I think I have too much time on my hands...

today I filled a large vaseline gift tin with melted down vaseline with pink food colouring

its so huge I love it!

Sophie x

LA Colors

Hey everyone!

A few weeks ago I went back to London and had a little shop around the new Westfield Stratford City, and after reading Leanne's post on a shop called Beauty Base I had to pick up some nail polishes for myself!

I got 5 I think and these are my favourite

Mauve Glaze, Sparkling Diamonds and Jewel Tone 

It takes a few coats to get Mauve Glaze completely opaque but I love love love these polishes, and they're only 99p each!

What are you wearing on your nails?

Sophie xx

Facets of Fuchsia

As much as I love love love this nail varnish in all it's sparkly glory, it is IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE

Not even the tin foil method will remove it!

I think this one will have to stick to accent nails ONLY and special occasions from now on, 2 hours later and it is still not fully removed, grr

Are there any nail varnishes you really love but just can't wear??

love Sophie xx

Chanel Chance Dupe

Hey everyone!

I don't know if you'd heard but the Zara Collection perfume was supposed to be a dupe for Chanel Chance, so off to Zara I went!

I went to Boots first and put Chance on one wrist and Zara on the other to see how they compared and at first sniff they were pretty much identical, and throughout the day they seemed to wear off to exactly the same smell

The bottle itself is 100ml, it is an EDT and it costs £9.99 which is an absolute bargain compared to the £72 it costs for 100ml of the real Chanel Chance EDT!

What's your favourite perfume? Do you know of any dupes?

Love Sophie xx

Emergency Contour

Hello everyone!

When I was packing up all my things ready to move out make up was top priority, however I accidentally forgot my MAC Harmony blusher, which is my absolute fave for contouring

After realising how PALE I am after a few photos recently posted on facebook, I realised I had to get a cheap substitute to get me through. Whilst in Boots the other day I spotted this and for only £1.99 it wouldn't be the end of the world if it turned me into an oompa loompa

This really is the perfect way to add a little colour to pale skin and it works really well as a contour. When swatched it does have a little bit of glitter in it but this is barely noticable on the face.

So it's a definite thumbs up from me, for £1.99 you get 10g of product that really doesn't have any orangey undertones

Have you tried Natural Collection products before? What's your contour/bronzer of choice?

Love Sophie xx

Awful OOTD/My Body

Hello everyonee!

First of all I'd like to apologise for this truly awful attempt at an OOTD post, but I'd thought I'd give you an insight into what I actually wear, considering pretty much every post on here is about hair and beauty :)

Both my dress and blouse are from Primark (woo) and I just left the blouse open and knotted it at the waist

I don't really have a 'style'. I'm about 5ft8/9 but with a size 12 (sometimes even 14 eek) figure to boot so I can't really do the cutesy petite thing or the tall and skinny thing. I wish I could call my style sophisticated (what with being called Sophie and all..hahaha awkward joke) but I'm more than happy to wear a pair of jeans and a baggy jumper.

I used to have a tshirt from Zara that said 'It's not the content, it's the style, and I'm content with my style' although I never really have been content with my style! Growing up I never really knew how to dress for my figure, at all. Sometimes I think I still don't but at least I know that I will never be one of those girls that can pull off a bodycon skirt (I do NOT have the thighs!) 

When I was younger I was a right chubster and whilst I lost a lot of the 'puppy fat' in Year 9 (so when I was about 14) I still am a 'curvy' girl. That word will forever make me cringe but it's who I am and it seems that no matter how much I work out or live off carrot sticks I will always be this way so I guess I've learnt to live with  it. Maybe.

My favourite shops are Primark, H&M and Topshop, although I find Topshop stupidly overpriced and even now it seems that sometimes H&M is cheaper than Primark (lol what?) 

What's your 'style'? Do you even have one? Let me know!

Love Sophie xxx

Yellow Diamonds In The Light

Hello everyoneee

So this is the end of my first week of lectures at university, and I'm actually really enjoying it! Last night was our Freshers' ball which was great, only I woke up with bruises and cuts EVERYWHERE. And I've now got a severe case of fresher's flu!

Wore my hair down for the first time in AGES today, its finally that kind of weather where you can go out with your hair down and not end up a sweaty mess! As you can see in the background I had my jeans out to dry, after hand washing them turned out I hadn't dissolved the washing powder properly and they were covered in white marks. Someone tell me how to use a washing machine??

I've also really been loving this new series called New Girl, I've been watching it online and it has Zooey Deschanel in it (who is my faveee!) 

Hope you're all well, let me know what you've been up to!

Sophie xx

Max Factor 2000 Calorie

is my favourite mascara, ever!

I know, I know it looks proper dated but I love the brush, I love the formula and I love the effect it has on my eyelashes!

I do already have fairly long eyelashes however they are really lacking in volume. Somehow this mascara manages to double the amount of eyelashes I have and its also ultra black, which I love!

I also really like the fact that it can hold a curl!! If you look back at previous mascara posts that I've done you'll see my eyelashes used to kind of droop to the side, not with this baby!

I think it retails for about £8? But you can always pick it up from ebay for much less

What mascara are you loving?

love Sophie xx

Current Faves

Hello everyone!

Today I moved into my uni halls and I've now got a laptop of my own, (with an SD card port!!) and a fully functioning camera, so I will definitely be posting a lot more frequently!

Just thought I'd show you some current favourites that I've picked up

Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in Cotton Candy 1

Max Factor Weightless Foundation in Light Ivory

L'oreal Glam Shine Lipgloss in Juicy Rose Glow

and the obligatory rubbish hand swatches... 

The foundation is really lovely, and a perfect shade. It feels really silky and I love the slightly dewy slightly matte finish. The lipgloss I ordered off Ebay after falling in love with it in Superdrug. Seriously guys, if you see something you like, especially if it's a slightly older product make sure you check Ebay first. A lot of wholesalers sell their products on there for much much cheaper. For example, my fave mascara Max Factor 2000 Calorie is about £8 in the shops, I picked up a brand new one for under a fiver. 

I really like the consistency of the lip cream, and the taste is just yummy! It's kind of filling my MAC Impassioned void, which I really want but can't justify spending £13.50 on. Seriously MAC, ya didn't need to put the price up.

Also loving Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (along with the rest of the world)

HD Brows Kit

YSL Rouge Volupte in no.2

Hope you're all well!

Sophie xx

24ct Gold On My Ring Finger

Hey everyone! If you're wondering where I've been, my camera broke whilst I was on holiday with friends in Spain! Not

much new with me, on the 25th September im off to Southampton university eeee

Anyways what better way to ease me back into blogging than with a NOTD :)

Here I used one of the maybelline nude nail varnishes (which are £1 off in superdrug now, buy buy buy!) in shade ummm, Rose Poudre. Btw, the shade names are only written on the top of the lid, annoying!

I then covered the ring finger in torn up pieces of gold leaf, taking inspiration from Fee at Makeup Savvy :) this stuff literally cost me £3 for 10 sheets and I used barely a quarter of a sheet for this.

Hope this post turned out alright, posting this from my iPod (which I dropped whilst on a cross trainer and completely shattered the screen... Always me!)

Please let me know what you've been up to, I'm still reading allll the posts in my dashboard everyday :)

Hope you're all well, whether you're starting college, uni or if it's just same old same old, I wanna know all about it :)

love you all loadz, have no idea how you've all stuck with me but I'm so grateful

Love Sophie

xxxx

Boudoir Privé?

Hey ladies!

Just found this new website, looks like another Glossybox style thing?

Apparently it'll be reasonable and have 6 products? But everyone's being a bit negative over this months glossy box... reckon this one will go the same way? hmmm

Let me know what you think, you can enter your email address for an 'exclusive invitation' (cringe) here

 
Love Sophie xx

Barry M White Foundation

You know those products, that no matter how much you google you'll never find enough information about it? Maybe the odd blog post that just includes stock images (nowt wrong with them) but no swatches either? Barry M White Foundation is one of those products

So here's my review!

I'm not pale enough to wear it alone (besides I really don't think it would be very flattering to do so) so I mix it with Revlon ColorStay in Sand Beige, which is the second lightest colour. I bought it after one of those ha stuff you foundation I'm not gonna buy the lightest colour for once and I'm gonna make it work! Needless to say, I didn't make it work.

This is the process I go through to mix the two. You'd be forgiven for thinking the Barry M was a moisturiser its so creamy. And it is 'enriched with moisturisers' after all...

Click the picture to get a nice clear close up view (if that's your kinda thing)

It's such a basic product but you do get loads in the pot, and it really does work. Here it is on my face in all it's glory

My face matches my neck!

If you've got any questions just ask below :) I think it cost umm £6.19 but I know it'll last ages

On a side note, I wouldn't really recommend the other Barry M shades, I don't think the foundation would be hmm, comfortable enough to wear alone all over the face. Maybe a bit cakey and heavy.

 

Let me know what you think!

Sophie xxx

Feel Lucky Like A Four Leaf Clover

Hey everyoneee

Haven't blogged since forever so just wanted to say hello and that I hope you're all well.

My blog had its first birthday a couple of weeks ago and I totally didn't realise... eek

Have a Sunday FOTD...

Face

Revlon Colorstay in Sand Beige

(which is too too dark so mixed with Barry M White Foundation)

Bourjois Brush Concealer

the new Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Berry

Eyes

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sidecar

Maybelline The Falsies Black Drama

Lips

Posie Tint by Benefit

Eyebrows

Laura Mercier Brow Definer in Soft mixed with MUA Dark Brown Eyeshadow

Writing that list made me realise how much I love all these products I've used, definitely been my favourites for the past few months

And yes, I got Posie Tint from Glamour, I like it but I don't love it. It feels reeally cheap and I actually didn't realise how similar it is to the 2True version I reviewed here. They're practically identical. (sorry to all the Benefit lovers out there)

Let me know what you're loving at the moment, and also I want more blogs to read, so leave me yours or ones you love

Love Sophie xx

10% off MAC with Free Delivery

Afternoon everyone!

Just to let you know, Debenhams currently have 10% off most of their beauty ranges, including Bobbi Brown, YSL and MAC

If that's not enough, you get free delivery and they're even giving 10% off the new Surf Baby collection!

I've already bought a few backups of Lingering brow pencil, have a look for yourself

Let me know if you buy anything!

Love Sophie 

xxx

Ombre Update And New Products

Well it seems my Ombre post was my most popular ever! Thought I'd keep you up to date with how it's doing, the semi permanent dye seemed to fade reeeally quickly so I popped on some L'oreal dye, Excell 10 in Frosted Blonde. A few of you have asked so here is what I would recommend doing, but this is a personal process so I do recommend reading my previous post for more details

1. Test a strand with bleach mixture, find the correct time for you by washing off the bleach and then blowdrying the hair (because who really has the time to air dry?!), if not light enough apply for a bit longer and wash and blowdry again.
2. Add a blondey light brown (turns out ashy shades work quite well) to counteract the brassy gingeryness
3. If you like it, do it to the rest of your hair!

I was asked if I applied the blondey light brown dye all over, no, I just applied it to the bleached ends, but I did take it a bit further up so it looked more gradual

Here it is a few weeks on...

And those products I've been loving??

 The Porefessional and Rimmel's Lasting Finish Foundation

I used to hate the Porefessional but it works quite nicely with this foundation

 MAC Cream Colour Base in Luna

I LOVE this so much, it looks quite dirty but it makes the perfect highlighter, love it especially with the foundation!

Natural Collection Apple Blossom and Max Factor cubey lipglossy thing in Soft Rose

On their own these products (for me) are a bit nothingy but I love the combination they make together. It really reminds me of YSL's Rouge Volupte in Sensual Silk (which I have but I have to ration it because THEY DISCONTINUED IT!) and MAC Hue. I'll do a comparison post soon! 

Here's all the products together, taken using hipstamatic

I'm loving brown smokey eyes at the moment, maybe I'll do a post on that too!

Love Sophie xx

DIY Ombre Hair on Dark Dyed Hair

Hi everyone

All this sun has made me want lighter hair so I decided to take the plunge and finally lighten the ends of my hair.

This is just a quick post to show you how I ombre'd my hair, despite having dark dyed reddish brown hair I managed to do it, despite what everyone says.

First of all I'll show you how I wanted it to look;

Firstly I whacked on this stuff, after doing strand tests I decided to leave this on for 55 minutes

And then I decided to tone down the reddish tinge I have in my hair by using a permanent ash brown colour from Garnier, I'm pretty sure it was this one...

I didn't use this on the bleached ends, only on the top half 

Then it looked like this,

Which I did like but it looked a little bit toooo ginger for my liking, so I popped off to Boots and bought some semi permanent dye, making sure it was a more golden colour after reading many scary stories about using ash tones on bleached hair and it going green, yeeeah no.

I didn't leave this on for the full 20 minutes as apparently bleached hair takes dye much quicker, (you can tell I did a lotttt of research right?!) and instead left it on for 15

And thiiiis is the final result, just how I wanted it

Here's a before and after for you

Before

After

 

As long as you get your timings right, I say you CAN ombre your hair even if it's dyed dark!

Just so you know, Boots have a 3 for 2 across allll hair products at the mo so this cost me under £15, much less than a hairdresser would ever have costed I say

Love Sophie xx

my 18th

So Saturday was my 18th birthday and I'm just about getting over it, it truly was the most amazing birthday I've ever had, I got some lovely topshop earrings from my friends, Illamasqua Load (hehehehe), an Ipod touch and a Tiffany Key

However

Yeah that's um a Mulberry Bayswater...Words fail me..

Hope you had a lovely weekend

Sophie

Woops. .

Sorry everyone I'm a total dipstick 

I totally forgot to tell you what shade it is!

It's Pearl Shade 12 and you can see it on the website here

Thank you for all your comments!

Sophie

xxx

MAC Club Dupe. . For £1?

If you're not familiar with MAC Club Eyeshadow, it's a beautiful duochrome shade with hints of green and reddish brown. I've wanted it for a very long time, but I read that it's one of those eyeshadows that might not suit everyone.

So when I saw this when I was browsing the Superdrug aisles I knew I recognised that greeny tone from somewhere. . . 

This is AMAZING. I haven't tried it without a primer, but with UDPP it lasts from the moment I put it on to the moment I take it off, so around 15 hours. When it's packed on it's a lovely blue green and when blended out it goes to a super flattering brown shade. I don't have MAC Club but what I've seen from Google images, this is an almost perfect dupe.

You can see the more brownish side of this eyeshadow in these swatches, but you can see the shimmer of it in the blended swatch (the bottom one)

This is from one eyeshadow. Yes one. You can see where I blended it in the crease the browner side of the eyeshadow really came through

I love this eyeshadow so much I'm not lusting after Club so much now. . .

What do you think ladies?

Love Sophie xx

I Love Ebay

I love Ebay, you can get the most amazing things for such great prices so when I found these earrings I was so happy, and then I saw the price and was even happier

You can find these earrings here for only £2.50 with free delivery

I love love love the jewellery this ebayer sells, and I ordered Friday lunch time and she had posted them so I got them Saturday morning, seriously impressed!

Are you an ebay fan?

Love Sophie xx

Valentines featuring Revlon Liquid Lipstick

Hello everyone!

Well considering I'm very single I didn't have a Valentines this year, but me and my friends went out for Pizza, so I decided to do a red lip, something I hardly ever ever do

Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in Top Tomato - £8.99

I have a love/hate relationship with this 'lipstick'. It lasts for ages, which means it can be terrible to get off at night, and if you apply it too thickly it starts to form balls of red lipcolour. However the pigmentation is incredible and I love the colour

I find the best way to apply it is to dab it on, wipe the excess off the applicator and then rub it in using that. And try not to reapply because that just gets messy!

What did you do for Valentines day?

Love Sophie xx

It's Gross But I Love It

That is all.

My Hair History (and Cheryl Cole Mahogany. . .)

I actually love these posts, so thought I'd do one too. I then realised how boring I am with my hair but oh well!

Okay for about 12 years of my life I had really long, mid brown hair with a centre parting. We don't need to see that. But then it all changed and I decided to get a side fringe;

Then I cut it all off (kept the side fringe though)

Had a very awkward regrowth stage. . 

But kept growing it anyway, discovering curling tongs and blackish brown hair dye on the way

Cut it a bit shorter, and decided to use Sun-In. On almost black hair. NOT A GOOD MOVE PEOPLE.

 Only sun in'd the top layers so ended up with a gross gingery brown colour with mousy brown roots and dark brown bits underneath. Oh dear indeed.

Dyed my hair dark dark dark (even though the instructions said don't dye pre-bleached hair, I'm a rebel like that) and stuck in some Primark hair extensions (yes really)

 Got my trusty side fringe back, only for the hairdresser to cut it in a really weird way, so that my only choice was to pull it over in to a 'full' fringe

Spent about 6 months wondering how to get this new fringe (that was supposed to be a side) to work

But gave up and got a full fringe. In summer. High maintenance or what!? (also I think I was pulling a weird face in this photo. . )

 Full fringe got too much so yet again started sweeping it to the side (vicious circle)

By winter got so annoyed at this fringe business I found new ways to keep it off my face (something which my 14 year old self would NEVER have done)

Oh and what do we have here, 5 months later, in the Spring of 2010 I got a fringe back.

And yet more awkward fringe business (september '10)

Most recently, I kept pretty much the hairstyle up there, but added in flicky layers which I LOVE. This is taken a few weeks after I dyed it with the Nice n' Easy foam. IT HAD NOT FADED and it's darker than this IRL. Beyond impressed. .

And then I decided to put the Cheryl Cole hair dye on (L'oreal Casting in 550 Mahogany)

on dark brown hair and it's given me a reddish tint which you can see in the light and I love it as it gives my hair an 'edge' and makes it look less flat and I may consider doing it permanently

And that's my hair history, I hope I didn't bore you to sleep, and please link me yours if you have one!

Love Sophie xx