Nyx Haul - For When Needing To Replace One Thing Turns Into Buying Four Things

So, Nyx's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk is a certified staple in my make up collection. It's a rare day that I do not reach for this product (sky falling? blue moon?). So when I was down to a measly stub it was time to stumble back to the Nyx website and do some buying. Because who just orders one thing from online? Not me, certainly. Like, I'm paying for postage, I better make the most of it. Thus, Nyx haul.

Now, I have a bit of a split position on Nyx products. Some I absolutely adore (jumbo eye pencils, yo), others I'm fairly ambivalent about (glitter cream palette, anyone?). I've tried their nail polishes, that, whilst having an incredible range of colour, are a bit so-so on the formula side. Their eye shadows are buttery and pleasant to work with, but I very rarely use single eye shadows any more. I'm pretty in love with their Glitter on the Go shakers, but they're being discontinued. So, with these past experiences, I cruised on over to the false eye lashes. I was not disappointed. I also bought a lipstick, because I just want to love them, because a lot of them are named after Greek Gods, and that is a very fast way to get into my heart (and also my collection - see also Nails Inc polishes named after London Streets).

First things first, we have these BEAUTIES. Like, hot damn. These are the parrot lashes. Who knew I wanted to look like a tropical bird? Now, wearable is not a word to be caught dead in the same room with these lashes. But that's OK. Wearable isn't everything and I love doing crazy editorial looks. Also costume parties.

Just take a minute to fully appreciate these lovelies.

Next up are the Super Power lashes. These are more toned down than the Parrot lashes and I can conceivably see myself wearing these out. Because red and black are match made in the fiercest heaven.

I'm just in love.

Now we have the lipstick. It is called Hestia, who is the Greek Goddess of the Hearth. Now, this lipstick is far from homely. It's sex in a creamy and well pigmented formula. I often find Nyx Lipsticks a bit too creamy, I feel like they're just going to slide off my lips, despite having a respectable amount of staying power. I just feel like the formula is just sitting on my lips, rather than sinking in and feeling a little more natural. However, this lipstick felt a little nicer, to the degree that I will be reaching for this lipstick a lot. Because, guys, this colour. Dark red lips I feel are my spiritual lipstick home. I constantly get drawn to them, when buying and reaching for one to wear.

The ease of application caught me off guard. I was expecting to have a streaky and unpleasant mess with my initial application, but I got a nice even coverage that I went over to just build the colour a little. I'm one happy bunny with these purchases.

Water Colour Nails - For When You Feel Bad For All The Nail Polishes You're Not Using

 So I recently started using Pinterest, which is great, but also steals quite a bit of my time. I keep seeing cool nail things that instantly make me want to try something new. Discounting this one 'fish net manicure' that suggested using the netting from a loofah to give you cool nails and just didn't work - like I swear to God, I tried so hard and got nothing save a huge fucking headache - I've been loving trying all these new things. I can't tell you what picture in particular inspired this manicure, but using sponges on my nails has always worked well for me, so I was on board for these nails.

 Excuse my shitty, mismatched nails

 Here is everything you will need, different colour combinations such as blues and greens would also look awesome. From left to right: Rimmel Nail Nurse (as a base coat), No 7 Nail Colour in ME! ME! ME!, Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Rose Hip, Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Papaya, Topshop Nails in Listen To Me and Ciaté Speed Coat Pro for the top coat. Also a sponge, this is integral to the look.

Start with the base coat (duh), and wait for it to dry fully. Then do two coats of Papaya, waiting to dry between each coat. (The paint in my image has a weird texture because of the plastic, not the formula).

Now paint some of ME! ME! ME! on the sponge and blot off some of the excess paint.

Now pat the colour onto the nail, starting at one corner and blending it towards the middle. Wait for it to dry.

 Next do the same with Rose Hip, starting from a different corner and blending so there is plenty of overlap. Again, wait for it to dry.

Now pat Listen To Me in the centre of the nail, blending out a little, but less than the other colours. Wait to dry, longer than I did as I smudged the colours together a little (if you like how that looks, wait until it is no longer tacky, but would dent if you touched it).

Finish with a healthy dose top coat. Voilá.

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.

Cyborg Make Up - For When You Want Your Exterior to Reflect Your Cold, Hard Heart

So, this is my friend Zoe. She is stunning and I swear to God hew face is just a dream to put make up on. She's has lots of lid space for me to play with, plus full lips and great bone structure - she makes my job easy. So whenever I can get my hands on her face for make up purposes, I do. I always end up doing something extreme and a tad weird, because she's not going to go out with it and it's my time to have some fun.

This time around I did cyborg make up. I can't tell you why, probably something to do with my love of doing fake tears. Liquid metal tears seemed like a fun thing to do, so I built the look around that concept.

 For the face I used Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation in Light Vanilla, I contoured and highlighted with Sleek's Contouring and Blush Palette in Light. For the brows I initially brushed some concealer through them to lighten the hairs, I then covered the brows in Collection Glam Crystals liner in Hustle. For the Lips I patted Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 01 in the centre and blended it towards the edges.

I used Urban Decay's Vice 2 Palette for the eyes. In the crease I used Rewind, which I then darkened with Lovesick. On the lid I used a base of Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk which I then pressed Shellshock over. I used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean on the waterline which I set with a black eye shadow. I then used a Bourjois Liquid Liner to create a cat eye. The lashes are Fever Lashes, which can be bought at Smiffy's (which is where I got them).

 For the tears I used a small brush and Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 01. Using a lipstick gives a shinier texture than a shadow, it also has a more translucent consistency if blended enough which worked well for what I wanted. I wanted the red to be a bit like the flesh being burned away by the molten metal tears. I then used Shellshock - previously mentioned - over the red to create the molten tears. I then covered the tears with clear gloss to make them look more liquid-y.

 For the Metal Panel in her forehead used gel liner to outline the area I wanted, I then filled it in with Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, which I then set with Shellshock. I then used the gel to add more lines and some dots to look like bolts. I then used Collection Glam Crystals Liner in Dancing Queen for the red lines and Madness from the Vice 2 Palette for the blue lines.

I then proceeded to take a billion photos because Zoe kept pulling silly faces. To be fair to her though, I did just do this to her face.

Burlesque Make up - The Film Not A Potential Career Path

 So Netflix, yo (I'm saying yo because I'm currently watching Breaking Bad, and that's also a direct result of Netflix, so, yeah). I have entered a wonderland of sub par romantic comedies that I can watch at one in the morning. It is pretty great, if not a little harmful to productivity. The point of this is that I watched the film Burlesque starring Christina Aguilera  and Cher and the runaway best part of the movie is the make up. And I'm not going to let you disagree with me, because you would be wrong. Not because the movie was bad, but because the make up is that good. It's sparkly and colourful and walking that line of not quite yet looking like a drag queen. That line is my line. I live that line.
I didn't really plan to do this, but I got inspired and decided to start playing with my make up and I ended up with this, which I'm fairly happy with. Ignore that I'm in my pyjamas.

 I started by filling my eyebrows in with a black eye shadow - I used an Inglot one and proceeded to use that one for the rest of the look. I made the line as fine as my brows allow and sharpened the edges by using a concealer. I wanted this to be fairly drag. I then took and angled brush and a black eye shadow and drew a line just above my crease and elegantly swept it out just beyond the end of my brows. I then used the same shadow to draw a wing and line around my entire eyes. Then I used Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean on waterline, setting it with shadow.

 Next was the lid where I had no choice but to use glitter, like, come on. I used my finger to apply a base of the pale pink shade in MUA's Glitter Eye Palette in Twilight - this stuff is super sticky and creases so use it with caution. I then set this with Stargazer's Glitter Shaker in Garnet which is all kinds of pretty. I then went over the black shadow with gel liner to give a cleaner line. This is when I created the point in the inner corner. I finished with healthy amounts of mascara and Eylure Dramatic Lashes in 202.

I used Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation in Light Vanilla and Sleek's Contouring and Blush Palette in Light to contour and highlight. I used a smaller brush than usual to contour so as to give slightly sharper lines, especially round my nose, I then blended this a little with a larger brush - fine line of drag, yo. I then used Revlon's Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef on the cheeks. I set this all with Mac's Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.

I over drew my lips, because who cares about subtlety? I used a No 7 Lip Pencil in Fire to entirely fill in my lips, which I then covered in Sleek's Pout Paint in Pin Up. To finish I put a reasonable amount of clear lip gloss on my hand, then using my finger to pat unto my lips, so the colour doesn't get smudged around by an applicator. And I was done. Cue taking many photos of myself at an inappropriately late hour to be awake. Finis.

Prom Make Up - Another of my Beautiful Friends

My lovely friend Megan recently had her Year 13 Prom, which is the last year before University. It's an event to say goodbye to your school, your teachers and all those people you intend on un-friending from Facebook once you get to Uni. Most people are over eighteen so everyone drinks, like a whole lot - the teachers more than anyone. Because nothing says goodbye like passionately professing your love for someone you haven't talked to all year.

Megan didn't want anything to extreme, but also something that wasn't too 'prom'. We had a Prom post-GCSE's where everyone wore their satin and bejewelled dresses, this Prom is more inclined towards party dresses. The make up has to be similarly themed. For my GCSE Prom I had a neutral eye with a soft pink lip, for my A level Prom I had blue glitter on my eyes and an orange lip gloss - you get the idea.

So, considering Megan's eye shape which always proves a challenge for me (and I can't nail down exactly why), I wanted something heavy on the eye liner and light on everything else. This make up was a process for me, but I'm happy with how it came out and Megan looks gorgeous (it would be hard for her not to).

I started with lightly brushing Cork by Mac on the outer corners of the eyes, not so much in the crease because of the shape of her eyes. I then patted Inglot's Body Sparkles in 71 all over the lid (I'm overusing this at the moment, so sue me). I then did a cat eye with a liquid liner. Whilst waiting for this to dry, I ran some Cork through her brows, very softly. I then decided what was best was to line underneath the bottom lashes with a liquid liner, giving a very sharp line, versus using a pencil liner. I then completed it by using Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean on the waterline and setting it with a black eye shadow (I used one by Inglot). Now happy with how the eyes looked I piled on mascara - to compete with the heavy eye liner - and applied a pair of simple Eylure lashes.

 Megan's skin is lovely, so I used a light foundation, just to even the skin tone. I then applied Sleek's Blush by 3 in OC to the apple's of her cheeks, with my own cheeks I usually pull the colour up to the sides of my face, but for Megan I kept it central. I then finished with Mac's Prep and Prime Finishing Powder. For the lips I just smudged Rimmel's Kate Moss Lipstick in 22 onto them, just giving a slight hint of colour that can wear off happily and prettily through the night.

 For the hair I used a 1 inch curler (my medium sized one) and alternated the direction of the curls, so that they won't sit in each other and flatten the look. I wanted something fun and flirty. I also added volume to the roots using Tressemé's Plumping Powder and back combing with a tail comb. I then got Megan to run her fingers through the curls to loosen them and messy up the look. This style is one meant to be messed about with.

Overall I was very happy with how the look turned out and I think Megan looked gorgeous. She also made her own Prom dress, how cool is 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.