FOTD - Sunset Eyes Or The Perfect Summer To Autumn Makeup

A few weeks back I visited Barcelona for a few days with my family. We did all the usual touristy things, of course, but I also took advantage of the fact there was a Sephora a short walk from our accommodation, because they are annoyingly not in the UK for some reason. Most of the brands were things I had access to back home, but one was not, that being Kat Von D, which excited me SO much. Her products are stunning and I've wanted them for ages, so, as a result, I bought an eye shadow and a liquid lipstick, which is showing extraordinary restraint.

The eyeshadow is called Thrasher and it is the most perfect gold I have ever seen. The swatch I took of it just made my heart fill with joy. I wanted all the eyeshadows, but I felt this would be the most versatile. I created this look a little while back on a beautiful Summer's day, which was incredibly hot, hence the visible sweat in these pictures (it passes as dewiness, right?).

I started by priming my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I then used Red Ochre from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette in the crease (I use a few shades from this palette). I then used Cyprus Umber from the aforementioned palette to deepen the crease, pulling it in to the outer third of the lid. I then used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Gold on the rest of the lid, setting this with Kat Von D's eyeshadow in Trasher.

I then used So Susan's Haute Light Highlighting Pencil on my waterline and in the inner corners of my eyes, setting the inner corners with Primavera from the Modern Renaissance Palette. Next, I used Cyprus Umber from the same palette underneath the lower lashes, extending it a little under the tear duct. I finished by applying mascara and creating a cat eye with liquid liner.

 For my skin, I first primed with Benefit's Porefessional. I then used Mac's Mineralize Concealer under my eyes and around my nose and mouth, setting this with Mac's Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I then used Benefit's Hoola to contour with and Sleek's Life's a Peach as blush. I highlighted with Subsolar from Sleek's Solstice Palette, and sweat, a lot of very attractive sweat.

For my lips I first lined them using Mac's Boldly Bare. I then used a nifty new product from MUA called Colour Enhance Lacquer, which is basically a white liquid lipstick. I applied a layer of this to my lips (which looks so odd), then immediately layering over a liquid lipstick of my choice, I used Mac's Dance With Me, which creates a lighter version of the colour, and it's looks super good with so many colours and still dries matte. I finished by using Make Up For Ever's Mist and Fix Setting Spray.

I was super happy with how this look came out, I think Thrasher is just incredible and really makes a statement.

FOTD Graduation Makeup - For When I Wanted To Look My Absolute Best

Over a month ago, now, I graduated from University. The ceremony was wonderful, I got to celebrate the with all my favourite people and be incredible proud of my friends and myself. I never thought that the day would mean so much, but it did.

I knew that the photos from the day would be around for the rest of my life, so I figured it was probably a good idea to look the best I could. I had a gorgeous dress, picked out my favourite jewellery, carefully painted my nails and curled my hair into perfect old hollywood waves. All that was left was my makeup, and as a point of pride, it had to be on point.

I knew I wanted a pinup-esque look, with slightly-above-neutral eyes, winged liner, red lips and extravagant lashes. I was so anxious that the makeup would go wrong (we've all had many bad liner days), fortunately, everything went well and I felt somewhat blessed.

To begin with, I needed perfect skin, so I started with my usual primer, Benefit's Porefessional. I then used Mac's Mineralize Concealer in NC20 under my eyes, around my nose and everywhere where I had discolouration. I set this all with Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NW20 by Mac. I then contoured with Benefit's Hoola, used Nars' Super Orgasm for blush and highlighted with Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone.

For my brows I used Mac's Cork on the inner section and Inglot's 329 for the rest of the brow. For the eyes I started by priming with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, I then used Mac's Cork in the crease, using Inglot's 329 to deepen the crease. I then used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha on the lid, setting it with Illamasqua's Pure Pigment in Ore.

I then used So Susan's Haute Light Highlighting Pencil on my waterline and in the inner corner. I set the inner corner with Inglot's Body Pigment Powder in 180. Next I lined the lower lash line with Inglot's eyeshadow in 329. I then used Bourjois' Pinceau Liquid Liner for my winged liner, finishing with Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara and applying Huda Beauty's lashes in Sasha.

For my lips I initially created an outline just slightly bigger than my lips with Mac's Boldly Bare Lip Pencil, then applying Sleek's Matte Me Liquid Lipstick in Rioja Red. I finished by using Make Up For Ever's Mist and Fix Setting Spray to keep everything in place, it being a big day and all (and it worked, my makeup didn't budge all day).

And here's me with some Prosecco in my gown and cap looking really proud of myself. My nail polish is Barry M's Coconut Infused Nail Paint in Flamingo.

To close, this is me and my friends after throwing our caps in the air and laughing because we were very bad at it.

More Club Make Up - And My Poorly Made Life Decisions

 So, me and my friends planned a night out which happily coincided with my friend getting a job, so reason to celebrate. I did these lady's make up, as well as my own (obvs) and I think it all turned out rather cool looking. It's a shame the night did not end up cool for myself. Who knew that drinking a bottle and a half of wine in a short space of time was a poor idea? I was snug in bed before midnight, is all I'm saying about it. The other girlie's had a good time, though.

This is Megan, I've introduced her before - for her Prom make up - so you're familiar with my difficulties with her eyes. I feel I've got it down now, though. This look started with the hair. It's all about the hair. I used a teeny tiny (1/2 inch) curling tong and alternated the direction of the curls so they don't 'sit' in each other. I then got Megan to pull her fingers through the curls and rough it up a bit. Thus creating a fun and summery look. This was my inspiration for the make up.

 I primed the eyes using Two Faced Shadow Insurance. I then used a Mac 217 and an Inglot Freedom System Rainbow Eye Shadow (it's three complementing colours in one pan) to buff and orange colour all over the lid and under the eyes. I used the middle shade to do this. I then patted the lightest colour in the centre of the lid and the darkest colour to faintly darken the outer corner and the upper and lower lash lines. I then used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk on the waterline and inner corners. I used a shimmery white from Sleek in the inner corner and blended it slightly into the lid. I then finished with Bourjois Liquid Liner for a fine cat eye and Loreal Volume Million Lashes on curled lashes. For a Summery look I like a face to be highlighted and bronzed, so I used Topshop's Glow (a lovely golden, liquid highlighter) and Rimmel's Natural Bronzer in Sun Glow.

This is my lovely friend Jordan, who looks ever so hip in a hat. Jordan wanted something fairly simple for make up, but still eye catching. So I thought an extreme cat eye and a red lip would work, and it looks damn cool, if I do say so myself. For the lips I used No 7 Lip Pencil in Fire to line and fill in the lips. I then went over this with Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 01. I used a piece of toilet paper split open (as in it is always two pieces of thin paper stuck together to create a sheet) and Mac's Prep and Prime Finishing Powder to blot and mattify the lips.

 I used Maybelline Gel Eyeliner and the brush that comes with it to do the extreme cat eye. I first made a very fine line across the entire upper lid, extending the line quite a distance from the outer corner. I then thickened the line slightly starting with the other point, but keeping it fairly consistent across the lid. I did not want a '60s cat eye, I wanted something more modern, so I kept the line fairly straight from the outer corner and not too angular in the flick. I then lined under the lower lashes, leaving the waterline clean and I connected it with the upper line at both corners, creating a small point in the inner corner.

 For myself I just did a look I'm rather fond of, which, whilst extreme, I do adore. I used the Maybelline gel liner to outline and fill in the shape and then set it with Urban Decay eye shadow in Prank, from the Vice 2 Palette. I used Nyx pencil in Milk for the waterline. I used Eylure lashes in Dramatic 202. My skin routine is the same as detailed in previous posts (yeah, I'm lazy). For my lips I patted on some Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 20.

So this night was a messy one for me, but my make up looked fabulous, so there's that.

Face of the Day - Make up for Partying

A few days ago it was the Birthday of my lovely friend Jade. We were going out clubbing - like the hip kids we are - so she asked me to do her make up. I'm quite happy with how this came out, as a glass of wine was drunk during the process.

Jade doesn't wear a huge amount of make up normally, so I created quite a neutral look.

On the face I used 123 Perfect Foundation in Light Vanilla by Bourjois. I then used Nyx Blush in Nutmeg to Contour and Sleek Blush By 3 Cream Blusher in Newport Peach on the cheeks. I ran some Mac Cork eye shadow through the brows and a smudged some Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 22 on the Lips.

 For the eyes I wanted the cat eye to be the main focus. Jade has round, large eyes, so I created a fine line with a longer flick to lengthen her eyes. Her eyes are also slightly hooded, so a thin line is needed, otherwise no eye shadow will be seen and horrible creasing will occur. For the shadows, I used Cork by Mac in the crease, with a dark brown by Inglot to deepen it. On the lid I used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha and set it with Gates of Eden in the Sleek Garden of Eden Palette. In the inner corner I used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. Over the entire lid and more concentrated on the inner corner I used Inglot Body Sparkles in 51. The liquid liner is by Bourjois. I used some false lashes that I cannot for the life of me remember where I got. They were wispy and longer at the outer corners, though.

 On my face I used the same foundation (we both had the same one, who knew?), I used Sleek Contouring and Blush Palette to contour (duh) and highlight, I used a blush from the same palette I used for Jade in the colour OC. I then smothered my face in Mac's Prep and Prime Translucent Finishing Powder, which I sometimes worry someone will mistake for drugs, because it is white powder. ANYWAY. Nothing on my lips because we were already late and alcohol dissolves the lipstick anyway.

(Also, if you look closely there's an adorable and lovable Pokemon perched behind me, much love for my Froakes).

 Cork by Mac and a Dark Brown shadow by Inglot in the crease and Inglot Body Sparkles in 71 on the lid. The glitter is Spock by Make Up Store. I used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk on the water line and in the inner corners. I then pat some Inglot Body Sparkles in 51 in the inner corners. The liquid liner is the same as before, and again the lashes are miscellaneous, possibly Girls Aloud ones.

The night ended up being darn good despite me breaking a pair of shoes and losing one of another pair then at the end of the night after many hours in a club being asked to leave it for said bare feet. Lets not talk about what the floors of clubs are actually like. A Happy Birthday to the lovely Jade, anyway.

Face of the Day - Gold Glitter and a Broken Heart

Last night the latest episode of Game of Thrones aired - episode eight - the one with the fight between my beloved Oberyn and The Mountain. Without wanting to spoil too much, the ending was not a happy one, in fact, it broke my heart.

As per tradition my friends and I gathered in my friend's living room - the only one of us with Sky - and had a Game of Thrones night. This consists of much wine drinking, eating good food, and, of course, watching the show, followed by us consoling each other about whoever has been killed this episode.

I decided to show my support for The Red Viper by wearing make-up inspired by his colours - it definitely had nothing to do with the new glitter I bought. The Martell sigil is a red sun pierced by a golden spear, so I opted for sparkly golden eyes and a red lip.

 The glitter is UFO by Make Up Store, in the crease is Cork by Mac and 329 by Inglot to darken it.

 The lashes are LP6 by Eylure.

The Lipstick is 01 of the Kate Moss collection for Rimmel. An amazing blood red with a very forgiving texture.

I may be smiling here but I'm dying inside. Oberyn will live forever in my heart. At least I have fabulous lipstick to help me get by.

Enjoying the Summer Weather (Face of the Day)

The weather's actually been good in England recently. Summer might actually rear its pretty little head this year. Which would be surprising.

Whenever the sun shines I crack out my more colourful Sleek palettes. This time I chose the Curacao palette which is BEAUTIFUL. It pretty much hands every bright colour to you on a well designed plate.

Sleek always gets me because they constantly release limited edition palettes. Even if I probably have doubles of the colours I'll buy it. But this palette is pretty individual. It's also pretty great that the eye shadows are named after cocktails. And that's what I had in mind when creating this look, I wanted the colours of a Tequila Sunrise. I then remembered how pretty the rest of the shadows were and decided to use as many as possible.

I started with using Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Yellow' as a base. Matte colours sort of always need a base, especially a yellow. I then patted on 'Screwdriver' on the first half of my lid and 'Bloody Mary' on the other half, blending them together with 'Tequila Sunrise'.

I then used 'Cork' by Mac in the crease, to tie things together a bit. I darkened the outer corner with 'Purple Haze' and softened the inner corner of the crease with 'Blue Hawaiian'. I finished it off with 'Green Iguana' on the lower lash line and Martini in the inner corner and beneath the brow.

I have the Max Factor lipfinity lasting lip tint in 07 on my lips.