Monday 21 January 2013

My Obsessions and my favourite look!

Hey Chickies!

I have two slight obsessions in the form of two lovely ladies, Lisa Eldridge and Cheryl Cole, so when they joined forces it was like seeing father christmas, with huge MAC and Chanel bags filled with make up and chocolate with my name on, yes that exciting. When Lisa Eldridge's then new video of the look she created on Cheryl Cole for the cover of Elle magazine popped up in my subscription box on YouTube I immediately grabbed a pen and paper and began watching, scribbling down the products she used and the tips and tricks on how to create this coveted look. The Cheryl Cole Elle cover is now my background on my work computer and my phone, told you slight obsession! I urge to you to go and watch it, it may just change your life.. just maybe. Watch it HERE!


Lisa Eldridge


The Finished look

I have watched this video just as many times as I have watched my favourite film, Lisa's video is now firmly in my YouTube favourites category. After watching this video meticulously I decided one day to re create the look that Lisa created on Cheryl Cole, I hope I did it justice. The look was based around very cool edgy styling, Lisa created a very lived in smokey eye with very contoured cheeks with a nude lip, Lisa finished the look off by adding MAC mixed medium to create a glossy finish to the eye it looked amazing, however I skipped this step because I have really hooded eyes and didn't want my eye make up to crease as I was getting ready for a night out. I will definitely be recreating this look for my 21st Birthday coming up, it's my favourite look, and when do you want to feel your best on your Birthday of course!




I just had to share this look with you, it would be rude not to!

Go and watch Lisa's Tutorial on here YouTube channel and see if you can recreate the look, I'd love to see everyones looks! 

Until Next Time,
Jess 
xx 

Snowed in at Work!

Hey Chickies,

On this dull, grey, snowy, monday morning there is only one thing that can brighten it up...
A bold Lip!

I have ventured out in to a gorgeous two toned pinky/purple colour from Nars called Funny Faces. I have already had a few compliments saying that I brighten the day up! YAY!

Its a gorgeous lipstick, the consistency and colour are perfect. I have had Funny Faces for ages, well over 6 months now, I am asking myself why have I not worn this more?


Until Next Time,
Jess 
xx 

Tuesday 15 January 2013

MUA Love Heart Lip Balm : Sweet Kiss

Hey Chickies! 

My Lip of the moment is MUA (Make Up Academy) LoveHeart Lip Balm in Sweet Kiss, not only does it look absolutely adorable, with a the perfect nude pink gloss finish along with the good qualities of a moisturising lip balm it smells beautiful to. This little gem is only £2, yep thats right I said it £2!

I was in work one day, all I could think about was how dry my lips felt, for the life of me I  could not concentrate one bit, so at lunch I dashed out with the girls to a Superdrug near my work, on the hunt for a good lip balm. When I get there I went straight to the Vaselines, Carmexs and those brands that are famous for their lip balms but to be honest I tried them, although they are very good I am just bored of them, I have a million and one in my collection at home. That was when my friend called me over to the MUA stand to show me some eyeshadows she liked, that was when I spotted the Love Heart Lip Balms and I remember seeing and hearing all the hype around these, I just had to get one and I have not looked back since I love it.

I chose the colour Sweet Kiss and its a perfect everyday, slather it on colour and it works as a perfect lip balm to, a little side note I love getting it out of my bag to put it on because it is just soo damn cute.

Can't get enough Sweet Kiss!



Until Next Time,
Jess
xx


At your convenience.

Hey Chickies, 

Recently I have been staying over at the Boys house quite a lot and being me its very hard to travel light, even though he only lives ten minutes away, it would make my tube journeys a lot easier for me if I was to pack for convenience. It is make up in particular I find it very hard not to take choice upon choice of eyeshadows, blush and foundations. However all my packing woes might be a thing of the past because of this perfect little beauty.

For Christmas my parents got me the very sought after Laura Mercier Colour-to-go Portable Palette for Cheeks, Eyes and Lips in Warm Neutrals. As the name suggests it has all the colour needs I could possibly want for an everyday look.
It consists of three eyeshadows, one tightline cake eyeliner, lip gloss, blusher and bronzer, with all this packed in there I was is expecting it to be huge but its tiny perfect make up bag size!





The products within the little kit are a mixture of love and hate for me. I love the lip gloss it is one of my favourite lip glosses ever it smells divine, just like Vanilla. I also love the blush it glides on the cheek giving a effortless pop of colour, I will definitely look into more Laura Mercier Second Skin cheek Colours. The Ballerina Pink eyeshadow is a very standard pink highlight colour, with a very good pigment payoff its a nice wearable colour, the Rosy Taupe colour on the other hand is gorgeous, at first glance it looks like the gold/brown colours that are around at the moment but it has hints of warm oranges and browns with a very subtle shimmer its very unique! 
That leaves the Cocoa Brown Eye Shadow, The Ground Espresso Cake Eyeliner and The Soft Bronze Bronzer, all of these I am not crazy about, they are good but I wouldn't purchase them on their own, but they do the job. 


This little gem has made my mornings at the boys so much easier and lighter! 
If you can still get your hands on it I'd definitely check it out. 

Until Next Time
Jess 
xx 



Friday 11 January 2013

The History of Make-Up 1940's - 1950's.

Hey Chickies!

A bit of a different post today - well more like a history lesson. History lessons were always rather long, so what I am basically saying is go and boil that kettle and get comfy, it's a long one.
I am fascinated by all areas of make-up, blushers, bronzers and eyeshadows alike, but how did all this gorgeous stuff come about?

One day I came across a video that Lisa Eldridge make up artist to the stars had put on youtube about retro/vintage make up, ever since then I have been hooked. I have throughly enjoyed learning about all decades of make up but I will only ramble on about my two favourite decades of make up, the 1940's - 1950's. I love knowing how we got all this luxury and beauty how it all came about and about the women and what they were like. We love the sleek black packaging of MAC and Bobbi Brown and NARS and we are more experimental with colour, new patterns and mixes than ever, but most of the make up looks we create are based on those of the past, for example the 1950's Marilyn Monroe tutorials on YouTube are among the most watched. I hope that if your reading this you just as big of a make up geek than me (if thats possible!)

1940's

In the 1940's it was a warzone, literally! Resources became rationed and things became harder to obtain, make-up was certainly no exception. Although it wasn't rationed, they simply didn't have the resources to make everyday make up; however make up companies were still in business, making army make up products. If you was in the Armed Forces you did have make up such as Foot Powder and Camouflage kits along with compacts specially made for the armed forces from such brands as Max Factor. When I think about it make up played a huge part in the war, suppling the armed forces with the resources that helped hugely with the day to day running of the front line, don't you think? To anyone who thinks make up is silly well proved you wrong? :)

In the USA and most probably the UK the red lip was on the rise (but honestly when is it not in trend?), red lipstick became a sign of patriotism for the countries, the red lip became this strong message from all the women, a message of winning and great patriotism, even the names of the lipsticks were patriotic with names such as fighting red and patriotic red.

Who'd have thought it ay? Make Up a War Time must have?




1950's

The war is over, make up back on the market, can only mean one thing? Lets get feminine, throw out the foot powder and camouflage kits and bring on the rouge!

The 1950's was the decade of femininity and ladies. I would have loved to be a lady in the 1950's, the ladies were all about being as ladylike as they could possible get, with luxury coming from all angles. 
It was also the decade of classy yet with that novelty element, and when I think of the 50's make up products I think of one brand that it could possibly look like they were founded in the 50's, that brand is.. Benefit! Benefit brings the 50's novelties to present day. The buzzwords (#the hashtags in present terms haha) for the 50's were Hollywood, Glamour and Ladylike, with lipstick applicators and compact mirrors in all shapes and sizes, it was all about being made up at all times, make up for every occasion, lashings of make up and beauty. The First wand mascara was also invented in the 50's! 

The women of the 50's had been deprived of beauty and the luxury of having that little bit of make up that would make them feel a million dollars, however it all came back at the right time, the men were back! The men came back from the war to these beautifully made up women, with the tiny waists, bosoms, gorgeous lips and lashings of make up, everyone woman wanted to be womanly, with the hips and the waist. Taking a look at the female idols of the time like Jaynes Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe, they had that hour glass figure, the figure of a woman. Although there could have been an ulterior motive to this hourglass craze, one word babies. A baby boom was needed because of the war, the women almost wanted to be the perfect child barring woman for their soldiers! 

Be his pin up girl? 



I know this could a slightly boring post for some but I really enjoyed writing about this. 
I hoped you liked it as much I as I enjoyed writing it, I now have on order a book by Madeleine Marsh an expert on vintage collectables especially make up, I am way to excited for it to turn up on my desk!

Until Next Time , 
Jess 
xx



Wednesday 9 January 2013

Contour and Highlighting - How To!

Hey Chickies!

I think the whole world and their dogs know who Kim Kardashian is, if you don't you must have been hiding under a rock for the past few years. Her specific make up look is one of the many things she is famous for. She tweeted a picture of herself with Contour and Highlight bases all over her face, along with another picture of her with yellow make up all over her face, it lead me to think what is that yellow miracle stuff? How do I contour and get the Kimmy K bone structure?


Well, I found out, and I am so glad I did. I really enjoy contouring and highlighting I do think that it gives extra dimensions to your base face. I was going through numerous videos on contouring and highlighting on YouTube, then I found it, Gossmakeupartist made a step by step video view it HERE 

If thats not helpful enough I am going to explain how I do it and what I use. 



I start off by using a primer because we use a fair amount of product, using a primer will keep the make up from slip sliding everywhere; the primer I use will more than likely Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer £28 as this is one of the only primers that keeps my make up in place for the whole day, as I have an annoyingly oily t-zone. 

After I have applied my primer I grab my Rimmel Match Perfection foundation in 100 Ivory 2nd lightest shade £6.99  - this is going to act as my highlighter foundation for the bits that I want to draw towards the eye/camera. I apply the foundation from under my eyes down to the tops of my cheeks, down the nose up to between my brows and along the just above the tops of my eyebrows. 

Then I take my Soleil tan de Chanel £29 this is a bronzing make up base, it is a completely matt tan coloured cream bronzer to use as my contour colour. I apply the product underneath my cheek bones to define the cheek bones, contrasting with the lighter colour foundation highlight, creating a shadow effect, you usually can feel where your cheekbones are by sucking in the cheeks, it also goes up threw the temples and on the hair line this also contrasts with the highlight foundation on the forehead above the brow, and on the jaw line, creating the shadows where needed. 

Little side note putting the product down the sides of the nose can slim the nose as well if thats what floats your boat, I always add some to this area. 

Once all this is place your face should look a little bit like this.. 
The next step is easy apply a little bit of your chosen foundation, best not to use a full heavy coverage foundation, light to medium foundation will work best with the highlight and contour I use the Chanel AquaLumiere Foundation or the Boujois Healthy Mix Foundation pump some on the back of your hand. Grab a buffing brush, my choice would be the Real Techniques Buffing Brush dip the brush into the foundation on your hand and start buffing the foundation lightly over the contours and highlights already in place. The look should start to look like its coming together. 

For the finishing touches, I apply a light concealer, I use Benefit It Stick which is now discontinued *cryface* but any concealer that is a couple of shades lighter than your foundation, I apply this under my eyes to give that extra bit of coverage as I have quite bad dark circles.
I set under my eyes with a yellow powder even if you don't use concealer I still set with a loose yellow toned powder. 
The actual one Kim Kardashian uses and loves is the Ben Nye Banana powder but until I get my mits on that I am using the Benefit Bluff Dust £17.50  which is very good but I do want to try the infamous Banana Powder. 

Also I go over my contours with a matt bronzer, to deepen and show the contours that little bit more if I want a more dramatic look. 


Ben Nye Banana Powder

I have a wish list of thing that I want to get to try out when it comes to contouring and highlighting; 

-Ben Nye Banana Powder is an obvious choice 
-Ben Nye Media Pro Cream Contour 18 Colour Palette is number one on the wish list, downside is that is a whopping £70 do I dare go there?

It seems Ben Nye seems the master of all contouring and highlighting, don't you think?

Are you a fan of the Kimmy K look?

I hope this helps. I love contouring and highlighting and would love to know if any of you guys have any tips? 

Until Next Time, 
Jess 
xx 


The London Tag!

Hello Chickies :)

This post is well over due, I have always been a London Girl it only seems right that I do the London Tag (created by ViviannaDoesMakeUp and Lily Pepples from What I heart Today). 

I have always lived in London or on the outskirts of London in the dulldrums otherwise known as suburbia and if that wasn't enough of a reason to do the tag, I now work in the hustle and bustle that is London's West End. I must say there is never a boring day, not a day goes by where I don't see something out of the ordinary and I love every moment of it! 

There is loads to find out about London and I hope to give you a small inkling right here in this post, lets get cracking on the questions.. 


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1. Favourite Place for Breakfast? 

Ever since I started working in the west end, I have done my fair share of breakfast runs for my colleagues and me and everyone else at my workplace love Make Mine, its in SoHo, there are a few branches of Make Mine they do the best toast, so much better than the stodgy toast I make at home with Hovis! It is in other words.. yum! 
If I am feeling a cheeky Make Mine I almost always have Nutella on granary toast with no butter, Standard! 
  

2. Favourite Boots and Superdrug? 

My favourite Superdrug is definitely the one on Marble Arch it's HUGE! It stocks every brand from MUA (the full collection) to Essie. It's just so big and spacious and in comparison to other small superdrugs that can be very stressful, this particular one is a shopping pleasure.
My favourite Boots is actually in Bexleyheath which is in greater london/kent is very quiet but is very well kept and stocked and they have a Chanel counter which is never busy, BONUS! 

3. Favourite Beauty Hall?

This one is easy, although I may be a little biased since I did used to work there, in the gorgeous beauty hall, but oh well, my favourite beauty hall without a shadow of a doubt is the John Lewis Oxford Street Beauty Hall, it's lovely and screams luxury, if you go here check out the Jo Malone area it is honestly like walking into a Jo Malone boutique and be sure to stop by the Nars Counter and say hello to Hanna she is amazing, be sure not miss out on one of her show stopping make overs.
John Lewis is famous for their impeccable customer service and you definitely get that at this the Beauty Hall. If I could spend all day shopping in there I would, believe me. 

4. Favourite Area for everything? 

This one is tough one because I have two places that I am absolutely in love with Covent Garden and Carnaby Street. I would say in Covent Garden there is more going on, more to see like street entertainers and quirky little hang outs, underground shops and more, but Carnaby street on the other hand is the best place to shop in my opinion when I want cool one off pieces, or just something different then I head straight to Carnaby Street, I also have the option to stop for coffee in one of the many independent coffee shops or grab a cocktail in the cool low lit bars after work. 


Covent Garden


5. Favourite Parks for Walks? 

I don't go on many walks, or have been to many parks in London for that matter, therefore I would have to say Soho Square in the summer time as this is where I spend most of my lunch breaks during the summer months. 

6.  Tip for the tube? 

I always in the seat next to the doors, the tube can get pretty packed and if you are seated in the middle seats then it can be near enough impossible to barge and squeeze your way through the other tube go-ers! Whereas the seat by the doors you have the best of both worlds a swift exit and a seat for the duration of your journey. 

7.  What does your perfect day in London include? 

Start of with a morning in the natural history museum I do love a museum. I would proceed to get the tube to Embankment and walk from there to Covent Garden, stopping at some of my favourite shops such as Cyber Candy (sweets from all around the world and Willy Wonka Sweets!!!). Have some lunch in Covent Garden and having a mooch around the shops, watching the street entertainers along with all the goings on around Covent Garden, visiting the MAC pro store, popping into Benefit to see Sarah the Brow expert at the cute little benefit boutique to get the gorgeous The Benefit Brow wax, as you can tell this is where I would spend the majority of my day. To end my lovely London day I would walk to Soho for some dinner in Kettners, this is my all time favourite restaurant can't stress how much I love this place. For the finale I would go for cocktails at Zebranoes on greek street or have a dance at the Carlisle pub. 

8. Favourite Museum/Gallery? 

My favourite museum isn't one of the big museums it's called the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill, it is small compared to the rest, but I like this museum the most because this is where I used to go when I was little with my family and I have been going there ever since. It has the most beautiful grade 2 listed Victorian conservatory in the grounds, and a farm and a coffee shop. 

9. Your London Secret? 

Walk everywhere you will always find something new. Thats is my secrets out! 


10. Favourite Bar/Club? 

Is it acceptable to choose a bar and a club? Well I have anyway! 
The Arts Theatre Club in Soho is definitely my favourite bar its underground and serves the cocktails in tea cups and tea pot and if that wasn't enough its all Motown and Stevie Wonder playing over the sound system.. need I say more?!

My favourite club is Piccadilly Institute its a labyrinth of rooms with 6 different experiences as the website states, it's very hard to explain it's so cool (I know by saying it like that makes me slightly un cool but there is no way better to describe it) serving cocktails in test tubes, jam jars and top hats. Different floors for different genres of music with completely different outrageous decor. Its like a different world, it is epic! Check out the video here


Piccadilly Institute ; The Chamber Floor 

There you have it your guide to London through The Prophecy of Loveliness. 

I tag you to do this post on your blog if you don't live in London why don't you adapt the questions to your city? I'd love to read everyone elses city experiences! 

Until Next Time,
Jess
xx 




Tuesday 8 January 2013

Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman. - Coco Chanel

Heya Chickies!

This weekend I have a huge party in Essex (Only way is Essex type Party) if you live in the UK you would know what The Only Way is Essex is. Therefore I am panic central about what I am going to wear, how I want my make up and hair, the list just goes on and on...



I think there are always these special parties or events that you get invited to, and the desire to look absolutely perfect is on the brain, kick starting the panic that comes with the preparation towards that perfect look that you so desperately want to achieve.

Mine always starts with a dress, I love wearing dresses in general but almost always on a night out I go straight for to a dress when it come to my party outfit, therefore when I find the dress the look comes together.

So when that invite reaches me, the search begins strolling across the many shops and online shops, the problem with me is I always have the idea of the outfit in my head and sometimes that outfit its purely just made up and would be impossible to create because the garments just do not exist other than in my imagination, or the other problem is I have no idea at all.

This week it is definitely one of them moments, I didn't have a clue what I wanted to wear, which makes it that little bit more difficult to try and find a dress. After a couple of weeks looking, I came across a LBD (Little Black Dress) in River Island, its plain black wrap over dress and I love it, after I finally found the dress and shoes. The attention turns directly to the make up. This is where the post finally starts after all this rambling!

I am always watching my favourite beauty gurus on YouTube and then Pixiwoo popped up in my subscription box with a new tutorial on Katherine Jenkins. I can't say I am a huge fan of Miss Jenkins however this make up look I was a fan of. The look is classic, lovely to go with an LBD, it's red lip with neutral eye with minimal colour, along with retro look winged liner. Simple yet so classic and gorgeous. I think the classic look compliments the LBD keeping the look minimal with that touch of old school glamour.
Pair the look with minimal accessories and a 40's curled hair do, just screams perfection. This will definitely slot you into the Classically Beautiful category.

For full product list click here

For me this is definitely in the front runners! Lets call this option 1;

Pixiwoo YouTube

On to Option 2;

The next option is a shimmery eye and highlighted face with a neutral lip. This look will give the LBD the modern twist, because there is no red lip thats is usually associated with the Little Black Dresses!
I did a test run with a makeup look the other night for the party this weekend. I chose to do a gold/brown smokey eye with heavily highlighted cheeks to bring the party element to the look. 

Products I used; 

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation £25 mixed with Chanel Aqualumiere Foundation
Urban Decey Book of Shadows £32
Illamasqua Brow Cake in Thunder £14.50 
Maybeline Gel Eye Liner £6.99
Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Make Up Bronzing Base £29
Benefit Dallas Blush £23.50
MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell £14.50 
MUA Love Heart Lip Balm £2 

I would pair this look with either straight hair slightly back combed or messy beach waves hair, with a chunky gold/silver cuff or statement gold/silver necklace to give that edgy look to the LBD. This would slot you nicely into the Quirky Cute category. 


I am going to do a complete tutorial of the look and an outfit of the night post, keep your eyes peeled for the!!

What do you prefer?

In the meantime I have a lot of thinking to do.. :) 

Until next time,
Jess
xx









Thursday 3 January 2013

Grab Cosmopolitan and lets get Carried Away.

Hey Chickies!

I think its about time that we have a Sex and The City post here on The Prophecy Of Loveliness. If I were to post a non beauty favourites each month this would definitely without a shadow of a doubt be in the posts every single month. There is nothing I love more than slathering on a face mask, picking out a new nail polish colour and putting on my Sex and The City box-set and getting all beautified, well maybe there is one thing I may love a little bit more its going out with the girls for a cocktail complete Sex and The City style girls night!



I am often told that if I was a Sex and The City character I would be Charlotte, not to shabby ay! When I am out I often find myself reverting back to the same conversation 'What Sex and The City character are you?', I'd like to think we all fit one the famous foursomes character traits, maybe thats just me and my girls we all think we fit one of them.

Along with 94 episode, 8 Golden Globes and 2 Movies, the clothes and make up and complete girliness of the whole thing, well it just draws me in.

So what better to do than have a whole evening combing my sunday night Sex and the City pamper evening and my saturday Sex and The City Cocktail night out?

It is my 21st Birthday soon, I want to share my ideas with all of you and what I am thinking of doing  is a Sex and The City Themed evening, so without further a do heres my plan..

Get all the girls together in tell them to come in the their best cocktail attire according to which Sex and the City character they like the most or just in their best cocktail attire with their Manolo Blahniks at the ready.

- Carrie would be Frivolous and Fabulous
- Charlotte would Pretty and Proper
- Samantha would be Sexy and Sassy
-Miranda woud be Sophisticated and Smart

I have even gone a to the next step and found Sex and the City Character Cocktails oh yes I really did!


The Carrie Drink
  • 2 ounces Skyy vodka
  • 1 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
  • 2 ounces cranberry juice
  • 3/4 ounce sparkling apple cider
Shake Skyy, X-Rated and cranberry with ice and strain into chilled martini glass. Top with cider and garnish with a thin apple slice.
  • 2 1/2 ounces Skyy vodka
  • 1 1/2 ounces Cabo Wabo Anejo tequila
  • 1 ounce simple syrup
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
Shake with ice and strain into chilled martini glass. Rim glass with mixture of salt and small amount of white pepper. No garnish.



After the pre party, we hit the town with our glad rags on and and our dancing shoes at the ready to dance the night away. I can't wait to pitch the idea to the girls and see what they think, just one huge girly night out!



Who is your Sex and the City Character style?
Do you love it as much as I do?

Until Next Time,
Jess
xx

Give a girl the right tools and she can conquer the World!

Hey Chickies!

It's all well and good chatting about what make up I love and looks that I love but you ain't going to get anywhere without the right tools. This year has honestly been all about the Real Technique Brushes by Samantha Chapman one of the Pixiwoo sisters, I have no doubt that you have seen or heard about Pixiwoo but just in case you haven't (for that rare chance that you might not) they are a YouTube Beauty phenomenon! If you haven't already go, hurry, check them out here!


Anyways completely gone off the subject of this post, so lets get back to it. Real Techniques brushes. These brushes can compete with the best in my opinion, actually I might go as far as saying they are the best, and a fraction of the price compared to the well loved MAC brushes. Made from all synthetic hairs means they don't shed and dry quickly, good for me as I get very lazy and impatient when washing my brushes! 
They have a range of sets and individual brushes, I must confess I have almost all of the brushes in the collection. They have such an innovative design, to make the skin look pixel perfect as the Real Techniques facebook says. 
The collection is made up of three different sections (colour co-oiridnated) purple - eyes, orange - base and pink - finish, with three brush sets, the core collection for face applications, eye essentials set and the travel essentials and ten individual brushes. 

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I honestly use every single brush, I watch the Pixiwoo videos and they use the brushes for all different types of application, not just what the brushes are originally meant for, they are that versatile. If you are just starting out, or a professional you will I guarantee find a brush that you will love. My favourite brush is probably the Expert Face Brush (£9.99), it is perfect for buffing foundation or applying contour or even highlighter. 
The Brushes range from £21.99 for the sets which include 3 - 5 brushes depending on the set to £6.99 for the lowest price individual brush. I can't recommend these highly enough, definitely worth a bit of research and all the hype around them as well.

weheartit.com

Have you tried or going to try any Real Techniques Brushes? 

Until Next Time,
Jess 
xx 


Wednesday 2 January 2013

Best Of the Best!

Hello Sugar!

This is called best of the best because this year has really been the best year for me, and definitely the top dog where beauty products are concerned; however I warn you it's going to be a long one, so grab yourself a cuppa and a blanket get cosy and lets get started!

It has been the year of make up for me so I am going to start with that..

The Face of 2012..

No face can begin without a good primer and my choice of primer for this whole year has been Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer £29. It controlled my oily t-zone that I am unfortunately blessed with, whilst keeping my make up from slip sliding all over the place. It has won numerous awards and definitely won an award in my books. If you venture into any new beauty bits this new year I highly recommend this!

After the primer you need a flawless fix in the form of..

My favourite Foundation and that has been Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua it is just faultless, it is such a lightweight foundation to wear every day, it gives a gorgeous coverage without feeling like paint, because it is so lightweight it feels like it is letting your skin breathe so wearing it everyday doesn't feel bad at all. It does have a fairly hefty price tag at £32. If you love a heavy coverage you wont like this foundation, but it may just surprise you.

You can't have a complete face base without concealer and the concealer of the year has to go to the Laura Mercier undercover pot its a 3 in 1 under-eye corrector/concealer, blemish concealer and setting powder, you can't get any better than that!  I only got this about three weeks ago and I already love it. I have been using the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealar before this and loved it, so when I came across this product it was meant to be, it that has the secret camouflage concealer (industrial strength concealer), another under-eye corrector/concealer to deal with those pesky dark circles that we all get over the party season, and if that wasn't enough, it also comes with a setting powder to, I had to try it.
I already knew I liked one of the products in there, so if I bought it and didn't like the other two products in this nifty little kit it wouldn't be a complete waste of money, turns out I love both of them just as much. It is the most convenient little pot. It has everything in there for a quick touch up if your going out after work, or just as your everyday concealer. Only one thing, the setting powder hidden in the bottom compartment can get a little messy. This bad boy retails at £29, not bad for three Laura Mercier Products, if I do say so myself!


While we are on the subject of face make up, we might as well go straight into colour face products such as Bronzers and Blushers. My favourite bronzer and favourite make up product of all time is another from Chanel it's the Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Make Up Base £30, this really is my holy grail product, huge statement I know but I stand by every word. I have a in depth review click here to read it!

It only feels natural now to mention my favourite blusher of the year. This one was difficult because I used various different blushers, all different colours for different looks. I have really had to narrow it down. It came down to two Mac blushes Melba and Well Dressed. I decided on Mac Well Dressed Blush £17. I came to a decision based on what blusher I wore more and this just tipped melba to the top spot. This is a fantastic everyday pop of colour blush for those that do not want to much colour, but want a little something-something, with a bit of girly pink/purple sparkle added in there to wake the face up as many of us need after our work drinks on thirsty thursdays! 


It's all about the eyes now.. 

(Told you its going to be a long one)

Two Stand out products in the eye make up department and they compliment each other perfectly. Yep thats right I jumped on the bandwagon and got the Naked Palettes from Urban Decay. I was going to just put one in this post but I couldn't choose between the two. I am very much a neutral eyes kinda girl, I rarely venture out into bright colouts so these palettes were right up my street. Each palette is full of gorgeous neutrals to create the perfect neutral eye look or it even stretches and you can create a dramatic smokey eye for the girlie nights out. These retail at £32-£36 each, but with 12 very pretty pigmented eyeshadows its kind of a bargain! 

I am sure if you read a lot of beauty blogs you will know all about the naked palettes, I wont say much more on the subject... Except there is a new Naked Essentials matte palette and guess what? I want it! 

 
Naked 2 : Top 
Original Naked Palette: Bottom


Can't create any eye look without Mascara it's like a unwritten rule. For me mascara is my essential can not live without product. If I don't wear mascara then I honestly feel like I look like a drowned rat my eyes are so small and none existent without it, therefore finding a good'un is a big deal! 
I found the best mascara of 2012 and I actually haven't heard anything about it I came across it totally by chance, its not hyped up at all. Its the GOSH Boombastic Mascara, the best thing about this mascara is that its only £8.49 and almost always on 3 for 2! 
Its a xxl volume mascara, it does excatly what it says on the tin, when I wear it a get a fair few compliments on how open and long my lashes look, I have had a few people say 'do you not annoyed wearing fake eyelashes everyday?' My reply to that (with great big smile on my face) is 'there're my own lashes'. 
Now I know that some people might not want that spider lash, fake lash look but I can't get enough of it. Bring on the Boombastic! 



To complete the Eye section it's on to brows. I have done a whole post on my new brow find here
I have recently been using the Illamasqua Brow Cake in thunder. I am really enjoying filling in my brows now, whereas before it used be my least favourite part of my make up routine. I like a quite a strong brow most days and this product full fills that need, but some days I do want just a little colour to give the illusion of a lifted eye area, the brow cake can also full fill that need.

Pucker up its 2012..

I found lip products the most challenging to pick out favourites for 2012. Again I came to the decision of my favourite lip product by thinking about what product I wore most and it was basically a draw between a lipstick and lipgloss both from Chanel (surprise, surprise) and as the lip gloss has been discontinued its had to be the lipstick. 
The lipstick that I have been loving is Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Boy, its a your lips but better colour, it's also a hydrating formula, it's good for your lips! I think I am going to a review on it on here in the next couple of days so keep an eye out for that.  


There you have it Folks.. 2012, the best of the best, the creme de la creme. I am going to be posting my best Hair Care, Skin Care and Body Care of 2012 in due course. 

So Unti Next Time, 
Jess 
xx