5 Easy Make Up Tips

Dear readers,

Today I wanted to share with you some tips which I've picked throughout the years. I'm sure that most (if not all) have read about these before, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in a blog post (so bear with me);

Always use moisturiser before applying foundation:

Yes! Even if your face is oily, you do need to apply a good moisturiser as a base before you apply anything at all on your face - this will give you a flawless finish (especially if you apply your foundation with a brush). If anything, apply foundation than blot some away with a tissue.

Chiaroscuro: 

The importance of light and shade! Think about this - when you apply your foundation you "wipe" away all the natural shading and contouring - so you must remember that contouring and highlighting can make a world of a difference (taking you from 2 dimensional to 3D). Apply a darker contouring powder on the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, temples and on the sides of your nose to make it look narrower or pointier - anything you fancy really! Apply highlighter on the bridge of your nose, on the corners of your eyes and my favourite - on your cupid's bow for a plumper, fuller look.

Wiggle your wand:

I must admit that I have been blessed with long lashes - but correct mascara application is important too. To achieve fuller looking lashes, wiggle your mascara wand at the base/roots of your lashes to the tips. This will make your lashes appear fuller without the need to apply false eyelashes. And if you have mascara which is older than 2-3 months - throw it away! Also use a liquid or pen eyeliner to draw a thin line along the roots of your lashes.

Be creative:

There's no need to have a large makeup bag full of items which you won't use (although I am guilty of doing so). Many makeup items can be used in different ways: use a pink or red lipstick as a cream/natural looking blusher - just dab onto your cheeks and blend really well - and voila! a gorgeous rosy flush. Mascara can double up as eyeliner - just dip a tiny brush into your mascara tube and line your eyes as normal. A brown eyeshadow can be used as a contouring powder. A frosty white eyeshadow can be used as a highlighter. Really, anything has multiple uses!

Vaseline is your best friend:

Use it to remove waterproof makeup, as a makeshift lipbalm and/or scrub or to groom your eyebrows, Vaseline is a sure must have in your makeup bag. It is cheap and can be used in loads of different ways.

Hope you found some of these tips useful!

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

E.l.f Studio Blush in 'Tickled Pink' [Review]

Dear readers,

A couple of months ago I ordered some item from Elf - they had some kind of offer going on ... and I thought why not?

I got the E.l.f Studio Blush because I'd heard so many great things from the beauty world about this line of blushers. I chose the shade 'Tickled Pink' since I wanted a 'natural' looking blush.

This cost me £3.75.

Packaging is ok - I actually quite like it. It is compact, sturdy and has a mirror inside.

I was very looking forward to try this blusher out, but when I swatched it for the first time I was completely and utterly disappointed.

The shade is a very light, peachy shade. It is not powdery, but it is not too pigmented either. To me this shade looks more like a highlighting shade than an actual blusher. It does not show on my olive skin tone - this would work best for really pale skin.

You have to really build this up since it is so sheer - and to be honest I'm not really bothered most of the time.

This blusher has found its place at the back of my drawer, never to see the light of day again.

Have you ever tried any blushes from this line? Are they any good, or is it just this shade (or me)?

how light it is >.<

Much love,

Lorraine
xoxo

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation [First Impressions | Review]

Dear readers,

Even though I am a sucker for BB creams, I do love to buy new foundations every now and again, even though it is a challenge to find one which I truly like.

When I was on holiday in the UK I bought the new foundation from Rimmel [launched in September], the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation, from Boots, along with a cream blusher ... but more on that in a later post.

The shade I chose is #100 'Ivory' [I believe that there are 6 shades in all]

First of all let me start by saying that I have been using this foundation on a daily basis, ever since I got this [about 3+ weeks or so now].

The first time I swatched this I was completely amazed because this feels just like mousse, but out of a tube. Therefore, it feels ultra velvety on the skin, and it blends really easily - especially with your fingers.

It gives a soft, matte [kind of powdery] finish with medium coverage. So if you're lucky enough to not have oily skin, you can actually go without setting this with powder.Since its consistency is quite thick, you only need to dab small amounts to cover your whole face.

This lasts the better part of a day on me, but since the weather here is so hot and humid [it's still around 30 degrees celcius] I do sometimes pair this with primer.

I would definitely re-purchase this.

Definitely applied too much here

blended

Love,

Lorraine
xoxo

UK Accessories Haul

Dear readers,

I thought it was about time that I uploaded what accessories I got from my trip to the UK. As you may notice, 99% of the things I got were from Primark (how can you resist those prices?!)

My favourite buys are the midi rings which I am utterly head over heals in love and obsessed with at the moment. I think they make your fingers look so feminine and pretty! What do you think? Yay or nay?

I also got some silicone hair bands (I always seem to lose mine, bah!), hair clips (excellent for parting your hair) and a backcombing brush - which I'm sure I will use a lot during the coming months (even though it's not really healthy for your hair - but I'm quite the rebel you see, he he).

So tell me, which is your favourite piece? Which would you buy for yourself?

Hugs,
Lola
xoxo

Dream Catcher with Feathers Nail Art [Step by Step | Tutorial]

Dear readers,

I had been wanting to try out a dream catcher design for the longest time ever, and finally today a sweet client/friend of mine [Hi Charlene!] let me try out this design on her nails. 

I decided to do a step-by-step tutorial as soon as she gave me the go-ahead, and I must say that they turned out way cute, if I say so myself!

You can do this design in a variety of colours, but it must be on the light/pastel side since you do need for the black to show up real well on the base colour.

We chose this green/pistacchio colour by Sinful Colours as a base, but it can be done using yellow, pink, blue or any other colour you fancy.

I also used Bundle Monster nail plates which I got off Amazon - get yours from this link *here* - I love them and they're so affordable too! Only $17.99 and you get 21 nail plates. I used black Konad polish with them though.

What you need are the following;

• 1 light base colour
• 3 contrasting colours for the beads on the dream catcher
• 1 black nail striper [or black nail polish and a thin paintbrush or toothpick]
• a dotting tool 
• feather stamp or you can draw the feathers free hand
• topcoat 

This is the finished result:

To start with, apply two coats of the base colour of your choice;

*Client has acrylic nails*

Decide on which nails you want the dream catcher design - we went with the ring and thumb nails. Then using the striper brush, draw a semi circle which should span half of your nail like so;

Then, using the striper, place a tiny dot of polish on the centre of the circle you just drew, and draw petal shapes from this centre to the diameter of the larger circle you did. 

Draw small lines in the middle of each 'petal' you just did too.

When you're done, draw 3 vertical lines [2 shorter ones on the side, and 1 longer line in the middle]

Using a dotting tool and contrasting colours, draw on the 'beads' of the dream catcher. I used white, pink, yellow and dark green.

I also used a nail plate by Bundle Monster to stamp on feather designs on the remaining nails. I did this haphazardly to give the feathers a 'flying' effect;

And that's it! Seal your design with topcoat and admire your handiwork :)

This is my final result:

And items I used;

Hope you enjoyed this design, and do let me know if you try it out for yourselves! You can also opt out from the feathers and just do the dream catcher. Anything you like, really.

Let me know if you love/like this design!

Much love,
Lorraine
xoxo

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in 'Antwerp' [Review]

Dear readers,

I had been wanting to try Nyx's Soft Matte Lip Creams for the longest time ever, but never got round to buying some. So one of the first things I got when I first visited the NYX store in Malta was a Lip Cream in the shade 'Antwerp'.

What was intriguing to me was the fact that the Lip Creams apply like a gloss, but have a matte, opaque finish.

The Lip Creams come in a standard plastic tube with a doe foot applicator. You get 6.5 grms of product. If you're not lucky to have a Nyx store in your country, you can get yours from ebay - check this link out for a seller who ships worldwide.

'Antwerp' is a light pink shade which works really well for mornings - it is suitable for different occasions too, since it can be worn for shopping, work or school without looking too OTT.

It applies beautifully - it feels super soft (just as the name states!) and the doe foot applicator does a good job too. 

As soon as you apply the lip cream it'll feel wet, but it will soon dry out completely to give its gorgeous matte finish.

As with the majority of matte lip products, you do need to apply lipbalm before you apply this in order for it not to settle around chapping or dryness on your lips. You can also apply lipbalm on top - which will give the lip cream a glossier finish.

This stays on for about 2-4 hours on me - but I do have a habit of nibbling on my lips. 

Gorgeous product, gorgeous colour - I will surely go get some other shades from the same line! 

yep - that's a piece of my lip I was nibbling on >.<

Have you ever tried any NYX products before?

Love
Lorraine
xoxo

UK Beauty Haul

Dear readers,

After spending 10 days in the UK I'm now back at home, with loads of dirty washing, loads and loads of new things I bought, but also loads poorer - but I wouldn't change anything :)

I've been quite a few number of times over in the UK, but everytime I visit I am left feeling astonished at what good deals you get over there - Boots buy 1 get the 2nd for half the price - seriously?! 

As much as I love make-up, I had to be honest with myself and realise that I still have many things which I have yet to try [never mind finish] - and so I decided to spend the majority of my money on clothes [and food!]

Having said that, I still got my hands on some makeup ~ and other beauty related items:

Left: Swatch happy at a MAC store
Top Left: Makeup items - I am especially loving 'Primping with the Stars' by Benefit and the Essie nail polishes [and the lippies too!] - and well, I am loving everything I got
Bottom Left: The Aussie Miracle Shine line is the best shampoo/conditioner/treatment I have ever tried, hands down

I was quite sad because the 2 colours I wanted from MAC's Retro Collection were sold out everywhere!! Booo :( 

Can't wait to start testing these babies out! 

Love,

Lorraine
xoxo