Autumn Overhaul Edit – Makeup, Skincare, Hair & Nails

Autumn Overhaul Edit – Makeup, Skincare, Hair & Nails

September 1st came and it was although in the matter of a day, the leaves fell, the weather turned and beauty wise that meant out with the old and in with the hydrating. Here’s what came in that’s staying around and seeing me through till next Spring…

Skincare

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, £32.50 here (buy one get one free with my exclusive code LIANABEAUTY at checkout here – full details here!). A light balm-like texture that hydrates as it deeply cleanses, raved more about here.

This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil £39.50 here, as a weekly body treatment oil to hydrate with impact as it lasts throughout the week. Being so intense there’s minimal need for upkeep – perfect for lazy gals like myself.

Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist, £46 here, as a desk-time spritz of hydration throughout the day without interferring with makeup to keep skin looking perky in the harsh central heating.

Shiffa Healing Balm, £25 here – always make sure to have a multi-functional balm handy for any dry-patch emergencies (yes, sore red nose I’m talking to you). Bringing it overnight and sorting out the root of the problem, leaving skin calm and soothed.

Makeup

Berry Lips: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Grandest Grape £17 here, Stila Stay All Day Liquid in Aria£15 here, Bourjois Colour Boost Lipstick in Plum Russian (coming soon!)

Hydrating bases: Bourjois Happy Light Foundation (coming soon!), & Smashbox Photo Finish Under Eye Lid Primer, £21 here

Palettes: Tom Ford Trio in She Wolf, £50 here, Illamasqua Quad in Reflection Palette £34 here, Kiko Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Cool Warm Tones, £16.50 here

Shadow pots: Bourjois Eyeshadow Creams (coming soon!) & NARS Eye Shadow Paints (coming soon!)

Powders: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed $29 here, (similar too Mac Tenderling), Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Lightscapade £22 here

Hair

Ojon Rare Blend Oil £30 here, on wet hair to add gloss, shine and keep straggly ends hydrated and once a week pop on Tigi Hair Reborn Reparative Nocturnal Therapy, here the simplest, low maintenance hair-mask around. A light cream that’s applied to dry hair and washed out come morning to silky smooth locks.

Fragrance

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede, £39 here, a sophisticated deep floral that lingers on the skin for hours on end. Heaven.

Nails

Butter LONDON Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil, £15 here, I’ll go as far as saying this is the only cuticle oil that has ever had an effect on my crusty cuticles – turning them into decent ones.

Polish favourites: Essie After School Boy Blazer £ here, Essie Wicked £7.99 here, Revlon Vixen £4.49here, Essie Smoking Hot £7.99 here, Leighton Denny I’m So Soirée £11 here.

                                 My Everyday Make-up Bag

ORIGINS VITAZING MOISTURISER*, LAURA MERCIER RADIANCE PRIMER*, JOUER MATTE MOISTURE TINT, BY TERRY TOUCHE VELOUTTEE, KEVYN AUCOIN SCULPTING POWDER, NARS DEEP THROAT BLUSH, CARGO HD PICTURE PERFECT TRANSLUCENT POWDER, HOURGLASS ARCH BROW PENCIL IN DARK BRUNETTE, NARS RIDE UP TO THE MOON, GUERLAIN EYELINER, RIMMEL SCANDALEYES SHOW OFF MASCARA, ILLAMASQUA ANDROGEN PIGMENT, TOPSHOP WHIMSICAL

I've had to come back to my home town for a bit, and while I had a few posts preplanned as I was actually ahead of schedule for a bit I have now run out of preplanned stuff. So I thought I'd share what I shoved into my makeup bag as I frantically packed. This is the makeup that I've been reaching for the most at the moment and pretty much what I use most days. I'm a creature of habit, and I always tend to reach for the same items over and over again.

To prep the skin I've been leaning towards Origins Vitazing Moisturiser. A vitamin and colour boosting moisturiser which perks up very looking tired skin. I wasn't sold on this initially, but it has been growing on me the past few uses. It gives my skin a lightly bronzed even out base. I'm still working my way through the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer. It's a brilliant illuminating primer which brightens up even the most sallowest of skin. This is definitely going on my repurchase in full size list once my mini is up. Joeur Matte Moisture Tint was my base of choice as I wanted something easy to apply and gave me enough coverage. Beautiful light matte coverage, evening out the skin without the use of heavy product. For the touchup of dark circles and lurking spots concealer comes in the form of the By Terry Touche Veloutte in Cream.

As for contour and blush, I chose the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder and Nars Deep Throat Blush. A combo of products which produces my current cheek of choice (note to self, use this as a post title sometime!) One is a really lovely natural contour shade and the other a light pink to add a flush of colour to the apples. To powder my face I've been using theCargo HD Picture Perfect Translucent Powder. While I'm not a huge fan of loose powders, this one works like a treat. It gives a soft matte finish without making the skin look cakey or dry. The packaging stop it from going everywhere as it has a sneaky lid which stops powder escaping while on to move. Which makes it easily transportable unlike most loose powders which poof up in a cloud of dust!

For eyebrows, I brought along the Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette. Even though I'm finding it too dark now that my hair is so light. I'm tempted to get this in a lighter shade, but I found Soft Brunette to be too ashy. It's a wonderful waxy powder formulation which looks natural and subtle when used correctly. On the eyes, I've been using Nars Ride Up To The Moon Palette as it's a wonderful selection of autumnal colours which can be used in a variety of different ways to take looks from day to night. I've started wearing eyeliner again so have been using an ol' favourite in the form of the Guerlain Eyeliner. I adore this for a slick glossy winged out look. I actually forgot to bring a mascara with me, so I'm using the Rimmel ScandalEyes Show Off Mascara which is my Mum's which I can't say I love. I don't feel like it applies well to my lashes and doesn't coat them as well as I'd like. The lengthening and volumizing are very minimal, and I find the ball on the end makes application a little messy. As for my lips I brought two favourites Illamasqua Androgen Pigementand Topshop Whimsical. Two peachy pink perfection items which I just cant get enough of.

What's in you're everyday makeup bag? 

Perfume of the day- Benefit under my spell Noelle fragrance

 Under My Spell Noelle Eau de Toilette* £29.50
from Benefit Cosmetics

Please don't hate me but Christmas is less than ninety days away and it is that time again where beauty brands turn their attention to all things festive and inundate us with wintery fragrances and gift sets galore. I attended a Christmas launch party with Benefit Cosmetics last week at their new Carnaby Street store (which is a two floor mecca of makeup, manicures and spray tans!) and was introduced to the many Christmas treats they have planned for us this season. One of the stand out product for me was their latest addition to the Crescent Row fragrance line - under my spell noelle.

Described as exotic and glamorous, woody and floral this eau de toilette is a beautiful concoction of spicy cardamon and black pepper laced with wild orchid, jasmine and vanilla, giving you a really unique and addictive scent. It has just the right balance of musky notes and sweet florals tones to make it the perfect perfume day or night, and is so nice I won't just be saving it for the Christmas parties! I definitely recommend a spritz and a sniff next time you are passing a Benefit counter. :)

S.M.S (Save.My.Skin)

S.M.S (Save.My.Skin)

If you are feeling a little miserable this may well cheer you up.

In the very early hours of this morning I over estimated the width of my bed and fell out, in a last ditch attempt to save myself from bumping my head I tried (and I say tried) to stop myself with my arm.

Well said arm was having none of it and popped out of its socket (eww I know) and I had to get it popped back in while in my PJ's...my Winnie the Pooh PJ's that were never intended for public viewing.

Woe is my life and now you all fully understand why I do not vlog - it would be like some poorly scripted Scottish sitcom.

As my arm is a little tender lifting a bulky camera is not high on my agenda so until the mighty morphin' painkillers kick in (maybe they have a little as I am quoting the Power Rangers) I thought I'd share my current skin care wish list. My skin is dire at the moment and I mean dire - it has to be hormonal as nothing has really changed in terms of lifestyle or routine. Anyway here is what I am lusting for and why...

1 and 2, I will be the first to admit that I don't often use a toner but I have read that using a hydrating toner such as MD Moisture Defence Antioxidant Spray altered nightly with an exfoliating toner such as Pixi Glow Tonic can really do wonders for the skin. At this point I'll try anything and the moisture boost will be much needed come the colder weather and exfoliating really helps keep my Milia in check.

You can find the  MD Moisture Defence Antioxidant Spray here - link but you will have to mail order or pop into the Pixi Store to purchase the Glow Tonic.

3, I am convinced I can see wrinkles forming before my very eyes and the two places that concern me most is my forehead (I tend to raise my eyebrows a lot and as a result have created a frown line) and my eye area. This months treat to myself will be the Origins Start Over Moisturiser and Eye Cream hopefully they can help prevent any lines from becoming trench like. 

You can find the Origins Start Over Moisturiser and Eye Cream here - link.

4, My enlarged pores are the bane of my existence, I have considered going for chemical peels that promise to reduce them but the truth is I am terrified that something will go wrong. You only get one face and I simply am not brave enough to mess around with chemical peels at this point. Anyway I have read great things about REN's Multi-Mineral Pore Minimising Detox Mask (aka No Pores or Invisible Pore Mask). I'm not looking for a miracle but anything that can deep cleanse and prevent my pores from clogging warrants a purchase in my case.

You can find the REN Multi-Mineral Pore Minimising Detox Mask here - link

5, My eyes are fairly sensitive and don't always enjoy my newest mascara or eye cream for that matter so with that in mind I have been eyeing (pun fully intended) up Clarins Skin Smoothing Eye Mask. It soothes, it cools and it calms making it perfect for irritable eyes.

You can find Clarins Skin Smoothing Eye Mask here - link

6, Continuing on with my love for all things Clarins I have decided that my next scrub will be none other Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract. Gentle yet gets the job done and again will help my skin in the quest of being Milia free.

You can find Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract here - link

7, My love for Aurelia Probiotic Miracle Cleanser is deep, nothing and I mean nothing can replace it in my book. It is gentle yet effective and the entire time I used it my skin was never better - it glowed, it was blemish free and generally just in a better state. I plan on repurchasing this as a matter of urgency!

You can find Aurelia Probiotic Miracle Cleanser here - link

8, Last but not least I have one other Origins product that I will be making space for on my bathroom shelf any day now and that is the Origins Out of Trouble Mask. I have heard that this not only calms and soothes the skin but can help banish pesky blemishes too. In fact I may just purchase this today as I have to go to Boots this afternoon...whoops!

You can find the Origins Out of Trouble Mask here - link

What skin care products top your list at the moment?

Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadows Review

Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadows Review

I know for a fact that as soon as the Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadows hit the counters in a matter of weeks (October just no exact date as of yet) that they will sell out fairly quickly. Luckily they are not limited edition but for a while I imagine certain colours will be tricky to get hold of...by certain I mean all as each one of the six shades are prettier than the next. I was lucky enough to be sent three to test out and I will level and say that I have only worn test one shade yesterday but that was enough for me to declare my love.

From the get go these will draw comparisons to both Maybelline Color Tattoo's (the packaging is most similar to the Maybelline version, almost identical) and of course MAC Paint Pots and to some degree they are justified as all three are cream to powder formulations that can be worn alone, as an eyeliner or as a base for other powder eyeshadows. However I have found the Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadows to have a firmer a texture so much so that it almost skips being a cream and feels very much like a powder from the get go. Bourjois claim that their formula contains 6% resin to boost longevity as well as silicones and fine spherical pigments so that the shadow glides on and locks onto the skin. No complaints or disputes there from me. Actually the more I think of it the texture does have a slight bounce and reminds me somewhat of Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadows.

I found the best method of application was to dab or blend these on to the eyelids with my fingertips rather than a brush as the heat helped to soften the shadow somewhat. Truthfully the pigmentation isn't quite as intense as I had anticipated but they do build up beautifully and some of us do prefer a more subtle approach to eyeshadow. As mentioned the Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadows do have a firm texture and boy oh boy do they stay in place - as they contain silicones some skin types such as normal to dry will not need a primer for a full days wear but oily lids like my own may want to pair the formula with a primer for reassurance but make no mistake they are long wearing. Yesterday I achieved a full 10 hours of true wear and I imagine it would have been longer with a powder eyeshadow on top.

The three shades I have are:

02 Or Desir - A light metallic peachy gold hue, the least pigmented of the bunch but a great base shade that is a possible dupe for MAC Rubenesque.

04 Kaki Cheri - A metallic yet smoky burnished golden olive shade with plenty of golden shimmer can be worn as a light olive shade or built up to a full emerald green.

05 Prune Nocturne - If you are looking for a dupe for Chanel's Ebloui this is the budget version for you - a n almost maroon shade that is a combination of purple, brown and red. A great autumnal shade that is not lacking in pigmentation.

As mentioned the Bourjois Color Edition 24H Cream Eyeshadows* will launch in October (date to be confirmed) and will retail for £6.99 each.

Hairstyle of the day-Ballerina Bun

                               1. Brush your hair; make sure that there are no tangles.

2. Pull back into a ponytail using a comb or brush to remove the bumps. If necessary, spray the hair with a quick-drying hairspray (an inexpensive brand is okay). You have already used a comb or brush to remove the lumps, so now you can use hairspray (optional, depends on the style of your hair) to smooth with your hand all of those wisps up and into the bun.

3.Put an extra rubber band around your ponytail, just for extra security. It is important to have a strong foundation for your bun so it doesn't fall down.

4. Separate your ponytail in half then Take one half and twist the whole strand together, tightly.

5.Tightly wind the strand of hair around the ponytail holder, as if curling around it, not over it. You should probably use heavy-duty hairpins such as Scunci Bobby Pins to hold up your hair. They are about $2.00 for 18. Most people find that an actual hair pin versus a bobby pin can hold their hair better. You will want to get the thicker kind, especially if you have thick or curly hair, because the thin ones are easily bent out of shape.

Securely fasten the hair. You can do this by putting a bobby pin in like your bun like it was a clock. 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. If the first half of your bun feels a little shaky, put more bobby pins in where desired.Then Repeat these same steps for the second half of your ponytail.

For extra security, cover your bun with a hair net that matches your hair color. (Hint: If you have blonde hair, don't use the gray hair net because then your bun looks purple. If you're a brunette, don't use the blonde hair net because then you have a lighter bun than the rest of your hair and that gives you the air of being unprofessional and/or colorblind.)

Tips

• Make sure these bobby pins match your hair color. It will look odd if you have dark hair with light pins or the other way round.
• The location of the ponytail will determine the position of the bun. A bun looks good when it is just below the crown of the head. There it looks elegant and gives you a better line.
• Use the same colour hair net as your hair. Or if you have light brown hair and blond highlights and you use a doughnut use a blonde doughnut.
• If your hair is cut in layers, or some other similar hair cut, some of your hair will be too short to reach your ponytail. You can just pin those hairs down with some bobby pins, or, if you want, some cute clips.
• Remember, this is not the only way you can put your hair in a bun. Many people put their hair in a pony tail, then twists the whole hair and spins it around until it's in a bun, then puts the pins in.
• If your hair is long, don't use standard sized bobby pins. They won't hold your hair up.

                 |MUA Blush Perfection – Scrummy|

This is one of my favourite purchases of MANY recently and it only cost £2! I had another cream blush from MUA in I want to say Dolly? But maybe Polly? I get confused because of the nursery rhyme I think. Anyway I loved that and wanted to try a more season appropriate (read: not peach) shade so I picked this up and it’s perfect – as the name suggests.

It’s coming off more coral in these photos than it really is, it’s more of a muted raspberry shade in person and the perfect pop of pink for the Autumn Winter as it’s got that depth that most of my other blushes lack. I might have to do a whole post on my favourite cold weather blushes actually.. I’m sure I’m not the only one who switches them out when the seasons change. 

My favourite thing about the blush perfections has to be the formula, I’m not a cream blush fan per se but they are just creamy enough to blend while setting to an almost powder finish for a more natural flush rather than vaseline cheeks. I have one from MAC that I love in theory but the shiny finish is just too much for this already oily skinned gal to take, these are just right and I would absolutely recommend you give them a go. At £2 you’re barely taking a hit even if you hate it so there’s little risk involved but they really are great so I can’t imagine you’ll hate them.

I’ve neglected MUA of late and after my recent haul I’m remembering why I loved them when they first launched. The range can be hit and miss but 80% is very good and the prices are so great that I think we can all accept the other 20. I’m dying to get my hands on some of the matte lipsticks now, what are your favourites from MUA?

You Beauty Balance Me Box Review

You Beauty Balance Me Box Review

Launching tomorrow is the Balance Me You Beauty Discovery Box which will cost £19.95 but contains products worth over £100 and let me tell you now that I have it I can not recommend it enough!
It is jam packed with skin care goodies from a brand I love and trust but more on that in a moment.

The box also contains a  £10 voucher to be redeemed against Balance Me products from www.balanceme.co.uk for every customer and ONE lucky winner will find a Willy Wonka-esq golden ticket in their box, with £500 to spend on Balance Me products.

Okay let's get on to what you came to see, what is exactly in the box!
- 100ml Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash
- 50ml Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream
- 40ml Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm
- 10ml Balance Me Radiance Face Oil
- 20ml Balance Me Moisture Rich Face Cream
- 10ml Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
- 15ml Balance Me Facial Expression Filler

Pretty wonderful non? A one stop skincare box that will suit all skin types with great sized products all of which are of natural origin not to mention you get a £10 off voucher so should you (and you will) fall head over heels for one or more of the products you get a great discount when you replenish.
I don't often herald beauty boxes to be great (because they aren't 99.9% of the time) but this is one of the few that I truly do believe that you will kick yourself if you miss out!

As mentioned the You Beauty Balance Me Box * will be available from the 29th September which is of course tomorrow from www.youbeautydiscovery.co.uk/beauty-boxes so you might want to get up a little earlier than usual to ensure you snare a box!

                        Hairystyle of the day-the fancy side loop ponytail

Our How To Hairstyles series tells you all you need to know about different teenage girl hairstyles so you can try them out and see if they fit your hair and personality.

Like all teenage girls, you’re extremely choosy when it comes to your hair. We’re sure you’re as fascinated with current trends as we are and love to stay on top of what’s in and what’s out.!

Want to look cute and cheeky? In search of a hairstyle which guarantees you’ll be a hit? The fancy side loop ponytail definitely delivers!

Ideal for medium to long hair, it’s one of the best teenage girl hairstyles around. It’s not ideal for everyday rough-and-tumble wear – it’s too chic for that and is perfect for informal occasions. It takes only minutes to create and looks gorgeous, especially with a touch of decoration.Master the art, capture hearts !

1. Straighten your hair and brush it well to remove any tangles and avoid difficulties when styling.
2. Once you have ensured that there aren’t any tangles, gather all your hair on one side.
3. Divide your hair into two sections. Take the time to make sure you divide them properly and evenly. It is very important that your hair is divided into the correct proportions or your loops will be uneven.
4. Now gather the first section of hair and put an elastic band on it, like when you’re doing a side ponytail. Poke a hole in the hair above the tie – use your finger!
5. Take the end of the ponytail and pass it back through the hole.
6. Once you’ve done this with the first section of your hair, split the other part of your hair (underneath the first) into two sections.
7. Put a hair tie on the first of the new sections and flip the ponytail back through both the first AND the second sections. You’ll see this on the video at around 1 minute – it sounds more confusing than it is, honest!
8. Gather the last section of hair and repeat the same steps.
9. To add a glamorous touch to your hairstyle, you can add a flower or use other hair accessories.

Following these steps will give you a perfect fancy side loop ponytail. Partnered with a ravishing party dress, this is one of the teenage girl hairstyles that is ideally suited to formal gatherings. Counterpoint a red or black (or the ever -elegant white) outfit with a fancy side loop ponytail and you’ll be the belle of the ball.

Very few teenage girl hairstyles are a perfect mix of cute and stylish but the fancy side loop ponytail captures both beautifully!

  Perfume of the day- DKNY Be Delicious Skin Hydration

DKNY Be Delicious Skin* - a fragrance with Benefits £38/£54
available from Boots and Debenhams

The DKNY Be Delicious fragrance range always transports me back to New York City when I was eighteen years old and perusing the beauty halls of Bloomingdale's, spritzing myself with the zesty perfumes and picking up at least two of the apple-shaped bottles to take home with me. They have become quite a classic fragrance over the years with their easy-to-wear pretty, light scent and recognisable packaging, making them a must for any dressing table.

The latest release from the DKNY Be Delicious range has taken on quite a new identity however - the same lovely crisp, fruity scent but in a new slimmer, sleeker bottle and with some skin-boosting benefits that hydrates the skin with every spritz. The new, fancily-named "Apple Fusion Complex" has been clinically proven to moisturise, smooth and brighten the body so you have my full permission to spritz and spray, head to toe, until your heart's content! This is great news for me as I do tend to douse myself heavily with my perfume in the morning as if it were body spray! I haven't experienced any skin-loving benefits yet but it is nice to know that it is doing some good to my skin as well as smelling rather lovely too!

What are your thoughts on this first-of-its-kind fragrance?