Style by Sophia

NOTD: Kardashian Kolor for Nicole by OPI - Kourt Is Red-Y For A Pedi

2012-02-10T19:00:00.001Z

Hey guys!

Here's what I've been rocking on my nails for the past week; Kourt Is Red-Y For A Pedi, part of the Kardashian Kolor collection for Nicole by OPI.

THE KARDASHIAN KOLOR RANGE:

OK so anyone who knows me will know that I am OBSESSED (borderline stalker) with the Kardashians. Kim is obviously my fave, but I can't get enough of Kourt, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie, Rob, Kris, Bruce... Heck even Brody and Avril!!!

Nicole by OPI announced they were launching a holiday collection with the Kardashians called Kardashian Kolor. So I was obvs desperate to get my hands on one. With Kim being my fave, I was hoping I'd get one of 'hers' so I could be like 'her' lol shallow I know. BUT the shades were obviously designed with Christmas/winter in mind and I had to invest in a polish that would last me through the summer months. So no multicoloured glitters, dark burgundys or matte greys for me. So in the end it was a toss up between Kourt Is Red-Y For A Pedi (vibrant tomato red) or All Kendall-ed Up (creamy bubblegum pink). I wanted to go for the pink because I really have very few shades like that in my collection, whereas I have loads of reds/oranges. In the end I went for Kourt Is Red-Y For A Pedi because whilst I do have lots of reds/oranges, I DO wear those type of shades ALL the time, and none of the ones I own currently are high end ie. OPI. Also I have more of a 'thing' for Kourtney - I feel I'm most like her actually as we are both the eldest of 6... Mad I know!

I refused to buy online and pay more for postage and packaging, so I made a little trip to Colourcopia in Westfield, Shepherds Bush and picked up Kourt Is Redy For A Pedi at full RRP :-) (which I think was about £9). This was a lot to spend on a nail polish, but to be frank I could never afford to wear the kinds of clothes/accessories than the Kardashians wear, so this was my way of getting a little Kardashian luxury in my life! Also, as I will begin to explain, it was TOTALLY worth it!

THE NAIL VARNISH:

I am SOOO impressed with this!!! I always forget how much better quality high end polishes like OPI really are. They are not extortionately priced for nothing people. I used my obligatory OPI Nail Envy as a base coat and my Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat and it lasted 5-6 days without chipping! I was amazed, I'm used to my nail varnish chipping within 1-2 days! I am definitely going to save up and invest in OPI nail colour in the future, it's so worth it. I really want to get my hands on the OPI Best of the Best minis collection but it's going for £25+ on eBay... Eeek!

Here's the official Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor website with all the pretty shades - click here.

If you'd like to read a more in-depth review of the Kardashian Kolor range, check out Laura's blog post here.

Have you tried the Kardashian Kolor range? Tempted? Or is it just a clever marketing ploy?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Ps. I've added this to my NOTD Archive page.

FOTD ft No7 and Poppy King 'Celebrate Balmy & Beautiful!'

2012-02-10T18:13:00.000Z

Hey lovelies!

HAPPY WEEKEND! Hope you've all had pleasant week :-) Sorry for being rather MIA of late; I've been back on the job hunt and, as you can imagine, it's taking up a huge bulk of my time! Shameless plea BUT if anyone knows of any entry-level PAID journo jobs in London/South East, please do give me a shout!

ANYWAY, today I used one of the gift sets I received for Christmas to create my FOTD!

It's the LE No7 and Poppy King 'Celebrate Balmy and Beautiful' Set! I was soo happy when I got my hands on it; I've heard great things about the Poppy King range for No7 and I thought this little gift set would come in handy!

The gift set contains -

Shimmering Beauty Cheeks
Shimmering Beauty Lips
to form the Shimmering Beauty Lip & Cheek Multiple
Beautiful Blotting Papers

I didn't realise, but the Shimmering Beauty Cheeks and Shimmering Beauty Lips combine to make the Shimmering Beauty Lip + Cheek Multiple! Whoops! You simply take the clear plastic lids off both products and put them in either end of the the gold 'Multiple'... Very handy!

Shimmering Beauty Lips

I don't know why but I was expecting this to be kind of pinky! It's not at all, it's a very GOSH Darling-esque nude...

The formula is matte and VERY drying! I made the mistake of applying it straight to my lips at first without a brush, which was an error on my part as it went EVERYWHERE, but it was MUCH easier with the brush! I also used the Beautiful Blotting Papers which made the lipstick last much longer! I set it using Lipcote, which applies like a gloss but dries matte and also helped maintain the longevity of the lipstick.

Shimmering Beauty Cheeks

I found this product very odd actually, it LOOKS like a lipstick... it feels like a LIPSTICK... but it's a face product, hmm!

It looks very similar to the Lips product above. It applies like a pinky sheen, I simply took some of the product off the top with my fingers and added it to the apples of my cheeks. It wasn't really strong enough to be a blush, so I added a little bronzer to make me look a little less washed out! Perhaps it will work best as a pinky highlighter for my cheek and brow bone, etc.

Shimmering Beauty Lip & Cheek Multiple

You slot the 2 products into each end of the empty gold 'Multiple', so it ends up looking like the product above! The black bits are the bottom end of each product!

Beautiful Blotting Papers

I've never used blotting papers before, I mean I've used tissue to blot my lipstick but never actual blotting 'papers'. I know you get them for reducing shine/oil on your face as well, but I've personally never used those either, I think they're a bit of a fad tbh!

These blotting papers looked really cute; they came in a dinky little cardboard pouch, and it contained about 10-15 blotting papers, about the size of 2 matchboxes laid side by side.

I used these on my lips when I was applying the Shimmering Beauty Lips and I definitely think they worked to make the lipstick last. They're so much more effective than using tissue, as the little bits of tissue odten get stuck on your lips... Classy lol!

Here's a FOTD using all the above mentioned products :-)

FOTD:

FACE: No7 Colour Calming Primer, MAC Fix+ to prime, MAC Studio Finish Concealer (applied with a No7 Concealer Brush), MAC Pro Longwear Foundation (applied with a MAC 190 Foundation Brush; blended in with a ELF Stippling Brush), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural to set (applied with an Avon Powder Brush), No7 Shimmering Beauty Cheeks, Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzer (51 - applied with an old bronzing brush), MAC Fix+ to set.

EYES: Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original), Urban Decay Baked e/s (Buck - all over lid, Smog - in outer corners, Hustle - on edge - all applied with a No7 Eyeshadow Brush), MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (applied with a MAC 266 Brush); Soap & Glory SUPERCAT Carbon Gloss liner on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (Black) along lower waterline, 2 coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara (Black).

EYEBROWS: Ruby & Millie Brow Enhance (Powder + Wax - applied with a W7 Angled Brush).

LIPS: LUSH Bubblegum lip scrub to prime, No7 Shimmering Beauty Lips (applied with The Body Shop Lip Brush), No7 Beautiful Blotting Papers, Lipcote to set.

I enjoyed playing around with this little gift set, and I think the idea of combining the lip & cheek products into a 'Multiple' is really clever! However I was quite disappointed with both products. The lip product was REALLY drying, and the cheek product was just a bit weird. I'll keep using them and see how I get on, maybe it's just first impressions! :-)

Have you tried any of the No7 and Poppy King products before?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Ps. Today I learnt how much I SUCK at applying MAC Fluidline! Literally I made so many errors I kept having to make the line thicker, does anyone have any tips? Lol I don't even know if I was using the brush the right way up! :S

New hair...

2012-02-03T19:11:00.004Z

Good evening peeps!

I hope you've all had a lovely day :-) Now those of you who follow me on Twitter will already know that I got my hair cut yesterday, but I thought I'd post about it on here just so you're not like "hmm, your hair looks suspiciously shorter... and darker...!" lol

So I went for the chop!

As you can tell from all my previous posts my hair was medium brown and quite long! I fancied a change (plus my hair was taking a good 20-30 mins to properly blow dry!) so I nipped over to Studio 2 in Horsham for a cut and colour!

CUT: I asked for quite a lot of length cut off, a long bob essentially that was just past my shoulders. On top of the standard length cut, I also asked for cheekbone length layers all around my hair, and shorter layers to the front. I also requested feathering around my face to shape it, and a short fringe (just touching my eye).

COLOUR: I received a semi-permanent colour glossing treatment, as I wanted a quite drastic colour change that would wash out eventually! I basically brought in a picture of Amy Childs lol as I love the colour of her hair, so we went for a kind of dark red shade in the end that complimented my complexion. Looking at it today it's VERY dark and it appears very red beneath the light. I think it looks quite 'fierce'! ;-)

So there it is, my new February hair. If you're local and fancy a new do, pop into Studio 2 where one of their talented staff will sort you out a treat - Frankie did mine and she was fab, especially if you're looking for something that bit 'edgier'! Check out the website here.

Are you rocking a new do this month? Or are you growing your hair out?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

NOTD: No7 Speed Dry in Mink

2012-02-02T22:18:00.004Z

Hey guys!

Just a quick post this evening as I'm pretty tired! I've been watching Dulce Candy YouTube videos for like over an hour now and I really need to go to bed! Haha. FYI, I have learnt SO much from watching her vids lately, esp her make-up tutorials, I feel really inspired to mix up my routine now!

Anyway here's what I've been wearing on my nails these past few days, I don't know why but I've wanted my nails to blend in - I think it's because I'm trying to grow them, I'd rather not look at them while they're short!

(No7 Speed Dry in Mink)

I picked up this nail colour in Boots for 33p a couple of months ago along with some other really on-trend shades! I love No7's Speed Dry range, not only does it dry super fast but the consistency is always really thick and you only need 2 coats max! I used my OPI Nail Envy (Original) as a base coat and Seche Vite Dry Fast as a top coat :-) I would say it lasted 3 days before chipping... but then I bit it all off! D'oh!

I've also added this shade to my NOTD archive!

What are you wearing on your nails today? Neutrals or brights?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Getting in the mood for spring with Primark florals!

2012-02-02T17:21:00.006Z

Hey ladies & gents!

Now I know it's hard to envision a season beyond below freezing temperatures, bitterly cold winds and a lack of vitamin D BUT it will warm up eventually, and when it does we'll all forget this mini ice age!

Until then, it's time to prep for SPRING! I nipped into Primarni this morning and whilst there was still a lot of wooly knitwear/scarves etc on display, they were beginning to launch their spring/summer range, and there were floaty dresses, graphic tees and sunglasses aplenty! I was very well behaved though and despite trying on a basketload of stuff, only picked up £5 worth of accs :-)

Floral purse - £4.00

I don't know about you lot, but Primark is my one stop shop for purses! You may remember I picked up my A/W purse there for just £1 last season :) I find that they're just such great value, really hard-wearing and have enough compartments for all my bits and bobs!

This purse is no different, it has loads of credit card slots and a massive coin compartment running through the middle. The baby pink isn't personally to my taste, but luckily my purse is closed most of the time! I love the chic gold and nude leather detailing, it compliments the pastel coloured florals perfectly :)

Floral head garland - £1.00

Funnily enough, this item was actually marked up as £2 but when I got to the till it was only £1, love it when that happens :) I just thought this was such a beautiful item that would look so pretty with a messy up do... Now we just need the sunny weather eh :)

Are you getting in the mood for spring yet? Or are you loving this extended cold spell?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Estee Lauder Doublewear Stay-in-Place Makeup and Flawless Wear Concealer review and FOTD!

2012-02-02T15:43:00.000Z

Helloo people!

Can you believe it's Thursday already?! At least it's nearly the weekend, huh :-)

Now some of you may remember I was lucky enough to receive the Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation and Concealer for Christmas... Well, I've been wearing it on and off for a couple of weeks now and I'm ready to give you my thoughts!!! So here we go...

Well firstly it comes it luxurious, glossy navy blue packaging. Very opulent, it even features mini 'EL's' in the inner packaging!

Product wise, the foundation comes in a jar (no handy pump dispenser here, like my usual MAC Pro Longwear) and the concealer features a traditional doe foot applicator, a la my normal Maybelline Pure Mineral concealer :)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF10 in 1W1 Bone

I was colour matched for this foundation a good couple of months ago and the Estee Lauder make up artist was kind enough to give me a little pot with a sample shade in it and some mini spatulas to apply it with. I couldn't believe it when she swatched me in the lightest POSSIBLE shade! I mean, I know I'm pale, but I'm half Italian so I thought I have a slight natural tan... obviously NOT, lol.

I was given this same shade for Christmas, and luckily my skin colour hasn't changed significantly and so the colour match was exact. It is VERY pale but it makes a perfect base for applying bronzer and blusher, etc. I do think I will need a darker product in the summer months, and so I'm thinking of purchasing the Estee Lauder Doublewear Light when the weather heats up a bit!

The issue I have with this product is the application. I do find that I waste quite a lot of product due to its lack of pump applicator. What I tend to do is dip a cotton wool bud in the top of the jar and then make little dots around my face, before using my MAC 190 Foundation Brush to blend everything in. It works well but I still have some leftover product on the bud :-(

In terms of longevity, it certainly lives up to the hype and lasts alll day! Fab for people like me who go to the gym etc during the day. Its finish is lovely and dewy, it covers up all spots, blemishes and redness to create a flawless base. I do find it's slightly drying, but I've found it to actually be a positive for me, as it dries out my spots! Lol. So overall, a fab foundation that stays in place all day and is worth every penny.

Estee Lauder Doublewear Stay-in-Place Makeup is available for £26.50 from Boots, Debenhams and other major retailers.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer SPF10 in 01 Light

I also purchased the matching concealer to the foundation. I was colour matched for this product a couple of months ago too and I was matched to the lightest shade (AGAIN lol - 'Light'!) Since I was colour matched, the product has actually been adjusted slightly - they've added more shades and added 'Flawless Wear' to the name lol so I'm assuming the product has been improved for a more seamless application!

The application for this product is much better, you can apply it straight to your face using the applicator provided. Sometimes I blend this product in with my No7 Concealer Brush, other times I simply rub it in with my fingers (depends how much of a rush I'm in lol!) I wouldn't say this product is as impressive of its foundation counterpart; it is very handy for covering under-eye circles as the formula is very brightening, but it's not really suitable for covering up spots and blemishes. For that, I prefer to use a creamy pot formula that you can easily blend in with your fingers - I'll be using MAC's Studio Finish Concealer during the day and Benefit's Boi-ing Concealer at night.

Estee Lauder Doublewar Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer is available for £19.00 from Boots, Debenhams and other major retailers.

So here's how I rocked both products!

FOTD:

FACE:

MAC Fix+ to prime

Estee Lauder Flawless Wear Concealer (01 Light)

Benefit Boi-ing concealer (02 Medium)

Estee Lauder Doublewear Stay-in-Place makeup (1W1 Bone)

NARS Laguna bronzer

MAC Fix+ to finish

EYES:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay baked e/s in Buck all over lid

Urban Decay baked e/s in Smog all over lid

2 coats of Cover Girl lash blast mascara

Soap & Glory SUPERCAT carbon black eyeliner along top lid

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (brown) along lower waterline

LIPS:

MAC Amplified Creme lipstick in Cosmo

Overall I am really impressed with both products, the foundation slightly more so than the concealer :-)

Have you tried Estee Lauder's Doublewear range? Or do you have a drugstore dupe?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

My recent haul at MAC Westfield and my MAC FOTD!

2012-01-30T21:36:00.001Z

Good evening peeps!

I hope you're all having a lovely, relaxing evening! :-) I'm catching up on Idol - Love it! Now you may remember I took a little trip to a certain Westfield Shepherd's Bush last week... Well I made a few sneaky purchases in none other than... MAC!!! *swoon*

Can I just say, I received the most amazing, professional service at this particular MAC store. I guess I had quite low expectations in terms of service, but it was about 4pm on a weekday and I just walked right in and a MUA was ready to see me straight away. I can't remember his name but it was a bloke and he had tattoos up his arms? Anyway he was so helpful, answering all my questions, getting me everything I asked for and giving me loads of useful advice!

So without further ado, here's what I picked up...

(clockwise L-R: Studio Finish Concealer, Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, Mini Fix+, Fluidline in Blacktrack, Impeccable Brow Pencil, 266 brush)

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Light

I must be the only blogger in the world who doesn't use powder? Everyone always talks about setting their foundation with powder, but it's something I've just never done! I don't know why!

I decided I needed to kick the bad habit and purchase my first "powder." There was no point getting a drugstore substitute when the powder on everyone's lips is MAC's Skinfinish Natural!

I explained to the MUA that I just wanted to use this product as a powder, not a bronzer, and so he decided on either the shade "Light" or "Light Plus" for me. We went with Light as I really am rather pale! I recall him buffing in this product with a stipple brush but I use that particular brush for cream blush, so I just use a big fat powder brush instead which seems to do the trick :) just a few swipes over the face and it sets my foundation a treat without making me appear too ghostly white, woop!

MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is available for £20.50 on the MAC website here.

Studio Finish Concealer - NW15

Next on my list was their acclaimed concealer, which I've tried before in MAC's concession in Selfridges London, but it just didn't seem to do anything for me then! I entrusted the MUA this time in choosing the right shade for me!

I explained that I'm NC15 in their Pro Longwear foundation, but when we tried that shade in this concealer, OMG it looked awful! It just looks really yellow against my skin, horrible. So we went for the NW15 instead which looked much more natural, it had more of a pinky tint to it and blended in much nicer.

It's a really lovely, creamy consistency that's very easy to apply. The MUA applied it using a concealer brush but IMO that's too much hassle & so I end up just using my fingers instead! Naughty naughty.

The problem with this shade for me is that, although it's the exact same colour as my skin, it's just too light for me to use in the evenings when I'm caked in bronzer & highlighter! So I will have to continue buying my Benefit Boi-ing concealer, which is another another £16, d'oh! Also, I'm going to try and use this concealer only for blemishes and redness, and use my new Estee Lauder Doublewear concealer for under-eye circles (which is more what it's suited for!)

MAC's Studio Finish Concealer is available for £13.50 on the MAC website here.

Impeccable Brow Pencil - Dirty Blonde

I explained to the MUA that I used to own their Eye Brow pencil in the shade Lingering and I LOVED the shade, seriously, the shade was spot on! But... the end kept falling off! It was a twist up pencil and it just kept breaking off, I wasted so much product and I couldn't deal with that trauma again! Lol. So he recommended me their Impeccable Brow Pencil instead which is actually a pencil formula that you can sharpen, rather than a twist up pen that you can't!

He chose the shade "Dirty Blonde" for me which is similar to Lingering, if a little lighter.

Here's a swatch without flash...

& with flash...

At first I thought the shade was a little too light, but it really is the exact same colour of my brows! Trouble is, my brows are REALLY faint lol and so I think I will keep using my Ruby & Millie Brow Enhance set when I want a really "defined" brow ie. Scouse Brow!

MAC's Impeccable Brow Pencil is available for £11.50 on the MAC website here.

Mini Fix+

OK so this isn't actually a purchase. You may remember I blogged about this product back in September as I was looking for a handbag sized alternative to my full-sized Fix+. However it's been broken for quite a while; you know Fix+ is supposed to be a mist, right? Mine kept shooting straight out and it just wasn't working. So I brought it with me (without a receipt!) and they exchanged it for a brand new one for me, thank God! Now I can actually use this product - yay!

MAC's Travel Sized Fix+ is available for £7 on the MAC website here.

Fluidline in Blacktrack / 266 brush (bought as gifts)

These weren't purchases either, but I received them as presents at Christmas from my lovely sister and I haven't reviewed them yet soo... :)

As far as I'm aware, MAC's fluidline gel liner is the holy grail of liquid liners! I really really really wanted to try this!

I was slightly dubious about the 266 brush as, being a gel liner newbie, I was concerned that the brush would be too "fat" for me and it would go all over my eyelid, you know? But the MUA assured me that, as a gel liner newbie, the 266 brush would be best for me! The 210 brush aka the pin-point brush requires a really steady hand that a gel liner newbie like myself just doesn't possess! So I stuck with the 266 and he taught me how to apply gel liner like a pro :)

The 266 brush is a small, angled brush; I learnt you are supposed to work with the 'point' of the brush, working outwards, which will definitely require some practice but I hope I will eventually master it :-)

I was very surprised by how SMALL the pot of gel liner is! It's literally like smaller than a 10p coin in circumference lol, I guess I was expecting it to be much bigger! I was also very surprised by its pigmentation, it's SO condensed, a real "blacker than black" type black!

Here's a swatch without flash...

& with flash...

It just glides on so effortlessly, it's so smooth, but SO powerful! It really does have amazing staying power as well, lasting all day!

MAC's Fluidline in Blacktrack (£14.00) and the 266 brush (£16.00) are both available on the MAC website here.

Here's a pic with all the eye products used...

Studio Finish Concealer, Fluidline in Blacktrack, Impeccable Brow Pencil in Dirty Blonde, Paint Pot in Painterly (not pictured)

& finally a couple of face shots using all the products mentioned!

I also wore my MAC Paint Pot in Painterly & my MAC Amplified Creme lipstick in Cosmo... My MAC face :-)

Next on my list is their Powder Blush in Harmony. The MUA used it on me, along with one of their blush brushes, omg it looks so natural but sculpted my face brilliantly... Gotta get it!!

You can view my other MAC hauls here, here & here!

Have you done any MAC hauling recently? Any items on your wishlist?

Love,

Sophia

OOTN, FOTN & NOTN: A few drinks ft Revlon's LE Facets of Fuchsia nail enamel!

2012-01-30T11:29:00.000Z

Hey ladiesss!

Hope you all had a fabulouso weekend :) I can't believe it's Monday AGAIN! You know what they say/sing, "just another manic Monday!" which is def how I'm feeling right now!

So anyways over the weekend I went out for a few drinks with some friends. I opted for quite a glam ensemble, I don't know about you but I would rather be dressed up than dressed down.

So here's my look from the weekend...

FASHION:

(excuse the glum face)

Black faux leather top - H&M (blog!)
Burgundy bodycon skirt - eBay seller (link!)
Black tights - TOPSHOP (link!)
Black suede ankle boots - eBay seller (link!)
Black oversized clutch - Dorothy Perkins (blog!)
Gold chain necklace - Vintage

MAKE-UP:

FACE: Benefit That Gal primer, Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker (02 Medium), YSL Touche Eclat (#1), Benefit Boi-ing concealer (02 Medium), Benefit Dallas bronzer, Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator (02 Peach).

EYES: Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original), Urban Decay baked e/s in Buck (all over lid); Gunmetal & Creep (used to create smokey eye), Soap & Glory SUPERCAT carbon black eye liner (top lid), Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (black) along lower waterline, 2 coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara (Black). Ruby & Millie Brow Enhance (Brown).

LIPS: LUSH bubblegum lip scrub, Rimmel lip liner, Revlon lipstick in Cherries in the Snow (new! see blog post)

FYI, I think it's really important to apply lipstick correctly. My lipstick routine takes less than 5 minutes and guarantees your lipstick stays on alll night! Here's my routine...

Prime your lips using a lip scrub (I use LUSH's bubblegum lip scrub as I get to lick it off after!)
Line your lips using a pink lip liner (if you have one - otherwise use a nude one)
Using a lip brush, blend the lip liner into the lips so it kind of stains your lips and acts as a base for the lipstick
Now, using the same lip brush, apply the lipstick in short swipes on the lips, blot, repeat.
Finish your lipstick with a coat of colour-sealing lipgloss or a few coats of Lipcote...

sorted :)

NAILS:

I recently bought this nail colour from Boots, along with the Cherries in the Snow lipstick & nail enamel, as it was on a 3 for 2 offer. Unfortunately, this nail enamel wasn't available at the time, so the lady ordered it in for me (only took a couple of days) and I was still entitled to the 3 for 2 offer! Did you know you can order ANYTHING that's on the Boots website into store for FREE? Amazing!!!

I bought this nail colour after seeing it on a couple of my favourite blogs and knew I had to have it! I love a bit of glitter me. I used my obligatory OPI Nail Envy as a base and then applied a coat of this. I was really taken aback as the formulation was really runny, and also kind of grey? I let it dry then applied another coat... Resume normality :) 2 coats was all it needed to create the effect above! I applied my Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat and then it was lovely and glossy, woop! :)

You can buy Revlon's LE Facets of Fuschia nail enamel for £6.49 from Boots.

What did you wear this weekend? Send me all your links!

Love,

Sophia

Revlon Cherries in the Snow lipstick and nail enamel review (FOTD and NOTD!)

2012-01-29T15:33:00.001Z

Hey lovelies!!!

HAPPY SUNDAY! I hope you are enjoying your day :-) I'm just sitting here blogging and watching Air Crash Investigation (I do this every Sunday, geek!)

I've been reading on quite a few blogs recently about Revlon's Cherries in the Snow range (such as Jennie from Sailboat - love her!) and it looked, well, amazing! So, me being the inquisitive type, had to go out and try it for myself!

Here's what I found...

Revlon Cherries in the Snow nail enamel

This is a lovely, creamy raspberry pink shade that just looks beautiful on the nails. I use my OPI Nail Envy (Original) base coat, 2 coats of Cherries in the Snow and then my Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat to complete the look. I have a feeling this shade will definitely be taking me into spring/summer!

You can buy this for £6.49 from Boots.

I've also added this image to my NOTD Archive, consisting of all my NOTD's since I started this blog :-D

Revlon Super Lustrous Cherries in the Snow lipstick

I don't know what it was exactly that drew me to this lipstick initially, but I guess I just felt like injecting a bit of colour to my face and this just seemed like a really stunning, but wearable, shade.

Here it is without flash...

& with flash...

Here it looks like it has a slight reddish tint, but it's definitely pinker IRL.

Swatches! Without flash...

& with flash...

Now these seem kind of purple, and the top one seems very red! OK so here it is on the actual lips lol.

Before...

After...

My first thoughts were "OMG, how vibrant!" It's not often I wear shades like these and I felt VERY out of my comfort zone wearing such a shocking shade. The lipstick itself was very pigmented and you really do need a light hand applying it. It's certainly a shade I don't own already, it's very unique and brings some colour into an otherwise pretty 'drab' look and is actually very flattering. I like it :-)

FOTD ft lipstick...

FACE

MAC Fix+ to prime

YSL Touche Eclat (#1)

Benefit Boi-ing concealer (02 Sand)

MAC Pro Longwear foundation (NC15)

NARS Laguna bronzer

MAC Fix+ to finish

EYES

Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original)

Urban Decay baked e/s (Buck) all over lid

Urban Decay baked e/s (Smog) in outer corners

Soap & Glory SUPERCAT eye-liner (top lid)

Avon Color Trend kajal stick (Brown) on lower waterline

CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara (Black)

LIPS

LUSH bubblegum lip scrub to prime

No7 nude lip liner

Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Cherries in the Snow

You can buy Revlon's Super Lustrous lipstick in Cherries in the Snow for £7.49 from Boots.

Have you tried Revlon's Cherries in the Snow range? Would you wear a daring raspberry stained lip?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss in Nude Lustre - review, swatches and FOTD!

2012-01-26T22:25:00.001Z

Evening lovely ladies!

I hope you've all had a splendid day! Just to let you know about a new product that I bought lately that I am loving - I'm not sure how recently it was released - but it's Revlon's Super Lustrous lipgloss!

I don't know about you guys, but the fact that Jessica Alba is a spokesperson for the brand makes me 10x more likely to buy it! She's beautiful! I bought this lipgloss in the shade Nude Lustre, as I'm a big fan of a nude lip & a more defined eye!

I'm not sure what drew me to this product originally - If I remember correctly, I just swatched it & fell in love! It has a soft, doefoot applicator and the consistency really is so lovely and creamy... Mmm...

In the tube it's a kind of nudey peachy pink colour. Here it is without flash...

& then with flash...

On the lips it's definitely more natural looking. It's an almost colourless shiny nude shade.

Here's my lips before...

& after...

I know it doesn't seem like a huge difference, but I personally love it! I can't tell you how soft the consistency is, it's literally like applying shea or cocoa butter to your lips, it's divine. It's perfect for casual daytime or a more glam evening look & it's definitely going to be one of my go-to lipglosses!

So here's a quick full-face shot...

I'm also wearing...

MAC Fix+

Rimmel 25 Hour Foundation

Maybelline Pure Cover Mineral Concealer (02 Sand)

Bourjois Delice de Poudre bronzer (shade 51)

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay baked e/s (Buck) all over lid

Urban Decay baked e/s (Smog) in outer corners

Soap & Glory SUPERCAT liner on top lid

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (brown) along lower waterline

CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara (Black)

Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss (Nude Lustre)

Have you tried any of Revlon's lipglosses before? What's your fave natural looking lipgloss?

Let me know via the comments, or tweet me @smoir :)

Lotsa love,

Sophia

Updated make-up storage post... (MUJI drawers!)

2012-01-26T14:50:00.008Z

Hey you guys!

I hope you've all had a lovely day today :-)

Now, you may recall a blog I wrote about 2 years ago on my make-up storage. Well, as you can probably imagine, my make-up collection has extended considerably since then & so an updated make-up storage solution was imminently required!

I took a trip to MUJI on Oxford Street (also available online) and purchased some more storage; I bought 2 x 2 Drawers Wide and 1 x 1 Flip-Top Lid Wide, and so now my make-up collection looks like this...

:-)

I've stacked four of the drawers on top of each other, and stacked the flip top drawer on top! I'm VERY happy with my updated/extended make-up storage! If you'd like to read a step-by-step guide about how I achieved this, read on...

So here's how my make-up looked before:

I've always used the MUJI drawers but, as you can see, my make-up was overgrowing the limited storage. The drawers were organised by product, but I found that as I was buying more products, they were having to go on the top or on the side i.e unorganised.

So here's what I did...

Step one

I took out ALL my make-up, laid it all onto my bed and separated it into product groups, eg bronzers, blushers, primers, concealers etc. At this point I also cleaned all my make-up (using baby wipes) and gave my old plastic MUJI drawers a good ol' soak in warm, soapy water :-)

Step two

I then allocated drawers for separate product groups. The products that had their own drawers (eg blushers, bronzers) I did first, and the product groups that were quite small (eg concealers, powder foundations) I combined into 1 drawer.

In the end, here are the ten drawers that I formed:

LEFT SIDE (top to bottom):

1) Eyeshadow palettes & powder eyeshadows

2) Mascaras, eyeliners & cream eyeshadows

3) Highlighters

4) Bronzers &

5) Blushers

RIGHT SIDE (top to bottom):

1) Cream foundations

2) Powder foundations & concealers

3) Nude lipsticks & other shades

4) Pink lipsticks

5) Red lipsticks

Step three

I then sorted out all the excess make-up into pots, that I popped on top of the drawers. These are: lipglosses, lip balms & primers. I cleaned my brushes and put them back in the same glass they were in that I blogged about here.

Step four

I then took out some of the pieces I use daily and popped them into a little wicker basket, so that they're easily accessible when I'm in a rush! I'm sure the contents of this basket will change, but for the time being they are...

Bourjois 10 hour sleep effect foundation (blogged about here)
Bourjois Delice de Poudre bronzer (Shade 51) (blogged about here)
Avon Color Trend double-ended kajal stick (Brown & Black)
No7 Exceptional Definition mascara (Brown/Black) (blogged about here)
Maybelline Pure Cover Mineral Concealer (02 Sand)
Carmex Original lip balm :-)

Et voila!

Here's how my make-up looked after:

Everything is neatly organised into categories, my favourites are out on display and, most importantly, there's room to expand! ;-)

How do you store your make-up? Do you find it's ever-changing?!

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Strut review, swatches & FOTD!

2012-01-25T16:25:00.001Z

Hey guys!

I hope you're all good in the hood! :-)

I popped into Boots recently, and I had a quick rummage through their 'Clearance' section and guess what I picked up... one of these babys! Yup, one of Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadows in the on-trend shade, Strut...

You know the best bit? It was reduced HALF PRICE, from £14 to £7... bargain! Someone had obviously wanted to try it before they bought it, because it had a few finger marks in it but it still had 98% of the product left, as you can see :)

It's a really wearable, glistening gunmetal shade that's perfect for a spin-off on the classic smokey eye ;-) Not only that, but the product is SO pigmented - Although it retails at £14, you just know it's going to last years as you only need to use the TINIEST amount!

So here's what Strut looks like on my eyes (closed):

and open:

I think it's a really striking colour that suits darker features like my own. I personally would think it's a bit harsh on fairer skintones (blue eyes, blonde hair!)

Here's a couple of full-face shots to see how it looks overall...

Also wearing...

MAC Fix+

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

NARS Laguna bronzer

NARS Orgasm blusher

H&M clear lipgloss (old)

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Strut

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid eye liner (Black)

Avon Color Trend kajal stick (Black)

2 coats of CoverGirl Last Blast Volume mascara (Black)

Ruby + Millie Brow Kit

I am really impressed with this eye shadow, and it's well worth the bargain £7 I paid for it! The only other Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow I own is the shade RSVP, which I picked up for £1 at a car boot sale!

I NEED some more of these shadows in my life! There's 12 shades available to buy at the moment & I'd love to try...

Birthday Suit (brushed chrome)
Bunny Hop (sparkling champagne) and
Busy Signal (venetian brown)

You can buy them on the newly re-vamped Benefit website for £14 here.

Have you tried Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadows before? If so, what's your favourite shade? If not, what do you use instead?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Health foods haul!

2012-01-24T12:00:00.004Z

Good afternoon guys!

How are you all today? I don't know about you lot but I am on a bit of a health-kick at the moment! I don't know why, but something just clicked and I really WANT to be healthy from now on :-)

So I dragged myself into town this morning and spent a small fortune in Holland & Barratt lol. I made myself a little list, consisting mainly of items that I've seen on Keeping Healthy Getting Stylish and Sweet Potato Sarah - 2 of my favourite healthy living blogs!

Here's what I picked up...

Dried mango slices
VitaCoco coconut water (original, passionfruit, pineapple and peach & mango)
Aspire Cranberry calorie burning soft drink
Ecomil almond milk
Yogi chocolate + spices tea bags
Yoghurt coated raisins
Sula sugar free sweets (strawberries & cream, caramel cream & clear mint)
Salad sprinkle mix (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeks)
Flaxseed
TREK bars (cocoa brownie & mixed berry)
Nakd bars (cashew cookie & gingerbread)

I've separated all my foods into cupboard foods and fridge foods and stored them accordingly.

I've put all my cupboard foods into a little container and placed it by my bed (which used to have a tray full of chocolate, nono!) in case I get hungry.

I've also placed all the fridge foods into a lunch box and popped that in the fridge so that it's all nice and organised... I'm a bit OCD with things like that LOL...

Of course, I will review these all fully when I've had a chance to indulge in them lol, but I have to say I am really looking forward to trying these foods & drinks!!! So far, the only thing I've tried is a cup of coffee with almond milk, which leaves a lovely sweet taste to the coffee, and the TREK cocoa brownie bar which I enjoyed much more than I would! I'm going to bring the cranberry drink and the sugar free sweets on the train with me in case I get peckish :-)

What do you think? Have you tried any of these health foods before? What are your favourite health/superfoods?

Let me know!

Sophia

Next Christmas party OOTN, FOTN & NOTN ft. H&M sequin skirt!

2012-01-22T16:20:00.002Z

Good afternoon people!

How are you all today? Enjoying your Sunday I hope!!! I have to admit I'm feeling slightly delicate after my work's belated Christmas party at the Hilton Metropole in Brighton last night. I had the most amazing time (albeit one too many glasses of red!) I also had the chance to properly say goodbye to my work friends as it was my last day - For those of you who are interested, I left to focus my time & energy on finding a proper journo job!

I decided to go uber glam and whack out the sequin skirt that my Sister bought me for Christmas. I figured it would be the last opportunity to wear it this year really, as we're coming into Spring/Summer now! I also think it's always better to have one 'stand out' piece in an outfit, which I hope the black balanced out.

So here's what I wore...

FASHION:

Black wrap body - ASOS (old - similar style here)
Gold sequin skirt - H&M (new - see my Christmas prezzies here)
Black tights - TOPSHOP (old - available here)
Black patent heels - Priceless Shoes (old - see blog post here)
Bag - Vintage (sort of - see my car boot haul here)

BEAUTY:

FACE: Benefit That Gal primer, Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker (02 Medium), Benefit Boi-ing concealer (02 Medium), YSL Touche Eclat (Shade 1), Benefit Dallas bronzer, Benefit Coralista blusher.

EYES: Urban Decay e/s primer potion, Urban Decay baked e/s in Buck all over lid, Urban Decay baked e/s in Hustle in outer corners (all from NAKED palette), 2 coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara (Volume), Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid eye-liner (Black) on top lid, Avon Color Trend kajal stick (Black) in lower waterline - also used on eyebrows.

LIPS: Carmex lip balm (Original) to prime; Sleek Pout Polish in Scandal.

HAIR: Straightened using GHD's in the a.m; held, volumised & touched up using Moroccanoil Luminous Hold hairspray.

NAILS

Models Own - Gold Finger (bought from ASOS)

I love this shade from Model's Own! It's so pigmented and you get SOO much glitter! I'm going to have to restrain myself from buying any more! I can't wait to go out again - I love dressing up!

What did you wear this weekend?

Love,

Sophia

Soap & Glory SUPERCAT Carbon Black extreme eyeliner pen review & pics!

2012-01-19T22:12:00.000Z

Hey lovelies!!!

I hope you've all had a pleasant week and are looking forward to the WEEKEND! :)

I had to share this product with you guys - I've been wearing it literally EVERY day since I bought it a couple of weeks ago...

It's Soap & Glory's new(ish!) SUPERCAT eyeliner pen... and it's UH-MAZING!!!

I've always (and I mean ALWAYS!) used Rimmel's Exaggerate liquid eye liner, but I found the nib was just too thick and it would often smudge and rub onto my upper lid. I required a thin, pen-like liner - I was tempted to buy L'Oreal's Carbon Gloss liner but I've heard rumours it's too 'glossy'! So I kind of went out and bought this on a whim without really reading any reviews or anything...

& I'm so glad I did!

It's just got the most perfect, pointy nib that is literally like a felt tin pen!

It leaves a super thin line that's precise and accurate and NEVER smudges. It goes EXACTLY where you want it to!

I can't reiterate enough how fast, easy and convenient it is. Seriously, I am ALWAYS in a rush applying my make-up and with it I can do my eye liner in like 30 secs!

...& you know the best bit? It's only £6!!! You can't afford to not try it really, at that price... Oh, and S&G are on 3 for 2 at Boots at the moment as well!

Here's a couple of full face shots so you can see how it looks IRL...

I think it leaves a really natural line that can easily be adjusted to appear thick or thin. With this liner I've found that you can even just draw the outline and then 'colour it in' as well! It's just fab :)

I'm really looking forward to trying some other items in the Soap and Glory make-up line now, including their imitation Benetint "Cheekmate" and their raved about concealer!

Have you tried any Soap & Glory make-up?

Let me know if it's any good!

Love,

Sophia

NOTD: New York Color Quick Dry in Manhattan & new watch!

2012-01-09T21:24:00.006Z

Hey ladies!

Just a quick one, I'm knackered from LBT! Here's what I've been rocking on my nails today :)

It's from NYC's Quick Dry nail polish range and honestly it's absolutely fab. Dries in a minute, only needs 2 coats and the whole range boasts classic yet on-trend colours. You want to know the best bit? You can pick them up in Superdrug for less than £2!!! I also love their shade Canal Street which I always rock every Christmas (it's a lovely, shimmery wine red colour!)

You can view all my NOTD posts including the NYC Quick Dry range here.

Oh and while you're staring at my hands...

Did I mention I bought myself a new watch?

Nothing fancy but the one I was wearing prior was getting a bit tatty, I'd already had to get a new strap for it once and it was just looking a bit run down. Not only that but it kept stopping... Would normally be OK, if it wasn't a watch and you needed it to be accurate!

My new one is from Next (no surprises there) and it retails for £18. It features a real tan leather croc effect strap and a rectangular face with a gold edge.

It's no Michael Kors (maybe one day...) but it tells the time, non?

I have to say also, without being completely biased, that it is worth popping into Next if you're on the hunt for a new watch as most of them are under £20 :)

What are you sporting on your nails/wrist today?

Love,

Sophia

My eyebrow routine ft. £1.50 eye brush from Fragrance Direct!

2012-01-09T17:03:00.000Z

Hey lovelies!

How are you all on this "manic Monday"? I've had a rather productive day I must say, but now I feel like it's the evening and I haven't actually stopped! Might drag myself down to an exercise class later to give me some much needed energy!

Now let's talk eyebrows.

Ever since I scarred my eyebrows as a child I've been reluctant to accentuate them and thus accentuate the scar. However I have learnt that a really good eyebrow pencil/shading action covers up the scar as well so I can still fill them in like normal!

When I first started filling in my eyebrows I used Avon's Kajal Stick in Brown which was probably a tad too dark looking back. Then I starting using MAC's Eyebrow pencil in Lingering (Kim K's eyebrow pencil of choice, dontcha know?) but I got fed up with the end that kept snapping off and it eventually ran out anyway.

Now I've found a beloved combo in the form of Ruby & Millie's Brow Enhance (Brown), applied using W7's Angled Eye Shadow Brush.

Here they are in all their glory...

I had to share this routine with you guys just because it's so damn easy.

STEP ONE

Using the brush, apply a little of the brow color (the brown one in the set) and use it to 'colour in' your brows

STEP TWO

No need to clean the brush, just add a little of the gel (the clear coloured one in the set) and, applying it where you've just applied the colour, use it to set the colour in place and finish off the look

THAT'S IT!

So here's my brows before...

and after...

brows before...

and after...

& here's a couple of face shots to show you how my new brows shape my face...

FYI I'm also wearing...

No7 Colour Calming Primer

Rimmel 25 Hour Foundation (True Ivory)

Maybelline Pure Cover Mineral Concealer (Sand)

NARS Laguna (bronzer) & Orgasm (blush)

Urban Decay e/s primer potion (Original)

Urban Decay baked e/s (Buck & Smog)

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye-Liner (Brown) on top lids

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (Brown) on lower waterline

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara (Brown)

Ruby + Millie Brow Enhance (Brown)

Carmex lip balm (Original)

I have to say I'm pretty impressed with my eyebrow routine! I think they look really natural and 'tamed' and it only takes like a minute - it's no Scouse Brow but there ya go!

I bought the Ruby + Millie Brow Enhance from Boots when the line was in the clearance, but I believe it's pretty similar to other brow kits on the market, including ELF's or Benefit's. I bought the Eye Brush from Fragrance Direct for £1.50 but you can buy it online for less than £1!

What's your fail safe eyebrow routine?

Love,

Sophia

A few of my favourite Christmas prezzies :)

2012-01-08T17:39:00.000Z

Oh hey guys!

How are y'all doing? I hope you're enjoying this very lazy Sunday! :) I know I am!

Now I know a lot of people don't enjoy reading these kinds of posts, I suppose they could be described as a tad self-indulgent... HOWEVER I've loved reading everyone else's Christmas prezzies posts, it gives me ideas of what to add to my lists next year (and I'm just nosy - haha!)

You may remember I posted before about my Christmas wishlist, which was also featured in Horsham's The Resident newspaper. Well you'll all be relieved to know (!) that I received quite a lot of 'on-list' presents... and lots of lovely surprises as well :)

Here are some of my favourites...

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and the 266 brush

My sis treated me to MAC's infamous Fluidline which I can't wait to try! I've been watching beautycrush's tutorial on youtube about how to apply this, but I know I'm going to find it a right struggle! The truth is, I usually have about 5 mins to apply my make-up in the morning so I reckon I will have to sit down one afternoon and really master how to use this properly!

Benefit Smokin' Eyes sexy eye & brow makeover kit

Ma mere purchased Benefit's Smokin' Eyes kit for me because I have to admit... I still haven't mastered the art of the smokey eye! I know, can you believe it - 21 years old and many an application of make-up later, I still cannot do it. I don't know whether it's the patience or what, but I really cannot do it! I need a guide like this to help me master it! I'm getting desperate here people!!!

The set contains smokey eye coloured eyeshadows, a kohl eyeliner and a mini brow zings set to name only a few items, and I'm hoping that with this kit I will have sexy smokey eyes & brows in no time. A girl can dream!

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Eau de Parfum

I sampled this perfume a couple of months ago in the Fragrance Shop but couldn't really justify buying it when I have quite a few perfumes already (Miss Dior Cherie, Marc Jacobs Daisy & Clinique Happy are some of my many 'go-to' fragrances) however I have a feeling that this will be my new 'going out' fragrance! I'm rubbish at describing scents, but it's a lovely vanilla scent that's fresh and perfect for a night out. I mean with a name like 212 VIP what do you expect?!

Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation & Flawless Wear Concealer

EEEKKK!! I got tested for these items a number of months ago when I popped into Boots for some bits and bobs. The MUA applied both products to my face first thing in the morning and I was so surprised to find they were both still perfectly in tact come evening - even after a sweaty gym session! I know! But after reading a few reviews of the Doublewear foundation online I felt it would be too similar to my MAC Pro Longwear foundation that I use very regularly. I am still in love with Pro Longwear but it has a kind of sticky texture that I find rather odd to apply sometimes. So my Mum treated me to Estee Lauder's coveted foundation for Christmas and I went out and bought the concealer to match! FYI I'm the lightest POSSIBLE shade in both products lol - 'Bone' in the foundation and 'Light' in the concealer. Give me some sun! Full reviews to follow :)

Moroccanoil travel sized gift set

The boy did good! I've been lusting after Moroccanoil's Oil Treatment for YEARS but the boy did one better and got me the complete gift set! Containing a mini version of their luxe shampoo and conditioner, as well as a mini oil treatment and conditioning masque, I have a feeling my hair's going to be in pristine condition come February! Bring it on!

Treaclemoon Bath & Shower Gel / Body Scrub

I've never tried any of Treaclemoon's products before but I felt I had to mention these as they smell SO DAMN GOOD! :) The shower gel 'that vanilla moment' smells like Panettone cake (Italians will know!) whilst the body scrub 'my coconut island' smells just like holiday! I can't wait to use these in the shower :D!

LUSH Christmas Star bath gift set

It wouldn't be Christmas without LUSH! The only thing I need to do now is find the time to have a lovely, long relaxing bath. It was actually one of my new year's resolutions LAST year to take more baths to ease my stress levels but I admit I epically failed at that! I always feel like I'm hogging the bathroom and someone's going to bang on the door shouting 'I need the loo!' or something lol. Maybe that's just me...

DVDs

(from L-R: Celebrity Juice Too Juicy for TV, Bridesmaids, Gossip Girl Season 1, The Inbetweeners Movie)

Well I think you guys can guess MY sense of humour lol! I watched Bridesmaids in the cinema and absolutely died laughing, and the Inbetweeners movie was just hilarious. I've always been a fan of Celeb Juice and Gossip Girl is to watch late at night in bed :)

Books

I didn't ask for too many books this year as I not only have a list as long as my arm of books I need to read, but I'm also reading about 3 books on the go at the moment lol. However I would never say no to a good cook book - I really miss living at uni and cooking for myself every evening, and, well... Jamie Oliver is a living legend. I was soo happy I got the Twilight guide! You can never have enough Twilight knowledge... Twihard through and through baby!

Cath Kitson purse & key fob

Aww, so sweet! This purse is the perfect size, with enough room for all my cards, coins, receipts etc and it's such a beautiful, girly print - perfect for the summer :) and I always lose my keys so the floral fob will hopefully come in handy!

H&M gold sequin bodycon skirt

My sis treated me to this skirt after we tried it on together in H&M Crawlaay. I actually thought she had bought it for herself and was begging her to borrow it ALL CHRISTMAS! Turns out she bought it for me lol so now I get to wear it alll the time :) I might wear it to my work's Christmas party, I loove it :)

Classic Tall Ugg Boots - Black
Need I say anymore? These boots are just perfect! In fact, I'm wearing them right now! They're soo comfy! I received a short pair in Sand a couple of years ago and they are just the most versatile, durable boots ever invented. They are still in pretty good condition but obviously the sand colour gets a bit mucky. So hopefully these will last me a little longer :)

and saving the best 'til last...

CHOCOLATE!!!

Lots and lots of it! It's going to take me years to get through all of this lol. Looks like I won't be able to join Weight Watchers until I finish it all! ;-)

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and got all the lovely things you asked for!

What was your favourite present this year?

Love,

Sophia

Next Winter Sale haul!

2012-01-06T21:15:00.000Z

Hey lovelies!

How are we all tonight? Looking forward to the weekend? I'm just chilling out at home, sipping a mug of herbal tea and listening to Magic... I needed to relax after a rather stressful week...! First of all can I just say a big thank you to everyone for their lovely comments on my Christmas Day and New Year's Eve style post - it's so nice to have other bloggers' support, and reading such nice things! So thank you!!!

Anyway you will be surprised to read that I have done hardly any sales shopping this year. I just haven't had the time. The only sale I really take the time to go to every year is TOPSHOP's on Christmas Eve, but because I was working this year I wasn't able to go, and I didn't fancy ordering a load of stuff online that probably wouldn't fit! SOO whilst this NEXT haul may look like quite a lot, it was literally the only stuff I 'hauled' on this year and besides, I had my eye on most of the stuff even BEFORE the sale! So here's what I picked up... (FYI, everything was at LEAST half price!)

Fragrance diffuser set - WAS £16 NOW £8

Eeeek, I've been lusting after this product for AAAGES! Recently I've acquired a new fascination with fragrance diffusers. I purchased Next's Festive Spice fragrance diffuser in December and I just loved the scent, it was so nice to come home from work and have my room smelling all Christmassy. Not only that but I feel slightly uncomfortable/edgy with having candles lit in my room, so this is a nice compromise. These fragrance diffusers retail at £5e so I knew snapping this 4 piece set up for £8 (£2e) was a true bargain! I can't wait to smell them all :)

Chocolate scented candle - WAS £4 NOW £2

Now, dismissing everything I just said about not liking candles, I just couldn't resist this one! You know why...?

It smells like CHOCOLATE!!! I might not even light it - I might just keep smelling it, to curb my cocoa cravings, haha. It's delicious!

Glass tea light holder - WAS £3.50 NOW £1.50

Yeah, I know... LOL. The truth is, a couple of years ago I bought a packet of about 50 tea lights. Not sure why. I think it was to set a romantic ambience when the bf came to visit. I've not used them since so I figured buying this pretty tea light holder would give me an excuse to try and use them up? Let's see shall we!

Grey marl ballerina slippers - WAS £7 NOW £2

Yeah that's right... £7 down to just £2! That's £1 a slipper! What a bargain. A girl can never have too many slippers! I was tempted to buy these in Navy as well but I thought that was going a bit too far. They're super comfy and keep my tootsies nice and warm, result :)

Stripe slipper boots - WAS £10 NOW £5

I was looking ahead to the summer when I bought these, as I think my cosy cream fleece lined slipper boots that I bought from Next a couple of months ago are just going to make my feet too hot. These are a softer jersey material that I'm hoping will keep my feet a lot cooler. Definitely not because I split coffee all over my cream ones and they're non-machine washable... No, definitely not...

Black bejewelled headband - WAS £8 NOW £4

You may recognise this headband from a certain NYE outfit :) That was solely the reason I bought this to be honest as I thought it suited the 20's theme of the party, but I reckon I will get a lot of wear out of it anyway as I love the whole headband around your head thing... :)

Gold necklace - WAS £10 NOW £5

This was probably the only thing I HADN'T planned to buy! I know, out of all of this... lol. I figured a chic gold necklace never goes out of fashion and you can't go wrong for a fiver :)

Gold hoop earrings - WAS £6 NOW £2

Same with these really, as if I haven't got enough earrings already I decided I needed another pair! I've tried them on and they look a little chavvy... Let's hope they'll work with the right outfit, eh!

Black leather wash bag - WAS £18 NOW £8

Funnily enough, I actually bought this wash bag for my boyfriend for Christmas. Yes, it's a Menswear item. He loved it and I have to say I suddenly got well jel. So as soon as I saw that one of them went into the sale, I had to buy one for myself!

Black leather will never go out of style, and it's the perfect size to fit all my toiletries/make-up in my handbag, even if it does look a little 'macho'...

Black patent Mary Jane heels - WAS £30 NOW £14

And finally, saving the best 'til last! (well they were the most expensive!) I really DO NOT own a pair of heels like these; a smart pair of black heels that can be worn to work or for occasion wear. I actually wore them on NYE as I felt they suited the 20's theme rather well and I do think I will get a lot of wear out of them. Not only because they're chic black patent, but I also felt that my feet were properly 'strapped into' the shoes because of the strap! Oh, and did I mention they were half price? ;-)

So overall girlies I think I've done rather well. It came to just over £50 in total, and I saved a massive £61 on the original prices! I definitely think I will get a lot of use out of all the items and that's all my January sales shopping done now :) Also, if you're interested here's what I splashed the cash on in last year's January sales.

Have you been loving the Sales this year? Did you face the Next sale on Boxing sale?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

My Christmas Day and New Year's Eve style 2011!

2012-01-01T15:00:00.000Z

Hey guyssss!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm sooo sorry I haven't blogged for ages! I have been super busy with work etc but I have a long list of posts planned and I'm gonna make it one of my New Year's resolutions to blog more in 2012, I miss it :)

I hope you've all had a lovely, stress free Christmas and New Year period. As you know I looove getting dressed up for special occasions and so this Christmas and New Year's was no exception! Let's get started...

Christmas Day

Fashion

Dress: Primark (see blog post)

Tights: Topshop

Heels: Boohoo (see blog post)

Beauty

Face: MAC Fix+, MAC Pro Longwear Foundation [NC15] applied using a MAC 180 Foundation Brush, YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch [1 Luminous Radiance], Benefit Boi-ing Concealer [02 Medium], NARS Bronzer [Laguna].

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion [Original], Urban Decay Baked Eyeshadow [Buck] all over lid, Urban Decay Baked Eyeshadow [Hustle] in outer corners, Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner [Black] on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick [Black] in lower waterline, 2 coats of Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara [Black - Volume].

Ruby & Millie Brow Enhance [Brown] applied using a W7 Angled Brush.

Lips: Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner [021 Red Dynamite] smudged in with The Body Shop lip brush, MAC Matte Lipstick [Russian Red] applied with the same lip brush.

Hair: I recently dyed my hair using Superdrug's Semi Permanent dye in Black Cherry so you might notice a slight red tint to it, I also straightened it using my GHD's :)

Nails: Nails Inc in Tate (free with GLAMOUR) topped off with Eyeko Vampira polish (see my haul!)

New Year's Eve

Fashion

FYI can I just state that it was FANCY DRESS! I would not usually wear this on a night out LOL. It was 20's flapper/Chicago theme :)

Dress: Boohoo (sold out)

Suspender tights: House of Holland at ASOS

Beaded headband: Next (sale)

Black patent Mary Jane heels: Next (sale)

Pearl necklace: Primark

Black bag: Vintage (20p from a car boot sale!)

Beauty

Face: Benefit That Gal primer, Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker [02 Medium], Benefit Bronzer [Dallas], Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator [02 Peach].

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion [Original], Urban Decay Baked Eyeshadow [Buck] all over lid, Urban Decay Baked Eyeshadow [Hustle & Darkhorse] in outer corners, Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner [Black] on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick [Black] in lower waterline, 2 coats of Cover Girl LashBlast Mascara [Black - Volume].

Ruby & Millie Brow Enhance [Brown] applied using a W7 Angled Brush.

Lips: Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner [021 Red Dynamite] smudged in with The Body Shop lip brush, L'Oreal Kiss Proof Lipstick and matching Lipgloss in shade 513

Hair: Curled using my GHD's and I used Bed Head's Masterpiece hairspray to keep the curls in place.

Nails: Rimmel Lycra Pro in Celebrity Bash

Phew, think I've covered everything! Any questions just drop me a tweet @smoir :)

What did you wear this Christmas/New Year's?

I wish you all the best of luck in 2012! My first resolution is to get a job relevant to my degree (journalism)! What're yours?

Love,

Sophia

Glittery NOTN & FOTN - Christmas party...

2011-12-11T18:46:00.000Z

Hey guys!

Hope you've all had wonderful weekends!! Hasn't it just flown by? I went to the cinema to see New Year's Eve with the fam earlier, I have to say I really enjoyed it :) stellar cast as well! Definitely worth a watch!

Anyways, in the week I attended The Resident's staff Christmas party which I really enjoyed! It's one of our local newspapers here in Horsham so it was really nice to meet all the other staff & freelancers at the paper! I felt like injecting a bit of festive glam into my outfit so I went for glittery nails AND eyes! What can I say, I love a bit of glitz, me!

Here's what I rocked on my nails...

Ooh hello gold glittery nails!!

Here's how I achieved this very festive look...

3 coats of Love & Beauty nail polish in Gold

3 coats of Saffron nail polish in Gold

Gold glittery nails!

(without flash)

(with flash)

I have to admit, I can't believe both polishes took THREE coats to reach their full effect!! I mean, come on!! I wore the plain Saffron gold colour on its own for a while before I found it too 'blah' and had to add the Saffron glitter one! But I was really disappointed with the Saffron nail polish - I didn't like the fact there were MASSIVE chunks of glitter in it, and it took ages to try! Oh well, it was only £2 or so so I'm not complaining :)

My friend Claire bought me the Love & Beauty gold colour from the States for me for my birthday and I bought the Saffron gold glitter one from eBay for £2 :)

Do you have a fave gold glittery nail colour that you'd recommend?

Now onto my make-up...I went quite glam with my make-up as it's the first time I've been out in a while... LOL. In all honesty, though, I did my make-up at about 9am in the morning and literally just re-did my eyeliner and added a touch of lipgloss to go out in the evening, I didn't touch up my face AT ALL and this pic was taken at about 8pm... Love live MAC Pro Longwear that's all I can say!

I wore...

No7 Colour Calming Primer

Mac Pro Longwear Foundation applied with MAC 180 Brush

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (02 Medium)

NARS Laguna bronzer + Orgasm blusher

Urban Decay e/s Primer Potion

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye-Liner (Black)

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (Black end)

Collection 2000 Glitter eye liner in Black/Gold (you can't really see this in the pic above but I covered my lids in it, love it!)

Cover Girl LashBlast Volume Mascara (Black)

Benefit The Gloss in Clear (discontinued I think)

Have you rocked glittery nails/eyes/lips(!!) yet? What's your fail safe glitter make-up product?

Love,

Sophia

Bargain winter clutch bags from Dorothy Perkins!

2011-12-08T14:30:00.000Z

Hey Lilt ladies!

Now you guys know, I love me a bargain! There is NOTHING better than finding something you like, then going to the till to find it's reduced/in the sale/there's some crazy offer going on that you didn't know about! Well that's exactly what happened to me recently in Dotty P's...

I spotted these 3 gorgeous clutches in there, and me being me (ie shopaholic to the extreme) could not resist getting all 3... lol. HOWEVER I was overjoyed to discover upon payment that they were ALL in the sale, and they were also offering 20% student discount at the time! SCORE!!!

Let's have a look at what I picked up...

Burgundy faux leather clutch - £11 (£9.80 w/ student discount)

Now this beauty caught my eye instantly - I am OBSESSED with burgundy/port/wine/aubergine shades at the mo! They're just so lovely and wintery, you wouldn't catch me wearing it in the summer! Nonono. I love how this clutch can add a pop of colour to an all-black outfit. Love the gold clasp detail as well, v. snazzy!

Black patent & suede clutch - £10 (£8 w/ student discount)

I am a firm believer that you can never have too many clutch bags! Black clutch bags in particular. They very simply turn a daytime outfit into a glam party outfit! I already have a black patent clutch... and a black suede clutch... but I don't have a black patent AND black suede clutch! So now I've ticked that box :) it's lovely and roomy, too!

Leopard print faux suede clutch - £5 (£4 w/ student discount)

I know!!! Seriously, I know!!! What a bargain, right? I am ALL OVER leopard print at the mo, it's just so 'Kardashian' & oozes chic! Here's me rocking the leopard print clutch below...

Next on my wishlist is a pair of leopard print heels! HELLO!

I also picked up...

... this statement necklace for £1! What a bargain!

Have you picked up any bargains in DP's recently? If not, where's your place to bargain hunt?

I have to know!

Love,

Sophia

My Christmas wishlist as seen in this week's The Resident!

2011-12-08T13:59:00.000Z

Hey peoples!

I hope you're all enjoying yourselves on this bladdy freezing day!! I've just been getting along with a load of overdue jobs and planning some imminent blog posts! I had a really lovely Christmassy day yesterday - I went to my sister's Christmas dinner at her school with my mum (reppin' Greenway!) and then went to The Resident's Christmas party at the Med Cafe. It was really nice to finally put faces to names... and let's just say something very exciting is happening with me there soon, will give you all the low down soon! :D

Speaking of The Resident, my column for them this month featured my Christmas wish list! I had to cut it down slightly (!!!) as it has about 30 items on it and I was only allowed 600 words. Lol. You can read the article in full by clicking on the image below or reading it on The Resident's website here - I'm on page 29! Alternatively you can pick up a copy in Horsham town, but be quick, their new issue comes out tomorrow!!

(please click on image to enlarge)

You can view my Christmas wishlist in its entirety on Amazon here.

What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

TOPSHOP make-up reviews inc. swatches & FOTD!

2011-12-06T13:01:00.000Z

Hey guys!

I hope you're all well today :) I expect most of you are at work or studying, boo! :( I'm just getting ready to go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with the bf! Have any of you been? I can't wait, I have no idea what to wear though!

So anyway, you may remember, back in August I blogged about a few TOPSHOP make up purchases and, well, I realised... I'd never actually got around to reviewing them! So here they are... :) Enjoy!

(Clockwise from left: LE Gloss Stick in Ablaze, Cream Blush in Pinch, LE Eyeshadow Crayon in Equinox & LE Eyeshadow Mousse in Glint)

TOPSHOP Cream Blush in Pinch

First up is this cream blush in the shade Pinch. Now I had my eyes on the cult Neon Rose and Flush shades but unfortunately these were both sold out in Topshop Oxford Circus at the time :( Noo!

So I settled for this raspberry pink shade instead - I just couldn't resist buying one of their renowned cream blushes! For £6 as well, you can't go wrong really!

It looks REALLY striking in the pan, and I have to admit it's pretty striking when applied straight to the cheeks as well!

Here's a cheeky swatch...

It does appear to glisten in this photo but it doesn't have that texture when you apply it to the skin, in fact it's very matte looking - it does require a lot of rubbing in though to make you not look like a doll!

I'm giving it a solid 4*. The texture is 5* but the shade is just a bit too daring for my taste! You can see how it appears on my face in my FOTD at the end of this post :)

TOPSHOP LE Eyeshadow Mousse in Glint

Next up is this eyeshadow mousse in the shade Glint - a product I'd been coveting for aaages!

It's a lovely glistening taupe shade in the pot that would be absolutely perfect for a daytime smokey eye. The texture is a little lighter than I was expecting - I guess I've never tried an eyeshadow 'mousse' before and was just expecting it to be like Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadows, etc! ... It's not!

Here's a swatch...

It looks very similar here to Urban Decay's baked e/s in Smog which I use on an almost daily basis!

So here's my eye make-up after applying Glint...

You can just about see it on the edges of my lid...

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with this product. Despite it looking absolutely divine in the pot, the colour pay off on the eyes is pretty poor. The consistency is just so thin that you can barely see it. I will try and see how I get on if I apply LOADS of the product, but again I'll give it just 3*s. The colour is spot on but the consistency is a little 'off'. Sorry, Toppers...

TOPSHOP LE Eyeshadow Crayon in Equinox

Next up is this eyeshadow crayon that I received as a present. I'd seen it doing the rounds on a couple of my favourite blogs, so my lovely friend Flo treated me to it.

It's a very faint, shimmery gold eyeshadow 'crayon' that you can apply to your eyelids.

Here's a swatch...

The colour on the swatch is so lovely, but sadly (again) the pay off on the lids is pretty poor. It's a VERY faint gold shade that you really need to apply a couple of layers of to even be able to see it. I think, instead, I will use it as a cheek highlighter cos I reckon it would be perfect for that! In fact I might even pop it in my handbag now :) So just 3 *'s from me...

TOPSHOP LE Gloss Stick in Ablaze

Don't worry, I'm (unintentionally) saving the best 'til last! Last up is this gloss stick in the shade Ablaze that was part of the LE Sandstorm collection.

It's a striking peach shade that has tiny little bits of glitter shot through it.

So here are my lips before:

and after:

It's really hard to describe the consistency of it, but basically when you apply it to your lips it turns into this uber glossy, ultra shiny lip colour! I absolutely am in love with it! Granted it's not the ideal shade for A/W11, but I will definitely be making good use of it in S/S12! 5*s :D

FOTD featuring all the above products...

I'm wearing...

17 Photo Flawless Primer

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (02 Medium)

Mac Pro Longwear Foundation (NC15) applied with MAC 190 Foundation Brush

TOPSHOP Cream Blush in Pinch

Mac Fix+

Mac Painterly Paint Pot as base

Urban Decay Baked e/s in Buck all over lid

TOPSHOP e/s crayon in Equinox in inner corners

TOPSHOP e/s mousse in Glint in outer corners

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner (Black) on top lid

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (Brown) in lower waterline

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara (Brown/Black)

TOPSHOP Gloss Stick in Ablaze

Have you tried TOPSHOP make up before? What are your favourite products?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Weekend OOTN, FOTN & NOTN!

2011-12-05T23:51:00.001Z

Hey lovelies!

How are you all on this chilly Monday evening? I hope you are all tucked up in bed watching Desperate Scousewives like me lol. I have to say at first I thought it was a load of trash but now I am addicted! I really want to visit Liverpool now, it looks uber glam!

I have spent the day waiting for the courier to deliver my new iPhone 4S. Anyone that knows me will know that I have held out for a number of years to upgrade to a smartphone, and with my knocked up Sony Ericsson on its last legs (the keypad had literally fallen off and it kept turning off randomly) I decided to fork out for a "proper" phone lol. Maybe I will even use it to blog... who knows, at the moment I am just trying to figure out how to make a call! Lol.

Meanwhile, over the weekend I went into town with some of my best friends. Here's what went down... :)

OUTFIT

I went for a look inspired by Maria Fowler from TOWIE, who recently wore a black beaded vest with a mocha bodycon skirt and black tights. I swapped the vest with a body instead because I'm not overly confident with my arms!

Black lace body - ASOS (new)

Mocha bandage skirt - eBay (new)

Tights - Topshop

Heels - Priceless Shoes (see blog post)

I also wore a small vintage black patent bag (not seen).

MAKE-UP

I went for a bold lip and more understated eyes...

Face: Benefit That Gal primer, Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker [Medium], Benefit Boi-ing Concealer [02 Medium], Benefit Dallas bronzer, Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator [02 Peach].

Eyes: Urban Decay Original Primer Potion, Urban Decay Baked e/s in Buck all over lid; Smog & Hustle on outer corners, Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner [Black] on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick [Brown] in lower waterline, Benefit Bad Girl mascara & Avon Supershock mascara [both Black].

Lips: LUSH Bubblegum lip scrub, Rimmel lip liner [Red Dynamite], MAC Matte Lipstick [Russian Red], No7 clear gloss to finish.

What do you guys think?

HAIR

I washed my hair using L'Oreal Elvive Colour Protect shampoo + conditioner and then spritzed Vo5 Miracle Mist onto towel dried hair. I then blow dried my hair and curled it using standard GHD's, spraying it with Bed Head Masterpiece hairspray to set the curls.

NAILS

I went with blood red nails to match the lips, I'm wearing ASOS paint in Victoria :)

Did you hit the town on Saturday night? What did you wear??

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Bargain of the Week: £20 Matalan biker boots!

2011-12-01T14:12:00.001Z

Hey loves! (wow I'm on a roll today!!!)

Now, I love nothing more than bringing you my 'bargain of the week' posts! In the past we've had a £2 manicure set, a £1 purse & a £5 dressing gown to name but a few! I know that this item is slightly more expensive than the others, but I just had to show you guys anyway as it's such a bargain IMO!!! Here we go...

It's these absolutely amazing short biker boots from Matalan! I have been searching for a pair like these literally since the end of summer! They're just perfect for throwing on when you want to be comfy but still stylish. I've been roaming all the fashion websites and they're all so expensive - Next have an almost identical pair for £60. Ridic!

Here they are in all their glory...

FYI, if you're thinking of getting these, I would say that the sizing is a bit off. I'm a standard size 4. I could barely get the size 4's onto my feet. So I bought the size 5's, but they're a bit loose. They're OK with a pair of thick socks on but they still kind of flip off at the back! Oh well... I'll be wearing mine with a Barbour jacket and skinny cords :)

You can pick them up in your local Matalan store or online here for £22. They also come in tan.

What boots are you rocking this winter? Will you be having a look in Matalan for a pair?

Love,

Sophia

H&M winter '11 haul!

2011-12-01T13:46:00.000Z

Hey ladies!

If you enjoyed my Primark winter haul then you will loooove this :) I haven't bought anything in H&M for months so I went a bit mad as you can imagine!!

Here's what I picked up...

Black leather look bag - £14.99

I was on the hunt for a black leather bag that I can wear on a day-to-day basis. At the moment, I'm using a black patent one that I purchased in the Next sale, but it's getting a bit knocked up from work tbh! This bag however is perfect! It's soo spacious, it fits all my essentials in (mag, filofax, make-up, notepad, water etc!) with room for more. It's also really simple and chic and so goes with ANYTHING! & it's a steal at £15! They had it in Mink as well which I very nearly bought... before I remembered that I always end up with biro on cream/mink leather bags! Boo! :(

Black skinny cords - £19.99

I tried on these cords in H&M Westfield Stratford City a couple of months ago when me and the boy went to see Snow Patrol in London. I really loved them, but I couldn't really carry them around with me to the gig etc! So I was overjoyed when I spotted them in Crawley in Saturday - I was worried they might have sold out! Now let me tell you something, they are sooo tight! Seriously. I hope they get a bit looser after a few wears lol. Also when I was trying them on, my mum decided that she wanted a pair too! What can I say, like mother, like daughter...

Black faux leather crop top - £14.99

I know, very daring! I love this top - It's so edgy & chic! I generally just love leather - trousers, skirts, bags, the lot!! I plan on wearing it with a bodycon skirt or a pair of cord shorts. Yum...

Black lace bodycon dress - £12.99

WooHOO, I know... £13!!! Such a bargain. I have a thing where I only wear 'going out' dresses once (I know!) so I was pleased that this dress came without a hefty price tag. OMG it's so tight though. I literally can't breathe in it lol. I see a pattern starting here... Lol. Maybe I need to stop eating all the pies!

Hair grips - £1.99

These are a staple of mine! I ONLY buy H&M hair clips - they're so cheap and last for years. Woop woop!

So that's it for my 'series' of haul posts. I ran out of money after that lol. The only money I will be spending in December is on Christmas presents! I just love spending money in general, so shopping for other people helps me to curb my spending cravings. I'm being serious!! Oh btw, my sister bought THE most stunning gold sequin bodycon skirt in H&M that I absolutely plan on stealing!! Love you Steph!! ;)

Have you picked up anything in H&M recently?? What do you think of my purchases?

Let me know!!

Love,

Sophia

Primark winter '11 haul!

2011-12-01T13:26:00.000Z

Hey gals!

How are you all?? I've been reading everyone's blogs this morning about Urban Decay's new Naked 2 palette (namely Anna & Holly's) - I have to say it looks delectable but I won't be adding it to my Xmas list as I've hardly even hit the pan on my Naked palette that I got last Christmas yet! I don't need 2! Esp not at £35!

Anyway, more to the point - over the weekend, I hit Primarni Crawley baby!!!

You might have seen my tweet on Saturday praising Primark - I guess I wasn't really expecting much from Primark as the last time I visited I hardly got ANYTHING! But this Saturday I was REALLY impressed! :D
Here are the bargains I picked up...

Wool glitter skater dress - £15

OK I was on the fence about this at first! By the time I'd been round the whole shop, I had two whole baskets full of stuff to try on. This was just one of those dresses I happened to throw in my basket lol! My sister & I tried these on together (she tried on the white) and I was actually quite impressed with it. Now I don't usually show my arms (don't know why, just have a thing about them) so I was a bit sceptical. But they looked OK in this :) But let me just say, this dress is not made for people with boobs!! I might have to tape them in! Lol... We plan on wearing these dresses on Xmas day :)

Camel cardi - £12

Ahh a lovely warm, comfy cardi! I don't like to spend much on knitwear because I always find I buy new cardigans/jumpers every year anyway lol so I was really happy when I found this. I would've preferred a cardi with buttons but I bought this anyway! It's one of my fave colours and really is soo warm :) FYI I bought the size 8 as it was longer in the body than the size 10... weird!!

White peter pan collar blouse - £10

Woop woop! I've been looking for a blouse like this for aaaaages! I had my eye on Pixie Lott's version for Lipsy but it was like £35+ and I couldn't afford that! The sleeves are slightly too long on this (damn being petite!/dwarf like) but it's still a bargain for a tenner. I can dress it up for a night out or dress it down for work. Yay! :D

Black tassel loafers - £10

These were just an essential that I needed to pick up for work! I decided that I'm just gonna buy cheap shoes for work cos they only get ruined anyway, so I picked up a pair of these for a tenner! They're actually really comfy and I haven't needed to break them in either. Result!

Black chain detail belt - £2.50

OK I am REALLLY gutted about this. I spotted this beautiful belt from the corner of my eye and figured it would be perfect for nights out! Look at the chic chain detail...

HOWEVER the chain detail is sewn into the belt, and some of the stitching has come undone!!! :( I'm gutted. Im'a need to buy some superglue and stick the chain back on! Oh well, I only lost £3 I suppose!

Black patent bag - £3 (was £7)

Can you believe this bag was in the SALE??? Primark is so cheap as it is, when things go in the sale they're dirt cheap!!! This bag was down from £7 to a bargain £3. It has a long shoulder strap so it can go across your body or... no surprise here... over your shoulder. Lol. I'm a big fan of black patent & the gold clasp detail is just divine! It's roomy as well... YAY!

Now I think you'll agree with me when I say I had a very successful trip to Primani!!

Have you picked up any bargains recently??

Love,

Sophia

FOTD ft. Sleek Pout Polish in Bare Minimum

2011-11-27T15:51:00.000Z

Hey guys! Me again!

I just thought I'd show you one of the more recent additions to my make-up bag. It's Sleek's Pout Polish from their Nude Collection in the shade Bare Minimum :)

As you know, I am a HUGE fan of Sleek's Pout Polishes. I've reviewed Pink Cadillac, Sugar May & Scandal in the past and I just find them so quick & easy for a swipe of colour and instant moisture.

Now I'm going to start by saying I know I didn't NEED this! Not a good start to a review lol BUT I thought it would come in handy when I'm in a rush in the mornings and I just need to put something on my lips! I know from experience they last a couple of hours as well so I thought I'd give this shade a go!

Sleek describe Bare Minimum as a "glossy nude with Jojoba, avocado and sweet Almond oils, ensuring that chapped lips are a thing of the past."

I have to say this Pout Polish is just fab! Yes, it's essentially colourless, but sometimes that's all I fancy when I don't want to draw attention to my face lol.

I bought mine for £4.30 from Superdrug.

Now here's a FOTD featuring the above product...

Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer in Natural

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation in True Ivory

NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Orgasm Blusher

Urban Decay baked e/s in Smog in outer corners

Urban Decay baked e/s in Buck all over lid

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner in Brown on top lid

Avon Color Trend Double Ended Kajal Stick in Brown on lower waterline

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown

Sleek Pout Polish in Bare Minimum

See... Natural, huh?

IMO Sleek's Pout Polishes are absolutely second to none and I would buy all of the shades if my budget would allow!! Bare Minimum is now a make-up bag staple of mine and I'm so glad I bought the product I know I didn't need but really really wanted!

Have you tried Sleek's Pout Polishes? What did you think?

Love,

Sophia

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser review...

2011-11-27T15:28:00.001Z

Hey lovelies!

HAPPY SUNDAY! I hope you're all suitably relaxed & ready for this super long blog post :)

I've been using Liz Earle's infamous hot cloth cleanser twice a day for over a month now and I think it's reached the time where I can review the product honestly & truthfully.

I bought the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Starter Kit from John Lewis for £13.75 (link!). I also bought OPI's Nail Envy (Original) at the same time so that I was eligible for the free delivery when you spend £30 :)It came with 2 muslin cloths, which are an essential element of the Cleanse & Polish routine. The product itself contains natural ingredients including rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus oil to cleanse and gently exfoliate skin, and is a fave of celebrities including Lily Allen.

Liz Earle describe it as a "rich, concentrated cream that gently removes daily grime and make-up, even stubborn mascara, to leave skin clear, smooth and exceptionally clean. Used with the pure muslin cloth it lifts away dead skin cells, revealing fresh, radiant skin"

After a couple of times of bringing the instructions to the sink with me, I learnt how to do it properly. You soak the cleanser in hot water, gently massage the cream cleanser around your face (doing your eyes last so you don't spread eye make-up all over your face!) before removing the cream (and your make-up) with the hot cloth... hence the term... "hot cloth cleanser" ;)

FYI at the time of starting to use this cleanser, my skin was at breaking point. I'd been using the Body Shop's Tea Tree foaming cleanser for a while and it was just doing nothing for my skin. It was cracked and sore and prone to break-outs. I was tempted to not show you guys the picture below because it clearly is so disgusting, but I thought I had to to so you could see the results of the Cleanse & Polish.

Before:

After:

Like I said, my skin really was at its worst. The Cleanse & Polish was a MIRACLE at clearing up my skin. After about a week's use, all my spots had pretty much disappeared and it was just looking so much healthier.

However...

After using the product for about a month now, my skin is slowly going back to how it used to be. I think the effects of the Cleanse & Polish have started to fade and it's time to change up my routine again :(

Positives

The smell - it's a lovely, fresh scent that just smells delightfully natural. It's not overpowering but is enough to wake you up in the morning.
The pump - It does pump out the exact amount you need which is very money-saving.
Ease of use - It really does take just 2 minutes to effectively cleanse your face, including removing all eye make-up. Being short of time in the mornings, this product really does come in handy.

Negatives

The bottle - You can't see how much product you have left, so you don't know when it's about to run out and you need to get some more cleanser! Annoying...
The price - Like I say, I don't know how much product I have left but forking out 14 odd quid for a cleanser is slightly out of my price range.
Availability - I don't live in London so I can't just nip into Liz Earle to get my next fix. The cheapest I could find it was on John Lewis but I had to buy something else to get the free delivery.
Practicality of the muslin cloths - I don't do 2 wash loads a week so mine are starting to get dirty. I need more!

To round it all up...

I think my skin will always be problematic for me. The Cleanse & Polish was a godsend in terms of clearing up my skin, but using it over time, it has certainly lost its effectiveness. I think I will continue to use a hot cloth cleanser at the end of the day to remove all my make-up as it's just so quick and easy, at a time when I'm usually so tired. I want to try the Sanctuary Polishing hot cloth cleanser and the No7 Radiance Boosting hot cloth cleanser next and I'll see how they compare to Liz Earle's.

But, I'm going to use a different cleanser in the mornings I think - something that really works to clear up my skin on a daily basis. I've got my eye on Neal's Yard Power Berry facial wash or I might try Neutrogena's Pink Grapefruit face wash. I'll let you know how I get on...

Do you have troublesome skin too? What do you use?

Love,

Sophia

NOTD: Nails Inc in Tate (free with December GLAMOUR magazine!)

2011-11-26T17:55:00.001Z

Hey guys!

How are we all?? Hope you're all well! Can you believe it's less than a month until Christmas!!! I swear it comes by so quickly... & before you know it, it's New Year's Eve again! Wahhhh! Slow down!

Anyways, this week I've been rocking a very festive colour on my nails...

(Nails Inc London in Tate)

This Nails Inc colour was, of course, free with this month's GLAMOUR magazine. What can I say, I'm a cheapskate!

There are 4 shades to collect but the WHSmith's in Victoria only had Tate available so I picked that one up. I'm so pleased I did because it's a wonderfully festive, slightly seductive opulent red... Ooh la la! As you can expect from Nails Inc, you only need 1 coat but I prefer to do 2 anyway. I used my obligatory OPI Nail Envy as a base coat & Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat to finish (I'm trying to use it up!) If you come across a copy of GLAMOUR in your local newsagent I would definitely recommend snapping up this bargain, whatever the shade! They usually retail for £11e, people!

I have to say I'm really enjoying reading GLAMOUR magazine on my lunchbreaks. I used to subscribe to it at uni (or, more accurately, my boyfriend did for me) but haven't really bought it since my subscription ended. I know it's only 2 quid but I can never really afford anything in it. Well now it's still only 2 quid and I still can't really afford anything in it but I use it as inspiration more than anything else! If I see something I like, I'll go online and see if I can find it cheaper on Boohoo or ASOS or somewhere like that :) I'm also loving the I/V and photoshoot with Kristen Stewart, what a babe!

Have you picked up any free Nails Inc lately, or a copy of GLAMOUR magazine? What did you think?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

FOTD ft. Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in Shade #8

2011-11-20T17:44:00.007Z

Hey lovelies!

I know, I'm on a roll!!! Haha. Today, I went to the cinema (Breaking Dawn, baby! How gross was the birth scene?? erlack!) with my other half and I sported a fairly natural look. I mean, who really cares what you look like in the dark?! I rocked a lippie that's fairly recent to my collection; one of the new(ish) ones that Kate Moss designed for Rimmel. I thought I'd give you a guys a little review of it, leading up to the FOTD... :)

Soooo... After much deliberation (I almost bought #3 but thought it was too 'nude' for me) I decided on shade #8!

All of Kate's lipsticks are emblazoned with her signature on the side, but the packaging is standard Lasting Finish format, except for the all black exterior.

Shade #8 has been described on the blogosphere as a mauvey, rosey nude with a slight shimmer. I would definitely agree with that!

Here's a shot of the lippie without flash...

& with flash...

It looks very 'tea rose' in these pics but it's definitely darker & a little more mauvey IRL.

Here's a quick swatch... (and when I say quick, I mean quick... LOL)

It's not as shimmery on the lips.

Here's the obligatory before & after lip shots. It's gotta be done!

Before...

& after...

excuse the blemished skin... eurgh!

Of course, the best way to see how it really looks is with a full-face shot...

I was also wearing...

MAC Fix+ as primer

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation (NC15) using MAC 190 Foundation Brush

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (02)

YSL Touche Eclat

NARS Laguna bronzer & Orgasm blusher

Urban Decay e/s primer potion (Original)

Urban Decay baked e/s in Buck all over lid

Urban Decay baked e/s in Smog in outer corners

Rimmel Exaggerate liquid eye-liner (Brown) on top lid

Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick (Brown) in lower waterline & on eyebrows

No7 Exceptional Definition mascara (Brown)

LUSH Bubblegum lip scrub to prep

No7 lip liner in Nude applied with a lip brush

Rimmel London Kate Moss lipstick in #8

Soo... What do I think of the lipstick?

PRO's:

Decent price - a fiver is great value!

Colour - it's a lovely, natural rose shade. Quite dark but perfect for the winter months.

Taste - Really random but it tastes like sherbet to me! Yummy...

Brand association - The fact that Kate Moss designed it is a real plus, it makes you feel like you're wearing a piece of her every time you apply it!

CON's:

Longevity - It definitely doesn't last all day. You have to re-apply every couple of hours. Not so bad but the fact it's marketed as a lasting finish lipstick is a bit of a con!

Overall, I'd give it a solid 4 STARS :)

Have you tried any of Kate's lipsticks for Rimmel?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Recent hair and beauty buys ft. OPI, Seche Vite, TIGI, Aussie & Neutrogena!

2011-11-20T17:19:00.001Z

Heeeeey guys!

I hope you're all having a fabulous-o weekend! I don't know about you lot, but this has been my first weekend off EVER and I'm LOVING it! At uni I would continue to work through the weekends, and when I started my new job I always used to work Saturdays. I have to say I'm quite enjoying my new Monday-Friday regime :) It actually feels like I have a WEEKEND off now rather than a day off that just seems to go super fast!! I hope you all enjoyed my NOTD post featuring American Apparel nail lacquer from earlier in the week, as expected I have already nibbled off my polish and my nails are simply coated in OPI Nail Envy (below!)

Here are some recent beauty buys of mine. Some are re-purchases while others are products I've not tried before. Some were amazing while others were SERIOUSLY disappointing! Have a read... :)

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser - £4.25 from Boots

Neutrogena say... "It helps keep skin looking clear and healthy. The creamy lotion with extracts of Aloe and Camomile soothe and moisturise skin, protecting against dryness. Its formula contains a gentle medicated ingredient, and works throughout the day without blocking pores to help prevent blemishes"

Sophia says... Don't worry, I don't expect you to read all that! Lol. This was a re-purchase after the Body Shop moisturiser I was using was making my skin WAY oily. I've loved using this product in the past, but the bargain hunter in me thought it would be a good idea to try something new...nonono! Always stick with what works for you. This moisturiser is PERFECT for my skin, it's lightweight and hydrates my skin all day and it's also a great base for make-up. I don't think I will ever deviate from this product again!

(****)

OPI Nail Envy (Original) - £18.55 from johnlewis.com

OPI say... "Transform and protect even the most damaged nails with this strengthener from OPI. The super strong formula, enriched with calcium and hydrolyzed protein makes sure nails avoid splitting and peeling, while helping speed up the natural growing process"

Sophia says... I know this product is supposed to be a strengthener that you use when your nails are in a bad condition, but I use it as a regular base coat and it works really well! I've used it for years - I apply one or two coats of it, it dries in literally about 30 secs and makes applying nail varnish on top of it a dream. I often use it on its own as well, like now for example, as it makes my nails look really natural and glossy. I feel naked without it... and it's worth the hefty price tag, trust me. Deffo one to add to your Crimbo list!

(*****)

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat - £7.60 from feelunique.com

Seche Vite say... "This is widely acknowledged as the world's finest top coat. Its patented formula penetrates through the nail lacquer to the base coat forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish, guaranteed not to yellow and leaves nails silky, stronger and resistant to chipping and peeling"

Sophia says... Wahhhh! What a disappointment. This is undoubtedly the holy grail top coat among bloggers (like Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup - see her post here!) but I have to be honest and say it really is not worth the hype... or the price. For me, anyway. The positives are that it is fast-drying and leaves a super glossy finish - but the main negative is that my nail varnish chipped after LESS THAN A DAY'S wear! Come on, that's rubbish. I will definitely be returning to my beloved Sally Hansen Diamond Shine - it's around the same price and leaves my nails chip free for up to a week. But first I've got to use up my Seche Vite...ugh.

(***)

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Luscious Long Deep Treatment & Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner (Buy one get one free from Superdrug - £3.99e)

Deep Treatment (left):

Aussie say... "This intensive deep conditioning treatment is especially designed for long hair and richly moisturises ends without weighing down roots"

Sophia says... Possibly one of the best leave-in conditioners on the market, alongside my favourite L'Oreal Elvive range. I love the fact you can squirt it out the bottom of the bottle so you only use as much as you need, and it's so thick and creamy it feels luxurious applying it in the shower. It leaves my hair so soft and silky. I've used it a couple of times and will DEFINITELY be re-purchasing!

(****)

Leave-In Conditioner (right):

Aussie say... "This makes weak hair big and strong. It's a leave-in little miracle that conditions and nourishes hair so it's tangle-free and protected from everyday wear and tear"

Sophia says... I think this was one of my first hair products EVER. I just spray it all over my towel-dried hair and it leaves it smelling so lovely, and feeling so soft and nourished! Not only that, but it detangles my knotty hair a treat. I will be buying this product forever :)

(*****)

ps. I've previously reviewed these two products here if you want a more in-depth review!

TIGI Bed Head MASTERPIECE Massive Shine Hairspray - £10.30 from feelunique.com

TIGI say... "Turn your hair into a work of art that lasts all day. It guards against dryness, is humidity resistant and adds body"

Sophia says... Meh, another disappointment! In all honesty I only bought it as Snooki from Jersey Shore uses it. I should've known better. I had really high expectations, it being a celeb fave and setting me back TEN POUNDS a bottle! However, when I first used it, it left my hair really knotty and greasy looking. Not only that but it hardly kept my curls in, nor did it make it look any more glossy. It smells nice though, like watermelons! However I will be reverting to my beloved L'Oreal Elvive Very Volume Supreme Hold hairspray as soon as I use up this bottle! You can see me sporting the L'Oreal hairspray here.

(**)

In other news...

I dyed my hair! Nothing crazy, just dark brown. I used...

Clairol Nice'n Easy Natural Dark Chestnut Brown 120c - £4.99 from Wilko's

I had my hair highlighted in August and it had just faded into this horrible dirty blonde colour. It was time for me to sort it out. I've used Clairol's Nice'n Easy range for years, literally since I was about twelve. It's the only brand that entirely covers the blonde in my hair. Here I am sporting the treatment...Glamorous, eh?

and after...

A lovely dark, glossy brown with chestnut undertones. I am thinking of going for the chop, and a little redder. What do you guys think?

Well I apologise for the huge length of this post, but you know me, I love to chat!

Have you tried any of these products before? What are your recent hair and beauty buys?

Let me know! :)

Love,

Sophia

NOTD: American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Berry

2011-11-14T21:46:00.000Z

Hey laydeeez!

How are you all? Who's watching I'm A Celeb? OMG I'm addicted already! I feel SO sorry for the celebs, the sky-dive looked terrifying and some of the food Mark & Freddie had to eat... UGH!!!

Anyways, back to beauty...

I've been sporting the same colour on my nails pretty much every day really for the past 2 weeks. I paint it, bite it off, re-apply it and then bite it all off again...

(American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Berry)

The colour in question is Berry from American Apparel's nail lacquer range. You may recall my recent NOTD featuring Port by American Apparel but I much prefer this colour as Port looked almost black with 2 coats, whereas I was looking for a nice creamy burgundy!

To be honest you could probably get away with just one coat of this, but I use 2 just for complete opacity. I use OPI Nail Envy as a base coat. I've also been using my new Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat... but don't all rush out and buy it at once, it's not all it's cracked up to be!

You can buy this nail varnish from American Apparel stores for £7. It's worth every penny and you get LOADS in a bottle!

What are you wearing on your nails today?

I'd love to hear!!!

Love,

Sophia

No7 A/W11 voucher haul!

2011-10-31T22:19:00.000Z

Hey loverrrrs!

Last week I visited the newly opened Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, London with the bf. We were of course expecting it to be busy as it was half term and it's obviously brand spanking new but MY GOD it was PACKED! It was so busy you could hardly move, the shops were so messy with stuff ALL over the floor, the sales assistants were overworked and thus, rude when approached, and overall we were relieved to leave the place! I almost bought some items in H&M but the queues were so long it put me off completely. It made me realise I am 100% an online shopper at heart! It suits me ALL the way! Luckily we had a lovely evening afterwards - a meal at Wahaca followed by a Snow Patrol gig, omg amaze.

Anyway the point I'm getting at is that I didn't buy anything in Westfield so I have nothing to show you guys, BUT I did buy some new bits from No7 in Boots recently so I'ma show you those instead :)

Here's what I picked up with my vouchers...

Quick Thinking 4 in 1 wipes (£2 with voucher, £7 without)

I've used these wipes before as an all-round cleanser, but now I only use them when I'm too lazy to properly cleanse my face! They are really handy when you've come in from a night out, but they don't replace a proper hot cleanse cleanser/cleansing lotion. It's miles better than leaving your make-up on overnight eh, & only takes a few minutes to do :)

Speed Dry & Stay Perfect Nail Colour (25p each!)

(from L-R: Violetta, Mink, Totally Teal, Temptress)

Now I can't believe this & I am eternally grateful to the lad at the Boots counter who let me get away with it... The nail polishes above were reduced to £3 in the clearance. They were also on a 3 for 2 offer so that's £6 for 3. Then he let me use my No7 voucher on top (which he wasn't supposed to!) so I got £5 off which made it £1 for 3 nail varnishes! I had another No7 voucher, so I got the last one free - so I got the nail varnishes for 25p each! :D

I picked up 2 Speed Dry and 2 Stay Perfect, but I can't tell much difference between them, because they're all quick drying, take 2 coats for full opacity and are all lovely, on-trend, vibrant shades. I've been wearing Teal and Mink the most!

Limited Edition Eye Colour in Pewter (£4 with voucher, £9 without)

I just HAD to pick up something from the LE A/W range! I had my heart set on the Stay Perfect Face Primer but it was completely sold out everywhere... So I settled for this liquid eye shadow instead.

It's a lovely, creamy pewter shade that glistens in the light and is perfect for a smokey eye. I probably wouldn't fork out £9 for it though...

Cheek Tint in 15 Rose Silk (£4 with voucher, £9 without)

I've had my eye on this product for AGES and I finally picked it up in this haul after swatching it possibly a million times!

The other colours in the range are Maple Silk and Peach Silk but I felt the Rose Silk was the most wearable, natural shade.

It's just perfect for adding a really natural flush of colour to the cheeks, ideal for when you're in a rush (which is basically all the time for me!) I just take a tiny swipe and rub it onto the apples of my cheeks with my fingers... Simples.

Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown/Black (£7.50 with voucher, £12.50 without)

Aah, my holy grail mascara!!! I wear this mascara every day without fail as it creates natural, long, volumized lashes. I've used it for years and no other mascara has ever competed for a daytime mascara. I will always re-purchase this!

So overall I'm pretty pleased with my purchases, and I spent less than £20 on it overall! Some of them are re-purchases that I will always make with my vouchers, and others I have tried for the first time. I definitely trust the No7 brand and I can't wait to pick up my next lot of goodies!

What are your No7 favourites?

Let me know and I'll get them with my voucher next time!

Love,

Sophia

Recent FOTN & OOTN: Hallowe'en...

2011-10-31T20:11:00.001Z

Hey peoples!

I hope you're all having a suitably spooky Hallowes eve! I'm staying in waiting for the trick or treaters... So far we've had... none! Lol.

Over the weekend I went out with some pals - it wasn't fancy dress but I fancied going a little 'gothic' to set the tone! I decided on this all-black ensemble, what do you guys think?

Pussy bow blouse - Next

Black patent belt - Next (see blog post)

Black leather shorts - Next

Leopard print clutch - Dorothy Perkins

Black shoe boots - Missguided (see blog post)

I was planning to wear black tights but I felt that made the look a little 'too' black, ugetme?

I was in a mad rush to do my make-up as my friends were waiting (quelle surprise!) so it was a quick 5-10 minute job. Usually I would spend a good half an hour on my make-up for a night out. Lol... slap it on.

Face: (same as usual really!) Benefit That Gal primer, Benefit Some Kinda Gorgeous Foundation Faker (Original), YSL Touche Eclat, Benefit Boi-ing concealer, Benefit Dallas bronzer, Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in 02 Peach.

Eyes: Urban Decay e/s primer potion, Urban Decay Naked e/s all over lid, Urban Decay Smog & Hustle e/s on outer corners, Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid eye-liner in Black on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick in Black in lower waterline, Cover Girl LashBlast Volume mascara in Black (2 coats).

Lips: Avon Pout lipstick topped with Avon Plump Pout Honey Shades lipgloss in Pink Nectar.

Hair: Curled it using GHD's and set it using my new Bedhead Masterpiece hairspray... review to follow. It's truly rather average...

Are you guys going out for Hallowe'en? Leave me a comment & let me know! I'd love to know what you're wearing as well...

Love,

Sophia

Bargain of the Week: Superdrug £2 manicure set!

2011-10-25T22:21:00.000+01:00

Hey peoples!

Sorry for the lack of blogging of late, I have been working like a maniac! I swear all I do is sleep, eat, work... sleep, eat work... and shop, of course! You know the feeling?!

Aaanyway I have to let you guys know my bargain of the week (well last week's!)

It's this super cute mini manicure set from Superdrug that I bought for a bargainlicious £2!

It contains...

1 x slanted tweezer
1 x nail file
1 x nail scissors
1 x nail pusher and
1 x nail clipper

...in a handy travel sized case. Now it's not the most glamorous thing in the world but in my books it's an absolute necessity. Once a week I sit down and pamper my nails - I massage in cuticle oil before pushing my cuticles back with a nail pusher, then lather my hands in Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream before applying OPI Original Nail Envy as a base coat. I then choose a suitable polish (at the mo it's all about American Apparel nail lacquer in Berry, uh-maz-ing!) and then applying a top coat (usually Sally Hansen Diamond Shine).

If my don't keep my nails painted I tend to bite them, although saying that I can't keep a colour on my nails for more than one day without chewing all the colour off so maybe I'm meant to have stumpy nails! lol.

What's your nailcare regimen?

Let me knowwww :)

Love,

Sophia

Recent beauty buys that I'm loving...

2011-10-12T15:13:00.000+01:00

Hey peeps!

I hope you're enjoying this pleasant Wednesday! Luckily for me Wednesdays are my day off so it gives me a welcome break :) I started the day off with a Body Pump class and I've just been chilling out since listening to BBCR1... Greg James precisely :)

I've been using some new beauty products recently that I just have to let you guys know about. I love nothing more than finding a new beauty product, eek! I have tried enough in my time to know a good product when I see one.

Without further ado...

Vo5 Miracle Mist & Miracle Concentrate (RRP £4.28 and £4.97)

I picked up these items in Tesco after seeing them reviewed on A Model Recommends. I can't live without a leave-in conditioning spray/detangler so I've been using the Miracle Mist the most! After I've had a shower and towel dried my hair, I spray it all over and it just leaves my hair feeling soft & nourished and, of course, detangled! I use the Miracle Concentrate when I feel my hair needs some repairing - I squeeze out a couple of tiny drops from the pipette that comes with it and apply it to the lengths and ends of my hair. It doesn't leave my hair feeling oily at all, instead just the opposite - lovely and glossy :D

nb. Vo5 is currently on a 3 for 2 offer at Tesco! :)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (RRP £14.50 but worth every penny)

Ahh I've used this product for about a year now (ever since I received it in my Urban Decay Naked Palette for Christmas last year). Now I have used the e/s primer potion religiously since I got it; seriously I don't know how I lived without it! However I was nearing the end of my potion and it was time to re-purchase a new one, so I did, thanks to HQhair.com! I believe this is where it's the cheapest online :) It's an absolute ESSENTIAL on a night out when I'm wearing tons of make-up and I try to remember to wear it during the day as well, I'm usually in a rush in the morning though and tend to forget, nevertheless it's still a must-have product and the best on the market!!! (phew...)

L'Oréal Elvive Nourish & Shimmer Highlights Masque (RRP £5.10)

I absolutely SWEAR by L'Oréal's conditioning masques; they're only a few quid but they are an essential item for me now - your standard shampoo + conditioner duo just isn't enough for me anymore! I apply it right at the end of my shower, comb it through, leave it on for a few minutes and rinse it out. It leaves my hair feeling SO soft and smooth. I LOVE this Highlights one especially as it really brightens my blonde highlights and smells like Royal Jelly, but when I'm a brunette I use the Nutri-gloss one as it is actually amazing and makes my hair so glossy it's ridiculous! Stock up girls!

Soft & Gentle Wild Rose & Vanilla Anti-Perspiration Deodorant (RRP £2.54)

Not the most glamorous purchase in the world but hey, girl's gotta buy deo, right? I have used this product for years now, sometimes I digress and use the Dove one but this really is the best! I always buy it when it's offer and my favourite one is the purple one which always reminds me of winter for some reason!

nb. these deodorants are currently Buy 1 get 1 free in Tesco :)

Well that's it for now ladies but I have just purchased a few more beauty essentials which I shall be updating you all with shortly :)

What beauty items are you loving at the moment?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

Bargain of the Week: £1 Primark purse!

2011-10-09T18:05:00.000+01:00

Hey ladies & gents!

I hope you're all well and enjoying a lazy Sunday like me! I had my first lie-in of the week and went and grabbed a coffee in town with the boy. I also collected some new glasses, eek! I'm not sure about them - I really liked them when I first tried them on but now I'm not so sure, maybe I'll show you guys a pic & you can let me know what you think!

Aaaaaanyway...

Recently I visited Primark in Guildford where I picked up a few goodies. I was actually quite disappointed; I tried on like 20 things but none of them tickled my fancy, there was always something wrong with them, eg I tried on a really nice cardigan but it had cropped sleeves. WHY would you make a cardigan with cropped sleeves? The point of a cardigan is to keep you warm!

However on the way to the till point I discovered this little beauty in the Clearance section. It's the purse I already own but I bought it last year so it's looking a little dishevelled - I bought a brand new one for £1! ONE POUND, can you believe it!

It's perfect for me; the black quilted patent outer is chic and timeless, and inside it fits all my cards, loyalty cards and change perfectly. Thank you Primark!

What's your bargain of the week? I bet you can't beat mine! Lol.

Love,

Sophia

NOTD: American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Port

2011-10-03T21:23:00.004+01:00

Hey guys and gals!

How are y'all? Today's my day off so as per usual it's been super manic as I try to cram in everything I haven't had the chance to do all week lol. Now I'm knackered and watching Justin Bieber's DVD in bed, ahh I love him!

Last week I went to visit the boy in London town where we did a spot of shopping in Covent Garden and Westfield (the old one - we didn't want to tackle the queues in the new one!)

Other than a bobble bottle (OMG amazing) the only other thing I picked up was a new nail varnish from American Apparel. I can't believe how extortionate their prices are, seriously I would never spend that much on clothes! The nail varnish was £7 which left me agasp, luckily it's the only thing I bought and it is very good quality.

(American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Port)

I bought it in the shade Port but I was also eyeing up Berry and Passport Blue. They stocked some really striking, on-trend shades that I've not seen elsewhere on the high street. Alas I'm sending the boy back to get the Berry shade - as much as I love Port it's just a tad darker than I was expecting whereas Berry is more of a creamy burgundy. I used my OPI Nail Envy base coat (holy grail), 2 coats of the nail varnish and skipped a top coat this time as the finish was just so glossy I didn't want to ruin it!

Hey look, it matches my jeans! Haha this wasn't intentional but I've obviously got a 'thing' for this colour at the mo...

Have you tried the American Apparel nail lacquer? What are you rocking on your nails at the mo?

Love,

Sophia

ps. OMG Justin's singing Down to Earth, possibly my fave track everrr!

Next A/W haul!

2011-09-19T17:31:00.000+01:00

Hey loves!

Sorry I've been sooo elusive recently; I've been working pretty much non-stop at the new Next in Shoreham, has anyone been there? It's pretty swanky, and includes the company's first garden & DIY centre! I'm enjoying working there but as you can imagine am pretty tempted by the gorgeous clothes, shoes & accessories. Some of their A/W stuff is fab! However I like to think I have been pretty frugal with my money and only bought stuff I can wear both to work and outside of work!

I've picked up some of this stuff on my uniform allowance but the rest is on 25% discount, still pretty decent prices though, esp the jeans! Here's what I've been spending my money on...

Check skater skirt - £35

I originally thought that this skirt would be too long on me, it looked almost knee length on the model and I'm only 5"1 but it's actually a ideal length. It's perfect for those days when you want to dress up a bit more than just jeans and a blazer, and looks fab with black opaques and loafers.

Here's me sporting the look below...

Pretty autumnal, dontcha think?

Black and polka dot peter pan collar tops - £10 each

These tops are just great to team with a pair of skinnies/leggings as it instantly updates an outfit into something a little smarter. The plain tee (the top one) also looks really cute tucked into a skirt like the one above. Really good price as well, I might get the teal one as well!

Mini check dress - £30

This is something I bought for work and/or work interviews as I don't really have anything to wear for situations like that. The petite length was slightly too short but the regular length was a little long, so I added a black patent waist belt which raises the hem slightly. The sleeves are quite tight though which makes it impossible to raise my arms or drive really...!

Black crew neck cardigan (petite) - £18

Just an essential black cardi, ideal for this chilly weather. I had to get the Petite version in this as the arms on the Regular length were too long, hmph :( I'm thinking of getting it in the beige colour as well as it's so versatile!

Faux leather look shorts - £22

These fit really well and were so cheap, they also look like real leather which is a bonus! I figure I can team them down with black opaques and loafers, or glam it up with a lacy crop top and heels. Woo woo!

Black skinny jeans (petite) - £22

Well you can't go wrong with a pair of black skinnies at this time of year, aye?! These come up HUGE, I had to buy them in an 8 when I'm usually a 10-12. Oh well, I'm not complaining...

Black patent loafers - £35

Probably THE MOST worn item of all, I've literally worn these every day since I bought them! It took a couple of days to wear them in but now they're super comfy. I literally think I'll be wearing them all winter, I might have to buy another back-up pair!

Black and neutral knitted snoods - £14 each

I am wearing the neutral version of this snood RIGHT NOW, it is soo comfy! Seriously it is literally the length of my body and I can wrap it right up to my ears and over my shoulders and it shields me from the cold :) mmm...

Cream cable knit slipper boots - £16

I am wearing these too :) Every year I invest in a new pair of slipper boots (who doesn't?) and these are super comfy and look rather posh! Happy days!

I've also bought a pair of purple (well, more like aubergine if you know what I mean?) skinny jeans and a waxed leather pair which I freakin' LOVE which aren't pictured on the website. I have so much stuff left on my wishlist though - I really have to restrain myself from spending all my wages. Next on my list is a cream pussy bow blouse and a chic blazer. More on that to come!

What do you think of Next's A/W range? Have you splurged on a load of new autumn clothes? Do tell!

Love,

Sophia

MAC make-up haul!

2011-09-11T18:42:00.008+01:00

Hey loverrrs!

Hope you're all good :) I have recently acquired some new MAC make-up; some have been prezzies and others I have splurged on myself. I have to say I've been mightily impressed with everything so far, it certainly lives up to its adored reputation. Without further ado...

Brush Cleanser

Aah such a useful little concoction! Just spray a few squirts onto your dirty brush, give it a rinse with some warm water and voila! You're good to go. Not the most glamorous purchase in the world but hey-ho it's a necessity! The MUA in the shop said her foundation brush has lasted her years from using this stuff!

Fix+

Now I have to say, I had heard some mixed reviews about this, with some saying it leaves your skin with a lovely dewy glow and others saying it's like spraying water onto your face ie pointless. Well IMO it's the former; it leaves my face looking fresh and zingy (if that's a word?) and my make-up stays on all day after using it. It does run out pretty quickly, though!

Travel sized Fix+

This one I pop in my handbag for touch-ups during the day, it's perfect for when you want to refresh your look but you don't want to have to apply a whole load of make-up again. Trouble is, I think it's LE :( and it was ridiculously expensive!!!

Paint Pot in Painterly

This was a birthday gift from my equally MAC-obsessed chum Flo and she's certainly come up trumps with this one!

This is a kind of half between a nude eyeshadow and an eyeshadow primer (it basically works as both). It's a very natural taupe shade that almost completely blends into your eyelid. I have to say I was expecting something slightly darker but I've still used the hell out of it nonetheless. It might have just started a little love affair between me and MAC paint pots. I'm talking about you, Indianwood and Bare Study! We shall see...

Cosmo Amplified Creme lipstick

Aahhh, eeee, oooohhh... who doesn't love a new MAC lipstick!

Is it the sweet vanilla scent? Is it the longevity? Is it the versatile range of colours? I don't know but there's something about MAC lipsticks that makes me go weak at the knees.

I picked up the shade Cosmo from the Amplified Creme range as it was described as 'your lips but better' and I was looking for a natural, rosy shade...

Here's my lips before...

and after...

WooHOOO! Hello glossy rosy pink lips...

Mwah!

My new favourite lippie... & believe me I own quite a few.

ALSO...

I forgot to mention, the boy picked this up for me from the States a while back.

LE Surf Baby lipstick in Hibiscus

A bright tomato red/coral in some lighting, it featured in MAC's LE Surf Baby collection and sold our EVERYWHERE (hence the sending him abroad to buy it out there. I joke)

Here's my lips before...

and after...

Honestly this was THE lipstick of the summer for me. It just suited my complexion down to a T; I could wear it during the day without a tan and it would look equally as good as when I wore it with shimmery highlighter and smokey eyes of an evening. Obvs it's not available to buy now but FYI it was 100% worth all those rave reviews!

Here's me rocking Surf Baby in the daytime...

and at night...

See, totally versatile!

What are your must-have MAC items? My 'Lingering' eyebrow pencil has just ran out and I'm debating whether to re-purchase!

Love,

Sophia

The Eye Make Up Remover of all Eye Make Up Removers!

2011-08-25T21:36:00.001+01:00

Hey lovelies!

I stocked up on my fave eye make up remover today! I've had a difficult history with eye make-up removers, believe me I have been through so many bottles! (all high street of course!) From the Body Shop to No7, from Simple to Garnier and L'Oreal, I really have tried them all.

I bought them in bulk in Boots as they were doing a 3 for 2 offer and so it was only £6 for 3 bottles overall which equated to £2 each, bargain :)

If you've read my August Favourites guest blog post on Lauren Loves Blog then you will know of course that I am talking about the Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover. It's soft, gentle, effective and only takes a few swipes on a cotton wool pad to remove every last trace. As a contact lens wearer I have to ensure every last bit of eye make-up is removed before I go to bed as it can irritate my eyes the next morning when I try to put my lenses in if not! It's a half oil, half water based formula that you shake to blend for the ideal consistency. It really is fab, and you know the best bit? The price tag. It's one of the cheapest on the market, but worth every penny!

I also received a free No7 voucher with my purchase :) you can't get much better than that. So get 'em while you can, ladies!

Botanics is sold exclusively at Boots and can be bought here.

Which eye make-up remover do you use?

Let me know if you can!

Love,

Sophia

Guest Blog Post for Lauren Loves Blog!

2011-08-24T21:10:00.006+01:00

Hey everyone!

Check out my guest blog post for Lauren Loves Blog where I've revealed my Top 10 August Favourites! It includes Bourjois, Botanics, Avon, OPI and much more :)

Here's a sneak peek...

Check it out here or click on the picture :)

Thanks guys!

Love,

Sophia

Look Who's Talking...

2011-08-15T22:54:00.004+01:00

Dear LOOK/fellow bloggers (don't want to be alienating anyone now do we!),

You may notice that I'm writing this blog post an hour before the deadline. Well there's no point denying it, is there? There's a time at the end of the post and I'm not going to backdate it to make myself look better!

In all honesty, the reason I have left this so late is because I know, deep down, that there is a very slim chance of me getting it. In my eyes, all of the girls (or guys) who have bothered to take the time to write a cover letter to LOOK essentially asking for their place on that coveted front row of the LOOK show, deserves a seat on that coveted front row of the LOOK show. We're all rooting for each other deep down. We're all a community.

I love not just writing blogs, but reading them too, I love nothing more than to sit down of an evening and read through my blog roll with a cup of herbal tea. Lavvely. I've learnt that blogging is not just one way - it is not simply enough to just write and write and expect to get anything in return - it is essential to be a part of the blogging community as well if you want your blog to grow. Not only that, but at least then you feel like you belong somewhere. More often than not, we have struggled all our lives with that feeling of belonging and now we feel like we finally belong, to a culture... of blogging enthusiasts.

The thing I hate about blogging is this need to categorise blogs into certain genres. I respect bloggers who aren't afraid to take risks. Who aren't afraid to not conform to what other bloggers expect them to be. Yes, Muhsine's blog Bubblegarm might be one of the top beauty blogs in the UK, but who's to stop her writing about her pregnancy? Who's stopping her?! The same for Holly and the Yummy Mummy Beauty Blog. It's in the name. She's famed for her beauty blog. But why not write about an enriching weekend, or a last minute trip to Paris. It's these kind of bloggers that surprise me and leave me not knowing what to expect. I'd like to think I'm one of those blogs. I wouldn't categorise myself as a fashion, beauty, health or lifestyle blogger - I'm simply a blogger. We all are.

However, one thing I am passionate about (and I'm not afraid to admit it) is high street fashion. I haven't grown up with loads of money but I've learnt the importance of taking care of yourself and feeling good about yourself from the inside out. I take pride in my appearance, but love finding a bargain in somewhere random like Poundland or a car boot sale and passing that onto my readers. Nobody can assume everyone has loads of money to buy the latest MAC foundation or YSL purse. That's why my blog has always focused on looking good on a budget. I have never and will never feature a high end fashion item on my blog. My blog is purely high street and you're more likely to see Primark or H&M than Prada or Hermes. After all, why waste your money on something when you can get it at a fraction of the price? Beats me.

Having a background in fashion retail (I've worked for Next for 3 years) has allowed me to keep on top of the latest trends and feed my insatiable appetite for fashion. We have our summer sale in July and right after that it's time to buy our Autumn/Winter uniform. It's easy to predict trends when you're surrounded by them months beforehand. I mean, who else has got a pair of black gloss Hunter wellies on their A/W wishlist? Hands up, ladies!

I would also add that I'm a good role model for other girls and other bloggers, I'm not one of the biggest, nor the best, but I feel like I know what I'm doing and I can give advice to others easily if they need it. Being an unemployed Journalism graduate is rather depressing - I haven't worked my butt off for 3 years and swapped the tequilas for text books for nothing. Blogging has helped me get through this difficult time and give me something to focus on, to achieve, to enjoy. Blogging for LOOK would be an absolute honour and I'm so grateful that you have read this far. THANK YOU!

Vote for me as Cosmo's Student Blogger 2011 in 2 easy steps!

2011-08-12T19:08:00.005+01:00

1. click on this link

2. fill in your email address, my blog url (sophias-style.blogspot.com), select Student Blogger and then No and click Submit!

You're done! Think of it as your good deed for the day :) I promise you will get good karma if you do it...*

*subject to individual, terms and conditions apply... :)

TA!

ps. if you do vote for me and you want me to vote for you just leave a comment or tweet me and I will do ASAP!

21st birthday fashion & beauty!

2011-08-12T15:03:00.002+01:00

Hey peoples!

Following on from my 21st birthday presents round-up post, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek into my bday looks! Obvs many different events required many different outfits :)

LOOK 1: Birthday day

Dress - Apricot at New Look (link!)

Tan sandals - ALDO at ASOS (link!)

Watch - River Island (last year)

A pretty, casual look perfect for opening prezzies, having a wander around town and going out for lunch with the boy (below)

NAILS: Bourjois So Laque Nail Lacquer in 25 Rouge Casino

I didn't wear much make-up in the day :) You might notice my hair is a little shorter and blonder, I got it cut just before my birthday! What do you think?

LOOK 2: Birthday drinks

Military playsuit - F&F at Tesco (link!)

Tan strappy heels - ALDO (last year)

Red snakeskin clutch - Primark (old!)

Gold hoops (just seen) - Primark (old!)

[I used St Tropez Wash Off Self Tan - amazing stuff!]

Slightly more glam but not OTT! I went for a smart/casual look and this playsuit from Tesco fitted the bill perfectly. It was suitably chic for 21st celebrations, but I spiced it up with a tomato red clutch, lips and nails (below)

FACE: Benefit That Gal primer, Benefit Some Kinda Gorgeous Foundation Faker (original), Benefit Boi-ing concealer (02 Medium), Benefit Hoola bronzer & Clinique Up-Lighting liquid illuminator (02 Peach)

EYES: Urban Decay e/s primer potion (original), Urban Decay baked e/s in Buck all over lid & Smog in outer corners, Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid eye-liner in Black along top lid, Avon Color Trend double-ended kajal stick in Black along lower waterline, CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara in Black (2 coats)

LIPS: MAC LE Surf Baby lipstick in Hibiscus

I LOVE this lipstick from MAC! The boy picked it up for me in the States and it's so creamy and pigmented, it also matched my clutch and nails perfectly, woop!

Free champagne! *yay*

LOOK 3: Birthday night out

Cut-out dress - ASOS (link!)

Orange clutch - Primark (see purchase)

Tan heels - Primark (last year)

Obviously uber-glam was required for such an event (liquid aii!) I went for colour blocking as it's a trend I'm loving at the mo and I chose this bodycon dress from ASOS due to its intricate cut-out detail around the neck and also the striking blue colour really stands out! The tan heels elongated my short lil legs as well :)

NAILS: I accentuated the pink on the bag with pink nails and added a little gold accent to match the gold clasp on the bag :) I used Nails Inc in Shoreditch w/ GOSH Gold :)

MAKE-UP: Same as before, except I used Avon LE Plump Pout Honey Shades lipgloss in Pink Nectar on my lips :)

What do you guys think? Do you change up your look around your birthday?

Love,

Sophia

PS. PLEAAAASE vote for me for Cosmo's Student Blogger of the Year award! http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/cosmopolitan-blog-awards-2011/cosmo-blog-awards-2011 I would be SO grateful - my blogger url is sophias-style.blogspot.com - cheeers!

2011-08-12T13:42:00.002+01:00

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