Friday 13 December 2013

Top tips for buying fragrance

Perfume or aftershave is always such a lovely gift to give or receive. So if you are thinking about buying a fragrance for someone or if you just fancy a treat for yourself these are my top tips....

1. If it's for you don't go perfume shopping I you're already wearing perfume. By not wearing any it means you can try it on to see how it settles on you.

2. Give it time. If you are trying a new fragrance keep smelling it as it may change as it settles and new notes may come out. This could mean a perfume you really like you might not be as keen on or you could end up loving something that you did not like initially.

3. Use coffee beans. All good perfume counters will have them if you are trying lots of different frangrances you may not get the true scent. Smelling coffee beans will take you back to neutral so you can smell them more clearly.

4. Be open minded. Especially if the fragrance isn't for you. Listen to what the staff at the counter advises you ok they are very knowledgable and will be able to give you some great suggestions you may not have thought of.

5. Shop around. Shopping at big department stores is convienient but you do not always get the best deals. Shopping at stores dedicated to perfume will often have the best prices. In my experience The Fragrance Shop prices seem to be the best and the staff are always so kind and helpful so I would definitely advise them. They also have a store online.

Those are my top tips when buying fragrance. I am going to update some more blogs on ideas for what perfumer are hot at the moment so check that out if you need some inspiration.


Link for The Fragrance Shop link 
http://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk

Ciate Advent Calender: 13th December


Today I got Loop the Loop which is a pastel yellow shade. It is very pretty, I wouldn't normally wear this in winter but it will be perfect when summer comes.
Loop the Loop
Loop the Loop

Thursday 12 December 2013

Advent Calender: 9th-12th December

9th December...
I loved todays colour! It is really not normally thing but I love it. The colour is  called Kiss Chase and it is the kind of colour I would call Barbie pink. It was really nice to wear something like this for a change and this is another one that is being added to the permanent collection.
Kiss Chase

Kiss Chase
10th December
Another delight today. This is right up my street and is the kind of colour I would definitely be drawn too.  In the bottle it looks grey....however once applied it has a really lovely lilac undertone. It is very understated in a sexy way which makes its name very apt: Pillow Talk.
Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk
11th December 
Today was not my favourite. I wasn't expecting to love every single colour so I am not too upset but this colour is just not my thing. It is a very pale pink called Amazing Grace. Very nice if you like a sheer polish. I imagine it is also a good one to have for the base of a french polish. Unfortunately I just really don't like sheer polishes, just not me. I find that the always look a bit streaky when you apply them and I generally just prefer something a bit bolder. 
Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace
12th December
Urrrggghh :/ was the first thought I had when I opened todays door. I really did not like the look of this one it is very strange sort of mustard yellow/green colour. But I was determined that I would wear every single one so that it what I did. To my absolute shock and awe I love it. when on the nails it really looks lovely. I would say it is more of a summer colour than winter and would look amazing next to a tanned skin. I learnt a very important lesson today....do not judge a polish by its bottle!
Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem





Ciate Advent Calender: 5th-8th December

So now I will show you what was in my lovely advent calender from the 5th - 8th December......

5th December...
Today was a colour called Hoopla...and my quotes are back yaaaayyy!! Hoopla is a really pretty pale pink. Again it has a really good depth of colour that looks really cute and girly on. Very pretty.
Hoopla

Hoopla
6th December 
I love pastels, especially in purple tones, so today made me really happy. I got Sugar Plum which is a beautiful lilac shade. I much prefer colours like this to pink...it is still ultra-girly but not just a typical pink. This is my favourite so far and I will definitely buy this again.
Sugar Plum
Sugar Plum
7th December 
Today was a little different. Fit For a Queen was behind door number 7. This is a metalic silver. I wouldn't wear the colour on its own, I would use it on the ring finger as an accent or as I have done today painted just on my tips for a french polish with a twist. 
Fit For a Queen on the tips
8th December
I knew I would get one at some point and today was the day. I got the caviar beads. I am afraid to say I am not really a fan of them....I don't particularly like the effect and it may just be how I am applying them but they don't last 5 minutes. Bit disappointed but I would have been silly to think I wasn't going to get one.
Caviar with Budoir




Ciate Advent Calender: 1st-4th Decemeber

This year for my wonderful mother treated me to this beautiful Ciate advent calender <3

If you are a nail fanatic like me you can guess how excited I was to receive this! Christmas came early!


Ciate Advent Calender


I am going to show you what I have got up to now 

1st December
As you can imagine I was extremely excited to open the first door and see what little treasure was inside and today's was....
Snow globe

Snow globe
I was very happy with what I saw. The first thing I noted was the cute quote on the door....I am a firm believer that a quote like this can make sure you have a good day. Then I saw the polish it is called Snow Globe. It is a clear polish with glittler flakes in it. I was very happy as I have been meaning to buy a polish like this for a long time. It isn't a polish that I would wear on its own as you will see through out I use it on my ring finger as a cute accent. Overall I was a happy bunny. 


2nd December.....
Today bought me a classic red. Every girl needs one and I was really happy with this one. The depth of colour was beautiful when on. I am a sucker for red!

Boudoir

Budoir

3rd December 

Hopscotch is a beautiful orange-red colour. It looks gorgeous on and will be perfect for summer or winter. I will be adding this one to my permanent collection!
Hopscotch

Hopscotch

4th December 
No nail polish behind today's door. Today i got a really pretty bow bracelet. I enjoy little pieces of jewellery like that so it was nice for a change. However, there was no quote on the window which I was disappointed by because I have really been enjoying those. 
Bow Bracelet

Ok so that's the 1st-4th done check out the other blogs if you want to see some more beautiful polishes :)








Christmas Day-to-Night Makeup

Christmas is a really busy time of year for most of us. With lots of parties and events to go to we don’t always have time to change our makeup if we are going out in the evening. So, with this in mind I have created a really pretty day time look that can be easily updated to a glamorous, vintage inspired evening look. Here’s how....



No makeup, day makeup and evening makeup

Daytime

Step 1: I applied Look Beauty Airbrush Foundation all over my face using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

Step 2: To hide the dark circles around my eyes and a couple of blemishes that are bothering me I used Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque with a Real Techniques Shading brush.

Step 3: My brows are naturally very light so I used my HD Brows Palette (Foxy) and an angled brush to define them. I use 2 colours on my brows a lighter one for the front end of my brows which blends into a dark colour at the ends. I do this because naturally our brows are not all one block colour and I just feel like it makes them look more natural.

Step 4: The eye shadow is extremely simple; I used a light gold colour from the Sleek Storm Palette and just washed it all over my lid. I then applied a generous amount of GOSH Growth Mascara. Which, is my favourite EVER mascara (I will do a full review on it soon).

Step 5: With it being winter I wanted to great a warm health glow on my cheeks so used Rimmel Stay Blushed! Cheek tint in 004 Sunset Cherry. I used my fingers to apply to the apples of my cheeks.

Step 6: I then applied Lush Lip Tint in Santa Baby over my entire lip. I did use a lip brush because I wanted it to be quite precise but you can just use your fingers to apply if you prefer. Also throughout the day I just used my fingers to reapply when necessary.

Step 7: Finally a light dusting of loose powder finished my look.
Step by step daytime 


Completed daytime


Evening.

The idea of this look is that there is no need to remove any of the previous make up you can just add to it to create a super sexy glamorous evening look....

Step 1: I took a mid-brown eye shadow shade from the Sleek Storm palette through the socket bone and just along the outside corner of my lash line to add a bit of depth and definition.

Step 2: I wanted to wear lashes with this look to add extra glamour. However, recently I have found if I wear lashes all night it really irritated my eyes. So, to combat this I took a pair of Eyelure lashes and cut them in half. I the applied one half of each lash just to the outside corner. This added abit of length and volume without being too heavy on my eyes. You can do this or if you prefer you can apply the whole lash – it’s up to you.

Step 4: Next I used the lighter shade from the Molten Metal eye duo by sleek. I used my finger and pressed it into the lid where the light gold shade was previously applied. This just makes it a little more special and glitzy :)

Step 4: Personally I cannot go on a night out without a bit of contouring. So I used abit of Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel just under my cheek bones. I think it makes me look better as it slims down my face abit.

Step 5: Normally if I am wearing a dark lip I would line my whole lip first. But, I already have my lip tint on from the day time so I don’t need to as this will act as a primer and make my lipstick last aaaallll night long. I used a lip brush to apply Sleek Stiletto lipstick (which is a matte red shade) all over my lip.

Step 6: I highlighted the top of my cheek bones with Estee Lauder Shimmer Powder.

Step 7: Finally I applied loose powder to my face and the look is complete.

Step by step evening

Completed evening makeup



I hope you have enjoyed this and if you try it out let me know how it goes :) 

Face products: Look Beauty Airbrush Foundation, Bobbi Brown Corrector, Soleil Tan de Chanel, Rimmel Stay Blushed

Eye Products: GOSH Growth Mascara, Sleek Storm Palette, Sleek Molten Metals Duo, HD Brow Palette

Lip Product: Lush Santa Baby, Sleek Stiletto 

Thursday 7 November 2013

Pale skin vs tan

Winter is here and I am having a dilemma! In summer time a tan is obviously a must so fake tan is my best friend. However, being a redhead I have very pale skin and I am unsure as to whether I should stay pale for winter :/ 

What are your thoughts is pale skin attractive? Should I continue to tan or embrace my natural paleness? Help! 

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Perfume Review: Elizabeth Arden Untold

So I was going to post another skin care blog but I am soooooo in love with this new fragrance I could not wait to tell everyone about it.

I was recently given this fragrance as a gift and although I had read lots of good reviews I was still slightly dubious as I mainly associate Elizabeth Arden fragrances with the more mature lady. But I was so thrilled with it; any pre-perceived ideas of Elizabeth Arden have flown right out the window with this one.

Well let’s get started this is what Elizabeth Arden says about Untold.......

     “A luxurious and modern floral composition, UNTOLD celebrates the sophistication and intrigue of the multi-faceted modern woman. From her vibrant optimism and refined femininity to her mysterious aura and magnetic sensuality, UNTOLD takes you on a journey through the many facets that together, make her genuinely beautiful. With its sparkling and fruity introduction, radiant floral heart and mysterious addictive warmth, UNTOLD 

The basic idea of the fragrance is that the modern day women has to be everything all at once. Elizabeth Arden has portrayed that in Untold by the mix of ingredients that it uses, and they are.....

Top Notes: Pink pepper, Bergamot, Pear and Cassis

Middle Notes: Egyptian Jasmine LMR* and Gardenia

Base Notes: Patchouli LMR*, Amber and Musk

When I first read the ingredients I wasn’t too sure how the fresh, sweet top notes would blend with the white floral middle notes but they have done, beautifully. Initially there is a burst of freshness mainly coming from the pink pepper which feels young and fresh. It almost makes your mouth water. Then it fades into a beautiful sophisticated white floral of jasmine and gardenia which makes me feel so elegant and lady like. The base notes then come in with patchouli, amber and musk giving a much deeper, sexy scent with a slight sweetness coming back. I will wear this fragrance for daytime and evening; it will be lovely for winter due to the warm scent that it settles into. Once settled Untold reminded me a little of Dolce and Gabbanna The One in that there is a hint of sweetness but it is a little heady which makes it grown up and sexy.  

Untold fits its concept in every way. The bottle is beautiful with the glass facets which draws reference from the fragrance brief. The way the ingredient blend does this as well, beautifully. It highlights every facet of what the modern day woman is; young, playful and exuberant to elegant and sophisticated to mysterious and sexy. This perfume is truly stunning and is my absolute new favourite.

One last note I love the quote from Elizabeth Arden on the inside of the box it makes me feel beautiful everytime I open it....

“To be beautiful is the birthright of every woman”
-          Elizabeth Arden






(*LMR= Laboratoire Monique Rémy. International Flavours & Fragrances Inc.’s in-house, natural facility situated in Grasse, France, that specializes in extracting natural raw materials through a craftsmanship technique. This means that the essential oils that are produced are rare, fine and some of the best quality in the marketplace.)

Skin Care Essentials

The Basic Products we should all own


Whether you already have a skin care regime or if the process is new to you here is a guide to some basic product we should all be using.

Eye Make-Up Remover
Does what it says on the tin; it is used to remove your eye make-up. It is generally an oil based product which will gently dissolve stubborn eye make-up like mascara or liner. There are a tonne of eye make-up removers you can choose from but my personal favourite is the Botanics Nourishing Eye Make Up Remover from Boots. Unlike a lot of eye make-up removers it is a gel formula so it is less likely to get in your eyes and sting like creams or liquids would. It also contains olive oil extracts so is extremely hydrating for the delicate skin around the eyes and on you lashes.

Cleansers
ALWAYS cleanse your face twice! The first cleanse will remove any superficial dirt from the surface of your skin, like make up, and the second cleanse will be get much deeper into the pores. There are a number of different formulas available from gels to creams. Personally I would encourage everyone to use a cleanser that needs to be removed with hot water such as the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. Using products like this will guarantee a much deeper and thorough cleanse. Balms are also good for this with the added benefit that it encourages you to massage the skin which will have an exfoliating effect along with encouraging lymphatic drainage (getting rid of all those nasty toxins) and increases blood circulation (helping to generate new skin cells. Overall this will help to improve the appearance, tone and texture of your skin.

Toners
Toners are quite basic products. They are used to remove excess oil from the skin surface and to close pores. Be careful when selecting your toner as some can be very astringent so if you have dry or sensitive skin it will make it worse. Generally toners are simple products use them after cleansing. You can however use cold water to have the same effect.

Exfoliators
Exfoliators are used to remove dead skin cells, unblock pores and help to regulate sebum production. Always makes sure that your exfoliator is one designed for facial skin care as body scrubs will be far to abrasive. DO NOT exfoliate everyday!!!! Every 3-5 days will be plenty depending on your skin type. Exfoliation aids desquamation which is the removal of the top layer of skin, this will mainly be dead skin cells. If you exfoliate every day you won’t be giving the new skin cells chance to renew and your face will end up looking very red and feeling sensitive.

Moituriser
Moisturiser keeps skin hydrated, toned and looking youthful. You should use a day cream with an SPF this will protect you from harmful UV rays which, as we should all know by now, are very dangerous and the BIGGEST factor in premature ageing. Trade a light day cream in the summer for a richer cream in the winter. The cold winter weather means you skin will need extra TLC so make sure you are changing your moisturiser. Use a thick, rich cream in the evening to really boost hydration overnight.

So those are your basic skin care products to get you started. I hope you have enjoyed reading this and that it has given you a little more knowledge about skin care.

xoxo
Lucy


Bad Blogger.....

So I know I have been majorly neglecting my blog....

I have recently moved house which as some of you know is very stressful!! However I am all settled in now and finally have internet so I can blog to my hearts content, picking up where I left off with skincare.

See you soon
xoxo

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Top Skincare Tips for Everyone!!

There are some key things that are universal in regards to skin care that we should ALL be incorporating into our daily routines regardless of what skin type we have. And they are.....


Take it off!
No matter how tired you are after a long day at work or night on the town, always remove your make up before going to bed. Our skin needs time to breathe to help repair its self, so for more radiant skin when you wake up take it off!

Protect yourself
As we all know UV rays is one of the leading factors in the signs of premature ageing. To help combat this always wear an SPF! Even in those miserable winter months UV rays can still damage the skin, the easiest way to ensure protection all year round is to use a moisturiser with an SPF in it and if you don’t already have one then now is the time to get one.

Get scrubbing
Exfoliating every 3-5 days, depending on your skin’s needs, helps to improve the condition of your complexion by removing any dead cells from the surface of your skin that can make it look dull and encouraging the growth of new cells.

Make it smooth
We should all be moisturising day and night. Use a light moisturiser (with an SPF) during the day and a heavier more intense cream in the evening. One thing we all worry about is those pesky signs of ageing but if you have started to notice fine lines the chances are your skin is dehydrated. Your moisturiser will help protect and nourish your skin so make sure your get some on! And don’t forget our skin has different needs in the different seasons so for the dreary winter months invest in a heavier moisturiser for added protection against the elements.


Keep drinking
You know what they say, the old ones are the best. Well in this case it happens to be true; drinking at least 2 litres of water a day can really help brighten your complexion. The body needs water to generate new cells, keep it hydrated and to flush out any nasty toxins. Buy ensuring you get those 2 litres you can work towards curing a number of skin woes from dry flaky skin to reducing break outs, so keep drinking.

Upgrade your regime
Have you been using that same old skin care regime that is not working as well as it once was? It’s time for an upgrade. Our skin is constantly changing throughout our lives so if you have been using that trusty moisturiser for the past 10 years then perhaps the time has come to part ways and try something new.




Love Your Skin...

Skin care is something that I am obsessed about. It is so important that we take good care of our skin (in my case I am frantically trying to avoid the signs of premature ageing). Skin care is a concern for all of us; men, women, young people and those more mature people out there. Therefore, I am dedicating my next few blogs to skin care. From quick tips to detailed skin analysis and how to make the most of your complexion I hope I will be able to address any concerns that you may have.


If you have any questions regarding skin care and how to make the most of your skin please get in touch. 

My 2 favourites....

So I haven't posted on here for a looooong time (sorry for being rubbish) I have a few different blogs I am in the process of writing so keep and eye out for them.

In the meantime I wanted to share 2 looks I created recently that i absolutely love and I hope you like them too....


This first one is a Cara Delevingne/90s Grunge inspried look.
I've always loved make up that looks a little rough around the edges and unpolished. Personally I find it very easy to wear but I am aware that it may not be for everyone. It is a big trend at the moment so is definitely worth trying. 


The second look is a classic smokey eye that we all know and love. I wore this on a night out for my birthday and used a navy eye shadow from the Bobbi Brown Denim and Rose palette called Dark Rinse. I have had this palette for a long time but have never really been inclined to use the navy shadow but it really is lovely. If your looking for a different take on the classic smokey eye definitely change it up by using navy, plum or a dark green shade. 



Tuesday 22 January 2013

Top 3.....

Perfumes! 

I love perfume and have quite a collection but if I was only allowed to use 3 perfumes for the rest of my life these would be the ones....

1. Tom Ford Private Bland Tobacco Vanille 
Private Blend: Tobacco Vanille Tom Ford for women and men
This is my all time favourite fragrance ever! It is a unisex fragrance and is described as being oriental spicy. This fragrance may not be for everyone. I get alot of compliments but none of my friends would wear it themselves which is part of the appeal to me, I like to have a signature fragrance so when I wear something everyone knows its me. The only drawback to this is the hefty price tag at around £135 for a 50ml bottle it was a slightly painful purchase but I would definitely treat myself again. 

Top Notes: Tobacco leaf, spicy notes
Middle Notes: Tonka bean, tobacco blossom, vanilla, cacao 
Base Note: Dried fruits, woody notes


2. Dolce&Gabbanna The One 
The One Dolce&Gabbana for women
This is possibly one of the most seductive fragrances I have tried. It settles beautifully on the skin and is quite a warm fragrance. It is described as having oriental floral-fruity which is warm and sensual with a powdery vanilla trace. If you have not tried this before and want something special give it a go you won't be disappointed. This fragrance starts at around £35 for a 30ml bottle so slightly more reasonable than the Tom Ford. 

Top Notes: Litchi, mandarin orange, peach, bergamot
Middle Notes: Lily, plum, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley
Base Notes: Amber, musk, vanilla, vetiver 


3. Lancome La Vie Est Belle
La Vie Est Belle  Lancome for women
This fragrance was released in 2012 and is the first new fragrance that really wowed me and so it should; perfumers Oliver Polge, Dominique Ropion and Anne Flipo eventually finalized the formula after 3 years of probation and 5521 different versions. All that hard work paid off it is truly magnificent. It is a floral-fruity fragrance with an oriental hint with iris as the key ingredient. Prices start at around £38.50 for a 30ml. 

Top Notes: Blackcurrant, pear
Middle Notes: Iris, jasmine, orange blossom
Base Notes: Patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla, praline