Sunday, 6 July 2014

Tried and Tested | Lancome Hypnose 'Doll Eyes' and 'Drama' Mascara

I've tried and tested Lancome's hit mascaras for a good few months now, and i'm ready to give you my full review of 'Doll Eyes' and 'Drama'.

The moment i discovered these mascaras are faves of the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, i had to get my hands on them. Those of you who have been keeping up with me for a while will know i loove Kendall, she's by far my favourite Kardashian-Jenner sister, and after being asked what mascara she uses by a fan on Twitter, she replied saying she uses 'Doll Eyes' and 'Drama'.

Both mascaras perform very differently, and i think it all comes down to the natural length, curl, and thickness of your own lash.. i do think these mascaras benefit those who have naturally fuller lashes the most, as the brushes are very large and the bristles therefore really need lashes to cling onto to give the best results.


 First up is 'Doll Eyes', this is defiantly the 'day' mascara out of the two.. the wand is tapered which creates fuller lashes at the outer-corners of the eyes, almost creating a cat-eye illustion depending on how many coats you apply. The bristle brush hairs are fairly spread from one-another, separating the lashes which opens up the eye and prevents clumping. The consistency is great, not clumpy at all nor too runny or wet.

I always use one coat of mascara because i think multiple coats can create a spidery lash and that is not a good look! 'Doll Eyes' delivers great results with just one coat which is something i always look for in mascaras. Lastly 'Doll Eyes' hasn't shown any signs of drying-out (considering iv'e had it in my collection for over 3 months now), so that's always a bonus and something you hope doesn't happen considering the price-tag!

This mascara is £22.50 which i think is expensive for something i haven't picked up to use everyday (as the results can be slightly dramatic for my everyday makeup), but it is a good choice for someone who wants a specific style of 'lashes' (e.g. cat eye). Unfortunately i wouldn't repurchase 'Doll Eyes' because i always like to try new mascaras as there are soo many out there, but like i said it's good for a certain audience!


 'Drama' is a whole other story, it's perfect for the evening, the wand is curved which i find suits my lash-shape really well, the wand fits snug in my lash-line and gives super-long lashes! I stop after one coat to avoid clumpy-ness, and am left with fluttery lashes which could even be mistaken for falsies!

I don't reach for this mascara on a daily basis because it is very dramatic (as hinted in the name), it opens my eyes and makes them look even bigger than they already are. It's definatly a 'Kardashian' mascara, it gives you flirty lashes with full-volume.

I've noticed 'Drama' dries out faster than 'Doll Eyes' and this is a downer especially since i only use it on evening occasions, and i always find myself scraping half of the excess mascara off of the wand before applying, as it just picks up too much 'mascara-gloop' from the bottle!

Unfortunately  i wouldn't repurchase 'Drama' due to the fact it picks up too much excess mascara from the bottle, and that i can only really get away with using it at night. But for someone who likes a dramatic eye non-stop, this would be a perfect match for you.. the lady at the Lancome counter even said 'Drama' is the most dramatic, full-impact mascara from the entire range!


I was slightly dissapointed that neither of the mascaras didn't turn me into Kendall Jenner or Kim Kardashain, haha! But like i said i think with Lancome mascaras it depends on your natural eye-shape and lash-line, the kardashians are gifted with a natural cat-eye shaped eye, and long thick lashes that naturally curl upwards, so as you can imagine most mascaras would suit theyre face-shape! 



Despite all of that i can happily say I've tried and tested, am and ready to step on the mascara band-wagon again in search for something new. I've heard amazing things about 'Clinique's High Impact' mascara, so that will probably be my next purchase!

Monday, 28 April 2014

Vogue Festival 2014 | Haul

Welcome back to the third and final Vogue Festival edit, this ones the haul and an insight to the goody-bag i was gifted. Enjoy!

 

In the gift bag there was a very generous £50 voucher to spend at Harrods, unfortunately you'd need to spend £250 to access it! It's still a nice touch and expires in a few months so maybe i can get some use out of it nearer to my birthday.. i'm a shop-aholic yes but don't go that crazy on a spree!


I brought a one year subscription to Vogue as it was on special offer for only £20! I saved almost £100 and am so excited to get next months issue through my door! This bundle comes with Vogue issues on your iPad/iPhone for on-the-go, and also came with a gold Vogue tote.. unfortunately the counter had sold out of totes when i got there.


A complimentary Bobbie Brown makeover was included in the Harrods goody-bag, some Polaroid pictures that were taken on the day, and a miniature photo of me on the runway!


A free Harrods magazine and Vogue issue (of course!).


And lastly the Harrods goody-bag shopper tote, i'd get alot of use out of this when running errands.. it can even be folded up to a compact size for taking in your bag as an emergency backup!



That was my Vogue Festival haul, i was so impressed with the goody-bag and the little keepsake pictures we were given on the day.. the event was unforgettable and i look forward to next years!

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Vogue Festival 2014 | Vlog

Welcome back to the second edit of my Vogue Festival trilogy! This ones a collection of snaps i took on the day, and an insight to what i encountered.. Enjoy!

My lunch before the event - Chicken Ceasar Salad from Giraffe (Yum!)
The entrance
Yes.. that's Karlie Kloss! The Victoria's Secret angel, She walked straight past us in a white cloak which covered her outfit.
And again..!
Karlie came back outside and shot a live photo-shoot on one of the Southbank walls.. speechless at how close i was to her! She's soo pretty and tall!
Vogue Cafe! I got a slice of chocolate cake from here (Yum!) not caring about my diet..
The fashion lecture i booked called "How To Get Into Fashion"
The hair-booth area - offering free hair-styles inspired by the statement-doo's above.


The event was really fun and there were so many different activities, some i didn't even get a chance to do! (that will be my aim next year). The atmosphere was so fashionable and i'm looking forward to next years Vogue Festival. I would sum the experience up as a 'Fashion Amusement Park' - something around every corner and an exciting atmosphere.

Stay tuned for my final Vogue Festival edit where i show you what i brought, and what was in the goody bags!

Monday, 14 April 2014

Vogue Festival 2014 | Get Ready With Me

I was lucky enough to go to the Vogue Festival this year, it's a fashion event that includes lectures from some of the world most famous fashion designers, editors and fashionistas, as-well-as fashion activities throughout the day.. and makeovers! Vogue Festivals been running for approximately 3 years so far, it's on over two days and is based in London, Southbank.

I had so much fun there and took lots of pictures so thought i would share the event with those who maybe wanted to go but couldn't. This first edit will be a 'Get Ready With Me', the makeup i wore and the outfit i chose; the next edit will be a sort of 'vlog' in pictures of the day.. and the final edit will be a Vogue Festival HAUL, the goodies and freebies i was gifted as well as the memorabilia and merchandise i brought!

I knew that the day would be filled with makeovers and all sorts, so i wanted to keep my makeup minimal - i pre-tanned my face and neck the night before with Collistar's Magic Drops, and that meant i only had to pop the basics on the next morning (as the tan gave me a nice healthy glow).

I snapped some pictures of the makeup on my dresser but the photos didn't save properly onto my phone, so I've listed the items down below:

Face: 
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 5.5 (1 pump)
Benefit 'Bounce' Concealer in Light-Medium
Chanel Bronze Universal

Eyes and Brows:
Lancome 'Star' Mascara
Mac 'Ebony' Eyeliner (in outer corners)
Chanel Bronze Universal (taken through the crease slightly)
Mac Eyebrow Gel

Lips:
Mac Lip Pencil in 'Deep Red'
Mac Lipstick in 'Spice It Up!'


For my outfit i was inspired by one of Kendall Jenner's day-time looks (as per usual!), an outfit she wore whilst walking around New York City in January of this year.

One of the activities at the festival included a catwalk, members of the festival were invited to walk down the runway in a 'Street Style' themed outfit. When i saw Kendall's outfit i instantly knew i wanted to re-create it.. i added my own twist to it too by adding a grey hat.




Iv'e made a little montage of all of the pieces Kendall wore, i can't seem to find her jacket online but its pretty much a chunky black waterfall coat - All Saints do lots of these so i'm assuming it's from there.
I've made a montage of my outfit pieces too for price comparison and dupes of the outfit.


Kendall's Outfit:
Givenchy Lucrezia Bag - £1,225 - Buy HERE
Celine Fall 2013 Boots - Price and Shoe Unavailable Online
Topshop Boxy Fur Gilet in Mink - £65 - Buy HERE
Hudson Charlotte Moto Skinny - £79.77 - Buy HERE
Dita Condor Aviator Sunglasses - £234.03 - Buy HERE
Rag & Bone The Basic Waffle Henley - £65.53 - Buy HERE
Joe's Jeans Dress Denim Jacket - £134.95 - Buy HERE
Kendall's outfit ties into a whopping £1,804.28, and that's NOT including her black under-layer waterfall coat, OR Celine boots.. WOW! My debit card would have multiple holes in it if i was her.. Lets take a look at my recreation.


My Outfit:

Topshop Boxy Fur Gilet in Mink - £65 - Buy HERE
Topshop Asymmetric Brim Fedora Hat in Grey - £25 - Buy HERE
Topshop Crop Cami in Black - £6 - Buy HERE
ASOS Longline Waterfall Cardigan - £35 - Buy HERE
ASOS Rivington High Waist Denim Jeggings in Clean Black - £25 - Buy HERE
ASOS EMPOWER Leather Boots - £65 - Buy HERE

My outfit ties into £221 - this doesn't inlclude the 10% discount i got on ASOS, the 25% i got off topshop and the top i already owned - you can do the math! But i personally think this is a cheaper alternative with a twist (hat rather than sunnies). What do you think?

Subscribe for my next Vogue Festival Edit!


Monday, 7 April 2014

SmashBox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I never wear primer under my makeup, just because it's not something my skin-type necessarily needs.. but i do find that depending on the weather my makeup can either blow off from the wind, or almost melt on a really hot day! I wanted to try a primer that had lots of good reviews and one that was quite popular already (award-winning infact!) - so i opted for SmashBox Foundation Primer in Photo Finish.



SmashBox have a huge selection of primers, from dark spot correcting to anti-shine to colour correcting - the list is endless! Photo Finish had the most-hype from what i researched, i just wanted something simple that did the basic job, so went for that.


The consistency is something of a smooth, non-sticky gel; it's can feel slippery when applying but it set's smooth and does feel quite soft.  Whenever i apply it i always use my fingers, i find that if i use a brush the product can get lost in the brush-hairs, as it's so light and translucent.

Half a pump

Blended in

I purchased the small tube for £12 because i didn't want to use it on a daily basis, only for extreme weather conditions where my makeup would need to stay put.. or nights out where i wouldn't want my makeup to disappear from the humidity. I've used it twice so far and it's defiantly a good primer, it does make my makeup last that bit longer and doesn't feel like another layer of makeup at all, it's very light and sinks right into my skin.
Lastly I've found that this primer covered my pores around my nose and under my eyes, as well as turn my whole face into a smooth canvas ready for the makeup! The overall look is seamless and well-prepped, by the full size HERE for £25.


Monday, 31 March 2014

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

I've never been one to wear a full-face of foundation, i don't get on with how it feels on my skin and always feel caked, hot and bothered the past times I've attempted foundation. My skin's fairy normal but i do get areas of oiliness (my eyelids, and t-zone on a hot day) and redness (around my nose depending on the weather); so i think my problem is that my skin-tone isn't even all-over my face. This is normal for everyone as the sun especially tans the high-point of your face making everything a little blotchy, i find that my cheeks, chin and neck are the palest areas of my face (this makes sense as their not as exposed to the sun compared to the high points).

SO.. to get to the point i was on the hunt for a light-medium foundation, to even out my skin-tone and provide coverage for days where my skin doesn't look it's best. I wanted a foundation that was easily to blend (not cakey), and glowy (as i don't like to look matte everywhere, or too dewy - just in between!). I'm OBSESSED with Kendall Jenners' fashion, makeup and general lifestyle, and i know she uses Giorgio Armani Lumious Silk, so had to give it a go..!


I was matched 5.5 by the lady at the Armani Counter (Selfridges), this is the colour Kendall uses too (score!).. when i went home and tested it over my whole face it was a great  match, at the time my skin was more tanned and had a bit more colour in it. However, now that the weathers changed I've found that the foundations too dark. (If you read my last post you'll know what i did to fix this problem.. Go check it out if you haven't already - here). But apart from that the colour match is a great summer one, there's a huge colour range to swatch so this foundations fitted for most skin-tones.

Like the name, this foundation really is luminous! It's almost like someone's mixed it with Mac Strobecream, i really like the finish it gives and the overall effect is nothing more that a luminous glow (no shimmer). I always set my 'oily/redness' areas with Mac's translucent setting powder - i think it works perfectly with the foundation. 

1/2 a pump 

Blended out

This is the first Armani makeup product iv'e tried and it's lovely so far, it combats my oiliness and redness and deserves a spot in both day and night makeup picks. It's defiantly pricey (£35.50), but the luxurious finish it gives says it all. The packaging isn't my favourite for travelling but feels luxury for home-use (i'm also so thankful there's a pump, it's defiantly needed on every foundation out there!).

Buy Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation HERE

Monday, 24 March 2014

A New Favourite | Chanel Le Blanc

My current foundation is a few shades too dark for my complexion, I didn't want to fork out the cash and purchase a whole new foundation for my winter/spring skin, as it's a Giorgio Armani one (and as you could imagine quite expensive!).. So after searching online and in stores I discovered Chanel's 'Le Blanc'.

From the 'Le Blanc' range, it's a multiple-use product mainly used as a primer. It's a very 'white' brightening formula which I find is great for tackling any redness or darkness on my skin. It can also be used to mix in with your foundation to brighten it (which is why I've invested in it), or as a subtle highlighter over makeup.

I love it so far, it comes with a handy spatula which you dip in the wide mouthed bottle, and just enough product is picked up on the spatula for my entire face. I mix that with a pump of my foundation and voila! It's lighter and more brightening.. Saves me buying a summer and winter foundation (Tip: the more 'Le Blanc' you add the lighter the foundation becomes).


This was a pricey investment at £31, but it is Chanel after all and the formula has a really nice consistency to it as well as Chanel's signature rosy smell (not overpowering at all). 
I wear my foundation when I feel I need it, but on the days when it's more sunny or I'm just popping out somewhere.. or I just want my skin to breathe, I pop 'Le Blanc' on and I'm out the door.
'Le Blanc' Blended In

One last thing, I noticed this product has NO shimmer or glitter specs in it, I was amazed at how it gives such a luminous glossy glow, it literally looks like a healthy sheen on the face, no shimmer what.so.ever - perfect for me! It comes in an SPF form too which is perfect for those who want protection from the sun.


Next time you pass by the Chanel counter defiantly give 'Le Blanc' a swatch. If you feel bad about making a hole in your credit-card lets not forget about the classic Chanel bag the makeup comes in ;) *Eeek!* (mines hanging on my door!).

Buy Chanel Le Blanc HERE