Makeup I'm currently loving and using....

I want to be one of those girls who's loyal to a particular skincare brand and follows the steps religiously but I don't think it's ever going to happen.

It's the same with make up: I often decide that I have finally found the best mascara/foundation/eyeliner brush that has ever existed and swear to be faithful to it forever more until I see a great (completely photoshopped) advert of some very beautiful model with flawless skin and big fat lashes and realise that's the product I need to urgently get my hands on.

But anyhoo, this is what I'm swearing by at the moment:

Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere - love the lightness and how you can build coverage, plus it lasts.

Concealer: skin is pretty good at the moment but worshiping as always at the altar of Bobbi Brown eye brightener for under eye circles.

Powder: keeping most of my face powder free but am using a touch of Laura Mercier Mineral Powder across my nose.

Brows: Absolutely love the Armani Eyebrow pencil in Blond - it's a really good ashy colour, no redness in it and it lasts.

Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Blusher in Blushed - has crazy levels of pigment like all BB products so I only use a tiny amount on the apples of my cheeks.

Liner: I'm actually using a Smashbox Eyeliner brush (amazing!) wet with Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in forest, really close along my upper lash line.

(if I'm feeling a little ropey I'm also popping a bit of taupe Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in my crease)

Lashes: Well clearly I'm obsessed with mascara so I'm using Cover Girl Lashblast for volume which I got on-line from the US and Armani Maestro Obsidian for definition.

And that's me. x x x

Getting over my fear of Lipstick

Ever since my make up obsession started (age 12, Collection 2000 clear mascara and Rimmel Hide the Blemish!) I have always been obsessed with eye eyes eyes. I am fixated on the biggest lashes, the sexiest eyeshadow/liner combo, the perfect crease, a flawless smoky eye, how to do the perfect liquid liner tick. I could go on.

Maybe five years ago I finally started to see the light with cheek colour. I'd always whacked a bit of bronzer on or some Benefit benetint but it was definitely not on my essentials list; I'd happily go out with nothing on my cheeks. Then Nars Orgasm came into my life and a lesson on contouring (with their matt bronzer) at the Mac counter sealed the deal and I got what a difference it made. Now i feel flat and lifeless without it.

Lips though, I have genuinely never been interested in. Yes, I like them to look healthy and moisturised. But call me crazy but lip gloss, however much I enjoy putting it on when it smells and tastes nice lasts approximately 30 seconds. Plus when you wear copious amounts of eye make up like I do I've always been not tempted at all to put anything major on my lips with fear of slipping into china doll territory.

I did start to feel like I was missing a trick especially when you read the beauty pages of any magazine singing the praises of a statement red lip or suggestion of a slick of dark plum for winter.

So cruising around the hallowed Harrods Beauty hall this summer I ended up chatting to the lovely girl on the Laura Mercier (one of my perennial favourite brands) counter and leaving with their Sheer Lip Colour in Bare Lips and Flawless fix lip pencil.

Love love love the liner, it's ultimately a nude creamyish concealer in pencil form but it works a treat at evening out your lip line and so that the edge of your lipstick doesn't smudge and it gives your lips a really clean polished defined line. I find the sharpener in the lid pretty useless though, makes a real mess of the wood around the point of the pencil.

Also love the lipstick, I would say it's a pretty universally flattering colour, easy to wear, easy to put on and a nice consistency.

My next step in the new world of lipstick if finding more of a statementy 'colour' that i genuinely believe suits me and I will actually wear

xx

Nars Voucher Code!

Hey All,

Just thought you might appreciate this wee little discount code for the Nars website.

You can receive 15% off any order of $60 or more and get free shipping over any order over $25. The coupon code is NJ91009 and you enter it at the checkout.

xxx

Hero product for tired party girls: Bobbi Brown Eye Brightener

Hello make up lovers,

I'm working very vehhhry long hours at the moment (like a 17 hour day) but I still like to squeeze in a few nights out in when I can.

I can't tell you how amazing Bobbi Brown Eye Brightener is for those painful mornings after when you can hardly open your eyes and you look decidedly ropey.

You only need a tiny amount so the small jar lasts ages. I like to dot it under my eyes, a little smudge on the outside and inner eye corner and a little dot under the arch of my brow. Then blend gently with a finger or brush.

It covers the grey blue dark circles under your eye but where it really excels is by lifting and brightening the entire eye area especially when you use it either side of the eye. It nevers looks cakey, instead looks moisturised and is pretty long lasting.

It is a true miracle worker when you're desperate to pull off looking 'fresh'!

www.bobbibrown.com

Smashbox relaunches in the UK!!

Amazing News!

Smashbox, one of my most favourite make up brands is relaunching in the UK after a too long absense!

It will soon be available in select Debenhams stores across the UK.

They have so many brilliant products: their brushes, primers, and eyeshadows are all great. And they always have special offers where you can get a group of products to create a certain look (i.e smoky eyes) for a brilliant price.

www.smashbox.com

Primers - whether to bother?

I always thought primers were a way of cosmetic brands selling you another product and would add another time consuming stage to my already too long make up regime.

This is until I tried Smashbox Photofinish Primer. It is truly a superstar product! You only need a small amount, maybe 1 small pump.

I have combination skin with a slightly oily t-zone so i concentrate it on my cheek area and take it right up to my lower lash line and right down to my jaw line with a miniscule amount on my forehead and nose.

I leave it to set for a minute then apply my foundation/tinted moisturiser over it. I find my make up goes on really really smooth and even over the primer. Where it really excels though is in photographs (hence the name!). Your skin just seems to glow and looks incredibly flawless. I used it on the bride and bridesmaids at my best friend's recent wedding and it went down a storm.