how my prom make-up should have looked

Ever since my prom, this being all of 5 years ago give or take a few months, I have said that my make up was the worst it has ever been and it totally ruined my night. Well not totally, I still had an amazing time with my best friends and I may have cried, I can't remember, you know, having slept since then. So I am now dedicating a post to how I actually wanted it. There was never any thick green eyeshadow or pencil eyeliner under my eye or tranny eyelashes in the equation (never should have been!)..

before - apologies for looking so miserable

after - I've just now discovered my wonky lip

what I used

To achieve this simple (yet my favourite) look I used all the below products and steps :)

These are the brushes I used, I keep it simple obviously, with a flat small lippy brush, one big soft brush for all my facey needs and a small shadow brush for well .. shadowing. 

skin

To start I primed with my favourite new GOSH primer (see review here) Prime 'n' Set Powder (<<remember its a link). Next I used my new concealer - never been a concealer person, I don;t know why but I've never been able to get a good 'un until this beauty came into my life - 17 Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer. Next a light layer of my Max Factor Whipped Cream Foundation in Light Ivory (40) - also a new addition to my make-up bag but it's going so quickly which is a disadvantage next to the way it clumps on my hand but makes my skin look sooooo smooth and silky. Then I contour, highlight and blush with my Sleek Definition Kit (review also here). 

eyes - with another shot cause i care

I shade in my eyebrows with my new Shavata Brow Perfector Kit, I don't pluck or wax or do anything to my brows (I never have) I can't be bothered to make a fuss when I don't need to so I don't. All I do is give them so colour with a brow shadow (because they are invisible) - my new one is from Shavata and the shadows are cream and so go on my easier and quicker than a powder shadow. I then highlight my brow bone with my eyeshadow brush and a bit of highlighter from my sleek kit, after this I use my MUA Trio Eyeshadow in Innocence. Here I apply a generous amount of the white shadow, it has a lovely sheen to it - and then I give my self a light cut crease ( this is a darker shadow in a line under my brow bone) in the mid brown shade, then blend with the white (keeping it very sinples). I also apply white the the inner part of my eye by the bridge of my nose to highlight, and under my eye to widen them. Next comes a thick (but not too thick) liquid eyeliner line with a love flick at the outer edge (my favourite part of this look). My new liquid eyeliner is  the best I've had to date, it is B. by Superdrug B. Dramatic Liquid Eyeliner. It's a felt type pen, which is the best way to apply liner! I followed all of this with my BEST EVER mascara, Rimmel Scandal Eyes Retro Glam in Extreme Black (review here!) - I neatened up with my Urban Decay Supercurl Mascara brush because it is very spiky and great to seperate those annoying lashes you can't get to.

lips

I got very excited today and bought two MUA lipsticks for £1, one is in this look because its Matte and beautiful and I love it and the other is a deeper red (because mine is running out so it's totally justified). This one is actually MUA Matte Lipstick in Scarlette Siren, I used my lippy brush to neaten up the edges. 

The sequel to this post will be 'how my prom hair should have looked' ... See you soon :)

my easter/spring manicures

I am going to start today's blog by saying HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE. I hope you have all enjoyed your easter weekends, mine was very interesting ranging from tedious catholic mass to a male stripper in Church to a futuristic re-enactment of the resurrection of Jesus - let's just leave you with that amount of information! - I am going to then apologise for being so absent of late. I have been really quite ill this month and so haven't had much energy to dedicate to my lovely little blog! But that doesn't mean I haven't been busy using lots'o beauty products and doing pretty nail art.. If you follow my instagram/twitter you will be able to see my updates all the times! 

Today I have a rather simple post for you, featuring my nail art from the weekend and a little tutorial on my easter pattern nails :) Now I know it's a little late seeing as Easter is over, BUT these nails can be adjusted for any spring day. Minus the bunny you have a lovely spring manicure. Easy peasey.

I started the weekend rather plainly as far as nail art is concerned, I didn't have a lot of time so I rustled up a simple dotted design and added a negative space feature nail to spice things up a little bit. I always do my nail art whilst watching my favourite current series or doing my episode catch ups, so if you think you have to set time aside to sit at the kitchen table with all your polishes around you - yeah, don't bother! - stick the telly on, get comfy with a cuppa and your mates and paint as you chill.

As the weekend went on I got more into the Easter spirit, depsite my lack of Easter eggs this year, I did a more complicated design for the April nail challenge by @californails on Instgram. I love this cute design, I haven't done something funky or themed in a while so I have done a quick tutorial on the most patterned nail, breaking it down for yah!

Easter Mani

Start with a coat or two of your favourite polish (I used my Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Mayfair Lane)

Then add your base stripes, in whatever colours you want, for this theme pastels and soft colours are prettiest! (I used NYC In a Minute in Raindrop, Models Own Ice Neon Polish in Pukka Purple and GOSH Cosmetics Special Edition Polish in Splish Splash)

Use a small flat brush to paint on your stripes, don't be afraid of lumps/bumps or double coating as long as you have an even base colour.

Once your stripes are dry and more evened out in the process (if you want you can do a top coat to smooth them out but it isn't necessary) you can add your designs. For this theme dotting and zigzags work best. 

To achieve a nice zig zag design us a thin flat brush dipped lightly in your chosen polish to create lines like below...

To get lovely dotting use dotting tools like below to dip and dot as your please...

Et Voila, perfect with a shiny or matte top coat of your choice (mine was the Diamond Strength Top Coat by Sally Hansen - but I am cheeky and use it on the top too because I have run out of my Insta-Dri Sally Hansen Top coat - oops, oh well, I'll do what I want)

The bunny is really easy if you have brushes or nail pens, do your pink bits first and them your black bits second and tah dah!

I added some simple dotted nails in part to make the features stand out but mostly because my film was drawing to a close and I was tired!

Hope you like these designs everyone, I am writing up a lovely make-up B&A for you all (something new!) for tomorrow :D Feel free to ask any questions I will answer as quick as possible as best I can!

See you on the tweeting and instagramming side @curiousitybty

PS Remember, all the product names I feature are links to places you can find them, as is my twitter name above (it's the same for my instagram too!)

jew's make-up stash

As you may have already seen below I have recorded the wonderful beauty favourites of my best friend Chloe whilst on my holiday back home in Manchester. And seeing as I have another amazing best friend that I was visiting this week who has the best stash of make-up I've ever seen (in real life) it was just seemed fair that she get a dedicated post too. She is my go to when it comes to make-up, if I want to play with her make-up or want some tips or want to know the best brushes to get I would turn to Juliette. (aka Jewstone, Jewvenile Convict, Jew bird, Jules, Jew)

Juliette's eye make-up picks...

Something I would say Juliette is a bit of an expert, if not just a girl obsessed by, is eyeshadow and  make-up for the eyes. She has sooooo many shadows.. These are just her favourites.

Urban Decay's Naked Palettes: Everyone, everywhere loves naked eye palettes. And you can see why, the neutral to dark colours allow you to create the perfect look whether it be all natural or smoky. I love going to Juliette's house and using her Naked palettes, I still haven't invested in my own because I always keep my shadow quite basic and natural and focus on eyeliner and lashes but they are lovely, I do want one!

NYX Loose Pearl Shadows in Copper, Bronze, Purple and Gold: These tiny pots of sparkly loveliness are so lovely. Juliette uses a little empty palette or empty eyeshadow tub to put in a little bit of the loose pearl with some water to create a lovely cream shadow. I love the Lilacy purple shade, there are loads more available on the website. If I invest I might go for the Turqouise one, it looks very mermaid-esque. That mermaid-aqua look with the pearlescent or metallic sheen is a great trend this season with coloured make up. Especially for your eyes and nails. 

The last top shadow Juliette picked out was the Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24HR Eye Shadow in Metallic Pomegrenate: Says it all in the name really, a shadow that won't clump in your creases but will last all day and night so you have an easy transaction from your work to party looks without any fuss about shadow! Juliette uses the Metallic Pomegrenate shade because she loves the contrast is has next to her pale skin, dark reddish hair and dark eyes.

Juliette, like myself, is a lover of Sleek Make-Up. Her new favourite product is the Sleek Brow Kit:  Now I have a really good new brow kit, I have tried two now (I used to be naughty and just use a brown eyeshadow) one by GOSH with powder brow shadow and my new one is by Shavata with a lovely cream shadow and they are both really good. This kit combines both a cream and a shadow, available in various shades - such a great idea because i found with my other kits that I use only one shadow and it's a total waste! So I am thinking this is my next brow kit..

Juliette's facial make-up favourites..

Super+ Beblesh Balm BB Cream with SPF 25: A Korean BB cream available on amazon, is one of Juliette's favourite facial makeup products because it is apparently the best. According to Jew, Korean BB Creams are the best kind, I'm not an expert on the matter so I wouldn't know, but Jew does her research and what she says goes. So get yourself on amazon, because the little swatch i did was really nice, and looked like it does the job really well.

BH Cosmetics Glamourous Blush Palette: Juliette isn't blessed with my naturally rosy cheeks, so one of her key items is a varied blush palette with blush for every season. So that whatever the weather you look fresh and glowing.

Another blusher Juliette loves is NYX Powder Blush in Taupe. It's a lovely natural colour and is perfect for contouring her pale skin. It makes a lovely difference to the darker bronzers you get in contouring palettes.

Juliette adores coconut oil..

I have mentioned Coconut Oil before in my eyelashes tips & mascara's blog post. Where I explained that coconut oil is often used on eyelashes to stimulate growth, according to Juliette it is also a wonderful moisturiser. Juliette has very sensitive skin with patches of occasional eczma so a good moisturiser is essential. Coconut Oil has al sorts of amazing qualities like natural UV protection and natural source of vitamin E (which I love and you all know it, as it is a natural healing and reparing vitamin for skin).

Juliette's new nail polishes..

I have seen these gorgeous Aquarium nail polishes by Barry M all over the blogging world and given Juliette's on going obsession with Barry M polishes, I should have known she would have some. She has the Mediterranean and Pacific and they are amazing. The Mediterranean shade is a pink/orange colour, on certain lights its a vibrant orange and in others a glimmering pink. The Pacific shade, Juliette was actually wearing the other day, and it is a lovely shimmering green/blue colour. I really really want some of these polishes I could do some lovely mermaid nail art with them.

Juliette's best lipsticks..

Avon Lipstick in Berry Berry is a lush colour! I (as an admirer of red lipstick) adore the shade, it's bright and so perfect for day or night this summer - good choice Juliette :)
Juliette is also loving purple lipsticks at the moment and her favourite is the Revlon ColourBurst Matte Balm in Shameless, I have never tried out purple lipstick but Juliette wore it while I was home and it really suited her to a T, it really complimented her brown eyes and pale skin. I love wearing the colour purple so I might give it ago, seeing as you know orange and purple are such good suitors and all!
Her favourite pink lipstick is a Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in 18, a lovely pink shade (again perfect for summer). This lipstick would be a great option for a daytime summer look, I think it would suit most complexions.

So there they are, all the best bits of Juliette's make-up, and here are some lovely pics of her face painting skills! See you next time for my mum's classic products :) x

howard's beauty stash

my little best friend, chloe howard is one of the most beaut ladies i know, so it is only natural that when I went to her house I completely raided her make-up and beauty stash! She called me nosey, I say I'm curious..

Once she showed me all her fave products I thought it only fair that I dedicate a post to her as planned... Showing off every single beauty secret and guilty pleasures she has in her stash! And here are her reasons for loving each and every one of them...

chloe cleanses...

Chlo's got many favourite products as you can see, she is like me. And so she has a lot of cleansing products, just like me she knows how important cleansing is for your skin and also your hair. 

On her hair she uses the Lush It's Raining Men Honey Rich Shower Gel for Body and Hair, which is like nothing I have ever smelt. It's definitely lush. Chloe loves this gel as a shampoo because the ingredients such as ginger and honey are naturally sourced from the rainforest and so it's all pure goodness unlike he previous shampoo's. 

Then she uses Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shimmering Colour Conditioner because she finds with this conditioner you only need a small dollop to get your hair lovely and soft and is cheap enough for her student budget. 

Even though the Lush shower gel is for hair AND body, Chloe loves to the vegan appropriate Original Sources Lime Shower Gel because it feels nice on the skin (and again it's naturally sourced and packed full of limes).

Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash from The Body Shop is Chloe's go to face wash because it is lovely and gentle on her pale and sensitive skin, and its really good for when she doesn't need or want any rough exfoliation. It also smells really nice and has the all important Vitamin E in it, healing any scars or blemishes and improving the skins tone.

Clean & Clear Exfoliating Oil Free Daily Wash  is perfect for Chloe's stash because you only need a little bit to exfoliate your face and know it's doing it's job. It's not too harsh and has no oil's in so you don;t end up with and oily complexion.

chloe moisturises...

There is one moisturiser that works miracles for Chloe's skin, it's Dove Nourishing Intensive Moisturising Cream. It seems that any issues or bad skin days Chloe has can be cured by putting this on and the next morning she wakes up a new woman. She says it makes her skin really greasy which worried her, but this probably means it draws out all the good oils in her skin to help moisturise and heal and dry skin or blemishes she has. Sounds bloody perfect if you ask me!

In the same line as her favourite Vitamin E Facial Wash is the Moisture Cream and Nourishing Night Cream. Loving them for their Vitamin E qualities, treating her skin to a little healing vitamin love.

And for her little hands, a woman by my own heart, with the Soap & Glory Hand Food. I love this for the marshmallowy fragrance. Chloe loves it because it's the best hand food she has ever had. And more relevantly, it's non-greasy unlike other hand creams.

chloe powders...

A secret wonder in Chloe's amazing stash of beauty goodies that totally took me by surprise (and I have to say I am going to invest) is the Lush Silky Underwear Dusting Powder. you heard right, powder for your knickers to make them silky and smell amazing even after you have washed them. Chloe pours it all over her knick knacks so they are super soft and pretty smelling, (and they slip off easily!)

For the rest of her body to keep it super soft she uses Johnson's Baby Powder (who doesn't love some talc!).

chloe treats herself, she tans, masks and oils...

To get a lovely natural build up tan Chloe uses the Sugar Baby Glow & Beyond Natural Tinted Self Tan Gloss that she annoyingly bought in Australia! But the link will take you to a place you can get it online ;) She likes this tan in particular because it is a really natural colour and tops most tans she has used (she has good experience with fake tans as she is a pale gal like me). It is really easy to apply, no streaks and you can apply before a shower and still have a lovely naturally looking tan afterwards! (Chloe recommends applying the night before a night out and showering the next day to stop yourself looking like your faking it!).

When having a pamper night we all love certain face masks. Chloe has a particular favourite that is the Strawberry Souffle Moisturising & Purifying Masque. Strawberry & Whipped cream fragrance and meant to soften and nourish your skin Chloe loves how her skin feels after 15 minutes in this bad boy!

Another Johsnon's baby product Chloe loves for treating her skin is the Johnson's Baby Oil with Camomile. Camomile is a lovely ingredient that has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory capabilities and this oil also locks in double the moisture. Chloe loves it because it's the perfect post shaving product to get the silkiest smoothest stems.

So there it is, the top picks of Chloe Howard's beauty stash! Next post will be my mums left overs and products she has sworn by since I can remember. (plus tips I learnt from her)

Bah bye :)

@curiousitybty - feel free to follow me on instagram or twitter the more the much more merrier! :)

voulez-vous

so tonsillitis has struck again, that is why I've not been able to post again this week :'(

I have many many lovely ideas for posts but one thing after the other means you will have to wait. I am going home this week and to a friends for a few days. I'm hoping to do some posts there so you can see what I think of my their beauty hoarding, as I know my mother's compares to mine in no way at all, it will be very specific and fun to see where I get my beauty tips from. 

I just wanted to let you all know this and show you my classic french manicure :) I used the urcheeky crush on you matte nail polish over the top of my Andrea Fulerton white polish tips, that I did freehand (practice makes perfect but a tip for this is use a slanted straight brush to neaten up the line).

xxxxxxxxxxxxx BAHBYE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

daisy matte mani tutorial

This post is to quickly show how you can do a twist on the classic French manicure with some cite white daisies.

Your toolkit needs to consist of..

Your favourite strengthening base coat - mine is Sally Hansen Diamond Strength polish

Your best white polish - mine is currently my Andrea Fullerton White polish

A pretty pink polish - I picked my Nails Inca Gel Effect in Mayfair Lane
The ideal polish for seeds - I used my Max Factor

A small brush

Smallest dotting tool or needle

Start by giving your self a lovely base coat to keep your nails strong (if you apply nail polish often or always keep your talons painted like me then you should apply a strengthen and protecting base coat before applying your next colour or design. Try Sally Hansen Diamond Strength, I've found my nails to be really brittle in the past but now that I use this base coat they are long and tough!).

Once your base coat is dry use your small brush (if you don't have nail brushes use a lipstick or eye shadow brush like the one below) to paint your white petals. Don't worry if you need to do two coats to get them perfect your top coat with smooth out any lumps and bumps.

Once your petals are just the way you want them and the polish is dry, you can start to add some texture. Do this by using your brush again to pat some pink polish over the white lightly. You can also do this with yellow or purple (the first time I did this mani I used yellow and it looked a little like eggs, don't worry if you don't like how they look at this stage the dots will make them perfect!) Then use the dotting tool to create the dots in the centre of your flower, big and small, whatever size or shape, it doesn't matter it all works when it comes to flowers!

Then once your daisies are totally dry you can apply a matte top coat to finish them off and keep them perfect. And you should get something like the below:

Good luck ladies xxxx

Remember my insta and twitter tag has changed to @curiousitybty! :D