Part of your world

Despite a lipstick being the only product I was certain I wanted from MAC during my pre-MAC spree/love, I walked out of the store with everything but. Don’t get me wrong, they are truly beautiful and I will definitely go back for one (or five) soon, but I have fallen a little bit in love with Rimmel’s Kate Moss lipstick. I bought 05 aggges ago which is a muted pink colour but it’s the texture and slight sheen finish that I adore most, which I blogged about here.

But seeing that MAC’s delicious lippy’s were around £13 a pop (plus knowing I had a couple more Rimmel shades for Christmas), I thought I’d stick with my highstreet brands for now. And low and behold these two beauties were in my stocking! The coral shade is another Kate Moss lipstick in 12, and the other is a Rimmel Lasting Finish in Alarm which is also lovely but not as smooth to apply.

These are two ultra rich colours that I was slightly hesitant to wear at first purely because I haven’t dared anything so bold or bright on my lips before (only recently breaking away from my love of neutral Lancôme Juicy Tube glosses in favour of lipstick). But they look amazing on and help to complete an outfit. I use Boots Strawberry Lipsalve as a base which helps the product to glide on smoothly, enhancing the slight shine too. However I find that it wears off quite easily, and I’m conscious of being left with a ring of colour around the edge of my lips whilst the centre fades with eating and drinking...

But these are my new go-to lipsticks and I’m thinking about getting the Kate Moss shade 02 too!

I’m now shamefully off to watch Celebrity Big Brother. I literally can’t stand the show but this year I’ve become a little hooked! Rooting for Frankie to win I think – how about you?

Ps, these colours reminded me of a certain Disney princess so this post’s title is taken from her film :)

And so I was bamboozled

Yesterday evening I skipped (yes skipped because I was excited) on down to Debenhams in town in preparation for my free facial, make-over and gift with Benefit. Do you remember I'd been given a voucher with my Boi-ing purchase for this in November? It sounded like a fab freebie non? Perhaps too good to be true? Well you're right, it was pretty pants actually and was all for Benefit's benefit (!) opposed to mine...

I arrived ten minutes early and no-one was there. 'That's ok, I am early so I'll just wait'. At 5pm (time of my appointment) no one was there. Then just after 5, Chloe my therapist arrived and asked me to take a seat ~ I did wonder if Benefit actually offered facials as I'd never heard of them doing so, but when asked to sit in a chair rather than lay as you would on a couch, I knew that a 'facial' actually meant makeover ~

There I was, face full of make-up (new MAC products may I add!) which was gently removed - so much so that I'm sure just the transluscent powder came off! - with cleanser and toner which was deemed a 'facial'. I was asked what products I would like to try. 'Well I've already got pretty much what's on your counter so only really the new mascara', I thought.

So primer, foundation, powder, blusher, eyeshadow, and mascara were applied and they were all lovely products. But I went with the intention of being pampered, not as a guinea pig to be tried and tested on in order for me to part with money - naieve I know.

And so with a face full of two lots of make-up (the remnants of mine, and then newly applied Benefit bits), I left. Without a purchase. And without my bloody free gift!!

But my dilemma now is that i actually looove the Coralista blusher applied to me and the They're Real! mascara (so Benefit's evil plan worked) which are both really overpriced I think. I know they last a long time but the mascara is itsy-bitsy! Plus as a MAC-convert, do I really buy back into Benefit or stick with my new beloved brand?

What do you think? Coralista or Peachykeen? They're Real! or another mascara that I have yet to find?

Ps, points for where 'bamboozled' is from...

I'm back, armed with MAC

(Left: Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in medium dark, Right: Pressed Blot Powder)
Guess where I am? Yep, back sitting in my usual place (the desk chair!) in my flat where I have embarked on my last EVER semester at uni! Scary is an understatement! So to sidetrack my mind from a panicked, frenzy of jobs, internships and applications overdrive, I thought I’d distract myself with a simple pastime that I take great pleasure in – beauty products.

As you know, I’ve wanted to break into the MAC buying business for a while now, and guess what? I’ve only gone and done it! Yes the lovely Cambridge shop now have 100 pounds of my birthday money in exchange for six beautiful products (plus a pump!) that I don’t know how I lived without.

Studio Fix Fluid in NW15 | Pressed Blot Powder in medium | Mineralise Skin Finish Natural in medium dark | Cream Colour Base in Hush | Eyeshadow in All that Glitters and Brown Down

These were my purchases and I love love love love them! Skin products were what I wanted mainly and after explaining that I like a matte finish due to an oily t-zone, I was made-over (?) with these beauties. I’m really impressed with all of them but especially love the foundation and highlighter. The mineralise skin finish works well as a bronzer giving a light glow opposed to an orange tango-effect too but I feel I need the tapered 138 brush to really enhance it.



(Left: All that Glitters, Right: Brown Down)

I didn’t intend to get eye make-up but how could I say no to the pretty shimmery-ness of All that Glitters?! And of course, it needed a darker accompaniment. But now I literally want every eyeshadow pot they have on their swanky display!! *sigh* If only I could do it the justice it deserves with my application. I am getting better but if you know of any great MAC eye make-up tutorials, please link me to them – would be very much appreciated. The girls in the shop make it look so darn easy!

I’m also looking into getting a MAC blusher and a mascara. Do you have any recommendations?

The Saturdays All Fired Up Tour!

Last Friday my friend and I went to see The Sats in Bournemouth again! They were so good and we had a lovely evening, so I thought I'd share the pictures with you (I'm sure there are some fellow Sats fans among you!). See if you can spot an extra 'famous' face who used to be in a band with Rochelle and Frankie...









Doesn't it look like the guy is stroking Una's baby bump?! :)

Hello December

It’s CHRISTTTTMAAAASS!! Well not quite but it’s now 24 days and counting. I haven’t felt at all festive this year which makes me sad. I think the enormous workload combined with not being at home is the main cause but also I have done most of my shopping online which is never quite as fun is it? I love a Christmas day out (preferably to Cambridge or Milton Keynes) getting everything all in one go – plus do the musts such as hot festive drinks in Starbucks, Christmas songs in the car and looking at the decorations I can’t afford in John Lewis.

However today I popped into town – nearly losing my arms to a heavy Asda shop – and saw the German Christmas market that always sets up in Southampton around the end of November, in full swing. The German pub was full to the brim (don’t you work people?), the sausages were-a-cooking and ‘I wish it could be Christmas everyday’ was blaring. It was soo Christmassy and lovely and festive, which of course rubbed off on me. Finally!!

So I upped the anti on my mood, put on a red jumper (no reindeer embroidery I’m afraid, just bows), painted my nails Koala-berry red/pink with glitter and treated myself to a little gift – a Topshop double feathered gold ring. It only cost £1.50 in the sale so I don’t feel too guilty. Plus it’s pretty. And for that price, I couldn’t resist.


I also started my 1 out of 2 advent calendars yesterday (gonna have 18 days of chocolate to eat when I’m reunited with my second one at home!!), and we’ve decorated the flat with an iddy biddy Christmas tree. And I mean iddy biddy, it stands at 90cm tall!!

I’ve really struggled with my list this year too. My straightners are on their last legs so I’m getting some Cloud Nine’s but apart from that I couldn’t really think of anything. What have you asked for from Santa?


Ps, I’m going to see The Saturdays tonight in Bournemouth for the second time this year – soo excited!!

A director in the making...

A shameless plug post but I know some of you are film fanatics or study film and media at uni so I just wanted to introduce you to my brother. He's a first year at Farnham University of Creative Arts and is a whizz with anything technology-related. He has made a short film documenting regular drug use - however he has used an indirect and intelligent metaphor in the form of tea to represent substance abuse.

It's really well put together and is a brilliant example of his potential - who knows we might have a future famous film director in the family!

I know this isn't what you'd usually find on my blog but I wanted to share it with you (plus I know he'd love to have feedback so leave him lots of comments). He has also recently set up a blog which can be found here - go and say hi! :)

From Tom:

"Addictea’d is a short film based on the effects caused by regular drug abuse. We decided to use a metaphoric technique which is why the character is drinking tea; this represents the drug that he is so dependent on. The film ends leaving the question, 'did he die?' The audience can then decide for themselves what happens and create their own ending. This film was produced to explore continuity and was shot in Farnham University of Creative Arts."

(Excuse the language girls!)



Visit his channel here for more short films.