A girl's best friend

 Top - Primark Limited Edition

Shorts - Topshop

Bag - Mulberry

Shoes - Very

Having not worn anything ‘blogworthy’ at the weekend I thought I would show you an outfit I wore a few weekends ago for a night out with the girls.  It was a hot bank holiday and I didn’t feel like wearing a dress so I thought I would mix it up a little and bring out a pair of shorts.  I can’t remember the last time I wore a shorts and top combo to hit the town.  When I was younger it was literally my failsafe outfit option: a pair of black shorts, a jazzy top, a staple pair of opaque tights and loads of plastic jewellery to complete the look.  It’s safe to say I’m glad I branched out a little with my choices.

Fast forward a few years and here I am in what I think is a much classier ensemble.  My top is from the Limited Edition section in Primark which I think is great for finding pieces which are a little nicer than your average Primarni goods but still come with a purse-friendly price tag.  I love the gold chain detailing and I think it makes the top look a lot more expensive than it actually was.  The shorts are plaid (I think that’s what you call it) and have a very intricate woven design which again makes them feel a lot more luxurious than they actually are.  The frayed fringe detailing is also very cute and adds a little extra length so I don’t look like I’m rocking hotpants!  But onto the thing I love the most about this outfit.  Did you spot it?  It’s a real life Mulberry bag!  Not mine of course but a lovely ‘lend from a friend’ which compliments the pink in my shorts perfectly.  Maybe one day I will have my very own mullers but until then I shall continue to lust over this one!

I fancied something a bit different for my hair as I felt my usual ‘soft curls with lots of volume’ look was getting a little boring.  I decided to go old school and ask my friend to pop two skull plaits into my hair whilst it was still wet.  The results, as you can see, were nineties style beachy waves.  I was happy with it but it looked even better the next day when it had dropped a little and the waves had relaxed.  Looking back, I think I must have took subliminal inspiration from the cute little bichon frise puppy we were dog-sitting that weekend.  Isn’t he the cutest?  I think he makes the perfect accessory!

I will add that both the puppy (Chester) and the Mulberry (Dusty) have been returned to their rightful owner, my fabulous friend Nat, but if anyone out there would like to buy me a puppy or a handbag, or even a puppy sitting in a handbag with a pink ribbon in it’s hair, please just let me know.  A girl can dream can’t she?

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MAC Neon Orange Lipstick

 MAC Neon Orange Lipstick (£14)

MAC’s All About Orange collection is now available in stores and wow, there’s so much love for it!  I thought the colour orange would be something that most people would shy away from but it seems a lot of people are feeling rather brave and embracing it.  And why not?  It’s such a gorgeous collection.  How are we supposed to resist?  I’ve already reviewed the Sweet & Sour lipstick, a peachy, cutesy orange which I’m obsessed with, but here’s a little something on the opposite end of the orange spectrum for you.  

Neon Orange is a super bright shade which really packs a punch.  Probably not for the faint hearted, this colour screams ‘look at me‘ whilst staying classy and remaining very wearable.  If I’m being honest I don’t think neon is the right word to describe this colour.  Looking at other MAC lipsticks, I would say the likes of ‘Show Orchid’ or ‘Candy Yum Yum‘ were truer neon shades.  I think this is a very, very bright orange but I know that doesn’t sound half as good for a lipstick name so I can see why MAC went with what they did.  The amplified formula means that the colour applies opaque to the lips in one or two slicks and is very rich.  Despite being so pigmented I find it still leaves a trace of gloss which feels really moisturising.  There’s nothing worse than when you love the colour of a lipstick but it really dries your lips out.  

I know there’s a lot of comparisons currently being made between this and MAC’s cult shade Morange but I haven’t tried the latter so I can’t comment yet.  Morange is on my lust list so I shall give you my two cents on the matter once I’ve tried it out.  I’m in no rush though because Neon Orange is fulfilling all of my ‘loud orange lipstick’ needs right now.  I wore it one night last week to help change my outfit from day to night and it instantly picked me up.  My face looked brighter and even my teeth looked a little whiter.  The things a little bit of lipstick can do eh?  Amazing!  Another fabulous offering from the All About Orange collection!  

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Avon Eyeshadow Primer

 Avon Eyeshadow Primer (£7)

I’m no eyeshadow expert.  In fact, I’m pretty hopeless with the stuff and often end up looking more like a sad panda than a screen siren when I attempt a smokey eye.  One thing I do know however, is that the first step to successful eyeshadow application is a good base and I think I’m on to a winner with Avon’s Eyeshadow Primer.

This tiny little pot of joy brings me so much eyeshadow happiness.  Applied to clean eyelids, this product absorbs any oily residue which can cause your colour to crease and creates a smooth canvas for your shadow.  A little slick of this, and I literally mean a smidgen as it blends out really well, and my eyeshadow not only looks brighter but it lasts longer too.  I used it for the first time before a big night out to create a golden smokey look.  It really brought out the colour of the shadow making it shimmer and pop.  Many hours and many cocktails later, I stood in front of my bedroom mirror to examine the damage.  My hair resembled a bird’s nest (too much whipping it back and forth) and my foundation had caved under my disco induced sweat, but low and behold my eyes were perfect.  Not a smudge in sight and still as bright as when I left the house.  I was amazed.

Whether you do or don’t use an eyeshadow primer already, you should definitely give this one a go.  Like I said, I’m a newbie when it comes to creating perfect eye looks but this has really improved my application.  You can buy it online for £7 but I seem to remember picking it up a little cheaper from the brochure so it would be well worth a look at one first.  We all know an Avon lady right?  If not, let me know and I can put you in touch with one as I know a load of girls who are on commission for selling the stuff.  Am I?  No, they’re not paying me.  I just love this primer so much I would rave about it all day for free.  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

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Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus

 Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus (£32.50)

A good hair mask does wonders for reviving your locks and restoring goodness when you hair needs a little TLC.  I am currently loving the Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus which deeply treats are repairs damaged hair.  I reached for this last week after I’d gone a little too crazy with my backcombing the night before.  As we all know, backcombing does wonders for hair volume but nothing for the quality so it’s important to nourish the hair if you’ve been a little harsh with it.  Cue this little beauty from Ojon.

The first thing that stands out for me with this mask is the consistency.  Not your average squeezy-bottle-lotion type formula, the mask takes the shape of a solid wax in a sturdy little pot.  Using the scoop/comb that comes with the mask (I use a spoon as I’ve lost my scoop), I take 1 - 1.5 teaspoons of product and pop it in the palm of my hands and begin to rub them together.  The wax melts like butter and soon has an oil like consistency.  It’s at this point I begin to lather it through my hair and then comb it from root to tips.  I do this again and again until all of my hair is covered in the mask and it begins to look wet.  It soaks quickly into my hair, penetrating the follicles and really getting to work.  I don’t know if it’s just mind over matter but I can feel the treatment working straight away.  

The mask has a very natural, earthy, wood-like smell which makes the product subtle enough to leave in overnight if you want to.  If I’m not mistaken, I think the fragrance has been re-formulated as I remember reading reviews on this product a couple of years ago and a lot of people commented on it’s very overpowering, almost unbearably strong smell.  It’s good that Ojon took note of this and made some changes as it seems a shame for anyone to write this product off just because it doesn’t smell too good.

After allowing the treatment to work it’s magic for a good twenty minutes, I jump in the shower and shampoo and rinse as normal.  When I dry my hair I can instantly see a difference.  It’s smoother, feels softer and has a gorgeous salon-like shine.  It feels a lot healthier too and I start to feel less guilty about the rigorous backcombing.  Any product that can do that is definitely worth my money!  So...money!  How much will this little gem set you back?  A 100ml sized tub is £32.50 which I think is a decent price for a good, reputable brand like Ojon.  A little goes a long way with this treatment so it will last a fair amount of time if used weekly as recommended.  I’ve noticed you can buy smaller tubs too so if you don’t want to fully commit to the full sized product, why not treat yourself to a little taster 50ml size for £16.  Go on...you hair wants you to.  

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Real Techniques Core Collection

 Real Techniques Core Collection (£21.99)

L - R: Contour Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Detailer Brush, Buffing Brush

My first experience of Real Techniques was with the fantastic, ever-popular stippling brush, which makes applying liquid foundations and cream blushes an absolute doddle.  A few uses of this brush and I was hooked.  I couldn’t wait to try out the brand’s other offerings and so after much deliberation over what to get next (there’s so much choice!), I settled on the Core Collection set.  These four brushes come with a handy brush carrier/stand and are what you need in your life to create a flawless looking base for your make up.  Each brush does a different job so I will give you my thoughts on each individually:

The Contour Brush is a medium sized fluffy brush designed to make contouring your face just that little bit easier.  I don’t know a great deal about contouring.  I know the basics and always give it a go when I’m doing my make up but I’m yet to transform myself into ‘Queen of the Contour’ Miss Kimmy K.  However, this brush has really helped me start to get it right.  I apply a generous amount of matte bronzer to the bristles, suck in my cheeks and start gently buffing the powder under my cheekbones.  The brush head fits perfectly into the hollows of my cheeks which gives a great guide for where I need to be applying the product.

The Pointed Foundation Brush does exactly what it says on the tin and is used to apply liquid foundation to the face.  I haven’t used this brush a great deal as I find it a little on the small side to apply a full face of foundation but it is great for application when you need a little more control.  I find it comes in very handy for blending concealer on those bad skin days when I apply it in larger patches on my face and eye bags.

The Detailer Brush is a teeny weeny little brush designed to use to apply your lipstick.  I don’t use it to brush my lipstick onto my lips because I’m far too lazy for that but I do use it to apply concealer around my lip line to neaten up my pout.  Most of these brushes do have multi-uses and I find myself using this to touch up my concealer in the nooks and crannies of my face.  It’s great for getting under my bottom lashes when I’ve gone a bit too ‘smudge-crazy’ with the eyeliner.  

The Buffing Brush is by far my favourite brush from the four.  It’s the reason I bought the Core Collection set as you cannot buy this brush separately and as you can tell from the foundation filled bristles, I couldn’t wait to use it and excitedly did so before I photographed it (naughty naughty!)  This brush provides a flawless finish when used with either liquid or mineral foundation and I couldn’t be more impressed with it.  The bristles are just the right length: long enough to buff the foundation into your skin but short enough so you keep control.  I’m not left with any streaks or patches on my face but instead a really fresh complexion.  This has definitely replaced the Stippling Brush as my most-loved Real Techniques brush.

And there you have it!  Four fantastic brushes for a very nice price of £21.99, which is another thing I love about Real Technniques, they’re such great value for money.  I can’t wait to grow my collection further.  The Powder, Blush and Expert Face brushes are all on my lust list.  But which do I go for next?  I think I may just need to get them all.

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Old becomes new

 Jumpsuit - ASOS (very old)

Necklace & bangles - Primark

Shoes - Very

Bag - Next

It’s most disappointing when you have your heart set on a dress and it doesn’t work out the way that you planned.  Either too big, too small, too revealing or just not fabulous enough, this week after a long search, I was left with three dresses to return and nothing else to wear the night before my work’s annual summer BBQ.  I say nothing else to wear but like most girls, I do have a wardrobe wardrobes packed full of clothes that I could re-wear but don’t want to.  I like to buy something new for special occasions but after trying and failing to find something that I loved, I was forced to delve into the wardrobe ‘Narnia-style’ and find something old which I could make look new again.

This is what I plucked out.  A white, cheesecloth jumpsuit from ASOS which has been a favourite of mine for many years now.  It always comes on holiday with me because it looks great towards the end of trip when I’m sporting a golden tan.  It’s full length with gathered bottoms which are tight around the ankles however I pulled the legs up so it looked a little different to how I normally wear it.  I love how big and baggy the legs of this jumpsuit are although they can be a little impractical at times.  I was getting out of the taxi, after a few cocktails might I add, and I caught the heel of my shoe in the fabric and it pulled the whole jumpsuit down around my waist.  Amazingly nobody else saw so I was spared a lot of embarrassment but it was definitely one of my ‘not-so-chic‘ moments.  Paired with my new favourite shoes (which I just can’t take off) and a bright bag, I think it makes for a rather nice summertime outfit.  Thankfully we did have some sun yesterday - imagine wearing this in the pouring rain?!  Not a good luck.

This outfit has made me realise that I don’t ALWAYS need to have something new to wear and with a little bit of effort, some new accessories and a nice bouncy blowdry, you can reinvent any outfit.  I’ve saved money too which means I can spend twice as much on my next shopping trip.  That is how it works right?

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MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick

 MAC Sweet & Sour lipstick (£14)

A newly released MAC collection will have any make-up lover’s heart racing but a collection which includes seven, yes seven, brand new shades of lipstick will just about give us a cardiac arrest.  The much anticipated All About Orange range has finally launched and I’ve bagged myself a few beauties.  Inspired by the colour which is sweeping Korea, Asia and soon to be the rest of the world, this collection includes a gorgeous mix of powder blushes, nail polishes, lipsticks, glosses, an eye-shadow quad and as the name suggests, is all about the colour orange!

Being the lipstick lover that I am I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the new shades so picked up several of them.  I also grabbed a blush too but I’m going to review everything in individual posts so it doesn’t get too long.  First to catch my eye was Sweet & Sour, a creme sheen formula lipstick with a simply divine unique colour.  As you can see this isn’t a bright, ‘in your face’ orange so is definitely one to try if you’re a bit colour shy.  The shade is described as a ‘soft peach cream’ which fits the bill perfectly.  It does have orange undertones but it definitely airs more on the side of peachy/light coral.

As the formula is a cremesheen, the lipstick isn’t too pigmented.  Therefore, you can give lips a quick slick for a more sheer effect or build up the color with lots of layers for something a little more bold.  I went for it and applied a generous amount.  It lasts around two to three hours as it’s quite a glossy finish so top ups will be required throughout the day.  My lips looked fresh and my whole face was brightened by the colour - as was my mood!  Orange just reminds me of my bright sunny summer days (nothing like the weather today!)

I am in love with this lippy as I don’t have anything else like it in my lipstick collection.  I’m more of a pinks, purples and reds kind of girl so having some orange on my lips is a nice change.  I can’t wait to try out the rest of the collection so watch out for the rest of my reviews which will be coming soon.  Unfortunately, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Sweet & Sour is already sold out on MAC’s website.  That’s just made you want it that little bit more hasn’t it?  Don’t fret - you may be able to pick it up in the shops but I would be quick as this is a limited edition collection and they don’t half sell out fast.  Eek!  Maybe I should go and buy some more?

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