NOTD: OPI 'Did It On 'Em'

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a fun weekend in the lovely weather, I had a day of blogging/uni worked planned for today, but early yesterday afternoon I started to feel rubbish and was up most of the night with a horrible fever which has been coming and going all day. Which is really sucky as all I wanted to do was frolic in the sun all day. 

I painted my nails on Thursday night, so they at least have been keeping me happy all weekend. I went for Did It On 'Em, which is the limey/yellow shade from the Nicky Minaj minis (which I really really like and have enjoyed wearing all the shades.) This one is definitely the brightest of the lot, and is really eye catching. The colour does change slightly depending on the light, and it definitely leans more yellow in direct sunlight. In my opinion it's a shade that really looks best on darker/tanned skin and I've waited till I've fake tanned to wear it, and it definitely looks better than when I tried to wear it a few weeks ago. It did take three shades to go opaque, but then I do like to apply thinner layers- it dries quickly and leaves quite a glossy finish. I have got a full three days wear without any chips, which is something of a miracle for me, I'm lucky if I get 12 hours usually!

Do you have a favourite from the Nicki Minaj collection? Or any other eye catching shades for the summer?

Nic xxx

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A small MAC haul, naturally.

As soon as I saw the promos of MAC Naturally collection, I was excited about the release of Redhead and Blonde MSFs (both limited edition), and for ages I didn't know which one I wanted, but I set aside the money for one and waited patiently. Last week, I finally made it in store to swatch and ended up walking away with Redhead, it's the perfect champagne pink and is beautifully pigmented. On my skin it works great as a blusher/brightener/highlighter all in one, and think it will look amazing with a tan. 

I also had some empties to back to mac and originally was after Blankety or Hug Me, as I wanted a brown based nude, but both look awful on me, so I went for Fanfare (from the permanent line.) which is a very wearable everyday yellow toned pink, with a slight sheen. Adds a great hint of colour without being too in your face, I'm very happy with my choice.

Redhead applies so beautifully, with no grittiness at all, and the colour really does instantly brighten up my face. I definitely feel I went for the right one, but in a world were money is endless, I definitely would have picked up both. (thanks to the boyfriend who helped me chose and for being very patient with me!) Fanfare is a cremesheen finish and is lovely and smooth on application, but perhaps not as sheeny as others in the line.

l: redhead r: fanfare


In other news, I've recently been asked to join the writing team over at FAME online, which is a student run online magazine, who also do a quartly print edition. All the writers volunteer their time to get involved, and talk about things that are passionate to them, and there's a broad range of great articles. I'm very excited to get started, should have my first article up in the next couple of weeks. I'll be writing for the beauty section, so now doubt I'll be linking to my articles, and would love it if you could check it out.




Nic xxx

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My First Taste of Jemma Kidd

I won't deny, these two purchases were heavily influenced by Anna's raving reviews, I'd previously seen PawPaw on A Model Recommends so I didn't need to be told twice.

Dewy Glow Radiance Creme Iced Gold £17

I've really been getting into cream products, and thought it was only fair I added a cream highlighter, it leaves the most gorgeous soft shimmer, and sets beautifully on the skin BUT it is not compatible with powders, at least not the ones I use. It's hard to describe, but it goes a bit funny whether placed on top, or underneath a powder. So if you like to set with a powder, avoid doing it on the cheek bones etc. Basically where ever you want to highlight. The swatch really shows how beautiful it is, and I'm very tempted to buy the Rose Gold version as well.

The photos below are taken with my iPhone but I think they really show how beautiful Dewy Glow looks when the light hits it, and how it photographs. (No flash was used)

Blush Wear Creme Cheek Colour PawPaw £13

There's not too much to say about this, it's just lovely. It applies so nicely (I use a Real Techniques Stippling Brush)  and dries to a powder finish, that lasts really well on my skin. The colour is perfect for me, I love peaches on my cheeks, and find they suit my skin tone really well.  I've already added Pomegranate to my list, as I'm so impressed with the formula, and I don't have any blushes like it! It's not quite as bright and scary as it in in the pan, but my skintone mutes it slighty (NC25 for reference). It's blends out beautifully to create a barely there flush, but it's buildable when you want the colour to really stand out, so you can make it fit to your taste.


Jemma Kidd is available instore at SpaceNK, but they aren't that accessible for everyone, you can find it online at Beauty Bay or Feel Unique, who both offer free delivery.


It's really fun discovering new brands, and I've enjoyed my little adventure with Jemma Kidd, I'm hoping to get a Light As Air sample next time I'm home too.  Any other JK recommendations for me?

Nic xxx

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MAC Haul

 I went to the MAC stand with the intention of picking up 1 pan to finish my neutral palette, and having a little swatch, but, I absolutely fell in love with the colours. They are so different to what I own already, and I couldn't resist. Debenham's had 15% off, plus I had £25 worth of Beauty Club points, so in my defense I didn't even spend that much!

Left: Bronze (Frost) gold brown with shimmer.

Right: Sketch (Velvet) deep burgundy/brown with a red shimmer. I went in thinking I wanted  Fig.1, but this just swatched so much better, and I like the added dimension with the shimmer, without being too obvious.

Left: Paradisco (Frost)  pinky-coral with a gorgeous pearl sheen. Think it would look great along the top of the cheekbones as well.

Right: Starviolet (Veluxe Pearl) pinky-brown plum, veluxe pearl finish are just to die for as well.

L-R. Bronze.Sketch. Paradisco.Starviolet.

(click to enlarge)

(how tiny my my little finger!!)

Metal X Cream Eye Shadow (Limited Edition) £15.50

Venetian Tarnish

After swatching for about half an hour, the lovely MUA showed me the new cream shadows, (which I had purposely been avoiding!) I've been really drawn cream finishes lately, so I knew it would be dangerous to even look. And then I ended up buying one! Total self control fail.

What MAC says: A powdery cream that almost instantly transforms into a blendable, buildable liquid metal finish.  A vibrant mélange of pigments, this highlighter quickly brings extreme brilliance, shine and multi-dimensional impact to eyes, cheeks, décolletage.

This is beyond gorgeous!! The colour is so dimensional, and I love that is multipurpose. I'm really looking forward to playing around with it. Might have to pick up another colour as well.

I love my new colours, and apart from Bronze, I've not seen too many people talking about them. So it's nice to make some discoveries on my own. All the finishes are great, and apply well, all the shimmery/sheenyness (not a word I know) is also perfect for festive season!

(I had planned to include photos of the new colours on my eyes, but decided to save it for another post, as it was a bit too photo heavy with them. So look out for that if you're interested in how to wear the more pinky/purpley colours)

Thanks for reading!

Nic xxx

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What Joy Comes in a White Little Bullet?

Hello and excuse the lame title, but I couldn't resist. I am beyond happy with my one and only purchase from the MAC Glitter & Ice Collection released a couple weeks ago now. (Although I'm hoping to pick up another on the weekend, Morning Frost Paint Pot, I am looking at you!)

Back in October, when the swatches went live on Temptalia I immediately added What Joy! lipstick to my wish list. It looked like the perfect berry red, a shade I had been searching for. So I sat waiting patiently for the release date.

Ouu so shiny!

I didn't even bother trying it on in store, just went to the till (after having a massive eye shadow/paint pot swatch session) and asked for it. I'm a bit of sucker for limited edition packaging, and I know some don't like the white, but I think it still looks sleek and not tacky at all. Plus the silver boxes are wicked!

How gorgeous does that look! In the bullet it almost appears like a deep reddy/brown but on the lips it transforms to it's true berry self.

Dabbed on as a stain / Applied properly.

This is what it looks like dabbed on slighty and then rubbed in with my fingers. It's a really nice wearable flush of colour. On my lips it does tend to lean a bit pink, but just dab on more for a deeper colour. It's really great during the day - not sure I'm brave enough to wear it full on during the sunshine hours.

As you can see it's a really deep, classy red. It is quite in your face, but very sophistacted at the same time. I am super happy I got my hands on it, it's like nothing I already own. The Satin finish means it's got a lovely sheen to it, and lasts really well. Lotta love for What Joy! Really is happiness in a bullet.

It's sold out on the MAC & Debenham's websites already, but may be available on local counters and concessions.

I'm going to do a full FOTD post later to show it off some more.

Nic xxx

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Colour Me In

The weather has been so depressing so I've been really enjoying bright lips. These are some recent additions to my lipstick collection.

L-R Impassioned / Show Orchid / Neon Orange

These are the truest representations of the colours.

I went into MAC in September when the Fall Colour Collection was released just wanting to pick up Show Orchid which I'd been after for a while, and walked out with all three.

All three are amplified finishes, and as a result are super pigmented and last ages. They have quite a sheen to them, and I haven't found them drying at all.

L-R Impassioned/ Show Orchid / Neon Orange

Impassioned

Impassioned is a hot pink, but on my lips its very warm and almost looks like a peach/pink to me. 

Show Orchid

I tried to capture the purple iridescence running through the bright fushia pink, which you can see quite well on the lip swatch. It is a really bright and eyecatching colour, when the light hits it it almost looks purple. It's gorgeous. Rely more on the hand swatch/ bullet for true colour though.

Neon Orange

This swatch is a little misleading, it's actually a very bright true orange, there's no red tones at all. The hand swatch shows it's true colour well. It's very simliar to MAC's Morange.

Neon Orange and Show Orchid are available permanently from the Pro collection, although Neon Orange is still available on the normal website. Impassioned is part the permanent line. 

Sorry the lipswatches aren't great representations, my camera seemed to dull down the colours the closer I brought it to my lips. Took multiple photos to try my best though.

Here's a little photo of Impassioned in action.

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