#illamasqua

Hiya,
Unfortunately this is going to be a rubbish pictureless post as my Tumblr seems to not want to let me put photos into text posts right now. I will try and change this when I have a bit more time. So I’m just going to do a quick run down right now.

1) Nars Sheer Glow Foundation- not much of a shocker since everyone in the BB community seems to own and love this one. I got colour matched and finally got to try it on in person yesterday and at first I wasn’t wowed. Then I realised that this was the only foundation I had ever used that made my skin look better without changing my skin colour in the slightest. Normally I like foundations that make me look a little paler to achieve a porcelain doll effect and this just blended instantly into my skin. As I looked in the mirror more and more my appreciation for this grew and now it is right at the top of my wish list.

2) Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow- I have been googling contouring for a while and wondering if it is for me. I already have pretty strong cheek bones and so I’m not sure if I would start to look a bit too much like Angelina Jolie’s Malificent for everyday life if I overdid it a bit. Also as I am pale if anything too brown goes on my face before August it just looks dirty and odd. However I really want to try this Illamasqua cream pigment which is meant to be the perfect contour for pale skin. From the photographs it doesn’t look too brown and and the cream formula would help control the strength of the effect a lot more easily then when applying powder.

3) Mac Morange- A little while ago I went down an Orange Lipstick Pinterest Black Hole for about 3 days where all I did in all my spare moments was look at these beauties on Pinterest, trying to work out if I could pull it off, which specific lipsticks were the models and celebs wearing and if there were any worth a damn in my budget. The answer to the last question is at the moment no in my opinion (although I have heard good things about Sleek’s Tangerine Scream but I haven’t had a chance to see it in person). I had a look at Maybelline’s Electric Orange and was not impressed by the pigmentation and found it to fade too easily and just distort the natural colour of the lips. Mac Morange is my dream lipstick at the moment as its pigmented without being too neon and matte and like all Mac lipsticks would surely last for hours, instead of just leaving you looking like you had an accident without your spaghetti.

4) Lastly, as I should reallllllly get back to work is the Soap and Glory Archery Eye Brow pencil. Again this is mainly from the blog buzz but I have just got into doing my eyebrows and at the moment am alternating between the waxy formula in Benefits Smoky Eye kit and a Rimmel eye brow pencil I accidentally picked up instead of a kohl pencil years ago, one of which I don’t find long lasting enough, the other way too red for my dark brows. I hope that the tint in this pen should last a little longer without smudging.

I have so much work to do but I haven’t blogged in so long I thought would just do a quick one of things that I am loving at the moment, my Autumn favourites as it were…

Music

There have been some truely awesome albums come out this Autumn and one of the things I am loving is that the majority have been from women/ bands with female lead singers. This is interesting as although the pop market is saturated with new albums such as Katy Perry’s Roar and forthcoming albums from the likes of Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and of course the girl of the moment Miley Cyrus, female alternative don’t often make too much of a stir both on the mainstream and alternative charts. 

1) Haim- an all female alternative band may possibly claim the top album spot tonight, last time I saw figures they were only 28 copies behind JT. Great band, only criticism is that the album is largely made up of songs from previous EPs, which is a little pet hate of mine as it can disappoint long term fans. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TffpkE2GU4

2) London Grammar- trio from London, fronted by the amazing Hannah Reid. Their song Strong was number 16 in the charts but I have already started hearing their music on all the “hip” US TV shows etc. Check out their album If You Wait. They have been compared to The XX and Florence. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6drfp_3823I

3) Lorde- 16 year old singer song writer from New Zealand. She has had a contract since the tender age of 12. Her album Pure Heroine is out next monday. Her sound reminds me strongly of Lana Del Rey but with a more young/ digital age sound rather than Lana’s vintage inspiration. Her hip hop influences give her also a little bit of a similarity to Haim. She was the first New Zealand solo artist to reach number 1 on the American Billboard charts and if I’m not mistaken one of the first female solo artists for a long time to reach the top of the Alternative chart. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFasFq4GJYM

4) Chvrches- Sythy electro-y band from Glasgow who came 5th in the BBC sound of 2013 poll. Their album The Bones of What You Believe was released a couple of weeks ago and is my chosen music for my bus journeys to uni.  The album was number 6 on the UK chart. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mTRvJ9fugM

And some other things quickly because I REALLY need to get back to work….

1) My new Ralph Lauren coat I found at TK Maxx. Its from their young Denim and Supply Range and I was so amazed to have found it as its only last season and can even still be seen on the Asos website. Its orange with a sort of native american vibe going on and when I saw it my head said it was hideous but my heart fell in love with it instantly. 

2) My Illamasqua Eurydice Lipstick- I wanted a bright pink lipstick as I had lost mine a while ago. I thought I would try and get a matte one as I find it can look a bit more modern and as I have quite large lips it is more flattering. I wanted bright and man is it bright! Its almost neon which I wasn’t quite expecting when I ordered it online but it does have amazing lasting power, which is something I find really important with bright lipsticks. 

3) Tartan- I love how this has come back into fashion. I haven’t managed to get anything yet, even though I fell in love with a tartan pencil skirt in Topshop, unfortunately it was sold out. 

4) Joseph Gordon Levitt. I am super excited about his new film Don Jon as it has been too long since he has been on our screens. 

You can find the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6615kYTpOSU

Also everybody needs to watch this hilarious and amazing video of him having a Lip Synch battle with jimmy Fallon and Steven Merchant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ajQ-foj2Q

5) Lastly I have to put in a quick mention of how excited I am about the new Bleach London DIY range coming out on the 8th of October. I have been trying to move away from colouring my hair too crazily now I’m a bit older and need to soon find gainful employment BUT I may have to try some of this stuff out. I am hoping the Dip Dye kit is good as the only other offering on the market (the Loreal Wild Ombre) by all accounts just turns your hair ginger. 

Bye now!