Face of the Day

Yesterday Louise was at my house looking at all my makeup and saying where would I ever wear my bright colours in my Urban Decay Book of Shadows II. Well today on my eyes I used the bright blue underneath, just for some subtle colour...I hope you can tell. I dont like to wear really heavy makeup, so it looks very natural...but trust me my skin underneath is like 100 times worse so it is a vast improvement...! So i have pictures of all the products I used, then the final look...enjoy!

1. I use this Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control Hydrating Spot Treatment(what a mouthful!), as a sort of primer before makeup. It is just a hydrating gel, and it helps smooth out my skin. Plus it smells soooo good and fresh!

2. My biggest issue is my skin. I have pretty bad "acne" on my chin, at the moment it is confined to one side which is an improvment(you will see in the pictures...it still isnt great). I try my best to cover it all but when its like 3D its pretty hard. Also my makeup has absolutley no staying power on my face, I have tried primers and powders but nothing really seems to help so my spots will start to show through. The best routine I have found is MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC15, Clinque Anti Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup in Fresh Alabastar and Benefit Hello Flawless in Shell.

Sorry...my flash is really bright, even in macro!

3. Ok the eyes! I had totally forgot about my UD BOS II (nice abbreviation!) so I am trying to use it more. I used MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as a base, then L'oreal Colour Appeal eyeshadow in 23 Gold Shimmer. Then I used the colour Nylon from UD in the crease a little, then a bit of a dark brown colour in the outer V( I used UD Twice Baked but I didn't take a picture as any dark brown will do). Then I took UD Jinx on a 219 pencil brush under my lower lashline and smudged it in to about half way along. A little went into the waterline...but thats fine! Then I just topped it off with Rimmel Glam Eyes Mascara!

4. Then for my blusher I used the predictible colour of Nars Orgasm...and I used my Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate, to add a bit of colour to my lips...and it smells immense!

And now for my stupid posey photos!

Don't mind my chin for acne...and my wee red nose...hayfever...

Close up!Pretty=)But i forgot to pluck my eyebrows haha!

Thanks for reading! Was kind of pointless but I hope you enjoyed! This is really for Louise lmao, to prove a point haha!

Love Gillian

xoxo

Freedom at Last!!

I am finally finished my exams, even tho it's not late at all all my friends finished like a week before me it was very depressing!

So here are some things I bought a while ago and now that I've got all this free time I can get round to sorting and using everything.

Lush


I bought the lip scrub (£4.50) as my lips are alwaaaays so dry and sore, so when this came out I was desperate to try it :) It is made from sugar and I got Mint Julips flavour which is minty with a hint of chocolate; you can even lick it off after!!

I also got the Eau Roma Water (£3.25) spray in the smallest size (100g) to try it out and see what it's like. It's meant to be used as a toner but I've been using it in a similar way as FIX+ as they've got very similar ingredients. I've used it to wet my brush before applying eyeshadows and to make eyeliners and to set my make up so far. I also transferred about a third of it into a mini spritzer bottle I bought from Boots and have put it in the fridge so in the summer I can spray it on my face to cool me down :)

They also put in a little sample of Aqua Marina which is one of their most famous ones, however I've not quite got round to using this yet as I'm still on my Baby Face (£4.10)bar which I love love love!!

Avon










This quad is called Freshly Cut Greens (£5) from Avon, I am a rep but I'm not a big fan of their eyeshadows but recently they've been bigging them up so I thought I'd give it a go again. I chose the green set because I love the colour and I also have green eyes so they go well! As you can see from the photo on the left the two left colours are quite well pigmented but the other two are rather on the pale side. They all have a gorgeous gold shimmer through them which will make them go really well together in a single look. When I first did swatches I did it straight onto my hand and the effect was really quite crap so I did it again using Urban Decay Primer Potion and then Painterly Paint Pot as a base which made them stand out a lot more, so when using these a base is definitely required!! I haven't used these on my eyes so far but I will post an update to this post with results of all my trying out! In conclusion this is a not bad buy for a fiver.

I also bought Skin So Soft: Soft & Renewed Age-defying Overnight Corrective hand treatment (£1.50). Bit of a mouthful there :P My hands and knuckles especially have been feeling really dry recently but since buying this and using it almost every night before bed (when I remember...) they have actually been fine!! I am rather impressed! Also I just got age-defying because of that advert that says hands show the first signs of aging.. I'm such a sucker but I'm sure it's not bad to start early when it's just my hands :)

<3

Failing

Ok well...I am supposed to be studying right now! But I just can't! I have left it too last minute...even by my standards...and seeing as it is tommorow I think I might fail! It is economics =)! So I'm going to do a wee post about my favourite things at the moment=)! Enjoy...

Favourite Face Product: I recently purchased the Neutrogena Spot Stress Control cleanser for the second time...it smells amazing=) Just so fresh and clean!



Favourite Item of Makeup: Not really makeup...but my Sigma SS187 brush! It is frankly amazing, you can use it for anything. I use it mainly for stippling liquid or cream foundation or putting on blusher. But I have found it works really to apply Benefit's Hoola bronzer, which at first I thought was too olivey and dark for my skin...but with this brush it looks immense!



Favourite Nail Varnish: Tart Deco by Essie=) A lot oranger than I initially thought...but really pretty.



Book of the Moment: I have two! Firstly Twilight! Shock horror I have never read the book or seen the film before! I think the book is ok...i'm only like half way through, but needless to say I don't really get the hype! I mean it is a good read but its not pure intensly gripping or anything. And I really dont' want to see the film now, as Edward is described as being the most gorgeous person you have ever seen...and I'm sorry...to me RP isn't! So when it comes to vampires, I'll stick to True Blood.
Secondly, my economics textbook...I am slowly working my way through it! Its actually an ok textbook but I just dont get any of it really!




Favourite TV show: We shall stick on the vampire theme I guess!
It was the season 2 finale of True Blood this week, and I loved it=) I just really love that show...but they left it on such a cliffhanger!!! Also I have now got Louise watching it, I feel she loves it...
Next, The Vampire Diaries...I started watching this as there was nothing else on and tbh the first few episodes were a bit crap...but once it got going its actually really suspensful and I really like it...it doesn't hurt that I think Stefan in it is quite hot ;) only at certain angles but still...worth it for that!

Favourite Drink: Lucozade Sport in Orange...what can I say...I'm obsessed!



Favourite Food: My TGI Fridays Chicken Fingers I had for lunch on Friday=) Mmmm

Thats all=) Kind of just a ramble but whatever...I am just procrastinating from studying!
Peace lmao!

Love Gillian
xoxo

Spring Trends

Ok so long time no...write!
I have been super busy with uni work and just events, so have been severely slacking on the blog posts. Well I am now 18...thank god, however on my first night of freedom lmao I managed to sprain my ankle which is super painful however maybe instead of just sitting about I should have wrote on my blog! I know noone wants to see a picture of a swollen foot but...here it is lmao!

So firstly I will talk about nail trends=)
I recently purchased the two spring collections from Essie and OPI. I also purchased one from the Revlon spring collection which i will show too!



From Left: Red Nouveau, Pop Art Pink, Lilacism, Tart Deco

Essie= Overall a really nice collection if not a bit expensive. It was £16 for 4 minis which I think is a tad overpriced. It is however a really nice collection of pastel shades which are perfect for spring and summer. The most unique shade is "Tart Deco" which is a peachy colour and is certainly different to all my other polishes. They are all a cream finish and they all require two coats apart from the red which applies suprisingly nicely after one!




From left: Dim Sum Plum, Suzie Says Feng Shui, RapiDry topcoat, Red my Fortune Cookie

OPI= The two collections are very contrasting as the OPI ones are very rich colours compared to the pastels but I think they will look nice all year round which is a bonus. My favourite is "Dim Sum Plum" but I think it is a bit of a rip off as you only get three actual colours and the size of the set is pathetic. However I will never use them up as I dont wear nail varnish all of the time. I think they are cream finishes too.



Lilac Pastelle

Revlon: Called lilac but really comes out as more of a stark light pink...however I really like this and have already worn it. It does need two coats but I really like the Revlon nail polishes I have tried. It is a cream finish too!

Ok so now makeup...this is a lot I know but it shall be mainly pictures! These are just my essentials to have for the summer! I know some pictures are the wrong way round but the editter was being annoying so yeah! Sorry!



Its really important to keep moisturising, but I get really oily skin around my T-zone and dont really want to aggrevate my acne anymore than I need to. Thats why I love the Clinque Moisture Surge(£30) as it is really light and doesn't clog pores but it still hydrates!



I also recently purchased the Clinque Anti Blemish Solutions foundation(£20). I have only tried it twice however I think it looks very natural and fresh which is nice in the summer. And if it helps treat acne at the same time...big plus=)! I am in the shade 01 Fresh Alabaster(VF)





Another foundation which is good for oily skin in the summer, or anytime...I like to wear it out at night to a club or a bar, is the Revlon Colourstay for Oily/ Combination skins(£19).. I wear it in 110 Ivory, though this foundation is very thick and takes some getting used to for blending.






A new foundation I found recently and have worn a lot is the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in No51 Light Vanilla(£7)! It is really soft and leaves your skin looking really glowy but not oily. Gives good coverage and smells really nice lmao!



Next is my setting powder which is Rimmel Stay Matte(£4) in 003 Peach Glow. I am not sure if it really does stay matte but its a nice powder regardless. Then the Eau Thermale by Avene(£3.50), a cheaper refreshing alternative to MAC Fix+! Really nice for setting makeup and for cooling skin!



I really LOVE Nars Orgasm blush(£19)!!! I have had it forever and I use it all the time...not just a staple for summer but all year too!






Then I had to get at least one thing from MAC's Give me Liberty of London collection. The packaging is gorgeous and I picked up Shell Pearl beauty powder(£19.50)areally pretty highlighter, which if you are very fair like me warms you skin also! Thought Limited Edition so hurry ;)





Only two more to go...lmao!!! MAC Blacktrack fluidline(£13).I love doing my eyeliner winged like Lauren Conrad in the summer...very LA...without the tan! This is perfect and lasts pretty much all day=).





Then my new favourite lipstick! Elf Mineral Lipstick in Barely Bitten(£3.50).Gorgeous totally wearable red! Amazing texture! It is loveeeeeeee!

Wohhhhh that was long!

Was going to do fashion trends...but I'll leave that for tommorow!
I'm going now to watch True Blood=)!

Nightnight!

Love Gillian
xxx
xoxo

Recent Nail Varnish Buys

Over the past few months I've managed to build up quite a wee collection of new nail varnishes!! The Nails Inc ones are those that I mentioned ordering in January when I was severely in debt! So they came and I didn't have time to put up post about what with exams and back to uni etc... So now I've got another two to add to it I decided it was about time :)

From left to right: Rose Quartz (Avon), China Town, Wimpole Street, Primrose Hill Road, Block Orange (Barry M), Shelton Street.

All of these have two coats except for China Town and Shelton Street; I put them all over Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Basecoat. Click the photo to zoom :)

Rose Quartz - I bought this from Avon for £5. It is a lovely pale pink colour with a gorgeous multi-coloured shimmer which is very sparkly under sunlight. It definitely needs a couple of coats and still looks slightly streaky but I quite like the way it looks!

China Town - In the bottle this looks really pretty, it is a cerise pink with a very subtle purple shimmer. Unfortunately when on your nails the shimmer doesn't show up very well as the pink is very thick and sort of drowns it out! However it only needs one coat and still looks nice on.

Wimpole Street - Just your average deep purpley shimmery nail varnish, very nice :)

Primrose Hill Road - Now this one had ups and downs for me! When i saw it I was expecting a bright red, but when it arrived i saw it was more of an orange so i put it aside. Then a few weeks ago i wanted to wear an orangey red nail varnish and thought, hey! here's one i can use! - But no... it comes out more of a 'Barbie red' according to one of the girls at my work. It also dries extremely matte, and even with two coats it's still not completely opaque. I was quite disappointed by this one although once you get over the surprise from it, then it is actually alright and I'll still wear it!

Block Orange - This is from Barry M for the bargain price of £2.95. It's a thick and very bold orange which I am totally loving!! Comes out with a nice shine to it also.

Shelton Street - Limited edition from Nails Inc which is quite good for a purely glitter nail varnish, it gives a good covering of glitter over the nail which is pretty even. Can be used alone but also over another colour to give it a wee gold pop! I recommend using a top coat as the glitter is rather scratchy!!

So that's all my polishes for the moment! Colours for this spring are oranges and corals, I think I'll probably pick myself up a coral one from Barry M at some point. I'm also still after a cream mint green colour - although they're a bit passed now but I don't care!!

Now I am going to take them all off before work tomorrow!

<3

Finding

Ok so just a quick conclusion I have came to!

I never used to wear mascara on a daily basis but from about December on I have been wearing it regularly! Then this week i purchased a new waterproof mascara...as its always handy and I have worn it for maybe 2 days, including today as I went to the hairdressers so I didnt want it to smudge when they wash your hair!

I used to get minor eye infections all the time (ie everytime I wore makeup) from wearing any real type of mascara, eyeliner, even eyeshadow but I think my eyes have became accustomed to it! That is apart from waterproof mascara...within these 2 days of wearing it I have developed my first stye in months!!! And its really sore

It could just be the brand(Rimmel) but I have used their other mascaras recently and they havent caused a reaction like this.

Needless to say I will be wearing regular mascara from now on unless it is necessary to wear waterproof!

Love G x

Bored 4am ramble!

Ok so firstly...my sleep pattern is ridiculous!

I am super bored and I cant get to sleep so I thought I would just ramble on this for the sake of it.

So I have been waking up at like 4pm recently as I dont go back to university till Monday! I am super dreading it as I hate having to get up and be presentable to go into the city for like one hour...its such a waste! But yes but before I go back I promised my mum I would tidy my awful room...so today I got up at 1pm...which is early for me and did a lot; but it also made me realise how much I still have to do which is depressing! I did sooooo much laundry that I called my kitchen Gillian's Chinese Laundry...as you do!

Also I have nooo money whatsoever...and next month I will have to buy more textbooks which are tres expensive! If I dont finish my tidying by Friday then I wont do it at all so I have got to push myself during the day to get it done! As for once I am actually going out at the weekend. If the worst came to the worst I could do it in the evenings but they are strictly dedicated to TV.

The one TV show I loveeeeee at the moment is Glee...it is freggin amazing! I just love it haha and it always makes you dead happy! And I would watch it just for the singing but the fact it is hilar is a bonus. That is the one advantage of being at home alone; you can walk about singing 'Dont stop believin' at the top of your voice...its fun! And Glee are holding open auditions for season 2...as much as I would love to enter...sadly I am not a very good singer/dancer(=()!

In terms of fashion etc...I have been thinking a lot about summer clothes and what I will wear. Last year I went to beachy relaxed places on holiday but this year I am going to a big city so it calls for a totally different wardrobe! I have been really loving all the sheer kind of floaty tops for spring in the pastel colours! As I am sooo fair I never think that they would go with my skintone but last year I got a pale pink top and it actually accentuated my skintone...so I will be checking that stuff out for sure! Also all the Parisian style clothes are very "me"...with the blues, stripes and polka dots so I will be wearing that trend!

It is my birthday in 39 days...=D!

But yeah so back to university on Monday...and I have tons of early starts this semester so fun for me...and I dont get another holiday till...April!!!!!!! Arghhhh awful!

Finally...I know this is long haha...Rimmel foundation!

The picture says it all...why is their lightest shade soooo dark compared to every other brands?!!

See yoouuuu later

Love G x

xoxo