A Bright and Light Summer Ready Makeup

Day two and it is still grey in London, and tomorrow I go back to Devon for the foreseeable future which is kind of scary! No more London 'scapes.

I love bright pink lipsticks with a light glittery eye, and this look is perfect for summer days. It is definitely not too heavy and just add a great pop of colour!

I started off with Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation as a base but as it gets warmer I would tone that down to something like Laura Mercier Tined Moisturiser.

I then contoured my cheeks with Nars Laguna Bronzer and dusted some around my face, I took Lancome Blush in Love on the apples of my cheeks and dusted up.

Girl About Town, Laguna & Blush In Love

I have been loving Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde which is perfect for people with blonde hair and I like it as a summer brow kit as it is super light but still adds definition.

For my eyes I started off my applying Nars Eye Primer and then lined close to the top lash line with Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Kajal Liner and smudged it out slightly and then bough some of the colour under the eye.

Using one of my favourites Stila In The Light palette and the colour Bare to create a base all over the eye lid, then I went over that with Kitten and through the crease with Bubbly. Oh so simple.

I then finally on the eyes used L'Oreal Voluminous mascara on my lashes and tight lined the outer corner of the eye with the same eyeliner as before.

On my lips I used one of my favourite Mac lipsticks in Girl About Town. 

Ta-da all done...

10 Summer Ready Nail Polishes

Starting today - Bank Holiday Monday I am doing five days of 'Summer Ready' blog posts! Starting today with my ten favourite summer ready nail polishes. I love expressing that summer feeling through a bright polish, I like to place a few bottles on my dressing table just to brighten it up and get those summer colours out. Unfortunately as I write this it is a bit grey and miserable in London but I am looking forward to bright sunny nails and bright and sunny days. 

1. BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Passion Fruit 334

This is a great red for the summer, it has lost all those dark tones and bought in the pink tones, it is so shiny and gives a great twist on a classic red nail varnish. 

2. Tanya Burr in Be Bright, Be Happy, Be you

This pink with remind you always to 'be bright, be happy, be you', it is a gorgeous bright pink which puts a smile on your face and the sentiment is so cute for summer. 

3. Rimmel Metal Rush in Pearly Queen 3024

I love this regal two tone nail varnish, it's a very light purple with a gold/green tone to it. It is nice and light but a bit jazzy which describes the perfect summer day right? 

4. BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Greenberry 314 

The perfect turquoise in my opinion. 

5. BarryM Nail Paint in 326 

Who doesn't love a yellow in the summer? This is a great bright yellow, the colour of the sun. 

6. BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Satsuma 312 

I love this orange, it is slightly dark and has some red tones but I like it because it is not too in your face, and not too bright! 

7. Lancome Vernis In Love in Aquamarine 501B

This is a nice medium blue (that's a colour right?), great if you don't want too be too bold in your polish choice this summer. 

8. Topshop in Brazil 

Perfect for getting your world cup nail art sparkly. Its like a carnival on your nails. I love this multi-coloured glitter!

9. Essie in Mint Candy Apple

The only pastel and my current favourite pastel nail varnish, I love this green with some sparkles on top it looks great.

10. Chanel in Rose Insolent 489

This is fast becoming my favourite ever nail varnish, it very similar to 'be bright, be happy, be you' although slightly duller and lighter, it transfers great from summer to winter and is fabulous all year round!

Pop back tomorrow and I'll have another post to get you summer ready and summer excited...

Special Delivery: Real Techniques Makeup Kit Review

A special delivery came in the post today, a beautiful makeup kit form Real Techniques by Sam and Nic Chapman. I LOVE the Real Techniques brushes, I constantly recommend them to everyone. If you haven't tried them you must, so when I saw that they had released a makeup kit - which is limited edition I had to get my hands on one. I got the modern natural one, I'm much prefer lighter tones that you can build up to be darker if need be. I also got a free special gift of a eyeliner brush - BONUS!

The kit comes with four eye shadows; one light shimmer, a gold shimmer, a matte brown and dark brown shimmer. It has a brown gel eyeliner, a matte pinky-peach blush, a cream highlighter and two lip glosses. The packaging is simple and easy, it is not too big or bulky and definitely good for a weekend away palette.

I have just done a simple everyday makeup look with the kit, here are the steps.

I started with a quick and easy base using the Rimmel fix and perfect pro primer all over the face. I then applied Collection concealer over any blemishes and under the eyes and then Rimmel Match Perfection foundation. I then used Rimmel Clear Complexion powder to keep it all in place. I contoured using the Sleek Face Contour Kit and then used the blush and cream highlighter from the makeup kit.

For my eyes I started obviously with my favourite Nars Pro-Prime eyeshadow base, I then applied the lightest eye shadow over the whole lid, right up to the brow. I then blended the golden toned colour over the eyelid, finally blended the dark matte colour into the crease of my eye. I then lined the top lashes and the bottom lashes with the gel liner. I then tight-lined the eye with Topshop Burnished eyeliner pencil and applied Mac Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara.

I am so pleased with the first makeup release from Sam and Nic, it was really well priced, I think with international postage it worked out to be £18 which for a whole makeup kit palette is a great price. I love the eye shadows, blush and highlighter. I have to be honest and say that I am not a massive fan of the lip glosses but the free eyeliner brush makes up for that!

I really hope that the girls release more makeup, if you don't know who they are you can check them out on Youtube and buy their brushes in most pharmacies worldwide or online at realtechniques.com

Sending you all sunshine and flowers x

April Favourites

This sunny Saturday has been seen me sat inside revising and essay writing with a little bit of Game of Thrones watching thrown in. I have just started watching it and I am slowly getting addicted. As I start a new episode i thought i should probably getting blogging done, so here I am with my April favourites, April saw me jet of to Texas with university which you can read all about on my other blog (the link is in the side bar), I also spent the Easter weekend in Devon enjoying the races and the seaside and now I have been getting back into the swing of university for my final ever few weeks. Scary and exciting all at the same time. 

Let's get started then... 

Garnier Ambre Solaire - After Sun in Pomegranate 

I have THE fairest skin, it is the definition of 'Irish skin', so before I headed out to Texas I knew I needed a new after sun. I saw this one in Boots and i was intrigued, from previous encounters with after sun I know that aloe vera is an important ingredient so when this one had it but also smelt delicious I knew i had to try it. I managed to only get sunburnt on one of the days on the back of my neck (I was of course wearing suncream) so I applied this when I got home and then before bed and in the morning. It is super soothing, cool, goes into the skin really nicely and the scent stays. I have a feeling it will come in handy this summer. 

Quick Fix Facials - Mega Moisture Gel Mask Dry and Thirsty Skin

I saw this range for the first time in Boots in the middle of April, they have masks for all different types of skin. I felt this was the right one for me, I have been using it once a week, it feels super moisturising once you take it off and the next day. After flying my skin definitely needed to reboot. I am looking forward to trying some of the other masks in the range. 

Jo Malone - Wild Bluebell and Peony & Blush Cologne 

Oooh I am a sucker for a perfume and if there is a Jo Malone at duty free I am going to buy some. I knew that I loved Peony and Blush but I wanted to try a different one and just fell in love with Wild Bluebell. I have very little to say about Jo Malone apart from that I love it.  

Bath and Body Work - PocketBac Raspberry Lemonade 

I am not sure if there is a person I have not mentioned this too, it has done the rounds at work and all of the girls have had a go. The smell is super strong but not overpowering, it is a sweet smell, in fact it smells just like raspberry lemonade. Who doesn't want clean hands that smell like raspberry lemonade? 

Chanel - 4 Eyeshadow Collection in 228 Tisse Cambon 

Once again a duty free purchase, it was with my final dollars before I boarded the plane back to London. I have wanted one of these four colour palettes for a while, I have not been disappointed by this beautiful product. Both the packaging and the product are pure luxury, If ever makeup could make you smile from ear to ear it is this one. 

Extra favourites include the1975's self titled album, its is brilliant and I have totally fallen in love with them. Green juice, these have been my saviour I love the Innocent Smoothie and Naked ones, White chocolate M&Ms, I wish I had bought more than one packet back from America. A Mulberry and Cassis candle from M&S. And my beloved Liverpool Football Club, I am so very proud of them whatever happens. 

I hope spring has sprung for everyone and the light evenings are filling your hearts with joy x