'Roasted Chestnut' makeup look

This simple and shimmering makeup look is perfect to warm up any complexion during these cold, wintery seasons. This is a look I often wear during the day as it is neutral and understated, however if you want to spice it up with some extra glam, just add some red lipstick! The soft browns and warm bronzes beautifully compliment brown eyes, creating a sweet 'doe-eyed' look.

Products used:

• Monella Paris palette in 'Gold'
• Sleeks Eyeshadow palette in 'Au Naturel'
• Loreal Paris eyeshadow in 'Silver Brown'
• A crease and flat shader brush
• Miss Sporty mascara in 'Black 01'

I began by applying a light wash of colour over the lid called Cappuccino and blended a golden chestnut coloured bronze into the crease. Using a fluffy brush, I then worked Silver Brown into the outer corner to add some depth and dimension to the eye. I also lined the bottom lash line with this colour to create the effect of larger looking eyes. To finish off the shadow, I took a dark matte brown called Bark and concentrated this in the outer third of the lid. I highlighted the inner corner with a beautiful pearl colour called Taupe which instantly brightens up the look.

 I thought a liquid liner/gel liner would be too heavy for this delicate look; I therefore opted for using a dark brown eyeshadow to line my upper lash line. Finally I curled my lashes and applied a thin coat of mascara to keep the makeup looking light.

 To intensify this look, simply apply a heavier coat of mascara and line your waterline with a black eyeliner to create more of a 'smokey' eye effect. I applied a vibrant berry red lipstick and a dusty rose blush to compliment the eyes. This is a very basic and simple look to create which took me less than 10 minutes; it is a sweet and casual day time look that reminds me of hot chestnuts on a winters day- perfect for fall.

-Phil x

Costal Scents 252 eyeshadow palette: Unbox and review

A Coastal Scents eyeshadow palette has been on my wish list for a few years, and for my birthday I finally purchased one. I chose the 252 Ultimate eyeshadow palette because the reviews were very positive, particularly in regards to the wonderful colour pigmentation and the great value for money. With 252 shadows to choose from, the possibilities to create gorgeous makeup looks are endless. At a reasonable price, every look under the sun can be created with this one collection. I am so excited to experiment with the incredible range of colours, especially as each palette has a beautiful combination of both intense matte and satin shades. I have always been extremely weary of buying makeup products online due to the risk of damage through delivery. However I was happy to find the box safely and securely wrapped up in bubble wrap which prevented breakage of shadows. It arrived in absolutely perfect condition and I fell in love with it the moment I saw the glorious extent of colours.

 The 252 palette consists of three stacked individual palettes, each coming with a protective plastic film. A great thing about this set is how compact and light it is, making it easy to travel with and convenient to store. Additionally, the ribbons are very handy as they help deconstruct the stack quickly and easily. The colours are highly pigmented with an exciting variety of finishes: sheer, matte, and shimmery. I love how the cool and warm tones are grouped together for easy access.

 This palette has cool undertones and consists of satin based blues, greens and earth tones. The shimmery blues are one of my favourites in the collection as they look magical with their iridescent finish.

 This palette is very warm and vibrant, consisting of colours which remind me of a sunset on a summer night. Although they are small in size (just larger than a 5 pence) each colour is bursting with delicious vibrance, with a strong pigmentation which is sure to last a while. It is, however, comforting to know that if you were to run out of your favourite colour, you would be able to find one similar! 

 This last palette is a mixture of both warm and cool colours and has the essential black and white matte shadows.

Here are some swatches to demonstrate the amazing pigmentation of the shadows. I used a fuchsia pink, sunflower yellow and sky blue:

I would definitely recommend this makeup set to anyone who is interested in beauty/makeup/fashion and has a creative eye. Whether you are just starting out with makeup or you are a professional, this is a must have in any artist's collection! I look forward to experimenting and creating some tutorials.

-Phil x

Diy gift idea: Bookmarks

I adore making gifts. It's fun, meaningful and inexpensive. I made this bookmark for my friend, and for a first attempt, full of trial and error, I think it turned out quite lovely. I started out by cutting out a thick piece of cardboard in a rectangular shape, about two inches in width. I then chose a piece of fabric (I made the mistake of choosing a silky fabric where the colours bled into the glue slightly, oh well!) and measured out a section to wrap around the cardboard. I applied a thin layer of fabric glue and left to dry for 20 minutes.

 This is the fun and creative part- decorating, yay! I based my design on a Geisha Kimono dress and therefore used a satin black ribbon, gold thread, and red beads and buttons. I threaded some pretty beads through the ribbon and then tied it into a bow, securing it with fabric glue. I then wound some sparkly golden thread around the black ribbon which added a lovely contrast of colour. Finally, I added a shiny button. The back looks exactly the same as the front, but with added golden sequins. I love the finished look and look forward to experimenting further with different fabrics and designs!

-Phil x

Wrapping up for winter!

 Today I popped into town to pick up some materials for my DIY Christmas gifts. It is so cold outside but I love seeing all the fairy lights and roasted chestnut stalls in town. It feels so cosy and festive! I wrapped up warm in my fur trimmed coat from Peacocks and grey woollen dress from H&M. I paired this outfit with thick, patterned knee-high socks from Primark and brown detailed boots from Newlook. Accessory wise, I am wearing these adorable owl earrings with red gem eyes and gold midi rings from River Island. The nail polish I'm wearing is Cappuccino by Barry M; I love the shiny finish and think it's a perfect colour for fall.  

-Phil x

Hair tutorial for long hair: Simple elegant twist

This is one of my favourite hairstyles for day time because it is cute, casual and only takes 3 minutes! I always get compliments on this style because the 'twist' looks elegant and puts a modern shake on the everyday pony-tail. This style looks great with both curly and straight hair, for this look I decided to put some large loose curls through my hair to add texture and volume. 

Firstly I gathered my hair to one side and tied it into a low, loose pony tail. I then split the hair (above the hair tie) into two sections, and pulled the pony tail through the top to create a topsy-turvy twist. I lightly tugged at the hair to add volume and make the style look more effortless and casual. Finally I applied some heat protectant spray and used my John Frieda curling tongs to add some waves and texture. Dress this look up with a flower accessory and voila!  

-Phil x

Small Makeup Haul

Over the week I bought a few new additions to my makeup collection. These products are from Boots and Superdrug as they are having a three for two sale across makeup brands (go go go!) I've been looking for a neutral eyeshadow palette for some time now and I discovered this mineral based palette by Sleek called 'Au Naturel'. I'm really happy with it because the colour pay off is excellent. The shadows are highly pigmented and long wearing. I also love how there are a mixture of matte and satin shades, making it an ideal 'neutral day' and 'smokey night' palette. All of the colours are wearable and I think I will make great use of this palette. I hope to create some tutorials using this in the future! I also picked up a brow definition kit which contains three shades of brown and a setting wax, it also comes with a small, angled application brush and a pair of tweezers which is really handy. The offer includes the cheapest product free, so I chose this gorgeous dark taupe shade from Barry M called 'Cappuccino'. I am really happy with my purchases! 

Au Naturel by Sleek: £8.99

High Brow by BeautyUK: £3.99

Cappuccino by Barry M: £2.99

As a birthday gift, I received these four gorgeous lipsticks. I love experimenting with colour and the colour pay off from all of these products is excellent and eye catching. Temptation by Rimmel London is a fiery red colour with a hint of shimmer. Orange Burst by Clinique is a sharp blood orange colour. Tiger Eye by Estee Lauder is a shimmering bronze and Pinkberry a gorgeous mauve plum shade. My current favourite is Pinkberry as it leaves a lovely matte finish and is a perfect complimentary colour for fall! As these were gifts I do not know the prices.

I also picked up Rimmel London's Traffic Stopping Shadow trio in 'Speeding' which comes with a lid colour, a crease colour and a highlighter. The shades I chose were dusty golds and greys which have a beautiful pearly finish. I'm constantly on the look out for long wearing eye liners and I am a big fan of MAC and Bobbi Brown gel liners, however these are expensive so it would be great to find a cheaper alternative. I picked up this gel liner from Topshop in the shade 'Ravine' which is a dark emerald colour. To conclude this birthday haul, I got MaxFactors Lipfinity Lasting Lip Tint in shade 08 which is a gorgeous wine colour. I absolutely adore lip stains during the fall!

-Phil x

Treasure Chest

I received the sweetest birthday package from my friend all the way from Germany. It is so wonderful and thoughtful! I look forward to putting together a Christmas package of goodies and treats for her. She is so creative and artistic, the letters and items are handmade and represent memories of our friendship. What a lovely surprise to open in the mail! 

Phil x

Birthday Treats

November 19th: For my birthday, my sister made a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and salmon, seasoned to perfection with a slice of lemon. Although my parents couldn't be there, this dish always reminds me of my dad because we always have it as our family breakfast on Christmas morning. After tea and breakfast, we drove up to Brighton, blasting our favourite Disney classics from The Little Mermaid and Pocahontas to Tangled and Enchanted. The weather was perfect- bright and sunny with a cornflower blue sky, yet cold and crisp. Beautiful weather to take photographs on Brighton Pier. We explored the Lanes and did some shopping picking up some lovely items which I will make a blogpost about soon.

Winter is in the air. We stopped at a Costa to warm us up. I am in love with their seasonal flavours and bought the Black Forest Gateau Hot Chocolate. My sister bought the Chocolate and Orange Mocha Latte, and they were both divine. As a treat, we also shared a Caramel and Chocolate shortbread and a Christmas Yule Log. Everything was warm, cosy and delicious and the atmosphere was very festive.

My sister cooked a beautiful birthday meal, starting with olives, sun dried tomatoes and feta. Followed by Moussaka, bursting with melt-in-the-mouth aubergines and a peppered side salad with mustard dressing. Instead of a traditional birthday cake, my sister bought a mountain of profiteroles, filled with thick cream and topped with a rich chocolate sauce. Best dessert ever! I had a really lovely 19th birthday and appreciate everything my sister did to make it a special day.

-Birthday girl Phil x