My birthday haul........

So it was my birthday yesterday - another year goes by : D

I took the day off and decided to do a round of shopping. I like to walk around places to get a feel of what they are like - especially on a work day to see how life is when I'm not in the office : D It was nice, I've been quite stressed at work so it took me a while to come down to enjoy my day. But by the time I'd bought the one thing I'd been lusting after - I felt much better.

I also hauled at the 20% discount event at Shu Uemura in Covent Garden today. Here's my haul:



Ever since reading WearingitToday's post on these fabulous leopard print Kurt Geiger heels - I had to have them. They weren't cheap but I waited til getting a discount offer somehow - and it appeared in a 25% offer with Glamour UK magazine. I feel glamorous and sexy as soon as they slip onto my feet - I can see wearing them with all black or with some cargo pants. Miaow : D SATC for sure.



So here's my Shu haul plus MAC's Eyebrown crayon in Stud and also Clarins Instant Light Brush on Perfector in 02. I love my Shu brow gel but I did a full on heavier face with smokey eyes on Saturday (my boyfriend took me out to a posh Thai restaurant for my birthday- Nahm in London - so I got my hair did too)and I felt that my brows looked a bit light in comparison to the rest of my face. So I'm gonna try out the MAC crayon - as it's quite creamy and easy to apply and the colour seems to match my Shu brow gel if I wanted to use them both together.

I also have wanted to recreate that famous Kardashian concealer trick thing beneath the eyes but with an illuminating highlighter so opted for a highlighter pen. I chose Clarins because I liked how it swatched (in comparison to Dior, Givenchy etc) - it looks like foundation but with a certain coverage and dewiness - none of that pale pink whitish cast which I get with YSL Touche Eclat. A review will be coming up on that.





I got 2 matte e/s from Left-Right, M beige 831 and M beige 821. I passed by the NARS counter the other day and swatched the e/s duo Madrague and I liked the tone of the shades but much prefer the quality of Shu e/s. These aren't exact matches - but quite similar and looking forward to using it for a neutral work look, with caramel tones.



I was planning on getting a pink blush cos I don't have a pink from Shu, but instead fell in love with this caramel neutral toned blush M Amber 86 - on the left. On the right is a shimmery highlighter P Gold 94. I wavered on the highlighter because I have enough of them and this is pretty creamy shimmery but blended out on top of blush, especially the M Amber 86 - it looked very pretty. Very Chloe.



I have a few Shu e/s and blushes now and this palette is perfect to fit them all when I travel. It is v slim and sleek - though I anticipate will scratch easily - but I love compact stuff and this fits the bill.



Then just a few other things. I had to get a refill of my shampoo - Aveda's pure abundance - but also wanted to give Pond's Cold Cream a go as a makeup remover. I remember my mum using this - so I thought why not?

I've also had a creaky Boots hairdryer since my uni days which although still works fine, is just boring. I want to begin styling my hair a bit more now and needed to up my hair karma : D So I just got a Babyliuss Turbo Power 2200 dryer. The T3 will have to wait.

And lastly, I am a huge fan of SATC the series - watch it on re run every night - so I couldn't get away with not treating myself to SATC2 that was released on my birthday - just had to obey karma. I've just watched it tonight : D

Can't wait to play with my new goodies......thanks for reading!

Shu event at Covent Garden store

So I found out about the event, and there is one at the Covent Garden store next Tuesday. I think it is only in the evening. The discount is going to be 20% on products.

I am a bit disappointed that I haven't had an email notice through as I was told I would be, and also that when I went into the store the SA was a bit nonplussed at telling me about the event. Which kinda disappointed me cos I do like that store and had great experiences.

BUT, I am still gonna go because Shu products are great quality - and I am looking to get some e/s and blushes : D

55 Neal Street
Covent Garden
Tel : 020 7240 7635

I got a Shu------eeeeeeling. Holiday collections - Shu Uemura

I posted last year near Xmas that I purchased a few things from Shu when they were having a holiday event - including my favourite blushes - and I enjoyed it so much that I remembered to pop into the Covent Garden store this last week to see if they were doing any holiday events this year. They are.

So I thought I'd just post this as I know some of you last year wanted to have an opportunity to attend. If you pop into a Shu store or call them up and sign on to their mailing list, they are due to send an email alert in the next few weeks to give details about the event. The SA in Covent Garden told me that the event will be in the last 2 weeks of Nov most likely, and the event will be similar to last year with discount off products.

As soon as I receive the email - I'll be posting to let you know the details...as I wouldn't want you to miss out. I'm eyeing up some more of their glow on blushes....so will be compiling my list!


http://www.shuuemura.co.uk/

NET HAULING - a few things I picked up this week

Just to share some web purchases that I am thrilled about receiving this week! I'm not normally a web purchase kind of person as I always like to check things out in person but I couldn't resist these......



I've always wanted a Juicy Couture gold charm bracelet - actually the London series one with a red telephone box is my ultimate lemming! - but I find them quite expensive. However, this gold lucky charm bracelet was on sale on ASOS and so I took the plunge. It comes in a really nice leather embossed box and the bracelet is lovely - just the right type of gold, the right chunkiness and I love the discreet Juicy Couture embossing on some of the charms. A new found fave.

Another absolute new found fave is the new Sigmax HD Synthetic trio set of brushes on offer over at Sigma. I have never tried any Sigma brushes before though always read and watched all the glowing and positive reviews for the brand. I have used the angled and flat top brushes already and LOVE them. I am a huge huge advocate of synthetic brushes and these are soft, dense and substantial. I will definitely do a review of these on my YT channel - want to play with them a bit first. Customer Service was fab - it arrived within 4 days of ordering and came with a travel SE25 brush (their version of the SE 217 I think).

I also got on Amazon the new Lauren Conrad's Style book. I LOVE it! I am a fan of Lauren's - her elegance, her style, her professionalism, her loyalty (although I will say that she can be too quick at judgement but that's cos she has high standards and expectation!). Will definitely do a review of this too as she has some gorgeous makeup pix.

Today I then received as part of a Makeupalley swap an item that has been on my swaplist for absolute ages - MAC Peaches blush. It looks like such a gorgeously happy
blush - just what is needed to carry me through the now increasingly darker days and nights! And cos I love the Sigmax brushes as a newbie and having them for less than 48 hrs I wanted to take a closer (though crappy) web cam pic of it again!:



Just wanted to share what I was excited about this week.....what have you hauled this week? xxx

What is your dream makeup vanity table?

Long time no post......sorry!

I'll be moving sometime spring next year and have a chance to start afresh with the way I arrange my makeup. Currently it's in Muji drawers that I place on top of a clothes cabinet and also in an Ikea mirror cabinet (with shelves inside).

In my excitement, I've been trawling the web, beauty sites and You Tube to get some ideas. My ideal - which I would think is all of ours! - is to have something with great storage and organisational capacity but at the same time pretty. : D

What I'd like is something with this storage capacity:


.....but looks pretty like this:


Am I asking for the impossible? To be honest they look quite similar - just that the first one has more storage capability it looks. I am planning on having my vanity in my bedroom near the window - but it's a finite space and it's a battle for me to keep tidy so I am completely committed to designing something from the outset that will help me achieve that goal!

On You Tube, my favourite look so far is from MakeupbyTiffanyD who's makeup vanity and accompanying storage looks so beautiful and good for storage. I just don't have that much space : (

Any ideas? What would be your dream vanity table? Any suggestions to websites or YTers whose makeup organisation you love?

Would love to hear from you

Some blog lovin'

Thanks to Kat over at Click & Makeup for being a blog to watch - thanks Kat! So as I understand it I have to nominate back 10 blogs or list 10 things I like. I like the idea behind this, but as ever, I can't go the full hog on rules (hey, I am a bit of a black sheep!)but I had wanted to give a shoutout to blogs that I check pretty much daily.

BEAUTY:

Londonmakeupgirl
http://www.londonmakeupgirl.com/
Always learn about a new product or brand. Updated daily.

Makeupforprofessionalasianwomen
http://www.makeupforprofessionalasianwomen.com/
A true makeup fan! A fabulous and extensive makeup collection. Regular makeup looks posted - and I look forwad to seeing what Jamilla uses on a daily basis!

lollipop26
http://www.lollipop26writes.com/
The One & Only.

Glitterdollz
http://glitterdollz7beauty.blogspot.com/
I'm relatively new to this blog and YTer. Beautiful looks on a beautiful, sweet lady.

A Model recommends
http://www.amodelrecommends.com/
I'm very new to this blogger. She's a recognisable London model. Look forward to seeing how her YT channel and blog develops.


FASHION and STYLE

http://wearingittoday.blogspot.com/
Absolutely <3 this blog. Gorgeous stylist, with a great eye for fashion. Casual luxe IMO. Inspires me to emulate her! Any day now....... : )

http://www.diaryofavintagegirl.com/
My vintage style fix. Love this blog, as I find it a lot of fun.

http://www.bargainistafashionista.com/
Fellow HKer in London. Fun, cool blog.

And one that does both:
http://blogs.elleuk.com/
Absolutely love the Beauty Notes Daily and What Elle Wears to Work blogs. If I could emulate the makeup and style of a magazine, it would be this one.

What blogs are you loving?

Long overdue post......and my 1st What's In and What's Out

#sheepishly peeks out from the corner#

..........hope you all have enjoyed your summer! I've been missing from my blog for over the last month - no real reason other than I've been concentrating on my YT channel (3 videos a week yay!)and busy buying and swapping makeup!

So to get back into blogging, I'm doing my first What's In and What's Out.

What's IN

- Bare Escentuals eyeshadows. They are currently rocking my world. Loose pigments yes, but the buffing let's me feel like my own artist and also gives me such a flawless finish.
- Swapping. I've completed quite a few over the last few months - and it feels very good to have lightened my collection of things I don't use and possibly someone else loves, with the bonus of trying out new items!
- Synthetic makeup brushes. So easy to clean and whatever brush head shape it takes, it's great to apply cream and liquid products, as well as powder.
- Cake eyeliner. Am trying out Becca's, but have also tried Laura Mercier. Not as easy to apply as gel eyeliners, but I love the finish, gives a perfect 1960s opaque finish.
- Mineral foundation makeup. My Prescriptives All Skins powder and MAC MSF Natural are my go to and fail proof products in these summer months.

What's OUT
- Messiness. Once all the makeup is on and I'm happy with my finished look, my desk surface is cluttered with makeup products, tissues, brushes, q tips. It's like cooking, I'm not one of those people who clean up as they cook!
- Mascara splotches on your eyelid. No matter what angle I tilt my head or mascara wand, I can't get away from this!
- how in the UK we have to wait for the Urban Decay Naked Palette to get to our shores......all the reviews and raves about it are grating on me ; p

It's good to be back!

On a no buy....lemmings galore Becca Becca Becca

So my no buy on makeup is going well, not bought anything remotely makeup or cosmetic related. : D Been busy at work too so that helps. Haven't bought any fashion mags either ; D

As a result, I am lemming some items. Mainly Becca. Today I tried out their new mineral powder, seductively named Boudoir, the new pink grapefruit beach tint and Songbird blush on top. Love all three!

I think I'm gonna get the grapefruit beach tint, a pretty girly coral, and am umming and ahhing about the mineral powder. I am nearly finishing up my MAC Mineral Skin Finish which I like and need a new one. The Becca one has great packaging, a mirror inside and is something new - always game to try a new thing. But I think the MAC MSFN is a better product - plus you get more for your money. The MAC at £18 is also cheaper than the Becca which retails at £26. Hmmmmm....

Any thoughts on the above? What are your lemmings this week/month?

Brush cleaning - what a workout!

So I normally clean my brushes on a Sunday - which is generally housekeeping day for me! I normally clean my more used brushes every few days (like my foundation and powder brushes, MAC 217 - my most used eyebrush) with Clinique's brush cleanser and then do a more thorough clean once or twice a week for the other brushes I don't use so frequently. I have a large collection of brushes, and I like to rotate them too just like my makeup collection.

Below are the brushes laid out to dry. These are my main stash of brushes that I use regularly, and included in these are my travel set (the pink handled Smashbox Rapture set).






My fail safe method of cleansing is to use Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. Cheap and cheerful, and most importantly effective. Not harsh at all.

I've been using Cinema Secrets brush cleanser (mainly cos Tricia Sawyer raves ahout it) but I find that it doesn't cleanse effectively (my brushes are still dirty after a couple of soaks). I prefer the Clinique cleanser to this.

I'll do a vid review of it in the near future.

It just feels so satisfying to have done a full set of washing! LOL

STOP PRESS!!! New Eve Lom Cleanser - Morning Time Cleanser

So, my regular readers and YT subscribers will know that Eve Lom's cleanser is my HG. I've reviewed many dupes on the market and still come back to her original cleanser. Last Friday I received a press release about the newest skincare item she has brought out - which is called the Morning Time Cleanser.

Imagine my excitement! I hotfooted it to my nearest Spacenk to check it out. Firstly, it retails £35 for 125ml. The SA told me that it is meant to be a convenient version of the original, in a tube so easy for travel and no need for the muslin cloth. She also said that it was a 'lighter' version of the original formula and designed for those who wanted to use something in the morning. I questioned her further as Eve Lom's philosophy is to cleanser once in the day, in the evening, with the muslin cloth and then in the morning only use water to wash your face with the muslin cloth. Cleansing again in the morning though? Sounds a bit to me trying to introduce another step in the regime. I asked whether it was to replace the original version and the SA said no. I'm confused. I think I need to go to an Eve Lom specialist at one of the spas to ask further : D

Now, the muslin cloth for me is all part of the routine. And I rather liked the fact that my skin got used to using the cleansing balm in the evening and only water in the morning - which I think is one of the reasons my oil production has regulated since using this balm.

Anyone bought it yet and used it? Do let me know what you think. I'm on a no buy of course (and still have my current Eve Lom pot to get through)so won't be purchasing this now.

xx