Slunks Cardiff

Hey All

Hope you've had a good weekend. It's nearly Christmas, I'm so ready for a few days off work now. If you've been following the blog for a while now you'll have noticed my hair changes colour a lot.

Here's a selection of some of the colours it's been, as you can see I've tried a lot of colours (there was a bright blue but I can't find a photo) and it gets change regularly. Since moving to Cardiff I've switched between salons a lot. I struggle to find one I like long term so usually just dye my hair myself and then go for a cut. I've now found a salon that are amazing though and perfect for what I want.

Back in November time last year I saw a post asking for hair models, as I like to save money wherever possible I got in touch. I'm totally laid back when it comes to hair so I've done hair modelling before because with colour a hairdresser can do anything they like to it.

Photo credit Alex Keen, Hair Slunk, MUA Ryo Love.

This was the finished result!!! How amazing is the colour. I knew straight away I'd found a hairdressers. 

My hair was bleached up for this shoot at the end of Jan and hasn't been rebleached since. I'm so impressed with how blonde it has stayed by just using the purple shampoos. Last week I decided to book myself in for a pre-xmas hair do and could not be more pleased with the results!! Beware photo spam!! The OH took a lot of photos and the colours looked amazing I couldn't narrow it down ha!

I'm so pleased with how it turned out. I wasn't sure what I wanted so suggested a few colours to them and got this amazing result!! They used a selection of Directions and Crazy Colours (possible other brands too) to create the look. The green is a directions one and now a favourite of mine. I've not had green all over before. I may be doing green and purple next I think. Joel, Chelsea and Chris are all amazing. They also do amazing balayage work and isn't all bright colours but if you are after anything a bit different with your hair Slunks is definitely the hairdressers you need to go to!

Are you experimental with your hair?

Love M

xxx

Winter Skincare Update

Good morning!

We all know skincare needs to change with the seasons just like clothing, mine has changed a lot over the years with ageing being a wonderful factor to add to the mix - so today's post is an update of the latest products I've been using and would recommend for anyone looking to try out some new products.

Phee's Make Up Shop - Eyeshadow Pans in Peppered, Sphinx and Polilla

Good morning all!

I've been wanting to write this post for a while but I've been so busy using the eyeshadows and swatching them on my hand every day that writing about them just seemed too distracting.

If you haven't heard of Phee's Make Up Shop you have been completely ignoring almost every tweet and Instagram post we've put up in the last few months, take a look at these beauties!

First let's introduce you to Phee, she's a blogger herself who makes her own mineral make up. You can read a full bio on her About page but her make up is free of titanium dioxide (no flashback) and no talc so no powdery finish either. All they contain is Mica for a super shimmery finish and they're cruelty free with free postage in the UK - WINNER.

For my first order I picked up three eyeshadows and three highlighters, all of these were in pan form.

From left to right the pans above are Polilla, Peppered and Sphinx.

I couldn't resist picking up a few to try and ever since I have had my eyes on the rest of her collection - and I mean I wish there were more. So many more!

Let's talk about them one by one, Polilla:

I'm not sure I have ever used any eyeshadow that is so pigmented. These are such good quality and the colours are beautiful. The swatches in this post are just one swipe on the pan and swatched directly onto my hand - they're so pigmented it's kind of hard to believe.

Polilla is described as a warm toned dark brown with turquoise duo chrome. The brown gives it some body but the turquoise reflect is stunning.

The photo below shows the eyeshadow put on dry with a brush, however since then I've found that using a wet brush brings out the colour so much more! I absolutely adore it and it has fast become a favourite in my every day make up.

The second one is Sphinx, a foiled copper eyeshadow.

I can't say that I've been a fan of coppery toned eyeshadows, in fact I didn't venture much from boring basics. But I decided to embrace them recently after seeing so many pictures of beautiful looks, and this one did not disappoint.

Again, it's super pigmented and I have just applied it all over my eyelid, it's a gorgeous colour and perfect for Autumn. I've been wearing this one non stop too, especially along my lower lashline during the day for a flash of colour for work when I normally wear matte shadows.

Lastly we have Peppered. This is also a permanent choice in my every day make up now, I use it EVERY DAY and I love it.

Peppered is a foil taupe with a gold reflect running through it, this means it is super flattering on my skin tone and it's the easiest shade to just brush on in the morning and go....and with lots of liner it's a great one for the evenings too:

I really do adore all of these eyeshadows, and as soon as I can I plan on purchasing Citrine (I reeeeeeeeeally badly want this one!) and I am keeping all my fingers crossed that Iris is coming back into stock too. There are many more shades that I can only dream Phee makes soon, the quality really is amazing and I'm so in awe that she makes them herself. I wouldn't have the smallest clue how to start making my own eyeshadows let alone make enough to start my own business! Definitely #goals right?!

So in short, for £6.50 per pan I would 100% recommend these eyeshadows, and I'll be fighting anyone on my next pay day so I can pick up a few more! The highlighters are great too, there will be a separate post on those soon.

Have you heard of Phee before? Have you tried any make up from her shop?


Her Instagram is amazing and full of so many make up looks using her own products. Her highlighters are the shizz and I can't wait to share these with you next!

L xxx

Nyx Liquid Suede and Lip Lingerie

Hey All

I've been meaning to share these on the blog for ages and it's one of those things I've not gotten around to. When NYX arrived in Cardiff it was a happy day, a cruelty free brand that everyone raved about. I couldn't wait to try it. On my first visit I picked up two of the Nyx Lip Lingeries, after swatching on my hand I was sold they had such a soft mouse like texture that I had to have them.

Since then I've gotten another and a few of the Liquid Suede. I've got the liquid suedes in seductive socialite and soft spoken and the lip lingeries in ruffle trim, push up and bedtime flirt (courtesy of L as she didn't get on with the shade!). These have lived in my handbag since I picked them up, with the exception of seductive socialite, I love this shade but it's not an everyday colour. When I wore it to work a colleague talked to me, stared at my lips and said your lipstick if very purple!

The liquid suede shades are so soft on the lips, they apply well (the applicator on nyx liquid lipsticks is a bit longer than a normal doe foot applicator so takes a bit of getting used to at first!) and last pretty well. These are some of the most comfortable liquid lipsticks and don't leave you with that dreaded lipliner look as these wear off.

The lip lingeries dry slightly more matte then the suedes but are still super comfortable these also really last!! These last on me all day. One thing to be wear of with these are the shades are very similar and the colour of your natural lips effects this. Bedtime flirt looks totally different on L and me.

Subversive Socialite

Subversive socialite is a rich blue toned purple, this is one of the liquid suedes so dries semi matte. I do find it needs two coats but it wears well and is easy to reapply, it doesn't go cakey when layered up.

Soft spoken

Is another liquid suede, this shade is super popular and I can see why. On me it's a rose toned nude brown. It's so easy and comfortable to wear and really finishes off most looks. 

Ruffle trim

Is the first of the lip lingeries and slightly more orange toned than it's showing here. I love this as it's not the tone of nude I normally go for. I've been wearing it loads though and the lasting power is amazing.

Push up

Is the lightest nude I can get away with without being washed out. Anything too pale doesn't suit me as my lips are naturally quite dark. I surprised myself with how much I like this colour!

Bedtime flirt

 You can see the difference in colour on L and I here. On L it's definitely more brown toned than on me. I originally had this in my hand when I bought the first two but decided against it. On me it's more pink than the other lip lingeries I have but still nude.

Next on my hit list is exotic. I love the slight red tone to it. These formulations are my favourite of all the liquid lipstick trends as they are matte without being uncomfortable!

Have you got any lip lingeries or liquid suedes? 

Love M

xxx