Tuesday 29 September 2015

Halloween Ideas 2015 #1

The other side of makeup:

Okay so recently I've rekindled my love for SFX / Halloweeny makeup, Halloween is my favourite time of the year and I've had a lot going on recently so having something to come home and focus on has really helped. 

Here are a few pretty easy (and time consuming) ideas you could go as for halloween or a costume party this year, I think I'll do one of these posts a week since it's something I enjoy and could potentially be helpful, who knows? Also would like to add I've never had any sort of training nor do I own really expensive theatrical makeup, most of what I use is like £2 a colour off of amazon. Surprisingly good, I know. ;).

1) The Cheshire Cat

This was actually very easy, I made my face pale with a very light foundation and down my neck and shoulders or I'd look stupid? And set it with talcum powder (nifty). I then contoured my face with a bright pink blusher I found in a sleek pallette I didn't know I had, alternatively you could use eyeshadow, also if you prefer the blue Cheshire Cat from the Tim Burton movie, use a blue shadow instead of pink. I extended my usual cat flick with normal eyeliner, used my everyday mascara, used brow gel the wrong way to make them bushy. Went back over my nose and cuspids bow and over my collar bones. Then with a chunky black felt pen eyeliner drew the shape of a grin and with a cream white makeup filled my teeth in. Easy. But time consuming.

2) Semi-Skinless

I would not recommend this if you don't have patience as it took me 3 hours. 3 HOURS! Start painting your face red, face paint is excellent for this please don't use normal paint, your skin will not forgive you. Then get a bit of white on the end of a flat brush and make lines as you go. Then when the white is done, get black and outline the different sections. I actually went back over with yellow and green too to add a different dimension to it. Then like in the previous one, put the teeth in.

3) Sprite Queen

This is actually a favourite of mine, just using green face paint, contour your cheekbones around you forehead and down your nose, do a nice cat eye flick, put glitter under the eye and you're literally done. I mean add a green lip if you're feeling daring, I bought the Barry M green one, but it turns pink which is why my lips in this are pink. If I were to change this I'd definitely add more glitter under the eyes. Put on a green or sparking midi, add a flower crown, look at that you're a sprite queen. (Pretty much a fairy in case you didn't know)

4) Queen of Hearts

This was a fun one, I poofed my hair in the shape of a heart and clipped it in place, then did a plat down the back. Using white face paint I drew a heart and filled it in, went over the outline in red and coloured the rest in black. Added your typical extended cat flick, two triangles under the eye like a mime(?), drew a marina and the diamonds heart on my cheek, blackened my brows and extended my lips at the corner Angelina Jolie style. Just wear with an all black outfit and you're good to go. 

5) (Sassy) Half Face Bride of Frankentstien 

Okay so do your glam going out make up as normal and then start to draw with eyeliner, I used gel liner and a brush, the cracks/stitches. When you have the complete outline, cover the rest in light green and blend out on your neck. Outline the hollow of your eye with a purple eyeliner and with a darker green go over your cheekbones. Colour the Franken-brow black and make the Franken-eye makeup more dramatic with a thicker line. That's pretty much it. For a more bloodshot look with a pink lip liner draw veins under the eyes and down the neck. 

Let me know what products your using if you're into this sort of makeup too, if not maybe a few ideas of what to do next, hope you enjoyed this and I helped a bit, 

Rachel xoxo
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Friday 11 September 2015

Something Different, Finding My Way

I've not written a post in a while, I kind of feel like I've lost my way a bit and I was writing posts BC I felt like I should not because I wanted to. Which kind of meant my content wasn't as good as it could potentially be since I wasn't passionate about what I was writing and I think these last few posts have made that clear to me. I think I felt the pressure from companies who asked me to blog their stuff to do it, and since I'm still new to this I was just excited to be asked regardless of who it was. So things from now on are gonna change. I only want to write about things I am adamant I love, like Halloween or films or Make up or maybe outfits and shoes, but that's baby steps, I also really want to start addressing more overarching toppings rather than a lush haul etc like body shaming or feminism in its true form, two things I'm also passionate about. My weird quirks are coming out and I'm going to strive to make my content more original and to be frank more me. If a company still wants to work with me and for me to blog with them, I will definitely consider, but only if I am comfortable and passionate about it. 



Rachel xoxo
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Monday 3 August 2015

Michelle Keegan | Inspired Make-Up Look

First off, I don't even need to say how stunning Michelle Keegan is and I saw this picture of her make up and really wanted to recreate the look;


I just love the nude, brown based eye combined with a subtle pink lip, so I thought I'd try recreate it, using these products - 


The first thing I did was curl my hair and brush it out to make it wavy because I know hers isn't here, but mine hadn't been washed for a few days and I couldn't be bothered washing it. I then used Max Factors face finity primer before applying anything. 
Then I put a little bit of the Double Wear Foundation in Bone 1W1 on the back of my hand and applied it with a brush, I then went over it with a little concealer to cover any blemishes. Then I matteifyed (if that's a word) with Bourjois Healthy Balance powder in Vanilla. For contouring I used the Anastasia Contour kit in light - medium, and I applied the shade Java with a beauty bleder because I find it makes blending out so much easier. I highlighted my cheek and brow bones with Max Factor CC highlighter stick. 
For the eyes, I covered my eye and brow bone in Gesso and I put Mac Paint in Sublime Nature all over the lid, and the rest from my Mac Warm Neutrals Pallette, aka the love of my life. In the corner and the crease is Divine Decadence, on the inner corner is Vanilla Extract and to blend in the middle I used Brule. I then blended Divine Decadence just below my lower water line.
I then used Loreal Super Liner to make my eyes stand out and finished with Rimmel Extra 3D Lash. The eyebrows are simply Mac Eyeshadow Wedge with an angled liner brush and set with rimmels brow this way. And simply for the lips I used Mac's lipstick in French Twist.








Let me know what you think of the look

Rachel xoxo















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Tuesday 28 July 2015

Exploring | London

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, I've just been so busy recently and in hindsight I should have written a few posts in bulk to post when I was really busy, so this post is just going to fill in a few blanks and put me back in the blogging frame of mind.

Here are a few pictures from my recent trip to London, exciting!!! 












Rachel xoxo

P.s. Where should I go to next??
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Tuesday 7 July 2015

Boutique of Molly | Review, Wishlist and Promotion

I recently came across Boutique of Molly on Twitter and loved their clothes, so when they approached me asking if I'd like to work with them I was honoured and jumped at the chance regardless of all the hectic things going on in my life right now. First off I'd like to thank the team there for being so cooperative with me taking a while to writing this post, because of money coming through being late and other things I had no control over. One thing I love about their company is that they're always working so hard and it really pays off, they currently have some beautiful items in store, some things even came available after I made and received my order so I made a little wish list for next month, also they must have posted the same day I ordered because I got standard delivery and relieved my little pink package so quickly, I was so happy to come home from a full day of college and open it.

My Wish-list:
I love all these pieces they're all so summery and pretty and I think it's the perfect combination of sophisticated meets playful. (From L to R) 'Tatiana' Aztec Print Skater Dress £29.95, 'Ariel' Flower Frill Top £24.95, 'Eliza' Heavy Bandage Crop Top £21.95, 'Elsa' Cut Out Crop Top £19.95, 'Lila' Mesh Panel Skater Dress £31.95, 'Lola' Mesh Panel Skater Dress £31.95, 'Delilah' Mesh Panel Skater Dress £29.95.

I would really recommend checking them out, the pieces I have are such good quality and I can pretty much wear them all year round, the boutique ships worldwide, based in England, they have such amazing customer service so if you have any questions or queries, don't hesitate they are lovely! Also they're getting more and more stock of late and I can really see how popular they are, they stock sizes 6 through to 14, but hurry because some items I wanted have come and gone! 

(Ava Chiffon Frill Top £19.95)



Rachel xoxo
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Monday 29 June 2015

A Completely Relatable Review | Rimmel Wake Me Up! Mascara

Most makeup reviews consist of 'it gives amazing separation' or 'they looked false' or I don't know, so I thought I'd write a completely relatable review on this new mascara I picked up as a day by day account.

        

Day 1: My friend had this mascara, and it smells like cucumber, I'm not lying that is 100% why I bought it 
Day 2: The brush is a weird hourglass shape and I'm not sure how it works, surely it'd only apply mascara to the bits where it's thicker and miss the middle??? I don't think it's woken me up either, but I did go to bed at 2, and 5.5 hours later I'm up, probably why
Day 3: It's 21C and 3 flies have flewn into my eyes on this walk home from college, is it the Cucumber
Day 4: Mascara has prevented me napping, I managed to get it to look really good and didn't want to ruin it, it's living up to its name
Day 5: I started putting a different one on, but put this on top after and I look fineeee😎 I didn't know what I was doing
Day 6: I slept in it and it's down my face, I look awful and need a new head
Day 7: Withstood torrential tears with minor leakage
Day 8: I've lost it, but a fly still flew into my eye???
Day 9: Still can't find it 
Day 10: why
Day 11: Found it in the sock draw of course, but it's still too soon in our relationship
Day 12: went to town it rained and came off the tips but not near the eyelash line so the lashes look short and stumpy like the rest of me
Day 13: I really like the colour of the bottle, is it a bottle? I do not know
Day 14: it reminds me of a cheaper and more cucumber smelling Better Than Sex mascara
Day 15: I'm giving it 6.8/10




Let me know what you thought if you've tried it!

Rachel xoxo

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Friday 12 June 2015

Song Ideas For Musical Theatre Auditions | Advice



I have a low key audition coming up and I only had a week to prepare for it, baring in mind I haven't had lessons in almost a year, I have struggled coming up with a song to sing, so this is sort of a note to myself to 1) not to panick 2) with a couple ideas for future reference

1. Pulled from The Addams Family Musical
2. Unexpected Song from Song And Dance
3. The Physician by Cole Porter (I don't know the musical but it was originally Julie Andrews I think)
4. Her Voice from The Little Mermaid on Broadway (not the film)
5. Bill from Showboat
6. How Could I Ever Know from The Secret Garden
7. Being Alive from Company
8. In My Own Little Corner from Rogers and Hammerstein II: Cinderella 
9. Once Upon A Dream from Jekyll & Hyde
10. That's What You Call A Dream from Bonnie and Clyde

Generally things others probably won't sing are best so maybe AVOID THE LION KING, Wicked, Grease, anything currently on stage

Rachel xoxo
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Monday 1 June 2015

Payday Dreaming | Boohoo

Recently I have discovered that Boohoo may be my favourite place to buy from and since I'm not really buying anything huge this month I put together this wish list for payday aka THE best day.


At the moment they have such good shoes on their website, think public desire-esque, I have a similar pair to the nude cross strap platforms in red and love the nude shade too, same goes for the black. I also don't own a pair of skinny sandal heels so these just look like a good option. The grid ones, I think are sold out but I'll mention them because they're so pretty but the deep v shoe boots are my favourite, they're so on season and I can't wait to buy them they'll be my first buy this coming payday if they're still available (please). BUT what I will say is that I'm actually quite annoyed, all these shoes were £12 when I found them but they're now all £25 or £30 and / or sold out in all 5's and 4's.

I'm also in love with bralets at the moment too, well the ones on boohoo anyway. I can't begin to tell you how many black boohoo crops I have. So I've added an orange one, a purple one and a white one to mix things up. I think the orange one will look fab with black high rise cropped ankle jeans and tan gladiators.

Also lusting over the cream scallop hem shorts however, I have a pear shaped body so shorts aren't my best friend, same goes for the polka dot playsuit, I'm a sucker for the black on white dots or even vice versa but I just can't pull it off.

There's two dresses on my dream list two, the blue split middle dress, it looks so classy and really nice for a wedding maybe or a special occasion event, and the light blue is such a pretty and summery colour and would really enhance a natural tan. The other dress is a pinafore dress and since I got to a sixthform college with a dress code, this would looke really nice over shirts buttoned all the way up or maybe even a Bardot top to make a cold shoulder style. 

That just leaves 3 items left, the georgeous duster in the top right corner, and two stubby chic tees. The duster is £20 and so pretty and I want it almost as much as the V shoes. The first is the grey backless vest, just really easy to wear, you can pretty much throw it on jeans or leggings, the second is a 3/4 sleeve top with pom-poms around the bottom, I just thought it was cute to be honest. 

What items are you loving?

Rachel xoxo


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Friday 29 May 2015

Max Factor Colour Correction Sticks | Review


Okay so recently I had a huge red mark on my face and whatever I did it would not come of because it was just discoloration on my face from a rash, so I ran to boots and asked the shop assistant to help me out and she showed me to the Colour Correction (CC) sticks from Max Factor.

The first one I got was green because that's the colour that corrects redness, and I actually found when I took it off the redness had gone down a lot so not only did it cover it, it also helped fix it.

Because there was an offer on I also got the highlight stick, and it's actually quickly become my favourite highlight, it's really natural but gives such a nice sheen to cheekbones without looking too shimmery. After I bought these two, I had to get the rest.

The yellow one corrects dark under eye circles and I have to say so far this one worked the best, as soon as I blended it in with my beauty blender, dark under eye circles completely disappeared.

The blue one corrects dullness, I always feel like my t-zone looks really dull and whenever I put highlight on it I always end up looking like Edward Cullen in sun. 

The pink one corrects dark patches on skin so like scars, so it's good if you have maybe acne scars or marks from when you fell when you were younger etc. 

You apply the colour you need to the face in the area you need it, I tend to do a layer of foundation, draw on the colour I need in the place I need it, and then do another layer of foundation on top to blend it in and create the perfect base and then carry on with the rest of my face.




I know that colour correction has become a bigger issue for me as I've gotten older, I'd love to hear about some other products I could use,

Rachel xoxo





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Wednesday 27 May 2015

I have a... Shoe Type


You know when you see some shoes, and you instantly love them, and you have to buy them, but then you get home and realise you have a really similar pair, or maybe two, or three, or six. That is so funny because me too!

I reccently posted this on my Instagram (to the right) and a comment I got was, 'these shoes are pretty much the same', I would like to write how I see it, this is science. Science applied in the real world, and I'll use an awful pun to demonstrate it, SOLE-vival of the fittest (I apologise).
Each time I bought a new pair of these, they got higher, I noticed, but then it suddenly occurred to me, how many pairs of black booties, gorgeous though they are, do I need. I can only wear one pair at a time and there are only 7 days in the week. But then I thought, I really love shoes and these shoes are NOT the same. Starting at the top going anti-clockwise, The first pair are flat, plain black flat boots, then next are platform chunky heel booties with cut-outs, next are a chelsea boot style with low platform and treads, then are low platform, with no treads, then is huge platform, open toe and buckles, and last are my favourites, with high platforms and thick heels, which makes them not the same.

In all seriousness I should buy another pair because I have a shopping problem and it's unlikely I'm going to change anytime soon, but who is this hobby hurting? Some people travel and others like sports, I love shoes and so do so many other people!

Rachel xoxo
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Monday 25 May 2015

Contour Couture | Summer Sculpting and Facial Definition



One of my favourite things to do when applying make up in the morning is to contour. I have been told many a time that I have a moon head, so contouring is a must. I am in no way an expert, quite a lot of the time I think it looks wonderful but then I'll see myself in a car window, or a mirror and I'll instantly regret it. But I thought I'd share a few of my favourite products and a few 'hacks' to make it easier and more natural. 

I got into contouring watching Carli Bybel, I am such a huge fan of hers and she is the QUEEN of contouring:




My new all time favourite product is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light to Medium. It comes with 6 grey based tones designed to Highlight and Contour. (bought from New York where it is £27)

Next is Bourjois 'Chocolate' Bronzer, if I'm rushing in the morning, I'll grab one of these, they're so easy to blend and give a pretty much instant result. Also from Bourjois is the BB Bronzer Cream, if I'm going out or looking for a cream base I'll grab this and blend it in the hollows of my cheeks, down the sides of my nose and around my temples with a beauty blender.

Rimmel never seem to fail me either, this Rimmel Natural Bronze powder was actually my first bronzing product, similar to the Chocolate Bronzer and a really good dupe of the Hoola bronzer, not quite as easy to blend but really nice for a subtle look, but if over done can easily turn orange (like any bronzer). 

Benefit's Hoola Bronzer is such a nice shade, really natural, comes with a long thin brush (Sorry I don't know the name) and blends out really nice for an even finish, it is pretty expensive though, so I think of it as an evening bronze.  Also Benefit, high beam, just like tints (cha-cha, posie, bene, lolli) comes in a little nail varnish-esque bottle, mainly I put this on my brow bone as I feel it's a bit too shimmery for all my face.

Sleek are also a pretty good brand when it comes to contour and highlighting. I have the highlighting pallet and it comes with 4 shades, 3 are cream based and the other is powder. These are also quite shimmery so really great for going out or to parties etc. 


 My (Kind Of) Tips For Beginners:


  1. If you're going for an everyday look, maybe chose a bronzer with a grey base to avoid looking orange (unless that's the look you want)
  2. Make sure you blend out really well, my best advice is to use a beauty blender / teardrop sponge of some sort as that'll get rid of any harsh lines and give the best results. 
  3. Maybe also try the real techniques Blush Brush, I accidently grabbed this once to blend mine out and found it gave a really nice result.
  4. Try out different types of bronzer to find which suits you, go to the extremes and work inward to find which suits you, like a really dark bronze or a really grey palish tone, everyone has different skin types and colours.
  5. If it's a cream, make sure you set the makeup otherwise you'll find at some point it'll come home looking patch

                                   
    

Let me know about any products I haven't mentioned

Rachel xoxo

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Wednesday 20 May 2015

HUGE SPRING/SUMMER HAUL ~ New Look, Amazon, Boohoo, Disney and More!

Okay so recently I've gone on a bit of a mad one, and thought I'd share all the stuff I bought, I blame exams for all the stress buys. BUT I would like to really stress this is a collective haul since the middle of February, that's 4 months worth, some is for college, some is because I had a mental break down and some is because I have no Summer clothes.
  First I'll go with all the none clothes related things, my first and worst / favourite purchase is the little crocodile in the top image, he was £12 from the Disney store and I bought him because of how much I love the Disney Faries, they're my fave. I also bought a bag £2.50  the new Tinkerbell Movie £10 and a Tinkerbell drinks bottle £5.

  
I also bought 6 EOS Balms because they are cheaper on Amazon and I love them, along with The Last 
5 Years £7, Wonderlust £3.95, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healy, Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, The Handmades Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.
So I may have bought a lot of clothes so much so I couldn't take a nice picture, see?? 


The first place I shopped at and mainly shopped at is new look, the first thing I got was a pair of trainers like the ones below except in blue, even though I kind of wish I got them in pink but now they're all sold out in both colours, I got them for £19.99 but then they were put into sale for £11, I also picked up this cute white a line skirt, I really like the fabric it feels really good quality, but if you have a larger hip to waist ratio buy the size up because it has a tight underskirt, £14.99. Next I got a coral lace sports bra, I have the same one in yellow it's the comfiest thing and coral is my favourite colour so I had to have it, especially for £9.99, the watermelon clutch is kind of an impulse buy, but it's so quirky and I love it, £12.99. I also got an over sized shirt, so easy to wear £17.99, these beautiful mint green courts £19.99, a floral playsuit which I actually bought 3 sizes too big to compensate for my bum but it has a tie waist so it's fine. The next thing I picked up without thinking about it, it was £5 in the sale and it is so flattering. I also got a sleeveless black coat for £19.99 and a checked grid shirt dress for £19.99 which I think is also in the sale. 

The next place I shopped at was Boohoo, I first got a smock jersey dress like the one below except I got it in deep purple but I couldn't find the image of that one and that was I think £12, it's so easy to just throw on and wear to college. The next thing I bought was the bat-winged sleeved skater shirt dress for £15. The next dress is a bit of a guilty purchase, i saw a friend wear a similar one so I bought it too, oops, this was £15. The next two items I bought because they had my name in the title, but I loved them, the paisley skater dress is such a nice shape but it doesn't compensate for boobs, so if you're on the breast-y side, maybe buy the size up, £18. And last is this beautiful sleeveless jacket, (yes I bought a fluffy one and a none fluffy one), it can literally make any lazy outfit look glam, my favourite so far is with a 3/4 black jersey top and black skinny jeans with converse or uggs. 


For a very long time I really wanted a pussy bow shirt and MissGuided was the only place I could fine one I loved, this was in the sale for £18. I also got a plain white top (so I could get free delivery) but also basics are my favourite thing to wear because I'm not very good in the morning and I think it was £8.

I also got a few things from Gap Outlet, they legit always have some sort of sale on so I can't remember the prices of these, but I got some legging skimmer jeans in a light denim colour, a really nice summery jean colour, and all my jeans are black and dark blue so it makes a nice change. I also got this white shirt with roll sleeves, again because I love basics and it's something nice I can wear to work.


At the moment I really love Topshop's duster coats, the one I initially liked they only had in a 12, 14 and 16 so I tried the 12 and it completely drowned me, so I went for this one instead, I'm really glad I got this one it feels like it's really classic and timeless so I can use it for a very long time. This was £89 but I got this on a day where they had a student discount offer. 



I think that's me done for now, that should keep me going until August when I have to buy some autumn bits.**

**This is all my opinion and bought with my money.


Let me know what've you been buying recently? 

Rachel xoxo




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