Beauty Sale Finds

I'm not really a sales kinda girl.

I actually hate the sales. They are busy, loud, crowded, hectic and stressful and having a 6 month baby bump makes it all the more necessary to stay away.

So this year, I decided I would check out what some of my favourite beauty and fashion spots had online. First stop - beauty. I decided to be reserved and only checked Selfridges and Space NK (aka the mothership). I thought I would share with you briefly what I picked up and then over another couple of posts, I will share them with you in more detail.

So my first venture online was to Space NK. I have always wanted the gorgeous Laura Mercier bath and body sets but I never really felt like spending upwards of £40 on indulgent bath treats for myself! So when I spotted the Honey Musk duo set - with bubble bath, body creme and honey spatula - at HALF PRICE for only £15...well, it went straight in my virtual shopping basket.

Next, I spotted something from Lipstick Queen. I have never bought anything from Lipstick Queen, but I have heard some amazing things. I saw the Liquid Asset set of 3 lip glosses, featuring a stunning nude, a bright popping pink and a vampy red. Whereas I am more of a lipstick girl, I thought my collection could do with some high quality lip glosses. Again, this set was £30 and was reduced to half price. So in the basket it went! Now considering this is still available on the John Lewis website for full price, this to me was a real bargain.

Next was the Selfridges beauty sale. There was so much in this sale that I actually got a bit bored going through the dozens and dozens of pages. I filled a basket quickly and in the end, I had to do some serious editing. Which...was a real challenge!

I ended up purchasing the Laura Mercier eyelash curlers, a MAC black liquid eyeliner and...my favourite new palette, Urban Decay's Naked on the Run - a limited edition palette from the Naked range, featuring 6 new eyeshadows, a bronzer, high lighter, blush, eyeliner, mascara AND a lipgloss, all in the famous naked colour ranges. This is definitely getting it's own post as I really am in love with it. It was originally £37 and I think I got it for £30 in the sale, which isn't that much of a saving, but as I had my eye on it before the sale, I knew I had to just get it!

The Selfridges beauty sale didn't have as many bargains as the Space NK sale, it had more like a few pounds off each product as opposed to a decent percentage off, but if you have the time to scroll through the many...many pages, you will be sure to find some good deals.

So as I said, more details coming soon, but in the mean time, did you find any amazing bargains in the sales?

Belle x

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaack!

Hello blogging world!

Well, what can I say. I am a very naughty blogger.

I haven't blogged since last summer and I have missed it so much! The reason? Well...reasons really. Where to start? A new job as a Content Editor, raising my toddler Elijah, having my house extended and moving in with my parents for 4 months, moving back in and reordering the entire house, oh, and falling pregnant again! Yay!

So yes...I have been pretty busy and sadly, blogging fell by the wayside, which I really regret but I am on a mission to bring Belle of the Ball back to life again. At least until the new baby arrives and takes away all my free time.

So, please forgive me for my absence. I have missed you and I hope you have missed me too. I will be back very soon with lots of fashion, beauty and life news.

Until then...thanks for checking back in and not forgetting me :)

Botanics Shine Away Face Mask

You know when you find a product you really fall in love with and you want to shout it from the rooftops?

OK, you might not all be as mad as I am, but when I like something...I like it a lot!

I recently came across the Ionic Clay Mask from the Botanics range in Boots and remembering reading about it on some of my favourite blogs, I decided to give it a go. I haven't bought a new face mask in a long time, as I find my skin doesn't always react well to them. I have uber sensitive skin and for some reason, masks always make me either break out or makes my skin go all red and dry.

What I loved about this mask is the fact that 1) it doesn't break the bank (it comes in at under £6) 2) you only need to use it once a week and 3) there were not a lot of nasties in the ingredients.

I picked up a tube and trotted home, where I used it in the evening after removing my make up and cleansing with the normal Bioderma and Liz Earl Hot Cloth Polish. The instructions recommend applying to clean, dry skin and leaving on for 10 minutes before washing it off. I left it on for slightly less than 10 minutes - right after the clay turned hard and started to crack when I smiled. A quick wash off and my skin was clear, squeaky clean, bright and refreshed! I finished off with my Pixi Glow Tonic and Origins Ginzing moisturiser and was left with very happy, very clean skin.

The clay in the mask really draws out impurities and leaves you feeling fresh and clean, without feeling dried out.

This is the first Botanics product I have tried and I really loved it! Have you tried this mask? What are your top budget masks? Enjoy x 

Naked Palette Dupes by MUA

OK, so maybe I have been hiding under a rock but the last couple of years with the pregnancy and the baby, the "It" beauty must have kind of rolled past me with nothing more than a vague sigh of longing from me.

Now that I have a new job starting very soon and the baby is almost a year old (can you believe it?!) I have been slowly getting back into the make up, beauty and fashion loving Claire Belle of old. So in the last three months, my make up collection has been joined by all three of the much lusted after Naked Palettes by Urban Decay.

Now, at £37, these are not a cheap addition to any collection, but, boy are they worth it! I actually worked my way backwards and started with number 3 and after a couple of months of testing, I would say number 1 is my favourite. Now, I saved for these bad boys, but if the thought of spending over £100 on 3 palettes makes you cringe slightly, then do I have a treat for you!

When I was schmoozing on the high street the other day, I wandered into my local Superdrug and have a looksee at the make up. I never normally check out MUA but I just fancied having a look on that particular day and I was very happy that I did. Lining up smartly on the MUA counter were three palettes, which made me stop in my tracks. OK, so the packaging was not as impressive as the Urban Decay numbers, but the similarities in the colour shades was amazing.

Undressed - £4

Heaven and Earth - £4

Undress Me Too - £4

Introducing Undressed, Undress Me Too and Heaven and Earth...the gorgeous 12 shade palettes from MUA. Featuring a selection of matte and shimmer nude and natural shades, these palettes were just begging to go into my basket and at £4 each (yes...£4 each!!!) I really could not resist. I really can't get over the price tag on these palettes, so I was expecting the quality to be a bit meh. Again, I was wrong. With the right eye shadow primer, these shadows are buttery soft and stay put with hardly any creasing. They blend together so well and the colour selection works so well in creating subtle or bold smokey eyes, with shades for highlighting, contouring and deepening.

It's taking some time to get through 36 shades, but if you are lusting after the Naked Palettes but can't justify the price tag, then I cannot recommend these MUA beauties highly enough.

Have you tried these palettes? What do you think of them? Enjoy x

My "Go To" Smoky Eye

Since having my little man, I've had to device a quick and simple, yet still pretty, look, which I can wear everyday (weekdays mind you...on the weekends when hubby can take over for a bit and I have more time, I get a bit more creative).

So I came up with a subtle smoky eye using brown shades and a gentle glowing look. I have to admit, since using Bioderma and Pixi's Glow Tonic (check out the review here) my skin has looked far better, making it look more refreshed and glowing after each use.

The products I chose to create the look are: Maybelline The Rocket mascara, MAC Mineral SPF Foundation, Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer, Benefit Sugarbomb bronzer, Benefit Hervana blusher, Collection Work The Colour Eyeshadow Pencil, Maybelline Master Drama Kohl Liner and my Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Expert Face brush.

After cleansing and moisturising with Bioderma, Pixi Glow Tonic and Steam Cream, I apply the Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer with my fingers (I picked up a sample of this but will be purchasing it ASAP!) which gives your skin a really pretty dewy glow.

Once primed, I take my MAC foundation and apply it with my fingers before blending it into my skin with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, making sure it's blended perfectly into my skin. This foundation leaves a lovely, light coverage and maintains the dewy look.

To give my face a bit more colour, I apply the Sugarbomb bronzer just under my cheekbones (quick tip: roll your brush down your cheek until you feel your cheekbone for the best place to apply) with an E.L.F. brush. This makes your cheekbones pop and gives a nice contoured look.

Then I use the Hervana blush on the apples of my cheeks to add a pop of colour and highlight. Once both bronzer and brush are applied, I use the same brush to gently buff them together to it looks natural. You are then left with a subtle yet defined look.

Onto the eyes. Using the Collection Eyeshadow Pencil, I draw on colour all over my eye lids then using an eyeshadow brush, I gently blend the colour into the sockets and up to the eyebrow, creating more depth at the outer corners and in the sockets.

Using my Maybelline Master Drama Kohl liner I draw carefully over the lash line. This kohl is super soft and blends beautifully. Once drawn on, I gently buff the black kohl so the line is not so intense but creates a gorgeous smoky look, without being too dramatic.

I then take the Rocket mascara and apply to both the top and bottom lashes and with the same brush I used to buff the kohl and eyeshadow into the top lids, I gently buff the bottom lid to give just a touch of the colour and add a tiny bit more definition to the final look.

And there you have it. An easy very wearable smoky eye, which lasts all day and can be made more evening appropriate by simply adding a touch more kohl to the bottom and top lids.

I haven't applied a lip colour yet, as that totally depends on where you are going. For daytime, I use a Benefit crème lipstick, which lasts well and leaves enough colour and sheen to look natural yet gives a bit of a statement.

What do you think of this overall look? Do you have a "go to" look, which you use frequently? Enjoy x

A New Mum's Beauty Essentials

As a brand new mama to a gorgeous baby boy, I didn't realise that I would have practically NO time to do my make-up, especially when it's just me and him in the house. When a little man demands your attention constantly and always wants cuddles, it's very difficult to find 5 minutes (let alone my usual half an hour) to make yourself look presentable.

I know to a lot of new mums, putting on some make-up after 2 hours sleep and a loooooong day ahead may seem pointless and a waste of valuable resting time (you are meant to sleep when the baby sleeps...yeh right, when there is a million jobs to do) but I promised myself that when my baby came, I would not lose who I am, and I am someone who loves wearing make up and (attempting) to make myself look somewhat presentable.

Now I am not talking about putting on a smoky eye, a layer of foundation, a full on red lip and cheek highlighter, I am talking about the bare minimum of product to help you look more awake and gorgeous...with minimum application time. Now that Elijah has a nap in the morning, I know I have maybe an hour to myself to run around the house doing all those annoying odd jobs, brush my teeth, my hair, get dressed and put on enough make up to make me look (and feel) like my old self.

So with that being said, here are my new mum beauty and make up essentials.

Primer

A good primer will hold your make up in place for a whole day, will create a flawless base and help create a smooth overall look. I personally am loving Benefit's Porefessional at the moment. It is slightly pricey (£23) and you don't get a huge amount of product, but you don't need a lot. Squeeze a pea size amount onto (clean) fingers and smooth over your whole face (I even put some on my eyelids). This primer smooths over pores and makes them appear smaller.

BB Cream

I am not a fan of foundation. I've never used it. I get why it is such a beauty essential but I have just never been a fan of how it makes me look - it could be because I have such pale skin and such dark features, it can make me look slightly, un-me! Anyway, I used to use tinted moisturiser, but over the last few months I have been obsessed with BB Cream. In particular Garnier's BB Cream in medium. This light weight cream feels just like a moisturiser but covers flaws and evens skin tone without making it look like your wearing any make up at all. It's perfect for masking a tired mum's skin while giving you a touch of colour (plus it contains an SPF - bonus!)

Concealer

To cover up those bags under the eyes, blemishes from hormonal break outs or any red patches, a concealer is any girl's best friend. Quickly whip it out an apply for immediate skin perfection. I've been using Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer recently, which also has an SPF and is slimline and easy to apply with a sponge application at the end of a wand. Perfect for popping into your (changing) bag for quick touch ups.

Under Eye Roll On

Another essential I can't live without at the moment. I use the Garnier Roll-On for dark circles. This little miracle worker isn't a new product, but it is a must-have for all new mums out there. With a little roller ball, you roll the product under your eye and it leaves a cooling concealer, which contains caffeine to help reduce bags, while covering them up. I apply it a few times a day!!

Cream Eyeshadow

Perhaps not an essential for everyone, but I prefer wearing a touch of colour on my eyes (to detract from the tiredness of them!). If you are going to make an eyeshadow one of your must-haves, make it a really decent cream one. The reason to go for a cream shadow is because the decent ones last all day, while providing a gorgeous pop of colour. I recommend Maybelline's 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in Immortal Charcoal (perfect for creating a smoky eye in seconds) and Benefit's Birthday Suit - a pretty neutral, which would suit any skin tone. I also recommend cream shadows because you can apply them quickly and evenly with your fingers, perfect if you only have a couple of minutes to do your make up!

Mascara

If you only have a couple of minutes to apply a dash of make up, make sure that mascara is included in your routine. There is no better product to make you look more awake, feminine and gorgeous. Mascara opens your eyes up and, when applied to the top and bottom lashes, creates a more lasting and gorgeous look, and makes your eyes look bigger and brighter. I recommend a volumising mascara, which thickens, lengthens and adds volume. I've been using Maybelline's The Rocket in black. You only need a few strokes to create thicker and longer looking lashes, and the brush makes it easy for applying to the bottom lashes too.

Moisturiser

A must have for everyone, not just new mums! A new mum's skin can be particularly prone to dehydration, especially if you are breastfeeding too. It's so important to keep your skin moisturised to keep it looking and feeling healthy and well nourished. Don't scrimp on a good moisturiser. It's important to get one, which works for your skin type and also feeds it with what it needs. I've been using since the new year Tropic Skin Revive. Easy to slip into your bag, this comes with a pump for easy application, and is so packed full of gorgeous nutrients, you only need a small amount to give you maximum benefit. I apply in the morning and evening and it really does give you a pretty glow and a more refreshed looking face. I've even convinced my sister-in-law and fellow new mum Michelle to give this a whirl, and she loves it!

Dry Shampoo

I used to wash my hair and style it every other day. Now I am lucky if I can wash it twice a week! Luckily, I've had my hair cut shorter so it's easier to style with minimum effort, but if I am going out and simply haven't had the time to wash, then dry shampoo to the rescue! I am usually a Batiste gal, but recently I have been using Tresemme's Instant Refresh dry shampoo, which removes oil and boosts volume. It really does do what it says on the tin. It's worth picking one of these up and giving your hair a spray to make it look instantly better.

Quick Drying Nail Polish

I am a nail polish addict and I wasn't going to let that obsession go when Elijah came along. What I discovered was that if I wanted to do my nails before my hubby got home (when I can pass the little man over) was that I needed a quick dry polish. Although not technically a quick dry polish, a matte finish varnish dries super quickly (normally in a few minutes) and allows you to get a gorgeous look...fast! I love Models Own Hedonist from their Hed Kandi collection - a bright neon coral, this colour is perfect for adding a pop of colour to your look. If you want a glossy finish, apply a top coat when you have the time!

So those are my new mum beauty essentials. I hope this helps any new mums out there, who might be feeling like they don't have the time to make themselves look and feel a bit like their old selves! x

Fearne Cotton's Makeup Range Makes a Return for Spring!

It's always exciting when a new make up range is launched, and even more so if it has a hot celeb fronting it! TV and radio presenter, style guru, fashionista and all round cool chick Fearne Cotton has just launched the second edition of her make up range "Fearne" (original no?) The first launch was at Christmas, which proved so popular, that a new edition each season was called for.

I was sent a selection of pieces from the new collection to review, and I have to say, I was very impressed. Super cute and girly packaging with quotes and sweet designs and fun and quirky colourways for face, eyes, lips and nails. I was sent two gorgeous nail polishes - a super bright coral (which I am wearing as I type) and a beautiful lilac (my new favourite colour), a chunky silver/blue eyeliner, a well put together eyeshadow palette, a lip set containing a lip pencil, lip gloss and lipstick, all in plummy pink shades and finally an eye shimmer.

The nail varnishes (£5.50) are fab - really bright, summery and fun - just want you want for a spring time manicure fix. the brushes glide onto the nails very easily and just a couple of coats suffice. I managed to keep my nails looking perfect for about three days before they started chipping, which isn't bad considering I was prepping for a photoshoot and doing a lot of packing and unpacking, so if you're careful, they would probably last a bit longer!

The eyeliner (£5) was my least favourite product, but that's more because I'm not a fan of silvery eye products (I prefer richer, earthier tones). It glided on well, but creased up as the day went on. However, I was able to apply my liquid eyeliner over the top, so that was a plus. I think I would use this again, but I would opt for a one of the other shades.

The eyeshadow palette (£12) is gorgeous. Loads of colour options which blend really well together and no shortage of combinations - and the palette comes complete with a mirror, and is really slim, so perfect for slipping into your handbag for a night out, or taking it away with you on holiday as a space saver.

The lip set (£10) is also a great little product, a small lip pencil lets you define your lips, a matching lipstick lets you fill them in and the gloss gives them a great shine. The colour I was sent wasn't my favourite - there is a darker plum shade which is more me - but this makes a great present.

Finally, the eye shimmer (£5) is a little pot of shimmer, which is perfect for applying on your eyes alone or over an eyeshadow to make it a bit more special. I have also dusted it onto my cheekbones to highlight them slightly. Of course, this works better if you have a more natural colour shimmer!

Over all, I was really impressed with Fearne's range. It's fun, colourful and has really reasonable price points, ranging from £5 - £12. The range has just launched in Boots, so why not nip out to your local store and grab yourself a little of Fearne's quirky beauty. Enjoy x

MAC and Me!

Fun day today - I had a make up trial for my upcoming wedding in Feb! A fab girl called Elina popped over with a SUITCASE...yes...a whole suitcase filled with delectable MAC goodies! She is not a weird hoarder, Elina works for MAC, pretty high up, and does freelance make-up on the side...fab way to make a living.

Now I am someone who is very particular about my make-up. I don't like foundation, I love dramatic eyes, and I like my eyeliner done only a certain way. That being said, I wanted to be open about the trial - but I knew that a typical "bridal" look is not something that is...well...me. I love experimenting with make up, especially my eyes, and I knew that a pretty and subtle look just wouldn't cut it, and I want to look like me on my wedding day..just better!

Elina was fab, she took all of this on board and whipped open her case...my mouth dropped! It was as if she had swept an entire MAC counter into her bag. hundreds of lipsticks, lip glosses and lip pencils, dozens of foundations, powders and brushes and just a massive amount of eye shadow palettes, mascaras and eyeliners. Girl heaven in a bag.

I'm not going to give away too much, but needless to say, I was a MAC fan before, but now, I am their number one fan. The colours in the eyeshadows, pigments and lipsticks are just amazing. The mineralized foundation that Elina used glided on and felt like I was wearing nothing at all, but looked beautiful, and the lip gloss I opted for was a special charity edition, where the proceeds (minus VAT of course) goes to helping fight HIV and AIDS - it also looked perfect!

MAC have got some amazing collections at the moment, and I highly recommend popping down to your closest MAC counter (try going to Harrods if you can and ask for Elina) and testing out some products and fill your basket. My favourite has to be Venomous Villains - iinspired by the Dark Side of Disney the collection has four parts corresponding to each of the evil cartoon villains.
Cruella De Ville, the fur loving, skunk haired glam villain from 101 Dalmatians.
Evil Queen, the jealous and vain beauty queen from Snow White.
Maleficent, the witch/dragon who is quite possibly the scariest Disney baddy of all time from Sleeping Beauty.
Last but not least Dr Facilier, the voodoo baddy from The Princess and the Frog.

Other products I really recommend from today are Viva Glam, a new collection which features Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga - the lipgloss I'm wearing on my wedding day is from this collection. The Mineralize foundation, which goes on like a dream and the Prep and Prime Skin lotion, which is fab for popping onto the face before applying make up, as it minimises pores, gets rid of oils and makes make up stay put all day! Perfect for brides.

I've put some pics below so have a look, and check out the website. Enjoy x

Gorgeous, Gothic, Glamorous Make-up!

If there’s something I love, it’s a dramatic, smoky eye – and if a bit of glitter and shimmer are involved, all the better!

It’s not just me. Dramatic, glittery eyes were all over the Autumn Winter catwalks and the Spring Summer catwalks, proving that a bit of drama works all year long. I was very pleased then, to discover an amazing new make-up kit from fab brand Front Cover (if you’re unfamiliar, check out the website, they have everything you could want including step by step make up tutorials!)

They’ve released a gorgeous kit called Moonlit Metals, which contains everything you need to achieve this glamorously gothic look, including a shadowbase to keep the glitter from spilling onto your cheeks and makes the colour more intense. It also contains 6 loose pigment powders and two lose glitters (in pots obviously!) a double ended applicator AND step by step instructions to getting the latest catwalk looks from make up artists Leanne Shaw! All in one pretty box!

This is my favourite kind of make-up, a whole set to get you experimenting and creating. I believe make-up is all about having fun, and with this kit, you’ll be playing for hours creating gorgeous new sexy looks! I’ll post some pics shortly, but in the meantime, check out the images below and grab yourself a Front Cover Moonlit Metals kit (Boots stock the range), and start hogging that bathroom mirror! Enjoy x

Front Cover Moonlit Metals kit: £16

www.frontcovercosmetics.com

Zac Posen

Prada

Giles

Marc Jacobs