Kissable Valentines Lips

Valentines day is just around the corner and at the moment, there's nothing I'm enjoying more than experimenting with my lipsticks and trying to find a perfect shade for the special night. Me and my partner will be going to our favourite restaurant as per usual and I want to look my best. There's nothing that screams lust more than red lipstick and I'm no stranger to the pretty colour. Today I thought I'd show you two other red beauties that are currently on the market and see which one tickles your fancy. 

Cajun Pepper currently on offer at £2 from Front Cover Cosmetics

www.frontcovercosmetics.com

The Cajun Pepper mini lipstick  is one of the newest releases from the Front Cover range and it's great for those wanting a deeper colour. Unlike Pillar Box Red or the Bloody Mary lipgloss I'm about to show you, this colour is a little bit more subtle and oozes ounces of sex appeal.  The colour lasts a relatively long time, not quite 24 hours, but long enough to have kissable lips all night through. 

Cajun Pepper Demo

The lipstick is a miniature size which is perfect for your handbag or discreetly slipping into your pocket for a night out and with a price as small as £4 (currently on sale at £2), it's great to be able to trial lots of different colours. 

A.K.A Lipgloss £7 from A.KA cosmetics

http://www.akacosmetics.com/

If you love the colour of Cajun Pepper, but you would prefer a bit more vibrancy or a 'gloss lipped' look, this lipgloss from A.K.A cosmetics is fabulous. I'm not usually a lipgloss girl. I either forget to apply it or stick to my usual lipsticks. However, I really like how this tinted lipgloss makes my pout stand out. 'Bloody Mary' lipgloss is great for those looking for a subtle red gloss or for those wanting to enhance their already red lips. I prefer using this on top of a different colour, but either way it works really well. I love that the product isn't really sticky like a lot lipgloss brands and it makes my lips look effortlessly fabulous.  

Bloody Mary Lipgloss Demo

Whatever you're doing this valentines day - whether you're going to the cinema, for a meal, an extravagant night out or just simply staying in with a box of chocolates to yourself, remember there's nothing that feels better than a sexy red lip.

Have you tried any of these colours?

Also, remember to enter my Giveaway!

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Valentines Lips with Barry M

"Pour yourself a drink, put some lipstick on and pull yourself together" - Marilyn Monroe. 

For decades a bright red lipstick has been seen as the epitome of confidence for women. It symbolises sexuality, feminism and the powerful stance that women can often have over men. Red lipstick in particular is associated with lust and glamour, which was mainly bought to the forefront of media attention by the likes of screen goddesses Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor during the 1950s. When reaching for our favourite shade of red lip paint, we often think of the 1950s as it oozes a classy, sophisticated appeal. In the 1960s, many women were accused of having mental disorders if they did not wear lipstick. Lipstick was classed as a necessary accessory for women. 

With Valentines Day just around the corner, it's time to honor our true inner goddess and get the guys lusting over our kissable lips.  There's no better colour than red for this occasion and I'm going to suggest that Barry M shade 121 should take place in your makeup purse.

Barry M Shade 121 is called 'Pillar Box Red' and in my opinion, resembles the colour of old phone boxes. Bright, vibrant and very classic, this Barry M lipstick has a fantastic creamy texture and glides on effortlessly with barely any smudges. The one downside to this product is the fact that it's a little dry, but if you apply lip balm before hand and keep your lips hydrated, you shouldn't have any problems.

The lipstick is very vibrant and really brings your lips to the centre of attention. If you're too scared of colour this lipstick probably isn't for you, but I still suggest you give it a go. The colour red is great for anyone with a daring personality and this lipstick looks wonderful on brunettes.  The lipstick can be bought for £4.49 which is easily affordable and a great little treat for valentines day without going over the top.

I have always been a fan of bright red lipsticks, I own approximately 30 different shades at home and I'm admittedly turning into somewhat of a 'red lipstick hoarder'. Nevertheless, nothing will stop me. I'm passionate, a little crazy at times and I love a great challenge. The colour red sums me up perfectly.

I shall leave you with a song called 'Red Lipstick' by Kesha!

What's your favourite coloured lipstick?

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Wedding Planning

As many of you know, I've been engaged since April 2012 and I have some exciting news to tell you all. As of yesterday evening, me and my partner James have placed the deposit down on our wedding reception. I'm beyond excited and I seem to have gone into wedding overdrive. I'm not getting married until 2014, but it's great that we're so prepared and we can have a gradual planning session rather than doing the whole 'Don't Tell The Bride' thing of booking a wedding within 3 weeks. Of course, being a really girly girl, I'm so excited about trying on wedding dresses in the near future, so I decided to celebrate by showing you some of my favourites online.

My wedding theme is 1950s/60s. Me and my partner can't choose with decade we really prefer, so we're going for the turn of the decade. Think Dreamboats and Petticoats and early Beatles. I'm looking for a dress with plenty of elegant lace and quite big. This top dress is from the Maggie Sottero range. I love the beautiful lace top half and how the lace trails along the bottom. I have slightly bigger hips so I like the fact that this dress goes in at the wait then out again.

This second dress still has the lace elements that I really like, but it's much more slimline. I'm not overly keen on the gloves, but the dress looks beautiful. It's simple, yet incredibly elegant.

The final dress is known as the 'Snow White' dress. I love the floral decoration on the top and the fact that it looks so retro. Right now if I had to choose one dress, this would definitely be it.

 Whilst we were discussing wedding plans at the hotel last night, we were told that the hotel is pet friendly and that guests are allowed to bring dogs if they are struggling for accommodation. Words cannot describe how happy I am to hear that my little yorkshire terrier, Ozzy, can be a guest at my wedding. Of course he isn't allowed in the reception room, but he can be in my wedding pictures and have a lie down upstairs whilst we all party. I definitely need to look at dog tuxedos...

Which dress would you choose?

x

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Embrace Those Curves

(Image taken from website)

Having a big bust can be troublesome at times. When I was bigger, my bra size was a double FF. I looked everywhere for lingerie that would fit properly and make me feel confident, but unfortunately I had to stick with mesh 'grandma' style bras. With lots of focus around Valentines underwear right now, I decided to show you this new brand called 'City Chic'. I know I don't have bigger breasts anymore, but I know how it feels to long for flattering and fitting underwear.

(Image taken from website)

This Valentines day, it's time to embrace your inner curvy diva. City Chic offers clothes and plus size lingerie from size 14 and above. There's a great selection for you to choose from and a wide selection of colours. I love these black hold up knickers and bra. They are simple, yet elegant and hide all the wobbly bits you don't want your date to see. 

*This is a sponsored post and a small fee was given in exchange. All opinions are my own and I picked each item. All money goes into directly benefiting my blog.

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Embrace Those Curves: Part 2

A woman should be able to look good and feel good whatever size she is. Being 'plus size' shouldn't be a negative label, it should be something to embrace. As a former plus size woman ( I lost weight because I was unhealthy rather than being unhappy) I understand how difficult it is to cater for your shape. I made far too many fashion mistakes and my friends are still posting the evidence on Facebook to haunt me. Autograph Fashion has a great variety of women's clothing to suit any figure from a size 14 to 26. 

This little blue dress I chose off the website has a beautiful textured fabric that glides over the lumps and bumps and gives the illusion of a slimmer waistline. Navy blue is a staple colour for S/S13 and perfect for those looking for a vibrant and fun spring. 

Finally team the little blue dress with this glittery rock star cardigan for the ultimate finish. Dressed up or down, you'll look fantastic. 

http://www.autographfashion.com.au

*This is a sponsored post and a small fee was given in exchange. All opinions are my own and I picked each item. All money goes into directly benefiting my blog.

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Lusting over Denim

According to the fashion bible that is Vogue magazine, cropped trousers are definitely in season this 2013. Designers such as Alexander McQueen shown above are embracing the shorter length trouser for a casual, yet striking look. There are so many varieties on short cropped jeans on the market right now and I've chosen Australian brand "Katies" to show you some fine examples. 

There's nothing more versatile than the classic denim jean. Dress them up with a peplum top and heels or dress down with a stripey tee for a nautical look. 

Pastel colours are all over the high street at the moment  evoking a sense of youth and innocence. These baby blue crops would look great for a day of shopping with friends or lingering on a beach. Unfortunately they're not quite suitable for the British snow weather right now, but they're great to purchase for when the weather gets better. 

 Finally, these orange coloured crops are the perfect staple trouser for this season. Bright colours are in and also very daring styles. Be different, be vibrant and be unique in these little beauties. 

Shipping worldwide. 

http://www.katies.com.au

*This is a sponsored post and a small fee was given in exchange. All opinions are my own and I picked each item. All money goes into directly benefiting my blog.

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Dirt and Glitter Soaps

(image taken from Dirty and Glitter website)

Most women like to feel sexy, glamourous and hide away all the prep work that takes place behind closed doors. Unless there's something I don't know about, there's no woman on this earth born with a full face of makeup, chocolate scented skin and beautifully set hair. Getting ready for even a normal day out can take quite a while and it's those little luxuries that speed up all the hard work that make great presents. For those who remember, I introduced you to a brand Dirt and Glitter awhile back but unfortunately my post had been deleted. Therefore  I'm reintroducing one of the most beautiful little soap companies on the block. 

(image taken from website) 

Dirt and Glitter are a small London company that create custom designed soap. Unravelling the cliche of men who don't like to be clean, Dirt and Glitter have a mens and women's soap range, making them a perfect choice for valentines day gifts.

(image taken from website)

Some of my favourites on the website include this cute little lolly pop stick and the chocolate cupcake that I was sent to review a while back. All the products are within a student and bank card friendly price range - with some of the soaps starting from as little as £2.99.

Here is the chocolate cupcake soap i was sent several months ago. As you can see I still have the majority of the product left and I use this nearly everyday. The soap sells for £6.99 on the website and I would say I've had it at least 6 months, making this a £1 per month usage rate.  For anyone that loves chocolate, especially chocolate cupcakes, this is definitely the product for you. It looks great for those who collect soaps too. My auntie has one of the biggest collections of soaps I have ever seen and I can guarantee she would be totally jealous of this little marvel. 

Make sure you check out all the other products at http://www.dirtandglitter.co.uk/

Have you tried any Dirt and Glitter products?

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Makeup Haul

Welcome to my new blog layout, I hope you like it!

The weather outside is dull, cold and somewhat resembling Narnia. The golf course near me has a soft sheen of snow that has finally been trampled on by little children and my road is like an assault course putting me to the test as I trek to Uni. My clothing of choice has been thick jumpers, a scarf stolen from my mother and thick walking boots, subsequently following my 'slobby' sense of clothing has been a natural makeup free face. Going through the effort of applying makeup when embarking on such long, hazardous snow journeys has not been worth it. By the time I've got to the university doors, I've had bright red cheeks from the cold air and my hair has been sticking out at strange angles due to the climate. When I finally reached my town centre earlier today, I felt the urge to reward myself by purchasing some makeup and here's what I bought today. Be aware, there's many unflattering photographs of me wearing no makeup at all...

MUA Pro Base Palette - £2.50

I'm useless when it comes to applying primers and potions before foundation, I'm usually in such a hurry that some basic skin care steps can often be missed. This leads to my foundation looking rather drab at times and  although it has amazing coverage, it doesn't stand out as much as I'd like. I've heard a lot of positive reviews in regards to the new MUA Pro-Base palette so I thought for £2.50 it would be worth picking it up. The trio set includes: two concealers and a highlighter. The product helps set your makeup, hide the blemishes and define your facial contours. I went for the porcelain palette due to having really fair skin and I found that the concealer covered rather well. 

Here's a picture of me with my foundation applied. As you can see, my cheeks are looking rosy due to the highlighter and although I have slight darkening under my eyes it isn't so bad compared to the previous image.

B Groomed Eyebrow Kit (£2.50)  and B Longer Eye Mascara (£7.99)

B cosmetics is a new range for Superdrug with fantastic introductory offers. The packaging looks really sleek and elegant and there's so many products to choose from. Having long for a new eyebrow pencil, but not being able to currently afford my beloved MAC, I decided to choose from this new range. The eyebrow pencil comes complete with a mini brush to tidy all your stray hairs, a brown pencil and a wax counterpart. The product is simple to use and blends really well. I'm really impressed with this product as it matches the exact colour of my hair and makes my eyebrows really stand out. The mascara is equally as fabulous. It has been a long time since I've found a mascara that gives me dramatically long eyelashes. I've always suffered from short embarrassing eyelashes, especially when you compare them to my fiances. The B longer eye mascara made my eyelashes look so dramatic and literally eye popping. I will have to give it a few weeks to see if the novelty wears off, but it's definitely in line for being my holy grail of eye mascaras. 

Miners Colour Kohl Eyeliners £1.99 each

I love eyeliners, but I'm boring and always stick to black. I was sent these little beauties in the post to review and they arrived today. Miners cosmetics are the official makeup brand for Dancing on Ice, therefore you can expect their products to be bold, daring and very colourful.   The eyeliners come in four different shades for you to choose and cost only £1.99 each. The colours available are: Brown, Black, Blue and Gold. For this little review I decided to shade in my eyelid using the gold pencil,  draw a cat flick eye pattern with the black eyeliner and finally finish off using the gold eyeliner again for my under eye. 

And here's the finished result:

My new makeup is really affordable and easy to use, I don't regret any of the purchases so far. Hopefully buying this new makeup will get me out of my lazy habit of going makeup free during the winter weather and challenge me to create additional makeup looks.

What do you think of the products?

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RVB Eyeliner

It's snowed heavily here today in Huddersfield and I've spent the majority of the day snuggled up in bed with my onesie. My tonsillitis is beginning to ease off, but head has been pounding and I'm coughing every second minute of the day. Don't we all love winter bugs? I'm hoping all the cold weather doesn't make everything worse right now, I doubt i'd be able to handle it. So back to my normal, boring day. I was sitting in bed with my onesie and I received a knock at the door.  I ran downstairs and I was delivered a cute little parcel. Nothing makes your day better than receiving a handful post, unless of course it's bills, everyone hates bills.  The parcel contained this cute little eyeliner set that I had been sent to review. Eyeliner is something I wear almost everyday and even if I wear nothing else, I always try to put a little bit of eyeliner on. Even in bed this morning, I thought I'd look a little more glamorous with cat-flick eyes, only to have fallen asleep and woken up with them all smudged. We're so used to seeing celebrities in photographs posing in bed with a full face of makeup, but we all know as soon as they shut their eyelids there will be lipstick on the sheets, foundation on the pillows and then you wake up like you've had a drunken night out. Always the case. 

RVB cosmetics is an Italian based skin care brand that stand by using chemical free, natural products.

This wonderful compact eyeliner set comes with a powder pot, small applicator and a little mirror. It's the perfect size to carry around in your handbag and the pigments are tightly compacted so it wont spill all over your makeup bag. The description of the product says:

" Perfect as a modular eyeliner allowing application of outlines from the thinnest to the most intense. Moisten the applicator brush with water, form a "cream" with the compact powder of the product then apply. As an eye shadow  it can be used completely dry for a deep yet transparent black, or moistened for a more intense black or impeccable hold" - RVB Team. 

The picture above illustrates how natural the eyeliner looks. I'm wearing no other makeup apart from this and yet it doesn't look out of place at all. 

I haven't yet tried it as an eye shadow, but as an eyeliner I'm pretty impressed. I liked how easy it was to switch between bigger or small strokes with the eyeliner brush and I found that the product applied rather easily. I've always been a fan of the 'felt tip' type eyeliners so this was a little different for me. The product has stayed on a few hours already and I'm looking forward to experimenting more with this set. 

http://www.rvbcosmetics.co.uk/

Would you try this eyeliner?

Also remember to check out my giveaway!

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Ads of The 20th Century: Book Review

After a long hard day at university, I love delving into my fashion book collection and being tucked up in bed skimming through the pages. Whilst shopping in Waterstone's a few days ago, this little book caught my attention and although I'm on a spending ban, my partner told me I had to buy it. 

This wonderful hardback book is by Heinmann Nieda and it collates some of the best fashion advertorials of the 20th century, coupled with famous quotes on the fashion industry. The book documents 365 days of the year and is supposed to be read like a diary. Simply pick the day you're on or even look at your birthday and you will see a fashion ad and a quote to give you daily inspiration.

" Fashions fade, style is eternal" Yves Saint Laurent 

"If you can't be elegant, at least be extravagant" Franco Moschino 

"They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes" - Imelda Marcos 

The book cost me £17.99 and I think it's a fantastic price. Glossy pages full of amazing photography, bound with beautiful red fabric and 365 pages of pure fashion heaven. I know exactly which book I'll be reading in bed tonight.

What's your favourite fashion book?

Remember to enter my giveaway to win some beautiful Ciate and Illamasqua goodies.

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Blonde to Brunette: New Hair Colour

I've been weighing up the pros and cons of each hair colour for the last month and I finally decided to go back to brunette. I loved being a blonde, I had so much fun and I felt that the hair colour made me look healthy and glowing, but unfortunately it was too much upkeep for a mere student like me. I longed for my darker glossy locks back and this morning I went to my local hair salon to get it done. We have gone one shade darker than I originally planned because it will fade too quick on top of blonde, but I'm in love with my new colour. My hair finally looks healthy and insanely shiny. 

Here are a few pictures of my new hair: 

What do you think of the new colour?

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