Laura Mercier Shimmer Effect Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection

This was a case of not being able to resist after spying these in the Space NK Christmas 'lust-fest' catalogue. 

I am loving cream shadows at the moment and think they are really having their moment with both high end brands and in the drug store. Although, I have stuck with potted colour from Bobbi, Smashbox, Maybelline and even more recently Bourjois but I haven't really been impressed with their crayon cousins..I am looking at you Chubby Sticks.

This Christmas set contains four miniture eye crayons in great wearable shades which are brightening and vibrant even in one swipe. Whilst all very wearable I don't think that I would be able to use all three of the light shades together which does limit them as a package but the darker colour (amethyst) does work with all of them individually.

Below and above from left to right are the colours: rose gold, amethyst, pink opal and sugar frost. In the swatches I've included one swipe on the left followed by a double swipe on the left.

Amethyst is a really deep shade and works well in the crease for a blended out smokey eye or flicked out into a cat eye using a MAC 217. The lighter colour 'sugar frost' has been functioning as an easy to use highlighter on the brow bone and inner corner of the eye. 

For me though the winner is the rose gold. Mainly because I have been amassing a huge collection of rose gold shades in both powder and cream formulas. I am just loving this shade right now. I used this crayon for a muted day look and even without primer it lasted all day with no creasing. 

A great little stocking filler or just a Christmas treat for yourself. Found here at Space NK.

Nailing It

For me O.P.I was always in the realms of salon only manicures and I only recently realised you could buy these in places like John Lewis (my spiritual home)...where have I been all this time!

Anyway in the States the O.P.I range is available in make up heaven Ulta which is where I picked these up on a 3 for 2. I got one FREE!!!!

I didn't stray too far from the normal here with a nude, pink and red/orange and then went on and painted my nails every day as I couldn't decide which one I loved more.

The first that I picked up was 'Cajun Shrimp'. A vivid red with hint of coral this has livened up my summer fingers and toes. I know that loads of bloggers have swooned over this colour and I am not surprised. I'm in love and I can see this taking me straight through Autumn and Winter by providing me with that much needed pop of colour.

As with all reds it is hard work; the slightest chip will take you from perfectly groomed to scraggy nailed but for me it is worth the maintenance.

 

The perfect nude nail is illusive as far as I'm concerned but this does come close. 'Mimosas for Mr & Mrs' is surprisingly that perfect shade for when you don't want to your nails to clash with your couture like at a wedding. 2 coats will mean your own nail tip shows through but with a creamy and classic finish.

 Last is the baby pink which comes from the OPI Minnie Mouse collection called 'Chic from Ear to Ear'. This plays to my inner child and those days when the only colour that would do was Barbie pink and this is exactly what it is. 

It takes 3 coats to get to the opacity that I prefer and it has a feint fine glitter running through it. This is a frivolous colour if you will and has lasted well through the summer days. I'm not sure it will get quite so many outings as we head into the winter months but I look forward to pulling it out of my nail collection again as Spring starts to show in March.

 

Is this not the most perfect colour collection ever? I could last the rest of my life with just these 3 colours...but what fun would that be!

Bourjois Bronzing Primer

Do you ever just pop into Boots and then end up with a couple of purchases that were never intended? Yeah that...

I had seen reviews of this on Sunday Girl and Gemsmaquillage as well as a few other blogs and so it wasn't a surprise that this accidentally made its way into my shopping basket and onto my dressing table. I have been coveting the Soleil Tan de Chanel *remembering that 5 lustful minutes in duty free where my head did finally overrule my heart (or my bank account)* and rumours are that this is a pretty could dupe.

This isn't like a cream blush or a mousse like the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse its more of a whipped cream consistency. It smells of chocolate orange, which was an unexpected surprise and luckily the scent doesn't transfer onto the skin once it has been applied. 

I had anticipated using this as a product to contour on my 'summer' face but I have actually been using this as an all over bronzer. I'm not sure the colour would be right for my skin all year, but right now it is pretty much a good colour booster and isn't looking orange. I've applied using both fingers and a stippling brush and have been happy with both finishes.

This product has currently replaced my trusted and much loved Bobbi bronzer. I don't think this is shimmery at all, but it doesn't provide the same matte finish of the Bobbi. I can use this on top of my Laura Mercier tinted mosituriser and still feel like it is just my skin but better, perfect for lazy summer days and more importantly lazy summer make up!

Have you tried this product or anything else for this range? Do you have any other recommendations for that coveted summer glow?

A Navy & Nude Make Over

It wasn't too long ago that I was lusting over the Navy & Nude collection, and I took a hop, skip and a jump to my local John Lewis to get my make up needing hands on it. We had to wait a little longer for it to hit the South West, and I had an appointment at Bobbi Brown on the 4th July for a complimentary make over using the palette.

The make up artist and I had a good old gossip about my favourite products, most of which are Bobbi anyway, so it wasn't exactly a difficult conversation, and I left with a wish list as long as my arm and at the top is the corrector and concealer kit.

I was a little disappointed with the make over though as this palette and the look is all about the eyes, and I was expecting more of a dramatic look. I'm prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt, I never said this to the artist, I let her make a decision about the look she would create, and she went for more of a day look. It wasn't too far off though, because I re-created it the next day for work. 

Now onto the products, which surprisingly made it into my bag and into my make up console!

So onto the palette itself...the first thing you notice is that it is a step away from the usual black and white that she uses. This has a navy blue marbling which just makes it a little different (oh the things I put in my head to justify this) and I'm not sure I can remember a time where she has used a different colour.

Another thing I am totally in love with, is the little drawer that pulls out at the bottom to reveal 4 more extra colours, including the navy that this palette revolves around. It screams luxury at every corner, and is just a little feature that clearly makes me happy anyway.

The palette has 8 shades including the vibrant navy, which can be used to create a smokey eye, or as an eye liner. The make up artist used the navy as an eye liner for my make over, and did so by dampening the brush to get the biggest colour pay off. 

Photo from Bobbi Brown website

I love a Bobbi shimmer and the two in this palette, the Beige Shimmer and the Twilight Pink Metallic certainly don't disappoint. They are certainly not over the top, and the Blazing Star Sparkle shadow can be pressed on the top when a little extra sparkle is needed.


Oh yeah and then this happened!

This is the Pink Brightening Brick, another member of the Navy & Nude collection. Made up of 6 different pink squares; 3 matte and 3 shimmer this can be used all over the face and on top of a blush to provide a sweep of highlight across the cheek bone. This doesn't compete with a MAC highlighter or Benefits' High Beam for a full Kardashian like contour, but certainly adds a welcome glow to my complexion.

If you can't tell I am very happy with these recent additions to my make up collection and I implore you to head down to your nearest Bobbi and at least stare at this beautifulness whilst it's still around. The collection is also available to buy online here.

Learning something new

So last weekend, on a rather chilly and damp Sunday I made a quick trip down the M5 to Weston-Super-Mare. Let me tell you, it is as glamourous as it sounds. I was heading to Loves Cafe, to meet with Hayley from Lovely Craft Works who had promised me that she would be able to teach me crochet in 5 hours, and not only that I would leave with something I had made. 

I learnt to knit a long time a go but can't remember how to do it at all, and I have never crocheted (not even sure if that is a word). 

We started the day learning the basic single chain, and then how to add to this with double chains to make rows. This would make a basic square. I choose pink wool and have kept my first 5 rows of crochet.

Pink wool and my first hook

My first 5 rows!!!

Once we got this far, we swapped and started again. Choosing colours to make our first product, a draw string bag that would house our valentines themed key chains. Hayley was keen to show us how to make something simple, but also learn how to change colours. 

I'm not going to say that it was really easy, as I had to think all the time about what I was doing to ensure I got straight and flat chains. Hayley was so patient with me, at first I was all fingers and thumbs but eventually you do get into a rhythm. It becomes all engrossing and is a great place for some escapism. It doesn't play well to my perfectionist tendencies as I became more and more obsessed with how it looked, which was basically wonky!

Row on row of crochet

Managed to actually do 2 colours

My finished article

One day I might be able to make all these lovely things

My practising hasn't gone so well I'm afraid, so I am looking forward to my next meet up with Hayleys' loopy group on the 1st March and finding out what other little delights I can try and make. I am really enjoying learning something new and my friends and family can rest assured that they may well end up with crochet birthday and Christmas presents for years to come.

Katie x x