with those you love ... Ipso Facto I do it right. 

I also do Valentines nail art :) well I do this year.. I've done this simple Valentines mani with a transparent heart and dotting to jazz my Valentines up. I used my dotting pen from Rio Professionals in Red, my Color Show by Maybelline in Winter Baby polishes, a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover to remove the white and create a clear heart and a shiny top coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dry.

Hope you like, Have a lovely Valentines :) xxxx

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#nailvengersassemble

Been having a real nosey around some amazing nail blogs over the past few days and stumbled across the Nailvengers - The Nailasaurus, One Nail to Rule Them All, Lucy’s Stash, xAmeliax and Brit Nails. As the Nailvengers Assemble each month they come up with a new and exciting theme to inspire themselves, and subsequently they have inspired me! With January's theme New Year, New Technique and I know I am 8 days late!! -OOPS - but I really wanted to try something new. 

I love trying new techniques, practicing them and gettting unhealthily addicted. 

One I've wanted to try for a while is the newspaper transfer - I have always just gone 'Oh next week I'll do it' and never got round to trying it. So today was the day and I am so glad I had fun! 

I scoured my February Vogue and The Catwalk Edit and used designs from the likes of Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Alexander Wang, Louis Vuitton and Oscar De La Renta, I even use a cutting of a Dior Ballgown from 1949 featured in the Earthly Delights article by Nicola Shulman.

I used my favourite Maybelline Color Show white polish and Sally Hansen top coat as usual :)

Once I had applied the white base coat of polish I left it dry almost completely, then I laid down the torn out piece of paper, ink face down, on the nail. 
Next, I used this German extra strong liquer (I have no idea what it is but I took a pic for you all anyway - if anyone knows what it is let me know, as my friend bought it back from Germany for me last year and its DEADLY!) 
.. anyway, then I rubbed the alcohol on top of the paper with a cotton bud until I could see the design that was underneath through the paper. 
After I held the paper down for a few seconds, I slowly peeled it back, making sure not to take the design and the polish with it (which did happen a few times!) 10 nail and 16 attempts later.. VOILA :)

 This is my favourite nail! - It's the Parental Advisory sign on the alexander Wang jumper..

Hope you like and if you try it remember #nailvengerssassemble and #newyearnewtechnique 

Ciao bella ;) xxxx

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