In & Out No4

Hey

I haven't blogged for a while because I'm avoiding buying any more make up for the time being and forging ahead with using what I already own. Thanks to my make up addiction my wardrobe was feeling neglected, so I have recently turned my attention to clothes, shoes and accessories.

Anyway here are my belated ins and outs for the month of November...

In

Christmas holidays - two hard earned weeks off work woohoo :)

New make up storage system - I have outgrown my Sephora traincase, so I bought some plastic draws. It is now a lot easier to find what I'm looking for.

Pixie Lott - I love her look and am channeling red nails, charcoal lined eyes and contoured cheeks daily.

Black jeans from H&M - I've bought three different pairs.

www.theblondesalad.com - This girl has style. I love her blog and dream of having studded Converse like hers.


Out

The cold weather - it is making my skin so dry.

Lining my eyes on top - these days I just line my tightline, waterline and underneath.

Renewing my passport - I can't go to France over Christmas :(

Bisous -x-

Mon sac nouveau

£32 from Topshop

Patience is a virtue

Happy happy happy! Today I reached enough Boots advantage cards points to finally get this...

The next product I'm saving up my points for is YSL macara singulier.

Bon weekend & bisous -x-

NYX in the UK

NYX now have a European website: http://www.nyxcosmeticseurope.com/glitter.htm you can't buy online just yet, but you can get an idea of the prices in Pounds and Euros. I can't wait to buy India Black Label Lipstick!

PS: Harrods is rumoured to stock NYX too.

Bon weekend & bisous -x-

If I could only buy one...

A great tag by Lipstick Rules, if you could only buy one product for the whole year...

-high end lipstick... YSL Rouge Volupte in No7 Lingerie Pink. I discovered this lipstick this year thanks to Lorraine @ The Current Custom and I am on my 6th tube.

- eyeshadow... I'm not really an eyeshadow person, I only wear it when I go out at night. I tend to stick to dark colours for a smokey eye so I'll say Mac Gilt By Association.

- lipgloss... Nars Striptease. Love the colour, hate the formula.

- mascara... L'oreal Telescopic in Carbon Black.

- lipstick... Mac Saint Germain. Love the way this brightens up my face.

- high end blush... Benefit Coralista. This is an all year round blush, no need to switch it up when the seasons change.

- eyeliner... Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in 1L star Black.

What would you buy?

Bisous -x-

Victorias Secret to open in the UK!

So I read in the newspaper today that Victorias Secret is joining the ranks of US stores to finally see sense and open up in the UK. Payback for Topshop in New York.

The people over at VS are searching for the perfect flagship location, possibly in Regent Street. Rumour has it, Forever 21 is also looking to open a flagship there too.

I guess the prices will be a straight dollar to pound conversion, but I can live with that.

Bon weekend!

Bisous -x-

J'adore Gaga!

I bought this supercute Lady Gaga'esque clip-in hair bow from Claires Accessories for £5. The colour match is perfect for my hair. It is also available in brunette and black. They also have them stuck on to headbands, but the clip-in one is more realistic.

Photo is at a friend's wedding. My dress is from Asos.com, my Bambi necklace is from Disney Couture and the bouquet is the bride's :)

Bisous -x-

In & Out No3

Ok girls, it is that time of the month again. Right before payday :)

In

Bioderma Node S Concentrated Restruturing Mask for dry, damaged hair - Wow! What can I say about this product. It conditons my hair and leaves it shiny and tangle-free. And to my surprise it volumizes too. My hair hasn't been in such a good condition for a long time.

Le Petit Marseillais Zeste Fraicheur - This 3 Euro spray keeps my hair fresh in between washes. It has the scent of sweet almonds.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Moisturising Fluid - I rediscovered this gem as part of my "using up random half used products project." It is the perfect base under my Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser in the winter months. Watch out for a separate post about all of the random products that I am trying to use up.

Make Up Forever HD Elixir - Love love love (see my review post).

Make Up Forever Glossy Full Couleur No7 - My love of this product is making me want to use up all of my Nars lipglosses so I can replace them with MUFE Glossy Fulls!

Yves Rocher Creamy Kohl - Think MAC Feline (but longer lasting) in Pure Cosmetics Kohl packaging.

MAC Sculpt & Shape Powder in Accentuate/Sculpt - I have started using this almost daily and I love it. It only takes a minute to contour my face with my #109 brush.

MAC Cream Colour Base in Black - I swipe this over my eyelids for a smudgey, slept in eye look and rim with eyeliner. Makes for a fast and simple going out look.

Out

Bioderma Restructuring Cream Shampoo for very dry and damaged hair - Love the mask, hate the shampoo. I find it very hard to get a lot of lather and it smells of hair dye.

Toting around a huge make up bag with 1000 lipsticks - I have downsized to my cute Paper Planes one which contains just the essentuals (i.e tinted moisturiser, blot powder, a couple of eyeliners and lip products).

The fr-freezing(!) cold weather here in London - Makes me want to not get out of bed in the mornings :(

Bisous -x-

Haulin' in Lyon part two & Bioderma review

You might recall over the summer I changed my skincare regime from Clarins to Bioderma. After three months of using the products I think now is the right time to review them.

It all started with Crealine H20 which is a non-rinse micellaire make up remover. I can't believe when I lived in Paris I used to walk past this on the shelf and use some random make up remover wipes (basically whatever was on special offer!)

Crealine H20 is soap and perfume free, it is also PH neutral. It removes all of my make up easily and leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh without being stripped.

I was so impressed I decided try more products from Bioderma. I replaced my Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Bioderma Crealine DS Purifying Cleanser and I replaced my Clarins Hydraquench Cooling Cream Gel with Bioderma Crealine DS Cream Dermo-Brevete. Both of these products are designed to specifically target dry skin on the sides of the nose, on the cheeks and on the chin. Like the Crealine H20, the cleanser is soap and perfume free and PH neutral. It also has the same feeling of leaving my skin feeling clean without being stripped. The cream has a very light formula (it almost turns into the consistancy of the Crealine H2O) but is surprisingly very moisturising. I use it as both a day and night cream.

Whilst picking up backups of these products in Lyon, I also bought Bioderma Restructuring Cream Shampoo for dry & damaged hair and Concentrated Restructuring Mask for very dry & damaged hair. I will do a review of these products very soon.

The lady in the pharmacy very kindly gave me a bunch of samples, including a face mask which I can't wait to try out.

If you do not live in France and would lke to try out Bioderma products, don't worry you can order from http://www.leguidesante.co.uk/ I had no problems ordering from this website in August and they have some kind of points system too.

Bioderma products are split into three categories:
Red is for sensitive-dry skin
Blue is for very dry skin
Green is for oily skin

Part three of my Lyon haul is coming up soon.

Bisous -x-

Obsession du jour: Studs

I've bought a lot of studded items throughout the year. Shoes, jeans, shorts, tops and now bags...

The larger bag is £38 from Topshop and the clutch is £20 from Urban Outfitters.

Since I went to Paris in August I am dreaming of a studded bag from Lancel. I would describe Lancel as the French version of Mulberry. I do hope the Pound/Euro exchange rate returns to normal soon so I can buy it. It is around 800 Euros, so it is more or less £800.

Whilst in Printemps (a major department store) in Lyon, I saw a cute leopard print pochette from Sonia Rykiel. I was trying to be really good and not spend all of my money on day one, so I waited until the last day to go back and buy it... but it had sold out :( My husband is going to Paris next weekend so I've asked him to check if it is in stock at the Printemps there. I hope he returns to London with the correct one.

Bisous -x-

Haulin' in Lyon Part 1 (Sephora) & Make Up Forever product raves

This is what I picked up from Sephora in the second city of France...


(From L-R)

Make Up Forever HD Elixir - this is something I've been wanting to try since its release in the States. It has only just been released in France, which is strange because Make Up Forever is a French company. I would say it is the French equivalent of MAC. It is described as an "innovative serum that instantly hydrates and adds radiance to the skin. The breakthrough formula was specifically created to smooth and prepare the skin for high definition make up." It goes on to say that "D-Panthenol and Glycerin ensure HD Elixir provides and immediate boost of hydration (+520% after 15 minutes) that lasts throughout the day (+175% after 6 hours)."

No matter how much I moisturise, I have really dry skin on the sides of my nose (gross!) so I have to use a serum post-moisturiser, pre tinted moisturiser. I have been using this every day since I purchased it and I can say that it definitely keeps my skin hydrated all day long. It is a lightweight formula that only takes about a minute to absorb. You only get 12ml or 0.40fl.oz for 29 Euros but there is a dropper in the lid so none of the product should get wasted.

Make Up Forever Brush Cleanser - I bought this randomly. I haven't tried it out yet.

Make Up Forever Glossy Full Couleur in #7 Pale Pink - Another product I picked up randomly but I am so glad that I did. This is the most moisturising, non-sticky, non-plastic tasting gloss I have ever tried. Forget about Nars Turkish Delight and try this instead. I have crossed Dolce & Gabbana's Candy off my wishlist and replaced it with MUFE #8 Peach & #10 Pinky Peach.

Sephora Retractable Powder Brush - I just got this to throw in my bag to use with my MAC Blot Powder.

Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in #1L Star Black - I repurchased this as I have nearly used up the one I got in Paris in August. This is my go to eyeliner of the moment, it is quick and easy to apply and lasts all day.

Back to my love of Make Up Forever. Out of all of the products I have tried from this brand (around 10) I have not been disapointed. If you have any MUFE product recommendations please let me know. Apart from the lipglosses, I am interested in purchasing the HD kabuki brush, the double-ended sculpting brush and Aquablack Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow.

Part 2 of my haul is from the Pharmacy, Monoprix beauty section and Yves Rocher.

Bisous -x-

Sephora to make a comeback in the UK...? :)

So word is that Sephora and Marks & Spencer are in talks about operating Sephora within their stores. Mmm if it goes ahead it certainly would be a breakthrough, but something in Oxford Street or Regent Street on the scale of the flagship Champs Elysees store is what I'm praying for. You can join the Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4356233675

Demand for Sephora in the UK would be huge because the shopping experience there is unique compared to Boots and even Space NK and the beauty halls of major department stores.

I'm lucky enough to visit my family in France every few months so I can hit Sephora for my fix then. But the thought of Sephora in the UK makes me wonder how minimal my French hauls would be :)

Bisous -x-

Elle UK

I get a lot of inspiration from Elle UK magazine's online beauty gallery. It features photos of catwalk and celebrity make up looks and hairstyles. Check it out at: http://www.elleuk.com/beauty

Bisous -x-

Shopping in London...

LONDON is my hometown and although I sometimes get jaded, it has the best shopping in the world in terms of HIGH STREET.

Probably 50% of my wardrobe is TOPSHOP. I wouldn't say there is a method to shopping there, I just randomly come across cool items that fit in with the rest of my wardrobe - most recently BRETON TOPS and a STUDDED SWEATSHIRT tres Gagaesque! I love TOPSHOP SHOES! You can find CLASSIC SHOES with a MODERN TAKE or STATEMENT SHOES. I occasionally also find some cool ACCESSORIES - BAGS, STATEMENT JEWELLERY and TIGHTS.

My second main shop is URBAN OUTFITTERS. Again my finds there are all very random - most recently STUDDED and LEOPARD PRINT BALLET PUMPS and JEWELLERY. I have got my eye on a SARA BERMAN PRINCESS COAT there. Bring on the sales!

I hit ALL SAINTS for DECONSTRUCTED KNITWEAR, ZIPPED ANKLE JEANS, BLAZERS and ACCESSORIES. I love DIESEL for JEANS. I hit AMERICAN APPAREL for T-SHIRTS and BASICS. And I make some occasional random finds in ZARA, H&M RIVER ISLAND and ASOS.COM

I like RUSSELL & BROMLEY, OFFICE and FRENCH SOLE for SHOES.

For HIGH END I hit SELFRIDGES and CONTEMPORARY I hit HARVEY NICHOLS.

For BEAUTY I go to BOOTS because I can get POINTS on my ADVANTAGE CARD for FREEBIES. If I can't find a certain product in BOOTS then I go to SUPERDRUG. SELFRIDGES has the best BEAUTY HALL ever and I love SPACE NK too.

Where do you shop in your hometown or places that you travel to?
SHOPPING IN PARIS coming up shortly. Bisous -x-

Review: Mac DSquared Sculpt & Shape Powders

I personally prefer the Accentuate/Sculpt duo pictured below. But I think I will get the most use out of the highlighter side of both of the duos, although it wasn't really necessary for me to purchase both. I think this product is perfect if you don't want to contour with a bronzer. It is winter now in Europe and I personally don't like to use too much bronzer in the winter.

Accentuate/Sculpt

(Pale peach/pink shimmer highlighter and cool matte brown contour powder)

Bone Beige/Emphasise

(Pale cream light shimmer highlighter and reddish brown contouring powder)

Mac Style Black & DSquared haul

Hey

I haven't been so excited about a Mac collection since Hello Kitty in March, but my wallet is feeling the pain. These collections are great for someone like me who likes to keep my look smokey and simple.

I bought a lot more than I thought I would from Style Black...


From L-R: Cream Color Base in Black, Gilt by Association eyeshadow, Young Punk eyeshadow & Greasepaint Stick.

So far I have tried out everything, except for Young Punk because I didn't take it to France with me. I love using the Cream Color Base and Greasepaint Stick as a base under Gilt by Association (or any other eyeshadow) or by themselves for a smudgy, smokey effect. Think morning after eyes.

Moving on to DSquared...

From L-R: Lip Erase, Sculpt & Shape Powder in Bone Beige/Emphasize, Sculpt & Shape Powder in Accentuate/Sculpt & 2 Feline Khol Powers.

I have always wanted to get my hands on Lip Erase. At the moment I am exprimenting with it. I haven't had the chance to use the Sculpt & Shape Powders yet. Feline Khol Power is one of my all-time favourite Mac products. I don't understand why Mac doesn't include them in their permanent line. But I read on Temptalia that they will be coming out again in a collection in December/January.

Bisous -x-

Salut from Lyon!

Salut!

Just to let you know that I have three hauls coming up... Style Black, DSquared and Sephora/French pharmacy.

I am enjoying Lyon very much, the weather is sunny, the food is good, the bars are just under the apartment and the shops are just around the corner... and the best thing...

This little cutie is Bassam. She is a two year old French Bulldog. She likes: homeless people, carrots, jumping from sofa to sofa, swimming in the bath & beating up her brother Berlioz. She hates: being ignored, pedicures & when Berlioz is mean to her.

Here is a photo of Bassam & Berlioz together with their portrait...

I am tempted to leave all my hauls in France to make space in my suitcase for these cuties :)

Bisous -x-

Update & In & Out No3

Sorry I haven't bee able to update my blog, I have been studying for a test last Friday. I am back to France on Saturday for two weeks. This time I will be staying in Lyon. Apart from stocking up on the usual goodies over there, the only other product I am interested in purchasing is Make Up Forever HD Elixir. Its basically a serum that is supposed to keep dry skin hydrated.

I'm waiting in anticipation for Mac Style Black & DSquared to launch in the UK. There is a lot I want from those collections so its going to hit my wallet hard :)

Here are the goods and bads of September...

In

I'm still hitting pans and using up all of the random hair and skincare products around my flat.

Reaching over £28 worth of points on my Boots advantage card - Chanel Eye Gloss is almost mine, for free! :)

A new haircut - my hair really damaged from going from brunette to blonde. So I'm following the beauty blogger mantra: "You've got to cut it to grow it."

Going on holiday of course :)

Out

Soap & Glory Hair Supply - this totally dried out my hair.

L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof mascara - this did't have the same effect as the regular one.

Bisous -x-

Favourite drugstore products

Back in high school and college the majority of my make up came from the drugstore. Then once I started work I started buying high end brands and didn't really pay much attention to drugstore brands.

But over the last few years I have rediscovered the drugstore and found some hidden gems. Here are my favourites...

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in #002 Hazel - I have been using this for years. Its cheap (around £2) and does the job. I don't see the point in buying high end brand eyebrow pencils.

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara - I love love love the lengthening effect this has on my lashes. Its 1000 times better than Diorshow Unlimited.

L'Oreal Kohl Minerals Eyeliner - I put this on top of pencil lined eyes to soften them.

Gosh Eyeshadow Base - Does the same job as Urban Decay's or Too Faced's one, but cheaper. My eyeshadow lasts all night without fail.

Bourjois Liner Feutre - I have tried many high end brand felt tip eyeliners and haven't been impressed with any of them. This one is easy to apply and lasts all day. It costs around £6.

Pure Cosmetics Artists Cube Eyeshadow in Night - This eyeshadow is so much more flattering and easier to use than Mac Carbon. Although Pure Cosmetics is sold in Boots, their products are about the same price as Mac products, but they are worth it.

Pure Cosmetics Kajal Eyeliner - I love this on my waterline. Its a good dupe for Guerlain Terracotta Kohl Kajal which was limited edition.

Barry M - I love Barry M's nail polishes, lip paints and bronzer brush. I use the latter everyday which only cost £5!

Bisous -x-

Babyliss Pro 200 Nano mini straighteners

I'm a frequent traveller and I dream of travelling light. I'm off to France again next month and my GHDs aren't joining in on the holiday fun because I bought these at Superdrug today for £15. They are also available at John Lewis. I can't believe I nearly forked out 50 Euros for some Sephora brand ones in Paris!

They feature a 200 degree temperature and come in four colours - green just happened to be the only colour on the shelf. I've tried them out and obviously being so small they take a bit longer to straighten my (long) hair but I'm happy with the end result. They are excellent at creating loose waves and styling my fringe. You just have to be very careful and keep your fingers on the finger rests so you don't get burnt.

All I need now is a mini heat mat - does anybody know where I can get one from?

Bisous -x-

PS: I plan to do some posts in the near future about what make up I take when I travel and make up for a long distance flight.

New shoes

£35 from Office... tres Chanelesque!

In & Out No2

In

Bioderma Crealine H2O - I have been using this as a make up remover for a couple of weeks and I have noticed an improvement in my skin (less dry and more clear). And no more panda eyes as it removes waterproof mascara in one swipe.

Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in 1L shiney Black - This is quick to apply and lasts all day and the colour is less harsh than matte black.

Models Own nail polish in Pink Punch - This neon pink has been my go to nail polish all month.

Mac lipstick in Saint Germain - I seem to be wearing this everyday. My new YSL #19 Frivolous Pink hasn't been touched yet.

St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan Mousse - I've finally found an easy to apply, non-sticky and nice scented fake tan. Will definitely re-purchase.

Thinking before buying and using up the products that I already own. I've hit the pan on my Benefit Hoola Bronzer and Givenchy eyebrow palette and I'm currently trying to use up all the random haircare and bodycare products I own before I purchase more.

Out

Clarins skincare products - I am gradually replacing each product with Bioderma or L'Occitane products. Clarins products are great, but expensive :(

Centre hair parting - I have been trying out a side parting all week in an attempt of getting more volume.

Autumn - I wish it could stay summer for a little while longer. I'm not really to wear a coat and boots just yet.

Bisous -x-

Fall wishlist...

I'm trying to cut back on the amount of make up that I buy over the next couple of months. I think I did really well in Paris - I only went into Sephora twice.

These are the products I am interested in purchasing during the fall...

Chanel Eye Gloss - I swatched this when I was in Paris and it was love at first sight. At £38.50 in the UK, its expensive. I'm trying to save up my Boots advantage card points for this baby. At the moment I'm on £10 worth of points and as I'm trying to cut down on my monthly Boots spend by using up all the half full random shampoos, conditioners, self tanning creams etc laying around my fla t so it might take me longer than usual to reach the amount of points needed to make this purchase. It is limited edition so I might just give in and purchase it at the airport when I go on holiday next month.

Dolce & Gabbana lipgloss in Candy - Back in the spring I was mesmorised by Scarlett Johansson's lips in the advertising billboards. I thought the colour was so perfect her lips must have been digitally enhanced. When I eventually made it to the D&G counter at Selfridges I asked the MUA about Scarlett's lips, she laughed and told me that she gets asked that question 1000 times a day. Her lips weren't enhanced, Candy was used but its sold out until 1st September.

There are two products I'm interested in getting from the MAC Style Black collection. The greasepaint stick in black and the #214 short shader brush. The MAC collection I'm really holding out for is D Squared 2. I want to get the lip erase, gloss texture, both of the sculpt and shape powders and about 10 feline khol powers :)

Apart from those products, there are a couple of MAC face brushes I want to get to complete my collection and I want to buy a shimmery navy and dark grey eyeshadow for a non-black smoky look - any suggestions?

Today was payday so I purchased some Bioderma products from http://www.leguidesante.co.uk/ I will do a review of them at some point.

Have a good bank holiday weekend.

Bisous -x-

What I'm using right now...

Shampoo: John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonde lightening shampoo. I have been using this religiously since it came out. My hair looks brighter. I also use Phyto Colour Enhancing shampoo once a week.

Conditioner: Le Petit Marseilais shea butter and honey mask. I stocked up on this in Paris to improve the strength of my hair.

Styling products: L'oreal Elnett extra strength hairspray, Aveda Pure Abundance volumising hair spray and Batiste boho dry shampoo.

Shower gel: I think the brand is called Mad Cow and its called Vanilla Biscuit. Smells delicious!

Body moisturiser: I don't really wear it on a daily basis, only when my skin is dry. I use a Clairns generous sample size.

Deodorant: Mitchum 48hr unperfumed. I have been using this for years.

Fake tan: I recently bought St Tropez Everyday Mousse which I apply with a tanning glove. It is really easy and even to apply and doesn't smell awful or feel sticky.

Skincare products: Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with cottonseed, L'Occitane Exfoliating Rice Powder, Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum, Clarins Hydraquench Cooling Cream-Gel for hot climates and Bioderma Crealine H2O.

Primer: I don't use a face primer, I only use a primer on my eyes when I wear eyeshadow. The primer depends on which eyeshadow I use.

Foundation: I don't normally wear foundation. At the moment I am using Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser in Porcelain. Without a doubt I will try a different brand when this one runs out. The hunt for a great tinted moisturiser continues...

Concealer: Make Up Forever 5 colour palette.

Powder: Make Up Forever HD Powder.

Blusher: Benefit Coralista and Nars Orgasm.

Bronzer: Benefit Hoola.

Highlighter: Mac cream colour base in Pearl or Luna.

Eyeshadows: I'm not really an eyeshadow person, I only wear them when I'm going out for the night or for an event like a wedding. I love smoky eyes. The two eyeshadows I use the most are Nars Night Porter and a Pure Cosmetics color cube in a shiney black colour (I don't know the name).

Eyeliner: At the moment I have been using my new Make Up Forever Aqualiners for my eyelids and either Guerlain Eye Khol in Ivory or Pure Cosmetics black kajal for my waterline.

Mascara: I'm using Make Up Forever Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara which I bought recently. But when it runs out I will return to my old favourite Diorshow waterproof Mascara.

Lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte in No7 and No8 and Mac Saint Germain.

Lipgloss: Nars Striptease and Turkish Delight.

Nail polish: I have been using these over the summer - Models Own in Pink Punch (its a neon pink), Barry M Baby Pink (its a light pink cream), Barry M Bright Pink (think YSL Rouge Volupte No8 in a nail polish) and Mavala Liberty (a cream nude).

Please feel free to join in this tag if you like.

Bisous -x-

Whats in my bag...

I thought this would be a fun post to do. I love watching these videos on Youtube. This is whats in my bag, here goes...

(From top L-R)

Blister stick (believe it or not, I mainly get blisters when I wear flats!)

Clarins hand cream (I got this for free)

Clarins Eau Ressourcante (I got this free in Debenhams)

Clairns Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase (too keep my skin hydrated)

Avene thermal water spray (too keep cool and refreshed in the summer)

Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector (I use this as a highlight or mix it with my tinted moisturiser)

Hello Kitty make up bag (I have already done a separate post on the contents of this)

Hello Kitty coin purse (I use this to keep my Euros inside)

Stila lip wallet containing two Stila lipglazes in Grapefruit (pink) and Apricot (peach) and two Stila lipglaze liners in similar colours.

Hello Kitty diary (to keep organised for work)

Notebook (I write a lot of wishlists here lol)

Manoush wallet (Manoush is one of my favourite designers)

By Terry Baume de Rose lip treatment (I love this)

Hello Kitty case (I sometimes keep my I-Pod in here)

Givenchy perfume samples (I often keep random perfume samples inside my bag instead of carrying a heavy bottle of perfume around).

Hello Kitty diamante stickers

My keys

Hello Kitty lanyard

Victoria Couture I-Pod cover

Mobile phone

Hello Kitty earphones (I got these in Vegas)

I-Pod inside Hello Kitty cover

Paris haul

Salut!

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while. My internet got cut off before I went to Paris.

I had a great trip, the weather was hot so I got a great tan. I spent two days at Disneyland and the rest of the time shopping and visiting friends. Here is my modest haul...

In Sephora I just picked up some Make Up Forever stuff - the five colour camouflage concealer palette (love), aqua smoky lash mascara (I'm not sure about the wand) and two aqua eyes eyeliners in black and shiney black (love). I also picked up a Sephora non rinse brush cleaner (not pictured).

In Parashop I picked up Bioderma Crealine H2O and the wipes. I highly recommend these as after a week of using them my skin has noticeably improved. Clarins better watch out - I might just switch all my skincare over to Bioderma.

In Douglas I picked up a cute Hello Kitty sponge and a mini Mavala nail polish in Liberty - its a cream nude colour j'adore ca!

Apart from make up, I bought two breton tops from Saint James and a pair of leather look ballet leggings from Promod which is the French equivalent of Forever 21.

If you plan to visit Paris, I recommend Rue de Rennes and Rue du Four in the 14th arrondissement for shopping. The closest metro station is Rennes or Montparnasse Bienvenue. There are many Sephora stores all over the city but the one on Champs Elysees is the biggest and has the best selection of products - it even stocks MAC. French skincare brands are very good and can be found in any pharmacy, but the Parashop chain is really good.

Bisous -x-

Top 6 eyeliners

L-R in no particular order (I love them all!)

Guerlain Khol Me in Ivory - this super long and longlasting pencil makes my eyes look brighter when I apply it to my waterline and the inner corners. Fleshtone is so much more flattering than white.

Bourjois Liner Feutre in black - I have been using this to achieve my feline flicks for years. It lasts all day compared to the other felt tip eyeliners I've tried over the years. Its around £6 so its friendly on my purse too.

Shu Uemura Eye Light - I admit I haven't been using the matte end of this pencil so much since I purchased the Guerlain Khol Me, but I love to use the frosted side on the inner corners and also as a brow highlight. Its good to have both sides with different finishes.

Stila Kajal in Onyx - I know alot of people have said this product doesn't work for them, but it works for me. I use this on my waterline only for a dark-eyed look. My only complaint is this pencil is very short.

Guerlain Terracotta Eye Khol in black - why oh why is this limited edition!? I use this for my waterline too.

Mac Fluidline in blacktrack - I've had this for a year now and I'm nowhere near finished the container. After a night out I've gone to bed without removing it - not recommended but my friends were amazed that it remained perfect. I use this when I go clubbing or on holiday in a hot climate or just when I know that I'm going to have a long day.

Bisous -x-

In & Out No1

In

Paris - I am going to France next Sunday for two weeks. One week will be spent in my second hometown Paris. I can't wait to make like Amelie and wander around, spend hours in Sephora on Champs Elysees and eat proper food!

Guerlain Khol Me in Ivory - I have been reaching for this every day. It makes my eyes pop without being obvious and is long lasting both on the eyes and the amount of product. Come payday this Friday I will purchase the black one.

Chanel 2.55esque quilted frame glasses - If I can't have the handbag, why not have the glasses! And I used a 20% off voucher for D&A in the latest edition of Cosmo.

Message in a bottle necklace from Urban Outfitters - Its so cute and unique. I'm always looking for that in jewelry.

Benefit Get Bent angled eyeliner brush - Like I said in my orignal post: How did I ever live without this!? I get perfect feline flicks in one swipe. And the price was great too.

Out

London - Rain, hard work, same shops on every street... blerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stila tinted moisturiser - This seems to be breaking me out. I regret purchasing a back up in panic at the thought of Space NK discontinuing Stila products. Back to the great tinted moisturiser hunt!

Eyeshadow - I rarely wear it, so why do I continue to buy it?

Mac collections - Nothing seems to excite me these days. Roll on the D Squared2 collection!

Bisous -x-

Top 6 lip products

From L-R. I was going to say in no particular order but Lingerie Pink is my desert island must have!

YSL Rouge Volupte in No7 Lingerie Pink - since I discovered this lipstick (thanks to Lorraine at The Current Custom) I haven't really bought alot of other lipsticks. This is my everyday lipstick that I couldn't live without. I love everything about it - colour, formulation, scent, packaging. As you can see, I've almost finished the one in the photo. This is the third one I've gone through and I'm proud to admit that I've never actually paid for one of these - I always save up my Boots advantage card points for them :)

YSL Rouge Volupte in No8 (I can't remember the name) - this is my second favourite colour in the Rouge Volupte line. I love the way it stains my lips after it has worn off.

Mac lipstick in Myth - Myth was the first Mac lipstick I ever purchased. I used to wear it on its own, but recently I've started to use it to blank out my lips before applying another lipstick.

Mac lipstick in Saint Germain - another tried and true lipstick. I wear this when I want a change from Lingerie Pink.

Barry M lip paint in No101 Marshmellow - a cheaper and more dramatic alternative to Myth. I have been using this since high school.

By Terry Baume de Rose - I discovered this at a Space NK event. It was love at first try. Expensive at £30 but it is a multiuse product so well worth it. I use it on bare lips for a natural look or over lipstick for a glossy effect. It keeps my lips moisturised and I love its scent. I will definitely repurchase when it finishes.

Bisous -x-

How did I ever live without this!

I bought this Benefit get bent angled eyeliner brush in Boots today. I've been meaning to buy an angled eyeliner brush for a long time but I'm so glad I randomly came across this one. I tried it out with my Mac fluidline when I got home and the results were amazing - perfect eyeliner in one stroke of a brush. In addition to the angled head, the short handle makes for perfect control. Well worth £12.

Bisous -x-

Mini Haul

After a long week I decided to treat myself to a few things...

Barry M lipgloss in No4 - Barry M has just introduced these lipglosses. I bought this one out of curiosity more than anything else. Its a shimmery lilac/pink and has a strawberry scent which is nice.

Barry M nail paint in 279 bright pink - J'adore Barry M nail paints! I've been thinking about buying this one for a while now and I'm glad I finally bought it. Its a bubblegum pink and a great dupe for Leighton Denny Copy Cat. For under £3, you can never go wrong with Barry M nail paints :)

Body Shop Yes Yes Yes tantalising lip butter - After reading all the hype I decided to try this for myself. It does tone down lipsticks but it has a sickly scent that reminds me of twinnings blackcurrant and vanilla fruit tea.

Bisous -x-

Babushka

In addition to Bambi and Hello Kitty, I love Babushkas! If there is a Babushka on it I have to have it! I was so happy to come across these supercute finds this month. The clutch is £22 from Topshop and the pochette is around £7 from Accessorize - sorry for the blurred photo.

Bisous -x-

Paris Wishlist... PS...

I'll be hitting the pharmacy in Paris for Bioderma Crealine H2O gentle make up remover. After hearing good reviews about it I searched for it at the Garden Pharmacy in Covent Garden yesterday without any luck. In case you don't know - the Garden Pharmacy stocks French beauty brands such as Klorane, Phyto, Vichy, Avene etc.

Bisous -x-

Camomilla - My addiction

I wish there was a Camomilla store in London :( They have supercute accessories and the best Hello Kitty stuff. www.camomilla.it

I hope I get the chance to visit Italy again real soon.

New shoes

I picked these up in the sale for £30 in some random shop on Clapham High Street. They are by a supercute Brazillian brand called Melissa http://www.melissaplasticdreams.com/home/uk

The bows are removable clips.

Bisous -x-

Paris Wishlist...

I am going to Paris in August and that means one thing... SEPHORA! :)

I can't wait to hit the Make Up Forever section. This is what I want...

Waterproof Smokey Lash mascara
Aqua Eyes waterproof eyeliner in Black
5 Colour Camouflage concealer palette in either No1 or No2

I'm hoping they will have HD Elixir and the double ended contour brush - I checked the French website and they are not available on there yet.

Depending on the contents of my Hello Kitty purse at the end of the week I might go back and get a back up of the HD Microfinish powder and maybe a Sculpting Kit.

I might also get some Sephora brand products, although Sephora in the US has a better selection.

Apart from make up, I hope to find the perfect vintage Chanel 2.55 handbag, another handbag, some clothes (in particular a bright or printed maxi dress, breton top and tulip skirt) maybe some shoes, possibly some Hello Kitty stuff and some Arabic jewelery.

Bisous -x-

Mini Haul

I rushed to the Selfridges Mac counter today to pick up Colourcrafted lipstick from the Colourcraft collection. I was disapointed to see that it had sold out so I picked up Saint Germain instead. I also got my hands on the 226 brush - I can't wait to try that out :)

Next I went to Superdrug just for a browse but ended up buying Barry M lipliner in No13 - its a milky pink so its a great match for Saint Germain. I also plan to use it to blank out my lips.

I also picked up a Bloom nail polish in Dolly - its a neon orangey coral cream formulation. Alot of the Bloom nail polish colours looked appealing so I plan to pick up some more.

The last thing I picked up in Superdrug was Miss Eylure lashlets. They are half lashes that give a winged effect.

I was planning to go to Sallys to pick up some China Glaze but it rained :(

Bisous -x-

What is in my make up bag...

I definitely tote around alot of products BUT I like to be prepared for any eventuality BUT this is mainly just a lipstick retouch :)

So first up my make up bag. Its actually a pencil case I picked up at Selfridges. I had to have it for two reasons:

1. Its Hello Kitty

2. It is large enough to hold my stash and has handy pockets inside.

The other Hello Kitty item in the picture is a pack of Hello Kitty band-aids - I swear they heal your cuts faster than any other regular band-aids :) If you are in the UK you can pick them up from http://www.artbox.co.uk/ for a pound I think.

Ok eyeliners... Guerlain Terracotta Eye Khol in Black. I love the packaging but its limited edition :( La Ligne de Chanel powder eyeliner palette. Underneath those from left to right we have Bourjois Liner Feutre felt tip liner in Black, Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Onyx, Guerlain Eye Pencil in Khol Me Ivory, (not an eyeliner) YSL Touche Eclat in No1, Mac Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved and Shu Uemura double-ended Eye Light Pencil one side is matte white and the other side is pearl white.

Eyeshadow... Dolce & Gabbana eyeshadow quad in Champagne no 100.

Face & cheeck products... Stila Sheer Color tinted moisturiser, Mac Studio Sculpt concealer in NW20, Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera, Mac Cream Color Base in Luna, Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in M Pink 33E and Givenchy Prismissime in Maharani Pinks 21.

Lips... From top to bottom Barry M Lip Paint in Marshmellow No101, Mac Lipstick in Myth, YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks in No1, No7 & No8, Nars lipglosses in Turkish Delight & Striptease, The beautifully packaged Never Be Too Busy Too Be Beautiful Lipcream in Bardot, Nivea Light Kiss lip treatment and By Terry Baume de Rose lip treatment.

I guess you can see I'm a pink/nude lip and eyeliner kind of girl.

Bisous -x-

Bienvenue sur mon blog!

Voila!... Here I am :)

I have been inspired by the Youtube legends to start a beauty blog.

Just to let you know from the start, tutorials aren't really my thing. This is just a place for me to do hauls/wishlists/reviews/popular tags etc.

Bisous -x-