Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow

Eekkkkkk!!! It finally came The Ultimate brow product (in my opinion anyway). Can we please take a moment to admire the beauty of this product in all its god damn glory! This product has been flying off the shelves like hot cakes, it's been in demand worldwide and I have finally got my hands on it about a month ago. It claims to be waterproof, smudge proof, and definition proof, which is every proof you could need and want in a brow product (LOVE). The packaging screams high end couture and the product itself is so easy to work with, I got the shade Chocolate but it currently comes in 4 magical shades, you can also buy the brush used to apply it with but I'm making use of my own brush. After reading reems of 5 star reviews I thought what the heck, what have I got to lose; within 3 days it came (score).

This is my first Anastasia product so far but it won't be my last; as you already know I religiously use my Mac pen for my brows but as I've recently lightened my hair it doesn't really match all that well so a new search had begun. I follow Anastasia on Instagram and some of her looks created with her products are outstanding, now I know she is a professional artist so of course she has the knack but having a good product to start with plays a huge factor in it. Most products claim to do all sorts but very few rarely live up to there hype, but this one certainly does and I am not disappointed. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, I have very light brows so I need products to define them, I love swimming but hate the fact my brows wash off so this has been a real test of resilience which has not failed.

When I received this the first thing I did after application was to take a shower to see if the waterproof factor really worked which it did, not a single imperfection so I ticked that off my list (mental one), no smudging either. It has a gel like consistency which makes it super supple to apply, I've been using a lip brush as its small and pointy which helps with definition. For me personally I find it looks better if you apply the dipbrow underneath your foundation because it can look too prominent the other way; also a little goes a long way.  Seriously I have finally found a product that does EVERYTHING! Sorry MAC but we're breaking up I've found a new best friend that offers more than you can give me lol. I ordered this from Cult Beauty for just £15, which is only an extra £1 more than what I would normally spend;  annoyingly it's currently out of stock so you have to go on their waiting list but do it as it's totally worth it.

Overall this product does exactly what it says on the tin, it looks great and feels great and since using this I've been getting loads more compliments on my brows which is what it's all about. I have had this for a little over a month now and hardly any has gone so I know this will last me ages before repurchasing (huge bonus). Definitely good value for money, highly recommend this!

XxX

Tools of the Trade

Firstly apologies for neglecting my blog, had a lot on but I'm back :) and I'd like to talk about the tools I use for applying my tinted moisturizer. As I'm sure we are all guilty of is buying cheap brushes due to running out of pennies by the time we've bought our foundation because let's face it there price tags are certainly rising. I've tried so many low budget ones which I have to say the saying 'get what you pay for' springs to mind every time due to lack of quality. When you actually add up the cost of tools during a one year period, you just as well buy a high end one from the get go as I guarantee you will end up doing. 

When you think about it your using something on a daily basis sometimes even twice a day so it's important you get something strong and durable which will save you money in the long run.

During my Christmas shopping at the end of last year I noticed Debenhams had a 10% sale on so I thought now is the time to purchase a good quality brush; I already use YSL mascara so I figured I'd start my search there for a brush. I've always rated YSL products and I know the girl on the counter very well and trusted her knowledge and experience, she recommended the professional makeup brush which felt like velvet. It is normally £32 but with the 10% off it cost £28.80, now I know this sounds like an awful lot for a foundation brush but I am not disappointed. I have been using this brush for just over 3 months now and let me tell you it's going strong, not one single bristle has gone and even after weekly cleans it's still got a velvet texture to it. 

Money well spent here, by now I would be buying a new cheaper brush which is remarkable really I wish i had discovered this ages ago as it would have saved me a lot of time and money. 

After applying my foundation I use a sponge to smooth out the brush marks, and again same applies to the brush with regards to quality. We've all headed down to our local pound shop and got 20 sponges for a quid which is fine but is it just me or don't you think they always feel rough and they tend to drag on your skin which feels uncomfortable?? 

Being a mum I find Boots my second home lol so on my last trip I picked up a Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge which is just gorgeous. I picked up this little baby about 2 months ago now and it's still doing me proud; it was on offer for £4.99 and i love the bright orange sponge and the packaging looks very inviting. I love the fact it has a flat edge and a point which helps get right in to the corner of your eyes which is always a pain, it washes up great and can be used over and over. This is the first product I've purchased from the Real Techniques range and it certainly won't be the last, reasonable prices linked to a durable product which come with a great recommendation from the blogging world. 

Hope this has been helpful. 

XxX

Shellac Nails

Going into the beauty parlor for me is like a kid in a candy shop, soooooo much choice I want it all!!!! I recently took a trip to France and I always have my nails done before I go away so I don't have to worry about them chipping or having to bring polish with me, just relax and enjoy my holiday with my family. Before I left I had a neutral shade on my hands, and a dark red on my toes............

Shellac Hands



Look how pretty, very pleased with them and the amazing girls that did them.  Shellac doesn't damage the nail, its very hard wearing and long lasting, grows out with the nail and depending on your nail growth every 2/3 weeks to have them redone. A lot cheaper than gels or acrylics ranging form £10 - £20 look out for salon monthly promotions for a better deal; so many different colours and styles to choose from.

Red Toes

For Christmas I have gone  for a santa red with a hint of sparkle which i'm loving as I have a matching red lippy which i cant wait to pair up at the weekend.........

Anyone else tried Shellac????????

Merry Christmas everyone XxX

Maclaren Techno XT Stroller Model Black

Choosing THE right pushchair that aims to suit all your needs is very difficult, given there are so many to chose from but hey ho it's all part of a learning curve when becoming a parent. When we first had our little lady we opted for a travel system; the Quinny in black which made life very easy in the beginning. This system only lasted us a year due to size and compatibility with our car which is why we opted for a stroller that wouldn't take up much room in the boot, easy to fold down, and of course durable for travelling with. I did alot of research before settling on the Maclaren, I discovered that when buying a buggy not only do you have to consider your needs but also after you have finished with it, you need a good selling point. The Maclaren ticked all the boxes for me, it is suitable form birth and comes with a removable head support which is very soft and washable. 

• Suitable from birth upto15kg (My daughter is 4 and well over 3 stone and we still use it regularly with no problems).
• One handle recline which gives you four positions from up right to completely flat.
•  Foot rest with two positions.
• Water resistant square hood with a built in zip panel that extends out to a sun shade panel (which for me was clincher as the Quinny didn't have this, you had to buy an umbrella for an extra £30 that would never sit right and got in the way with shop door ways).
• Height adjustment handles (which makes such a difference as my partner is 6 ft which adapted to his needs).
• Carry handle.
• Easy foot breaks.
• Reflective panels making it safe for evening walks.
• Shoulder pads for added comfort.
• Five point harness to keep baby safe which requires an adult to unclip as its a two point press.
• Lockable front swivel wheels.
• Large carry basket on the bottom.
• Aluminum frame making it light weight.
• Removable washable seat fabric (which is a god send).
• Folded dimensions = H107xW29xD25cm.

Maclaren Techno XT Stroller........

If you register with Maclaren online when you get one they give you a lifetime guarantee, I purchased my buggy in Mothercare in the sale for £160 but normally they are £235 so it pays to keep an eye out for the sales; Mothercare do offer a 2 year guarantee too for no extra charge. This model does come with a matching foot muff which is sold desperately for £50 and if you go on the Maclaren website they do sell little added extras such as seat inserts which come in a wide range of funky patterns and bold colours to jazz up your pram to make it look less dull. I had to buy one of these which are machine washable and do protect the seat which is always a bonus, it also comes with a rain cover which washable too. God what would we do if baby things were not machine washable, since becoming a mummy my washing machine has genuinely become my best friend as I'm sure all parents can relate to. 

It's not just Mothercare that sell the Maclaren range if you troll the net kiddiecare, Argos, Boots, Ebay, Amazon etc all sell them so it is very accessible. 

Sun visor all the way down.

As I spoke about earlier the handy little built in sun visor as pictured above; Maclaren really have thought of everything with this model haven't they??????

When folded down it fits comfortably in the boot of my Golf leaving plenty of room for shopping bags, although I think you would struggle to get it in anything smaller but check the measurements before purchase. 

Overall I couldn't be any happier with this pram very versatile from to birth to toddler and ticks every box. If your not a fan of black then it does come in a red and a royal blue which are just as nice, it's currently on offer in Mothercare at the moment for £185 so snap it up while stocks last!!!!

MAC BROWS

Anyone that knows me will know i have a huge obsession with eyebrows lol (No SERIOUSLY!!). There is nothing worst than bad eyebrows in life, they really do make or break a look, so it's crucial they are done right. It's taken me years of practice to accomplish a great arch, and colour which i'm confident in saying with the amount of compliments i receive; so i feel it's time to break my silence and share my eyebrow secrets. Alot of people think it's good to shave all the eyebrow off then pencil them in......WRONG!!!! This is the worst thing you can do and i'm sure many have made this mistake but it will cause problems in the long run; if this is done over a period of many years the hair can grow back patchy and thicker which leaves nothing to work with. The key point to shaping brows is to only remove hair below the brow line not above, this ensures a natural look and higher definition. 

Unfortunately I don't have very dark or thick brows so i tint them and shape them by wax or tweeze to make them appear fuller. As I said before I wax under the brow and in the middle of my brows to prevent a mono brow which we all detest! 

I've tried many different products over the years but i have tracked down my 3 top favourite products that i use daily which i really couldn't be without.............

Left to right.....

MAC Eyebrow tint gel

Mac Penultimate brow pen

Mac Lingering Brow

Is it me or do all the MAC products smell like chocolate fudge?????

Anyway this gel is a really strong hold gel which keeps the hairs at bay all day, it  has a dark browny red tinge to it and it also comes in a lighter colour too which is great for lighter tones. Very easy to apply but a word of warning with this one; apply lightly as it is quite dark then build it up for more of a HD look. (£13.00)

The Penultimate brow pen is truly a god send, I love it so much to the extent that i always have a good stock full of these to keep me going, I currently have 5 in my cupboard as backup (seriously), it only comes in one colour and its light at first but can be built up as much as you like. You can get a really precise point with it due to the pen point, it lasts ages and its only £14.00. This is a really long lasting product, I find you have to wash it off as apposed to a makeup remover because it stays so well which is good in one way but time consuming in another. 

The Lingering pencil is also good, it's got a crayon texture to it and comes in many different shades, I have Spike and lasts really well too. (£13.00)

There are 2 other products I rate too which I use as backup, Benefit and Clinique..........

Clinique has a double ended brow pen which has an eyebrow pencil at one end, and a highlighter at the other.

This comes in different colours but this one is the darkest, this product is really handy as it's a 2 in 1, the pencil side is really easy to apply although it is dark so be careful not to overdo it. The highlighter side has a peachy pink undertone which is applied to the arch of the brow making it more prominent. This is a perfect handbag product making it easy for touch ups. (£18.00)

The Benefit speedy brow gel isn't as good as the MAC gel but it does the job, it has a slight brown tinge but mostly clear which can be used on any colour really. (£14.00)

Here is a look i did on a girlfriend with blonde hair, I used The Penultimate pen with Benefits brow gel and the dark brows at the bottom were created using Lingering MAC pencil with MAC brow gel.........

BEFORE/AFTER

BEFORE/AFTER On Dark (Myself)

So there you have it my brow secrets unveiled, was it what you expected??? I adore eyebrows and always will but just bare in mind everyone has different face symmetry's which makes it difficult to get THE perfect brows, but the closer the better is always a winner and of course practice makes perfect.

XxX

Matte Nail Polish

All things matte this season which I'm totally down with, i can finally match my matte lips with my nails :) I've been waiting anxiously for this to be released on the high street for a while now, and I have to say I am not disappointed. So far I've only come across Barry M (£3.99) but it won't be long before the rest jump on the new craze and I'll be frantically nabbing them off the shelves to go home and try :)

This particular shade is difficult to pin down as it looks different in various lights; it's a mix between purple, beige, grey, and brown all mixed in one. I was very impressed with the speed it dried in, making it similar to 60 second polishes without the status. Once dried it has a weird texture, not smooth but very dry like; initially it screams a shiny clear top coat as it looks like something is missing, but after a days wear you get used to it. I've seen a burgundy shade in this range that i want to try too, has anyone else tried Matte polishes yet???

Highlight & Contouring Kit

All about the Kim K look.......... I did my beauty training 6 years ago when foundation and concealer was really the only thing you did to prep the skin; so this is all new to me. As it is a new craze it's difficult to buy kits in shops so i was delighted to find one in my local Superdrug store, strictly speaking it's a concealer kit but works perfectly for H&C. It comes in 5 different kits with different shades for any skin tone, i went with number 3 but given i have an olive skin tone i could do with a 4 (which i WILL be purchasing). It has a light and dark shade, followed by a setting powder. I never wear foundation only a tinted moisturiser (never needed to so don't intend to start now) so i found it a bit heavy looking on my skin; but I have tried it on my friends that do wear foundation and it looks great on them. The key thing with H&C is to go 2 shades lighter than your skin tone for highlighting, and 2 shades darker for contouring. I applied this kit with my finger, then blended with a sponge to get an even look, this look can look very pale at first but you get used to it and end up loving it!!

The texture is very smooth and velvety making it easy to apply, it doesn't have much of a scent, but i think it looks like an expensive product that cost just £7.99 which is always a bonus!! The brand Sleek is new to me, but so far i'm impressed; they have a great range of different products/shades with an even better price tag........O the appeal :)
So far an impressive product with dramatic results, here is a pick of this look I applied to a girlfriend :)