Monday 26 October 2015

3 Subtle Halloween Looks

I've never really dressed up properly for halloween, but this year I'm really going to town! I've been trying out several different looks for different costumes. These are all simple and fairly low-key, and you can definitely do these with whatever make-up and clothing you've already got at home. So, here we go...


 First of all, I need to apologise for a few of these pictures. As I was taking them, I didn't realise that they were mostly out of focus and terrible quality. I've managed to salvage a few, but even those aren't fab. Bare with me for this one guys...

1. Dark Vampy look


Again, I'm sorry that you can't really see whats going on here, but it sort of shows what I did. 
I always start with the eyes. I'm not entirely sure why but it's just how I roll. For this look, I applied a primer before starting with a lilac shadow all over the lid, applying fairly liberally and not very neatly. I then went in with a darker, plum shade in the outer corner, bringing it in to a cut crease. Using the same darker shade, I dragged it below the lower lash line to create that tired and dark eye look. To line my upper lashes, I used a kohl liner and slightly smudged it out to create a sort of smoky eye. To finish the eyes, I used approximately ten tons of mascara.
Next, I moved on to concealer and a base (of sorts). Truthfully, I'm a little scared of foundation. Ive tried several samples, and it just doesn't feel right for me, so for this, I used the Body Shop's BB cream that magically blends and matches your skin tone. On top of this, I bronzed my forehead and cheeks, and sort of contoured my cheekbones, just to give my face some sort of shape. Lots of highlighter was used for this look. I basically dabbed it everywhere, along my cheekbones, nose, forehead and even a little bit on my cupid's bow to give that shimmery look that Edward Cullen has so graciously demonstrated. 
This is where it gets exciting! I had a stroke of genius, or madness, it depends how you feel about it... but anyway, for this look, I decided to fill my eyebrows in gold! All I did was take an angled eyeshadow brush and a gold shadow, and just filled my brows in like you normally would. It looked way cool, I kind of want to make it acceptable for everyday makeup.
And finally, to finish off the look, I used a dark berry lipstick, very carefully, as its so bold that any single mistake will be totally obvious. I don't actually own a liner this colour, so I resorted to using a red liner to neaten things up, and I thought that it actually worked quite well? I'm pretty pleased with the overall look, just the bloomin' pictures didn't cooperate.

2. Catwoman


What I love so much about this look is that it would be totally fine to wear it as an everyday look, just maybe without the whiskers. The base of this look is the same as the previous one, only with a lot less highlighter.
For the eyes, I used concealer as an eyeshadow primer, because I find that the concealer colour works best with the eyeshadow shades I'm using. I used a cream shade all over my lid, before completely covering with a gold glittery but almost sheer shadow. I kept it simple with the shadow, but went very bold with the liner. As catwoman, its only right to create an extremely exaggerated cat-eye, and that exactly what I did. I also slightly lined my lower lash line with the same felt-tip liner as I used for the flick, and then dragged that into the inside corner of my eye ad made a little spiky flick on the inside. I really don't know how to explain that bit, but I hope you know what I mean... Its like that inside bit on a cat's eye, that makes it look all sleek and cat-like.
Using the same eyeliner, I added four whisker-like dots onto each of my cheeks.
For the lips, I used my boldest and brightest red lipstick, taking care to line my lips graphically.  I reckon that as Catwoman is known for being a comic character (I think), I should probably make the look fairly bold and graphic, hence the unusually dark eyebrows.

3. Flamingo!


I LOVE this look and I'm so pleased with how this turned out! I'm planning to go as a flamingo this halloween and I've bought a fabulous pink costume and lovely rubber feet, and now I've got the makeup to go with it!
So, using the same base as before, I used an incredibly pink eyeshadow all over my lid, and brought this down underneath the eye as well, using a small fluffy brush. Also using the same liner as in the previous look, I added a less exaggerated and more sleek flick to my eyeliner, before adding lots and lots of mascara.
For me, the best bit of this look was the feathery bits on my cheeks and forehead. As a pink base, I swept blush all over my face, adding most to the areas that I wanted to be pinkest. Then, using a thin angled brush, I added streaks of the same eyeshadow over the blush to create thin lines, to represent the feathers. I then did the same with a nude pink lip liner, white kohl liner and a gold liquid liner until I was happy with how the feathers looked. 
Finally, to finish off the look, I used a totally bright, shimmery lip pencil, from Kiko, and just used this all over my lips. And that was it! Voila! Halloween ready!


I love these looks, but my favourite is definitely the flamingo! Let me know if you recreate any of these looks!

M
x

Sunday 11 October 2015

'Fall Haul'


Ok, so before I go any further, I should probably explain this a bit. First of all, thank you to Finn for the inspiration, and supplying the name! Secondly, this isn't so much of a haul, as it is an appreciation post for the wonderful birthday presents that I received this year. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to feature every single lovely gift, so I've picked a few that I thought you may want to hear about. This is in no way meant to offend anybody.
So, here we go...

BODY:


Lush - It's Raining Men shower gel
(I wish.) This shower gel smells amazing! I think its like a honey scent, but I'm pretty rubbish at identifying smells, and it is one of those really refreshing smells. If you used it first thing in the morning, you would be in a good mood all day.


Lush - King of Skin body butter
Right. I'm a bit scared of this one... It smells gorgeous, just like everything from Lush, but I just don't really know what this is or how to use it. When you hold it, it goes all gooey and melts in your hands and its great, which makes me think that you're just supposed to rub it into your skin and your body heat melts it? But its a solid block? Crazy stuff. If anybody knows, it would be truly fab if you could let me know how to use it!


BEAUTY:


Ted Baker - little long bag
Benefit - Dallas blush
I was very lucky to be gifted this beautiful Ted Baker purse by one of my bestest chums, and I love it! I'm currently using it to store all of my makeup brushes, because its the perfect size and shape, and really roomy so that they don't all get crushed and make the brush fibres tangled and gross. Thank you so much little Luce!
I've always been fascinated by Benefit products but its one of those really intimidating brands that I'm too scared to go up to the counter to look at, so I sort of stare at it all longingly from a distance. Luckily, my mum came to the rescue and has given me a lovely Dallas blush! I've never really worn blush before, and I'm more of a bronzer gal, but I picked this one because its more of a browny orange shade of blush, instead of being really pink pigmented. I reckon its a good one to start me off with. However, it comes with a little rectangular brush for applying it, but I just can't get on with it so I've resorted to using the Real Techniques contour brush instead, which I find works much better. But even better! I discovered that the brush this came with is the perfect shape for highlighter, so that little guy has now been put to use elsewhere.
Unfortunately, I think that this blush has now been discontinued, so I'm not sure how long it will still be around for... :(


Real Techniques - Core Collection brushes/ Eyelining Set
WOOHOO! I've finally got my hands on some fantastic brushes! They're so soft and fluffy and feel soooo good when you use them. I was totally surprised the first time I used these because you really can see the difference in your makeup. You can actually SEE the makeup going on better? I don't know if that makes sense... Anyway, they're fab. I love them. I've just realised that they look a bit gross in this picture... Maybe I should've cleaned them first, so sorry about that, but I was just too damn excited about them that I completely forgot.


MISCELLANEOUS:


The 1975 are seriously fab. There is not a single song on this album that I don't adore. Another fabulously thoughtful gift from fabulously thoughtful friends! We are seeing the 1975 in concert in November, and everybody is so excited that they might explode, and this hasn't helped at all! I can't wait! Ahhhh I'm going to move on before I get even more excited...


Instax Mini Polaroid Camera
oh lads. This is a big one. I love this little guy to bits as I've been desperate to get my hands on a polaroid camera for months. Mmmm just look at it, so beautiful, so mighty.
Also, here are a few of my very favourite shots, featuring my favourite people and my favourite place. The thing with polaroids is that you really have to think about what you want out of the picture, because you only get one chance. I'm pretty happy with these pictures, and they're all pretty special to me.


FASHION:


Next - Bralette
Topshop - Jumper
These are both items that I chose and bought myself, so sort of the only true 'haul' bits of the post. Anyway, I wandered into Topshop yesterday, dollar in hand, looking for a nice skirt for school, when I stumbled upon this seriously beautiful jumper. I forgot all about skirts and immediately fell in love. Its a fairly long jumper with slightly split sides at the hip. The sleeves are extra long and cosy, and it has quite a deep cut neckline and ohmygosh its so soft! I just had to get it, there was no way I could leave that shop without it, so guess what? I bought it! 
Now, this bralette I have actually had for quite a while, but I've never really worn, because it does squish your boobs a bit, but also because its too pretty to just be hidden under tops and stuff. However, this jumper has quite a low neck, which is just not going to work for school, so I think that wearing this lace beauty underneath could solve all of my problems. Fab.


Pandora - rose gold ring
River Island - necklace
(Beautiful) Earrings
Wow, look at these beautiful pieces of jewellery. Each one is perfect, and each one happens to go perfectly with this jumper!
The ring is from Pandora, a lovely present from my grandparents, which I adore and haven't really taken off since I received it. Its nice and simple and pretty. The necklace and earrings were both a truly wonderful gift from my absolutely perfect m8. I think the necklace is from River Island, but I haven't got a clue where the earrings are from... Nevertheless, I LOVE THEM. Don't you think they just go perfectly with the outfit? Me too.

Thank you so much to everybody for the lovely gifts, and I hope you enjoyed this post!

M
x