Bright Eyes, Burning Like an Attention Seeker

Hello interweb,

We're all still sniffling along down my end, but on the up & up, so hopefully tomorrow I'll be back to my relatively healthy self.

I'm sure you've all gathered by now that I'm a girly girl. I like make-up, pink things, super high heels, anything even slightly sparkly... you get the idea. But if there's one thing that lets me down (actually two things if you include my complete ambivalence towards handbags), it's my sunglasses collection. But this is due to my skin type (my mum's ginger so I react to the sun the same way as the vamps from True Blood) and the boy I tend to hang around with (army rugby type). So my holidays tend to include hiring a quad bike and roaming around doing outdoorsy things. Therefore, however much I may love them, the beautiful oversized round beauties that every other girl wears are just not suitable for me. Though if I did, these would be the ones I want:

Source I think I love them mainly for the Tiffany Blue legs

I basically spend my holidays living in my skiing sunnies (proper sporty types), and when I am going round a town or something I tend to go for cheapo ones. Enter exhibit A:

See quite normal, barring the purple & leopard print. I would have happily worn these all holiday, but the boy took them (he shares my belief on blending into surroundings), so I was forced to wear these beauties for a month:

Now, whilst I don't mind wearing heart shaped glasses, if you wear them day in day out you do get heart shaped tan lines, and I looked ridiculous. 

So, now to the point. I needed new sunglasses, that had enough protection for skiing, and yet still looked interesting enough to be worn for the rest of the year. Enter Oakleys.

Yes I do realise I am very late to the game but Oakley's have done a fun limited edition their classic Frogskin shape, called Blacklights. We have been eyeing these up for ages, but seeing as the boy just bought some sunglasses recently we just couldn't justify the £90 price tag. But hello 2-for-1 offer so we went for it. Disclaimer: The colours of these glasses are extremely hard to capture in pictures, but it's the effort that matters. Right?

As you can hopefully tell the lenses are super reflective (you can't see my eye through them) and very gold in colour. The frames are neon pink and the legs are neon yellow. They are proper raving glasses! But what's even more awesome is that the legs detach and you can change them with other coloured legs from other glasses. Stupidly enough for some reason Oakley aren't selling the legs separately (they really have missed a trick there). But I am constantly interchanging them with the boys glasses. He got the ones with a bright orange lens & orange frames.

I absolutely love these sunglasses (and really want to get them in every colour). They provide great sun protection (well duh they are Oakleys afterall) and they just demand attention, wherever you are (I am constantly getting radoms coming up for conversations, and have been bought 3 drinks becasue of them - I've spend alot of time in beer gardens recently). But the next ones one my wish list are:

They don't look like much, but the lenses are the most gorgeous pinky purple colour, and my resistance is waning as we speak. Sigh.

So all in all, I have to say, in the most objective way: Get them before they are discontintued. They are amazing.

What colours are you favourite? Where do you get your sunglasses from

Kat x

Photos my own or from stated sources

Look at my Sheeny Shiny Face

Hello Inter-highway!

I am poorly. In fact everyone in my house is poorly. So today was spent lounging on the sofa reminiscing  about better times when we had full use of both nostrils. Good times. This seems to be going round everyone at the mo, so hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow feeling glorious. But obviously I will not be posting any photos of my face, because no-one deserves that. So photos below are from a few weeks ago.

So today's post is about the wonderful world of highlighters.

If I am wearing proper make-up in the daytime (i.e. not for work), I tend to go all out. I figure I only have a few years where I can get away with it, so I may as well just go for it. So a problem I often face is how to change it up for the evening. Highlighters are my answer. I don't wear them in the day, because really what's the point? There's too much light around to appreciate the affect so it's something I save for 'going out' make-up. So, somehow it's got into my mind, that it's not a good night until I am a sheen on my face! I surely can't be the only one out there who thinks that?

I have used many different ones over the years, never having a definite favourite. I guess I'm saying I was a highlighting slag. Just flipping about from one to the next never developing any strong emotional attachment to one in particular. That was however until 1 month ago. I fell in love, and now I am never without it. So what is this magical product I hear you ask?

Obviously it's from Mac & it's Belightful

This is in a special snazzy box as they don't make it in the normal format anymore (bloody typical).

It's called: Packed to go 4 lips & pressed powder. It came in a lovely cardboard box (which I really don't want to throw away, even in recycling, it's just too pretty). Actually I love the packaging of the product itself as well. It comes with 4 solidified lip glosses in the top:

Clockwise from top left: Riviera Ready, Poetic License, Quick Change,  Rosehips

And you push these aside to reveal the Belightful underneath.

It is a lovely powder highlighter, which mac describes as a "Gilded Peach Bronze". On first inspection it appears very glittery, but this is just the top layer, and a quick sweep of the brush reveals love bronzey gold powder. I apply it to with mac's 227 brush to the top of my cheek bones & brow bone and when the light hits it gives a lovely, not too in your face sheen. It photographs like a dream too.

As I said before I did not want to photo myself tonight, so I trawled through old photos of me on Facebook to find a suitable shot. I am a posing fiend, so this is a really tricky thing to do, but I tried...

Relax, this was just after application,
thus before any type of blending!

Oh dear, but this is all I could find.
Sigh

...And failed. Oh dear, I blame the alcohol.

But yes, photos may let me down, but the product itself is amazing. The cutesy box costs £29.50, which for the highlighter + the 4 lip-glosses is actually quite a good deal. I am definitely going to repurchase Belightful when it is re-released in another collection, and I never think like that, so it must be good.

Which highlighters would you recommend?

Kat x

All photos my own

Covering Up My Sins

Good evening interweb,

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, Estee Lauder Ideal Light,
Mac Select Moisturecover, Bobbi Brown Corrector,
Mac Studio Finish

As I have hinted for a while now, I tend not to sleep very much. This doesn't really bother me, but it does take its toll just south of my eyes. I don't have bags, I have humongous dark purple marks that really look closer to bruises than anything else. So I am one of those people who has to always wear concealer under my eyes. I don't always wear foundation, but concealer is a must (unless I am seeing the Dr & actually want to make myself look more ill to gain some sympathy!). So I thought I'd share with you the products I have found the most useful over the years.

Bobbi Brown Corrector (Porcelain Bisque)
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (Ivory)

My bags are so bad I can't just use concealer on its own. I have to use a product underneath to try and tackle the dark colour. This was suggested to me years ago at a Bobbi Brown counter, and I haven't looked back since. I am of course talking about Bobbi Brown's Corrector (£17). It is very similar to their creamy concealer, except that its main purpose is to neutralise dark circles (it's like it was invented just for me!). You are meant to use it over your foundation, and under your usual concealer. I, however, find this gives me a very cakey finish, which, quite frankly, jsut attracts more attention. After some experimenting, I found it best to use under your foundation and wait a bit for it to set before you apply the final layer of concealer (i.e. do your eye make-up first). I love the finish this gives & it completely covers my circles. Essentially, it does not really matter which concealer I use on the dya, but I always use the corrector, and I can not recommend it higher.

So now onto concealers.

Mac Studio Finish (NW20)

The first is another one form Bobbi Brown, and it is their Creamy Concealer (£17). I got this after hearing the pixiwoo girls rave about it, and I loved it. It does exactly what you expect and it really is a good concealer. It was my favourite for years, however 2 months ago I went into mac & bought the very similar Mac's Studio Finish Concealer (£13.50), and I haven't really used it since. Studio Finish is like the upgraded version of creamy concealer,  it gives better coverage whilst also having a more natural finish and I don't have to blend it as much to obtain a less cakey finish (which is always a bonus first thing in the morning!). I do always feel a bit guilty for having given up on my creamy concealer after years of loyalty, but then I use it again, and realise it just isn't up to scratch any more, I have upgraded to a newer model and I don't think I'll ever go back.

Estee Lauder Ideal Light (soft pink)

And finally is my liquid concealer. My very first concealer I ever bought was Estee Lauder's Ideal Light (£22.5). This is an illuminating concealer, i.e. it covers up dark circles by making them more light reflective. I never really liked this as I found it highlighted my problem areas (never apply this type of product over spots). I did however like how it felt on, it was much lighter & did give a lovely fresh finish. So this caused me to try out other liquid concealers, and this bought me to mac's Select Moisturecover (£13.50). I love this as a day concealer on a good day (i.e. no black eyes), and especially love it over a mineral foundation as I find this gives the most natural finish. I don't wear this over spots or blemishes, as even though it is buildable, it just doesn't give the amount of coverage I require. 

Mac Select Moisturecover (NC20)

So here are my concealers of the most. I use them with mac's 224 brush (as the pixiwoo girls taught me) or a 252 brush, depending on my mood (yes I really do live my life in the fast lane!). I especially recommend the Corrector, and then the studio finish or moisturecover, depending on your needs. But the search will continue on as I realise this is a problem that will only get worse as the years go by. Le sigh.

What concealers do you recommend? Do you have any other remedies for horrific bags?

Kat x

All pics are lovingly borrowed from here, here, here, or my own

Millions of Peaches, Peaches For Me

Hello internet,

At the moment I seem to be spending Monday evenings snuggled up in my dressing gown, nursing a cup of tea, and generally regretting my revelry of the weekend. I know everyone hates Tuesdays, but for me its Mondays, I really need to live in a 3 day weekend world. And if that happened, then I wouldnt have to put up with people  who insist on calling Wednesday "Hump Day". Urgh.

But anyway, really must stop complaining. Time to talk of all things good... My wonderful friend gave me a blush today, for no reason except that she is lovely. Oh and she said she was fed up of my cheeks being so plain. Weirdo.

So I thought I'd share it with you & do a quick review!

So, drumroll please; she got me Mac's powder blush in Pinch O' Peach. And here are some pics:

And now a swatch:

It is a sheertone blush (so obviously not a strong matte colour) and mac describes its colour as "A wash of warm peach". Well, I suppose this could be true, but it is definitely more pink than peach (to me at least). I have been wearing it everyday for the past week & I absolutely love it. It gives a natural wash of colour without screaming "Look at my cheeks I'm wearing blush!". And because it is quite natural, I have been wearing it with a variety of different eye looks & colours. I was quite cautious about it as I had not heard much about it on the blogosphere/youtube, and apparently I am a massive sheep and tend to only part with my dolla if people have raved about a product!

I have never been a big blush wearer, but I have been trying to change this as I get older further away from my teen years. But whilst looking through my itsy-bitsy collection I realise I have been acquiring a variation of a theme, the theme being peach! I didn't even realise I liked peach blush!

Stereo Rose, Pinch O' Peach, Peaches

I already had Peaches blush (pure peach) & Stereo Rose MSF (coral/peach hybrid). These are my most reached for blushes at the moment, but I have to say Pinch O' Peach is now my new favourite. It's a bit girlier and more natural flush-like than peaches, and I find I have to work a bit harder to blend Stereo Rose in to decrease the shimmer factor. So, this is now the one to beat!

Time for swatches:

Pinch O' Peach, Peaches, Stereo Rose

Here are some photos of me wearing Pinch O' Peach & Peaches. Please excuse the quality as I put this on before bed & am quite looking forward to sleeping! Oh and also I really piled it on to show the colour, I do not wear it this strong in real life.

Pinch O' Peach 

Peaches

So, that is that. Pinch O' Peach costs £14.50 for the palette refill pan (don't you hate how mac keep putting the price up!). So now it's time to scrub my face, watch Skins (and wish it was as good as the first generation) and sleep perchance to to dream.

Goodnight chicks


Seeing as I clearly have a thing for peach blushes, which ones would you recommend? How do you wear Pinch O' Peach?

Kat x


All pictures my own & from here

Embellished Snuggly Goodness

Another day, another Oasis purchase. I blame House of Fraser for being within a 5 minute walk from my room. Sometimes I wish I lived in the middle of nowhere, my bank account would be less vacant.

But I bought this for my ski trip. A trip in which I always envisage myself looking all healthy & snuggled & chic, when in fact reality forces me to look like a burnt panda & be bloated from way too much booze, bread & cheese. But yes this jumper (which is in the sale) seemed perfection for me.

It is a round necked cream jumper with 3/4 length sleeves and it is embellished with little studs across the front. The back of the jumper however is plain, this is obviously a cut-costing strategy and it always irks me slightly, but oh well I don't have to look at my back!

It is lovely on, very soft (100% cotton) and I love that I can make it casual or smart, by pairing it with boots or killer heels. I of course also plan on pairing it with my leather shorts, as I love the contrast of slutty leather with comfy jumper. 

The only downside I have found is that it reports to be hand wash only. But fear not my little chickadees, I have risked it for a chocolate biscuit & washed it successfully in the machine. I put it on the cool wool cycle with bio detergent and dried it flat & it came out perfectly (though don't sue me if this doesn't work for you!).

As I said it is in the sale for £38 (still on the expensive side, though it's way better quality than any Topshop jumpers I have tried which are in the same price bracket). And it also comes in red (which I also am coveting, but alas it is no longer stocked in my size). Ooh, speaking of; sizing wise I am a 10/12 on top, though I find Oasis runs on the larger side so I opted for a Small which fits perfectly.

So what do you think of my pointless buy just before spring/summer? Have you been buying anything in the sales?

Kat x

All photos my own or from here

So... Was it worth the wait?

Hey guys how was your weekend? I am still recovering from mine, which depressingly enough means I am definitely getting old! But enough self wallowing, something near on miraculous has happened! After months of trawling around various Chanel counters in countless cities I have finally found Vitalumiere Aqua in my shade (20)!

So what else could I do but wear it for a fortnight & then write a little review...

Well my first thoughts were that of shock. I took it out of its box & I saw its size & I automatically thought I had been swindled. But hopefully you lot aren't as dense as me! Yes it looks smaller than the original packaging, but it holds exactly the same amount. Magical, huh? I do think it is more practical packaging than the bulky & heavy glass bottle, but it definitely doesn't look nearly as impressive. Oh well, it will have to just sit in my drawer as opposed to pride of place on my mantle! What a tortured life I lead!


So what do I think of the foundation? I have used it for 2 weeks now, and I have to say I love it. So what does Chanel have to say about it?


A new-generation texture. An unprecedented sensory experience. A unique makeup result. Rapid and easy application. Apply your makeup without thinking about it. Its soft and evanescent ultra-fine fluid texture is a real surprise: although exceptionally delicate and light, it offers an incomparable “second-skin” perfecting result. The complexion appears amazingly even, fresh and energised. The skin glows with seemingly nude beauty. As if lit from within. Bathed in light… Its formula, enriched with a UVB sun filter and mineral sunscreen, protects the skin from damaging sun rays (SPF 15). Its crystalline fragrance accentuates the sensation of freshness and pleasure on application. 


And I have to say I have to agree with this shamefully pretentious description. Its formula is quite loose (that surely can't be the correct term, but I honestly can't think of a better description), in fact you have to shake it up before each use to avoid dispensing a water-like substance! But despite this, it provides a gorgeously natural finish. It gives enough coverage create a flawless finish, yet it is light enough to still look natural. The finish is similar to the original Vitalumiere foundation, but it is slightly more natural finish and less of a dewy one. I have tried it out with all my brushes and I think my LY02 (big flat brush) gives it the best finish.

Odd choice for photo I know,
but I was too tired to photograph my face today,
and this was the only face shot I had!

So would I recommend this product? Definitely yes!


Has it replaced the hole in my heart left by the now discontinued Pro Lumiere? Hmm.. tricky question. I love it, yet it is not anything like Pro Lumiere, so I don't think it could ever be go to replacement! So even though I am definitely a happy camper, the search definitely still continues.

It costs £31, which is expensive, but Chanel is such high quality I am more than willing to repeatedly part with my hard earned dosh.


So have you tried out Vitalumiere Aqua? What did you think? What have you guys found to replace my long lost Pro Lumiere?


Kat x


All photos my own

Forever In Blue Jeans

I've finally jumped on the colourful jeans band wagon. Though I did take quite a safe option, so really it's more of a girly plop than a jump.

But anyway, I digress, yes I have finally given in & bought some bright blue jeans (I just couldn't bring myself t buy red jeans ever since I saw a middle aged father wearing them). Guess where they are from? Yes surprise surprise, Oasis. They cost £45, which I think is pretty reasonable considering they are good quality.

Please excuse the oh so sexy socks & slippers combo, I was just mooching round the house, and honestly couldn't muster up the energy to put shoes on.

These jeans are so comfy, skinny fit (called Cherry in store) without being obscenely tight. I also love the colour, as it's bright without screaming "look at me I'm wearing coloured jeans. I'm such an individual!". I love them & definitely want some more colours now:

I think I definitely need mustard jeans in my life. I have a love for all things mustard right now, except for actual mustard which I hate. How ironical.

What colour jeans are you rocking? What colour do you suggest for my next pair?

Kat x

Photos my own, or from here

What I Wore: Gold Sequins

A few weeks ago I met up with some old uni friends. We went out to The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields & had the most unhealthy but delicious selection of food (mostly consisting of cheese and grease).  If you haven't been go & make sure you go through the Smeg! (I promise it'll make sense when you go!)

I was wearing yet another Oasis purchase and got a few compliments on it, so I thought I'd share it with you!

I am quite like a magpie & love anything glittery or sparkly so this jumper really was love at first sight for me. Oasis tend to run quite large so this is a bit too big for me (I got a medium in the sale, which is not the 10/12 that I am), but I don't think this really matters for a winter jumper, it just adds to the snuggly look! I also love the soft colour of it & think it is ultra flattering for us pale-ies!

As I'm still not used to taking photos for the blog I only have slightly weird ones, but you can get the general gist! I paired it with my leather shorts again (which I am still slightly obsessed with), and my v v high black heels. Here is how it looked:

Yes this is the only normal picture of me! And yet I still look like I'm posing for a school photo. Le sigh. Also, this photo shows how the jumper is quite thin & thus sheer, so I always wear a vest underneath, I don't wear black anymore though as I think it creates a slightly ugly colour, now I wear a very un-sexy skin coloured vest!

Not entirely sure what I'm doing here, all I know is that I thought tiptoeing over to open the drawer was absolutely hilarious. However, this is the only (almost) full length shot, so beggars can't be choosers.

I think I need to try and keep clear of Oasis for a while, I think my love is beginning to turn into obsession.


Do you have problems with locating normal photos? Do you love all things sparky as much as me?


Kat x


All photos my own