Sleek MakeUp - Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette

I've been wanting to try out a high end sculpting powder for a while, but the one I have my eye on costs upwards of £35...so I might have to wait for my birthday in October before I make that purchase!

In the meantime, I thought I would see what the high street has to offer. For those of you who aren't sure what it is, a sculpting powder is similar to a bronzer, but slightly muddier in colour. It's used to create shadow and contrast on the face and you apply it to areas such as under the cheekbones, the temples, under the jaw etc to create the illusion of sculpture, or to help create more definition to those areas.

I popped into my local Superdrug (shock horror I strayed away from my beloved Boots) as they stock the brand Sleek MakeUp and I have heard some good things about their contouring palette.

They had two colour options, light and medium. I opted for the light, especially as winter is approaching and anything too bronzey would look ridiculous on me during the colder months! The palette itself is actually really stylish. It comes in a cardboard box and the product is in a "sleek" black, matte palette, with the product in one half and a mirror on the other half.

The palette comprises of three products - a sculpting powder for definition, a highlighter to define cheekbones etc and a pretty, soft blush to finish the look.

Using a face expert brush from Real Techniques, I applied the sculpting powder under my cheekbones, on my temples and under my jaw. I then applied a light dusting of the highlighter on my cheekbones and finished it off with a touch of the pinky blusher on the apples of my cheeks.

I was actually really impressed with the overall look. The powders applied easily and, once blended with a large powder brush, looked very natural and my face definitely looked more defined, with the cheekbones looking slightly more sculpted.

I still think I will purchase the high end powder I have my eye on (I'm already on the waiting list at Cult Beauty) but for now, this is a really great and affordable substitute - a bargain at £9.99!

What do you think of the Sleek MakeUp contouring palette? Have you tried it? Enjoy x

Maybelline's The Eraser Eye

Since having my little man, I probably haven't had more than about 6 hours sleep a night. After the initial few weeks, which meant on average 4 hours a night, I started to develop seriously dark circles under my eyes.

I basically look like I've been punched in both eyes. Very attractive. Therefore, a good under eye concealer has been on my "to buy" list for a while. I was all set to spend a fair chunk of change on one, and go for a Bobbi Brown or Nars concealer, that I've heard such rave reviews about, but then, I thought I would just check the high street one more time, to see if they had anything relatively close to offer.

Just as I had given up swatching, my eye fell upon a Maybelline product I had never seen before. Behold, Maybelline's The Eraser Eye! A slimline but chunky enough to hold tube, with a sponge applicator. It comes in 2 shades, light and nude...so that definitely needs improving on! I picked up the nude shade, which seemed to suit me. To get the product out of the sponge applicator (not the most hygienic way to apply make up) you have to twist the base. It takes about 50 clicks to get the product out, but when it does, you only need to twist it once to get plenty of product.

The formulation is light and cooling and applies easily. Its coloured pigments perfect the under eye area covering flawlessly. Enriched with Goji Berry the formula cares for the eye area that suffers most from a sleepless nights! Once applied under the eye, I just blended it in gently with my fingers or a buffing brush and then applied foundation or tinted moisteriser on top as normal.

Overall, for £7.99 this is a great little product. It definitely gives more coverage that I thought and blends perfectly into the skin and leaves my eyes feeling hydrated. I probably will need to invest in a more heavy duty product at some point, which will cost me more, but for now, this is perfect and easy to pop into my (changing) bag for when I'm on the go.

Have you tried The Eraser Eye? What do you think? Enjoy x

Neon + Fluffy + Baggy = The Perfect AW13 Jumper

I spotted a flash of neon the other day when I was walking past River Island and I was immediately drawn in.

The flash turned out to be a neon lime, mohair-esque baggy jumper. It was love at first sight! Neon and mohair (or fluffy if you like) are two huge trends for AW13 and this jumper had the perfect amount of high fashion flair and 90's grunge appeal (another trend to look out for).

I picked it up. Put it back. Picked it up again. Checked the price. Then I left the shop thinking, if I still thought about it for 24 hours (a rule I made for myself) then I would go back and get it.

Well 24 hours later I still wanted it, so I made the trip back - there's a River Island on my high street - and picked it up! I got it in a size 14 as I wanted it to be really baggy and at £35 it is the perfect new piece to take into the new fashion season.

Definitely not one for everybody though. In fact when I asked my hubby if he liked it, he just said..."erm...it's a bit bright!" With my new hair though, I feel like rocking some more "out there" pieces!

What do you think of this jumper? Hit or miss? Enjoy x

New Hair...or...Got My Hur Did!

So yeh...I had a bit of a hair cut.

I decided a while ago that I fancied a complete change after having Elijah. I've lost about one and a half stone so far (love Weight Watchers) and I still have another one and a half to go, but I finally felt that my face had slimmed down enough to go for the chop!

I hadn't planned on going as short as I did, but when I got to the salon on Saturday, I talked to my stylist about what I was thinking and she...and a few other stylists at the salon...convinced me to do it.

I got both sides textured and cut super short - about an inch and half long, and then she left the middle section of my hair longer, so I can flip it over, make it wavy or make it into a mohawk...my personal favouite!

 It's taken me a few days to get used to it, but I can now say, I love it. It's so much fun to try a new style and, although my ears and neck are freezing, I really do love it and I think this will be a style that sticks...for a few months at least.

If you like this new do, I had it done at Hair on Broadway in Stanmore, North London...ask for Christina, she's amazing!

What do you think of my new do? Too short or just right? x

Harper Beckham Rocks NYFW!

Total gush kinda post coming up. I am really not into doing posts about celebrities, unless there is a fashion or beauty link (or I'm obsessed with them...cough...cough...Beyonce).

When I saw this picture posted on Instagram, I could not help but go "awwwwwwwwwwww."

How adorable is this snap of the gorgeous Harper Beckham perched on her daddy's, the even more gorgeous David, knee? Harper got her very own front row seat at mama Victoria's fashion show at New York Fashion Week, rocking a little Chloe sundress and shoes, with her hair in a perfect bun, natch!

How cool is she? Having a little (baby) babble with Anna Wintour, who, for once, looks warm and friendly and smitten with little girl Beckham.

OK, a bit of a nothing post. I just fell in love a little bit when I saw it. Enjoy x

Robert Pattinson for Dior Homme

O...M...Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

I am sorry, but I am literally lost for words. When I saw the new uncensored, director's cut advert for Dior Homme fragrance, featuring none other than one of the most swoon-worthy men on the planet, the delectable Robert Pattinson, I actually almost screamed in a very undignified teenager like way.

But come on, look at him! Forget Twilight, RPatz is a Dior man now and he has never looked better.

If you were team Jacob, I highly recommend watching this video and your allegiance will quickly change to team Edward. Not only does this man sizzle in the advert, with a gorgeous new high fashion look, but he wears Dior like a pro and his frame makes the clothes look fabulous.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm just going to stick this little video on repeat...again. Enjoy! x

Dare To Go Nude

I wrote a blog post a little while back about my preference of lip colour. I love purple and plum shades. This is a relatively new colour love, probably the last year or so, I just found that these tones really suit my skin and hair colour. I love that a purple or plum shade can carry you through from day to night, depending on how dark a tone you choose.

I fancied a bit of a change recently though, just to mix things up a bit, and I thought "ooh, I've never really worn a nude lip before." So, I decided to give a nude(ish) shade a chance. This started with Rimmel's Notting Hill Nude, which I picked up a couple of months ago, and has now ended up in a wee collection of about 5 nude shades, all in various tones and depths.

Wearing Notting Hill Nude

I love wearing these lipsticks through the day. They are so easy to wear and do not over power your face, making wearing a bit more of a dramatic smokey eye during the day easier. I thought they wouldn't suit me, as I was so used to a stronger lip colour but I really love the softness of the shades and they have now become a firm favourite in my (changing)bag.

So I thought I would share them with you!

I've been using a couple of the Revlon Lip Butters recently and I love them. They have the most beautiful consistency, literally like butter! The shades I have been using are Berry Smoothie, a pretty pinkish nude and Pink Truffle, which is more of a mink, brown toned nude. I think Pink Truffle is my favourite of the two shades.

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

Next up is a Rimmel Moisture shade called Notting Hill Nude. This is a great everyday nude - a sort of soft pinkish brown. very subtle yet very pretty, goes with pretty much any look.

Rimmel Notting Hill Nude

Another Rimmel one next, Asia and I think this might be my favourite. It's a slightly deeper shade than Notting Hill Nude and a bit more matte, which gives it a stunning finish. I really love this shade and have already started bulk buying!

Rimmel Asia

Next isn't actually a lipstick, it's a balm! The Maybelline Baby Lips are a bit of a cult product (and at £2.99 you might as well collect all the shades when you find them!) I picked up Peach Kiss, which gives you a really well nourished lip and a touch of colour too...plus a gorgeous peach smell. Yum!

Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss

Finally we have a Rimmel Apocalips in shade Celestial. This is slightly too pigmented to be considered a nude perhaps, but it's a neutral tone, so I decided to include it! The Apocalips are lip lacquers and give a gorgeous amount of colour and a pretty shine, without being too glossy. They also last ages! I love this colour as it is such a pretty day time shade.

Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial

So there you have them. Have you tried any of these shades? Which are your favourites? Enjoy x