Trying something new...

Hey Dolls :)

As promised, I recreated the make up I wore to my grad ball on Thursday using some new products I have recently bought. Before talking about some of the new products I've been recently using, here is how I wore my make up...



Face - Estee Lauder Maximum Cover / Prestige Skin Loving Minerals / Dior Bronze Original Tan / Dior Amber Diamond

Eyes - MUFE Aqua Eyes / MAC Carbon / MAC Old Gold / Chanel Inmitable Intense Mascarra

Lips - Chanel Rouge Allure 81 Insouciante / Chanel Glossimer 287 Aurore

Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover


Despite beginning this post saying I love all of the products I mention here, maximum cover really has me split. There is no denying it gives a ridiculous amount of coverage, it literally covers any imperfection, I even tried it on the beauty spot at the side of my eye and it was barely detectable. However, I personally don't think I could ever use it as a foundation - I tried it and in a couple of hours it was horribly cakey, despite using the smallest amount. However, when used as a concealer in small sections of the face I love it! I think it's the texture of the product that puts me off, it's so thick and almost feels like a whipped foundation (an extrememly heavy duty one) but when it settles it can feel quite dry. Sadly, I think this has been discontinued, I had a look online and you can still get limited shades on a number of websites (selfridges, debenhams etc) - if you're looking for a heavy duty concealer, I can't recommend this enough if you can get your hands on it!


Dior Bronze Original Tan 002 Honey

For the last couple of weeks, I have longed for a change from my usual pink cheeks and on a mooch around Frasers, I swatched Dior's bronzer in 002 honey. The bronzer has quite a subtle gold shimmer which looks lovely on the cheeks - especially paired with amber diamond as I have done above.

It's quite golden in colour and though it contains shimmer, it is very finely milled creating more of a glow than a shimmer. It is extrememly buildable and lasts the day without needing touching up!

Chanel Rouge Allure 81 Insouciante and Glossimer 287 Aurore


Finally, I believe I have found the perfect nude lip combination for my skin tone!

Rouge Allure 81 Insouciante is maybe one of the most beautiful lipsticks I have ever owned - though it is one I would never dreamed of trying. It's quite beige toned but has enough pink to balance this out and still look quite natural. Formula wise, it is so smooth and lightweight that you don't really feel like you're wearing anything. I would love to hear any other rouge allure recommendations.


Glossimer 287 Aurore is a new release from Chanel's summer collection and it is BEAUTIFUL! It's a peachy pinkgloss that contains the most amazing gold micro glitter that catches the light amazingly. It isn't sticky and lasts a good length of time - However, it is quite sheer so perfect for layering on top of lipsticks. Together, I think the two are so pretty and natural together!

Love Nicola
xx

Oh, well. What's a royal ball?

After all, I suppose it would be frightfully dull, and-and-and boring, and-and completely... Completely wonderful.

Last night was my graduation ball and it was the perfect end to uni (though Graduation is still to come). When I mentioned I was going to my ball on twitter, a few beauties asked if they could have a peek at my dress...


My dress is from Monsoon and I think has just the right amount of embellishment around the neckline that I didn't need to wear very much other jewelry, just a simple ring from Orelia. My shoes are also from Monsoon - I really struggled finding plain gold formal shoes, but these are really pretty and actually quite comfortable!

We all had such a lovely night that included dancing to the macarena (which, when dancing to it, never seems to END), posing for lots of photos in the photobooth and finally munching a McDonalds in our dresses.

I never got a good photo of my make up, but I'll get round to recreating it soon in a 'what I've been loving lately' post as I've been using lots of lovely new things!


Love Nicola
xxx

Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Big Hair Heated Volume Rollers

Hey Dolls :)

What a ridiculously long title for a post! I am in love with Umberto Giannini's heated rollers (despite their silly name) which I have used everyday since I bought them.


You get six rollers in total, comprising of four large and two smaller rollers. They are probably the biggest heated rollers I have ever used/seen which was why I was instantly drawn to them. Once switched on, they are ready to use within ten minutes,- I turn them on when I blow dry my hair and leave them in my hair while I do my make up and munch my breakfast which I've found to be the perfect time for my hair (around half an hour, however the thicker your hair is, the longer the better). With a spritz of hairspray the style lasts all day!


Importantly because of the size, these rollers are not designed to curl, rather they are to be used to achieve volume. Here is a before/during/after...


As you can see, the rollers add shape and body to my hair, using a fraction of the heat I normally would using straighteners or tongs. They have taken all the work out of styling my hair early in the morning! Unfortunately, due to the size and weight of the larger rollers, it can sometimes tug at the root of the hair which can be quite painful, however I've found if you reposition the roller and ensure the hair is wrapped really tightly this is solved. You can also see the length of my natural hair isn't particularly long and I can still use the larger rollers, it takes a little practice (and I'm still not very neat) to get the position right but persevere and it becomes easy!

If you like curled hair, these would be brilliant to use in conjunction with smaller heated rollers to give beautiful, bouncy hair! I got my set in boots for £30 - are you a heated rollers fan?

Love Nicola
xxx

Hello!

Hey Dolls :)

This week has been rather momentous...I've finally finished uni forever! I still can't quite believe it! I've went straight into working full time (boo) but in the evenings I can't seem to shake the niggling guilty feeling that I should be doing something uni related, I think it's going to take a while to adjust!

My first week uni free has been rather hectic but lovely. I seem to have embraced colour and wore lilac to my cousins wedding (where a real live owl flew in with the rings)...


and orange on a night out...


Something has seriously changed in my membrane, every time I've went shopping I am instantly attracted to colour. It feels really nice not to be shrouded in black all the time, I admit defeat, wearing colour can have a definite affect on your mood!

My friends and I went to see Spring Awakening in Stirling this week - has anyone seen it? Though at times it can be a little uncomfortable to watch (and I am in no way a prude) I can't stop listening to the soundtrack - you know when a song settles in your head and you can't shake it...



If you watch Glee - that's Lea Michele singing! No trip to Stirling would be complete without a visit to the castle...


I lived in Stirling for two years while I studied nursing and it was so odd being back, it still feels a little like home though going back made me realise I definitely left for all the right reasons...

I can't wait to catch up with you all and read what you've all been doing/using/wearing. After posting tonight I'm going to embark on an epic comment replying mission whilst perving over Gordon Ramsey (do not judge me). On a blogging note, I'm looking for someone to give my blog a complete overhaul, I've had the same layout and header since I started a year and a half ago and am in desperate need of a change. If you have any recommendations of someone who has done something similar for you or if think you could help me (I'd pay of course!) please leave me a comment or email me - you'd be a ledge!

Lots of love
Nicola
xoxo

Sudocrem

Hey Dolls :)
If you've read my blog for a while you will know I always seem to be in a constant battle with my skin. However, one product that I can always rely on is sudocrem.



Traditionally used for nappy rash, I've used sudocrem as a spot treatment for years. I always use sudocrem as an overnight treatment as it's a really thick white cream, unsuitable for wearing under make up throughout the day. After the first night, any redness around the affected area has been greatly reduced due to the zinc and by the third day any breakout is pretty much gone. I often suffer from bad acne scarring, however I have definitely noticed when I use sudocrem on any breakouts I don't scar as much.

Previously, the one drawback for me was the packaging, I always had to scoop the cream from a big pot, which left loads of product stuck under my nails, plus it isn't very hygienic. I hadn't realised that sudocrem had launched a tube until I was offered the chance to review it. The tube cuts out all of the mess and hassle of the tub plus, it's small enough to keep on my bed side table.

In conjunction with this new packaging, Sudocrem Tube were offering free bagology readings on their facebook page, think beauty bloggers whats in my bag posts crossed with psychology...here's the the contents of my bag


And here's what Debbie, the baagology reader (bagologist?), could tell about me from the contents of my bag


There are some scarily accurate observations here - I've just finished uni so I am in desperate search for my talents. I also would hope that I'm a good and loyal friend, however I think it's funny to think I could ever be an inspiration to others, I'm too scatterbrained and silly!

Though the bagology readings have now stopped you can still go and read other girls readings (and you will spot many other familiar blogger faces!) and keep an eye out for the bagology app due to be launching on their facebook page.

Let me know if you have any other uses for sudocrem, I've heard it's a good preventative for shaving rash?

Lots of Love
Nicola
xoxo

One short day...

In the emerald cityyyyy

I am absolutely drawn to greens/emeralds/turquoises at the moment and was of no surprise when looking for an outfit to wear to a family tonight, I came home with this...



I am in absolute love with this caped blouse, in real life the colour is much more of an emerald than a mint. I also love that it covers my arms a little but because of the split sleeves it still feels summery - I think this would be perfect to take away for the evening on holiday! The blouse is from river island, the ring H&M and the polish is M.A.C's peppermint patti (still my favourite!).

I bought my first maxi dress yesterday and I'm unsure as to how to wear it - how do you style yours? Mine is just a plain black racer back - all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Lots of Love
Nicola
xx

P.S Snaps if you know the title of this post!

Exam Pyjamas

Hey Dolls

Today was the first of my last ever exams at uni - more importantly it was the first outing of my new trousers, which I can only describe as 'social pyjamas' or pyjamas posing as trousers...


I recently posted on facebook that I have more pyjamas than actual clothes (tragic) so a trouser/pyjama hybrid for me is amazing! I know harem pants have been out for ages but these are slightly different to lots of I've seen - they're a lot baggier and 'float' when you walk - so comfy and breezy! Plus the print is amazing! I got them from dorothy perkins for around £25...I'm going back tomorrow for a couple of other prints!

Yet again my love of a stretchy waistband prevails - what are your thoughts of harems?

Love Nicola
xxx