Tuesday 14 September 2010

Products to rave about...

A few things recently have really caught my attention for being fabulous and I think they deserve some recognition.
First up is Rimmel London’s “60 seconds” nail varnish with “express brush” for one second application... since the beginning of time, or at least the invention of nail varnish, cosmetics companies have promised fast drying and easy to apply polish for your nails but , in my experience, few rarely deliver on these promises. However, all is not lost as Rimmel London’s “60 seconds” nail varnish with “express brush” does exactly what it says on the tin. The shape of the brush means that the varnish gets spread evenly over the entirety of your nail without creating little messy reservoirs of paint at the sides of your nail where its meets the skin. It dries quickly too so you aren’t confined to your seat for about 5 minutes after you’ve painted your nails for fear of transferring it to the walls, the carpet or your outfit for the night. You really can put this nail varnish on in a rush (even the tricky other hand!). I’m currently loving it in “805 Grey Matter”- it looks unfussy, clean and elegant.
Aha I’ve just realised my next rave is about another Rimmel London product, they should be paying me right?!
“Colour show off lipstick”... I must admit I was a slave to advertising with this product. I saw the advert on the TV and instantly thought “I WANT that lipstick”; thank god I’m not like that for every advert on TV! I bought it in “230 Red Fever” (wearing it in the photo) which is a proper vampy shade- I love it so much but I’ve only really started to wear it regularly since I had my teeth whitened as the colour is so intense it seemed to make them look really yellow? Not so cool. But yeah this lipstick has the perfect balance between matte and gloss and if you apply it once, wear it a bit and then reapply it a little later it has staying power that will last the whole night...and the morning too if you forget to take it off.
It is definitely worth checking out the Rimmel London site, it has some cool tips and competitions:
http://www.rimmellondon.com/UK/home.aspx



Finally, the last products I discovered after going to a demo at The House of Fraser. Aveda “Pure Abundance” volumizing shampoo and volumizing clay conditioner are what I would call “miracle products” (I do not use that term lightly people!). I haven’t had my hair cut for going on a year now but it’s only recently that the ends have started to look noticeably ratty. At this demo I was given generous samples of these products to try out and no word of a lie they made my hair look and feel as though it had just been cut (and it has actually persuaded me to go and get a real hair cut). My hair had natural volume, looked shiny and the ends looked just like the rest of my hair- healthy. These products are expensive for what most people would spend on shampoo and conditioner but they really work. I was lucky enough to be given two £10 off vouchers for Aveda products and I know exactly what I’m gonna use them for...

Camera is broken (for absolutely no reason) which makes me so sad, but there is a chance that I’ll get a better camera out of it if they can’t fix the problem...please don’t be able to fix it!

Peace and Love,
Gracie

Saturday 11 September 2010

Making a home from home...


So I’m off to Brighton Uni in the next couple of weeks and I’m buzzing with excitement! I keep getting emails from the uni telling me what I need to get done before I get there, what to do on my first day, what to bring and, of course, details of fresher’s week (partypartyparty)- it seems like a bit of an information overload and I’ve made millions of list to try and get my head round it all. It’s a good amount of being thrown in at the deep end.
Yesterday I did a bit of shopping for bedding and towels and that; I took full advantage of the Primark that’s just opened in Guildford and got everything super cheap. Even though it was packed as it had pretty much just opened its doors, it was really spacious and well set out unlike most Primarks where you feel like you might not make it out alive. One thing I’m really conscious about at uni is making my little room feel like my own as they’re obviously really bland when you get them. I’m someone who likes their environment to be visually inspiring and appealing so I went for bright colours and striking patterns. I got pink towels- I’m not really a pink-loving person but I thought it would brighten up a plain white bathroom and my duvet cover is rather garish to say the least but it was in the sale so I’m not complaining. I think living in Brighton is gonna be pretty full on so why not have a room that matches that?
I wanted to get some clothes and random bits and bobs for me, but we ran out of time (I did manage to get a couple of things, the dress in the photo is one of them) I’m going shopping with my boyfriend in the week so I’ll splash the cash then.

And if anyone reading this is from Brighton, or goes there a lot, let me know of the in and outs of Brighton life and any good places you’ve found to hangout. Ta!


Loves,
Gracie

Thursday 2 September 2010

A girl’s best friend...

I’m talking make up. That title perhaps makes me sound a little image obsessed, but there’s something about putting on your face that makes the world easier to tackle; maybe it’s symbolic of control- ooh deep!
Anyway of course it’s not just ladies that like a bit of slap... it’s becoming more socially acceptable for blokes of all walks of life to wear makeup, and why not? I’ve always thought it was unfair that girls get to cover up spots and blemishes and make themselves feel better about their appearance and guys just have deal with it, especially in the teenage years. Male trends such as “guyliner” and the recent “androgynous” look have paved the way for man-makeup but like most fashions its roots go back into the past, most noticeably the eras of The Bright Young Things and The New Romantics. So I guess it would be more appropriate to title this entry as “Everyone’s best friend...”
I wanted to show you a couple of makeup items that look promising for next season and which I hope to spend my cash on...
Maxfactor smoky eye effect eye shadow £7.99 @ Boots... I’ve actually already tried to get this but they’d run out in the colour I wanted (Onyx Smoke) which suggests it’s a hot product. I will get it though!



The Swiss collection by Opi looks so unbelievably good. I love nail varnish to provide a coverage and finish that looks like you were born with that nail colour, and Opi ticks that box. But at £9.95 a pop from Asos I’m gonna have to pick my colours carefully... I’m loving “Just a little Rosti at this” and “Cuckoo for this Colour”
I like my skin to look matte and I feel after extensive testing from expensive brands to cheap ones that Maxfactor Colour Adapt gives the best effect (I use it in Creamy Ivory) it seems to lat forever too so great value for money. I often use L’oreal Paris’ Matte Morphose as a base coat as it just even my skin tone perfectly (in Rosy Ivory).


When it comes to powder I use so much I just buy the cheapest I can find. At the moment I’m using Collection 2000 in Ivory and it gives really good coverage and it last too.
I used to have the most amazing blusher that came in some make up set I got as a present. It was really rosy and shimmery and when it ran out I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find anything as good but Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher in Rose is perfect- very English rosey!
Finally, I’m desperate for a cherry lip stain that doesn’t cost £20! My friend used to have one when we were little and I just wish I had it now! Does anyone know of such a product?!

Off to Camden later for a friends gig and to see my brother- very excited- then off to the boat again tomorrow.


Peace and Love,
Gracie