goodbye twenty eleven

So here we are, my final post of 2011.

For me I think 2011 has been a good year overall. It has seen me change as a person after some harsh lessons in friendship and life, and some positive moves at work. These changes have also helped me sculpt my blog to make it more me.

I would just like to thank each and everyone of my readers for being lovely and loyal and for taking the time to comment on my posts. It means so much to me and I love reading all your comments.

I wish each and every one of you a happy 2012 filled with good health, love, happiness and everything your heart desires.

sourced

Happy New Year!!!

x.x.x

Mission:Possible - No Spend

This time of year is always filled with the promise of new year resolutions which usually, for me anyway, fall flat come the middle of January.

 This year, instead of a resolution to last the full year, cause let's face it, they never last that long, I have set myself a mini resolution. Not to buy any makeup or beauty products between now and the end of February. I'm sure you have seen lots of beauty bloggers set this resolution, this is nothing new, but I think it's a great idea, and think it's a great opportunity to help each other through this *tough* time.

So I have decided that unless I run out of something I need majorly, (which I very much doubt I will) then not a beauty product will go in my shopping basket. I got a Boots gift card for Christmas as well so if I DO urgently need to buy anything I can use that and it won't have come out of my budget.

I'm pretty excited at the prospect of this challenge as my boyfriend and I are hoping to save a deposit for a house within the next year and I really am a terrible saver. Hopefully, this will show me how little I actually need to spend within a month and allow me to to save a little more and reduce my overdraft. Eeek.

image source

So, with payday being today, my mission possible begins. Are any of you guys taking part in a spending ban in the new year? If so, good luck and happy saving.

x.x.x

Christmas eve face and nails

I can't believe it's finally Christmas eve. Sooo exciting. I'm about to embark on an evening of Christmas movies, mince pies and wine. Happy days.

For today's post I just thought I'd show you my face and nails of the day.

what I'm wearing..

Bourjois healthy mix foundation

Rimmel Match Perfection pressed powder

MUA eyebrow pencil in Brunette

UD Buck for eyebrows

Mac Constructivist Paint pot

UD Half Baked

Green No7 eyeshadow (see below)

Maybelline Cat eyes mascara

ELF contour kit

Jane Iredale 245 karat gold dust in Rose Gold

Mac lipstick in Snob

I used a green eyeshadow from a No7 quad I got as a Secret Santa gift. The quad is gorgeous I thought you'd like to see.

The colours are beautiful jewel toned colours. They are all un named but I used the top left colour in my crease and lower lash line.

I also tried out the Jane Iredale shimmer powder that came in this months Joliebox. I'm very impressed.

On to nails...

Snowflake ring finger mani.

Products used:

Sally Hansen double duty base and top coat

Elf Light Red

MUA green polish shade 13

Elf white polish

Dotting tool for snowflake.

It's not the neatest but hey, I'm just learning. I think this makes for very cute festive fingers.

All that's left to say is that I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas with lots of love and happiness.

Deborah xxx

barry m bold black waterproof eyeliner

If there's one thing that really puts me off wearing black liner in the waterline it's the almost certain panda eyes that develop by the end of the day. There really is nothing worse.

However, I have found one of few eyeliners that really saves me this enormous pain, Barry M Bold and Black Waterproof Eyeliner.

I bought this out of Superdrug a few weeks back. I wanted a new one to wear  for my Christmas night out. I haven't bought a pencil liner for a while. As I said, I hate when it bleeds down to my under eye. But, I thought I'd try this. I haven't used a waterproof liner before and thought this might be where I was going wrong.

It was.

First of all, it's one of the smoothest, creamiest eyeliners I have ever used. It applies so easily with absolutely no tugging what so ever. It is also incredibly dark black.

Applied to the waterline, it is incredibly striking. It is definitely one of the blackest liners I've used.

The thing that impresses me most is the longevity. I am very bad for watery eyes, in that when I yawn, people genuinely think I'm crying. This lasts ages on my eyes. It certainly lasted my whole night out without any touch ups needed, and I've worn it to work and found it lasted around 6 hours before I needed to re apply it. Plus, no panda eyes. Win.

Barry M, you have really surpassed yourself.

What is your favourite pencil liner?

x.x.x

and the winner is...

Thank you to everyone who entered my first giveaway, it has now closed and the winner was chosen at random using random.org.

I'm please to announce the winner is:

Pretty Wonderful 

Congratulations Alice, I have emailed you for your address.

Thanks again to you all for your entries.

x.x.x

giveaway

Just a little reminder that my giveaway closes tomorrow (Monday) at Midnight GMT.

Click HERE to enter.

x.x.x

the christmas tag

I've seen this Christmas tag floating around a lot of blogs now and wanted to share my answers. I love fun tags like this.

1.What's Your Favourite Holiday Movie?

Without a doubt 'It's a Wonderful Life' It's one of the most heartwarming movies I've ever seen and the fact that it's black and white makes me love it more. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend having a watch.

2. What's Your Favourite Christmas Colour?

I think gold. My Christmas tree is a traditional red and gold.

3. Do You Like To Stay in Your PJs Or Dress Up For Christmas?

I always, always dress up. It wouldn't feel like Christmas otherwise.

4. If You Could Only Buy One Person a Present This Year Who Would It Be?

My mum. She deserves it.

5. Do You Open Your Present Christmas Eve Or Christmas Morning?

Christmas morning.

6. Have You Ever Built a Ginger Bread House?

Nope, looks too fiddly for me.

7. What Do You Like To Do On Your Christmas Break?

I love relaxing, spending time with my boyfriend and family and of course a spot of sale shopping.

8. Any Christmas Wishes?

Just for a happy and healthy 2012 for my friends and family.

9. Favourite Christmas Smell?

Mulled wine and cinnamon. mmm...

10. Favourite Christmas Meal Or Treat

Christmas dinner - roast turkey and all the trimmings. And mince pies.

source

I'd love to see your answers to this tag.

Nearly time for Santa...

x.x.x

cream puff

A month or so ago I saw lots of posts about the Collection 2000 Cream Puff. I really liked the look of them so I went out and bought my own. Then lost it. Thankfully, yesterday I found it tucked away in a bag of Christmas shopping, so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

I picked up shade 1 in the colour Cotton Candy. It's a really nice, wearable pink.

If you haven't seen these before they are basically lip creams which, instead of acting like a gloss, dry to a matte finish.

I find this to be super moisturising on my lips and love the way it looks. I think I'm going to pop back and get another of the shades as I really love the finish of them.

Collection 2000 lip creams are available in Boots and Superdrug and are priced at the bargainous price of £2.99.

Have you snapped up one of these? What do you think of matte lips?

x.x.x



pretty party fingers

So there seems to have been a glitter explosion all over the beauty blogging community just now, we can't seem to get enough. I thought I'd share with you my current festive fingertips, which will be perfect for my Christmas party.

Now if you've read my previous posts you'll know my nails are a disaster and I use falsies. These are the Nailene ones I mentioned to you before. Excitingly, Nailene are featuring me as their current Blogger of The Month, you can check it out HERE.

First of all I applied two coats of e.l.f nail polish in the colour Plum. This is the first time I've used this and I am totes in love with the colour. A deep berry colour, perfect for this time of year.

I then finished off the look with one coat of Model's Own Juicy Jules, et voila. Perfect party nails.

What's your favourite party nail wear?

Don't forget I have a giveaway going on, please pop along and enter it if you haven't already done so. I've linked it here.

x.x.x

time for a little giveaway CLOSED

I've been blogging for around a year and a half now and have enjoyed updating my little corner of the web with my ramblings, and discovering new interesting people and blogs. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all my old and new subscribers by holding a little giveaway...

What you can win...

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

MUA Lipstick in Bare

MUA Makeup Primer

EOS Lipbalm in Summer Fruits

Models Own Glitter Polish in Gold Finger

Stila pan eyeshadow in Jezebel

and I've also thrown in a brand new sample sized Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish.

What you have to do to enter...

1. You must be a subscriber of my blog

2. You must leave a comment on this post, it can be anything you like, but please only leave one comment.

3. You must leave your email address so I can contact you to notify you if you win.

4. If you are under 16 you must have your parent or guardians permission as I will need you to provide me your address so I can send the parcel if you win.

5. The giveaway ends at MIDNIGHT GMT MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER and the winner will be randomly selected and notified shortly after.

6. This giveaway is open internationally.

Good Luck and Thank You

x.x.x

FOTD - Pink To Make The Boys Wink

I am not normally a girl for pink eyeshadow. I find it a really hard colour to pull off, but I wanted to show you a look I created recently using pink eyeshadow. I wore this recently when I went Christmas shopping with the boy, but I definately think this is a look that can be pulled off day or night.

I used a pink eyeshadow from my Sephora Pin Up Show Palette

The pink on it's own is a bit lairy, but I applied MAC's constructivist paint pot as a base, then the pink shadow. This made it a bit darker than how it shows here, but still very much pink. I then warmed up the eyes by using Hustle from the Urban Decay Naked Palette and finished off with Studio Makeup Eyeliner Pen and lashings of Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes mascara.

I am really pleased with the final look and one I shall definitely be recreating very soon.

What do you think? Are you a fan of pink eyeshadow?

x.x.x

Currently Lusting After...

I always see so many things that I want to buy myself around this time of year, but of course, I need to keep my pennies for presents and Christmas nights out. I thought I'd share my little lust list with you. These would also make great gifts for someone special...



Lush Christmas Favourites Tin

£29.95

Who doesn't love Lush? Especially at Christmas. This little box is packed full of festive favourites to keep you warm and smelling great all through the Holidays.

Dalmatian Print Bag, Miss Selfridge

£49

Dalmatian print is all the rage right now and this will look super stylish tucked under your arm on New Years.

Prada Candy

From £40

This beautiful, oriental scent is gorgeous. Everyone needs a touch of Prada in their lives.

Stila Daydream Palette

£11.50

This is part of Stila's new Holiday collection, this gorgeous palette will look tres pretty on your dressing table. And it's a complete steal.

What are your current lusts?

x.x.x

Rose Petal Salve

My pet hate in winter is dry cracked lips. I have tried numerous different creams, balms and glosses to try to get rid of the flakiness. So with that in mind I was extremely pleased to find the Rose & Co Apothecary Rose Petal Salve in my October Boudoir Prive box.

It comes in a little round tin similar to that of Vaseline. I love how pretty and girly the tin is though, with a hint of vintage. 

The salve itself is also a gorgeous, girly pink.

It's marketed as an 'excellent all round salve' and that is exactly what it is. I primarily use this on my lips. I put it on last thing at night before I go to sleep and my pout is perfectly soft in the morning. It can also be used on patches of rough or dry skin, to keep eyebrows in place and it also makes for a good cuticle balm.

The thing I love most about this though is it's gloriously sweet scent. Although it is marketed as rose petal, the smell really reminds me of traditional Turkish Delight, which I adore. I love that after I've applied it, I can still smell the sweet aroma for ages after.

This is the first Rose & Co product I've tried, although I've had a little nosey around their website and I am very keen to try out the Cherry Kiss lip balm. Mmmm cherries.

Have you tried any Rose & Co products?

x.x.x