FOTD - No gym today!

Love Wednesdays as have decided to gym on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning after doing guest breakfasts.  No gym on a Wednesday means I get to wear make up. Lots of it!

Am completely loving the Clinique yellow concealer and have even dug out the Pixi blush that I gave to Em in the New Year as I felt I could actually get away with adding a bit of colour to my cheeks!  Eyes are my usual UD neutral, face is clinique anti redness with Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, love, and lips Clarins Rouge Prodige in Lilac Pink, more love!

Did try FOTD pic with "proper" camera but preferred the one above from the point and shoot.  But whilst playing in LightRoom I took this photo:

and did this to it:

Which I much prefer.  I think I might "tweak" all future FOTD pics, what do you think?!!!

FOTD - Back to neutrals (an an update!)

Don't you think its weird how quickly something that had seemed totally unworkable can become the norm?  I was convinced I could not wear nude lipstick.  Since I bought GOSH Cappuccino I haven't worn anything else, then Helen posted the Lancome review and I am wearing the Bobbi Brown cream lipstick in the pics and suddenly darker lipstick looks totally ott.  How weird is that! 

Today was doing my usual rush job at stupid o'clock and decided not to go too elaborate.


I had looked at Toasted in the Naked palette lots of times and decided that it was one I probably wouldn't wear.  Then I tried it and realised that its shiny penny copper colour is really wearable.  So this is Toasted on mobile lid, Darkhorse into crease and Hustle tightlining top and bottom.  Nothin earth shattering but it is nice and wearable.  Still using the bronzer and the GOSH lipstick, although to be fair in this light for some reason the lippy is looking a bit "granny" but it didn't seem to when I looked in the mirror, oddly!

You'll notice that in my rush the UDPP got overlooked!


And sneaking in an update here that I am not sure I really want to flag up with a post all of its own.  Remember I applied this:

 To this:

Well that was two weeks ago and the above photo is a super close up of the area that was, erm, experimented on.  And yes, after posting that I had done a small test area I then decided to extend the area on which I was researching to include all of the above.  This particular experiment certainly caused a reaction -  I even had friends I didn't know read my blog siddle up to me at functions and whisper "for godsakes dont shave your face"!!  Well like I said that was 2 weeks ago, this close up was taken this morning and it is quite apparent that I could do with another tidy up, it is also quite apparent that I don't have stubble, shaving rash or a much thicker and darker re-growth.  I have however grown a dick.  Joking!!  Whilst I wouldnt recommend this if you have dark hair I suspect that if like me you have some peach fuzz that needs dealing with this is a cheap and painless option.  I also read that Japannese women shave their faces every day as they really dislike the look of any hair on their face and as a result they have fantastic skin that ages very well.  In spite of the evidence in front of my eyes I am still quietly traumatised at the thought of shaving my chin and upper lip but I did love the results so I suspect I will overcome my reservations and do it again, an added bonus was that my foundation sat really nicely on my ultra smooth skin.  So any converts??!

Over the Taupe

See what I did there?  Decided to have a play with my recent purchases so inevitably ended up with a blue eye and nude lips. What do you think? It IS over the top for day wear but when I do EOTN its dark and I cant take proper pics so decided to do it in the middle of the day so I could share.


Excuse the hair, it's having a moment all of its own today.
 

Decided to have a go at "contouring" as well. Nicked Em's bronzer and had a swipe about although frankly would putting a brown stripe down the side of a football contour it? I think not but at least the bronzer is better than blush would have been *hello clown face*.


Used Revlon shadow in Peacock Lustre over mobile lid. Revlon Matte in Riviera blue into crease and underneath.  Tightlined with No 7 Gel liner in blue top and bottom. Virgin from Naked brow bone and inner corner.  MUA in bright green inside of mobile lid and the usual L'Oreal mascara and Clinique brow pencil.

Lips are a combination of GOSH Cappuccino and Revlon Matte in Mink - just a hint of this to give it a bit of colour.  Was sure I couldn't do nude lips, am LOVING this! So be kind if you think it looks vile, but for godsake tell me!
 

Took pics with grown up camera with $$ wide angle lens, hope I don't look too melty faced as a result!

Oh and finally quick point and shoot snap of eye in close up.

 As this is a total deviation from the norm for me would really appreciate your feedback!
Post edit: am now worrying about that rather vast ski-slope forehead (savage receeding hair line or wot?!)

FOTD - 21st Feb

Was taking pics for a guest post I am writing for another blog - watch this space! - and thought this would be a good fotd pic.


Eyes - tightlined with Darkhorse, Sin on mobile lid, Buck in crease.  Brows Clinique superfine liner in Soft Brown. L'Oreal Mascara.


Lips - Bobbi Brown Cocoa pencil and Buff Heather Cream Lipstick


Face - Lancome Teint Miracle and MAC Creme blush in Lillicent.


Googled tightlining recently, just hope I am doing it right? Loading very straight Ruby and Millie eye liner brush with powder shadow, putting into lash line and wiggling it down onto base of lashes?  Whether my techinique is actually tightlining or not I love the effect.  Wish wish wish I had taken a pic sat eve as I did a full on smoky eye with Creep as tightliner top and bottom and into crease with Sin on mobile lid, black kohl liner on water line top and bottom and stacks of mascara and just made sure that my eyebrows were extended a smidge further out than would be usual for day time. It was a much more made up look than I would have considered even a few months ago. In my opinion they looked bloody fab - and UDPP underneath made sure it all stayed perfect through a marathon 7 hrs of drinking, dancing and merriment!  Also used the last of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua for the evening, its a bit too dark for the day but perfect for a night out so am building up my secret stash for an Chanel purchase asap!

FOTD - Sin and Hustle

Eyes - UDPP, Sin on lower lid, Hustle into crease, Darkhorse upper and lower lash line, smidge of naked below lower lash line to soften.  L'Oreal telescopic mascara. Clinique ultra fine brow pencil in soft brown.

Face - Bobbi Brown Moisturising foundation (its an on/off love affair and I can't commit!) MAC creamblush in Lilicent and Pixi highlighter (so not me, so loving it!)

Lips - Bobbi Brown lip pencil in Cocoa, Creamy lip colour in Heather Buff.

Sin is super shimmery so decided any brow highlighting would be a lily gilded.  Hustle is lovely, blended into sin it takes on an almost purpley hue, very soft and neutral looking.  Seriously have never had so much fun doing my eyes!  

Quick FOTD

Eye - Whisky liner, Virgin all over, Buff in Crease, Face - Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Beige Tendre, Dusting Diorskin translucent powder nose and chin, MAC cream blush in Lilicent, Lips - was Bobbi Brown Cocoa pencil and Cream lipstick in Heather Buff

No prizes for guessing what I used!  Whisky liner top and bottom, Virgin all over and for a change (!) Buff in crease, its quick, effective - I think, and I don't have to think about it, with UDPP under of course.  Having used the palette a couple of times now I would have liked a matte light shadow - virgin is a tad shimmery for me to be completely happy with it on lid, fine for brow highlight and perhaps if Hustle and/or Toasted could have been matte too, not used them yet and tbh am a little put off by the shimmery'ness.  Tomorrow might try my UNE matte cream shadow all over and maybe try Toasted or Hustle in the crease. 

FOTD - 9th January

Am really struggling with this whole taking photos of my face thing.  I am not really a fan of how my face looks and whilst in real life most of the time I do not look as if I am in the middle of some kind of facial spasm in photos I do.  I have a smile that curves off to the left, or is it the right? Don't know but it looks weird.  And whatever I do with my foundation my skin still looks pink.  My hairline is a trauma all of its own - cant handle a fringe, not loving vast expanse of forehead either.   And then there are the technical difficulties, I have a pretty crappy compact digital camera so I cant adjust much and I dont have a macro lense for my slr so I cant do the arms length photo with my proper camera, finding anywhere with the right light has been impossible, so far think the laundry is working as the opaque glass on the door diffuses the light nicely, downside is the back drop of piles of laundry!

Anyway enough waffle, here it is.  My fotd.

 Foundation: Max Factor Experience in Cool Linen
Eye shadow: Une Sfumato Q02 all over lid with Sfumato Q23 on edge and used wet as liner on top and bottom lash line.
Brows: Clinique super fine pencil in soft brown
Lips: Bobbi Brown creamy lip colour in Heather brown (had been wearing Bobbi Brown pencil in cocoa too but that was hours ago!)


I really like the Une Sfumato eye shadows, I was having a trawl round for a brown matte shadow in Boots yesterday and couldn't find anything - was only looking at the cheaper ranges and decided against spending another £9 on a 3rd Une shadow, I also have in Q20, I think - its a khaki shade, and they are lovely and matte and blend really well.  Hadn't thought of using a damp eyeliner brush to use the shadow as liner, seen others do it on their blogs and decided to give it a go and really like it, much less harsh than my usual black pencil which I only ever used on top lash line as my eyes disappear once I put my glasses on.


Am completely loving the Bobbi Brown creamy lip colour, it feels like a balm on my lips and the colour is the exact nude shade I wanted, I also like the pencil and was pleased that the first time I had to sharpen it I didn't end up with a lap full of snarled up pencil - always used the Revlon propelling pencil in Nu which is the exact same shade and about £6 less so should really have had a 2nd lipstick for xmas and not the pencil - yet another desperation purchase at the Trafford Centre!


Anyway first fotd of the year!