Chanel Summer Nail Varnish 2013

I was trying so hard not to succumb to Chanel's summer collection, but after seeing swatches of the two blue nail varnishes I could hold back no longer.

So I welcome the gorgeous Azure and Bel-argus into my life.

They are stunning. Pictures do no justice.

I added a floral stamp using Konad white polish and Nailz Craze plate 3 

Love this mani.

Cult Nails Charlatan

My second order from the magnificent Cult Nails arrived today.

I was so excited/impatient that in the hour between coming home from work and going to ballet I had to try one out.

Charlatan is the one I am most excited about. Seeing people pictures of it in action made me need it. Not want it, need it.

It's a gorgeous top coat that is pink toned with micro green glitter suspended in it. Amazing.

I cannot wait to try out out on different colour bases and over the top of stamped nail art.

My pictures don't even come close to doing it justice, I definitely recommend trying this or any other Cult Nail polishes out. It's one hell of an indie brand!

Golden Eyes

Face:
Urban Decay Naked Foundation in 3.5
Mac MSF in Light Year

Eyes:
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeshadow pencil in Sin
Chanel Illusion D'ombre in Vision
Armani Eyes to Kill in 20 Obsidian Black

Lightly pinked lips - featuring OCC lip tars

Face:
YSL Touché Éclat Foundation in BD40
Chanel universal bronzing base

Eyes:
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Zero
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in espresso to fill in brows

Lips:
OCC Lip Tars in Orphelia and Pretty Boy

New Makeup Storage Solution

Something I always struggle with is how to store my makeup.
I am always trying to make the most out of my collection so I tend to grab things and use them once then forget to put them back as my storage solutions have previously not been so user friendly. Mainly other beauty boxes filled with different items and dotted over the place and a couple of perspex drawers.

I've kept my Mac eyeshadows in on of my perspex drawers as this is the easiest place for me to see my full collection without rummaging.

Everything else though has now got a new home, thanks to the wonderful Lipglossiping sharing her storage solution.

It comes surprisingly cheap from Ikea. One set of Helmer drawers + 6 Antonius trays = makeup storage heaven for less than £36!!

I wasn't expecting either item to be that substantial, I thought they'd be made out of flimsy plastic but the Helmer is really robust and metal, whilst the Antonius trays are quite a strong, thick plastic.

So after a morning of DIY-ing to put it together (it wasn't actually the whole morning as it is a pretty easy piece to build) I now have a new home for all of my makeup.

There are some gaps in my drawers so now I feel it is necessary to buy more so that I can fill it up and make it look prettier :)

Helmer

Nail Varnishes

My face draw-Foundations, concealers, primers, highlighters etc

Mac lipsticks and OCC Lip tars/Sleek Pout Paints

Some of my eyeshadow collection

FOTD - Daytime party look

I had a family birthday party today so I broke out some false eyelashes for the day.
My dress was yellow and purple so I did a purple eye with pink lips.

Face:
Chanel Vitalumiere in 20
Chanel bronzing base
Nars Orgasm Blush

Eyes:
Armani Eyes to Kill in 19 and 2
MUFE eyeshadow #92
Urban Decay 24/7 liquid liner in Perversion
Daniel Sandler Jumbo Jet Mascara
Eylure false eyelashes (Girls Aloud, Kimberly)

Lips:
Dior Addict Lipstick in Diorkiss

FOTD featuring Urban Decay Naked Palette and Viva Glam Nicki

Hey guys, I felt in a pink mood today so out can Viva Glam Nicki to play

Face:
Chanel Vitalumiere in 20
Chanel Broze Universal

Eyes:
Urban Decay Naked Palette - Virgin, Gunmetal and Creep
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack
Collection 2000 Big Fat False Lash Mascara
Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Espresso to fill in eyebrows

Lips:
Mac Viva Glam Lipstick in Nicki

Bright Eyes FOTD featuring Urban Decay

Eyes:
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadows in Graffiti and Peace
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack
Mac Kohl Pencil in Smoulder
Daniel Sanders Jumbo Jet Mascara

Face:
Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation in 20
Chanel Universal Bronze

FOTD starring Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow

After a lot of lusting I finally caved in a bought an eyeshadow from Armani. I was in heaven swatching them and was really torn about what colour to get. I settled on number 4 Pulp Fiction. I love it. Not convinced it was the optimum colour choice but its definately left me lusting for more. And seeing as it was pay day and Mac still haven't put up the Shop Mac, Cook Mac collection online, I will be investing in at least another couple.

I'll post a full review of the eyeshadow and the lovely people at the Armani counter in Selfridges at the weekend. For now I'll just leave you with the look I created today.

Face:
Dior Forever Foundation in 23
Nars Illuminator in Copacabana mixed with foundation, and used as cheek highlight
Chanel Bronze Universal

Eyes:
Giorgio Armanin Eyes To Kill Eyeshadown in number 4, all over lid
Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in 84 Epatant (inner corner, and underneath eye), and 83 Illusoire (on outer third of eye and smudged underneath)
Mac Kohl Pencil in Smoulder on waterline and to line top lid
Daniel Sandler Jumbo Jet Mascara
Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Espresso through brows

Lips:
Dior Addict Lipstick in DiorKiss

Night Out Makeup FOTD

Last night I went out with some of my friends as one of them is sadly leaving to go off and carry on travelling the world.

I decided on a classic red lip with black liquid eyeliner

Face:
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Bedaub (used under foundation to minimize redness)
Chanel Vitalumiere shade 20
Chanel Bronze Universal
Mac Cream Colour Base in Pearl

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Mac Transparent Glitter in Reflects Pearl
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
Collection 2000 Big False Lash Effect Mascara
Ruby and Millie False Eyelashes

Lips:
Mac Lipliners in Currant and Brick
Mac Russian Red Lipstick

Frosty Eye FOTD

We're still very much in a cold snap in England right now so this morning makeup was positively icy!
Silver and blue metallics on the eye with a minimal face, Hope you enjoy.

Face:
Chanel Vitalumiere in 20
Chanel Bronzing Base
Mac Cream Colour Base in Pearl for a highlight

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Mac Crushed Metallic Pigments in Surf the Ocean, using the silver and midnight blue shades
Urban Decay 24/7 liquid eyeliner in Perversion
Collection 2000 Big Flase Lash Effect Mascara

Chanel Spring 2012 Nail Varnish in June

I have been looking for the perfect muted, pastel, coral nail varnish for years. Ever since I saw one from Nails Inc but for some stupid reason I didn't buy it and then never saw it again. After that I was always searching but everything was simply to bright or two orange.

Then Chanel's Spring 2012 promo pictures and product information came out. They had done it.
Finally my perfect colour was here.

I waited patiently for it to be released online, then after a long and stressful day at work I could no longer be patient. I needed cheering up and I knew that Chanel would never let me down.

So not holding out much hope I went to my tiny John Lewis beauty hall on a short detour on the way to the train station. And there it was.


All pretty in its square bottle. I knew more than ever that I needed it. My luck was in, they had one left in stock!

I certainly don't regret my purchase. Although Chanel's nail varnishes are expensive at £18 I think this is completely worth it for their more unique shades like this one (or the beautiful metallics realeased last winter, Peridot I'm talking about you!)

I get a few days wear with minor chipping, which seems to be less than most other beauty bloggers. This is the case with all nail polishes though, I have weak nails and so the actual nails break or flake of rather than it being the fault of the nail varnish.

This is a gorgeous shade and is going to be my go to colour for the whole of spring and I'm sure it will serve me well through summer too,

Soleil Tan De Chanel - Bronzing Makeup Base

This is a product I had my eye on for a while. I love wearing bronze instead of blusher, I just like to have a little glow.

I was using Mac Refined Golden, which is a beautiful sparkly powder bronzer.

This offering from chanel, is a kind of whipped almost solid mousse/cream bronzer

It's called bronzing makeup base, so I guess you could put it on as a primer for foundation to add a glow and slight tan to your skin tone.
I wear it on my cheeks and through my temples.

Its just a lovely product to work with. You can build the colour or blend it out to your hearts desire. It really is quite effortless.

Oh Chanel how I love your makeup so!

Dior Colourblocking Look

I was flicking through some makeup images that I saved on my computer and came across and old Christian Dior shot from one of their summer collection catwalk shows (I believe it was 2011)
Instantly I wanted to try the yellow version, especially as chartreuse is one of the colours for this coming season!

So at 10.30 at night I decided I'd give it ago (seeing as it doesn't strike me as being all that work friendly!)
Apologies for the less that great photo quality, I haven't really got much in the way of decent lighting so had to try and improvise a bit.

Face:
Chanel Vitalumiere in 20
Illamasqua Powder Blush in Complex

Eyes:
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Mac eyeshadow in Three Ring Yellow
with Mac eyeshadow in Chrome Yellow layered on top
Urban Decay 24/7 liquid eyeliner in Perversion
Collection 2000 Big False Lash Effect Mascara

Lips:
Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Titivate
Mac Lipstick in Girl About Town

LOTD Dark Vampy Lips

Today featured another couple of items from the Mac Surf Baby collection
This time I felt like focusing on the lips and went for a dark berry

Face:
Dior Forever Foundation in 23
Chanel Bronzing Base
Mac My Paradise Blush

Eyes:
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack
Collection 2000 Big Fake False Lash Effect Mascara
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Expresso to fill in eyebrows

Lips:

Mac Currant lipliner
Mac Bust Out! Lipstick

Mac Surf Baby LOTD

So obviously what with it being all cold and snowy outside, I decided it was time to bust out Mac's 2011 summer collection. I created a turquoise eye using the stunning Surf USA.

 Face:
Chanel Perfection Lumiere 10
Chanel Bronzing Base, Universal Bronze
Nars Blush in Orgasm

Eyes:
NYX jumbo eye pencil in Milk
Mac eyeshadow in Short Shorts (LE)
Mac eyeshadow in Surf USA (LE)
Urban Decay eyeshadow in Blackout (from the 15th anniversary palette)
Dior New Look Mascara
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack
Mac Immpeccable Brow Pencil in Black

Lips:
Dior Addict Lipstick in Dior Show

FOTD featuring MUFE #92 and Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Static

Woke up to a wintery wonderland this morning so it felt necessary to include a bit of sparkle into my makeup for the day. And what better than Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Static.

Face:
Chanel Aqualumiere in 10 pastel
Nars Blush in Orgasm

Eyes:
Mac Paint Pot in Let's Skate!
Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Static
MUFE #92
Urban Decay 24/7 liquid eyeliner in Perversion
Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara
Mac Impeccable Brow Pencil in Black

Hope all you british gals are enjoying a day in the snow :)

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in 75 - Dragon

So long after seeing all the hype about this particular shade of chanel rouge allure laque I decided I had to have it. Unfortunately it is being discontinued (goodness knows why) so I struggled to find it. There seemed to be none available on any of my normal online retailers and I'm always a bit reluctant to try sites I haven't heard of. One night on my way home from work I popped into my local John Lewis and enquired about Dragon, but there wasn't anyone who worked for chanel around so I asked someone else but they couldn't find any. I thought it was a lost cause, but the following day I had 20 minutes to kill before my train so I thought I'd try again on the off chance. And shock horror, the Chanel assistant found me one hiding in the wrong drawer. It was like it was meant to be.

So today I have been sat at home, sorting through my makeup collection and waiting for the snow to come, testing it out.

On first look it is the most amazing red colour, with the perfect level of gloss. Unlike some reds I think it is perfect for day time as well as evening wear.
I am in love.

It's so comfortable, I barely feel like I'm wearing it.
Since 2 o'clock this afternoon it has made it through several glasses of pepsi max, a bottle of beer or two and a tofu stirfry. Only now at 8 o'clock has it started to lose its glossiness and has become a little dry. But the colour is still there!
Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon is simply perfect and if you don't already have it then I recommend rushing out to get one (or two while you still can)
I got mine for £25 at John Lewis, I believe selected Boots counters still have some in stock too