My 'Naked' Look

Hi all!

Don't be put off by the title, I am NOT about to take my clothes off! I just decided to write a face of the day post with a more natural look - we all know this actually take a fair few products to do!

I've been playing around with my products lately and having found myself owning a fair few Urban Decay Naked products and using them on a regular basis. I decided to do a face of the day with these and therefore....my Naked look.

All of the Naked products are pretty easy to use, they're all nude tones and designed that way in order that they suit almost everyone depending on which palette you choose.

In these photos I have applied Naked Skin as my foundation. I had a tester pot from the counter a few weeks ago and have been using it on and off testing it out and I can say I'm quite impressed. It's almost a lotion as its so thin and runny yet covers all of my flaws and doesn't look like it has coated my skin whatsoever. I'll be buying this as soon as  get my chance!



On top of this I applied bronzer, blusher and highlighter from the Naked Flushed palette. This palette is great and you barely need any product to get the full effect. The bronzer is perfect as it isn't orangey at all and the blusher is so pigmented you barely need to swipe it to get the colour you need.
The highlighter is so finely milled that its even more fine than MAC's MSF in Soft and Gentle, which is a firm favourite of mine, though it can look glittery in day time. Naked flushed's version does not have this problem at all due to the particles being so small and can be worn in day time without fear of looking like a disco ball.



I've cheated slightly and applied my brows with my HD brow kit, I think Naked brows would look a little odd really wouldn't they?



For my eyes I've used Naked 3, the recent addition to my collection thanks to my mum who must have noticed my copious amounts of hints leading up to my birthday, what a lovely lady!
I cannot remember for the life of my which shades i chose and if I remember rightly I probably used the majority as it was one of the first times I used it. Lots of blending went on here!






What is eye shadow without eye liner?

Above I've applied the Naked Basics 24/7 Glide on Eye liner with Crave on the outer corner of my eye and waterline and Venus on the inner corner. I love the look this gives and if I was more awake in the mornings I'd always apply this!




Lastly what's a FOTD without some lip action?

This is one of the new Naked Lipglosses in Liar; its a gorgeous pink that's really wearable for day and night. It's enough colour to show that you're wearing it but its not overpowering either. I really like the formula of these as they're not too sticky either which is a pet hate of mine!

What do you think? Are you a fan of the Naked range? Which product is your favourite?

Naked Skin foundation is next on my purchase list!

L xxx

Nine West in TK Maxx

Hey loves!

I don't know about you, but summer weather always makes me want new bags. It makes me want new shoes, dresses and flowery accessories too but primarily....bags.

Bright colours, nude colours, small satchels, cute clutches, anything goes and when they're at a reduced price it's even harder to say no!

After a trip to TK Maxx with my mum, I came home with two pretty much exactly the same bags. A similar style, one bright and one nude both would go with SO MUCH in my wardrobe and both were reduced, I fought people off them in the shop I was so excited.

Firstly is this beautiful corally pink colour bag. Both of these bags are from Nine West which are known for their good quality bags and shoes. I didn't hesitate at picking these up after that.

Although the bag is small its got lots of pockets which I find is much handier with smaller bags, you can put your keys in one, phone and lipstick in the other, and purse in the largest one. At least then you know you've got a chance at finding everything in it!

Secondly is this stone coloured bag, very similar to the one above but not exactly the same. This one is longer and narrower in comparison to the square coral bag and is missing a pocket at the front.

Aside from that, the stone colour of this bag surely goes with literally anything you could own?? That was why it was such a hard choice in the store, I couldn't leave without either one of them as my wardrobe for summer consists of coral and nude, it would have been wrong to leave with one and not the other.

I like that to straps also feel quite sturdy. They're not as sturdy as my previously mentioned Michael Kors bag but I'm sure that's reflected in the pricing. Besides these bags are so small that you couldn't fit anything heavy enough into them to break the straps!

I also like that the straps are adjustable. It drives me mental when companies think we're all the same height and width, I'm tall with boobs, i need looooooooooong straps so that I don't look like I'm wearing it halfway up my back you know!

My only let down with Nine West bags is the BORING inside. I'm a huge fan of bag linings and after a quick assessment of the outside I'm straight onto the inside to check out the lining.

The plain beige colour on the inside was a big disappointment. I wasn't expecting a rainbow of colour or a crazy geometric pattern.....but the material is also cheap and it does let them both down somewhat.

Needless to say i left with both bags after finding out that they were priced at less than £18! With deals like that you just cannot say no to TK Maxx can you.

I've had to restrain myself from going in there having acquired four bags from there recently, some were for my birthday presents but even so FOUR?! i need to be controlled!

Are you a fan of Nine West bags and shoes? Are you a bargain hunter in TK Maxx too?

I'm going to have to go in there again soon as there's sure to be bargains in time for the festival and summer holiday season!

L xxx

    

Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara 100% Black

Morning All

I'm currently very tired post gig last night. I'm regretting changing my day off but I'm sure a 5 day weekend is better than having today off.

This is a review I've been meaning to write for a while. I've mentioned this mascara in numerous posts on the blog and it's been a firm high street favourite of mine for almost 6 years!

It's the Maybelline Colossal Volume in 100% black. I'm a mascara junkie. I love the stuff and I'm always after the next amazing mascara for full volume lashes and love trying new ones. I always come back to Colossal Volume though.

I love the bright yellow packaging. It means it stands out easily in my ridiculously large stash of make up. The big bristle brush is my favourite type of brush. I prefer these as I find they grab onto the lashes and sseparate better. I find I love this mascara from the get go. It's not one of those you need to leave open for a week. It also doesn't dry up and the brush doesn't get overloaded with product so you aren't left with clumpy lashes. It lasts all day and doesn't flake off leaving panda eyes!

My bare lashes

With one coat my lashes have natural volume, good separation and look black.

With two coats the volume starts to build up without clumping so my lashes look thicker. It adds some length and curl but on my lashes this mascara is best for volume. I do normally curl my lashes but for mascara reviews I don't so you can see the full effect.

With three coats the lashes get thicker and still stay clump free.

I personally find four coats is the maximum my lashes can have. It leaves them with full volume and clump free. It's quite a dramatic look but I love my mascara like this. I find anymore coats and the separation is lost.

I've recommended this mascara to so many people and most have fallen in love too. It really will always be a firm favourite for me. Have you tried it?

Love M

xxx

Music I'm loving lately

Evening all

I currently still have ringing in my left ear after getting back from seeing Deaf Havana with Jenny from The Pulse of Fashion. I'm a huge fan of live music and have quite a wide range of music taste. I'm always after someone new to listen to so I thought I'd share some of the artists currently in the top of my Spotify weekly list!

First up is Deaf Havana

Deaf Havana are a Norfolk alternative rock band (probably my favourite music genre!) and are from Norfolk. I absolutely love listening to them especially songs like The past six years, Mildred(lost a friend), Boston Square, Everybody's dancing and I want to die and I'm a bore mostly. 

The Jezabels

The Jezabels are an Australian Indie, Alternative Rock band and a new addition to my playlist. I went to see them live in February and have been hooked since. The first song I listened to pre gig was Easy to Love. New favourites are Endless Summer, Hurt Me and Look of Love.

Imagine Dragons

Another band described as Alternative Rock. There seems to be a theme in my taste but I'd say they are all different. Imagine dragons always makes me think of running as Demons used to be the first song in my running playlist. Lately I've been listening to Demon's a lot, other favourites for me include bleeding out, radioactive and It's Time.

Daughter

Daughter are a European Rock Band. For me the album If You Leave has become chill out music for me as it's been listened to a lot before bed. Tracks such as Youth and Human on it are firm favourites. Along with Candles and Landfill from earlier albums.

The Gaslight Anthem

Another Rock Band. There are other genres coming I promise. Favourites from the Gaslight Anthem include handwritten, blue jeans and white t shirts and here's looking at you kid.

Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club are an indie rock band. I'm really hoping the Glastonbury rumour is true! After hearing them on Radio 1's live lounge I've been addicted to them. I absolutely love Luna and Overdone.

Rae Morris

Rae Morris is an amazing singer/songwriter (I also want her hair!). I first heard her music when she was on one of the ITV adverts for their drama shows. They used her song From Above which is one of my favourites. I also love Grow. She's such a talented women and I can't wait to hear more from her.

Lauren Aquilina

Lauren is another singer /songwriter (I love spotify and it's similar artist recommendations!) she has an amazing voice and I can't stop listening to her. Especially Fools, Kings and Lovers or Liars.

So that's 8 of my current favourites! Who are your favourite artists? Any recommendations for me?

Love M

xxx