CLOSED: A Little Thank You: Giveaway

I really really wanted to say thank you to my first 50 followers, (but I think I've just gone over to 51 woo) so I was going to randomly select one of you lovely readers, but I totally forgot that Bloglovin' doesn't show who follows you, so I can't really tell and I wouldn't want to miss anyone out.

So,  I'm just going to do a conventional give away!

Enough chatting, on to the giveaway:

 MAC PAINTPOINT

OR 

A MAC Lipstick

These are two of my favourite products from MAC and so I thought it would be the perfect things to giveaway, and why not better than to give the winner the choice!

How to enter:

-you must be following me via GFC or Bloglovin (bit harder to tell but I don't have many followers on there so I'll be counting entries)

-please leave a comment below saying 'enter me'  

-(and if you would like to, any posts you would like to see, or if there's anything specially you've seen that I haven't reviewed fully. ) 

-please state which item you would like to win and which shade.

-please leave your email or twitter so I can contact the winner

-For an extra entry you can tweet about the giveaway (@nic704)

-Give away ends at 12pm on Monday 19th March and I will announce the winner later that afternoon. (Selected via random.org.)

GOOD LUCK AND AGAIN A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL. 

I know to some, the number isn't big, but I've enjoyed ranting away in this little blog of mine, and it's crazy to me people actually click that follow button!

Much Love

Nic xxx

UPDATE Monday 19th 12.34: Thank you for all your entries and for commenting on what you would like to see. I will be picking a winner shortly. xx

...continue reading

Recent Hauling

I know I only just did a haul post a couple days ago, but I felt because this was one was make up it was okay. Sorry, if anyone find them a bit boring, I personally love seeing haul posts/videos!

Real Techniques Core Collection

I've wanted this for ages, but paying the postage costs always put me off a bit.  I originally bought the stippling brush nearly a year ago and have really been enjoying it, so was curious to try out some of the others. When I heard they were going to be sold in Boots I headed down, to find it sold out at first, but went back a week later to pick up the powder brush for Yu, and there it hung in all it's glory. First impressions are very good, and I've actually been choosing the buffing brush over my previous fav, the stippling brush!

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation 233

I don't know why it's taken me so long to look into this foundation, but a recent foundation collection video from Yu reminded me that I had wanted to try it. So I went for a colour match and walked out with it, oops. In my defence, Illamasqua don't actually give out samples, (which is ridiculous if you ask me) and the colour match is pretty good, it's a bit dark for everyday use, but works great for nights out which is exactly why I wanted it, and hopefully in the summer it will be a better match. I've only used it a couple times, but plan to do a full review in the near future. 

MAC Viva Glam Nicki

I managed to nab one of those advance codes, and so I received it a bit earlier than the official release date, which excited me more than it probably should have. I really love this, although when I apply it, the hints of peach disappear, and I'm left with a very vibrant almost highlighter pink. I wore this last night, and let me warn you, this baby leaves a stain. After 8 hours sleep I woke up with my lips still pink.

Bare Minerals Original  Golden Beige

I was soo excited to pick this up, it's something I've sampled before but never took the plunge.  I was between shades so I went for the slighty darker one as I thought it will be perfect in the summer anyway, and I can make it work when I've fake tanned. At the moment I'm using it lightly as a setting powder and it's working well. Once again, I'm planning to do a fuller review once I'd had a bit more use out of it, but it really is as good as I've read, with suprisingly good coverage. 

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Nic xxx

...continue reading

NOTD: OPI Coney Island

A quick post to show one of my purchases from The Professional Beauty Show, it's OPI's Coney Island Cotton Candy which is a very milky peach with quite yellowy tones (at least that's how it looks on me).  I had to use a whooping 5 layers, as the white tips of my nails were still showing through, but  it does apply thinly and dries quickly, so it wasn't too much of an issue.

I have bumped a couple of them, so sorry they don't look too great and for obvious reasons I couldn't be arsed to redo them! I really wanted to show what a lovely shade it is; I love the hint of peach. It would be nice if it went opaque in fewer layers but hey! It hasn't put me off, as it's quite a unique colour, at least to my collection.

I would like to say, I'm not too far off 50 followers which is uber exciting for me, and I would love to do a little give away when I reach it to say thank you to you all. Not sure exactly what I will be yet, but I'm heading into the shops this weekend to pick something up!

Nic xxx

...continue reading

Updating My Wardrobe

I am very attracted to all hues of green, from soft pastel mint, bright turquoise to deep autumnal green, but with Spring approaching the softer and more exciting shades have been catching my attention.

The Topshop earrings I first spotted on Maria's blog and fell in love, and luckily found them in store the next day, I can't find them online anymore. They have a mint green cotton thread wrapped around them, are quite large but don't feel too heavy at all; great statement earrings, and not badly priced at £8.50 either.  Zara Cutwork Ballerina shoes which are definitely the most I've spent on a pair of flats but the colour is so vibrant and really jazzes up a seemingly plain outfit.  And lastly, another gem from Zara, a light knit mint jumper with hole at the back, which was very reasonably priced, around the £15 mark, and fits beautifully. I couldn't find it online, but bought it about 3 weeks ago so it should still be in stores.

Anyone else slowly adding some Spring pieces to their wardrobes? Would love to see any other posts on wishlists or recent purchases, so please share!

Nic xx

...continue reading

EOTD: MUA Quick Daytime Look

I've owned the MUA Dusk til Dawn eyeshadow palette for a while, but it's always sat quite unloved being passed over in favour of my MAC palettes. Yesterday, I decided to have a little play, and paired two colours which I thought worked really well together. The two I used are surprisingly buttery, so they apply and blend beautifully, with finish I can liken to the Veluxe Pearls from MAC.

I'm a bit rubbish at describing colours, so I'll let the photos do the talking. I admit, I was drawn to the purple, which is a colour I love wearing. I think it works really well with brown eyes, and I've heard purple is good for making the eyes look brighter and whiter. (Apparently applying purple mascara to the tips of your lashes also works a treat!)

I used shade 1 (numbered below) all over the lid on top of MAC's Painterly Paint Pot, and then blended 2. on the outer lid and into the crease.  I think it gives a really soft, wearable slightly smokey eye. I didn't curl my lashes, just whacked some Loreal Telescopic in waterproof on to keep the look as simple and fresh as possible. It's definitely a combo I'll be wearing again.

I won't go into too much detail on the palette as a whole, as I haven't used it enough to comment, but I really do like the few I'm used and find them so easy to apply. (Think I may use the more glittery shades on the weekend!) To be fair, for £3 you can't really go wrong, even if you only use a couple of the colours. They really are great value for money and can be found in Superdrug in store or online.

Do you have any favourite combinations from the Dusk till Dawn Palette?

Nic xxx

...continue reading