Nars Fez Eyeshadow

On a recent shopping trip in Manchester I found myself at the Nars counter as I had been on the hunt for the perfect brown eyeshadow to add to my collection. Brown shades are often overlooked yet this shade really caught my eye. Fez is a warm brown shade with golden undertones that catches the light beautifully. I found it to be the middle ground between MAC bronze and Mulch which I had also been debating. Unfortunately the Nars counter in Selfridges did not have this shade in stock but the sales assistant kindly pointed me in the direction of Space NK (I thought Space NK was only in London!) where the sales ladies were lovely I would highly recommend a visit to those who live in Manchester.

I had never previously tried the Nars eyeshadows as I feel their blushes are the brand's most coveted products however I have been really impressed with the formula. The shadow is buttery in texture, blending like a dream and provides even coverage. The lasting power is also very good and Fez remains on the lid a lot longer than the Naked 2 palette shades especially when combined with a primer or the Maybelline colour tattoo in 'On and on bronze.'

I plan to post a 'face of the day' featuring this eyeshadow very soon, let me know what your favourite eyeshadow single is!

Grace xx

Liebster Award 2

I have been nominated for the Liebster award by the gorgeous Mehreen. As most of you will know the Liebster award is designed to promote upcoming blogs. Here are my answers to Mehreen's questions:

1. What's your favourite skin care product?

I often find skincare products to do the opposite of what they claim to do, however I love the Good things skincare range particularly the creamy cleanser and the mattifying moisturiser.

2. If you could be any celebrity for the day, who would it be?

Ooh this is a hard one, I'd have to go for Kim Kardashian I know a lot of people dislike her but seriously, married to Kanye West and having Mario Dedivanovic as your makeup artist?!

3. What's the best present you've received?

The best present I've received would have to be NARS albatross hilighter, a Christmas gift from my best friend Charlotte. This product is a game changer when it comes to creating flawless, glowing skin and I couldn't be without it!

4. What's your favourite designer?

My favourite designer would have to be Alexander Wang as his designs are minimal and wearable yet have a futuristic edge.

5. If you could choose one make up company to work with, who would it be?
Its a tough decision between MAC and NARS but the deciding factor would be the huge range of products available at MAC and the exciting new collections being launched.

6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In 5 years time I hope to be graduating university, hopefully I will have moved out and I plan to build my blog! I then hope to go into a fashion or beauty related career.

7. What's your favourite online shopping website?
I love Sheinside but the shipping takes ages!

8. What book have you read recently, and enjoyed?
I have recently read 'The beautiful and the damned' by Scott Fitzgerald after studying 'The Great Gatsby' in English Literature. I love Fitzgerald's descriptive style and the unconventional romance storyline.

9. How did you think of your blog name?
I have a keen interest in fashion and wanted my blog to reflect that, I also have a huge stack of Vogue magazines in my room that are undeniably inconvinent yet I can't bring myself to get rid of them. I find myself being drawn to the sea and I find the beach a very tranquil and relaxing setting.

10. Tea or coffee?
Neither! I love the smell of coffee but I am not a fan of the taste, I tried to join the green tea bandwagon but it just tastes odd.

11. What's your favourite beauty product at the moment?
My favourite beauty product would have to be MAC Kid eye-shadow, this shade looks very non-descript in the pan but it makes the perfect transition colour for any smokey eye whether it be black or bronze.

My questions:
1) Favourite restaurant dish?
2) Favourite makeup artist?
3) The one thing you cant stop buying...?
4) Dream travel destination?
5) A culture you are interested in...?
6) Favourite fashion show SS14
7) Major plans for the year...?
8) Most visited high street store?
9) Favourite song?
10) Celebrity style icon?
11) Favourite blog?

Bloggers chosen:

1. Sophie
2. Amber
3. Isley
4. Sarah
5. Nelly
6. Christina
7. ApartmentNo87
8. Vivian
9. Jules
10. Saskia
11. Liv

FOTD: Woodwinked bronze

Face

Foundation - MAC Studio fix fluid NC20

Concealer - Bourjois healthy mix 52

Blush - Mac dainty mineralize

Bronzer - Bourjois chocolate bronzer

Lips 

 NARS chealsea girls lip lacquer

Eyes

Lid - MAC Woodwinked

Crease - MAC Kid

Crease - MUA Heaven and earth palette (golden brown shade)

Liner - Maybelline studio gel eyeliner

Lashes - Avon supershock

Brows 

Mac dirty blonde gelcreme

Maybelline Brow Drama in blonde

Woodwinked is one of my holy-grail MAC eye-shadows and a fail safe option for both daytime and night time looks. This warm golden shade is one of the veluxe pearl finishes and provides opaque coverage, high pigmentation and buttery soft application. I would definitely recommend Woodwinked to anyone who does not already have this shade in their collection as it is a truly beautiful eye-shadow.

I am not usually a fan of shimmer in the crease however in combination with the golden lid colour, a warm brown shimmer creates a soft bronze smokey eye whilst still providing definition.

I have also been loving NARS Chelsea girls lip lacquer ever since receiving it as a Christmas gift from Charlotte Radcliffe of Exploring Wardrobes. I have been using this product religiously as it creates the perfect nude pink colour and has amazing longevity.

 Hope you are all doing well, Grace xoxo

Face OTD: Feel my pulse and Naked 2

Face

MAC studio fix fluid NC20

Bourjois healthy mix concealer 52

MAC Golden bronzer

NARS Deep throat blush

NARS Albatross

Eyes

Inner corner - Verve

Lid - YDK

Crease - Busted, Tease

Lashline - Busted

Mascara - L'oreal Voluminous

Brows - MAC Dirty blonde gelcreme and Maybelline Brow Drama gel in Blonde

Lips

MAC Feel my pulse lipstick

After getting stuck in the smokey eye rut I decided to opt for a bright lip today and used Feel my pulse lipstick from MAC's Temperature rising collection. I am absolutely in love with this true violet colour and the formula is one of the more hydrating cremesheens as I find some, especially Creme cup to be very drying on the lips. 

For my eyes I used the Naked two palette which I finally got round to purchasing. Whilst there is much  blogger and Youtuber hype about this product, I am going to be controversial and argue that I have experienced better quality shadows from lower range drugstore brands. Whilst this is a nice palette with a very wearable colour selection, I wasn't blown away by the pigmentation of the shades and I had a lot of fall out from 'chopper' in particular. For the price tag I find this product to be a little over-rated.

Despite my initial dissapointment, I will say that the palette makes it very easy to create a range of everyday eye looks and once built up, the colours are very pretty with YDK, Busted and Verve being my most used shades.

Party Makeup series: Navy and gold smokey eye

Products used:

Face

Foundation - Nars sheer glow Fiji

Bronzer - Bourjois delice de poudre ( Chocolate bronzer)

Blush - Nars Deep Throat

Hilighter - Benefit Moonbeam

Concealer - MAC Pro longwear NW20

Eyes

Base inner lid - Maybelline colour tattoo on and on bronze

Base outer lid - Maybelline colour tattoo endless black

Lid - Mac woodwinked

Crease - Black spark (Navy shade from a frontcover palette, dupe for MAC contrast)

Transition colour - Bronzer and MAC kid

Inner corner - Urban Decay virgin

Liner - Maybelline eye studio lasting drama gel liner

Mascara - AVON supershock max

Lashes - Eyelure individuals

Lips

Lipstick - Revlon lip butter strawberry shortcake 080

Christmas 2012

ITS CHRISTMASSSSSS 
Well I am sad to say there has been no snow this year, but despite the last minute present panic and the decorations being mauled by mice it all pulled together in the end. Here is a list of the things i got:

• Free standing punch bag and pink boxing gloves:  boxing post here
• Nars deep throat blush
• MAC cranberry eyeshadow
• Benefit so hooked on carmella perfume
• Lancome Hypnose star mascara
• Real techniques core collection
• Real techniques eye collection
• Topshop tee shirts
• Mini Britney Spears believe perfume
• Batman dark knight rises DVD
• Tangled DVD
• Avon supershock gel liner and mascara set
• Fairy lights and a snowglobe for my room
• Money for clothes
• FOOD

Overall a really great christmas even with no snow, apart from revising for January exams which is not fun. As usual i have consumed what is probably an unsafe amount of chocolate but ah well... I have full reviews coming up on all the makeup items i got for christmas and maybe some wardrobe posts aswell, we shall see