FOTD: Winter Berry + re-ombré hair

Nothing too fancy today, but when I awoke to a fresh flurry of snow I felt all wintery and cosy, so I plopped my Topshop bobble hat on and some matching lip colour! Also I just refreshed my ombré as it was looking a little brassy and the purple toned conditioner I've been using just wasn't enough to get it looking fresh again. I'm really happy with how it came out, but a little worried about the condition of my hair now, oops! If you have any suggestions for hair care please let me know! 

This Topshop lipstick in 'Inhibition' remains a firm favourite of mine, a beautiful purple tone, but very wearable. I also find it looks great on fair skins or those with a dark complexion, a truly versatile, gorgeous colour, perfect for these cold winter days. 

Estée Lauder Doublewear in Desert beige 12

Real Techniques buffing brush

Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Expres' mascara, 100% black

L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in 005 Nude

Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in Ivory

Topshop Lips in Inhibition

FOTD | Pale faced & Pink lipped

Today I opted for something simple and easy, and a look which would allow me to try out my little selection of new products. 

Foundation - Rimmel Wake Me Up, Soft Beige

Concealer - Rimmel Wake Me Up, Ivory

Mascara - Lancôme Hypnose Star

Eyeliner - L'Oreal Superliner

Eyebrows - Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil, Black Brown

Lipliner - Rimmel Exaggerate, East End Snob

Lipstick - Rimmel Kate Moss Matte, 101

Waterline - Rimmel Kohl Kajal, 005 Nude

REVIEW: Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' foundation & concealer

Let me start by saying that when it comes to drugstore foundations, I am one tough cookie to please. I've been wearing make-up on a more or less daily basis since the age of about 15, and have tried and failed to find a drugstore base which I really love and would actually repurchase. Once I discovered my HG foundation in the form of Estée Lauder Double Wear, I knew there was no going back! That said, I am always on the hunt for new products to try, and Rimmels new Wake Me Up range has been causing somewhat of a stir amongst my favourite bloggers and Youtubers alike, and as I'm nearing the end of my current bottle of double wear I figured now is the perfect opportunity to road test this new product. If its good enough for Tanya Burr, it must be good enough for me!

I purchased the foundation in the shade 200 Soft Beige, and the concealer in shade Ivory. Both items are reasonably priced and won't break the bank, £8.99 for the foundation and £5.49 for concealer, also in Boots there was a 3 for 2 across the whole Rimmel range so I picked up one of the Kohl Kajal eyeliner pencils in 005 Nude (more about this later!). Overall pretty good value and what I would expect from a lower end brand. 

So I woke up this morning eager to do my makeup so I could finally utilise these products. After washing and exfoliating my face, I applied a layer of the Laroche-Posay Effaclar K all over my face as a moisturiser/base. I pumped two blobs of foundation onto the back of my hand, then using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush began blending the product onto my face, first on one side only so I can compare to the other make-up free side, then all over. 

The product is quite nice to work with, a nice consistency which smooths out over the whole face nicely, and I found I'd really pumped out too much as it didn't take more than one good sized pump to do my whole face. I wasn't too keen on the smell, it was rather a cheap scent and a little odd, but this went away and after two minutes I didn't notice it anymore. Once I'd buffed the product in all over my face, I applied the concealer under my eyes, around my nose, and to blemishes I currently have around my mouth and chin. I used the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease brush to blend this in, and actually found it made an immediate difference to my under eye area, cue a little gasp of joy! It covered my blemishes and certainly counteracted the redness of both my spots and around my nose area. 

Coverage wise, I found the foundation to be light but buildable to medium, depending on the application method, ie fingers or brush. I was happy with how it evened out my skin tone, and left my skin still feeling fresh, not smothered. And despite my absolute adoration of my Double Wear, sometimes I do feel it's a little too heavy for daytime wear, this however was basically perfect daytime coverage for me. 

Once I'd completed my foundation/concealer routine, I went about my day to see how well this duo would fare without touch-ups, and in the biting cold weather when exposed to the elements! I have to say, it's now 6.45pm, I applied my makeup at 11am, and I am thoroughly impressed. I could do with some powder blotted over my t-zone, but I'm a pretty oily lass, and even my HG foundation can't hold back the slick all day, so I didn't expect it from this. I still look pepped up and pleasant enough that I could happily nip out for an evening without feeling the need to pile on more product. 

Overall, I can really understand the hype over this new range. I'm not a drugstore foundation gal, but if this is now becoming what 'low end' brands have to offer, then perhaps for the sake of saving a lot of pennies on a cheaper product, I could definitely be converted! I will actually be adding this to my everyday make-up collection, for those days when I'm feeling a little 'blah' and my skin could do with some oomph. 

Thank you Rimmel, you've made this girl have a change of heart.

NAIL ART: Neon leopard

Products used:
Collection 2000 Hot Looks - Mint mojo
Collection 2000 - Candy floss
Models Own nail art pen

This was just a fun little look I wanted to attempt with a couple of the brighter colours in my nail varnish collection, which seem to sit at the back rather unloved for much of the year. I can't wait until Summer when I can start to bring out the pastels and brights, and the weeks when Essie's Mint Candy Apple will not be leaving my nails!

What nails will you be rocking for the warmer months? I love to know others go-to Summer shades! 

OOTD: Winter Winds

Today I braved the bitter cold biting Southern wind to take a stroll in the Winter sunshine with my Mumma.

I wasn't planning on blogging an OOTD initially, hence the iPhone photos, but I hope they're acceptable anyway! 

Although the sun was well and truly beaming down on us, it was thoroughly deceptive as the wind was bitingly cold! I decided to face facts and layer up with a new mohair jumper I've just nabbed from TK Maxx (not really visible), ASOS Boyfriend Denim Jacket, and my beloved ASOS Aztec Scarf.

Unwisely, I opted for this Topshop Velvet Skirt (via Ebay) and some black tights, so my bottom half was rather icy.

Also in this outfit: Primark beanie, H&M sunglasses, Topshop studded clutch, Converse hi-tops

I've also rekindled my love affair with my hometown, it might be cold, but it sure is pretty.

NAIL ART: "Jamaican Me Crazy"

(I hate myself for the title of this post, I'm sorry)

As an out-and-out lover of all things summer, I've been feeling a little drab when it comes to my nails of late. Don't get me wrong, I love a nail in the nud' as much as the next girl, (think Chanel - 'Frenzy', swoon) but as I found myself with some extra time on my hands this morning, I thought I would inject some colour back into my talons, just for a bit of fun.

I don't claim this design as my own, it's very much inspired by the incredible gals over at WAH Nails, but this is my own (much shabbier) interpretation!

Products used:

Collection 2000 Hot Looks - Ninja

Collection 2000 Hot Looks - Big Hair

Collection 2000 Hot Looks - Lemon Soda

The black detailing is simply liquid eyeliner with a coat of Sally Hansen 2 in 1 base and top coat applied on top

Alas, as much as I love this look, the winter wardrobe doesn't exactly allow for such colour combinations right now, so as I woefully reach for the polish remover, I'll be keeping this in mind for SS13, perhaps with a neon twist...

Greetings Blogosphere!

Hello!

My name is Jolie, I am a beauty/make-up/fashion obsessed young chica from the sunny South coast of England, and very much the new kid on the block!

I am oh-so new to the world of blogging, but after what seems like a lifetime of sitting back and admiring many wonderful blogs & bloggers, I decided it's about time I have a go myself. 

This will be a place where I can share my views on everything I love, from beauty products to make-up looks I'm wearing, outfit posts, and a little bit of personal stuff thrown in for good measure, I'm keeping it very open-ended.

I'm always looking for new blogs to follow, so please let me know if you think there's any worth sharing, I'm all ears!

<3