Christmas Beauty Gift Guide HO! HO! HO!

Christmas has finally descended upon us and I can honestly say It is my favourite time of year.  I love everything about it from the cold frosty weather to the crazy rush to buy and wrap all my presents in time to put under the tree.  It's such a fun and magical time of year.

Todays post is going to be a mini Christmas beauty gift guide.  All the gifts I have picked are things that I personally would love to receive and are great value for money.  Lets face it, it can be quite overwhelming buying gifts with the choice being so vast, so hopefully I can help some of you who up until this point have been avoiding the daunting task of buying for your loved ones.

Fragrance

Jo Malone Cologne Collection Gift Set £68

Jo Malone have really outdone themselves this year.  Their gifts are to die for and their gift wrapping is even more luxurious.  Perfect for those of you who aren't very good at wrapping, Jo Malone does it all for you.  This set contains 5 miniature fragrances perfect for someone who likes to mix and match their scents and ideal for popping in your handbag.

Tom Ford 'Black Orchid' Gift Set  £76

Black Orchid is one of Tom Ford's signature and best selling fragrances.  Rich and spicy this perfume is perfect for someone who likes to stand out from the crowd.  A normal 50ml bottle retails at £72 however in this set you also get a 75ml body emulsion all for only £4 extra.  Buy it in store and benefit from Tom Ford's luxurious gift wrapping.

Body

Laura Mercier 'La Petite Patisserie Souffle Body Creme Collection' £45

I have long been a fan of the Laura Mercier body cremes, they are so creamy and smell amazing.  This set contains all the different scents, all equally as delicious.

Lush 'Your a Star' Pampered and Perfect gift box £42.50

Every year Lush Christmas boxes get better and better.  The products are amazing and the packaging is always really fun.  This little box is indulgent and glamorous.

Makeup

Urban Decay Naked 'On The Run' £37

I spotted this the other day and totally fell in love.  If you know someone who already loves the Naked palettes then this will be perfect for them.  An amazing travel kit for any makeup junkie.

Bobbi Brown Mini 'Lip and Eye Palette'  £25

This little makeup set contains everything needed to create a simple, classic look.  Ideal for putting in your handbag.

Lipstick Queen 'Red Carpet Edit' £45 (available in SPACE NK)

I would recommend this for someone who isn't afraid to make a statement.  Containing 3 gorgeous red lipsticks in differeing textures and shades, this gift will delight any makeup lover.

Benefit 'Easiest Nudes Ever' Eye Set  £23.50

If you are looking to buy for the younger generation, Benefit is a great place to look.  Their brand is vibrant and fun.  I would recommend this gift set for someone just getting into makeup and beauty.

These are only some of the Christmas gifts on offer this season but hopefully it will give a few of you some ideas. :)

Alice xox

The key to longer lasting eyeshadow

An important element in applying your makeup is preparing your skin, i.e cleansing, moisturising and priming.  Primers are often applied under foundation in order to smooth the skin and fill in any fine lines and pores and is also great for adding longevity to your foundation.  The same concept can be applied to your eyeshadow.

There are two key points to long lasting eye shadow-

1. Applying Primer
2. building your eye shadow



Primer

Most cult brands now have their own eye primers so you definitely wont be stuck to find one however here are some that I would recommend. 

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base £19.50

Urban Decay Primer Potion £16

Rimmel Exaggerate Primer £4.99

Building your Eyeshadow 

If you are creating a 'smokey eye' pack on your eyeshadow.  Building your colour will help achieve depth and intensity as well as longevity throughout the day or night. 

Similarly, cream eyeshadows are also great for creating a base and intensifying your makeup. 

To apply, Sweep the cream shadow all over your lid using your fingers.  The heat from your fingers will help blend the product out.  Once this is done pack on your shadow.

 Cream shadows are a great base for a 'smokey eye' as they help give your shadow something to cling to allowing you to build colour and create an intensity to your look.

My favourite cream products are MAC's Paint Pots and come in a variety of colours. 

I hope this has been of help to some people.

Alice xox

Beauty Blender- For Flawless skin

The beauty industry is saturated with various different makeup tools and brushes.  It can all be a bit confusing knowing which brushes to use and how to use them etc.  I have brushes coming out my ears of which many of them I don't use or suddenly decide I no longer like because I've found something new and exciting to try.  Which leads me on to my latest addiction, the 'Beauty Blender'. 

Beauty Blender £15.99 Amazon

Real Techniques £5.99 Boots

This little beauty is currently what I use to apply my foundation and find that it gives a much more even and flawless finish than I get with my current stippling brush. 

What is the 'Beauty Blender' you ask?  Put simply, it is a sponge, but not just any sponge.  It is rounded and so has no edges. Therefore unlike angular sponges it makes blending your foundation easier and much quicker meaning your base is free of streaks and lines, something that the triangular sponges can leave behind

How do you use the Beauty Blender?

Completely saturated it in water

Squeeze the water out in your hands or in a towel

Use damp

What can it be used with?

Foundation

Concealer

Mineral Makeup

Powder

BB and CC creams

I absolutely love this little tool, at the moment it goes everywhere with me. The 'Beauty Blender' can be bought on amazon however 'Real Techniques' also do one which is pretty much identical and just as good which you can buy in Boots and Superdrug.  What makes it even better is that they are affordable which is a luxury in the beauty world so snap one up and give it a try!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=beauty+blender&sprefix=beauty%2Caps%2C242  

Alice xox

Tom Ford 'Nude Dip' Eyeshadow Quad

Nude Dip

For Autumn/Winter eyes are the main focal point.  This season shimmery metallic shadows were all over the catwalks.  Metallic lids and luminous eyes are a must have for Autumn/Winter and what better way to wear this look than with the Tom Ford limited addition 'Nude Dip' eyeshadow quad.

As soon as this quad went on sale I snapped it up, it is all you need to create that metallic, sexy sophisticated look.  The quad consists of 4 highly pigmented, shimmery shadows that can be used both wet and dry.  For a bold look use the shadows wet with a synthetic brush and you will get the most gorgeous metallic finish.  For a softer look use the shadows dry and dust over the lid.  This quad is, I admit a luxury item, coming in at £63 however it is totally worth it.  I can't wait to wear this at Christmas with my red dress and sparkly shoes.  Snap it up now before it sells out!

Dry (without flash)

Dry (with flash)

Wet (without flash)

Wet (with flash)

Alice xox

Cleansing water, the new makeup remover

I am a firm believer in removing all traces of makeup before I go to bed, even after a night out, at 3am, I am there in my bathroom looking in the blurred mirror scrubbing my face clean.  If I don't, I pay for it the following day.  That being said, this process can at times be time consuming, with most working women wanting this part of their day to be as quick and painless as possible.

So with that in mind, I would like to introduce you to a product that in my opinion is far better for your skin than face wipes and that actually removes all traces of your makeup.  It is called 'Cleansing Water' and is targeted at people with sensitive skin.  There are many cleansing water's on the market however, I am only going to talk about two that I have tried, tested and love.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O £10.00

Available on Amazon 

This is a cult classic, used by most makeup artists, it is so gentle on skin and therefore perfect to use on models on fashion shoots.  It gently cleanses the face and eyes and removes water resistant makeup.  It is fragrance and alcohol free meaning that your skin will not feel irritated nor tight in the way that some face wipes can leave it.  All you do is soak the formula in a cotton pad and sweep over your face, repeating the process until the cotton pad remains clean. Job done.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water £4.99
Available in Boots and Superdrug

This does exactly the same thing as Bioderma.  It is great for sensitive skin and does not leave an oily residue.  Again, it contains no perfume and so it fine to use all over the face including eyes.  The same process applies as above in that all you need is a cotton pad.  I have recently switched to this as it is more accessible than Bioderma, being available in most retail stores such as Boots and Superdrug.  It is also half the price.

Garnier Express 2 in 1 £3.49
 Available in Boots and Superdrug

 I also use Garnier 'Express 2 in 1 eye makeup remover' as I feel the cleansing water doesn't quite get all my eye makeup off.  This is ultra gentle on eyes and extremely effective.  The best eye makeup remover I have tired in a while.

These products are great for anyone that is busy, on the go and likes to remove their makeup in one clean sweep.

Alice xox

40's Makeup look

Natural beauties were the ideal of the forties with makeup being minimal, classic and elegant.  Eyes were kept simple using taupe and muted browns through the socket, finished with black liner.  Lips were to look full and soft with red lip liner and lipstick making sure they were fuller at the bow.  Brows were well defined, arched and accented by use of a dark brown pencil.

Here is my version of a 40's look and what I used.

Eyes

Step 1. Prime the eyes using Rimmel 'exaggerate' eye primer.

Step 2. Apply mac's cream eye shadow base in 'bare canvas' all over the eyelid using your fingers.

Step 3. From the Smashbox palette apply the 4th colour from the left over the eyelid, blending towards the brow bone.

Step 4. From the smash box palette, apply the 2nd colour from the left through the eye socket, blending from the outer to inner corner of the eye.  This will create depth and definition.

Step 5. Finish with mascara, making sure you apply plenty of coats and don't forget the bottom lashes.

Step 5. Apply your lashes, I used Eyelure's 'volume' lashes in No. 083.

Step 6. Apply your liquid liner creating a feline flick, I used Tom Ford's eye defining pen.

Lips

Step 1. Fill in the full lip using a red lip liner, I used mac's liner in 'redd'.

Step 2. Apply your lipstick, I used Tom Ford's lipstick in 'True Coral'.

Tip

Apply a little bit of highlighter to your cupids bow.  This gives the illusion of fuller lips

 I really like this look, it is easy, simple and great for a night out.  I definitely need to practice more on the hair however, barrel rolls aren't quite as easy as I thought.  If anyone has any tips on how to create this hair style please let me know.

Alice xox

Liz Earl Skincare

Skincare is something that more and more people are taking an interest in and for anyone new to it, it can be hard to know what to buy.  There are so many different brands offering different results and all at varying prices.  I have tried numerous brands over the years and am always on the look out for something new.  Like many, I take an interest in looking after my skin but don't want to spend a fortune doing so.  

I discovered Liz Earl about a year ago and have recently re purchased a few of their products.  Using all natural ingredients, Liz Earl is affordable, simple and more importantly actually works.  My skin type is oily, so upon recommendation by an extremely helpful and knowledgeable rep in John Lewis I was able to tailor the products to my skin type.  

Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser £14.50 100ml

If you are trying Liz Earl for the first time, this is a must have.  Suitable for all skin types, this award winning cleanser is a  rich creamy formula that you massage into the face.  This is then removed with a muslin cloth (your receive two with your purchase) that has been soaked in hot water.  I absolutely love this cleanser, it leaves my skin feeling soft and thoroughly cleansed. 

Skin Repair Light Moisturiser £19.25 50ml

This moisturiser is suitable for combination, oily or problem skin.  It is light and gentle and doesn't leave an oily residue on the skin.  I never skip moisturising my skin, even if you have oily skin I would recommend always doing this step.

Gentle Face Exfoliator £14 70ml

I use a face scrub at least twice a week however in the past I've found that most scrubs are either too harsh or too gentle.  This scrub is the perfect balance.  The exfoliator contains fine jojoba beads that gently buff away dead skin cells.  It also contains eucalyptus oil, almond oil and cocoa butter to keep skin moisturised at the same time.

Deep Cleansing Mask £14.50 75ml

This clay mask contains naturally ingredients that help to draw out impurities.  I use this at least twice a week after my face scrub.  It contains green clay, manuka honey and rose scented geranium and comes with two sponges.

http://uk.lizearle.com/about-us

If you try any of these products go for the Hot Cloth Cleanser.

Head to the Liz Earl website to find out what products will work for you.

Alice xox

Tom Ford eyeshadow pallet Cognac Sable

Cognac Sable Tom Ford

My product of the month has to be the Tom Ford eyeshadow pallet in 'Cognac Sable'.  This product is one of Tom Ford's best selling eyeshadow pallets and I can see why.  To start with, it comes in the most beautiful, luxurious packaging that includes a mirror, mini brushes and suede pouch.  The actual product itself consists or 4 eye shadows, two of which have a lovely satin finish, one a shimmer and the final being a gorgeous celestial glitter. 

This product is definitely versatile and can easily achieve that day to nighttime look that many love. 

Being a luxury brand Tom Ford is more expensive than most however is you feel like treating yourself I promise you won't be disappointed.

I think these colours will look great for Autumn/ Winter paired with a burgundy or dark plum lip.  For summer I would wear this with a coral or peachy nude lip.

Alice xox

Cheryl Cole inspired Makeup from 'Crazy Stupid Love'

I recently watched Cheryl Cole's new music video for 'Crazy Stupid Love' and really liked her makeup.  Today I decided to play about with my own makeup and this is what I came up with.  

Hope you like it, feel free to leave comments.

Sorry the pictures aren't the best quality, once I invest in a good camera they will improve hopefully.

Products

Eyes

Rimmell 'Exaggerate' eye primer-all over lid

Mac Paint Pot 'Groundwork'-all over lid-smudge with fingers

MAC eyeshadow 'Expensive Pink'- sweep over lid

MAC eyeshadow 'Cranberry'-through socket line and outer corner

Tom Ford eyeshadow from pallett 'Cognac Sable', top left hand colour-dot on inner corner of eye

Estee Lauder 'Double Wear' eyeliner in black-smudge along lash line and also top and bottom water line

Eyeko mascara to finish

Lips

MAC lipliner in 'Burgundy'- line full lip then fill in rest of lip

MAC lipstick in 'Dark Side'

Alice xox

Eyeko mascara and brow gel review

I am always looking to try new beauty products, a habit I secretly love to indulge in. 

Recently I was in London, and although on arrival I promised myself that I would avoid shopping at all costs this was short lived and after much persuasion to ones self I indulged in two new makeup goodies. 

Both products are from a brand called Eyeko, a brand that I have been wanting to try for quite some time. To give you a little bit of background Eyeko is a bespoke cosmetics label that focuses on creating luxury products for your eyes only, quite literally.  Founded by Nina Leykind and her husband, Eyeko has now partnered with Alexa Chung and has become a prominent brand used by top makeup artists and celebrities.

Eyeko 'Black Magic Mascara' Drama and Curl £18

If there is one thing about the Eyeko products that I love, it is the packaging.  This is definitely reflected in the price but it demonstrates how the aesthetics of a product

can influence your decision in buying it.

This particular mascara is the first I have bought that has a curved wand and I must say I really like it.  It is great for reaching those all important corner lashes that at times are neglected.  This mascara promises to give you 'Drama and Curl' and if I am honest, in comparison to other mascaras it doesn't give you the the greatest volume however is definitely gives your lashes a lovely curl and doesn't clump.  All in all I am really pleased with this product and would re purchase.

Eyeko Brow Gel 'Shape and Define' £18

I am a huge fan of brow gels, particularly as at times my brows seem to have a life of their own.  This brow gel is a winner of the Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards in 2013 and absolutely lives up to it's reputation. The wand is very small which makes application really easy.  I like my brows to stay in place all day and this product definitely does this.  My only criticism being that there can sometimes be a bit of excess product so I would bear this in mind when using it.   

I think I am officially hooked on Eyeko.

Available in

ASOS

SEPHORA

SPACE.NK

SELFRIDGES&CO

NET-A-PORTER.COM

http://www.eyeko.com/index.php?route=common/home

Alice xox

     

Five Healthy Breakfast Smoothies

Here are 5 healthy breakfast smoothies, one for each working day.  Replacing your regular breakfast of sugary cereals and toast loaded with full fat butter and jam these alternatives will supply you with all the goodness you need to kick start your day.  Not only that but they are are incredibly quick and easy to make.

Enjoy :)

Blueberry Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup of blueberries

almond milk

1 banana

1 teaspoon of honey

Put everything in a blender and whizz until smooth.

Goodness

Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc

Benefits

Blueberries slow down the signs of ageing and destroy free radicals.  Bananas are a slow release energy source, are great for the immune system and help lower cholesterol.

Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup of strawberries

2 tablespoons of peanut butter

handful of oats

almond milk (or whaterver milk you drink)

Put everything in a blender and whizz until smooth.

Goodness

Strawberries contain calcium,potassium,iron,magnesium and zinc while oats and peanut butter also contain fiber and protein.

Benefits

Strawberries help boost the immune system and slow down the signs of ageing while oats help lower cholesterol.  In moderation peanut butter is rich in protein and will help keep you fuller for longer.

Mango Smoothie

Ingredients

half Mango

3 tablespoons Greek Yogurt

half Banana

pineapple juice (preferably freshly extracted)

Juice the pineapple (if you don't have a juicer shop bought juice will do)

Put your pineapple juice along with the rest of the ingredients in a blender and whizz until smooth.

Goodness

Mango contains calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorous and iron. Pineapple also contains potassium, vitamins B C E and folic acid.

Benefits

Mango is great for the immune system and helps cleanse the body.  Pineapple aids digestion and is useful for hay fever and asthma.

Green Smoothie

Ingredients

2 Apples

1 handful of spinach

1/4 medium cucumber

1 stick celery

1/2 a lime

1/2 avocado

Juice the apples, cucumber, spinach and celery and lime.  Pack the spinach between the apples.  Add this to your blender along with the avocado and whizz until smooth.

Goodness

Apples contain Vitamins A, B1, B6 and C.  Spinach contains iron and calcium while cucumber and celery are rich in magnesium and sulphur to name a few.

Benefits

Packed full of goodness, this smoothie is rich in essential natural fats and loaded with zinc, one of the best minerals for maintaining clear skin.

Chocolate and orange Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup kale

almond milk (or whatever milk you use)

1 orange peeled

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

some dark chocolate (grated)

1 teaspoon honey

Goodness

Oranges contain vitamins A, B and C while kale is rich in protein and fibre.

Benefits

Oranges destroy free radicals that cause the signs of ageing while kale being both anti inflammatory and antioxidant helps to detoxify the body.  Dark chocolate with high cocoa content is a powerful source of antioxidants and if consumed in moderation can help lower the risk of heart disease.

Alice xox