Well I had a fantastic weekend!

So much fun was had by my bestie and I on Saturday. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time and we got up to the most ridiculous things (don’t drink and tweet kids).

Highlights included S singing down the telephone to my husband and me eating chips and dip off her wooden floor (we is classy birds).

Good times but THANK GOD we only meet up every few months!!

This was my outfit, I wanted to keep it pretty casual as we were having lunch and then heading to a nearby pub for drinks.

• Lace Crop Top – Dunnes £3/ £5 (can’t recall) sale
• Pastel Pink Hanky Hem Button Vest – New Look £8
• Denim Shorts – New Look £10 sale
• Black ribbon threaded pumps – Faith (past season)

I was determined to incorporate a little of the underwear as outwear trend, so I paired an over-sized vest with a lace crop top and undid the first few buttons to expose some bra/ boobage. I have to admit I wasn’t sure about it but I think the dense lace pattern keep it from being too tarty…… maybe….. not

Make-up was a real rush job, basically LM Tinted Moisturiser, Nars Outlaw Blush and Urban Decay “Mushroom” e/s from the Alice Palette <3

Lips were a combination of two Rituals products that I’m totally in love with and will do a more in depth review of shortly.

What did you get up this weekend? Any high jinx? xox

The town next to ours held its annual 4th of July Celebrations last night and we went along for the sunshine, music, hotdogs, ice-cream and Elderflower Slush Puppies (well actually I went for the beer)…. yum

I took full opportunity to work cow girl chic using a new dress from Peacocks £16 and vintage boots from The Ragged Priest £24.99

I felt really girly as the dress has some netting underneath, so there were a number of gratuituous twirls for the husband

The boots kept it quite casual though and this particular pair are like wearing slippers! With a four hour wait for the Fireworks, I’m really really glad I opted for these over strappy sandals!!

Make-up wise I wore a thin layer of Dior Forever Foundation, this is my go to for evenings out at the moment.

I kept the eyes bright but simple, using just one eyeshadow namely MAC Steamy and then lined my upper lid with Barry M Turquoise Liquid Liner. I adore this liner, however I hate the applicator which is like a spear, and its also near impossible to remove in entirety. I’ll have a little blue hue around my lashes for the next 2-3 days. Not ideal….

Eye brows are courtesy of the Urban Decay Brow Box, blusher is MAC Tippy from the Hello Kitty range, still in my top five and lips are my own

We had a brilliant night, the weather was just perfect and it was nice to see people from all walks of life congregate for something fun! Roll on next year!

Matthew & Izaak skimming stones

Johnny Cash Tribute Band

This band caused much mirth and amusement with us, every song up until about 10 minutes before the end was NOT a Johnny Cash song. Not unless Johnny Cash was the 6th member of Boyzone……

Hard to capture the impressive Firework display on camera phone but it was amazing and such a beautiful setting over Groomsport Harbour.

xoxo

P.S Check out how much my hair has grown?!! We’re entering short bob zone here folks

Or rather Face of the Night…..

Yesterday evening Matt & I went out for an Indian meal with friends. It was another sunny scorcher in Northern Ireland so I was able to break the pins out for a change

The dress is from New Look (’08) and the last time I was able to fit into it was actually last summer on our honeymoon. So I’m chuffed to bits that it fits me again!

Belt is from Dorothy Perkins, sandals from Bertie (’08), so so comfy. Jewellery was a mix of New Look & Primark.

I didn’t have time, or tbh the inclination to tan up this week and so my subtle glow is all thanks to good aul Rimmel Sun Shimmer. I thought it turned out really well, no streaks and yet it removed the pastiness and left a nice little colour. Result!

Make-up was my LM Tinted Moisturizer and Illamsqua Enrapture on the eyes smoked out with a little Rimmel & MAC.

I lined the waterline in UD Lust and used black & gold glitter liner from Too Faced on the upper lash line.

Mascara was the 3 in 1 from Barry M and under the eyes I used a smidge of Benefit Erase Paste to brighten.

Cheeks were Benefit Coralista with No7 Peach Highlighter, and finally lips were Illasmasqua Brink with Stila Glaze in Cinnamon (my current fave lip combo).

Phew, thats a lot of slap!! Always go a bit overboard for a night out

xoxox

Its a rainy, dark, dismal day in Northern Ireland

So in an effort to cheer myself up I created this icy blue look.

Excuse the reddish tinged brows in the close-up, I thought I would try a different eyeshadow as a filler, and lets just say it doesn’t quite work

So what did I use……?

Face

• Revlon Color Stay Foundation in 180 Sand Beige
• Barbara Daly @ Tesco Concealer in Medium
• MAC MSF in So Ceylon
• Coastal Scents Blush Palette (second row, 2 from left)

Eyes

• UDPP (base)
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 606 Baby Blue (main lid & under lower lashes)
• NYX Shadow in White (crease to brow)
• Barry M Dazzle Dust in 20 (outer two thirds of lid and crease)
• No 17 Eye Dazzle in Star Crossed (inner third of lid and under lower lashes)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Electric (top lash line)
• Jemma Kidd Crushed Jewel Gel Liner in Diamond (over Electric)
• L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips

• Gosh Lipstick in 134 Darling
• NYX Lip Gloss in 104 Sweet Heart

I’m a big fluidline fan and we all know I love my liquid eye liner too. However I wouldn’t use either of these prodcuts on my waterline, I realise that you can use fluidline but there hasn’t been conclusive testing on that and I’d rather not risk it.

So my favourite product for this task is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero (black). It is completely waterproof after about 30 seconds, it literally doesn’t budge. The beauty of it is that somehow it still manages to be a creamy formula, and you can blend or smudge it out before it sets should you wish.

The waterline is such a delicate area of the eye that you don’t want to be scraping a harsh line across it, with these you don’t even have to apply pressure in order to get a great solid colour off the pencil. They are superb value for money. They really do last ALL day, without causing any of that annoying gunk in the corner of the eye I detest but get so much with liner.

You can purchase the full size pencils separately for £9 which I do with Zero as I use it the most. However they do also come in the VIP or Velvet Rope 24/7 travel sized sets for £16. In each set you get five pencils and the colours are just amazing, fab pay off. I totally recommend checking these out.

VIP Urban Decay 24/7 Set

From top: Zero, Lust, Lucky, Electric, Covet

Superdrug Stores within Northern Ireland are currently running a promotion of 3 for 2 on all their cosmetics.

As I was looking through the Revlon display for goodies I happened upon creme shadow palettes called “”Illuminance”. I have never seen these before, so I am unsure if they a recent addition or part of Revlon’s permanent collection. I bought Moonlit Jewels 06 and Precious Metals 05, along with my Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige.

So far I have used the Precious Metals over Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, and have to report that after an eight hour day, there was minimal creasing. I’m really impressed with them and think they are fabulous dupes for MAC’s Paint Pots. Each palette is just £6.49 and should last well as they are very pigmented and a little goes a long way. I will post a look with both the palettes during the week.

Check out the swatches below, I have shown the Moonlit Jewels with flash to give you an idea of the beautiful iridescent shimmer these give off under direct light.

Moonlit Jewels with flash

Moonlit Jewels minus flash

Precious Metals Swatched

Click here to view the other shades available according to Revlon’s site

A few weeks back I had bought and tried out NARS Lola Lola and not been overly impressed. I have now worn it several times and feel much the same.

The initial problem was that the shadow creased considerably very soon after application, I put this down to a lack of primer. I have since applied it over both Urban Decay Primer Potion and MAC Paint Pot in Painterly and unfortunately the creasing is still very much an issue. I am getting longer from it before this happens but only about 3-4 hours, which is my book is simply not good enough.

The other issue I have with it is the actual shade (see pic above), it is described as a neutral brown with shimmer. I would describe as bronzing powder for the eyes, thats the colour pay off that I get from it.

On a plus the finish of the shadow, in so far as the lustre it gives off is really nice, so at the moment (see pic) I am actually wearing it with MAC’s expensive pink and getting a nicer lighter effect. I have a feeling it won’t be long before I give up on this shadow altogether though…..

On a plus, check out those lashes with mascara. Yowzer!!

This is a nice look if you like your safe browns but fancy trying something a bit more daring. I have used 3 different shadows on the lid & crease, sable which is a beautiful shimmer brown with undertones of plum and bronze, cranberry and a soft matt brown. The first picture shows the colour under flash, the one under that is taken without flash, you can see the rose tone better.

Its very dull here today though and hard to get great lighting. Its good to bear in mind though that when you wear eyeshadow, blush, lipgloss etc, depending on what lighting you are under you will get a different effect. That is why I am quite fond of a veluxe pearl or lustre finish, you get a number of different tones and effects from one shadow dependent on surroundings. If you do like these finishes though remember to always balance it out with matt eyeshadow somewhere in the mix

The secret to this is Blend Blend & Blend especially if you are fair skinned like myself. These colours will work effortlessly on medium to dark skin types but for us pale and interestings you will need to keep a lighter hand to avoid looking like you just have sore eyes!! Pinky bronze is hard to wear but so worth getting right as it makes brown/ green eyes pop beautifully.

I used a black kohl eyeliner pencil and completely lined my eyes, upper & lower including the water line. Flick/ tick is optional but instantly sexes the look up. Finish with 2 coats of black mascara.

If I was wearing this out for an occassion I would definitely make sure I have a fake tan done and bronze up my cheekbones with some MSF, but you get the idea. Have fun with your eye make-up, experiment

(if you can’t pose on your own blog, where can you, eh?!!)

Eyes

• MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (eye base)
• MAC Eyeshadow in Sable (main eyelid)
• MAC Eyeshadow in Cranberry (crease & outer corner)
• MAC Eyeshadow in Soft Brown (crease and lid to blend harsh lines)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero (upper lashline, lower & water line)
• L’Oreal Double Extension Mascara Carbon Black

Face

• Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige
• Barbara Daly @ Tesco Concealer in Medium
• NARS Blush in Deep Throat

Lips

• Benefit Color Plump in Love Ya
• Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in Nude

I have done a look today for the upcoming Christmas party season. It is quite daring and not for everyone, but I like to have fun with make-up and especially love green against my eyes. I have used a mixture of products, but most are very inexpensive and available from Superdrug or Boots.

All the coloured pigments I used were from Barry M, Superdrug is currently running a promotion of 3 Dazzledusts for £10 which is great value. I covered my lid with MAC paint in Bare Canvas to give a nice sticky base for the pigment. Then using homemade mixing medium (1 part glycerin to 3 parts water) I made a nice paste of each pigment. Far far easier to work with and no annoying fall out. Yay!!

I then took it a bit further, couldn’t resist!
I added a splash of red to the corners to make the look really young & fun
Please excuse the eyebrows, I have ruined my tweezers by using them to perform a number of non tweezer related jobs (ie DIY things that actually required pliers). Ooops

Eyes

• MAC Paint in Bare Canvas (all over eye to prep)
• Barry M Dazzle Dust in Emerald 72 (lid & up into crease)
• Barry M Dazzle Dust in Lime 75 (inner third of lid)
• Barry M Dazzle Dust in Cherry Red 84 (outer third of lid)
• MAC Eyeshadow in White Frost (Brow bone)
• Rimmel Exaggarate Eye Liner Intense 001 Black (top lash line)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Covet (under lower lash line)
• Collection 2000 Glam Crystals Gel Eye Liner in Pizzazz (over the 24/7 on the lower lash line)
• MAC Plush Lash Mascara in Plushblack

I’ve been wearing NARS Lola Lola eyeshadow since 9.30am this morning, and started to notice crease marks about 11.30. Not overly impressed. It also looks a little oily on my lids as the afternoon has wore on. It really is a beautiful colour though and I’m not giving up on it just yet! Tomorrow I’m going to apply some Urban Decay Primer Potion first and then the Lola Lola and then see what sort of longevity I can get from it.