Beauty

My Go To Makeup: Brown Smokey Eye..

11:10

Every girl has a go to makeup look; It's that combination of eyeshadows paired with that certain lipstick, that she just knows works and takes no longer than 5 minutes to do. 
Mine is a subtly brown smokey eye, its probably the only look I wear on a night out because it works with pretty much every outfit. I do chop and change, but when in doubt this is what I go for. 


 This look is so easy and can be recreated using pretty much any eyeshadow palette as it only requires two matte brown shades and a highlight colour for your brow bone. This time round I used the Limited Edition Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate palette which I have been absolutely loving at the moment. For liner I used the the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner,  which is a great product for those of you who aren't completely comfortable with liquid liner yet, as the felt-tip end is really sturdy giving you slightly more control. 

 The trick to a good smokey eye is to keep everything else really simple. Your base should be flawless without being cakey and your blush or bronzer should be subtle, but still giving your face that lift and glow. Stick to a lip balm with a hint of colour and you're golden! 

 Lara x 

Beauty

Review: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

08:05

I've been having a bit of a love affair with Nars recently; Its gone from me not even knowing where to purchase their products in the UK, to me using something of theirs on a daily basis, and even giving the Sheer Glow Foundation holy grail status (Read my review on that here) and i have a feeling that the Radiant Creamy Concealer could fast become the proud owner of a holy grail title also.



I was on the hunt for a new all round concealer and had heard good things about this new Nars product, so when i stumbled across a Nars counter on a shopping trip with mother dear, i just couldn't resist trying it out. 

It was like love at first sight, I swatched a random colour on my hand to get a feel of the texture, and, as it says in the name it certainly is thick and creamy, but despite that its a real joy to blend into the skin. 

There are 8 shades (In the UK, in America there is a choice of 10) in total, and normally I would hold no hope in finding a colour to match my skin with such little choice, however I was matched to 'Med/Dark 2 Caramel' and it is honestly the perfect shade for me, and blends seamlessly into my natural skin tone.


In terms of how it sits, feels and blends into your skin... its a dream! I have been using this on a daily basis, so I can sit here and safely tell you that if, like me, you aren't the biggest fan of wearing foundation during the day then this product is perfect!

I would say it has a medium coverage but can very easily be built up into a much fuller coverage without looking cakey on the skin, which is just what I want from a concealer. 
Its creamy hydrating texture means that it can be used all over the face, whether you want to conceal that annoying spot or hide those 'I stayed up all night watching One Tree Hill' eyes. It doesn't crease anywhere on the skin and in terms of staying power i can't tell you how it fairs on its own as i do always powder my T-Zone as I hate the thought of being shiny, although I have never felt the need to top up during the day.

It is slightly pricey being £21 for 15ml, but I can honestly say that this is my favourite concealer of the moment, if not all time! It is something I am constantly reaching for, and will probably always have in my makeup collection and thats always a good sign! 

Click Here to see me using it in my 'Everyday Makeup Routine' video. 

Lara x

1940s

The Blitz Party...

10:01

Last saturday I had the opportunity to go to The Blitz Party in Shoreditch, London. As you may (or may not) have guessed from the name of the event, it was 40s themed which therefore meant a whole lot of swing dancing, a big live band, and lets not forget all the glamorous hair and makeup. 

 The Village Underground had been transformed into a wartime air shelter, complete with sandbags and oil lamps; the drinks menu was made from ration cards and the drinks all had war time themed names. You really did feel like you had been transported back in time as soon as you stepped in, and once the live band started, the outside world no longer existed. 

 Its not everyday that us girls (and the guys for that matter) have the opportunity to get this glammed up, and it was great to see that everyone had put so much effort into their looks; the girls were sporting typical 40s hair, makeup and fashion, and the guys were all decked out in solider, pilot and sailer outfits. 
Now i'm not that great when it comes to styling my hair, so I kept that really simple and easy and just stuck it up in a slicked back bun, and my makeup was pretty simple also but with a bit of winged liner and red lipstick to add that 40s glamour. (Pictures Below) 





I could not recommend this event enough, its something fun, out of the ordinary and I think everyone should go at least once. Click Here to go to The Blitz Party website, for information on when the next event is. 

I will be filming a video on the makeup look that I did on the night, and putting it up on my YouTube channel in the next few days, so keep an eye out for a post about that. 

Lara x 


Acne Prone Skin

Out With The Old In With The New..

10:38

New blog layout and a new everyday makeup routine!

 I was looking at my blog today, and was just not loving the layout, so i decided to give it a little pick-me-up. I also, filmed, edited and uploaded a new video today which is about my everyday makeup routine (Click here to see my YouTube Channel and watch the new video)

 Hope you like the new layout and video!

 Lara x




Products I used:
- Murad Shine Control and Acne Prone Primer
- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in 'Caramel' 
- Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara
- Nars eyeshadow in 'Bali' 

- Nars blush in 'Gilda' 


Acne

My New Holy Grail?!

13:13

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 I finally did it, i finally brought the famous NARS Sheer Glow Foundation!











































After having been on holiday for just under a week my Bobbi Brown foundation had become way too light for me, so i decided i would take the opportunity and buy The NARS Sheer Glow foundation. Now unless you've been living under a rock you will know that this has been one of the most talked about products in the beauty world; because i had watched countless videos and read numerous blogs on it, i felt pretty confident in my purchase. 

The words 'sheer' and 'glow' are not words you want to be associated with a product your about to buy if you have acne/combination skin, however i was pleasantly surprised! I got matched to the colour 'Syracuse' and its perfect, it neutralises my overall skin tone and takes away any redness in my skin without making it look cakey. I would say it is a medium coverage and could very easily be built up to a fuller coverage for a night out etc. 

So far i have been using this product nearly every day and have pretty much fallen in love, and i now completely understand why it gets so much love and is considered by many to be a holy grail. 

















Me before (Top) and After (Below) applying the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Lara x

Beauty

Mini Haul: Madrid Style

14:46

First off i feel like i should apologise for being a bit MIA recently, its been a crazy few months and blogging kind of slipped my mind; but fear not, i'm back, and i've come back with a haul for you guys. Now i don't know about you, but im a big fan of hauls, maybe its because im incredibly nosey like that; this is only a small one, but hey, any new makeup is good right?



So being the smart shopper that i am, i brought all the products at El Corte Ingles here in Madrid (i think the english equivalent would probably be John Lewis) and because i have a foreign passport i got a 10% discount (nice bit of helpful information for anyone traveling to Spain). 




 Nars Blush in Gilda






 Nars Long Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte


The first two products, as you can see from the photos above are from NARS. Now these two products made this a pretty exciting purchase as they are the first things i have ever brought from the brand, it may surprise you that i didn't go for the cult favorites such as 'Laguna' bronzer and 'Orgasm' blush, but they weren't really what i was looking for. I was in desperate need of a new blusher, but didn't want to go down the pink sparkly route that i normally do when buying blusher and Gilda was the perfect product. As you can see from the picture it is a pretty vibrant salmon/ coral colour and i will admit that the thought of using it kind of scared me, but if i use a little and blend it well it looks really lovely and natural and looks even better now that i have a slight tan. The whole non-glittery blush thing means that you would probably have to use a highlighter with it, especially in the evening time. 
The second item i brought was a flesh/light coloured eyeliner to put in my waterline as part of my everyday look to brighten up my eyes. Having used this product for a while now, i can happily sit here and tell you that it does the job, im not going to give it holy grail status just yet, as i feel that i could find something better. In terms of it being called a 'Longer Than Life' eyeliner, i'd have to disagree a bit, it doesn't last all day on me and it does need touching, but thats the only down side i can think of. 



Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara + La Roche-Posay Cleansing Gel

Now im not a fan of wearing/ applying false eyelashes, therefore i always buy mascaras that can give me the same amount of intensity minus all the fussing about. For this reason i have always been a huge fan of the Maybelline 'The Falsies' but this Rimmel mascara was on a 2 for 1 offer so i thought id give it a go, and i can't quite believe that im typing these words, but this may replace my beloved Maybelline mascara!! One coat of this, and i have my perfect day time look- defined but not crazy in your face lashes, and on a night out 3-4 coats of this and i may as well be wearing false lashes, and at times have even been asked if i am... i highly highly recommend that you go buy this and give it a try.
Last but certainly not least, i brought myself a face wash. If you have read some of my last posts you will know that i have/ some times still do suffer from acne breakouts. I would normally buy a product that was geard towards acne prone skin, but i decided to give my skin a break from all the harsh stuff, and get the most gentle thing i could find, and that is why i brought the La Roche-Posay Cleansing Gel, and my skin has really thanked me for it. It gets every little bit of my makeup off and doesn't sting or irritate my eyes. I've had very few breakouts since using this product and my skin feels a lot more hydrated then it did before. If you are looking for a bog standard face wash then this is without a doubt my highest recommendation. 

Lara x 





Acne

Everyday Makeup Routine

14:39

This is a blog post that i have been wanting to put up for a while, but i just haven't had the guts to as it requires me to plaster pictures of myself without makeup on, on the internet; and having suffered with acne, the thought of doing that scares me a bit, but here i am. This is basically just going to be a step by step look at how i do my makeup everyday. This look is what i wear to go to class, shopping, lunch with friends etc. Its incredible simple and natural, which i personally think is what an everyday should be. *Be warned, this will be a picture heavy post*


Here is are the before and after pictures. As you can see in the top picture my acne scaring is quite prominent and i look like i haven't slept in days and in the botom picture, i like to think that you would agree with me in saying that there is a vast improvement. Keep reading to find out how i achieved the end result. 


After moisturising using the CVS moisturising lotion for all skin types i apply my Bare Minerals Foundation (Full Bare Minerals makeup review here) I apply this using the Bare Minerals Full Flawless brush, in the buffing action that they tell you to use. I apply this until i have a medium coverage. My acne scaring is never fully covered, but i feel that if i put anymore on i would just look like a cakey mess.


Once i've applied my foundation i move onto my eyes. I always without fail curl my eyelashes, it helps to open up your eyes and make you look more awake, and if you've had a late night, you're going to need all the help you can get; the curlers i use are by tweezerman. I then apply two coats of mascara; i personally like using two different mascaras to get my desired result. I use the YSL Shocking mascara first, which adds volume like no other, and then i use the Clinique High Length mascara, to lengthen and separate my lashes. 


Now its time for the eyebrows. I naturally have quite thick and dark eyebrows, but i like to use i bit of eyeshadow to help in the areas where my eyebrows are slightly more sparse (I tried to find out the name of the eyeshadow i use, but was unable to, i can however tell you it is a MAC eyeshadow that's a kind of coffee colour... not that thats much help). I apply the eyeshadow using the Real Techniques brow brush and comb it through using a spooly from MAC. 


Next up is what i consider to be the most important step in my routine after applying my foundation... under eye concealer! I use Benefit's Erase Paste in number 3. A little goes a long way with this product, i think i've have mine for something like a year and a half and its still going strong. My first impression with this product was not a good one; when i first started using it, it would look really cakey and crease like nobody's business  but having watched many YouTube videos in which this product was i used i realised that i was just putting way too much on. This concealer can help you hide a multitude of sins, no one will ever tell that you had a late night once you put a bit of this on!


Unlike a lot of people, now is the point where i apply my translucent powder, don't ask me why, because, well, i don't have an answer for you, this is just what makes sense to me, but you can apply it at the very end if you wish, i honestly don't think it makes a difference. I use the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder with my Topshop Powder brush. Being translucent  it doesn't add any colour or take away colour to/from my face, it simply helps my makeup last longer and stops me from getting shiny; and since im living in Spain, this will be my best friend in a few weeks as the weather will start to warm up.


Bronzer time! This is a step that i will miss out once i get a tan, but in the winter months i like to put a light dust of NARS Laguna bronzer on my cheeks, neck and then blend a bit into my hair line. I don't put a lot on because i'm not really a fan of the tangoed look; sometimes you can't tell that i've even put any on. I apply the bronzer with the Bare Minerals Flawless Face brush.


Now its time to put some colour back into my cheeks. I've been using MAC PeachyKeen since i started wearing makeup, and i haven't really tried anything else. Its the perfect colour for both summer and winter; in summer it enhances my tan, and in winter i just put a little dusk of this on and it just brightens my face up. Now this is a shimmery blush, so if you go crazy with it, you won't look to great, however it does mean just you can get away with not putting a highlighter on.


After i've done all this, i will then go ahead a choose my lip colour for the day, it will normally be a natural lipgloss or lip balm. Below are side profile pictures of me with and without makeup, as you are able to see how the acne scarring on my cheeks is covered up. 





I hope this was interesting and helpful to some of you. My next post will most likely be a review, so keep your eyes peeled for that 

Lara x 


Beauty

New Year. New Makeup.

14:06

So people its 2013, now i don't know about you but im pretty disappointed that there aren't any hover crafts like in 'Back To The Future'. However we are in store of more beauty products, and limited addition collections, which is always exciting! 

 Now my last post was quite some time ago (naughty Lara!) but i pinky promise i will post things more often im not going to sit here and tell you that i'll post every other day, because to be honest i may not, but i will be posting more, that you can count on. I have a few posts lined up that im looking forward to writing, and i'll also be posting new stuff on my lifestyle blog too, so check that out if you're interested. 

 Happy New Year!

 Lara x



Acne

Bare is Best.

10:11

So todays post, is going to be about Bare Minerals makeup. For those of you who haven't heard of Bare Minerals, it is part of a brand called Bare Escentuals, and as the names suggests all their makeup products are made using a blend of finely ground minerals, they promise that their makeup will give you long lasting and great coverage and that the minerals have a 'creamy blendability'.
Now the reason i started using Bare Minerals makeup was because i had been told by a lot of people that it was the best makeup for people with problem skin as it doesn't clog up your pores like a liquid foundation would. I thought it would be a good idea to do a post and my experiance with the makeup as far, and that maybe if you have the same issues as me, you can get some useful information out of this post. Before i get into this post, i'll just quickly mention that i have acne prone/combination/sensitive skin, therefore some of you may need to take what i say with a pinch of salt, because one product will never work the same for two people. 




Primer

Now i didn't purchase all these products separately  the lovely girl in the shop suggested that i get one of their kits, in which you got three makeup brushes, a ful size foundation and then the warmth and mineral veil. If you purchase the starter kit like i did, then you will get a sample size of the Bare Minerals foundation primer. They say that the primer will help a multitude of things including dryness, enlarged pores and an uneven complexion. Now this is probably the nicest thing to put on you're face, it has such a silky texture and feel incredibly when you put it on your skin, and then it sinks leaving your skin lovely and smooth! However it doesn't make my foundation last all day like i would like it too. 


Foundation


The foundation kind of scared me a bit when i was researching it, and then when i went into the shop, because although i had watched videos and read blogs claiming that they got a really good coverage without it looking cakey, all i kept thinking was that i have acne scaring which is hard enough to cover up with liquid foundation let alone a powder! So when i went into the shop to get colour matched it was safe to say that i was pleasantly surprised. Now the coverage wasn't as full as what i normally have, but it did the job, it covered the redness on my face and some of the scars on my face. I wasn't too bothered about it giving really really full coverage as i am slowly using less and less makeup, and you may be surprise to know that although i have acne, you will normally see me without makeup on and when i do have makeup on its normally a light-medium cover, so the bare mineral foundation seemed like a perfect buy! 
The colouring of foundations is always something that i struggle with, i have quite a dark olive skin tone, therefore drug store foundations never really make the cut in terms of getting the perfect colour match. But when i walked into Bare Minerals i was kind of surprised at how many colours they had! and the girl matched me perfectly, so put three colours on my jaw/cheek and i went for the one that was virtually unrecognisable on my skin. 
In terms of how long the foundation lasted on me, it would be nice if it lasted a bit longer. I can get really good coverage for about two and a half hours, and then it just starts to disappear meaning that my scars start to show again, and this was despite using their primer and the mineral veil over the top. So for me that is a pretty big down fall, as im not one for touching up makeup throughout the day so i like my foundation to be long lasting.



 

Warmth

Now when i saw warm i instantly thought it was some kind a bronzer and i guess you could say that it is. However it was described to me as a product that brings the color back to your complexion that the foundation takes away, and it does exactly that, it adds a bit of dimension to the face so that you don't look flat and washed out. This is probably my favorite product out of the starter kit that i got, as you only need a little to just add some colour, however you could go quite orange if you weren't careful. 
In terms of the colour range, well...there isn't one, believe it or not it is one colour for every skin tone, weird right? but it actually does work for everyone, and i know this first hand, because my friend who is literally as pale as you can get, i mean true english rose colouring used it and it didn't make her orange at all, you could barely tell that she had it on! 



Mineral Viel 

Mineral Viel is basically Bare Minerals finishing/translucent power. Bare Minerals claim that the Mineral Viel will help with minimising pores, absorbing excess oil and and smoothing out your complexion  now i can't say anything about it minimising pores or smoothing my complexion but i can tell that it absorbs oil ver well, as when im wearing it my face isn't shiny at all!



So as you can see its so far so good with the Bare Minerals makeup, there will be another Bare minerals post coming up soon, but that will be focusing on their rather bazar night treatment, so keep a look out for that post!


From Left - Full Flawless Face Brush, Flawless Face Brush and Max Coverage Concealer Brush
Lara x