Friday, 17 May 2013

Duty Free Shopping

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Duty Free Shopping
duty_free_shopping
duty_free_shopping

Hello from sunny California! Hope you are all doing well :) I haven’t been able to wipe the cheesy grin off my face since I’ve got here. After a long flight and feeling rather zombie like I am now getting into the swing of all things LA and that means hitting the shops. Back in the day when I first started blogging every post seemed to be a haul but thanks to more sensible things like rent, bills and the general cost of living, those splurges have become more of a rarity. That was until this holiday was booked and every spare penny was saved away ready for what can only be called, an epic shop. A shop so epic it even managed to start before I had left the country. Oh yes, the joys of Duty Free. Apologies for the quality of the pictures, my fancy pants camera was left back in the UK to make room for more beauty supplies!

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel – £16.25

Since my love for the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm left something to be desired, I have been on the hunt for an alternative. I want to get back into using a cleanser that removes all my makeup quickly, effectively and without leaving my eyes in a red stinging mess. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this cleanser so now it’s time to put it to the test.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner – £20.80

Along with wanting to get a cleanser that replaces my micellar water and eyemakeup remover, I also want to move away from manual exfoliators. I already have the Alpha H Liquid Gold in my skincare routine but wanted something slightly less abrasive to use on the days inbetween. I tried this last night and even though it contains alcohol it didn’t dry out my skin but worked at removing any grime that had built up on my skin from the long haul flight.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer – £21.65

This item has also been on my wish-list for some time. Don’t get me wrong I adore my Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer but when you hear the beauty community rave about something else, your spider senses tingle and you instantly want to see what all the fuss is about. This is a pricey little number and you only get a tiny pot, but I was advised that if you pat (not rub) this onto your skin or mix it in with your foundation, it works wonders.

Clarins After Sun Moisturiser Self Tanning – £15

Another item I’ve been wanting to try for a while but have been saving for a holiday so I can use the excuse to purchase it. I’m not sure how many ‘pool days’ there will be on this trip so figured picking up an after sun that will also work at enhancing your tan would be a wise choice.

Diorskin Nude BB Cream SPF 10 – £26.10

I blame Lisa Eldridge. This was not on my shopping list nor was it a planned purchase, but when I saw it in Duty Free I found myself saying ‘one of those please’ before my brain has even engaged and I realised what I was doing. Oh well another BB Cream couldn’t hurt :P

I’d like to be able to say that my epic shop stopped at that point but we somehow managed to end up in the Beverly Centre at Sephora at 8pm on our first night! What can I say, it’s opposite our hotel so would be rude not to ;)

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Getting Dotty

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Getting Dotty
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chelsea_nails

Gellux Manicure – £17

When it comes to nails and nail art especially, I am a complete noob. Some people struggle with applying eye shadow, others find it tricky to use an eyeliner, but for me it is my nails. I look on in awe at the intricate and beautiful designs that people can create on their nails and always have that slight pang of jealously in the knowledge that I would never be able to create the same myself. For me, the most extravagant I have been with my nails is creating a glitter accent – oh yeah I am living on the edge over here! Luckily for me I have found an incredible nail technician in Dorset who is able to do such a thing.

Initially I had just booked an appointment to get a Shellac/Gellux manicure and pedicure. I have had a Shellac manicure a handful of times and it is always something I get done before I head away, the ability to have a chip free manicure for 2+ weeks is something I can not resist! Me being the complete nail noob that I am had no idea that you could create nail art with gel hybrid polishes. Oh how wrong I was. When I was presented with a nail wheel of polka dots, chevrons and floral designs I was quickly corrected. My plan of a soft pink colour for my nails and toes was instantly replaced by the idea of glitter and nail art. After much deliberation and looking like a bit of a nutter trying to decide what to choose, I opted for a polka dot nail and glitter pedicure.

For the manicure I got the above blue shade with white polka dots, both in the Shellac polish meaning the design will stay in place whilst I am pacing the streets of the States trying to buy up my wish list. For my toes I got the most stunning green glitter colour, it is pretty bright but perfect for a holiday. I would pop a photo up but I’m not sure whether my feet should be a feature on the blog! However, you can see a sneak snap of it over on my last MWIP here. If you are in the Dorset area I highly recommend Chelsea and my mind is already working in overdrive trying to plan my next manicure.

Also this will be my last blog post for a few days – hopefully it won’t be too long until I can update you guys again! 

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

MAC Paints

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MAC Paints
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mac_paint

MAC Paint in Bare Canvas – £14.50

Rewind five years and you would have seen a University student that was eye-shadow obsessed. Back in the day I was a full blown bright coloured lover and couldn’t get enough of slapping some onto my eyelids. At University the socials and nights out were less about the dancing and more about the makeup. Getting ready for me was the best part about the evening and I used to love sitting in-front of my mirror and conjuring up different looks to wear. Not only was I an eye-shadow fiend, I was also the queen of all things bright and bold. Whether it be a bright pink dress, royal blue tights or even yellow shadow on my lids, nothing was too bold or too bright for me. Since those days I regret to say I’ve become old and boring aka a neutral lover :P but I still love to look back on old photos to see the looks that I would brave in the outside World.

When you spend the time to layer on the shadows, blend in the crease and highlight under your brow bone, you need to start off with a good base. Whether I was opting for a bold or glittery look there has only ever been one eyeshadow base that I could depend upon, and that is the MAC Paint in Bare Canvas. I have put a fair few other brands to the test but nothing compares and nothing holds up to the same lasting power. Inside this little tube is literally a paint that I pop on to my lids using my ring finger. Blended out this has a powder finish that will stop any shadows from fading or creasing.

I use the colour Bare Canvas as I find it to be the best base shade that not only helps to make shadows more vibrant, it also masks any redness or uneven colour on my lids. You need the smallest amount and these little tubes literally last a lifetime, the proof is in the fact that I have been using them since I was about 19 and this is my second one. Whether I am going back to my University days and putting together a bold eye or even just wanting my neutral smokey option to stay in place, I know I can count on this eyeshadow base treasure.