Chanel Spring 2014 Collection + V-Day Beauty Look!

 Wearing on the eyes:

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in 92 Diapason 

 

Wearing on the lips:

Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink + Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 44 La Diva

 The same as on the previous image...

  Wearing on the eyes:

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in 92 Diapason

Wearing on the lips:

 Chanel Rouge Coco in 59 Dedicace

 Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in 92 Diapason [non Limited Edition]

 Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 44 La Diva

+ Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink

 Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink [Limited Edition]

 Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 44 La Diva [non Limited Edition]

 Chanel Rouge Coco in 59 Dedicace [Limited Edition]

Swatches:

1. Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink

2. Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink + Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 44 La Diva

3. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 44 La Diva

4. Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink + Chanel Rouge Coco in 59 Dedicace

5. Chanel Rouge Coco in 59 Dedicace

***

Hey Beauty Lovers! Today it's all about Chanel Collection Notes de Printemps, which is the Spring 2014 Collection to you and me. It is available from today the 17th Jan 2014 [UK]! So here are a few of my picks, although I must admit that in this collection I love practically every single item, so it was a tough choice. Nonetheless I decided to go with this year's colour trend 'the purples and the violets]' and create a super chic and elegant shimmering evening smokey eye paired up with an electric pink lip to celebrate the coming spring! This look would be great to wear on the upcoming V-Day.

This year Chanel Spring Collection concentrates on three main colour groups: reds, pinks and violets. The elegant violets and the electric pinks are particularly stunning. On the eyes I'm wearing  Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in 92 Diapason, which is a long wear luminous eyeshadow in iridescent shimmering violet plum with a hint of brown. It's  not Limited Edition so should be permanently available. Diapason is stunningly beautiful, it would look absolutely amazing on every complexion. For extra dimension I lined my eyes with a black kohl pencil, blending it into the eyeshadow. 

You could wear this smokey eye with a nude lip, it also looks stunning. But for an extra pop of hot pink on the lips I applied Chanel Precision Lip Definer in 70 Sonic Pink as base, filling in the entire lip. Sonic Pink is a bright pink, it's Limited Edition, so grab it while you can! Then over the top I applied Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 44 La Diva, which is a luminous matte lip colour in electric pink [non Limited Edition]. It's super gorgeous, the formula is matte however there is an almost undetectable blue toned iridescence to it to make the pigment pop. 

And as an option I decided to also pick a more gentle pink lip for those of you who are not ready for a matte electric pink, just yet. So for the second look I applied Chanel Rouge Coco in 59 Dedicace. It's a cool toned Limited Edition pink, which still has that pink hue of spring freshness but it's hydrating and more subtle. 

LOVE 

MAC Brush Cleanser Review!

Hey Beauty Lovers! The way I take care of my make-up brushes is by giving them a wash in a shampoo every couple of week for a thorough cleanse. It takes a while until they are dry again, so I usually do it in the evening and let them air-dry by laying them flat on a towel, and in the morning they are ready to go again. I have never used a brush cleanser before, but after watching Sani's January Makeup Detox Part 2 vid on her YouTube channel missmai27 I realised how much easier life becomes when you have a brush cleanser on hand!

MAC Brush Cleanser helps to keep your brushes clean in between uses. Basically after applying an eyeshadow or blusher or anything really, you can do on spot cleansing simply by adding a bit of the brush cleansing liquid onto a tissue and wiping the brush back and forth until it swatches clear. This means that I can use my most favourite brushes on a daily basis with different products without inevitably mixing the shades and without having to properly washing them every time! I prefer decanting the MAC Brush Cleanser into a small travel-size spray bottle, this way I find I need less of the brush cleanser, so it will last longer. How I lived without a brush cleanser before I have no idea...

LOVE

The Perfect V-Day Burberry Red Pout in 5 Steps!

 STEP 1: Fill in the lip with Burberry Lip Definer in No.05 Brick Red

 STEP 2: Over the lip liner apply Burberry Lip Cover in No.20 Hibiscus

 STEP 3: Make sure to blot the lipstick thoroughly!

 STEP 4: Apply the lipstick again, this time just a touch and pat it into the lips with your finger.

 STEP 5: To finish the look apply Burberry Lip Glow in No.16 Ruby Red

 Burberry Lip Glow in No.16 Ruby Red + Burberry Lip Definer in No.05 Brick Red

 Burberry Lip Cover in No.20 Hibiscus

Swatches from L to R: 

Burberry Lip Glow in No.16 Ruby Red

Burberry Lip Definer in No.05 Brick Red

Burberry Lip Cover in No.20 Hibiscus

Hey Beauty Lovers! Today it's all about the perfect sumptuous red pout that you can wear to any special event such as the legendary upcoming V-Day and let cupid play his tricks while you play yours... With these three Burberry lip products: Lip Definer, Lip Cover and Lip Glow you can create many different looks, but I have gone all-out and used all three to create a rather luxurious and luscious red lip. The Burberry Lip Definer in No.05 Brick Red  is such a beautiful shade that it makes a wonderful matte red lip just on its own!

So to create this long-lasting red lip start with [1] filling in the lip with the Burberry Lip Definer in No.05 Brick Red, this is the time to create the lip shape that you desire. This step will help the red lip to last beautifully. [2] Over the lipliner liberally apply Burberry Lip Cover in No.20 Hibiscus. [3] Take a tissue and blot most of the lipstick off, by gently pressing the tissue against the lips. [4] Apply the lipstick again, this time moderately. With a finger gently pat the lipstick in, I find this step always gives you the prettiest lip [no matter what colour], there's just something about patting on the lipstick. [5] And finally apply a generous amount of Burberry Lip Glow in No.16 Ruby Red, this will give you that stunning glossy finish. Et Voilà!

LOVE

On-Trend: Purple Nails with Metallic Stars Nail Art!

 Nails Inc. Gel Effect Polish in Bond Street

For the metal stars nail art I used [L to R]:

Essie Licorice; Essie Luxeffects in Set In Stones; Topshop Nails in Glimmer

Hey Beauty Lovers! As you probably have noticed I have had a bit of a nail art overload recently... I really got into it, and even made an order on Amazon, so I'm waiting for a few fun nail art things to be delivered in the next week or so, so take it as a warning... more nail art looks are to come!! Purple is going to be one of the biggest colour trends this year. As a base colour I'm wearing two coats of Nails Inc. Gel Effect Polish in Bond Street, which is a very winter-appropriate cream deep purple. I have been absolutely obsessed with this nail range, as you may have noticed. 

For the metallic nail art I randomly painted small stars on the two accent nails. Starting with Topshop Nails in Glimmer, which is a beautiful antique gold, I applied one coat with a fine artists brush. For more definition I then took an even finer artists brush and placed thin lines in the centre of the stars using Essie Licorice, it's a super opaque cream black. And to finish off the look I applied big glitters from Essie Set In Stones in the middle of the stars and then the fine remaining glitters all around the stars to create that sparkly effect. And that's it!

LOVE

The Classic Combo: Red Lips & Red Tips!

 Shade: St James

Hey Beauty Lovers! Sometimes when I'm not sure what beauty look I want to wear or which colour I should choose to paint my nails I opt for red lips and red tips. You can't go wrong with that! On the nails I'm wearing two coats of Nails Inc. Gel Effect Polish in St James, the formula is just a-mazing! This is seriously the most beautiful hot red I have ever encountered. If you love your nailpolishes please make me a favour and check out this colour, I'm totally convinced that you will fall in love with this red. 

It will be that 'love at first sight' moment, a moment that I don't think exists when it comes to men, but it surely does when it comes to nailpolish... or lipstick... or blush... St James is not a flat red, it has the most stunning dimension to it, although at first it looks like a cream finish, but when you look closer you will discover there's a super pretty sheen to it, with very fine red and gold shimmer. To pair it up with a red lip I chose the closest match of red I could find in my collection, which is the Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 111 Kiss Of Life!

LOVE

On-Trend: Holographic Triangle Nail Art!

 Essie in Demure Vixen

 Kiko Digital Nail Lacquer in 31

Essie in Licorice

Hey Beauty Lovers! One of the nail trends this year will be the triangle nail art and although it looks quite elaborate it actually is pretty easy to create. You will need two nailpolish shades of your choice, one glitter overcoat, a fine artists brush, and adhesive tape. To create this look I applied two coats of Essie Demure Vixen as a base colour, it's a very pretty nude taupy pink with a purple sheen. Then with a fine artists brush I painted two lines to make a V shape in the middle of the nail, using Kiko Digital Nail Lacquer in 31, which is a pink holographic glitter. It's a very pretty fine glitter overcoat with a clear base, I applied two coats. 

Then it is important to let the nailpolish dry completely before you do the next step. To finish the look I applied two strips of adhesive tape over the holographic V [this will give it that sharp and crisp edge], and then I painted over with one coat of Essie Licorice, which is the most opaque cream black. After about a minute while the nailpolish is still wet carefully lift the adhesive tape and pull away slowly. Leave the black to dry for a few more minutes and then finish off with a glossy topcoat, this will make the holographic glitter sparkle and keep your nails super shiny. The thumb accent is optional, but basically it's a similar concept.

LOVE

How-To: The Perfect Topknot with Bumble and Bumble!

Hey Beauty Lovers! Today I decided to share with you how I create my perfect topknot. Everyone has their own way of wearing it, but I prefer my topknot quite loose, slightly messy and with some texture. I can never get a perfect topknot when my hair is silky smooth as it just falls flat around the crown and I don't think it's a particularly flattering look. So I make sure my hair has some texture, which gives it a bit of volume and holds a good shape. To create that texture I use a dry shampoo and a salt spray. I use the Bumble and Bumble White Hair Powder spraying it a good few times into the roots and the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, which is a salt spray I spray just a couple of times through the length. 

For the actual knot I use a simple hair tie and a couple of bobby pins. I simply pull up the hair into a ponytail at the top of the crown where I'd like the knot to sit, then I twist the ponytail and start to loosely twirl it around to create the knot. Only when I'm happy with the shape of the knot I then fix it in place with the hair tie and with bobby pins I take care of any hair that is sticking out. And that's it!

LOVE

Prada SS13 Inspired Floral Nail Art with Essie!

Base: BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Blueberry [2 coats]

Nail art: Essie Licorice [black], Lollipop [red], Blanc [white].

L to R: Essie Licorice, Lollipop, Blanc.

Prada SS13

Hey Beauty Lovers! The nailpolish I'm wearing as a base is the BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Blueberry, I have featured it in my last blogpost so if you'd like to see more pictures and swatches click here! I decided to take it further and create a floral nail art look inspired by the simplistic and chunky Prada SS13 flowers. 

To create this look I have used a fine artists brush. Starting by drawing a black like with Essie Licorice, it's a super opaque cream black. Then I added the white petals, Prada SS13 flowers either had four or five petals, I went for the five petal design. For the white I used Essie Blanc, it's also very opaque. And finally to finish I added red dots to the centre of the flowers, using Essie Lollipop, which is a cream red, it's not as opaque so I went over it twice. 

LOVE

BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Blueberry!

 BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine in Blueberry

Shades L to R: Blueberry, Guava, Greenberry, Lychee

Hey Beauty Lovers! When I still get excited about a nailpolish I know the brand has done a fantastic job! These are a-mazing! I purchased them back in summer [hence the colour choice] when I popped into Boots with a friend who was visiting. We were literally like two kids in a candy store. I have blogged about BarryM Gelly High-Shine nailpolishes before, creating a polka-dot and a sunflower nail art. But it's been a while since I painted my nails with these babies, and the other day I went through my extensive nailpolish collection and couldn't resist them! I went for Blueberry, it's just the most stunning lilac blue. On Instagram it's my most liked nailpolish in history, I'm not kidding! I even got a compliment from my hairstylist, who I believe is straight... 

The formula is just incredible considering how cheap they are!!! I remember BarryM nailpolishes in the old days, I wasn't too impressed, but they have gone up in quality so much in the recent year or two. They last without chipping for days and days, they are super shiny, very smooth and very opaque - I'm wearing two coats btw. I seriously consider these as one of my best beauty discoveries of last year. And I would highly, and I mean highly recommend you get a few, trust me you'll get addicted! The colours I have tried and would recommend are Blueberry and Lychee [the most flattering nude].

LOVE

New: La Roche-Posay Redermic [R] - Retinol Treatment!

Hey Beauty Lovers! I started using La Roche-Posay Redermic [R] about a week before Christmas. At that stage my skin seemed clear and I had no breakouts [my skin type: oily/combo + acne prone]. About a week in I started noticing visible changes to my skin. I'm actually very excited about this skincare product! To begin with, Retinol is a very powerful ingredient when it comes to anti-aging skincare. By lifting off the top layers of dead skin Retinol works deeply into the skin tissue rejuvenating skin cells. This makes fine lines and deep wrinkles appear diminished as well as making premature dark spots fade, leaving skin texture smooth and even-toned. Retinol is also the ingredient that is used in dermatological treatment for acne, as it lifts all the impurities. It is important to wear a high SPF especially when you are having a Retinol treatment!

Retinol is a very intense ingredient and can be too harsh on sensitive skin. However the great thing is that La Roche-Posay Redermic [R] has 0.1% pure Retinol with an exclusive Retinol booster complex which helps to enhance the efficacy of the formula, while maintaining suitable tolerance on the skin. So it's super gentle and suitable for all skin types. Retinol helps the skin to heal fast, so even if you get a spot it will take care of it really quickly, and next day or the day after it will simply make the skin peel in the place where the spot was rather than leaving it to develop into an ordeal, yet it won't leave your skin feeling dehydrated.

So for about two weeks all the pore impurities were lifted to the surface of the skin. Retinol acts like a hoover lifting everything out of the pores even if you couldn't see anything beforehand with the naked eye. Those were deeper pores that Retinol was working on, so potentially these could have been formed into more substantial spots later. I also noticed suddenly I got quite a few black heads, which I normally don't get. But I didn't get any cystic acne or nothing that resembled a general break out. My skin was getting properly cleansed and resurfaced, skin starts to peel [only in the beginning] but it's totally worth it in the end! And only now it seems Retinol has vacuumed all the junk and my skin texture is beautifully smooth and clear. 

Redermic [R] can be used in the morning and evening, it's meant to be a great make-up primer, but since I'm using another primer at the moment I apply it in the evening. It's super light-weight and gets absorbed immediately. The texture is very light and creamy similarly to a serum. Redermic has a pale yellow colour which is typical of Retinol. I will be doing an updated review in a few weeks to let you know how it's taking care of a pigmentation spot I have, I haven't noticed any changes yet.

LOVE

On-Trend: Decadent Floral Nail-Art with Essie!

L to R:

Essie Beyond Cozy, Licorice, Merino Cool

Hey Beauty Lovers! The other day I went through my entire Essie nailpolish collection and found Merino Cool, which I haven't worn in ages. Merino Cool [cream cool toned taupe] was one of my very first Essie purchases. So I decided to take a walk down the memory lane and create a nail-art look incorporating Merino Cool, I'm wearing two coats of it as a base. For the decadent floral nail-art I got inspired by flicking through Mr Candiipants' Instagram. 

It's one of her older nail-art looks, she calls it the 'Grown Up Floral Nail Art'. This is of course nothing like hers, her nail-art looks a-mazing, it's impeccable and very neat!! But I liked the general shape of the flower and made it bigger and also applied a touch of gold glitter to create a velvet kind of effect. For the flower I used Essie Licorice [cream black] and for the glitter I used Essie Beyond Cozy [fine champagne gold glitter], applying both with a super fine artists brush.

LOVE

A Pick-Me-Up Lip & Fave Eyeshadow of the Moment!

 Stila Countless Colour Pigments in Encore

Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black

Topshop Lip Stick in Hedonist

Hey Beauty Lovers! This is the look I wore today, I haven't worn a bright lip in a very long time. An über bright lipstick can be a true pick-me-up in the winter. If you keep the rest of the makeup neutral there is nothing wrong with wearing a super intense lip colour. Topshop Lip Stick in Hedonist is an almost neon matte orange red. Before I wear a matte lipstick I tend to thoroughly exfoliate my lips, then the matte lipstick goes on beautifully. 

For the eyes I used Stila Countless Colour Pigment in Encore, which is my go-to eyeshadow of the moment. There is just something about it that makes it a very pretty nude eyeshadow shade with a satin finish. I just swirl the brush in all the colours except for the lightest and apply it all over the lid as well as under the lower lashes. 

For an extra dimension I like the Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black, it's a soft black. This eyeliner is as soft as butter so be careful how you place it as it dries really quickly and will last untouched until you are ready to take it off. I love wearing it in my waterline as it isn't too intense for this type of look and also lasts forever without transferring. 

LOVE

On-Trend: Holographic Nailart with Ciate Colourfoil Manicure!

 BarryM BLE2013 B330 [Limited Edition]

Ciate Colourfoil Manicure - Holographic foil.

 

Hey Beauty Lovers! Ciate Very Colourfoil Manicure is a rather fun thing to do on a late rainy weekend evening... I have gone for something a little crazy, a bright yellow nailpolish isn't really a winter shade, but I had a serious colour-craving and decided to break the rules. This BarryM yellow is a Limited Edition shade that I got back in the summer, so I'm not sure if it's still available, but I love how glossy and super opaque it is! Ciate Very Colourfoil Manicure come in two styles I believe, one is all metallic foils and the other all holographic foils, each set has six shades. It also comes with a full size Ciate nailpolish in Cream Soda [cream grey], a Foil Fix [glue] and a nail-wheel. 

Basically once your nailpolish has dried you then need to apply a thin layer of Foil Fix in the places where you want the foil to stick, then wait until it has gone from white to transparent and press the foil matte side down and that's it. Very simple and super fun!

LOVE

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Original Formula Hair Serum!

Hey Beauty Lovers! This is one of the best-selling John Frieda hair products, but somehow I've never given it a go. And since my hair lately has become rather frizzy I decided to finally try out this famous smoothing hair serum. And I really love it! After washing my hair I apply one pump of the serum into still wet hair [just into the lengths and ends, avoiding the roots] before blow-drying it. It also has heat protection which is great! The formula is light and doesn't weight the hair down, leaving it looking smooth and glossy, whilst eliminating frizz and repelling humidity.

LOVE

Essie Sleek Stick Nail Stickers in Love to Love You!

Hey Beauty Lovers! Happy New Year, I hope you had a blast of a celebration and lots of champagne!! When it comes to nail-stickers they are purely an emergency situation. Just like today, I had a massive chip on my nail and was in no mood for a full-on manicure as I was feeling way too lazy for that but I was going out so had to have decent looking nails. From all the nail-stickers I have tried these are my favourite so far. First of all I love the design! They are quick and easy to apply [no need for drying time] and easy to take off [ just peel them off]! They come with a little file that takes off the excess sticker on the tip. My general problem with nail-stickers is that they never perfectly fit my nail-plate. But purely out of convenience these are great!

LOVE