The New Browns

As last month was my birthday month, I realised that I had gathered a new, small collection of make up. Weirdly, all products fell into the brown toned category and hence the inspiration for today's post. 

The Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon eyeshadow pencils are a great, no fuss option when it comes to eyeshadow: super creamy, super pigmented no brush, just apply and done. Who needs to blend two or three eyeshadows when these do the job in one go. My new addition is the shade Bronze Garnet - a very rich, golden brown. I find this perfect for sweeping on my bottom lash line for a smokier look. 

I suppose this month could also have been titled the Chanel month. After absolutely loving my Illusion D'ombre in the shad Emmerville for the past year I thought it was time to invest in another colour - yes, I actually treated myself to this one! This is the colour Mirage: a subtle brown in which one coat = great every day brown whilst also being a great base for a night out smokey brown. These eyeshadows (as you will have seen from my last post) are some of the best products in my makeup stash. A powder to cream eyeshadow which are just ridiculously easy to apply. 

After watching Vivianna's thoughts towards the Chanel long lasting eyeliner in Érable there was no way it wasn't going to be on my wish list. I've been on the hunt for a new bronze-toned-brown ever since Rimmel discontinued my all time favourite - boo Rimmel! Seeing as this is indeed an expensive replacement, it might not be able to be as everyday used as my Rimmel favourite. However, this does not mean that I do not love it. I have never tried a Chanel eyeliner before and so far Im really impressed, particularly with its creamy formula - don't you just hate it when you have a scratchy eye pencil and it hurts to apply?! That won't happen with these ones!

I wonder which ones will make the monthly favourites post...

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Cream Eyeshadows

I've lost count of the amount of times I've mentioned on these pages that I'm an 'oily eyelid gal.' Product just does not like to stay on my eyelids; it creases, it smudges and ultimately ends up in a melted mush. Attractive, I know. However, the years of this holding this wonderful trait have led to a lot of testing. Throughout my journey I have discovered that a friend of my mine comes in the form of the cream eyeshadow. 

My favourite is the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise I have the shade Norma Jean. It is so creamy that it almost feel wet. But I find that it is this texture that helps to make it stay for a super long time whilst also being super pigmented. Whilst I absolutely adore this product, it doesn't sit in my everyday makeup bag because of its pigmentation. 

That is where the Chanel Illusion D'ombre come in. A weird formula, they sit in the tub like a powder but apply as a cream but this makes them so easy to use: no blending just apply. In terms of wearability they do. not. budge. My old and trusted favourite is the shade Emmerville: a lovely, everyday peachy gold which is definitely a cream version of MAC All that Glitters. I have recently purchased the shade Mirage - a light brown colour that I'm hoping will be my smokey eyes in one product. They come with a little brush which is perfect for packing the product on. 

I bought the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear cream eyeshadow in Beach Bronze after watching a Pixi Woo tutorial. It is a gorgeous, sparkly rich brown shade. I find this the trickiest of the lot to use - because it is in quite a small brush I need a small brush and then find it tricky to blend out. I think I need more practice with using this shade as I find that it looks quite heavy on me. 

Unfortunately my Estee Lauder Pure Colour Stay on Shadow Paint in Chained has dried out a bit now. However, it was definitely a firm favourite a few years back for my 'nights out' makeup. Mainly because it just didn't budge. I will definite re-visit this range.

The next on my list to try is Mac Cream Pot in Rubenesque. What are your favourites?

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January Favourites

So I've finally broken the silence over here. With a very busy few weeks of essay writing, starting my final term at uni and my dissertation (God help me) I feel like I can be excused. Anyway, to start off my first post of 2015 I thought I'd do a favourites.

 

First off is the Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm. My hands have seriously suffered in this bloomin' cold weather. Whilst the most sensible option would have been to invest in a pair of gloves I decided to opt for this. The smell is rather luxurious and its such an intensely rich formula that it absorbs into my hands rather quickly creating an instant result. This hand balm is also good for cuticles and has helped with my nails too.

For Christmas one of my makeup presents was the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emmerville. A gold eye shadow in a cream formula is always a hit in my books. This is so easy to apply and has really good staying power. Can I praise the packaging too?! This really is a little gem.

Along with the theme of dryness, my face went through a patch of disliking my origins moisturiser. After looking through some samples I thought I'd give the Kiels Ultra Face Cream a go. It's a weird one if I'm honest. It's not an overly rich or thick formula yet it gives so much moisturising! This time last year I suffered with bad dry, almost flaky patches on my cheeks. But not this time around. I am loving this cream, day and night.

After hearing a lot of raves from Amelia Liana and Hello October about this product I thought I'd give it ago. The Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob is my first neutral lip liner, believe it or not. I've never really understood the point of them. However, I have really go into the swing of this. It makes my lips look fuller and acts as a really good base coat for my everyday fave Mac Patisserie!

Last, but certainly not least, is the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso. I was one very lucky girl this Christmas and under my tree was the Nars Digital World Lip Pencil set. So far this one is my favourite. A lovely, pink-nude everyday staple.

 

What have been your favourites this month?

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November Favourites

The majority of November has seen me hidden away in the library researching and writing essays. As a result my blog has had a bit of a neglect and my favourites this month are somewhat limited.

The skin savour of November has to be the Omorovicza Queen of Hungry Mist. As the cold weather has taken its drying tolls on my skin this has just become an everyday essential. It is a hydrating toner enriched with rather fancy (and expensive) minerals that really do help give my skin that extra moisture. Cleanse, spritz, serum, done.

The issue of "dryness" continues on with the lips. Who doesn't suffer with dry, chapped lips this time of the year?! Of course I have to reach for the number one lip balm: Nuxe Rieve de Miel. This stuff, I think, works as an exfoliator and a moisturiser. It works so quickly that using this multiple times a day has seriously solved the lip pains. A handbag hero.  

There's rarely a talk about hair on this blog. I have to admit when it comes to hair I am not a pro, but that's another story. After an embarrassing trip to the hair dressers in october I decided to take better care of my dry locks. The Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Intense Rescue Balm has seriously left me noticing results. A hard balm in the tub, rub between your fingers to create an oil, smooth through the locks, leave for 20 minutes and then wash with shampoo and conditioner. My hair has looked shiner and felt so much healthier and stronger.

After a lovely care package from home I received a special request of MAC lipstick in Plumful. Desire after watching Lily Pebbles' vlogs this has been no disappointment. As a lustre formula it leaves a subtle amount of colour and sheen. I have loved wearing this when I've gone for a natural-barely there make up look with a splash of plum on the lips. Seriously recommend this if you're a brunette like me. 

Last on the list is a return to an old favourite: the Chanel Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in 14 Mystic Eyes. The bottom right shade is my favourite kinda brown, shimmery and subtle and is such a dream to apply. I don't bother with anything complicated, just a swish of this all of the eye and job done.

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Chanel dreams

Regular readers here will understand my love for the BB cream. For the record, there has only ever been one foundation that has starred on here - the Revlon Nearly Naked to be precise! However, on my 'beauty wish list' (yes, this does exist in notepad form) for a while now has been the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation. Are there any beauty bloggers out there who haven't raved about this one? With a student budget and being a pricey number, not that money has stopped me before, I have always been reluctant to hand over thirty three pounds for this one.

Until recently, I landed a job that gave me a rather lovely twenty five percent in the beauty hall. Yes people, this was my dream come true. The dream Chanel purchase was made. With a good shake of the bottle I applied this to the back of my hand before dabbing my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and applying all over. It is a very watery foundation but oh my goodness this blends unbelievably well into the skin. I'm quite lucky that the shade I have, B10, is the perfect shade for my skin tone. It leaves my skin looking rather radiant and hydrated. I can understand the praises of this little expensive number. 

Although BB creams will always be my everyday I really wanted a good foundation for those bad complexion-more coverage needed days! And special occasions of course.

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The dark side

Think of burgendy, plum and deep red. Intense, dark, perhaps even seductive. These are the jolly Season colours which are definitely set to get us in, if the perhaps not the Christmas, the fashionable winter moods.
I have never been one to brave the bold, lip-colours. However, I believe it is time for those of us who have been previously reluctant to man up and pucker up! A dramatic lip can be the key accessory to an everyday look or the final touch to an evening out.

So, who wins for producing such product to get us bang on trend? Without a doubt it has to go to the wonderful Chanel. Their Christmas Collection 2012 really sets the mark. So if you would like some extra treats for christmas, make sure you take a look at the Chanel stand!
My favourite out of their collection, especially to gain this bold, dark lip look has to be their Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in L'Impatiente. With a name like that how can one refuse?! It really is a delightful product which is sure to sit lovely in your makeup bag, and on your lips!

However, for those of us students who have the limited budget I have managed to find some less-extravagent numbers which will still give us the desired Parisian look.

As you might know from my previous posts I love Topshop lipsticks! For only £8 they really do achieve as great a finish as a high end product.
For the dark effect then head no further than the shade 'beguiled'. Indeed on first look it looks a shade to scary, but please believe me in that it does not look like a terracotta brick colour!

If you are willing to extend your budget just slightly then undoubtedly there is the ever-so brilliant mac. Instead however of choosing one of their plummy colours I have chosen to show you my favourite shade of 'Dare you'. It is a tempting red: a mixture of plum, red and gold.

So without sounding cheesy, I would say brave up, be confident, and go to the dark side!

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Little Black Jacket

Coco Chanel. One of the most influential fashion designers of the twentieth century. When creating the Little Black Jack in 1916 who would have known how iconic, desired and timeless the piece was to become.

With so many women still craving for this luxurious fashion item it was only necessary that some sort of tribute should be made to celebrate the fashion antique. And so the genius that is Karl Largefeld, with help from former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, created the wonderful exhibition that is currently gracing the halls of the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. 

Wall after wall visiters are welcome to drool upon wonderful, classic Chanel black and white photographs of models and actresses all wearing the LBJ.   Taken by Largefeld himself, I was in awe of the beauty and fun that oozed from each picture.

On leaving the Saatchi I too, like the many before me, felt the need to add a LBJ to my wardrobe! But with a free print of one of the photos (for everyone who comes to the exhibition) my bedroom wall is now graced with a bit of classic Chanel, and so I can dream of a future purchase.

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