OOPs!

Just realised I have not really given myself enough time to finish my xmas post. Been out alot with Christmas night outs and meeting people before I head home to the Isle of Mull. It started snowing so heavy again and they have closed the airports again...I am hoping to hitch a ride with Santa if the weather continues.

I am hoping to start Vloging on youtube after the new year. I have had to ask my little sister to show me how to make and edit video as I am so bad with technology. So I hope you guys will tune in and spread the work.
What sort of things would you like to see? I was thinking maybe even doing some beauty therapy techniques like eye lash/brow tinting and manicures, what do you think?

I ordered my new GHD's as my old ones were not as save-able as I first thought. I got them from www.thefuckygroup.co.uk. Its a great site that has great deal and a added bonus is if you have a snapfax you get 5% off! WOO!

My gift to you!

I am going a little out of the box today and have decided to share a little hidden gem with you. I love watching make up hauls and tutorial on youtube and love discovering videos I have never seen before. Yesterday I was off and had the whole house to myself so indulged in my favourite treat and came across a channel called pixiwoo. Now They are very well known and rank 3rd in youtube guru's! Pretty good!
There videos are informal but with informative about new products and give fantastic make up ideas. As I was watching they kept mentioning a web page www.gurumakeupemporium.com, well I got too excited when I clicked on the link! They stock makeupforever!! Make up forever is a brand thats widely available in the states but near impossible to get here in the UK. They also stock many brands that are not available in the UK or are like make up forever(you would sell your soul to get your hands on). They also stock lots of cool professional make up artistry products like postiches and SFX make up. Amazing!


Here is a pic of wat they can do! impressive! I wanted to put one of there videos up but it was taking forever!

Prime Your Face!

I am watching sex and the city the movie, love sex and the city so much, its kinda like friends I can watch it over and over and never get bored of it. I have my favourite episodes and favourite outfits and favourite quotes. The movie has so much fashion in it its almost like a guilty treat.


Today's guilty treat is the Bare Escentuals i.d Prime Time foundation primer. This is a preservative free formula that claims to combat flaky dryness, fine lines, excess oil and enlarged pores. The formula glides on with no tackiness feel to provide a skin smoothing complexion ready for the foundation of your choice.

I like a good primer and have tried many and surprise surprise I like Mac range of primer. I like Bare escentuals products and there foundations are really good with build-able coverage so I am excited to try this.

Stars the limit!

Well am off college today which is nice but I have been so bored. The snow has caused mayhem here and over all I have had 2 weeks off! So I have been watching youtube videos and doing my xmas shopping. So I had a little lie in and my boyfriend brought me my waterbottle in bed as he knows I get so cold.(bless) He also brought me good news, he had fixed my GHD's! (hallelujah) Isn't he fab!

Well today I have added alittle glamour to the xmas present and its a gooden!
They are the gorgeous jimmy choo nuala sandal! Arent they sooooooooo pretty! Perfect for the party season I think too wear these shoes would ooze class and glamour.
They are black leather with beautiful star detailing.

These are available online and also any retailer that stocks Jimmy choo.

Go on show your star quality!

Sculpturing is on hold!

Hey y'all was in town today and had five mins so naturally popped into Harvey Nicks to have a look around Mac to see what they had going on. I have seen a Youtube video by Kandee Johnson and she talked about using the Mac foundation stick to couture your face to make it appear thinner. I have a very round chubby looking face so I was quite excited about using this trick. I got to the counter and the lady told me they were discontinuing it! My face fell! Its a good product so I am unsure why they are doing that any way she sent me away with some samples to try at home that are suppose to be the same but in liquid form...we will just have to wait and see.

Well as i posted on my last post my straighteners have past to the great hair salon in the sky..(tear) so the next thing on my Christmas wish list is the new midnight deluxe GHD straighter set. Please Santa I can live with untamed frizz ball hair! It s a need but everyone has GHD's don't they or at less have heard of them so to days 12 presents of xmas isn't them its the NARS 13 large dome eye brush!

I love love love this brush and have gone without it since March when I was in London for my birthday. I had alittle incident when applying my shadow, this could be due to the fact I had drank some vino. oopies!
This is a great brush its made from squirrel hair (odd I know but am sure the coarseness of the hair contributes to its great nice. Its perfect for blending and I like to use it to apply the darker shadows in the V and crease.

Its £32 pound but an artist is only as good as there tools they say so well worth it!

What make up tool cant you live with out?

Smash it!

Day two of my most wanted for Christmas presents and it has to be make up (like I don't have enough)
Smashbox is a pretty well known brand in the states but it was only introduced to the UK in late summer/early autumn and is exclusive to Debenhams (British department store). I was very excited about this. I have had my eye on a few thing but the thing I want most is the smashbox masquerade eye shadow palette. The colours are very rich and have a jewel like tone to them. They are a mix of matte and shimmery shades so you can play it save or mix it up. Smashbox eye shades are very pigmented and if you like Urban decay book of colours these are going to knock your cashmere socks off! These colours are so wearable but have enough dareness to them to create sexy dark eyes but if used wisely a warm day look.
These shadows apply easily and blend beautifully. Crease resistant is another pro,good for all skin tones but suit a fair skin the best.

The packaging is also gorgeous. Sleek and classic



On another note my GHD's have gone caput! Gutted! They are over 7 years old and have got me through many a bad hair day...so sad! I will miss them

12 Presents of Christmas

I am so excited I love Christmas so much! I have done all my Xmas shopping, they are wrapped and under the tree! Go me!

I want so much for Christmas but I am unable to make a decision so I am leaving it up to my boyfriend so it will be a nice surprise. EEEEEEEE!

I thought i would do a little section on beauty gifts I have seen and like for Christmas.

The first thing am dying for is the clarisonic facial cleansing brush.

I saw this a wee while ago but it wasn't available in the UK but it is now! My friend who lives in American (also a beauty lover) said she would actually die for hers! Must be good..

Clarisonic is proven to remove more dirt, make-up, oil and sebum from your face than if using a traditional face cleanser or face wash it also helps the products you use after washing be more easily and more effectively absorbed into the skin. Impressive.

It also claims to reduce redness, even skin tone, banish blemishes and that pores, fine lines and wrinkles will be reduced...wow sounds to good to be true!

Now am afraid I don't have one (dear Santa, i have been very good...) and they are quite expensive, £175 to be exact which, yes I hear you crying! is very steep but if the hype around theses is as good as they say isn't it worth investing?? Your skin Isn't going any where and its with you the rest of your life!

I don't know about you but I want it so bad. Prevention is my game and anything to stop my skin becoming a dirty, saggy and wrinkly old bag is good in my books. Hey am just saying...

but baby its cold outside!

Hi y'all, brrrr its bloody freezing out side and it looks like this weather is here to stay! I love snow but when it stops you from being able to do anything it gets a little bit boring. So I ventured out my house after 5 days, yes count them 5 days of isolation I headed into town to cheer myself up with a little retail therapy! The idea was just to get Christmas presents for my family but how can you buy presents for everyone and not for yourself?? How selfish! haha Well I got everything for my family's Christmas(GO ME!) but i also got myself a little something something..

First is this lovely faux fur coat from new look, I was drawn to the leopard print style but I thought this brown one is more classic and also my gran had a real fur that was the spitting image of this one. She left it too me when she passed and I couldn't bring myself to wear it or get rid of it. It was 59.99 but with my student discount 20%!!! it was only like 55, i think...i also got little cute studs for 4.99 I couldn't find a pic of them and my lead has gone missing for my camera again.














I also have my college Christmas night out tomorrow night I prob be looking more forward to it if it was so bloody cold!! I got some shoe boots from new look too for my night out to go with my gorgeous nude lipsy dress but am considering just wearing my uggs as the pavements are death waiting to happen!
They are wedged so are alot more comfortable than heels and they are very comfortable.













What are your winter buys??

Alba Science need you!

Hey guys, I wee while ago I posted a bit about Alba science. Its an Edinburgh based cosmetic, toiletry and household good testing unit and they are always looking for volunteers.

They are going to be at Jewel and Esk college(Milton rd campus) on Thursday 9th Dec and they are looking for people between the ages of 18 and 70 to take part in a little trial for a well known mascara remover.

If you occasionally wear mascara, they need you to test a
current marketed product and a new product designed to remove mascara, and to complete a short questionnaire
for us which should take you no more than 15 minutes.

Also each person who takes part will receive a payment of 10 pounds!!! As a student this is a pretty sweet deal.

They will also be looking to add people to there list of volunteers and you can earn a wee bit more testing beauty products out. Don't worry they just want consumer reviews and all are safe to use.

If your interested you can register on there web page www.albascience.com or email them at volunteers@albascience.com

Let it snow!

Oh my god! Unless you have been living under a rock you will be very aware of the sever weather we have been having. It has been snowing like crazy and I have never seen it like this in my whole life time, nearly 25 years! We have about a 3 feet of snow and the temp in the minus 5's!I know this is the normal from some parts of America and others places but for UK this is CRAZY!! I have been stuck in the house for like 4 days and I am starting to get cabin fever! This does give me alot of time to update my blog. I have also have registered a new web page but am not giving it out yet as I have no idea now to work it.

So with this cold weather you have to make sure your skin routine is up to date and changing your moisturiser to a more hydrating one is a good start. I usually use a simple age defying moisturiser in the summer months as it works well with my sun block but I need something a little thicker and more hydrating.

I am using dermalogica skin smoothing cream, I LOVE this cream! I would use this all year round if I didn't find it too heavy in the heat.
This cream is good for dry, dehydrated and premature skin types (prefect for me) I combined this with my special cleansing gel and multi active toner spray(both dermalogica) I notice a different straight away. Now dermalogica is a profession brand but is retailed. It can be quite expensive when buying the whole cleansing routine but can you really put a price on beauty...well you can but beautyflash you can get dermalogica and many other brands at wholesale price. Well worth it!

plenty of fish in the bowl!

A new shop has opened up in Edinburgh called Appy Feet, It is in St James centre in the city centre. I have heard about this fishy pedicure a wee while ago. This treatment was pretty much just a London thing in the UK but has started to go national in the last wee while. The fish are specially bred for this pedicure, Garra Rufa or sometimes called doctor fish. They have been used in the past to eat the dead flesh in wounds to stop infection but now have because the designer must have treatment to the stars and us normal ppl!
My boyfriend took me for a little treat as he knows I love any treatment!
I went in and wasn't blown away. It kinda looked like a had walked into an under stock pet shop but I was willing be give it ago. Its a bit steep in price 10 pound for 15 Min's but I was willing to pay just for the experience. The water is cleaned through a water fall filter system so the water is constantly cleaning its self and new clients feet are washed and sanitized before entering the water. As soon as your feet touch the water the fish attack your feet. It feels so tickly but not unpleasant.

After the treatment my feet did feel soft but this could be due to the fact my feet had been soaking in warm water...there was one thing I was worried about...the fish. The lady says they have to buy 100,000 fish every few weeks as the fish die quickly due to eating so much and as the fish have to be imported they order high numbers because thousands die during transport. I know they are breed in high numbers for this treatment but they are living things, is it really any better that killing for fur? I know, it is different and this is probably a trend that will die out when some other wacky treatment comes up but do these fish need to die doing something that will take us two minutes to do with a foot file?? Maybe am over reacting but it was just a thought.

I saw this video a wee while ago and it made me laugh so hard!! Its so funny what heavy make up can do to your face.

Well I had a wee afternoon off college and was very bored and decided to copy this look and I tell you I made my day! Hilarious! (i was in the house all by myself, hey i like doing my hair and make up, its a hobby!)

I also wore fake eyelashes, I got 20 off ebay for nine pounds! bargin

face: Healthy mix foundation 54
Mac Bloc powder NC35
Mac bronzer in goldern

Cheeks Mac blush posy

Lips Mac Stain germain
















Hope you have as many gigles as I did

Fairy Dust!

My boy took me to the cinema today to see "The other guys" it wasnt as funny as I thought it was going to be but I did enjoy it. After we went for a walk through John Lewis, its a fave place of mine as there is so much in there, I love the home section. (they had the xmas dec up as well today which kinda got me excited!) as i was in there i decided to do what I normally do when am in there and purchase one of my favourite little indulgence, Lily Flame candle in fairy dust.









Its my favourite scent EVA! Its hard to describe this scent, its kinda unique and sophisticated sugary sweet. It reminds me of turkish delight. I can burn these candles all day but am afraid they dont last very long but I dont care I love going into a room and smelling this aroma! They have so many scents to chose from bathing beauty, coconut grove and blush just to name a very small few.

Most of these scents also come in a room spray and scent defuser.

P.s I am also super excited because I have just ordered my new Massage table! EEEEEEEE!

Exciting news!

Ah, well it was freshers week last week at college and there were lots of different stalls with free things and one stall had a massive sign saying "FREE COSMETICS". Now how could i resist? I went to investigate and it was a stall for Alba Science. Alba science is a research organisation in Edinburgh that test cosmetics, toiletries, sun care and household products. Now I signed up as I love trying new things and I got talking to the head lady and told her about my blog and they are interested in working with me and help them get some new volunteers.

Now if any of yous are interested click on the link and register online...now it wont hurt and you get to try out new products or improved ones


http://www.albascience.com/

Sun is Shining but am not burning!

Now i will put my hands up and say I have not been the best with sun protection. As am soon turning 25 this means I fall into the mature skin category.(That right skin on a 25 and over is mature skin) I have to start making sure am doing the best for my skin as I can and wearing sun factor is a biggie!! How many of you think "ah, its cloudy I dont need any factor!" WRONG! so so wrong! The UV rays are so strong they still penetrate the grey clouds we see a little too often in the UK! Now I have sun factor in my moisturiser and also in my foundation but some times the sun factor given on the jar isnt nearly as high as it says. This is even true for some of the sun creams available so make sure your using a high factor.

FACT:

Did you know that mixing your sun factor with your moisturiser or foundation almost half's the SPF of the sun cream! So mix a factor 30, you only get a factor 17 coverage...scary huh??

So I have been experimenting with some and have found a really nice light face sun cream it from the Avon sun plus collection. Now this is a cream which is a factor 30 and as a bonus it has a sun block stick (its clear so you dont have mad colours striped across your face or ghost out your face)

Its quite a light cream and I have been putting it on before my moisturiser but this sinks right into the skin and doesnt leave any oily films on your face so applying my moisturiser didnt leave my face like an oil slick. I love the smell, it smells like watermelon which I really like. The smells doesnt hang around it and you cant smell it after you have out it on.

There are alot of sun protection in Avon and they are very afford able.



























I will be using this everyday and topping up through the day with the stick as its perfect size for my hand bag! Now come on guys it takes two secs to put on and will keep the nasty sun damage off your skin and keep it young! Fake tan is the way forward, dont fry for a tan!

AM very very sorry!

I have been away for so long! sorry guys its because I have been so busy going home to see my gorgeous nephew and enjoying the summer holidays.

He is 5 months now, time has flown in so fast and so have the summer hols. This mean am back at college doing what I love...BEAUTY!

My college have changed to city and guild so have two routes you can take for level 3 (general and massage) I have chosen the massage route. It just looked better!( aromatherapy, body massage, Indian head massage and stone therapy as well as all the other stuff you normally do) I am only 2 weeks in and its already heavy going...on my hand! Massage is Hard!! But am still loving it!

I have already done my dermalogica skin training(Wednesday) and I was already a fan but got distracted with other beauty bites but I am going to buy all my faves again and will review them when i get them. I love dermalogica!!!

see you guys soon!

Am an Auntie!

Very exciting week! I became an auntie for the first time this week to gorgous Iain Alexander Macdonald! He is named after my daddy and also my papa and he is amazing! I have never been a big baby lover until I met my beautiful nephew. Working in the nursery am surrounded by children of all ages but have always been more comfortable around the older children, I dont know why maybe it because they are so small and delicate or the fact all they do is poop and sleep but this has all changed. I am biased because he is family but hey am allowed to be.

I was there with my sister for the birth, I wasnt suppose to be but circumstances changed and there i was welcoming this little bundle of joy into the world. It was amazing! I just love him so much and as i dont have children of my own I have never felt this kind of love before! Its deep and unconditional am sure its nothing like the love a mother and child has but it still feels excitingly strong! I still havent come to terms that thats him here forever and I will always be his auntie!(I dont care what my other sister says, I will be the cool auntie!) I will get to buy him all the designer wee outfits mummy can never justify and take him walks and as I am a nursery nurse as well I will be able to help further his development. Its exciting times!

As I had like 8 hours sleep the whole of last week due to claire being in labor then not and then again back into labour I needed serious skin treatment when I got back home.

I have really got into using organic products since being told of all the nasty horrid chemicals that are in everyday beauty products but alas on a student budget its bloody hard. I have found something though which is pretty nice.

Its a pretty new range called Organic surge and i bought it in Boots at £5.99 its on special offer so I thought I would give it ago. I one i chose was the super intense daily for dry skin the ingredients is full of organic essential oils and pretty much that. It smells like Turkish delight with is yummy. It fulls quite odd in texture straight after you put it on, almost waxing which at first put me off but this lasted only seconds as it melted into my skin making it feel soft and smelt too good to eat!

Cons: NO SUNSCREEN! So remember to put your sun protection on before you use it.

Pros: All the packaging is recyclable and its made in Scotland so no long travelling(go carbon footprint)

It has no sodium lauryl, laureth sulphate or parabens

I would buy this again and proply try the other products in the range too.

Too wax or not to wax!

hello y'all! I am in the last few weeks of my beauty therapy course (7 weeks exact) and its all very exciting. Though i have a very busy week ahead of me. I have a make up acessessment and a facial one too but after that no more! Yah!

I was reading an article in allure just this min about the Brazilian wax. I think the bikini wax isn't as much as a must have as it is in USA and other countries.( how else do us scots stay warm) not am not saying we don't look after our lady gardens but its quite an expensive up keep I feel in this country and home waxing can take alot of time. What do you think?

In America its the norm where we over the pond are abit slower in catching up. In the salon we always have ppl coming in for waxing but bikini seems to only be had by the people going on there holidays. Why is this? too expensive? too little time? cant be bothered?

Talking to others they all seem to say "take the lot off" as British are we too much of a prude to get it all out for a therapist (who has seen it all before and doesnt really care, I know)
I have had lots and lots of waxes and dont find the experience to embarrassing though the first was rather a strange experience it now feels like the norm!
Are you put of with all the options? What is the difference between a brazillian and a hollywood? or a bollywood and a shaped? It quite confusing!
This is slowly becoming more and more popular in the UK but its not just waxing that we are years behind. Our whole beauty industry is light years behind. Who is Britain has a weekly facial? Prices are too high, too many to choose from will we ever get there?

I lovea the fake bake!!

this is the body polish, tan lotion and skin smoothie

At college we did our fake bake training. I have always loved fake bake and have used it since I was 19. I have tried them all, st tropez, zen tan and more affordable high street brands. I always go back to Fake bake, I like the colour and its very manageable and you can easily build it up to a deeper colour.

The lady, karen who was training us was super fun and was a great laugh. She filled us in about the new fake bake formula which now has no parabens. Now i am not an expert about ingredients but I know paraben are a cause of cancer and I try to avoid products with these in them. You will be surprised how many of your fave products contain them. naughty naughty!

We used the fake bake original which works on all skin tones but fake bake also have fair and extreme. I have never used the fair but I have used the extreme which is for the extreme tanners which I am but I dont like to look that "fake" My sister uses this as she like the " I am almost black" look.

We applied the exfoliate to EVERY inch of our clients body(girls in our class) and removed it. If doing this at home I do this in the shower, less mess and easy to remove. The the lotion is applied all over the body. At the end of it I looked a big reddy muddy mess (the colour guide so you can see i you have missed a bit) and had to head back home on the bus. I got many a stare and felt very sticky. I normally do this before bed as the colour takes 6-8 hours to take and I dont notice the stickiness.

Fake bake is def my choice of tanning its safe and leaves you with a deep believable tan that last for up to 5 days.

I really want to try the airbrushing tan that fake bake have. It looks like an easy way to keeping your face nice and tanned.






What you fave tanning product??

Sorry I cant help myself!

I am so sorry! It has been so long! My computer has exploded and I am too tight to buy a new one so using my BFs when i get the chance!

I have been converting the new GAGA lippie from MAC but its completely sold out! I have been assured it will be back in very soon! I love the colour so bad. I was in Mac yesterday and tried it. AMAZING!!

So as i said I was in MAC and you know I cant go in that place and not bu something! I have had my eye on a few things at the moment and NONE where is stock gutted. Firstly I wanted the naked lip liner from the too fabulous range(You all know about my love of nude lips) but alas SOLD OUT! Tho my Mac artist, Kelvin recommended In sync which is the closest nude colour they have. It is a lovely nude reddy colour that goes well with all my nude lippies I have. I also got fashion snoop which is a cremesheen gloss from the too fab range.




Its not at pigmented as it looks in promo picture but is a glossy sheer nude pink with a very glassy look which is great! I also purchased a dazzleglass which I wouldnt normally have picked because i dont like glitterly glosses but was surprised by this one. I couldnt feel the glitter in the gloss, it wasnt gritty at all and it was (just as it says on the ti) dazzly! lol It made my lips look gorgeous and interesting! Great for a night out I say! It got this in Moth to flame and guess what! Its a nude!Its a natural beigh with a violet peal through it lovely. I wear the In sync lip liner under it to add a more pigmented colour and also so make it last longer!

London Town!

Jelouse?

You shud be!

I am TOO FABULOUS!

Sorry to my readers, been MIA ,college is really busy and work getting me down. Haven't had much time to do anything other than those two things. This makes me sad, tho lots of beauty things to report but i have no idea where to start.

Well I tried and tried to get my hands on the ZOEVA palette how funny is this they deliver to England but not Scotland! Eh why? But dont worry i did get my hands on one that is really close and its a big brand in Germany! They have the 88 palette but its called Fralein woman German if i have spelt this wrong) Not had much chance to use it but i did do some lovely green eyes.

I like to palette very much, I got it on ebay and it was ridiculously cheap! Ten pounds plus postage and packaging.

I also go some lovely make up brushes from the small company and what can I say, They come pretty close to my Mac ones. soft and usable! Aw lovely!

Right the case they come in is naff but look at the red wood finish!

Worldskills

Hello y'all! I entered the worldskills competition through college and house heats were last friday, we had to create a complete look but focusing on make up. I chose a 50's pin up dita von teese style look. It went reallt well but i think i was a little over my head as some for the girls went right out there were i played safe.

Well the photographer thought i should have got second according to my tutor which i think is a big complement. well here is the finished look please let me know what you think??

ZOEVA! I need you!

Am so excited about this product, its not a new one and i would like to know how i missed this! Its the Zoeva palettes! They are AMAZING!

Now they are a German make but they deliver to the UK(thank god)

My favourite on is the palette in 88, it has a wide range of colours and the 88 palette is a range of matte colours no shine, no frost! Now this palette is so cheap!! 14.95 euros this includes VAT and shipping costs! and the colours are amazing!Now you would think at this price its going to be shitty cheap make up but your wrong! The shadows feels expensive and last on the lids! check out the web page as they have eye shadow palettes, blusher palettes and concealer palettes! I want them all and as they are so affordable I think i will! They have a great range of make up brushes as well! Go on its worth it!

Hot or not!!??!

Well what did you think of the BRITS last night? Cheryls miming, Robbies medley and Lady GaGa clearing the board..oh and Liam throwing his mick into the crowd!!

Bit of a wild year but isnt the BRITS always? Jarvis Cocker mooning in the middle of Micheal Jackson's earth song any one.

I couldnt wait to see what the celebs were wearing(well they were competing with GaGa) Bit of a miss match night me things!

GaGa didnt disappoint us in another original and wacky outfit but Gagaloo you have done the lace on the face thing before?? But i will give you your hair very er... Edwardian! I love Lady Gaga so am giving her a thumbs up for effect!

Lily Allan surprized me with her look, very goth not something i would have thought she would have worn but i really liked it. I love the copper eyes!

Leona, Leona what are you doing! The dress, the cuff, the shoes...all wrong! All nice but not together!! Sack your stylist...NOW!

Alexander all i have to say is YAWN!