Faces of the Week - Holiday in St Ives

Hello lovelies!

I do hope you're well and that you had a fabulous weekend!

Today I'm going to share with you the make-up I wore each day of my holiday. This, like my holiday OOTD's, will be quite a long post and also quite a picture heavy post. I know that not everyone likes this sort of thing, but it's a good way for me to share the kind of make-up I enjoy wearing, and hopefully it does appeal to some of you. I'm hoping to start writing a few more posts about things I'm buying and also some reviews. But I hope you do enjoy this post all the same!

Sidenote - All the eyeshadows I've used are from the Urban Decay Naked palette. I thought I'd tell you that now so I don't have to repeat it every time. I also got back into curling my eyelashes - WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN DOING THIS FOR LONGER?! Gosh!

So, this was the first day and I wore my usual foundation/concealer/powder combination which is Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow liquid foundation, Fakeup concealer and Hello Flawless powder all by Benefit. I wanted to keep my eyes fairly simple so I used Virgin eyeshadow from the Urban Decay Naked palette all over the lid, in the inner corner as a highlight and under the brow bone, applying this with a simple shadow brush from Boots (cheapie but goodie). I then went in with Buck from the same palette in the crease and outer third, applying this with the Good Karma Shadow brush by Urban Decay (this was the free brush I received with the Naked palette). I then used a Sigma E30 pencil brush to blend these together. I then used Maybelline Lasting Drama gel liner and the brush that came with it to line my lash line, together with Bourjois Kohl & Contour black pencil liner in the water and tight lines. Finally I finished off with Benefit They're Real on my top and bottom lashes.

So, this was . So, same foundation/concealer/powder/eye pencil/mascara combination as always. Virgin all over the lid, inner corner and up to the brow bone. I then applied Hustle to the crease and outer third of the lid, applying a little of Toasted to the middle third of the lid.

I actually wore the same make-up on the next two days because I really liked the combination of shades. So, same foundation/concealer/powder/eye pencil/mascara combination as always - these are my staple products that never really change. I started with Virgin all over the lid, up to the brow bone and in the inner corner. I then used Smog all over the lid and Darkhorse in the crease. Then, just in the middle third of the lid, I applied a small amount of Halfbaked to create some more colour and sparkle - brighten up the eye a bit. I then used my Illamasqua Sculpting Duo kit to contour and highlight, with their blush in the shade Ambition. On my lips (and I actually wore this everyday but apparently took photos before I applied it on every other day apart from this, doh!) I wore a new addition to my make-up collection which is part of the L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privee. This is Cheryl Cole's lipstick in the shade Barely Greige by Cheryl. I absolutely LOVE this lipstick. It's very moisturising and very subtle. You do have to reapply it throughout the day, but that doesn't bother me too much. Over time I hope to buy the others in the collection because they're all so pretty, especially Barely Peach by Julianne Moore. So lovely!

Again, same foundation/concealer/powder/eye pencil/mascara combination as always. I used the eyeshadows as the day before, except more of Darkhorse and no Halfbaked. I kept it more natural on this day - so didn't use any blush or contour either.

(Apologies for the inconsistent flash in these photos - I officially HATE my camera!)

Aaaand once again, same foundation/concealer/powder/eye pencil/mascara combination as always. I applied Virgin all over the lid, up to the brow bone and in the inner corner, as I often do. Then I used Toasted all over the lid. I did this look when I went to Leeds, post here, and as I talk about in that post, I LOVE this eyeshadow. You can use it on it's own because it is iridescent and looks more built up. Great if you don't want a heavy look. Illamasqua contour kit and blush was the same as the other days.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

IOTD - Courteney Cox. I watched a few episodes of Cougar Town last night, I really enjoy it, makes me giggle A LOT.

SOTD - Moi Je Joue by Brigitte Bardot

What I Wore on Holiday

Hello!

As you might know, I recently visited St Ives with my mum for a week long break away. We had a really lovely time - went for walks on the beach, did a little shopping, had toooo many sweet treats and just had a lot of fun!

In August last year I went to France for a holiday and took photos of my outfits each day, so I thought I'd do the same thing on this holiday. I'm really sorry that there aren't any full length photos, the way the room was arranged meant I couldn't take them in the mirror. But you'll still get the idea. Hope you like them!

On this day, I wore Joni Super High Waisted jeans from Topshop, a white long length vest top from H&M and this pretty top from Oasis which has a swan print.

This dress is from New Look and has a daisy print. It looks, for some reason, like I'm wearing thigh high socks in this picture - I'M NOT! It's just my hairbrush on the dressing table at an unfortunate height. I wore this dress with nude tights (granny, haha) and the yellow cardigan featured in the photo below.

Another pair of Joni jeans, this time in the hyper blue shade, with a ditsy print ruffle top from Oasis and a cardigan from Dorothy Perkins. I also had a black H&M vest top underneath.

Same pair of jeans as in the first photo, with another white vest from H&M and a pussy bow blouse from Oasis. The cardigan is from New Look.

Tried a different angle this day, but I don't think it was any better! Dress from New Look with a cardigan from Next. I wore Topshop heavyweight leggings with this.

Finally, Joni jeans from Topshop, a white vest and a pink top from Oasis. I didn't take a photo of the back, but it's really nice - it has gold buttons down where your spine would be.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

IOTD - Clea DuVall

SOTD - Let Go by Frou Frou

Woman Crush Wednesday!

Hello!

So, within the social-media-webisphere, I've been aware of #mancrushmonday and #womancrushwednesday for quite some time now. I know this sort of post is a really cop out, but I don't have a huge amount of time today (O2 are bugging me about a phone upgrade so I'm having to go and sort that out today, which involves a real trek for me on buses to get to my nearest town) but really wanted to write a post. My monday/wednesday/friday schedule is not going to well the last couple of months and I'm trying to get back into it. Sooooo, I thought I'd share my own Woman Crush Wednesday list for you. These are some of the ladies I'm loving at the moment - whether it's for their amazing style, incredible talent or just that they're HOT, haha!

Lorde

This girl. Just. Wow. She's so cool and SO talented. If I'd been half as talented as her when I was 16, well... I think my life would have been a liiiiittle different. I also love her confidence to stand up to the media, particularly in regards to photoshopping. She's not afraid to embrace her "flaws" and is willing to call magazines and newspapers out when they airbush them. 

Christina Hendricks

Beautiful Joan Harris. I've not actually watched Mad Men yet, but believe me, it's on my list! Christina Hendricks is absolutely beautiful and her style is just the BEST. I also love her gentle personality and elegance. What a lady! I have seen her in Drive (though she's not in it for long) and I Don't Know How She Does It, which I thought she was great in. I look forward to watching more films where she isn't a supporting actress.

Anna Kendrick

I'll be honest with you, when I first saw Anna Kendrick in Twilight, I didn't really think much of her - not a personal attack, but I didn't think the actors would do much else simply because of how harsh everyone was on those films. But I've learnt a lot more about her (she's very intelligent and oh so witty) and I've seen her in a few more things now (Pitch Perfect, What to Expect When You're Expecting and Up in the Air) and I've really changed my mind. She's awesome.

Beyonce

Well, I don't even know where to start. Beyonce is incredible. She has great talent, a humble personality and is seriously business driven. I'm always excited to see what she'll do next and pray for the day that I'll get to see her live.

Leighton Meester

I've loved Leighton Meester ever since I started watching Gossip Girl back in..... 2008/9, maybe? Anyway, whenever it was, I instantly thought she was amazing. She's beautiful, her style is just great and she's a really good actress. Oh, and she has the voice of a little country angel. I love that she's so versatile and wish I could see her as Curly's wife in her Broadway debut of "Of Mice and Men", because I think she's going to really shine.

Who are you crushing on at the moment?

Thanks for reading!

IOTD - Christina Applegate

SOTD - Wildest Moments by Jessie Ware

Man Crush Monday

Hello!

Today, because I only got back from a holiday yesterday and I don't have anything else planned for the blog, I will be sharing my man crushes for Monday - aka: #mancrushmonday.

Ryan Gosling

 This is a complete cliche, but I really don't care. Ryan Gosling is a truly beautiful man. If you don't believe me, watch The Notebook and come back to me.

Ewan McGregor

Another complete babe, and a really talented actor. I recently watched Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and thought it was really good. 

Jude Law

I know, I know - he's a bad boy. But that doesn't stop him being totally gorgeous. His work is hit and miss for me, but in general, I do really like him. Avoid films where he does an accent other than his own British tones, and I think you'll be ok ;)

Iddo Goldberg

First saw him as Ben in Secret Diary of a Call Girl with Billie Piper and thought he was quite good (also, verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry attractive). I haven't seen him that much else yet, but Peaky Blinders is supposed to be very good and is on my neverending list of TV shows and movies to watch - looking forward to that one.

Benedict Cumberbatch

I don't even think I have to tell you why this guy is included. I absolutely shouldn't have to, but I will anyway. He's so so so so so so so so incredibly talented. Amazing in Atonement and in the first series of Sherlock, and his career has just skyrocketed since then. He deserves all the fantastic recognition that he's getting at the moment and I predict that he'll only keep getting bigger and bigger.

Thanks for reading!

IOTD - Allison Williams

SOTD - Terrible Love by Birdy

FOTD and Contouring

Hello!

I thought I'd show you a make-up look I wore recently using my new Sculpting Powder Duo from Illamasqua, an eye palette from MUA and a couple of Rimmel lipsticks.

So, I started with my usual Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation in "Ivory: I'm Pure For Sure" which I applied with a Real Techniques Expert Face brush. I followed with Benefit Fakeup in "Light 02" on my dark circles and any blemishes - I'm talking about you Mr Spot next to my mouth, you poop head! I blended this in using an Eco Tools concealer brush.

It was at this point that I went in with the Illamasqua Sculpting Powder Duo Contour Kit. Applying the neutral shade - "Heliopolis" - under the cheek bone. I applied this using the Real Techniques Setting brush. My cheeks naturally go inwards so it's fairly obvious where to apply this on my face, however if you suck in your cheeks you'll see where to apply it on your own face. It's a very subtle contouring kit - you're not going to achieve crazy results like Kim Kardashian using this. If you're looking for a good tutorial on how to use this kit, try this one. I then applied "Ambition" blush powder, also by Illamasqua, to the apples of my cheeks using a Real Techniques Blush brush - which is amazing! Above that, using another RT Setting brush, I applied "Lumos" highlight - in the Sculpting kit - along the top of the cheek bone. I used a very small amount of "Heliopolis" either side of the bridge of my nose too, for a bit of shaping.

For my eyes, I used the MUA "Undressed" palette which I bought from Superdrug, firstly by applying "Shade 1", a very pale, pearly pinkish white shadow, all over the lid, into the highlight and on the brow bone. I then applied "Shade 10", a chocolatey, shimmery brown on the outer third and crease, blending the two shadows with a tapered blending brush from Sigma. I then lined and mascara'd like usual - Bourjois Kohl and Contour in the water and tight lines, Benefit They're Real on the lashes.

I applied a little of the Lasting Finish Kate lipstick from Rimmel in shade "03". Over that I blended Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in shade "200 Latino", which is a softer tone of a bright pink. I just used my ring finger to blend it, but you could a lip brush, either is fine.

And that's it! Hope you like it!

Inspiration of the day - Christina Hendricks

Song of the day - 30 Minute Love Affair by Paloma Faith