Monday 25 November 2013

Tart up Tartan


This season the Tartan print has come back for an ultra-cosy yet chic look that can easily be worn for that formal and casual basis.  I love tartan coats (or known also as 'checked'); they look very fashionable and can be worn easily making an instant style statement – think chunky oversized coats that can add instant colour and a class whilst keeping you snug.  The tartan print can be safely worn by all ages, a versatile and timeless print that is somewhat evergreen...



1. Checked Coat £129 from Zara | 2. Navy Coat and Red Tartan Check Boyfriend Coat £64.99 from New Look| 3. Black Checked Biker Sleeve 2 in 1 Coat £85 from River Island | 4. Per Una Checked Belted Coat with Wool £99 from Marks and Spencer | 5. Collarless Check Wool Jacket £85 from Topshop | 6. Checked Coat £149 from Zara


...ArA...

Thursday 14 November 2013

Autumn/Winter 2013 Make-up Favourite Looks

"The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion" - Yves Saint-Laurent

Berry/Wine/Plum Lips

Embrace your inner Goth and go for an edgy dark berry lip colour keeping the eyes simple – an instant winter statement. I particular love the matte plum shades, you can simply blot any excess away to tweek the pigmentation to your liking and you are ready to go. The versatility of a matte lipstick means you can finish it off with a hint of gloss for a night out!



Left to Right: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Rouge Volupté Shine lipstick in shade Prune in Fire £24 from Selfridges
Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in Wine £5.49 from Superdrug 

Classic Smokey Eyes

My all-time favourite look, yes the classic smoky eye is a timeless look that can bring out the depths of your eye colour if worked correctly. For Autumn/Winter I like to experiment by mixing subtle plum colour for my bottom eye line – I then team this up with my trusty black kohl liner and blend to create a subtle impact. For instant drama I like to pin my hair back and letting my eyes do all the taking, this adds instant glamour without overdoing it, remember to keep the lips nude for a balanced look.

Nude Lips

Yes the au natruale nude lips are still dominating this season, an easy way to create and lustre and youthful complexion if done correctly! See my earlier blogpost on finding the perfect nude lip shade for your skin tone here.

See my earlier review about the Perfect Nude Lipstick by clicking on the above link!

Bold Brows

I am proud to embrace my natural thick eyebrows, dare I say it they have become one of my signature beauty traits (and have done so for some time)! The likes of Miss Delevingne have certainly shown that having a fuller brow not only makes you look a lot youthful but can transform the whole shape of your face. I tend to use my HD Brows kit to perfect my brows. Another trick is to use a little bit of Vaseline to add instant definition to your brows. Less of the plucking now ladies!



HD Eye & Brow Palette in Vamp £19.96 from HD Brows 


Brrr-ace yourself for Winter!

...ArA...

Saturday 9 November 2013

Light A Candle and ‘Lantern’ up your Evenings…

...Transit umbra, lux permanet...

With the shorter days being an inevitable the one thing that cheers me up after a long day is coming home to the warmth and setting a cosy scene by lighting some candles to bring some bright into the gloomier evenings. Next have a fantastic range of beautiful home décor sets and have something for everyone; from fragranced patchouli candles adding an elegant waft to any room, to spiced candle jars which always remind me that the festive season is near and those Christmas markets, they even have vintage styled lanterns that are to die for!..

#1

Medium Cream Ceramic Lantern £12 from Next

So pretty and understated this lantern holder has a beautiful heart shaped opening and is great to store those bigger pillar candles that need that extra safety support whilst looking ultra shabby chic cute! 

****

#2

Wild Orchid and Plum Fragranced Votives £10 from Next
These dainty yet perfectly sized candles smell of classic autumn/winter fragrances that consists of plum, berry, orchid blossoms and notes of amber and sandalwood that create that perfect British autumn/winter feel…they each have an individual pattern which makes them look perfect styled alone (for multiple separate usages) or within the set itself. 

****


#3


Festive Spice Fragranced Candle Jar £8 from Next

I love this Candle Jar, not only can it be lit to release the seasonal smell of juicy oranges and festive spices but when not in use it can sit nicely on your dresser/vanity table and act as an intricate trinket jar feature. Plus once all the candle wax is melted you can store whatever you want within this beautiful metallic red jar; but you will have to wait a while, as it alleges to burn up to 60hours! Now that is what I call lasting power. 

****

#4

Set of 3 Gold Tea-light Holders £10 from Next

Cannot think of anything more glamours to harbour tea-lights in, with the slightly stained golden glass and embellishments on the front of the holder you are guaranteed to add some extra sparkle to your evening. Perfect for aligning around a frosty window.


****

The full collection can be seen on Next online here.


...ArA...






Friday 8 November 2013

Storage: Cake Tins

"Soon her eye fell upon a little glass box lying underneath the table. She opened it and found in it a very small cake, on which the words "EAT ME" were beautifully marked in currants."- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Following my last post on storage (see here) I thought I would do a quick post for those of you less inclined to dabble with anything close to DIY. Cake Tins I find are the perfect solution for storing anything besides cake; they look super cute stacked on a dressing table, adding a perfect vintage look whilst being protective and practical in storing those countless items! These storage tins below have been lying around (still in their packaging) for a year or so in my room, only did I recently discover them again (shocking I know, my room is an endless pit of hidden treasures cultivated from the hoarder that is inside me)! Who would want to even considering hiding these beauties in a kitchen cupboard?...





This Set Of 3 Regency Cake Tin can be brought from dotcomgiftshop.com online for £12.95 (plus £2.95 delivery costs). 

Cake anyone?

...ArA...

Thursday 7 November 2013

Perfect Pinks

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn
I have mentioned before how pink is a big shade for autumn/winter 2013, from pink coats dominating the high street and the likes of Christian Dior emphasised this oh so feminine colour on their winter/autumn catwalk. Think lady-like-pale-barely-there-pinks rather than hot neon numbers (that dominated the summer 2013 trend). This suits me fine as the homebody inside me loves dusty pastel pinks; I feel it is an easy colour for all to wear for an ultra-chic look and so girly *que girly tehehe's*. There is something about these pale pinks that just embraces the season well with it’s snuggly and vintage feel….I had a look around for my favourite pink pieces…


1. Cardigan £34.99 from H&M | 2. Fluffy Swing Boyfriend Coat £89 from Topshop | 3. Light Pink Chunky Knit Snood £15  from River Island | 4. Jersey Lined Lace Shell now £12 from Warehouse | 5. Jacquard Baggy Trousers £39.99 from Warehouse | 6. Mystery Patent Bow Slippers £24 from Topshop

Stay classy!


...ArA...

Wednesday 6 November 2013

DIY Storage Solutions

I am a sucker for anything that looks pretty and vintage...whilst sorting out my endless jewellery collection I needed some pretty boxes that would store the various masses. I wanted something that was unique and individual. So I decided to up cycle some existing containers that I had; a glossy box and *drumroll*… care to believe it  - an empty Ferrero Rocher container!

I used scrap pieces of wallpaper and stuck it onto the outer package of the Glossybox to give it a pretty French theme that co-ordinates well with my existing décor. For the Ferrero Rocher container I simply removed all the interior packaging and got rid of the logo (using a trusty nail varnish remover and a bit of rubbing using cotton wool and patience does the trick)! 

You can leave the clear acrylic container on its own (a bit like those much lusted after Muji containers oh so made famous by the Kardashians), or you can decorate it.  I chose to give it a bit of personality by again using a wallpaper print and washi tape.  This is the result below…*ta-da* I am simply becoming an expert now! XD

The 'Once Upon a Time' Ferrero Rocher Box:

In its former life this pretty necklace box was a Ferrero Rocher container, nifty huh?

Side view of my necklace box, I have used bits of wallpaper to decorate the sides and washi tape.

The 'Once Upon a Time' Glossybox:


Still messy on the inside...*meh*
Side view 



My upcycled Glossybox!


Who loves to upcycle? I am a convert!

...ArA...



Friday 4 October 2013

L’Oreal Paris Colour Richee Collection Privée Lipstick Review

...Labia lege...

Searching for that perfect daytime/office nude lipstick for everyday wear can easily become a forever searching task, especially when matching it to your own skintone; you do not want to make that mistake of looking washed out or looking as though you have sun cream on your lips! 

L’Oreal Privée have recently launched their limited edition nude lipsticks that are endorsed by their own leading spokespersons (no doubt which we all can recognise these famous women from that glamorous advert launched this September). The collection is  targeted for all different skintones in six different shades.

I adore the pretty matte black and golden detailed packaging; that oozes a classy vibe - they are definitely on the higher end look of drug-store products (no doubt this is the norm with most L’Oreal packaging - the “we-are-worth-it” effect justifying this splurge).  



I managed to pick up Rosewood Beige by Julianne Moore, Peach Sin by Eva Longroia and Greige Glow by Cheryl.  The Rosewood Beige is defiantly the “pinkier” one of the three, although my favourite is the Peach Sin by Eva Longroia as it blends in well with my natural lip colour and is more of a dusty nude peach with a hint of slight shimmer. All three leave a shiny finish as with all of the Colour Richee L'Oreal lipsticks, therefore if you are looking for a matt nude then this collection may not be for you. 

With the cheeky hint of shimmer these nude shades can easily be used with deep smoky eyes for glamour’s evening look as well; giving your lips an understated glossy finish balanced with defined eye makeup. I will definitely be adding these to my autumn/winter makeup! They appear more pigmented to be classed as "nude" in these photos ( see hand swatch below), but on lips they easily blend well to give a slight shimmer and nude colour glow. 

Lipstick Swatches

This is what the description details of each of these three shades that I picked up:

Eva Longoria: Barely Golden. With a hint of gold added, the best to capture the radiance of matte skin and sublimate the complexion, the sunkissed effect is worthy of the influential woman!
Cheryl: Barely Greige. Ultra-chic and rich in iridescence, barely greige offers a discreet contrast to the skin, thereby enhancing the natural beauty of the complexion.
Julianne Moore: Barely Peach. Sensual and delicate to the extreme, enhances the radiance of pale complexions and endows them with elegance and sophistication.




Overall I am impressed with this nude collection, I feel they are very wearable and can suit most skin complexions and are a good reasonable quality! Being nude in colour they do not have a strong wearing power (roughly 2-3 hours) but this is expected.





The full collection is available online and in store (although some stores seem to be low on stock) in Boots and Superdrug retailing at £8.19 each. 

...ArA...

Monday 30 September 2013

2013 Autumn/Winter Wardobe Must-Haves

Now that September is well and truly (well nearly) over I thought it would be a great time to write a post of some basic essential seasonal must haves which London Fashion Week had been raving about. What I love about autumn is this transitional period you can still wear (and get away with) some great summer items such as floral shirts but instead of paring them with a skirt opt for a layered look with dark jeans and trusty ankle boots.

What I adore about autumn 2013 is the military gothic yet sharp tailored vibe; team up tartan prints with textured dusty pinks for an ultimate modern clash. Androgynous tailoring is dominating autumn/winter 2013 which is perfect for those classic timeless looks which are very effortless and simple to achieve; taking a look from office to evening chic. Just because it is getting a lot darker outside does not mean that your autumn wardrobe has to be all dark and gloom, you can still introduce some colour with clashing strong prints with textured layered jumper (for those that are daring enough animal print is still hot on trend this season)! It is all about switching and incorporating a few autumn essentials such as the ones below which are key this season…

1# Pink Coat

Pink coats were dominating the glossy fashion magazines at the moment; I love the classic long length and the very feminine pale pink colour of this Zara piece. A similar one that was very popular in M&S sold out online for a bargain price of £85 (if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one)!

Masculine Studio Overcoat £179 from Zara
****
2# Tartan

The Tartan print is everywhere, a very easy way to wear tartan print trousers is by balancing it with a plain crisp shirt for that effortless chic look oozing sophistication. These red tartan trousers are ankle length which are perfect for this transitional period. Team it up with a leather jacket for an edgier affair.


Plaid Slim Fit Trousers £44.99 from Mango

****

3# Long-line Jackets/Blazers

Long-line jackets and blazers are all around on the high street and come in a variety of different lengths and colours. I love this burgundy baggy number from Zara, perfect for Autumn and layering with jumpers for those windy Autumn days.

Jacket with contrasting lapel £79.99 from Zara

****
 #4 Leather

Leather is running strongly all the way through to Winter 2013 and is great for toughening up a pretty outfit. Great for smart and casual wear this skirt can easily be dressed up or down whatever the weather. Think of clashing this skirt with a wholly jumper and ankle boots for a day out.


Faux Leather Pleat Midi Skirt £28 from Miss Selfridge

****

Bo-ho to the darker days, but do not let it stop you from looking stylish!

...ArA...


Wednesday 25 September 2013

Free Competition: Win a Year's Supply of Clothing from MRP

Being a savy fashionista (well I try) I am always on the look out for a good bargain which will stretch my money further. When I found out about MRP  (the South African equivalent to Primark) through the lovely people at Etail  I was curious to see what the fuss was about.Take a look at some of my favourite finds on MRP (with delivery to the UK being just £4 who can complain)!?...



****
****


****
MRP have just launched this great competition where you can win a year's supply of clothing, you simply have to click on the link below to enter, best of luck! 

MRPCompetition

...ArA...

Tuesday 24 September 2013

DIY Nail Varnish Storage

My nail varnish collection has accumulated quite a bit recently; I only discovered how many bottles that I owned when I opened my drawer to my own disbelief...

"Some" of my collection o.O

With this in mind I thought it was only right that I had some “viewable” on a storage rack of somekind where my favourites and popular varnishes could be seen without rummaging  around through the mess. There are a quite a few storage solutions available online, although rather than paying a small fortune I thought I would make my own. By making my own I had the benefit of  customising for the size that I needed as well as the volume/quantity that I wanted to accommodate (as I am sure more will be added to the masses)! So one rainy weekend I decided to give it ago, and here are the results…


*Ta-dah*


Quite impressive, right? Well gathering that I only used two medium sized shoe boxes and the fact that it did not cost me a thing I was quite happy with the outcome.  I simply glued one shoebox on top of the other and cut out strips from the lids to form shelves. To know the length and width of the shelves you simply need to measure the largest bottle of your nail varnish and tailor the measurements then according to it. I then covered the box with white paper to match my décor (besides white adds a great canvas for all the colours to pop out)! It is a great way to easily access what nail varnish you want to use with seeing the whole collection.

A better view of the bottom shelf

...ArA...

Saturday 6 July 2013

Wimbledon Inspired Fashion

Getting a glimpse of the fashion around Wimbledon is always an inspiring way to get with the most chic and elegant sports event in the British Summer with the champagne and strawberries. I love the traditional pinstripe shirt blouses that are teamed up with beige tailored trousers and a pair of good old fashioned brogues for a casual conservative look; it is always copied and a staple look when it comes to Wimbledon centre court matches. But this year I saw a lot of tailored crisp whites making a comeback with a modern twist with a lot of soft monochrome clashes – think lady-like pleated dresses teamed with a structured bounce jacket or a more conservative sports luxe look minus the neon. 


Here are some of my favourite Wimbledon inspired pieces…

1. 
Cutwork Tea Dress £55 from Topshop


****

2.
Basic Vest £18 from Oasis
****


3. 

Textured Cigarette Trousers £40 from Topshop
****


4.
White Heeled Shoes £42 from Asos 
****

5.

Clean Utility Skirt Dress £42 from Topshop

****


Time to get out those Wimbledon Whites!

...ArA...




Wednesday 3 July 2013

Kérastase Resistance Review


I was first introduced to the Kérastase  Resistance range by my hairdresser a while ago, around the same time that I picked up Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oil (see review here).  The Resistance range is aimed to replenish hair that is weakened or damaged; I tend to use it when my hair is crying for a bit more love mostly in the winter months or for a special occasion when I want my unruly hair to behave.  Even though the range is particularly targeted at weakened/damaged hair, my hairdresser recommended the range for my long hair, as longer hair tends to need that extra bit of attention strength and added nutrition, especially to the ends.  Below are the simple steps that I take when using this range:

Bain De Force Vita-Ciment TopSeal Shampoo

Simply apply this like any other shampoo to your wet hair; you only need a tiny winy amount, about the size of a 5p coin. I was surprised when I was told this by my hairdresser – but I can vouch for the fact a little goes a long way, make sure you work the shampoo into your hair for a good few minutes before rinsing, the formula is super concentrated which is why you only need a small amount (plus a bottle of this will last ages)!  The shampoo has a thick consistency that is why it is important that you really work the shampoo into the hair all over. The shampoo claims to reinforce the hair and after washing my hair feels soft without even beginning the conditioning stage.

Ciment Anti-usure Conditioner

 After shampooing I try to squeeze all the water out of my ends so that my hair is not soaking wet; this enables the conditioner to go a longer way and not simply be washed out by the amount of water in my hair (the packaging states to use it on towel dried hair, although for me this seems a bit impractical when already in the shower)! Unlike most conditioners the Climent Ant-usure instructs to leave it in on the lengths and ends of the hair for a minute or so and then simply wash out as normal.

Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique

As I would normally use this range for a special occasion there is no doubt that I would probably involve some heat styling. For this purpose my favourite heat protective product has to be this. Being afraid of hair serums (I only have to think of those secondary school days and the unintentional ‘greasy lengths’ from the hair serum ‘00’s craze *cringe*) Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique does have that typical thick consistency of a hair serums, but I was surprised to find that it did not weigh my hair down or make it look greasy. You simply apply it to your ends and work it upwards to the rest of the lengths making sure there is an even distribution, it acts as a heat protectant so I simply blow dry my hair afterwards. Remember only a small amount is needed!

Overall I am fairly content with the range, I have repurchased the above and would definitely recommend it!

I purchased the above products from my hairdresser, most  good saloons stock the range too. The full range is also available online, often for a good price/promotion on feelunique.com.



...ArA...

Friday 24 May 2013

Vichy Normaderm Review


...Floreat Curator Cutis...

Vichy skincare range has been around for a while and often has been hailed as one of the more leading high-end drugstore products with its claimed mineral-rich therma spa water ingredient. Vichy have a range of specially developed skin care products designed for those of us with the more complicated skin types. The Normaderm range itself is targeted mainly for oily combination skin, with a little targeted action for acne prone skin too; helping to target blemishes and keep those breakouts at bay. The Vichy Normaderm range recognises the link between oily combination skin and breakouts (excess oil produced by our skin blocking our pores leading to breakouts…you know the drill, most of us have been there).



I have used Vichy Normaderm products in the past, but never truly committed fully to the cause. So I have been wanting to review the Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care (Day Moisturiser) and Chrono-Active Pore Refining Care (Night Moisturiser) for some time now, but wanted to incorporate these two products properly in my routine before I could review them (hence the slightly erm “weathered” packaging in the photos – sorry about that).


Vichy Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care (Day Moisturiser)



This daytime moisturiser claims to common problem areas targeting: imperfections, pores, oily/shiny skin and uneven skin tone. This daytime moisturiser is not my favourite, once it is applied to can rub off in little bits and looks as though your skin is peeling off (when in fact it is the day moisturiser that is dried onto the skin)! It has a matte finish and although it may make your skin look less oily for me it was not really a hit, as I did not really feel or see the real results. The formula  flaking off my skin was something that I was disappointed with and it did not last long at all. This product does contain Alcohol therefore I would not recommend using this product if you have sensitive/dry skin during a hot summers day or on your tropical holiday; as it could leave your skin dehydrated rather than hydrated. 

Overall this product did not blow me away; it did not deliver on its bold claims. I could not wear this day moisturiser all day on my skin, as the product was often peeling away from my skin and rather looked more like an acid peel than a moisturiser! It did not have a great wear time at all for a moisturiser, and did not leave my skin hydrated all day.

A 50ml bottle of Vichy Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care Day Moisturiser is £12 from Boots.


Vichy Normaderm Chrono-Active Pore Refining Care (Night Moisturiser)




This night time moisturiser is my favourite of the two moisturisers, it claims to limit the amount of pores that produce excess oil overnight so that the skin has a more even tone and that pores are less visible overtime. It easily melts onto the skin and once applied instantly - what I can only describe somewhat as dissolving into the skin – it was not greasy at all even though the consistency when it comes out of the tube is runny. You may feel a tingling sensation when you apply it onto your skin, this is probably the Zincadone A ingredient that targets bacteria and skin regeneration, although I would not recommend applying this night-time moisturiser onto broken/sensitive skin; as this may deeply irritate the skin and cause discomfort! On my skin this moisturiser was perfect, I definitely noticed my pores were less distinguished and my overall skin tone did improve. I particularly liked the fact that my skin was noticeably soft after I applied the moisturiser without that heavy greasy feeling that most night moisturisers tend to go over load on the greasy results.

A 50ml bottle of Vichy Normaderm Chrono-Active Pore Refining Night Cream is £12.77 from Boots.

***

Overall I am not completely convinced, I will not be re-purchasing the day moisturiser again!

…ArA….