FOTD

Hello Everyone :)

For me, this is quite toned down, firstly there's no fake tan, no pink blush, no liquid liner and only the tiniest amount of black shadow on my eyes...however, I still think I look quite made up: apparently I can't look natural!




Face

MAC Prep and Prime
Estee Lauder Double Wear
MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural
NARS Laguna (contour)
MAC Ripe Peach Blush

Eyes

UDPP
Urban Decay Nylon
MAC Sable
MAC Carbon (I really restrained myself!)
MAC Smoulder Kohl Pencil
MAC Zoom Lash

Lips

NARS Orgasm Gloss

These photos have lead to the conclusion that I much prefer shadow to be take a bit higher up the crease (I don't like this sticking to the lid business) and also...I really should have taken a kabuki to those cheeks!!

Lots of Love
Nicola
xoxo

My First Ever Video...

Hello Everyone...

This is what happens when I get bored...



I am definitely a blogger at heart...You Tube is not for me at all, in fact I bloody hated it... however I wanted to give you all a good chuckle, at this moment in time it's still processing so the quality should improve (so you tube tells me??)...I think you should all make a video too to make me feel better!!

Lots of Love
Nicola
xoxo

P.S I have no idea what the title is all about...I never named it new project...i am so rubbish!

Blush Loving!

Hello Everyone :)

Blushes are probably my biggest make up vice, I can't get enough of them! I do sometimes wonder how many pink blushes I need however that thought normally gets pushed to the back of my mind as soon as I see new swatches and FOTDs with beautiful cheeks! I'm going to show you all my favorite blush products of the moment (i'm very fickle ha ha)...I originally picked out eight but thought this was a tad excessive so narrowed it down to five. In the photographs I only have some powder on and a slick of liquid liner...I do apologise but it's a Sunday!

Nars Orgasm


Orgasm is a beautiful pink-peach...it does have a gold shimmer running through it but I don't think it gives you 'shiny cheek syndrome'. Personally on me, it looks best on my natural fair skin rather than when I wear tan and is prefect for during the day. I really want to try the cream version, has anyone else tried NARS cream blushes?

Illamasqua Laid



This is a cream formula and honestly it does not budge. The first time I swatched it on my hand it wouldn't come off, even after washing with soap and water. Laid is lovely and creamy making it really easy to blend. It's extrememly pigmented so a little goes a long way and is definitely in my collection of blushes I use for nights out as it's such a strong, vibrant colour. It looks a bit harsh in this photo as I am pretty much make up free but with a full face of make and + some tan it's really pretty so defintely one for darker skin tones (See my FOTD here to see it in action).

Illamasqua Nymph



This is another blush that suits my fair skin more than when I have a tan. It's a really light baby pink, however it's so pigmented that when i've worn it with a tan it looks a bit funny...if you look back at my christmas night out post, you'll see what I mean! It's a beautiful matte pink that again is really soft and blendable. The only thing I have noticed about Illamasqua powder blushes is that you lose a lot of product as they're quite powdery however this doesn't bother me too much as they are BIG!

MAC Well Dressed



Well dressed was the first ever MAC blush I bought and I go through phases where I pick it up and the put it back down. It's a lovely cool, light pink...and that's my one criticism it's very light! It takes a good few swirls in the pan to get this level of pigmentation. However, I do think it's worth it for the pretty, girly colour it gives...another blush perfect for every day!

MAC Ripe Peach Blush Ombre


This is a newbie from the new spring forecast collection and honestly it's BEAUTIFUL! It's fresh, light and perfect for all the spring like weather that's here! In the pan I love the graduation of colour and I love how you can actually see that on my cheek...I swirl my brush sideways whilst moving down the pan which transfers the graduation onto the cheek. I'm officially in love!

I'm always on the lookout for pretty new blushes...let me know some of your favorites in a comment and i'll definitely have a look at them :D

Lots of Love
Nicola
xoxo

I found some luck!!

Hello Everyone :)

Anyone who knows me understands that I am theee unluckiest person ever...However I must of stumbled on some luck (maybe it was those lucky charms I bought for Nick's birthday!) and I won the beautiful Beths Giveaway! I was so excited and squeeked rather loudly on the bus when I found out ha ha!

Here's what I won...

Beth was so generous and added in a couple extra bits, Thank you Lady!!! She sent a gorgeous pair of earrings, perfect colour for spring, No. 7 extravagant lash, Hello Kitty tin with mints, Strawberry Crush lip balm, a beautiful coin purse and a lovely make up bag! I love everything Beth thank you!!

I also thought i'd add in a little what rocks/sucks for funsies!

Rocks

• Finding lost memories...like this card one of my best friends Lynsey gave me for my 20th birthday
  

• Taking a much needed break from essay to fit in some Disney Film Times
  

• The Paul and Joe Alice in Wonderland Tins...I bought this today from ASOS, I have a feeling that I may live to regret it but I couldn't resist, they're too pretty!
  

• Patrick Wolf...I love him and his wonderful music
  

Sucks

• I now have no more Jonathon Creek to watch...I really wish I wasn't such a geek ha ha
  

• Tripping over Nicks stupid stuff in the hall...Nick if you see this, kindly find a new home for your hockey bag
  

• The saddness of a broken nail
  

Have a good weekend everyone :)

Lots of Love
Nicola
xoxo

A Teeny Tiny Giveaway

Hello Everyone :)

I'm very lucky and have a wonderfully talented hairdresser as a close friend which also means I get lots and lots of freebies in return for me doing bits and pieces of make up work for her...In January I posted a review of 'Dust It' and my lovely friend recently gave me more bottles of dust it than I know what to do with...so i'm going to give you all a chance to get your hands on one :)

All I want you to do is leave a comment below saying 'I want big beautiful hair' and your email address. The giveaway is open internationally, you must be a follower and closes Wed 17/03/10 at 12 pm GMT. The main reason i'm doing this is because so many people left comments on my blog but I also got quite a few emails asking about dust it...people either don't have a sallys near them or are not too sure about going in and buying from sallys (it's not scary at all I promise! Anyone can buy things even if you don't have a sallys card, you just have to pay full price).

So remember your comment NEEDS to read...'I want big beautiful hair'.

Lots of Love
Nicola xoxo

February Favorites!

Hello Everyone :)

I think everyone has said it but this year is flying by! I've had a really good month this month, lots of good things happened like both Nick and I's birthday, our anniversary, Valentines Day, lots of lovely nights out with my beautiful friends and i've had a whole week off work which never ever happens!

Here's my beauty favorites from this month, I had quite a tough time narrowing them down!!

1. The body shop's Dewberry Shower Gel

This is a blast from the past! Does anyone remember the Dewberry perfume? It always reminds me of my mum :). I think this smells beautiful and unlike a lot of shower gels, the smell actually lingers on my skin! If you want to get your hands on some of the retro body shop products do it now as all shower gels are buy one get one free!

2. 'Juicy Couture'

I blooming love this perfume! It's quite an unusual scent, I would say in the same family as Sarah Jessica Parker's 'Lovely'. It's really long lasting and just look at that bottle, it's amazing!! And so my Juicy Couture love rages on...

3. Benefit's High Beam

At the beginning of the month I posted a FOTD and a few of you wonderful people commented about how 'glowy' I looked and I think it's this bad boy that's responsible. I had always overlooked moon beam as it had, in my eyes, been overshadowed by High Beam. However, when mixed with foundation it creates this beautiful, dewy finish! Just look at that irridescent colour you can see at the top of the bottle...gorgeous!

4. O.P.I's Deer Valley Spice

I've blogged about this polish before but the colour is divine. In the bottle it looks a gorgeous ruby red however on the nail a blueish purple shimmer appears when it hits light!

5. Illamasqua Vanian Eyeshadow

This is a lovely highlight colour, both for eyes and face. It adds a subtle shimmer as coloured highlight shadows give me the fear...I have seen far too many amazing eye looks be ruined by a strong coloured highlight!


6. YSL Rouge Volupte 19 'Frivolous Pink'

I am going to start by saying everytime I look at this lipstick I get a tiny niggling of guilt stir in the back of my mind...I am fully aware how silly it is to spend £21 on a lipstick though I love it. It's a lovely baby pink yet is still quite bright when applied to the lips. The formula is extrememly creamy and rich and is all round extrememly pretty!

Hope you're all well and that we all have a Marvellous March :D

Lots of Love
Nicola xoxo

I'm ooooooooold!!!

Hello Everyone :)

It was my birthday on Friday so spent the day with my lovely friends and family though I forgot to take any photos cos i'm silly!

Yesterday, Nick took me on a little daytrip to Edinburgh and we honestly had such a fun time! Here's some photos...

Stimulating reading on the train...


Nick in Toy Town...he's a goon!

I heart mochas!

Awww...'I Love Us'


Mad scientist faces...

I gave in and had some pizzaaaaa as it was my birthday!



So chilly on our ghost walk in the dark!

I had such a fun day that included being TERRIFIED in Edinburgh Dungeons, going to see the camera obscura and going on a ghost walk!

Hope you enjoyed these little peeks into my life....promise normal make up posts will now be resumed!

Lots of Love
Nicola
xoxo