I mentioned in a previous post that The Balm cosmetics recently launched in Debenhams Glasgow
I hot footed it along as soon as it opened to pick up the Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter (which is one of The Balm's bestselling products)
I've seen this used a lot on Nikki's (NikkiTutorials) youtube channel and she always has an amazing glow.
The highlighter is housed in a cute compact and includes a generous sized mirror (don't drop this though, see below photo) and reminds me a little of Benefit packaging.
The product itself is a finely milled, pressed powder and is just beautiful. Its easy to get a bit carried away when applying this (well for me anyway). This can be used as a highlighter to the tops of the cheekbones, nose and above the cupids bow. I also like using this on my browbone and inner corner of my eye to brighten.
You could also apply this with a damp brush for a more intense, glossy look which would be good for editorial or photoshoots.
The Balm Mary Lou Manizer (£19.00) is available online at the Debenhams website or in Debenhams Argyll Street (the stand is near Urban Decay and the Perfume counters)
The Balm is such a fun brand and the products all have quirky packaging. (I'm a sucker for anything with nice packaging). Its slightly reminiscent of Benefit but with its own twist.
The Balm are an American brand which have a "Beauty in five minutes" Philosophy. This means that the majority of their products are multi-tasking quick fixers to help you look and feel your best.
I'd now like to tell you my sad, tragic tale of woe, which makeup lovers everywhere will be able to sympathise with.
I've been lusting after one of The Balms best selling products, the Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter, since I found out that's how one of my fav Youtubers, Nikki (NikkiTutorials) gets her killer glow. I finally got my hands on it a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love (maybe a little too in love but hey, Strobing is in just now). We went out for a lovely meal at Casa Russo on Byres Road and just as I was about to leave, I knocked over my bag spilling the contents all over the place and my beloved luminizer shattered all over the place.
I'll have to get myself back into Debenhams now to pick up a new one ASAP, I can't be left without it, its defiantly become one of my must have products now.
The Balm is available online at the Debenhams website or in Debenhams Argyll Street (the stand is near Urban Decay and the Perfume counters)
I love having lots of different glasses to wear depending on my outfit/mood. I have a bit of an obsession with fun frames, much to the annoyance of my partner who thinks I verge on the Dame Edna a little too often.
I tend to stick to blacks and reds however when I saw these gorgeous pink Ray Ban glasses in the Pretavoir website I knew I'd have to have them.
Pretavoir are an online glasses boutique. They are partnered with i2i Optometrists who are an Independent Opticians based in Glasgow. They offer the same great prices as other online spectacle boutiques but with the added security of being backed up by the professionals. Buying a new pair of glasses isn't something to take lightly due to cost and also the way they change your look in an instant so its really important to make sure you're spending your pennies on something you feel comfortable in.
I love Ray Ban glasses and had a gorgeous pair of tortoiseshell Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses which have recently vanished (probably hiding under something, usual). I wasn't 100% on the shape of the wayfarers so wasn't keen on a pair for everyday vision correction however when I found that they also have a slight cat eye version I was sold instantly.
This pair are the Ray Ban RX5322 in pink but also come in a few other shades. I think they are really unusual and I've had a lot of compliments when I've worn them. I went for a slightly oversized look as I prefer that. (It means I can comfortably wear my false lashes underneath too haha)
For more information visit the Pretavoir website.
*This post features a PR sample.
Recently, its been all about the Urban Decay Smoky Palette when it comes to eyeshadows, however I think its time for some colour. Urban Decay and I seem to be on the same page with this as they have two amazing new palettes coming out over the next few months.
First up is the newest Vice palette incarnation, the Vice 4 palette. This is similar to others in the Vice range in the sense that its a multi-use bomb of colour. A lot of sequels make you wish the artist had quite while they were ahead, but Vice is different. The long-awaited and limited edition, eyeshadow palette contains twenty, gorgeous, never before seen shades.
Vice 4 comes housed in a really cool looking case as well as a matching bag. The palette comes with a large mirror and a double-ended brush similar to the brush included in the Naked Smoky.
There really is something for everyone in Vice 4, whether you like deep jewel tones, smokey mattes, or shimmery neutrals its easy to create a multitude of looks. I have my eye on the entire bottom row, especially the brick shade Bitter. Urban Decay eyeshadows are insanely pigmented and feature their Pigment Infusion System which means the colour stays put and the formulas are buttery soft and easy to blend.
The shades are;
Bones - Oyster Satin with Pearl
Grip - Taype matte with irredecent micro-glitter
Deadbeat - Black satin with iridescent micro-glitter
Beat Down - Deep Metallic violet with blue micro-glitter
Pandemonium - Metallic Plum with iridescent micro-glitter
Framed - light neutral matte-satin
Fast-Ball - Metallic peachy pink with pink micro glitter
1985 - Metallic fuchisa with fuchisa micro-glitter
Underhand - burgundy-brown satin
Harlot - metallic lavender
Discreet - softy dusty mauve matte
Grasshopper - Metallic emerald with green micro-glitter
C-Note - Frosted green with micro-glitter
Arctic - bright teal with tonal sparkle
Robbery - deep metallic brown-gunmetal
Bitter - reddish brown matte
Flame - bright orange with gold micro-glitter
Low - brown matte with iridecent micro-glitter
Crowbar - black metallic pearl and micro-glitter
Delete - deep chestnut brown matte-satin
Vice 4 Palette (£43.00) will be available late October online at the Urban Decay Website
A brand I feel is often overlooked in terms of cosmetics is Laura Mercier. Sure, everyone and their granny (seriously, mine does) loves the Laura Mercier foundation primers and the body souffle, but I don't often come across many who use the makeup range to its full potential which is madness because its amazing.
Laura Mercier has some fantastic products to suit every skintone my top five products are;
Hydrating Foundation Primer (£29.00 ) - Laura Mercier has loads of primers. Hydrating is my favorite as I suffer from dull, dehydrated skin. The formula protects and moisturises and helps my makeup glide on. Contains vitamins A,C and E which act as antioxidants to help protect the skin from aging.
Eye Basics Cream Eyeshadow in Buff (£21.00) - On first look, this doesn't seem much however this cream formula is a dream to work with. This can be worn alone or as a primer for other shadows. I love the sandy, camel shade as a base for a smokey eye.
Lip Glace in Bellini (£19.50 ) - These lip-glosses smell good enough to eat, honestly they smell sweeter and more delicious than the Vanilla scented MAC lippies, almost like cupcake icing, yum. The formula isn't in the least bit sticky. I love the light coral shade too.
Baked Eyeshadow in Petal Pink (£21.00) - Truth be told, I actually wear this eyeshadow as a blush/highlight combo. The shade is perfect for those with paler skintones like me but would also give a gorgeous ethereal glow to those with darker. Pop a little in the inner corner of the eye for a quick fix if you're looking a little sleepy.
Lip Stain in Peace Glaze - Unfortunately these little pots have either been discontinued or were limited edition which is a shame as they are amazing. I have a few of the shades but Peach Glaze is the one I reach for the most. Its a demi-matte finish and really flatters my skintone. I also use this as a light blusher. Bonne Mine Face Colour in Coral is similar but more pink toned.
You can find Laura Mercier products at House of Fraser
If you had told me a year ago that I'd be excited and constantly raving about a neutral palette I'd have thought you were nuts. I'm a massive fan of colour in makeup but the Bobbi Brown Greige Collection has got me confused about my eye-dentity (see what I did there *cringe* I'm here all week).
The collection introduces a range of Bobbi's favourite neutral shades that deliver a classic, chic, "Bobbi look" which was inspired by the shade range Bobbi discovered while mixing paint during a home project. The beautiful Kate Upton is the face of the new Greige Collection.
For the past month all I've worn is a smoky eye, I can't get enough! Containing eight shades, the Bobbi Brown Greige Palette (£52.00) is seriously beautiful and has a nice, balanced mixture of mattes, shimmers and even a few glitter eyeshadows.
The palette allows you to create a multitude of makeup looks for both daytime and evening, I've had shimmery neutral eyes as well as full, blown out smokes. I created this smokey eye look and added a pop of colour underneath with a aqua blue eyeshadow and some glitter liner.
The shades are; Ivory, New Brown Haze, Twinkle, Slate, Greystone, Earth Metal, Greige & Fog.
The palette comes in a sleek, silken case which has an almost slate-like finish (It does seem to attract makeup residue though) magnetic closure and has a good sized mirror. It's sturdy enough to knock around the bottom of my handbag.
The Greige Collection is available now in stores and on the Bobbi Brown website.You can find Bobbi Brown concessions in Glasgow's House of Fraser, Debenhams Silverburn and John Lewis.
Anyone who knows me will be aware that I like a good pair of statement glasses.
I
like to switch about my look depending on how I’m feeling or what
clothes/makeup I’m wearing. As well as having to look good,
affordability is one of the main points I look for when shopping for a
new set of specs.
There
are loads of online glasses retailers which are good to an extent
(mostly in terms of price) but they feel very impersonal and lack the
comfort and service of going into a real shop.
Anyone
who wears glasses will know that it’s a very personal thing and a good
pair can really boost confidence but the wrong set can make you look and
feel just plain weird. I always liken buying glasses to buying shoes.
You wouldn’t usually wear a pair out of the shop without trying them on
first and making sure they fit and are comfortable, so why would you do
that with your glasses?
Iolla
are Glasgow’s hippest new optical retailer and offer you the same great
value for money as buying online but with the personality and support
you need in person.
They are based in
Glasgow’s up and coming Finneston strip and have a wide range of frames
in all shapes, sizes and colours to suit every face.
If
you’re lucky enough to have 20:20 vision, Iolla can make you up some
frames with clear lenses as well as having a full range of Sunwear glasses.
Iolla
work with fresh, local designers and all the frames are made and
assembled in Scotland. The frames are named after famous Scots. All
frames are £65 which includes single coated prescription lenses which is
an absolute steal for the quality. I went for the Carnegie frames in Red Crystal (after famous Philanthopist, Andrew Carnegie) which are a great geometric version of cat eye glasses.
The
showroom allows you to try on lots of different pairs and compare them
and staff also ensure your perfect pair fit properly and you’re happy
with them before you leave the shop – a service you won’t get online. I
somehow managed to get a small scratch on of the lenses and Iolla
replaced them fuss free straight away. The service is fantastic and I
highly recommend a visit.
Iolla showroom is located at 1313 Argyll Street, Glasgow for more information visit the Iolla Website or call 0141 334 9044
If you follow me on social media you might have noticed things have been a little quiet the past few weeks. This is because I managed to break a bone in my wrist and its been a little difficult to type one handed.
I finally got the splint off this week and my poor hand/wrist was in dire need of some TLC.
My skin has been really dry due to lack of air/sunlight getting to it so I've been using this hand cream from Gordon Castle to try and soothe the skin.
Gordon Castle is a beautiful castle and walled gardens in the North East of Scotland which is open to visitors. It also sells luxury Scottish gifts and traditional food and drink handcrafted with ingredients from the gardens.
The Flower Garden Hand Cream (£15.00 for 75ml) has a light, slightly floral scent and contains essential oils from plants grown onsite.
I'm a massive fan of tea and have also been trying out Gordon Castle's Earl Grey and Lavender (£6.25 for 15 bags) blend in my fancy glass teapot. It's a lovely delicate tea which is perfect to wind down in the evenings. I like to have a cup before bed. The black tea comes in either pyramid bags or as loose leave and contains bergamot oil and Scottish lavender.
To find out more about Gordon Castle visit their website or to see what products they have to offer visit the Gordon Castle online shop.
