Goodbye creasy eyes!

Over the last few months I have been trying out a lot of new products and really trying to establish a good make up routine priot to my wedding, incorporating- exfoliating, moisturising, priming and then make up etc! It's something that I think I have more or less got used to now and I know my skin looks and feels a lot better for it. . . even though sometimes it feels like a very long winded effort!

Soap and Glory "It's About Prime" eye primer

The one thing I had never really thought about was eye primer. I definitely fall victim to an oily eye lid and frequently end up with that line of creased make up which I then proceed to rub off in a "well it's nearly the end of the day, who cares" type attitude.

However, recently I purchased the Soap and Glory "It's About Prime" and I can honestly say this has saved my creasy eyes and also acts as a darn good highlighter! It comes in two shades- a dark and a light- I went for the bright light one as it works well with my current pale complexion. It has a shimmery tone to it and glides on to the eye lid really easily. I leave it for about a minute before putting eye shadow over the top, to save it being rubbed off.

Primer on skin

Once primer has been rubbed in

The packaging reminds me of Benefit, but without the price tag. It's bright and sterdy and holds it's own well against my other high end products. I bought it in Boots for £8 and I can honestly say I will buy this again and again. Even after a long day in work followed by a sweaty gym session my eye shadow was still perfectly in place which I couldn't quite believe!



Eyes after about 6 hrs wearing the primer

At the moment I am still trialling the Smashbox face primers- I currently have 3 that I've been swapping between but I'm a bit indifferent at the moment, so if you have any tips or other face primers that you recommend  (that work especially well in heat!) I'd be very grateful to hear!

I heart Barry M!

I heart Barry M.

Ever since I discovered their nail varnishes just over a yr ago I have literally worn nothing else. As side from the odd cheeky Shellac, Barry M's "Nail Paint" and "Gelly Hi-Shine" nail polishes provide me with robust, glossy, manicure-envy looking nails. I have definitely received more compliments about my nails when wearing a Barry M nail colour than I have after any manicure. 

I know that within the blogging beauty-sphere these little pots of long-lasting colour are spoken about with such glowing term, I haven't yet read a bad review, which I think says a lot for something so affordable. 

With that in mind I thought I would show you some of the latest colours I've bought! I got mine from Boots on a bit of an over excited, rainy Friday lunch time drugstore visit and they cost me £3.99 each at 3 for 2, which is a total bargain in my opinion! 

So I might have bought 6.... 

My favourite colour of the moment is the "Gelly Hi-Shine" in Blood Orange. It's so vibrant, great to brighten up the cold, wet weather and with Valentine's Day fast approaching it's the perfect red! 

I've also just discovered that they are doing a Matte Nail Paint range which I have not tried yet so cannot wait to trial next time I find myself in a Boots! 

Friday afternoon drugstore haul

Do you like the Barry M nail polishes ? Which is your favourite colour? 

Emi x 

A vintage wave, live music and liquor, 1930s style.

Last weekend we headed to Cecil's, a basement bar of a Victorian tea warehouse, 200 metres from London Bridge and under the looming presence of the Shard to celebrate our gorgeous friend Lisa's birthday. In a private, intimate venue holding a maximum of 120, the high ceilings of Cecil's shelter a delightful stage & impressive sound system, with live Jazz, attentive waiters and some very delicious beverage options.

The dress code on the website states:

"Outrageous, extravagant or hedonistic, the only scandal would be to remain unremarkable betwixt the glittering moths that come and go among the whisperings, champagne and stars. Be it strapless, off the shoulder or a plunging backless crowd pleaser, Ladies this is the night to adorn yourself in that dress with the perfect décolletage"

Having recently bought a stunning Jarlo floor length velvet gown that I'd been eyeing up for months, I was so excited to have the opportunity to wear it.

I also decided that in order to try and fulfil the 1930s look I wanted to try and do my hair myself, by creating a vintage wave. One of my very best friends, Ami sent me a link to a brilliant You Tube clip which I followed to the tee and urge you all to try! My hair is naturally very thick and curly, but recently - in wedding prep mode- I have had a Brazilian Blow Dry so it's a lot more relaxed with a lot less frizz.

What you need to complete the vintage wave:

• Foam Curlers (I bought mine from Boots)
• Mousse (I bought mine from Umberto Gianni)
• A comb
• Kirby grips
• Hair spray

I wore about 12 foam curlers (from Boots) for the whole night before, which was very uncomfortable and I definitely didn't sleep well, however, the results couldn't have been better when taking them out the following day. I probably kept the rollers in for about 16 hrs in total as my hair was damp as I put them in . . . and I will admit I wasn't expecting it to work at all.

On taking out the curlers your hair literally springs up in to tight spiral curls - very Jane Eyre! You have to brush the curls out against the palm of your hand (to avoid frizz) and literally keep on brushing! I also sprayed some super hold hair spray every now and then just to keep the curls set in place. 

I was totally astounded by the results, bouncy, voluminous, glossy curls and all for the fraction of a cost of going to the hair salon!

                 

                   

I took my brush along with me to the event and a couple of times throughout the night I gave my hair a little brush and amazingly the curls stayed more or less in place!









                 

                  
                  Lisa dazzled us all in an incredible gown lent to her from a friend who works in the world of theatre.

                 



               

I think the pictures will speak for themselves in detailing what an amazing evening it was! If you want to experience something similar than for a Saturday night tickets are £20 each and this includes a welcome drink. The drinks themselves are very reasonable - for London prices- being about £6 for a Gin and Tonic and £7 for a glass of sparkles (Prosecco). Book now!

Emi x

A French gift from China!

This morning, after ten long day's away my fiancé FINALLY arrived home from a trip to China, much to my excitement and relief.  

As much as I love having a bit of time to catch up with my friends and do some vital primping and preening I miss him so much, so, waking up to the front door being opened I literally leapt out of bed! Unbeknown to him I had taken the day off as holiday for a surprise so that we could have a day together.  

No sooner had he returned, he produced a pile of Chinese gifts and some tasty treats and then a slightly less Chinese Diorshow Extase Mascara! I had never used this one before so I was excited to try it out. 

As you know I'm getting married next April in Indonesia and I'm already getting slightly worried about how I am going to look like a non sweaty bride in the heat and humidity! I have started trialling a few waterproof mascaras as I definitely think this will be the safest option what with definite tears and potential sweat (oh no!).

Anyway, I couldn't not blog about this Dior mascara and it's my first ever beauty review so thought I'd give it a go! I have always been such a huge fan of Dior mascaras and have always used Dior Show "New Look" as I love the small flexible brush it has and the way it separates and elongates my lashes. It's other benefit is that it lasts for so long, it's just run out after multiple daily use for about 7 months. 

Diorshow "Extase" has a much larger brush with an alternating tiered effect. I don't usually get on with larger brushes as I tend to have a sudden lack of control with them and end up poking myself in the eye so I was a little dubious with the size of this brush. However, as soon as I begun to apply the mascara to my eyelashes I saw an instant transformation. 

Before and After with Diorshow Extase mascara 

You definitely have to work with the brush to get the right angle for you, but it was very easy to use and there was a lot of mascara on the brush so I only needed one coat which is very rare for me! The brush combed through my lashes well and separated them without clumping them together and I do think that they seemed more curled than usual without having used any curlers. 

After a full days wear, a long tube ride and a gym session I have to say that I was really impressed with the Extase, it literally hadn't budged. Normally I do have (at the very least) a creeping black shadow of mascara (esp after a gym sesh), but nada, nothing at all. That's not to say that I'm now going to risk it and use it as my wedding mascara because I am bound to be doomed.

Top left, without mascara and the rest of the photos are with mascara. The final photo (bottom right) is with eyeliner, fully made up.

I do still love the Diorshow "New Look" slightly more- just because of the flexible and slightly more controllable small brush but for those who love bigger brushes this one's definitely for you.

It any one does know any industrial strength (preferably waterproof), volumising, elongating mascara that would work with blood, sweat and tears I would LOVE to hear about it! I am going to trial the Loreal "Lash Architect 4D Waterproof Mascara"  tomorrow as I picked it up the other day and have read good things on other blogs so I hope to blog about it's "hopeful" success later in the week! 

Emi x  

A Quintessentially English Summer's Afternoon.

A summery Sunday afternoon. . . 

Sunday 12th August and a sunny 24 degrees, summers bliss. With a drowsy kitten on one knee, elderflower cordial on hand and all my materials in front of me I spent the afternoon creating my biggest Festibelle band yet. 

I have to admit that I was slightly afraid at how it might turn out; a giant sprawl of potentially blinding leaves and head sized flowers swamping facial feature one might have. . . However I am proud to announce that my anxiety was very much proved wrong and I was extremely pleased with the outcome!

In creation I used pale green ribbon to bind the cord covered wire and then used pastel yellow silk roses -which I tear dropped a glue type substance on to in order to create a delicate water drop effect- to finish off the dramatic head dress. I think pale green ribbon helped to create the most natural and organic look, however depending on the colour of ones hair you could use blond / brown / auburn coloured ribbon to make the floral band look even more natural.

My inspiration for all my Festibelle bands and particularly this one would very much be A Midsummer Night's Dream come "in to the woods" wedding. In fact I am very fortunate and excited to be making up some floral head dresses for a great friends wedding in the Welsh Valley in September. . . More on that next week. 

Emi xx