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 :)

the positive in seeing the negative

You, my lovely followers and friends have been missing out. Yes indeed, I speak the truth. you have been missing out on some of my nail art lately - unless you follow my instagram/twitter - as I little miss naughty nail blogger haven't been uploading all my nail art to my blog.

In this case I have decided to show you not one, but TWO lots of nail art I have done (one you have seen in technique before, but not in colour) and the other is fresh as a daisy just for you.

Firstly I wanted to show you the nail art I entered into the @glittr Instagram competition with a black and white theme... I obviously didn't win (sniffles) or you would have heard my excitement from miles away (wherever you may be). Here I showed you one of my favourite techniques in a a design I hadn't tried before and ended up LOVING so much I want to do it in different colours everyday, however I am too much of an experimenter to do that. I used my Blackout and Winter Baby Color Show polishes by Maybelline for this design and if you look at my previous post there is a quick how to that explains how EASY it is to achieve this design.

The next is a design inspired by designs by @naildecor on instagram. I love the negative space trend that has been circulating lately, it's so funky and fresh (yes I can say fresh). I have tried it a couple of times here  for Valentine's day and here for my denim inspired design. I think I am getting the hang of it and my new brushes definitley help, so if you are going to try negative space here are my tips:

1. Use brushes! - To paint and to clean up and to neaten up

2. Try cotton buds/pads to create your negative space - Using cotton buds to rub out the area you want is tricky so try wrapping a varnish remover soaked cotton pad around the end of a dotting tool/brush (or anything long and thin).

3. Experiment where possible - whether you own a nail wheel or just use one clean nail to try different designs over and over as this is the best way to get used to being patient and steady handed (this rule applies to most if not all detailed designs!)

I used a random blue polish with no label that I got on a knock off market on Brick Lane (haha!) and my Andrea Fulerton White Polish that came in a glitter kit of hers, I topped it off with my new Rimmel Matte Finish Top Coat.

Let me know what you think lovelies xx

@pawsnclaws101 to tweet me
@pawsandclaws101 to instagram me

the key to a fast and furious blow dry

I have a bit of a versus post for you all today - and I am trying to be more (yes this previously said me bore, because I am apparently really bad at spell checking or lazy, either way I blame my mother the English teacher) efficient and constant with my posts too as I know I've been very quiet this week.

These products are used to speed up the process of the blow drying your hair, convenient for those like me who have thick hair and those who wash their hair in the morning before work (it gives you an extra ten minutes in bed!!). I don't know how the technology works in these products but it works well! So here is what I love about them..

Color Wow's Speed Dry

 The Color Wow product isn't as strong in speeding up the blow dry as the Blow Pro lotion however I will explain why this is an advantage in a minute.  What I loved about i t though is that it is in the form of a lovely spray, it's light and refreshing right before a blow dry and I think the spray gives you maximum and easier coverage of your hair. I personally prefer this product out of the two, even though they are both so good at their jobs.

Blow Pro Express Blow Dry

This lotion is really strong, it does the job much quicker than the Color Wow spray - however it was a little too strong for me - it felt like my hair was too dry after I used it and as I have hair that dries out really quickly between cuts it wasn't good. It meant I had to put a lot of oil on afterwards, which I didn't love! But I would advise that those with really thick hair, that have trouble with a blow dry, use this product. It does what it says on the tin so to speak!

So overall, I would say that both these products are great and what makes them differ is if you prefer spray/lotion products or the thickness of your hair. Whatever the whether, try one at least!!

I am doing this post and other hair related posts to create the perfect blow dry kit which will go up in a couple of weeks. :) 

xxx

liebster time

so the lovely Emily (http://pumpkinemilysmiles.blogspot.co.uk) nominated me for the Liebster Award! And I've been trolling around the internet to find my nominations and then last weekend I got another lovely nomination from Sarah (http://sometimessarahbeauty.blogspot.ca/) :) How sweet..

I am so happy my blog has been nominated twice I literally feel so freaking proud haha.. So here goes nothin'

the rules

1. You must link back to the blogger that nominated you.

2. You have to state 11 facts about yourself.

3. You have to answer 11 questions that were given to you by the blogger who nominated you.

4. You have to nominate 11 other blogs and set 11 questions for them to answer.

5. You can't nominate the person who nominated you.

6. You have to tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you.

11 facts about myself

1. Something you all may know - I LOVE nail art - it is an obsession of mine and will do anyones nails for fun (if I can be bothered haha)

2. I am university student - I am in my placement year of a Fashion Marketing course and as much as I love working full time and earning (some) money I cannot wait to go back and be a student again! Roll on £10 nights out.

3. I am ginger - and proud. 

4. My guilty pleasures include the tv show Charmed at the minute (amongst other amazing things like Ally McBeal, the Scream trilogy and Doctor Who (though everyone in their right mind should appreciate all of the above))

5. I still haven't eaten the white chocolate snowman my brothers lovely girlfriend gave me for Christmas.. God knows why!

6. I work in Public Relations - even though growing up I was the shyest and quietest person ever.

7. I can eat an entire large Dominoes pizza in one sitting.

8. My leg length is 36 inches (aka very freakin long)

9. I love cats - I have two back home, that I miss heaps, and will probably end up the woman married to her 20 cats that you will read about in the paper in 20 years.

10. I have a lot of short friends.. like a strange amount of my super close friends are really quite short.

11. I don't eat vegetables. Well, it's not that I don't period but I really don't like cooked veg... cabbage and spinach being my worst nightmares!

Emily's questions to me...

1. If you can take a picture of anything what would it be? The Great Barrier Reef

2. Who is your favorite band? Will have to say Muse (forever and always)

3. What's your favorite album? Tough one.. The Breakfast Club Soundtrack or Moulin Rouge Soundtrack probably

4. Favorite song? El Tango De Roxanne

5. If you could meet anyone who would it be? Micheal Fassbender hands down - and everywhere else ;)

6. Your favorite thing to do. My nails ofc

7. What's your favorite animal? CATS  - more specifically white lions

8. What's your favorite flower? Used to be Bird of Paradise but now white Roses

9. What's your favorite shirt? Erm.. The one Micheal Fassbender is wearing right now

10. What is your favorite clothing item? My velvet vintage strappy top I found in a charity shop in Crewe

11. If you were trapped on an island, what five items would you like to have with you? Bertie bear, Mascara, a guitar or drum (for a bit of music), Micheal Fassbender (please can he count!?),  a bottle of Malibu! 

Sarah's questions to me..
1. Name 3 of your essential beauty products. Currently that would be Soap & Glory Hand Food, Simple Cleansing Lotion and Rimmel Retro Glam Mascara
2. What's your favourite place to be? On a sunny quiet beach with a cocktail and a book, under a shady umbrella please! - but more accessibly in the comfort of my own bedroom
3. What's your nickname? Oh well, I have many some know me as Abs (family) or Gabs/Gabble (Uni) or Scabi/Scabiwhale haha (girlfriends at home)
4. What is a makeup no-no that you have done? Moisturising RIGHT before you put your foundation on.. rookie mistake haha
5. What is your favourite quote? Easy - as it is inked onto my body haha - 'In a world of my own' from Alice in Wonderland
6. What do you think is the best childhood candy? All of them! They aren't just for childhood ;)
7. Place of the house your hate cleaning the most? Oh wow.. I don't really clean.. but it would have to the the toilet! ew..
8. If you suddenly won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy? A round the world plan ticket for me and my bestest friends
9. Have you ever broken a bone? Nope, which is so strange as I am so clumsy!
10. What's your most used nail polish colour? White! It's my favourite.
11. What makes you happy? My Bronzed Aussie Boys calender hehe

i am nominating:

allthingsbeautybylauren.blogspot.co.uk by Lauren

thoughtsofruby.blogspot.co.nz by Ruby
mimibeauty07.blogspot.co.uk by Mimi
cupidsbowless.tumblr.com by Juliette
ohsojem.blogspot.co.uk by Jem
lilissss.blogspot.com by Aldona
dieforstyle.blogspot.co.uk by Filipa
itskieemm.blogspot.com by Kim
prettychitchat.blogspot.co.uk by Jessica
bohemianwood.tumblr.com by Bohemianwood (Couldn't find your name!)
heisenbergismyhomie.tumblr.com by Chelsea

and your questions from me are...
1. What is your favourite childhood film and why?
2. Your favourite make-up brand?
3. What era would you go back to you if you had a time machine?
4. In your eyes, what is the best TV show ever made?
5. Do you have any tattoos, if so what are they?
6. What piece of advice to give out the most? A.K.A, what is your motto in life?
7. What is your favourite smell/fragrance?
8. Night or Day?
9. What was the last good deed you did?
10. If you had the balls to dye your hair any colour, what would it be?
11. What is your favourite time of year?

Well, I enjoyed doing that.. even if it did take me a while ahaha. thank you so much to the girls who nominated me it is lovely to be welcomed into the blogger community! :) xxxxxxxxxxxx